National park bosses in Snowdonia have shut all car parks to try to curb the number of people breaking lockdown rules and visiting the area. The decision was made to protect the regions community and health services as coronavirus cases continue to rise in some of Waless most remote areas. Non-essential travel is currently banned in Wales lockdown, yet North Wales Police tweeted to say they have continued to turn away people trying to walk up Snowdon. Visitors have come from as far away as London and Milton Keynes. The national park has said they want to emphasise the idea that exercise should take place near home. They are also encouraging people to avoid potentially risky activities that could put yet more pressure on the emergency services. The chairman of the Snowdonia National Park Authority, Wyn Ellis Jones, said: "Because of the high volume of people seen ignoring government regulations in Snowdonia since Christmas, we have decided to take urgent measures to support the Welsh governments message to avoid any unnecessary travel. Nigel Harrison, temporary North Wales Police Assistant Chief Constable, said the force would not allow "blatant breaches of the legislation" to continue. Those who break Covid rules can be fined 60 for a first offence and 120 for a second breach of rules. Mr Harrison added: It is not acceptable to pick and choose the law you follow and the laws you dont. It comes as Snowdonia National Park wardens have received abuse from rule breakers. Police officers in rural Wales have also had to be diverted from their usual work in an attempt to prevent people from breaking lockdown and visiting Snowdonia. They have also had to remove cars parked inappropriately on roads near the Pen-y-Pass car park as it was too busy to accommodate all vehicles. Assistant head of the environment department at Gwynedd council, Gareth Jones, said they are "very conscious" about the potential for a rise in Covid-19 cases in the area. Mr Jones pointed out that people should follow the current guidelines to avoid unnecessary travel. He added: By playing our part each and every one of us will assist in the effort to halt the spread of the virus so we can return to a normal way of life as soon as possible. What was already shaping up as a volatile final stretch to the Trump presidency took on an air of national emergency as the White House emptied out and some Republicans joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a cascade of Democrats calling for Mr. Trump to be removed from office without waiting the 13 days until the inauguration of President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. The prospect of actually short-circuiting Mr. Trumps tenure in its last days appeared remote. Vice President Mike Pence privately ruled out invoking the disability clause of the 25th Amendment to sideline the president, as many had urged that he and the cabinet do, according to officials. Democrats suggested they could move quickly to impeachment, a step that would have its own logistical and political challenges. Representative Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, the assistant speaker of the House, said Friday on CNN that the Democrats could get an impeachment vote to the House floor as early as the middle of next week. (The Democrat-led House already impeached Mr. Trump once in December 2019, and he was acquitted in the Senate. The process took months.) Bella Thorne is 'grateful' that her fame and fortune has allowed her to treat her family to a lavish Mexican vacation. The 23-year-old actress - who first found fame on Shake It Up - has had a blossoming career that has afforded her the privilege to shower her loved ones on her own dime. Sharing a bunch of snaps from her time in Tulum where she and her family rang in the new year she said, 'this has been a dream of mine my whole life,' while adding that everyone had been 'covid tested.' Fame and fortune: Bella Thorne, 23, shared snaps from her lavish Tulum vacation as she said she was 'grateful' she was able to fly her whole family out to ring in the new year together 'I got to fly my whole family and team out to Mexico this has been a dream of mine my whole life.' 'I'm so so f***in thankful and grateful only person missing in my bro Remy who lost his passport. Ps (yes everyone was covid tested like so many times on this trip).' She continued to comment on her own post, 'I LOVE MY FAMILY. I worked my whole life to be where I'm at and I couldn't have done it with out my family and my crew getting me to the next step every time.' The extravagant vacation certainly came with a steep price tag as she flew mom Tamara, sisters Dani, 27, and Kaili, 28, boyfriend Ben Mascolo, 27, her mom's boyfriend Ross, and her team of at least three people to Tulum, via private jet. Fine dining: She treated her family to a meal at pricey celebrity hotspot Catch in Playa Del Carmen On her dime: Thorne said, 'I worked my whole life to be where I'm at,' as she credited her family for being there every step of the way, prompting her to treat them Staycation: While in Mexico the family went from Cancun to Tulum during their week plus long vacation; sister Kaili pictured Hitmaking: She posted a selfie with musical collaborator Sabir Shapiro who helped with her latest song SFB The family traveled to Cancun first ahead of the new year before jumping down to Tulum where they spent the majority of the week. Upon arriving they have been staying at the four star O'Tulum hotel which averages about $200 a night. While in Mexico they have been seen dining at at celebrity hotspot Catch in Playa Del Carmen and going on excursions like boating and go-karting in the jungle, with Thorne revealing they even had access to a private beach. Additionally she seems to have grown close with a new pal as she has been spending extended amounts of time with famed fitness influencer, Jen Selter, who has also been along for the ride - though presumably on her own dime. Designer duds: While on vacation the Shake It Up actress has had no shortage of designer duds as she showed off a Dior bikini and a Balenciaga skirt among other clothes; pictured with Mascolo Private beach: A private beach was among the lavish accommodations provided for the family's stay Body: Thorne has been cozying up to famed fitness influencer Jen Selter who has been on the trip as well, presumably on her own dime Thorne's predilection for Mexico as an idyllic vacation spot is two-fold. She initially came down for a virtual New Year's Eve event with Diplo - which technically constitutes as a work obligation - and additionally her Italian-born boyfriend also faces travel restrictions to the US, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite her mentioning the covid testing that took place amongst her circle, fans were still quick to hit out at her for the callous travel post - especially as Los Angeles county is in full lockdown mode with scarce resources due to the unmanageable amount of positive cases. 'Ok but u wouldn't have had to get covid tested SO MANY times if you would've just stayed home?????,' one fan wrote. Unnecessary travel: Though her trip to Mexico came on account of a work obligation as she hosted a virtual New Year's Eve event with Diplo, Thorne preceded to stay with her family which angered many fans Beach bae: Thorne opted for Mexico as a vacation spot due to a work obligation but also took into account the fact that her Italian-born boyfriend Mascolo is not allowed to fly to the US due to COVID-19 restrictions Bella replied, 'I'm happy to have my family all together. It's been a while. If you know me... you know that.' Like many celebrities who seem to have no regard for the rampant pandemic, Thorne fled her LA home in favor of a country with loosened COVID-19 restrictions. Prior to flying to Mexico she and her family spent time in Big Bear, which has now been flagged as a virus hotspot. Two cases of the more contagious B117 strain of Coronavirus were found there on January 1, after a household member came in contact with a traveler who returned from the UK in December. Facebook bans Trump indefinitely following deadly Capitol riot Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of social media giant Facebook, announced Thursday that President Donald Trump has been banned from the platform indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks following a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete, Zuckerberg said in a statement Thursday morning. The decision comes after pro-Trump rioters and others breached the Capitol building in a bid to prevent the confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden's victory by Congress which was affirmed early Thursday. Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee told USA Today that four people died during the unrest including a woman who was shot by the U.S. Capitol Police, and three others two men and one woman who died in separate medical emergencies. Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump protest outside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C. Demonstrators breached security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. | ALEX EDELMAN/AFP via Getty Images The woman shot dead by Capitol Police was identified as 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt from San Diego. She was an Air Force veteran who served for 14 years. She loved her country, and she was doing what she thought was right to support her country in joining up with like-minded people that also love their president and their country, her husband, Aaron Babbitt, told KTLA5. She was voicing her opinion, and she got killed for it. He said he learned about his wifes death on the news and doesnt understand why she was killed because as far as he knew, she wasnt carrying any weapons. I dont know why she had to die in the peoples house, he said. Thats our house; its everybodys house. As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy. https://t.co/k6OkjNG3bM Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 7, 2021 On Wednesday, Twitter and Facebook said they were forced to lock President Trump out of his accounts limiting his access to his millions of followers after he published a series of messages they marked as inaccurate and inflammatory. In one post that was removed by Twitter, Trump released a video in which he urged supporters "to go home in peace." Again repeating claims for voter fraud, Trump told supporters he knows how they feel and again stressed that the election was "stolen from us." "But we cant play into the hands of these people," Trump said. "We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You are very special." Twitter said in a statement that the presidents account would be suspended for 12 hours after the removal of tweets they found to be in violation of their policy and could face permanent suspension for any future violations including our Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies. Zuckerberg called the riot shocking on Thursday and said President Trump had clearly demonstrated that he plans to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power. The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden. His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world. We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect and likely their intent would be to provoke further violence, Zuckerberg said. Following the certification of the election results by Congress, the priority for the whole country must now be to ensure that the remaining 13 days and the days after inauguration pass peacefully and in accordance with established democratic norms. Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules, at times removing content or labeling his posts when they violate our policies. We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech. But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government, he added. Officials in D.C. said so far police have made "in excess of 52 arrests," including 26 on U.S. Capitol grounds in connection to the riot. Several White House officials including Stephanie Grisham, the former White House press secretary and chief of staff to first lady Melania Trump have since resigned following the unrest. It has been an honor to serve the country in the @WhiteHouse. I am very proud to have been a part of @FLOTUS@MELANIATRUMP mission to help children everywhere, & proud of the many accomplishments of this Administration, Grisham said in a statement on Twitter acknowledging her departure at approximately 8 p.m. Wednesday. It has been an honor to serve the country in the @WhiteHouse . I am very proud to have been a part of @FLOTUS@MELANIATRUMP mission to help children everywhere, & proud of the many accomplishments of this Administration. Signing off now - you can find me at @OMGrisham ?????????? Stephanie Grisham (@StephGrisham45) January 7, 2021 The first ladys chief of staff has worked for the Trumps since the 2016 campaign and is one of their longest-serving aides. White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina "Rickie" Niceta also resigned Wednesday effective immediately, according to CNN. Another White House press aide Sarah Matthews also resigned Wednesday night, noting that while she was honored to serve in the Trump administration, she "was deeply disturbed by what I saw today." "Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power," she added in a statement. The riot also drew bipartisan rebuke including from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo who called it a failed attempt at a coup. "The cornerstone of our democracy is the peaceful transfer of power. We must call this what it actually is: a failed attempt at a coup. This is the final chapter of an incompetent, cruel, and divisive administration that has trampled on the Constitution and the rule of law at every turn, and we won't let President Trump, the members of Congress who enable him, or the lawless mob that stormed our nation's Capitol steal our democracy, he said in a statement. "The election results are clear and the will of the American people will be carried out." Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also forcefully rejected the attack on the Capitol in a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday, insisting that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were lawfully elected and will become the president and the vice president of the United States. Trump and I, weve had a hell of a journey. I hate it to end this way. Oh my God, I hate it. From my point of view, hes been a consequential president, but today, first thing youll see. All I can say is count me out. Enough is enough, he said. Ive tried to be helpful, but when this Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled four to three, that they didnt violate the constitution of Wisconsin, I agree with the three, but I accept the four. If Al Gore could accept five-four hes not president, I can accept Wisconsin four to three, he continued. It is over. Joe Biden. Ive traveled the world with Joe. I hoped he lost. I prayed he would lose. He won. Hes the legitimate President of the United States. I cannot convince people, certain groups, by my words, but I will tell you by my actions that maybe I above all others in this body need to say this. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are lawfully elected and will become the President and the Vice President of the United States on January the 20th. A woman wearing a face mask drives a motorcycle in one of the neighbourhoods where the mayor's office decreed strict quarantine, amidst an outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Bogota, Colombia on Jan. 5, 2021. (Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters File Photo) Colombias Bogota To Enter Lockdown Amid New Strain Concerns BOGOTAColombias capital will enter a strict quarantine until Tuesday due to rising coronavirus infection numbers and suspicions a new variant of the virus is circulating, Mayor of Bogota Claudia Lopez said on Thursday. Strict quarantines were imposed on three Bogota neighborhoods this week to control rising infections, which Lopez said could be caused by a new variant of the virus first identified in the United Kingdom. People throughout the capital will be largely confined to their homes from midnight on Thursday until four oclock in the morning on Tuesday, said Lopez, declaring a red alert in the city. Non-essential shops and businesses will be closed and one person per household will be allowed to buy food or medicine. Curfews lasting from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. will then run until Jan. 17. We are confronting a new strain of COVID which is very possibly already circulating in Bogota, Lopez told a news conference. We cant see any other reason for the viral load we are finding in patients. UK case numbers have risen sharply, driven in part by a new variant of the virus that is up to 70 percent more transmissible than the original. But Colombias health ministry said there was no proof the variant had reached the country. Right now theres no scientific evidence that accelerating COVID-19 transmission in Colombia can be attributed to the new British strain, Ministry of Health director for epidemiology and demography Julian Fernandez Nino said in a statement. Colombia has reported more than 1.73 million coronavirus infections and 45,067 deaths from COVID-19, the disease it causes. In Bogota, which counts for over a quarter of national cases, occupancy of intensive care units for coronavirus stands at 83.9 percent, according to local government figures. The neighborhoods of Usaquen, Suba, and Engativa will remain in strict quarantine as planned until Jan. 18 and strict quarantines will be extended in the neighborhoods of Kennedy, Fontibon, and Teusaquillo until Jan. 22, Lopez said. By Oliver Griffin Posey's Tips & Tricks As Remote Work Stretches On, 'Right To Disconnect' Laws Seen as Necessary It's getting harder for employees to detach themselves from their PCs, especially in a work-from-home scenario. To prevent mass burnout, some governments are advocating for legally protected downtime. I think we can all agree that 2020 was anything but normal, and 2021 (at least the early part of it) doesn't look like it will be much different. With so much of the world in what seems like perpetual lockdown and everyone still working from home, it can be tough to maintain any sort of healthy work-life balance. I have heard story after story from people whose bosses or co-workers assume that because they are stuck at home, they have nothing better to do than to work all the time. Microsoft has stepped in to help people to maintain some sense of normalcy by adding features to Microsoft 365 that are geared toward achieving a reasonable work-life balance. Even so, such features do little good if people feel pressured by their employers to spend every waking moment working. Recently, however, some help has come from a somewhat unexpected source. The European Union is pushing for a "right to disconnect" law, aimed at helping those who work from home. The idea behind this law is that those who have been working from home as a result of the pandemic have been suffering numerous negative side effects. Too often employees are expected to be always online and reachable. The work-from-home trend has also largely eliminated overtime pay and caused adverse effects on employees' health such as weight gain, depression and anxiety, eye strain and burnout. With its right to disconnect law, the EU is recognizing that it is unrealistic and detrimental for an employer to expect its employees to be online and available at all times. The law essentially states that employees should be allowed to go offline on an as-needed basis without facing disciplinary action or other acts of retribution from their employer. As timely as the EU's actions seem to be, it isn't the first to take measures to keep employees from being enslaved by their electronic devices. The Philippines, for example, created a similar law way back in 2017. This, however, brings up an interesting point. Even though the lack of work-life balance has been largely blamed on the pandemic suddenly forcing everyone to work from home, expectations for employees to always be accessible go back much further. Back in 2019, for example, I was at a restaurant with a friend who was constantly having to respond to instant messages from people at work even though it was 9:00 p.m. on a Saturday. In fact, I'd say the problem goes at least as far back as the 1990s, even though it wasn't quite as extreme back then. At that time, I was working as a network administrator for a large insurance company. Everyone in the IT department was required to wear a pager in case they needed to be reached in the event of a datacenter emergency. Thankfully, that particular organization didn't abuse the pager (even though I got called in more times than I can count). Even so, I can vividly recall a conversation with a family member who was bothered by the idea that I had to wear the pager at a holiday gathering and couldn't just leave it at home. There has always been a natural tendency for employers to encroach on their employees' personal time, and technology (and the lockdowns) has only made it easier for this type of unwanted encroachment to happen. While I think it's great that the EU is taking steps to protect its citizens, its actions point to something far more profound. The fact that the EU even sees a need for a right to disconnect law is an indication that people -- not just lawmakers -- are starting to acknowledge the idea that technology is being abused in a way that is harmful to the general population. As a result, we may soon see a pendulum shift away from the workaholic, always-on culture that has become so pervasive. I don't necessarily think that this pendulum shift is going to happen as a matter of law (although it could), but rather because of backlash from burned-out employees who "just can't keep doing this." If this happens, then a return to a much more realistic work-life balance might be the one good thing to come out of the pandemic. The Venezuelan government condemned the spiral of violence but expressed hope that it would end soon and the people of the U.S. can finally open a new path toward stability and social justice. Russian officials, Iranian leaders and even Moktada al-Sadr, once the leader of an insurgent militia that was a bitter enemy of the American armed forces in Iraq, all pointed to the scenes at the Capitol as proof of U.S. hypocrisy. Many immigrants were all too aware of what the world was seeing of their adopted home. Through Facebook, text apps and phone calls, messages have been coming in from friends and family asking what was going on, how it came to this, and whether they were safe living in America. Benedict Killangs father calls him regularly from South Sudan, a place Mr. Killang left 25 years ago when every day seemed more dangerous and violent than the one before. In recent days and weeks, he has been calling with a growing sense of worry. He is just calling to check in, said Mr. Killang, 50, now raising four children in Pittsburgh. He is saying, The place you are in is not safe. Particularly after Wednesdays events, Mr. Killang cannot fully disagree. The images of the rioting in Washington are disorientingly far from the idea of the country many immigrants thought they were coming to, a place most of them believed to be of singular stability and openness. Living for years in a camp for Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, Khara Timsina dreamed of America as a place where he would finally be able to speak freely without fear of retribution. It was clearly the greatest, most democratic place on earth, he thought then. Reality did not quite meet expectations when he arrived in Pittsburgh 12 years ago. The country was not as welcoming to outsiders as he had pictured. In recent years, as President Trump and others spoke with increasing hostility toward immigrants, he had begun to fear that worse days were coming. Australias Cardinal George Pell had clashed with Vatican figures over his reforms. Photo: Mark Dadswell/Reuters The Australian governments financial intelligence agency said it is reviewing its data after questions were raised about its report that 1.5bn was transferred from the Vatican to Australia over six years. The agency, Austrac, said it was working with the Vatican to get to the bottom of the matter. The Vatican confirmed it was in contact with Austrac regarding an examination of the data that it (Austrac) provided in recent days. Austrac listed the annual transactions since 2014 in response to a parliamentary inquiry without providing any details about senders or recipients. The agency monitors financial transactions to identify money laundering, organised crime, tax evasion, welfare fraud as well as terrorism financing. The data raised eyebrows in Australia and the Holy See, given the number of transfers and amounts that appeared to be greatly out of line with the Vaticans financial reality. It also fuelled media speculation that money from the Holy See helped influence the Australian criminal prosecution of Cardinal George Pell, who was convicted and then acquitted of historic sex abuse. Austrac is currently undertaking a detailed review of the figures and is working with the Holy See and Vatican City State Financial Intelligence Unit on this matter, the agency said in response to a query. Vatican officials have expressed perplexity at the reported transfers. The amounts greatly exceed the finances of the Holy See, the government of the Catholic Church. It runs on an annual budget of around 300m million, less than the amount reported to have been sent to Australia in a single year. The Vatican City State has one bank, with total client assets of 5.1bn. Two-thirds of those assets are held in managed portfolios that belong to the banks 15,000 clients, most of them religious orders, Vatican employees, Holy See offices and embassies around the world. Australias bishops have also expressed puzzlement and were seeking clarity. Australian Catholic Bishops Conference spokesman Gavin Abraham said the bishops had no knowledge or awareness of the transfers and that none of the money was received by dioceses, charities or other Catholic entities. Austracs Vatican figures appear to be derived from a chart the agency published last year in response to a question under Australias Freedom of Information Act. The chart lists every countrys flow of money to and from Australia, and appears to include remittances. It shows billions of dollars passing through Australia every year from countries big and small. Cardinal Pell had clashed with the Vaticans old guard over his financial reform efforts, which he had to abandon in 2017 to face trial. The cleric himself has suggested that his prosecution was related to his work trying to clean up the Vaticans murky finances and the resistance he faced, but also acknowledged he has no evidence. Australias police previously said they were not investigating the money flows the cardinals accuser has denied receiving any payment for his evidence. Online Editors Kathmandu, january 8 Zarin Daruwala has been appointed the new chairperson of the Standard Chartered Bank Nepal Limited. The 407th board meeting of the company held on Friday made the appointment. She will replace incumbent Jitender Arora. Daruwala has been the Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank, India since 2016. In a career spanning over 31 years, she has worked across all areas of banking ranging from wholesale banking, agri-finance, corporate finance, corporate planning, investment banking and credit. The company says she is named the 13th most powerful woman in business by Fortune India and also featured among 42 Most Influential Women in India by Business World and Top 100 Most Influential BFSI Leaders released by the World BFSI Congress and Awards. Meanwhile, the 34th AGM of the company chaired by Jitender Arora, the outgoing chairman of the bank, was successfully held today. Considering the Covid -19 situation this year, the event was conducted in a hybrid model from The Everest Hotel, Naya Baneshwor. By Jan Wolfe (Reuters) - A voting machine company sued former Trump campaign lawyer Sidney Powell on Friday, accusing her of spreading false conspiracy theories about November's election that Republican President Donald Trump lost to Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems Inc filed the case in federal court in Washington, alleging defamation and seeking $1.3 billion in damages. Powell, a conservative activist and former federal prosecutor, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Trump campaign also did not immediately respond to an e-mail seeking comment. In news conferences and media appearances, Powell falsely claimed that Dominion had rigged the U.S. presidential election, that Dominion was created in Venezuela to rig elections for that country's late president, Hugo Chavez, and that Dominion bribed Georgia officials for a no-bid contract. "Powells wild accusations are demonstrably false," Dominion's lawyers said in the complaint. "Far from being created in Venezuela to rig elections for a now-deceased Venezuelan dictator, Dominion was founded in Toronto for the purpose of creating a fully auditable paper-based vote system that would empower people with disabilities to vote independently on verifiable paper ballots." Powell, appearing with Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, claimed without evidence at a November news conference that Dominion's electronic voting systems had switched millions of ballots to Biden. Trump had referred to Powell as one of his "wonderful lawyers and representatives" in a Nov. 14 tweet. Giuliani and another Trump legal adviser, Jenna Ellis, later distanced themselves from Powell, saying in a statement released by the campaign that "Powell is practicing law on her own" and "is not a member of the Trump Legal Team." But Trump then met with Powell at the White House on Dec. 18 and discussed naming her a special counsel to investigate the election, the New York Times reported. Story continues Eric Coomer, director of product strategy and security for the voting technology company, sued Powell, the Trump campaign, and others for defamation in a Colorado court last month. Coomer said Powell's claims led to devastating consequences, including death threats which forced him to leave his home out of fear for his safety. (Reporting by Jan Wolfe; additional reporting by Jonathan Stempel; editing by Jonathan Oatis) B oris Johnson has appointed Alok Sharma as full-time president of the UN Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow this November. Tory MP Kwasi Kwarteng is set to replace Mr Sharma as Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Downing Street said. Speaking on his new appointment, Mr Sharma said he was "delighted to have been asked by the PM to dedicate all my energies" to the role. In a statement released by No 10, it said that Mr Sharma will continue as a full member of the Cabinet in his new role and solely focus on driving forward co-ordinated global action to tackle climate change." With a wealth of experience working in the department, with industry and across Government in his previous role as minister of state, Kwasi Kwarteng will lead and bring together work on business, science and innovation to unleash investment and growth in his new role as Secretary of State it added. The government said the climate conference would be the largest summit the United Kingdom has ever hosted, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 20:21:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Here are the latest developments from China's COVID-19 control and prevention efforts: -- From Saturday to 10 a.m. Friday, China's Hebei Province reported 127 new locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, the provincial health commission said Friday. The province also reported 183 asymptomatic cases in the period, amid the recent resurgence of COVID-19, according to a Friday afternoon press briefing on COVID-19 prevention and control work. All confirmed and asymptomatic cases were registered in either Shijiazhuang City or Xingtai City. -- Shijiazhuang and Xingtai have launched citywide nucleic acid testing. By Thursday, Shijiazhuang had tested nearly 4.86 million people and 289 samples had tested positive for the virus, and Xingtai had tested over 1.89 million people and 15 samples had tested positive. The two cities plan to complete nucleic acid testing for all residents before Saturday. -- The worst-hit Gaocheng District in Shijiazhuang has been classified as a high-risk area for COVID-19, and another 17 areas in Shijiazhuang and Xingtai have been classified as medium-risk areas. -- A total of 10 medical teams from two provinces in east China have been assigned to Hebei Province to help with nucleic acid testing in Hebei. Designated by the joint COVID-19 prevention, control and treatment group of the State Council, the teams consist of 209 medical workers from Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. -- Some 1.21 million people listed among specific groups with higher infection risks have received COVID-19 vaccinations in south China's Guangdong Province as of Thursday, according to authorities. Related personnel in port cities have been prioritized for inoculation, Huang Fei, deputy director of the provincial health commission, told a press conference on Friday. -- Beijing reported one new locally transmitted COVID-19 case on Thursday, the municipal health commission said Friday. -- Liaoning Province on Thursday reported two locally transmitted confirmed COVID-19 cases, both in the provincial capital Shenyang, the provincial health commission said Friday. By Thursday, the province had 71 confirmed cases in hospitals. Another 26 asymptomatic carriers were under quarantine and receiving treatment. -- Heilongjiang Province on Thursday reported one new confirmed COVID-19 case, the provincial health commission said Friday. Enditem KABUL Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar held a telemeeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia, Ms. Retno L.P Marsudi. The two sides discussed a wide range of issues including the Afghan peace process and multilateral cooperation. Minister Atmar updated Minister Marsudi on the latest developments in the Afghan peace process and expressed appreciation for Indonesias invaluable contribution to peace in Afghanistan. The two Ministers discussed bilateral political consultations, the second round of which was held in Kabul in the Spring of 2020. They decided to hold the third round in 2021 in Jakarta. Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation on multilateral affairs, including supporting each others candidacies for various United Nations posts. rose for the seventh consecutive month in December, led by dairy products and vegetable oils, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. The Food Price Index averaged 107.5 points in December, 2.2 per cent higher than in November. Over the whole of 2020, the benchmark index -- which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of commonly-traded food commodities -- averaged 97.9 points, a three-year high and a 3.1 per cent increase from 2019 although still more than 25 per cent below its historical 2011 peak. The Cereal Price Index rose 1.1 per cent from November and for all of 2020 averaged 6.6 per cent above the level of 2019. Export prices for wheat, maize, sorghum and rice all rose in December, moving higher in part due to concerns over growing conditions and crop prospects in North and South America as well as the Russian Federation. On an annual basis, rice export prices were 8.6 per cent higher in 2020 than in 2019, while those for maize and wheat were 7.6 per cent and 5.6 per cent higher respectively. The Vegetable Oil Price Index gained 4.7 per cent in December to reach its highest level since September 2012. In addition to ongoing supply tightness in major palm oil-producing countries, international trade was affected by a sharp hike in export duties in Indonesia. International prices for soy oil rose in part due to prolonged strikes in Argentina that impacted both crushing activity and port logistics. This sub-index averaged 19.1 per cent higher in 2020 than the previous year. The FAO Dairy Price Index increased 3.2 per cent in December, its seventh consecutive monthly rise, with all categories higher due to strong global import demand induced by concerns over drier and warmer conditions on Oceania's milk production as well as high internal demand in Western Europe. Over the course of 2020, however, the Dairy Price Index averaged 1.0 per cent less than in 2019. The FAO Meat Price Index increased 1.7 per cent in the month of December while its full-year average was 4.5 per cent below that of 2019. Poultry meat quotations rebounded in the final month of the year, buoyed by increased import demand, especially from the Middle East, high internal sales in key producing countries and the adverse impact of avian influenza outbreaks in Europe. Pig meat prices fell slightly, influenced by the suspension of German exports to Asian markets as a result of African Swine Fever outbreaks. The FAO Sugar Price Index declined by 0.6 per cent in December after a marked increase during the previous month. For 2020 as a whole, the sub-index was 1.1 per cent higher than in 2019, reflecting a large surge in imports by China and increased demand for refined sugar from Indonesia's food and beverage industry even as upward pressure was curbed by improved production prospects in Brazil and India. (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 William Lim Do wanted to learn the art of Chinese noodle-making, he did what any inquisitive young cook would do: booked a one-way ticket to China and enrolled in a school that would teach him. I wanted to learn a craft that I couldnt learn here, said Do, who worked at Michelin-starred San Francisco restaurants State Bird Provisions and Mister Jius, where he was sous chef. Hes now combining his noodle-making skills and Californian sensibilities with a new pop-up called Lao Wai Noodles, where hes making do-it-yourself kits for tian shui mian, a.k.a. sweet water noodles, a creamy, crunchy, spicy and sweet chilled noodle dish from Sichuan province. Lao Wai makes 80 noodle kits a week out of South San Francisco, available for delivery and pickup through his Instagram, but hes in talks with restaurants and commissary kitchens to expand production. Lao Wai, which translates as foreigner in Mandarin, is a term used for Westerners; it is also the nickname that other students endearingly gave Do, who was born and raised in San Francisco and is ethnically Chinese, Cambodian and Vietnamese. Even though I considered myself part Chinese American, for them not to see me as Chinese felt a little unusual and interesting, said Do. But Do embraced his moniker, and his noodle pop-up, which started in December, leans into it too by eschewing tradition. Tian shui mian commonly uses thick, chewy wheat noodles, numbing chile oil, minced raw garlic, sweet soy, sesame paste, crushed peanuts and sometimes scallions. But Do does his own version, offering subtle spins based on his backpacking throughout China and his training at fine dining restaurants in San Francisco. Omar Mamoon Most notably, instead of the thick wheat noodles commonly used, Do makes a thinner round noodle inspired by a noodle soup in Neijiang, a city just over 100 miles south of Chengdu. Every city has their own versions of noodles theyre very proud of, said Do. When I was in Neijiang, I was fascinated by the way they rested and kneaded and aged the dough, which gives it a good bite. Five types of flour go into Dos dough, each providing a specific purpose: organic dark spring wheat flour for structure, sorghum for nuttiness, acorn flour for texture and mouthfeel, oat for sweetness, and finally millet an homage to a porridge made with the grain hed eat for breakfast every day in Lanzhou, where he studied the craft of hand-pulled noodles. Its a style of noodle making where the dough is stretched and pulled repeatedly into separate strands. The Neijiang noodle-making process takes more than two days. First, Do mixes the flours with salt and water into a dough, which he lets rest overnight. The next day, he kneads the dough again, pushing the clumpy dry spots into the areas that contain more water a technique he learned in school that helps create a more evenly hydrated dough. The dough then rests for another eight to 10 hours; this resting/kneading/aging process provides proper elasticity and bite. Do rolls the dough into a thick, long rope, then cuts it into 1-pound portions. He flattens each piece, then places it in a hand-cranked pasta machine to form the noodles for the kit. Other components of the dish also highlight Dos twists: Instead of minced raw garlic, theres a less sharp whipped garlic confit. A paste made with perilla and rice wine vinegar replaces the sesame paste for a nutty yet balanced base. In lieu of peanuts, Do offers roasted black and white sesame seeds for color and crunch. And garlic chives come in last as a garnish, intended for a quiet cut to an otherwise assertive noodle dish, he notes in the instructional insert provided with the kits. Once diners receive the noodle kits, the final step is theirs. Diners cook the noodles in salted boiling water for exactly 65 seconds for springy noodles (80 seconds for supple), strain, rinse and place them in a bowl filled with the sweetened soy, then garnish with the toppings. Everything is mixed together for one cohesive, creamy emulsion. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Although Dos production is still small, he has ambitions to expand and offer more types of noodles. Last year, before COVID-19 hit, he was scouting locations for a restaurant and talking to investors. Once he has a space, he plans to hand-pull the noodles instead of using the machine; the Lanzhou style of noodle making requires a higher hydration noodle, which needs to be cooked immediately and therefore doesnt travel well for takeout and delivery. Until then, Do has a different nod to Lanzhou in his pop-up: a chile crisp condiment similar to the kind that often accompanies a popular beef noodle soup from the city. Its made with a blend of grape-seed and sunflower oils that he aromatizes with yellow and green onions, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cardamom, fennel and a few other secret spices before straining on top of ground toasted er jing tiao, a long slender intensely fragrant pepper used in Sichuan cuisine. Its mellower and less mouth-numbing because of its restraint of the Sichuan peppercorn. Sold by the jar, the chile crisp goes well on lots of dishes but especially on a steaming bowl of noodles. Neijiang Craft Noodle Kits: $20 (serves 2). Eight-ounce jar of Lanzhou Chile Crisp Oil: $10. Available through the website and Instagram. Update: This story has been updated from the original version. Omar Mamoon is a San Francisco writer and cookie guy. Instagram: @ommmar Email: food@sfchronicle.com State and local governments are grappling with the initial rollout of the COVID-19 vaccinations without much guidance from the federal government and, predictably, the results are mixed at best.Reports of confusion about where to get the vaccination and who is going first among those eligible are plaguing the efforts, as is the pace of vaccinations becoming available. Local jurisdictions are, for the most part, dependent on state coordination and guidance in developing their strategies.Reports from Michigans initial rollout suggest confusion from some seniors who are eligible for the vaccine but confused by a lack of information on whether there is a vaccine available and how to schedule appointments.Similar issues are coming from Georgia and Alabama, and reports of seniors on walkers and in wheelchairs lined up for blocks outside in the cold waiting to be vaccinated are causing concern and frustration. There has to be a better way, one resident said. In California, the rollout has been too slow, according the states governor A big concern going forward is reaching vulnerable populations, such as the homeless and unemployed or those of different cultures who may not trust government.Im a little concerned, said Anthony Beverina, co-founder and chief strategy officer of Socially Determined , a social risk analytics company committed to addressing social determinants of health. The issues I see are that at each state level and at each local level you have myriad logistical challenges.Those include finding and notifying vulnerable populations and getting the vaccine to them. You are talking about multiple populations that are living in elderly care facilities, people with underlying health problems, he said. These people are so spread out all over the place, you have to identify who they are and figure out where they are.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has given very broad guidelines on reaching those populations, leaving it to the states to figure it out. I worry about there being 50 different ways of figuring it out and 50 different concepts of how to do this, Beverina said.The federal government also hasnt provided much in the way of resources for the states, and the rate of the vaccines coming to the states has been slow.You know youre going to get a fixed number of doses and you have to figure out not only who should get it, which is a matter of policy, and the how youre going to get it into place, Beverina said. In Wyandotte County, Kan., Bob Bennett , the COVID-19 vaccine operations director, has just begun the rollout. He was initially given about 800 doses of the vaccine and then received about 900 more doses for local health-care organizations to administer to the organizations staff. So far, the county has vaccinated about 1,700 people and is expecting another round of doses to arrive next week.The county is using an empty K-Mart building to store and administer the vaccines. The huge building (about 110,000 square feet) allows plenty of space for social distancing, and up to 10 lines for people to wait and be vaccinated and still adhere to social distancing. Bennett said he can vaccinate up to about 1,800 people per day.He said the process so far has gone very well.Were rocking through our priority-one health-care workforce so far, Bennett said. Were getting another vaccine drop next week and I anticipate well get going with some of our older population folks, 75 and older, who are not part of long-term care facilities, and who are not supported by Walgreens and CVS.The county has been working to reach out to its citizens through social media, town halls with community groups and, Bennett said, a special focus on groups that have historically been bypassed, such as the unemployed or homeless. Obviously it is a continuous process of communications, Bennett said. It is a requirement for us to use every tool at our disposal.The unemployed or homeless dont have a bulletin board at work or a union to inform them when and where to get vaccinated, and it takes work for the county to reach those people. Thats where those social safety nets come into play, Bennett said. Entities like churches and shelters and engaging those leaders allows us to get that population.There are a multitude of cultures in Wyandotte County, with some seven different languages being spoken in various communities. Some of those cultures have a distrust of government, but Bennett said the health-care apparatus already knows these populations, and there has been a level of trust built up over the years.Government in general right now has less of a batting average of acceptability than it used to for a lot of folks, but health departments, by and large, because we provide services that people need, give people flu shots and take care of them when theyre sick, there is a greater level of trust in that community, Bennett said.He said most of the long-term care facilities have existing contracts with either Walgreens or CVS and will get their vaccinations through those entities. Those that dont will be taken care of through the county. In fact, the county today is auditing one of those facilities to get information on how many vaccinations will need to be given.Were verifying with those facilities in our community that they are in fact getting the vaccine with their existing vaccine support structure, Bennett said.Bennett talks with state officials three times per week, and part of the discussion involves the state taking questions. If they dont know the answers to the questions, they find out within 48 hours, he said.I think from their perspective, they are just trying to get the vaccine out and hope that we do our part, Bennett said. Im pleased to be a part of the team that has done its part aggressively. But I have a lot of friends in other places where thats not the case. The U.S. Treasury and IRS have sent out the bulk of the second economic impact payments, which are intended to provide some relief to Americans. However, frustration is high among millions of people who did not receive payments yet and must wait for the mail or file their taxes before they receive it. The payments, worth $600 per eligible adult and dependent, are being distributed by direct deposit, paper checks and debit cards. Those who did not receive a payment or received the wrong amount must file their 2020 taxes to get it. The city has partnered with Curative since the spring to run testing sites around Chicago, with no requirement that people who come in for the tests be showing symptoms. People who are about to travel, who worry that theyve been exposed to someone who has COVID-19 or who are planning to see at-risk family members often will get tested even if they arent showing symptoms. Zara Holland's boyfriend Elliott Love was branded 'reckless' as he avoided jail and escaped with a fine for breaching Barbados' strict Covid laws. Mr Love, who could have been jailed for up to a year, was fined just 3,000, which is 1,400 less than his famous girlfriend - despite him being prepared to get on a packed holiday jet while infected with the virus. His fine was smaller because his lawyer successfully argued that he was a 'simple guy' who earns 450-a-week running a small demolition firm and isn't a celebrity. Mr Love wore a blue shirt, beige chinos, a face mask and white trainers as he arrived at court to learn his fate. Zara Holland's boyfriend Elliott Love was pictured today arriving at court in Barbados where he avoided jail and was handed a 3,000 fine for breaking the island's strict Covid laws Mr Love (left) wore tan chinos, a dark blue shirt, a blue surgical mask and sunglasses to the hearing. Hew was also seen yesterday (right) at Hastings Police Station where he was quizzed Mr Love was held in the mosquito-ridden Paragon Isolation Centre (above) where he was kept since his arrest on December 29. He was released yesterday after testing negative for the virus He was released from the medical facility just hours after his girlfriend Miss Holland, 25, jetted back to Britain. She was pictured at Grantley Adams International Airport on Wednesday night Mr Love and Miss Holland (pictured together before their holiday) were arrested after they tried to fly home following an order to quarantine in their hotel room when he tested positive The magistrate said Mr Love had been reckless since he had tested positive and had placed a taxi driver who drove him to the airport and his family's life in danger. It is believed he will follow girlfriend Miss Holland in leaving the island immediately having escaped more serious punishment. The Love Island star was pictured standing in the dock in court in Barbados where she pleaded guilty to breaking their Covid rules The couple were arrested by police at Grantley Adams' International Airport as they prepared to board a British Airways flight to the UK after discovering he had tested positive for Covid. He was detained at the island's Paragon Military Base, which has been turned into a coronavirus quarantine centre, while recovering from the virus. Having recovered and been tested negative, Love was on Thursday questioned by police at Hastings Police Station. Yesterday he pleaded guilty to a charge of breaking the island's strict Covid laws. A date has not yet been set Miss Holland, 25, faced the same charge on Wednesday and was fined 4,417. Mr Love was spotted yesterday at Hastings Police Station yesterday wearing stripy shorts, a white shirt, a cap and a protective face mask. Just 24 hours earlier his girlfriend jetted out of Barbados after her fine was paid to the court. She was seen sitting alone before boarding a Virgin Atlantic flight to Manchester at the Grantley Adams International Airport, the same airport where she and Mr Love, 30, had been arrested. Dressed in black leggings and top and white trainers, with her long blonde hair loose, she wore a mask as she kept far apart from the other passengers in the departure lounge. Miss Holland had pleaded guilty to leaving her hotel while she was under quarantine and was ordered to pay a fine of 4,500. After the fine was paid, the Love Island star was free to leave Miss Holland (pictured in Barbados in 2019), of North Ferriby, East Yorkshire, had been staying at the 350-a-night Hilton Hotel where she had to isolate until her court appearance One fellow traveller said: 'She was sitting well away from everyone else and trying to keep a very low profile. To say she looked sheepish is an understatement. Meanwhile a family friend opened up to MailOnline about the couple's situation, saying: 'Zara and Elliott have been able to stay in touch with each other throughout this nightmare.' 'They have been speaking on the phone and sending text messages. They are both very upset about what happened.' Health Canada says it's delaying its long-awaited overhaul of drug-pricing regulations by another six months. Prescription pills are shown in Toronto, Nov. 5, 2017. Health Canada says it's delaying the implementation of long-awaited changes to Canada's drug-pricing regime by another six months.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graeme Roy Health Canada says it's delaying its long-awaited overhaul of drug-pricing regulations by another six months. While pharmaceutical manufacturers and patient advocates welcomed the decision, they say the federal government needs to go back to the drawing board for Canada to stay competitive in the global marketplace for medical innovation. A Health Canada spokesman confirmed to The Canadian Press that the rollout of regulatory changes that would give Canada's drug-pricing watchdog sweeping new powers has been pushed from Jan. 1 to July 1. In an email, Geoffroy Legault-Thivierge said the delay is intended to give pharmaceutical companies more time to adjust to new reporting requirements while dealing with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Stakeholders involved in the consultation process were notified of the change on Dec. 30, two days before the amendments were set to take effect, Legault-Thivierge said. The postponement marks the latest setback in the years-long battle over the federal plan to recalibrate how the arm's-length Patented Medicine Prices Review Board calculates fair drug prices. Canada pays some of the highest prices in the world for patented medicines, Legault-Thivierge said, and the new regulatory regime will allow the review board to rein in surging costs. But drug manufacturers and patient advocates have condemned the changes on the grounds that they could stifle scientific innovation and reduce access to medical therapies. Dara Jospe, an associate lawyer at the Fasken law firm who specializes in pharmaceutical regulation, says the fight is far from over as court challenges have quashed one of the three key tenets of the amendments to the federal framework. "These changes are a really big deal to industry, and when they come into effect, there will be an overnight impact, which is why it's being attacked on multiple grounds and through multiple channels," Jospe said. The prices review board was first created 30 years ago to ensure companies do not use monopolies to charge excessive costs for patented medicines. To conduct these assessments, the quasi-judicial board compares prices with those in a list of other countries. Under the new regime, two of the highest-paying countries, the U.S. and Switzerland, will be removed from the list, and new nations will be added, which Jospe said could substantially alter the board's pricing determinations. The amendments also introduce new economic factors into the review board's calculations that could dramatically lower the price of new drugs on the Canadian market, she said. There are also new requirements that would compel drug manufacturers to disclose third-party rebates, including deals that give provincial drug programs discounts for buying in bulk, said Jospe. Legault-Thivierge, the Health Canada spokesman, said federal and Quebec courts have upheld most of the amendments, but struck down provisions relating to third-party rebates. He said the federal ruling is under appeal, and Ottawa is reviewing the Quebec decision while it determines its next steps. The COVID-19 crisis is also revealing cracks in the new drug-pricing regime, said Chris MacLeod, a Toronto lawyer and founder of the Cystic Fibrosis Treatment Society. MacLeod said burdensome drug-pricing measures could cut Canada out of the latest COVID-19 vaccines and treatments being developed around the world. These regulatory hurdles pose a particular threat to patients with rare diseases, who could be denied access to life-changing therapies if companies can't turn a profit in Canada, said MacLeod. The president and CEO of the Canadian Organization for Rare Disorders echoed these concerns, warning that "draconian" restrictions on drug prices won't solve Canada's budget problems. Durhane Wong-Rieger said authorities should be looking to eliminate other forms of waste in the system, such as overprescribing, rather than putting Canadians' health in the hands of cost-cutting regulators. Clinical trials in Canada have dwindled since the amendments were first unveiled in 2019, Wong-Rieger said, and as uncertainty over federal regulations continues, that trend could have deadly consequences. "All we're begging for is the opportunity to have open dialogue with all the stakeholders at the table," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2021. Nearly all US presidents have been good. Some have been great. Thus runs the mythology. On Inauguration Day the skies have been a wintry grey but when Kennedy or Roosevelt or Reagan stepped to the lectern the sun's brilliant rays shone forth with meteorological magic. But the squalor of Wednesday in the United States? Years of Trump and the conspiratorial right have eroded the web of conventions that kept a 1780s constitution in some working order. Posters proclaimed "Pelosi is Satan" and "Jesus 2020". Members of Congress were evacuated as if pursued by al-Qaeda. Protesters took turns in the vice-president's chair on the Senate dais, fists raised. Where did this come from? Simple. From Trump's invitation on December 19 that his supporters flock to Washington on January 6 to block the transfer of power: "Be there, will be wild!" His lawyer Rudy Giuliani whipped them up for "trial by combat". His son, Don jnr, urged them on, swearing: "We're coming for you. And we're going to have a good time doing it." This verbal recklessness produced mob rule in what official historians might call "the majesty" of the US Capitol. It advertised one of the powerful truths of fascist thinking: the power of the big lie energetically repeated in this case, that the election was stolen. And for a majority of demonstrators, stolen by African-Americans. This is now the biggest galvanising force in US politics if by galvanising one means motivating supporters to change political outcomes with violence. Tigard police have confirmed officers shot and killed a man outside an apartment complex Wednesday evening. But in the day since the shooting, the department has released little information about what happened. Police identified the man killed as Jacob Macduff, 26. Tigard police said in a statement that officers responded to a report of domestic disturbance at an apartment at Southwest Hall Boulevard and Bonita Road. Officers say they tried to arrest Macduff for domestic violence. Macduff was inside his vehicle, and officers said he had a knife. Police said they tried to take him into custody, and he refused to surrender. Tigard police shot and killed Macduff during the struggle to arrest him, according to Tigard police. The shooting happened around 5:50 p.m., nearly two hours after police said they arrived to the apartment. Police were called to the apartment for reports of a disturbance, according to an audio recording of the conversation between emergency dispatchers and Tigard police. The dispatcher told a responding officer that police had been called to the apartment the prior day, and that the man had 12-34 issues -- a code that refers to concerns about a persons mental health. A woman who identified herself as Macduffs roommate wrote about the shooting on Facebook, saying Macduff felt helpless and that she was trying to get him help by calling authorities before the shooting. The woman could not be reached by The Oregonian/OregonLive. A group of about 10 protesters gathered at the corner of Hall and Bonita on Thursday afternoon, setting up a memorial for Macduff and holding up signs with his name alongside messages such as a mental health crisis is not a crime. Tigard Mayor Jason Snider posted a message on Facebook Thursday afternoon, responding to residents who were concerned that police have not released more information about the shooting. Snider said the investigation has been turned over to the Washington County Major Crimes team, and no one from the Tigard Police Department is on the investigative team, nor do they have access to any information from the investigation. Snider said he had spoken to Washington County District Attorney Kevin Barton to press him for more information. He said the district attorneys office will not release any more information until all officers have been interviewed and the medical examiner has completed a report. This is story has been updated to confirm the proper spelling of Macduffs last name, after police erroneously provided an incorrect version. -Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR PATNA: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav has now demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should lead and take the first shot of Covid-19 vaccine before it is administered to ordinary people. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take first shot of Covid-19 vaccine, then, we will also take it, the RJD leader was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take first shot of COVID19 vaccine, then, we will also take it: RJD leader Tej Pratap Yadav pic.twitter.com/YuUomjLqCQ ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 The RJD leaders comments come in the backdrop of growing demands from the Opposition lawmakers that the top government figures, including the Prime Minister, should take the COVID-19 vaccine first to dispel fears regarding the vaccine. It may be noted that several opposition lawmakers have strongly disapproved the indigenously developed COVID-19 vaccines. The comments from the RJD leader came three days after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the state government was all prepared for administering Covid 19 vaccinations across the state. On Tuesday, Nitish Kumar said, We are prepared for administering vaccination in Bihar," and spelt out the priority list for the vaccination drive. The vaccination will be done in accordance with the Centres guidelines and priority will be given to those who are more than 50 years of age or are involved in professions like health care, frontline workers, priority age groups, public representatives, all people engaged in government works, contract workers, shopkeepers, traders and all vulnerable groups, etc.," the CM had said. It may be noted that Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that in the next few days, the government will be able to provide the COVID-19 vaccines to the countrymen as the second dry run for the mass vaccination began in 736 districts across 33 States/UTs. The Health Minister said this after his visit to the session site in Government General Hospital in Chennai to review the second dry run for coronavirus vaccination. "In a short time, India has done well by developing vaccines... In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers," the Minister said. He added that the government has ensured that every detail regarding vaccination is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroots level."Lakhs of healthcare workers are being trained through these dry runs, and the process to train more is still going on," Dr Vardhan stated. The Minister is on a visit to Tamil Nadu to oversee the dry run drill for vaccination. He is scheduled to visit Session Site at government Omandurar hospital in Chennai, vaccination centre at Apollo hospital in Chennai, and vaccination centre in Chengalpattu, Chennai. The second nationwide mock drill on the COVID-19 vaccination is being held at three-session sites of 736 districts across 33 States/UTs today. The dry run is aimed at testing the laid out mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in the health system and to assess operational feasibility of using Co-WIN application in a field environment for planning, implementation, and reporting at the block, district, and state level. According to the Health Ministry, the objective of the mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination is to simulate the actual vaccine administration event. On Thursday, Dr Harsh Vardhan had directed all States/Union Territories to be vigilant against rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Live TV Top defense leaders are pushing back against criticism that they were ill-prepared for Wednesday's massive security lapse at the U.S. Capitol, in which a mob was able to swarm past federal law enforcement personnel and enter the building, leaving the vice president and members of Congress in danger. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy defended the decision to stage a few hundred National Guard members around the city leading up to the breach, citing unclear information about how many protesters would be in Washington, D.C., this week. Intelligence on crowd size, McCarthy said in a Thursday call with reporters, "was all over the board." "The problem was the range," he said, adding that estimates put the size of the protests anywhere from 2,000 to 80,000 people. Read Next: Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly Says Trump Has Poisoned Americans' Minds, Needs to Go Kenneth Rapuano, assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense, stressed that the Defense Department does not conduct domestic intelligence. "We are totally reliant on federal, state and local law enforcement," he said. "When we are getting requests for assistance, we are not conducting our own assessments of what different groups in the United States might be doing." As late as Monday or Tuesday, the Defense Department was informed by local leaders that additional military support was not needed, said Pentagon spokesman Jonathan Hoffman. President Donald Trump told his supporters to come to the nation's capital on the day lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence would be voting to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory. "Will be wild!" he tweeted. Trump has disputed Biden's win, alleging -- without proof -- that the election was stolen from him. The president addressed his supporters on Wednesday, urging them to march to the Capitol. Once there, they broke down barriers and grappled with federal police to storm the building -- something McCarthy said earlier on Thursday that no one had anticipated in their "wildest imagination." Story continues Lawmakers and reporters sheltered in place as Trump supporters walked through congressional buildings, destroying offices, breaking windows and posing with statues. Members of Congress were forced to don protective equipment after Capitol police deployed tear gas to disperse the mob. During the time Trump's supporters were in the building, McCarthy said there was "tremendous confusion coming out of the Capitol." He and other federal officials put together a hasty plan to reestablish a security perimeter around the Capitol's front doors, he said, and they then sent tactical teams inside to clear the chambers and leadership offices. "[We] moved very quickly to clear the Capitol and get the Congress back in there by 8 p.m. so they could certify the election," McCarthy said. Questions arose Wednesday about the lack of a response from the National Guard. Juxtaposed with the high troop presence during last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, it appeared light. During the earlier protests, the Guard was accused of flying helicopters dangerously low over protesters and top military leaders were photographed walking through an area by the White House that had been forcibly cleared. When asked if Wednesday's response was kept intentionally small due to the backlash the military faced last summer, McCarthy said the response to those protests -- which erupted after the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed in police custody -- happened over several days. "Yesterday was a very short fuse," he said. "... To be able to marshal enough National Guardsmen takes hours -- several hours, if not maybe even a day or two." Acting Defense Secretary Christopher C. Miller has now authorized the mobilization of up to 6,200 National Guardsmen from Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. They will be in Washington for at least 30 days, McCarthy said, and officials are now assessing the appropriate presence for Inauguration Day. There are currently more than 740 Guard members on Capitol grounds now. Some are setting up a new fence that is expected to help secure the building through Biden's inauguration. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: The National Guard Is Fencing Off the US Capitol Complex for at Least 30 Days For a man whose name is practically synonymous with the county, Rick Stein is adamant. He may have made his home there for decades, but in no way can he call himself a Cornishman. I wouldnt dream of it, he laughs. My boys are Cornish because they were all born there, but Im quite happy just to be an admirer. Hes much more than that, of course. From boyhood holidays to the time when, in his twenties, he moved there and in time opened his now-renowned restaurant in the fishing village of Padstow, Ricks had a long-term love affair with this lush corner of the UK. Its a passion hes channelled into Rick Steins Cornwall, a new 15-part series in which he burrows behind the familiar postcard images to show some of this tourist Meccas hidden side, from art and history to music and its tin-mining heritage along with a couple of resident celebrities including Dawn French. Rick Stein, 73, (pictured) who lives in Cornwall, delves into the art and history in the hidden side of the tourist county in a new 15-part series Theres a foodie vein running through it too, of course, with Rick cooking up a few of his favourite recipes and introducing the viewer to some of his own suppliers. Its unashamedly indulgent TV, which is exactly what Rick wanted it to be. Our series is feelgood, no question about it, he laughs. But at the same time for most people, I suppose Cornwall is about beach holidays so its trying to say theres all this other stuff as well. Theres so much to see, so many places to visit that are just a bit different, and thats what were trying to get over. Hes in a jovial mood as he chats over the phone from his Cornish home, his wife Sarah (who he affectionately calls Sas) hovering in the background. Hes fresh from a dip in the sea, something he tries to do most days when hes there, even braving it without a wetsuit. Its actually warmer in the sea at this time of year in Cornwall than it is in March, he says. And its very good for you, though if Im in for more than ten minutes at this time of year Ill put a wetsuit on. Even today, aged 73, he can remember those first magical boyhood glimpses of the sea that marked the start of annual summer holidays at the clifftop Art Deco house his father had built in Cornwall in the 1930s. It always made a great impression on me, he recalls. Arriving in the county from the family home in Oxfordshire was like entering this new, wonderful world, he says, a bit like going into Narnia through the wardrobe. Yet the family association with Cornwall actually stretches back to the start of the First World War, when his German grandparents bought a house in the county. Rick visits the house his father built in Cornwall in the first episode of the series, pictured My grandparents were born in England but spoke German and had a German name. 'Obviously in the First World War there was a lot of anti-German feeling so they bought this holiday house to get the children away, or at least give them a break from London, to a place where the sentiment was less robust, he explains. So we go back a long way, but very much as tourists. By the 1930s his father had decided to build his own house there although the building, perched like a ship overlooking the sea at Trevose Head, was actually an experimental affair. Rick visits the house in the first episode and explains, It was built a bit on the cheap because my dad and uncle were actually trying out a new material, plasterboard, and they built this house to see how it would weather Atlantic storms, he recalls. The seas warmer now than it is in March So it was never made to last a long time, and its still difficult to maintain because its not built to withstand the elements, but it looks beautiful. A lot has changed since those days, of course: when Rick first moved to Cornwall in the 1960s shortly after graduating in English from Oxford University, the county still felt remote. During the summer it was lovely, but in the winter it was hard to find people to mingle with, he reflects. Now, though, there are so many more lively people living here all the time that it doesnt feel anything like as lost. Although in some ways one has also lost a bit because, in those early days, once the tourists had gone youd get Cornwall back for six months. Rick examines culinary delights in addition to artistic heritage during the series. Pictured: Rick and Kurt Jackson An accidental restaurateur who initially opened a nightclub in Padstow before it lost its licence, Rick recalls how, when he decided to open his seafood restaurant there with then-wife Jill in 1975, a local comedian he played rugby with at the time pooh-poohed the idea. I said to him, Jethro, you ought to come down and have some fish at my restaurant. He said, I dont like fish. I said we would do steaks as well, and he told me theyd still taste of fish, he laughs. So, things have moved on. Cornwalls artistic heritage as well as its culinary delights come under Ricks scrutiny in the series. In one episode he talks to Anthony Frost, the son of late abstract artist Terry Frost, about the extraordinary collection of talent fostered around the seaside village of St Ives. 'He talked about the incredible density of first-rate artists in that small Cornish fishing town and what it was like to be among that, he says. Understanding the impact these artists had on the world art scene was quite something. For years a less picturesque industry underpinned the economy. In the 1870s Cornwall led the world in tin mining, with about 2,000 mines. The last Cornish tin mine closed as recently as 1998. Pictured: A disused tin mine near St Agnes The miners were proud, but conditions were awful, he says. Life expectancy wasnt much over 30. Their lives would have been like you see today in some dreadful mine in South America. At one point an expert takes viewers right down the mines, under the sea, and points out their deadly legacy. When the groundwater dissipates theres arsenic left on the walls. They used to get kids to go in and scrape the arsenic off. They suffered terrible sores and collapsed lungs, he says. The last Cornish tin mine, South Crofty near Redruth, closed its gates for the last time as recently as 1998, and two decades on, Cornwalls majestic beaches, abundant scenery, seafood and art draw thousands of people every year. Many other parts of the UK offer similar splendours, of course, but Rick thinks Cornwall has a unique quality. It has become so much part of peoples collective imagination, he says. There is definitely something special about it. Rick Steins Cornwall, Monday-Friday, 6.30pm, BBC2. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Ahead of the eighth round of talks between the farmers and the government, the Congress leaders on Friday appealed to the people to speak up for the farmers. Rahul Gandhi tweeted in Hindi, "Peaceful protest is a part of democracy, our farmer brothers and sisters who are protesting are getting support from the nation, you also raise your voice and join your voice with them so that the farm laws are scrapped." Former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan Sachin Pilot also tweeted in Hindi and said "To raise voice against these farm laws brought by the Central government, it is our duty to raise our voice so that the demands of the farmers reach the egoistic and insensitive BJP government." The farmers' protest has been going on for the past 44 days at the Delhi borders and talks with the government have remained inconclusive so far. The eighth round of meeting on Friday is being held a day after the farmers held the tractor March on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Highway on the Delhi borders in which over 5,000 tractors and trolleys took part. The farmers have been demanding the repealing of the three farm laws and guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. The seventh round of talks between the farmers and the government remained inconclusive on January 4. The government has said that it is ready to make amendments in the three laws, however, the farmers are adamant on repealing all the three -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE New Mexico established a vaccination call center Thursday as it prepares to announce who will be part of the next priority group for COVID-19 shots. The state has already announced it expects those 75 and older to be part of the next group, and federal recommendations suggest offering the next round of vaccinations also to teachers, grocery store employees and other front-line workers. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Meanwhile, the call center is intended to help people who have had trouble registering for the vaccine online or cant access the internet. New Mexicans have reported mixed success with the website cvvaccine.nmhealth.org set up to manage the vaccinations. The state is encouraging everyone to sign up with their age, employment and health conditions so they can be alerted when their vaccine is ready. Some residents say theyve had no trouble at all with the system, while others report technical issues. Dave McCoy, a 77-year-old Albuquerque resident who works for an advocacy group, said he got an email from the state this week notifying him that a vaccine was available. The website allowed him to schedule a day for the appointment, but not a specific time, he said, and when he showed up for his shot at an Albuquerque clinic, he was turned away for lack of an appointment. McCoy said he and several others waited in the cold for nothing. It was a bunch of elderly people, he said in a Journal interview. Initial supplies under Phase 1a, as officials called it targeted health care workers and people at long-term care facilities. But the shots have also been administered to people outside those groups, such as older adults, when supplies are available and to ensure none of the vaccine goes to waste. Jacob Kuriyan, a Corrales scientist whos older than 75, reported no problem getting a vaccine shot. He said he booked an appointment online the day after he was notified a vaccine was ready, and he got the shot at an Albuquerque clinic without getting out of the car. It was very, very orderly, Kuriyan said. Matt Bieber, a spokesman for the Department of Health, said the state is making improvements, but vaccine distribution is going well overall. There have been some instances, he said, of people having trouble scheduling booster shots, a challenge the state is working to address with a new online feature that should be available in the coming days. Vaccine registration and scheduling are going well, Bieber said in a written statement. The department is seeing tens of thousands of registrations per day; when users receive notification that a vaccine is available, they can schedule appointments in just a few clicks. The vaccination push comes as New Mexico prepares to announce its plan for opening up eligibility for the shot. Both vaccines available in New Mexico require two doses, spaced a few weeks apart. Dr. Tracie Collins, who leads the state Department of Health, said this week that she expects the next priority group known as Phase 1b to include people 75 and older. That would match a federal recommendation. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also suggests as candidates for vaccination in Phase 1b front-line essential workers including teachers, grocery store employees and first responders. But New Mexico hasnt yet announced its plans. The CDCs recommendation for Phase 1c is people 65 and older or those with medical conditions that increase their risk of COVID-19 complications. Collins estimated earlier this week that about 62,000 to 68,500 vaccines had been administered in New Mexico, from a supply of about 107,000 delivered to the state. The supply sent to New Mexico has since climbed to about 133,000 doses, according to the CDC. Almost 300,000 people have registered through the states vaccine website so far. New Mexico is working to deliver vaccine as quickly and efficiently as possible, Collins said in a written statement Thursday. We encourage everyone to register and we are pleased to provide in-person support to assist with that process. Cases still climbing New cases of COVID-19, meanwhile, continued to climb Thursday. New Mexico reported more than 1,800 new infections, pushing the states seven-day rolling average to its highest level in about two weeks. Health officials also reported 39 more virus-related fatalities, taking the statewide death toll to 2,680 residents. The victims were largely older adults, though they also included two men in their 40s and a woman in her 30s. The state has averaged about 1,280 new coronavirus cases a day over the past week an increase of 19% from Jan. 1. Its also the highest daily average since Dec. 25. About 14.2% of the states COVID-19 tests came back positive in the seven-day period reported by the state. Health officials reported 722 virus hospitalizations in New Mexico on Thursday, a number roughly in line with recent totals in the low 700s each day. A quantum battery constituted by a set of highly entangled spins in a fully connected and random network, named the SYK model. Credit: Rossini et al., PRL (2020). American Physical Society (APS). The Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model, an exactly solvable model devised by Subir Sachdev and Jinwu Ye, has recently proved useful for understanding the characteristics of different types of matter. As it describes quantum matter without quasiparticles and is simultaneously a holographic version of a quantum black hole, it has so far been adopted by both condensed matter and high-energy physicists. Researchers at University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) have recently used the SYK model to examine the charging protocols of quantum batteries. Their paper, published in Physical Review Letters, offers evidence of the potential of quantum mechanical resources for boosting the charging process of batteries. "Previous theoretical studies laid down the idea that entanglement can be used to greatly speed up the charging process of a quantum battery," Davide Rossini and Gian Marcello Andolina, two of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org, via email. "However, a concrete solid-state model displaying such fast charging was missing, until now." Rossini, Andolina and their colleagues realized that the SYK model is a good candidate for examining the fast-charging process of quantum batteries, as it is known to generate highly entangled dynamics. The model's many-body, real-time dynamics are ultimately sufficiently complex for it to outperform standard analytic approaches. "For our purposes, we found it convenient to employ a numerical treatment based on the exact-diagonalization of huge matrices," Rossini and Andolina explained. "We thus performed extensive numerical simulations, requiring up to 100 Gb of memory and around two weeks of computational time, on a high-performance computing cluster for scientific purposes." The model used by the researchers is the first to clearly delineate a quantum advantage in the charging speed of quantum batteries. Although this model is particularly difficult to use in laboratory settings, the recent work by Rossini, Andolina and their colleagues was a first and important step toward collecting experimental proof of this quantum advantage. "A battery is a rather complicated machine, which one would like to quickly charge, which should store energy for a long time and finally provide useful work," Rossini and Andolina said. "While we proved that quantum mechanical resources can boost the charging process, it is still unclear if they can be used to improve other tasks of such a hypothetical quantum battery, thus the investigation of quantum batteries is still at its infancy." The recent study carried out by Rossini, Andolina and their colleagues offers strong numerical evidence hinting to the advantage of applying quantum mechanical forces in batteries, which is enabled by underlying highly entangled quantum dynamics. In the future, it could pave the way towards the development of more batteries that can be charged faster. "An interesting possible addition to our work would be to apply the same concepts to thermal engines," Rossini said. "Since the 18th century, it [has been] known that the efficiency of a thermal engine cannot exceed a universal value known as the Carnot bound. Therefore, it is clear that quantum mechanical resources cannot be used to improve efficiency. However, no universal bound exists concerning the power, and we plan to study an SYK-based thermal engine to further investigate this issue." Explore further Quantum speed-up predicted for charging quantum batteries More information: Quantum advantage in the charging process of Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev batteries. Physical Review Letters(2020). Journal information: Physical Review Letters Quantum advantage in the charging process of Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev batteries.(2020). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.236402 2021 Science X Network The World Health Organization denied Thursday that Italian officials pressured it to spike a report into Italy's coronavirus response but said the UN agency should have shared the document with Italy's government before publishing it. Dr Hans Kluge, head of WHO's Europe office, said the agency's procedures had been overlooked, as he sought to explain WHO's decision to pull the report from its website a day after it was posted May 13. had already cleared all internal WHO approval protocols and been printed. The mystery over the spiked report became a headache for WHO and a problem for the Italian government. The document noted that Italy hadn't updated its influenza pandemic preparedness plan since 2006 and that its initial response as virus cases multiplied was improvised, chaotic and creative. Prosecutors in Italy's Bergamo province are investigating whether any criminal liability should be assigned over the vast number of deaths after Italy in late February became the first Western nation with a significant outbreak. They have questioned the reports lead coordinator, who has said an Italian WHO official pressured him to falsify the date of the pandemic plan. WHO previously said the report was removed because it contained unspecified factual inaccuracies and wasn't reposted because a different review process was adopted instead. Kluge said Thursday that the inaccuracies concerned a timeline about the virus in China, which the authors had immediately deleted and had new versions of the report printed without it. (AP) . . 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. Federal prosecutors in South Carolina will likely use the U.S. governments Anti-Riot Act to bring charges against South Carolinians who traveled to Washington, D.C., this week to join a mob that stormed the Capitol building. U.S. Attorney for South Carolina Peter McCoy pledged Wednesday night to prosecute anyone from South Carolina who participated in the mayhem that briefly disrupted the certification of the presidential election and left four people dead. But his office has limited jurisdiction over crimes committed in the nations capital. The federal riot law is a key tool at McCoys disposal in this case, current and former federal prosecutors told The Post and Courier Thursday. That law, enacted in 1968 in response to national protests over the Vietnam War and civil rights, makes it a federal crime to travel across state lines including via the internet or by mail with plans to incite a riot or participate in one. The wording of the law closely mirrors the kind of wrongdoing McCoy pledged to target in his Wednesday evening tweet. Charges under the Anti-Riot Act carry up to five years in prison. The nation's civil disorder law, also employed against protesters in riots last year, makes it a federal crime to to obstruct, impede, or interfere with firefighters or police officers performing their duties. McCoy and other U.S. attorneys will be under pressure to crack down on the mob of President Donald Trump's supporters that violently overtook the Capitol building Wednesday. He could not be reached for comment Thursday on his plans for prosecuting the offenders. Last year, at the instruction of Trump and then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr, federal prosecutors across the country took a hard-line stance on rioting that emerged from protests over the death of George Floyd, a Black man who was killed by Minneapolis police in May. McCoys office charged six people in connection with rioting in Charleston and Columbia, with crimes ranging from violating the Anti-Riot Act to arson and firearms violations. Former U.S. Attorney Pete Strom said he expects federal officials to approach Wednesdays riot with similar gusto. These congressmen saw their lives flash before them, Strom said. This could have gone a lot worse if those people had been armed. I think youre going to see a significant federal interest in getting to the bottom of who is driving all this." To charge someone under the Anti-Riot Act, investigators will first need to identify people who participated in the mob. Then they will dig into the participants prior communications to determine whether they planned for the protest to become violent, a source close to the FBI investigation said. Investigators will likely rifle through suspects social media posts, private messages and email accounts, said Strom, who served under President Bill Clinton. Prosecutors will probably throw the book at anyone determined to be an organizer. Finding the perpetrators should be relatively easy, former prosecutors agreed. Many were not wearing masks, despite shouting in close-quarters crowds for hours during a global pandemic. They stormed a building with a robust surveillance system. They posed for photos as they ransacked congressional offices and the U.S. Senate chamber, and they posted those pictures to social media as if there would be no consequences. Thats the way mob mentality works, former U.S. Attorney Bill Nettles said. They think what they are doing is OK. A number of South Carolinians attended Wednesdays rally to protest the results of the presidential election and assert, without evidence, that Democratic former Vice President Joe Biden is not the lawful winner. It is unclear how many of them became violent with police at the Capitol building. Thursday morning, the FBI tweeted it is seeking to identify people who instigated the violence. We are accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting or violence in and around the U.S. Capitol on January 6, the agency tweeted. If you have information, visit fbi.gov/USCapitol. The posts replies filled quickly with commenters trying to identify rioters. Nettles applauded McCoy, a Trump appointee, for promising to pursue charges. "At a bare minimum, everybody can agree that the president didnt do anything to keep it from happening," said Nettles, a Democrat. "I applaud Peter for talking a bold stand on that issue. When actress Sienna Miller split up from her fiance, publishing boss Lucas Zwirner, four months ago, she returned from New York to London to be comforted by her older sister, Savannah. Now I hear Sienna hopes to make the move more permanent after spending Christmas and New Year with her sister and family in the Cotswolds. When actress Sienna Miller (pictured) split up from her fiance, publishing boss Lucas Zwirner, four months ago, she returned from New York to London to be comforted by her older sister, Savannah With the pandemic and the political climate in the U.S., being near to family has never felt so important, says a source close to the 39-year-old mother of one, who moved to the U.S. in 2016. ADVERTISEMENT Shes been talking to friends about moving back for good. Click here to resize this module I now know why I didnt become BBC Chairman, says Kelvin MacKenzie, the former Sun editor who applied unsuccessfully for the role. Unlike Richard Sharp I hadnt given 400,000 to the Tories. Sharp is a former Goldmans banker where he was [Chancellor, Rishi] Sunaks boss and big in the arts world. 'He is worth 500 million. Perhaps he might buy the BBC personally and save us 157.50? Stunning figures boost Caras career Shes Britains highest paid supermodel and her earnings are as eye-popping as her colourful private life with new accounts revealing Cara Delevingne has amassed a nest egg of 30.3 million. And her company Cara & Co, which deals with her modelling and acting activities, report a turnover at 15.7m, and a pre-tax profit at 12.3m for the year ended December 2019. Shes Britains highest paid supermodel and her earnings are as eye-popping as her colourful private life with new accounts revealing Cara Delevingne (pictured) has amassed a nest egg of 30.3 million Cara, 28, is certainly making waves across the pond as her accounts report for the first time the existence of two U.S. subsidiary companies New York-based Cara & Co (U.S.) inc and Los Angeles-based Hot Mess Industries LLC. Cara is also a director of her familys property empire called Harvey White Properties Ltd, along with sisters Poppy and Chloe, and their father Charles. Keith Richards is mourning the loss of his favourite English-style pub, Marcs Place, in Connecticut where he has a home. The Rolling Stones guitarist, 77, has been living with his daughter, Alexandra, 34, who says: Were heartbroken that one of our favourite family restaurants has closed due to the pandemic. Adding that it was our go-to spot. Royals rarely enter the political fray but the demo in Capitol Hill spurred Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, who moved his family to the U.S. in 2017, to speak out. ADVERTISEMENT Im not normally political here, Prince Charless godson declares on social media. But events in Washington DC are what the 25th Amendment was designed for [it allows the vice president to take over]. The President has disgraced the highest office and the democracy it stands for. Some might say Noels girl is posh Noel Gallaghers model daughter Anais claims her posh accent is a turn-off. The 20-year-old, whose mother is Noels ex, Meg Mathews, says: People know my family, what they sound like, how they dress. 'It disappoints people when they hear me, because they have a perception that Im going to be so Mancunian, then I come along and sound so posh. Anais Gallagher, 20, (pictured), whose mother is Noels ex, Meg Mathews, says: People know my family, what they sound like, how they dress' I want to be my own person. No matter how much success I have, Im never going to have as much success as my dad. I will always be Noel Gallaghers daughter. Posh daughter, surely. Sacked Eton beak coins it in with online tutoring Will Knowland was ignominiously sacked from Eton College, but it does not seem to have harmed his earning potential. I have discovered the English teacher offers lessons via online tutoring website First Tutors, where he charges 80 an hour or 90 for exam tuition. The father-of-fives nine-year position at Britains top public school ended after he refused to remove a lecture challenging gender roles from YouTube, that led to a storm over free speech. With the headmaster threatening to refer me to the Teaching Regulation Agency, potentially banning me from the classroom for life, at least I can be grateful to Covid for boosting demand for my online tutoring, says Knowland. ADVERTISEMENT Virtual pupils are keen. Will has been fantastic, says one. His lessons are exciting and fun, while challenging at the same time. Is there anything he cant teach? Please note I am unable to tutor students seeking admission to Eton College. The COVID vaccine is safe, efficient, and represents "the only chance" to return to normalcy, Health Minister Vlad Voiculescu said on Friday during an online event organized by the Romanian College of Physicians. "We can only win the war by vaccination. I think this was quite obvious for everyone ever since the start of this pandemic and it's becoming increasingly clearer with the new challenges we see every day. (...) For us to return to normal, the vaccine is our only solution. (...) We will try in the next period to continue to communicate as openly as possible, with empathy, we are trying to always show the truth, and the truth is that vaccination is safe, efficient and life-saving. (...) We are building a team to fight misinformation, we will respond in real time to any false information and we will send out clear and simple information that shows the truth, and the truth is that, as I said, vaccination is safe and efficient and is our only chance to return to normalcy," said Voiculescu. According to the Health Minister, the platform for booking appointments for the second vaccination stage will be greatly improved and much easier to use. He added that according to estimates, roughly 1.3 million Romanians will have received the jab by early April. "To be completely honest, we have to say that we have a limited stock of vaccines and the number of new vaccine recipients will decrease because we will have to inoculate those from stage one with the repeat dose," the Health Minister explained. BANGKOK (AP) Thailand reported 527 new coronavirus cases, most of them migrant workers who already were isolated, and the government said it was tightening movements of people around the country. Thailand has been struggling with a sudden virus surge after months of hardly any cases of domestic transmission. Field hospitals were being set up in parts of five provinces with many cases. Large parts of the country, including the capital Bangkok, are under various lockdown restrictions, and the government said it will additionally restrict travel between virus-hit provinces to goods, cargo and necessary travel, and set up checkpoints on some roads. Of the new cases confirmed Tuesday, 439 were migrants, 82 were local transmissions and six were in quarantined travelers, the Center of COVID-19 Situation Administration said. The total was a drop from the 745 registered Monday, the all-time high in Thailand, where the first case of the virus outside China was detected last January. Most of the surge since last month has been in Samut Sakhon province, next to Bangkok, among migrant workers living in dormitories and employed in fish markets and factories. A field hospital next to the market is treating the infected migrants. Although it has canceled public activities and gatherings and shut schools, bars and other places where people gather, the government has not yet taken measures as strict as those that it imposed in March when it successfully stamped out local transmission. Malls and department stores remain open with social distancing required, and indoor dining at restaurants is allowed until 9 p.m. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha instead implored people to stay home. We dont want to lock down the entire country because we know what the problems are, so can you all lock down yourselves? he said. This is up to everyone, if you dont want to get infected just stay home for 14 to 15 days." The government also has been scrambling to acquire more vaccines after an initial period of complacency. Story continues Prayuth said Monday that Thailand is seeking to secure 63 million doses, which wouldn't cover half of its population of about 70 million. It so far has about 28 million doses on order for later in the year. In other developments in the Asia-Pacific region: Sri Lankan authorities say they will fully reopen the country's two international airports and allow the return of tourists who undergo coronavirus tests starting Jan. 21. Foreign tourists were banned in March when the first wave of COVID-19 surfaced. Under a pilot project last month, hundreds of tourists were allowed from Ukraine in a travel bubble." In the new program, tourists must be tested in their country 72 hours prior to their flight, when they arrive at their hotel and again seven days later. Tourism Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said Tuesday the decision to reopen airports and tourism was made because of the plight of people who depend on the tourism industry. Tourism accounts for about 5% of Sri Lanka's GDP and employs 250,000 people directly and up to 2 million indirectly. Sri Lanka has reported 45,498 COVID-19 cases, including 215 deaths. Qantas Airways has begun selling seats on international flights from July 1 despite the Australian government's ban on most residents leaving the country. Australias flagship airline said on Tuesday it is selling tickets on the expectation that international travel will begin to restart from July. We continue to review and update our international schedule in response to the developing COVID-19 situation, it said in a statement. Since March, Australia has prevented most citizens and residents from leaving so they wont bring the coronavirus back to the island nation. Travelers from New Zealand are the only ones spared 14 days of hotel quarantine on arrival in Australia in recognition of the near neighbors success in controlling the virus. Australian Transport Minister Michael McCormack said borders will be reopened when international arrivals do not pose a risk to Australians. Decisions about when international travel resumes will be made by the Australian government, McCormack said in a statement. China has designated parts of Hebei province near Beijing as a coronavirus high danger zone after 14 new cases of COVID-19 were found. Eleven of those cases were in Shijiazhuang city. Parts of the city will undergo stricter testing and isolation measures, and areas of another Hebei city with new cases were registered as medium risk areas. Medical investigators were looking into whether a single event such as a family gathering had been the origin of many of the cases. Wary of another wave of infections, China is urging migrant workers to stay put during the Lunar New Year holiday. Classes are being dismissed early and tourists are being told not to come to Beijing for holidays. Indonesia will begin COVID-19 vaccinations on Jan. 13, with President Joko Widodo the first recipient. Minister of Health Budi Gunadi Sadikin said Tuesday that other government ministers will receive the vaccine after the president. A broader program will begin the following day that will prioritize 1.3 million health workers and 17.4 million public officers. The vaccine from China's Sinovac Biotech must still receive emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Supervisory Agency and halal approval from the Indonesian Ulema Council. The Health Ministry says it will take 15 months to vaccinate its total population of 181.5 million people. On Tuesday, the country reported 7,445 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the confirmed total to 779,548, including 23,109 deaths. India has reported 20 more cases of a new fast-spreading variant of the coronavirus originally found in Britain, taking its total to 58. Health officials havent said whether the infections were found in people who returned from the U.K., or were spread locally. Overall confirmed cases of the coronavirus, however, remain on a downturn trajectory since hitting a mid-September peak. India has reported more than 10.3 million cases and over 150,000 deaths. It soon plans a massive vaccination program targeting about 300 million people by August. The government has granted emergency-use approval for two vaccines, one developed by Oxford University and U.K.-based drug maker AstraZeneca, and another by Indian company Bharat Biotech and a government institute. The Indian vaccine was hailed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a success in Indias self-reliance push but ran into controversy because the countrys regulator has not published information about its efficacy. The watchdog All India Drug Action Network said it was baffled to understand the scientific logic in approving an incompletely studied vaccine. The policy branch of the Republican Attorneys General Association, which is led by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall, helped organize the march in Washington that turned into a riot and attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to Documented, an organization that describes itself as a watchdog group investigating corporate influence. Marshall said decisions were made without his knowledge. The RAGA policy branch, called the Rule of Law Defense Fund, put out a robocall urging people to march to the Capitol building and call on Congress to stop the steal, according to the Documented story, which has a recording of the call. Marshall released a statement today in response to questions by reporters about the Rule of Law Defense Funds involvement in the march: I was unaware of unauthorized decisions made by RLDF staff with regard to this weeks rally. Despite currently transitioning into my role as the newly elected chairman of RLDF, it is unacceptable that I was neither consulted about nor informed of those decisions. I have directed an internal review of this matter. As I said yesterday, I condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the actions of those who attempted to storm the U.S. Capitol, a place where passionate but peaceful protestors had gathered and lawmakers debated inside. Our country is built upon the foundation of the rule of law. American democracy guarantees the right of peaceful protest. Those who chose to engage in violence and anarchy should and will be held accountable under the law. Marshall did not say what the unauthorized decisions were. The RAGA named Marshall chairman of its policy branch in November. RAGA Executive Director Adam Piper also released a statement that denied involvement but that also mentioned an unauthorized staff decision without being specific. The Republican Attorneys General Association and Rule of Law Defense Fund had no involvement in the planning, sponsoring, or the organization of yesterdays rally, Piper said. No Republican AG authorized the staffs decision to amplify a colleague speaking at the rally. Organizationally and individually, we strongly condemn and disavow the events which occurred. Yesterday was a dark day in American history and those involved in the violence and destruction of property must be prosecuted and held accountable. Democratic Attorneys General Association Co-Chairs Maura Healey of Massachusetts and Aaron Ford of Nevada released a statement in response to news stories that the Rule of Law Defense Fund helped organize the protest. The continued peddling of conspiracy theories and pandering to President Trumps dangerous lies by the Republican Attorneys General Association, the Rule of Law Defense Fund, and some current and former Republican Attorneys General has gone unchecked for too long, they said. Current and former Republican AGs have been directly involved with efforts to undermine the results of the 2020 presidential election, and now the party of so-called law and order played a role in recruiting the domestic terrorists who breached the U.S. Capitol to attack Vice President Mike Pence for doing his Constitutionally-mandated job to certify the Electoral College. Marshall has taken part in some efforts to challenge the legitimacy of Joe Bidens election. In December, he joined a lawsuit filed by the Texas attorney to contest Bidens wins in four swing states Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear the case. Dozens of other lawsuits filed by Trump also failed in federal and state courts. When Marshall spoke at Alabamas Electoral College voting ceremony at the State Capitol on Dec. 14, he said election results in some states were inconclusive. Election officials in those states have certified their results as accurate and the former attorney general who served under Trump, William Barr, said there is no evidence of widespread fraud that would affect Bidens win. The RAGA created the Rule of Law Defense Fund in 2014 to be a forum for conservative attorneys general to study important legal issues, according to the funds website. It is organized as a nonprofit under section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code. Updated at 1:45 p.m. on Jan. 8 to add statement from Democratic Attorneys General Association. Security: Armoured vehicles outside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, to prevent further riots. Photo: Erin Scott / Reuters Donald Trump was last night facing the prospect of being removed from office before the end of his presidential term as Democratic congressional leaders threatened impeachment unless the cabinet forced his exit. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic Party leaders in the US House of Representatives and Senate respectively, demanded Mr Trumps immediate removal amid outrage at his actions before the US Capitol was stormed by a mob of his supporters. They publicly called on Mike Pence, the US vice-president, to invoke the 25th amendment, a mechanism that removes a president who is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Such a move would need to be backed by Mr Pence and a majority of Mr Trumps cabinet. There were media reports that some cabinet members were discussing the possibility but it remained unclear how seriously it was being considered. Read More To back up their ultimatum Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer warned that they were willing to start impeachment, a process where the US Congress acts to remove a sitting president. In an extraordinary press conference Ms Pelosi dubbed Mr Trump a dangerous man, adding: A threshold was crossed of such magnitude that there is no way this president should be allowed to make any decision. Ms Pelosi also called Mr Trump a complete tool of Putin, referring to the Russian president Vladimir Putin, for the damage he had done to US democracy. Mr Trump was impeached by the House in 2019 and acquitted by the Senate early last year. No US president has ever been impeached twice. The remarkable developments are unprecedented in modern American politics. It raises the possibility that Mr Trump could be forced from office even though only 12 days remain before Joe Biden is inaugurated as the next president on January 20. The moves reflect a spasm of fury among congressmen and from within the Trump administration at the storming of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob on Wednesday as the Senate and the House were certifying Mr Bidens win in Novembers presidential victory. The president had addressed a crowd of tens of thousands of supporters on Wednesday morning urging them to march to the Capitol to stop the steal and show strength. Yesterday, it was confirmed that four people died in the Capitol building: one was shot and three were due to medical emergencies. At least 68 people were arrested. By 3pm yesterday there had been no public appearance from Mr Trump, who is yet to condemn the extremists who stormed the Capitol in his name. His Twitter account, a frequent means of communication, had remained suspended and Facebook banned him from its site and Instagram until he leaves office. The president had released a statement via an advisers Twitter account on Wednesday night when Congress, reconvened after the violence, confirmed Mr Bidens victory. Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20, Mr Trump wrote. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, its only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again! The remarks appeared to be an attempt to stem the backlash over his role in Wednesdays chaos and to limit resignations that were already beginning to be announced. However, Elaine Chao, the US transport secretary, yesterday became the first member of Mr Trumps cabinet to resign over the incident. Michael Mulvaney, Mr Trumps former chief of staff who still held the role of US special envoy to Northern Ireland, also quit. Other resignations included Matthew Pottinger, the deputy national security adviser, Stephanie Grisham, chief of staff to Melania Trump the First Lady, and Sara Matthews, White House deputy press secretary. More were expected. Much of what happens next depends on Mr Pence, who would step into the presidency if Mr Trump was removed. By yesterday afternoon he had made no public comment, but friends close to the vice president made clear how furious he was. Mr Pence, a loyal ally of Mr Trump throughout his four years, had resisted the presidents calls for him to throw out the election results as he presided over the Senate proceedings. Joe Biden, the president-elect, yesterday escalated his criticism of Mr Trumps supporters actions although he stopped short of calling for the presidents removal. Mr Biden said: What we witnessed yesterday was not dissent. It was not disorder. It was not protest. It was chaos. They werent protesters. Dont dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob, insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. Its that basic, its that simple. I wish we could say we couldnt see it coming. Mr Biden also accused the authorities of treating the Trump-supporting mob more leniently than Black Lives Matter protesters. The full scale of the devastation wrought by the mob was beginning to become apparent yesterday. Congressional offices were ransacked, papers strewn over floors. The woman who died after being shot inside the Capitol was named as Ashli Babbitt (35) from Maryland. US Capitol Police said the employee who fired the shot was placed on administrative leave amid a thorough review. The three people who died from medical emergencies were Benjamin Phillips (50) from Ringtown, Pennsylvania; Kevin Greeson (55) from Athens, Alabama; and Rosanne Boyland (34) from Kennesaw, Georgia. Yesterday there was widespread debate about how security had failed so badly, allowing hundreds of pro-Trump supporters to sweep into the Capitol. The US Secret Service, which is responsible for Mr Bidens protection, is also reassessing its security plans for the day, said the Washington Post. Mr Trump yesterday awarded medals of freedom to sportsmen at the White House. Reporters were not invited. ( Telegraph) Read More Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Foxx this week also released a video on YouTube regarding the incident at the Capitol and said it was propelled by an undercurrent of white supremacy, similar to what she experienced in April 2019 during the height of fallout from her offices handling of the Jussie Smollett case in which the former Empire actor allegedly staged an attack on himself. Foxx focused on a rally that took place outside the Daley Center and was organized by the police union, which the Chicago Sun-Times reported included groups with ties to white nationalists. Admit card is an important document for the ICAI CA January 2021 exam. ICAI CA January 2021 admit card has been released by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) on its official website - icaiexam.icai.org. The hall ticket for the Foundation, Intermediate (IPC), Intermediate, Final and Final-New examination has been released along with candidate's photographs and signatures on it. ICAI has said that it will not be sending physical admit cards to any candidates. Students will be required to download and take a printout of the call letter from the portal. ICAI will be conducting the Chartered Accountants (CA) exam between 21 January and 7 February. The exam is being held for students who have opted-out from November 2020 examinations and selected to appear for the November 2020 Cycle-II test. As per a report by NDTV, ICAI has also released an undertaking along with the admit cards. Minor candidates appearing for ICAI CA January 2021 exam will have to undertake that they are appearing for the test with the consent and permission of their parents/ guardian. A report by Jagran Josh said that the ICAI CA January 2021 admit card will mention candidates' name, roll number, registration, exam centre details. It will also have the instructions that students will have to follow on the day of the examination. Admit card is an important document for the ICAI CA January 2021 exam. If a student fails to carry it to the exam centre, he/ she will not be allowed to write the test. Along with the hall ticket, examinees will have to carry an original photo identity proof for verification. Steps to download ICAI CA January 2021 admit card: Step 1: Open the official website of ICAI - icaiexam.icai.org. Step 2: Click on the Login/ Register tab on the homepage. Step 3: Key in your Login ID and Password. Step 4: Tap on admit card download link. FCW Insider: Jan. 8 The rule change will restrict the use of official time for union representatives working with complainants on discrimination charges. The Virginia Democrat, who is set to become the chairman of the intelligence committee, also called a "full sum review" of reporting obligations by public and private sector entities following cybersecurity breaches. The Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency said on Jan. 6 that there is evidence of suspected hackers are breaching federal networks without exploiting a recently discovered flaw in SolarWinds Orion product. For reasons that remained unclear Wednesday night, ProPublica reports, the law enforcement authorities charged with protecting the nation's entire legislative branch -- nearly all of the 535 members of Congress gathered in a joint session, along with Vice President Mike Pence -- were ill-prepared to contain the forces massed against them. Quick Hits *** President-Elect Joe Biden will select Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to serve as Secretary of Labor. Walsh, a former union official, takes control of an agency with broad authority over federal contractors. *** President Donald Trump withdrew the nomination of acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Jan. 7, just hours after Wolf released a statement calling on the president to condemn the storming of the Capitol Building by his supporters on Wednesday. The Senate is in recess and will not take up Wolf's nomination before Trump's term expires but the move was seen as a rebuke, considering that the president had renominated multiple individuals for Senate-confirmed positions whose nominations had expired at the close of the last Congress. *** The deadline to make Federal 100 nominations has been extended. You now have until Friday, Jan. 15 to get them in. Official names countries Ukraine intends to develop trade with in 2021 The first stage of preparation for talks with Egypt, Tunisia, and Jordan has already started. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Union environment minister asserted on Friday that India is the only country to keep its commitments on climate action, despite accounting for only six to seven per cent of total in the world. Speaking at a webinar organised by Merchants' Chamber of Commerce & Industry here, Javadekar also claimed that the country is not responsible for climate change, but it is working towards enhancing the generation of solar and renewable energy. "India is the only country which is honouring its commitment on climate change, even though it is not responsible for it. Several other countries are now preaching carbon neutralisation, something that Indian industry has adopted on its own. "The Indian industry is taking steps themselves to go carbon neutral. And they are doing it responsibly," he said. Javadekar also said that the country should gradually shift towards electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce pollution. "Prices of EVs, as of now, are at least 40 per cent higher than their counterparts in diesel and petrol variants. But with the rising volume of EV sales, prices will come down," he stated. The Union minister said initially 3000 battery charging stations will be set up along Delhi-Chandigarh and Delhi-Agra highway. The government has allowed a battery swapping policy as well, under which discharged batteries would be replaced at designated facilities. Talking about the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, Javadekar said that the government had pumped in Rs 30 lakh crore to boost targeted sectors of the economy. "This had helped the country to tread on the path of revival," he added. China will work with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to make greater contribution to building a regional community with shared future for health, Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson, Hua Chunying said on Friday BEIJING (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2021 ) ::China will work with Pakistan and other neighbouring countries to make greater contribution to building a regional community with shared future for health, Chinese Foreign Ministry's Spokesperson, Hua Chunying said on Friday. "China would like to work with all sides in implementing our consensus and make greater contribution to building a regional community with shared future for health," she said during her regular briefing in response to a question about China recently held meeting on anti-epidemic cooperation with Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. She informed that China, Pakistan Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh held the first meeting on anti-epidemic cooperation and poverty reduction cooperation on January 6. "This is a follow up of the China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal Foreign Ministers meeting in last July and the China, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh's Vice Foreign Ministers meeting last November," he added. The spokesperson said that in this meeting the representatives shared experience on anti-epidemic and poverty relief, adding, They talked about dealing with the impact of the pandemic, resuming economic and trade cooperation, dealing with non-traditional security challenges and advancing sustainable development and reached initial consensus. "It shows our strong will and confidence in dealing with challenges together and achieving cooperation," she added. ADVERTISEMENT Togolese authorities should permit the LIndependant Express newspaper to publish freely, and should ensure that its director, Komlanvi Ketohou, can work without fear of arrest or harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the night of December 29, armed security forces arrested Ketohou at his home in the capital, Lome, took him into custody, and accused him of defaming the government, according to media reports as well as the journalist and his lawyer, Wle-Mbanewar Bataka, both of whom spoke to CPJ via phone and messaging app. On January 2, police released the journalist, also known as Carlos Ketohou, on the condition that he be available to authorities at any time, he told CPJ. Ketohou and Bataka said that they were not aware of any formal complaint sparking his arrest. On January 4, the Broadcast and Communications High Authority (HAAC), the countrys media regulator, ordered LIndependant Express to cease operations, including its print and online publications, according to a copy of the decision, Ketohou, and media reports. Today, Ketohou received a summons to appear before the Court of First Instance of First Class of Lome on January 11 in connection with the regulators decision, according to media reports, Ketohou, and a copy of the summons reviewed by CPJ. Togolese authorities detention of journalist Carlos Ketohou and the forced closure of his newspaper are flagrant violations of press freedom in the country, said Muthoki Mumo, CPJs sub-Saharan Africa representative, in Nairobi. Authorities should halt their intimidation of the press, and permit Ketohou to work without fear and LIndependant Express to work freely. The regulators decision alleges that a December 29 report by LIndependant Express defamed members of the government, and accused Ketohou of failing to provide adequate proof for the papers reporting. The decision said that the LIndependant Express did not respect professional rules under Sections 159 and 160 of Togos press code, which relate to insulting government officials and defamation. The December 29 report by LIndependant Express, a copy of which CPJ reviewed, was titled End-of-year scoop: Two women ministers arrested for theft of golden spoons. The report did not identify any government official by name. Ketohou said that security agents arrived at his home in the middle of the night after that article was published, and arrested him in front of his family, saying it left his children traumatized. During his detention, agents repeatedly questioned him about the article and his sources, he said. Interrogators also seized his phone and forced him to give up the password for his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and three email accounts, Ketohou told CPJ. Ketohou was initially detained at the local gendarmerie anti-gang brigade, and on the night of December 31 was moved to the gendarmeries Central Service of Research and Criminal Investigations (SRCIC), he said. He told CPJ that authorities had not returned his phone as of today. Following the Broadcast and Communications High Authoritys January 4 suspension order, LIndependant Express is prohibited from publishing stories pending a court decision on the matter, according to Ketohou, media reports, and the copy of the regulator decision reviewed by CPJ. If the court sides with the regulator, it could order the papers operating permits to be retracted, forcing it to shut down, according to those sources. Ketohou told CPJ that LIndependant Express was effectively closed while he awaited a courts decision. Offenses relating to media professionals and press companies carrying out written press, audiovisual press and online press activities are handled under Togos press code, rather than its penal code, according a government report from January 2020 and CPJs review of the press code. Violations of Section 159 are punishable with fines of up to five million West African francs ($9,380), and violations of Section 160 carry fines of up to three million francs ($5,628) according to the press code. CPJ called Togolese public prosecutor Blaise Essolizam Poyodi, Broadcast and Communications High Authority President Willybrond Telou Pitalounani, and Badibassa Babaka, an official with the regulator, for comment, but they did not answer. Ketohou told CPJ that since his arrest, his wife had received threatening calls from someone saying, We will come back, you will hear from us, and asking where she and Ketohou could be found. He said he believed the calls came from the same security forces who had arrested him. CPJ called that phone number, but no one answered. The Central government on Friday said that a total of 82 persons have been detected with the new 'more transmissible' UK coronavirus mutant strain. They have been kept in physical isolation in health facilities. Earlier on the day, a flight from the US landed in Delhi with 246 passengers on board amid concerns about the mutant strain that emerged in Britain. The flights from the UK resumed on Friday after the government suspended services between on December 23. According to the Health Ministry, all 82 persons have been kept in a single room isolation in designated healthcare facilities by respective state governments. Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine. "Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is going on," the ministry said. On December 29, a total of six UK returnees were found to be positive with the new variant genome. These were the first cases to be reported by the country that has the second highest number of cases after the US. The tracing and testing was initiated after the British Government announced that a newly identified strain of the virus was found in their population which is up to 70 per cent more transmissible. Notably, the new UK variant has already been reported by Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore. From November 25 to December 23 midnight, about 33,000 passengers disembarked at various Indian airports from the UK. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by the states and UTs to RT-PCR tests. The Union health ministry further stated that the situation was under careful watch and regular advice was being provided to the states for enhanced surveillance, containment, testing and dispatch of samples to labs. The Member of Parliament for Tema West constituency, Carlos Ahenkorah has apologized for snatching ballot papers during the election of a new Speaker. Carlos Ahenkorah became the meme on social media when he surprisingly snatched ballot papers from the hands of a Parliamentary official. In a statement shared on social media, the MP said his actions were for the "grassroots who relied on us in power to survive, the president who needs some peace to run the country and the greater NPP party as a whole because we cannot always allow the NDC to threaten and vilify us" "I apologize though to my family and friends both far and near who may be affected by my actions. The NPP in me couldn't be controlled. I apologize but I tried!!! he added. Read his full statement below Hon CARLOS AHENKORAH WRITES.... My party the NPP of course enjoys a slim majority in parliament courtesy the independent candidate from Fomena. By this arithmetic, the NPP was supposed to occupy the right side of the speaker in the chamber. When we got to parliament, the opposition had occupied our seats. We tried to convince and work things out with them but they declined whilst almost assaulting the Marshal's of parliament. We conceded because of the inauguration ahead of us and sat in their space. Then the clerk of parliament announced that the injuncted assin north mp couldn't vote by virtue of a court order served on him. After a long heated debate, the ndc still wouldn't yield. Leadership went into conclave and returned with one of the most unfavourable agreements ever. That a clause in the constitution forbids anyone who isn't qualified to vote in parliament to vote. If the injuncted mp elect decides to vote he suffers the consequences afterwards himself. How ridiculous! What if his vote changes the outcome of the elections before he goes to court? Then we got to voting and the minority claimed they won't allow any whipping, in order words no one can show their vote to their whips after voting. Really? Then what's the whip system for? Why do we have whips? Since the beginning of the 4th Republic, elections had always been controlled by whips to ensure their members vote on a particular line. It happens everywhere in this world. Asking us not to be whipped sent us all wondering. The npp didn't comply. The clerk ruled that voting could commence after a little back and forth. As the first few npp members voted ,the ndc whip in the person of muntaka attacked an npp member and collected his ballot paper from him because he's shown it to someone. A scuffle ensued and he took the ballot box itself and the ballots inside away. After a long wait, balloting recommenced. This time the same muntaka took the ballot box and run off that someone was showing their ballot whiles John Jinapor and Sam George kick boxed the voting booth. This act happened 3x so leadership had to go into conclave once more. Upon their return they asked us not to show our votes anymore. I Immediately sensed danger especially when during voting we noticed many skirmishes where some opposition members would cross over into the npp voting booth to vote there etc. Looking at the slim margin between us ,(NPP and NDC)all the ndc had to do was to lure or convince a couple of members of npp and carry the day. So I indicated to leadership the dangers in that ruling. After voting and true to my words, the npp votes counted 136 instead of 138 numbers we had. I wouldn't accept that. The irregularities accompanying the voting from the start were too many which had compromised the voting so much so that I wanted to create a situation for a rerun. Just as my colleague from the other side took the ballot box away on 3 occasions, I also grabbed a few ballot papers before they could be counted so as to force a rerun. It's a very tough situation to have opposition as speaker especially when he's the president in the absence of Nana Addo and his vice not to mention how parliament would function by passing the presidents policies and laws to pave way for development. My colleagues on the majority side couldn't help take advantage of my sacrifices to force a rerun and we'd to settle for an opposition speaker. I must say i am heart broken and dejected. We've not seen the end of this yet. With this success they would tell us what they want and what they don't in parliament because the whip system has been compromised. This is so sad. I'll die for my party any day. I did it for the grassroots who relied on us in power to survive, the president who needs some peace to run the country and the greater npp party as a whole because we cannot always allow the ndc to threaten and vilify us. I apologise though to my family and friends both far and near who may be affected by my actions. The NPP in me couldn't be controlled. I apologize but I tried!!! 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. Featured Video President Donald Trump came under pressure Friday to step down or face impeachment, as the top Democrat in Congress announced she had disc... President Donald Trump came under pressure Friday to step down or face impeachment, as the top Democrat in Congress announced she had discussed with the military how to block the unhinged leader from the nations nuclear arsenal. As his presidency imploded, Trump put on a final, unrepentant display of division by announcing on Twitter that he will skip the inauguration of Joe Biden on January 20. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going, he tweeted. The statement, while not a surprise from the most divisive president in decades, scuppered any idea that Trump might seek to spend his remaining 12 days in the White House helping his Democratic successor to calm tensions. Not since 1869 has an outgoing US president missed the inauguration of the incoming leader, a ceremony symbolizing the peaceful transfer of power. But two days after Trump incited followers to storm Congress, his presidency is in freefall, with allies walking away and calls for his removal accelerating. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warned that Democrats will launch impeachment proceedings unless Trump leaves willingly, or Vice President Mike Pence invokes the 25th Amendment, where the cabinet removes the president. If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action, Pelosi wrote. In another jaw-dropping moment, Pelosi also revealed she had spoken Friday with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley about preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike. The situation of this unhinged President could not be more dangerous, and we must do everything that we can to protect the American people from his unbalanced assault on our country and our democracy, Pelosi wrote. Democrats in the House of Representatives, who already impeached Trump in a traumatic, partisan vote in 2019, said the unprecedented second impeachment of the president could be ready next week. We can act very quickly when we want to, Representative Katherine Clark told CNN. Whether Republican leaders of the Senate would then agree to hold a lightning-fast impeachment trial before the January 20 transition is another matter. Too little, too late Trump, whose incitement of crowds assaulting Congress capped relentless efforts to overturn Bidens November 3 election win, finally conceded defeat on Thursday and appealed for calm. A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power, Trump said in a short video. However, the evidently reluctant concession, in which Trump failed to congratulate Biden or directly admit defeat, was too little, too late to calm outrage over his role in the Capitol invasion. Five people died in the mayhem, including one woman who was shot dead and a Capitol Police officer who was pronounced dead from his injuries on Thursday. Flags over the Capitol were lowered to half-mast on Friday. Senator Ben Sasse, one Republican who says he will definitely consider impeachment, recommended that Trump at minimum step back and let his vice president run the show in the dying days. I think the less the president does over the next 12 days the better, he told NPR radio. Government exit Education Secretary Betsy DeVos became the second cabinet member to quit the government, telling Trump in a letter Thursday that such behavior was unconscionable for our country. Earlier, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao announced she was departing over the entirely avoidable violence. A string of lower level officials have also left. According to reports, the only reason the trickle hasnt turned into a flood is the decision by senior figures to try and maintain stability during the transition to Biden. Trump, however, appears to have lost the grip he once exercised on both the Republican party and his own staff as he rampaged through four years of one of the most turbulent presidencies in US history. Speaking to CNN, retired Marine Corps general John Kelly, who served as Trumps chief of staff for 18 months, said the cabinet should consider the 25th Amendment but believed the president had already been put into a box. He can give all the orders he wants but no one is going to break the law, Kelly said. Biden faces grim inauguration Biden, who won seven million votes more than Trump, as well as a decisive majority in the vital state-by-state Electoral College, will be sworn in on the Capitol Steps under huge security. Between drastic Covid-19 crowd restrictions, the absence of Trump, and a new unscalable fence thrown up around the congressional complex, there will be little of the ordinary inauguration vibe. And Biden will immediately face extraordinary challenges, starting with his core campaign promise that he can heal the nation. So far, the Democratic leader has carefully avoided weighing in on demands for Trumps removal. Impeachment of the president could present the incoming Democrat with an even more polarized landscape, further complicating the task of reuniting the country. At the same time, the crisis has sparked such revulsion in Congress on both sides of the aisle that Biden may come into office with an unexpectedly bipartisan tailwind. On Thursday, he accused Trump of mounting an all-out assault on the institutions of our democracy and called the assault on Congress one of the darkest days in the history of our nation. (AFP) 2020 has been a tumultuous year and the Covid-19 pandemic has drastically impacted all spheres of life. As governments across the world deliberate, escalate and de-escalate lockdown strategies, businesses have been forced to adapt to a new reality. In South Africa we have fared better than most and are currently in lockdown Level 1, however, we are constantly reminded that the coronavirus is going to be around and the threat of a resurgence in infections will continue for the foreseeable future and it is unlikely that business will return to as 'usual'. Digital migration Re-designing the consumer journey Consumer adaption towards digital platforms Lockdown has redefined the way marketers build and define relationships with consumers. Creativity, adaptability and digital skills are now more important than ever. Research indicates that consumers expect brands to demonstrate more compassion during these times and that organisational values and purpose needs to be communicated by the brand in a more tactful manner. Push marketing strategies are viewed as aggressive and empathetic communication from the brand is necessary to communicate and build relationships with the consumers on a deeper level. The pandemic has impacted marketing in the following ways:While the past couple of years has seen a gradual transition of consumers to digital platforms, the pandemic has accelerated this trend. Large groups of consumers have been forced to access or utilise digital platforms in some way. This trend is higher for the Generation Z and millennial demographic group and this trend is likely to continue. From a marketing perspective, this forces the marketer to craft new strategies with regards to connecting with consumers. E-commerce and digital channel adoption are crucial towards ensuring business continuity. This also offers marketers an opportunity to utilise new data, personalise market offerings and identify new market segments. Analytics will play a strong role in determining and predicting market trends and is a necessary marketing skill to have.Marketers need to examine the consumer journey as consumer behavior has changed. The lockdown implies that consumers are in a different space and add-ons to the existing market offering plays a bigger role in making the core product attractive and enhancing the value offering. Consumers are more likely to be shopping for the whole family versus individual shopping and the establishment of multiple product categories will be more attractive.The banking and industry have a substantial lead in offering their services over digital platforms, retail and traditional businesses need to adapt and catch up to this trend. Consumers are also more confident in the use of digital platforms, which create an opportunity to connect with more consumers. Marketers should focus on building public and private partner ecosystems. Digital platforms should be interconnected with other services and product offerings to ensure that consumers do not have to switch across multiple websites when shopping. There should be a one-stop-shop concept regarding digital platforms.The above three areas are not exhaustive as the world adapts to this new normal, the impact of the pandemic will necessitate greater change as society, business and government adapt. Marketers need to ensure that they are adept at communicating with the target audience through digital channels, are agile in developing marketing strategies that use paid versus free advertising and ensuring greater ROI for ad spend. Marketers must ensure that they develop sound analytical skills to monitor trends and indicators and are confident in exploring new marketing strategies and investments to ensure an agile organisation that can adapt to an unpredictable environment. Union health minister Harsh Vardhan hailed the scientists and doctors for their work in the filed of coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine development and said vaccines will be provided to the people of the country in the next few days. He was speaking after visiting the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai to review the arrangements for Covid-19 vaccine dry run which is taking place today. Also Read | 2nd vaccination dry run across the country today: All you need to know In a short period of time, India has done well by developing vaccines. In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers, Dr Harsh Vardhan told reporters. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar was also present on the occasion. Weve ensured that every detail is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroots level. Lakhs of healthcare workers trained and the process continues, Vardhan added. A dry run was carried out in eight districts on December 28-29 and the first countrywide drill was held on January 2. On Friday, the mock drill will be conducted in as many as 33 states in the second round of nationwide dry run. Also Read: Ahead of 2nd dry run, Centre says vaccine delivery shortly; alerts 4 states as Covid-19 cases spike On January 2nd, we did dry run in almost 125 districts in the country and today, we are doing it across the country except the three states who did it earlier, he said. Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh will not be participating in this dry run as they have already conducted them in all their districts. Request the NGOs working in the field of health to help in the smooth conduct of the Covid-19 vaccination program and mobilisation of beneficiaries in the best possible manner, he said. The Union minister also said that a three-day national immunisation drive for Polio will begin on January 17. This is essential to maintain the overall immunity level of our country particularly pertaining to polio, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The Police Command in Katsina said it has arrested no fewer than 287 suspected rapists in 2020. Police spokesperson, Gambo Isah, announced this in Katsina at a Women Summit entitled: Way Out to Rising Rape Cases in Katsina State. The summit was organised by the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in collaboration with Al umma Support Initiative. Mr Isah said 236 rape cases were reported to the police across the state during the period under review. He said most of the victims were between three years of age and 14 years of age. Mr Ish said the suspects had been charged to courts. He also said the police apprehended 22 suspects for committing offences during the period. The police spokesperson observed that cultism, drug abuse and viewing phonographic pictures and videos by rapists were some of the factors that influenced them to commit rape. He further observed that parental neglect and poor upbringing on the part of the parents also contributed to the high rate of the menace. In her remarks, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Girl-child Education and Development, Amina Lawal, advocated death penalty for rapists. She said that death punishment was the only solution to the menace in the society. Also speaking, the Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Umar Yau Gojo-gojo, said the summit was timely in view of the high rate of rape cases in the state. He advised that similar event should be organised at various local government areas of the state to educate people on the effects of rape and the need to take precautionary measures. Mr Gojo-gojo advised people to pray to God to bring an end to the problem. (NAN) Washington: US President-elect Joe Biden says he is glad that Donald Trump will not attend his inauguration on January 20 because Trump had exceeded even his worst expectations by inciting his supporters to storm the Capitol building. Trump announced in a tweet on Saturday AEDT that he would bypass Biden's inauguration making him the first outgoing president not to attend the event since Andrew Johnson in 1869. President-elect Joe Biden said Trump had exceeded even his worst expectations. Credit:AP Biden said that Trump's decision to skip the swearing in ceremony was "one of the few things he and I have ever agreed on". "It's a good thing him not showing up," he said. We cannot simply be outraged about something that happens someplace else and get immune to what happens at home, he said. We have to say, Were going to find out who you are, and were going to turn you in because youre not going to get by with this. You cant kill a 9-year-old kid and go home and eat McDonalds and watch TV. VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Hollister Biosciences Inc. (CSE: HOLL) (OTC: HSTRF) (FRANKFURT: HOB) (the "Company", "Hollister Cannabis Co." or "Hollister") a diversified cannabis branding company with products in over 280 dispensaries throughout California, and over 90 dispensaries throughout Arizona, is pleased to provide an update on its Q4, 2020 performance. Q4 2020 Update For the period beginning October 1st, 2020 and ending December 31st, 2020, Hollister reports that it generated record quarterly revenue of CDN$14.93 million and CDN$2.53 million in EBITDA from its product line of pre-rolls, concentrates, distillates, solvent-free bubble hash, pre-packaged flower, tinctures and vape products. The Company cautions that revenue and EBITDA figures have not yet been audited and are based on reports prepared by management. "We are very pleased with our ability to deliver record quarterly revenue in such a challenging market environment. We attribute our revenue growth to further penetration of the California and Arizona dispensary networks and successful new product launches with our joint venture partners. Sales of cannabis related products continue to show resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope to continue this positive momentum into 2021" stated Alex Somjen, President. The Venom Extracts ("Venom") branded product suite distributed throughout Arizona has been the primary catalyst for revenue growth of the Company. As of March 26th, 2020 (see press release dated March 30th, 2020 ), Hollister Biosciences acquired Venom. Since the closing, in the three quarters following, Venom contributed approximately CDN$38 million to the company's 2020 revenue. In the entire year of 2020, Venom Extracts generated greater than CDN$ 40 million in revenue (and CDN$ 4.9 million in adjusted EBITDA), up from CDN$ 16.4 million in 2019 a 144% year over year revenue increase, and ending the year with a record month of sales for December totaling approximately CDN$5.5 million. Venom Extracts sold over 4 million grams of product in 2020 accounting for up to 30 percent of category sales statewide in Arizona. The brand is positioned for continued growth in Arizona with the recently passed adult-use legislation, and endeavors to expand into California and benefit from the company's infrastructure and sales network of over 280 dispensaries. Marijuana Business Daily projects that Arizona's recreational market could generate up to $400 million in revenue its first year and more than $700 million by 2024. In addition to Venom Extracts, Hollister's HashBone pre-rolls are the No. 1 hash-infused pre-roll in California and one of Hollister's signature products. The company recently received trademark approval for the HashBone brand in December. These premium hash-infused pre-rolls feature an artisan blend of 75 percent top-shelf flower and 25 percent cold water bubble hash. Hollister added a new HashBone Minis line in April of 2020. HashBone is now available in 280 dispensaries throughout California, a 40% increase since 2019. In addition to record revenue growth, the company continued focus on core growth areas; enhancing existing product margins, expanding product penetration and same-store sales in California and Arizona, while continuing to diversify and expand its branded product portfolio. Some highlights of these efforts include completed agreements with Tommy Chong's Cannabis (See press release dated February 7th, 2020 ) and EasyRiders (See press release dated December 15th, 2020) to add to the company's brand suite as well as the launch of the Dreamy Delivery direct-to-consumer platform (see press release dated December 22nd, 2020 ) in San Francisco and Sacramento, and ongoing supply chain enhancements are in-review to improve operational efficiency and profit margins by controlling inputs and manufacturing. The company looks forward to continuing to execute on its business plan and growth targets in 2021 and ahead. About Hollister Biosciences Inc. Hollister Biosciences Inc. is a multi-state cannabis company with a vision to be the sought-after premium brand portfolio of innovative, high-quality cannabis & hemp products. Hollister uses a high margin model, controlling the whole process from manufacture to sales to distribution or seed to shelf. Products from Hollister Biosciences Inc. include HashBone, the brand's premier artisanal hash-infused pre-roll, along with concentrates (shatter, budder, crumble), distillates, solvent-free bubble hash, pre-packaged flower, pre-rolls, tinctures, vape products, and full-spectrum high CBD pet tinctures. Hollister Cannabis Co. additionally offers white-labeling manufacturing of cannabis products. Our wholly-owned California subsidiary Hollister Cannabis Co is the 1st state and locally licensed cannabis company in the city of Hollister, CA birthplace of the "American Biker". Website: www.hollistercannabisco.com The CSE, nor its regulation services provider, does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "would", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents which can be found under the Company's profile onwww.sedar.com This press release includes reference "EBITDA" and "adjusted EBITDA", which are non-International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") financial measures. Non-IFRS measures are not recognized measures under IFRS, do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and are therefore unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. The Company defines EBITDA as earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA adjusted by removing other non-recurring or non-cash items, including the unrealized change in fair value and realized fair value adjustments on inventory sold in the period, share-based compensation expenses, depreciation of right-of-use assets, revaluation adjustments of financial assets and liabilities measured on a fair value basis and non-recurring transaction costs included in operating expenses. EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have no direct comparable IFRS financial measures. The Company has used or included these non-IFRS measures solely to provide investors with added insight into the Company's financial performance. Readers are cautioned that such non-IFRS measure may not be appropriate for any other purpose. Non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. SOURCE Hollister Biosciences Inc. The chasm, called Valles Marineris, is more than 2,500 miles long, ten times longer than the Grand Canyon It runs almost a quarter of the circumference of Mars and is three times as deep as Earth's Grand Canyon Its origins are mysterious and NASA is studying the chasm with its HiSENSE camera on-board the orbiting Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Incredible images of the Solar System's largest canyon, located on Mars, have been published by NASA. The gargantuan equatorial chasm, called Valles Marineris, is more than 2,500 miles long and travels along approximately a quarter of the planet's circumference. ADVERTISEMENT As well as being almost ten times longer than Earth's Grand Canyon it is also three times deeper than the Arizona wonder. Incredible images of the Solar System's largest canyon, located on Mars and called Valles Marineris, have been published by NASA (pictured) Images of the canyon (pictured) were taken by NASA's HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) mission. The project is the most powerful camera ever sent to a different planet and on-board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Images of the canyon were taken by NASA's HiRISE (High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment) mission. The project is the most powerful camera ever sent to a different planet and is on-board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter which has been orbiting the red planet since 2006. It was built by experts at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at a cost of $40million and weighs 143 pounds (65kg). A photo of the canyon was published by HiRISE recently as astronomers try to find out how the landmark formed. Click here to resize this module Valles Marineris is more than 2,500 miles long and travels approximately a quarter of the planet's circumference. As well as being almost ten times longer than Earth's Grand Canyon it is also three times deeper than the Arizona wonder Mars's answer to the Grand Canyon is far from the only enormous natural feature on the planet, which is also home to the Solar System's biggest volcano, Olympus Mons, which resides in a nearby formation dubbed the Tharsis bulge. Mystery surrounds how both features formed, but the ESA's leading theory is that the mountain and the canyon are intrinsically linked. The theory states it is possible that during Mars's formative years and first billion years of existence magma swelled under Mars's crust and produced the bulge. This may have drove the erection of Olympus Mons as well as the vast trough Valles Marineris which was a result of the planet's crust collapsing after being ripped apart by surging magma. Humanity has never set foot on Mars but has sent various landers and rovers to learn more about our neighbouring world. ADVERTISEMENT SpaceX, NASA and other space agencies are hoping to send humans to the planet by the end of the decade, with hopes of a martian colony beng established to act as an eventual stepping-stone for deep-space missions. Mars's answer to the Grand Canyon is far from the only enormous natural feature on the planet, which is also home to the Solar System's biggest volcano, Olympus Mons (artist's impression pictured), which resides in a nearby formation dubbed the Tharsis bulge. Mystery surrounds how both features formed but the ESA's leading theory is that the mountain and the canyon are intrinsically linked Egypt concluded its second legislative elections since the 30 June 2013 Revolution in December. The voting, held in several phases for the House of Representatives and the Senate, overcame various challenges, not least being the exceptional circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Some observers tended to reduce the outcome to a Mustaqbal Watan Party landslide, ignoring the implications of other results. Although Mustaqbal Watan (Future of the Homeland) obtained 463 seats in the legislature (147 in the Senate and 316 in the House), the remaining 433 seats, or 48.3 per cent of the total, are distributed among other parties (16 in the Senate and 12 in the House). Independents won a total of 180 seats, 95 in the Senate and 85 in the House, or 20 per cent of the total, making them the largest parliamentary bloc after Mustaqbal Watan. As a result, while the latter party indeed has a majority, this is far from the super majority of two thirds of the seats needed to pass laws of a constitutional nature. Mustaqbal Watan also did not have to rely exclusively on a coalition list to obtain its majority, and it won more seats reserved for individual candidates than those it won in constituencies reserved for electoral lists. Of the 316 seats the party gained in the House, 171, or 54 per cent, were won by its candidates running on individual tickets. Overall, the party won 61 per cent of the seats reserved for individuals, making it the most successful in the individual candidacy system. This also means that the partys performance in this system was nearly three times better than it was in 2015, when it won 24 per cent of the individual seats. Since then, Mustaqbal Watan has tripled the size of its grassroots presence, confirming the predictions made five years ago regarding its prospects of success. If this performance was a major achievement for the party in its own right, it also sent ripples through Egypts political life and sounded an alarm. The partys success in broadening its grassroots presence is a sign of the vacuum that had prevailed earlier, in large measure due to the skeletal nature of most of the other political parties. Of the 104 political parties in Egypt, only 36 had support bases large enough to field candidates and even then only in relatively few numbers in fewer electoral zones. Some long or well-established parties have been severely weakened, as has been the case with the Wafd and Tagammu (Progressive Rally), Al-Misriyin Al-Ahrar (Free Egyptians) and the Egyptian Democratic Parties. Will Mustaqbal Watans success spur the countrys other parties into much-needed introspection and reform, or will they continue their decline? Will they rally in order to overcome the forces of fragmentation and set aside smaller differences to merge into larger parties in order to better promote their main priorities, enriching the countrys political life in the process? Or will schismatic forces and narrow interests prevail, after which they will likely blame Mustaqbal Watan for their failures? If so, these parties will likely meet more setbacks while Mustaqbal Watan moves on to further successes. NEW BLOOD The 2020 parliamentary elections brought other changes to the composition of the House, such as the large and unprecedented shift in the ratio of independents to political parties. It is good to see a diversity of political parties beneath parliaments dome, something which only really began with the 2015 elections. Prior to the 25 January Revolution, parliament was heavily dominated by the former ruling National Democratic Party (NDP), while only two or three other parties served as feeble counterparts. Today, new MPs, whether from the political parties or independents, make up at least three-quarters of the members of the recently elected parliament. Around 76 per cent of the members of the previous parliament either lost their seats or did not run. This, too, is an unprecedented phenomenon. It used to be the case that the same faces would often reappear from one parliament to the next, as though once someone was elected to parliament, he was there for good. Many of the new faces in the 2021-2026 parliament are young people. They may have no previous parliamentary experience, but they are keen to make their mark. They understand that they will need to show that they have earned the confidence of those who voted for them, since if not they may meet the fate that met the many MPs that were voted out of parliament this time around in five years time. Contrary to what is sometimes believed, voters do keep track of how their representatives perform in parliament, and they know they have the ability to bring them to account in the next elections. The parliamentary scene may thus be poised for further positive changes thanks to the voters essential power to put political parties and political players to the test. WOMENS REPRESENTATION Although womens representation in parliament scored new inroads in this election, there was also a negative development. Despite the large participation of women in the polls, there was a sharp decline in the number of women fielding themselves as individual candidates. Only six, or 1.7 per cent, of the 347 women who ran for seats reserved for the individual ticket system managed to enter the new parliament. On the other hand, thanks to the constitutional rule that 25 per cent of the candidates on electoral lists must be women, 142 women acquired seats in constituencies based on the list system. Together with the above-mentioned six, women now hold a total of 148 seats in parliament, or nearly double the number elected to the 2015 parliament, which was 75 19 as individual candidates and 56 on an electoral list. Bear in mind, too, that womens representation in the 2015 parliament was far greater than that in the 2011 parliament, which was dominated by the notoriously misogynistic Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis. Only 1.8 per cent of MPs in the latter parliament were women, the lowest rate in a century. PEACEFUL CAMPAIGN CLIMATE Despite the repercussions of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2020 campaigns proceeded as smoothly and peacefully as the 2015 elections, and perhaps this has been one of the defining features of elections since 30 June 2013. The 2020 elections confirmed that the era of intimidation and, indeed, sometimes outright thuggery in front of polling stations is a thing of the past, together with the exploitation of religious discourse in campaign propaganda, the use of houses of worship for campaign purposes, and the nepotistic allocation of government services and facilities to certain candidates. The reports submitted by electoral monitoring agencies were virtually free of instances of serious electoral violations that could have impacted on the results. As for the much talked about issue of political money, there is no denying that it existed. But the reports ignore the fact that government agencies, including the bodies that organised the elections, did their best to counter it. Ultimately, it will take a fundamental change in the culture of candidates and voters alike to put an end to it. But there is no concrete proof that any illicit uses of campaign funds worked to increase the votes for any candidate. There is no way that any candidates can confirm that the people they bribed actually cast their votes for them. THE OPPOSITION One allegation, as the speaker of the Senate put it, was that the newly elected parliament would lack a genuine opposition and that thanks to its control of 53 per cent of the seats, the Mustaqbal Watan Party would be merely another version of the former ruling NDP. But before passing judgement, it would be wiser for people to wait until the parliament convenes and then to observe how lawmakers actually conduct themselves, including those belonging to Mustaqbal Watan. The ideological differences between this party and others are also not as great as the critics who level this accusation might like. Indeed, they envision an opposition that may not necessarily serve the public good as much as it serves to promote them as individuals. The notion that a proper parliament is a battleground in which the aim of any opposition worth its salt is to bring down a prime minister or a government is a hackneyed one. The legislature has many other mechanisms to monitor the executive and exercise its oversight. How it brings these mechanisms into play is the key to its performance. The charge that Mustaqbal Watan is just another version of the NDP, is unfounded. While it may be pro-government, it is not the presidents party, as was the case with the NDP. Nor does its majority in parliament come anywhere near that of the NDP, which controlled some 80 per cent of the seats. We should also recall that it was Mustaqbal Watan that took the initiative to create a broad-based 12-party coalition, which could never have allowed it to gain 80 per cent of the seats. The political arena in Egypt has changed so much during the past decade that it no longer has room for another edition of the NDP. The 2015-2020 parliament came under intense pressure despite the unfavourable circumstances it had to contend with. Even so, it managed to realise the stability that the Egyptian state and society needed under such circumstances. The hope now is that the new parliament will be a crucial asset in achieving the goals of the Sustainable Development Strategy: Egypt Vision 2030. As the majority party, Mustaqbal Watan will bear the brunt of this, but the other parties and the independents will also need to do their part. Reaching such goals requires a collaborative spirit among the public, the press and all the institutions of government. *The writer is a senior researcher at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic studies. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid (Bloomsbury 8.99, 320 pp) SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid (Bloomsbury 8.99, 320 pp) Late one Saturday night a young black woman, Emira Tucker, takes a blonde toddler called Briar to an upmarket grocery store in Philadelphia. Emira is Briars regular babysitter and her employer, social media influencer Alix Chamberlain, asked her to take Briar to the shop while police attend an incident at the Chamberlain house. The store is Briars favourite place, but while they are there Emira is accused of kidnapping the child. The situation escalates until Emira calls Briars father: Hes an old white guy, so Im sure everyone will feel better. Reids best-selling debut novel is a gripping and sharply comic account of money, sex, ambition, race and the faultlines that fracture contemporary society. KENSINGTON PALACE by Tom Quinn (Biteback 9.99, 288 pp) KENSINGTON PALACE by Tom Quinn (Biteback 9.99, 288 pp) King Edward VII called Kensington Palace the aunt heap a reference to the minor royals who lurked in various corners of the 17th-century palace. Although its status declined after the court moved to Buckingham Palace in 1760, Kensington has remained an important part of royal history. Queen Victoria was born there, while Meghan Markle couldnt wait to get away after her marriage to Prince Harry. Below stairs is also home to a legion of servants, whose insights have proved a rich source for Quinns sparkling account of the often very unregal goings-on at the palace. Richly laced with insider gossip, this is behind-the-scenes Royal history at its most entertaining. THE GLASS HOUSE by Eve Chase (Penguin 7.99, 416 pp) THE GLASS HOUSE by Eve Chase (Penguin 7.99, 416 pp) Deep in the Forest of Dean, an ancient manor house lies overgrown and neglected. Arriving there in the summer of 1971, Rita Murphy thinks that it looks thoroughly sinister. This is not what Rita signed up for when she left Devon to take on a dream job as a nanny to the Harringtons. But her first impressions of elegant Mrs Harrington and her adorable children, 12-year-old Terra and five-year-old Teddy, prove tragically mistaken. Chases compelling account of dark family secrets a Richard and Judy Book Club choice weaves elements of Gothic suspense into a heartwarming modern story of blended families learning to heal the wounds of the past. Securities and Exchange Commission v. ConTXT, Inc, Thomas J. Robbins, Daniel J. Merriman, Mark W. Wiseman, and Clark J. Madsen, No. 2:21-cv-00013 (U.S. District Court, District of Utah) filed January 7, 2021. The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced settled charges against a Utah corporation, its principals, and two securities fraud recidivists for allegedly orchestrating two inter-related frauds resulting in approximately $11 million in investor losses. According to the SEC's complaint, Thomas J. Robbins and Daniel J. Merriman met while incarcerated for separate and unrelated securities fraud convictions. The complaint alleges that after they were released, Robbins and Merriman created a high-yield trading program, and that, beginning in 2016, Robbins and Merriman solicited investor funds through a series of representations, including: that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was a client; that they had consistently generated large returns for prior investors; and that investors could expect to earn profits of at least 20% per month. The complaint alleges that none of these representations was true. The complaint further alleges that Robbins and Merriman misappropriated investor funds to pay purported profits to earlier investors and to pay personal expenses. According to the complaint, losses for the trading program totaled over $10 million. In 2017, the complaint alleges, Robbins and Merriman, together with Clark J. Madsen and Mark W. Wiseman, devised a new scheme to fraudulently sell millions of shares of stock in ConTXT, Inc., a company founded by Madsen, in unregistered transactions. As alleged, because Robbins and Merriman were convicted felons, their involvement in ConTXT was actively concealed, and ConTXT's Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) and other documentation provided to investors falsely attributed the duties performed by Robbins and Merriman to a nominee. The PPM allegedly also contained false and misleading information about ConTXT's financial condition and profitability. The complaint alleges that Robbins, Merriman, and Wiseman lied about the use of investor funds, misrepresented ConTXT's financial condition, and misappropriated investor funds for their personal benefit. Robbins and Merriman also allegedly acted as unregistered brokers in the distribution of ConTXT stock and received commissions for their efforts. The defendants allegedly sold at least $942,800 of ConTXT stock in unregistered transactions and distributed millions of additional shares to satisfy prior debt obligations. The SEC's complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Utah, charges all defendants with violations of the antifraud provisions of Section 17(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and with violating the securities registration provisions of Section 5(a) and (c) of the Securities Act. The complaint additionally charges Robbins and Merriman with violating the broker-dealer registration provisions of Section 15(a) of the Exchange Act. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, each of the defendants consented to a final judgment permanently enjoining him from violating the charged provisions and ordering him to pay disgorgement with prejudgment interest and/or a civil penalty in the following amounts: Robbins: disgorgement of $828,567 plus prejudgment interest of $142,714; Merriman: disgorgement of $744,191 plus prejudgment interest of $121,869, and a civil penalty of $192,768; Madsen: disgorgement of $29,000 plus prejudgment interest of $3,531, and a civil penalty of $96,384; Wiseman: disgorgement of $68,500 plus prejudgment interest of $8,341, and a civil penalty of $96,384; and ConTXT: disgorgement of $269,187 plus prejudgment interest of $32,779, and a civil penalty of $269,187. Robbins and Merriman also agreed to a conduct-based injunction. The judgment remains subject to court approval. In a parallel criminal action related to the trading program, Robbins pled guilty to securities fraud and money laundering and was sentenced to five years in prison and ordered to pay $10,170,700.69 in restitution. The SEC's investigation was conducted by Jennifer Moore and Paul Feindt and was supervised by Amy Oliver, Assistant Director, and Daniel Wadley, Regional Director of the Salt Lake Regional Office. COLUMBIA Gov. Henry McMaster wants legislators to expand full-day programs for 4-year-olds, cover college tuition for poor students, and resume teachers' pay bumps in the upcoming state budget. The Republican governor's budget proposal for 2021-22, to be released Friday, includes $400 million in new education spending, kindergarten through college, according to an advanced, partial copy provided to The Post and Courier. The $49 million it puts toward expanding state-paid, full-day 4K programs would finally take statewide a program legislators piloted in 2006, as a way of answering a court order that the state do more to prepare poor children for school. And it would fulfill a promise legislators made seven years ago to eventually make all of South Carolina's at-risk 4-year-olds eligible. The 18 school districts unable to participate in the state-funded program are some of the state's largest, including Beaufort, Charleston and Greenville counties, and Richland Two in suburban Columbia. The expansion would more than double the number of 4-year-olds who could attend. One of the state's largest teacher advocacy groups applauded the "phenomenal" recommendation. "We absolutely, strongly support the significant expansion of pre-K," said Patrick Kelly with the state Palmetto Teachers Association. "All research shows quality, early childhood education has a ripple effect on a childs educational achievement throughout K-12." The proposal comes days after McMaster announced spending $7 million of federal COVID-19 aid at his discretion to extend the school day and year for 4-year-olds in existing classrooms, allowing children to get in-person learning until 5 p.m. and over the summer. The governor proposed the 4K statewide expansion in his budget a year ago before the pandemic shut down schools, sent the economy into a tailspin and ended the legislative session early. State government spending remains frozen at 2019-20 levels as legislators declined to craft a budget for the current fiscal year amid unprecedented uncertainties. According to the latest revenue projections, legislators will have almost $1.2 billion in additional money for the 2021-22 budget, even after more than $800 million evaporated amid COVID-19. However, less than $200 million of that is meant for recurring expenses, such as salaries, while the rest is one-time surplus from collections above expectations in previous years. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! McMaster has had a good track record with the Legislature of getting many of his budget proposals passed. This year's plan would put roughly one-third of all additional revenue toward education. The one-time spending in his plan includes $100 million for instructional materials, to ensure the textbooks and software teachers use actually align with what they're supposed to be teaching. Classrooms across the state are still using material a decade old, bought for the national Common Core standards the state rejected in 2014. Under the proposal, teachers would not get the substantial pay raises that McMaster proposed and lawmakers were set to approve before the pandemic hit. But most would still see a boost, as he proposes lifting the freeze on the annual bumps state law provides for an additional year of experience in the classroom, which is roughly a 2 percent increase in salary. "We dont consider that to be a pay raise. Thats a contractual issue," Kelly said, adding that teachers sign their annual contract in the spring "with every expectation" of getting that step increase. Still, he said, his group is appreciative that, unlike in other states that had to slash education spending due to the pandemic, no layoffs were needed in South Carolina. The group will push to make the pay bumps retroactive to last July. And he's hopeful that school districts will use part of their share of $900 million from Congress' latest COVID-19 aid package to provide bigger boosts for teachers. The federal law specifies that money can't supplant spending from state taxes. Other K-12 spending in the governor's plan includes $6 million to ensure every school keeps a full-time nurse. Legislators authorized spending federal COVID-19 aid to hire nurses, who have been crucial amid the pandemic, but that paid their salaries for this school year only. More than $23 million would hire a full-time officer for the 302 public schools statewide without one, and enable 123 part-time officers in schools to become full-time. The allocation would fulfill a campaign pledge McMaster made in 2018 following the mass shooting at a high school in Florida. What is certain to be the most controversial piece of his plan is the $14 million in surplus lottery profits he puts toward helping parents pay tuition at private K-12 schools. McMaster attempted to use $32 million in federal aid on $6,500-per-student vouchers, until the state Supreme Court blocked the idea, saying the idea flouted the state constitution's ban on public money directly benefiting private education. In higher education, McMaster's proposal puts $60 million in lottery profits toward need-based scholarships at South Carolina's four-year and two-year colleges. According to his office, that will cover all students who qualify for a federal Pell Grant, enabling thousands of students to get a college education without incurring a lifetime of debt. A Pakistan court on Friday sentenced Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi to 15 years in prison in a terror financing case. Lakhvi was arrested by Pakistani authorities on charges of terror financing on Saturday. He is alleged to have played an important role behind the Mumbai attacks, during which 166 people were killed and many other injured in November 2008. The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore convicted Lakhvi for commission of offences of terrorism financing in a case registered by the CTD for 15 years under different section of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, a court official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. Also Read: Global terrorist Masood Azhar is finally a wanted man in Pak. Dawood next? These arrests come ahead of Financial Action Task Forces review meeting in February regarding Pakistan inclusion in its grey list for misuse of funds for acts of terrorism. A Pakistan court earlier on Thursday issued an arrest warrant for banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar on the charges of terror financing. Indian government officials familiar with the developments believe that Masood Azhars arrest warrant was issued as Pakistan is currently facing pressure from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is monitoring the country for its alleged role in terror financing and money laundering. Also Read: US welcomes LeT commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvis arrest on charges of terror financing Pakistan was put in FATFs grey list in 2018 after the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog pointed out failing to control terror financing and money laundering. In October, FATF president Marcus Pleyer had warned Pakistan that the nation needs to increase its efforts to control misuse of funds for acts of terrorism. Pleyer had also told the Pakistan government to quickly act on the bodys recommendations, failing which could result the nation entering FATFs black list. Dublin, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Print Advertising Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Print Advertising Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change provides the strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global print advertising market. Major players in the print advertising market are Ogilvy & Mather, MullenLowe U.S., McCann Worldgroup, Publicis Groupe, Dentsu, Havas, Grey global, Droga 5, BBDO and VMLY&R. The global print advertising market is expected to decline from $39.30 billion in 2019 to $35.44 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of -9.82%. The decline is mainly due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of industries and other commercial activities resulting in operational challenges. The entire supply chain has been disrupted, impacting the market negatively. The market is expected to further decline and reach $30.8 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of -4.57%. Internet access, digital advertising, and an increase in the use of social media are acting as huge contributors to the decline in print production. The print advertising market consists of the sales of advertising services and related goods by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that plan, develop, create and manage advertisement and promotional activities in print media such as periodicals and print newspapers. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the print advertising market in 2019 and is expected to remain the largest region in this market even in the forecast period. In March 2020, Lambert & Co., a US-based public relations and integrated marketing firm, acquired Fairly Painless Advertising, Inc., a company providing marketing and advertising services, for an undisclosed amount. This acquisition is expected to move Lambert & Co. from a PR firm minoring in the ad and creative services to a fully-integrated agency majoring in the creative services and advertising field. Fairly Painless Advertising, Inc., is a US-based full-service advertising agency that provides research, planning, and creative services that cover print and digital design. The print advertising market covered in this report is segmented by type into newspaper advertising; magazine advertising; posters and banners; others. It is also segmented by industry into retail; electronics and telecommunications; insurance and finance; automotive; others. The potential of print advertising to connect to multiple generations is also a key driving factor for the print advertising market. A study was conducted by Temple University and the US Postal Office of the Inspector in 2019 utilizing methods such as eye-tracking, core biometrics, and neuroimaging to test the effectiveness of print versus digital ads on both young and old groups of participants. The results showed that both the age groups processed physical ads faster than digital ads. This provides companies with the advantage of targeting wider generations giving the necessary exposure to their product, which aids in the growth of the print advertising market. The print advertising market is facing extensive competition from the newer digital advertising media such as internet and mobile advertising which is hampering the growth of the market. Companies are focusing on digital marketing means like social media for making the ads more interactive, touching, and delivering without location constraints and with faster reach. According to the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) report, the internet ad revenue in 2019 was $124.6 billion. Advertisers believe that digital video is more suitable for entertaining every generation of consumers and, thus, they are choosing the digital video format, which is eliciting further growth. Therefore, the increased proliferation of digital marketing is likely to limit the expansion of the print advertising market in the coming years. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Print Advertising Market Characteristics 3. Print Advertising Market Size and Growth 3.1. Global Print Advertising Historic Market, 2015 - 2019, $ Billion 3.1.1. Drivers of the Market 3.1.2. Restraints on the Market 3.2. Global Print Advertising Forecast Market, 2019 - 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 3.2.1. Drivers of the Market 3.2.2. Restraints on the Market 4. Print Advertising Market Segmentation 4.1. Global Print Advertising Market, Segmentation by Type, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Newspaper Advertising Magazine Advertising Posters and Banners Others 4.2. Global Print Advertising Market, Segmentation by Industry, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Retail Electronics and telecommunications Insurance and finance Automotive Others 5. Print Advertising Market Regional and Country Analysis 5.1. Global Print Advertising Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 5.2. Global Print Advertising Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Companies Mentioned Ogilvy & Mather MullenLowe U.S McCann Worldgroup Publicis Groupe Dentsu Havas Grey global Droga 5 BBDO VMLY&R WPP Group PLC Omnicom Group Interpublic Group of Companies Hakuhodo For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/81e22y Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel appeared before the Bandra Police on Friday, pursuant to a Bombay High Court order in connection with a sedition case filed against them, a lawyer said. "As directed by the Bombay HC, they reached the Bandra Police Station at around 1 pm to record their statement," lawyer Ravish Zamindar, the advocate for the complainant Munawwarali S.A. Sayyed, told IANS. In November, a division bench comprising Justices S.S. Shinde and M.S. Karnik accepted advocate Rizwan Siddique's undertaking that the two Ranaut sisters would report to the Mumbai Police on January 8, in response to the summons issued to them. The court had also barred the two sisters from making any "instigating statements" on social media platforms to the subject matter in the FIR lodged by the police, Zamindar added. The high court orders came in a plea filed by Ranaut-Chandel seeking to quash the police FIR lodged on October 17 on the directions of Bandra Court Metropolitan Magistrate J.Y. Ghule over alleged hateful social media posts by the duo. Following the FIR, the sisters were issued summons by the Bandra Police to appear on three different dates which they skipped on various grounds. After the third summon, they moved the Bombay HC. "Among the charges are those under Section 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code... besides spreading communal hatred and falsehoods. The police had already recorded the statement of Sayyed in this connection in October," Zamindar said. A Bollywood casting director and fitness trainer, Sayyed had accused Kangana and Rangoli of defaming the film industry, portraying the people working in it in bad light with allegations of nepotism, drug addiction, communal bias, and attempting to drive a wedge between artistes of different communities, calling them murderers, insulting religions, etc. on social media and through their public utterances. Following Argentinas landmark decision, several Brazilian women are heading to Buenos Aires, seeking something forbidden in Brazil: an abortion. On December 30, Argentina had legalised abortion in the country, which underscored not only how Argentinas progressive social policy diverges from Brazils conservative one, but also the likelihood that more Brazilian women will seek abortions in the neighbouring nation. In a bid to dodge risks and legal obstacles in Latin Americas most populous country, Brazilian women have begun to sought abortions elsewhere in the region. While speaking to AP, a 21-year-old Brazilian, Sara, said, Having a child that I dont want, and have no conditions to raise, and being obliged, would be torture. Another woman, who lives in the interior Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte said, What has helped me since I discovered I was pregnant is that I have a chance. I still have an alternative. That leaves me feeling more secure. READ: Bill Legalising Abortion Passed In Pope's Native Argentina Both women were bound for the Argentine capital and they didnt even need passports to enter the county. With the changes in legalisation in Latin America, women no longer need to go to the United States or need a visa to get an elective abortion. Sara said that she couldnt risk the possibility of buying counterfeit abortion pills or undergoing a dangerous backdoor procedure in Brazil. She also feared injury, death or a failed abortion resulting in complications. Getting caught could even mean jail. However, an Argentine health ministry protocol provided legal leeway for Saras abortion as long as she signed a statement citing the health risk the pregnancy posed. The policy was based on the WHOs definition of health - A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. The new law allows abortions up to the 14th week of pregnancy. Dr. Viviana Mazur, who leads the sexual health group of the Argentine Federation of General Medicine, said, The law will give more autonomy and dignity to women. So they dont have to say please, ask permission, nor forgiveness. READ: Brazil's Manaus City Declares State Of Emergency Amid Rise In COVID-19 Cases Bolsonaro says abortion will never be approved Brazilian law, however, has remained virtually unchanged since 1940, permitting abortions only in cases of rape and danger to the womans life. Even though Argentina legalised abortion, there hasnt been any echo in Brazils Congress, where about 15 per cent of lawmakers are women. Back in 2012, a Supreme Court ruling allowed abortions when the fetus has anencephaly, but since lawmakers have introduced at least 30 bills seeking to tighten laws. Moreover, Brazils President Jair Bolsonaro has said that if Congress legalized abortion, he would veto. After Argentinas bill was passed, Bolsonaro said on social media that it would leave children subject to being reaped in their mothers wombs with the consent of the State. He named evangelical pastor Damares Alves, who has said she opposes abortion even in cases of rape, to be his minister of women, families and human rights. (Image: AP) READ: Brazil Scrambles To Approve Virus Vaccine As Pressure Mounts READ: Brazil Holiday Travel Surges Despite Outbreak People wearing masks wait amid snow at a bus stop as the country is hit by an outbreak of the novel coronavirus, in Beijing, China on Feb. 6, 2020. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/Reuters) Beijing Power Load Reaches Historical High, Residents Complain of Insufficient Heating Through Severe Winter Beijing Electric Power Company announced on Jan. 7 that as of 9 p.m. Jan. 6, the power load of the Beijing Power Grid had reached 24.51 million kilowatts, setting a new historical record. Meanwhile, many Beijing residents complained on social media of insufficient heating. The entire China has already entered an extremely cold winter. Temperatures in Beijing have been the lowest since 1966. On Jan. 7, the daily minimum reached -19.6 degrees Celsius (-3.28 degree Fahrenheit). Residents in Beijing have said that the paid collective heating service has been insufficient, with indoor temperatures being lower than in previous years. Many have reported temperatures not even reaching the government-required minimum of 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 Fahrenheit). And the household AC needs to be turned on for heating all the time, which consumes a lot of electricity. There have also been reports of power outages, water outages, and heating outages from some communities in Beijing. Water supplies are powered by electricity, while some residential communities heating that are independent of the collective heating service are also powered by electricity. A resident of Xinjie Compound in Chaoyang District said on Weibo, In the extreme cold weather, power has been out two consecutive days, and the heating was stopped when it was -17 degrees Celsius (1.4 degree Fahrenheit) during the night of Jan. 6. There have been three power outages since entering 2021. Mr. Zhang from the Taohuadao Community in Liyuan Town of Tongzhou District said, The heating service is getting more and more disappointing. Many residents report that the heating is insufficient. Even when the sun is out during the day, the room temperature is only about 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 Fahrenheit). The children and the elderly at home have already caught a cold because of it. I called the district heating office countless times and no one solved it. Screenshot of a netizens post complaining about the insufficient heating supply that is below the required room temperature in Beijings Huizhongli Residential Community. Jan. 6, 2020. More Beijing residents have no other means but to report the heating situation on social media in an attempt to bring attention to their situation. They all complain, the property management is not doing anything about it, the heating company is not doing anything about it, and the mayors hotline is not doing anything about it. A netizen also posted the Heating Fee Charge Notice issued by heating supply company Beijing Hongsentaiye Thermal Technology Development Co. Ltd. on social media. The notice showed that the annual heating fee was 2,437 yuan ($376). The picture on the left shows the heating charge of Beijing Dexinjiayuan Community; the picture on the right shows a residential compound in Beijing notifying residents of water, heating and power outages. (Online screenshot) Another netizen named Flying Snow asked for a refund for her heating fees, with temperatures in her apartment being below the mandated 18 degrees Celsius (64.4 Fahrenheit). According to a mainland media report, the director of the State Grid Beijing Electric Power Control Center said, For the first time in the past 20 years, the maximum load of the power grid in Beijing appeared in winter. The heating load accounted for 48.2 percenta record high. Read More China Faces Power Shortage Amid Cold Winter, as Regime Bans Australian Coal Imports Since last November, mass power outages have appeared frequently in Chinas major cities and more developed areas, such as Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen, sparking speculation over the severity of Chinas energy supply shortage and the possibility of it experiencing an energy crisis. Hu Yuanzhen contributed to the report. Minority-led business owners have been at the end of the line when it comes to getting Covid-19 relief from the Paycheck Protection Program--you can change that. The reasons for the short shrift were manifold and include a lack of a prior banking relationship, informal compensation structures with employees, and having fewer employees in general. Yet the first iteration of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), the now $284 billion refundable loan program for struggling small businesses, provided a number of lessons learned. Here are five that should help borrowers specifically shut out of round one avoid getting shut out of round two. 1. Call your lender right away. If you successfully filed for a loan the first time with a lender, your first stop should be that same lender, as it may be more familiar with your business and your application. Also, as your current lender it has a selfish reason to ensure that you get all the relief you're entitled to: Your financial solvency will help it in the long run. The reason for speed should be perfectly obvious for anyone who remembers round one. The $349 billion first provided under the Cares Act ran out in a mere two weeks. While you can't pre-apply, the lender can register your interest and keep you informed when the application becomes available. Funding Circle--a fintech company whose U.S. office is based in San Francisco--among others, is asking users to sign up for updates to get notified as soon as applications are available. 2. Apply through a fintech company ... If you tried to get a PPP loan previously but failed to find a lender to take you on, you may want to apply for a loan through a fintech company. Fintech lenders were a lifeline during the first round of PPP--especially for small businesses that didn't previously have significant relationships with a bank. As of August 8, 2020, Kabbage, a small-business fintech lender, became the second-largest PPP lender by application volume with nearly 300,000 approved applications for more than $7 billion. Cross River Bank, a Teaneck, New Jersey-based bank for financial technology startups, churned out 106,000 PPP loans in the first round--on par with Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. Lendio helped fund $8 billion in PPP loan approvals through various lenders for more than 100,000 small-business owners across the U.S. in round one. While the application process is not like underwriting a traditional loan--that is, it's considerably easier--it still takes time to get PPP loans through the application process, which goes both through the bank and the SBA. Fintech companies claim to do this faster and with greater ease, thereby helping process more borrowers. 3. ... Or a community lender. A community lender or other smaller lending institution may also be a good first stop. In this next round of relief, Congress set aside $15 billion across first- and second-draw PPP loans for lending by insured depository institutions, credit unions, and farm credit system institutions with consolidated assets of less than $10 billion. 4. Get your documents straight. Before you apply, you need to dig up some documents. The more prepared you are, the sooner you'll be able to get your loan processed. Here's what you may need: 2019 and 2020 profit and loss statements, to show revenue loss during 2020 2019 business tax returns; 2020 tax returns, if applicable A copy of W-2 forms for all employees, including those who make more than $100,000. This should be submitted as part of your payroll information. A list of any payments to partners who own 20 percent or more, up to $100,000. 5. Ask for help. Community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and minority depository institutions (MDIs) are great resources if you have questions or are looking for support. CDFIs, for instance, oftentimes maintain missions to strengthen their local economies, spur job growth, and improve the overall quality of life in distressed areas. Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify the reporting procedures for COVID-19 in Greenville County Schools GREENVILLE The Greenville County Schools online coronavirus dashboard was partially shut down for much of the week as personnel found themselves inundated with emails from parents whose children were exposed over the winter holiday. By Friday morning, the site's student data was updated to show infections through Tuesday of this week, but reports from Wednesday and Thursday will take through the weekend to post, district spokesman Tim Waller told The Post and Courier late Thursday. Staff reports are up to date. The dashboard was launched at the beginning of the fall semester to provide a public, ongoing tally of infections of student and staff within school buildings. In the seven days from Dec. 30 to Jan. 5, the school district listed 332 known cases of student coronavirus infections on the site; Jan. 5 logged 43 cases, and Jan. 4 the first day that students reported back from the winter holiday logged 214 cases. Parents alert their school principals when their children have been exposed to someone who is infected or are themselves infected, according to district policy. The schools then share these reports with the district. The district's Google drive system generates an email for each coronavirus report with an attached PDF document that goes to district administrators, Waller said. This week's reports, Waller said, has created "an avalanche of paperwork." "Our medical health services directors are digging though hundreds of reports trying to figure out what's what," Waller said. Only known infections are reported on the district's COVID-19 dashboard, not exposures, so all the reports and data must be parsed. From there, a series of steps are set in motion. Students who have been in contact with someone known to be infected must quarantine for at least 10 days, according to school policy. Students who are known to have been infected must isolate at home for at least 10 days, and the district undertakes contact tracing. Every positive case reported on the district dashboard includes a note indicating whether infected students were inside a school building while contagious. "We dont have the capacity in our system to keep up with it," Waller said. "Its really because parents waited until the last minute to report cases." All absences associated with exposure or infection are excused. The site's shut down this week came as the greater Greenville area was placed at the top of a national list of outbreaks in mid-sized areas. The Greenville metropolitan statistical area, which includes Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Laurens counties, reported a known infection rate of 762 per 100,000 people in the past seven days. The area's total population is 920,477. Total new case count for the previous week in that area as of 3 p.m. Tuesday was 7,011. Parents, angry at the school district's decision to reopen as planned on Monday during an acute outbreak, launched a petition drive last week demanding more transparency from district leaders and asking them to scale back the number of students in schools. Sign up for our Greenville weekly update newsletter. Sign up for weekly roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Upstate. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Greenville news staff. Email Sign Up! The district said earlier in the week it received advice from public health officials saying students are safer in class than they would be at home, given the lack of adherence to safety protocols in the community as a whole. The Post and Courier has not been able to confirm that any public health officials said that. A Freedom of Information Act request to the district for documentation is pending. Several of those same petitioning parents contacted The Post and Courier this week concerned that the district's COVID-19 dashboard was not being updated. Parent David Wood, who has two children attending in-person classes, said he would prefer the district stick to its original attendance plan, which would have daily attendance reduced to 25 percent or 50 percent in the event of high community spread. Parent Wendy DeGraaf, whose two children attend the district's virtual academy, said she has heard from parents who want to keep their children home from in-person classes but who fear the repercussions of unexcused absences. Children are declared truants after 10 days of unexcused absences in South Carolina, and staying home out of fear of the pandemic is not considered an excused absence. Wood said he has reached out to Superintendent Burke Royster and school board members about the possibility of altering the district's attendance plan to allow for parents concerned about the pandemic to let their children take classes online during especially bad outbreaks. He said he has not heard back. Switching to the virtual academy, an option that parents can work out with principals individually, is an extreme solution, Wood said, because students would have to remain virtual for the rest of the school year. The school board will hold a regular meeting on Tuesday, and the agenda, which posts Friday, will likely include an update on the coronavirus, as it has for every meeting this year. Wood said he would be there. Asked about Greenville Countys public school attendance policy which has about 35,000 elementary and middle school students physically in school buildings full time state epidemiologist Jane Kelly said the bigger infection risk is activities these children might be engaging in outside of school. "The schools have worked hard to maintain, to engineer safety controls," she told The Post and Courier on Thursday. "So in-person learning, per se, has not been shown to have an increased risk of COVID-19. Its these other activities that were shown to have an increased risk." Parents argue that, because of the district's attendance policy, children who are not engaging in risky behavior outside of school are currently being exposed to those who are. "I think they are very short-sighted in that they went out and publicly said they know people are not following guidelines and yet we'd like them in schools and with your kids seven or eight hours a day," DeGraaf said. "(District leaders) are not seeing the big picture." Photo: BC gov. Flickr Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry UPDATE: 4:50 p.m. With the ban on indoor social gatherings and events extended for another month, Dr. Bonnie Henry said they'll be closely monitoring new case numbers and hospitalizations in the province to determine if further action is needed. The ban was first put in place provincewide on Nov. 19, but Dr. Henry extended the public health order through to Feb. 5 on Thursday. We are closely monitoring our progress and if further action is required, we will take that. If we see positive trends in our cases and our hospitalizations, and we see a lessening of our impacts, we will monitor that as well, Dr. Henry said. Right now we need to hold the line. Our public health orders for the next two incubation periods are important to ensure we are doing all we can to keep everyone in our province as safe as possible. She said the orders are in place to reduce community transmission, so B.C.'s healthcare system can continue to function properly, essential businesses can remain open and children can continue attending school. The number of new cases we are seeing in every health authority shows us that some people made the decision to make an exception for themselves. It may seem inconsequential, it may not have been done with the understanding of the impact it could have, but if 10,000 people a few people in every town, every village or city in our province makes these small concessions for themselves, that increases all of our risks exponentially," Dr. Henry said. This virus doesn't know that we haven't seen our friends in months, it doesn't know that it's our grandmother's birthday ... when we let our guard down, it's transmitted." ORIGINAL: 3:35 p.m. The public health order banning all indoor social gatherings and events of all kinds has been extended for another month. Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry put the public health order in place provincewide on Nov. 19, after a two-week trial in the Vancouver Coastal Health region. That order was set to expire on Jan. 8, but Dr. Henry extended the order during her press conference Thursday. The order bans indoor social gatherings of any size with people outside your household. An exception can be made for those living alone, who are allowed to have two close contacts over. The order also prohibits any events or mass gatherings of any size, including at places of worship. Exceptions have been made for things like baptisms, weddings and funerals, which may still proceed with a maximum of 10 people. Things like AA meetings and after-school programs held in places of worship may also still proceed. The full order can be found here. Dr. Henry noted that the number of daily COVID-19 cases has been slowly rising in recent days, while hospitalizations are at all-time highs. She said they are closely monitoring these figures, but urged British Columbians must "stay the course" over the next month to protect the province's vulnerable. She said contact tracing has shown some people have defied the public health order on social gatherings, giving the example of transmission at small parties with friends who've returned from Europe. Dr. Henry said with the province's vaccination program in place, "the end is in sight," but it will still "be a while" until B.C. gets back to normal. ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Friday said that he will authorize thousands of new organizations including pharmacies, labor unions and medical offices to begin administering coronavirus vaccinations after the hospitals that his administration put in charge of the early phases of the effort have failed to distribute enough doses quickly. The governor's announcement came a day after leaders of his vaccination team told New York's county leaders that they will see an increased role in administering the shots. That move came after weeks of criticism from county officials, who saw their years of mass-vaccination plans brushed aside in the initial plan in favor of regional hubs overseen by hospitals. "The hospitals were slow; theyre ramping up too slowly," Cuomo said. "So were going to accelerate the distribution, and what were going to do is add new distribution networks to supplement the hospitals. ... Not all hospitals were slow, some ... did a fantastic job." The hospitals had not overseen mass vaccinations before, and county leaders said they have been inundated with questions they are unable to answer especially about who will be vaccinated, and when. In a conference call with county executives on Thursday afternoon, three top officials on Cuomo's coronavirus task force Larry Schwartz, a former secretary to the governor; state health Commissioner Howard Zucker; and Gareth Rhodes, a deputy superintendent pledged that the counties would now take on a greater role and that they would also be provided with more data and information. Cuomo said roughly 500 pharmacies will join the 1,200 pharmacies already certified to administer vaccinations, and that people can begin making appointments to be vaccinated but he cautioned that it could take months for people to receive their shots. Hospitals will continue to vaccinate front-line health care workers, but the state will also begin opening mass-vaccination sites including Manhattan's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, which will open next week. The state will still control who can get vaccinated. The second phase of vaccinations dubbed "1B" that is beginning in the coming days includes roughly 3.2 million people, including 1.4 million people who are age 75 or older. "This is the group with the highest death rate," Cuomo said. "This is by far the largest group in 1B. These are people who have been hyper-cautious now for many, many months. ... Theyre afraid to go out, theyre afraid to get COVID. This is the group that desperately needs the vaccine." The second category of people who will receive vaccinations also includes 870,00 education workers, 207,000 first responders including police and firefighters, and 200,000 transit and public safety workers. State officials on Friday said that New York has vaccinated about 479,000 people in the first four weeks of the program. "This is a crisis, everyone needs it, were going to do it fairly," Cuomo said. "This is a valuable commodity; I understand there will be fraud ... there will be theft. We are going to monitor it carefully." Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan on Friday took part in a weekly "control room" call with state officials and local municipal officials, and she expressed frustration with the lack of data sharing, including how many people have been vaccinated on a local level. "I think there is a strong desire to be reporting daily the number of people who have been vaccinated," Sheehan said. "We have to help people to see that the end of this pandemic is achievable and it is in sight, and be reporting how many people have been vaccinated. ... Weve got to give some people some hope here." Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin said county officials have for more than two months been unhappy with the limited information they have received in the nearly three weeks since vaccinations began in the Capital Region. During a conference call with the state's vaccination leaders on Thursday, he noted that counties had been conducting mass vaccinations dating back decades and should not have been brushed aside initially. McLaughlin also said their county phone lines were practically crashing because of people calling seeking information on obtaining a vaccine and confused by the roll-out. "We are glad many nursing home residents and health care workers were vaccinated, but we need vaccines for the general public," he said Friday. "Right now, along with a lack of vaccines, there is a lack of data sharing and communication with the state, and a need for clearer and more definitive plans." Cuomo said the supply chain of vaccines is controlled by the federal government, and that with the 300,000 doses New York is receiving weekly it would take more than three months to vaccinate the initial round of essential workers and elderly. The supply chain, he noted, is supposed to improve. The governor's announcement Friday that the state is going to open up the field of entities and individuals that can administer vaccinations including police departments that are capable of providing doses to their members marks a significant shift from the slow-moving, regional hub approach that had drawn criticism. Still, Cuomo said a significant challenge will remain: providing vaccines in impoverished and minority communities where access to health care providers may be limited. "This is a crisis. Everyone needs it," he said. "Were going to do it fairly." Jake Angeli (C) entered the Capitol building during a protest with his painted face and horned hat in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) DC Police Release Photos of People Who Breached Capitol Building Asks for public's help in identifying them Law enforcement in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 7 released photo and video footage of numerous individuals who breached the Capitol Building on Wednesday and asked the publics help in identifying them. The Metropolitan Police Department is offering a reward of up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons they are searching for. In a press release, the department wrote that while there are peaceful demonstrations in the city on a daily basis, the police will take action if there are persons that destroy property or hurt someone at any time. MPD rarely has to make an arrest at a demonstration but in the event that we do, know that it will be done safely and respectfully, they assured. The photos show protestors and rioters inside the Capitol Rotunda and on the floor of the House and the Senate after breaching both chambers. Many of them are wearing MAGA Make America Great Again hats, carrying Trump flags, and wearing military-style or protective gear. Some are dressed in animal skins and others can be seen taking selfies on their mobile phones. A group of protesters enter the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) One image shows a woman outside the Capitol holding part of the nameplate from House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office, which was reportedly stolen amid the protests. Another image shows a shirtless, tattooed man wearing a Viking headdress and red, white, and blue faceprint. He has since been identified by the Arizona Republic as 32-year-old Jake Angeli, who is widely known as the QAnon Shaman. The Epoch Times has not confirmed his identity. Another man who was seen waving as he walked away with a U.S. House lectern has reportedly been identified as 36-year-old Adam Christian Johnson, the Bradenton Herald reported. The Epoch Times has not confirmed his identity. The building was cleared around 5:40 p.m. and the joint session later resumed. Ultimately, Congress certified Democrat Joe Biden as president-elect. We still have a significant amount of work ahead of us to identify and hold each and every one of the violent mob accountable for their actions, DC Police Chief Robert Contee said at a briefing on Thursday. We have collected numerous images of persons of interest that we are asking the community to help us identify, he said. These images depict individuals engaged in various acts of violence or property destruction. Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Five people died during the protests, and officers have so far made 68 arrests. Ashli Babbitt, 35, of Huntington, Maryland, died of a gunshot wound after being shot inside the Capitol building. Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Georgia, Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama; and Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania, all suffered medical emergencies. Police officer Brian Sicknick, died at about 9:30 p.m on Thursday night. In a public statement, the U.S. Capitol Police Department (USCP) said that it expresses its deepest sympathies to Officer Sicknicks family and friends on their loss, and mourns the loss of a friend and colleague. His death will be investigated by the DC Police Departments Homicide Branch, the USCP, and its federal partners. Police said 56 officers were left injured in the protests and six firearms and two pipe bombs were also recovered. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is also seeking the publics help identifying those who stormed the building Wednesday. We are accepting tips and digital media depicting rioting or violence in and around the U.S. Capitol on January 6, the bureau said in a statement, pointing people to a webpage where they can submit information. The White House on Thursday condemned the violence that took place at the Capitol and assured the American public that there will be an orderly transition of power. Anyone who can identify these individuals or who has knowledge of any of these incidents should take no action but call police at (202) 727-9099 or text your tip to the Departments TEXT TIP LINE at 50411. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The nationwide dry run on Friday to oversee the preparatory arrangements for Covid vaccination before the vaccine rollout saw minimal participation of nurses and paramedical staff of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North MCD) as they continued their strike over non-payment of their salaries pending for more than four months now. The officials of the civic body said that they faced difficulty since the nurses and paramedics make most of the staff designated for vaccination. A senior official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said that a few people were called from outside to manage the minimum requirement. Two days ago, a similar dry run was conducted at the hospital where 34 healthcare staff had participated. However, participation on Friday remained less than half of that day, the official added. The people who participated in the dry run informed IANS that none of the paramedical staff took part while a few nurses, barely four or five in number, went for the drive. Tejinder Singh, of the Paramedical Staff Welfare Association of North MCD, confirmed that none of the paramedical staff joined the vaccine mock drill. "We refused to take part in it," he said. However, Indumati Jamwal, President of the Nurses' Association of Bara Hindu Rao Hospital, said that four or five nurses have continued providing their service in the hospital. "They might have attended the exercise. Apart from them, all of us continued our strike," she said. The North MCD admitted that it struggled conducting the dry run due to the lack of healthcare staff but maintained that it remained successful. "Yes we faced a bit of difficulty but overall, the dry run at Hindu Rao was successful," Yogendra Singh Maan, Directorate of Press and Information, North MCD, told IANS. The nurses and paramedical staff of Hindu Rao and the Rajan Babu Institute of Pulmonary Medicine and Tuberculosis (RBIPMT) which comes under the civic body, are on indefinite strike against the North MCD since Thursday, demanding immediate disbursal of their salaries which are withheld for over four months now. "We discontinued our protest last time because we were given assurances that our salaries would never delay. However, we have gathered now with a resolve to stay on strike until a permanent solution of this continuous issue is not brought upon," said Virender Chaudhary, President, Nurses' Association, RBIPMT. Impossibility of making Trump see reason Surely, Donald Trump is suffering some kind of delusional illness. What else could explain his frightening rejection of reality? When he can no longer deny that his has lost the presidency, will he order his followers to drink poison, as Jim Jones, the leader of Peoples Temple movement, did in 1978? Already, he will go down in history as the baddest of bad losers. Danny Cole, Essendon I believe this, therefore it must be true People will believe exactly what they want to believe, regardless of the facts. And it is not the truth that matters most, it is what people believe. Never have these two statements been played out so accurately to reflect their inherent truths. Joyce Butcher, Williamstown Why are we surprised that the riot happened? While watching the events in Washington on Wednesday, I was struck by memories of demonstrations sponsored by US governments, whether under Democratic or Republican administrations, protesting against election results and attempting to overturn them in other countries, like Georgia, Ukraine, Venezuela, Bolivia and Belarus. In each case, the US administration declared the election fraudulent, usually in advance, and encouraged direct action. In the current situation in the US, we had the President making similar accusations both before and after the election. Why should anyone be surprised that it has now happened there? John Hird, Ripponlea The Prime Minister must speak out on Trump Scott Morrison says: It is not for me to offer commentary on world leaders (The Age, 8/1). It looks like he still does not hold a fire hose. He is pointedly unwilling to douse Donald Trumps fire or call him an arsonist. Julia Thornton, Surrey Hills THE FORUM Medal for true greatness When Donald Trump awarded our Prime Minister the Legion of Merit, I thought he was in outstanding company given that my dear father, Major Martin Clemens, was awarded the same medal. His for exceptionally meritorious conduct and showing disregard for his own safety after having led a battalion of American soldiers against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands, July 1943. It was a bloody battle but few American lives were lost. Sadly, 65 enemies lost theirs. Fathers citation is personally signed by Franklin Roosevelt and is highly valued by our family. Now I see our Prime Minister refuses to condemn the violence incited by Donald Trump. I feel rather insulted that he accepted the Legion of Merit from this man. Malcolm Turnbull says it is a pity he did not refuse it. It belittles the value of it. Sad days. Alexandra Clemens, Prahran The US double standard There was more than a touch of irony in former president George W.Bushs reference to banana republics in his condemnation of the storming of Congress. It was often the direct and sometimes violent intervention of the US in the democratic process in those countries to protect American interests that led to their becoming banana republics. Ross Bardin, Williamstown Tell me its not true I think I am locked into watching an improbable, bad movie about a pandemic sweeping the world and the end of democracy in America. Please can I switch off and give a review of a mountain of rotten tomatoes. Elizabeth Howcroft, Hawthorn Rational Trump voters To all those many millions of Trump supporters who did not turn out in a seditious attempt to thwart the will of the people, America owes you a debt of gratitude. Harry Kowalski, Ivanhoe Such sensible priorities I turned on the car radio late on Thursday afternoon to catch up on news about the American insurgency. Delightfully 774 ABC was not covering this; it was cricket time, and there was an earnest, in-depth discussion about when the rain might stop so play could restart. Prioritising non-cricket over a violent threat to American democracy makes me very happy to live in Australia. Colin Jevons, Glen Iris His lips are sealed Its not for me to offer commentary on other world leaders, says Scott Morrison. Let us keep this quote handy for the next time our cautious Prime Minister mentions Emmanuel Macron, Vladimir Putin, Hassan Rouhani, Nicolas Maduro or Xi Jinping. Or, for that matter, Boris Johnson and Benjamin Netanyahu. Mirna Cicioni, Brunswick East Terrorists and democrats Let me see if I have this right. The protesters who stormed the US Capitol were domestic terrorists but the mobs who stormed and vandalised the Hong Kong Legislative Council, threw petrol bombs and destroyed subway stations were freedom loving democrats? Peter Martina, Warrnambool Power of governments If the storming of the US Capitol building teaches us anything, it is that politicians vastly underestimate the impact and influence they have over a community or worse perhaps, they are fully aware of it. This highlights the importance of having a forward-thinking government. One that works towards addressing climate change, the recognition, value and respect of Indigenous people, and the benefits of improving social inequality to better the country and the world. Is Australia ready to move beyond the anti-policy agenda of the weak, narrow-sighted and impotent Coalition government? I certainly hope so. Dave Zalstein, Dingley Village What happened to ... When the lockdown ended, I felt very safe using public transport. Everyone wore masks and kept their distance. Now many people are brazenly flaunting the mask rules. Surely it would not be too difficult to have inspectors board the trains to enforce the rules. Containing the coronavirus is much more important than fare evasion. Jean Shaik, South Yarra ... wearing your masks? Congratulations to JB Hi-Fi at Forest Hill. The staff member at the door politely asks shoppers to wear their mask properly. But what of the shopping centre management, the government, the police? There are lots of signs and posters around, and yet masks under the nose are everywhere. Are we too precious and too timid to ask people to wear their masks properly? A little publicity and a courteous request by a COVID marshal at the entrance to each shopping centre would probably be enough to make a difference. Stephen Mills, Blackburn South Show some empathy I am disheartened by the vitriol displayed by Victorians towards fellow Victorians who are stuck interstate, portraying us as reckless and irresponsible. We left Victoria on December 13. There was no COVID apart from that in hotel quarantine and no warnings on travel. We had not seen any family for 18 months. Why would we not cross the border to see them, especially as we were going to spend our time in a rural area which had had one case in total, last April? On New Years Eve, we were given seven hours notice to get back to Victoria to avoid isolation or quarantine. We were at the beach, with no car and no flights, near the border to Queensland. To get back in that timeframe was impossible. The Victorian government has been unnecessarily cruel towards citizens like us who pose no risk. We do not need fellow Victorians to be cruel and judgmental also. I suggest we work on building our capacity for kindness and empathy. Melissa Ort (in exile), Fitzroy North Our right to be safe I certainly sympathise with people who are experiencing difficulties returning to Victoria, but I also sympathise (to a greater extent) with those who are at risk of suffering if this virus takes off in Victoria again. They have the right not to be subjected to a deadly virus and possibly lose their job, business, health or even life as a result. Perhaps the answer is for government to look at assisting those who are struggling to return with costs and other practicalities etc, including with quarantining. Sally Scott, Hawthorn True, suffering refugees I can accept that the sudden border closedown over the New Year period was disappointing for many families and inconvenienced many. But please do not tell me that you feel like refugees in our own country (The Age, 8/1) when we still disgracefully lock up genuine refugees in situations and conditions that disregard our obligations under the UN Convention on Refugees. Denise Stevens, Healesville Danger of a third wave When we Victorian citizens are a couple of months into the hard lockdown brought about by the third wave of coronavirus infections introduced into the community by an international visitor to the Australian Open, will no one be responsible for that as well? Another orphan event, signed off by a phantom? Corporate greed being allowed to endanger the publics health is simply lunacy. Phil Piesse, Kew So, whos to blame? Recently I received a Christmas card (13 by 9.5 centimetres) from the UK which had been opened by Australia Post for Inspection by ABF. I was incensed and rang Australia Post to find out why it was opened. They did not know. Then I rang the Australian Border Force to ascertain why such a small item was examined. I received the same answer: We do not know. Why? Sylvia Sanders, Park Orchards Cricketing matters The practice of batsmen (and women batters too) scratching at the crease to take guard is imprecise and needlessly destructive. It also needlessly involves the umpires. Why not paint three short lines aligning the stumps precisely? Graeme Stubbs, Balwyn Loss of precious trees If Melburnians are concerned about tree clearing (The Age, 4/1), I suggest they avoid the Otway Ranges where native forests are being logged on a grand scale. You can no longer reach any of the Otways many beautiful waterfalls without going through the ugly wasteland left behind by loggers. Replacing native forests with pine plantations, as seems to be the case, provides no habitat for native wildlife. Phil Bodel, Ocean Grove Inequality of our votes Caitlin Fitzsimmons article (Comment, 6/1) on the risk to our otherwise robust electoral system was excellent. But there is another blatant gerrymander in the system that needs to be rectified. The Constitution says no state shall have fewer than five seats in the House of Representatives. The outcome is that Tasmania has five seats with an average number of electors of around 75,000. Mainland states seats are much larger. Mine (Cooper) has more than 110,000 electors. This means the vote of a person in Bass is worth almost 50more than mine. Any gerrymander in the House influences who forms government. It is time for a referendum on dropping this undemocratic gerrymander. Does either of the major parties have the courage to do so? Geoff Wescott, Northcote AND ANOTHER THING The US Emperor. Stark nude. And stark raving mad. Nina Wellington-Iser, Hawthorn From Kennedys Camelot to Trumps chaos in a lifetime. Democracy is a fragile fabric. Bill Cleveland, Kew Trump wanted a wall built. Its going to be 2-metres high around Capitol Hill. George Djoneff, Mitcham Is there a crime in the US for inciting violence? Treason maybe? Wendy Poulier, Ferntree Gully The leader of the free world has gone from a First World to a Third World country. How the mighty have fallen. Warren Wiggins, Flemington We havent heard the last of Trump. An expert grifter working a long con and theres still money to be made. Laurie McCormack, Northcote Has the American dream become a nightmare? Stan Marks, Caulfield The first Republican president, Lincoln, saved the union. The latest has torn it asunder. Mike Pantzopoulos, Ashburton The Republicans reject Trump (at last). Principle or rats deserting a sinking ship? David Rose, Montrose Morrisons silence in criticising the actions of Trump is deafening. Annie Wilson, Inverloch With its election and the handling of the pandemic, the US must be the only asylum run by the inmates. Stan Thomson, Sandringham Will Trump be remembered for starting the US second civil war? Ross Cropley, North Ringwood Will Morrison now return his Legion of Merit medal? Patricia Rivett, Ferntree Gully I assume it was bone spurs that prevented Trump from joining the mob. Geoff Castles, Ringwood North One day after the declaration of congress, Make America Great Again and Trump supporters feel that media and big tech conspired to block the election's outcome. After January 6, hope stays that it is just the start of a long fight to reclaim America. January 6 was a shocker for Trump loyalists as the event on Capitol Hill and congress's certification of results. The next day feels the change. Most of the protesters who supported their right choice are leaving, and the Capitol has a fence. The national guard is still deployed, reported the Epoch Times. According to Marine veteran Tony Good, a Floridian who saw President Trump talking at the Ellipse in the morning. Saying that his detractors twisted Trump's word, and he did not ask for violence. The media went all out to misconstrue the president's words for the nth time. Explaining further violence was not implied. A fine line between inciting people to riot stands up for convictions too. He told the Epoch Times that the president does not want a riot but to protest on beliefs. It was all about the right to protest, and causing social disturbances is not the message. That is a right for all Americans. He went back to his hotel and left his group after the speech. He was not able to go to the Capitol. It is the start of a 10-year war; it will take that long to right what happened on January 6. He says that it won't be easy citing it as a war to return to America as it should be. Also read: Protestors Dressed in Trump Garb to Deploy National Guard, FBI to get Back Control Many cringe at what kind of United States will exist when it is not Trump for another four years getting elections that are fair and not lacking integrity characterizes the one declared by congress. Adding that it will not be that easy, and the powers are keeping it from happening. They are the ruling class and what to control and rule everything. Relevant issues are kept from Americans and buried. The event in Washington, D.C. was expected, and many changes will be seen. One, in particular, is censorship on Twitter and Facebook. Just the start of a long march for everyone concerned. The system is evil, so regrouping is needed to pull back and plan. Another Trump loyalist, Elizabeth Rowell, went to D.C. from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to exercise her right. Just like good, she said that Trump never incited violence or rioting. She felt safe with her fellow Trumpers and added they were true patriots. She chanted the USA and sand the national anthem with fellow Trump admirers; she went there to hear the president who towered over his Democratic opponent. The media gave a biased version of Trump's admirer, which made Rowell feel bad. Many media outlets have been unfair in their reporting. Rowell added she came with Trump supporters to uphold the USA. The election was stolen and denied the one confirmed by congress as not her president. She doubts if the gaffe ridden ex-VP can lead as well as Trump. Make America Great Again is not done yet because of Americans who support their true choice. Related article: Make America Great Again: Pro Trump Protesters Flooded 17 Statehouses in Peaceful Demonstrations @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has assured the Tripura government of developing an integrated check post and cargo handling facility at Nischintapur, the junction point of Agartala-Akhaura rail link, near here, Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb said on Wednesday. The much-awaited railway line between Agartala and Akhaura is expected to be completed by September 2021. The railway link connects Gangasagar in Bangladesh to Nischintapur in India (10.6 km) and from Nischintapur to Agartala railway station (5.46 km). "Requested the kind intervention of Sh. @AmitShah ji for the development of an Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Nischintapur, junction point of Agartala-Akhaura rail link. Setting up of a cargo handling facility here will greatly boost trade & commerce for entire #NorthEast region," Deb tweeted. The Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region is bearing the cost of laying the track on the Indian side and that on the Bangladesh side is being borne by the Ministry of External Affairs, officials said. "Also requested for his kind support for completion of border fencing work in #Tripura in a timely & effective manner. Sh #AmitShah ji assured full support from @HMOIndia in this regard to ensure security & prosperity for the state," Deb who called on Shah in New Delhi during the day said in a tweet. The chief minister also met Union Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari and discussed the ongoing national highway projects in Tripura, an official release said. Deb requested Gadkari for greater support of the ministry for facilitating micro, small and medium enterprises in the state. Gadkari, who is also the MSME minister, assured Deb of his ministrys support to the states projects, the release said. PTI image (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Just as gamers want their laptops to run Crysis, creators want their laptops to run Adobe Creative Cloud without a hitch. The choice was easy when Intel dominated mobile CPUs, but AMDs Ryzen is a formidable up-and-comer now. Does it matter which one your laptop runs? We decided to run Photoshop, Lightroom, and Premiere through two benchmark suites to see which mobile CPU performs best. What follows is a raft of charts, and theyre well worth perusing if you care about the nuances of application performance. But if you want to jump to the test that interests you most, or skip directly to the conclusion, use the handy hotlinks below. The benchmarks: Procyon and Pugetbench The first suite, and the new kid on the benchmark block, is ULs Procyon (pronounced PRO-see-on.). Made by the same company that publishes the popular 3DMark, Procyon has two modules. The first is a Photo Editing module that runs Photoshop and Lightroom Classic through a set of scripts. The second module measures Premiere Pro performance. The benchmark doesnt have a free version and is priced mostly for professionals. The second benchmark is Puget Systems Puget Bench. Puget Systems is a Washington-based workstation builder that developed its own benchmark suite to help support its customers. The company offers a paid version and a free public version of Puget Bench; we used the latter. Its important to note that Procyon and Puget Bench are not synthetic tests. To run them, you need to have the Adobe applications installed. Both benchmark suites then run the applications through a scripted set of tests. Our test laptops The laptops we used for our tests were chosen to represent a variety of CPUs, and both discrete and integrated graphics: MSIs Prestige 14 Evo Remove non-product link is equipped with a 4-core, 11th-gen Core i7-1185G7 with Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of LPDDR4X/4267 memory, a 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, and a 14-inch FHD screen. It weighs 2.7 pounds. is equipped with a 4-core, 11th-gen Core i7-1185G7 with Iris Xe graphics, 16GB of LPDDR4X/4267 memory, a 512GB PCIe Gen 4 SSD, and a 14-inch FHD screen. It weighs 2.7 pounds. MSIs older Prestige 14 is equipped with a 6-core, 10th-gen Core i7-10710U, GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q graphics, 16GB of LPDDR3/2133 memory, a 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD, and a 14-inch 4K screen. It weighs 2.8 pounds. Lenovos Yoga Slim 7 has an 8-core Ryzen 4800U with Radeon graphics, 16GB of LPDDR4X/4267 memory, a 512GB PCIe 3.0 SSD, a 14-inch FHD, and lap weight of 3.1 pounds. The Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 includes an 8-core Ryzen 9 4900HS (sometimes mistyped as 4800HS in the charts that follow), GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q graphics, 16GB of DDR4/3200 memory, a 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD, a 14-inch FHD screen, and a weight of 3.6 pounds. The Acer Predator Triton 500 with a 6-core 10th-gen Core i7-10750H CPU, GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q graphics, 32GB of DDR4/3200 memory, a 1TB PCIe 3.0 SSD, and a 15.6-inch 300Hz FHD screen. It weighs 4.6 pounds. This selection gives us a nice mix of AMD and Intel CPUs, as well as three performance levels of Nvidias GeForce cards. It does make it a little hard to figure what exactly is driving any performance changes, but we can make some educated guesses. Normally we wouldnt pit a 4.6-pound laptop with Nvidias most powerful GPU against a 2.7-pound laptop with integrated graphics, but in this case we want to see just what you get in exchange for the extra weight. Its also important to note that there is no real right answer when youre trying to determine performance based on applications as vast as Adobes suite. What you do in Photoshop, Lightroom or Premiere may not be what someone else does in those appsand may yield different results. Benchmarks help us compare consistently, but your mileage will vary. UL Procyon Photo Editing The Procyon image editing module rolls up both Photoshop and Lightroom results into the same overall score. The entire test takes about 20 minutes to run. The laptops with AMD CPUs are shown as a grouping of red bars, above a grouping of Intel laptops in blue bars. Some laptops have multiple bars to show performance at different CPU settings. In all cases, a longer bar indicates higher performance. Looking at the results, we can see the MSI Prestige 14 Evo and its Core i7-1185G7 leads among the smaller and lighter laptops, beating both the prior-generation MSI Prestige 14 with 10th-gen Core i7-10710U and GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q, and the thin-and-light Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 laptop with Ryzen 7 4800U. The other trend we see from Procyons Photo Editing test is the importance of the GPU. Both the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 and the Acer Predator Triton 500 likely get a very nice boost due to their GeForce graphics. IDG The chart below is broken into two categories: batch processing (red bar), which is performed all in Lightroom, and image retouching (blue bar), which is performed all in Photoshop. The larger Acer Predator Triton 500 gaming laptop with its fast GPU leads here. The 11th-gen Tiger Lake MSI Prestige 14 Evo laptop has a decent advantage against both the older MSI Prestige 14 and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7, and it can even outperform the Ryzen 9 4900HS and GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q in the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14. IDG One thing we dont know is whether the PCIe 4.0 SSD in the MSI Prestige 14 Evo bears some responsibility for the performance. Our gut says drive speed has rarely been a bottleneck, but storage could very much be helping the Tiger Lake laptop. IDG Procyon Premiere Performance Well finish off Procyon results with a look at its video test. Procyon tasks Premiere with exporting four files: Two are H.264 using the YouTube preset with Maximum Render quality, and two use H.265 and export to a UHD 4K resolution file, again with maximum render quality. The source file is a 4K video with lumetric color and noise correction applied to the clips. Other clips use the filter twirl, Gaussian blur, cross dissolve and motion applied, as well as crop, color balance, fast blur, sharpen. If you look only at this chart (which includes running smaller laptops using their available default and performance cooling settings), you know the laptops with discrete graphics win, with the Acer Predator Triton 500s GeForce RTX 2080 Super in first and the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14s GeForce RTX 2060 in second place. Surprisingly, the GeForce GTX 1650 doesnt hand the Prestige MSI 14 the win youd expect. The MSI Prestige 14 Evos 11th-gen Tiger Lake with only 4 cores surprisingly bests the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7 with an 8-core Ryzen 7 4800U inside of it. IDG Procyons script for Adobe Premiere actually hands the 8-core Ryzen 7 4800U the L. Theres a bit more to Procyons story. As we said above, the clips have various effects filters applied and also are broken up in two sections. One is made to be accelerated by the graphics coresdiscrete or integrated, we suspectas well as what looks to be conventional CPU encoding. For the GPU encodes, those with the fastest lead the way. The laptops with GeForce RTX 2080 Super, GeForce RTX 2060, and GeForce GTX 1650 slide into a neat 1, 2, 3 sequence. You can see the results in the purple and red bars below (shorter bars are better, as the scores indicate how long it took to encode the videos). IDG In the two CPU-heavy exports in green and blue, the two 8-core Ryzen chips actually do quite well. Looking at the blue bar for the H.264 export, the Asus ROG Zephyrus 14s Ryzen 9 4900HS crosses the finish line first, closely followed by Acer Predator Triton 500 with the 6-core Core i7-10750H and the Lenovo Yoga Slim 7s 8-core Ryzen 7 4800U. The MSI Prestige 14 Evos 4-core, 11th-gen Tiger Lake, and its predecessor Prestige 14s 6-core, 10th-gen Comet Lake U, take up the rear. That 1080p video is a fairly short run, though. Exporting to the much more strenuous H.265 codec at 4K (green bar) takes our encode from about 10 to about 72 minutes. The surprise winner for that H.265 encode is the MSI Prestige 14 Evos 4-core 11th Gen Core i7-1185G7 which etches a solid win over both laptops with 8-core Ryzen 4000 CPUs. Both of the older 14nm 10th-gen CPUs come in last, but not by much, which makes us think the CPU-based visual effects Premiere applies to the videos are an important factor here. Its also why, frankly, we think the 11th-gen Tiger Lake CPU does as well as it does. Procyon Conclusion Looking at Procyon in totality, its clear that having a fast GPU supported by Adobe products helpssometimes a lot. Wed also say that while AMDs Ryzen 4000 can outperform Intels 11th-gen Tiger Lake, it doesnt always do so where youd expect it to. Photoshop, which still largely relies on lighter thread thread counts and burst clocks, continues to favors Tiger Lake. If we had to declare a winner among the laptops without a graphics chip, wed give it to Intels 11th-gen Tiger Lake. AMDs Ryzen 4000 performs competently, but its strength continues to be in multi-core performance. If we were buying a laptop based solely on Procyon, it would largely depend on how the work is split. If your work is mostly within Adobe apps, the 11th-gen Tiger Lake looks to be the overall winner. If, however, you also perform multi-threaded work such as 3D modelling, then the higher-core-count Ryzen 4000 can do both capably. Keep reading to see how Pugetbench puts the laptops through their paces. GREENVILLE The spread of the coronavirus in the Greenville area is as bad as you think. In a federal report released this week, the Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin metropolitan statistical area leads the nation among mid-sized regions for coronavirus infections, and a leading state epidemiologist says it is because of the way people here are behaving. On Tuesday, the White House COVID-19 Task Force released its latest Community Profile in which experts gauge metrics such as case numbers, positive tests and infection trends to determine the hardest-hit areas for the pandemic nationally. On Page 23, under the header "select high burden core-based statistical areas," the Greenville area is listed as the worst center of outbreak among areas with populations of 250,000 to 1 million. The area is comprised of Greenville, Anderson, Pickens and Laurens counties but does not include Spartanburg County. One other South Carolina area is cited in the report Florence, which is fifth among regions with populations under 250,000. Two areas bordering South Carolina are also in the report: Augusta, ninth in the small group, and Charlotte, 10th for populations over 1 million. South Carolina's assistant epidemiologist, Dr. Jane Kelly, on Thursday cited behavior as the most likely driver of mass coronavirus infections in the Greenville area. "It's complicated. It's both biology and behavior," Kelly said. "We've all seen people who wear masks not quite right. So the mask isn't very effective if it's below your nose, for example. And there are a lot of individuals who don't feel wearing a mask is very important. They have just not embraced the message." 'Masks work' The Community Profile report issued this week looks at metropolitan areas. The Greenville-Anderson-Mauldin area population, according to the study, is 920,477. Greenville County's population is about 520,000. The metro area's infection rate over the past seven days cases per 100,000 currently stands at 762. Behind Greenville are Provo, Utah, where the case rate is 732, and Bakersfield, Calif., where cases per 100,000 hit 638. Masks in addition to other social distancing measures work, Kelly said, and multiple studies prove it. The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control earlier this year released its own study showing how jurisdictions that have mask ordinances and enforce them have lower case loads. The city of Greenville, with a population of around 70,000, first added a limited mask requirement in the summer and extended it to all retail establishments on Oct. 12. The city of Easley, with just over 20,000 residents, passed an ordinance in late December. Neither Greenville County nor any of the neighboring counties have a mask mandate. "We have just been through a holiday season where I think people often put on hold precautions, thinking, 'It's just a day. It's just one time. I need to get together with my friends and family,' " Kelly said. "And unfortunately, I think we are seeing the consequences of that now." Birthday parties, weddings, funerals and indoor gatherings where people don't take precautions are spreading disease, she said. Sign up for our Greenville weekly update newsletter. Sign up for weekly roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Upstate. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Greenville news staff. Email Sign Up! Cases in schools bog down database Asked about Greenville County's public school attendance policy which has about 35,000 elementary and middle school students attending classes in person full time Kelly said the bigger infection risk is activities these kids might be engaging in outside of school. "The schools have worked hard to maintain, to engineer safety controls," she said. "So in-person learning, per se, has not been shown to have an increase risk of COVID-19. It's these other activities that were shown to have an increased risk." She cited a study published last month in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's influential Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that examined the behavior of about 400 kids in Mississippi and found that attending schools where coronavirus precautions were in place was not associated with infection. "From a public health point of view, it is not just about what is going on in schools, in person," Kelly said. "It's what's going on in the community." Case reports came flooding into the database of Greenville County schools this week, spokesman Tim Waller told The Post and Courier on Thursday. They bogged down the system, which has not been updated since Monday. "We don't have the capacity in our system to keep up with it," Waller said. "It's really because parents waited until the last minute to report cases." He said the school system's COVID-19 dashboard would be updated early Friday but didn't know yet Thursday afternoon how many there would be. "Yeah, there's going to be a bunch," he said. 29.9 percent positivity rate The COVID-19 Task Force report also looked at the surge in cases compared with the week before and the positivity rate of coronavirus tests. Greater Greenville does not lead among these metrics but is near the top, with a 29.9 percent positivity rate, second to Provo's 30.7 percent, and a surge in cases week-over-week of 34 percent. Surges in Provo; Oxnard, Calif.; and Augusta have been worse at 46 percent, 35 percent and 52 percent, respectively. Mid-sized cities fared somewhat better than those with populations over a million and those below 250,000. The worst outbreak in the country is in Yuma, Ariz., population 214,000, where the weekly case rate is 1,012 per 100,000, and in Los Angeles, where the weekly case rate per 100,000 is 875 among its 13 million residents. Nathaniel Cary contributed to this report. The ruling Congress-led Secular Democratic Alliance (SDA) in Puducherry on Friday began its four-day long agitation here demanding recall of Lt Governor Kiran Bedi, accusing her of "impeding developmental plans and welfare measures of the elected government." Chief Minister V Narayanasamy, who took part in the agitation, alleged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bedi "hatched a conspiracy to dismantle the separate (union territory) status of Puducherry and merge it with Tamil Nadu." He accused the Prime Minister and Bedi of being keen on depriving the people of Puducherry of their rights, a charge already rubbished by the Lt Governor. "Our fight for our rights would continue and we would not be cowed down by any measure by the Centre," the chief minister said in an emotional address to participants at the protest, being held months ahead of the assembly elections expected in April-May. Bedi, a former IPS officer, and Narayanasamy have been at logger heads over various issues ever since she was appointed the Lt Governor in May 2016 with the ruling Congress accusing her of going against decisions of the government. The Congress had in December, 2019 written to President Ram Nath Kovind seeking the recall of Bedi, who has maintained that being the Administrator of the Union Territory she was only discharging her duties as per law. A resolution adopted by SDA later at the protest venue accused Bedi of requisitioning central forces, deployed here for maintenance of law and order during the agitation and urged the Centre to withdraw them. Although the SDA had earlier decided to hold the agitation by picketing Raj Nivas (office-cum-residence of the Lt Governor), the venue was shifted to Maraimalai Adigal Salai (more than a km away). The change was made as the police did not give permission in view of an order in force restricting agitations within 500 metres of Raj Nivas and the assembly. Narayanasamy said the fight by the parties to seek recall of Lt Governor should be peaceful. "We should draw inspiration from the farmers now holding agitations at the borders of New Delhi to urge repeal of the three Agriculture Reforms Bill," he added. Narayanasamy urged the people of the union territory to stand firmly and be prepared for any 'sacrifice' to ensure that the Centre recalled the Lt Governor Bedi as "she has been obstructing several welfare schemes decided by the elected government ever since she assumed office in 2016." Apart from Narayanasamy, the lone Lok Sabha Member from Puducherry V Vaithilingam, AICC Secretary Sanjay Dutt, Congress legislator T Jayamoorthy, leaders of the CPI, CPI(M) and VCK also participated in the protest. However, leaders and workers of the DMK, an ally of the Congress, were conspicuous by their absence. The Centre has deployed the Central Armed Police Force and the Central Industrial Security Force personnel at vantage points here to maintain law and order in view of the dharna. Although the Chief Minister earlier said the agitation would continue "till Kiran Bedi left Puducherry", the duration of the stir has been reduced to four days. This is the second time that such an agitation against Bedi is being held here with the Chief Minister and his ministerial colleagues and leaders of the alliance parties taking part. The earlier stir was held in February 2019 also to push the demands for reopening of the closed industries and public sector undertakings and also for smooth operation of the free rice scheme. The present dharna is limited to the demand that Bedi be recalled, sources in the Congress said. The resolution adopted at the protest venue on Friday said deployment of central police forces belittles the efficiency of the local police. The district Collector had enforced order under section 144 CrPC from Thursday at the "dictates of Bedi" to prevent the democratically justified agitation, the resolution alleged. "The Puducherry government is already reeling under severe fiscal crisis and the expenditure being incurred because of the 1,500 personnel of the Central para military forces towards their wages and also allied expenditure would add to the strain of the financial position," it said. Earlier, Narayanasamy and the others garlanded statues of leaders including former Chief Minister V Venkatasubba Reddiar before arriving at the venue of the protest. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: The federal government has appealed to Nigerians not to be hesitant to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it gets to Nigeria. An official also said President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and other prominent Nigerians are willing to be among the first set of Nigerians to receive the vaccine on live television to help drive acceptance. Faisal Shuaib, the Executive Director of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), said this at the Presidential Task Force (PTF) briefing on COVID-19 on Thursday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria intends to get 42 million COVID-19 vaccines to cover one fifth of its population through the global COVAX scheme. The initial vaccines would come as part of Nigerias plan to inoculate 40 per cent of the population in 2021 and another 30 per cent in 2022, with 100,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine arriving by the end of January 2021. The COVAX scheme was set up to provide vaccines to poorer countries including Nigeria whose 200 million people and poor infrastructure posed a daunting challenge to medical officials rolling out the vaccinations According to Mr Shuaib, President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osibanjo and other prominent Nigerians are willing to be among the first set of Nigerians to receive the vaccine on live television to help drive acceptance. This is in accordance with terms of the prioritisation of vaccines and strategic country leadership. These critical leaders and others would likely take the vaccine in full glare of the public to demonstrate that this vaccine is safe. So, we have to make provisions for them. Even in developed countries, what we have seen is that apart from the prioritisation of health workers, you have to also identify with critical leaders that you dont want to be wiped off by the virus. For example, in warfare, if you want to destroy your enemies, you look for specific leaders, captains, the generals; once you decapitate them, then the soldiers will become weak. So, as much as possible, you do not want to also leave your leaders vulnerable to COVID-19, it doesnt mean you want to prioritise politicians, that is not correct, he said. NAN also reports that the U.S President-elect, Joe Biden, in December 2020, received a COVID-19 vaccine on live television in a demonstration intended to encourage Americans to receive shots of their own when they could. Also, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was vaccinated against the COVID-19 on live television on Saturday, becoming the first Israeli and one of the worlds leaders to be inoculated. Mr Shuaib also emphasised that health workers would be given priority to take the COVID-19 vaccine when it arrives Nigeria because they are the ones in direct contact with cases in isolation units. On herd or population immunity to COVID-19, the NPHCDA said it is better to rely on vaccines. Herd immunity, also known as population immunity, refers to when most of a population is immune to an infectious disease; this provides indirect protection or herd immunity or protection to those who are not immune to the disease. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Shuaib said: There is no shadow of doubt, even from the different vaccines that we have used in the past, it is always better to use the vaccines. It will be approximately 10 years for you to be able to achieve herd immunity. So you can imagine how many people would have died if you have to rely on herd immunity. The Swiss tried herd immunity for a lot of people; herd immunity just doesnt work. The Americans touched it and see what is happening in the U.S. Herd immunity is not the way to go. The evidence is there that when you use vaccines you are more likely to quickly attempt herd immunity to protect more people. So, I will like to reiterate that you must not give way to conspiracy theories. We must try to manage the information around the vaccines. Where people do not understand please reach out to those who are scientists and public health experts. All of us here are Nigerians who take the issue of the safety of Nigerians seriously, he said. (NAN) In the wake of the riot at the Capitol, companies moved to cut ties with President Trump and his supporters and fired workers who participated. Facebook Inc. banned Mr. Trump indefinitely and Canada-based Shopify Inc. closed online stores associated with Mr. Trumps campaign and businesses. Publisher Simon & Schuster said it would drop a coming book by Sen. Josh Hawley, a key backer of Mr. Trumps election claims. Dozens more executives and trade groups denounced the takeover of the Capitol and called for the removal of the president. Also read Virus spread slows but two states still a worry A number of companies said they fired employees who participated in the riot at the Capitol after seeing employees in photos and videos posted to social media. Goosehead Insurance said Thursday that Paul Davis, an associate general counsel, was no longer employed by the company. In an email to employees Thursday, Goosehead CEO Mark Jones said the company was surprised and dismayed to learn that one of our employees, without our knowledge or support, participated in a violent demonstration at our nations capital yesterday." A spokesman for Goosehead, a publicly traded company based in Westlake, Texas, said Mr. Davis had been hired in mid-2020. On an Instagram account, a user identified as Paul M. Davis wrote that he was peacefully demonstrating" Wednesday. The account, public earlier Thursday, is now private; Mr. Davis didnt return a request for comment. Managers at Navistar Direct Marketing, a printing company in Frederick, Md., saw on Twitter that a man wearing a company badge was among rioters inside the U.S. Capitol. After reviewing photos, the company said the employee had been terminated for cause." While we support all employees right to peaceful, lawful exercise of free speech, any employee demonstrating dangerous conduct that endangers the health and safety of others will no longer have an employment opportunity with Navistar Direct Marketing," the company said. A spokesman for the company declined to name the employee. In most states, employers have wide latitude to terminate employees, even for conduct outside the workplace. Ron Shaich, former CEO of Panera Bread Co. and an investor in several other chains whos involved in No Labels, a political group that supports centrist lawmakers, said executives have the right to fire workers believed to have engaged in illegal activities. Theres not unlimited freedom," he said, adding that if one of his employees had illegally entered the U.S. Capitol, he would fire them. Im not going to tell you you shouldnt go to a Trump demonstration and you shouldnt be in our company if you vote for Trump, but thats not the same," he said. We as a society have got to repudiate this. This is not OK." Dave Petratis, CEO of Allegion PLC, a security products manufacturer with U.S. headquarters in the Indianapolis area, said he supported a statement from the National Association of Manufacturers that suggested Vice President Mike Pence consider invoking the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. The middle, the saner part of America and the worlds got to step up and say: Enough," he said, adding that this weeks events make him want to speak out more forcefully. It just primes and motivates me for action." Companies might also face a backlash. The Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump Republicans and former Republicans, said its planning a brutal corporate pressure campaign" targeting companies, trade associations, CEOs and others that serve as the financiers of the Authoritarian movement that attacked the US Capitol," Steve Schmidt, a political strategist and a co-founder of the Lincoln Project, said in a tweet. In an interview Thursday evening, Mr. Schmidt said he wasnt ready to list specific companies that will be in the crosshairs, but said the Lincoln Project thinks there are plenty worth scrutinizing. Its a time for choosing: its America, or autocracy," he said. Theres going to be a public discussion around it." Rich Lesser, CEO of Boston Consulting Group, said the business community must be clear-eyed about President Trumps behavior, as well as those members of Congress who acted as enablers. If we look past these actions and treat them as an isolated event by engaging and supporting these individuals, then we also risk being complicit in encouraging future actions that destabilize our country," he said. Mr. Lesser didnt suggest specific actions businesses should take, but said companies have an important role to play. More calls for removing the president came from groups as varied as National Nurses United, which represents 170,000 nurses in the U.S., and law firm Crowell & Moring LLP, which has about 1,100 employees. The Washington, D.C.-based law firm urged other firm leaders and lawyers to add their support to the firms letter. The president has proven himself unfit for office, and a reckless and wanton threat to the Constitution that he pledged to preserve, protect, and defend," the firm said. Crowell & Moring Chairman Phil Inglima, a Democrat, said that since the firm shared the letter, hes heard from several leaders of law firms of different sizes who want to participate. He said the firm, which has support from Republicans and Democrats internally, plans to send the letter to Mr. Pence this week. One CEO who has been a major Trump donor said that he was frustrated by the violence and wished the president more forcefully disavowed the rioters actions, though he also said Mr. Trump had been maligned by opponents and the media throughout his term. The CEO said he no longer plans to financially support Mr. Trumps future political ambitions. Some other business leaders continue to stand with Mr. Trump and the Republican senators. John Lodge III, CEO of Lodge Lumber Co. in Houston, said he remains a supporter, personally and financially, of Mr. Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz, who objected Wednesday night to ratifying Mr. Bidens electoral college votes in Arizona. Mr. Lodge said he thinks the violence was staged to make Trump supporters look bad. I support everyone who supports the president and Ted Cruz," he said, adding that he has a list of people who dont support the president and they wont get money from him in the next election, whether Republican or Democrat. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Advertisement The FBI has released new photos of at least 10 additional MAGA mob rioters they are hunting down after they stormed the US Capitol in the violent siege that left five dead - as the Justice Department said there was no evidence of Antifa involvement. The wanted poster, which was released by the FBI's Washington Field Office on Friday, features close up photos of 10 Trump supporters that were taken inside the Capitol building. Federal authorities are seeking the public's help in tracking down those pictured for making 'unlawful entry' into the Capitol building. The most recent wanted poster is in addition to the dozens the FBI have already said they are trying to track down. It comes as the Justice Department said there is no indication so far that Antifa played any role in the riots - despite claims from some Republicans that the group were posing as Trump supporters. The FBI has released new photos of at least 10 additional MAGA mob rioters they are hunting down after they stormed the US Capitol in the violent siege that left five dead Authorities have already arrested more than 80 rioters who breached the Capitol building, scaled the Senate and House Chambers, vandalized statues, fired tear gas and defaced property. Fifty-five are being pursued on federal charges, authorities say. Dozens more, who were labeled as 'great patriots by President Trump, are still yet to be identified. So far, the FBI has identified and released photos of about 40 people they need help tracking down. The suspects are wanted on a slew of charges, including inciting a riot and weapons charges. It comes as the DoJ announced on a call with reporters on Friday that 15 people have now been charged including 60-year-old Richard Barnett - the man who put his feet on Nancy Pelosi's desk and left her a threatening note. Barnett, who proudly referred to himself as a white nationalist on social media, was charged with unlawful entry. He was taken into custody at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas. Lonnie Coffman, 70, has also been arrested after police found his red GMC pick-up truck near the RNC - where a pipe bomb was left. Federal authorities are seeking the public's help in tracking down these men pictured for making 'unlawful entry' into the Capitol building on Wednesday He has not been charged over the pipe bomb but cops found two handguns, 11 Molotov cocktails and an M4 carbine assault rifle in his vehicle. Some of the assailants have already been identified via social media, including the horned QAnon 'Shaman' Jake Angeli and a MAGA fan whose marketing company fired him when they spotted his work lanyard around his neck. Authorities have launched a huge manhunt across DC and the rest of the country. Their failure to arrest the rioters - many of whom had guns and overpowered them - has outraged millions of Americans who compared the soft touch to the harsh crackdown by police on BLM protesters during the summer. No one has been arrested yet in connection with the death of Capitol cop Brian Sicknick, 42, who died in the hospital after being hit, allegedly in the head, with a fire extinguisher. 'This is an ongoing investigation we're working this with our partners to ascertain what happened in that situation. 'We are 100 percent on it and are getting to those answers,' FBI Washington Field Office ADIC Steven D'antuono said. Sicknick was himself a Trump fan who posted on social media about his support of the President. Connecticut residents were present when a mob overran the United States Capitol this week. Joe Visconti, who was a Republican member of the West Hartford Town Council and ran for governor, said he and his fellow Tea Party Republicans from Connecticut would never condone violent acts or allow for revolution, Dozens were arrested by local police, including at least two from Connecticut, identified as Victoria Bergeson and Maurcio Mendez. Visconti said he and other supporters were walking from the White House after Trumps address toward the Capitol when they heard that Vice President Pence would not challenge Electoral College votes. We knew right at that moment that it was kind of done unless we could yell loud enough for senators to hear us, he said. He said he was about half-a-mile from the Capitol on Pennsylvania Avenue when he heard the news that others had breached the building. We see people piling in, flooding in, Visconti said, though he said he remained outside. I wasnt going in to be part of violence. You dont break stuff, you dont hurt people. According to Visconti, law enforcement issued no warnings before flash bombs and tear gas were used on the crowd. He said older people who did not take part in the mob that stormed the Capitol were caught in the stampede. I have to agree with the left. There is police brutality, he said. I experienced it. When asked if he and others who were part of the crowd bore any responsibility for violence and destruction in the seat of the nations government, Visconti said no, and that he encourages perpetrators to be identified and prosecuted. I bear no responsibility for the peoples actions inside there, he said. As America's allies issued strong condemnations of rioters who stormed the US Capitol building in Washington on Wednesday, the nation's geopolitical foes used last night's events to question the efficacy of democracy. The violence erupted after US President Donald Trump spoke to protesters to repeat his false claim that he won the US election in November. Scenes of armed rioters breaching and trashing the Capitol -- which interrupted Congress's count of electoral votes to certify President-elect Joe Biden's win -- disturbed top diplomats around the world. Democratic leaders reacted with concern online, describing the chaotic scenes as "shocking" and "disgraceful." As the chaos unfolded, several foreign embassies in Washington issued stay-at-home notices for their citizens, and European leaders began deploying the language usually reserved for incidents in which democratic values and rule of law are under siege. And on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson issued a strong condemnation against both the rioters and President Trump. "On the United States and the election, I want to say that all my life America has stood for some very important things an idea of freedom and an idea of democracy. And ... so far as he encouraged people to storm the Capitol and insofar as the President has consistently cast doubt on the outcome of a free and fair election, I believe that that was completely wrong," he said a press conference, in response to a journalist's question. "And what President Trump has been saying about that has been completely wrong and I unreservedly condemn encouraging people to behave in the disgraceful way that they did in the Capitol," he added. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, who rarely comments on the internal affairs of the alliance's member states, urged Americans to respect the outcome of the November election. His call was echoed by European Parliament President David Sassoli, who added, "We are certain the US will ensure that the rules of democracy are protected." "President Trump and several members of Congress bear substantial responsibility for developments," tweeted Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven. "The democratic election process must be respected." There were however notes of schadenfreude in the responses from Russian and Iranian officials. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called Trump a "sick person" who had disgraced his country during a televised speech Thursday on Iran's state-run news agencies. "What happened in the US shows how fragile Western democracy is," he said. "Despite all their scientific and industrial achievements, we see a huge influence of populism. When a sick person takes office, we see how he disgraces his country and creates troubles for the world." Russian President Vladimir Putin -- who has consistently rejected American "unilateralism" as the world's global power -- made no statement on last night's chaotic events, but his lawmakers did not hold back. Konstantin Kosachev, the chairman of the Russian upper house foreign affairs committee, said the storming signaled the derailment of American democracy. "The celebration of democracy is over. Alas, this is rock bottom, I say this without a hint of gloating," Kosachev wrote on Facebook Thursday. "America no longer defines the course, and therefore has lost all right to set it. And even more so to impose it on others," Kosachev said. Kosachev cited Trump's "narcissism, eccentricity and adventurism" and "impersonal political platforms of Democrats and Republicans" as reasons behind the unrest. "America is split in half, and the equal halves will always challenge any voting results that are to their disadvantage," he wrote. A lawmaker from Russia's lower house of parliament and a member of the information policy committee, Anton Gorelkin, praised the social media platforms' decision to restrict Donald Trump's accounts. "Events in the United States once again show the power of social networks as tools for influencing the masses," Gorelkin wrote on his Telegram channel. Russian state TV anchor Evgeny Popov noted sarcastically on Twitter that "the world is bursting at its seams. Thank God, not our world. Merry Christmas!" Distressing scenes Allies saw last night's chaos as a disturbing warning for democracies, with some top leaders imploring Trump to accept the results of the free and fair 2020 election in the US. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said during a meeting on Thursday that the riots made her feel "angry and sad." "A basic rule of democracy is after the election there are winners and losers, both have to play their role with decency and responsibility so that democracy itself remains the winner," she said. "I regret very much that President Trump did not admit defeat in November and again yesterday," she added. Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the violence as "disgraceful" and said it should be "vigorously condemned," as other Israeli political figures hinted it contained a warning for their own country. "Lawlessness and violence are the opposite of the values we know Americans and Israelis cherish," he said. Gideon Saar, leader of the right-wing New Hope party, and tipped as a strong challenger to Netanyahu in March's general election, said in a statement, "The events serve as an important reminder of the dangers of polarization and extremism in society. We must never take democracy and its institutions for granted." "Canadians are deeply disturbed and saddened by the attack on democracy in the United States, our closest ally and neighbour," tweeted Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "Violence will never succeed in overruling the will of the people. Democracy in the US must be upheld -- and it will be." Leaders from the Pacific responded as well. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison condemned the "very distressing" scenes of violence, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted, "What is happening is wrong. Democracy -- the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully should never be undone by a mob." Several leaders held the US President personally responsible for the upset and its resolution. "What we are now seeing from Washington is a completely unacceptable attack on democracy in the United States. President Trump is responsible for stopping this. Scary pictures, and amazing that this is the United States," wrote Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg. "Shocking & deeply sad scenes in Washington DC -- we must call this out for what it is: a deliberate assault on Democracy by a sitting President & his supporters, attempting to overturn a free & fair election! The world is watching! We hope for restoration of calm," said Irish Minister of Foreign Affairs Simon Coveney. And Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte addressed Trump directly. "Horrible images from Washington DC Dear Donald Trump, recognise Joe Biden as the next president today." Some countries warned their citizens in the US to be careful of the violence. "On January 6, there is a mass protest in DC, and the local government has announced an emergency curfew," said the Chinese embassy to the US in a statement, cautioning citizens to pay attention to the situation and "to be vigilant." After rioting began in Washington, Turkey's Foreign Ministry also recommended that its citizens in the US "stay away from crowded places and places where shows are held." Many, including top diplomats and leaders in Iceland, France, Austria, Poland, Ecuador, Colombia and Scotland among others, reminded the US of its role as a model of democracy in the world, and expressed disbelief at the breach of the US Capitol -- the first time that the building had been overrun since a British attack during the War of 1812, according to Samuel Holliday, director of scholarship and operations with the US Capitol Historical Society. "This is not America," wrote European Union High Representative Josep Borrell, who described the mob's actions as "an unseen assault on US democracy, its institutions and the rule of law." "The US Congress is a temple of democracy. To witness tonight's scenes in #WashingtonDC is a shock," said President of the European Council Charles Michel. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also wrote, "I believe in the strength of US institutions and democracy. Peaceful transition of power is at the core. Joe Biden won the election." "I look forward to working with him as the next President of the USA," she added. A US Capitol Police officer has died of injuries sustained during clashes with a mob of President Donald Trumps supporters who overran a session of Congress, police said late Thursday. It was the first law enforcement death stemming from the violence at the Capitol on Wednesday which saw flag-waving crowds overwhelm police and break into the legislature. Also Read | Faced with removal and prosecution, Trump owns up defeat, slams Capitol raiders Four protesters died, including a woman who was shot by police. Three other deaths were reported on the Capitol grounds, but the circumstances remained unclear. Officer Brian Sicknick, a 12-year veteran of the force, was responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the US Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters, Capitol Police said in a statement. He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday night, it said. Tens of thousands of farmers have been blocking the highways for nearly 40 days despite the coronavirus pandemic, rains and an ongoing cold wave. (Image: AP) Hours before the eighth round of formal talks between the Centre and the farmers' groups agitating against three recent farm laws, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhury hoped that a resolution will come out of Friday's meeting. The eighth round of talks between three Union ministers -- Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash -- and the 40 protesting farmer unions to end the farmers' agitation is scheduled to begin at the Vigyan Bhawan here at 2 pm. Just before the talks, Union Agriculture Minister Tomar is likely to call on Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the issue, sources said. Talking to PTI, Choudhury said, "I am hopeful that a resolution will be reached at Friday's meeting. We could have ended the deadlock by now had the protesting farmer unions discussed the issues raised at the first meeting." There was no demand for a repeal of the three farm laws at the first meeting, he added. Asserting that the new laws enacted by the Centre are in the interest of farmers, Choudhury said the legislations are just a beginning and added that the unions are agitating against the laws under the "influence of arhtiyas (commission agents)". "Next, the Pesticide (Management) Bill and the Seed Bill will come. At that time too, farmers can be misguided," he said. Asked if the Centre would encourage religious leaders from Punjab to mediate between the government and the protesting farmers, Choudhury said, "We welcome everyone. We want a resolution. If they are ready to talk in that direction, we welcome them." Punjab's Nanaksar Gurdwara head Baba Lakha, a renowned religious leader of the state, met Tomar on Thursday and wished to mediate between the Centre and the protesting farmers. The last seven rounds of talks between the Centre and the protesting farmers remained inconclusive, although there was some breakthrough at the December 30 meeting when the government conceded to two demands of the agitating farmers pertaining to power subsidy and stubble-burning. LOS ANGELES, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hon. Daniel Buckley issued a ruling in favor of the plaintiffs in the ongoing Porter Ranch Gas Leak case stating that the issue of punitive damages will require trial. At a hearing on January 6, 2021, Judge Buckley ruled against SoCalGas and its parent company Sempra Energy in its motion for summary adjudication given the evidence Plaintiffs presented "about Defendants' approach to the management and operation of SS-25 at Aliso Canyon." This ruling clears a pathway for residents, homeowners, first responders and others impacted by the gas blowout and its subsequent cover-up to recoup the damages they each suffered at the hands of SoCalGas and Sempra. "This is a huge step forward for those exposed to all manner of toxic chemicals at Porter Ranch," said attorney R. Rex Parris of PARRIS LAW FIRM. "Judge Buckley rightly pointed out the 'despicable conduct' of SoCalGas throughout the gas leak as well as its subsequent legal maneuvering to avoid being held accountable. This is a great day for justice." Prior to Judge Buckley issuing his final order, Sempra and SoCalGas lead trial counsel David L. Schrader stated to the court that he had "some serious concerns with some of the tone and tenor" of the tentative, as written. "With respect to the issue of malice, your honor, I will simply say this. Southern California Gas Company has been serving this community for 150 years. Its employees, some of whom are mentioned in the courts tentative, did not address safety issues cavalierly," said Mr. Schrader to the court. "But assuming the court's order stands, it's clear that this case will have to be tried, and we'll focus our attention on that." "For years SoCalGas and Sempra neglected its Aliso Canyon Facility and ignored the dangerous conditions of its storage wells, what happened at that facility didn't happen overnight," said attorney Brian Panish of Panish Shea & Boyle. "We look forward to trial and holding the utility accountable for its despicable conduct." This is the second consecutive ruling Sempra Energy and SoCalGas have lost in as many months. The case is Southern California Gas Leak JCCP & Other Related Cases, JCCP 4861 and Related Cases. A copy of the ruling can be found here. About PARRIS Law Firm The PARRIS Law Firm is recognized as one of America's top personal injury, employment and environmental law firms. With a proven track record of fighting for justice on behalf of families and individuals, the firm boasts numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. To learn more about the firm, please go to: http://www.parrislawyers.com. About Panish Shea & Boyle LLP Panish Shea & Boyle LLP is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm representing plaintiffs in catastrophic injury, wrongful death, product liability, mass torts/class action, and business litigation cases. Firm attorneys serve in leadership roles in some of the largest personal injury cases against utility companies in California and have obtained some of the most significant awards for plaintiffs in U.S. history. The firm is ranked by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers as a "Tier 1" law firm in the areas of Plaintiffs Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions, Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation and Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation and named among the top Plaintiff's law firms in the nation by National Law Journal. Media Contact: Dante Hickles: (661) 949-2595 [email protected] Angela Bailey (909) 286-4040 [email protected] SOURCE PARRIS Law Firm The Assad regime has 90 days to reveal it chemical weapons stockpile or face fresh sanctions reports Baladi News. Human rights defender, Abdel Nasser Hoshan, said that the Assad regime is set to collide with international sanctions in 90 days, which are inevitable, no matter how much the regime tries to evade them. Hoshan explained to Baladi News that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has given the Syrian regime an additional 90 days to reveal the chemical stockpile it possesses. He added that the US raised the chemical issue during the last session of the Security Council, which was held on Tuesday, and drew attention to the Assad regimes procrastination on the decisions of OPCW. Hoshan stressed that March will carry with it a serious move by the US and its allies against the Assad regime, according to UN Resolution 2118, whose Paragraph 21 allows the use of sanctions under Chapter VII without a vote by the Security Council, and Russia cannot use its veto against it. He noted that OPCW had previously called on Assad to reveal his chemical stockpile, and had that happened it would have been a tacit admission by the regime of using chemical weapons against civilians. If Assad refuses to comply, he would be subjected to international sanctions under Chapter VII. Hoshan expected that the next OPCW session will be decisive and will prove that Assad has violated the obligations of Resolution 2118, and therefore international action must be taken against him under Chapter VII of the UN Security Council Charter. He ruled out that the Assad regime would be able to continue to procrastinate, in light of the recent report on the regimes use of chemical weapons in al-Lataminah, preceded by a report accusing the regime of using the same type of weapons in Khan Sheikhoun. Last Tuesday, Deputy Representative of the United States of America to the United Nations, Richard M. Mills, said during a video conference session of the Security Council that the latter meets monthly to urge Syria to fulfil its obligations towards the Chemical Weapons Convention and to fulfil UN Security Council Resolution 2118, indicating that the Assad regime has not fulfilled its obligations in this regard for seven years. Mills stressed that the Security Council has a responsibility to show that there are serious consequences for those involved in the use of chemical weapons and that this behavior cannot be accepted nor condoned, pointing out that Assads chemical weapons are not a matter of contention, and question about whether the weapons were used are not open for discussion, they are a fact proved by OPCW. In July 2020, OPCW gave the Syrian regime 90 days to report the location and amount of chemical weapons it possesses, days after the organization published a report in which it indicated that the Syrian regime forces had used sarin and chlorine during their airstrikes in the town of al-Lataminah, in the Hama governorate, on Mar 24-30, 2017. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Ned OSullivan, the quiet Kerry senator, has probably forgotten more about politics than many of us will ever learn. And the other day he took to social media to note that Israel, so long an international pariah for some political activists, is suddenly being cited as an example because of the speed with which people are being vaccinated against Covid-19. It is a reasonable point intended by Mr OSullivan to defend his party leader and Taoiseach, Micheal Martin, and the embattled Health Minister, Stephen Donnelly. But it must be said this argument is slightly peripheral to the key point which is now just bubbling under the surface. Realpolitik is that a successful roll-out of the Covid-19 vaccine in Ireland could well be closely linked to Mr Martins political fate. True, the vaccination programme will not immediately curb the current alarming surge in cases, but the vaccine carries most of our hopes for getting on top of this virus and ending the see-saw of lockdowns, openings, and renewed lockdowns. The European Medicines Agencys approval of the Moderna vaccine gave much-needed momentum to the EUs programme, which has had at best a mixed start. Vaccination rates across the EU are lagging behind those of the UK, US and Israel. French President Emmanuel Macron, who faces a re-election bid in May 2022, is especially under pressure. Earlier this week the television news service France 24 suggested that as few as 500 people had been vaccinated, against 230,000 in Germany. Here in the Republic, with a population of 4.9 million, the early roll-out has been slow. There has also been debate about questions of consent, potential litigation, and some confusion over who is in charge the HSE or the Department of Health. It would be unwise to rush to any prejudicial judgment on the effectiveness of Irelands national vaccination programme. But it is the biggest undertaking in the States almost 100-year existence, and given problems in the past, there is a collective sense of dread hanging over the project. HSE chief executive Paul Reid yesterday told us that 15,000 people have so far been vaccinated with a target of 35,000 to be vaccinated before the week is out. It was a good example of clear communication and it is to be hoped that this can be maintained. Tanaiste Leo Varadkar also told us it could take until late next month to complete the two vaccinations each for people living and working in care homes as well as frontline health workers. All of us will hope that the pace can pick up and that the targets will be made more ambitious if we are to achieve the desired target of 70pc inoculation. Yes, these are early days, and it would be very welcome news to see the health authorities getting on top of this huge challenge. Public confidence is fragile when it comes to vaccination so good, regular communication is essential to public trust in this process. The commitment to provide daily bulletins on the roll-out is a positive development. There is no way out of this: daily, weekly and monthly targets are vital to measuring success. (CNN) -- While socializing and dating in person may have mostly fizzled this past year, as could be expected in a pandemic, in some cases it's accelerating relationships faster than parents might otherwise have allowed. Parents are letting their children's boyfriends and girlfriends join family quarantine bubbles. Even former President Barack Obama is not immune to these changing societal norms. He revealed on a mid-December episode of "The Bill Simmons Podcast" that his quarantine household included 22-year-old daughter Malia Obama's boyfriend. It's one of the most interesting cultural shifts to happen during the pandemic. Parents are letting their older teens and kids in their early 20s play house with a boyfriend or girlfriend, and surprise -- some of these live-in setups are working. As it turns out, it's not just hormones that are driving families to expand their social bubbles to include their young adult child's boyfriend or girlfriend. It's often a recognition that this is a lonely time and that isolation might make it worse for a couple forced to separate during this long pandemic. And, in the case of one young couple in Ohio, quarantining together may have even led to their engagement this summer. That was true for Nikkie Weiler, 20, whose then boyfriend ended up moving into the family home in Canal Fulton, Ohio, after her mother, Jada, had to have surgery in April. "This wasn't what we planned nor was it in keeping with the values we grew up with," said Jada Weiler, who works in a car dealership's accounting department. "We had to make a choice: It was either him joining our pod right away or they would have been apart for months." "They supported each other during some really scary stuff," Weiler said. "The pandemic is scary, my illness was scary because I lost my balance and the ability to speak, and we've had people close to us that have been in the ICU and on ventilators. "Their relationship has really grown in this year that they've been together." Sleepovers aren't rare everywhere Ironically, the pandemic might end up prompting American parents to loosen the rules a little bit when it comes to their older children's relationships, said Amy Schalet, associate professor of sociology at University of Massachusetts Amherst and author of "Not Under My Roof: Parents, Teens and the Culture of Sex." The notion of sleepovers may be foreign to US culture but it's the norm in other countries, including the Netherlands, which is the focus of Schalet's book. The Netherlands in 2008 had a teen pregnancy rate of 14 per 1,000 adolescents, the second lowest in the world, according to a 2015 study. This rate is much lower than the rate in the United States, which reported 57 pregnancies per 1,000 in 2010. "The pandemic is driving home to everyone how important intimacy is," Schalet said. "My sense is that this is a moment of conversation in America around a culture that emphasizes this focus on individual pursuits and yet everyone is feeling the intensity of isolation. "I'm not surprised that American parents want to go against their own cultural training of not 'under my roof' and want, instead, for their kids to be happy." That's true for Christine McAndrew of Newtown, Connecticut. A mom of a teen son, 18, and daughter, 16, McAndrew never would have predicted that her son's girlfriend would be regularly sleeping over at her house. "We're very strict about our circle and she's the only one in it besides us," McAndrew said of the young couple, who take turns quarantining at her home and her son's girlfriend's home. "And yes, we allow sleepovers he's 18, she's 18. They would be in college if it wasn't for the pandemic." "I didn't think something like this would have happened until he was 25, but this virus has prompted things to accelerate," McAndrew said. A young couple finds their way Sally Bedus, now 20, and Chas Gilman, now 21, met on Tinder in February. By the time the country went into lockdown, the two college students Bedus attends the Fashion Institute of Technology and Gilman attends New York University had only known each other for three weeks. They spent much of the spring on video calls Bedus from her family's home just north of New York City and Gilman from his parents' beach house on the Jersey shore. When Bedus drove down to Gilman's beach house early in May with the goal of staying there for a few days, she was nervous. "It was really scary to live under someone else's roof," Bedus said. "It was like 'nice to meet you, I hope they like me, I hope I don't get anyone infected.'" Over the Memorial Day weekend, the couple pitched a plan in which each of them would join the other family's respective bubble. "It was a big deal," Gilman said. "It felt like it took a while to get our plan going. There was a lot of going back and forth with our parents." After the ground rules were set they would only spend time with their immediate family and keep other social interactions outside their newly formed bubble very distant the couple has been moving between their parents' homes every four days ever since and, in some ways, have become part of each other's family. "It's kind of like meet the parents but meet them for four days straight," Bedus said. Still, nothing remains constant for this couple. Their bubble number has changed over time, for example when Gilman's sister was away during the early months of the pandemic and is now home. Bedus' brother was also in and out of their circle. There have been medical procedures for one of the parents and they even had discussions over where to spend Thanksgiving. And in early December, both Bedus and Gilman tested positive after a family member was exposed. Now both are quarantining separately in their parents' homes. "We're doing OK but this is obviously very disappointing given how hard we worked to keep our pod safe," Bedus said. Making an expanded bubble work If you're considering adding a boyfriend or girlfriend to your family's social bubble, communication and boundary setting is key, said Mahtab Jafari, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, who currently teaches Life 101 across the 10 UC campuses. This is because there are lots of potential leaks and landmines when merging two approaches to Covid-19 risk tolerance. "If my son wanted to bring his girlfriend into our pod, she would need to follow the same rules we have," said Jafari, whose course teaches students healthy lifestyle choices. "This includes not socializing with other families or being inside other people's homes." Privacy issues, including where and when sex should occur while in the bubble, should also be talked about openly, however awkward that conversation might be. "Instead of getting embarrassed, everyone should be open about this but that also means that everyone has to respect the culture of the family," Jafari said. "So, yes, everyone is under stress and everyone wants to be as happy as possible but that doesn't mean that you trample on the rights of the parents who are paying the bills and putting the food on the table because you want to be happy." One solution: Consider drawing up a short two-page pandemic social bubble contract to prevent any miscommunications. "In the contract, spell things out specifically, such as 'we don't want to hear you having sex,' 'we expect you to help with chores,' 'we want you to contribute to the grocery bill' or whatever else you want to emphasize," Jafari said. "This will help your pod function and avoid causing undue stress." In the end, the pandemic may end up reframing how we feel about the relationships our teens are engaging in and maybe for the better. "This is a period of real learning for everyone," Schalet said. "I see this as a period within American culture where we ultimately emphasize the importance of human connection." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Some parents expand pandemic bubble to include children's girlfriends and boyfriends" Over the year, the Prosecutor General's Office, within the framework of criminal proceedings on the fact of the plane crash of the UIA plane in Iran, with 176 people died, has conducted more than two hundred procedural and investigative actions, sent 18 requests for international legal assistance to other countries, and cooperates with the competent authorities of Iran and Canada. "A comprehensive forensic examination is underway to establish the causes and nature of aircraft damage, the amount of material damage and compliance with the rules of international flights," the PGO said on Friday. According to the information, last year two rounds of talks were held with the Iranian side, in particular on cooperation in the framework of the criminal investigation. In December 2020, Iran gave Ukraine a tablet found at the crash site for research. In addition, Ukraine received for analysis the draft final report on the UIA plane crash in Tehran, prepared by the Iranian side in accordance with the provisions of the Convention on International Civil Aviation. This is a technical report that can reveal the reasons for the plane crash. Ukraine has 60 days to include comments and suggestions in the report, after which Iran will have to finalize it in a month. The report is to be released only after approval by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). "The main thing for us is an objective investigation, establishing the truth, bringing the perpetrators to criminal responsibility and protecting the rights of the victims. In this case, the relatives of the victims and the airline. And the group of prosecutors of the PGO and the SBU investigators who are working on this case are doing their best. Prior the anniversary of the tragedy, we, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, had held an online meeting with the relatives of the deceased passengers from Canada, for whom fair justice is a key point. Moreover, all those responsible for the tragedy, regardless of their positions, should be held criminally liable," Deputy Prosecutor General, Prosecutor in the group of prosecutors on the "PS 752 case" Gunduz Mamedov said. The UIA Boeing 737-800 passenger plane, which was supposed to operate flight PS752 on the Tehran-Kyiv route, was shot down near the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran immediately after takeoff early in the morning on January 8, 2020. There were 167 passengers and nine crew members onboard. They all died. Among the dead there were 11 citizens of Ukraine (including nine crew members), 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and three citizens of Great Britain. On January 11, Iranian authorities said that Boeing was shot down by mistake by the Iranian military. Later, Commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Amir Ali Hajizadeh took full responsibility for the Ukrainian plane crash. At the end of July, negotiations were held in Kyiv with the Iranian side to pay compensation for the downed UIA plane. On October 20, Ukraine and Iran completed the second round of negotiations on the downed UIA plane near Tehran. On January 5, Ukraine received from Iran a draft technical report on the circumstances of the Boeing 737-800 crash. What you need to know today in Vietnam: Politics -- Ho Chi Minh Citys Union of Friendship Organizations and the Cambodian Consulate General in the city held a get-together on Thursday to mark 42 years since the victory in the southwestern border defense war and the joint victory on January 7, 1979 of Vietnam and Cambodia over the genocidal Pol Pot regime, according to the Vietnam News Agency. Society -- Vietnam reported four imported coronavirus cases on Thursday, taking the tally to 1,509 patients, with 1,353 recoveries and 35 virus-related deaths, according to the health ministry. -- Vietnam's Ministry of Health said on Thursday experts were working on the conditions of two COVID-19 patients that had turned significantly worse over the last days. -- Temperatures dropped to 11 degrees Celsius on Friday morning, according to local weather forecasters. -- Service providers have said that an imported COVID-19 vaccine will be available in Vietnam at the end of the first quarter of this year. -- A Ho Chi Minh City court on Thursday sentenced 39-year-old Nguyen Huu Phuoc to death for setting fire to a house in District 9, now Thu Duc City, leading to the death of five people last year. Business -- Vietnam's military-run telco Viettel announced a new brand kit, with red being the main theme, on Thursday to "suit the digital age." -- Credit growth in Vietnam may reach 13-14 percent this year, partly driven by progress in the production of COVID-19 vaccines, the Vietnam News Agency reported, citing a 2021 banking outlook report released by the SSI Securities Corporation on Wednesday. World News -- "U.S. President Donald Trump returned to Twitter on Thursday with a video acknowledging that Joe Biden would be the next U.S. president as other social media services including Facebook Inc blocked his accounts over concerns that his messages might spark further violent protests," Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 05:56:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that all Israelis over 16 could receive coronavirus vaccine by the end of March. In a statement issued by his office, Netanyahu announced the beginning of an inoculation drive dubbed "getting back to life," under which all Israelis aged 16 or more could get vaccinated. Netanyahu said that Pfizer had agreed to increase the number of vaccines for Israel. In return, Israel will share with the company statistical data about the people who received the vaccine, according to the statement. Earlier on Thursday, Israel received the first batch of COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna. Several additional shipments from Pfizer are expected to arrive in the country, with the next shipment expected on Sunday, according to Netanyahu. Israel received its first vaccines from Pfizer in December. The country, with a population of some nine million people, has reported 471,048 cases and 3,552 deaths. Enditem After over a year of research and meetings held since 2019, the Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership has released a draft of their Watershed Protection Plan for the public to view and comment on by Jan. 31. The Watershed Protection Plan, or WPP, is meant to increase water quality within the Cypress Creek watershed by reducing fecal waste, utilizing agricultural spaces and curbing illegal dumping. The WPP draft includes background information, water quality goals and proposed solutions throughout its more than 200 pages. The partnership includes members of Harris County Precinct 4 government, Harris County Flood Control, Cypress Creek Flood Control Coalition and Texas A&M Forest Service. Flood control: Cypress Creek flood control efforts continue with projects, land acquisitions Justin Bower, principal planner for community and environmental planning for Houston-Galveston Area Council, said the CCWP is looking for comments in order to refine the WPP before submitting it to the Environmental Protection Agency. If you or your organization may be unable to provide comments by that time, please contact me at your earliest convenience so we can work with you to assure your feedback is incorporated, Bower stated in an emailed announcement. We would especially appreciate feedback on Sections 5 (Recommended Solutions for Water Quality), 6 (Education and Outreach), 7 (Implementation), and 8 (Evaluating Success), as these areas will be the focus of implementation efforts going forward. Please help us add detail, make corrections, or provide clarity to the recommendations, timelines, and logistics of this WPP. The WPP draft includes a plan to reduce the water pollution level in Cypress Creek by 2035 based on the current level of water quality issues present. Potential fecal pathogens, as measured by fecal indicator bacteria species Escherichia coli (E. coli), are the primary focus of the Partnership due to their potential impact on human health, presence as an impairment for many of the segments, the WPP draft states. The focus of this WPP is to reduce excess levels of human and animal waste in the water for the sake of public health, recreational economy, and regulatory compliance. ...This goal involves identifying and quantifying causes and sources of fecal waste and developing recommended best practices sufficient to meet modeled reduction goals. Previous suggestions include diminishing animal fecal waste by offering spay and neuter events for local pet owners as well as installing more pet waste stations. Waste from stormwater is also a focus, with plans to find illicit stormwater systems and reconnecting them to their original destinations. Reducing waste in waterways: Cypress Creek Watershed Partnership continues to build watershed protection plan While urban stormwater is not an original source, but a conveyance for sources, several solutions exist to mitigate its impacts, the plan states. Stormwater runoff from populated areas with large amounts of impervious cover can contribute pollutants from a variety of sources that often reach waterways through storm sewers without filtration. For more information, and to read the draft, visit cypresspartnership.weebly.com. In order to submit a comment, email Justin.Bower@h-gac.com or call 713-499-6653. chevall.pryce@chron.com Actress Anne Hathaway feels returning to screen after a break can be a tough challenge. "I feel like I'm going through something similar and it's a funny thing," she quipped, on returning to screen after a break. "We talk about these things as if they're specific line breaks as opposed to another thing which is this accumulation of experience and wisdom and everything builds on each other like layers. We always look at ourselves in these specific ways and we're just getting to a point where we're more relaxed and accepting that we're all sorts of different things and whether you have kids is not relevant," she added. Talking about her work, she said: "When you look at all of my films, you have to look at the directors. We do our best but then it takes on a whole another life when the director's the one who guides it, edits it, works the music that goes on top of it and so when I think of those performances, I think it's because I've had such amazing directors protecting me." "You're so charming and candid on the show; I can just watch you forever. Whenever I'm scrolling through channels and I come across your face, I'm just so happy, it gives me the best feeling," Hathaway said about Barrymore's show. Beijing, Jan 8 : China's National Health Commission on Friday said that there were 53 new cases detected in the mainland, of which 37 were locally transmitted and the rest 16 arrived from outside. Of the 37 locally transmitted cases, 33 were reported in Hebei, two in Liaoning, and one each in Beijing and Heilongjiang, Xinhua news agency quoted the Commission as saying in its daily update. The 16 new imported cases were reported, including eight in Shanghai, three in Guangdong, and one each in Liaoning, Jiangsu, Fujian, Henan, and Hunan. No new suspected cases or deaths were reported on Thursday. With the new cases, China's overall infection tally reached 87,331, while the death toll stood at 4,634. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) A former solicitor was asked to leave a train after getting highly intoxicated and causing a disturbance, Naas District Court was told on January 7. John Kilraine, 54, whose address was given as 11 Clybaun Court, Galway, was prosecuted for a breach of the Public Order Act on December 17 last. Sgt Brian Jacob said that the defendant was asked to leave at Kildare town station after causing a disturbance adding the only person he injured was himself. Read more County Kildare news Defending solicitor Tim Kennelly told the court that the defendant is a former solicitor who left the profession in 2008 because he was burned out. The court also heard that the train had to be stopped to allow the defendant off. Mr Kennelly told Judge Desmond Zaidan that his client has not written a book. He also said he was due to have an operation on January 13 for a condition which causes severe tooth pain. He said the defendant drank to numb the pain and got into an argument with someone on the train. He said he had to arrange for a taxi to Galway which cost 300. Judge Zaidan said there is a need for support for people in all professions and the Law Society of Ireland should have a formal counselling facility is assist its members. He applied the Probation Act adding that he was not doing this because the defendant is a solicitor. I would give anyone the same chance, he said. ALBANY U.S. Rep Elise Stefanik's justifications for her challenges to certain state electors was rife with claims that have been rejected by courts as well as at least one claim concerning the vote in Georgia that even her office is unable or unwilling to back up. Here's Stefanik's open letter, which was posted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday just before the U.S. Capitol was swarmed by supporters of President Donald J. Trump on the website of the Adirondacks outlet The Sun, with annotations on the veracity of her claims: Today we are witnessing democracy at work. This isnt as some of our colleagues have referred to, sadly, as frivolous, this debate is fundamental to our democracy. The Representatives of the American people in this House are standing up for three fundamental American beliefs: the right to vote is sacred, that a representative has a duty to represent his or her constituents, and that the rule of law is a hallmark of our nation. The words above are not mine. They are those of Speaker Nancy Pelosi during the Democrats' objection to the 2005 electoral college certification of President George W. Bush. Times Union: In 2005, Sen. Barbara Boxer of California and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones of Ohio raised objections to the certified vote in a single state, Ohio, where voters in urban areas had encountered long lines and other problems. No other states were contested, and the final vote to approve Ohio's tally was 74-1 (Boxer being the only no vote) and 267-31 in the House. Read the Los Angeles Times' report. In her speech, Speaker Pelosi went on to say: 'Our very democracy depends on the confidence of the American people in the integrity of our electoral system. So, my colleagues, please don't talk about this as a conspiracy theory, it's not about that, it's not about conspiracy. It's about the Constitution of the United States.' Sixteen years later this discussion is still about the Constitution. It is still about the American people. And it is my belief that the House of Representatives should have this debate once again. It is my belief that the American people deserve it. I am honored every day to represent New York's 21st Congressional District, and I believe it is my solemn and sacred duty to serve as their voice and their vote in the House of Representatives. Today, I will respectfully object to contested electors from the states of Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. I do not take this action lightly. I am acting to protect our democratic process and the Constitution. Article II and the Twelfth Amendment of the Constitution make clear that I have an obligation to act on this matter if I believe there are serious questions with respect to the Presidential election. I believe those questions exist. Tens of millions of Americans are rightly concerned that the 2020 election featured unprecedented voting irregularities, unconstitutional overreach by unelected state officials and judges ignoring state election laws, and a fundamental lack of ballot integrity and security. In Pennsylvania, the Democratic State Supreme Court and Secretary of State unilaterally and unconstitutionally rewrote election law eliminating signature matching requirements. They arbitrarily allowed late arriving ballots to be counted even though doing so explicitly ignored and broke state election law. And duly credentialed election observers were not allowed to observe voting and the counting of the vote another unconstitutional act. Times Union: This argument, raised by the president's legal team and others, was rejected by Pennsylvania's courts as well as the U.S. Supreme Court. Read the Associated Press' analysis of these and related claims. The late-arriving ballots that Stefanik appears to be referring to are currently in limbo and were not counted in the presidential race as they await a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court. As the Philadelphia Inquirer noted, there are roughly 10,000 of them; Biden won the state by more than 80,000 votes. In Georgia, there was unconstitutional overreach when the Secretary of State unilaterally gutted signature matching for absentee ballots and in essence eliminated voter verification required by state election law. In addition, more than 140,000 votes came from underage, deceased, and otherwise unauthorized voters -- in Fulton County alone. And many individuals testified to not being able to meaningfully observe the counting of ballots. Times Union: As in her Pennsylvania allegations, Stefanik's first claim was rejected by Georgia's courts, as the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported. Her second allegation which she did not make in her remarks on the floor of the House is harder to source. Right-wing organizations have claimed that 140,000 votes were cast by people who do not reside in Georgia, though this claim covers the whole state and not simply Fulton County. Those claims have been debunked by state officials and rejected by the courts. In addition, a self-described data journalist and pollster claimed that 132,000 votes in Fulton County were likely ineligible, a claim that was amplified on the right-wing conspiracy site Gateway Pundit; that claim was debunked by Politico. What she is describing in this instance is election fraud, although Stefanik has robustly denied that she was basing her objections on the debunked idea that there was widespread fraud in the election. Asked to provide background for this claim, her spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said in an email, The evidence that Congresswoman Stefanik discussed was gathered from publicly available sources such as lawsuits, affidavits, testimony, and court documents, but would not elaborate. In Wisconsin, partisan state officials issued rules to circumvent a state law issued by the legislature as the Constitution requires that required absentee voters to provide photo identification before obtaining a ballot. Wisconsins very own Supreme Court reprimanded the officials for issuing 'legally incorrect' guidance. It is also a fact that Wisconsin state law specifies absentee ballots may only be returned by mail or delivered in person to the clerks office but the City of Madison illegally held events at multiple locations to collect more than 17,000 ballots anyway. Times Union: All of these challenges to Wisconsin's results have been similarly rejected by state and federal courts. Stefanik's photo ID objection relates to the determination that voters could declare themselves to be indefinitely confined during the pandemic, and thus not have to produce photo ID to obtain an absentee ballot. The legal rebuke from the Wisconsin Supreme Court was issued in March; the same court in late December rejected the Trump campaign's argument that those absentee ballots should be invalidated. In Michigan, many individuals signed affidavits documenting the unconstitutional irregularities they witnessed officials physically blocking the legal right of poll watchers to observe vote counts, the counting of late ballots, hand stamping ballots with the previous days date, and more. The merits of these illegal, alarming, and reprehensible actions were never considered by a court. Times Union: These claims were considered by a number of courts, which rejected them down the line. The Detroit News took a comprehensive look at the affidavits filed in that city including the statement from Melissa Carone, who subsequently gained internet fame for her appearance at a legislative inquiry. Despite Stefanik's claim, the courts did consider the contents of the affidavits, and found them sorely lacking. These unconstitutional acts are why I object today. I know my constituents in the North Country cherish the Constitution, and they know the Constitution grants the power of the pen to write election law to those closest to the people the state legislatures. It is not the legal right of unelected bureaucrats, judges, Governors, or Secretaries of State. To the tens of thousands of constituents who have reached out to me in the past few weeks - please know that I'm listening, and I hear you. I believe the most precious foundation and covenant of our Republic is the right to vote, and consequently, the faith in the sanctity of our nation's free and fair elections. Today, my vote is about restoring the faith of the American people in our elections - that they are free, fair, secure, and according to the United States Constitution. Our Constitutional Republic will endure this important debate today because the Founding Fathers knew Congress would face unprecedented challenges. We will endure because we did so after my Democrat House colleagues objected to nearly every single Republican President in my lifetime - in 1989, 2001, 2005, and 2017. The United States of America has endured through every election since its founding and the ratification of the Constitution in 1788 and that is why America will forever be the shining city on a hill. Subscribe to The Eagle, a Times Union podcast The Eagle takes a look inside the newsroom of the oldest and largest newspaper in New York's Capital Region. Each week, we'll explore the paper's top stories in-depth, and talk to the award-winning journalists who report them. Listen to the latest episode below, and be sure to subscribe in your podcast apps. Transcripts of Stefanik's floor remarks And here's the transcript of Stefanik's floor remarks, which repeat many of the same disputed claims, but notably leaves out the 140,000 votes in Fulton County: Madam Speaker, I rise with a heavy heart. This has been a truly tragic day for America. And we all join together in fully condemning the dangerous violence and destruction that occurred today in our Nations Capitol. Americans will always have the freedom of speech and the Constitutional right to protest, but violence in any form is absolutely unacceptable, it is anti-American, and must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Thank you to the heroic United States Capitol Police. And thank you to the bipartisan professional staff of the United States Capitol for protecting the Peoples House and the American people. This hallowed temple of democracy is where generations of Americans have peacefully come together to face our nations greatest challenges, bridge our deepest fissures, and create a more perfect system of government. This is the appropriate place we stand to respectfully and peacefully give voice to the people we represent across our diverse country. The Representatives of the American people in this House are standing up for three fundamental American beliefs: the right to vote is sacred, that a representative has a duty to represent his or her constituents, and that the rule of law is a hallmark of our nation. And in the spirit of healing, those are not my words, those are the words of you, Madam Speaker. From this very same Chamber, when some of my colleagues and friends across the aisle objected to the 2005 electoral college certification. In fact, there were objections on this Floor to the certification of nearly every Republican President in my lifetime in 1989, in 2001, in 2005, and in 2017. So history is our guide that the Peoples sacred House is the appropriate venue for a peaceful debate. And this peaceful debate serves as a powerful condemnation of the violence that perpetrated our Capitol Grounds today. The violence that was truly un-American. Todays discussion is about the Constitution. And it is about the American people. But it must also be about clearly and resolutely condemning the violence that occurred today. I am honored each and every day to represent New York's 21st Congressional District, and I believe it is my solemn and sacred duty to serve as their voice and their vote in the Peoples House. Tens of millions of Americans are concerned that the 2020 election featured unconstitutional overreach by unelected state officials and judges ignoring state election laws. We can and we should peacefully and respectfully discuss these concerns. In Pennsylvania, the State Supreme Court and Secretary of State unilaterally and unconstitutionally rewrote election law eliminating signature matching requirements. In Georgia, there was unconstitutional overreach when the Secretary of State unilaterally and unconstitutionally gutted signature matching for absentee ballots and, in essence, eliminated voter verification required by state election law. In Wisconsin, officials issued illegal rules to circumvent a state law passed by the legislature as the Constitution requires that required absentee voters to provide photo identification before obtaining a ballot. And in Michigan, signed affidavits document numerous unconstitutional irregularities officials physically blocking the legal right of poll watchers to observe vote counts, the illegal counting of late ballots, and hand stamping ballots with the previous days date. My North Country constituents and the American people cherish the Constitution. And they know that according to the Constitution, elected officials closest to the people in state legislatures have the power of the pen to write election law, not unelected bureaucrats, judges, Governors, or Secretaries of State. To the tens of thousands of constituents who have reached out to me, thank you. Please know that I'm listening and I hear you. Both those who agree and those who disagree. Our Constitutional Republic will endure this tragic day because the Founding Fathers understood Congress and the American people would face unprecedented and historic challenges by debating them on this very Floor. I believe that the most precious foundation and the covenant of our Republic is the right to vote, and the faith in the sanctity of our nation's free and fair elections. And we must work together in this House to reform our elections and rebuild that faith, so that our elections are free, fair, secure, and safe, and most importantly, that they are according to the United States Constitution. All of President Trumps cabinet secretaries condemned the violent mob that stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday. Some pointed to the president for inciting the violence, and two cabinet members resigned. Heres what they said: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in a statement released hours after the melee, said, The storming of the U.S. Capitol today is unacceptable. Lawlessness and rioting here or around the world is always unacceptable. Jeffrey A. Rosen, the acting attorney general, called the violence an intolerable attack on a fundamental institution of our democracy in a statement on Wednesday. On Thursday, Mr. Rosen added that law enforcement officials were working to find, arrest and charge those who breached the Capitol. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions. We will continue to methodically assess evidence, charge crimes and make arrests in the coming days and weeks to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law. Christopher C. Miller, the acting defense secretary, wrote in a statement on Thursday that he supported a peaceful transition of power to President-elect Biden on Jan. 20. Yesterdays violence at the Capitol was reprehensible and contrary to the tenets of the United States Constitution. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned on Thursday night. She condemned the violence in the immediate aftermath on Wednesday, writing that an angry mob cannot be allowed to attack our Capitol. The peaceful transfer of power is what separates American representative democracy from banana republics. The work of the people must go on. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned on Thursday. She was the first cabinet official to join a growing exodus of administration officials in the final days of the Trump presidency. Our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the president stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed, Ms. Chao wrote in a letter posted on Twitter. It has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside. Chad F. Wolf, the acting homeland security secretary, denounced the presidents supporters who participated in the riot and called on Mr. Trump to more forcefully condemn them. What transpired yesterday was tragic and sickening, Mr. Wolf wrote in a statement posted on Twitter. We now see some supporters of the president using violence as a means to achieve political ends. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will remain in his post and carry out his responsibilities until the inauguration, according to a person familiar with his thinking. Mr. Mnuchin, who was traveling in Israel on Thursday, condemned the violence but made no mention of the president. These actions are unacceptable and must stop, he said. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross tweeted a six-word statement in the hours after the riot on Wednesday: Violence is never the proper solution. Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette condemned what he called a tragic event in our Nations Capitol. Politically-motivated violence, regardless of ideology or cause, must always be condemned in the strongest possible terms, he wrote on Twitter. No American should excuse wanton disregard for one of our Nations most sacred institutions. Health Secretary Alex M. Azar II wrote on Twitter that people must immediately and peacefully disperse. I am disgusted by the attack on the Capitol we witnessed today. Physical violence and the desecration of this hallowed symbol of our democracy must end. Housing Secretary Ben Carson also posted on Twitter calling for an end to the violence. Violence is never an appropriate response regardless of legitimate concerns. Please remember: if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt condemned the violence and praised the actions of the U.S. Park Police, an agency in his department, on Twitter on Wednesday. Todays violence and lawlessness at the U.S. Capitol cannot and will not be tolerated. Thank you U.S. Park Police for always fulfilling your selfless duties to safeguard lives and protect our symbols of democracy. Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia on Wednesday called the attack a low point in the history of our democracy. We must immediately rise above this. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue said to reporters in Georgia that he was disappointed in the president for inciting the mob, adding it was not the right thing to do. Im very discouraged by the people who were there that felt compelled to breach the Capitol and do the things they did. Were going to go forward as America. We have a new president. As authorities try to identify those in the mob, some will be less hard to pin down than others. The group included some well-known figures from the conspiratorial right, including Jake Angeli, who has pushed the false QAnon claims that Trump was elected to save the U.S. from deep-state bureaucrats and prominent Democrats who worship Satan and abuse children. He was pictured sitting in Congress in a viking helmet and furs. Angeli, who is known as the Q Shaman, has been a fixture in the pro-Trump protests in Arizona since the election, and there are indications that he and other right-wing activists had planned to spark a confrontation with authorities before Wednesdays rally. He is currently expecting the arrival of his first child, a son, with fiancee Rebecca Vieira. And Marcel Somerville was over the moon on Thursday after Rebecca pulled out all the stops to throw a spectacular 35th birthday for him in lockdown. The Love Island star was treated to dozens of balloons with poignant photos attached to them, a takeaway dinner from Sheesh restaurant in a pop-up igloo and a family zoom call. Marcel Somerville was over the moon on Thursday after his heavily pregnant fiancee Rebecca Vieira pulled out all the stops to throw a spectacular 35th birthday in lockdown Despite being heavily pregnant, businesswoman Rebecca took to Instagram to reveal she had several surprises in store for the Blazin' Squad rapper. Rebecca first showed Marcel a room full of balloons which had photos attached to their silver ribbon, including a 3D scan of their unborn baby. She next cooked the reality star tacos and saved a romantic meal in an igloo surrounded by red roses, fairy lights and candles for the evening. Wow: The Love Island star, 35, was treated to dozens of balloons with poignant photos attached to them, a dinner from Sheesh restaurant in a pop-up igloo and a family zoom call 'Feel so blessed': Marcel later wrote on Instagram: 'So Today I Hit The Big 35! Im feeling so blessed right now! Marcel later wrote on Instagram: 'So Today I Hit The Big 35! Im feeling so blessed right now! Ive got the most amazing fiancee in the whole world! pulling out magic tricks for my birthday during lock down. Wow! You are the *goat emoji* when it comes to this thing! 'I love you so much mama! Ive got my first baby on the way and that is the greatest birthday present ever even if hes coming a little bit after. 'So grateful to have a family like mine, supportive and Loving I know little man is coming in to a world of love even in these crazy times! 'And my Circle the love I got for my squad, my gang, my team, my bros and sisters! And all my Fans I love and appreciate you all massively. Big Love. Im emotional right now.' Marcel wrote: 'Ive got the most amazing fiancee in the whole world! pulling out magic tricks for my birthday during lockdown' Touching: Rebecca first showed Marcel a room full of balloons which had photos attached to their silver ribbon, including a 3D scan of their unborn baby Amazing: Despite being heavily pregnant, businesswoman Rebecca took to Instagram to reveal she had several surprises in store for the Blazin' Squad rapper Happy birthday! She next cooked the reality star tacos and saved a romantic meal in an igloo surrounded by red roses, fairy lights and candles for the evening Earlier this week Rebecca fought back tears as she revealed she may have to give birth alone after the government introduced a third lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. Rebecca took to Instagram on Tuesday morning to admit she 'wasn't able to sleep all night' and her head is 'all over the place' as she's two weeks away from her due date. The influencer also expressed her frustration at the prospect of not being able to welcome her child at home as she confessed: 'I don't want to go to the hospital right now'. Any day now: Marcel is currently expecting the arrival of his first child The model wrote: 'I've been awake since 3:30am. My spirit is troubled & my head is just all over the place. 'So the government cancel all homebirths, your partners can't be with your for your whole labour but your still allowed to go and live your best life in Dubai and come back like it's nothing. Ok. Makes sense.' YouTuber Rebecca became emotional as she elaborated her thoughts in a separate video. She complained: 'I haven't been able to sleep all night. I just don't understand it. I'm literally two weeks away from giving birth, and they do this. 'My only birth plan was to have a home birth, that was the most important thing to me... to have Marcel there the whole time. 'I'm all over the place': Earlier this week Rebecca fought back tears as she revealed she may have to give birth alone after the government introduced a third lockdown 'I have to speak to my midwife today so I'm going to tell her how I'm feeling because I do not want to go to hospital right now.' At present, the NHS website states pregnant women will be able to have a birth partner during labour and the birth if they do not have symptoms of coronavirus, while some homebirths can still go ahead. But there may be limits on how long they can stay after the birth. If the birth partner has coronavirus symptoms, the NHS advises to have a backup birth partner. The blonde and the reality star announced they were expecting their first child in July 2020, with loved-up Marcel popping the question to his partner a month later. In a video shared to social media, the artist dropped to one knee after they pulled poppers which released blue confetti, leaving Rebecca, who said yes, in tears of joy. Latest Post Plans for daily testing of secondary school pupils and teachers put on hold Vaccine letter arrived for twin, 96, two days after she died with Covid Biden inauguration: New president to be sworn in amid Trump snub The owner of Kazzi Beach Greek restaurants in Manly and Mosman is juggling more than one crisis when he answers the phone. Peter Papas says his staff are finding it difficult to work wearing masks in the summer heat, the company's revenue has taken a major hit due to lockdowns limiting customers on the northern beaches and he has no idea when the restrictions will be eased. The northern beaches outbreak has made life tough for business owners in the area. Credit:Tanya Lake "The government has its hands on the on and off switch but doesn't want to put hands in its pocket as it did originally," Papas says. "It's not a time for the government to say 'we've done enough' ... We started off flattening the curve and now we're flattening livelihoods." He opened the newer of his two restaurants on December 1, in Manly, which "got off to a flying start". But while he is fortunate to have already been selling takeaway food ahead of COVID-19 restrictions limiting dine-in customers, he says the shut downs have still left his revenue down 60 per cent. "It's peak season for hospitality and all businesses. We rely on the tourist dollar and the summer dollar to fund us through downtimes." Quadruple-helix DNA. Credit: Imperial College London New probes allow scientists to see four-stranded DNA interacting with molecules inside living human cells, unraveling its role in cellular processes. DNA usually forms the classic double helix shape of two strands wound around each other. While DNA can form some more exotic shapes in test tubes, few are seen in real living cells. However, four-stranded DNA, known as G-quadruplex, has recently been seen forming naturally in human cells. Now, in new research published today in Nature Communications, a team led by Imperial College London scientists have created new probes that can see how G-quadruplexes are interacting with other molecules inside living cells. G-quadruplexes are found in higher concentrations in cancer cells, so are thought to play a role in the disease. The probes reveal how G-quadruplexes are 'unwound' by certain proteins, and can also help identify molecules that bind to G-quadruplexes, leading to potential new drug targets that can disrupt their activity. Needle in a haystack One of the lead authors, Ben Lewis, from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial, said: "A different DNA shape will have an enormous impact on all processes involving itsuch as reading, copying, or expressing genetic information. "Evidence has been mounting that G-quadruplexes play an important role in a wide variety of processes vital for life, and in a range of diseases, but the missing link has been imaging this structure directly in living cells." G-quadruplexes are rare inside cells, meaning standard techniques for detecting such molecules have difficulty detecting them specifically. Ben Lewis describes the problem as "like finding a needle in a haystack, but the needle is also made of hay." To solve the problem, researchers from the Vilar and Kuimova groups in the Department of Chemistry at Imperial teamed up with the Vannier group from the Medical Research Council's London Institute of Medical Sciences. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy map of nuclear DNA in live cells stained with the new probe. Colours represent fluorescence lifetimes between 9 (red) and 13 (blue) nanoseconds. Credit: Imperial College London They used a chemical probe called DAOTA-M2, which fluoresces (lights up) in the presence of G-quadruplexes, but instead of monitoring the brightness of fluorescence, they monitored how long this fluorescence lasts. This signal does not depend on the concentration of the probe or of G-quadruplexes, meaning it can be used to unequivocally visualize these rare molecules. Dr. Marina Kuimova, from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial, said: "By applying this more sophisticated approach we can remove the difficulties which have prevented the development of reliable probes for this DNA structure." Looking directly in live cells The team used their probes to study the interaction of G-quadruplexes with two helicase proteinsmolecules that 'unwind' DNA structures. They showed that if these helicase proteins were removed, more G-quadruplexes were present, showing that the helicases play a role in unwinding and thus breaking down G-quadruplexes. Dr. Jean-Baptiste Vannier, from the MRC London Institute of Medical Sciences and the Institute of Clinical Sciences at Imperial, said: "In the past we have had to rely on looking at indirect signs of the effect of these helicases, but now we take a look at them directly inside live cells." They also examined the ability of other molecules to interact with G-quadruplexes in living cells. If a molecule introduced to a cell binds to this DNA structure, it will displace the DAOTA-M2 probe and reduce its lifetime, i.e. how long the fluorescence lasts. This allows interactions to be studied inside the nucleus of living cells, and for more molecules, such as those which are not fluorescent and can't be seen under the microscope, to be better understood. Professor Ramon Vilar, from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial, explained: "Many researchers have been interested in the potential of G-quadruplex binding molecules as potential drugs for diseases such as cancers. Our method will help to progress our understanding of these potential new drugs." Peter Summers, another lead author from the Department of Chemistry at Imperial, said: "This project has been a fantastic opportunity to work at the intersection of chemistry, biology and physics. It would not have been possible without the expertise and close working relationship of all three research groups." The three groups intend to continue working together to improve the properties of their probe and to explore new biological problems and shine further light on the roles G-quadruplexes play inside our living cells. The research was funded by Imperial's Excellence Fund for Frontier Research. Explore further Designer molecule shines a spotlight on mysterious four-stranded DNA More information: Peter A. Summers et al. Visualizing G-quadruplex DNA dynamics in live cells by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Peter A. Summers et al. Visualizing G-quadruplex DNA dynamics in live cells by fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20414-7 Vietnam and Cambodia have agreed to intensify defence cooperation in 2021, with the focus on stepping up border checks and patrols to prevent illegal entry and exit so as to contribute to each countrys fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich The agreement was reached by Vietnamese Defence Minister Gen. Ngo Xuan Lich and Cambodias Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Banh during their online talks on January 8. At the talks, both sides spoke highly of defence cooperation results in 2020. Despite impacts of the pandemic, almost all contents in the 2020 Cooperation Plan were implemented effectively, particularly cooperation in training, the COVID-19 combat, borderline protection, and the search and repatriation of remains of voluntary Vietnamese soldiers who died while doing duty in Cambodia during wartime. Gen. Lich appreciated Cambodias support for activities chaired by the Vietnamese Defence Ministry during Vietnams ASEAN Chairmanship Year 2020, especially the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM Plus and related meetings. Gen. Tea Banh took the occasion to congratulate Vietnam on successfully assuming the role as the ASEAN Chair in 2020. They agreed to continue carrying out contents of the Protocol for 2020-2024 period and the 2021 Cooperation Plan, with the priority given to stepping up disseminations on the bilateral traditional friendship, solidary and comprehensive cooperation; improving the efficiency of collaboration mechanisms, particularly the Defence Policy Dialogue. The two countries will also speed up all-level delegation exchanges, intensify cooperation in personnel training and cooperation and coordination in preventing cross-border crimes and drug smuggling. After the talks, the two Defence Ministers signed the Cooperation Plan for 2021./.VNA Winston Watusi Music Plus So we're now over a week into 2021. Hmmm... There was a vague sense that once we farewelled that savage Year Of Our Lord 2020 things would change. Unsurprisingly, that hasn't happened. It's been a torrid time. The first things to hit were thunder storms and torrential rain, followed by gales, flooding and broken bridges. In Dunedin 200 people were trapped overnight at a festival and forced to listen to nothing but folk music. Meanwhile, Kiwis all round the country declared yet again how lucky we are as the rest of the world dives deeper into Covid-contagion, Britain plunging into a full lockdown, America sinking further into the virus-infected swamp. At least as we watch President Trump preparing to leave office with the class and magnanimity we have come to expect we can pause briefly to celebrate his accomplishments. Because many new records have been set by the ex-POTUS. For instance, the highly-prized record for the most false or misleading statements made by a president. Consider this: It took Donald Trump 827 days - over two years! - to make 10,000 false and misleading claims, which was an average of 12 claims a day. But on July 9 last year, just 440 days later, the president crossed the 20,000 mark, an average of 23 claims a day over a 14-month period. What an effort! Of course part of the credit must go to the pandemic. Pandemics are so fact-intensive that false statements can be easily fact-checked, so it gave a whole new life to Ol' Swampy's constant stream of falsehoods. Another achievement President Trump can now boast of is officially pardoning the most Thanksgiving turkeys ever. Also, war criminals. MOVING ON... But now let us move on. As, hopefully, America and the whole world can start to do on January 20. Let's move on because I have a gig for you. And I'm hoping you're reading this sharpish, having either grabbed it straight from your letterbox or dialled it up on the SunLive site. Because the gig is tonight. Yep, Friday 8 January. I usually avoid mentioning things so imminent but this is a bit special and cropped up quite late in the day... It's happening down at The Matua Bar which is, as the name would suggest, in Matua. Owners Tony and Karen took over there in mid-2017 having previously been around the corner in the Tilby Drive shops at Hooked On. They have Open Mic nights every Wednesday from 7.30pm with a live band and occasional music on Friday nights. And it's the band this Friday night that's of particular interest. Kicking off at 7pm Trevor Braunias, long one of Tauranga's leading guitar players, is unveiling the debut of his new band, the TJS Blues Band. TJS refers to the band members, Trevor on guitar, vocals and harmonica, Julian Clark on bass, vocals and harmonica, and Trevor's son Stefan on drums and percussion. Together they promise a night of classic electric blues from Chicago, San Francisco, Texas and the English blues boom of the '60s. FIRST LOVE There are many people who will be excited about this. Trevor has played in many styles over the past decades, with his own jazz trio, his duo, with bands from Hobbit and Cloud to Torch Songs and The Bay Big Band. There's a chapter about him in Graham Clark's history of Tauranga music, The Right Note. But as musicians who know him know, Trevor's first love was the blues and the likes of John Mayall's original Bluesbreakers album which, many years ago, introduced the world to a young Eric Clapton. Even before I started writing about music in the Bay, over 30 years ago, there were awed stories about Trevor, who had apparently learnt every Clapton solo on that legendary album note-for-note, about his wild long hair and even wilder playing. And now Trevor's having another crack at it. Going back to the blues, back to Freddie King and Albert, back to Otis Rush and Buddy Guy. And of course to the songs that inspired young Eric and in turn a young Trevor. It should be a fun night. Police were called for a dispute on Preston Circle. Upon arrival, police made contact with a woman who said that she and her other roommates, two women, got into an argument over a Monster soda can that the woman's daughter had possibly taken. The woman said that she had walked out of the house to get away from the other women. The woman said that she didn't know where her daughter was and all she wanted was to find her daughter and grab her stuff to go spend the night somewhere else. Police went inside and made contact with the two roommates while the woman gathered her belongings. The roommates said that the woman overreacted to the whole situation and they tried to calm her down, but she had refused to talk to them. The woman finished gathering most of her belongings and left the scene with her daughter. The woman said that she still had more things to come pick up at a later time.* * *Police responded to a noise complaint at an apartment on Market Street. The woman at the apartment said the music from the bar below their apartment, Leaping Leprechaun, was too loud. Police told the woman and all other individuals inside the apartment to remain quiet as they measured the noise volume using a decibel meter. All individuals remained quiet as police measured ambient sounds for approximately 30 seconds. Police said the meter reached no higher than 45 decibels and informed the woman they could not take any legal action for noise violation against Leaping Leprechaun at this time. The woman said the music being emitted prior to police arrival was louder than what they were currently measuring. Police made contact with Leaping Leprechaun management and informed him the softer music that was currently playing was emitting 45 decibels inside the apartment above him. Police informed him since the business has received a warning for noise violation in the past, the business would receive a citation if the offense reoccurs. Management informed police the business would continue to keep the music down.* * *Police responded to the Mapco, 2727 Rossville Blvd. regarding suspicious by a man who would not leave the store. Upon arrival, police located and identified the man. He asked for a ride from police to a motel so that his mother could pick him up the following day. Such request was granted and police transported him to the Motel 6, Downtown Chattanooga.* * *Police responded to a suspicious person call on Discovery Drive. Upon arrival, officers noticed a man lying in the tree line off the side of the road. The man, later identified by police, was sleeping there. After he was awakened, the man informed police that he was fired from his job that morning and was walking home when he decided to sleep. The man said he had only been at this location for 30 minutes. He claimed his phone only worked on wi-fi and he had no way of contacting anyone. Police asked him if anyone could pick him up. The man gave police a number for his mother, but she did not answer after multiple attempts. The man was given a ride back to his residence.* * *Police were called to the CubeSmart on Brainerd Road where they met with a man who said he was informed by another officer that his vehicle, a Chevy Suburban, was involved in a traffic crash. The man said that he had just dropped property off at the CubeSmart where he keeps several vehicles, one being the Suburban. Officers met with the CubeSmart general manager who was able to pull camera footage of the incident. When reviewing the footage, officers observed a white male entering through the rear of the property just before 7 a.m. The man entered in two separate vehicles, taking a battery out of a Chevy Vega and placing it in a Ford Ranger around 7:25 a.m., then waiting for the vehicle owner to leave before entering the Suburban around 10 a.m. The owner mentioned observing a man working on the Ford before leaving the premises. Officers spoke with the officers who responded to the accident involving the Suburban in which they stated that several witnesses saw a heavyset white male running from the scene. Officers took several finger prints from the Ford and Chevy and submitted them to AFIS.* * *Police responded to a theft call on Gunbarrel Road. A man said that two people, a male and a female, had asked him to cut down some trees with his chainsaw. The man agreed and got in their brown Honda van (passenger side sliding door). The couple took the man into Chattanooga from Ringgold, and told him to exit their vehicle without the chainsaw at the address on Gunbarrel Road. The man got out of their vehicle and they drove away.* * *Police responded to a shoplifting at Riley's Wine & Spirits, 4818 Hixson Pike. Upon arrival, police met with an employee. He showed police video footage of a heavy-set black female coming into the store, stuffing wine bags with eight bottles of expensive liquor and running out the door when the cashier looked away. The cameras were so old that it was difficult to see anything other than the suspect's skin color, size and hair-style. The suspect was dressed in all black and her face was covered with a white surgical mask. This description matches the same female that has shoplifted from other liquor stores in the area.* * *Police responded to a theft from an apartment on Timber Knoll Drive. The victim said he last saw his pistol about four days ago and it was on a dresser in his apartment. Since then, he said he hasnt paid much attention to it until the day before around 8 p.m. when he discovered that the gun was gone. He said he's not sure, but it's possible a maintenance worker could have taken it at some point while he was gone because they do come into the apartment from time to time. The world might be witnessing not only the death throes of the Trump presidency but of US democracy. Democracy's great virtue is not that it guarantees the best possible ruler but that it allows the bloodless removal of a bad one, as the Anglo-Austrian philosopher Karl Popper said. Donald Trump's denialist contortions are an effort to prevent democracy delivering its ultimate benefit. Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber. Credit:AP Witnessing the invasion of the American parliament, Trump's first Defence Secretary, Jim Mattis, didn't shrink from naming the chief culprit: "Today's violent assault on our Capitol, an effort to subjugate American democracy by mob rule, was fomented by Mr. Trump." And he's right. Trump has potential to do far worse in the final fortnight of his presidency. "Chaos is his friend," his former national security adviser, John Bolton, told me, even before the latest mayhem, "as it has been many times in his life and in businesses and he's hoping to fall back on it". (CNN) Hyundai's stock is on pace for its best day in at least two decades on reports that the South Korean automaker is in early talks with Apple to develop self-driving electric cars. While nothing has been finalized, several media outlets reported Friday that Hyundai has confirmed that it is talking to Apple. The news was initially reported by Korea Economic Daily TV, though Reuters, Bloomberg and others have since reported that Hyundai says it is in some kind of discussion with Apple about a car tie-up. CNN Business has been unable to confirm the nature of the discussions. Hyundai said in a statement only that "we are receiving proposals for cooperation from various companies, but no decision has been made yet." Apple declined to comment. Shares in the automaker, though, are surging as investors consider the possibility that Hyundai could be a partner on Apple's long-rumored car project. The stock was last up more than 20% in Seoul, putting it on pace for its best day in at least 20 years, according to data provider Refinitiv. Both companies have reason to consider a partnership. Talk of Apple's interest in electric, self-driving cars has existed for years, though it has been heating up recently. A Reuters report last month, citing unnamed sources, said that Apple plans to produce a passenger vehicle by 2024. A Bloomberg report this week, also citing unnamed sources, said that Apple has begun early development work on an electric vehicle, but any resulting product would be at least five years away. Hyundai, meanwhile, has pledged top dollar to join the race to build such vehicles. The company said last October that it plans to invest 41 trillion won ($37 billion) into "future mobility technology" by 2025 a commitment that puts it on par with major players like Volkswagen. In December, Hyundai unveiled engineering for a series of new electric cars. Called E-GMP, this basic vehicle structure will provide for over 300 miles of driving range, according to Hyundai, and can be charged to 80% of its full power in 18 minutes. It can be used as the basis of sedans and SUVs, the company has said. "We believe Apple is in the early stages of talks and looking at a handful of strategic partnerships and collaborations globally with existing auto makers on the [electric vehicle] front, with Hyundai on the radar," Wedbush analyst Dan Ives wrote in a research note published shortly after reports about the Hyundai discussions first broke. He added that self-driving cars are probably fairly far off for Apple given safety and regulatory issues. But he said that electric cars are "what could ultimately be a trillion dollar opportunity globally over the next decade." "It's a smart strategic move for Apple to dive into the deep end of the pool on this new age of [electric] vehicles," Ives said. -- Peter Valdes-Dapena and Yoonjung Seo contributed reporting. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Hyundai stock skyrockets on reports it is in early talks with Apple to build a car." WASHINGTON As dusk fell Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand huddled in a windowless room in the bowels of the U.S. Capitol with other senators as a pro-Trump protesters stormed the heart of American democracy. "There was a lot of fear and anxiety and worry," said Gillibrand, a Democrat with deep Capital Region roots. Earlier that day, legislators were just beginning what would be a long process to certify the nation's presidential election results, when a crowd of thousands of people marched from a "Stop the Steal" rally held by President Donald J. Trump on the nearby National Mall to surround the nation's Capitol and express their displeasure. They overwhelmed Capitol Police, climbing walls, tearing down barricades, smashing through windows and doors and eventually forcing their way in. Each lawmaker, journalist and staff member in the building has a different account about what they did when an election dispute boiled over into hours of insurrection. U.S. reps. Paul Tonko, D-Amsterdam, Elise Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, and Lee Zeldin, R-Shirley, were among the House members trapped in the U.S. House of Representatives and who later had to be evacuated. U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-Queens, hid in a small room near the House chamber, the door barricaded by furniture. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., and Gillibrand were both in the Senate chamber listening to some of their colleagues argue against certifying Arizona's electors, when staff ran to the podium, where Vice President Mike Pence was supervising. They whisked him out. "Other staff were urging were [Senate President Pro Tempore] Chuck Grassley to get up so he could replace the vice president," Gillibrand said. "And there was lots of shouting. Nobody knew what was going on. And then a representative from the Capitol Police, one of the staff that I recognized, stood behind the podium to use the microphone and said that the Capitol had been breached." The Capitol Police quickly locked the remaining lawmakers, reporters and staff in the Senate chamber. An officer with an orange police sash across his torso stood on the floor with what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon, positioning himself between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Schumer. Soon after, law enforcement officers hustled McConnell, Schumer and other congressional leaders away to secret, secure locations. In the Senate, Capitol Police ordered the remaining senators to move away from the doors. At one point, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., looked at her phone and yelled to the group: "Shots fired." Police later confirmed a woman was shot in the Capitol. "We were all looking at our phones checking out our media feeds to find out what's happening, see videos of the violence outside and people started sharing information," Gillibrand said. "We heard there were shots fired. We heard windows were broken. We heard people had rushed the Capitol and were in the rotunda, which is very close to the Senate." Senators started calling their family members. Gillibrand's mother, Polly Rutnik of Albany, immediately called her daughter. "I said, 'Mom, it's okay. We're safe. We're in the chamber. We've done all the lock-down protocols,'" Gillibrand said. But the senators still had to wait as Capitol Police fought to secure a safe path to get the members out. Eventually, they did and the senators were ordered to walk quickly and calmly through the tunnels that fan out from the U.S. Capitol to a Senate office building that has a secure, windowless room. On the other end of the Capitol, a similar scene played out in the House chamber. Around 2 p.m., a limited group of lawmakers were present in the chamber to maintain social distancing, while other representatives remained in their offices. Tonko was in the House, in an upper gallery with other lawmakers, photos from the day show. Zeldin and Stefanik were on the House floor below, she told the Watertown Daily Times. Stefanik declined to be interviewed for this story. Lawmakers in the House recalled that the energy in the chamber suddenly shifted. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was rushed away, along with other top House leaders. Capitol Police began to lock the doors of the House chamber. Some doors they could not lock; they blocked them with furniture. Stefanik had been preparing to speak on the House floor, arguing in favor of objecting to certifying the election results, when a colleague told her to take shelter, she said. The next announcement was that we had gas masks under our seats, which I didnt even know thats where the gas masks are, and we were told to take out the gas masks and that there had been tear gas released in Statuary Hall, she told the Daily Times. You could also start to hear very concerning sounds. They started barricading the doors. It was very, very scary. The lawmakers waited until Capitol Police were able to evacuate them out from the chamber and through the tunnels to a House office building. Up above in the House gallery was Tonko, who declined requests to be interviewed this week. But lawmakers who were in the gallery with him shared their accounts with the Times Union. They too were directed to grab gas masks and watched as Capitol Police blockaded the room. They heard rioters break the glass on the windows of doors leading into the chamber. U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., who was in the chamber with Tonko, said she heard a gun shot. Thats when the Capitol Police officers told us all to hit the floor, DeLauro said. So we lay there between the rows of seats, just lying on the floor. They just told us to stay there. The officers surrounding the lawmakers drew their guns and pointed them down at the main level of the House chamber below where the rioters banged for entry, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said. About four minutes later, they moved Tonko, Himes, DeLauro and other lawmakers out of the chamber. They passed a group of protesters lying on the floor face down, with arms spread, as Capitol Police stood over them at gunpoint. The lawmakers hurried down a back stairwell, Himes said. Police then ushered the congressmembers through tunnels in the U.S. Capitol complex to a conference room in a secure location. Nearby, Meng was trapped with another member of Congress in a small, unmarked room close to the House chamber. She had gone in the room in the early afternoon when security alerts started to warn lawmakers to stay away from windows and doors and a House office building was evacuated. "I thought it might even be safer than my office because it was anonymous," she told NBC News. "Within 15 minutes, I started hearing a lot of stomping and chanting and shouting right outside and I didn't have windows so I couldn't tell what was going on, but I saw because I had MSNBC on that they were marching around right outside my door." Meng, terrified, blocked the door with chairs, turned off the lights and any potential source of noise, she said. She texted everyone she loved. Then, she waited for five hours until it was finally safe to emerge. Other lawmakers were stuck in their offices when the violence began. Some remained there doors locked, watching the angry crowd from their office windows while Capitol Police moved others down to the secure locations. "There were a couple of senators who were not on the Senate floor, so (law enforcement) had to find them, go to their offices, get them and bring them down," Gillibrand said. "We were very worried about them. We wanted to make sure they were safe because they were just in their offices by themselves." From their secured locations, the legislators waited. People called their families. Legislators removed from the House chamber were provided a box of Goldfish and some bottled water for nourishment. A Boston Globe reporter held in lock-down with other lawmakers said they were given dinner trays with polenta and Brussels sprouts. Many lawmakers wore masks in the close quarters, but some did not. Social distancing was not really possible, Himes observed. Over time, fear changed to frustration and anger among the legislators. "We need to close out this election. We needed to do our jobs," Gillibrand said. "We started to think about what were the protocols to get back in the Senate chamber. We thought about doing the voting right where we were. We could have put on C-Span in this room, but we decided to wait a little longer to get back into the chamber and that would be, frankly, retaking our chamber and showing that our democracy survives despite violent insurrection." While lawmakers waited in lock-down, the the pro-Trump protesters wandered the building, breaking into the House and Senate chambers and lawmakers' offices, fighting with police and vandalizing property. One person who spoke with the New York Times said he and others looked for Schumer's office to "have a few words" with him and a Capitol Police officer tried to direct the group to the office. They apparently never made it there, the newspaper reported. Eventually, law enforcement cleared the Capitol. They secured the building again, with the help of the National Guard and police reinforcements that arrived from the surrounding areas. When they got back to the Senate chamber around 8:15 p.m., Pence, McConnell and Schumer all condemned the violence of the day with firm language. To those who wreaked havoc in our Capitol today, you did not win, Pence said, breaking with Trump. Violence never wins. The senators and House members then worked past 3 a.m. to finish what they had started, bringing a procedural close to the election as Congress has done every four years for centuries. From slips of paper in mahogany boxes, they read aloud each states' electoral votes, asked for objection and debated lawmakers' concerns according to constitutional rules. Some Republicans, including Stefanik and Zeldin, made objections, but in the end, all members cast peaceful votes and the election was certified. "That is how elections are conducted in this country, not by mob rule," Gillibrand said. CORVALLIS, Ore. - Efficiently mass-producing hydrogen from water is closer to becoming a reality thanks to Oregon State University College of Engineering researchers and collaborators at Cornell University and the Argonne National Laboratory. The scientists used advanced experimental tools to forge a clearer understanding of an electrochemical catalytic process that's cleaner and more sustainable than deriving hydrogen from natural gas. Findings were published today in Science Advances. Hydrogen is found in a wide range of compounds on Earth, most commonly combining with oxygen to make water, and it has many scientific, industrial and energy-related roles. It also occurs in the form of hydrocarbons, compounds consisting of hydrogen and carbon such as methane, the primary component of natural gas. "The production of hydrogen is important for many aspects of our life, such as fuel cells for cars and the manufacture of many useful chemicals such as ammonia," said Oregon State's Zhenxing Feng, a chemical engineering professor who led the study. "It's also used in the refining of metals, for producing man-made materials such as plastics and for a range of other purposes." According to the Department of Energy, the United States produces most of its hydrogen from a methane source such as natural gas via a technique known as steam-methane reforming. The process involves subjecting methane to pressurized steam in the presence of a catalyst, creating a reaction that produces hydrogen and carbon monoxide, as well as a small amount of carbon dioxide. The next step is referred to as the water-gas shift reaction in which the carbon monoxide and steam are reacted via a different catalyst, making carbon dioxide and additional hydrogen. In the last step, pressure-swing adsorption, carbon dioxide and other impurities are removed, leaving behind pure hydrogen. "Compared to natural gas reforming, the use of electricity from renewable sources to split water for hydrogen is cleaner and more sustainable," Feng said. "However, the efficiency of water-splitting is low, mainly due to the high overpotential - the difference between the actual potential and the theoretical potential of an electrochemical reaction - of one key half-reaction in the process, the oxygen evolution reaction or OER." A half-reaction is either of the two parts of a redox, or reduction-oxidation, reaction in which electrons are transferred between two reactants; reduction refers to gaining electrons, oxidation means losing electrons. The concept of half-reactions is often used to describe what goes on in an electrochemical cell, and half-reactions are commonly used as a way to balance redox reactions. Overpotential is the margin between the theoretical voltage and the actual voltage necessary to cause electrolysis - a chemical reaction driven by the application of electric current. "Electrocatalysts are critical to promoting the water-splitting reaction by lowering the overpotential, but developing high-performance electrocatalysts is far from straightforward," Feng said. "One of the major hurdles is the lack of information regarding the evolving structure of the electrocatalysts during the electrochemical operations. Understanding the structural and chemical evolution of the electrocatalyst during the OER is essential to developing high-quality electrocatalyst materials and, in turn, energy sustainability." Feng and collaborators used a set of advanced characterization tools to study the atomic structural evolution of a state-of-the art OER electrocatalyst, strontium iridate (SrIrO3), in acid electrolyte. "We wanted to understand the origin of its record-high activity for the OER - 1,000 times higher than the common commercial catalyst, iridium oxide," Feng said. "Using synchrotron-based X-ray facilities at Argonne and lab-based X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy at the Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure site at OSU, we observed the surface chemical and crystalline-to-amorphous transformation of SrIrO3 during the OER." The observations led to a deep understanding of what was going on behind strontium iridate's ability to work so well as a catalyst. "Our detailed, atomic-scale finding explains how the active strontium iridate layer forms on strontium iridate and points to the critical role of the lattice oxygen activation and coupled ionic diffusion on the formation of the active OER units," he said. Feng added that the work provides insight into how applied potential facilitates the formation of the functional amorphous layers at the electrochemical interface and leads to possibilities for the design of better catalysts. ### Collaborating with Feng were chemical engineering professor Gregory Herman, who leads the National Science Foundation-funded Northwest Nanotechnology Infrastructure site at Oregon State, and Trey Diulus, a former Ph.D. student at OSU and now a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich in Switzerland. Also contributing to the study were researchers from Universite? Catholique de Louvain in Belgium, the University of Science and Technology of China and the University of Houston. Along with the NSF, the Department of Energy supported this research. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The EU has struck a deal to double its supply of the BioNTech/Pfizer coronavirus vaccine to 600 million doses, European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. Authorities in the 27-nation bloc have been hit with rising criticism that the vaccine rollout that started December 27 has been too slow, especially compared with countries such as the United States or former EU member Britain. "We have right now, access to 300 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine," von der Leyen told a press conference, adding: "With the new agreement we could purchase a total of up to an additional 300 million doses." As well as the Moderna vaccine authorised for use in the EU, von der Leyen said: "We have already secured an amount of doses that we need to vaccinate 380 million Europeans, and this is more than 80 percent of the European population". She said other vaccine authorisations were expected "in the coming weeks and months" so "Europe will have more than enough vaccine within a reliable timeframe". Leaders will discuss coordination on the fight against the pandemic at a videosummit on January 21, a spokesman said. Von der Leyen insisted the Commission had taken the right course of action on vaccines. She said global competition for promising candidates was fierce when it started negotiations early last year on behalf of the EU's member states. The EU had to sift through 160 vaccine candidates to arrive at the six it retained as the most likely to work and feasible to distribute on a massive scale, she said. She admitted, though, that "difficult months" lay ahead in ramping up inoculations because of the scale of the task and the high number of infections. "I'm convinced that when we look back at this one day we'll see, well yes, at the beginning, there was a bumpy road (but) well, that's always the case." 'No parallel contracts' The European Commission now has contracts for 2.3 billion doses of various vaccinesenough for the entire 450-million EU population on the basis of a two-dose regimen per person, plus extra for poorer neighbouring countries. The announced extension of the BioNTech/Pfizer contract is for a firm purchase of 200 million doses plus an option for 100 million more, with the additional doses starting to be delivered in the second quarter of this year. Responding to reports that Germany had sought its own vaccine supply outside of the Commission channel, von der Leyen noted that the collective ordering scheme was legally binding. EU capitals had agreed there would be "no parallel negotiations, no parallel contracts", she said. But her spokesman, Eric Mamer, dodged repeated questioning by journalists over Germany's reported go-it-alone order. "I could not say whether there was an agreement or not," he said, telling reporters to ask Berlin and BioNTech and Pfizer. "This is not the place to discuss this. We are certainly not going to discuss any possible legal steps or whatever," Mamer said. Asked about Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and reports that German Chancellor Angela Merkel was open to producing it in the EU, von der Leyen emphasised the strict vetting procedures of the European Medicines Agency. "Whatever vaccine is coming to the European market... has to go through an authorisation process with the EMA, so full transparency: all data have to be submitted for the whole scrutiny," she said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Bahaa al-Halabi has been shot twice by unknown gunman in al-Bab, just weeks after another media activists was assassinated writes Alsouria Net. Media activist Bahaa al-Halabi was shot and wounded in an assassination attempt in the city of al-Bab in the eastern countryside of Aleppo, three weeks after the assassination of press reporter Hussein Khattab in the same city. According to Alsouria Nets reporter, Halabi was shot at by unknown gunmen near al-Corniche Street in al-Bab city, which led to his injury. The information indicated that Halabi was hit once the chest and once in the arm, confirming that he is being treated at the hospital in the city, noting that his condition is stable at the time of writing. No party has claimed responsibility for the attack yet. The assassination attempt angered activists due to the large number of security incidents in the Aleppo countryside in general, and al-Bab city in particular. Halabi, who hails from al-Bab, has worked in previous years as a correspondent and war photographer, covering battles in the eastern neighborhoods in Aleppo between the factions and Assads forces. Halabi was injured several times while on the job. He was also subjected to a previous arrest attempt by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in 2017. He is currently working as a reporter for Syria TV. The incident comes three weeks after the assassination of media activist, Hussein Khattab, by unknown assailants while he was preparing a report in al-Bab. Khattab was considered one of the most prominent media activists in the countryside of Aleppo. He was originally from the city of al-Sefira and was a key member of its media office for years, and had recently worked as a media contributor with Turkish channel TRT. The assassinations are part of a state of security chaos in the northern countryside of Aleppo, which is under the control of the National Army factions. Since the start of the peaceful movement in Syria, Syrian journalists and activists have been facing numerous violations, including murder, assassination, detention and forced disappearance, while the perpetrators continue to enjoy impunity. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. By Kate Holton LONDON (Reuters) - Many Scottish fishermen have halted exports to European Union markets after post-Brexit bureaucracy shattered the system that used to put fresh langoustines and scallops in French shops just over a day after they were harvested. Fishing exporters told Reuters their businesses could become unviable after the introduction of health certificates, customs declarations and other paperwork added days to their delivery times and hundreds of pounds to the cost of each load. Business owners said they had tried to send small deliveries to France and Spain to test the new systems this week but it was taking five hours to secure a health certificate in Scotland, a document which is required to apply for other customs paperwork. In the first working week after Brexit, one-day deliveries were taking three or more days - if they got through at all. Owners could not say for sure where their valuable cargo was. A trade group told boats to stop fishing exported stocks. "Our customers are pulling out," Santiago Buesa of SB Fish told Reuters. "We are fresh product and the customers expect to have it fresh, so they're not buying. It's a catastrophe." On Thursday evening, the Scottish fishing industry's biggest logistics provider DFDS Scotland told customers it had taken the "extraordinary step" of halting until Monday export groupage, when multiple product lines are carried, to try to fix IT issues, paperwork errors and the backlog. Scotland harvests vast quantities of langoustines, scallops, oysters, lobsters and mussels from sea fisheries along its bracing Atlantic coast which are rushed by truck to grace the tables of European diners in Paris, Brussels and Madrid. But Britain's departure from the EU's orbit introduced reams of paperwork and costs that must be completed to move goods across the new customs border, the biggest change to its trade since the launch of the Single Market in 1993. Story continues Those trading in food and livestock face the toughest requirements, hitting the express delivery of freshly caught fish that used to move overnight from Scotland, via England, into France, before going on to other European markets in days. David Noble, whose Aegirfish buys from Scottish fleets to export to Europe, said he would have to pay between 500 to 600 pounds ($815) per day for paperwork, wiping out most profit. His concern is that this marks more than just teething problems, and says he cannot pass on the higher costs of doing business. "I'm questioning whether to carry on," he said. "If our fish is too expensive our customers will buy elsewhere." CENTURIES OLD MARKET In the single market, European food could be processed and packed in Britain then returned to the EU for sale. But Britain's pursuit of a more distant relationship means its trade deal does not cover all interactions between the two sides. Gaps have already appeared on French and Irish shop shelves. Brexit has strained the ties that bind the United Kingdom together: while England and Wales voted to leave the EU in 2016, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted remain. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has used Brexit as part of her argument that Scotland should seek independence. She said on Friday that exporters were paying a high price, "a particular worry for Scotland's world class seafood sector". Fishermen across Britain have accused Prime Minister Boris Johnson of betrayal after he previously vowed to take back control of British waters. With little new control and little access to customer markets, many are in despair. Fishing trade bodies said mistakes in filling out paperwork meant entire consignments were being checked. A French fishmongers' union said numerous seafood trucks had been held up at the customs point in Boulogne for several hours, and even up to a day, due to faulty paperwork. While that should improve with time, and IT issues should be resolved, Seafood Scotland warned they could see the "destruction of a centuries-old market" if it does not. Fergus Ewing, Scottish secretary for the rural economy, said it was better for problems to be identified and resolved in Scotland than hundreds of miles away. SB Fish's Buesa, angered at suggestions that traders were not prepared, said all his paperwork was correct and demanded to know why business leaders were not making more of a fuss. He owns the business with his father, has been exporting for 28 years and employs around 50 people. "I'm in the trenches here," he said. "It's gridlock." ($1 = 0.7363 pounds) (Additional reporting by Richard Lough in Paris; Editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Catherine Evans) The HSE is in talks with the Defence Forces about drafting in army personnel to administer Covid-19 vaccine and alleviate mounting concerns over capacity issues. News of the discussions comes as it has emerged the European Medicines Agency expects drug maker AstraZeneca to apply for approval of its Covid-19 vaccine next week with approval hopefully granted by the end of the month. At present given capacity issues, the HSE plans to deliver only 40,000 shots of vaccine per week through January and February. As each person need two shots this means the national roll-out would last well into 2022 at current levels. It is understood army medics could be trained to give the vaccine - earlier this week, the British government said up to 5,000 military personnel will be involved with different stages of the immunisation roll-out there. Talks are also understood to be on-going with large sporting sites as possible locations for mass vaccine delivery. The HSE has previously used Pairc Ui Chaoimh as a Covid-19 testing centre. Senior health officials insist they can only plan ahead based on the current number of vaccines delivered to Ireland, and they are not expected to release further predictions until the supply issues are confirmed. So far they have only confirmed 15,314 doses given, including 890 staff in the Limerick University Hospital Group and 6,176 across the South/ South West Hospital Group. The chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, Professor Karina Butler has described as encouraging news that approval of the AstraZeneca could be in place by the end of the month. It would be very good news she told RTE radios News at One. The more forgiving aspect of the AstraZeneca vaccine would make it ideal for community roll-out of the vaccine through pharmacists and GPs. The AstraZeneca vaccine does not have the same stringent requirements as the Pfizer vaccine. It is not as time sensitive, she explained. The Pfizer vaccine has to be administered within a limited time. Ireland would stand to get a large tranche of the vaccine which would enable the vaccination programme to extend to more people very quickly she added. The European Commission indicated earlier that it will add up to 300m extra vaccine doses to its order with Pfizer/BioNTech which will eventually mean extra vaccines for Ireland after March. Read More Hospitals could see 2,500 Covid cases as record set for third day The renewed focus on this particular vaccine comes as a study carried out by Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch appears to indicate the vaccine will be effective against new strains identified in the UK and in South Africa. Ireland will get a pro-rata share of this, but the HSE said on Thursday that delivery schedules and numbers are not yet known. The medicines watchdog has received a small number of reports about suspected adverse reactions to the Pfizer/BioNtech Covid-19 vaccine currently being rolled out across the country. But to date just a small number of people have reported side effects or adverse reactions to the new vaccine, according to the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), which regulates and approves medicines and health products for use in Ireland. A spokesperson said: The HPRA has received a small number of reports of suspected adverse reactions (side effects) associated with use of the BioNtech Comirnaty Covid-19 vaccine. "These reports have been consistent with the known safety profile of the vaccine, including headache, fever, fatigue, rash and injection site reactions. All reports received by the HPRA are continuously reviewed. The benefits of the vaccine continue to outweigh any known side effects, which are mostly mild to moderate in nature. The regulator added that information on the vaccine is available from the HPRA and European Medicines Agency website. I do not see the names or information of anyone who donates to this drive its all handled by the Food Depository. If youre contacted and want to proceed with either the Zoom meeting or the recorded message, youll have to give the person who contacts you permission to pass your phone number or email address along to me. Once I get that information, Ill reach out to you and well get the ball rolling. Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Government has informed the Madras High Court that they would work out a solution and come up with a detailed reply by Monday (January 11, 2021), pertaining to the permissible seating capacity at the movie theatres ahead of the Pongal festival. The Bench was hearing a writ petition filed by advocate Kannan of Madurai, on behalf of S. Muthu Kumar. The Madurai bench of the Court had taken up this matter after a Writ Petition was filed against the Tamil Nadu Governments recent Order that permitted 100% occupancy of seats in cinema halls. The Petitioner had opposed this Order, pointing out the threat posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the fear of the UK Strain of the virus. The recent order by the Tamil Nadu government had come under fire from various quarters, as it was a public health risk, amid the pandemic. Some big names from the film industry including Arvind Swami had said that continuing with 50% was the apt move. Days after the TN Govt order was issued, the Union Home Secretary had written to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary, instructing that Central Governments Unlock Guidelines be followed. As per the Central Governments (MHA) latest guidelines, cinema halls must operate with a maximum of 50% seating capacity. The Bench of Justices MM Sundaresh and S Anandi had mentioned that the status quo of 50% occupancy must continue in theaters until the State Government announces its decision on Monday. They also acknowledged the suggestion mentioned in the Writ petition, which said that theaters could run more shows, while following Covid-19 protocols if they found it feasible. After the pandemic had struck and the lockdown was imposed in March last year, with most films taking the OTT route, theatre owners were a worried lot. While cinema halls were permitted to screen for a 50% audience from November, it meant less patronage, given that there were hardly any new, big-budget films making it to the screens. The governments decision to allow 100% occupancy comes following the appeals by theatre owners associations to grant permission for higher occupancy. The major beneficiary of this announcement would be actor Vijays film Master, and Simbus Easwaran which are slated for a Pongal festive release on January 13th. Master was to hit screens sometime in Summer 2020 but had to be postponed owing to the pandemic and there were even rumors of the film taking the OTT Route. YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Human Rights Defender of Armenia considers absolutely condemnable the politicization of this humanitarian and human rights issue concerning captives, and even remotely connecting these matters of human rights related to any territorial issue, or for that matter, the obvious attempts of the Azerbaijani authorities to exploit these matters for political purposes. Ombudsman Arman Tatoyan made a statement which says: "1. Armenian servicemen captured and held prisoners by the Azerbaijani military must be released and returned to Armenia. This must be done immediately and without any preconditions. It is absolutely impermissible that Section 8 of the Tripartite Declaration of November 10, 2020 does not specify a date for the exchange or return of the prisoners of war or others who are otherwise detained and are held in captivity. But this does not mean that it is permissible for Azerbaijani authorities to continue violating international human rights standards and humanitarian agreements. The return of the prisoners of war is artificially delayed; the accurate numbers are not disclosed; and, even attempts are made to present a smaller number than the real number. All the while, the torture and inhumane treatment of these prisoners continue to take place, as evidenced by the purposeful publication of videos attesting to that; and, the recovery of the bodies of the deceased are being circumvented. I have already stated that the studies, complaints addressed to Armenias Human Rights Defender, reports, as well as 24/7 of the Defenders Office confirm that these acts are aimed at causing mental suffering to the families of those still in captivity, intended as a means of playing with the emotions of the Armenian society, and aimed at causing and raising tensions in our country. The statements of the Azerbaijani authorities that they are not prisoners of war, but rather, they are terrorists who have been arrested, grossly violate the post-war humanitarian processes and international human rights requirements. These statements are in direct contradiction with the requirement of Section 8 of the Trilateral Statement of November 10, 2020. They are Prisoners of War by status, period! Similarly, all these demands and adherence must also apply to the exchange of the bodies of victims and for the search and rescue of those who are still missing. To receive Steve Gutterman's Week In Russia each week via e-mail, subscribe by clicking here. Of all the irritants in the U.S.-Russian relationship, for Moscow one of the biggest seems to be U.S. criticism of its records on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law in the 21 years since President Vladimir Putin came to power -- as well as attendant actions such as the imposition of sanctions. In documents ranging from foreign policy decrees to his congratulatory message to U.S. President-elect Joe Biden, Putin has stressed that relations must be conducted on an "equal" basis. And at all levels of the power vertical -- from Putin to the powerless -- complaints about the United States sometimes take the form of a question: "What, are we worse?" So, when footage of supporters of President Donald Trump storming the U.S. Capitol, clashing with police, and entering congressional offices and auditoriums hit screens worldwide late on January 6, some of the responses from Russian diplomats and pro-Kremlin pundits and politicians seemed pretty predictable. The first response from Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova was a Facebook repost of an American journalist's comment that the United States "will never again be able to tell the world" that it is "the paragon of democracy." Konstantin Kosachyov, a lawmaker from the Kremlin-controlled United Russia party who is chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the upper parliament house -- which, unlike the U.S. Senate, is not a popularly elected body -- voiced what may be a widespread view in Russian government circles. "America no longer charts the course and therefore has lost all right to set it. Let alone impose it on others," he wrote on Facebook, describing U.S. democracy as "obviously limping on both legs." Christmas Message? Putin avoided direct comment on the momentous events in Washington -- but in doing so, in footage outside a church on a still-dark Orthodox Christmas morning, seemed to seek to send a message contrasting that placid setting with the violence and chaos at the U.S. Capitol. That is a message that is sent assiduously by Russian officials and state media whenever there is unrest n the West and particularly in the United States, and the January 6 events -- like the protests over racial inequality and police violence in 2020 -- were no exception. One thing is certainly true: Images of a crowd swarming toward a national legislature, breaching the building, clashing with police must have put millions of people or more in mind of upheaval in many former Soviet republics including Russia since 1991. For millions or more, the fact that it was happening in Washington was a shock. And for the Kremlin, it fit well into that signaling and into a narrative that the United States is unstable and riven by potentially explosive political discord. But Kosachyov, Zakharova, and others seemed to provide few convincing arguments linking the chaos at the U.S Capitol to their assertions that, as Kosachyov's counterpart in the lower chamber, Leonid Slutsky, put it, "The United States certainly cannot now impose its electoral standards on other countries and claim to be the world's 'beacon of democracy.'" Whether they commented while rioters were inside the U.S. legislature or after the area was cleared a few hours later -- and after five deaths or fatal injuries -- they tended to ignore or gloss over the fact that lawmakers had resumed the formal readout of Electoral College votes and soon reaffirmed Biden's victory over Trump in the November 3 election. He will be inaugurated on January 20. Among those who did mention this fact was Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, whose country is embroiled in a nearly seven-year war against Russia-backed separatists who hold parts of eastern Ukraine, while Russia continues to control the Crimean Peninsula after seizing it in March 2014. "We strongly condemn the unprecedented violence against the US Congress. We are inspired by the resilience of this world's oldest & greatest democratic institution that within mere hours of this horrific attack held a historic session that affirmed the will of the American people," Zelenskiy tweeted on January 7. Checks And Balances Kremlin-aligned commentators suggested that the United States was getting its own "color revolution" a reference to political change that has been brought on by massive crowds of people pressing for greater democracy by protesting on the streets of Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, and elsewhere in the past 20 years, rattling the Kremlin. But whatever the individual motives of those in the crowd in Washington, a main goal there was to overturn an election result that stood up to multiple challenges in courts and other venues. In Belarus, demonstrators defying a harsh state crackdown in Belarus are protesting against the authoritarian ruler's claim of a landslide victory in an August election in a country where no election in more than 25 years has been deemed free, fair, or democratic by credible observers. Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, suggested that it echoed Ukraine's Maidan demonstrations, which pushed Moscow-friendly President Viktor Yanukovych from power -- and into self-imposed exile in Russia -- in 2014. But the massive, monthslong pro-European and anti-corruption protests in Kyiv were mainly peaceful, among many other differences. And while Kremlin allies suggested that the mayhem in Washington showed that U.S. democracy was "limping on both legs," as Kosachyov put it, opponents of Putin challenged that idea, arguing instead that the system had showed resilience. Opposition politician Dmitry Gudkov contrasted the system of checks and balances in the United States with what he suggested was the lack of such safeguards in Russia, where parliament is dominated by United Russia and courts are widely seen as beholden to Putin's executive branch. In the United States "there is a president, but there is also a parliament. And then there are the courts. And all these institutionshold each other by the throats," Gudkov said in a post to Facebook. "And this is very good." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. In 2018, Port Richmond High School senior Don James Kiriella, then 17, took a stand against bullying and published his anti-bullying childrens book, The Bullied Tomato. Now, 20, and a pre-med student at the combined BS-MD at SUNY Old Westbury, the Mariners Harbor resident has recently published two more books in the found time during the COVID-19 quarantine. I took advantage of these past nine months under pandemic restrictions and quarantine to write two books, The Little Cashew Nut and The Red White and Blue Friends, said Kiriella, a native of Sri Lanka, who originally had zero intent of writing more books due to his heavy courseload as a pre-med student. However, his heavy schedule changed when the pandemic hit in March 2019. COVID-19 spread throughout the country, claiming to date, about 300,000 lives of peoples dear friends, families, and loved ones, said Kiriella, who moved back home for remote learning and suddenly had extra time to rededicate himself to his passion for writing. 'The Little Cashew Nut' is authored by Don Kiriella, 20, an alumnus of Port Richmond High School and a pre-med student at the combined BS-MD Program at SUNY Old Westbury. (Courtesy Don Kiriella) Through my two new books, I am raising awareness about bullying and other social epidemics such as depression, and anxiety, he said. But it proved to be a more difficult task than expected for the young writer. Thinking of an idea to write about is a matter which stumps the best of authors, he added. But still, for the first time in so long, I felt fulfilled, finally doing something that required me not to memorize rote facts and regurgitate that onto a test paper. I loved doing something that required me to use my creativity for a good cause. Kiriella found inspiration on what to write upon careful reflection of the social climate of the world, throughout the pandemic, specifically the mental health ramifications of quarantining, isolation, and loneliness. Being quarantined for six months straight with no human contact other than my parents and my sister tested my mental health, he said. Again, on the news, I would hear of young kids driven to the edge of madness due to this overwhelming depression, going so far as to claiming their own lives. Its really sad that kids are taking their lives due to a horrible epidemic. Kiriella said there are speakers coming into schools to talk about bullying and suicide, but it is not enough. They come and speak every six months or so; I really think its important to try and implement more programs. 'The Red Blue and Yellow Friends' is penned by Don Kiriella, 20, an alumnus of Port Richmond High School and a premed student at the combined BS-MD Program at SUNY Old Westbury. (Courtesy Don Kiriella) In addition to writing and basing his book on the overarching theme of bullying, Kiriella also wanted subtly address other social epidemics that affect people young and old today, such as depression and discrimination. The main character of one of the books, a cashew nut, was inspired by his mother, Dona Anna Kiriella. My mom who mentioned cashew nuts that blossom in these little apple type things, he said. At first, they look hard and ugly, but once they bloom, they look beautiful. To order The Little Cashew Nut, please click here. To order The Red Blue and Yellow Friends, please click here. Los Angeles may be in lockdown but Khloe Kardashian is already looking forward to a time where the pandemic is just a distant memory. The 36-year-old Good American founder said that she would be 'ready' come summer, to show off her hard earned body. Fighting any sort of COVID-19-related weight gain, she shared a gym selfie as she said she was 'manifesting' that all of this would be over soon. Summer ready: Khloe Kardashian, 36, says her body will be 'ready' come summer as she manifests an end to the pandemic where she can show off her figure Posing in front of her gym mirror in a pair of tight green leggings and a matching crew neck, she showed off her slim legs. She crouched down in a pair of sneakers and seemed to snatch her face back with her long claws. Khloe captioned the photo, 'This summer, when all of this is over (manifesting) I'll be ready.' Guilty of many-a photoshop fails as of late, Khloe's legs looked particularly thin in the snap as people commented that they thought she was sister Kendall Jenner. Bikini body: Though there is currently no end in sight when it comes to the pandemic that is ravaging LA County, she said that she was hoping to be bikini ready come summer Notoriously diligent when it comes to her workouts, it seemed she was blowing off some steam at the gym with a clear end goal in mind. Between the stringent lockdown in LA County amid a total of 853,000 Coronavirus cases to date, and the family stress of sister Kim Kardashian's impending divorce, it seemed she was airing it all out with a workout. Throughout the past year Khloe and her family have made it seem like the pandemic is merely an afterthought as they continue to travel on lavish vacations to Turks & Caicos, Lake Tahoe and Aspen. What pandemic?: The extravagant travel started with Kim's 40th birthday in Turks & Caicos and the family has yet to taper back their lifestyle Tahoe trip: The Kardashian clan has done a lot of traveling over the past few months as they all shacked up in a lavish Lake Tahoe house ahead of Christmas; pictured December 23 Boston bound: Khloe and True went to Boston with Tristan after he was traded to the Celtics and he gifted her a huge sparkler as a promise ring which sparked engagement rumors Right before Christmas, Khloe and daughter True, two, flew to Boston to be with Tristan Thompson who was traded to the Celtics. She was seen flashing an enormous ring on her left finger which was reportedly a Christmas gift from Thompson which sparked engagement rumors, though it was confirmed that the pair are not engaged. Despite not heading towards marriage anytime soon, they have spent much of quarantine together, and reportedly Khloe wants another child by him. An insider told Life & Style on Thursday, that Khloe 'definitely wants to have another baby' with Tristan, 'regardless of whether they're married.' Growing family: Reportedly Khloe 'definitely wants to have another baby' with Tristan regardless of their marital status, according to a Life&Style insider; pictured October 31 Regarding the humongous sparkler on her finger, it is said to be a 'promise ring' from Thompson. 'Tristan is going above and beyond to make it up to Khloe after the cheating scandal and prove his commitment.' 'He feels ready to marry her, but she needs to totally trust him first and it will take more than a million-dollar ring, but they're making progress and things are going well between them,' a source told the publication ahead of the new year. Though things may be going smoothly with her relationship, sister Kim has been the talk of the town after it was revealed she and husband of seven years Kanye West are discussing divorce. Falling apart: Page Six first reported on Tuesday that the sun had set on the West's relationship, as Kim hired a divorce attorney and sources said 'divorce is imminent' Currently in marriage counseling with Kardashian hiring celebrity divorce attorney Laura Wasser, the future looks grim for the pair. The news first came on Tuesday when Page Six reported that 'divorce is imminent,' for the West's as they said Kim was 'done' for good. It was revealed on Wednesday despite reports the pair had spent the holidays apart, that Kanye gifted Kim five 2021 Maybachs to the tune of a cool $1M. His final salvation efforts however did not seem to cut it as the relationship has reportedly been on the rocks for months and they have been living apart. 'This isn't the first time they've been talking about a split, but this time it is way, way more serious, the source said. ATLANTA On the day that the Rev. Raphael Warnock made history by becoming Georgias first Black senator, the news was overshadowed by a catastrophe unfolding 600 miles away, where hundreds of rioters rampaged through the Capitol in support of President Trump and his attempt to overturn the November election, which he lost to President-elect Joe Biden. The terrible display that we saw of violence and mob lawlessness and insurrection deserves a serious and intentional response from all of us, Warnock told Yahoo News Thursday morning. It just underscores the urgency of us recommitting ourselves to the work of building beloved community. Warnock blames Trump and his allies for emboldening the mob to storm the building where he will soon be sworn in as one of two Democratic senators from the normally Republican state, putting his party in charge of the Senate after six years in the minority. What we saw yesterday is that words have power, Warnock said. Unfortunately, the occupant of the White House has been ginning up this bigotry, frustrations and resentments [for] some time. The problem is its been aided and abetted by other politicians, including my opponent during this Senate race. So this is what you get. Crowds gather outside the U.S. Capitol for a Stop the Steal rally on Wednesday. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images) Warnock defeated Republican Kelly Loeffler in a runoff election on Tuesday. Loeffler had been appointed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to a vacant seat; Warnock can run again in 2022 for a full term of his own. Democrat Jon Ossoff won a runoff on the same day for the seat held by Republican David Perdue. Following a Stop the Steal rally on Wednesday in which Trump spoke before tens of thousands of people, egging them on with lies about voting fraud in the November presidential election, his supporters overwhelmed police to enter the Capitol building, vandalizing offices, occupying the legislative chambers, leaving behind bombs and forcing legislators and staff to take shelter. Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee on Wednesday confirmed that four people died during the riots. One was a woman who was shot by U.S. Capitol Police as she tried to get through a window above a barricaded door. Three others died in medical emergencies. A pro-Trump mob confronts U.S. Capitol Police outside the Senate chamber of the Capitol on Wednesday. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Another result of Wednesdays rioting is likely to be additional deaths from COVID-19, as an estimated 25,000 to 30,000 Trump supporters converged on the nations capital. Few of the hundreds who besieged the Capitol wore masks as they shouted, shoved and rummaged through offices. As of Thursday afternoon, more than 364,000 Americans have died and more than 21.4 million have been diagnosed with COVID-19, according to Johns Hopkins data. Instead of challenging settled election results, the country should focus on getting Americans COVID relief and distributing the vaccine, Warnock said. The folks in the Senate, in addition to certifying the outcome of the election, should have been working to pass the $2,000 stimulus package, to get people the relief that they need in the midst of this pandemic, he said. At the end of the day, we are all we got. And when I say we, I mean all of us Democrats and Republicans, across racial lines [and others]. We can ill afford to have these kinds of violent culture wars distracting from the real enemy in the work that we must do. ... We need to be focused on marshaling all of our resources to safely and efficiently distribute this vaccine. Supporters listen to President-elect Joe Biden at a rally for Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Recognizing that many of his constituents might sympathize with the goals of the rioters, if not necessarily the means, Warnock said he believes his upbringing prepared him for this moment. I was raised in public housing in Savannah, Ga., he said. My dad was a veteran, a small-business man and a pastor. My mothers from Waycross, Ga., where she grew up in the 1950s, picking somebodys cotton. The other day, she got to help pick her son to be a United States senator. I think that that is an expression of the ways in which the dream, the promise of America is very much alive. Its just slipping away from too many people. Im really proud of Georgia in this moment, he added, because we built a multiracial, multiethnic, multigenerational coalition, which ushered into office at this defining moment in America a young, Jewish man, who is the son of an immigrant and interned for John Lewis, and an African American man, the pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church, where Dr. [Martin Luther] King served. Warnock said, This is a representation of the best in America and a reversal of the usual Southern strategy. That old strategy where politicians came to office by dividing people is no more, he said. Jon and I are coming into office by bringing people together. And thats the work we intend to do in the United States Senate. Cover thumbnail photo: Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images _____ Read more from Yahoo News: By Jun Ji-hye Cho Doo-soon, one of Korea's most notorious child rapists who was released from prison last month, has applied for the basic livelihood security program, claiming that he and his wife are suffering financial difficulties. The government of Ansan City, Gyeonggi Province, which is currently examining Cho's application, said Friday that the couple seems to satisfy the conditions qualifying them for the government allowance as Cho, who is over 65 years old, is categorized as an elderly citizen who is incapable of work. His wife is under 65, but has faced difficulties finding a job due to a chronic illness in addition to her "high-profile" husband, according to city officials. If the application is approved, Cho and his wife are expected to receive about 1.2 million won ($1,100) per month in welfare allowances. Cho was released from prison, Dec. 12, after serving a 12-year term for kidnapping an eight-year-old girl who he violently raped repeatedly in a church bathroom in Ansan in 2008. The victim sustained severe injuries including intestinal ruptures, leading to permanent physical damage. Cho applied for the welfare assistance a few days after he returned to his home in Ansan following his release from prison. "Cho and his wife are almost incapable of making money," an Ansan City official said. "We are still examining his application, but there seems to be no major problem in approving his application for the welfare benefits." With regard to public criticism against Cho, the official said the basic livelihood security program is a welfare system granted on humanitarian grounds. Ugandan musician turned presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi popularly known as Bobi Wine on Thursday alleged a plot to kidnap his children. In a statement following the evacuation of his four children to the US, Bobi Wine said he had received information about a pending attack on his family. Pictures and travel details of the MPs children at Entebbe International Airport were leaked Wednesday night causing ripples on social media. Bobi Wine explained that his family has been living in fear for the past three years after he announced he run against President Yoweri Museveni. Museveni has been trailing and following my children everywhere. I have had to change their schools. I then had to confine them at home for the longest time because the security was targeting them. Recently, we had very credible information they were intending to kidnap some of my children so as to force me to make statements that I do not believe in, Wine said. He added that: That is why therefore when I received information of pending physical attacks on me, my wife and kidnap of our children, friends in the diaspora reached out to us, offered to host them for a while! That does not mean that my wife or I are any safer by remaining around. But our effort is to ensure they dont kidnap one of these minors and try to use them to coerce us into subjugation! The Kyadondo East MP slammed regime apologists for questioning the travel of his children ahead of the January 14 election. The regime propagandists should be very ashamed. In a free and democratic country, nobody should live in fear simply because they oppose the government in power. In a free country, a presidential candidate would never have to wear a bullet-proof jacket and helmet in order to go for campaigns! That is the country we are struggling to build. Gen Museveni should even be more ashamed that 35 years later, children have to yet again run away from their country over fears of vengeful attacks! he said. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt on Friday mourned the death of her pet cat Sheeba. The actress also shared a couple of photographs on Instagram where she is seen posing with Sheeba. "Goodbye my angel," she wrote as caption. Alia's mother Soni Razdan also expressed her grief: "RIP Sheeba. We named you after the Queen of Sheeba because from day one you had such a regal air. My mornings will never be the same again. Thank you for the abundance of love you blessed me with Sheebles will miss you so much." Alia will next be seen in the first installment of director Ayan Mukerji's superhero adventure trilogy Brahmastra. In the film, Alia stars alongside her rumoured boyfriend Ranbir Kapoor, Amitabh Bachchan, Nagarjuna and Mouni Roy. The actress will also feature in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Gangubai Kathiawadi, a film reportedly revolving around the life of a brothel owner and matriarch. Hundreds of Italian far-right activists have performed the fascist Roman salute at a memorial commemorate three young nationalists who were gunned down in Rome 43 years ago. The disturbing images show around 300 extremists raise their hands in the famous straight-arm salute as a show of respect to the men who were killed on January 7, 1978. The three victims murdered in the attack, known as the Acca Larentia massacre, were all members of the far-right Italian Social Movement in Rome. Hundreds of Italian far-right activists can be seen performing the fascist Roman salute at a memorial commemorate three young nationalists who were gunned down in Rome 43 years ago The three victims murdered in the attack, known as the Acca Larentia massacre, were all members of the far-right Italian Social Movement in Rome Franco Bigonzetti, 20, and Francesco Ciavetta, 18, were shot and killed outside the organisation's headquarters as they prepared to hand out leaflets. They were with three other far-right activists at the time of the ambush by alleged left-wing militants and sprayed with bullets. One engineer was injured in the attack but survived. Hours later, the third man, Stefano Recchioni, 19, was killed by a police officer after riots erupted as the news of the murders spread. No one has been convicted for the three murders but a belief that the crimes were committed by the left led to a rise in far-right militancy against them. Around 300 far-right activists yesterday gathered in front of the commemorative plaque in front of the former Italian Social movement headquarters in Acca Larentia, Roma, in an event organised by the neo-fascist movement Casapound They can be seen uniformly stretching out their right arms in a fascist Roman salute. The gesture closely linked with fascism and the Nazi salute Around 300 far-right activists yesterday gathered in front of the commemorative plaque in front of the former Italian Social movement headquarters in Acca Larentia, Roma, in an event organised by the neo-fascist movement Casapound. They can be seen uniformly stretching out their right arms in a fascist Roman salute. The gesture closely linked with fascism and the Nazi salute. Much to the frustration of locals, they were not wearing face coverings or social distancing amid rising coronavirus cases and deaths. A wreath is laid at the site of the killings of the three Italian Social Movement activists who were killed in 1978 Far-right activists gather to lay wreaths for the three men murdered in the attack. Earlier in the day, Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the far-right Italian political party Brothers of Italy, paid tribute to the victims of the massacre, reports The Rome Chronicle. Meloni said: 'Forty-three years ago the massacre of Acca Larentia, a tragedy still remains without guilty convictions. 'It is a wound that has never healed because for Franco Bigonzetti, Francesco Ciavatta and Stefano Recchioni there was no justice. 'We honour the memory of these three innocent young people, victims of terrorism and political violence, and we continue to ask that full light be shed on one of the darkest pages of our national history.' To the Editor, Joe Biden said that he was the candidate to unite our country. Like all of his campaign slogans, there were no details behind his claim. Unfortunately, based on the rhetoric since election day, he and his party have communicated the exact opposite. Take the words from Mr Biden today. He said the incident at the Capitol was disgraceful. He called for immediate accountability and demanded punishment of the perpetrators. We all agree. He made these comments just one day after the incident. Now, many months after the shameful BLM violence and looting in Minneapolis, Portland, and Kenosha, has anyone in the Democrat party said it was disgraceful? No. Many months after the criminal Antifa occupation in Seattle, has anyone in the Democrat party called for immediate accountability? No. After 65 policemen have been murdered by street criminals last year, has anyone in the Democrat party made this an issue and demanded punishment for the perpetrators? No. Biden said if yesterdays violence was a BLM riot, it would have been treated differently. True, nothing would have been said or done, and Harris would have bailed out anyone who was apprehended. There is a track record to prove this. Bidens attempt to unite the country is actually driving a wedge that further divides our country. The Democrat partys selective condemnation of violence is so one-sided that, coupled with the one-sided portrayal by the left-leaning media, the vast majority of our country becomes irate over these biased comments and coverage. Further, when the Democrats become vicious and snarky, they send a very distasteful message. If you didnt know that some of the Democrat congressmen were proud patriots, you would think they were purposely bringing down our country by condemning the foundation and principles of our great country. Mr Biden needs to change his message. He should communicate that we live in the worlds greatest country. We are the worlds preeminent nation, and we remain inclusive, benevolent, and supportive of humanity. We live in a nation that offers opportunity to all people, regardless of race, sex, or ideology. We strive to leave our country in a prominent place in the world for all future generations. Its an easy and unifying message. Somehow, in the wake of his partys hateful dialect, I dont think Biden has the grit to do this. As one of your reader says, Sad. Ed Skibinski Brighton Govt Announces Arrival of Vaccines and First Phase of COVID-19 Vaccination Strategy Her Majestys Government of Gibraltar has announced the first delivery of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will arrive on Saturday 9 January 2021. Upon arrival, the vaccine will be immediately be taken directly to dedicated freezers in the basement of St Bernards Hospital and kept at -75 degrees centigrade. This first delivery is being provided to Gibraltar by the UK Government as part of its programme to supply the Overseas Territories, as such the methodology of delivery is the same as it is in the UK. A 5850 doses of the vaccine will be received in this first delivery. The second delivery of the vaccine is expected by the end of January. The aim to have vaccinated all over 70s with at least one dose by mid February, assuming that the vaccines arrive as planned. The order in which the vaccines will be offered will follow a modified version of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) priority schedule as detailed below: Priority Risk group: 1. Residents in ERS and their carers 2. All those 80 years of age and over 3. All those 70 years of age and over and frontline health and social care workers 4. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals 5. All those 65 years of age and over 6. All individuals aged 16 years to 64 years with underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality (see Appendix A or Chapter 14a) 7. All those 50 65 years of age 8. All those 16 50 years of age 9. All those who are cross frontier workers who are entitled to free healthcare in Gibraltar The vaccination programme will start at 8am on Sunday 10 January and the first to receive the vaccine shall be the residents and care staff at ERS. There will be two parallel vaccination operations on Sunday and multiple vaccination stations will be set up at St Bernards Hospital for GHA front line staff. The vaccination programme for the public will commence on Monday 11th January and will be at the former Primary Care Centre at the ICC. These premises were given up by the GHA last year, but the premises has been very generously loaned to the Government free of charge to deliver the vaccination programme to the people of Gibraltar. Teams have been deployed to the Primary Care Centre to contact people to take the vaccine. People over the age of 70 have been contacted over the past few days for their appointments next week. All individuals eligible to be vaccinated will be contacted and offered an appointment time and date from Monday onwards. Each appointment slot will be 15 minutes long to take into account the time required to go through any questions and concerns, confirm signed consent and to administer the vaccine. Once administered, individuals will be asked to stay for 15 minutes to ensure that there are no reactions or they are feeling unwell. As an individual leaves the vaccination centre, they will be given a vaccination card confirming that the first dose has been given. The vaccination card is simply a confirmation of the first dose given and not a travel or immunity document at this stage. They will be contacted subsequently with an appointment for the follow up second dose. There will be no option to change the appointment once it has been made due to operational issues as this could risk them being wasted. It is important that people attend the appointment that they have been offered as there is a risk that the dose may be lost otherwise. The vaccine will be offered to all in the priority groups except: 1. Those who wish to decline the vaccine. 2. Or those who cannot receive the vaccine for one of the following reasons: If they currently have COVID-19 symptoms; If they have tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 28 days; If they are pregnant, they should seek advice from their obstetrician; If they have a severe allergy against multiple drugs or unexplained anaphylaxis, they will have an epipen too. The GHA had set up a working group to direct the administration of the vaccines, led by the Director of Public Health. The committee have carried out a huge amount of work to be able to deliver the vaccine. The strategy has become known within the GHA as Operation Freedom as, according to the Govt statement, this will be the first step which will get us closer to normality. Specific teams have been set up to give effect to the strategy, three teams of dedicated vaccinators, administrators and IT support. The vaccinations teams who will administer the vaccines have had to undergo special training because of the sensitivity of the vaccine. Minister with Responsibility for Health and Care, Samantha Sacramento MP said, In addition to having to manage our health and care services during this surge, the Director of Public Health and health care professionals within the GHA have also undertaken the mammoth task of having to prepare a vaccination strategy. For infection control purposes, the Elderly Residential Services team have developed their own strategy and their staff have undergone training on the vaccination so that all staff and residents can be vaccinated in-house. The endeavour has appropriately been coined Operation Freedom to reflect that this vaccine marks the start of the release of many difficult months dealing with COVID-19. All my teams have worked tirelessly to put things in place to deliver a seamless service that will benefit Gibraltar, for which I am extremely grateful. Washington D.C. area residents complain that constant helicopter noise makes them feel like they're "living in a war zone," and they're right about one thing: the greatest proportion of the offending noise comes from military aircraft, according to a new study. The Government Accountability Office was ordered to study the problem of helicopter noise over D.C. in 2019 after a spike in complaints. In August 2020, Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., and Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-D.C., introduced legislation that proposes centralizing complaints from area residents and would require the Defense Department and the FAA to work together to create solutions, according to a report from the Washington Post. Norton and Beyer were among six lawmakers who initially requested the study. While thin on solutions, the new study found that many noise complaints never made their way to agencies or entities, like the military, with authority to do anything about it. Even if those complaints were all properly routed, the report notes that essential missions, like military night training flights, are unlikely to change. Still, GAO proposed that increased information sharing among agencies and chopper operators -- through a new mechanism created by the Office of Environment and Energy -- may help reduce noise that disturbs nearby residents. The study found that 37% of helicopter flights in the D.C.-Maryland-Virginia region, also known as the DMV, are military flights. Medical evacuations account for nearly 21%; other aviation activity, such as charters or flight schools, roughly 16%; state and local law enforcement, 15%; federal law enforcement and emergency support, 6%; and news helicopters, nearly 5%. GAO examined data between 2017 and 2019 and analyzed 88,000 helicopter flights within 30 miles of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to understand the flight patterns. Federal Aviation Administration data indicates there was a slight decrease in flights during those years -- from 31,000 to 29,000 annually. However, "it is unknown whether there has been a change in helicopter noise in the area," the study said. GAO says that increased information-sharing among agencies and chopper operators may help reduce noise that disturbs nearby residents. Read Next: Air Force Brass Order Removal of All Offensive, Non-Inclusive Mottos, Patches and Emblems "The FAA receives and responds to complaints on helicopter noise from the public through its noise ombudsman and has recently developed online forms that improve FAA's ability to identify and respond to helicopter noise issues," the study states. "FAA's and operators' approach to addressing these issues in the D.C. area is impeded because they do not consistently or fully share the information needed to do so." Operators interviewed for the report said that the administration "has not communicated with operators about helicopter noise or forwarded complaints to them." "Similarly, operators often receive noise complaints from the public -- some complaints are not directed to the correct operator -- but do not typically share these complaints with the FAA," the study says. Helicopters flying near D.C. must adhere to strict regulations. According to FAA policy, they must maintain at least 500 feet of vertical separation "from large passenger aircraft while in flight in certain airspace near commercial airports." Rotorcraft are even more limited within the D.C. area airspace, particularly near the airport and flying across the Potomac River because the aviation routes often "overlap with commercial passenger airplane operations," the study says."As a result, helicopters in these areas may fly as low as 200 feet above mean sea level." Roughly 15% of the military's flights occur at night for training purposes. The GAO included the Coast Guard as part of these flights despite the branch falling under the Department of Homeland Security. There are multiple military aviation hubs around the DMV. For example, the Coast Guard has Eurocopter MH-65D Dolphin helicopters stationed at Reagan; the Army and the National Guard use Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawks and Eurocopter UH-72 Lakotas stationed at Davison Army Air Field in Fort Belvoir, Virginia; and the Air Force operates Bell UH-1 Huey helicopters out of Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The Marine Corps has the largest assortment of helicopters, flying Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, Sikorsky VH-3D Sea Kings and Sikorsky VH-60N White Hawks stationed at Marine Corps Air Facility Quantico, Virginia, and Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in D.C. The V-22s can fly to and from the Pentagon, while the VH-3D and VH-60N -- used for executive transport and known as "Marine One" when the president is aboard -- regularly fly to the White House or the Naval Observatory when the vice president is on board. While GAO officials spoke to the services, the study does not include a breakdown of which service flies its helicopters the most. It did note affiliated events. For example, in fall 2018, the Army began a clandestine training mission that increased use of its Black Hawk helicopters in the D.C. region. Bloomberg News reported that the service requested additional funding for the mysterious operation, including a "Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility." Weeks later, the news outlet reported the flights were part of a training assignment aimed at responding to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. The GAO recommended that the FAA develop means for the organization and operators to regularly share information in order to improve responses "to individual helicopter noise concerns," the report says. The FAA has already agreed to its recommendation. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: Navy Faces Lawsuits over Expanded Growler Jet Training in Pacific GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip On Nov. 25, the Crossings and Ports Supervision Department affiliated with Gaza's Ministry of Interior announced it had foiled an attempt to smuggle antiquities through the Rafah crossing. It reported seizing four ancient coins from a woman who claimed she was given them by a man who had asked her to deliver them to another man on the other side. She also claimed she was unaware the four pieces were antiquities. The case and the confiscated coins were referred to the Tourism and Antiquities Police Department, which arrested the man who had given her the coins. Jamal Abu Raida, director of the Department of Antiquities at the Hamas-run Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, told Al-Monitor each of the four ancient Greek coins from the period of Alexander the Great is worth around $100,000. He said, The investigation is ongoing. A number of the defendants in this case confessed to previous successful smuggling operations of coins that were sold abroad for thousands of dollars. He said that charges have been filed against several smugglers involved in the case. All those who took part in this operation were identified and all pieces were confiscated," he said. "Within two months, three attempts to smuggle artifacts were foiled at the Rafah crossing linking Gaza to Egypt, the Beit Hanoun crossing that connects Gaza with Israel and the Karem Abu Salem crossing on the Gaza Strip-Israel-Egypt border run by Israel and designated for importing and exporting goods with Gaza. Gaza's 1929 antiquities law dates back to the era of the British mandate over Palestine and classifies antiquities as public property. The law allows the government to lend archeological pieces to institutions and not citizens. It also sanctions anyone who tries to smuggle antiquities abroad with fines or imprisonment of up to three years. Abu Raida indicated that some of the law's provisions are ineffective, in particular those defining fines as a punishment, as the fines are greatly outdated and low. The law also fails to properly regulate private museums. The Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities acknowledges that pieces have been lost to smuggling, but Abu Raida said it is working to recover them and has made contacts with several entities for their recovery. International law criminalizes the sale of antiquities, which are in no way deemed the private property of any citizen, he said. Abu Raida said that economic hardships are not a valid reason for smuggling. This is not a logical justification. Artifacts can only be in the possession of citizens in private museums with the approval of the ministry and for a determined period. They are not the personal property of any citizen who can sell them when in economic distress. He indicated that there are 10 private museums in Gaza that display tens of thousands of artifacts, some of them from the Canaan civilization dating back to 4000 BC. Abu Raida continued, The ministry has stepped up its periodic inspections of private museums" with agents inspecting the pieces and reminding the directors of the agreements they signed. "The agreement prohibits museum owners from selling or destroying any antiquities and requires them to register any antiquities in their possession, whether acquired through excavation or from citizens. If it appears that a museum owner has sold any antiquity, the ministry will confiscate all of the museums pieces. This year, around 1,000 antiquities were confiscated, including precious coins, pottery and ancient swords. He explained that some of the museums existed well before the advent of the Palestinian Authority in 1994. They obtained approval from the ministry to keep the pieces they had until the situation settles in the Gaza Strip and a government-affiliated archaeological museum is established to display them. Abu Raida pointed to the difficulty of building such a museum while the government is unable to allocate the budget required. Walid Al-Akkad, owner of the al-Akkad Museum, told Al-Monitor, I built the museum in my own house in 1970 as I feared Israel would try to loot the Palestinian antiquities. The Israeli army at the time was bulldozing many areas for security reasons. I would often visit the dredged areas to collect destroyed pieces of antiquities. He affirmed all the pieces in the museum are numbered and registered with the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities. I fully cooperate with the ministry and abide by its instructions, he said, though he did admit to purchasing undocumented pieces for the museum. He noted that the oldest pieces at the museum date back to the Canaan era, the oldest civilization in Palestine. Akkad expressed his profound regret that citizens are using economic need as an excuse to smuggle antiquities. I exerted tremendous efforts and spent a lot of money on the museum but I would never think of selling any piece. This would be tantamount to a betrayal of the Palestinian homeland, civilization, history and identity. Whenever I hear that a citizen wants to sell an archeological piece I rush to buy it, he said, adding that prices have now become exorbitant. Akkad rejects the idea of a new law that would limit the role of private museums, saying, Ownership of archeological artifacts by citizens would raise awareness of the need to preserve their heritage. Most Israelis have a special corner in their home for displaying Palestinian heritage artifacts and antiquities, which they claim are part of Israeli heritage. He concluded, Every Palestinian home must have a piece of antiquities as a historical evidence of Palestinian heritage." In this May 8, 2020, photo, Jacks Abby craft brewery employee Casey Mott carries an order to a customer in a car waiting curbside in Framingham. While craft breweries have had to get creative to fill needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, a new law on Gov. Charlie Bakers desk would change the laws around distribution rights for small breweries, giving them more control on which distributors they choose to get their products to the masses. A CALL has been made for a pedestrian crossing to be installed outside a local national school, writes Nick Rabbitts. City East councillor Catherine Slattery, Fianna Fail, wants to see the measures put in place beside the national school in Castleconnell village. At the last metropolitan meeting, she said: I was contacted by a number of parents whose children attend Castleconnell National School in regard to the lack of safety measures outside. There is a busy road, with a sharp bend outside the school. But theres no school warden, no traffic lights and no pedestrian crossing. There are over 300 children attending the school with limited parking outside. Pick-up and drop-off is chaotic and hazardous, she said, calling for the crossing as a matter of urgency. However, Fine Gael councillor Michael Murphy who is based in the village, said he does not feel there is a need for it. Very few walk across the road at the school, he said, saying a pedestrian crossing should be built nearer to Coolbawn Meadows. A publisher has dropped Sen. Josh Hawleys book over his support of a pro-Trump mob that overran the Capitol in Washington, D.C. Simon & Schuster had planned to publish Hawleys book before the violent scenes that President Donald Trump incited Wednesday in protest of a joint session of Congress that would confirm the Electoral College vote recognizing Joe Biden as president-elect. An image of the Republican senator from Missouri, taken by Francis Chung, a photographer for E&E News, went viral as the mob pushed into the Capitol. In the photo, Hawley is seen before the riot, raising a fist in solidarity with Trump supporters. From our Francis Chung, Sen. Josh Hawley greeting protesters in the east side of the Capitol before riots began. pic.twitter.com/I8DjBCDuoP Manuel Quinones (@ManuelQ) January 6, 2021 After witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Simon & Schuster had decided to cancel publication of Senator Josh Hawleys forthcoming book, THE TYRANNY OF BIG TECH, the publishing company said in a statement Thursday. We did not come to this decision lightly. As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints; at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom. Hawley, 41, the junior senator from Missouri, responded to the publishers decision on Twitter, calling the company a woke mob and promising that he would take legal action. The book, in which Hawley was to argue that tech companies like Google, Amazon, Apple and Facebook represent the gravest threat to American liberty since the monopolies of the Gilded Age, was due out in June. This could not be more Orwellian, Hawley said in his statement on Twitter. Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition. Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. Its a direct assault on the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published. This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they dont approve of. I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have. Well see you in court. Like Trump, Hawley has supported the notion that there was widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, despite the lack of any evidence. The president reiterated his unsupported claim about election fraud Wednesday in a video message to supporters who were rioting in the Capitol, breaking windows, defacing government property and causing the evacuation of officials from both sides of the aisle. My statement on the woke mob at @simonschuster pic.twitter.com/pDxtZvz5J0 Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) January 7, 2021 Facebook, Twitter and YouTube deleted Trumps video. Later, Instagram and Facebook banned Trump through the inauguration of Joe Biden (and maybe longer). The social media action followed years of reluctance on the part of tech companies to intervene and prevent Trump from spreading dangerous rhetoric. I know your pain, Trump told his supporters in the video that was viewed millions of times before it was eventually removed from social networks. I know youre hurt. But you have to go home now. He maintained the election was fraudulent. Earlier that day, in a rally speech, Trump had encouraged supporters to march on Pennsylvania Avenue in protest of the election results. He promised to join them, but that never happened. On Thursday, after Congress confirmed the electoral vote, Trump admitted that Biden had won the election, saying there would be an orderly transition on January 20th in a statement posted to Twitter that morning by an aide after Trumps account was suspended Wednesday. When Trumps Twitter suspension was over, his feed shared a video in which he reiterated his endorsement of a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power and called the pro-Trump riot a heinous attack on the United States Capitol. The Student Bar Association of Mizzou Law calls on Senator Hawley to resign for the sake of our state, for the benefit of our country, but most importantly, for the protection of the rule of law. pic.twitter.com/QKdZ9OamAG Mizzou Law Student Bar Association (@MULawSBA) January 7, 2021 Before Simon & Schuster announced its decision about Hawleys book, the Student Bar Association of the University of Missouri School of Law, where the senator formerly taught constitutional law, asked him to immediately resign from office Wednesday after the attempted coup by domestic terrorists who illegally seized the United States Capitol building. In his relentless pursuit of power, Senator Hawley, a Yale-educated attorney, furthered President Trumps baseless election irregularity claims and committed sedition against the United States of America, the group said in a statement. After he first announced an objection to the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens electoral votes, more U.S. senators followed suit. The student association noted the viral photo that documented Hawleys support of the pro-Trump mob, and said that while Hawleys opposition had no chance of succeeding in the face of a fair election, it did spark an insurrection that harmed the country and resulted in the fatal shooting of a Trump supporter and the deaths of several other people including an officer in the Capitol Police. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter. Holcim Philippines releases a new dry mortar 08 January 2021 Holcim Philippines Inc has developed a new multipurpose mortar product that is a dry-mix solution for high-quality walls, floors and tile building projects. Called Holcim Multifix, the product combines sand and cement enhanced with polymer that can be activated by adding water. Multifix is produced in the company's dry-mix plant, removing the need for masons to combine materials on site. Being factory-produced also significantly reduces wastage of building materials such as sand, thus making the product more environmentally-friendly, Holcim noted. The product will be initially available as 25kg bags in select locations in Luzon by December and introduced in Mindanao in the 1Q21. Published under When I was elected to the state House of Representatives two years ago, the people of Bay and Midland counties put their trust in me to represent our legislative districts needs and interests in Lansing. Ive taken that role seriously and with great respect, from day one. Every day that Ive been blessed to serve as your state representative, my top priority has been to represent and serve you and your family and all families in our community. Im grateful and all the more blessed to have been reelected for a second term as your representative, during which I pledge to continue to work hard every day to fulfil my duty to you and your family. When I took on this responsibility, I knew there would be serious challenges and, with your prayers and support, was ready to take them on. When coronavirus swept into our country, state, and community, I worked long days of dozens of Zoom and conference calls to do whatever it took to help bring relief to families, employees, and small business owners who were and are still suffering through no fault of their own. Through it all, 2020 has proven once again that we are a strong and resilient community. Theres nothing we cant handle when we stand and work together. Weve supported each other during the coronavirus pandemic with all its stress and hardships, and then through the additional blow our region suffered when heavy rain resulted in the collapse of the Edenville and Sanford dams in May. Having been personally involved with cleanup efforts, I knew right away that additional funding would be necessary to help flood-damaged communities, businesses, and homeowners recover. Thats why I immediately took action to make sure assistance would be forthcoming. I introduced legislation to allocate $6 million in already-budgeted state disaster relief funding available and worked hard to win other legislators support. In mid-September, the governor signed that funding into law after it received overwhelming bipartisan support in both the state House and Senate. Along with fighting for funds to help our community recover from the dam failures, my colleagues and I have been hard at work addressing the ongoing COVID-19 crisis as well. Just recently, I voted to help provide funding for the distribution of the voluntary COVID-19 vaccine throughout Michigan and to help boost testing, while also helping those whose livelihoods have been disrupted by the virus and economic shutdowns. My colleagues and I approved a $465 million overall plan that extends unemployment benefits while supporting the restaurant industry and the small businesses and families who depend on them. This measure, Senate Bill 748, will next head to Gov. Whitmer for her consideration. Some of the other core accomplishments Ive helped with over the past two years include: The arrival of long-awaited car insurance reforms: All Michigan drivers now have more coverage choices with lower premium costs, thanks to the Republican-led Legislature, plus the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association lowered the fees it assesses on each vehicle. As a result, many drivers are seeing lower rates as they renew their policies. Protecting funding for schools and public services: Its no secret the coronavirus shutdowns created extreme economic difficulties, including for our public schools. Thats why I stood up for our schools and other public services, ensuring they would not suffer financially as a result of the crisis. I introduced legislation, now law, ensuring that our local schools continue to receive the same per-pupil funding for students who enroll for online instruction as they do for students in the classroom. Plus, the K-12 school budget for the fiscal year beginning this past Oct. 1 received tremendous support from House democrats and republicans alike. While it has certainly been a busy two years, Im honored to be your state representative and look forward to doing much more to make life even better for people who live, work, and raise their families in our community. Working together in the new year, we will recover and rebuild from dam failures, a worldwide pandemic, and whatever other challenges may come and well come out stronger than weve ever been before. God bless you and your family, and Happy New Year! Rep. Annette Glenn is a Midland Republican. Bengaluru/Ramanagara, Jan 8 : Karnataka deputy chief minister, C. N. Ashwath Narayana rolled up his sleeves and asked a government hospital nurse to administer him the "first shot" of the vaccine while taking part in a nation-wide Covid-19 vaccination dry-run in different health facilities. The incident took place when Narayana, who is also Ramanagara district in-charge minister, was at the local government hospital, to take stock of how the vaccination dry-run was conducted there. District health officer Niranjan explained to the minister about the procedures such as, each individual after taking vaccination, must stay at least 30 minutes in an exclusive room next to the vaccination ward. The second dry-run of Covid-19 vaccination in the state was held in 263 vaccine session sites across all districts on Friday. It was conducted to assess the state's preparedness at all levels before the actual rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine for 6,35,986 registered healthcare workers in the first phase, said Health and Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar. Sudhakar had said on Thursday that the union government had directed all states to take up Covid-19 vaccination on a campaign mode. The minister also visited some facilities in Bengaluru, where the dry-run was conducted said, arrangements and preparedness were quite good, and the process is being followed as per the guidelines issued. "The first round of the dry-run, an exercise for end- to-end testing of Covid-19 vaccination process was held in five districts of Karnataka - Bengaluru (including BBMP), Belagavi, Kalburgi, Mysore and Shivamogga- on January 2 as per the union government guidelines," he said. This dry-run was held at 24 district hospitals, 20 medical college hospitals, 43 taluk hospitals, 31 community health centres, 87 primary health centres, 30 urban primary health care centers and 28 private health centres, the Minister explained. He added that the union government has provided 24 lakh syringes to the state. "We have 10 walk-in coolers, four walk-in freezers, 3,201 ice-lined refrigerators (ILRs), 3,039 deep freezers, 3,312 cold boxes, 46,591 vaccine carriers and 2,25,749 ice packs. The union government has also provided 64 Large ILRs with the capacity of 225 liters each. An additional two walk-in coolers and one walk-in freezer will be received from the union health ministry soon," he said. The Government has said the payment of any kind of bonus to nurses and midwives is not permitted under the terms of its pay deal for State employees. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has made clear that the awarding of bonuses to nurses and midwives and those on the front lines of the pandemic is not allowed. Before Christmas, there were repeated calls for the Government to give some form of payment to nurses and frontline workers. Student nurses are currently paid 15,056 a year, a staff nurse earns between 30,609 and 47,341 while advanced nurse practitioners can earn up to 72,895. Mr Donnelly said he and his department recognises that healthcare workers play a key role in our national effort against Covid-19. Their determination and commitment to assisting our sick and vulnerable to get the medical treatment they need, has and continues to be, very much appreciated, he said. It should be noted that the pursuit of cost-increasing pay claims are specifically excluded under the terms of the Public Service Stability Agreement [PSSA]. This means that any bonus, including additional pay, is not permitted under the PSSA, he said, in a response to a parliamentary question asked by Fine Gael TD for Dublin Mid-West Emer Higgins. The Department of Public Expenditure confirmed the newly-signed pay deal had no mechanism to allow such payments. Ms Higgins said nurses deserved more than our thanks and our applause. "I have asked the Government to look at how we reward nurses. I have suggested retention bonuses, like what they do in Scotland, and I also raised the idea of giving them extra tax credits, because despite the absolute necessity of their work and the dangers they expose themselves to, their overtime is taxed at the higher rate, she said. Opposition TDs have been highly critical of the Governments refusal to consider any such extraordinary payment. INMO statement on the student nurse and midwife pandemic report tonight. We'll be meeting the Department of Health in the coming days to call on the Minister to do the right thing. pic.twitter.com/OmqToLAG5Y Irish Nurses & Midwives Organisation (@INMO_IRL) January 4, 2021 Brid Smith, Solidarity People Before Profit, said the student nurses should be paid for the hours they do as they were in the first wave of the pandemic. We were told banning evictions was not possible until it was. These people dont want our applause or platitudes any more, she said. BHOPAL: In view of the bird flu outbreak, the Madhya Pradesh government has banned chicken trade with southern states for the next 10 days. "We are keeping an eye on bird flu and have issued the guideline for poultry farms. We have banned the supply of chicken from the southern states to Madhya Pradesh for the next 10 days. We are taking precautions," Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan told media. On January 7, the Madhya Pradesh government ordered the closure of poultry shops in Neemuch and Indore districts for a week after bird flu infection was found among chickens in these areas. Avian influenza or bird flu virus was found in samples of crow carcasses from seven districts and in chicken samples from Neemuch and Indore, said the state veterinary department in an advisory. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, confirmed presence of bird flu virus in the samples of crows from Indore, Neemuch, Dewas, Ujjain, Khandwa, Khargone and Guna districts, it said. In Indore and Neemuch chicken samples also tested positive for the flu strain, it said. The state government has directed authorities in Indore and Neemuch districts to immediately close all poultry shops for the next seven days, it added. They have also been asked to collect samples of migratory birds from near water bodies and send them to Bhopal for testing. In other five districts too, preventive measures should be taken, the advisory said. On Wednesday, the state government had said it would not allow entry to chicken consignments from Kerala and other southern states for the next 10 days as thousands of poultry birds were culled in Kerala to prevent the outbreak of H5N8 virus. Live TV The Centre on Thursday said bird flu has been confirmed only in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh so far, but all states should be prepared for any eventuality. Frost appear on Mau Son Mount in Lang Son Province, January 8, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Thuy Thin. Mountainous areas in the northern highlands were covered in frost Friday as temperatures plunged below zero, prompting local authorities to allow students to stay home. Mount Mau Son in Lang Son Province, 170 kilometers (106 miles) to the northeast of Hanoi, recorded temperatures dropping to minus 2 degrees Celsius (28.4 degrees Fahrenheit) on Friday morning, according to the National Center for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting. At the top of Phia Oac Mountain in Cao Bang Province, temperatures also dropped to minus 1 degree Celsius, with ice appearing at an altitude of 1,400 meters and above. Temperatures in Dong Van Town of Ha Giang plunged to 2 degrees Celsius, and in Sa Pa, a popular tourist town in Lao Cai Province, to 3 degrees Celsius. At a height of 1,500 meters above sea level, Mau Son was the first to be hit by the strong cold front that arrived in Vietnam's northern mountainous region Thursday, and is expected to last until next Wednesday. Hoang Lang Huy, a local resident, said thick frost started appearing on Mau Son on Thursday night."The two-kilometer-long road from a salmon farm to the top of Mau Son is covered in icy frost. This was the first time this winter frost has appeared here," Huy noted. In Meo Vac District of Ha Giang, local residents said frost had also spread across many areas Friday morning. The Red River Delta recorded temperatures as low as 8 degrees Celsius in Bac Giang and 9 degrees Celsius in Hai Duong Province. Temperatures in Hanoi's Ba Vi District plunged to 8 degrees Celsius and in the downtown area to 11 degrees Celsius. Over 800,000 students in Lang Son, Lao Cai, Cao Bang, Hai Duong provinces and the nearby Hai Phong City have been allowed to stay home to avoid the cold grip from Friday. In other northern provinces, school hours will start later than usual while outdoor activities are limited. Hanoi authorities have not issued an official decision on whether to allow students to stay home amid the chilly front, though schools have recommended that parents keep their children home should temperatures drop below 10 degrees Celsius. The center forecast in January-February that northern and central provinces from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue would experience temperatures of 0.5-1 degrees Celsius lower than the average of prior years. In response to the cold conditions, weather forecast centers have been urged to increase their daily weather updates, particularly for ethnic minorities in remote, mountainous regions, and those employed outdoors. Vietnam is expected to experience a colder winter than usual this year as the Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature drops, forming the La Nina phenomenon, weather experts said. The country should expect up to 27 waves of cold air coming from the north this winter, a typical average. The television industry is reeling from the coronavirus just like everyone else, but like the old saying goes, the show must go on. So far, 22% of the staff at Gracedale, the Northampton County-run nursing home, have received the first of two doses of COVID-19 inoculations, according to a news release. And 27% of the residents have received the first dose, the release says. Id hoped those numbers would be higher, but there have been issues with logistics including short notice for vaccine distributions and a four-page disclosure statement which is difficult for some of our residents to fill out, Northampton County Executive Lamont McClure said in the release. Employees got inoculations Dec. 29. Staff and residents at the Upper Nazareth Township nursing home lined up for the second session Jan. 3. At least two more vaccine distributions are scheduled for January. Gracedale staff members are eligible to be reimbursed $750 if they receive both shots for the vaccine. The money comes from residual CARES Act funding to address infection control in nursing homes. This vaccine is new, so we understand why some of our employees may be hesitant to get it, said Gracedale Administrator Jennifer Stewart-King. Were hoping that, as more staff get vaccinated, it will encourage others to do the same. The more people in the facility who are vaccinated, the more lives we can protect and the sooner well be able to bring back volunteers and visitors. McClure said a huge percentage of Pennsylvanias fatalities are in nursing homes, so prevention at these facilities is a key factor in stopping COVID-19s spread. Gracedale was the first nursing home in Pennsylvania to close to volunteers and visitors and the first to install a negative pressure area. The next step is to try and get as many employees and residents vaccinated as possible, McClure said. Logistical issues have stalled the administration of the vaccine across the country. A goal to vaccinate 20 million Americans by the end of 2020 wasnt reached. Only 3 million received it. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Rachel Levine said Monday that the state had administered fewer than half the vaccines it had received. Levine is optimistic efforts will kick into high gear soon. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to Lehighvalleylive.com. Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook. Rebel Wilson lost around 30 kilos during 'year of health' in 2020. From the start, the 40-year-old actress has insisted she still allows herself treats from time to time. And on Friday, the star revealed some of her favourites - which were sent to her in the USA all the way from home in Australia. Only fair: Rebel Wilson (pictured) lost around 30 kilos during 'year of health' in 2020. From the start, the 40-year-old actress has insisted she still allows herself treats from time to time In an Instagram Stories post, Rebel shared a photo of two beloved Aussie snack foods sent to her by a friend. The included Smiths brand chips, in chicken flavour - a popular flavour in Australia, but less often seen in the USA. She also showed off her block of Cadbury dairy milk chocolate in the Snack variety, which features a number of different creme fillings and jelly, including pineapple, strawberry and Turkish delight. Yum! In an Instagram Stories post on Friday, Rebel shared a photo of two of her favourite snack Aussie foods sent to her by a friend. The included Smiths brand chips, in chicken flavour and a block of Cadbury dairy milk chocolate in the Snack variety In her caption, the Isn't It Romantic actress thanked her friend, writing: 'Aussie goodies you legend!' Rebel eased a new gig was 'coming soon' as she broke a sweat in the studio for a shot shared on social media Wednesday afternoon. The actress paid homage to the '80s with a pair of electric lavender leggings and a crop top while pumping iron online. Heating up: Rebel teased a new gig was 'coming soon' as she broke a sweat in the studio for a shot shared on social media Wednesday afternoon Think pink: The 40-year-old actress paid homage to the '80s with a pair of electric lavender leggings and a crop top while pumping iron online The Pitch Perfect star looked ready to workout as she picked up a few barbells in a neon pink gym. She paired a bright orange crop top with high-waisted pink tights while posing on a bench with her weights. Rebel's bright blonde hair was tied up into a tight ponytail with wisps of fringe framing her face. Ready for anything: Rebel practiced a few punches on the bag as she teased something was 'coming soon' to her fans In November, Rebel revealed that she hit her goal with time to spare after spending the better part of the year focused on changing up her routine. 'Hit my goal with one month to spare! Even though it's not about a weight number, it's about being healthy,' she wrote. 'I needed a tangible measurement to have as a goal and that was 75kg.' She admitted that her jet-setting lifestyle lead to poor habits and she was recommitting herself to practicing self care. As we say goodbye to 2020, I know that many of us are still apprehensive about what the next year holds in store for our families, friends, colleagues and our community. The past year was filled with unimaginable challenges, but as I have said before I am so very proud of our community, businesses, and our city of Napa employees for demonstrating the very best of Napa through the upheaval and tragedy of 2020. Despite the surge we are currently facing, we have reason to be hopeful. I am happy to report that some of Napas first responders and health care workers have already received the vaccine, with more doses being distributed every week. Even before the vaccine arrived, our employees were dedicated to finding ways to continue necessary operations, and were creative in finding ways to adapt their work environments so we could continue providing excellent service to our community. Our partners at Napa County Public Health have doggedly fought to provide the tools needed to take care of our residents, and our schools continue to support our children in ways unimaginable just a year ago. I am in constant awe of our community and its ability to persevere and adapt. Weve made incredible strides, from a global level to right here in our homes, to combat the COVID-19 virus and return to life as we once knew it. And while we are getting closer, we cannot relax our efforts just yet. Iran's Supreme Leader said he was banning the purchase of coronavirus vaccines made by U.S. and U.K. companies, limiting the country's options as it confronts the worst outbreak in the Middle East. "The import of American and British vaccines to the country is banned," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a televised speech Friday. "If their Pfizer manufacturer can produce a vaccine, then why do they want to give it to us?" he said. "They should use it themselves so they don't experience so many fatalities. Same with the U.K." Khamenei is a strident critic of the U.S., which under President Donald Trump left the 2015 nuclear deal that had offered Iran a route to economic recovery and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Iranian officials have said the penalties hindered the country's response to the pandemic. The cleric said western drug companies tested vaccines on other countries "to see if they work or not." Khamenei only singled out Pfizer Inc. by name, but the ban would appear to rule out imports of vaccines made by U.K.-based AstraZeneca Plc, as well as U.S. firm Moderna Inc. Iran's Red Crescent Society later announced the cancellation of an existing deal for 150,000 shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine donated by U.S. philanthropists, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, citing an interview with spokesman Mohammad-Hassan Qosian-Moqaddam. He said the Pfizer order had been "provisional," and that the Red Crescent would receive "one million coronavirus vaccines from one of the eastern countries," most likely Russia, China or India. Central bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati said in December that Tehran was in talks with China for a million vaccine doses. Officials have also held discussions with Russia about joint production of its Sputnik V jab. Hemmati had also said Iran hoped to purchase of 16.8 million vaccine doses from the World Health Organization's COVAX facility, after overcoming some of the obstacles created by U.S. sanctions. Iran, which has recorded more than 1.2 million cases of covid-19 and in excess of 55,000 fatalities from the virus, also aims to have a locally developed vaccine available by the summer. It is true that in surveys, people in the North express support for fewer racially biased ideas than those in the South, but such surveys reveal only which biases people confess to, not the ones they subconsciously possess. So I asked the researchers at Project Implicit to run an analysis of their massive data set to see if there were regional differences in pro-white or anti-Black prejudice. The result, which one of the researchers described as slightly surprising, was that there was almost no difference in the level of bias between white people in the South and those in the Northeast or Midwest. (The bias of white people in the West was slightly lower.) Delhi Chief Minister today announced that all travellers coming to Delhi from the United Kingdom to undergo self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival. CM Kejriwal also said," Travellers from UK who test positive for COVID-19 will be put up in isolation facility and travellers from UK testing covid-19 negative on arrival to be put up in quarantine for 7 days, followed by 7-day home isolation," he added. Kejriwal added,"that this has been done "to protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK". To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine pic.twitter.com/hYDsaOn8q1 Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2021 Four more Delhi residents have tested positive for the new coronavirus strain, sources said on Thursday. The total number of people found infected with the mutant variant of COVID-19 that was first detected in the UK now stands at 13. Four more samples sent for genome sequencing have been found positive, as part of the door-to-door medical checkup of people who had recently arrived from the UK and persons who came in their contact in the city, sources said. "So, the total number of people found positive with the new strain, now stands at 13 in Delhi," a source said. The new order will be applicable to all the travellers coming from the till 14 January on a trial basis. Delhi government issued the set of new rules in order to stop the influx of covid-19 cases in the capital. Kejriwal had on Thursday urged the Centre to extend the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom as the country now battles a variant strain of the coronavirus first detected there. Meanwhile, the number of people who have tested positive for the new UK variant of SARS-CoV-2 has climbed to 82 in India, the health ministry said on Friday. The number of such people stood at 73 till January 6, it added. "The total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel coronavirus, first reported in the UK, now stands at 82," the ministry said. All the people who have tested positive for the new variant of the virus were kept in single-room isolation at designated healthcare facilities by the respective state governments, the ministry had earlier said. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. As cryptocurrency pushes into mainstream finance and attracts billionaire tycoons, one UK brokerage is offering the merely wealthy a potentially safer way to play The price: giving up any hope of the kind of stratospheric gains the digital coin is famous for. London-based Marex Spectron Group is selling a structured product known as an autocallable to people with at least $200,000 to invest, according to a term sheet. If the cryptocurrency stays relatively stable for awhile, Marex claims investors could reap an annualised return of as much as 70 per cent via monthly coupons. If keeps multiplying in value, autocallable investors dont get to participate in that upside: theyll just get their capital back early, plus their coupons. And if crashes again as it did three years ago investors would lose, but less than they would by trading Bitcoin directly. The idea that you want to sell out all the upside in order to get a coupon and 30 per cent downside protection seems pretty unintuitive but these kind of structures in general are wildly popular, said Benn Eifert, chief investment officer of hedge fund QVR Advisors. I imagine theyll find demand. Marex Solutions began marketing the autocallables this week, according to Nilesh Jethwa, who heads the division. Marex Spectron, which is active in the commodity and energy markets, is owned by JRJ Group, the private-equity firm of former Lehman Brothers bankers Jeremy Isaacs and Roger Nagioff. Bitcoin is becoming mainstream, said Jethwa. The Marex product is reserved for professional investors and is being distributed via private banks and family offices. The popular autocallable structure gained notoriety about two years ago when Natixis SA lost $200 million on the products in Korea after mismanaging the risks of equity market turmoil. Still, the products are a mainstay of the structured products universe, and attract retail investors, especially in Asia, who have large piles of savings and seek regular income. Bitcoin surpassed $40,000 for the first time on Thursday, before falling to $38,685 at 8:30 am on Friday in London. It has more than quadrupled in the past year, with prominent money managers like Guggenheim Investments Scott Minerd predicting the gains have just started. That kind of return far exceeds what Marexs autocallable can provide. But thats a reasonable trade-off for the reduced downside, Jethwa said. We are transforming the risk from a speculative investment, he said. Investors can decide how much appetite they have for a crash and the yield they want. The development highlights how Bitcoins months-long rally is luring new investors far from its roots in the tech community, day-traders and people of an ideological bent that sought an alternative to conventional currency. Last year, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange started offering options contracts on Bitcoin futures. Hedge funders like Alan Howard are becoming involved in an asset class that was once too fringe for the mainstream, betting that crypto is a gold-like hedge against pandemic-driven loose fiscal and monetary policy debasing fiat currencies. The reason to own Bitcoin is because things like this can always go up a lot more than they can go down, QVRs Eifert said. Theyre quite unlikely to remain stable over any material period of time. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain After the initial excitement following the authorization of the first COVID-19 vaccines, a harsh reality set in. People who want a vaccine can't get it, some counties have more than others and older people are camping out for it the way they once might have for tickets to a Bruce Springsteen concert. All of this would seem to be an indication of supply chain problems or systems breakdowns. In fact, it's more about a shortage of employees to support the supply chains and distributions. Some states are even considering calling up the National Guard. I am an expert on supply chains, and I construct models and algorithms to identify how to enhance their operations as well as to identify their vulnerabilities. Labor problemsand a lack of taking them into accounthave contributed in a major way to these delays. My recent paper studied the effect of labor constraints on supply chains and possible disruptions. It quantifies the effects on product flows, firm costs and consumer prices of changes in labor availability and productivity. From maker to market As countries evolved from agrarian societies, where food and other goods were consumed close to where they were produced, businesses became more complicated and spread out. Supply chains emerged as networks that tie raw material providers with other suppliers, manufacturers and partners, such as warehouse managers and freight service providers. Supply chains are networks with links corresponding to important activities of production, transportation, storage and distribution. Pathways in supply chains carry the flow of products from origin nodes to the destinations. Before the 1990s, supply chains focused on cost, efficiency and speed but were not sufficiently agile to adapt to changing demands as well as possible disruptions. Just-in-time had become the dominant strategy for manufacturers of an immense range of products, from electronics to fast fashion. With COVID-19, manufacturers quickly realized that just-in-time delivery no longer worked. Supply chains, from food to PPEs, medicines and vaccines, have been revolutionized by high technology over the past decade. Examples include using sensors to gauge temperature in cold chains and GPS to track valuable products as they move around the globe. Sophisticated optimization programs ensure that delivery vehicles are routed in the most efficient manner, with packages that you order online arriving at your door within days. Algorithms anticipate your product needs and orders. What the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically revealed is that, without the human element, meatpacking plants cannot function; fresh produce cannot be picked; grocery stores cannot be shelved; PPEs cannot be produced and distributed, and that COVID-19 vaccine production may lack the manpower to ensure product quality and efficacy as well as its distribution. Finally, without health care workers to administer the COVID-19 vaccines, the battle against the coronavirus cannot be won. And many hospitals are already short-staffed because of the pandemic. Including labor in supply chain vulnerability analysis In my work, I investigate how to optimize perishable product supply chains, from blood and food to pharmaceuticals and vaccines, so that needed products are delivered in a timely manner and in good quality and without spoiling. To do this effectively, I calculate the resources that are needed and associated costs. I also investigate what happens if there are insufficient resources, whether the warehouses don't have enough capacity, the supplies needed for production are limited or there are not enough trucks for deliveries. Much of my work also entails mitigation against disasters. We are in the midst of a health care disaster that has adversely affected millions of workers in the United States and around the globe. Much research has been done on identifying critical links in supply chains, inspired, in part, by various natural disasters impacting supply chain activities. But until recently, few researchers have quantified the impacts of labor disruptions on product supply chains, along with the associated costs. This may be due, in part, to the fact that previous supply chain disruptions were localized in terms of both geography and time period. Mitigation and recovery procedures reduced the impacts. Indeed, until the pandemic struck, few people paid much attention to the role of labor in the role of supply chains. And product shortages were few and far between for necessities from toilet paper to cleaning supplies. #Alabama health officer Dr. Scott Harris: "The vaccine is coming...Most of the reasons for [the delay] have been worked out and are behind us. We are going to start adding additional groups of people very soon and will announce that very soon." https://t.co/we4YGfDV86 Gary Dunavant (@Garybham) January 7, 2021 Widespread pandemic In this pandemic, the availability of labor for different supply chain network activities was disrupted due to illness, fear of contagion, morbidity, and the necessity of social and physical distancing. Grocery stores had bare shelves. Produce rotted in the fields since there was insufficient labor to pick and package it. Now vaccines lie fallow, while time is running out, since there are not a sufficient number of health care workers to administer them. Furthermore, with the additional stresses and uncertainty placed on labor, the workers' productivity suffered, some company leaders noted. It is estimated that disruptions to the labor force in fruit and vegetable production alone will cause millions of dollars in lost production, with the heaviest losses concentrated in large fruit and vegetableproducing states. By mid-September, more than 42,534 workers at meatpacking plants had contracted the coronavirus, and over 203 had died. COVID-19 cases had been identified in at least 494 meatpacking plants. Due to shortfalls in labor, competition among companies and organizations has also become an issue, with some nurses traveling thousands of miles to assist with COVID-19 patients. This has also resulted in increases in prices for labor with, for example, some traveling nurses getting paid as much as US$10,000 per week. How workers are crucial to supply chains I wanted to look at this in more depth, by quantifying the explicit inclusion of labor, its productivity and possible reallocations in the pandemic. To do so, I constructed computer-based models for product supply chains that are perishable, such as those for food, pharmaceuticals and vaccines. I also investigated the impacts of competition among organizations for labor. The studies, currently in press, reveal the benefits of sharing workers as well as having labor reallocated to different supply chain network activities, as the needs arise. Proper training of workers may allow for greater mobility of labor across distinct supply chains. This has has been happening in Europe, where certain airline workers are being retrained to work in health care. Relaxing constraints on labor, so that they can engage in other supply chain activities as needed, can have immense positive effects on product flows and even firms' profits. On the other hand, a labor shortage in a single link, be it in freight, storage, manufacturing or processing, can result in a big decrease in product availability. Until the days that supply chains are fully computerized and automated, labor will continue to be an essential resource that must be nurtured and supported. Getting through this pandemic will depend on labor as a critical resource in supply chains. Explore further How the pandemic revealed cracks in global supply chains This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. New Delhi, Jan 8 : With the Covid-19 vaccination drive expected to commence next week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to chair a meeting with the Chief Ministers of all the states. The meeting is likely to be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, said sources. In the meeting, the Prime Minister is expected to discuss the detailed plans to roll Covid vaccines in all the states, following the Drug Controller General India's (DCGI) approval for the restricted emergency use of two vaccines Serum Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The information comes on a day when Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan announced that the government is in the process of ensuring vaccination for all and the drive will start soon. On January 3, two intramuscular vaccines - Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India - were approved for restricted emergency use. Both are two-dose vaccines. Covishield is over 70 per cent effective, while Covaxin is currently in the Phase 3 trials but is "safe and provides a robust immune response", the drug regulator had said last week. While the full efficacy of Covaxin is yet to be determined, it was given go-ahead by the DCGI citing 'public interest'. Covaxin is an indigenously developed vaccine by Bharat Biotech, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Today, leading Black-owned independent content platform REVOLT, owned by Sean Diddy Combs, announced the second season of Drip Report feat. Weavahman Jim, the platforms short-form series hosted by rapper, record executive and director Jim Jones. Hosted by Weavahman Jim Jones, Drip Report is a lighthearted weekend weather forecast that dives into the latest news and trending topics in Hip Hop, urban culture, streetwear and more. After an extremely successful first season, the show will continue its weekend broadcasts airing on REVOLT and REVOLT digital platforms beginning on Friday, January 8th. REVOLT is where the most influential names in Hip Hop and their ideas live. We go beyond force-fitting talent into pre-defined roles by collaborating with artists to develop bespoke, original content that fuels Hip Hops passion points, said Detavio Samuels, Co-Head & COO of REVOLT. We are excited to continue our partnership with Jim on Drip Report as its a proven must-see for both audiences. With the series renewal, REVOLT continues to carry out its mission in providing a platform for music artists to amplify their content while opening up dialogues about important cultural topics. The shows popularity continues to gain recognition across all industries and is currently sponsored by McDonalds. REVOLT continues to air its one-of-a-kind broadcasts with the return of The Breakfast Club, the leading syndicated morning show hosted by top personalities DJ Envy, Angela Yee, and Charlamagne Tha God, set to closely follow in January 2021. REVOLT has provided me with an incredible opportunity to open up the world of Hip Hop and influence a national audience, said Jim Jones, American rapper and host of Drip Report. Im excited to continue taking the stage and sharing great content on the second season of Drip Report. For more information on REVOLT, please visit https://www.revolt.tv/. ABOUT REVOLT MEDIA & TV REVOLT is unapologetically Hip Hop, leading and living Hip Hop culture. REVOLT is the voice of the culture across platforms, engaging Millennial and Gen Z audiences, on REVOLT.tv, across social, TV and live events, through original and live content. Attracting over 50 million young people, REVOLT is accessible 24/7 on digital, TV and on demand. Founded by Sean Diddy Combs, REVOLT launched in broadcast in October 2013 and is available on DIRECTV, AT&T U-verse TV, Charter Spectrum, Comcast Xfinity, Verizon FiOS, CenturyLink, Altice/Suddenlink, Frontier Communications, Comporium and Cincinnati Bell, Atlantic Broadband, Hotwire, as well as OTT platforms DIRECTV Now, Sling TV, Fubo TV and Philo TV. REVOLT is also available internationally in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Barbados, Nevis, Anguilla, Monserrat, Bermuda, Aruba, St. Maartens, Trinidad and the U.S.V.I. Check local listings at https://revolt.tv/listings. ### (Newser) The UK variant of the coronavirus may not be the only new strain to be concerned about. The White House coronavirus task force has told states that the US might have its own new strain that's 50% more transmissible. That would partly explain the current surge in cases, the task force said; the rate of new infections is almost twice what it was last spring and summer, CNBC reports. "This acceleration suggests there may be a USA variant that has evolved here, in addition to the UK variant that is already spreading in our communities," the report said. "Aggressive mitigation must be used to match a more aggressive virus." story continues below The CDC has reported at least 52 instances of the UK variant in the US. "I would be surprised if that doesnt grow pretty rapidly," the director of the National Institutes of Health said, per the Washington Post. A CDC official said, "We're definitely taking this seriously, and were assuming for now that this variant is more transmissible." Health experts still expect the existing vaccines to work against all the newly discovered variants. But the CDC report to the states warned that "without uniform implementation of effective face masking (two or three ply and well-fitting) and strict social distancing, epidemics could quickly worsen as these variants spread and become predominant." (Read more coronavirus stories.) San Francisco, Jan 8 : Facing the ire of the Donald Trump administration, Chinese short-video making platform TikTok has removed videos of President Trumps speech inciting supporters to mob the US Capitol, stressing these violate the misinformation policy. "Hateful behaviour and violence have no place on TikTok. Content or accounts that seek to incite, glorify, or promote violence violate our Community Guidelines and will be removed," the company said in a statement on Thursday. According to a report in TechCrunch, TikTok will still let people post "counter speech" videos that dispute incorrect claims. TikTok said it was also blocking hashtags related to the riots, such as #stormthecapitol and #patriotparty. The Donald Trump administration in the US late last month appealed against a federal judge's order that blocked restrictions on TikTok from taking effect in the country. The appeal was filed against the December 7 order by US District Judge Carl Nichols which blocked the US Commerce Department from putting restrictions that it had planned to impose on the short video-sharing platform owned by Chinese unicorn ByteDance. The order came in response to a challenge to the Trump administration's executive order on August 6 that would have barred US companies from doing transactions with ByteDance. TikTok has joined other social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter in restricting Trump messages after the Capitol chaos. Facebook announced on Thursday that the restrictions on Trump account will continue till the end of his term on January 20. It remains to be seen the future course of Twitter, which had also temporarily blocked Trump from further posting after his supporters violently stormed the Capitol building in Washington D.C. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text HCM City to spend US$2.3 million to repair HCM City-Trung Luong expressway. HCM City will spend VN55 billion (US$2.3 million) to maintain and repair the HCM City-Trung Luong expressway. HCM City will spend an additional VN55 billion (US$2.3 million) to repair and maintain the HCM City-Trung Luong expressway. Nguyen Van Thanh, head of the Department of Road Management No 4, said that recently the city had spent VN22 billion to repair a section of the expressway. In April, the department would spend more VN55 billion to continue the work. After more than 10 years of operation, the expressway has deteriorated because of severe cracks caused by container trucks. The expressway is a key connection between HCM City and the Cuu Long Delta region. It passes through HCM City, Long An and Tien Giang, shortening the travelling time from the biggest city in the southern region to Tien Giang by two thirds, down to 30 minutes from 90 minutes before. Although the expressway is regularly maintained, there are still a number of deteriorated sections that make travelling difficult. Nguyen The Hung, a driver from Ben Tre Province, said that normally it took only 30 minutes to travel on the expressway, but now due to deterioration, it would take 60 minutes. Top doctors discuss two elderly COVID-19 patients in serious conditions Leading medical experts from major institutions across Viet Nam on Thursday held a telemedicine meeting to discuss the conditions of two seriously ill COVID-19 patients currently in treatment in Ha Noi and Quang Nam. Viet Nam COVID-19 Patient No.1,465, 61-year-old woman, a returnee from the US on December 21, tested positive on December 31 and is currently at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases in Ha Noi. She had undergone a thyroid lobectomy before. On December 26, the patient reported fatigue and on subsequent days, her condition worsened, with trembling legs and hands, and suffered a loss of appetite. She is currently on a ventilator and sedatives. At the meeting, doctors at the National Hospital for Tropical Diseases asked for consultation on treatment for her hypothyroidism, muscle weakness, frequent chills, hypothermia, cytokines storm, signs of heart failure and pulmonary embolism, and proposed the use of plasma from recovered COVID-19 patients. The expert panel said the hospitals doctors should consider running dialysis and even Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), continue with the administration of the anti-viral drugs remsidivir, and beef up staff taking care of the patient. Quang Nam Central General Hospital reported the acute case of a 74-year-old male (Viet Nam's Patient 1,405), also returning from the US, with a history of chronic hepatitis B, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes and has been in the hospital for a month now. He was admitted to the hospital on December 7 after coughing up blood, a day after he landed at a Nang International Airport and was moved to a quarantine facility in the central province of Quang Nam. His COVID-19 test results came back negative on December 7, 8, and 10, but the fourth test was positive on December 14. Currently the patient is awake and conscious, but suffers from a bloated stomach, pneumonia caused by superinfection of SARS-CoV-2, gastrointestinal bleeding, and progressing liver failure. The medical expert panel said the hospitals treatment plan is going in the right direction for a seriously ill patient with numerous underlying conditions. The patient has shown positive progress but the prognosis remains poor, the panel concurred, asking the hospital to continue monitoring his condition and they would provide further consultation when needed. As of Thursday morning, Viet Nam has logged a total of 1,505 COVID-19 cases, with 1,353 recoveries and 35 deaths, making it one of the countries reporting the lowest infection and death rate. Four imported cases of COVID-19 recorded on January 7 Four new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed during the past 24 hours to 6pm on January 7, all Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad and being quarantined, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The new cases brought the national tally to 1,509, including 693 locally-transmitted cases. The number of recovered patients reached 1,353, while fatalities remain at 35. Among patients under treatment, 14 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, six twice and seven thrice. A total of 19,392 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-affected regions are staying in quarantine nationwide. Meanwhile, the numbers of COVID-19 infections are still rising in several Southeast Asian countries. Also on January 7, Indonesia confirmed 9,321 new cases, the highest daily so far, raising the national count to 797,723. An additional 224 COVID-19 deaths were recorded the same day, taking the total fatalities from the disease to 23,520. Malaysia also reported the highest daily cases since the pandemic started in the country, at 3,027. The Philippines said COVID-19 cases in the country have surpassed 482,000 after 1,353 cases were detected on January 7. The fatalities also increased by nine to 9,356. Though the country has yet to detect any infection of the new variants of the coronavirus, the Philippines has restricted travelling to and from 27 countries and territories until January 15. Meanwhile, Thailand reported 305 new cases and one more death on January 7. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country now reached 9,636 with 67 deaths./. Woman faces fine for hand-free driving A young woman in Quang Ngai Province has been fined over VND7.4m (USD319) after performing a hand dance while driving a motorbike. The woman was fined after a 29-second clip about her driving was posted on the internet. In the clip, she didn't wear a helmet and performed a hand dance, and joked with her friends nearby while driving a motorbike on Thach Bich Bridge, Le Hong Phong Ward. Many people have shown anger at her reckless behaviour. On January 6, the police in Quang Ngai said they had received reports and dealt with the case. The woman was born in 1999 in Quang Ngai. She admitted to violating traffic regulations while driving on January 2. The clip was recorded by her friends. She was fined VND7.4m and had her driving licence suspended for three months for not wearing a helmet, driving hand-free and not having the required side mirrors for motorbike. HCMC asks Transport Ministry for help with infrastructure projects The HCMC Department of Transport has written to the Ministry of Transport asking for help in getting rid of obstacles facing some traffic infrastructure projects in the city. Despite its potential for economic development, the southern key economic zone has faced restrictions and difficulties such as a slowdown in growth, out-of-sync infrastructure, mainly traffic infrastructure, and lack of a regional connection, according to the municipal department. To optimize HCMC's and the zones advantages and strengths in the 2021-2025 period, it is necessary to prioritize the development of key ring roads 3 and 4, expand the HCMC-Long Thanh-Dau Giay expressway and dredge the Soai Rap waterway. These projects have lagged behind schedule due to several obstacles. The municipal department proposed that the minister of transport hold a meeting with the relevant ministries and local authorities to promptly eliminate the obstacles and difficulties, and contribute to speeding up work on these traffic infrastructure projects. Besides, the department told the ministry to give directives on funds for the projects. Over the past few months, HCMC and some provinces of the southern key economic region, including Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Long An, Tay Ninh, Ba Ria-Vung Tau and Binh Phuoc, have proposed the Government consider developing traffic infrastructure as soon as possible. The prime minister had earlier listed ring roads 3 and 4 as the national key projects to be prioritized for construction in the 2021-2025 period, Thanh Nien Online reported. The southern key economic zone is the countrys most dynamic economic zone, accounting for 45.4% of Vietnams gross domestic product. Hanoi, Hai Phong intensify COVID-19 prevention measures Hanoi authorities have issued an urgent dispatch on strengthening COVID-19 prevention and control, while the northern port city of Hai Phong has held a meeting for the same purpose. Chairman of the capital Peoples Committee Chu Ngoc Anh signed the dispatch on January 6. It was delivered to heads of the municipal departments, sectors, and localities at all levels. The dispatch has urged sides involved to carry out better communications work to encourage people to wear masks, avoid mass gatherings, and fill up heath declarations when needed, among others. The Hanoi Department of Health is tasked with quickly handling any problems arisen and closely monitoring COVID-19-related situations in the community. Local police units are assigned to focus on preventing illegal entries and punishing violators of regulations on pandemic prevention and control, while the capital Military High Command is requested to work closely with the health department and local administrations in tightly managing concentrated quarantine sites. Also on January 6, the Hai Phong steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control held a meeting to intensify its work and honour 33 medical staff, who volunteered to go to Da Nang to support the central city during its outbreak last year./. Cho Ray Hospital successfully applies new technique in bone surgery The 3D honeycomb-shaped titanium alloy piece which is successfully transplanted into the leg of a patient suffering from bone cancer from Quang Ngai by HCM City's Cho Ray Hospital. Doctors at Cho Ray Hospital in HCM City successfully performed surgery to replace a segment of tibia in the leg of a patient suffering from bone cancer with a 3D honeycomb-shaped titanium alloy piece. According to Le Van Tuan, head of the orthopaedic trauma department at the hospital, this is a completely new technique and was successfully applied for the first time at Cho Ray Hospital in particular and in Vietnam in general. In 2019, a 33-year-old man from central Quang Ngai province had surgery at the hospital to remove a tumour growing on his left tibia, which resulted in him having limited movement in the knee. The surgery, however, left him with a gap of about 11cm in the tibia. To avoid any risk and inconvenience from conventional surgery, doctors decided to use a 3D honeycomb-shaped titanium alloy piece to replace the tibial segment. Just four days after surgery, the patient was able to stand and practice walking. He is expected to be able to walk normally after 5-6 months. Tuan said that the advantage of this technology is that the piece is created to fit into the missing bone. The honeycomb holes also lead bone cells to multiply and develop, gradually turning the piece into a part of the body that is not rejected, as is usually the case with metals, he added./. 1.7 million blood units donated in 2020 The Steering Committee for Voluntary Blood Donation said it had received approximately 1.7 million units of blood in 2020, which helped millions of patients, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount of blood units donated in 2020 mostly fulfilled the annual plan. The majority of blood units were donated by volunteers, equivalent to nearly 1.5 per cent of the population. Half of the donors donated their blood more than once. Blood was collected from the Lunar New Year Blood Donation Campaign, Red Spring Festival, Red Blood Drops Summer, and the Red Journey Programme. The amount of blood has helped cure patients who needed blood transfusions as the blood bank went dry when donors feared the coronavirus and stopped going to hospitals for blood donation. 2020s blood units have increased compared to the figure in 2019. In 2019, more than 1.6 million blood units were donated. The committee targets to collect more than 1.7 million units of blood this year. Two Korean language centres founded in Vietnam Sejong Korean Language Foundation have announced the establishment of two Korean language centres in the northeast province of Thai Nguyen and Can Tho, the biggest city of the Mekong Delta in southern Vietnam. Both locations, known as Thai Nguyen and Can Tho 2, have been set up following a co-operation agreement reached between Sejong Korean Language Foundation and Korean agencies, and will be operated by the Korea Center for United Nations Human Rights Policy (KOCUN). The main aim behind the Can Tho 2 centre is to teach Korean to Vietnamese women who are married to Korean men and who have subsequently returned to the nation. The new facilities will help to promote both Korean language and culture among those in need in Vietnamese localities. HCM City to host first traditional Japanese doll exhibition The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam is poised to put on an exhibition for traditional Japanese dolls at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts from January 8 to January 27. The exhibition, the first of its kind in HCM City, will feature a total of 32 traditional dolls which depict the gracefulness of Japanese girls wearing a traditional kimono dress, in addition to popular characters from Noh and Kabuki plays which are native of Japan. Furthermore, guests will be able to view clay dolls and royal dolls on display at the event. Visitors will also receive some free Japanese dolls which are folded by Origami art as special gifts on the opening day of the exhibition on January 8. Entrance to the function will be free, with the exhibition scheduled to last through to January 27. Culture-Tourism Village to host cultural activities welcoming spring With the theme "Welcoming Spring in the highlands", activities in January 2021 at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in the Dong Mo tourism area of Son Tay Town, Hanoi, will introduce the atmosphere of welcoming the New Year, with traditional rituals, customs and cultural values of the ethnic groups in the village. The highlight activity in January 2021 is the Dieu Xoe Ngay Xuan (a traditional dance of Thai ethnic people in spring day) programme, which introduces folk games of ethnic groups in the Northern in spring. Visitors will be invited to take part in folk games such as Con (cloth ball) throwing, blindfolded pot smashing, sack races and hopscotch while enjoying traditional spring songs and dances. On this occasion, the Go Ro Festival of the Kho Mu ethnic group of Tuong Duong District, Nghe An Province, will reappear. Traditionally, at the end of the year, each Kho Mu Village family buys a pot of wine to prepare for the spring festival, to celebrate the New Year. Traditional cultural practices by Muong, Thai, Dao, Kho Mu and Mong ethnic people will also be introduced to visitors on the occasion. Thanh Hoa to stop receiving, quarantining returnees from overseas As a huge number of people returning home for the upcoming Lunar New Year could pose a challenge to the efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19, Thanh Hoa Province has decided to stop receiving and quarantining people returning from overseas starting January 10, said a local health official. The decision was included in a statement of the leader of the province regarding the Covid-19 infection prevention and control before, during and after the Lunar New Year, according to Trinh Huu Hung, director of the provincial Health Department, reported VnExpress. However, when quarantine centers in this north-central province will resume operations remains unknown. As for foreign experts, highly-skilled employees, investors and business executives arriving in Thanh Hoa, the north-central province still receives and quarantines them, but it will tighten control over their entry, transport, quarantine and residence process. Earlier, between December 1 and 15, the province had stopped receiving and quarantining those returning from overseas. According to the same statement, a risk of community transmission in the country, especially in Thanh Hoa, could remain high as the holiday draws near. The risk could be mainly triggered by those who violate quarantine regulations and enter Vietnam illegally. As of January 4, the province was quarantining over 500 people, mainly at hotels. It also set up 99 quarantine facilities which can accommodate over 10,000 quarantinees. HCMC tightens Covid-19 infection control at seaports Officers look at a screen that monitors activities at HCMCs Cat Lai Port PHOTO: COURTESY OF HCMC CENTER FOR DISEASES CONTROL The HCMC Department of Health has asked the Maritime Administration of HCMC to continue coordinating with the Center for International Health Quarantine and relevant agencies to tighten Covid-19 infection prevention and control at the citys seaports. The captains of all vessels have been told to commit to complying with regulations on Covid-19 infection prevention and control. The relevant agencies must ensure that the captains and sailors of foreign ships are fully informed about Vietnams regulations on Covid-19 infection prevention and control and the related guidance of the Ministry of Health. They must ensure the crews compliance with regulations and the captains must take responsibility if their sailors violate the rules. The HCMC Department of Health asked the HCMC Border Guards to work with relevant agencies to tighten control over people going through the citys seaports. They will also increase the inspection of ships whose sailors have contact with foreign ships docked at the citys seaports. The captains would face strict sanctions if they let their sailors go ashore illegally. Gathering in HCM City celebrates Cubas 62nd National Day The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations held a get-together on January 6 to mark the 62nd anniversary of Cubas National Day (January 1, 1959 - 2021). Congratulating Cuba on the event, President of the union Truong Thi Hien said the amity between Vietnam and Cuba, despite the ups and downs, has been tightened over the course of half a century. She said the two nations solidarity, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation have been continually consolidated and fostered across all fields, with encouraging outcomes. Hien noted that the union and the municipal Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association will continue working closely with the Cuban Consulate General in HCM City in organising friendship, cultural, and exchange activities to further connect the two countries' people. Cuban Consul General Indira Lopez Arguelles took the occasion to share the achievements made by the Cuban Government and people in their national construction, protection and development. The diplomat affirmed that no matter the circumstances, Cuba always stands side-by-side with Vietnam and spares no effort to sustain and enhance the bilateral solidarity and amity./. Vietnam Airlines asks passengers to fill in compulsory health declaration At Tan Son Nhat airport National flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has requested passengers on domestic flights to fill in compulsory health declaration within 24 hours before departure, given rising travel demand during the Lunar New Year festival 2021 and amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Passengers could file in declaration via the website tokhaiyte.vn or the app Vietnam Health Declaration on CH Play on Android or iOS operating systems. The airline staff will check passengers QR codes before they board flights. At Noi Bai, Tan Son Nhat, Da Nang, Cam Ranh international airports, Vietnam Airlines also arranged check-in kiosks or staff to offer guidance to passengers. Further information could be found on the website www.vietnamairlines.com or www.facebook.com/VietnamAirlines, Vietnam Airlines ticket agents nationwide or customer care hotline 19001100./. PM urges health sector to develop specific action plans Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has requested the Ministry of Health to develop specific action plans for the following years in line with goals and visions set by the upcoming 13th National Party Congress. He made the call during the National Health Conference in Hanoi on January 6 which reviewed the sectors performance last year and mapped out tasks for this year. 2020 was an unforgettable year for the health sector during which medical workers in the frontline of the fight against COVID-19, undeterred by hardships, have devoted themselves to protecting peoples lives and well-being and to the nations socio-economic development at large, he said. Vietnam has successfully fulfilled the dual goals of containing the pandemic and maintaining positive economic growth and thats thanks to the participation of medical workers, military and police officers in the COVID-19 response, the leader added. The PM took the occasion to thank doctors, nurses and other frontliners at quarantine facilities and health care establishments who have worked relentlessly and tirelessly over the past year to keep Vietnam safe from the novel coronavirus. He later ordered the health sector, together with military and police forces, to continue stay vigilant against the pandemic, saying they must neither let their guard down nor allow the COVID-19 outbreak to resurge in the country. He also asked the Ministry of Health to ensure decent medical services for the 13th National Party Congress slated for the end of this month. Speaking at the event, UNDP Representative in Vietnam Caitlin Wiesen hailed what Vietnam has achieved last year, saying it has been an impressive year of accomplishment for Vietnam. Last year, Vietnam for the first time entered the group of high human development countries according to UNDPs Global Human Development Report, she said, adding that the countrys life expectancy at birth and healthy life expectancy scores are now better than the average of the high human development group. She went on to say Vietnam has emerged as a leading country in containing the pandemic and one of the few countries to record positive economic growth in 2020 and Vietnams success in achieving the twin goals of containing the pandemic and reviving the economy, has shown that giving priority to protecting the lives of people is also the best way to sustain economic activity during the pandemic. Vietnams exemplary response to the COVID-19 pandemic largely depended on swift and effective Government action combined with the trust and willingness of citizens to contribute to the Governments preventive and protective measures. Vietnam offers to the world lessons learnt from this success in terms of transparency, accountability, social cohesion and innovation. She cited a UNDP report on citizen opinions on the Governments response to the COVID-19 pandemic shows peoples strong consensus and support for the governments policies and actions. More than 97 percent of respondents assessed the leadership of the National Steering Committee on COVID-19 Prevention and Control as good or very good./. Indonesia imposes travel restriction to curb COVID-19 The Indonesian Government on January 6 decided to impose travel restriction from January 11-25, especially on Java and Bali islands amid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing an online meeting chaired by President Joko Widodo, Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto said the government will closely track the 3M campaign of wearing masks, keeping distance and washing hands as well as launch a nationwide vaccination programme against the virus. Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin pledged to complete the COVID-19 vaccination programme within 12 months. Earlier, the vaccination programme for 181 million people was planned to be completed within 15 months. The first vaccination stage for 1.6 million medical staff is scheduled to be launched on January 13 and completed in January or February. The next stage scheduled for March or April will be for 17.4 million public service staff and 21.5 million senior citizens across the country. Also on January 6, Indonesia recorded over 8,800 new infection cases, the highest so far, raising the total to 788,402. There were 187 new deaths, bringing the fatalities to 23,296./. Quang Nam to provide housing support to disaster-hit households The central province of Quang Nam will use the majority of assistance from localities and donors to build or repair the houses of those hit by natural disasters. The province has so far received nearly 129 billion VND (5.61 million USD) in registered assistance from localities, organisations, and donors inside and outside of the country through the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Committee to help those hit by natural disasters. Some 103.6 billion VND has been sent to the provincial VFF Committees bank account, along with 3.2 billion VND worth of goods sent to the province. Of the total, more than 57 billion VND has been allocated to localities to help local residents recover from natural disasters, including 23 billion VND to build 572 new houses and 25.7 billion VND to repair 2,392 houses. The province is focusing on speeding up the construction or repair of houses in ethnic minority or mountainous areas, so they may have a roof over their heads by Tet, the Lunar New Year. With the remainder, the provincial VFF will rebuild 81 houses destroyed by natural disasters in Phuoc Son and Nam Tra My districts. Resources will also be used to upgrade housing for people in areas suffering from regular natural disasters, to provide them with stable and safe accommodation./. Co Loa arrowhead mould collection recognised as national treasure A collection of arrowhead moulds preserved at the Co Loa ancient citadel site in Hanois Dong Anh district has been recognised as a national treasure. The three-piece stone moulds, unearthed during an excavation at the relic site between 2004 and 2007, date back to the Dong Son culture (c. 5th-1st century BC) - a Bronze Age culture in ancient Vietnam centred in the norths Red River Delta. The moulds are evidence of the moulding practice of bronze arrowheads in Co Loa thousands of years ago. Co Loa citadel was built during the end of the Hong Bang Dynasty (c. 257 BC), about 20km to the north of Hanois centre. It was a place of worship for King An Duong Vuong and Princess My Chau, who are mentioned in legends passed down through generations. According to folklore, An Duong Vuong founded the ancient Vietnamese state of Au Lac and chose Co Loa as its capital. Recognition of the collection comes under Prime Minister Decision No 2283 accrediting 24 items as national treasures. The capital has three on the list, while other items belong to cities and provinces such as Quang Ninh, Quang Ngai, An Giang, Da Nang, Hung Yen, Hai Phong, Ninh Thuan, Binh Dinh, Bac Ninh and Bac Giang. Vietnam now has 215 national treasures./. Gathering in HCM City celebrates Cubas 62nd National Day The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations held a get-together on January 6 to mark the 62nd anniversary of Cubas National Day (January 1, 1959 - 2021). Congratulating Cuba on the event, President of the union Truong Thi Hien said the amity between Vietnam and Cuba, despite the ups and downs, has been tightened over the course of half a century. She said the two nations solidarity, traditional friendship, and comprehensive cooperation have been continually consolidated and fostered across all fields, with encouraging outcomes. Hien noted that the union and the municipal Vietnam-Cuba Friendship Association will continue working closely with the Cuban Consulate General in HCM City in organising friendship, cultural, and exchange activities to further connect the two countries' people. Cuban Consul General Indira Lopez Arguelles took the occasion to share the achievements made by the Cuban Government and people in their national construction, protection and development. The diplomat affirmed that no matter the circumstances, Cuba always stands side-by-side with Vietnam and spares no effort to sustain and enhance the bilateral solidarity and amity./. Thailand to offer financial support to 40 million COVID-19 affected people Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has said that the country will give financial support to 40 million people who have lost their income due to impacts of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control measures. Under the Emergency Decree, the authorities have classified 28 localities as "red zones" until February 1, which means some high-risk business sectors are suspended and many others are restricted, including catering services. In a press briefing on January 5, the Thai PM did not reveal benefited groups or support forms, but he affirmed that the government has enough money to help those affected. Earlier in last May, the Thai government launched an urgent loan package worth 1 trillion baht (33 billion USD), including 600 billion baht to support people and businesses affected by COVID-19./. Malaysia: Flooding prompts over 28,000 to evacuate More than 28,000 people in Malaysia have had to evacuate due to serious floods. Flooding hits the country's east coast during the rainy season annually and often results in mass evacuations, but people in some areas said this year's are the worst in decades. The worst-hit state is Pahang, where over 21,000 have been evacuated in recent days, according to the social welfare department. Four deaths have so far been reported in the states of Pahang and Johor. This year's floods come against the backdrop of a worsening coronavirus outbreak in Malaysia, with some fearful they could be exposed to COVID-19 in crowded relief centres. The government insists it has taken steps to prevent the virus spreading, including ordering officials to screen evacuated villagers./. My Tho urban agriculture improves with advanced techniques, some farmers grow wealthy The use of advanced farming techniques in Tien Giang Provinces My Tho City has improved agricultural production value as well as farmers' incomes. The Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta city has six outlying agrarian communes Tan My Chanh, ao Thanh, Trung An, Phuoc Thanh, Thoi Son and My Phong. Previously, the communes mostly grew high quality rice and farmers had unstable incomes. To improve the quality of life, the citys Peoples Committee restructured agriculture towards urban agriculture and switched from growing rice to other high-value crops in 2010. The city has encouraged the use of advanced farming techniques to improve the quality and yield of agricultural products as well as linkages among stakeholders to secure outlets for goods. Duong Van Vy switched from growing rice into growing green-skin and pink-flesh grapefruit on his 6,000sq.m field in My Phong Communes My Luong Hamlet in 2012. His grapefruit orchard has 300 trees and produces 20 tonnes of grapefruit a year and offers a profit of more than VN500 million (US$21,560), he said. My Phong Commune, which has more than 300ha of green-pink and pink-flesh grapefruit, has one of the citys major grapefruit growing areas. The fruit is in high demand locally and abroad for its delicious taste. In Tan My Chanh Commune, authorities have identified a number of key agricultural products: flowers and ornamental plants, green-skin and pink-flesh grapefruit, xiem o coconut (a type of coconut grown for juice for drinking), red-flesh dragon fruit, cows, pigs, chicken and goats. The development of flower and ornamental plant cultivation has helped many farmers have a stable income and become wealthy. inh Ngoc Tung, head of the citys Economic Bureau, said the citys outlying communes are expanding the cultivation of flowers and ornamental plants for Tet (Lunar New Year) festival. The city has also set up co-operative groups for flowers and ornamental plant growers in My Phong and Tan My Chanh communes and clubs for growers of flowers and orchids in My Phong, Tan My Chanh and ao Thanh communes. Farmers in co-operative groups and clubs are instructed in techniques in how to grow flowers and ornamental plants according to good agricultural practices (GAP) standards. The My Phong Commune flower and ornamental plant co-operative group has nearly 180 members, with 30 ha of flower and ornamental plants. The group supplies about 800,000 flower pots for each Tet. Farmers who grow flowers and ornamental plants can earn a profit of VN360 million ($15,500) per hectare a year. The city sells its flowers and ornamental plants in the province and the southern region, especially in HCM City. The city's outlying communes have expanded farming models that apply advanced techniques suited to urban agriculture. The models include cultivation of honeydew melon, vegetables, and other short - term crops in poly greenhouses and net houses. Chau Van Tuan in Tan My Chanh Commune invested VN700 million ($30,250) to build two 1,000sq.m poly greenhouses for four to five crops of honeydew melon a year. He harvests nearly 6 tonnes of honeydew melon per crop and earns a profit of dozens of millions of ong. He learned about the model through the province's Department of Science and Technology's Techniques and Biotechnology Centre. Vuong Thi My Thanh, deputy director of the centre, said drip irrigation systems are used and that a honeydew melon crop planted in a poly greenhouse lasts 75 days. A 4,000 sq.m poly greenhouse can produce about 1 tonne of honeydew melon per crop, offering a profit of VN11 million ($475), she said. The province has about 80 poly greenhouses covering 500 - 1,000sq.m each for growing honeydew melon and vegetables, according to the department. Nguyen Thanh Cong, chairman of the city's People's Committee, said the expansion of advanced farming models has helped farmers in outlying areas escape poverty and have higher and sustainable incomes. The expansion has contributed to the success of the programme of building new rural areas in the city, he said. The city's communes have all been officially recognised as new - style rural areas. In 2011, the city had 3,7000ha of rice fields which grew high-quality rice and had unstable incomes. All of the rice fields have been turned into areas for growing high-value crops like fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamental plants. The city's per capita yearly income rose from VN11.52 million ($500) in 2010 to the current VN53 million ($2,300). The rate of poor households in the city is 0.99 per cent, compared to 3.6 per cent in 2011. Vietnam hospitals expected to accelerate digitalization process Vietnam is one of the first countries to apply electronic medical declarations, Bluezone contact tracing application and Covid-19 safety maps. Vietnam's medical systems will see greater integration of technology as a means to address shortcomings in healthcare access and enhance sector efficiency, according to Fitch Solutions, a subsidiary of Fitch Group. During the countrys fight against Covid-19, IT has contributed greatly to help Vietnam contain the pandemic. Vietnam is also one of the first countries to apply electronic medical declarations, Bluezone contact tracing application and Covid-19 safety maps, noted Fitch Solutions. The country also established Telehealth, a network aimed to connect around 14,000 health facilities nationwide and link them with other countries in the medical field, part of the nations digital transformation program towards 2025, with a vision to 2030. The network will allow people nationwide to access medical services, organize consultations among doctors from different level hospitals remotely, thus reducing patient congestion at central hospitals. By late September 2020, the network had connected 1,000 medical examination and treatment facilities with nearly 30 key hospitals in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. In late November 2020, it required all hospitals in the country to connect to the network for treatment, practice sharing, and learning. Fitch Solutions, however, noted Vietnams burgeoning health tech sector is still in its infancy, attracting significantly less investment. To help the health tech sector sustain the momentum post-pandemic, companies not only have to appeal to investors and consumers but they also have to be integrated with Vietnams national health framework. The government will have to play a bigger role in encouraging collaboration between industry players and other stakeholders, provide incentives, and formulate clear policies, it suggested. Last June, the Ministry of Health approved a five-year project on remote medical examination and treatment involving 24 hospitals. Apps and medical services will be developed to manage files and knowledge systems, as well as helping patients find medical information, make their appointments, and consult doctors. These measures will accelerate the digitalization across Vietnams hospital network, which is currently fragmented and mainly implemented in central level public hospitals and private hospitals in major cities, stated Fitch Solutions. Barriers remain for digital adoption A number of important barriers still hinder digital adoption in Vietnamese hospitals, both public and private. At present, healthcare professionals and patients are reluctant to use digital-based systems due to unfamiliarity with these tools and technological constraints at home. Meanwhile, unclear and complicated administrative processes slow digital adoption, while the output of data is not standardized across hospitals, and data security remains a concern for healthcare providers, weakening inter-hospital integration. The start-up sector in Vietnam, albeit small in size compared to that of other Southeast Asian countries such as Singapore or Indonesia, is also actively contributing to the digitalization of healthcare. Like pharmaceuticals and medical devices, health tech start-ups operate in a highly regulated sector where there are still many uncertainties in the regulatory landscape. The Government will have to play a bigger role in encouraging collaboration between industry players and other stakeholders, provide incentives, and formulate clear policies, stated Fitch Solutions. Thus, though there is still a lot of room for the health tech sector to grow, the digital transformation of healthcare in Vietnam is already well underway, it concluded. Hanoi: ten thousands smuggled electronic cigarettes seized The smuggled goods have a total value of approximately VND800 million or around US$34.400. Market watch forces on December 29, 2020 found a large batch of smuggled goods in an apartment in Long Bien district of Hanoi. At the warehouse apartment, market watch force seized 73 cigarette burners; 8,070 e-cigarettes and 3,043 vapes worth the total value of approximately VND800 million or around US$34.400. At the same time, the owner of the goods couldnt prove the legal origin of the batch and claimed that he is selling mainly to young people with an average price of VND300,000-400,000 (US$13) for a piece. According to functional units, the transactions of e-cigarettes are conducted mainly on Facebook, and those who buy vapes are youth and teenagers. In order to promote sales, e-cigarette is usually advertised as being harmless or helping quit smoking. Illegal goods are usually kept in warehouses that located deep in alleys to conceal from the functional forces. Market watch authorities said the case will be investigated further and smugglers will be sanctioned according to the current law. Vietnamese students in US collect donations for flood victims at home The donations help people feel like theyre making an impact in helping their family and the communities theyre from. The Vietnamese Student Association (VSA) in Florida Atlantic University (FAU), the US is collecting donations to support people who have been affected by the flood crisis occurred in the central region of Vietnam in October. Collecting donations together with selling t-shirts is among activities the association has done, amounting to more than five million, the VSA said on Instagram. Tammy Truong, the president of VSA, said the reasons behind starting the donations involved them seeing how much the flooding has affected the Vietnamese, according to the University Press. At least 178,000 homes have been submerged and over 5 million people have been affected, according to their post. Any donation and 10% of t-shirt sales sent to our Venmo will be shipped to the Pacific Links Foundation. Just seeing how much its affected everyone kind of got me thinking, as a new organization, were planning on selling our t-shirts, Truong said. So we might as well put a majority of the proceeds towards going to Vietnam with the floods because, especially with my family, weve worked on our own personal donations and stuff to families in Vietnam before. A lot of our international students at FAU are from Vietnam and due to Covid, they cant go home and theyre seeing all this crisis happening as its kind of hard for them to go home and help their families, Truong states. This is another way for them to be able to donate and also feel like theyre making an impact in helping their family and the communities theyre from. According to Truong, there is no hard deadline, as she believes people can continue to donate and order t-shirts until then. VSA events coordinator Andrew Mei explained that this was to help others and to show their friends, family, and followers about things that the media might not be covering; because either it is not big news or it is not related to the stories that they are covering. Mei states that he has family in Vietnam and is glad to know they are all right, but knows that the flood crisis is one of the worst flooding they have experienced in decades. The VSA is a cultural based organization at a number of universities in Florida. They strive to bring or introduce the Vietnamese culture onto campus as well as the surrounding community. VSA works closely with the Vietnamese community and other cultural organizations to promote cultural diversity and awareness. Nearly 2,000 Vietnamese nationals return home last week As many as seven flights carrying 1,970 Vietnamese citizens from Chinese Taipei, Japan, Canada, the Europe, Africa, and the U.S. landed in Viet Nam from December 28, 2020-January 3, 2021, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Passengers onboard these flights included children under 18, pregnant women, the elderly, workers whose labor contracts had expired, students with no residences due to dormitory shutdown and other with especially difficult circumstances. Precautious measures were implemented during these flights to prevent transmission of Covid-19. Right after arriving at local airports, all the passengers received check-ups and were sent to concentrated quarantine sites in line with current regulations on COVID-19 responses. From April 10, 2020 to January 3, 2021, local agencies coordinated with Viet Nams representative agencies overseas to arrange 242 flights, bringing home about 66,882 Vietnamese citizens stranded abroad due to Covid-19. The repatriation of Vietnamese citizens in disadvantaged circumstances abroad will continue in line with their wishes and quarantine capacity in Viet Nam. As of late January 3, Viet Nam confirmed 1,494 Covid-19 infection cases, according to the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. Of the nations total, 1,339 patients have been cleared of the virus and exited hospitals while 35 others have been reported dead. The Committee announced on January 2 that it had found an infection case with new and more transmissible variant of the virus that first emerged in the UK. The aforesaid case is a 44-year-old woman in Nguyet Hoa Commune, Chau Thanh District of the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh. She was among 305 passengers onboard the flight VN50 from the UK that landed at the Can Tho International Airport on December 22. She was confirmed positive for Covid-19 on December 25, 2020 and have been treated at the Tra Vinh Hospital for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases. Nikkei: Asian trio of VN, Singapore, Chinese Taipei keep COVID-19 near zero As the world struggles with surging COVID-19 cases, Viet Nam along with Chinese Taipei and Singapore, has succeeded in limiting local transmission to almost zero, according to Nikkei. The Asian trio offers rare success stories in containing local transmission using rigorous testing and isolation. Nikkei reported that Viet Nam goes a step further. In addition to a 14-day quarantine for entrants, it also discloses personal information on newly infected people - such as age, occupation, place of residence and recent activities - for quick tracing of close contacts. This tough response has been responsible for keeping cumulative cases down to roughly 1,500. Earlier, Viet Nam was named among top ten of best performing economies in pandemic resilience ranking, according to Bloomberg. So far, Viet Nam confirms 1,505 infections. The number of deaths related to the disease is still kept at 35. Vietnamese PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc on January 6 ordered suspending flights carrying Vietnamese citizens home from countries and territories which report new variants of SARS-CoV-2 and see complicated pandemic developments, firstly the UK and South Africa. The human trial of Viet Nams COVID-19 vaccine will begin on January 21-22. This is the second Viet Nam-produced COVID-19 vaccine to be tested on human. The country is expected to start clinical trials on the third vaccine in March./. Source: VNA/VNN/VNS/SGGP/VOV/NDO/Dtinews/SGT/VIR This webinar will discuss methods for implementing real-time measurement of cell culture parameters to improve process control and achieve better productivity. When scaling-up a bioprocess, the goal is to improve productivity while maintaining quality attributes of cell products, such as monoclonal antibodies and recombinant proteins. However, traditional process control methods are often the rate-limiting steps in cell culture and are counter-productive to the aim of continuous processing of biologics. This webinar will discuss methods for implementing real-time measurement of cell culture parameters to improve process control and achieve better productivity. The expert speaker will cover key upstream bioprocessing analytical requirements during suspension and adherent cell culture and explain how to meet those requirements using three key sensors. The panelist will start with a background of the performance and expectations for analytical sensors during cell culture, including different bioreactor geometries and single-use bioreactors. This will lead into a discussion on how PAT tools and the digitalization of analytical signals can feed advanced data-driven models to support pharma 4.0 initiatives. During this presentation, participants will learn how three sensors can make it possible to monitor and maintain six critical parameters from a process science perspective. Next, the speaker will tie the harmonization of these different parameters to different measurement points, including downstream operations, especially for pH/oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) and conductivity. The panelist will go into specific industry trends that relate to in-line, at-line and various off-line measurements. He will conclude with a summary of how effective upstream analytics and their combination can help to improve ex vivo cell culture environment and bioprocessing control. Join expert speaker from Mettler Toledo, Olivier R. Berteau, Global Pharmaceutical Industry Manager, in a live webinar on Tuesday, January 19, 2021 at 10am EST (3pm GMT/UK). For more information, or to register for this event, visit Improving Cell Culture Process Control While Maintaining Quality of Biologics. ABOUT XTALKS Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers. To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/ The Syrian Democratic Forces and the Syrian regime have come to an agreement in Qamishli, allowing for the exchange of prisoners reports Baladi News. On Wednesday, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the regime forces reached a truce agreement in the city of Qamishli in Hassakeh Governorate. The agreement aims to solve the issue of mutual arrests between the two parties. The Kurdish academic, Farid Saadoun, said in a post on his Facebook page that, things have returned to normal in Qamishli after the agreement that took place this evening at the airport. He added, The result of the meeting was the exchange of detainees from both sides, the withdrawal of all armed bases and barriers from the streets, the lifting of the siege on the security square, and allowing the states elements the freedom of movement instead of preventing them from moving between their homes and places of service. Saadoun pointed out that, one point is still problematic and may create tension if a radical solution is not reached, and that is the Asayish checkpoint at the entrance to Harat Tay. He explained that, a short while ago, the agreement was breached when the regiment members were prevented from reaching the city to get bread. The clashes took place on Tuesday between the regimes elements and SDF forces, despite the existing security coordination between the two parties. The confrontations between the two sides are not new in the province of Hassakeh, which is, along with its cities and villages, under the control of the SDF, despite the continued control of the regime over some institutions close to Qamishli Airport and the two security squares in Qamishli and Hassakeh city, in addition to it being stationed in two military points in the governorate, namely the Kawkab regiment, east of Hassakeh, and Tatab, near Qamishli. The SDF had previously arrested the head of the Air Force Intelligence branch in Hassakeh, Saleh al-Jallad, at a checkpoint, late last month. During the past years, several confrontations took place between the two sides in which dozens were killed and wounded, the most recent of which was last April, when a site of the regimes National Defense militia in Qamishli was bombed, an incident which the SDF was accused of masterminding. Days preceding that, the SDF accused the National Defense militia of being behind the bombing of one of its points in al-Quwatli Street in Qamishli. This article was translated and edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Israel agreed a deal with Pfizer Inc. to expedite deliveries of its Covid-19 vaccine so that all citizens over 16 can be inoculated by the end of March, in return for extensive data on the inoculation program. More 1.7 million Israelis, or about 18% of its population, have already received their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, a larger proportion than in any other country. Officials had warned that pace would slow with new vaccine supplies not expected before February. But late Thursday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement the next Pfizer shipment was now expected on Sunday, and that deliveries would be increased. The deal came after 17 conversations with Pfizer chief executive Albert Bourla, he said, adding Israel would serve as a global model state and share data with the company and other countries to develop strategies to end the outbreak. Israel credits its universal health coverage, centralized system and extensive digitized records for enabling the fast distribution and analysis of the vaccine effort. The country was also due to get its first shipment of doses from Moderna Inc. on Thursday. While the vaccine effort is progressing rapidly, officials are contending with a surge in coronavirus cases that has led to a tightened lockdown starting Friday. Restrictions put in place from late December failed to tame the virus. Schools and non-essential businesses will now be closed. Netanyahu, whose corruption trial will soon move into a higher gear, is hoping the vaccine program will enable him to reopen Israels economy in time to get a boost ahead of the countrys fourth election in two years on March 23. Bank of Israel researchers said this week that a rapid vaccination effort could lead to output expanding 6.3% this year and 5.8% in 2022. So far, only Israelis over 60 or with chronic conditions have been eligible for a shot -- and about 75% of vaccines have gone to that group so far, Health Minister Yuli Edelstein told Bloomberg TV. One of the major challenges during the pandemic was the proliferation of false information, causing more fear and panic than the virus itself. That is why, Ugochi Obidiegwu, also known as The Safety Chic due to her work in raising safety consciousness, decided to step up her efforts on safety education. For the pandemic, she focused her interventions on children and adults. She wrote a child safety story booklet on the coronavirus, The Adventures of Muna: A kid-to-kid guide on the Coronavirus. The booklet used a story, African characters, questions, colouring activities, and a maze to pass on the safety message in a fun but enlightening way to children. A thousand booklets were produced and distributed to children in six states of Nigeria. Obidiegwu hosted three virtual book-reading events for children and also partnered with a Nigerian educational technology company to create an online game to prepare children for safe school resumption in a pandemic. For adults, Obidiegwu introduced her safety education app, the Safety Chic Compass. Her goal was to ensure that regardless of location, African parents and teachers could access safety content that suited their uniquely African context from the comfort of their mobile devices. She also engaged in social media sensitisation, teaching correct safety steps to take on a variety of issues like preparing for possible post-COVID-19 school resumptions, working safely from home, and online safety such as managing cyberbullying - for children. Today, she continues trainings on safety measures via online and social media platforms in order to reach more people. She hosted the fourth edition of her annual School Safety Summit virtually in May. At the event, participants, who were predominantly female, were able to learn how to administer first aid for a variety of scenarios, most especially in this period of the pandemic. While Obidiegwu made some progress in raising safety consciousness, there were some challenges experienced by her and her beneficiaries. COVID-19 cut off women and girls from receiving safety interventions that they would have accessed if there were no restrictions on movement. For example, last year during the annual School Safety Summit, there were over 400 teachers present, 85 per cent of whom were women and many from low-income schools. However, due to the pandemic, there were just over 100 participants, the majority female, at this years edition of the Summit. Considering that, prior to the pandemic, arrangements had been made with an education district to train about 400 teachers, this was a disappointing outcome, Obidiegwu said. We discovered that many women had had to make a choice between feeding their families and joining online programmes that require paying data for internet connectivity. This also affected the abilities of their children to access online education platforms. For the girls, since physical sessions with them were no longer possible, booklets were sent to their communities by partnering with organisations who were distributing palliatives in those communities. Feedback received told us that the booklets were helpful because of the use of stories and fun learning activities. Personally, funding sources became tight, affecting our beneficiaries and cash flow, Obidiegwu said. One donor, partnering with us to provide training and safety education materials to female public schools in three states in the North and East, had to withhold funds due to the pandemic, she added. We are hopeful that we will still be able to execute that project after the worst of this blows over. Nevertheless, we are glad that we were able to use creativity, abilities, and partnerships to play a role in this important time in history. Ugochi Obidiegwus story is part of a series on African women human rights defenders presented in a new publication entitled On the frontlines: Defending rights in the time of COVID-19. The publication, developed by UN Human Rights Regional Offices for East and Southern Africa, highlights these defenders work during the pandemic and creates a source of information on COVID-19 recovery programming and policy making for women human rights defenders. Disclaimer: The views, information and opinions expressed in this article are those of the persons featured in the story and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. 8 January 2021 WASHINGTON Wednesdays mob insurrection at the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., is unlikely to be the last violent action from far-right extremists, who may also be using the weeks extraordinary events to recruit members for a swelling coalition around outgoing president Donald Trump, according to experts on extremism. While this weeks attack was extraordinary in its brazenness, it was also a wake-up call to federal and local law enforcement that threats from far-right Trump supporters should be taken very seriously over the last two weeks of Trumps presidency and beyond, said Mary McCord, legal director at the Institute for Constitutional Advocacy and Protection at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Theres a whole lot of talk about what happened in far-right extremist forums and chatrooms today, and about how the inauguration on January 20 will be the last stand and now is the time to recruit, McCord said. State capitols should ramp up security, much as Washington, D.C., has started to do, she said, in the expectation that Trump's followers may try to repeat this week's attack or worse. Mark Pitcavage, a senior research fellow at the Anti-Defamation Leagues Center on Extremism, said hes less concerned about organized attacks on federal or state capitols though he agreed those should be heavily guarded on Inauguration Day than he is about individuals or small extremist groups carrying out plots or shootings in the next two weeks. Theres more of a danger of loose cannons going off and deciding to do something, Pitcavage said. A boost for extremist recruitment More than 40 Three Percenters demonstrated Saturday at a Black Lives Matter protest in Louisville, Kentucky, July 25, 2020 Its unclear whether Wednesdays attack was led by any particular organization or individuals, but participants in the mob included people sporting insignia from the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters, two of the most well-known national extremist groups. Chris Hill, leader of the III% Security Force, an extremist group in Atlanta, said hes been contacted by several people interested in joining groups like his since the Capitol takeover. (The Three Percenters are a loosely-affiliated collection of armed extremist groups named for the myth that only 3 percent of Americans took up arms against the British during the Revolutionary War.) Story continues A lot of people are very interested in seeking out patriot groups at this time, Hill said. Theyre using alternative platforms and networking to resist what theyre feeling is tyranny from the government. Online message boards, websites and social media platforms dedicated to the armed far-right movement have been abuzz since the angry mob took over the nations seat of power, said JJ MacNab, a fellow at George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism in Washington. Theres a lot of chatter, said MacNab, I usually try to downplay these things unless its really big, but this was really big." MacNab compared Wednesdays attack to other incidents that have spurred growth in pro-gun extremist groups, notably the Bundy Ranch standoff in 2014, when a relatively small group of armed men faced off against federal agents. I used to think that Bundy Ranch was the big one, but this was much, much bigger, she said. Heavily armed civilians with a group known as the Oath Keepers arrive in Ferguson, Mo., Aug. 11, 2015. Pitcavage was less sure. He said he doesnt yet know whether Wednesdays attack will ultimately serve or hinder the pro-gun extremist movement. These groups are already primed for a boost, Pitcavage said. Membership swelled in the first years of the Obama presidency, due largely to new recruits terrified that Obama would attempt to pass strict new gun laws. But growth in the groups has slowed under Trump, he said. An incoming Democrat as president could push more people into the movement, Pitcavage said. But hes not convinced that this weeks events would add to that surge. The militia movement has a tendency to disassociate itself from things that get bad publicity, he said. Handout poster from the Federal Bureau of InvestigationOs (FBI) Washington Field Office "seeking the publicOs assistance in identifying individuals who made unlawful entry into the United States Capitol Building on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C." Blame antifa Almost immediately following the attack, some within the militia movement, along with right-wing media personalities and politicians, were already blaming the Capitol attack on someone else: anti-fascist activists. On social media and online message boards like MyMilitia.com, posters soon coalesced around a popular conspiracy theory: That the mob that actually broke into the Capitol on Wednesday, as opposed to the hordes who surrounded it, werent right-wing extremists at all, but instead were anti-fascists in disguise. Theres no evidence to support this. Several of the people who have already been recognized as illegal intruders have already been associated with far-right groups, including the QAnon conspiracy theory and the Proud Boys. Hill, in Georgia, repeated this disproven theory in an interview and renounced the people who trespassed in the Capitol, saying they should have made their point by simply surrounding the building, rather than going inside. On Wednesday evening, the FBI announced it was searching for people who were involved in Wednesdays attack. Since many were caught on camera or on video, their identities as well as their political affiliations may soon be revealed for all to see. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Capitol riot used by extremists to recruit new pro-gun members Revenue Commissioners have relaxed some customs rules in response to delays and trucks being denied boarding on ferries (Niall Carson/PA) Irish customs authorities are temporarily relaxing regulations around goods moving from Great Britain, as traders face backlogs due to border controls and paperwork. Revenue Commissioners made the decision to lift some customs rules in response to delays and trucks being refused entry on to ferries. Exporters shipping goods to Ireland have to complete post-Brexit paperwork, which is causing administrative pressure for companies. Revenue officials issued a general code for hauliers to use to overcome administrative difficulties and allow the movement of goods to ports. For information on Revenueas temporary facilitation measures relating to the lodging of safety and security (ENS) declarations click : https://t.co/3KVWS12EMQ Revenue (@RevenueIE) January 8, 2021 In a statement, Revenue said it recognises that some businesses are experiencing difficulties in lodging their safety and security ENS (entry summary) declaration for the movement of goods. In response, Revenue is implementing a temporary easement to alleviate these current difficulties, it said. We expect trade and business with genuine difficulties that are impeding their ability to complete the ENS process to engage with Revenue in a co-operative endeavour to overcome their difficulties. A failure to engage may result in this temporary easement being withdrawn, so early engagement with Revenue is strongly encouraged. In a statement issued to the PA news agency, a Revenue spokeswoman said they are aware that trucks have been denied boarding in Holyhead. Revenue appreciates that the new requirements and customs formalities present significant challenges and impose additional burdens on businesses, she said. It is clear that many were not as prepared as they thought or significantly underestimated what was involved in being Brexit-ready Revenue Commissioners However, we expected challenges such as this to arise where trade and or business didnt make the necessary advance planning arrangements that we have strongly advocated over at least the last two years. We made it very clear in our engagements with industry that real, permanent and immediate changes would arise. Those who are having difficulties is the outworking of that warning. However, the extent of the difficulties businesses are having as a result of the necessary changes brought about by Brexit is evident from our engagement with various trade, industry and business stakeholders over the past week. It is clear that many were not as prepared as they thought or significantly underestimated what was involved in being Brexit-ready. In this regard, Revenue has put in place temporary facilitation measures relating to the lodging of safety and security declarations that will help businesses to meet their obligations and get their goods moving. Meanwhile, ferry operator Stena Line is cancelling 12 of its crossings from Friday until next Tuesday because of the post-Brexit decline in freight and passenger numbers. Problems in the supply chain have resulted in a significant fall off in freight volumes this week at our Holyhead and Fishguard ports Stena Line In a statement, Stena Line said it is reviewing the sailings and schedules on Irish Sea routes as a result of Irish travel restrictions and the decline in freight volumes during the first week of Brexit. Problems in the supply chain have resulted in a significant fall off in freight volumes this week at our Holyhead and Fishguard ports, the company said. Our business model is based on a freight and passenger combination, so to have the two parts severely restricted at the same time is putting severe pressure on our ability to maintain our normal levels of frequency on certain routes. Volumes are expected to remain light as we move towards the weekend, consequently we will reduce some sailings on a temporary basis. Northern Ireland is following the rules of the EU single market to avoid a hard Irish border and has shifted checks on food standards to Irish Sea ports. Goods arriving from Great Britain are among those subject to checks under the agreement made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson with the EU. Truck drivers using Irish ports are reminded that they must check their customs routing arrangements at Irish Ports before disembarking ferries. For further customs advice for drivers using Irish ports visit: https://t.co/aHUNGLMo33@BrexitReadyIRL @DublinPortCo @DCCTraffic https://t.co/PKRttw2Cw7 Department of Transport (@Dept_Transport) January 1, 2021 Ulster Unionist leader Steve Aiken called for the UK Government to put pressure on HM Revenue & Customs to ease trade flows into Northern Ireland from Great Britain. This move from the Irish customs authorities demonstrates why we warned the Irish Government about their negotiating approach and the implications of it, he said. The geography of these islands will always require pragmatism and we are seeing that today. Anyone who has encountered the frustration of empty shelves in supermarkets this week will be questioning why our own Government cant take similar action. Despite ridiculous claims from the Secretary of State, amongst others, there is a regulatory border in the Irish Sea and we are seeing the impediments it is causing. DUP MP Sammy Wilson said: Despite what the Secretary of State may claim, there is a border in the Irish Sea which is disrupting trade with Northern Ireland and also with the Republic of Ireland. The evidence becomes clearer by the day but it is ironic that, whilst the UK Government slavishly follows the diktats of the EU single market requirements and the bureaucracy attached to it, the Irish Government has been prepared to sweep EU documentation demands aside. This is an artist's rendering of what a new cultural hub and civic plaza, proposed as part of a redevelopment of the former Kelowna RCMP site in downtown Kelowna, might look like within three years' time. Sedition case: Kangana Ranaut appears before Bandra police station in Mumbai to record statement India oi-Madhuri Adnal Mumbai, Jan 08: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Friday reached the Bandra police station here to record her statement in a case related to sedition and other charges. Ranaut, who has been provided Y-plus category security of CRPF personnel, arrived at the police station in suburban Mumbai around 1 pm along with her advocate amid heavy media presence. The Bandra police had registered an FIR against Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel for allegedly promoting enmity between communities through their remarks in October, an official said. The FIR was registered following orders from a magistrates court in Bandra. Case lodged in Patna court against Kangana Ranaut The court had directed the police to carry out an inquiry against Ranaut and her sister after a complaint was lodged against them for allegedly trying to create hatred and communal tension through their social media posts. Munawwar Ali Sayyad, a casting director and fitness trainer, had filed the complaintreferring to tweets and other statements of Ranaut and her sister. They were booked under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 295-A (deliberate acts hurting religious sentiments) and 124-A (sedition), 34 (common intention). Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Earlier, the Mumbai police had sent notices three times asking them to appear for recording their statements in the case. The Bombay High Court in November had granted interim protection from arrest to Kangana and her sister, and directed them to appear before the police on January 8. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 13:51 [IST] By Jana Kadah Bay City News Foundation The City of Monterey's Aloha Coffee and Cafe and its owner have received a temporary restraining order to close shop after repeated COVID-19 safety violations, Monterey County District Attorney Jeannine Pacioni announced on Thursday. The order requires the owner, Richard Dunnuck, to close the business until he obtains a valid food service permit as well as complies with the state's Regional Stay at Home Order and face covering orders. Dunnuck lost his food service permit in early December after he, his employees and customers violated the face covering requirements on multiple occasions, Deputy District Attorney Emily Hickok said, "The county tried education. Health inspectors came to their restaurant multiple times to inform them on their violations, but it didn't work," Hickok said. "So, they sent paperwork that their permit was in jeopardy if they didn't comply and they still didn't." County records show that the cafe was visited five times by health inspectors before the permit was revoked through an administrative hearing order. Even after losing their food service permit, Aloha Coffee and Cafe remained open and continued to serve customers. "Despite the administrative hearing order, they still did not comply, so this is why the District Attorney stepped in," Hickok said. Monterey County Superior Court Judge Lydia M. Villarreal granted a temporary restraining order -- a legal way of requiring the business to close. The temporary restraining order is based on the business' violations of state unfair competition laws which prohibits companies from profiting off of unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business act or practices. Violating state and local health orders, Hickok said, fits that description. The violation also comes with monetary fines of up to $2,500 per violation. "Through the lawsuit, we will prove how many violations they have," Hickok said. "A violation could count as every customer they served without a face covering, every day they operated without their permit. And their permit was revoked on Dec. 2, so that is at least 30 days in violation." The civil lawsuit will be heard Jan. 14. The temporary restraining order will remain in effect until the court terminates it. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Police have arrested the man they say is responsible for a New Years Day crash that killed a woman and her 1-year-old son. Lazarus Roldan, 31, of Allentown, surrendered to authorities. He was charged with two counts of accidents involving death, accidents involving damage to a vehicle or property, and summary charges including failing to give information and render aid. Roldan was sent to Lehigh County Jail in lieu of $50,000 bail. Police were called at about 2:44 a.m. Jan. 1 for a crash in the 1200 block of South Eighth Street in Allentown, and found the wreckage of a BMW and a Trailblazer. Kisha Cora, 22, and her 1-year-old son were in the BMW with two other people, police said. Roldan was driving the Trailblazer. Kisha Cora was pronounced dead shortly after the crash. Rivera Cora was pronounced dead Monday night at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township, the Lehigh County Coroners Office said. Both died from multiple blunt force trauma and their deaths were ruled an accident by the coroners office. Two other people in the sedan were treated for their injuries, police said. Police said the morning of the crash, the BMW was traveling north on South Eighth Street and the Trailblazer was traveling south. Roldan lost control of the Trailblazer and traveled into the opposing lane of traffic, hitting the drivers side of the BMW, police said. An off-duty state trooper came upon the scene shortly after the collision, and briefly spoke to Roldan, who then fled, investigators said. A GoFundMe fundraiser has raised close to the $10,000 goal to help Coras family with funeral costs. The page says Cora and her son were traveling with her husband, who is in the ICU. Kisha was an amazing daughter, mother, and wife, and we would like to give her a proper funeral, the campaign page says. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. JANET STREET-PORTER: One of my few remaining pleasures is under threat from an army of self-appointed guardians citing public 'safety' I'm 74, but (providing I'm smiling, not frowning) I don't think I look it - all thanks to walking. No Botox. No fancy cream at 100 a pot. My recipe for good health is stout boots, a fleecy hat and a warm coat. A simple daily walk. No chat. No phone. What could be more enjoyable, whilst the news is so grim and we're living in fear of contagion? Now, one of my few remaining pleasures is under threat from an army of self-appointed guardians citing public 'safety'. As a former President of Britain's biggest walking club, The Ramblers, I'm passionate about the benefits of putting one foot in front of the other in all weathers. Walking is free, it's empowering and the best way to deal with stress. Walk and you've temporarily escaped from all the annoyances of everyday life. I walk in silence, emptying my mind before Covid exerts its negative stranglehold over most of my thoughts for the rest of the day. What I don't wish to encounter on my restorative stroll is a pompous member of the police force wasting their time (and mine) by issuing me with a fixed penalty fine, claiming I am breaking the law, when all I have done is take a short drive to an empty bit of green space. Walking lifts the spirits, harms no one and offers peace and a time for contemplation. Or it should do, unless you have the misfortune to reside in an area patrolled by the over-zealous Derbyshire police. Two friends, Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore, arranged to meet for a walk at Foremark Reservoir, just five miles away from their homes. Arriving in separate cars (permitted), they found the car park was busy - not with walkers, but uniformed officers, who promptly fined both women 200 each for allegedly breaking lockdown rules by travelling away from home to exercise. They were reprimanded for holding hot drinks, which (apparently) constitute a 'picnic'. Andrew Bridgen, their local MP, was appalled. In fact, lockdown guidelines specify we can leave home to exercise 'locally' but do not specify what that means. As for how long we can exercise - Michael Gove made a fool of himself last year when he told a reporter 'half an hour should be enough'. None of the current Front Bench look physically equipped to issue this kind of intrusive (and ill-informed) advice. There is no legal reason why we can't drive a short distance to an empty place to exercise, especially if it means we are less likely to come into contact with others. As with every aspect of government Covid strategy, Boris and his Ministers have been annoyingly vague on detail. They want us to exercise because it will help us stay out of hospital and help the NHS should we have the misfortune to become infected. The Prime Minister has been extolling the benefits of getting fit (making sure we see photos of him running with his trainer) and losing weight ever since he nearly died from Coronavirus because he was obese. Boris realises he can't be too specific about WHERE we can exercise because too many rules could result in every small green space in towns and cities jammed with locals. It's better to be vague and assume sensible people will head a short distance to somewhere less busy. And, by the way, what about cyclists? How far are they allowed to cycle to 'exercise'? Why pick on walkers? Two friends, Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore, arranged to meet for a walk at Foremark Reservoir, just five miles away from their homes. Arriving in separate cars (permitted), they found the car park was busy - not with walkers, but uniformed officers, who promptly fined both women 200 each for allegedly breaking lockdown rules by travelling away from home to exercise Faced with large numbers of people walking the streets and around our parks, desperately trying to get fresh air and escape working from home and home schooling, the police have appointed themselves exercise monitors, taping up park benches, questioning people daring to walk around in a less than purposeful manner and even stopping people at stations asking why they are travelling on a train. The crime rates for burglary have fallen during lockdown. With most people working from home, city centres are empty so there is less petty thieving and bag-snatching. Speed cameras profitably take care of all the motorists falling foul of the limits because there is no traffic. As a result, the police have invented new tasks for themselves - desecrating parks and seafronts with environmentally unfriendly plastic tape and laminated signs telling us to stay away. All a complete waste of time - time which would be better spent breaking up large gangs of youths gathering at night, preventing stabbings and monitoring exactly who is lurking around takeaways for hours on end. Meanwhile, heavily criticised for the lacklustre start to the vaccine roll-out, Boris hastily made another of his catastrophic promises - declaring that within weeks, everyone in the UK would be able to access a vaccination point within ten miles of their homes. Anyone living in a remote rural area- the North Yorkshire Moors, the Lake District, parts of Cornwall, Norfolk, the Scottish Borders and Snowdonia must have laughed out loud. In many parts of the countryside outside the National Parks, you need to drive five miles to a decent supermarket. Soon, I expect police vans will be monitoring arrivals in the car park of my local Morrisons or Tesco to make sure every journey involved an 'essential' shop, not just the daily paper, a packet of crisps and a scratchcard. The police say they are adopting a 'four E' strategy to ensure that the public follow the rules. Engage with rule-breakers, Explain the restrictions, Encourage us to change our behaviour, and if we decline, Enforcement (penalities) follow. But every force in the UK has interpreted the government guidelines in their own way, some adopting a very heavy-handed approach. Derbyshire police were widely criticised during the first lockdown when they released drone footage of walkers in the Peak District National park, a clear infringement of civil liberties. Lord Sumption, a former Supreme Court justice, said it was 'disgraceful' and 'shamed our policing traditions'. So far, over 32,000 fines have been issued for breaking restrictions in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Thousands of cases have been chucked out by Magistrates who say that police are misinterpreting the law. Whilst infections are soaring from the latest variant of Covid, the greatest number continue to be focused on the 20-30 year olds. Yes, the generation who were out partying over New Year, the people we saw hanging around streets outsides pubs and bars in the run up to Christmas. These are not the majority of the people I see walking every day, who tend to be sensible anorak wearers. People with dogs, mums (and dads) with pushchairs and small children. A lot of bilge gets written about 'community' - but the one community I am proud to be a member of are the people who walk. But woe betide us if we wheeze and fall, because now the police have kindly made it impossible to sit down on a bench and get our breath back. Criminalising walking. Have these zealots nothing better to do? Actress Song Hye-kyo will return to the small screen with "The Glory," a new drama series written by the screenwriter of "Descendants of the Sun." Hwa Dam Pictures said Friday that Song will take a lead role in the piece that revolves around a woman who experiences school violence and seeks revenge after graduating. It will be Song's first TV series since romance "Encounter" (2018) and star scriptwriter Kim Eun-sook's new project after the fantasy "The King: Eternal Monarch" (2020), which earned poorer-than-expected reviews at home. "The Glory" also attracts media attention due to the reunion of the actress and the screenwriter since the megahit military romance series "Descendants of the Sun" in 2016. Hwa Dam said director Ahn Gil-ho, who was behind "Memories of the Alhambra" (2018) and "Record of Youth" (2020), will be in charge of the pre-produced series. (Yonhap) Barry Bloom, professor of public health in the department of immunology and infectious diseases at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, agrees wholeheartedly with the FDA's caution: What is the point of doing careful 50,000 person randomized controlled trials only to say, Forget about it, we're going to give one shot and we'll go find you at some later time. You'll have enough immunity maybe to get through.' Meanwhile, Bloom notes, the current problem isn't the number of shots available so much as the effective dissemination of them: Some 17 million doses have been shipped to U.S. states and territories, which have faced logistical challenges that have led to delays in administering the vaccines. We do not have the infrastructure in most states to be able to handle the existing doses of vaccines that have been distributed, says Bloom. We're in no better position to handle twice that." But even more important, perhaps, he adds, is maintaining the public's trust. Anything that risks people not taking it, and being distrustful of the government or the vaccines or the process, is going to really hurt getting us to a level where we can go back to close to normal existence." masks are now mandatory across Greater Brisbane until Monday evening sition Leader David Crisafulli said it's 'taking advantage of people's anxiety' A chemist has been slammed for charging almost $60 for a packet of disposable face masks ahead of a government lockdown. Queensland Opposition Leader David Crisafulli snapped an image of the display at a chemist in the Morayfield Shopping Centre in Brisbane's north, and then declared the move 'isn't on.' 'Some shops in Brisbane are increasing mask sales by 400 per cent, taking advantage of people's anxiety,' he told the Courier Mail. 'This (lockdown) is already hard enough for Queenslanders.' Face masks have increased in demand after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced all Brisbanites will be forced to wear a mask as health authorities scramble to contain an outbreak in the city. A chemist in Brisbane's north (pictured above) is charging $59 for a packet of 50 face masks Queensland opposition leader David Crisafulli (picture above) has said increasing the price of face masks only 'adds to people's anxiety' during a lockdown Identical packs of 50 face masks are available at Kmart for $15 and a similar 50 pack can be purchased online for $5. Some Chemist Warehouse outlets in Brisbane are already sold out of face masks, with one Terry White Chemist reportedly only selling five individual face masks per customer - in brown paper bags. The development comes as Greater Brisbane goes into lockdown for three days, while contact tracers work to ensure the UK variant of COVID-19 is not circulating in the wider community. From 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Monday, people in the local government areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will be required to stay at home. Activities such as shopping for essential items and exercise with no more than one other person are permitted, while people over the age of 12 not wearing a mask outside their home face fines of $200. Following confirmation of the lockdown by the Queensland government, countless residents stormed the local supermarkets to stock up on groceries. Shelves were stripped bare in the fresh produce section of some Woolworths stores, with toilet paper supplies dwindling in other supermarkets. Panic buying in Brisbane (pictured above) has resulted in empty shelves at countless supermarkets Lines to get into supermarkets and shopping centres (pictured above) have also dramatically increased in Brisbane ahead of the lockdown Car parks were also filled to capacity while lines of shoppers formed outside of supermarkets and snaked around shopping centres. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged Queensland residents to 'treat the lockdown like a long weekend.' 'Please, everybody, let's be in this together, let's stay at home, spend time your family and friends,' she said. 'It will be tough on everyone for these three days. I think everybody in Queensland, especially the Greater Brisbane area, knows what we are seeing in the UK and other places around the world is high rates of infection from this particular strain. 'We do not want to see that happening here in our great state and that is why we are taking those strong actions.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison said it was a 'wise call' for Greater Brisbane to enter into a three-day lockdown. Geneva, Jan 8 : Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that the violent assault on the US Capitol showed the destructive impact of hatred by political leaders. "We are deeply troubled by Wednesday's attack on the US Capitol, which demonstrated clearly the destructive impact of sustained, deliberate distortion of facts, and incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders," Xinhua news agency quoted Bachelet as saying in a statement issued on Thursday evening. "Allegations of electoral fraud have been invoked to try to undermine the right to political participation. "We are encouraged to see that the process has continued in spite of serious attempts to disrupt it," she added. In her statement, the UN rights chief called on "leaders from across the political spectrum, including the President of the United States, to disavow false and dangerous narratives, and encourage their supporters to do so as well". Bachelet also said that her office noted with dismay the serious threats and destruction of property faced by media professionals during the protests, saying that she supports calls from many quarters for a thorough investigation into the events. On Wednesday afternoon, the US Capitol witnessed what many called "a dark chapter" in history as protesters stormed the building, clashed with security officers and forced the evacuation of lawmakers who were in the midst of a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. Four people, including a woman, died in the clash, according to police. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A birthday party in Cork had to be broken up by gardai on Thursday night at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, with more than 100 mostly maskless people not adhering to social distance guidelines ordered to disperse. Gardai confirmed that they arrived to a venue in Blarney around 11pm, which they described as a shed, where a large gathering in excess of 100 people was taking place. They stopped the event and the gathered crowd was dispersed without any public order incidents, gardai said. It came on the night that a further 6,521 cases of Covid-19 were reported to public health officials, with 10 deaths also confirmed. Positivity rates, which have been climbing since November, are exceptionally high for the last week, chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan said just hours before the Blarney incident occurred, and the health service is stretched to breaking point with record numbers of Covid patients admitted. Despite repeated pleas from public health officials, frontline staff, and ministers, there continues to be flouting of guidelines by cohorts of people blatantly ignoring or disregarding any requests to stay at home, reduce contacts and wear face coverings. A number of shebeens throughout the country have been raided in recent weeks, with court appearances expected to follow. Meanwhile, Galway County Council announced this week that some public amenities such as the famous Blackrock diving Tower in Salthill in Galway would have to be closed off, because the large volume of visitors was becoming a hazard. Read More Limerick gardai raid suspected Shebeen In relation to the Blarney incident, it is believed that those in attendance may have been celebrating an 18th birthday, with many coming from outside a 5km radius. The venue is believed to be a shed that normally contains machinery. No arrests have been made but an investigation is underway, gardai said. An investigation under The Health Act 1947 has commenced in respect of the organisation and attendance by persons at this event and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions. Personal social responsibility, wearing of face coverings and social distancing are public health guidelines and should be followed by all individuals. The Covid-19 pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to all citizens to demonstrate personal and social responsibility to comply with public health guidelines and regulations, in order to continue to save lives, gardai said. There was a bolstering of garda presence on roads announced earlier this week, with additional static checkpoints on national routes under Operation Fanacht, and additional re-deployment of gardai to the frontline. If your heart wasnt broken, youve got no heart. If your spine wasnt stiffened, youve got no spine. And if, after watching a mob of domestic terrorists take over the seat of American government, you cannot bring yourself to condemn the man who inspired them, you are lost. Until Wednesday, it had been more than 206 years since the U.S. Capitol building was breached. The last time it happened was in August 1814, when British forces attacked the building and set it ablaze during the War of 1812. On Wednesday, it was a mob of insurrectionist rioters supporting President Donald J. Trump who stormed the facility and shut down a joint session of Congress that was fulfilling its constitutional duty to record the electoral votes that are a routine part of the process of our peaceful transition of power. They were reacting to Trumps false assertions that he, not President-elect Joe Biden, won the presidential election. To watch video of the marauding gang of domestic terrorists brought two contradictory thoughts immediately to mind: First: Not in America. Not in the beacon of liberty; and Second: What else could one expect? This is the culmination of Trumpism. This is what anyone who has been paying attention has feared, what anyone who was watching with open eyes has known was possible. This is Donald J. Trumps America, and its as unAmerican as anything in modern times. Trump is to blame, of course. But so too are his many enablers. Those in the Congress and in the right-wing echo chamber of lies and conspiracy theories and propaganda that led ultimately to Wednesdays insurrection. Sen. Majority Leader Mitch McConnells speech denouncing the effort to turn the election was right on the money. But too little, too late. When order was finally restored on Capitol Hill and the Congress got back to work, one might reasonably have imagined that even Trumps Republican allies and spineless backers would have had a change of heart during the time that they were sheltering in place from the rioters. If only. In the end, a majority of House Republicans and eight GOP senators voted against fully affirming Bidens win. History wont have to search out the identities of these traitorous enablers; with their votes, they wrote their names in the rolls of ignominy for us to see now and for all time going forward. Because after Wednesday, you can stand with Trump, or you can stand for America. It is impossible to do both. Related Content: VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Champignon Brands Inc. (the "Company"), (CSE: SHRM) (FWB: 496) (OTCQB: SHRMF), announces the publication of an article led by Dr. Roger McIntyre, CEO of Champignon Brands Inc. The article Bipolar Disorders is published in one of the world's best-known and most reputable scientific journals in medicine - The Lancet. The Article contributes to The Lancet's collection of peer-reviewed Seminars and provides a "state-of-the-art overview of bipolar disorders, covering epidemiology, parthenogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, while highlighting relevant clinical controversies." To review the Article, click here. Bipolar disorders develop before the age of 25 years in 70% of adults and substantially reduce quality of life and psychosocial functioning across the lifespan. Most individuals with bipolar disorders are predominantly affected by depressive symptoms and episodes. Furthermore, about 1.25% of patients with major depressive disorder per year are subsequently diagnosed with a bipolar disorder. Like schizophrenia, bipolar disorders decrease life expectancy by approximately 1020 years. Although people with bipolar disorders are approximately 2030 times more likely to die by suicide compared with the general population, and indeed approximately 3050% of adults with bipolar disorders have a lifetime history of suicide attempts, suicide is not the primary reason persons with bipolar disorders lose approximately 10-20 potential years of life. There exist multiple pharmacological treatments for bipolar disorders that have demonstrated efficacy and been approved by health regulatory agencies such as the US Food and Drug Administration and Health Canada. For example, lithium is a well established antimanic agent that is also capable of attenuating depressive symptoms and reducing suicidal ideation. Anti-suicide effects are not observed with other agents commonly prescribed to adults with bipolar disorders. Other treatments for bipolar depression include cariprazine, lurasidone, quetiapine, and the combination of olanzapinefluoxetine. These treatments work best in individuals with fewer episodes and shorter illness durations. That is, patients who are diagnosed and receive effective treatment promptly are more likely to recover than are those requiring care through specialised treatment programmes who have already experienced multiple episodes and years of unstable illness. Unfortunately, individuals with bipolar disorders are often misdiagnosed and do not receive appropriate evidence-based care in a timely fashion. As the article cites, "Most individuals with bipolar disorders are not accurately diagnosed until approximately 610 years after first contact with a primary health-care provider, a specialty health-care provider, or both, despite having clinical characteristics of the illness." The article concludes, "The availability of so-called rapid-onset treatments (e.g., ketamine) and treatments that could mitigate suicidality is crucial to clinical settings. The next decade will see the testing of mechanistically novel agents for bipolar disorders." As well as CEO of Champignon Brands, Dr. McIntyre is a Professor of Psychiatry and Pharmacology at the University of Toronto and Head of the Mood Disorders Psychopharmacology Unit at the University Health Network. In addition to his recent publication of this article, Dr. McIntyre has published over 600 peer-reviewed scientific articles on bipolar disorders and depression. Champignon Brands Inc. (https://champignonbrands.com) is a research-driven company specializing in breakthrough ketamine treatment for depression and other mental health conditions. The Company works closely with subsidiaries including AltMed Capital Corp. ("AltMed"). The Canadian Rapid Treatment Center of Excellence is wholly owned by AltMed. Call emergency medical services immediately if you believe you are experiencing a medical emergency. Do not rely on communication through the Champignon Brands website of the emails/telephone numbers above for urgent medical needs. Champignon Brands Inc. does not provide medical advice. If you have any specific medical questions or are seeking advice, please consult with your health care provider. SOURCE Champignon Brands Inc. Related Links https://champignonbrands.com In turning our lives upside down, the pandemic has spared no one. While for the young and not-so-young, not being able to socialise or step out for dining etc. on account of social distancing norms is irksome; for the senior citizens and the elderly, the same norms are stifling. In fact, many senior citizens who live alone found the early lockdowns nothing short of an obstacle course for survival. Despite having abundant financial resources, they were forced to reassess their lifestyle choices. With everything coming to halt and struggling for basics, managing without house help and fretting about handling any medical emergencies and overall security issues took a heavy toll on them. In fact, a greater proportion of senior citizens are living alone now more than ever. Working on the sample size of 10,000 elderly people, Delhi-based NGO Agewell Foundation found that almost every fourth elderly person or 23.44% of the respondents were living alone in India. Almost every second elderly (48.88%) was living with their respective spouse only. The percentage of elderly people that were living alone in urban areas were 25.3% in comparison to 21.38% in rural areas. Most of them were dependent on their children or house help for their basic needs and security. Unlike several countries in the West, the safety of senior citizens in our country has always been a challenge. They are particularly vulnerable to crimes and frauds. In 2019, the cases of crime against senior citizens rose by 88%. Out of 20,532 IPC crimes under crime against senior citizens, maximum cases were registered under cheating (1,867 cases) followed by robbery (1,294 cases), murder (1,053 cases) and grievous hurt (949 cases). If there is one positive takeaway from the pandemic, it is how even the elderly have shunned their hesitations or fear of using modern smartphones and apps and started using chat or messaging apps to keep in touch with their children or other family members even friends and relatives. Seventy or 80 year olds have finally figured how to connect video calls via WhatsApp, FaceTime or Google Duo and they are loving it. Some have even started using apps for ordering groceries or do basic digital payments. While the senior citizens have made genuine efforts to learn new skills as they adjust to the new normal, it now behooves their younger family members, friends or caretakers to educate and guide them on taking advantage of modern technology to further enhance their own safety and security. Note that their family members are busy juggling their own hectic professional and personal lives and are often hard-pressed to spend much time caring for their parents or grandparents. At the same time, they also do not want to risk the safety and well-being of their parents and are often pushing them to hire someone who can support them with daily chores: a cook, house-help, a caretaker or a driver. Now that the life is returning back to normal, the elderly who live alone are finally consenting to again hiring support to get on with their daily lives. While in the old days it was sufficient for them to hire a new person based on their experience and instinct, today they can rely on modern technology to decide whether a potential hire, or even a potential tenant is trustworthy or not. WhatsApp-based verification services available today allow individuals to quickly get all necessary information about an individual, whether a caretaker, domestic help, security guard or anyone else in order to make well-informed decisions on whether they are trustworthy. Designed specifically for non-technical users, such tools follow a simple step-by-step guided procedure that can verify an individuals identity and criminal records by just uploading the concerned persons identity proof, by using an Aadhaar card or a Driving License. In many ways, WhatsApp-based verification services have democratised the background verification process that large employers have always followed while hiring new employees. Until now, this process was tedious, lengthy and extremely expensive. With the advancement of technology and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in this domain, firms have moved away from their dependence on manual and physical checks to validate identity or criminal records. In other words, technology has made the process cheaper, simpler and faster and accessible directly via a popular app like WhatsApp. In conclusion, the pandemic has made all of us realise that senior citizens are not averse to using technology as long as it brings them clear benefits whether it is video calling their grandchildren or family members or ordering groceries and making bank transactions via a smartphone. At the same time, their family members are also keen to provide them with an environment where they feel safe, secure and cared for. Here again, technology can play a meaningful role in building trust and even provide the senior citizens with the confidence to hire and work with strangers without undue worries. This article has been written by Varun Mirchandani, Founder and CEO, HelloVerify. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday announced expanded coronavirus testing measures intended to encourage more schools to shift to in-person learning. Weekly pool testing is expected to start within the next month, Baker said during a press conference. The announcement comes about a month after rapid testing began at more than 100 schools in the state. And, since the beginning of the school year, the state has offered mobile testing units for schools in cases where there may be a cluster of cases. With the new program, 10 nose swabs from one classroom or cohort of students and staff will go into one tube to be tested together at the lab, explained Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. If the pooled sample is negative, all the individuals are presumed negative. If the pooled sample comes back positive, all the individuals will be re-tested with the rapid test. The positive person and any close contacts will be isolated and quarantined, which should allow classrooms to stay open, Sudders said. The tests are a short swab that go into the front part of a persons nose and are completely painless, Sudders said. These pooled tests cost at least 75% less than the cost of an individual test, she said. The program is voluntary, officials said, but has been developed to help members of the states education community feel more comfortable returning to classrooms even though COVID transmission rates remain high in Massachusetts. The Republican governor and education officials have asked school districts to keep students in classrooms even if COVID transmission rates are high in the community. Baker said research suggests that schools can operate without increasing the spread of the virus, and pointed to the states parochial schools. Unfortunately, too many kids remain learning remotely or in complicated hybrid programs, Baker said. Massachusetts Secretary of Education James Peyser said the program will hopefully allow schools that have recently closed because of rising COVID cases to reopen. Officials said that data so far indicates that current mitigation strategies for schools, like mask-wearing, hand-washing and keeping a distance, are working. Sudders said any transmission of the virus in schools has been rare. Though, parents and teachers have expressed concerns about in-person schooling given the surge happening in Massachusetts. Sudders said the state wants to use every tool it can to prevent and detect spread. Some of the largest districts in the state, including Worcester and Springfield, have relied on remote learning since September. The Worcester School Committee on Thursday night voted to delay the return to in-person learning as cases remain high in the city. Students with the highest level of needs were scheduled to return Jan. 25 and now wont return until a date yet to be determined. Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley said that the department will cover costs for testing during the initial phase of the program, which is estimated to be between $15 and $30 million and will be funded by federal stimulus money. After the initial launch, districts can continue pool testing by purchasing tests through a statewide contract using federal stimulus dollars. School districts providing in-person or hybrid learning will be prioritized for testing kits but schools in remote learning looking to bring students back to classrooms can also participate, Riley said. The new pool testing will be in addition to the rapid testing. That testing is intended for students and staff who develop coronavirus symptoms during the school day. A few districts, like Salem, Watertown and Medford, have recently used pool testing. Riley said the department is encouraged by early results of those programs. Those districts are reporting low positivity rates, and Watertown Superintendent Deanne Galdston has said the testing has allowed the district to stay open, Riley said. Watertown has tested more than 6,400 individuals, including students and staff, and has seen a positivity rate of 0.21% compared to a community rate of 4.4% as of Dec. 31, Riley said. The superintendent told us what the testing is really helping to see is that the core mitigation strategies used in schools, masking in particular, are working, Riley said. MTA President Merrie Najimy called the new program a victory for educators and families. We will support rapid implementation of this voluntary program in all school districts. We are heartened that federal COVID-19 relief funds going to public school districts will be available to continue the testing after state funding runs out, Najimy said. However, Najimy added that surveillance pool testing is not a magic solution to make schools safe and that schools must still have safety measures like adequate ventilation systems, mask-wearing and vaccination as soon as possible. From Dec. 24 to Jan. 6, there were 178 students and 253 staff members who reported a positive test for COVID-19 within seven days of being inside Massachusetts school buildings, according to a report released by DESE Thursday. Those numbers are much smaller than previous COVID reports from DESE, likely because students and staff were not in school buildings during winter break, which ran from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1. The last time DESE released a COVID report, on Dec. 24, there were 552 students and 397 staff members with positive cases. The week prior, 591 students and 418 staff members were reported positive, the highest number of total cases reported by DESE in a single week. Earlier this week, DESE announced changes to Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System testing because of the ongoing pandemic. MCAS will be shorter for students in grades 3-8, that there will be a modified competency determination for the class of 2021, and that the commissioner will not name any new schools or districts as underperforming or chronically underperforming. Even though the results from this years tests will not be used to declare any school or district as underperforming, they will provide critical diagnostic information for educators, parents, schools and districts, Peyser told MassLive on Tuesday. Related Content: Health Minister Stephen Donnelly announced a deal has been struck with 16 private hospitals who will make available 30pc of their overall capacity. (Julien Behal Photography/PA) Private hospitals will supply up to 30pc of their capacity to the Department of Health in a new deal announced by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly this evening. Minister Donnelly confirmed that 16 private hospitals have signed up to the 12-month deal with the aim of taking pressure off an already struggling health service as Covid-19 cases surge. There are currently 1,180 patients in Irish hospitals with Covid-19 this evening with 109 in ICU, while 116 people were hospitalised in the last 24 hours. Read More On Thursday evening, it was reported that there were only 22 adult ICU beds unoccupied in the health service, with hospitalisations and ICU admissions expected to grow rapidly in the coming weeks as a record 8,248 cases were confirmed today. Minister Donnelly said there is further leeway to increase capacity even more if the need arises as the third wave of the pandemic reaches its peak of hospitalisations. Minister Donnelly said: I am keenly aware of the excellent local relationships that already exist between public and private hospitals and know that a number of the private hospitals have already begun to make arrangements to take on public patients over the coming days. The additional capacity created by this agreement is critical to enabling the public health system cope with large scale surges in the incidences of the disease. I would like to thank the private hospitals for their support in the national effort to deal with the current surge in the pandemic. I would also like to thank the VHI, which, at the HSEs request has agreed to administer the scheme for public patients, the Minister said. A further 10 Covid-19 related deaths and 6,521 new cases of the virus have been confirmed in Ireland by the Department of Health this evening. There is now a total of 127,657 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland, while the death toll now stands at 2,307. Of the cases notified today, 2,174 are in Dublin, 571 in Cork, 382 in Limerick, 342 in Waterford, 315 in Wexford and the remaining 2,737 cases are spread across all other counties. Meanwhile, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has warned business owners to be prepared for the possibility that they may not reopen until the end of March. Mr Varadkar said the timeline he described is with use of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines and it could be stepped up more if the Astrazeneca one becomes available. But he added: If I was running a business now I would be thinking that its a probability that Ill be closed until the end of March. Read More He added: In case I put the heart across people we will review the situation on January 30 and make decisions on restrictions then. The situation is deteriorating. It is very bad. It is going to get worse in our hospitals and ICUs. Were not going to be out of the woods by the end of January. Supports like the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and weekly payments for businesses which are closed will continue until at least March 31 in case things go on that long. He added: I think anybody in the business community needs to be prepared for that possibility. Up to 500,000 people may end up on the PUP. Mr Varadkar said the Government is engaging with banks to ensure they provide additional payment breaks to mortgage holders and people with loans who cant meet the payments as a result of the crisis and the response so far has been positive. More to follow.. By Benjamin Jumbe The government has cautioned presidential candidates against any attempts to pronounce themselves winners after next weeks elections. The caution comes days after the opposition parties agreed to establish a joint tally center to monitor their votes. Now speaking at a joint media briefing by security chiefs in Kampala, the minister of defense and veteran affairs Adolf Mwesige said only the electoral commission has the constitutional power and mandate to declare final results and announce a winner. He says security will be on standby to deal with anyone who may want to cause chaos. He also dismissed reports that the government had plans to harm the family of the National Unity Platform presidential Candidate Robert Kyagulanyi which prompted him to fly his children out of the country. Advertisement Coronavirus cases could be missed at Britain's border following the government's decision to let travellers choose 'less accurate' lateral flow tests to prove they're Covid-free, scientists have warned. Those arriving in the UK will be able to present negative PCR or lateral flow Covid tests as proof that they do not have coronavirus. Grant Shapps has said nobody will be able to depart for Britain by plane, train or ferry unless they present a 'recognised' test result at check-in along with a valid passport and visa if required. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also adopt the measure. PCR tests can take longer because they are sent off to a lab to check for Covid, with some critics saying 72 hours could be too tight. Rapid 'lateral flow' tests can be turned around in minutes, but missed cases and false positives are more common. The difference has sparked concerns that Covid-positive travellers could present a negative test at the border to gain entry to Britain. Professor Jon Deeks, a testing expert at the University of Birmingham, said: 'The lateral flow test, we know, is not very sensitive so it will miss cases and it isn't suitable.' He added: 'Other countries are using PCR and I would be concerned if we didn't. There are alternatives, but we need something with similar accuracy to PCR.' Dr Alex Edwards, a pharmacy researcher at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'Given that this is a screening programme particularly for asymptomatic people, you want the most sensitive tests available, and PCR tests are the most sensitive available. 'But even different manufacturers have varying levels of accuracy and not everyone is positive if they're infected, which can cause enormous problems. 'I think the problem is that, in general, the lateral flow tests are almost always less sensitive. If you have a really good PCR tests you might catch 80 per cent of people so you can reduce the number cases coming in five-fold. 'We've seen huge variations in accuracy [of lateral flow]. Accuracy is always compared to PCR and when they were used in the real world, for example the study in Liverpool, it showed it was only capable of picking up half of the PCR cases, and that's half of 80 per cent, so you can't even reduce the number of people coming in by two-fold.' Dr Edwards added that using lateral flow tests would prevent scientists from being able to detect or monitor new strains being brought into the country from abroad. The negative Covid test for all travellers to the UK will be imposed 'next Wednesday or Thursday' as stars including Amanda Holden slammed the Government's plan as too little too late as mutant strains from countries like South Africa entered the country. The controversial testing regime was announced, as: Boris Johnson promises 200,000 vaccine doses a day by next FRIDAY with Army running jab drive - as Britain records 1,162 Covid deaths in second worst day ever of pandemic; The PM slammed Covid deniers and told them to 'grow up' while NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens slammed their 'lies' about hospitals being empty; Three people have been charged with assaulting Scottish police after officers entered a family's home because they were told there were 'too many people inside'; Passengers queue up at a Covid-19 Testing Centre at London Heathrow as Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan declares a Major Incident as cases continue to spread throughout the capital Those arriving in the UK will be able to present negative PCR or lateral flow Covid tests as proof that they do not have coronavirus (pictured: January 8, Heathrow) Travellers will be banned from entering the UK next week if they do not have a negative test within 72 hours of departure. Pictured: Heathrow Seething: Amanda Holden shared bikini snap on Instagram on Friday as she slammed government's 'delayed' decision to test people coming into UK for COVID Not impressed: Amanda shared this lengthy post along her swimwear snap In disbelief: So it comes as no surprise that she commented on Amanda's post as she expressed her own disappointment. Other stars also agreed with her rant There are concerns in the travel industry some will be stuck on holiday because many destinations do not have facilities for carrying out tests. Pictured: A man being tested at Heathrow It is expected to cause a scramble for return flights as around 100,000 Brits are currently away in hotspots such as Dubai and the Maldives. Pictured: Heathrow last month Christopher Mardon, a lorry driver travelling to Caen, France via Portsmouth, receives a COVID test at the new haulier testing site at Sutton Scotney services. Hauliers will be exampt coming the other way Mr Shapps told the BBC: 'They can be different types of tests - your viewers will have heard of PCR tests perhaps, but there are also lateral flow tests and lab tests. 'The important thing is that it is up to a certain specification. Then people take that test and as long as it is negative, then they can fly. But they can't board the plan for example without having that negative test.' HOW LATERAL FLOW TESTS ARE ONLY TRUSTWORTHY WHEN ADMINISTERED BY TRAINED STAFF Lateral flow tests are only accurate at diagnosing coronavirus when administered by trained professionals, studies have repeatedly shown. The tests, which give results in as little as 15 minutes, use swabs of the nose or throat. Samples are then mixed in a testing liquid and put into a plastic cassette which can detect the presence or absence of coronavirus and then produce an image of a line, the same way as a pregnancy test, to indicate whether it is positive or negative. The Department of Health and NHS are instructing people to use the tests on themselves, despite manufacturers of some kits saying they shouldn't be used as DIY swabs. Both the swabbing procedure and the use of the test cassette can easily be done wrong and affect the accuracy of the test. If the swab isn't done for long enough, or deep enough into the nose or throat, it may not pick up fragments of virus. Medical professionals are also able to use nasopharyngeal swabs, which go right to the back of the nostril, whereas this is not advised for people who test themselves. And if the sample isn't properly inserted into the cassette the result might be wrong, or people may misread the display when it produces a result. SELF-TESTING CUT ACCURACY FROM 79% TO 58% A University of Oxford and Public Health England evaluation of the Innova lateral flow test, which is being widely used in the UK, found its sensitivity - the proportion of positive cases it detected - fell from 79 per cent to 58 per cent when it was used by untrained members of the public instead of lab experts. Based on this evaluation, officials pushed ahead and used it for a real-world self-testing trial. PILOT IN LIVERPOOL FOUND FEWER THAN HALF OF POSITIVES When the same Innova test was trialled on members of the public in Liverpool - with people taking their own swabs and trained military staff operating the tests - the swabs picked up just 40 per cent of positive cases. In the study the rapid tests detected 891 positive results, compared to lab-based PCR swabs that found 2,829 positives in the same group. This means 1,938 people got a wrong negative result from the rapid test. The study didn't compare this to professionally done rapid tests, but the manufacturer Innova claims its test is 95 per cent sensitive in lab conditions. ...BUT TESTING DONE BY MEDICS IN SLOVAKIA 'REDUCED INFECTIONS' Despite rapid lateral flow tests getting bad press, officials in Slovakia used them on 5.2million people - almost the entire population of 5.5m - in a trial that a study later estimated to have cut the country's infection rate by 60 per cent. The tests used were between 70 and 90 per cent accurate and all the swabs and evaluations were carried out by trained medical workers. They used deep nasopharyngeal swabs, that go to the back of the nose, whereas self-testing generally relies on a swab of only the nostril. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine researchers said that the scheme successfully weeded out coronavirus cases that wouldn't have been found otherwise, slashing the number of cases by over half in a week during a lockdown. HOW RAPID TESTS ARE DIFFERENT TO LAB-BASED PCR SWABS Lateral flow tests are an alternative to the gold standard PCR test - known scientifically as polymerase chain reaction testing - which is more expensive and more labour-intensive but more accurate. PCR tests also use a swab but this is then processed using high-tech laboratory equipment to analyse the genetic sequence of the sample to see if any of it matches the genes of coronavirus. This is a much more long-winded and expensive process, involving multiple types of trained staff, and the analysis process can take hours, with the whole process from swab to someone receiving their result taking days. It is significantly more accurate, however. In ideal conditions the tests are almost 100 per cent accurate at spotting the virus, although this may be more like 70 per cent in the real world. Advertisement The Transport Secretary's diktat forcing travellers to present a negative covid test before travelling to the UK will ground almost all flights to and from Britain until the summer and further lay waste to the aviation industry, Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary warned today. The outspoken Irish billionaire said Mr Shapps' management of the coronavirus crisis has been 'shambolic' and believes the policy is tacit confirmation the Prime Minister is lying to the British people about how quickly Britons will be vaccinated. Mr O'Leary said: 'This is more mismanagement by Grant Shapps. This new rule is going to ground almost all flights to and from the UK. Nobody is going to make any bookings because you cannot book with any certainty. The other problem we have is there is no end date. Boris Johnson is going around saying he'll have all the four main risk groups vaccinated by mid-February - so why aren't they ending this rule then. Otherwise Boris Johnson is lying to the UK or Grant Shapps is'. Businesss leaders also believe the plan will further damage Britain's travel industry with boss of Heathrow, John Holland-Kaye, warning: 'Very few people will travel with this in place'. Amanda Holden has today slammed the policy after cancelling her family's holiday on Boxing Day because of Tier 4 regulations. Sharing a beach bikini picture on Instagram the star slammed a 'senseless year of neglect of Government rules at our borders' and the 'lack of common sense' by ministers. She said: 'Other countries have done it before us. Why has it taken us so long? No one seems to have an answer... or be questioning it?!! Surely this could have prevented the increase of the spread?!!!' Fellow star Jessica Wright replied saying: 'Cancelled mine too for Boxing Day & couldn't agree more, in disbelief over it all' while actress Tracy Ann Oberman also backed her rant with some clapping emojis. MailOnline readers also have concerns about the policy stranding them and loved-ones abroad. Peter Higgins said: 'My son is currently overseas and is in isolation after having contracted Covid-19. Scientific knowledge is that it is highly unlikely that he will be unable to provide a negative test for some time. This will result in his being denied entry following his isolation period, despite being Covid-19 free'. David Peacock told MailOnline: 'I am employed in the Merchant Navy and due to pay off in Antigua between the 15th and 22nd of January. Obviously this all depends on my relief being able to get here and availability of testing facilities either here or somewhere in transit'. The new policy is expected to cause a scramble for return flights as around 100,000 Brits are currently away in hotspots such as Dubai, the Caribbean and the Maldives. Ministers agreed the strict measures last night amid growing pressure to tighten borders - but have not confirmed a start date, although it is expected to be next week. They will apply to Britons and foreign nationals in a bid to keep out infections and mutant strains such as the one in South Africa. Travellers will still have to quarantine for ten days even if they test negative if arriving from a 'red list' country with high rates of Covid-19. But they will be able to leave isolation if a second test, which can be taken from the fifth day, is negative. Mr Shapps said that airlines or other travel firms such as Eurostar or P&O would be forced by law to check - and turn back anyone without one. Anyone who slips through will face a 500 on-the-spot fine. It is not clear whether they will then forced into quarantine or prosecuted. He said the new rules will be imposed in five or six days time to avoid a scramble to get back from abroad. 'The carriers, airlines, train operators or a ferry, would be required by law to check for a test result in the same way they check you have a passport or if you are going to the States you have a visa or a visa waiver,' he told Sky News. 'They will need to check whether you have a coronavirus test valid within the 72 hours before you fly. We hope that soon most people will be vaccinated so this is not something we will want to do permanently'. Britons may be stranded abroad as ministers say travellers will be banned from entering the UK within days if they do not have proof they are clear of coronavirus. Passengers on planes, boats or trains will be banned from entering the UK next week if they do not have a negative test within 72 hours of departure. But there are concerns in the travel industry some will be stuck on holiday because many destinations - such as in the Caribbean - do not have testing facilities. Every traveller coming into UK ports or airports should have a pre-flight negative test to enter or will face a 500 on-the-spot fine. It is not clear whether they will then forced into quarantine. Heathrow Airport's chief executive John Holland-Kaye said that as coronavirus vaccines are rolled out in the UK and other countries, flights would return and passenger numbers would start 'building up' through the summer and into the autumn. But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'That's an awful long time for the aviation sector to survive and we need to see some support from the Government for the airport sector. 'Already we're seeing some airports closing. 'Newquay has closed temporarily. Stansted has closed for half of the day. And we're likely to see more of this unless the Government takes steps to protect it.' He said Heathrow had been calling for business rates relief for airports as has been provided to the retail sector. Mr Holland-Kaye added: 'We pay 120 million a year at Heathrow alone and that's a fixed cost that we just have not been able to reduce at a time when we've been cutting our costs in all other areas.' Airlines and other carriers should bar people from travelling without them but Border Force guards will carry out spot checks on arrivals. However, the travel industry raised fears some Britons could be stranded as countries such as popular destinations in the Caribbean do not have the resources. WHICH LATERAL FLOW TESTS DOES THE UK GOVERNMENT USE? There are currently three lateral flow test devices on the Government's approved list. They are: SD Biosensor Standard Q Antigen Test Manufacturer: SD Biosensor When tested: August Claimed accuracy: 95.5% Real-world accuracy: Thought to be around 70% - source Price: Unknown SD Biosensor's rapid coronavirus test Innova Tried & Tested Antigen Test Manufacturer: Innova Tried & Tested When tested: August Claimed accuracy: 99% Real-world accuracy: 'At least 50 per cent', according to Dept Health Price: 8.69 per test (bulk order) Innova's rapid coronavirus test Healgen Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Test Manufacturer: Healgen When tested: September Claimed accuracy: 97.3% Real-world accuracy: Unknown Price: Unknown Healgen's rapid coronavirus test Advertisement One holidaymaker on a Caribbean island told the Times there was 'zero chance' they could be tested before their flight to the UK tomorrow. All travellers will require a 'passenger locator form' and face a 500 fine if they fail to comply. Children under 11 will be exempt as will hauliers. Hauliers crossing the Channel to France will also still need a negative test before departure following a decision by the French government on Thursday. Some people will also dodge the new rules if they are coming from 'countries without the infrastructure available to deliver the tests'. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: 'With new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions. 'Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence.' Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said he 'strongly supports' the measures being in place once Wales begins welcoming international travellers again. Mr Shapps said the new rules became a 'much more urgent' requirement due to the spread of new coronavirus strains. He told Sky News: 'This is an extra check and we're doing this now because there are these variants that we're very keen to keep out of the country, like the South African variant, for example. 'There are the concerns about the South African one in particular about how effective the vaccine would be against it so we simply cannot take chances.' He also defended the Government against allegations it should have moved sooner to close the border during the pandemic, arguing the UK as an island needed the movement of goods and people. 'Look what happened in the United States, for example, where they did last March entirely closed the border,' he said. 'It hasn't helped them at all, not one iota.' Labour MP and Commons Home Affairs Committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper said there are still 'many gaps' in the UK's approach. 'Currently the UK still has no testing on arrival and very patchy self-isolation arrangements for arriving travellers, in contrast to the strong arrival testing and quarantine arrangements that other countries have,' she said. She urged ministers not to 'make the same mistakes again' on preventing coronavirus cases from arriving from overseas, saying border measures were 'too weak' last spring. Britain's airline industry said it recognised the need to act to introduce pre-departure testing but only as a short-term, emergency measure. Chief Executive of Airlines UK Tim Alderslade said: 'Once the roll-out of the vaccine accelerates, the focus must be on returning travel to normal as quickly as possible in order to support the UK's economic recovery.' But travel consultant Paul Charles raised concerns about how realistic it is to have a pre-arrival test policy. He pointed to reports there is 'zero' chance of getting a test in Barbados because all resources are focused on test and trace. He tweeted: 'How I wonder is the government's plan for everyone departing from overseas to take a test ever going to work?' He also questioned what will happen if test results come back slowly, and whether the infrastructure is in place to handle the paperwork. The government was working with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to roll out similar measures. The new rule would not apply to the Common Travel Area which includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland as well as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It comes after ministers extended the travel ban on arrivals from South Africa to its neighbouring countries to keep out the new strain. It affects Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola, plus the Seychelles and Mauritius. The ban comes into effect from tomorrow at 4am. The Department for Transport said the move was in response to data showing a steep rise in cases of the new variant in the region. Last night Israel was also removed from the 'safe' list. Lockdown restrictions which came into force on Wednesday mean holidays are banned. All passengers arriving from countries not on the government's travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for ten days, regardless of their Covid test result. Scotland, which has devolved powers over transport policy, announced on Thursday travellers from Israel and Jerusalem, Botswana, Mauritius and the Seychelles were being removed from its travel corridor list and passengers arriving from those countries would still be required to self-isolate for 10 days. Around 230 planes hit the tarmac at Britain's six busiest airports on Wednesday, with 26 coming from the US which is being battered by the virus. Thousands have arrived at Heathrow in the past few days, with full data not yet available but sources at the airport said the figure was be in the tens of thousands. In November nearly 747,000 entered through the London hub airport. Figures from Labour yesterday showed that just three in every 100 people arriving in the UK are being checked to see if they are complying with quarantine requirements. Mr Thomas-Symonds has written to Priti Patel to demand 'an urgent review and improvement plan of quarantine arrangements'. Mr Thomas-Symonds said analysis of Government data suggested just three per cent of arrivals expected to quarantine in England and Northern Ireland were successfully contacted by compliance checkers in the summer. He said the Government's Isolation Assurance Service, tasked with ensuring quarantine compliance, did not contact more than 1.9 million of the two million passengers spot checked by Border Force between June and September. Ministers agreed the strict measures last night amid growing pressure to tighten borders (file image) The new rules mean travellers will have to quarantine for ten days even if they test negative if arriving from a 'red list' country with high rates of Covid-19. Pictured, passengers arriving in New York on a flight from London Boris Johnson confirmed earlier this week a requirement for arrivals to have tested negative will be introduced, amid alarm at the spread of new variants around the world. Pictured, border control at Heathrow Airport Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer took aim at the PM (both pictured above) in the Commons today as politicians returned to vote on the new lockdown rules. Who doesn't have to provide a negative test on arrival in the UK? Hauliers Children under 11 Air crews People travelling from countries where tests are not available Border staff Advertisement In a letter to the Home Secretary, Mr Thomas-Symonds said the numbers were 'deeply concerning' and demonstrate that 'efforts to track, trace and isolate cases coming into the UK have been completely undermined'. He said: 'The lack of a robust quarantine system as a result of shortcomings from the Government mean that it is virtually impossible to keep a grip on this spread or other variants that may come from overseas, leaving the UK defenceless, and completely exposed, with the nation's doors unlocked to further COVID mutations. The Labour frontbencher said there must be 'an urgent review and improvement plan of quarantine arrangements' rolled out as soon as possible. The calls for action come amid growing concerns over a variant of the disease discovered in South Africa. The Home Office has defended its 'stringent measures', and pointed to its move to stop direct flights from South Africa to the UK. In the first lockdown, the Government argued against introducing border restrictions while the prevalence was so high in the UK, with experts arguing it would do little to bring down infection rates. However, a quarantine period was introduced in June after the first peak and when cases were more under control. A website dedicated to publishing first-hand accounts of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement has warned its users to prepare for large-scale internet blocks, filters, and censorship in future, in the first indication that China may be exporting its Great Firewall to the city under a draconian national security law that took effect on July 1. The HKChronicles website started receiving reports from users based in Hong Kong that they were no longer able to access the site late on Jan. 6, the site's founder and chief editor Naomi Chan said in a statement. "[I] would also like to advise Hong Kongers to make early preparations to counter future internet blockage at a larger scale, and to face the darkness before dawn," she wrote. Chan said that the website hadn't blocked the users from viewing its content, but that traffic coming from ISPs based in the city had fallen dramatically since the reports started coming in. "After discussing and investigating with our supporters, we found that some ISPs of Hong Kong has deliberately dropped any connection to our servers, so that the user could not receive replies from our servers, resulting in an inability to access our content," Chan wrote. "Some of the websites that share the same IP address were also affected. Based on the reports from users, the ISPs that had participated in the blocking of our website include Smartone, CMHK, HKBN, PCCW, and more," she said. "We believe that Hong Kong ISPs [have] attempted to block our website and prevent citizens from accessing our content, which could involve governments request or cooperation," Chan said. In response to media inquiries, the Hong Kong police declined to comment on individual cases, but cited Article 43 of the Hong Kong National Security Law, which states that the police may require service providers to block access to online content message deemed "likely to constitute a crime against national security or result in a crime against national security." The police said they would "take action in accordance with the law" depending on the circumstances. RFA found that the website's home page was accessible on Friday via mobile network providers and broadband networks, but none of the content linked from the main page would load unless a virtual private network (VPN) was used. The entire site, including Chan's statement, was accessible from the U.K. at around 1800 GMT, however. Internet access under threat Since the city was handed back to China in 1997, Hong Kong's seven million residents have enjoyed unfettered internet access free from the complex system of block, filter, and human censorship that limit what users in mainland China can see or do online. But the national security law, which took effect on July 1, 2020, gives sweeping powers to national security police to take action against public speech that criticizes the Hong Kong or Chinese authorities, or is deemed to encourage action against Hong Kong by foreign entities. While protesters and pro-democracy figures have already been arrested under the law, sometimes on the basis of what they have posted online, the apparent blockage of HKChronicles is the first indication that the newly imposed national security system is beginning to use its powers to censor online content directly. Police said on Friday that all but three of the 53 pro-democracy politicians and social activists arrested under the national security on Jan. 6 had been released on bail, with no immediate charges being brought. Jailed activists Joshua Wong and Tam Tak-chi were among those arrested and questioned in the operation, while former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai was remanded in custody after allegedly failing to surrender a British National Overseas (BNO) passport as required by his bail conditions. So far, dozens have been arrested, but only four people have been charged under the law. And the District Court jailed three people for up to five-and-a-half years on Friday for "rioting" during a mass occupation of the Hong Kong International Airport in August 2019. Amy Pat, Lai Yun-long,and Ho Ka-lok were found guilty of the charge and handed the toughest jail terms to date for participants in the 2019 mass pro-democracy and anti-extradition movement. Pat was also convicted of an additional charge of false imprisonment for using cable ties to restrain Global Times reporter Fu Guohao. Judge Clement Lee said their treatment of Fu was "crazy, extremely aggressive and insulting." Ho was sentenced to five-and-a-half years, Lai to five years and three months, and Pat, who was already in prison over another offense, to four years and three months. Reported by RFA's Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Last month Reuters reported that Apples Project Titan self-driving electric car effort could produce a vehicle by 2024 or so, and now there are more rumors suggesting the company is serious about getting into the business. Earlier today a Bloomberg report focused on a number of people whove been hired on recently, citing sources who claimed work is at an early stage but who also thought it was about a half-decade away from launching. Now CNBC quotes an unnamed spokesperson for Hyundai saying that We understand that Apple is in discussion with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai Motor. As the discussion is at its early stage, nothing has been decided. That follows a Korea Economic Daily report that Apple proposed a deal to the company to develop a car as well as batteries. Good morning, its Jan. 8, 2021, a Friday -- the day of the week when I pass along a quotation intended to be inspirational or thought-provoking. On this date 10 years ago, popular Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords was grievously injured in a Tucson parking lot by a deranged gunman who shot 18 other people, killing six. The level of discourse in this country being what it is, predictable political players and commentators quickly sought partisan advantage from the tragedy. Sarah Palin was to blame, some said, citing an ad Republicans had run targeting Giffords seat -- complete with a bulls-eye. The shooter was anti-Semitic, others said, or a Christian fanatic with ties to right-wing groups. None of this was true. Jared Lee Loughner was an atheist who disliked Christians, didnt follow the news, had no discernible political philosophy, and harbored grudges against two politicians: Gabby Giffords and George W. Bush. Severe mental illness, probably exacerbated by sustained drug abuse, had turned him from the sweet, caring Jared high school friends recalled into an incoherent and frightening young man who kept getting fired from jobs and was banned from his junior college for creeping out classmates. Yet, he was legally allowed to purchase firearms. Ill have a further word on this episode in recent American history in a moment. First, Id point you to RCPs front page, which presents our poll averages, videos, breaking news stories, and aggregated opinion pieces spanning the political spectrum. Todays lineup includes Alan Dershowitz (The Hill), Susan Glasser (The New Yorker), John Kass (Chicago Tribune), and Sarah Zhang (The Atlantic). We also offer original material from our own reporters, columnists, and contributors, including the following: * * * Organization Bans Realtor Hate Speech. Anywhere. 24/7. At RealClearInvesitgations, John Murawski reports on the National Association of Realtors decision that governs its 1.4 million members, even in their private lives. The Churchs Problematic Embrace of Donald Trump. RealClearReligion editor Chandler Lasch laments many believers failure to admit that a leaders character matters when it damages the Christian message. Commission on Unalienable Rights: Lessons Learned. At RealClearWorld, Peter Berkowitz and Mary Ann Glendon spotlight gains achieved by the State Department panels work to promote principles of freedom worldwide. Toward a Stable Nuclear Deterrent. At RealClearDefense, Steve Cimbala and Adam Lowther urge Joe Biden to reconsider his promise to reduce the U.S. arsenal at a time when China and Russia are bolstering theirs. Time to Reassess the New Deal? At RealClearMarkets, Christopher Baecker argues that a lingering ill effect from FDRs program is the belief that government can cure what ails us. Importance of Civic Education in a Creedal Nation. Professor Robert George tells Mike Sabo that absent widespread civic knowledge, America is on its way to oblivion. Funniest Side Effects of Returning From Space. RealClearScience editor Ross Pomeroy writes that gravity reasserts itself in messy ways once astronauts find themselves back on Earth. * * * The ill-fated Jan. 8, 2011, event in a Safeway parking lot in Tucson was Giffords first Congress on Your Corner event. The idea was to meet with constituents and listen to their concerns. Giffords was that kind of public servant. Instead, the scene became a bloodbath. The innocents slain that day were respected federal Judge John Roll; Gabe Zimmerman, a 30-year-old aide in Giffords office; retirees Dorothy Morris, Dorwan Stoddard, and Phyllis Schneck; and a lovely 9-year-old girl named Christina-Taylor Green. One day we were a beautiful family of four, and the next day, we woke up, and we had three -- with no real preparation, no warning, no nothing, her father recalled on the fifth anniversary of that awful day. It jars every part of your life. Really, we were a balanced family -- a father and mother, a son and daughter and then when that happened, we were unbalanced, he added. We are still unbalanced, but we are learning how to deal with that unbalance. Thats always going to be there. Gabby Giffords survived a gunshot to the head, but was left severely unbalanced in other ways. A promising young moderate Democrat with charisma and character, her future in politics seemed limitless. All that was taken from her in a moment. Well, not the character part; she kept that while embarking on a long and painful rehabilitation that included dealing with paralysis and aphasia. She appeared in the House of Representatives chamber in August 2011 where she received a standing ovation from both sides of the aisle, but she was obliged to give up her seat a year after the shooting. Yet the 10th year of her recovery, a deeply trying one in our country, brought some measure of success to Giffords and her family. In the summer, she made an evocative appeal for Joe Biden at the Democratic Partys virtual convention. In the autumn, her husband, former NASA astronaut Mark Kelly, won an Arizona Senate seat. This morning, the New York Times published a powerful essay by Gabby Giffords seeking to put all Americans, regardless of party affiliation, in touch with their better angels: That January morning, I had been looking forward to spending time with the people I represented, talking about hopes and needs, she wrote. It was the part of the job I loved the most. Since then, I have fought every day to regain all that I lost, from walking to speaking to being able to serve my country. I have had to re-examine my own hopes and expectations. It is exhausting. But I stick to my purpose: I still want to make the world a better place. All of the sense of possibility I felt when I arrived in that parking lot 10 years ago has stayed with me. And thats our quote of the week. Carl M. Cannon Washington Bureau chief, RealClearPolitics @CarlCannon (Twitter) ccannon@realclearpolitics.com GENEVA - World Health Organization experts have issued recommendations saying that the interval between administration of two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine can be extended to up to six weeks. WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on immunization, known as SAGE, formally published guidance Friday saying that an interval of 21 to 28 days between the first and second doses is recommended. But the U.N. health agency also noted that ''a number of countries face exceptional circumstances of vaccine supply constraints combined with a high disease burden,'' and some have considered postponing the administration of second doses as a way to expand the number of people initially immunized. (AP) Equity benchmark Sensex soared 689 points to end at a fresh all-time high on Friday, led by Infosys, TCS and Reliance amid strong buying sentiment in global equities. The 30-share BSE index closed 689.19 points or 1.43 per cent higher at 48,782.51. It touched an intra-day record of 48,854.34. Similarly, the broader NSE Nifty rallied 209.90 points or 1.48 per cent to close at its record high of 14,347.25. During the day, the index scaled a life-time peak of 14,367.30. Maruti was the top gainer in the Sensex pack, rising around 6 per cent, followed by Tech Mahindra, Infosys, UltraTech Cement, PowerGrid and NTPC. On the other hand, IndusInd Bank, Bharti Airtel, SBI, ITC and HDFC were the laggards. According to Binod Modi, Head-Strategy at Reliance Securities, growing expectations of stronger fiscal stimulus in the US after Congress confirmed President-elect Joe Bidens victory have fuelled equities rally globally. Markets completely downplayed earlier concerns of reversal of lower tax rates in the scenario of Democrats taking control of both the houses of Congress, he added. A sustained rebound in key economic data for December 2020 and likely commencement of vaccination drive shortly in India augur well for domestic equities, he said, adding that the underlying strength of domestic equities is intact, which essentially can propel benchmark indices to witness fresh highs in coming weeks. FPIs are unlikely to turn net sellers barring select weeks of days considering the status of global economy, stance of global central bankers and weak dollar, he stated. Elsewhere in Asia, bourses in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Seoul ended with significant gains, while Shanghai was in the red. Stock exchanges in Europe were also trading on a positive note in early deals. Meanwhile, the global oil benchmark Brent crude was trading 0.59 per cent higher at USD 54.70 per barrel. MASON CITY, Iowa - In light of Wednesday's events at the Capitol, a growing number of bi-partisan leaders are calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove President Trump from office. To put it simply, the 25th Amendment outlines the process for the Vice President to permanently assume power if the President is disabled, dies or resigns. However, Section 4 of the Amendment pertains to removing the President if they are unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office. Political expert Bennett Smith says removing the President against his will would require a majority of the 15 secretary cabinet he appointed and the Vice President to all be in agreement. "If these were more independent minded people, I think this would be a stronger discussion. Having said that, we don't know how the people would react at this point. Given what happened yesterday, we'll just have to wait and see." If there is agreement, and President Trump challenges it, Bennett says it must be put to a Congressional vote. "There would have to be a two-thirds vote of the House and Senate to agree with the Vice President and the majority of the cabinet, that in fact a disability of sufficient magnitude exists." An administration official says while several cabinet secretaries have been informally discussing invoking the 25th Amendment, it's highly unlikely Vice President Pence would agree to the move. In addition, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that if President Trump is not removed from office using the 25th Amendment, the House will move to impeach him. By Mubasher Bukhari LAHORE, Pakistan, Jan 8 (Reuters) - A Pakistan court on Friday sentenced Zaki ur Rehman Lakhvi, a senior official of militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), to five years in jail for terrorism financing. Lakhvi and the group are accused by India and the United States of being behind the 2008 Mumbai attacks - though the charges or sentence are not related to any specific incident. He was sentenced to five years concurrently on three counts, with a fine of 100,000 rupees on each count, an order from the court seen by Reuters said. India has long called on Pakistan to try Lakhvi for the Mumbai attack, in which over 160 people were killed, but Islamabad has said that Delhi has not given it concrete evidence that it can use in a court to try the LeT leader, which it had initially arrested in 2008 but was later released on bail. He was arrested again on charges of terrorism financing on Saturday. The United States welcomed his arrest but called for him to be tried for the Mumbai attacks, too. "We will follow his prosecution & sentencing closely & urge that he be held accountable for his involvement in the Mumbai attacks," the U.S. State Department said on Twitter. According to Delhi, the lone surviving gunman of the attack, who was executed in 2012 after sentencing by an Indian court, told interrogators that the assailants were in touch with Pakistan-born Lakhvi, who is said to be LeT's chief of operations A U.N. Security Council sanctions committee says Lakhvi is involved in militant activity in a number of other regions and countries, including Chechnya, Bosnia, Iraq and Afghanistan. . Lakhvi's lawyer did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. A spokesman for the Counter Terrorism Department said in a statement that Lakhvi had been sent to prison to serve the sentences. Another man that India says was the mastermind of the Mumbai siege, Hafiz Saeed, was convicted by a Pakistani court on two charges of terrorism financing last year. Saeed denies involvement in the Mumbai attacks. (Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing by Gibran Peshimam; editing by John Stonestreet and Giles Elgood) The GBP/ZAR Exchange Rate Declines From Previous Highs The Pound to SA Rand (GBP/ZAR) exchange rate has fallen to 20.781 ahead of the weekend, 0.78 percent down on the day. South African Rand (ZAR) fell sharply against the Pound and the majority of its other peers this week as the currency came under pressure from the countrys deteriorating coronavirus situation. The Rand spent much of the week on the back foot as the rapid spread of a new variant of Covid-19 grew increasingly worrying for ZAR investors, particularly as the country struggled to procuring vaccines. This in turn stoked speculation that President Cyril Ramaphosa could be forced to impose a new national lockdown in an effort to halt the spread of the virus, further denting the appeal of the Rand, in spite of the broadly risk-on tone which prevailed in broader trade this week. Hans Gustafson, emerging-market strategist at Swedbank AB, commented: The main explanation is related to worries regarding the mutation of the virus and risks for serious lockdowns in the country. The external environment is very positive for the Rand with the US Dollar trending lower and precious metals zooming. If those conditions disappear, the Rand is very vulnerable. The Rand was able to recoup some ground in the tail end of the week however, following Health Minister Zweli Mkhize announcement that the government have secured its first vaccines and that they would start to be rolled out to healthcare workers in the coming weeks. Pound (GBP) Undermined by New Lockdown Announcement At the same time, whilst it was able to advance against the South African Rand (ZAR), the Pound (GBP) suffered in broader trade after a worrying surge in coronavirus cases forced England and Scotland back into lockdown. The strict new shutdown hit Sterling sentiment hard, as the measures will no doubt lead to a contraction in the UK economy in the first quarter of 2021. Analysts at Goldman Sachs suggest: 'Our estimates suggest that the hit from the latest restrictions will be notably smaller than in April (as factories remain open and activity has become less sensitive to restrictions) but somewhat larger than in November (as schools are closed). 'The uncertainty around near-term activity is large, with risks skewed towards a larger Q1 contraction in light of the unpredictability of the new virus strain.' GBP investors were also worried by warnings from Boris Johnson and his minsters that the new lockdown could last into March, as well as speculation the Bank of England (BoE) will be forced into easing its monetary policy even further to help support the UK economy through the first quarter. GBP/ZAR Forecast: Coronavirus Headlines Remain in Focus Looking ahead, it seems safe to assume that coronavirus developments will continue to act as the main catalyst of movement in the Pound to South African Rand (GBP/ZAR) exchange rate next week. In the UK, the continued rise in cases is likely to put even more pressure on the NHS, potentially raising doubts over the government plans to start lifting the lockdown in mid-February, which in turn could undermine Sterling sentiment. However, the Rand could face even more pressure as a result of the countrys deepening coronavirus crisis, with the threat over a new lockdown and concerns over the lack of a vaccine rollout likely to loom large over ZAR exchange rates. Also, of note to GBP investors will be the publication of the UKs latest GDP figures. Novembers monthly release is expected to report a sizable contraction in economic growth due to the lockdown that was in place at the time, although the Pound could find some support is this slump proves smaller-than-expected. "Let there be no doubt: This was an attack on every American who risked their well-being during a global pandemic to participate in our democratic process and elect a new President and a new Congress. Notably, this attack came the day after Black and Brown Americans once again lifted their voices and voted to yield historic change in Georgia, securing a place for progressive values in the U.S. Senate. These attacks will not be successful. The transition of power will continue and a Biden-Harris administration will begin on January 20 alongside a new Congress. "We are facing a foe far bigger than this moment. Yesterday's assault was not an isolated incident but rather an insurrection centuries in the making. From the forcible removal of Native Americans from their own land to the enslavement and torture of Black bodies, America has sanctioned white supremacy since its inception. White supremacy has beaten back previous attempts at forging an inclusive, multiracial democracy, from the forcible creation of Jim Crow undoing the hard-fought victories of the Civil War to the backlash against economic justice, gender justice, and racial justice movements of the 20th century. In recent years, the effort to reassert white supremacy has manifested in restrictive immigration policies, Tea Party disruptions, and massive MAGA rallies. Yesterday, that effort took the form of ethnonationalists taking selfies with Capitol Police and breaking and entering into lawmakers' offices, in stark contrast to the militarized police presence deployed on Black and brown Americans when they protest peacefully. We have a duty and responsibility to take action now and create a radically more equitable, stable, and inclusive democracy for our future. "First and foremost, we must pursue the immediate lawful removal of President Trump from his office, whether through the invocation of the 25th Amendment or through a formal impeachment process. Secondly, the 117th Congress must investigate the lawmakers, Capitol Police and media outlets complicit in inciting this attack and others like it. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, America must commit to enacting long-term structural democracy reforms, such as the For the People Act (H.R. 1) and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act , to ensure free and fair elections and safeguard our democratic process. We also must strongly consider further structural reforms encompassing everything from the abolishing of the Electoral College to the democratizing of the Senate and addressing the economic inequities that contribute to political inequality. "At this perilous time for our democracy, may we remember that we the people have the power and the responsibility to save it." Media Contact: Colleen Roache [email protected] Shanae Bass [email protected] (For media interviews with K. Sabeel Rahman please contact Colleen Roache and Shanae Bass) About Demos Demos is a dynamic "think-and-do" tank that powers the movement for a just, inclusive, multiracial democracy. Through cutting-edge policy research, inspiring litigation and deep relationships with grassroots organizations, Demos champions solutions that will create a democracy and economy rooted in racial equity. SOURCE Demos Related Links http://www.demos.org Pittsfield Man Arrested After Riot in U.S. Capitol Statement from U.S. Attorney Andrew E. Lelling on Breach of U.S. Capitol https://t.co/SxcZCGiY2Y pic.twitter.com/xqfTr9fw3b U.S. Attorney MA (@DMAnews1) January 7, 2021 PITTSFIELD, Mass. A Pittsfield man is among those facing charges after the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. David Lester Ross, 33, was recorded in the Metropolitan Police Department's listing for "Unrest-Related Arrest Data" on Wednesday, Jan. 6. He was the only Massachusetts resident charged as of Jan. 7 but his hometown was not provided. Boston.com reported Friday that he is a Pittsfield resident. Ross was charged with curfew violation and unlawful entry. He was picked up in the 100 Block of First Street NW in Washington, D.C., an area northwest of the Capitol building, according to police. The time he was arrested is not listed in the arrest data but Boston.com reports that police say he was arrested after 7 with a number of other people for refusing orders to abide by the curfew. Police say Winter "without lawful authority, did enter and attempt to enter certain public property, that is, the United States Capitol Grounds, against the will of the United States Capitol Police." It is not clear if he was involved in the mob that broke into the Capitol building during the counting of the electoral votes for president. Five people died in the attack, including one Capitol police officer. Numerous other officers were reportedly injured. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, regarding the riot, said on Thursday that "anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts." More than 50 people were arraigned on Thursday, mostly for curfew violations and unlawful entry. They were ordered to leave the District of Columbia with return dates set to face charges. Boston.com reports that Ross has a court date of June 10. His attorney is Darryl Daniels II. A Facebook page for a David L. Ross shows him holding a firearm in his profile picture with a "Trump Pence" logo. There are posts of conspiracy theories, such as Bill Gates chipping people, and of supporting the president. He also apparently attended a Trump rally in New Hampshire in October. The page gives his history as having served in the infantry in the Army and the National Guard. It says he also worked at Family Dollar and Big Y and is originally from Catskill, N.Y. Count me among the people who pat themselves on the back when they carefully pack away food in the freezer, knowing there's something to cook and eat in the future. That, my friends, is only half the battle. Of course, there's the whole issue of remembering what's actually in there (I've been trying to track our inventory on a magnetic whiteboard, at least when my son isn't insisting on taking it down to write on). But you also need to figure out when and how to thaw it, and that can often be the one thing that tips the scales from timely convenience to time-consuming roadblock. Or worse. "You want to defrost food the safe way," says Shauna Henley, a family and consumer sciences educator at the University of Maryland Extension who has a PhD in biology with a focus on consumer food safety issues. "It's basically to prevent potential foodborne illness or food poisoning." So how do you ensure your defrosted food is safe and satisfying? Read on. - Meat. This is the one to really pay attention to and the category with the largest potential for foodborne illness if not handled properly. Pathogens thrive at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees, so your goal is to keep the food out of what is often referred to as "the danger zone." That's exactly why leaving your meat to thaw on the counter is never, ever a good idea, no matter the temperature of your house or how cold the food feels to the touch. Similarly, you should never leave food on your porch or other places outside to thaw. Period. The easiest, safest and most forgiving spot to defrost meat, Henley says, is the refrigerator. Verify with an appliance thermometer that the fridge is between 32 to 40 degrees, and familiarize yourself enough with your refrigerator to know where the especially cold spots are that could slow down the thawing process, such as near a fan. Keep the thawing meat in a clean bowl or plate to catch any leaks. The time will vary depending on the size of the meat and your refrigerator, but the U.S. Agriculture Department says to count on at least 24 hours per 5 pounds of a large cut, such as a turkey, and at least a day for smaller items, such as ground meat or chicken breasts. Cook thawed red meat within 3 to 5 days and ground meat, poultry and seafood within 1 to 2 days. Refrigerator thawing is the only defrosting method after which you can safely refreeze the raw food, though you may experience a loss of quality. As Harold McGee explains in "On Food and Cooking," water is a more efficient medium for transferring heat to meat than air (20 times faster, to be precise), while still keeping the surface of the meat out of warmer, microbe-friendly temperatures. That's why a cold-water bath, in a bowl on the counter or the sink, is another recommended strategy for thawing meat. Henley recommends using water that is colder than 70 degrees. Be sure the meat is in a leakproof bag or packaging. Whether you place a plate or bowl on top to keep the food submerged is up to you, though doing so may speed up the process a little. Regardless, change the water every 30 minutes and wash your hands each time as well. Henley says to count on about 1 hour of the water bath per pound of food, though timing can vary. Food thawed by this method should be cooked right away and cannot be refrozen while raw. You can, however, refreeze the cooked food, if desired. If you're really in a pinch, you can thaw meat in the microwave. There are a few risks here, including that you may begin to cook/overcook or dry out the meat before you even start to prepare the dish. Also, warming the meat in the microwave means "there's a lot of good things going on" for potential pathogens, Henley says. That's why microwave-thawed food also needs to be cooked right away and cannot be refrozen until it is fully cooked. Defrosting in the microwave can be a bit of "trial by fire," as Henley says, as they vary in strength. Be sure to read the manual for recommended times. Covering the food while defrosting can help retain moisture, while occasionally flipping or rotating can help ensure even thawing. You can cook meat and poultry from frozen. McGee says this works well "with relatively slow methods such as oven roasting, which give the heat time to penetrate to the center without drastically overcooking the outer portions of the meat." He says to expect cook times that are 30 to 50% more than those with fresh cuts. Whatever method you choose (and whether you started with frozen food or not), be sure to have a thermometer handy to ensure the food has reached a safe minimum internal temperature. - Soups, sauces and broths. If you have enough time, go ahead and let these thaw in the refrigerator. This can take several days depending on how much you froze and its shape - a flatter layer (Henley likes 4 inches or less), for example, will thaw faster than a tall cylinder. Henley often employs a two-prong strategy for thawing soups and stews, using the microwave to loosen the food from the container before transferring to a pot to finish heating all the way through. (The government recommends bringing soups and sauces back to a rolling boil to ensure safety.) You can also run your container briefly under tap water just enough to loosen it from the sides before heating on the stove top. - Bread. This one's easy and, hey, no risk of food poisoning. The lowest lift is to let a frozen loaf thaw, still wrapped, on the counter for a few hours or overnight, and then crisp it in a 350- to 400-degree oven for a few minutes. Or wrap the still-frozen bread in foil and heat for 15 to 30 minutes, depending on size and whether you want to just quickly thaw or also warm it. If you've frozen individual slices, those will thaw very quickly on the counter or can go straight into the toaster or toaster oven. Pizza dough is especially handy to keep in the freezer. For that or other yeasted doughs, let thaw at least overnight in the refrigerator. Slices of baked pizza - a lifesaver in my house - can go from freezer to oven. I typically bake them on a sheet pan at 375 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes. Or use a pizza stone if you have one. Timing will vary depending on how thick the crust is. - Other baked goods. Any baked treats, such as cookies, brownies, etc., are fine to defrost on the counter. A brief stint in the oven at 350 degrees can bring them close to freshly baked perfection. I've also successfully thawed cookies in the microwave. Try starting with 30 seconds at 50% power. Add a little more time as needed. If it's close, I might do a quick blast (10 seconds or less) at full power. This works especially well with things like chocolate chip cookies. If you've stashed individual portions of cookie dough, those can be popped straight into the oven for baking. Depending on the cookie, it may require little to no extra bake time. Thaw frozen discs of pie dough in the refrigerator overnight. Pfizer and AstraZeneca's vaccines have received top billing in the Australian government's plan to contain COVID-19 but there's a bit riding as well on a US biotech that has never had a vaccine approved in its 33-year history. Maryland-based company Novavax on Friday said it had finalised its deal with the Australian government for 51 million doses of its vaccine, with the company aiming to deliver the product "by mid-2021", if it is shown to be successful. Nita Patel, left, leads an all-female team working on the Novavax vaccine. Credit:Novavax The Australian government has a keen interest in seeing Novavax succeed. The biotech's vaccine, which was tested on volunteers in Melbourne and Brisbane last year, is one of the four key supply deals the government is banking on. While the blueprint for vaccine rollout revealed on Thursday showed the government focusing on the Pfizer and AstraZeneca products in the first instance, the order with Novavax is the second-largest agreement by dose size that Australia has so far signed. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine works against a key mutation found in new, fast-spreading coronavirus variants first discovered in the United Kingdom and South Africa, and now spreading across the globe. The finding,published late Thursday night, but not yet peer-reviewed, bolsters many scientists' expectations that the immune response triggered by vaccines will be broad enough to counter the new, highly contagious variants. The study showed the immunity conferred by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine could block a version of the virus that contained one key mutation among the ensemble of changes found in both the U.K. and South Africa variants. More experiments and direct tests of both variants in the next few weeks will bring greater clarity. "I think this [study] is really important, because there is a lot of fear and uncertainty at the moment about this specific question," said Shane Crotty, a vaccine and immune system scientist at La Jolla Institute for Immunology who wasnot involved in the study. Crotty and other experts have suspected that the variants were unlikely to escape the broad protective response mustered by the immune system, but have been waiting to see evidence. "It's not surprising, but it's been really important to see some data," Crotty said. The studyis the leading edge of what is likely to be a flood of research that will help clarify whether the vaccines that have been authorized - and those still in the pipeline - could protect against the variants. To do those experiments, scientists take blood serum from immunized people and test whether their antibodies are still effective at blocking either the variant virus or pseudoviruses engineered to contain the same mutations. John Mascola, director of the Vaccine Research Center at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said there was a "major effort within NIH to work with the companies to do these exact tests ... happening as we speak." The emergence of the variants has raised alarm in part because of evidence they are more contagious. The U.K. variant has already been detected in more than 30 countries, as well as in eight states in the United States. A more transmissible virus will require more people to be vaccinated to reach herd immunity - the threshold at whichenough people are immune that a virus can't spark new outbreaks. The changing coronavirus also underscores another reason to get people vaccinated quickly, because each sick person acts as an incubator, giving the virus the chance to mutate into potentially more troublesome forms as it multiplies inside people's cells. The first test of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine against the variants happened quickly in large part because of basic science that has been going on behind the scenes for nearly a year. Pei-Yong Shi, a molecular biologist at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, said that his laboratory had been working since early in the pandemic to create a version of the coronavirus that easily infected laboratory mice, in order to better study it. The mutation, N501Y, then emerged in the real world - detected in highly transmissible variants in both the United Kingdom and South Africa. The variants contained other mutations, but this one was of particular concern because it sits squarely in the region the virus uses to enter cells, and in laboratory tests, it augments the viruses' ability to latch onto and enter cells. Results of a first round of experiments were released by tweet, when Shi's collaborator at UTMB, Vineet Menachery, presented data Dec. 22 on Twitter, showing that blood serum from people who had recovered from illness protected against the key mutation found in the variant. "I would prefer this in a manuscript, but given the time of year and that I'm tired, I'll just tweet the data," Menachery wrote, sharing the first details of an eagerly anticipated finding in a graph. The next big question was whether the antibodies in the blood serum from people who had been immunized offered similar protection. Instead of waiting for an isolate from the variant virus, which Shi expects to arrive next week, they were able to run the experiment right away on the virus they had engineered for mouse experiments. "It was quite a case of basic science anticipating what was going to happen in nature," said Phil Dormitzer, chief scientific officer of viral vaccines at Pfizer. "It was fortuitous he had this virus to test." The results show that the serum from 20 patients who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech was just as good at neutralizing the virus with the mutation as the one without it. While researchers are waiting for more conclusive results from direct tests of the virus with all the mutations, it is a hopeful sign - and a call to set up a global system to track changes in the coronavirus over time, to understand where, why and how the virus is changing. Even if the vaccines remain effective against the variants, as many scientists think they will be, there is an urgent need to track the genetic changes that could eventually elude a vaccine and require scientists to design and test new ones. "One clear scientific message is that we need to track and study these variants in great detail," Mascola said. "We didn't know, a few months ago, how much variation would occur in this virus, how quickly it would occur, or what the impact of this variation would be. Now we know: A variant can emerge in a population and become dominant in a matter of weeks or months." Bollywood actress Shilpa Shirodkar, who is currently in United Arab Emirates (UAE), became the first actress from India to receive the vaccination against COVID-19. She took to Instagram and shared the news with everyone. The 51-year-old actress who is an avid social media user, on Thursday shared a photo of herself after getting vaccinated. She can be seen wearing a mask with a band aid on her arm. She captioned the post as, "Vaccinated and safe !! The new normal .. here I come 2021 Thank you UAE." Many countries around the world are getting ready to begin the vaccination process for older citizens, politicians and healthcare workers. Back in December 2020, several actors and politicians like Sir Ian McKellen, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris took to their social media accounts and shared their experience after getting the vaccine. According to a report by the Union Health Ministry on January 6, 2020, India is preparing to roll out the mass immunisation program within 10 days. Meanwhile, reports revealed that more than 75 lakh beneficiaries have already registered on Co-WIN software till date. Notably, Shilpa Shirodkar is best known for films like Gopi Kishan, Trinetra, Dil Hi To Hai, Hum, Aankhey, and others. She is the elder sister of former Miss India and Mahesh Babu's wife Namrata Shirodkar. Shilpa reportedly took a 13-year hiatus from acting but returned to screen with Zee TV series Ek Mutthi Aasmaan in 2013. ALSO READ: Shilpa Shirodkar On Her Bollywood Struggle: Mithun Da Was Instrumental In My Jinxed Tag Getting Wiped Out ALSO READ: Priyanka Chopra Defies COVID-19 Lockdown Rules In UK; Clarifies 'Paperwork Legally Permitting Her To Be There' The Department of Justice has warned that national security secrets may have been stolen from the Capitol after hundreds of Donald Trump's mob ransacked its offices. Rioters were pictured at the desks of high-ranking members of Congress, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi, with unfettered access to dossiers, computers and phones. It comes amid questions over the lax security and claims from a Metro DC cop that off-duty military and police personnel were among the thugs and 'flashing their ID badges' at their on-duty colleagues. Michael Sherwin, acting US attorney for the District of Columbia, said 'items, electronic items were stolen from senators' offices, documents and ... we have to identify what was done to mitigate that.' The prosecutor said an investigation could take 'several days to flesh out exactly what happened, what was stolen, what wasn't.' A supporter of Donald Trump brazenly rests his feet on the desk of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi - he was later pictured standing outside the Capitol Building holding her mail An officer inside the Capitol Building appears to take a selfie with a Trump supporter during the riot Shortly before 2pm, the rioters descended on Capitol Hill while lawmakers were inside certifying the vote. Over the next two hours, the violence escalated. Some broke into politicians' offices, tauntingly sat at their desks and left threatening notes. One of the protesters was shot dead by cops (bottom right) Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) said at least one laptop had been stolen from his offices, while another protester was seen brandishing Pelosi's mail outside the Capitol in the aftermath. The Senate Parliamentarian's office was ripped apart by the rabble, with footage showing the floor of her rooms covered in files taken from drawers and cabinets. It comes as an image of a police officer has emerged showing him appearing to take a selfie with one of the Trump supporter's during the riot which left five people dead - including four protesters and a policeman. Other photos reveal officers chatting freely with the Trump supporters as terrified lawmakers barricaded themselves inside rooms throughout the building. A serving Metro DC police officer took to Facebook to claim that off-duty members of the police and military were flashing their ID cards and badges as they walked by law enforcement. 'If these people can storm the Capitol building with no regard to punishment, you have to wonder how much they abuse their powers when they put on their uniforms,' the officer wrote. 'The fact that police officers from other agencies have aligned themselves with such terorristic groups shows how scary it is to be BLACK in America ... They weren't trying to hide who they are because they know nothing will happen to them.' A supporter of Trump's sits inside the offices of Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi during the riot An officer speaks with a demonstrator during Wednesday's riot Video stills show how the cops were completely overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd. They breezed past them before storming into the Capitol building US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, under pressure from Schumer, Pelosi and other congressional leaders, was forced to resign. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked for and received the resignation of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, Michael Stenger, effective immediately. Paul Irving, the longtime Sergeant at Arms of the House, also resigned. 'There was a failure of leadership at the top,' House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. It is not clear how many officers were on-duty Wednesday, but the complex is policed by a total of 2,300 officers for 16 acres of ground who protect the 435 House representatives, 100 U.S. senators and their staff. By comparison, the city of Minneapolis has about 840 uniformed officers policing a population of 425,000 in a 6,000-acre area. There were signs for weeks that violence could strike on January 6, when Congress convened for a joint session to finish counting the Electoral College votes that would confirm Democrat Joe Biden had won the presidential election. On far-right message boards and in pro-Trump circles, plans were being made. The leader of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys was arrested coming into the nation's capital this week on a weapons charge for carrying empty high-capacity magazines emblazoned with their logo. He admitted to police that he had made statements about rioting in Washington, local officials said. Sergeant at Arms Paul D. Irving (left) - whose job is to protect the House chamber - and the chief of Capitol Police, Steven Sund (right) both stepped down on Thursday. Police are now building a 7ft wall around the Capitol to protect it over the coming weeks Michael Stenger, Senate Sergeant-at-Arms, also submitted his resignation on Thursday after Mitch McConnell asked for it Trump and his allies were perhaps the biggest megaphones, encouraging protesters to turn out in force and support his false claim that the election had been stolen from him. He egged them on during a rally shortly before they marched to the Capitol and rioted. His personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor known for his tough-on-crime stance, called for 'trial by combat.' Law enforcement's intelligence estimates of the potential crowd size in the run-up to the protests 'were all over the board,' from a low of 2,000 to as many as 80,000. So the Capitol Police had set up no hard perimeter around the Capitol. Officers were focused on one side where lawmakers were entering to vote to certify Biden's win. The ransacked office of the Senate Parliamentarian: pic.twitter.com/E7PsSgoAEX Ali Zaslav (@alizaslav) January 7, 2021 Speaker Nancy Pelosi's suite of offices were also targeted by the rioters who smashed a mirror, cracked the Democrat's nameplate and left a menacing message scrawled on a file: 'WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN' The office of the Senate Parliamentarian, an apolitical position, is totally wrecked after the MAGA mob broke into the Capitol Building Footage from inside the offices of the Senate Parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, shows how the furious Trump supporters ripped open her filing cabinets, broke windows and trashed furniture after they forced their way inside Barricades were set up on the plaza in front of the building, but police retreated from the line and a mob of people broke through. Lawmakers, at first unaware of the security breach, continued their debate. Soon they were cowering under chairs. Eventually they were escorted from the House and Senate. Journalists were left alone in rooms for hours as the mob attempted to break into barricaded rooms. Sund, the Capitol Police chief, said he had expected a display of 'First Amendment activities' that instead turned into a 'violent attack.' But Gus Papathanasiou, head of the Capitol Police union, said planning failures left officers exposed without backup or equipment against surging crowds of rioters. 'We were lucky that more of those who breached the Capitol did not have firearms or explosives and did not have a more malign intent,' Papathanasiou said in a statement. 'Tragic as the deaths are that resulted from the attack, we are fortunate the casualty toll was not higher.' Donald Trump is pictured at the Wednesday rally near the White House where he whipped his supporters into a frenzy by repeating his false claims of election fraud Desecration: Papers were strewn over carpets and furniture was flipped over during the violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol Lawmakers cower in fear as protesters try to break down the doors of the House Chamber on Wednesday A Trump supporter posed alongside a statue of President Gerald Ford inside the Capitol A protester walks through Congress carrying Nancy Pelosi's lectern after storming the Capitol The Justice Department, FBI and other agencies began to monitor hotels, flights and social media for weeks and were expecting large crowds. Mayor Muriel Bowser had warned of impending violence for weeks, and businesses had closed in anticipation. She requested National Guard help from the Pentagon on December 31, but the Capitol Police turned down the January 3 offer from the Defense Department, according to Kenneth Rapuano, assistant defense secretary for homeland security. 'We asked more than once and the final return that we got on Sunday the 3rd was that they would not be asking DOD for assistance,' he said. The Justice Department's offer for FBI support as the protesters grew violent was rejected by the Capitol Police, according to the two people familiar with the matter. They were not authorized to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. By then, it was too late. Congressional staffers barricade themselves inside their offices as Trump supporters rampage through the Capitol Building Protesters broke windows to gain access to the Capitol as lawmakers were whisked to safety on Wednesday afternoon Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department descended. Agents from nearly every Justice Department agency, including the FBI, were called in. So was the Secret Service and the Federal Protective Service. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent two tactical teams. Police from as far away as New Jersey arrived to help. It took four hours to evict the protesters from the Capitol complex. By then, they had roamed the halls of Congress, posed for photos inside hallowed chambers, broken through doors, destroyed property and taken photos of themselves doing it. Only 13 were arrested at the time; scores were arrested later. In the aftermath, a 7-foot fence will go up around the Capitol grounds for at least 30 days. The Capitol Police will conduct a review of the carnage, as well as their planning and policies. Lawmakers plan to investigate how authorities handled the rioting. KABUL The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Haneef Atmar, held a VTC meeting with the U.S. State Department's Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation, Mr. Zalmay Khalilzad. During the meeting, which was attended by the U.S. Charge d'Affairs in Kabul Mr. Ross Wilson, the two sides exchanged views on the latest developments and challenges regarding the ongoing peace negotiations in Doha. They discussed strengthening the international community's support for the second round of peace talks between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban, and continuing the joint efforts between Kabul and Washinton for the success of the peace process. Mr. Atmar praised the Afghan-U.S. joint efforts for finding a peaceful solution to the conflict in Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of mobilizing international support and regional consensus around the peace process. Pleased with the start of the second round of peace talks, Mr. Khalilzad assured the Afghan Foreign Minister of the United States full support to the Afghan peace process and Washington's commitment to long-term cooperation in countering terrorism and promoting regional peace and stability. DALLAS, Jan. 8, 2021 Supporting the growing need for senior housing in the densely populated Dallas-Ft. Worth metro, Gardner Capital has broken ground on Gala at Central Park in Hurst. A family-owned private equity firm specializing in multifamily housing and renewable energy development and investment, Gardner Capital aims to complete construction in early 2022. Treymore Construction will serve as general contractor for the project, to be located at 309 W. Pipeline Rd. in Hurst. Hurst Public Facility Corporation is the development partner for Gala at Central Park, while NDC Corporate and Redstone are the financial partners for the transaction. "A couple years ago the City of Hurst realized that we need to address a growing problem in our city, said Henry Wilson," Mayor of City of Hurst. "That problem was sufficient workforce and senior housing. We were so fortunate to develop a community revitalization relationship with Gardner Capital. We now have new communities open or under development to further address the city's growing affordable housing needs. Working with Gardner Capital and their investment team at NDC, we have established a true public-private partnership. Their projects are first class and more than meet the needs for the city and our citizens. It has been a pleasure working with them, truly a partnership relationship, and much more than a traditional city and developer relationship." NDC Acquisition Manager, John Zaluski added "NDC is so excited to be a part of the Gala at Central Park project. This project fits our mission to provide equity capital for the construction of affordable housing for low-income individuals across the country." Since its inception, NDC's affordable housing group has raised over $1 billion of equity, which has resulted in over 15,000 units of housing created. The 94-unit senior complex, with a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments, will include a three-story residential building and a two-story clubhouse with a variety of resident amenities. "As the need and demand for affordable senior housing continues to grow, we are thrilled to break ground and make a genuine difference in the market. We are excited to continue to grow our long term commitment to investing in the City of Hurst as well as build upon our long term partnership with the City a partnership that has and will continue to be a very important one, not only to our Company, but for me personally," said Michael Gardner, President and CEO of Gardner Capital. Gala at Central Park is one of multiple transactions currently in development for Gardner Capital specific to the DFW Region, consisting of over 1,000 units to be completed in the next few years. About Gardner Capital Gardner Capital is a private equity firm with multiple operating businesses focused on affordable housing and renewable energy development, tax credit syndication, and real estate-related investments with offices in St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, and Orlando. Since 1992, Gardner Capital has placed more than $3 billion of equity in affordable housing and related investments. In recent years, Gardner Capital added a rapidly growing national platform for solar development and investment and expanded its commitment to renewable energy and sustainability across its investment platform and operating companies. Gardner Capital is committed to investing in communities, creating upward mobility, and improving the wellbeing of families by developing, investing and raising capital for affordable housing and clean energy-related businesses. Visit www.gardnercapital.com for more information. For additional information, please contact: Chief of Staff, Gardner Capital Corporate, Mike Koehler 314-561-6065 [email protected] SOURCE Gardner Capital Related Links http://www.gardnercapital.com As part of the partnership, Portillo's will be donating $5 from each cake purchased up to $25,000 to No Kid Hungry. This charitable contribution will benefit No Kid Hungry's mission to end child hunger in America by ensuring that all children get the healthy food they need every day to thrive. "As a supporter of No Kid Hungry, and a believer that all children across America should have access to meals, Portillo's is proud to be partnering with No Kid Hungry on this important initiative," said Portillo's CEO Michael Osanloo. "We look forward to bringing our delicious, famous chocolate cakes for a cause to our guests across the country." The single-layer cakes will be available in restaurants from February 5-14. Guests are encouraged to pre-order starting January 12 at portillos.com or by calling 866-YUM-BEEF. Portillo's fans across the country can also purchase a Heart-Shaped Cake on portillos.com. The shop-n-ship cake retails at $43.99, which includes free two-day shipping, and is available to ship to all 50 states. "Children in the United States are facing extraordinary times one in four kids could be living with hunger today because of the coronavirus," said Diana Hovey, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships for No Kid Hungry. "We are grateful for Portillo's support as we work to ensure all kids are getting the healthy meals they need." For more information on the restaurant, please visit www.portillos.com or follow Portillo's on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Customers can find the Portillo's location nearest to them by visiting portillos.com/locations. About Portillo's In 1963, Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small trailer to open the first Portillo's hot dog stand in Villa Park, IL, which he called "The Dog House." Years later, Portillo's has grown to include restaurants in more than 60 locations across several states. Portillo's is best known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, fresh salads and famous chocolate cake. The Portillo's brand also includes Barnelli's restaurants that serve award-winning ribs, pastas with homemade sauces, and fresh salads. Portillo's ships food to all 50 states via Portillos.com. Portillo's Home Kitchen is the company's fast-growing catering business. About No Kid Hungry No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 4 kids could face hunger today. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty. Join us at nokidhungry.org. SOURCE Portillo's Hot Dogs, Inc. Related Links portillos.com Albany, N.Y. Two hospitals in Central New York are among several in the state to use all of their Covid-19 vaccines, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said today. Oswego Hospital and Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse are both among the best in the state at getting shots out quickly, Cuomo said during a conference call with reporters. Cayuga Medical Center in Ithaca has also used 100% of its vaccine allocation so far. Cuomo has been praising fast-moving hospitals and chastising those that are slower all week. No Syracuse-area hospitals were among the states slowest as of today. Overall, the pace of vaccinations at hospitals has improved since Monday, when Cuomo began pushing hard for more speed. He threatened fines for facilities that didnt use their allotments fast enough. The hospitals have made good progress, Cuomo said. Im glad they heard me. Facilities have gone from vaccinating about 10,000 people a day over the first few weeks of distribution to over 50,000 today alone. Cuomo said hell announce a plan Friday to redistribute doses hospitals have on hand, but dont use this week. That could include having health care workers from other facilities come to hospitals with extra vaccines to get the shots or sending the doses elsewhere. Vaccinating health care workers remains the states top priority, Cuomo said. Its so theyre protected and can continue caring for patients, but also so they dont unintentionally spread illness to vulnerable people. A new variant of the coronavirus confirmed in the state earlier this week makes the task even more urgent. The variant, first found in the United Kingdom, spreads more easily, creating the possibility for more cases and more stress on New Yorks hospitals. Staffing shortages are the biggest danger to hospital capacity right now, Cuomo said. Unlike the spring, there are enough beds and equipment. The red line is overwhelming the hospital system, he said. If the U.K. spread catches on in New York, the hospitalizations rate goes up, the hospital staff is sick, then we have a real problem. And then were at shutdown again. Along with health care workers, residents and staff at nursing homes and other long-term residential facilities are eligible for the vaccine. Communities arent allowed to move beyond those groups yet. New York City had planned to start giving shots to police, but Cuomo said they cant. Teachers, police officers, firefighters and other essential workers are in the next vaccine priority group, along with people over 75. Cuomo said hes concerned if the millions of New Yorkers in the next group are allowed to start receiving the vaccine, health care workers will have trouble getting it. And communities cant just vaccinate police, he added. The next group goes together. The following groups are eligible to get a Covid vaccine, according to Cuomos office: High-risk hospital workers (emergency room workers, intensive care unit staff and staff in pulmonary departments) Residents and staff at nursing homes and other congregate care facilities Federally qualified health center employees EMS workers Coroners, medical examiners and certain funeral workers Staff and residents at facilities run by the state Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, Office of Mental Health and the Office of Addiction Services and Supports Urgent care providers Individuals administering Covid vaccines, including local health department staff Eligibility expanded this past Monday to include these new groups: All outpatient and ambulatory front-line, high-risk health care workers of any age who provide direct in-person patient care All staff who are in direct contact with patients All front-line, high-risk public health workers who have direct contact with patients, including those conducting Covid tests, handling Covid specimens and Covid vaccinations The new groups include: Doctors who work in private medical practices and their staff Doctors who work in hospital-affiliated medical practices and their staff Doctors who work in public health clinics and their staff Registered nurses Specialty medical practices of all types Dentists and orthodontists and their staff Psychiatrists and psychologists and their staff Physical therapists and their staff Optometrists and their staff Pharmacists and pharmacy aides Home care workers Hospice workers MORE ON CORONAVIRUS Coronavirus in NY: Cases, maps, charts and resources UK Covid-19 variant makes NYs worst case scenario possible, Cuomo says Mayor Walsh to Cuomo: Keeping Syracuse restaurants closed is inherently unfair NY hospital Covid vaccinations speed up after Cuomo threats Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598 Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar Orders 30 Million COVID-19 Vaccine Doses From India A nasal swab sample is taken from a truck driver in Yangon. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy Yangon Myanmar has ordered 30 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine from India that are due to arrive by February, according to the Presidents Office on Friday. The Serum Institute of India, the worlds largest vaccine manufacturer, is producing the COVID-19 vaccine, called Covishield, that was developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. U Zaw Htay, the Presidents Office director-general, told the media that the government is planning to initially pay US$75 million (100 billion kyats), half the amount for the vaccine order. He said the government has chosen the vaccine because it could be stored at 2-8C, making it more suitable for Myanmars climate. State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi recently said health workers on the COVID-19 frontline are the top priority to be vaccinated. Myanmar has more than 110,000 medical staff. The country is also trying to buy COVID-19 vaccines from the US, UK, Russia and China through diplomatic channels. On Tuesday, Myanmar invited people and organizations to donate to the government vaccine fund. The Ministry of Planning, Finance and Industry stated that two state accounts, containing $250 million (332 billion kyats) and 1 billion kyats ($750,000), were being used to purchase the vaccines. Anyone in Myanmar or abroad is invited to contribute in foreign currency or kyats to the accounts, the ministry added. Following the ministrys invitation, U Chit Khine, chairman of one of Myanmars biggest conglomerates, the Eden Group, donated $1.5 million (1.9 billion kyats). Another business chief, U Zaw Zaw, chairman of the Ayeyarwady Foundation, who already contributed more than $11 million to the countrys COVID-19 measures, donated a further 2 billion kyats ($1.5 million) for vaccines. On Thursday, Myanmars military donated 1 billion kyats ($753,000) for vaccines. The Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, which was established by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, said it has earmarked a donation of 10 million kyats ($7,500) and it is accepting public donations. The President Offices said the government after 48 hours received 1.3 billion kyats ($980,000) from the 117 donors and $2.5 million (3.3 billion kyats) from the five donors. On Thursday, Myanmar reported 128,772 COVID-19 cases, including 2,799 fatalities and 112,048 recoveries. Since Dec. 19, Myanmar has seen a decline in daily COVID-19 cases. Fewer than 1,000 new cases are now being reported per day, down from a peak of more than 1,400 daily cases. Cases have been reported in about 300 townships across the country. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Appeals to Public to Help Fund Purchase of COVID-19 Vaccines Myanmar Hopes to Vaccinate Health Staff in February More New Jersey Democratic members of Congress on Thursday called on Donald Trump to leave office or be removed, a day after the presidents supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol in a violent protest. Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and Reps. Donald Norcross, D-1st Dist., Albio Sires, D-8th Dist. and Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., joined three other New Jersey lawmakers in calling for Trump to be impeached an unprecedented second time. Its still surreal that a sitting president of the United States calls on his citizens to got to the Capitol and literally shut it down, said Norcross, who was ushered off the House floor when the protesters invaded the building and began knocking down doors and breaking glass. History will treat this as a self-inflicted wound by terrorists of our democracy. I woke up this morning and thought, I cant believe this happened. Sires signed to a resolution of impeachment offered by three members of the House Judiciary Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue, that cited Trumps efforts to subvert and obstruct the certification of the results of the 2020 election. The resolution also would prevent Trump from running for public office again, as he has threatened to do in 2024. Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., also endorsed impeachment, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., raised the possibility as well.. The tipping point was Wednesdays invasion of the Capitol while the House and Senate were certifying the electoral votes that would make Joe Biden the 46th president of the United States. The protest disrupted the counting for several hours. Congress eventually certified Biden as the winner early Thursday morning. Trump, amplifying his claims of a stolen election that were rejected by dozens of judges, then-Attorney General William Barr, and officials in all 50 states that certified the election, earlier called on supporters at a rally in Washington that afternoon to go to the Capitol and fight much harder. Youll never take back our country with weakness, he said. You have to show strength. Norcross called on Trump to resign, and if he didnt, suggested invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, which would let Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet remove the president from office. President Trump should resign in disgrace following yesterday's terrible events. I take my oath to our nation seriously, & I support using our Constitutional rights to remove Trump from office as soon as possible. Donald Norcross (@DonaldNorcross) January 7, 2021 Also citing the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit to serve and temporally install Pence as president until Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20, was Booker, Pelosi and incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y. Pelosi and Schumer said Thursday they had asked Pence to act to remove the president for his incitement of insurrection and the danger he still poses, and were awaiting his response. Booker on Thursday called Trump a direct threat to the safety and security of Americans and the integrity of our democracy. Trump incited a violent insurrection against our own government. Congress should be prepared to impeach & remove the President if the Vice President and Cabinet fail to adhere to their constitutional duty. We must protect our national security. Cory Booker (@CoryBooker) January 7, 2021 Norcross and Sires, who voted to impeach Trump in December 2019, and Booker, who voted to convict him in February, both called on Congress to impeach the president a second time if he didnt leave voluntarily or was removed him. The world was watching as a sitting American president attempted to take down democracy by inciting chaos and violence because he cannot accept that he lost an election, Sires said. They joined Reps. Tom Malinowski, D-7th Dist., Donald Payne Jr., D-10th Dist., and Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-12th Dist., who on Wednesday called for Trumps impeachment. I thought we might be able to survive his reckless and criminal behavior until the Jan. 20 inauguration of Joe Biden as our 46th president, Payne said. But his actions in Georgia and his support for rioters and terrorists during the siege of our Capitol Building, a symbol of democracy worldwide, shows he should be removed from office immediately. Three other New Jersey representatives who voted to impeach Trump the first time, Reps. Andy Kim, D-3rd Dist., Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., and Frank Pallone Jr., D-6th Dist., both called for the presidents removal. Pallone said it should occur as quickly as possible through any legal means necessary. And Kim said it was clear that Trump was not fit to continue in his role and incapable of leading our country. Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez and Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-9th Dist., did not immediately respond to questions Thursday about where they stood on removing Trump before his term expires in less than two weeks. Once Congress resumed the counting, a majority of House Republicans, including Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., voted against certifying the ballots in two states, supporting Trumps baseless claims of fraud as they tried to overturn the certified election results. New Jerseys other House Republican, 4th District Rep. Chris Smith, opposed the challenges. Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. After allowing an important feeding program created during the pandemic to lapse before the holidays, the Trump administration plans to restart it this month at the urging of Ivanka Trump, the presidents daughter and adviser. Although anti-hunger advocates are grateful for the intervention, they have complained that the program has been mismanaged. They say that it benefits farmers and distributors more than those in need, and that food deliveries often have been delayed and sometimes spoiled. Congress has been investigating these allegations. Starting Jan. 19, the U.S. Department of Agriculture will add $1.5 billion to the Farmers to Families Food Box program, a distribution of food to Americans in need. It began in May with more than $3 billion in funding and ended in mid-December. The additional money for the program was included in the COVID-19 relief package as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed on Dec. 21. Each week for more than seven months, the Share Food Program gave out 42,000 boxes to about 200,000 people in Philadelphia and surrounding counties in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to executive director George Matysik. Calculating its distribution in a different way, Philabundance gave out a total of 622,660 Farmers to Families boxes equal to 12,064,325 pounds of food during the same time period, according to Kate Scully, director of government affairs for the hunger-relief agency. The boxes were available at city-designated feeding sites in Philadelphia, as well as at food pantries in the region. Nationwide, the Trump administration has said it has distributed 3.3 billion meals made from the food boxes, each containing about 35 pounds of meat, dairy, and produce products. The president ordered that a letter be included saying, I prioritized sending nutritious food from our farmers to our families in need throughout America. It caused an uproar among advocates and others saying that Trump was politicizing hunger. Ivanka moved it ahead Crediting Ivanka Trump for lobbying U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for the additional funding to restart the program, Matysik said, There wasnt much appetite from the White House to keep this program going, but Ivanka, along with Congress, moved it ahead. In a statement, the presidents daughter said, I am proud to share that, thanks to the Trump administrations efforts, the Farmers to Families Food Box program [can] ... continue to feed families in need, [and] provide employment and support our small farmers. During these unprecedented times, this administration will continue to fight for American families and will always put them first. Perdue said in a statement that the boxes will go a long way in helping American families access nutritious and healthy meals as we recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. As welcome as the food boxes have been, their disbursement has at times been bogged down by problems. During the summer, members of Congress noted that to deliver the food boxes, the USDA used its Agricultural Marketing Service, not its Food and Nutrition Service. The marketing service helps farmers sell produce, while the nutrition group administers food aid programs. This may have caused serious delays as distributors unfamiliar with food banks needs were put in charge of sending out the boxes, anti-hunger advocates said. In many cases, food never got to food banks, or when it did, it had already rotted. Also, advocates said that the government paid high prices for the food as much as $60 a box when it should have cost closer to $20, according to reporting by National Public Radio. Operating this program for us has been a roller coaster, said Kait Bowdler, director of food sourcing for Philabundance. Its a tricky place for us to be. On the one hand, its incredible how much extra food weve been able to give out. But there were a lot of issues with logistics and dependability. We want to be careful about biting the hand that feeds us. She said that food boxes were delivered late, or didnt show up at all, or the quality was not what we were expecting. But there were also times the food was absolutely amazing. Fraught with waste In August, U.S. Rep. James Clyburn (D., S.C.) announced that the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis would investigate alleged mismanagement in the program. Meanwhile, during a hearing on food boxes in July, U.S. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D., Ohio) was frustrated by what she saw as the USDAs inability to answer questions about the program. Are they giving [recipients] rotten food, which is what Im hearing in some of these instances? she said. This is fraught with waste, fraud and abuse. In a statement, Kate Leone, chief government relations officer for Feeding America, the nations largest food charity (of which Philabundance is a part), questioned whether the food box initiative was being used more as a job-support program for food distributors and producers than as a means to aid the hungry. Ivanka really highlighted the small-business side much more than the people-in-need side, Leone said. Having studied the hiccups in the program, Deborah Weinstein, executive director of the Coalition on Human Needs in Washington, criticized the Trump administration for allowing the food boxes to end in December. Food banks had to stop providing food to people who were depending on it for the holidays, said Weinstein, whose organization is a nonprofit alliance of national groups that promote public policies for low-income Americans. People were going hungry. Problems developed because the administration was emphasizing helping farmers and ranchers by relying on the Agricultural Marketing Service, she said. And while were not against aiding them, she said, its the Food and Nutrition Service that has the best expertise of distributing food. You need to keep your eye on the ball when feeding hungry Americans. Weinstein pointed out that when Trump threatened to veto the Consolidated Appropriations Act last month, the already dormant food box program would have continued to go dark. Thats a scary thing, she said. Weinstein and other advocates have said that increasing food stamp allowances (now known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) would be a more efficient way to feed hungry Americans than delivering boxes. The Consolidated Appropriations Act included a temporary 15% increase in SNAP benefits, despite the Trump administrations multiple efforts to decrease them. As the pandemic rages, the need to help the hungry is a foregone conclusion, Weinstein said. On Wednesday, the U.S. Census Bureau released a finding showing that in mid-December, 30 million Americans reported they sometimes or often didnt have enough food during the week. Thats 4 million more than in late November. Weinstein concluded, This situation has become incredibly urgent. For the third day in a row Thursday, San Antonio set new records for the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 and for the number of people newly admitted to city hospitals to be treated for the disease caused by the coronavirus. City and county officials for weeks have been warning that local hospitals will soon become overwhelmed if hospitalizations continue to increase at the current rate. Only 10 percent of the citys hospital beds are still available for new patients. In the past 24 hours, 207 people with COVID-19 checked into San Antonios hospitals, pushing the total number of infected patients up to 1,376. On ExpressNews.com: Burnout. Trauma. Disillusionment: The toll of COVID-19 on San Antonio hospital workers Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Bexar County have more than doubled in one month and now account for more than one-third of all the hospital patients in the city. Of those, 394 need intensive care, up from 383 Wednesday, and 214 are using a ventilator to breathe, up from 199 Wednesday. The last time there were more than 200 people on ventilators was Aug. 13, during the summer surge. Officials reported 1,170 new local cases Thursday. Since the start of the pandemic, 128,067 people in Bexar County have been infected with the coronavirus. Nearly one-third of the total have been identified in the past month alone. Continue to do your part. Mask up, practice physical distancing and proper hygiene, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said during the daily coronavirus briefing. Do it for yourself, do it for your family and do it for San Antonio. On ExpressNews.com: Glimmer of hope: Hundreds of San Antonians line up for COVID-19 vaccine The rolling seven-day average of new cases now stands at 1,534 per day, down from Wednesdays record of 1,568. Officials reported nine new deaths Thursday from the past two weeks, bringing the death toll in Bexar County since March up to 1,587. One of the deaths was a white woman in her 80s, and the other eight were Hispanic persons in their 50s, 60s and 70s. The first known case of the new coronavirus variant in Texas was identified this week in a man from Harris County, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The man had no travel history, meaning the variant has been in the state for some time. Community Labs, the local non-profit providing nearly half of the coronavirus tests administered in Bexar County, announced Tuesday that its tests are able to pick up the coronavirus variant, dubbed B.1.1.7, which is more contagious than the strain that has been spreading since March. Community Labs will work with UT Health San Antonio to determine whether the variant has arrived here. Colleen Bridger, the interim director of the Metropolitan Health District, said the city this week sent a reminder to all test providers to increase the number of samples they send to the Centers for Disease Control for genotyping in an effort to quickly identify the variant when it arrives, although it could already be in San Antonio. The coronavirus vaccine is thought to be effective against the new variant. Nearly 40,000 people in Bexar County have received their first dose of the vaccine and about 320 people have received both doses. County officials are counting on the state to distribute more vaccines in the coming weeks for those still in need of a second dose. Bridger said that while more than 1 million people about 60 percent of the countys population are eligible to get the vaccine now, Bexar County has only received about 50,000 doses. The problem is, just because youre qualified doesnt mean youll be able to find a place that has vaccine because there just isnt enough right now, she said, adding that in two weeks the number of doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines available here will increase by 50 percent. While the vaccine supply is still limited, DSHS announced Thursday that state officials will begin sending most of Texas allotment to several large pharmacies and hospitals, creating vaccination hubs, which could vaccinate more than 100,000 people next week. andy.picon@hearst.com | Twitter: @andpicon Robert J. Spitzer is distinguished service professor of political science at SUNY Cortland and the author of several books on the presidency, including The Presidency and the Constitution He is a panelist on WCNY-TVs Ivory Tower. At the end of the 1949 Jimmy Cagney movie, White Heat, Cagneys character, the vicious criminal Cody Jarrett, is finally chased to the top of a gas storage tank. In a final moment of self-destruction, he blows up the tank and himself, proclaiming Top of the world, Ma! On Jan. 6, shortly before Congress was to convene to unseal and count the electoral votes cast for president, the country witnessed President Donald Trumps final act of political immolation. Speaking before thousands of rabid Trump partisans at the ironically labeled Save America rally, the outgoing president whipped the crowd into a frenzy with repeated but utterly baseless charges of election fraud, a corrupt media and lying Democrats. At the conclusion of his speech, Trump sent the crowd down Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol, where the understaffed, under-prepared police force was overwhelmed. Yet even though he concluded his speech by saying, were going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, Trump himself didnt go. As has been true throughout his life, Trump sent others to do his dirty work. Lies: The grease of Trumps presidency This final bit of Trump string-pulling, along with his parade of lies and self-serving declarations, illustrates how the ransacking of the Capitol was the logical and predictable conclusion to the Trump presidency. Trumps lies about the election, repeatedly proven false by public officials and courts, are and have been Trumps stock in trade. As the Washington Post has chronicled, Trump has told over 22,000 lies in his four years in office. In fact, his rate of lying even increased over that time. Now lets not kid ourselves: Theres nothing new about political lies and false narratives. They are as old as American politics, as is presidential lying (who could forget I am not a crook and I did not have sex with that woman?). But what is profoundly different is that Trump has been the fountainhead of national misinformation. Lies have been his modus operandi, his default setting, his way of doing business. Indeed, it was his way of doing business long before his presidency, as many have chronicled, including the local Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston. The consequence for governance is dire: When the commander in chief becomes liar in chief, the lies carry the presidential seal. Is it any wonder that the nations extremists scurry from the countrys darkest corners to rally under his false flag? A silver lining The country has now witnessed on their screens what Trump hath wrought. Americans have looked over the precipice of insurrection into the wreckage of the Capitol, and the near-universal reaction has been revulsion. Trump will no doubt continue to have followers, but many are also surely overtaken with sudden political sobriety. Like Pearl Harbor, the 9/11 attacks and the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting, America woke up stunned the day after the Trump riot. Those who speak too casually about rebellion, insurrection or vigilante justice might now think twice about what these freighted words actually mean in a nation where democratic values still have meaning. Despite what some misguided pseudo-patriots think, our countrys founders wanted above all things to establish enduring institutions that would insure peaceful change and bounded, legal political expression. It is no coincidence that the last time the nations capital was sacked was by a foreign power in the War of 1812. But also a dark cloud Trumps legacy may prove to be two-sided because it could also generate a perverse precedent. In his bumbling, ham-handed efforts to first undercut and then rewrite the election, from the dismantling of the postal service (and his lies about mail-in balloting) to spreading lies about vote counting to his failed effort to pressure the Georgia secretary of state to reverse that states vote count, Trump has set out a kind of road map for a future would-be tyrant. One may well argue that what saved the country from an autocratic outcome was not the durability of our institutions, laws and norms, but Trumps sheer ineptitude. A less erratic, more calculating, more cunning leader might well have breached the firewall of democracy in the way the rioters breached the doors and windows of Capitol Hill. Americans should take this moment as both a learning opportunity and a cautionary tale. The next time, should it come, we may not be saved by the jaw-dropping incompetence of the perpetrator in chief. Related: Trump is unfit to lead. Remove him now (Editorial) Reactions to pro-Trump insurrection: Its sedition, treason, a coup detat (Your Letters) Hong Kong, Jan 8 : Joshua Wong, a prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist, was arrested on Friday over "subverting the state power" under the national security law which China imposed in the city last year. Opposition politician Tam Tak-chi was also arrested along with Wong, who was the head of disbanded Demosisto -- a pro-democracy group advocating the city's independence, Xinhua news agency reported. Both Wong and Tak-chi have already been put in jail. Wong was sentenced to 13 and a half months in prison last month for besieging the police headquarters in June 2019, and Tam is awaiting trial behind bars for multiple offenses. In August 2020, the 27-year-old activist was also charged for participating in a banned vigil marking the anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown in China. The national security law was enacted in Hong Kong in June 30, 2020, to ban acts of secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley had the world at his feet. His uncanny knack for self-promotion combined with his unbending conservatism had made him a favorite of the MAGA-hat-wearing right that hangs on every word that Donald Trump tweets. But then came Wednesday and the picture that will haunt his ambition to move into the White House in four years time. His clenched left fist raised high, his face a mask of steely determination, as he salutes the crowd marching on the Capitol. Hawley might claim he couldnt have known that that crowd was about to turn into a rioting mob that would smash its way into the Capitol and occupy both the House of Representatives and the Senate for hours in scenes that horrified the world, leaving four people dead. The responsibility of violent criminal acts is with violent criminals, Hawley told CNNs Manu Raju on Thursday. But history is bound to include Hawley as one of the main instigators of the protests that shocked the world. Sen. Josh Hawley lost his book deal with publisher Simon & Schuster Thursday 'after his role in what became a dangerous threat.' On Wednesday, Hawley is pictured giving a clinched-first salute to the MAGA mob who would later overwhelm Capitol Hill But history is bound to include Hawley as one of the main instigators of the protests that shocked the world. Pictured: Tweets condemning Hawley for his salute Already his home states largest newspaper, the Kansas City Star has condemned him as having blood on his hands for his actions. No one other than President Donald Trump himself is more responsible for Wednesdays coup attempt, the papers editorial board wrote. Hawley was first to say that he would oppose the certification of Joe Bidens Electoral College win. That action, motivated by ambition, set off much that followed. He deserves an impressive share of the blame for the blood that has been shed. The Star is not the only Missouri newspaper to rail against Hawley. Hes the walking definition of a phony, the St. Louis Dispatch said in an editorial. This is a man who will say and do anything to advance his personal political agenda. Even former Missouri Republican Senator John Danforth, Hawleys mentor, turned against him following Wednesdays riot. I thought he was special, the 84-year-old said. I did my best to encourage people to support him both for attorney general and later the U.S. Senate. It was the biggest mistake Ive ever made in my life. His book deal with Simon & Schuster was dropped on Thursday, with the publisher saying in a statement it 'cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat.' Even former Missouri Republican Senator John Danforth (pictured), Hawleys mentor, turned against him following Wednesdays riot. I thought he was special, the 84-year-old said. I did my best to encourage people to support him both for attorney general and later the U.S. Senate. It was the biggest mistake Ive ever made in my life' The Missouri Republican responded by tweeting a statement 'on the woke mob.' 'This could not be more Orwellian,' Hawley responded to Simon & Schuster. 'We'll see you in court,' he offered, complaining that he was being canceled and vowing to sue. Meanwhile, many Democrats say he should resign from the Senate immediately. Support from his own party wavered as he pressed on with his claims that the presidential election had been stolen even after the day of rioting. Hawley, 41, has long been attacked for his ambition. This is a guy whose ambition has overridden the heart of a public servant, said Claire McCaskill, the Democrat incumbent that Hawley beat to get into the Senate. When he ran for attorney general, he said that he was not running for one office to turn around and use it for another and literally two years later he was running for the United States Senate. He hadnt even been sworn into the United States Senate and he was running for president, McCaskill told Brian Williams on MSNBC. Theres something wrong here. Youre supposed to want to take a time-out and serve. Conservative columnist George Will asked: Has there ever been such a high ratio of ambition to accomplishment? while Esquire said: The most dangerous place to stand in Washington D.C. is any place between Senator Josh Hawley and a live microphone. Hawley was born on the very last day of the 1970s in Arkansas but his parents soon moved to Lexington, Missouri, an hour east of Kansas City. He had his own newspaper column by the time he was 14, where he pontificated about the events of the day. (He) had his patter down even before he got his drivers license, the free St. Louis paper, the Riverfront Times noted. He went to private Rockford High School in Kansas City motto: Work Hard. Play Hard. Pray Hard. and then he was off to Stanford and Yale Law School. At Yale he was elected president of the Federalist Society. Just this week Irina Manta, whom he defeated, wrote in a Yahoo News column that he only won by canvassing all members after somehow getting hold of an email list. She said traditionally only active members voted. The voting rules, Manta said, were problematic and Sen. Hawley exploited that all the way to victory. Hawley became a Supreme Court clerk for John Roberts in 2007, and that is where he met his future wife Erin Morrow, who was also clerking for the Chief Justice. They now have three children. The youngest, Abigail, was born six days after the November election that Hawley has been trying to overturn ever since. Sen. Josh Hawley told CNN Thursday, 'The responsibility of violent criminal acts is with violent criminals,' though he added that he didn't President Donald Trump's urging of people to come to Capitol Hill Wednesday was a good idea He worked in private practice in Washington, D.C. where he was part of the team that successfully took the landmark Hobby Lobby case to the Supreme Court. The arts and crafts chain objected to Obamacare provisions that forced it to provide certain contraceptives to its employees Hawley moved back to the Midwest in 2011 to become an associate professor at the University of Missouri Law School. But he was already looking ahead placing himself for a run for the states attorney general in 2016, an election he won easily. He initiated a probe into allegations of sexual abuse by Catholic priests, joined the fight to have Obamacare declared unconstitutional, and was instrumental in getting Republican governor Eric Greitens to resign amid claims that he had blackmailed a woman he had had an affair with. As his profile rose, he announced a run for the Senate. He beat 10 other candidates to win the Republican primary he received nearly 59% of the vote while his nearest rival was under 10% and then handily defeated McCaskill in the 2018 General Election to become the Senates youngest member, a title he will lose once Georgias Jon Ossoff is sworn in. As soon as he was elected senator, Hawley placed his home in Columbia, Missouri, on the market. He and his wife now live in a brand new five-bedroom house in Vienna, Virginia, that they bought for nearly $1.4 million two weeks after he was sworn in. He uses his sisters address in Ozark, Missouri, for his voter registration. In his time in the Upper Chamber, he has been noted for his devotion to Trumps causes. He even joined Vermonts Bernie Sanders to lead the unsuccessful push for a second $2,000 stimulus payment to all Americans, leading Time to call them 2020s oddest Washington couple. Hawley became a Supreme Court clerk for John Roberts in 2007, and that is where he met his future wife Erin Morrow (pictured together in 2108), who was also clerking for the Chief Justice. They now have three children In his Senate speech on Wednesday, Hawley did condemn the violence that had enveloped the Capitol. Violence is not how you achieve change, he said. Violence is not how you achieve something better. But CNN said he looked like a ghost as he spoke But he did vote against Trumps plan to lift sanctions on three Russian companies led by oligarch Oleg Deripaska in January last year. Oleg Deripaska is a bad guy who still appears to be working in conjunction with Vladimir Putin, he said. Until we know for certain that Deripaska no longer has control over these entities, we need to maintain the pressure. He also angered China when he and fellow GOP senator Ted Cruz visited Hong Kong during democracy protests there. He tweeted that Beijing was trying to turn the former British colony into a police state. Then this week he accused antifa scumbags of threatening his wife and newborn daughter at their home. They screamed threats, vandalized and tried to pound open our door, he tweeted. But cops said there was a small, peaceful gathering and the protestors just left when they were asked to. Police didnt think it was that big of a deal, Vienna Police Department spokesman Juan Vasquez said. In his Senate speech on Wednesday, Hawley did condemn the violence that had enveloped the Capitol. Violence is not how you achieve change, he said. Violence is not how you achieve something better. But CNN said he looked like a ghost as he spoke. And Senator Mitt Romney clearly had Hawley in mind when he spoke. Those who choose to continue to support this dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate, democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy. They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode in American history, Romney said. That will be their legacy. ROCHESTER, Minn. - The Minnesota DFL is calling on Congress to expel Representatives Jim Hagedorn and Michelle Fischbach following their votes against certifying the results of the electoral college. DFL Chairman Ken Martin says in doing so, the representatives violated their oaths by "lending aid and comfort to an insurrectionist mob," referring to the crowd that stormed the Capitol Building in Washington Wednesday. KIMT asked Martin whether removing Representatives Hagedorn and Fischbach would violate the will of the voters in and of itself. Martin responded, in part, "When you elect someone to office, you expect them to uphold The Constitution and their oath to the office, which is to actually protect and defend our constitution and our country. What they did yesterday, what they've done in the weeks and months leading up to yesterday, is shameful, it's un-American, and it certainly doesn't represent the people who voted for them in the district or the people who voted against them." Minnesota GOP Chairwoman Jennifer Carnahan tells KIMT, Congressman Hagedorn was elected by the people of Minnesotas First Congressional District in November and was sworn in for a second term this past Sunday. The Congressman is doing a great job, and it is un-American for Ken Martin to try to subvert the will of the people. Koboko District received 190 voting materials for Presidential and Parliamentary Elections ahead of next weeks elections out of which 14 contained broken seals. The broken seals raised eyebrows of those who turned to witness the delivery of the electoral materials. The Electoral Commission Returning Officer, Ezale Osuman, explained that only the orange ones were broken. Out of the 190 boxes we received, 14 had broken white seals. It is only the white ones which were broken but not the orange ones. Ezale adds that out of the 14 broken seals, five of the seals got broken on transit while the nine got broken as the black boxes were being offloaded. He says that they were immediately replaced in the presence of the stakeholders and police before taking them inside for custody. He further says the the district electoral commission office is still expecting other election materials which will be delivered during the week. While witnessing the delivering of the materials, Mr Samuel Abwang, the District Police Commander Koboko says security will be beefed at the commission offices to ensure safety of the materials until the end of the electoral process. We are going to beef up the security of this place until the end and I will encourage anyone who is not part of this place not to come here unless you are called by either the commissioner on knowledge of security, he said. Ms Lucy Afako, the NRM chairperson of Koboko district said: By witnessing the delivery of the election material, I am happy and this shows transparency in the commission and actually this has given us hope that the elections will be conducted. According to the district Electoral Commission register, Koboko has total of 89,000 voters and 190 polling stations. Uganda will start its elections on 11th January 2021 with the election of the district councilors and later presidential and parliamentary on 14th January 2021. Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, have we become a nation of wimps? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices The day after President Donald Trump mounted a fascist insurrection at the US Capitol in an attempt to subvert the Constitution and install himself as dictator, more details are emerging regarding the coconspirators within the police, military and far-right who took part in the insurrection. Despite weeks of advance notice that thousands of people would be descending on DC and Congress on the orders of Trump, Capitol police made little effort to prevent their entry. Video has already emerged of police opening gates to protesters, while another shows an officer taking a selfie with the rioters. In the most incriminating video yet, an officer is seen goading rioters toward the Capitol building. In an interview on CNN, one protester characterized the police as very cool and polite, telling the rioters to have a good night after storming the Capitol. You can see that some of them are on our side, he said. US Capitol Police at The Supreme Court (Lorie Shaull/Wikimedia Commons) Politico reported that a current Metro DC officer in a public Facebook post claimed that off-duty police officers and military members were among the rioters and that they used their badges and ID cards to help compromise security. If these people can storm the Capitol building with no regard to punishment, you have to wonder how much they abuse their powers when they put on their uniforms, the cop wrote. In an interview in New York magazine, 49-year-old Trump supporter Darinna Thompson from Pennsylvania noted the congenial attitude police took towards fascist insurrectionists inside the Capitol, telling her interviewer, ... you should go in there, its beautiful. I thanked them for their hospitality; most of them are on our side, the Capitol Police. A reporter for the New York Times who was inside the Capitol at the time it was breached questioned a cop as to why the police werent attempting to expel the protesters. The officer replied, Weve just got to let them do their thing now. The Capitol Police force is under the control of the Congress. After the events of September 11, 2001, the size of the police force was more than doubled, from 800 to about 2,000 officers, or roughly four cops for every one member of Congress. The department's annual budget is about $460 million. However, last month Congress appropriated an additional $51 million to the department, bringing the budget above half a billion dollars. On Thursday morning, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund to resign. This followed the Wednesday evening resignation of House Sergeant-at-Arms Paul Irving. Current Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell also requested the resignation of Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger, which he gave Thursday. By Thursday evening, a union of Capitol Police officers issued a public statement demanding Sunds resignation as well, which Sund agreed he would do, after initially refusing, effective January 16. In her remarks Thursday, Pelosi stated that there was a failure of leadership at the top of the Capitol Police. And I think Mr. Sund, he hasnt even called us... so I had made him aware that I would be saying that were calling for his resignation now. In the aftermath of the coup, police uncovered two pipe bombs as well as materials to make several Molotov cocktails. In an extraordinary Thursday morning press conference featuring DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, Metro Police Chief Robert Contee and Secretary of the Army Ryan McCarthy, McCarthy claimed that they didnt anticipate the crowd would be that large, and that no intelligence suggested that a breach of the Capitol was possible. This is nonsense. Not only had similar attempts to attack state legislatures been mounted in states leading up to and after the election, including the foiled assassination plot of Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, insurrectionists had been planning their assault in plain sight for weeks. An article by ProPublica reports that leaders of the Stop the Steal movement advised visitors to the website WildProtest.com (which has since been taken offline) on December 23, we came up with the idea to occupy just outside the CAPITOL on Jan 6th. Photos taken the day of the rally show Trump supporters carrying walkie-talkies with branded shirts that read, MAGA Civil War, complete with a date of January 6, 2021. Joining Trump supporters in breaching the Capitol were an assortment of prominent fascists, white supremacists and Nazi filth. Tim Gionet, also known as Baked Alaska, streamed himself inside a senate office shouting America First. According to Business Insider, Gionet attempted to call Trump from inside the Capitol. Neo-Nazi Matthew W. Heimbach, the outreach director for the National Socialist Movement, was also photographed inside the Capitol. Meanwhile, members of the New England-based neo-Nazi group known as NSC 131 were also spotted outside the Capitol. As of this writing, none of them has been arrested or charged. Pete Harding, formerly of the New York Watchmen, a far-right militia, also hosted an online stream from the Capitol grounds in which he threatened leftist terrorist communists. Harding alleged he saw Alex Jones of InfoWars marching to the Capitol as well. Frequent guest of Jones and head of the Oath Keepers militia, Stewart Rhodes, in an interview with the Los Angeles Times, said that he and members of his group were on the Capitol grounds, but never entered the building. We were in the streets and we were talking to the cops, telling them they should stand down and refuse to follow orders of the illegitimate legislators, Rhodes told the Times. Meanwhile, at least six Republican legislators have been confirmed to have marched on the Capitol. West Virginia Delegate Derrick Evans posted a video of himself entering the building before later deleting it. Tennessee lawmaker Terry Lynn Weaver told the Tennessean that she was "in the thick of it," and later tweeted a photo from the base of the Capitol. State Senator Amanda Chase, who last month called on Trump to declare martial law in order to stay in power, denied that "rioters" stormed the Capitol, claiming in a Facebook post that it was "Patriots who love their country and do not want to see our great republic turn into a socialist country." She added, "I was there with the people; I know. Don't believe the fake media narrative." The Hill reported that Michigan state representative Matt Maddock and Pennsylvania state senator Doug Mastriano also took part in the march on the Capitol. Missouri State Representative Justin Hill skipped his swearing-in ceremony to be in DC, where he marched among fascists and neo-Nazis, but allegedly did not enter, according to comments he made to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. In her opening remarks, Mayor Bowser emphasized that an investigation was needed to determine why the federal law enforcement response was much stronger at the protests over the summer than during yesterdays attack on Congress. Bowser called upon the Joint Terrorism Task Force to investigate, arrest, and prosecute any individual who entered the Capitol, destroyed property, or incited the acts of domestic terrorism observed yesterday. Bowser was unable to answer why it appeared that police let people in and proceeded to take selfies with them, remarking that we not only need people, we need effective people. It has not gone unnoticed by millions of people that the police response to the pro-Trump insurrectionists stood in stark contrast to the treatment victims of police violence and their families have faced throughout the summer and fall protests. Whereas thousands of peaceful multiracial protesters against police violence in DC on June 1 were met with military helicopters, National Guard soldiers, police on horseback and copious amounts of tear gas, flash bangs and less lethal ammunition, the few hundred police stationed outside the Capitol on Wednesday to greet the fascist mob appeared to be armed only with batons and soft language. The breach of the Capitol, one of the most secure buildings on the planet, was the result of coordination between fascist insurrectionists, the White House and police forces, which allowed them to pass through, virtually unmolested, save for the killing of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt. Babbitt, who is quickly turning into a martyr of the far-right, was shot by a Capitol Police officer as she was attempting to climb through a broken window to get deeper into the Capitol. On her Twitter account, Babbitt expressed fervent support for Trump, retweeting several of his claims regarding election fraud as well as tweets from Trumps inner circle of conspirators, namely attorneys L. Lin Wood, Sidney Powell and retired General Michael Flynn. Three other deaths among the protesters were reported as medical emergencies. Chief Contee identified them as Kevin Greeson, 55, of Alabama; Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Pennsylvania; and 34-year-old Georgia resident Rosanne Boyland. One Capitol Police officer is on life support after being struck in the head by a fire extinguisher. Despite the insurrection being televised and live streamed around the world, on Thursday morning, DC police announced they had made only 68 arrests, a majority of which were for curfew and unlawful entry violations, with many of the arrested already released from jail. Manufacturers in the United States have been materially injured by imports of pre-stressed concrete (PC) steel wire strand from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has determined. The imported products have been sold in the US at less than fair value, the ITC said in a final determination issued on Friday January 8, also noting subsidization by the government of Turkey. As a result, the US Commerce Department will issue anti-dumping duty orders on imports of PC strand from Argentina, Colombia, Egypt, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey and the UAE; and countervailing duty orders on imports of the product from Turkey. The ITC also made negative findings concerning critical circumstances on PC strand from Colombia, Egypt, the Netherlands and Turkey sold in the US, and thus these imports will not be subject to retroactive anti-dumping duties. Dumping margins had been set on December 8 at the following rates: Argentina, 60.4% Colombia, 86.09% Egypt, 29.72% The Netherlands, 30.86% Saudi Arabia, 194.4% Taiwan, 23.89% Turkey, 53.65% UAE, 170.65% Argentina, $2.3 million Colombia, $9.57 million Egypt, $345,888 The Netherlands, $1.62 million Saudi Arabia, $1.38 million Taiwan, $2.98 million Turkey, $13.08 million UAE, $2.27 million Commerce also announced on December 8 that Turkish exporters received countervailable subsidies at rates ranging from 30.78-158.44%.In 2019, the value of PC strand imported from these sources was estimated at:Commerce initiated the anti-dumping and countervailing duty investigations into imports of PC strand in May of last year, following petitions by Insteel Wire Products Co, Sumiden Wire Products Corp and Wire Mesh Corp.Commerce is conducting concurrent anti-dumping investigations of PC strand from Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, South Africa, Spain, Tunisia and Ukraine. The final determinations for these investigations are scheduled to be announced on April 6, 2021. Children are assisted by their mother as they navigate online learning resources during the CCP virus lockdown in Huddersfield, England, on March 23, 2020. (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images) Wales Closes Schools and Colleges Until Half Term Unless Virus Cases Drop Wales announced on Friday that following the rapid spread of a new variant, its schools and colleges will stay closed until the mid-February half term unless numbers of CCP virus cases drop significantly. We are taking this action today because this new variant is far more infectious and is leading to increased numbers of people being hospitalized, Education Minister Kirsty Williams told the BBC. Schools and colleges have been safe and secure environments throughout the pandemic and that continues to be the case, she said. First Minister of Wales Mark Drakeford speaks at the Welsh Government building in Cathays Park in Cardiff, Wales, on Oct. 19, 2020. (Matthew Horwood/Getty Images) However, the latest TAC [Technical Advisory Cell] report is clear on educations contribution. We know that school and college settings can contribute to wider social mixing outside the education environment and, right now, we all have to play our part in suppressing this virus, she added. With some exceptions for the children of key workers and vulnerable pupils, learning for schools and colleges in Wales is already online and the whole of the country has been under its highest alert level of restrictions since Dec. 20 last year following a surge in cases. Remote Learning Williams said remote learning would now continue until half term unless a review on Jan. 29 shows the transmission of the virus has substantially reduced. Wales teaching union, the NASUWT, which on Jan 2 demanded that learning go online has now called for all teachers and education staff in Wales to be prioritized for a CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccine so that children can get back to school. Somewhat in contrast to Williams remarks that schools are safe environments, the union said in a statement that with rates of virus prevalence amongst school staff between 34 times higher than the prevalence rate for adults, staff are more likely to be infected. NASUWTs General Secretary, Patrick Roach, said that It is in the national interest that all teachers and education staff are prioritized in the roll-out of the Coronavirus vaccines. Teachers and education staff are unable to practice social distancing from their pupils and few are provided with essential PPE as part of their day-to-day roles, he said. He also said that to prevent further disruption to childrens education, tougher control measures will be needed to ensure workplace safety. The current virus-related rules for Wales are very similar to those for Scotland and England where schools are also closed and people must stay at home unless they have a reasonable excuse to leave like for essential shopping or services or to go to work if they cannot do so from home. The guidance for Wales, however, currently says people can go out as often as you like to exercise, as long as you do so alone or with members of your household or support bubble (and/or a carer), whereas in England guidance limits that to just once daily. As of Dec. 8, almost two million cases of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus had been recorded in the UK. While records show that almost half of those have recovered, 78,508 deaths from the disease have been reported. Ahead of a briefing to the Welsh government on Friday, Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford told BBC Radio Wales that because The pandemic has reached a significant point restrictions to stem the spread of the virus would be further toughened in key areas. MONROE, MI A man accused of beating his grandmother to death then cutting her head off is no longer pursuing insanity as a legal defense. Now, Kenny Wayne McBride, 46, of Temperance, will face a jury on one felony count each of open murder and mutilation of a dead body, after withdrawing a motion seeking an insanity defense before Monroe County Circuit Judge Michael Weipert at a pretrial hearing Friday, Jan. 8, . I never claimed I wanted an insanity defense. I want an acquittal. Ive wanted that since day one, McBride said, appearing before the court from the Monroe County Jail via Zoom. McBride is charged in the slaying of his grandmother, 79-year-old Cecelia Gibson, who was found beaten and decapitated in her home she shared with McBride and his father. Michigan man accused of beating, beheading grandmother heads to trial McBride was arrested and charged, Feb. 19, 2020, after investigators were called for a medical emergency at his Bedford Township home, Feb. 17, according to the Monroe County Sheriffs office. Gibsons headless body was found in the living room. Her head was found in the backyard, police said. An autopsy showed Gibson died of blunt force trauma to her head, officials said. After being arrested and charged, McBride was ordered, Feb. 26, to be sent to the states Center for Forensic Psychiatry for a mental competency evaluation which later determined he was fit to stand trial. In November, the center sent a letter to the court stating it was unable to evaluate McBride for criminal responsibility, which is required if pursuing an insanity defense, as he would not participate in interviews with doctors. McBride, at the Jan. 8 hearing, maintained his innocence stating the murder didnt happen. He is scheduled for a final pretrial hearing on April 9, followed by jury trial on April 19, COVID-19 restrictions permitting. McBride remains lodged in the Monroe County Jail without bond. Open murder allows a jury to decide the degree of murder a person is guilty of if convicted. Gibson was a grandmother of 15 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren, according to her obituary. She loved completing needle point, cross-stitch, sewing, beading, and leather work with many of her creations being sold at craft shows. More from The Ann Arbor News: New restaurant, bar opens for delivery in downtown Ann Arbor A closer look at whats in Ann Arbors new transportation plan released this week University of Michigan students start free online tutoring service for low-income families Christmas may have come and gone, but oil markets delivered a late gift to Permian Basin oil producers during the first week of trading for 2021. West Texas Intermediate on the New York Mercantile Exchange reached its highest level since last February, rising $1.41 to close at $52.24 on Friday. The posted price closed at $48.72. In another twist to the new year, West Texas Sour spent the week priced higher than Intermediate, by approximately $1.25 per barrel. Mike Banschbach, an oil, gas and NGL marketing consultant, told the Reporter-Telegram by email that supply and demand was causing the pricing delta. Natural gas prices had four days of gains on the NYMEX, including a 12-cent gain on Tuesday. Prices retreated 3 cents Friday, with prices at $2.70 per Mcf to end the week. Economist Ray Perryman told the Reporter-Telegram by email that prices above $50 is certainly good news. The market is stabilizing, and if these price levels are sustained, we would see an increase in activity. However, there are still some risk factors, he wrote. Perryman continued, The economy has improved since the worst of the pandemic declines, which is increasing demand for oil and natural gas. At the same time, there have been some decreases in supply such as the recent announcement by Saudi Arabia to cut daily production. Together, those patterns naturally push up prices. But, he cautioned, The downside risks are still fairly notable. While there is light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, we aren't there yet, and the current surge is as bad as it's been for many areas. If large scale shutdowns are needed, it would have a negative impact on demand and therefore price. The US employment numbers released today likely reflect this phenomenon. I'd call the current situation and price level one that it clearly good news, but I would not be surprised to see prices pull back as we continue to see the economy recover in a somewhat uneven way. David Bledsoe, president of Henry Resources, told the Reporter-Telegram by email his company welcomes the higher prices. We are certainly excited about the current prices, he wrote. I believe it is a result of the resolve from OPEC+ to keep prices propped up to help their budgets. I am surprised, however, since it gives a little regarding their desire to keep and grow market share, especially Saudi Arabia. But based on the reality of market fundamentals which are -- 95 million barrels of oil per day of demand and 10 million barrels per day of supply on the sidelines -- I don't think we are in for firm prices for long. Maybe our new floor is $40 or $45, but we need demand to heal and grow before prices go much higher. I do think the market will be very volatile and prices can do what they are now, and they could easily dip back below $40. We are living in very volatile oil price times. Bloomberg reported that markets were buoyed not only by Saudi Arabias announcement earlier this week that it would cut production by a million barrels a day in February and March but by hopes of additional stimulus for the US economy with Democrats gaining control of the Senate. Brent oil, the international benchmark, topped $55 a barrel for the first time since February, according to Bloomberg. Expectations of a $2,000 stimulus check for everybody is boosting the outlook and assets more generally, Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research, told Bloomberg. It encourages people to believe the economic recovery will be stronger, that youll see more spending, more activity and more oil demand as a result. Bloomberg noted that oil started off the week with a strong boost from Saudi Arabia's pledge to cut production by 1 million barrels a day for February and March. Citigroup Inc. boosted its price forecasts on Friday, saying Saudi Arabia's actions should accelerate stock draws. Meanwhile, annual commodity index rebalancing may provide another tailwind, with as much as $9 billion of oil contracts possibly being bought over the five days of activity that start Friday, Bloomberg quoted Citigroup as saying. The agency says it is another information warfare example. Ukraine's Defense Ministry denies reports that the military receive mashed potato rations that are produced in the Russian Federation. The ministry reported this on its Facebook page. "Instant mashed potato flakes are not on the list of products used for the catering of Armed Forces personnel in Ukraine. Accordingly, this applies to the entire assortment of mashed potato flakes as well," it said. Read alsoRussia's active hybrid war against Ukraine began after 2004 NSDC Since 2021, the catering of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is based on the so-called Foods Catalog, according to the ministry. "The choice of products has been expanded to 409 items. It enables chefs to cook a variety of delicious meals," it said. The Defense Ministry adds that, despite the fact that many issues need to be resolved, the decision to switch to the Catalog at the Armed Forces of Ukraine is "final and irrevocable." Instant mashed potato flakes used as Ukrainian Army rations is another information warfare example, it said. Previous developments Late in December 2020, Director of private enterprise Vimal Serniy Samonenko said that the Ukrainian military were provided with mashed potatoes produced in the Russian Federation. Reporting by UNIAN Supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol building during its session on Wednesday, breaking windows, scaling the walls, and vandalizing the 200-year-old building. One particular person among them is a Filipino holding a "walis tambo," a type of broom in the Philippine households. 'Walis Tambo' Journalists managed to capture peculiar moments of the protest: a man posing beside a historical statue, a person sitting in a congressman's desk, a person stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's podium, someone waving the confederate flag in front of a backdrop of the American flag, and the most absurd moment: a Filipino waving around a walis tambo. The surreal scene of the protestor waving around the broom was captured by AFP photographer Saul Loeb and eventually went viral. Philippine Twitterverse was stunned by the spectacle of something that is Filipino in the midst of the mayhem in the United States capital. Hundreds of pro-Trump demonstrators stormed the building, pleading to overturn the election results. The subject of the viral photo was wearing a hard hat, a face mask, and the American flag made into a shawl and caught everyone's attention. The broom was made with a makeshift shield of Captain America, reported Newspapers. The siege transpired simultaneously with members of Congress counting the Electoral College votes in order to certify President-Elect Joe Biden as the winner, resulting in the destruction of property, arrests, and deaths. The incumbent president has made multiple allegations of voter fraud. Trump also instigated his supporters to protest in Capitol Hill minutes before the incident, claiming that the United States has had enough" of the alleged theft. Courts have dismissed Trump's claims, reported We the Pvblic. Also Read: Trump Affirms VP Pence Could Overturn Election Results: 'Hope Mike Pence Comes Through' Protesters were also carrying picks, sticks, guns, and shovels when they stormed the Capitol in a bid to stop Congress from officially announcing the election victory of Biden over Trump. The unidentified Trump supporter waving the whiskbroom in sunglasses had his or her face covered in cloth. The certain picture credited to Saul Loeb of Agence France-Presse via Getty Images showed the person holding the object with a raised arm. Looking closely at the shield, it reveals the word "coup" written on the surface. The certification made Trump a one-term president, which is rare for the US. The shield equated "coup" with "pandemic hoax, false media, extremist groups and mail-in fraud," echoing the president's views. Social media users deduced that the individual who appeared in the viral photos must have been Filipino. According to Nonoy Espina, a national union Journalist of the Philippines chair, on Twitter, "Surreal photo by AFP's Saul Loeb. Now, who else would bring a walis tambo and wear an upside down flag to a riot?" Further inspection reveals that the soft broom looks like the ones sold in a city in the Philippines called Baguio. The foundations of American democracy were rocked when the mob violently protested the nation's runoff election results, which resulted in Democrats obtaining dominance of the Senate and House. Related Article: $2,000 Stimulus Checks' Fate Rests on Georgia Runoffs @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Photo: (Photo : Ketut Subiyanto from Pexels) With the COVID-19 lockdown UK, parents face weeks of uncertainty. Just a few days before children were supposed to return to school, local authorities decided to delay opening schools. Parents were confused and upset as local officials all over the country delayed the opening of schools in the face of rising COVID-19 infection rates. The UK prime minister, Boris Johnson, said that more schools could be shut in the coming weeks due to the COVID-19 lockdown UK. ALSO READ: Good News to Pregnant Women: Coronavirus Does Not Pass to Newborn Babies During Pregnancy School shutdown due to the COVID-19 lockdown UK On the day where millions of children and students are set to return to their schools following the UK COVID-19 lockdown, the Essex council said that they would all together close schools to most students until at least Wednesday. The Kent county council even joined England's largest education authority in Birmingham in asking the officials to allow schools to stay closed. They said that they should continue with the UK COVID-19 lockdown, and the debate for reopening classes despite the high rates of the virus does not make sense. The response on the shutdown In Newcastle, Gateshead, and Manchester, officials also support primary schools if they will not decide to reopen fully. In some schools in Slough, they have already confirmed that they will not reopen schools this week. In Brighton and Hove, the council has already advised schools not to return in person except for those at risk and key workers' children. Such moves came as Labour called for a COVID-19 lockdown UK within the 24 hours, warning that the said virus was out of control. Keir Starmer, the party leader, while stopping short of calling for all schools to close, said that it was certain that more would need to close. Such comments by Starmer came after Johnson warned that the UK COVID-19 lockdown rules were about to get harder and admit that closing of schools could be a part of measures to put an end to the rising rates of infections. COVID-19 in the UK Recently, official figures showed that there are more than 54,990 confirmed cases of the virus in the UK and 454 more deaths. Despite this, the prime minister still urged parents to send their children to schools this week. He said that he understands their worries, but there is no doubt in his mind that schools are safe and that education is also a prime concern. ALSO READ: COVID-19 Safety: Parents of College Students Worry Their Children Could Get Infected UK's education sector On the other hand, the Department of Education is getting ready for more remote learning and said that they expect to give out more than 50,000 laptops and tablets to schools on Monday and more than 100,000 in total during the first week of the term. Before this, the government was called out for failing to give out laptops and other things needed by those deprived and poor children during the first lockdown. Aside from matters concerning the reopening of schools and the preparations that they are doing for possible continuation of remote learning, the government has also been called upon to quickly rethink their approach when it comes to the exams. On Sunday, Johnson said for the first time that A-levels and GCSEs may not take place in England this summer. He said that they need to be realistic when it comes to the pace at which this new variant of the virus has spread. Also, he said that they have to be humble in the face of such virus. ALSO READ: Due to the Pandemic: Teachers Are Spending More Time Working to Help Kids Learn On Wednesday the European Medicines Agency greenlighted the Moderna vaccine, making it the second vaccine available on the EU market following the BioNTech/Pfizer jab. The EU Commission has officially authorised the vaccine. But what does that mean for Luxembourg? How many vaccines will the Grand Duchy receive? Minister of Health Paulette Lenert shared details on this matter on Wednesday afternoon. On 18 June the Luxembourg government signed a treaty with the EU Commission allowing the institution to negotiate with producers in the name of all member states. Broken down, Luxembourg may receive 0.14% of the total Commission purchase, the latter which sits somewhere between 965 million and 1 billion doses, ordered from six different companies. Lenert says the Grand Duchy purchased additional doses from five companies itself, including AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, BioNTech/Pfizer, CureVac and Moderna. With the purchases done so far 1,120,716 people could be vaccinated. "In addition, we have once again agreed to an additional appeal made to Pfizer by the Commission. That means the Commission itself had an option to take another 100 million doses. This option has been taken up and Luxembourg has also positioned itself there, which means that with our 0.14% at Pfizer, we once again have an additional 55,000 doses," said Lenert. The minister stated that Luxembourg has rights due to the treaty with the Commission, but also obligations. There is no possibility to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies in parallel with the Commission. Lenert also has no understanding for the criticism of the EU Commission's strategy. The lack of vaccines at this stage has to do with production, not with the order. Read also: Opinion - Luxembourg, as always, is late to the show On Thursday, congressional Democrats including both Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and incoming Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Donald Trump needs to be removed from office for his role in inciting the mob attack on the Capitol that took place during Electoral College counting Wednesday. Some Democrats wanted to begin impeachment proceedings immediately. Others, like Pelosi and Schumer, said they would first like to see if Vice President Mike Pence invokes the 25th Amendment process to take away Trumps authority. Advertisement As of Thursday night, Pence was reportedly unwilling to do so; whether or not he changes his mind, developments overnight and this morning have strengthened the case, and the visible support, for removal. Most notably, Capitol Police announced Thursday night that an officer named Brian Sicknick has died of injuries that he sustained while on duty Wednesday. The New York Times, quoting two law enforcement sources, reports that Sicknick was struck with a fire extinguisher, and police say he collapsed after returning to his office. A murder investigation is underway. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. At about the same time, Secretary of Education (and well-connected Republican donor) Betsy DeVos became the second Cabinet officer to resign since Wednesdays events, writing in a public letter to the president, There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me. Hours earlier, the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial page had called on Trump to step down over what it described as his impeachable role in an attack on the legislative branch. Advertisement On Friday morning, Nebraska Republican Sen. Ben Sassewho voted not to call witnesses in Trumps previous impeachment trial, and then to acquit the presidenttold CBS that he believes Trump has disregarded the oath of his office and that he would consider voting to convict him if the House moved to impeach again. He also spoke about the subject to conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, noting to Hewitt that National Guard reinforcements for local police officers did not arrive at the Capitol until late Tuesday. The Times reported earlier this week that Trump initially resisted requests to deploy the Guard even as police were being overrun; Sasse told Hewitt hed like to find out more about the delay, implying that any active role Trump played in it would make him more culpable for the violence that followed. Advertisement At around noon Friday, Nancy Pelosi issued a statement in which she called on Republicans to join her in asking Trump to resign. Wrote Pelosi: If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action, by which she meant impeachment. Pelosi would almost certainly not make a statement without knowing that she had enough votes to impeach the president, but removal would require a two-thirds vote to convict in the Senate, and thus the support of a double-digit number of Republican senators besides Sasse. On that subject, while South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham tweeted Friday that he does not support removal, the Times Maggie Haberman reports that two Republican sources told her that more R senators favor impeachment than people would expect. That balance could be tipped as more details emerge about the scope of the threat the Wednesday breach presented and continues to present. Pelosis office says one of its laptops was stolen, for example, while a Reuters journalist who was at the Capitol says he heard three occupiers say they wanted to find and kill Mike Pence. As with many things, the more that comes out about Wednesday, the worse it looks for Donald Trump. We join the bipartisan calls for the removal of President Donald Trump from office by invoking the 25th Amendment or a swift impeachment. His incitement of his supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday was a treasonous act that cannot be tolerated. His continued insistence that the fair and legitimate election that he lost was rigged claims he began making even before the election is the mark of totalitarian inclinations and disregard for the country and its founding principles. For four years, Trump faced few consequences for his outrageous behavior and denial of the truth, galvanizing a bandwagon of followers within the GOP. Wednesdays insurrection was incited by Trump, fueled by his enablers, and facilitated by four years with little accountability. That must stop. Trump was impeached in the fall of 2019 for withholding foreign aid to pressure the president of Ukraine to dig up dirt on Joe Biden. He was acquitted by the Senate early in 2020 and learned nothing from the entire experience. It is tempting to want to just run out the clock, fewer than two weeks, before Trumps tenure as president ends. But the images of the assault on the Capitol are proof that the risk of allowing Trump to stay in the White House, with the power of the presidency, for even that short period is just too high. Trump needs to face consequences. So do the Republican lawmakers who were complicit in sparking a coup attempt by their continued support of Trumps baseless lies of a rigged election. READ MORE: The siege on the U.S. Capitol, and democracy, is Trumps legacy. Pennsylvania Republicans are also complicit. | Editorial When Congress returned on Wednesday night to certify the Electoral College results, 147 Republicans voted to overturn the results of the election. That includes eight of the nine Republicans who represent Pennsylvania in the House of Representatives. In their actions, they validated the lies that led to the siege and so were complicit in the assault on the Capitol. They were undeterred even after blood was spilled in the halls of Congress. They, too, should be held to account. Shortly after midnight, Rep. Scott Perry of the Harrisburg-York area objected to the count of the Pennsylvania vote. The election process and ballots that were good enough to give him another term in Congress, he implicitly argued, were at the same time not good enough to give Joe Biden and Kamala Harris Pennsylvanias 20 Electoral College votes. In speeches into the night, Perry and his Republican colleagues from the commonwealth and elsewhere repeated easily disputed lies including those about Pennsylvania voting law that originated in the Republican General Assembly that have been already debunked or dismissed by the courts. READ MORE: Fact-checking Trumps false claims about Pennsylvanias election before his supporters attacked the Capitol Pennsylvania State Sen. Doug Mastriano was in D.C. for the rally he says he didnt break into the Capitol building, as a newly sworn-in West Virginia delegate did. Mastriano, who has been peddling lies on the election, was in fact also reelected in 2020. The ballots that got him his seat were legitimate, but the ones for Biden were somehow fraudulent. In attendance in D.C. was also former state representative and Republican congressional nominee Rick Saccone. Captioning a Facebook video from D.C. on Wednesday, Saccone says: We are storming the Capitol. Our vanguard has broken thru the barricades. He resigned from his instructor position at St. Vincent College the following day. Meanwhile, riding the wave of lies about the election, last Tuesday, the Republican majority in the Pennsylvania state Senate refused to swear in the duly elected Jim Brewster, depriving a quarter-million people in Pennsylvania from representation. READ MORE: In Pennsylvania state Senate fiasco, Republicans show how fast democracy can be eroded | Editorial What do we do with lawmakers who flagrantly disregard reality, and are either blind or indifferent to the consequences of their actions? Any Pennsylvania Republican who continues to charge that there was fraud in the 2020 election should resign immediately and demand a special election for their own seat. If they believe so strongly in election fraud that theyre calling to overturn the presidential race, how can they serve with confidence that their own elections were legitimate? If they dont resign, they should take responsibility for the damage that they inflicted to American democracy, and at the very least, apologize. But we wont hold our breath. (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, JANUARY 8 - Lebanon will receive the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech anti-covid vaccine by the first half of February and will begin a free vaccination campaign of the Lebanese people, said outgoing Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Friday. Hassan also reassured public opinion on the fact that despite Lebanon's financial default, caused by the worst economic crisis in the past 30 years, the World Bank gave Lebanon a credit to buy the doses developed by the US and German companies. "It will be distributed in a free and fair manner," Hassan said. Starting Thursday, Lebanon once again entered a near-total lockdown that will last about one month due to the growing number of positive cases and the number of people currently hospitalised. (ANSAmed). According to information published by PT Pal Indonesia on January 7, 2021, the company has launched Hospital Assistance Ship (BRS) Sudirohusodo-class ordered by the Indonesian Navy. The ship was officially named dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo (991). According to information published by PT Pal Indonesia on January 7, 2021, the company has launched Hospital Assistance Ship (BRS) Sudirohusodo-class ordered by the Indonesian Navy. The ship was officially named dr. Wahidin Sudirohusodo (991). Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Hospital Assistance Ship Wahidin Sudirohusodo 991 for the Indonesian Navy. (Picture source PT Pal) PT PAL is an Indonesian state-owned shipyard that manufactures ships for military and civilian use and conducts repairs and maintenance on ships and engineering. The Hospital Assistance Ship Wahidin Soedirohusodo is based on the Makassar-class Landing Platform Dock (LPD) design of South Korean company Daesun Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. The official launching ceremony was attended by the Indonesia Chief of Naval Staff (KASAL) Admiral TNI Yudo Margono, Plt. President Director of PT PAL Indonesia (Persero) and Mrs. Etty Soewardani. The Hospital Assistance Ship Wahidin Sudirohusodo (991) has a length of 124 m, a wide of 21.8 m, and a displacement of 7.290 tons. She can reach a top speed of 18knots and has a cruising speed of 14 knots with a maximum cruising range of 10,000 nautical miles. The hospital ship has an endurance of 30 days. The Hospital Assistance Ship has a crew of 120 sailors and can accommodate 66 medical personnel. The ship is able to conduct a full range of missions including rapid, flexible, and mobile acute medical and surgical services to support Marine forces deployed ashore, Army and Air Force units deployed ashore, and naval amphibious task forces and battle forces afloat. The ship can be also used to carry out medical evacuation missions and has the capability to transport medical helicopters, ambulance boats, and LCVPs (landing craft, vehicle, personnel). The Hospital Assistance Ship has the same capability as Type C military Hospital plus a number of medical equipment such as CT Scan and X-Ray, as well as Isolation Room very useful for tackling infectious outbreaks such as Covid-19. COLUMBIA A South Carolina congressman said that even after the mob occupation of the U.S. Capitol he wasn't backing down from contentions the election that cost Donald Trump the White House was flawed. The assault on the Capitol did not change the substance of the issues at hand," U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, R-Laurens, said in the aftermath. "And that is why even after the chaos I raised objections to electors from certain states that performed elections," he said Thursday morning. He charged that several states had conducted elections "in direct contradiction to their state laws, state constitutions, and the U.S. Constitution," though such arguments have been rejected by state officials and courts. Duncan was one of five House Republicans from South Carolina who protested the confirmation of Electoral College votes from states Joe Biden won. He was steadfast that nothing in his objection was improper. "A loud minority have called me seditious and a traitor to my country," Duncan said in a media message delivered after the night ended and after peace was restored after a mob of Trump supporters took over the building Wednesday. "They have suggested that I and some of my colleagues should be expelled from Congress for signing two amicus briefs in support of election integrity and for voting to object to electors," he continued. "These accusations are revolting, politically motivated, and frankly, dont even make sense." The four S.C. House Republicans who previously announced their plans to object Duncan, William Timmons of Greenville, Ralph Norman of Rock Hill and Joe Wilson of Springdale all followed through, as did U.S. Rep. Tom Rice of Myrtle Beach, who had previously said he was unsure how he would vote. All five voted in favor of objecting to the electoral votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania that helped secure Biden's win. Rice said he knew the election protest had no chance of succeeding and that Biden was on the path to being the next president. But he signed onto the objection over a matter of constitutional law. "Just looking at the fact that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court changed the election law, which they had no right to do, certainly made it more open for election fraud," Rice said while admitting the apparent fraud wasn't enough to change the election. He added, "This wasn't about shoring up Donald Trump, it was about shoring up our elections." Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! The only House Republican from South Carolina to oppose the effort was newly elected U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace of Charleston. She joined both of the state's Republican U.S. senators, Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott, as well as the state's lone Democrat, U.S. Rep. Jim Clyburn of Columbia, in voting against the objections. The House votes to object to Arizona and Pennsylvania's results failed 303-121 and 282-132, respectively. The Senate votes were 93-6 on Arizona and 92-7 on Pennsylvania. The South Carolina objectors cited changes to election laws and unfounded allegations of fraud to explain their decision. Graham, typically one of Trump's closest congressional allies, tore into the objection efforts in a speech on the Senate floor late Wednesday night, saying Republicans needed to admit Biden won. A chorus of top Republicans predicted Thursday that the siege would tarnish Trumps tenure, and they called for their party to shake itself from the presidents influence. They included prominent South Carolinians like former Rep. Bob Inglis, who called for the presidents removal from office, and former Rep. Trey Gowdy, who said he no longer knew what his party stood for. On South Carolina talk radio, the partys base was unshaken, hinting at fault lines fueled by misinformation in a party reckoning with a series of electoral defeats. By Thursday morning, callers to talk radio programs in the Upstate alternately explained that the riot stemmed from mounting frustration about baseless allegations of a stolen election and, without evidence, shifted blame to far-left agitators. One man from Spartanburg blamed "outside provocateurs" while also saying the crowd outside the Capitol was a "powder keg waiting to explode." A woman from Pickens said the gathering was peaceful, after saying "freedom is worth fighting for." A man in Greer said, "People dont realize were in a war here. The Democrats are basically our enemy." On the other side of the emerging divide, Vince Coakley, who hosts a conservative talk show in Charlotte and Greenville, voiced frustration with "nonstop propaganda" from the president. To win elections, Coakley said, the party needed to reject "a cultic perspective that causes you to lose all touch with reality." Democrats were less restrained. S.C. Democratic Party chairman Trav Robertson went as far as to accuse the Republicans who objected to the Electoral College of sedition. "These Republican members of Congress claim to love our country and democracy yet they are attempting a coup to overthrow our government," Robertson said. "This is the complete antithesis of Democracy and they should be arrested and tried for treason absence proof to support their fraudulent claims." Tyler Fleming and Thad Moore contributed to this report. Why the states new toys wont help South Africas response to Covid-19 Drones, dinghies and an army helicopter - the new toys are diverting resources, and diverting attention. The governments decision to focus on tracking, detaining and deporting migrants as they cross into South Africa ensures that their illegal status and/or failure to secure the bona fide negative Covid-19 test certificates, currently required to enter into South Africa, is focused on at the expense of the many systemic challenges faced in accessing documentation including Covid certificates. Whilst it was colonial cartographers who initially penned the painful lines that broke up communities across the region, it is the South African state that is now thickening them. The images of large crowds of Zimbabweans gathering at the Beitbridge border, accompanied by speculation that this could lead to a humanitarian crisis, not only help cement the idea of migrant bodies as a threat but also provide a much-needed distraction from the states astounding lack of preparedness in securing and rolling out a Covid-19 vaccine. Long associated with anti-foreigner, xenophobic and nationalistic sentiments, South Africas politics have prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic driven uninformed, non-evidence-based and potentially dangerous international immigration/migration policy discussions and processes. This is particularly the case for activities that claim to focus on national security, which may themselves pose a threat to the health of all in South Africa, as well as regionally and globally. This was evident in March 2020 when just over R40-million of taxpayers money was wasted on a 40km border fence that was erected through questionable procurement as a sensational knee-jerk reaction to halt the presumed spread of Covid-19 from Zimbabwe to South Africa. As a medical doctor by training, the Minister of Home Affairs Dr Aaron Motsoaledi should know better. Whilst he has previously failed to ensure the safety of South African citizens who work in or access services at Department of Home Affairs (DHA) offices, through inadequate provision of PPE, Motsoaledi has invested in increasingly restrictive measures at our borders, including an array of new security toys: drones, dinghies and an army helicopter. This is in spite of previous studies that have clearly demonstrated the wasted expenditure of state funds in its failed attempts to restrict movement across South Africas borders. As predicted, the 40km fence erected along South Africas border with Zimbabwe in March 2020 did nothing more than waste money, which could have been put towards South Africas dismal vaccine procurement approach. At the discounted rate of $20 approximately R200 for two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine (that South Africa says is still too expensive), 200,000 healthcare workers could be vaccinated. The ministers new toys are diverting resources, and diverting attention. For an infectious disease containment strategy to succeed, everyone must be included. This applies to diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis, for which South Africa has some of the highest rates in the world, and now, most urgently, to Covid-19. Despite the fact that non-discriminatory inclusion is a basic public health and disease control principle, hard battles have had to be fought over many years to ensure that access to HIV and tuberculosis services is available to all in South Africa including both citizens and non-citizens alike and it looks like this is going to be the case once again in 2021 with Covid-19 testing, treatment and, ultimately, vaccination. Non-citizens have predominantly been side-lined in South Africas Covid-19 interventions while the government falls back on those familiar (and unsubstantiated) claims that foreigners are to blame for state failures with its Covid-19 response and forward-planning. The spectacle of heightened security at the borders combined with dramatisation of the numbers returning to South Africa is a politically convenient distraction from the real challenges experienced by non-citizens which are often the result of South Africas political and administrative processes. Annually, migrants travel home to visit family and friends and return to South Africa for the start of the New Year. Yet this year, with a full lockdown imposed by the Zimbabwean state and the amended Level 3 lockdown in South Africa, it is unsurprising that many are desperate to return, fearful of being unable to resume work and education, and to get back to their lives, families and communities here. But the governments decision to focus on tracking, detaining and deporting migrants as they cross into South Africa ensures that their illegal status and/or failure to secure the bona fide negative Covid-19 test certificates, currently required to enter into South Africa, is focused on at the expense of the many systemic challenges faced in accessing documentation including Covid certificates. This focus also diverts attention from the catastrophic (and for some, fatal) situation witnessed in Musina in December, and from the need for appropriate border management of Covid-19 we require at all our ports of entry and exit. Collectively, these processes risk producing challenges that will further stall progress towards effective management of the Covid-19 pandemic by undermining attempts to develop coordinated, cross-border, migration-aware and mobility-competent health programmes. They risk pushing migrants into irregular routes and/or deterring both regular and irregular cross-border migrants from accessing Covid-19 interventions once in South Africa. And, yet again, political opportunism is able to ignore the realities on the ground and instead continue to claim that being undocumented is a chosen act of criminality rather than the result of political and systemic failures which plague the immigration processes. This chimes well with the latest false claims and hate speech of the #PutSouthAfricansFirst movement on social media, which drive xenophobia and the incitement of violence and indicate an incredibly dangerous and often life-threatening symptom of South Africas unhealthy social and political environment. Whilst by no means unique to South Africa, it is this increasingly nationalistic context that the necessarily inclusive programming needed to control the Covid-19 pandemic must contend with. A consequence of South Africas growing nationalism is its investment in an increasingly restrictive and security-focused approach to the management of international migration (whilst simultaneously claiming it cannot afford the necessary vaccination plan urgently required to control Covid-19). The metaphor of a border of keeping them away from us often creeps into popular thinking about infectious disease control. Whilst there is some truth in this, it is not as straightforward as many would like. These borderlines, however thickly drawn and secured, dont prevent the spread of communicable diseases, including diseases endemic to the highly mobile southern African region HIV, tuberculosis and malaria and, as of 2020, Covid-19. As political tools, they do not reflect the realities of an economy built on migrant labour and a region shaped by the movement of people. Damaging government processes include the development of the White Paper on International Migration (July 2017), amendments to the Refugee Act and Regulations (effected in January 2020) and worrying clauses in the National Health Insurance White Paper; collectively, the rights of non-citizens to preventative and curative healthcare have been increasingly eroded. This does not make public health sense. It seems that the Covid-19 pandemic is being used by the DHA and others to justify the implementation of increased security measures along borders, with a focus on the Beitbridge/Musina land crossing. The latest DHA policy documents were published for public consultation on 31 December 2020. The Draft One-Stop Border Post Policy, and the Draft Official Identity Management Policy, both illustrate significant focus on national security and the protection of South Africas sovereignty. Such issues and functions are not usually associated with a government department tasked with governance and administration roles in terms of the civic registration of citizens, and the management of international migration. Increased security measures at borders, as well as the intensified focus on national security by the DHA and the current Covid-19 context, open up opportunities for health status (or perceived health risk) to be applied as an additional securitisation measure through which to further restrict movement across national borders and to justify the arrest, detention and deportation of non-nationals. At present, this takes the form of the requirement for a negative (costly) Covid-19 PCR test and compulsory health screening at borders. For those without a valid Covid-19 negative test certificate, rapid antigen testing (at a cost of R170, to be borne by the traveller) is now offered. Whilst the management of any pandemic requires appropriate disease management strategies including in relation to the movement of people they can all too easily become counterproductive. Given that South Africans moving extensively across the country arent required to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 status, why should we be demanding this from those crossing land borders? Current work in South Africa, including efforts led by the Health Justice Initiative, to overcome vaccine nationalism and hold the state to account presents a critical moment for ensuring that all in South Africa are included in the vaccination plan and that strategies for a regional approach to vaccination are actively considered. Whilst questions around the adequacy of Covax are being asked, and realisation of the limited action taken by the state to date, there is a need to consider collective, multicountry negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. Services at points of entry, and mobile healthcare services in border areas, involve well-trained, immigration-sensitive and capable healthcare workers/community-based workers who should be involved in all mobilisation campaigns and in the roll-out of the vaccination programme. Civil society networks that involve migrant populations such as Migrant Health Forums, including those that function across borders need to engage with work surrounding the vaccination plan. Whilst the Covid-19 vaccine fiasco plays out in South Africa, we highlight three key considerations related to migration. Firstly, the movement of people within the country how will planning and roll-out approaches engage with the high levels of mobility nationally? Will people have to attend the initial facility for their second dose? What if someone has since crossed a border into or out of South Africa? Secondly, how will inclusive access for all in South Africa be assured (via a one country one plan approach)? And finally, given our position within a region of high population mobility, how will we support regional vaccination planning and programming? The International Health Regulations (IHR) recommends that states sharing borders enter bilateral/multilateral agreements for the development of a common response to a health crisis. Not only should this mean that more appropriate interventions are in place in border areas, but a regional strategy for vaccination must be considered. A key question that must be engaged with relates to vaccine passports; will these be required for Southern African Development Community (SADC) nationals and what will this mean in both the short and longer term? Concerns have already been raised about the potential for a black market in vaccinations (in addition to the black market developing in the provision of negative Covid-19 PCR test certificates), including the need to ramp up security when transporting the vaccine. Without a transparent roll-out plan that appears reasonable, rational and accessible to all, then there may well be a security risk for the vaccine doses themselves (including a potential black market in vaccinations and threats to the transportation of the vaccine), but its unlikely to come from migrants or migration. Basic public health sense states that everyone everywhere must be included in all responses to Covid-19. This is especially critical when thinking about vaccines, including rethinking the ways in which states finance health interventions and urgent action to address the ways in which non-citizens are treated by the state and all in South Africa. Southern Africa is already behind in vaccination plans, and South Africa has the opportunity to lead the way for the region, ensuring all within the SADC are protected, not just those fortunate enough to be born south of the Limpopo River. We need all hands on deck and all inhabitants included in the solution. Only then will we stand a chance of gaining control of this pandemic. This article was first published in Daily Maverick/Maverick Citizen. Jo Vearey is with the African Centre for Migration and Society (ACMS), Wits University. Sally Ganda is with the Scalabrini Centre of Cape Town. Rebecca Walker is a post-doctoral research fellow at the African Centre for Migration & Society, University of the Witwatersrand. Francois Venter is the head of Ezintsha at the University of the Witwatersrand. 15:29 | Cusco (Cusco region), Jan. 8. Created on January 8, 1981, the Historic Sanctuary is located in the Machu Picchu district of Urubamba Province (Cusco region). It covers an area of 32,592 ha. The place is internationally recognized for its impressive Inca archaeological complexes, as well as the archaeological sites and monuments of high historical-cultural value. Moreover, the sanctuary has an important environmental value, including wooded areas, steep mountains, and snow-capped peaks. The area lies in a transition zone between the Andean and Amazonian regions and is part of a narrow strip of transition between both ecosystems. In addition, a terrain of abrupt relief and steep slopes predominates. The Historic Sanctuary is situated in an area of exceptional geographical characteristics ranging from snowy peaks above 6,000 m.a.s.l. to the most humid and hottest area of Urubamba River, which divides the sanctuary in two by forming the Torontoy Canyon under 2,000 m.a.s.l. In addition to this exceptional natural setting, one can find the one-of-a-kind archaeological jewel of Machu Picchu, which was declared a Mixed World Heritage site (which means both a natural and cultural site) by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1983. Machu Picchu is Peru's most popular tourist attraction, a World Heritage site, and one of the world's new seven wonders. (END) LZD/RMB/MVB Loading... The Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu on Friday marked its 40th anniversary since being declared a natural protected area by the State so as to protect its unique biodiversity, as well as an important set of archaeological sites including the emblematic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu Publicado: 8/1/2021 Grabbing my press pass, they saw that my ID said The New York Times and became really angry. They threw me to the floor, trying to take my cameras. I started screaming for help as loudly as I could. No one came. People just watched. At this point, I thought I could be killed and no one would stop them. They ripped one of my cameras away from me, broke a lens on the other and ran away. After that I was hyperventilating, unsure of what to do. I knew I needed to get away from the mob and hide my broken camera so I wouldnt be targeted again. I ran into Speaker Nancy Pelosis suite, but people were vandalizing her office, so I kept moving. Walking out to her balcony facing west toward the National Mall, I saw a mass of people covering the inaugural stage. I found a spot to hide my camera in there, then stood watching the crowd from the balcony and filming from my phone, which was all I had left. This will be the start of a civil war revolution, a man next to me said. At that point, the Capitol Police had started deploying pepper spray or tear gas, and I knew I needed to find a place to hide. I didnt know where I could go since I no longer had my congressional credentials. I ran to the third floor, opened the first door I saw and hid in a hallway. I called my husband, who told me to stay calm and find a safer spot. But then the police found me. I told them that I was a photojournalist and that my pass had been stolen, but they didnt believe me. They drew their guns, pointed them and yelled at me to get down on my hands and knees. As I lay on the ground, two other photojournalists came into the hall and started shouting Shes a journalist! The Colorado attorney general on Friday opened a grand jury investigation into the death of Elijah McClain, an unarmed black man who was stopped by the police as he walked down the street, placed in a chokehold and injected with the powerful sedative ketamine Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser convened the grand jury probe nearly a year-and-a-half after McClain died. 'The grand jury is an investigative tool that has the power to compel testimony from witnesses and require production of documents and other relevant information that would otherwise be unavailable,' Weiser said in a statement Friday. Scroll down for video Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser on Friday convened a grand jury investigation into the August 2019 death of Elijah McClain while in police custody Police were called for a suspicious person wearing a ski mask and waving his arms in Aurora McClain died following a confrontation with the police in the suburban Denver area. He was placed in a neck hold as he complained he could not breathe Weiser, a Democrat, promised the investigation will be 'thorough, guided by the facts and law, and worthy of the public's trust,' and said he will refrain from further comment 'to maintain the impartiality and integrity of the process.' On August 24, 2019, Aurora police responded to a call of a suspicious person, later identified as McClain, wearing a ski mask and waving his arms as he walked down a street. They say McClain, who was not suspected of committing any crime, refused to stop walking on his way home from a convenience store and fought back when officers confronted him and tried to take him into custody. To subdue McClain, officers used a carotid hold that cuts off blood to the brain, which has been banned in several places since George Floyds death in Minneapolis stirred nationwide protests. McClain, who was black, repeatedly told the white officers that he could not breathe, according to audio recordings released by police. Paramedics arrived soon after and administered 500 milligrams of ketamine to calm down McClain down. McClain suffered cardiac arrest, and was declared brain dead and taken off life support just days later. The coroner for Adams stated that McClain's death was ultimately due to 'undetermined causes.' The officers involved in the incident (one of the pictured above, left and right), have not been criminal charged and have not been fired Weiser is still investigating the officers' actions amid several reviews into the case and the Aurora Police Department by the city and federal government. District Attorney Dana Young previously said he would not file criminal charges against three officers and paramedics involved in the incident because of insufficient evidence. 'I have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the action of those officers caused the death of Elijah McClain,' said Young during an interview with CNN in late June. 'In my business, I can't take that case to court if we don't know those answers. It's as simple as that. McClain, a self-taught violinist, was taken off life support just days after his confrontation with police 'I wish they sat in their car and watched him walk home. Elijah McClain would be alive right now.' Officers Nathan Woodyard and Jason Rosenblatt were moved to desk duty on June 13 while officer Randy Roedema was also re-assigned on June 20, Governor Jared Polis in June appointed Weiser as a special prosecutor to review the case. McClain's death sparked Black Lives Matter protests, during some of which demonstrators played played the violin in honor of the 23-year-old man, who was a self-taught violinist. Mr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, a former Minister of Trade and Industry, has described Mr Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbins election as Speaker of the Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic as a sign of a new era in Ghanas politics. Speaking to the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday, Mr Spio-Garbrah said Mr Bagbins election indicated the end of Winner Takes All. With his experience, he will be able to contribute to the nations democratic credentials. It is not surprising some Parliamentarians, knowing his competency and capability, put their partisan affiliation aside and voted Mr Bagbin in the interest of the nation, he said. Mr Spio-Gabrah said the current political atmosphere must guide President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to appoint ministers on merit other than political party affiliation. The President needs to make public appointments that both Ghanaians and non-Ghanaians living and working in the country will appreciate. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area Agreement and other international companies have their headquarters in Ghana so we must have appointees in the national interest, he said. Friends and Family must disappear with immediate effect from the appointments in the new government. All such highly qualified members of the current administration should do the President a favour and not seek any public reappointments, Mr Spio-Garbrah said. He said political developments in the country called for an urgent need to build a new national consensus that embraced all political persuasions in the interest of peaceful nation-building. Mr Spio-Garbrah said the Government must demonstrate to the international community that it was ready to practice a government of national unity, where appointees could be selected from people outside political party circles. It has happened in Ghana under the reign of the late President Jerry John Rawlings and Former President John Agyekum Kufuor. They both appointed people from other political parties to serve in their governments, he recalled. He urged the President to ensure that the interests of all political parties were served because government would need the support of the Speaker of Parliament and the National Democratic Congress Caucus to pass bills. 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 .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... DENVER An unusual spike in new unemployment claims in the week after Christmas was caused by fraudsters, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment said Thursday. New unemployment claims from out-of-work Colorado residents increased 63.4% in the week after Christmas compared to the week prior. The state labor department said it would conduct a more detailed investigation into what happened. The uptick coincided with the end on Dec. 26 of the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which required less verification because no employers were involved, The Colorado Sun reported. The claims spike in Colorado did not coincide with a spike nationwide. Seasonally adjusted new claims in the U.S. declined by 3,000 to 737,000 for the week ending in Jan. 2, according to the federal Department of Labor. Earlier this week, labor department officials said they were receiving more reports from employers of current employees who allegedly filed a claim for unemployment, The Colorado Sun reported. Other victims reported they received unsolicited U.S. Bank ReliaCards in the mail, which is how Colorado pays its unemployment benefits. Phil Spesshardt, the Department of Labors benefits services manager, recommended that property owners check their mailboxes for unrequested ReliaCards and report potential fraud to the state. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ LOS ANGELES (AP) - Tommy Lasorda, the fiery Hall of Fame manager who guided the Los Angeles Dodgers to two World Series titles and later became an ambassador for the sport he loved during his 71 years with the franchise, has died. He was 93. The Dodgers said Friday that he had a heart attack at his home in Fullerton. Resuscitation attempts were made en route to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday. Tommy Lasorda enjoyed a remarkable life in baseball. His legacy will be one of determination, leadership, and perseverance. Those wonderful characteristics that he carried, not only through his career, but throughout his life, and his passion for the game and for the Hall of Fame, will be greatly missed in Cooperstown," said Baseball Hall of Fame Chairman Jane Forbes. "We extend our deepest sympathies to his dear wife of 70 years, Jo, the entire Lasorda family and the Dodgers organization. Lasorda had a history of heart problems, including a heart attack in 1996 that ended his managerial career. United Food and Commercial Workers 455, which represents workers at area Kroger stores, said 94 Kroger workers in the region have been infected with COVID-19 since Dec. 28 as part of a post-Christmas surge. David Lee, a deli manager the Kroger store in Galveston, is almost certain he caught the virus at the store, where he said maskless customers regularly crowd his counter. Lee and other grocery workers in the Houston area are urging Kroger to better enforce mask policies, provide more PPE and restore the hazard pay bump that made taking risks on the job more worthwhile. The union is also calling on Kroger to disclose the full extent of worker infections during the pandemic. On HoustonChronicle.com: Kroger announces wage increases as Houston workers weigh possible strike The push comes as union members voted in November to authorize a strike against Kroger in an ongoing struggle over hazard pay and against health insurance premium increases. The union has thus far opted to continue negotiating with the Cincinnati-based grocery chain. More than 29,000 Texans have died from the disease, including nearly 5,000 in the Houston area. On Tuesday, a sustained nine-day increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations triggered business restrictions. On Thursday, Harris County officials confirmed the more contagious coronavirus variant has begun spreading locally. The tally of infections, disclosed by the union, was compiled by Kroger. Clara Campbell, Krogers regional corporate affairs manager, said safety is a priority for Kroger, which employs 18,000 people at 100 stores in southeast Texas and Louisiana. Every front-line Houston associate will receive a pay increase within the next six months, she said. We would not operate stores that are hazardous to the health of our associates and customers, she said in an email, which is why weve invested $1.3 billion to both reward associates and to implement dozens of safety measures, including the installation of plexiglass partitions at check lanes, social distancing decals and providing protective masks and gloves for all associates. We began implementing these safety measures early in the pandemic and since that time have only strengthened our vigilance and resolve. On HoustonChronicle.com: More contagious COVID-19 strain identified in Harris County, the first in Texas But while employees are masked, many customers arent, workers said. And Kroger has only intermittently offered sanitary wipes for fuel center associates to use, said Frances Hubbard, who works at a store in Galveston. She tested positive for COVID-19 on Dec. 28, she said. I guess they didnt have them on the shelf, but thats not a good enough excuse for me, she said, noting between coughs she touches everything customers touch. If I can find them at other stores, Kroger should have them, too. According to the union, both Harris and Galveston counties have a Kroger location with at least six infections, four stores in Harris County with at least three infections, and Galveston County has three stores with at least three infections. UFCW 455 also pointed to worker cases at stores in Montgomery, Walker and Fort Bend counties. Lee and Hubbard said Kroger gave them two weeks of paid leave to recover from the virus, but both are still coughing and fatigued and fear what will happen if theyre not better by early next week. Kroger offers free COVID-19 testing to all front-line associates, Campbell said. As part of its contract negotiations with the UFCW, it has offered pay increases ranging from 90 cents to $2.45 an hour over the life of the three-year contract, depending on the position, amounting to $56 million in wage increases and benefits. We also continue to support our associates through benefits like paid emergency leave and our $15 million Helping Hands fund that provides financial support to associates experiencing certain hardships due to COVID-19, Campbell said. We are proud and appreciative of our dedicated associates who are serving our customers when they need us most. Kroger leaders say the pay theyre offering is competitive, but workers pointed to H-E-B, which continues to pay frontline staff the $2-per-hour pay bump its started at the beginning of the pandemic. Kroger discontinued its bonus pay in May. amanda.drane@chron.com twitter.com/amandadrane [January 08, 2021] Tauriga Sciences Inc. Showcases its Virtual Booth as a Corporate Exhibitor at 2021 CTIC Capital Pre-J.P. Morgan Healthcare Investor Summit This Weekend This Weekend -- The Company Will Exhibit Through a Virtual Booth to Present its Products, Product Lines, and Business Initiatives to a Broad Array of Top Tier Institutional Biotech Investors NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: TAUG) (Tauriga or the Company), a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, with a proprietary line of functional supplement chewing gums (Flavors: Pomegranate, Blood Orange, Peach-Lemon, Pear Bellini, Mint, Black Currant) as well as two ongoing Biotechnologies initiatives, has today Showcased its Virtual Booth as a Corporate Exhibitor (Exhibitor) at 2021 CTIC Capital Pre-J.P. Morgan Healthcare Investor Summit this Weekend (January 9th-10th 2021). The Company is looking forward to the opportunity to present its products, product lines, business initiatives, and strategic plan for 2021 to a broad array of top tier institutional biotech investors. Taurigas Chief Executive Officer, Seth M. Shaw (Mr. Shaw), will be directly running the Companys Virtual Booth. Link to CTIC 5th Annual Pre-JPM Healthcare Investment Summit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ctic-5th-pre-jpm-healthcare-investment-summit-tickets-128559391601 ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES INC. Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG) is a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, engaged in several major business activities and initiatives. The company manufactures and distributes several proprietary retail products and product lines, mainly focused on the Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) Edibles market segment. The main product line, branded as Tauri-Gum, consists of a proprietary supplement chewing gum that is Kosher certified, Halal certified, and Vegan Formulated (CBD Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Mint, Blood Orange, Pomegranate), (CBG Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Peach-Lemon, Black Currant) & (Vitamin C + Zinc Immune Booster Tauri-Gum Flavor: Pear Bellini). The Companys commercialization strategy consists of a broad rray of retail customers, distributors, and a fast-growing E-Commerce business segment (E-Commerce website: www.taurigum.com). Please visit our corporate website, for additional information, as well as inquiries, at http://www.tauriga.com Complementary to the Companys retail business, are its two ongoing biotechnology initiatives. The first one relates to the development of a Pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum, for nausea regulation (specifically designed to help patients that are subjected to ongoing chemotherapy treatment). On March 18, 2020, the Company announced that it filed a provisional U.S. patent application covering its pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum. The Patent, filed with the U.S.P.T.O. is Titled MEDICATED CBD COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURING, AND METHODS OF TREATMENT. The second one relates to a collaboration agreement with Aegea Biotechnologies Inc. for the co-development of a rapid, multiplexed, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) test with superior sensitivity and selectivity. On October 6, 2020, the Company announced that it has been approved to operate as a U.S. Government Vendor (CAGE CODE # 8QXV4) On October 7, 2020 the Company disclosed a Strategic Alliance with Think BIG, LLC, Social Impact Startup Founded by CJ Wallace, Son of Christopher The Notorious B.I.G. Wallace. The Company is headquartered in New York City and operates a regional office in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, the Company operates a full time E-Commerce fulfillment center located in LaGrangeville, New York. DISCLAIMER -- Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which represent managements beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are often indicated by using words such as may, will, expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, believes, or plans, and may include statements regarding corporate objectives as well as the attainment of certain corporate goals and milestones. Forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on managements present beliefs with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences or timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as are not guarantees of general economic and business conditions, the ability to successfully develop and market products, consumer and business consumption habits, the ability to consummate successful acquisition and licensing transactions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and other factors over which Tauriga has little or no control. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in the Risk Factors section of Taurigas Form 10-K and other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact: Tauriga Sciences, Inc. 4 Nancy Court, Suite 4 Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Chief Executive Officer Mr. Seth M. Shaw Email: sshaw@tauriga.com cell # (917) 796 9926 Instagram: @taurigum Twitter: @SethMShaw Corp. Website: www.tauriga.com E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com Attachment Virtual Booth [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Non-violent offenders serving time for drug use or possession should be freed immediately and their convictions erased, according to research published in the peer-reviewed The American Journal of Bioethics. More than 60 international experts including bioethicists, psychologists and drug experts have joined forces to call for an end to the war on drugs which they argue feeds racism. All drugs currently deemed illicit - even crack cocaine and heroin - should be decriminalized as a matter of urgency, according to this new alliance. Legalisation and regulation should then follow with restrictions on age, advertising and licensing, they say. They have analysed evidence from over 150 studies and reports, concluding that prohibition unfairly affects Black people, damages communities, and violates the right to life as illustrated by the killing of medical worker Breonna Taylor in March 2020. "The 'war on drugs' has explicitly racist roots and continues to disproportionately target certain communities of color," say lead study authors Brian D. Earp from the University of Oxford and Jonathan Lewis from Dublin City University. "Drug prohibition and criminalization have been costly and ineffective since their inception. It's time for these failed policies to end. "The first step is to decriminalize the personal use and possession of small amounts of all drugs currently deemed to be illicit, and to legalize and regulate cannabis. Policymakers should pursue these changes without further delay." Their research adds to growing calls for drug policy reform at a time of renewed focus on injustices faced by Black people, and cannabis legalisation for recreational use by a growing list of US states. The study is based on evidence from existing research into how drug prohibition affects users, communities and human rights, and the impact of decriminalisation by governments. The authors found that prohibition motivates individuals to commit offences such as burglaries to fund their habit. This lowers life expectancy because people end up in prison, and triggers a 'multitude' of health-related costs from unsafe drug use. Communities are damaged by illicit markets which undermine drug purity, with Black and Hispanic men more likely to end up in the criminal justice system. The war on drugs makes people more vulnerable to violations of their rights including what they choose to put in their bodies. In contrast, the study highlights the liberal approach of countries such as Portugal where drug-related deaths have fallen and where users are encouraged to seek treatment. An estimated 43.5bn ($58bn) could be generated in federal, state and local tax revenues through the legalization of drugs, according to the findings. This compares with an annual federal, state and local spend of more than 35bn ($47bn) on prohibition. The authors stress that non-violent prisoners found with a small amount of illegal substances should be released. ### .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... BOULDER, Colo. The Boulder City Council has approved an $875,000 settlement with a man who was injured after a police officer shot him with a stun gun in March 2019. Christopher Mahan got into the wrong Lyft vehicle while intoxicated and ran from a police officer who removed him from the car and tried to handcuff him, The Daily Camera reported. After he was hit with the stun gun, Mahan fell and suffered multiple fractured vertebrae and broken facial bones. According to court documents, Boulder police are not allowed to use a stun gun for the mere act of fleeing from officers. The documents state that Mahans medical expenses cost about $585,000, and he lost income because he could not work. The settlement was approved Tuesday, and city officials noted it would be the best option given the unpredictability of taking the case to trial. Given the projected costs of litigation, the city attorney believes that it is unlikely that the city will be in a significantly better economic position by litigating the case as compared to approving the proposed settlement agreement, according to a staff memo. Of the $875,000 settlement, $500,000 will come from the citys property and casualty fund, which is designated to pay claims and settle cases. The rest will be paid by Boulders excess insurance carrier. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ January 6 was announced to be ''the day of reckoning'' by US President Donald Trump as he exhorted his followers to come to Washington where ''it will be wild''. Rudy Giuliani, his legal lickspittle, urged the mob that turned up to engage in ''trial by combat''. For the next 11 days, Americans will instead undergo a trial by ordeal, as a deranged President, with his finger on the nuclear trigger, makes unpredictable and unaccountable decisions. He pardons those he loves, so may well give amnesties to the insurrectionists and to their enablers and first and foremost to himself. But how should those who have violently attacked a democratic government be treated? The main argument for accepting the United States as world leader has always been advanced by making comparisons with the alternatives. True it is that if a mob like this had invaded the politburo in session in Beijing, all its members would have been shot dead. So, for all the astonishment at the failure of congressional security to predict and prepare for the obvious risk of riot from Trump and Giulianis incendiary pronouncements, there is some small comfort to be taken in the minimal bloodshed on the Capitol steps (even if a Black Lives Matter protest in the same place would have been met by immediate police force). Another crumb of comfort comes from the CCTV and television close-ups of the mob that stormed the citadel. There were hundreds, not many thousands. Some wore neo-Nazi insignia, others were bearded yahoos from the average bikie gang and hare-brained QAnon conspiracy theorists, but many looked like befuddled right-wingers amazed that they had found such easy entry to the Capitol, and were more interested in taking selfies than in committing acts of domestic terrorism. This rag, tag and bobtail crowd was not attempting a ''coup'', namely a violent overthrow of government, and calls to charge them with treason (still punishable in America by death) or ''seditious conspiracy'' carrying up to 20 years in prison, are over the top. The sudden death of over 100 crows in the national capital has stirred panic in Delhi's Mayur Vihar Phase III region amid a nationwide bird flu scare. A team of doctors rushed to the A-2 Central park on Friday after hundreds of crows reportedly fell dead in flight. The dreaded bird flu or Avian Influenza has been confirmed only in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh so far, but all states have sounded alarm bells as a precautionary measure. Recently, a video where the crows can be seen falling to death went viral. As panic ensued, a team of two doctors reached the park on Friday to inspect and has collected samples for the laboratory test. A resident of the area, Tinku Chaudhary, told News18 Hindi that he has been informed by a doctor that the death could be either due to cold and flu. However, that can only be found out after a proper lab test. Meanwhile, the Residents Welfare Association has accused the administration of negligence, claiming that crows have been dying for the past three days now. The Centre on Wednesday said the Avian influenza outbreak, has been reported at 12 epicentres in four states -- Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Advisories have been issued to contain further spread of the infection in poultry ducks, crows and migratory birds, the Union Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying said. The Secretary in the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying held a meeting with the states to understand the status of the outbreak of avian influenza (bird flu) and to suggest measures for control, containment and prevention of spread of the disease, an official statement said. An unusual mortality of poultry, crows, migratory birds has been reported from Kerala, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. Effective coordination with the state forest departments was also emphasized for immediate reporting of any unusual mortalities in non-domestic birds in forest areas and around water bodies. The Centre has already issued advisories to the affected states regarding increasing and intensifying surveillance for unusual mortality of birds including wild/migratory birds. It has also established a central control room to strategize, co- ordinate and facilitate state governments with regard to outbreak management, disease control and containment. Moreover, two central teams have been deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation. The regional committee of health experts is meeting today, Friday, to decide whether the level of Covid-19 restrictions should change. The indications were this week that officials would seriously consider tougher measures in Andalucia again on signs that a third wave of contagion has started across Spain. The meeting comes two days before the special, Christmas conditions end on Sunday and in the face of a sharpening increase in cases both regionally and nationally following people mixing over the holiday season. The regional president, Juanma Moreno, said on Thursday, Andalucia will keep acting to contain the effects of the third wave. The decision that we are going to take is backed by Public Health and the experts, and will seek to protect people in Andalucia while helping economic activity wherever possible. On Thursday (7 January) there were 2,687 new coronavirus cases in the region, the highest daily figure since 26 November. Despite Andalucia reporting among the lowest figures in Spain in recent weeks, the rate of positive cases in the last 14 days per 100,000 people regionally had risen to 192, up by 51 points on a week earlier. Also on Thursday, the regional health minister, Jesus Aguirre, confirmed that there was now community contagion linked to the recent British strain of the virus. He was speaking at the opening of an extension to the intensive care unit at Malagas Hospital Clinico. Aguirre also suggested restrictions couldget harder but ruled out delaying children going back to school. Within Andalucia, Jaen province still had the worst Covid case rate his week (223), but Cadiz province, including the Campo de Gibraltar area, had also increased a lot to 222. In Malaga province, including the Costa de Sol, there were 157 recorded cases per 100,000 in the last 14 days on Thursday and 409 new daily cases, a 76 per cent leap on a week earlier. The provinces hospitals had 189 Covid patients on Thursday, a rise of a quarter on a week ago. Overall the province was in the Medium risk category once more, as the data continued to rise again into a third wave. National health minister, Salvador Illa, ruled out on Thursday any future full lockdown decree by central government. He said that the current measures involving a state of alarm, which gives authority to the regions to decide lesser, flexible restrictions and is in force until May, was enough to combat the third wave. Spain had a two-week case rate of 321 on Thursday and reached two million national Covid-19 cases since the pandemic started. Information via Society for Science STAMFORD, CT Society for Science (the Society) announced Thursday the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2021, the nation's oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors, including two students from Stamford. The 300 scholars and their schools will be awarded $2,000 each, according to a news release. (To sign up for Stamford breaking news alerts and more, click here.) The two scholars from Stamford were: Joseph Winterlich (King School) Project Title : Antimicrobial Peptides and Antibiotics Produce Bactericidal and Bacteriostatic Effects on Wild-Type E. coli Sammy Hillenmeyer , (King School) Project Title : The Electrochemical Oxidation of Methane in a Fuel Cell Utilizing Carbon Sequestration The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,760 applications received from 611 high schools across 45 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and 10 countries. Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists, and hail from 198 American and international high schools in 37 states, Puerto Rico, Chinese Taipei, and Singapore. The full list of scholars can be viewed here. The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides students with a national stage to present original research and celebrates the hard work and discoveries of young scientists who are bringing a fresh perspective to significant global challenges. This year, research projects cover topics from bioinformatics to public health and energy efficiency. "The remarkable drive, creativity and intellectual curiosity that each one of these scholars possesses represents a hopeful outlook for our future and our collective wellbeing," said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science, Publisher of Science News and 1985 Science Talent Search alum. "At a time when many students educational experiences are being disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am incredibly humbled to see gifted young scientists and engineers eager to contribute fresh insights to solving the worlds most intractable problems." Story continues "An exceptional group of student leaders and innovators comprise this year's Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars, with an array of projects that demonstrate the power of science," said Hala Mirza, Senior Vice President of Corporate Communications and Citizenship at Regeneron. "We are honored to celebrate the next generation of young scientists and inventors who can elevate the STEM community and our broader society through their high-quality research and novel discoveries. These are the inspiring problem solvers who will help address the current and future challenges facing our world." On Jan. 21, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. From March 10-17 all 40 finalists will compete for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron. Learn more at www.societyforscience.org. This article originally appeared on the Stamford Patch Nepal has drifted into a political crisis following its Prime Minister (PM) KP Sharma Olis decision to dissolve Parliament. The constitutional validity of Olis move has been questioned, and is awaiting decision by the Supreme Court. Unlike on previous occasions, Oli has refrained from blaming India for destabilising his regime. The PMs ire has been directed at his senior party colleagues for not allowing him to govern smoothly. The others, in turn, blame Oli for non-governance, corruption, concentration of power, and refusal to honour commitments made on sharing power. India has played its cards cautiously and craftily. With an assiduously cultivated facade of non-interference, it let China smear itself into the mud of micromanaging the ruling partys internal conflicts. Anti-Oli forces were quietly cheered to dump him, but when they failed, India subtly extended a helping hand to a desperate Oli struggling for survival. Prime Minister Narendra Modi positively responded to Olis telephonic greetings on Indias Independence Day. A series of important visits from India followed. The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) chief, army chief and the foreign secretary visited Nepal on October 22, November 4 and November 23, respectively. These visits were in the midst of Olis intra-party strife. Energy and trade officials from the two countries have met each other, border talks are on board, and Nepals foreign minister is visiting India for the joint commission meeting next week. Through these moves, India has achieved its immediate tactical goals. Oli has been emboldened to stick to power even by breaking the party. In the process, the shallowness of Olis opportunistic and politically driven anti-Indian nationalism has been exposed. The unity and dominance of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) has been shattered, and China, as its patron, has been embarrassed. On the sidelines of these developments, India has also fuelled and fed Hindutva forces under the leadership of a discarded monarchy, possibly as a ploy in the unfolding realignment of political forces in Nepal. Towards that end, India has now come out openly in favour of fresh elections. All this puts India on the side of undemocratic, unconstitutional and opportunistic players in Nepal, which South Block strategists think is a small price to be paid for the significant gains otherwise made. Seeking a friendly regime in the neighbourhood is a recognised norm in the realist world of international relations. India is no exception. It has often invested heavily in Nepal to have a friendly, even a pliant, regime. But in the long-term, this approach has largely resulted in the erosion, rather than consolidation, of Indias vital security and economic interests. With China deeply pitched in the regime change business in Nepal, prospects of this approach in coming years seem expensive and uncertain. Irrespective of whether Nepal has elections or witnesses the restoration of Parliament, a prudent course for India would be to let Nepal cope with its internal political mess. As no major development in bilateral relations appears likely during the prevailing uncertainty, India must encourage consolidation of a people-driven polity, and improve its own popular profile. It can pick up pending controversial issues such as the 1950 treaty, the Kalapani border dispute, and trade and investment matters, and categorical state its position, drawing red lines that Nepal should not cross. Nepal has asked for a revision of the 1950 treaty, and this has been accepted by India. But the issue remains stuck because Nepal does not clarify how to strike a proper balance between Indias security concerns and Nepals developmental aspirations. Without this balance, no new treaty is possible, and Nepal, seemingly, is not prepared to abrogate the old treaty. The question of the Kalapani border dispute has also vitiated popular perceptions in Nepal about India. While Nepal has taken unilateral and extreme decisions on this dispute, drawing new maps, India has not even clearly stated its stand. The available evidence, also backed by Indias security stakes and civilisational connectivity with Kailash Mansarovar (in China), weighs strongly in Indias favour. Nepal must be persuaded to assess the claims of both the sides objectively and independently. Indias policy towards immediate neighbours has never been driven by territorial nationalism. This has been evident in the case of Sri Lanka (Katchatheevu), Bangladesh (territorial waters), and even Pakistan and China. On trade and investment issues, India needs to be more accommodative. Nepal sells less than $1billion worth of products to India while importing nearly $8 billion of them. This is unsustainable, despite the fact that trade deficits are governed by the nature of economies. India can and must move to remove structural and procedural impediments to the entry of genuine Nepali goods into Indian markets. It should also encourage Indian investments in such industries, including hydropower production, that can boost Nepali exports. In redefining its approach to Nepal, India also needs to shed a great deal of its Sinophobia. China is no doubt politically assertive and financially spread out in Nepal, but most of its promises, such as transit through Chinese ports and railroad connections, are politically driven. Even Chinas own Belt and Road Initiative experts have termed some of these projects as economically unviable. Let China sink itself more into Nepali internal politics, which will only help India reclaim its contested strategic space. S D Muni is professor emeritus at JNU, member of executive council of IDSA, and a former ambassador and special envoy of the Government of India The views expressed are personal U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell, Alabamas sole Democratic member of Congress, has called for the removal of President Donald Trump. Sewell, in a tweet late Thursday, said there must be consequences for inciting violence and his abject failure to defend the Capitol on Wednesday. He must be removed from office -- either by the 25th Amendment or impeachment, Sewell tweeted. President Trump is a threat to our democracy and is incapable of carrying out his oath of office. There must be consequences for inciting violence and his abject failure to defend the Capitol yesterday. He must be removed from officeeither by the 25th Amendment or impeachment. Rep. Terri A. Sewell (@RepTerriSewell) January 8, 2021 Sewell joins a chorus of Democratic lawmakers who are calling for Trumps ouster less than 13 days until he leaves office. According to national media reports, House Democrats are moving toward a second impeachment of the president that could begin by next week if the presidents cabinet doesnt invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office and replace him with Vice President Mike Pence for the final days of the presidency. Sewell later tweeted out criticism of Trump, saying his comments have incited violence that led to the death of several Americans including a U.S. Capitol police office. Related content: What is the 25th Amendment? How would it be used to remove Trump from office? He must be held accountable, she said. Among the dead was 55-year-old Kevin Greeson of Athens. Greeson was one of four people attending the Trump rally before a mob of protestors charged the Capitol. His family said he died from a heart attack, and D.C. police say it was due to a medical emergency. Restaurants and other food and drink businesses have been highly critical of Gov. Andrew Cuomo and his state agencies since the Covid-19 pandemic hit New York in March. Theyve criticized the states restaurant shutdowns and restrictions, ridiculed rules about serving food with drinks, blasted regulations on live music, and, most recently, challenged the fairness and logic of placing some restaurants and not others in restrictive micro cluster zones. Some critics claim the state has done nothing to help restaurants during the pandemic. Yet the state has offered programs and modified or relaxed some rules in an attempt to offer some aid to the dining industry struggling with the pandemic and the restrictions. Many people may still argue they arent enough. Some estimates predict one in six restaurants nationwide will close due to Covid. In Central New York, more than 20 have already closed permanently, and many more are shut down temporarily with hopes to reopen in the future. Those numbers may grow. Heres a look at some of the states initiatives to help the dining industry: New York Bar / Restaurant Recovery Fund Details: This is a $3 million program from the Empire State Development office, announced this week. It provides up to $5,000 in grants to eligible restaurants and bars to reimburse expenses related to meeting social distancing requirements, expanding takeout, adding or expanding outdoor seating and related projects. Eligibility requirements include having had less than $3 million in revenues in 2019. Franchises are not eligible. How to apply: Applications may be submitted online starting Monday, Jan. 11. More info. New York Forward Loan Fund Details: Launched in September, this a $100 million loan program aimed at small businesses (and nonprofits) affected by the pandemic, including restaurants and bars. To apply, businesses must have fewer than 20 employees. The loans provide working capital for business struggling to get credit through banks, etc. Eligible businesses cannot have received federal Payroll Protection Program aid of more than $50,000. The loans are up to the lesser of $100,000 or the average monthly revenues in any 3-month period from 2019 or first quarter of 2020. The term is five years. How to apply: Submit an application online. More info. Here are other state initiative or actions intended to assist restaurants and bars (and often, other businesses, too). Pause in sales tax for Orange Zone restaurants Details: In December, Cuomo signed an executive order that gives restaurants in parts of New York that are banned from indoor dining three extra months to pay their sales taxes. More info: The sales tax pause is administered through the State Department of Taxation and Finance. Moratorium on commercial evictions and foreclosures Details: Cuomo initially signed an executive order suspending evictions and foreclosures for businesses affected by Covid-19 in March. It has been extended several times, most recently in December. The moratorium now runs through Jan. 31. More info. Cocktails to go Details: In March, Cuomo issued an executive order allowing bars and restaurants to offer to-go sales of wine and cocktails (in addition to beer, which was already allowed). The goal was to give restaurants an additional way to earn revenues. It has been extended several times. It currently runs through Jan. 29. More info. Liquor license fees Details: The State Liquor Authority has several times extended the deadline for bars and restaurants to pay the fees for renewing their liquors licenses. The most recent extension runs through Jan. 31. More info. Waiver to return unsold alcoholic beverages Details: The State Liquor Authority agreed to waive a pre-Covid rule that prohibits bars and restaurants from returning unsold alcoholic beverages to wholesalers and manufacturers. The intent was to allow restaurants affected by Covid to seek a credit for returning surplus inventory. Wholesalers and manufacturers, however, are not required to agree to the return/credit. More info. MORE ON RESTAURANTS AND COVID 19 Struggling CNY restaurant in a Cuomo orange zone: Its a losing battle here Syracuse restaurants closed in an orange zone beg Cuomo to let them reopen (video) How brutal has 2020 been for CNY restaurants? Can it get worse? (See closings list) Complete coronavirus coverage on syracuse.com Don Cazentre writes for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Los Angeles: Veteran actor Ian McKellan has praised his X-Men" series co-star Elliot Page for coming out as a transgender, saying that he is happy for him. Page, the Oscar-nominated star of films such as Juno" and Inception", had in December 2020 came out as a transgender in a statement posted on Twitter. Reflecting on his own experience as a gay man in Hollywood, McKellan toldAttitudeMagazine that Pages decision to come out will be a huge personal boost for the actor. Everything gets better when you come out because you get self-confidence. So you get better in terms of relationships, friends of all sorts, family, if youre lucky. And in my case, I think in every case, your acting is bound to change and improve," the 81-year-old actor said. McKellan, however, also admitted that he was disappointed" with himself for not recognising Pages struggle with his identity on the sets of their 2006 movie"X-Men: The Last Stand". I remember Elliot Page, in one of the X-Men, sat as close as we are now. And I had to speak when theyd finished, and I couldnt hear what they were saying. Nobody could hear what they were saying. So, I said, Look, if you cant speak up, would you mind when youre finished speaking, just dropping your hand so I know when youve finished speaking? And then they came out (as gay) years later and suddenly you couldnt stop them talking. You heard everything. And nowtheyre Elliot. And Im so happy for Elliot. And so disappointed in myself that I didnt detect what their difficulty was with communicating," he added. In his post on December 1, Page had announced that he has changed his name from Ellen to Elliot and thanked his well-wishers for their support. I cant begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self. Ive been endlessly inspired by so many in the trans community. Thank you for your courage, your generosity and ceaselessly working to make this world a more inclusive and compassionate place. I will offer whatever support I can and continue to strive for a more loving and equal society," Page had written in the post. Lawmakers are promising to investigate the way law enforcement dealt with Wednesdays violent breach at the United States Capitol. They want to know why the Capitol Police were not prepared for the mob that occupied and vandalized the building. The mob was formed by supporters of President Donald Trump. Congress buildings are protected by U.S. Capitol Police. On Wednesday, they turned to the District of Columbia police force and others for help with the mob that entered the Capitol and sent lawmakers into hiding. Police used tear gas to get mob members out of the building. The Congress was finally secured Wednesday evening. Four people died, one of them a woman who was shot and killed by police inside the Capitol. Three other people died after suffering medical emergencies related to the breach, said Robert Contee. He is the chief of the citys Metropolitan Police Department. Police said at least 52 people were arrested, including 26 on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol. Fourteen police officers were injured, Contee said. Representative Zoe Lofgren is chairwoman of the House Administration Committee. She said the breach raises serious security concerns. She added that her committee will work with House and Senate leaders to examine the way the police planned, or did not plan, for the arrival of the protestors. Congresswoman Ilhan Omar said: We spend billions of dollars on national security and today failed to protect our Nations Capital from a lawless mob. Unacceptable! Lawmakers hid under desks and wore gas masks while police tried and failed to stop members of the mob from entering the building. The Trump supporters had marched to the Capitol from the White House, where they had attended a rally where Trump spoke. Washingtons mayor announced an evening curfew in an attempt to stop the violence. Representative Val Demings is a former police chief. She said it was clear that Capitol police were not prepared for today. She added that the police force should have had a designated area for the protesters in a safe distance from the Capitol. In an interview on American television Wednesday night, Demings said it appeared there were not enough police to control the thousands of protestors who arrived at the Capitol. The event followed Trumps continued, baseless claims of a rigged election. Trump encouraged the protestors, whom he had urged to come to Washington to protest Congresss official approval of the election of President-elect Joe Biden. Trump has spent weeks falsely attacking Bidens victory. Were going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue ... and were going to the Capitol ... were going to try and give our Republicans ... the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country, Trump told the crowd before it marched to the Capitol. The protests delayed Congress for nearly seven hours. The mob broke windows, entered both the Senate and House chambers and went into the offices of lawmakers, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat. Congresswoman Karen Bass said she was angry about a photo on social media that showed a Capitol Police officer taking a picture with a protestor. Would you take a selfie with someone who was robbing a bank? she asked. She also said that if protestors had been members of the Black Lives Matter movement the police would have been ready, and many more protestors would have been arrested. Representative Tim Ryan said the incident would likely lead to leadership changes at the Capitol Police. I think its pretty clear that theres going to be a number of people who are going to be without employment very, very soon, Ryan said. He added that there was a lack of professional planning for a protest that police knew was going to take place. Im Susan Shand. The Associated Press reported this story. Susan Shand adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story breach v. an occurrence in which someone is able to get into a place that is guarded or is able to get secret information vandalize v. to deliberately destroy or damage property mask n. a face covering designate v. to mark, show, or represent rig v. to control or affect (something, such as a game or election) in a dishonest way in order to get a desired result encourage v. to make (someone) more determined, hopeful, or confident pride n. a feeling that you respect yourself and deserve to be respected by other people bold adj. not afraid of danger or difficult situations selfie n. taking a photo of oneself We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. New Delhi, Jan 8 : To further increase its presence and collaborations in India's North-East, the Embassy of Israel in India has appointed Joyshree Das Vermas honorary consul in the region. An official statement said she wil be based in Assam with jurisdiction over the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim. Announcing the appointment, Ambassador of Israel in India, Ron Malka said, "The relations between our two countries are growing and expanding rapidly. We are now going to take it forward and increase our presence in North-East India. I am proud to present the credentials of Israeli honorary consul to Mrs. Joyshree Das Vermas, who will work with us to further strengthen our growing partnership in this region." Joyshree Das Vermas said she was immensely honoured and humbled to represent Israel as honorary consul for the North-Eastern states. "This all-encompassing role excites me greatly as there are vast possibilities & opportunities to leverage Israel's technology and expertise in various areas. I am pledged to work in the best interests of Assam and all the North Eastern States," she said. The Embassy aims to identify all possible areas of cooperation in the North-East, where Israel can bring in expertise and advanced Israeli technologies to benefit people in the region. In November 2020, Ambassador Malka visited Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. He held official meetings with the Chief Ministers of the states, in which the sides discussed collaboration on a range of subjects including agriculture, water management, tourism, horticulture, fisheries and dairy. During the visit, the Ambassador laid the foundation stone of a Centre of Excellence (CoE) for Vegetables in Khetri, Assam. The region's first Indo-Israeli CoE was inaugurated in Mizoram in 2018. It has become a strong, sustainable platform for addressing challenges via applicable research and introduction of relevant, innovative Israeli agro-technologies, tailored to the needs of local farmers. Before the pandemic, the lab of Stanford University biochemist Peter S. Kim focused on developing vaccines for HIV, Ebola and pandemic influenza. But, within days of closing their campus lab space as part of COVID-19 precautions, they turned their attention to a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Although the coronavirus was outside the lab's specific area of expertise, they and their collaborators have managed to construct and test a promising vaccine candidate. "Our goal is to make a single-shot vaccine that does not require a cold-chain for storage or transport. If we're successful at doing it well, it should be cheap too," said Kim, who is the Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Professor of Biochemistry. "The target population for our vaccine is low- and middle-income countries." Their vaccine, detailed in a paper published Jan. 5 in ACS Central Science, contains nanoparticles studded with the same proteins that comprise the virus's distinctive surface spikes. In addition to being the reason why these are called coronaviruses - corona is Latin for "crown" - these spikes facilitate infection by fusing to a host cell and creating a passageway for the viral genome to enter and hijack the cell's machinery to produce more viruses. The spikes can also be used as antigens, which means their presence in the body is what can trigger an immune response. Nanoparticle vaccines balance the effectiveness of viral-based vaccines with the safety and ease-of-production of subunit vaccines. Vaccines that use viruses to deliver the antigen are often more effective than vaccines that contain only isolated parts of a virus. However, they can take longer to produce, need to be refrigerated and are more likely to cause side effects. Nucleic acid vaccines - like the Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines that have recently been authorized for emergency use by the FDA - are even faster to produce than nanoparticle vaccines but they are expensive to manufacture and may require multiple doses. Initial tests in mice suggest that the Stanford nanoparticle vaccine could produce COVID-19 immunity after just one dose. The researchers are also hopeful that it could be stored at room temperature and are investigating whether it could be shipped and stored in a freeze-dried, powder form. By comparison, the vaccines that are farthest along in development in the United States all need to be stored at cold temperatures, ranging from approximately 8 to -70 degrees Celsius (46 to -94 degrees Fahrenheit). "This is really early stage and there is still lots of work to be done," said Abigail Powell, a former postdoctoral scholar in the Kim lab and lead author of the paper. "But we think it is a solid starting point for what could be a single-dose vaccine regimen that doesn't rely on using a virus to generate protective antibodies following vaccination." The researchers are continuing to improve and fine-tune their vaccine candidate, with the intention of moving it closer to initial clinical trials in humans. Spikes and nanoparticles The spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 is quite large, so scientists often formulate abridged versions that are simpler to make and easier to use. After closely examining the spike, Kim and his team chose to remove a section near the bottom. To complete their vaccine, they combined this shortened spike with nanoparticles of ferritin - an iron-containing protein - which has been previously tested in humans. Before the pandemic, Powell had been working with these nanoparticles to develop an Ebola vaccine. Together with scientists at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, the researchers used cryo-electron microscopy to get a 3D image of the spike ferritin nanoparticles in order to confirm that they had the proper structure. For the mouse tests, the researchers compared their shortened spike nanoparticles to four other potentially useful variations: nanoparticles with full spikes, full spikes or partial spikes without nanoparticles, and a vaccine containing just the section of the spike that binds to cells during infection. Testing the effectiveness of these vaccines against actual SARS-CoV-2 virus would have required the work to be done in a Biosafety Level 3 lab, so the researchers instead used a safer pseudo-coronavirus that was modified to carry SARS-CoV-2's spikes. The researchers determined the potential effectiveness of each vaccine by monitoring levels of neutralizing antibodies. Antibodies are blood proteins produced in response to antigens; neutralizing antibodies are the specific subset of antibodies that actually act to prevent the virus from invading a host cell. After a single dose, the two nanoparticle vaccine candidates both resulted in neutralizing antibody levels at least twice as high as those seen in people who have had COVID-19, and the shortened spike nanoparticle vaccine produced a significantly higher neutralizing response than the binding spike or the full spike (non-nanoparticle) vaccines. After a second dose, mice that had received the shortened spike nanoparticle vaccine had the highest levels of neutralizing antibodies. Looking back at this project, Powell estimates that the time from inception to the first mouse studies was about four weeks. "Everybody had a lot of time and energy to devote to the same scientific problem," she said. "It is a very unique scenario. I don't really expect I'll ever encounter that in my career again." "What's happened in the past year is really fantastic, in terms of science coming to the fore and being able to produce multiple different vaccines that look like they're showing efficacy against this virus," said Kim, who is senior author of the paper. "It normally takes a decade to make a vaccine, if you're even successful. This is unprecedented." Vaccine access Although the team's new vaccine is intended specifically for populations that may have more difficulty accessing other SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, it is possible, given the rapid progress of other vaccine candidates, that it will not be needed to address the current pandemic. In that case, the researchers are prepared to pivot again and pursue a more universal coronavirus vaccine to immunize against SARS-CoV-1, MERS, SARS-CoV-2 and future coronaviruses that are not yet known. "Vaccines are one of the most profound achievements of biomedical research. They are an incredibly cost-effective way to protect people against disease and save lives," said Kim. "This coronavirus vaccine is part of work we're already doing - developing vaccines that are historically difficult or impossible to develop, like an HIV vaccine - and I'm glad that we're in a situation where we could potentially bring something to bear if the world needs it." ### Additional Stanford co-authors include Kaiming Zhang, research scientist in bioengineering; Mrinmoy Sanyal, research scientist in biochemistry; Shaogeng Tang, postdoctoral fellow in biochemistry; Payton Weidenbacher, graduate student in chemistry; Shanshan Li, postdoctoral researchers in bioengineering; Tho Pham, clinical assistant professor in pathology at Stanford Medicine (also affiliated with the Stanford Blood Center in Palo Alto); and Wah Chiu, the Wallenberg-Bienenstock Professor at Stanford and the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, and professor of bioengineering and of microbiology and immunology. A researcher from Chan Zuckerberg Biohub is also a co-author. Kim is a member of Stanford Bio-X, the Maternal & Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI) and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and a faculty fellow of Stanford ChEM-H. He is also affiliated with the Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. Chiu is a member of Stanford Bio-X and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and a faculty fellow of Stanford ChEM-H. This work was funded by MCHRI, the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. Stacker compiled a list of the community colleges with the best return on investment using data from a 2019 study from Georgetown University. L: White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) R: President Donald Trump delivers an address to the American people in a video posted to social media late on Jan. 7, 2021. (Donald Trump) White House Condemns Violence at Capitol, Assures Orderly Transition of Power The White House on Thursday condemned the violence that took place Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol and assured the American public that there will be an orderly transition of power. The violence we saw yesterday at our nations capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. We condemn it, the president and this administration, in the strongest possible terms, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told a press conference. It is unacceptable and those that broke the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Lawmakers were gathered in the U.S Capitol for a joint session of Congress to count electoral votes. Violence broke out at the building on Wednesday afternoon when a group of protesters breached the building and interrupted lawmakers who were at the time debating whether to reject Electoral College votes for Arizona. It is unclear who instigated the breach of the Capitol building. Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) A total of four people were confirmed dead on Capitol grounds late Wednesday, among whom was a woman who died after being shot inside the Capitol building. Former Vice President Joe Biden was certified as the winner of the 2020 presidential election following the vote count in the early hours of Thursday. Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) preside over a Joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after protestors stormed the Capitol earlier in the day in Washington on Jan. 6, 2020. (Erin Schaff/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) McEnany said Thursday afternoon that while the First Amendment guarantees the right of the people to peacefully assemble, What we saw last night in Washington and across the country was not that. Make no mistake what we saw yesterday afternoon in the halls of our capitol likewise was not that, she again noted. We grieve for the loss of life and those injured and we hold them in our prayers and close to our hearts at this time, she added. We thank our valiant law enforcement officers who are true American heroes. McEnany described Wednesdays events as a group of violent rioters undermining the legitimate first amendment rights of the many thousands who came to peacefully have their voices heard in our nations capital. Those who violently besieged our capitol are the opposite of everything that this administration stands for, she said. The core value of our administration is the idea that all citizens have the right to live in safety peace and freedom. She said that people working in the White House are working to ensure an orderly transition of power. Now it is time for America to unite to come together to reject the violence that we have seen. We are one American people under God, McEnany concluded and left abruptly without taking questions from reporters. Later on Wednesday, President Donald Trump delivered a public announcement in a video, condemning the violence that took place on Capitol grounds. Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem, Trump said. I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay. We have just been through an intense election and emotions are high. But now tempers must be cooled and calm restored, he said. Trump also said, We must get on with the business of America A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20th. As 2021 is starting to look a lot like 2020, concerns are growing for the vulnerable people living on Dublins streets after 57 lost their lives last year. A review is being carried out into the increase in deaths in a year marked by a number of tragic events involving homeless people. A man from Eritrea was paralysed when his tent was cleared by a digger from the banks of the Grand Canal last January; in September, a 39-year-old man was found dead in a laneway after suffering serious injuries to his head; while two rough sleepers died in the Phoenix Park over the Christmas period. At 8pm on December 16, gardai were called to the scene of a fire in Dublin city centre after a homeless persons tent was set alight. Nobody was injured but all their belongings were destroyed. Read More Just around the corner from the incident, volunteers from charity Inner City Helping Homeless (ICHH) were preparing to deliver food and supplies to the people sleeping rough across the city. Expand Close Avril Darker of Inner City Helping Homeless who bring food and essential clothing to the rough sleepers in Dublins City Centre and surrounding areas. Photo: Tony Gavin 15/12/2020 / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Avril Darker of Inner City Helping Homeless who bring food and essential clothing to the rough sleepers in Dublins City Centre and surrounding areas. Photo: Tony Gavin 15/12/2020 The loss of lives last year was described as an unprecedented spike by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE). While the DRHE confirmed in mid-December that the number of deaths stood at 57, it is expected this number will now be higher. The DRHE did not provide up-to-date figures in time for publication despite requests. The reality on the ground for some of Irelands most vulnerable is that many who have no place to stay find the streets safer than the citys hostels, where the threat of drug-related violence is constant. Many of these hostels are also overcrowded and people have chosen to leave them as they fear being infected with Covid-19. The latest figures available show there have been 82 confirmed cases across homeless services in the capital. Leon (53) has been homeless on and off for the last four years and now spends his nights sleeping in a car park close to Leinster House. He suffers from arthritis in his knee and a hernia condition. Ive been calling into the councils office to enquire about accommodation and its ironic how they all have their sanitiser and perspex screens but then theyre trying to put you into hostels which are completely unsafe and overcrowded, he told the Irish Independent. Ive stayed in a room with three sets of bunk-beds and even when youre sleeping you cant socially distance. Ive had my belongings robbed and been threatened with knives. This year has been really hard. Theres a common misconception out there that people are homeless because they want to be and because of the life choices theyve made, but nobody wants to live like this. Four men sleeping outside the Gaiety Theatre near St Stephens Green feel safer there because the street is lined with security cameras. Lee (29), originally from Coolock, north Dublin, has been homeless for six years. There are always troublemakers going around trying to take your belongings and damage the tents, but its still better than being stuck in a room with 10 other people. Two of his friends he met in a hostel took their own lives last year. Theres been too many deaths. Its really hard as theres nowhere to go. Ive been attacked while staying in hostels and theyre just a nightmare. This year has been really hard with the pandemic and everything. Paddy (30) has been living on the streets for over a year. The cold is bad, but the wet is far worse, he said. Im constantly getting people calling me a junkie and youre always sleeping with one eye open. Youre made to feel like youre scum and nobody cares about you. Its been very hard. I definitely wouldnt like to catch Covid as my health is already in a bad way. Paddy praised the work of the volunteers who deliver him food in the night. They show us more thought than the Government, he said. Avril Darker has been volunteering with ICHH since the start of 2020. She takes clothes orders from the homeless people she visits and delivers them the following week, along with other essential supplies. The Covid-19 pandemic has completely changed ICHHs framework and made things more challenging, but they are still determined to help those in need. We used to be able to do walkabouts but it got too dangerous and risky during lockdown so now we take the vans out and have had to limit the number of volunteers who can travel due to social distancing, she said. Its been a bit more tricky but were managing. Homeless deaths decreased from 65 in 2016 to 34 in 2019, but the number of homeless adults in Dublin increased by around 43pc during that time. DRHE said figures up until the end of November show 57 homeless people died. Firstly, DRHE would like to offer its sympathies to the families, friends and support workers of the people who have tragically passed away while in homeless services in 2020, a spokesperson told the Irish Independent. We are very aware of the pain caused by the death of a loved-one and we are also very aware of family sensitivities at this time. Many of the individuals who passed away were receiving support from a variety of DRHE/HSE-funded services but unfortunately homelessness is often complicated by medical or social factors. The pandemic has seen the overall number of homeless people decrease in recent months. A total of 9,907 people were living in emergency accommodation in March, compared to 8,484 in November. However, the figures come with a health warning as housing charities warn that the emergency bans on evictions and rent increases may have been a contributory factor in this, and fear numbers may rise again this year. For those on Dublins streets, 2020 was a bleak year, with this year set to be equally as tough. Met Eireann issued a nationwide weather warning as temperatures will plummet to 4C. Dublin Independent councillor and co-founder of ICHH, Anthony Flynn said: Our city is awash with tents. The seriousness of the situation keeps on being deflected by those who can and should enact change. This isnt the Dublin I want to represent. How many more must die? The HSE and Department of Housing commissioned a review of homeless deaths following the spike last year following request from campaigners. It is expected to be published soon. In 1989, Caracas, Venezuela, was loud and angry and joyful. It was the cosmopolitan heart of the most successful and stable economy in Latin America. At night the lights of mansions perched across the mountains that wreathed the capitals sunken center shone like a manmade constellation. But so too did the glow of TV screens in the homes of rancheros, shacks built of salvaged tin and metal and wood planking that housed the countrys poorest citizens in unsanctioned cities along the Cerro El Avila mountains (the northern edge of the Andes), where the industrious but largely unemployed inhabitants risked their lives to loop steel lines to the live wires above to illicitly access TV screens. As a 20-year-old intern at El Nuevo Pais, a crime-focused pro-business tabloid aimed at the citys supposedly growing working class, I noticed that middle-class neighborhoods were few and far between. The poor were so numerous and desperate that supermarkets needed to be guarded by soldiers armed with assault rifles. I owed my internship that summer to my aunt, Patricia Poleo, who at 23 was already a newspaper managing editor and co-host of a weekly feminist radio show. Patricia seemed to have sources in every corner of the capital and could talk her way into or out of any situation. So I was thrilled on the day I got to shadow the newspapers Congressional reporter. I couldnt wait to sit in the press area and witness debate. Patricia made sure it was a day hot-button issues were on the agenda. We did experience drama that day, but it was not the kind she had anticipated. When we arrived, journalists from other venues were gathered outside the entrance to the floor of Congress, gesturing wildly and clearly upset. Patricia made her way to the center, as the Congressional reporter explained that the government had decided just that morning to bar reporters from the floor of the legislature and require them to remain in the press area. This didnt seem unreasonable to me, but she assured me that this was not how things were done in Caracas, where reporters were accustomed to interviewing legislators as debate was ongoing right on the floor. No one ever actually uses the press seats, she said. I looked up at empty seating in the balcony. From there we walked with about 20 other reporters to the office of the leader of Congress and waited to speak to him. By now, Patricia had become our de facto leader. The other reporters seemed happy to allow her to do the very fast talking for all of us. We sat on the steps of the office waiting for the leader of Congress to hear our complaints. The reporters took photos of one another while we waited. Hours later, the government reversed its decision. The next morning I appeared in a newspaper photo, in the front row of a gaggle of reporters waging a sit-in for press freedom. My mother, a U.S. diplomats daughter raised in Latin America, was furious with me. Didnt I know they shot protesters and reporters in Latin America? Didnt I know the rest of the world wasnt safe, like the U.S.? But this was Venezuela, I reminded her, the wealthiest, most stable democracy in Latin America. I was nearly as safe in the halls of Venezuelas Congress as I would have been in the U.S. Capitol building, protected from unrest by stable political institutions and guaranteed freedoms, including freedom of the press. Never mind that both countries had long been divided into economic and racial castes. Never mind that long-running class resentments were becoming increasingly untenable as wealth continued to accrue to a small cadre of elites in both countries, that wages had stagnated as globalization diverted manufacturing jobs to the poorest regions on the planet, that populism was beginning its slow simmer from left and right in both countries and across the world. We are now decades down the road, and Venezuelans are starving under authoritarian rule. One-third of Venezuelas population struggles to meet their nutritional needs, according to the United Nations, and at least 4.6 million Venezuelans are refugees and exiles, including my step-aunt, Patricia Poleo, now a digital journalist living in Florida. In the United States, the top 1 percent has controlled more than 33 percent of the countrys wealth since 2016, up from the 25 percent they held in 1989, according to the Federal Reserve, with most of their gain accruing from an erosion of middle-class wealth. This is no more sustainable than guarding food from the masses at gunpoint. When wages stagnate and good-paying jobs become scarce, the thirst for strongmen wielding simple answers to complex problems flourishes and populist passions are apt to boil over, endangering the lives of those who govern, inform and protect us. Will we address the sources of grievance that fueled this conflagration? Thirty years ago, no one thought Venezuela would be the site of widespread famine and authoritarian governance. The mechanisms driving us toward a similar fate have already been engaged. Now we must endeavor to reverse them. Lisa Pierce Flores is a writer who lives in Newtown. Her column appears monthly in Hearst Connecticut daily newspapers. The Manitoba government has no idea how the federal government will manage its goal of immunizing all adults by September. The Manitoba government has no idea how the federal government will manage its goal of immunizing all adults by September. Its figures show that under current arrangements, only 74 per cent of the provinces population will be vaccinated by years end. The figure is in a document titled "Manitobas Immunization Rollout Plan" which cautioned its estimate was a "planning projection only." The document shows how many doses Manitoba expects to receive of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines monthly. It does not account for the federal government approving other vaccines it has signed contracts to purchase, such as the AstraZeneca vaccine. The Health Department provided the Free Press with information used to create the chart, which is based on the number of Manitoba adults, 1,068,553 by the end of 2020, by the provinces count. The projection shows 53 per cent of adults would be immunized with both doses by the end of September, and 74 per cent by the end of December. Doses would gradually increase, with a doubling from February to March, a month when 60,000 adults would be immunized, and a peak of 85,500 people being immunized in September. Cumulatively, that would mean 790,050 Manitobans would be immunized by Dec. 31. The Pallister government said the figures show Ottawa has failed to get enough doses to meet its targets. Several premiers raised that point this week, in response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chiding them for administering less than half the doses theyve received. In Manitoba, the NDP argued the projections reveal the Tory governments "a major failing." "We came into 2021 with 100 per cent optimism about this year. But based on this news today, weve got to revise our optimism down to 70 per cent," NDP Leader Wab Kinew told reporters. The Manitoba government did not say how it got the figures used in its projection. Canada has purchased a combined 116 million doses of the two approved vaccines, enough to vaccine 1.5 times the population, though Ottawa has not laid out a timeline for the Pfizer and Moderna doses to be shipped to provinces. with files from Michael Pereira and Carol Sanders dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Parents and educators may be questioning how to talk with children about the protests at Capitol Hill on Wednesday. News 10 spoke with one Wabash Valley teacher to see what his strategy was in having this tough conversation with students. Jim Kendall is an AP Government Teacher at West Vigo High School here locally. He says he was glued to the television from about 4:00 PM on Wednesday until 10:00 in the evening. He says he was trying to prepare what he could take away from what unfolded and use to help his students fully comprehend it. I actually sent an email out to all of my students at approximately 4:30 PM yesterday saying, if you have a chance this evening, get the television on. There is something truly unprecedented in American history that is happening right now, Kendall recalled. I just wanted my students to be able to watch the drama unfold as much as they could so that when we convened in class this morning we could be able to say, okay what did you watch, what did you see, what speeches did you see, what news coverages did you see?, Kendall explained, Then we could begin the conversation and I could serve as somebody who could be a point of reference or provide clarity to students for things that they may not have understood with what they are seeing on TV. Kendall says his focus with students has always been this: If the Constitution could talk, what would it say? He says he made sure students understood what Congresss goal was on Wednesday, the repercussions of the legislative action of the day being delayed, and then also the several laws that were broken when the Capitol was broken into. He says those are the ideas he plans to explore with students in the coming weeks. I wish the events of yesterday had not happened, Kendall concluded, But any opportunity to answer student questions about government, elections, the Constitution, Congress, or the presidency is a welcomed opportunity as an educator. Kendall says students were certainly shocked about what happened on Wednesday, but he used it as an opportunity for them to lead the discussion and help them in any way he could to make sense of the situation. A sober, shaken Senate returned to its hallowed chamber Wednesday night to slap away a frivolous election challenge, but its secondary purpose seemed to be to rise from the wreckage of a shocking day in which they were forced to flee the Capitol by a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump The riot in the Capitol prompted more than half of those who had signed on to the protest to instead vote no. Catering to Trump's supporters seemed less important than defending democracy. Tennessee's GOP senators abandoned the effort, as did Kelly Loeffler R-Ga., who lost her runoff election Tuesday, helping to deliver control of the Senate to Democrats. Wisconsin's GOP Sen. Ron Johnson dropped out, as did James Lankford, R-Okla., a promising younger Republican who raised eyebrows when initially supporting the effort. The 93-6 tally upholding President-elect Joe Biden's win in Arizona was preceded by an unusually serious debate in which party labels were shed and constitutional prerogatives embraced. We will not be kept out of this chamber by thugs, mobs, or threats. We will not bow to lawlessness or intimidation," said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. We are back at our posts. We will discharge our duty under the Constitution for our nation. And we are going to do it tonight." As senators debated, Trump took it on the chin from longtime critics like Mitt Romney R-Utah. But many Republicans who spent years tiptoeing around Trump's often-scandalous behavior seemed to finally have had enough. We witnessed today the damage that can result when men in power and responsibility refuse to acknowledge the truth, said Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa. We saw bloodshed because the demagogue chose to spread falsehoods and sow distrust of his own fellow Americans." The debate was forced by Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who argued that it was the only way to speak up for millions of Americans who believe Trump's false claims that the election was stolen from him. But their reputations as presidential wannabes hung over the debate. I ask my colleagues, do we weigh our own political fortunes more heavily than we weigh the strength of our republic, the strength of our democracy, and the cause of freedom?" said Romney, whose desk is directly behind Hawley. Whats the weight of personal acclaim compared to the weight of conscience?" More than 90 senators populated the chamber for the debate guarded by dozens of heavily armed police and the typically verbose crowd had to keep their remarks to just five minutes. Trump ally Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., also abandoned the president, appearing to cite his role in encouraging the mob. Trump and I, we had a hell of a journey. I hate it being this way, Graham said. From my point of view, hes been a consequential president. But today ... all I can say is count me out. Enough is enough. Romney, the party's 2012 nominee, reminded his colleagues that he knows how unpleasant it is to lose a presidential election, drawing hearty laughter. But he earned an enthusiastic, spontaneous round of applause with a simple observation: The best way we could show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth." The visit comes despite face-saving bluster from Iran that the seizure has nothing to do with the frozen money and there is "no need for a diplomatic visit." A Foreign Ministry official here said, "We're thinking of various constructive ways" to resolve the issue. Korean negotiators arrived in Tehran on Thursday to win the release of a Korean ethanol tanker that was taken hostage by Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday. Iran says it wants to use about W1 trillion of its W8 trillion frozen in Korean bank accounts under U.S. sanctions to buy medical equipment (US$1=W1,091). According to a diplomatic source, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani wrote to his Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in twice last year calling for efforts to free the money, which is locked into the account under unilateral U.S. sanctions against Tehran. Rouhani reportedly wanted to buy coronavirus test kits and other medical equipment as the epidemic there spiraled out of control. "We can't confirm anything," the ministry official added. "But the two countries have launched a working group to continue talking over the expansion of humanitarian trade, including vaccines and medical equipment." Iran expects Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kun to bring a practical solution when he visits Tehran this Sunday. Discussions will include how to bypass the U.S. financial network in the process of purchasing the medical equipment, and how to make sure that the Iranian money is not frozen again if it does go through a U.S. intermediary bank. Meanwhile, officials from the Korean Embassy in Tehran have met the tanker's two Korean crewmembers and confirmed their safety. In a press briefing on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Choi Young-sam quoted the crew as saying that they had experienced no violence or other threats from Iranian officials. The rest of the 20-strong crew are Indonesians, Myanmarese and Vietnamese. HALIFAX - Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are increasing border controls to stop the spread of COVID-19 across the Atlantic region. Premier Stephen McNeil, left, and Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, arrive at a news conference in Halifax on Sunday, March 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are increasing border controls to stop the spread of COVID-19 across the Atlantic region. New Brunswick announced Friday it is prohibiting all non-essential travel into the province following a sustained rise in COVID-19 infections. "We return to the pre-June rule that unnecessary travel into the province is prohibited," chief medical officer of health Dr. Jennifer Russell told a news conference. Even Canadians who own property in New Brunswick or who have family there are no longer allowed to enter for reasons the government deems non-essential, Russell added. "While the virus isn't very mobile, people are," Russell said. "It's that constant movement of people between cities, provinces, countries that has enabled COVID-19 to spread to every corner of the globe." She said travel into the province will be permitted for work, medical appointments and for compassionate and child custody reasons. New Brunswick residents returning home from travel deemed non-essential, or people who are moving to the province, must isolate for 14 days, Russell said. Health officials reported 18 new infections of COVID-19 Friday and said there were 143 active cases in the province. No one was in hospital with the disease. Two new cases were identified at the Parkland Saint John long-term care facility. That facility now has 20 cases involving 13 residents and seven staff. A case was also reported at a nursing home in Baker Brook, N.B. In Nova Scotia meanwhile, authorities said starting Saturday at 8 a.m., people entering Nova Scotia from New Brunswick will be required to isolate for two weeks. "What we're saying here is, 'Do not go to New Brunswick, and New Brunswickers, do not come here, unless it is for essential purposes,'" Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil told reporters. There are exceptions to the new rules, however. Chief medical officer of health Dr. Robert Strang said essential workers, people with medical appointments and those honouring legal child custody arrangements will be exempt from the order. Otherwise, New Brunswick residents arriving in the province will have to complete a check-in form and immediately begin their 14-day isolation period. The new order is not retroactive, but people who arrived from New Brunswick during the last two weeks are asked to get a COVID-19 test immediately and to isolate. Strang extended the request to Nova Scotians who have had visitors from New Brunswick during the last two weeks, though he said no isolation is necessary in those cases. Permanent residents of Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador are not subject to the order if they drive through New Brunswick with zero or minimal stops. Strang said schools in Nova Scotia will reopen on Monday as planned after the province had extended the holiday break. On the vaccination front, Nova Scotia received an additional 3,900 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine this week, which will be delivered to hospitals in Cape Breton and the Annapolis Valley the first areas to receive doses outside Halifax. Vaccine clinics for health-care workers will begin in both hospitals on Monday, Strang said. In Halifax, long-term care residents will begin getting vaccinated as early as Monday a week earlier than planned in Northwoods Halifax and Bedford campuses, Strang said, adding that by the end of next week, the province will have been supplied with 23,000 doses of vaccine. Health authorities in Nova Scotia reported two new cases of COVID-19 Friday. Officials said one case was identified in the eastern zone and the other in the central zone, which includes Halifax. Both are related to travel outside the Atlantic region. McNeil said the 29 active cases of COVID-19 in his province is a low number coming off the holiday season, and said he wants to keep it that way. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2021. With files from Kevin Bissett in Fredericton. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook and Canadian Press News Fellowship. EDITORS: The fallout continues two days after the Capitol was breached by rioters, with President Donald Trump saying he will not attend President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration amid growing discussion of impeaching Trump a second time and a push to curb the presidents military powers. Additionallly, questions continue to swirl around law enforcements response to the siege on the Capitol. The AP plans the following coverage. Note all times are Eastern. Find our latest plans in Coverage Plan and all of our stories, photos and video on the Capitol siege and the final days of Trumps presidency here. TRUMP President Donald Trump said Friday he wont attend President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration on Jan. 20, undercutting his message a day earlier that he would work to ensure a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power to his successor. SENT; developing. With TRUMP-INAUGURATION HISTORY A look at other presidents who did not attend their successors inagurations. UPCOMING by 5 p.m.; CANADA-TRUDEAU-TRUMP Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says President Donald Trump incited an assault on democracy by violent rioters. SENT. TRUMPS FUTURE House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she has spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about preventing an unhinged President Donald Trump from ordering military actions including a possible nuclear strike in his final days and hours at the White House. SENT: developing. TRUMP-DEPARTURES A steady stream of Trump administration officials are beating an early path to the exits as a protest against the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol this week. But others wrestling with the stay-or-go question are concluding that they owe it to the public to see things through to the end. SENT; developing. TRUMP-PENCE The straight-laced evangelical and the brash reality TV star were never a natural fit. But for more than four years, Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump made their marriage of political convenience work. Now, in the last days of their administration, each is feeling betrayed by the other. SENT: 1000 words, photos. BIDEN-INAUGURATION SECURITY President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration on Jan. 20 was already going to be scaled back due to the pandemic. But after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, there are now questions about whether having a presidential ceremony on the steps of the same building could also pose a serious security risk. SENT; developing. CAPITOL BREACH A police officer has died from injuries sustained as President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol, intensifying questions about the defeated presidents remaining days in office and the ability of the Capitol police to secure the area. SENT; developing. With CAPITOL BREACH-THE LATEST; CAPITOL BREACH-FACT CHECK UPCOMING by 4 p.m.; CAPITOL BREACH-POMPEO Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says America isnt a banana republic as State seeks to tamp down damage to U.S. reputation. UPCOMING by 4 p.m. CAPITOL BREACH-LAW ENFORCEMENT FAILURE Three days before supporters of President Donald Trump rioted at the Capitol, the Pentagon asked the U.S Capitol Police if it needed National Guard manpower. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The police turned them down both times, according to senior defense officials and two people familiar with the matter. SENT: 1400 words, photos. ELECTORAL COLLEGE-PROTESTS-LAWMAKERS The U.S. Justice Department says it has charged a West Virginia state lawmaker with entering a restricted area of the U.S. Capitol after he livestreamed himself with rioters. SENT; developing. CAPITAL BREACH-GLOBAL DISSIDENTS Although pro-democracy and human rights activists around the globe were stunned to see a raging mob storm the U.S. Capitol, they say they were heartened and inspired because the system ultimately prevailed. SENT: 1070 words, photos. CAPITOL BREACH-TEACHERS Social studies teachers across the United States are setting aside lesson plans this week to help young people make sense of the scenes from Washington and the violent siege by supporters of President Donald Trump. SENT: 1080 words, photos. CONGRESS-JOSH HAWLEY Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley is being scolded and blamed for Wednesdays riots at the U.S. Capitol. Hawleys political mentor, former Sen. John Danforth, says supporting him was the worst decision hes ever made. SENT: 1200 words, photos. TRUMP LAWYER-DEFAMATION LAWSUIT Dominion Voting Systems has filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sidney Powell, seeking at least $1.3 billion for Powells wild accusations that the company rigged the presidential election for Joe Biden. SENT: 340 words, photos. GUNSHOTS-INDIANA DEMOCRATIC OFFICES Someone fired at least six gunshots into a western Indiana countys Democratic Party headquarters within hours of the storming of the U.S. Capitol building by supporters of President Donald Trump, a party official said. SENT: 240 words. PHOTOS: AP photographers are on Capitol Hill today and will staff appearances by President-elect Joe Biden. A photo of Officer Brian Sicknick, who was killed at the Capitol, also has moved. VIDEO: AP video plans the following: Debrief with Washington Bureau Chief Julie Pace on the latest security developments. Broadcast and online edits planned. The AP 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 opposition members in the Kerala Assembly boycotted Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's 'policy address' and walked out on Friday, the first day of the Budget session, and later sat on a 'dharna' at the Assembly's entry gate. While the Governor was addressing the House, the opposition raised slogans against Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Governor tried to pacify the opposition MLAs thrice and urged them to allow him to fulfil his constitutional responsibility of delivering the policy address. However, the MLAs of the United Democratic Front led by the Congress walked out of the House, except lone BJP MLA O Rajagopal who remain seated throughout the Governor's speech. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told the media outside the Assembly: "We are performing the opposition's duty. It is our responsibility towards the public. Speaker Sreeramakrishnan has put a blot on the House by interfering with a central agency's work. We cannot just sit and watch." In his address that went on for two hours and 10 minutes, Khan read out the LDF government's policy against the three new central farm laws, maintaining that the "farm laws are for the corporates and a consumer state like Kerala will have to bear their brunt". There were reports that the Governor may not read out the policy address to criticise the farm laws but that did not happen. The Governor said that the state had worked over time during coronavirus pandemic and that the government had delivered free kits to each and every household during this period. He also said that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government will provide title deeds to 20,000 landless persons in the southern state. A scathing attack on central agencies was made in the state's policy statement, with the Governor maintaining that the actions of these agencies had resulted in a "demoralising effect on honest and hardworking officers". He also claimed that it had led to impediments in the implementation of the flagship projects of the Vijayan government. Perth man Aaron Wayne Coyle says he's sorry for breaking the law in Bali and didn't realise Indonesian drug laws were so harsh. Locked up in a Bali jail cell for four months, he was hoping to find out this week how much longer he would be calling prison home. But just when he thought judges would hand down their verdict and sentence, he was frustrated to learn the case would be delayed. Coyle was arrested in September 2020 in Bali and charged over 1.23 grams of methamphetamine which prosecutors allege he had in his possession. Perth man Aaron Wayne Coyle arrives to court in Bali, Indonesia on Thursday, January 7, 2021 Prosecutors have recommended the judges sentence him to 18 months behind bars. When Coyle appeared via videolink before the judges this week, he was angered to learn they were not ready to deliver the verdict. As he left the hearing, he told of his frustration at the delay and his regret. 'I am very sorry for breaking the law. I didn't think it was so harsh over here and I regret it,' Coyle said. He said he initially believed the case would take a few weeks. 'I have been told three-to-four weeks, now it is going to be nine weeks (for) such a small case. 'I love my family, friends, and justice will be seen at the end of it.' Coyle has already spent four months behind bars and has had his verdict hearing delayed until January 21 He says he is running short of his medication. 'I was supposed to get my medication two days ago. I am running out of medication. I am not well,' Coyle said. Coyle faces a drug possession charge and also a charge of personal use. He is now scheduled to hear his verdict on January 21. NEW DELHI (AP) As the coronavirus tears through India, night watchman Sagar Kumar thinks constantly about getting vaccines for himself and his family of five amid critical shortages of shots in the country. But even if he knew how to get one, it wouldnt be easy. Frederick, Md. A man who wore his company badge while he stormed the U.S. Capitol was fired Thursday by his Maryland employer. Navistar Direct Marketing of Frederick said in a statement that it was made aware that a man wearing a Navistar badge was seen inside the Capitol on Wednesday during the security breach. The statement said that after the company reviewed the photos, the unidentified employee was fired for cause. No additional details were released. The statement also said any of Navistars workers that demonstrate dangerous conduct which endangers the health and safety of others will lose their jobs. A violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in an attempt to overturn the presidential election, undercut the nations democracy and keep the president in the White House. Former Attorney General William Barr has slammed President Donald Trumps actions as an extremist mob of his supporters attacked the Capitol building, saying in a statement on Thursday his conduct was a betrayal of the presidency. The ousted attorney general said orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable in a statement to the Associated Press a day after the presidents supporters clashed with police and breached security measures to interrupt the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 elections. At least four people died and 14 police officers were injured during the storming of the Capitol, which set the certification process back six hours, though lawmakers eventually did confirm the election. The ex-attorney general resigned last month as Mr Trump continued to promote conspiracy theories about Mr Biden and his son Hunter while calling for federal investigations spearheaded by the Justice Department. Follow along with The Independents live coverage and analysis here. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo reportedly received phone calls from concerned former security officials, along with national intelligence chiefs who were also contacted by security firms and others urging them to remain in office until an orderly transition of power has been conducted. Those reports cited concerns of a potential security vacuum which could be used by enemies to cause harm to the country over the course of the next several weeks. Meanwhile, a wave of lawmakers were calling on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Mr Trump from office. The president stirred controversy throughout the day when posted a video message to supporters on social media that contained false allegations of a rigged election. Mr Trumps social media accounts were locked on Thursday, with Facebook announcing an indefinite suspension that would last at least until the end of the transition of power. The quickest and most effective way it can be done today to remove this president from office would be for the vice president to immediately invoke the 25th Amendment, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (DNY) said in a statement. If the vice president and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president." Five officers in a 'toxic' specialist police unit have been sacked for their 'shameful' behaviour after they were recorded using bigoted and inappropriate language. Six members of the Serious Organised Crime Unit (Socu) were caught using a 'whole array' of offensive language in a series of covert recordings after a complaint was made about their behaviour. Today, a disciplinary panel ruled the 'abhorrent' behaviour was so serious they must all, with the exception of the most junior officer, be dismissed from Hampshire Constabulary immediately. Detective Sergeant Oliver Lage, Detective Sergeant Gregory Willcox and PC James Oldfield were all sacked from the force, while trainee Detective Constable Andrew Ferguson was given a final written warning. Retired Detective Inspector Tim Ireson and former PC Craig Bannerman would have been dismissed had they not already left Hampshire Constabulary, it was said. Pictured: Retired Detective Inspector Tim Ireson, who would have been dismissed had he not already left Hampshire Constabulary All six officers at the Serious Organised Crime Unit were previously found guilty of gross misconduct after they were caught using 'racist, sexist and homophobic' language. The officers were accused of either making 'abhorrent' comments, or not challenging others when those remarks were made. Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary, Olivia Pinkney, today admitted the behaviour of the officers had 'undermined' the public's trust in the force. She added the six men had 'failed to uphold fundamental human rights' and their shocking behaviour had 'damaged' the reputation of colleagues. Bugging devices placed in the unit's offices between March and April 2018 recorded them calling women 'w****s' and 's***s', comparing black officers to dogs and saying Albanians should be killed with 'nerve agent', a disciplinary hearing was previously told. Prosecutor Jason Beer QC said that although the recording only lasted 24 days the investigation uncovered 'enough racism and sexism to last a lifetime'. Six officers at Hampshire Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit were previously found guilty of gross misconduct after they were recorded using 'racist, sexist and homophobic' language. Pictured: Hampshire Constabulary Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke Five officers from Hampshire Constabulary's Serious Organised Crime Unit office, who were previously all found guilty of gross misconduct, were today dismissed from the police force. Pictured: Hampshire Constabulary HQ Panel Chair John Bassett said the unit's conduct was 'shameful' and the 'antithesis' of what the public expects from those at the Police Investigation Centre in Basingstoke. He said: 'The current professional standards first came into force on December 1, 2008, in other words over nine years before [the probe]. 'The standards set out how the public expect members of the police to conduct themselves. 'Police officers cannot pick or choose which of the standards they abide by In the panel's opinion the matters it's found in this case are the antithesis of what the public expect. 'The conduct was shameful.' Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary, Olivia Pinkney, today admitted the behaviour of the officers had 'undermined' the public's trust in the force The most junior officer, Ferguson, who broke down in tears while giving evidence, was handed a final written warning. Mr Bassett said: 'Of those appearing before us he was the last to join and did so only three months before the probe. 'By the time he joined the culture in the unit was well established... when he was exposed [to it] the panel accepts he was conflicted by what he witnessed. 'The panel considers the likelihood of him repeating his conduct remote but he should be under no illusion, were he to breach the standards in any way he would be dismissed.' Shortly after joining the unit, Ferguson told his father about the appalling language, but his father simply said 'this is the way it used to be'. Mr Bassett described his father's comments as 'poor to put it mildly'. DI Ireson, who along with DS Willcox was found guilty of failing to supervise and set boundaries for the team, had previously claimed 'swearing was in the fabric' of the force. Counsel for DI Ireson, Luke Ponte, said: 'His intention was to permit a more relaxed atmosphere which he felt would sustain a cohesive and productive team. 'He accepts too much allowance was given...' The hearing was told officers likened the unit's only black officer, DC Solomon Koranteng, to a mixed breed dog, sang the Bob Marley song Buffalo Soldier at him and said he had been flown 'from Africa in a crate' and taken to London Zoo. The squad also placed a map of Africa above the area in the office where DC Koranteng and another officer of African heritage sat and nicknamed it 'African Corner'. On the recording, women were referred to as 'sl**s', 'sugar t***' and 'sweet t***', while an officer's partner was described as 'an absolute wh**e'. Officers also sent 'explicit' fake pornographic images of Prince Harry and Kate Middleton having sex to the work's WhatsApp group. Three members of the team were heard joking that 'Albanian migrants' should be shot on entry to the UK or killed with a nerve agent and called women 'sluts and whores'. Speaking after the sanctions were announced today, Chief Constable Olivia Pinkney said: 'During the hearing, the Panel heard a catalogue of sexist, racist, homophobic and ableist language and commentary that has rightly shocked us all and understandably left people with many questions about how this has been allowed to happen. 'I have always said that policing is built upon the values of professionalism, compassion, courage and integrity and the public have a right to expect the highest standards from the officers and staff who are entrusted to keep them safe. 'These officers have failed to deliver on the promise they made to uphold fundamental human rights and accord equal respect to all people, the oath they declared when they took the office of constable. 'Policing has never before been under so much appropriate scrutiny to ensure an inclusive environment for all our officers and staff to flourish and bring their best. 'There is no place in my force, or in policing more widely, for those who do not live up to this standard. These behaviours fell far short of those expected by me.' Joanna Bunch, an intelligence analyst who worked on jobs with the team, said: 'The SOCU Office North just seemed to be stuck in a time from 25 years ago.' DI Ireson has retired and PC Bannerman has resigned since the covert recordings were made at the force's serious organised crime unit. The panel was made up of Mr Bassett, a male police superintendent and a female lawyer. All of the officers, with the exception of Ferguson, were also placed on the police barred list. UMNO President Zahid Hamidi (center) and officials from the party and other parties stand for Malaysias national anthem during the opening of the UMNO General Assembly at the Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Dec. 7, 2019. Updated at 8:57 p.m. ET on 2021-01-08 The largest party in Malaysias ruling coalition is divided over calling for snap polls exposing a rift between a faction that wants to break with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassins alliance and one urging caution amid a worrying surge in coronavirus cases. The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) will vote later this month on whether to press for general elections before March 31, so that a new mandate can be given to the people, the party said in a statement after a supreme council meeting on Wednesday. On Jan. 3, UMNO President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi called for early polls, nearly three months after the party threatened to quit Muhyiddins ruling coalition. He said Malaysians wanted to see UMNO and its Barisan Nasional bloc back in power again. GE-15 must be immediately held. Use the new SOP for the next general election, Zahid said, referring to the 15th general election and standard operating procedures for participation at public events during the pandemic, such as social distancing and the wearing of face masks. We know that COVID-19 is still here and must be avoided, but we must follow the SOP, he said. Since then, though, a trio of senior UMNO members have said that calling for national elections during a pandemic especially when Malaysia is seeing a surge in coronavirus cases is a bad idea. On Friday, Khairy Jamaluddin, who is Science, Technology and Innovation minister, said that even the partys grassroots didnt want an election at this time, a claim that another UMNO ministerial colleague of his made earlier in the week. That colleague, Federal Territories Minister Annuar Musa, was sacked by UMNO from his post as Barisans secretary general on Tuesday, for not being on board with the idea of calling for elections during a pandemic. On Friday, health authorities reported the highest number of daily coronavirus deaths 16 since the outbreak began, and warned that Malaysia could see the daily number of new cases hit 5,000 in April, at the current infection rate. The country has recorded a total of 131,108 cases and 537 coronavirus deaths to date. Huge risk to public health After ruling the country for decades, UMNO and its Barisan Nasional bloc crashed out in a historic election in 2018. They came back to power last year as partners in an unelected coalition, after the Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) government collapsed due to a power struggle. But relations between UMNO and its coalition ally, Muhyiddins Bersatu party, have been frosty, because UMNO feels it has not reaped the rewards of holding the most parliamentary seats in the alliance. Zahid said on Sunday at an UMNO divisional meeting that more than 30 countries had held general elections during the pandemic. Why are we afraid of holding a general election during the pandemic? More than 30 countries have already done so. Why is Malaysia so afraid? he asked. Khairy on Friday addressed his party presidents comments but didnt mention him by name. There are some politicians who demand for elections to be held and I think this is an irresponsible stand. Their argument is that elections were held in Singapore and New Zealand. I think we cannot make a comparison to such countries because they are smaller than us, Khairy told a press conference. Those calling for [a general election] before the pandemic is brought under control are irresponsible. Dont be selfish, Khairy said on Twitter. Sabah poll lesson COVID-19 health and safety protocols will not be followed if an election is held, Khairy said, referring to Zahids comment that polls could take place with the coronavirus standard operating procedure in place. [F]rom the Standard Operating Procedure point, we can see clearly from the Sabah state election that people dont abide by the SOP, especially the politicians, Khairy said, referring to safety restrictions such as social distancing and the wearing of face masks. He was also referring to Septembers state legislative election in Sabah in Malaysian Borneo that led to a huge spike in coronavirus cases after the country had reduced new infections. [U]nrestricted campaigning in Septembers Sabah state election caused Malaysias largest spike in coronavirus cases to date, which the government has yet to effectively contain, said the Center for Strategic and International Studies in a mid-December analysis. Just a few days before the Sept. 26 election, the country reported a little more than 10,000 coronavirus cases. That number has since ballooned to more than 130,000. Hunger for power How UMNO will react to Khairys comments has yet to be seen, but the party made it clear earlier that it wouldnt brook disagreement with the party line, when it fired member and minister Musa from a key post in the Barisan bloc. Barisan comprises UMNO, the Malaysian Indian Congress, the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA) and Parti Bersatu Rakyat Sabah. UMNO anchored ruling coalitions for 61 years until it lost the 2018 general election. UMNO-Barisan was defeated in the May 2018 polls by the Pakatan Harapan opposition coalition, which swept into power on a platform to rid the government of corruption after Prime Minister Najib Razak was implicated in a financial scandal over the theft of billions of dollars from state fund 1MDB. Last July, Najib was convicted of abuse of power, criminal breach of trust and money-laundering in a case linked to the scandal, and is now on trial in another corruption case tied to the 1MDB affair. UMNO regained power last March by supporting a new alliance, Perikatan Nasional, created by Muhyiddin and his Bersatu party. The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Gabungan Parti Sarawak are among the other parties in Perikatan. For Musa, UMNO president Zahids push to break with Perikatan and call for general elections smacks of selfishness. Urging for elections when the people and the country are struggling with COVID-19, floods and the economy, clearly reflects not only irresponsibility but demonstrates the hunger for power and is not sensitive to the suffering of the people. That is not the will of the grassroots, Musa said via Twitter on Thursday. People get nauseous Meanwhile, senior UMNO member and Foreign Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said this week that senior party members were in charge of crucial ministries like defense, health and science, all of which play an important part in combatting the coronavirus pandemic. [We] are still at war with COVID-19. Daily cases are still high. The country is also being hit by floods. UMNO is being given the opportunity to prove to the people that our leaders are caring, capable, and determined to manage the crisis and focus on the interests of the people, Hishammuddin said in a blog post on Wednesday. He also noted that the party needed to decide carefully which other parties it should cooperate with, because a slam-dunk victory for Barisan isnt a guarantee if and when elections are called. UMNO should take note that we [BN] only won 79 seats in GE-14 out of the 133 seats we won in GE-13. This means we lost 54 seats. We must repent from this experience, Hishammuddin wrote. We should be committed in our efforts to provide the best service to the people. Not endless power-grabbing politics. [Or] In the end, the people get nauseous and lose confidence. Muzliza Mustafa and Hadi Azmi in Kuala Lumpur and Shailaja Neelakantan and Nani Yusof in Washington collaborated on this report. by Vladimir Rozanskij Two lawmakers from Putin's party question Kazakhstans right to its northern territories, sparking an irate response from the Kazakh foreign minister, slamming Russia for the famine of the 1920s. Former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev is awarded the Orthodox Order of Gratitude. Moscow (AsiaNews) The border controversy between Kazakhstan and Russia that started in December is front-page news again. Following the New Year break, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev (pictured) wrote an article published in Yegemen Qazaqstan (Sovereign Kazakhstan), the main state-owned newspaper, in which he publicly comments for the first time statements made by United Russia lawmakers Vyacheslav Nikonov and Yevgeny Fedorov, about who actually has a right to Kazakhstans northern territories. Although minor political figures, the two members of Russias lower house of parliament, are seen in Kazakhstan as expressing Moscows official position, sparking outrage in the country, to the point that some are calling for an international criminal probe against the two. For now the reaction is limited to diplomatic exchanges, but the two especially Fedorov have refused to retract their statements, pushing Kazakh Foreign Minister Mukhtar Tleuberdy to issue a very public and irate reply. Citing his higher education and knowledge of the history of our homeland, he used a very Russian expression to refer to what the Russian lawmakers said: it is a load of bullshit ( ). For a high-ranking diplomat, this is a decidedly undiplomatic. In his article, Tokayev cited the 1921-22 famine, instigated by the revolutionary power of the new Soviet Russia immediately after the civil war, to punish the Asian (and Ukrainian) peoples who had hosted the White counter-revolutionary armies. If it had not been for the famine caused by the Russians, our nation would be much bigger than it is today, writes the president. It is time for historians to clarify the responsibilities of those who starved people to death. Tokayev also insists on the need to de-Russify Kazakhstan, support the national language over Russian (which was mandatory under the Soviets) and review the countrys official historiography, perhaps to tell the centuries-old history of Kazakhstan, and all its territories, through some films or television series on Netflix and HBO, since few people read history books or manuals anymore. Tokayev's statements are, however, quite tame, and published only in the Kazakh edition of the newspaper, not in the Russian version. Of course, the president is speaking to his own people, in order to boost their sense of national pride rather than fuel a diplomatic war with Russia. However, in Kazakhstan, print media and TV have gone after Putin and his policies, and the reference to the famine of the 1920s is bound to irk Russian leaders since it is a very sensitive topic in Russia. In Ukraine, the Holodomor, the great famine of the early Soviet era caused by Stalinist policies against the peasantry, is also a major bone of contention. Tokayev has somehow unsealed one of the Pandora's Boxes of Soviet times. Despite the storm, which is bound to increase, the Russian Orthodox Metropolitan of Astana (Nur-Sultan) Aleksander (Mogilev) on Wednesday awarded former Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev the Orthodox Order of Gratitude (Algys in Kazakh ) for the spiritual rebirth of Kazakhstan. Kazakhstans eternal president, who still controls the country as chairman of the Council of State, has always tried to present himself as an advocate of interfaith dialogue, and used this occasion to wish a Merry Christmas to Kazakhstans Orthodox Christians, saying that thanks to our unity we will overcome every test that afflicts us in the current difficult period. A sleeping Buddha image is one of the most representative rock carvings in Baodingshan, Dazu district, Chongqing, and was threatened by seeping water. [Photo by Wang Kaihao/China Daily] Editor's Note:In May, President Xi Jinping paid a visit to Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi province, and highlighted the importance of ancient grotto temples to display characters of Chinese civilization and the mixture of different cultures. In October, the State Council, China's Cabinet, issued the first national-level and long-term guideline specifically for the protection and study of grotto temples. China Daily journalists talk with researchers and conservators to showcase the cultural splendor. Dazu Rock Carvings, being studied, preserved and protected in Southwest China, provide a fascinating insight into Chinese culture, Wang Kaihao reports in Chongqing. This place is called Fozu village. It is named after a Buddhist grotto known as Fozuyan, or "the Buddha rock", which is more than 800 years old. For villager Luo Kaihong, 46, a native of Dazu district, Chongqing municipality in Southwest China, the rock is not only a piece of the country's cultural heritage carved into a mountain, but also a definition of home carved in his mind. "I began to play around the Buddhas when I was a boy," Luo recalls."It's part of my life." Luo's home is just 100 meters or so away from the 5-meter-high and 12-meter-wide rock carvings, which depict four Buddhas, a Buddhist niche and a stele. Almost every day, Luo climbs up to the site to check its condition and do some cleaning. Happy Nollaig na mBan! I want to rejoice and be happy and embrace Womens Little Christmas, which falls today, but something is holding me back. Perhaps its the memory of the look on my late mothers face when we suggested marking Wee Christmas, as it is also known. With an almost imperceptible curl of the lip, she said a polite no, thank you, that she would not be accepting the scraps of the festive season. Thats how she saw the 12th day of Christmas when women were traditionally invited to take a rest after all the hard work that went before. It was the day when traditional roles were reversed and women were given the day off to visit other female friends. Why, my mother reasoned, should a modern woman celebrate such a day; one that validated the idea that women did most of the work during the festive season and were rewarded with a cast-off Christmas at the end of it? She was not wrong to think of Womens Little Christmas as a stuck-on, lesser after-thought. If you go looking for the origins of the day, which was strongest in the southern counties, you might come across a poem that goes: Nollaig na bhfear, Nollaig Mhor Maith, Nollaig na mBan, Nollaig gan Mhaith (Mens Christmas is a fine big Christmas, Womens Christmas is a no-good Christmas). Folklorist Kevin Danaher, in The Year in Ireland, Irish Calendar Customs, offers the explanation that Womens Christmas was marked by womens dainties, cake and tea, while Christmas Day was a day for mens fare, whiskey and beef. The origins of the tradition are hard to pinpoint, as is so often the case with a custom passed down orally, but in all versions youll find the idea of a big, male Christmas and a small, female one. That wouldnt exactly make you want to break out the bubbly, would it? But then something gloriously subversive happened. Small Christmas was appropriated by strong modern women and turned into a day to honour womens contribution to every single area of life, past and present. Read More Terry Prone: Yell away your frustration and avoid the January sales In recent years, its become a day to cherish the beauty of deep and fierce female friendships; honour mothers and daughters; fundraise for a range of charities that touch womens lives and highlight the contribution made by the women who went before us. Even in the confinement of level 5 restrictions, a series of events will take place today to celebrate, honour and support women. The rebranding of Womens Little Christmas is an example of detournement, a tactic used by French Situationists in the 1950s and 60s which literally means to reroute or usurp. In the same way that political activists of the time turned expressions of capitalism against themselves, Irish women have taken an expression of heavy-handed patriarchy and turned it into something else. That is certainly something to celebrate. And, today, heres to women all over the country who will overcome pandemic strictures to do just that. What rankles with me, however, is that some of the issues often highlighted on Womens Little Christmas lack of funding for domestic abuse against women for example are ones that women should not have to highlight. They should be taken in hand by the State. There should be no such thing as womens issues, only human rights issues Yet, gender bias is alive and well, alas. In the last month, for instance, reports on three examples of it popped into my inbox. One of them, how male bias plays a detrimental role in medicine and medical trials, is a subject that deserves detailed study in the year ahead. The winners of the 56th BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, Alan O'Sullivan and Cormac Harris, both aged 16, from Colaiste Choilm, Cork. Their project was entitled A statistical investigation into the prevalence of gender stereotyping in 5-7 year olds and the development of an initiative to combat gender bias. The second, a report on how gender bias starts at a very early age, was highlighted brilliantly by last years BT Young Scientists winners Cormac Harris and Alan OSullivan who showed that gender stereotyping is evident in very young children, particularly boys. Read More Daniel McConnell: Laying the blame for the state of the claims against our State When asked to draw an engineer, for example, some 96% of boys drew a male engineer while over 50% of girls drew a woman. These two young scientists, then aged just 16, also developed strategies to address the imbalance, strategies that need to be considered, refined and shaped into national education policy. The third report noted gender bias on radio, a point made forcefully in Mondays almost unbearably poignant documentary on Marian Finucane. In a particularly inspiring segment, the much-missed broadcaster and journalist Nell McCafferty questioned the lack of female broadcasters during an item on The Late Late Show. Why arent women allowed to grow old on TV? Marian asked, a question that might well be repeated today. Read More Irish Examiner view: Journalism matters now more than ever Nell, between puffs on her cigarette, wondered why there were so few women on air. We cant speak of Marian and Nell without mentioning the singular Nuala OFaolain. All three were firm friends. As Marians husband, John Clarke, put it, there were always eight or nine children running around at the couples open house on a Westmeath farm, plus two more, in the shape of Nell and Nuala (OFaolain). Today is a perfect day to recall and recognise how forcibly and effectively those three supremely talented women fought to achieve social change in Ireland. All three were involved in The Womans Programme which aired on RTE from 1983; Marian and Nell (viewers of a certain age will recall her wink as she said Goodnight Sisters) as presenters and Nuala as a producer. Since then, things have changed, and for the better, but only because of the awkward questioned posed by these women and many others like them. That is why we should continue to ask questions today. Heres one: why are the issues that women will highlight today not on the top of the agenda every other day of the year? It is, of course, a positive thing to set aside one day to make particular points, but do we then risk allowing them to be forgotten on the other days? In the same way that every day is Mothers Day, every day is a day to shout about the blatant inequalities that continue to affect womens lives. Yes, so much has changed. It is heartening to think that women growing up in Ireland today simply cant believe that contraception wasnt freely available until the 1990s. In the same way, I found it unimaginable that my mother had to get her husbands signature on an application to join the local library. Irish women have succeeded in turning Little Christmas into something much bigger, but there is still a way to go. There will be those who accuse me of banging on. Whingeing even. So be it, but its worth it if it means we continue striving to shape a world where gender does not define your passage through it. Having said that, there is always room for fun and merriment, so for the day thats in it, lets raise a glass and say, Happy Nollaig na mBan, sisters! Haiti - News : Zapping... 2 police officers kidnapped Wednesday evening at the Gonaives station (North entrance to Port-au-Prince) 2 agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) assigned to the Motorized Intervention Brigade (BIM) were kidnapped by unidentified individuals. This is the 5th and 6th police kidnapping since the beginning of the year... NOTICE to travelers to the Dom. Rep. From February 1, 2021, by order of the General Directorate of Migration (DGM) of the Dominican Republic, all passengers leaving or entering the country of Dominican nationality or foreigners must digitally complete the E-Ticket form via the link https://eticket.migracion.gob.do/Home/ This form replaces all physical customs and migration forms that are required so far. Andre Michel rejects the electoral calendar Thursday Me Andre Michel, leader of the radical opposition movement known as "Democratic and Popular" rejected the Electoral Calendar of the Provisional Electoral Council (CEP) https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-32719-haiti-flash-complete-calendar-of-all-electoral-operations-2020-2022-official.html sticking to its positions that the mandate of President Jovenel will end in February 2021... Resumption of the clerks' strike The National Association of Haitian Registrars (ANAGH) announces the resumption, from Tuesday January 12, 2021, of the strike of clerks, across the 18 jurisdictions of the country, in order to continue demanding better working conditions. ANAGH calls on the Ministry of Justice to respect the agreement, concluded with Anagh in 2017, according to which the ministry had promised, during the fiscal year of 2018, to grant the clerks of debit cards, gradually increase their salaries and grant an insurance card to each clerk indiscriminately... Warning: Siren and flashing light/B> The Haitian National Police (PNH) and the Direction de la Circulation et de la Police Routiere (DCPR), remind motorists that the use of sirens and flashing lights is regulated and that their unauthorized use exposes the motorist to harm. sanctions up to the confiscation of the vehicle for legal consequences in accordance with articles 148 and 152 of the decree of 26 May 2006. US $ 45 million in aid for the food and health crisis The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO - Haiti) new response plan to the food and health crisis for 2021 targets 675,000 people, with an estimated cost of US $ 45 million to limit the socioeconomic impact of Covid-19 on the livelihoods of vulnerable households. HL/ HaitiLibre STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The New York state Democratic Party Chairman is calling for the resignation of four Republican congressional representatives and two senators -- including Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis -- stating that their attempt to block the election certification contributed to Wednesdays insurrection in the U.S. Capitol. On Wednesday, violent supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol and occupied it for several hours in an attempt to stop the election certification of President-elect Joe Biden. Shortly before, Trump spoke to his supporters, going as far as instructing them to go to the Capitol to encourage Republicans to reject the Electoral Colleges decision. Were going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue -- I love Pennsylvania Avenue -- and were going to the Capitol, Trump said. Were going to try and give our Republicans, the weak ones because the strong ones dont need any help. Were going to try and give them the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country. The violence that followed led to the deaths of at least four people, more than a dozen injuries to multiple law enforcement officers, and significant damage to the U.S. Capitol. We cannot forget that four people died yesterday in an insurrection in the U.S. Capitol that can only be described as a failed coup attempt. Their deaths, the embarrassment of our whole nation, and the threat to our 244-year-old democracy can only be laid at the feet of President Trump and those who aided and abetted his seditious attempt to undo the results of the 2020 Presidential Election, state Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs said. Despite the efforts of the objectors, Congress confirmed the Electoral Colleges decision, and President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president on Jan. 20. Jacobs said Representatives Lee Zeldin, Elise Stefanik, Chris Jacobs and Malliotakis, who all voted in support of the objections raised about the electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania, not only violated their oath of office, they have disgraced the districts and state that they represent. I call on all four to resign today. Supporting a lie that you know to be false has consequences, as we can see clearly today. There are four dead bodies that are testament to how serious those consequences can be, Jacobs said. He also called for the resignations of Missouri Senator Josh Hawley and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Former Attorney General William Barr, who Trump appointed, said there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud before leaving office. In the legal system, courts up to the U.S. Supreme Court have rejected more than 60 lawsuits brought by Trumps legal team, led by former city Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Jacobs called Trump a sore loser for refusing to accept there was never any election fraud. Malliotakis has spoken out against the violent storming of the U.S. Capitol, however, she has not said whether she believes Biden won the election, not responding to several requests to answer the question from the Advance/SILive.com. I still have a constitutional responsibility to review this and vote accordingly, she told the Advance/SILive.com, adding that what happened Wednesday night is a completely separate situation. I believe that it doesnt matter whether it was 10 votes, 10,000 votes, or enough to overturn the election. I think what occurred in these states needs to be investigated, she said on Fox News on Thursday. I voted against certification of the two challenged states not to overturn an election but to highlight need for a proper hearing into unconstitutional rule changes, irregularities and alleged fraud. I swore an oath to the Constitution and REFUSED to turn a blind eye. Nicole Malliotakis (@NMalliotakis) January 7, 2021 Jacobs said Malliotakis, Zeldin, Stefanik, Jacobs, Cruz and Hawley should never again have the audacity to place hand over heart and recite the words I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands Yesterday they established that they do not and their treachery will be forever recorded in the annals of history, he concluded. Rep. Malliotakis responded to Jacobs, saying, Jacobs is a partisan hack who wants nothing more than to silence the one Republican voice representing out city in Washington. But I wont be silenced, I wont be bullied and will continue to uphold my oath to the Constitution and execute my duties. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. Ever tried to decipher what Sheldon Cooper from The Big Bang Theory says when he speaks physics? Yes, physics is a language and if it sounds akin to Green or Latin to you, we have a beginner's guide to recommend today. Dont worry, we are not sending you back to the textbooks that you abandoned in school, but to something far more interesting. And this book is authored by Coopers hero Dr Stephen Hawking. So you can be assured of the quality of content. Incidentally, it is also Hawkings birth anniversary today. The book is called A Brief History of Time: From the Big Bang to Black Holes and was first published in 1988. The book is a product of Hawkings years of groundbreaking research in theoretical physics. However, fret not, the book is by no stretch of the imagination a dry or a highly technical read. Planning the topics for the book from explaining how far humankind had come in the understanding of the universe, or how we might be very close to finding a unified theory of the cosmos came as Hawkings real challenge. The scientist contacted an agent and said that he wanted to write a bestseller that he hoped would be the sort of book that would sell in airport bookstores. The cover of the first edition published in 1988. (Photo: Wikimedia commons) Obviously, the agent laughed the idea off. He told me there was no chance of that, Hawking told the Wall Street Journal in a 2013 interview. It might sell well to academics and students, but a book like that couldnt break into bestseller territory. The adamant Hawking, however, wrote, rewrote, and re-rewrote it many more times to bring out A Brief History of Time. And the book on the origin of the universe, and its eventual fate, made it beyond the bestseller category. It had a 147-week stint on the New York Times bestseller list, a record-breaking 237 weeks on the Times of London bestseller list, with more than 10 million copies having been sold till date. The book has been translated into dozens of languages for a wider reach. The book explains topics in cosmology like the Big Bang Theory (not the series), black holes, the theory of relativity, light cones, time travel and wormholes to lay readers. While cosmology pertains to understand the nature of God and whether God exists at all, Hawking suffers from no such compunctions. He deals with cosmology as science and approaches it with empirical observations rather than delving into the philosophical aspects. So if you are the sort who either wants to make sense of the universe or the sort that wants to simply understand Sheldons physics jargon better, this is your go-to book. Pick it up over the weekend to travel into the realms of the unknown universe holding Hawkings hand. Also Read: No RIPs for Stephen Hawking. Its unscientific UPDATE, JAN. 11: Records show Trostel is accused of photographing a topless teen through a window in Portland A longtime Sherwood High School teacher turned himself in to Portland police this week after a grand jury indicted him on 29 counts of sex crimes a child. Brian David Trostel, 60, was hired at the school in 1995 and placed on leave on Dec. 18 after district officials learned of his arrest, a spokesperson said in a release. The charges include two counts of using a child in a display of sexually explicit conduct, 16 counts of encouraging child sex abuse and 11 counts of invasion of privacy. Portland police said they believe Trostels alleged crimes were committed in the city and the agency has identified a victim. At this time we have no reason to believe students within our district have involvement in any current investigation related to Mr. Trostel, Sherwood district spokesperson Christine Andregg wrote in a release. She told The Oregonian/OregonLive the district has reported Trostel to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission, which has the authority to revoke his license to teach in Oregon. Since 2004, the agency has revoked the licenses of two other Sherwood educators for sex crimes involving children. In August of 2003, then-Sherwood High Principal Robert Patton resigned after he was convicted of possession of materials depicting sexually explicit conduct of a child and sexual abuse. His educator license was revoked three months later. In 2014, Denise Keesee pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a 16-year-old boy when she was a teacher at Sherwood High. The former educator faced six counts of second-degree sexual abuse involving two students, including the one she admitted to assaulting. The boys mother first reported finding inappropriate text messages between her son and Keesee in 2008. That investigation was dropped until allegations involving another student surfaced in 2012. Her teaching license was revoked in April of 2015. A previous version of this story indicated Trostel was fired by the Sherwood district. He was placed on paid administrative leave. --Eder Campuzano New COVID-19 infections may be returning to the levels of the December surge that threatened to overwhelm hospitals, with 10,178 new infections reported Friday. It marks the first time since Dec. 16 since new infections surpassed 10,000. The peak for new infections, 12,884, came on Dec. 5. Over the past several weeks, we have seen a rapid increase of positive case counts reaching record-high levels, which gives us significant cause for concern, state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said Friday in a news release announcing expanded availability of testing in some rural areas. In fact, every county now has a positivity-rate greater than five percent, which is alarming. In addition, 21 counties have percent positivity above 20 percent. The new infections push Pennsylvanias total to 703,265 since the start of the pandemic and the deaths raise the toll to 17,394. One bit of hopeful news is that hospitalizations fell slightly, to 5,318 as of late Thursday. Thats below the peak of more than 6,300 in mid-December, during the surge largely attributed to Thanksgiving gatherings. State officials say the coming days will tell whether heavy Christmas travel will result in a repeat of the mid-December surge. But even with that possibility, state officials on Thursday announced new guidance for schools intended to get more elementary school students back into the classroom. Officials said the threat of serious illness is low among young children and being away from school is harmful for elementary school students. Nationally, the United States on Thursday logged a record 4,112 new COVID-19 deaths, and the 274,000 new cases are near the record. Hospitalizations, about 132,000 on Thursday, also remain near record level. Pennsylvania on Thursday also reported its first case of the mutant COVID-19 strain thats more contagious. The strain was first detected in England in December. The Pennsylvania case is attributed to someone in Dauphin County who got it while traveling. The new strain isnt believed to be any more lethal. But because it spreads faster, its considered capable of driving up infections, hospitalizations and deaths. The mutant strain is now considered to be present in most if not all states. Experts believe the new COVID-19 vaccine is effective against the mutant strain. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) Surging COVID-19 infections abroad likely held back foreign investors from making big bets to the Philippines in October, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas said Friday. Foreign investment inflows netted $423 million for the month, the lowest since March dropping 24.5% from the $561 million recorded in October 2019. "The slowdown in FDI during the month may be attributed in part to concerns over the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in the US, Japan, and some European countries," the BSP said in a statement. READ: How it all went wrong (again) in Europe as second wave grips continent The investment downturn was seen across all instruments. Net equity capital placements plunged settling at just $1 million from $49 million a year ago. This came as the $86 million gross inflows were nearly wiped out by $85 million in funds withdrawn by foreign players. The biggest investments came from Japan, the Cayman Islands known as a financial hub and tax haven and the US. Meanwhile, priority sectors were manufacturing, real estate, and information and communication. Reinvested earnings, which represent profits generated by a local unit of a multinational company, also slipped 20.6% to $65 million. Bets on debt instruments, which are deemed the safer buy, also went down 16.8% to $358 million the lowest since June. The October FDI tally meant that year-to-date investment inflows are at $5.26 billion a tenth lower than the $5.85 billion investments received during the same period in 2019. The biggest sources of foreign funds were Japan, the Netherlands, the United States, and Singapore, the BSP added. FDIs are a key source of jobs, as additional investments mean new opportunities for Filipino workers. The BSP projects total FDI to hit just $6 billion this year, well below the original $8.8 billion pre-pandemic forecast. In 2019, net inflows reached $7.69 billion. President of Venezuela Nicolas Maduro on Thursday criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, blaming him responsible for inciting a mob to assault the U.S. Capitol. The Venezuelan leader compared the violent actions and the incitement by President Trump to U.S. policies on foreign countries, as he referred to Iraq, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and Panama. These are countries the U.S. has invaded. Maduro commented on the situation during a meeting with the newly appointed lawmakers of the National Assembly, the Venezuelan military high command and the Cabinet. Maduro diverged from the majority of Latin American leaders who, for the most part, refrained from commenting on the events. (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) Armenian opposition figures and some media outlets critical of the government have said in recent days that Pashinian will hold there a trilateral meeting with Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan. A pro-opposition social media account claimed on Thursday that they will sign an agreement on Armenian territorial concessions to Azerbaijan in an effort to cement the Russian-brokered ceasefire in the Karabakh conflict zone. It said the draft agreement has already been sent to Armenian Ministry of Justice for examination. Justice Minister Rustam Badasian and his press office were quick to deny the claim in separate statements. Despite the denials, several dozen opposition activists and supporters rallied outside the ministry building in Yerevan on Friday to demand explanations. Badasian emerged from the building to talk to the protesters and repeat his assurances. Speaking to RFE/RLs Armenian Service, Pashinians press secretary, Mane Gevorgian, also denied the existence of such a document. Earlier this week Gevorgian did not rule out the possibility of Pashinians visit to Moscow. She did not comment further. The opposition claims appeared to have prompted concern from President Armen Sarkissian. In a statement issued by his office, Sarkissian said the government should be accountable to the public and stick to Armenias constitution and laws when implementing the ceasefire agreement that stopped the war on November 10. Meanwhile, Pashinian identified his administrations top priorities in the implementation process: the release of all Armenian prisoners remaining in Azerbaijani captivity, the recovery of the bodies of Armenian soldiers and civilians killed during the war, and the opening of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border for cargo and passenger traffic. The truce accord commits Yerevan to opening a transport link between the Nakhichevan exclave and the rest of Azerbaijan, which would pass through Armenias southeastern Syunik province. In a Facebook post, Pashinian again stressed that Baku will have to allow, for its part, Armenia to use Azerbaijani territory as a transit route for cargo shipments to and from Russia and Iran. A year after the coronavirus pandemic roared into the United States, the therapeutic options for COVID-19 remain limited, reinforcing the vital importance of the new vaccines. The only fully approved COVID-19 drug, the antiviral remdesivir, has shown modest benefit, at best, in hospitalized patients. Two monoclonal antibodies synthetic versions of the bodys own disease-fighting antibodies have raised hopes for keeping high-risk patients out of the hospital, but the National Institutes of Health treatment guidelines say there arent enough data to recommend them. Dexamethasone, a venerable corticosteroid, is the only drug that has been shown to improve outcomes for severely ill, hospitalized patients. In those who develop clots, anticoagulants have demonstrated their value. Meanwhile, two treatments that seemed promising convalescent plasma and the rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra have been underwhelming in the latest rigorous studies. Here is a summary of those studies, as well as one that assessed the safety of common blood-pressure medicines in COVID-19 patients: Convalescent plasma: Timing matters For a century, plasma from recovered patients has been transfused to treat various infectious diseases because this liquid part of the blood is loaded with infection-fighting antibodies. Still, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration was criticized in August when it authorized emergency use of convalescent plasma for COVID-19 because the scientific support was circumstantial, and because the agency was under pressure from the Trump administration. The NIH guidelines do not recommend plasma for any patients. This week, a small but meticulous Argentinian clinical trial published in the New England Journal of Medicine found plasma reduced the chance of progression to severe disease but only for a certain demographic group under certain conditions. The 80 participants were age 65 or over, and half had chronic health conditions, so all of them were at high risk of severe disease. Only plasma with high levels of antibodies was used, and it was given within three days of the first symptoms. As the disease progresses, antibodies are no match for the tissue-damaging abnormalities fueled by COVID-19. That small window of opportunity is a problem because most patients dont go to the hospital until they are really sick. Our best data at this moment suggests that if plasma is going to work, it needs to be given very early in the course of infection, before they develop serious dysfunction, John Zurlo, chief of infectious disease and chair of the COVID-19 clinical task force at Jefferson University Hospital, said in October. Actemra: Hopes dim for use in COVID cytokine storm Patients with life-threatening COVID-19 often develop an immune-system overreaction that unleashes organ-damaging molecules. This so-called cytokine storm is also a common complication of Kymriah, the breakthrough cancer treatment in which the patients T cells are genetically engineered to kill cancerous blood cells. Carl June, the University of Pennsylvania researcher whose team pioneered T-cell therapy, discovered that Actemra (tocilizumab) was an antidote to the cytokine storm of Kymriah. He was optimistic that Actemra, originally approved to treat rheumatoid arthritis, would also relieve this complication in COVID-19. But four new trials three published in JAMA Internal Medicine and one in the New England Journal of Medicine are the latest to dim hopes for Actemra in severe COVID-19. The most encouraging trial found that after 14 days, 24% of patients required ventilation or had died, compared with 36% of patients receiving usual care. The other studies showed no benefit. Their findings do not support the routine use of tocilizumab for COVID-19 in most settings, Jonathan B. Parr, an infectious disease specialist at the University of North Carolina, wrote in an editorial in JAMA Internal Medicine. I plan to reconsider tocilizumabs use if, and only if, more compelling data from randomized trials emerges. June thinks the jury is still out. Actemra inhibits a cytokine called interleukin-6, but the JAMA and NEJM trials did not require patients to have elevated levels of IL-6 before treatment. At Penn, June said, only about 20% of intensive care COVID-19 patients have had elevated IL-6. Thus it is possible that 80% of the patients enrolled [in the studies] had no potential way to benefit from tocilizumab. June emailed. Blood-pressure medicines dont add harm Early in the pandemic, researchers discovered that the coronavirus breaks into cells by latching onto a cell surface protein called ACE-2. That raised questions about blood-pressure medications (the acronyms are ACEI or ARB) because they act on the complex fluid balancing system that includes ACE-2. The medications mainstays of treating hypertension, heart disease, heart failure, diabetes, and chronic kidney disease might make it easier for the virus to enter cells. On the other hand, because the drugs also tamp down inflammation, they might reduce the severity of COVID-19 . A new study, led by University of Pennsylvania researchers and published Thursday in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine, provides reassurance. Hospitalized COVID-19 patients who discontinued their blood-pressure meds were compared with patients who continued. While the medications didnt improve COVID-19 outcomes, neither did they worsen outcomes. Jordana B. Cohen, the Penn physician who led the study, said the take-home message for COVID-19 patients is: Dont worry. Keep using the drugs, unless your doctor tells you not to. State officials celebrate Gov. Charlie Baker's signing of the new health-care law increases insurance coverage for telehealth and expands the scope of practice for nurse practitioners. It also extends requirements for all insurance carriers in Massachusetts to cover COVID-19 testing and treatment. The signing followed the governor's COVID-19 update. State Program Will Allow Schools to Conduct 'Pool Testing' for COVID-19 BOSTON Massachusetts schools will have the ability to conduct "pool" testing of staff and students for the novel coronavirus under a program announced Friday on Beacon Hill. Gov. Charlie Baker was joined by his secretary of education and commissioner of elementary and secondary education to roll out the latest in the administration's continuing effort to push for in-person education in the commonwealth. "As schools across the commonwealth and around the world are demonstrating and as the medical experts have confirmed, when the standard protocols are followed, schools can be very safe places for children and staff, even without universal testing," Secretary of Education James Peyser said. "Nevertheless, we recognize the anxiety that many people feel parents and teachers alike about returning to classrooms in the context of the current levels of COVID we're experiencing this winter. "Today's announcement is intended to directly address those concerns in order to keep schools open and to help reopen those schools that have been closed." Past state efforts at school-related COVID-19 testing have included distribution of the Abbott BinaxNOW rapid diagnostic tests for school occupants who are symptomatic and rapid response testing when suspected clusters have arisen. Friday's announcement takes public school testing to the next level, allowing widespread, inexpensive testing of asymptomatic populations to monitor for COVID-19. Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders explained that under the new program, schools will be supplied with testing kits that involve a short swab sampling at the front of the nose that gives no discomfort to the test subject. Test samples in a "cohort" of 10 to 20 subjects then will be combined into a single tube and sent to a local testing facility for rapid tests. "If a pooled test result is negative, then all individuals within that pool are presumed negative, and they remain in school," Sudders said. "If a pooled test result is positive, then all the individuals in that pool are retested using the Abbott BinaxNOW. And the positive individual and any close contact are isolated and quarantined. "This allows classrooms to stay open." Sudders said the pool testing can be conducted for "at least 75 percent less than the cost of an individual test." Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey Riley said pilot pool testing programs are underway in several school districts in the commonwealth with positive results. "Watertown Superintendent Deanne Galdston said that it has allowed them to stay open despite the rising virus in their community," Riley said. "They have not had to think about closing their schools, she said. "Since recently starting this initiative, Watertown schools have tested more than 6,400 individuals, including students and staff members and seen a positivity rate of .21 percent. This is compared to a community rate of 4.4 percent as of Dec. 31. The superintendent told us that what the testing is really helping to see is that the core mitigation strategies used in the schools masking in particular are working." That is a message that Baker and his education officials have been driving home since the summer. "There's now an overwhelming body of scientific research that shows in-person learning can be done without spreading the virus regardless of the community transmission rate," Baker said on Friday. "One needs to look no farther than the parochial schools here in the commonwealth. Thirty thousand students, 4,000 staff that opened for in-person learning since August with very little impact associated with COVID. Most of those schools are located within communities with high transmission rates. "It's a great success story, and I applaud them for it." In answer to a reporter's question on Friday, Riley acknowledged that there has been pushback to in-person instruction from teachers' unions (parochial schools are non-unionized). "We have been in discussions with the American Federation of Teachers the last few weeks," Riley said. "And there's a meeting that's going to take place next week where we plan to partner with them on this pool testing. We do think it's important to their membership." In other COVID-19 developments on Friday: Sudders announced that the commonwealth now has 119 test sites established for the distribution of vaccines to first responders that is set to begin on Monday. According to the state's website, the number of test sites in Berkshire County remains at three, where it stood this past Sudders announced that the commonwealth now has 119 test sites established for the distribution of vaccines to first responders that is set to begin on Monday. According to the state's website, the number of test sites in Berkshire County remains at three, where it stood this past Monday , Jan. 4, when the first responder program was announced. Sudders responded to published reports of criticism from nurses about Thursday's announcement that the state will relax nurse-to-patient ratios in ICUs under certain circumstances in order to address capacity issues during the current wave of the pandemic. "In the spring, we did an across the board relaxation of ICU nurse staffing ratio for all hospitals," Sudders said. "This time it is much more tactical. Only hospitals that hit certain constraints and have capacity of less than 20 percent for a seven-day period and have eliminated all elective procedures that are on their hospital license then they may temporarily suspend ICU staffing. "We do this with the understanding that it does stretch our nurses, and I have been back and forth with the [Massachusetts Nurses Association]. And as we said yesterday, we know it is our health care workers who are bearing the burden of the disease in hospitals. That's why what we announced yesterday is much narrower than what we announced in the springtime." Baker said the commonwealth continues to monitor its COVID-19 tests to see whether the more virulent variant of the virus is present in Massachusetts. While no evidence has emerged, Baker reiterated that he believes it probably has arrived, and he used the question as an opportunity to say that the strategy of face covering, social distancing and hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of any strains of the novel coronavirus. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. A pair of father and son in China has been sentenced to prison for beating up a police officer while lining to receive mandatory coronavirus tests. The father had been arguing with queue jumpers before teaming up with his son to attack the hazmat-donning officer who had told them to stop quarrelling at a community centre last week. The father was jailed for 10 months today while his son received one year imprisonment in a northern city that has been battling a new wave of infections. Footage shows one man striking the head of another hazmat-clad man as onlookers try to intervene at a community testing centre in Shenyang, China's Liaoning Province, on January 1 Both men, known by their surname Lin, stood trial on Friday at the People's Court of the Huangguqu District in Shenyang, the provincial capital of Liaoning. According to a social media statement issued by the court, the Lins were waiting to receive compulsory coronavirus tests at a community centre on January 1 when the assault occurred. The police officer, known by his surname Song, was appointed by the authority to keep order at the temporary facility in the Xinhang neighbourhood. The father started to quarrel with some other residents who had been accused of jumping the queue. When officer Song tried to stop the argument, the father refused to follow his order. Furthermore, the father and his son started to hit, push and curse Song, who was wearing a full-body protective suit. The hazmat-donning worker, a police officer keeping order at the site, was assaulted by a pair of father and son who had been arguing with queue jumpers. The two men have been jailed Their actions led the officer to suffer injuries on his face, shoulder and left thumb. Song's hazmat suit was also torn apart. Footage released by Chinese video news site Pear shows one man striking the head of another hazmat-clad man as onlookers try to intervene. The court deemed the Lins guilty of obstructing official duties. It said that the judge had given lighter punishment to the defendants because they had confessed to their crime and expressed their regret during the trial. The court did not reveal if the defendants were given chances to appeal. The attack took place at a time when the northern city was battling a new wave of infections. Pictured, a local resident receives the COVID-19 vaccine at a clinic in Shenyang on January 6 Shenyang, a city of around 7.5million people, and the wider Liaoning Province have seen a rise in coronavirus infections for the past three weeks. Since December 18, the province, which has around 44million residents, has reported 83 confirmed native cases and 42 asymptomatic patients - people infected with the virus but not yet showing symptoms. Most of the infections were found in Shenyang and port city Dalian. Shenyang, a city of around 7.5million people, and the wider Liaoning Province have seen a rise in coronavirus infections for the past three weeks. The above picture shows a medic wearing a protective suit having a rest at a temporary COVID-19 testing centre in Shenyang on January 5 The Chinese National Health Commission reported 53 confirmed cases for Thursday, including 37 native patients and 16 imported infections. Medical workers are pictured visiting community residents' homes to carry out nucleic acid tests in Shenyang on January 3 Elsewhere in China, authorities have sealed off two cities south of Beijing, cutting transport links and banning millions of residents from leaving, as the nation moves to stem the country's largest COVID-19 outbreak in six months. Hebei Province in northern China has seen 127 new Covid-19 cases, plus an additional 183 asymptomatic infections, in the past week. Shijiazhuang and Xingtai - two cities in Hebei with a combined population of 18million - were locked down on Friday to prevent the spread of the disease. The Chinese National Health Commission reported 53 confirmed cases for Thursday, including 37 native patients and 16 imported infections. Among the local cases, 33 were registered in Hebei. Savard J, Hervouet S, Ivers H. Prostate cancer treatments and their side effects are associated with increased insomnia. Psycho-Oncology. 2013;22(6):1381-8. Savard J, Ivers H, Savard M-H, Morin CM. Cancer treatments and their side effects are associated with aggravation of insomnia: Results of a longitudinal study. Cancer. 2015;121(10):1703-11. Gonzalez BD, Small BJ, Cases MG, Williams NL, Fishman MN, Jacobsen PB, et al. Sleep disturbance in men receiving androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer: The role of hot flashes and nocturia. Cancer. 2018;124(3):499-506. Krakow B. Nightmare Complaints in treatment-seeking patients in clinical sleep medicine Settings: Diagnostic and treatment implications. Sleep. 2006;29(10):1313-9. Lancee J, Spoormaker VI, Van Den Bout J. Nightmare frequency is associated with subjective sleep quality but not with psychopathology. Sleep and Biological Rhythms. 2010;8(3):187-93. Garland SN, Johnson JA, Savard J, Gehrman P, Perlis M, Carlson L, et al. Sleeping well with cancer: A systematic review of cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia in cancer patients. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.. 2014;10:1113-23. Chamine I, Atchley R, Oken BS. Hypnosis intervention effects on sleep outcomes: A systematic review. Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. 2018;14(02):271-83. Paine SJ, Gander PH, Harris RB, Reid P. Prevalence and consequences of insomnia in New Zealand: Disparities between Maori and nonMaori. Australian and New Zealand journal of public health. 2005;29(1):22-8. Drager LF, Togeiro SM, Polotsky VY, Lorenzi-Filho G. Obstructive sleep apnea: A cardiometabolic risk in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2013;62(7):569-76. Romero-Corral A, Caples SM, Lopez-Jimenez F, Somers VK. Interactions between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea: Implications for treatment. Chest. 2010;137(3):711-9. Zeichner SB, Zeichner RL, Gogineni K, Shatil S, Ioachimescu O. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, mindfulness, and yoga in patients with breast cancer with sleep disturbance: A literature review. Breast Cancer (Auckl). 2017;11:1178223417745564. Insomnia is commonly experienced by prostate cancer (PCa) patients.Despite this fact, there is limited research on management strategies that PCa patients prefer to use to improve their sleep. In this study, we asked PCa patients in Aotearoa New Zealand about their sleep quality, as well as the strategies they prefer to use for improving their sleep.Here, 31% of our participants had at least a moderate level of insomnia symptoms, and these participants reported more sleepiness and fatigue than those with less severe insomnia symptoms. As also found in the general population with insomnia, they also were less of a morning person and claimed to have more dreaming frequency. It would be interesting for further research to investigate how various prostate cancer treatment (e.g., androgen deprivation therapy) affects different stages of sleep, particularly the rapid eye movement which is often associated with dreaming. Also, we are curious to know about dream content because, in other populations, people with insomnia reported a higher frequency of nightmares.In terms of management strategies, we asked participants if they had used six different strategies for improving their sleep and, if they had not used any of them, we asked whether they would be willing to try them. We found that patients with more severe insomnia symptoms are more likely to have used medication, cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), as well as herbal remedies/supplements to improve their sleep. Among those who had not used the strategies, those with more severe insomnia symptoms were more open to trying CBT and hypnosis.Of important note, using sleep medication was not endorsed by many patients, despite the fact that medication is a common first-line treatment for sleep problems in the general population. Some patients (~35% for each reason) did not want pharmacotherapy to improve their sleep due to either side effect concerns, and the concurrent use of other medications. We do not know the type and indications for their other medications, and if they were for treating their or other comorbidities. Our data suggest that clinicians should consider non-pharmacological treatment options (e.g., CBT) since their patients may not always be interested in taking additional medications.We are intrigued that patients are generally open to trying CBT as this treatment is the recommended treatment for insomnia in cancer patients.Considering that CBT can be expensive, we are surprised that only 2 participants were not willing to try CBT due to cost. This may be because we did not specify what the costs would be, or because about 52% of our participants have a household income of over $60,000. In Aotearoa New Zealand, there is little research done to compare sleep intervention costs. There is a possibility that if patients were aware of the average costs of various treatments then our results might be different because these options are generally not covered by their health insurance.Interestingly, even though hypnosis is not a common treatment for sleep, a large proportion of patients in our study were interested in trying hypnosis as a sleep management strategy. Hypnosis has not been well studied for sleep, and evidence for its efficacy remains inconsistent.We are unsure why such a large proportion of our sample were interested in hypnosis, and perceive that hypnosis may help them sleep better. Given this interest, future research could explore the effectiveness of hypnosis in reducing insomnia symptoms in PCa patients.We acknowledge that our study has multiple limitations. For example, our sample size is small and the majority were Caucasian with higher education and socioeconomic background. However, this means our study may not be as generalisable to other demographic backgrounds. The study also may be less generalisable to Maori in Aotearoa New Zealand, who suffer disproportionally high rates of insomnia.Further research should be done with a larger sample size to address these areas. Targeted research of indigenous ethnic groups is important for future studies, as the treatment barriers experienced by ethnic minority groups are possibly different or more pronounced in comparison. Furthermore, patients survivorship experience may be different between ethnic groups. As an additional limitation, our sample has an average body mass index of 30.2 kg/m, which is in the obese range. This is unsurprising as New Zealand has the third-highest obesity rate in the OECD. Thus, many of these patients could probably have an underlying obstructive sleep apnoea disorder which can cause sleep problems even,even before they receive PCa treatment.We also would like to note that the strategies we asked for had not been well-tested in PCa populations. However, some treatments like CBT and mindfulness have been well-investigated in breast cancer populations. A recent literature reviewhighlighted that CBT, mindfulness, and yoga are effective in alleviating sleep disturbance in breast cancer populations. Future research should assess how effective these treatments are in PCa patients population, and identify enablers and barriers to using them for improving sleep.As a concluding note, many PCa patients experience insomnia symptoms, and they may have their personal preference on how to manage their sleep. Clinicians should be aware that some patients are not willing to use medication, and they could advise them about non-pharmacological treatment like CBT, which has been shown to have good efficacy in other cancer patients.Written by: Shenyll Delpachitra, Angela Campbell, Erik WibowoDepartment of Anatomy, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. WellSleep, Department of Medicine, University of Otago, Wellington, New Zealand. Department of Anatomy, University of Otago, New Zealand.References: The Minister for Education Norma Foley has confirmed an embarrassing u-turn by the Government on its controversial plan to send 60,000 Leaving students and teachers back to school next week. The Government announced on Wednesday to close schools for the vast majority of students for a period of three weeks. but send Leaving Cert Students and teachers back for a three day week. Children with special needs were also being planed for attendance. Just over a day later the plan has been pulled after teachers said they would not attend school to teach leaving certs due to the risks involved. Minster Foley announced the change with regret. It is with regret that I announce that, despite the confirmation by Public Health that schools remain safe, that children in special schools and special classes and Leaving Certificate students will not be extended in-person learning, said Minister Foley. My Department has engaged with the unions and public health officials with a view to maintaining on site learning for this vulnerable group of students. It remains my strong belief that this period of time is crucial for the mental wellbeing of all children with special needs. I also felt it was the right thing to extend in-class teaching to our Leaving Certificate students who are approaching a crucial time in their exam year. Unfortunately I am left with no alternative but to pause the limited reopening on Monday to allow further engagement with all education stakeholders, she said. Teachers have said there was no consultation but a statement from her Minister Foley's department said there has been "continuous engagement with education partners" on this matter since Monday, building on weekly engagement between partners and public health throughout the school year. The statement said the Department of Education officials met with education partners including trade unions, and school management bodies to discuss the safe provision of in-person learning to pupils in special classes and special schools and to Leaving Certificate students, and remote learning to other students from Monday 11 January. The Department said this meeting was attended on behalf of Public Health by senior public health specialists. It added that the meeting lasting over two hours Public Health provided their "reassurance" that it is safe for both students and staff to operate schools at this time utilising the preventative measures that are in place. During that meeting, the Minister Department said that Public Health reiterated their belief that schools are safe environments. The statement said that closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at the individual, family and societal level. It added that for children, it impacts on wellbeing, learning, on social and emotional development. The Department said that school closure has significant impacts on children with special educational needs. It added that school closure also heightens student anxiety, particularly for the Leaving Certificate cohort, in relation to state examinations. In this context, the statement said that the Government decided to prioritise in-person teaching and learning for two specific cohorts; pupils/ students attending special schools and classes and final year Leaving Certificate students. It added that this decision was supported by the public health advice available to Government. The statement said that NPHET and Public Health continue to hold the clear view that schools are safe places, as outlined in the letter to Government from the CMO, published on Thursday. Secondary school teachers said, however, that they had now confidence that schools are safe. The ASTI directed its members to work from home in a statement. "The ASTI says it has not been provided with a credible level of assurance by the Government that schools will be safe places next week. "Following a meeting with representatives from the Department of Education on Wednesday, the ASTI said the union has no access to medical data demonstrating that schools are sufficiently safe for students and teachers at this time, in the context of the new variant and the alarmingly high numbers. "The union said it is concerned that the Governments decision has been made without full consideration of potential consequences to current public health objectives. "The ASTI continues to engage with the Department of Education and public health officials today to discuss all the implications of the Governments decision. "Following this, ASTI Standing Committee will meet to discuss developments," it said. East Hanover, NJ - January 8, 2021 - Despite recent declines in economic indicators, people with disabilities remained engaged in the labor force, according to today's National Trends in Disability Employment - Monthly Update (nTIDE), issued by Kessler Foundation and the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability (UNH-IOD). Future trends will depend on a number of factors affecting public health and economic recovery, such as vaccine distribution and stimulus efforts. nTIDE COVID Update (month-to-month comparison) In the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Jobs Report released Friday, the employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities increased slightly from 29.1 percent in November to 29.4 percent in December 2020 (up 1 percent or 0.3 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio decreased from 71.1 percent in November to 70.9 percent in December 2020 (down 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage points). The employment-to-population ratio, a key indicator, reflects the percentage of people who are working relative to the total population (the number of people working divided by the number of people in the total population multiplied by 100). "In December, we saw a modest increase in the employment-to-population ratio even as COVID-19 infections surged following Thanksgiving gatherings," said John O'Neill, PhD, director of the Center for Employment and Disability Research at Kessler Foundation. "We may see improvement in the employment-to-population ratio in coming months as the stimulus bill kicks in and the vaccine becomes more widely available," he added. The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 33.6 percent in November to 33.2 percent in December 2020 (down 1.2 percent or 0.4 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also decreased from 75.9 percent in November to 75.7 percent in December 2020 (down 0.3 percent or 0.2 percentage points). The labor force participation rate is the percentage of the population that is working, not working and on temporary layoff, or not working and actively looking for work. "For people with disabilities, the labor force participation rate showed a small decline compared to last month," noted economist Andrew Houtenville, PhD, research director of the University of New Hampshire's Institute on Disability. "Over the course of the pandemic, we have seen people with disabilities staying engaged in the workforce by either working, actively looking for work, or still expecting to be recalled. The decline in December may reflect the reinstatement of restrictions to stop the increasing spread of COVID-19." Traditional nTIDE Numbers (comparison to the same time last year) The employment-to-population ratio for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 30.6 percent in December 2019 to 29.4 percent in December 2020 (down 3.9 percent or 1.2 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the employment-to-population ratio also decreased from 74.8 percent in December 2019 to 70.9 percent in December 2020 (down 5.2 percent or 3.9 percentage points). The labor force participation rate for working-age people with disabilities decreased from 33.3 percent in December 2019 to 33.2 percent in December 2020 (down 0.3 percent or 0.1 percentage points). For working-age people without disabilities, the labor force participation rate also decreased from 77.3 percent in December 2019 to 75.7 percent in December 2020 (down 2.1 percent or 1.6 percentage points). In December 2020, among workers ages 16-64, the 4,383,000 workers with disabilities represented 3.1 percent of the total 139,636,000 workers in the U.S. nTIDE COVID Update - Friday, January 22 at 12:00 pm Eastern Stay tuned for our mid-month update about the employment of people with disabilities as we follow the impact of COVID-19 and look at the numbers in more detail. Ask Questions about Disability and Employment Join our nTIDE Lunch & Learn series today, January 8, at 12:00 pm Eastern. This live broadcast, hosted via Zoom Webinar, offers attendees Q&A on the latest nTIDE findings, provides news and updates from the field, as well as invited panelists to discuss current disability-related findings and events. Today, David Jones, MPA, director of the Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities within the Administration for Community Living joins Dr. Houtenville, Elaine E. Katz from Kessler Foundation, and Denise Rozell, Policy Strategist at AUCD. Join live or watch the recordings at: ResearchonDisability.org/nTIDE. ### NOTE: The statistics in the nTIDE are based on Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers but are not identical. They are customized by UNH to combine the statistics for men and women of working age (16 to 64). nTIDE is funded, in part, by grants from the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR) (90RT5037) and Kessler Foundation. About Kessler Foundation Kessler Foundation, a major nonprofit organization in the field of disability, is a global leader in rehabilitation research that seeks to improve cognition, mobility, and long-term outcomes -- including employment -- for people with neurological disabilities caused by diseases and injuries of the brain and spinal cord. Kessler Foundation leads the nation in funding innovative programs that expand opportunities for employment for people with disabilities. For more information, visit KesslerFoundation.org. About the Institute on Disability at the University of New Hampshire The Institute on Disability (IOD) at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) was established in 1987 to provide a coherent university-based focus for the improvement of knowledge, policies, and practices related to the lives of persons with disabilities and their families. For information on the NIDILRR-funded Employment Policy and Measurement Rehabilitation Research and Training Center, visit ResearchonDisability.org. For more information, or to interview an expert, contact: Carolann Murphy, 973.324.8382, CMurphy@KesslerFoundation.org Israel have targeted a number of sites with missiles, causing damage to a radar base in the village of al-Dour reports Al-Masdar. Last night, the Israeli Air Force launched fresh strikes over Syria, as they continued their campaign to target sites inside the Arab Republic into the new year. According to a field source in Damascus, the Israeli Air Force launched the strikes on a number of sites in southern Syria from the occupied Golan Heights, prompting the activation of the air defenses of the Syrian Arab Army. The source said the Israeli strikes began around 11:00 pm local time and that they targeted the Suweida countryside, with the majority of missiles fired at the Syrian Arab Armys military base in the village of al-Dour. He pointed out that the Syrian Arab Armys air defenses were deployed in rural Suweida and the Mezzeh Airport in Damascus, with several of the Israeli projectiles intercepted by their systems. However, they added that while a number of missiles were intercepted, some of them managed to hit their targets, especially near the radar base of the Syrian Arab Army in the village of al-Dour. The death toll from the attack is still unknown. The latest attack by the Israeli Air Force marks the first time this year that they have launched strikes on the Arab Republic. Their last strikes occurred on Dec. 30, 2020, when they targeted Damascus western countryside. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. Dr. Supriya Sharma, chief medical adviser at Health Canada, speaks during a press conference to announce that Health Canada has authorized the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, at the Sir John A. Macdonald Building in Ottawa on Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Kawai Lucknow/Meerut, Jan 8 : A retired Armyman was arrested on Friday in Uttar Pradesh on the charge of working for a Pakistani spy agency since 2016, official sources said. The sources told IANS that retired Signalman Saurabh Sharma was apprehended by the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) following inputs from the Military Intelligence (MI) Unit in Lucknow. The ex-serviceman was allegedly working for Pakistani intelligence handlers based in Karachi. In November last, officials of the Lucknow MI had received inputs regarding Sharma's 'involvement' in espionage activities, the sources said. The information codenamed 'Operation Cross-Connection' was shared with the UP ATS in early December, following which a joint investigation was initiated. After his arrest from his parental house in Bihuni village in Hapur district, Sharma told his interrogators that he got in touch with a Pakistani intelligence operative on Facebook in 2014. The operative, he said, initially introduced 'herself' as a defence journalist. Subsequently, by 2016, he had started sharing sensitive military information in return for money, the sources said. Sharma, the sources said, shared all the sensitive information through text, audio and photo messages and also calls, mostly on WhatsApp. He allegedly received several payments from his Pakistani handlers. The former serviceman was discharged from the Army in June 2020 on medical grounds. The sources said that proof of his activities have been found on his mobile phone too. An FIR has been lodged at the Gomti Nagar police station in Lucknow against Sharma under Sections 120-B and 123 of the IPC, Sections 3, 4, 5 and 9 of the Official Secrets Act, and Section 13 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The UP ATS is likely to seek his police custody from a local court for further investigation. The Lucknow MI Unit, UP ATS and central intelligence agencies are jointly examining further leads in the case, the sources added. Afyren, a biotechnology startup, has begun construction of its first industrial-scale factory, Afyren Neoxy, for the green chemistry production of organic acids, including acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, isobutyric acid, valeric acid, isovaleric acid and hexanoic acid. The materials will have application in the cosmetic, perfume, flavor, pharmaceutical and fine chemicals sectors. According to the company, the acids relevant to flavors qualify as natural flavoring substances per EU regulations and as natural flavorings according to the U.S. Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Afyrens natural acetic acid has been certified as 100% biobased under the USDAs Biopreferred Program. The companys range of acids are categorized as chemically processed agro-ingredients under the COSMOS standard and are Ecocert-approved. The zero-waste, low-carbon site, based in Carling/Saint-Avold, France, will generate the organic acids by fermenting sugar beet by-products, including pulp and molasses, using non-genetically modified microorganisms. The choice of biomass allows Afyren to produce materials without competing with food crops. The biorefinery is scheduled to begin production in early 2022 and will produce 16,000 tons of the biobased organic acids annually. The zero-waste facility will reportedly reduce CO 2 emissions by 66%, compared to petroleum-based acids. According to Afyren, the site will not require external water consumption, and all by-products will be put to good use. The facilitys process was initially described in a 2014 publication by founder Jeremy Pessiot, Ph.D. Once operational, the site will produce a range of acids according to the FSSC 22000 Standard, and its products will be GMP+ certified. Afyren will also pursue kosher and halal certifications for all acids. Afyren is led by Nicolas Sordet and employs 35 people at sites in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand and Carling/Saint Avold, France. The company has raised more than 80 million euros in total funding from public and private sources to date. The Afyren Neoxy subsidiary is led by Jean Saint-Donat and represents a joint venture with Bpifrances SPI fund, which holds a 49% stake. Afyren holds the remaining 51% majority stake. The project has also received a 20-million-euro-subsidy via the European public-private partnership platform Bio-based Industries Joint Undertaking. Total provided operational support for the project through its Total Developpement Regional (TDR) entity, facilitating the installation of the future plant on the Chemesis industrial platform. Afyren Neoxy will reportedly create about 60 direct jobs and as many as 200 indirect jobs in the industrial and construction/engineering sectors. US President Donald Trump has been accused of acting like "a spoilt child" with his legacy having been "utterly tainted" by this week's riotous scenes on Capitol Hill. The stinging words were ones made by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Paul Ross in the wake of violent skirmishes involving hundreds of Mr Trump supporters the home of the US government on Wednesday. Four people died after rioters broke into the House chamber, while a fifth person - a police officer - later died as a result of injuries. Mr Trump has since appealed for "healing and reconciliation" following the unprecedented scenes and pledged to proceed with a smooth transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden. Those soundings has failed to dampen criticism closer to home with Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Cllr Paul Ross and Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi both remaining strongly disapproving of Mr Trump's actions in encouraging supporters to march to Capitol Hill on Wednesday. "He has been more than dangerous and petty," said Cllr Ross, who also expressed his unease at murmurings Mr Trump may try and visit his five star hotel resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare despite rising Covid-19 case numbers. "He is like a spoilt child. The democratic process has served Ireland well for over 100 years and I certainly hope he doesn't come to Doonbeg." Cllr Ross added Mr Trump's conduct in the lead up to Wednesday's unseemly events had "utterly tainted" whatever legacy he was leaving behind as US premier. Asked if he would welcome Mr Trump in his attempts to run for the presidency again in 2024, the Legan based local representative was unequivocal in his response. "No is the answer," he sternly put it. "I think Trump came in on a mandate for the economy and he helped in that regard but he didn't manage Covid well and Ireland, I feel, has an ally in (Joe) Biden." Longford Fianna Fail Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi gave an equally scathing take on Mr Trump's behaviour in the aftermath of Wednesday's goings on. However, Cllr Adejinmi said any moves to remove or impeach Mr Trump from office would have little or no bearing on the splintered political as well as societal arena the billionaire businessman was leaving behind. "I wasn't the slightest bit surprised it got to that stage (rioting)," said Cllr Adejinmi. "He (Mr Trump) has been stoking it for the last four years and the US media has been amplifying his rhetoric which has in turn fuelled the far right." "But I think it's (removing or impeaching from office) is too late. You see how his cabinet members are ditching him at what people are calling the eleventh hour, but it's going to be a waste of time going through that process. "To me, he has pretty much lost whatever small dignity he had, even at this stage." US President Donald Trump arrives to speak during election night in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, early on November 4, 2020. MANDEL NGAN / AFP The Wall Street Journal's editorial board called on President Donald Trump to resign in an op-ed on Thursday after a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. The Journal's editorial board argued against impeachment or forced removal via the 25th Amendment, saying that the former would be too drawn out and political, and the latter would incite his base. On Capitol Hill, calls for Trump to be impeached have grown among Democrats, and mounting list of Trump officials, including Betsy DeVos, have submitted resignations in wake of yesterday's events. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. The Wall Street Journal's editorial board published an op-ed on Thursday calling on President Donald Trump to resign following the attempted insurrection by his supporters at the US Capitol on Wednesday. The Journal's editorial board, which since 2016 has often written favorably about Trump's actions and policies, said that "the leader of the executive branch incited a crowd to march on the legislative branch." The board also claimed that the President's actions yesterday - between his rally and call to action, conspiracies, and attempts to coerce Pence to reject the results - amounted to "an assault on the constitutional process of transferring power after an election." The Journal's editorial board wrote that Trump's incitement was "impeachable," and that "this week's actions are a far greater dereliction of duty than his ham-handed Ukrainian interventions in 2019." In the op-ed the board stopped short of calling for invoking the 25th Amendment to facilitate Trump's removal, arguing that it would allow him to play the political victim. The board did not outright endorse forced removal or impeachment, arguing that impeachment could be drawn-out, and that "Democrats would have more impeachment credibility now if they hadn't abused the process in 2019." The Journal claimed that impeachment wouldn't help Biden govern with GOP colleagues, and would "pour political fuel on Wednesday's dying embers." Story continues "If Mr. Trump wants to avoid a second impeachment, his best path would be to take personal responsibility and resign. This would be the cleanest solution since it would immediately turn presidential duties over to Mr. Pence. And it would give Mr. Trump agency, a la Richard Nixon, over his own fate," the Journal board wrote. Ahead of the 2020 general election, which Trump lost and has repeatedly failed to overturn, the Journal board wrote that, "Mr. Trump's first-term accomplishments are real, and better than we expected in 2016 given his apparent unconcern for policy. " But in Thursday's op-ed, the board called for him to take it upon himself to resign. Acknowledging that he likely wouldn't entertain the notion, the board said, "this week has probably finished him as a serious political figure," having cost the GOP the House, the White House, and the Senate. "He has refused to accept the basic bargain of democracy, which is to accept the result, win or lose. It is best for everyone, himself included, if he goes away quietly," they wrote. Read the original article on Business Insider Biden has already indicated his displeasure with the progress of vaccinations. In a speech last week, before his election victory was certified by Congress, the president-elect said he intends to speed up vaccinations by having the federal government take a stronger role to make sure that vaccines are not only available, but that shots are going into the arms of more Americans. London's mayor declared the capital's COVID-19 situation to be critical Friday, reflecting deteriorating conditions for beleaguered hospitals, as the country recorded its highest daily death toll in the pandemic. A woman wearing a face mask, walks across Westminster Bridge past the Houses of Parliament in London, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered a new national lockdown for England which means people will only be able to leave their homes for limited reasons, with measures expected to stay in place until mid-February. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) London's mayor declared the capital's COVID-19 situation to be critical Friday, reflecting deteriorating conditions for beleaguered hospitals, as the country recorded its highest daily death toll in the pandemic. The grim news that another 1,325 people had died within 28 days of a positive test came hours after the U.K regulator authorized a third vaccine for emergency use. The figure brings Britains official death toll from the coronavirus to 79,833, the highest in Europe. Not all the deaths announced by the government on Friday occurred on the same day. London Mayor Sadiq Khan declared a major incident,? as the rapid spread of the virus pushed hospitals to breaking point, with the number of hospitalized coronavirus patients up 27% in the week to Jan. 6. One in 30 people in Britain's capital was infected with the virus in the week to Jan. 2, according to the Office for National Statistics. A couple wear face coverings as they stroll past illuminated trees on the Southbank in London, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ordered a new national lockdown for England which means people will only be able to leave their homes for limited reasons, with measures expected to stay in place until mid-February. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein) Other emergency services are also under strain, with hundreds of firefighters now driving ambulances, for example. Our heroic doctors, nurses and NHS staff are doing an amazing job, but with cases rising so rapidly, our hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed,? Khan said. The stark reality is that we will run out of beds for patients in the next couple of weeks unless the spread of the virus slows down drastically.? A major incident is defined as one in which there is a risk to life and welfare and is beyond the scope of business-as-usual operations.? It allows co-ordination between different emergency agencies and will let London ask for help from other areas. Khan, a member of the opposition Labour Party, also wrote to Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson asking for more financial support for Londoners who need to self-isolate and are unable to work, and called for masks to be worn in crowded outdoor spaces as well as indoors. FILE - In this file photo dated Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2020, a bottle of Moderna COVID-19 vaccine on a table before being utilised in Topeka, USA. Britain has authorized a coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna, the third to be licensed for use in the country. The Department of Health said Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 that the vaccine meets the regulators strict standards of safety, efficacy and quality. Britain has ordered 10 million doses of the vaccine, though it is not expected to be delivered to the U.K. until spring. So far Britain has inoculated 1,5 million people with two other vaccines. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File) The action comes as more good news on fighting the virus appeared with the approval of the Moderna vaccine as the country ramps up an inoculation program critical to lifting the U.K. out of the pandemic. The Department of Health said Friday that the vaccine meets the British medicines regulators strict standards of safety, efficacy and quality. Britain has ordered 17 million doses set to be delivered by the spring. Vaccines are the key to releasing us all from the grip of this pandemic, and todays news is yet another important step towards ending lockdown and returning to normal life, Business Secretary Alok Sharma said. So far, Britain has inoculated 1.5 million people with the Pfizer-BioNTech and Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccines. It plans to vaccinate some 15 million people by mid-February. Office vacancy signs on a building, near St Paul's Cathedral during England's third national lockdown to curb the spread of coronavirus, in London, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (Dominic Lipinski/PA via AP) The authorization comes as the need for such help grows ever greater. NHS England Chief Executive Simon Stevens said Thursday that the pressures facing hospitals in London and the southeast of England are so acute that a temporary field hospital at the ExCel London conference centre will be opened next week. The hospital was one of several built in the spring to help during the pandemic, but was not heavily used. The entirety of the health service in London is mobilizing to do everything it possibly can, but the infections, the rate of growth in admissions, that is what collectively the country has got to get under control, Stevens said. The NHS, short for National Health Service, announced Friday that its doctors and other medical personnel would soon be able to get vaccinated, a reflection of concern that absences caused by health workers needing to self-isolate were straining the system. Priority for the first shots previously was given to the most vulnerable in British society, such as those in care homes. For frontline staff who are risking their lives every day to keep patients safe, this announcement couldnt have come soon enough,'' said Dr Samantha Batt-Rawden, president of the Doctors Association UK. Tragically, we have lost too many healthcare workers to COVID in the U.K.. Frontline NHS and care workers absolutely must be protected as a matter of priority.'' The U.K. is recording virus-related deaths at a level last seen during the worst days early in the pandemic. Fridays toll surpassed the previous high of 1,224 deaths in April. According to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University, the U.K. has the most COVID-related deaths in Europe and the fifth highest number in the world. Follow AP coverage of the coronavirus pandemic at: https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak By Evan Halper, Janet Hook and Jennifer Haberkorn, the Los Angeles Times (TNS) WASHINGTON Congress Democratic leaders on Thursday demanded President Donald Trumps removal from office vowing a swift impeachment, if necessary in an effort to stop him from unleashing more chaos in his final, rage-filled days. Both House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer called on Trumps Cabinet to oust him by invoking the 25th Amendment, which was designed to remove a president who is incapacitated or unwell. They warned that the House would quickly consider impeachment articles if that does not happen. Schumer said he and Pelosi tried to call Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday morning to urge him to follow the 25th Amendment, but Pence would not take their call. While there are only 13 days left, any day could be a horror show for America, Pelosi said, calling Trump a very dangerous person who should not continue in office and adding: This is urgent, an emergency of the highest magnitude. Dozens of House Democrats, including some from conservative districts, echoed the call for a second impeachment and at least one Republican called for Trumps removal by the Cabinet. But forcibly ousting a president even if a Cabinet were to invoke the 25th Amendment is a laborious, time-intensive process. And even if Trump were impeached again, removing him requires a two-thirds vote of the Republican-controlled Senate, which acquitted him nearly a year ago, after his first House impeachment, and has shown no sign of openness to the idea now. Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., read the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November's presidential election during a joint session of Congress after working through the night, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol Wednesday, disrupting the process. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)AP It was not at all clear Thursday if Trump could be prevented from serving out the remaining 13 days of his term, short of his resignation. After a day in which pressure mounted to drive him from office before Jan. 20 not just from Democrats but from some Republican governors and the conservative editorial board of The Wall Street Journal Trump finally delivered what amounted to a concession speech to try to mollify the critics. But his video statement was probably too little, too late to quiet the clamor. To expedite impeachment, House Democrats were considering starting the process on the House floor, without waiting for the House Judiciary Committee to act. As longtime supporters rushed to distance themselves from a lame-duck president whose unhinged behavior has put the nation on edge, the political wreckage has left his party in distress and divided. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and other White House officials resigned their posts, and Trumps head of Homeland Security, his former attorney general and two former chiefs of staff condemned him. Some allies who had been loath to criticize a president who demands absolute loyalty broke ranks, calling his behavior indefensible. The president needs to understand that his actions were the problem, not the solution, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who has been one of the most prominent apologists for Trump. Graham said he is contemplating supporting the Cabinets resort to the 25th Amendment. If something else happens, all options would be on the table, he said, adding, I am hopeful that the worst is behind us and that we can transfer power on Jan. 20. Former Trump chief of staff John F. Kelly has seen enough. He told CNN that if he were still in the Cabinet, he would be working with his colleagues to remove Trump immediately. Whispers about the president being removed from office involuntarily ricocheted through Washington, as did grim assessments of Trumps political future. But most Republicans were reluctant to talk publicly, continuing to hedge amid worries that Trump will prove resilient even from the fallout of his supporters riot Wednesday at the Capitol as he has from so many other infamous episodes in his political career. A lot of people figure Inauguration Day cannot get here soon enough, said a beleaguered House GOP leadership aide. He certainly damaged himself. The bedlam in the Capitol also unsettled party leaders attending the winter meeting of the Republican National Committee in Florida. When RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel addressed the riot, she was so upset she cried, according to two sources at the meeting. But when Trump called into the meeting Thursday, he did not mention the violence. While some cheered him, others remained silent. The quandary for Republicans was distilled on Wednesday during Congress session ratifying the presidential election results, when Trump allies challenged the outcome on his behalf. More than 100 House Republicans stuck with the president even after the Capitol had been overrun by rioters just after Trump addressed the crowd and urged them to fight for him. President Donald Trump speaks during a rally protesting the electoral college certification of Joe Biden as President, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) APAP Yet the earlier speculation among some Republicans that Trump could win back the White House for them in 2024 had gone silent. Of his legacy, veteran Republican strategist Mike DuHaime said, If it is not destroyed, it is very damaged. Even Pence, Trumps staunchest loyalist, distanced himself from Trump after the president called the rioters special people and said we love them. Pence condemned the mob in sharp terms as he presided over the Senate late Wednesday night. The vice president demonstrated yesterday that he was in charge, that he was demonstrating leadership, said Jon Thompson, a former Pence adviser. I dont think we can say the same thing for President Trump. The relief when Trump finally leaves office will be bipartisan, but many Democrats seeking his early removal privately are resigned theyll probably have to wait until Inauguration Day. The Houses impeachment move is more symbolic Democrats say they cant let the account of the Capitol siege appear in history books without a response. Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., called it important to show future generations that Congress didnt just ignore what happened yesterday and that we put on record our efforts to try to remove a president that instigated an attempted coup. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the articles of impeachment lodging charges against Trump should be brought to the floor immediately, bypassing his panel. With the House adjourned, members were discussing whether to try to convince Democratic leaders to call members back to vote. The risk of House Democrats moving quickly to impeach the president is that it could tarnish the action if hearings are not held and Trump is not given time to respond. There is also discussion about the House voting to censure the president. But Schumer touted impeachment as an opportunity to prohibit Trump from ever again occupying the Oval Office, saying, That should be invoked. One prominent Democrat who was notably silent on the issue was the man who will replace Trump on Jan. 20. Joe Biden angrily denounced Trumps actions around the Capitol siege during an event to introduce his nominee for attorney general, Merrick Garland. But he announced at the top of the news conference in Wilmington, Delaware, that he would not address the movement to expel Trump. He and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris ignored shouted questions as they left the room. A statement from Bidens transition team said he and Harris will leave it to Vice President Pence, the Cabinet and the Congress to act as they see fit. The two Democrats instead focused Thursday on their promise to restore the rule of law by appointing leaders at the Justice Department who will not answer to them, but to the Constitution. Both critically contrasted the restraint that law enforcement showed against the predominantly white attackers who terrorized Congress with the force used in the summer against Black Lives Matter protesters. We witnessed two systems of justice, Harris said. We saw one that let extremists storm the U.S. Capitol and another that released tear gas on peaceful protesters last summer. Just before Biden and Harris took the stage, Chao announced her resignation as transportation secretary in a letter that said she was motivated by her distress over the Capitol mayhem that Trump inspired. McConnell, Chaos husband, had broken with Trump just before the siege, in a forceful floor speech debunking Trumps false claims that widespread election fraud and other improprieties deprived the president of a second term. But his and Trumps critics declared it too little, too late. They pilloried Chao for leaving her post instead of staying put and initiating an effort with her colleagues to invoke the 25th Amendment. The Cabinet, though, probably has little power to jettison Trump from the Oval Office with so few days left in his term. The 25th Amendment is complicated, and its procedures can take a month to work through. In the more than half-century it has been in the Constitution, it has never been used to involuntarily sideline a sitting president. House Majority Whip James E. Clyburn, D-S.C., acknowledged as much. Time and circumstances may mitigate against invoking the 25th Amendment, which I support, he tweeted, but there is time for impeachment which seems appropriate. BUDAPEST -- Hungary has extended partial lockdown measures aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus until February 1. Prime Minister Viktor Orban made the announcement on January 8, telling state radio: "As long as there are not enough vaccines, we will stick to the restrictions we have." The restrictions include a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., a ban on gatherings, and the closure of hotels and restaurants, except for takeaway meals. 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. Primary schools and kindergartens will remain open, while digital learning in secondary schools and universities will continue. The lockdown measures were introduced as part of a state of emergency put in place in November as the pandemic surged again across Hungary. The country on January 8 reported 2,907 new infections and 115 new deaths due to COVID-19, bringing the country's overall death toll to 10,440. The number of coronavirus patients in hospitals reached nearly 5,300. Orban, who faces the biggest challenge of his decade-long rule with the epidemic and the recession it has caused, said an economic rebound this year would depend on how quickly Hungary could vaccinate its population. The prime minister said Hungary had received 80,000 doses of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine and that more than 42,000 health-care workers had already received it. Criticizing the European Union's procurement of vaccines, he praised Britain, which went its own way. "The British, instead of letting Brussels do it, negotiated themselves and are in a much better state now," according to Orban. Hungary has participated in Russia's testing efforts and was an early recipient of small batches of its Sputnik-V vaccine. The government is also in talks with China and Israel to get vaccines. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 11:34:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wearing masks walk in Brisbane, Australia, Jan. 8, 2020. Australia's third largest city of Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown from Friday afternoon after a local resident was found to be infected with the mutant strain of COVID-19. According to the Health Department of the state of Queensland where Brisbane locates, the Greater Brisbane area will enter lockdown from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. (local time) next Monday. Local residents can only leave home for essential purposes including buying essentials like groceries or medication, working or studying if not able to do so from home, exercising and healthcare or providing care. (Photo by Yuheng Wu/Xinhua) SYDNEY, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia's third largest city of Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown from Friday afternoon after a local resident was found to be infected with the mutant strain of COVID-19. According to the Health Department of the state of Queensland where Brisbane locates, the Greater Brisbane area will enter lockdown from 6:00 p.m. Friday to 6:00 p.m. (local time) next Monday. Local residents can only leave home for essential purposes including buying essentials like groceries or medication, working or studying if not able to do so from home, exercising and healthcare or providing care. "We are doing this to keep Queenslanders safe. We know this strain is highly infectious, 70 percent more infectious. We are going to go hard and early, do everything we can to stop the spread of the virus," Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told a press conference. "If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown... I know this is going to be tough on businesses over the next few days but I am thinking about your long-term future as well. So it is incredibly important that we take these strong measures." The tough restrictions came after a young cleaner working in Brisbane's quarantine hotel was found to be infected with the mutant strain of coronavirus that used to be detected in Britain. She is also the first locally acquired case of the highly infectious COVID-19 strain. As supermarkets and essential businesses will remain open during the Greater Brisbane area lockdown, Queensland Health urged local residents to avoid panic buying. At the same time, all the other states will declare the Greater Brisbane area as a hotspot according to reports by the Australian citing South Australian Premier Steven Marshall, who just attended the special meeting of National Cabinet on Friday. He said isolation requirements will be enforced nationwide, and the suggestion for preflight testing out of the UK "has now been adopted by the National Cabinet." South Australia also enforced stricter border rules with the Greater Brisbane area. From midnight Friday, anyone coming into South Australia from the Greater Brisbane area will be required to quarantine for 14 days. The state of New South Wales where the biggest city of Sydney locates, recorded four new locally acquired cases and seven in returned travellers in the 24 hours to 8:00 p.m. Thursday night. Three of the local cases were related to two clusters in Sydney, and one was under investigation for an infection source. The state of Victoria recorded no local cases on Friday, but one in hotel Quarantine. Enditem Clare trainer Brian McMahon has been hit with a 1,000 fine and banned from attending any Irish race track for three months after breaching quarantine restrictions when returning from the UK and falsifying documentation to attend a behind closed doors race meeting. McMahon, an All-Ireland minor hurling winner with Clare in 1997, attended the Goffs Sales at Yorton Farm in the UK on December 17, but did not restrict his movements upon his return for the five days specified at that time under the Government's Covid-19 protocols. The Ennis trainer did not provide the negative Covid-19 test result needed before attending an Irish race meeting when saddling unplaced favourite Warreedy (3/1) in the Molony Cup Handicap Chase at Thurles races on December 20. McMahon also falsely completed the Health Screening Questionnaire to obtain the barcode necessary to attend when he answered No to the question of whether he had travelled abroad in the previous 14 days with an Irish Horseracing Regulatory Board (IHRB) Referrals Committee convening earlier this week via Zoom to review the case. "In his evidence, Mr McMahon explained he had attended the sales at Yorton Farm on behalf of a neighbour with the agreement that his neighbour would instead attend the races at Thurles on Mr McMahons behalf," an IHRB statement read. "However, the day prior to the races at Thurles, Mr McMahon was informed by his neighbour that due to unforeseen circumstances he would be unable to attend the races, at which point Mr McMahon contacted three other individuals who held a stable pass for him. "However, he was unable to obtain race day help for Thurles and he decided to bring the horse to the races himself. He accepted that this was reckless and completely the wrong thing to do and that following all the communication received from the IHRB since the resumption of racing that he should have been more aware of the gravity of the situation. Read More "Mr McMahon concluded by admitting he was deeply embarrassed by the situation, especially given all the hard work that Dr Jennifer Pugh and her team had undertaken to protect the racing industry during these times and he apologised for his actions." McMahon was handed down the 1,000 punishment as well as prohibiting him from attending the races from January 21 to April 2 having breached Rule 272 (i) in that he had acted in a manner which was prejudicial to the integrity, proper conduct or good reputation of horse racing and 272 (ii) as he had provided misleading information to a racing official by falsifying the Health Screening Questionnaire. CHICAGO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hub International Limited (Hub), a leading full-service global insurance broker, announced today that it has acquired CAPAX Management and Insurance Services, Inc. (CAPAX). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Located in Modesto, California, CAPAX is one of the largest locally owned insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting organizations located in Central California. CAPAX provides multi-line insurance solutions, including personal and commercial, employee benefits products and risk management solutions for their clients. CAPAX's expertise in bringing captive solutions to their clients and their focus on various industries, such as agribusiness (crop), complements and strengthens Hub's existing capabilities. "CAPAX is a great addition to the Hub family as we continue our growth strategy in the region by adding specialized capabilities that will expand the depth of our insurance and risk management solutions," said Michael Der Manouel, Executive Vice President of Hub California Central Valley. Joel Geddes III, President of CAPAX, will join Hub California and report to Mr. Der Manouel. "We look forward to joining Hub a leading brokerage firm with strong values and an utmost commitment to clients," said Mr. Geddes. "With Hub, we will be well-positioned to provide a full suite of services to fit our clients' growing needs." About Hub's M&A Activities Hub International Limited is committed to growing organically and through acquisitions to expand its geographic footprint and strengthen industry and product expertise. For more information on the Hub M&A experience, visit WeAreHub.com. About Hub International Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Hub International Limited is a leading full-service global insurance broker providing risk management, insurance, employee benefits, retirement and wealth management products and services. With more than 12,000 employees in offices located throughout North America, Hub's vast network of specialists brings clarity to a changing world with tailored solutions and unrelenting advocacy, so clients are ready for tomorrow. For more information, please visit www.hubinternational.com. CONTACT: Media: Marni Gordon Phone: 312-279-4601 [email protected] M&A: Clark Wormer Phone: 312.279.4848 [email protected] SOURCE Hub International Limited Related Links www.hubinternational.com Richard Barnett, a protestor sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi inside the Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Man Who Posed for Photos at Desk in Pelosis Office Arrested WASHINGTONA man photographed sitting at an aides desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office during the Washington protests on Jan. 6 has been arrested and faces multiple charges, according to federal officials. Richard Barnett from Arkansas was arrested this morning in Little Rock, Arkansas, said Ken Kohl, first assistant for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington, on Jan. 8. Kohl told reporters during a conference call that Barnett was charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building and grounds without authority. He is also charged for violent entry and disorderly conduct on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol and for theft of public money or public property. Photos of Barnett that went viral on social media showed him casually sitting with his foot on a desk inside Pelosis office. He was seen taking mail and leaving a quarter on the desk. Protesters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, interrupting a joint session of Congress that was held to count electoral votes and confirm the presidential election winner. Derrick Evans, a Republican member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, was one of the protestors who stormed the Capitol. Evans has been charged with entering a restricted area and entering the Capitol, according to Kohl. U.S. Capitol Police have also located a pickup truck with an Alabama license plate registered to Lonnie Coffman. In the truck, police found 11 Molotov cocktails as well as firearms and an M4 Carbine Assault rifle, Kohl said. Coffmans detention hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12. Another protestor, Mark Leffingwell, was charged with entering the Senate side of the Capitol and pushing officers. He is also accused of punching an officer in the helmet and chest. Todays charges are just the results of the extensive work done by the FBI and our partners over the last few days. And we are far from done, Steven DAntuono, assistant director in charge at FBI Washington Field Office, said during the conference call. He said the FBI deployed hundreds of people, including special agents, bomb technicians, evidence response teams, and tactical and specialty teams, as well as intelligence analysts to investigate the events. We will continue to investigate all allegations of criminal activity, DAntuono said. Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, announced on Jan. 7 that more than 50 people were charged within 36 hours, related mostly to the breach of the Capitol during the protests in Washington this week. Of those cases, more than 40 have been filed in the D.C. Superior Court, which includes several firearm cases. In addition, 17 individuals have been charged in federal court in D.C. related to crimes committed at the Capitol, as of Jan. 9. This article was updated on Jan. 10. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ORANGE, Calif. The U.S. topped 4,000 coronavirus deaths in a single day for the first time, breaking a record set just one day earlier, as governors tried to ramp up the pace of vaccinations and open the line to elderly people and others. The tally from Johns Hopkins University showed the nation had 4,085 deaths Thursday, along with nearly 275,000 new cases of the virus evidence that the crisis is growing worse after family gatherings and travel over the holidays and the onset of winter, which is forcing people indoors. Deaths have reached epic proportions. Since just Monday, the United States has recorded 13,500 more than Pearl Harbor, D-Day, 9/11 and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake combined. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Overall, the scourge has left more than 365,000 dead in the U.S. and caused nearly 22 million confirmed infections. More than 132,000 people nationwide are hospitalized with COVID-19. Britain, with one-fifth the population of the U.S., likewise reported on Friday its highest one-day count of deaths yet: 1,325. That brings the countrys toll to nearly 80,000, the highest in Europe. Meanwhile, the number of Americans who have gotten their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine climbed to almost 6.7 million Friday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a robust, one-day gain of about 800,000 after a slow start to the campaign. The goal ultimately is to vaccinate hundreds of millions in the U.S., though health care workers and nursing home residents are getting priority in most places for now. Faced with mounting criticism over the sluggish rollout, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Friday that starting next week, New York will allow a much wider swath of the public to get inoculated, including anyone 75 or older, teachers and first responders. New Mexico is likewise expanding eligibility to the elderly as well as people with certain underlying medical conditions. In Arizona, a vaccination site will open Monday at the suburban Phoenix stadium where the NFLs Arizona Cardinals play. State officials said it will be capable of vaccinating thousands of people each day. Oregon plans to dispense thousands of shots at the state fairgrounds in Salem this weekend with help from the National Guard. In Utah, newly installed Gov. Spencer Cox unveiled a plan aimed at increasing the number of shots administered to 50,000 a week. He said he will issue an executive order requiring facilities to allocate their doses the week they are received. This virus does not sleep, Cox said. This virus does not take weekends off. And neither should we. The lethal surge is being driven in large part by Sun Belt states. California, Arizona, Texas and Florida together had nearly 1,500 deaths and 80,000 cases on Thursday and have been setting daily records this week, as have Mississippi and Nevada. Many hospitals in Los Angeles and other hard-hit areas are struggling to keep up and warned they may need to ration lifesaving care. Nurses are caring for more sick people than typically allowed under the law after the state began issuing waivers to the strict nurse-to-patient ratios. At Los Angeles Countys Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, nurse Nerissa Black said the place is swamped with patients, likening the situation to New Yorks at the beginning of the pandemic. She was assigned six patients but could spend only about 10 minutes with each of them per hour, including the time it takes for her to change her protective gear. Its very hard to decide which one should I go see first: the patient who has chest pain or the patient whose oxygen level is dropping, she said. At St. Joseph Hospital south of Los Angeles, nurses in the COVID-19 ward described being overwhelmed as the deaths mount. Just today we had two deaths on this unit. And thats pretty much the norm, said Caroline Brandenburger. I usually see one to two every shift. Super sad. She added: They fight every day, and they struggle to breathe every day even with tons of oxygen. And then you just see them die. They just die. Active-duty military medical personnel were dispatched to a Southern California hospital overwhelmed with COVD-19 patients. About 20 physician assistants, nurses and respiratory care practitioners from the Army and Air Force were sent to Riverside University Health System-Medical Center in response to a state request to the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The 439-bed hospital normally averages 350 patients, but that is now up to 450. The outbreak has taken another turn for the worse in Arizona, with the state now leading the nation with the highest COVID-19 diagnosis rate. Since Dec. 31, one in every 111 Arizonans has been diagnosed with the virus. Disturbing new footage has emerged showing a Capitol police officer shooting unarmed Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt at point-blank range on Wednesday in Washington, DC. You can see the officer looked right at her before pulling the trigger. Additionally, there were cops armed with AR-15s right behind her. WATCH: Even leftists are saying this was a horrific crime which should be aggressively prosecuted: GRAPHIC FOOTAGE: Police fatally shoot a Trump supporter inside the Capitol building. This is a sickening crime that should be prosecuted as such. pic.twitter.com/X8JK7HplJ7 Dan Cohen (@dancohen3000) January 7, 2021 Here's additional angles of the shooting: A young woman was just shot in the neck right besides me in the Capitol Building pic.twitter.com/hLQo4IP8J1 Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) January 6, 2021 MSNBC aired footage of her being carried out on a stretcher covered in blood. Ashli Elizabeth Babbitt, 35, was a wife and a 14-year veteran who served four tours with the US Air Force and worked as a high level security official throughout her service. "Her husband says she was a strong supporter of President Trump, and was a great patriot to all who knew her," KUSI reported Wednesday. Follow InformationLiberation on Twitter, Facebook, Gab, Minds and Parler. Earn your Associate of Applied Business in Business IT (BIT) degree online from the University of Cincinnati. This program can be completed fully online, with curriculum customized to fit your schedule, interests and how quickly you want to complete your degree. Application deadline July 1, 2021. Learn More An international group of scientists is demanding scientific journals demand more transparency from researchers in computer-related areas when accepting their reports for publication. They also want computational researchers to include information about their code, models and computational environments in published reports. Their call, published in Nature Magazine in October, was in response to the results of research conducted by Google Health that was published in Nature last January. The research claimed an artificial intelligence system was faster and more accurate at screening for breast cancer than human radiologists. Google funded the study, which was led by Google Scholar Scott McKinney and other Google employees. Criticisms of the Google Study "In their study, McKinney et al. showed the high potential of artificial intelligence for breast cancer screening," the international group of scientists, led by Benjamin Haibe-Kains, of the University of Toronto, stated. "However, the lack of detailed methods and computer code undermines its scientific value. This shortcoming limits the evidence required for others to prospectively validate and clinically implement such technologies." Scientific progress depends on the ability of independent researchers to scrutinize the results of a research study, reproduce its main results using its materials, and build upon them in future studies, the scientists said, citing Nature Magazine's policies. McKinney and his co-authors stated that it was not feasible to release the code used for training the models because it has a large number of dependencies on internal tooling, infrastructure and hardware, Haibe-Kains' group noted. However, many frameworks and platforms are available to make AI research more transparent and reproducible, the group said. These include Bitbucket and Github ; package managers including Conda; and container and virtualization systems such as Code Ocean and Gigantum. Al shows great promise for use in the field of medicine, but "Unfortunately, the biomedical literature is littered with studies that have failed the test of reproducibility, and many of these can be tied to methodologies and experimental practices that could not be investigated due to failure to fully disclose software and data," Haibe-Kains' group said. Google did not respond to our request to provide comment for this story. Patents Pending? There might be good business reasons for companies not to disclose full details about their AI research studies. "This research is also considered confidential in the development of technology," Jim McGregor, a principal analyst at Tirias Research, told TechNewsWorld. "Should technology companies be forced to give away technology they've spend billions of dollars in developing?" What researchers are doing with AI "is phenomenal and is leading to technological breakthroughs, some of which are going to be covered by patent protection," McGregor said. "So not all of the information is going to be available for testing, but just because you can't test it doesn't mean it isn't correct or true." Haibe-Kains' group recommended that, if data cannot be shared with the entire scientific community because of licensing or other insurmountable issues, "at a minimum a mechanism should be set so that some highly-trained, independent investigators can access the data and verify the analyses." Driven by Hype Verifiability and reproducibility plague AI research study results on the whole. Only 15 percent of AI research papers publish their code, according to the State of AI Report 2020, produced by AI investors Nathan Benaich and Ian Hogarth. They particularly single out Google's AI subsidiary and laboratory DeepMind and AI research and development company OpenAI as culprits. "Many of the problems in scientific research are driven by the rising hype about it, [which] is needed to generate funding," Dr. Jeffrey Funk, a technology economics and business consultant based in Singapore, told TechNewsWorld. "This hype, and its exaggerated claims, fuel a need for results that match those claims, and thus a tolerance for research that is not reproducible." Scientists and funding agencies will have to "dial back on the hype" to achieve more reproducibility, Funk observed. However, that "may reduce the amount of funding for AI and other technologies, funding that has exploded because lawmakers have been convinced that AI will generate $15 trillion in economic gains by 2030." Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard. But most of the condemnation was more generically focused on elected officials for their role in perpetuating the position that the election was fraudulent and encouraging the anger that boiled over into the deadly storming of the center of the U.S. government. Like the powerful, evil wizard Voldemort in a Harry Potter book, Trump was the protagonist who was not named. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 22:35:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close -- The start of 2021 is distinguished by the implementation of the landmark China-European Union (EU) bilateral agreement on protecting 100 European Geographical Indications (GIs) in China and 100 Chinese GIs in the EU against usurpation and imitation. -- "The EU-Chinese agreement on geographical indications expands the list of products protected and recognized in our two markets," said Vincent Perrin, director general of Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, a trade association representing the interests of independent Champagne producers and Champagne houses. -- Apart from the GIs already listed, the agreement will expand, in the upcoming four years, to cover additional 175 GI names from both sides. In the extended lists, GIs representing traditional Chinese culture such as Xuan Paper, Huangmei Cross-stitch, Shu Brocade and Qingshen Bamboo Weaving will be included, with bilateral cultural exchanges likely to be boosted. File photo taken on June 10, 2019 shows a vineyard in the Champagne region near Reims, France. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) STOCKHOLM, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The start of 2021 is distinguished by the implementation of the landmark China-European Union (EU) bilateral agreement on protecting 100 European Geographical Indications (GIs) in China and 100 Chinese GIs in the EU against usurpation and imitation. According to the agreement, the Chinese GI products protected in the EU include Pixian Dou Ban (Pixian bean paste), Anxi Tie Guan Yin (Anxi oolong tea), Panjin Da Mi (Panjin rice) and Wu Liang Ye (Wuliangye liquor), while the EU list protected in China includes Cava (a wine from Spain), Champagne (a wine from France), Feta (a cheese from Greece), Irish whiskey, Munchener Bier (a beer from Germany). Thanks to the agreement, GIs from both sides are protected in both markets where consumers can buy authentic Chinese or EU local products, most of which are wines, spirits and agricultural food products. Besides the reciprocal trade benefits as well as introducing consumers to quality products from both sides, the agreement's implementation is expected to propel bilateral trade of high-quality products to new highs. Photo taken on Jan. 6, 2021 shows Tie Guan Yin tea products displayed at a tea company in Anxi County, southeast China's Fujian Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Huaying) BETTER PROTECTION Anxi Tie Guan Yin, a type of world-famous Chinese tea originating in the 19th century in southeast China's Fujian Province, is among the 100 Chinese GIs being protected from Jan. 1, 2021. "After formal implementation of the agreement, Anxi Tie Guan Yin will enjoy the legal protection of its origin in the EU market and have the right to use the EU's official certification mark, which can effectively prevent counterfeiting," Liu Qingzhou, director of the Tea Industry Management Committee Office of Anxi County, Fujian Province, told Xinhua. The agreement also eliminates worries about "the EU's high-quality specialty products to enter the Chinese market, allowing (Chinese) consumers to access high-quality European specialty products more easily to improve their quality of life," Liu stressed. On the EU side, 100 GIs, French Champagne, have started to enjoy a higher degree of protection. Standing "with our Chinese counterparts," the "100 + 100" model offers better protections for various GIs, said Vincent Perrin, director general of Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne, a trade association representing the interests of independent Champagne producers and Champagne houses. "Champagne is the most exported wine appellation in the world. And China increasingly recognizes the value of geographical indications: it has a very rich heritage of food and artisanal know-how, and consumers are increasingly looking for guarantees of authenticity," Perrin told Xinhua. File photo taken on Aug. 27, 2019 shows bottles of Cognac liquor in Cognac, France. (Xinhua/Gao Jing) "The EU-Chinese agreement on geographical indications expands the list of products protected and recognized in our two markets," Perrin added. "This agreement will guarantee the protection of 100 EU agri-food GIs on the Chinese market. This is a further step which testifies to the will of the European Union and China to work closely together," Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium, told Xinhua. He added that it is important to protect European GI products, renowned for their "quality and diversity," at both EU and global levels "in order to guarantee their authenticity and preserve their reputation for the satisfaction of Chinese consumers." "The agreement... is extremely important for Europe and China since in return China will be able to use the European logo for its GIs as well. This recognition will allow Chinese producers to benefit from the economic development that a GI allows," Lameyse said. A staff member makes Tie Guan Yin tea at a tea company in Anxi County, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Huaying) LARGER SALES While the implementation of the agreement will surely better protect GI products from both sides, it brings substantive benefits by mutually recognizing those products and creating greater opportunities for product sales on both markets. As a local pillar industry, the sale of Anxi Tie Guan Yin provides income for 80 percent of the county's 1.2 million people and 56 percent of the average annual net income for local farmers. "At present, Anxi County has 600,000 mu (or 40,000 hectares) of tea plantations with an annual output of 62,000 tons and a total production value of 25 billion yuan (about 4 billion U.S. dollars)," Liu explained. The formal implementation of the agreement further reassured Wu Rongshan, chairman of Fujian Sanhe Tea Co., of the significance to continue exploring the European market. Wu told Xinhua that with its unique natural environment and superb tea-making technology, their oolong tea has been quite popular in the domestic market, and there's still room for improvement in its popularity and market share in Europe. "Anxi Tie Guan Yin is included in the agreement, which means that our products will be more easily recognized by the European Union," Wu said, adding that the tea will gain foothold in a larger international market. The agreement's implementation "will help producers protect local competitiveness, improve the quality and reputation of goods, and protect consumers from counterfeiting. This agreement also helps... high-quality Chinese food enter the homes of ordinary people in Italy," Livio Mazzanti, area manager China for Italian winemaking company Marchesi Mazzei, told Xinhua. "I like a lot of Chinese food in the agreement, and tea has a big market in Italy. As these origins are protected, Italians can purchase Chinese food with greater confidence. It is expected that the sales of Chinese food in Italy and Europe will grow rapidly," Mazzanti added. Also included in the agreement are wines, which account for a significant part of Spain's exports. Jose Luis Benitez, general director of the Spanish Wine Federation, told Xinhua that he believed the forecasts for wine exports to China show a growing trend. "China is currently Spain's fourth largest market for bottled wines. However... there are predictions that China could end up becoming the second largest market for Spanish wines," he said. Jose Luis Benitez, general director of the Spanish Wine Federation, shows two bottles of wine in Madrid, Spain, Jan. 5, 2021. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) HUGE POTENTIAL Apart from the GIs already listed, the agreement will expand, in the upcoming four years, to cover additional 175 GI names from both sides. In the extended lists, GIs representing traditional Chinese culture such as Xuan Paper, Huangmei Cross-stitch, Shu Brocade and Qingshen Bamboo Weaving will be included, with bilateral cultural exchanges likely to be boosted. Already internationally popular, iconic Chinese GIs such as Anxi Tie Guan Yin are also seen as representatives of traditional Chinese culture. Wu Rongshan believes that the agreement will help increase the tea's popularity and recognition in Europe, and allow more European consumers to learn about Chinese tea culture through Tie Guan Yin, and then get to know China's traditional culture. Liu Qingzhou told Xinhua that with the agreement, the county would not only increase the brand's influence, but also, with tea as a medium, promote cultural exchanges and economic cooperation between China and the EU. A staff member shows a Tie Guan Yin tea product at a tea company in Anxi County, southeast China's Fujian Province, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Huaying) The huge potential of the agreement also stands out at this unusual time of uncertainties against the backdrop of rising global unilateralism, trade protectionism and the ongoing pandemic. The EU's additional list of 175 GIs includes wines from the northeastern Priorat region in Spain, where wines are recognized for their quality under the Denominacion d'Origen Qualificada (DOQ) classification, a national system to regulate the quality and geographical origin of food and drinks. "There are increasingly more Chinese companies interested in Priorat wines, and there are increasingly more of Priorat's small family wineries interested in that contact," Salus Alvarez, president of the DOQ Priorat, told Xinhua, estimating that the Chinese market can account for up to 25 percent of Priorat's wine exports in the future from the current 10 percent. Although the pandemic interrupted the growth of commercial ties between Priorat wines and the Chinese market, Alvarez is confident that business will soon pick up. "We predict that 2021 will see a reunion with the Chinese market and the link that is being established in terms of friendly relations and of trust is very strong," he said. Photo taken in Madrid, Spain on Jan. 5, 2021 shows bottles of wine produced in Spain. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo) Fernando Miranda, secretary general of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture and Food, is optimistic about the agreement and its potential, as it will be expanded to cover a further 36 Spanish agri-food products. The DOQ products "make up 12 percent of our exports, so it guarantees growth in those products of the highest quality," Fernando told Xinhua. Christophe Danneaux, vice president Champagne of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouet, told Xinhua that he remained very positive on their exports to China despite the pandemic. "We are optimistic about the economic recovery and the gradual reopening of bars, restaurants and hotels. We have chosen to maintain a strong presence through activations throughout 2020," he said. His company was a partner of the West Bund Art Fair in Shanghai last October, and soon after completing a campaign for a brand in China, "we are already preparing the festivities for the Chinese New Year," Danneaux added. (Fu Yiming in Stockholm, Xu Yongchun and Liu Fang in Paris, Meng Dingbo in Madrid, Chen Zhanjie in Rome and Zhang Huaying in Fuzhou contributed to the story.) (Video reporters: Tang Ji, Xu Yongchun, Meng Dingbo, Zhang Huaying, Sylvain Thizy; Video editor: Zhu Cong) Activists who protest the police say they believe they are targeted because of their criticism of law enforcement While protesting the police killing of a Black teenager in Ferguson, Missouri, several years ago, Johnetta Elzie said she was manhandled by officers. She said they pointed rifles at Black women who were pushing toddlers in strollers and cursed at them to turn around. Similar scenes unfolded all summer, as police officers clashed with scores of Black Lives Matter protesters. Many times, officers used batons and chemical agents to disperse crowds. And so what Elzie saw on television Wednesday afternoon infuriated her: A mob of mostly White Donald Trump supporters stormed past police officers and vandalised the US Capitol while officers, after initially offering resistance, mostly stood by. Some officers parted barricades, others held doors open and one was seen on video escorting a woman down steps. What a joke, Elzie said. I mean, they didnt even pinch the White people. It wasnt even like a family dispute. In a family dispute, you might at least hit your sister or something like that. This wasnt even that. It was almost like tear gas was not readily available. Black Lives Matter activists across the country expressed outrage Thursday at what they said was a tepid response from law enforcement officers to mostly White protesters, saying it stood in stark contrast to the aggressive tactics they have endured for years officers in full riot gear who have used tear gas, rubber bullets and batons. It also underscored the countrys uneven system of justice, many said, and lent credence to their insistence that Black people are devalued and viewed as inherently dangerous. In a national address Thursday afternoon, President-elect Joe Biden acknowledged the seemingly disparate treatment, saying he had received a text message from his granddaughter who questioned the police response at the Capitol. She said, Pop, this isnt fair. No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, they wouldnt have been treated very, very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol, he said, adding, We all know thats true. And it is unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. Officials with the Capitol Police, a federal law enforcement agency responsible for securing the Capitol building, have defended Wednesdays response, saying the officers were underprepared and overwhelmed by the pro-Trump mob. Joel Shults, a former police chief of Adams State University in Colorado, said the right balance of quelling a disturbance versus allowing the disorder to continue was a difficult calculation for law enforcement to make. Every case presents its unique challenges, he said, adding that a lack of information and the location of Wednesdays riot might have influenced the polices response and not the race of the largely White crowd that stormed the building. To have a lot of citizen-police violence on the steps of the Capitol, he said, I think it was really important that that not happen. Black activists noted that when they have planned protests, the police have rarely seemed ill-prepared. This week, for instance, National Guard troops descended on Kenosha, Wisconsin, and metal barricades were erected around that citys courthouse the day before a prosecutor announced that no charges would be filed against an officer who shot a man, Jacob Blake, multiple times in the back last summer. Last summer, a peaceful violin vigil in Aurora, Colorado, to memorialise a Black man who died during a police arrest was disrupted when officers in riot gear charged the park and dispersed pepper spray, sending families with children fleeing. Police argued that there was a small group of agitators among the crowd, a contention disputed by many in attendance, who had been sitting on the lawn listening to people play the violin when police descended. And the day after the presidential election in November, hundreds of activists marched through the streets of Minneapolis, advocating for an end to police brutality. The group, which was spirited but peaceful and included parents with children, eventually marched onto an interstate. The plan was to walk to the next exit, something that should have only taken about 15 minutes, said Sam Martinez, one of the organisers. Instead, the state police surrounded the group while on the highway and demanded that everyone sit down to be arrested. Local elected officials frantically tried to negotiate with authorities to let the demonstrators leave the highway, to no avail. The police, saying that the demonstrators violated the law and endangered public safety by entering the highway, either arrested or cited and released nearly 650 protesters. The process took about five hours. Most were given misdemeanour charges, but a 19-year-old woman received felony riot charges for shining a laser pointer into the eyes of a police officer. Its a glaring example of how unjust this system really is, said Martinez, noting the disparity between the hundreds of arrests on the highway versus the handful of arrests at the Capitol. If that had been us, there would have been way more than one casualty. The highway protest in Minneapolis came months after city police officers killed George Floyd, sparking widespread protests and calls for an end to systemic racism. Amid chaotic demonstrations in the days following the killing, police retreated from a police precinct headquarters, allowing protesters to descend on it and burn it down. But even that was not comparable to what unfolded at the Capitol on Wednesday, said Jeremiah Ellison, a Minneapolis city councilman. In the days preceding the burning of the precinct, police had been firing rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters in what Ellison said he believed was an overreaction at times. The police at the Capitol did not show that same hostility toward the demonstrators there, he said. I think the police will view a leftist protester with a gas mask as more dangerous than a right-wing protester with a semi-automatic rifle, Ellison said. Activists who protest the police say they believe they are targeted because of their criticism of law enforcement. In a federal lawsuit against the city of St Louis, a judge wrote in a 2017 ruling on a preliminary injunction that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claim that the Police Department has a custom or policy of using chemical agents without warning on citizens criticising the police. The lawsuit centres on the arrest of more than 120 people in 2017 during a protest of the acquittal of a White officer who killed a Black man in St Louis. Earlier that evening, some protesters had broken windows and knocked over large flower pots downtown. Police declared an unlawful assembly and ordered people to leave. Hours later, there were still dozens of people peacefully milling about a downtown street corner that was a few blocks from where police had told the crowd to leave. Officers eventually moved in and arrested everyone who was still out sweeping up members of the Air Force who happened to be in the area and at least one journalist in the process. Video of the mass arrest showed one officer firing pepper spray at the people being arrested, who all appear to be on the ground and complying with police commands, Judge Catherine Perry of US District Court wrote in her injunction. Javad Khazaeli, a lawyer representing several of the plaintiffs, said that even though his clients were peaceful, The police made the choice to use violence. But the Capitol Police on Wednesday made the choice not to, he said. It couldnt be a more perfect example for everybody to see the two different criminal justice systems we have in America. John Eligon c.2021 The New York Times Company By Malik Fahad NUP secretary general, David Rubongoya has revealed that Nubian Li, Eddie Mutwe, and other supporters who were in the diverted bus are being held at Makindye Military Barracks in Kampala. Yesterday, it was reported that a bus in which some NUP supporters were traveling was intercepted by security operatives and taken to an unknown destination. Last evening, at least 46 supporters and campaign team members of National Unity Platform (NUP) presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi were released after reappearing before Masaka Chief Magistrate Charles Yeteise. The accused were granted bail on Monday but remained in prison where they were reportedly being guarded by armed soldiers, according to their lawyers. There have been attempts by NUP lawyers to secure their release since Monday, but all the efforts failed despite engaging prison authorities at Masaka Ssaza government Prison. Microsoft Edge, while definitely seeing a steady rise to mainstream use and popularity, has still got a long way to go before its competition, Google Chrome, gives any leeway.Microsoft has published a job opening around a week ago on their website, looking to hire a principal software engineer dedicated to working for their browser, Edge. Looking for a new leader to shepherd the rest of Edge's development team indicates that Microsoft is looking to go all-out with their browser and its standards.Numbers skimmed over in this very job posting also state that Edge has reached 600 million customers already. Which, while being an impressive number, doesn't come with any context as to who is being considered a customer. However, even if the validity of these numbers is questionable, multiple analyst firms have delved into data and conclusively agreed that Edge has taken over Firefox as the browser world's number 2. However, the number one they're competing with is a behemoth in its own right.Google Chrome's success is no small feat. Netmarketshares recent report claims that Chrome has nearly a 70% share in the browsers market. It's bested the likes of Apple and Mozilla in establishing user presence, and is collectively regarded as the best browser experience. The Chrome name itself has garnered enough of a reputation that Google has branded other projects such as Chromecast and Chromebook as its namesake. In fact, Chromium, the open-source browser project which made Chrome, was eventually adopted by Edge itself for coding and developmental purposes.Edge has also had to clamber out of the unfortunate looming shadow of Microsoft's previous browser. Internet Explorer is widely reviled as perhaps the most misguided attempt at browser development in tech history. It would go on to gain internet meme status, with people mocking its slow load times and ungainly running. It has also been at the center of multiple controversies regarding malware security, and was the subject of a lawsuit the US government brought against Microsoft.Regardless, one way or another Edge has soldiered on while keeping a steady pace (and a hefty distance from controversy). Microsoft does seem to have learned their lesson, as it uses code from a respected source, as opposed to any random third-party open source gibberish available. The transfer to Chromium has enabled cross-platform availability for the browser as well, allowing users to go live from devices other than Windows. And while it's got a literal mountain to inch over, with Chrome's pace not nudging, these steps towards making it a better browser are definitely the way to go.Photo: SOPA Images/LightRocket / GettyRead next: Microsoft Edge is bringing a new flyout collections menu for its toolbar WASHINGTON - President-elect Joe Biden said Friday he is assembling a multitrillion-dollar relief package that would boost stimulus payments for Americans to $2,000, extend unemployment insurance and send billions of dollars in aid to city and state governments, moving swiftly to address the nation's deteriorating economic condition and the rampaging pandemic. The package will also include billions of dollars to improve vaccine distribution and tens of millions of dollars for schools, as well as rent forbearance and assistance to small businesses, especially those in low-income communities, Biden said at a news conference in Wilmington, Del. "We need to provide more immediate relief for families and businesses now," Biden said. "The price tag will be high," he said, adding, "The overwhelming consensus among leading economists left, right and center is that in order to keep the economy from collapsing this year, getting much, much worse, we should be investing significant amounts of money right now." Biden said he would lay out the package in more detail next week. It would build on some $4 trillion in economic assistance Congress has already devoted to battling the devastating pandemic, including a $900 billion package President Donald Trump signed into law last month. Discussions were getting underway in earnest with Democratic leaders on Capitol Hill, with Biden aiming to move the package to a vote as quickly as possible. But in an early sign of the challenges Biden may face in getting his agenda through Congress, even with both chambers controlled by Democrats, Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va., expressed skepticism Friday about the benefits of a new round of stimulus checks. "I don't know where in the hell $2,000 came from," Manchin said. "I swear to God I don't. That's another $400 billion dollars." Manchin initially seemed to suggest in an interview with The Washington Post that he was "absolutely" opposed to a new round of checks. He clarified in a follow-up interview that he could potentially support more checks if they were narrow in scope and targeted for people who really need them. Manchin also said that the first priority needed to be on getting people vaccinated, not sending out checks. "If they can direct money and they say, 'This will help stimulate the economy,' hell yeah I'm for it," Manchin said. "But basically right now, you better get them vaccinated." Biden has made new stimulus checks a central promise, specifically telling Georgia voters that they would be getting $2,000 payments if Democrats won Senate runoff elections in the state this week. Democrats won those races, clinching a majority in the Senate and unified control of Washington for the first time since the start of the Obama administration. After the Georgia wins, the incoming majority leader, Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., also pledged that the $2,000 checks would be an early priority. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., said in a statement Friday that "the working class of this country was promised that they would receive a $2,000 direct payment. . . . We must keep that promise." Manchin is a moderate who will hold great sway in a Senate split 50 to 50 between Democrats and Republicans. With such slim margins, Biden and Schumer may not be able to lose even a single Democratic vote if they attempt to move legislation under special Senate rules that allow bills to pass with a simple majority, instead of the 60-vote margin generally required. In the event of a tie in the Senate, Kamala Harris, the incoming vice president, would cast the deciding vote. Without united Democratic support, Biden would need to attract Republican votes for his proposal. Biden has often spoken of a desire for bipartisanship, and there may be GOP support for some elements of his plan, including the stimulus checks. However, many Republicans are certain to balk at a price tag Biden said would be "in the trillions of dollars." Formal discussions between congressional Democratic leaders and Biden officials on the details of the stimulus package are expected to begin in earnest in coming days. Officials stressed that conversations are preliminary and that no final decisions have been made about the timing or exact shape of the effort. At least one leading Democratic senator will push for federal unemployment benefits to be approved at $600 a week, up from the current $300, although the position of the Biden team on that matter is not yet clear. The local-aid component of the package may take the form of additional money for specific needs that local governments face, such as funding for education and child care, rather than direct grants to states and cities. Biden's push for a big new stimulus package comes amid a rapid deterioration of the economy under the strain of a third wave of the coronavirus. The economy shed 140,000 jobs in December, a steep decline just as U.S. covid-19 deaths hit an all-time high. "Clearly, there's a need. The new unemployment numbers are shocking," said Jim Kessler, an executive vice president at Third Way, a centrist think tank. "State and local aid has to be part of it. There will be additional stimulus checks. And you have to make sure unemployment benefits continue as well." Enhanced unemployment benefits of up to $300 a week were included in the $900 billion package signed by Trump. That package also included $600 stimulus checks, so approving new $1,400 checks would bring stimulus payments to $2,000, a figure that has attracted widespread support. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., pushed a stand-alone stimulus-check measure through the House last month. Biden indicated Friday, however, that he would wrap the stimulus checks into a wide-ranging package, not try to move them as a stand-alone bill. Biden is also likely to push for a larger legislative effort later in 2021 after the initial stimulus package. That effort is expected to focus on spending trillions of dollars on infrastructure and clean-energy jobs. The former vice president additionally has pushed for significant overhauls to America's health-care system, something that could also be wrapped into legislation later in the year. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., incoming chair of the Senate Finance Committee, said in an interview that he will push for a restoration of the $600 per week in federal unemployment benefits approved by Congress in March. Those benefits expired in the summer, although Congress last month approved an additional extension of those benefits at $300 per week. Other Senate Democrats have previously expressed internal opposition to reviving the $600-per-week benefit. Wyden said he is in communication with Biden officials about the coming push for economic relief. He did not say whether the Biden officials will back his push for the $600 weekly benefit. He also said he is pushing for "automatic triggers" that tie the expiration of federal benefits to general economic conditions, such as the unemployment rate. "I talked to [Biden officials] last night. I can tell you they are very much concerned about layoffs," Wyden said. "At this point, I'm telling everybody: 'I'm pulling out all the stops for $600.' . . . We are going to do everything we can to put hard-hit working families on an economic footing where they can get ahead." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 7) Two sisters died in a fire that razed their home along Matahimik St., Barangay Malaya in Quezon City on Friday, according to the city's Bureau of Fire Protection. The fatalities were a 10-year-old girl and her 24-year-old sister, the Quezon City BFP said in a report. Meanwhile, the victims' father suffered a second-degree burn, authorities said. The fire started from the ground floor of their home before 6 a.m. and spread to the mezzanine floor where the victims were sleeping. The blaze was declared out at 6:32 a.m. Investigators are still determining the cause of the fire. The incident caused structural damage worth around P30,000. Republicans Flex Muscle in Setting COVID Policies By The Associated Press FRANKFORT - Republican lawmakers in Kentucky are asserting their role in setting COVID-19 policies.The Kentucky House voted Thursday to block the governor from temporarily closing schools and businesses that comply with federal guidelines.The vote sends the bill to the Senate.Later in the day, the Senate passed a bill to limit the governors executive orders in times of emergency to 30 days unless extended by lawmakers.That bill heads to the House. Both chambers are led by Republicans.Those bills and others reflect mounting GOP frustration with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears use of his executive authority amid the health crisis. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is on a visit to Delhi, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday. During the meeting Sawant informed Shah about various development projects being run by the Goa government in the state. The Home Minister also assured him of all possible help from the Centre for the betterment of the state. Goa is one of the states where the Bharatiya Janata Party has registered a resounding victory in the recently concluded Panchayat polls despite a countrywide farmers' agitation. The Home Minister also congratulated Sawant over party's win in the panchayat polls. The Chief Minister also discussed the upcoming Municipal Corporation polls with Shah. During the meeting, Amit Shah suggested Sawant to work for strengthening the party in the state and deliver a maximum benefits of the government's schemes to the people. Shah and Sawant also discussed the mining issue in the state which is presently banned in most of the places despite having a great scope of employment. The Chief Minister had also discussed the issue with Coal and Minister Prahlad Joshi during his last visit. The state government is expecting a big relief in the matter of mining from the Centre. Charli, 16, and Dixie, 19, joined Noah, Chase Hudson, Madi Monroe, and others at the Atlantis resort in Nassau last week as COVID-19 cases soared in Los Angeles At the time of their trip, California became the first state to record more than two million confirmed coronavirus cases The TikTok stars never shared they were going on the trip, but the news they were in the Bahamas spread like wildfire after they were spotted by fans The influencers were slammed online, with critics calling them 'selfish' and 'irresponsible,' but Noah, 19, defended the trip, saying they took a private jet Dixie's boyfriend went on to claim the trip was important for their mental health because they 'just needed this little time away to get kind of a reset' He also insinuated that people were just jealous of their lifestyle Noah's cavalier response only fueled the fire and he faced even more backlash for his 'tone-deaf' response to the criticism Charli and Dixie D'Amelio have come under fire yet again after taking a private jet to the Bahamas with friends amid the pandemic, but Dixie's boyfriend Noah Beck has defended their trip, claiming they 'needed to get away from it all.' The D'Amelio sisters joined Noah, Chase Hudson, Madi Monroe, and others at the Atlantis resort in Nassau last week, as California became the first state to record more than two million confirmed coronavirus cases. ADVERTISEMENT Charli, 16, and Dixie, 19, never shared they were going on the trip, nor did their friends, but the news they were in the Bahamas spread like wildfire after they were spotted by fans with some even sharing pictures of themselves posing with the influencers. Under fire: Charli and Dixie D'Amelio are facing backlash for joining fellow influencers Noah Beck, Chase Hudson, Madi Monroe, and others on a trip the Bahamas last week Yikes: The TikTok stars never shared they were going on the trip, but the news they were in the Bahamas spread like wildfire after they were spotted by fans who shared photos of them The @TikTokRoom Instagram account posted a fan's TikTok video of the group wearing masks while posing together in the Bahamas as well as a picture of a maskless Madi on a private jet, which she shared herself. In the photo, Madi, 16, is holding a glass of bubbly and leaning against her Louis Vuitton duffle bag while sitting sideways in her seat on the jet. 'Im on my way @bryant,' she wrote, tagging TikTok celebrity photographer Bryant Eslava, who was also on the trip. He later shared a video of himself going down a water slide at the resort. Madi left her whereabouts vague by tagging 'Somewhere in the Middle of No Where' as her location, but fans weren't fooled. While they tried to keep their destination hidden, their followers did not. A number of people tagged the Atlantis or the Bahamas when posting the snapshots they took with the influencers. Click here to resize this module At least they're wearing masks! Dixie, 19, flashed the peace sign while posing with two fans at the resort Meet and greet: The TikTok sensation posed with another follower on the same day Fooled? Dixie's boyfriend Noah, 19, shared a few TikTok videos of them in what appeared to be a hotel room at the time of their trip Noah, 19, also shared a few TikTok videos of himself with Dixie in what appeared to be a hotel room at the time of their trip. As of Friday, the state of California has had a total of 2.59 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 28,000 deaths. Roughly 870,000 of those cases are from their home city of Los Angeles. ADVERTISEMENT There have been a total of 21.7 million cases across the country, with the number of deaths soaring to 365,000. The backlash has been swift, with critics slamming the TikTok stars particularly Charli and Dixie for irresponsibly going on a group vacation during the pandemic. One Twitter user called out Charli for being a hypocrite, recalling how TikTok's most-followed star just filmed an Instagram Live talking about the importance of staying home and social distancing. 'If youre using this time to hang out with your friends since you dont have school, please, Im asking you, please stop being so inconsiderate to others,' Charli said on December 29 just days before the news of her trip went viral. Away: Noah also posted a clip of Dixie sleeping in what looked like a hotel bed after watching Grey's Anatomy Welcoming 2021: It seems the couple celebrated New Year's Eve at the resort Not so secret: Madi, 16, shared a photo of herself holding a glass of bubbly without a mask on a private jet, tagging TikTok celebrity photographer Bryant Eslava, who was also on the trip Letting loose: Bryant posted a video of himself going down a waterslide at the Atlantis resort in Nassau and tagged his location as the Bahamas Letting loose: Bryant posted a video of himself going down a waterslide at the Atlantis resort in Nassau and tagged his location as the Bahamas 'You may think this isnt going to affect me or it isnt that bad. You are putting other people at risk to get hurt and to be in pain.' 'Charli 'D'Amelio won person of the year... shes literally in the Bahamas rn with 15 other people during a pandemic and has been doing so all year what,' one critic tweeted. 'I really can't understand how influencers like Charli, Dixie, Madi, Avani, Noah, etc decide it's a great idea to go to the Bahamas while we're in the middle of a pandemic...like c'mon people are dying every day,' another added. 'I'm a bit disappointed ngl. They're supposed to be good role models.' The sisters have kept mum about both the trip and the backlash, but Noah defended their getaway this week in an interview with Pap Galore, saying it was 'really fun.' ADVERTISEMENT 'It is what it is, you know,' he explained of the backlash. 'I think, especially the business were in, its, like, you need some time to kind of disconnect for a little. Thats what that was meant for.' Gotcha: Charli hasn't said a word about the trip, but eagle-eyed followers noticed her tan as soon as she came back Outrage: The influencers were slammed online, with critics calling them 'selfish' and 'irresponsible,' but Noah defended the trip, saying they took a private jet 'It was just a little trip to get away,' he added. 'Wanted to get away from everything and we took a private jet, so it was just us.' The TikToker insinuated that critics of the trip were jealous of their lifestyle and would join them in the Bahamas if they could. 'Lets say, its just kind of funny because lets say, that someone whos commenting on our stuff, like, "You guys need to stay home," and stuff like that. Lets say we DM one of them, like, "Yo, we want to fly you out to the Bahamas." If they say, "Yeah," then you screenshot it and say, "This you?" or something like that,' he said. 'Its just not even worth it.' He went on to claim that the group trip to the Bahamas was important to their mental health because they 'just needed this little time away to get kind of a reset.' Noah's cavalier comments only fueled the backlash as outraged critics slammed him for being 'selfish' and 'tone-deaf.' 'Noah Beck saying "I went to the Bahamas just to get my mind off things" is the epitome of rich and white privilege,' one person wrote. Response: Noah, pictured with Dixie in September, claimed the trip was important for their mental health because they 'just needed this little time away to get kind of a reset' Not helping: Noah's cavalier comments only fueled the backlash as outraged critics slammed him for being 'selfish' and 'tone-deaf' Another tweeted: 'So Noah Beck said that him and his friends went to the Bahamas so they could just get away and disconnect ??????? theyre all dumb as hell.' 'Theyre absolutely nothing but selfish spoiled tone deaf brats who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter,' someone else commented. The D'Amelio sisters' latest drama comes a little over a month after they were accused of being rude to their personal chef in the first episode of their new YouTube series Dinner with the D'Amelios. Throughout the meal, Charli and Dixie made faces and gagged in response to their chef Aaron May's offerings. Charli later asked for 'Dino nuggets' while Dixie ran outside to throw up after eating a snail that was in the traditional paella. Both the sisters and the chef insisted that the outrage was misplaced as the snail scene was set up by their producers who wanted to get a reaction out of Dixie. ADVERTISEMENT Charli lost over a million followers in one day, but she gained them almost as quickly. Just days after the controversy, she became the first TikTok star to reach 100 million followers on the platform. For years, the Talibans suicide bombers frequently struck high-profile political and security targets in Afghanistans major cities. But in a marked shift, the Taliban is now targeting civilians -- government workers, journalists, rights activists, moderate religious leaders, and women in public roles -- in urban areas. The extremist group has reduced the number of indiscriminate, headline-grabbing suicide bombings it carries out. Instead, the militants are using so-called sticky bombs -- homemade magnetic bombs attached to vehicles and often detonated remotely -- to target specific individuals. In a new trend, many of the targeted killings have gone unclaimed, with the Taliban denying responsibility in many cases. Observers say the new tactics are a response to the U.S.-Taliban deal signed in February 2020, which limits where and what type of attacks the militants can conduct. The shift, observers say, is also linked to the Talibans strategy at peace talks with the Afghan government. Their intent seems to be to further disable and discredit the current government but also to decrease the number of people who might stand in their way postsettlement, says Jonathan Schroden, a security expert with the U.S.-based nonprofit research and analysis organization CNA. Intra-Afghan peace talks -- which started in September 2020 in the Gulf state of Qatar -- are a key part of the U.S.-Taliban agreement. That deal calls for the withdrawal of all foreign forces in Afghanistan by May in return for counterterrorism guarantees from the Taliban, which has pledged to negotiate a permanent cease-fire and a power-sharing formula with the internationally recognized government in Kabul. 'Psychological Warfare' Since signing the deal with the United States, the Taliban has been blamed for a surge of targeted killings, including of prominent civic and political leaders. The latest victim was Afghan journalist Bismillah Adel Aimaq, who was shot dead on January 1 by unidentified gunmen in the western Ghor Province. He was the fifth journalist slain in Afghanistan in the past two months. On December 24, 2020, prominent Afghan womens rights activist Freshta Kohistani was shot dead by unknown gunmen on a motorcycle in the province of Kapisa. Meanwhile, a sticky bomb attached to an armored vehicle killed Kabul's deputy provincial governor, Mahbobullah Mohibi, and two others on December 15, 2020. The campaign of assassinations has provoked public anger at authorities and struck fear among civilians in major cities where many oppose the Taliban. The new strategy is to win the support or submission of the population in government-controlled areas, particularly in urban centers, through intimidation and psychological warfare, says Rahmatullah Amiri, a Kabul-based political analyst. 'Chaotic Approach' Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid has denied any involvement in the attac ks, calling the accusations propaganda. But Afghan officials and independent observers say there is little doubt the Taliban is behind the wave of attacks. Afghan intelligence chief Ahmad Zia Siraj recently told lawmakers that security forces had arrested 270 members of a special Taliban unit with ties to the targeted killings, called Obaida Karwan. In response to the wave of assassinations, Afghan authorities have said they will double the number of police in Kabul and spend some $100 million on high-tech security cameras in the city of around 5 million people, leading many to question why the measures were not introduced sooner. The Afghan governments chaotic approach when it comes to dealing with security provides an excellent window of opportunity for the Taliban to benefit, says Amiri. The Kabul government is deeply divided, corrupt, and heavily dependent on foreign aid and military support. The government controls provincial capitals, major population centers, and most district centers. But only around 30 percent of Afghanistans 407 districts are fully in government hands, with the rest contested or controlled by the Taliban. 'Optimizing' Tactics Observers say the Talibans new tactics are, in part, a response to the constraints imposed by the U.S.-Taliban deal. Under the agreement, the insurgents are believed to be banned from carrying out suicide bombings in urban centers. U.S. officials say the Taliban also verbally agreed to reduce overall violence, although that is contested by the militants. Schroden says the militants are optimizing their tactical approach to do as much as they can within the constraints of the bilateral deal. The Taliban places great value in that agreement, but it also sees violence as its primary form of leverage against the government, he says. Since February 2020, the militants have increased the overall number of their attacks without taking credit for them, allowing them to claim they are adhering to the deal. But U.S. frustration over the Talibans breaches of the deal appears to be spilling over. For the first time, the U.S. military directly blamed the Taliban for the surge of targeted killings, saying it was an impediment to peace. The Talibans campaign of unclaimed attacks & targeted killings of government officials, civil society leaders & journalists must also cease for peace to succeed, tweeted Colonel Sonny Leggett, the U.S. military spokesman in Afghanistan, on January 4. The remarks come amid an ongoing war of words between the U.S. military and the Taliban over the terms of the deal. U.S. forces have retaliated to the Talibans intensifying violence across the country by increasing air strikes against the militant group. The militants allege the strikes are a violation of the U.S.-Taliban deal. The U.S. military has forcefully reiterated that it reserves the right to defend Afghan forces who come under Taliban attack. Despite the Talibans widespread violations of the deal, outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump ordered in November 2020 an accelerated U.S. troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. The move was seen as an election ploy ahead of the November presidential vote that he lost. The current deployment of around 5,000 American troops will be halved by mid-January when President-elect Joe Biden takes office, the lowest level since the beginning of the war in 2001. Trainees attend a class to train drivers for the first metro line of HCMC, July 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Gia Minh. A school training 58 drivers for HCMCs metro line No.1 has put the course on hold, citing the projects investor failure to pay it. The training course, being held at Hanoi's Vietnam Railway College in collaboration with the metro lines consulting unit, NJPT, a consortium led by Japans Nippon Koei, started last July with 58 candidates aged 21-35, one of them a woman. The 15-month course was developed following a memorandum of understanding signed among three parties, the project investor HCMC Management Authority for Urban Railways (MAUR), the consultant NJPT and the college. It appears that the payment for teachers and the school can only be made after an appendix to the contract has been signed between the investor and the consultant for the consulting service package. This has not yet been signed. The school and the consultant say they are unable to pay the teachers or continue to cover other costs of the training course. The training course was put on hold last December. But the investor, MAUR, has said that it cannot make the call itself. It needs authorization from higher authorities to sign the appendix. For now, it has asked the citys administration to quickly direct related agencies to expedite procedures so that the appendix can be signed as soon as possible. The investor has complained that such tardiness not only interrupts the training course but also operations of the entire metro line, which are slated to begin later this year. The line runs 19.7 km (12.24 miles) from Ben Thanh Market in District 1 to Suoi Tien theme park in District 9. In 2007, MAUR had signed a contract with NJPT for the Japanese consortium to undertake general consultancy for the metro line No.1 with a total implementation time of 132 months. The consulting process was divided into five phases: basic design and building bidding files, organizing bidding, post-contract period (including work on design review, construction supervision), maintenance, and maintenance consulting phase. That contract was signed based on the original schedule of the project being completed in 2015. Several setbacks and resultant delays forced the projects postponement to the end of this year. The delays have forced the investor and the consultant to add as many as 19 appendixes to their contract. The payment for the training course belongs to appendix no. 19, for which the two sides have already completed negotiations. The investor, MAUR, is waiting for the citys assessment so that it can be signed. The construction of metro line No.1 is expected to cost VND43.7 trillion ($1.89 billion). It will have 14 stations 11 on elevated sections and three underground. Work on the project, which began in August 2012, was more than 78 percent complete by the end of 2020. In all, HCMC plans to build eight metro lines running a total of 220 km. President Donald Trump greets the crowd at the "Stop The Steal" Rally on January 06, 2021 in Washington. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Trump Says He Wont Attend Bidens Inauguration President Donald Trump said on Jan. 8 that he will not attend the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th, the president wrote on Twitter. Trump made the announcement one day after Congress certified Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. The president has not conceded the race but has said there will be a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. Congress certified Biden as the winner early on Thursday morning after its joint session was halted by protesters who broke into the Capitol building. The joint session resumed hours later. Some of the senators who had committed to objecting to the counting of slates of electors for Biden withdrew their signatures after the session reconvened. Only two out of as many as seven objections were ultimately considered and rejected. Shortly after Twitter lifted a suspension on his profile, Trump sent a message to the supporters who voted for him, advising that they will have a giant voice going forward. The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!! Trump wrote. Biden said of President Trumps decision not to attend his inauguration: One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on. Its a good thing him not showing up. He said Vice President Pence is welcome to come to his inauguration. President-elect Joe Biden delivers remarks in Wilmington, Del., on Jan. 7, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Biden on Thursday blamed Trump for the breach of the capitol. Biden said that those who massed on Capitol Hill intending to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was certifying his election victory werent protesters. Dont dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mobinsurrectionists, domestic terrorists. Its that basic. The protesters smashed windows to get into the capitol and roamed the halls once inside. A woman climbing through a broken inner door was shot and killed by law enforcement inside. Trump and third parties pursued dozens of lawsuits in the aftermath of the Nov. 3 election, but the courts repeatedly rejected the challenges. The lawsuits argued that state authorities unconstitutionally altered election laws and removed safeguards on the integrity of the ballot. The Trump campaign filed lawsuits in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. Some of the lawsuits are still pending before the Supreme Court. The breach of the Capitol is intensifying scrutiny over security at the upcoming inauguration ceremony. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office from the Capitols West Front, one of the locations infiltrated by the protesters, who also scaled and occupied the scaffolding and bleachers in place for the ceremonies. Zachary Stieber and the Associated Press contributed to this report. A man wanted for ramming a Portland police officer while driving a stolen pickup on Christmas Eve then later escaping custody has been apprehended in Southeast Portland. David Dahlen, 24, had been on the lam nearly a week. He escaped a holding cell on the Portland Police Bureaus detective floor in the downtown Multnomah County Justice Center, raced down a stairwell and headed out a door on the south side of the building last Saturday. Portland police said members of the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force found him inside a car at Lents Park early Friday. They notified Portland police, and members of the Bureau responded to help. Then, about 8:50 a.m., Marshals tried to block the car Dahlen was inside, police said. But the driver was able to pull away. The car traveled east on Holgate Boulevard, according to police. But Portland officers put down spike strips near 111th Avenue, deflating its tires. The driver tried to swerve around another car, lost control and hit a retaining wall and power pole near 114th Avenue, police said. Dahlen fled but didnt make it far, police said. A Portland officer took him into custody. Another person in the car was detained. Dahlen was taken to a hospital, where he will be checked for injuries, police said. The other person, who hasnt been publicly identified, will also be examined. Police didnt specify whether Dahlen was driving the car. Its clear that this individual has no regard for the safety of the public and will put others in danger in an effort to escape, Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell said in a statement. Im grateful to the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, the PPB Homicide Unit, the Tactical Operations Division, East Precinct patrol officers, and all who worked together to capture this dangerous fugitive. Dahlen initially fled police on Dec. 24 after officers boxed in a stolen pickup hes accused of driving in the lot of a 76 gas station in Southeast Portland. Dahlen is accused of ramming the pickup into Officer Jennifer Pierce, who had stepped out of a patrol car that she left in front of the truck, a witness said. The stolen pickup then backed up and went forward again, striking Pierces patrol car and pushing it forward as it peeled out of the lot. Pierce fired at Dahlen and the truck, witnesses said. A gas station attendant said he heard two gunshots. Pierce, a 15-year bureau veteran assigned to Central Precinct, was hospitalized for a pelvic fracture and has since been released from the hospital. Dahlen was arrested Saturday but was able to escape custody after a member of a cleaning crew apparently opened a holding cell on accident. He hadnt yet been booked into the downtown jail when he escaped. -- Jim Ryan jryan@oregonian.com; 503-221-8005; @Jimryan015 Maxine Bernstein of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report. The number of paramilitary style attacks in Northern Ireland fell, while bomb attacks increased slightly in a year dominated by the pandemic induced lockdown. Some 17 bombing incidents were recorded in 2020 up from 15 in 2019 and 39 shootings the same as during 2019. But other paramilitary activity remained the same or decreased according to figures collated by the Police Service for Northern Ireland. The PSNIas Security Situation Statistics covering the 12 month period 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 have been published today. The publication is available on the @PoliceServiceNI website at https://t.co/pQsNCLybgY pic.twitter.com/XwqbpnxKT9 NISRA (@NISRA) January 8, 2021 A high profile bomb plot was uncovered in February, when a device was found attached to a lorry in Co Armagh. Police said they believe it had been intended by dissident republicans for a Brexit day attack on a ferry on January 31, the date the UK left the EU. Meanwhile two security-related deaths were recorded believed to refer to the murder of Glenn Quinn in Carrickfergus by the South East Antrim UDA in January and Kieran Wylie in west Belfast by dissident republicans in May. Two were also recorded in 2019. Some 13 paramilitary style shootings were recorded, down from 18 in 2019, and 42 paramilitary style assaults, down from 67 in the previous six months. Most of these shootings (11) were attributed to republicans and two to loyalists, while most of the assaults (48) were attributed to loyalists and 19 to republicans. Expand Close Latest police figures on paramilitary style shootings and assaults. (NISRA/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Latest police figures on paramilitary style shootings and assaults. (NISRA/PA) One of the victims of the assaults tally was aged under 18. Most of the bombings, shootings and paramilitary style attacks occurred in Belfast while the Derry city and Strabane council area saw a considerable decrease. At the same time, the Antrim and Newtownabbey council area saw the largest decrease (from 20 to 2), while Causeway Coast and Glens saw the greatest increase in the number of shootings, following no such incidents in 2019 as well as a notable increase in the number of paramilitary style attacks. Meanwhile, 79 people were arrested under the Terrorist Act in 2020, compared to 147 in 2019. The PSNI also recorded variations in finds. Expand Close Emergency services attend the scene in Hawthorn Street, Belfast, after security alerts in Londonderry and Belfast have closed a school and a medical centre (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emergency services attend the scene in Hawthorn Street, Belfast, after security alerts in Londonderry and Belfast have closed a school and a medical centre (Liam McBurney/PA) Fewer firearms were found in 2020 (18) compared to 2019 (39) but more explosives and ammunition were located. Officers seized 1.1kg of explosives, compared with 0.5kg in 2019, and 2,250 rounds of ammunition, compared with 706 rounds in 2019. A large quantity of ammunition was found during a single recovery in May 2020. In the press, intelligentsia, and on the left, Donald Trump and his supporters have been consistently referred to as terrorists, Klansmen, and Nazis. Arizona's Secretary of State Katie Hobbs labeled Trump supporters his neo-Nazi base in a tweet she posted in August 2017. This tweet was left up for three years and two months. Hobbs is the chief election officer of the state. She is in charge of the vote counting in Arizona. She has also accused President Trump of attempting to sabotage the U.S. Postal Service in an effort to influence the election. Can she be trusted to be impartial? CNNs plummily titled Chief International Anchor, Christiane Amanpour, recalled Kristallnacht, the infamous anti-Jewish pogrom carried out in Nazi Germany in 1938, by noting that President Donald Trumps presidency has similarly been a modern day assault attacking those same values. She claimed, "That tower of burning books . . . led to an attack on fact, knowledge, history and truth, and: "After four years of a modern-day assault on those same values by Donald Trump, the Biden/Harris team pledges a return to norms, including the truth. The Trump administration's Kristallnacht and book burning were never covered by the press. Beto O'Rourke compared Trump's rally in Greenville, North Carolina to Nazi Germany: "That's Nuremberg to me." He wasn't the only one. Joe Scarborough discussing a Trump rally in North Carolina, Thats the president, actually, from his Nuremberg rally from last night. It was another obvious reference to the Nazi rallies at Nuremberg. The Nazi talk went beyond that: Former CIA and NSA chief Michael Hayden compared President Trumps immigration policies to that of Nazi Germany, too. Other governments have separated mothers and children, Hayden wrote next to a black-and-white photo of Auschwitz. Others dished out references to the Klan. Democratic congressional candidate from North Carolina, Moe Davis, stated When @NCGOP extremists go low, we stomp their scrawny pasty necks with our heels and once you hear the sound of a crisp snap you grind your heel hard and twist it slowly side to side for good measure. He needs to know who whupped his ass. Davis compared Trump rallies to Klan rallies and make American great again hats to new KKK hoods. For some reason voters in his district decided not to elect him. CNN contributor and liberal "intellectual" Reza Aslan called for the eradication of Trump supporters. Aslan remarked that President Donald Trump "is a white nationalist terror leader. His supporters ALL OF THEM are by definition white nationalist terror supporters. The MAGA hat is a KKK hood. And his evil, racist scourge must be eradicated from society. The characterization of Trump supporters as an evil, racist scourge is reminiscent of the Holocaust. In references to the genocide, identical language is used by historians, journalists, and human rights organizations. Aslan also called for violence against the Covington Catholic High School boys. He asked in a tweet, Honest question. Have you seen a more punchable face than this kids? Patrick Buchanan asserted, "To true believers in the revolution, the Right is not just wrong; the Right is evil." "Historian" Jon Meacham claimed, "Donald Trump is a product of the white mans, the anguished, nervous, white guys lizard brain." "Comedian" Bill Maher made a joke about Trumps mom having sex with an orangutan. To determine whether he is in fact the love child of a human woman and an orangutan from the Brooklyn zoo, Maher said. Look, Im not saying your mother was repeatedly ****ing an orangutan back in the 1940s, I dont know if thats true I hope its not true. But given your face, your physique and your intelligence level and of course your hair, the American people deserve some real proof that your mother did not spend most nights in 1945 covering her body in banana oil sneaking into the monkey cage and compulsively humping an orange orangutan. All of these pundits have remained employed and have been lauded for their courage for speaking truth to power. Are their more egregious comments that would require someone to be fired. Apparently, the answer is 'yes.' Radio personality Grant Napear was fired by his radio station and resigned as the Sacramento Kings TV play-by-play announcer after his tweet that said All Lives Matter became public. The Southern Poverty Law Center has designated the Singing Nuns, a traditional Catholic sisters organization, a hate group. The Little Sisters of the Poor are also under investigation. There is a danger in labeling. A 2007 Clark University study of hate speech claimed, Dehumanization is a frequent element of hate speech, and is used to vilify the target. It also has the effect of disinhibiting violence. Thus, dehumanizing descriptions of individuals and groups are an alarming signal of hate speech and the danger of future violence. After the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing the late Washington Post columnist, David Broder wrote: The bombing shows how dangerous it really is to inflame twisted minds with statements that suggest political opponents are enemies." Floyd Corkins, a LGBT volunteer shot up the conservative Family Research Council headquarters in August 2012. Corkins admitted he got his information from the Southern Poverty Law Center website. John Dietrich is a freelance writer and the author of The Morgenthau Plan: Soviet Influence on American Postwar Policy (Algora Publishing). He has a Master of Arts Degree in International Relations from St. Marys University. He is retired from the Defense Intelligence Agency and the Department of Homeland Security. He is featured on the BBC's program "Things We Forgot to Remember:" Morgenthau Plan and Post-War Germany. Image credit: Library of Congress, via Picryl, public domain SHELTON - Plumb Memorial Library is offering city children the chance to travel the world this winter. The library is winter reading program for children ages 1 to 18 titledAround the World in 60 Days. The program will offer reading experiences for travelers exploring the seven continents. From Monday, Jan. 11, to Thursday, March 11, travelers can visit each continent through books, DVDs, music, and audiobooks available at the Plumb Memorial Library. Participants get a prize when their passport is handed in with all seven continents stamped. Participants can then fill out the grand prize ticket for a chance to win a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. Those interested can visit Plumb Memorial Library to pick up a passport and visit https://sheltonlibrarysystem.org for full details. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 8 : In a relief to the Kerala state unit, the Congress high command has nixed certain party MPs' plans to contest the 2021 Assembly elections in the coastal state. This comes after the state unit conveyed to the central leadership that the party would find it hard to retain the Lok Sabha seats in case these MPs opted to contest the Assembly polls. It is pertinent to mention here that Congress MLAs K Muraleedharan, Adoor Prakash and Hybi Eden had contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Even PK Kunhalikutty of the All India Muslim League had resigned his Assembly seat to contest the Lok Sabha polls. While Kunhalikutty has again voiced his intention to contest the coming Assembly elections after he quit the Lok Sabha, Congress state leadership is opposed to a similar request from its MPs for the same. Interestingly, the UDF led by the Congress had lost the Vattiyoorkavu seat held by Muraleedharan to CPI-M's VK Prasanth in the bypolls, whereas the Konni Assembly seat held by Adoor Prakash was wrested by CPI-M's KU Jineesh Kumar. The Congress could retain only the Ernakulam seat held by Hybi Eadn. This forced the Congress high command to rethink the whole issue. It was learnt that Congress MPs like K Muraleedharan, K Sudhakaran, Benny Behanan, and Adoor Prakash were eyeing party tickets for the Assembly elections. Sir David Attenborough has revealed he will never return to Instagram, after quitting the social media platform in November. The broadcaster, 94, originally signed up back in September last year to issue a stark warning that 'the world is in trouble' with users, but promptly quit two months after he joined. Appearing on BBC Radio 1 Breakfast with Greg James on Friday, he said of his decision: 'I'm so old I can't get used to all these new media but I was persuaded to do so in order to do a message about conservation. 'I don't intend to go back': Sir David Attenborough revealed on Friday that he will never return to Instagram after quitting two months following his warning that 'the world is in trouble' 'So for a limited period of time I contributed to Instagram but I'm off now. I'm not on it anymore and I don't intend to go back. I've got enough problems with post.' 'I get 70 letters a day! I do my very best [to respond to them all]. Sometimes people, mercifully, don't actually put their address on because people are so unaccustomed to sending letters.' Host Greg James joked that now Sir David had declared he answers fan letters on the radio he would now get even more. The much-loved naturalist then quipped: 'If you wouldn't mind including a self-addressed stamped envelope I'd be delighted to reply!' Not returning: Sir David said: 'For a limited period of time I contributed to Instagram but I'm off now. I'm not on it anymore and I don't intend to go back. I've got enough problems with post' MailOnline revealed in November that Sir David's Instagram, which previously held the record as the fastest page to gain a million followers, currently states it is 'no longer active' in its biography section. He initially joined the social media networking service to warn 'the world is in trouble' as part of his lifelong campaign to halt climate change. In September, the historian attracted one million accounts in just four hours and 44 minutes. The media personality beat out Jennifer Aniston's time of five hours and 16 minutes, but has since been taken over by Harry Potter's Rupert Grint, who amassed the backing in just four hours and one minute. Details: MailOnline revealed in November that Sir David had quit Instagram, the account currently states it is 'no longer active' in its biography section (pictured above) The conservation expert's site still boasts a whopping 6.2 million followers and will signpost fans to inspiring accounts. A spokesperson for his film, A Life On Our Planet, told MailOnline: 'Sir David and the filmmakers of A Life On Our Planet had always intended for the account to be a series of special messages over a limited period of time. 'Primarily, they wanted to use the platform to explain the current problems facing our natural world and the solutions to help us deal with them. 'While there won't be any new posts going live, the account will remain open for people to watch Sir David's videos and read the posts that have been shared since the account was created. Milestones: The broadcaster's platform previously held the record as the fastest page to gain a million followers (pictured earlier this year) 'Sir David and the filmmakers hope that their messages will inspire others to speak up for nature and take positive action towards creating a sustainable future.' The presenter shared his reason behind creating his account was to seek new ways of reaching out to people as part of his famous fight against climate change. In a clip posted under his handle @davidattenborough, he said: 'Hello my name is David Attenborough and I've been appearing on radio and television for the past 60 years but this is my first time on Instagram. 'I'm making this move and exploring this new way of communication to me because, as we all know, the world is in trouble. 'Continents are on fire, glaciers are melting, coral reefs are dying, fish are disappearing from our oceans, the list goes on and on. 'But we know what to do about it, that's why I'm tackling this new way for me of communication. 'Over the next few weeks I'll be recording messages to explain what the problems are and how we can deal with them. Join me or, as we used to say in those early days of radio, stay tuned.' Congress seals Biden-Kamala win after Trump supporters breach The 78-year-old Democratic leader and his 56-year-old Indian-origin deputy will be inaugurated on January 20, it was announced after the constitutional process was finally completed by a joint session of Congress. (Photo:AFP) Washington: In an unprecedented assault on democracy in the US, thousands of supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building here and clashed with police, resulting in four deaths and interrupting a constitutional process by Congress to affirm the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the election. The Electoral College votes of Biden and Harris were finally approved early on Thursday after both the Senate and the House of Representatives rejected all objections raised by the Republicans to the votes in the states of Pennsylvania and Arizona. In the presidential election held on November 3, Biden and Harris received 306 electoral votes, while President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence got 232. The counting of Vermont's three electoral votes put Biden and Harris over the 270-threshold needed to win the presidency. The 78-year-old Democratic leader and his 56-year-old Indian-origin deputy will be inaugurated on January 20, it was announced after the constitutional process was finally completed by a joint session of Congress. In the violence on Wednesday, four people died, including one woman who was shot by a police officer, amid protests and rioting on Capitol Hill that resulted in dozens of demonstrators being arrested, police said. Metropolitan Police Department Chief Robert Contee called the rioting by pro-Trump demonstrators "shameful" during a news conference. One woman was shot and killed by Capitol Police during the rioting. Police said three other people - a woman and two men - died after apparently suffering "separate medical emergencies" near the Capitol grounds. At least 14 DC Metropolitan Police officers were injured, including one who was hospitalised after suffering serious injuries when he was pulled into a crowd and assaulted, Contee said. Metro Police made 80 arrests related to unrest this week in downtown DC, including 68 arrests on Wednesday night, according to a mayor's spokeswoman. Most were for violations of the mayor's 6 p.m. curfew. In a statement released just after the certification was finalised, Trump acknowledged his election loss. He said that even though he disagrees with the outcome, "there will be an orderly transition on January 20th." "I have always said we would continue our ... fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!" The joint session of Congress, which is normally a ceremonial step, was halted for several hours when supporters of Trump breached the Capitol. Proceedings resumed and continued through the night after the building was cleeared. Vice President Pence brought the Senate session back into order and proceeded with the verification process. "The announcement of the state of the vote by the President of the Senate shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States, each for the term beginning on the 20th day of January 2021...," Pence said following the count of all of the state's Electoral College votes. Earlier on Wednesday, thousands of angry supporters of Trump swarmed over the US Capitol, forcing lawmakers to evacuate their chambers and delaying by several hours a normally routine procedure clearing the way for Biden and Harris to be sworn in as president and vice president. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced after hours of chaos around the white-columned edifice that police had secured the building. Today, a shameful assault was made on our democracy, Pelosi said. It was anointed at the highest level of government. It cannot, however, deter us from our responsibility to validate the election of Joe Biden, she said. Amidst the violence Biden said he was shocked and sad to see the US has "come to such a dark moment". "At this hour, our democracy is under unprecedented assault. Unlike anything we've seen in modern times. An assault on the citadel of liberty, the Capitol itself. An assault on the people's representatives and the Capitol Hill police, sworn to protect them. And the public servants who work at the heart of our Republic...," he said in an address to the nation. "Let me be very clear. The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America. Do not represent who we are. What we're seeing are a small number of extremists dedicated to lawlessness. This is not dissent. It's disorder. It's chaos. It borders on sedition. And it must end now," Biden said. "I call on President Trump to go on national television now to fulfill his oath and defend the Constitution by demanding an end to this siege," he said. Harris also demanded an end to the assault on the US Capitol by the supporters of Trump. I join President-elect Joe Biden in calling for the assault on the Capitol and our nation's public servants to end, and as he said, allow the work of democracy to go forward", Harris said in a tweet. Trump has refused to concede the election. He alleges that there was a massive voters' fraud and electoral malpractice. Election officials have denied the allegations. All four living former US presidents -- Barack Obama, George W Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter -- condemned the actions of the pro-Trump rioters who forced an evacuation of the House and Senate chambers of the US Capitol and underlined the need for a peaceful transfer of power. Meanwhile, in an unprecedented move, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said on Thursday that President Donald Trump's accounts on its popular social media platforms - Facebook and Instagram - would remain suspended until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20. Announcing the decision, Zuckerberg said the risk of allowing President Trump to continue to use the platform during this period is "simply too great." MBABANE In an effort to cope with the influx of patients seeking medical attention, the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital has now repurposed its private ward for COVID-19 patients. RFM is a facility under the Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions (ENHI). This follows that a large number of patients have flocked to the hospital after the recent closure of the Out-Patient Department (OPD) at the Mbabane Government Hospital on Sunday. The closure was as a result of nurses testing positive for the coronavirus. ENHI Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Mbuso Sihlongonyane confirmed that the hospital management had decided to repurpose the private ward so as to admit COVID-19 patients. Accommodated Previously, some COVID-19 patients were accommodated in the male medical ward. However, Dr Sihlongonyane said this ward proved to be quite small to accommodate the influx of patients. He said only 12 could be accommodated at a given time, hence they had to create more space. With this, he said there was a need for a bigger ward since the cases were surging on a daily basis; owing to the second wave of the pandemic. Due to the growing numbers of patients admitted to the hospital, the private ward has now been repurposed into a male medical ward. This is now a COVID-19 ward as it is bigger and we can admit more patients than before, he said. According to Sihlongonyane, the maximum number of patients that the ward can accommodate is 38. He further mentioned that as of yesterday, the ward was not full, but he anticipated it to be in no time, judging by the many COVID-19 patients coming through daily. When asked on how the hospital was coping with the high number of patients, Dr Sihlongonyane said it was a bit difficult at first because of limited space for patients. He said there were instances where they even had to transfer patients to the Mavuso Quarantine facility or the Luke Commission facility at Sidvokodvo. Improved He stated that since the patients had been moved into a bigger ward, the situation had improved. With regard to the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), he mentioned that this was not a unique challenge to RFM, but it was an issue that was faced countrywide as government was doing everything in its power to secure the PPE for frontline workers. He acknowledged the fact that there was a challenge with inadequate PPE for workers at the health centre. We try not to waste the PPE because if we give it out by the book, we may find ourselves not having anything to use tomorrow; but not in the sense that we then compromise the safety of the healthcare workers who are doing a splendid job in saving the many lives of emaSwati, he said. He, however, confirmed that the hospital was trying to source PPE so as to assist government in this regard. He stated that the hospital was in dire need of human resource to cater for the large number of patients using the facility. He, however, said due to the unprecedented situation the hospital was facing, management was currently looking at hiring new nurses who recently graduated. When sought for comment, Director of Health Services in the Ministry of Health Dr Vusi Magagula said the ENHI was an independent institution as it made its decisions which it deemed fit to benefit the daily upkeep of the institution. With the US Capitol in the background, authorities stand behind newly placed fencing (Evan Vucci/AP) The death of a police officer from injuries sustained as President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol is forcing hard questions about the defeated presidents remaining days in office and the ability of the Capitol Police to secure the area. The US Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sicknick was injured while physically engaging with protesters during the Wednesday riot. He is the fifth person to die because of the melee. During the melee, Mr Sicknick was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, two law enforcement officials said. The rampage that has shocked the world and left the country on edge forced the resignations of three top Capitol security officials over the failure to stop the breach. It led politicians to demand a review of operations and an FBI briefing over what they called a terrorist attack. And it is prompting a broader reckoning over Mr Trumps tenure in office and what comes next for a torn nation. Protesters were urged by Mr Trump during a rally near the White House earlier Wednesday to head to Capitol Hill, where politicians were scheduled to confirm Mr Bidens presidential victory. The mob swiftly broke through police barriers, smashed windows and paraded through the halls, sending politicians into hiding. This morning, @SenSchumer and I placed a call to Vice President Pence to urge him to invoke the 25th Amendment which would allow the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to remove the President. We have not yet heard back from the Vice President. Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 8, 2021 The Presidentas dangerous acts necessitate his immediate removal from office. We look forward to hearing from the Vice President as soon as possible and to receiving a positive answer as to whether he and the Cabinet will honor their oath to the Constitution and to Americans. Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 8, 2021 Read our full statement here: https://t.co/DNe7ZE3Gww Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 8, 2021 One protester, a white woman, was shot to death by Capitol Police, and there were dozens of arrests. Three other people died after medical emergencies related to the breach. Despite Mr Trumps repeated claims of voter fraud, election officials and his own former attorney general have said there were no problems on a scale that would change the outcome. All the states have certified their results as fair and accurate, by Republican and Democratic officials alike. Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican, said news of the police officers death was gut-wrenching. None of this should have happened, Mr Sasse said in a statement. Lord, have mercy. Mr Sicknick had returned to his division office after the incident and collapsed, the statement said. He was taken to a local hospital where he died on Thursday. Two House Democrats on committees overseeing the Capitol police budgets said those responsible need to be held to answer for the senseless death. Expand Close Violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump storms the US Capitol (FDuckett/AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump storms the US Capitol (FDuckett/AP) We must ensure that the mob who attacked the Peoples House and those who instigated them are held fully accountable, said Rosa DeLauro and Tim Ryan in a statement. Earlier Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said any remaining day with the president in power could be a horror show for America. Likewise, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the attack on the Capitol was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president, and Mr Trump must not stay in office one day longer. Ms Pelosi and Mr Schumer called for invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to force Mr Trump from office before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on January 20. Mr Schumer said he and Ms Pelosi tried to call Vice President Mike Pence early on Thursday to discuss that option but were unable to connect with him. At least one Republican politician joined the effort. The procedure allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) January 6, 2021 The vice president then becomes acting president. Ms Pelosi said if the presidents Cabinet does not swiftly act, the House may proceed to impeach Mr Trump. Mr Trump, who had repeatedly refused to concede the election, did so in a late Thursday video from the White House vowing a seamless transition of power. Two Republicans who led efforts to challenge the election results, Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, faced angry peers in the Senate. Mr Cruz defended his objection to the election results as the right thing to do as he tried unsuccessfully to have Congress launch an investigation. In the House, Republican leaders Representative Kevin McCarthy of California and Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana joined in the failed effort to overturn Mr Bidens win by objecting to the Electoral College results. With tensions high, the Capitol shuttered and politicians not scheduled to return until the inauguration, an uneasy feeling of stalemate settled over a main seat of national power as Mr Trump remained holed up at the White House. The Sunshine Kids is such an amazing organization, so we are very pleased to grant $50,000 to them for 2020. The Kindness Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Chicago real estate brokerage Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago, has announced a $50,000 grant to the Sunshine Kids Foundation for 2020. The Sunshine Kids is a national non-profit organization that offers programming and support to children undergoing cancer treatment. The funds were raised through hundreds of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago agent and employee contributions. Joe Stacy, Kindness Foundation chairman, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago senior vice president, and general sales manager, said, The Sunshine Kids is such an amazing organization, so we are very pleased to grant $50,000 to them for 2020. I am so touched by the generosity of our agents and staff who made this possible. On behalf of the Foundation, I thank our Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago agents and employees for their ongoing support of this very important organization that brings joy to children across the country who are going through a challenging time in their lives. The Sunshine Kids Foundation provides exciting, positive group activities to children with cancer, allowing them to have fun and celebrate life. The Kindness Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to support meaningful local initiatives that improve the communities the company serves and enhances the quality of life for fellow citizens. ABOUT BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HOMESERVICES CHICAGO Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chicago is a full-service real estate firm with more than 1,500 real estate professionals and staff in 24 offices serving customers throughout the Chicago metropolitan area, the North Shore, West Suburban communities, Southern Wisconsin, Northwest Indiana and Harbor Country, Michigan. Recognized as a Top Workplace in Chicago, their local roots are complemented by the extensive global reach of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, one of the nations leading real estate brands. Clients can experience all-inclusive homeownership services from their affiliated companies: Prosperity Home Mortgage, Fort Dearborn Title, and HomeServices Insurance. Visit http://www.BHHSChicago.com. Shane Lee was confident of getting an offer for his top choice of Commerce in UCD, although with a minimum of 520 points needed in CAO Round One in 2020, he had set himself a tall order. I thought I would just about get it. I was expecting around 525 points, says the former pupil of Tallaght Community School in Balrothery. Read More While he admits to being a little bit worried when the exams were cancelled, he also trusted his teachers to be fair. In the event, none of the teachers marks were altered in the calculated grades process and he came out with 554 points. He is one of 10 former pupils of the school to accept an offer in UCD last September. Its a double-digit progression rate and a doubling of the number who would typically transit to UCD. While the 19-year-old was on target for his chosen course, principal Aidan Lynch says there was definitely an uplift in results among the 120 Leaving Cert candidates in 2020, which appears to have influenced progression patterns. We had one 600-points student and average points went up by 60. In other years, the average would have been around 250, but in 2020 it was above 300. Read More I think the big thing is that some of the students got into a course that they may not have got into before. Undergraduate courses in higher education lead to qualifications at Levels 6/ 7 (higher certificate/ordinary degree) and Level 8 (honours degree). The Tallaght principal says that while, traditionally, they would have a relatively large number of students going into Level 6/7 courses they have been trying to get more into Level 8. The class of 2020 have advanced that ambition. While there has been much debate over how calculated grades, which replaced the traditional Leaving Cert, played out in the final results, Mr Lynch says: I know there was a lot of controversy, but our teachers did everything they were asked to do. The school, the first community school in the country, is in the centre of area of socio-economic disadvantage and puts a lot of effort into raising educational expectations among all its pupils. Students participate in a number of access programmes aimed at encouraging more school-leavers from under-represented groups into college, which has also led to greater variety in their choices, including a trend to cross the city to DCU. The federal government paid back all but $16.4 million to Manitoba residents and businesses that it had collected from the carbon tax in the first year it was in place. The federal government paid back all but $16.4 million to Manitoba residents and businesses that it had collected from the carbon tax in the first year it was in place. Ottawa received $193.3 million in carbon taxes in Manitoba from April 1, 2019, to March 31, 2020. Through various tax rebates and climate change programs, $176.9 million was returned to Manitobans. Environment and Climate Change Canada recently released a review of the tax in provinces and territories that refused to implement their own carbon tax. The report said $157 million was returned directly to residents through climate action incentive payments. The $16.4 million that was outstanding was rolled into the current fiscal year. Revenue from the carbon tax is generated from a fuel charge, collected through the Canada Revenue Agency, which reflects an increasing price on carbon that began at $20 per tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2019 and will rise by $10 per tonne until it hits $50 per tonne in 2022. A separate tax scheme applies to industrial emissions. Andrew Leach, an energy and environmental economist at the University of Alberta said Wednesday the people who expected definitive proof as to whether the policies were working, will be disappointed. It will take years of study to fully understand how carbon pricing affects emissions as well as household and business spending and incomes, he told the Free Press. "Theres so many moving parts to our economy and greenhouse gas emissions are tied to just about everything. So, thats why it takes so long to get good information," Leach said. As such, the first full review of the federal governments carbon tax is due in 2022, the report states. Repayments varied in each province. For Manitoba residents, repayment in the first fiscal year consisted of $170 for a single adult (or the first adult in a couple), with the second adult receiving $85. Each child under the age of 18 was entitled to a $42 rebate. Rural residents are also eligible for a 10 per cent supplement. There is a great deal of research that goes into laying the groundwork for such a program, Leach says, noting it is not surprising that revenue didnt align exactly with payouts in the first year, but he expects the calculations are likely to be adjusted. "As this annual report shows, all direct proceeds from pricing carbon pollution under the federal system are being returned to the jurisdiction in which they were collected. Returning proceeds from pricing carbon pollution helps with affordability, but it does not change the incentive to pollute less," wrote federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson in the introduction to the report. The Manitoba School Board Association received $5 million for energy retrofit projects and $1.8 million was allocated to programs for small and medium-sized enterprises in the province through the Climate Action Incentive Fund. An additional $9.3 million remains available but all programs that receive funding must be approved by the federal government. sarah.lawrynuik@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @SarahLawrynuik Friday's talks between the representatives of farmer unions and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Food Minister Piyush Goyal, and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash, will address issues to end the stalemate with the protesting farmers. The leaders of protesting farmers will meet government representatives in the national capital's Vigyan Bhavan today at 2 pm to hold the eighth round of talks over the newly-enacted farm laws that have sparked a furore across India. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry After the seventh round of talks failed to resolve the deadlock, both sides seem to have toughened their respective stands. Earlier on Thursday, the farmers took out a tractor rally along the Delhi borders to protest against the three farm laws. The rally was a rehearsal for a more massive rally they have planned for 26 January if their demands are not met. Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait had expressed satisfaction at the turnout of Thursday's tractor rally and said that they would also participate in the 26th January Republic Day Parade. "We will participate in the parade on 26th January. Tanks will be on one side and the tractors on the other. Today's rally was good. People will come to Delhi in large numbers on that day too to take part in the parade," Tikait told news agency ANI. The last meeting, on 4 January, failed to break the stalemate with farmers insisting on the repeal of the new laws introduced in September. Farmers' protest enters day 44 amid biting cold, rain The border crossing points to the national capital from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh continue to remain closed for traffic in view of the ongoing farmers' protest entering day 44 amid sporadic rain and biting cold in the city. The Delhi-Haryana borders at Singhu, Tikri, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli, and Mangesh, are closed. The Delhi Police has issued an advisory to commuters from Uttar Pradesh to take routes passing through Anand Vihar, DND, Loni DND, and Apsara as Chilla and Ghazipur border crossings are closed. The protests have been going on for over 40 days now and farmers have blocked the highways at Ghazipur, Singhu, Tikri and Chilla borders of Delhi. Tens of thousands of farmers are currently staying put at Delhi borders with Haryana and UP since 26 November in protest against the farm laws - 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. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Satyanand, the main accused in the Badaun gangrape and murder case, landed in police net, late on Thursday night, almost four days after a 50-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped and abandoned outside her home at a village in Badaun district. District magistrate, Kumar Prashant, confirmed that Satyanand, the local temple priest and the main accused was hiding in the house of one of his followers in a village from where he was picked up and arrested. Two of his aides had been arrested earlier. It may be recalled that the victim, a 50-year-old woman, had gone to the temple on Sunday evening. Later, on Sunday night, she was dropped outside her home in a critically injured condition by two men. The woman later succumbed to the injuries. According to sources, the victim was a regular visitor to the temple. Satyanand had come to the village around five years ago and remained mostly aloof. He lived in of the rooms in the temple complex. People who frequented the temple said Satyanand conducted rituals for them and also offered concoctions for aches and pains. Badaun SSP Sankalp Sharma said: "The two men arrested have said that they found the woman in an injured state and wanted to help her." The woman's family rejected the arrested duo's assertion. Her son-in-law said, "If they wanted to help, they could have woken up people in the village. But their intention was to leave her dead. She was a God-fearing lady; we cannot imagine something like this would happen to her in a temple." Meanwhile, National Commission for Women member Chandramukhi Devi, who visited the village on Thursday, has stirred a hornet's nest by saying that the incident would not have happened had the woman not stepped out alone in the evening. "This is a crime that has shamed humanity, but I would also like to say that women should not step out alone at odd hours. I feel had the woman not stepped out in the evening, or one of her children had accompanied her, the incident would not have happened," she said. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said, "I don't know how and why the member has said this but women have the right move on their will whenever and wherever they want to." Bengali actress and Trinamool Congress MP Nusrat Jahan has reacted to reports swirling around that her marriage with Nikhil Jain is going through a rough patch. The two tied the knot in June 2019. However, rumours are abuzz that Nusrat is getting closer to her SOS Kolkata co-star Yash Dasgupta and they were also on a trip to Rajasthan for New Year's. Both Nusrat Jahan and Yash have now reacted to these rumours. The affairs of my private life are not for the public. People have always put me on trial. But this time, I am not going to comment. People can only judge me for my work as an actor and nothing else. Be it good, bad or ugly, it is my personal life and I am not going to share it with anyone, a website quoted Nusrat as saying. Yash also reacted to rumours of him getting closer to Nusrat. He said that he has no idea about her personal life with husband Nikhil and did not say anything about going to Rajasthan with her. "I go on road trips every year and this time I went to Rajasthan. Anyone can make a trip there, right? And as far as Nusrats marriage is concerned, I have no clue about her personal problems. Please ask the concerned person about it." Nusrat and Nikhil tied the knot in June 19, 2019 after dating for some time. The actress got married in an intimate ceremony in Turkey in the presence of close friends and family members. The couple later hosted their wedding reception in Kolkata, which was attended by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the whos who of Tollywood industry, reported a website. By William Schomberg and Sarah Young LONDON (Reuters) - People entering England and Scotland will have to show a negative COVID-19 test result starting next week as authorities try to ramp up protection against new, more infectious strains of the coronavirus from other countries. Passengers arriving by boat, plane or train will have to take a test a maximum of 72 hours before departure, mirroring measures taken last year by other countries around the world. "We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of COVID-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions," Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said. He said there were concerns that vaccines might not work properly against the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa, echoing recent comments from other government officials. On Thursday, Britain said it would extend a ban on travellers entering England from South Africa to include other southern African countries, and non-essential travel in and out of the United Kingdom is restricted. Prime Minister Boris Johnson ordered a new lockdown for England this week after a surge in cases linked to another variant of the virus believed to have originated in the country. Scotland, which like the rest of the United Kingdom has tight COVID-19 restrictions in place, said it too would require travellers to show negative tests and the rule is also expected to be applied by Wales and Northern Ireland. Passengers from many countries are currently required to self-isolate for 10 days, or five if they pay for a private test and test negative. Those requirements will remain in place after the new pre-departure testing rule comes into effect. Britain's airlines industry recognised the need to introduce pre-departure testing but said it should be only a short-term, emergency measure. "Once the roll-out of the vaccine accelerates, the focus must be on returning travel to normal as quickly as possible in order to support the UK's economic recovery," said Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines UK, an industry group. Story continues "What we'd like to see is that testing before you take off becomes the standard as an alternative to quarantine," said John Holland-Kaye, chief executive of Britain's biggest airport Heathrow. Travel to and from Britain has been almost wiped out by COVID-19 and the quarantine requirements, leaving many airlines and airports fighting for survival. Exemptions to the new testing requirement rule in England would be offered to hauliers, children under 11, crews and people travelling from countries where tests are not available. Passengers will be subject to a fine of 500 pounds ($678.30) if they fail to comply with the new regulations. ($1 = 0.7371 pounds) (Writing by William Schomberg; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Catherine Evans) In a bid to further enhance the relations with India and engagement in North-East region, the Embassy of Israel in India on January 8 has appointed Joyshree Das Verma as honorary consul in the region. She will be based in Assam wit jurisdiction over states including Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim. While announcing the new appointment, Ambassador of Israel in India Dr. Ron Malka noted that the relations between India and Israel have been elevating rapidly. Verma as the honorary consul will take the bilateral ties forward. Malka said, The relations between our two countries are growing and expanding rapidly. We are now going to take it forward and increase our presence in North-East India. I am proud to present the credentials of Israeli honorary consul to Mrs. Joyshree Das Verma, who will work with us to further strengthen our growing partnership in this region. Read - Israel Become World's Leading Vaccinator Per Capita Read - India, Israel Successfully Test Medium-Range Surface-to-Air Missile Defence System Verma says she is immensely honoured As the Israeli Embassy works on identifying all possible areas where more work is needed for collaboration, Verma expressed that she is immensely honoured to have been appointed as the honorary consul. According to her, it is an all-encompassing role and said she is excited to take the responsibility and leverage Israels technology along with expertise in a range of areas. She also vowed to take actions that are in the best interests of Assam as well as other North-Eastern states on India. I am immensely honoured and humbled to represent Israel as Honorary Consul for the North-Eastern states. This all-encompassing role excites me greatly as there are vast possibilities & opportunities to leverage Israels technology and expertise in various areas. I am pledged to work in the best interests of Assam and all the North Eastern States, said Joyshree Das Verma. In the official statement, the Israel Embassy in India said that it is aiming at knowing the areas of cooperation that can be enhanced with Israels expertise. Most recently, in November 2020, Malka had even visited Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura where he held meetings with the Chief Ministers discussed collaboration on a range of subjects including agriculture, water management, tourism, horticulture, fisheries and dairy. Read - UN Adopts $3.2 Billion Budget Over US And Israel Objections Read - Israel Excluding Palestinians Colonies From COVID-19 Vaccine Programme: Report Kangana Ranaut expressed her displeasure about having to mark attendance with the police and not being allowed to speak about the sedition case that has been filed against her. She took to Twitter to share a video and captioned it, Why am I being mentally, emotionally and now physically tortured? I need answers from this nation... I stood for you, it's time you stand for me ...Jai Hind. Why am I being mentally, emotionally and now physically tortured? I need answers from this nation.... I stood for you its time you stand for me ...Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/qqpojZWfCx Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 8, 2021 Since I have spoken up in the countrys favour, the way I have been tortured and harassed, the whole country is seeing it. My house was illegally destroyed. I am being slapped with innumerable cases every day for speaking in favour of farmers. Someone has filed a case against me even for laughing. My sister Rangoli (Chandel) had spoken about the harassment that doctors had to face at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. A case was filed against her and my name was also added to it. I wasnt even on Twitter at that time, she said in the video. The honourable Chief Justice Ji rejected the case saying that it was baseless. I was told that I will have to go to the police station to mark attendance. No one is telling me what this attendance is for. I have also been told that I cannot speak about these harassments to anyone, said the actor Kangana then went on to question the Supreme Court of India if we are living in the medieval ages. So I wish to ask the honourable Supreme Court, is this the medieval age where women are burnt alive? They cant say anything to anyone. The whole world can see this torture. Those watching the spectacle, I wish to tell them that the tears of blood that were shed in thousands of years of slavery, you will have to shed them again if nationalist voices are silenced. Jai Hind, she concluded. What do you have to say about this? Let us know in the comments section below. New York, Jan 8 : The US state of New York has clarified that frontline healthcare workers should be the priority group, classified as "1A" in its distribution plan for the COVID-19 vaccination, according to an official statement. "The rules of the Covid vaccine distribution have been clear for many weeks and agreed to by virtually all credible federal and state leaders. The first priority is '1A', healthcare workers who are on the front lines," Xinhua news agency quoted the state government's Communications Director Peter Ajemian as saying in the statement issued on Thursday. "With the increasing hospitalisation rates, the new UK strain spread and hospital staff shortages, keeping hospitals functioning is essential to avoid another shutdown," he added. New York City has 917,000 eligible healthcare workers in the '1A' and has only administered 144,000 vaccines. Many more healthcare workers are anxiously awaiting the vaccine. The city has received 304,000 dosages beginning in December 2020 through last week and administered less than 50 per cent, according to the statement. "We urge New York City and other local governments to get needles in the arms of the healthcare workers to avoid our frontline heroes from getting sick and our hospitals from collapsing due to increasing staff shortages," said Ajemian. Once those healthcare workers who want to accept a vaccine are afforded the opportunity, vaccinations go to the '1B' category which includes essential workers including police, firefighters and 75-plus year-old New Yorkers who have the highest death rate from Covid-19, according to the statement. The '1B' category includes approximately 3 million people across New York and the state will utilise a variety of non-governmental agencies to administer those vaccines including pharmacies, private doctor networks, and community groups serving underserved communities, it said. On Thursday, Governor Andrew Cuomo tweeted: "NY hospitals went from averaging 10K doses/day to 30k/day earlier this week. Yesterday they administered 50k doses. "Good to see, but we must accelerate this even more to vaccinate all our health care heroes. We will rapidly ramp up vaccination sites as we move forward." Earlier in the day, he had announced that total Covid-19 hospitalisations were 8,548 on Wednesday in the state, down from 8,665 on Tuesday; of the 238,550 tests reported on Wednesday in the state, 17,636 were positive, or 7.39 per cent of the total, down from 8.41 per cent a day earlier. "The holiday Covid hangover is here which is problematic enough, but with the introduction of the UK strain and the federal government's refusal to help contain it with common-sense testing requirements for international travellers, our work has become that much more complicated," he was quoted as saying in an official release. Cuomo once warned that a post-holiday hike of the coronavirus hospitalisations was expected, because people would usually travel and gather during this time, which could fuel the spread of the virus. "Despite this new challenge, New York is staying tough, and working with the health care community to ensure hospitals do not become overwhelmed. With those efforts ongoing, it's as important as ever that we collectively stay smart and commit ourselves to taking the steps necessary for stopping the spread." Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Microsoft Teams finally allows users to enjoy more interactive video meetings, thanks to its new dynamic view! This innovation will really be helpful today since the global COVID-19 pandemic is still happening across the world. Many people still prefer staying at home, especially since there are new novel coronavirus strains that are already spreading in many countries. Microsoft Teams' new Dynamic View will automatically improve the shared content's visibility during an online event or meeting. "Dynamic view automatically optimizes shared content and video participants in Teams meetings," said the company via TechRadar. "New controls let you personalize the view to suit your preferences and needs, such as the ability to show shared content and specific participants side-by-side," it added. Microsoft Teams' new Dynamic View The popular video platform's new feature offers users more control over share content. Microsoft Teams can now also optimize the meeting screen. This means that the video platform can now provide the best view of slides and other presentation materials. Right now, Microsoft Teams have limited features. Also Read: Microsoft Taps AMD For Help with Xbox Series X GPU and CPU Production The platform's users can only use a small frame containing the participants and the main speaker during sharing content. As of the moment, the new Dynamic View is the latest upgrade that Microsoft Teams received. This just shows that the Microsoft developer team not only focuses on fixing issues and other bugs but they are also improving the experience of the company's consumers. Microsoft Teams' custom layout According to ZDNet's latest report, Microsoft Teams will also release another exciting new feature. The custom layouts were previously teased in September 2020. This new feature was unveiled together with new shared scenes for Together Mode, a feature that can segment the faces of meeting participants and plonk them in a shared virtual room. This feature can do this since it uses artificial intelligence. It can divide the participants that are in a coffee shop, conference room, or an auditorium. For more news updates about Microsoft and its other popular services and products, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Microsoft Chatbot Patent Aims to Bring the Dead Back to Life via Smartphone-Black Mirror? This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Puerto Vallarta on CNN's List of 21 Places To Go in 2021 Since the desire to travel to incredible places persists, CNN has launched its list of 21 Places To Go in 2021, among which Mexico and its beach destinations stand out, with mention, of course, of Puerto Vallarta. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - After almost a year of sequestering due to the pandemic, the new year raises hopes of breaking out of confinement and traveling for pleasure. In this context, CNN has launched its list of 21 Places To Go in 2021, among which Mexico and its beach destinations stand out, with mention, of course, of Puerto Vallarta. CNN emphasizes that the situation will not last forever, for some, an escape can be in a matter of weeks, for others, it is something expected for the middle of the year or at least for the following winter, but the desire to travel to incredible places persists. In an era where tourism is part of the global parlance, CNN claims it continues to monitor the horizon, expectations for the gradual reopening of world destinations, and steps to fulfill travel dreams. The list includes destinations around the world that arouse travel intentions on the five continents, due to their great natural attractions, culture, activities and of course, the bio security they offer. The editors clarify that they are not "hidden gems," but destinations to "play it safe" and spend a fun vacation for the whole family. Last year, even with the pandemic, Puerto Vallarta was included in several lists as one of the most desired destinations by travelers from North America and Mexico. The reopening of the world's destinations, once the strictest confinement had passed, was highly anticipated, and this port city remained present in the minds of travelers for its recognized qualities. "Puerto Vallarta preserves in optimal condition all its appreciated qualities, its natural attractions, the beautiful MalecAn promenade, its historic center, its clean beaches, the gastronomy and the multiple activities that can be carried out outdoors, to which is added the responsibility of hoteliers and tourism sector, which are respecting all bio safety protocols, so that when visitors - national and international - decide to travel, we are ready to receive them," commented the interim director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Promotion and Advertising Trust, Luis VillaseAor. THE 21 OF 2021 The 21 destinations to visit this year according to the CNN list in strict alphabetical order are: Antarctica, Canada, Disney Parks, Dubai, Egypt, Spain, France, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, New Zealand, New York, United Kingdom, Singapore, Thailand and Uruguay. The full article can be read at Puerto Vallarta Tourism Trust press release translated and edited for BanderasNews.com. - After almost a year of sequestering due to the pandemic, the new year raises hopes of breaking out of confinement and traveling for pleasure. In this context, CNN has launched its list of 21 Places To Go in 2021, among which Mexico and its beach destinations stand out, with mention, of course, of Puerto Vallarta.CNN emphasizes that the situation will not last forever, for some, an escape can be in a matter of weeks, for others, it is something expected for the middle of the year or at least for the following winter, but the desire to travel to incredible places persists.In an era where tourism is part of the global parlance, CNN claims it continues to monitor the horizon, expectations for the gradual reopening of world destinations, and steps to fulfill travel dreams.The list includes destinations around the world that arouse travel intentions on the five continents, due to their great natural attractions, culture, activities and of course, the bio security they offer. The editors clarify that they are not "hidden gems," but destinations to "play it safe" and spend a fun vacation for the whole family.Last year, even with the pandemic, Puerto Vallarta was included in several lists as one of the most desired destinations by travelers from North America and Mexico. The reopening of the world's destinations, once the strictest confinement had passed, was highly anticipated, and this port city remained present in the minds of travelers for its recognized qualities."Puerto Vallarta preserves in optimal condition all its appreciated qualities, its natural attractions, the beautiful MalecAn promenade, its historic center, its clean beaches, the gastronomy and the multiple activities that can be carried out outdoors, to which is added the responsibility of hoteliers and tourism sector, which are respecting all bio safety protocols, so that when visitors - national and international - decide to travel, we are ready to receive them," commented the interim director of the Puerto Vallarta Tourism Promotion and Advertising Trust, Luis VillaseAor.The 21 destinations to visit this year according to the CNN list in strict alphabetical order are: Antarctica, Canada, Disney Parks, Dubai, Egypt, Spain, France, Ghana, Greece, Grenada, Hawaii, Italy, Japan, Maldives, Mexico, New Zealand, New York, United Kingdom, Singapore, Thailand and Uruguay.The full article can be read at CNN.com. Syracuse, NY A Syracuse resident appears on persons of interest posters circulated by law enforcement following the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in Washington D.C. The face of Albert Ciarpelli, 65, is included in a surveillance photo released Thursday by the FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department in the nations capital. SEEKING INFORMATION: VIOLENCE AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL reads the FBI poster, distributed on Twitter and other public settings. Ciarpellis picture is one of dozens released by federal agents. Legal experts say prosecutors will consider a range of charges from trespassing to vandalism to sedition, according to the Washington Post. The photos of Ciarpelli released by police and taken by news photographers do not show him destroying property or committing any acts of violence. Ciarpelli is a longtime Central New York resident who owns real estate in the Syracuse area, according to public records. His dormant Twitter account features references to President Trump and a Make America Great Again hat. Reached on the phone Friday, Ciarpelli was asked about his presence at the Capitol protests. Yes, yes, he replied. Can you hold on? The line went dead. About 30 seconds later, his lawyer, William Sullivan, called the Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard reporter back. Sullivan confirmed that Ciarpelli was at the protest, but provided no specifics and maintained that his client had done nothing illegal. As far as I know, there is no warrant for him, Sullivan told Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard. He attended a rally. Sullivan said he had no further comment, adding he needed to talk to his client. At the lawyers request, Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard sent him two pictures of Ciarpelli, taken inside the Capitol. Both photos appear to depict different angles of Ciarpelli and others, in the hallway near the Senate chamber. Protesters, including Syracuse resident Albert Ciarpelli (right-middle, gray hair, pointing a finger) walk as U.S. Capitol Police officers watch in a hallway near the Senate chamber at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, near the Ohio Clock. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)AP The Associated Press photo shows Ciarpelli pointing and speaking to Capitol security. The second photo, released by the FBI and police (at top), shows Ciarpelli head-on, apparently engaged in the same interaction. The law enforcement photo was released to the public Thursday, by the FBI on a Seeking Information poster. An FBI wanted poster includes an image of Central New York resident Albert Ciarpelli (circled) as one of the people wanted following the Jan. 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol.FBI He was also included in a slideshow titled, Persons of Interest in Unrest-Related Offenses on January 6, 2021. (Slide number 10. Next to the image, D.C. police wrote: Federal Charges Pending due to Insurrection at the US Capitol January 6, 2021. Approximately 1:30 pm U.S Capitol Grounds 100 block of First Street, NW. After receiving copies of the photos, Sullivan confirmed again that he had no comment. Syracuse resident Albert Ciarpelli (far left, with phone) during the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Do you know any Central New Yorkers who were inside the Capitol on Wednesday? Contact staff writer Douglass Dowty at ddowty@syracuse.com or 315-470-6070. Here are the photos by the FBI and the Metropolitan Police Department. The Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday commissioned a new isolation centre for the management of coronavirus infection in the state. This is following the resurgence of coronavirus in Nigeria. Lagos is still the hub of the infection. The isolation centre, which is in Victoria Island part of the state, is a purpose-built medical facility equipped with ICU capacities in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. Commissioning Speaking at the commissioning of the isolation centre, Mr Sanwo-Olu said it will serve as an emergency isolation centre in response to COVID-19. The governor assured Lagosians that his administration will not backtrack on public health deliverables. The Armoured Shield Isolation Centre was set up by Reddington Group in Lagos to assist the state government in the fight against COVID-19. The Armoured Shield Medical Complex and its Command structure is situated in four different locations across Lagos with an Incident Command Office in Victoria Island. It is the only private hospital group in Lagos with in-house facility for PCR testing, ambulance response, CT scan, isolation care, hospital care with Level 3 ICU capacity for COVID-19 treatment. Second wave The Lagos government in December 2020 announced that the state is in the second wave of the coronavirus infection as positive cases recorded in the state were on the rise. To forestall the spread of COVID-19, which is regarded more transmissible and deadlier than the first wave, Lagos State issued fresh directives, including the closure of schools, clubs and event centres. The commissioning of the new centre is part of the strategies by the state government in combating the pandemic. The isolation centre is the first to be commissioned in the second wave, as several isolation centres were commissioned during the first wave. We are going through the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic and we cannot stop the advocacy. We cannot stop talking about it. Some people thought coronavirus is for some set or type of people; it know no race, no religion, no economic status. For us as a government we have continued to heighten and raise the level of our preparedness. Over the last four, five months, we have been building oxygen centres; we have about 10 of them at our secondary facilities and we have commissioned about five of them now, the governor said. Mr Sanwo-Olu also commended Reddington Group for putting up the Armoured Shield Isolation Centre, saying the good gesture is a plus for public and private sector collaboration. This isolation centre is important for us as a government because it is a clear demonstration of power of collaboration between the public and private sector and ensuring that we cannot do it all by ourselves. And when public issues arose and private sector raises up to such occasion, the least we can do is to encourage them, he said. The governor added that the state has recorded thousands of cases of COVID-19 infection over the last 10 months and had strategies to curtail the spread of the virus. Speaking at the commissioning, the Chairman of Reddington Hospital Group, Yomi Onabowale, commended the governor in the handling of the first wave and expressed confidence in his battle against the second wave. ADVERTISEMENT I want to commend Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Incident Commander for Lagos State. He has done extremely well in leadership, especially in Lagos State in battling the first pandemic and in ensuring that Lagos was safe. And I have no doubt that he would rise again to meet this current challenge, he said. MDARD Announces Specialty Crop Grant Opportunity For Immediate Release: January 7, 2021 Media Contact: Jessy Sielski, 517-331-1151 Program Contact: Heather Throne, 517-712-0841 LANSING, MI - The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced a request for proposals through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service. The program is designed to enhance the competitiveness of Michigans specialty crops, which are defined as "fruits and vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops (including floriculture). The grants have a maximum award of $100,000 for research proposals and $125,000 for marketing, training, and education proposals designed to enhance the competitiveness of the states specialty crops, including but not limited to the following: promotion; marketing; research; nutrition; trade enhancement; food safety; food security; plant health programs; education; increased knowledge and consumption; increased innovation; improved efficiency and reduced costs of distribution systems; environmental concerns and conservation; product development; good agricultural practices; good handling practices; and good manufacturing practices. Funding priority will be given to projects with a focus on Market Enhancement (Market Expansion and Access and Farm to Institution); Research (Health; Pest Management; Farm Sustainability); and Training and Education (Food Safety; Environmental Sustainability; Workforce/Labor). Eligible applicants include non-profit organizations; local, state, and federal government entities; and for-profit organizations. The organizations must be legal entities recognized by the IRS, and applicants must reside and/or conduct their business in Michigan. Proposals should demonstrate how the project will potentially produce measurable impacts for the specialty crop industry as a whole, and not benefit only a specific product or a single organization, institution, or individual. Grant proposals must be emailed to MDARD at MDA-grants@michigan.gov by 3:00 p.m. on February 25, 2021. For program information, application form, and submission criteria, visit Michigan.gov/MDARDGrants. ### Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Join us on LinkedIn Follow us on Instagram | Subscribe to our Youtube Channel Soon, you will be able to buy a standard home insurance cover from any general insurance company, except health insurers, in India. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has issued guidelines on the standard home insurance policy Bharat Griha Raksha that will be available from April 1, 2021. In 2020, the insurance regulator had framed standard clauses for term insurance, health, COVID-19, personal accident, travel and vector-borne diseases covers. A home insurance policy with uniform clauses is the latest in this list. Like in the case of other standardised covers, the premium will be decided by insurers, but clarity is awaited on whether zone and geography-based pricing will be allowed. A cover for your dwelling unit The policy will pay for damages to your house structure due to natural and man-made perils. These include fire, storm, cyclone, typhoon, tsunami, flood and even thefts, riots, strikes and acts of terrorism. What about a gas cylinder blast/short circuit caused by negligence, etc.? These accidents are often seen happening in small Mumbai homes. Now, they are not specifically mentioned in the policy wordings, but could be covered under explosion or implosion clauses. Full clarity is still awaited on policy wordings and the implied coverage. The sum insured of your house will depend on your propertys carpet area and prevailing cost of construction as on the policy commencement date. You can choose between policy tenures of one to 10 years. General contents for instance, television set, refrigerator or furniture in your house will also be covered. Unlike some home insurance plans in the market, you need not necessarily declare details of the contents. These will covered to the extent of 20 percent of the sum insured for the house structure, up to a maximum of Rs 10 lakh. However, if you wish to buy higher coverage for the contents in your house, you will have to share detailed information about the value of these contents. Insurers have also been asked to offer two optional covers insurance for valuable contents (such as jewellery and curios) and personal accident plan (for policyholders and their spouses). In case of the policyholder or the spouses death due to one of the specified perils that caused damages to your house, a compensation of Rs 5 lakh per person will be paid out. Claim settlement up to sum insured The IRDAI has also made it clear that the policy will have to give a complete waiver of underinsurance. Put simply, if the sum insured chosen by you is lower than the actual value of the property or contents, it will be termed underinsurance. In such cases, many products in the market today settle the claim proportionately. For example, under such policies, if your propertys value is Rs 2 lakh, but your sum insured is Rs 1 lakh, your claim amount will be reduced proportionately by 50 percent. So, if your claim is, say Rs 70,000, you will be entitled to only Rs 35,000. However, since the standard product comes with an underinsurance waiver, here, you will get Rs 70,000. If the sum insured declared by a policyholder is less than what ought to have been declared for the property in question, the policyholders claim will not be settled proportionately, but up to the sum insured that is declared, the IRDAIs official communication notes. This is a useful clause as it limits policyholders potential losses in case their sum insured is lower than their propertys valuation. Instead of being compensated proportionally, they will get the claim amount up to the sum insured, says Abhishek Bondia, Co-founder, Securenow.in Moneycontrols Take The year 2020 has been the year of insurance awareness, with many flocking to buy life and health insurance policies. Travel and COVID-19-specific policies, too, have seen an increase in demand. However, the same is not the case with home insurance protecting one of the most precious, and expensive, assets is not high on the priority list for many. Besides lack of awareness, complex terms and conditions, too, were their undoing. Regular home insurance policies came with multiple sections, terms, conditions and exclusions that sometimes ended up confusing customers. This is one of the primary reasons why home insurance is not popular. In the case of a standardised cover, it is a blanket cover for structure and contents. Customers do not have to struggle to arrive at the right valuation while availing the insurance cover, says Saroj Satapathy, Chief Operating Officer, JB Boda Insurance and Reinsurance Brokers. While lay policyholders could still find it difficult to decipher standard products clauses, the fact that the terms are set by the insurance regulator will offer comfort. Given that you invest your lifetimes savings into buying a house, there is every reason to insure it and a standard product can be a good start. Amid the rising cases of coronavirus, Finland has extended its restrictions on entry from various countries, including Russia, until February 9. Finlands interior ministry on January 7 said that as COVID-19 cases are growing globally, the county has decided to extend entry restrictions to prevent the spread further. Back in December, the Finnish government extended to January 12 its restrictions on entry from countries with an incidence of more than 25 COVID-19 cases per 100,000 people in 14 days. Now, the ministry said, On January 7, the government decided that the entry restrictions will be extended to February 9, 2021. The coronavirus pandemic is still growing globally and the number of infections is increasing in most countries faster than in Finland, added that the exception for the neighbouring European Economic Area countries is still in force. Finland has confirmed over 37,500 cases of the deadly virus, including 576 fatalities. Meanwhile, Finland has begun vaccinations after Europe started its mass immunisation campaign. So far, COVID-19 vaccines have been administered to healthcare workers in Finland's five largest hospital districts of Helsinki, Turku, Tampere, Kuopio and Oulu. READ: WHO: UK Virus Variant Raises Alarm For Healthcare READ: France Seeks Strategy Change To Reduce Troops In West Africa European Commission approves Moderna vaccine While earlier the European Commission granted emergency use authorisation to Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, the officials on Thursday also approved US-based pharmaceutical company Modernas Vaccine. EMA said that a "very large clinical" trial showed Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine to be 94.1 per cent effective. The EU agency said that the trial included 30,000 people between 18 to 94 years of age. The trial proved the vaccine is safe and effective and also showed the efficacy of 90.9% in people with chronic lung disease, heart disease, obesity, liver disease, diabetes, or HIV infection. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is administered in two doses, 28 days apart. Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Europe on January 7 said that more efforts are required to deal with the alarming situation of COVID-19 pandemic with a drastic increase of new infections linked to the recently discovered variant of the novel coronavirus. While speaking at a press conference, WHO Europes regional director Hans Kluge called the present situation a tipping point in the course of the pandemic that has continued to tighten its grip even after more than a year it first originated in China. Europe is currently not only dealing with a surge in cases but also new strains of virus causing COVID-19 more easily. (With inputs from ANI) (Image: AP) READ: WHO Europe Calls For Intense Measures To Contain COVID-19 Pandemic In Region READ: COVID-19: CureVac, Bayer Ink Agreement To Produce 'hundreds Of Doses' Of Vaccine The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention By Simon Baron-Cohen Basic. 252 pp. $28 - - - Sometimes you really want to like a book. The attraction starts with a well-designed cover that catches your eye (in this case, one reminiscent of "Thinking Fast and Slow" by Daniel Kahneman or virtually any Malcolm Gladwell book) and the tease of a groundbreaking idea. Add the promise of a silver lining for a disadvantaged group, and it should be a feel-good read. Unfortunately, "The Pattern Seekers: How Autism Drives Human Invention" by Cambridge University professor Simon Baron-Cohen never really lives up to its thought-provoking title. Despite the best of intentions, it too often feels half-baked, like a pastiche of ideas from other books. The book opens with a description of two different boys, each identified by one name only. Both have delayed speech and odd tics that cause their mothers and teachers to worry. But they have unique skills, too - a passion for experimenting and classification and the ability to observe small differences. You probably won't be surprised to find out that one of them was a famously prolific inventor, while the other struggles with autism. After this introduction, you might be expecting to learn more about the relationship between autism and invention, but no. The text abruptly pivots to lay out a sort of grand unified theory of human innovation, and it is pretty intricate. The traditional scientific hypothesis you learned back in high school can be characterized by its "if-then" structure: If you drop a ball, then it falls to the floor. Baron-Cohen proposes an innovation that he feels is magic: the addition of the word "and," so it becomes "if-and-then." Seriously. While he admits that the words may seem simple, he sees this update as representing how humans introduce variables into a hypothesis to look for patterns (if you put a tomato seed in the soil and the soil is moist, then a tomato plant will grow). He brands his "if-and-then" proposition the "Systemizing Mechanism" and confidently declares that this expansion in thinking is what allows humans to invent. It would be a much easier case to make if it stayed narrowly focused on the autistic traits found in successful inventors, but Baron-Cohen swings for the scientific fences. He identifies the systematizing mechanism as being responsible for an enormous array of developments, including Stonehenge, the discovery of penicillin and more than 300 skateboard moves. Having made these and more wide-ranging claims, he sets out to ground them in a six-point evolutionary hypothesis, identifying humans alone, and more specifically certain types of human brains, as holding the key to systematizing. The following chapters assume a number of big, unwieldy and often quite intriguing ideas in an attempt to connect the dots and prove this thesis. There are five types of brains, which differ according to their levels of empathy (someone who feels your pain) and systemization (someone who programs your computer). According to Baron-Cohen's definition, it's really an invention only if a finding is refined - so you can't just stumble upon something new, you have to improve on it. Neanderthals couldn't invent, and neither can animals (although after reading about chimps, octopuses and crows, you may decide the jury is still out). Always bold, Baron-Cohen is not afraid to be provocative (a trait he shares with his cousin, the comedian Sacha Baron Cohen). He unnerves the president of MIT with a proposal to study the rate of autism in the children of alumni. He matter-of-factly states that there are structural differences between male and female brains, a position all but guaranteed to start an academic food fight. The problem is, he's bitten off so much, there simply isn't enough space to fully flesh out all of his arguments, and this is where things start to fray. Baron-Cohen frequently seems to lose patience with all the explaining that is required and resorts to sweeping statements about what he believes, bolstered more by repetition than explanation. For example, he makes reference to 70,000 years ago more than 30 times in a text that is only 186 pages long. But it isn't until halfway through the book (and after a dozen usages) that he reveals just why he finds this time frame so meaningful. Apparently, according to archaeologists, 70,000 to 100,000 years ago is when humans went through a toolmaking revolution. It is in the artifacts from this period, such as beads and bows-and-arrows, that he detects his first evidence for "if-and-then" thinking. Rather than being a passive author, Baron-Cohen is very much a presence in his book, right there in the driver's seat and talking directly to you. He lectures and occasionally hectors, and expects you to agree with him because he is the authority. Merely 40 pages into the book he states, "I hope you agree that the evolution of the Systemizing Mechanism has been remarkable in causing what I and others call the cognitive revolution, a step change in our understanding of the world and enabling our capacity to invent." He's not shy. But after a while, Baron-Cohen's insistence on being the arbiter of such a wide array of knowledge becomes trying. There's too much tell, not enough show. "The Pattern Seekers" is its most engaging, and moving, when it allows the few autistic individuals it profiles to speak for themselves. When Jonah, a 32-year-old living with his parents, describes his despair at not being able to find a job or make friends, and his subsequent suicidal thoughts, it is heartbreaking. Baron-Cohen has made his life's work advocating for his autism patients, and he asks the world in abstract, and you the reader directly, to give them a chance. In this sense, his promotion of the idea that the systemization found in autistic brains is the driver of inventiveness can be seen as a forceful argument for why we should value those with autism. The last chapter of the book is filled with excellent practical suggestions for how to nurture the inventors of the future and integrate autistic people into society. Clearly Baron-Cohen is back in his wheelhouse, and it shows. The examples are intriguing, such as the study confirming that autistic security employees are better at identifying suspicious items in luggage X-rays. Even the writing is better - where previously it plodded along, now it kicks into gear and the text is clean, fluid and easy to read. His advice is so thoroughly pragmatic and useful that it almost justifies buying the book for these 16 pages alone. In the end, the systemizing mechanism may in fact drive human invention, but it's hard to be convinced just yet. Too many ideas are underdeveloped or left hanging, and the whole if-and-then explanation seems shoehorned into examples that don't really work. Baron-Cohen wrote the book in a time of unimaginable stress (his wife died), which may explain its rough edges. But even with these flaws, it is an ambitious work, and a thesis worth refining and continuing to explore. - - - Robb worked for 15 years for the Teaching Company and is a co-author with Rebecca Boggs Roberts of the young-adult book "The Suffragist Playbook: Your Guide to Changing the World." Vatican ambassador to the United States Carlo Maria Vigano (L) and Vincenzo Paglia (R) listen to Pope Francis speaking at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sept. 26, 2015. (Vincenzo Pinto/AFP via Getty Images) Catholic Church Is Infiltrated by Globalists: Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano There is a group of conspirators who have worked and still work in the heart of the church for the interests of the globalist elite, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano told War Room. He called this group the deep church and explained that their goal is to demolish the papacy and secure power. Most of them are identifiable, but the most dangerous are those who do not expose themselves, those whom the newspaper never mentions, Vigano explained in an interview (pdf) with Steve Bannon, host of War Room. The deep church has also cooperated with the deep state in America and their contacts were facilitated in the 1990s by a former American cardinal carrying out political missions in China on behalf of the U.S. administration, said Vigano, a former Vatican ambassador to the United States. The deep state is a term some use to reflect the belief that there are influential people behind the scenes controlling government policy. Vigano believes that the agreement on the appointment of bishops in China between the Vatican and the Chinese regime that, in his words, deprived Chinese Catholics of the indefectible defense that the Papacy had always been for them, is an act of complicity of the deep church with the Chinese communist regime allied to the global deep state. Up until the papacy of Benedict XVI, the papacy had not made any agreements with the Beijing dictatorship, and the Roman Pontiff retained the exclusive right to appoint bishops and govern dioceses, the archbishop continued. The Vatican and China entered into an unpublished agreement in 2018 which gave the Chinese regime the authority to appoint bishops and granted the Pope the right to veto its appointments, according to a 2019 report (pdf) of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China. The agreement was extended in October 2020 for another two years. The dictatorship of the Chinese Communist Party [CCP] is allied to the global deep state on the one hand so that together they can attain the goals that they have in common. On the other hand, the deep states plans for the Great Reset are an opportunity for the CCP to increase the economic power of China in the world, beginning with the invasion of national markets, Vigano said. China is pursuing a domestic plan to restore the Maoist tyranny, which requires the cancellation of religions (primarily the Catholic religion), replacing them with a religion of the state which definitely has many elements in common with the universal religion desired by globalist ideology, Vigano continued. We find ourselves faced with an infamous betrayal of the mission of the church of Christ, carried out by her highest leaders in open conflict with those members of the Chinese Catholic underground hierarchy who have remained faithful to our lord and to his church, Vigano said. Vigano praised Cardinal Joseph Zen, the bishop emeritus of Hong Kong, who advocated against the Vatican-China deal calling the cardinal an eminent confessor of the faith. Before the agreement extension, Zen traveled to the Vatican with plans to meet with the Pope to update him on the situation in Hong Kong and the Catholic Church in China. However, Zen was not granted an audience with Pope Francis. The idea of striking accords with Beijing is insane, Zen told Daily Compass about the Vatican-China deal. Its like trying to make a pact with the devil. Globalism Versus Nationalism Vigano criticized the European Union for its recent business investment deal with the Chinese communist regime known for systematic violations of human rights and violent repression against dissent. As a part of the deal concluded at the end of December the Chinese regime made commitments to improve market access for EU investors. Chinas President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands to Founder and Executive Chairperson of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab (L) prior to delivering a speech during the first day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 17, 2017. (Fabrice Coffrini /AFP via Getty Images) In January 2017 at the World Economic Forum held in Davos, Switzerland, Chinese Communist Partys General Secretary, Xi Jinping gave a speech which was lauded by all attendees, Steve Bannon, former White House Chief Strategist and host of War Room told The Epoch Times. The meeting in Davos is the most elitist gathering of the worlds financial business and political and cultural community that exists, he said. In his speech, Xi touted the globalization projects and Chinas role as the railhead of them, seeing other countries as all kinds of tributary states and telling the audience the projects will allow them to make more money than ever, Bannon said. However Xi foresaw one problem which could hamper those projects: populist nationalism, Bannon said. All the unwashed masses who are not trained or not elites like [the audience] want to have a say, Bannon said, explaining Xis reasoning. U.S. President Donald Trump takes the oath of office as his wife Melania Trump holds the bible and his son Barron Trump looks on, on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 20, 2017. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Three days later President Donald Trump gave his famous American carnage speech at his inaugural ceremony. His speech was at its heart the concept of a sovereign nation-state, a defense of the nation-state, a nation-state as a unit, that man can get the most freedom in a very imperfect world, [man] can have the most freedom possible, Bannon said describing Trumps vision presented in the speech as a nationalist project. Every person participating in the annual WEF meeting in Davos knows all about the concentration camps for Uyghurs, persecution of house Christians, forced organ harvesting, the suppression of the underground Catholic church, the suppression and the torture of the Falun Gong, and the democracy movement, and the situation in Hong Kongthey have perfect information on everything and they dont care, he said. The Chinese business model is based on the slave labor of the people of China, who are underpaid and forced to work incredible hours in factories, Bannon said. The slave labor of China goes throughout the world as export and allows the worlds workers whether theyre in India, or Western Europe or the United States to never get pay raises. This was the miracle of Donald Trump to actually get blue-collar workers to pay raises, Bannon said. These two speeches represent two diametrically opposed ways that the world should be organized. One is based upon hundreds of years of freedom as imperfect as its been, right, versus a totalitarian, Bannon said. President and Founder of the World Economic Forum, Klaus Schwab, during an interview with The Associated Press in Davos, Switzerland, on Jan. 15, 2017. (Michel Euler/AP Photo) The Great Reset The Great Reset is a concept to move from shareholder capitalism to stakeholder capitalism, using wealth taxes, regulation, and fiscal policies geared toward equality and sustainability, promoting more equitable outcomes, and using the Fourth Industrial Revolution to address health and social challenges, Klaus Schwab, the founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) explained on the organizations website. Now is the time for a Great Reset, Schwab, a Professor of Business Policy at the University of Geneva and a co-author of the book The Great Reset, announced on the WEF website in June 2020. The changes we have already seen in response to COVID-19 prove that a reset of our economic and social foundations is possible, Schwab said. The Fourth Industrial Revolution will incorporate mobile devices, with unprecedented processing power, storage capacity, and access to knowledge to give governments new technological powers to increase their control over populations, based on pervasive surveillance systems and the ability to control digital infrastructure, Schwab wrote. It will also pose challenges to peoples privacy because the tracking and sharing of information about people is a crucial part of the new connectivity, Schwab wrote. The revolutions occurring in biotechnology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) will compel us to redefine our moral and ethical boundaries, Schwab added. The Great Reset architects use the mainstream media as an indispensable ally to make people believe that the radical changes they want to impose have been made necessary by a pandemic, by climate change, and by technological progress, Vigano said. Schwab wrote, We must build entirely new foundations for our economic and social systems, to address crises caused by the pandemic, climate change, and social crisis. We must all become aware of how much the proponents of the New World Order and the Great Reset hate the inalienable values of our Greco-Christian civilization, such as religion, the family, respect for life and the inviolable rights of the human person, and national sovereignty, the archbishop said. Joshua Phillip and Alexander Zhang contributed to this report. Capitol police officers stand guard as protesters gather on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Capitol Police Rejected Multiple Offers of Federal Help: Report U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) rejected offers of federal manpower days before Jan. 6and they again turned down an offer of federal reinforcements as protestors breached the Capitol building during the formal counting of electoral votes. Three days before Jan. 6, the Pentagon asked Capitol Police if they needed National Guard manpower, but their offer was turned down by Capitol Police, unnamed senior defense officials told the Associated Press. And as the building was being stormed, Justice Department leaders reached out to Capitol police and offered to provide them with FBI agents. But Capitol Police again turned them down, according to the sources. The Epoch Times reached out to USCP, the Department of Defense, and the Justice Department for comment, none immediately responded. The rejections for additional federal support came despite plenty of warnings, ample resources, and time to prepare. USCP had only planned for a free speech demonstration. Four protesters died, including one shot inside the building. Ashli Babbitt was an Air Force veteran who was shot and killed by Capitol Police as protestors swarmed into the building. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said it became clear that the Capitol Police were overrun. He said there was no contingency planning done in advance for what forces should do in case of a problem at the Capitol because Defense Department help was turned down. Theyve got to ask us, the request has to come to us, said McCarthy. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, under pressure from Schumer, Pelosi, and other congressional leaders, was forced to resign. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked for and received the resignation of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, Michael Stenger, effective immediately. Paul Irving, the longtime Sergeant at Arms of the House, also resigned. It is not clear how many officers were on-duty Wednesday, but the complex is policed by a total of 2,300 officers over 16 acres of ground, who protect the 435 House representatives, 100 U.S. senators, and their staff. The breach of the capitol halted a joint session, interrupting concurrent debates in the House and Senate over an objection to the counting of a slate of presidential electors from Arizona for President-elect Joe Biden. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a citywide curfew from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m after the reports of the breach. Trump issued several calls for peace as the events unfolded. Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful! the president wrote on Twitter. Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of people gathered at a rally near the White House on Jan. 6 to hear from the president at a pivotal moment and to voice their concerns about what they see as a fraudulent election. Supporters of President Donald Trump lined the entire area surrounding The Ellipse, a 52-acre park located just south of the White House fence, with many traveling by car or plane from around the country. Trump has not conceded the race but has said there will be a peaceful transition of power. Congress certified Biden as the winner early on Thursday morning. Biden said in a Jan. 7 statement that the breach was not dissent, it was disorder. They werent protestorsthey were rioters, insurrectionists, and domestic terrorists, Biden said. Trump, in a Twitter post on Friday, said he would not be attending the inauguration later this month. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th, he said. Ivan Pentchoukov and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 22:42:05|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHATO, Tanzania, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday that China and Tanzania have reached four important consensuses on further deepening bilateral relations. During a press conference jointly attended by Wang and Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Palamagamba Kabudi, Wang said the two sides have agreed that China-Tanzania traditional friendship is a precious treasure shared by both sides and the people of China and Africa, adding that it must be cherished, passed on from generation to generation and carried forward. Wang said both sides have agreed to make full use of their shared vision and goals in the construction of country, political parties and armed forces, in a bid to further enhance communications at all levels and deepen exchanges of experience on governance. Wang said both sides have agreed to strengthen practical cooperation, jointly build the Belt and Road, support more Chinese enterprises to invest in Tanzania and expand the import of Tanzanian high-quality products. China fully understands the significance of Tanzania's construction of the standard gauge railway and is willing to continue to support Tanzania in promoting major infrastructure construction, accelerating the industrialization process and enhancing Tanzania's capacity for independent development, Wang said. Wang said both sides have agreed to strengthen coordination in international affairs, jointly support multilateralism, oppose external interference, safeguard international equity and justice, and build a strong fortress to safeguard each other's core interests and the common interests of developing countries. Wang said he believes that with the joint efforts of both sides, the traditional friendship between China and Tanzania will take on new connotations of the era and show greater vigor and vitality. Enditem False-colour electron microscope image of the sample, the green layers are graphene on top of the grey superconductor. The blue metal electrodes are used to extract the entangled electrons. Credit: Aalto University A joint group of scientists from Finland, Russia, China and the U.S. has demonstrated that temperature difference can be used to entangle pairs of electrons in superconducting structures. The experimental discovery, published in Nature Communications, promises powerful applications in quantum devices, bringing us one step closer to applications of the second quantum revolution. The team, led by Professor Pertti Hakonen from Aalto University, has shown that the thermoelectric effect provides a new method for producing entangled electrons in a new device. "Quantum entanglement is the cornerstone of the novel quantum technologies. This concept, however, has puzzled many physicists over the years, including Albert Einstein who worried a lot about the spooky interaction at a distance that it causes," says Prof. Hakonen. In quantum computing, entanglement is used to fuse individual quantum systems into one, which exponentially increases their total computational capacity. "Entanglement can also be used in quantum cryptography, enabling the secure exchange of information over long distances," explains Prof. Gordey Lesovik, from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, who has acted several times as a visiting professor at Aalto University School of Science. Given the significance of entanglement to quantum technology, the ability to create entanglement easily and controllably is an important goal for researchers. The researchers designed a device where a superconductor was layered withed graphene and metal electrodes. "Superconductivity is caused by entangled pairs of electrons called "cooper pairs." Using a temperature difference, we cause them to split, with each electron then moving to different normal metal electrode," explains doctoral candidate Nikita Kirsanov, from Aalto University. "The resulting electrons remain entangled despite being separated for quite long distances." Along with the practical implications, the work has significant fundamental importance. The experiment has shown that the process of Cooper pair splitting works as a mechanism for turning temperature difference into correlated electrical signals in superconducting structures. The developed experimental scheme may also become a platform for original quantum thermodynamical experiments. Explore further Multiparty entanglement: When everything is connected More information: Thermoelectric current in a graphene Cooper pair splitter, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Thermoelectric current in a graphene Cooper pair splitter,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20476-7 Indian-American groups have strongly condemned the storming of the Capitol Hill by President Donald Trump's supporters, describing the incident as an assault on the democracy. "The violent attack on the United States Capitol was disgusting. This act of sedition, stoked by Donald Trump, is a threat to our country and to every American's rights and wellbeing. It must not be tolerated, said Ajay Bhutoria, national finance committee member of Biden 2020, and one of the vice chairs of the Presidential Inauguration Committee. He asserted that the scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect the true America. "The United States of America built the most powerful economy in the world in no small part due to the stability of our government and the peaceful transfer of power we have enjoyed for generations," he said. Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF) in a statement condemned in the strongest terms the assault on the Capitol by "extremists" in a misguided attempt to overturn the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Violence has no place in democratic protest. Disinformation intended to sow distrust in our democratic processes has no place in a democracy. We strongly denounce those who encouraged and enabled this violence, SALDEF executive director Kiran Kaur Gill said. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) also condemned the violence, chaos, and anarchy that unfolded at the Capitol building on Wednesday. It was a sad day for America and for democracy at large, it said in a statement. Hindu Americans are uniquely attune to the foundations of and threats to democracy, as many of trace our heritage to the Republic of India, the world's largest democracy. Hindu values and ideals are American values and ideals and the bonds between our people, our commitment to freedom, equality, and representative democracy remain unshaken, the HAF said. The Alliance to Save and Protect America from Infiltration by Religious Extremists and Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India condemned the presence of Indian tricolour by rioting mobs at the Capitol Hill. (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.) ANN ARBOR, MI Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit has rolled out two new policies regarding how to handle cases involving alleged police violence and cases where civilians are accused of resisting and obstructing police. The first new policy directive Savit announced Friday, Jan. 8, requires the prosecutors office to recuse itself and seek the appointment of an outside special prosecutor in all cases in which charges might be sought against police officers who engaged in violence against civilians. There is growing consensus thats best practice, said Savit, who took office Jan. 1, replacing Prosecutor Brian Mackie. Savit sworn in as Washtenaw County prosecutor, begins work to reshape justice system Savit maintains Mackie should have recused himself and referred the high-profile case of the Aura Rosser shooting in 2014 to the attorney general to be assigned to another county prosecutor. Rosser, a 40-year-old Black woman, was fatally shot by an Ann Arbor police officer during a response to a domestic dispute on the citys west side in November 2014. Mackie determined Officer David Rieds lethal use of force was justified since Rosser reportedly approached officers with a knife raised in an attack position and ignored commands to drop it. Rossers death inspired Black Lives Matter demonstrations and calls for police reform, leading to Ann Arbors formation of a police oversight commission, as well as more police training around dealing with people in mental health crises. A demonstrator lays a sign on the ground in memory of Aura Rosser who was shot and killed by Ann Arbor police in 2014 during a police brutality protest in Ann Arbor on Thursday, June 4, 2020. (Jenna Kieser | The Ann Arbor News)Jenna Kieser | The Ann Arbor News Savit highlighted the Rosser case in his new policy directive, noting Mackies decision to not charge the officer has led to pronounced and sustained community backlash. Today, over six years later, there are still marches and rallies in our community protesting the handling of Aura Rossers death, Savit noted. Vigil, march for woman fatally shot by Ann Arbor police officer enters sixth year Savit said on the campaign trial he hadnt reviewed all the evidence in the Rosser case, so he didnt know whether charges were warranted, but he thinks any officer-involved shooting should be handled by a special outside prosecutor since theres a close relationship between the local prosecutors office and local police, raising questions about impartiality. Officer-involved violence is wrenching to the greater community, his new policy states. In such circumstances, the community deserves assurance that the prosecutor evaluating charges is unbiased and has not been influenced by the close personal and professional relationships between prosecutors and police. Lamentably, local prosecutors offices across the nation have not engendered confidence in their ability to fairly evaluate officer-involved violence, Savit said, mentioning several cases in which Black people across America lost their lives at the hands of police in recent years. The ACLU, the NAACP, Campaign Zero and multiple scholars and practitioners have all called for the appointment of special prosecutors in cases of alleged police violence. The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office agrees with these voices, Savits policy directive states. Protests against police brutality continue in Ann Arbor on Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Two protests convened on State street in the morning, one encouraging Ann Arbor police to walk with them, and the other group encouraging protestors to remember Aura Rosser, who was shot and killed by Ann Arbor police in 2014.Jenna Kieser Washtenaw prosecutor launches effort to review thousands of past cases for racial bias Savit emphasized his new policy is to ensure fair and impartial justice for all parties, including police. Police officers put their lives on the line in the name of public safety and they deserve fair and impartial justice when accused of a crime, Savit said. Under this policy, officers who are facing criminal charges will know that their case will be evaluated by an independent prosecutor, not a locally elected prosecuting attorney who might be influenced by community pressure, he wrote. The second policy directive Savit rolled out Friday requires prosecutors to review all relevant evidence, including videos, and consider the totality of the circumstances prior to filing resisting-and-obstructing charges against civilians, bringing charges only when theres sufficient evidence and the charges are in the interests of justice. Washtenaw County prosecutor rolls out new policy to end use of cash bail Resisting and obstructing police is a serious crime with serious penalties, Savit said. The Washtenaw County Prosecutors Office will, after reviewing all available evidence, continue to vigorously pursue such charges where appropriate, especially where a person assaults a law enforcement officer, his directive states. At the same time, the directive emphasizes the prosecutors office cant ignore the spate of high-profile incidents across the country involving police who abused their authority, inflicting lethal force on Black civilians, assaulting civilians and in some cases trying to cover up their actions. The directive instructs prosecutors to review all relevant materials including body-camera, dashboard cameras, and any other photographic, video, or audio materials that exist prior to authorizing a resisting-and-obstructing charge. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Q&A: How Eli Savit plans to reform criminal justice in Washtenaw County Michigan, State theaters launch fundraiser to keep Ann Arbor landmarks alive Q&A: Ann Arbor affordable housing leader explains ambitious $397M plan A closer look at whats in Ann Arbors new transportation plan Ann Arbor considering ban on police use of facial-recognition technology Shanghai (Gasgoo)- SAIC Motor announced its full-year sales dipped 10.22% from a year ago to 5,600,482 units last year. Despite the decrease, the company was honored the No.1 Chinese automaker by annual sales for the fifth year in a row. In December 2020, SAIC Motor saw its monthly sales climb 7.01% over the previous year to 746,607 units, for the seventh month in a row representing year-on-year growth. SAIC-GM-Wuling (SGMW) outperformed the other subsidiaries in terms of both annual sales and Dec. sales. Wuling Victory; photo credit: SGMW Wuling brand sold a total of 1,177,507 new vehicles through 2020 and was posting year-on-year increase for nine consecutive months. It hit the 2.2 million-unit outputs milestone on May 25. In addition, the sales of the Wuling Victory, the first flagship model bearing the new Wuling Global Silver badge, totaled 22,524 units within two months. SGMW said its NEV sales surged 190% from the prior-year period to 174,005 units in 2020, of which 127,651 units were the Hongguang MINI EVs. Notably, the mini-sized all-electric car was crowned the best-selling NEV model in China for three straight months. Roewe RX5 Plus; photo credit: Roewe SAIC Motor's self-owned brands, including Roewe, MG, R Motor, Maxus, Yuejin, Wuling, Baojun, Hongyan and Sunwin Bus, sold roughly 2.6 million units through 2020, a highest-ever number on an annual basis. During the 13th Five-year Plan period (2016-2020), SAIC Motor plowed over 60 billion yuan ($9.28 billion) into R&D business and has built an independent R&D group composed of nearly 8,000 technicians. SAIC Motor said its new energy vehicle (NEV) sales soared 77.8% over a year ago to around 320,000 units in 2020. Moreover, the sales of overseas markets amounted to 390,000 units (+11.3% YoY), 60% of which were from NEVs. For the period of the 14th Five-year Plan (2021-2025), SAIC Motor attempts to roll out nearly 100 NEV models, including 60 models under self-owned brands. GENESEE TWP., MI -- Dave Gillie has been serving hot dogs, burgers and sandwiches for 35 years since building the folksy Gillies Coney Island on Dort Highway near Flint in 1985. But for everything hes invested in the business, hes risking citations from health officials by allowing a single table of customers to eat in at his otherwise empty dining room because of COVID-19 restrictions. This is one Im willing to fight on ... Ive done that a lot - go along to get along ... Every once and a while, I think its time to take a stand, said Gillie, who has been warned but not cited by Genesee County Health Department officials, who say hes in violation of emergency orders issued last month by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. The orders are in effect until Jan. 15 after plaintiffs in a lawsuit aimed at blocking the dine-in ban agreed to drop their case in U.S. District Court. The latest dine-in ban started Nov. 18 and was only supposed to last three weeks, but has been extended twice this time until 11:59 p.m. on Jan. 15. Outdoor dining and takeout are still allowed. Restaurant advocates have argued its unfair that dining rooms cant open while so many other businesses have operated uninterrupted. State officials have countered that restaurants are less safe because customers cant wear masks at all times. But with his dining room empty, Gillie said he decided to allow an individual or family to eat while no other diners are in the restaurant. The businessman said he believes the current orders allow for him to serve the indoor customers in a single group of six or fewer because what hes doing doesnt meet the definition of an indoor gathering. No place in the (orders) prohibits me from doing this, he said. After county health officials told him they dont agree with his reading of the orders, Gillie and his wife told the county, Write us a citation and well explain it to a judge. So far, that hasnt happened. Suzanne Cupal, a spokeswoman for the county Health Department, said Gillie must abide by restrictions for businesses with food service licenses - not those that govern other indoor gatherings. They cant have indoor dining, Cupal said. We really do want to work with everyone. We want to avoid any repercussions (for the business, but) our job is to try to protect people from the virus. Cupal said restaurants have generally complied with the prohibition on indoor dining and did not say if the county plans to take action to end the practice - however limited - at Gilliess. Read more: Restaurant group agrees to dismiss lawsuit challenging Michigans dine-in ban Gillies Coney Island offers up free well water for Flint residents No indoor dining until next year, but some entertainment venues open under latest Michigan coronavirus order WASHINGTON (AP) Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sidney Powell on Friday, seeking at least $1.3 billion for Powells wild accusations that the company rigged the presidential election for Joe Biden. Dominion brings this action to set the record straight, the company said in the suit filed in federal court in Washington. Powell has for weeks claimed without evidence that the election technology vendor, whose vote-counting equipment was used in several states, was part of a scheme to steal the election from President Donald Trump. Powell has been representing Trump in a series of unsuccessful lawsuits filed to contest the election outcome. She has claimed that the company was created in Venezuela to rig elections for the late leader Hugo Chavez and that it has the ability to switch votes. At one point, Powell likened her baseless claims to releasing the Kraken on those she claimed were responsible for fraud, causing that phrase to trend on Twitter. The platform has since permanently banned her. There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country including Trumps former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Bidens victory, also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices. The company said there there are mountains of direct evidence that conclusively disprove Powells vote manipulation claims against Dominion namely, the millions of paper ballots that were audited and recounted by bipartisan officials and volunteers in Georgia and other swing states, which confirmed that Dominion accurately counted votes on paper ballots. Dominion said that when it formally told Powell her claims were false and asked her to retract them, she doubled down, using her Twitter account with more than 1 million followers to amplify the claims. Eric Coomer, Dominions security director, already has sued Powell, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and the presidents campaign for defamation after he was driven into hiding by death threats. Conservative columnists and news outlets also were named in Coomers lawsuit, filed in Colorado, where the company is based. Powell did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. Clockwise from top-left, actors Seol Kyung-gu, Lee Ha-nee, Park So-dam, Seo Hyun-woo, Kim Dong-hee and Park Hae-soo / Courtesy of CJ ENM By Kwak Yeon-soo A much-anticipated spy action thriller has confirmed its full cast lineup, featuring some of most in-demand actors in Korean cinema today. The Lamp, the production company behind hits "A Taxi Driver" (2017), "Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission" (2019) and "Samjin Company English Class" (2020), announced the full ensemble cast and said shooting began Jan. 4. "'Ghost' is an exhilarating and action-packed feature film with stellar cast who engage in mind games. It will also feature flamboyant sets to recreate the ambience of 1930s Gyeongseong (Seoul's name at the time) and make audiences feel like they're time traveling to that period," it said in a statement. Set in 1933 during the Japanese colonization of Korea, "Ghost" will be an espionage action film written and directed by Lee Hae-young. Lee, known to depict tense sequences and multi-layered characters, previously directed the coming-of-age comedy drama "Like a Virgin" (2014) and the action thriller "Believer" (2018). "Ghost" will tell the story of five people suspected of being a mysterious "ghost," a spy for an anti-Japanese resistance group. Trapped inside an isolated hotel, the five characters must use their wits to survive and escape while suspecting one another. Seol Kyung-gu will be starring as Murayama Junji, a Japanese police officer and former soldier who used to be a member of Japan's intelligence agency, but has been demoted to the surveillance and communications bureau. The versatile actor, who starred in "The Merciless" (2016), "Memoir of a Murderer" (2017) and "Birthday" (2018), is set to return to the big screen with Lee Joon-ik's "The Book of Fish" this year. "Parasite" star Park So-dam will appear as Yuriko, the secretary of a high-ranking official within the Japanese colonial government in Korea despite being Korean. This is her second time working together with director Lee following "The Silenced" (2015), a horror mystery set in 1930s. Lee Ha-nee, who left a strong impression with audiences for her performance in "Extreme Job" (2019), will play the role of Park Cha-kyung, a communications employee who records coded messages. Rising star Kim Dong-hee, who rose to fame through Netflix original sereis "Extracurricular" (2020), will play her younger co-worker Baek-ho. Actor Seo Hyun-woo will play Chun Kye-jang, an introverted cryptographer who is talented at decryption, while Park Hae-soo will act as Kaito, the merciless security agent who leads the investigation to single out the "ghost," or the spy who has infiltrated the Japanese colonial government. The film's release date is yet to be confirmed. The BSE Sensex extended gains and hit a record high of 48,708.46 in mid-afternoon trade. The Nifty hovered near 14,300 mark. Barring the Nifty Metal index, all the sectoral indices on the NSE were trading in the green. Global shares were upbeat amid hopes for an economic recovery later in the year. Traders bet that a new Democratic-controlled U.S. government would lead to heavy spending and borrowing to support the country's economic recovery. US President-elect Joe Biden is expected to move quickly to gain passage of $2,000 stimulus checks, along with expanded unemployment benefits, aid to state and local governments and additional relief for small businesses. At 14:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, jumped 512.60 points or 1.1% at 48,622.92. The Nifty 50 index gained 158.20 points or 1.12% at 14,295.55. Buying was broad based. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index added 0.67%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index rose 0.54%. Buyers outpaced sellers. On the BSE, 1,777 shares rose and 1,267 shares fell. A total of 155 shares were unchanged. COVID-19 Update: Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 8,80,51,477 with 18,98,655 deaths. India reported 2,25,449 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,50,570 deaths while 1,00,37,398 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Nearly a week after the government suspended the flights to and from the United Kingdom amid concerns over the new coronavirus strain, the two countries resumed normal flight operation from Friday. According to reports, the first flight carrying 256 passengers arrived in the national capital from London today. The resumption of the normal flight operations comes nearly a week after the government suspended services between India and UK on December 23 over the new and more contagious strain of the virus. Economy: The central government on Thursday projected that the country's economy will contract by 7.7% in the current fiscal year 2020-21, as per the first advance estimates of gross domestic product released by the National Statistical Office. The agriculture sector estimate for FY 2021 stood at 3.4%. Also, mining estimate stood at -12.4% for FY21 against 3.1%(YoY) and nominal GDP estimate stood at -4.2%. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Metal index slipped 0.75% to 3,523.70. The index rallied 5.15% in two days. Hindalco Industries (down 1.78%), NMDC (down 1.52%), Tata Steel (down 1.39%), Steel Authority of India (down 0.83%) and Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (down 0.44%) declined. Numbers To Track: In the foreign exchange market, the partially convertible rupee fell to 73.3950 compared with its previous closing of 73.31. The yield on 10-year benchmark federal paper rose to 5.893% as compared to its previous close of 5.892%. MCX Gold futures for 5 February 2021 settlement declined 1.21% to Rs 50,288. The US Dollar index (DXY), which tracks the greenback's value against a basket of currencies, rose 0.21% to 89.980. In the commodities market, Brent crude for March 2021 settlement rose 46 cents to $54.84 a barrel. The contract rose 0.15% to settle at $54.38 in the previous trading session. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lucknow/Meerut: In a significant counter espionage operation, the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh apprehended a retired Army soldier, Signalman Saurabh Sharma, following the inputs provided by Lucknow based Military Intelligence (MI) Unit. The ex-serviceman was working for a Karachi-based Pakistani intelligence agency since 2016, according to sources. In November 2020, the MI officials had received inputs indicating the involvement of Signalman Saurabh Sharma (Retd) in espionage activities. The input was further developed as "Operation Cross-Connection", and the details were shared with UP ATS in early December and a joint investigation was initiated. After working on the input for a month UP ATS today arrested the suspect, Signalman Saurabh Sharma (Retd) from his parental house in Hapur district's village Bihuni. Signalman Saurabh Sharma accepted his involvement with the Pakistani intelligence agency and revealed that he came in touch with the Pakistani Intelligence Operative (PIO) on Facebook in 2014. Initially, the PIO introduced 'herself' as a defence journalist but later started seeking sensitive military information by 2016 in return for money. He used to share this information in form of text, audio and photo messages and also on call mostly using WhatsApp. He reportedly has received several payments from his handlers. Live TV The soldier retired from the Army in June 2020 for medical reasons. Traces of his activities have been found on his mobile phone. An FIR has been lodged at Gomti Nagar Police Station in Lucknow against the accused under sections 120B, 123 of IPC, sections 3,4,5 & 9 of Official Secrets Act (OSA), and section 13 of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). He is being produced before the court. It is anticipated that UP ATS shall ask for Police Custody (PC) of the accused of furtherance of the investigation. Further leads of the case are being examined jointly by Lucknow MI, UP ATS, and Central Intelligence Agencies. Its been an extraordinarily long week no? but Friday finally is here. Weve put together a guide to help you make the most of this January weekend. Once the snow stops, the forecast predicts cloudy skies and temperatures hovering in the low- to mid-30s. Not too bad by Chicago standards, but still ideal for curling up inside, bingeing quality television and ordering takeout. Also a good time to do a little nesting. Nicki Minaj has agreed to pay singer Tracy Chapman $450,000 over their copyright battle, settling the dispute and avoiding trial. Federal court documents became available Thursday reflecting that the pair had come to an agreement over the case, which stemmed from the rapper's usage of Chapman's Baby Can I Hold You to make her song Sorry feat. Nas. In addition to the win for Chapman, the 56-year-old Fast Car chanteuse will not be responsible for any costs associated with the suit, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Settled: Tracy Chapman has accepted Nicki Minaj's offer of $450,000 in her copyright infringement case against the rapper Minaj's representatives sought permission for the song from Chapman, who repeatedly refused, citing a blanket policy she has against such licensing. Chapman is on the 'do not sample list' - well known for not allowing others to sample their music. Although Sorry was dropped from Minaj's 2018 album Queen, a copy of the unreleased track DJ Flex, a New York radio personality who played it on the air. Portions of the song later played on The Breakfast Club, and it's since become widely available online. When first filing the case in Oct. 2018, Chapman accused Minaj of providing DJ Flex with the track, but she and Flex have both denied it come from her or her representatives. Creativity: Minaj was accused of using Chapman's track for a collaboration with Nas titled Sorry, which was leaked online The Pink Friday artist's legal team argued that artists should be free to create work based on existing material, without fearing legal action from the original artist when pursuing license. The attorney stated: 'Such free-flowing creativity is important to all recording artists, but particularly in hip hop. 'With that category of music, a recording artist typically goes into the studio and experiments with dozens of different beats or snippets of melodies, before hitting upon a pleasing combination.' In September, a judge sided with Minaj, ruling that she did not commit copyright infringement. US district judge Virginia A Phillips found that her use of the song constitutes 'fair use,' protecting a common practice in the music industry of developing new music based on existing work, and requesting license from the original artist before release. Do not sample: The hip hops star's representatives sought permission from Chapman, who repeatedly refused, citing a blanket policy she has against such licensing Oldie but goodie: Minaj based her 2017 track Sorry (featuring Nas) off Chapman's song Baby Can I Hold You, from her 1988 self-titled debut album Judge Phillips wrote: 'Artists usually experiment with works before seeking licenses from rights holders and rights holders typically ask to see a proposed work before approving a license. 'A ruling uprooting these common practices would limit creativity and stifle innovation within the music industry.' Although the judge agreed, she ruled that the dispute over whether Minaj provided the music to DJ Flex would need to go to jury. Now with a settlement deal accepted, there will be no need for the artists to go to trial. Former Ambassador of Armenia to the Vatican Mikayel Minasyan wrote the following on his Telegram channel: The presence of Russian peacekeepers must have a legal ground, that is, a trilateral agreement, or a mandate for a peacekeeping mission. Russia had drafted the agreement before November 9, and the Armenian party signed it with willingness, but Azerbaijan didnt sign it. The Azerbaijani party proceeds from the fact that it is the winner and Pashinyan is defeated, and it is setting forth three additional points that it would like to see in the agreement (or a section of the agreement) regulating the operation of peacekeepers. - There should not be any Armenian troop in Artsakh since the latter is an Azerbaijani territory. The Azerbaijani troops are in Artsakh by virtue of law, Russian troops are in Artsakh upon the consent of the Azerbaijanis, and there must not be Armenian troops, neither the Armed Forces of Armenia nor the Defense Army of Artsakh. - All visits of officials of Armenia to Artsakh must somehow be agreed upon with the Azerbaijani party. - The self-government bodies of Artsakh must be elected/appointed upon the consent of the Azerbaijani party and the peacekeepers. The Armenian partys problem is that, after the defeat, it was the first to sign the document, without giving Azerbaijan the opportunity to finally present its expectations to the mediator, that is, Russia. The draft of the agreement that wasnt agreed with Azerbaijan, but is already signed by Nikol gives Azerbaijan new leverages for negotiations, allowing Azerbaijan to demand the withdrawal of peacekeepers in case the points are not fulfilled. P.S.: By the way, this document wont be discussed on January 11. A totally different topic will be discussed on January 11, but there will be more information about that later. SpendEdge forecast the Global Paints and Coatings market is expected to grow by USD 47 billion as we reach 2024. This is due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the first half of 2020. However, healthy growth is expected to continue throughout the forecast period, and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.23%. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210107005948/en/ SpendEdge has announced the release of its Global Paints and Coatings Market Procurement Intelligence Report (Graphic: Business Wire) For the Right Perspective Competitive Insights- Request Free Sample Report on Pandemic Recovery Analysis Read the 120-page research report with TOC and LOE on "Global Paints and Coatings market- Procurement Intelligence Report, Pricing Outlook in Geographies that include APAC, North America, South America, and MEA, and insights into best practices to optimize procurement spend." Our Paints and Coatings market procurement intelligence report offers actionable procurement intelligence insights, sourcing strategies, and action plans to mitigate risks arising out of the current pandemic situation. The insights offered by our reports will help procurement professionals streamline supply chain operations and gain insights into the best procurement practices to mitigate losses. Major Five Paints and Coatings Companies: Akzo Nobel N.V. Nippon Paint Holdings Co. Ltd. BASF Coatings GmbH Axalta Coating Systems LLC Kansai Paint Co. Ltd. To get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment, Subscribe Now for Free. Paints And Coatings 2020-2024: Scope SpendEdge presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The Paints and Coatings marketreport covers the following areas: Paints and Coatings Market Size Paints and Coatings Market Trends Paints and Coatings Market Analysis Paints And Coatings Market Geographic Landscape Outlook APAC Europe MEA North America South America Key leading countries SpendEdge suggests various forecast scenarios considering the impact of COVID-19. SpendEdge's in-depth research has direct and indirect COVID-19 impacted market research reports. SpendEdge's SUBSCRIPTION platform Paints And Coatings Market 2020-2024: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2020-2024 Detailed information on factors that will assist Paints and Coatings market growth during the next five years Estimation of the Paints and Coatings market size Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in supplier behavior The growth of the Paints and Coatings market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of Paints and Coatings market vendors Related Reports on Chemicals Include: Hydrochloric Acid Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: The hydrochloric acid will grow at a CAGR of 2.98% during 2020-2024. Prices will increase by 3%-5% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a moderate bargaining power in this market. Click and get a FREE sample report in minutes Triethanolamine Sourcing and Procurement Intelligence Report: The triethanolamine will grow at a CAGR of 6.04% during 2020-2024. Prices will increase by 3%-5% during the forecast period and suppliers will have a moderate bargaining power in this market. Click and get a FREE sample report in minutes Get access to regular sourcing and procurement insights to our digital procurement platform- Contact Us Table of Content Executive Summary Market Insights Category Pricing Insights Cost-saving Opportunities Best Practices Category Ecosystem Category Management Strategy Category Management Enablers Suppliers Selection Suppliers under Coverage US Market Insights Category scope Appendix About SpendEdge: SpendEdge shares your passion for driving sourcing and procurement excellence. We are the preferred procurement market intelligence partner for 120+ Fortune 500 firms and other leading companies across numerous industries. Our strength lies in delivering robust, real-time procurement market intelligence reports and solutions. To know more https://www.spendedge.com/request-for-demo View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210107005948/en/ Contacts: SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager US: +1 630 984 7340 UK: +44 148 459 9299 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us COLUMBIA, S.C.: Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, often mentioned as a possible 2024 GOP presidential contender, is among the latest from her party to denounce President Donald Trumps comments stoking supporters to mount a violent assault on the Capitol. He was badly wrong with his words, Haley said Thursday during a speech at the Republican National Committees winter meeting, according to excerpts obtained by The Associated Press. His actions since Election Day will be judged harshly by history. She called it deeply disappointing because of the effect it will have on the legacy of the Trump administration. Its a real shame, because I am one who believes our country made some truly extraordinary gains in the last four years," Haley said. She cited the withdrawal from the Iran nuclear pact and confirmation of three Supreme Court justices. Her comments are further evidence of the balancing act that Haley has maintained since resigning as South Carolina governor in 2016 to join Trumps Cabinet. In two years at the United Nations, Haley treaded a path of speaking out against Trump while not directly drawing his ire. She left the office on her own terms in 2018, a rarity then during a wave of staffing turmoil. Now, after moving back to South Carolina, Haley has developed her own persona, frequently weighing in on a range of topics and campaigning for other Republicans, as she recently did in the U.S. Senate runoffs in Georgia. Republicans had already been grappling with the partys future following Trumps tumultuous term. But after this week, Haley echoed the remarks of some, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, a fellow South Carolinian, who Thursday called the melee Trumps self-inflicted wound. If we are the party of personal responsibility, we need to take personal responsibility," Haley said. We must stop turning the American people against each other and this Republican Party must lead the way. While Haleys rebuke is welcome, it should have come earlier, said a South Carolina lawmaker who characterized her shifting stance as the same political opportunism displayed in the 2015 Confederate flag debate. Then, Haley called the flag a deeply offensive symbol of a brutally offensive past," only to say later to a conservative audience it was a symbol of service, sacrifice and heritage until it was hijacked" by the man who murdered nine Black parishioners at a historic Charleston church. Nikki Haleys revisionist history will simply not play well to people whove been paying attention during the last four years, state Sen. Marlon Kimpson told AP. Nikki Haley enabled, aided, abetted and was a co-conspirator for Donald Trump for much of his time in office, and history will not be kind to the people in his administration. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. 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 total of 40 prisoners are currently Covid-19 positive, new figures show. The results follow testing across the prison system, with the Irish Prison Service stressing the number is in the context of a daily population of 3,667 inmates as of January 8. The 40 positive tests include 17 cases within the existing prison population and 23 cases involving people who came from the community as a result of being newly committed to prison or were returning to prison from temporary release. Those testing positive on entry do not join the general prison population and are isolated and tested again before being allocated a cell and joining other prisoners. The figures come on the back of recent statements issued by the IPS in relation to outbreaks in Loughan House Open Centre in Cavan and Wheatfield Prison in west Dublin. The IPS said that further tests have resulted in three additional positive cases in Loughan House, on top of the existing five cases. The number of positive cases at Wheatfield remains at five. A second round of testing is ongoing in Loughan House with the same due to happen soon in Wheatfield, the IPS said. Read More Covid-19 outbreak reported among staff at Dublin prison Other recent developments include a positive case in Cork Prison, this one from a person newly committed. A single case has also been detected in the general prison population in both Mountjoy Prison and Portlaoise Prison. In a statement, the IPS said: "The Irish Prison Service can confirm the number in custody for 08th January 2021, is 3,667. The total number of prisoners that have tested positive for Covid-19 is 40 as of todays date. Out of the 40 we have 17 Prison Based Transmission and 23 Community Transmission. It said the decision to release details on positive tests among prison staff rested with the HSE. It is understood that up to 10 staff at Wheatfield have do date confirmed they have received a positive result. The IPS has regularly provided updates on Covid-19 cases on each prison affected and is due to issue further statements. The IPS has sought to assure family members of prisoners and staff that they are acting immediately on any outbreaks, aware of the potential for the virus to spread quickly within a closed environment. The IPS is still awaiting confirmation from the Department of Health as to when the vaccine rollout will be included to the prison system. The interdepartmental group/NPHET are making the overall determinations on the vaccine policy and the schedule for delivery of the vaccine," the statement said. "The Irish Prison Service has made a submission to NPHET and is awaiting a response." It said: "The Irish Prison Service has commenced planning for the delivery of vaccine across the prison estate." : ultrafastt (ultrafastt), : EE : () : BBS (Thu Jan 7 18:12:22 2021, ) Postdoc : ultrafastt (ultrafastt), : Postdoc : : ,,, : BBS (Thu Jan 7 18:10:56 2021, ) career https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=91572 Lawrence Berkeley National Labs (LBNL) Accelerator Tech-Applied Physics ( ATAP) Division has an opening for a Physicist Postdoctoral Fellow to join the team. In this exciting role, you will work on developing ultrafast fiber laser technologies and their novel applications on laser-plasma accelerators (LPA) . The BELLA Center at LBNLs ATAP Division seeks to develop high repetition rate, terawatt, ultrafast fiber laser technology, with the goal to drive multi-kHz, MeV-class LPAs. You will explore novel methods in the field, including coherent combination of laser pulses in temporal, spectral, and spatial domains, gain narrowing compensation, state-of-the-art high-power fiber amplification, nonlinear pulse compression, new LPA methods, and advanced digital control of laser and accelerator systems including machine learning. Combining these methods with numerical and analytic physics models, we have been running proof-of- principle demonstrations of energy-scalable technologies, moving toward increasingly energetic laser systems. What You Will Do: Design and perform experiments to investigate the spectral combination of fiber chirped-pulse amplifiers (FCPA), as well as temporal stacking of amplified femtosecond pulses using cascaded optical interferometers. Investigate pulse dynamics (including nonlinearity, gain narrowing and saturation, dispersion) in multi-stage, high-power FCPA systems, their interplay with coherent combination processes for amplified pulses, and methods to control and optimize them. Characterize different kinds/designs of large-mode-area fiber amplifiers in temporal and spectral regimes, and use data to refine numerical models for system design and optimization. Study and apply feedback control methods to stabilize the temporal and spectral combination of amplified, ultrashort laser pulses. Explore advanced digital control concepts, including machine learning, for laser and accelerator systems. Document and communicate the results of work in reports and oral presentations, including participation in meetings, reviews, conferences, and publications in refereed journals. Additional Responsibilities as needed: Build and test optical systems (fiber and free-space) to spectrally broaden and temporally compress energetic ultrashort laser pulses to the few-cycle regime, by manipulating optical nonlinearity and dispersion. Study and conduct low-energy (kHz, MeV) LPA experiments. Build and perform experiments to investigate spatial beam combination schemes, comparing different stabilization algorithms and sensing methods. What is Required: Ph.D. in Physics or Engineering, in the field of lasers, optics, or laser applications. Experimental experience with coherently combined ultrafast fiber laser systems, their diagnostics and controls, or/and the design, characterization , operation of high-power FCPA lasers. Experimental experience with digital or/and analog feedback control of optical/physical systems. Experience with simulations or modeling of ultrafast laser systems. Ability to work closely in a team with other scientists, postdocs, graduate students, and technicians. Desired Qualifications: Experimental experience with nonlinear ultrashort laser pulse compression. Experimental experience with laser-plasma interactions and acceleration. Experience with programming and machine learning. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Notes: This is a full-time 1 year, postdoctoral appointment with the possibility of renewal based upon satisfactory job performance, continuing availability of funds, and ongoing operational needs. You must have less than 4 years of paid postdoctoral experience. Salary for Postdoctoral positions depends on years of experience post-degree. This position is represented by a union for collective bargaining purposes. Salary will be predetermined based on postdoctoral step rates. This position may be subject to a background check. Any convictions will be evaluated to determine if they directly relate to the responsibilities and requirements of the position. Having a conviction history will not automatically disqualify an applicant from being considered for employment. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at Berkeley Lab. Our excellence can only be fully realized by faculty, students, and staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates for our faculty positions will demonstrate evidence of a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion. Work will be primarily performed at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA. Equal Employment Opportunity: Berkeley Lab is an Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Berkeley Lab is in compliance with the Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination Provision under 41 CFR 60-1.4. Click here to view the poster and supplement: "Equal Employment Opportunity is the Law." Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory encourages applications from women, minorities, veterans, and other underrepresented groups presently considering scientific research careers. career https://lbl.taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?lang=en&job=91572 -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 98.] Announcing a new publication for BIO Integration journal. In this opinion article the authors Daiyun Xu, Yonghui Lu, Yongxiao Li, Shengbin Li, Zhe Wang and Junqing Wang from Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China discuss ferroptosis resistance in cancer. Ferroptosis is a lethal consequence of accumulated lipid peroxidation catalyzed by ferrous iron and oxygen. This unique cell death process appears to involve many diseases, such as neurodegeneration, ischemia/ reperfusion injury, kidney disease, and a druggable target in therapy-resistant cancers. Ferroptosis may provide hope for the treatment of as yet incurable diseases. However, ferroptosis susceptibility is linked to various regulation pathways. In this article the authors integrate the current understanding of signaling mechanisms for ferroptotic defences with a view to development of novel cancer therapeutic strategies. ### Article reference: Daiyun Xu, Yonghui Lu, Yongxiao Li, Shengbin Li, Zhe Wang and Junqing Wang, Ferroptosis Resistance in Cancer: An Emerging Crisis of New Hope, BIO Integration, 2021, https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 15212/ bioi-2020-0039 BIO Integration is fully open access journal which will allow for the rapid dissemination of multidisciplinary views driving the progress of modern medicine. As part of its mandate to help bring interesting work and knowledge from around the world to a wider audience, BIOI will actively support authors through open access publishing and through waiving author fees in its first years. Also, publication support for authors whose first language is not English will be offered in areas such as manuscript development, English language editing and artwork assistance. BIOI is now open for submissions; articles can be submitted online at: https:/ / mc04. manuscriptcentral. com/ bioi Please visit http://www. bio-integration. org to learn more about the journal. Editorial Board: https:/ / bio-integration. org/ editorial-board/ BIOI is available on the IngentaConnect platform (https:/ / www. ingentaconnect. com/ content/ cscript/ bioi ) and at the BIO Integration website (http://www. bio-integration. org ). Submissions may be made using ScholarOne (https:/ / mc04. manuscriptcentral. com/ bioi ). There are no author submission or article processing fees. Follow BIOI on Twitter @JournalBio; Facebook (https:/ / www. facebook. com/ BIO-Integration-Journal-108140854107716/ ) and LinkedIn (https:/ / www. linkedin. com/ company/ bio-integration-journal/ ). ISSN 2712-0074 eISSN 2712-0082 Keywords: Microfluidics, viscoelastic flow, mixing A doctor attends to a patient in an isolation ward at a hospital in Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, on Jan. 30, 2020. (Chinatopix via AP) Wuhan COVID-19 Whistleblower Doctor Ai Fen Accuses Local Eye Hospital of Malpractice In the past week, Ai Fen, a doctor in Wuhan who was among the first to alert colleagues about the new COVID-19 disease that was spreading in late 2019, has received attention on Chinese social media for exposing a botched cataract surgery she received at a local eye hospital. Ai, the head of the emergency department at Wuhan Central Hospital, posted a video on the social media platform Weibo on Dec. 31, 2020, revealing that she nearly lost her vision in her right eye after receiving cataract surgery at the Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital on May 25. She accused the head surgeon, Wang Yong, and the hospital, of malpractice. Aier Eye Hospital is Chinas leading ophthalmology hospital group with branches in Asia, Europe, and North America, according to the companys website. Cataract surgery, also called lens replacement surgery, involves removing the natural lens of the eye that has developed a cataract or a cloudy lens, and replacing it with an intraocular lens or a clear artificial lens. In the video, Ai recalled that after the initial phone consultation and in-person visit with Wang, he strongly recommended cataract surgery and a top-grade artificial lens. She followed his suggestion and paid around 29,000 yuan (about $4,488) for the lens. Soon after the surgery, Ai found out that her vision in her right eye deteriorated when she was at a doctors office to get a new pair of glasses. On July 9, she was surprised to learn that her eyesight, which was 0.2 prior to the operation, had dropped to 0.1. On Oct. 23, Ai was diagnosed with retinal detachment, which is a medical emergency that occurs when the retina at the back of the eye pulls away from supportive tissue. If the condition is not treated promptly, it can cause permanent vision loss. Ais poor eyesight affected her work and she left her job at the end of October. In the video, Ai claimed that the hospital surgeon failed to conduct funduscopic (eyeground) and peripheral retina examinations before the surgery; the hospital did not promptly respond to her complaint; and she was given medical records, including images from her surgery, that were not hers. Ai presented evidence of a document from one of the doctors at Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital, which confirmed that she did not receive an eyeground examination. However, Wang denied the accusation during a phone call with Ai and claimed that he did the examination, but it was an incomplete one. She recorded the conversation and uploaded it on her Weibo account. In response to Ais allegations, Wuhan Aier Eye Hospital issued an official statement on Jan. 4. The administrators claimed that Ai was given three images from her cataract operation, insisting that they were authentic. However, the hospital admitted to committing a few errors such as the staff only recorded the first post-opt re-examination and failed to record the other appointments; the staff didnt communicate clearly about the post-opt re-examination dates; and the lead surgeon failed to report Ais complaint promptly as required under hospital guidelines. The hospital administrators expressed remorse for Ais anxiety and pain. But the hospital did not apologize or say that it would take responsibility for the incident. The Chinese regime has gone to great lengths to conceal the spread of the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 disease. It silenced eight doctors, including Ai Fen and Li Wenliang, after they posted on Chinese social media about a new form of pneumonia spreading in Wuhan in late December 2019. Li, who later died of the disease himself, has been described as a martyr. State Police have contacted local law enforcement in the hometowns of the states seven members of Congress, asking them to be vigilant in case the Trump-fueled violence that was directed at the nations capital this week migrates to Connecticut. The additional security comes as members of Congress are calling for the immediate removal of President Trump from office before his term is up on Jan. 20. Some protesters who broke through barriers, pushed aside security officers and trashed offices in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday said they were inspired by the words of Trump. Connecticut authorities said there was no specific threat against public officials here. As for the state Capitol in Hartford, officials said they constantly review and update security measures and were not adding more in direct response to the events in Washington D.C. Brian Foley, spokesman for the state Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, confirmed Thursday that Commissioner James Rovella, after monitoring the violence in Washington on Wednesday, coordinated the Connecticut Terrorism and Intelligence Centers communications with law enforcement throughout the state. Rovella asked them to maintain situational awareness of events and provide extra attention as officials deem necessary. Certain local police departments were contacted directly, Foley said. While there is no specific threat, out of an abundance of caution, some early lines of communication were opened yesterday afternoon with some folks in D.C. and in-state that might have a heightened concern regarding their safety and security. With the help of C.T.I.C. as well as Connecticut State Police Troopers detached to our federal partners, our monitoring of these types of events does not stop. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Thursday that while he hadnt yet heard from Connecticut officials about supplementing his personal safety, he voiced confidence in them and cited occasions when he had to deal with threats. I feel very safe in Connecticut, Blumenthal said during a news conference from Washington. I have very good relationships with law enforcement throughout Connecticut. There have been times where there were physical threats against me and law enforcement responded very professionally and expertly and promptly. But Blumenthal was incensed by the security lapses that allowed the pro-Trump mob, encouraged by the president, to march to the Capitol building. He charged that the Department of Defense, aware of the threat, did little to help. All of law enforcement in the capital region is on notice that violence is not an abstract or hypothetical notion, Blumenthal said, calling for a massive review of the pre-riot intelligence and the security response. It is a real risk, and especially if the president continues to incite and fuel this kind of rioting and mob assault on our democracy, it will be something that has to be countered effectively. I have confidence in our military that our National Guard and other resources will be available to protect our physical safety going into January 20. Lessons must be learned. Lawmakers also called for the prosecution of people in Wednesday attack on the Capitol the first since the British raided and burned Washington in 1814. At the State Capitol on Wednesday, more than 100 metal barriers were set up to separate protesters from the outdoor swearing-in ceremonies for the 187 members of the House and Senate. While the demonstrations mostly by Trump supporters and people opposed to mandatory vaccinations for school children were noisy, there was only one arrest among the 500 protesters: a breach of peace charge against a former New Fairfield pharmacist who allegedly spat on someone. Dozens of State Capitol Police were on the scene for the demonstration on the 17-acre campus, where organizers had estimated 2,000 people would attend. While the State Capitol complex and other state office buildings have been closed to the public since last March in the pandemic, state officials said Thursday that security protocols are regularly assessed and updated, with guidance from the emergency services department. In a letter Thursday to legislative leaders, Capitol Police Chief Luiz Casanova said that while the Connecticut inauguration went smoothly, less can be said for the riot in Washington. It was a sad day to say the least, Casanova wrote. I want to assure you that my focus is to learn from yesterdays tragic events. Moving forward, I plan on carefully examining the Connecticut State Capitol Police training, equipment, planning and response protocols. Additionally, I will continue to build relationships with local law enforcement agencies and other partners to continue to foster strong mutual aid relationships. When they were open, all visitors to the Capitol, the nearby Legislative Office Building and other state buildings were required to submit to screening by metal detectors. We had some demonstrations here yesterday, as I am sure you are aware. and I think the Capitol police and state police handled it well, with local police, Gov. Ned Lamont said Thursday during his regular coronavirus news briefing. The ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to spread, with the virus responsible for it, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) undergoing many mutations that have affected its infectivity. Now, an intriguing recent study appeared on the bioRxiv * preprint server describes the use of in vitro evolution to elicit affinity maturation of the viral receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the spike protein to bind the host cell angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) with greater affinity. Infection pathway The virus infects via airborne particles, in droplets, and on infected surfaces. It interacts with the receptor via its RBD. This results in the spike glycoprotein cleavage by the host serine protease, TMPRSS2, to generate a fusion peptide that mediates virus-cell membrane fusion. This allows the virus to enter the host cell. The use of specific antibodies to block the ACE2 receptor prevents virus entry, therefore. The binding affinity of the spike protein for the ACE2 receptor is at ~10 nM, which is about ten times higher than the affinity of the earlier SARS-CoV virus, and this may be partly responsible for the higher infectivity of the current virus. This is supported by the sequencing of late mutations from South African and British variants, which seems to enhance binding to the receptor. Now that several vaccines claiming high efficacy have been rolled out, many countries are beginning the process of immunizing their citizens. Nonetheless, since 100% protection is not available, and since the older and sicker part of the population is at particularly high risk for the disease, especially from newly emerging variants, the need for effective antivirals to be developed remains. Some of the potential targets for such drugs include the spike protein, the ACE2 receptor, and TMPRSS2. One notable approach has been the development of neutralizing high-affinity antibodies, soluble human recombinant ACE2 or repurposed TMPRSS2 inhibitors. The current paper also deals with the ability of the RBD itself to inhibit the ACE2 receptor binding site competitively. This can happen only if the affinity of the RBD is much higher, at picomolar levels. Enhanced yeast display benefits over traditional method. The use of enhanced yeast display enables elimination of DNA purification procedures between libraries (step II.); exclusion of antibody-based expression labeling procedure (step VI.), and the bright reporters eUnaG2 (orange points, step 4.) or DnbALFA (green points, step 4.) allow for ultra-tight binding selection, with reduced background and increased sensitivity in a reduced time frame (20). Study details The researchers used a yeast display platform to select mutations in the RBD for high-affinity binding to ACE2. This helped them to identify the most abundant among the naturally occurring RBD mutations, namely, S477N, E484K, and N501Y. These are associated with various variants like the South African (E484K, N501Y) and British (N501Y), variants that have a 13-fold and a 3.5-fold higher binding affinity for ACE2, compared to the wild-type variant. The S477N mutation is characteristic of the European mutations. The South African has the highest binding affinity, among all these, at 126 pM, relative to 1.6nM for the wild-type virus. Mutations linked to prevalence When they plotted the mutations in the Global Initiative for Sharing All Influenza Data (GISAID) database against the apparent change in the binding affinity of the RBD variant to the ACE2 receptor, by deep mutational scanning, they found that the greater the prevalence of the mutation, the higher the binding affinity at that position. In short, these mutations were not randomly selected, but the most abundant variant in the population has the highest binding affinity at the mutated position. With E484R, two nucleotides in the same codon must be changed, which will require multiple random mutations to occur. This accounts for its slow spread but will not lead to its dying out. Secondly, they also found that mutations that become abundant in the population do not impact the protein's stability, which indicates that protein stability is an essential limitation on the type of mutation that is selected. They then examined the possibility of achieving a much higher affinity of binding. This line of investigation would help predict some future lines of SARS-Cov-2 evolution. In parallel, a very tight binder could be used to block ACE2 receptors and prevent viral binding as well. The researchers then carried out three more rounds of yeast display to generate an enriched library of high-affinity RBDs, with several accumulated mutations. Most of these were single-nucleotide changes, but some required changes at two nucleotide positions. The latter was found at the periphery rather than at the binding interface, in agreement with earlier computational fast association (FA) library design. Cryo-EM structure of the ACE2-RBD-62 complex at 2.9 A resolutions. A) The Cryo-EM electron density map with ACE2 (cyan), RBD-62 RBM (magenta), and RBD core (pink). B) Cartoon representation of the ACE2-RBD-62 model with eight mutations resolved in the electron density map (orange). C) The S477N, Q498R and N501Y mutations depicted in RBM (orange spheres) interacting with S19, Q42 and K353 of ACE2 respectively (cyan spheres) are situated at the two extremes of the RBD-ACE2 interface, suggested to stabilizing the complex. D) The interaction network formed between RBD-62 mutations and ACE2. RBD-WT residues are in white (heteroatom coloring schema). E) Electrostatic complementarity between RBD and ACE2 is strengthened in RBD-62 by positive charges at positions N460K, E484K, and Q498R. The black line one ACE2 indicates the RBD binding site. RBD-62 blocks viral entry at low concentrations The researchers found that one of the clones, RBD-62, had a 600-fold increase in affinity over the wild-type RBD, accompanied by a 4 0C increase in thermostability. The RBD-62-ACE2 complex was structurally similar to that of the wild-type RBD. RBD-62 has nine mutations, and three of its segments are not stabilized by its contacts with ACE2 because they are on the opposite side. The most significant differences were observed on the receptor-binding motif (RBM). S477N, Q498R, and N501Y were three of the mutations that stabilize the complex, being at the two ends of the binding interface. RBD-62 also has a much more positive surface, allowing stronger binding to the negatively charged ACE2 RBD binding surface. The N477 mutation also interacts with the S19 residue on the ACE2. RBD-62 also does not inhibit the catalytic activity of ACE2, which is crucial in its protective role in the human body via the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAS). Finally, they found that both wild-type RBD and RBD-62 inhibited viral entry, reducing the half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) from the near-90 picomolar range to the below-10 picomolar range. RBD-62 also prevented viral entry into and replication in over 99% of the cells, compared to only 75% with the wild-type RBD. "The complete blockage of viral replication, using a low nM concentration of RBD-62 makes it a promising drug candidate." The use of combinatorial selection has allowed information to be gathered on the most important mutations, which can be used to identify emerging mutations. The researchers predict the possibility that the E484R variant will gain dominance, especially if it is coupled with the N501Y mutation, but the S494P mutation will not spread rapidly. The Q498 R mutation requires a tyrosine to be added at position 501, and this paired mutation increases the affinity to below 100 pM. This position should therefore be watched carefully, for its imminent appearance, especially as R498 is in a hypervariable location of the RBD. S12 RBD-62 mutations are interfering with binding to multiple antibodies. The RBD-62 (magenta) was structurally overlayed with RBD-WT (white). S477N, E484K, Q498R, and N501Y RBD mutated residues were analyzed for disruptive contacts/clashes with corresponding binding antibody/nanobody (green) in relation to RBD-WT. Four examples A) PDB ID: 6YZ5, B) PDB ID: 7CAN, C) PDB ID: 7JVB, D) PDB ID: 7CHE, where RBD-62 (but not RBD-WT) forms serious clashes with the second chain. Further experimental evaluation is needed to support our observation. What are the implications? RBD-62 is, therefore, "not only [a] valuable source of information but also a "crystal ball" to predict future virus evolution steps." It contains many currently circulating mutations. When tested for antibody binding, it reduces the number of contacts for 56/92 antibodies, while in nine cases, there is major steric hindrance. Most of these effects are due to E484R and Q498R. This indicates that drugs and vaccines must be closely followed up for their ability to bind to RBDs carrying current and future mutations. And finally, the researchers advise immediate work to understand whether poorly-designed face masks are just allowing the spread to these mutations with higher binding affinity in the population. Such masks reduce the virus's concentration in exhaled air, stimulating the spread of those variants with higher binding affinity rather than the wild-type virus. If so, high-quality face masks should be made mandatory to keep exhaled viral titers too low to produce infection, as with the N95 masks. *Important Notice bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. WASHINGTON (AP) The head of the U.S. Capitol Police will resign effective Jan. 16 following the breach of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. Chief Steven Sund said Thursday that police had planned for a free speech demonstration and did not expect the violent attack. He said it was unlike anything hed experienced in his 30 years in law enforcement. He resigned Thursday after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on him to step down. His resignation was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly. The breach halted the effort by Congress to certify President-elect Joe Bidens victory. Protesters stormed the building and occupied for hours. The lawmakers eventually returned and finished their work. Three days before supporters of President Donald Trump rioted at the Capitol, the Pentagon asked the U.S Capitol Police if it needed National Guard manpower. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The police turned them down both times, according to a defense official and two people familiar with the matter. They told The Associated Press that the Capitol Police had planned for a free speech demonstration and didnt need more help. But the Capitol ended up being overrun. The failure also raised questions about the treatment of mainly white Trump supporters, compared with the Black and brown protesters across the country who demonstrated last year over police brutality. The siege of the U.S. Capitol by President Donald Trumps supporters has raised painful new questions across government. Discussions are underway about Trump's fitness to remain in office for two more weeks, the ability of the police to secure the complex and the future of the Republican Party. One Republican lawmaker publicly joined Democrats in calling for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to force Trump out. Lawmakers announced a review of Capitol police actions. Meanwhile, Trump promised an orderly transition on Jan. 20, when Biden is to be inaugurated. This is a developing story and will be updated with more details as they emerge. Why Meyersdale nursing care workers are protesting According to its website, the skilled nursing facility has the lone Veterans Administration contract in Somerset County. Ontario Government Funds Safety Measures for Forestry Jobs Forestry businesses, which were declared essential in Canada, will receive support from the Ontario government to aid in workplace safety. The government in Ontario, Canada announced on January 6 that it is investing $5.3 million to assist forest sector businesses with the cost of coronavirus safety measures. The investment is funded through the federal Forest Sector Safety Measures Fund, which was introduced on July 10, 2020. The $5.3 million will be used to set up sanitation stations, enhanced cleaning, worker training, measures to increase social distancing and the purchase of PPE. Protecting workers in our forest sector was one of the federal governments early commitments during the pandemic, said Seamus ORegan, Canadas Minister of Natural Resources. We said we would be there for Canadians through COVID-19 and we are delivering. The forest industry was deemed an essential sector in Canada due to its role in supplying forest products that are essential for things like hygiene, medical supplies, food packaging and shipping materials. More information on the program and terms of eligibility can be found at ontario.ca. Lebanon on January 7 began a 25-day nationwide lockdown as coronavirus infections hit a record and patients overwhelmed the health care sector. According to Associated Press, the tiny Mediterranean country on Wednesday broke its single-day record of new cases, with nearly 4,166 infections reported in 24 hours. Now, under the new restrictions, which is the third since the first case was reported in late February in 2020, a daily 6pm to 5pm curfew takes effect that will last until February 1. While speaking to the Local LBC TV Station, outgoing Health Minister Hamad Hassan said, The best way to limit the spread is to stay at home. The surge in the number of cases comes after a holiday season in which tens of thousands of visitors flew to the country in a bid to celebrate Christmas and New Years. On Wednesday, the country reported 21 new deaths related to COVID-19, taking the total number to deaths to 1,500. First responders in Lebanon have said that they have been transporting nearly 100 patients a day to hospitals that are now reporting near-full occupancy in beds and intensive care units. READ: Morocco To Normalise Ties With Israel As US Agrees To Its Sovereignty over Western Sahara Lebanons vaccination plan Lebanon has reserved nearly 2 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to fight the coronavirus, an amount that covers up to 20% of Lebanese. Last month, the Health Minister said his government has been negotiating with the company to acquire the vaccines and that they are expected to be in Lebanon by February. Assem Araji, the lawmaker who heads the parliamentary health committee, said the deal being negotiated is for $18 a dose, a price that takes into consideration Lebanons economic troubles. The $27 million deal would secure 1.5 million vaccines while the country negotiates to receive closer to 2 million. READ: Israeli Army: Paralyzed Palestinian Shot In Self-defense Additionally, Lebanon has also signed another 1.5 million vaccines with COVAX, the World Health Organization-led partnership with humanitarian organizations that aims to provide vaccines for up to 20% of the population of poor countries hit hard by the pandemic. Lebanon has deposited $4.3 million to secure the COVAX vaccines, Araji said. Both vaccines would be offered for free in Lebanon. Meanwhile, the Mediterranean countrys health sector is also under strain amid the economic crunch and following this summers massive explosion in Beirut that temporarily knocked a number of hospitals out of service. The shortage of hard currency in Lebanon has severely curbed imports to the import-dependent country, including medicine and medical supplies. Many medicines are reportedly missing at pharmacies as the crisis worsens. (Image: AP) READ: US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin Says US Capitol Violence 'unacceptable' READ: Syrian Army Says It Intercepted Israeli Missiles The sanctions that the US is preparing against Turkey over the purchase of the Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems are disrespectful for a NATO partner, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said today, Anadolu Agency reports. "The US sanctions against Turkey, an important NATO ally, are disrespectful. This is how I see it," the Turkish leader stressed. In the early hey-days of the Range Rover, following its introduction in the 1970s, it was the vehicle of choice for the British rangers. The... The nation is in peril, and America deserves better. America deserves leaders who will honor the constitution, protect our democracy and unite the nation. We dont deserve leaders who spread lies to try to nullify free and fair elections, because their candidate lost. We dont deserve leaders who stand with right-wing extremists and incite them to violence, as happened on Jan. 6. And we dont deserve to have the seat of Americas democracy defiled by traitors, as it was after the president sent them marching down Pennsylvania Avenue. [A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi as he protest inside the US Capitol in Washington, DC, January 6, 2021. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images Many rightly fear, that as long as President Donald J. Trump remains in office, the nation is in peril. As long as he is in office, the most extreme among his supporters will look for drastic opportunities to win his favor. For the good of the nation, we hope President Trump resigns. And we hope those elected officials who aided and abetted his dangerous behavior do so, as well. As long as President Trump remains in office, there is sound reason to fear the nation and all Americans are in peril. Be warned. We are now naked and vulnerable to a world of enemies eager to exploit any weakness. Iran, Russia, China and the terrorist in the cave in Afghanistan are watching us implode. Do we really think they wont try to take advantage of the chaos that has weakened the presidency, Congress and the entire nation? Do we remember Sept. 11, 2001? Sen. Robert Casey Jr. speaks against the violence at the nation's Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Sen. Bob Casey put it this way: " . . . domestic terrorists, inspired, encouraged and emboldened by President Donald Trump, attacked the U.S. Capitol Building in furtherance of an attempted coup. . . President Trump is a threat to our domestic and national security. Sen. Pat Toomey added this: We witnessed today the damage that can result when men in power and responsibility refuse to acknowledge the truth. . . We saw bloodshed, because a demagogue chose to spread falsehoods and sow distrust of his own fellow Americans. Lets not abet such deception. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., speaks during a ceremony Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Washington. Toomey will not seek re-election in 2022, according to a person with direct knowledge of Toomey's plans, Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) APAP No American, let alone those elected to represent us in the halls of power, should abet such deception. More and more Republicans and Democrats now say President Trump has abused his power and betrayed the American people. He has encouraged the worst elements of our society to wreak havoc on our democracy. And many fear he is a clear and present danger to every American. If President Trump cared about the country, he would resign to stabilize the government, calm his extremist supporters and stop the bloodshed. Five people died in the rioting and vandalism that his supporters unleashed at the Capitol. No one wants to see any more such violence. Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., read the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in November's presidential election during a joint session of Congress after working through the night, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. Violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol Wednesday, disrupting the process. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, Pool)AP We all know the odds of President Trump resigning are slim. So, whether they succeed or not, lawmakers are wise to seek ways to remove him from office. As long as this president remains in the White House, the nation is in serious danger. And we will regret haven given such power to a man undeserving of the nations trust. Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work. How does Panasonic stand out in a crowded TV market? By courting new PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X owners, apparently. The electronics giant has unveiled its 2021 flagship OLED TV, the JZ2000, and its centerpiece is an HCX Pro AI Processor that not only improves picture quality (more on that in a moment), but delivers a big boost to gaming performance. The 4K set promises some of the very lowest latency youll find in an OLED TV, Panasonic says, and thats reportedly due to the companys customization rather than the panel alone. A new Game Mode Extreme setting will cut lag, optimize the picture and support HDMI 2.1s variable refresh rate and high refresh rate options. It might be ideal for a living room PC, too, thanks to HDMI Signal Power Link support that helps computers and old set-top boxes talk to CEC-equipped devices. As you might guess from the processors name, Panasonic is joining Sony in relying on AI to improve picture quality. The HCX Pro AI chip can identify the content youre viewing and auto-adjust the image and sound to match. Thats particularly important when the set includes upward- and side-firing speakers (on top of the usual front audio) with Dolby Atmos support. Panasonic was shy on screen specs, but said its once again using an extra-bright custom OLED panel that should help with HDR modes including Dolby Vision IQ and HDR10+ Adaptive. There are some software improvements, including quicker access to common settings, dual-device Bluetooth audio support and your choice of restful pictures and videos. Pricing and ship dates werent available as we wrote this, but Panasonic will sell the JZ2000 in 55- and 65-inch versions. Suffice it to say this could be worth a look if you handle most of your gaming on the couch. Iran to be held liable to establish justice, ensure payment of compensation to victims' families, affected states - statement On the anniversary of the tragedy of flight PS752 near Tehran, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Great Britain, Canada and Sweden made a joint statement promising to bring Iran to justice "in order to establish justice and ensure that Iran fully compensates the families of the victims and the affected states," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said. "One year ago, in the early morning of January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was downed by two Iranian military surface-to-air missiles near Tehran. Today we honor the memory of those who perished and offer our sincere condolences to all who mourn the victims of the PS752 tragedy. We share the grief of the families, relatives and friends who lost loved ones," the countries' joint statement posted on the official website of Ukrainian Foreign Ministry on Friday morning reads. On the anniversary of the tragic date of the downing of plane of PS752 flight, the designated countries called on Iran to provide immediate comprehensive information on the tragedy. "We urgently call on Iran to provide a complete and thorough explanation of the events and decisions that led to this appalling plane crash, including concrete measures to ensure that it will never happen again. Our countries will hold Iran to account to deliver justice and make sure Iran makes full reparations to the families of the victims and affected countries," the statement says. The UIA Boeing 737-800 passenger plane, which was supposed to operate flight PS752 on the Tehran-Kyiv route, was shot down near the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran immediately after takeoff early in the morning on January 8, 2020. There were 167 passengers and nine crew members onboard. They all died. Among the dead there were 11 citizens of Ukraine (including nine crew members), 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and three citizens of Great Britain. On January 11, Iranian authorities said that Boeing was shot down by mistake by the Iranian military. Later, Commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Amir Ali Hajizadeh took full responsibility for the Ukrainian plane crash. At the end of July, negotiations were held in Kyiv with the Iranian side to pay compensation for the downed UIA plane. On October 20, Ukraine and Iran completed the second round of negotiations on the downed UIA plane near Tehran. On January 5, Ukraine received from Iran a draft technical report on the circumstances of the Boeing 737-800 crash. A Pakistani anti-terrorism court on Friday convicted and sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operations commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi on charges of terror financing, though India dismissed the development as a farcical action made with an eye on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). The anti-terrorism court in Lahore found Lakhvi guilty under three sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act for running a dispensary to raise funds for terror financing. The judge gave Lakhvi separate five-year prison terms under each section, to be served concurrently. The court also imposed fines totalling Pakistan Rs 300,000 on Lakhvi and said he would face additional jail time of 18 months if he failed to pay up. Lakhvi was present in court during the hearing and judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar directed police to send him to jail to serve his sentence. This is the first time that Lakhvi, accused of masterminding the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, has been convicted of a terrorism-related offense. However, a spokesman for the Counter-Terrorism Department of Pakistans Punjab province told media he had been arrested for terror financing and not for any specific militant attack. In New Delhi, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava, told a regular news briefing hours after the sentencing, that Pakistans farcical actions appeared to be aimed at an upcoming review by the FATF of the countrys efforts to counter terror financing. He also called for credible action by Pakistan against terror groups. The timing of these actions clearly suggests the intention of conveying a sense of compliance ahead of the APG (Asia-Pacific Group) meeting and the next FATF plenary meeting in February. It has become routine for Pakistan to come up with such farcical actions prior to important meetings, he said. UN-proscribed entities and designated terrorists act as proxies for the Pakistani establishment to fulfil its anti-India agenda. It is for the international community to hold Pakistan to account and ensure that it takes credible action against terror groups, terror infrastructure and individual terrorists, he added. Also Read: Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi: UN-designated terrorist, 26/11 mastermind Lakhvi was convicted and sentenced in his first appearance in court after his arrest on terror financing charges on January 2. The judge said in his order that the prosecution had proved Lakhvi was using the dispensary to raise funds to finance terrorism and that there was sufficient evidence in the form of oral testimonies. The court also directed authorities to arrest Lakhvis associate, Abu Anas Mohsin, who was involved in running the dispensary. The courts order said Lakhvi will serve his sentence in Rawalpindis Adiala Jail, where he was held earlier after he was arrested in connection with the Mumbai attacks. He was freed on bail in 2015 but reports had suggested that he had continued to guide the LeTs operations even when he was in jail earlier. Last year, LeT founder Hafiz Saeed was convicted and sentenced in five separate cases of terror financing. He was given prison terms ranging from five years to fifteen-and-half years that will run concurrently. Several close aides of Saeed were also sentenced in cases of terror financing. Pakistan was retained in FATFs grey list last year for failing to fully deliver on an action plan to fight terror financing, and the multilateral watchdog has given the country time till February to address what it said were very serious deficiencies. The FATFs plenary and working group meetings during February 21-26 will review Pakistans case, and this will be preceded by another assessment by APG. Chattanooga has just implemented a new online system for business owners to apply for a permit to sell beer. The new application process is welcomed by the nine members of the Chattanooga Beer Board who volunteer their time. Many lengthy meetings take place with few beer license applications being approved due to the business owners not having all the required inspections or documentation that is required by the city. Assistant City Attorney Melinda Foster told multiple applicants at the Thursday morning meeting of the beer board that permits cannot be approved contingent upon receiving information later. On Thursday, just two out of six applicants were prepared with all that is needed to receive a permit to sell or serve beer. The owner of Menlo Park Neighborhood Grocery Store, 3630 Ridgeside Road, had not passed fire and building inspections and the business LLC was inactive. The new restaurant Cherry Street Tavern, had no land line telephone, which is required by the city so the location can be identified by 911. One of the owners of Fuji Steak & Sushi, 5437 Highway 153, had not provided proof of citizenship and documentation of a background check. And Sonesta Select Chattanooga, 2210 Bams Dr., which has bought the former Courtyard by Marriott, had not passed the final building or fire inspections. Each of these applications had to be rescheduled to the next board meeting on Jan. 21. The new online application process will make sure that all the needed information has been provided before the business owner is scheduled to be at a beer board meeting. As it is filled out, the application cannot move forward to completion if required information has not been supplied. Just two businesses out of six applications were approved for beer sales on Thursday. Two Ten Jack, 1110 Market Street Suite FC4, located in Warehouse Row, described as a Japanese inspired neighborhood pub is an existing restaurant. Because of an ownership change, the new beer permit was needed. Harrys #43, 3637 Hixson Pike near Ashland Terrace was formerly a Mapco convenience store. One of the new owners, Saurin Patel, told the board that IDs would be checked with a new point of sale system that will require all employees to enter a date of birth before a sale can be processed. Board member Trevor Atchley encouraged the owner to monitor employees and audit transactions to ensure that fictitious dates are not used. The beer board members also serve as the Chattanooga Wrecker Board. On Thursday morning, Chattanooga Police Officer John Collins, who is also the wrecker inspector, brought Gudels Wrecker Service to the board over multiple issues involving towing cancellations. A wrecker permit holder that is on the citys towing rotation list must maintain an operable and properly equipped wrecker and qualified operator on duty at all times to promptly respond to police calls. Officer Collins said he receives a list of cancellations from 911 dispatchers ever month. They are categorized as no fault if the city cancels the tow, and as fault if the responsibility of the cancellation is due to the towing company. Officer Collins listed five incidents in a three-month period that a tow was not available from Gudelss Wrecker Service when city dispatchers called. The owner, Helen Keef, told the board that the business was 41 years old and has had no prior violations since it has been on the rotation list. She disputed some of the cancellations, saying they had been made by the city, and she admitted a couple were the fault of her company. In one incident, the driver lost a key to the fenced lot at 4 a.m. and did not call the owner. She said, Its hard to find good employees, but now a new driver has been hired for night calls. She said she guaranteed no calls will be missed and pleaded to stay on the rotation. Attorney Foster said that even though Ms. Keef admitted to just some of the charges and others are questionable, the only choice provided for in the citys wrecker code is an automatic sanction of taking a company off the rotation list for 30 days if they are found in violation. Feeling that removal from the rotation list for a month would be a big loss for a small business, and too harsh a punishment, and with no lesser penalty available, Board Members Vince Butler, Christopher Keene, Bill Glascock and Ron Smith voted to dismiss charges with three votes in favor. The motion failed because five votes out of the nine-member board are needed to carry a motion. A second vote to suspend the company for 30 days also failed to pass. The decision was postponed until the Jan. 21 meeting when more members will be present. Advertisement Donald Trump prepared for his incendiary speech by getting hyped up while family members party and dance in astonishing behind the scenes video shot hours before Wednesday's US Capitol riots. The footage - live streamed by Donald Trump Jr. - shows his father, Ivanka and brother Eric geeing themselves up as they get ready to go on stage for the Save America March. Trump Jr. hails the amassing crowd nearby as 'awesome patriots that are sick of the bulls**t' before panning the camera around to reveal girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle dancing to '80s pop song Gloria by the late singer Laura Branigan. Inside a private marquee, the President can be seen watching his supporters intently on monitors, occasionally glancing down at his notes and chatting to aides. 'Unfortunately there's a road in between the main crowd and the masses, I'd love to see them getting in closer because that would be pretty awesome, but this is pretty incredible,' Don Jr. says in the video that was posted to social media but has since been removed. Donald Trump prepared for his incendiary speech by getting hyped up while family members party and dance in astonishing behind the scenes video shot hours before Wednesday's US Capitol riots The footage - live streamed by Donald Trump Jr. - shows his father, Ivanka and brother Eric geeing themselves up as they get ready to go on stage for the Save America March Trump Jr. hails the amassing crowd nearby as 'awesome patriots that are sick of the bulls**t' before panning the camera around to reveal girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle dancing to blaring '80s pop music The party atmosphere is in stark contrast to the sickening scenes beamed across the globe hours later as Trump's supporters routed police and attacked Congress as it tried to certify Joe Biden's election win 'I think we are T-minus a couple of seconds here guys,' he adds excitedly, before introducing Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows as an 'actual fighter, one of the few.' Meadows responds with a grin and a thumbs up before Guilfoyle comes into shot, clenching her fist and urging: 'Have the courage to do the right thing, fight.' The party atmosphere is in stark contrast to the sickening scenes beamed across the globe hours later as Trump's supporters routed police and attacked Congress as it tried to certify Joe Biden's election win. Five people perished in the carnage, including a female rioter shot at close range deep inside the heart of the Capitol building and a cop who died later from his injuries. Kathy Golik, who manages Branigan's legacy after she died in 2004, blasted the use of the song, tweeting: 'Its absolutely appalling to hear Gloria being played in the background of a widely-circulating video of Pres. Trump from yesterday, given the tragic, unsettling, & shameful happenings that occurred at the US Capitol. 'Its very sad & upsetting to see Lauras beautiful memory & legacy have any association w/ Pres. Trump & such a dark day in US history. 'Neither Laura, nor her music, deserve any unwarranted fallout due to the actions of others.' Moments after Don Jr. stopped filming Wednesday, Trump stood in front of the White House and told the crowds he would 'never concede' November's election. His oldest son addressed the rally with his own expletive-laden speech, thanking attendees for 'being in this fight with us' and 'standing up to the bulls**t,' before taking aim at everyone from Democrats to transgender athletes. Fox News cut away from its live feed of the event after his comments went to air uncensored. 'I think we are T-minus a couple of seconds here guys,' he adds excitedly, before introducing Trump's Chief of Staff Mark Meadows as an 'actual fighter, one of the few' Don Jr. addressed the rally with his own expletive-laden speech, thanking attendees for 'being in this fight with us' and 'standing up to the bulls**t,' before taking aim at everyone from Democrats to transgender athletes Eric Trump went on to deliver a similar rallying cry, telling the crowds: 'We live in the greatest country in the world, and we will never, ever, ever stop fighting' Five people perished in the carnage, including a female rioter shot at close range deep inside the heart of the Capitol building and a cop who died later from his injuries Eric Trump went on to deliver a similar rallying cry, telling the crowds: 'We live in the greatest country in the world, and we will never, ever, ever stop fighting.' Lara Trump, who claims her father will run for President again in 2014, added: 'Our family didn't get in this fight for just four years. We are in this fight to the bitter end.' It wasn't until Thursday night, more than 24 hours after his supporters trashed the Capitol building and sent lawmakers scurrying for safety, that Trump released a recorded statement calling for 'healing and reconciliation.' Trump announced Friday he will snub Joe Biden's inauguration ceremony on January 20th, while his remaining aides and allies described him as a 'total monster' and 'mad King George' as his presidency ends in chaos. Trump isolated himself from his staff and the Republican Party, holed up in the Oval Office with a bunker mentality as aides pleaded with him to send a message of healing to the country in the aftermath of the MAGA mob storming Capitol Hill. He returned to Twitter Thursday night - after the social media network locked his account - with a call for 'peace' and 'unity' although no acknowledgment of his own role in whipping up the mob who stormed the Capitol, leaving a dead police officer and four dead of their own in their wake. It wasn't until Thursday night, more than 24 hours after his supporters trashed the Capitol building and sent lawmakers scurrying for safety, that Trump released a recorded statement calling for 'healing and reconciliation' But on Friday morning, the peacemaking ended: he launched a tweet partly in all capitals to thank his supporters, calling them 'great American Patriots.' 'The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!,' he wrote. And he announced, in a break with historical tradition, that he will snub his successor on Inauguration Day. 'To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,' he declared. IIT Bombay said that the link of the mock exam will open the test software on the students' browser and is provided only to give a feel for the exam. The UCEED and CEED 2021 mock tests have been released by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay on its official website - uceed.iitb.ac.in. The mock test is designed and optimised to run on a computer browser and may not work on a tablet or other mobile devices. The Undergraduate Common Entrance Examination for Design (UCEED) and CEED (Common Entrance Examination for Design) this year will be conducted on 17 January. The exams will be held in 24 cities across the country. The admit card for the exams has been released on 1 January. IIT Bombay said that the link of the mock exam will open the test software on the students' browser and is provided only to give a feel for the exam. It will enable the examinees to know how to answer the paper, go to the next question, keep the answer under review among others. The login details are already filled in and students will just be required to click on the Sign In button to start taking the mock test. Candidates have been asked not to try to login with their UCEED 2021 registration ID and password for the mock test. As per a report by Careers 360, the UCEED and CEED 2021 mock test will also show timer on the top right-hand corner that will let students know how much time they have to finish the exam. The test window will close itself as soon as the time ends. A report by NDTV said that the paper has three sections -- NAT, MSQ and MCQ. For every right answer, students will get 4 marks, while for an incorrect answer 0.19 marks will be deducted. Steps to take UCEED and CEED mock test 2021: Step 1: Log on to the official website -- uceed.iitb.ac.in. Step 2: On the homepage, click on the practice link. Step 3: You will be directed to a new page, where you will just have to tap on Sign In. Step 4: Read the instructions carefully and click on the Next button. Step 5: Check the declaration box and tap on I am ready to begin tab. Step 6: UCEED and CEED mock test 2021 will begin. IIT Bombay will be conducting the entrance exam under the guidance of the UCEED-CEED Implementation Committee 2021. LAST Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and his team made their usual weekly briefing on the status of the coronavirus in Trinidad and Tobago. Given the rise in cases, the addition of a state of emergency was added to the existing public health measures, setting a curfew from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 18:49:33|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China will keep the macro leverage ratio basically stable in 2021, the country's central bank governor has said. The COVID-19 blow to the Chinese economy led to a hike in the ratio of the country's total liabilities to its GDP last year, according to Yi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China, in an interview with Xinhua. As the pace of growth in the ratio has slowed since the third quarter of 2020, it is estimated that the ratio will get back in the zone of basic stability, Yi said. Accordingly, the central bank needs to unveil measures to prevent the accumulation of financial risks while supporting the real economy, said the governor, calling for appropriate handling of risks related to individual financial institutions and key fields. More efforts should be made to bolster the regulatory system for the financial sectors, and ensure the risks are addressed in compliance with laws and regulations, Yi said. The central bank should also seek new approaches to replenish the capital for small and medium-sized banks, and intensify crackdown on illegal behaviors, he added. Enditem OTTAWA - Sen. Don Plett is facing calls for his resignation as Conservative leader in the Senate after choosing to vacation in Mexico over the holidays. OTTAWA - Sen. Don Plett is facing calls for his resignation as Conservative leader in the Senate after choosing to vacation in Mexico over the holidays. But Plett is not the only senator who travelled abroad even as Canadians were being told to stay home to curb the spread of COVID-19. Conservative Sen. Don Plett arrives at the Senate, Tuesday October 29, 2013 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Sen. Vern White, a former Conservative who now sits with the Canadian Senators Group, has admitted to the CBC that he went to Finland to visit his wife's parents. And four other senators have not responded to repeated questions from The Canadian Press about whether they've left the country since Dec. 1. The vast majority 87 of the current roster of 93 senators say they have stayed home, as recommended by public health authorities. Indeed, most said they haven't travelled anywhere since the pandemic began sweeping Canada last March. "Personally, I find it insulting to Canadians when politicians promote or recommend rules that they themselves dont follow," said Sen. Rosa Galvez, a member of the Independent Senators Group. "Im appalled that the leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Donald Plett, travelled to a resort in Mexico when he berated the prime minister for going to a close-by cottage this summer and he stated in his end-of-year message, 'We cannot travel and gather as we normally would.'" Galvez said Conservative Leader Erin O'Toole should remove Plett as his Senate leader, just as MPs from multiple parties have been stripped of their committee and other parliamentary duties for failing to abide by public health instructions. However, O'Toole's office has said it's not up to the leader. The party's Senate leader is chosen by Conservative senators. Sen. Marilou McPhedran, also a member of the Independent Senators Group, doubted that Conservative senators will choose to punish Plett. "Most of them have followed his preference for not wearing a mask in the Senate chamber much of the time, thereby exposing the rest of us, but particularly more vulnerable members of their own caucus sitting nearer to them, to their aerosol expulsions for hours on end," McPhedran said. "So it seems doubtful that they will see Sen. Pletts decision to vacation outside Canada to be a significant reflection on his leadership." Most of the 20 Conservative senators declined to comment on Plett's future. One, Sen. Elizabeth Marshall, said in an email: "I consider any concerns I have about Senator Pletts travel an internal matter." Two Conservative senators expressed support for Plett. "Sen. Plett continues to have my full confidence as the Conservative Senate caucus leader," Sen. Linda Frum said in an email. "He made a mistake, he acknowledged that mistake, and we need to move forward." On Monday, a spokesperson for Plett said the senator travelled to Mexico on Dec. 28. Upon his arrival, he "reflected on his decision to travel" and immediately made arrangements to return home to Manitoba on Dec. 31. Plett's arrival in Mexico would have coincided with the furor that erupted over the Dec. 29 revelation that Ontario's finance minister, Rod Phillips, was vacationing on the Caribbean island of St. Barts. Phillips resigned several days later. Plett is now quarantining for 14 days, as required by Manitoba public health protocols. A spokesperson for Conservative Sen. Salma Ataullahjan said the senator does not feel that Plett should resign as Senate leader. "The government has not called for a clear ban on international travel, therefore those who made a choice to travel have to (follow) the guidelines on how to protect themselves and others before, during and after they travel," the spokesperson noted. "Sen. Plett is self-isolating after his travel as he should, and that should not impact his position as leader of the Opposition." Plett's office declined to comment on his future. The Canadian Press contacted all 93 senators to see if any others vacationed outside the country. Five, including White, did not respond to repeated email and phone messages. White did, however, tell the CBC on Wednesday that he was in quarantine in Finland, in accordance with that country's pandemic guidelines, after travelling there with his family on Dec. 28. The other four non-responders included Sen. Scott Tannas, leader of the Canadian Senators Group, and his deputy leader, Josee Verner. Verner aide Renee Farrell initially said she didn't know if the senator had travelled outside the country and promised to check with the senator. She did not respond to subsequent email and phone messages over several days. The other non-responders were Jean-Guy Dagenais of the Canadian Senators Group, and Rosemary Moodie of the Independent Senators Group. Meanwhile, Governor General Julie Payette said she has not left the country since the start of the pandemic in March and has restricted her movements in Canada to those needed to carry out her constitutional duties and to care for her teenage son and older parents in Montreal. In a video message Thursday to Canadians, in which she urged people to continue to be vigilant, Payette said: "Like you, I have had to adapt to these unprecedented circumstances. As a scientist, I take epidemic outbreaks very seriously, and that is why we closed Rideau Hall at the outset of the pandemic to ensure the safety of our staff and the health of our visitors. "Like you, I have strictly minimized contacts other than through digital means. " This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2021. Note to readers: This is a corrected story. Earlier version had Jean-Guy Dagenais as a Conservative senator. He is in fact a member of the Canadian Senators Group. Nicolas Cage turned 57 this week. The Oscar-winners films will no doubt go down as some of the greatest and weirdest of all time. You can see him now in Netflixs new comedy series The History of Expletives. To wish the film icon a happy birthday, well share our 10 favorite films of his. Well cover plenty of the hits you know and love, but also include some lesser celebrated titles that deserve the love. Read our picks (and honorable mentions) below: 10. Matchstick Men (2003) As a phobic con artist on the verge of pulling off a lucrative swindle before his estranged daughter shows up unexpectedly, Cage shines in Ridley Scotts caper comedy, in the midst of yet another prolific leading man run full of rewatchable movies people love more than a decade later. 9. Family Man (2000) A full-on superstar with an Oscar and one big screen hit after another under his belt, Cage began to earn the modern day Jimmy Stewart moniker, fully tested in Brett Ratners would-be Capra-esque fantasy about fast-living investment broker who wakes up married to his college girlfriend and living like an ordinary schlub. 8. Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) Cage at his stress-ridden, raging essence. As a guy scared of commitment, he finally bites the bullet and flies his longtime girlfriend (Sarah Jessica Parker) to Las Vegas to tie the knot. After losing a fateful poker hand to a high roller (James Caan), he agrees to let her spend the weekend away with the strange gambler. Not exactly a 2021-friendly premise, but Cages madcap anxiety plays perfectly in this underrated, zany 90s comedy. 7. Adaptation (2002) Cage pulls double duty as a lovelorn screenwriter struggling to adapt book into a screenplay, and his goober twin brother, in Spike Jonze and Charlie Kaufmans beloved dark comedy that takes the twists and turns youd expect from that partnership. Cage earned a well-deserved Oscar nomination for the dual role. 6. Leaving Las Vegas (1995) Cages Oscar-winning performance as a recently fired Hollywood screenwriter who high-tails it to Las Vegas with plans to drink himself to death before befriending woman (Elisabeth Shue) who tries to talk him out of it. Not an easy watch by any stretch, but Cages commitment and range carved a new path for him, making way for superstardom. 5. Face/Off (1997) Win an Oscar, work with John Woo. Thats the dream, isnt it? After a pair of slightly wonky but wholly enjoyable Hollywood efforts, Woos marriage with Hollywood finally clicked as Cage and fellow superstar John Travolta swapped mugs in this raucous 90s flick. Travolta plays a cop trying to catch Cages terrorist, using facial transplant surgery to foil his next plot. Does it sound stupid? Depends. Is it super cool and fun? Oh yeah. 4. It Could Happen to You (1994) Speaking of Capra-esque, this delightful romantic comedy sees Cage as a New York cop who promises to share his lottery ticket with a waitress (Bridget Fonda) in lieu of a tip. When he hits the winner and follows through, things get complicated. Another perfect example of Cages unlikely knack for playing the everyman. 3. The Rock (1996) A mild-mannered chemist (Cage) and an ex-con (Sean Connery) must lead the counterstrike when a rogue group of military men, led by a renegade general (Ed Harris), threaten a nerve gas attack from Alcatraz against San Francisco. Michael Bays best movie and one of the best action movies ever made. Period. 2. Con Air (1997) What more do you want from movies? Honestly. As a newly paroled ex-con and former U.S. Ranger Cameron Poe finds himself trapped in a prisoner transport plane when the passengers seize control. Its as awesome as it sounds, and then some. And of course Cage has what they claim is an Alabama accent, one that we Alabamians will only accept due to the divinity brought forth by this maniacal masterpiece full of enough crazy characters and action to get you through any stinkin pandemic. (Its on Hulu. Do it.) 1. Raising Arizona (1987) When a childless couple of an ex-con and an ex-cop decide to help themselves to one of another familys quintuplets, their lives become more complicated than they anticipated. Joel and Ethan Coens second film found them the perfect leading man theyd confoundingly only use once. The most quotable (Son, you got a panty on your head.) and flat-out memorable movie Cage ever made. Raising Arizona in the top spot? Youre not just telling us what we want to hear? Cause we just want to hear the truth. Well, then I guess I am telling you want you want to hear. Honorable mentions: Moonstruck (1987), Deadfall (1993), Guarding Tess (1994), Gone in 60 Seconds (2000), National Treasure (2004), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009), Kick-Ass (2010), Joe (2013) RELATED: Arnold Schwarzeneggers 10 best movies ranked Matt Damons 10 best movies ranked Tom Cruises 10 best movies ranked Tom Hanks 10 best movies ranked Clint Eastwoods 10 best movies ranked Bill Murrays 10 best movies ranked Charlize Therons 10 best movies ranked Arnold Schwarzeneggers 10 best movies ranked Sandra Bullocks 10 best movies ranked Harrison Fords 10 best movies ranked Sylvester Stallones 10 best movies ranked The Majority and the Minority in Parliament have unanimously agreed on the need for the Executive to back its call for consensus-building with action to allow Parliament to have a collaborative posture to support government business in the eighth Parliament. They said the readiness of the Executive to reach out to build consensus and compromises would help secure the peace, unity, and stability of the country. They, however, expressed regret and concern about the polarisation of politics in the country, which was also the cry of the populace, and said the time was now to let consensus-building and collaboration, not partisan interests, prevail for the good of the nation. The Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, made the call when they addressed the press on the precincts of Parliament House yesterday. The event enabled the leaders to highlight the achievements and challenges of the erstwhile seventh Parliament from 2016 to 2020, which dissolved at midnight and expectations for the eighth Parliament. Ample room for improvement Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu gave an assurance that in the next Parliament, the Majority would endeavour to be very consultative, as there was ample room for improvement, especially given the fact that the number of MPs on either side of the House was almost at parity. He recalled that when the NPP went to the Supreme Court in 2013, it had a smaller number of 122 MPs, as against 149 for the NDC, and yet the NPP thought it could govern the country. If we had won, the Minority Leader was going to be the leader of government business and we thought we could still have governed this country. What it meant was that if we had won the court case and Nana Akufo-Addo had been sworn-in as the President, it would have been more than necessary to reach out and be very consultative in every step that he took. That is deepening our democratic governance, he said. New standard The Majority Leader said the situation where a ruling party had a very sizeable majority and took for granted the other side of the House did not augur well for the countrys democracy. And I think that where we are now, we have to be reaching out to each other. I can tell you, between me and my God, that maybe over one year you will not have the Minority Leader even call me to discuss anything. We will both meet at the Speakers Conference Room in the lead up to the sitting. I am distressed, but we are making progress, he said. He said given the current nature of Parliament, both the Majority and the Minority must set a new standard for improving Ghanas democratic governance and the operations of Parliament. Let us live together with the intention and, indeed, the credo that we are one people in one country with one destiny, and that in everything that we do, we should be informed about the unity and stability of this country, he said. President must back action with words Mr Haruna urged the President-elect to go beyond the rhetoric of wanting to reach out and looking for consensus and compromises by taking concrete steps to reach out to former President John Mahama and other leaders of the National Democratic Congress (NDC). To him, Ghanaians were not happy with the polarisation, divisiveness and excessive partisanship in the country. The good people of this country want to see the opportunities of this country shared to every Ghanaian deserving of it, regardless of his political colour, he said. With each side of the House having 137 MPs, he said, there was strong reason for compromises and consensus-building in the next Parliament. I have heard the President, since the elections, saying that he and the NPP would reach out and cooperate with the NDC. May I ask: what has the President done since the elections to reach out to Mr Mahama and the leadership of the NDC in the spirit of this consensus and cooperation? I have not seen any concrete steps being taken by the President, but it is important that he does that because when he even takes 40 per cent of ministers, Mr Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu will be lacking numbers on the floor and in the Chamber and I will now let him appreciate what it means when you do not have the numbers in the Chambers, he said. Were committed to supporting government On the question of whether the Minority recognised the President-elect and would support the government in the eighth Parliament, Mr Iddrisu said every elected MP swore an oath of commitment to serve the people. We are serving the people of Ghana and nothing more; we have a duty to serve the people of Ghana, in spite of the fact that disagreements will happen, he said. He pointed out that the NDC resorted to the Supreme Court to seek redress for the illegitimacy of the outcome of the 2020 elections and we are calling for decisions on what we describe as travesty of electoral injustice. 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 Lehigh University announced it is revoking President Donald Trumps honorary degree two days after a mob of pro-Trump supporters breached the U.S. Capitol. The decision comes as the president faces mounting calls for his removal from the nations highest office over his role in inciting the mob that attacked Congress, leaving five dead, including a police officer. Lehighs executive committee of its Board of Trustees held a special session Thursday, where members voted to rescind and revoke the honorary degree Trump was awarded in 1998 when he delivered the Bethlehem schools commencement address. The full board of trustees affirmed the decision Friday, the university announced. The universitys board of trustees confers degrees and is the only body that can rescind them. This is not the first time the boards weighed revoking Trumps degree. A large part of the Lehigh communitys fought for years to have Trumps degree rescinded, but the board has declined to act. After Trump equated neo-Nazi protesters in Charlottesville, Va., with anti-racism ones, a petition garnered more than 30,000 signatures calling for the Bethlehem institution to take back the honor. But the board announced in October 2017 it planned to take no action. A survey of nearly 800 students, staff, faculty, parents and alumni conducted by The Brown and White, Lehighs student newspaper, found that 75% supported rescinding Trumps degree. In 2018, nearly two-thirds of the Lehigh faculty indicated they supported revoking the degree. The board of trustees released a statement later that spring indicating it had reaffirmed its prior decision to take not action on the request. Lehigh has revoked an honorary degree before. It joined other universities in rescinding comedian Bill Cosbys degree after details of a 2005 deposition were made public. Lehigh said the conduct described was antithetical to its values. Trumps brother Frederick C. Trump Jr., was a 1960 Lehigh graduate, The Morning Call reports. He died in 1981. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Israeli warplanes attacked targets near Damascus Wednesday, reportedly striking bases linked to Shiite militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. Conflicting reports indicated casualties ranging between three and 15 dead, as well as substantial material damage. This was the third time in just 10 days that Israel has carried out such a provocative attack against Syria. These strikes are part of a broader escalation of military tensions with Iran that have been at a high pitch since Mossads assassination of top Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh last November. A paramedic treats an injured woman wounded by Israeli missile strikes at a hospital in Damascus, Syria, Wednesday, November 20, 2019 (SANA via AP) The threat that these tensions will ignite a catastrophic new war in the Middle East that could involve not only Iran, but also nuclear-armed Russia and China, which both have geo-strategic interests in the Persian Gulf, has never been greater. This threat has been intensified by the parallel political crises of the supposedly lame duck administration of President Donald Trump in the US and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces his fourth election in the last two years in Israel. Both may seek a war as an instrument for clinging to power. After his attempted coup in Washington, with the storming of the US Capitol by a fascist mob, there is no reason to doubt that Trump will use his last dozen days in office to provoke a catastrophic new conflict in the Middle East. In the aftermath of the November 3 election, Trump convened a meeting of his security cabinet to discuss a proposal to launch US airstrikes against Irans main nuclear facility at Natanz, an attack that could claim the lives of thousands and subject many more to radiation poisoning. While Trump was dissuaded by his top aides from carrying out this war crime, Washington has carried out a continuous escalation of military threats against Iran, claiming that it was responding to threats that Tehran would use the first anniversary of the January 3, 2020 drone missile strike assassination of senior Iranian leader Qassem Suleimani to stage a retaliation against US forces and facilities in Iraq. US B-52 heavy bombers were sent over the Persian Gulf three times over the course of a month in what amounted to dry runs for bombing Iran, while a US Navy armada, consisting of the USS Nimitz carrier strike force as well as the nuclear-powered and cruise-missile-armed submarine USS Georgia, together with their accompanying warships, has been deployed in the Persian Gulf, prepared to unleash massive firepower against Iran. Trumps extraordinary order last Sunday to reverse a decision to return the Nimitz carrier strike group to its home base and send it back into the Persian Gulf for an indefinitely extended deployment exposed the extreme tensions within the administration and the military command as Trump attempts to cling to power while staging a buildup to war in the Middle East. Multiple media reports have cited senior US uniformed commanders voicing concerns that Trump will try to draw the military into his coup plotting by invoking the Insurrection Act and imposing martial law, potentially using a war in the Persian Gulf and mass US casualties as a pretext. In Israel, meanwhile, the Netanyahu government has not only ordered the continuous attacks on Syria, but also dispatched an Israeli Dolphin class submarine, armed with cruise missiles, potentially tipped with nuclear warheads, through the Suez Canal en route to the Persian Gulf. The Netanyahu government seized upon Irans announcement that it had resumed enriching uranium to 20 percent purity at its underground Fordo facility to claim that this was evidence that Tehran was pursuing a path to nuclear weapons and threaten a military response. Tehran has insisted that it has no such ambitions and that its nuclear program is entirely civilian in nature. The increased enrichment is part of a series of measures taken by Tehran in response to the Trump administrations unilateral abrogation of the 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and the major powers, as well as the failure of Europes governments to challenge the crippling US maximum pressure sanctions regime. It is also seen as a bid by Tehran to improve its bargaining position with an incoming Biden administration in the US. Meanwhile, Benny Gantz, Israels defense minister and Netanyahus erstwhile electoral ally turned rival, has protested Netanyahus bid to assume exclusive control over Israeli policy toward Iran, according to Israels Walla news website. The prime ministers monopolization of control over Israels Iran policy was announced in a letter to Gantz from National Security Council head Meir Ben-Shabbat, with copies sent to the heads of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Mossad, as well as Israeli Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi and Israels ambassador to the US, Ron Dermer. According to Walla, Gantz responded angrily to the letter, declaring, The issue of security and specifically on Iran is not the personal business of one man. Like Trump, Netanyahu has ample political motives for provoking a war with Iran. If he is ousted from his position, he will be far more vulnerable to prosecution on a series of corruption charges. A major military conflict could provide him the means to run for re-election as a wartime prime minister. His government has the additional motive of using war to create facts on the ground that would prevent an incoming Biden administration from rejoining the Iran nuclear treaty. While the danger of war is intensified by the political calculations of Trump and Netanyahu, its source lies in the insoluble crisis of US imperialism and its attempt to reverse its declining global hegemony by military means. Domination over the Persian Gulf is a geo-strategic imperative in Washingtons conflict with its principal global rival, China, which depends upon the region for much of its energy resources. This militaristic policy will continue and intensify if and when Joe Biden is inaugurated as president on January 20. The incoming administration, which will include all of the architects of the US regime change wars in Libya and Syria, as well as the 2014 coup in the Ukraine, will be committed to an escalation of US war threats abroad, combined with an intensification of the assault on the rights and conditions of the working class at home. Congress Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh on Friday said Muslim localities in Madhya Pradesh were being targeted during fund-raising rallies for construction of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya and sought an inquiry by a retired chief secretary or director general of police into the violence. There have been reports of stone-pelting and arson from some places after rallies in Ujjain, Mandsaur and Indore in the last week of December. "I am saddened today at the manner in which (violent) incidents are taking place. During fund-raising, weapons, lathis (sticks) and swords are on display, inflammatory slogans are being shouted, particularly targeting Muslim localities," Singh told reporters. His statement came after he and Congress MLA Arif Masood met Chief Secretary Iqbal Singh Bains and Director General of Police VK Johri on this issue. "Hindus and Muslims unitedly fought for our country's Independence. Those who did not even participate in the freedom struggle are out to vitiate the atmosphere of the country," Singh added. "Incidents of Ujjain, Mandsaur and Indore should be investigated thoroughly. The collectors and SPs should be held responsible and must be removed. Why have they given permission for the rallies? It is strange that police cases are being registered against people whose houses were torched, tractors and vehicles damaged, and who sustained bullet wounds," he alleged. Singh said an inquiry into the violence should be carried out by a "retired CS or DG with an unblemished track record" and those who have sustained losses must be compensated. He added that IAS officials, police and other segments of the bureaucracy must work to uphold the Constitution and not act as "slaves of the BJP or Congress". Singh went on to add that he was a devout Hindu and "a better Hindu than senior BJP leaders" and the religion taught peace and respect for all. Hitting back, MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in a video clip, said action would be taken against goons and the mafia, and that nobody, "not even Digvijaya", would be able to save those who indulged in stone-pelting, violence. Incidentally, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) Malwa Pranth secretary Sohan Vishwakarma had told PTI that their fund-raising rallies were pelted with stones and had denied that Muslim places of worship was defiled in Indore and Mandsaur during the December 29 during rallies. For one strange moment, it looked as if the US Capitol Building had been invaded by Vikings. Naked from the waist up, daubed with war paint and wearing a furry cowl with two curving horns, a protester posed for photographs in the chair where Vice-President Mike Pence had sat only about an hour before. Yet for some people, the outlandish marauder, known as the "QAnon shaman" whose real name is Jake Angeli was a familiar figure. Since 2019, he has appeared at far-right rallies in Arizona spreading the beliefs of QAnon, the online conspiracy movement partly behind Wednesday's raid. His costume is designed to grab attention and get shared on social media. It works. A protester known as "QAnon shaman" is a regular at far-right rallies. He was pictured inside the US Capitol Building during the riots on Wednesday. Credit:Getty Images However shocking such images were to the world, they were the result of extensive discussion, planning, organising and propaganda on social networks big and small. As well as QAnon, militia groups such as the Proud Boys and pro-Trump social media influencers played a role. For critics of Big Tech, this was also the culmination of many years of mistakes by some of the world's biggest companies, whose highly profitable online services and secretive algorithms may have helped such movements grow past the point of no return. Washington, Jan 8 : US Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao has announced her resignation in protest over the chaos and violence that rocked Capitol Hill. With her resignation announced on Thursday, Chao, who is the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, became the first member of outgoing President Donald Trump's cabinet to step down in the wake of Wednesday's protests, Xinhua news agency reported. In a letter to her colleagues at the Department of Transportation, Chao said her resignation will take effect on January 11. "Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed. "As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside. "It has been the honour of a lifetime to serve the US Department of Transportation," she added in the letter. Chao also mentioned that "we will help my announced successor (South Bend) Mayor Pete Buttigieg with taking on the responsibility of running this wonderful department". The 67-year-old has served as Transportation Secretary since 2017. She was previously the Labour Secretary under former President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2009. Protesters in support of Trump's futile efforts to reject the 2020 presidential election results breached the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon, when Congress met to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory. Chaos and violence forced an hours-long lockdown on the Capitol grounds, which also left four people dead, with multiple injuries and dozens of arrests. Trump has been roundly criticised for inciting the unrest with unproven claims that the election was fraudulent. Clara was, in fact, several months pregnant when she went missing on Sept. 9. After hoping shed show up, her father, Chris, went to Gale College in Wisconsin, where Erdman was a student. When Chris cornered him, Erdman said Clara was in St. Paul, Minnesota, and promised to bring her back in three days. If he didnt, the father said, the sheriff would hear about the situation. I think its a very dangerous time to be trying to do anti-police protesting, she said. I do think the right-wing, white, armed (groups) are dangerous and theres a lot of evidence at least some police in some areas support them. Theres evidence police in Kenosha support them. Four crow deaths have been reported from two places in Chhattisgarhs Balod district, officials said on Friday two days after the Centre issued advisories asking states to keep a close vigil to detect any unusual bird death to contain the spread of avian influenza, or bird flu. The Centre on Wednesday said the outbreak has been reported from at least four states. The officials said villagers burnt one of the dead crows while the rest were sent for examination to Pune. ...a crow was found dead on Wednesday in a paddy field in Pondi village...four crows...were found in a pond. However, we have no confirmation of bird flu till now. Our officials rushed to spot and sent the samples of dead crows for further examination, said Balod collector Janmajay Mahobe. Also Read: No bird flu cases in Delhi yet, sample collection ordered to check spread Agriculture production commissioner M Geetha said they were testing and collecting samples from the seven government poultry farms of Chhattisgarh to check the outbreak. Thousands of birds have died in Kerala (mostly poultry), Himachal Pradesh (migratory birds), and Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh (crows) since the beginning of the outbreak in December-end. Even though students have submitted numerous representations to Prof. Appa Rao, vice chancellor of University of Hyderabad, who was the chairman of CUAP Society, the issue is still pending. ANI ANANTAPUR: Students of all departments at Central University of Andhra Pradesh (CUAP) have started boycotting their online classes protesting over charging of enormous fee by authorities of the institution. "CUAP is a central university established as per AP Bifurcation Act, 2014 for development of the backward Anantapur district. Though being a public university, it is charging highly unreasonable fees for social sciences and humanities courses, which do not require any infrastructure like science or computer labs and other sophisticated facilities. High fee will have a negative impact on students as well as universitys future, as students will prefer other central universities, pointed out Sai Ram Macha, a final year student of B.A Honours in Political Science. Student organisations claim fee structure of under-graduation and post-graduation courses at Central University of Andhra Pradesh is 10 times more than the same programmes at other central universities. For example, they say Hyderabad Central University (HCU); the mentor university for CUAP, has fixed Rs. 510 as fee for under-graduation courses while CUAP is collecting Rs. 6,175 for BA Honours and B. SC. Further, the Gujarat Central University collects only Rs. 500 for these courses while Kerala Central University charges Rs. 545, the student bodies maintain. Further, they say the Central University in AP has fixed Rs. 6,890 as fee for B. Voc programmes. For these very programmes, the Rajasthan Central University charges only Rs. 630, Himachal Pradesh CU Rs. 500 and Jammu and Kashmir CUs collect only Rs. 1,500 as tuition fees. The Anantapur central university students say similar is the case with post-graduate courses being offered by the university, which are far higher than those charged by other central universities in the country. Even though students have submitted numerous representations to Prof. Appa Rao, vice chancellor of University of Hyderabad, who was the chairman of CUAP Society, the issue is still pending. When contacted, CUAP authorities maintained that the matter will soon be taken up and resolved. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 22:52:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close COLOMBO, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government has been in discussions with China, Russia and India to purchase COVID-19 vaccines while obtaining vaccines through the WHO's COVAX, local media quoted Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi as saying on Friday. The minister informed the parliament that the Asian Development Bank had agreed to provide a grant of 5 million U.S. dollars to purchase the vaccines for Sri Lankans, while the government would also take steps to provide the Pfizer vaccine if it is available through the COVAX Facility. "The COVAX Facility only grants vaccines. They do not provide financial aid to purchase vaccines. We will take steps to provide Pfizer vaccine if it is provided by the WHO through the COVAX Facility," the minister said. She said the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) had also agreed to provide 370,000 U.S. dollars as a donation to improve cold storage requirements in Sri Lanka following a request made by the Health Ministry. The minister said training sessions have been planned for health staff on the vaccination, adding that the ministry has to submit the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) to COVAX before Jan. 15. "We have completed 60 percent of the plan now. It will be handed over to COVAX of the WHO on Jan. 12," the minister said. Enditem The top Democrat in the U.S. Senate called Thursday for President Donald Trumps immediate removal from office with 13 days left in his presidency after he urged a crowd of angry supporters to march on the U.S. Capitol, where they overran the building. What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States incited by the president. This president should not hold office one day longer, said Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York. World Leaders Offer Mixed Reactions After Mayhem at US Capitol Heads of state from Europe, Asia, Middle East hail democracy, call for peaceful transition of power in US Schumer, set to become the Senate majority leader soon, said the quickest and most effective way to oust Trump from the White House would be for Vice President Mike Pence and a majority of Trumps Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to declare that he is incapacitated and unable to continue in office. It can be done today, Schumer said, but If the vice president and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president. A handful of other lawmakers, including House speaker Nancy Pelosi, also called for Trumps removal through use of the constitutional provision or his impeachment for a second time, even though President-elect Joe Biden is set to take office January 20. All indications are the president has become unmoored not just from his duty but from reality itself, said Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, a Trump critic. Another vocal Trump opponent, Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, said she had prepared articles of impeachment against Trump. There was no immediate indication that Pence, after refusing Trumps frequent entreaties to block congressional certification of Bidens victory in the Electoral College, was part of any effort to oust Trump. But several U.S. news outlets reported that key Trump White House aides discussed ways to remove him Wednesday night, even as lawmakers were debating whether to certify Bidens 306-232 Electoral College victory. According to The Washington Post, one administration official described Trumps behavior, angered at the impending end of his presidency, as that of a total monster. Another official said the situation was insane and beyond the pale. Trump eventually urged the protesters in a pre-taped video to go home, but appeared to sympathize with them, saying, "We love you. You are very special." After Pence, who presided over the Electoral College debate in Congress, read the outcome of his and Trumps defeat, Trump released a begrudging acknowledgment of the outcome. The president, who has refused to concede to Biden, was temporarily banned from Twitter late Wednesday because of fears he would incite more violence. An aide dispatched a middle-of-the-night statement on his behalf. Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, its only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again. Before Congress started its Electoral College debate, Trump urged thousands of his supporters at a rally near the White House to fight the outcome. He urged Pence to thwart the certification of Bidens victory, even though the vice president told him he did not have the constitutional power to unilaterally block the official recognition of their defeat. At a midday rally outside the White House on Wednesday, Trump had implored his backers, many of them wearing red hats emblazoned with his Make America Great Again campaign slogan, to march on the Capitol. We're going to walk down there, and I'll be there with you, he told the crowd. We're going to walk down ... to the Capitol, and we are going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women. And we're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them, because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong." Trump then returned in his limousine to the White House, while hundreds of his supporters stormed past police into the Capitol building, smashing windows, occupying the two chambers of Congress and some of the lawmakers offices before authorities hours later restored order. The FBI, the top law enforcement agency in the United States, appealed Thursday for help in identifying the protesters. Acting Attorney General says federal prosecutors have been working with FBI, ATF and local police to gather evidence, identify perpetrators and make arrests In response to the mayhem at the Capitol and Trump's role in fomenting it, several people in his administration resigned. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned Thursday, the first Cabinet member to do so. Former acting White House chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, who more recently was Trump's envoy to Northern Ireland, also resigned, as did Trump's one-time press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, who until Wednesday was first lady Melania Trump's chief of staff. Mulvaney said on CNBC he informed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of his decision Wednesday night. I cant do it. I cant stay, he said. Former Patong taxi boss arrested for guns, drugs PHUKET: A former president of the Patong Taxi Club has been arrested in a raid that netted 122,000 methamphetamine (ya bah) pills and two illegal firearms. patongtourismtransportdrugscrimepolice By Eakkapop Thongtub Friday 8 January 2021, 06:39PM Chatchawan Khuechan, 54, was found in possession of 122.000 meth pills. Photo: Phang Nga Police Chatchawan Khuechan, 54, was found in possession of 122.000 meth pills. Photo: Phang Nga Police Chatchawan Khuechan, 54, was found in possession of 122.000 meth pills. Photo: Phang Nga Police Patong Police today (Jan 8) reported that Chatchawan Khuechan, a 54-year-old resident of Moo 3 Wichit, was arrested yesterday (Jan 7) in a joint raid carried out by Phang Nga Town Police, Phang Nga Provincial Police and Region 8 Police. The report did not confirm where Chatchawan was arrested, but did note that officers from Khok Kloi Police Station and Phang Nga Muang District Police Station were present for the arrest. According to the report, Chatchawan was found with 122,000 pills of ya bah. He was also found in illegal possession of a .45-calibre Taurus brand handgun and eight bullets as well as a Remington brand shotgun and 24 12-gauge shotgun cartridges. The meth pills were found packed into 61 bundles marked 999, all hidden in a 40-litre green plastic bucket, said the report. Each of the 61 bundles contained 10 smaller packs. Each pack contained 200 pills (198 orange tablets, 2 green tablets), the report added. The pills were imprinted on one side with the letters WY, the report also noted. Chatchawan was arrested in a case that also saw the arrests of Mr Wirote Ko Lek Saematakul, Mr Kitti Kob Pengboon and Ms Pornpimol Mon Chusakultantiwong for possession of a Category I narcotic for the purpose of distribution without permission, the report noted. Chatchawan faces additional charges of illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, carrying firearms in a public area without a permit or reasonable necessity and urgency for the circumstances, the report concluded. Priyanka Chopra has explained her visit to a celebrity hair salon after appearing to break coronavirus restrictions. The Indian actress, who is currently living in London with her husband Nick Jonas, was pictured on Wednesday evening attending the Josh Wood Colour salon in Notting Hill with her mother and dog. Police said they attended the address and issued the owner with a verbal warning but did not issue a fine. But a representative of the Hollywood star said her hair was being coloured for a film she is shooting in the capital. Chopra is currently filming romantic drama Text For You, based on a novel by German author Sofie Cramer, where she stars alongside Celine Dion and Outlander actor Sam Heughan. Her representatives said the private appointment fell within the guidelines issued by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) about the production of TV and film during the pandemic and that the officers left after being shown the appropriate paperwork. Current Government guidance during the national lockdown in England says that personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons must close. A representative of the actress said in a statement to the PA news agency: Following Government guidance, Priyankas hair was coloured for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting in London. The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations. As I am sure you are aware, film and TV production is permitted to continue in the UK, and locations can continue to accommodate shoots and recces (pre-filming visits) that are carried out in-line with Government guidelines. The paperwork legally permitting her to be there was provided to the police, and they left satisfied. Celebrity stylist Josh Wood is a regular face on daytime television and owns a number of salons. He counts Sir Mick Jagger and Elle Macpherson among his past clients. A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: Police were alerted at around 17:40hrs on Wednesday, 6 January to reports of a Covid breach taking place within a hairdressers on Lansdowne Mews, Notting Hill. Officers attended and the owner of the salon was given a verbal reminder of the important need to comply with all regulations regarding Covid-19 and signposted to other sources of advice. No fixed penalty notices were issued. Chopra, 38, and boyband star Jonas, 28, married in 2018. She previously appeared in pageants being crowned Miss World 2000 before moving into Bollywood films in 2003. Later she transitioned into American film and TV, such as thriller series Quantico and Hollywood films including Baywatch and Isnt It Romantic. Hope for the Holidays -- Old Newsboy Christmas Fundraiser campaign officially ended last week, but donations continue to trickle in, according to Tom Brown, director of circulation operations for The Post-Standard/Advance Media N.Y. At this point, a total of $54,000 has been collected. Were very pleased with the response from the campaigns supporters, said Brown, who headed the effort for the newspaper. Due to the coronavirus, this years campaign deviated from years past, eliminating the traditional hawking of newspapers and seeking of donations on the street. Instead, this years campaign was virtual, with donations coming in two ways: Either being made online or getting mailed in. The money collected went to the Salvation Armys annual Christmas Fund, which each gives away gifts and food to needy families in Onondaga County during the holidays. This year, the Old Newsboys campaign began Nov 30 and ended Dec. 31. Brown noted that 56 percent of this years donations were made online, with 44 percent coming in through the mail. This speaks to the demographic breakdown of those who supported the campaign, he said. We had a lot of long-time followers who mailed in checks, and (a substantial number) who did it online. We tapped into a new audience. This speaks to the fact that the whole community got behind it, from all walks not just the traditional audience that each year walks up and gives cash. The Old Newsboys tradition started in 1932, when volunteers from the newspaper raised $1,800 to help poor families buy coal to heat their homes. The program has evolved ever since, growing to include participation of others. Last year, more than $47,000 was raised. The current Old Newsboys effort is a community group made up of teams from 25 different community groups and businesses in Central New York headed by The Post-Standard/Advance Media NY, which every year supplies the newspapers and supports the effort with involvement by its staff and publicity. The coronavirus also affected how the Christmas Fund this year handed out gifts and food to families and individuals. In the past, the Oncenter was the location of where toys and food were handed out, with hundreds of volunteers assisting. This year as a precaution against the virus and large crowds gathering there was a drive-through, distribution day on Dec. 16 in the garage of the old Post-Standard building on Clinton Square with a handful of volunteers assisting. The Salvation Army released the following this week: *Toys/ books/ stuffed animals handed out: A total 7,858 children were given 15,717 toys (one small, one large); 7,858 books and 6,800 stuffed animals. *Food distributed: A total of 2,070 households (families) were served, with each family receiving one box of dried food from the CNY Food Bank, one frozen box from the food bank and a Wegmans gift card for the family to buy their holiday meat/special items. In addition, 4,941 children received a $25 gift card from Target. Use of the Clinton Square building came courtesy of VIP Structures, its owner, and Advance Media New York, which still publishes The Post-Standard and still rents part of it for printing and distribution of the paper. All things considered, this years Old Newsboys campaign was a big success, Brown said. The Old Newsboys donated $50,000 to the Christmas Fund beforehand to help pay for gifts and food. The remaining money received this year from donations will go toward next years effort. We want to thank everyone who supported this great cause. We promoted it and the community responded. All of our participating organizations played a part, Brown said. DONATIONS STILL BEING ACCEPTED Missed the fundraiser? You can still give by going to the Advance Media N.Y. website. NASHVILLE, Tenn., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FINTOP Capital, a venture capital firm focused on B2B SaaS (software as a service) companies in the Financial Technology (FinTech) space, announced today that it has exited its investment in Kindful, a nonprofit software platform known for its best-in-class third party application integrations and online fundraising tools. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Bloomerang, a leader in cloud-based donor management and fundraising software for small and mid-size nonprofits, acquired Kindful to accelerate their vision of helping nonprofits fund their missions. The new combined company will offer an expanded set of capabilities to help nonprofits attract more donors, deepen existing donor relationships and improve fundraising effectiveness. The acquisition builds on a strong year for Bloomerang which recently received a strategic growth investment from JMI Equity, a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Based in Nashville, Kindful was founded with the simple mission that nonprofits should be able to spend less time focused on their database and more time focused on their mission. With more than 12,900 nonprofit users and $8.3 billion tracked donations, Kindful has established itself as a leader in nonprofit software, earning a spot on the 2020 Inc. 5000 list. FINTOP Capital invested in Kindful in 2016, along with fellow early investor Meeting Street Capital of Charleston, South Carolina. "Nashville needs more quality firms like FINTOP Capital and Meeting Street Capital who deeply understand SaaS and FinTech," said Jeremy Bolls, Founder and CEO of Kindful. "They quickly understood and aligned with our vision and invested in Kindful not only financially but also in quality time and attention as we accelerated our growth. I'll forever be grateful for the partnership and look forward to supporting Nashville's FinTech ecosystem." "Kindful holds a special place in FINTOP's heart," said Joe Maxwell, managing partner at FINTOP Capital. "Not only are they local to Nashville, but they were our first investment as a firm. We have loved working with Jeremy Bolls, Andy Howell, and the entire management team and are thrilled to see them move to the next level with respected companies like JMI and Bloomerang." About FINTOP Capital FINTOP Capital is a venture capital firm focused on Financial Technology (FinTech) companies with offices in Nashville, Tenn., St. Louis, Mo., and New Jersey. Run by financial leaders and operators who have built successful startups themselves, the firm understands the ups and downs of the startup world. They bring strong networks, experience and capital to entrepreneurs building B2B service-enabled SaaS and software companies in the FinTech space. To learn more, visit www.fintopcapital.com or follow @fintopcap on Instagram and LinkedIn. About Kindful Kindful is a Nashville-based software company that provides powerful software to help nonprofits organize data and manage donors better. Featuring online donation pages, donor management tools, reporting tools, and integrated partnerships with industry-leading services, Kindful's platform is designed to help nonprofit employees more easily manage their donors, saving time and creating better insights. Kindful proudly powers thousands of world-changing organizations both in the U.S. and internationally and has consistently been recognized by G2 as a leader in nonprofit software and named to the 2020 Inc. 5000 for the first time. For more information, please visit kindful.com. About Bloomerang Indianapolis-based Bloomerang is a cloud-based donor management and fundraising platform designed to help nonprofits reach, engage and retain the advocates they depend on to achieve their vision for a better world. For more information about Bloomerang, visit: https://bloomerang.co. About JMI Equity JMI Equity is a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Founded in 1992, JMI has invested in over 150 businesses in its target markets, successfully completed over 100 exits and raised more than $4 billion of committed capital. JMI partners with exceptional management teams to help build their companies into industry leaders. For more information visit jmi.com. About Meeting Street Capital Based in Charleston, South Carolina, Meeting Street Capital invests in early stage B2B SaaS and other tech-enabled companies founded by domain experts, focused on vertical markets, and based in the Southeast. For more information, please visit https://www.meetingstreetcapital.com/. Contacts: For Bloomerang: Steven Shattuck, Chief Engagement Officer [email protected] For JMI Equity: Chuck Dohrenwend / Will Braun Abernathy MacGregor [email protected] / [email protected] 212-371-5999 SOURCE FINTOP Capital Related Links http://www.fintopcapital.com Families arrive in Ndu village in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after fleeing Bangassou town in the Central African Republic. UNHCR/Ghislaine Nentobo UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is concerned that violence and insecurity surrounding the 27 December general election in the Central African Republic (CAR) has forced over 30,000 people to flee into neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and the Republic of the Congo. Tens of thousands more have been displaced inside the country. Some 24,196 crossed the Ubangui River into the DRCs provinces of Bas Uele and North-Ubangui. At least 15,000 arrived in Ndu village following attacks on the towns of Damara and Bangassou on 2 and 3 January. The arrivals in Ndu village, which has a population of just 3,500, have placed a massive strain on resources and host families. UNHCR has strengthened its presence along the Ubangui River to respond to the needs of new arrivals, and to prepare for registration and temporary relocation further inland for safety reasons. Another 4,434 individuals arrived in Cameroon, most of them to the border town of Garoua-Boulai. A further 2,196 people arrived in Chad and about 70 have reached the Republic of the Congo. Inside CAR, 185,000 people from at least 25 localities have fled, mostly as a preventative measure, into the bush and forests since 15 December. Some 112,000 have since returned to their places of residence, according to estimates from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, but some 62,000 people remain newly displaced. UNHCR is concerned about reports it is gathering of human rights violations taking place inside CAR and urges governments in all neighbouring countries to continue granting access to asylum and supporting local authorities to register new arrivals. Most arrivals are staying with host communities or in makeshift shelters. They urgently need water, shelter, access to health and adequate sanitation to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other diseases. UNHCR is working closely with national and local authorities, and humanitarian partners to support the most vulnerable. In Cameroon, UNHCR is coordinating with national and local authorities to provide protection and assistance. A dedicated site at Gado will host the arrivals and registration will be conducted there. Registration is also taking place in Chad. The World Food Programme (WFP) is providing food rations to the new arrivals and UNHCR has set up a mobile health clinic. The voluntary repatriation of Central African refugees returning home after years of exile in Cameroon and the DRC had restarted in November 2020 but has now been temporarily paused. Inside CAR, UNHCR continues to work closely with authorities and partners to monitor the protection of the displaced, and to support returnees and reintegration efforts. Nearly a quarter of CARs population of 4.7 million was forcibly displaced by the end of 2020, including 630,000 refugees in neighbouring countries and 630,000 displaced internally. For more information on this topic, please contact: WASHINGTON - The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is intensifying scrutiny over security at the upcoming inauguration ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden, which already has been reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic and President Donald Trump's decision not to attend. Workers install no-scale fencing around the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration was already going to be scaled back, but after a mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, ransacking the building and triggering chaos that stretched all the way to the Senate floor, questions began to arise about whether having a presidential ceremony on the steps of the same building could also pose serous security risk. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON - The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is intensifying scrutiny over security at the upcoming inauguration ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden, which already has been reshaped by the coronavirus pandemic and President Donald Trump's decision not to attend. Biden and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office from the Capitol's West Front, one of the locations where a mob overpowered police and stormed the building on Wednesday. They also scaled and occupied the scaffolding and bleachers in place for the ceremonies. Plans for the Jan. 20 inauguration were already scaled back because of the coronavirus. But the brazen attack raises new questions about preparedness for the event that will welcome a new administration after a bitter election. The congressional leaders responsible for co-ordinating the inauguration has insisted that events will move forward. The outrageous attack on the Capitol, however, will not stop us from affirming to Americans and the world that our democracy endures," said Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. The great American tradition of an inaugural ceremony has occurred in times of peace, in times of turmoil, in times of prosperity, and in times of adversity. We will be swearing in President-elect Biden. Security forces have already begun taking extra precautions in the wake of Wednesday's mayhem. Five people died, including a Capitol Police officer. Roughly 6,200 members of the National Guard from six states Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland will help support the Capitol Police and other law enforcement in Washington for the next 30 days. Crews erected tall black metal fences on the Capitol grounds that are designed to be impossible to climb. Similar structures have previously been used around the White House and in other cities that faced prolonged demonstrations. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, to announce key nominees for the Justice Department. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Such barriers would have gone up anyway in coming days, however, because the inauguration is a National Special Security Event overseen by the Secret Service and scores of other federal agencies, including the Defence Department, which helps lead counterterrorism efforts associated with the event. That's the same level of security provided during political party conventions or when a dignitary lies in state at the Capitol but not during a normal congressional session like when rioters breached the building. The safety and security of all those participating in the 59th Presidential Inauguration is of the utmost importance, the Secret Service said in a statement. For well over a year, the U.S. Secret Service, along with our NSSE partners, has been working tirelessly to anticipate and prepare for all possible contingencies at every level. Biden told reporters Friday that he has great confidence in the Secret Service and their ability to make sure the inauguration goes off safely. Authorities will have the same military and civilian footprint to handle a crowd of more than a million people for an event expected to draw a small fraction of that because of restrictions to combat the coronavirus, according to a person familiar with the security planning. Those who have worked on previous inaugurations said that while this year's events will look different, the tradition of passing power from one administration to another will continue. Is it as impactful? You dont have a photo of a million people lined up, so you dont have that sort of powerful image. But I think you will still have the feel there, said Bill Daley, a former commerce secretary and White House chief of staff who helped organize President Barack Obamas first inauguration in 2009. The aura of change will be there. Trump hasn't made that easy. He has falsely argued that the election was stolen, a claim that has been rejected by fellow Republicans in critical swing states and his recently departed attorney general. His many legal challenges were roundly dismissed as meritless, including by conservative judges he appointed. A Trump rally in front of the White House helped rile up the mob that later stormed the Capitol. Trump tweeted Friday that he won't attend his successor's inauguration, and Biden called it one of the few things he and I have ever agreed on." It's a good thing, him not showing up, Biden said. Still, the outgoing president has skipped the incoming president's swearing-in only three times in U.S. history, and the last one to do so was Andrew Johnson 152 years ago. Trump only acknowledged the upcoming transfer of power after the Capitol was stormed. The inaugural committee said Biden would receive an official escort, with representatives from every military branch, for a block before arriving at the White House from the Capitol. The presidential motorcade usually rolls the mile-plus journey with the new president and first lady walking part of the way. It's unclear whether that will occur this time. Whatever happens, it'll be a far cry from Obamas 2009 inauguration, when organizers opened the full length of the National Mall which extends all the way to the Lincoln Memorial to accommodate the massive crowds. Security was a concern then, too, though. The night before, Michael Chertoff, President George W. Bushs secretary of homeland security, informed Obamas team of credible intelligence indicating that four Somali men who were thought to be coming over the U.S.-Canada border might be planning a terrorist attack on the inauguration ceremony. In his book A Promised Land, Obama writes that he had an adviser draft evacuation instructions that Id give the crowd if an attack took place while I was onstage. He said he was relieved that nothing happened and he didn't have to use them. Jim Bendat, an inaugural historian and author of the book Democracys Big Day, noted that the outgoing and the incoming presidents usually meet at the White House and chat before joining a procession to the Capitol for the swearing-in ceremonies. Trump may not invite Biden to the White House while forgoing the inauguration, which Bendat said would amount to an assault on our democracy akin to the mob violence at the Capitol. Those are very symbolic moments that really open our eyes," Bendat said of the two presidents meeting cordially. The world watches those moments because its something that doesnt occur in most countries. Still, Daley said Biden, who first ran for president in 1988, may be uniquely qualified for an inauguration that's mostly void of traditional pomp and circumstance. I think it's less needed for someone who's been around as long as he's been. And his whole thrust has been, I can hit the ground running because Ive been there. I know this stuff,' Daley said. I don't think he needs to stand there on the podium celebrating himself very long. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report. The Pennsylvania Department of Education on Thursday announced it will update its recommendation to allow for elementary school children to return to in-person classes for the second semester of the year. Many students across Luzerne County have been attending classes virtually since the COVID-19 pandemic hit Northeast Pennsylvania early last year. During a virtual press briefing, department Acting Secretary Noe Ortega said educators recognize in-person instruction is ideal, particularly for younger students. As a result, the department will begin recommending that for the second semester, which typically begins around Jan. 25, schools adopt some version of in-person education as local conditions permit. Schools are going to be encouraged to allow for elementary school students to return back to campus, along with other targeted populations, Ortega said. We know that school leaders continue to be the ones in the best position to make decisions about in-person instructions, so I want to emphasize that while these are not mandatory, it is up to school leaders to make a decision on whether or not local factors permit them to return elementary students to in-person instruction. He emphasized that all schools should continue enforcing strategies to curtail the spread of COVID-19, including limiting the sizes of classes and ensuring students and staff are able to maintain social distancing. Under the updated guidance, counties with a substantial level of COVID-19 transmission are recommended to consider a hybrid in-person/online learning model for elementary school students. Fully remote learning will remain recommended for middle and high schools in substantial level counties. According to health department data, Luzerne County has an incidence rate of 315.5 cases per 100,000 residents, placing it in the substantial transmission category. Department of Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said the change will allow for better learning and development among younger students, who are at lower risk for developing severe complications from COVID-19. We know that it is impossible to eliminate the risk of disease transmission entirely within a school setting when community spread is present, Levine said. However, recent studies have shown that when mitigation efforts which are very important such as masking, hand hygiene and physical distancing is followed it may be better for younger children, particularly elementary grade students, to return to in-person instruction. The amended guidance left many districts to decide whether they will alter their current online-only formats. As Saudi Arabia touts the diplomatic breakthrough that ended its three-year spat with neighboring Qatar, the kingdom continues to silence a prominent cleric who called for rapprochement. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt reached a landmark agreement this week to ease a rift dating to their June 2017 boycott of Doha. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who greeted Qatars ruling emir with a hug this week, praised the deal as one that will strengthen regional stability and security. My fathers call that these two leaders get together for the best interest of their peoples finally was answered, said Saudi legal scholar Abdullah Aloudh. But its so ironic that so many people who were caught up in this fight are still in prison." His father, Salman Aloudah, a popular reformist preacher with a large social media following, is among them. May Allah mend their hearts for the best of their peoples, Aloudah wrote to his 14 million Twitter followers in September 2017. (The English spellings of the last names of Aloudah and his son vary slightly). The next day, a team of state security officers showed up at Aloudahs home in the capital of Riyadh, searched his belongings and arrested him. He languished in prison for a year without charge or trial. Then in September 2018, the specialized Saudi court that handles terrorism cases announced 37 charges against Aloudah, which included objecting to the boycott of Qatar, interfering in the affairs of a neighboring country and inciting public opinion against the ruler. Aloudahs calls for reform in Saudi Arabia had earned him the distrust of the royal family. After gaining prominence as a conservative Salafi cleric endorsed by al-Qaedas Osama bin Laden (whom Aloudah would later publicly rebuke after 9/11), Aloudah spent nearly five years in prison for criticizing the Saudi government in the 1990s. He later adopted a more moderate tone and became an advocate for the Arab Spring pro-democracy uprisings, which Riyadh viewed as a threat to its own stability. In a statement condemning his jailing, United Nations experts described Aloudah as a reformist who pushed for greater respect for human rights within Sharia. The Saudi state prosecution is seeking the death penalty for Salman Aloudah, but his son fears medical negligence on the part of Saudi authorities may kill him first. Salman Aloudah's health has worsened in detention, his family says, accusing prison guards of subjecting the 63-year-old to solitary confinement, sleep and food deprivation and other forms of torture in prison. During a rare prison visit, his children observed their father had lost significant weight and was having trouble with both his hearing and sight. Riyadh has denied past media reports of prisoner abuse, and the Saudi Embassy in Washington did not return Al-Monitors request for comment on Salman Aloudahs detention. The Saudi government is slowly killing my father, said Abdullah Aloudh, a research director at Democracy for the Arab World Now, the human rights organization established by US-based journalist Jamal Khashoggi shortly before his 2018 murder. The same administration that killed Jamal Khashoggi extrajudicially has tried to kill my father in court, he said. Khashoggis murder at the hands of Saudi agents in Istanbul thrust Saudi Arabias human rights record and its treatment of dissidents into the international spotlight. Prince Mohammed has clamped down hard on even the most mild forms of dissent, instructing Saudi authorities to round up scores of government critics on charges human rights groups say are baseless. Saudi Arabia has a long history of creating convenient boogeymen out of anyone who dares express sympathy with the victims of the governments actions at home or abroad, said Bethany Alhaidari, Saudi desk officer at Freedom Initiative, a Washington-based advocacy group. It has little to do with the content of those criticisms, most of which hold immense wisdom and truth, said Alhaidari. It has everything to do with the Saudi regimes immature and reactionary policies. Those policies havent gone unnoticed by the incoming administration. On the campaign trail, President-elect Joe Biden pledged to reassess the US-Saudi relationship and said he would insist on responsible Saudi actions and impose consequences for reckless ones. Rights defenders are hopeful Biden wont turn a blind eye to Saudi Arabias rights clampdown, which in the case of Salman Aloudah has had repercussions for his family. The Saudi government has barred family members from leaving the country, and his brother was handed a five-year prison sentence after he tweeted about Salman Aloudahs arrest. Abdullah Aloudh, who is based in Washington, saw his passport frozen in what he believes was an effort to lure him back to the kingdom. The Saudi Embassy in Washington offered him a one-way ticket to Riyadh an invitation he declined. One of the people seen in the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon after angry mobs stormed the building lost his job at a Maryland-based communications company. Angry mobs of President Donald Trump's supporters, incited by the president, breached the Capitol building, halting the electoral vote count and forcing lawmakers to move into a secured location. Four people died. One of the people who entered the Capitol was fired by Navistar Direct Marketing after a photo showed him inside the Capitol wearing his work ID badge. The company released statement saying, in part: "Any employee demonstrating dangerous conduct that endangers the health and safety of others will no longer have an employment opportunity with Navistar Direct Marketing." Education Secretary Betsy DeVos submitted her resignation in a letter to President Trump on Thursday, saying she would step down the next day over the rampage at the Capitol by his supporters. Ms. DeVos joins a growing exodus of administration officials in the final days of the Trump administration. She is the second cabinet-level official to step down; Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary, also resigned on Thursday. We should be highlighting and celebrating your administrations many accomplishments on behalf of the American people, Ms. DeVos wrote in the letter, which was obtained by The New York Times. Instead, we are left to clean up the mess caused by violent protesters overrunning the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to undermine the peoples business. That behavior was unconscionable for our country, she added. There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me. Washington: The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia said Thursday that all options are on the table for charging members of the violent pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol including sedition charges. Michael Sherwin, acting US attorney for DC, said prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases on Thursday for crimes including unauthorised access and theft of property, and investigators are combing through reams of evidence to bring additional charges. Trump supporters who overran the Congress sitting in the Senate Chamber. Credit:Getty Images All of those charges are on the table, he said. Were not going to keep anything out of our arsenal for potential charges. We will bring the most maximum charges we can based upon the conduct. Sherwin said 40 other cases had already been filed in District of Columbia Superior Court. The storming of the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump reflects a failure of leadership as well as the deep divide running through American society, editorials in China's state media said on Friday. Hundreds of supporters of President Trump besieged the Capitol on Wednesday in what House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi described as "an armed insurrection against America". Chinese government-run newspapers used the events to step up its war of words against the United States, with bilateral relations already at a low ebb amid tensions over trade, human rights and the COVID-19 pandemic. The Global Times, a tabloid owned by the People's Daily, the ruling Communist Party newspaper, described the riots as a sign of "internal collapse" in the US political system that could not easily be reversed. "The unprecedented mob in the Capitol, a symbol of the US system, is the result of the US society's severe division and the country's failure to control such division," it said. "As time goes by and with abuses of resources by generations of politicians, the US political system has degraded," the paper added. It also lashed out at what it described as "double standards" among US politicians, taking aim at Pelosi's description of the Hong Kong protests in 2019 as "a beautiful sight to behold". "In Hong Kong, violent actions are described as a 'beautiful sight,' in the US, people involved in this chaos are called 'mobs'," the Global Times said. Pelosi's comments have been widely mocked on China's Twitter-like Weibo service, with the Communist Party Youth League also using the words "beautiful sight" to describe the unrest in Washington. Other netizens described the riots as "karma", and one joked that this was the first attempted coup in the Americas that happened "without the involvement of U.S. embassies", according to the Global Times. State broadcaster CCTV used the crisis to lambast the US political system, saying "the figleaf of so-called American democracy has been torn clean off". "The United States, which has always promoted democracy and human rights, is now the country of riots, conflicts and curfews," it said. The official China Daily newspaper said the "narrow nationalism" of President Trump had taken a toll on the United States. "The violence and chaos that have erupted in the US over the past year show what happens when a country's leaders lose touch with reality," it added. Also read: 'Why Indian flag?': Tricolour seen during US Capitol clashes, angers Indians Also read: 'US invades US': Twitter users react to reports of violence at US Capitol PUNE Deputy chief minister of Maharashtra and Pune district guardian minister Ajit Pawar instructed the administration to take extra precautions and stay alert amid the cases of new UK strain being reported in the city and the state. Pawar on Friday took a review meeting of Covid-19 situation in the city. Elected members and all the top bureaucrats were present for the meeting. Pawar said, It is good that the pandemic situation is in control in Pune city and overall district, but we should be alert as cases of the new strain are being reported. The elected member and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Girish Bapat said that though the situation is under control, the administration must prepare for the worst. From the last few weeks, the administration has stopped updating to the media and common public about Covid-19, he claimed. SAINT-JEROME, Que. - Ugo Fredette, a Quebec man who stabbed his ex-spouse to death and murdered a man to steal his car, was ordered Friday to serve 25 years in prison before he's eligible for parole. SAINT-JEROME, Que. - Ugo Fredette, a Quebec man who stabbed his ex-spouse to death and murdered a man to steal his car, was ordered Friday to serve 25 years in prison before he's eligible for parole. Superior Court Justice Myriam Lachance delivered her ruling in court in St-Jerome, Que., about 60 kilometres north of Montreal. A jury had found Fredette, 45, guilty in October 2019 of first-degree murder in the death of Veronique Barbe and Yvon Lacasse a man he killed at a rest stop over a vehicle. Ugo Fredette is shown in this undated police handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Surete du Quebec Fredette had fled Barbe's home with a six-year-old boy who was found unharmed when he was arrested 24 hours later in Ontario. He has appealed the verdict and is seeking a new trial. A first-degree murder conviction comes with an automatic life sentence without possibility of parole for 25 years, but the Crown had asked for Fredette to serve 50 years in prison before a chance at parole 25 years for each of his two victims. Lachance's sentencing decision was not a surprise, however, because last November, Quebec's highest court declared consecutive life sentences unconstitutional. The court made the ruling following an appeal by Quebec City mosque shooter Alexandre Bissonnette. Fredette had also been contesting the constitutionality of multiple sentences. The families of Fredette's two victims told reporters at the St-Jerome courthouse that 25 years in prison without the possibility of parole was not enough. "We would have liked for more," Claudette Biard, Barbe's mother, said. Lacasse's daughter, Jennifer, said the judge's ruling sends the message that someone can murder two or more people and the consequences are the same as if they kill one. "What I take away from all this is that Veronique got 25 years (the sentence for her murder) but my father got nothing. There was zero," she said. "He died for nothing." Fredette killed Barbe at her home by stabbing her 17 times with a knife before fleeing with the child. He later killed Lacasse, 71, at a highway rest stop and stole his vehicle. Friday's ruling doesn't mean Fredette will necessarily be released after 25 years in prison. The Parole Board of Canada can deny an eventual application for parole. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2021. The violent insurrection at the US Capitol is intensifying scrutiny over security at an inauguration ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden already reshaped by a pandemic and the prospect that his predecessor may not attend. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office from the Capitols West Front, one of the very locations where a violent mob overpowered police and stormed the building. They also scaled and occupied the scaffolding and bleachers in place for the ceremonies. Inauguration plans were already scaled back because of the coronavirus. But the brazen attack raises new questions about preparedness for the event that welcome the new administration after a bitter election. The congressional leaders responsible for coordinating the inauguration insisted Thursday night that events will move forward. Also Read | Michelle Obama breaks silence on US Capitol violence, calls Trump infantile and unpatriotic Yesterday was a sad and solemn day for our country, said Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. The outrageous attack on the Capitol, however, will not stop us from affirming to Americans and the world that our democracy endures. The great American tradition of an inaugural ceremony has occurred in times of peace, in times of turmoil, in times of prosperity, and in times of adversity, they continued. We will be swearing in President-elect Biden. Security forces have already begun taking extra precautions in the wake of Wednesdays mayhem. Roughly 6,200 members of the National Guard from six states Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland will help support the Capitol Police and other law enforcement in Washington for the next 30 days. Inauguration Day road closures may be altered. Crews also erected on the Capitol grounds tall, black metal fences designed to be impossible to climb. Similar structures have previously been used around the White House and in other cities that faced prolonged demonstrations. Such barriers would have gone up in anyway in coming days, however, because the inauguration is a National Special Security Event overseen by the Secret Service and scores of other federal agencies, including the Defense Department, which helps lead counterterrorism efforts associated with the event. Thats the same level of security provided during political party conventions or when a dignitary lies in state at the Capitol but not during a normal congressional session like when rioters breached the building. Also Read | Faced with removal and prosecution, Trump owns up defeat, slams Capitol raiders The safety and security of all those participating in the 59th Presidential Inauguration is of the utmost importance, the Secret Service said in a statement Thursday. For well over a year, the US Secret Service, along with our NSSE partners, has been working tirelessly to anticipate and prepare for all possible contingencies at every level to ensure a safe and secure Inauguration Day. Authorities will have the same military and civilian footprint to handle a crowd of more than a million people for an event expected to draw a fraction of that because of restrictions to combat the coronavirus, according to a person familiar with the security planning. Those who have worked on previous inaugurations said that while this years events will look different, the tradition of passing power from one administration to another will continue. Is it as impactful? You dont have a photo of a million people lined up, so you dont have that sort of powerful image. But I think you will still have the feel there, said Bill Daley a former Secretary of Commerce and White House chief of staff who helped organize President Barack Obamas first inauguration in 2009. The aura of change will be there. Outgoing President Donald Trump hasnt made that easy. He has falsely argued that the election was stolen, a claim that has been rejected by fellow Republicans in critical swing states and his recently departed attorney general. His many legal challenges were roundly dismissed as meritless, including by conservative judges he appointed. A Trump rally in front of the White House on Wednesday helped rile up the mob that later stormed the Capitol. Its unclear whether Trump will be at his successors inauguration. The outgoing president has skipped the incoming presidents swearing-in only three times in US history, and the last one to do so was Andrew Johnson 152 years ago. Trump only acknowledged the upcoming transfer of power after the capital was stormed. Vice President Mike Pence plans to attend the ceremony. Former President Jimmy Carter has announced he wouldnt be there, the first inauguration the 96-year-old will miss since he himself was sworn into office in 1977. He has mostly stayed home amid the pandemic. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will be on hand. Inauguration organizers had already urged supporters not to come to Washington in person because of the pandemic. Viewing stands built to hold crowds of onlookers in front of the White House were recently dismantled. There also wont be the traditional inauguration luncheon and the parade will be virtual, similar to what the Democratic Party did during its all-online convention in August. The inaugural committee has announced that Biden would receive an official escort, with representatives from every military branch, for a block before arriving to the White House from the Capitol. The presidential motorcade usually rolls the mile-plus journey with the new president and first lady walking part of the way and thousands of cheering supporters lining the streets. While final details are still being worked out, its unclear any of that will occur this time. Whatever happens, itll be a far cry from Obamas 2009 inauguration, when organizers opened the full length of the National Mall which extends all the way to the Lincoln Memorial to accommodate massive crowds. Security was a concern then, too, though. The night before, Michael Chertoff, President George W. Bushs secretary of homeland security, informed Obamas team of credible intelligence indicating that four still-at-large Somali men who were thought to be coming over the US-Canada border might be planning a terrorist attack on the inauguration ceremony. In his book, A Promised Land, Obama writes that to be safe, we ran through various contingencies with Chertoff and his team. Obama had an adviser draft evacuation instructions that Id give the crowd if an attack took place while I was onstage. He later noted that he kept those instructions in his breast pocket while giving his speech and that he was relieved that nothing happened and he didnt have to use them. Jim Bendat, an inaugural historian and author of the book, Democracys Big Day, noted that, in addition to attending the inauguration, the outgoing and the incoming presidents usually meet at the White House and chat before joining a procession to the Capitol and swearing-in ceremonies. He called that not occurring an assault on our Democracy akin to Wednesdays unrest. Those are very symbolic moments that really open our eyes, Bendat said of the two presidents meeting cordially. The world watches those moments because its something that doesnt occur in most countries. Still, Daley said Biden, who first ran for president in 1988, may be uniquely qualified for an inauguration thats mostly void of traditional pomp and circumstance. I think its less needed for someone whos been around as long as hes been. And his whole thrust has been, I can hit the ground running because Ive been there, I know this stuff, Daley said. I dont think he needs to stand there on the podium celebrating himself very long. This is a defining moment for our nation. This is the stuff Americans watch on television news when it happens in nations ruled by despots. This is the kind of thing we remember from school history classes when reading about a megalomaniacal dictator inciting supporters to take over a nation, and the world, based on race and superiority. President Donald Trump and his most loyal supporters cannot explain why what happened Wednesday afternoon was acceptable, lawful and right. They cannot justify demeaning our democracy with the deliberate storming of our nations Capitol with the stated goal of overturning a legitimate national election by disrupting the solemn and formal acceptance of the Electoral College vote. They cannot give a good reason why a foolish bum rush based on a lie was worth losing lives. I support differences of opinion and First Amendment rights. I am friendly with people with different points of view, and people who cast votes I never would. I support their right to vote however they choose. I know not everyone agrees with that choice, but it is my God-granted idea that people with different views can get along when there is a fundamental desire to appreciate and respect each other. The great divide comes when there are differences based on illegalities and immoral actions. Inciting riotous behavior and participating in criminal actions, especially based on lies, is not acceptable. Trump invited supporters to travel to Washington to be a part of a Save America rally to stop the steal. We knew what that meant. For those who didnt pay attention before the last few days, allow me to tell you what I saw in December: Be there and will be wild posts. Even Trump promised a wild time. Pictures of the types of weapons and equipment to bring. People taunting supporters not to be weak, to show up in strength to confront/encourage Vice President Mike Pence to commit an illegal act by nullifying the Electoral College votes. A Trump protest-related website, regularly cited by Trump politicians, asked people to travel from across the nation and to gather at the north side of the Capitol. No, folks, this was no spur-of-the-moment action. Those who make a distinction between those attending a rally and those who breached the U.S. Capitol are splitting hairs. Why go to an event with the explicit purpose of overthrowing the government by rejecting the will of the voters? During live coverage Wednesday, I saw President Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani egg on supporters, encouraging them to use combat to claim a lost election. They demanded that the crowd storm the U.S. Capitol as they slid away. It was clear what they wanted. The president went inside the White House to watch, probably Fox News, and tweeting until Twitter suspended his account and his awful go home video was removed. Subsequently, Facebook and Instagram blocked Trump for the next two weeks to get us through one of the worst stretches in presidential history and through the legitimate Jan. 20 inauguration of a new president. Fools behave unwisely, and thats just what Trump did. Hes done it for days, weeks, months and years. We must not let this go by without consequences. He didnt act alone. What happened in Washington, D.C., had no resemblance to the summers Black Lives Matter demonstrations and protests. The Trump insurrection was nearly all White. The summer demonstrations although mostly Black were much more diverse. Law enforcement arrested a few people Wednesday and even shot and killed one insurgent, but some also assisted and encouraged the coup detat by moving barricades, opening doors and even taking selfies with the rioters. There wasnt the same kind of contact as with the summer events, and limited pushing and shoving except in response to the rioters. For those who dont understand English well, demonstrators take part in public marches, meetings and protests. Rioters lash out at authority, often destroying property and sometimes hurting people. The FBI started a formal investigation. If youre angry, help. They want tips, photos, videos and names. According to the agencys website, "The FBI is seeking information that will assist in identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington, D.C. Dont be afraid. Lets start at home. We know who was there. We know who supported the lies. Look at the entire Louisiana Republican delegation, except for U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, of Baton Rouge. Each of them voted to object to at least one states electoral votes. Those actions incited, instigated. What happened was an embarrassment to America in the eyes of the world. This isnt about Democrats and Republicans; this was a significant lapse in leadership. As citizens, we have a duty to turn in those who contributed to the insanity. And, a duty to tell Trump, politicians and anyone who attended or endorsed these lies that weve had enough. A woman was killed in a shooting on North Villere Street, New Orleans police said Friday morning. The killing was reported around 8 a.m. in the 300 block of North Villere Street (map) between Iberville and Bienville street. The woman died at the scene, officials said. Police didn't release the woman's name or age. The homicide investigation is ongoing, police said. Editor's note: This story has been corrected to reflect that police say a woman was fatally shot. Photographer Max Becherer contributed to this story. Supporters of FPI leader Rizieq Shihab protest outside police headquarters in Bandung, Indonesia after six of their members were killed by police in Jakarta, Dec. 15, 2020. Indonesias ban on the hardline Islamic Defenders Front (Front Pembela Islam, FPI) is the latest in a string of long-overdue efforts to curb the power of a group viewed as a catalyst of rising intolerance in the country. The new stronger stance against FPI although welcome may not reduce its socio-political influence; on the contrary, the ban may further radicalize key FPI supporters. Moreover, the move is part of a worrying trend of the executive unilaterally banning civil society organizations. Through a joint ministerial decree in late December, the Indonesian government announced it was formally banning the FPI, saying that the organization had failed to renew its registration permit and thus had no legal grounds to operate. FPIs permit had lapsed after it refused to comply with the governments requirement that it drop from its charter language supporting implementation of Islamic sharia under a prophetic caliphate (khilafah nubuwwah) concepts deemed contradictory to Indonesias state ideology of Pancasila. The ban follows other unprecedentedly strict government responses to FPI activities. In mid-November, FPIs firebrand leader, Rizieq Shihab, was named a suspect for allegedly breaking coronavirus restrictions after he held a series of events and sermons, which drew thousands of people. In early December, the police shot dead six FPI members in an altercation after a tip claimed the members were helping Rizieq to evade police questioning. A week later, Rizieq handed himself over to the police for questioning and is currently in custody. Overdue The governments stronger stance towards FPI activities in late 2020 is an important development for Indonesia. It signals a reversal in the trend of governmental lenience toward unlawful and intolerant FPI behaviors. For the past two decades, the FPI has helped foment rising religious intolerance in Indonesia. In the early 2000s, this largely manifested in its violent, unlawful raids on food stalls that were open during Ramadan. Later that decade, FPI began leveraging its Islamic credentials to mobilize huge crowds to press local governments into banning Islamic sects and limiting the activities of religious minorities. In 2011, FPI in Sampang, East Java mobilized masses to call for the expulsion of Shia Muslims, while threatening to attack the community if local officials did not comply. During the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, FPI leader Rizieq became the leading face of demonstrations calling for the incumbent Gov. Basuki Ahok Tjahaja Purnama, an ethnic Chinese-Christian, to be jailed for blasphemy and for Muslims to vote against the infidel. In some regions, FPI branches have also become conveyor belts to terrorist organizations. For instance, FPIs branch in Lamongan, East Java has been a key supporter of the pro-Islamic State cleric Aman Abdurrahman. It even merged with several other groups in 2015 to form the Jemaah Ansharut Daulah (JAD) one of the most active terrorist organizations in Indonesia today. Although FPI Lamongan is an outlier, it is an example of the potential risk of FPIs rhetoric if taken to the extreme. Yet the Indonesian government has been relatively lenient toward FPI for the past two decades. Partly due to FPIs perceived ability to mobilize local voters, and partly due to its close ties with individual military and police officers, FPI has continued to operate with a significant degree of impunity. Police officers stood by when FPI mobilized masses to burn Shiite houses in Sampang, and local politicians failed to openly object when its ulamas espoused intolerant views in their 2017 demonstrations. Some even supported the anti-Ahok movement. Overreaching While the ban marks an overdue reversal of government lenience to FPI, it alone will not effectively curb FPI leaders ability to mobilize masses and influence politics. This is primarily because, apart from its attention-grabbing raids and demonstrations, FPI has conducted years of disaster relief and poverty alleviation programs. It has also co-opted anti-establishment grievances into its sermons to poor urban communities, which have borne the brunt of governments socio-economic policies. Consequently, for many of its supporters, the FPI is a legitimate channel for pushing back against a system that they see having marginalized them. Many of participants in the 2017 demonstrations against Ahok took part not just for religious reasons, but to protest the citys forced-eviction policies. Moreover, many of FPIs ulamas now carry socio-political capital that transcends organizational affiliations. This capital exists not only because of their status as ulamas a status that many people in Indonesia still revere but because of years of alliance-building and patronage from local political elites. The quid-pro-quo politics between FPI ulamas and local politicians during the past 20 years has resulted in personal and professional rapport, which will endure even if FPI is banned. More important, Indonesias crackdown on FPI should also be viewed with caution. Not only is the recent shooting of FPI members a cause for concern over alleged excessive use of force by police, the event also plays into the anti-establishment narrative that FPI has cultivated over the past two decades. In particular, it supports FPIs claim that the government has continued to persecute and marginalize ulamas, the true vanguard of Islam in Indonesia. As a result, while the crackdown may dissuade some people from supporting FPI, it may radicalize others giving them a perceived justification to use more violent means and rhetoric. Additionally, Indonesias ban of FPI continues a concerning trend of the executive cracking down on civil society organizations. In 2017, President Joko Jokowi Widodos administration issued a regulation later signed into law by parliament allowing the executive to ban civil society organizations, without due process in court, when they are deemed to have ideologies or to have taken actions that contradict Pancasila. At the time, the law was used to ban Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia, a non-violent Islamic organization that openly called for creation of an Islamic caliphate. The law was used again as a basis for the joint ministerial decree that formally banned FPI in an unhealthy erosion of checks and balances in Indonesias democracy. Moving Forward There is no quick fix to addressing unlawful Islamist organizations in Indonesia. The government cannot merely rely on bans and aggressive police operations to uproot organizations that base their social capital on local grievances and the patronage of political elites. To address the FPI, the Indonesian government needs to do the hard work of countering its ideologies and rhetoric, and address the legitimate grievances of FPIs supporting communities. These tasks loom alongside another notable development the release of Jemaah Islamiyahs former leader, Abu Bakar Bashir, from prison on Jan. 8. Bashir was freed d after serving the bulk of the 15-year sentence he received for funding a terrorist training campaign in Aceh in 2011. Although his notoriety has weakened, Bashir is still widely revered as a long-term presence in Indonesias terrorism landscape. Now, the reemergence of Bashir into public life is cause for concern. His consistent refusal to denounce the need for an Islamic caliphate and pledge loyalty to the Republic of Indonesia signals that the just released cleric is far from deradicalized. Alif Satria holds a masters degree from Georgetown Universitys Security Studies Program in Washington. His research focuses on terrorism and political violence in Southeast Asia. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of Georgetown University or BenarNews. Advertisement An RAF Chinook helicopter which had to make a precautionary landing has been grounded in a field for days - after getting stuck in the mud. The 99ft long military twin-rotor chopper was forced to touch down near Wantage, Oxfordshire on Tuesday due to a mechanical issue. And it has been stranded 20 miles away from its base at RAF Benson ever since. The wheels of the 11 tonne 60m chopper quickly began sinking into the waterlogged ground due to recent downpours of rain. The RAF Chinook, pictured, suffered minor damage after it was forced to perform an emergency landing in a field near Wantage, Oxfordshire on Tuesday night The massive helicopter sank into the field meaning it needs to be lifted from its current position before it could take off and return to its base at RAF Benson The 40-year-old Boeing Chinook HC4 has been in service the with RAF since before the Falklands War RAF engineers have solved the technical issue although the aircraft - which was used during the first Gulf War - is still stuck Local people came out to see the helicopter which has been stuck in the mud since Tuesday after it was forced into an emergency landing Royal Air Force engineers were deployed to rapidly fix the mechanical issue but the military work horse continued to sink further into the mud. It was hoped a tri-Service team of specialists could recover it by the end of the week but have been unable to rescue it yet. A RAF Benson spokesman said in a statement on their Facebook page: 'While it was hoped that it could simply be dug out and then flown home, the risk of damage to the aircraft from this course of action has been assessed as significant and alternative options are being explored, including potentially lifting it from the mud with a crane.' They thanked the owners of the field for the 'kindness they've shown to our team guarding the aircraft during some very cold nights'. The Chinook is from 28 Squadron at RAF Benson - where Prince William's former 22 Squadron reformed in May last year. He served in the operational testing and evaluation unit from 2010 to 2013. After standing down as a Search and Rescue squadron in 2015, the team reformed as the Operational Evaluation Unit for the Joint Helicopter Command. It now provides operational testing and evaluation for all Joint Helicopter Command aircraft types - including the Chinook The RAF has the largest fleet of the distinctive choppers outside of America and is expected to remain in service until the 2040s. It had 60 Chinooks in active inventory in 2015 and requested to purchase 16 more from the US three years later. Nobody was injured during the precautionary landing which left the 11-tonne helicopter stuck in the mud RAF engineers from the Joint Aircraft Recovery and Transportation Squadron ( have been working on a plan to rescue the helicopter from the mud in Oxfordshire Engineers are currently developing a plan rescue the helicopter from the muddy field without causing it any damage T he Duke of Cambridge has told how he and wife Kate talk to their children "every day" so they "understand all of the sacrifices" made by our NHS heroes during the battle with coronavirus. Prince William spoke to staff from Homerton University Hospital in east London via video call to hear more about their experiences responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in recent weeks. The royal wanted to offer his thanks on behalf of the nation for their continued efforts and told how together with wife Kate they have been talking daily to their children about the incredible sacrifices made by our NHS heroes up and down the country. He said: "A huge thank you for all the hard work, the sleepless nights, the lack of sleep, the anxiety, the exhaustion and everything that you are doing, we are so grateful. You are all in my thoughts. "Catherine and I and all the children talk about all of you guys every day, so we're making sure the children understand all of the sacrifices that all of you are making so thank you so, so much. "Good luck, we are all thinking of you." In the past week, Homerton University Hospital has seen their highest number of admissions since the pandemic began, with over 200 Covid patients currently being cared for and staff being moved to new roles within the hospital to cope with the ongoing pressure on frontline staff. During the call, the Duke heard from staff about the significant challenges that they are currently facing, and how this time compares to their experiences during previous spikes in transmission rates. William said he wanted to touch base with the team to find out how they were all coping and how things had changed since the first wave of Covid-19 last Spring. Dr Carlo Prina, Consultant Physician and Clinical Lead for Acute Ambulatory Care, said: So this is worse than the first wave. I think thats the first thing we want to say. In terms of numbers, we currently have over 200 in-patients with coronavirus in our hospital which is quite a small hospital in east London and I think east London has been harder hit than most parts of London. We are caring primarily for people from Hackney but because of the pressures in Essex and outer east London we are caring for those patients as well. I guess things started to become very evident to us that things were heading in the wrong direction actually a couple of weeks before Christmas, and the week before Christmas that became increasingly evident." She said the situation "hit a major crisis point" around the Christmas weekend, when the "already enhanced levels of staffing we had were already no longer adequate and we had to mobilise large amounts of doctors and nurses". Currently we have Covid patients on our surgical wards, all of our medical wards, our paediatric ward - so weve had to move our paediatrics to another hospital - and in our day unit. We have had to give treatments that we would normally give on intensive care, something called non-invasive ventilation which is a form of assisted breathing, not quite being on a ventilator, we are using that on medical wards. We are currently using that at about 150 per cent of the level that we used at our peak in April. A decision by An Bord Pleanala on an appeal against Offaly County Council's decision to grant planning permission to a proposed 25 million meat processing facility outside Banagher has been delayed. The national planning authority was due to issue its ruling on Monday, January 4 last but a spokesperson confirmed a decision has been deferred for a couple of weeks. Banagher Chilling Ltd, was given planning approval on July 26 by Offaly County Council, subject to 21 conditions, for what's described as a single storey extension to the existing abattoir and the construction of a food processing factory of 4,925 sq metres on a 19.6 hectare site at Boheradurrow and Meenwaun, Banagher. Desmond Kampff, from Coolfin, Banagher and Gwen Wordingham, Cummeen Lodge, Banagher, lodged an appeal to the planning board in August, backed by a number of other signatories, seeking the overturning of the council's granting of planning permission. In their joint appeal, Mr Kampff and Ms Wordingham cited a number of grounds including concerns over licencing status of the facility, the applicant company's experience in the industry, the need for the facility, whether they local authority had adhered to Government policy and whether the proposal would provide the suggested local jobs dividend. They say that it is not the case that the facility is currently used as an abattoir or that it holds an existing licence. They say that the Environmental Protection Agency has confirmed to them that there is no active licence in place for the site. We have also confirmed with the relevant bodies that licences related to the operation of any previous abattoir on the site are non-transferable to a new facility, and the applicant will need to apply for such once construction is complete. They argue that the possibility that such licences would not be granted should be considered in the planning process. They expressed concern that the plant has been misrepresented as a development which will bring a big employment boost to the local area. Instead, the appellants point out that the meat processing industry is well known for its dependence on migrant labour, with migrants reported to account for 58% of the workforce. Previously, the development had run into difficulties when an Immigrant Investment Programme application associated with the project was rejected. The programme, set up in 2012 to encourage inward investment from outside Europe, offers residency status to those who invest 1 million in Ireland for a minimum of three years. The application was refused by an evaluation committee in the Department of Justice. Independent TD for Laois Offaly Carol Nolan has said that the move by An Bord Pleanala to delay its decision to grant planning permission for a new meat processing facility in Banagher has only served to hamper the introduction of much needed competition within the sector. An Bord Pleanala had been due to publish its decision on the matter today, but this was subsequently pushed back after an appeal was lodged with the authority in August: It has been clear to almost everyone involved in this process just how important this new facility could be in terms of stimulating the local rural economy, expanding market competition and making Offaly an attractive site capable of generating inward investment. Unfortunately, any kind of resolution to the project has been delayed yet again, and on what I would consider to be very weak grounds. As I understand it, An Bord Pleanala accepted the appeal on the questionable grounds of whether the local authority had adhered to government policy. But we know for a fact that the current Programme for Government states it is fully committed to the future of the beef sector and introducing steps to mitigate the serious hardship and low-income challenges that beef farmers have experienced. Some of the clearest ways to achieve these outcomes is by supporting competition and reducing the existing cartel like structure and monopoly. The Banagher facility would certainly play an important role in all of this. The communities of Offaly and indeed the wider midlands region deserve clarity and commitment to this project. That is not being helped by the acceptance of grounds for appeal that have little if any relationship to reality, concluded Deputy Nolan [January 08, 2021] Art Coviello to Join Identity Defined Security Alliance Webinar Series Hosted by Focal Point and SecZetta DENVER, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Identity Defined Security Alliance (IDSA), a nonprofit that provides vendor-neutral education and resources to help organizations reduce the risk of a breach by combining identity and security strategies, has announced details of the next live webinar in its member series. Presented by Focal Point and SecZetta, Beyond the Pandemic: A decade of identity evolution forced into one chaotic year. Whats next? will bring together experts to discuss how resilience in the face of IT adversity was the catalyst for security innovation in 2020, and the future of enterprise identity and risk management. SPEAKERS: Art Coviello, former CEO of RSA and security thought leader Chris Convey, CISO at Sharp Healthcare Evan Fraser, cybersecurity architect at ABSA Bank WHEN: Thursday, January 14th, 2021, Noon ET/ 9 a.m. PT. Topics covered will also include third-party management strategies through integration of key technologies that comprise the core components of a Zero Trust architecture. As well as how investments in technology and integrations between those technologies can support a dispersed workforce comprised of employees, non-employees and non-humans. REGISTER: https://www.idsalliance.org/webinar-beyond-the-pandemic-a-decade-of-identity-evolution-forced-into-one-chaotic-year-whats-next/ . See the free library of Identity-Centric Security Webinars . About the Identity Defined Security Alliance The IDSA is a group of identity and security vendors, solution providers, and practitioners that acts as an independent source of thought leadership, expertise, and practical guidance on identity centric approaches to security for technology professionals. The IDSA is a nonprofit that facilitates community collaboration to help organizations reduce risk by providing education, best practices, and resources. Follow the IDSA Join the Community: https://forum.idsalliance.org/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/idsalliance LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/identity-defined-security-alliance/ Blog: https://www.idsalliance.org/blog/ Contacts Industry Contact: Identity Defined Security Alliance Julie Smith, 303-324-3159 julie@idsalliance.org [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The father of a Portland teen killed by a Saudi Arabian man who fled the U.S. before his trial has filed a bar complaint against the defendants attorney. Seth Smart said he believes lawyer Ginger Mooney may have assisted her client Abdulrahman Sameer Noorah escape prosecution and return home to Saudi Arabia, according to a copy of the complaint filed last month with the Oregon State Bar. The complaint offers circumstantial details other Saudi clients Mooney represented and who also disappeared but no concrete evidence. Mooney has denied any wrongdoing in any of the cases. It is unclear if federal investigators are looking into whether Ms. Mooney assisted in getting Mr. Noorah out of the country, but it is our belief that she did so, the Dec. 18 document reads. Noorah was a 20-year-old student in Portland when authorities say he fatally struck Fallon Smart, 15, as he illegally sped along a stretch of Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard in 2016. He vanished a year later, just weeks before he was to stand trial in Multnomah County on charges of manslaughter, felony hit-and-run and reckless driving. The Oregonian/OregonLive in 2018 revealed that officials with U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Marshals Service believe Noorah left his Southeast Portland neighborhood in a black SUV and later used an illicit passport and private plane likely provided by the Saudi government to flee the country. The wealthy Persian Gulf kingdom had retained Mooney to work on Noorahs case and cut a $100,000 check to provide him bail, according to court records and prosecutors. Authorities placed him on pretrial supervision and seized his passport. Federal investigators later learned from the Saudi government that Noorah had arrived back in the country a week after he was last seen in the U.S., the Marshals Service said. An official with the Marshals Service did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Mooney represented at least three other Saudi students in Oregon charged with felony crimes who posted large bail amounts and later disappeared, an Oregonian/OregonLive investigation found. The news publication later revealed a pattern of similar cases around the U.S. that spanned states and decades. Last month, 60 Minutes featured a segment on the Saudi disappearances that focused on the Fallon Smart case. [Read The Oregonian/OregonLive series Fleeing Justice here] The fact that (Mooney) had several other clients who also fled while under her guidance supports our belief that she was hired by the Saudi government specifically to enable their citizens to escape justice, Seth Smart wrote in the bar complaint. I dont think someone like this should have her law license still. Mooney, whose law practice is based in Hood River, said previously that she played no role in her clients leaving the country. Her attorney David Elkanich declined to comment Thursday on the bar complaint. Such complaints can be filed by anyone against a licensed attorney in Oregon and are reviewed by the state bar, which then determines whether theres sufficient ground to open a formal investigation. Bar complaints can eventually lead to sanctions against an attorney or even their disbarment. Kateri Walsh, a spokeswoman with the Oregon State Bar, said the complaint against Mooney remains under review by the office. The United States and Saudi Arabia dont share an extradition treaty. That makes the return of any Saudi suspect who has left the U.S. unlikely, if not impossible, without diplomatic or political pressure. The Saudi Embassy in Washington, D.C., has previously said that, as a policy, the Saudi government will cover the cost of bail for any citizen jailed in the U.S. who asks for assistance. The kingdom also denies playing any role in helping Saudi citizens escape. -- Shane Dixon Kavanaugh; 503-294-7632 Email at skavanaugh@oregonian.com Follow on Twitter @shanedkavanaugh Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. 'You Do Not Represent Our Country': Amid Impeachment Demand, Trump Decries Capitol Siege, Concedes Defeat With 13 days left in his term, President Donald Trump finally bent to reality on Thursday amid growing talk of trying to force him out early, acknowledging hell peacefully leave after Congress affirmed his defeat. Trump led off a video from the White House by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Then, for the first time, he admitted that his presidency would soon end though he declined to mention President-elect Joe Biden by name or explicitly state that he had lost. READ MORE India Will Begin its Second National Dry Run of Covid Vaccination Today. Here's All You Need to Know The second phase of the nationwide vaccination drive against Covid-19 is set to begin on Friday. The largest such drill undertaken till now, 33 states and Union Territories (UTs) will be covered under it. India is getting ready to carry out the mammoth drive to ensure smooth operations once vaccination actually starts. READ MORE Main Accused Arrested in Gang Rape, Murder of 50-year-old Anganwadi Worker in UP's Badaun In a late-night crackdown, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a temple priest who is the main accused in the alleged gang rape of an Anganwadi worker in Badaun district. District Magistrate Kumar Prashant said that on Thursday midnight 'mahant' Satya Narayan was found hiding in the house of his follower in a village under Ughaiti police station from where he was nabbed by the police. READ MORE 'Depressed and Suicide-Prone': Nirav Modi's Lawyer Urges Court to Dismiss India's Extradition Request In an attempt to block diamantaire Nirav Modis extradition to India, his defense team on Thursday alleged that the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai did not have arrangements or plans to deal with his mental health issues, including the risk of suicide. Raising concerns over Modis mental wellbeing, his team of lawyers urged the Westminster Magistrates Court to dismiss Indias extradition request. READ MORE India vs Australia: 3rd Test at Sydney, Day 2; India 26-0 at Tea India vs Australia live score, IND 26-0: It's tea time now. Cummins bowls yet another maiden here and Indians have managed to block him well. That is a decent start for the Indians in this short passage of play. LIVE UPDATES How Global Teacher Award Winner Ranjitsinh Disale's Methods are Boon for Tribal Students in Pandemic "In the last one month, people only wanted to click selfies with me. They rarely showed any interest in my thoughts or ideas," said Ranjitsinh Disale, when asked about his newfound fame as the winner of The Global Teacher Prize 2020 in December. READ MORE Nick Pourgourides pays tribute to Kenneth More in a fascinating biography Born in Buckinghamshire, more spent six years in the Royal Navy He began breaking into films with roles in Scott Of The Antarctic and Genevieve BIOGRAPHY MORE, PLEASE! ADVERTISEMENT by Nick Pourgourides (Amazon 7.99, 133pp) One OF the joys of lockdown for me has been watching all the old classic Kenneth More films on Talking Pictures TV. These include the Doctor farces, with More ebullient alongside Dirk Bogarde and James Robertson Justice, and North West Frontier, where More shares a railway carriage with Lauren Bacall, clanking across remote outposts of the Empire. More was the type of Englishman who was always jovial and competent and courageous. Hes the chap youd want at your side if the ship is sinking, the plane is in flames, or the steam train is under attack from angry locals. He was never snooty or coldly ironic, never irascible or eccentric. Nick Pourgourides pays tribute to Kenneth More in a fascinating biography.Pictured: More with Kay Kendall in Genevieve Instead, More conveyed a warmth and a continuous sense of integrity, for example as Group Captain Sir Douglas Bader, in Reach For The Sky, the injured air ace refusing to be defeated by his tin legs: Suddenly, Jerry was coming at me out of a bank of cloud. Its a style of naturalistic performing now lost. More played officers and gentlemen before such conservative figures became a joke. In real life he wore leather driving gloves in the car, a collar and tie at the beach. He retained a military bearing, neurotically clean and tidy, even with his emotions, says his widow, Angela Douglas, in Nick Pourgourides brief biography. More was born in 1914 in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire. Henry VIIIs Lord High Chancellor Sir Thomas More was a distant ancestor. His grandfather had designed various bridges over the Thames and was the chief engineer for the Port of London Authority. Click here to resize this module Mores father, Bertie, was an inventor who got through several inherited fortunes on duff schemes, including a waterproofing liquid which rotted shoes and shirts, turning fabric into a mass of stinking goo. Mores Welsh mother, Topsy, whom the actor described as bubbling with vivacity like a glass of champagne, must have been sorely tried especially when Bertie died, aged 45, leaving the family struggling to manage. ADVERTISEMENT This meant More would no longer be able to attend his horrible boarding school in Worthing, where hed undergone a baptism of fire from bullies. I was so miserable at my own weakness, I wept, he later wrote in his autobiography, which sold 100,000 copies. But at least More learned a wariness about dealing with some fellow human beings a detachment hed cover up with charm. Furthermore: You have to know pain and pleasure yourself before you can begin to demonstrate them to an audience. More (pictured) spent six years in the Royal Navy, before breaking into films including Scott Of The Antarctic and Genevieve His formal education at an end, More became an apprentice at the Sentinel-Cammell locomotive works in Shrewsbury, then a Sainsburys shop assistant. Moving to London, he got a job as a stage-hand at the Windmill Theatre, Soho, helping to get the nude female performers into position More said this was money for jam. He appeared in comic sketches, took walk-on parts, earned a fiver a week in rep in Newcastle and Wolverhampton then war was declared. More spent six years in the Royal Navy, as Officer of the Watch aboard HMS Aurora. He saw action in the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific. He helped conduct George VI to Malta, took part in the bombardment of Sicily during the Allied invasion of Italy, and was steaming towards Japan when the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima. If More developed a relaxed mental and physical attitude later, seeming to take things in his stride, it was because of his wartime experiences, his widow argues. It gave him a sense of proportion. MORE, PLEASE! by Nick Pourgourides (Amazon 7.99, 133pp) Demobilised in January 1946, More began breaking into films as Teddy Evans in Scott Of The Antarctic; the hopeless romantic full of boundless charm in Genevieve; and the happy-go-lucky medical student in the Richard Gordon romps, for which he won a Bafta. ADVERTISEMENT In A Night To Remember, hes Second Officer Lightoller, keeping calm and carrying on as the Titanic disaster unfolds. Reach For The Sky was the most popular film of 1956 More became a friend of Douglas Bader who had, when given a new pair of false legs by his German captors, impudently used them to try and escape. Then, quite suddenly, his popularity waned. Arent you Gregory Peck? he was asked in the street. No, Im his brother, he replied. Unlike Rex Harrison or Richard Burton, More had no Hollywood career to fall back on. He started to seem provincial, his fine voice and perfect enunciation rather old-hat and careworn. Mores quiet urbanity was supplanted in the Sixties by the shouty Cockney of Michael Caine or angry northern voice of Albert Finney. Peter OTooles silly flamboyance became fashionable. He was partially salvaged by television, earning 15,000 in 1967 for seven months work on The Forsyte Saga, which was watched by 18 million viewers. The budget was not vast. Filming in Richmond, we knocked on the front doors of houses nearby and asked if we could use their lavatory. There were lots of cameos, bit parts here and there, a series for ITV as Chestertons Father Brown. The Kenneth More Theatre opened in Ilford, East London, as a venue for amateurs. More enjoyed serving drinks behind the bar. Like many such institutions, it now has funding issues. In 1978, Mores health cruelly deteriorated with Parkinsons disease and multiple system atrophy. He didnt want anyone seeing him diminished and became a recluse, dying in July 1982. ADVERTISEMENT Nick Pourgourides, in this warm-hearted tribute, is correct to champion the genuine believability in Mores performances, which will be enjoyed for generations to come, and which will only grow stronger over time. Syracuse, N.Y. The surge of coronavirus sweeping across Central New York is killing nursing home residents in alarming numbers, according to new data obtained by syracuse.com. Nursing home residents account for two out of three Onondaga County residents who have died from Covid-19 since November, according to data provided by county health officials. Altogether, 270 county residents died from Covid-19 between Nov. 1 and Jan. 5. Thats more than half of all deaths reported since the pandemic began in March. Of those, 179 or 66% were nursing home residents, according to county records obtained by syracuse.com. Until now, the impact on nursing homes has been partly hidden. State health officials only report Covid-19 deaths in nursing homes, not how many nursing home residents die after being sent to hospitals. Onondaga County officials took it upon themselves to ask hospitals for that additional information starting in November. They provided the data this week in response to a request from syracuse.com. Policy analysts say its important to have complete data on the coronavirus including nursing home outcomes to track the virus and to monitor the effectiveness of public health measures. It gives a source of feedback to measure how effective our policies are,' said Bill Hammond, senior fellow for health policy at the nonprofit Empire Center for Public Policy. The Empire Center is suing the state to obtain data on nursing home residents who died in hospitals. Health department officials have put off releasing the data, saying they will do so only after reviewing it for accuracy. Its hard to know whether the percentage of nursing home deaths in Onondaga County is higher now than it was earlier this year, because complete data for previous months are unavailable. But its clear that nursing homes are struggling now. We are every bit as much on fire as we were in the spring, apparently,' said Dr. Elaine Healy, vice president of the New York Medical Directors Association, a group representing nursing home doctors. The death toll shows the urgency to get nursing home residents vaccinated, County Executive Ryan McMahon said. As of Thursday, all but one of the 13 local nursing homes had provided a first dose to residents, he said. Frail elderly residents are the most vulnerable. And once the virus gets into a nursing home, it races through the residents, McMahon said. When it gets in a building, it just flies,' he said. Its amazing how infectious it is.' State health officials reported 125 coronavirus deaths inside Onondaga County nursing homes from Nov. 1 to Jan. 3, about 46% of total virus-related deaths during that time. But the additional data compiled by Onondaga County show that the situation is even worse. Of the 145 Covid patients who died in hospitals since November, 54 more than one third -- had been sent there from nursing homes. Including those patients increases the number of nursing home resident fatalities to 179, or two out of three total deaths. Nationally, health experts have estimated that nursing home residents account for about 40% of all coronavirus deaths. But different states report the data in different ways, making comparisons difficult. The absence of complete data has been frustrating for some policy experts. You have to be able to measure what youre trying to improve,' Healy said. If you cant measure it, youre done. The impact of Covid-19 on nursing homes can vary significantly over time and across regions, according to a report posted last month by Hammond, of the Empire Center. Analyzing federal data from Oct. 25 to Nov. 29, Hammond found that 71% of Covid deaths in the Southern Tier during that period involved nursing home residents. (In one county, Tioga, nursing home residents accounted for every death.) In New York City, by comparison, nursing home residents represented just 6% of Covid deaths during the month under review, Hammond wrote. But the coronavirus tore through Downstate nursing homes in the spring, at a time when Upstate was largely spared. This wave of the pandemic is hitting Upstate much harder than Downstate,' Hammond said. This virus seems to surge unpredictably.' Do you have a news tip or a story idea? Contact reporter Tim Knauss of syracuse.com/The Post-Standard: email | Twitter | | 315-470-3023 A Jewish woman living in Britain revealed she once lived in the same apartment block as Adolf Hitler - and even saw a coffin being taken from his flat. Alice Frank Stock spent years living in the same apartment block as the future Nazi dictator while growing up in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s. The centenarian's family home was at Prinzregentplatz (Prince Regent Square) in Munich. Ms Stock, who recently turned 102, said she would sometimes see Hitler being rushed into the building while flanked by towering SS guards. Rumours were rife about his nocturnal activities - including the mysterious fate of his niece Geli Raubal with whom he was reportedly in a relationship. Ms Stock says she once saw a coffin being carried out of Hitler's apartment - which she and others speculated could have been the body of Geli who had shot herself. A Jewish woman living in Britain revealed she once lived in the same apartment block as Adolf Hitler - and even saw a coffin being taken from his flat. Alice Frank Stock spent years living in the same apartment block as the evil dictator while growing up in Germany during the 1920s and 1930s But she said Hitler was mostly unseen by her and her family, who were later forced to leave Germany just days before the outbreak of WW2. Ms Stock later moved to Britain and has now turned 102 at her care home in Bristol. Due to Covid restrictions, she celebrated only with staff and residents at Druid Stoke Care Home, which is run by Bupa. The centenarian can still remember her days living in the affluent area and the times she saw Hitler. She said: 'We lived in a house - a big house - and there were two entrances. 'One was our apartment, number 14 - the other was either number 13 or 15. That's where Hitler lived. The centenarian's family home was at Prinzregentplatz (Prince Regent Square) in Munich 'We heard many [rumours], from the cook and others. We saw a coffin being carried out of the entrance. 'I think a niece of Hitler's was living there and then she died. 'There was speculation of how and when she died. I think there was truth in it that the coffin was carried out and in it was a woman. 'But there was no confirmation ever - and you couldn't talk openly.' Hitler's relationship with Raubal - the daughter of his half-sister - was a matter of controversy even within the evil Nazi party. It was rumoured among contemporaries that the pair were in a romantic relationship - despite the 19-year age gap and family ties. Rumours were rife about Hitler's nocturnal activities - including the mysterious fate of his niece Geli Raubal with whom he was reportedly in a relationship with Ms Stock says she once saw a coffin being carried out of Hitler's apartment - which she and others speculated could have been the body of Geli who had shot herself Raubal took her own life in Hitler's Munich apartment in 1931 with his gun at the age of 23 - although theories about his involvement in the death persist today. Despite her close proximity to the Fuhrer, Ms Stock said she rarely saw him - and never had any personal interactions. She said: 'I never spoke to him. Once I went to the opera - I got tickets through the school, it was in the royal box. I was very pleased. 'I got there in the evening and there were SS men saying: "You can't come in here - go two boxes further down". 'As the curtain went up I looked at the royal box - and there was Hitler sitting there. 'I saw him once or twice coming home too. His car would draw up. 'Two SS men would jump out stand either side and he would rush up to the house - terrified obviously of someone who would try and kill him.' Ms Stock said Hitler was mostly unseen by her and her family, who were later forced to leave Germany just days before the outbreak of WW2. Pictured: The woman then aged 3 with her brother Richard, who was three years older Alice Frank Stock and her husband Roy are seen on their wedding day in 2004 (left) and during a holiday in the 90s (right) Ms Stock also revealed that the fear of retribution was strong even at the early stage of Hitler's career. She said: 'We had a wonderful cook who was elderly and very Catholic - and very anti-Hitler. 'Once she went out and saw a photo of Hitler hanging on the wall and she said: 'Yes he should be hanged, the scoundrel - but not like this!' 'I said: "You'll get us all into a concentration camp".' When asked what she would say to Hitler knowing what she knows now, Ms Stock said: 'I wouldn't want to talk to him because my feelings would be too strong - I couldn't.' Ms Stock was born in the city of Augsburg before moving with her family to Munich as a three-month-old baby in 1918. Alice Frank Stock is pictured in the 1950s She spent her formative years there before being sent to study in Lausanne, Switzerland at the age of 17 due to the growing threat to Jewish people in Germany. She then moved to London in 1937 to attend secretarial college, with her parents following two years later - just two days before the start of World War Two. The family were forced to sell a 200-year-old violin to stump up the 1,000 needed to enter England - which Ms Stock managed to smuggle out of Germany. Talking about being Jewish in a society that was rapidly becoming outwardly antisemitic, Ms Stock said: 'In my school people were on the whole decent. My classmates were decent, too. 'But I can tell you of one incident, in an English lesson. 'The teacher said: "Of course, we Germans face our God as free men while the Jews roll in the dust". I didn't say anything. 'I went out into the corridor after and he said: "Look Frank, I didn't know you were Jewish." 'I said: "Professor, why would you make such remarks? You don't believe it yourself, do you?". 'He said: "You must go with your times". That is the key sentiment, why thousands joined the [Nazi] party - because you had to go with your times if you wanted promotions.' Ms Stock worked for the BBC and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) after leaving Germany. She would listen to radio transmissions from her birth country during the war and flag up anything noteworthy to her superiors - such as a large gathering of soldiers. Ms Stock worked for the BBC and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) after leaving Germany. Pictured: Her in 1936 Alice Frank Stock's parents August and Valerie in 1930, before they were forced to flee Germany She then met her husband Roy Macdonald Stock - a Military Cross winner - while working for the OECD in Paris in 1966. The pair were together for 38 years before they married in 2004, and did not have any children. They left the French capital in 2009 and retired to Bristol, where Roy was from originally. He sadly died in 2011. Ms Stock added: 'I have had a good life. [I would advise] lots of walking and hiking, along with the occasional glass of red wine!' Hitler's apartment on Prinzregentplatz was also the birthplace of the Nazi party. Ms Stock's husband Roy at home. He sadly died in 2011 He remained the property until 1934, when he moved after becoming Chancellor of Germany in 1932. Although he retained ownership he returned infrequently, preferring to spend his time in Berlin or The Berghof, a rented villa near Berchtesgaden. The building in Munich still stands and has been occupied for various usages over the years. FOREST CITY, Iowa A Winnebago County man arrested for trying to break into a neighbors home is sentenced. Jerome Allen Field, 53 of Forest City, was ordered Friday to serve three years of supervised probation, complete all recommended mental health and substance abuse treatment, and pay $630 in fines. Field was arrested on June 7, 2020, after he allegedly tried to break into a home in the 300 block of E K Street in Forest City. Police say they arrived to find field standing in his yard with bloody cuts on his hands and Fields girlfriend gave them a shirt of Fields that had multiple baggies of marijuana in it. He was then accused of causing a disturbance at the Winnebago County Jail on June 8, 2020, and shoving a law enforcement officer. Field eventually pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver of marijuana, 4th degree criminal mischief, and assault on a peace officer. Jim Olson is a public relations professor of practice at Syracuse Universitys Newhouse School of Public Communications and a former corporate communications executive at United Airlines, Starbucks and US Airways. This article originally appeared on Fortune.com [https://fortune.com/2020/12/25/gap-year-advice-midlife-innovation-jim-olson-syracuse-university-newhouse/] As millions of students and their parents continue to contemplate and question the value of a Covid-era collegiate experience, there has been a lot of talk about the beloved gap year. Not surprisingly, thousands of U.S. college students opted to take one in the current academic year. But soul-searching young people arent the only ones who could benefit from a year of think space at this ominous time. In 2019 at the age of 50 I embarked on a midlife gap year of my own. My journey took me to one of the most unlikely places in the world a remote Indian Ocean island, 1,500 miles off the southeast coast of Africa. After having climbed the corporate ladder for three decades, and holding executive posts at United Airlines, Starbucks and US Airways, I realized it was time to stop fueling my ambition and start refueling my soul. So my family and I sold our home, packed our bags and moved to Mauritius, where I served as an executive in residence and chief communications officer at African Leadership University (ALU). I was enticed by ALUs moonshot mission to develop a new generation of entrepreneurial and ethical African leaders. The school, with campuses in Mauritius and Rwanda, is doing this by challenging students representing more than 40 African nations to declare a mission rather than a major and in doing so discover their purpose and embrace a grand social challenge. Students work with faculty to handcraft a learning path to catalyze their personal calling. This may help explain why New York Times columnist David Brooks described ALU as one of the four spots on earth where history is being made. There are three big lessons I awakened to as I spent time in this innovative environment during my midlife gap year: Do hard things In 1961, John F. Kennedy declared, We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. At ALU we were fond of saying that solving Africas biggest problems summon us to do hard things. In my case, I was summoned to do crazy-hard things like selling our home and moving 10,000 miles from Chicagos leafy North Shore suburbs to the turquoise north shore of a distant African island. Now possibly more than any other moment in our lives is the time to stop contemplating what if and start declaring why not. Find space for think space The magnitude and volume of news, information and noise we are exposed to provide little, if any, refuge in which our brains may do what they are intended to do: think. So take long walks, choose the quiet car on the train, skip the movie on the plane, or rent a secluded cabin for a week (or perhaps move to a far-flung island for a year). As my daughter reminded me during our third month of quarantine, a silly old bear wisely once professed: Doing nothing often leads to the very best of something. If we worry about everything, we will never do anything In the three months that led up to our departure for Mauritius, there were a hundred reasons not to get on that plane. Securing adequate international health insurance, for example, became a bureaucratic quagmire. (To our surprise, the preexisting conditions waiver in the Affordable Care Act does not apply to international coverage for U.S. citizens.) And nothing broke my heart more than trying to reassure my teenage daughter that everything would be OK. Tears would roll down her cheeks as she fell asleep each night, devastated about leaving her BFFs behind and feeling trepidation about making new friends in a distant land. Each new headwind would have been a valid reason on its own to abort our plans. But we never abandoned the one reason we were doing this to begin with to do our small part to help change the trajectory of a continent with so much potential for itself and the world. And along the way, change the trajectory of our own lives. Nelson Mandela proclaimed, There is no passion to be found playing small in settling for a life that is smaller than the one you are capable of living. Which is why Ive come to believe that our lives will not be measured by the titles we attain, the awards we collect or the wealth we accumulate, but rather by the moments of impact we achieve the mark we leave on the people and world around us and, more important, the measure of our willingness to let them make a mark on us. After spending 12 months surrounded by the limitless potential of a new era of African leaders, I realized it was time to stop trying to prove myself to the world and instead dedicate myself to improving the world. In August I returned to the U.S. as a public relations professor at Syracuse University. In my new role I am on a mission to help my students declare and achieve their missions. And along the way, Ill do my small part to help shape the next generation of entrepreneurial, ethical and consequential leaders our world needs now more than ever. The lecture halls of academia are a far cry from the plush executive suites that I roamed in recent years, but there is something magically transformational about living on an African island for a year. I arrived the person that I thought the world expected me to be and departed the person I know the world needs me to be. Isnt that what gap years are for, at any age? Also in Opinion: Syracuse classmate: Floyd Little was the best I ever saw (Commentary) AN INSTITUTIONALISED Dublin woman with more than 400 criminal convictions has been spared added jail time for drink-fuelled thefts. Denise McNulty, 43, with an address at a hostel at Ellis Quay, Dublin, pleaded guilty to stealing nine cans of beer and two bottles of vodka on three dates in March and April last year. Judge Flann Brennan heard at Dublin District Court that she already had 459 prior criminal convictions, and 228 of them were for theft. Her other offences were for criminal damage, public order charges, and trespassing. In a mitigation plea, defence solicitor Colleen Gildernew said her clients number of convictions told a story. McNulty had not been able to stay of trouble since she was in her twenties and was institutionalised at this stage. She was a model prisoner in the Dochas centre in Mountjoy prison and has made great efforts, the solicitor said. She had also gone through the Drugs Court but that approach broke down after a family bereavement. She is currently serving a sentence for the next the year, the solicitor said, pleading with the judge not to add to her time in custody. Judge Brennan said he could tell the difficulties McNulty had all her life by looking at her charges. She had a dreadful record but was obvious she had persistent addictions, he added. He was impressed with her guilty plea and said he would not add to her current term in prison. He imposed a six-month concurrent sentence. Unless she dealt with her drink problem she would spend more of her life in jail. While she was a model prisoner the problem for society was when she gets out, he said. Im trying to get treatment, McNulty replied. By Monitor Team The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola Friday refuted reports that police are targeting journalists covering elections that have been marred by violence, arguing that security personnel have been using reasonable force to retrain the press for their own safety. We have heard complaints that security is targeting the media. On the contrary, it is the media targeting security. It is portraying security as brutal and siding with government. When we tell a journalist, dont go there and you insist on going where there is danger, we shall beat you for your own safety. I have no apology. We shall not apologise but we shall continue helping you not to go where there is danger, IGP Ochola told journalists during a security briefing in Kampala ahead of next weeks elections. IGP Ocholas response was prompted by a question from one of the journalists who wondered whether police and other security agencies have any plans of apologizing to journalists who have, in the last few weeks, been victimized by their violent actions. The IGPs response comes days after security forces on December 27, 2020 targeted three journalists covering presidential campaigns with teargas and rubber bullets, leaving them with injuries at Kyabakuza in Masaka District. The journalists who were injured are Mr Ali Mivule of NTV, Mr Ashraf Kasirye (Ghetto TV) and Mr Daniel Lutaaya (NBS TV). Mr Mivule said a police officer had said hes collateral damage before aiming his shooting him with a teargas canister. A Philippine eagle named "Pag-asa" (Hope), the first to be hatched and bred in captivity, died from infections just days short of its 29th birthday The first Philippine eagle bred in captivity in an effort to save one of the world's most endangered birds has died from infections, conservationists said Friday. The raptor named "Pag-asa" or "Hope" was hatched in 1992 at a sanctuary run by the Philippine Eagle Foundation on the outskirts of the southern city of Davao. Pag-asa would have turned 29 next week. The Philippines' national bird, known for its elongated nape feathers that form into a shaggy crest, has seen its population devastated by the destruction of rainforests and hunting in the archipelago. The centre has spent decades trying to ensure the survival of the critically endangered bird through a breeding programme and rehabilitating wounded raptors brought in from the wild. Only around 800 are believed to be left in the wild, the centre's spokeswoman, Nelizza Marzo, told AFP. Pag-asa died Wednesday from infections associated with diseases trichomoniasis and aspergillosis, which the centre said were fatal in raptors. "Although treatment was done over a week ago, he continued to deteriorate and died," it said in a statement. The centre has 33 Philippine eagles in its care. They can live for more than 40 years in captivity. The eagles are notoriously hard to pair, with the larger female known to attack and even kill an unwanted suitor in the wild. In more than three decades, the centre has managed to breed 28 eaglets. Seven of them were through artificial insemination, including Pag-asa and his only offspring Mabuhay. The rest were bred through natural pairing. The raptor, whose wingspan can reach more than two metres (seven feet), is endemic to the Philippines. Killing or wounding the species incurs a jail sentence and fine. The successful breeding of Pag-asa using artificial insemination had "heralded hope for the critically endangered species", the centre said. "Even after he retired from breeding, Pag-asa lived his life as an icon of hope for Filipinos, young and old, and was a constant inspiration to the people working tirelessly to save our National Bird from extinction," the spokeswoman said. "Pag-asa was gone too soon indeed, but his legacy lives on." Explore further Centre seeks more space to save monkey-eating Philippine eagle 2021 AFP US President Trumps administration plunged deeper into crisis as more officials resigned in protest, prominent Republicans broke with him and Democratic congressional leaders threatened to impeach him for encouraging a mob that stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. What was already shaping up as a volatile final stretch to the Trump presidency took on an air of national emergency as the White House emptied out and some Republicans joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and a cascade of Democrats calling for Trump to be removed from office without waiting the 13 days until the inauguration of ... A US flag flies at half-mast in remembrance of US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick (Patrick Semansky/AP) Democrats are discussing whether to act quickly to impeach President Donald Trump as soon as next week if his Cabinet does not first try to remove him after he encouraged loyalists who ransacked the Capitol in a siege that has left five people dead. If Mr Trump, whose term ends on January 20, were to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he could be prevented from running again in 2024 or ever holding the presidency again. Mr Trump would be only the president to be twice impeached. House Democrats planned a caucus meeting at noon on Friday, the first since Wednesdays harrowing events at the Capitol, and could take up articles of impeachment against Mr Trump as early as the week ahead. Three House Democrats are planning to introduce articles of impeachment on Monday, meaning the chamber could potentially vote on his removal from office by midweek, according two people familiar with the planning. If leadership does decide to move forward, they could vote on articles of impeachment drafted by Representatives David Cicilline, Jamie Raskin and Ted Lieu. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, discussed the prospect of impeachment with her leadership team on Thursday night, hours after announcing the House was willing to act if Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials did not invoke Section Four of the 25th Amendment, the forceful removal of Mr Trump from power by his own Cabinet. The final days of Mr Trumps presidency are spinning toward a chaotic end as he holes up at the White House, abandoned by aides, leading Republicans and Cabinet members. He is set to leave office when Democrat Joe Biden is sworn in, but top officials are gravely warning of the damage that he still could cause on his way out. Representative Adam Schiff, who led Mr Trumps impeachment in 2019, said in a statement on Friday that Mr Trump lit the fuse which exploded on Wednesday at the Capitol. Mr Schiff, a Democrat, said that every day that he remains in office, he is a danger to the Republic. This morning, @SenSchumer and I placed a call to Vice President Pence to urge him to invoke the 25th Amendment which would allow the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to remove the President. We have not yet heard back from the Vice President. Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 8, 2021 The Presidentas dangerous acts necessitate his immediate removal from office. We look forward to hearing from the Vice President as soon as possible and to receiving a positive answer as to whether he and the Cabinet will honor their oath to the Constitution and to Americans. Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 8, 2021 Read our full statement here: https://t.co/DNe7ZE3Gww Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 8, 2021 Five people are now dead from the violent melee, including a Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick. Ms Pelosi said in a statement on Friday that Mr Sicknicks death reminds us of our obligation to those we serve: to protect our country from all threats foreign and domestic. She said those responsible for the officers death must be brought to justice. Though Mr Trump has less than two weeks in his term, politicians and even some in his administration began discussing options for his removal onb Wednesday afternoon as Mr Trump first encouraged rally-goers near the White House to march on the Capitol, then refused to forcefully condemn the assault and appeared to excuse it. Massachusetts Representative Katherine Clark, a member of House Democratic leadership, said procedural steps could allow politicians to move far more quickly than they did on Mr Trumps impeachment last year. Expand Close A car drives by newly-erected fencing around the Capitol grounds (Matt Slocum/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A car drives by newly-erected fencing around the Capitol grounds (Matt Slocum/AP) Representative James Clyburn, the third ranking House Democrat, said he could confirm that we have had discussions about it and I would hope that the speaker would move forward if the vice president refuses to do what he is required to do under the Constitution. Mr Clyburn: Everyone knows that this president is deranged. One leading Republican critic of Mr Trump, Senator Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he will definitely consider impeachment. The president has disregarded his oath of office, Mr Sasse told CBS This Morning. He said what Mr Trump did was wicked in inciting the mob. Expand Close A Marine stands outside the entrance to the West Wing of the White House (Patrick Semansky/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A Marine stands outside the entrance to the West Wing of the White House (Patrick Semansky/AP) If the House impeaches, I will definitely consider whatever articles they might move, Mr Sasse said. Ms Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have called for Mr Trumps Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to force Mr Trump from office before Mr Biden is inaugurated. Mr Schumer said he and Ms Pelosi tried to call Mr Pence early Thursday to discuss that option but were unable to connect with him. Ms Pelosi, during a new conference, challenged several Cabinet members by name, including US secretary of state Mike Pompeo and treasury secretary Steve Mnuchin. Do they stand by these actions? Ms Pelosi asked. Are they ready to say that for the next 13 days this dangerous man can do further harm to our country? Expand Close Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite/AP) Ms Pelosi has spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about preventing Mr Trump from initiating military actions or a nuclear strike. Ms Pelosi said in a statement to colleagues that she spoke with General Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike. She said, the situation of this unhinged president could not be more dangerous. South Carolina mulling ban on heartbeat abortions with some exceptions Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment South Carolina's lawmakers will consider a pair of bills that, if enacted, would ban abortions performed on an unborn baby when a heartbeat is detected, which can be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy. Two bills were pre-filed last month for the South Carolina General Assembly to consider when they begin their legislative session next Tuesday. Senate Bill 1, also called the South Carolina Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act, was pre-filed in December and was referred to the Committee on Medical Affairs. The bill prohibits an abortion on a pregnant woman before a physician determines whether the human fetus the pregnant woman is carrying has a detectable fetal heartbeat. SB 1 bans abortions performed on a fetus with a heartbeat, except when the physician determines according to standard medical practice that a medical emergency exists. Any abortion provider found to be in violation of the bill, if the proposed legislation becomes law, can face a fine of $10,000, a maximum prison sentence of two years, or both. House Bill 3163, a similar bill also known as the South Carolina Stands for Life Act, was likewise pre-filed in December and then referred to the Committee on Judiciary. Like the Senate version, the proposed legislation clarified that it is not meant to prohibit the sale or prescription of contraceptive products and that the woman seeking the abortion will not be criminally prosecuted. Over the past few years, several states have passed similar laws banning abortions when a fetal heartbeat is detectable, only to have measures struck down or blocked in the courts. Last July, for example, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee signed a heartbeat abortion ban into law, only to have U.S. District Court Judge William Campbell stop it from taking effect. The Act will immediately impact patients seeking abortions and imposes criminal sanctions on abortion providers. The time-sensitive nature of the procedure also weighs in favor of injunctive relief pending a preliminary injunction hearing, wrote Campbell. In February of last year, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit unanimously upheld a block on Mississippis heartbeat abortion ban, which was passed in 2019. The panels per curiam ruling referenced an earlier legal decision against a different Mississippi law that banned most abortions performed after 15 weeks gestation. In 2018, Mississippi enacted a law prohibiting abortions, with limited exceptions, after 15 weeks gestational age. A district court enjoined the law, and we recently upheld that injunction, stated the opinion. If a ban on abortion after 15 weeks is unconstitutional, then it follows that a ban on abortion at an earlier stage of pregnancy is also unconstitutional. Hyundai-Apple partnership is in early phase of discussion for the development of the iPhone maker's self-driving car, which will be released in 2027, three years later the rumored 2024 target. After local news outlet Korea Economic Daily reported the rumored tie-up, Hyundai Motor shares soared by 20%. It was reported that Apple was the one to suggest the tie-up, sending the proposal to the South Korean carmaker, which is said to be reviewing the terms. Hyundai-Apple partnership in early talks According to CNBC, the possible Hyundai-Apple tie-up will focus on developing a self-driving car. According to the proposal, Hyundai will handle both the battery development and vehicle production for the Apple car. The target release is said to be in 2027, unlike the earlier rumors of a 2024 release. Back in December, Apple is said to be eyeing to launch its own self-driving car in three years, almost a decade after the initial thought of designing the vehicle from scratch surfaced in 2014. Known as the Project Titan, Apple car development has encountered numerous ups and downs, including the layoff of 190 employees in 2019. However, there is still no concrete plans on who would build the Apple car. A Hyundai Motor representative told CNBC that "nothing has been decided" yet as the discussion is still on the early stage. The representative also noted that Apple is also having talks with different automakers across the globe, and Hyundai Motor is just one of them. Meanwhile, Apple has not yet released a statement about the report. Read also: Apple Supplier Foxconn to Help Chinese Startup Produce Its First Electric SUV Hyundai Motor stocks surge after Apple tie-up rumors Although there is still no official statement yet from either Apple or Hyundai, the South Korean company and its affiliates are gaining much from these rumors. On Jan. 7, Hyundai Motor stock closed the market with 20.87% increase, Hyundai Mobis gained 23.15%, Hyundai Glovis with 3.51% rise, and Hyundai Wia was up 21.47%. Also, shares of Kia Motors, a Hyundai affiliate and the second largest South Korean car manufacturer, also surged by 9.84%. However, known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the stock market hype on companies that are rumored to forge tie-ups with the iPhone maker to supply Apple car parts is only based on speculations. After all, nothing has been developed yet about six years since Apple car rumors surfaced. Kuo also said the Apple car may even wait until 2028 or later before it finally reach the market. Other possible Apple car supplier Meanwhile, Automotive News suggested that if Apple is indeed serious with its plan to launch its own vehicle, it is best for the company to outsource a company to build the car. this is the same as the iPhone, in which Apple designs the smart phone and provides the operating system while Foxconn assembles all components to build the handset. If the Hyundai deal would not materialize, Evercore ISI analyst Chris McNally suggested that Apple should also consider forging a contract with Canadian company, Magna International Inc., the world's third biggest auto supplier. In 2019, it generated almost $40 billion revenue from products like transmissions, mirrors, seating, and vehicle cameras. However, the company is now has $21 billion market value after its shares skyrocketed since March. Meanwhile, the Graz, Austria factory of its manufacturing subsidiary, Magna Steyr, builds premium vehicles such as the electric Jaguar I-Pace, the Toyota Supra, Mercedes-Benz G-Class, and the BMW Z4 sportscar. Related article: Chinese Car Company Xpeng Continues to Challenge Tesla, Adds Lidar Sensors for Autonomous Cars in 2021 This is owned by Tech Times Written by CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said Thursday President Donald Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts will be suspended at least through Inauguration Day in the wake of violence by the presidents supporters that erupted Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol. We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, Zuckerberg said in a statement on his Facebook page, adding that the account could remain locked indefinitely. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete. Twitter barred Trump from posting messages on its platform Wednesday for 12 hours for repeated and severe violations of the social media companys civic integrity rules. Twitter and Facebook had taken the unprecedented step of temporarily suspending Trumps account on Wednesday as Trump continued to post inflammatory messages and make false accusations that the election was rigged in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. It was the most aggressive action the social media giants have taken against Trump. Twitter ordered the removal Wednesday of three Trump tweets, including a video urging his supporters who stormed the Capitol to go home while continuing to make false claims about the elections. Twitter said the posts were voluntarily deleted from Trumps account after the company threatened to extend the suspension. Later Wednesday evening, Facebook said Trump would be barred from posting for 24 hours for two violations of its policies. Syracuse University communications professor and social media expert Jennifer Grygiel told The Associated Press that Wednesdays deadly violence is a direct result of Trumps abuse of social media to spread falsehoods and said the social media companies should bear some responsibility for the violence. This is what happens, Grygiel said. We didnt just see a breach at the Capitol. Social media platforms have been breached by the president repeatedly. This is disinformation. This was a coup attempt in the United States. The incoming chairman of the Senate Intelligence committee, Democrat Mark Warner, applauded Twitter and Facebook for their actions in a statement Thursday, but he also criticized them for not taking more stringent action much sooner. While Im pleased to see social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube take long-belated steps to address the presidents sustained misuse of their platforms to sow discord and violence, these isolated actions are both too late and not nearly enough, Warner said. Disinformation and extremism researchers have for years pointed to broader network-based exploitation of these platforms. As I have continually said, these platforms have served as core organizing infrastructure for violent, far right groups and militia movements for several years now helping them to recruit, organize, coordinate and in many cases (particularly with respect to YouTube) generate profits from their violent, extremist content. YouTube has not taken any action to silence Trump. The Associated Press reported that YouTube said it removed Trumps video, but it was still publicly accessible on Thursday. The White House has not responded to the suspensions. This is the second in a series of contributions on prospects of ASEAN-Korea relations in 2021. ED. By Kim Chang-beom The end of 2020 gives us an opportunity to look forward to a fresh start in 2021, leaving unprecedentedly difficult and tumultuous times behind. South Korea and Indonesia are still going through the dark tunnel of the coronavirus pandemic. Nevertheless, the two countries have shown remarkable examples of their special partnership from the outset of the pandemic. Let me first highlight some salient features of the partnership which were demonstrated in 2020. Kim Chang-beom, Korea's former ambassador to Indonesia EBRD and EU help Arassa Rysgal improve product quality and operations Arassa Rysgal, a leading manufacturer of light footwear in Turkmenistan, produces enough flip-flops to satisfy the demand of practically every citizen. With finance and business advice from the EBRD, funded by the European Union (EU), the company diversified its operations and became the first in the country to launch production of trainers and wellington boots. Ayhan Rejepova, the owner, started the business back in 1997, trading dried fruit and nuts. It was an instant hit with a daily volume of 1.5 tonnes of goods, so Ms Rejepova started pondering diversification and the establishment of a production line. Living in the countryside, she knew that flip-flops were the footwear of choice among the Turkmen people. The weather in the region is dry and mostly very hot, so light footwear is all one needs to feel comfortable. It was not until 2015 when she launched the first production of flip-flops under the brand name Gerchek (Dandy). The idea was to offer a reasonably priced alternative to the imported flip-flops dominating the domestic market at the time. Initially, the company used just one piece of machinery and hired 20 employees, but Ms Rejepova quickly managed to expand her business to become a fully-fledged production facility. Currently, she is employing 400 staff, 65 per cent of whom were women. The first months were the most difficult. Although we had good experience in trade, we did not know how to manage production. Another challenge was to overcome the distrust of domestic product. Those days, imported meant quality for customers. It took a whole season for us to change peoples mindset, she recalls. Today, Gerchek footwear is very popular. The companys products are distributed in all five regions of Turkmenistan and are also exported to neighbouring countries. The annual production is growing and has reached 6 million pairs of flip-flops, more than 40,000 wellington boots and 80,000 trainers. Even last year, when many businesses were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, the company managed to keep up the volume of operations and produced an even bigger output than last year. The first time Ms Rejepova turned to the EBRD was when seeking finance for new workshops, warehouses and equipment to diversify the product range. Thanks to the EBRDs business advisory programme, funded by the EU, the company teamed up with an experienced international adviser who helped improve product quality, organisational structure and marketing and sales operations. The company also developed a business plan for its ambitious investment project and improved financial management system. The advisers helped us tremendously. We can see a huge difference between what we had before and after the advisory projects. We would never have achieved such success on our own, says Ms Rejepova. As a result, the company was able to secure US$ 2 million in financing from the EBRD to invest in the construction of workshops and the purchase of new equipment. Ms Rejepova is pleased with her companys success but does not intend to stop there. She has ambitious plans for the future: With a new investment project we would be able to implement the full cycle of production without dependence on imported raw materials, provide more affordable footwear and create 200 further jobs for women. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close For a moment, I thought Id finally lost it. Cant complain, I suppose. A lifetime in journalism is bound to take its toll eventually. But not being able to remember my brothers name? Or my eldest sons? Youll agree that is seriously worrying. Im getting ahead of myself, though. Id had an email from NS&I to tell me one of my savings investments was about to mature and I should click on the link for the details. So I did, and it did not recognise my password. No problem, I thought, Ill follow the instructions to reset it. Half an hour later I conceded defeat and called the helpline. Yes, I know describing it as a helpline should be an offence under the Trade Descriptions Act, but what else could I do? Does it really matter if a state-owned savings bank thinks it knows more about my family than I do, or some financial services company tells me to get an MOT for my ancient car? The young woman asked me for my account details and then wanted some personal information. This puzzled me. Ive been saving with NS&I for decades and have no recollection of ever being asked for personal details before. But I sighed heavily and told her my brothers and sons names. There was a long wait while she checked it out. Id given the wrong answer. It didnt match her information. So we did it again. Still wrong. I had to give up. There are three possible explanations. One is that Id got their names wrong when I first told NS&I my personal details. Pretty unlikely. Another is NS&I had entered them in my file incorrectly. Also unlikely. The last is that it had obtained them from another source. But where and how and why? Which takes me to another disturbing email I received a few days later from the website Moneysupermarket.com. It told me: John . . . Weve been keeping an eye on your renewal dates and your MOT is due to expire. Donald Trump will lose his power in 11 days. The men who control Google and Facebook and Apple and Amazon will still be there, becoming more powerful by the day Now, call me old-fashioned, but I take my car to my local garage when I need a new MOT and Phil, its scrupulous owner, has never yet failed to remind me when I need to renew it. Thats what a good garage does. But a money supermarket? As I clicked on to the website I spotted a motive. It was offering a loan for which it wanted all sorts of personal information, including my salary. And yet again, that worrying question: how did it know when my MOT was due? My next email was from a friend whod bought a swanky new car. He had discovered, after hed had it for a while, that its manufacturer reserved the right in the smallprint to record an enormous amount of information about his driving behaviour. Speeds and distances and such, plus, bizarrely, olfactory details. What will the manufacturer do with his information? How might it gather it? Who knows? Never have so few held so much information about so many. We are the most spied upon, pried into, scrutinised, surveyed, secretly observed beings in the nations history, and its happening because knowledge is power. When Thomas Jefferson used that phrase he meant it in a benign sense. He wanted as much knowledge as possible made available to as many citizens of his new country as possible. Francis Bacon had used it as a warning: the more one knows, he wrote, the more one can control events. Both men were, of course, talking centuries before the dawn of the digital age. Not even Bacon, an intellectual giant, could have begun to imagine a world in which a tiny group of men possess so much knowledge about us that they make presidents and prime ministers seem puny. Donald Trump will lose his power in 11 days. The men who control Google and Facebook and Apple and Amazon will still be there, becoming more powerful by the day. You may well think Im getting rather carried away on the basis of a few emails. Does it really matter if a state-owned savings bank thinks it knows more about my family than I do, or some financial services company tells me to get an MOT for my ancient car? Maybe not, but allow me to introduce you to three bright young people in their early 20s with whom I had (pre-lockdown!) supper recently. We talked about what most influenced their lives. They were unanimous. Algorithms. And, by extension, the digital companies that control them. I was sceptical. Algorithms are, after all, simply tools that learn from stuff fed into them and provide answers or responses that help us make decisions. If you doubt that, look at the fiasco of the algorithms used by the Government last year to decide the future of teenagers who could not sit their A-levels because of Covid. Hard-working, bright youngsters faced being written off, their futures blighted Their great advantage over the human brain is that they can crunch vast amounts of data at breath-taking speed and they are neutral. We can trust them because they dont have opinions or prejudices like fallible humans. All of that is true. But whats also true is that complex algorithms are shaped by humans who are not neutral and who make many mistakes. The data offered to the algorithm is riddled with them. If you doubt that, look at the fiasco of the algorithms used by the Government last year to decide the future of teenagers who could not sit their A-levels because of Covid. Hard-working, bright youngsters faced being written off, their futures blighted. And why? Because they had not been blessed with the benefit of going to a posh school. The algorithm was dumped. But what troubled my young supper companions was that they and their friends have lost control of their lives to websites. Specifically Instagram and Snapchat. The youngest demonstrated for me what he called muscle memory. He picked up his phone and, without even glancing at it, his finger found the Instagram app. He knew what would be displayed: essentially everything in which he had ever shown an interest. He knew what to think. It told him. I asked him what was the greatest fear driving Instagram users. He answered: FOMO. Fear Of Missing Out. I suggested they had become zombies. He agreed. I suggested he dump his phone, or at least dump those sites. He laughed. It was inconceivable. FOMO, remember? Sergey Brin is the co-founder of Google, which is believed to receive nearly four million searches every minute. That is real power. Brin once quipped: The perfect search engine would be like the mind of God. They may not be there yet. But theyre working on it. Where do our big chiefs find their wisdom? In these difficult days, most of us have wondered how our great leaders and policymakers reach their wise decisions. A few days ago, I came across this little fable which may help. Its late Fall, and the Native Americans on a remote reservation in South Dakota ask their new chief if the coming winter is going to be cold or mild. Sadly, the new leader has never been taught the old secrets and when he looks at the sky, he can find no answer. But he thinks it wise to be prepared just in case, so he tells his tribe it will indeed be a cold winter and they should start collecting firewood immediately. A few days later, he decides to check with the National Weather Service and it tells him: Yup, it looks like its gonna be a pretty cold winter. So he goes back to his people and tells them to collect even more firewood. A week later, he makes another call. This time, hes told its going to be a very cold winter. So the chief goes back to his people yet again and orders them to collect every scrap of firewood they can find. By now, winter is almost upon South Dakota, so the chief makes one last call. Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold? Absolutely, the man replies. Its looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters weve ever seen. How can you be so sure? the chief asks. The weatherman replies: The Indians are collecting a load of firewood. A North Korean hacking group has been found deploying the RokRat Trojan in a new spear-phishing campaign targeting the South Korean government. Attributing the attack to APT37 (aka Starcruft, Ricochet Chollima, or Reaper), Malwarebytes said it identified a malicious document last December that, when opened, executes a macro in memory to install the aforementioned remote access tool (RAT). "The file contains an embedded macro that uses a VBA self decoding technique to decode itself within the memory spaces of Microsoft Office without writing to the disk. It then embeds a variant of the RokRat into Notepad," the researchers noted in a Wednesday analysis. Believed to be active at least since 2012, the Reaper APT is known for its focus on public and private entities primarily in South Korea, such as chemicals, electronics, manufacturing, aerospace, automotive, and healthcare entities. Since then, their victimology has expanded beyond the Korean peninsula to include Japan, Vietnam, Russia, Nepal, China, India, Romania, Kuwait, and other parts of the Middle East. While the previous attacks leveraged malware-laced Hangul Word Processor (HWP) documents, the use of self-decoding VBA Office files to deliver RokRat suggests a change in tactics for APT37, the researchers said. The Microsoft VBA document uploaded to VirusTotal in December purported to be a meeting request dated January 23, 2020, implying that attacks took place almost a year ago. Chief among the responsibilities of the macro embedded in the file is to inject shellcode to a Notepad.exe process that downloads the RokRat payload in encrypted format from a Google Drive URL. RokRat first publicly documented by Cisco Talos in 2017 is a RAT of choice for APT37, with the group using it for a number of campaigns since 2016. A Windows-based backdoor distributed via trojanized documents, it's capable of capturing screenshots, logging keystrokes, evading analysis with anti-virtual machine detections, and leveraging cloud storage APIs such as Box, Dropbox, and Yandex. In 2019, the cloud service-based RAT gained additional features to steal Bluetooth device information as part of an intelligence-gathering effort directed against investment and trading companies in Vietnam and Russia and a diplomatic agency in Hong Kong. "The case we analyzed is one of the few where they did not use HWP files as their phish documents and instead used Microsoft Office documents weaponized with a self decode macro," the researchers concluded. "That technique is a clever choice that can bypass several static detection mechanisms and hide the main intent of a malicious document." More than 2 million Michigan residents become eligible for COVID-19 vaccines starting Jan. 11, but how and when those individuals will get their shots remains murky, with many details that still need to worked out. Teachers, child-care providers, first responders and all Michiganders age 65 and older are now among those eligible for vaccinations, state officials announced Wednesday. Whos eligible for COVID-19 vaccine and what else to know about program expansion Thats welcomed news for many. The No. 1 question I get every day from everyone is When can I get my vaccine? said Todd Belding, pharmacy manager for Sparrow Health in Lansing. People want this. He and other hospital officials are applauding the states announcement, amid calls to increase the pace of vaccine administration. As of Wednesday, Jan. 6, the state had shipped 725,850 vaccine doses to hospitals, local health departments and other entities administering vaccines. But only 174,749 shots had been given, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. Among the reasons for that gap: The holidays complicated the scheduling of vaccination clinics; not everyone eligible in the initial round agreed to a shot; a third of the vaccine doses were just shipped in the past few days, and there are lags in reporting vaccine administration. Still, theres widespread agreement the pace of vaccine administration needs to quicken and that gap needs to close. Michigan is among worst states in the country for administering COVID-19 vaccinations, CDC data says Opening the vaccine program to large populations such as teachers and senior citizens is the best and easiest way to boost Michigans vaccination numbers, Belding said. Large groups are going to be a lot easier to mobilize than some of the smaller groups, such as dentists and optometrists, Belding said. Thats the way to do it if we want to move fast. Even if the rollout is messy, time is of the essence and the top goal is to vaccinate as many Michiganders as quickly as possible, experts agree. What I like about the state strategy is theyve been really clear with their values, said Marcus Cheatham, health officer for the Mid-Michigan District Health Department, which oversees Clinton, Gratiot and Montcalm counties. The main value is: Use the vaccine. Get it into people. Because even a few days can make the difference in saving a life. But the short notice of a dramatic expansion starting next week has local health departments, hospitals and other vaccine providers scrambling to implement it quickly. Among the details that need to be resolved: Will local health departments be holding mass vaccination clinics? Or hospitals and other health-care providers? Both? How and where do people sign up for appointments to get their vaccines? Will there be screening to check eligibility, or will it be on the honor system? Will those rules be set at the state or county level, or the entity administering the vaccine? The broad outlines are very settled, Cheatham said. Companies are making the vaccine. Its coming to hospitals and public health departments. People will be looking for vaccine information online. They will be signing up and getting the vaccine when its available. Thats really clear. But the timing, what day you get the shot, where that will be, whos going to be giving you the shot -- those details arent settled, he said. Right now, today, most people cant sign up. Most people dont even know where to sign up. But that will all be filled in over the upcoming days. Moreover, expansion of the vaccine program will begin slowly simply because vaccine demand is likely to exceed the supply. It is important to note that there is limited vaccine available in the state, and so there will be limited appointments available, a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services press release said. As more vaccine becomes available, the state will be able to move more quickly through the priority groups. Supply the limiting factor for coronavirus vaccinations, even in Kalamazoo County where it is made That said, hospital officials say they are ready to shift from vaccinating their own employees to people in the general public. Were ready to begin the expansion, said Dr. Jeffrey Fischgrund, chief of clinical care for Beaumont Health in metro Detroit. Its really exciting. So what happens next? Public-health officials are being deluged by phone calls and emails from people who want details. Those details will be forthcoming shortly, they say. The states coronavirus vaccine webpage will soon start providing links to local health departments once they start scheduling vaccinations. Seniors also can look online at their local health department website, since some have started taking names of people seeking a vaccine. Its expected that specific vaccination clinics will be set up for essential workers through their employers, much like workplace flu clinics. For senior citizens, vaccinations clinics will be set up by local health departments, hospitals and other health providers, although details are still being worked out. Public health-departments and hospitals also may reach out to eligible individuals by using state lists of, say, teachers or licensed child-care providers to invite them to schedule an appointment. Michigan Medicine will begin vaccinating patients 65 and older Monday For instance, Beaumont is planning to reach out everybody age 65 and older in their patient database and encourage them to obtain a vaccine through Beaumont, Fischgrund said. We just have to get the message out to the community now and determine how they can sign up for the appointments, so thats not a small feat, he said. Realistically, its going to be sending invitations out, and then first-come first-serve as they respond to the invitation. Challenges ahead Health officials dont underestimate the challenge ahead. Trying to vaccinate the entire adult population as quickly as possible is something we have never done before, nobody has ever done before, Fischgrund said. And its not just the scale of the program. These are unusual times in unusual circumstances, with an unusual vaccine, said Joel Strasz, Bay County public health officer. Its not like we can just line people up and run them through. He and others say those challenges include: Uncertainty about about vaccine supplies. I find out Monday how much vaccine Im getting on Tuesday that week, Belding said. The unique storage and handling requirements for the vaccines. The Pfizer vaccine, for instance, must be stored in special freezers at very low temperatures and must be used within six hours of being reconstituted. The need to schedule appointments vs. having walk-in clinics because of that six-hour window and the scarcity of the vaccine doses. You dont want to have to throw any vaccine away, which would be a disaster in and of itself, Strasz said. But you dont want to have a ton of people showing up and then run out of vaccine because then youre going to have angry people. The difficulty in scheduling appointments considering the uncertainty of vaccine availability. The state has told us, frankly they dont know from week to week how much vaccine theyre getting so they cant promise us how much well be getting, Cheatham said. So we can schedule things, but they might have to be canceled. Or we might suddenly have extra vaccine and then have to recruit more people to get vaccinated. So its going to hard for everybody but well try to provide as much information as we know. Organizational issues around planning vaccination clinics that maintain social distancing and ensure recipients fit the criteria to receive the vaccinations. Because each person needs two shots, ensuring that people are scheduled for a second appointment with reminders sent out. Theres also the fact that the vaccination program is largely decentralized, with local health departments overseeing much of the coordination. That means youve got 83 counties coordinating in 83 different manners, Strasz said. Its a good question, a fair question of why there isnt a more centralized strategy for registration and distribution, he said. But even with the best efforts at the state level, it really comes down to individual decisions at the local level. Brian Brasser, chief operating officer of Spectrum Health West Michigan, said that Spectrum is working closely with the health departments in its 13-county service area. Its helped considerably, he said, to be part of the West Michigan Vaccine Collaborative, which is a network of local public health agencies and health-care providers from Berrien to Kalkaska counties. Thats been invaluable, even through we may not end up with the exact same processes or the exact same priorities, Brasser said. We dont see this as a competitive advantage, he said about coordinating with other health entities. This is about meeting the needs of the community. And I really get the sense from that collaborative that everyones on the same boat, and that everyones pulling in the same direction, although there are some unanswered questions that were waiting on. Strasz said the vaccine program already has yielded a number of surprises, and he expects there will be more. We were surprised that we were able to get it before the end of the year, he said. Then there was the surprise of how tough it was to actually distribute because of the storage and handling requirements. There was the surprise that people didnt want to take it at first, and now theres the surprise about the demand for it. But he also predicts the process will quickly smooth out. I know this from my experience with the H1N1 vaccine, how quickly and efficiently we were able to get the process down in a couple weeks, Strasz said. The quick rollout will mean make for a somewhat messy process at first, with health departments and heath-care providers stepping over each other as each entity maximizes its outreach, Cheatham said. This thing is going to be moving ahead on multiple fronts. And it will be confusing. But the quicker the program gets underway, the quicker more people will be immunized, said Cheatham and others. The people who want it really want it, Belding said. They see it as the light at the end of the tunnel, and I truly believe it is. Read more on MLive: Virtual learning a nightmare for special education students amid pandemic, parents say Video diaries: Teachers reflect on 2020s roller coaster ride More than 50,000 students left Michigan public schools this year. Where did they go? Coronavirus changed everything in 2020. Will the pandemic wind down in 2021? Earlier, a number of Ukrainian media outlets claimed that the country's officials had secretly got a shot of a vaccine smuggled in from Israel. Minister of Health's Office of the State of Israel Yuli (Yoel) Edelstein says a coronavirus vaccine could not have been smuggled from Israel to Ukraine, refuting reports of any secret supplies of a Pfizer vaccine for Ukrainian officials. Edelstein is convinced the vaccine has not been exported from Israel, the Ukrainian TSN TV news service wrote on January 7. "Vaccines require deep freezing. It's impossible for anyone to transport them unnoticed," he said. Read alsoRussia concealing involvement of defense facility in Sputnik-V vaccine development mediaThe official added that Israel did not intend to launch a formal investigation into the case over the rumors spun in Ukrainian media. Earlier, a number of Ukrainian media outlets claimed that the country's officials had been secretly vaccinated with a drug smuggled in from Israel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed the SBU Security Service of Ukraine and other law enforcement agencies to immediately verify reports of the alleged smuggling. He stressed that smuggling and counterfeiting must be punished. In turn, Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal instructed the Health Ministry and the Ministry of Internal Affairs to look into reports of secret vaccination of lawmakers with drugs of unknown origin in one of Kyiv's private clinics. Reporting by UNIAN Hungary still in talks with Russia, China on Coronavirus vaccine supplies - Prime Minister Moscow, Jan 8 (Sputnik) Hungary continues to negotiate coronavirus vaccine supplies with Russia, China and Israel due to EU-led procurement being too slow, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Friday. "Unfortunately, the EUs purchase of vaccines has been very slow, so Hungary carries on negotiations with Israel, Russia and China as well because if we wait, the vulnerable situation we currently have will persist," Orban told Hungarian broadcaster Kossuth Radio, as quoted by his press service. According to the prime minister, Hungary has received only 80,000 vaccine doses so far under the EU-led distribution process. KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. Both Klamath County and Klamath Falls City Schools will push forward with plans for a return to in-person learning despite liability concerns that provoked an emergency meeting on Thursday night. The joint meeting on Thursday stemmed from concerns that in-person learning would leave the districts open to legal risk, as COVID-19 liability protection passed by the Oregon legislature does not cover schools that eschew state coronavirus metrics. Ultimately, the boards decided that in-person learning was worth the risk. Our local public health is part of a network including Oregon Health Authority, Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization, said KCSD superintendent Glen Szymoniak. Klamath County Public Health is the only organization with the expertise and authority to reliably direct our decisions in this pandemic. Paul Hillyer, superintendent of Klamath Falls City Schools, also supported returning students to classrooms. The families and students feel like ping pong balls being bounced back and forth. It is wearying, he said. I really do believe that we are ready to have our students return in person. The work has been done. According to KCSD, 500 people attended Thursday's meeting which included three hours of presentations and testimony before the matter went to a vote. The vote, when it came, was unanimous. KCSD board chair Steve Lowell said that failure rates at "one of the district's larger high schools" rose from 8 percent in the fall of 2019 to 35 percent in the most recent grading period. That to me is not an education, Lowell said. Students are in trouble. Students need to be safe. They need to be with their school community . . . I also know that when we opened up our schools, we were successful. I have to keep thinking over and over, its whats best for kids. KFCS board chair Mychal Amos acknowledged that it was a difficult decision to make. I dont think were going to be right on this one," Amos said. "Theres going to be a group of people who are going to be disappointed. Of 250 written comments submitted, KCSD said that 215 supported reopening "as soon as possible." 23 were concerned and wanted a delay. With the unanimous vote in favor of returning to in-person learning, that process will begin on Monday, January 11. Both districts are offering remote options for families who do not want their students back in the classroom. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / January 8, 2021 / Pelangio Exploration Inc. (TSX-V:PX)(OTC PINK:PGXPF) ("Pelangio" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has received and reviewed all assay results from the phase 2 drill program completed in the fall of 2020 on its Grenfell gold project, located near Kirkland Lake, Ontario. (See Figure 1). The drill program successfully intercepted gold in both higher-grade narrow vein intersections and a series of new gold bearing intercepts. These results indicate continued success from the phase 1 drilling program completed in the spring of 2020 (see Pelangio press releases dated March 1, 2020 and March 9, 2020). Highlights of Phase 2 Drill Program Hole JS2013 intersected a new vein (No.1 HW Vein) in the hanging wall of the No.1 Vein which returned 10.95 g/t Gold ("Au") over 3 meters ("m") including a higher grade intercept of 23.4 g/t Au over 1m; including a higher grade intercept of Hole JS2013 targeted the No.1/No.6 Vein intersection as mapped on the 76m level historical workings: The hole returned 11.4 g/t Au over 0.6m approximately 10m above the projected intersection; The hole also returned 1.16 g/t Au over 7.5m in the hanging wall of the No.1 Vein ; Hole JS2014 returned two new significant zones of mineralization approximately 50m below the historical No.1 Vein sill drift workings (76m level). These new mineralized zones assayed 1.45 g/t Au over 9m and 1.76 g/t over 4.5m including some higher grade intercepts of 4.02 g/t Au over 1.1m and 3.46 g/t Au over 1.5m respectively; and including some higher grade intercepts of and Hole JS2011 targeted the up dip projection of No.1 Vein and returned a mineralized intercept in the hanging wall of the No.1 Vein which assayed 1.26 g/t Au over 6.8m including 4.91 g/t Au over 1.5m. Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO of Pelangio commented: "These results are extremely encouraging and continue to demonstrate excellent potential and captivate our attention at Grenfell. The recent results complement our initial work in the spring of 2020 which returned some impressive high grade results of 314 g/t gold over 1.74 meters (uncut). Our team will be modelling the new exploration data to continue to refine our understanding of the mineralization and the geometry of the zones in anticipation of the next round of drilling." Discussion of Recent Drill Program (See Figures 2 and 3) The Grenfell property is comprised of 38 mining cells and 8 leased claims covering an area of approximately 6.7 square kilometers and is located 10 kilometers northwest of the Town of Kirkland Lake Ontario. The recent drill program consisted of five holes totaling 540m. Two holes JS2013 and JS2014 targeted the No.6/No.1 vein intersection proximal to the 250 foot (76m) level historical workings and also further evaluated the depth extension of No.6 and No.1 Veins. Two holes JS2009 and JS2010 targeted the historical Shea Vein and Central targets respectively, also just above the 76m level workings. The Shea Vein and Central Target represented two NW trending target zones; these targets were drill tested due to their similar orientation to the No.6 Vein known to be associated with significant gold mineralization as demonstrated by Pelangio in early 2020. Hole JS2011 targeted the up dip extension of the No.1 Vein above the 76m level, as only extremely limited historical drilling had previously tested the up dip extent of this No.1 Vein. Historical chip sampling of the No.1 Vein on the 76m level sill drift returned 0.2 oz/ton gold over a width of three feet over 180 feet of strike length. (J. Londry, P.Eng., "Report on the John Sirola Property, Grenfell Township, 1985") Results from this program were delayed significantly due to an inordinate backlog at assay labs in Timmins as a result of the numerous ongoing exploration programs in the area and certain Covid-19 safety protocols. A more detailed explanation on the individual targets and drill holes is discussed as follows: Holes JS2009 and JS2010 A single hole (JS2009) successfully intersected the Shea Vein target and returned 1.51 g/t Au over 1.8m. Historical data shows this vein has a strike length of approximately 65m; thus, limited drill testing has been completed on this system. Gold mineralization on the Shea Vein is present in a quartz vein hosted within a gabbro unit with minor leucoxenes. A single hole (JS2010) was completed on the Central Target. No significant results were obtained and an explanation for approximately 60m of underground drifting on the 76m level on the Central target remains unknown. Hole JS2011 Hole JS2011 targeted the up dip extension of the No.1 Vein; slightly anomalous gold was noted in the target area of the up dip projection, however a broader zone of mineralization was noted in the hanging wall of the No.1 Vein which returned 1.26 g/t Au over 6.8m including a higher grade intercept of 4.91 g/t Au over 1.5m. The mineralized zone in JS2011 is hosted in a mafic volcanic unit with minor quartz stringers; the better value of 4.91 g/t Au over 1.5m is adjacent to a fault zone. Holes JS2013 and JS2014 Holes JS2013 and JS2014 demonstrated there is potential for new zones of mineralization and additional high-grade narrow vein mineralization. This is shown by the new higher grade intercept in JS2013 which returned 10.95 g/t Au over 3m and the additional mineralized intercepts in Hole JS2014 which returned 1.45 g/t Au over 9m and 1.76 g/t over 4.50m. All of these zones described are located in the hanging wall of the No.1 Vein which has very few holes along its entire 54m (180 foot) strike length. The higher grade intercept of 10.95 g/t Au over 3m in hole JS2013 is associated with stringers of quartz within a gabbro unit with minor leucoxene alteration. The intercepts in JS2014 are hosted in a locally bleached gabbro unit with leucoxene alteration, and some pyrite mineralization generally less than 1%. All pertinent drill hole location data and significant assay data from the holes to date are presented in the accompanying Tables A and B. TABLE A: DRILL HOLE LOCATION DATA HOLE NO. NORTHING EASTING AZIMUTH DIP (Degrees) LENGTH (m) JS2009 560160 5336026 047 degrees -51 81.20 JS2010 560249 5336087 047 degrees -63 90.00 JS2011 560326 5336231 130 degrees -62 90.00 JS2013 560325 5336177 020 degrees -65 129.00 JS2014 560335 5336167 020 degrees -67 150.00 Note: Hole JS2012 was not drilled. TABLE B: SIGNIFICANT ASSAY INTERCEPTS HOLE NO. FROM TO METERS G/T Au COMMENTS JS2009 54.20 56.00 1.80 1.51 Shea Vein Target includes 54.20 54.60 0.40 2.33 JS2010 NSV No significant Results JS2011 41.20 48.00 6.80 1.26 Hanging Wall (HW) of No.1 Vein includes 46.50 48.00 1.50 4.91 JS2013 57.00 58.50 1.50 1.32 65.60 66.20 0.60 11.40 Vein above No.1/No.6 Vein intersection 70.50 72.00 1.50 1.49 77.00 78.05 1.05 1.20 96.00 103.50 7.50 1.16 New mineralization in No.1 Vein HW includes 96.00 97.50 1.50 3.61 117.00 120.00 3.00 10.95 New narrow Vein in No.1 Vein HW includes 118.00 119.00 1.00 23.40 JS2014 96.00 98.00 2.00 2.31 includes 96.00 97.00 1.00 3.60 126.00 135.00 9.00 1.45 New mineralization in No.1 Vein HW includes 126.00 127.10 1.10 4.02 145.50 150.00 4.50 1.76 Hole ended in mineralization includes 147.00 148.50 1.50 3.46 Note: All intervals shown in the accompanying tables are core lengths as the estimated true width of the zone cannot be determined at this time. Future Plans for Grenfell Work to date at Grenfell by Pelangio has demonstrated the potential for both narrow vein high-grade mineralization and a number of new zones of near surface lower grade gold mineralization associated with the No.6 and No.1 Vein systems. The geometry and relationship of these mineralized zones is not adequately understood at this time. The Company intends to input all pertinent historical data and recently acquired drill data into a geological model to assist in a better understanding of the mineralized zones. Pelangio will also review and prioritize a number of significant geophysical anomalies with coincident geochemical anomalies which remain to be drill tested. The combination of these efforts will better define priority target areas for further drilling. Quality Assurance/Quality Control All core logging and sampling were conducted in a secure core logging facility in Timmins Ontario. Core logging and sampling of NQ diamond drill core was carried out by J.K. Filo P.Geo. Core logging and sampling adhered to 43-101 protocols and industry standard best practices. Each drill hole was sampled entirely, and sample lengths varied from 0.15m to 1.6m maximum. Drill core was sawn in half with a diamond saw, tagged, and placed in securely sealed bags. Samples were transported to Actlabs facility in Timmins, Ontario by Pelangio personnel. Half of the core was retained for reference purposes. For holes JS2010, JS2011, JS2013 and JS2014 gold analysis was completed using a standard fire assay with a 50 gram charge with and atomic absorption (AA) finish (Actlabs 1A2-50 Procedure). Samples over 10 grams/ton were re-assayed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Some multi element analysis was completed on hole JS2009; these samples were fire assayed with and ICP-OES finish using a 50 gram charge (Actlabs 1C-OES-50 Procedure). With each batch of 28 samples, one blank and one Oreas gold standard were submitted for analysis for QA/QC purposes. QA/QC samples were within acceptable tolerance levels. Full details on Actlabs analysis procedures and associated sample preparation can be reviewed on their web site. Qualified Person Mr. Kevin Filo, P.Geo. (Ontario), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Filo approved the technical data disclosed in this release. About Pelangio Pelangio acquires and explores world-class gold belt land packages Ghana, West Africa and Canada. In Ghana, the Company is exploring its two 100% owned camp-sized properties: the 100 km2 Manfo Property, the site of seven near-surface gold discoveries, and the 284 km2 Obuasi Property, located 4 km on strike and adjacent to AngloGold Ashanti's prolific high-grade Obuasi Mine, as well as the newly optioned Dankran property located adjacent to its Obuasi property. In Canada, the Company is currently focused in Ontario on its Grenfell property, located 10 km from Kirkland Lake, at its Dome West property, situated some 800m from the Dome Mine in Timmins and is advancing its Hailstone property in Saskatchewan. See www.pelangio.com for further detail on all Pelangio's properties. For additional information, please visit our website at www.pelangio.com, or contact: Ingrid Hibbard, President and CEO Tel: 905-336-3828 / Toll-free: 1-877-746-1632 / Email: info@pelangio.com Figure 1: Grenfell Project location and regional geology of the Kirkland Lake area Figure 2: Grenfell Property drill hole plan for phase one and two drilling program showing coordinates Figure 3: Grenfell Property drill hole plan for phase one and two drilling program showing main intercepts Forward Looking Statements Certain statements herein may contain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements or information appear in a number of places and can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements and information include statements regarding the Company's ability to complete the planned work programs, the Company's strategy of acquiring large land packages in areas of sizeable gold mineralization, the Company's plans to follow-up on previous work, and the Company's exploration plans. With respect to forward-looking statements and information contained herein, we have made numerous assumptions, including assumptions about the state of the equity markets. Such forward-looking statements and information are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statement or information. Such risks include the changes in equity markets, share price volatility, volatility of global and local economic climate, gold price volatility, political developments in Ghana, and Canada, increases in costs, exchange rate fluctuations, speculative nature of gold exploration, including the risk that favourable exploration results may not be obtained, and other risks involved in the gold exploration industry. See the Company's annual and quarterly financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statement and information. There can be no assurance that a forward-looking statement or information referenced herein will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements or information. Also, many of the factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward- looking statements or information. We undertake no obligation to reissue or update any forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. All forward-looking statements and information herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: Pelangio Exploration Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623532/Pelangio-Reports-Positive-Results--Intercepts-1095-gt-Gold-Over-Three-Meters-at-Grenfell-Gold-Project-Kirkland-Lake Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the Delhi airport on Friday as many passengers arriving from the UK vociferously complained against the national capital government's belated decision to make seven-day institutional quarantine compulsory for them irrespective of their COVID-19 test results. Passenger flights resumed from the UK to India in limited numbers from Friday onwards after remaining suspended for 16 days due to the emergence of a new coronavirus variant in that country. Air India's AI112 flight from London landed at the Delhi airport at around 10.30 AM. It was the only UK flight to land in Delhi on Friday and it had 256 passengers in it, said Gauri Agarwal, founder of the Genestrings Diagnostic Centre, which is handling coronavirus testing of all passengers at the Delhi airport. "This is ridiculous. You cannot tell people the rules have changed after they land. Some notice must be given! Chaos at Delhi Airport with this flight, families with small children, pregnant woman howling," Vistara's former Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer Sanjiv Kapoor said on Twitter. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday afternoon that travellers coming from the UK to the national capital will have to undergo a seven-day institutional quarantine and a seven-day home quarantine even if they test negative for COVID-19 on arrival. Air India, however, claimed on Twitter on Friday evening that it had informed the flight's passengers about the new advisory of the Delhi government before the plane took off from the Heathrow airport last night. "Around 20 passengers opted to cancel their flight on being informed by Air India's London team of this advisory. The announcement was repeated during the flight as well," the carrier added. A passenger of the flight, named Harpreet Takkar, tagged Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Twitter and said, "Just came from London AI112, it's absolutely maniac at Delhi Airport. Asking us to go for institutional quarantine even with a Negative PCR test. Didn't mention this on your SOP (standard operating procedure)." Another passenger, Mohit Wadhwa, tagged Kejriwal on Twitter and said, "I am one of the passenger of flight AI112 from London with my 2 months old son. You locked everyone of us." Sources said there were heated arguments between the passengers and security personnel who were present at the airport. Air India said it had mobilised all available resources to expedite RT-PCR tests for passengers of the flight and extended "every possible support to facilitate them". One Vistara flight with 291 passengers will come from London to Delhi on Saturday and two flights -- one of British Airways and another of Air India -- with a total of 481 passengers will land at the Delhi airport on Sunday, Gauri Agarwal stated. Aviation Minister Puri had announced earlier this month that only 30 flights per week will operate between India and the UK between January 8 and January 23. Indian and UK carriers will each be operating 15 flights per week during the period. Earlier this month, the Union Health Ministry stated that a passenger coming from the UK can board a flight to India only when he has a negative test report from a sample taken 72 hours prior to the journey. Moreover, as per the rules, the passenger also has to take the RT-PCR test on arrival at the entry airport in India. India had suspended all passenger flights between the UK and India from December 23 to January 7 as a new variant of coronavirus emerged in the UK. Over 60 passenger flights per week were flying between India and the UK in December before the suspension. Also Read: Bharat Biotech seeks DCGI nod to conduct trials of nasal Covid-19 vaccine A full service restaurant, bar, and a cafe are set to open in The Valley Luxury Hotel, the 129-room luxury hotel set to open in Homewood this month. This week, The Valley Hotel, a part of the Curio Collection by Hilton, and Valor Hospitality Partners announced the dining concepts and culinary team for its three on-site food and beverage options: upscale restaurant Ironwood Kitchen + Cocktails, The Terrace Bar, a bar featuring craft beer, cocktails, and a fireplace, and The Valley Coffee Co., its signature cafe offering coffee, gourmet sandwiches, salads, and freshly baked pastries. Executive chef Doug Zuk will spearhead The Valley Hotels culinary program. Prior to the hotel, Zuk developed and ran culinary programs in Las Vegas with executive chef and chef de cuisine roles at Hanks Fine Steaks at the Green Valley Ranch Resort Spa & Casino and Tom Colicchios Craftsteak at the MGM Grand Las Vegas. The menu at Ironwood Kitchen + Cocktails is already well underway with dishes highlighting signature Alabama food and drinks including: Clyde Mays smoked short ribs with Yukon gold potato puree and crispy onion rings, grouper and grits with white cheddar grit cakes, Conecuh sausage, classic tartare and a soft poached egg, and smoked chocolate toffee cake. General manager Luis Lozano will direct hospitality service at Ironwood Kitchen + Cocktails. Prior to joining The Valley Hotel, Lozano served as the Director of Food & Beverage at Hotel Colonnade in Coral Gables, Fla., where he oversaw all culinary operations and concepts. The Valley Hotel will also offer custom catering menus and room service options. Located at 2727 18th Street S. in Homewood, The Valley Hotel is set to open on Jan. 21. Second locations of Rodney Scotts BBQ and Little Donkey will also open later this year near the hotel. In 2020, Pihakis Restaurant Group and Capstone Real Estate Investments announced plans to develop new locations of the restaurants along the block at 28th Avenue South and 18th Street South near the hotel. The restaurants will sit side-by-side and are scheduled to open in the spring or summer of 2021. WASHINGTON - The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia said Thursday that all options are on the table for charging members of the violent pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol including sedition charges. A flag that reads "Treason" is visible on the ground in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) WASHINGTON - The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia said Thursday that all options are on the table for charging members of the violent pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol including sedition charges. Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for D.C., said prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases on Thursday for crimes including unauthorized access and theft of property, and investigators are combing through reams of evidence to bring additional charges. All of those charges are on the table, he said. Were not going to keep anything out of our arsenal for potential charges. We will bring the most maximum charges we can based upon the conduct. Sherwin said 40 other cases had already been filed in District of Columbia Superior Court. More than 90 people have been arrested in Washington and more arrests are likely. U.S. attorneys from across the country have vowed to find and bring to justice any residents who participated in the insurrection aimed at thwarting the peaceful transfer of power. But it could take weeks to build cases against the rioters. Experts say some could face the rarely used seditious conspiracy charge. It's the same charge former Attorney General William Barrs Justice Department told prosecutors to consider levying against those who caused violence at protests last summer over the killings of Black Americans by police. Other possible charges for the pro-Trump mob include civil disorder, destruction of property and rioting, experts say. You can literally throw the book at them and it would be a pretty heavy book, said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Loyola Law School. Levenson said its important for prosecutors to send a message with their charges. This cannot happen again, she said. This was a very scary moment for America and it cannot set a precedent that the way you deal with political opposition is through violence and destruction. The Department of Justice has aggressively gone after demonstrators who caused violence during the protests over police brutality, charging more than 300 with crimes including civil disorder and burglary. In many cases, prosecutors pushed to keep them locked up while they await trial despite the virus crisis that has ravaged jails and prisons across the U.S. Then-Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, who stepped into the top DOJ job when Barr resigned last month, told prosecutors in a memo in September that they should consider the use of seditious conspiracy charges against violent demonstrators, saying it does not require proof of a plot to overthrow the U.S. government. No one charged in the civil unrest sparked by George Floyds death has actually been charged with sedition. The charge, which carries up to 20 years in prison, could apply to those who by force prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any U.S. law or by force seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof, Rosen wrote. He cited as a hypothetical example: "a group has conspired to take a federal courthouse or other federal property by force. I do think there are some pretty strong cases, or at least some potential cases, under that statute, Levenson said of those at the Capitol on Wednesday. The mob smashed windows and broke doors, sending lawmakers into hiding as they began Electoral College votes affirming Democrat Joe Bidens victory. Some rioters, many of whom weren't wearing masks, were captured in videos and photos posted all over social media. Its always helpful to prosecutors if people pose for pictures in the midst of committing crimes, said Stanford Law School professor David Sklansky, a former federal prosecutor in California. The violence happened hours after Trump called on his supporters to fight to stop the steal of the election and march on the Capitol, while Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, called for trial by combat. Trumps speech at the rally before the chaos broke out likely would not be considered illegally inciting violence because he didnt specifically call for people to storm the Capitol, Sklansky said. First Amendment freedoms mean speech has to be calculated to produce imminent violence to be considered criminal, he said. Similarly, comments by Giuliani were likely also not specific enough to be considered possibly criminal. On Thursday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said Trump's administration found the siege to be reprehensible." She said "those who broke the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Four people died in Wednesdays chaos, including a woman who was shot and killed by police inside the Capitol. Three other people died after medical emergencies related to the breach. More than 50 Capitol and D.C. police were injured, including several who were hospitalized, officials said. The FBI has asked for tips, photos and videos to help identify those who participated in the violence. U.S. attorneys in several states, including Kentucky, Ohio and Oregon, said people could face charges in their home states if they travelled to Washington and took part in the riot. The U.S. attorney for Detroit and surrounding communities, Matthew Schneider, said investigators will review video footage and other evidence. Serious charges including destruction of property over $1,000, inciting a riot, civil disorder, sedition, using a destructive device like a pipe bomb could potentially have venue in Michigan, he said, if there are connections to the state. But it will take time to go through the evidence, he said. Im personally disgusted and horrified by this. Its just nauseating to me. Its sick what people did inside the Capitol, said Schneider. But he added: Theres a big difference here between peaceful protests and acts of violence. Just because people travelled to Washington, D.C., doesnt necessarily make them criminals." Richer reported from Boston and Whitehurst reported from Salt Lake City. Associated Press reporter David Eggert contributed to this report from Lansing, Michigan. Japan will provide 30 billion yen (over Rs 2,100 crore) as loan to India to fight the socio-economic impact of COVID-19. The 'COVID-19 Crisis Response Support Loan for Social Protection' is the second such assistance from Japan after it sanctioned 50 billion yen (over Rs 3,500 crore) loan as financial support to augment health infrastructure to fight COVID-19 emergency in August 2020. A Japanese embassy official said the latest agreement was signed by Suzuki Satoshi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to India and CS Mohapatra, Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance on January 8. "With this additional yen loan, we hope that the most vulnerable people will get enough support, including provisions of meals and other required goods as well as financial support," he said. The 50 billion yen support announced on August 31, 2020, was meant as financial assistance to develop hospitals equipped with ICUs and infection prevention and management facilities. Providing support to enhance the telemedicine facilities across Indian villages was also an objective of that loan. Soon after the outbreak of COVID-19, Japan had pledged 1 billion yen as grant aid to India to augment oxygen generator facilities for treating critical COVID-19 patients. The country had also partnered with international organisations like UNDP, UNICEF, UNHCR to provide financial assistance to the tune of $7.3 million (over Rs 50 crore) to India. The Japanese embassy official said the current yen loan and the previous one are "budget supports" to assist the Government of India, with higher degree of flexibility. Also Read: Sensex, Nifty scale record closing highs: Five factors behind the rally Also Read: Farmers' protest: 'Can't, won't repeal farm laws,' says govt to unions Also Read: Centre's petrol, diesel revenue up 94% On Wednesday afternoon, a mob of right-wing extremists and indignant livestreamers stormed the Capitol. Along their path, they left a note to the journalists who were covering the scene, a message that seemed a harrowing extension of a presidency marked by anti-press virulence: etched into a door was the phrase murder the media. Its hard not to take that seriouslyas was noted by Rachael Pacella and Paul W. Gillespie, both journalists who had survived the 2018 mass shooting at the Capital Gazette, in Annapolis, Maryland. And yet, as Masha Gessen wrote for The New Yorker, no one in charge seemed to take the mob seriously enough. The harm done to the press was alarming. All through the afternoon, reporters in Washington photographed rioters kicking, toppling, stomping, and pouring water on their equipment as they yelled Fuck you, propaganda! and chanted CNN sucks. An AP spokesperson told the New York Times that members of the crowd stole some equipment; a group appeared to be trying to burn it. One person shouted at a couple of Washington Post reporters, How many more fucking people gotta die? All the lies youve told, all this timethats what made this happen. A lady died because of your lies! (That was possibly a reference to Ashli Babbitt, the woman fatally shot by police during the siege.) Yesterday afternoon, the US Press Freedom Tracker said it was investigating several instances of assault, equipment damage, and other mayhem caused by the mob. Hours before the violence began, Donald Trump had addressed his supporters outside the White House. All of us here today do not want to see our election victory stolen by a bold and radical left Democrats, which is what theyre doing, and stolen by the fake news mediathats what theyve done and what theyre doing, he told the crowd. We will never give up and never concede. His words were fuel. He was joined, too, by other elected officials, who piled on smears against journalists: Richard Hudson, a congressman from North Carolina, complained that the hyper-partisan hysteria from some on the left and in the media is predictable; Mo Brooks, a representative from Alabama, wrote on Twitter, Please, dont be like #FakeNewsMedia, dont rush to judgment on assault on Capitol; and Kelly Loeffler, the outgoing senator from Georgia, made taking on the fake news media part of her failed campaign. The list goes on. As my colleague Lauren Harris argued early this week, democracy is hard work to which journalists must constantly tendfor the sake of a more just world, and for ourselves, too. The events of Wednesday left the press with an immense task. We have to continue to ask tough questions about how officials allowed the break-in to happen in the first place. We need to grapple with the effects of an information ecosystem entirely separate from the reality-based press; as Charlie Warzel wrote, for the Times, For years now, professional grifters, trolls, true believers and political opportunists have sowed conspiratorial lies, creating intricate and dangerous alternate realities. We are now witnessing the reaping. It is likely to get worse. And, crucially, journalists must deepen their appreciation of the precariousness of American democracy; as Jelani Cobb wrote for The New Yorker back in September, The United States is considered one of the most stable democracies in the world, but it has a long, mostly forgotten history of election-related violence. Since Wednesday, five people have died as a result of the mobs attack. The Capitol was breached, property destroyed. Police officers abandoned their post, as Marcus diPaola, a reporter who filmed viral footage from the scene, told New York magazines Justin Millera stark contrast to the sight of militarized law enforcement cracking down on Black Lives Matter protests over the summer, battering members of the press in their wake. The Times reported that, in the hours following the insurrection, Capitol police made a total of sixty-eight arrests, many of them violators of DCs 6pm curfew. Two of those handcuffed were journalists from the Washington Post. Some days are like this, one of the pair, Zoeann Murphy, tweeted after she was released. Then she went back to work. Below, more on US press freedom and the insurrection: CJR weighs in : As the events of Wednesday unfolded, Ariana Pekary, our CNN public editor, questioned the reliance on political pundits, rather than law enforcement experts, to cover the siege. Gabriel Snyder, our Times public editor, lauded that papers coverageand asked why its clear-eyed framing of the day hadnt been present throughout the Trump era. Feven Merid looked at foreign coverage; Howard Polskin wrote about the response from right-wing media. Mathew Ingram wrote about how platforms and news organizations have struggled to react in real time. And Kyle Pope, our editor and publisher, implored the press to look inward and reflect on how journalists legitimized Trump for years before the breach of Congress. (Well have more rolling out soon; keep your eyes peeled.) The missing public record : In September, CJR mapped dozens of press-freedom violations related to pandemic reporting around the world. The United States was no exception: last March, the governor of Hawaii suspended open meetings rules and public record laws; in New York, police seized a photographers drone as he filmed footage of a burial site, then charged him with a misdemeanor; in Florida, the Miami Herald s Mary Ellen Klas recalled countless examples of the state impeding and refusing to turn over basic public records related to covid-19 . Trouble in Florida : The vaccine distribution process in Florida has hit snagsconvoluted websites have been puzzling to seniors eligible for the vaccine; some have had to wait in line overnight . When a CNN reporter, Rosa Flores, asked the states governor, Ron DeSantis, about the problems with the rollout, DeSantis repeatedly interrupted her, then mocked her questions. Channel WESH 2 News has the video and the transcript . Sign up for CJR 's daily email Other notable stories: Yesterday was the deadliest day of the pandemic yet, with 4,027 deaths, according to the Washington Post s tracker the first day that the United States has logged more than 4,000 deaths. BuzzFeed News covered the slow pace of vaccine distributionwith one outlier: West Virginia, where more people have been vaccinated per capita than anywhere else in the country. The success is partly the result of West Virginia not being reliant on Walgreens and CVS, according to NPR ; since theyre less common in the state, pharmacists have been able to move quickly and efficiently. Neil Sheehan, the journalist who in 1971 obtained the Pentagon Papers for the New York Times , exposing the needless horrors of the Vietnam War, has died . He was eighty-four years old; his wife, Susan, attributed his death to complications of Parkinsons disease. In 2015, while struggling with Parkinsons, Sheehan told a Times reporter, Janny Scott, how he landed the storyon the condition that Scott not publish the interview until his death. Six years later, the article is out, recounting how Sheehan made illicit copies of the papers in order to report on them. Those papers are the property of the people of the United States, Sheehan told Scott. They paid for them with their national treasure and the blood of their sons, and they have a right to it. More news from the Times : In mid-December, when an internal review found that the Caliphate podcast fell short of the papers standards, and editors reassigned its host, Rukmini Callimachi , from the terrorism beat, questions began to emerge about why her top producer, Andy Mills, hadnt been similarly reprimanded; he even hosted an episode of The Daily a few days later. Then, late last month, women began to come forward on Twitter about sexist encounters theyd had with Mills. (In 2018, The Cut published an investigation into sexual harassment at WNYC, in which Mills features prominently.) Yesterday, Radiolab , a WNYC program , issued a statement in response to the renewed discussion around Mills: We cant change the past, but we can promise you that we are all holding this show, and each other, accountable for making sure that no person has to experience anything like that again. The Times has not given a recent statement about Mills. And Josh Hawley, the senator from Missouri who led the doomed effort against certifying the Electoral College votesand remained defiant when the Senate finally resumed its businesshas lost a book deal. His publisher, Simon & Schuster, canceled its plans for what would have been called The Tyranny of Big Tech . Hawley denounced Simon & Schuster as Orwellian and vowed to sue. Meanwhile, the editorial boards of Hawleys hometown newspapers, the Kansas City Star and St. Louis Post-Dispatch , both called for his resignation. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Savannah Jacobson is a contributor to CJR and a reporter and writer based in New York. ATLANTA, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax (NYSE: EFX) a global data, analytics and technology company will host a conference call at 8:30 am ET on Monday, January 11, 2021 in which Mark Begor, Chief Executive Officer, John Gamble, Chief Financial Officer and Sid Singh, President of United States Information Solutions (USIS) will discuss the acquisition of Kount. Related presentation materials will be published on investor.equifax.com under Events and Presentations on Monday, January 11, 2021 in advance of the call. Conference Call: US/Canada: +1 (323) 794-2423 Toll-Free: (800) 289-0438 Confirmation Code: 3299474 Please dial the appropriate number 5-10 minutes prior to the start of the call to complete registration. Name and affiliation / company are required to join the call. Have the Conference Call You: With Click to Join, there's no need to dial-in. Simply click the link below and enter your information to be connected. The link becomes active 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start time. ABOUT EQUIFAX INC. At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employees, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 25 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com FOR MORE INFORMATION [email protected] SOURCE Equifax Inc. Related Links http://www.equifax.com After Wednesday's attack on the Capitol, Texas Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee isn't waiting for the inauguration to see President Trump out of office. HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE: Opinion: Sedition is a white man's luxury Jackson Lee, a Democrat who represents Texas' 18th congressional district, is calling for another impeachment of Trump and released a statement Thursday accompanying the Articles of Impeachment. "Yesterday, we saw domestic enemies incite violence and invade the peoples house with intent to harm. Enough is enough! The President has completely lost whatever moral authority he had and is unfit as Commander in Chief. His actions to incite violence against his own government and against the entire Congress warrants removal from office." Jackson Lee goes on to include 8 reasons of why President Trump needs to be removed from office. She includes, "soliciting and welcoming the assistance of a hostile foreign power to aid him in securing election in 2016 as President of the United States, instituting frivolous lawsuits to overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential election and failing to take action to protect and defend Federal officers and personnel, property, buildings, and institutions on January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol that was besieged by supporters of Donald John Trump, resulting in extensive damage to the property of the United States and the deaths of at least four persons." "As the resolution points out and makes clear, a person whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people, and warrants impeachment and removal as President of the United States." House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to replace the president. Jackson Lee has threatened to move forward with impeachment if the 25th Amendment is not invoked by administration. She is joined by Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar, who agrees that President Trump is currently unfit for office. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Tamale Central constituency, Ibrahim Mohammed Murtala, has called on the parliamentary leadership to properly investigate the military invasion of Ghanas parliament during the election of a Speaker for the house in the early hours of Thursday, January 7, 2021. He said it was unnecessary that armed military personnel invaded the parliamentary chamber since parliament has its own security to handle matters in that respect. The Tamale Central MP was speaking to Accra-based Joynews in an interview at the Parliament House in Accra on Thursday, January 7, 2021. He alleged that it was the Defence Minister Dominic Nitiwul who called the military to the Parliamentary chamber, pointing out that he (Murtala) confronted him when he was making the call. He said he (Murtala) and three others saw Mr Nitiwul call for the military during the misunderstanding that ensued between the NDC and NPP MPs at the floor of parliament. The sanctity of this house must be protected, Mr Murtala Ibrahim said, adding that the invasion of the armed military of the parliament house its an affront on our democracy. For him, the need for investigation will help to prevent similar situations in the future, explaining that if it was not checked, anybody could invite any group of persons with arms into the chamber in the future. For the Tamale Central MP, the military invasion of the parliamentary chamber was completely unacceptable and insulting to the sanctity of this house and I think we need to condemn this and demand a proper investigation. Mr Murtala Ibrahim also condemned the Tema West MP Carlos Ahenkro for snatching a ballot paper during the election of a Speaker for the house. 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 Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The first case of the second strain of COVID-19 was confirmed in Harris County on Thursday, the first in the state of Texas. A man in his 30s tested positive for the B.1.1.7 variant of the strain, which originated in the United Kingdom. He lives in southwest Houston and has no travel history, according to Harris County Public Health. Carol Johnson, who transformed derelict sites into striking civic parks as the founder of what would become one of the countrys largest landscape architecture firms owned by a woman, died on Dec. 11 at her home in Boothbay Harbor, Me. She was 91. A niece, Virginia Johnson, said the cause was complications of Alzheimers disease. Ms. Johnson was known for her large-scale public projects, which often involved environmental remediation. For the Mystic River State Reservation, a nature preserve in Eastern Mass., a commission she received in the 1970s, she transformed a toxic landfill into a public park. John F. Kennedy Park along the Charles River in Cambridge, Mass., had once been an oil-soaked storage site for train cars before Ms. Johnsons firm took it on in the early 80s. (The park opened on May 29, 1987, on what would have been the presidents 70th birthday.) At the Kennedy parks center is a granite fountain with water spilling over its sides, a design inspired by New England streams, Ms. Johnson once said. For an energy company in New York State that was expanding, she directed the company to a larger, less visually imposing site, and was then given the job of restoring the power plants original site to meadow land. The John Marshall Park in Washington was in a neglected area originally planned for a parking lot. Ms. Johnsons firm won a national competition to turn it into a terraced landscape in honor of the chief justice, who had lived in a boardinghouse nearby. Cambridge Consultants, part of Capgemini, and DSP Concepts, the audio platform powering the worlds best consumer and automotive brands, today announced an agreement that will see Cambridge Consultants offering deep audio product development expertise and technology to the many audio brands in the fast-growing DSP Concepts ecosystem. This gives DSP Concepts customers access to decades of integrated systems expertise, providing the strategic counsel they need to build and deploy product-differentiating features at scale. In addition, Cambridge Consultants gains access to the Audio Weaver platform, where it will also add its own Voice Activity Detector (VAD) IP, in order to accelerate the development of breakthrough products and services for its clients. Michael Maia, Vice President of Marketing at DSP Concepts, added: Cambridge Consultants has a stellar reputation across a wide range of industry verticals, with a proven track record of helping brands produce cutting-edge product and human interface designs. Were excited to work with Cambridge Consultants and harness their technology strategy and development expertise for product makers building on Audio Weaver, accelerating innovation and time to market for our customers. As a significant expansion to the engineering and innovation expertise available within the DSP Concepts ecosystem, Cambridge Consultants will extend support to help product makers build and deploy complex and disruptive new audio, signal processing and machine learning features. With a six-decade history across a range of market segments, the company has developed a range of cutting-edge audio technologies from the worlds first CMOS Bluetooth chip, which kickstarted the Bluetooth audio market now worth tens of billions of dollars, to Sapphyre, the digital signal processing core that underpins many of Cambridge Consultants ultra-low power audio applications. Cambridge Consultants pushes audio product design beyond convention, using a standards plus approach to create unique and industry-leading technologies, while applying novel techniques in wireless AV, sound beamforming, wake-on-word, echo cancellation, machine learning, deep learning and voice detection. Robert Tan, Head of Signal Processing and AI at Cambridge Consultants, said: Audio Weaver is an impressive platform for embedded audio development that allows both platform abstracted designs and platform specific optimizations. Crucially, it includes the automated real-time systems checks and monitoring for audio tuning, which is critical for mitigating production delays and accelerating time to market. The environment allows product developers to focus on the differentiating features that drive sales, which is exactly where our product and service development capability provides most value. In the relationship first milestone, Cambridge Consultants is making its Voice Activity Detector( VAD) available on the Audio Weaver platform, where it can be integrated into always on/always available voice-enabled products in the home and elsewhere. Cambridge Consultants signal processing and Artificial Intelligence team has been working closely with DSP Concepts to demonstrate the first results of their collaboration, a custom module based on the widely deployed WebRTC VAD, a powerful and flexible VAD for offline applications. Cambridge Consultants previously used the same technology to demonstrate Ecoutez, the worlds lowest power VAD design. Ecoutez requires just 11W about 100th of the power consumed by a modern hearing aid. The WebRTC VAD for Audio Weaver is available as a single custom module block that can be dragged and dropped via the intuitive interface into an audio workflow. For each input block it returns a zero or non-zero value indicating whether non-speech or speech is present. It accepts float input data of block sizes of 10, 20 or 30 ms and an audio sample rate of 8 kHz, which allows trade-offs in accuracy and responsiveness for specific applications. It also supports real time sensitivity control which makes it more resilient to background noise. Audio Weaver already has several wake word engines optimized for Google Voice Assistant (GVA) and Alexa Voice Service (AVS), and Cambridge Consultants WebRTC VAD was specifically added for deployment in voice-enabled products that dont run on a cloud service. Like wake word engines built for GVA and AVS devices, this can be combined with TalkTo, DSP Concepts highly flexible audio front end that eliminates noise for high-performance voice control in noisy and unpredictable environments. ### Notes for editors Cambridge Consultants develops breakthrough products, creates and licenses intellectual property, and provides business consultancy in technology-critical issues for clients worldwide. For more than 50 years, the company has been helping its clients turn business opportunities into commercial successes, whether they are launching first-to-market products, entering new markets or expanding existing markets through the introduction of new technologies. With a team of more than 850 staff, including engineers, scientists, mathematicians and designers, in offices in Cambridge (UK), Boston (USA), Tokyo and Singapore, Cambridge Consultants offers solutions across a diverse range of industries including medical technology, industrial and consumer products, digital health, energy and wireless communications. For more information, visit: http://www.cambridgeconsultants.com Cambridge Consultants is part of Altran. Altran is one of the world leaders in engineering and R&D services. Altran offers its clients a unique value proposition to address their transformation and innovation challenges. Altran supports its clients, from concept to industrialization, to develop the products and services of tomorrow and has been working for more than 35 years with major players in many sectors: Automotive, Aeronautics, Space, Defence & Naval, Rail, Infrastructure & Transport, Industry & Consumer Products, Life Sciences, Communications, Semiconductor & Electronics, Software & Internet, Finance & Public Sector. Today, Altran counts more than 50,000 employees and operates in over 30 countries. Altran is an integral part of Capgemini, a global leader in consulting, digital transformation, technology, and engineering services. The Group is at the forefront of innovation to address the entire breadth of clients opportunities in the evolving world of cloud, digital and platforms. Building on its strong 50-year heritage and deep industry-specific expertise, Capgemini enables organizations to realize their business ambitions through an array of services from strategy to operations. A responsible and multicultural company of 265,000 people in nearly 50 countries, Capgeminis purpose is to unleash human energy through technology for an inclusive and sustainable future. With Altran, the Group reported 2019 combined global revenues of 17 billion. Visit us at http://www.altran.com Media relations for Cambridge Consultants Josh Salisbury Ketchum +44 20 3755 6400 cambridgeconsultants@ketchum.com About DSP Concepts DSP Concepts is the audio platform powering the world's best devices and is the leading supplier to top brands in automotive and consumer products, including Tesla, GoPro, Samsung, and Porsche with a low-code / no-code solution to voice UI integration and introduced a new emerging standard for embedded audio processing. DSP Concepts is the only comprehensive, end-to-end solution that addresses the current challenges across industries working to innovate with audio and voice today, while working with semiconductor and intellectual property developers including NXP, Qualcomm, STMicroelectronics, and ARM to create more solutions tailored to a wider range of development challenges. Its headquarters are located in Santa Clara, California with additional offices in Boston, Stuttgart, Detroit, Tokyo, and Taiwan. Media relations for DSP Concepts Abby Schiller Clarity PR 216-870-1835 abby@clarity.pr Hydrogen bonds. (A) Types of hydrogen bonds depending on donor-acceptor distance. Potentials of proton motion are shown along with the first three quantum levels and the associated lowest-energy transitions. (B) Principal coordinates of any H-bond demonstrated with HF2 (aq) : donor-acceptor distance (d FF ), proton asymmetry (), and linearity (). Credit: Science (2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abe1951 A team of researchers from the University of Chicago and Emory University has found evidence of a hydrogen bond/covalent bond hybrid. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes experiments they conducted with bifluoride ions that blurred the line between hydrogen bonds and covalent bonds. Mischa Bonn and Johannes Hunger with the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research have published a Perspectives piece in the same journal issue outlining the work by the team on this new effort. One of the basic understandings of chemistry is that the bonds between hydrogen atoms are electrical and weak, and thus are not true chemical bonds. Covalent bonds, on the other hand, are true chemical bonds and are therefore strongand they are what typically hold molecules together. Covalent bonds get their strength by sharing electrons between the atoms involved. In this new effort, the researchers have found what appears to be an exception to this rulea hybrid type of bond. The researchers were working with groupings of bifluoride ionseach was made by placing a hydrogen atom between two fluorine atoms in a water solution. According to the rules of chemistry, the triplets should have been held together by the hydrogen atom forming a covalent bond with one of the fluorine atoms and a hydrogen bond with the other. But when the researchers tested the triplets using infrared light to make them vibrate, they found something surprising. Instead of the expected decrease between energy levels as the atoms ascended the energy ladder, they found an increasea sign that the hydrogen atom was being equally shared between the two fluorine atoms. Computer calculations showed that the behavior they had observed depended on how much distance there was between the atoms. It was only when the fluorine atoms were closest together that the hybrid bond was observed. As the fluorine atoms were pulled farther from the hydrogen atom, the normal bonding took over. The researchers have named the hybrid a hydrogen-mediated chemical bond, and note that it cannot be described as either a hydrogen bond or a covalent bondit truly is a hybrid of the two. They note also that their findings have implications for the understanding of basic chemistry and the true nature of chemical bonds. Explore further Researchers find H-C bonds form when hydrogen atoms collide at high speed with graphene More information: Bogdan Dereka et al. Crossover from hydrogen to chemical bonding, Science (2021). Bogdan Dereka et al. Crossover from hydrogen to chemical bonding,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abe1951 Mischa Bonn et al. Between a hydrogen and a covalent bond, Science (2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abf3543 Journal information: Science 2021 Science X Network For full access, please log in, register your subscription or subscribe. Try for 99 a month for two months, cancel or pause anytime. MPs depart question time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House, on June 18, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Federal MPs Weigh up Virus Limits Ahead of Parliament Sitting Most federal MPs are expected to face no COVID-19 hurdles in coming to Canberra for the start of parliament in early February. Members of parliament from all states and territories apart from some areas of NSW and Victoria, on current advice, face no restrictions in coming to the ACT. But ACT Health advice is that while MPs and their staff from virus-affected areas of NSW can get an exemption to travel to Canberra, they must quarantine for 14 days on arrival in the ACT. The areas included cover Greater Sydney (including Northern Beaches), Central Coast and Wollongong. Victorians can travel to the ACT if they havent been in a COVID-affected area in the last 14 days. If they have been in a public location identified by the Victorian government as having had a confirmed COVID-19 case they will need to be tested. ACT Health is expected to update its travel advice next week. NSW Liberal MP Jason Falinski, whose seat of Mackellar covers Sydneys Northern Beaches, told AAP he would likely isolate at home before driving to Canberra for parliament. Ill comply with whatever ACT Health demands, he said. My community would expect me to represent them in parliament and that is what I will do. He said many people in his electorate had a rough Christmas-New Year period. There were a lot of people who got cut off from family over Christmas, especially those in their 70s and 80s he said. One lady (who couldnt see her family) said: I dont want to get hysterical but I dont know how many more Christmases I will have.' Some MPs are considering whether to self-isolate in Canberra from mid-January. When parliament does resume on February 2 it is expected masks will be strongly recommended in areas of the building where people circulate and physical distancing is not possible. Last year a number of MPs appeared in parliament via videolink from lockdown or quarantine, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison after a visit to Japan. There were also limits imposed on public access and bans on school visits. Paul Osborne in Canberra KANSAS CITY, Kan., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The VersaFlex Family of Companies ("VersaFlex") announced it has reached a definitive agreement to be acquired by PPG (NYSE: PPG). VersaFlex is a manufacturer specializing in polyurea, epoxy, polyurethanes, custom plural component equipment, and geotechnical & insulation foams. Lazard Middle Market served as exclusive financial advisor to VersaFlex. The transaction is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. VersaFlex is a trusted partner that understands and meets its customers' needs with proven and innovative protective coatings and foams. "We are excited to join PPG, a global paint and coatings leader, with its world-class resources and leading-edge technologies. Their high standards and commitment to deliver sustainable value to their customers will be a benefit for our customers' continued success," said Rob Pawlak, VersaFlex President. About VersaFlex The trusted brands of VersaFlex Incorporated, Raven Lining Systems, Milamar Coatings and Specialty Products (SPI) were brought together to form "The VersaFlex Family of Companies." We are a leading provider of specialty coatings, linings, technical foams and custom plural component equipment for the Industrial, Water & Wastewater, Transportation Infrastructure, Flooring, Oil & Gas and Geo-Technical segments. Our mission is to continue to deliver world class innovative solutions to our customers, solving their toughest protection, rehabilitation and insulation challenges. https://www.versaflex.com PPG: WE PROTECT AND BEAUTIFY THE WORLD At PPG (NYSE: PPG), we work every day to develop and deliver the paints, coatings and materials that our customers have trusted for more than 135 years. Through dedication and creativity, we solve our customers' biggest challenges, collaborating closely to find the right path forward. With headquarters in Pittsburgh, we operate and innovate in more than 70 countries and reported net sales of $15.1 billion in 2019. We serve customers in construction, consumer products, industrial and transportation markets and aftermarkets. To learn more, visit www.ppg.com . We protect and beautify the world is a trademark and the PPG Logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. SOURCE The VersaFlex Companies Related Links http://www.versaflex.com WASHINGTON D.C. - A riot in the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump as Congress members were certifying electoral votes cementing Democrat Joe Bidens November presidential election victory prompted nearly all Ohios Democratic Congress members to call for Trumps immediate removal from office. Hundreds of Trump supporters whom the president had urged to march on the Capitol overwhelmed police on Wednesday afternoon, entered the building and trashed offices. The vote count was delayed for several hours while the complex was locked down and police evicted the intruders. A woman among the mob was shot to death, and three others died after suffering medical emergencies. Several dozen were arrested, and police distributed photos of dozens more people they were seeking for committing offenses including unlawful entry and receiving stolen property. A statement that Democratic U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown released after the melee called it a dark day for our country, and urged Vice President Mike Pence and Trumps Cabinet to immediately invoke the U.S. Constitutions 25th Amendment and remove Trump from office to prevent him from doing more damage before Bidens Jan. 20 inauguration. Domestic terrorists attacked our seat of government, at the behest of the President of the United States, said Brown. This was his last, desperate attempt to overturn the will of the American voters, but he failed, and democracy won. We must hold the president accountable for inciting this attack on our country. A group of Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee on Thursday wrote a letter urging Pence to take charge because Trump has revealed that he is not mentally sound and is still unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. At a press conference later in the afternoon, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi blasted Trump for inciting an armed insurrection against America, and called for Pence to invoke the constitutional provision that allows the vice president to serve as president if he and a majority of Cabinet members or Congress members can supply a written declaration that the President is unable to discharge official powers and duties. In calling for this seditious act, the president has committed unspeakable assault on our nation and our people, said Pelosi. If the vice president and Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment. Statements by Ohio Democratic Congress members Marcy Kaptur of Toledo, Joyce Beatty of Columbus and Tim Ryan of the Niles area also sought Trumps immediate removal from office. The only Ohio Democrat in Congress who didnt issue such a statement was Warrensville Heights Democratic Rep. Marcia Fudge, whom Biden has nominated to be his Housing and Urban Development Secretary, a job that requires U.S. Senate confirmation. Donald Trump presents a clear and present danger to the safety and security of this country and should not be in office one hour longer, Kapturs statement said. Pence has not expressed interest in pushing Trump aside. In a call with reporters, American Enterprise Institute political scientist Norman Ornstein said hes skeptical that Pence would take action against Trump because a good share of the Republican party would see him as a traitor. Given the number of temporary appointments and vacancies in Trumps Cabinet, Ornstein said it would be difficult to figure out which Cabinet secretaries votes should count toward removing him. Ohio State University constitutional law professor Edward B. Foley added that the 25th Amendment would displace a president because of a disability while impeachment removes a president for high crimes and misdemeanors. He said said that inciting an insurrection would certainly qualify as a high crime or misdemeanor, while one might be able to argue that Trumps comments to the group that rioted showed he has a mental disability. Foley said Congress could impeach Trump even after he leaves office, and doing so would prohibit him from ever again holding public office. While current Justice Department guidelines block Trump from criminal prosecutions while hes in office, Foley said he could be subject to criminal liability after he leaves office for acts he committed as president. While Ohio Republicans in Congress were angry that Trump supporters had stormed the Capitol, they did not think his ejection from office was likely with so few days left in his presidency. Rocky River Rep. Anthony Gonzalez said the ultimate blame for breaking into the Capitol lies with the Trump supporters who broke the law, he said the Presidents actions and rhetoric were awful and contributed mightily to the days events. If Vice President Pence and the Cabinet decide the president is no longer fit for office, I would respect their constitutional right to make that decision, said Gonzalez. However, with only 13 days left in his presidency, I question whether this is even possible within the timelines mandated in the 25th Amendment. A statement from Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Rob Portman called the mobs actions shameful, and observed it didnt keep Congress from fulfilling its duty to certify the vote for Biden. Last night the president finally acknowledged there will be an orderly transition of power on January 20, something I had called on him to do, Portman continued. Now is the time to bring our polarized country together and ensure an orderly transition of power in 13 days. I look forward to working with the Biden administration on the issues the American people care about. Read more: Angered by attempted coup at the Capitol, Rep. Tim Ryan wants to probe Capitol Police force and remove President Trump from office Ohio members of Congress whisked to secure location as Trump supporters storm U.S. Capitol Ohios Sen. Sherrod Brown says hell pursue $2,000 coronavirus checks and relief for renters when Democrats take Senate control At least three Ohio GOP congressmen will join Rep. Jim Jordan in objecting to Wednesdays presidential vote count Ohios Sen. Rob Portman wont support electoral vote challenges in Congress President Trump to give Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan a Presidential Medal of Freedom Rebuilding economy and infrastructure after coronavirus are among New Years resolutions for Ohios Congress members Ohio Senators Sherrod Brown and Rob Portman eye chairmanships in 2021 Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown wants Senate vote on $2,000 stimulus check, criticizes Republican efforts to reject presidential electoral votes House votes to override Trump defense bill veto but approves a $2,000 pandemic relief payment he sought Ohios Stephanie Tubbs Jones lodged the nations last electoral vote protest in Congress Ohios Jim Jordan to participate in Jan. 6 congressional effort to question presidential election results Years of work fighting for Northeast Ohio earn Marcia Fudge a seat at Bidens Cabinet table Marcia Fudge makes her public debut as a member of Joe Bidens team What Rep. Marcia Fudge hopes to accomplish as Housing and Urban Development Secretary: Q & A Biden transition office officially announces Rep. Marcia Fudge will be HUD nominee In December, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo threatened sanctions of up to $1 million (and the revocation of the right to practice) against doctors, nurses, urgent-care providers or any others who delivered the vaccine unethically. On Monday he went further, proposing a law that would criminalize the administration of the vaccine to anyone trying to jump ahead in a line that prioritizes health care workers. But entitlement breeds nothing if not persistence. At a different concierge practice that of Alexander Goldberg (unrelated to Edward Goldberg), who is also known as Dr. Hamptons for his oceanfront house-calls, and who offers everything from lip enhancement to pain management temerity is also running high. Ive had people calling me left and right, Dr. Hamptonss son, Mark, who manages the empire, explained. I say that we dont even have the vaccine yet, and then they say, Well, Im the first guy youre giving it to when you get it, and I say, Yeah, uh-huh, sure. It was inevitable that in an era marked by inequity and radically conflicting interpretations of truth that the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine would be marked by so much delusion on multiple fronts. On the one hand are the rich, who are accustomed to finding workarounds whenever they want something that is in short supply and see little need for a different approach when it comes to protecting themselves from a disease that has largely devastated the underclass. When you are living the good life, you want to preserve it. For every 100,000 people lost to deaths of despair attributable to poverty, joblessness, addiction and so on there is at least one Silicon Valley billionaire putting millions of dollars into life-extension research in the hope that he can reach the age of 200. At the same time that there are so many desperate to resume the business of going to Paris or Reykjavik for the weekend and hosting dinner parties for 35, there are the skeptics who believe that the vaccine is trouble. In a survey of 1,117 Americans, conducted in early December, a quarter of respondents said they would not take the vaccine when it became available to them, while another quarter said that they were not sure. Some have voiced reasonable concerns about the speed with which the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna were approved. But others have fallen prey to circulating conspiracy theories: The vaccine was going to sterilize you or alter your DNA or leave you with a microchip that would allow Bill Gates and the government to discover what you were really doing when you told your wife that you were going to Home Depot. Press Release January 8, 2021 De Lima files Demurrer to Evidence to dismiss drug case Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has asked the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 205 to dismiss one of the three trumped-up illegal drug cases against her considering the clear absence of evidence that will implicate her in the drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison (NBP). De Lima, through her legal counsels, filed her Demurrer to Evidence for Criminal Case 17-166 involving also co-accused Jose Adrian "Jad" Dera last Jan. 7, stressing that the Prosecution failed to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. "Considering the clear absence of evidence - there is even no evidence of an overt act, much less proof beyond reasonable doubt - proving her guilt for violation of Section 26(b) in relation to Section 5 and Section 3(jj) of Republic Act No. 9165 (R.A. 9165), Accused De Lima respectfully submits that this instant trumped-up charge against her has no merit and must be dismissed," De Lima said. "In view of the absence of evidence of guilt, it is needless to still proceed with the presentation of the defense's evidence, and the Court and the Accused must both be spared from this travesty of justice," she added. Despite presenting 21 witnesses and voluminous irrelevant documentary evidence in the case, De Lima maintained that the alleged conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading between her and Dera remains to be a speculation. "None of the prosecution witnesses admitted having personal knowledge of, much less personal involvement in, the alleged illegal drug trade," she said. De Lima was originally charged with Illegal Trading/ Sale of Illegal Drugs but the Prosecution amended the Information, substantially changing the charge into an alleged conspiracy to commit illegal drug trading because of the absence of a corpus delicti needed for a conviction. The Amended Information alleged that De Lima conspired with Dera in such a way that Dera demanded money and vehicles from drug lord convict Peter Co for her senatorial bid in the May 2016 election, and, Co traded dangerous drugs through the use of mobile phones, and gave to De Lima, through Dera, the proceeds of illegal drug trading consisting of three million pesos and four vehicles. Instead of providing evidence of guilt beyond reasonable doubt against her, De Lima said that the Prosecution was only successful in proving that the case has absolutely nothing to do with illegal drugs because it is about facilitating the payment for the kidnapping-for-ransom by rogue cops twisted to implicate her in a bogus charge. "Prosecution witnesses Peter Co, Hans Tan, and Sally Serrrano all testified that the real plot of this case is the kidnapping of Sally Serrano, [Co's niece], by rogue cops," she recalled. "Their testimonies further show that the alleged money delivered to Accused Dera is the ransom payment for the supposed abduction or kidnapping of Sally Serrano, where, based on the Prosecution's own theory and evidence, Accused De Lima had no part whatsoever," she added. De Lima added that the evidence presented by the Prosecution also "proved the regularity, legitimacy and success of the NBP Raid" conducted by then Justice Secretary De Lima in December 2014 through the statement of law enforcement officers, including former PNP Intel Chief and now Baguio Mayor Benjamin Magalong. Likewise, she said that the prosecution evidence also proved that "there was no intelligence report linking Accused De Lima in the illegal drug trading" and that there are no "proof that Accused De Lima is involved in any illegal financial transaction" as confirmed by the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC). In summary, De Lima moved for the immediate dismissal of Criminal Case No. 17-166 based on the following grounds: i. Failure to Prove Illegal Drug Trading; ii. No Evidence of Conspiracy; iii. No Evidence of Overt Act; iv. Strong Evidence of Innocence; v. Violation of Traditional Duty and Right to Due Process; and vi. Questionable Probative Value of Testimonies. De Lima, the most prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, has been imprisoned since Feb. 24 2017, a total of 1,415 days as of Jan. 8, despite the absence of evidence. She is set to file her second Demurrer to Evidence in another case, Crim. Case No. 17-165, today (Jan. 8). Robert Jones Jr. liked to jump double Dutch outside the Brooklyn home he grew up in. But his grandfather, a staunch follower of the Nation of Islam, forbade it. He wasnt even allowed to be afraid. Men dont fear, his grandfather believed. He presented a very particular and stringent type of masculinity that did not have a lot of room for me, Jones, now 49, said. And the Christians in his family told me that my homosexuality was a sin ... and that I needed to change who I fundamentally was. When he studied creative writing and Africana studies at Brooklyn College, these experiences informed his search for Black queerness in literature, particularly during the age of enslavement. He didnt find much, but Jones thought there had to be Black queer people living in 19th-century America. Oftentimes, from the heterosexual point of view, queerness is something traumatic that happens to you, Jones said. The truth of the matter is queerness is just a natural state of being, and in the words of Toni Morrison, If you cant find the book you want to read, you must write it. In his debut novel The Prophets, Jones follows the romantic relationship between Isaiah and Samuel two enslaved men on a Mississippi plantation. The book took Jones 14 years to complete and has been praised by the Washington Post, O Magazine, and Publishers Weekly, among others. Jones is a New York native and has written for the New York Times, Essence, OkayAfrica, the Feminist Wire, and The Grio. He is the creator of the social justice social media community Son of Baldwin. Jones will discuss the novel Monday in a virtual talk with Philly author Kiley Reid hosted by Uncle Bobbies Coffee & Books. The event starts at 7 p.m. and can be streamed at crowdcast.io/e/theprophets. Ahead of the conversation with Reid, Jones spoke to The Inquirer about his motivations for writing the book and how his upbringing shows up throughout. This interview has been edited and condensed. What made you want to write about queer enslaved people? Well, when I was in undergrad, I was an Africana studies minor, my major was creative writing. And in all the text that I had come across, very few really dealt with Blackness and queerness until around the Harlem Renaissance where you have Wallace Thurman, a few others, and then later on you have James Baldwin. We have it in the Harlem Renaissance, but where were they before this? How far back does this go? So I started looking through slave narratives and other things to try to find any evidence or any clues about where the Black queer people were. Of the books that I read, and there might be others that I didnt read, there were two that made mention. One was Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl by Harriet Jacobs, which had a scene just a sentence or two talking about how a slave master raped a male slave. And then in Toni Morrisons Beloved, theres a scene where the character Paul D is sexually assaulted by an overseer. And I thought, OK, got it. But what about love? This book has many biblical references. Why was that important to you? I grew up in a house where religion was the fabric and culture of my household and the community that I grew up in. On my mothers side, they were Nation of Islam, and on my fathers side, Southern Baptist. I gravitated more toward the Southern Baptist because I enjoyed so much the music and the singing and the rhythm, and the getting lost in the Holy Ghost. All of that stuff was really appealing to me. Part of my reason for excavating that in the novel is because I learned in my research that homophobia begins with the Christian missionaries who forced their way into African society. It begins with European colonialism of Black spaces. So I wanted to investigate that in the writing. How did we go from a society that didnt see queerness as anything separate or different or undesirable to one in which we look at it sideways and say that not even God can love a Black queer person? A review in the Guardian said that there are too many convoluted metaphors tangled in their own imagery. I think I read that review and I thought, Ok. Thats your opinion. But Im curious as to the race of the reviewer because a lot of metaphors they found confounding are deeply steeped in Black cultural references. So if there are Black people who have a certain upbringing, meaning deeply rooted in the church, or have deep Southern roots, theyll recognize a lot of that stuff that some reviewers see as complicated, convoluted, confounding, unclear. When I was writing this book, I was writing for a particular audience. In my mind, the audience was totally Black and mostly queer and likely in America, if not American themselves. So in writing to that specific audience, theres bound to be people who come to it and see it as confusion rather than clarity. Was it emotional for you to write about the horrors of enslavement? Yes. Someone asked if there would be a sequel to The Prophets, and I said no because I cant go back to that time period again. The work of writing about our ancestors in that time period is more than writing, its a witnessing. And because youre witnessing these things happen and they did happen you feel them. I was often oppressed by the writing and in pain from it. It was part of the reason why, for every act of ugliness, I tried to include an act of beauty to counteract it so that the reader could make it through. Im asking Black people to relive this trauma, I have to give them a balm, or some sort of shield so they can be prepared. Why should people read this book? I think people should read The Prophets because it uncovers a part of our history that we would much rather not look at, but we cannot be fully humane until we do. What I hope readers get out of The Prophets the most is a renewed sense of humanity. Yes, its harrowing and the characters go through so much, but it is love that endures. State Rep. Chris Todd has pre-filed a resolution (HJR8) for Tennessee to join other states in calling for a convention for proposing a congressional term limits amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The effort is spearheaded by the nonpartisan, grassroots nonprofit, U.S. Term Limits. The news comes as a new RMG Research poll released two weeks ago shows 78 percent of likely voters in Tennessee support term limits on Congress, including support among Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike. Dozens of members of the legislature have gone so far as to sign a pledge to co-sponsor Rep. Todd's legislation, his office said. Rep. Todd said, "Now, more than ever we see the need for limiting the terms of the US Congress. You would be hard-pressed to adequately defend the loss of new ideas and vision we all observe and the potential corruption that comes with them at that level." U.S. Term Limits President Philip Blumel commended Rep. Todd for putting forth the legislation. Mr. Blumel said, The people of Tennessee are lucky to have public servants who see what is going on in D.C. and are willing to take action to fix it. They know that Congress won't set term limits on itself. Therefore, it is the obligation of the states to do so. HJR8 is in the process of being assigned to committee for a vote before it makes its way to the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives. If passed in both the House and Senate this session, Tennessee will join other states in the call to convene the states for the exclusive purpose of proposing term limits on the U.S. Congress. Once 34 state legislatures pass similar resolutions on the topic and approve the term limits amendment, it must be ratified by 38 states to become part of the U.S. Constitution. PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: FCO) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund, today announced that it paid on January 8, 2021, a distribution of US $0.07 per share to all shareholders of record as of December 31, 2020 (ex-dividend date December 30, 2020). Your Fund's distribution policy is to provide investors with a stable monthly distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders. The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for this distribution and for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date (11/01/2020 - 11/30/2020), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from month to month because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies. Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Monthly Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0259 37% $0.0518 37% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* $0.0014 2% $0.0028 2% Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains - - - - Return of Capital $0.0427 61% $0.0854 61% Total (per common share) $0.0700 100% $0.1400 100% *includes currency gains The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." As of November 30, 2020, after giving effect to this payment, the Fund estimates it has a net deficit of $5,747,000. A net deficit results when the Fund has net unrealized losses that are in excess of any net realized gains that have not yet been distributed. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy"). The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2020 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The following table provides information regarding the Fund's total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund's annualized and cumulative distribution rates. Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 11/30/20201 4.85% Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV2 12.19% Fiscal Year to Date (11/01/2020 to 11/30/2020) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 6.22% Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 1.02% 1Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of November 30, 2020. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the terms of the distribution policy. The final determination of the source of all distributions will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes. The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the NAV of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected] aberdeenfco.com SOURCE Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. Starvation is agonizing and degrading. You lose control of your bowels. Your skin peels off, your hair falls out, you hallucinate and you may go blind from lack of vitamin A. Your body cannibalizes itself: It consumes its own muscles, even the heart. Yet Abdo Sayid, a 4-year-old boy so emaciated he weighed just 14 pounds, wasnt crying when he was brought to a hospital recently in Aden, Yemen. Children who are starving dont cry or even frown. Instead, they are eerily calm. A body that is starving doesnt waste energy on tears. It directs every calorie to keep the major organs functioning. Abdo died after arriving at the hospital. A photographer named Giles Clarke, a friend of mine whom I met on my last trip to Yemen, was there again and captured the scene. His photographs are painful to witness, but many families, including Abdos, allow photography because they hope that the world will understand that children are dying needlessly of hunger, and that help is desperately needed. The world had pretty much licked famine, until 2020. The last famine declared by United Nations authorities was in a small part of South Sudan for a few months in 2017 but now the U.N. warns that famine is looming in Yemen, South Sudan, Burkina Faso and northeastern Nigeria, with 16 other countries slightly behind in that trajectory. Famines are now back, said Mark Lowcock, the U.N. humanitarian chief. It will be a horrible stain on humanity for decades to come if we become the generation to oversee the return of such a terrible scourge. This is still avoidable. We live in a thrilling epoch in history in which child mortality has plunged, disease and famine retreated, literacy soared and human well-being skyrocketed. At this time of the year I normally counter my gloomy columns by writing that the previous year was the best in history, by such metrics as the share of children dying by the age of 5. But 2020 was not the best year in human history. It was an annus horribilis, and UNICEF warns that the result may be 10,000 additional children dying each month from hunger. The setback has been exacerbated by passivity, paralysis and indifference in the United States and Europe, and in international organizations like the World Bank. The biggest cause is the coronavirus pandemic, but only indirectly. Outside of the rich world, the casualties are not octogenarians with the virus so much as children dying of hunger because of economic disruptions, or middle-aged adults dying of AIDS because they cant get medicines. The capital of human suffering today is Yemen. Yemens suffering is complicated. Always poor, the country has been shattered by a war and blockade by Saudi Arabia, with backing from the United States under the Obama and Trump administrations. Misrule by the Houthi faction, backed by Iran, has compounded the suffering, as have cholera and the coronavirus and donor countries are focused on their own problems. So Abdo died. Developing countries generally have avoided high mortality from COVID-19. But that may be changing, and in any case the indirect effects have been devastating, so that a pandemic of a coronavirus has been followed by pandemics of hunger, disease and illiteracy. Lockdowns meant that casual laborers had no income, and tuberculosis patients couldnt get medicine. Campaigns to battle malaria, polio, and vitamin A deficiency were left in disarray. The repercussions are endless. The United Nations warns that poverty and disruptions from the pandemic may push 13 million additional girls into child marriages. Disrupted campaigns against female genital mutilation may result in 2 million more girls enduring genital cutting, the U.N. said, while reduced access to contraception may lead to 15 million unintended pregnancies. The World Bank says an additional 72 million children may be pushed into illiteracy. We are increasingly talking about a lost generation, whose potential may be permanently quashed by this pandemic, said Angeline Murimirwa of Camfed, which supports girls education in sub-Saharan Africa. An expert panel crunched the numbers and estimated that under even a moderate scenario of what lies ahead, an additional 168,000 children will die from malnutrition because of the consequences of the coronavirus. Think about that: Abdo times 168,000. Many others will survive, but with lifelong intellectual impairment, or in some cases permanent blindness, caused by deprivation in 2020 and 2021. This toll is worsened because of indifference in the rich world. The magnitude of the problem is an outrage, but it is even more outrageous that there are powerful, proven solutions that are not being delivered at scale, said Shawn Baker, the chief nutritionist at the U.S. Agency for International Development. Some poor countries will be able to vaccinate at most one-fifth of their populations in 2021, suggesting that the pandemic will smother poor countries. Partly thats because the United States and other rich countries, at the behest of the pharmaceutical company lobby, refuse to waive patent protections to allow poor countries access to cheaper vaccines. Gayle Smith of the One Campaign calls for three measures to help: greater efforts to distribute the vaccine globally, debt relief and assistance from wealthy countries. The paradox is that 2020 may still be one of the five best years in human history, by such measures as the share of children dying or the proportion of people living in extreme poverty. If the world moves aggressively to address the crisis, the year could be remembered as a blip. But the nightmare is a prolonged crisis in poor countries and a turning point on our watch that ends the march of progress for humanity. NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF writes for The New York Times. PTSD-like flashbacks have been suffered by some Covid-19 patients following treatment in intensive care units, medics have confirmed. But recovery from the virus in ICU is now between 80%-83% in Ireland - significantly higher than our UK neighbours, a consultant in intensive care medicine said. Previously healthy patients being admitted to ICU due to Covid-19 in their 50s and 60s are already requiring a huge amount of oxygen to breathe and may soon require ventilation in ICU, Dr Cliona Ni Cheallaigh, Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine physician at St James Hospital in Dublin, said. And as pressure on hospitals rises with the pandemic, doctors may be forced to chose who to admit to ICU and who to leave without that medical intervention, she said. Ireland has 286 ICU beds, with a Covid surge capacity of up to about 350 to serve a population of more than 4.9m, leaving Dr Ni Cheallaigh and her colleagues worried about the coming weeks. Theres at least a weeks lag time between people getting Covid and their sickest point, so were very worried about what the next few weeks are going to bring, Dr Ni Cheallaigh told RTE. We are worried that we may end with a decision in which we have to say, well these two people would benefit but we only have one ventilator who will get that? Thats a heavy responsibility to take. And older people, or those with very poor health, may not be considered for ICU at all. You wouldnt be sending in someone who is elderly, frail, who wont be able to cope and come out the other side, she said. Being in intensive care can be a traumatic experience for people, she said, with Covid patients often heavily sedated and intubated where a tube is put down your throat and into your lungs which is attached to a machine that pumps air into and out of your lungs. And people often have flashbacks, similar to PTSD, similar to what people would get from wars, from being in ICU, from being on these machines. Its a very invasive situation to be in. "You cant talk, you cant move, there are lights on, theres noise. Read More Hospitals could see 2,500 Covid cases as record set for third day But Dr Enda OConnor, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine and Director of Intensive Care Services at St Jamess Hospital, said that while there can be a psychological cost for some patients from being in ICU, the vast majority of patients there survive thanks to medical interventions. Good explanation of ICU care here from John https://t.co/lZ8dDu53Sa Cliona Ni Cheallaigh (@ClionaNi) January 8, 2021 Between 80%-83% of all Covid patients admitted to ICU will survive while the discharge rate from ICUs nationwide including all conditions is close to 90%, he said. Our data in Ireland compares very favourably with countries around the world, particularly in contrast to places like the US and the UK, Dr OConnor said. The death rate in the UK is closer to 40% whereas were about 17%-20%. But a Covid patient will typically take 17 days to recover - thats 10 days more than an average ICU admission. The average stay in our intensive care unit before the pandemic came along was about seven days. The average stay of a Covid patient that comes into the intensive care ward is 17 days. That has a knock-on effect. We dont know whats coming in the next 14 days but it will be pretty eye-opening, it may bring us to our knees as a society and as a hospital. The most effective way we have of putting a stop to this really very worrying rise of Covid cases is to keep away from other people. ****Outpatient Services Curtailed **** Due to the rising numbers of COVID-19 infection rates in the community, some outpatient services have been postponed. All patients will be contacted in due course regarding the rescheduling of their appointment. pic.twitter.com/NIzS3w9dXn St James's Hospital (@stjamesdublin) January 4, 2021 And also to roll out an effective and widespread vaccination programme. More than 100 patients are currently critically ill with Covid-19 with more than 1,000 people in hospital with the virus. A huge amount of planned surgeries are now being cancelled as the hospitals swell with Covid patients who may require the ventilators also needed for post-operative patients. Staff numbers are also dwindling as medics are diverted to Covid wards or are off sick having contracted the virus or been in close contact with someone who tested Covid-positive. Were talking about highly needed surgeries knee and hip surgeries for people who are immobile with pain, valve surgeries, cancer surgeries, Dr Ni Cheallaigh said. We havent had to cancel urgent cancer surgeries, yet. Actor Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel reached Bandra police station at around 1.30pm on Friday to record their statement in connection with the case filed against them where both were booked for objectionable comments on social media aimed at spreading communal tension. Their advocate Rizwan Siddiqui was also accompanying them, said a police officer. Earlier, Bandra police had sent three summons to the sisters between October and November last year but they did not appear. Ranaut later approached the Bombay high court which asked her to be present at Bandra police station on January 8 between 12 and 2pm along with her sister. The Bandra police have prepared a list of questions related to the matter. All her tweets and video statements have been put on paper based on which questions will be put to her, added the official cited above. On October 16 last year, a Bandra court had ordered the police to investigate a complaint filed by Bollywood casting director and fitness trainer Munawwar Ali Sayyed referring to tweets and other statements of Ranaut and her sister. Following the order, Bandra police on October 17, 2020, booked the sisters under sections 124(A) (sedition - to bring or attempt to bring into hatred or contempt, or excite or attempt to excite disaffection towards the government established by law in India, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise), 153(A) (promoting enmity between different groups on the ground of religion, race, place of birth, language etc. and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295(A) (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class, by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) along with section 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code. In his complaint to the court, Sayyed had alleged that Ranaut has, through her tweets and television interviews, continuously defamed Hindi film industry by portraying Bollywood as a hub of nepotism, favouritism, drug addicts, communally biased and murderers etc. Sayyed alleged that this has even created bad image of Bollywood in the minds of people and created a communal divide and rift between people of two communities. His complaint added that Ranaut has been maliciously bringing religion in all her tweets. The casting director alleged that Ranauts sister Rangoli, who also works as her manager, has also tweeted highly objectionable messages, intended to create communal rift. After a drawn-out international investigation, French-Israeli diamond magnate Beny Steinmetz will go on trial in Geneva next week over allegations of corruption linked to mining deals in Guinea. The trial, due to kick off Monday and last for two weeks, will delve into allegations of multi-million-dollar bribes paid to top Guinean officials to win lucrative mining rights. The 64-year-old billionaire businessman has travelled from Israel to Switzerland and will be present at the trial, according to his lawyer Marc Bonnant. "We will plead his innocence," Bonnant told AFP. Following a six-year investigation spanning several countries, a Geneva prosecutor indicted Steinmetz in August 2019 on charges of corrupting public officials and forging documents to gain mining rights in Guinea. Swiss prosecutors accuse Steinmetz and two partners of bribing a wife of former Guinean president Lansana Conte, and others, to win mining rights in the southeastern Simandou region. The area is estimated to contain the world's biggest untapped iron-ore deposit. Steinmetz has previously dismissed allegations against him as baseless and an attempt by political enemies to smear him. Prosecutors charge that about $10 million (8.2 million euros) was paid in bribes, in part through Swiss bank accounts, and say that Steinmetz obtained the mining rights shortly before Conte died in 2008. - 'Pact of corruption' - Swiss investigative NGO Public Eye, which has tried to map out the complex structure of Steinmetz's group BSG Resources (BSGR), said the fact that such a case was being brought to trial indicated that prosecutors felt they had a strong hand. "It is very rare in Switzerland for large international corruption cases to make it to trial," Public Eye spokeswoman Geraldine Viret told AFP. "The Swiss judiciary clearly wants to go all the way, which indicates they have solid evidence," she said. Prosecutors claim that Steinmetz and his representatives in Guinea entered a "pact of corruption" with Conte and his fourth wife Mamadie Toure. Story continues She is a key witness in the trial and is scheduled to testify on January 13, but Viret said it was unlikely she would come, since she lives in the United States where she has obtained protected status as a state witness. Steinmetz's lawyer Bonnant said the absence of Toure and other key witnesses would be grounds to postpone the trial. He maintains his client "never paid a cent to Ms Mamadie Toure", and also charges that she was not in fact Conte's wife, but only a mistress, meaning she could in any case not be considered a corruptible official under Swiss law. - 'Curse of natural resources' - Viret said the case was a "sad illustration of the problematic curse of natural resources", showing how a country as rich in natural resources as Guinea could continue to wallow in poverty. Conte's military dictatorship had in 2008 ordered global mining giant Rio Tinto to relinquish two concessions to BSGR for around $170 million in 2008. Just 18 months later, BSGR sold 51 percent of its stake in the concession to Brazilian mining giant Vale for $2.5 billion. "The profit was colossal, about twice Guinea's state budget at the time," Viret said. But in 2013, Guinea's first democratically-elected president Alpha Conde launched a review of permits allotted under Conte and later stripped the VBG consortium formed by BSGR and Vale of its permit. In February 2019, Steinmetz reached a deal with Guinean authorities, who lifted corruption charges against him in exchange for him giving up his remaining rights to the Simandou mine. However, Geneva has continued to press ahead with its case, which could see Steinmetz jailed for up to 10 years if convicted. Steinmetz made his fortune in diamonds while living in Antwerp in Belgium from 1970 to 1997, before founding BSGR, which invests in natural resources and real estate across several continents. He has faced legal problems in a range of countries, including several brief detentions in Israel on suspicion of money laundering, fraud, forgery and obstruction of justice. He was also sentenced in absentia last month in Romania to five years in prison in an property-related money laundering case, dating back to 2006-2008. nl-apo-mib/rjm/kjl By Mr. Schumers account, the two leaders waited on hold to speak with Mr. Pence about the matter for nearly half an hour Thursday morning, only to be told he would not come to the phone. Ms. Pelosi later indicated that they hoped for a public statement of his intentions, one way or another, within a day and would be prepared to move forward with impeachment if necessary. This is urgent. This is an emergency of the highest magnitude, she told reporters at the Capitol, calling Mr. Trumps actions seditious and shaming members of the cabinet by name for not intervening. While its only 13 days left, any day can be a horror show for America. She said her phone was exploding with colleagues demanding, Impeach, impeach, impeach. It was a stark difference from her posture in 2019, when Ms. Pelosi resisted for months the idea of impeaching Mr. Trump, concerned that it would be a futile exercise that would divide her party. I dont care if youre Democrat, Republican liberal, conservative, from the Northeast, South or West, Mr. Schumer told reporters in New York. If what happened yesterday doesnt convince you that the president should be out of office now, then something is very wrong with your beliefs about democracy. Democratic lawmakers and aides cautioned they were not yet ready to commit to pursuing the Constitutions most extreme remedy. Just a year after charging the president with abuse of power and obstructing Congress for his attempts to pressure Ukraines leader to smear his political rival Joseph R. Biden Jr., House leaders are keenly aware of the logistical and political hurdles to doing so. No president has ever been impeached twice. New Delhi: India, as a member of the United Nations Security Council will be heading three crucial committees the Taliban sanctions committee, the counter-terrorism committee for the year 2022, and the Libya sanctions committee. With New Delhi chairing the Taliban sanctions and counter-terror committees, India gets a crucial multilateral say in the Afghan peace process and Pakistan's terror record, which will increase the heat on Islamabad. India's envoy for UN TS Tirumurti said, "The UNSC establishes subsidiary bodies on specific issues, including on sanctions regime....The Taliban sanctions committee also called the 1988 sanctions committee has always been a high priority for India keeping in mind our strong interest and commitment for peace, security, development, and progress of Afghanistan." With a clear foothold in the Taliban sanctions committee which is also a committee dealing with terror and counter-terror committee, the spotlight will come even more on Islamabad's lackluster record on acting on cross-border terror. The Indian envoy highlighted, "our chairing of the committee in this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of terrorists and their sponsors threatening peace process in Afghanistan. It has been our view, that peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand" It is important to recall, that the Taliban has to take approval from the sanctions committee members for travel. Recently the top members of the group including, Abdul Ghani Baradar was in Pakistan and met the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi. An increased level of violence may dissuade members to give future approval on travel for the Taliban. India already has a bilateral focus in Afghanistan, by building a number of major infrastructure projects in the country and be part of the capacity building. The current development increases New Delhi's engagement in a global format. On chairing the Counter Terror body, the envoy said, "the chairing of this committee has been a special resonance for India which has not only been in the forefront of fighting terrorism especially cross border terrorism but has also been one of its biggest victims" India chairs the committee in 2022, which is also its 75th Independence year with New Delhi expected to put further scrutiny on terror sponsors by being part of the body. The committee was formed after the 9/11 attacks in New York and bolsters the ability of United Nations Member States to prevent terrorist acts both within their borders and across regions. India had chaired the committee in its last tenure at UNSC in 2011-2012. When it comes to the Libya Sanctions Committee, also known as the 1970 sanctions committee, the Indian envoy said, "we will be assuming the chair of the committee at a critical juncture when there is international focus on Libya and on the peace process" The committee implements the sanctions regime, a 2-way arms embargo on Libya, assets freeze, travel ban, measures on the illicit exports of petroleum etc. The permanent five members of the UNSC play an important role in this committee and development comes as New Delhi increases its wider engagement in that part of the world. Priyanka Chopra has been seen getting back to work on her upcoming film Text For You, days after she sparked a furore when she was seen at a hairdressers. The actress, 38, has insisted she wasn't breaking any Covid rules when she went to the Josh Wood Colour salon in Notting Hill, with police later coming to the salon. And it appeared that she was putting the drama behind her, as she wrapped up warm in a long black jacket and focussed on the shoot in London on Friday. Back to work: Priyanka Chopra cut a casual figure as she got back to shooting new movie Text For You on Friday after insisting she wasn't breaking any Covid rules when she went to the Josh Wood Colour salon in Notting Hill on Wednesday Priyanka kept her head down as she walked towards a car with another woman while bundled up in her warm winter jacket and tracksuit bottoms. She continued her relaxed look with a pair of white trainers, which appeared to be the same ones from her trip to the salon, and wore her long locks down. The film star also ensured to stay safe amid the pandemic as she wore a white face mask while working on the film. Other crew and actors on set were also seen donning the same style of coverings. Priyanka was seen by police officers after they found her attending an appointment at the Josh Wood Colour salon in Notting Hill on Wednesday. Furore: It comes after the actress, 38, insisted she wasn't breaking any Covid rules when she went to the Josh Wood Colour salon in Notting Hill, with police later coming to the salon It then emerged on Thursday that she had escaped a fine after showing police paperwork stating the hair colouring session was for a film. A spokesperson for the actress said: 'Following government guidance, Priyanka Chopra Jonas' hair was coloured by Josh Wood for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting. 'The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations. 'As per Film London and current government advice, by continuing to follow the approved COVID-19 guidance, Film and TV production can continue in the Capital and locations can continue to accommodate shoots and recces that are carried out in-line with the guidance.' Keeping busy: She kept her head down as she walked towards a car with another woman while bundled up in her warm black winter jacket and tracksuit bottoms The shoot: Dozens of crew were seen working on the set while wearing facemasks during the shoot Priyanka is currently living in London with her husband Nick Jonas, 28, and was pictured arriving at the shop alongside her mother Madhu before two police officers arrived in a squad car and appeared to order the customers out. However the pictures sparked disbelief from members of the public who have been subject to increasingly tight lockdown rules. Fans turned on the star on Thursday, questioning online if she thought she was above the rules. One directly contacted her on Twitter, asking: 'Why are you and your mum pictured at a salon getting your hair done when it's against the rules in the UK right now??!! 'Why are the rules different for you, who do you think you are?' While Sarah Nichols said: 'Getting so fed up with 'celebrities' thinking they don't have to do this lockdown like the rest of us. Having fun: Priyanka's co-star Arinza Kene appeared to be in good spirits as he strolled around Coming together: The actor carried his facemask as he got out of a car and headed towards the set 'Why should Priyanka Chopra be able to get her hair done. Why does some swanky London salon think it's above the rules. GRRRRRRR' Another added: 'Why should Priyanka think she is above the law and flout the regulations? Selfish beyond belief. I hope Josh Wood her stylist gets 10k fine.' A spokesperson for the Met Police told MailOnline: 'Police were alerted at around 17:40hrs on Wednesday, 6 January to reports of a Covid breach taking place within a hairdressers on Lansdowne Mews, Notting Hill. 'Officers attended and the owner of the salon was given a verbal reminder of the important need to comply with all regulations regarding Covid-19 and signposted to sources of advice. No fixed penalty notices were issued.' On Monday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that the UK was being plunged into national lockdown with immediate effect, meaning the visit was an apparent blatant violation of the rules, which state that business owners could be fined up to 10,000 for breaking the rules. Transformed: The cast seemed to be filming a scene which was set in New York Strolling: Three women were seen walking along the road as a large truck sat at one end Government guidelines on hair salons in lockdown state: 'Personal care facilities such as hair, beauty, tanning and nail salons. Tattoo parlours, spas, massage parlours, body and skin piercing services must also close. These services should not be provided in other people's homes'. Despite the new rules, Priyanka still made her way to the salon. Before arriving, she wrapped up in a warm winter coat as she walked with her mother, who was walking along with Priyanka's beloved dog, Diana, a chihuahua mix, that often features on her social media accounts. When the pair, alongside an aide were inside the shop, the police arrived in their squad car and stood at the door speaking to those inside the salon, before Priyanka then headed out shortly with a bag of Josh Wood goodies. On Monday, Britons were warned they 'should expect more enforcement' from police under the new lockdown. John Apter, chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, predicted there would be more fines handed out and less tolerance from officers as there are 'no excuses' for not knowing the rules this time. Couple: Priyanka and her husband Nick are currently living in London and spent Christmas in the city But he also warned police could be cast as 'villains of the pandemic' as they bear the brunt of the public's lockdown fatigue and frustration. Mr Apter said the record number of fines handed out on New Year's Eve demonstrated that increasing numbers of young people were prepared to break the rules. Hundreds of partygoers were slapped with fines of up to 10,000. Mr Apter said, after almost a year of enforcing Covid restrictions, many officers are 'knackered'. Priyanka and Joe are currently residing in the UK capital while she films Text For You, which the boy band star was seen filming a cameo for last month. The stylist frequently colours Priyanka's hair and in November, she shared a selfie whilst getting her hair styled by Josh with the caption 'finishing touches' while shooting her upcoming movie. Text For You follows a young woman as she grieves the tragic loss of her fiance and decides to send romantic messages to his old phone number. As she does so, the woman begins to form an attachment to the man who the phone number was reassigned to, and who is also struggling with a similar heartbreak. The pair meet and can't deny the connection they feel with one another, and decide to give love another chance. Priyanka takes on the lead role in the film and stars in it alongside Highlander star Sam Heughan, while her other co-stars include Celine Dion, Russell Tovey, Arinze Kene, and Omid Djalili. The film is an English remake of the German film SMS Fur Dich, which itself is based on the novel of the same name by Sofie Cramer. KABUL Foreign Minister Mohammad Haneef Atmar held a telephone conversation with the Minister of External Affairs of India, Dr. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, today. The two Foreign Ministers discussed a wide range of issues, including COVID-19 and the Afghan peace process. Minister Atmar congratulated Dr. Jaishankar on the COVID vaccine roll out in India and appreciated Indias pledge to support Afghanistans COVID immunization program. Discussing the second round of Afghanistan peace negotiations, which starts in Doha on Saturday, the two sides emphasized the need to garner regional and international support for a comprehensive ceasefire leading to a durable peace agreement between the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and the Taliban. UN Watch reveals top 10 human rights abusers of 2020 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Human rights group U.N. Watch announced its list of 2020s worst human rights abusers and topping the list is China. China herded 1 million Uighurs into camps, jailed human rights activists, crushed Tibet, silenced courageous men and women who sounded the alarm on the coronaviruslike Dr. Li Wenliang and citizen journalist Zhang Zhanand suffocated freedom in Hong Kong, the nonprofit group, which is "dedicated to holding the United Nations accountable to its founding principles," said. Ten nations were listed for torturing, imprisoning and starving their own citizens. They were also called out for killing political dissidents and persecuting people for religious reasons. Behind China, the list includes Iran, Cameroon, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Cuba, Turkey, North Korea, and Russia, respectively. The ideological motivations for human rights abuses in these countries differ. North Korea, Venezuela, Cuba and China are Communist or socialist states. Zimbabwe, Russia, Turkey, and Cameroon are ruled by autocratic leaders who hold onto power using violence. Saudi Arabia and Iran are Islamic theocracies. Despite the human rights abuses, all the countries are members of the U.N. Russia, Cuba, Venezuela, Cameroon and China currently serve on the U.N. Human Rights Council. The U.N. has not passed resolutions in 2020 to condemn human rights abuses in China, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, Cuba, Turkey, Pakistan, Vietnam and Algeria. It has, however, found time to pass resolutions against Israel 17 times in the same year, U.N. Watch has argued. The U.N. Watch offered a list of reasons why the countries were human rights abusers: Dade2, a Managed Enterprise Cloud hosting provider, is pleased to announce the launch of its Spanish data center location and cloud region. Immediately available in this location are Dade2s Cloud servers, Dedicated Servers, Colocation and private cloud service offerings. The data center, located close to Barajas International Airport is just minutes away from Madrid city center and provides low-latency and high-network throughput to both Spain, France and Italy. Now operating in both Europe the United States and Iceland, Dade2s first Spanish datacenter location has been strategically selected to better cater to the needs of clients in both Spain and southern Europe. Dade2s expansion roadmap illustrates the strategic launching of additional regions by Q2 2021. Cloud computing is already powering innovation within businesses, educational institutions, public administrations, and government agencies across Spain, and with this Dade2 Cloud region, we look forward to helping accelerate this transformation Daroya said. This Tier III+ Datacenter is HIPAA compliant and ISO 27001 certified to meet specific demand from financial companies. About Dade2 Dade2 is a leading provider of Hosting Services to medium and enterprise businesses around the globe. Offering a wide variety of time tested IT solutions that range from System Integration to evoluted Cloud solutions, Backups and DRaaS, security, data warehousing, big data management. With over a decade of expertise in Information Technology, Dade2 brings to the table an impeccable understanding of the many minute aspects that make an IT department function seamlessly integrating on-premises and datacenter solutions. Additional information about Dade2 are available at the company website: https://dade2.net By Akira Tomoshige Akiko Okamoto TOKYO (Reuters) - Yusuke Aoi has seen earnings at his traditional Tokyo bar plunge since the coronavirus pandemic began last year - and fears the area's second state of emergency could deliver a final blow. Japan declared a month-long, limited state of emergency in the capital, Tokyo, and three neighboring prefectures on Thursday to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The curbs are less stringent than during last year's emergency period, where people were largely confined to their homes. This time people are asked to stay at home after 8 p.m. unless they have essential reasons to leave. As last time, restaurants and bars are asked to close by 8 p.m. and stop serving alcohol an hour earlier, with government subsidies available to those which abide by the requests. But with losses already built up and footfall down as people work from home, owners of Japan's traditional izakaya, which serve lots of small eats along with alcohol, are being forced into crushing choices. "Customers usually start flocking in around 7," the 29-year-old manager of "Setouchi Lemon Shokudo" said. "If we can only serve alcohol until 7, there's no point in staying open in the evening." Aoi's izakaya has seen sales slump 70 percent since the pandemic as more people worked from home and avoided crowded spaces. They have now started serving lunches, but still can't make ends meet. Operating with shortened evening hours would bleed him of as much as 1 million yen a month in labor and utilities, he estimates. "The damage is less if we close." The areas affected by the current state of emergency - Tokyo and the three neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama - are home to about 150,000 restaurants and bars. Tokyo-based Teikoku Databank said this week bankruptcies in the sector hit a high of 780 in 2020, up from the previous record of 732, and many izakaya owners fear the worst. Story continues Yasuyuki Shimahara, who owns a central Tokyo izakaya specializing in fresh tuna, will close until the state of emergency ends. Though he has applied for government subsidies, he expects losses to run to around $20,000 (2 million yen) for the month. "As a business owner, it's not what I want, but I think we have no choice due to the situation the country's in," he said. Japan has been less seriously hit by the pandemic than many places, but has been unable to rein in the virus. Recorded daily infections exceeded 7,000 for the first time on Thursday, and it has seen a total of 267,000 cases and nearly 3,900 deaths. ($1 = 103.81 yen) (Writing by Elaine Lies; editing by Philippa Fletcher) KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin will announce new measures next week to curb a surge in coronavirus cases, a senior minister said on Friday, as the country reported its highest daily number of deaths linked to the epidemic. The Southeast Asian nation has seen a spike in infections since September, with the number of daily reported cases climbing to record highs on two days this week. Fridays death toll of 16 took total COVID-19 fatalities to 537. The health ministry also reported 2,643 new infections, raising the total number of cases to 131,108. The government has said it was considering imposing targeted lockdowns in some areas, though businesses warned that wider restrictions could further batter the economy. Muhyiddin will announce new measures to tackle the virus surge on Monday, security minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob told reporters. We are refining and looking at the new measures in detail to ensure that they work for everyone," he said during a televised news conference. Separately, science minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the countrys pharmaceutical regulator has issued a conditional approval for the vaccine manufactured by U.S. and German drugmakers Pfizer and BioNTech to be used in Malaysia. We are still waiting for a few additional info from Pfizer but this means it can be used in Malaysia," Khairy posted on his Twitter account. Malaysia, which has purchased 12.8 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech shot, is expected to receive its first shipment of the vaccine next month. 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 Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here Aussies Must Test Negative for CCP Virus Before Flying Home The federal government announced that people returning to Australia would be required to test negative for COVID-19 pre-flight on Friday. This comes as 80 percent of people looking to fly home from overseas are in countries that have been exposed to the UK strain of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus (novel coronavirus). Prime Minister Scott Morrison told reporters the UK strain is anticipated to become the dominant strain of the virus globally because it is 70 percent more transmissible. The idea that it somehow can be contained just out of the United Kingdom is a false hope, Morrison said. It moves so quickly, far more quickly, than previous strains of the virus, he said. The National Cabinet met on Friday and agreed to the new measures in relation to quarantine and flights to reduce the risk of exposure to the new strain. There will be exemptions and tailored responses in extenuating circumstances, such as seasonal workers from low-risk countriesmostly in the Pacificwhere there is limited access to testing. Passengers wearing protective masks walk to the check-in counters at the O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Dec.22, 2020. (Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters) Passengers and aircrew will be required to wear masks onboard international flights, with the crew also wearing other personal protective equipment where appropriate. Masks will also need to be worn while in an international or domestic airport environment. International aircrew must undergo a COVID-19 test in Australia every seven days, or on arrival, and will need to quarantine in a dedicated quarantine facilities between international flights or 14 days, Morrison said. The national cabinet also agreed that for domestic travel, mask-wearing would be mandatory on all domestic flights excluding children under 12 and those with other exemptions. The leaders also agreed to slow down international arrivals until Feb. 15. In New South Wales, Western Australia, and Queensland arrivals will reduce by 50 percent, but in Victoria (which already operates at less than 50 percent) and SA there will be no change. The ACT, Northern Territory, and Tasmania will continue their bespoke arrangements. Government-chartered flights will continue. With our chartered flights, we have total control of who gets on the plane, Morrison said. So we can ensure that it is vulnerable people who get on those flights or a family member of that vulnerable person. Acting Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly during a press conference in the Prime Ministers Courtyard at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on July 24, 2020. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images) Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the testing regime was another ring of containment, but it was not foolproof. Professor Kelly said he was aware of 15 people who tested positive being denied access to a recent government charter flight. Morrison said the lower caps would have consequences in terms of Australian trade and business and engagement with the rest of the world. There are no consequence-free decisions here, and so it is about managing the risk as appropriately and as proportionately as possible, he said. National Cabinet also discussed the possibility of targeting bans on travel from specific countries but rejected it. The idea that you can somehow narrow-stream your response here and mitigate the risk just dealing with one channel into Australia is not true, Morrison said. HOUSTON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ElectSCorp.com has launched an e-filing solution for business owners to elect their companies to be treated as an S Corporation with the IRS and other state agencies. This represents the first online filing platform that streamlines the submission process of form 2553 with relevant agencies. The platform's most prominent feature is its ability to help business owners file for the S-Corp election after they have failed to meet the application deadline. Even those that forgot to submit the form in their first few years of business can use ElectSCorp's leading-edge solution. "A huge 40 percent of our clients approached us for help because they didn't elect their company on time. From there, we review their case and e-file Form 2553 along with other documents with the IRS and applicable state agencies," said Melissa Beck, Director of Compliance at ElectScorp. Most small business owners prefer to operate as an LLC and elect to be treated as an S Corporation. This company configuration can help save thousands of dollars in payroll or self-employment tax. "Our platform allows business owners to update information for the IRS and state quickly. The process is over in just a few clicks," said Melissa. "We can even help them set up their payroll to make sure they stay compliant with tax laws." Because being treated as an S Corporation can substantially reduce the tax burden, the S Corporation tax election is a strategic choice for the majority of LLC owners. But it is essential to file it properly and maintain compliance. "ElectSCorp is the answer to this problem. We take care of the unnecessary bureaucracy and let business owners focus on doing what they do best: running the show." ElectSCorp also has an extensive learning center, empowering consumers to educate themselves on all the tax documents required to operate as an S Corporation. Instead of hunting the internet to find reliable help, all critical information can be accessed from one convenient platform. The learning center is a free resource available to everyone. In the past four years, over 10,000 business owners have trusted ElectSCorp to handle their business filings. By launching the e-filing platform, the company hopes to deliver a simple and affordable solution for small business owners looking to update the IRS and state agencies regarding changes to their business status. About ElectSCorp.com ElectSCorp helps businesses of all sizes get tax compliance right. In partnership with government agencies, the company provides an effective platform for business owners to comply with tax regulations. ElectSCorp service also delivers cloud-based compliance solutions for small businesses and startups. Contact: Name: Peter Vic Phone: (888) 444-5260 Email: [email protected] Related Images image1.png SOURCE ElectSCorp.com Leaders of protesting farmers will meet the Central Government representatives in the national capital on Friday to hold the eighth round of talks over the three new farm laws that have sparked a furore across India. Hours before talks, Union Minister of State for Agriculture Kailash Choudhury hoped that a resolution will come out of today's meeting. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry "I am hopeful that talks will be held in a positive atmosphere and a solution will be found. During discussions, each side has to take steps to reach a solution," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Tomar said today ahead of the talks, according to news agency ANI. The eighth round of talks between three Union ministers -- Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash -- and the 40 protesting farmer unions to end the farmers' agitation is scheduled to begin at the Vigyan Bhawan here at 2 pm. Just before the talks, Tomar met Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the issue. Talking to news agency PTI, Choudhury said, "I am hopeful that a resolution will be reached at Friday's meeting. We could have ended the deadlock by now had the protesting farmer unions discussed the issues raised at the first meeting." There was no demand for a repeal of the three farm laws at the first meeting, he added. Asserting that the new laws enacted by the Centre are in the interest of farmers, Choudhury said the legislations are just a beginning and added that the unions are agitating against the laws under the "influence of arhtiyas (commission agents)". "Next, the Pesticide (Management) Bill and the Seed Bill will come. At that time too, farmers can be misguided," he said. Asked if the Centre would encourage religious leaders from Punjab to mediate between the government and the protesting farmers, Choudhury said, "We welcome everyone. We want a resolution. If they are ready to talk in that direction, we welcome them." Punjab's Nanaksar Gurdwara head Baba Lakha, a renowned religious leader of the state, met Tomar on Thursday and wished to mediate between the Centre and the protesting farmers. The protesters have threatened to hold a tractor rally in the national capital on Republic Day if their demands are not met. The last meeting, on 4 January, failed to break the deadlock with farmers insisting on the repeal of the new laws enacted in September. The last seven rounds of talks between the govt and the protesting farmers remained inconclusive, although there was some breakthrough at the 30 December meeting when the government conceded to two demands of the agitating farmers pertaining to power subsidy and stubble-burning. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. TORONTO, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Tanzanian Gold Corporation (TSX:TNX) (NYSE American:TRX) (TanGold or the Company) announces that TanGold (operating through its wholly owned subsidiary in Tanzania) and its joint venture partner, The State Mining Company (STAMICO), have worked together to submit an updated mine plan for the Buckreef Gold Project (Buckreef or the Project) to the Mining Commission in Tanzania. STAMICO, which is 100% owned by the United Republic of Tanzania (the Government), owns a 45% non-dilutable equity interest in Buckreef Gold Company Limited, which wholly-owns the Project. Changing circumstances necessitated an updated mine plan, including reviewing the mining license area to accommodate artisanal mining on certain concessions, and the separation of the oxide and sulphide mine processing plants for metallurgical considerations. As part of the submission to the Mining Commission, Buckreef intends to relinquish certain concessions since this has no impact on the Buckreef concession and Mineral Resources (2.04 million ozs), as reported in the Companys press release dated June 24, 2020. The updated mine plan, once approved, will replace the mine plan submitted to the Mining Commission in 2017 as part of the renewal of Buckreefs Special Mining License. An update of a mine plan is a normal procedure under the provisions of the Tanzanian mining laws. The Company has also reviewed the Buckreef Joint Venture Agreement (the JV Agreement) with STAMICO to bring its terms in line with recent changes in the Tanzanian mining laws and to modernize the working arrangement between the parties (the original JV Agreement was entered into in 2011). The parties have identified and agreed to amendments to the JV Agreement, which have now been submitted to the relevant Government authorities for further processes. The amendments are subject to the obtaining of necessary Government approvals and the finalization of relevant legal documentation. One provision in the new mining laws, which provides for the Government to receive a free carried interest in mining projects, does not directly address the situation where the Government already has a significant interest in the mining project, such as in the case of Buckreef where the Government, through STAMICO, has a 45% non-dilutable equity interest in the Project. TanGold is in consultations with the Government regarding how best to address this nuanced issue given the Governments significant interest already held in Buckreef through STAMICO. Mr. James Sinclair, Executive Chairman (TanGold), commented, I have been involved in Tanzania for over 30 years. From the beginning, I have always felt that the development of a mining project requires a close working relationship and sharing of economic benefits with all stakeholders, including local communities, country citizens, partners and our shareholders. We have always adhered to and support local laws related to procurement, employment, the environment and non-corruption. This is why we agreed to a significant shareholding for our government-owned partner when we entered into the Buckreef joint venture. We will always strive to support and assist Tanzania to meet its objectives, particularly with regard to the development of the local mining industry, local communities, and national development, including the important artisanal mining industry. Mr. Stephen Mullowney, Chief Executive Officer (TanGold), commented, This is an important step forward in the development of Buckreef. I would like to commend the TanGold, Buckreef and STAMICO teams on modernizing our relationship. I very much look forward to working with STAMICO to move the Project forward to reach its full potential. The Company continues to advance the Buckreef Feasibility Study. SGS Lakefield is in the process of completing its initial metallurgical test work. Terrane Geoscience is well advanced in completing a geotechnical study, which will be crucial in determining pit slopes. The Company has also advanced internal pit modelling. In addition, the Phase III exploration program is ongoing, and the Company will provide an update on the results of both the Phase III exploration program and various components of the Buckreef Feasibility Study when they are completed. About Tanzanian Gold Corporation Tanzanian Gold Corporation along with its joint venture partner, STAMICO is building a significant gold project at Buckreef in Tanzania that is based on an expanded Mineral Resource base and the treatment of its mineable Mineral Reserves in two standalone plants. An ongoing drill program has, to date, more than doubled the size of Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources to include 2.04 million ounces of gold. Exploration Targets determined in accordance with NI 43-101 standards have the potential to add up to another 2.0 million ounces of gold (see press release dated June 24, 2020). The Company commenced initial test production from oxide ore in June 2020 at an oxide test plant and is now anticipating government approval for an expanded (oxide) plant. Tanzanian Gold Corporation is advancing on three value-creation tracks: Strengthening its balance sheet from expanding near-term production to 15,000 - 20,000 oz. of gold per year from the processing oxides upon approval of an expanded oxide plant; Advancing the Final Feasibility Study for a stand-alone sulphide treating plant that is substantially larger than previously modelled, targeting annual gold production of 150,000 to 175,000 oz.; and Continuing with a drilling program to further test the potential of its Mineral Resource base by: (i) drilling at deeper levels; (ii) drilling new oxide targets; (iii) infill drilling to upgrade Mineral Resources currently in the Inferred category; and (iv) a step-out drilling program in the Northeast Extension. Respectfully Submitted, James E. Sinclair Executive Chairman & Stephen R. Mullowney CEO For further information, please contact Michael Martin, Investor Relations, m.martin@tangoldcorp.com.com, 860-248-0999, or visit the Company website at www.tangoldcorp.com The Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE American have not reviewed and do not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. U.S. Investors are urged to consider closely the disclosure in our SEC filings. You can review and obtain copies of these filings from the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov/edgar.shtml This news release contains certain forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking statements and forward-looking information that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time-to-time with the British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario provincial securities regulatory authorities. Certain information presented in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, include, but are not limited to, that Buckreefs updated mine plan and amendments to the JV Agreement will be approved, and are based on numerous assumptions, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including risks inherent in mineral exploration and development, which may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any projected future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Investors are referred to our description of the risk factors affecting the Company, as contained in our SEC filings, including our annual report on Form 20-F and Form 6-K, for more information concerning these risks, uncertainties, and other factors. Roads out of Brisbane have become gridlocked with lengthy delays as crowds scramble to get out of the city before a three-day lockdown begins. Traffic on the Bruce Highway north of the city towards the Sunshine Coast has hit a standstill, with pictures showing cars backed up as far as the eye can see in both directions. Roads south of the city, on the M1 heading towards the Gold Coast, traffic is almost as heavy with drivers warned to expect lengthy delays from the southern suburb of Springwood. Traffic is at a standstill on major roads out of Brisbane such as the Bruce Highway (pictured) as crowds rush to get out of the city ahead of a 6pm lockdown Shopping centres in Brisbane (pictured) were flooded by crowds panic buying despite repeated assurance from authorities there was no need The Bruce Highway out of Brisbane was bumper to bumper on Friday evening (pictured) Meanwhile, shoppers have flocked to Brisbane supermarkets to stock up on items despite continued reassurances from the government and supermarkets there was no need to panic buy. Pictures show queues stretching the length of some shopping centres as customers cleared shelves of essential items. Brisbane airport was thrown into chaos with travellers flooding Twitter with complaints about the lack of information on Friday. 'Telling everyone to rush to the desk & queue together to find out border requirements is not very well thought out ... just tell us over the PA where we can social distance,' one person said 'My flight was delayed from 9:10 to 10:55 then had to abandon because of Covid restrictions as we were flying out of Brisbane airport and we were told we'd have to isolate even tho we hadn't been in the city,' another said. Crowds at Brisbane airport also complained there was confusion over how the lockdown affected flights. Pictured: Passenger at Brisbane airport being checked by police on December 20 There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane with lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands 'No information anywhere for people in Queensland about to fly home. Is Brisbane airport considered part of Greater Brisbane? Will people flying out of the airport be required to quarantine?' another person said. 'Been trying to find out from the airline but Qantas has a hold time of three hours' added a fourth. Greater Brisbane will be locked down from 6pm on Friday in a bid to stave off a possible outbreak of the highly contagious UK variant of COVID-19 after a positive community test on Thursday. Residents in the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands will be required to stay at home until 6pm on Monday. The lockdown was sparked after a positive case, a woman in her 20s, was infectious from January 2 before testing positive to the UK strain after showing symptoms on Wednesday. Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus is urged to get tested immediately. Contact tracers are tracking the movements of the cleaner, who worked at the hotel Grand Chancellor on January 2. Traffic heading north from Brisbane on Friday evening (pictured) After encouraging shoppers to 'only buy what they need' supermarket giants Woolworths and Coles have reintroduced storewide limits to cope with the overwhelming surge in demand. Shoppers are restricted to purchase limits of two items from a range of toilet paper, anti-bacterial products, and canned, frozen goods from Friday. 'We understand this is an anxious time for Brisbane residents. However, we want to reassure our customers we will remain open as an essential service to support their food and grocery needs during the temporary lockdown,' Woolworths Supermarkets Director of Stores Rob Moffat said. 'We have stock to draw on from our suppliers and distribution centres, and it will continue to flow into stores in large volumes. Shoppers also have swarmed pharmacies and other outlets where the masks have been sold in bulk in recent months. Queensland Health has called for calm, reminding the Brisbane community that supermarkets and essential businesses will remain open. A map shows the Brisbane locations which have been exposed to the UK's mutant variant of the virus since January 2, including a busy train line, a Coles and a Woolworths 'There are no concerns that supermarket supplies are at risk during this three-day period,' a spokesman said. Greater Brisbane will enter the hard lockdown after a cleaner at a quarantine hotel was diagnosed with the UK variant of COVID-19. People will only be allowed to leave their home for essential work, exercise, essential shopping, to access healthcare, or to look after the vulnerable. Masks are mandatory for anyone outside their home, aside from children under 12. Shoppers have been reminded to adhere to social distancing. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state had decided 'to go hard and go early' to contain potential spread of the virus. 'If we do not do this now it could end up being a 30-day lockdown,' she said. A doctor in China has claimed that the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine is the 'most unsafe in the world'. The doctor claims that the vaccine has 73 side effects. Dr Tao Lina, who is a vaccine expert from Shanghai, wrote this about the Sinopharm vaccine on his social media account but soon after retracted these claims. Lina said on the Chinese social media platform Weibo that the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinopharm, which is a Chinese state-run company, is extremely unsafe for use, according to Daily Mail. Soon after his post went viral, the doctor apologised to the country and his fellow countrymen for his "imprudent" remarks. His now-deleted post about the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has listed out several side effects. These were: "pain around the injection area, headache, high blood pressure, the loss of vision and taste, and urinary incontinence". Chinese state-run media outlet Global Times has stated that Lina has "clarified hat Chinese inactivated vaccines are safe". The media outlet said that Lina had posted sarcastic comments about the Sinopharm vaccine which were meant as a disclaimer for hostile parties. These sarcastic statements were wrongly interpreted by Voice of America (VOA) on its website. "I have never said that inactivated vaccines lacked safety and efficacy. Instead, I frequently emphasised that inactivated vaccines produced by China are safe in multiple articles to dismiss public concerns over vaccinations," Lina told Global Times. In another post on Thursday, Tao Lina discredited the allegations he himself had made against the Sinopharm vaccine. Earlier, the Chinese Government had given conditional approval to the Sinopharm vaccine. The Sinopharm vaccine reportedly has shown over 79% efficacy. Also Read: Bharat Biotech seeks DCGI nod to conduct trials of nasal Covid-19 vaccine At least one Senate Republican would consider supporting a possible effort by congressional Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump for an unprecedented second time after his supporters, inflamed by his false claims of election fraud, stormed the US Capitol. Democrats in the House of Representatives, which holds the power to impeach the president, will hold a conference call at noon (1700 GMT) to discuss their next steps, according to two Democratic aides. Top Democratic leaders say they believe the House can impeach the Republican president within a week but with Trumps term due to end anyway by Jan. 20 and the Senate still controlled by Republicans, the prospects of him then being thrown out of office are unclear. Removing a US president requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate. Senator Ben Sasse, a Republican and often a Trump critic, told CBS News on Friday he would definitely consider any articles of impeachment because the president disregarded his oath of office. I do believe that the votes are in the House of Representatives to put forth articles of impeachment, and hell be the only president to be impeached twice, said James Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat. President-Elect Joe Biden has blamed Trump for instigating Wednesdays violence but has not said whether he supports removal. Transition spokesman Andrew Bates said Biden would focus on preparing to take power and leave it to Vice President Mike Pence, the Cabinet and Congress to act as they see fit. Trump had encouraged thousands of supporters to march on the Capitol on Wednesday in a fiery speech in which he repeated his baseless claims that the Nov. 3 presidential election was stolen. A crowd stormed the building, overwhelming police, breaking windows, stealing computers and antiquities and forcing authorities to transport lawmakers to secure locations for their own safety. The violence killed five people, including a police officer. As calls mounted for the president to be removed, Trump finally denounced the violence, In a video released on Thursday evening, a flat-toned Trump promised a smooth and orderly transition of power, though he stopped short of abandoning his claims of fraud. On Friday morning he praised his supporters on Twitter, saying, They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!! A Capitol police officer died from injuries sustained in the assault, the force said on Thursday. A woman protester was fatally shot by the authorities, and three people died from medical emergencies. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded on Thursday that Pence and Trumps Cabinet invoke the Constitutions 25th Amendment, which allows them to strip the president of his powers if he cannot discharge the duties of his office. Pence opposes the idea, an adviser said. Pelosi and Schumer, along with other Democratic leaders, called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Pence and the Cabinet refuse to take steps to remove Trump from power. The presidents dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office, they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an insurrection. RUNNING OUT OF TIME? There is a growing rift within the Republican Party in the wake of Wednesdays siege. At least two Republicans, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and US Representative Adam Kinzinger, joined calls for Trump to go. Numerous senior Trump administration officials have resigned in protest over the invasion of the Capitol, including two Cabinet members: Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and McConnells wife, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary. Congress certified Bidens election victory early on Thursday, after authorities cleared the Capitol. With Trumps term almost expired, it was not clear whether there would be enough time to complete the impeachment process. The Senate is scheduled to be in recess until Jan. 19. Aides to Mitch McConnell, the Republican majority leader, have not said whether he would reconvene the Senate if the House approved articles of impeachment. Democrats are set to take narrow control of the Senate after winning two runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday, but the new senators will not be sworn in until the state certifies its results later this month. The House impeached Trump in December 2019 for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden, but the Senate acquitted him in February 2020. Only two other US presidents have been impeached, and none has ever been impeached twice. Recent surges of COVID-19 in India, S America left people gasping for breath before our eyes: UN chief Fake: No new clash took place in Galwan Valley in early May UK-India flights resume, chaos at Delhi airport as govt modifies quarantine rule India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 08: Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the Delhi airport on Friday as many passengers arriving from the UK vociferously complained against the national capital government''s belated decision to make seven-day institutional quarantine compulsory for them irrespective of their COVID-19 test results. Passenger flights resumed from the UK to India in limited numbers from Friday onwards after remaining suspended for 16 days due to the emergence of a new coronavirus variant in that country. Air India''s AI112 flight from London landed at the Delhi airport at around 10.30 AM. It was the only UK flight to land in Delhi on Friday and it had 256 passengers in it, said Gauri Agarwal, founder of the Genestrings Diagnostic Centre, which is handling coronavirus testing of all passengers at the Delhi airport. "This is ridiculous. You cannot tell people the rules have changed after they land. Some notice must be given! Chaos at Delhi Airport with this flight, families with small children, pregnant woman howling," Vistara''s former Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer Sanjiv Kapoor said on Twitter. 7-day institutional quarantine for UK arrivals in Delhi Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday afternoon that travellers coming from the UK to the national capital will have to undergo a seven-day institutional quarantine and a seven-day home quarantine even if they test negative for COVID-19 on arrival. Air India, however, claimed on Twitter on Friday evening that it had informed the flight''s passengers about the new advisory of the Delhi government before the plane took off from the Heathrow airport last night. "Around 20 passengers opted to cancel their flight on being informed by Air India''s London team of this advisory. The announcement was repeated during the flight as well," the carrier added. A passenger of the flight, named Harpreet Takkar, tagged Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Twitter and said, "Just came from London AI112, it''s absolutely maniac at Delhi Airport. Asking us to go for institutional quarantine even with a Negative PCR test. Didn''t mention this on your SOP (standard operating procedure)." Another passenger, Mohit Wadhwa, tagged Kejriwal on Twitter and said, "I am one of the passenger of flight AI112 from London with my 2 months old son. You locked everyone of us." Sources said there were heated arguments between the passengers and security personnel who were present at the airport. Air India said it had mobilised all available resources to expedite RT-PCR tests for passengers of the flight and extended "every possible support to facilitate them". One Vistara flight with 291 passengers will come from London to Delhi on Saturday and two flights -- one of British Airways and another of Air India -- with a total of 481 passengers will land at the Delhi airport on Sunday, Gauri Agarwal stated. Aviation Minister Puri had announced earlier this month that only 30 flights per week will operate between India and the UK between January 8 and January 23. Indian and UK carriers will each be operating 15 flights per week during the period. Earlier this month, the Union Health Ministry stated that a passenger coming from the UK can board a flight to India only when he has a negative test report from a sample taken 72 hours prior to the journey. Moreover, as per the rules, the passenger also has to take the RT-PCR test on arrival at the entry airport in India. India had suspended all passenger flights between the UK and India from December 23 to January 7 as a new variant of coronavirus emerged in the UK. Over 60 passenger flights per week were flying between India and the UK in December before the suspension. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 21:02 [IST] Ginger Deli Is Back With banh mi, pho, and plans for a work space by Micheline Maynard From the January, 2021 issue For more than two years, Ginger Deli's canopied patio at Liberty and Division has stood empty. If passersby didn't know the Vietnamese spot had a takeout booth at University Hospital, they might have wondered what happened to it. Wonder no more. Ginger Deli is back, this time in its own Liberty St. storefront a few blocks west. Owner Te Phan opened in December in the spot that was very briefly Former Vintage, and, for generations before, the Chelsea Flower Shop. He's making the Vietnamese noodle soup called pho, and banh mi, sandwiches with savory fillings on crusty French bread. With dining rooms shut by the pandemic, you might think Phan had chosen the worst possible time to open. He wouldn't disagree. "No one in their crazy mind would open a restaurant now," he says. But, he says, "We are trying to give people some hope. They see people closing and running away. We're running forward." Phan's life in the U.S. has been marked by a series of moves. Born in Vietnam, he emigrated with his family in 1983 to Holland, Michigan, when he was ten years old. The move, arranged by his aunt, was sponsored by a local church. The Phans stood out from the rest of the community, known for its Dutch roots. "I was the only black-haired kid in the whole school with all the blond-haired kids," he says, laughing. He attended Hope College for two years, where he studied classical piano performance, then transferred to what is now the Cleveland Institute of Art. After graduation, he became an industrial designer at Ford, working on concept cars in a studio across from the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. About a decade later, Phan decided he wanted to "create my own canvas." He founded an events business then became an importer of products for hospitality clients, such as hotels and events companies. He opened the original Ginger Deli in 2014, using recipes he learned from his mother. He added ...continued below... the hospital location in 2017, and when the lease expired on Liberty in 2018, he did not renew it, though the canopy was never removed (the corner is being eyed for redevelopment).When we talked to him in early December, Phan was making four types of banh mi--beef, chicken, vegetarian, and his signature pancetta, a marinated pork shoulder. They're served on a half baguette--which Phan bakes at the Washtenaw Food Hub's commercial kitchen on Whitmore Lake Rd.--and dressed with a mix of pickled carrots and daikon (an Asian radish), cilantro, cucumber, and a garlic aioli. By January he plans to add pho, made with either a rich beef-based broth, which he says takes forty hours to cook, or a vegetable broth.For now, Ginger Deli is carryout only; patrons can pick up prepaid orders from a shelf at the front of the store. Phan hopes to add delivery and evening hours later, and--once indoor dining resumes--an in-house work space at the back of the restaurant.Profits are not the goal. "Right now, it's just to make rent," he says. "We want to make our food really healthy and affordable, you know? That's been our philosophy from day one."[Originally published in January, 2021.] Prenatal screenings in Europe contributed to the decrease in the birth rate per year of babies with down syndrome, a report says. According to the recent study of the European Journal of Human Genetics published in December 2020, an average of 54% of babies with DS (Down syndrome) got to see the world between 2011 and 2015, Breitbart reported Researchers from the Massachusetts General Hospital and international Down syndrome organizations collected data from multiple databases throughout Europe in order to get a close estimate. "But without an accurate estimate, it's impossible for policymakers and advocacy organizations to determine how many resources and support services are needed for its Down syndrome population," pointed senior author and medical geneticist Brian G. Skotko, MD, MPP. The new screening test called NIPT (Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing), also called NIPS (Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening), will detect the possibility of unlikely conditions in the chromosomes of a 9-week-old unborn baby. The expectant mother or parents will decide whether to proceed with more genetic testing or not. However, this prenatal diagnosis led to "elective terminations" in both U.S. and Europe. CNA (Catholic News Agency) reports that NIPT for Down syndrome has been available in the UK since 2012. But now that NIPS is becoming more available to everyone, the birth rate for babies with DS will continue to drop in the coming years. Without these selective terminations, though, the study suggests that there would have been about 17,331 births of babies with DS in Europe between 2011 and 2015. Now, there are only approximately 8,031 births annually. Southern Europe has the highest reduction rate in DS births (71%), followed by Northern Europe (51%) and Eastern Europe (38 %). Collective efforts were sought to address this growing trend of premature abortion. In the UK, the "Don't Screen Us Out" campaign works to have the Abortion Act of 1967 amended to include the outlaw of eugenic abortions by widely raising awareness on this issue. In Poland, the High Court ruled the outlaw of eugenic abortions in October but was vehemently opposed by pro-abortion groups and movements. Women's Strike protested the court's ruling by organizing public demonstrations in several cities. One of their main targets was the residence of Jaroslaw Kaczynski, who is the leader of Poland's ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS). In their defense, the court maintained that child abortion out of presumed flaws is systemic eugenics first perpetrated by the Nazis against Jews followed by the Planned Parenthood in the U.S. against people of color and non-white communities. Back to the study, the researchers hope that governments and DS organizations will work together using their data in support of the couples receiving prenatal DS diagnosis. Skotko gave one concrete example. "Massachusetts, for example, has an outstanding network of parents who are willing to talk about their lived experiences of raising children with Down Syndrome." The brains behind the network is a non-profit which also aims to train and organize similar groups in Brazil, Japan, and other countries. PHILIPSBURG:--- Police traffic department officers are still investigating the deadly accident which took place on A.J.C Brouwers Road, Wednesday, January 6 at about 2:30 pm. Two scooter riders collided and one of the victims lost his life. According to the preliminary investigation, investigators believe the scooter's riders were driving in opposite directions and simultaneously overtook vehicles on the A.J.C Brouwers' Road causing a massive collision. The investigation further shows both persons were driving at such a high speed making it impossible for either of them to avoid a head-on collision. The first victim with the initials A.M.J H suffered a left arm fracture and was brought to the Emergency Room by ambulance personnel at the Sint-Maarten Medical Center. The second victim C.D.W. suffered severe head injuries and unfortunately lost his life at the scene as a result of his injuries. The Sint Maarten Police Force would like to express condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. The Police Force of Sint-Maarten continues to warn, scooter, and motorcycle riders, motorist about their behavior in traffic, especially during the busy hours of the afternoon. Since serious accidents keep happening and because of the severity of the damages caused may eventually result in the death of the rider or someone around them. We have noticed an increase in risky behavior by certain groups of road users, which is causing concern for the safety of the general public. One of the issues that have our attention over the last few weeks are drivers not adhering to the speed limits and driving/riding in such a way that it is obstructing safety and free flow of traffic, stated police in a press statement to the media Thursday. Speeding Research shows that speeding is the second most common cause of road accidents. Since cars, motorcycles, and truck accidents that involve speeding typically occur at high speeds, it is also a major cause of serious or fatal road injuries. Driving above the speed limit is a common practice for many motorists. In addition, illegal behavior vastly increases the risk of losing control of a vehicle and causing an accident Even a small increase in speed can result in a much higher risk of being involved in a collision or other type of accident. As such, it is essential for motorists to be aware of the speed at which they are traveling and stay within the legal limits. Stop reckless driving The traffic Department of KPSM has also taken a looked at several reasons behind some very serious vehicle accidents that have taken place over the last few months where individuals were severally injured or lost their lives. An overview that was done showed that reckless driving was one of the main causes of these types of accidents on the island. Through this information, the Sint Maarten Police Force would again like to caution road users. A lot of the vehicle accidents could be avoided if everyone drives and pays attention to not only yourself but other vehicles in your vicinity. Residents of Rose Place, on Tuesday morning blocked the main road through the community with household garbage and other debris, which they said were left unattended, i.e. undisposed since before Christmas Day. However, following quick postings of the action on social media platforms, health officials and the Solid Waste Management Unit responded swiftly to have the garbage removed and the throughway reopened. Some angry and frustrated residents of the West Kingstown community, which is earmarked to undergo transformation with the construction of a New Kingstown Port, said that the community had become a dumping ground for garbage from business places in Kingstown, as well as coconut vendors. The business houses and coconut vendors dump their garbage, shells in the case of the coconut vendors, in a large concrete enclosure and/or metal skip located next to the hard-court, along which a number of shops (and food vendors) are located. The concrete enclosure and skip are managed by the Solid Waste Management Unit. A dumping ground A disconcerting smell and buzzing flies greeted THE VINCENTIANs reporter when he arrived in the community Tuesday morning. It was not long after his arrival that residents began airing their grievances, some using strong language, including expletives, while others were more restrained in registering their disgust. The majority, though, attested to what they claimed was the last visit by the garbage truck some time before Christmas Day was the consensus of the visibly angry residents. "One of dem bin say dat de garbage trucks breakdown but you mean to say dem cyar find no truck to move out the garbage, said a male who did not want to be identified. More evidence of unhealthy conditions occasioned by the garbage pile-up and misuse of the facilities provided came into view when it was noted that a drain leading into the sea, was clearly backed-up with residue, creating what could be described as an ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. "They have the place like a dumping ground and we tired. We have kids living here and the situation is really sad, said one resident, with a concern that the drain could breed the Dengue Fever mosquito that had already claimed some lives. Politics playing Rudolph Shark Gumbs, a stalwart of the community, voiced an opinion that the treatment handed out to the community "had to do with politics. He pointed to other drains that he said the authorities paid to have cleaned but in pointing to the one that was clearly a hot bed for mosquitoes, he said, "Them say up ya, because now we ah NDP they say they aint giving we work to clean up here why they aint paying we to clean up here? Gumbs wondered aloud. At least two trucks including the truck specially designed to carry the skip - were involved in the removal of the garbage, after which the road was reopened to vehicular traffic. During the time it took to make this happen, Senior Environmental Health Officer, Carlos Wilson consulted with the frustrated residents. He promised to look further into the matter as it related to improving collection and removal of garbage from Rose Place, and the use of the facilities by businesses and persons not located in the community. Daniel Cummings, Opposition Parliamentary Representative for the West Kingstown Constituency, in which Rose Place is located, was on hand to help in quelling frustrations. He told persons gathered that the situation was bigger than emptying the bin. "We have a continuous problem with the skip and the concrete box (concrete enclosure) that encourage persons from all over to use the area as a dump. I am again requesting the removal of the concrete box and provision of regular plastic bins to the residents, said the MP. Residents, meanwhile, took to a live Facebook feed to further vent their disgust with the situation, and call on the relevant authorities to address the matter urgently so as to avoid a reoccurrence of todays action. Dail and Senate security is to be urgently reviewed foll- owing the storming of the US Capitol which forced lawmakers to evacuate the building. TDs and senators have discussed the need to tighten security around the Dail and Seanad amid fears that groups could target them in a repeat of the violence in Washington on Wednesday. Rioters forced their way past security barricades at Capitol Hill, smashed windows and scaled walls to fight their way inside. Four people died during the chaos, one from gunshot wounds and three from "medical emergencies", and 52 people were arrested. Impregnable The Leinster House Security Committee will report "as soon as possible" on measures that might be taken to strengthen the protections against assault by a mob or individual. Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail said the decision was arrived at "after looking at what happened on Capitol Hill and the ease of access that was witnessed to houses of parliament that many of us would have thought impregnable". Here, armed military police are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in the connected Government Buildings and Leinster House complex. Besides Glock side arms, they have submachine guns, anti-riot equipment and gren-ades. There is no direct threat at present to Leinster House, but a meeting of the Oireachtas Business Committee heard there is no room for complacency. The need for a security review was raised by the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad, Mark Daly, at the Dail's Business Committee meeting yesterday. "We're not anticipating anything happening, but a security review would be appropriate," a source said. Members of the security committee include the superintendent of the Oireachtas and members of the gardai and Defence Forces. Ministers are partly housed in Leinster House, while also having offices in Government Buildings. Security plans are in place for any breaches at both locations, including escape routes and protocols. Senators and TDs spoke in favour of a "comprehensive" review of security on Kildare and Merrion Streets, with some making the point that the "coarsening of public discourse" seen in recent years, largely on social media, means disorder can be more easily organised. Doors and gates at Leinster House and Government Buildings can be automatically sealed off, both remotely and across the campus, a measure brought in after a man with a Samurai sword charged up the plinth in the wake of the financial crisis more than a decade ago. He was overpowered by ushers and gardai. There was an incident with an anti-abortion protester verbally abusing TDs, including Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley, in recent years after gaining access as a visitor. Vetting and background checks are carried out on visitors approved by TDs as part of the security process. All ordinary visits and public tours have been paused for months as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sources said any additional security recommendations that would be approved by the business committee on foot of the urgent review could be put in place "virtually instantaneously from a staffing point of view, although some technological proposals could take longer to install". Explosives Recent improvements in security include the installation of airport-style scanners to guard against concealed guns and other weapons or explosives and the use of pop-up anti-vehicle barriers. Turnstiles have also been installed where there were none to discourage anyone from rushing the entrances or exits, while staff in those perimeter points are protected by bulletproof and blast-proof glass. It is normal protocol for a crash barrier to be erected a few metres back from the main gate in advance of protests, but some politicians have expressed concerns that these could be easily breached. "The crash barriers wouldn't hold a penny candle back," a source said. Another noted that there is concern about the potential for groups opposed to vaccinations to stage protests in the coming months in defiance of Covid-19 restrictions. Koster Seeking Larger Space for Vaccination Clinic By Bill Hughes PADUCAH - The Purchase District Health Department is hoping to partner with someone in the near future to have more room to vaccinate large numbers of people.During Wednesday's city-county vaccination news conference, Health Department Director Kent Koster said they have received smaller shipments of the vaccine than local hospitals, but he has asked the Kentucky Department of Public Health for more.Koster said some surrounding counties have a much smaller number of first responders and health care workers than McCracken County, so they began using their additional vaccines on anyone over age 70 or those who work in schools. This means those counties have transitioned this week from phase 1A of the vaccination process into phase 1B, while McCracken is still in 1A.Koster said, "I've had direct conversations with Dr. Stack about this situation, and asked for additional vaccine to help catch up McCracken County with some of our other surrounding counties who have already moved away from their 1A phase."He said that counties that have already moved into phase 1B will be limited in getting more vaccine until all Kentucky counties get to the same phase.Koster believes McCracken County could move from 1A to 1B in three to four weeks, but that depends on the number of additional shipments of the vaccine.Koster indicated that students in the WKCTC nursing program have been trained in giving vaccines, and once they are registered, they should be able to help the health department or at local clinics that could pop up.He praised local hospitals for their help in distributing vaccines so far, and he's hoping to have access to a larger facility where up to 500 people could be vaccinated each day. It could work using a setup similar to short-term testing sites that opened in 2020 at Heartland Worship Center or WKCTC."We would have to have a larger facility, and obviously, it would be better if it was indoors. The problem with that is that after you receive your vaccination, we have to monitor you for fifteen minutes. So, you would have to have parking lot big enough for people to pull into to sit for fifteen minutes and for us to check up with them," Koster said.He regularly communicates with Dr. Jenny Franke and Dr. Brad Housman, the top health care officials at Mercy Health Lourdes and Baptist Health Paducah, and welcomes any other input on a possible large-scale vaccination venue.Koster reminded everyone that the vaccine is safe, and he has received no local reports of adverse reactions to the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines.He said Dr. Stack predicted that at the current rate of production and distribution of the vaccine, 65 percent of Kentucky's population could be vaccinated by the end of June.On the Net: French President Emmanuel Macron's top advisor, Emmanuel Bonne on Thursday said that the relations between and are at a 'historic low' amid a spat of terror attacks in the former nation. "During this crisis, after the campaign against us, our relations with probably are at a historic low. This is not exactly what we want, we assume it because our priorities and language are clear," he said during an event here. Earlier last year, an 18-year-old man of Chechen origin beheaded Samuel Paty, a 47-year-old teacher who had shown pupils cartoons of the prophet in a civics lesson on freedom of speech. French President paid tribute to Paty, calling him a "quiet hero" dedicated to instilling the democratic values of the French Republic in his pupils. In a subsequent terror attack, a knife-wielding attacker killed three people at a church in the French city of Nice on October 29. Following the brutal religiously-motivated attacks, Macron vowed to ramp up the fight against radical Islamism and terrorism, following which Turkey and criticised his remarks Pakistan Prime Minister hypocritically attacked the French President, saying that he had "chosen to deliberately provoke Muslims". Khan also wrote a letter to leaders of Muslim states, asking them to act collectively to counter the growing Islamophobia in non-Muslim states especially Western states, which Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erodgan was quoted as saying by CNN, "What is Macron's problem with Islam? What is his problem with Muslims?" Bonne also expressed thanks to India for providing support to amid criticism of the country's steps to prevent radical Islamism. "We very much appreciate the support we got not only from your authorities but also from Indian civil society when our country was under attack by some leaders in Turkey and Pakistan and in other countries," he said. (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.) Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Sun and a few passing clouds. High around 75F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 44F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. KALAMAZOO, MI Though the coronaivrus vaccine is being produced about five miles down the road, Kalamazoo County health officials say the limited supply of doses in-hand is the major factor limiting how fast the community can move to the next stage of vaccinations. Health officials around the world are receiving shipments of vaccines, and working to get the medicine into the arms of people ready to receive a dose. Many citizens are asking about when they can expect to get vaccinated. Although it is encouraging that many people would like to be vaccinated, we understand it is frustrating to not know when you will receive it, the Kalamazoo County health department said in an news release. The local department released new guidance on Wednesday, Jan. 6, saying that the county is in the process of vaccinating people in all three priority groups of Phase 1A, which is the initial phase of distribution limited to frontline healthcare workers and nursing home residents. More than 5,000 people and 200 organizations included in Phase 1A are still awaiting vaccination, the county said Wednesday. Kalamazoo Countys health department released the update Wednesday after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announcement that people in Phase 1B and Phase 1C, Group A, would be eligible to receive the vaccine as well. While those in Phase 1B and Phase 1C, Group A, are now eligible to receive the vaccine, vaccine supplies are limited and not currently available for those additional groups, the Kalamazoo County health department said. But Phase 1A Phase 1B organizations may now complete a registration form, the health department said. Phase B1 organizations will not receive additional information until the conclusion of Phase 1A, the health department said. All vaccine clinics are by appointment only and are scheduled at specific times. There are no walk-in vaccination clinics. To date, the health department has received 1,950 vaccine doses, and has vaccinated 2,029 individuals. Though these numbers may seem confusing, the department explained more people have been vaccinated than they had expected because some vaccine vials contained more than the standard five vaccine doses. A total of 6,255 vaccination doses have been administered across all of Kalamazoo County, according to the state dashboard. Statewide, the dashboard shows 152,511 doses of the vaccine have been given out. A map created using CDC data, through Jan. 4, shows vaccination rates for residents in each of Michigans counties: This interactive map is shaded by the number of per-capita vaccinations per 10,000 county residents as of Monday, Jan. 4, based on county of residence for individuals immunized. You can put your cursor over a county to see the raw number. The pace of vaccinations locally, officials said, is dependent on vaccine supply received from the state, and shipments of vaccine supply have been limited thus far. Vaccine supply will largely be the determining factor for when Kalamazoo County can move into the next phase, the Kalamazoo County health department said. The department said it is exhausting 90% of vaccine supply within 7 days of receiving it. As vaccine supply increases, the department plans to increase vaccination clinics to meet the needs. All vaccine clinics are by invite-only with set appointment times for organizations in Phase 1A. There are no walk-in vaccination clinics. Health department officials are working with our local healthcare partner including Ascension Borgess, Bronson Healthcare, Family Health Center and WMed Health in a coordinated effort to vaccinate all those in Phase 1A in Kalamazoo County. Health officials are working to administer doses as cases continue to climb. Kalamazoo County had 11,308 confirmed cases as of Jan. 6, and 264 deaths. Michigan has recorded 508,736 total confirmed cases and has confirmed 12,918 deaths from COVID-19, as of Jan. 6. Vaccination is a two-dose process, county health officials point out, so the number of people waiting for the vaccine should be doubled when considering resources and supplies. The health department said it will announce when the vaccine is available locally to those eligible in Phase 1B and Phase 1C, Group A. Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Department is currently working on planning for Phase 1B and Phase 1C, Group A, vaccination clinics and will launch a pre-registration process and notify the people in those groups when it is launched. Pre-registration for Phase 1B and Phase 1C, Group A, has not launched yet. There is no early registration or sign-up. People in a critical infrastructure/essential worker role will receive communication through their employer. People age 65 or over (or people with a family member in that category), are asked to pay close attention to updates through the Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services Departments website, www.kalcounty.com/hcs/covid19vaccine.php, and Facebook page, www.facebook.com/KalamazooCountyHCS. We are actively working together with our healthcare partners to vaccinate all of those that are eligible as soon as possible. The safety and health of our county is important and we appreciate your patience in moving through the various phases of the vaccination process, the health department said. 32 Trucks carrying COVID-19 vaccine depart Pfizer plant in Portage By the end of next week, Van Buren/Cass District Health Department will have provided 700 initial doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to individuals in Phase 1A, Priority Groups 1 and 2, health officials said on Jan. 6. All individuals who are included in any of the three Phase 1A Priority Groups who live or work in Cass or Van Buren County are now eligible to receive COVID-19 vaccine. Phase 1B will open up on Monday, Jan. 11, in Van Buren and Cass counties. That said, vaccine supply is very limited, the department said. Vaccine and clinic availability are dependent on the supply of vaccine from the manufacturer and how vaccine is allocated from the federal level to Michigan, the department said. Allegan County said its limited supply of Moderna vaccine is already committed to complete Phase 1A (EMS and healthcare worker) appointments. The next shipment of Moderna vaccine expected to be distributed in Allegan is estimated to arrive the week of Jan. 24. Allocation of vaccine is determined by manufacturer supply and determinations made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health officials. Allegan County health will move to Phase 1B when more vaccine is received, the organization said. The supply issue is being seen across the state. Oakland County Executive David Coulter said on Jan. 7 that vaccine supply is limited. We urge the State of Michigan to increase Oakland Countys vaccine allotment while expanding the number of providers administering the vaccine, Coulter said in a statement. Trucks carrying the COVID-19 vaccine departed the Portage facility beginning on Sunday, Dec. 13, to locations across the country. Pfizer said distribution of the vaccine in the U.S. will largely ship from the companys Portage facility, just south of Kalamazoo. Read more: How Pfizers coronavirus vaccine was produced and distributed from Michigan plant in record time Kalamazoo spice maker stays true to family roots, balancing purpose and profit on a global scale Whos eligible for COVID-19 vaccine and what else to know about program expansion So far, 8,700 people have gotten their first COVID-19 vaccine shot in Lake and Porter counties, according to the Indiana State Department of Healths online dashboard. That represents about 1% of each county 7,000 doses in Lake County, with 1,700 in Porter as of Jan. 5. Jim Shulman, a Pittsfield native living in Ohio, is the author of Berkshire Memories: A Baby Boomer Looks Back at Growing Up in Pittsfield. If you have a memory of a Berkshire baby-boom landmark, business or event youd like to share or read about, please write Jim at jesjmskali@aol.com . My heart goes out to the family, friends and loved ones of @CapitolPolice Officer Brian D. Sicknick. Officer Sicknick succumbed last night to injuries he sustained while defending the U.S. Capitol. 1/3https://t.co/doMsKmxpc7 Congressman Jim Hagedorn (@RepHagedorn) January 8, 2021 My heart goes out to the loved ones of Officer Brian Sicknick, who lost his life following the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol while trying to protect all of us inside. For Officer Sicknick & our country, those who incited violence by stoking fear & hate must be held accountable Senator Tina Smith (@SenTinaSmith) January 8, 2021 WASHINGTON (AP) A police officer has died from injuries suffered as President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol, a violent siege that is forcing hard questions about the defeated president's remaining days in office and the ability of the Capitol Police to secure the area. The U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sicknick was injured while physically engaging with protesters" during the Wednesday riot. He is the fifth person to die because of the Capitol protest and violence. During the struggle at the Capitol, Sicknick, 42, was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher, two law enforcement officials said. The officials could not discuss the ongoing investigation publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. His family said in a statement Friday that Sicknick wanted to be a police officer his entire life. He served in the New Jersey Air National Guard before joining the Capitol Police in 2008. Many details regarding Wednesdays events and the direct causes of Brians injuries remain unknown, and our family asks the public and the press to respect our wishes in not making Brians passing a political issue," the family said. The rampage that has shocked the world and left the country on edge forced the resignations of three top Capitol security officials over the failure to stop the breach. It has led lawmakers to demand a review of operations and an FBI briefing over what they called a terrorist attack. And it is prompting a broader reckoning over Trumps tenure in office and what comes next for a torn nation. Protesters were urged by Trump during a rally near the White House earlier Wednesday to head to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers were scheduled to confirm Bidens presidential victory. The mob swiftly broke through police barriers, smashed windows and paraded through the halls, sending lawmakers into hiding. One protester, a woman from California, was shot to death by Capitol Police, and there were dozens of arrests. Three other people died after medical emergencies related to the breach. Despite Trumps repeated claims of voter fraud, election officials and his own former attorney general have said there were no election problems on a scale that would change the outcome. All the states have certified their results as fair and accurate, by Republican and Democratic officials alike. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said news of the police officers death was gut-wrenching. None of this should have happened, Sasse said in a statement. Lord, have mercy. Sicknick had returned to his division office after the incident and collapsed, the statement said. He was taken to a local hospital where he died late Thursday. Trump did not personally comment on the officer's death, but a White House spokesman said the death of any police officer in the line of duty is a solemn reminder that they run toward danger to maintain peace.'' Trump and the entire administration extend our prayers to Officer Brian Sicknicks family as we all grieve the loss of this American hero,'' spokesman Judd Deere said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said those responsible for Sicknicks death "must be brought to justice.'' The violent and deadly act of insurrection targeting the Capitol, our temple of American democracy, and its workers was a profound tragedy and stain on our nations history,'' Pelosi said Friday. She ordered flags at the Capitol lowered to half-staff in Sicknicks honor. Pelosi said Thursday that any remaining day with the president in power could be a horror show for America. Likewise, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the attack on the Capitol was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president," and Trump must not stay in office one day longer. Pelosi and Schumer called for invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to force Trump from office before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. Schumer said he and Pelosi tried to call Vice President Mike Pence early Thursday to discuss that option but were unable to connect with him. At least one Republican lawmaker joined the effort. The procedure allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. The vice president then becomes acting president. Pelosi said if the presidents Cabinet does not swiftly act, the House may proceed to impeach Trump. Trump, who had repeatedly refused to concede the election, did so in a late Thursday video from the White House vowing a seamless transition of power. Two Republicans who led efforts to challenge the election results, Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, faced angry peers in the Senate. Cruz defended his objection to the election results as the right thing to do as he tried unsuccessfully to have Congress launch an investigation. In the House, Republican leaders Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California and Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana joined in the failed effort to overturn Bidens win by objecting to the Electoral College results. With tensions high, the Capitol shuttered and lawmakers not scheduled to return until the inauguration, an uneasy feeling of stalemate settled over a main seat of national power as Trump remained holed up at the White House. The social media giant Facebook banned the president from its platform and Instagram for the duration of Trump's final days in office, if not indefinitely, citing his intent to stoke unrest. Twitter had silenced him the day before. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the shocking events" make it clear Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, under pressure from Schumer, Pelosi and other congressional leaders, was forced to resign. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked for and received the resignation of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, Michael Stenger, effective immediately. Paul Irving, the longtime Sergeant at Arms of the House, also resigned. Sund had defended his departments response to the storming of the Capitol, saying officers had acted valiantly when faced with thousands of individuals involved in violent riotous actions. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the police response a failure. Lawmakers from both parties pledged to investigate and questioned whether a lack of preparedness allowed a mob to occupy and vandalize the building. The Pentagon and Justice Department had been rebuffed when they offered assistance. Black lawmakers, in particular, noted the way the mostly white Trump supporters were treated. Newly elected Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said if we, as Black people did the same things that happened ... the reaction would have been different, we would have been laid out on the ground. The protesters ransacked the place, taking over the House area and Senate chamber and waving Trump, American and Confederate flags. Outside, they scaled the walls and balconies. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., a former police chief, said it was painfully obvious that Capitol police were not prepared. ___ Associated Press writers Mary Clare Jalonick, Zeke Miller, Alan Fram, Padmananda Rama and Michael Balsamo in Washington contributed to this report. Bird flu confirmed in few more places in Maharashtra, Gujarat and Chhattisgarh No permission given for use of vaccine against bird flu; not even by other nations: Centre Odisha govt gives nod to consume poultry products as State records no bird flu cases India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bhubaneswar, Jan 08: Amid bird flu scare following, the death of over 100 poultry birds in Khordha district, the Odisha government on Thursday asked people not to panic over the incident as the avian influenza virus test came negative in all five selected samples. The Fisheries and Animal Resource Development Department in a statement said that people can consume chicken meat, eggs and other poultry products produced in the state after properly cooking them. Panic sparked after around 120 poultry birds were found dead at Govindpur village of Badaberana Gram Panchayat under Begunia block of Khurdha District. Modernas COVID-19 vaccine could offer protection for couple of years "A State Level Special Supervisory Team along with the District Level Rapid Response Teams rushed to the Govindpur village and took stock of the situation. Five of the dead birds have been taken to ADRI for laboratory investigation," an official said. "All five samples have been tested negative for Avian Influenza virus based on the Avian Influenza virus antigen test," he said adding that rest of the dead birds was buried in deep burial method with proper disinfection measures. PM should talk directly to protesting farmers; Govt has lost trust of entire farming community: Harsimrat Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News The Special Supervisory Team and Rapid Response Teams have sanitised the farm premises with proper application of disinfectants, he said. The official also said that there is no other case of death of birds in the surrounding area of the farm. However, more samples have been taken from adjoining areas for testing, he said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 9:34 [IST] Black Lives Matter Activist Took Part in Storming of Capitol A Black Lives Matter activist was part of the group that entered the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. John Earle Sullivan, who has advocated for an armed revolution on social media, was arrested in July 2020 for making a threat of violence and criminal mischief. He organized a protest with Black Lives Matter activists and members of the far-left Antifa network. According to the Deseret News, Sullivan damaged vehicles and urged people to block roadways. Video footage captured him threatening to beat a woman. Photographs showed Sullivan inside the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6. Sullivan has since given interviews claiming he took part in the illegal breach of the building as part of an effort to understand supporters of President Donald Trump. For me, its important from the group and the people around me to see that side of things, to see the truth, Sullivan told KSL-TV. I dont care, like what side youre on, you should just see it raw. Sullivan has not been charged with unlawful entry or any other charges that police say other people who entered the building face. His picture is not among those circulated by authorities of persons of interest in the incident. Sullivan said he was detained on Thursday night and questioned about what he saw during the storming of the Capitol. The Metropolitan Police Department didnt respond to a request for comment. Police said Thursday that 68 people had been arrested in the city, including 41 on Capitol grounds. Charges included unlawful entry and unlawful possession of a firearm, according to arrest data. Rubble is seen near a breached entrance a day after protesters broke into the U.S. Capitol, in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Protesters werent really, like, trying to burn anything down, they werent really trying to break anything, their main motive was to make it into the chambers, Sullivan told KUTV. Those protesters got really angry and busted through those officers really quickly, and yeah, you could really freely move around, you could go into any room and look out the window, so it was really surreal to see, he added. Sullivan recounted being near the woman who was shot dead by a U.S. Capitol Police officer. There was a glass wall, and she, the woman, was the first person to actually try to get inside, Sullivan told KSL. All you see is hands come out the doorways with their guns. You dont see their face, nothing. And I literally yell at everybody else, Theres a gun! Theres a gun! Dont go in there! And a shot goes off. And she gets shot as soon as she goes through. The U.S. Capitol Police said Thursday that one of its officers fired the shot that killed the woman, identified as Ashli Babbitt. The officer was placed on administrative leave pending a joint investigation conducted by the agency and the Metropolitan Police Department. Other people who stormed the Capitol have been identified as supporters of President Donald Trump. That includes Derrick Evans, a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, and Kristina Malimon, part of the Young Republicans of Oregons leadership. Correction: A previous version of this article inaccurately stated Rick Saccone took part in the breach of the Capitol. The Epoch Times regrets the error. The Victorian Liberal Party says it will confront one of its controversial upper house MPs over pro-Trump conspiracy theories he shared on social media while rioters stormed the US Capitol in Washington on Thursday. David Davis, the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, said he "fundamentally" disagreed with his colleague Bernie Finn, and that his posts on his private Facebook page were "wrong". The Victorian Liberals will "talk" to Bernie Finn about his pro-Trump posts. Credit:Jason South. Mr Finn, who is also the opposition whip in the upper house, attracted criticism from some members of the Liberal Party after he shared several pro-Trump posts in the lead up, during and after the riots in Washington. Mr Davis did not go as far as condemning Mr Finn, but said the Liberal Party would "certainly be talking to" him about his comments. He was asked what action the party would take against Mr Finn, but did not answer. The final rule to be published in the federal register on Jan 8. It will be effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register The changes in this final rule will apply to all registrations, including those for the advanced degree exemption, submitted on or after the effective date of the final rule. (Representative Photo:DC) Washington: The United States on Thursday announced that it will modify the selection process for H-1B visa, giving priority to salary and skills instead of the current lottery procedures. The final rule to be published in the federal register on January 8, officials said, is aimed to protect the economic interests of US workers and better ensure the most highly skilled foreign workers benefit from the temporary employment programme. 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. Modifying the H-1B cap selection process will incentivise employers to offer higher salaries, and/or petition for higher-skilled positions, and establish a more certain path for businesses to achieve personnel needs and remain globally competitive, said US Citizenship and Immigration Services. The final rule will be effective 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. The next H-1B visa filing season is slated to start on April 1. The H-1B temporary visa programme has been exploited and abused by employers primarily seeking to fill entry-level positions and reduce overall business costs, said USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow. The current H-1B random selection process makes it difficult for businesses to plan their hiring, fails to leverage the programme to compete for the best and brightest international workforce, and has predominantly resulted in the annual influx of foreign labor placed in low-wage positions at the expense of US workers, he said. This effort will only affect H-1B registrations (or petitions, if the registration process is suspended) submitted by prospective petitioners seeking to file H-1B cap-subject petitions. It will be implemented for both the H-1B regular cap and the H-1B advanced degree exemption, but it will not change the order of selection between the two as established by the H-1B registration final rule, USCIS said. The Department of Homeland Security had previously published a notice of proposed rulemaking on November 2, 2020. It carefully considered the public comments received before deciding to publish the proposed regulations as a final rule, USCIS said. According to the final rule, a version of which was released by Department of Homeland Security, Instead, a registration system that faithfully implements the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) while prioritising registrations based on wage level within each cap will incentivize H-1B employers to offer higher wages, or to petition for positions requiring higher skills and higher-skilled aliens that are commensurate with higher wage levels, to increase the likelihood of selection and eligibility to file an H-1B cap-subject petition. Moreover, it will maximize H-1B cap allocations, so that they more likely will go to the best and brightest workers; and it will disincentivise abuse of the H-1B programme to fill relatively lower-paid, lower-skilled positions, which is a significant problem under the present selection system, it said. While administering a random lottery system is reasonable, it is inconsiderate of Congress's statutory purposes for the H-1B program and its administration, said the final rule. The changes in this final rule will apply to all registrations, including those for the advanced degree exemption, submitted on or after the effective date of the final rule. As per Congressional-mandated cap, USCIS in one year can issue a maximum of 65,000 H-1B visas. It can also issue another 20,000 H-1B visas to those foreign students who have completed higher studies from a US university in STEM subjects. During the public notice period, the department said, several commenters expressed support for the rule and the need to stop visa fraud, abuse, and flooding of petitions by certain staffing or consulting companies. One commenter said the proposed rule would disincentivize companies from abusing the H-1B programme and harming US workers. Other commenters said the proposed rule would decrease potential visa abuse by employers and make sure all workers were paid according to their skillset as employers no longer would be able to lower labor expenses by hiring foreign workers. Another said that the proposed rule would have a positive impact on US employees and college educated US citizens who take out loans for their education by making it harder for technology companies to discriminate against US citizens; US workers are being laid off in large numbers because corporations are outsourcing for profits; and the proposed rule is necessary because Indian corporations are acquiring US jobs, it said. In this Friday, Dec. 11, 2020, file photo, a Pfizer Global Supply Kalamazoo manufacturing plant sign is shown in Portage, Mich. New research suggests that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa. Those variants are causing global concern. They both share a common mutation called N501Y, a slight alteration on one spot of the spike protein that coats the virus and is believed to be the reason they can spread so easily. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) New research suggests Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in the two more-contagious variants of the coronavirus that have erupted in Britain and South Africa. The study was preliminary and did not look at the two other major vaccines being used in the WestModerna's and AstraZeneca's. But it was reassuring, given questions of whether the virus could mutate to defeat the shots on which the world has pinned its hopes. "There's no reason to think the vaccines won't work just as well on these strains," said Dr. Frederic Bushman of the University of Pennsylvania, who tracks how the virus mutates. The mutated version circulating in Britain has also been detected in the U.S. and numerous other countries. That and the variant seen in South Africa are causing global concern because they appear to spread more easilyalthough how much more isn't yet known. Bushman, who wasn't involved with the Pfizer study, cautioned that it tested just one vaccine against one worrisome mutation. But the Moderna and AstraZeneca vaccines are undergoing similar testing, and he said he expects similar findings. That's because all the vaccines so far are prompting recipients' bodies to make antibodies against multiple spots on the spike protein that coats the virus. In this Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, file photo, a vial of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for COVID-19 sits on a table at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Conn. New research suggests that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa. Those variants are causing global concern. They both share a common mutation called N501Y, a slight alteration on one spot of the spike protein that coats the virus. That change is believed to be the reason they can spread so easily. (AP Photo/Jessica Hill, File) "A mutation will change one little place, but it's not going to disrupt binding to all of them," Bushman explained. While scientists did not expect that a single mutation would completely upend efforts to stop the pandemic, it is still an important area of study because the coronavirus, like all viruses, constantly evolves. This study marks just the beginning of continual monitoring to make sure that all the vaccines being rolled out around the world continue to work. The study looked at one modification to the spike protein that both variants share, called N501Y, that is believed responsible for the easier transmission. Pfizer and researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston conducted laboratory tests to see if that mutation could thwart the vaccine. They used blood samples from 20 people who received the vaccine, made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, during a large trial of the shots. Antibodies from those recipients fended off the virus in lab dishes, according to the told The Associated Press this week that the coronavirus variants don't appear to block vaccine-induced antibodies but that testing to be sure of that is underway in the U.S. and elsewhere. British scientists have likewise said the variant found in the U.K. - which has become the dominant type in parts of Englandstill seems to be susceptible to vaccines. But the variant discovered in South Africa has an additional mutation that has scientists on edge, one named E484K. The Pfizer study found that the vaccine appeared to work against 15 additional possible mutations, but E484K wasn't among those tested. Dormitzer said it is next on the list. In this Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, file photo, a healthcare worker receives a second Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot at Beaumont Health in Southfield, Mich. New research suggests that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa. Those variants are causing global concern. They both share a common mutation called N501Y, a slight alteration on one spot of the spike protein that coats the virus. That change is believed to be the reason they can spread so easily. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File) South Africa has not started mass vaccinations. If the virus eventually mutates enough that the vaccine needs adjustingmuch like flu shots are adjusted most yearstweaking the recipe wouldn't be difficult for vaccines made with newer technologies. Both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines are made with a piece of the virus genetic code that is simple to switch. The coronavirus isn't changing as rapidly as other viruses such as flu or HIV, and its structure is more stable than the flu's, Bushman said, although that will need to be tracked. "My guess is vaccination will stick longer and be more effective than it is for influenza," he said. Meanwhile, U.S. health regulators said Friday they think there is a low risk that the new variants could hurt the accuracy of hundreds of COVID-19 tests on the market. Food and Drug Administration chief Stephen Hahn said the agency has been monitoring the virus since the summer for any mutations that could skew testing results. So far, most tests that look for the virus's genetic code remain accurate, but the agency is also studying whether viral mutations could affect rapid tests that look for COVID-19 proteins, called antigens. 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. New Delhi: In the wake of several reports of poultry, crows, migratory bird deaths in as many as five states, the other states are stepping up vigil to monitor bird movements and unusual deaths in forest areas. On Thursday, nearly 400 birds were found dead in Himachal Pradesh and Gujarat while 150 crows were found dead in Jammu's Udhampur district. Though, their cause of death is yet to be ascertained. While at least four crows were found dead at a school in Jhansi. Though lab test ruled out avian influenza or bird flu in this case. Earlier, the Centre held a meeting with the states to understand the status of the outbreak of avian influenza and to suggest measures to states/UTs for control and prevent spread of the disease. So far, avian deaths have been reported from Kerala, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. In Himachal Pradesh, around 1,800 migratory birds, most of them bar-headed geese, have been found dead in the Pong Dam Lake sanctuary. In Rajasthan, deaths of more than 170 new birds were reported from some districts on Monday, taking the total fatalities in recent days to over 425. In Indore, 152 crows were found dead and bird flu was confirmed in 12 crows. The Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India in an official release said, effective coordination with the state forest departments was also emphasized for immediate reporting of any unusual mortalities in non-domestic birds in forest areas and around water bodies. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment said there are no reports of humans being infected though the disease is zoonotic. There is no direct evidence that Avian Influenza viruses can be transmitted to humans via the consumption of contaminated poultry products. Former Bachelor Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins has liked two Instagram posts shared by disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans in support of President Donald Trump. His social media activity comes as the world reacts in horror to scenes of the violent insurrection in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, which resulted in four deaths. Conspiracy theorist Evans, 48, shared a string of posts about the president on Thursday, after Trump supporters violently clashed with police in a futile attempt to stop Joe Biden's victory being certified on Capitol Hill. One such post was a screenshot of a podcast titled 'Patriots knew the playbook, taking back the country was never going to be easy, buckle up', alongside a photo of Trump giving a thumbs-up. Support: Ex-Bachelor Nick 'The Honey Badger' Cummins (left) has liked two Instagram posts shared by disgraced celebrity chef Pete Evans (right) in support of President Donald Trump Evans captioned this post: 'Eyes, ears and heart open. You may like to listen.' While it's not suggested Cummins supports the protests in any way, he did publicly show his support for Pete's post by clicking the 'like' button. A day earlier, Evans had shared another image of Trump alongside the text: 'They hate him so much, because he is the first president they can't control.' Once again, Cummins liked this post. Evans himself captioned the image: 'I believe that tomorrow will be a huge day... with the world watching!' 'Liked by nickbadger': One such post was a screenshot of a podcast titled 'Patriots knew the playbook, taking back the country was never going to be easy, buckle up', alongside a photo of Trump giving a thumbs-up. While it's not suggested Cummins supports the protests in any way, he did publicly show his support for Pete's post by clicking the 'like' button Controversial: A day earlier, Evans had shared another image of Trump alongside the text: 'They hate him so much, because he is the first president they can't control' List of likes: Once again, Cummins liked this post Daily Mail Australia has contacted a representative for Nick Cummins for comment, but has yet to receive a response. Evans has rarely been out of the headlines over the past 12 months, thanks to his habit of promoting baseless conspiracy theories on social media. He was dropped by a string of companies and pulled from the line-up of Channel 10's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in November for posting a neo-Nazi meme on Facebook. Disgraced: Evans has rarely been out of the headlines over the past 12 months, thanks to his habit of promoting baseless conspiracy theories on social media The post was a cartoon of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the neo-Nazi Black Sun emblem on its wing, with the suggestion being that neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Trump supporters. Evans is an enthusiastic supporter of the president and advocates the baseless claim that Mr Biden only won the 2020 election due to voter fraud. The Black Sun symbol became infamous after it was introduced by top-ranking Nazi Heinrich Himmler during World War II. The symbol has since been adopted by numerous neo-Nazi groups, and by Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant. Evans seemingly confirmed he was aware of the meaning of the symbol when a fan stated they recognised it, and Pete replied: 'I was waiting for someone to see that.' A month earlier, he'd encouraged another Facebook user to 'have a look at the true history of Germany.' Shameful: He was dropped by a string of companies and pulled from the line-up of I'm a Celebrity in November for posting this neo-Nazi meme on Facebook. The post was a cartoon of a caterpillar wearing a MAGA cap and a butterfly with the neo-Nazi Black Sun emblem on its wing, with the suggestion being neo-Nazism is the natural evolution for Trump supporters His bizarre and completely false claims that the Covid-19 pandemic is a 'hoax' resulted in a permanent ban from Facebook in December. A Facebook spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia that Evans' page was removed due to repeated violations of its misinformation and harm policy. 'We don't allow anyone to share misinformation about COVID-19 that could lead to imminent physical harm or COVID-19 vaccines that have been debunked by health experts,' the representative said. 'We have clear policies against this type of content and we've removed Chef Pete Evans' Facebook Page for repeated violations of these policies.' Dumped: Evans' bizarre and completely false claims that the Covid-19 pandemic is a 'hoax' resulted in a permanent ban from Facebook in December MAGA mobs and QAnon conspiracy theorists stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, occupying parts of the building for several hours, ransacking offices and waving the Confederate flag, after the president urged his supporters to 'take back our country' as Congress prepared to confirm Mr Biden's electoral college victory. Biden's victory was certified by Vice President Mike Pence at 3.41am, ending a nearly 15-hour saga which saw four people killed, including a woman shot by police. Trump, who was banned from Twitter and Facebook in the aftermath of the violence he incited, eventually promised an 'orderly transition' but maintained his baseless claims of election fraud. America's shame: MAGA mobs and QAnon conspiracy theorists stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, occupying parts of the building for several hours, ransacking offices and waving the Confederate flag Inciting a riot: President Trump had urged his supporters to 'take back our country' as Congress prepared to confirm Joe Biden's electoral college victory Guns drawn: Capitol cops pointed firearms at a vandalised door during the hours-long carnage that erupted on Wednesday after Trump told his supporters to protest the election result 'Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20,' Trump said. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Thursday said Trump had incited 'sedition' against the United States, and demanded the president's removal from office. She applied pressure to VP Mike Pence, urging him to invoke the 25th Amendment to declare Trump unfit for office and force him out. Game over: Joe Biden's (right) electoral college victory was certified by Vice President Mike Pence (left) at 3.41am, ending a nearly 15-hour saga which saw four people killed, including a woman shot by police SAN FRANCISCOGay content producer Hot House has announced the release of its latest bareback feature, Towel Boy, on DVD. Co-directors Trenton Ducati and Jasun Mark have gathered a roster of eight horny California hunks including Exclusives Cade Maddox, Max Konnor and Tristan Hunter, with fan favorites Arad Winwin, Austin Avery, Andy Taylor, Dylan Hayes and Logan Cross to deliver hot action. Towel Boy is now available on DVD and Digital Download from the Falcon/NakedSword Store. According to a plot synopsis provided by Hot House, hidden in the Palm Springs desert is a full-service, exclusive mens spa where an eager towel boy is ready to satisfy every need. As Cade Maddox is getting a massage from Andy Taylor, they take a break to work Taylors smooth hole. Hayes has just started his job at Konnors resort, and is eager to prove hes the right boy for the job. Cross catches up to Avery in the gym and gets his ass bred on the equipment. Massage therapist Winwin helps Logan with an injury before taking off his clothes and stretching his ass. Fans get a sexed-up spa treatment with Towel Boy," stated Ducati. "I was fortunate enough to put together an incredible cast with my co-director Jasun Mark, full of new faces, new exclusives and hot men fucking. Everyone is going to love this movie." Hot House kicks off 2021 with another scorching hit from Trenton Ducati and Jasun Mark, declared Falcon/NakedSword President Tim Valenti. What a great way to jumpstart the year of Falcon/NakedSword releases with hot, sexy men having fun in the sun. For DVD retail and wholesale purchasing, contact John Gunderson ([email protected]). The commercial launch of the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) made it possible to deliver Azerbaijani gas to Italy, the Turkish Foreign Ministry Twitted. "The Southern Gas Corridor has been launched. A new page of the contribution that our country makes to ensuring the European energy security has been opened," the Turkish Foreign Ministry's publication reads, Trend informs. Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has asked the health sector to continue using drastic measures to tackle COVID-19 this year, particularly ahead of the Tet (Lunar New Year) celebrations and other important events. A health worker takes COVID-19 testing sample in Hanoi. VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Dat At the national health conference held in Hanoi yesterday (Jan 6), PM Phuc applauded the health sector for its achievements in the last year as well as its contributions to the countrys success in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, with low infections and deaths recorded. The Vietnamese Government leader also asked the sector to improve its capacity and competence to better respond to emergency situations and other diseases, including non communicable diseases that account for about 70 per cent of disease burdens and 73 per cent of fatalities in Vietnam. PM Phuc said as 98 million personal health records nationwide had been documented, it was expected that all Vietnamese people would receive proper medical consultation, examination and treatment when they need it. The PM also asked for continued improvement of healthcare service quality and boosting telemedicine. Hospitals and healthcare institutes must speed up mutual recognition of test results to reduce annoyance for patients when re-taking tests as well as to avoid doctors ordering too many tests. The Government is determined to curb the patient overload at hospitals, improve healthcare services in line with a proper salary mechanism, medical costs and health insurance, he said, asking the health ministry to implement the roadmap on adjusting medical costs to correctly include relevant costs like labour, facilities or insurance. The ministry was asked to study and recommend new public health insurance premiums so the benefits of health insurance participants would be better ensured and the health insurance fund would be better managed and used. PM Phuc said that Government and people could not accept a situation in which patients were unclear about medical costs they had to pay. Its time for the health sector to increase transparency in medical costs, prices of medicine, medical materials or equipment, he said, asking for further application of information technology in healthcare institutes nationwide. Solid year Speaking at the conference, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said Vietnams health sector fulfilled tasks assigned by the National Assembly and Government last year and the last four years, making it one of the leading forces that made crucial contributions to the countrys success in fighting COVID-19. Under the strategy of "preventing, detecting, isolating, suppressing and treating", Vietnam has quarantined more than 730,000 people, provided testing for 1.7 million people and deployed 1,608 border posts with nearly 10,000 staff stationed at the border from the 2020 Tet festival up to now. Vietnam was one of the first four countries to isolate the new strain of coronavirus and in a short time, it produced ventilators and diagnostic biologicals as well as started human trials of locally-made COVID-19 vaccines. As of Wednesday morning, Vietnam recorded a total of 1,504 COVID-19 patients, with one of the lowest rates of infection per million people in the world. Apart from COVID-19, other diseases that hit last year including diphtheria in Central Highland provinces and Whitmore's disease in central provinces were effectively controlled. Last year was the 12th year Vietnam saw a reduction in the number of new HIV infections, the number of HIV cases shifting to AIDS and the number of deaths relating to AIDS. Vietnamese peoples physical fitness also improved in 2020, with Vietnamese boys and girls at an average height of 168.1cm and 156.2cm, up 3.7cm and 2.6cm, respectively, compared with 2009. Last year, the average life expectancy in Vietnam was 73.7 years, up 0.1 years of age compared to 2019. Medicine supplying networks cover the country widely with one pharmacy for every 1,600 people. Local vaccine producers now can supply 10 out of 11 vaccines that are used in the countrys expanded vaccinations programme which offers free vaccines for children. By the end of last year, 90.85 per cent of Vietnams population participated in public health insurance. The percentage is expected to increase to 91 per cent this year. The country also completed its health management system with 98 million personal health record files. About 10,600 commune healthcare centres nationwide could connect and access the database. Information on more than 60,000 types of medicine, 17,000 items of medical equipment and materials, nearly 100,000 bidding results and medical services of more than 1,400 medical institutes were posted on the health ministrys Medical Public Portal. Work still to be done Minister Long said the fight against pandemic had yet to end, particularly as new coronavirus strains had been detected, so higher determination from the whole country was needed. Protecting people for a safe healthy new year celebration, for our life to return to normal is the strongest desire and highest goal of health sector, he said. Long said that in addition to increased health insurance coverage, the ministry would apply artificial intelligence in granting pharmacy/food safety licences from March 2021 and launch online appointments nationwide since July. Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Resident Representative, said the COVID-19 pandemic tested national, regional and global health systems as well as social and economic responses and co-operation throughout the entire world. Vietnam has emerged as a leading country in containing the pandemic and one of the few countries to record positive economic growth in 2020. The twin goals of COVID containment and economic growth is an achievement not many countries globally can count at this time, she said. She said that UNDP, UN system and other development partners would continue supporting Vietnams sustainable development, including on three key transformational areas ensuring that no one is left behind in COVID-19 recovery and sustainable development in the new normal, promoting digital transformation of the health sector and addressing the nexus between health, climate and environment. VNS How is first Vietnamese COVID-19 patient with strain variant? The first patient diagnosed with a coronavirus variant in Vietnam is in stable health condition with no signs of coughing or shortness of breath, according to Dr. Nguyen Van Lo, director of Tra Vinh Provinces Center for Disease Control. Thank you for Reading. As a community service, our obituaries are always free to view. In order to better know our audience, we ask that you register to continuing viewing. Prayagraj : , Jan 8 (IANS) The Yogi Adityanath government is constructing a Nishadraj Park in Shringverpur in Prayagraj. Nishadraj, the king of Nishads, had helped Lord Ram, Sita and Lakshman cross the Ganga in Shringverpur when they were on their way to the forests to spend 14 years in exile. The park is being built to mark the event. The park is being built in an area of 5,600 square metres at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore and is expected to be a major tourist attraction. According to a government spokesperson, "The park will also have a statue of Lord Ram and Nishadraj embracing each other, placed on a high platform. This statue will give the message that there was never a feeling of high and low caste in India. Social harmony has been a tradition here. There can be no other greater example of this than Lord Ram." He said Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had initiated various religious tourism projects in the state. Of these, Shringverpur will become an example of social harmony. It will also be a part of the Ramayana circuit in the state. He said that the park would showcase the Lord's night halt in the fisherman's hut, Ram's request for a boat to cross the Ganga, the communication between Ram and Nishadraj and Ram's love for the boatman. These incidents will be brought to life through murals in the park. The park will also chronicle the meeting of Shringi Rishi with his sister Shanta. Shringverpur reportedly got its name from Shringi Rishi, who is believed to have meditated there. He is the sage who performed the Kameshti Yajna at Makhota Dham in Basti for King Dasharatha to get a son. Shringverpur is located on the Lucknow-Prayagraj road on the banks of the Ganga and finds mention in the Puranas. With the Nishadraj Park, the BJP is apparently eyeing the Nishad community. For the first time in Uttar Pradesh, the Nishads emerged as an important vote bank in the Purvanchal region in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The Nishads have consolidated themselves to such an extent that no political party can afford to ignore the community. The community includes sub-castes like Manjhi, Kevat, Bind, Mallah and refers to the fishermen and boatmen community that lives along the banks of rivers and thrives on water resources. They are among the 17 OBC communities that have been proposed for the Scheduled Caste status by the Samajwadi Party (SP) government in 2004 and then in 2016. The state government issued a government order for inclusion of these caste groups in the list of Scheduled Castes but the Allahabad High Court stayed the decision. The Nishad community that has acquired political bargaining power and have been acknowledged by all major political parties, began consolidating into a political group in 2013 when the Rashtriya Nishad Ekta Parishad was set up. The Nishad community has sizeable population 19 Lok Sabha constituencies in eastern Uttar Pradesh. To mark its political presence, the Nishad party was registered in August 2016, and made its debut in Uttar Pradesh elections in 2017 and contested 62 seats though it won only in Bhadohi. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has written to Hanoi and HCMC asking the two cities to get rid of aging motor vehicles such as motorbikes and three-wheel motorcycles to reduce air pollution, as the quality of air in these major cities has been worsening, affecting the health of residents and the socioeconomic development. An old motorcycle traveling on a street in Hanoi City. The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has written to Hanoi and HCM City asking the two cities to get rid of aging motor vehicles to reduce air pollution. Photo: VOV The ministry attributed the rising air pollution to gas emissions from transport vehicles and construction and industrial activities as well as the unfavorable weather. The ministry proposed that the governments of Hanoi and HCM City speed up their plans of developing public transport systems that prioritize vehicles powered by clean energy sources and eliminating aging and outdated vehicles that cause air pollution. The municipal governments were also asked to develop a traffic system of non-motor vehicles and encourage residents to use public transport and reduce private vehicles. In addition, the ministry told the two cities to adopt suitable solutions to ease traffic jams, helping reduce air pollution, and regularly spray water onto the main roads to wash off dust. Hanoi City is adopting a pilot program for the exchange of old motorbikes proposed by the Vietnam Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (VAMM). Under the program, Hanoi City will set up eight stations to examine gas emissions and 30 outlets to exchange aging motorcycles in Hoan Kiem, Cau Giay, Dong Da, Hai Ba Trung, Thanh Xuan and Ha Dong districts. Accordingly, Hanoian residents who own an operational old motorcycle that has been used for over 18 years and fails to meet emission standards will be offered VND2-4 million by VAMM to buy a new bike. However, many people have voiced their concern over the impact of the policy to get rid of old vehicles on poor workers. An automobile engineering lecturer at a university in HCMC said that terminating old and outdated motorbikes to protect the environment is necessary, but it is vital to adopt appropriate measures. Most people who own aging motorcycles are low-income earners. The support level of VND2-4 million for an old motorbike is not high enough to encourage residents to exchange their old vehicles for new ones as a new motorcycle costs at least VND20 million. On the other hand, old vehicles, after being exchanged, will pose a threat to become industrial waste and cause environmental pollution. Some residents in HCM City also said that it was essential to carefully consider the plan to eliminate old motorbikes so poor people are not affected. SGT Chanh Trung HCMC striving to reduce air pollution Like other major urban areas in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) is now facing serious effects caused by air pollution, including respiratory health problems, climate change, and unbalanced ecosystems. Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un explored ways to renew inter-Korean ties and vowed to expand diplomatic relations, state media said on Friday, as he hosted a rare party congress less than two weeks before US President-elect Joe Biden takes office. The eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party came amid a prolonged gridlock in negotiations aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in return for US sanction relief. On its third day, Kim raised the issue of reshaping South Korean relations "as required by the prevailing situation and the changed times" and discussed foreign policy, the official KCNA news agency reported, without elaborating. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a ruling party congress in Pyongyang on Thursday. Credit:KCNA/AP He "declared the general orientation and the policy stand of our party for comprehensively expanding and developing the external relations," KCNA said. At the beginning of the offseason, Orioles general manager Mike Elias expressed a desire to add infield depth at different levels of the organization. Some specific players of interest in that pursuit have emerged. Baltimore has been in touch with representatives for free agent infielder Jonathan Villar, reports Roch Kubatko of MASNsports.com. The switch-hitting speedster spent part of 2018 and all of 2019 with the Os. Villar hit .270/.338/.438 across 950 plate appearances in that time, popping 32 home runs and stealing 61 bases. Baltimore traded him to the Marlins in a salary-slashing move last offseason. The 29-year-old then slumped through a dreadful 2020 season between Miami and the Blue Jays. Thatll depress the first-time free agents market, with Villar almost certainly looking at a one-year deal for less than the $8.2MM arbitration salary the Orioles deemed too pricey last year. A handful of other infielders are also on Baltimores radar. The organization has varying levels of interest in Freddy Galvis, Ehire Adrianza and Daniel Robertson, Kubatko adds. Galvis has spent the past six seasons as a regular shortstop for the Phillies, Padres, Blue Jays and Reds. Hes a durable, reliable defender with a bit of power but significant on-base concerns. Adrianza and Robertson have spent most of their MLB careers in utility roles. All four potential targets are capable of playing shortstop. The Orioles have an obvious hole there after trading Jose Iglesias to the Angels. Additions at second base, on the other hand, dont seem to be a target. Kubatko notes the team seems inclined to use waiver claim Yolmer Sanchez at the keystone. None of the players mentioned would come at particularly exorbitant costs. Elias downplayed the likelihood of Baltimore making a multi-year free agent splash at the outset of the offseason, and theres no reason to believe that has changed. However, the Orioles could look to bring in multiple free agent infielders, per Kubatko- one on a single-year MLB contract and another on a minor-league arrangement. * Username This is the name that will be displayed next to your photo for comments, blog posts, and more. Choose wisely! Two Oklahoma lobbyists have agreed to pay $115,000 in penalties as part of a settlement announced by the Oklahoma Ethics Commission. The settlements by the commission were reached with lobbyists James Milner and James McSpadden, who both served as treasurers of the Oklahomans for Healthy Living political action committee. According to the settlement agreements, the PAC accepted and distributed illegal corporate contributions and failed to disclose those contributions as required by law. Under the agreements, Milner agreed to pay $65,000 and McSpadden $50,000 to the states general fund. McSpadden said in a statement he accepts responsibility for making unintentional errors. I was asked to allow my name to be used as treasurer of a PAC without fully understanding what was expected of me, he said. Significant errors were made that I now understand. An attorney for Milner, Jonathan Buxton, described the agreement as a painful, but acceptable, end to his cooperation with the investigation. Under the agreements, Milner agreed to never again serve as an officer of a PAC while McSpadden is prohibited from doing so for 10 years. Topics Legislation Oklahoma New Delhi: Air India Express on Thursday said it has introduced an ultraviolet robotic device to clean and disinfect the interior of its aircraft at the Delhi airport and plans to extend this technology across its other bases in the country. The device, fitted with collapsible arms, is specifically designed to disinfect various interior areas such as aircraft seats, under-seat areas, overhead baggage compartment, aisle ceiling, window panels, cockpit instrumentation area and overhead switch panel, it said. "A UV (ultraviolet) robotic device fitted with UV disinfection lamping system was engaged by the airline today at Delhi airport to disinfect its Boeing 737-800 aircraft," Air India Express, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India, said in a press release. "The UV-C light reaches the areas which are difficult to access while performing 'in-Cabin' disinfection manually," it said. UVC refers to ultraviolet light with wavelengths between 200 and 280 nanometre. Air India Express said it plans to extend this technology to its aircraft operating from other airports in its network in the country. This technology is tested and approved by the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories for its efficiency to disinfect surfaces from germs, bacteria and viruses, it said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. TORONTO, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Restaurants Canada and Welbilt-Garland Canada are cooking up the competition of the year with applications now open for the Garland Canada Culinary Competition. Supporting the culinary community and the thriving talent within it, the annual national competition will be held virtually during the RC Show 2021 ONLINE LIVE event between February 28-March 3, 2021. Committed to feeding the recovery and providing equal opportunities for all chefs, especially women in what is still considered a male-dominated industry, up to 50% of the top spots will be held for female and BIPOC chefs. Chefs from coast-to-coast are invited to submit an application and a short video before January 15, 2021 at 11:59 PM EST for the chance to earn a spot in the virtual competition. The top 12 finalists will be selected to compete, where they can win up to $10,000 in cash and other exciting prizes. Past finalists include Niagaras Chef Nick Chindamo and MasterChef Canada runner up Chef Andy Hay. We welcome all of Canadas best and brightest chefs to come to the table, bringing new innovations and trends to this years competition, says Todd Barclay, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada. Now more than ever we need to support Canadian chefs and restaurants, and we look forward to celebrating both old and new talent across the country at the 2021 RC Show. Applicants must meet the following criteria in order to qualify: Have a minimum of 1-3 years of experience working in a professional kitchen. Be living and working in Canada. Be 19 years of age or older. Submission must be completed in full to be considered valid. Is not a decorated, recognized, multiple culinary competition winner or TV personality chef. Submissions will be reviewed and judged by a panel of culinary experts from the top culinary schools in Canada. Restaurants Canada and Welbilt-Garland Canada will not be involved in any of the judging. Supporting diversity and inclusion in any field is a must, but especially within the foodservice industry where the majority of recognized chefs are white men, says Mary Chiarot, Vice President and General Manager of Welbilt-Garland Canada. This competition aims to level the playing field and celebrate incredible dishes from chefs of all backgrounds, while supporting the recovery of the restaurants industry across Canada. The top 12 successful applicants will be notified by January 22 and must be available to demonstrate the preparation of a dish virtually with an online panel of judges from your home or work kitchen. The results will be shared during one of four action-packed days during the 2021 RC Show. This years competitions is supported by Canada Beef, Victorinox Swiss Army, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Ontario and High Liner Culinary. For more information or to submit an application visit www.rcshow.com/experience/garland-canada-culinary-competition. For inquiries about the competition, please contact hello@evntmgmt.com. Media Contacts: Lisa Raffaele 647.896.0743 lisa@bubblegumcanada.com Dena Gouweloos 647.825.3927 dena@bubblegumcanada.com Follow us and the conversation on social: #RCShow #FeedingtheRecovery @RestaurantsCanada About RC Show since 1944 Canadas leading foodservice and hospitality event showcasing cutting-edge products, pioneering people and transformative ideas. Attendees can shop, taste, learn, connect and grow their business with multiple days of business-building action, including featured areas, competitions, workshops and RC Hospitality Week events tailored to educate, motivate and lead the industry. RC Show includes the latest trends, a dynamic selection of innovative products, and influential speakers assembled from around the globe, designed to help operators grow their businesses. An annual event not to be missed. Learn more at www.rcshow.com About Restaurants Canada Restaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit association advancing the potential of Canadas diverse and dynamic foodservice industry through member programs, research, advocacy, resources and events. Before the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canadas foodservice sector was a $95 billion industry, directly employing 1.2 million people, providing Canadas number one source of first jobs and serving 22 million customers across the country every day. The industry has since lost hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in sales due to the impacts of COVID-19. www.restaurantscanada.org About Welbilt-Garland Canada Welbilt Garland Canada represents all Welbilt Inc. brands available within the Canadian region. Welbilt Inc. is dedicated to bringing value to foodservice operators by equipping them with real-world answers and solutions that enhance menus, service, profits and efficiency. Working in conjunction with brands in the Welbilt portfolio, we develop multi-brand solutions in every segment of the foodservice industry. Our brands include Cleveland, Convochill, Convotherm, Crem, Delfield, Frymaster, Garland, Lincoln, Merco, Merrychef, Sunfire and US Range. Welbilt also manages channel relationships with Canada foodservice dealers, distributors, foodservice consultants and other channel partners. Our network of aligned sales representatives provides local and regional support for our Welbilt brands, working with channel partners and foodservice operators to create foodservice solutions. www.garlandcanada.ca Advertisement Joe Biden indicated Friday he was glad Donald Trump wasn't coming to his inauguration on January 20th as he praised other Republicans who have stood up to the president. 'One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on. It's a good thing him not showing up,' Biden said at a press conference about the president's snub. Trump announced Friday that he will be a no-show Biden's inauguration ceremony, a break with historical tradition. 'To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,' he declared the morning after he finally acknowledged publicly he will not have a second term in the White House. There have been reports that Vice President Mike Pence will attend to show his support for a peaceful transfer of power. Biden said of Pence: 'He's welcome. I'd be honored to have him.' The president-elect praised other Republicans too in his remarks - notably Republicans who have stood up to Trump. Biden said he spoke to Republican Senator Mitt Romney Friday morning and praised him as 'a man of enormous integrity. Enormous integrity.' Romney repeatedly denounced Trump for riling up the mob that attacked the Capitol on Wednesday. He also praised Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for denouncing Trump's attempt to illegally overturn the election. The president-elect also said Trump was 'an embarrassment to the country' and if Trump was in office longer he'd support using the impeachment process or the 25th amendment to remove him. His indication that Trump should be left alone to finish out his final days in office puts him in opposition with many Democrats on Capitol Hill, who are preparing articles of impeachment. 'If we were six months out, we should do everything to get him out of office. Impeach him again and trying to invoke the 25th amendment. Get him out of office. I'm focused now on us taking control as vice president and president on the 20th and get our agenda going,' he said. Biden will take the oath of office in 12 days. The last president not to attend his successor's swearing-in was President Andrew Johnson in 1869 - who had also been impeached. Both John Adams and John Quincy Adams snubbed their successors too. Biden is planning a scaled back event because of the coronavirus pandemic. He has urged supporters not to attend and turned the traditional parade into a virtual event. Shortly after Trump announced the snub, Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton announced they would attend. George W Bush and wife Laura had already confirmed they would attend. Jimmy Carter, 96, and wife Roslynn, 93, will not attend, the first inaugural they have missed since 1977, while they attempt to keep safe from COVID. The snub - at once norm-breaking and unsurprising - came on a day when: Nancy Pelosi revealed she has asked General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, how he is stopping a 'deranged president' from using the nuclear codes or launching military action - but did not say how he responded; She held a meeting with Democratic House members telling them that if Trump does not resign immediately he will be impeached next week; The prospect of the 25th Amendment being deployed appeared to fade. Pence was reported to be 'reluctant' to use it, if only because of the legal chaos which would ensue over whether the cabinet has enough members to vote to invoke it - partly because Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary have resigned in disgust and partly because Trump had filled the cabinet with acting secretaries whose legal authority to invoke it is unclear; Republican senator Ben Sasse said he was willing to impeach and remove Trump, making him the first of the GOP caucus who had voted against convicting the president last year to change position - but so far no others have followed; After his cabinet was rocked by resignations, one of his closest aides Hope Hicks announced she would resign next week - although she claimed it was her plan all along - and White House counsel Pat Cipollone was reported to be on the brink too; Washington D.C.'s district attorney Karl Racine hinted that he is investigating Trump, Don Jr, and Rudy Giuliani over inciting the riot at the wild rally held just outside the White House where the president demanded 'strength' and said he would lead a march on the Capitol and Giuliani demanded 'trial by combat'; The FBI launched a murder hunt to find the MAGA rioters who killed Officer Brian Sicknick during the storming of the Capitol, apparently hitting him over the head with a fire extinguisher; Cops across the country began rounding up suspected rioters after putting out wanted pictures, with those arrested including the self-proclaimed white supremacist who was pictured with his feet up on Pelosi's desk. At last we agree: Joe Biden said it was good news that Donald Trump will not be at his inauguration as he and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris unveiled more members of their economic team at an event in Wilmington, Delaware President Donald Trump initially resisted taping his video message acknowledging his election loss but agreed to after being warned he could face legal risk Meet the press: Joe Biden took questions from reporters as he unveiled new cabinet picks. The strict social distancing offers some suggestion of how the opening months of his administration will attempt to set an example by following COVID restrictions TRUMP TAPED SPEECH AFTER BEING TOLD HE COULD BE CHARGED Trump initially resisted taping his video message acknowledging his election loss but agreed to after the White House counsel warned him he could face legal charges for stoking the mob. The Justice Department said Thursday it would not rule out pursuing charges against President Trump for his possible role in encouraging the insurgents that ransacked the Capitol. 'We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building,' Michael Sherwin, the U.S. attorney in Washington, said at a press conference. Trump agreed to the Thursday night statement after White House counsel Pat Cipollone warned him of the legal risk, The New York Times reported. Aides had been pressing the president to publicly denounce the pro-Trump mob. And Cipollone is considering resigning, CNN reported, out of frustration with Trump and the president's bringing in conspiracy theorist lawyer Sidney Powell, who has argued voting machines changes votes from Trump to Joe Biden. Dominion Voting Systems is suing her for the false claims about their machines. So far two cabinet secretaries - Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary who is Mitch McConnell's wife and Betsy DeVos, the billionaire education secretary - have quit, while Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolf has said he will stay on to aid the transition to the Biden administration. Cipollone's job is to provide advice to Trump in his office as president, not personal legal advice - so warning him he could be charged is as far as he can go; offering defense advice to Trump as a private citizen would be at the very least a breach of his government employment, and possibly illegal or grounds for action by the Washington D.C. bar. While the president's initial response to the MAGA mob was to say 'we love you, you are special' in his nearly 3 minute video remarks, Trump finally denounced the violence on Capitol Hill. 'To those who engage in the acts of violence and destruction: You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay,' he said. But he also ended with a warm note for his supporters. 'To all of my wonderful supporters. I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning,' he said. Advertisement Trump tweeted his refusal to uphold tradition by going to Biden's swearing-in as his remaining aides and allies described him as a 'total monster' and 'mad King George' as his presidency ends in chaos. Trump isolated himself from his staff and the Republican Party, holed up in the Oval Office with a bunker mentality as aides pleaded with him to send a message of healing to the country in the aftermath of the MAGA mob storming Capitol Hill. He returned to Twitter Thursday night - after the social media network locked his account - with a call for 'peace' and 'unity' although no acknowledgment of his own role in whipping up the mob who stormed the Capitol, leaving a dead police officer and four dead of their own in their wake. But on Friday morning, the peacemaking ended: he launched a tweet partly in all capitals to thank his supporters, calling them 'great American Patriots.' 'The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!,' he wrote. Shortly after Trump announced the snub, Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton announced they would attend. George W Bush and wife Laura had already confirmed they would attend. Jimmy Carter, 96, and wife Roslynn, 93, will not attend, the first inaugural they have missed since 1977, while they attempt to keep safe from COVID. Trump and the first family will reportedly leave the White House on January 19 to go to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida - a decision made so that he gets to fly on a plane with the call sign Air Force One, a privilege he loses as soon as he is not the sitting president. Trump's return to twitter and revelation he will not go to Biden was a wrenching change of tone from his video last night when he acknowledging he did not win the November election. It took many failed legal battles, an attack on Capitol Hill and Congress' certification of the electoral college vote and then an explicit warning from Cipollone of potential criminal exposure to even get the president to that point - only for him to reverse course on Friday morning and return to all-capitals tweets. The Washington Post spoke to aides and allies who described Trump as 'psychologically fragile' and said daughter Ivanka is one of the few who can get through to him. 'A lot of people don't want to talk to him,' a senior administration official said. 'He's in a terrible mood constantly, and he's defensive, and everyone knows this was a horrible mistake.' One administration official described Trump's behavior as that of 'a total monster.' One ally called him 'mad.' 'He is alone. He is mad King George,' said one Republican in frequent touch with the White House. 'Trump believes that he has these people so intimidated they wouldn't dare mess with him. I think Trump doesn't understand how precarious his situation is right now.' The descriptions came after aides spent hours convincing the president to denounce the MAGA mob that attacked Capitol Hill. They begged him to go on Fox News, to tweet, to make a statement. Trump agreed to a video but he made ad libs to the script as he spoke, telling the rioters he 'loved' them but he did not specifically asking them to leave the Capitol. But as more and more Republicans distanced themselves from him and talk began about removing him from office via the 25th amendment or the impeachment process, Trump released a second video statement denouncing the violence and acknowledging his election loss. Trump's speech marked an astonishing change of tone. He admitted, in a rare encounter with reality, that 'there will be a new administration' come January 20th. He also said this moment 'calls for healing.' But despite the talk of healing, Trump plans to go to the United States border with Mexico next week to highlight his immigration policies, The New York Times reported. It could be his last trip as president of the United States. His hard line approach, and his border wall, has inflamed the debate around the issue and the president is not likely to back down from it. The president last visited the border in June, when he went down during the presidential campaign to check on the progress of his wall. It also was revealed Friday that Trump initially resisted taping his video message acknowledging his election loss but agreed to after the White House counsel warned him he could face legal charges for stoking the mob. The Justice Department said Thursday it would not rule out pursuing charges against President Trump for his possible role in encouraging the insurgents that ransacked the Capitol, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake and four deaths, including a Capitol police officer. 'We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building,' Michael Sherwin, the U.S. attorney in Washington, said at a press conference. Trump agreed to the Thursday night statement after White House counsel Pat Cipollone warned him of the legal risk, The New York Times reported. Aides had been pressing the president to publicly denounce the pro-Trump mob. And Cipollone is considering resigning, CNN reported, out of frustration with Trump and the president's bringing in conspiracy theorist lawyer Sidney Powell, who has argued voting machines changed votes from Trump to Joe Biden. Dominion Voting Systems is suing her for the false claims about their machines. Despite a millionaire dollar, multi-lawyer effort, the Trump team was unable to provide evidence of mass voter fraud. Trump's own administration has said the election was legally conducted and done fairly. Biden won with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232. While the president's initial response to the MAGA mob was tepid, in his nearly 3 minute video remarks on Thursday night, Trump denounced the violence on Capitol Hill. 'To those who engage in the acts of violence and destruction: You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay,' he said. But he also ended with a warm note for his supporters. 'To all of my wonderful supporters. I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning,' he said. White House counsel Pat Cipollone warned President Trump of legal danger and the Justice Department did not rule out charging him The speech also marked his first acknowledgement he will not have a second term in the White House. Trump, however, did not say the word 'concede' nor acknowledge incoming president Biden, but merely said there be a 'new administration.' Sitting presidents usually are not charged with crimes. Trump loses that protection in 12 days. The Justice Department will lead the prosecution of those involved in the Capitol Hill attack since it handles cases for Washington D.C. Trump has long stoked the fire of rage with the MAGA crowd, going back to his 2016 campaign when he demanded Hillary Clinton be locked up, a wall to be built to separate the United States from Mexico and his final false charge this year that the election was fraudulent. Many Republicans denounced the president's actions, including former Attorney General Bill Barr, who told the Associated Press that 'orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable.' Trump's video came after a day of disarray on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. After the attack on Capitol Hill, which left lawmakers and staff shaken, several Trump aides and two Cabinet secretaries quit, citing the president's lackluster initial response to the rioting at the Capitol. Some Republican lawmakers, including those who were Trump allies, also turned on him. All that pressure led to Thursday night's statement, where Trump blasted the 'heinous' attack and called for national 'healing' and an 'orderly' and 'seamless' transition to a new administration. 'I'd like to begin by addressing the heinous attack on the United States Capitol,' Trump said 'Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. PELOSI: 'I ASKED JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN HOW HE'LL KEEP UNHINGED TRUMP AWAY FROM THE NUKES' Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told colleagues she phoned the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss 'precautions' to prevent Trump from starting a war or accessing nuclear launch codes. Pelosi says she spoke with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army US Army General Mark Milley, but provided no information on his response Pelosi released the letter just minutes before House Democrats were to meet to discuss whether to go ahead with a second impeachment of Trump, after he egged on his supporters in their march to the Capitol that led to a riot and multiple deaths including of a Capitol Police officer. She headed her comment: 'Preventing an Unhinged President From Using the Nuclear Codes' in a 'Dear Colleague' letter. 'This morning, I spoke to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike,' she informed them. Notably, she did not reveal what response Milley provided, or whether any security guardrails have been established. 'The situation of this unhinged President could not be more dangerous, and we must do everything that we can to protect the American people from his unbalanced assault on our country and our democracy,' she wrote. She also revealed that Vice President Mike Pence has not returned her call seeking to discuss the 25th Amendment, whereby he and a majority of the Trump cabinet might move to strip Trump of power and make Pence the 'acting president.' Advertisement President Donald Trump released a short video where he blasted the 'heinous' attack and called for national 'healing' and called for an 'orderly' and 'seamless' transition to a new administration WASHINGTON: A crowd control fence was put up around Capitol Hill a day after the harrowing scenes in the U.S. Congress which stunned the world and left America's place as a beacon of democracy in tatters WASHINGTON: The DC National Guard keeps order outside the Capitol on Thursday amid a dispute over who had called it up at the height of the insurrection the previous day WAS KING GEORGE'S MADNESS 18TH CENTURY FAKE NEWS? King George III, nicknamed 'Mad King George,' ruled the United Kingdom and the British empire from 1760 until his death in 1820 - making him America's last king. But as well as losing the colonies, his place in history has been defined by the description of him as 'mad,' speaking at high-speed, writing 400-word sentences, and appearing frantic and deranged. In 1810, a regency was established because of concerns about his mental health. His eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent until his father's death. While he was called 'Mad,' it's believed the king suffered from the blood disease porphyria, which attacks the central nervous system and can cause the symptoms he appears to have exhibited. Others have suggested he was was bipolar. But linking his 'madness' to the loss of the colonies is questioned by historians; the episodes which have been recorded were after the Treaty of Paris. His health was poor in his later life. He developed dementia, and became completely blind and increasingly deaf. The king has had a resurgence in popular culture in the past few years thanks to his being portrayed in the popular musical 'Hamilton' and being referenced - although not seen - in the new Netflix series 'Bridgerton.' Advertisement Trump tweeted the video after being banned from Twitter for dangerous rhetoric and as he faced new calls for his impeachment and for Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. Trump defended his own past claims of election fraud but excused his most caustic rhetoric. 'We have just been through an intense election, and the motions are high, but now tempers must be cool and calm,' Trump said. 'This moment calls for healing and reconciliation,' said Trump, who spent years using his Twitter feed to attack his political rivals. 'Now, Congress has certified the results, and a new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power,' he said. On a day when top Democratic leaders accused him of fomenting 'insurrection,' Trump described his election challenges seeking to overturn the results as a plan to protect democracy itself despite Biden beating him by millions of votes. 'My campaign vigorously pursued every legal avenue to contest the election results. My only goal was to ensure the integrity of the vote. And so doing I was fighting to defend American democracy,' Trump said. After encouraging his supporters to 'fight' and sending them to the Capitol, he blasted those who invaded the Capitol for 'lawlessness and mayhem.' 'The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy,' he said. 'To those who engage in the acts of violence and destruction. You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will.' Trump's words given with no reporters present who could question him in keeping with a media blackout in recent weeks following his loss hit some of the points his own supporters were begging him make explicit at a time of national tension. His press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a brief statement about the situation at the Capitol about two hours earlier, speaking for only a few minutes and not taking questions. Hours earlier, Trump's Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, announced she was resigning. Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, followed suit. Several aides announced their immediate departures after the Capitol riots. His former chief of staff, John Kelly, excoriated his conduct, and his former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, quit his State Department post as an envoy. Meanwhile, a flood of pressure from both Republicans and Democrats, arrived with calls for impeachment or for the 25th amendment to be enacted. 'Now, Congress has certified the results, and new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power,' he said An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while Trump supporters gather in front of the Capitol on Wednesday Pro-Trump insurgents stormed Capitol Hill on Wednesday in an attack that left nation stunned But sources close to Vice President Mike Pence were indicating he would not go along with 25th Amendment scenarios that would strip Trump of powers. Another push came in an editorial in the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal amid a flood of Democratic impeachment calls. A successful impeachment would bar Trump from future office - resigning would not. 'If Mr. Trump wants to avoid a second impeachment, his best path would be to take personal responsibility and resign,' said the editorial. 'This would be the cleanest solution since it would immediately turn presidential duties over to Mr. Pence. And it would give Mr. Trump agency, a la Richard Nixon, over his own fate.' Trump's call for a smooth transition came after weeks of a transition period that was anything but smooth. His lawyers and allies filed a blizzard of 'kraken' lawsuits nearly all going down to defeat; one lawyer quit . The Supreme Court declined to take up a Texas challenge. Affidavits from Trump supporters claiming fraud fell apart in court or got tossed. A government functionary, the head of the General Services Administration, declined to certify Joe Biden as the president-elect for days, denying his people access to the current administration and its data. Throughout the transition, Biden's methodical announcements about cabinet selections normally big news that allow an incoming administration to introduce its team to the public got overshadowed by the drama of Trump's election overturn effort. The mayor of Washington has put the city on an alert footing through inauguration, Capitol police are expanding the security perimeter around the Capitol to prepare for inauguration, and some officials are warning of more potential mayhem from Trump's supporters, after the president's drumbeat of claims the election was 'rigged' and 'stolen' from him. When a mob of pro-Trump insurgents rushed the U.S. Capitol yesterday, conspiracy theorists and extremists were among them in full force. Groups including QAnon and the Proud Boys have been linked to the Jan. 6 failed insurrection, according to CNN's Casey Tolen, Rob Kuznia and Bob Ortega. During the Capitol breach, one woman was killed, three died of health issues, two pipe bombs were found and dozens were arrested for violating curfew, according to the Associated Press. In a stunning video from HuffPost's Igor Bobic, insurgents broke through the building and made their way into a Senate Chamber. "Leave now!" one of the rioters shouted. "This is our government!" One of the most notable protestors is known is Jake Angeli, also known as "QAnon Shaman." Shirtless and donning a horned helmet, Angeli is shown roaming through the Capitol halls. When you take a look at Angeli's Facebook page, his posts embrace the theories of QAnon. According to Arizona Republic's Richard Ruelas, Angeli has proclaimed his QAnon beliefs outside the Arizona Capitol since 2019. "The snowball has been rolling and it's only getting bigger," Angeli said. "We're the mainstream now." What is QAnon? Followers of QAnon adhere to a conspiracy theory asserting that President Trump is waging a war against Satan-worshipping pedophiles in business, media and government, according to the BBC's Mike Wendling. Believers of QAnon want to fight until the end when there is a day of reckoning and Hillary Clinton is arrested and executed, according to Wendling. Who are the Proud Boys? The Proud Boys are a far-right men's organization of "Western chauvinists." According to extremism researchers, the Proud Boys have embraced anti-homosexual, anti-Muslim, and anti-immigration views on social media, Wall Street Journal's Rachel Levy reports. After the insurrection at the Capitol, far-right extremists falsely blamed Antifa for the pro-Trump insurrection. Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona spread an evidence-free conspiracy theory on Twitter, ironically blasting Antifa for the pro-Trump mob. "This has all the hallmarks of the Antifa provocation," Rep. Paul Gosar tweeted. The tweet was flagged by Twitter. A vaccine or medication that could shorten the infectious period of Covid-19 in patients, even by one day, may potentially prevent millions of cases and save billions of dollars, according to a new modelling study. The research, published in the journal PLOS Computational Biology, noted that some vaccines and drugs may have subtler effects by which even if they cannot prevent or cure Covid-19, they may still reduce how long an infected person is contagious. In the study, scientists including those from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health in the US, assessed the potential value of shortening the infectious period in Covid-19 patients. The researchers created a computational model that simulates the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19 and used it to explore how a vaccine or medication that can reduce the contagious period might alleviate the clinical and economic impact of the disease. According to the study, reducing the contagious period by half a day could avert up to 1.4 million cases and over 99,000 hospitalisations even if only a quarter of people with symptoms were treated. Cutting the contagious period by 3.5 days, they said, could avert up to 7.4 million cases, and expanding such treatment to 75 per cent of everyone infected could avert 29.7 million cases and save USD 856 billion, the study noted. The researchers believe the findings could help guide research and investments into development of vaccines or medications that reduce the infectious period of SARS-CoV-2. There may be a tendency to overlook vaccines and other treatments that dont prevent a Covid-19 infection or cure disease, said study co-author Bruce Lee from the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health. But this study showed that even relatively small changes in how long people are contagious can significantly affect the transmission and spread of the virus and thus save billions of dollars and avert millions of new cases, Lee said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter The head of the World Health Organization said on Friday there is a "clear problem" that low- and middle-income countries are not yet receiving supplies of COVID-19 vaccines. "Rich countries have the majority of the supply," WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a news briefing in Geneva, adding that he urged countries and manufacturers to stop making bilateral deals at the expense of the COVAX vaccine-sharing facility. The WHO said earlier this week the COVAX facility had raised $6 billion of the $7 billion that it has sought in 2021 to help finance deliveries to 92 developing nations with limited or no means to buy vaccines on their own. Until now, wealthier nations including Britain, European Union members, the United States, Switzerland and Israel have been at the front of the queue for vaccine deliveries from companies including Pfizer and partner BioNTech, Moderna and AstraZeneca. Nearly 88 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and around 1.9 million have died, according to a Reuters tally. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019. Cases have been surging in many countries in recent weeks, and Tedros said people needed to comply with restrictions and social distancing rules to check its advance. "The virus is spreading at alarming rates in some countries," he said. "The problem is that not complying a bit becomes a habit. Not complying gives the virus opportunities to spread." (Reporting by Emma Farge and Matthias Blamont; Writing by Alex Richardson; Editing by Nick Macfie) This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Deutsche Bank agreed Friday to pay fines and penalties of about $130 million to avoid a criminal prosecution on charges it participated in a foreign bribery scheme to win business in Saudi Arabia. Lawyers for the bank, which has longstanding ties to President Donald Trump, waived its right to face an indictment on conspiracy charges during a teleconference with a federal judge in New York City. According to court papers, Deutsche Bank bribed intermediaries to make deals in Saudi Arabia between 2009 and 2016, labeling the payments as 'referral fees' for consultants. In one instance around 2012, the bank paid one of its fixers $1,087,538 'and caused those payments to be falsely recorded in the company's books, records and accounts,' the papers said. Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay a fine of more than $100 million to avoid a criminal prosecution on charges it participated in a foreign bribery scheme Other intermediaries demanded financing for a yacht and for a house in France as compensation, the papers said. Prosecutors accused Deutsche Bank of violating books-and-records provisions of the FCPA, which forbids companies with U.S. operations from paying bribes elsewhere. They said the violations included disguising bribes paid to a client's 'decisionmaker' in Saudi Arabia as 'referral fees,' and recording millions of dollars of payments to an intermediary for an Abu Dhabi official as 'consultancy' fees. In the metals case, prosecutors accused Deutsche Bank traders of placing fraudulent trades, known as spoofing, to induce other traders to buy and sell futures contracts at prices they otherwise would not have. Christian Sewing, CEO of German company Deutsche Bank which waived its right to face an indictment on conspiracy charges on Friday, during a teleconference with a federal judge in New York City After a two-week trial, James Vorley, 42, of the United Kingdom, and Cedric Chanu, 40, of France and the United Arab Emirates, were convicted of three counts and seven counts, respectively, of wire fraud affecting a financial institution. Vorley and Chanu, who were employed as traders at Deutsche BankVorley based in London; Chanu based in London and Singaporeengaged in a scheme to defraud other traders on the Commodity Exchange. The defendants defrauded other traders by placing fraudulent orders that they did not intend to execute in order to create the appearance of false supply and demand and to induce other traders to trade at prices, quantities, and times that they otherwise would not have traded. Specifically, the evidence showed that the defendants engaged in the practice of spoofing, which means that they placed orders on the exchange which, at the time the orders were placed, they did not intend to execute, all for the purpose of deceiving other market participants. Sentencing has been scheduled for January 21, 2021, before U.S. District Judge John J. Tharp, Jr. of the Northern District of Illinois, who presided over the trial. The penalties against Deutsche Bank included a criminal fine of $85,186,206 and a payment of $43,329,622 to settle a related U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission action, prosecutors said. In 2019, Deutsche Bank agreed to pay $16.2 million to resolve SEC charges it violated the FCPA by hiring unqualified relatives of government officials in China and Russia in order to win or retain business. 'Deutsche Bank engaged in a criminal scheme to conceal payments to so-called consultants worldwide who served as conduits for bribes to foreign officials and others,' in order to win and retain 'lucrative business projects,' Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme in Brooklyn said in a statement. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson, Dan Hunter, declined to comment on the specifics of the case. But he said that the deferred prosecution agreement showed that the bank was taking responsibility for its actions and that its cooperation with federal authorities 'reflect our transparency and determination to put these matters firmly in the past.' 'We take responsibility for these past actions,' which occurred from 2008 to 2017, following 'thorough' internal probes and full cooperation with authorities, Hunter said. Deutsche Bank has been trying to restore profitability after five years of losses, including by exiting some businesses and reducing its workforce by 18,000. It has also been trying to restore its image in Washington amid several investigations into its dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump, a longtime client. His personal business association with a bank has been under scrutiny for years. (PA) Deutsche Bank was one of the few banks willing to lend to Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies starting in the early 1990s and has become central to investigations by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James that are considered a potential legal threat to Trump after he leaves office this month. Vance and James, both Democrats, have subpoenaed the bank for documents related to the president. Trump has said the investigations are all politically motivated. There was no indication that the Saudi Arabia scheme was related to Trump's dealings with the bank. In previous cases, the Frankfurt, Germany-based bank has agreed to a Securities and Exchange Commission fine of $16 million to resolve separate allegations of corrupt dealings in Russia and China. Deutsche has also agreed to pay the state of New York $150 million to settle claims that it broke compliance rules in its dealings with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The wealthy financier killed himself last August in a Manhattan federal jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. There were reports last year that the bank gave expensive gifts to senior Chinese officials and others establish itself as a major player in China's financial industry. New Delhi: Key conspirator of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, on Friday (January 8) sentenced to 15 years by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan, according to media reports. A PTI report quoted court official as saying, "The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore convicted Lakhvi for commission of offences of terrorism financing in a case registered by the CTD for 15 years under a different section of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997." Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar sentenced Lakhvi to five years of rigorous imprisonment each on three counts with a fine of PKR 100,000 each on three counts. "In default of payment of fine, he will have to undergo an imprisonment of six months each on three counts. He has been sent to prison to serve the sentences," the official to PTI. Lashkar-e-Taiba's Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi was arrested over terror financing charges six days ago. Lakhvi was arrested by Punjab province's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and a case was registered in a Lahore police station. The LeT commander was out on bail since 2015 in the Mumbai attack case. UN proscribed terrorist Lakhvi, 61, was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province on Saturday. In December 2008, the UN had designated Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as a global terrorist for being associated with LeT and al-Qaeda and for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of both the entities. The committee has been looking at different aspects of pet sale regulation, from both those who favor the Humane Ordinance, and those who are against it, including pet store owners and some breeders. This week, the committee heard from Holmes, and state Sen. Christina Castro, D-Elgin, on the statewide situation with pet sale ordinances. They also heard from Elizabeth Oreck, who looks into puppy mills nationwide for the Best Friends Animal Society. In biblical parlance, the familiar phrasing is As ye sow, so shall ye reap. In simpler agnostic terms, the message is that ones actions will directly dictate the outcomes one faces. In biblical parlance, the familiar phrasing is "As ye sow, so shall ye reap." In simpler agnostic terms, the message is that ones actions will directly dictate the outcomes one faces. The verity of the verse and its associated sentiment were on full display Wednesday in the United States of America, when more than four years of mass-distributed misinformation and hatred-fuelling presidential rhetoric culminated in an armed insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. It was, and shall forevermore remain, one of the darkest and most shameful moments in American history. And whats most surprising about what occurred is that anyone is in any way surprised it did. The explosion of unhinged mayhem followed direct exhortations to violence delivered by President Donald Trump and some of his most obsequious lackeys in particular, personal attorney/enabler Rudolph Giuliani and the most feverishly histrionic of the lesser Trumps, Donald Jr. at a rally near the White House. U.S. President Donald Trump encouraged the march on the Capitol. (Jacquelyn Martin / The Associated Press) At the presidents urging, the agitated thousands headed up Pennsylvania Avenue to the Capitol, where a joint session of Congress was in the process of tabulating the electoral-college votes that would formalize former vice-president Joe Bidens election as the 46th U.S. president. "Were going to walk down and Ill be there with you were going to walk down to the Capitol," Mr. Trump told the crowd, before retreating to the White House to watch television coverage of the unfolding carnage he inspired. "Youll never take back our country with weakness; you have to show strength, and you have to be strong." That message, along with Mr. Giulianis earlier incitement of "trial by combat," was fully embraced by a mob that was already spoiling for a fight. And while the current presidents calculated propulsion of the crowd toward the Capitol may have been the final catalytic nudge, the foundation of Wednesdays uprising has been under construction since before the 2016 U.S. vote, when Mr. Trump then clearly anticipating the defeat foretold by numerous pollsters began complaining the election was rigged. Trump's message, along with Mr. Giulianis earlier incitement of "trial by combat," was fully embraced by a mob that was already spoiling for a fight. (John Minchillo / The Associated Press) His methodical efforts to undermine the electoral process continued even after his victory, owing to his fragile egos inability to fathom that he had won the White House but lost the popular vote. And he continued, at MAGA rallies and on social media, to denigrate and disparage democratic norms and processes throughout his first and only term as president. Day by day, month by month, lie after lie after lie, Mr. Trump fomented the groundswell of mistrust and fury that crescendoed with Wednesdays bloody uprising. But Mr. Trump and his Republican enablers are not alone in deserving blame and scorn for their treachery. Social media despite Twitter, Instagram and Facebook on Wednesday having taken the far-too-late measure of muting Mr. Trumps toxic feeds has been a conduit the president employed with ruthless efficiency to galvanize the hatred of millions of disaffected Americans, transforming pockets of isolated embitterment into a maliciously misinformed and violently motivated menace. Culpability for the current state of affairs is widely distributed. Even after the inauguration, Trumpisms toxic intent will continue to fester and erupt for as long as its progenitors and promoters infect Americas politics. (Manuel Balce Ceneta / The Associated Press) The good news is that Wednesdays rioting failed to disrupt the certification of Mr. Bidens election victory, and that Americas body politic endures. The bad news is that unless he is summarily removed from office by political or constitutional means, Mr. Trump still has two more weeks to wreak vengeful havoc. And the much-worse news is that even after the Jan. 20 inauguration, Trumpisms toxic intent will continue to fester and erupt for as long as its progenitors and promoters infect Americas politics. DES MOINES, Iowa A Meservey man has lost another attempt at overturning his life sentence for abducting and beating a woman. Charles Raymond Albright, 45, was convicted of 1st degree kidnapping and willful injury causing bodily injury. Authorities say Albright kidnapped a woman in October 2016 and held her hostage for 13 hours, beating the woman with his fists and a cordless drill, cutting her with a knife, and burning her with a taser. Albright filed an application in Franklin County District Court for postconviction relief, arguing his attorney had provided him with ineffective assistance at trial. Albright claimed his lawyers decisions to not present certain evidence, ask certain questions, or make certain objections directly contributed to his being found guilty. A district court judge has rejected all of those claims, pointing out they were all done in consultation with Albright and as part of a trial strategy. The judges ruling says Albright and his attorney deliberately decided to admit guilt to some lesser offenses in the hope the jury would believe Albright when he denied kidnapping the woman. The district court judge rules that while such a strategy failed, its failure is not enough to constitute ineffective assistance of counsel and overturn Albrights conviction. The Iowa Supreme Court had previously upheld Albrights life sentence and rejected his arguments there was insufficient evidence against him and that the jury was prejudiced against him when it was instructed on a lesser charge of 2nd degree kidnapping. President-elect Joe Biden walks from the stage after speaking during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, to announce key nominees for the Justice Department. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday said that the terrorists, who tried to storm a CRPF camp in a pre-dawn suicide attack in Jammu and Kashmir, intended a prolonged siege and extensive damage. Giving the details of the attack in which four militants were killed while attacking CRPFs Sumbal camp in Bandipora district, Singh said the heavily-armed fidayeen terrorists approached the paramilitary camp with the intent of breaching it. The terrorists were heavily armed with automatic rifles, grenades and incendiary material such as petrol, and were carrying dry rations. It indicated that the terrorists intended a prolonged siege and extensive damage, he said in a statement. The home minister said the terrorists attempted entry by cutting the wire fencing and also forcing their entry by shooting at the sentry. ALSO READ: DGMO to Pakistani counterpart: 'If Pak Army continues firing across LoC and abet infiltrators, India will respond appropriately' The sentries responded with alacrity and returned their fire. Heavy exchange of fire took place during which the terrorists lobbed more than two dozen grenades in an attempt to escape, he said. However, Singh said, the CRPF, in cooperation with force from the adjoining Jammu and Kashmir Police camp shot dead all the four terrorists. The home minister said the CRPF jawans and the Jammu and Kashmir Police showed exemplary courage and valour by thwarting the terrorists attempt and in eliminating them. He said a massive recovery of arms and ammunition, including grenades, explosives and automatic weapons, has been made from neutralised terrorists. It is inspiring to see CRPF men staying awake all night and maintaining tight vigil, and to see the Jammu and Kashmir Police coming to the CRPFs assistance quickly, he said. Singh congratulated the CRPF, particularly, its 45th battalion, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police for their alertness and unmatched courage. Their joint efforts have brought glory to our forces, he said. The home minister said all the brave officers and jawans posted at Sumbal camp need to be cited for their alertness and unmatched bravery. ALSO READ: 3 years of Modi govt: Rajnath says resolution of Kashmir issue will take some time; vows to uproot Pak-sponsored terrorism For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Catalytic Converter Warning View Photo Angels Camp, CA Local officials are warning about an increase in thefts of catalytic converters from parked vehicles. The device found underneath cars is sometimes targeted by thieves because they have small amounts of valuable metals. The devices are required on all vehicles to reduce the amount of toxic pollutants. The Angels Camp Police Department has put out a warning, stating, Picture this: You walk out to your vehicle after a long day at work. You are tired and want to go home. You get in your car, start the engine, and it makes a loud ROOOOOOAR! Suddenly your vehicle sounds like it has transformed into a race car. Unfortunately, you may be the latest victim of catalytic converter theft, and it is COSTLY to replace. There has been an increase in thefts nationally, including two cases within the city of Angels Camp in recent weeks. The PD has put out the following tips: In public parking lots, park in well-lit areas near building entrances or busy access roads when possible. When you are at home, park in your garage if you have one. Remember to close the garage door. Try not to leave your vehicle unattended for long periods of time. Thieves tend to target hybrid vehicles, pickups, and SUVS. If you own one of these vehicles, be extra cautious of where you leave your vehicle unattended. Consider contacting your mechanic about ways your catalytic converter can be protected, such as the installation of an after-market device or having the catalytic converter welded in place. Activate your vehicles security alarm if it is equipped with one. The goal is to make your vehicle as unattractive a target as possible for catalytic converter theft. The more inconvenient it is for a thief to steal your catalytic converter, the more likely it is that they will move on to an easier target. James Kutter, of Lincoln Park, was also hoping to swap out an out-of-state license after moving to Chicago from New York. Kutter said the wait was expected given the backlog, and at the very least customers were socially distanced and wearing face masks. Morgan County political party representatives agree on one thing regarding Wednesdays storming of the U.S. Capitol building: It was a horrific, disturbing event. Their reasons, however, differ. Morgan County Democrats President Judith Luckenbach Nelson said President Donald Trump instigated Wednesdays events, which caused this great country to fall it its knees and this man (Trump) is an incompetent bully. Kem Wilson, a Morgan County Republican, believes it was organized to make Trump look bad. Wilson, who was in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, said she believes the group that stormed the Capitol was not made up of Trump supporters, but of Antifa members. Although such claims have been circulating on social media, there has been no evidence to suggest Antifa was involved, according to fact-checking sites and national media reports. Wilson said she was glad she attended the event rally in Washington that preceded the mob action. Im glad I was part of it, she said. The future of the Republican Party now is definitely different for Wilson. While still a Trump fan, she believes he needs to be backed by a different party. Were looking at forming a new party, something like patriot or Trumprican, she said of Trump supporters and ways of backing him going forward. Reasons for the new party according to Wilson and others are that Trump has removed the veil hiding government corruption and exposed fraudulent election practices. Patriots are awake now, she said, noting that Trump doesnt follow the rules of government but is for the people. We elected a person from New York and not a politician. We need true Christian patriots, she said. After Nelson watched Georgias Senate run-off election results Tuesday night, she went to sleep confident that Georgia was turning blue. When she awoke on Wednesday, she suspected something was going to happen Wednesday in Washington, D.C. if only because Trump has managed to cause something egregious on a daily basis during the past four years, she said. She still wasnt expecting what did happen. She now believes Trump should have the 25th Amendment enacted against him placing Vice President Mike Pence in charge until Joe Biden takes office on Jan. 20 and also impeached and found guilty so he can never again run for president. I have all the different emotions, Nelson said, adding that shes both angry and sad. He needs to be impeached. Nelson was running errands when the Capitol was breached and the first images she saw as she returned home shocked and saddened her, she said. The first picture I saw was guns being drawn, I couldnt believe it, she said, adding that she also is torn on how law enforcement handled the situation. Why werent there guards with full gear there like the Black Lives Matter protest, which was peaceful? she said. A retired teacher, Nelson is pleased that Biden a veteran politician is coming to office. She puts little faith in Trumps claims that Biden is corrupt. He (Trump) has shown more corruption in his own administration, she said. Moving forward, Nelson and the Morgan County Democrats group will focus on upcoming elections and promoting younger people into public office. We need to bring younger, thoughtful people into city government, she said, adding that education, especially in lower-income areas, also is a focus for the Democratic Party. Not just college level, Im talking about job skills, Nelson said. It takes the whole community. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 12:20:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The interruption of COVID-19 surveillance and control activities in Ethiopia's conflict-hit northern Tigray regional state could facilitate "massive community transmission," the United Nations said on Thursday. Such an interruption "for over a month in the region, coupled with mass displacements and overcrowded conditions in displacement setting, is feared to have facilitated massive community transmission of the pandemic," the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said in its situation report published on Thursday. According to the UNOCHA, limited prevention activities have started, including the distribution of 1,200 COVID-19 prevention and hygiene promotion leaflets and personal protective equipment materials, provision of health education and organization of a sanitation campaign in displacement sites in the town of Shire. Prior to the conflict, as of the end of October 2020, the Tigray region had reported 6,610 positive COVID-19 cases. Weeks of fighting in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region between the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which used to rule the region until its defeat, and the Ethiopian Defense Forces have reportedly left hundreds of people dead, thousands displaced, and millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. More than 55,500 refugees have fled Tigray into eastern Sudan over the past six weeks, according to the UNOCHA. The UNOCHA recalled a recent meeting of the Tigray Emergency Coordination Center (ECC) that was convened on Jan. 1 and discussed humanitarian needs based on assessment findings, during which the ECC highlighted that more than 4.5 million people in the region, including 2.2 million internally displaced persons, need emergency food assistance. Since the conflict erupted in early November, only 77,000 people, mostly in Mekelle and its surroundings, and 25,000 refugees in Mai Ayni and Adi Harush camps received food support from partners, according to the UNOCHA. Meanwhile, the UNOCHA said, "The security situation in Tigray remains volatile with a gradual improvement in some areas in the Eastern and Western Zones, although insecurity and bureaucratic constraints remain." "As the security situation in some areas of Tigray region is slightly improving, humanitarian workers have been able to access areas that were so far inaccessible, particularly in cities," said the report. However, "localized fighting and insecurity continue, with fighting reported in rural areas and in the peripheries of Mekelle, Shiraro and Shire, among other locations, as of last week," it added Noting that access to most parts of North Western, Eastern and Central Tigray remains constrained due to the ongoing insecurity and bureaucratic hurdles, the UNOCHA stressed that Hitsats and Shimelba refugee camps are still not accessible. The latest situation update came after the two joint assessment missions that were deployed on Dec. 20 are completed. "Both missions have witnessed a dire humanitarian situation with poor access to services and limited livelihoods," the report read. Enditem Ray Liotta and Jacy Nittolo announced their engaged just 10 days ago. And with their impending nuptials on the foreseeable horizon, the Goodfellas star decided to get in a rigorous workout at LA's world famous Gold's Gym in Venice. The acclaimed actor, 66, and his new ladylove have been spotted working out together in the open area of the legendary gym in recent months. Respect: Actor Ray Liotta, 66, gave a friendly wave just before he went into LA's famous old's Gym in Venice on Thursday Fresh off the excitement of his engagement news, the New Jersey native appeared to have a spring to his step as he made his way down the streets, just a couple of blocks from the beach. And then, when he arrived just outside the gym, he gave a quick wave dressed in an all-black sweatsuit. Liotta also wore black sneakers and carried a drink cup in his right hand for the walk. Ready to pump you up: The Goodfellas star dressed for his workout in an all-black sweatsuit and black sneakers Liotta and his fiancee revealed their intention of getting married on December 28. 'Christmas wishes do come true,' he began in the caption of a photo showing them embracing in front of a Christmas tree. 'I asked the love of my life to marry me, and thank God she said yes!!!' Nittolo displayed her very prominent rock on her ring finger for the snap. Holiday cheer: Liotta, 66, and ladylove Jacy Nittolo, 46, announced their impending nuptials on December 28 in a photo that showcased her prominent rock With newfound personal time on their hands due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pair's romance quickly began to heat up over the summer months of 2020. Along with their couple's workouts, the pair were seen while out on dates, which also included picking up some food to take home, just to be safe. So far there's no word on when they plan on exchanging their vows. Liotta's stellar Hollywood resume also includes Something Wild (1986), Field Of Dreams (1989), Goodfellas (1990), Cop Land (1997), Hannibal (2001), Blow (2001), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012), Marriage Story (2019) and the drama series Shades of Blue (2016-2018). Epic Chill Packaging "This award is a testament to the cutting-edge, innovative merchandising solutions we provide to our retail partners on a daily basis in addition to best-in-class products." -Chris Marsh, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Soft-Tex International, a leading manufacturer of sleep and home comfort products, is pleased to announce it was honored by Graphic Design USA (GDUSA) as part of the 2020 American Graphic Design Awards for the new innovative packaging for the SensorPEDIC Epic Chill Memory Foam Pillow which features Soft-Tex's proprietary REACTEX cooling technology. The American Graphic Design Award program is an annual, juried competition this year featuring more than 10,000 applicants. In a statement on the competition, GDUSA notes this year's showcase "reflects the increasingly expansive ways in which graphic design shapes business and society, products and services, commerce and culture and causes." Soft-Tex was the sole bedding company awarded this honor. Soft-Tex Graphic Design Manager, Wendi Hauck, created the winning design and Director of Marketing Operations, Katherine Burger, was responsible for production. Quotes: Speaking on the award, Burger noted, "It's an honor that Soft-Tex was chosen to receive this recognition. The eyecatching ice cube and glacier design elements capture the essence of the best-in-class, REACTEX cooling technology." On creating the design, Hauck added, "We were proud of the look as we feel it creates an instant connection to consumers and is the ideal balance to convey cooling and technology." Soft-Tex Chief Sales & Marketing Officer, Chris Marsh, added, "This award is a testament to the cutting-edge, innovative merchandising solutions we provide to our retail partners on a daily basis in addition to best-in-class products." The SensorPEDIC Epic Chill collection is currently available at JCPenney and Dillard's. View the full list of winners for the 2020 American Graphic Design Awards at http://contests.gdusa.com/competitions/2020-american-graphic-design-awards About Soft-Tex Soft-Tex International is an innovation company focused on building the most comfortable products to help the world sleep and live better. With proprietary technologies spanning categories like personal climate control, wellness, antimicrobials, & allergen barriers, coupled with coveted national brands like SensorPEDIC, SensorGel, BioPEDIC, & DreamSmart, Soft-Tex offers its retail, distributor, and other partners the highest quality, most comfortable products with best-in-class, in-house merchandising, digital marketing, customer service and global supply chain capabilities. We're talking about building space hotels now, in nearly just the beginning of 2021. Former NASA Chiefs are working on building a luxury hotel to be designed by interior designer Phillipe Starck. Axiom Space, a Houston-Based company which was built along with NASA's former International Space Station (ISS) manager Michael Suffredini is planning to build this literally out-of-this-world project and should be launched to the public as soon as 2028. This luxury space hotel will be a $2 billion project, which is only an estimated amount. It will be debuted with the name "AxStation". According to Robbreport, Suffredini and his team are already brainstorming on the process that this project will have to undergo upon completion. BluePrint for the First Ever Luxury Hotel in Space The plan is to dispatch a crew module to the ISS by the start of the project in 2024. Once the team has set the materials and has prepared the place, they can start from there and build at least two other modules. It is reported that the next modules to be attached will include a laboratory or manufacturing facility, as well as a panoramic observatory. The company intends to allow the three modules to work together until the International Space Station completes the project, which is expected to be around 2028, as reported by Wired. Once the three modules are fully detached, the established AxStation would now be the first free-flying internationally available exclusive space station. AxStation: a Research Hub and a Space Tourist Destination The AxStation is reported to be a dual purpose project. Aside from being a luxury hotel and a go-destination for space sojourners, the private space station will also be a research platform for many developers and astronomers who will visit space. This is also the reason why Axiom is extracting all means to make the AxStation happen, as it could be the first of its own to be a private space with more luxurious and accommodating, rather than the typical dull International space Station. The luxurious hotel will be decorated by French interior designer and architecht Philippe Starck. Starck is known for his diverse portfolio including designing vehicles, household objects, furniture, houses, and buildings. Now, Axiom has joined him in the team to build a revolutionary hotel in space. It has already been predicted to open in 2022, but has been postponed due to more strenious and vigorous preparations by Axiom. See more: World's First Commercial Space Station To Open In 2022: Here's What You Get For $55 Million The planned design of the hotel will offer plush padded cushion walls and furnishings. It will have a futuristic and avante garde color changing LEDs. Guests will also be able to see panoramic views of the Earth from about 250 miles away. The said interiors designed by Starck will be developed in Houston. The exterior modules and structural design will be built by the European aerospace company called Thales Alenia Space. The same company is also responsible for almost half of the modules that have been done for the existing International Space Station Axiom Teams Up with NASA and SpaceX Last year, NASA has already given Axiom the go-to signal to go full swing on the plan to build the space hotel. NASA gave the company permission to attach one of NASA's crew modules to a port on the ISS sealed by a $140 million contract upon its completion. Ofcourse, SpaceX cannot be out of the picture. Axiom has also sealed a deal with Elon Musk's company to send a handful of astronauts upon the completion of the project for the ISS. Tom Cruise is also reportedly having talks with Axiom as the first film to shoot in space is up care of producer and director Doug Liman. Axiom says in a statement regarding the AxStation, "Twenty years after astronauts first began to live and work aboard the ISS, Axiom offers you the ability to traverse the sublime reach of space and fulfill personal goals of a philosophical, philanthropic, scientific or commercial nature-and help open a new chapter in human history," . A booking for the hotel is rumored to cost about $55 million and will have to undergo a 15-week training before they can be permitted to be deployed to space. If you're up for the adventure, you have about seven years yet to save up for a space hotel booking like no other. See related article: First Luxury Space Hotel To Offer 'Astronaut In Training' Experience For $9.5 Million This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Nikki Delgado 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Delhi: After a delay of two days due to bad weather conditions, the SpaceX Dragon cargo capsule was finally launched on June 3 as per reschedule. A Falcon 9 rocket carried the SpaceX Dragon at 5:07 pm (2107 GMT) from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This SpaceX Dragon has created history by carrying a Chinese science experiment to the ISS for the first time ever. The purpose of the SpaceX Dragon is to provide food and supplies to astronauts living aboard NASAs International Space Station (ISS). "Three, two, one, and liftoff," said NASA spokesman Mike Curie as the rocket made its way to the clouds. The SpaceX Dragon spaceship last time flew to space back in 2014. The Dragon packs around 6,000 pounds (2,700 kilograms) of science research, crew supplies and hardware, The SpaceX Dragon is likely to arrive at ISS on Monday, June 5. The Dragon is packed with almost 6,000 pounds (2,700 kilograms) of science research, crew supplies and hardware and should arrive at the ISS Monday. The supplies also include live mice on which researchers will study the effects of osteoporosis. Also there are fruit flies for research on microgravity's impact on the heart. Also, the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft carried solar panels and equipment to study neutron stars. SpaceX successfully returned the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket back to a controlled landing at Cape Canaveral about 10 minutes after the launch of Dragon. The engines were powered by the rocket, which guided itself down to Landing Zone One, not far from the launch site. ALSO READ | SpaceX's Inmarsat-5 F4 satellite successfully launched atop Falcon 9 rocket "The first stage is back," Curie said on NASA live webcast. The visuals showed how the tall, narrow portion of the rocket touched down steadily in a cloud of smoke. It was SpaceXs fifth successful landing on solid ground, said the company. Several of Falcon 9 rockets have returned upright to platforms floating in the ocean. SpaceX has been pushing to make spaceflight cheaper by the re-use of costly rocket and spaceship components after each launch, rather than discarding them in the ocean. The launch of SpaceX Dragon was the 100th from NASA's historic launch pad 39A, the starting point for the Apollo missions to the Moon in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as a total of 82 shuttle flights. ALSO READ | Mazaalai: Mongolia's first satellite will be off to space alongwith SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on June 4 For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Clint Harp made a name for himself as a carpenter on Chip and Joanna Gaines' hit show Fixer Upper, but now hes flying solo with his own series on Discovery+, Restoration Road. In the show, Harp travels the country to witness (and pitch in on) a variety of renovations of historic structures. In the series premiere, "Idaho Train Car," Harp visits the small town of Deary, ID, where he meets Kevin Durkin of Heritage Restorations, who is turning an old train car into an elegant guesthouse. The train car, which dates to the turn of the century, is really run down, but Durkin is determined to salvage this slice of history. Read on to see this train car morph from a decrepit eyesore into a delightful homea transformation packed with inspiration you may be able to use to preserve the history of your own abode, too. Old-fashioned colors can take you back in time Before: This train car needed a lot of work! Discovery+ When Harp arrives in Idaho, he meets with Durkin, as well as the train's owner, Webb French. Durkin and French are passionate about restoring this train to its former glory, and they want to do that by re-creating the train's original look, which they find in a history book. This, of course, includes matching the original paint colors. After: These classic colors transform this train car back to 1909, when the train was purchased. Discovery+ Durkin and French use remnants of the chipped paint found on the train to get inspiration for the new colors. While they explain that they aren't able to match every color perfectly, they are able to give the exterior a classic green and gold look the train car originally featured. They also use some classic colors on the inside, like a greenish-yellow accent in the new living room. This yellow-green is another era-appropriate color. Discovery+ "I dont know that I could take an entire room with this green," Harp says when standing in the new living room. "Yet in here, with this wood, in the time period, it totally works. This paint job serves as great inspiration for anyone hoping to give their old home back some classic charm. While some colors may not be popular nowparticularly in large dosesa little bit on an accent wall (or ceiling) can lend an old-fashioned feel to a space. The right light fixture really brings an era to life This light fixture was custom-made to match the original light. Discovery+ During the renovation, Durkin shows Harp an old photo of the trains original interior, which includes an elegant oil lamp hanging from the ceiling. Durkin shares his plans to re-create it. This light fixture was custom-made. HGTV Of course, this new handmade piece isn't actually an oil lamp. It's an electric fixture, but it's made out of copper, which makes it look old. Harp loves the new light, saying it'll really bring the old-school charm of our train car back to life. Imperfections in an original wood floor can be a plus These wood floors have some great character. Discovery+ While original wood floors in a house are sometimes too damaged to keep, this train car lucked out, with gorgeous wood flooring hidden under the carpet. Yet the floor is by no means in perfect condition: Durkin and French show Harp a section of wood in the old passenger area, which has mysterious markings likely dating to the days when loggers would ride the train in hard-heeled, spiky boots. "So theyd be sitting in a chair here," French says, "their feet would be hitting there, and all those little dots, those were the spikes. While the boots may have marked up the wood, they give the flooring character. By keeping these floors, Durkin and French prove that an original feature doesn't have to be perfect to be preserved. Sometimes, a little character just helps an old space feel special. A wood ceiling can add character, too Before: This wood ceiling needed to be cleaned up. Discovery+ While the wood floors make for a beautiful feature, the original wood ceiling on the baggage car is even better. "Youve got this beautiful curve up there," Harp says of the ceiling. He notes that the original builders could have simply built straight across, but chose to add this elegant curve. French points out that the pine wood used across the ceiling was once thought of as a lesser wood. "Here theyre using this heart pine on the ceiling, which people would be dying to have now," French says. "But back then it was, like, 'Well, lets use that in the freight room. We wont use that in the passenger car.' After: The pine ceiling is a stunning classic feature. Discovery+ Either way, the ceiling looks fantastic once it's redone. The wood adds some great character to the old baggage room (which French and Durkin turn into a bathroom and hallway), and the look gives the train car some extra historic charm. Not all historic elements should be saved These windows add a lot of extra light. Discovery+ When Harp first sees the train car, the windows are boarded up. Durkin points out that once the boards are removed, the train will receive lots of light from its large windows as well as a skylight feature known as a clerestory. French and Durkin had hoped to keep the original glass in these windows, but they decide to replace it with energy-efficient, double-paned glass. It's a shame they're not able to use the original glass, but French and Durkin know that sometimes it's best to make a home functional, even if it means sacrificing some historic pieces. This bedroom, which was once the mailroom, is made light and bright with all these windows. HGTV When the train car is finally finished, it's an impressive guesthouse. With a living room, a full bathroom, and a cozy bedroom, this space is functional as well as historically accurate. All aboard! The post Clint Harp of 'Fixer Upper' Fame Returns! Renovation Secrets From 'Restoration Road' appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. DUBLIN, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Market Analysis by Investor (Retail, Institutional), Fund, Sector, Region and Country (2020 Edition): Market Insights, COVID-19 Impact, Competition and Forecast to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report presents the analysis of the Global Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Market for the historical period of 2015-2019 and the forecast period of 2020-2025. According to the research report, the Global Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) market was valued at USD 38 trillion assets under management (AUM) in the year 2019 with Europe leading the regional market share. ESG is witnessing faster growth in most of the regions, with Europe showing signs of maturity, but ESG will account for a major share of the global AUM. With the growing focus on social responsibility globally, many investment management companies are including environmental, social, and governance aspects in their decision-making, aided by emerging technologies such as AI and advanced analytics. Among the Investor segment in the Environmental, Social and Governance market (Retail and Institutional) Institutional Investor segment leads the market. Institutional investors increasingly play a crucial capital allocation role in modern capital markets. Strong ESG performers will be better placed to reshape competitive advantage and, ultimately, create long-term value for the institutional investors. Increasing demand from institutional investors has contributed to the surge in the industry's assets under management (AUM) and revenue. Based on Fund (Public Equity, Fixed Income, Real Estate, Private Equity and Others), Public Equity segment gains a considerable share. In the Public Equity industry, ESG is becoming an important part of the decision-making process for investments. In 2017, the world's largest pension fund (Japan's Government Pension Investment Fund) with AUM of over 1.5 trillion announced their strategy to incorporate ESG factors as a top priority, and to allocate 10% of the general funds to sustainable investments. Based on Sector (Information Technology, Healthcare, Finance, Communication Service, Consumer Staples, Industry and Others), Information Technology segment gains a considerable share. Technology is enabling a transformational shift in ESG. The report tracks competitive developments, strategies and recent industry developments. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Scope and Methodology 1.1 Scope of the Report 1.2 Research Methodology 1.3 Executive Summary 2. Strategic Recommendations 3. Global Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Market Product Outlook 4. Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market: An Analysis 4.1 Market Size, By Value (AUM), Year 2015-2025 4.2 Market Growth Rate, Year 2015-2025 5. Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market Segmentation By Investor (By Value, AUM) 5.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market: By Investor 5.2 Retail - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 5.3 Institutional - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 6. Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market Segmentation By Fund (By Value, AUM) 6.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Environmental, Social and Governance: By Fund 6.2 Public Equity - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 6.3 Fixed Income - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 6.4 Real Estate - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 6.5 Private Equity - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 6.6 Others - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 7. Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market Segmentation By Sector (By Value) 7.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Environmental, Social and Governance: By Sector 7.2 Information Technology - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 7.3 Healthcare - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 7.4 Finance - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 7.5 Communication Service - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 7.6 Consumer Staples - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 7.7 Industry - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 7.8 Others - Market Size and Forecast (2020-2025) 8. Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market: Regional Analysis 8.1 Competitive Scenario of Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market: By Region 9. North America Environmental, Social and Governance Market: An Analysis (2020-2025) 10. Europe Environmental, Social and Governance Market: An Analysis (2020-2025) 11. Asia Pacific Environmental, Social and Governance Market: An Analysis (2020-2025) 12. Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market Dynamics 12.1 Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market Drivers 12.2 Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market Restraints 12.3 Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market Trends 13. Market Attractiveness and Strategic Analysis 13.1 Market Attractiveness 13.1.1 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market - By Investor, By Value (Year-2025) 13.1.2 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market - By Fund, By Value (Year-2025) 13.1.3 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market - By Sector, By Value (Year-2025) 13.1.4 Market Attractiveness Chart of Global Environmental, Social and Governance Market - By Region, By Value (Year-2025) 13.2 Strategic Analysis 13.2.1 Recent Industry Developments 14. Competitive Landscape 14.1 Market Share Analysis 14.2 Competitive Positioning (Leaders, Challengers, Followers, Niche Players) 15. Company Profiles (Business Description, Financial Analysis, Business Strategy) Amundi BlackRock BNP Paribas Asset Management Franklin Templeton Fulcrum Asset Management Goldman Sachs MSCI Inc. Neuberger Berman Refinitiv Schroders For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/jzf5fi Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Syracuse, N.Y. -- A plane being flown from Montreal to Washington, D.C., made an emergency landing at Syracuse Hancock International Airport on Thursday afternoon, according to Syracuse Fire Department Deputy Chief Bob Cussen. The United flight with 49 people aboard had an issue with its left reverse thruster while headed to Dulles International Airport and diverted to Syracuse, Cussen and airport authorities said. The plane landed safely. Onondaga County 911 dispatchers were notified about the issue at 2:38 p.m., according to Cussen. The fire departments airport unit was dispatched to a hangar where the plane had landed, he said. Because the flight was an international flight, the passengers were met by a U.S. Customs official, according to Cussen. 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. Gandhinagar, Jan 8 : In a reply sought by the Gujarat High Court on a PIL seeking prohibition on kite flying in Gujarat during the upcoming 'Uttarayan' or 'Makar Sankranti', the Gujarat government on Friday submitted a set of guidelines to be followed by the citizens during the kite flying festival. According to the guidelines, only family members would be allowed on their terraces during kite flying. The state government would also be strictly monitoring the market places such as Raipur Tankshaal, Naroda, among others with drone and CCTV cameras to stop gathering of crowds as well as banning the use of loudspeakers and sound systems on terraces. Representing the Gandhinagar Animal Welfare Foundation, one Maulik Mankad had filed a PIL on Tuesday in the Gujarat High Court seeking prohibition on the sale of kites and threads in Gujarat, as it led to large gatherings during 'Uttarayan'. The foundation wants a complete ban imposed on gatherings for kite flying at one place from January 9 to 17. The court had asked the government lawyer to take instructions from it and had scheduled the hearing on Friday. The Gujarat government through its advocate general, Kamal Trivedi, has assured that night curfew would be strictly implemented in Gujarat from January 11 to January 14. 'Uttarayan' or 'Makar Sankranti' falls on January 14 (Thursday) and January 15 (Friday), respectively. The Gujarat government has already decided to cancel its annual International Kite Festival held every year during the festival of 'Uttarayan'. The PIL said people also gather to get the kite threads coated with glass from street vendors. The people celebrated the festival with friends and families which raised the risk of coronavirus infection, the PIL added. The PIL also warned that vendors of kites and threads as well as those involved in coating the kite thread could become super-spreaders of Covid-19 in the present situation. The PIL submitted before the court that police patrolling and drone surveillance is required during Uttarayan, to enforce Covid safety guidelines, including masks, social distancing, among others. It also sought direction from the court to impose a ban on gatherings of more than four people at one place, whether it is on the terrace, footpath, or roads, for kite flying. The medical and paramedical staff were combating Covid-19 for the last nine months and unrestricted celebrations would add to their workload, the PIL added. Gujarat saw a huge spike in Covid cases post-Diwali, which is now coming under control after more than a month. The December quarter earnings season is here. IT heavyweight TCS will release its Q3 FY21 scorecard later today. As the factors like COVID-19 vaccines and economic recovery have already been factored in the market, quarterly earnings, along with the global cues, are expected to dictate the mood of the market in weeks to come. "We believe Q3 earnings and global cues would provide further direction to the markets. To start with, the Q3FY21 result of IT major TCS would be on participants radar," said Ajit Mishra, VP - Research, Religare Broking. Analysts are brokerages expect December quarter numbers to be healthy. "After the blockbuster Q2FY21 corporate earnings season, which was characterised by big beats and upgrades across our coverage universe, Q3FY21 earnings are likely to be healthy," said brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services. Motilal Oswal pointed out that the drivers of earnings are also changing at the margin, with Q3FY21 earnings expected to be led by cyclical sectors like metals and cement, even as healthcare is expected to post another solid quarter. "The festive season has aided the demand recovery, and with vaccination against COVID-19 set to begin in the next few weeks in India, we expect demand to sustain further," said the brokerage firm. Motilal Oswal expects PBT/PAT to grow by 20 percent/17 percent year-on-year (YoY) in Q3FY21 for companies under its coverage. Metals, cement, healthcare, consumer durables are expected to drive Q3FY21 earnings. Consumer, private banks, automobiles, and NBFCs are likely to post flattish earnings YoY. Capital goods, retail, and staffing are expected to post a YoY profit decline, Motilal Oswal said. As per the brokerage, sales for Nifty constituents are expected to decline by 2 percent YoY, while EBITDA/PBT/PAT should grow by 10 percent/9 percent/7 percent YoY. "Excluding cement and metals, Nifty earnings are expected to be flattish YoY. Motilal Oswal's universe, excluding OMCs, is likely to see a 260bp YoY expansion in operating margin," said the brokerage firm. The brokerage firm expects Nifty EPS to now grow by 11 percent in FY21 which is a solid performance given the unprecedented disruptions. "In FY22, we expect BFSI, auto, IT, and Reliance Industries to lead the earnings recovery. We also introduce our FY23E Nifty EPS at Rs 830," said Motilal Oswal. Kotak Institutional Equities (KIE) expects Q3FY21 net profits of KIE coverage universe to increase 47 percent YoY and 18 percent QoQ. It expects a strong YoY increase in the net income of (1) automobiles (strong pent-up demand and higher profitability), (2) banks (low slippages due to the ongoing freeze on NPL recognition; large loss of YES Bank in the base quarter), (3) construction materials (decent demand offsetting marginal price correction), (4) metals & mining (sharp increase in realisations) and (5) pharmaceuticals (increase in US revenues along with decent domestic growth) sectors. Kotak expects net profits of the BSE-30 index to increase 2 percent YoY and 12 percent QoQ and that of the Nifty50 index to increase 19 percent YoY and 19 percent QoQ. "We estimate EPS of the BSE30 index at Rs 1,632 for FY21 and Rs 2,046 for FY22 and of the Nifty50 index at Rs 494 for FY21 and Rs 632 for FY22," Kotak Institutional Equities said. Brokerage firm Antique Stock Broking has similar expectations from the Q3 earnings numbers. "Recovery in earnings momentum is expected to gain traction in Q3 as economic activities have started to normalize. Excluding financials and sectors with volatile earnings and one-offs like commodities and telecom -Nifty50 revenue/EBITDA/PBT/PAT YoY growth is expected to be 9.8 percent/18 percent/14.5 percent/13.3 percent (on the free-float basis)," Antique said. "Margin is expected to improve sharply from 18.2 percent to 19.5 percent mainly driven by metals and healthcare. Sectors which are expected to report sharp YoY earnings growth are metals, healthcare and cement, while earnings contraction is likely to be seen in NBFC and energy," Antique said. The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on Moneycontrol.com are their own and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. When a Twitter user defended Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis decision to dissolve the House of Representatives, another user commented that unless the prime ministers cadres, who acted like wasps (aringals), stopped glorifying him, the country would never move forward. Another user called the prime ministers supporters Hanumans pointing out how many were cheering PM Oli as he cracked a joked about Madhav Kumar Nepal and Pushpa Kamal Dahal at a party meeting. The words aringal and Hanuman, in the past year, have been widely used to describe people who support PM Oli. Some had even started calling them the PMs cyber soldiers. Former Home Minister Bhim Rawal recently commented how PM Olis cyber force had tried to defame him. In reply, NCP Oli factions leader Mahesh Basnet announced that his party indeed needed a cyber force to ensure that the partys image was not tarnished by lies spread by the opposition. Why cyber soldiers? We have had the Young Communist League (YCL) and Youth Force before. In todays age, we need a new force. A cyber force which will ensure that fake news doesnt alter peoples mindset, said Basnet speaking at a party event in Beni on Tuesday. Basnet, during the meeting, instructed the party cadres to form a force at the district level and added that the force would be a formal part of the party under its youth wing. The force will be mobilised by the youth leader of a district who will be selected by the youth wing. The aim is to clear peoples misconception about the prime minister and his party, Basnet tells Onlinekhabar. While this might be a new phenomenon in Nepal, cases like this are prevalent throughout the world. Even large democracies of the world like the US and India have had similar forces. There have been reports about how state-sponsored forces are manipulating public opinions on the internet. These forces in the West, who are referred to as trolls, spread disinformation on social media and try to influence the internets information system. An example is the mobilisation of Russian-sponsored trolls who aggressively exploited social media to influence the 2016 US elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party in India has similar forces that are highly nationalist and have Hindu right-wing views. These trolls, tend to attack anyone who appears to be against the government, the BJP and the nation. They not only attack the public but also well-known personalities including journalists like Barkha Dutt and Rajdeep Sardesai who experts say are among some of the most targeted in this country. The ruling NCP is planning to do something similar. The cyber force will be led by Basnet who is the partys in-charge for the National Youth Association, and Ramesh Paudel, the chair of the association. We dont want fake claims from the opposition to spread on social media. These fake claims will tarnish the partys image among the general public, says Paudel. The role of the force will be to provide the public with correct information about the role of the party/government and the work it is doing. This is the first time that a cyber force like this has been formed by a party in Nepal. Previously, former CIAA chief Lok Man Singh Karki and IGP Sarbendra Khanal had been accused of mobilising the cyber forces. Photo: Pexels/ Cottonbro Is it legal? The inclusion of the cyber force by Oli-led faction is cause for concern, warn experts. Many are concerned with the use of the term cyber sena (cyber soldiers). Information technology expert Narayan Koirala says it is wrong that a political party formed such a force from within the party. Had the force been formed to protect Nepali information from going abroad, it would have been a good thing. But, this seems like for the sole benefit of the political party, which is wrong, says Koirala. He says that it is illegal to mobilise such a force that did not work on the data security of the country. I think we should not be taking this lightly, he says. Advocate Baburam Aryal says that the reason that the mobilisation of such a force is wrong is it is made to attack the public who speaks against the government. The law does not allow for this. This sounds like a campaign to spread lies, not to stop lies, says Aryal. If such a thing is done, it is punishable by law. He added that it was wrong to use the internet to attack people in such a planned manner and it could be punishable by law. Political analyst Narayan Dhakal says this is the PMs way of self-defence when his party is being attacked by all after the decision to dissolve the House of Representatives. He says this gives out the message that the prime minister is scared. He must have felt that that state bodies did not do what he wanted them to do. Maybe that is why this force is being formed, says Dhakal. Another reason analysts say that the Oli-led faction is planning to deploy such a force is the ruling NCP is on the verge of a split. This is not the first time such a force has come to life in the Oli-led party. When Basnet was the chief of the CPN-UML youth wing in 2008, he had encouraged young party cadres and formed a youth force to fight against other parties, in particular the Maoists YCL. When Oli became the prime minister for a second time, he told his cadres to become wasps. Such comments were highly criticised by analysts and the public. Many say that the PM is intolerant towards others having a different opinion than his. A politician compares this move to the Panchayat system introduced King Mahendra Shah. Olis strategy seems similar to that of Mahendra, says the leader on the condition of anonymity. Mahendra too dissolved the parliament in 1960 and formed a youth wing who spoke and spread the message he wanted to disseminate amongst the public. That wing countered everything the public said against the government. TikTok personality Tony Lopez is denying accusations he tried to solicit two underage girls for sex, in a response to a pair of lawsuits claiming sexual battery and emotional distress. 'These allegations are not at all true,' Lopez, 21, told TMZ Thursday. 'This whole thing seems like a money grab to me. I'm going to fight it to the very end. I will not allow them to continue to slander my name and attack my character.' Lopez, 21, who appears on the format's Hype House, is accused of trying to meet up with two separate teenage girls for sex - aware they were minors - using social media and texts to communicate with them. The latest: TikTok personality Tony Lopez, 21, is denying accusations he tried to solicit two underage girls for sex, in a response to a pair of lawsuits claiming sexual battery and emotional distress Lopez's accusers identify themselves under the aliases H.L. Doe and C.H. Doe: His accuser H.L. claims they initially met on Jan. 4, 2020 and engaged in multiple sex acts, including oral sex and vaginal intercourse. H.L. told the court she initially told Lopez she was 16, later reveling to him she was a year younger, but that didn't stop him from having another sexual encounter with her a few weeks later at his Nevada residence. H.L. said in court docs that Lopez told her to keep their relationship under wraps and told her not to take any pictures with him. Lopez's other accuser C.H. said she was 16 when she met Lopez last April at the Hype House after its co-founder Thomas Petrou invited her there. Lopez told TMZ, 'I certainly wouldn't have sex with someone who told me they were underage' Lopez appears on theTiktok format Hype House, and has more than 7 million Instagram followers C.H. said she and Lopez traded texts and Snapchat handles, and Lopez asked her to 'Show me your boobs' and send other explicit images of her body; and that he sent her images of his genitals. She said that she repeatedly declined his offers for sex. Lopez told TMZ: 'I never sent nudes to these women and didn't ask them to send me pictures either. And, I certainly wouldn't have sex with someone who told me they were underage.' Hype House founders including Petrou and Chase Hudson are also named in the suit, with the plaintiffs claiming negligence amid the incident. Spains Health Minister Salvador Illa on January 7 said that the country will receive the first batch of the coronavirus vaccine developed by US-based pharmaceutical company Moderna in 7-10 days. The European Commission has authorised the Moderna vaccine, which became the second COVID vaccine approved by the bloc following the authorisation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Now, Spain is expected to receive 16-17 million doses, which will inoculate nearly 8.5 million people. While speaking at a press conference, Illa said, According to the information provided by the company, in the next 7-10 days, we will start receiving doses of this vaccine The signed contracts prescribed that in the next six weeks we will receive 600,000 doses. The European Medical Agency (EMA) has said that a very large clinical trial showed Modernas vaccine to be 94.1 per cent effective. The EU agency said that the trial included 30,000 people between 18 to 94 years of age. The trial proved the vaccine is safe and effective and also showed the efficacy of 90.9% in people with chronic lung disease, heart disease, obesity, liver disease, diabetes, or HIV infection. Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine is administered in two doses, 28 days apart. READ: COVID-19: European Union Recommends Authorisation Of Moderna's Vaccine READ: COVID-19: US May Halve Moderna's Vaccine Doses To Inoculate More People Sufficient for all Spanish citizens; Moderna will become the second coronavirus vaccine available in Spain. So far, the officials have distributed nearly 744,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine among various autonomous communities, but the vaccination process is comparatively slow as just over 139,000 vaccinations have been made since December 27. According to ANI, the countrys inoculation programme is divided into four stages and during the first stage, the vaccine will be given to residents and staff or nursing homes and facilities for handicapped people as well as medical personnel. Last month, Illa had said that there will be a sufficient number of doses available for all Spanish citizens. Meanwhile, Spain is one of the worst affected nations in the world and not just in Europe. The country has reported nearly two million infections so far, while over 51,000 people have lost their lives. The number of daily cases in the country began to rise in August and at its peak, Spain recorded nearly 20,000 cases on a single day, which occurred on October 19. However, the number of daily infections have now begun to come down with fluctuations every now and then. READ: Moderna's COVID-19 Vaccine Shows 94.1% Efficacy In Phase 3 Clinical Trial: Study READ: Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff Receive First Dose Of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Live On TV A view of La Soufreire from Rose Hall. It shows the volcano as it was last Wednesday, January 6. Persons residing in the areas near the La Soufriere volcano are being told to begin planning in the event an order to evacuate is executed. "We are encouraging persons to start making arrangements, we are not alarming anyone, Michele Forbes, Director of the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) said on January 3 on radio. The affected areas include Georgetown northwards to Fancy on the East, and the area from Belle Isle to Chateaubelair on the West. According to Forbes, Vincentians have been living with an active volcano and now it has gone into an eruptive phase. "We are not saying that it is going to happen, but there is the possibility . we are asking persons to be prepared, " since our volcano is such that it can become active quite quickly, Forbes said. "And we need to be ready and that is what we have been doing, she continued. She described the level of preparedness as high saying that various community groups have been meeting over the past week, and that there was the opportunity to test the evacuation process during the recent Trade Winds exercise. Forbes explained that there was a District Disaster Committee set up in each of the communities and these were presently active, reviewing plans and gathering information. Among the information that is being collected are: the number of persons without private transportation within the affected communities; pick up points for those in need of transport; and a list of persons who may need to evacuate and housed in designated shelters. Forbes explained that once an area has been evacuated, it becomes a restricted zone. Shelters Housing evacuees Regarding shelters, Forbes noted that designated hurricane shelters will be utilized, except for those within the danger zones. It was also mentioned that the Ministry of Tourism had come up with a list of guest houses within the safe zone some 85 guest houses offering up to 95 rooms. Neighbouring territories had also offered assistance in this regard. Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves confirmed that Prime Minister Gaston Browne of Antigua/Barbuda had indicated that a state-owned hotel with 500 rooms, currently unoccupied, would be made available. In addition, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet of St. Lucia had pledged to avail 350 rooms; Prime Minister Mia Mottley of Barbados initially offered 180 rooms; and Prime Ministers Roosevelt Skerrit of Dominica and Dr. Keith Mitchell of Grenada had committed to also providing space for evacuated persons. Information from the most recent Population and Housing Census Report (2012) suggest that there are about 16,000 persons residing in the affected areas, Forbes said. "This virus continues to write its own rules, and that means that we must continue to be adaptable in how we continue to fight it," he said. Loading "What we do know is that this new strain is some 70 per cent more transmissible than the previous strains of the virus. This strain is likely to become, in the very near future, the dominant strain [as it largely already is] in the UK," Mr Morrison said. He said that meant the three-day lockdown in Brisbane implemented by the Queensland Premier today was very important, as the case in the community there was "a serious situation". "[This strain] moves so quickly - far more quickly than previous strains of the virus - and that means we need to give our contact tracers that head start to ensure that they can track down and run down all of the contacts from this individual and ensure that they can be identified." Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said the Brisbane case had triggered the government to consider the city a Commonwealth hotspot. Loading "This is the very first time we've seen someone with this strain in the community in Australia. We've had some cases in hotel quarantine in the past weeks, but they've been controlled through that process," he said. "Our main issue is to keep Australians safe and to really make sure that this particular strain is not the one that becomes circulating in Australia. The reason is because it will be much more difficult to control," Professor Kelly said. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the country had a lot to learn from how the situation in Brisbane played out, but said today's lockdown would not be a blueprint for how the country deals with cases of the UK strain each time. "To lock in these positions [I think ] would be imprudent," he said. "I think we're going to learn a lot in the next three to five days. The whole world is trying to understand how this new strain works." "We've got a very live example in Brisbane, one of our major cities. Let's learn what we need to learn over the next few days. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There's no need to catastrophise this. But there is a very real need to address it seriously," Mr Morrison said, thanking everyone in Queensland for their patience. "I am advised and believe that this is the most prudent course of action to ensure that the great gains that have been made over the course of this last year are not put at risk by this most recent strain." Reduced international arrivals International arrivals will now have a weekly cap of 1505 in NSW; in Western Australia it will be 512 and in Queensland, arrivals will be capped at 500. There is no change in Victoria, which is already operating at less than half of its capacity. South Australia will also keep its intake of 490 people each week. The ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania only have "bespoke arrangements" for arrivals, Mr Morrison said. He said the arrival caps would automatically return to their previous levels on February 15. "This is a temporary suspension of those higher levels of intake, as we learn more about what's happening here and what's going around the world and this isn't the only new strain," he said. Professor Kelly said the major risk to Australia's COVID-19 response remained people arriving from overseas. He said in the UK about one in 50 people were currently an active COVID-19 case. "In Australia, it's about one in 85,000. There's a big difference there." Loading He said Friday's new measures would not be "silver bullets" in the country's pandemic response. "Each of them, though, incrementally increase the chances that we'll be able to keep this virus out of Australia, or at least recognise when it's arriving," Professor Paul Kelly said. The new requirement that people get tested for COVID-19 before boarding a flight to Australia means if they or their household contacts test positive, they will be denied uplift on the flight. Start the year right and sail with 2GO Travel! The Philippines largest premier sea travel provider is #READY2GO to take you on a summer escapade to Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu, and other domestic destinations for as low as P 799 one-way, inclusive of accommodations, 50-kg baggage allowance, meals, and insurance. Domestic travel is slowly picking up as more destinations are opening its borders. Now is the perfect time to plan your summer getaways as the best beaches in the country like Boracay, Palawan, and Cebu are now open to non-essential travelers, Assistant Vice President for Marketing Blessie Cruz said. Sail from Batangas to Caticlan and Roxas for only P 799, while routes from Manila to Bacolod, Cebu, Coron, Dumaguete, Iloilo, and Puerto Princesa are priced at .899. Meanwhile, trips from Manila to Butuan, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Ozamis, and Zamboanga are fixed at .1,199. Fare is exclusive of service fee. Ticket is non-refundable, but rebookable, subject to fare difference and applicable fees. Sale ends on January 10, 2021 for sailing from February 1 to June 30, 2021. #SafeTravels protocols are implemented from check-in, boarding, and disembarkation. General cleaning, disinfection, and sanitation are done religiously, especially on high-touch surfaces on all 2GO Travel vessels. Temperature checks and footbaths are conducted prior to onboarding. All passengers are required to download the Department of Transportations Traze application for automation of manual contact tracing through QR codes, submit health declaration forms, use personal protective equipment such as face masks and face shields, and to practice social distancing at all times. Travelers are also mandated to submit a negative RT-PCR (Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction or Swab) test before departure. The Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines are subsidizing 50 percent of the cost of RT-PCR tests for qualified domestic tourists. To qualify, register online at tpb.gov.ph/rtpcrphtravel, and submit a valid government-issued identification card, proof of hotel booking in a DOT-accredited accommodation, and proof of transportation ticket. The subsidy, which is open to all Filipinos and foreigners residing in the Philippines, serves as one of the recovery strategies of the DOTs Safe Bangon Turismo campaign to encourage the traveling public to rediscover places which have been declared open and safe by the Inter-Agency Task Force Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) and local government units. This is good news, and we definitely support this move to restore passenger confidence as well as to practice safe tourism. We are hoping that the COVID-19 vaccines will be made available to the public soon. We are also positive that the travel industry will bounce back this year, Cruz expressed, adding, Pinas, we are #READY2GO with you! To book your tickets, please visit 2GO Travels website, https://travel.2go.com.ph/, call our hotline (02) 8 528 7000, email us at travel@2GO.com.ph, or visit any 2GO outlet, SM Business Center, and Authorized Agent near you! Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Zaki-ur-Rehman (File image: Reuters/Anindito Mukherjee) Lashkar-e-Taiba leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, considered one of the masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, was sentenced to 5 years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan on January 8, according to a Reuters report. Lakhvi was found guilty of extending financial assistance to terrorists through various businesses. He was sentenced to five years concurrently on three separate counts of the same offence and was fined Pakistani Rupees 1 lakh for each count, Reuters reported. The United Nations-proscribed terrorist Lakhvi, 61, who was on bail since 2015 in the Mumbai attack case, was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province on January 2. "The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore convicted Lakhvi for commission of offences of terrorism financing in a case registered by the CTD for 15 years under different section of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997," news agency PTI quoted a court official as saying. Lakhvi pleaded before the court that he was falsely implicated in this case. Headquartered in Pakistan, LeT has been accused of carrying out multiple terror attacks in India, including the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. LeT has been designated as a terrorist organisation by several countries. Lakhvi is also on the Most Wanted list of India's National Investigation Agency (NIA). The 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 were launched by 10 foreign terrorists on multiple locations in Indias financial capital and had left 166 people dead and over 300 injured. (With inputs from agencies) PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. (NYSE American: IAF) (the "Fund"), a closed-end equity fund, today announced that it paid on January 8, 2021 a quarterly stock distribution of US$0.13 per share to all shareholders of record as of November 20, 2020 (ex-dividend date November 19, 2020). Your Fund's policy is to provide investors with a stable distribution rate. Each quarterly distribution will be paid out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital. This stock distribution was automatically paid in newly issued shares of the Fund unless otherwise instructed by the shareholder to be paid in cash. Shares of common stock were issued at the lower of the net asset value ("NAV") per share or the market price per share with a floor for the NAV of not less than 95% of the market price on December 21, 2020. The market price per share for this distribution was $5.30. Fractional shares were generally settled in cash, except for registered shareholders with book entry accounts at Computershare Investor Services who had whole and fractional shares added to their account. To have received the quarterly distribution payable in January 2021 in cash instead of shares of common stock, the bank, brokerage or nominee who holds the shares must have advised the Depository Trust Company as to their full and fractional share requirements by December 18, 2020 for shareholders who hold shares in "street name", and written notification for the election of cash by registered shareholders must have been received by Computershare Investor Services prior to December 18, 2020 for shares that are held in registered form. Under U.S. tax rules applicable to the Fund, the amount and character of distributable income for each fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related Rules, the Fund may be required to indicate to shareholders the source of certain distributions to shareholders. The following table sets forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distribution for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the Rules adopted thereunder. The table has been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The table includes estimated amounts and percentages for this distribution and for the cumulative distributions paid fiscal year to date (11/01/2020 11/30/2020), from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated composition of the distributions may vary from quarter to quarter because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies. Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Distribution per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Current Quarterly Distribution per share (%) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share ($) Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year to Date Cumulative Distributions per share (%) Net Investment Income $0.0026 2% $0.0026 2% Net Realized Short-Term Capital Gains* $0.0013 1% $0.0013 1% Net Realized Long-Term Capital Gains $0.0689 53% $0.0689 53% Return of Capital $0.0572 44% $0.0572 44% Total (per common share) $0.1300 100% $0.1300 100% *includes currency gains The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income." Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy"). The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions in 2020 will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes. The following table provides information regarding the Fund's total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Fund's annualized and cumulative distribution rates. Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 10/31/20201 7.61% Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV2 10.08% Fiscal Year to Date (11/01/2019 to 10/31/2020) Cumulative Total Return on NAV1 0.16% Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV2 10.08% 1Return data is net of all fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan. 2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of October 31, 2020. While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market. Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 30, 2010, the Fund may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Fund during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Fund, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received. Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the terms of the distribution policy. The final determination of the source of all distributions will be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report distributions for federal income tax purposes. The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. To the extent stockholders elect to receive cash under the Distribution Policy, there may be a resulting decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. Cash elections under the Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. The Fund's Board of Directors has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances. Circular 230 disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein. In the United States, Aberdeen Standard Investments is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments Australia Ltd., Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Standard Life Investments (Corporate Funds) Ltd. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the NAV of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact [email protected] aberdeeniaf.com SOURCE Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. Related Links http://www.aberdeeniaf.com Credit: CC0 Public Domain Working from home in Britain is expected to quintuple by 2025, intensifying a trend turbo-charged during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study by consulting firm Deloitte published Friday. After surveying 90 financial directors drawn from some of Britain's biggest companies, it found the global health crisis had "triggered fundamental and lasting changes in business". As many as 98 percent of those questioned predicted a rise in home-working in the coming years, while more than three-quarters expect the government's current order to work from home to continue through the first half of this year. Almost 60 percent expected the curbs on going to workplaces to be permanently lifted in the third quarter, as the country's Covid-19 mass-vaccination program progresses. The government imposed a third stay-at-home lockdown this week after a surge in infections linked to a new strain. It intends to review the measures in mid-February. Meanwhile, almost all chief financial officers (CFOs) surveyed expect personal taxes to increase, with nearly two-thirds predicting higher taxes on businesses and an increased state role following huge interventions to prop up the economy. "By and large, this massive forced experiment in home-working has been very successful," Ian Stewart, chief economist at Deloitte, told the Daily Telegraph. "Sectors have been able to maintain quite a high degree of effectiveness operating from home." Deloitte UK chief Richard Houston said even after the pandemic, CFOs anticipate greater home-working, diversification of supply chains and investment in technology. "CFOs are optimistic about operating in this changing world, with a return to growth expected this year," he said in a press release, while stressing most CFOs were keeping money back to guard against a prolonged lockdown and business uncertainty. Houston noted a Christmas Eve trade deal between Britain and the European Union ended one element of uncertainty and was preferrable to a "no-deal" Brexit. But he added CFOs "also recognize the challenges that leaving the EU may pose in the years ahead", noting the deal had little provision for professional and financial services. "These high-productivity sectors are major UK successes and make vital contributions to jobs and prosperity," Houston said, noting businesses urgently needed additional clarity on key issues. Explore further UK car sales crash to almost 30-year low 2021 AFP News from several countries across Central and Latin America has emerged in the past few days, with regulators laying out plans for the year to come. As reported by TeleGeography, Guatemalas Superintendence of Telecommunications (Superintendencia de Telecomunicaciones, SIT) issued a new resolution on 4th January. Resolution SIT-DSI-664-2020 is expected to lead to the auction of a 60MHz block of 700MHz spectrum at some point this year, marking the first major action from SITs new chief Marco Antonio Baten Ruiz, who took up his role on 29th December 2020. Uruguays state-owned provider Antel invested US$134 million into its operations across 2020, and confirmed that it intends to increase this figure to US$152 million for the coming year, reports local news outlet El Observador. The announcement was made by the firms president, Gabriel Gurmendez, who affirmed the operators goal of extending its 4G coverage to 99% of Uruguays territory. He acknowledged that full coverage would be achieved in 2022. In Brazil, IHS Towers has completed its acquisition of urban infrastructure and small cells provider Skysites Holdings, which operates approximately 1000 sites across the country. IHS noted that Skysites offered innovative small cell and cell pole solutions as well as exclusive access to tens of thousands of premium real estate locations in urban settings, bolstered by its extensive urban deployment experience. As reported by TeleGeography, Skysites is not the only Brazilian tower firm that IHS has acquired within the past year in February 2020, it completed the purchase of Cessao De Infraestruturas (Cell Site Solutions, CSS), a Sao Paulo-based infrastructure firm, from Goldman Sachs and Centaurus Capital. Finally, the start of the new year saw Argentinas regulator ENACOM (Ente Nacional de Comunicaciones) impose new restrictions on tariff increases, effective from 1st January. Consumer price increases have been capped at 5% for fixed-line and mobile operators as well as ISPs, while companies service SMEs and cooperatives are limited to tariff hikes of 8%. A statement from ENACOM said: With this regulation, it is sought to establish a balanced, affordable and quality access to ICT services, guaranteeing the human right to communication, as established by the regulation published in the Official Gazette and communicated to the public in a timely manner. Philadelphia 76ers guard Seth Curry reportedly tested positive for the dreaded coronavirus. With one team member reportedly inflicted with COVID-19, the team's travel plans have to change so that contact tracing can be carried out. According to various reports, the Sixers were informed of Curry's alleged positive test early in Thursday's game against the Nets in Brooklyn. Curry was not playing because he had an ankle injury but he was in the bench area for a part of the first quarter. Learning of the harrowing results reportedly compelled Curry to leave the bench. He needed to be isolated from the rest of the team. What's Next for the 76ers? Now that one of their key players are reportedly affected by the coronavirus, the Sixers will have to remain in New York overnight to commence contact tracing Friday. Supposedly, they have a scheduled game this Saturday in Philadelphia against the Denver Nuggets. But these have to be altered now. These changes however are yet unclear. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the team is presently in a quarantine in a New York Hotel. Seth Curry COVID-19: Complicated Contact Tracing Has to Start What is clear is that the situation could present complicated tracing issues for the league. Curry did come into contact with so many people before the COVID-19 positive diagnosis were made known. At the very least, Curry played 36 minutes in the Sixers' previous game Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards. The latter had now traveled to Boston to play the Celtics on Friday. The Nets reportedly will still continue with its travel to Memphis. There, they are scheduled to play the Grizzlies on Friday. Brooklyn is already without their star forward Kevin Durant up until at least Sunday because he was exposed to the unrelenting virus and had to complete the designated quarantine period. One saving grace from the whole thing is that Curry was wearing a mask during his time on the Sixers bench Thursday. Otherwise, the situation could be direr. He was also spotted sitting near Joel Embiid at one point. Since he had to quarantine himself so that he does not infect others in case he got the virus, Embiid, who has a 3-month-old son, told ESPN that certainly would quarantine himself away from his family. The rest of the team will undergo rigorous contact tracing. Seth Curry COVID-19, Fans Panic Naturally, fans react to the news with worry, not just for Seth Curry alone, but for all the players he had come into contact with, whether his own team players or members of other teams. Seth Curry got COVID bruh, today has been a rough week for my fantasy team :( Willy Billy (@williamxbuttler) January 8, 2021 READ MORE: 'Riverdale' Season 5: Sociopath Betty, Veronica Lodge's Husband, Bughead, and More Spoilers See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles New York: Pfizer Inc and BioNTech`s COVID-19 vaccine appeared to work against a key mutation in the highly transmissible new variants of the coronavirus discovered in Britain and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the U.S. drugmaker. The study by Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch, which has not yet been peer-reviewed, indicated the vaccine was effective in neutralizing virus with the so-called N501Y mutation of the spike protein. The mutation could be responsible for greater transmissibility and there had been concern it could also make the virus escape antibody neutralization elicited by the vaccine, said Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizer`s top viral vaccine scientists. The first results of tests on the variants offer a glimmer of hope while more studies are carried out as Britain and other countries try to tame the more infectious variants which authorities believe are driving a surge in infections that could overwhelm healthcare systems. The Pfizer-BioNTech study was conducted on blood taken from people who had been given the vaccine. Its findings are limited because it does not look at the full set of mutations found in either of the new variants of the rapidly spreading virus. Dormitzer said it was encouraging that the vaccine appears effective against the mutation, as well as 15 other mutations the company has previously tested against. "So we`ve now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact. That`s the good news," he said. "That doesn`t mean that the 17th won`t." Live TV Dormitzer said another mutation found in the South African variant, called the E484K mutation, was also concerning. The researchers plan to run similar tests to establish whether the vaccine is effective against other mutations found in the British and South African variants and hope to have more data within weeks. The variants are said by scientists to be more transmissible than previously dominant ones, but they are not thought to cause more serious illness. Scientists said the results of the study would help calm concerns that people will not be protected by vaccines being given to millions of people around the world in the fight against the pandemic, which has killed more than 1.8 million people and roiled economies. But they cautioned that more clinical tests and data are still needed to come to a definitive conclusion. "This is good news, mainly because it is not bad news," said Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. "So, yes this is good news, but it does not yet give us total confidence that the Pfizer (or other) vaccines will definitely give protection." AstraZeneca, Moderna and CureVac are also testing whether their shots work against the fast-spreading variants. They have said they expect them to be effective, but the timing of those studies are not known. A senior British lawmaker expressed concerns in an interview on Friday that COVID-19 vaccines might not work properly against the South African variant. He was not responding to questions about Friday`s data. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and the one from Moderna Inc, which use synthetic messenger RNA technology, can be quickly tweaked to address new mutations of a virus if necessary. Scientists have suggested the changes could be made in as little as six weeks. The variant is not the first of the pandemic to emerge and Eleanor Riley, professor of immunology and infectious disease at the University of Edinburgh, said these types of study will be needed as they appear. "It may be necessary to tweak the vaccine over time," she said. SACRAMENTO, Calif., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The California Lawyers Association (CLA) strongly condemns Wednesday's violent occupation of the United States Capitol during the constitutional process of certifying the Electoral College victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. A commitment to the rule of law, civility, and fairness in the administration of justice is at the heart of CLA's mission. Just as elected officials swear to "support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic," upon admission to practice, all California lawyers take an oath to "support the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of California." Usurping constitutional processes through violence undermines democracy. The Congressional consideration of the results of the Electoral College was proceeding in a bipartisan manner in a revered place when it was suddenly interrupted. While other incidents of violence have occurred at the Capitol, it has not been invaded and occupied since the British did so in the 1800s. We are grateful that law enforcement ultimately retook the Capitol and that the process of bipartisan certification of the Electoral College ultimately continued and concluded. But as lawyers, we must stand for the rule of law. Actions that terrorize representatives from both parties and prevent them from carrying out their role in the peaceful transition of power from one duly elected President and Vice President to the next cannot go unremarked. We condemn the violent takeover and interference with our government and will continue supporting all efforts to safeguard our republic and its over 231-year-old Constitution. About California Lawyers Association: Established in 2018, CLA is the bar association for all California attorneys. CLA's mission is to promote excellence, diversity and inclusion in the legal profession and fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law. SOURCE California Lawyers Association Related Links https://calawyers.org A third stimulus check would reportedly provide vital financial support for households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The $600 second stimulus checks directed by the most recent relief bill is an effort that has been denounced by a number of Republicans and Democrats as doing too little to help grappling families. Third Stimulus Check Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff had defeated incumbent Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler. This will reportedly ease the passage of another stimulus relief bill, which is supported by President-elect Joe Biden. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) may have already dashed to transfer you around two-thirds of the second stimulus checks. According to Chuck Schumer, the previous Senate minority leader, on Wednesday, "One of the first things that I want to do when our new Senators are seated is deliver the $2,000 checks to the American families," reported CNET. As of now, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has been the prime roadblock to increased stimulus payments. According to Biden, "If you send Jon and the Reverend to Washington, those $2,000 checks will go out the door. And if you send Sens. Perdue and Loeffler back to Washington, those checks will never get there. It's just that simple. The power is literally in your hands," reported WATE. The COVID-19 pandemic remains largely unchecked, with the United States transitioning from the holiday season and into the dead of winter. This reportedly has implications for the future economy. Also Read: Congress Certifies Biden as US President For Electoral College Win Georgia Republicans Perdue and Loeffler supported President Donald Trump's eleventh-hour proposal to bolster the size of stimulus checks from $600 to $2,000. The $600 bipartisan compromise had been regarded as a done deal and had won sweeping approval in the Senate and House following the White House's assurance to GOP leaders that President Trump supported it. On Monday, Joe Biden stated that $2,000 checks could "go out the door" soon when voters in Georgia gave a Democratic majority in the Senate, which has now transpired. Biden made such remarks regarding $2,000 checks at a Georgia campaign rally where Democrats were making efforts to unseat sitting Republican senators in a pair of Tuesday runoff elections. A so-called Economic Impact Payment would arrive on the heels of the latest relief measure, a $900 billion bill that the president delayed and condemned as "ridiculously low." A large question is whether lawmakers could push for $2,000 or $1,400 cash payments. The latter represents the difference between the $600 checks and the thwarted effort to increase them to $2,000 in the most recent bill. According to Ed Mills, an analyst with investment bank Raymond James, "We expect growing anticipation that Democrats will pursue additional stimulus, with a $2,000 check (or at least the remaining $1,400) as a leading item," reported CBS News. The president-elect had already made it clear that he supports a third stimulus check. However, prior to Monday, he had shied away from remarking how much he would support it upon taking office. He had suggested a $1,200 stimulus check modeled on the first stimulus check in his early presidential campaign. Over the previous few weeks, it has become apparent that Biden plans to push for a third stimulus check. Related Article: Trump's Hospital Price Transparency Rule Being Implemented @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "I grew up in Taipei, Taiwan, and immigrated here with my family in 1977. My mother's family was from Indonesia and my father's family was from China. "Every time there was a typhoon, an earthquake, or anything major happening anywhere in the region, whether it was Taiwan or Indonesia or wherever, you would always hear: 'The Red Cross was there.' "And as a kid, I really didn't understand much about disaster operations, but I knew that the Red Cross was the organization that helped people when people needed it the most." Josie Tong (pictured above, center) became a donor in the early 1980s and started volunteering for the American Red Cross in 2008. She has been on the Board of the Los Angeles Region since 2018. She says that an outing to visit a nuclear submarine in San Diego with other Tiffany Circle members inspired her to join this community of philanthropic women leaders in 2014. "This group of women come from all kinds of backgrounds, with all kinds of stories. We might have different interests, but we all believe in human dignity for all and are dedicated to the mission of the Red Cross. These Tiffany Circle members constantly inspire me to be better and to do more." WASHINGTON - Inside the U.S. Capitol, the rioters were in charge. Trump supporters were roaming freely, carrying off furniture. Capitol Police had not asked other law enforcement agencies for help until their building was surrounded by a mob seeking to overturn the election results. Now, their officers were exhausted and injured. Their chief was down the street, in the department command center, and a police commander on the scene was pacing in a circle. Top congressional leaders, hidden in secure rooms, were calling the governors of Maryland and Virginia directly to plead for help. At last, reinforcements arrived: District of Columbia police officers, who wear an image of the Capitol building on their department's official patch, but rarely enter the building itself. "What we did do was restore democracy for all of America," District Police Chief Robert Contee III said. On Thursday, a day after hundreds of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed and ransacked the Capitol, lawmakers and police officials were still trying to understand the cascade of failures that caused the Capitol Police force - a city-size police department focused on a single complex - to let that building fall. Those failures began days before the attack, when law enforcement agencies across Washington failed to prepare for an assaulton the Capitol - even as Trump supporters openly plotted one online. They were compounded by the slow response on the day of the siege, when Capitol Police and other federal agencies did not head off a mass of Trump supporters who descended on the Capitol, egged on by the president himself, and command within the complex broke down. "How could they fail so miserably? [The mob] could have blown the building up. They could have killed us all," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., a longtime Trump ally. Photo by Amanda Andrade-Rhoades for The Washington Post No lawmakers were hurt. But four people died during the Capitol breach, including one woman who was fatally shot by police as she tried to break through to a room next to the House chamber. The recriminations were swift. On Thursday, three of Congress's top security officials - Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving and Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger - had resigned or were set to. Neither Irving nor Stenger, both Secret Service veterans, or Sund, who was previously a top District police official, responded to requests for comment. Before the news broke Thursday that he will resign on Jan. 16, Sund said in a statement that the Capitol Police had prepared a "robust plan" for Wednesday. But, Sund said, they had readied for a demonstration - and instead were confronted with "criminal riotous behavior." On Thursday, District officials said that their department had brought order out of chaos - a striking reversal of roles for the federal government and the city that surrounds it. City officials - who have sometimes been treated with condescension by federal leaders - said they had saved the building when the feds had failed. "There was no intelligence that suggested there would be a breach of the U.S. Capitol," Contee said Thursday. But law enforcement experts said they were stunned that the Capitol had been left so undefended, noting several factors that contributed to the mayhem. While District police, major federal law enforcement agencies and neighboring police departments have agreements to assist each other in cases of emergencies, the Capitol Police did not make early requests for mutual aid with the District National Guard or District police, according to people familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe security preparations. And unlike other major government events like inaugurations, there was no large-scale frozen security zone around the building, and Justice Department officials did not create a multiagency command center. Instead, both federal law enforcement agencies and National Guard troops kept a low profile, scarred by criticism of their involvement in the response to protests after the death of George Floyd last summer. And there appeared to be minimal efforts to build a secure perimeter around the Capitol. It wasn't until Thursday morning that fencing went up around the complex. "The police should have defined a hard line and there should have been consequences for crossing it," said Frank Larkin, former Senate sergeant at arms who has planned for many security threats to the Capitol. "The fight should have been outside. Not inside. To have that confrontation at the door, that was a losing formula." There had been signs that Wednesday's protests could turn violent. Pro-Trump Internet forums had been full of posts promising violence. Trump had cast Congress - which was about to formalize his defeat in the 2020 election - as the target. So why would an attack against Congress be out of the question? "You didn't need intelligence. You just needed to read the newspaper," said Michael Chertoff, who served as Homeland Security secretary from 2005 to 2009 under President George W. Bush. "They were advertising, 'Let's go wild. Bring your guns.' You don't need to have an FBI investigation. You just need to be able to be able to read." When Wednesday arrived, Washington looked very different than it had during the Floyd protests last summer, when officers in riot gear filled the streets and then-Attorney General William Barr supervised from a Justice Department command center. That reaction was criticized as excessive, but it followed some key police precepts. Create a security zone with heavy fencing, and come down hard on anyone who tries to enter. Build multiple lines of defense, so a breach of one line doesn't start a rout. And keep a clear chain of command. At the Capitol on Wednesday, by contrast, the grounds were guarded in some places only by low pieces of fencing and officers in street uniforms. About 1 p.m., with crowds gathering outside the building, Sund requested help from District police, according to people familiar with the appeal. District police sent reinforcements to the outside of the building. It wasn't enough. When the first attackers arrived, according to videos taken by witnesses, they picked up the fences, hit the officers with them, and kept going. Police officers simply ran with them, routed already. Some officers ran toward the main entry doors at the top of a series of stairs, trying unsuccessfully to block a rush of protesters who breached the fallen barricades below. Some stood exhausted from battling the group's repeated assaults and efforts to attack them with pipes and bike racks. By 1:50 p.m., video appeared on Facebook of protesters pushing against barricades on the north side of the Capitol. By 1:58 p.m., the crowd was pushing a barricade out of the way, leaving a gaping hole for protesters to flood toward the complex. Within minutes, protesters were on the steps, and by 2:15 p.m., 26 minutes after the riot started, the mob breached the building. In a short period, Capitol Police officers were overrun. For a time, the head of the Capitol Police union said Thursday, they had to choose between protecting their building and getting members of Congress, staff and reporters out. "Once the breach of the Capitol building was inevitable, we prioritized lives over property, leading people to safety," Gus Papathanasiou, head of the Capitol Police union, said in a statement. He said the union wanted Sund and his entire command staff to resign. "This lack of planning led to the greatest breach of the U.S. Capitol since the War of 1812," when British forces burned the Capitol, Papathanasiou said. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association, said he worried that the lack of preparedness was rooted in police's perception of the crowd. He said officers might have seen a largely White group as inherently less hostile. "They see Black Lives Matter and go 'Oh my God, we've got to be ready.' But, hey, these people have their blue lives matter flags all over the place," which made them seem pro-police, Acevedo said. "And that bias and that false sense of security bit them. And it bit them in a historical fashion yesterday." "It is a monumental failure," Acevedo said of the response. Inside the Capitol, it seemed like no help was coming. The mob roamed freely in many cases, ransacking offices and destroying furniture. By early Wednesday afternoon, Sund made an urgent plea for backup from the District National Guard during a call with top Pentagon and city officials, according to officials familiar with the call. But Defense officials balked, concerns about the "optics" of soldiers inside the Capitol building, two District officials said. During the melee, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said he got a call from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who was in a secure location under police protection. "I was actually on the phone with Leader Hoyer who was pleading with us to send the Guard," Hogan said Thursday. But the governor said he was initially stymied: Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, was repeatedly rebuffed by the Defense Department. Hoyer "was yelling across the room to [Senate Minority Leader Charles E.] Schumer and they were back and forth saying, we do have the authorization and I'm saying, 'I'm telling you we do not have the authorization,' " Hogan recalled. It wasn't until about 90 minutes later that the secretary of the Army called asking the Maryland guardsmen to "come as soon as possible," the governor said. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, said he also got a call on his cellphone Wednesday. "It showed up, 'Nancy Pelosi,' " he said, recalling his surprise. "She was really concerned. She said they needed help and I assured her that we had deployed the Guard and we'd sent the Virginia State Police. She said, 'Ralph, there's glass being broken around me. I've heard there's been gunfire. We're just very, very concerned right now.' " Northam said he mobilized Virginia National Guard units. They did not arrive at the Capitol until Thursday morning, long after the breach was over. Virginia also sent state police troopers, who arrived earlier. At a news conference Thursday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who along with the acting defense secretary was commanding the District Guard on the president's behalf, defended the Pentagon's handling of the requests for backup from the Capitol Police and congressional lawmakers. He said a contingent of guardsmen already deployed were taken off their traffic posts, moved back to the armory to put on riot gear and then sent back to Capitol within two hours after a request for additional assistance was made. (Defense officials later activated the full District Guard.) Inside the Capitol, police who had lost control of the building sought to defend smaller and smaller pockets - like the House chamber itself. Inside the Speaker's Lobby - an ornate antechamber that opens onto the House floor - police had barricaded the door with chairs and furniture. The rioters broke a window, and a California woman name Ashli Babbitt sought to climb through. Officers shouted at her to stop. Behind her, in the chaos, were other Capitol Police officers in tactical gear and some Hill staff. Then, from inside the lobby, a plainclothes Capitol Police stepped out from a protected corner and fired his pistol at Babbitt. The bullet hit her in the neck, and Babbitt fell back through the hole, onto the ground. Capitol Police had been warned that some in the mob surrounding the Capitol were surreptitiously carrying firearms. Babbitt, two law enforcement officials said, was unarmed. She died later. Three other people died during the protests, one of a stroke and the other two of unspecified medical emergencies. Eva Malecki, a spokeswoman for the U.S.Capitol Police, declined to answer questions about the shooting. The incident is being investigated by the District Metropolitan Police internal affairs division, which has jurisdiction to investigate all officer-related shootings that occur in the District. After rioters were already inside the building, the District police reinforcements, led by a District police officer, Inspector Robert Glover, began to take charge inside the Capitol itself. To start, he sent a contingent of Capitol Police and District officers to retake the Capitol's famed Statuary Hall - which one officer said was "like a mosh pit" full of shoving rioters. Then he sent officers to make a floor-by-floor search, corralling rioters and escorting them out. "If it wasn't for Inspector Glover, we would have probably lost both chambers to looting and had a complete overtaking of the building," the officer on the scene said. The officer spoke on the condition of anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the news media. Gradually, other federal law enforcement officers and National Guardsmen also began to arrive. The Capitol was cleared and the Senate and House sessions resumed about 7 p.m. On Thursday, lawmakers said they would investigate how the Capitol Police failed - and why it took so long for others, including the Pentagon, to send reinforcements. "These are taxpayer dollars that are being used to pay these officers and to fund the United States military," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., noting that three officials in the line of presidential succession - Vice President Mike Pence, Pelosi and Senate President Pro Tempore Charles Grassley, R-Iowa - were all inside the Capitol when it was breached. "Taxpayers deserve to know why were unable to defend the capitol from attack, why it took only an hour for a handful of ragamuffin, half-armed protesters to enter the building and pose a grave threat to the continuity of democracy." Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, who leads the House committee that controls appropriations for Capitol Police said in a news conference that the more he learned, the more he had become "livid" about the failure of police planning, intel-gathering and federal command and control around the protest. He said he anticipated an investigation in the vein of those Congress launched in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The attacks on Wednesday, Ryan said, had "broken the veil of protection" around one of the shrines of American democracy. "We are never going to look at the Capitol the same way again," Ryan said. - - - The Washington Post's Maria Sacchetti, Devlin Barrett, Paul Sonne, Tom Jackman, Rachel Weiner, Ovetta Wiggins, Laura Vozzella and Colby Itkowitz contributed to this report. Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu voiced his conviction on Friday that President Klaus Iohannis has to "imperatively" call on the Government, at the upcoming meeting at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace, not to sell Romanian companies "for nothing." "For a year we did not allow this right-wing government, which has bankrupted Romania, to sell everything from home! We fought with them in Parliament and we managed to stop the sale of the assets of the most profitable state companies: Hidroelectrica, Romgaz, Nuclearelectrica, Transgaz, CEC and Bucharest Airports. Now, however, because he knows that soon no one will lend him, Citu [Prime Minister Florin Citu - editor's note] wants to make a new assault on national wealth and ignore PSD law that blocked him from selling the assets in full health and economic crisis. 10 billion euros and almost 18,000 employees. This is Citu's stake. I warn Iohannis not to be a party to this theft! And to take heed that we will not allow them now, either," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook. President Klaus Iohannis will have a meeting on Friday, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace with Prime Minister Florin Citu and the ministers proposed by the National Liberal party (PNL) in the cabinet.These are Minister of National Defense Nicolae Ciuca, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu, Minister of Finance Alexandru Nazare, Minister of Interior Lucian Bode, Minister of Education Sorin Cimpeanu, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Raluca Turcan, Energy Minister Virgil Popescu, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Adrian Oros, and Minister of Culture Bogdan Gheorghiu.According to the Presidential Administration, the meeting of the head of state with members of the Government will take place at 12:00 hrs.On Thursday, President Iohannis had a meeting with Prime Minister Florin Citu and cabinet members from the Save Romania Union - Freedom, Unity and Solidarity Party (USR PLUS). YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. As a result of the heaviest fighting since the early 1990s, approximately 90,000 people were displaced from the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone to Armenia between 27 September and 9 November 2020, 88% of whom being women and children, the UN Office in Armenia said in a news release. The UN in Armenia quickly mobilized a response and from early October began complementing Government humanitarian support provided by ten priority municipalities as well as the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs to those displaced. The UN together with its donor partners has provided support across a range of critical needs for those displaced and host communities: In particular, from 15 October until now, the UN agencies and partners have responded with the distribution of 33,330 non-food items, including bedding items, towels, hygiene supplies, and household items. A total of 6,800 individual kits and 805 family kits were distributed in various locations, including Yerevan. 500 packages of baby diapers were provided to spontaneous arrivals from Nagorno-Karabakh in Goris, Sisian and Kapan. As part of the winterization response, 1,475 bedding kits, including bed linen, pillows and winter blankets, were distributed in Dilijan, Sisian and Kapan. Additional 21,000 winter blankets and 648 heaters were distributed across different regions. 2,250 children in Vardenis, Kotyak, Hrazdan and Goris benefited from warm clothing. In response to shelter needs, 1,000 foldable beds have been distributed to families mainly in Gegharkunik, Tavush, Syunik and Kotyak. In addition, the payment of utilities costs for 64 facilities was covered. A child protection hotline and helpline for social service workforce professionals was established, providing 24/7 response, advice and guidance on child protection cases. 940 social service workforce professionals (social workers, teachers, school psychologists, youth workers) were trained and skilled to be able to provide psychological first aid and mental health and psychosocial support. 355 children, 520 adolescents, and 394 parents have benefited from mental health and psychosocial support, including through individual and group interventions, art and music. 1,257 people received case management support, including referrals and provision of care packages. 25 adolescents from Nagorno-Karabakh were trained as peer support volunteers for continuous provision of mental health and psychosocial support to adolescents. 100 at-home art kits were distributed to the most vulnerable adolescents. To address education needs 11,500 displaced school-age children from Nagorno-Karabakh who are currently enrolled in secondary education in Armenia were supported. Peer-to-peer learning was initiated through a network of peer educators for 100 students from Nagorno-Karabakh located in Armavir. To alleviate Food Security and Nutrition issues, assistance reached 17,965 people with hundreds of metric tons of food assistance in November and December. The UN and partners supported the Ministry of Healths efforts in providing health services to both citizens of Armenia and the spontaneous arrivals, for example 100 Oxygen Concentrators and other COVID-19 supplies were provided to the Ministry. A UK Emergency medical team was deployed in Armenia for case management and on-the-job training in the Surb Grigor Lusarovich medical center and the National Center of Infectious Diseases. When in the heck did I get so old? Never, ever in a hundred million years would I think that I would become set in my ways. Im not just set in my ways, Im cemented in them. That realization struck home when I recently had to retire the recliner that I normally set in. Since my semi-retirement, mobility issues, and the pandemic, I have come to basically live in my recliner. I sit in it to watch television. I sit in it to watch movies on my portable DVD player. It is where I sit to write articles and columns. That chair is also where I fall asleep the easiest and get my best sleep. It was the chair I sat in watching news reports on the Iraq war, and worried about my sons safety as an Army soldier over there. And, it was the chair I sat in when I couldnt sleep when I was mourning his death. It was the chair I sat in when I was sick from chemo treatments when I had cancer. I bought the chair in 2001. I dont remember what I paid for it any more, but I can brag that I got my moneys worth from how much I have used it, and how much I miss it. Overall the chair held up pretty well, until I lost my balance and fell backwards in it. That broke one of the springs. The chair has never been the same since then. Every few days I had to adjust the cushions over the spring. I finally bit the bullet Sunday and had my son take the old chair out and replace it with a back up chair I bought a few months ago when it realized the chairs demise was imminent. Its a nice chair. It is quality made. To me it isnt as comfortable as my old chair, and it just isnt the chair that I have come to love, live in, and that saw me through various events in my life. I want my old chair back. My son, who knows me so well, broke my old chair apart. He said he had to do that to get it out of the house. Liar, liar pants on fire! It came into the house in one piece by the delivery men. Im desperately worried about the impact the new chair will have on my life. Will I enjoy sitting in it for hours at a time watching television? Will I be able to sleep in it like I could the other chair? But, mostly, will I still be as comfortable to write like I had been? That is my biggest concern is the impact it will have on my writing. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Novavax Inc. (NVAX) said that it has executed an advance purchase agreement with the Commonwealth of Australia for 51 million doses of the company's COVID-19 vaccine. It follows an agreement in principle that was announced in November 2020. Additional terms of the agreement were not disclosed. NVX-CoV2373, Novavax' COVID-19 vaccine candidate, is a recombinant protein vaccine adjuvanted with Novavax' proprietary Matrix-M to enhance the immune response. Novavax is currently conducting late-stage clinical studies to demonstrate the efficacy, safety and immunogenicity of NVX-CoV2373 for the prevention of COVID-19. It includes two large pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials in the United States/Mexico and in the United Kingdom, as well as a Phase 2b trial in South Africa. Novavax said it will work with Australia's regulatory agency, the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA), to obtain product approvals upon demonstrating efficacy in clinical studies. The company aims to deliver initial doses by mid-2021. As part of the agreement, Australia will have the option to purchase up to an additional 10 million doses. In late-December, Novavax began a late-stage trial of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate NVX-CoV2373 in the U.S. The drug maker had delayed the trial twice due to issues in scaling up the manufacturing process. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX NOVAVAX-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de The IT services industry hired around 81,000 people in the last two months of 2020, according to hiring agencies. The hiring came on the back of high demand from tech service companies and global firms. There was a 10 per cent increase in hiring by technology service companies, captive centres and business process management (BPM) companies in December alone as compared to the year-ago period, according to IT-BPM recruitment research firm Han Digital. In 2019, the industry hired 75,000 people in November-December. Saran Balasundaram, founder and chief executive officer of Han Digital told The Economic Times that usually IT-BPM sector's onboarding number is relatively lesser in December but in 2020 December onboarding was 10 per cent higher while November numbers were almost equal to the previous year. Custom Application Development, Digital Engineering, Product Engineering, Infrastructure support and BPM were the top picks. The firm expects the industry to undertake minimum recruitment of 160,000 considering high attrition of around 16-18 per cent this year. The analysts said that there has been a surge of hiring of freshers in the last two months. Sangeeta Gupta, chief strategy officer of industry body Nasscom said that the IT-BPM industry will end the year with a significant net employee addition despite the impact of the pandemic on businesses. Ideally, IT services hire freshers in the period of January-March and the first quarter of the fiscal year. Kamal Karanth, co-founder of specialist staffing agency Xpheno, said that some of the captive centres in the financial services and banking space added nearly 2,000 people each last year despite the pandemic. Also read: Hiring activity rises 14% in December, to see an upward swing this year: experts Also read: Michelin to axe 2,300 jobs over three years as part of competitiveness plan in France Seoul, Jan 8 (IANS Samsung Motors Corp said it will reduce the number of executives and their salaries as the company has entered emergency management amid the Covid -19 pandemic. The South Korean unit of SA has suffered a sharp decline in sales due to lack of new models and the pandemic's impact on production and sales. The company plans to cut the number of executives by 40 per cent to 30 and pay by 20 per cent starting in January, a spokesman said over the phone. It reportedly may consider offering a voluntary retirement program to employees. Samsung reported an operating loss for the first time in eight years last year as its sales fell 35 per cent to 116,166 vehicles from 177,450 units a year earlier, reports Yonhap news agency. Its domestic sales rose 11 per cent to 95,939 units from 86,859 during the same period, but exports plunged 78 percent to 20,227 autos from 90,591. That's mainly because the company stopped production of the Nissan Rogue SUV at the Busan plant in March last year. Moreover, it suspended the operation of its sole plant in Busan, 450 km southeast of Seoul, during Sept. 25-Oct. 18, several days in November and December to control its inventory. The company expects the planned exports of the XM3 SUV to Europe this year will help improve its lacklustre sales. It began to produce the XM3 in Busan for local sales in September. The company's current passenger car lineup includes the all-electric SM3 Z.E. sedan, the SM6 sedan, the XM3 SUV and the QM6 SUV. Renault holds an 81 per cent stake in Renault Samsung. --IANS na/ (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.) A lawmaker from West Virginia and a man who broke into Speaker Nancy Pelosis office and posed at a desk there were among those arrested on charges related to the siege at the Capitol, federal law enforcement officials announced on Friday as they promised an exhaustive investigation into the violence. The authorities also found 11 Molotov cocktails and a semiautomatic rifle in the truck of a 70-year-old man from Alabama who was also arrested, according to prosecutors. He also had two handguns. Hundreds of prosecutors and F.B.I. agents have been assigned to work the investigation and were pursuing dozens of cases, Ken Kohl, a prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys office in Washington, said in a briefing with reporters. We are far from done, added Steven M. DAntuono, who runs the F.B.I.s Washington field office. Federal law enforcement officials have charged at least 13 people, the Justice Department said in a news release later Friday, several on charges of unlawful entry. Washington police have also arrested dozens, mostly on charges of unlawful entry and curfew violations. The United States Capitol Police announced the arrests of 14 other people on Thursday. Crisis in federal government and the Republican party in particular has been at fever pitch since a violent mob of Donald Trump supporters - many of whom were right-wing extremists from groups such as the Proud Boys and QAnon - stormed, trashed and looted the Capitol building in historic unrest on Wednesday night. The violence escalated after a demonstration took place in Washington Wednesday afternoon, over baseless election fraud claims that the president and his aides have purported since he lost the 3 November election. The surrounding rhetoric and misinformation lead many supporters to wrongfully believe that the election has been stolen by Joe Biden. Five people have now been confirmed dead including one Capitol police officer, as a result of the political violence in the Capitol, with up to 80 arrests already made. World leaders and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have condemned the extraordinary events and particularly Trumps part in fanning the flames. As well as a wave of resignations in cabinet, a number of Republicans have now spoken out against the president and called for him to be removed from office. Why has Betty DeVos handed in her resignation? In a resignation letter dated Thursday 7 January, DeVos said that she believed President Donald Trump's role in spurring on the mob that breached the US Capitol on Wednesday to be "the inflection point," and expressed concern for the example the president is setting for the country's next generation. The Education Secretary called the rioters' behaviour "unconscionable" and spoke directly to Trump "there is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me.impressionable children are watching all of this, and they are learning from us," she added. "I believe we each have a moral obligation to exercise good judgment and model the behaviour we hope they would emulate. They must know from us that America is greater than what transpired yesterday." DeVos resignation: not the first, may not be the last On Thursday morning Elaine Chao, Trumps transport secretary and wife of former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, announced that she would be resigning her post. Chao became the first cabinet member to leave the White House over the events in the Capitol and her willingness to do so, so close to the end of Trumps term, show the strength of feeling. In her statement she wrote, As Im sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside. Another key figure to have left the White House is Mick Mulvaney, Trumps former acting chief of staff who told a CNBC interview on Thursday: I cant do it. I cant stay. Mulvaney was serving as special envoy to Northern Ireland when he informed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo of his decision and adds that many others are considering a similar stand. He told CNBC: Those who choose to stay, and I have talked with some of them, are choosing to stay because theyre worried the president might put someone worse in. Trump U-turns twice on public messaging amid inner conflict Trumps flip-flopping between messages of support, validation and even love for the rioters or domestic terrorists and their denunciation seems to stem from an inner tussle within the president to avoid a steady trickle of protest mass GOP resignations and a desperate attempt to salvage whats left of the presidents withered ego to his extremist base. Once his Twitter account was reinstated on Thursday following a brief suspension, Trump first posted a video addressing the rioters contradicting his appreciative message of Wednesday night. This time Trump came down much harder on followers who stormed the Capitol saying that he was he was outraged by the heinous attack, and that those who broke the law would pay. Then Friday afternoon following backlash online from the rioters who expressed hurt and betrayal by Trump after they risked their lives for him, Trump again performed a U-turn, promising that nobody who voted for him would be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form. For all the latest on this story as it develops, follow our dedicated rolling feed. (Newser) Calling them "completely untrustworthy," Iran has prohibited importing coronavirus vaccines produced by the US or Britain. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made the announcement Friday in a televised address, the Guardian reports. "It's not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations," he said. Mentioning the Pfizer vaccine, Khamenei said he'd already informed Iranian officials of his decision, per the Washington Post. "Given our experience with Frances HIV-tainted blood supplies," he said in his speech, "French vaccines aren't trustworthy either." In those cases, prosecutors said people were infected when they received transfusions of HIV-tainted blood that came from France. story continues below The decision won't help Iran's efforts to get vaccines, which are also impeded by the financial sanctions imposed by the US. Iran said it has produced its own coronavirus vaccine, but only seven people have received it. Phase 1 clinical trials will start soon, the government said, which will include 56 volunteers. Khamenei also said Iran could get vaccines "from other reliable places" but didn't say which countries, per Reuters. Iran has reported that the coronavirus has infected nearly 1.3 million people and killed almost 56,000, the highest numbers in the Middle East. (American philanthropists were planning to send the Pfizer vaccine to Iran.) Non-violent offenders serving time for drug use or possession should be freed immediately and their convictions erased, according to research published in the peer-reviewed The American Journal of Bioethics. More than 60 international experts including bioethicists, psychologists and drug experts have joined forces to call for an end to the war on drugs which they argue feeds racism. All drugs currently deemed illiciteven crack cocaine and heroinshould be decriminalized as a matter of urgency, according to this new alliance. Legalisation and regulation should then follow with restrictions on age, advertising and licensing, they say. They have analysed evidence from over 150 studies and reports, concluding that prohibition unfairly affects Black people, damages communities, and violates the right to life as illustrated by the killing of medical worker Breonna Taylor in March 2020. "The 'war on drugs' has explicitly racist roots and continues to disproportionately target certain communities of color," say lead study authors Brian D. Earp from the University of Oxford and Jonathan Lewis from Dublin City University. "Drug prohibition and criminalization have been costly and ineffective since their inception. It's time for these failed policies to end. "The first step is to decriminalize the personal use and possession of small amounts of all drugs currently deemed to be illicit, and to legalize and regulate cannabis. Policymakers should pursue these changes without further delay." Their research adds to growing calls for drug policy reform at a time of renewed focus on injustices faced by Black people, and cannabis legalisation for recreational use by a growing list of US states. The study is based on evidence from existing research into how drug prohibition affects users, communities and human rights, and the impact of decriminalisation by governments. The authors found that prohibition motivates individuals to commit offences such as burglaries to fund their habit. This lowers life expectancy because people end up in prison, and triggers a 'multitude' of health-related costs from unsafe drug use. Communities are damaged by illicit markets which undermine drug purity, with Black and Hispanic men more likely to end up in the criminal justice system. The war on drugs makes people more vulnerable to violations of their rights including what they choose to put in their bodies. In contrast, the study highlights the liberal approach of countries such as Portugal where drug-related deaths have fallen and where users are encouraged to seek treatment. An estimated 43.5bn ($58bn) could be generated in federal, state and local tax revenues through the legalization of drugs, according to the findings. This compares with an annual federal, state and local spend of more than 35bn ($47bn) on prohibition. The authors stress that non-violent prisoners found with a small amount of illegal substances should be released. Explore further UN agency removes cannabis from strictest drug category More information: American Journal of Bioethics, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/1 5265161.2020.1861364 Uttarakhand high court on Friday stayed the approval given by the State Wildlife Advisory Board on November 24, 2020, for de-notification of Shivalik Elephant Reserve. The board had taken the decision to pave the way for the expansion of Dehradun airport project. The high court has sought reply from the state government, Centre, State Biodiversity Board and State Wildlife Board in the matter. A division bench of chief justice RS Chauhan and Justice Lok Pal Singh issued these directions while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Dehradun-based activist Reenu Paul. Abhijay Negi, counsel of the petitioner, said the PIL pointed out to HC that Supreme Court in a recent decision delivered by a three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India on October 14, 2020, had passed several guidelines for elephant conservation and the decision of the Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board was in the teeth of the said decision of the apex court. Also read | Unusual wildfires in Uttarakhand: Officials blame scanty rain, combustible material Citing provisions of the Biological Diversity Act 2002 and the Wildlife Protection Act 1972, the petitioner argued that it was not open to the State Wildlife Board to denotify the Shivalik Elephant Reserve in such a summery manner without assessing the ecological catastrophe that it can push the state and the entire region into. In September last year, the state government had written to the Union environment ministry for obtaining prior approval under Section 2 of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 for non-forestry use of 87.0815 hectares of forest land for Expansion of the Jolly Grant Airport. This land falls within the Shivalik Elephant Reserve. Officials estimate that about 10,000 trees will be felled for the expansion. In October, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change wrote to the state government that it may explore alternatives for the proposal such as acquiring area lying north of the existing runwaythe entire proposed forest area for diversion falls within the Shivalik Elephant Reserve and elephant corridors within its 1km radius. Moreover, the notified Kansaro-Barkot Elephant Corridor is located within 5km radius. The state government should consider avoiding these sensitive areas and explore alternative lands. In November, responding to ministrys letter, the state government said an alternative land will not serve the purpose as the existing runway needs to be expanded and with alternative land, a completely new airport will have to be established. Following the boards decision on de-notification in November, state forest minister Harak Singh Rawat had said, The State Wildlife Board, during its 16th meeting, approved the de-notification of Shivalik Elephant Reserve as there is no law to define an elephant reserve. In the late 90s and early 2000s, the state government had sent a proposal to the Centre seeking a clarification regarding the said area, after which it was notified as an elephant reserve in 2002. But as per the norms of the Central government, there is no law or Act yet under which the legal status of an elephant reserve is defined. Uttarakhand has over 2,000 elephants at present, according to the elephant census released in June last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Police have arrested 12 suspects involved in a VND300 billion (US$13 million) gambling ring after raiding 14 locations in Ho Chi Minh City. A source close to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper confirmed on Thursday that officers under the Ministry of Public Security had apprehended Nguyen Nhat Lam, 38, Nguyen Ngoc Son Lams 33-year-old brother, and 10 other suspects for gambling and organizing gambling. Lam and Son are the leaders of the illegal ring. About 80 officers previously raided 14 locations in Thu Duc City, Binh Thanh District, and Go Vap District on Wednesday following their investigation. Nguyen Nhat Lam is held at a police station in Ho Chi Minh City, January 7, 2021. Photo: A.X. / Tuoi Tre Aside from capturing the 12 suspects, police also confiscated more than VND1 billion ($43,200), two bank cards, 21 mobile phones, two laptops, and other documents and devices used to operate the gambling racket. At the police station, Lam and Son claimed they started running the illicit ring in Ho Chi Minh City in early 2020. The brothers hired five other people and tasked them with technical work and making transactions with gamblers. The accessories were each paid VND5-10 million ($216-432) a month. Exhibits involved in the case are confiscated by police officers. Photo: A.X. / Tuoi Tre Multiple other suspects signed up to operate as lower branches of the gambling ring. The criminals received betting orders from their gamblers via text messages or such mobile apps as Viber. Gamblers would have to pay the ring 80 percent of their betting money when they lost. If they won, they were expected to receive 75 to 5,500 times their betting amount. Transactions within the ring were worth about VND300 billion ($13 million), according to preliminary investigation. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! COLUMBIA Gov. Henry McMaster's spending plan, released Friday, would offer some help to small businesses, continue the push for high-speed internet access in rural areas and fund more job training programs for out-of-work South Carolinians. Unlike in previous years, the Republican governor is not calling on legislators to send rebates to taxpayers. Instead, amid the pandemic's continued uncertainty, he recommends socking away $500 million. "We must be prepared for any future economic uncertainties, should they occur. The pandemic is still here," McMaster told reporters. "We cannot see the future clearly and we must be careful, as we have been in the past." The governor said legislators were smart to freeze government spending last year, as he suggested, noting South Carolina is among just three states in the Southeast that didn't have to make cuts. Neighboring Georgia slashed its budget by $2 billion last summer, roughly half of that from K-12 education. Conversely, South Carolina legislators will have almost $1.2 billion in additional money to spend in the fiscal year that starts July 1, even after more than $800 million evaporated amid COVID-19. However, less than $200 million of that is meant for ongoing expenses, such as salaries, while the rest is one-time surplus from collections above expectations in previous years. Pay raises? McMaster's $9.5 billion proposal for state taxes in the upcoming fiscal year provides pay raises for law enforcement only. The state's six law enforcement agencies would split $13 million, ranging from $1.3 million to the Department of Juvenile Justice to $4 million to the Department of Public Safety, which directors could dole out in whatever way they decide is needed to recruit or retain officers. Most teachers would see a small salary boost, as the governor wants to lift the freeze on the annual bump in pay teachers normally receive for an additional year in the classroom. That equates to roughly 2 percent of their salary. The pay increases were frozen when lawmakers decided to stick with the past year's budget. A year ago, the governor proposed giving every teacher a $3,000 pay hike, at the cost of more than $200 million. But that was before COVID-19 hit. "We can't spend money we don't have," McMaster said Friday, adding he still believes the investment is essential, after the economy rebounds. Small business grants McMaster proposes spending $123 million on relief for small businesses devastated by COVID-19, which would expand on what the Legislature passed last September. The $65 million legislators set aside for small businesses and nonprofits last year proved to be far less than the need. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! More than 9,600 small businesses and nearly 1,600 nonprofits applied within the tight, two-week application period, collectively seeking nearly $290 million. Winners aren't getting their cash until this month. McMaster's program sets up an entirely different application process, this time through the state Department of Commerce. Businesses could receive up to $25,000 each, with priority going to those with 25 or fewer employees that haven't received any other COVID-19 aid. Applicants must prove they lost money in the pandemic. "We hope that will be enough," McMaster said of the $123 million. "We don't have an unlimited amount of money. We know this is a lot more money than we had before." Colleges McMaster's plan sends the state's two- and four-year public colleges $176 million in one-time money for maintenance on their aging buildings. The money is split based on their enrollment last fall, ranging from $545,000 to Denmark Technical College to $24.7 million to the University of South Carolina's main Columbia campus. In Charleston County, the plan would send $2.8 million to The Citadel, $7.4 million to College of Charleston, $2.5 million to the Medical University of South Carolina and $13.5 million to Trident Technical College. The proposal uses $60 million in lottery profits to cover tuition costs for poor students at South Carolina's public two- and four-colleges, and an additional $20 million for tuition at private colleges. The money will cover tuition costs for all students who qualify for federal Pell grants, according to the Governor's Office. He spends another $60 million in lottery profits on grants for technical college training in high demand locally. Army and Air National Guard members would also get more tuition assistance, with an additional $2.5 million toward providing the guardsmen up to $18,000 total for schooling. Broadband The proposal continues an effort to bridge the state's digital divide, which looks more like a chasm amid the pandemic, which forced schools to close and transition overnight to distance learning. In some rural districts, their only option last spring was to send paper packets home. In June, legislators put $50 million in federal COVID-19 aid toward buying mobile hot spots for students as a temporary fix, though that still left lots of gaps, and on starting to build out a statewide broadband plan. McMaster's plan spends $30 million to extend more lines. High-speed internet access "is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity, critical to ensuring a level playing field for those in rural areas," McMaster wrote in his executive budget. "Emergency response, health care access, education all rely increasingly on internet access. ... The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare these inadequacies." South Carolina is also sure to receive federal aid for broadband from the latest aid package Congress passed last month, though it remains unclear how big of a chunk South Carolina will get. The entire effort is expected to take hundreds of millions of dollars. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. If you have a subscription, please Log In . Your current subscription does not provide access to this content. If you believe you've gotten this message in error, please Log In. Representative image: PTI A one-member expert commission has recommended payment of a basic living wage in the event of employment loss, and establishing Labour Authority of India as a nodal body. CV Ananda Bose, a former IAS officer, has also recommended a basic minimum social security for workers, The Times of India reported. The one-member commission further proposed creating registries for collecting data on migrant workers and non-resident Indians (NRIs), in order to help frame policies. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the news report. Bose also proposed combining the Ministry of Labour and Employment with the Department of Industry under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the news report suggests. The commission was created under the Labour Ministry's Central Advisory Contract Labour Board (CACLB) in May 2020, to prepare an action plan for the welfare and development of guest and contract workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The panel's report will be presented to Union Labour Minister Santosh Gangwar next week and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a later date, CACLB chairman Surabhi Bhoom Rao told the publication. Unemployment had seen a sharp increase in April and May 2020, since economic activity was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to data from the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy (CMIE), overall unemployment rate in the country was 23.52 percent in April and 21.73 percent in May. There has been a decline in unemployment sine then, after staggered reopening of the economy. In December 2020, the unemployment rate was 9.06 percent, according to CMIE data. Sluggish Chinese domestic steel scrap prices mean there has been a large gap between bids and offers for imports of steel scrap this week, market sources told Fastmarkets on Friday January 8. Chinese consumers have booked at least four bulk cargoes of Japanese plate and structural (P&S) scrap - which is known as HS in Japan - since China relaxed its scrap import restrictions on December 31. Sources said that these early trades are viewed as nothing more than trial shipments by market participants who are dipping their toes into the new market. Chinas importers received offers of Japanese HS at $480-500 per tonne cfr this week, with bids heard as high as $450 per tonne cfr. There was even market chatter of a deal done at $500 cfr China for P&S late on Friday, but this could not be confirmed at the time of publication. China has been slow to book subsequent deals due to a large disparity between domestic prices and international scrap prices, market participants said. Fastmarkets assessment for steel scrap heavy scrap domestic, delivered mill China, including VAT, was 3,000-3,130 yuan ($464-484) per tonne on January 8, widening upward by 40 yuan from 3,000-3,090 yuan per tonne on December 31. But based on these local prices, market participants estimate workable import prices for Chinese buyers as no higher than $420 per tonne cfr, which meant business with mills in markets such as Vietnam and South Korea has been much more appealing to Japanese sellers this week. Everyone in Japan is targeting $500 cfr China for HS, but we sold material to South Korea instead because we thought they had a better price at that time, a Japanese scrap supplier said. Fastmarkets price assessment for steel scrap, P&S, export, fob main port Japan was 47,000-49,000 ($454-473) per tonne on January 6, widening upward by 1,000 per tonne from 47,000-48,000 per tonne a week earlier. There is no chance to make a deal in the short term, an importer in eastern China said. Chinese trading houses and most steel mills are taking a wait-and-see approach. Several steelmakers are shopping around for reliable suppliers for future business opportunities but do not plan to book any cargoes in the near future at the current high offer levels, Fastmarkets understands. China domestic The supply of scrap in the China domestic market is getting tighter due to the transportation interruption in the cold weather, but steel mills demand kept strong, market sources said. An industry analyst in Shanghai said the utilization rate of electric arc furnace was at 74% in eastern China and that for blast furnace was 91% in the region. Both are at a high level, so mills need to make regular purchases of steel scrap, he said. Mills are replenishing inventories gradually for consumption in February when truck drivers take holiday to celebrate Chinese New Year. The national holiday will take place on February 11-17. The steady demand will support scrap prices, a trader in eastern China said. Close According to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of serious allergic reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine was higher but nevertheless "extremely rare" than with the flu shot. Of about 1.9 million doses given, a total of 21 instances of anaphylaxis, none of them fatal, CDC researchers wrote in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report on Wednesday. That averages out every 1 million doses to 11.1 instances, CDC officials told reporters. Anaphylaxis is a significant allergic reaction that may be caused by food, medicine, bee stings and latex, as well as by a vaccine. If not managed quickly, the response may be lethal, usually with an epinephrine injection to expand the airways in the lungs. Key Facts The Vaccine Adverse Incident Monitoring System (VAERS), which the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration handles, keeps track of protection problems after a vaccine is made accessible to the public. They had obtained records of anaphylaxis other side effects of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer-BioNTech was the first to obtain emergency use authorization from U.S. authorities. The first doses went into the arms of frontline healthcare staff on Dec. 14. The latest study by the CDC is focused on 1,893,360 doses issued by Dec. 23. Those doses culminated in serious allergic reactions in 175 potential instances. Investigators investigating those incidents reported that 21 were anaphylaxis and 86 were other allergic reactions, respectively. There were no allergic responses at all in sixty-one cases, and seven are currently under investigation. Of the 21 persons suffering from anaphylaxis, 17 have a history of allergies, including 7 individuals that have already had anaphylactic reactions. Among the 21 patients, seventeen were examined in emergency departments, and four were committed to award. Intensive treatment was needed in three of those hospitalized patients. By the time their reports were identified to the Vaccine Adverse Effect Monitoring Scheme, twenty of the patients had recuperated. Details of the 21st patient were not known. Still, the CDC researchers noticed that there were no records of fatalities connected to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine due to anaphylaxis. The 21 patients varied from 27 to 60 years of age, with a median age of 40. Nineteen, or 90 percent, of them were women. The writers of the study noted that 64 percent were women in situations where the sex of a vaccine patient was identified. They also found out that after the 2009 flu pandemic, women were more prone to develop "immediate hypersensitivity" to the H1N1 influenza vaccine. The quickest anaphylactic response occurred after only two minutes and the slowest occurred after 150 minutes after obtaining the COVID-19 vaccine. With 15 emerging within the first 15 minutes of the injection and three more developing between 15 and 30 minutes, the vast number of reactions arrived rapidly. Of the patients, nineteen were administered with epinephrine. The 21 cases were not concentrated in any particular geographic region and related to the vaccine's multi-lot doses. More than four out of five incidents are deemed non-serious, unlike the other cases of allergic reactions. Rash or itchy eyes, itchy or scratchy neck, and minor respiratory symptoms were the most common recorded reactions to VAERS. Within 12 minutes after getting the vaccine, half of these reactions happened, and 90 percent of those who suffered from them were women. Overall, within the first 10 days of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine launch, VAERS issued 4,393 records of adverse effects of some sort, according to the study. That is a 0.2 percent average. What to Watch For The CDC has also revised its vaccination recommendations and a related version established by Moderna, which was licensed for emergency use a week after the Pfizer-BioNTech medication was obtained. The advice covers: Ensure the epinephrine is on hand at vaccine sites and available for usage. To classify people at high risk, question prospective vaccination candidates about their history of allergic reactions. Hold patients under surveillance for up to 30 minutes after getting the vaccine to rapidly handle instances of anaphylaxis. Ensure the healthcare professionals are qualified to understand the early symptoms of anaphylaxis by handing out the vaccine. Offer an epinephrine intramuscular injection instantly if anaphylaxis is suspected. The first doses of the Moderna vaccine were given on Dec. 21, and over the 10-day duration of this research, less than 225,000 doses were administered. The CDC researchers said a separate paper on its side effects is in the works. ALSO READ: Volunteer for Pfizer's Experimental COVID-19 Vaccine Shares Side Effects from Trial Check out more news and information on COVID-19 on Science Times. Inspector Kevin J Taylor was the type of person that when he spoke, people listened. As a leader, he was able to build relationships sometimes from the brink of disaster and that, alongside his ability to simply get things done, meant he excelled in his policing. Kevin passed away on December 23, just a few days before his 58th birthday and after spending almost 38 years with New Zealand Police. His most recent role was as Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander. It was the ability to help and protect the community that inspired him to join in 1983, and as he rose through the ranks, it was the welfare of his staff and the community they served which stayed front of mind. Paying tribute to Kevin at his funeral, Deputy Commissioner Glenn Dunbier who worked closely with Kevin when he was Bay of Plenty District Commander - spoke of a man who was quietly spoken, humorous and often laid back, but also an intelligent, determined and diligent police officer who had made a significant contribution during his career. He joined Police in January 1983, as a member of the 85th Recruit Wing. However, his Police career was almost thwarted before it began with his laid-back attitude initially failing to impress the recruiting officer. Following inquiries and a final interview, it was deemed he had a great deal of potential potential that would be realised over the next almost four decades. Kevin initially spent four years in Lower Hutt before taking leave without pay to travel to London. Returning to New Zealand in 1988 he found himself based in Tokoroa a far cry from the Auckland posting he requested. It would be a place where he flourished, and was promoted to sergeant in 1991. Kevin worked across the Waikato and Bay of Plenty including stints in Hamilton, Putaruru, Taupo and Te Puke, where he was promoted to senior sergeant in 2001. Three years later, he was promoted to inspector and spent a decade as Human Resources Manager for Bay of Plenty District before spending the rest of his career, from February 2014, as Eastern Bay of Plenty Area Commander. Deputy Commissioner Glenn Dunbier worked alongside Kevin when he was District Commander for Bay of Plenty, and Kevin was in the District Leadership Team. He was a valued member of our leadership teams and a trusted advisor whose counsel I was very glad to be able to call upon as district commander, says Glenn. Kevin was always willing to step up and tackle any job and the organisation trusted him to do so. He saw his last role, in the Eastern Bay, as an opportunity to join a team passionate about policing and keeping their local community safe and embraced the chance to build on that good work. Kevin was a proud contributor to that good work when Eastern Bay of Plenty featured in two supreme winners in the Evidence Based Policing Problem-Oriented Policing awards: Oho Ake, working with Maori youth, and Operation Notus, a major drug operation in Kawerau. Both had community safety at their heart, both involved deep and real partnerships with partners including Tuhoe iwi, and both build in strong relationships of the sort Kevin was so good at maintaining, says Glenn. It was that relationship-building that current Bay of Plenty District Commander and friend, Superintendent Andy McGregor highlighted. He paid particular tribute to the work Kevin had done to get the relationship with Ngai Tuhoe back on track following the 2007 Operation 8 to the point Tuhoe chair Tamati Kruger described them as his friends from NZ Police. And all this from the police side was down to Kevins leadership and interpersonal skills and his ability to get stuff done, says Andy. The fact that he could build a relationship with others from the brink of disaster to one of friendship is outstanding. Andy described Kevin as someone who did things differently but was always up for the challenge. He liked to get the basics right, and he achieved a lot with the partnerships he developed, says Andy. Kevin was a leader. When he spoke, people listened. He was well respected by all peers, staff and partners from outside Police. They trusted him and he achieved a lot. "Black Box Intelligence has everything were looking for in a successful platform a highly unique and unmatched product offering, a management team of recognized industry thought leaders and a strong and loyal customer base." - Kevin Ma, Managing Partner | Diversis Black Box Intelligence, the leader in data and actionable insights for the restaurant industry, announced today that it has received a significant growth investment from Diversis Capital Partners, a Los Angeles-based buy-out firm focused on software and technology-enabled organizations. "This is an exciting day for our employees, clients, partners and the industry at large, said Kelli Valade, President & CEO of Black Box Intelligence. Our new partnership with Diversis enables us to accelerate investments in our team and technology that will further our mission of revealing new insights to our clients that unlock their potential while enriching the lives of those that work in or support the restaurant industry. Black Box Intelligence has supported the restaurant industry with superior data and insights for more than 25 years. Harnessing a network of nearly 300 restaurant companies, the Black Box Intelligence platform enables clients to connect the dots between restaurant unit financial performance, workforce trends and benchmarks, unit-level guest feedback and consumer intelligence. The Black Box Intelligence suite of products include: Black Box Workforce Intelligence - Robust restaurant employee workforce data covering 2.4 million employees benchmarked against industry competitors Black Box Financial Intelligence - Restaurant sales & traffic data covering $76 billion in annual sales and over 50,000 restaurant units Black Box Guest Intelligence - Analyze guest sentiment in real-time through social media, review sites a guest satisfaction metrics and bridge the gap between sentiment & sales Black Box Consumer Intelligence - Understand your share of market, share of wallet and share of stomach driven by 20 million credit card transactions Diversis has had tremendous success investing in technology businesses that support the restaurant industry, said Kevin Ma, Managing Partner of Diversis Capital. Black Box Intelligence has everything were looking for in a successful platform a highly unique and unmatched product offering, a management team of recognized industry thought leaders and a strong and loyal customer base. We were particularly impressed by the fact that CEOs of many major restaurant brands not only know Black Box Intelligence but are themselves active users of the product on a daily or weekly basis. The transaction with Diversis will supply growth capital and operational expertise to Black Box Intelligences platform capabilities, enabling it to penetrate new and existing segments of the broader foodservice industry. Additionally, the founders of Black Box Intelligence, Wallace Blair and Joni Thomas Doolin, will remain involved in the business as investors, strategic advisors and members of the board. As proud founders of the Black Box Intelligence brand and team, Joni and I could not be more excited about this partnership with Diversis to accelerate our growth and capacity to serve all of our stakeholders in the restaurant industry, said Wallace Blair Doolin, Chairman and Co-founder of Black Box Intelligence. In a related transaction, Diversis acquired ArrowStream, Inc, the leading cloud-based provider of end-to-end supply chain management software for the foodservice industry and during its four-year ownership of the founder-owned business invested in the companys technology platform to enhance its functionality and broaden its presence in the foodservice industry prior to its sale in December 2020. Peak Technology Partners, an independent investment bank that provides strategic and financial advice to high-growth technology companies, served as financial advisor to Black Box Intelligence. About Black Box Intelligence Black Box Intelligence (formerly TDn2K) is the leading data and insights provider of workforce, guest, consumer and financial performance benchmarks for the hospitality industry. The Black Box Intelligence product suite is the industry standard for operators seeking to achieve best-in-class performance results. With the largest and most reliable set of real restaurant data in the marketplace, Black Box Intelligence currently tracks and analyzes nearly 300 brands, 2.4 million employees, 50,000 restaurant units and $76 billion in annual sales revenue. Black Box Intelligence is also the producer of the Global Best Practices Conference held annually in Dallas, Texas. To learn more, please visit http://www.blackboxintelligence.com. About Diversis Capital Founded in 2013, Diversis is a software and technology focused private equity fund that invests in lower middle-market companies, targeting situations where it can add unique value in helping a company reach the next level. With a collaborative approach to investing, its Operating Partners and Strategic Advisors work alongside management teams to help build successful organizations positioned for long-term growth. To learn more, please visit http://www.diversis.com. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) Top 3x3 cagers Alvin Pasaol and Santi Santillan have submitted their applications for this year's PBA Draft Friday, according to the league website. Pasaol, a University of the East product, was one of the most lethal scorers in the UAAP. He dropped 49 points against De La Salle University in 2017. The burly forward then played for Petron-Letran and Marinerong Pilipino in the PBA D-League before joining the 3x3 circuit where he's ranked second in the nation. Meanwhile, Santillan is a Cebuano big man who made his presence felt in La Salle. He also suited up for Marinerong Pilipino in the PBA D-League and is ranked sixth in the country in the 3x3 circuit. Three others have made themselves available for the draft Troy Rike, Tyrus Hill, and Frank Johnson. The 6-foot-8 Rike is a former Gilas cadet who played for Wake Forrest University in the US NCAA. He also had a brief stint with National University before joining the 3x3 circuit. Hill is a 6-foot-5 Filipino-American forward who played for Adamson University and La Salle. On the other hand, Johnson is a 6-foot-2 scorer who saw action for AMA, Marinerong Pilipino, and Gamboa Coffee Mix in the PBA D-League. The deadline for the submission of applications and requirements for Fil-foreign and local players is on January 27. The 2021 PBA Rookie Draft is scheduled on March 14. TORRINGTON A 17-year-old has been charged as an adult in connection with a double fatal crash that occurred last June, according to police. Litchfield resident Dylan Brocar turned himself in at Torrington police headquarters on an active warrant Friday morning, police said. Police said he is charged with two counts of negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, traveling too fast for conditions and improper turn/movement right. He is also charged with violations of restrictions of a motor vehicle operator. Based on state statute, individuals ages 16 and 17 in Connecticut are charged in adult court for these specific motor vehicle violations, police said. The charges stemmed from a crash on June 9, 2020. Officers were dispatched to the Torrington/Litchfield town line on Town Farm Road around 2:30 a.m. for a reported one-vehicle crash. Responding units found a vehicle off the road in a wooded area, down an embankment and fully engulfed in flames. Killed in the crash were Thomas Graveline and Matthew Rousseau, both 16. A 14-year-old girl, a 16-year-old boy and Brocar were hospitalized after the crash. Police said the three survivors suffered serious injuries. Brocar was found to be the driver of the car at the time of the crash, according to police. Brocar was determined to be at fault for the motor vehicle crash and charged, police said, adding that neither alcohol nor drugs were found to have been factors in the accident. Police said Brocar posted a $75,000 bond and was released from custody. Hes expected in court in Torrington on Monday. Police said Friday that the arrest warrant affidavit in the case would not be available until Monday. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a supplementary chargesheet against four then officials of Haryana Police, including an ACP, in connection with the murder of a seven-year-old student of a private school in Gurugram in 2017. A CBI official said here that the agency has filed a supplementary chargesheet against four then officials of Haryana Police, including an ACP, Inspector and Sub Inspector, in the court of special judicial magistrate, CBI cases, Panchkula in Haryana, in the ongoing investigation into the case. The CBI had registered an instant case on September 22, 2017 on the request of Haryana government and further notification from the Centre. The case was earlier registered by Gurugram Police on September 8, 2017 related to the murder of a seven-year-old boy, a student of Class II at a private school in Gurugram. The official said that after investigation, based on scientific evidence, including inspection of the crime scene, forensic examination, minute analysis of CCTV footages, analysis of various call records, circumstantial evidences and examination of several persons, the CBI had apprehended a student of a senior class of the said school on November 7, 2017. "It was revealed during CBI investigation that a school bus conductor earlier arrested by Gurugram Police was not involved in the murder case, following which the investigation continued further," he said. "During further probe, the alleged role of the said police officials came to light and a supplementary chargesheet has therefore been filed against them," the official added. Its one of Netflixs biggest current hits. And Bridgertons Nicola Coughlan has some harsh sentiments for those who have criticized the show for its diverse casting. In a string of tweets posted on Tuesday, the actress, 33, touted the success of the racy period drama as proof of audiences fervent acceptance of the show and its cast. Listen up: Bridgertons Nicola Coughlan has some harsh sentiments for those who have criticized the show for its diverse casting; seen last month on the Graham Norton Show 'You know the way some people were like "Diversity in period drama doesnt work..."' Nicola tweeted. '63 million households thought it did tho so,' she continued, adding a skull emoji. Minutes later, the Galway, Ireland-born thesp added, 'Remember people were trying to downvote the show on IMDB cos it was so diverse? 'You cant downvote us being Netflix['s] fifth biggest original release ever.' 'You know the way some people were like "Diversity in period drama doesnt work..."' Nicola tweeted; '63 million households thought it did tho so' Minutes later, the Galway, Ireland-born thesp added: 'Remember people were trying to downvote the show on IMDB cos it was so diverse? You cant downvote us being Netflix['s] fifth biggest original release ever' In her first tweet, Nicola quoted a tweet from Netflix itself announcing the record-setting ratings that Bridgerton is expected to attain in its first month on the platform. On the show, Coughlan portrays Penelope Featherington, the sharp-witted youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Featherington, and sister to Prudence and Philipa. Bridgerton takes place in the Regency era of London, England in 1813, when people of all races were eligible to achieve higher status in society. The proof is in the ratings: Nicola quoted a tweet from Netflix itself announcing the record-setting ratings that Bridgerton is expected to attain Nonetheless, certain viewers have criticized the series' casting of various actors of color, including fellow breakout star Rege-Jean Page. Nicola's comments come as it was recently reported how she discovered a major twist involving her character that comes at the end of Bridgerton's first season. On Thursday, Coughlan dished to Variety that she discovered Penelope's true identity as Lady Whistledown by reading an online fan thread while preparing for the role. Seen in May 2019 at the BAFTA Television Awards in London: On the show, Coughlan portrays Penelope Featherington, the sharp-witted youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Featherington Bridgerton is produced by TV wunderkind Shonda Rhimes, and created by Chris Van Dusen who worked for her on Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice and Scandal. If the show indeed reaches 63 million views, it will surpass The Queen's Gambit as Netflix's most viewed scripted original series. That brilliant show attained a viewership of some 62 million household last November, according to the streamer itself. Dr. Jason Murphy, an emergency room physician with UCHealth, was one of the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine on Dec. 14. Tamera Dunseth-Rosenbaum, chief nursing officer for UCHealth Memorial Hospital, administers the shot. A viral video of a sobbing Trump supporter who claimed she had been 'maced' while storming the Capitol on Wednesday has raised questions after sleuths on social media realized that she was holding what appears to be an onion. 'Elizabeth from Knoxville' can be seen in the video - obtained by Yahoo News reporter Hunter Walker - holding the object in her blue towel, dabbing her eye as she explains that she had been maced during the 'revolution.' And while people initially mocked Elizabeth for having such a frenzied response after committing the assault on the federal building, many were soon split trying to figure out the purpose of her carrying the vegetable. Some on social media have suggested she had an onion with her to be ready to counteract the effects of pepper spray, something people have used in other protests around the world; others say she used the onion to rub in her eyes to induce crying to make a show for the cameras. #Oniontowel soon sprouted from the wild visual of 'Elizabeth from Knoxville' sobbing after being 'maced,' with people feeding into the conspiracy of whether Elizabeth was actually sprayed 'Elizabeth from Knoxville' can be seen in the video - obtained by Yahoo News reporter Hunter Walker - holding the object in her blue towel, dabbing her eye as she explains that she had been maced during the 'revolution' #Oniontowel soon sprouted from the wild visual of Elizabeth with the mace, with people feeding into the conspiracy of whether Elizabeth was actually maced - or whether she made it all up. 'Wait, so Elizabeth from Knoxville, who claims she was maced after storming the Capitol, was dabbing her eyes with an onion towel?' asked Mike P Williams. He later speculated: 'Did Elizabeth from Knoxville lie about storming the Capitol building to earn MAGA cred but unwittingly incriminate herself in terrorism, or is she really this dim to think onions would help cry the mace out of her peepers? Answers on a postcard.' 'Wait, so Elizabeth from Knoxville, who claims she was maced after storming the Capitol, was dabbing her eyes with an onion towel,' asked Mike P Williams He later speculated: 'Did Elizabeth from Knoxville lie about storming the Capitol building to earn MAGA cred but unwittingly incriminate herself in terrorism, or is she really this dim to think onions would help cry the mace out of her peepers? Answers on a postcard' 'I am pretty sure Elizabeth was really maced,' Hunter Walker asserted. 'Her face was moister and redder than what comes across in the clip. Hard to imagine her pulling that off with an onion. This is a case of a strange, questionable tear gas remedy.' A person claiming to be Elizabeth's cousin - Tracy Massenburg - shared that the brazen woman was indeed maced for storming the Capitol. 'No, she got maced...This is my first cousin embarrassing herself out in these streets,' Massenburg shared. 'Can someone adopt me? I hate it here!!! I was exiled long ago so adoption would be free and clear!' Massenburg would later clarify that Elizabeth had been holding a piece of ice. Hunter Walker, the reporter who obtained the video, said he was 'pretty sure' Elizabeth was maced. 'Her face was moister and redder than what comes across in the clip. Hard to imagine her pulling that off with an onion. This is a case of a strange, questionable tear gas remedy.' Others were convinced, however, that Elizabeth was using an onion to make herself cry and not to alleviate the pain. A person claiming to be Elizabeth's cousin - Tracy Massenburg - shared that the brazen woman was indeed maced for storming the Capitol Massenburg would later clarify that Elizabeth had been holding a piece of ice 'The phrase crocodile tears has officially been replaced by #oniontowel,' declared one user. Josh Young guessed: 'That's hilarious, but I think it's a lemon or lime. Some people use it to soothe the pain when they get hot pepper in their eye.' 'But who carries citrus fruit to a revolution,' someone asked in response. 'Unless you were planning on happy hour after?' The onion's presence made many wonder if the chaos that actually unfolded in Washington D.C. was intentional, as it would make it seem that the actions of the crazed Trump supporters on Wednesday were premeditated. 'The phrase crocodile tears has officially been replaced by #oniontowel,' declared one user Josh Young guessed: 'That's hilarious, but I think it's a lemon or lime. Some people use it to soothe the pain when they get hot pepper in their eye.' Josh Young 'But who carries citrus fruit to a revolution,' someone asked in response. 'Unless you were planning on happy hour after?' Its existence, along with the presence of the bombs and riot gear that many MAGA fanatics sported, has only further added to the speculation. 'Did she take the onion with her? Did they have a MAGA onion stand? Did she plan the onion, or just happen to have one in her purse? So many questions,' one person said on Twitter. People have developed some ways to help combat the effect of tear gas. In 2018, Palestinians used onions and vinegar to get rid of the tear gas effects from the canisters that were fired daily from Israeli forces. A single vegetable's effectiveness is questionable when pitted against the latest 'riot dispersal means' deployed by one of the best-equipped armies in the Middle East, Reuters reported, so it is unclear whether onions actually worked to ease the pain. 'Did she take the onion with her? Did they have a MAGA onion stand? Did she plan the onion, or just happen to have one in her purse? So many questions,' one person said on Twitter Google has been widely promoting its Google One storage plans as the company will soon end free unlimited cloud storage on Google Photos. The software giant already offers a free trial of the 100GB storage plan with select Chromebooks and Pixel phones, but it appears that the company may extend the trial offer through other channels in future. According to 9to5Google, the APK teardown of the Google Photos app v5.24 reveal lines that indicate a general trial offer for Google One. The publication spotted the code "photos_cloudstorage_ui_freetrial_impl_start_button_with_storage_amount," that indicates at this development. However, the report adds APK teardowns only hint at possible future features (in this case the free storage offer), and there's a possibility that Google may not implement the development at all. The APK teardown of Google Photos does not provide exact details on the storage amount or trial period of the Google One subscription. But its codes include possible texts for the trial, ranging from days to years. To recall, new Google Pixel 4 users can avail free 100GB Google plan for three months that may also extend to other channels later. Google also offers discounts on existing One subscription plans for select Pixel and Chromebook users. It remains to be seen whether these free trials will also include the other benefits of Google One like the Android VPN service and cashback on Google Store purchases. The VPN service does not come bundled with One plans in India. Google has been aggressively promoting its One subscription plans and recently, the company prominently started advertising the service with a dedicated "Subscriptions" landing page on the Google Store (only in the US). In December it also slashed the price of the premium 10TB, 20TB, and 30TB plans by 50 percent in select markets, in a bid to attract more customers. Previously, the company announced that from June 1 this year, Google Photos will lose the ability to store unlimited photos and videos. As a result, Google would provide 15GB free storage for not only Photos but for all services (Gmail, Drive, Maps) combined. You can check out the prices of Google One subscription in India here. New York : In an unprecedented move, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said on Thursday that President Donald Trump's accounts on its popular social media platforms -- Facebook and Instagram -- would remain suspended until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20. Trump's account will be locked 'for at least the next two weeks', he said. The possibly first ever blocking of a head of a state by Facebook comes in the wake of the unprecedented storming of the United States Capitol by Trump's supporters on Wednesday and thus disrupting the constitutional process of counting and certification of the Electoral College votes of the presidential elections. Four people, including a woman, have died in the clashes between protesters and police. Police had to use tear gas inside the US Capitol, where properties were vandalized and ransacked by the violent mob. 'The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden,' Zuckerberg said in a post on Facebook. 'His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world. We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect -- and likely their intent -- would be to provoke further violence,' he wrote. Following the certification of the election results by Congress, the priority for the whole country must now be to ensure that the remaining 13 days and the days after inauguration pass peacefully and in accordance with established democratic norms, said the Facebook founder. 'Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules, at times removing content or labeling his posts when they violate our policies. 'We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech,' he explained. 'But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government,' he said. 'We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete,' Zuckerberg said. This is for the first time probably that Facebook has taken such an extreme step to ban and block the social media handles of a head of the State and that too of the United States. Facebook earlier on Wednesday blocked the president's account from posting for 24 hours due to two policy violations. On Wednesday, Twitter also blocked Trump's account for 12 hours and removed three of his tweets including a video. 'As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy,' Twitter said. 'This means that the account of @realDonaldTrump will be locked for 12 hours following the removal of these Tweets. If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked,' it said. The 12 hours period expired on Thursday. A five-year-old boy kidnapped from Nalagarh in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday morning was rescued from the Ludhiana bus stand later at night with the arrest of his fathers employee. The accused, Shankar Kumar, 19, Bihar, kidnapped the boy as his father, Joginder Singh, owed him Rs 60,000 in payments, police said. As the boy, Rohan, was kidnapped, his father, a resident of Panjera village, Nalagarh, sounded the police. The local police traced his location to Ludhiana bus stand and informed us, following which we nabbed Kumar and rescued the child, said ASI Gurcharanjit Singh, in-charge, bus stand police post. The child was handed over to his parents, while the accused was taken away by the Himachal Pradesh Police, the ASI said. Chen is committed to transforming health care. The presence of this medical center will improve the lives of our senior residents and add value to our local business community. Chen Senior Medical Center today opened a new location in Broward County, at 3460 North Andrews Avenue in Oakland Park, expanding its offerings of high-touch primary care to underserved seniors. The new location brings the number of Chen centers in Broward to five, and Chen also operates eight centers in Miami-Dade County. The South Florida expansion follows the 2020 openings of 15 new medical centers in seven cities by the ChenMed family of companies. Were excited to honor more seniors with affordable, VIP care that delivers better health, said Gianni Neil, M.D., market chief medical officer of Chen Senior Medical Center. Our primary care physicians are experts at detecting and managing high-risk diseases, helping those seniors with multiple chronic health conditions who need it the most. Chen doctors make it easy for patients to stay connected with the doctor who knows them best. They provide high-touch personalized primary care, giving patients their personal cell phone numbers for timely replies to texts and/or calls. This high-touch primary care, with early cardiovascular risk factor modification, has led to 40 percent lower mortality among Medicare-eligible seniors with COVID-19, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology. Other types of personalized care that Chen patients receive includes: Door-to-doctor transportation, if necessary. Unlimited visits. Walk-in appointments. Telehealth appointments. On-site cardiology, medication dispensing, imaging, labs, acupuncture, and more. Healthy lifestyle classes. Were excited about Chens grand opening in Oakland Park, said Mayor Jane Bolin. Chen is committed to transforming health care. The presence of this medical center will improve the lives of our senior residents and add value to our local business community. According to Paul Lopez, regional market president of Chen Senior Medical Center, Were looking forward to meeting the tremendous need for high-quality care in Oakland Park. We are committed to bringing seniors better health and look forward to growing to meet the communitys needs. About ChenMed For seniors most in need of care, high-quality health care often is beyond reach. ChenMed brings concierge-style medicine and better health outcomes to the neediest populations. ChenMed is a privately owned medical, management and technology company that currently operates more than 75 primary care medical practices for diverse populations of seniors in 10 states. A provider of choice for some 20 Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, ChenMed is one of Fortune Magazines 2020 Change the World companies taking on societys unsolved problems - and boosting their business as a result. ChenMed brands include Chen Senior Medical Center, Dedicated Senior Medical Center, and JenCare Senior Medical Center. ### Posted Friday, January 8, 2021 7:43 am Several Washington state business leaders and groups condemned Wednesday's assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump though none appeared to call for his removal or resignation. "Yesterday's assault on our democracy, democratic principles, elected leaders and their staff, and the halls of government, was disgusting, shameful and will be a permanent stain on the history of our country," said Jon Sholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, in a statement Thursday. "The actions by domestic terrorists yesterday go against everything our country stands for," added Anthony Anton, president and CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association. Rachel Smith, the new Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce CEO, said in a statement the "insurrection at the Capitol Building was a heartbreaking, horrifying, and dishonorable attack on our democracy and the most sacred of democratic actions voting and fair elections." "We are appalled by the scenes we are witnessing at the US Capitol today and the unprecedented violence and assault that has been launched against our seat of Government and our democratic representatives," said Bill Malley, managing partner at the Seattle-based law firm Perkins Coie, in an emailed statement. In a tweet Wednesday, Microsoft President Brad Smith declared, "This is a day to speak up for our Constitution and its values." Smith was retweeting a statement by the Business Roundtable, a national group of which Microsoft is a member. Amazon did not respond to questions about Wednesday's riots or how the company would respond if the president refused to leave office Jan. 20. However, Amazon-owned streaming service Twitch suspended the Trump campaign's account, which the campaign has used largely to broadcast videos and livestreams of rallies at which Trump has repeated many of the incendiary falsehoods that sparked Wednesday's insurrection. Still, no state business leaders or business organizations appear to have gone as far as Jay Timmons, president and CEO of the National Association of Manufacturers, who accused Trump of sedition and recommended his ouster. In a statement Wednesday, Timmons, a Republican, said Trump "incited violence in an attempt to retain power," and urged Vice President Mike Pence to "seriously consider working with the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment," which allows for the removal of the president. Asked for Smith's response to Timmons' statement, a Microsoft spokesperson referred a reporter to Smith's tweet. Another business group didn't want to comment on the 25th amendment question or even be identified as not commenting, owing to the "complexity" of the issue. "We can't weigh in on it," they said. Seattle Times business reporter Katherine Khashimova Long contributed to this report. ___ (c)2021 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The customs department, which is part of the multi-agency team probing the sensational gold smuggling case, is set to question Kerala assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan after it obtained legal advice that house privilege wont be applicable in such cases. It sought the opinion of senior constitutional lawyers in the Supreme Court and later the assistant solicitor general who is camping in Kochi, a senior official of the customs said. The official added that the investigation into gold and dollar smuggling case is at a crucial stage. We are summoning an individual, not a post. Privilege is only applicable while carrying out an official duty. Privilege is not meant to cover any illegal activity, said the official, adding that the Speaker will be summoned soon. The customs got the advice that it can wait till the ongoing budget session is over. He said if his summoning poses any problem, the customs department will move the court to obtain its permission. We have certain leads. We want more clarity on them. It is the duty of persons holding high positions to come on their own and explain rather than bunking it, he said. Meanwhile, the Speakers secretary K Ayyappan appeared before the customs on Friday after it toughened its position. Earlier, it sent summons to him twice but he ignored them citing certain privileges of the assembly staff. Also read: Cannot and will not repeal laws, says Centre as farm talks hit another stalemate Later, the assembly secretary also sent a letter to the customs saying it needed the Speakers permission for questioning assembly staff which triggered a big outrage. Legal experts also said employees of the assembly were not covered under privilege shield. Last month, while hearing the bail plea of one of the accused, a court dealing with economic offences in Kochi had expressed shock at the involvement of big sharks in the case and observed that people holding high positions had misused their power and authority. There are also media reports that some of the accused gave confessional statements taking big names. Later, main accused Swapna Suresh sought special protection in the jail complaining her life was in danger. After the gold smuggling case surfaced in July, there were reports allegedly linking the main accused Suresh with the Speaker. He later admitted that he knew Suresh as an employee of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) consulate and attended some functions on her invitation. But opposition Congress and BJP leaders alleged that it was more than an official relationship and that Sreeramakrishnan had travelled with Suresh several times to West Asian countries. They also alleged that the accused smuggled US dollars to the Gulf countries using Sreeramakrishnans green channel access. A major portion of the smuggled US dollar was commission obtained from various projects, they further alleged. The Speaker denied these allegations and said he was ready for any probe. But when customs officials approached his secretary he retracted flaunting privilege card. When the customs busted the gold smuggling racket, Suresh was working as a senior consultant with the Kerala State Information Technology Infrastructure Limited. Before this, she worked at the UAE consulate at the state capital as its public relations officer. After the gold smuggling case surfaced, her degree was also found to be fake. Last month, Suresh told a court in Kochi that her life was in danger and sought special protection for herself and her family members. She said she was under pressure not to take big names and some people met her in the jail a couple of times to pressurise her. Later, the court directed the prisons department to provide her with adequate security. Detained under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (Cofeposa), Swapna is lodged in the womens jail in Thiruvananthapuram. (Natural News) Alabama Republican Rep. Mo Brooks, the first House member to announce he would object to the Electoral College results last month, announced via Twitter that mounting evidence suggests that Antifa members were behind Wednesdays assault on the U.S. Capitol Building. (Article by Jonathan Davis republished from TrendingPolitics.com) Please, dont be like #FakeNewsMedia, dont rush to judgment on assault on Capitol. Wait for investigation. All may not be (and likely is not) what appears. Evidence growing that fascist ANTIFA orchestrated Capitol attack with clever mob control tactics, he wrote to begin a short Twitter thread. A Congressman warned me on MONDAY of a growing ANTIFA threat & advised that I sleep in my office rather than leaving Capitol complex & sleeping in my condo. I heeded that advice & have slept on office floor for 4 straight nights, Brooks continued. Congressman told me he was warned on TUESDAY by Capitol Police officer that intelligence suggested fascist ANTIFA was going to try to infiltrate the Trump rally by dressing like Trump supporters, he wrote. Capitol Police advised TUESDAY that it best not to leave Capitol complex. Evidence, much public, surfacing that many Capitol assaulters were fascist ANTIFAs, not Trump supporters. Again, time will reveal truth. Dont rush to judgment. Dont be fooled by #FakeNewsMedia whose political judgment drives their reporting. My view: fully prosecute all! Brooks concluded. Lots of rumors have been floating around online about how Antifa staged a false flag attack on the Capitol Building, and Brooks tweet thread appears to confirm those reports. Butwe have to say, we havent seen any real evidence of that, nor has anyone else who should know made the claim. Others dont believe Antifa members were anywhere near a Trump event because they would have been severely outnumbered. Also, many of them likely would have been identified because of all the facial recognition tech that is deployed throughout the Capitol complex. So is Brooks right? Does he have the straight scoop? Maybe; we certainly cant discount him because heres another thing that is true: President Trumps supporters dont do things like storm government buildings, let along the nations Capitol. Read more at: TrendingPolitics.com Britain is keen to increase trade with Zimbabwe now that it is free of the European Union (EU) and can make deals around the world outside the framework of the bloc. Responding to questions on the implications of Brexit, and the final arrangements that came into force at the beginning of this year, and what it means to Zimbabwe, the British embassy in Harare said last year Zimbabwe ratified an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with the UK. Following the end of the transition period, the EPA now allows Zimbabwean exporters to continue to enjoy tariff and quota-free access to the UK market, laying the foundation for a strong trade partnership in the future, said UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Melanie Robinson. Britain will continue to support Zimbabwean businesses and jobs for economic development. The total trade in goods and services both exports and imports between Britain and Zimbabwe in the four quarters to end of the second quarter of 2020 was US$412m. The development comes as the two countries diplomatic ties intensify, which dovetails into President Mnangagwa engagement and re-engagement drive. Last year, the British government announced a US$43,6 million aid package towards Covid-19 medical supplies to assist in fighting the pandemic in Zimbabwe. The EPA with Britain, ratified last October, allows Zimbabwean exporters access to UK markets free of tariffs and quotas and is expected to boost trade and investment between the two countries as Governments re-engagement drive continues to bear fruit. The ratification of the EPA follows the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union, meaning it can no longer trade under the Eastern and Southern Africa-EU EPA. Last year, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Eswatini, Lesotho and Mozambique signed the same EPA trade deal with the UK. Speaking after the ratification of EPA, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Dr Sibusiso Moyo said the ratification of the deal was a big step in the countrys re-engagement efforts. This is a huge step for Zimbabwes re-engagement efforts. The signing of this partnership will undoubtedly bring increased trade and investment to Zimbabwe, said Dr Moyo. Ms Robinson welcomed Zimbabwes decision to ratify the EPA. Glad Zimbabwe has ratified the Economic Partnership Agreement with the UK. This ensures that exporters continue to enjoy tariff and quota free access to the UK market. The UK supports Zimbabwean businesses and jobs for economic development, she wrote on her Twitter handle. Britain voted to leave the EU following a referendum held in June 2016 and has since been negotiating separate trade deals. Turning to the level four lockdown measures, the embassy said it understood the requirement for the Zimbabwean Government to adhere to World Health Organisation guidelines on containing the spread of Covid-19. The UK last week announced the allocation of an extra US$5,4m funding to feed some of those worst affected by the humanitarian challenges in Zimbabwe, which have been exacerbated by Covid-19. This additional aid to Zimbabwe, she said, was part of a wider package of emergency aid for some of the most vulnerable countries in the Sahel, Syria, South Sudan, Nigeria, Somalia, Uganda, Venezuela and Mozambique. Over the last 10 years, the UK has spent more than $1 billion in aid in Zimbabwe. The UK is one of the countries that have been assisting Zimbabwe in times of need, including when the Southern African country was hit by the tropical Cyclone Idai and the Covid-19 pandemic. Herald UPDATE: Family and friends are searching for her in Great Kills Friday morning. Click here for the story. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The family of 53-year-old Kara Mctigue is desperately searching for the Great Kills woman after she went missing early on Wednesday. Police said Mctigues husband last saw her at their Waterside Parkway residence at 3 a.m. before waking up at 5:45 a.m. to discover she was missing. Kerry Ransier, Mctigues sister, said the woman left behind her phone, credit cards and car, adding that her family is frantic to find her. I feel like Im losing my mind, said Ransier. Like, where is my sister? Mctigue, who stands 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs around 125 pounds, has blond hair and brown eyes, according to her family. She was last seen wearing black leggings, a black bubble jacket and black UGG boots, an NYPD statement said. Detectives found surveillance footage of Mctigue in the vicinity of Great Kills, near Hylan Boulevard, that showed her walking in the area at 5:46 a.m. on Wednesday, according to police and her family. She is last seen on camera at 6:16 a.m., police said. It is unclear where she went next. Ransier said Mctigue was discharged from the hospital on Tuesday after being treated for the coronavirus (COVID-19). Her family was concerned for her well-being after she displayed anxiety, confusion and disorientation. Ransier said her sister did not have much money on her when she left her home. She would never leave the house and not call anybody, said a worried Ransier. I dont want her turning up dead somewhere. The NYPD provided a photo of Mctigue. Anyone with information in regard to her whereabouts is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are kept strictly confidential. The father of a 15-year-old boy turned his son in to New Orleans police Thursday after learning that the teen is accused of killing a woman delivering groceries to her in-laws, Police Superintendent Shaun Ferguson said. Ferguson said the boy has confessed to a role in the shooting of 52-year-old Anita Irvin-LeViege on Sunday. Ferguson said he's spoken to the father. He was very emotional, and you could hear in his voice how much this has impacted him as well as his family, Ferguson said. Despite the grim context, the arrest was a rare bit of good news for a Police Department, which over the past year has weathered multiple controversies and claimed a homicide solve rate of 35% in 2020 as killings rose 71% over the year before, according to department statistics. The arrest also presents an immediate test for District Attorney-elect Jason Williams, who promised on the campaign trail not to prosecute youths in adult court. Williams will be sworn in Monday. Irvin-LeViege's killing over the weekend underscored how deeply violence increased in New Orleans neighborhoods since the pandemic began, coming off a 2019 that had seen historically low crime numbers. In 2020, non-fatal shootings were up 69% and armed robberies were up 22%, with the latter figure mostly driven by a spike in carjackings. The reasons are numerous, from a pandemic-impacted economy to social injustice, divisive politics, to neighborhood feuds, domestic violence, narcotics and even road rage, Ferguson said. According to law enforcement sources, Irvin-LeViege was on the phone with one of her in-laws on the way to deliver them groceries when two people walked in front of her car at Morrison Road and Martin Drive. At a spot just in front of the Laguna Run apartment complex, one of the pair opened fire with a rifle, mortally wounding Irvin-LeViege and her dog, Chloe. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The person on the phone with her heard her scream and then the line went silent. Her Toyota Camry crashed into another vehicle two blocks away, according to investigators. Soon after, police received a report that two people one with a rifle had carjacked a woman inside the Laguna Run complex. Ferguson said the youth who was turned in Thursday confessed to a part in the killing, although the chief didnt say whether he was the alleged triggerman and what motive is suspected. Detectives are still seeking a second person of interest in surveillance images released earlier this week. Ferguson said that he had spoken to Irvin-LeViege's devastated husband and the father of the 15-year-old boy. I want to commend this juvenile's father for taking the courage, being bold, Ferguson said. We need more parents like this to take responsibility. Mayor LaToya Cantrell agreed. "You have heard me say time after time how important it is for people to do the right thing," she said. "This was the right thing to do, and I want to commend that family for doing it. Our path forward is one we must all walk together. Ferguson said the boy was booked into the Juvenile Justice Intervention Center on a second-degree murder count. It wasnt immediately clear Thursday whether his first hearing has been set. A spokesman for Williams didnt immediately comment on how he intends to handle the case. During the campaign, Williams said he would keep youthful offenders in the juvenile system rather than transferring them to a court designed for adults. Irvin-LeViege was a certified professional medical coder and human resources manager, according to an obituary. She married her husband in April. "The two were fortunate to reconnect later in life," the obituary said. "All who knew Anita and Kenneth were overjoyed with their union. They had dreams and plans for their life together." In a 10-part series on TikTok, verified user Josh Helfgott detailed "the attack on Democracy" that took place on Wednesday. After watching rioters steal a podium, sit at congressional desks and leave threatening notes for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Helfgott had one thing to say: "If you've ever wondered what white privilege is, it's this." TEXAS ON TIKTOK: The weird and wonderful world of Houston-centric TikToks In one clip, President Donald Trump can be seen addressing supporters at his rally down the street from Capitol Hill. "We're going to the Capitol," Trump can be seen saying. "We're going to try to give our Republicans the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country. So, let's walk down Pennsylvania Avenue." TikTok is currently full of videos like Helfgott's, which show the on-the-ground happenings of an unprecedented moment in American history. In a TikTok posted by Yahoo News, a woman says she was maced as soon as she entered the building. Screengrab courtesy of Josh Helfgott via TikTok "Yeah, I made it like a foot inside and they pushed me out and they maced me," said Elizabeth from Knoxville, Tenn. She added, "We're storming the Capitol, it's a revolution." User Grayson Adkins shared a series of images from the riots that he thinks will go down in the history books. "all i can say is do better. the violence must stop," Adkins captioned the video. Over the years, the likes of Keith Floyd, Nigel Slater, Nigella Lawson and Rick Stein have never been far from our television screens, often after foreign jaunts. Like them, we have become accustomed to returning home hoping to recreate that life-altering Colosseum-side bowl of cacio e pepe in Rome. With recipe-inspiring holidays on hold, how about cooking up a taste of abroad? Heres a selection of classic dishes to revive your wanderlust in the lockdown... GOOD MORNING VIETNAM: BUN CHA Bun Cha - grilled minced pork accompanied by rice noodles, herbs and pickled vegetables - is light, spicy and easy to put together Bun Cha originated in Vietnam and Barack Obama enjoyed the dish on a visit to the country in 2016. Pictured is the Thu Bon River in Hoi An This dish might as well be called Vietnamese meatballs as grilled minced pork is accompanied by rice noodles, herbs and pickled vegetables. The make or break element is a dipping sauce made from fish sauce, vinegar, sugar, garlic and chilli. Bun Cha is light, spicy, easy to put together and comes from the northern capital Hanoi. WHERE TO GO: The dishs most famous appearance came in 2016, when the late chef Anthony Bourdain and then U.S. President Barack Obama shared a meal at Bun Cha Huong Lien in Hanoi as featured on the television series Parts Unknown. PRIDE OF ITALY: TAGLIATELLE AL RAGU Most Italians turn their noses up at spaghetti Bolognese, so how about trying the Italian classic Tagliatelle al Ragu from Bologna? Recipes vary but a base of finely chopped carrots, celery and onion is essential, as is the inclusion of wine (red or white). Many also swear by a dash of milk or cream Mary Berry provoked outrage in 2017 by doing so but her recipe, to be found online, is a good one. WHERE TO GO: Near the Piazza Maggiore, Osteria dellOrsa (osteriadellorsa.it) has been serving ragu (8) since 1979. FRENCH HEAVYWEIGHT: CASSOULET Cassoulet is a herb-filled, meat and bean stew that is said originally to come from the small town of Castelnaudry - near Toulouse and Carcassone in France Head to southern France and youre likely to find many versions of cassoulet. But the herb-filled, meat and bean stew is said originally to come from the small town of Castelnaudry near Toulouse and Carcassone which serves its cassoulet with duck confit. Recipes are debated but consensus is that the key is the beans (haricot or cannellini) which should be tender but not falling apart and full of herby aromas. Raymond Blancs recipe can be found online and is a good starting point. WHERE TO GO: Le Tirou (tirou.fr) in Castelnaudry which serves a three-course menu, centered on cassoulet, for 35. JAPANESE COMFORT FOOD: KATSU DON Katsu Don, a favourite in Tokyo, consists of a breaded pork cutlet simmered with onions, egg and served over rice. The key component is the sauce made from soy, mirin and dashi (fish stock) which gives the balance of sharp and salty with the rich eggs and pork. Theres a great recipe in Tokyo Stories by Tim Anderson (waterstones.co.uk 26.99). WHERE TO GO: Head to Katsukichi in the Shibuya district, where the dish is about 10 (bodaijyu.co.jp/en/). SPICED UP MOROCCO: LAMB TAGINE Lamb is the base for most tagines. Other ingredients include turmeric, paprika, ginger, cinnamon as well as dried fruits such as apricots, sultanas and dates Punchy spices, fresh herbs and strong citrus notes could be just the tonic to brighten up a lockdown evening. Tagines take their name from the earthenware pot used for cooking, but any casserole dish will do. Lamb is the most famous base, or you can try a vegetarian version. Ingredients include turmeric, paprika, ginger, cinnamon as well as dried fruits such as apricots, sultanas and dates. Rick Stein, Nigella Lawson and Nigel Slater all have versions. WHERE TO GO: Try The Henna Art Cafe in Marrakech (marrakechhennaartcafe.com), which has dishes from 2.50 and is a short walk from Jemaa el-Fna square. THE MEXICAN DARK HORSE: MOLE In the 15th century at the Convent of Santa Clara in Puebla, Mexico, a group of nuns cobbled together a sauce from chilies, spices, nuts and chocolate that they served to a visiting archbishop. Mole means mix and there are hundreds of variations, but the crucial ingredients are chocolate and chili. Look out for a recipe (Wahaca founder Thomasina Miers has a few) featuring dark chocolate and smoky ancho chilies. WHERE TO GO: Sample mole and buy pre-made pastes at Oaxaca Citys central Mercado de Bentio Juarez. Dishes 1-5. ARGENTINIAN WILDERNESS: EMPANADAS The fillings for empanadas, pictured, range from beef to lamb, chicken, seafood and vegetables Resembling the Cornish pasty, the Argentinian empanada is the perfect food for the cold winter months. In Britain were perhaps not so well acquainted with this South American countrys cuisine but The Food of Argentina (blackwells.co.uk, 25.64) is an excellent introduction. Fillings vary from beef to lamb, chicken, seafood and vegetables. The empanadas of Patagonias Tierra del Fuego are shortcrust pastry packed with lamb, spices, chopped hard-boiled eggs and olives: warm, comforting and lovely. WHERE TO GO: Ten-table La Salamandra Pulperia in Andean tourism hot-spot Bariloches Centro Civico serves tasty empanadas from a few pounds. BRITISH SEASIDE CLASSIC: FISH AND CHIPS The UK is so fond of fish and chips that it was one of the few foods safeguarded from rationing during the world wars. Try making your own with mushy peas and tartare sauce. Light batter is the key and very hot oil when frying will ensure everything is crisp. Tom Kerridge is a good start for a recipe. WHERE TO GO: St Andrews (standrewsrestaurant.co.uk) has been at Portobello Beach, Edinburgh, for 100 years. A haddock fish supper is 7.80. A court Friday denied bail to three persons accused of rioting in Chand Bagh area of north-east during last year in which a head constable died while around 50 police men got injured. Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav dismissed the appeals filed by the accused -- Mohd Arif, Saleem Khan and Jalaluddin, against an order of a magisterial court. The magisterial court had in June last year dismissed their bail applications after police said the probe was at a crucial stage. In its order, the sessions judge said the investigation was still at a crucial stage as other accused were being identified by employing scientific means and matter would be further investigated regarding them and further charge sheets in the matter would be filed. In my considered opinion, the investigating agency cannot be restrained from investigating the matter further to identify the accused persons and to bring them to book in the interest of justice. Therefore, I do not find any infirmity, illegality or impropriety in the impugned order. The revision petitions are accordingly, dismissed, the judge said. The accused were arrested in the matter on March 11, 2020 and a charge sheet was filed against them on June 8last year. According to the prosecution, thousands of rioters had collected at the protest site at Chand Bagh in north-east, and had blocked the main Wazirabad road. When the police personnel including DCP Shahdara and ACP Gokalpuri tried to persuade the protesters to unblock the main Wazirabad road, an attack was launched on them injuring 50 policemen, the prosecution said, adding that head constable Rattan Lal was shot and died on the spot. During the course of investigation, several accused persons were identified and arrested which includes the three petitioners, it said. (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.) Large restaurants providing prepared meals to supermarkets for sale is causing the Government some concern as it says this is adding to additional customer traffic at those supermarkets, as it wants less movement of people during the State of Emergency. Srinagar, Jan 8 (UNI) Rebutting reports about meeting with the leaders of Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), Apni Party (AP) president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari said on Friday that these parties always "dumped people of the Jammu and Kashmir for the last over 70 years though hollow and misleading slogans". He rebutted a news report mentioning some dinner meeting between him and one of the leaders of PAGD that has purportedly taken place in New Delhi. Referring to reports, Bukhari said that he is not at all interested about the formation, composition or any kind of split within PAGD which came into existence in J&K by propagating lies and deceit among the people. Such a superficial alliance was formed to make its allies relevant among the people in a politically hostile atmosphere. These parties have always duped the people of J&K for the last over 70 years through hollow and misleading slogans. People know that this alliance will collapse on its own, he added. Bukhari said it hardly needs any political machinations to engineer fissures within a politically opportunistic alliance that was primarily formed without any sincerity of the purpose. I have not participated in any dinner meeting in New Delhi as has been reported. PAGD may develop cracks on its own but there are few political elements within this formation who would like to wash their dirty linen in public by spreading such canards through the media, he observed. Bukhari said the so called Peoples Alliance (PAGD) has started feeling the heat from the ground as the people want results from it on its poll promises and tall claims made by its leadership since its inception. "It seems the PAGD leadership is now trying to maneuver a new political model to hoodwink the people before next elections attributing its absolute failure to the imminent breakup within this amalgam, he remarked. On the other hand, Bukhari said, Apni Party has from day one made its socio-economic and political agenda clear among the people and it is committed to what it has claimed in the public. UNI BAS GK 1321 Boeing will pay $2.5 billion to settle a Justice Department investigation and admit that employees misled regulators about the safety of its 737 Max aircraft, which suffered two deadly crashes shortly after entering airline service. FILE - In this Monday, June 29, 2020, file photo, A Boeing 737 MAX jet taxis after landing at Boeing Field following a test flight in Seattle. Boeing will pay $2.5 billion to settle a criminal charge related to its troubled 737 Max jetliner. The Justice Department announced the settlement Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 nearly two years after the second of two crashes that killed 346 people in all. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) Boeing will pay $2.5 billion to settle a Justice Department investigation and admit that employees misled regulators about the safety of its 737 Max aircraft, which suffered two deadly crashes shortly after entering airline service. The government and the company said Thursday that the settlement includes money for the crash victims families, airline customers and a fine. In Indonesia, the brother of two victims of the first Max 8 crash, Muhammad Rafi Ardian, 24, and Rian Ariandi, 24, said he hoped the case would be settled soon and that there would be no more crashes. The two were among 189 who died on Oct. 29, 2018, when a Max operated by Indonesias Lion Air plunged into the Java Sea. "We are entering the third year now. So, it can lighten the psychological burden of the family after the legal process in the U.S. is finished, too," said Anton Sahadi. The prolonged mediation process was traumatizing, he said. Prosecutors said Boeing employees gave misleading statements and half-truths about safety issues with the plane to the Federal Aviation Administration, then covered up their actions. "Boeings employees chose the path of profit over candour," said David Burns, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Departments criminal division. Boeing blamed two former pilots who helped determine how much training was needed for the Max. CEO David Calhoun said their conduct doesnt reflect Boeing employees as a whole or the character of the company. This is a substantial settlement of a very serious matter, and I firmly believe that entering into this resolution is the right thing for us to do a step that appropriately acknowledges how we fell short of our values and expectations, Calhoun said in a memo to employees. The government will drop the criminal charge of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. after three years if Boeing follows the terms of the settlement. The settlement removes uncertainty about criminal charges against the iconic U.S. aircraft maker, which is struggling to put the Max crisis behind it. Boeing still faces lawsuits by the families of passengers who died in the crashes, it has lost more than 1,000 orders for the Max, and its once-stellar reputation for engineering has suffered. Boeing began working on the Max in 2011 as an answer to a new, more fuel-efficient model from European rival Airbus. Boeing admitted in court filings that two of its technical pilot experts deceived the FAA about a flight-control system called the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, that could point a plane's nose down if sensors indicated the plane might be in danger of an aerodynamic stall that it might fall from the sky. The system was not part of previous 737 models. MCAS was added because the Maxs larger engines, which are mounted higher and farther forward on the 737s low-swept wings, gave the plane a tendency to tilt too far nose-up in some conditions. Boeing downplayed the significance of MCAS and didn't mention it in airplane manuals. Most pilots didn't know about it. The first airlines began flying the 737 Max in mid-2017. The FAA let the Max keep flying after the crash in Indonesia, and on March 10, 2019, another Max operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed nearly straight down into a field. In all, 346 people were killed. On both flights, MCAS was activated by a faulty reading from a single sensor. The system repeatedly pushed the planes' noses down, and pilots were unable to regain control. After the planes were grounded worldwide, Boeing changed MCAS so that it always uses two sensors, along with other changes to make the automated system less powerful and easier for pilots to override. The FAA ordered other changes, including the rerouting of some wiring to avoid potential dangerous short-circuiting. In November, the FAA approved Boeing's changes, and several carriers including American Airlines have resumed using the planes. Under the settlement announced Thursday, Boeing will pay a $243.6 million fine, $1.77 billion in compensation to airlines that were unable to use their Max jets while they were grounded, and $500 million into a fund for the families of passengers who were killed in the crashes. Boeing faces dozens of lawsuits by families who lost relatives in the crashes. Three lawyers pressing cases in the Ethiopian crash said the settlement would not affect their pursuit of compensation. Zipporah Kuria, a U.K. citizen whose father died in the Ethiopian crash, said that with the settlement, Boeing leaders were seeking to pay their way out of accountability. The agreement wont bring back our loved ones, but at least there is clarity that their deaths werent incidental and there is clarity in liability. House Transportation Committee Chairman Peter DeFazio, D-Ore, meanwhile, said the settlement amounted to a slap on the wrist" for a company the size of Boeing. I hope the DOJ can explain its rationale for this weak settlement to the families, because from where I sit this attempt to change corporate behaviour is pathetic and will do little to deter criminal behaviour going forward, DeFazio said in a statement. Boeing said in a regulatory filing that it will take a $743.6 million charge against earnings because of the settlement. The crashes and grounding of the Max, Boeings bestselling plane, has plunged the Chicago-based company into its deepest crisis. It has led to billions in losses and resulted in the ouster of former CEO Dennis Muilenburg in December 2019. David Koenig can be reached at www.twitter.com/airlinewriter Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused members of the Hazara community of "blackmailing" him after they refused to bury the remains of 11 coal miners, who were killed in the Islamic States` attack, until the premier visits them. Braving the bone-chilling weather, hundreds of members of the Hazara community have been protesting for several days against the killing of 11 coal miners in Machh town of Balochistan. Since the attack, the relatives of those killed placed their coffins on a highway in Quetta and refused to bury the dead until the killers were apprehended and Khan came to meet them. However, Khan has turned down the demand, terming it as blackmailing, Dawn reported."We have accepted all of their demands. [But] one of their demands is that the dead will be buried when the premier visits. I have sent them a message that when all of your demands have been accepted [...] you don`t blackmail the prime minister of any country like this," Khan said on Friday (January 8) while speaking at an event here. Live TV "Anyone will blackmail the prime minister then," he said, adding that this included a "band of crooks" in apparent reference to the Pakistan Democratic Movement. "This blackmail has also been ongoing for two-and-a-half years. This should be clear. All of your demands have been met but you can`t impose a condition which has [no logic]. So first, bury the dead. If you do it today then I guarantee you that I will come to Quetta today," he added. On Sunday (January 3), unidentified gunmen stormed a coal mine in Machh town near Quetta, pulling out ethnic Hazaras, members of Pakistan`s Shia minority community, from their homes and opening fire on them.The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack. Following the deadly attack, protests erupted in the region with the kin of the victims refusing to bury the dead until the government meets their demands. The protestors have held several rounds of negotiations with members of Khan`s cabinet, including Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed, but to no avail. Through the week, protests spread to several other cities, including Karachi, Lahore and other towns.The National Commission on Human Rights has estimated that more than 2,000 Hazaras - adherents of the minority Shia Muslim sect, and easily targeted due to their distinctive facial features - have been killed in targeted attacks since 2004, Al Jazeera reported. They have been subject to targeted shootings and mass bomb and suicide attacks, particularly in Quetta, where the majority of the country`s estimated half a million Hazaras reside.Since 2013, after some of the worst bombings took place, the city`s Hazara population has been largely restricted to residing within two heavily fortified enclaves on either side of the city. Health Minister Robin Swann has said hospital operating theatres across Northern Ireland will be allocated to patients most in need during and after the virus surge. Although some patients may need to travel further to have surgery, Mr Swann said this approach will maximise theatre capacity across Northern Ireland and avail of all capacity in both the health and social care and independent sector. It's after several health and social care trusts this week confirmed the downturn of elective surgery due to the pressures caused by Covid-19. "I would rather see the highest priority treatments delivered elsewhere in Northern Ireland than not at all," said Mr Swann in a written statement to the assembly on Friday. "It is my firm expectation that inter-Trust transfers for the highest clinical priority cases will be facilitated." It comes ahead of the third surge of the virus, which Mr Swann said is expected on the third week of January. The UUP politician hit back at suggestions some medical conditions are being prioritised over others, saying it is "incredibly offensive" to accuse frontline staff of doing so. Their goal remains to treat the sickest patients most quickly, he said. "I hope no member will resort to making such claims. It is long past time that this falsehood was nailed once and for all. Indeed, anyone making such an allegation is insulting health staff who are battling the most appalling pressures and facing decisions no one should have to grapple with." It's along with the challenges that were already facing the health service pre-pandemic, which will take years to rectify and involve the training of specialist nurses and doctors, he said. Mr Swann said he has been assured the most urgent surgery will be protected "where this is achievable" and that postponed operations will be rescheduled "as quickly as possible". "I deeply regret any patient experiencing postponements of this nature," he said. "The increase in cases among the over 60 age bracket will drive escalating pressures on our health system." It's estimated that in some parts of Northern Ireland as many as 1 in 40 people currently have Covid-19. To date, in the region of 74,000 vaccinations have been administered, 65,000 of which are first doses. A further 20 deaths were reported on Friday, along with 1,500 new cases of the virus. It brings the death toll to 1,434 and the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak to 86,146. Some 11,075 people have tested positive in the last seven days. All 20 fatalities happened within the current reporting period, from 10am on Thursday to 10am on Friday. There are currently 641 Covid patients in hospitals across Northern Ireland, with 45 in intensive care and 36 requiring ventilation. A total of 137 care homes are dealing with outbreaks of the virus. The news comes after former Stormont Education Minister John O'Dowd said the Executive "is not going to collapse" over the issue of transfer tests - and there will be no row over the issue. Read More Stormont ministers met on Friday to discuss the topic, which reportedly has divided the Executive. Read More Transfer tests were due to be held over the next five weeks, beginning on Saturday, however these were cancelled by exam providers on Tuesday, except for a sole AQE test to run in February. Meanwhile, separate figures put the Covid-related death toll in Northern Ireland at 1,895, after 91 deaths linked to the virus were recorded by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (Nisra) in the week to January 1. Here's how Friday unfolded: The abrupt shift in circumstances invigorated Democrats who had been deflated in November when they failed to gain a Senate majority on Nov. 3 despite Mr. Bidens victory. Given the traditional advantage Republicans have had in Georgia runoff elections, many Democrats had become resigned to the prospect that they would be sentenced to another two years in the Senate minority, stymied in delivering on Mr. Bidens priorities. We sure did not take the most direct path to get here, but here we are, said Mr. Schumer, happy with the outcome any way he could get it, a result that put him in reach of fulfilling his ambition of becoming majority leader after four years as the chief of the minority. While the change in Senate control is momentous, particularly in easing the way for Mr. Biden to fill administration jobs and judicial vacancies, it does not mean that Democrats can have their way on everything or even most things. The Democratic majority in the House shrank in the last election, emboldening Republicans and giving Speaker Nancy Pelosi less wiggle room in what is likely her last term. More than half of House Republicans voted to throw out certified presidential election results from Arizona and Pennsylvania overnight Wednesday and Thursday without evidence of fraud, reflecting both the extreme character of the House Republican conference and what is sure to be a reluctance to work with Mr. Biden. With the Senate divided 50 to 50 and Democrats in charge only by virtue of the tiebreaking power of the vice president, the filibuster also looms large. Democrats will need to attract at least 10 Republicans to advance most bills while contending with demands from the left for bolder action now that their party will control all of Congress. The 'Soho Karen' woman who was caught on video tackling a black teen after falsely accusing him of stealing her phone has denied racism was a factor and refused to admit she physically assaulted him - but has apologized for hurting his feelings. Miya Ponsetto, 22, made the comments in a rambling interview with CBS' Gayle King filmed on Thursday just hours before she was arrested on a New York warrant following a brief car chase in her home state of California. Ponsetto is now being held without bail in Ventura County pending a court hearing later on Friday. Ponsetto was filmed attacking 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr, who is the son of Grammy-winning jazz musician Keyon Harrold, at the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan back on December 26 after falsely accusing him of stealing her iPhone. She denied in the interview, which aired on Friday, that racism was a factor and apologized for making the teen feel 'inferior'. Elsewhere in the interview, Ponsetto admitted she could have handled the situation different but stopped short of admitting she physically attacked the teen despite footage of her appearing to grab him. After being told she should have known better and asked if she actually understood her actions, Ponsetto snapped at King, telling her: 'Alright Gail, enough.' Miya Ponsetto, 22, gave a rambling interview alongside her lawyer with CBS' Gayle King just hours before being arrested on Thursday in her home state of California on a New York warrant 'I admit, yes, I could have approached the situation differently or maybe not yelled at him like that and made him feel, you know, like some sort of inferior way... making him feel like I was hurting his feelings,' she said. 'That's not my intention, I consider myself to be super sweet. The 22-year-old was taken into custody on a warrant from New York on Thursday after a brief car chase with police in Ventura County, California 'I don't feel like this one mistake defines me. I do sincerely from the bottom of my heart apologize if I made the son feel as if I assaulted him or if I hurt his feelings, or the father's feelings.' When asked about her physically attacking the teen, Ponsetto repeated previous claims that the boy's father actually attacked her. 'The footage shows me attacking his son, attacking him how? Yelling at him, yes. OK, I apologize. Can we move on,' she said. The Harrold family have claimed the incident was racially motivated but Ponsetto denied this. She admitted that she didn't stop everyone in the hotel lobby when she believed her phone had been stolen. 'I was approaching the people that had been exiting the hotel - because in my mind, anybody exiting might be the one trying to steal my phone,' she said. Elsewhere in the interview, Ponsetto referenced racism, saying: 'Basically I am a 22-year-old girl. Racism, how is one girl accusing a guy about a phone a crime. Where is the context in that?' The 22-year-old woman caught on camera allegedly physically attacking a 14-year-old Black teen and falsely accusing him of stealing her phone was arrested in California. In an exclusive interview, Miya Ponsetto and her lawyer spoke with @GayleKing hours before she was arrested. pic.twitter.com/ezaGkcWZ8j CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 8, 2021 After being told she should have known better and asked if she actually understood her actions, Ponsetto snapped at King (above), telling her: 'Alright Gail, enough' Ponsetto was dubbed 'SoHo Karen' after she was seen in a now-viral video (left) falsely accusing African American jazz artist Keyon Harrold's son Keyon Jr. (right) of stealing her iPhone at the Arlo Hotel Ponsetto was taken into custody on a New York warrant on Thursday after a brief car chase with police in Ventura County, California. The New York Police Department had flown detectives out to California a day earlier with a warrant for Ponsetto's arrest over the violent incident at the Arlo Hotel in Manhattan. Ventura County Sheriff's deputies arrested Ponsetto after spotting her driving near her home in Piru, northwest of Los Angeles. Authorities said she drove two blocks before finally stopping her vehicle but then refused to get out of the car. 'She tried to slam the door on one of the deputies and that's when they just reached in and forcibly removed her,' Ventura County Sheriff's spokesman Eric Buschow said. The sheriff's office are now asking county prosecutors in California to also charge her with resisting arrest. 'SoHo Karen' Miya Ponsetto (pictured) was arrested in Ventura County, California, on Thursday. She is pictured above on Saturday Her arrest came after days of intense media coverage of the fracas at the hotel and demands by the teen's family and activists that Ponsetto face criminal charges. In a video recorded by the teen's father, Ponsetto was seen pushing and grabbing both father and son. She was recorded demanding the teenager's phone, claiming he had stolen it from her. Harrold Sr can be heard in the recording telling Ponsetto to leave his son alone. Security video later released by the NYPD shows Ponsetto frantically grabbing at the teen as he tried to get away from her through the hotel's front door. She's seen clutching him from behind before both tumble to the ground. Moments after the scuffle ended, her missing phone was found in an Uber and returned to her by the driver, Harrold Sr has said. The NYPD released surveillance footage of Ponsetto tackling 14-year-old Keyon Jr to the ground in the lobby of the Arlo Hotel after she accused him of stealing her iPhone NYPD detectives flew to California to help locate her after Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance signed off on charges of attempted robbery and felony fugitive from justice. The altercation drew comparisons to cases like that of Amy Cooper, a white woman who was charged with filing a false report for calling 911 and saying she was being threatened by 'an African American man' during a dispute in New York's Central Park in May. His parents have said her arrest is 'a start'. 'I pray for her. In the context of all the excuses her attorney made, at this point it's not even about an apology any more,' the teen's father told ABC's Good Morning America on Friday. The teen has been in music therapy ever since the incident, his family say. Ponsetto's lawyer, Sharen Ghatan, told The Associated Press in an interview before the arrest that her client is 'emotionally unwell' and remorseful for the ordeal. Ghatan said she spoke to her client earlier on Thursday and that 'she strikes me as someone who's unwell.' She said Ponsetto 'lashed out' over worry about her phone disappearing and that it wasn't racially motivated. It 'could have been anyone,' she said. A lawyer for Ponsetto claimed that she was having an anxiety attack during the incident and insisted that it was not racially motivated Police says sources led deputies on a brief car chase and tried to close a door on a deputy's leg before she was taken into custody near her home. She is pictured above at the weekend On Wednesday, Ghatan had claimed that Ponsetto was having an anxiety attack during the hotel incident and insisted that it was not racially motivated. 'Miya is young, She let her emotions get the best of her. That phone could have been in the hand of 90-year-old grandma, an Asian person.. someone black or blue. It wasn't a race related issue. Things took a life of their own,' Ghatan told NBC. The lawyer explained that Ponsetto, who is from California, had been traveling alone while visiting her father in New York City for Christmas. She had been relying on her phone to help her navigate the city and became nervous and 'triggered' after realizing she had lost it. 'She was a scared girl alone in a city she doesn't know and lost her one point of contact for her numbers. She lost her mind for a hot minute. She is sorry,' Ghatan said. She said Ponsetto has since acknowledged that she lost her temper and acted inappropriately and 'wouldn't do it again'. She now wants to 'give peace to the family' and apologize. Lawyer Sharen Ghatan explained Ponsetto, who is from California, had been visiting her father in New York City for Christmas and was nervous about being alone in a strange city 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) Ghatan said she and Ponsetto have contacted attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the Harrold family, in hopes of arranging a meeting but have yet to hear back. 'It's horrible, what happened. She certainly should not have done that. She has some things she has to work through with herself, control issues, anger management issues. Of course she knows that,' Ghatan said. 'She wants to clarify and give peace to the family. She's mixed race. She specifically said it's not about race. The way she talks, it's not even an issue. It was the phone.' The lawyer denied accusations that Ponsetto was a 'lady of privilege', adding that she is of Puerto Rican descent who works '9-5 at a typical place'. Ponsetto plans to address the controversy publicly when the time is right, but is 'fragile' at the moment. Ponsetto's mother and her attorney have expressed concern over her well-being, telling TMZ she has gone off the grid and has not been responding to messages. They told the tabloid she has received threats and even visits to her home from strangers. Thursday's arrest isn't the first time Ponsetto has had a brush with law enforcement. Court records obtained by TMZ showed Ponsetto was arrested twice for driving under the influence of alcohol last year - once in May and again in October. Those incidents followed a separate arrest back in February when she and her mother were charged for drunkenly refusing to leave a hotel in Los Angeles. By continuously improving infrastructure, building resettlement sites, and developing industries suited to local conditions, Taihu county, Anqing, east China's Anhui province, has lifted 122,000 villagers from 35,900 impoverished households in 67 poor villages out of poverty. From 2014 to 2019, the county, which was once one of the key counties for national development-oriented poverty alleviation work in China and a mountainous county suffering from extreme poverty, increased the per capita disposable income of farmers from 8,010 yuan (about $1,240.75) to 12,727 yuan, with an average annual growth of 9.7 percent. Taihu county had long been troubled by poor transportation conditions, as it has a great number of mountains and interlaced rivers and lakes, but the number of its roads and bridges was far from enough. Since 2014, the county has made great efforts to improve its transportation infrastructure. It has built 2,586 kilometers of roads and constructed or renovated 138 dangerous bridges, ensuring that each of the relatively large natural villages in registered poor administrative villages has a hardened road with a pavement width of no less than 3.5 meters. To further improve the infrastructure in poor areas, especially mountainous areas, the county treated 80.27 kilometers of small and medium-sized rivers, reinforced 33 small reservoirs, transformed 70,000 mu (about 46.7 square kilometers) of small and medium-sized irrigated areas, and improved 84,500 mu of irrigated areas through a program launched to promote small facilities for water conservancy, laying a solid foundation for industrial development. During Chinas 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), Taihu county relocated a total of 6,298 residents from 1,820 households living in inhospitable areas in an effort to help them get rid of poverty. All the relocated residents have moved into their new homes in 59 resettlement sites on schedule. "I don't have to worry about sending my granddaughter to school or taking my family to the hospital anymore," said Xu Wenling, a resident in Liangting village of Taihu county. Xus family used to be an impoverished household, while now the family has a big house with four bedrooms in a resettlement site with three tall buildings, a clean cultural square, as well as a kindergarten and a clinic located 300 meters from their home. Besides, the new resettlement site has also been equipped with other facilities like gas station and supermarket. Xu still feels the life she has now is like a dream every time she thinks of her old house with only two rooms in the mountains. Just several years ago, Xu was basically supporting the whole family on her own, as her husband suffered from rheumatism and couldn't handle heavy physical labour, her son and daughter-in-law were both troubled by chronic diseases, and her daughter was away from home pursuing her studies. As Liangting village was surrounded by mountains, Xu had to walk two and a half hours every day to send her granddaughter to a kindergarten. Eventually, the family had no other choice but to rent a house at the foot of the mountains. Liangting village was highly vulnerable to geological disasters, and it was difficult for some villagers, who lived in houses scattered in the mountains, to live a normal life, recalled Yang Yongfeng, Party secretary of the village. Fortunately, in 2017, the local government decided to relocate poor residents in Liangting village to help them shake off poverty. After helping poor residents move to new houses, the village has also tried to improve the living conditions and increase the income of villagers by improving the infrastructure of the locality and building an industrial park to enable residents to work near home. Xu's daughter, who had worked in several cities after graduation, returned to her hometown in 2018 when she heard that the industrial park near her new home was hiring. She has secured a job in a food factory in the industrial park. In fact, more and more people like Xu's daughter have returned to their hometown to work in the industrial park in Liangting village. WandaVision, Marvel Studios first live-action Disney+ series, will have a special two-episode premiere. In a press release, Disney said the first two episodes of the series will air together on January 15th. After that, the third episode will start streaming on January 22nd. In the past, Disney has typically stuck to a one episode per week release cadence, though the company has made exceptions in the past. The first two episodes of The Mandalorians first season came out within days of one another, for example. Disney didnt say why it decided to handle the shows premiere in this way. Whatever the companys reasoning, the two-episode premiere should be a treat for Marvel fans, particularly given that hasnt been new MCU content since Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019. Provided WandaVision sticks to a weekly schedule, we can expect it to conclude its nine-episode run on March 5th, which leaves just a single off week before the March 19th premiere of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier. President-elect Joe Biden announced Thursday that he has named Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to be labor secretary. If confirmed by the Senate, Walsh would take control of a Labor Department that Biden has pledged to reorient toward workers, with a stronger response to the Covid-19 pandemic including a promise to issue an emergency standard that would protect workers from on-the-job infection. Walsh also would be responsible for coordinating states payment of unemployment insurance benefits to millions of workers who remain sidelined during the pandemic. The Boston mayor was among a slate of selections announced Thursday evening, including Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo as commerce secretary, Isabel Guzman as administrator of the Small Business Administration and Don Graves as deputy secretary of commerce. Earlier, Biden announced that he had chosen Merrick Garland as attorney general, Lisa Monaco as deputy attorney general and Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general. Walsh is a former head of the Boston Building and Construction Trades Council who enjoys union support and his appointment is a signal that Biden will make a priority of a labor agenda. Yet his nomination will disappoint a coalition of Asian-American lawmakers, worker advocacy groups, and women leaders who had called on Biden to name California Labor Secretary Julie Su to the post. Walsh, whos entering the final year of his second four-year term as mayor, capitalized on his close ties to Biden and background in organized labor to land pivotal endorsements from U.S. union leaders. The heads of the AFL-CIOs two largest unions Lee Saunders, president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, and Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers both endorsed Walsh to head the Labor Department. Weingarten said Walsh would be a crucial addition to the administration who will hit the ground running as a relentless worker advocate and ally, both inside the administration and in the public sphere. Republican Representative Virginia Foxx of North Carolina, ranking member of the Committee on Education and Labor said the Walsh nomination raises significant concerns about the federal governments role in shaping the future of our evolving workforce. I have serious concerns that the Department of Labor under Walsh will crush our economic recovery by strangling business owners with an onslaught of job-killing regulations and vindictive and overzealous oversight. Americas workers, families and small businesses deserve better, she said. Walsh and the president-elect have bonded over the past decade, including during Bidens visits to Boston when he was vice president. Both men have embraced their working-class, pro-labor roots in their rise in politics. Biden presided over Walshs 2018 inauguration for his second term. Walsh previously served as a Massachusetts state representative for 17 years, coinciding with his time as a union official. In his legislative role, he was a principal liaison to Massachusetts unions on labor policy issues. Since resigning his building trades leadership position in 2013 to launch a mayoral campaign, Walsh has used his public office to advance a worker-friendly agenda. That includes signing an executive order certifying that vendors with city contracts dont engage in wage theft, and pushing for an ordinance establishing six weeks of paid parental leave for city employees. Top Photo: Boston Mayor Marty Walsh speaks at a press conference announcing the postponement of the Boston Marathon to September 15th on March 13, 2020 in Boston, Massachusetts. The postponement was due to concerns over the possible spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Turning over a new leaf. Larissa Dos Santos Lima reflected on her string of legal troubles and her divorce from Colt Johnson in a candid social media post as she revealed that she wont be deported to her native Brazil. Read article On January 9th 2019, I ran for my life, the 90 Day Fiance alum, 34, wrote in a lengthy Instagram post on Thursday, January 7. I was cheated on, and stolen of the money I earned through my made-to-order Cameos. Having to ask for money, my coin purse never had enough money to buy a coffee. I ran without my personal belongings that weeks before the incident [were] being hidden from me like: clothes, make up, perfume and important papers. Courtesy of Larissa Dos Santos Lima/Instagram Dos Santos Lima noted that while many might believe it reads as silly to be upset about leaving behind material things, she could never have those same items in her home country. She later revealed that she would not be sent back to Brazil after she was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers in September 2020. The plan to provoke me and have me deported failed, she wrote. Thank God for the mercy of the American people and my amazing lawyer Adam. Because of their encouragement, kindness and hard work, Im staying. To all of you that have shown me endless mercy, understanding and kindness, I promise you that I will give you more reasons to believe in me. Read article The TLC personalitys legal troubles began in 2018 when she was arrested twice for domestic violence: once days before her June wedding to Johnson, 35, and again in November. Charges were dismissed after her first arrest and she was not charged over the second incident. Dos Santos Lima later accused the Las Vegas native of being unfaithful after receiving an Instagram DM that alleged he was sending dk pics to other women. Johnson addressed the rumors via social media at the time, noting that he took responsibility for making mistakes in his marriage. KCR/Shutterstock In January 2019, Johnson filed for divorce after Dos Santos Lima was arrested for a third time following another domestic battery dispute. At the time, Dos Santos Lima was released on bail and appeared in court four months later. After consulting with her immigration attorney, this negotiation will not impede her ability to obtain citizenship, a lawyer told Us Weekly in May 2019 after her charges were set to be reduced to disorderly conduct. Read article Drama continued to follow Dos Santos Lima when she was arrested and taken into custody by ICE officers in September 2020. We have no clue why. I want to let her family, fans and friends know that we are going there right now and as soon, as I have more info I will keep you guys posted. Send prayers, the reality TV stars friend Carmen Nys informed fans in an Instagram Story at the time. A rep for Dos Santos Lima told TMZ at the time that lawyers were working meticulously on her release and clearing up this misunderstanding before she was eventually let go and returned home to Colorado. Subscriber content preview By JOCELYN NOVECK AP National Writer It's hard to decide what's most shocking in The Dissident, Bryan Fogel's urgent, gripping new documentary about the horrific murder of Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi. THE DISSIDENT Director: Bryan Fogel Rating: PG-13 Running time: 117 minutes . . . The rain alone was enough to make things pretty unpleasant tonight, but we've already seen some snow mixing in with the rain. In some parts, snow is accumulating on the grass already. Lows only drop to the mid 30s for most. Slick spots have been forming on roadways in southern Middle Tennessee, so a WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY has been issued for Lincoln County to run until 6 AM Friday. Even though the snow is ending, icy spots are possible, especially on bridges and overpasses. Most spots haven't seen much in the way of accumulation and those that do will only get a slushy coating of half an inch or less on grass and elevated surfaces like cars, roofs, and decks. To reiterate, that means snow (in many locations) should melt on contact. A brisk north wind ushering in that colder air will gust up to 20 mph. By Friday morning, expect a few lingering snow showers. While all precipitation tapers by midday, the clouds hang around and it stays cold. Highs don't break out of the lower 40s and a northwest wind will keep it feeling even colder. Keep the heavy coats and heated blankets on standby this weekend. Lows dip into the mid to upper 20s and highs run about 10 degrees below average - in the low to mid 40s both Saturday and Sunday. Now, could there be yet another chance for snow to start next week? There are rumblings around town of that possibility and at this point, that's about all we've got. Data sources are still not agreeing about how much moisture we'll have in North Alabama, but it will be cold enough Monday morning to see snow if that moisture is present. With that said, confidence in Monday's forecast will be low until there's more agreement in the model data. The 2020 EPA Automotive Trends Report ranked Honda first among full-line automakers and second overall with a U.S. fleet average "real world" fuel economy of 28.9 miles per gallon (mpg), a five-year improvement of 1.9 mpg, and 4 mpg higher than the industry average for MY2019. Similarly, Honda's fleet average CO 2 emissions was 307 grams/mile, an improvement of 22 grams/mile from 2014 results and 49 grams/mile lower (better) than the industry average for the 2019 model year. The EPA's very first ranking of America's most fuel efficient vehicles in 1976 had the Honda Civic ranked number one, and subsequent reports have consistently shown Honda among the leaders in EPA's annual fuel efficiency measurements. That means that for more than 40 years, Honda has made fuel efficiency a priority in its products. In 2020, Honda set a new all-time record for sales of electrified vehicles in America, growing sales by 4.5% amid significant market challenges. In an effort to reduce CO 2 emissions, globally, Honda intends for two-thirds of its automobile sales to be electrified by 2030 and is making substantial investments for the production of electrified vehicles in America1, including the recently-refreshed Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid, Insight and the Acura NSX hybrid supercar. Honda's Commitment to the Environment Based on its vision of "Blue Skies for our Children," Honda is working to advance technologies that address society's environmental and energy concerns. The company intends for electrified vehicles to comprise two-thirds of its global automobile sales by 2030. In North America, the Honda Electrification Initiative will see Honda's electrified powertrain technologies applied to an expanding portfolio of cars and light trucks in the years ahead. Honda's electrified vehicle lineup today includes the Accord Hybrid, CR-V Hybrid and Honda Insight, and the Clarity series. Honda is working to reduce the environmental impact of its products throughout their life cycle, including reducing waste, emissions and further improving the energy efficiency of producing, distributing and selling Honda and Acura products in North America. This includes a 93 percent reduction in waste sent to landfills from Honda plants in North America. Through its "green purchasing" and "green dealer" initiatives, the company also is working to promote more environmentally responsible business practices with its more than 600 original equipment suppliers and 1,300 retail dealer partners. 1 Using domestic and globally sourced parts. SOURCE American Honda Motor Co., Inc. A Bboxx customer in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Off-grid solar (OGS) companies are playing a valuable role in the progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 7: Ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. To date, the OGS industry has provided lighting and other services to more than 420 million users worldwide.1 In doing so, it has created critical last-mile financing and distribution infrastructure that can be leveraged to provide access to other household needs, including modern energy for cooking. While several OGS companies are already selling improved cookstoves, some are exploring how to integrate modern solutions such as liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and electric cooking appliances often with pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) technology into their product lines and retailing them through increasingly expansive last-mile networks. Potential for PAYGO LPG LPG is an aspirational cooking fuel that typically requires less behaviour change from consumers than some other fuels. The possibility of leveraging metering technology and PAYGO credit schemes into LPG distribution aligns well with existing OGS business models, infrastructure, and asset-financing expertise. PAYGO integration can involve low-tech solutions such as bundling LPG gas with solar home systems (SHS), with the SHS functioning as collateral for non-payment of the LPG. It can also involve higher-tech solutions such as GSM-enabled smart meters, as is being scaled up by Circle Gas in Kenya under the brand name M-Gas. Various other companies are also developing a range of high- and low-tech solutions that aim to address affordability barriers with attractive unit economics to ensure scalability. Over the last few years, a range of clean cooking fuel-focused companies such as Circle Gas and KOKO Networks, who have developed innovative ethanol fuel-based distribution technology have shown robust growth and are emerging as leaders in the new generation of scalable clean cooking business models. As such, it is reasonable to expect that existing OGS companies have advantages upon which they can capitalize, as well. This is due to their existing last-mile distribution networks, established partnerships with telecom companies and experience leveraging mobile money payments, and the ability to invest in product research and development given more robust balance sheets and better access to finance. One of the OGS sectors early pilots was conducted by Fenix Internationals (Fenix) Fumba initiative which distributed LPG cylinders with integrated smart meters to 750 customers in Kampala, Uganda, throughout 2018 and 2019. While customer feedback was positive, two challenges emerged. First, due to the fact that LPG was perceived as expensive, customers saved rather than used their fuel despite having access to a subsidized or even free supply, resulting in Fenix being stranded with immobilized assets for a considerable period of time. Second, there was little overlap between the companys existing SHS customers and potential LPG customers. PAYGO is deployed by utility companies and leverages smart meter infrastructure. This allows utility subscribers to enroll without large deposits or established credit and pay as they go' for their utility usage. We saw great market traction for our product, and customers largely appreciated being able to access LPG at an affordable cost, said Vincent Kienzler, Managing Director of Fenix Fumba at the time. However, a majority of our customers in Kampala only used LPG to quickly cook small meals, which resulted in little gas consumption and long repayment periods. Increasing gas consumption was our next challenge. Fortunately, new LPG pilots that aim to overcome such challenges are under development. Bboxx, a next-generation utility and leading OGS company, has been developing its strategy for LPG distribution, with pilots underway in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), where there is significant overlap between LPG and SHS customers. Bboxx also recently announced a new partnership with USAID to scale up PAYGO clean cooking access in the DRC. The pilots will test two offerings: bundling LPG with SHS by leveraging the PAYGO capabilities of the SHS and a (soon-to-be-launched) stand-alone smart meter solution. These solutions will allow upfront equipment financing in order to increase affordability among target customers. These pilots explore synergies associated with merging solar and clean cooking solutions, including the reduction of overheads and investment needs for expansion. LPG is the best cooking solution match for our current operations as it allows us to leverage our physical and digital infrastructure as well as our PAYGO capabilities and extensive customer knowledge, said Paul Buttner, Product Manager at Bboxx. M-KOPA Labs, the dedicated R&D arm of M-KOPA, is assessing the expansion of its product line with a pilot to explore LPG demand and willingness to pay among its customer base in Uganda. Aside from business model innovation, M-KOPA Labs is exploring the design of a low-cost technology alternative to smart meters that will fulfill user needs while unlocking greater efficiencies in rural and urban LPG distribution. E-cooking Solutions for Off-Grid Customers While cooking with electricity (e-cooking) currently remains a relatively expensive method, further technological innovation and the development of alternative consumer financing approaches could allow e-cooking to present a compelling value proposition for households. For instance, the development of highly efficient and inexpensive Electric Pressure Cookers has caught the attention of many in the market as they increasingly show potential to compete on price-per-cooked-meal. Battery-supported direct current devices can enable cooking on weak grids, mini-grids, and stand-alone systems.2 Further research and development are required to bring e-cooking solutions off-grid, and some OGS companies are getting involved. M-KOPA Labs, with support from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office-funded Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) Challenge Fund, is exploring the appropriate design and suitability of e-cookers for its Kenyan and Ugandan customers. Charcoal use in rural and urban East Africa is pervasive and represents a costly expense for the household budget, said Katherine Owens, Head of M-KOPA Labs. Much like M-KOPA Labs enabled customers to replace kerosene for solar lighting, we are now looking to displace charcoal fuel for cooking. But the solution must be developed with a clear understanding of customers desires, behaviors, and feelings. A Holistic View of Energy Access OGS companies can play a significant role by enabling a shift away from wood and charcoal to cleaner cooking solutions. The integration of PAYGO in LPG and e-cooking appliances are just two examples of the natural integration with OGS business models. Other companies are integrating PAYGO solutions into biomass stoves, biogas systems, and ethanol distribution all of which could be additional opportunities for OGS players in the years to come. Ongoing pilots promise to illustrate the right combination of technology feasibility, consumer value proposition, and economic viability. There is a large and growing opportunity for increased collaboration between companies in the private sector, as well as among sector alliances and industry associations such as the Clean Cooking Alliance, GOGLA, the Africa Minigrid Developers Association, the Alliance for Rural Electrification, and others. The clean cooking sector should consciously, collectively, and collaboratively work to support better integration of household energy offerings to customers throughout the developing world. 1 2020 Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report, World Bank and GOGLA, 2020, https://www.lightingglobal.org/news/press-release-2020-solar-off-grid-market-trends-report/ 2 Cooking with Electricity A Cost Perspective, 2020, MECS & World Bank, http://documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/121371601050459132/pdf/Report-Summary.pdf The UK is committed to territorial integrity of Ukraine, diplomats reaffirm. UK Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons has refuted reports circulated by Russian media on the alleged relaxation of British sanctions imposed on Russia. "The UK is committed to territorial integrity of Ukraine and to upholding sanctions on Russia for its illegal annexation of Crimea. Reports that UK sanctions re Crimea have been relaxed are incorrect," the British Embassy in Kyiv wrote on Facebook, citing the ambassador as saying. Read alsoMinister names conditions for supplying fresh water to CrimeaThe General Licence issused by HM Treasury for the Crimea Sea Ports mirrors the licensing derogation I Article 6a of the EU Council Regulation No 269/2014 in both purpose and in scope and therefor maintains the same policy impact, the diplomats clarified. Information and guidance on General Licences are clearly available on OFSI's gov.ua page, the statement concludes. Earlier today, January 7, Russian media claimed that the UK post Brexit relaxed the so-called Crimea sanctions. Reporting by UNIAN With her hot pink hair and street-style punk clothing designs, Zandra Rhodes has become a staple in the fashion industry. Looking back on her career, the Del Mar resident and known "Princess of Punk," has been a celebrated designer of some of the biggest celebrities, including Elizabeth Taylor, Cher, Diana Ross and Freddie Mercury . The San Diego Opera in 2001 also commissioned Rhodes to design the costumes for "The Magic Flute," which led her to other opportunities with the opera, including set design. The England native also founded The Fashion and Textile Museum in London in 2003. Since its opening, the museum has featured work from some of the world's leading designers, including Anna Sui, Missoni, Kaffe Fassett and Bill Gibb. To cap her 50th year in the industry, Rhodes will release a book all about her career, as well as a London exhibition. Both events are expected to happen in the fall. She recently spoke about her continued excitement for fashion and how her career has transformed. A model wears an outfit designed by Zandra Rhodes Courtesy Q: What made you become interested in fashion? How did your experience with textiles foster your career in fashion? A: My mother taught dressmaking and there were always fabulous fashion magazines around our house. I studied printed Textile Design at the Royal College of Art alongside such students including David Hockney. I fell in love with designing fabrics for dresses. Q: Why has street punk fashion been important to you? A: I could feel a change coming in the mid-to-late 70s. I guess one could say I got ahead of the wave of experimental fashion, incorporating street-style punk into my couture collection. This was unheard of at the time when street looks were limited to the street, not the runway. Punk fashion was a wonderful phase in my life and became a huge milestone in my career. Making gowns with holes and beaded safety pins on Jersey fabric was a break from my signature printed chiffon dresses. After my Conceptual Chic Collection in 1977, it was 10 years later that Versace used holes and safety pins in his collection worn by Liz Hurley at the Oscars. In 2017, my punk wedding dress was showcased at the MET in New York. Q: How have your designs evolved over time? A: I have always let my prints guide the shape of my dresses. Sometimes Ill be lucky enough to travel to an exotic location and the culture will inspire my next collection. I like to draw in my sketchbook and often I look at my sketches and they will spark new ideas. All my work is hand drawn and most of it is hand screen printed in my London Atelier. Ill occasionally incorporate digital printing but I like to stick to what I do best everything done by hand. I feel it makes each garment special, its own work of art. Fashion is always changing and I always try to reinvent myself. Print and color are so important to me. Q: What has kept you this interested in designing clothes that you have made it your career for five decades? A: I have wonderful customers who love wearing my dresses, who come to my shows and are always interested in what I do. Now, after working on my upcoming book, Zandra Rhodes: 50 Fabulous years in Fashion, I realize how wonderful it has been all these 50 years. Q: What was your favorite period of designing clothes? A: Of course my first collection in 1969 is always important to me. I remember having my garments photographed on film star Natalie Wood for American Vogue. The 70s were a very fun, exploratory time for fashion. I still love the Freddie Mercury pleated outfit that he is always remembered in, especially in the new film Bohemian Rhapsody but I am still here and still designing wonderful clothes. But in amongst the fashion I have had lovely adventures: Opera (sets and costumes) with San Diego Opera, The Pearl Fishers by Bizet and The Magic Flute (Mozart) and founding The Fashion and Textile Museum in London. Freddie Mercury and Brian May, of the rock band Queen, wear tops designed by Zandra Rhodes while on tour in 1974. Courtesy Q: What's it been like designing clothes worn by so many celebrities? A: Seeing my clothes on celebrities is always a thrill for me. I loved seeing Jackie Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor and Princess Diana in my clothes. Freddie Mercury came to see me in my studio for a personal fitting and then he and Brian May wore my tops on stage for their tour. I was happy to see Sarah Jessica Parker looking beautiful wearing one of my tops in Sex in the City and Lorde wearing my dress for a music video. It has been such a joy seeing photos of all these celebrities assembled together for the book. Q: Do you have any favorite memories from your career so far? A: I will, of course, always remember getting my Commander of the Order of the British Empire from the Queen and my Dameship from Princess Anne. Seeing my garments displayed in the MET and V&A were also monumental moments for me. Q: Has living in Del Mar helped shape or evolve your career at all? A: Del Mar has played a very important part in my life. If I hadnt been in Del Mar/San Diego I would have never entered the magical world of the opera. Right here in my Solana Beach studio, we have been able to work on commemorating my career for my anniversary year in the form of a book. Q: You'll be releasing a book about your career in the fall. Can you give us any details about what will be included in the book? A: This will be the first book to cover my entire 50-year career of designing; including fashion design, textile design, and opera costume and set design. World-renowned Vogue Editor Suzy Menkes (who also was the fashion editor for the International Herald Tribune) has written the foreword with additional celebrity essays written by Iris Apfel, Ann Sui, PierPaolo Piccioli (creative director of Valentino), Marylou Luther (former fashion editor for the Los Angeles Times), Joan Quinn (former West Coast editor of Andy Warhols Interview Magazine), and more. [It will include] dresses loaned from my friends and clients in San Diego, including Jeanne Jones, Martha Gafford, Reena Horowitz, Marion Ross and more. Q: You're hosting "A Retrospective Exhibition" in September at the Fashion and Textile Museum. What can you tell us about that? A: The exhibition will be Zandra Rhodes: 50 Years of Fabulous and will be shown at the fashion and Textile Museum in London starting end of September 2019. The book will coincide with this exhibition and is also a catalog for the exhibit. Q: Where do you see fashion headed? Growing up in the United States Virgin Islands, Dr. Marcella Nunez-Smith saw firsthand what can happen in a community with limited access to health care. Her father, Moleto Bishop Smith Sr., was only in his 40s when he suffered a debilitating stroke that left him partly paralyzed and with slurred speech. The cause was high blood pressure, which could have been treated but had never been diagnosed. Without prompt access to advanced treatments, the stroke was allowed to run its course, Dr. Nunez-Smith, 45, recalled in a recent interview. Her father never fully recovered. He was a champion and a fighter, she said. But my memories are of a father who had to live life with this daily reminder of how we had failed in terms of our health care. I dont want another little girl out there to have her father suffer a stroke that is debilitating and life-altering in that way. Now, tapped by President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. to lead a new federal task force, Dr. Nunez-Smith, an associate professor of internal medicine, public health and management at Yale University, will address a terrible reality of American medicine: persistent racial and ethnic disparities in access and care, the sort that contributed to her fathers disability. It's been a Melbourne landmark for more than 100 years, and a focal point for lovers of photography, but now the shutters have come down for good on Michaels camera store in Melbourne's CBD. It's survived knocks such as the rapid decline in the use of film and the introduction of smartphones, but is now going solely online. It closed its doors for the last time on Friday evening after COVID-19 struck the final blow. Peter Michael of Michaels camera store which is closing on Friday. Credit:Simon Schluter Owner Peter Michael said customer numbers were 80 per cent down on pre-pandemic levels, and the store, on the corner of Elizabeth and Lonsdale streets, couldn't hang on. Mr Michael said the pause placed on the return of office workers to the CBD this week showed the end of the pandemic was uncertain. Modernas Covid-19 mRNA vaccine is likely to offer protection of up to a couple of years, its chief executive said on Thursday, even though more data is still needed to make a definitive assessment. The US biotech company, which stunned the world last year by coming up with a vaccine against the disease caused by the new coronavirus in just a few weeks, received approval for its shot from the European Commission on Wednesday. Also Read: Covid vaccine dry run conducted under WHO watch Given vaccines development and pharmacovigilance usually requires years, the protection duration of Covid-19 shots is a lingering question for scientists and regulators. The nightmare scenario that was described in the media in the spring with a vaccine only working a month or two is, I think, out of the window, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said at an event organised by financial services group Oddo BHF. The antibody decay generated by the vaccine in humans goes down very slowly (...) We believe there will be protection potentially for a couple of years. Also Read: 2nd nationwide vaccine dry run in 33 states, UTs today Bancel added his company was about to prove that its vaccine would also be effective against variants of the coronavirus seen in Britain and South Africa. Scientists have said newly developed vaccines should be equally effective against both variants. Selma Blair struck a pose Thursday while stylishly fueling up at gas station in Los Angeles. The 48-year-old actress wore an all-black outfit including a turtleneck sweater, speckled skirt, leggings and black ankle boots. Selma accessorized with red sunglasses and covered her mouth and nose with a plain black face mask amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Stylish star: Selma Blair struck a pose Thursday while stylishly fueling up at gas station in Los Angeles Her dark pixie hair covered her forehead and she also carried a black purse. Selma had a black glove on her right hand as she leaned on a cane and crossed her legs in a cute pose. She pumped her own gas before meeting up with her boyfriend Ron Carlson, 51, for coffee. He kept it casual in a red flannel, grey T-shirt and faded blue jeans while also accessorizing with sunglasses and a cap. All black: The 48-year-old actress wore an all-black outfit including a turtleneck sweater, speckled skirt, leggings and black ankle boots Coffee time: Selma pumped her own gas before meeting up with her boyfriend Ron Carlson, 51, for coffee Immune disorder: The Michigan native, shown in May 2019 in Beverly Hills, was diagnosed in 2018 with multiple sclerosis Ron also sported a black-and-white striped faced in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Hellboy star took to Instagram last month while sharing a 'quiet Christmas' with her nine-year-old son Arthur. 'We did not see our friends or family besides our tiny group. I have had trouble staying awake. And crying,' she revealed in the post. Quiet holiday: Selma took to Instagram last month while sharing a 'quiet Christmas' with her nine-year-old son Arthur 'I know the holidays can be hard for some. The first with my mother dead. The first in Covid,' she added, referencing her mother Molly Ann who died last May. 'The first with more hope for our world than I have ever wished for. The healthcare workers and teachers and restaurant owners. All of it.' She then expressed for Instagram followers, adding: 'And I thank you humbly. For being here.' Selma was diagnosed in August 2018 with multiple sclerosis. The Irish property investment market registered a market turnover of 3bn in 2020 despite the global pandemic, according to new figures released today by Lisney, Irelands largest independently-owned multi-disciplinary property advisory company. While this was half the previous years record-breaking 6bn, supply was more limited from April onwards as several potential sales processes were put on hold. As was the case last year, Lisney say properties in turnkey condition will be most sought after and are likely to have several potential purchasers bidding on them, while properties requiring work will need to be priced accordingly to attract interest. For 2021, Lisney predict that the first and second half of the year will be different. In the short-term, supply will remain the key issue, and combined with pent-up demand and good market sentiment, prices will likely hold firm. As the year progresses and a vaccine is hopefully rolled out in stages, Lisney say vendors will become more confident. Those holding off selling will move to put their properties on the market, but it will take time for stock levels to build up. Lisney predict purchasers will remain sensitive to asking prices throughout 2021. For vendors, properties quoting realistic asking prices from the start of the sales process will garner the greatest attention. Likewise, Lisney say damage will be done to purchaser interest in homes quoting over-priced figures. Any change in Dublin residential prices in 2021, positive or negative, will be linked to the economy, employment and consumer confidence. Lisney say there will be continued demand from expats, mainly returning from London, the Middle East and China. For these, the pandemic has prompted a lifestyle change, particularly if they have parents and family in Ireland, and if they have children of school-going age. While a return was always on the agenda for most, COVID-19 has accelerated the decision. In the second half of 2020, Lisney found that demand from this cohort was focused on the upper-end of the market and not reliant on mortgage finance. Lisney believe this trend will continue, particularly those returning from the UK due to Brexit. Commenting on the research, Lisney Research Director, Aoife Brennan says, "2020 was a strange and surprising year in the property market. Across all sectors, it started strongly but as COVID-19 became much more serious in Ireland and the first lockdown occurred, the various sectors performed in different ways. Most thought residential prices would fall but with significant supply shortages, prices remained stable, and as it will take time for available stock to build-up, prices will continue to hold up in the coming months." Source: www.businessworld.ie Monday Canva for Marketers: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 10-11 a.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Tuesday Advanced Legal Research: Online class hosted by Fort Bend County Law Library. 10-11 a.m. Free. Registration: www.fortbend.lib.tx.us or call 281-341-3718. B2B Digital Marketing: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Transportation Club of Houston: Luncheon. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Maggiano's Little Italy, 2019 Post Oak Blvd. Speaker: Chad Burke, CEO of the Economic Alliance Houston Port Region. Information: info@transclubhou.org or 713-510-3445. The Art of Marketing Yourself to People: Free online job search class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration: www.js101.org/workshops. Wednesday Small Business Updates | PPP Loan Forgiveness: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Getting Paid What You Should: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 12:30-1:30 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. How to Create an Enforceable Contract: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 2-3 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Job Search in the Time of COVID: Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration: www.js101.org/workshops. The Art of Identifying the Ideal Company: Free online class hosted by JS101. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Registration: www.js101.org/workshops. Thursday Greater Houston Port Bureau: Webinar. 11-11:45 a.m. Speaker: Mike Emerson, director of marine transportation systems, U.S. Coast Guard. Topic: WaterWay Ahead - Prognostications on Future Priorities for Safe, Efficient Marine Commerce. Cost: Free. Registration: txgulf.org/events. CCIM Houston/Gulf Coast Chapter: Webinar. 11 a.m. Patrick Jankoswki of the Greater Houston Partnership, will provide an update on the economy. Registration: ccimhouston.org. Financial Webinar for Small Business Launch & Growth: Hosted by SCORE. 2-4:30 p.m. Registration: www..houston.score.org. Getting to Know Your Guest: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. CARES Act PPP Forgiveness Application: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 2-3 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. LinkedIn, Keywords Job Search Class: Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-noon. Registration: www.js101.org/workshops. Friday Introduction to Marketing & Branding: Free online class hosted by the Fort Bend County Law Library. 2-3 p.m. Speaker: Attorney Lauren Flathouse. Registration: www.fortbend.lib.tx.us or call 281-341-3718. Managing Cash Flow During Periods of Uncertainty: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. Small Business Updates PPP Loan Forgiveness: Virtual event hosted by the UH Bauer College SBDC. 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Information: www.sbdc.uh.edu. The 7 Habits of Job Search: Free online class hosted by JS101. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Registration: www.js101.org/workshops. Saturday How to Start and Run a Business: Part two of a webinar hosted by SCORE. 9 a.m.-noon. Registration: www.houston.score.org. katherine.feser@chron.com twitter.com/kfeser Highlights Redmi Note 10 Pro has received the BIS certification. The Redmi Note 10 Pro could come with a Snapdragon 700 series SoC. The phone could get quad cameras upon launch. Over the last few days, there have been a lot of leaks and rumours about a new smartphone from Redmi. The device in question is the Redmi Note 10 Pro -- the successor to the Redmi Note 9 Pro. The device had previously received certification from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). After which, the device also got listed on platforms such as EEC, MCMC, and IMDA. The phone was also shown in these listings with model number M2101K6G. And now, the Indian variant of the phone has been spotted with a certification number M2101K6I from the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The latter is a good hint that the device is very close to launching in India. For now, there's little we know about the Redmi Note 10 Pro, but reports suggest this will be a 5G device, and feature a chipset from Qualcomm's Snapdragon 700 5G series. However, there's also a suggestion that the device could feature a MediaTek Dimensity series chipset. The device is also said to sport a big battery that's over the 5000mAh capacity mark, and bring support for at least 30W fast charging, and run Android 11 out of the box. As for the rest of the specs, it will be safe to say that the Note 10 Pro will be an upgrade over the Note 9 Pro. To remind our readers, the Redmi Note 9 Pro brings the company's Aura Balance design philosophy, with the phone housing a 6.67-inch display with support for up to Full HD+ resolutions (2400x1080). The panel is IPS in technology and boasts of 20:9 aspect ratio which is covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 5. For cameras, the Redmi Note 9 Pro gets a 48-megapixel lens-based quad camera. The primary lens is a Samsung ISOCELL GM2 with support for technologies such as PDAF and Super Stablisation. Sat next to it is an 8-Megapixel ultra-wide lens with a 120-degree field of view. The camera set-up also brings a 5-megapixel lens for clicking macros and another 2-megapixel one for depth sensing. For selfies, there's a 16-megapixel AI camera. Nadda to woo farmers during daylong visit to Bengal tomorrow India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Kolkata, Jan 08: Almost a month after his convoy came under attack, BJP national president J P Nadda will be visiting West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district on Saturday to launch the party's new campaign aimed at wooing farmers, amid the ongoing protest over the contentious agriculture laws. The top BJP leader, during his daylong visit, would also hold a rally at Katwa and a roadshow at Bardhaman town, which would be followed by a press conference, sources in the saffron camp said. Nadda, in a bid to blunt opposition camp's "anti-farmer" allegations against the BJP-led central government, will float ''Ek Muthi Chawal'' (a fistful of rice), a project under which he would collect rice from farmers' homes and brief them about the benefits of the new legislations. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at Delhi borders for over a month against the three laws. They have stayed put despite heavy rains and waterlogging at protest sites over the last couple of days, besides severe cold weather conditions prevailing in and around the national capital. "After our party president launches the campaign, our cadres will fan out to 48,000 villages of the state, where they will be visiting households of farmers to collect rice and brief them about the new farm laws. Nadda ji will address rallies, have lunch at a farmer's residence and hold a gram sabha meeting, during his visit," party sources said. There are 71.23 lakh farmers' families in West Bengal, 96 per cent of them small and marginal. According to state BJP, Nadda's visit assumes immense significance as this will be his first visit to the state after the attack on his convoy during his journey to Diamond Harbour from the city on December 10. The Home Ministry had subsequently summoned three IPS officers to serve in central deputation, following the alleged security lapses which led to the attack on Nadda, kicking off a Centre-State war and leaving CM Mamata Banerjee fuming. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh had said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nadda would visit the state every month until the end of assembly elections. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Both Nadda and Shah were on a two-day visit to the state on separate occasions in December. Election to the 294-member Bengal Assembly is due in April-May. The change to a takeout-only model has significantly lowered its bottom line. The lack of interaction with customers has also blocked a valve it once had into the community. Yashmeen Sharma, Mr. Kumars youngest daughter, said that much of her childhood was spent in and around the restaurant. She has seen children of customers grow up and start families of their own. Ordinarily, she would be able to recognize regulars. The other day I was helping this lady who Ive known for years now and I could not recognize her with her mask on, Ms. Sharma said. With the loss of the buffet, Ms. Sharma, her parents and two sisters run the restaurant together, working 11 hours a day then going home to sleep. She said their daily income averaged around $800 per day, not nearly enough to make ends meet. Their monthly rent for the restaurant space is $12,000, and the landlord said they could defer to payments of $2,000 during the pandemic. However, the unpaid balance will have to be paid off eventually. The looming debt and loss of income is an ever-present worry for Ms. Sharma and her family. They have seen other longstanding immigrant-owned restaurants in their community close and the owners returning to their home countries. To see that some of us arent going to make it through this is devastating, she said. Mr. Kumar built the restaurant into a popular neighborhood spot over the years. After immigrating to the U.S. from India in 1988, he began washing dishes in Los Angeles, then working his way up through the industrys rungs, according to his daughter. Lebanon will receive the first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech anti-covid vaccine by the first half of February and will begin a free vaccination campaign of the Lebanese people, said outgoing Lebanese Health Minister Hamad Hassan on Friday. Hassan also reassured public opinion on the fact that despite Lebanon's financial default, caused by the worst economic crisis in the past 30 years, the World Bank gave Lebanon a credit to buy the doses developed by the US and German companies. "It will be distributed in a free and fair manner," Hassan said. Starting Thursday, Lebanon once again entered a near-total lockdown that will last about one month due to the growing number of positive cases and the number of people currently hospitalised. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday banned the government from importing new coronavirus vaccines from the United States and Britain. "Imports of U.S. and British vaccines into the country are banned. I have told this to officials and I'm saying it publicly now," Khamenei said in live televised speech. "If the Americans were able to produce a vaccine, they would not have such a coronavirus fiasco in their own country," he said. Fledging has redesigned its Shell Thunderbolt SSD to excellent effect. With a new larger form factor, an honest-to-goodness fan, plus plenty of venting to circulate the extra air, it no longer feels startlingly hot to the touch after heavy use. Running cool means no thermal throttling and consistent 2GBps plus speeds. The Shell Thunderbolt is also cheaper than Samsungs popular X5 once you reach 1TB of capacity. Design and specs The Fledging Shell Thunderbolt is all-metal and colored in approximately the same hue as your average late model Mac. It measures approximately 3.75-inches long, by 2.5-inches wide, by just over 0.5-inches thick, and weighs a few ounces. I personally like the feel and heftif you want something flimsy and plastic-y, look elsewhere. You access the motherboard and M.2 NVMe slot by removing four small Philips screws and the bottom plate. Fledging thoughtfully provides a screwdriver for thisa normal size household unit wont fit the rather small indents. One screw is used to secure the SSD in place. Fledging Fledging includes everything you need with the Shell Thunderbolt including one of those rather pricey Type-C T3 cables. With the bottom open, youll see the aforementioned fan, which was present in the far slower Fledging Shell USB drive, but missing in the original Thunderbolt modelit was a bit of a puzzler, as Thunderbolt allows faster performance, and therefore produces a lot more heat. The new shell is also larger, which means more air for cooling, and there is plenty of venting so the air can circulate. Performance You can put any SSD in any capacity you wish in the Fledging Shell Thunderbolt. I tried two. Fledging provided a 256GB WD SN750, but that wasnt capacious enough to allow full write speed. I went with a 1TB Aura P12 for no other reason than it was at the top of my stack of review units. Numbers were just about as high as youll see over Thunderbolt 3: 2838MBps reading and almost 2394MBps writing on sister pub PCWorlds testbed under CrystalDiskMark 6. BlackMagicDesigns Disk Speed didnt reach quite those heights when running on a 2019 MacBook Pro, but speeds were still well over 2GBps. Nice and on par with the Samsung X5. IDG Fledgings Shell Thunderbolt allows NVMe SSDs to perform at near peak performance. Thanks to the fan and the other thermal measures, the new Fledging Shell Thunderbolt runs almost cool to the touch, Fledging claims 30 degrees Celsius (85 degrees Fahrenheit), which was only a little over the ambient temperature in the testbed. As noted, the older, smaller non-fan was uncomfortable to the touch after heavy use. Comparatively, OWCs $80 Envoy Express is somewhat slothful, writing at around 1250MBps and reading at 1350MBps. Not bad, but not close to the Shell. The Express might still be the better product if youre leveraging an older, slower NVMe SSD (e.g., x2 PCIe) that cant take advantage of the Shells greater bandwidth. Under any other scenario, the Shells the one to go with. Fast, but pricey The Fledging Shell Thunderbolt costs a cool (pun intended) $145 without an NVMe SSD. With mid-range 500GB NVMe SSDs starting around $70 and Samsungs 500GB X5 is $199 on Amazon, the Shell doesnt make sense at lower capacities. However, once you hit 1TB, you start saving money. A decent 1TB NVMe SSD costs around $120 (so the cost with the Shell is $265), and a 2TB around $180 (total $325). The X5 costs $400 at 1TB and $600 at 2TB. At those capacities, the Shell Thunderbolt is easily the better bargain. Note that Fledging sells the Shell Thunderbolt populated as well: $190 for 256GB, $250 for 512GB, $300 for 1TB, and $400 for 2TB. Ask about the drive included. The WD SN750 our test unit included is fast enough, but opt for 512GB or higher if you want top write speeds. [January 08, 2021] Top Scientists Call On Global Health Agencies To Fund Innate Immunity Research As Additional Measure To Fight Pandemic Viruses BALTIMORE, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Virus Network (GVN) and Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis co-hosted a December 11, 2020 international symposium on innate immunity and COVID-19. Participants included nearly 950 registrants ranging from eminent virologists, researchers, health care professionals, health activists, government officials and representatives from the World Health Organization. GVN now joins top scientists from around the world to make an urgent appeal to funding agencies and regulatory authorities to prioritize innate immunity research as a means to fight pandemics. The importance of innate immunity goes beyond this pandemic, has longstanding implications and major impact globally. Symposium speakers reviewed a range of topics, but a common recurring theme is the idea that innate immunity is an effective tool to not only address COVID-19, but also future pandemics. Select quotes from speakers at the event include: "One aspect of global collaborations is the realization that needs in one country shift at a very different rate than needs in another country even though we go through crises at the same time. Here in the US, while the majority of the population wait for the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, my colleagues in, for example Ghana and Zambia are thinking of different priorities and that is the reason we must think of science globally," said Dr. Michael S. Avidan, Head of the Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University School of Medicine, USA. "The importance of innate immunity, though very timely now due to COVID-19 goes beyond thi pandemic, and has longstanding implications," said Dr. Christian Brechot, President of GVN and Professor at the University of South Florida's Morsani College of Medicine, USA. "Clearly this is an underappreciated field and I can firmly say that we have evidence of innate immunity having a major impact, globally. I am glad that the GVN has been able to co-host this one-of-a-kind interdisciplinary symposium to encourage the scientific community, funders and policy makers to think outside the box." "We can scale innate immunity research by remembering that global health crises should not be distinguished by global north or south, by taking notice even when health crises are not as global as the cholera or HIV. We should remember that during the Ebola outbreak we had diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics and yet it caused the devastation that it did," said Dr. Annie Sparrow, Special Advisor to the Director-General, World Health Organization, Assistant Professor, Population Health Science & Policy, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, USA. "Clearly vaccines are not the be all and end all answers to pandemics and we have to prioritize marginalized, yet potent fields like innate immunity research if we want to fight the next pandemic with some efficacy." "The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is an RNA respiratory virus, which is highly contagious and has now claimed more than 1.9 million lives globally. It's fair to say that this virus is particularly susceptible to innate immunity," said Dr. Robert Gallo, The Homer & Martha Gudelsky Distinguished Professor in Medicine, Co-Founder and Director, Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and Co-Founder and International Scientific Advisor of GVN, USA. "Though I see promising developments in the messenger RNA vaccines it could still take a year and then some to make the vaccines accessible to all. Utilizing vaccines that stimulate innate immunity can save lives until effective 'classical' vaccines are developed and distributed during pandemics." "Scientists involved in vaccine development often speak of innate immunity playing an accessory role in the development of adaptive response such as from a vaccine, while evidence suggest innate immunity is also an essential part of the mechanism of Live Attenuated Vaccines (LAVs) effectiveness," said Dr. Konstantin Chumakov, Director of the Global Virus Network Center of Excellence in Maryland, USA. "If we infect a plant and the plant survives, then the plant grows resistant to a certain disease. Keeping this theory in mind when we performed the same experiment in the mouse model it clearly demonstrated that BCG vaccines can indeed protect against heterologous infections," said Dr. Mihai Netea, Head of the Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Nijmegen University Nijmegen Medical Center, Netherlands and member of the GVN SARS-CoV-2 Task Force. "When we performed the experiment on humans with attenuated yellow fever vaccine virus, we found that individuals that received the BCG attenuated vaccine had significantly less virus in their bodies than the ones who received a placebo." Dr. Netea pointed to plants and insects as complex organisms live for years without any vaccines and depend only on innate immunity responses. About the Global Virus Network (GVN) The Global Virus Network (GVN) is essential and critical in the preparedness, defense and first research response to emerging, existing and unidentified viruses that pose a clear and present threat to public health, working in close coordination with established national and international institutions. It is a coalition comprised of eminent human and animal virologists from 59 Centers of Excellence and 11 Affiliates in 34 countries worldwide, working collaboratively to train the next generation of virologists, advance knowledge about how to identify and diagnose pandemic viruses, mitigate and control how such viruses spread and make us sick, as well as develop drugs, vaccines and treatments to combat them. No single institution in the world has expertise in all viral areas other than the GVN, which brings together the finest medical virologists to leverage their individual expertise and coalesce global teams of specialists on the scientific challenges, issues and problems posed by pandemic viruses. The GVN is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information, please visit www.gvn.org. Follow us on Twitter @GlobalVirusNews View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/top-scientists-call-on-global-health-agencies-to-fund-innate-immunity-research-as-additional-measure-to-fight-pandemic-viruses-301203543.html SOURCE Global Virus Network [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Non-violent criminals serving time for drug use or possession should be freed and personal use of recreational drugs decriminalised, experts have said, arguing that the war on drugs is fuelling racism. Personal use of all recreational drugs should be decriminalised immediately, followed by legalisation, regulation and restrictions on age, advertising and licensing, according to more than 60 international experts. The group including bioethicists, drug experts, criminal justice researchers and psychologists say prohibition and criminalisation has been costly and ineffective and these failed policies must end. Instead they argue that legalisation could lead to increased revenue from taxes, improvements to public health, reduced crime and lower poverty rates. Drug prohibition and criminalisation have been costly and ineffective since their inception. Its time for these failed policies to end Brian D Earp and Jonathan Lewis Their paper, Racial Justice Requires Ending the War on Drugs, analyses more than 150 studies and reports and details evidence that prohibition unfairly affects black communities. They cite the case of Breonna Taylor, a black American medical worker who was killed when her home was entered by police officers as part of a drug-related search. Lead study authors Brian D Earp, from the University of Oxford, and Jonathan Lewis, from Dublin City University, said: The war on drugs has explicitly racist roots and continues to disproportionately target certain communities of colour. Drug prohibition and criminalisation have been costly and ineffective since their inception. Its time for these failed policies to end. The first step is to decriminalise the personal use and possession of small amounts of all drugs currently deemed to be illicit, and to legalise and regulate cannabis. Policymakers should pursue these changes without further delay. The authors drew together existing research into how drug prohibition affects users and communities and the impact of decriminalisation. They said prohibition leads to unsafe drug use which results in a multitude of healthcare costs, while some users do not seek treatment for fear of criminal charges. Changes to drug laws are one of the first steps to a more equal, less racist society. There is no excuse for delay Professor Adam Winstock Unregulated markets mean drugs can have unknown and inconsistent purity, further risking health, and vulnerable groups are exploited by gangs. In the US, black people are more likely than white people to be arrested, prosecuted, convicted and jailed with longer sentences for drug offences, they said. They also note that, in the UK in 2016/17, black people were almost nine times as likely as white people to be stopped and searched for drugs, and were also more likely to be arrested and prosecuted. According to figures from the Office for National Statistics, drug-related deaths in England and Wales are at a record level, with 2019 seeing the highest number in more than a quarter of a century. The authors recommended a combination of decriminalisation and harm reduction, as seen in Portugal, where drug-related deaths have fallen and users are encouraged to seek treatment. They said their calls are focused on the US and UK, but that other countries could take analogous steps. Writing in the paper, published in the American Journal of Bioethics, they call for a paradigm shift in how drugs are viewed, saying decriminalisation would not, on the whole, undermine public health or public safety. Legal regulation could allow governments to introduce safe supply programmes, and countries could provide drug consumption rooms. They write: The bottom line, however, is that if and when problems with substance use or misuse arise, these should be approached through healthcare programmes and social support, not prison time. They said their paper is not an argument on the prudence or permissibility of recreational drug use, but a policy proposal that is evidence-based and ethically recommended. Professor Adam Winstock, a consultant psychiatrist and founder of the Global Drug Survey, said: The war on drugs adds to the marginalisation of the most vulnerable in society and compounds the disadvantages that people of colour face every day. Changes to drug laws are one of the first steps to a more equal, less racist society. There is no excuse for delay. A Government spokesman said: Illegal drugs devastate lives, ruin families and bring misery to our communities Our approach on drugs remains clear we must prevent drug use in our communities, support people through treatment and recovery, and tackle the supply of illegal drugs. The Government has no plans to decriminalise drug possession. It would not eliminate the crime committed by the illicit trade, nor would it address the harms associated with drug dependence and the misery that this can cause to families and communities. JOHN THORNGREN is a local author residing in Shady Shores and is an avid supporter of EliminatePropertyTax.com and Texas Bill HB3742 (83R). In a sharp break with the Trump administration, President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. intends to release nearly all available doses of the coronavirus vaccine soon after he is inaugurated, rather than hold back millions of vials to guarantee second doses will be available. The decision is part of an aggressive effort to to ensure the Americans who need it most get it as soon as possible, the Biden transition team said on Friday. The vaccination plan, to be formally unveiled next week, also will include federally run vaccination sites in places like high school gyms and sports stadiums, and mobile units to reach high-risk populations. The president-elect has vowed to get at least 100 million Covid vaccine shots into the arms of the American people during his first 100 days in office. The decision to release the vast majority of vaccine doses set off a sharp debate among public health experts. The two vaccines that have received emergency approval each require two doses, and the Trump administration has so far been holding back about half of its supply to ensure that booster doses will be available for those already inoculated. The Indian Embassy in Thimphu on January 7 informed that as many as nine consignments containing medical supplies and PPE were handed over during March-December 2020 to Bhutan by India in a bid to provide aid amid the coronavirus pandemic. Taking to Twitter, the Indian High Commission said that RT-PCR COVID testing kit, portable X-Ray machines were sent to Bhutan during the ongoing pandemic. Further, the Indian Embassy added that the county will keep providing the required support to Bhutan in its fight against the deadly virus. Standing shoulder to shoulder with Bhutan during times of #COVID19! 9 consignments containing RT-PCR test kits, a portable X-Ray machine, medical supplies and PPE equipment were handed over during March-December 2020.#TheYearThatWas@PMBhutan @FMBhutan @DechenwangmoM @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/qqIhNhR6VE India in Bhutan (@Indiainbhutan) January 7, 2021 According to ANI, back in December India had handed over a consignment of RT_PCR COVID-19 test kits for 20,000 tests to Bhutan. The 9th consignment of medical supplies was delivered at Phuentsholing, Bhutan. Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj had said that India stands alongside Bhutan. Together, we will fight the COVID-19 pandemic, through a sustainable recovery, she added. READ: SHOCKER: NCW Member Says 'Badaun Gangrape Victim Shouldn't Have Gone Out Alone In Evening' READ: Dr Harsh Vardhan To Visit Tamil Nadu To Personally Review COVID-19 'Dry Run' In State Indias vaccines will be easiest to administer.. According to Johns Hopkins University, Bhutan has recorded nearly 755 COVID-19 cases. While cases are surging, the country is hopeful about securing vaccine produced in India. Recently, Bhutan's ambassador to India Vetsop Namgyel stated that India's vaccines will be the 'easiest to administer and transport' as the country is 'known to produce in bulk quantities. Hailing India, the Bhutan Ambassador said, "Vaccines in India are the ones which will be easiest to administer and transport. Most countries will benefit from it. India is known to produce in bulk quantities, once approved it can be rolled out quickly. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has said that there are six COVID-19 vaccine candidates in different clinical trial stages being developed by various manufacturers in India. Besides this, three COVID-19 vaccine candidates are in the pre-clinical stage of which one of the Coronavirus vaccine candidates is in the pre-development stage being researched by Aurobindo Pharma, the official said. (With inputs from ANI) (Image: @Indiainbhutan/Twitter) READ: Tamang Faction Of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Writes To PM, Demands 'constitutional Justice' READ: 'Racing Tractors As Rehearsal For Jan 26 Parade': BKU's Rakesh Tikait On Tractor Rally The Centre would soon hold a campaign named know your Constitution in schools, colleges and universities across the country, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Dehradun on Friday. Birla talked about the campaign while chairing an event organised by the Uttarakhand panchayati raj department on the subject, Panchayati Raj System - Empowering Decentralised Democracy. The event was attended by the gram pradhans and members of various panchayats of the state, panchayati raj minister Arvind Pandey and Uttarakhand assembly Speaker Premchand Agarwal. Chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat attended the event virtually. The Know Your Constitution campaign would be held in schools, colleges and universities of the country for which the framework has been created. It was somewhat delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but now when the pandemic is getting under control, it would soon be commenced, said Birla. He said that the initiative will largely help the youngsters getting aware of the various aspects of our Constitution. Most of us know about the rights given by the Constitution but not about the duties. This initiative will explain the significance of the duties also. This would make our democracy stronger, said Birla. The Lok Sabha Speaker while highlighting the importance of the panchayati raj system in the country said that, It is in existence in our country since Vedic times. This sort of an event will help in making it stronger which in turn will strengthen the democracy of our country. Also read: Pak court jails LeTs Lakhvi for terror financing, India calls it farcical He informed, In efforts to strengthen the panchayati raj system, we would also soon hold an event in Delhi for the chairman of zila panchayats, municipal corporation and municipal council. It would make the democratic process strong and make the elected public representatives more accountable towards the public. On the recent violence and protest in Washington against the election of new president Joe Biden and growing similar aggressiveness in dissent of thoughts in India, he said, Raising of slogans, throwing of microphones and chairs has increased recently in the House. We would take measures to prevent such acts in future and promote resorting to democratic and peaceful ways to raise voice. Earlier, CM Rawat while addressing the gathering at the event said, Our democracy will become strong with the decentralisation of rights in the panchayati raj system. Today our democracy is standing strong in the world because the panchayats are providing strength to it. This shows the importance of the villages without which the cities cant develop, said Rawat. He said, We need to make the economy of villages strong and make sure more money is flowing there because a majority of the buyers are there while the manufacturers are in cities. If the rural buyers will be strong then the economy would be effectively driven towards development. Please continue to be vigilant in monitoring for symptoms, Superintendent Rod Gardin wrote in a message to families. If your child has any symptoms, please keep him or her home. Keeping everyone healthy and safe and in-person learning available will require all of us to be cautious. ADVERTISEMENT The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), AishatuDahiru Ahmed (Binani) on Friday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for signing the Modibbo Adama University bill into law. The senator, who initiated the bill in the 7th National Assembly, said the Modibbo Adama University can now run all approved academic programmes like any other conventional University. She said the bill will also create more placements for youths seeking admission into the university. Mrs Ahmed, who made her feelings known in a statement in Abuja, said the assent of the President was heart-warming. She said: It is heartwarming to note the gracious assent by Mr President to this bill. Precisely on the 6th of January 2021, Mr President assented to the bill converting MAUTECH to a Conventional University and to also run medical programmes alongside social and management sciences among others. This therefore means the Modibbo Adama University can now run all approved academic programs as any other conventional University across the country including medical and other allied sciences. On behalf of the good people of Adamawa and Taraba states, Mr President we remain eternally grateful for this gesture. This will no doubt encourage our teeming youths seeking placements into Tertiary Institutions specifically in these difficult times. Apart from leading in technology, the new law will make Modibbo Adama University to be truly universal with broader courses and enhanced opportunities. The senator gave the background of the bill and why she championed it to create opportunities for students in Adamawa, Taraba and other states in the North-East. She added: The move I started in the 7th NASS at the House of Representatives when I represented Yola North, Yola South and Girei Federal Constituency to convert Modibbo Adama University of Technology, (MAUTECH) Yola to conventional university and run medical programmes alongside other social and management sciences has finally seen the light of the day. The motion for the urgent establishment of a medical school at Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola and to upgrade the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, to a University Teaching Hospital was moved before the Senate and was later presented by Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani as a Bill titledModibbo Adama University Bill for a first reading before the Senate. The Bill was later laid for second reading. As a prerequisite for the passage of the bill, a well-attended public hearing was organized where key stakeholders actively participated and gave resounding support for the conversion. Consequently, the Bill was finally passed by the Senate and sent to the President for assent. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) speaks to media at the Capitol in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Charlotte Cuthbertson/The Epoch Times) Attempts to Impeach Trump Would Be Dangerous, Unsuccessful: Lindsey Graham Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he wont support the impeachment of President Donald Trump with just more than a week to go. If Speaker Pelosi pushed impeachment in the last days of the Trump presidency, it will do more harm than good. Im hopeful President-elect Biden sees the damage that would be done from such action, he said, referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Graham stated that Pelosi was hanging by a political thread and noted that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) lives in fear of primary from the radical left. Graham was referring to statements made by socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) that suggested she would not rule out a run against Schumer for his seat. Any attempt to impeach President Trump would not only be unsuccessful in the Senate but would be a dangerous precedent for the future of the presidency, Graham, the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, added. Graham also remarked on the speculative and anonymously sourced reports that Trump could be removed via the 25th Amendment. The Republican senator chided Trump for his allegations about election fraud and irregularities during the Nov. 3 election. But, he remarked, As to the 25th Amendment being invoked, I do not believe thats appropriate at this point. Im looking for a peaceful transfer of power. Im looking for the next 14 days to reset. And we will hand off power in a traditional sense by it being a peaceful transfer. If something else happens all options will be on the table, he said. For his part, Trump on Twitter condemned the U.S. Capitol breach and noted, Now, tempers must be cooled, and calm restored. The president said he pursued every legal avenue to ensure the integrity of the vote to defend American democracy. Before the Capitol breach and protests, Trump called on supporters at the rally to remain peaceful and not attack the U.S. Capitol Police. After that, the president released a video message calling on the demonstrators to go home in peace before it was deleted by Facebook and Twitter. In an attempt to bolster her claims to support impeachment, Pelosi issued a letter to members of Congress this week about her plans to impeach. Today, following the Presidents dangerous and seditious acts, Republicans in Congress need to follow that example and call on Trump to depart his officeimmediately, Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues. If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action. Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.), the No. 3 House Democrat, said he could confirm that we have had discussions about it and I would hope that the speaker would move forward if the vice president refuses to do what he is required to do under the Constitution. Impeachment in the House requires a simple majority, while a conviction requires a two-thirds majority. The Associated Press contributed to this report New Delhi: WhatsApp has recently issued a notification, which was received by millions of Indian users, for its upcoming global roll-out for over 2 billion users. The messaging service app's new Terms of Service and privacy policy, which will come into effect on February 8, has asked users to either accept the changes or their accounts will be deleted. Zee News has launched a poll on its Twitter page to know the reaction of people to the new Terms of Service and privacy policy of WhatsApp. The news channel asked, "Would you be willing to accept the updated WhatsApp privacy policy?" You will be surprised to know that over 74 per cent have responded against the upcoming policy of WhatsApp, while merely around 25 per cent are in favour of it (Till the filing of this report). According to the policy updates, "WhatsApp must receive or collect some information to operate, provide, improve, understand, customise, support, and market our Services, including when you install, access, or use our Services." It further reads, "Businesses you interact with using our Services may provide us with information about their interactions with you. We require each of these businesses to act in accordance with applicable law when providing any information to us." Tunisia: general strike in Gafsa, country's mining basin (ANSAmed) - TUNIS, JANUARY 8 - Hundreds of demonstrators protested Thursday in Gafsa, central Tunisia's mining basin, calling for infrastructure and jobs as part of accords established in 2015 and 2019. It was the first in a series of planned mobilisations in the country ahead of the 10th anniversary of the fall of Ben Ali. Protesters held a strike and marched peacefully in the centre of Gafsa, the capital city of a region rich with phosphates, one of Tunisia's main natural resources. The strike was observed only by public institutions, while many cafes and shops remained open. (ANSAmed). Encrypted instant messaging app Signal is reporting a surge in new signups and new users, which has resulted in delays in sending out the phone number verification codes. Signal, an instant messaging app developed by the nonprofit Signal Foundation, is a rival for instant messaging apps owned by Facebook, including WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger. There are two very popular reasons for why this may be happening, if we are to put two and two together with regards to the timing. First, the new WhatsApp Privacy Policy and Terms of Service that makes it even more clear that user data is being shared with Facebooks other apps and services. And secondly, the new richest man in the world, Elon Musk of Tesla and SpaceX, who simply tweeted use Signal a few hours ago after the mob violence on the US Capitol in Washington. The official Twitter account of Signal, @signalapp tweeted a few hours ago that they were barely able to register our excitement as new users signed up in big numbers. Verification codes are currently delayed across several providers because so many new people are trying to join Signal right now (we can barely register our excitement). We are working with carriers to resolve this as quickly as possible. Hang in there. Since then, Signal has confirmed that registrations are now happening without delay and thanked carriers for helping users sign up quickly. It is no surprise this comes just a day after WhatsApp confirmed the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. While a lot of what is in the new terms has already been known, WhatsApp is now spelling it out clearly that user data is and will continue to be shared with Facebook and other Facebook products as well as services. WhatsApp also says that it tracks user location data at all times, and even if you are smart enough to turn off location access for WhatsApp on your Android phone or Apple iPhone, the app still collects and logs IP addresses and phone number codes to estimate your general locationWhatsApp says this is for diagnostics and troubleshooting. Apple, after they rolled out the new Privacy Labels on the App Store for the iPhone, iPad and Mac, now mandate app developers to clearly state what user data they collect or dont collect from users. The App Store Privacy Labels will have three sectionsData used to track you, data linked to you and data that is not linked to you. Under each section will be bullet points listing the exact specifics about the data being collected, including contact info, health and fitness data, financial info, usage data, browsing history, location data, personal identifiers and search history. With this information available at a glance, a user can potentially make a more informed decision about whether they want to download a specific app on the iPhone or iPad or Mac, without falling down the data collection and privacy blackhole that became the norm over the years. In the subsequent revelations, it turns out that WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger collect significantly more user data in comparison with similar instant messenger apps such as Signal and Apples own iMessage. This includes health and fitness data, financial info, search history, user content, browsing history and location data. Signal app does not collect any user data, as per the App Store Privacy Labels. As authorities and the global community took stock in the aftermath of yesterdays violence at the US Capitol in Washington at a time when the joint session of the Congress was certifying Joe Biden as the President-elect, Elon Musk tweeted an image with the caption This is called the domino effect. He did not name Facebook or WhatsApp at any stage in his tweets, but the image of the dominos referenced what Facebook started out asa campus website to rate women. Facebook has been at the receiving end of a lot of criticism for allowing content to remain on the platform that has led to serious societal divisions within the US with regards to supporting or not supporting outgoing US President Donald Trump. The tweet that followed, which said Use Signal also didnt name WhatsApp. Earlier today, Elon Mus surpassed Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos to become the worlds richest man and is now valued around $188 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. He has been quite nonchalant about it on social media though, with tweets saying, How strange and Well, back to work In the new Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, WhatsApp makes it clear that they do share information with other Facebook companies. We may use the information we receive from them, and they may use the information we share with them, to help operate, provide, improve, understand, customize, support, and market our Services and their offerings, including the Facebook Company Products, say the updated terms of service. Some of the listed utilities for this data sharing are believed to help in improving infrastructure and delivery systems, understanding how a user uses the platforms differently and also promote data safety and security across the board. Mind you, this also means that your data will be used to serve personalized suggestions as well as advertisements targeted at you and your usage trends across a variety of platforms. The WhatsApp updated terms say this is for improving their services and your experiences using them, such as making suggestions for you (for example, of friends or group connections, or of interesting content), personalizing features and content, helping you complete purchases and transactions, and showing relevant offers and ads across the Facebook Company Products. New Delhi: A Maoist ambush attack on security forces in the forest area near Khamankhol in Kandhamal district in Odisha has left at least one Special Operation Group (SOG) jawan dead and 10 others injured. The attack comes barely six weeks after a deadly attack on CRPF party in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, in which at least 25 jawans had lost their lives. Ever since the Sukma attack, the Union home ministry has taken several steps to wipe out Maoists from the jungles of Chhattisgarh, Odisha and other states affected by the violence. Special Operation Group is a special task force designed to fight Naxal menace in Odisha. Read | 25 CRPF jawans killed in deadly Naxal attack in Sukma: Here's how it happened For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. WASHINGTON After the riots, as bloodstains and bullet holes marked the Capitol and police in tactical gear monitored the halls, several Republican lawmakers decided enough was enough. They had planned to support President Donald Trumps push to overturn his loss to President-elect Joe Biden, but backed off after the dark events of Wednesday, when a mob, fueled by lies about a stolen election, interrupted a step in the peaceful transition of power and desecrated the seat of popular representation. The events that transpired have forced me to reconsider, and I cannot now in good conscience object to the certification of these electors, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R., Ga.) said on the Senate floor Wednesday evening. But eight of the 10 Pennsylvania Republicans in Congress were not deterred. They led a push to overturn their own states election results early Thursday morning, speaking from the House chamber many of them had been rushed away from hours earlier. The episode underscored the grip Trump and Trump-style politics hold on a wide swath of Pennsylvania Republicans, even in the presidents final days in office and as other staunch Republicans saw Wednesday as a breaking point. In some cases, they said the attackers grievances had actually highlighted the importance of their cause. I hate the idea of what we had to go through today, Rep. Mike Kelly, of Butler County, said on the House floor. But he quickly pivoted to blaming the countrys sharp divisions on questions about the elections outcome questions he has fomented by suing to throw out millions of Pennsylvania votes over a state law passed with bipartisan support. READ MORE: Fact-checking false claims about Pennsylvanias presidential election by Trump and his allies Thundering from the House floor a little after 2 a.m., he said: We have driven this country apart through the peoples House, and we wonder what happens? The biggest loss on Nov. 3 was not by Donald Trump, its the faith and trust that the American people lost in this voting system because we have allowed it to happen. Rep. Dan Meuser, of Luzerne County, said the violence of the day would be a black mark in our nations history, but continued with his objection, too. The lawlessness and violence of today must be condemned, just as all violent protests must be condemned, Meuser said. Nevertheless the fact remains, a large number of Pennsylvanians are enormously frustrated with actions taken by elected and appointed officials in Pennsylvania which have led to a high level of distrust for this past election. The eight GOP congressmen made procedural complaints that have been repeatedly knocked back in court, furthering claims rejected by a wide array of judges that illegal action or irregularities may have led to Bidens victory. Their alignment with Trump, on perhaps the darkest day of his presidency, suggested top Pennsylvania Republicans may well continue to embrace him as the party looks ahead to open U.S. Senate and gubernatorial races in 2022. Sen. Pat Toomey (R., Pa.), once elected as part of the vanguard of a new conservative movement, defended Pennsylvanias electoral votes, saying the objections would disenfranchise millions. He decried Trump as a demagogue who chose to spread falsehoods. Yet with Toomey retiring after 2022, there is an opening for a new face of the party. Primary races next year will be tests of the partys direction. A decade ago Pat Toomey was at the tip of the spear, if you will, in terms of the anti-RINO Republican in Pennsylvania, said Muhlenberg College pollster Chris Borick, referring to so-called Republicans in Name Only. Indeed, it was Toomeys 2010 Senate candidacy that drove the late moderate Sen. Arlen Specter from the GOP. Ten years later hes on the floor denouncing the Republican president of the United States as a demagogue, Borick said of Toomey. That tells you how you get these shifts in politics, and Republican politics. Thats certainly going to be something the party has to try and deal with over the next few years as they approach a really meaningful and important election in Pennsylvania in 2022. READ MORE: The Philadelphia suburbs were the key to Joe Bidens Pennsylvania victory. Here are the numbers. Some Republicans are hoping for a change in approach, especially after seeing Trump decimated in the populous suburbs and seeing Trump-style candidates suffer blowout losses in the 2018 Senate and gubernatorial contests. But others see the Trump base as a potent force that taps into voters frustration and can help them win. Rob Gleason, a former state GOP chairman, said it was hard to say whether Trumps actions Wednesday would loosen his grip on the party. I wouldnt really want to make any judgment about that, said Gleason, a Trump supporter. Its gonna take a little bit of time. ... It certainly wasnt a positive thing. While some of the partys senior figures including Toomey condemned Trump and the efforts to undo the election, the Pennsylvania congressmen hewed to the presidents debunked message about an unfair election. They cited procedural grounds, rather than the presidents baseless fraud claims, but in doing so still sought the same outcome: disenfranchising voters and overturning the result. Some Republican insiders saw the effort as an attempt by the congressmen, who nearly all represent areas where Trump has huge support, to remain in good standing with his voters, to head off any potential primary challenges. But some of them may also have wider ambitions. If they want to run for governor or Senate Meuser is seen as one potential candidate for statewide office the Trump base could be a powerful force in a GOP primary. At the same time, though, a close affiliation with Trump could be toxic in the states suburbs, where voters have poured out in recent years to reject the president and other Republicans. Some Republicans have whispered that Donald Trump Jr. or Ivanka Trump, the presidents son and daughter, could be potential Senate candidates. Both are University of Pennsylvania graduates. Either running would tether the party to Trump even after he leaves office. Several Pennsylvania Republicans were parroting Trumps false election claims well before this weeks events. Rep. Scott Perry of York County attended a Stop the Steal rally outside the state Capitol in Harrisburg days after the election. Meuser told Fox News Sean Hannity in November the situation in Pennsylvania was so dire that this is no longer one citizen, one vote. By Wednesday, with no evidence of widespread fraud, he said on the House floor his objections were over procedural matters. The tactics of questioning elections werent limited to Washington. GOP leaders in Harrisburg, including Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman and Senate Majority Leader Kim Ward, sent a letter to Congress on Monday urging lawmakers to delay certification of the presidential results to allow due process as we pursue election integrity in our commonwealth. And on Tuesday in Harrisburg, the first day of the new state legislative session, GOP lawmakers refused to seat a Democratic senator whose narrow win was certified by the state, saying they wanted to wait for litigation to be resolved. READ MORE: A Pa. Republican gets a political boost from pushing Trumps false election claims with 2022 in sight State Sen. Doug Mastriano (R., Franklin), one of more than 60 Republican state lawmakers who had encouraged Congress to reject the Pennsylvania results, was outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. During a November hearing in Gettysburg where Trump and his campaign lawyer Rudy Giuliani made fantastical claims about the election, Mastriano declared that the future of the republic is at stake. Mastriano, whos expected to run for governor in 2022, said he went to Washington to support the president. In a Facebook video posted Wednesday night, he condemned the violence and said he and his wife left the area when it became apparent that it was no longer a peaceful protest. The overwhelming majority 99 some percent were just there to support our president, exercise our constitutional rights, as has happened many times over the past year, he said. At least one of the Republican objectors tried to move on Thursday. Rep. Fred Keller said that Congress had upheld its constitutional duty and certified Biden as the winner and that we will move forward as one nation. Still, Democrats expressed outrage at Republicans whom they see as following the Trump playbook. Some called on Mastriano to resign, while Rep. Conor Lamb, an Allegheny County Democrat, excoriated his GOP colleagues in the House during one the most tense moments of the floor debate. A woman died out there tonight and youre making these objections? Lamb said. He later added, We know that that attack today, it didnt materialize out of nowhere, it was inspired by lies, the same lies that youre hearing in this room tonight. Lamb may be a future candidate for statewide office himself. If so, that moment on the floor may be a preview of another clash with Trumpism, even with the president leaving office in two weeks. An FBI spokesperson confirmed Friday theyre reviewing tips about Midlander Jenny Cudds participation in the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday that caused lawmakers to be evacuated and the deaths of five people, including a Capitol Police officer. "FBI El Paso and Midland offices are aware of the events involving Ms. Cudd and other West Texas residents at the US Capitol from tips received from community members, Special Agent Jeanette Harper said in an email. We ask that individuals continue sending tips to the FBI's tips.fbi.gov or the Digital Media tip line at fbi.gov/USCapitol." Cudd, a former Midland mayoral candidate, posted about charging the Capitol building in multiple social media posts on Wednesday, including a Facebook live video in which she said, We did break down Nancy Pelosis door and somebody stole her gavel. An excerpt from that video has received more than 5 million views on Twitter. Cudd became a trending topic on Twitter Thursday night, with many calling for her arrest, including Texas Rep. Jeff Leach and actors Jane Lynch and Patton Oswalt. About 80 protesters at the Capitol Wednesday have been arrested on various charges, according to news reports. Richard Barnett, the man who was photographer sitting in Pelosis office with his feet on her desk, has been charged with entering and remaining on restricted grounds, violent entry and theft of public property. He is facing 10 years in federal prison on the trespassing charge alone. Other rioters have been charged with assault, property damage, carrying guns into the Capitol building and violating the curfew that was set for 6 p.m. In an interview with the Reporter-Telegram on Thursday, Cudd denied doing anything unlawful during the riots at the Capitol. She said that, unbeknownst to her, individuals with Antifa broke through barriers and assaulted police officers before she arrived. Cudd said she then walked into the Capitol with a large group and took pictures inside the rotunda for about 15 minutes before leaving. She said she did not go onto the House or Senate floors or into any lawmakers' offices. The group of Trump supporters marched to the Capitol with the goal of peacefully assembling in a "show of solidarity," according to Cudd. She condemned the violence incited by some protesters. When reached by phone, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office at the Western District of Texas declined to comment on what charges Cudd and others could be facing if arrested for Wednesdays riots. I dont even want to begin to speculate on it, he said. Digitimes reported today that Market research company Q&Me released a survey that interviewed nearly 600 Vietnamese people. Apple is the most popular smartphone brand in Vietnam. About 46% of respondents believe that Apple is the most popular in Vietnam. The Q&Me report more specifically stated that the "iPhone has the highest NPS score (75%), followed by Samsung and Oppo (64% and 41% respectively). The other brands have the similar NPS." The report further pointed out that "iPhone and Samsung has the similar demand although Apple has higher rate, other brands attract the users by the affordable price and ease of use. Overheating and short battery life are the two items that Vietnamese are not happy with. iPhone has the strong images of good quality, luxurious and proud to have. Samsung is strong in innovation. Among the others, Vinsmart have a positive image in innovative." As for smartphone brand recognition, Samsung and Apple ng were tops with 96% and 94% respectively. Below are three major slides from Q&Me survey. The full Survey in Slide Form On another front, Digitmes is reporting today that Largan has entered the Apple VCM supply chain and has advantages in vertical integration of lenses. Beyond lenses, Largan will enter a new Apple supply chain segment related to Apple's iPhone voice coil motor (VCM). The rapidly growing company has chosen Manchester as their growth location in the UK. A dynamic ecosystem and innovation minded stakeholders make this area perfect for deploying health technology, says Dignio UK Managing Director Dr Ewa Truchanowicz. Dignio was founded in Norway in 2010 with a vision of empowering patients to manage their own health and to liberate the clinicians from the drudgery of routine follow up of stable patients. As a value-driven software company Dignio aims to help bridge the digital divide and make technology an enabler of healthy ageing and independence. Dignios vision and years of experience were presented last year to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee on Healthy Ageing, where our holistic vision of what enables healthy ageing was of great interest. However, visions can only be realized when there is sufficient and real support from the key stakeholders. The ambitions for supporting healthy ageing Dignio found in the Greater Manchester area, made it an obvious candidate for establishing closer ties with. Why Manchester? Attracted by the focus on well defined Longevity Economy in the GMCA area, and the assistance provided by MIDAS, Health Innovation Manchester and other local stakeholders, Dignio chose to settle in Bruntwoods offices at Piccadilly. With regular meetings with the HQ team flying in from Norway, the location close to the main train station, with flexible use spaces, was an obvious choice for the company. According to Dr Truchanowicz the partnership with MIDAS was vital for choosing the location. We are delighted with the assistance offered to us by MIDAS. Their local expertise is unparalleled and as a consequence of their help we have a much greater understanding of the local ecosystem and its needs. Dingo have been working with Mastercall, a social enterprise providing out of hours care in the region, on a pilot project sponsored by the Stockport City Council since 2019 to detect and manage deterioration in individuals in care homes and communities. The feedback on our solution from the clinicians at Mastercall and patients on our solution is very encouraging. Now we are looking forward to presenting it to healthcare providers in the rest of the region, Dr Truchanowicz says. Relevance to the local needs Manchester made the national headlines recently with the grave impact of COVID-19 on the local economy. The new variants of the virus make fighting COVID-19 still high on the agenda. Dignios solution allows citizens, especially those suffering from suspected or confirmed COVID-19 or long term conditions, to receive appropriate care safely in a true digital first form. When COVID-19 struck British shores, the solution was successfully implemented to monitor COVID-19 with Mastercall. Dudley CCG in the West Midlands have also commissioned Dignio to deliver COVID-19 monitoring in community, and this has now been expanded to care homes, in collaboration with the West Midlands 5G project. Dignios technology can be seen in action at the Salford Digital Experience Centre, a facility at Global Digital Exemplar, the Salford Royal Hospital, to help clinicians find technologies to support their work. Dignio takes an active approach to their presence in the region, and aims to bring social value and economic growth to the local community. According to Dr Truchanowicz, Dignio are looking forward to accelerated growth of their presence in the region, enabled by the STEP INto Healthcare programme from the Health Innovation Manchester, and insights from ABHI and Bionow. Six returned travellers in Sydney have tested positive to the UK variant of the COVID-19 virus and four returned travellers are positive for the South African variant - both believed to be more contagious than earlier strains. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant revealed the 10 people who arrived since November 30 had all been quarantined in special health accommodation - separate from the NSW Police-run hotel quarantine sites. A family of four learned they all carried the more infectious South African variant of the virus (known as B1.351) when their preliminary test results came back on Thursday night. All 16 people on their flight from South Africa to Sydney have been moved into the accommodation as a precaution, Dr Chant said. "There are concerns that this South African strain does share a similar mutation from the UK that may be associated with increased transmissibility. That is why we are taking a very cautious approach there," Dr Chant said. They are already the proud parents of a baby boy, and their family just grew to four. The Boy Next Door actor Ryan Guzman and his wife Chrysti Ane both took to Instagram on Thursday evening to announce the birth of their second child, daughter Genevieve Valentina. Ryan, 33, appeared in the black-and-white photo beaming over his wife, who reclined in a hospital bed holding their newborn daughter. Happy news: Ryan Guzman and his wife Chrysti Ane both took to Instagram on Thursday evening to announce the birth of their second child, daughter Genevieve Valentina Chrysti, a 27-year-old actress from Brazil, smiled back up at her fiance. Guzman addressed his newly arrived baby girl in the caption. 'Genevieve Valentina Guzman, Welcome to this crazy world mi hijita,' he wrote. Proud parents: The pair are already the proud parents of a baby boy, born in January 2019; seen here in December 2019 'Your mom, brother, and me are so happy you finally blessed us with your presence. Remember your family has your back por siempre. Love, Papa' Chrysti posted the same picture but in color, detailing in the caption that she had 'been pregnant for basically this entire quarantine. 'We welcomed our little lady Genevieve Valentina Guzman into the world today at 3:50 pm,' she continued. Chrysti posted the same picture but in color: She detailed in the caption that she had 'been pregnant for basically this entire quarantine' 'Ry and I decided to be a little selfish this time around and keep this journey between us. Im so happy we did that. It was so special.' Chrysti and Ryan have been together since 2018. In late January 2019, they welcomed their first child, son Mateo Lopes. Handsome couple: Chrysti and Ryan have been together since 2018; seen here in September 2019 in Universal City, California Texas-born Ryan has appeared in several popular films and television shows, including Step Up Revolution and Pretty Little Liars. Since 2018, he has been one of the stars of Ryan Murphys hit procedural 9-1-1. Chrysti, for her part, is known for playing the pink Power Ranger in the series Power Rangers Ninja Steel. The Cape Coast High Court has issued an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament (MP)-elect for Assin North, Mr James Gyekye Quayson, from holding himself as the MP-elect for the constituency. In a ruling yesterday, the court, presided over by Justice Kwasi Boakye, also issued another order restraining Mr Quayson from presenting himself to be sworn in as the MP-elect for Assin North. The court ruling follows an interlocutory injunction filed by one Michael Ankomah-Nimfah, who initiated a parliamentary election petition against Mr Quayson. The two interlocutory injunctions will be in force until the final determination of the election petition challenging the eligibility of Mr Quayson to be an MP, on the basis that he was a dual citizen of Ghana and Canada at the time he filed to contest as a parliamentary candidate. It is hereby ordered that James Quayson (1st respondent) is hereby restrained from holding himself out as the Member of Parliament-elect for the Assin North Constituency of the Republic of Ghana and further presenting himself to be sworn in as Member of Parliament-elect as such until the final determination of the petition filed against him, Justice Boakye ruled. Fairness and Justice Giving reasons for his ruling, Justice Boakye held that irreparable damage would be caused to the applicant if Mr Quayson was allowed to become an MP until the final determination of the case. He held that Article 94 (2) of the 1992 Constitution clearly stated that a person shall not be qualified to be a Member of Parliament if he owes allegiance to a country other than Ghana. Justice Boakye indicated that evidence available to the court showed that although Mr Quayson had initiated the process to renounce his Canadian citizenship in November 2019, the actual renunciation certificate was given to him in November 2020. However, he held that the evidence further showed that Mr Quayson filed to contest as a parliamentary candidate in October 2020, a time when he had not received the certificate renouncing his Canadian citizenship. In view of that, the presiding judge indicated that it was necessary to grant the interlocutory injunction in the interest of fairness and justice until the substantive case was determined. Charged atmosphere There was heavy security presence on the premises of the Cape Coast High Court, with more than 70 armed policemen and 22 officers of the Ghana National Fire Service deployed to prevent any unforeseen disturbances. Scores of supporters of the NDC also thronged the court and they registered their displeasure at the decision of the court. We will not accept this decision and we will never rest until the right thing is done, one of them said. Views from lawyers Counsel for the applicant, Mr Gary Nimako Marfo, described the ruling as a sound decision which was in line with the laws of the country. He said the 1992 Constitution and other laws did not allow people who owed allegiance to other countries to contest public elections in Ghana. According to him, although the MP was no longer a citizen of Canada, that was done after he had filed his nomination to contest as a parliamentary candidate. He wasnt qualified to be allowed to file in the first place because at the time when he did that, he was holding on to his Canadian citizenship, counsel said. A member of Mr Quaysons legal team, Mr Samuel Adu Yeboah, said he was disappointed at the ruling. Background Mr Quayson polled 17,498 votes, against 14,793 by the New Patriotic Partys (NPPs) Ms Abena Durowaa Mensah, in the December 7, 2020 parliamentary election. On December 30, last year, Ankomah-Nimfah, a resident of Assin Bereku in the Assin North Constituency, filed a parliamentary election petition under Article 99 of the 1992 Constitution The petition was against Mr Quayson and the Electoral Commission (EC). He contended that the MP-elect was not eligible on the basis that at the time he (Quayson) filed his nomination to contest as a parliamentary candidate, he was still a citizen of Canada. Such an act, he argued, was against the express provision of Article 94 (2) (a) of the 1992 Constitution and Section 9(2) of the Representation of the People Act 1992 (PNDCL 284). Among other reliefs, the applicant wanted the Cape Coast High Court to declare the nomination filed by Mr Quayson as illegal, void and of no legal effect. He also sought a declaration that the decision by the EC to clear Mr Quayson to contest as a parliamentary candidate was illegal, void and of no legal effect. Another relief sought by the applicant was an order restraining Mr Quayson from holding himself as the MP-elect for Assin North and another order cancelling the parliamentary election that took place in Assin North on December 7, 2020. 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 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. The palm-fringed beachfront and breezy cabanas at MycoMeditations are the stuff of glossy travel brochures, but the barefoot vacationers roaming the Jamaican retreat center this winter are seeking a different kind of trip entirely. They're there for facilitated sessions using psychedelic psilocybin mushrooms. One of a several established psilocybin retreat centers in the world, MycoMeditations was founded in 2015, and in the years since has seen surging interest in the reputed mental health benefits of psychedelics. Often, it's from people surprised to find themselves seeking help from a mysterious fungus at all. "In my life I had never done any psychedelic," said Jessica Young, a 41-year-old executive from Atlanta, who flew to Jamaica for a MycoMeditations retreat in November 2019. "It's pretty out of character for me." Young knew little about psychedelics before reading the best-selling 2018 book "How to Change Your Mind," by journalist Michael Pollan. In it, Pollan surveys recent research into psychedelics, which show promise for maladies from treatment-resistant depression to end-of-life distress. Such professorial passages alternate with Pollan's eyebrow-raising personal experiences with psychedelics including psilocybin, LSD and the crystallized venom of a Sonoran Desert toad. Young had just turned 40 when she read the book, and she was intrigued by the claims of personal growth associated with psilocybin. Despite the relative mainstreaming of psychedelics in recent years, psilocybin mushrooms are ranked alongside heroin as a Schedule 1 drug in the United States. To try them legally - an important stipulation for Young - she would have to look abroad. "Psilocybin is not illegal here, and it's one of the few places in the world where you can actually use these substances," said Justin Townsend, MycoMeditations' CEO and head facilitator. (The Netherlands, where a legal loophole allows for the sale of psilocybin sclerotia, or "truffles," is another major destination.) But over recent months, decriminalization efforts have allowed the drugs in the United State. In November, District of Columbia voters approved a ballot initiative to decriminalize the use of psilocybin mushrooms, while Oregonians approved the legal use of psilocybin in therapeutic settings. If restrictions continue to loosen, could stateside psychedelic getaways be the United States' next big wellness-travel trend? Demand is there. Each month, the inbox of researcher Robin Carhart-Harris fills with requests, sometimes pleas, to join clinical trials at the Centre for Psychedelic Research that he heads at Imperial College London. When it comes to psychedelics, "demand vastly exceeds supply," Carhart-Harris said. "They're suffering, and they're desperate, and other treatments maybe aren't working." When it launched in 2019, the center became the world's first formal site focusing exclusively on psychedelic research; later that same year, Johns Hopkins opened the Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research. Promising findings about psychedelics include treatments for trauma, anorexia, treatment-resistant depression, addiction and more. Many of those who contact Carhart-Harris in hopes of joining a clinical study are suffering from these. "Often it's really sad," he said. "A few a day is typical, and we can't do anything." Retreats step into the void between the swelling interest in psychedelic therapy and the tightly controlled trials carried out at the new research centers. And those retreats run a remarkable gamut. Some employ the language, tone and sleekly modern aesthetic of upscale clinics; others are crunchy, off-grid hippie getaways with training lineages rooted in shamanism. Carhart-Harris's research has convinced him that psychedelics can facilitate profound transformations, and he's optimistic about their use beyond the lab. When compared with other drugs - or even alcohol - psilocybin is remarkably safe. It's not addictive, and toxicity is very low. In 2018, Carhart-Harris and a team of other researchers published survey results focused on psychedelic experiences "in the wild" - people who got their own stash of drugs and launched into orbit without supervision from a PhD. Overall, respondents did well. "That aggregate data is tending toward improvement," Carhart-Harris said. "Any negative changes in mental health outcomes are very much the anomaly." In addition to offering legal alternatives to an at-home trip, retreats provide support, with the possibility of post-trip counseling to help with "integration," a meaning-making process many believe is essential. But Carhart-Harris also sees pitfalls in the drugs' very promise. "It's easy to see how powerful they are," he said. "It's unusual to find drugs, or any intervention, that could change people as reliably. That power requires some responsibility and careful thought around harnessing it safely." Writer Michelle Janikian, author of the 2019 book "Your Psilocybin Mushroom Companion," has volunteered at and participated in magic-mushroom retreats, and echoed Carhart-Harris's caution. "Folks need to research their retreat leaders," she said. "Do your homework first to make sure it's a safe and integral place." Janikian welcomes the nascent push to legalize and decriminalize psilocybin in the United States. "I'm very excited to see how it continues to go - I think the recent passage in Oregon is going to have kind of a ripple effect." And many in the investor class see a bright future for magic mushrooms. In September, U.S. News & World Report speculated that psilocybin could beat out cannabis as a hot investment, citing a market analysis estimating the psilocybin market may grow to $100 billion. Retreats could be part of that growth. Within days of the Oregon vote to legalize psilocybin use in therapeutic settings, Oregon-based Silo Wellness - which cultivates psychedelic mushrooms in Jamaica - announced an Oregon wellness retreat using the drug ketamine. For five days this month, a small group will explore waterfalls, go white-water rafting, meditate and undergo three sessions of ketamine-assisted therapy led by naturopath Matthew Hicks. Silo Wellness founder Mike Arnold described the ketamine sessions as the first legal psychedelic retreat to take place in the United States. (There's a long-running underground of unsanctioned psychedelic retreats across the country.) Next, he's planning psilocybin retreats in Jamaica and hopes that soon they'll be taking place closer to home. Arnold, who would like to see the state become a psychedelic retreat destination, is staking his company on psilocybin's potential to expand both markets and minds. For Young, who traveled to Jamaica in 2019, the experience was transformative. She was part of an 11-person cohort that included six women, more than one grandmother, medical and mental health professionals, scientists and a construction worker. "Everyone was there with the intention to do some serious work," Young said. So was she: Over three psilocybin sessions, Young said she grew in ways that years of therapy had not achieved. In November 2020, she returned for a second retreat. "I came out of that with this very deep knowing that this life force that's all around us - what I would call love, essentially - is abundant, is ever present," Young said. "I know that sounds like it comes from a pack of tarot cards. But for me, it's profound." Senators Marsha Blackburn and Bill Hagerty said Wednesday was "a shocking day of lawlessness." They said, "We watched in horror as rioters breached the security of both Houses of Congress and inflicted significant property damage upon those historical halls. Our Republic will rise above the chaos that ensued yesterday in the Capitol. These violent assaults on our democratic processes threaten to unwind the fabric of this country. As Americans, we must unite in our commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law. We are grateful for the heroic law enforcement officials who helped restore peace, allowing us to complete our work. Last night we reconvened with our Senate colleagues to fulfill our constitutional duty to certify the 2020 election results and prepare for a peaceful transition of power. On Jan. 20, we will prove to the world that America is still the shining city on the hill. The Houston restaurant group behind Georgia James, UB Preserv, One Fifth, Hay Merchant and Blacksmith on Wednesday announced two new concepts. Underbelly Hospitality from James Beard Award-winning chef Chris Shepherd is set to open Wild Oats restaurant in summer 2021 and Georgia James Tavern in spring/early summer 2021. IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Houston spot makes Esquire's 'Restaurants America Can't Afford to Lose' list Julie Soefer Wild Oats Wild Oats, a full-service restaurant at Houston Farmers Market at 2520 Airline Dr., shines the spotlight on Texas cuisine by Houston native Nick Fine. Dishes, made with locally sourced ingredients, include a house take on shrimp diablo featuring masa in a nod to tamales. Fines impressive resume includes Aspens The Little Nell and Houstons State of Grace, One Fifth, and Brennans of Houston. He has also worked under such notable chefs as Scott Bryan (New York Citys Veritas and Apiary), Steve Redzikowski (Oak at Fourteenth in Boulder), and Dean Fearing (Dallas Fearing's Restaurant). Julie Soefer Georgia James Tavern Georgia James Tavern, a casual offshoot of upscale steakhouse Georgia James, will open on the ground floor at downtowns Market Square Tower. The high-rise luxury apartment tower is at 777 Preston St. I love Georgia James. But I understand that its not a restaurant most people can visit on a daily or even weekly basis, chef/owner Chris Shepherd, whose business partners include Todd Mason, Jeff Lindenberger, Fred Baca, said in the release. Georgia James Tavern is designed to be a place where our guests want toand caneat every day. The restaurant, with seating for around 60 inside and 44 outside, will feature Art Deco style decor from Houston-based Nest Interior Design Group. The dark and cozy tavern gets a pop of Old Hollywood via vintage wall sconces and custom marquee-style lights around the entry and bar. Tufted leather banquettes and brass accents complement handmade Zellige tiles made in Morocco on the back bar as well as hand-dipped, marbleized silk drapery panels. Chef de cuisine Matthew Coburn, the current sous chef at Georgia James, will move to the new space to oversee the kitchen. A tavern is a place for people to gather, drink and eat, Coburn said in the release. We want to build a sense of community with this restaurant strengthened by our relationships with local farmers and ranchers, and the simple, technique-driven menu will reflect those relationships. My goal is for our guests to feel the culture we create from the moment they walk in the door. Expect salads, sandwiches, burgers, and cast-iron seared steaks, along with entrees cooked in a wood-burning oven. Desserts by Underbelly Hospitality pastry director Victoria Dearmond include an apple crumble cooked in the wood-burning oven. The bar offers spirits and a wine program with labels from both small and established producers, including several sought-after allocated wines. A curated cocktail list includes modern spins on traditional favorites. Georgia James Tavern will initially open for dinner Sunday to Thursday from 5 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 11 p.m. Breakfast and lunch services will be added at a later date. Officials in Marion, Iowa are set to approve a plan to repair the citys historic train depot that was heavily damaged in last summers devastating derecho. The Marion City Council received a motion this week from the citys Parks and Recreation department to approve a contract for the repairs, The Gazette in Cedar Rapids reported. The council is expected to approve the contract at Thursdays formal session. The depot was built in 1892 and moved to City Square Park in 1990. The structures northside roof was smashed by a fallen tree during the Aug. 10 derecho, which brought winds of more than 100 mph to eastern Iowa and damaged many buildings and trees in a multi-state region and killed three people in Iowa. The project, which includes repairs to the roof, some alterations like removing shutters from the buildings windows and other improvement, are estimated to cost nearly $72,500. The total cost will be covered by insurance, officials said. The work is expected to be completed no later than June 15, according to the contract. City Parks and Recreation Interim Director Seth Staashelm said Point Builders of Cedar Rapids will be awarded the contract and that the city also is working with Martin Gardner Architecture to ensure the repairs dont compromise any of the structures cultural or historic significance. It is important to us and the community to maintain the historic integrity of this community asset, Staashelm said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Iowa When increasing numbers of COVID-19 testing centers turned to us for urgent assistance, we began building a new service line dedicated to helping them locate highly-qualified healthcare professionals, said Kathy Jordan, CEO and Founder of Jordan Search Consultants. Jordan Search Consultants, a nationwide healthcare executive and physician search firm, launched a new staffing service line to meet evolving healthcare recruitment needs in response to the burgeoning demands of the pandemic. The organization is rapidly working on staffing COVID-19 testing sites with pre-screened and vetted physician assistants, nurse practitioners, nursing supervisors/staff, laboratory technologists/assistants, medical assistants, certified nursing assistants and registration support staff. The new staffing service line proactively assists hospitals, nursing homes, community clinics, and other urgent care centers in locating top-tier, essential healthcare providers. When increasing numbers of COVID-19 testing centers turned to us for urgent assistance, we began building a new service line dedicated to helping them locate highly-qualified healthcare professionals, said Kathy Jordan, CEO and Founder of Jordan Search Consultants. We pivoted along with the environment and our clients to continue serving as a reliable and trusted recruitment resource. Jordan Search Consultants is nationally known as a healthcare executive and physician search firm specializing in senior executive recruitment, including C-Suite and top tier administration, physician, advanced practitioner, and pharmacy professional recruitment. With the launch of the Staffing Service Line, healthcare organizations are offered expanded staffing level options and human resources support. Now, clients can enlist the firm to quickly staff healthcare provider and support positions with professionals that are pre-screened and highly-qualified. Clients have the option of direct hiring candidates or outsourcing with Jordan Search Consultants serving as employer of record. For candidates, Jordan Search Consultants offers competitive pay and a connection to quality long- and short-term positions. This new model provides healthcare institutions access to comprehensive vetting (background checks and in-depth screenings), an extensive database of highly qualified candidates, and a strategic partnership to determine the best staffing solutions, without the time, management, and expense of an internal hiring and employment process. In these challenging times, the comprehensive Staffing Service Line is of even greater benefit to healthcare organizations who have shifted their focus from recruitment to on-demand staffing. About Jordan Search Consultants Founded in 2003, Jordan Search Consultants provides healthcare, executive and higher- education recruitment services to clients throughout the nation. By understanding the unique culture of each client organization, and the professional and personal goals of each candidate, the professionals at Jordan Search Consultants are able to develop effective solutions for staffing needs. With solutions that range from candidate sourcing services to completely outsourced recruitment models, Jordan Search Consultants provides a customized level of support. For more information, visit http://www.jordansc.com. US President Donald Trump returned to Twitter on Thursday with a video acknowledging that Joe Biden would be the next US president as other social media services including Facebook Inc blocked his accounts over concerns that his messages might spark further violent protests. Twitter unlocked the president's @realDonaldTrump Twitter account, which has 88 million followers, after Trump removed three rule-breaking tweets. His first post back on the platform featured a video in which he said he was focused on a peaceful transition of power and which was viewed 1.4 million times within 15 minutes of posting. Tech companies have been scrambling to crack down on the president's baseless claims about the Nov. 3 US presidential election after hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in unrest that resulted in four deaths. Trump's accounts remain blocked on Facebook and Instagram for at least two weeks and perhaps indefinitely. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Thursday post that the risks of allowing him to use the platform were "simply too great." Facebook's move marked the most significant sanction of the president by a major social media company. Live-streaming platform Twitch and photo-sharing service Snap Inc issued similar bans. "The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden," Zuckerberg said in his Facebook post. White House spokesman Judd Deere said in response that the companies had censored the president at a critical time for the country. "Big Tech is out of control," he said. Zuckerberg said the block on Trump's Facebook page, which has 35 million followers, would last at least until Biden takes office on Jan. 20. At an all-hands meeting on Thursday, Zuckerberg told employees he considered it important political leaders "lead by example and make sure we put the nation first." "What we've seen is that the president has been doing the opposite of that and instead fanning the flames of those who think they should turn to violence to overturn the election outcome," he said, according to audio of the remarks heard by Reuters. Social media companies have been under pressure to police misinformation about the US election on their platforms, including from the president. Trump and his allies for months have amplified baseless claims of election fraud and the president told protesters to go to Capitol Hill, with both Republicans and Democrats saying he was responsible for the resulting violence. Amazon.com Inc's Twitch disabled Trump's channel due to the "extraordinary circumstances and the president's incendiary rhetoric," it said. A spokeswoman said the company would reassess Trump's account after he leaves office. E-commerce platform Shopify shut service for stores affiliated with Trump for violations of its "acceptable use" policy, prompting e-commerce sites for both the campaign and the Trump Organization to go offline. BLOCKS 'LONG OVERDUE' Facebook's decision follows bans in recent years of some government officials in India and Myanmar for promoting violence. A Facebook spokesman said the company had never before blocked a current president, prime minister or head of state. In a video posted to Facebook, Twitter and YouTube on Wednesday, which was later deleted by the platforms after garnering millions of views, Trump repeated election fraud claims as he told protesters to go home. Civil rights groups including Color of Change have called for social media companies to ban Trump permanently from the platforms, where he has repeatedly violated policies. The Anti-Defamation League praised Facebook's move, calling it "an obvious first step," while the NAACP in a statement said the move was a "long overdue" gesture that "rings hollow." Facebook has drawn criticism for exempting politicians' posts and ads from its third-party fact-checking program and repeatedly said it does not want to be "the arbiter of truth." The company has in recent months started labeling some of Trump's statements but faced questions about why it had not acted sooner against violent rhetoric that proliferated in the past few weeks as organizers planned the rally online. Democratic Representative Bennie Thompson, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said in a statement he was "deeply frustrated that it took a group of domestic terrorists storming the Capitol" for Facebook to take action and wondered "if the decision was an opportunistic one, motivated by the news of a Democratically controlled Congress." Democratic Senator Mark Warner, incoming chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, said the social media actions did not go far enough. "These platforms have served as core organizing infrastructure for violent, far right groups and militia movements for several years now - helping them to recruit, organize, coordinate and in many cases (particularly with respect to YouTube) generate profits from their violent, extremist content," he said in a statement. YouTube, which is owned by Alphabet Inc's Google, said Thursday any channel that posts videos with false claims about the election results will be temporarily restricted from uploading or live streaming. YouTube did not respond to a question about whether it would ban Trump's account in the same manner as Facebook, while a Twitter spokesman said it was continuing to "evaluate the situation in real time, including examining activity on the ground and statements made off Twitter." He said Twitter would inform the public if an "escalation" in its approach was necessary. Also read: Donald Trump's Facebook, Instagram accounts suspended indefinitely Also read: Violence in US Capitol reflects failure of leadership: Chinese state media Rice University will start the spring semester online due to the increasing number of coronavirus cases on campus and in the Houston area, President David Leebron said Friday. And the University of Texas at Austin announced classes there will be online through the end of January. Leebron said Rice officials have applied to the state to receive enough doses of the COVID-19 vaccine for every student and employee. We do not yet have official word on when we will receive the vaccines, but we are hopeful they will arrive sometime in February, Leebron wrote in a statement to the Rice community. In the meantime, the campus will begin its semester on Jan. 25 with classes held online through mid-February. University of Texas at Austin students, excluding those studying nursing or pharmacy, will also start the new semester online. We want to minimize the number of people returning to the campus community at any one time. This will help prevent an immediate influx of cases, reduce spread and allow testing and contact tracing to keep up in the returning population. This applies to all students who plan to travel to the Austin area, UT-Austin Provost Daniel Jaffe wrote in a Friday release. About 25 percent of Rices cases alone occurred in the last two weeks despite the campus kick-starting its COVID-19 testing around five months ago, Leebron said. The Houston region reported 3,968 more cases Thursday, making the total 378,569, according to Houston Chronicle reports. The number of deaths in the area has surpassed 4,800. This increase was while there was almost no activity on campus. All of the infections were traced to off-campus activities over the winter recess, Leebron wrote. Most undergraduate students will not be permitted to return to campus until Feb. 15. Leebron wrote that as a result of these new changes, Rice will adjust financial aid packages and room and board charges for those who planned to live on campus. Graduate students have been encouraged to work remotely as much as possible unless conducting essential on-campus research. The university has also restricted group activities to no more than five people indoors and up to 10 people outdoors if individuals are wearing masks and socially distanced. We expect to relax these restrictions as our environment improves, Leebron wrote. Leebron added that there will be a few exceptions made to these new restrictions. On-campus research, for example, will continue but with additional safety measures. Students who are already living on campus or who have sought an exception from the university may be permitted to stay. Students will receive additional instructions on how to submit their petitions before Monday. There is light at the end of the tunnel, Leebron said. But still some distance to travel together before putting this time behind us. University of Texas at Austin officials plan for online classes through the end of January. For the fall semester, about 75 percent of classes were online and only 5 percent were held solely in-person. UT officials have encouraged students to get tested three to five days before returning to Austin. The University of St. Thomas in Houston will also operate remotely and offer hybrid or hi-flex classes again starting Feb. 1. Those plans are subject to change based on the pandemic, according to a university spokesperson. Other universities in the Houston region have previously announced plans to conduct classes in a combination of in-person, online and hybrid formats starting Jan. 19, and have largely requested that members of their communities be tested for the virus before or shortly after arriving on campus. The University of Houston, for example, will operate under its Plan B, which means limited classes will be offered in-person on campus, and most students will attend class remotely. Faculty and staff will also work remotely with some exceptions. brittany.britto@chron.com Lawmakers attend a plenary session at the National Assembly on Yeouido, Seoul, Friday. They later voted to pass a bill aimed at preventing deadly industrial accidents. Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo Both business owners and their employees have expressed dissatisfaction with a new law aimed at preventing serious accidents at workplaces that imposes tougher punishments on company managers found to be responsible for dangerous breaches of safety requirements. Initiated by the minor opposition Justice Party, a severe industrial accident law was passed at the National Assembly in a plenary session, Friday. The law is aimed at preventing serious injury or death at workplaces resulting from a lax implementation of safety measures and is intended to push companies to fundamentally ensure a safer working environment by holding CEOs and business owners responsible for any incident. It was sought following several fatal industrial accidents resulting from insufficient safety measures, including the death of Kim Yong-gyun, a 24-year-old worker of a subcontractor to Korea Western Power, at a power plant in Taean, South Chungcheong Province, in 2018. Kim's death caught particular media attention as he had participated in a social media challenge to promote the need for safer working conditions before he was killed in a workplace accident caused by failures to follow safety measures. Under the new law, business owners and CEOs can face at least one year in jail or a fine of up to 1 billion won ($911,000) if they are found to have been negligent in enforcing safety measures when a deadly workplace accident occurred. Corporate entities or institutions, if held responsible, can also be fined up to 5 billion won. The new measures are more severe than those of an existing law that has been criticized as being "sloppy," because usually only low-ranking corporate officials were punished for "severe accidents" or the death of a worker. Nevertheless, the new law provoked an outcry from business owners and a coalition representing workers. In a statement, the Korean Enterprises Federation (KEF) called the law "politically motivated" and said that business owners' voices were ignored from the beginning when the draft bill was proposed and again when it underwent a parliamentary revision. "The level of the punishment is excessive, and there is no clause on immunity from responsibility even when the CEO fulfills all required duties," the KEF said. A coalition of 14 groups representing small and mid-sized companies also said company owners would have to worry about being labelled criminals at any time because small firms do not have the money that large firms have to invest in safety measures. The Justice Party and unions are not satisfied, either. They argue that many of the initial stipulations had been excluded while undergoing discussions led by the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) and the main opposition People Power Party (PPP). The law exempts companies from punishment if they have fewer than five workers or have a workplace less than 1,000 square meters in size. However, according to the Justice Party and umbrella unions, small businesses with fewer than five workers account for nearly 80 percent of all business entities nationwide, and slightly more than 20 percent of all workplace deaths in 2019 took place at such small companies. They also said businesses with a workplace larger than 1,000 square meters only account for 2.51 percent of the total. This means most businesses will be excluded from punishment, and the law therefore will hinder efforts to curb work-related accidents and deaths, according to the Justice Party. "The law has been diluted from what was originally proposed. Businesses of all sizes should be subject to the legislation, particularly small companies," Justice Party spokeswoman Jeong Ho-in said. The party also denounced the law for dropping several other hardline stipulations and softening the initial proposals, such as lowering the minimum jail term from two years to one year and introducing a three-year grace period for companies with fewer than 50 employees after the law goes into effect. The Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of the two major umbrella unions, viewed the level of punishment as "only a slap on the wrist." "We highly doubt whether the Assembly and the government have any determination to root out serious workplace accidents," the union said in a statement. "The law omits key elements and turned out to be a tattered document. This is not a law for punishment but for exemption." President Trump is banned from posting on his Facebook and Instagram accounts for at least the next two weeks until the transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden is complete, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post Thursday. Why it matters: It's an extraordinary step for Facebook to take, given that the company has been one of the slowest to take action against the President's account and has historically prioritized free speech, especially for world leaders. Trump was also frozen out of his Twitter account for breaking the platform's rules, and may be banned indefinitely if he breaks Twitter's rules again. What's happening: After a pro-Trump mob sieged the U.S. Capitol for hours Wednesday, social media platforms began taking dramatic steps to limit the president's posts, which suggested the rioters were justified. After pressure from his aides, Trump posted a video telling his supporters to "go home," but adding that he loves them and that they are "very special." What they're saying: Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules, at times removing content or labeling his posts when they violate our policies. We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech. But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government. We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete. Mark Zuckerberg What to watch: It's unclear when Facebook will lift the ban, but given its history with content moderation and account bans, it's likely the platform is still experimenting with the best way to proceed. Facebook was slow to implement a post election ad ban only to implement it, then later extend it, then amend it for Georgia races, and then change it again for Georgia races. The political ad ban nationwide still stands, while Google's has been lifted for weeks. Go deeper: Social media platforms muzzle Trump after Capitol melee The Armenia government kept the restrictions in place when it lifted a coronavirus-related state of emergency in September. The government introduced a nationwide quarantine regime which allowed it to continue requiring people to wear face masks in all public areas and enforcing social distancing and hygiene rules set for businesses. The new regime was due to remain in force until January 11. The Ministry of Health formally asked the government late last month to extend it by six month months, citing the continuing large number of coronavirus cases in the country. Kerobian criticized the request in an interview with Armenian Public Television aired late on Thursday. He claimed that the restrictions would hurt the Armenian economy which has already been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. The economy badly needs more oxygen after contracting by at least 7 percent in 2020, said he 44-year-old businessman who was appointed as economy minister in late November. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Arsen Torosian dismissed the criticism on Friday, saying that the existing rules do not place restrictions on economic activity and only reduce the risk of COVID-19 infections within businesses and other entities. Minister Vahan Kerobian noted that what the economy needs most now is oxygen, the official, Alina Nikoghosian, said. Individuals treated for the coronavirus over the last several months have also needed oxygen first and foremost, which has been provided by the Ministry of Health. We hope that the Ministry of Economy too will save no effort to provide the economy with oxygen without increasing the number of [COVID-19] patients, she said. Nikoghosian insisted that the rules criticized by Kerobian are essential for containing the further spread of COVID-19. She argued that many other countries are still imposing lockdowns and other tougher restrictions to deal with the pandemic. The Armenian authorities largely stopped fining people and businesses to enforce the rules following the September 27 outbreak of the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The daily number of new COVID-19 cases reported by them grew rapidly as a result. But it has been steadily falling since mid-November. According to the Ministry of Health, there were 9,850 active cases in Armenia as of Friday morning, sharply down from 22,850 cases reported on December 1. More than 161,000 coronavirus infections and at least 2,908 deaths caused by them have been officially confirmed in the country of about 3 million to date. The real number of cases is believed to be much higher. Citing some international projections, Nikoghosian warned that another 1,000 Armenians may well die from the disease by April 1. More than VND1 trillion has been paid by brands in Vietnam for ads on online video apps, social networks and online game apps that operate illegally, estimates the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC). Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung The figure shows that a lot of Vietnamese businesses are abetting illegal and anti-cultural activities. Vietnamese brands run ads on WeTV, IQIYI, Hunder Assassin It is easy to find video ads of well known brands such as Omo, Comfort, Clear, Sendo, and Bi do Alpha on cross-border apps such as IQIYI, WeTV, Egg Finder and Hunter Assassin. These are unlicensed apps for videos and video games, or in other words, games operating outside Vietnamese law. Vietnamese management agencies do not grant licenses to apps that have content or have ways of operation that do not serve community benefits, and do not observe Vietnamese laws. Many of the apps of this kind promote violence, titillate people, or provide wrong information distorting Vietnamese territorial sovereignty. The apps outside Vietnamese laws have been trying to penetrate Vietnam. It is estimated that in app markets, each app of this kind accesses several tens of thousands to several millions of users. There is no evidence that shows that illegal cross-border apps are using price strategies to persuade Vietnamese brands to run ads on apps through automatic advertisement networks. However, they have financial advantages because they operate illegally and dont have to fulfill tax duties or pay other expenses to ensure the performance of other obligations like legal apps. Vietnamese businesses spend big money to feed illegal activities MIC has recently taken actions to ensure that content in cyberspace is healthy. Cross-border platforms, including Facebook and YouTube, have content that distort the Party and the States policies and laws, and defame the Party and the State leaders. Moreover, content on cross-border apps operating outside Vietnamese laws promote foul language, infringe on personal life, call for collective violence, introduce bad behaviors (children pour fish sauce on their mother's head, eat raw fish etc). This is an encouragement for anti-cultural and inhumane behaviors that is contrary to the traditions of the Vietnamese people. In such a hodgepodge of illegal, anti-cultural and inhumane activities, there have been more and more video ads by Vietnamese brands, including well known ones such as Unilever, Ford Vietnam, FWD Vietnam and Sen Do. Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung said businesses running ads on platforms with bad content lend a hand unwittingly to these platforms to harm the country. Phuong Nguyen Where are Vietnams social networks in comparison with Facebook, Google? With the establishment of a series of social networks, Vietnam is one of only a few countries with domestic products that are competitive with cross-border platforms. Cambodian police could reopen the case of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge after tests showed the date rape drug GHB was in her system when she died. Amelia 21, from Sussex, was found floating at sea in October 2019 and an inquest later determined her cause of death as 'accidental drowning'. But a bombshell toxicology report made public last month found traces of the drug in her system when she drowned in the sea off Cambodia, sparking fears her drinks were spiked. If the British Government formally requests a review, officers in the Asian country say they will revisit the tragic case. Cambodian police could reopen the case of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge (left and right on the night she vanished, circled) after tests showed the date rape drug GHB was in her system when she died Toxicology tests carried out on the remains of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge (pictured) revealed she had drugs in her system when she died sparking fears her drinks were spiked Mother Linda Schultes, 53, believes her daughter would never have taken drugs willingly MDMA - commonly known as ecstasy - and the hallucinogenic drug MDA were also found in her body but Amelia's mother Linda Schultes, 53, says she would never have taken these willingly. Instead, Linda believes her daughter was 'spiked' while partying on Police Beach on the Cambodian island of Koh Rong and passed out before she was swept out to sea. The mother suspects there has been a 'cover up' and believes the culprit who allegedly spiked Amelia is still at large, accusing local cops of bungling the original probe. Cambodian National Police spokesman Lieutenant General Chhay Kim Khoeun told local media The Khmer Times: 'I think if there is a diplomatic note requesting a review of the case to the National Police and the specialised department, we will continue to investigate the case.' Mother-of-five Linda, of Worthing, West Sussex, is calling on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to pressure Cambodian officers into reopening the case. Amelia's family left on a boat to continue their search in October, 2019. Her mother Linda believes her daughter was 'spiked' Search and rescue teams retrieved the body of Amelia Bambridge in Cambodia. She was found floating at sea in October 2019 and an inquest later determined her cause of death as 'accidental drowning' She added: 'It's just against nature really for a mother to have to bury their child. 'It breaks my heart really because when I was down there I saw how corrupt it was and understood all these backpackers go to these islands thinking the place is safe, but it really is not at all.' Linda added: 'I just want answers and to know what is going on in that island and what happened to her and how that stuff got into her system. 'The UK Government should be putting pressure on them to give me some answers because it is just not fair.' Amelia went to a party on Police Beach in Koh Rong with two or three female friends she'd made while travelling on October 23, 2019. Amelia was staying at a hostel, the Nest Beach Club. Her handbag - which contained her purse, phone and bank cards - was found on a beach 40 minutes away where she had been at a party A map showing where Amelia Bambridge was last seen on October 23 and the approximate location where her body was found floating in the sea in the Gulf of Thailand a week later Search and rescue teams retrieve the body of missing British backpacker Amelia Bambridge after it was discovered near the Thai border a week after her disappearance from Koh Rong She was last seen at the beach party at about 3am on the 24th and friends grew alarmed when she vanished, as she always stuck with the group. A search party started looking for her the following day after she didn't check out of her hostel or turn up at the port to catch a ferry off the island, as planned. A frantic seven day search ended in tragedy when her body was found 30 miles offshore. Six men employed in local restaurants and hotels were detained and quizzed by cops in relation to Amelia's disappearance, but no one was charged with a crime. Linda has accused Cambodian police of bungling the initial investigation, saying police there failed to find CCTV, didn't seal off potential crime scenes and some of Amelia's belongings were stolen after being taken by officers. The FCDO has been approached for comment. Gavin Williamson snubbed an offer to supply free or cheap broadband to children from disadvantaged backgrounds as schools shut their doors amid the coronavirus pandemic, it has been reported. The Education Secretary 'turned down' an offer from telecommunications operator BT to provide vulnerable families with Wi-Fi vouchers in June last year as thousands of pupils across the country switched to remote learning. It comes after Mr Williamson told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the schools watchdog Ofsted would enforce legal requirements for state schools in England to provide high-quality remote education during the lockdown. In a letter to Labour MP Sarah Owen, the CEO of BT's consumer brands, Marc Allera, said that in Spring last year the Department of Education 'declined' the offer of Wi-Fi vouchers, The Mirror has revealed. Education Secretary Gavin Williamson turned down an offer from broadband giant BT to provide vulnerable families with Wi-Fi vouchers Mr Allerca said the broadband giant had suggested the Department of Education identify families requiring help to get online but this offer was declined. The letter, which has been seen by The Mirror, read: 'BT was the first telecoms operator to have an offer for vulnerable families, with BT Wi-Fi vouchers giving for free broadband access made available from June 2020. 'Unfortunately, the Department for Education struggled to distribute these vouchers effectively and handed them back to us.' He added: 'We offered to prioritise getting these families connected, and suggested the Department identify families needing help to get online and to fund them to join the service for six or 12 monthsThe Department declined this route, wanting something faster.' Following the revelation, Labour's Shadow Schools Minister and MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting tweeted: 'Gavin Williamson snubbed offer of cheap broadband for kids from BT. Why?!?! 'With thousands upon thousands of pupils still without the IT and internet connections they need to access learning, they need all the help they can get. We need #EveryChildOnline.' In a letter to Labour MP Sarah Owen, the CEO of BT's consumer brands said the Department of Education 'declined' the offer of Wi-Fi vouchers It comes after Mr Williamson said that Ofsted would enforce legal requirements for state schools in England to provide high-quality remote education during the lockdown. (Stock image) Labour MP for Ilford North Wes Streeting asked why the Education Secretary had 'snubbed' the offer Yesterday Mr Williamson told the House of Commons that schools would be expected to provide between three and five hours of teaching a day - and if parents feel their child was not receiving enough learning they should complain to the school first and then ultimately to Ofsted. The Department for Education said it expected schools to have a digital platform, such as G-Suite or Microsoft Education, and to provide at least some of their remote teaching via video lessons - this could be done by school-led videos or using other providers like Oak National Academy. Mr Williamson confirmed that children who do not have access to technology could attend school in person during the national lockdown. He said: 'We have set out clear, legally binding requirements for schools to provide high-quality remote education. 'This is mandatory for all state-funded schools and will be enforced by Ofsted. We expect schools to provide between three and five teaching hours a day, depending on a child's age. 'If parents feel their child's school is not providing suitable remote education they should first raise their concerns with the teacher or headteacher and, failing that, report the matter to Ofsted. 'Ofsted will inspect schools of any grade where it has serious concerns about the quality of remote education being provided.' COLUMBUS, OhioThe state of Ohio has distributed about 38 million free face masks since the coronavirus crisis began last spring and plans to hand out millions more, according to state officials. So far, 23 million masks have been sent to Ohio employers by the Bureau of Workers Compensation, which is currently working to send out another 23 million masks by the end of June, according to BWC spokesman Tony Gottschlich. The goal is to send about 50 masks per employee for each of the two distribution rounds, he said. The Ohio Department of Aging mailed 10 million masks last month to 2.1 million Ohioans age 65 and older, and nearly 5 million masks have been handed out as part of the Ohio Department of Healths More Than A Mask campaign, which is targeted at minorities and vulnerable communities. Of the masks sent out, the only ones that are medical-grade are about 2 million KN95 masks distributed by the More Than A Mask campaign, according to Dan Tierney, a spokesman for Gov. Mike DeWine. The BWC masks are reusable cloth masks that are good for about 15 washes each, and the Department of Aging masks are disposable. Earlier this week, Michigans state health department launched a campaign to distribute 3.5 million free KN95 masks via state and local offices, as well as community organizations. The Department of Agings masks are paid for with federal coronavirus aid money, according to a department release. The second round of 23 million masks currently being sent out by BWC has a price tag of $24.4 million, state records show. That money comes from the bureaus budget, which is funded by employer premiums, according to Gottschlich. An state health department spokeswoman didnt immediately return a phone call Friday asking the cost of and funding source for the masks given under the More Than A Mask program. Read more Ohio politics and government stories: Susan Allan Block resigns from Ohio Arts Council after inflammatory social media remarks Ohio reports 9,535 new coronavirus cases; 29,028 more vaccinations: Friday update Capitol riot prompts Democrats in Congress to seek Trumps removal before Bidens inauguration Ohios casino, racino business dips 26% in 2020, a year of coronavirus disruptions; state out $165 million in taxes and fees Gov. Mike DeWine says he still supports Donald Trump, though blames him for occupation of U.S. Capitol (Natural News) During the deadly, devastating George Floyd riots, Democrat Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez explicitly promoted violent, terroristic rioting as a valid means to an end. (Article by Vivek Saxena republished from BizPacReview.com) But now that violent riots have been adopted by some of President Donald Trumps most ardent supporters, the propagandists on the Democrat lawmakers communications team are desperate to keep the truth hidden from the public. Early Wednesday evening, AOCs communications director, Lauren Hitt, posted a tweet informing the public that shed asked Twitter to censor and silence conservatives who are spreading so-called misinformation about her boss. In the tweet, Hitt specifically referenced provocative tweets AOC had posted herself, late last year that Hitt complained conservatives were now retweeting in which the congresswoman had defended the so-called summer protesting because [i]t wasnt until they made folks uncomfortable that there was traction. Traction on what? On specifically the movement to defund the police. View AOCs original tweets below: What if activists arent PR firms for politicians & their demands are bc police budgets are exploding, community resources are shrinking to bankroll it, & ppl brought this up for ages but it wasnt until they said defund that comfortable people started paying attn to brutality Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 2, 2020 The thing that critics of activists dont get is that they tried playing the polite language policy game and all it did was make them easier to ignore. It wasnt until they made folks uncomfortable that there was traction to do ANYTHING even if it wasnt their full demands. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 2, 2020 The whole point of protesting is to make ppl uncomfortable. Activists take that discomfort w/ the status quo & advocate for concrete policy changes. Popular support often starts small & grows. To folks who complain protest demands make others uncomfortable thats the point. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 2, 2020 This isnt even the most provocative thing the congresswoman said. During the George Floyd riots, she argued that allegedly marginalized people have no choice but to riot. She issued the remarks two weeks after an Antifa extremist had fire-bombed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center in Tacoma, Washington. When asked at the time to condemn the attack, she refused to answer. AOC dishes out dangerous rhetoric: People in marginalized communities have no choice but to riot https://t.co/kUyyUHMJfi Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) August 1, 2019 In fact, all members of the so-called Squad refused to condemn the act of extremism. Similarly, all members of the Squad failed to address legitimate concerns over whether their own extremist rhetoric false claims that ICE was running concentration camps, for instance had played a role in inspiring the terrorist attack. But now that some members of the right have adopted the lefts rioting, AOC has suddenly become a staunch opponent of rioting justifiably so, granted. However, the problem isnt her newfound stance against rioting its her galling hypocrisy and, more notably, her attempts to hide it from the public. View what her communications director tweeted below: .@AOCs Comms Director here. Right-wing accounts are taking the last tweet from this old thread on the defund mvmnt & twisting it to imply AOC supports violence like whats happening at the Capitol. We asked @Twitter to stop the misinfo, but as we wait, you can help with a RT. https://t.co/BCiUco2H3l Lauren Hitt (@LaurenHitt) January 6, 2021 Its not misinfo to note that AOC was a full-fledged supporter of violent, deadly riots when those riots were being committed by left-wing extremists. Its fact. Its also not misinfo to note that the riots AOC unabashedly supported engendered $2 billion, yes, thats billion with a B in property damage throughout the country, not to mention dozens of murders, and dozens of businesses/homes completely demolished. Nor is it misinfo to point out that this damage far surpassed the damage that was incurred because of the storming of the U.S. Capitol: Its objectively true that todays protests in Capitol dont compare to the murders and arson of 2020 from the far left. Dozens of murders. Billions of dollars of destruction. Homes burned. Its also true that those facts dont matter. Today was a catastrophe. Cerno (@Cernovich) January 6, 2021 Yet despite the damages from Wednesdays riot being far less than the damage from the summer riots, conservative and congressional Republicans have rushed to condemn the behavior of the presidents most hardcore supporters and rightly so. But when left-wing extremists destroyed peoples homes and livelihoods during the summer, the same left-wing demagogues now screaming foul justifiably, granted over Wednesdays horrific rioting were singing a different tune. They were also singing a different tune when left-wing extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaughs hearings. The evidence is legion, though here are just a few examples: https://twitter.com/JackPosobiec/status/1347015745851555842 https://twitter.com/BlackDragonKrew/status/1346948589965221888 What does @ChrisCuomo think of whats happening at the Capitol today? pic.twitter.com/Ihl7R8H5QQ Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) January 6, 2021 This stunning contrast between the lefts current rhetoric and their past rhetoric suggests that their ideology isnt rooted in consistent principles but rather partisanship. If their ideology were rooted in consistent principles, then they would have followed the path of Republicans whove condemned both the Antifa riots and Wednesdays riots. But they havent, and that seems to speak volumes about who they truly are as people Read more at: BizPacReview.com and LeftCult.com The eighth round of talks between the government and representatives of protesting unions ended without any outcome on Friday and the next meeting is likely to take place on January 15, sources said. Sticking to their key demand of the repeal of three farm laws to end their protest, farmer leaders told the government their "ghar wapsi" from protest sites on Delhi borders can happen only after "law wapsi" but the Centre insisted talks must be limited to contentious clauses and ruled out a complete withdrawal of Acts. Sources said not much discussions could take place at the meeting and the next date has been decided after keeping in mind a scheduled hearing of Supreme Court on January 11. The government sources said the apex court may look into the legality of the three laws, besides other issues related to farmers' protests. At the eighth round of negotiations with the 41-member representative group of protesting farmers, the government ruled out the repeal of the laws, while asserting that these reforms have been welcomed by a large section of farmers in various states and asked the unions to think about the interests of the entire country. ALSO READ: No solution except repealing farm laws: Cong on farmers' protests Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, have been holding talks with unions at Vigyan Bhawan in the heart of the capital, while thousands of farmers have stayed put at various Delhi borders to protest against the three laws they find pro-corporate and against the existing mandi and MSP procurement systems. At the outset, Tomar appealed to unions for discussions on the laws, while farm leaders reiterated their demand that the new Acts must be withdrawn, sources said, adding that the agriculture minister stressed on protecting the farmers' interest of the entire country. "Our 'ghar wapsi' (return to home) can happen only if you do 'law wapsi' (repeal of laws)," a farmer leader said at the meeting. "Ideally, the Centre should not interfere in agriculture matters as various Supreme Court orders have declared farming as a state subject. It seems you (the government) do not want to resolve the issue as talks have been happening for so many days. In that case, please give us a clear answer and we will go. Why to waste everyone's time," another farmer leader said at the meeting. All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) member Kavitha Kuruganti, who was also present in the meeting, said the government has told unions that it can not and will not repeal these laws. ALSO READ: Farmers' protest: MSP distorting cropping patterns, says WTO report Around one hour after the meeting, the three ministers stepped out of the discussion hall for their own internal consultations, after union leaders decided to observe silence while holding out papers with slogans including 'Jeetenge ya Marenge' (We will either win or die). The union leaders, however, refused to take a lunch break and stayed put in the meeting room, a source said. Before the start of the meeting, Tomar had also met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah for about an hour. Later, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also met Shah. On January 4, the seventh round of talks ended inconclusively as the unions stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of three farm laws, while the government wanted to discuss only the "problematic" clauses or other alternatives to end the stalemate. Before that, in the sixth round of talks held on December 30 last year, some common ground was reached on two demands -- decriminalisation of stubble-burning and continuation of power subsidies. Just before the meeting, Kuruganti had said: "If no solution arrived in today's meeting, we will continue with our plan of tractor rally on January 26." "Our main demand is the repeal of the laws. We will not accept any amendments. The government is taking it as a prestige issue and not taking back the laws. But this is a life and death question for all farmers. There is no change in our stand since the beginning," she added. ALSO READ: SC asks govt whether protesting farmers are protected against Covid-19 The agitating farmers took out tractor rallies on Thursday to press their demand for a rollback of the laws, while the Centre asserted that it was ready to consider any proposal other than a repeal of the legislations. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at various border points of Delhi for over a month now against the three laws, despite the cold weather and heavy rains. Enacted in September 2020, the government has presented these laws as major farm reforms aimed at increasing farmers' income, but the protesting farmers have raised concerns that these legislations would weaken the minimum support price (MSP) and "mandi" (wholesale market) systems and leave them at the mercy of big corporations. The government has maintained that these apprehensions are misplaced and has ruled out a repeal of the laws. While several opposition parties and people from other walks of life have come out in support of the farmers, some farmer groups have met the agriculture minister over the last few weeks to extend their support to the three laws. The government had sent a draft proposal to the protesting farmer unions last month, suggesting seven-eight amendments to the new laws and a written assurance on the MSP procurement system. (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.) [January 08, 2021] Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Announce Proposed Settlement in the Sea Limited Securities Settlement The following statement is being issued by Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP regarding the Sea Limited Securities Settlement: SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: COMMERCIAL DIVISION X MICHAEL PLUTTE, Individually and on Behalf of All Others Similarly Situated, Plaintiff, vs. SEA LIMITED, FORREST XIAODONG LI, GANG YE, TONY TIANYU HOU, COLLEEN A. DE VRIES, YUXIN REN, NICHOLAS A. NASH, DAVID HENG CHEN SENG, KHOON HUA KUOK, GOLDMAN SACHS (ASIA) L.L.C., MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC, CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) L.L.C., CLSA LIMITED, CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC., COWEN AND COMPANY, LLC, NOMURA SECURITIES INTERNATIONAL, INC., PIPER JAFFRAY & CO., STIFEL NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED, PT MADIRI SEKURITAS, TUDOR, PICKERING, HOLT & CO. SECURITIES, INC., BDO CAPITAL & INVESTMENT CORPORATION, CATHAY SECURITIES CORPORATION OFFSHORE SECURITIES UNIT, DBS BANK LTD., VIET CAPITAL SECURITIES JSC and COGENCY GLOBAL INC., Defendants. : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : : Index No. 655436/2018 The Honorable Jennifer G. Schecter, J.S.C. PART 54 CLASS ACTION SUMMARY NOTICE OF PROPOSED SETTLEMENT OF CLASS ACTION X TO: ALL PERSONS WHO PURCHASED OR OTHERWISE ACQUIRED SEA LIMITED ("SEA LTD." OR THE "COMPANY") AMERICAN DEPOSITORY SHARES ("ADS") PURSUANT OR TRACEABLE TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH SEA LTD.'S OCTOBER 2017 INITIAL PUBLIC OFFERING ("IPO" OR "OCTOBER 2017 IPO") THIS NOTICE WAS AUTHORIZED BY THE COURT. IT IS NOT A LAWYER SOLICITATION. PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY AND IN ITS ENTIRETY. YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a hearing will be held on April 1, 2021, at 11:30 a.m., before the Honorable Jennifer G. Schecter, J.S.C., Supreme Court of New York, County of New York: Commercial Division, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007, to determine whether: (1) the proposed settlement (the "Settlement") of the above-captioned action as set forth in the Stipulation of Settlement ("Stipulation")1 for $10,750,000 in cash should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate; (2) the Judgment as provided under the Stipulation should be entered; (3) to award Plaintiff's Counsel attorneys' fees and expenses out of the Settlement Fund (as defined in the Notice of Pendency and Proposed Settlement of Class Action ("Notice"), which is discussed below), and, if so, in what amount; (4) to award Plaintiff for representing the Settlement Class out of the Settlement Fund and, if so, in what amount; and (5) the Plan of Allocation should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate.2 This Action is a securities class action brought on behalf of those persons who purchased or acquired Sea Ltd. ADS pursuant or traceable to the Registration Statement and Prospectus for Sea Ltd.'s IPO, against Sea Ltd. and others (collectively, "Defendants") for, among other things, allegedly misstating and omitting material facts from the Registration Statement and Prospectus filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the IPO. Plaintiff alleges that these purportedly false and misleading statements inflated the price of the Company's stock, resulting in damage to Settlement Class Members when the truth was revealed. Defendants deny all of Plaintiff's allegations. IF YOU PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED SEA LTD. ADS PURSUANT OR TRACEABLE TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS ISSUED IN CONNECTION WITH SEA LTD.'S OCTOBER 2017 IPO, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE SETTLEMENT OF THIS ACTION. To share in the distribution of the Settlement Fund, you must establish your rights by submitting a Proof of Claim and Release form ("Proof of Claim") by mail (postmarked no later than March 29, 2021) or electronically (no later than March 29, 2021). Your failure to submit your Proof of Claim by March 29, 2021, will subject your claim to rejection and preclude your receiving any of the recovery in connection with the Settlement of this Action. If you are a member of the Settlement Class and do not request exclusion therefrom, you will be bound by the Settlement and any judgment and release entered in the Action, including, but not limited to, the Judgment, whether or not you submit a Proof of Claim. If you have not received a copy of the Notice, which more completely describes the Settlement and your rights thereunder (including your right to object to the Settlement), and a Proof of Claim, you may obtain these documents, as well as a copy of the Stipulation (which, among other things, contains definitions for the defined terms used in this Summary Notice) and other settlement documents, online at www.SeaLimitedSecuritiesSettlement.com, or by writing to: Sea Limited Securities Litigation Settlement Claims Administrator c/o Gilardi & Co. LLC P.O. Box (News - Alert) 43309 Providence, RI 02940-3309 Inquiries should NOT be directed to Defendants, the Court, or the Clerk of the Court. Inquiries, other than requests for the Notice or for a Proof of Claim, may be made to Lead Counsel: ROBBINS GELLER RUDMAN & DOWD LLP Ellen Gusikoff Stewart 655 West Broadway, Suite 1900 San Diego, CA (News - Alert) 92101 Telephone: 800-449-4900 IF YOU DESIRE TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOU MUST SUBMIT A REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION SUCH THAT IT IS POSTMARKED BY MARCH 11, 2021, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. ALL MEMBERS OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS WHO HAVE NOT REQUESTED EXCLUSION FROM THE SETTLEMENT CLASS WILL BE BOUND BY THE SETTLEMENT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT SUBMIT A TIMELY PROOF OF CLAIM. IF YOU ARE A SETTLEMENT CLASS MEMBER, YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT, THE PLAN OF ALLOCATION, THE REQUEST BY PLAINTIFF'S COUNSEL FOR AN AWARD OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND EXPENSES, AND/OR THE AWARD TO PLAINTIFF FOR REPRESENTING THE SETTLEMENT CLASS. ANY OBJECTIONS MUST BE FILED WITH THE COURT AND SENT TO LEAD COUNSEL AND DEFENDANTS' COUNSEL BY MARCH 18, 2021, IN THE MANNER AND FORM EXPLAINED IN THE NOTICE. DATED: December 8, 2020 BY ORDER OF THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF NEW YORK: COMMERCIAL DIVISION THE HONORABLE JENNIFER G. SCHECTER, J.S.C. 1 1 The Stipulation can be viewed and/or obtained at www.SeaLimitedSecuritiesSettlement.com. 2 In light of the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), the Court may decide to conduct the Settlement Fairness Hearing by video or telephone conference, or otherwise allow Settlement Class Members to appear at the hearing by phone. No further notice of such decision will be provided to the Settlement Class. In order to determine whether the date and time of the Settlement Fairness Hearing have changed, or whether Settlement Class Members must or may participate by phone or video, it is important that you monitor the Settlement website, www.SeaLimitedSecuritiesSettlement.com, before making any plans to attend the Settlement Fairness Hearing. Any updates and information for accessing a telephonic or video Settlement Fairness Hearing will be posted to the Settlement website, www.SeaLimitedSecuritiesSettlement.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005001/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] On Friday, permanent representative of India at the UNSC TS Tirumurti tweeted a video message and informed that India has been asked to chair three key subsidiary bodies of UN Security Council which are Taliban Sanctions Committee, Counter-Terrorism Committee (for 2022) and Libya Sanctions committee. Tirumurti further explained all the three subsidiary bodies and how the country will play a major role in the committees, he said: READ | Tricolour To Fly High At UNSC As India Begins 2-year Tenure As Non-permanent Member Taliban Sanctions Committee "Taliban Sanctions Committee also called as 1988 sanctions committee has always been a high priority for India. Keeping in mind our strong interest and commitment to peace, security, development and progress of Afghanistan. Our chairing this committee at this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of the terrorists and sponsors threatening the peace process of Afghanistan. It has been our view that the peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand". READ | India's UNSC Term Critical; Focus On Indo-Pacific, Terror Threats: French Prez' Advisor Counter-Terrorism Committee "India will also chair the Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022 which coincides with the 75th anniversary of India's independence. The chairing of this committee has special resonance for India which is not only being at the forefront of fighting terrorism, especially cross border terrorism but has also been one of it's biggest victim. This committee was formed in September 2001, soon after the tragic terrorist attack of 9/11 in New York. India has chaired this committee when we were last in the security council in 2011-12". READ | India Raises Concern On Use Of Chemical Weapons At UNSC; Highlights Syria's Conflict Issue Libya Sanctions Committee "The Libya Sanctions committee also called as 1970 Sanctions committee is a very important subsidiary body of the council which implements the sanctions regime including a two-way arms embargo in Libya and assets freeze, travel ban, measures on illicit export of petroleum, etc. We will be assuming the chair of the Libya Sanctions Committee at a critical point when there is an international focus on Libya and on the peace process". READ | TS Tirumurti To Be Indias Next Envoy To The UN Succeeding Syed Akbaruddin: Sources On January 5, TS Tirumurti took charge as Permanent Representative of India at United Nations Security Council. As many as 80 percent of health care workers at some hospitals and nursing homes are refusing or delaying getting vaccinated against coronavirus. Only about 18 percent of workers at an Illinois veterans' nursing home have gotten their first shots, while nearly all residents at the same home said 'yes' to the jab. Staff, nurses and doctors in many states remain leery of the vaccines, concerned that there's not enough proof vaccines are safe and reticent to be test subjects. Hospital and care facility administrators have even tried bribing workers with free breakfast or raffle prizes in an effort to incentivize them to get the shot. Nursing home staff seem the most reluctant among health care workers - even as higher rates of residents are willing to get COVID-19 vaccines. It's a worrying trend, especially in states that have inflexible plans for who gets vaccinated first. Health care workers have been put almost universally at the front of the line, and some stats are waiting to offer the shots to other groups until more health care workers are vaccinated. To-date, just 6.25 million Americans have been vaccinated, according to tracking from Bloomberg News. At this rate, it could take years for the US to reach herd immunity. In a race against coronavirus, which infecting some 250,000 Americans a day and yesterday killed a record 4,085 people, slow uptake could be deadly. Health care workers say they don't want to be 'guinea pigs' for COVID-19 vaccination, holding up rollouts in some states (file) FILE - In this Jan. 7, 2021, file photo, a nurse puts on protective gear in a COVID-19 unit in California. The nation's biggest immunization rollout in history is facing pushback from an unlikely source: health care workers who witnessed COVID-19s devastation firsthand but are refusing shots in surprising numbers. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Health care workers are a surprising source of resistance to the vaccine, given that they have seen firsthand the death and misery inflicted by COVID-19 are refusing shots. It is happening in nursing homes and, to a lesser degree, in hospitals, with employees expressing what experts say are unfounded fears of side effects from vaccines that were developed at record speed. More than three weeks into the campaign, some places are seeing as much as 80 percent of the staff holding back. 'I don't think anyone wants to be a guinea pig,' said Dr Stephen Noble, a 42-year-old cardiothoracic surgeon in Portland, Oregon, who is postponing getting vaccinated. 'At the end of the day, as a man of science, I just want to see what the data show. And give me the full data.' Alarmed by the phenomenon, some administrators have dangled everything from free breakfasts at Waffle House to a raffle for a car to get employees to roll up their sleeves. Some states have threatened to let other people cut ahead of health care workers in the line for shots. 'It's far too low. It's alarmingly low,' said Neil Pruitt, CEO of PruittHealth, which runs about 100 long-term care homes in the South, where fewer than three in 10 workers offered the vaccine so far have accepted it. Many medical facilities from Florida to Washington state have boasted of near-universal acceptance of the shots, and workers have proudly plastered pictures of themselves on social media receiving the vaccine. Elsewhere, though, the drive has stumbled. While the federal government has released no data on how many people offered the vaccines have taken them, glimpses of resistance have emerged around the country. In Illinois, a big divide has opened at state-run veterans homes between residents and staff. The discrepancy was worst at the veterans home in Manteno, where 90 percent of residents were vaccinated but only 18 percent of the staff members. In rural Ashland, Alabama, about 90 of some 200 workers at Clay County Hospital have yet to agree to get vaccinated, even with the place so overrun with COVID-19 patients that oxygen is running low and beds have been added to the intensive care unit, divided by plastic sheeting. ICU nurse Stormy Tatom, pictured after a 12-hour shift caring for COVID-19 patients in an N95 mask, said she decided against getting vaccinated for now 'because of the unknown long-term side effects The pushback comes amid the most lethal phase in the outbreak yet, with the death toll at more than 350,000, and it could hinder the government's effort to vaccinate somewhere between 70 percent and 85 percent of the US population to achieve 'herd immunity.' Administrators and public health officials have expressed hope that more health workers will opt to be vaccinated as they see their colleagues take the shots without problems. Oregon doctor Noble said he will wait until April or May to get the shots. He said it is vital for public health authorities not to overstate what they know about the vaccines. That is particularly important, he said, for Black people like him who are distrustful of government medical guidance because of past failures and abuses, such as the infamous Tuskegee experiment. Medical journals have published extensive data on the vaccines, and the Food and Drug Administration has made its analysis public. But misinformation about the shots has spread wildly online, including falsehoods that they cause fertility problems. Stormy Tatom, 30, a hospital ICU nurse in Beaumont, Texas, said she decided against getting vaccinated for now 'because of the unknown long-term side effects.' 'I would say at least half of my coworkers feel the same way,' Tatom said. There have been no signs of widespread severe side effects from the vaccines, and scientists say the drugs have been rigorously tested on tens of thousands and vetted by independent experts. States have begun turning up the pressure. South Carolina's governor gave health care workers until January 15 to get a shot or 'move to the back of the line.' Georgia's top health official has allowed some vaccines to be diverted to other front-line workers, including firefighters and police, out of frustration with the slow uptake. 'There's vaccine available but it's literally sitting in freezers,' said Public Health Commissioner Dr Kathleen Toomey. 'That's unacceptable. We have lives to save.' Nursing homes were among the institutions given priority for the shots because the virus has cut a terrible swath through them. Long-term care residents and staff account for about 38 percent of the nation's COVID-19 fatalities. In West Virginia, only about 55 percent of nursing home workers agreed to the shots when they were first offered last month, according to Martin Wright, who leads the West Virginia Health Care Association. 'It's a race against social media,' Wright said of battling falsehoods about the vaccines. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said last week that only 40 percent of the state's nursing home workers have gotten shots. Some 50 percent of health care workers in California have said they won't take COVID-19 vaccines. Pictured: Two Orange, California health care workers prepare vaccines North Carolina's top public health official estimated more than half were refusing the vaccine there. SavaSeniorCare has offered cash to the 169 long-term care homes in its 20-state network to pay for gift cards, socially distanced parties or other incentives. But so far, data from about a third of its homes shows that 55 percent of workers have refused the vaccine. Walgreens and CVS, which have been contracted by a majority of U.S. nursing homes to administer COVID-19 vaccinations, have not released specifics on the acceptance rate. CVS said that residents have agreed to be immunized at an 'encouragingly high' rate but that 'initial uptake among staff is low,' partly because of efforts to stagger when employees receive their shots. Some facilities have vaccinated workers in stages so that the staff is not sidelined all at once if they suffer minor side effects, which can include fever and aches. The hesitation isn't surprising, given the mixed message from political leaders and misinformation online, said Dr. Wilbur Chen, a professor at the University of Maryland who specializes in the science of vaccines. He noted that health care workers represent a broad range of jobs and backgrounds and said they are not necessarily more informed than the general public. 'They dont know what to believe either,' Chen said. But he said he expects the hesitancy to subside as more people are vaccinated and public health officials get their message across. Some places have already seen turnarounds, such as Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 'The biggest thing that helped us to gain confidence in our staff was watching other staff members get vaccinated, be OK, walk out of the room, you know, not grow a third ear, and so that really is like an avalanche,' said Dr. Catherine ONeal, chief medical officer. 'The first few hundred that we had created another 300 that wanted the vaccine.' The Carlow/Kilkenny Labour Party has paid tribute to veteran party member and former long-standing Labour Party Senator and Councillor, Jim Townsend, whose death has occurred. Describing Mr. Townsend as fearless, passionate, incredibly funny and as a brilliant and much-loved public representative, constituency chairperson, Sean O hArgain, said local members and the party at national level were hugely saddened to hear the news. "Jim Townsend was absolutely one of a kind. In a political world where everything seems to have become bland and careful, Jim stood out as a straight talker and a passionate fighter for working people. He took positions on issues by researching and studying every detail of a proposal and then making up his mind and defending his position. Jim was never one for following the loudest voices or what might be politically popular at the time. It is clear that the voters respected that and continued to place their faith in him for thirty five years. "Jim was a Labour man to his core, loyal to the principles of Connolly and Larkin. He was one of a proud line of rural Labour political representatives who was as comfortable dealing with issues important to farmers and farm labourers as he was representing factory workers or small business owners. He was steadfastly loyal to Seamus Pattison and to his council colleagues, offering his experience and wisdom to those entering politics and in particular those newly elected. "Jims family were hugely important to him and he was proud of all their achievements. Perhaps one of his proudest moments came in 2009 when he and his daughter Caroline were both elected to Carlow County Council, along with three party colleagues. "Jim contested four general elections for our party, coming closest in 2007 when he was the last candidate eliminated in a fantastic effort to win a second seat for our party as Seamus Pattison was returned automatically as Ceann Comhairle. Ironically, Jim did not contest the 1992 election when two seats would almost certainly have been won on the day that Seamus Pattison secured one and a half quotas. He was delighted however to be one of the Taoiseachs nominees to Seanad Eireann, where he served as party spokesperson on Agriculture until 1997. "We have lost a hero of the Labour movement. Jim was loved by all in our constituency but also by our members throughout the country. The values he cherished will remain our values and my last conversation with Jim was all about our struggle to regain what Jim and we believe to be our rightful place in Carlow and Kilkenny politics, representing working people and their interests on our local councils but equally importantly in Dail Eireann." Mr. O hArgain concluded by expressing the partys deepest sympathies to Mr. Townsends children Ollie, Caroline, Barbara and Clem, Jims grandchildren, brothers and sisters and all his friends and supporters. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty Donald Trump-friendly cable outlet Newsmaxwhich has reaped massive ratings rewards for its refusal until recently to acknowledge Joe Biden as president-electhas tried to exploit that stance by repeatedly airing bogus claims that Trump didnt lose the election and that antifa and Black Lives Matter, not a violent mob of Trump supporters, are to blame for Wednesdays lethal assault on the Capitol. At least one Newsmax commentator claimed after the mayhemin which five people died, including a Capitol police officerthat George Soros was somehow involved. Stop right here, Newsmax majority owner and chief executive Christopher Ruddy admonished The Daily Beast on Friday when asked to explain his channels enthusiastic platforming of post-election falsehoods, especially in the aftermath of Wednesdays insurrection. We have acted very properly on this. We condemned the violence almost from the minute it was happening in real time. We were saying every time somebody raised antifa [that] we have no evidence they were involved at all. Despite Ruddys assertion, there are numerous examples in which Newsmax guests, paid contributors, anchors and correspondents have made specious claims with no such disclaimers. On Friday, for instance, former New York Police Commissioner and convicted felon Bernard Kerik, a promoter of the election-related conspiracy theory that Trumps victory was stolen by a deep-state supercomputer named Hammer, told credulous Newsmax host John Bachman: I was at the rallybut I can tell you that there were close to a million people on the Mall [a spectacular exaggeration] between where the president spoke and the Washington Monument, beyond the monument, and that area was completely peaceful. Newsmax May Not Destroy Fox News, but Will Annoy the Shit Out of It Whatever happened, happened down at the Capitol, and I anticipate youre gonna see a lot of instigators and anarchists from Black Lives Matter and antifa, Kerik continued. Story continues Instead of casting doubt, Bachman eagerly agreed. Anybody who knows anything about these protests knows that there is a professional class of protestors, he declared. They have no ideology. They have no real morals. They dont really believe in anything other than tearing down the system. Kerik, the recipient of a presidential pardon last year after serving prison time and pleading guilty to multiple counts of federal tax fraud and perjury, was only the latest Newsmax personality to go on air and spread sham conspiracy theorieswhich in recent days have also included the Soros conspiracy by frequent guest CJ Pearson, a teenage Trump acolyte from Georgia. George Soros [would] like to see in the final days of what looks like will be Joe Bidens quest to steal this presidency than to make it look like Joethat Donald Trump is trying to wage some insurrection as the liberal media has said? Its absolutely nonsensical. Its a far departure from reality, Pearson told highly rated Newsmax host Greg Kelly on Wednesday night, as first spotted by left-leaning press watchdog organization, Media Matters for America. On the same show, Kelly mused: Weve heard about outside agitators all summer long with the Black Lives Matter protests that all the looting was done by, you know, foreign sources from some faraway place. Look, these dont look like Trump supporters. Trump supporters dont do these things. On Thursday night, meanwhile, Kelly told viewers: Sometimes the bank robber gets away with it. Joe Biden stole this election. You know it. I know it. Tens of millions of Americans agree with us Donald Trump should not concede because he didnt lose. Also on Thursday, Newsmax anchor Grant Stinchfield hosted InfoWars personality DeAnna Lorraine, a QAnon acolyte who, among other interesting observations, has argued that Bill Gates is a space alien and Michelle Obama is a man. I'm so proud of the people that went to the Capitol yesterday because we needed to do this, she told Stinchfield. We needed to show them that we care, that our Constitution matters, that our America, our country matters. This is a foreign, hostile takeover and you know it. I know it. And it is time that we step up and that we fight. Lorraine went on: Yesterday, we told the truth. We were there at the Capitol, we were peaceful protesting. The violence was only coming from the police towards us who were there. And yet they're spinning this disgusting narrative that we are at fault or that Trump is at fault and this was domestic terrorism. No it wasn't. It was us fighting for our country. And we have never, ever been more at risk of losing our country. Ruddy argued that its unfair to hold Newsmax accountable for giving free rein to those and other such baseless and reckless claims and Trump-reinforcing fever dreams. We cant control every guest that comes on Newsmax, Ruddy said. Youre expecting that every guest that comes on CNN and MSNBCwe should hold them accountable for all the batshit crazy things they said about Russian collusion over the years?...Cmon. Is Newsmax responsible? Are we really pushing the antifa thing? In all fairness! We have probably said three dozen times that we have no evidence that antifa is involved. Regarding Keriks remarks, Ruddy added: I dont know what Bernie Kerik said. Hes the former police commissioner of the City of New York. Keriks criminal record doesnt undermine the fact that he was the police commissioner and a law enforcement officer, the Newsmax CEO said. He has been completely pardoned for his crimes. Ruddy added: I dont see what the story is. I really dont. He added that contrary to the general perception, Newmax has displeased Trump from time to timeincluding Ruddys recent column arguing that his friend the president should concede and congratulate Bidenand has actually shown restraint in resisting such bogus claims as The Washington Times retracted story that facial recognition technology had identified antifa activists among the rioters. Ruddy added that his friend Trump, with whom he has dined at Mar-a-Lago, where hes a longtime member, was upset when Newsmax started referring to Biden as president-elect on Dec. 14 after the Electoral College certified his victory. Newsmax TV Is Coming for Fox News by Hiring All the Worst. Is It Actually Working? I can tell you Trumps not happy with Newsmax that we were calling Biden the president-elect, Ruddy recounted, adding that he spoke to the soon-to-be ex-president over the holidays. I said to him that we were accepting the constitutional process and thought that he should do thatadvice Trump rejected. Ruddy added that some Newsmax viewers have even complained about the channels alleged journalistic conscientiousness. Newsmaxs refusal to run the facial recognition story has been fueling all the angst were getting from our viewership that were not covering thisthat were part of the coverup. And now youre calling me and saying weve been fueling it. No one else is arguing this. On Wednesday, as the rampage at the Capitol drew to a close, Newsmax anchor Tom Basile fervently promoted the antifa/Black Lives Matter canard: So that you have a complete picture of whats going on, the last couple of times weve seen these rallies, it hasnt just been the presidents supporters. We have seen antifa, we have seen Black Lives Matter, we have seen other leftist groups that have tried to stir up violence. Newsmax White House correspondent Emerald Robinson chimed in: Thats a great point, Tom, because I am hearing from some people on the ground that there is a question of, if antifa has infiltrated the Trump rally-goers and are fomenting some kind of unrest. MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, meanwhile, assured Newsmax viewers that Wednesdays riot was very peaceful and that there was probably some undercover antifa that dressed as Trump people and did some damage to windows and got in there. Newsmax anchor Chris Salcedo concurredIve heard those reports, toonever mind that there were no such reports, at least not from news organizations. Ruddy, who prefers that Newsmax be described as center-right conservative instead of right-wing, vowed that his channel will cover the Biden administration from the perspective of the loyal opposition, not as an illegitimate president. I actually like some of his Cabinet choices, he said, mentioning attorney general-designate Merrick Garland and secretary of state-designate Tony Blinken. Ive heard that Blinken is a good guy, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Unifiedpost Group SA (symbol Euronext Brussels: UPG) has completed the acquisitions of 100% of the shares of (i) Akti SA, a Belgian public limited liability company having its registered office at Cantersteen 10, 1000 Brussels, registered with the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises under number 0882.583.501, (ii) BanqUP SRL, a Belgian private limited liability company, having its registered office at Grotesteenweg 616A, 2600 Berchem, registered with the Crossroads Bank of Enterprises under number 0664.929.753 and (iii) 21 Grams Holding AB, a Swedish company, having its registered office at Humlegardsgatan 20, 114 46 Stockholm, Sweden, with company number 559024-4132. In the framework of each acquisition, a part of the purchase price is converted into loans granted by the sellers to the Company or into a deferred payment. Subsequently, the Company has issued 359,494 new shares in consideration for the contribution in kind of the receivables resulting from the vendor loans and the receivables resulting from the deferred payment. Thereafter, the Company has issued 120,000 new shares following the exercise of the following subscription rights: 3.500 subscription rights ESOP (2015) at 18.30 EUR; 1.500 subscription rights ESOP (2015) at 18.37 EUR; 2.000 subscription rights ESOP (2015) at 34.00 EUR; and 5.000 subscription rights Investment at 100.00 EUR. After the forementioned issuances of the new shares, the share capital of the Company increases to EUR 259,806,199.46 represented by 30,881,484 shares without mention of nominal value. Each of these shares gives one voting right at the general meeting of shareholders and, together, represent the denominator for the purposes of notifications under the transparency regulations. Additionally, a total of 169,022 subscription rights are still outstanding. These subscription rights comprise 100,000 "Key Man" subscription rights, 48,000 "ESOP (2015)" subscription rights, of which 1,000 have not been allocated, and 21,022 "Investment" subscription rights. Each subscription right entitles its holder to 10 ordinary shares of the Company upon exercise. In the event of a conversion of the subscription rights, the transaction would result in the creation of a maximum of 1,690,220 shares with the same number of voting rights. This information, as well as the shareholder structure, can be consulted on the website of the Company: www.unifiedpost.com/en/investor-relations/shareholder-information. About Unifiedpost Group Unifiedpost Group wants to become the leading cloud-based platform for SME business services built on "Documents", "Identity" and "Payments". Unifiedpost operates and develops a 100% cloud-based platform for administrative and financial services that allows real-time and seamless connections between Unifiedpost's customers, their suppliers, their customers and other parties along the financial value chain. With its one-stop-shop solutions, Unifiedpost Group's mission is to make administrative and financial processes simple and smart for its customers. Since its founding in 2001, Unifiedpost Group has grown significantly, expanding to offices in 15 countries throughout Europe, with more than 350 million documents processed in 2019, reaching over 400,000 SMEs and more than 250 Corporates across its platform today. Noteworthy facts and figures: Established in 2001, with a proven track record 2019 pro-forma turnover 69 million 750+ employees throughout Europe 350+ million documents processed in 2019 Diverse portfolio of clients across a wide variety of industries (banking, leasing, utilities, media, telecommunications, travel, social security service providers, public organisations, etc.) ranging from large internationals to SMEs Unifiedpost Payments, a fully owned subsidiary, is recognised as a payment institution by the National Bank of Belgium Certified Swift partner International M&A track record Listed on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels, symbol: UPG (*) Warning about future statements: The statements contained herein may contain forecasts, future expectations, opinions and other future-oriented statements concerning the expected further performance of Unifiedpost Group on the markets in which it is active. Such future-oriented statements are based on the current insights and assumptions of management concerning future events. They naturally include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which seem justified at the time that the statements are made, but may possibly turn out to be inaccurate. The actual results, performance or events may differ essentially from the results, performance or events which are expressed or implied in such future-oriented statements. Except where required by the applicable legislation, Unifiedpost Group shall assume no obligation to update, elucidate or improve future-oriented statements in this press release in the light of new information, future events or other elements and shall not be held liable on that account. The reader is warned not to rely unduly on future-oriented statements. Unifiedpost Group SA Avenue Reine Astrid 92 A 1310 La Hulpe VAT BE 0886.277.617 (RLE Brabant Wallon) (the "Company") View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005374/en/ Contacts: Press contact Sarah Heuninck +32 (0)491 15 05 09 sarah.heuninck@unifiedpost.com Photo: (Photo : Photo: Firos nv / Unsplash) The coronavirus pandemic led many to start remote work in fear of the lethal virus. Small and big companies alike allowed their employees to work from the comfort and safety of their homes. As the year progresses and the COVID-19 vaccine is available, employers are expected to shift their workforce back to the office. Employees Enjoy Flexibility, To Quit Jobs if Not Remote 29% of working professionals surveyed by LiveCareer said they are likely to quit their jobs if they fail to continue working remotely, USA Today reported. Some of their reasons include feeling safer at home, having more productivity working remotely, and the majority enjoy fulfilling work-life balance. A Stanford University study revealed that the pandemic brought 42% of the U.S. workforce to work from home. While a larger percentage of these employees plan to return to on-site work post-pandemic, there is still a significant percentage who enjoy remote work more. Best Jobs Where You Can Work from Home If you are beginning your journey towards remote work, read on to find the best jobs where you can work from home this year, and even when the pandemic is over. Social Media Manager With the advent of the internet age and social media platforms, businesses realize the need for specialized support in these different platforms. Companies will pay specialists to handle their social media pages all day. Tasks include creating different content for social media, including blogs, videos, scripts, and photos. They also respond to comments, messages and create campaigns. The right person is updated in the industry their client is in and has a good knowledge of current market trends. Experienced social media managers can earn anywhere between $60,000 and $97,000 a year. Entry-level and beginner social media managers average $42,000 per annum. Digital Marketing Specialist Smart Insights revealed that digital marketers were the most hired professionals in 2015. The pandemic has made digital marketers among the most influential in the work from home workforce. A digital marketing specialist leverages techniques that boost engagement and visibility. They work with different services, products, and other internet-based content. In the U.S., the average take-home pay for a digital marketing specialist per annum is roughly $40,000. ALSO READ: Parent Guilt During Pandemic Boost COVID 19 Toys Sales Web Developer The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics expects web developers' employment to grow by 13% from 2018 to 2028. This growth rate is faster for web developers than the average for all occupations. The growth will be based on the popularity of eCommerce and mobile devices. Web developers average nearly $70,000 per annum. Web developers need to have the requisite skills in tools like HTML, CSS, and programming languages like JavaScript and Ruby. For mobile development, web developers can start looking for jobs at sites like Android Jobs and Core Intuition. There are also plenty of jobs for web developers on WordPress Jobs and WPHired. Software Engineer This well-paid job is for those who are interested in developing computer systems and software. The right person for the job will have specialized skills in coding and computer programming. Jobs for a software engineer include a game developer, cyber security analyst, applications developer, and IT consultant. There is a high-demand for both front-end and back-end software engineers. The median salary for software engineers is around $92,824. System Administrator Most companies need a system administrator for monitoring the installation, acquisition, maintenance, and upgrades of computer systems. They ensure the organization's computer systems, LANs, WANs, intranets, network segments, and data communication systems operate efficiently. The lowest-paid system administrators earn around $64,010 a year, while the best-paid system administrators have a take-home pay of around $104,970 a year. ALSO READ: Work from Home Jobs for Moms: Find What Suits You Best OTTAWA - All but five of Canada's 93 senators say they have not travelled outside the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The Senate of Canada building and Senate Chamber are pictured in Ottawa on Monday, Feb. 18, 2019. All but five of Canada's 93 senators say they have not travelled outside the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - All but five of Canada's 93 senators say they have not travelled outside the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighty-eight senators say they've been following public health guidelines to refrain from international travel in bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Two have admitted to travelling abroad over the holidays. Conservative Senate leader Don Plett briefly went to Mexico before thinking better of it and returning three days later to Manitoba, where he is currently quarantining. Vern White, a member of the Canadian Senators Group, visited his wife's parents in Finland, where he is currently in quarantine. Three other senators, all members of the Canadian Senators Group, have not responded to repeated queries about whether they've been out of the country since Dec. 1. They are CSG leader Sen. Scott Tannas, deputy leader Sen. Josee Verner and Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2020. (JNS) Of all the efforts that U.S. President Donald Trump made on behalf of the Jewish people, the most meaningful and lasting may be the orchestration of peace agreements between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The benefits of those accords for security and business are hugely significant. Perhaps even more meaningful and lasting are the personal connections and cultural implications, as Israelis shift to closer relations with their Abrahamic cousins. These peace deals, then, will not be so much government-to-government agreements as they are people-to-people ones. As Emirati billionair... BOLOGNA, JAN 8 - The August 2 1980 bombing of Bologna train station that killed 85 people was a "State massacre," Bologna judges said Friday in explaining their life term for a fourth member of the neofascist militant NAR group, Gilberto Cavallini. "It was a political massacre, or more accurately a State massacre," said the Assize Court judges in their written explanation. They said that the view that the massacre had been carried out by a gang of four acting alone was incorrect. The Bologna massacre (Italian: strage di Bologna) was a terrorist bombing of the Bologna Centrale railway station in Bologna, Italy, on the morning of 2 August 1980, which killed 85 people and wounded over 200. It was Italy's deadliest terrorist attack of the 25-year 'Years of Lead' of rightist and leftist militant violence. Several members of the neo-fascist terrorist organization Nuclei Armati Rivoluzionari (NAR, Armed Revolutionary Nuclei) were sentenced for the bombing, although the group denied involvement. Investigations have uncovered alleged links to Italy's secret services. NAR founders Francesca Mambro and Valerio Fioravanti were sentenced to life imprisonment for the massacre, and Luigi Ciavardini got 30 years. Late subversive rightist para-Masonic Propaganda Due (P2) lodge chief Licio Gelli was recently convicted of being among those who commissioned the bombing. Historians have seen the atrocity as part of a string of rightist subversive bombings in the so-called strategy of tension aimed at keeping the Communists out of national power. Other rightist militants have been convicted in the case, as well as the NAR members. (ANSA). Vietnam's rice export turnover up 10 percent in 2020 - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) The rice sector is expected to again post high growth this year, when new-generation free trade agreements (FTAs) Vietnam has signed with foreign partners come into play. Amid the difficulties posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, rice exporters quickly made appropriate adjustments and actively sought new markets while fully tapping into the advantages brought about by FTAs. Vice Chairman of the VFA, Do Ha Nam, said 2020 was a successful year for Vietnams rice exports, which he attributed to increasing demand in many countries and the improved competitiveness of Vietnamese rice around the world. The EU-Vietnam FTA (EVFTA) has created a major opportunity for Vietnamese rice to enter European markets and then make inroads into other choosy markets, Nam said. Experts said that if Vietnam wants to maintain rice export growth in 2021 it needs to focus on building a complete rice value chain and controlling quality in production, processing, and distribution. The VFA predicted that rice exports will continue to grow this year because export markets, such as the Philippines and Africa, are continuing to sign contracts. Within the framework of the Vietnam-Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) FTA, EAEU member states have pledged to give Vietnam a tariff quota of 10,000 tonnes of rice for this year. Vietnams rice exports to the UK will also enjoy zero percent tariffs without quotas under the recently-signed UK-Vietnam FTA. To fully tap into the advantages available under FTAs, rice export giants such as the Intimex Corporation JSC, the Loc Troi Group, the VRICE Co., and the Trung An Hi-Tech Agriculture JSC are planning to seek additional importers in markets where Vietnam has signed FTAs, especially in the UK. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will continue to support exporters via providing timely information on market demand and strengthening trade promotion efforts./. Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:49 pm WASHINGTON On a day of violence and tumult that put a final, indelible stamp on outgoing President Donald Trump's chaotic tenure, a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, forcing a lockdown while a debate over accepting the legitimacy of the November election split the Republican Party in two. As Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned scores of his GOP colleagues that their objection to the Electoral College results could send American democracy into "a death spiral," Trump supporters spurred by the president at a rally in front of the White House forced their way into the Capitol and succeeded in delaying the certification of President-Elect Joe Biden's victory. The assault on Capitol Hill, which left four people dead and several injured, marked the culmination of four years in which Trump has commandeered the Republican Party and reshaped it in his own image. One woman was shot and killed in circumstances that remain unclear, and three others died from medical problems, police said. By Wednesday morning, roughly half of congressional Republicans had defied McConnell and said they would object to the results, citing debunked conspiracy theories that the election was rigged and a responsibility to amplify concerns based on those baseless allegations. Later, sequestered in undisclosed locations in the hours after police evacuated the Capitol, a handful of GOP lawmakers had a change of heart including Spokane Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers. When Congress reconvened after order was restored, the process restarted, but many senators who had initially planned to object, reversed course, those shortening the session. Vice President Mike Pence declared President-elect Joe Biden the winner of the election about 12:45 a.m. Thursday Spokane time. In the hours before the mob stormed the Capitol, Democrats staged a double upset in runoff elections in Georgia to seize control of the Senate, an outcome Republican congressional leaders blamed on Trump's unwavering insistence that the election was stolen from him by systematic voter fraud. Trump-appointed judges, GOP election officials and Trump's own attorney general have all said there is no evidence to support the president's claims. A joint session of the House and Senate met Wednesday afternoon in a final, largely ceremonial step in confirming Biden's victory. All 50 states and the District of Columbia had already certified their election results and appointed electors to vote for the candidate who won each state. Some Democrats objected to Electoral College results after their candidates lost in 2000, 2004 and 2016, but the scale of Wednesday's GOP was unprecedented. A day after telling The Spokesman-Review she intended to object to the results of multiple states won by Biden, McMorris Rodgers reversed course and said Wednesday afternoon she would vote to certify the count. "What we have seen today is unlawful and unacceptable," she said in a statement. "I have decided I will vote to uphold the Electoral College results and I encourage Donald Trump to condemn and put an end to this madness. "What happened today and continues to unfold in the nation's capital is disgraceful and un-American. Thugs assaulted Capitol Police Officers, breached and defaced our Capitol Building, put people's lives in danger, and disregarded the values we hold dear as Americans. To anyone involved, shame on you." Before Congress met to certify the results, Trump told supporters at a rally outside the White House, "You'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength." Hours after his supporters stormed the Capitol, Trump posted a video message on Twitter calling for the protesters to leave while repeating his disproved claim that the vote was rigged. "We had an election that was stolen from us," Trump said. "But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. ... Go home. We love you. You're very special." Thirteen GOP senators said ahead of Wednesday's session they would object to the results of at least Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia. After Capitol staff swept up broken glass and lawmakers reconvened Wednesday evening, just six senators objected to Arizona's results while more than half of the House GOP conference obeyed Trump's demands. Idaho GOP Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch voted to certify Arizona's results. In a statement Wednesday night, Crapo decried the day's violence and said, "Actions like today thwart the rule of law and could leave lasting, devastating consequences on our nation. "Through the Electoral College, the election of the president is entrusted to the states, not to Congress. When disputes arise, adjudication rests in the courts. Any effort by Congress to abandon the Electoral College's constitutional significance for states to certify and send their Electors would set a dangerous precedent I cannot support." After voting to certify Arizona's results, Risch called the day's events "unpatriotic and un-American in the extreme." "Our republic has long been the envy of people all over the world, and we must stand united against those who wish to tear us apart," Risch said. "I was proud to join my colleagues and reconvene at the Capitol tonight to prove that mob rule never prevails. Freedom and law and order will always triumph." Rep. Dan Newhouse, a central Washington Republican, said in a call with reporters Wednesday evening he and his colleagues were still reeling from "having our nation's Capitol building being literally overrun by thousands of people." "We are all in a state of disbelief," said Newhouse, who certified the results. "I can't believe that this is happening in our country, shocked beyond words. Many of us are disappointed, disgusted, horrified. This is not the United States of America. This is not how we conduct business." Rep. Derek Kilmer, a Democrat who represents Tacoma and the Olympic Peninsula, said from an undisclosed location Wednesday afternoon the first thing he did after the lockdown started was call home to assure his family he was safe. "I started my day by calling my kids and saying, 'You're gonna see rowdiness on the streets of Washington, D.C., but don't worry, dad works in one of the most secure buildings on the planet,' " the father of two said. "I called them once we were on lockdown and said, 'OK, well, sometimes dads are wrong.' "I think what is at stake today is a pretty simple principle, and that is that the American people are sovereign and they hold the power to choose their leaders through the ballot box. Our president isn't chosen by an angry mob. "Obviously, this is a really dark chapter for our country, but this is not going to get in the way of the will of the voters. That's not how our system works." Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Seattle Democrat who said she was crouched on the floor of the gallery when shots were fired into the chamber below, said the violence was predictable after months of Trump trumpeting baseless conspiracy theories. "The level of temper, anger, rage was perhaps not unexpected given what the president and his allies have been doing," Jayapal said. "It has been incredibly difficult and deeply dangerous to see what is happening and the violence that was incited and fueled by Donald Trump and some of the Republicans, and I'm grateful to those who did not participate." Jayapal called on Vice President Mike President and the president's cabinet to remove Trump from office using the 25th Amendment. Washington Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray also suggested that Trump be removed from office before his term ends on Jan. 20. "Congress is continuing the process of certifying the election, but only after a day of chaos and violent extremism in our Capitol where some of our worst fears about the harm this President is willing to incite were realized," Murray said on Twitter. "The most immediate way to ensure the President is prevented from causing further harm in coming days is to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office." The constant drumbeat of allegations from the president and his allies, and most Republicans' refusal to push back on his incendiary claims, created an environment where GOP lawmakers face tremendous pressure from some constituents to express the fealty Trump demands. Rep. Russ Fulcher, a Republican who represents North Idaho, said Tuesday he announced his intention to object to the results by video earlier than planned in response to a flood of feedback from Idahoans. "People who have questions about this election want to know that it's going to receive some action, that Congress is going to do something, that we're going to fulfill our role of oversight here," Fulcher said. "Our phones, my email, my voicemail was absolutely blowing up. ... We could not keep up with the responses until I posted that video. "That wasn't why I posted it. But what did happen is everything all but went silent. Why? Because people just want to know that there was going to be some kind of action." After certifying Arizona's results just before midnight local time, Congress proceeded to certify results from other states in alphabetical order until Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican who is considering a White House run in 2024, objected to Pennsylvania's results. Just after midnight, the House and Senate again broke into separate sessions to debate the legitimacy of the American election system. In the Senate, seven Republican senators voted against accepting Pennsylvania's election results. It was unclear how long the certification process would take, but the outcome is clear Joe Biden will become president of a deeply divided nation on Jan. 20. ------ Orion Donovan-Smith's reporting for The Spokesman-Review is funded in part by Report for America and by members of the Spokane community. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor. ___ (c)2021 The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) Visit The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.) at www.spokesman.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A broad agenda to get rid of systemic racism is never done. We didnt get here, in the situation were in, in one year, and were not going to get out of it in one legislative agenda, said state Rep. Sonya Harper, a Chicago Democrat who was recently elected chair of the joint Illinois Legislative Black Caucus. Id like to say this is just a first step, as a caucus, and we will continue to push many more specific legislative agendas similar to this. On January 7, East China's Anhui Province held its Commendation Ceremony for Persons with Distinguished Contributions to Flood Control and Disaster Prevention at the Anhui Grand Theatre. A total of 150 groups and 450 individuals were commended for their service to defend against the disaster during the summer of 2020 when Anhui suffered unprecedented floods in history as the Yangtze River, Chao Lake, Huai River and Xin'an River in the province all experienced heavy floods in the same period. The recipients of this special honor include firefighters, police officers, grassroots cadres and citizens as well as employees of state-run institutions and enterprises. A pub landlord told a whole village to "f*** off" after he was wrongly reported to police for breaching Covid rules. Keith Waterhouse, 56, posted an angry letter on the parish noticeboard in Bridgetown when officers visited the Badgers Holt on Exmoor for a second time. He wrote: "Dear village, whoever the nasty, vindictive b****** is that reports me to the police for a completely incorrect breach of Covid rules, have the ******** to talk to me first and find out the truth. And secondly, oh just f*** off." The anonymous informant is said to have told police that Mr Waterhouse had broken the rules by allowing his daughter to stay with him at the pub. However Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that no offences were recorded as there was no breach of the rules. Mr Waterhouse, a former science teacher and parish councillor, said his daughter was allowed to visit because she was part of his "bubble". "She first came to see us in August and some nasty person in the village phoned the police," he explained. "She was allowed to be here then and shes now living here. There has been no breach of the Covid rules." He added: "I am now trying to find this nasty vindictive person but I don't know who it is. "I will find out who it was. This is such a quiet backwater village but my note was taken off the noticeboard within hours. It maybe a bit aggressive, but they deserve it. "The village is made up with retired people who have all got issues with worrying about Covid and that is entirely reasonable. But we have been closed the whole thing and don't go and see anyone. "I am very tempted to put another notice - telling whoever was responsible to pack their bags." Mr Waterhouse said he was not worried about "p***ing off the rest of the village" because "all the people talking about it do not come into the pub". "I have been here 15 years and know how the land lies," he added. He also said he was not aware that anyone had any issues with him and his daughter. "If they want to confront me and say what the grudge is, I would be happy to have that conversation," Mr Waterhouse said. "But they are doing it secretly so I don't know who I am dealing with or what the problem is. Hence the note. I realise it comes across as a bit aggressive but that's the way I felt." Additional reporting by agencies COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Health reported 9,535 new coronavirus cases on Friday, which is above the 21-day rolling average of 7,464 cases. The total case count in Ohio is 762,603. The number of deaths increased by 82 to 9,544. The 21-day average is 75. The state follows the federal Centers for Disease Control and Preventions definition of a case, which includes those diagnosed through genetic PCR or antigen tests, or people diagnosed in a clinical setting -- experiencing symptoms who are linked to a confirmed COVID-19 case, among other criteria. The number of doses of coronavirus vaccine thats been given to people increased 29,028 to a cumulative total of 248,600. This represents 2.13% of the states population. On Thursday, Gov. Mike DeWine provided more detail about how vaccines will be distributed as Ohio enters the second priority group, 1B. With 4,066 inpatient beds occupied by people with COVID-19, there were 118 fewer people in the hospital on Friday than on Thursday. On Friday, 69,965 more s PCR and molecular coronavirus tests were reported as having been performed. This pushed the state just past 8 million total tests. The rate of PCR and molecular tests that came back positive was 12.3% on Wednesday, the most recent date for a positivity rate. The seven-day rolling average from Wednesday was 14%. The state does not factor antigen and antibody tests in these numbers. More coverage: Gov. Mike DeWine lays out details for 1B coronavirus vaccinations; announces doctors, local health departments, hospitals, pharmacies and others will give shots 10,251 new coronavirus cases reported in Ohio, 22,081 more vaccinations performed: Thursday update Gov. Mike DeWine says Trumps words inflamed mob, but still supports him: Capitol Letter Hosur (TN): A section of state ministers had revolted against me due to some fears, said AIADMK (Amma) leader TTV Dhinakaran on Monday. However, Dhinakaran declined to say what they were. Dhinakaran is out on bail in a case of alleged bribery. The AIADMK factions Deputy General Secretary also made light of the defection of some functionaries including MLAs and MPs under former chief minister O Panneerselvam, saying it was not at all a big issue. But some ministers have some other problems and some other fear and in order to hide it they are telling I am the problem, he told reporters here enroute to Bengaluru to meet his jailed aunt and party chief V K Sasikala. The fears were selfish in nature, he said, but declined to elaborate. I will tell you later he said when reporters asked him what he meant when he talked about those fears. On April 19, senior Tamil Nadu cabinet Ministers had revolted against Dhinakaran and said he and his family an obvious reference to Sasikalawill be kept out of the party and the government. Also read: Election Commission bribery case: Dhinakaran says will prove his innocence Dhinakaran had then too blamed some fears among ministers for their revolt. The leader was released on bail by a Delhi court last week in a case of allegedly trying to bribe an Election Commission official to wrest the AIADMKs Two Leaves symbol. He said he will plan his future course of action after meeting Sasikala and will base his actions on her guidance. The former MP, who had earlier declared he had stepped aside following the ministers revolt, today said resurgent party workers wanted him to continue performing. Supporters are our wealth and we work according to their will, he said. Last week too, prior to leaving Delhi after being released on bail, Dhinakaran had insisted he would continue party work. How I should work I will get the General Secretarys (Sasikala) guidance, he said today. He was scheduled to meet Sasikala to apprise her of the situation after 45 days, he said in an apparent reference to his being lodged in Tihar jail in Delhi in connection with the bribery case. Dhinakaran said he never had any intention of disturbing the K Palaniswami government and that the Chief Minister himself was well aware of it. To a question on opposition charges that the AIADMK government was toeing the central BJP governments line on many issues, he said Palaniswami and his cabinet colleagues should respond to the criticism but insisted AIADMK was functioning independently. Also read: Election Commission bribery case: Delhi court grants bail to Dhinakaran For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. American Church needs unity after 2020 election: Evangelical leaders say in NAE survey Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A National Association of Evangelicals' survey found that Christian leaders believe the American Church needs unity most after the 2020 election. In November, the NAE's monthly survey asked Christian leaders of colleges, missions, publishers, churches and denominations the question: "What are the needs of the American church in a post-election season?" Leaders provided many answers, but unity was the biggest necessity, the survey found. NAE President Walter Kim told The Christian Post that over 140 Christian leaders were contacted to take part in the survey. Our country is in desperate need of unity. Without it, America will be unable to tackle the enormous challenges that so many people now face. I believe that there is no better means of creating that unity than to proclaim the Gospel in both word and deed, National Commander of The Salvation Army, Kenneth Hodder, told the NAE as part of its survey. In the past two presidential elections, unity proved as popular among winners as it was unpopular among losers. After seeing the 2020 election turn in his favor, President-elect Joe Biden called for unity. President Donald Trump said the 2020 election was rigged. When Trump won the presidency in 2016, he also called for unity. After losing the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton claimed the election was stolen from her. Kim said that unity has become more important as the United States has become more divided. Christians should value and prioritize unity because Jesus begged God for it in His last prayer in Gethsemane, he added. Clearly, we have encountered and are still encountering a tremendous amount of polarization," Kim told CP. "Its not simply a matter of the life that we share together as Americans, but its central to the heart of the Gospel. Jesus prayed for the unity of believers." Unity means neither conflict avoidance within groups or expelling people who dont share a groups views, Kim stressed. Those approaches create false unity. Instead, unity should mean working to understand each other and discussing differences. On issues like abortion, Christians should understand that situations are complex and that policy solutions often have many perspectives, said Kim. Some people want to stop abortion by outlawing it. Others want to eliminate poverty and despair so that women dont feel like abortion is their only option. Still, others want to change Americans' attitudes toward sexual morality so people dont continue to have sex out of wedlock. All of these perspectives have value, he said. Its really a complicated issue when we think about abortion. There is the very specific issue of the murder of unborn children, but theres also the factors that lead up to those conditions, he said. Even in cases where fellow Christians believe that women have a right to kill their unborn babies, people should still try to live in fellowship, Kim said. Christians are called to reach unbelievers who disagree with them, and they should display the same care for people within the Body of Christ. It is possible to profoundly disagree on issues and yet somehow have a relationship, Kim said. [Imagine people saying,] 'Wow, there are Republicans and Democrats that are worshiping together, and theyre not ignoring their deep differences on policy issues or issues that relate to their own doctrine, but somehow theyre making it work?' That would be a great witness. Excommunicating people from the Church because they support sin should be an action of last resort, Kim emphasized. Although church leaders in the New Testament expelled people from the Church in some cases, it shouldnt be the first option. We are finding ourselves in a political and social environment where excommunicating those who disagree is a much earlier option than scripture would call us to. This notion in Corinthians of expel the wayward brother is a matter of absolute last resort, Kim explained. Sin within Christians is the real enemy, not any outside threat or group, he said. By announcing this truth, the Gospel shows believers that they are in community with the entire world. Paris, Jan 8 : Restaurants, bars, cinemas in France will not reopen in January as earlier planned due to the high rate of Covid-19 infections and the risk of fresh cases of the new coronavirus variants recently detected in the UK and South Africa, Prime Minister Jean Castex announced. "The situation is far from being back to normal. The level of contamination remains high and has tended to increase since mid-December," Xinhua news agency quoted Castex as saying at a press conference on Thursday. An average of 15,000 infections are registered per day versus 10,000 recorded in December 2020. One in two intensive care beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients and non-essential surgical operations are still being postponed to alleviate pressure on hospitals. Also at the press conference, Health Minister Olivier Veran confirmed that 19 infections with the coronavirus variant first reported in the UK have been detected so far in France, including two cases identified in worrying clusters in Ile-de France and Brittany. He also confirmed three cases of the new strain first found in South Africa. "We want to avoid at all cost the spread of the variants in France. We are taking the threat of these two variants very seriously and we'll take all necessary measures," Veran said. He added that all of the country's laboratories had been mobilised to track the new variants. "Facing this difficult situation, it is out of the question that we lower our guard in the coming weeks," Castex said. In this context, museums, cinemas and music halls, initially scheduled to re-open on January 7, would remain closed until the end of the month. Forced to shut down when the country entered into its second lockdown on October 30, 2020, restaurants, bars and cafes will not be allowed to resume activities until mid-February at the earliest, Castex announced. Another 10 departments in eastern France would be placed under earlier night-time curfew starting at 6 p.m. instead of 8 p.m. in force in other parts of the country. The government has already implemented the same rule in 15 departments, mostly in the northeast and southeast, worst hit by the virus. "We must not only maintain the measures put in place to curb the virus, but be prepared to reinforce them," Castex said. He noted that "a new phase in the fight against the virus has begun" after the country launched its vaccination campaign on December 27, 2020. So far, 45,000 people have been inoculated, according to the Prime Minister. Starting from February, caregivers who are in their 40s and citizens aged 65 years and over will receive their jabs. A broader vaccination aimed at the general public is planned for the spring. The second shot of the vaccine could be delayed to six weeks after the first instead of three as had been initially planned, the minister said. "The vaccine is safe. Serious side effects are rare," said Veran in response to scepticism over the vaccine. According to an Elabe survey released on Wednesday, 45 per cent of the French people refused to be inoculated, with 75 per cent of 1,002 respondents disapproving the government vaccination programme. France on Thursday confirmed 21,703 new coronavirus cases and 277 deaths. The new figures increased the overall case tally and death toll to 2,763,370 and 66,841, respectively. Fox News - The leader of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps is warning President Trump that "revenge on the perpetrators of [General Qassem] Soleimanis martyrdom is definite and serious," according to a video that has surfaced on Twitter. Major Gen. Hossein Salami made the comments which were translated from Persian -- during a speech broadcast on the state-run IRIB News Agency. They came following the one-year anniversary of the assassination of Irans former top general, who mourners gathered to remember this past weekend at the site where he was hit by a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad. A senior military official in Iran on Friday previously threatened an attack on some 35 "American targets," including "destroyers and warships" near the Persian Gulf, promising to seek revenge for the killing of Soleimani, according to a report. Meanwhile, an arrest warrant was issued Thursday for Trump in connection with the killing of Soleimani and a powerful Iraqi militia leader last year, Iraq's judiciary announced. The warrant was issued by a judge in Baghdad's investigative court tasked with probing the drone strike that killed Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the court's media office said. Al-Muhandis was the deputy leader of the state-sanctioned Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group composed of an array of militias, including Iran-backed groups, formed to fight the Islamic State terrorist group. Soleimani headed the Quds force of Irans Revolutionary Guard Corps. The arrest warrant was for a charge of premeditated murder, which carries the death penalty on conviction. It is unlikely to be carried out but is symbolic in the waning days of Trump's presidency. The decision to issue the warrant "was made after the judge recorded the statements of the claimants from the family of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis," according to a statement from the Supreme Judicial Council. The investigation into the killings is ongoing, the court said. The killings sparked a diplomatic crisis and strained U.S.-Iraq ties, drawing the ire of Shiite political lawmakers who passed a non-binding resolution to pressure the government to oust foreign troops from the country. Iran-backed groups have since stepped up attacks against the American presence in Iraq, leading to threats by Washington to shutter its Baghdad diplomatic mission. The Spanish government warned on Friday of difficult weeks ahead as coronavirus cases in the country continue to rise. The data is bad. The incidence rate, the pressure on hospitals, the positivity rate of PCR tests and the number of deaths are rising. The evolution of the pandemic is worsening, said Health Minister Salvador Illa at a press conference on Friday. Difficult weeks are ahead. We already know what we have to do: limit social contacts and reduce mobility as much as possible. They are the two key tools to lowering contagions, said Illa. For weeks, the epidemiological situation in Spain has been worsening. According to the Health Ministry report released on Thursday, the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 has risen to 321 the highest figure since the end of November. Illa underscored that the vaccines are free and not mandatory, but we hope that people who receive the call will do it Since then, contagions have been steadily rising, with spikes detected after long weekends in early December and over the Christmas holiday period. In Extremadura, the Balearic Islands, Madrid and Catalonia, the incidence rate is now more than 400 well above the 250-threshold considered to indicate a situation of extreme risk, and far exceeding the governments goal of 25. Illa, who described the trend as worrying, called on citizens to follow the new measures introduced in the regions. Many coronavirus restrictions were eased over the holiday period to allow people to visit family for Christmas. But with the festive season over, regional governments have introduced new rules aimed at curbing the spread of the disease. The regions are taking proportionate measures to stop transmission, said Illa, who added that respect for these limits on social gatherings will bring down the surge in cases. Nearly all of Spains 17 regions have announced new restrictions: Castilla y Leon has extended its perimetral lockdown until May, Murcia has confined three of its largest cities, and Extremadura has closed bars and restaurants in its provincial capitals. Vaccination campaign at acceptable speed A resident of the Gravi de Polinya nursing home in Barcelona is inoculated with the Pfizer vaccine. MASSIMILIANO MINOCRI With respect to criticism over the slow rollout of the coronavirus vaccine in some regions, Illa said: It is gathering an acceptable speed. Asturias has administered 100% of the vaccines it received in the first shipment, and is now at 54% following a second delivery this week. But in Madrid the figure is currently 5.4% and in Cantabria it is 5.1%. This has to continue improving. I have said that the vaccination drive will reach a steady pace and I am sure this is going to happen, said Illa, who repeated that the government aims to have 70% of the population inoculated by summer. We are working to increase the number of doses and there are another two vaccines that are being evaluated [one from Janssen and one from Oxford University and AstraZeneca]. We hope that [between now and summer] more vaccines will be approved, said Illa. The health minister said on Thursday that Spain was set to receive 600,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by Moderna. On Friday, the European Commission also announced that it had purchased another 200 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, with an option for 100 million more. Speaking on Friday, Illa underscored that the vaccines are free and not mandatory, but we hope that people who receive the call will do it. Calls for resignation In the meantime, Illa is facing growing calls to step down as health minister over his nomination to be the Catalan branch of the Socialist Partys (PSC) candidate for regional premier at the upcoming elections in Catalonia, due to be held on February 14. Since December 30, when it was formally announced that Illa would replace Miquel Iceta as PSCs candidate, opposition leaders have been demanding that he step down from his role as health minister. The argument is that he cannot effectively address the pandemic, if he is also planning an election campaign. Alejandro Fernandez, the candidate for the conservative Popular Party (PP), said it is evident that Illa is using his public position to conduct political campaigning. You cannot use public resources, media resources, to campaign. The person in charge of Spaniards health should be doing that job full-time, he said. The leader of the liberal party Ciudadanos (Citizens), Ines Arrimadas, said on Thursday that Illa is more concerned with saving votes for the PSC than with saving lives from the pandemic in Spain. lla has insisted that he plans to stay in his role until the last minute, and the day that the election campaign starts, I will stop. I am focused on my responsibilities and on dealing with the rise in cases, and I will fulfil my responsibilities until the last minute. With reporting by Camilo S. Baquero. English version by Melissa Kitson. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Actor Arjun Rampal has a busy year ahead, going by his upcoming line-up of films. After starting the year with the courtroom drama Nail Polish, he tells you there are five projects as of now to keep him occupied in the months ahead. "I have completed shooting of one film with Abbas-Mustan ji called 'Penthouse', and now I will start shooting for 'Dhaakad'. After that, I will resume shooting 'The Battle Of Bhima Koregaon'. I started shooting for that film before I was diagnosed with Covid-19, so now I will complete the shoot. After that, I will start working for the second season of 'The Final Call' and then, there is a film with Aparna Sen called 'The Rapist'," Arjun told IANS. From the ramp to the screen, he has been around for two decades now. "It's been a great journey. I got the opportunity to learn a lot and to work with almost everyone in the film industry since I started my career. I think I am very fortunate that way. Now I have a feeling that whatever I have learned in all these years, I can use that experience in my next projects, and that's what is exciting for me as an actor," he said. While on Nail Polish, he said: "It was a great experience working with the talented cast and crew. The director of this film, Bugs (Bhargava Krishna), really loves and takes care of the actors and the crew. I feel the script of this film is very interesting and engaging. People are appreciating the film and that's the best feeling." 'Nail Polish' revolves around a murder trial where Veer Singh (Manav Kaul) is accused of murdering 38 migrant children. Sid Jaising (Arjun Rampal) is a high-profile defence lawyer who takes the case. The plot gets complicated when he realises that the man he is defending is not who he claims to be. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Expert marketer Orel Asformas, owner of Viking Media marketing agency, has announced the launching of a tailor-made mentoring plan for businesses affected by COVID-19. This plan includes marketing and business guidance, suited for the pandemics economic aftermath, as well as one-on-one tutorials on implementing Asformas world-renowned unorthodox marketing strategy. These have been tough times for everyone, let alone the small businesses who are struggling to survive on a day-to-day basis, Asformas explained the rationale behind this move, and I knew that I had to step up and take advantage of my skills in order to help these business owners persevere. Its not just about solidarity. Its about a make it or break it situation, where many hard-working people might not even last the beginning of 2021 if they dont act fast and correctly. Unorthodox marketing in unorthodox times Orel Asformas became a global name mainly due to his unorthodox marketing strategy and approach. By definition, Asformas believes in attracting potential attention via whats called the wow effect, meaning providing the audience with something they were not expecting to receive in order to spark their interest. With this in mind, COVID-19 has completely changed the rules of marketing, as well as shifted the borders between types of content and acceptance levels of audiences. For this reason, only a well-planned process of rethinking business strategies can help those who have found themselves in financial uncertainty persevere. Unorthodox marketing is based on a few assumptions, the main one being the need to avoid staying in the same place when everything around is moving fast, added Asformas. Theres no doubt this tiny virus took us to a new reality, a new environment. Now we need to learn how to flourish in it, and thats not as easy as it sounds. Pricing plans for these mentoring sessions are naturally going to suit businesses financial situation. As Ive always done with Viking Media, I can guarantee that well do everything in our power to make this program as accessible to many as possible. While this may not bring me a great income, Im sure that it will help spread the word of unorthodox marketing - for the good of all businesses in need of help in these times, summed up Asformas. About Orel Asformas Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, Orel Asformas became a promising name in the local industry at a very young age. This is mainly due to his unorthodox approach, later developed into the strategy that has made him famous worldwide. By the age of 23, Asformas had already acquired a B.A. in business administration, as well as several years of experience in different managing positions in the advertising industry. It is Orel Asformas out-of-the-box thinking that has gained him the reputation he holds today, and the reason hes managed to turn Viking Media into a success story in only two years. Asformas plans to launch more new projects during 2021. But todays new statement was still a remarkable step for a prominent leader of a conservative evangelical denomination. With almost 15 million members, the Southern Baptist Convention is the countrys largest Protestant denomination. Southern Baptists have been deeply divided by the Trump presidency. White evangelicals voted overwhelmingly for Mr. Trump in 2016 and 2020. R. Albert Mohler, Jr., the high-profile president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., did not vote for Mr. Trump in 2016 but spoke publicly about his plans to vote for the president last year. As a critic of the president, Mr. Moore has been subject to dissent from an increasingly influential faction in his denomination claiming that he is out of step with rank-and-file pastors and church members. In 2017, more than 100 Southern Baptist churches unhappy with his leadership threatened to withhold funding from the denomination. Many evangelical leaders have spoken out against the violence in Washington this week, and called for prayers for the nation. But fewer have specifically called the president to task for his role in what happened. You have a moral responsibility to call on these mobs to stop this dangerous and anti-constitutional anarchy, Mr. Moore tweeted to the president on Wednesday afternoon. Character matters, he added. TORONTO, Jan. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today marks one year since Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down by Iranian surface to air missiles launched by Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), resulting in the murder of 176 innocent people, including 138 Canadians. A year has passed, and Iran continues to resort to obfuscation when asked to provide reasonable evidence in the ongoing investigation into the downing of Flight PS752. The families and loved ones of the innocent victims of Flight PS752 need for Iran to be held accountable so they can receive the justice they need and deserve. On December 23rd, 2020, the Government of Canada designated January 8th of every year as the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Air Disasters, in part to commemorate the loss of our loved ones. We extend our gratitude to the Canadian Government for this meaningful step. The Association of the Victims of Flight PS752 will be holding memorial events on January 7 and 8 for the first anniversary of the murder of the innocent passengers of Flight PS752. This event will be streamed live on the Associations YouTube channel, and it will start at 9:42 pm EST on January 7 the exact moment that fateful flight took off last year. https://www.youtube.com/c/ps752justice The program schedule is as follows: Jan 7, 9:42 pm EST The event will start with a special 6-minute program followed by a collection of videos of prepared by the families of victims and dedicated to the victims Jan 8, 1:00 am EST Biographies of the victims will be read out throughout the night and morning hours Jan 8, 11:00 am EST A short movie of the children of the flight will be aired, followed by a collection of videos prepared by the families of victims Jan 8, 2:00 pm EST Toronto rally will take place in memory of the victims at Nathan Phillips Square. Jan 8, 4:00 pm EST The main event: musical performances, messages from political and academic figures in Canada, and speeches by the representatives of the Association in English and Farsi These events have been planned with consideration to the COVID-19 restrictions and are in accordance with physical distancing measures and precautions. The Association would like to sincerely thank Canadians for standing alongside the families in memory of the victims of this horrific and unforgettable crime. On this anniversary, wherever I am, #IWillLightACandleToo. For further information: Alise Mills Media Relations amills@sussex-strategy.com 778-928-0267 Hamed Esmaeilion Email: speaker@ps752justice.com Website: https://www.ps752justice.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0880bd02-1e7c-46d6-9b54-0590459bf2da GENEVA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Thursday said that her office is deeply troubled by Wednesday's assault on the U.S. Capitol, noting that the violence showed the destructive impact of hatred by political leaders. "We are deeply troubled by Wednesday's attack on the U.S. Capitol, which demonstrated clearly the destructive impact of sustained, deliberate distortion of facts, and incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders," she said in a statement issued Thursday evening. "Allegations of electoral fraud have been invoked to try to undermine the right to political participation. We are encouraged to see that the process has continued in spite of serious attempts to disrupt it," she added. In her statement, the UN rights chief called on "leaders from across the political spectrum, including the President of the United States, to disavow false and dangerous narratives, and encourage their supporters to do so as well." She also said that her office noted with dismay the serious threats and destruction of property faced by media professionals on Wednesday, saying that she supports calls from many quarters for a thorough investigation into the events. On Wednesday afternoon, the U.S. Capitol has witnessed what many called "a dark chapter" in history as protesters stormed into the building, clashed with security officers and forced the evacuation of lawmakers who were having a session to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election. Four people, including a woman shot at the Capitol, died in the clash, according to police. Help India! Syed Ali Mujtaba India has moved into 2021 with several crisis facing it. Millions of Indians are looking at the government for solving this crisis. The governments stock silence on all these issues speaks to its inability to set things right. Some of the biggest issues facing India right now are: Support TwoCircles Economic Peril: What started from demonetization to ill-planned GST to prolonged lockdown, Indian economy has taken one hit after another. Assertion of majoritarianism: Under the Modi rule there is huge assertion of right wing Hindutva forces. The secular aspects of the constitution have suffered serious blows and minorities particularly Muslims, have been feeling insecure. Democratic space is shrinking: There is an increasing feeling of the narrowing of democratic space which is a huge worry for the people of the country. Assertion of social movements: Indians are witnessing assertion of social movements. This is in view of the significant problems and issues facing the people. There was a CAA protest last year and now farmers protest. There are other issues of social reform and environment protection that are waiting for expressions. Farmers Protest: The current protest raises some wider concerns of food security, ecologically, protective and sustainable farming. Its part of a larger agrarian crisis. Agrarian Crisis: Indias farm economy is in turmoil suicides, debt burden, falling prices of produce are part of agrarian crisis. An estimated 26 crore people work in the agriculture sector. This is to say that about 55-57 percent of the population is dependent on the farm sector. Political Arrogance: All those holding the reins of governance in India PM Modi onwards, are full of arrogance. Politicians consistently misuse their positions and members of bureaucracy are at their worst. Unemployment: One in three formally trained youth in India is unemployed. The pandemic has hugely contributed to unemployment. The 1990s employment bubble has burst and Indian youth are back to 1970s syndrome. Rising crime against women: Extreme cases against women is reported from all over the country. The country had recorded 3,78,236 cases of crimes against women on Sep 30, 2020. It was 62.4 per cent in 2019, up from the 58.8 percent figure of 2018. Rape of women is a continuing crime. 87 rape cases are reported each day. Media menace: Misinformation, hate speech and false propaganda has become part and parcel of Indian media discourse. The government of the day and the courts are presiding over the prostitution of the pen, thats going on with impunity. Pending justice: Justice delayed is justice denied. Bureaucratic sloth coupled with slow settlement of cases in courts is a scourge in this country. Many Kafkaesque trials are going on in India. Poor Police system: India has a ratio of 138 police personnel per one lakh of population. Less than 25 percent of Indians do not trust the police. The distrust is due to the inhuman way of police treatment with the people. Water Crisis: While the government is busy building a new Parliament, India is facing the worst water crisis. The NITI Aayog has warned that the demand for drinking water will outstrip supply by 2030 if preventive steps are not taken. Experts predict that 21 big cities will run out of groundwater by 2030. Monsoon Fury: Floods are synonymous with monsoon. Its the same story every year: thousands evacuated, hundreds dead, livelihoods lost, villages and settlements washed away, houses submerged etc. In the end authorities are blamed for doing nothing. Corruption: The most widely spread pandemic in India is corruption, which is ignored even though it was touted as the second freedom struggle in 2014 general elections. Basic Sanitation: Sanitation is yet another problem and one of the biggest in India. There are about 700 million people who have no access to basic toilets at home. Healthcare System: India is worlds most populous country but it grossly lacks in providing proper healthcare facilities to its entire population. It was thought that pandemics could be made the reason to augment the health infrastructure but that never happened. Poverty: The population of India living below the poverty line has declined over the years but poverty has not been eliminated from the country. It is said that one in five Indians lives in extreme poverty. Pollution: Pollution and other environmental issues are the other challenges before India but little attention is given to face the situation. Infrastructure: India is lacking in infrastructure development, towards better roads, affordable housing and services like water, sanitation, primary healthcare, etc. India has taken giant strides in the last few decades. But this does not mean to forget these issues, which continue to pose hurdles in the progress of the nation. These social, political and economic issues are to be taken seriously to improve the prevailing condition of our society. With the proliferation of information and technology, more awareness is spreading among the masses. As Indians, we should really work hard to eradicate these problems from their very roots. Blaming the government and others will remain counterproductive. Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist based in Chennai. He can be contacted at [email protected] com Waterways Ireland was instructed to close a popular walkway by Gardai in Offaly last week. Waterways Ireland was contacted on Friday, January 1 by the Gardai in Banagher expressing concerns over the number of people travelling to the new walkway at Meelick Weir. A spokesperson for Waterways Ireland told the Tribune that it seems that many visitors were travelling over 5km to the site, in breach of the Level 5 restrictions that came into force on December 31. On their advice and as a public body with a duty to assist in complying with the new restrictions we took the decision to close the walkway to all, they confirmed. Meanwhile, Anne Rabbitte TD, took to social media to say that it was regrettable that Waterways Ireland were instructed to close the walkway on January 2 last after the Gardai issued the request due to lack of social distancing. I feel for the locals, who live within the 5km and can't access their own amenity, she wrote. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti on Thursday said while New Delhi was "preaching" other countries to treat minorities in a dignified way, the plight of minorities in India was getting worse. Mufti was referring to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's statement during his visit to Sri Lanka. It is in Sri Lanka's own interest that the expectations of the Tamil people, for equality, justice, peace and dignity, within a united Sri Lanka are fulfilled, Jaishankar said in Colombo. The former chief minister of the erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state said in a tweet, "Preaching to other countries about treating minorities in a dignified way even though the plight of minorities in India is getting worse." The Peoples Democratic Party president said social cohesion was essential for progress of any country, including India. "The only Muslim majority state here has been dismembered & disempowered. Social cohesion is essential for progress of any country, including India," she added. (PTI image) (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The European Medicines Agency has given the green light for the vaccine created by Moderna, making it the second COVID-19 shot to be allowed for general use across the European Union as tensions continued to heighten over the slow implementation of vaccination programs in the bloc. EU Approves Moderna Vaccine In a move that should relax agitation over a shortfall in supplies of the Pfizer/BioNTech shot and the EU's longer authorization process, the Amsterdam-based regulator stated on Wednesday it had endowed a conditional marketing authorization for Moderna's novel coronavirus vaccine for adults. The European Commission's authorization follows a positive endorsement from the European Medicines Agency (EMA). The latter reached the decision following an assessment of the coronavirus vaccine's safety, quality, and efficacy. According to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a statement, "We are providing more COVID-19 vaccines for Europeans. With the Moderna vaccine, the second one now authorized in the EU, we will have a further 160 million doses." Move vaccines are slated to arrive, reported The Epoch Times. The move comes as more contagious variants of COVID-19, adding additional urgency to immunization efforts. Inoculating the European Union's 450 million people could be a driving force to ending a pandemic that has nearly 1.9 million fatalities globally. The conditional marketing authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine follows a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) that was issued yesterday. The CHMP endorsement was supported by Moderna's 3rd phase of the clinical trial, surmising its COVID-19 vaccine in people aged 18 to 94 years old. Also Read: Larry King Moves out of the ICU, Condition Continues to Improve Despite COVID-19 The EU's medicines watchdog approved the second vaccine, in relief to grappling European nations as the world clinched a grim new record of 15,700 deaths in the last 24 hours. The Moderna vaccine is now slated to become part of Pfizer-BioNTech's shot for use in the 27-nation European Union, where governments are tackling soaring caseloads and gradual distribution of the vaccines already available. According to von der Leyen on Twitter, "Good news for our efforts to bring more Covid-19 vaccines to Europeans. Now we are working at full speed to approve it and make it available in the EU," reported The Brussels Times. EMA Executive Director Emer Cooke stated, "This vaccine provides us with another tool to overcome the current emergency. It is a testament to the efforts and commitment of all involved that we have this second positive vaccine recommendation just short of a year since the pandemic was declared by WHO," reported Channel News Asia. The European Union has secured the purchase of a maximum of 160 million doses of the Moderna vaccine. These are enough to vaccinate 80 million people of its 448 million citizens as part of a joint vaccine plan aimed to affirm equitable access throughout the bloc. According to the European Commission, under that contract, the United States biotech company has vowed to deliver all their doses from now to September 2021. Related Article: New York Nurse First in US to Be Fully Vaccinated After Being Administered Final Shot @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The steady fall in the number of new cases of coronavirus in India has ensured the contraction of its active caseload, which stands at 2,25,449, as of the date and accounts for only 2.16% of the total infections, the health ministry said on Friday. Friday's tally was 10% lower than Thursday and 254 new deaths took the total number of fatalities to 1,50,570. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry Only 18,139 people tested positive for the viral disease in the country in a span of 24 hours, it said, adding that with 20,539 recoveries in the period, a net decline of 2,634 cases in the number of active cases was registered. Providing figures that show the change in the number of active cases in a span of 24 hours, the ministry said Maharashtra recorded the maximum positive change with an addition of 307 cases, whereas Kerala showed the maximum negative change with a drop of 613 cases. After Maharashtra, the most affected states are Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The number of daily recoveries is increasing exponentially and stands at 10,037,398, the ministry said. 79.96% new recoveries from 10 states, UTs It added that 79.96% of the new recoveries were reported from 10 states and Union territories. Kerala has reported the maximum number of 5,639 single-day recoveries, followed by Maharashtra (3,350) and West Bengal (1,295). Ten states have accounted for 81.22% of the new cases, the ministry said. Kerala continued to report the highest number of fresh cases at 5,051, followed by Maharashtra (3,729) and Chhattisgarh (1,010), it added. A total of 234 fatalities due to the disease were reported in a span of 24 hours, with eight states and Union territories accounting for 76.50% of the deaths. Maharashtra saw the maximum number of casualties at 72, followed by Kerala (25) and Delhi (19), the ministry said. "India's deaths per million population are 109. Eighteen states and UTs have deaths per million population lower than the national average," it said. On the other hand, 17 states and Union territories have a death-per-million figure that is higher than the national average. Delhi has recorded the maximum number of deaths per million population at 569. India is the second most affected country in the world after America due to Covid-19. Brazil, Russia and the UK follow India. A second nationwide dry run to check the best way to vaccinate people against the novel coronavirus and plug loopholes in logistics and training is taking place today and states that participated in the first exercise will be exempt. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. COPENHAGEN (dpa-AFX) - Denmark's industrial production rose in November and jobless rate declined marginally, figures from Statistics Denmark showed on Friday. Industrial production rose a seasonally adjusted 5.9 percent month-on-month in November, after a 5.4 percent decrease in October. In September, output had increased 2.0 percent. The production of pharmaceutical industry grew 24.1 percent monthly in November. Production in electronics and machinery industry gained by 9.9 percent and 8.0 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, production of furniture and other industry and those of transport industry fell by 4.1 percent and 4.8 percent, respectively. The industrial turnover remained unchanged monthly in November. For the September to November period, industrial production rose 2.0 percent. Separate data from the statistical office showed that the gross unemployment rate fell to a seasonally adjusted 4.5 percent in November from 4.6 percent in October. The number of unemployed persons decreased to 127,700 in November from 130,900 in the previous month. Based on the LFS data, the jobless rate was 5.8 percent in the 15 to 74 age group. The number of unemployed persons was 177,000 in November. 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. Britains tax authority has slapped a record 23.8 million pound ($32.4 million) fine on MT Global Ltd, a private money services business, for significant breaches of anti money laundering regulations. Her Majestys Revenue and Customs (HMRC) said on Thursday it had penalized the company for failures in carrying out risk assessments, its policies, controls and procedures, due diligence and record keeping. Businesses who fail to comply with the money laundering regulations leave themselves, and the UK economy, open to attacks by criminals, said Nick Sharp, HMRCs deputy director of economic crime in the Fraud Investigation Service. Money laundering is not a victimless crime. Criminals use laundered cash to fund serious organized crime, from drug importation to child sexual exploitation, human trafficking and even terrorism. Calls to MT Globals office in Luton, about 35 miles north of London, went unanswered. ($1 = 0.7355 pounds) (Reporting by Kirstin Ridley; editing by Mark Potter) Lazarus (dice.fm) Rating: Verdict: Required viewing for Bowie fans Lets not pretend to be surprised that the David Bowie musical Lazarus is a teeny bit pretentious. That was certainly the view of many critics when it first appeared in London five years ago. But for those of us who were certified Spiders From Mars, back in the salad days of our misspent youth, its still required viewing. I was certainly sorry to miss Ivo van Hoves sell-out production when it transferred from New York to Londons Kings Cross Theatre in 2016. So I leapt at the chance to watch this live recording, which has been released on live-music website dice.fm to coincide with Bowies birth and death days (today and Sunday, respectively). The live recording of Lazarus has been released to coincide with David Bowie's birth and death days, today and Sunday, and based on Walter Tevis's novel The Man Who Fell To Earth Enda Walshs script, based on Walter Teviss novel The Man Who Fell To Earth, is about an extraterrestrial who came here seeking water to save his parched planet, but is now reduced to guzzling gin in his New York apartment, hoping to die but thwarted by memories of lost love. And if thats not mind-bending enough, our spaceman on the sauce is also visited by hallucinations of angels and demons, while a swivel-eyed psychotic killer, whos loose on the streets of Manhattan, draws ever closer. Some people may remember this story from Nicolas Roegs impenetrable film of 1976, starring The Thin White Duke himself. But the still indecipherable plot is really just an opportunity for a Bowie self-portrait, eulogy and tribute gig, rock-and-rolled into one. We start with his personal swansong, Lazarus, and float through a total of 18 numbers, which the plot bends over backwards to accommodate. Half are forgettable, but the others include some of my personal favourites: The Man Who Sold The World, Changes, All The Young Dudes, Sound And Vision, Heroes and one of my desert island discs (not that anyones asking), Life On Mars. Most have been tweaked for the show, but they still generated plenty of dreamy nostalgia, for me at least. Thats partly down to Michael C. Halls performance as our wayward, hallucinating hero in silk pyjamas. You may already know Hall as the vigilante serial killer from the TV crime drama Dexter. If not, imagine the face of Matt Damon, with the plummy voice of Frasiers Kelsey Grammer. And yet, when he sings, he resurrects Bowies nasally squawk. Visually, it may make more sense on screen than it did on stage. Its set in a blank beige room with a super-sized TV carrying trippy images from our heros brain. This is set between two large windows offering views of the city below (and the backstage band). Appropriately for Bowie, there are all manner of slick, rock concert special effects (at one point, an inky black shadow swamps the stage). But close-ups also allow you to be more intimately involved with our heros psychosis. Some fans of the man who wrote Absolute Beginners may wince at the 16 price tag to watch. And although I didnt absolutely love it, Im absolutely glad I saw it. The Haunting of Alice Bowles (originaltheatreonline.com) Rating: Verdict: A ghost of the original The Original Theatre Company concluded an exceptionally impressive 2020 with Philip Frankss free adaptation of the M.R. James ghost story The Experiment which was again recorded on Zoom. Renamed The Haunting Of Alice Bowles, it does not, alas, rise to the heights of the earlier efforts, Birdsong and Apollo 13. But its a serviceable update of Jamess spine-chiller. Tamzin Outhwaite plays the shady widow in the story of a young couple of YouTube ghosthunters caught in a 2018 story of a husband apparently killed by the Spanish Flu A dysfunctional young couple of YouTube ghost-hunters get caught up in the 1918 story of a Norfolk woman whose wealthy husband is an apparent victim of the Spanish Flu epidemic. Covid resonances are deliberate, but the tale feels a little over-stretched in its new guise as a blend of Blair Witch Project and Victorian melodrama. Stephen Boxer is a good, homely vicar. Tamzin Outhwaite plays the shady widow, but her role is weakened by an adaptation that contrasts period airs and graces with todays uglier manners. But Im still tipping my hat to a company that employed more than 100 freelances, and reached 30,000 households last year. A growing number of Democrats called Thursday for the resignation of U.S. Rep. Mary Miller of Illinois, a newly sworn-in Republican who quoted Adolf Hitler at a rally outside the U.S. Capitol this week. U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Marie Newman, both Illinois Democrats, along with a contingent of state legislators circulating a petition, demanded Miller step down immediately. There are some things that cross a very definite line and that was one of them, said Schakowsky, who is Jewish. At a moment like this, when emotions have been so high on all sides, to invoke the name of Hitler was about as inappropriate and wrong as you can get. Miller spoke Tuesday at a Save the Republic Rally hosted by conservative group, Moms for America. The rally took place a day before violent supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol. Miller was among those who voted to overturn election results for President-elect Joe Biden. At the rally, Miller was discussing the need to appeal to young people and said: Hitler was right on one thing. He said, Whoever has the youth has the future. Millers spokeswoman didnt respond to multiple requests seeking comment. The Chicago Sun-Times reported Miller responded in now-deleted tweets that she would never glorify a genocidal dictator and that her statement was a denunciation of evil dictators efforts to re-educate young people and similar efforts by left-wing radicals in our country today. The rally hosts defended Miller, saying Thursday that the comments were taken out of context, Miller was owed an apology and, Truth is truth regardless of the source. Moms for America President Kimberly Fletcher also referenced the Nazi leader in its defense of Miller. Hitler also said, Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it, If we mandate people not talk about the insidious actions of Hitler, we dismiss the horrific events he incited and open the door for them to be repeated, Fletcher wrote. The media should focus on the truth instead of relentlessly repeating big lies. Miller, 61, was sworn in Sunday after handily winning the November election to fill the seat left vacant by Republican John Shimkus retirement. Its her first time in public office. Miller, of Oakland, runs a farm with her husband, Republican state Rep. Chris Miller. Her congressional district covers a wide swath of southeastern Illinois along the Indiana border. Her comments drew swift criticism, including from the World Jewish Congress, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois and Jewish state legislators. A sitting member of Congress who uses Hitlers obscene methods for indoctrinating children with racism and fascism as a guidepost, igniting hate and violence, has no place in Congress, said a statement from the Illinois Legislative Jewish Caucus. If Rep. Miller has any respect left for the role of a U.S. Congressperson or any shred of dignity in her, she will do whats right and resign. The group of more than a dozen lawmakers was circulating a petition demanding immediate resignation. It had more than 1,600 signatures by Thursday. Other Illinois Democrats in Congress issued a joint statement condemning the remark as a black mark on this body and a black mark on our state. The top federal prosecutor in the country and the Washington DC Attorney General have hinted that President Trump, Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani may all come under investigation for inciting the MAGA mob that terrorized the Capitol Building on Wednesday. Speaking on Good Morning America, AG Karl Racine said his office was in the process of identifying dozens of people who were seen breaching the Capitol, but said: 'The fault lies with the Capitol Hill police... even Trump now is critical of them. 'But the real question is how far up does it go? Clearly the Capitol was ground central in all of this mob's behavior. 'Donald Trump Jr, Giuliani, even the president of the United States were calling on their supporters and hate groups to go to the Capitol and in the words of Rudy Giuliani 'exercise combat justice'. 'We're going to investigate not only the mobsters but also those who invited the violence,' he said. On Thursday, Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin told reporters during a call that he was going to investigate all 'bad actors'. Donald Trump - pictured at the Wednesday rally near the White House where he whipped his supporters into a frenzy by repeating his false claims of election fraud - finally accepted his fate on Thursday morning and promised an 'orderly transition' on January 20, when Joe Biden will take office after being confirmed once and for all as the election winner Donald Trump Jr. and Rudy Giuliani speaking at the Save America rally on Wednesday less than two hours before the mob attacked the Capitol building Asked specifically about the President and his remarks at the Save America Rally that directly preceded the riot, Sherwin said: 'I dont want to sound like a broken record. Were looking at all actors here. 'Anyone who had a role and where the evidence fits a crime.' Trump, Giuliani and Donald Jr. all spoke before thousands of people before the mob attacked the Capitol on Wednesday. The President promised to march with the crowd down to the Capitol building on Wednesday but did not actually go with them. As the violence escalated, he pleaded with his fans on Twitter to be peaceful and resist causing any damage or harm. Eventually, he released a video telling them to go home. DC Attorney General Karl Racine said on Wednesday that he would investigate 'those who incited violence' as well as those who carried it out The FBI is now offering a $50,000 reward for any information about the suspect seen leaving pipe bombs outside the RNC and DNC on Wednesday But before the day's end, four MAGA fans died and a cop was killed in the chaos. Now, the FBI is trying to identify everyone who breached the building. Police have so far arrested 80 people but they are working to find more. The FBI is now offering a $50,000 reward for information on the pipe bombs that were left outside the RNC. The bureau has released a surveillance footage still of the suspect they say left it there. He was dressed in a gray hoodie, dark pants and an N-95 mask. Three police chiefs have resigned over their 'complete failure' to stop Wednesday's riot. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund stepped down on Thursday after Nancy Pelosi asked for his resignation and both the Sergeant at Arms for the Senate and the Sergeant at Arms for the House quit too. Dozens of Trump loyalists were photographed breaking windows, entering both the Senate and House chambers and going into the offices of lawmakers at the Capitol Wednesday The FBI is now working with various law enforcement agencies to identify perpetrators and charge people with federal crimes Gettyimagesbank By Lee Hyo-jin A local court sentenced a Vietnamese woman to three years in prison Friday for jumping from an apartment building with her newborn baby, resulting in the baby's death. The Changwon District Court handed down the prison term to the woman, 26, who was convicted of murdering her 13-day-old baby. She had jumped with her baby, from the eighth floor of an apartment building in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province, at around 7 p.m., Jan. 2, 2020. The baby died from severe head injuries. The woman survived, but suffered head and severe leg injuries which may lead to permanent physical disability. Although the minimum prison term for murder is five years, the court took into consideration that the accused had been suffering from serious postpartum depression. Regarding herself as an unqualified mother, she had left a note before the incident which read, "I am a useless person. My husband is a nice person, but I'm not. I feel sorry to everyone." It was revealed during a police investigation that on the day of the incident, the woman had visited a local hospital where she was diagnosed with postpartum depression and determined to be a suicide risk. However, she was just prescribed anti-depressants as staff decided hospitalization would be ineffective due to a lack of available interpreters at the hospital. The woman's depression symptoms included delirium and hallucinatory disorder, according to another doctor who examined her after the incident. Last June, Gimhae Multicultural Family Support Center submitted a petition signed by 2,000 people to the judiciary asking for leniency. "As a marriage migrant, she tried her best to adapt to society. And wanting to be a good mother, she actively participated in prenatal care programs waiting for the baby," an official at the center was quoted as saying by a local media outlet. The judge recognized that the accused had been in a "mentally and physically unstable condition," saying, "It seems that she was suffering from severe depression as she had no one to rely on except her husband, and she lost control when committing the crime." (CNN Business) Facebook, Twitter and YouTube took action on US President Donald Trump's posts Wednesday in the wake of riots at the US Capitol from his supporters, but the platforms stopped short of suspending the President's accounts despite growing pressure from advocacy groups and prominent figures. Facebook and YouTube each removed US President Donald Trump's video from earlier in the afternoon addressing his supporters, according to company spokesmen. In the video, Trump had urged Capitol rioters to "go home" but struck a sympathetic tone and reiterated his debunked claims of election fraud. "This is an emergency situation and we are taking appropriate emergency measures, including removing President Trump's video," Guy Rosen, Facebook's VP of integrity, said in a tweet. "We removed it because on balance we believe it contributes to rather than diminishes the risk of ongoing violence." Twitter did not remove the video. But as of Wednesday afternoon, the social network did move to restrict engagement with tweets by Trump and others that have been labeled "due to a risk of violence." Likes and replies have been disabled on Trump's tweet that claimed US Vice President Mike Pence "didn't have the courage to do what should have been done." Retweets of the tweet have been restricted, prompting users to add a comment rather than simply amplifying Trump's remarks. Those same restrictions were also applied to the video to Trump's supporters. "In regard to the ongoing situation in Washington, D.C., we are working proactively to protect the health of the public conversation occurring on the service and will take action on any content that violates the Twitter Rules," Twitter said. "Threats of and calls to violence are against the Twitter Rules, and we are enforcing our policies accordingly. In addition, we have been significantly restricting engagement with Tweets labeled under our Civic Integrity Policy due to the risk of violence. This means these labeled Tweets will not be able to be replied to, Retweeted, or liked." Twitter is still considering other "escalated enforcement actions," it added. Facebook condemned the riots at the US Capitol on Wednesday, but stopped short of saying Trump would be blocked from the social media platform. "The violent protests in the Capitol today are a disgrace," said Facebook spokesman Andy Stone in a statement to CNN Business. "We prohibit incitement and calls for violence on our platform. We are actively reviewing and removing any content that breaks these rules." Facebook, Twitter and other tech platforms faced growing calls Wednesday afternoon to suspend US President Donald Trump's social media accounts for his role in the riots. The Anti-Defamation League issued a statement accusing Trump of promoting sedition and inciting violence. "President Trump has a responsibility to call for an end to this violence and unrest that he has sowed. His campaign of disinformation is a clear and present danger to our democracy," said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. "But until such time as that happens, social media companies should suspend his accounts ASAP as they would do for anyone else advocating disinformation and promoting violence. It's time." Jessica Gonzalez, co-CEO of Free Press, an advocacy group, tweeted that the major platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and TikTok, face "another inflection point here." "Hey Mark Zuckerberg, @jack, @SusanWojcicki and @sundarpichai -- Donald Trump just incited a violent attack on American democracy. Is that FINALLY enough for you to act?!" Facebook did not respond to multiple requests for comment on whether it would take action on Trump's account. The companies have applied contextual labels to Trump's posts in recent days, but since the November election it has become increasingly clear that the labels are inadequate to the task. This story was first published on CNN.com "Facebook, Twitter and YouTube take action on Trump's posts amid riots at the US Capitol" BROOKINGS, Ore. Oregon State Police says that a 28-year-old Brookings woman died after being struck by a car along Highway 101 on Thursday evening. State troopers and emergency crews responded to Highway 101 just south of Brookings around 5:30 p.m. for reports of a vehicle striking a pedestrian. An initial investigation found that 44-year-old Kristen Batey was heading northbound in a Dodge car when she struck 28-year-old Makenzie Long, who was in the northbound lane. Long was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. OSP says that it was assisted at the scene by the Harbor Fire Department, Cal-Ore Ambulance, Brookings Police, the Curry County Sheriff's Office, and ODOT. ALBANY Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's coronavirus vaccination team, which has come under fire for a roll-out that arguably faltered in its first few weeks, have told New York's county leaders that they will be more involved in the distribution and administration of the vaccines. The outreach came after weeks of confusion and a lack of information-sharing that was exacerbated when county officials were informed that the mass-vaccination planning they had done for years was at least initially being set aside in favor of a regional hub strategy headed by hospitals. But the hospitals had not overseen mass vaccinations before, and county leaders said they have been inundated with questions they are unable to answer especially about who will be vaccinated and when. In a conference call with county executives on Thursday afternoon, three top officials on Cuomo's coronavirus task force Larry Schwartz, a former secretary to the governor, state health Commissioner Howard Zucker and Gareth Rhodes, a deputy superintendent pledged that the the counties would take on a greater role and that they would also be provided with more data and information. "Things have been a little helter-skelter; I apologize for that, but this is a massive undertaking and its something unprecedented that were doing here," Schwartz told the county leaders. "Were going to work closely with the counties going forward and look to expand the role that counties play in the roll-out. Well follow up with you on what that means." County officials on the call noted that in addition to not receiving up-to-date data on the number of vaccines that have been administered in their counties and who has received them, they also were being forced to return small unused doses of vaccines if they were not used within very limited time frames. They noted that missteps could also result in hefty fines. 3 1 of 3 Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Albany County Executive Daniel McCoy, describing what he said are cumbersome rules about who can be vaccinated, told Schwartz that "we had to flush 30 doses down the toilet because we couldn't get enough vaccine into arms" at a county nursing home. "I couldn't at that point get enough people there," McCoy said. Pharmacies contracted by the federal government to vaccinate people in private nursing homes are undertaking that effort separately from the state's efforts to vaccinate health care providers, front-line workers and others identified as essential. "Let us know and well follow up and talk to the pharmacy and find out what happened, because that shouldnt happen," Schwartz told McCoy. "You should always be able to find someone to put a shot in someone's arm and not waste any doses." Schwartz also pledged more flexibility on allowing counties and others to administer the vaccines to other eligible groups in line if there is an unforeseen surplus for any reason. "We don't want anyone to sit on a surplus," Schwartz said. "Each week we want whatever the allocation is that we're getting from the federal government ... in somebody's arm, even to a point where if you're scheduling a group and someone cancels their appointment ... we don't want it to go to waste." Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin challenged Schwartz on that point, saying that "if that needle goes into the wrong arm there's a potential $1 million fine." "I know what you want to occur but until the chokehold is removed and the flexibility is given, you're going to continue to have doses spoil," McLaughlin added. Some county leaders said there have been issues getting health care networks and physicians certified to administer vaccines. Many counties also rely on paramedics to administer doses under their mass-vaccination plans, but have not received any feedback on how to get them authorized to deal with coronavirus vaccinations. A Suffolk County official said they have concerns about providing security for their vaccination locations, and that there needs to be better education because some people are circulating misinformation that the vaccines can cause serious diseases, or that the government is using the opportunity to inject tracking devices. The state's shift to pledging more of a role for counties in vaccinations came days after Cuomo criticized the pace at which many of the regional hospitals have vaccinated the first round of recipients. He also threatened to impose hefty fines and revoke the hospital's vaccination privileges if the situation didn't improve. On Tuesday, the New York Association of Counties called on Cuomo to allow them to activate their mass-vaccination plans, including administering doses at points of dispensing (POD) sites they have established through years of planning. Those locations include large concert venues, senior centers, fire departments and other sites where there is ample parking and easy access, especially for elderly citizens. Some county officials noted that requiring elderly residents to go to a hospital to be vaccinated makes it more difficult for them. Some counties have already received small batches of vaccines to administer to front-line health workers and first responders, while other counties are still waiting. Officials say there is also growing frustration among the general population, which has not been given a clear picture of when they will be vaccinated. Two county officials, including Rensselaer County's McLaughlin, challenged Schwartz's assertion that the vaccination process is unprecedented. McLaughlin said counties have been overseeing vaccinations of their populations going back decades. "We've done this time and time again," said Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente, who recently tested positive for COVID-19 but said he is asymptomatic. "It is a massive undertaking but we're prepared. We're just looking for flexibility here and to move the needle literally into people's arms and not onto shelves." Schwartz responded there "will be much more flexibility and the counties playing a greater role." McLaughlin also questioned why the state is only now pledging to provide counties with more real-time data on the vaccinations. "You guys should have been providing this all along," he said, adding "the need to work together is something we were all saying a month ago." When McLaughlin pressed Schwartz on why the state changed the longstanding plan for counties to handle mass vaccinations and "place it in the hands of hospitals ... who we all know ... are not equipped for mass-vaccination events." Schwartz said that decision was due to hospitals being equipped with ultra-cold freezers capable of storing the Pfizer vaccine at the proper temperatures. But many counties, including Rensselaer, have access to ultra-cold storage freezers. Are you sitting by the door waiting on an online delivery? Parcel delivery company DPD has said that it will be pausing all its road delivery services from the UK to Europe, including Ireland, as it deals with the customs changes caused by Brexit. These services will be paused until at least Wednesday 13 January, the company said. In a statement, DPD said that its been a challenging few days for its teams as the UK leaving the Single Market and Customs Union has required significant changes to the way it takes parcels cross-border. It said: It has now become evident that we have an increased burden with the new, more complex processes, and additional customs data we require from you for your parcels destined to Europe. This has placed extra pressure on our turnaround and transit times. We are seeing up to 20% of parcels having incorrect or incomplete data attached, these will have to be returned to you so that the required data can be provided. In addition to this we are seeing delays and congestion at UK ports and more rigid requirements for channel crossings. DPD UK said the pausing of services until 13 January will give it a chance to validate the data we have in our system, reduce the delay and give you the opportunity to give us the correct data we need in order that we can export, from next week, successfully. 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. Also read: Six town and village Leitrim projects get funding Gardai have seized over 1 million in cash after they stopped a van on the M7 in Kildare earlier this morning. The seizure was part of an operation mounted by personnel from the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB). "At 6.30am, this morning, as part of ongoing investigations targeting persons suspected to be involved in organised crime, personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), intercepted a van on the M7 in the Kildare area. In the course of a search of the van, a substantial amount of cash was located and seized, estimated to be in excess of 1,000,000 (subject to conclusion of counting)," said the garda press office. "In the course of the GNDOCB operation, one male, age 45 years, was arrested and is currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of section 50 of Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at Portlaoise Garda station. He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in participating in the activities of a criminal organisation, to facilitate money laundering, relating to the suspected proceeds of drug trafficking, pursuant to the provisions of section 72 of Criminal Justice Act, 1996." A number of follow up searches were undertaken in the midlands, resulting in the seizure of an additional sum of cash estimated to be approximately 10,000. Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll, who heads Organised and Serious Crime, within An Garda Siochana, said: "An Garda Siochana continues to pursue organised crime groups who are believed to involved in supplying illicit drugs within our communities, the motivation for which is financial gain. We again today have made a significant advance in our attempt to dismantle organised crime groups, by locating and seizing the suspected proceeds of their criminal activity. "Despite our significant commitment to tackling issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, at this time, An Garda Siochana remains focused on protecting communities from serious and organised crime, including cyber enabled crime, drug trafficking and associated money laundering. The investigation is ongoing. It prompted a nine-minute operation of ruthless military precision involving Special Boat Service commandos after a dramatic ten-hour standoff at sea. But mobile phone footage has now cast doubt on claims that the crew on board the Nave Andromeda off the Isle of Wight had really been put in danger by stowaways. And seven Nigerian men, including two who have already appeared in court, will face no further action over the suspected hijacking of the oil tanker last October. Hampshire Police revealed today that all seven would remain detained 'under immigration powers' following the incident on the oil tanker Nave Andromeda. But the force, which was leading the probe into the 'maritime security incident', said it decided to drop charges following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service. The move left the Home Office 'disappointed', with officials telling MailOnline it was 'frustrating that there will be no prosecution in relation to this very serious incident and the British people will struggle to understand how this can be the case'. But the CPS responded to the concerns this afternoon, saying: 'Our case was that the actions of the men were responsible for the endangerment of the vessel. The Nave Andromeda oil tanker docked next to the Queen Elizabeth II Cruise Terminal in Southampton on October 26, 2020 The Liberia-flagged oil tanker Nave Andromeda is seen at Southampton docks last October 'But further material was then supplied by a maritime expert which significantly undermined whether there was a threat of danger. 'Initial reports had indicated there was a real and imminent threat, but additional mobile phone footage and further expert analysis of the evidence cast doubt on whether the ship or the crew were put in danger. Why were the charges dropped against two men in the tanker case? The decision to charge Matthew John Okorie and Sunday Sylvester was taken on the threshold test which is applied when a full file of evidence is not available. The threshold test is applied when a full file of evidence is not available, but: There are reasonable grounds to suspect the person has committed the offence; There are reasonable grounds to believe that continuing the investigation will provide evidence that is capable of establishing a realistic prospect of conviction; The seriousness of the case justifies an immediate decision; There are valid objections to bail; A charge would be in the public interest. Having considered additional expert evidence, the CPS discontinued the case on the basis there is no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. Advertisement 'As the evidence could not show that the ship or crew were threatened, the legal test for the offence of conduct endangering ships under section 58 (of the) Merchant Shipping Act 1995 was no longer met. 'On that basis we concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of a conviction for this offence and discontinued the case.' Two men, Matthew John Okorie, 25, and Sunday Sylvester, 22, had been remanded into custody and were due to appear at Southampton Crown Court on January 29. However they will now face no further action for an offence relating to conduct endangering ships under section 58 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. A police spokesman said today: 'This decision was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service after additional evidence came to light as part of the investigation.' Officers said five other men, who were arrested on suspicion of seizing or exercising control of a ship by use of threats or force, had remained on bail until January 25. Now, they will also now face no further action in relation to the probe but will 'remain detained under immigration powers in accordance with published processes'. Senior District Crown Prosecutor Sophie Stevens said this morning: 'The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review. 'And, after additional maritime expert evidence came to light, we concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and discontinued the case.' But a Home Office spokesman said: 'We are disappointed by this decision. The ship's operator, Navios Tanker Management, said the stowaways 'illegally boarded' the Liberian-flagged tanker in Lagos. It is pictured is berthed at Southampton docks last October 'It is frustrating that there will be no prosecution in relation to this very serious incident and the British people will struggle to understand how this can be the case. 'The Home Office is working with the CPS urgently to resolve the issues raised by this case. The immigration cases will be dealt with as quickly as possible and removal action will be pursued against anyone who has no right to remain in the UK.' It follows the raid carried out by around 16 members of the Special Boat Service (SBS), backed by airborne snipers, who secured the tanker in around nine minutes. It came amid reports stowaways had boarded the vessel and attempted to hijack it. The operation was authorised by Defence Secretary Ben Wallace and Home Secretary Priti Patel after a tense 10-hour stand-off. A man is seen on the deck of the Nave Andromeda at Southampton Docks on October 26, 2020 Hampshire Police previously said the force was alerted to concerns over the welfare of the crew of the 748ft (228m) Nave Andromeda soon after 10am on October 25 as the ship headed towards Southampton, having set sail from Lagos in Nigeria. The ship's operator, Navios Tanker Management, said the stowaways 'illegally boarded' the Liberian-flagged tanker in Lagos. The company revealed one day later that the master, a Greek national, had remained on the bridge throughout the SBS operation in order to stay in contact with them and continue the safe navigation of the ship. All other members of the crew went to a secure area on the vessel for their own safety, except for the engineer another Greek national who remained in the engine room taking instructions from the master. The vessel had been located around six miles off the coast of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. It is pictured at Southampton docks on October 26, 2020 The SBS is the elite maritime counter-terrorism unit of the Royal Navy, with most of its personnel Royal Marine Commandos, whose operations are highly classified and not officially confirmed. Four military helicopters thought to have included two Merlin Mk4s, a Wildcat and a Chinook took 40 personnel to the scene of the suspected hijack and about 16 members of the SBS boarded the vessel. Before the armed forces action, Hampshire Police said the vessel had been located around six miles off the coast of Bembridge on the Isle of Wight. An exclusion zone with a three-mile radius was placed around the vessel, with two Coastguard helicopters spotted circling the ship in the afternoon. Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have temporarily suspended US President, Donald Trump's accounts on their platforms. After the violent acts that broke out at Washington today, the social media giants have accused him of breaking their content guidelines and regulations. Facebook and Instagram have blocked Trump's accounts for 24 hours while Twitter blocked the account for 12 hours. Certain posts made by the US President on Facebook were deleted and Twitter resorted to delete three tweets by him. Moreover, Facebook has also changed its label on posts which appears when the post may be fake. Twitter had begun proactively labeling Trump's posts last year before the US elections. During that time, Facebook faced tremendous heat from critics, users and even employees as it refused to take down some controversial posts by Trump. In general, social media platforms have been extremely slow in taking action against accounts involving a politician. However, such accounts and especially that of Trump, have been scrutinized over that past few years and debates have happened over the intent of certain posts, often citing violence. The arrest warrant issued against Maulana Masood Azhar, the chief of the proscribed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), is the first small step against the global terrorist who was claimed by Islamabad to have disappeared. Pakistani diplomats last year told the global anti-terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that it hadnt been able to take action against Masood Azhar because he was missing. Indian officials had then rebutted Pakistan, pointing that he was still holed up in his bomb-proof house behind the terror groups Bahawalpur headquarters at Markaz-e-Usman-o-Ali, Railway Link Road, in Pakistan. The FATF kept Islamabad in its grey list that continued to make it difficult for Prime Minister Imran Khans government to get financial aid from international lending agencies such as the IMF. As he faces the most serious challenge from a combined opposition that has been mobilising public opinion against him, Pakistan watchers say that Imran Khans best chance to hold power is to get the economy back on rails to ensure that the opposition campaign doesnt find traction with the people. By most accounts, it isnt easy. Indian officials explain Pakistans recent steps - a warrant against Azhar who had been shielded for a decade at UN Security Council meetings by Islamabad as well as Beijing and the arrest of Lashkar-e-Taibas operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi - to indicate Islamabads desperation to get off the grey list. Pakistan watchers believe that Islamabad would use its leverage with the Quetta-based Taliban Shura in Afghanistan to conclude a deal with the incoming Joe Biden administration to seek the US support for Islamabad at the FATF meetings in exchange for its support for the peace talks. Pakistans deep state is also expected to use its capacity to calibrate violence in Afghanistan to convince the US administration. Also Read: Brief the boss: The backstory of Masood Azhars global terror tag Officials underline that neither of the two of Pakistans most prominent faces of terrorism faces charges for terrorism and killing scores of people but for terror financing. Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was the Lashkar commander who had plotted and supervised the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. But the baby steps are also important for the message they hold, an Indian counter-terror official said, a reference to the pressure on the Imran Khan government to get off the FATFs grey list. At the last meeting, the FATF had repeated its warning to his government to take more steps or risk being blacklisted. The official said it was true that the arrest warrant against Azhar and Lakhvis arrest were reversible steps. Lakhvi did spend time behind bars after the 26/11 attacks - he lived in relative luxury and fathered a child while in prison on terror charges - but was set free when the global pressure on Islamabad eased. But at the same time, these steps also imply progress, however gradual it may be, the official said. It is in this context that Indian officials believe that pressure is mounting to take steps against Dawood Ibrahim, once the Mumbai don who crossed the line when he plotted the March 1993 bombings in the city before fleeing the country. Dawood Ibrahim has been living in Karachi from where he has controlled South Asias biggest crime syndicate for most of the last two decades. Islamabad has all along claimed that Dawood Ibrahim was not in Pakistan despite documentary evidence produced by India that places him in Karachi. Also Read: Why one of Indias most wanted Dawood Ibrahim continues to be a fugitive Indian officials said action against Dawood Ibrahim would be the acid test for the Imran Khan governments efforts to project that it was serious on acting against terrorism. Dawood Ibrahim is well-entrenched in Pakistans power circuit. In 2005, Dawood - also designated as a global terrorist by the UNSC and US - married off his daughter Mahrukh to Junaid Miandad, son of former Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad. According to Indian intelligence, Mahrukh and Junaid have secured Portuguese passports that would let them leave the country if things get too hot. Abu Salem, who was once a close associate of Dawood Ibrahim and had escaped to Pakistan after the 1993 before he fell out, had also moved to Portugal where he was finally arrested in 2002 and extradited to India three years later. Incidentally, Masood Azhar had entered India on a fake Portuguese passport in January 1994 when he was arrested in Jammu and Kashmir two weeks later. He had dodged immigration officials queries about his Portugese passport, claiming that he was a Gujarati by birth. Gossip Girl star Leighton Meester seems to have it all: an accomplished career, a lovely family, and financial security. Shes married to fellow actor Adam Brody, who starred in his own teen drama, The O.C. Meester and Brody have two children together. Now that reboots are all the rage, Meesters old show is getting its own second chance. The Gossip Girl reboot will be on HBO Max, but the actor has said at this point she doesnt plan to be on it. Despite all her career and personal success, Meesters life didnt exactly start off easy. She has a troubled family life which led her to sue her own mother in 2011. Leighton Meesters mom has a troubled history Meesters mother, Constance, made some poor decisions before the star was born. She helped her boyfriend, Meesters dad, smuggle drugs out of Jamaica, reports New York Magazine. That landed her in prison, along with Doug, and Meesters maternal aunt and grandfather. Meester came into the world with a good chunk of her family behind bars, including her mom. She was taken out of her mothers custody shortly after birth and sent to live with her maternal grandmother. Meesters family struggled with money for her entire childhood, but Meester doesnt blame them for any rough times. She doesnt even blame her mother for being in prison when she was born. Shes said in the past that despite it all she believes her mother is a good person, although its not clear if she still thinks so after their legal battle. Leighton Meester was forced to sue her own mother Leighton Meester | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic RELATED: Being Born in Prison Was Only the Start of Leighton Meesters Rough Childhood Things came to a head between Meester and her mother Constance in 2011 when Meester filed a lawsuit in LA courts. According to Meester, she had been sending her mother $7,500 a month for her little brothers medical care. Lex, Meesters brother, was not well. Although it is not clear exactly what was wrong with him, his condition was apparently bad enough to warrant brain surgery. Meester sent her mother the money to aid his recovery, but unfortunately, thats not what it was used for. Instead of using the money for her sons care, Meesters mother took the $7,500 a month and put it right in her own pocket. According to court documents, Constance got Botox, hair extensions, and plastic surgery with the money Meester sent for Lexs care. That would have been bad enough, but after Meester took her mother to court over the misuse of money, her mom demanded even more money. The court sided with Leighton Meester Proud to partner with @ShamrockFarms & @Subway for the 2nd year to support @FeedingAmerica on #nationalmilkday. At your Subway Restaurant, for every kids meal purchased w/ a milk Jan 11, 2020 $1 will be donated to Feeding America. Join us in our fight against hunger #sponsored pic.twitter.com/DU4qZZ7Lg8 Leighton Meester (@itsmeleighton) January 10, 2020 Constance turned around and counter sued her own daughter, claiming that she was owed money from the Gossip Girl star on multiple grounds. She asserted that she was Meesters manager, that she was an adult-dependent of Meester, and that Meesters attorney had promised her $10,000 a month in exchange for testimony in another court case Leighton had against her agency. All of the claims were shot down by the court. Constance was never Meesters manager, and if she were an adult-dependent, only a guardian could bring suit against Meester. Lastly, exchanging testimony for monetary gain is not permitted, so Meester could not have paid for her mothers testimony. The court sided with Meester and agreed that she had never had a contract to pay her mother $10,000 a month. Meester was still working on Gossip Girl at the time the lawsuit was decided. The show would end a year later, but Meester is still hesitant to badmouth her parents. Shes a private person who rarely talks about her own children, and she doesnt seem willing to air her dirty laundry. She may be afraid that her family drama will distract people from her career, which is her real focus. A South Korean court on Friday ordered the Japanese government to pay compensation to 12 World War II sex slaves or their families, in an unprecedented ruling that prompted an immediate denunciation by Tokyo. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Japan should pay the victims 100 million won ($91,000) each. It is the first civilian legal case in South Korea against Tokyo by wartime sex slaves for Japanese troops, who were euphemistically labelled "comfort women." The ruling comes despite a 1965 treaty between Seoul and Tokyo which declared claims between them and their nationals had been settled. Imperial Japan was responsible for the "comfort women" system, the court said in its verdict. Tokyo denounced Friday's ruling as a violation of international law and summoned Seoul's ambassador to protest, demanding that the South Korean government intervene. "This lawsuit should be rejected. The comfort women issue between Japan and South Korea... has already been resolved completely and definitely," Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters. "Our country will never accept this ruling," he added. Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China, were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II. Friday's ruling came in a legal process that began eight years ago and only five of the original plaintiffs are still alive, the others replaced by family members. (AFP) By Eli Walsh Bay City News Foundation Santa Clara County has now confirmed 60 coronavirus cases at Kaiser Permanente's San Jose Medical Center and has fined the health care company $43,000 for failing to promptly report the outbreak, the county said Thursday. The 60 cases have been confirmed since Dec. 27, according to the county, and are believed to be tied to a staff member wearing an inflatable Christmas tree costume in the facility's emergency department on Christmas Day. The costume's fan likely blew coronavirus particles into the facility, which a hospital official characterized on Monday as "completely innocent and quite accidental." The staff member had no symptoms at the time. At least one death has been confirmed among the 60 cases, according to a spokesperson for Kaiser. The company did not identify the emergency department employee who died, out of respect for their family. In addition to the outbreak, Kaiser is on the hook for 43 violations of the county's health order because it failed to promptly report the first 43 positive tests that were confirmed between Dec. 27, 2020 and New Year's Day. County officials were unaware of the outbreak until the company released a media statement on Sunday, according to the county. Kaiser will be fined $1,000 for each violation. "Kaiser is responsible for complying with all applicable public health orders and work safety regulations, including timely reporting of cases and all required follow-up," the county said in a statement. "We have received the county notice and are reviewing it in order to respond by the county's deadline," Kaiser Permanente said in a statement. County officials also confirmed that the cause of the outbreak was not the new coronavirus mutation that originated in the United Kingdom. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Facing this reality, I reached out to Purdue Polytechnic about establishing Purdue Polytechnic High School in Gary to provide an academically rigorous learning environment in the City of Gary for the high achieving students and those not in need of remediation. The success of Purdue Polytechnics Indianapolis schools gave me confidence that its introduction into Gary would assure we were providing the best opportunities for high performing Gary students, as well as providing an option for some Gary families to return their kids from attending schools in other school districts and private schools. A Purdue Polytechnic High School would also give a quality assurance to prospective residents and businesses that their children could receive an education within the city from an institution backed by the world renowned Purdue University. The mob that stormed the Capitol Wednesday did not just threaten the heart of American democracy. To scientists who watched in dismay as the scenes unfolded on television, the throngs of unmasked intruders who wandered through hallways and into private offices may also have transformed the riot into a superspreader event. The coronavirus thrives indoors, particularly in crowded spaces, lingering in the air in tiny particles called aerosols. If even a few people were infected likely, given the current rates of spread and the crowd size then the virus would have had the ideal opportunity to find new victims, experts said. It has all the elements of what we warn people about, said Anne Rimoin, a public health researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles. People yelling and screaming, chanting, exerting themselves all of those things provide opportunity for the virus to spread, and this virus takes those opportunities. President Donald Trump has downplayed the pandemic almost since its beginning, and many of his supporters who entered the Capitol on Wednesday did not appear to be wearing masks or making any effort at social distancing. Under similar conditions, gatherings held in such close quarters have led to fast-spreading clusters of infection. But transmission of the virus has always been difficult to track. There is little effective contact tracing in the United States, and many in the crowd at the Capitol arrived from communities far from Washington. The Black Lives Matter protests in the summer raised similar concerns. But most were held outdoors, and greater numbers of participants seemed to be masked. Research afterward suggested these were not superspreading events. Attendees of the rally preceding the rush to the Capitol on Wednesday also stood outdoors close together for hours, but Im less worried about what was happening outdoors, Rimoin said. The risk increases exponentially indoors. Hundreds of rioters shouting in crowded rooms and hallways for extended periods of time can infect dozens of people at once, she and other experts said. Three distinct groups Capitol Police, rioters and members of Congress were spending time indoors, without social distancing, for long periods of time, said Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious diseases physician at Boston University. The melee likely was a superspreader event, he added, especially given the backdrop of the highly transmissible variants that are circulating. Barocas was referring to a highly contagious new variant of the coronavirus, first identified in Britain. Cases have been reported in several U.S. states, and the variant may well have spread everywhere in the country, making events like the Capitol riot even more risky, he said. The idea that members of Congress may have been exposed, amid an already difficult transfer of power, particularly disturbed some scientists. I am worried not only that it could it could lead to superspreading, but also superspreading to people who are elected officials, said Dr. Tom Ingelsby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. And infected members of Congress and law enforcement could have spread the virus to one another as they sheltered from the violence, he noted. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., announced on Twitter early Thursday morning that he had tested positive for the virus. LaTurner was cloistered in the chamber with other members of Congress for much of the day. At least a dozen of the 400 or so lawmakers and staff who were huddling in one committee room refused to wear masks even after being offered one, or wore them improperly below their chins, said Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa. They gathered in a committee room that quickly became crowded, making social distancing impossible, she said. Some of the lawmakers were unmasked, and several were shouting. Tensions were high, and people were yelling at each other, Wild said. I just started getting really kind of angry, thinking about the holidays just passed, and how so many people did not spend time with their immediate families for fear of spreading, she added, referring to her unmasked colleagues. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said the environment made her so nervous she sat on the floor at one point, hoping to duck whatever virus might be floating about. She has asked experts whether the lawmakers present should now quarantine, she said. She was wearing two masks, as she often does. I get that they think they have their individual freedoms, she said of Republican lawmakers who eschewed masks. Its a rule for a reason. Its to protect the common good. The risk for members of Congress will depend greatly on ventilation in the room where they sheltered, said Joseph Allen, an expert on buildings quality at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. If there is a well-designed secure facility, then it would have great ventilation and filtration, Allen said. If its a place where they were just hunkered down wherever they could go that was safe, and it was not a place that was designed like that, then we dont really know. Its natural in a heart-pounding crisis to disregard risks that seem intangible or theoretical, he and other scientists noted. You cannot keep distance if youre trying to leave a very intense and dangerous situation, said Seema Lakdawala, an expert in respiratory virus transmission at the University of Pittsburgh. Youre weighing the risk of your life over the risk of getting a virus at that moment. Members of Congress returned to continue the electoral count after the rioters were cleared from the Capitol. Some legislators took off their masks before giving a speech, Barocas noted, at precisely the time they needed to wear them. Talking at a high volume can expel vast quantities of aerosols, propelling them through an enclosed space. Scientists have documented infectious aerosols suspended in air nearly 20 feet from an infected person. And a recent study from South Korea found that two people had become infected after spending just five minutes in a restaurant, 15 feet away from an infected patron. Many Americans breathed sighs of relief as rioters departed the Capitol. Some experts feared that rioters heading back home could set off new chains of infection, perhaps impossible to track. We might get an inkling into how bad it might be because of the federal employees, Barocas said. But I dont think that were going to know the extent of this superspreader event. Even as the mob stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, the pandemic marked a grim milestone: The virus claimed nearly 4,000 lives, the highest daily toll thus far. The numbers are expected to keep rising. The president has created a culture in which people think its a hoax, and these basic control measures are being flouted repeatedly everywhere, Allen said. Apoorva Mandavilli c.2021 The New York Times Company The six years since 2015 are the six warmest ever registered, as are 20 of the last 21, evidence of a persistent and deepening trend 2020 has tied 2016 as the hottest year on record, the European Union's climate monitoring service said Friday, keeping Earth on a global warming fast track that could devastate large swathes of humanity. The six years since 2015 are the six warmest ever registered, as are 20 of the last 21, evidence of a persistent and deepening trend, the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) reported. Last year's record higha soaring 1.25 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levelswas all the more alarming because it came without the help of a periodic natural weather event known as an El Nino, which added up to two-tenths of a degree to the 2016 average, according NASA and Britain's Met Office. "It is quite clear that in the absence of El Nino and La Nina impacts on year-to-year temperatures, 2020 would be the warmest year on record," Zeke Hausfather, director of climate and energy at the Breakthrough Institute in Oakland, California, told AFP. During an El Nino, which occurs every two to seven years, warm surface water in the tropical Pacific Ocean can boost global temperatures. La Ninassuch as one currently underwayhave the opposite cooling effect. "2020 stands out for its exceptional warmth," said C3S director Carlo Buontempo. With just over 1C of warming so far, the world has already seen a crescendo of deadly droughts, heatwaves, flood-inducing rainfall, and superstorms make more destructive by rising seas "This is yet another reminder of the urgency of ambitious emissions reductions to prevent adverse climate impacts in the future." In 2015, the world's nations vowed to cap global warming "well below" 2C, and 1.5C if possible. A subsequent report from the UN's climate science advisory panel, the IPCC, left no doubt that 1.5C was the safer threshold. With just over 1C of warming so far, the world has seen a crescendo of deadly droughts, heatwaves, flood-inducing rainfall, and superstorms made more destructive by rising seas. 2020 witnessed a record number, for example, of hurricanes in the Atlanticso many that the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ran out of letters in the alphabet to name them. 'Shut off the tap' Some regions last year experienced warming well beyond the global average, according the Copernicus report, based largely on satellite data. Global carbon emissions in 2018, 10-year change and emissions since 1960 for the top 10 emitters Europe's average surface temperature across 2020 was a searing 2.2C over the pre-industrial benchmarkand nearly half a degree above 2019, the previous record year. Warming in the Arctic region was even more spectacular, with northern Siberia and parts of the Arctic itself nearly 7C above mid-19th century levels. Wildfires across Siberia lasting well into the autumn released a record quarter billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, equivalent to the annual emissions of Spain, Egypt or Vietnam, and a third more than in 2019, the previous record year. CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere peaked at 413 parts per million, nearly 50 percent more than in the early 18th century, before fossil fuel burning began to load the skies with heat-trapping greenhouse gases, C3S reported. These unprecedented levels were reached despite a seven percent drop in emissions due to pandemic lockdowns. "Since CO2 accumulates in the atmosphere like water in a bathtub, if we turn down the tap by seven percent, the CO2 level just rises a bit more slowly," Stefan Rahmstorf, head of Earth system analysis at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, told AFP. CO2 levels in Earth's atmosphere rose to a peak of 413 parts per million, nearly 50 percent more than in the early 18th century "We need to shut off the tap to get a stable climate again." Global emissions were on a steady upward trend through 2019, and it remains unclear whether humanity will return to "business as usual" or begin to ratchet down carbon pollution quickly enough to avoid catastrophic climate impacts. Even if all nations fullfil pledges submitted in annex to the 2015 Paris Agreement, the planet would still heat up more than 3C by century's end. "The world has been warming at a steady rate of around 0.2C per decade since the 1970s due to human emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases," noted Hausfather. "If we continue at our current rate we will pass 1.5C in the mid-2030s." Explore further April 2020 tied for warmest on record: EU climate service 2021 AFP Hong Kong: Virus testing verification underway The Home Affairs Department today said it is verifying whether people covered by the compulsory testing notices have undergone testing and proactively tracing those who may not have done so. It explained that the relevant District Offices (Dos) will first check the test records of residents of buildings covered by the compulsory testing notices taken at mobile specimen collection stations. As some residents may have taken the tests through other means, the department has to verify their testing information. It will work with the Housing Department, the Housing Society or related owners' corporations and property management companies to invite those residents to provide the DOs with information on the tests they have taken. As for Ming Lai House and Fung Chak House of Choi Wan (II) Estate, for which the compulsory testing notices expired on December 29 and 31, 2020, government departments will verify relevant records from the mobile specimen collection stations and other specimen collection means to trace those who may not have taken the tests. The Housing Departments estate offices will also assist in contacting residents without records of having undergone compulsory testing. According to the records, some of the households may have moved out of their flats or are currently away from Hong Kong and thus cannot undergo testing. Some residents may not have taken the tests due to special reasons, such as elderly people with poor health condition or mobility difficulties and the disabled. The Home Affairs Department will follow up on such cases with the Social Welfare Department. After the completion of enforcement action at Ming Yan Lau of Jat Min Chuen in Sha Tin last month, the Sha Tin District Office has referred a number of cases to the Department of Health for follow up. Regarding private buildings, as the department has no contact information of residents of those households which have not taken the tests at mobile specimen collection stations, it has to approach residents to invite them to provide information on tests taken through other means. The DOs, with the assistance of owners corporations and property management companies, will issue and post notices at lobbies to remind residents to provide information to the offices. The Dos have also sent staff members to conduct home visits at some buildings to verify if the residents have testing records. The department said it hopes to implement the compulsory testing notices expeditiously by verifying relevant records and taking a supportive and advisory approach in the first place. It urged residents who have not undergone testing to do so as soon as possible, adding the serious stance taken by the Government in following through on the compulsory testing notices aims to curb the spread of the virus. This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate posts or posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language, or memes may be removed by the moderator. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. BRIDGEPORT The City Council President Thursday called on Mayor Joe Ganim to move quickly to fill a pending leadership vacuum within the health department because of director Lisa Morrisseys sudden resignation. The Connecticut Post reported Wednesday on Morrisseys decision to leave Jan. 15 after less than eight months, and on Thursday New Milford announced she had been hired there for the same role. Ganim put Tammy Papa, head of the Lighthouse youth programs, and Deputy Housing Code Director Audrey Gaines temporarily in charge of the health department as the city prepares to search for Morrisseys permanent replacement. But Council President Aidee Nieves in an interview Thursday said given the COVID-19 pandemic, the mayor should do more to ensure coronavirus planning, prevention, testing and the initial virus vaccinations continue to run smoothly. It is imperative that the mayor in the interim create a health council with health leaders (and) create this really fast, she said. A team of advisers, of experts, to support the city. Ganims office did not respond to Nieves comments and has not clarified whether Morrissey will continuing working through Jan. 15 or depart beforehand. She did not attend a press conference about vaccinations Friday because, the city said, she was out for that one day. Papa, however, was at the event. However, Ludwig Spinelli, chief executive officer of Optimus Health Care, which operates community health centers in Bridgeport and has been doing coronavirus testing, said he would gladly offer whatever assistance he can in the absence of a permanent health chief. It does shake things up a little, Spinelli said of Morrisseys resignation. Now were heading into the vaccines and thats going to take a lot of coordination and planning. And, Spinelli noted, it could take a lot of time to replace Morrissey. When her predecessor Maritza Bond left to lead New Havens health department late last January, about six weeks before the global COVID-19 pandemic struck Connecticut, Ganim launched a search and hired Morrissey away from Danbury. But her nomination was not given final City Council approval until May 18. I know it takes several months to get a person in there, Spinelli said. You dont grab people that quickly. He added he had very good dealings with Morrisey and was sorry to see her go. Morrissey on Wednesday told The Post she had resigned and was looking for work, including in New Milford, but declined to explain what prompted her decision to leave Bridgeport. She had faced some opposition from staff over efforts to restructure her agency, with a few council members trying and failing last summer to pass a resolution on behalf of disgruntled employees to ask Morrissey to meet with the legislative body over personnel matters. Nieves on Thursday said that she was concerned possible replacement candidates will conclude Bridgeport is not a good place to work. Morrissey has hired an attorney Eric Brown who is also representing former State Health Commissioner Renee Coleman Mitchell. Mitchell in August alleged she was discriminated against when fired in May by Gov. Ned Lamont. Reached Thursday, Brown declined to say too much about Morrissey, other than her separation from Bridgeport seems like its going to be mutually beneficial for everybody involved. It is not clear if the passengers who landed had received the advice to get tested and isolate, and there did not appear to be any information or officers at the airport to advise them of this. Passengers on a later flight from the Gold Coast also did not appear to have been notified that they should isolate. It was not clear whether any of those passengers had come from the local government areas that would be subject to the lockdown. The Bodsworth family arrived in Melbourne on a Qantas flight out of Queensland unaware of what was unfolding. Credit:Luis Ascui The Bodsworth family flew direct from the Gold Coast on Friday afternoon, saying they felt lucky they were able to have a holiday given the uncertainty. Cliff and Cara Bodsworth, and their children Cliff jnr and Bella, said they hadnt been given any information about the Queensland situation on their flight back, and the only change they made to their break was to fly directly back to Melbourne instead of going through NSW. "We had a brilliant holiday," Ms Bodsworth said. "We were lucky." Another flight from Brisbane is due to land at Melbourne Airport at 5.40pm. Virgin Airlines is operating Queensland services as usual this afternoon, but said it planned to change its schedule after Greater Brisbane was declared a national hotspot. The airline was experiencing a deluge of calls after the decision, and asked anyone travelling with the airline in the next three days to avoid calling. "Customers who have booked directly with Virgin Australia and who wish to cancel or make changes to their booking can do so easily on our website," a spokesperson said. "All Queensland services are currently operating as normal, and customers impacted by any future changes to the Virgin Australia network will be contacted directly," a spokesperson said. The airline described the revised border restrictions between Queensland and other parts of the country as an "evolving situation". Customers can cancel their bookings to get travel credit or change the date of their booking without fees for and flights slated for up to March 31. Loading Earlier in the day, Premier Daniel Andrews said the state's public health team would provide updated advice in relation to the new Brisbane case. "We will give updated advice based on public health advice as soon as possible, it's got to be done properly," Mr Andrews said on Friday morning. "Obviously if you're from Victoria and you're in Brisbane, the rules in Brisbane apply to you. This issue about bolting home may not be one of the four reasons to leave home," he said of the restrictions due to take effect in hotspot areas of Queensland from 6pm Friday. The Age revealed on Friday that a mutant strain of the coronavirus, which scientists believe was a precursor to the British variant, escaped hotel quarantine in Victoria in June during the state's second wave. Mr Andrews said: "Within the amateur epidemiological picture I can give you, everything's a precursor to the current strain, it's the same virus ... the UK virus five, six months ago wasn't 50 per cent more infectious." Scientists at the Doherty Institute managed to isolate the variant and have spent several months studying it. Their data, which has not yet been peer-reviewed or published, suggests the variant seen in Victoria bound more tightly to human cells, making it harder to contain than the initial strain of SARS-CoV-2. Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young on Friday asked anybody who had been in the greater Brisbane area since January 2, but are now elsewhere in the state, to self-isolate. Mr Andrews said the Queensland government had made a "very difficult call" to enter a three-day lockdown, but urged all states and territories to learn from Victoria's "bitter experience" of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and strengthen hotel quarantine screening procedures. Loading The other states and territories accepted this advice, with all Australian jurisdictions agreeing to begin testing hotel quarantine staff daily and quarantine international aircrew at Friday's national cabinet meeting. Other first ministers pushed for weekly testing of hotel quarantine workers, but finally agreed to daily testing, the Victorian government has confirmed to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. It comes as Victoria recorded no new local cases of COVID-19, and one in an international traveller. The results come from more than 23,000 tests. There are a further 10,000 test results still to come from yesterday, which were delayed by technical issues. Mr Andrews, who returned from holiday early to attend the national cabinet meeting, said the IT problem affecting the remaining test results had been fixed. Mr Andrews said there was a hardware problem at Dorevitch Pathology that was rectified at 3am. The remaining 10,000 test results were now being communicated to the people awaiting them, he said. "Apologies to those who have waited a little longer than normal but those results are now being fed out to people," he said. "The testing will be around 33,000 (total for Friday), which is a very strong number. It was a hardware issue, not software, an actual machine wasnt working as it should have been." Meanwhile, greater Brisbane will enter a three-day lockdown after genomic testing confirmed a casual cleaner at a Brisbane hotel quarantine site was infected with a more contagious strain of COVID-19 originating from Britain. Mr Andrews on Thursday urged fellow premiers and the Prime Minister to adopt Victoria's position on the testing of flight crew and hotel quarantine staff. He said a change to national policy could potentially "stop what's happened in the northern beaches" in the future. "We are treating flight crew no different to returning travellers in the context of the UK strain which is a super-infectious strain of this virus," Mr Andrews said. "Not if, but when someone finishes up contracting the virus because of their work in hotel quarantine, the virus will have a one-day jump on us, not a week, not 10 days We need to test staff every day, or at least multiple times per week. "That type of arrangement stops what's happened in the northern beaches, and therefore stops what's happening in Melbourne. A problem in Sydney is a problem here, and a problem for the nation, and vice versa." The Age revealed the mutant strain of the coronavirus which scientists believe was a precursor to the highly infectious British variant escaped hotel quarantine in Victoria in June during the state's second wave but the public was not told about it at the time. Professor Damian Purcell, head of the molecular virology laboratory at the Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity in Melbourne, said the new strain had infected at least 37 people in Victoria before being brought under control by Victoria's lockdown. With Noel Towell The mutated strain of coronavirus first found in the United Kingdom appears to have achieved community spread in Slovakia, the health minister of the central European nation said Friday PRAGUE (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2021) The mutated strain of coronavirus first found in the United Kingdom appears to have achieved community spread in Slovakia, the health minister of the central European nation said Friday. This comes a day after the western Slovak city of Nitra with a population of 80,000 was quarantined after its hospitals were inundated with coronavirus patients. "My colleagues have now confirmed the new, so-called UK strain in Nitra, which is why the situation there is so tough. The mutated virus appears to be driving the epidemic across the republic," Marek Krajci told a news conference. The health minister warned that the national health care system was stretched, with hundreds of health workers being on sick leave or isolating. He said there were signs that hospital capacity was approaching its limits in other major cities. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 8 : The opposition members in the Kerala Assembly boycotted Governor Arif Mohammad Khan's 'policy address' and walked out on Friday, the first day of the Budget session, and later sat on a 'dharna' at the Assembly's entry gate. While the Governor was addressing the House, the opposition raised slogans against Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The Governor tried to pacify the opposition MLAs thrice and urged them to allow him to fulfil his constitutional responsibility of delivering the policy address. However, the MLAs of the United Democratic Front led by the Congress walked out of the House, except lone BJP MLA O Rajagopal who remain seated throughout the Governor's speech. Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala told the media outside the Assembly: "We are performing the opposition's duty. It is our responsibility towards the public. Speaker Sreeramakrishnan has put a blot on the House by interfering with a central agency's work. We cannot just sit and watch." In his address that went on for two hours and 10 minutes, Khan read out the LDF government's policy against the three new central farm laws, maintaining that the "farm laws are for the corporates and a consumer state like Kerala will have to bear their brunt". There were reports that the Governor may not read out the policy address to criticise the farm laws but that did not happen. The Governor said that the state had worked over time during coronavirus pandemic and that the government had delivered free kits to each and every household during this period. He also said that the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front government will provide title deeds to 20,000 landless persons in the southern state. A scathing attack on central agencies was made in the state's policy statement, with the Governor maintaining that the actions of these agencies had resulted in a "demoralising effect on honest and hardworking officers". He also claimed that it had led to impediments in the implementation of the flagship projects of the Vijayan government. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Leading European politicians and newspaper editorialists condemned the fascist coup in the United States. They are responding with a combination of concern and nervousness following the storming of the Capitol building by supporters of US President Donald Trump. The central focus of their concerns is not the threat to American democracy, but rather the fear that its advanced decomposition, laid so bare on January 6, could strengthen the opposition to similar developments in Europe, where authoritarian and fascistic tendencies are also extremely well developed. Copies of the French newspaper Le Monde headlining on the Capitol storming are delivered at Le Monde headquarters, Thursday Jan.7, 2021 in Paris. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) In Germany, right-wing extremist networks with strong support from the highest echelons of the state are spreading throughout the army, police, and intelligence agencies, and the far-right Alternative for Germany sets the political tone in the federal and state parliaments. In France, President Macron, who is distinguished from Trump only by his more elegant manners, cracked down brutally against the Yellow Vest protesters and has passed increasingly stringent censorship and security laws. In Poland and Hungary, authoritarian regimes are bringing the judiciary and media under state control. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier addressed these parallels in their remarks on the events in the United States. It would be a sign of self-satisfaction to point the finger at the US alone, Maas wrote in a guest commentary for Der Spiegel. Here with us too, in Halle, Hanau, on the steps of the Reichstag building, we have had to experience how agitation and insurrectionary words can be transformed into hate-filled acts. Steinmeier also compared the storming of the Capitol with the events in Berlin in August, when far-right coronavirus deniers stormed the steps of the Reichstag building. Almost all of the European comments sought to downplay the extent of the conspiracy in the United States. While they criticised President Trump, who was voted out of office, and the right-wing mob he incited, they remain silent on the role of the state apparatus and the Republican Party. But without acknowledging their role, it is impossible to understand the extent of the right-wing conspiracy and the danger it poses. In the perspective The Fascist Coup of January 6, the WSWS explained the central role played by the Republican majority in the Senate and sections of the state apparatus in preparing the coup, and warned that it would happen again, even though the first attempt had not accomplished its goal. The Republican senators and congressmen delayed recognising the election results, and thus supported Trumps lie that the election was stolen. Even after the storming of the Capitol building, 138 Republicans voted against the confirmation of the election result in Pennsylvania to try and block Bidens victory. Without support from the security apparatus, the right-wing mob would not have managed to force its way into one of the most strongly guarded buildings in the world. This context is totally ignored by the European comments from politicians and the media. They portray the events as though American democracy is in the best of health, and that merely Trump and his immediate entourage were responsible for the coup plot. Like President-elect Biden, they appeal for unity with the Republicansi.e., the coup plotters. This was expressed clearly in a comment by the Neue Zurcher Zeitung entitled The loss of control at the Capitol is a warning signal, but not the decline of American democracy. The scenes from the Capitol are a scandal, stated the mouthpiece of the Swiss banks. But they do not primarily reflect the condition of the US, but the condition of its president. A similar line was taken by Italys la Republica, which wrote, American democracy has proven that it still has defensive forces to resist the authoritarian impulses of a president. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron argued along similar lines. Macron, who spoke on the events in Washington late Wednesday evening, said, What happened today in Washington, D.C. is not America, certainly not. We believe in the strength of our democracies, we believe in the strength of American democracy. Merkel told a press conference Thursday that the pictures from the United States made her angry as well as sad. She was very disappointed that President Trump has not recognised his defeat since November, and again yesterday. The deliberately encouraged doubts about the election result prepared the atmosphere that made the events during the night possible. But the words of President-elect Joe Biden, Merkel continued, make me absolutely sure that this democracy will prove much stronger than the attackers and vandalsin less than two weeks, the United States will, as it must, open a new chapter of its democracy. In a pathetic speech, Biden had pleaded with the leading coup plotter Trump to give a televised address to the people, and avoided uttering a single word that could have been interpreted as a call to his supporters to mobilise. He thus made clear that he is far more fearful of a movement from below than he is of any coup plots by Trump and his supporters. In the final analysis, the Republicans and Democrats represent the same interests of a tiny layer of billionaires and millionaires. Germanys Social Democrat Foreign Minister also set great store in Biden and reconciliation with the putschists. Every Republican with a modest degree of responsibility should now at last contradict Trump, wrote Maas in Der Spiegel. Bidens call for mutual respect and reconciliation were the well-chosen words of a president. And the confirmation of the election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris by the US Congress was the best, democratic answer to those who created chaos and unrest in Washington yesterday. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, whose Brexit strategy was based on a close alliance with the United States under Trump, struck a similar tone, but was more concise. Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power, he wrote on Twitter. The Times of London also invoked the stability of American democracy. Judges had rejected his legal challenges to overturn the election results, and officials in his own party had resisted him. This is not a democracy about to fall, concluded the Times. Only a handful of newspapers published more thoughtful commentaries. The Warsaw-based Rzeczpospolita pointed to the real divisions in American society. We only know such pictures usually from African countries where heads of state and government refuse to accept their democratically elected successors, the newspaper remarked. This was a spectacular outburst of frustration that has been growing in the United States for decades. A gigantic polarisation of society is taking place, with ever greater numbers of people no longer able to make ends meet, while a few can barely still count their billions. The pandemic has intensified this drama. The Financial Times (FT) warned that the danger has not passed. Nobody should feign surprise, it wrote. Trump had long made his plans known. The most pressing question now is what Mr Trump might try to do in his remaining two weeks in office. Senior military in the Pentagon have discussed at length how they would respond if Mr Trump tried to declare martial law, using the 1807 Insurrection Act. Some around Mr Trump, including Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser, have been urging him to invoke it, the paper added. The concern about what Mr Trump can still attempt to do is not academic. In spite of what happened on Wednesday, Mr Trump still commands the personal loyalty of many people in uniform. One reason why the mob so easily breached Congress is because many of the Capitol Hill police officers were clearly in sympathy. Trump also continues to enjoy support from leading Republicans, the FT continued, including Ted Cruz, the Texan senator, Josh Hawley, the Missouri senator, and more than 100 of their colleagues in both houses. The working class will draw different lessons from the coup in the United States than the bourgeois commentators, and will begin to take up a struggle against a social system that only has fascism, war, poverty, and death by the coronavirus to offer. Emma Stone's husband Dave McCary proposed to her in an office behind-the-scenes at Saturday Night Live, sourced have revealed. The actress, 32, who is said to be expecting their first child, met the segment producer on the NBC show when she hosted the programme in December 2016. Despite keeping their romance under wraps until 2019, an insider divulged details to Page Six, saying: 'Dave proposed at the offices where they first met at NBC's HQ 30 Rock. No one was there and by all accounts, it was very romantic.' Sweet: Emma Stone's husband Dave McCary proposed to her in an office behind-the-scenes at Saturday Night Live, sourced have revealed Last May, rumours first flew that Emma had secretly married Dave when she sported a wedding band during a YouTube appearance with Reese Witherspoon. She dropped a further hint that she may now be a married woman when Dr Harold Koplewicz, who was also on the chat, asked her about marrying an 'anxious man'. He said: 'If you marry an anxious man, you're going to have to know me the rest of my life.' While Emma reassured him and said: 'Thankfully I didn't do that.' The actress was set to walk down this aisle in Los Angles in March but decided to hold off due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Page Six. Hot stuff: The actress, 32, who is said to be expecting their first child, met the segment producer on the NBC show when she hosted the programme in December 2016 Nice! He popped the question NBC's HQ 30 Rock in Manhattan After they finally tied the knot in September, it has now been revealed how Dave asked Emma to marry her - in the professional setting. Earlier this week, Emma was spotted cradling her burgeoning belly while out on a walk in Los Angeles and while she still has yet to address widespread rumors she's expecting a baby, a source told E! News that Stone is indeed expecting. 'Emma is pregnant and just loves married life!', the source said. Her love: Despite keeping their romance under wraps until 2019, an insider divulged details to Page Six, saying: 'Dave proposed at the offices where they first met at NBC's HQ 30 Rock. No one was there and by all accounts, it was very romantic' The sighting comes after it was revealed last month that she had dropped out of an upcoming film featuring Brad Pitt. Emma was slated to play the lead in La La Land director Damien Chazelle's Old Hollywood epic Babylon. She left the cast after an apparent scheduling conflict. But perhaps the 'conflict' is taking time to raise her first child. According to Deadline, Australian actress Margot Robbie, 30, is now being lined up by producers to swiftly replace Emma. The movie was supposed to begin filming in LA before the coronavirus pandemic put a halt to plans, so it's likely the change in filming dates created a conflict. Distributed by Paramount, Babylon is currently slated for a Christmas Day 2021 release. The minister of Development, Public Works and Administration (MDLPA), Cseke Attila, who met on Friday with the representatives of the Communes Association of Romania, at the latter's request, supports the need for an exchange of ideas among the ministry's specialists and the associative structures of the local public administration authorities. "The Ministry of Development is open to dialogue with the associative structures of the local public administration authorities. We believe that these continuous consultations are important for an optimal cooperation and for an exchange of ideas for the proper functioning of the Romanian public administration. We have learned some important ideas and projects to streamline and simplify the administrative procedures necessary for the functioning of local public authorities that we want to implement together with the associative structures," minister Cseke Attila said on Friday, according to a release by the MDLPA sent to AGERPRES. With Covid-19 cases hitting an all-time high in Ireland since Christmas, much has been made of mutations to the virus with many blaming the new strains for the upsurge in cases. What are the New Strains of Covid? The so-called South African and UK strains are mutations of the SARS Covid-19 virus. Mutations happen all the time in viruses as they replicate. In a form of natural selection, the stronger virus cells will spread and survive while the weaker ones will die out. The newer strains or evolutions of the Covid-19 virus have seen changes to the spike proteins on the surface of the virus cells that seem to make them more effective at invading healthy cells. One expert described it as the new strain is more sticky than the original. What does this mean? While experts are still trying to learn about the original Covid-19 virus, as well as the new variants. It would seem that the newer stains are more infectious. That is, they spread more easily from person to person. There is also evidence that they replicate more quickly in a new host there are reports of a higher viral load in test swabs simply meaning there are more infected cells on the swab than in previous tests. Is the new strain more dangerous? So far it seems that the actual symptoms and severity of the infections are no different in the newer strains. The mutations only appear to affect the spread of the virus and its ease of transmission. Will the vaccine still work? Again, it is too early to say, the vaccines work by attacking the surface of the covid cell, making it harder for them to infect healthy cells. It is hoped that the vaccines available will still be affective against the new strains but there may be a need to adjust the vaccines in the future make sure they offer greater protection. How do I protect myself and others? Keep your distance. The advice from doctors and health officials remains the same. Reduce your interactions with others. The fewer people you come into contact with, the less chance you have of catching COVID and of passing it on to your loved ones. Hand hygiene is still the main line of defense. Wash your hands thoroughly and regularly with soap and hot water and use hand sanitizer if youre out of your home. Cover your mouth and nose if youre coughing or sneezing. Avoid touching your face. Wear a mask although a mask may not protect you from the virus, it will reduce the risk of you passing on the virus to others if you are infected. Be sure to sanitize your hands before affixing your mask and after removing it. Richard Barnett, the Arkansas Trump supporter who declared himself a white nationalist and bragged about breaking into the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, has been arrested and charged. Federal officials announced Friday that Barnett was arrested in Little Rock and charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, knowingly entering and remaining in a restricted area, and theft of public property. Barnett took an envelope from Pelosi's desk, but later told the New York Times it wasn't stealing because he left a quarter on her desk. Matthew Rosenberg/NYT The Washington Post reviewed Barnett's Facebook page, and found several conspiracy theories and threats of violence. In a Dec. 28 post, he announced he would be attending Wednesday's event and asked why others he knew weren't going. "This is OUR COUNTRY!!!," he wrote. "Can you give one day from the Internet or work or whatever to be active." He added, "Get the f--- up people. Please STAND!!! If not now, when?" In another post, he wrote that he "came into this world kicking and screaming, covered in someone else's blood," and, "I'm not afraid to go out the same way." Barnett was one of several individuals that federal agents have arrested and charged for their roles in the Capitol riots. (Natural News) A research team from the Tokyo University of Technology (Tokyo Tech) has proposed a periodic table for molecules with different geometrical symmetries. The teams study, published in Nature Communications, introduces a new approach thats based on keen observation of the behavior of valence electrons. Valence electrons are found in the outer shell of atoms, and they can interact with other valence electrons to form compounds. When multiple atoms form a symmetrically shaped cluster, their valence electrons occupy certain positions and exhibit wave-like behaviors almost exactly as if they were the electrons of a huge atom. By considering these positions and behaviors called super-atomic orbitals and analyzing the effects of the structural symmetries for clusters, the researchers came up with the symmetry-adapted orbital (SAO) model. The researchers plan to create new periodic tables for molecules with different symmetries. These tables will be four-dimensional, as the molecules will be arranged based on four parameters: groups, periods (like in the normal periodic table), species (according to constituting elements) and families (determined by the number of atoms). The periodic table of elements, first proposed by Dmitri Mendeleev in 1869, groups all the elements found in nature by rows and columns based on the number of electrons they have. Scientists subsequently used Mendeleevs periodic table to predict the characteristics of future elements, which were eventually discovered and added to the periodic table over time. Some researchers have put forward rules for predicting the existence of certain molecules. But because of the limitations of their theories, their predictions only applied to clusters of atoms with a quasi-spherical symmetry. The SAO model opens many avenues for materials design Professor Kimihisa Yamamoto, one of the studys authors, said the SAO approach is very promising for materials design. Modern synthesis techniques enable us to produce many innovative materials based on the SAO model, such as lightweight magnetic materials, Yamamoto said. In their report, he and his colleagues noted that among the infinite combinations of constitutive elements, the proposed periodic table will be a significant contribution to the formation of novel functional materials based on clusters with magnetic, optical and catalytic functions. They also outlined how a variety of clusters can be created using the SAO model. Molecular clusters with specific characteristics can be synthesized in the gas phase using a combination of laser vaporization techniques and time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Template-based synthetic methods can also be used to create clusters in the liquid phase, while crystallization methods can yield clusters that can be used for solid-state materials. The SAO model approach could enable scientists to create novel materials The SAO model proposed by Yamamoto and his team will be useful for the creation of novel materials. As researchers unearth new things about existing substances, the SAO model could allow them to systematically explore as-yet unknown stable clusters that can be used to produce new materials. Take the case of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers who managed to create carbon nanotubes using common household chemicals. The team, led by MIT graduate student Richard Li, produced carbon nanotubes using baking soda, table salt and detergent pellets without the use of high heat. Although the resulting nanotubes were not as strong as those traditionally made with iron, they were not contaminated by sodium, which is commonly used in their production. Li and his colleagues are looking forward to refining their production process to create stronger carbon nanotubes. Visit Discoveries.news for more articles about the latest in materials science. Sources include: Nanowerk.com Nature.com Britannica.com (WTVA) - Peco Foods made several major changes to facilities across Mississippi on Thursday, affecting the lives of many. The Peco plant in West Point was one the poultry company specifically pointed out in a news release, saying the location will see more growth in the near future. It will bring plenty of opportunities and good opportunities, said Laquez Kennedy. Kennedy works in West Point. He said hes seen many people without jobs in the area. However, with the growth of the facility in West Point, he believes it could be life-changing for many. Its a sad thing not having a job and its hard to make it in this world without having a job or income, explained Kennedy. I feel like that will bless a lot of people to have their spirits lifted up knowing that a job is opening up here. Along with the addition of the par-fry plant and the renovation of the distribution freezer, Peco announced this facility will see more additions to the processing line. In turn, these additions will create more jobs for the next several years. The company does not know how many jobs will be available yet. Kennedy said the pandemic has brought job loss on the lives of many, but these openings could bring new, better opportunities for people of all ages. Although there was great news for the people of West Point, it wasnt positive for those in Brooksville. The poultry company also announced the closure of three plants throughout Mississippi. One of those being in Brooksville. Its the only big plant around here in Brooksville. Weve got 200, 400 people aint got no job, said Justin Davis. Davis is one of those people now without a job. Hes worked at Peco for almost six months, but now hell be back on the job hunt. However, Davis said he is more worried for those with families trying to provide meals for their children. For him and many others, the job search will not be easy if theyre looking to stay in Brooksville. People are losing a lot of jobs around here because Peco the only thing theyve got around here so when they lose jobs, there aint nowhere to go, said Davis. In the press release we received from Peco Foods, the company mentioned for those who lost jobs, they will be working to find new opportunities with the company wherever possible. The US and the UK were racing to reach a limited trade agreement before the political crisis in Washington jeopardized plans to announce a deal within days, according to three people briefed on the negotiations. With less than two weeks in the Trump administration, the goal is still to resolve parts of a longstanding transatlantic dispute over illegal aid to Boeing Co. and Airbus SE. A so-called mini deal would see the US end tariffs on some UK imports, including on Scotch whisky, a month after Britain made a similar gesture to Washington. But recent events in the US, which saw President Donald Trumps supporters storm both chambers of Congress and spark a crisis that threatens his ability to govern in his final 13 days, appear to have slowed efforts to announce a deal soon, two of the people said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told reporters on Thursday that Trump was completely wrong to cast doubt on the US election results and unreservedly condemned the presidents actions. Biden Transition To be sure, even a limited trade deal with the US would be hailed as a big win for post-Brexit Britain. Thats because the chances of quickly striking a more comprehensive accord with the incoming Biden administration are likely to be hampered by transition delays and US legislative deadlines. Biden, who takes office Jan. 20, needs the Senate to confirms Katherine Tai, his pick to be US Trade Representative, and also faces the expiration of fast-track trade negotiating power delegated to the president by Congress. That ability, known as Trade Promotion Authority, expires July 1, and Biden would need to be close enough to a deal to notify Congress by April 1. Trumps USTR Robert Lighthizer had welcomed the UKs decision last month to unilaterally drop tariffs on US goods in the Boeing-Airbus dispute -- though he argued the tariffs were illegitimate in the first place. But he suggested in a BBC interview that the UK would need to go further than breaking with the EUs support of European plane maker Airbus. Details of the mini deal were still in flux and subject to further negotiation, the people briefed on the matter said. A spokeswoman for the UKs Department for International Trade didnt immediately have a response to questions about the talks. A USTR spokesman didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Aircraft Dispute Britains official split from the European Union just over a week ago, capping a divisive 4 1/2-year political fight to go solo on matters including trade relations, helped make the talks for a partial tariff truce with the US possible. A Brexit trade deal with Brussels was reached in the waning days of 2020, but hopes for a speedy and comprehensive agreement with the US faded as Washington nears the transition to the new administration. Some of the tariffs levied across the Atlantic were allowable under separate rulings from the World Trade Organization. Many business interests on both sides have been eager to see an end to the tariffs, but none more so than the liquor industry. In November, the EU announced tariffs targeting $4 billion worth of Boeing planes and US products including spirits, nuts and tractors as part of a tit-for-tat escalation against the US For its part, America imposed levies on $7.5 billion of EU products starting in 2019. British exports ranging from Scotch whisky to biscuits to clotted cream have suffered from the duties. In addition to addressing tariffs tied to the aircraft dispute, a mini trade deal might help address other key trade frictions including: US national security tariffs on UK steel and aluminum, and the UKs 2% digital services tax on American technology companies. Now untethered from the EU, the UK may now be more willing to accept a US demand to limit exports of British steel and aluminum to the US in return for withdrawing Trumps metal tariffs. The law firm of Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is saddened to report that client and friend Tammy Spears passed away on Jan. 4, 2021. She is survived by her husband, Greg, and son, Robert. Mrs. Spears was a staunch advocate for disabled airline passenger rights and used her case against American Airlines to raise awareness on this important issue. As a disabled amputee, Mrs. Spears experienced unspeakable humiliation during an American Airlines flight that prompted her to take legal action in an effort to hold the airline accountable. She made numerous appearances on television and in print media to highlight the inhumane treatment she experienced firsthand with the hope that exposure to her plight would help the airline industry better understand the hardships of the disabled in traveling and to shift their paradigm and better train their crew to be more sensitive, compassionate, understanding and accommodating with disabled passengers in the future. In June of 2020, Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman had the honor of filing a lawsuit on Mrs. Spears's behalf against American Airlines alleging flight attendants and cabin crew members forced her to be pushed, dragged and crawl from her seat to the lavatory mid-flight because the airline failed to equip the plane with an aisle wheelchair. "We have litigated cases against major airlines for more than four decades," said Diane Marger Moore, Mrs. Spears's attorney. "The indignity that Tammy suffered at the hands of American Airlines is unlike anything I have ever seen" On Aug. 10, 2019, Mrs. Spears boarded an American Airlines flight from Salt Lake City, Utah to Charlotte, North Carolina. Two days before her scheduled travel, she had called the airline to ensure a wheelchair would be available for her, per the airline's policy. Roughly an hour into a four-hour flight, Mrs. Spears told a flight attendant that she had to use the lavatory and asked for a wheelchair. The flight attendant advised her that there was no aisle chair onboard the aircraft and that she would have to "hold it" for the remainder of the flight. She attempted to comply but later informed the cabin crew that she required the use of the lavatory. What happened next shocked and horrified her and her fellow passengers. Cabin crew members lifted, dropped, pushed, dragged, and injured Mrs. Spears in their efforts to get her out of her seat and into the forward lavatory, according to the complaint. The flight crew members urged her to hop on one leg, which she could not do. Finally, flight attendants directed Mrs. Spears to "scoot" on the floor, with some pushing and pulling from the crew members and a passenger. Once Mrs. Spears made it to the lavatory, many of the passengers were focused on her plight. She was too exhausted to pull herself up to enter the lavatory, even with help. Mrs. Spears was too humiliated to resist American flight attendants disrobing her in view of flight attendants and several of the first-class passengers near the lavatory. Per the flight attendants' instructions, Mrs. Spears utilized the lavatory; the door was left open. Her humiliation and pain would only continue as flight attendants came up with more ill-devised plans to get her back to her seat. After seeing her obvious pain and embarrassment, a first-class passenger offered to switch seats to save Mrs. Spears the indignity of being further dragged on the floor for a second time. Mrs. Spears suffered injuries caused by this ordeal, including rug burns, strains and pain to her foot, leg, arm and other areas. She also required supplemental oxygen to bring down her blood pressure and breathing which were adversely affected by her strenuous struggle. The lawsuit filed last year accused American Airlines of negligently failing to have an aisle wheelchair on Mrs. Spears' flight and failed to warn her that there would be no means for her to get to an onboard lavatory during the flight if the need arose. During the course of litigation, American Airlines admitted that Mrs. Spears had called prior to her flight and asked for wheelchair assistance and that the airline did not provide one. Mrs. Spears hoped that through her lawsuit, American Airlines would change its behavior to ensure that other disabled passengers would not be forced to suffer similar indignity. She also hoped that other airlines would take note of the litigation and address any issues with the protocols for transporting passengers with disabilities. Despite the shame that she was forced to live through, Tammy Spears bravely took it upon herself to relive her traumatic experience and tell her story to the media for the purpose of making air travel safer and more secure for people with disabilities. She is to be applauded for her efforts and will be sorely missed by those who knew her best. Christie's is auctioning off over a hundred pieces of rare vintage Chanel jewelry estimated to be worth a total of over $163,000. The 106-piece haul of designer necklaces, earrings, brooches, and more comes from the collection of Susan Gutfreund, an interior designer and New York City socialite who was friends with Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld before his passing. According to Christie's, Lagerfeld personally gave Susan the jewelry, some pieces of which are one-of-a-kind and have never been seen before. Going once! Christie's is auctioning off 106 pieces of rare vintage Chanel jewelry belonging to socialite Susan Gutfreund, who was friends with the late Karl Lagerfeld (pictured in 2014) Up for grabs: Christie's haul of designer haul of Chanel jewelry will be up for auction from January 14 to 29 and includes this chain set with faux pearls (expected price: $2,000-$3,000) Pieces include these earrings (left, expected price $3,000 to $5,000) and brooch (right, expected price $1,000 to $1,500), with the total for all expected to be over $163,000 On sale: For an estimated $1,500 to $2,000, a bidder can take home this mesh choker set with round cabochon red and green gripoix glass, suspending a fringe of woven leather chain Jewelry heaven: This set of two brooches and a pair of earrings, all with faux pearls, are expected to go for $1,500 to $2,000 The collection, titled 'Susan and Karl: Important Chanel Fashion Jewelry from the Collection of Mrs. John H. Gutfreund,' will go on sale as part of a larger auction of pieces owned by Susan and her late husband, John Gutfreund. It will run from January 14 to 29. 'Of all of the worlds greatest fashion designers, arguably the greatest of all time is Karl Lagerfeld,' Claibourne Poindexter, specialist for Christie's Jewels, told Tatler. 'Karls sense of imagination came through in every collection he designed and, since his passing in 2019, desirability for these types of pieces has only increased. 'To have a sale of these jewels which were created during some of his most prolific years at Chanel is something we never see at auction and Mrs Gutfreunds superb sense of color, design and whimsy is evident throughout.' Socialite: In the '80s, Susan and her husband made headlines for the money spent on their lavish homes and shopping trips (pictured left in '88 and right in '89) The couple: Susan was the second wife of businessman John Gutfreund, having tied the knot in 1981 when she was 35 and he 51, and stayed together until his death in 2016 at age 86 Her gems: A faux pearl necklace with glass leaves and a matching pair of earring, which Susan was pictured wearing at a Vogue party in 1992, may go for $4,000 to $6,000 Bling bling! These camellia flower earrings faux pearls and poured green gripoix glass leaves are estimated to get $2,000 to $3,000 Ripped from the runway: This pair of cornucopia earrings with faux pearls and round rhinestones have an estimated price of $1,000 to $1,500 Fancy: These chains of faux pearls with black grosgrain ribbon is expected to get bids of $2,000 to $3,000 Among the pieces are many made with faux pearls, including a three-piece set of earrings, ring, and bracelet that is estimated to sell for $3,000 to $5,000. There are also bird-shaped earrings with glass beads estimated to get $3,000 to $5,000, and velvet cuffs estimated to get $1,500 to $2,000. According to Christie's, the majority are runway prototypes not originally intended for a retail consumer, and as such, 'many of the lots are extremely fragile and may not withstand regular wear or use.' Susan, a former Pan Am flight attendant, came by these special pieces through her years of friendship with Lagerfeld, whose fashion shows she attended in Paris. Susan was the second wife of businessman John Gutfreund, having tied the knot in 1981 when she was 35 and he 51, and stayed together until his death in 2016 at age 86. Together they have one son, John Peter, who was born in 1985. John and Susan's luxe life was well documented in the 80s, when John was the CEO of the investment bank Salomon Brothers Inc. and Business Week called him the 'King of Wall Street.' Certainly unique! These 'smiling sun' earrings are estimated to get $500 to $700 Definitely not understated! This bird brooch with cabochon and faceted stones and glass leaves has an estimated price of $3,000 to $5,000 Colorful: This wide cuff set with multi-colored gripoix glass, mounted in gilt metal, is expected to go for $1,500 to $2,000 Multicolor: This necklace and brooch set is made with multicolroed gripoix glass and expected sale price of $3,000 to $5,000 Faux pearl everything: This multi-strand faux pearl necklace with gripoix glass station has an estimated price of $1,000 to $1,500 According to the New York Times, they splashed out 'lavish sums' on their Manhattan apartment and Paris townhouse, and even rented a British castle and a French museum for parties. They were known for taking weekend trips from New York to Europe on the Concorde to go on shopping sprees, and Susan earned the nickname 'Social Susie' from Womens Wear Daily. Photos from the '80s and early '90s show Susan dressed to the nines at New York City galas, often topping her designer gowns with Chanel jewelry. Then, in 1991, scandal hit when John and his company were involved in illegal bids for Treasury bonds. He resigned, and settled possible fraud charges by paying a fine and giving up any future of managing another securities firm. Susan has continued attending and hosting high society events, though, sitting front row at New York Fashion Week and attending dinners with Valentino and Martha Stewart. Classic: This three-piece set made with faux pearls has an estimated price of $3,000 to $5,000 Statement-makers: Bidders are expected to offer $1,500 to $2,000 for these wide velvet cuffs backed by leather and studded with gilt metal The auction is also set to include decor from the 12,000-square-foot Fifth Avenue apartment that Susan sold for $53 million after her husband's death. 'Obviously, for Susan, without her husband, it was a pretty large apartment to be living in on her own,' William Strafford, a senior international specialist of European furniture and decorative arts at Christies, told Bloomberg. 'This collection reflects Susans far-ranging and adventurous and individual tastes,' he added. All 665 lots from the auction are expected to fetch a grand total of $7.4 million. Highlights include an 18th century needlework screen ($60,000 to $100,000), a crystal chandelier ($40,000 to $60,000), a striped couch ($30,000 to $50,000) Tiffany Studios lights ($3,000 to $5,000), and a 1571 painting by the Flemish artist Jan Massys ($120,000 to $130,000). The most expensive item on offer in a Royal Copenhagen porcelain dinner service, estimated at $150,000 to $200,000. There's also George III candelabras and candlesticks from 1775 ($100,000 to $150,000), a carpet from 1970 ($100,000 to $150,000), a marble basin ($50,000 to $80,000), and 19th century chairs ($40,000 to $60,000) DENVER and WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- David Kilcullen, CEO of CordilleraA and one of the leading figures in the field of guerrilla warfare, has warned that this week'sA attack on Capitol Hill "looked a little like the opening move of a colour revolution, as seen in Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia or the Arab Spring". In an essay published yesterdayA atA The Australian, Kilcullen describes that there is, in the United States, a "sizeable active component for a revolt, with a far larger sympathiser network and support base". CordilleraA advises multiple city governments in the United States on urban public safety. The author, a former Australian-American military officer now based in Denver, identifies a dangerous pattern in yesterday's disorders in the United States' capital: "Revolutions often begin with massive peaceful protests over a contested election. These lead to violence, which triggers a government crackdown, which provokes insurrection, international condemnation and, often, regime change." The specialist, who has written five best-selling books on security, is considered the world's top insurgency expert.A In his article atA The Australian, Kilcullen warns that further acts of violence may happen in the next two weeks, marked by a conflict among left-wing populists, right-wing populists, and an establishment that includes elites from both political parties. "Each has its peaceful political players, its mass street activists and its violent extremists," he emphasises.A "The notion of an inevitable, peaceful democratic transfer of power is dead," he sums up. Kilcullen served as the Special Advisor for Counterinsurgency to the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and senior counterinsurgency advisor to General David Petraeus time Commanding General of United States, and international forces in Iraq. He also worked as chief counterterrorism strategist at the U.S. State Department, operating in the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, including operational activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. During 22 years in the Australian army, Kilcullen wasA deployed in East Timor, Bougainville, and the Middle East. HisA latest book,A The Dragons and the Snakes,A has been described by The Times of London as one that "should be read by everyone in uniform". Along with David Kilcullen, Cordillera is directed by COO Alex Case, vice-president Roman D. Ortiz and vice-president and U.K. director, Gordon Pendleton. The company provides geopolitical analysis and risk management to governments, corporate clients and NGOs in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa.A The firm's suite of technological tools, and its distributed operations model, enables Cordillera to help clients adapt and thrive throughout the complex world that will arise as a consequence of the COVID-19 health emergency. Cordillera Media RamAn Pedrosa rpl@cordillera-apps.com A +356 7946 7486 www.cordillera-apps.com A A A Man Who Witnessed Ashley Babbitt Shooting Recounts the Tragedy A man in a widely circulated video of the shooting of U.S. Air Force veteran Ashley Babbitt (also spelt Ashli) in the Capitol, 28-year-old Thomas Baranyi, gave a recount of what happened. A reporter from CBS affiliate WKRG interviewed him after he stormed the Capitol with protestors and Babbitt, the woman who was shot and killed by police. The reporter asked him how he got blood on his hand. We had stormed into the chambers inside and there was a young lady who rushed to the windows, Baranyi answered. A number of police and Secret Service were saying get back, get down, get out of the way. She didnt heed the call. He said that he tried to pull her back when she got fatally shot. And as we kind of raced up to grab people and pull them back, they shot her in the neck, and she fell back on me and started to say she was fine. Its cool. And then she started moving weird and blood was coming out of her mouth and neck and nose, Baranyi said. NJ Advance Media confirmed Baranyis identity with three women who served with him in the Peace Corps in Albania as recently as last year. The outlet also confirmed with Baranyis father that the widely circulated video was of his son. The reporter asked him if he needed first aid, to which he declined. Im not injured. It could have been me, but she went in first. It was one of us. An emotional Baranyi asked the reporter to make this tragedy known. Just make sure people know, because this cannot stand anymore. This is wrong. They dont represent anyone. Not Republican, Democrat, Independent, nobody. And now theyll just, theyll kill people, Baranyi answered. When asked who is he referring to, Baranyi answered: Police, congressmen and women, they dont care. I mean, they think were a joke. $2,000 checks was a joke to them. You know, theres people filming us, laughing at us as we marched down the street at the Department of Justice. Theres a man in the window laughing at us, filming us. And here it was a joke to them until we got inside and then all of a sudden guns came out. But I mean, were at a point now, it cant be allowed to stand. We have to do something, people have to do something, because this could be you or your kids. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) An Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial arts fighter is accused of stabbing his two sisters early Thursday as they slept in a spare bedroom in his apartment because a higher power" told him to do so, police in Florida said. Irwin Rivera, 31, who is known as The Beast, remained in the Palm Beach County Jail early Friday on two counts of premeditated attempted murder, according to jail records. An arrest report said multiple neighbors and one of the victims called 911 to report the stabbing at Rivera's Boynton Beach home early Thursday morning. Arriving officers found a 22-year-old woman next to the road, covered in blood, an arrest report said. She had multiple stab wounds on her back, head and arm, and told officers her brother stabbed her. She told officers her sister was still in the house, the report said. The 33-year-old woman was found inside, also with multiple stab wounds. She had two collapsed lungs and was taken to Delray Medical Center, the report said. The sisters' identity was not released. The Boynton Beach Police department said one victim is in stable condition, the other is in critical condition. The women came to visit their brother at his home and spent the night in his spare bedroom, they told investigators. They woke up to Rivera repeatedly stabbing them with a knife, the arrest report said. The woman told police she tried to fight him off, but he kept stabbing her. The younger sister ran from the room, the report said. The woman told police she was finally able to push him away and call police. Neighbors told officers they woke up to a loud banging sound at their front door They found a woman covered in blood and begging for help, the report said. Hes trying to kill me! Please help my sister, the arrest report said the woman told neighbors. As the door was opened, the neighbors saw Rivera walking by, also covered in blood, the report said. Shut the door, Rivera shouted at the neighbors, according to the report. He then shouted, everything is okay." Story continues He took off running when he saw the neighbors were on the phone, the report said. Delray Beach Police found Rivera about 7 a.m., the report said. He spontaneously uttered I killed my sisters, according to the report. He was taken to the Boynton Beach Police Department, where he gave police a statement, and admitted to stabbing his sisters, the report said. He told investigators he used a brass knuckle knife to stab his sisters because a higher power" told him it was his purpose," the report said. UFC officials released a statement to MMA Weekly, a digital publication that covers the profession. UFC is aware of the recent incident involving Irwin Rivera and subsequently received information from his management that he has been exhibiting behavior consistent with mental health issues, the statement said. The statement said Rivera's career is on hold pending an investigation. A lawyer for Rivera was not listed on jail records. Donald Trump and his henchmen did not single-handedly normalize political violence. That was the collective work of many hands. Our liberal consensus is dying because of ideologues on the left and the right. Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump cover their faces to protect from tear gas during a clash with police officers in front of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington Anzeige Ours is the age of the mob and on Wednesday a mob stormed Capitol Hill. This particular gang was encouraged by the president, the most powerful man in the world, who for weeks has lied to his supporters, insisting that the election was stolen. Were going to the capitol, he said in a 70-minute speech at a rally on Wednesday, to try to give them the kind of pride and boldness they need to take back our country. His lawyer, Rudolph W. Giuliani, stood before the gathering and called for trial by combat. What followed was a scene out of a banana republic. The mob attacked the police. They shattered windows. They trashed the office of the Senate parliamentarian. They took down the stars and stripes and carried Confederate flags. They live streamed and took selfies and bragged to reporters about stealing Nancy Pelosis stationary from her desk. One man wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with a skull and the words Camp Auschwitz: Work will set you free. Exactly how they were able to do all of this is a scandal for another day. But by the end of Wednesday four Americans were dead, including an Air Force veteran named Ashli Babbitt. Anzeige Sometime in the chaos--time blurred between initial videos of the crowds overtaking the police and the unforgettable image of a digital age Viking, a shirtless man with a horned fur hat mugging for pictures in the well of the senate chamber-- the president-elect of the United States found his way to a podium to declare: This is not who we are. A pro-Trump mob breaks into the U.S. Capitol Quelle: AFP Im a sop for that kind of rhetoric. Give me speeches about our better angels, the ever-perfecting union, the shining city on a hill, the last best hope on earth. I cant stand at the Lincoln Memorial or think of the words on the liberty bell without crying. I carry a pocket constitution in my backpack. I am a Jew, but if its possible to be of two faiths my other one was always Americanism. I grew up on American exceptionalism and the kind of passionate patriotism possessed by those whose family stories would simply not be possible anywhere else in the world. I was raised with the rock-solid faith that ours was the most brilliant constitutional government ever devised. That what was good about this country so radically outweighed what was bad about it. That the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth. Anzeige I keep texting friends that I am heartsick. But maybe the more accurate way to put it is that I feel like Im losing my religion. When I heard Joe Biden insist that this wasnt America I wanted to reply: Isnt it? Mitt Romneys speech How we got to the vile events of January 6, 2021, will be a subject for historians. Surely a central figure in those stories will be our malignant, maniacal president. Mitt Romneys speech from the Senate floor on Wednesday presents as accurate a picture as any: We gather due to a selfish mans injured pride and the outrage of supporters who we had deliberately misinformed for the past two months and stirred to action this very morning. The presidents disgraceful enablers, Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, will also have a prominent place in the sordid story. But the 45th American president and his henchmen did not single-handedly normalize political violence of the kind we witnessed on Wednesday. That was the collective work of many hands. Anzeige I realize that the internet demands that we live in a state of constant nowness, Wednesdays news memory-holed in service of the ever-refreshing news feed. But try, if you can, to reach back to the events of this summer. In the wake of the killing of George Floyd at the hands of police, protests broke out in cities and towns across the country. But peaceful protests were not the summers only activity: the collective riot damage, at more than $1 billion, is the most expensive in insurance history. Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the U.S. Capitol Quelle: AFP Statutes of George Washington and Frederick Douglass were torn down by ecstatic crowds. Businesses were destroyed. Lawmakers were harassed by mobs. In the dead of night, protestors marched down residential streets and singled out homes for the sin of having an American flag. In June, the Seattle police abandoned a precinct in the citys Capitol Hill neighborhood and for the next month anarchists set up an autonomous zone ruled by American warlords. Two unarmed black teenagers were killed before the government finally did anything. In July, a courthouse in Portland was firebombed. The lunatic notion of abolishing the police was debated in our most storied newspapers. A book called In Defense of Looting was published by Hachette, a prestigious publishing house, in which the author argues that Jews and Koreans are the face of capital and that looting is mostly victimless crime. Destroying property, which can be replaced, is not violence, declared a Pulitzer Prize winner. And in one of the most emblematic images of the surreal gap between reality and The Narrative, a CNN reporter stood in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in front of roaring flames while the chyron beneath his image declared: fiery but mostly peaceful protest. Such were the moral and linguistic contortions. We were supposed to acquiesce to the insidious idea that such nihilism was the language of the unheard. Speech was violence, our intellectual betters declared, but violence, when carried out by the right people with the right politics against the right targets, was something closer to virtue. This isnt whataboutism. It is the crucial context for the inexcusable events on Wednesday. The norms had already been broken. We were already living in unreality. The liberal order that I grew up in Heres what I know: The liberal order that I grew up in, held up by Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, is falling apart. That was the order that insisted that all people were created in the image of God and therefore were entitled to equality under the law; that prized the sacredness of the individual over the group; that insisted on judging a person based on their deed and not based on their lineage; that upheld due process and the presumption of innocence; that rejected mob justice; that celebrated pluralism, tolerance and difference as sources of our strength; that saw liberty of thought, faith, and speech as the bedrocks of democracy; that held that true fairness demanded equality of opportunity but not equality of outcome. That liberal consensus is dying because of ideologues on the left and the right who hate the other side more than they love the country, who worship their own power more than they venerate the common good, our common story, and our common identity as Americans. Anzeige In the midst of the civil war, Lincoln called the United States the last best hope on Earth and I was raised, like millions of others, to believe in that creed and to stand in awe of those who sacrificed to make it so. It is not a coincidence that various American vandals began by taking down his statues and have now invaded the house where he made his name carrying the flag of those who tried to destroy our union. It is nothing less than that sacred inheritance that is under attack, as America threatens to become yet another country torn apart by the dislocations of the 21st century. Surely a new order must be built, even if it is the work of lifetimes. Quelle: Sam Bloom Bari Weiss was an op-ed staff editor of The New York Times until she quit the paper in July 2020. DETROIT Detroit Police Chief James Craig didnt hold back in criticizing the Capitol Police for their response to riots that erupted in Washington D.C. this week. They knew days in advance that there was potential for this, so why did it have to happen? Craig said during a news conference on Thursday. His remarks come after Capitol Police at the U.S. Capitol, as well as officers responding from the D.C. Metro Police Department, were overrun by supporters of President Donald Trump on Wednesday. News coverage, photos and videos on social media showed angry rioters breaching lightly guarded barriers around the Capitol grounds before making their way up the steps and walls of the Capitol itself and eventually breaching it. It took police several hours to secure the building while members of Congress were evacuated and sheltered in place. At least six people from Michigan were arrested during Wednesdays events, according to the Washington D.C. Metro Police Department. Craig said he doesnt blame the officers on the scene who were overwhelmed by domestic terrorists, but leadership within the department. Obviously there was very little if any coordination with local law enforcement, DC metro police, he said. They were responded as quickly as they could, according to their chief, but when they got there, it was out of control. Craig said Detroit is in a constant state of readiness when threats could be possible, citing the departments planning and response to protests that occurred in the city over the summer. RELATED: FBI seeks photos, videos, tips to identify rioters at U.S Capitol Building He was also asked if he thought police in Washington D.C. responded differently to this weeks riots than when the Black Lives Matter movement and its allies descended on the nations capital in the summer. If it was BLM and African Americans converging on the Capitol, would there have been a different response? Possibly so, he said, before reiterating that the rioters never should have reached the Capitol. Craig added that the race, politics, gender, and age of rioters should have no effect on police response. Focus on the behavior, he said. Not the individual. Finally, Craig was asked if it is sometimes better for police to let a mob through when theyre clearly overwhelmed. Again, he returned to Detroit for an example. In Detroit, we dont retreat, he said. Once you give ground. Its hard to get it back. Look what happened in Seattle. He mentioned his experience in dealing with the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles in 1992 before bringing accountability back to Capitol Police leadership and its failure to have a plan. People across this country are genuinely appalled, he said. So, it will be interesting in the days and weeks ahead to ask, how could this have happened? Where was leadership? What direction and guidance did they give the men and women on the ground? More than 50 officers between the two departments were injured in the riots and some were hospitalized. One woman, 35-year-old Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed inside the Capitol. READ MORE: West Michigan man arrested amid Capitol riot not a Trumpster, step-father says Michigan Trump supporter at protest in D.C. horrified by violence at Capitol Angry mobs cannot silence will of the people, Michigan Rep. Dan Kildee says Congressman Upton says attack on Capitol will stain Trumps legacy Mumbai: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Friday reached the Bandra police station here to record her statement in a case related to sedition and other charges. Ranaut, who has been provided Y-plus category security of CRPF personnel, arrived at the police station in suburban Mumbai around 1 pm along with her advocate amid heavy media presence. The Bandra police had registered an FIR against Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel for allegedly promoting enmity between communities through their remarks in October, an official said. The FIR was registered following orders from a magistrates court in Bandra. The court had directed the police to carry out an inquiry against Ranaut and her sister after a complaint was lodged against them for allegedly trying to create hatred and communal tension through their social media posts. Munawwar Ali Sayyad, a casting director and fitness trainer, had filed the complaintreferring to tweets and other statements of Ranaut and her sister. They were booked under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 295-A (deliberate acts hurting religious sentiments) and 124-A (sedition), 34 (common intention). Earlier, the Mumbai police had sent notices three times asking them to appear for recording their statements in the case. The Bombay High Court in November had granted interim protection from arrest to Kangana and her sister, and directed them to appear before the police on January 8. In Oakland and Emeryville, Monster Pho received a $25,000 surprise check from Steph and Ayesha Curry as a thank-you for having supplied meals to those in need throughout the pandemic. Plus, Bruce Lee's Warrior offers a glimpse into the history of San Francisco's Chinatown, UCSF will build affordable housing and supply thousands of new jobs, and more optimistic local stories featuring absolutely zero pics of insurgents with horns. 'Warrior,' Bruce Lee's long-lost ode to the untold history of SF's Chinatown, hits HBO Max, SFGate Set in 1870s Chinatown, the new series highlightsSF's Tong Wars and Chinese immigrant experience by telling the story of a martial artist who comes to the city to search for his sister. Read more. A homeless man found a wallet. After he returned it, a 12-year-old raised hundreds of dollars for him., The Washington Post After Sean Currey found the wallet of Mikayla Gounard's grandmother in a San Rafael dumpster, the tween secured donations as a supportive thank-you gift. Read more. This East Bay Restaurant Is Giving Away Free Pho, No Questions Asked, Eater SF Monster Pho owner Tee Tran decided to use the entirety of a $25,000 gift from Ayesha and Steph Curry to serve more 1,200 bowls of free pho. Read more. Remembering San Francisco's Giant Coca-Cola Sign With the Short Film 'Enjoy,' KQED If you're feeling nostalgic for SoMa's beloved Coke billboard that was removed this past fall, watch Enjoy, a quirky, straight-outta-the '90s, short film featuring the sign. Read more. UCSF agrees to build more than 1,200 new homes as part of giant Parnassus project, San Francisco Chronicle Construction plans for the new hospital will add 4,680 UCSF jobs, improve transit, and create 1,263 brand new residences. By 2050, 40 percent of the units will be reserved for affordable housing. Read more. Update: President Donald Trump has been permanently suspended from Twitter due to the risk of further incitement of violence. President Donald Trumps Twitter account has been unlocked and the president has begun tweeting again after a more than 12-hour suspension. Trump tweeted a video Thursday night that addressed the heinous attack on the United States capitol. Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem, he said in the video. Those who engaged in the act of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. The social media platform announced the account was suspended for at least 12 hours after Trump tweeted multiple times, including a video as extreme supporters of the president stormed the U.S. capitol building Wednesday, resulting in the death of four people. In the video originally posted to Twitter, Facebook and YouTube the president tells the supporters they are very special and asks for peace, while also continuing to state falsehoods about the presidential election. The video has been removed from all three platforms. We have to have peace, Trump said in a video. So, go home. We love you. Youre very special. Twitter required the president to delete the tweets to unlock the account. It also said permanent suspension was possible if its policy was continued to be violated. As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy, Twitter tweeted. The social media platform said that if the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked. Future violations of the Twitter Rules, including our Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies, will result in permanent suspension of the @realDonaldTrump account, Twitter said Wednesday night. As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy. https://t.co/k6OkjNG3bM Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 7, 2021 The social media platform originally restricted the ability to reply, retweet or like the presidents video on Wednesday. Although users could still quote Tweet the video. It has also been putting a disclaimer on Trumps Tweets. Soon after the video was removed from both Facebook and YouTube, Twitter took further action. Trumps Twitter account has more than 88 million followers. One of Trumps recent tweets that included a disclaimer by Twitter for making a false claim received more than 100k retweets and nearly 400k likes. During the 12-hour suspension Trumps aides posted a statement on Twitter. The statement from Trump said there would be an orderly transition on January 20th and acknowledged defeat in the election for the first time, the Associated Press reported. Earlier on Thursday, Facebook suspended Trumps social media accounts for at least two weeks, saying the risks are simply too great. Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor and an expert on social media, told the AP that Wednesdays events in D.C. are a direct result of Trumps use of social media, which he uses to spread propaganda and disinformation. Theyre creeping along towards firmer action, Grygiel told the AP. Social media is complicit in this because he has repeatedly used social media to incite violence. Its a culmination of years of propaganda and abuse of media by the president of the United States. It is unclear if Twitter will take further action, including possibly still banning the president. Related Content: Rep. Kim Byong-wook of the main opposition People Power Party, right, speaks to the media at the National Assembly, Seoul, Dec. 30. He left the party, Thursday, following allegations of rape. Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun By Kim Rahn In just nine months since the 21st National Assembly was inaugurated, six of the 300 elected lawmakers have left their parties or been expelled following allegations of criminal activity or unethical behavior. Public criticism is growing as decisions to leave or being expelled from their respective parties allow such lawmakers to evade criticism while maintaining the perks of their position as independents. Their respective former parties are also being denounced for allowing these troublesome lawmakers to leave or kicking them out without making the effort to sufficiently investigate allegations of impropriety, which also allows the parties to avoid responsibility. Rep. Kim Byong-wook of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) left the party, Thursday, after a rape allegation was raised against him. His departure came a day after YouTubers operating a channel claimed Kim, who was an aide to an opposition lawmaker in October 2018, sexually assaulted a female intern of another opposition lawmaker at a hotel in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province. Kim immediately denied the allegation, saying he would file all possible civil and criminal suits against the channel operators. But the next day he announced he would leave the PPP to avoid any backlash falling onto the party, adding, "I will return after proving my innocence." The announcement was made hours before the party's leadership was scheduled to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the issue. After Kim revealed his plans to leave the PPP, the meeting was cancelled, with the party saying there was no longer anything to discuss. "We were to talk about due process such as reviews at the party's ethics committee," PPP floor leader Rep. Joo Ho-young told reporters. "We don't know what the facts (of the case) are. The judiciary will have to investigate." Former PPP lawmaker Park Duk-hyum bows after a media briefing at the National Assembly, Seoul, where he announced his departure from the party due to corruption allegations raised against him, in this Sept. 23 photo. Korea Times file Before Kim, two other PPP lawmakers quit the party, this time after corruption allegations. Rep. Park Duk-hyum was embroiled in allegations he helped construction companies operating under the names of his family members obtain government contracts worth 100 billion won ($86 million) over a period of six years, by taking advantage of his position as a member of the National Assembly Land, Infrastructure and Transport Committee. As the PPP moved to form a panel to look into the allegations, the three-term lawmaker left the party in September, also claiming innocence and pledging to return after clearing up the allegations. Rep. Jeon Bong-min also left the PPP in December following suspicions that his father illegally transferred money to him. The father also allegedly tried to bribe a journalist to cover up news reports about the matter. The ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) has also seen similar cases among its lawmakers, including Rep. Lee Sang-jik, the founder of budget carrier Eastar Jet. Independent lawmaker Lee Sang-jik attends a National Assembly session in this Oct. 12 photo. Lee left the Democratic Party of Korea in September amid criticism for his alleged poor management of Eastar Jet, a budget carrier he founded. Korea Times file U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, speaks to reporters at the U.N. headquarters in New York City, on Sept. 12, 2019. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) US Ambassador to UN Will Visit Taiwan for 3-Day Trip TAIPEI, TaiwanU.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft will visit Taiwan for three days next week, becoming the third senior U.S. official to visit the island in less than six months. The United States Mission to the United Nations, in a statement released on Jan. 7, said that Craft will visit Taiwans capital Taipei from Jan. 13 to Jan. 15, for meetings with senior Taiwan counterparts and members of the diplomatic community. During her trip, the Ambassador will reinforce the U.S. governments strong and ongoing support for Taiwans international space, in accord with the U.S. One-China policy that is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-PRC joint communiques, and the Six Assurances to Taiwan, according to the statement. Washington ended its diplomatic ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing in 1979 but it has maintained a robust relationship with the island based on the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which was signed into law by former President Jimmy Carter in April 1979. The TRA authorizes the United States to provide the island with military equipment for its self-defense, and set up a nonprofit corporation called the American Institute in Taiwan, which is now the de-facto U.S. embassy on the island. Taiwans self-defense is mainly directed at China, which views the self-ruled island as its territory and has threatened to bring the island under its fold with military actions. In 1982, former President Ronald Reagan also made six security assurances to Taiwan, including that the United States pledges not to set a date for ending arms sales to the island, and that it would neither consult Beijing on any arms sales nor revise the TRA. The U.S. Mission also stated that Craft will deliver remarks on Jan. 14 at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs, which is an agency run by Taiwans Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her remarks will center on Taiwans impressive contributions to the global community and the importance of Taiwans meaningful and expanded participation in international organizations, according to the statement. Crafts trip to Taiwan was first announced by U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a statement on Jan. 6. On Jan. 7, Pompeo took to Twitter to explain how the Taiwan-U.S. relationship has warmed considerably under the Trump administration. Weve stood by our friends in Taiwan. Over the past 3 years, the Trump Administration authorized more than $15 billion in arms sales to Taiwan. The Obama Administration? $14 billion dollars in sales over 8 years, Pompeo wrote. In November last year, the Trump administration approved the sale of a $600 billion package of advanced drones to Taiwan. U.S. arms are vital to Taiwan in the face of escalating tension in the region. According to Taiwans Ministry of National Defense, Chinese jets violated Taiwans air space about 380 times in 2020 and have continued to carry out such incursions at least 6 times in 2021. Outrage from Red China Beijing has been outraged by Crafts trip. On Thursday, Tan Kefei, spokesperson of Chinas Ministry of National Defense, said in a statement demanding the United States stop all official exchange and military contacts with Taiwan. His reasoning was that issues regarding Taiwan are Chinas internal affairs. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has also opposed governments and international organizations from forming ties with the island because that might suggest that Taiwan is a de-facto nation-state. For instance, Beijing has blocked Taiwan from participating in the World Health Organization, despite the islands enormous success in containing the spread of the CCP virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus. As of Jan. 7, Taiwan has a total of 822 COVID-19 cases, with seven deaths. The island has a population of about 24 million. On Friday, Xavier Chang, a spokesperson for Taiwans Presidential Office, told local media that Crafts trip will deepen the friendship between Taiwan and the United States, and have a positive effect on future cooperation between the two sides. Last year, two senior U.S. officials visited Taiwan, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Under Secretary of State Keith Krach. The Arkansas man who was photographed in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office has been arrested, according to the FBI. Richard Barnett, of Gravette, surrendered at about 10 a.m. Friday at the Benton County Sheriff's Office. He was arrested on federal charges. Gravette Mayor Kurt Maddox has condemned Barnett's actions. "This is one person, and its not the whole of Gravette. People in Gravette work together well and get along, whether we agree or disagree on things," said Mayor Maddox. "We certainly do not agree with his actions or what he did." According to multiple reports, Barnett took a personalized envelope from Pelosi's desk. "From everything I have heard it's no surprise. He has talked crazy talk for a long time, and I hope that law enforcement throws the book at him," said Arkansas State Sen. Jim Hendren. U.S. Rep. Steve Womack also commented on the photo and Barnett's actions in an interview with sister station 40/29 News. "When you get a phone call from one of your staffers that says, 'By the way, that image you are watching there of that gentleman at the speakers desk, that happens to be one of your constituents.' That hurt. That is not representative of the great people of the third district of Arkansas," he said. NEW DELHI : India on Friday said it was engaged" with the US to ensure increased predictability" in American visa rules especially those governing H1B visas, popular with Indian software professionals and others travelling for work to the US. Indian foreign ministry spokesman Anurag Srivastava said India had taken note of the recent proclamations of the US Government extending by three more months the current suspension of entry of certain immigrants and non-immigrants to the United States of America." The Indian statement was in reaction to the US on Thursday announcing that it will modify the selection process for H1B visa, giving priority to salary and skills instead of the current lottery procedures. The Trump administration tightened the rules in the wake of unemployment rising on the back of US businesses downing shutters in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic crippling the economy. The rule to be published in the federal register on 8 January is aimed at protecting the economic interests of US workers and ensuring that most highly skilled foreign workers benefit from the temporary employment programme, a PTI report from Washington said on Thursday. It will remain effective for 60 days after its publication in the Federal Register. The next H1B visa filing season is slated to start on 1 April, the report said. We are engaged with the US Government for increased predictability in the visa regime and to minimize inconvenience to Indian nationals in the US or those proposing to travel to the US for bonafide reasons, including the movement of Indian professionals," Srivastava he said. People-to-people relations are a vital part of the partnership between India and the US. There is recognition in the US of the fact that Indian skilled professionals have contributed to the growth of the US economy and helped the US retain its competitive edge and innovation advantage," he added. The H1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in specialty occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. US technology companies depend on this category of visa to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Group 1b includes a group of the most essential workers, like teachers, firefighters, food industry workers, factory personnel, postal carriers and people 65 and over. These could start in February. Pfister said precisely where people in that group are prioritized is not yet certain, with the exception of teachers. Group 1c, consisting of all other essential workers, comes next. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConell (R-Ky.) (C) walks to a press conference with fellow Republicans following the weekly Republican policy luncheon in Washington on July 30, 2019. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) McConnell Vows to Hold Painstaking Investigation and Thorough Review After US Capitol Breach Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) on Thursday announced that there would be a review of security protocols after a group of protestors stormed into the U.S. Capitol disrupting Congresss joint session on Wednesday. Yesterday represented a massive failure of institutions, protocols, and planning that are supposed to protect the first branch of our federal government, McConnell said in a statement. A painstaking investigation and thorough review must now take place and significant changes must follow. He added that initial bipartisan discussions have commenced in congressional committees of oversight and congressional leadership. On Wednesday, a group of rioters breached the Capitol building after breaking windows to enter as lawmakers were sitting during a joint session to count Electoral College votes. The mayhem on Capitol grounds led to four deathsthree which were medical relatedand dozens of police officers injured. In a struggle to get control of the situation, police began evacuating some congressional office buildings, while some lawmakers were asked to shelter in place. The commotion finally ended when U.S. Capitol police begun dispersing protesters by deploying tear gas and percussion grenades. Protesters also left due to a citywide curfew that began at 6 p.m. The chaos forced both houses of Congress to suspend the session, which delayed the Electoral College counting process for several hours. Workers begin to clean up the debris and damage caused by protestors at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) I salute and applaud those front-line U.S. Capitol Police officers who stood bravely in harms way during yesterdays failed insurrection, McConnell said in his statement. We are praying today for those who sustained injuries, some serious, in the line of duty. Congress is also deeply grateful to the local officers from D.C., Virginia, and Maryland, the federal law enforcement personnel, the National Guard, and all the other professionals who deployed to help subdue the criminals and retake the Capitol. After Congress convened to count the remainder of the electoral votes, which had stalled during a debate over Arizonas votes, lawmakers took the opportunity to decry the violence. Democrats and several Republicans were quick to blame President Donald Trump for the civil unrest. The ultimate blame for yesterday lies with the unhinged criminals who broke down doors, trampled our nations flag, fought with law enforcement, and tried to disrupt our democracy, and with those who incited them, McConnell said. But this fact does not and will not preclude our addressing the shocking failures in the Capitols security posture and protocols, he added. A group of protesters gather inside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Some lawmakers have also turned their attention to the security officials at the U.S. Capitol. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement to media outlets that he would fire Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Michael Stenger when Democrats take control of the Senate later this month. If Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Stenger hasnt vacated the position by then, I will fire him as soon as Democrats have a majority in the Senate, Schumer said. Following the incident, President-elect Joe Biden condemned the protests, characterizing them as an insurrection that was bordering on sedition. Meanwhile, Trump called for peace and urged the protesters to go home. In a statement on Thursday, White House press secretary Kaleigh McEnany condemned the violence. The violence we saw yesterday at our nations capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. We condemn it, the president and this administration, in the strongest possible terms, McEnany said. Following the joint session that ended after 3 a.m. local time, Congress certified the Electoral College votes for Biden. Trump subsequently released a statement promising an orderly transition on Jan. 20. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) -- As we continue to cover the events that have unfolded at our US capitol, you may be wondering if something like that could happen here in Indiana or the Wabash Valley. News 10 spoke with Indiana State Police Sergeant Matt Ames as well as local law enforcement to see what plans are in place in case of civil unrest. Sargent Ames was at the Statehouse right before speaking with News 10. Ames said multiple Indiana State Troopers are going to be there to make sure lawmakers can safely do their jobs. He told News 10 the state senators, and representatives were very thankful to have the extra protection. Ames told News 10 the state capitol was very peaceful, but he said state police will continue to provide extra protection until they feel it's no longer needed. He said the agency is always looking ahead to what could happen. Ames told News 10 the top priority is to make sure people are protected. He said, "When you do those gatherings and they become un-peaceful, and a riot does occur, we will step in. We will intervene, and we will provide a safe environment for everyone living here in the state of Indiana. Because that's what we're supposed to be doing, that's the reason we become police officers. So we can protect everyone here." Vigo county sheriff John Plasse said he's been at our nation's capital almost every year for police week. He said he knows exactly where those protesters were because he's walked in those exact places. Plasse said, "I looked at that, and I thought that's where we were. That's where the president walked out when he addressed the families. And that was a much better setting when we were there in person than what I saw yesterday." Plasse said when he saw yesterday's events unfold it was extremely troubling and very upsetting. He said he never wants history repeating itself, especially here in Vigo County. But he's confident Vigo County would be prepared should the situation arise. Plasse said, "As sheriff one of my responsibilities in my statute is the protection of the courthouse. So, when I see something like that we always roll up what we're going to do to protect that." Plasse said he's not seen anything mirroring Wednesday's violence in Washington at a local level. So far, he said he's only seen a few peaceful protestors at the Vigo County Courthouse. However, there are plans in place to make sure everyone stays protected. He said, "We have to protect, we have to do our job, no matter if there are 3,00 people to one. You took an oath to serve and protect. And that's what you have to do." Plasse also told News 10 that he believes the Vigo County community will not react in a violent way if they want their voices heard. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Flight services between the UK and India recommenced on Friday, with national carrier Air India flying in over 250 passengers from that country. An AI-112 flight landed at Delhi's IGI Airport from the UK. The special flights would be operated under strict supervision. As per the latest government guidelines, all passengers arriving from the UK would have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR test in the UK as well as in India. In a tweet, the Delhi airport said: "Passengers are advised to maintain a gap of minimum 10 hours between their international flights' estimated time of arrival and the connecting domestic flights' time of departure." Last week, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said flight services between India and UK will resume from January 6, while those from UK to India will recommence from January 8. These services were suspended in December to stop the spread of a mutant Covid-19 strain which was recently discovered in the UK. At present, this schedule is valid till January 23, 2021. Further frequencies will be determined after review. 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. The 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 and from the UK till January 7. Prior to the suspension, over 60 flights per week were being operated between UK and India. Airlines such as Vistara, Air India, Virgin Atlantic and British Airways operate flights between the two countries. -- Syndicated from IANS Malibu, California--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - Green Stream Holdings Inc. (OTC Pink: GSFI) ("the Company") (http://www.GreenRainSolar.com ), an emerging leader in the solar utility and finance space, is pleased to announce the acquisition of Chuck's Vintage (https://chucksvintageoriginal.com), an iconic brand and retail location renown among Los Angeles celebrity elite and fashion enthusiasts alike. Chuck's Vintage To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/71626_fc121abea4e7a846_002full.jpg Established in 2006, Chuck's Vintage is a store unlike any other; a true American original. The moment you step over the threshold at 16618 Marquez Ave., Pacific Palisades 90272 you find yourself in the midst of abundant treasure. The selection of vintage denim has to be seen to be believed. The blue jeans in her store range from Strongholds found in the California Gold Rush mines to World War II-Era Levi's, Lees, and Wranglers, as well as 1960's ladies high-waisted and groovy deadstock Levi's bells. Come to Chuck's for the denim but stick around and complete your look with the founder's sampling of vintage American workwear: rugged military and work boots, buttery leather bomber jackets, and soft, perfectly worn-in vintage 70's rock tees. Classic American Cool. Miley Cyrus Dressed Head-to-toe in Chuck's Vintage To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/71626_fc121abea4e7a846_003full.jpg Woody Harrelson Wearing Vintage Chambray Shirt Purchased from Chuck's Vintage To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/71626_fc121abea4e7a846_004full.jpg Dierks Bentley Rockin his Chuck's Vintage Custom Jeans To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/71626_fc121abea4e7a846_005full.jpg Chuck's Vintage was founded by GSFI former CEO Madeline Cammarata (fka Madeline Harmon) who hailed from an illustrious background in fashion. Her career began as a fashion model where she was soon discovered by the iconic and provocative fashion photographer Helmet Newton, launching Cammarata to the runways of Europe. Returning the US, Madeline found a powerful niche in the high fashion world of denim, where she was instrumental in providing fabric development for powerful brands like 7 For All Mankind and provided thousands of pieces to celebrity and business elites from Steve Jobs to Morrissey and everywhere in between. Chuck's Vintage Fashion To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/71626_fc121abea4e7a846_006full.jpg CEO Eric Fain states, "Madeline's legacy will live on as we fulfill her wish of expanding the brand and its ideology internationally and with an e-commerce tie-in, celebrity endorsements, and brand ambassadors; all the while ensuring that each store is operated by a fashion designer or high-end retail fashion buyer opening doors and global opportunities for up-and-coming fashionistas featuring original design and unique procurement of fashion/accessories from around the world.' Initiatives also include GSFI's proprietary rooftop solar technology to be utilized in select retail locations throughout the U.S. as the brand expands its flagship store in L.A. Founder Madeline Cammarata with Daughter of French Designer Rei Kawakubo To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6720/71626_fc121abea4e7a846_007full.jpg Investors stay tuned for excited updates on plans for Chuck's Vintage as well as progress on our solar utility projects as we continue to expand our portfolio throughout the U.S. from our new New York Headquarters. IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR SHAREHOLDERS: Green Stream Holdings, Inc. will be retiring a significant amount of debt on our books in Q1 and through 2021 Green Stream Holdings, Inc. Will Be Issuing Restricted Shares on January 20th, 2021 To Holders Of Common Stock As Of January 10th, 2021: One share of restricted common stock for every 100 shares of common stock presently owned. The Distribution of the special stock dividend will be made on Jan 20, 2021 (the "Distribution Date") to all Green Stream stockholders of record on the record date of Jan 10, 2021. The Distribution will take place in the form of a pro rata common stock dividend to each Green Stream stockholder of record on the Distribution Date. No fractional shares of common stock will be distributed. Instead, Green Stream stockholders will receive a number rounded to the next highest number. The Distribution is intended to qualify as tax free to Green Stream stockholders for U.S. federal income tax purposes. No vote or action is required by Green Stream's stockholders in order to receive the Distribution, which is subject to certain customary conditions, which conditions are expected to be satisfied on or prior to the distribution date. Visit greenrainsolar.com where you can view Green Stream's news, filings and even a live Level 2 stream, along with other company Information. About Green Stream Finance, Inc.: Green Stream Finance, Inc., a solar utility and finance company with satellite offices in Malibu, CA and New York, NY, is focused on exploiting currently unmet markets in the solar energy space, and is currently licensed in California, Nevada, Arizona, Washington, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Colorado, Hawaii, and Canada. The Company's next-generation solar greenhouses constructed and managed by Green Rain Solar, LLC, a Nevada-based division, utilize proprietary greenhouse technology and trademarked design developed by world-renowned architect Mr. Antony Morali. The Company is currently targeting high-growth solar market segments for its advanced solar greenhouse and advanced solar battery products. The Company has a growing footprint in the significantly underserved solar market in New York City where it is targeting 50,000 to 100,000 square feet of rooftop space for the installation of its solar panels. Green Stream is looking to forge key partnership with major investment groups, brokers, and private investors in order to capitalize on a variety of unique investment opportunities in the commercial solar energy markets. The Company is dedicated to becoming a major player in this critical space. Through its innovative solar product offerings and industry partnerships, the Company is well-positioned to become a significant player in the solar space. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and is subject to the safe harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. That includes the possibility that the business outlined in this press release cannot be concluded for some reason. That could be as a result of technical, installation, permitting or other problems that were not anticipated. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Green Stream Finance, Inc. to be materially different from the statements made herein. Except for any obligation under the U.S. federal securities laws, Green Stream Finance, Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For All Inquiries Contact: +1 (424) 280-4096 president@greenstreamfinance.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71626 GRAND RAPIDS, MI - School leaders from the two largest districts in Muskegon and Kent counties, which have conducted fully remote learning during the coronavirus pandemic, applauded Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer calls for in-person classes by March 1. Muskegon Public Schools and Grand Rapids Public Schools are among the few West Michigan districts to remain online-only since August, although both have plans to reopen this semester. The administrators said commended Whitmer for continuing to give parents the option to send kids to school, given some families skepticism about COVID-19. I think what Whitmer did was intelligent, because shes listening to the science and shes also listening to the people and trying to satisfy both ends of the spectrum, Muskegon Public Schools Superintendent Matthew Cortez said Friday, Jan. 8, following Whitmers remarks. During a virtual afternoon press conference, Whitmer strongly encouraged schools to offer an option for in-person instruction no later than March 1. She said the goal is for every student to have the option of face-to-face learning, especially for younger children. RELATED: Michigan governor calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1 The state has largely left it up to local school leaders this year to decide whether or not to reopen for in-person learning amid the pandemic. Most schools offered a hybrid learning option in an effort to limit class sizes and mitigate close contacts, but some of the largest school districts in the state including Ann Arbor, Kalamazoo, Muskegon and Grand Rapids have remained fully virtual since August. While Grand Rapids Public Schools was already planning a transition to hybrid learning this month prior to the governors recommendations, spokesperson John Helmholdt said the districts plans are in line with new guidelines by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. We applaud the governor for her leadership in managing COVID-19, as well as her advocacy and support for in-person learning across the state, Helmholdt said. Our administration believes strongly that we need to provide opportunities for in-person learning for students and families that choose it. The district of 14,509 students will continue to offer a remote learning option to families once it begins hybrid classes Jan. 19. Helmoldt said roughly one-third of Grand Rapids families have opted to continue remote learning. Some of the infection control measures issued by Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Friday include assigning students to cohort groups, conducting self screening for COVID-19 symptoms and improving school air ventilation. But some of those guidelines may be easier for some schools in the state to accommodate than others, Cortez said. Most of the school buildings in Muskegon Public Schools have poor air ventilation systems, making proper air ventilation difficult for the district, he said. All of my buildings are pretty old and the cycle of air inside the buildings is behind, and this being an airborne virus, those are two things that dont go hand in hand, he said. The air circulation is not as is, what would I say, equal to what the new systems are. Thats one of the reasons why Muskegon has delayed the return of students amid the pandemic, Cortez said. The district of 3,500 students has been fully remote since August but plans to begin hybrid learning for grades K-5 in February and will eventually bring grades 6-12 in before March 1. RELATED: No in-person classes? No problem. This Michigan school has a personal solution Muskegon parents are split 50/50 between wanting in-person or fully remote classes this spring, Cortez said. The district sent out a survey to families in December to gauge interest in hybrid learning. A number of people made multiple comments saying, Dont bring the kids back in the building until the fall, just finished the year out remotely, bring the kids back in the fall when its much safer, Cortez said. To help you navigate this complicated school year, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up. More on MLive: Kalamazoo evaluates safety of in-person learning as Portage students returning to school this month Schools have been touted as safer than bars and restaurants during COVID-19. So why are they closing? COVID-19 vaccine is not a golden ticket to normalcy in Michigan schools - yet Video diaries: Teachers reflect on 2020s roller coaster ride A futher 20 deaths linked to Covid-19 and 8,248 new cases of the virus in Ireland has been confirmed by the Department of Health this evening. There is now 135,884 cases of Coronavirus in Ireland, and a total of 2,327 deaths have occurred. Of the cases notified today, 3,013 are in Dublin, 1,374 in Cork, 538 in Limerick, 314 in Kildare, 310 in Donegal and the remaining 2,699 cases are spread across all other counties A total of 3,834 of the new confirmed cases are men and 4,375 are women. As of 2pm today, 1,180 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 109 are in ICU. 116 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; Three cases of a new variant of COVID-19 recently identified in South Africa have been confirmed in Ireland today by whole genome sequencing. All of the cases identified are directly associated with recent travel from South Africa. Anyone who has travelled from South Africa recently is advised to self-isolate for 14 days and identify themselves through a GP for testing as soon as possible. We are particularly advising healthcare workers travelling from South Africa, that it is essential that they self-isolate for 14 days before entering/re-entering the workplace. While this variant has not yet been identified in many European countries we believe the identification here reflects the extent of genome sequencing surveillance in Ireland. Dr Cillian De Gascun, Medical Virologist and Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said; The ECDC Assessment states that preliminary analyses indicate that 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 this variant is associated with higher severity of infection. There is currently not enough information available to determine whether this variant poses a possible risk related to vaccine match and effectiveness. The antigenic characterisation of this new variant is ongoing, and results are expected in the coming weeks. Read More Meanwhile, health officials are preparing emergency plans as hospital staff are bracing themselves for the number of Covid-19 patients to more than double over the coming weeks. Anne OConnor, HSE chief operations officer, said they are preparing for 2,500 coronavirus patients in hospital, with up to 400 people in ICU over the coming weeks. We hope we dont get there and the action people take will impact on that, Dr OConnor told RTE. Part of the challenge is time lag. When we hear the big numbers announced every day, in terms of the number who test positive, it takes a number of days or even a week for that to translate into hospital figures and another week again for ICU figures. The senior HSE official said that all hospital sites have surge capacity and will scale up to respond to higher numbers. It comes as Cork University Hospital (CUH) is preparing to trigger its emergency tiered escalation plan over the rising number of cases. Dr OConnor said they are concerned about a number of sites in Cork. We have scaled back on non-Covid work on much of our sites, we are prioritising Covid and there are risks in that both for people who havent been able to access services and had appointments cancelled this week, she added. QINGDAO, China, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SOS Limited (NYSE: SOS) (the "Company" or "SOS"), a high-tech company providing a wide range of data mining and marketing analysis services to its corporate and individual members in China, announced today that it has entered into a securities purchase agreement with certain accredited investors to purchase $25,021,250 worth of its American Depositary Shares ("ADS") and warrants in a registered direct offering. Under the terms of the securities purchase agreement, the Company has agreed to sell 13,525,000 ADSs and warrants to purchase 13,525,000 ADS. The warrants will be exercisable immediately upon the date of issuance and have an exercise price of $1.85. The warrants will expire five years from the date of issuance. The purchase price for one ADS and one corresponding warrant will be $1.85. The determination of the purchase price was based on the average of the Company's closing stock price over the past five trading days. The gross proceeds to the Company from the registered direct offering are estimated to be $25,021,250 before deducting the placement agent's fees and other estimated offering expenses. The registered direct offering is expected to close on or about January 12, 2021, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The Company intends to use the proceeds from the offering to develop its planned blockchain-based security and insurance technology business as well as for working capital and general corporate use. Maxim Group LLC is acting as sole placement agent in connection with this offering. The securities described above are being offered by the Company pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (File No.: 333-250145) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") dated November 17, 2020, and declared effective on November 30, 2020. A prospectus supplement related to the offering will be, filed with the SEC and available on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of the prospectus supplement relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, by contacting: Maxim Group LLC, 405 Lexington Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10174, by telephone: at (212) 895-3500. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of such state or jurisdiction. About SOS Limited SOS Limited, through its operating subsidiary, SOS Information Technology Co., Ltd. ("SOS") is a high-technology company providing a wide range of services to its corporate and individual members, including marketing data, technology and solutions for emergency rescue services. SOS is focused on the research and development of big data, cloud computing, Internet of Things, blockchain and artificial intelligence. We have created a SOS cloud emergency rescue service software as a service (SaaS) platform with three major product categories, including basic cloud (medical rescue card, car rescue card, financial rescue card, mutual assistance rescue card), cooperative cloud (information rescue center, intelligent big data, intelligent software and hardware), and information cloud (News Today, E-Commerce Today). This system provide marketing-related data, technology solutions, and technology-driven big data to clients such as insurance companies, financial institutions, medical institutions, healthcare providers, auto manufacturers, security providers, senior living assistance providers and other service providers in the emergency rescue services industry. SOS has obtained a national high-tech enterprise certification, the title of "big data star enterprise" awarded by Gui'an New District Government, and has registered 96 software copyrights and 2 patents. For more information, please visit: http://www.sosyun.com/ Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Such forward-looking statements include timing of the proposed transaction; the business plans, objectives, expectations and intentions of the parties; SOS's estimated and future results of operations, business strategies, competitive position, industry environment and potential growth opportunities market acceptance of our products; the ultimate impact of the current Coronavirus pandemic, or any other health epidemic, on our business, our research programs, healthcare systems or the global economy as a whole; our intellectual property; our reliance on third party organizations; our anticipated financial and operating results, including anticipated sources of revenues; our assumptions regarding the size of the available market, benefits of our product offering, product pricing, timing of product launches; management's expectation with respect to future acquisitions; statements regarding our goals, intentions, plans and expectations, including the introduction of new products and markets; and our cash needs and financing plans and etc. These forward-looking statements reflect the current analysis of existing information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. As a result, caution must be exercised in relying on forward-looking statements. SOS may not realize its expectations, and its beliefs may not prove correct. Due to known and unknown risks, our actual results may differ materially from our expectations or projections. All forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, the Company does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements. Additional information concerning these and other factors that may impact our expectations and projections can be found in our periodic filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. SOS's SEC filings are available publicly on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. SOS disclaims any obligation to update the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. SOURCE SOS Limited Related Links http://www.sosyun.com/ WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Below is a statement by U.S. Conference of Mayors President and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer on President-elect Biden's selection of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh to serve as the next Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor: "The nation's mayors applaud President-elect Biden's selection of Boston Mayor Marty Walsh as the next Secretary of Labor. As families across the country continue to face extraordinary challenges, Marty's deep commitment to fighting for workers and the middle class will be critical to meeting this moment in our nation's history. "Marty has been a stalwart member of the Conference of Mayors, serving as a Trustee of the organization and chairing the Community Development and Housing Committee, the Children, Health and Human Services Committee, as well as the Substance Abuse, Prevention, and Recovery Services Task Force. He also graciously hosted hundreds of mayors in Boston for the Conference's Annual Meeting in 2018. His clear vision, steady voice and tireless efforts have strengthened the Conference's work as he has become a trusted advisor on a number of issues, including the fight for social justice, access to healthcare and protecting the environment. "As the country recovers from the devastating impacts of the pandemic, we are confident that Marty's experience as a mayor will bring a valuable perspective to the Department. We look forward to partnering with him on the urgent work that is needed to restore the economy and regain the jobs that have been lost." About The United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are nearly 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/usmayors, or follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/usmayors. SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors Related Links www.usmayors.org State Sen. David G. Argall said Wednesday that he joined other state lawmakers in urging U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell to delay certifying the 2020 election results because of what he said is his constituents belief that Gov. Tom Wolf manipulated election laws. Many of the people Ive been elected to represent simply do not trust the way Wolf and his hand-picked officials have repeatedly ignored the election laws approved on a bipartisan basis by the (state) Senate and House, he said. Argall, R-29, a Rush Twp. Republican whose district includes all of Schuylkill County, said Wolf is the worst governor with whom he has worked in terms of bipartisanship. Only Tom Wolf has repeatedly and continually ignored bipartisan legislation approved by large margins in the House and Senate from election laws to laws designed to address the governors highly restrictive, unilateral COVID shutdowns on small businesses and youth sports, he said. Argall also said he wants the Legislature, which is controlled by Republicans, to take back some of the power he believes Wolf, a Democrat, has usurped. Hes our governor, not our king, Argall said of Wolf. Signing this letter to the U.S. Congress is my protest to Tom Wolf. He said he has received thousands of messages on the subject, and the great majority of ones from his district, which also includes parts of Berks County, are from people upset with the conduct of the election. In the election, Democrat Joe Biden carried the state as part of his winning the election against incumbent Republican President Trump. Many have questioned the result, although they have produced no concrete evidence of fraud. On Tuesday, hundreds of Trump supporters turned out for a protest at the state Capitol in Harrisburg on the day the state Legislature was sworn in for a new term. On Wednesday, a similar protest at the U.S. Capitol in Washington turned violent. FORTY six families will have brand new homes in the coming weeks when they get their keys to a house in Mungret. Co-operative Housing Ireland (CHI) confirmed to the Leader they purchased 46 houses in Baunacloka Heights, Mungret, for just over 11m. CHI is the national organisation representing, promoting and developing co-operative housing in Ireland. David Ryan, CHI area housing services manager west / south, said they are all three bedroom abodes with a mix of semi-detached and terraced. Mr Ryan said the allocations process is ongoing. However, CHI - an approved housing body - is looking to allocate the houses in the coming weeks depending on Covid-19 restrictions. Unsurprisingly, Mr Ryan said there has been great interest in the scheme and positive feedback to date. Approved applicants from Limerick City and County Councils housing waiting list were sent to CHI, who carry out assessments and interview the families. CHI work closely with city and county councils to provide homes to people on local housing lists. We do this by developing strong relationships with builders and developers. Key to our model is the involvement and engagement of our residents at all levels, said Mr Ryan. Rent is based on Limerick City and County Councils Differential Rent Scheme, therefore it is income based and affordable. He explains that each household will be a member of the Ralahine Housing Co-operative and may participate in its board and participate in CHI cooperative structures. Members have a say in the running of the co-operative, the management of estates, hosting community events and can elect representatives on to the national board of CHI. The estate will be managed through our local office in Limerick where CHI have a housing officer. CHI take the approach of it being member led, and we hope the new members will take the lead in setting up a committee onsite to liaise with our housing officer around the upkeep of the estate and community activities, said Mr Ryan. Depending on Covid-19 restrictions, the new residents will receive their keys in February. The development was achieved through partnership with Limerick City and County Council, Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. A Muslim woman has alleged that her husband, who is presently in Qatar, has given her triple talaq over phone, police said on Friday. Nazish Begum, who married Qutubdin Usmani on February 8, 2018, complained on Thursday that her husband divorced her by uttering "talaq" thrice over the phone, ASP Sanjay Yadav said. The mahila thana has been directed to conduct a probe and take necessary action in this connection , the ASP said. Nazish Begum told reporters that her husband left for Qatar after three months of marriage following which she started getting harassed at her in-laws' house. When she complained about a close relative making advances towards her, Usmani threatened her. Nazish Begum said that she was thrown out of the house on December 28, 2020 and she returned to her parents' home in Sikriya Kala village under Gadwar police station area in Ballia. When she apprised her husband on the phone about what had transpired with her, he gave her triple talaq and said that he had nothing to do with her anymore, she said, adding that she has sought justice from the police. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Bird flu or Avian influenza outbreak has spread to four states in the country, which have reported confirmed cases of the disease, with some districts of Kerala culling birds to stop the spread of the virus. These states are -- Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Haryana. Few other states, including Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, also witnessed unusual deaths of poultry, crows and migratory birds, the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying said in an official statement on Thursday. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry The Centre has asked local authorities to boost surveillance around water bodies, live bird markets, zoos and poultry farms. Meanwhile, Delhi's Husbandry department has been put on a high alert due to the increasing number of bird flu cases in the neighbouring states. So far, there are no cases of its transmission into humans, as per reports. The human-to-human transfer of avian influenza is 'very rare' and it has no connection with the novel coronavirus. However, those working in the poultry farms should take necessary precautions like wearing PPE kits while working in the farm. The current bird flu outbreak comes barely a few months after India on 30 September last year declared the country free from the disease. Let's take a look at the current infection scenario in India: Kerala - A three-member Central Government team visited Kerala on Thursday to assess the situation arising out of the bird flu outbreak in the Alappuzha and Kottayam districts of the state. In Kerala, as many as 50,935 birds have been culled to stop the spread of the bird flu. This is in addition to the 25,000 odd birds that had died due to the bird flu outbreak in the state. Himachal Pradesh - In the state's Pong wildlife sanctuary, around 381 more migratory birds were found dead, taking the death toll of the birds from the avian influenza to 3,409. Odisha - The Odisha government has asked people to not panic over the incident as the avian influenza virus test came negative in all five selected samples. The Fisheries and Animal Resource Development Department in a statement said that people can consume chicken meat, eggs and other poultry products produced in the state after properly cooking them. Haryana - The state Animal Husband and Dairying department has sent three samples to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal after the intervention of the Centre. Samples from two were found positive for H5N8 (avian influenza), JP Dalal, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Fisheries Minister of Haryana, said. Rajasthan - Deaths of over 170 new birds were reported from some districts in the state recently, taking the total fatalities to over 425. Jammu and Kashmir - 150 crows were found dead in Jaganoo area of Udhampur district, Jammu and Kashmir amid the bird flu outbreak. Samples of dead crows have been sent for testing to detect if they died from the bird flu. In the wake of several reports of poultry, crows, migratory bird deaths, the Centre has established a central Control room to strategise, co-ordinate and facilitate state governments with regard to outbreak management, disease control and containment. Moreover, two central teams have been deployed to visit the affected states of Kerala, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh for monitoring and for epidemiological investigation. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - More than 4,000 Covid-19 deaths have been recorded in a single day in the United States, for the first time since the pandemic broke out a year ago. Also, a steep hike in infections took the number of daily cases in the country to an all-time record. With 4038 additional fatalities reporting in the last 24 hours, the total U.S. death toll from the deadly disease rose to 365317, as per the latest data from the Johns Hopkins University. During the same period, 2,74,544 new cases were reported across the country, taking the total number of patients infected with the disease to 21579581. California, Florida, and Texas, the three most populous states in the U.S., together reported around 80000 cases. California, the worst affected state, alone reported 583 deaths. The 7-day average for deaths is now more than 2,750, also a record. For the first time in more than a month, a fall in COVID hospitalization toll was reported. As per the latest update published by COVID Tracking Project on Friday, a total of 132,370 patients are currently admitted in U.S. hospitals with the deadly disease. Out of this, 23,821 patients are admitted in Intensive Care Units. Some small states such as Alabama, Arizona, and Nevada have very high hospitalization rates per capita. The national average Covid test positivity rate reported on Thursday was 13.59 percent. In the first week of 2021, U.S. states and territories reported more cases of COVID-19 than at any other point during the pandemic. The last seven days also saw the highest number of deaths and hospitalizations due to the pandemic. Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller said 439,500 additional COVID vaccines were distributed to the American people Thursday. It brings the total number of vaccine doses distributed in the country to 20,459,000. In COVID-related developments in other parts of the world, the British government has made coronavirus testing mandatory for all travelers arriving from abroad. It has also extended a southern Africa travel ban to control a new Covid-19 variant. 11 million people in the northern Chinese city of Shijiazhuang have been put under lock down to contain the country's worst outbreak of the disease in months. A three-day lockdown has been imposed in Australia's Greater Brisbane after a single case of the UK strain of Covid-19 was detected in a person. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON- After pro-trump rioters breached the Capitol building and protested around the city, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser has extended for extra 15 days the public emergency she previously declared on Wednesday. The latest order coming from the D.C. Mayor is expected to end on Tuesday, at exactly 3 p.m. on January 21, which is a day after the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Based on the order of Bowser, she shared that the First Amendment protests turned violent as a lot of persons who came to the District armed and carrying the purpose of engaging in violence and destruction, as they created destruction and have engaged in violence. She also added they have fired chemical irritants, bottles, bricks, and guns. Bowser emphasized that the protesters have breached the security of the Capitol and their destructive and riotous behavior exhibited potential in spreading beyond the Capitol. According to The Hill, the D.C. Mayor also stated that the movements of the protesters are ongoing as today they continue to seek the disruption of the Congressional proceedings on the counting of the electoral votes. Kevin Donahue, the City Administrator of D.C., has been authorized in giving instructions and implementing measures that are appropriate or necessary in protecting persons and property in the District of Columbia from the conditions caused by the public emergency created by the protesters. The order that was given to a number of leaders in D.C. such as the City Administrator, Chief Financial Officer, and Deputy Mayor the authority in applying for assistance from the FEMA or the Federal Emergency Management Agency in order to recoup expenditures incurred, or obtain fund needed, under this order. On Wednesday afternoon, bowser ordered a curfew at 6 p.m. after rioters breached the Capitol, as they broke windows and doors in order to get inside. Read also: Protestors Dressed in Trump Garb to Deploy National Guard, FBI to get Back Control A woman, identified as Ashli Babbit, a resident of San Diego was shot on the grounds of Capitol and was later declared dead. The new order coming from the office of the mayor does not have any specification regarding if the curfew will remain in place, however allowed for people to be directed off the streets if a curfew is established, Independent reported. At the time that Bowser announced the curfew, she shared that during the hours of the curfew, aside from the persons designated by the Mayor, no individual shall walk, bike, loiter, run, stand, or motor by car or any other mode of transportation upon any street, park, alley, or other public spaces within the District. Despite the call of Trump for dispersal and encouragement on his supporters for peaceful protests, protesters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, as even the joint session of Congress where the lawmakers were counting the electoral votes was delayed by the protesters as they bulled their way into the Capitol, The Washington Examiner reported. President Trump also emphasized in a tweet that his supporters should always remember that they are the Party of law and order, and they need to respect the law and the great men and women in Blue. Related article: Trump Calls for Peace After Supporters Breached US Capitol @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Iran on January 8 said that it is in no rush to see United States return to the 2015 nuclear deal including major powers that outgoing President Donald Trump abandoned in 2018. As President-elect Joe Biden is set to acquire the office on January 20, Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that the Islamic nation, which is already facing crippling sanctions imposed by the Trump administration, is not insisting on US return. According to Khamenei, it is not about Washington rejoining the pact, but about lifting is unilateral sanctions. "We are in no rush and we are not insisting on their return. Our demand, which is both logical and rational, is the lifting of sanctions" that outgoing US President Donald Trump imposed after quitting the agreement two years ago escalating US-Iran tensions. Read - Iran's Top Leader Bans Corona Vaccines From US, Britain Read - Iran Supreme Leader On Virus, US Tensions Iran bans COVID-19 vaccines from US, UK In the same address, Irans Supreme Leader also noted that he does not trust the American and British COVID-19 vaccines and banned the nation from receiving any jabs from the said countries. Khamenei also cited the spiking death toll in both countries while justifying why US, UK are forbidden to send its vaccines. He said, I really do not trust them of those nations and then added, Sometimes they seek to try out their vaccines on other nations to see if it works or not. He said, "I am not optimistic (about) France, either." Meanwhile, a move likely to irk even the incoming administration of US President Joe Biden, Iran is now reportedly planning to enrich uranium up to 20% purity at its underground Fordo nuclear facility as soon as possible, as confirmed by Iranian state media. It also in violation of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan for Action (JCPOA) framework or the nuclear agreement. Although the purity level needed to produce nuclear weapons is 90%, way above Iran's announcement of enriching uranium to up to 20% purity, the decision has caused a stir among other signatories of the deal. Read - 5 Nations Want Iran To Deliver Justice On Downed Plane Read - US Capitol Siege: Iran's Rouhani Mocks Western Democracy, Terms It 'weak And Fragile' WASHINGTON U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, on Friday morning apologized for her comments about Adolf Hitler on Tuesday at a Washington, D.C. Moms for America event. Miller, 61, was elected Nov. 3 to succeed former U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville. Her district includes part of Madison County. She was captured on video at the Tuesday event as saying Hitler was right about one thing. He said, Whoever has the youth has the future. Her comments prompted the creation of a change.org petition by the Illinois Legislative Jewish Caucus seeking her resignation. Nearly 11,000 people had signed the online petition as of 4 p.m. Friday. On Friday morning, Miller said it was wrong for her to make the comments about Hitler while addressing a group of mothers about the importance of faith and guarding youth from destructive influences. I sincerely apologize for any harm my words caused and regret using a reference to one of the most evil dictators in history to illustrate the dangers that outside influences can have on our youth, she said. This dark history should never be repeated and parents should be proactive to instill what is good, true, right, and noble into their childrens hearts and minds. While some are trying to intentionally twist my words to mean something antithetical to my beliefs, let me be clear: Im passionately pro-Israel and I will always be a strong advocate and ally of the Jewish community, Miller said. Ive been in discussion with Jewish leaders across the country and am grateful to them for their kindness and forthrightness. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-IL, and Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton both have called on Miller to resign. Will Nesbitt, the manager of Millers Danville office, has resigned. And Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider issued a statement calling Millers comments wrong and disgusting. Highlights Facebook has rolled out the new layout for Pages. Facebook will remove Like button from accounts of public figures, artists. The Like button will be replaced by the Followers count. Facebook has rolled out the new layout for Pages. The company announced that in the new design the pages that are used by public figures including artists, brands, politicians would not feature the Like Button. The Like button will be replaced by the Followers count. The new design was rolled out on January 6. "We're rolling out the redesigned Facebook Pages experience that makes it simpler for public figures and creators to build community and achieve their business objectives," Facebook said in a blog. Facebook has introduced a redesigned layout that will have a dedicated news feed, easy navigation between a personal profile and pages, updated task-based admin controls, actionable insights, safety, and integrity features. Facebook in its blog expands that the new page design will make it easier for people to navigate between a personal profile and a public page. The new design has been made simpler and more streamlined than before. However, the major change in the new design is the removal of the like button. The social media giant said that it has removed the Like Button to focus on Followers as that would make it easier for people to connect with their favorite pages. "We are removing Likes and focusing on Followers to simplify the way people connect with their favorite Pages. Unlike Likes, Followers of a Page represent the people who can receive updates from Pages, which helps give public figures a stronger indication of their fan base," Facebook said in a blog. Apart from this, Facebook is also bringing a dedicated News Feed to Pages. We are bringing the power of News Feed to Pages for the first time. Now Pages can discover and join conversations, follow trends, interact with peers, and engage with fans. The dedicated News Feed will also suggest new connections other public figures, Pages, Groups, and trending content that a Page or public figure cares about. To make Page conversations more visible to a wider audience and surfaced more frequently in their followers' News Feed, comments from public figures will be bumped to the top of the comments section. People will also be able to follow Pages directly from comments and recommendations posts," the blog read. Facebook also said that it has improved its ability to detect illegal activities like hate speech, violent, sexual or spammy content and impersonation on its platform. In order to curb, this Facebook is expanding the visibility of a verified badge to make it easier to identify posts and comments from authentic Pages and profiles. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 09:21:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo taken on March 18, 2020 shows Qantas airplanes at Sydney Airport, in Sydney, Australia. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) Australia's national airline Qantas has resumed bookings for international flights from July 1 this year. SYDNEY, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Australia's national airline Qantas has resumed bookings for international flights from July 1 this year, in a promising sign that overseas travel might return sooner than expected. The airline started taking bookings for almost all flights across its international network late Tuesday with a few exceptions including New York, Fiji and Santiago. "Recently we have aligned the selling of our international services to reflect our expectation that international travel will begin to restart from July 2021," a Qantas spokesperson said. "We continue to review and update our international schedule in response to the developing COVID-19 situation." While tickets were on sale, the airline said the restart of international flying would be subject to vaccine rollouts and the government reopening the international borders. File photo taken on March 18, 2020 shows a Qantas airplane above Sydney, Australia. (Xinhua/Bai Xuefei) The airline runs a small number of international flights over the past few months, largely to bring Australians stranded overseas home. New Zealand is the only overseas destination serviced by Qantas at the moment. Some international flights for sale from March towards Asian destinations like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore have been pushed back to July, allowing more time to create safe travel bubbles. However, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said despite Qantas' plan, international borders will not be reopened until it is safe to do so. "International borders will be opened when international arrivals do not pose a risk to Australians," McCormack said in a statement. "The Australian government is working on travel arrangements with countries, such as New Zealand, that have low community infections." The circus revolving around the coveted leadership of Nairobi county continued this week after Mike Sonko moved to court to stop County Assembly from vetting and approving Anne Mwenda as the deputy governor. In an application filed under a certificate of urgency, the former Nairobi governor is also challenging Cabinet appointments done by acting Governor Benson Mutura on Wednesday. Through his lawyer Harrison Kinyanjui, the impeached governor is accusing Mutura of exercising unlimited powers of an elected governor. According to Sonko, Mutura has no powers to appoint or dismiss any person in the county government. He says the appointments of Brian Weke as legal advisor, Paul Mutungi as chief of staff, Jairus Musumba as acting County Secretary and dismissal of Justus Kathenge are unlawful and in gross violation of the constitution. All the cited appointments are unlawful and in express violation of Section 32(4) of the county Governments Act, necessitating an urgent issuance of conservatory orders to protect the public interest, and stem the rogue and unlawful actions of the said Mr Mutura, he said. Sonko wants the Nairobi Anti-Corruption court to issue conservatory orders on the two issues raised until the matter is determined. He wants the court to compel the Nairobi county assembly to stop any vetting of Ms Mwenda arguing that he had revoked her nomination as deputy governor on December 7, 2020. Unless restrained, the assembly is now threatening to unlawfully vet and impose Ms Mwenda as Nairobi deputy governor, hence the necessity of the conservatory orders sought, Sonko said The Governor of Anambra State, Willie Obiano, has expressed concern over rising COVID-19 infections, since the advent of the second wave of the disease in the state. Mr Obiano said this in a message by the states Commissioner for Information, C-Don Adinuba on Friday in Awka. The governor appealed to the people to shield themselves from the pandemic. Reports from across Anambra State show a huge increase in the incidence which if not arrested now will produce a catastrophic result in the near future. There are 80 confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state since the second wave began two weeks ago, meaning an average of 40 cases per week. In contrast, the state used to record nine cases per week on average in the first wave, he said. Mr Obiano expressed dismay that most people still doubted the disease, in spite of the deaths of some high-profile Nigerians in the second wave. It is embarrassing that some patients flouted the COVID-19 protocols in (the) most unconscionable and callous manner. There were two persons, who, a few days ago, came for testing and were confirmed to be positive. Instead of isolating themselves, they rejoined a wedding party and may have infected a number of people, the governor said. While urging residents to go for tests and possible treatment which were free in the state, Mr Obiano commended the states COVID-19 Case Management Team for exceptional professionalism and competence. He said the team has not lost a patient under its care since the beginning of the second wave of the disease. He said the 19 deaths recorded during the first wave were either when the persons were already dead or too late for successful management. COVID-19 is not just a health matter but, more importantly, a profound development challenge. It costs the authorities, individuals and groups everywhere in the world a lot of financial resources to build testing and treatment centres, and a lot of money to train the personnel to handle the situation. In Anambra, we trained not just doctors, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and nurses, but also ward cleaners and ambulance drivers in the management of COVID-19, he said. Mr Obiano advised the people to comply with all COVID-19 protocols including wearing facemasks, regular washing of hands with water and soap and keeping social distance of two metres. While saying that the combined capacity of isolation centres in the state was 500, the governor said that only five out of the 80 COVID-19 patients were being treated at the centres as most people preferred home treatment. ADVERTISEMENT (NAN) I am at the Capitol Building. Zero violence and women and children all around. This is a peaceful protest. This was how Jeff Eller, a Massachusetts restaurant owner who traveled to Washington, D.C. this week, described the riots that culminated in pro-Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol. The comment, made in a Facebook post Wednesday, drew hundreds of angry comments across multiple social media platforms. Eller, who owns and operates Ellers Restaurant in the Central Massachusetts village of Cherry Valley, faced an immediate wave of criticism towards the business, including negative online reviews. He alleges the remark was taken out of context and that he shared the comment before violence began. He has now deleted his private Facebook account as a result of the backlash and said he posted on his business page to clarify his experience. After the rally, we all walk down to the Capitol building to have our voices heard, said Eller recounting the order of events to MassLive. There were, I would guess 300,000 people all on the lawn out front of the building. It was pretty amazing, to be honest with you. There were women, children, it was all incredibly peaceful. Everybody was just chanting U.S.A. and We the People. It was a very positive moment in my eyes. He took to Facebook after hearing from others in the crowd that the actions were being reported as violent. After seeing some of the violence happening on his phone and hearing about the troubles at the Capitol building, Eller told MassLive that he went back onto his Facebook page and edited the post to note that it reflected what he witnessed up to that moment. Ellers Restaurant Scenes from Wednesdays insurrection shocked many Americans as people carrying banners with the presidents name and both U.S. and Confederate flags wrapped around them entered the Capitol building. Some scaled walls, others entered the U.S. Capitol building through doors. The insurrection left four people dead: one woman who died following gunshot injuries, three who experienced medical emergencies and Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick who was reportedly hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. Many more were injured. Congressional lawmakers sheltered in place after armed protesters entered the building, with several posting on social media to note that they were safe. Several videos shared over social media showed rioters confronting law enforcement inside the U.S. Capitol. Mobs of rioters began scaling the Capitol building as hundreds swarmed around and others gained entry. Wednesdays events also led to the resignations of three top Capitol security officials over the failure to stop the breach and lawmakers demanding a review of operations over what they call a terrorist attack. Eller describes himself as a conservative politically and in general and said he was just expressing an opinion. If anyone chooses not to patronize Ellers Restaurant because I as the owner have a differing political view than they do, I wish that werent the case but I respect that completely, wrote Eller on his restaurants page. But people trying to hurt the business itself and in turn, its staff, for that reason is the current trend of cancel culture that is destructive and seems quite fascist to me. I was simply stating what I saw, Eller went on to clarify on Facebook. I certainly wasnt supporting any of the violence and never said anything remotely close to that. One commenter on the restaurants Facebook page asked Eller why he is enabling the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from President Donald Trump. Words have meaning, multiple people commented on his Facebook page. They seem to point out that by posting inaccurate statements that are wholly untrue, while one of the most violent and worrying acts is taking place, he is complicit. Eller isnt alone in being called out over spreading misinformation. I am sorry that I have to make this post, but I believe I should. Several people are randomly posting on a few social... Posted by Eller's Restaurant on Thursday, January 7, 2021 Rep. Katherine Clark, one of the top lawmakers in the House of Representatives, said Democrats in the lower chamber of Congress will move forward with impeachment proceedings against Trump if Vice President Mike Pence does not invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. Multiple Democrats in the House, among them Rep. Ayanna Pressley, announced Thursday they had already drafted articles of impeachment for the sitting Republican president, accusing the president of inciting the riot. Trump was not the only one to face criticism. Former New York City Mayor and lawyer for the president Rudy Guliani was accused of inciting the crowd in D.C. when he said, Lets have trial by combat, at the rally held on the Ellipse near the Washington Monument on Wednesday. The people who did nothing to stop the steal. This gathering should send a message to them: This isnt their Republican party anymore. This is Donald Trumps, Donald Trump Jr. said as a warm-up for his father at the Save America Rally on the National Mall. Don Jr. later added that if youre gonna be the zero and not the hero, were coming for you and were going to have a good time doing it. Donald Trump Jr. arrives on stage as Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, at a rally in support of President Donald Trump called the "Save America Rally." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)AP Eller told MassLive that he would never usually post anything to do with politics on his restaurants social media page and tries to separate business from his political views. While talking to MassLive about the fallout, he said his main concern was his business and employees. I have several employees here that dont agree with me politically, Eller highlighted to MassLive. And we work together every day, we laugh together every day, and thats the way its always been. Not only has his restaurants Facebook page come under the ire of commentators but so too on websites like Yelp. Commenters on the platforms accused Eller of being a fascist, and terrorist sympathizer. Reviews on Yelp by those angered by Jeff Eller's Facebook post. Im worried about my employees suffering, Eller told to MassLive. If you dont like me, thats fine. But if youre gonna attack my business, my employees are going to suffer. The only thing Eller can do is to take each day as it comes, he told MassLive. Eller described Thursday as a tough day. The emotional toll of the comments online were carried back with him to Massachusetts on Wednesday evening and onto the following day. However, while sitting at home with his wife, dwelling on the events of the last couple of days, his attitude shifted to hear his wife laughing while she read some of the comments online that had tried to characterize her husband. To hear my wife chuckle, my mindset changed immediately, said Eller. I am no longer broken by this. Related Content: Over the past year and a half, a groundswell of California cities and counties have embraced the environmental movement to end the use of natural gas in buildings. Now, supporters of the effort are looking ahead to further victories this year despite legal challenges and opposition from some business leaders. Forty jurisdictions in the state have mandated or encouraged all-electric new construction or placed limits on how gas infrastructure can be used. More are expected to consider similar policies this year, including Sacramento, Santa Barbara and others in Southern California, according to the Sierra Club. The impact of 2020 is this concept is becoming mainstream, and its setting us up for even more wins in 2021, said Matt Gough, senior campaign representative for the Sierra Clubs My Generation campaign. All-electric advocates hope for a major win statewide this summer as the California Energy Commission updates energy efficiency standards for buildings. Commissioners are considering how much to embrace ending natural gas in homes and businesses. The movement took root in California in July 2019, when Berkeley became the first city in the United States to ban natural gas in most new buildings. Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle A backlash followed: About four months later, the city was hit with a lawsuit by the California Restaurant Association, which argued that the move would harm businesses and violated the law. The case is ongoing. Farther north in Sonoma County, the town of Windsor just rescinded its all-electric building code because of a lawsuit from a local developer. Staring down high legal costs with the town budget already challenged by the pandemic, the Windsor Town Council begrudgingly agreed Wednesday to a settlement that walks back the electric building code. Still, Windsor leaders said they remain committed to fighting climate change, mindful of the consequences of severe wildfires that have plagued Wine Country in recent years. We have all seen the results of climate change here, which are now becoming more disastrous ever year, Councilwoman Deb Fudge said in an interview. Anything a jurisdiction can do to electrify with renewable energy sources is the way to go. Windsor was trying to set an example for other cities. Fudge will propose an alternate measure to phase out natural gas in the near future, she said at Wednesdays council meeting. Regardless of the legal obstacles, natural gas bans remain a growing focus of California environmentalists who want fossil fuels removed from the building sector, where they account for about a quarter of the states greenhouse gas emissions when considering both gas used on site and in power demand, according to the California Air Resources Board. Santa Barbara leaders may advance an all-electric code Tuesday, and Sacramento could adopt its own ordinance in coming months. The Bay Area remains really the epicenter of this movement, said Pierre Delforge, a senior scientist with the Natural Resources Defense Council. Cities that passed or expanded electric building codes in 2020 include major population centers San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland. We (didnt) have many positive things in 2020, but I think thats one of them, Delforge said. This is a game changer in terms of changing the conversation around climate and gas ... its sending a clear signal that gas is not a part of the future in buildings. Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle Pacific Gas and Electric Co. has not resisted the Bay Area gas bans, recognizing that investing too much in its gas system would be futile in the long run as cities and counties increasingly go all-in on electricity. PG&E spokeswoman Ari Vanrenen said in an email that the company supports local government policies that promote all-electric new construction when cost effective. Interactive Vaccine Tracker: Latest developments Detailed information about the coronavirus vaccines as it becomes available. Still, gas advocates argue that stringent building codes are unfair to restaurants, especially those making dishes that have traditionally relied on gas stoves. That is a major concern cited by the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, which has worried in public statements that San Franciscos efforts to prohibit gas in new buildings could put additional restrictions on the spaces available for restaurants moving into new developments. San Francisco supervisors ultimately gave new buildings with commercial space more time to comply with its new gas ban, and set up a waiver process they can apply for afterward. The citys ban takes effect for everyone else on June 1. Gas advocates point out that many customers dont buy electric stoves and heaters on the market now, perhaps because of high costs or personal preference. They say pro-electric building codes will raise costs for consumers, given Californias steep electricity rates, and that installing new appliances can be expensive. While costs are a huge concern for households struggling in the current economic climate, electric building code supporters say appliances that dont use gas can actually be more efficient, thus driving down costs. Incentive programs and a growing supply should also make the appliances themselves less expensive over time, said Delforte of the resources defense council. As for what its like to use the appliances, Bay Area architect Scott Shell said the modern electric stove a major focus of people concerned about gas bans is far different from similar devices made in earlier decades. Induction cooktops are extremely efficient, heating water far faster than a gas stove, for example. Many skeptics are simply unfamiliar with the technology, said Shell, who has designed buildings with all-electric facilities. I think once people start doing it, theyre going to like it, Shell said. I grew up with one of those coil electric stoves it was really slow and clunky and I hated it. But thats not what were talking about. The new electric ones perform very well. J.D. Morris is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jd.morris@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thejdmorris Algiers, 7 January 2021 (SPS) - Algeria expects from the United States to be "impartial," as required by the current challenges, in order to advance the causes of peace on the regional and international levels, Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum said in an audience he granted Thursday, in Algiers, to the US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, David Schenker. During the audience, "Boukadoum stressed the nature of the role expected of the United States to advance the causes of peace at the regional and international levels, that is the impartiality demanded by the current challenges," the ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a release. The minister's statement was made during an exchange of views on "regional and international issues of common interest, including Western Sahara, Mali, Libya, the situation in the Sahel region and the Middle East." On the international level, the year 2020 was marked by outgoing US President Donald Trump's actions to convince Arab countries to normalize ties with the Zionist entity. On December 10, Trump said that he had officially recognized Moroccos alleged sovereignty over Western Sahara, in exchange for the normalization of relations between Morocco and Israel. The decision has been widely criticized at the international level, but also in the United States, and even within the party of the outgoing president. (SPS) 062/090/700 That was the strangest legal judgement Ive ever witnessed - not least because I was consuming it through the disjointed Tweets of journalists in court. With each successive update it looked as though Julian Assange was going to spend the rest of his life in prison. And then - astonishingly - a final bulletin: Assange wins. The case presented against one of the men accused of murdering Irish gangland boss Robbie Lawlor was "a masterpiece of vagueness", a court was told on Friday. Counsel for Adrian Holland, 37, claimed the charge depends entirely on complex, circumstantial CCTV evidence, number plate registrations and mobile phone analysis. Lawlor was gunned down in broad daylight outside Holland's house at Etna Drive in Ardyone, north Belfast on April 4 last year. Prosecutors claim the 36-year-old underworld figure had moved north because he feared he was going to be attacked in a deadly feud. But his assassination had already been commissioned three weeks earlier at a meeting in a Sligo hotel attended by an international drugs dealer, it has been alleged. Neither Holland nor 45-year-old co-defendant Patrick Teer, of Thornberry Hill in Belfast, are accused of being the gunman. Instead, they were charged as part of a joint enterprise to murder, based on their alleged involvement in events surrounding the shooting. According to police Lawlor went to Etna Drive in a pre-arranged appointment to collect cash. A gunman emerged from the property and opened fire, hitting him in the head and body. He died at the scene. The attack is believed to have been part of an ongoing drugs dispute which claimed three lives in the past year. Expand Close Robbie Lawlor / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Robbie Lawlor Originally from Dublin, Lawlor was heavily involved in a bitter feud between rival Drogheda-based factions. He had been linked to the abduction and killing of 17-year-old Keane Mulready-Woods in January this year. With both of the men charged with his murder still in custody, counsel for Holland challenged the case advanced against his client at a previous hearing. Joe Brolly told Belfast Magistrates' Court: "The outline of the facts by the prosecution was a masterpiece of vagueness." Confirming Holland intends to apply for bail next month, the barrister requested police interview tapes and CCTV from a Tesco store in Crumlin, Co Antrim where Lawlor allegedly met a suspects on the day before his murder. Footage from a hotel in Sligo where police claim a meeting was held to commission the assassination should also be disclosed, it was contended. Mr Brolly added: "The evidence against this accused is the coincidence of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), CCTV footage, and cell site analysis of a mobile phone not recovered which the prosecution say is attributable to this accused." Crown lawyer Natalie Pinkerton responded that evidence is not ready to be disclosed at this stage, but added that she would take instructions on the material sought. Adjourning the case for four weeks, District Judge George Conner told defence representatives: "I suggest you put in writing the matters you are specifically asking for. "I expect the prosecution to examine those matters and to release any documents that can be released at this stage." The trees proposed for the forest preserve are part of the 13,000 that are to be planted for the Longmeadow Parkway Corridor, a new 5.6-mile road that starts at Huntley Road in Huntley, crosses through Algonquin, Carpentersville and Barrington Hills and ends at Route 62. New Delhi: The eighth round of talks between the Centre and farmers` union leaders at Vigyan Bhawan here on Friday (January 8) remained inconclusive and it was decided that the next round of talks will be held on January 15. The farmers remained adamant on their demand to completely repeal the three farm laws. The meeting, attended by Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal, witnessed a heated argument on the next date. Farmers are quoted by ANI as saying, "we are not coming here for taking dates" govt is not in favour of farmers. Speaking to reporters after the meeting that lasted for a little over two hours, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said the government is still hopeful that union leaders will come with alternatives to discuss in the next round of talks on January 15. He, however, virtually ruled out the repeal of the laws saying many other groups across the country are supporting these reforms. On whether the government made a proposal to farmers to join a pending case in Supreme Court on issues related to farmers' protest, Tomar said the government did not make any such suggestion but it is always committed to follow whatever is decided by the Supreme Court. Tomar said, "Those supporting the protest are of the view that the laws are repealed and there are many others who support the laws. Govt is continuously talking to the unions who want these laws to be repealed. We also give the appointment to those supporting the laws, when they request us." Live TV The next date has reportedly been decided after keeping in mind a scheduled hearing of the apex court on January 11 as the government feels the top court may look into the legality of the three laws, besides other issues related to farmers' protests. Asked whether the government would consider any proposal for allowing states to decide whether to implement the laws or not, Tomar said no such proposal was made by any farmer leader in this regard, but if such a suggestion is made the government will take a call at that time. After the meeting, union leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the meeting was inconclusive and it was unlikely that any resolution can happen in the next round of talks as well. Joginder Singh said, "We do not want anything less than the repeal of laws," adding "Government is testing our strength, but we will not bow down. It seems we will have to spend Lohri and Baisakhi festivals here at protest sides." Another union leader Hannan Mollah said farmers are ready to fight till death and going to court was not an option. He said the farmer unions will meet on January 11 to decide their next course of action. Jai Kisan Andolan union leader Ravinder Kaur was seen crying after the meeting and said many mothers have lost their sons and many daughters have lost their fathers. Sticking to their key demand of the repeal of three farm laws to end their protest, farmer leaders told the government their "ghar wapsi" from protest sites on Delhi borders can happen only after "law wapsi" but the Centre insisted talks must be limited to contentious clauses and ruled out a complete withdrawal of Acts. At the eighth round of negotiations with the 41-member representative group of protesting farmers, the government has asserted that these reforms have been welcomed by a large section of farmers in various states, and asked the unions to think about the interests of the entire country. At the outset, Tomar appealed to unions for discussions on the laws, while farm leaders reiterated their demand that the new Acts must be withdrawn, sources said, adding that the agriculture minister stressed protecting the farmers' interest of the entire country. Farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - 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. (With Agency Inputs) Ahead of the eighth round of talks between farmers union leaders and representatives of the government over the three controversial farm laws passed in September, Union minister of state for agriculture Kailash Choudhury hoped for a breakthrough in the impasse. I am hopeful that a resolution will be reached at Fridays meeting. We could have ended the deadlock by now had the protesting farmer unions discussed the issues raised at the first meeting. There was no demand for a repeal of the three farm laws at the first meeting, he added. Also Read: Repeal farm laws today itself: Farmers message to govt ahead of talks Choudhury reiterated the centres stand that the laws are in interest of the farmers. These legislations are just a beginning, he said, and added that the unions are agitating against the laws under the influence of arhtiyas (commission agents). Next, the Pesticide (Management) Bill and the Seed Bill will come. At that time too, farmers can be misguided, he said. The eighth round of talks will take place between Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash and the 40 protesting farmer unions at the Vigyan Bhawan at 2pm on Friday. Tomar is likely to call on Home Minister Amit Shah to discuss the issue ahead of the talks, sources told news agency PTI. Click here for live updates on farmers protest While the government has said it will consider making changes to the laws but wont repeal them, farmers have demanded that they be revoked completely. Both sides have said they wont budge from their positions. These laws are 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. (with agency inputs) After winning the post of Dickinson mayor in an extraordinary way having a pingpong ball bearing his name pulled from a top hat Sean Skipworth says he is ready to focus on helping the city address issues that need immediate attention. Skipworth, who will be sworn in Jan. 12, says initial priorities will include hiring a city manager and trying to prevent changes in the sales tax code from cutting into Dickinsons revenue. But in the aftermath of a unique mayoral contest that led to Thursday nights drawing after he and Jennifer Lawrence both received 1,010 votes in a Dec. 15 runoff, Skipworth was reflective. In any campaign, you have some moments where you have clashes and then you say something under your breath, but at the end of the day nobody is questioning anybodys motives because we all care about the city, he said. I would have acted that way anyway, but maybe right now it is important for people to see that where we can say, You won and I lost and then go and shake hands. The act was representative of a campaign that was noticeably peaceful. After learning his name had been drawn, Skipworth was immediately hugged by his wife, Melissa, and his son, Christopher. His wife then went over and hugged Lawrence. I made a point of making it amicable, Lawrence said. I didnt want it to be about a national narrative and I didnt want it to be about mudslinging. I wanted it to be about the skill sets. Friendswood Mayor Mike Foreman, who did the honor of reaching into the hat for a name and then handing it to outgoing Dickinson Mayor Julie Masters, sympathized with the two candidates. I feel bad for these candidates who had to work so hard, said Foreman, who will soon become president of the Galveston County Mayors and Council Members Association. These elections are not easy. Campaigns are a lot of work. For it to come to, Well were just going to draw a name out of a hat, I feel bad for them. Im glad to be a part of it, but I wish it could have worked a different way. Priority: Hiring a city manager Skipworth outlined what he sees as two pressing issues for the city. We have an interim city manager; so we need to hire somebody permanently, he said. The (state) legislative session is also going to start and there are going to be some changes made in the sales tax code that is going to affect the city a lot. We need to get on top of that and work with lawmakers to make sure it doesnt hurt us too badly. Skipworth elaborated on how tax code is going to be changed. Basically, they are changing how they assess it, he said. (For example) Round Rock is where Dell is based, so if Dell sells a computer anywhere in the country, Round Rock gets the sales tax. Most of the country assesses sales tax on where the item is purchased, but Texas doesnt and they are going to switch that. Dickinson has a fair amount of purchasing companies in town that generate a lot of revenue for us and we would lose that money. We need to work with (legislators) so we can avoid taking a really bad hit to the city budget. Yearlong campaign The mayoral race got to the point where luck determined the winner in a contest that took almost a year. When Masters announced that she was going to step down as Dickinsons mayor after 15 years, four candidates filed to run. Along with Skipworth and Lawrence, Mark Townsend and Jon Junemann also filed. The election was supposed to be held in May but was pushed back to November after the pandemic hit. When it was finally held, no candidate had a majority; so a runoff between Skipworth and Lawrence was held in December, resulting in the 1,010-1,010 tie after absentee, overseas and provisional ballots were accounted for. After a recount confirmed the results, the pair agreed to have the race decided by name draw. Foreman noted that the way the race ended could easily have been different. Two thousand voters is a pretty good amount, but if one more person came out, I wouldnt be here tonight, he said on Thursday. For her part, Lawrence said that she is not going to disappear from Dickinson doings. I have a couple of city things that I would like to be involved in over the next year or 18 months, she said. Ive learned so much (over the course of the campaign) and maybe I can add some value in another way. For me, it wasnt about the position. It was about getting Dickinson on a great trajectory. John DeLapp is a freelance writer. He can be contacted at texdelapp@gmail.com. Myanmar & COVID-19 Myanmar Authorities Detain Scores of Rohingya, Human Traffickers in Multiple Raids A group of Rohingya people who were found by Myanmar police while being held by human traffickers at a house in Yangon's Shwepyithar Township are seen on Jan. 6. / Tay Zar Aung. YANGONDespite stay-at-home orders and travel restrictions, more than 100 undocumented individuals from Rakhine Statesome of them coronavirus-positivehave been detained by Myanmar authorities during a two-week period while allegedly being trafficked through major cities. On Wednesday, the police force of Yangon Regions Shwepyithar Township arrested 99 Rohingya (26 males and 73 females) who had been held at two houses in the township for a month by human traffickers. After being arrested, the 99 detainees were placed in isolation at a township quarantine center and tested for COVID-19. Of the 99, five tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, according to Dr. Daw Myat Myat Hnin, director of the townships Public Health Department. In 2001, Myanmar introduced restrictions that prohibit Rohingya people from leaving Rakhine State and require them to get permission from township authorities before they travel. Police Captain Tin Maung Lwin of Shwepyithar Police Station told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that the detainees are from villages in four Rakhine townships: Sittwe, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw and Buthidaung. They had been held by the traffickers and were waiting to leave for Malaysia. Police Capt. Tin Maung Lwin said police have opened cases under sections 367 and 370 of the Penal Code against four people who brought the people from Rakhine State. Under Section 367, whoever kidnaps or abducts any person resulting in grievous injury or slavery shall be jailed for up to 10 years. Section 370 carries a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for those convicted of buying or disposing of any person as a slave. On Monday morning, authorities in Chaungtha in Ayeyarwady Regions Pathein Township seized a boat carrying seven Rohingya people from Rakhine State in Myanmars waters 5 miles (8 km) offshore The authorities told the media they would take action against five boat crew members for transporting the undocumented people. Dr. Thiha Aung, deputy director of Ayeyarwady Regions Public Health Department, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday that all detainees had tested negative for COVID-19 while they were being isolated at the quarantine center. On Dec. 24, Myanmar authorities also seized a vehicle owned by a Buddhist monk carrying 13 Rohingya people from Rakhines Maungdaw Township at a COVID-19 checkpoint in Bago Regions Pyay Township. In that case, a Buddhist monk and driver fled the scene and the 13 undocumented people have been isolated at a township health-care center for COVID-19 tests. In late August 2020, Myanmars navy arrested 42 undocumented people from Rakhine State in Myanmars waters off Mawlamyinegyun Township in Ayeyarwady Region. In early September 2020, Myanmar authorities sent 41 of those detainees back to Rakhine State without taking any action. The other one was hospitalized at a Yangon hospital after testing positive for the coronavirus. In that case, five people were charged under Section 367 for illegally transporting the people with their boat. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Rebel-Controlled Areas Carry Out Mass COVID-19 Testing Kirin to Continue Profit Denial to Myanmar Military Conglomerate Myanmar Appeals to Public to Help Fund Purchase of COVID-19 Vaccines Mental health experts were only present to help garda negotiators at three of 38 stand-offs involving a person with mental-health problems in 2020. It comes as the fatal shooting of George Nkencho (27) prompted calls for the State to set up special teams which would provide on-call mental health staff in each garda division. The special crisis intervention teams were backed by An Garda Siochana over a decade ago but still have not been introduced. Labour said that the need for such teams has been obvious since the Abbeylara siege in 2000. Mr Nkencho was last month fatally shot outside his family home in Manorfields Drive after an earlier incident at a shop in Hartstown in which he allegedly threatened staff with a knife. He was followed to his house by gardai who said he refused to stop or drop the knife. Gardai attempted to use a Taser and pepper spray on Mr Nkencho before firing five shots at him. Gardai said they believed there was an imminent threat to life. His family has since said that Mr Nkencho had mental-health problems. Figures from the Department of Justice show mental-health incidents made up the majority of cases that special garda negotiators were called to in 2019. Of the 98 the National Negotiation Unit (NNU) were called to, 35 were mental-health calls this could be anything from a hostage to a suicide incident and another 32 were mental-health barricades, where there is a stand-off and the individual may be armed. Between January and November 2020, the Garda negotiation unit was used 89 times. This included 17 mental-health incidents, and 21 mental-health barricade incidents. The NNU only had in-person assistance from on-call mental-health professionals three times. Last year was the first year the Justice Department started recording the number of times mental-health experts were called to assist with stand-offs. An Garda Siochana said its negotiators had phoned mental-health experts during 18 other incidents involving someone with mental-health issues. While the NNU has access to on-call mental-health staff, policing experts and politicians are now calling on the State to ensure special teams with on-call mental-health experts are rolled out at each garda division. It follows the death of Mr Nkencho. His family have since said he had been suffering from mental-health problems, and had already been engaging with the HSE. The use of lethal force by the gardai has prompted a GSOC investigation. GSOC said its investigation was ongoing and there were a number of issues yet to be determined at this early stage. It could not confirm if the investigation would involve examining how the gardai respond to people with acute mental-health problems. Both the Garda Representative Association (GRA) and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) have previously raised concerns about the amount of garda time spent responding to people with mental-health issues. Gardai are often relied on to respond to and manage out-of-hours, mental-health emergencies. In 2009, a joint report by An Garda Siochana and the Mental Health Commission called for Crisis Intervention Teams (CITs) to be set up special teams with health and social workers who are on duty and able to respond outside normal working hours. The teams, which would include HSE mental-health staff, would be based in each garda district. CITs were again backed by the Future of Policing Commission in 2018, but have still not been rolled out. Dr Vicky Conway, an associate professor at DCUs school of law and a former member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, said CITs would help to treat incidents as medical moments rather than criminal ones. If someone is in mental health distress, their behaviour can be very volatile and potentially violent. The line between violence and criminality is somewhat nebulous. What defines police in society is their capacity to use force, thats a fact. "Thats not a criticism of the police. Thats the mindset that youre bringing to the incident. But if someone was having an epileptic seizure, you wouldnt taser them, Ms Conway said. In the type of case that we saw with George Nkencho, if you can have the right professionals on call there you can bring the person down and maybe reduce the crisis situation enough to get the weapon off them. She added it was not the gardais fault that such teams have not yet been rolled out. The Justice Department said the Government had accepted calls for CITs to be set up in principle but it is not yet clear if or when they would be rolled out. The HSE said it would continue to work collaboratively with the gardai. Ejiro Ogbevoen, the founder of Black Therapists Ireland, said it was important any mental-health supports would consider the different needs of diverse groups which gardai could be dealing with. If someone is in a state of distress and maybe already has a problem maybe with a white person of authority, then having some diversity in the picture is going to make that person feel safe, Ms Ogbevoen said. Brendan Howlin, the Labour spokesperson on justice, said that the State should introduce CITs. The Labour Party do fully support the establishment of multi-disciplinary intervention teams including mental-health practitioners to be available to assist gardai in crisis situations. Since the Abbeylara shooting, the need for such supports have been evident, Mr Howlin said. The head of U.S. Africa Command sought to reassure his troops Friday that the American government remains strong and ready to meet any threat, despite the storming of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob incensed by false claims of election fraud. "Some of you may be concerned about the events we saw unfold back home in the U.S. Capitol," Army Gen. Stephen Townsend, the AFRICOM commander, said in a joint statement via Twitter with Marine Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher, the command's senior enlisted leader. "America has withstood much greater challenges in the past. Our system of government is strong, resilient and will prevail." The comments were a rare statement on current events from an active-duty commander and senior enlisted leader. "The American people expect and need us to stay steady and keep clear eyes on our duty. And we will," the statement continues. Read Next: Air Force Brass Order Removal of All Offensive, Non-Inclusive Patches, Mottos and Emblems As of Friday morning, Townsend appeared to be the only one of the 11 combatant commanders who felt the need to give assurances to his troops on the stability of U.S. institutions following the brief mob takeover of the Capitol building. Townsend issued the statement as AFRICOM continues the Trump-ordered withdrawal of most of the estimated 700 to 800 U.S. troops in Somalia. On Thursday, AFRICOM announced that the second airstrike of the new year had been carried out against al-Shabaab members in Somalia, resulting in the deaths of possibly five insurgents, according to initial assessments. "This strike targeted known al-Shabaab leaders who facilitated finance, weapons, fighters and explosives," Air Force Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, commander of Joint Task Force-Quartz, said in a statement. "Our continued disruption of al-Shabaab through persistent strikes shows our ongoing commitment to our partners." In several statements, Townsend has said that the mission in support of the Somali government will continue from neighboring countries despite the troop withdrawals. The withdrawal announced by the Pentagon Dec. 4 was initially supported by the aircraft carrier Nimitz and its strike group. Last week, Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller announced that the Nimitz would return to the U.S. But on Jan. 3, he reversed the order, stating that the carrier would remain in the Middle East to counter threats from Iran. -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Related: 'This Is What I Took an Oath For:' Guard Troops Shore Up DC in Wake of Violent Siege The Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee will be holding a national online meeting at 1 p.m. EST this Saturday, January 9, titled, Stop in-person learning until the pandemic is contained! We urge all educators, parents, students and workers who wish to join the struggle to close schools and nonessential businesses to register today and invite your coworkers and friends. On Wednesday, the United States had its deadliest day yet in the COVID-19 pandemic, with 4,100 perishing from the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that the total death toll may exceed 430,000 by the end of January. A new strain of the virus, known as B.1.1.7, which first emerged in Britain and is 50-70 percent more transmissible, has now been documented in five states: California, New York, Florida, Georgia and Colorado. With no nationwide plan to track the strain, it is likely already far more widespread. Local teacher Lisa Vaaler joins other teachers as they hold a #Return2SchoolSafely Motor March protest in Phoenix earlier this year. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) With this catastrophe overwhelming health systems across the country, state and local governments led by both Democrats and Republican continue to ride roughshod over the opposition of educators and parents to the unsafe reopening of school buildings. This homicidal policy has already resulted in at least 435,674 cases in K-12 schools, according to the COVID Monitor. Hundreds of educators have died from COVID-19, and the death toll among children is growing. The ruling class and its political representatives in the two capitalist parties have allowed the pandemic to spread uncontrolled, and have facilitated a vast growth of social inequality, in which millions have been made unemployed and face hunger and eviction while the billionaires have amassed unthinkable profits during the same period. The fascist coup attempted Wednesday and the bipartisan drive to reopen schools are both aimed at forcing workers to accept mass death while the pandemic profiteers enrich themselves. President-elect Joe Biden has rejected a national lockdown and declared that one of his priorities is to have most students in the classroom within 100 days of taking office, despite the fact that the pandemic will be far worse in coming months. Democrat-led school districts across the country are already working to put this into practice because getting children back to school is necessary to get workers back into the factories and other workplaces to produce corporate profit. Chicago On Monday, thousands of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) teachers were required to return to school buildings to prepare for students return to classrooms next week. According to CPS officials, half of the teachers were absent but logged into work from their homes. In response, CPS Superintendent Janice Jackson sent a threatening email to teachers warning they would face progressive disciplinary action if they did not return. Jackson claimed that the mass absences were the result of pressure from the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU). In fact, the CTU has been working diligently to come to an agreement with the district to place teachers back in the classrooms. The proposed solutions advanced by CTU President Jesse Sharkey are half-measures that do not address the health risks posed to staff and students. These include a delayed start of classes until teachers receive a first dose of the vaccine, an extension of the school year into the summer, the return of only those teachers and students who volunteer to do in-person learning, and mass testing of all teachers and students. The idea that teachers are protected by a half dose of the vaccine is concocted pseudoscience. Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious disease specialist and member of the FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, told CNN, Theres no data on efficacy of a half dose. If you use a half dose, youre just making it up. Other districts like Salt Lake City have used the promise to vaccinate teachers as a ploy to resume in-person instruction only to say that the disastrous rollout of the vaccines has delayed inoculations. The CTU leadership has blocked any coordinated action by teachers throughout the city or across state lines. While making some noises about a possible strike, Sharkey plainly said, We are seeking to negotiate a settlement. While teachers were being herded back to schools, CTU Area Vice President Sarah Chambers boasted on social media of her poolside vacation to Puerto Rico, an area similarly devastated by the pandemic. Facing immense ire by the citys rank and file, she has since had to step back from the executive board. New York City In New York City, the largest school district in the country, a similar collaboration between the local Democrats and the teachers union, the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), is keeping schools open while the virus spreads uncontrolled and the new B.1.1.7 strain has been detected in the state. Demonstrating the fraudulent character of the whole reopening, Democratic Governor Andrew Cuomo recently discarded the states previously established metric of when a district can opena less than nine percent test positivity ratejust as New York City is poised to surpass this threshold and as the pandemic breaks statewide records for new daily cases. Cuomos new standard, that districts may stay open as long as their internal positivity rate is lower than the city as a whole, is completely unscientific and makes it virtually impossible to force a closure. Furthermore, the mandatory quarantine for exposed persons has been reduced from 14 to 10 days. Despite New York City Mayor Bill de Blasios absurd claim that schools are the safest place to be in New York City, since schools reopened in September there have been 3,900 temporary classroom closures and 600 two-week shutdowns of entire schools, according to Chalkbeat. Exposing the unions complicity, UFT President Michael Mulgrew wrote in the Daily Newsthat the school reopenings had been successful because of the cautious approach and rigorous standards. California Governor Gavin Newsom of California recently announced $2 billion in funds to incentivize districts to open as quickly as possible, offering $450 per student to those that reopen. Without any scientific explanation, the order also relaxes the case rate at which districts are allowed to reopen, from an average of seven daily new cases per 100,000 to 28 per 100,000. This loosening of public health restrictions comes as the virus is devastating the health care system in California. Los Angeles currently has zero percent ICU capacity, and ambulance workers have been instructed not to deliver patients with little chance of survival. Hospitals are also seeing an increase in younger COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care. In response to Newsoms order, the superintendents of the states seven largest school districts wrote a letter criticizing him from the right. Rather than following local cases and positivity rates, they prefer for him to set a single standard for the state that would require in-person instruction to begin everywhere once this threshold is met. The signatories of the letter are representatives of the financial elite, including Los Angeles superintendent Austin Beutner, a billionaire investment banker and former publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Times. Tennessee A report by the Tennessee Education Association estimates that a staggering 16,000 teachers in the state have contracted COVID-19, while at least eight have died. According to Chalkbeat, the figure was derived from a representative sample of six large and medium-size school systems that offered in-person instruction and regularly published their case counts. The analysis suggests that people teaching in classrooms have significantly higher infection rates than the general population and in the communities they serve. This last point is corroborated by data coming out of the UK, which found that school staff were infected at a rate over 300 percent of that of the local population as a whole. Oregon In Oregon, Democratic Governor Kate Brown recently issued a directive to the Oregon Department of Education and Oregon Health Authority to begin initiatives to get more students back into classrooms, including reducing guidelines on reopening schools from mandatory to recommended. Teachers, parents and community members protested outside various district offices in the state, putting up 500 flags to symbolize the educators and children who have died from the virus in the past year. Though there is no state or national governmental database to track workplace COVID-19 deaths, various independent websites have attempted to document educator deaths. Arizona Hundreds of Phoenix-area teachers, parents and community members protested Monday in response to plans for in-person instruction to resume Tuesday in the Gilbert Public School and Chandler Unified School Districts. Both districts held emergency board meetings to decide on their reopening plans, with each voting to delay by a mere week or two. Notably, Gilberts Superintendent was absent Monday due to having tested positive for COVID-19. Arizona currently has the highest per capita seven-day rolling average of new cases in the country. In the campaign to reopen schools, the teachers unions have dutifully collaborated with the Democratic and Republican parties. In the same manner, they are playing a pivotal role in downplaying the dangers posed by the Trump administration and Wednesdays fascist coup attempt. At the same time, the unions are promoting Biden, who will be committed to a brutal program of austerity to pay off the multitrillion-dollar bailout of Wall Street. In order to halt and reverse the reopening of schools, to defeat Trump and the rise of fascism, and to develop a program that addresses the interests and needs of the working class, educators must create democratic rank-and-file committees that are independent of both parties and their lackeys in the corrupt unions. To learn more about this perspective and how to form such committees in your district or state, we urge readers to attend the next national meeting of the Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee this Saturday. Register today at wsws.org/edsafety and invite your friends and coworkers to participate! People gathered on Saad Zaghloul Street in the town of Sammanud in the Gharbiya governorate in the Delta this week to witness the inauguration of the area around the Church of St Abba Noub, one of the stops that the Holy Family made when travelling in Egypt at the beginning of the first century CE. The inauguration took place on Monday ahead of Coptic Christmas, which is celebrated in Egypt on 7 January according to the Greorian Calendar. The development, costing LE7.5 million, included the removal of encroachments on the site including a marketplace that had blocked the street near the church for decades. The pavement was retiled with interlocking bricks and the street was made pedestrian-only. Houses and shops along the street were repainted, and billboards were replaced to harmonise with the design of the churchs facade. A fountain was installed at the end of the street and signage was put up. Mechanical cleaning of the Churchs facade, entrances, domes, and bell tower was carried out to remove dust and traces of rain. The St Abba Noub Church, named after a martyr who died at Sammanud, was built on the ruins of an older church on the same site that carried the name of the Virgin Mary. In the churchs courtyard, there is a well thought to have been blessed by Jesus, which is now covered with glass to protect it from pollution. Water is pumped out of the well, purified, and offered to people to drink. There is also a large granite bowl in which the Virgin Mary is thought to have baked bread. The bowl is covered for protection and filled with water that people can touch as a blessing. The Church contains a shrine containing the remains of St Abba Noub, one of about 8,000 martyrs from the same region. The development is a milestone in the development of the Holy Family Trail in Egypt, said Khaled El-Enany, the minister of tourism and antiquities. The ministry has allocated LE60 million for the development of stops on the trail and restoring monuments on it. Facilities are being upgraded and infrastructure installed to assist tourists following the route of the Holy Familys sojourn in Egypt. The goal of the project is also to develop poorer areas and communities in the Delta and Upper Egypt, restore archaeological sites, and create suitable services for tourists at sites along the trail. This is part of developing a spiritual type of tourism that can appeal throughout the year and not just at special seasons. The Holy Familys visit to Egypt bestowed on the country a unique honour and blessing and made Egypt one of the most sacred Christian centres in the world, El-Enany said, adding that the Holy Familys sojourn in Egypt had great historical and religious significance for Egyptians. It gave the Egyptian Coptic Church a special position among other Christian churches, he said. The Holy Family travelled in Egypt for three years and six months. The duration of the Holy Familys sojourn in the places they visited varied from a few days to a few months. The Holy Familys flight to Egypt is associated with archaeological sites from Sinai to the Delta and Assiut in Upper Egypt. The government has been keen on documenting the Holy Familys period in Egypt with a view to registering it on the UNESCO World Heritage List. A scientific committee has been formed to document it, El-Enany said, and the Ministry of Antiquities in collaboration with Egypts Coptic Church has carried out a number of restoration and development projects at churches and monasteries on the Holy Familys route. These include the restoration of the Abu Serga Church in Old Cairo, the St Abba Noub Church in Sammanud, monks cells and other structures at the Wadi Al-Natroun Monasteries, and the Virgin Mary Church at Gabal Al-Teir in the Minya governorate. THE HOLY FAMILY IN EGYPT Take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt. (Matthew 2:13) While the Gospel of St Matthew recounts how the Holy Family fled to Egypt seeking safety from King Herod, it offers no details of their actual journey. For that we must turn to a mediaeval manuscript that includes the places visited by the Holy Family in Egypt, as revealed by the Virgin Mary who appeared in a vision to Pope Theophilus, the 23rd patriarch of Alexandria, in the early fifth century CE. The places named in the manuscript have been held to be sacred until today. The late Coptic Pope Shenouda III approved itineraries drawn up for Christian pilgrims in 2000. During an audience in St Peters Square in Rome in 2017, Roman Catholic Pope Francis blessed an icon by a Vatican artist representing the Holy Familys flight into Egypt and effectively gave his blessing to the millions of Christians around the world who may want to follow in the Holy Familys footsteps. The Holy Familys flight to Egypt is associated with many archaeological sites, noted Osama Talaat, head of the Islamic and Coptic Antiquities Sector at the Ministry of Antiquities. They journeyed south from Palestine across the wilderness, avoiding main roads for fear of capture. They entered Egypt at modern-day Rafah, where a lone sycamore tree is said to have survived on the site since their visit. The Holy Family reached Arish, and from there they followed the old Horus Road along the Mediterranean coast to Zaraniq, where the Byzantines later built three churches. They continued to Al-Mohamedeya, and their last station in Sinai was on the northwest coast near the edge of the Delta at the city of Pelusium, now the sprawling ruin of Tel Al-Farama. Here archaeologists have discovered traces of several Roman churches. They then travelled south along the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, which has long since dried up. They stayed in the city of Bubastis, now the ruin of Tell al-Basta near the modern city of Zagazig. They then went on to Mostorod, where the Virgin is said to have bathed Jesus. There is a church in Mostorod named after the Virgin Mary that was built in the 12th century and has been recently restored. They then turned north again towards the town of Bilbeis, travelling northwest across the Delta. When they reached Damietta, they embarked on a ferry which took them to Sammanud. The Holy Family then continued north to Borollos. The next stop was Sakha in the western Delta. Here, the Virgin Mary is believed to have held her son against a rock which retained his footprint. A relic in the church dedicated to the Virgin in the area bears this mark. The Holy Family then moved on to the Western Desert, eventually reaching Wadi Al-Natroun, where monastic settlements were later established later. They then headed for what is now Cairo, where they stopped at Ain Shams and Matariya, where they sheltered under a sycamore tree, now known as the Virgin Mary Tree. One story says that when the Virgin Mary sat there, a spring of water gushed out of the ground. The next stop for the Holy Family was Al-Zeitoun, and then Al-Zweila. Travelling south, they reached Old Cairo and hid in a cave that is now the crypt of the Church of Saint Sergius. In what is now Maadi, they went to the place now named the Virgins Church of the Ferry. From there, the family took a ferry across to Memphis and embarked on a boat that carried them to Upper Egypt. Their first stop there was on the west bank near a village now called Ashnein Al-Nassara at a place called Al-Garnous where a monastery was later built. A church dedicated to the Virgin was built at Deir Al-Garnous in the 19th century, on the west side of which is a well that is believed to have provided the family with water. The journey continued towards Al-Bahnasa, Samalout, and then Gabel Al-Teir, where a monastery now stands. The Holy Family took shelter in a cave that is now covered by an ancient church. They travelled to Al-Ashmounein, Armant, and Dairout, and then crossed the river again and reached the town of Al-Qusseya. They travelled east into the desert to Mt Qussqam, perhaps the most important of all their stations, where they stayed for six months and 10 days. This place was later called Al-Muharraq, which means burnt, as there was an abundance of grass there which had to be burned so food could be grown in its place. Mt Qussqam is sometimes called the second Bethlehem, and its church is held to be the first ever built in Egypt. The cave in which the Family sheltered later became the altar of the Church of the Virgin Mary. According to Ahmed Al-Nemr, a member of the ministrys scientific office, a messenger of the Lord appeared to Joseph in Assiut and told him to return to Palestine because Herod was dead. The family then went back through Assiut and then probably sailed down the Nile to Memphis, landing at what is now Al-Badrashein near the ancient capital. Once again, they may have passed through Maadi, Babylon, and Heliopolis before crossing the desert to Palestine and finally reaching their home town of Nazareth. Not all of these places are archaeological sites, but they all share religious, social and cultural rituals which derive from the holy journey, Talaat said. The places at which the Holy Family stopped which house archaeological sites are the Virgin Mary Tree in Matariya, the Church of St Sergius in Old Cairo, the Monasteries of Wadi Al-Natroun, the Church of the Virgin Mary at Gabal Al-Teir in Minya, and the Al-Muharraq Monastery in Assiut. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Adamant on the repeal of three contentious farm laws, farm union leaders on Friday reiterated their pointed demand seeking rollback of the legislations ahead of their eighth round of talks with the government. There is no scope of clause-wise talks. The government should hold a meeting to repeal these laws today itself, says Balvinder Singh Raju, a farmer told news agency ANI on Friday. Signalling hope, Rakesh Tikait, spokesperson of Bharatiya Kisan Union said, We are going for talks with the hope that there will be a resolution today. The eighth round of talks between three Union ministers - Narendra Singh Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash - and the farmer unions to end the more than a month long agitation is scheduled to begin at the Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi at 2 pm. Tomar is likely to call on Union home minister Amit Shah to discuss the issue before the talks begin, reported news agency ANI. So far the farmers and the government have engaged in seven rounds of talks to end the deadlock but inconclusively. Thousands of farmers have been camping on Delhis borders in bitter cold as a statement of protest against the three agricultural laws cleared by the Parliament in September last year. Another farm union leader stated that they are hoping for the best but are prepared for the worst. The minister yesterday categorically declared that repeal of farm laws is not accepted. I dont know what will happen during the discussions today. Anyway, we hope for the best and prepare for the worst, Hannan Mollah, general secretary of All India Kisan Sabha said. Union minister of state for agriculture Kailash Choudhury hoped that a resolution will come out of Fridays meeting. Talking to PTI, Choudhury said, I am hopeful that a resolution will be reached at Fridays meeting. We could have ended the deadlock by now had the protesting farmer unions discussed the issues raised at the first meeting. There was no demand for a repeal of the three farm laws at the first meeting, he added. The protests - longest such demonstration in decades of Independent India - have entered the seventh week and shows no signs of abating as the farmers have refused to halt them till their demands are met. 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. These laws are 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 farmers claim these laws will benefit big corporate houses. The government has, however, tried to allay these fears and even said that it is ready to discuss changes to the law. The government has made it clear that it wont scrap these laws. Bengaluru, Jan 8 : Karnataka introduced two schemes to provide financial assistance to brides from economically weaker sections among the Brahmins. According to the Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board, under the "Arundhati" scheme, families of Brahmin brides will get Rs 25,000 while under the "Maitreyi" scheme, they will receive Rs 3 lakh if the woman marries a priest in the state. The Brahmin board has already identified 500 women for the Arundhati scheme and another 25 for Maitreyi. Chairperson H. S. Sachidananda Murthy listed a few more criteria. "Brahmins who come from economically backward sections of society will be eligible... and it should be the woman's first marriage. The married couple will also have to give an undertaking that they would remain married for a specified period of time," he said. Murthy said the board has set some restrictions on the beneficiaries of the schemes. "The family has to produce a certificate proving they are from the economically backward class and moreover, they have to also belong to the Brahmin community," he said. The Brahmin board was set up by the B.S. Yediyurappa-led government in July, after the Union government introduced the reservations for economically weaker sections of upper castes. The government has also launched a scheme in which Rs 500 a month will be offered to nearly 4,000 individuals who want to be trained in puja rituals and evening prayers. New Delhi: For the major part of 2020, Hong Kong was gripped by widespread protests. Initially, the protests began against the proposed extradition law but gradually turned into a movement against Chinas increasing interference in the affairs of the native populace. The protesters were successful in stopping the extradition treaty but the sheer scale of the protests and the disruption they caused was seemingly a wake-up call for the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The Chinese government then moved to introduce the National Security Law (NSL) in Hong Kong. As per the law, any subversion, terrorism and separatism would be severely punished. The CCP purposefully left the wordings of the law vague and gave authorities sweeping powers to stamp out any form of dissent in the city. It is under this harsh NSL that over 50 pro-democracy politicians and campaigners were arrested in secretive early morning raids. China has unilaterally carried out a political purge in Hong Kong and its actions are already being condemned as a despicable assault on freedom. The activists that were arrested by the authorities held primaries in July 2020 to run and win a majority of seats in the Hong Kong election. As per reports, the pro-democracy activists have been accused of subverting state power by holding primaries that witnessed the participation of 600,000 Hong Kong citizens. The arrests were not only restricted to those that were planning on contesting in the Hong Kong elections, but the authorities also arrested organizers and pollsters. The recent arrests have nearly doubled the number of people arrested under the NSL in Hong Kong. Under the NSL, subversion carries a maximum sentence of life in prison for the main accused. Among those arrested by the authorities were former lawmakers Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Chu Hoi-dick, Claudia Mo and Leung Kwok-Hung. As per the Facebook page of jailed activist Joshua Wong, his home was also raided. A US citizen, John Clancey, was also arrested under the NSL. Clancey, who is a lawyer in Hong Kong, was arrested and his firm's office was visited by the police. Clancey in the past has spoken out vehemently about the legal ramifications of the NSL. According to The Guardian report, Prof Kenneth Chan, a political scientist at the Baptist University of Hong Kong has stated that the raid and arrests conducted by the Chinese government are outrageous and it is not the end, because the purge will go on. Prof Chan is also the leader of the Election Observation Projects that reported on the primaries, He added that things have deteriorated to a point where it is now tyranny vs democracy and the CCP and China's oppressive regime was using national security as an excuse to violate basic human rights and civil liberties. A senior researcher at Human Rights Watch, Maya Wang, claimed that the mass arrests removed the last remaining veneer of democracy in Hong Kong. Live TV According to reports, the Hong Kong police who carried out the arrests stated that the primary elections held in July 2019 intended to paralyze the Legislative Council of Hong Kong and therefore their actions were subversive. Following this same train of thought one can assume that all the 600,000 citizens who participated in the Hong Kong primary elections could be accused of subversion. Sunny Cheung, a pro-democracy activist has stated that every member of the Legislative Council can veto the budget as it is a right conferred to them by law. But these arrests have shown that the CCP will regard any show of resistance or non-compliance as a subversion of the government. Cheung also stressed that this was hard proof that the Hong Kong Legislative Council was merely a puppet of the CCP and that it has lost any democratic value. The early morning raid which saw over 50 pro-democracy activists arrested, was immediately condemned and criticised by the international community. Anthony Blinken, US President-elect Bidens pick for secretary of state, stated that the arrests were an assault on those bravely advocating for universal rights, he also added that the Biden-Harris administration would stand with the people of Hong Kong against CCPs continued crackdown on democracy and any form of dissent. US Republican Senator Ben Sasse, a member of the Senate select committee on intelligence, calls the raids despicable and stated that President Xi was trying to take advantage of a divided and distracted America. The senator labelled the CCP as cowardly dictators. The chair of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce also commented on 6" January that the continued political crackdown by the CCP was negatively impacting business. The NSL was passed on June 30, 2020, by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The law that applies to Hong Kong was passed without any participation by Hong Kong residents. Similar to the recent arrests, the excessively harsh law received widespread criticism from the international community. As per a report published by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China titled Rapid Deterioration of Human Rights in Hong Kong after Passage of National Security Law the definitions of secession and subversion under the NSL were extremely broad and imprecise and did not indicate the kind of actions would fall under their gambit. It added that terrorist activities as listed under Article 24 of the NSL are not in tandem with the United Nations Security Council's definition. On September 6, 2020, Hong Kong witnessed a march by thousands of citizens to protest against the authority's decision to postpone the Legislative Council election. The Chinese authorities claimed that the protesters were chanting slogans demanding Hong Kong's independence and thereby deemed this protest unlawful. On the day of the protest, Hong Kong police conducted widespread stops and searches and arrested nearly 300 people for unauthorized assemble. Earlier on August 10, 2020, Hong Kong police arrested 10 democracy advocates and news media executives on a range of charges under the NSL. As per reports, 200 officers raided the office building of Next Digital, the parent company of the pro-democracy news outlet Apple Daily. Among those arrested was the founder of Next Media, Jimmy Lai, and executives Cheung Kim-hung, Royston Chow Tat-Kuen, Kith Ng Tat-kong, and Wong Wai-Keung. From these crackdowns, it seems that the authorities were simply waiting for the enactment of the NSL. China's cruel and restrictive NSL has also managed to stifle academic freedom in the city, as the Hong Kong government is directly or indirectly regulating the political content of books and restricted speech in schools. This latest arrest of more than 50 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong has signalled the death of the one country two systems. These arrests are worrying because the CCP is sending the message that even organizing primary elections now constitutes subversion. Those arrested by the authorities represented the most outspoken pro-democracy figures in Hong Kong, especially for the younger generation. The continued politicised use of law enforcement by CCP is wholly inconsistent with the rule of law. It has become painfully obvious that Beijing is trying to silence and stamp out any form of dissent or criticism. The arrests were also strategically made during the final days of the election certification of the US Presidential Election in the hopes that they would go unnoticed. But the arrests have not gone unnoticed. In the past year, the international community has realised that the CCP is willing to use every dirty trick in the book and China's ambitions are costing a very high human price and causing disturbances in the region. The CCP in fact wishes to cement China's place in the world order and ensure that it retains a monopoly on power. The countrys biggest heroin trafficking gang is suspected of being behind the 1 million in cash seized by gardai earlier today on the M7 motorway. Officers are investigating links between the cash and this outfit, which is led by two brothers from Ballyfermot, west Dublin. The gang, known as The Family, has long been considered the number one heroin trafficking gang in the country. It is the second time in three months that the gang has been hit by the Garda Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GDOCB) after a colossal 4m in cash was seized from it in Kerry last October. "Another big blow" We are conducting an investigation to determine if there is a link to this gang, said one senior source. It would be another big blow to them, after the last one, but it also shows how much they are making in profits. The source said: We dont claim that any one seizure, even a big one, leads to the demise of these gangs. Our aim to dismantle them through a variety of means. In early October, the DOCB found 4m in cash thought to be the single largest haul of cash ever lying around in bags in a safe house in north Kerry. Major cash hauled seized by the Gardai investigating organised crime. Picture: Gardai As well as heroin, The Family is also involved in large scale trafficking of other drugs, including cocaine, as well as firearms. The network has a massive money laundering operation, including in car dealerships, and has been repeatedly targeted over the years by the Criminal Assets Bureau. It has international connections and in September 2019 a Turkish national, considered a major global heroin trafficker, was arrested in Dublin during a deal with the gang. While the gang has had links with the Kinahan cartel, it is considered to operate independently of it. Seizure and arrest A Garda statement on the haul said: Cash in excess of 1m has been seized by personnel from Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau during an operation in Co Kildare on 8th January 2021. It said that at 6.30, as part of ongoing investigations targeting persons suspected to be involved in organised crime, personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, intercepted a van on the M7 in the Kildare area. "In the course of a search of the van, a substantial amount of cash was located and seized, estimated to be in excess of 1,000,000 (subject to conclusion of counting)." The driver, aged 45 and from Lithuania was arrested and is currently detained under section 50 of Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at Portlaoise Garda station. The statement said: "He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in participating in the activities of a criminal organisation, to facilitate money laundering, relating to the suspected proceeds of drug trafficking, pursuant to the provisions of section 72 of Criminal Justice Act, 1996." It said a number of follow up searches were undertaken in the midlands, resulting in the seizure of an additional sum of cash estimated to be approximately 10,000 (subject to completion of counting). Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll, who heads Organised and Serious Crime, within An Garda Siochana, said: "An Garda Siochana continues to pursue organised crime groups who are believed to involved in supplying illicit drugs within our communities, the motivation for which is financial gain. We again today have made a significant advance in our attempt to dismantle organised crime groups, by locating and seizing the suspected proceeds of their criminal activity. "Despite our significant commitment to tackling issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, at this time, An Garda Siochana remains focused on protecting communities from serious and organised crime, including cyber enabled crime, drug trafficking and associated money laundering. Investigations are ongoing. Jan. 8, 2021 - A new study published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society examines the recovery of lung function and overall wellness in individuals who had varying degrees of COVID-19 severity. Little is known about lung health following infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and whether later respiratory problems, fatigue and ill health are associated with the disease's initial severity. In "Persistent Poor Health Post-COVID-19 Is Not Associated With Respiratory Complications or Initial Disease Severity," Liam Townsend, MD, and co-authors looked at a number of measures of recovery for 153 patients who were followed in an outpatient clinic a median of 75 days after their COVID-19 diagnoses. "We found that fatigue, ill-health and breathlessness were all common following COVID-19," said Dr. Townsend of the Department of Infectious Diseases, St. James's Hospital and Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland. "However, these symptoms appeared to be unrelated to the severity of initial infection or any single measurement at the time of an outpatient appointment." Dr. Townsend and colleagues graded the patients' initial infection severity as: (1) not requiring admission; (2) requiring hospital admission, or (3) requiring ICU care. Nearly half (74) of these patients required hospital admission during acute infection. The researchers examined the association between the patients' initial illness and abnormal chest x-ray, six-minute walk test distance--in which patients walked at their normal pace for six minutes--and perception of maximal exertion during their follow-up appointments. Patients were also asked about whether they felt fatigued and whether they thought they had returned to full health. Their responses were graded using validated scales. The study team also looked at participants' chest x-rays in order to detect persistent infection or significant scarring (fibrosis) and performed CT imaging for patients with abnormal chest x-rays. Bloodwork was done to measure such indicators of disease as C-reactive protein, which increases when there is inflammation in the body. Statistical analyses were performed. "We were surprised by our findings. We expected a greater number of abnormal chest x-rays. We also expected the measures of ongoing ill-health and abnormal findings to be related to severity of initial infection, which was not the case," Dr. Townsend said. The authors' findings suggest that COVID-19 does not cause significant fibrosis, with lung scarring seen on CT scans of only 4 percent of study participants, following x-ray detection of earlier abnormalities in a larger group. Sixty-two percent of patients felt they had not returned to full health, while 47 percent were classified as having fatigue. Patients who felt they had to exert themselves during moderate exercise also reported they felt fatigued and in poor health. Patients' length of inpatient hospital stays and frailty were associated with covering less distance in the walk test. "These findings have implications for clinical care, in that they demonstrate the importance of following up all patients who were diagnosed with COVID-19, irrespective of severity of initial infection. It is not possible to predict who will have ongoing symptoms," Dr. Townsend stated. ### The Junta de Andalucia has announced new measures, for the region, in force for two weeks from this Monday 11 January (midnight Sunday night) until and including 24 January, to help curb the spread of coronavirus. The measures include the closure of shops and businesses at 8pm. Bars and restaurants must close at 6pm. Cafeterias can stay open until 8pm as long as they don't serve alcohol after 6pm. Establishments will be able to stay open for the collection of takeaways until 9.30pm and food can be delivered to homes until 11.30pm. The night curfew has been brought forward to 10pm until 6am across the region. Moreno said that for now travel from province to province within Andalucia is still permitted. The regional border separating Andalucia from the rest of Spain remains closed for non-essential travel, after the measure was partially lifted only for the holiday period. The ban on movement between the eight towns currently closed in the Campo de Gibraltar remains in place. Stricter measures are also being brought in in La Linea de la Concepcion (Cadiz) and Anora (Cordoba), given that these two towns are in risk Level 4 (II). There, all non-essential business activity must close. Infection rate rising Moreno explained how the rate of infection is rising following the holiday period. "So far the rate of hospitalisation is lower than anywhere else in Spain, but the measures we are going to take are proportional," said Moreno on Friday. The meeting came two days before the special, Christmas conditions end on Sunday and in the face of a sharpening increase in cases both regionally and nationally following people mixing over the holiday season. The regional president, Juanma Moreno, said on Thursday, Andalucia will keep acting to contain the effects of the third wave. The decision that we are going to take is backed by Public Health and the experts, and will seek to protect people in Andalucia while helping economic activity wherever possible. On Thursday (7 January) there were 2,687 new coronavirus cases in the region, the highest daily figure since 26 November. Despite Andalucia reporting among the lowest figures in Spain in recent weeks, the rate of positive cases in the last 14 days per 100,000 people regionally had risen to 192, up by 51 points on a week earlier. WASHINGTON, D.C. At least three Oregonians were among those arrested in the nation's capitol on Wednesday after a crowd of President Trump's supporters broke into the Capitol building. According to records from the DC Metropolitan Police Department, 28-year-old Kristina Malimon and 54-year-old Yevgemya Malimon were arrested on charges for Unlawful Entry and violation of a 6 p.m. curfew mandated by Mayor Muriel Bowser after the violence on Wednesday morning. Kristina Malimon has been identified as the vice chairwoman of the Young Republicans of Oregon. Another Oregonian, 57-year-old Rodney Taylor, was arrested on a similar Curfew Violation charge. The police records indicate that the Malimons were arrested near the Capitol building, while police took Taylor into custody several miles to the north. Jo Rae Perkins the Republican candidate who unsuccessfully ran against Senator Jeff Merkley during the 2020 Election, and a promoter of QAnon conspiracy theories was also present at the rally in Washington on Wednesday. She posted videos to her Facebook page from the crowd. Columbia, MO (65201) Today Showers and thunderstorms likely. Thunderstorms could be strong and possibly severe in the afternoon. Damaging winds and large hail with some storms. High 82F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Thunderstorms during the evening, then cloudy skies overnight. Low 52F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. A Massachusetts congresswoman said Friday that lawmakers are prepared to move to impeach President Donald Trump next week just days after a violent and deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building that many public officials argue the incumbent commander-in-chief helped incite. In an interview with CNN, U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts, one of the top lawmakers in the House of Representatives, said Democrats in the lower chamber of Congress will move forward with impeachment proceedings against Trump if Vice President Mike Pence does not invoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. Donald Trump needs to be removed from office, and we are going to proceed with every tool that we have to make sure that that happens to protect our democracy, Clark told CNN. If the reports are correct, and Mike Pence is not going to uphold his oath of office and remove the president and help protect our democracy, then we will move forward with impeachment to do just that. Every day that Donald Trump is President of the United States is a day of grave danger," says Rep. Katherine Clark, assistant House speaker, as House Democrats eye quick impeachment vote if Vice President Mike Pence wont remove Trump from office. https://t.co/yIrdg5KECG pic.twitter.com/uPz9aJ7RNl CNN (@CNN) January 8, 2021 Clark, who serves as assistant speaker of the House, pointed out Congress has limited time to impeach Trump. The congresswoman argued every day that Donald Trump is president of the United States is a day of grave danger. So we can use procedural tools to get articles of impeachment to the floor for a House vote quickly, Clark said. U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, chair of the Judiciary Committee, has stated he is prepared to draw articles of impeachment as early as the middle of next week, according to Clark. In a tweet after her interview with CNN, Clark noted House Democrats are actively working to determine the timeline and the quickest path to hold Trump accountable. We face obstruction and attempts to delay us by the GOP defenders, but were resolute. We will act to protect the American people, she said. To clarify, @HouseDemocrats are actively working to determine the timeline and the quickest path to hold Trump accountable. We face obstruction and attempts to delay us by the GOP defenders, but were resolute. We will act to protect the American people. https://t.co/RHGwKOnpFD Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) January 8, 2021 Multiple Democrats in the House, among them U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts, announced Thursday they had already drafted articles of impeachment for the sitting Republican president. The news came shortly after officials within the Trump administration told reporters his Cabinet discussed removing him from office through the invocation of the 25th Amendment. We have a responsibility to act and to act swiftly and decisively, and we know that we have to have Republicans find this moment to step up to honor their country over this one person who seems to have such a grip on them, Clark said during an interview with MSNBC. Theres no gray area here. This is a clear decision. This President is a danger. This President is a traitor. And this President must be removed from office, she added. There's no grey area here. This President is a danger. This President is a traitor. And this President must be removed from office. @chrislhayes @allinwithchris @msnbc pic.twitter.com/UK69CgfmXD Katherine Clark (@RepKClark) January 8, 2021 The violence in the nations capitol erupted as thousands of people gathered in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday to oppose the certification of president-elect Bidens electoral victory. Despite Biden handily winning the electoral and popular vote, Trump has still peddled lies that there was widespread voter fraud and that he, in fact, won the election by a landslide over his Democratic competitor. Prior to the insurrection, Trump urged a crowd of his supporters to march to the Capitol building, saying, We will not take it any more. Youll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong, he said. I know everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building. To peacefully, patriotically make your voices heard. Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal lawyer, also fired up those gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday by saying, If were right, a lot of them will go to jail. So, lets have trial by combat. In the aftermath of the siege of the Capitol, five people, including a police officer, were left dead. Several individuals were injured as well, and two pipe bombs, a long gun, molotov cocktails and other weaponry were found at the scene. Trump was criticized for not immediately telling people to leave the Capitol after rioters stormed the building and for a video he released over social media in which he told supporters they are very special and continued to repeat falsehoods about the presidential election. We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side, Trump said in the video. To his supporters, the president added, Go home. We love you. Youre very special. Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have all removed the video since its posting, and the presidents Twitter account was also locked after posting a tweet appearing to justify the violence at the Capitol. The president appeared to reverse course Thursday, releasing another video in which, after months of denying the outcome of the election, he said he is now focusing on a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power after the insurrection in D.C. Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem, he said in Thursdays video. Those who engaged in the act of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. Those who broke the law will pay, Trump warned. Related Content: Listen to article Soldiers entered Ghana's parliament to break up a scuffle between rival lawmakers at odds over last month's elections, hours before President Nana Akufo-Addo was due to be sworn in on Thursday. The clash underscored the deep tensions following the Dec. 7 election that has led to rare unrest in Ghana, a major cocoa and gold producer seen as a bastion of democracy in West Africa. It started when one member of the parliament from the president's NPP party snatched some paper ballots during an overnight vote to determine the house speaker, according to a source who was present. It was not immediately clear why the lawmaker was angry. Last month's elections left a hung parliament, without a dominant party to push through the appointment of the speaker and other key posts. Footage on local television showed politicians, many of them unmasked, pushing and shoving before about 20 soldiers entered the chamber. Ranks of MPs then faced each other and chanted over a dividing line of masked soldiers and police. Eventually, Alban Bagbin, the candidate from Ghana's other main party, the NDC, was voted in as speaker. The attempt to snatch ballot papers and the invasion of the Chamber by armed military personnel are images one had never expected to see in our 4th Republican Parliament,'' said losing presidential candidate, John Mahama, in a Facebook post congratulating Bagbin. The incident occurred as preparations were underway for the swearing-in of Akufo-Addo for his second term at a ceremony on the parliament grounds. Dignitaries from across Africa are expected to attend. Akufo-Addo was declared the winner of last month's election with 51.59 per cent, ahead of former President Mahama, who got 47.37 per cent. Mahama's party has said it will contest the results in court, alleging fraud though it has not published evidence. (Reuters/NAN) A 39-year-old civil engineer was booked by Pimpri-Chinchwad police for alleged sexual assault of his 13-year-old daughter on multiple occasions in Pimpri-Chinchwad and Ahmednagar. The girl told her mother, who is a school-teacher, about the sexual assault which started when she was in Class 1 and in-turn the mother approached an NGO which brought them to the police station, according to the complaint. Volunteers of a NGO had brought the girl and the mother to us. From what they have told us, we have registered a case. However, we need to hear his (the accused) side of the story too. The childs parents are separated - father lives in Ahmednagar while mother lives in Pune. The girl was sent for a medical test to a government facility on Thursday, said senior police inspector Milind Waghmare of Pimpri police station. The police have sent a team to bring the accused to Pimpri police station. During the winter break from school, the girl had gone to Ahmednagar to visit her relatives in December last year when the man repeated the act after which she told her mother. The girl told her mother that the accused insisted to sleep with him on the same bed and touched her inappropriately. The man had forced the child into unnatural and forced natural intercourse with him, according to the complainant. A case under Sections 376(2)(n) of Indian Penal Code along with Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offence Act was registered at Pimpri police station. The Australian F1 Grand Prix has been postponed from March 18 to spring Bahrain is set to replace Melbourne as the opening race in March this year Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll said teams have agreed to the change The event was completely cancelled two hours before a practice session in 2020 A Formula One Team owner has revealed the Australian Grand Prix will be postponed ahead of an official announcement. Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll said the Melbourne event will be moved from March 18 towards the end of the F1 season in the Australian spring (or autumn in the Northern Hemisphere). ADVERTISEMENT Bahrain will replace Melbourne as the opening race in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions in Australia. It comes after the 2020 Grand Prix was completely cancelled due to the pandemic less than two hours before cars were set to hit the track for the first practice session on March 13 last year. Spectators leave after waiting at the gate after being told that the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled in March last year. This year's Grand Prix has been postponed from March 18 to an unknown time in spring 'Melbourne has been -- its not officially announced but it will be -- not cancelled but postponed,' Stroll told Reuters. 'We will go there sometime in the fall (autumn) and the first race will be Bahrain.' While the race will take place in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be spring in Australia at the time. Click here to resize this module Formula One teams reportedly agreed the change in a virtual meeting with Formula One's new chief executive Stefano Domenicali on Monday. The Canadian billionaire is confident the Melbourne Grand Prix will be able to go ahead on its new postponed date. 'I think the worst is behind us and we've learnt through last year how to proceed with this year,' Stroll said. Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll (left) and his wife Claire-Anne (right). Stroll said the Melbourne event will be moved from March 18 towards the end of the F1 season in the Australian spring (or autumn in the Northern Hemisphere) Fans wait outside of the gates before practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2020 The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne was completely cancelled last year. Related Articles Daniel Ricciardo reduces fellow Formula One star to tears of laughter with a VERY rude question in the sport's most hilarious press conference for years Formula One confirmed the cancellation less than two hours before cars were set to hit the track for the first practice session on March 13, 2020. The cancellation came after the McLaren team withdrew from the Melbourne event because a member tested positive to COVID-19. Top drivers were also refusing to take part in the race due to health concerns. Disappointed racing fans believe they were left in the dark as Formula One failed to effectively communicate whether the event would go ahead. ADVERTISEMENT Some spectators standing outside of Gate 5 told Daily Mail Australia they had come from as far away as London, while others were planning to travel the world for the sport. 'We were here yesterday and there was absolutely no problem,' one race fan said. 'We all used sanitiser and got on with life. It's just ridiculous to pull the plug on it now.' Spectators queued at the gate to gain entry ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix last year - before they were turned away Haas team principle Guenther Steiner reacts after the event was cancelled ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix 2020 Last season's race calendar had to be re-written due to the global pandemic, with an eventual 17 rounds in Europe and the Middle East and some circuits including Bahrain hosting two grands prix. Stroll, who is also executive chairman of sportscar maker Aston Martin, expected lingering difficulties. 'I do believe were in for a difficult two or three months,' he said. 'There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine. I think the first few races will be slightly challenging. 'But Formula One management and the FIA, I really take my hat off to them to deliver 17 races as we did last year in 23 weeks, without really any major hiccups, in a very impressive manner.' The first shipment of coronavirus vaccine will likely to be released today. The Union health ministry on Thursday informed the plan for a mega vaccination drive will be drawn soon. Health minister Harsh Vardhan listed out major destination points and states where two COVID-19 vaccines will be dispatched "shortly". A government official said the final due diligence and certification formalities for placing bulk purchase orders were on and that the supply order was likely to be placed by Friday as the initial 10-crore vaccines would be funded through PM-CARES, Times of India reported. India's drugs regulator on January 3 approved Oxford-AstraZeneca's 'Covishield', manufactured by SII, and Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin for restricted emergency use. As soon as the supply order takes place, the vaccine manufacturer will air transfer the doses to four main depots in Karnal, Kolkata, Chennai, and Pune. From there, the vaccine will be taken to 37 states and union territories and then to districts, primary health centres and sub-centres, and other designated sites. The Airport Authority of India said it is fully geared up to deploy its resources to facilitate transportation of the COVID-19 vaccine. Consignments of 'Covishield' vaccine, manufactured at Serum Institute, are scheduled to be dispatched to various locations from the Pune airport. The health ministry said the vaccine will be supplied to the identified consignee points of 19 states and union territories -- Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. The vaccine for the remaining 18 states and union territories -- Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Daman and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Lakshadweep, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Puducherry, Sikkim, Tripura and Uttarakhand -- will be supplied to their respective government medical store depots (GMSDs). Also read: Pune airport ready for transportation of COVID-19 vaccine: AAI Also read: IAF's transport planes to supply coronavirus vaccines to distant parts of India Also read: COVID-19: Centre finalises 41 destinations for vaccine delivery New Delhi, Jan 8 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that passengers arriving from the UK will be kept at an isolation facility if they are found Covid-19 positive, in a step to protect city residents from the new strain detected in the country. "To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility," Kejriwal announced in a series of tweets, after chairing a cabinet meeting. He also said that the UK passengers with negative Covid reports will be taken to a quarantine facility for seven days, followed by seven days home quarantine. Kejriwal's announcement comes a day after his request to the Central government to extend the ban on UK flights till January 31 against the backdrop of new coronavirus strain which so far has infected a total of 82 persons in India. The Delhi CM had made the appeal to the Centre after it earlier announced to resume international flights from the UK from January 8. Flights between India and the UK were suspended from December 23 to January 7 in the wake of detection of a more infectious coronavirus strain in UK population. As per the fresh safety guideline issued on January 4, the Centre had said that those travelling between January 8 and 31 would be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival at the Indian airports. Clarence Fanto can be reached at cfanto@yahoo.com , on Twitter @BE_cfanto or at 413-637-2551. Bloomberg (Bloomberg) -- Fresh from striking a hammer blow in the boardrooms of the worlds biggest oil companies, the climate movement has a clear message: the energy transition is happening and theres no turning back.Just five years ago, environmental activists were limited to waving placards outside of annual meetings and to the odd shareholder proposal, inevitably rebuffed by the boards and management teams. On Wednesday by contrast, stock investors ousted two Exxon Mobil Corp. directors seen as insufficiently attuned to the threat of climate change, while Chevron Corp. shareholders voted for a proposal to compel the company to reduce pollution by its customers. Royal Dutch Shell Plc was ordered to slash emissions harder and faster than planned by a Dutch court.It was a humiliating loss for Exxon, the Western worlds biggest oil company, made worse by the fact that the the effort was championed by an activist with just a 0.02% stake. Chief executive officer and Chairman Darren Woods battled against the tiny fund for weeks, calling its nominees unqualified, and offering concessions just hours before the annual meeting. The board even held up the vote in a last-ditch attempt to secure more support.It was to no avail. The climate movement is now so mainstream that the worlds largest institutional investors were willing to back Engine No. 1, a group of little-known activists who only established their fund six months ago, over one of the biggest titans in corporate America. BlackRock Inc., the second-largest holder of Exxon with a 6.6% stake, voted for three of the four new directors nominated by Engine No. 1, according to a vote bulletin published Wednesday. The asset manager said it was concerned about Exxons strategic direction and could benefit from the addition of the new directors.Its a big deal for Exxon, but its a watershed moment for the oil and gas industry, said Fred Krupp, president of the Environmental Defense Fund. Its no longer tenable for companies like Exxon Mobil to defy calls to align their business strategies with decarbonizing the economy.A missed revolutionTuesdays events mark a rude awakening for Big Oils powerful executives, who long marched to the beat of their own drum, with little need to take advice from shareholders on how to run their businesses. For much of the decade before the 2014 oil crash, energy companies were among the biggest cash cows in the stock market and the cornerstone of most major pension funds.At the heart of their power was one iron-clad macroeconomic rule of the last half-century: the developed worlds thirst for energy was growing, and Big Oil had it. But in the past decade, the U.S. shale revolution and the climate movement disrupted that trend from the supply and demand sides, respectively.For too long, Exxon -- and to a large extent, its rivals -- missed them both.It wasnt just that the supermajors were late to shale, but that they failed to appreciate what the massive new supply meant for the global crude market. From 2008 to 2014, the world was moving from a perceived shortage of oil to an abundance of it. But as old fields in Texas were being revived by fracking, Big Oil continued to pursue capital-intensive projects in the Arctic and Canadas oil sands.This not only damaged financial returns over the long term, but it also put Exxon and its peers firmly in the crosshairs of a movement that was increasingly targeting corporate America.The link between climate change and financial investments are undeniable, said Aeisha Mastagni, a fund manager at California State Teachers Retirement System, the second-largest U.S.-state pension fund and an early backer of Engine No. 1.While the environmental activist movement has been successful in targeting Big Oil and its allies, it has not yet solved the far bigger problem of tackling the worlds consumption of crude. Exxon, Chevron, Shell, BP Plc and Total SE together produce less than 15% of global crude supply. Even if they retreat, others may step in to fill the gap unless consumers are willing to make some hard choices about their lifestyle.Lightning rodEven compared with its peers, Exxon has long been a lightning rod for criticism. Former CEO Lee Raymond vociferously opposed the 1998 Kyoto Protocol, one of the first globally coordinated agreements to reduce carbon emissions, citing the uncertainty around climate science. While the companys stance evolved over time -- it backed the 2015 Paris Agreement -- under Woods it still clung to the belief that demand for oil and gas would persist, and that Exxon would be the one to supply it.The difference between the American oil titans and their rivals in Europe grew wider over the last few years when Shell, BP and Total committed to net zero emissions targets by mid-century. In 2020, Woods famously dismissed these targets, some of which rely on asset sales, as a beauty competition that would do little to halt climate change. Later that year, internal Exxon documents leaked to Bloomberg News revealed that Woodss $200 billion, seven-year expansion plan was projected to increase annual emissions 17% by 2025, equivalent to the entire output of Greece.The coronavirus pandemic forced Woods to reverse course on much of his expansion plan, cutting capital spending by about a third all the way out to 2025. But by then the damage was done. Exxons debt ballooned 40% to around $70 billion in 2020, and it posted its first annual loss in at least four decades, incurring the biggest writedown in its modern history. The company was also removed from the Dow Jones Industrial Average.Investor discontentExxons financial performance may have been the impetus for Engine No. 1s campaign, but it was the companys environmental record that loomed large over the actual vote. Environmental, social and governance investing has gained increasing importance within the countrys biggest asset managers, due in part to demand from climate-conscious clients.Vanguard Group, BlackRock and State Street Corp., Exxons top three investors, are all members of the Net Zero Managers Initiative, which supports the goal of eliminating net greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The CEOs of BlackRock and State Street have are keen to paint themselves as catalysts for energy transition as they themselves become targets of environmental activism.None of this was lost on Engine No. 1., which seized on investor discontent over returns and used it to amplify its criticism of Exxons unwillingness to adapt. A refusal to accept that fossil fuel demand may decline in decades to come has led to a failure to take even initial steps towards evolution, and to obfuscating rather than addressing long-term business risk, the activist said in a recent presentation.To ease investor discontent, Exxon must separate the roles of CEO and Chairman and increase transparency over its future plans, according to Iancu Daramus of Legal & General Investment Management, a top 20 shareholder. The company also needs to set ambitious emissions targets befitting an iconic company of this scale and stature, he said.Exxon did take a series of measures, such as publishing new emissions reduction targets, talking up new low-carbon technology ventures and buying more renewable power to fund its operations. But the company still appeared tone-deaf to investor demands.When we did meet with the company the executive management team does most of the talking, said Mastagni of CalSTRS. They were unwilling to listen to shareholder concerns.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P. The joint efforts of the two entities each bringing their impressive experience and expansive expertise in property development and hospitality management aim to bring the ultra-luxury residential product concept of branded residences to Vietnam, elevating and changing the local residential landscape to truly global luxury standards. The partnership also underscores Masterise Homess position as Vietnams leading real estate player, reflecting its six-year transformation to become a reputable world-class property developer. The agreement is expected to deliver unparalleled luxury living in Vietnam and is set to allow Masterise Homes to extend its development expertise into Vietnams fast-growing luxury real estate market, leveraging Marriott Internationals global brands such as Marriott, JW Marriott, and especially The Ritz-Carlton one of the best-known superior luxury brands of Marriott to introduce urban branded residences to the Vietnamese property market. Representatives from Masterise Homes, Marriott International, and guests at the signing ceremony Masterise Homes has been building renowned properties in Vietnam and we have solidified our position as an industry leader given our focus on building a real estate ecosystem with premier international standards. Our collaboration with Marriott International is another feather in our cap and, given their global standing, further highlights our capabilities to deliver the best living experiences with world-class standards to our residents, said Jason Turnbull, deputy managing director cum CFO at Masterise Homes. Jason Turnbull, deputy managing director cum CFO at Masterise Homes delivering a speech at the signing ceremony Vietnams growth throughout the years has been very impressive, remarked Rajeev Menon, president, Asia-Pacific (excluding China) at Marriott International. We are grateful for the opportunity to work with Materise Homes to realise their vision of building premium communities in Vietnam, and are excited about growing our branded residence footprint in the region. Rajeev Menon, president, Asia-Pacific (excluding China), Marriott Internationaljoined the signing ceremony from Singapore via virtual meeting Alexander Tatsis, Economic Section chief, US Consulate Generalat the signing ceremony Marriott International is one of the world's leading hoteliers. Since its first hotel opened in 1957, the company now encompasses a portfolio of over 7,500 properties spanning 132 countries and territories. While premium brands like Marriott offer sophisticated spaces and experiences for upscale customers, luxury brands such as JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton provide exceptional bespoke services and amenities that define a new era of luxury. The branded residences experience, as seen in many developed real estate markets, offers tremendous opportunities in Vietnam amidst rising demand for alternative residential products that offer the next level of luxury living. Our development will be associated with some of the most renowned brands in Marriott Internationals portfolio, such as Marriott, JW Marriott, and The Ritz Carlton which will be the first residences of these brands in Vietnam. Their design, development, management, and operation standards will follow the same requirements of any branded residence that carries the same brand around the globe, offering global citizens a privilege to experience world-class ultra-luxury living that is similar to a 5-star JW Marriott branded residence in London or a Ritz Carlton in New York, added Turnbull. The projects that are currently in the planning stage are located in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and will take the lead in introducing the urban branded residences concept in Vietnam. The branded residences experience, as seen in many developed real estate markets, offers tremendous opportunities in Vietnam amidst rising demand for alternative residential products that offer the next level of luxury living. This positive outlook certainly bodes well for upcoming co-operation projects between Masterise Homes and Marriott International. Representatives from Masterise Homes and Marriott International presenting guests with flowers Grand Marina Saigon, the first highly anticipated project, is situated at a distinct location in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. Its site is the last remaining vast land plot at the northern bank of the river within District 1, with a unique waterfront and historical background. The development is a large-scale, mixed-use complex with residential, office, and commercial features. It is expected to be Marriott Internationals largest branded residence project in the world, and the companys first foray into Vietnams highly vibrant branded residential market segment. The development will also position Masterise Homes as one of the largest real estate players in Ho Chi Minh City, supporting Marriott Internationals global portfolio of properties. The complex, envisioned to be ultra-luxe, is set to be a highly exclusive and dynamic community and economic hub at the heart of Ho Chi Minh City, attracting Vietnams tastemakers as well as international high-net-worth individuals. Masterise Homes is the member of Masterise Group that manages and develops all residential real estate brands of the group. With its customer-centric philosophy, Masterise Homes relentlessly applies world-class standards in all its developments. Louth will receive funding of 376,050 for projects under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, it has been confirmed. Senator John McGahon said: This funding is extremely welcome news for Louth, especially residents of Dromiskin, Carlingford, Stabbannon and Blackrock. I am delighted that Carlingford has received funding of 100,000 for the repair of the medieval boundary wall at Carlingford Heritage Centre and refurbishment of the public toilets in the village. "Thanks to the hard work and continued efforts of Cllr Maria Doyle, Blackrock has received 100,000 for improvements to footpaths along Rock Road and the addition of a looped walkway. "Dromiskin has received 100,00 for the Development of a looped footpath with associated works and lighting. "Meanwhile, Stabannon has received 76,050 for the provision of footpaths and lighting in the village. These excellent initiatives are will ensure our smaller towns and villages are more attractive and sustainable places in which to live and work. The funding, allocated under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, is a key part of the Action Plan for Rural Development and the Governments Project Ireland 2040 Programme for Rural Regeneration. The benefit of previous funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is now being felt countrywide and I am delighted today that even more areas in Louth will benefit from the funding. Almost 68 million has now been approved for more than 830 projects across the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme since it was introduced in the second half of 2016, with more than 600 of these approved since the Action Plan for Rural Development was launched in January 2017. I want to thank the Louth County Council for engaging with local communities in these instances to help them to identify good projects which have merited support. The Governments commitment to supporting rural Ireland is further underscored through the 1 billion Project Ireland 2040 Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which complements the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and provides an opportunity to deliver more integrated and ambitious projects which will further support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages," Senator McGahon concluded. In an effort to draw attention to and humanize Americans who have lost their lives to the coronavirus pandemic, a Clear Lake couple has developed the COVID-19 Wall of Memories, a nonprofit organization that includes an interactive website. Mohammed Nasrullah and his wife, Ruth, began thinking of the project last spring when the pandemic began to sweep across the country. However, when the national death toll reached 100,000, they felt compelled to find a way to honor the dead. I felt the need to act, Mohammad Nasrullah said. I kept thinking that (in the news) they just kept talking about the number of people who had died, but that number represented people in our community, in our hospitals and in our schools, and I thought we needed to put a face to those numbers. From this desire sprang the idea to post victims faces and stories to the Nasrullahs online site. Coronavirus live updates: Harris County sees first case of 'disturbing' new variant in Texas The faces on the virtual wall include the famous such as Gilligans Island star Dawn Wells, who died Dec. 30 of causes related to COVID-19 and those primarily remembered by family and friends. Inspired by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Nasrullah, a full-time community volunteer and board member of the Multicultural Center in Webster, said the idea for the websites design and virtual wall is inspired by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. I wanted it to be just like that, but virtual, where you can be scrolling and see the victims who have been hit by this terrible disease, he said. The virtual wall now honors about 600 virus victims. Visitors can scroll through their photos and read their stories by clicking on the pictures. The Nasrullahs said the victims profiles collected so far have been culled by a group of volunteers who repost online obituaries. We want to honor them, remember them and share their story, Nasrullah said. The site officially launched Jan. 4. Ruth Nasrullah, who is a journalist, said she hoped that has people become more aware of it, they will upload photos and stories of their loved ones who have died from COVID-19. Everyone (who has passed from COVID) deserves a space on the wall, she said. That is our goal. On HoustonChronicle.com: Looking for a COVID-19 vaccine in Houston? This map can help. The couple said people can contribute information about relatives or friends who have died from the virus to the site by accessing its Share your loved ones story link at the top of the home page. The sites database can hold up to 500,000 obituaries. The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus has exceeded 360,000. In addition to the victims memorial part of the site, the Covid-19 Wall of Memories aims to educate readers about the virus, available vaccines, testing sites, contract tracing and other information surrounding the pandemic through a section called Just the Facts. Ruth Nasrullah said each section, along with the virtual wall and death toll counts from each state, are important to her and her husbands overall mission. Maybe our website can change peoples minds that have this idea that (this disease) is a hoax or just like the flu, she said. Articles on the site include first-person accounts from those who have survived the infection, including Houston City Councilwoman Letitia Plummer and Kathryn Jones, a contributing editor for Texas Monthly. Ruth Nasrullah also recruited volunteer journalists to write about the impact of COVID-19 on various industries and the challenges accessing health care in rural areas and to pen opinion pieces and share medical news. She also hopes to tackle how the virus has impacted the LGBTQ community as well as other topics. Im trying to cover angels that I havent heard a lot about, she said. We want to inform and move people. Mohammed Nasrullah says looking at the faces has an impact on him. When I see the faces, its just so sad and I cannot take it, so I shut down my laptop, he said, but added, I know we havent even scratched the surface of victims, but we want to see everyone on the wall of memories. EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season. CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15. GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season. BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career. Vote View Results MBABANE Armed soldiers at Nkoyoyo Royal Residence are reported to have forcefully taken a car from a man who allegedly owed their colleague. The man was purportedly lured to Nkoyoyo Royal Residence by the soldier he reportedly owed under the pretence that they would discuss how he would pay back the money. This was allegedly never to be because instead of having the discussions, the soldier is said to have mobilised his colleagues who were armed to the teeth and they told the man that he would not get the car until he settled the debt. The alleged owner of the motor vehicle, Elliot Maseko of KaNcesi, has since taken the soldier, Wiseman Lukhele and Rueben Dlamini (from whom vehicle was taken) to the High Court. Through his attorney Linda Dlamini, Maseko yesterday moved an urgent application seeking the release of the car. He wants the court to direct the soldier (Lukhele) or anyone who might be in possession of the vehicle, a Range Rover, to forthwith deliver it to him. Seize The applicant (Maseko) is further praying for an order authorising a deputy sheriff to forthwith seize and take the motor vehicle and cause same to be delivered to him. Giving a background of the matter, Maseko narrated that on November 2020, he gave the second respondent (Rueben) his motor vehicle, who had promised to buy it for a test drive. According to the applicant, Rueben, having indicated that he was interested in buying the car, took it for a test drive and he requested that he would require at least a month driving it and would revert to him so that they could finalise the sale agreement. He recounted that towards the end of December 2020, a month for the test driver, as requested by Rueben, lapsed and he contacted him to enquire as to when he was returning the motor vehicle. Rueben, according to Maseko, told him that they would meet in the first week of January. Maseko alleged that he advised Rueben that he was note amenable to his proposal, given that the motor vehicle was exposed to wear and tear due to its continued use, and it would be difficult for him to find another buyer thereafter. Persisted The applicant recalled that he alleggely persisted to contact Rueben as he was not comfortable with the motor vehicle being with him for an extended period beyond the one month as agreed. Maseko averred that on January 2, 2021, he contacted Rueben, who advised him that the motor vehicle had been taken by the soldier (Lukhele) as a result of monies they owed each other. These are allegations contained in an affidavit whose veracity is still to be tested in court and the respondents are yet to file their papers in the event they are disputing the allegations against them. I must indicate that whatever fallout and/or misunderstanding Rueben and Lukhele might have has nothing to do with my motor vehicle, contended Maseko. He submitted that upon further enquiry from Rueben as to how it came about that the motor vehicle was taken from him, he allegedly advised him that he was called by Lukhele to meet at Nkoyoyo Royal Residence . Maseko submitted that Rueben went on to tell him that on arrival at the Nkoyoyo Royal Residence, armed members of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, who had been allegedly mobilised by Lukhele, pounced on him and informed him that he was not going anywhere with the car unless and until he paid their colleague. The matter is still pending in court and is expected to be heard by Judge Titus Mlangeni today. A former Louisiana couple has been charged with violating federal and state law by illegally selling in Louisiana box turtles, according to U.S. Attorney Peter G. Strasser's office. Vincent Felix Rivere, 47, and Megan Lynn Shoemaker, 35, both former residents of Springfield, are accused of knowingly violating the Lacey Act, which forbids trading in wildlife that has been illegally captured, possessed, bought or sold, according to court documents. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service investigated the matter. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jon Maestri will lead the prosecution. The couple was charged in a bill of information rather than a grand jury indictment, typically an indication that they intend to plead guilty. +2 Four men caught harvesting polluted oysters in Terrebonne Parish State wildlife agents cited four men for allegedly harvesting oysters last week in polluted waters off Terrebonne Parish. Federal court records, released Wednesday, do not describe exactly how Rivere and Shoemaker allegedly broke the law, only that the offenses occurred in Louisiana on July 13, 2017. If convicted, they face a maximum prison term of five years, three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Louisiana law prohibits the trade of box turtles or box turtle eggs or parts and forbids the taking of wild box turtles for commercial purposes. Box turtles, characterized by their domed shells, live in a variety of habitats, including prairies and woodlands, throughout the east half of the U.S. and Gulf Coast. +6 After nearly freezing in New England, 30 endangered sea turtles get critical care in New Orleans Dozens of endangered sea turtles are thawing out and recuperating in New Orleans after the cold of New England nearly killed them. The species is not considered endangered on a national level, but Michigan, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Connecticut consider the turtle a species of special concern and Maine lists it as endangered. Habitat loss, vehicle strikes, and collection for the pet trade have contributed to the box turtles decline, according to the National Wildlife Federation. Large numbers of box turtles were captured and exported from the U.S. during the 1990s. Louisiana began restricting sales and capture in 1996. Box turtles are currently considered a restricted harvest species in the state. A license allows limited capture and possession but sales are prohibited. In a dragnet on Wednesday, the Hong Kong police carried out the arrest of 53 politicians and activists associated with the citys official political opposition, the pan-democrat bloc. The arrests are the largest since Beijing passed a national security law last June, designed to stamp out dissent in the city following the eruption of large-scale, pro-democracy protests during the summer of 2019. Activists shout slogans in response to the mass arrests during a press conference in Hong Kong Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. . (AP Photo/Vincent Yu) The citys police mobilized over 1,000 officers to carry out Wednesdays arrests, raiding 72 locations, including four media outlets. Those arrested are being charged with subversion under the national security law. Penalties for convictions range from a minimum of ten years behind bars to life in prison. Many of those detained are longstanding figures within Hong Kong political establishment, including Benny Tai, a key figure of the 2014 Occupy movement; and James To and Claudia Mo, of the Democratic Party and Hong Kong First respectively. Another of the detained former lawmakers, Lam Cheuk-ting, was previously arrested in August under accusations of rioting in 2019. In reality, Lam had been the victim of an attack by pro-Beijing gangsters. John Clancey, a human rights lawyer and US citizen, was also arrested. Joshua Wong, one of the most prominent youth activists in Hong Kong, was also charged under the national security law for the first time. Police had already jailed Wong on separate charges prior to this weeks raids. In early December, he was sentenced to more than 13 months in prison for taking part in protests deemed unlawful in 2019. Among the targeted media was the tabloid Apple Daily, which is published by Next Digital Media and founded by Jimmy Lai. Lai has vocally criticized Beijing while posturing as a pro-democracy advocate. He has also been jailed under the national security law after being arrested in August. Lai has longstanding connections with the US intelligence agencies and state department. He has held meetings with figures like Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Hong Kongs secretary for security John Lee indicated that more arrests could be coming, saying investigations were ongoing. The government will not tolerate subversion of state power. This is severe, and we will prosecute accordingly, He stated. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying stated that the arrests were necessary to prevent external forces and individuals colluding to undermine Chinas stability and security. Since the beginning of the 2019 protests, Beijing has sought to blame foreign interference for the source of public anger, rather than to acknowledge declining living and working conditions and attacks on basic democratic rights that animate working-class discontent throughout China. The Beijing bureaucracys greatest fear is that workers in Hong Kong will break out of the control of the pan-democrats and move to assert their own independent interests and spark the latent opposition within the huge working class on the Chinese mainland. The arrested include those who ran in an unofficial primary last year, organized to determine which opposition candidates would stand in the general election originally slated for September. More than 600,000 people participated, exceeding expectations. The Hong Kong government postponed the election in July citing the COVID-19 pandemic as a pretext. Wednesdays arrests therefore make it clearer that the postponement was motivated by political considerations, with the city government and Beijing fearing a landslide victory for the pan-democrats. Wednesdays arrests follow the sentencing of 10 people accused of violating border laws while attempting to flee Hong Kong for Taiwan. They were arrested by the Chinese coast guard on August 23 in a boat outside of Hong Kong waters, according to Chinese authorities. They were given sentences ranging from seven months to three years in jail on the mainland. Two minors also arrested at the time were returned to Hong Kong in police custody. The government tried the group on December 28 in a closed, one-day trial. One of those arrested in August, Andy Li, is an activist who had also been charged with violating the national security law. Washington has responded to the latest arrests with its standard hypocritical rhetoric. Antony Blinken, President-elect Joe Bidens nominee for secretary of state said on Twitter, The sweeping arrests of pro-democracy demonstrators are an assault on those bravely advocating for universal rights. The Biden-Harris administration will stand with the people of Hong Kong and against Beijings crackdown on democracy. This is in contrast to Biden and the Democratic Partys response to the ongoing threat of a coup in Washington, led by President Trump. Prior to the violent assault by fascist rioters on the Capital on Wednesday, the Democrats did everything possible to downplay the threat to democratic rights and the Constitution. Washington has no genuine concern for democracy, but instead sees Hong Kong as another means to undermine China, in an attempt to force it to accept US hegemony. Hong Kongs pan-democrats similarly have no real concern for the democratic rights of the citys workers and youth. They are a coalition of different parties, trade unions, and organizations, headed by the Democratic Party, that represent sections of the Hong Kong bourgeoisie. These layers desire closer economic ties with the US and other Western powers and resent Beijings impact on their business interests. While some groupings within the pan-democrats attempt to appear radical or even socialist, they seek to pressure Beijing into making an accommodation. The pan-democrats are just as hostile to the working class as Beijing. In fact, their duplicity has helped paved the way for Beijings crackdown. In 2019 when workers were beginning to join the protest movement, the pan-democrats responding by indicating that, on one hand, they would be willing to accept an agreement with the government, and on the other, utilizing anti-Chinese and pro-US slogans to obfuscate the real causes of the protests and push the movement to the right. Hong Kongs official opposition demonstrated it would not launch any serious fight for democratic rights which would involve mobilizing the working class throughout China to directly challenge the Chinese Communist Party regime. Beijing took this as its cue to crack down on opposition figures. Those genuinely wanting to defend democratic rights can place no faith in the pan-democrats and should instead turn to the working class in Hong Kong and throughout China and internationally. The head of Iraqi Ports in the Ministry of Transportation signed a contract Dec. 30 with the South Korean company Daewoo for the completion of the Faw Port project in Basra. Faw Port is considered a strategic national project for Iraq, as it will be the only Iraqi port capable of receiving large ships, enabling Iraq to become part of a new silk road via the transference of goods from east to west through its lands from the Persian Gulf to the Mediterranean Sea. The project was raised for the first time in 1978, but due to internal and external controversy, it only began after the regime change in 2003. Kuwait later launched the construction of the Mubarak megaport, which raised Iraq's concern as the two ports are close in distance and competition could negatively affect Faw Port. Kuwait announced recently it stopped building Mubarak Port until any further announcement to assure it does not affect its neighbors and also due to economic hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Daewoo a leader in building ports completed the first two stages of the port. Then controversy erupted over which company might complete the next stages of the port, and demonstrations supported by Shiite militias took place in Basra, most recently on Dec. 18, calling for Daewoo to be replaced by the Chinese company CMEC. The obstacles facing Daewoo began Oct. 9 when the body of its manager was found hanged in Basra. Suspicions at that time revolved around political parties and armed groups being involved in his death, along with other assumptions. A source from the Ministry of Transport who requested anonymity told Al-Monitor, The Chinese company is not specialized in engineering the construction of ports, which prevents it from winning the contract, while there is political and parliamentary support for Daewoo, which is specialized in such projects. Iraqi Minister of Transport Nasser al-Shibli said in a Dec. 19 statement that Faw Port will be the alternative economy for oil, and the ministry will continue to work with Daewoo if it is authorized during the Cabinet session. Mudhar al-Azirjawi, a member of the Parliamentary Services and Reconstruction Committee, told Al-Monitor that political forces want to impose their vision in the construction of the port and even want to determine the executing company itself." Parliament member Abdul Amir al-Taiban, from the Sadiqun bloc representing Asaib Ahl al-Haq, which is close to Iran, said Dec. 14, An agreement between Faw Port and the Chinese company is a general public demand. On the same day, channels affiliated with the militias in Iraq reported protests in front of the Ministry of Transport that demanded signing with the Chinese company to complete the project. Reports on Dec. 14 accused the pro-Iranian parties of mobilizing protests in front of the Ministry of Transport in central Baghdad in order to pressure the government into assigning the remainder of the port project to the Chinese company. On Dec. 19, Hadi al-Amiri, head of the Fatah Alliance, sounded more moderate when he called for resorting to investment since Chinese companies need four years to open the port with very limited management and very limited berths. For his part, Nouri al-Maliki, head of the State of Law Coalition, on Dec. 15 called for a transparent contract that opens the door for companies to submit their offers and removes suspicion of negative judgment about this or that company. Wael Abdul Latif, the minister of provincial affairs and a former deputy governor of Basra, told Al-Monitor, The Chinese company made offers and its representatives met with the Ministry of Oil in November, and it does not require advance payment, while the Koreans require that and have submitted six projects for completion but do not operate the ports. The Chinese company has promised seven projects, including power and desalination stations, railways and roads. Meanwhile, General Director of Iraq Ports Farhan Muheisen al-Fartousi told Al-Monitor, Daewoo will reduce the cost to $25 million, and it will also implement free projects for the port after introducing amendments to the contract in the interest of Iraq. On Dec. 19, John Huang, Daewoos director in Iraq, said, The company did not stop the work assigned to it even when the Islamic State invaded Iraqi areas in 2014. The breakwater is complete, and the port basin is almost 40% done, while the Mina Street project is 80% finished. Mazhar Saleh, economic adviser to Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, told Al-Monitor, It is important to choose the appropriate companies that are able to implement all stages of the Faw Port project and its other annexes as an investment force to accelerate the making of Basra the economic capital of Iraq, according to Law No. 66 of 2017." Saleh added, I expect the project to lead to regional maritime economic integration and make the northern Gulf region, Basra, and the free zone in Iraqi ports an area of economic prosperity full of international investments. He called for expediting the completion of the Faw Port so it can finally become the central port of the northern Gulf region and also to facilitate connecting Iraq to Europe and the developed northern countries. As the government has already gone with giving the project to the South Korean company, this means that this strategic project will be completed in 2023 and according to plan. In a late-night crackdown, the Uttar Pradesh Police arrested a temple priest who is the main accused in the alleged gang rape of an Anganwadi worker in Badaun district. District Magistrate Kumar Prashant said that on Thursday midnight 'mahant' Satya Narayan was found hiding in the house of his follower in a village under Ughaiti police station from where he was nabbed by the police. On Sunday, the victim, a 50-year-old woman who had gone to a temple, was found dead under mysterious circumstances. Her family members had accused the temple priest and his aides of raping and murdering her. Based on this, a case was registered against the accused. Two of the accused were arrested on Tuesday, while the priest was still on the run. The station house officer of Ughaiti police station also had been suspended for laxity in the case. The two men arrested maintain that they found the woman in an injured state and wanted to help her. I carried out an inspection of the crime site, and as per evidence we are treating it as a case of gangrape and murder, Badaun SSP Sankalp Sharma was quoted saying. The state police have drawn criticism over the incident with Ranjana Kumari, the director of the Centre for Social Research, asking the authorities to take responsibility for the incident. The family of the woman has also alleged that the police did not reach the spot where the crime was committed on time and that the body was only sent for post-mortem 18 hours after the incident on Monday. There is no doubt that the storming of the Capitol was incited by President Trump strictly for his own selfish purposes. But it has a meaning beyond that. The attack amounted to an attempt to take control of our national government in order to stop elected representatives from fulfilling a constitutionally mandated duty. This kind of assault on the Capitol is rightly called an insurrection. It reminds me of what happened in the South after the Civil War. Continued political and armed resistance encouraged Congress to pass the great Reconstruction Amendments to the Constitution, as well as a series of enforcement laws, the Civil Rights Acts of 1866, 1870 and the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871. The 13th, 14th and 15th amendments profoundly remade our Constitutional scheme. Those senators and House representatives who kept talking about the Constitution late into the night on Wednesday sometimes conveniently forget that after the Civil War, We the People amended our countrys fundamental document in a New Revolution not only designed to bring freedom, security and citizenship to the freed people but also to provide national guarantees of equality and due process to all. Southern Conservatives fought Reconstruction by any means, including armed insurrection. One infamous example is called the Colfax Massacre, which has been called the bloodiest single act of carnage in all of Reconstruction. On Easter Sunday 1873, over 100 Black defenders of the Grant Parish Courthouse in Colfax, La., died in pitched battle with white attackers. The episode was the climax of a struggle for political power between Black Republicans and white supremacists. Federal officials indicted more than 100 attackers, charging them with conspiracy under the sixth section of the Enforcement Act of 1870. Sadly, this was in vain. The anti-Reconstruction majority on the Supreme Court made the law ineffective. In 1870 Ku Klux Klan raids in North Carolina confronted the Republican Gov. William Woods Holden with insurrection. His proclamations against Klan outrages and the gathering of arms by groups opposed to his lawfully elected Reconstruction government were ignored. The governor had to declare a state of insurrection in two counties. But he was defeated in the next election, and conservatives consolidated their anti-Reconstruction redemption of North Carolina. The Klan delivered its violence against individual victims, but in the end it was all about a politics based on race. As Judge Albion Tourgee said at the time, it was not the individual, against whom the blow was directed, but the power the Government the idea which they represented[The Klan] was builded upon an ineradicable sentiment of hostility to the negro as a political integer, and a fierce determination that the white people of the South, or a majority of that race, should rule It makes me wonder about the storming of the Capitol and what it is all about. The Voting Rights Act of 1965, a key measure of the so-called Second Reconstruction of the 1960s, has been systematically undermined by an increasingly conservative Supreme Court. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2020, named in memory of the late civil rights leader who was beaten demonstrating for voting rights in 1965, is designed to restore those protections. But it stalled in a Republican-controlled Senate last year. Mitch McConnell was dismissive of the need for voting protection. Every strategy tried by President Trump, every false claim of rigged elections, including his incitement of this last fiasco, has been aimed at disenfranchising as many voters as possible. In Texas, bills already have been filed in the new legislative session proposing new measures of voter suppression, for fear that those in power might not be able to hang on without them. Since the Texas electorate is diversifying, it is easy to see which way that wind is flowing. It was African American voters who just emancipated Georgia. The insurrection at the Capitol is another last grab to retain a political monopoly. If we see it as another Redemption (make America great again), just what is being redeemed here? Do we want to go along? Or, are we ready instead for a Third Reconstruction that will try for equality and justice for all? Oren is professor emeritus of the University of Houston Law Center. Seeing outright attacks on the democratic system of the United States, where Im afforded more freedom and fairness as an Ahmadi American Muslim, is especially disappointing. I call on my neighbors to remain peaceful and to remember that whatever injustices your loved ones have endured, we should keep bearing witnesses in equity, and let not a peoples enmity incite you to act otherwise than with justice (Quran 5:9). Cash in excess of 1m has been seized by personnel from Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) during an operation in Kildare on Friday morning. At 6.30am, as part of ongoing investigations targeting persons suspected to be involved in organised crime, personnel attached to the Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau, intercepted a van on the M7 in the Kildare area. In the course of a search of the van, a substantial amount of cash was located and seized, estimated to be in excess of 1,000,000. In the course of the GNDOCB operation, one male, age 45 years, was arrested and is currently detained, pursuant to the provisions of section 50 of Criminal Justice Act, 2007, at Portlaoise Garda station. He was arrested on suspicion of involvement in participating in the activities of a criminal organisation, to facilitate money laundering, relating to the suspected proceeds of drug trafficking, pursuant to the provisions of section 72 of Criminal Justice Act, 1996. A number of follow up searches were undertaken in the midlands, resulting in the seizure of an additional sum of cash estimated to be approximately 10,000 (subject to completion of counting). Speaking today Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll, who heads Organised and Serious Crime, within An Garda Siochana, said, "An Garda Siochana continues to pursue organised crime groups who are believed to involved in supplying illicit drugs within our communities, the motivation for which is financial gain. We again today have made a significant advance in our attempt to dismantle organised crime groups, by locating and seizing the suspected proceeds of their criminal activity. "Despite our significant commitment to tackling issues associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, at this time, An Garda Siochana remains focused on protecting communities from serious and organised crime, including cyber enabled crime, drug trafficking and associated money laundering. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow. Products now available for sale in medical channel through new ecommerce platform VAUGHAN, ON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - CannTrust Holdings Inc. ("CannTrust" or the "Company") announces it is re-entering the Canadian medical cannabis market today with its new medical brand estoraTM and will begin serving patients immediately. estoraTM builds on CannTrust's foundation of consistent, high quality products, with a focus on providing superior patient care in every interaction, connecting patients, health care practitioners and partners with the educational resources and products they need to navigate each patient's unique medical cannabis journey. "Since our inception, we have been dedicated to providing Canadians with consistently high-quality medical cannabis," said Greg Guyatt, Chief Executive Officer at CannTrust. "We're delighted to be launching our new medical brand estoraTM with a portfolio of medical cannabis products including oil drops, capsules and dried flower formats." Many products are available for sale immediately through the newly launched ecommerce site www.estoramedical.com. "We believe it was imperative to evolve our strong foundation in medical cannabis to meet the changing needs of our patients," said Guyatt. "estora has patient care at its core. We consulted patients and health care practitioners, learning more about their needs and refining our processes and product offerings to elevate their experience with us." CannTrust remains under CCAA protection to facilitate its efforts to resolve its civil litigation claims and complete its review of strategic alternatives. These efforts are ongoing and confidential, and the Company is unable to predict either their timing or their outcome. In the meantime, with the reinstatement of its cannabis licenses and the ongoing restoration of its operations, CannTrust's re-entry into the medical cannabis business segment is an important part of its focus on rebuilding trust by delivering quality, innovative products to its patients and customers. For more information about CannTrust's CCAA proceedings, please visit: www.ey.com/ca/canntrust. About estoraTM estoraTM is a Canadian medical cannabis brand. Our portfolio has been designed with patients in mind, with easy-to-use formats and standardized processes, that ensure consistency and quality in every bottle. We're not just a medical cannabis provider, but a partner, providing guidance and support for our patients on their journey with medical cannabis, so they can focus on what's really important. estoramedical.com @estoramedical Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian Securities laws and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other applicable United States safe harbor laws, and such statements are based upon CannTrust's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs and views of future events. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "believes", "expect", "likely", "may", "will", "should", "intend", "anticipate", "potential", "proposed", "estimate" and other similar words, including negative and grammatical variations thereof, or statements that certain events or conditions "may", "would" or "will" happen, or by discussions of strategy. Forward-looking information and statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation: the outcome of the Company's contingent liabilities; the impact of potential regulatory investigations; the Company's review of strategic alternatives; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments in Canada, the United States and elsewhere; the cannabis industry in Canada generally; and, the ability of CannTrust to implement its business strategies. Any forward-looking information and statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except as required by law, CannTrust does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for CannTrust to predict all such factors. When considering these forward-looking information and statements, readers should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in CannTrust's Annual Information Form dated March 28, 2019 (the "AIF") and filed with the applicable Canadian securities regulatory authorities on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and filed as an exhibit CannTrust's Form 40-F annual report under the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on EDGAR at www.sec.gov (the "March 2019 Form 40-F"). The risk factors and other factors noted in the AIF could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those described in any forward-looking information or statements. Readers are also reminded that CannTrust remains in default of its periodic disclosure requirements under applicable securities laws and stock exchange requirements, that its most recent AIF, Form 40-F and other disclosures do not reflect all risk factors that currently face the Company, and that the Company has not completed or filed the restatements of the financial statements included in the AIF or the March 2019 Form 40-F or otherwise filed an amendment to such Form 40-F, and that the Company has determined not to correct its prior filings or make any further filings in respect of periodic disclosure requirements under applicable securities laws and stock exchange requirements. None of the Company's securities is listed for trading on any stock exchange in any jurisdiction and, in Canada, trading in the Company's securities is subject to a cease-trade order issued on April 13, 2020 by the Ontario Securities Commission for CannTrust's failure to comply with its disclosure obligations under applicable securities laws. SOURCE CannTrust Holdings Inc. Related Links https://www.canntrust.com/ Our combined strengths and cultural values of growth and entrepreneurial spirit sets a strong foundation for us to merge our critical attributes, technological capabilities, and engineering experience to continue serving our loyal customers. Bowman Consulting Group, Ltd. (Bowman), a provider of professional services to customers who own, develop, and maintain the built environment, announced today the completion of the previously announced acquisition of KTA Group, Inc. Founded in 1989, KTA is a forty person engineering firm with core expertise in mechanical, electrical and plumbing engineering, commissioning, third party plan review, and lighting design. The move supports Bowmans continued growth and substantially broadens its scope of service offerings. The completion of this acquisition signifies the launch of our initiative to accelerate growth by selective and intentional M&A, said Gary Bowman, Chairman and CEO of Bowman. I want to thank both teams for working tirelessly and collaboratively towards a smooth closing. Adding KTAs comprehensive skillsets and experience greatly enhances our ability to serve as a one stop provider of design services to our clients. KTAs CEO and founding partner, Mark Koblos commented: Our combined strengths and cultural values of growth and entrepreneurial spirit sets a strong foundation for us to merge our critical attributes, technological capabilities, and engineering experience to continue serving our loyal customers. Koblos joins Bowman as Executive Vice President spearheading the firms MEP business development and national expansion strategy. Randolph Thompson, president of KTA will continue to lead KTAs current team of engineering and support professionals out of its Herndon, Virginia office. With a successful acquisition behind us, I am confident that Bowman will continue to be a leader in the industry providing an extensive range of unmatched services, said Thompson. Our ultimate goal has always been to provide our clients with the most innovative and effective solutions, and I know that with Bowman we will be able to do that better than ever before. The deal closed on January 1st and has been structured as an asset purchase. Bowman expects this acquisition to be immediately accretive. ### About Bowman Bowman is a multi-disciplinary professional services firm offering a broad range of energy, infrastructure, real estate, and environmental management solutions to customers who own, develop, and maintain the built environment. With 750 employees working together across 25 offices nationwide, Bowman delivers environmentally conscious solutions that advance the quality of life in communities across the US. Core services include engineering, planning, surveying, geomatics, construction management, environmental consulting, landscape architecture, and right-of-way acquisition. For more information, visit http://www.bowman.com. About KTA KTA has provided engineering services throughout the United States since 1989 and is a nationally recognized leader in mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design as well as third party plan review and commissioning services. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the firm applies the most up to date industry technologies to design healthy facilities that are environmentally and fiscally sound. KTA serves several diverse markets including health care, educational facilities, commercial interiors, mission critical facilities, base buildings, and mixed use and residential buildings. For additional information, please visit http://www.ktagroup.com. An actress turned film producer, who has worked with some of Hollywood's biggest stars, will not stand trial for attacking her boyfriend, currently on the run from police. Nice-born Adriana Randall, 34, was accused of drunkenly 'swinging punches' at 37-year-old Jean Francois Mondin at his 1.3million apartment. She always denied the allegation, insisting she acted in self-defence, and today at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court - the day of the trial - it was announced the Crown Prosecution Service had 'discontinued' the case. Randall was arrested and charged with assaulting Mondin - heir to luxury beauty and skincare brand Guinot - at his apartment overlooking Battersea Park on December 17. During an earlier hearing prosecutor Norleen Iba told the court officers were called to Cascade Court on Sopwith Way. Nice-born Adriana Randall, 34, was accused of drunkenly 'swinging punches' at 37-year-old Jean Francois Mondin at his 1.3million apartment 'The incident was at the home address of the complainant and the defendant was drunk and there had been an argument. 'The complainant went into the kitchen and she followed and started swinging punches and slaps, cutting the cheek and eyebrow of Mr. Mondin.' Randall, now living at a 2.7m flat at 10a West Halkin Street, Belgravia claims her ex-boyfriend is mentally-ill and suffering Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as well as abusing drugs. She always denied the allegation, insisting she acted in self-defence, and today at Wimbledon Magistrates' Court - the day of the trial - it was announced the Crown Prosecution Service had 'discontinued' the case What has Adriana Randall been in? Experimenter The Price of Desire The Call Up Strangerland Advertisement In a separate prosecution Paris-born Mondin - son of Guinot founder Jean-Daniel Mondin, 73, - was charged with drug offences, but jumped bail last November and is still wanted. He was charged with possessing Class C tranquilliser Xanax and cocaine at his home on October 27, but failed to attend Wimbledon Magistrates Court on November 26 and a warrant was issued for his arrest. Guinot boasts it is the 'No.1 beauty salon in France' and has opened a parlour in Ascot to kick-start a chain of luxury franchises in the UK. Actress Randall - whose family live in Monaco - appeared in 2015's 'Experimenter' alongside Hollywood stars Winona Ryder and Peter Sarsgaard; 'The Price of Desire' a biography starring Orla Brady and 2016's 'The Call Up' a Sci-Fi thriller. In 2016 she was a producer on 'Triple 9' an action crime thriller starring Kate Winslet; Chiwetel Ejiofor; Casey Affleck and Woody Harrelson. As a producer she made 2017's 'Tulip Fever' starring Judi Dench, Christoph Waltz and Tom Hollander. She is the executive producer of 2015's mystery thriller 'Strangerland', starring Nicole Kidman, Joseph Fiennes and Hugo Weaving. Randall debuted as a producer on 2014's 'Wish I Was Here', a comedy drama, starring Zach Braff and Kate Hudson. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions A Texas-based lawyer is among those who have been terminated from their job after being identified as a participant in Wednesday's riot on Capitol Hill. "Paul Davis, Associate General Counsel, is no longer employed by Goosehead," Goosehead Insurance, located in Westlake, Texas, tweeted Thursday. According to Ruiqi Chen with Bloomberg Law, Goosehead CEO and co-founder Mark Jones confirmed the firing in an email sent to employees Thursday, stating the company was unaware of Davis plans to be part of the violent demonstration. While we support our employees right to vote and express themselves politically, we do not condone violent or illegal acts. This one former employees actions are not reflective of our company culture or values, and we are disappointed with his behavior, Jones wrote in the message, as reported by Chen. Thankfully, we have the cherished rights of assembly and free speech, but those rights do notand cannotextend to violence in any form. 'WE WOULD HAVE BEEN SHOT': Texas organizers call out police hypocrisy at Capitol Davis posted video of the assault on the Capitol to his since-deleted Instagram account. "Got tear gassed, that was not fun," Davis said. The clip was shared to Twitter by Salon staff writer Roger Sollenberger and has since been viewed more than 2.2 million times. "All we're doing is demanding that our public officials audit the Dominon machines, audit the ballots. There's a way to do it, we can solve this in two days," Davis continued. "If this was a legitimate election then let us inspect it and if Biden won let's all go on with our lives. But you know what? I don't think that happened." The Houston Chronicle's Hannah Dellinger reports that Davis was a public supporter of President Donald Trump and shared conspiracy theories about the election on social media in the days before the riots. Even though he was fired from Goosehead, Davis is still eligible to practice law in Texas, as confirmed by a statement from the State Bar of Texas. New Delhi: President Donald Trump said on Friday (January 8) that he would not attend his successor Joe Biden's inauguration. Trump has repeatedly rejected the election result as a fraud and his supporters violently storming the US Capitol in Washington. In a tweet, Trump said, "To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th." The outgoing President gave no reason for not attending the inauguration function. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021 Facebook Inc and Instagram have decided to extend a ban on outgoing President Donald Trump`s accounts for at least the next two weeks until the presidential transition is completed. Earlier on Wednesday, Twitter, Facebook, and Snap Inc had temporarily blocked Donald Trump`s accounts as tech giants scrambled to crack down on his baseless claims about the US presidential election. On Thursday (January 7), Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg denounced the riot that occurred at the Capitol Hill when President Trump's supporters stormed a joint session of Congress. In his Facebook post, Zuckerberg said, "The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden." In the presidential election held on November 3, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris received 306 electoral votes, while President Trump got 232. The counting of Vermont's three electoral votes put Biden and Harris over the 270-threshold needed to win the presidency. The Electoral College votes of Biden and Harris were finally approved early on Thursday after both the Senate and the House of Representatives rejected all objections raised by the Republicans to the votes in the states of Pennsylvania and Arizona. Live TV The violence on Wednesday claimed four lives including one woman who was shot by a police officer, amid protests and rioting on Capitol Hill that resulted in dozens of demonstrators being arrested. Trump on Thursday said that there will be an "orderly" transfer of power to Joe Biden on January 20. His remarks came minutes after a Joint Session of the US Congress formally certified the Electoral College victory of Biden as the next US President and Kamala Harris as the Vice President in the November 3 election. In a statement, Trump said, "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th." BBC Food's most popular recipes of the year include fluffy American pancakes and banana bread as Briton's take up home baking during lockdowns. The website had a record-breaking year in 2020 after millions of people were stuck at home, with an average of 3.4million UK browsers visiting BBC Food each week. Figures were up 74% on 2019 with millions turning to the website for 'advice, inspiration and tips' according to the BBC. With 3.5 million total UK unique browsers, the fluffy American pancakes recipe took the top spot for nine months of the year (file image) The only other recipes to hit the top spot were lockdown favourite - banana bread - in April after there were an average of 3.4million UK browsers visiting BBC Food each week (file image) Recipes for fluffy American pancakes, banana bread and Mary Berry's scones topped the list as the most popular last year. With 3.5 million total UK unique browsers, the fluffy American pancakes recipe took the top spot for nine months of the year. The only other recipes to hit the top spot were lockdown favourite - banana bread - in April, Mary Berry's scones for VE Day in May and gingerbread men in December. Recipes for Mary Berry's scones for VE Day topped the records in May after figures were up 74% on 2019 (file image) With millions stuck at home during lockdown, baking proved a popular pass time, with different cakes, cookies and breads topping the list last year. Easter was the website's busiest week, with 6.4million UK browsers searching for tips and recipes. Christmas Eve saw the largest number of people browsing for recipes, at 1.5million, as people headed to site for help with Christmas dinner. The Hairy Bikers' honey-glazed gammon recipe topped charts as the most viewed across Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. With millions stuck at home during lockdown, baking proved a popular pass time, with shortbread coming in at the fourth most popular recipe (file image) Another recipe hitting the top spot was pizza dough. Emily Angle, the editor at BBC Food said the site had been 'helping people learn to cook and bake for two decades' (file image) Emily Angle, editor at BBC Food says: 'BBC Food has been helping people learn to cook and bake for two decades and while 2020 was really tough for everyone, it was great to see more people than ever enjoying the amazing recipes and the useful advice we have to offer.' This comes as almost a billion loaves of bread were made in kitchens in the six months after coronavirus restrictions were first introduced, researchers have found. It was revealed that 960 million loaves were baked at home between March and September. Mary Berry's easy Victoria sandwich was the sixth most popular recipe. Easter was the website's busiest week after 6.4million UK browsers searching for tips (file image) The astonishing figure represents an average of more than one loaf a week for each of Britains 27.6 million households. Just over a third of adults said they had started baking their own bread this year, with almost half of them aged 25 to 34. On average, each amateur baker made two loaves a week, but 15 per cent said they churned out four or more. Wilkes-Barre, PA (18701) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 76F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 49F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. WASHINGTON There were infamous white nationalists and noted conspiracy theorists who have spread dark visions of pedophile Satanists running the country. Others were more anonymous, people who had journeyed from Indiana and South Carolina to heed President Trumps call to show their support. One person, a West Virginia lawmaker, had only been elected to office in November. All of them converged on Wednesday on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol, where hundreds of rioters crashed through barricades, climbed through windows and walked through doors, wandering around the hallways with a sense of gleeful desecration, because, for a few breathtaking hours, they believed that they had displaced the very elites they said they hated. We wanted to show these politicians that its us whos in charge, not them, said a construction worker from Indianapolis, who is 40 and identified himself only as Aaron. He declined to give his last name, saying, Im not that dumb. NEW HAVEN Two men face charges after officers caught them during a home invasion in the Fair Haven neighborhood early Thursday morning, according to police. Anthony Manuel Nieves-Colon, 18, of Perth Amboy, N.J., was charged with home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, carrying a pistol without a permit, altering or removing a serial number on a firearm, possession of a large capacity ammunition magazine, first-degree reckless endangerment and interfering with an officer. Jonathan Alvarez, 31, of New Haven, was charged with home invasion, conspiracy to commit home invasion, first-degree reckless endangerment and interfering with an officer. He was also charged with fugitive from justice in connection with a Vermont parole violation arrest warrant, according to Capt. Anthony Duff. Duff said it was just after 12:30 a.m. Thursday when officers were dispatched for a reported burglary in-progress at a Dover Street home between Atwater Street and Park Place. When officers arrived, they found the suspects were still inside with residents. Officers made entry into the building and in a living room, confronted a suspect holding a handgun, a second suspect armed with a knife and a third suspect as he assaulted a resident, Duff said. Duff said Nieves-Colon armed with a gun and wearing a black ski mask retreated toward the kitchen, where he dropped the gun and started to physically fight officers. The officers seized the dropped, loaded gun, Duff said. The struggle continued back into the living room, where officers were able to cuff Nieves-Colon, Duff said. At the same time as Nieves-Colon ran into the kitchen, Alvarez armed with a knife and wearing a black ski mask took off into a bedroom and jumped out of a first-floor window, Duff said. Alvarez led officers on a foot pursuit through several backyards in the area until he was tackled by officers, Duff said. He continued to fight with the officers after being tackled, Duff said. A third suspect, who was interrupted by officers as he strangled a resident in the living room, fled the house as officers were detaining the gunman, Duff said. The investigation of the third suspect is ongoing. Officers learned the three suspects forced their way into the house and their motive was robbery. Medics responded to the home and treated one of the suspects for a minor injury, Duff said. Both men appeared in New Haven Superior Court Thursday morning. Nieves-Colon was held in lieu of a $75,000 bond. Alvarez was held on a parole detainer and in lieu of a $125,000 bond. A Pakistani court on Friday sentenced Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, the globally designated terrorist leader of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and mastermind of Mumbai attack, to three prison terms of five years each over terror financing. The sentences, under three sections of Anti-Terrorism Act, will run concurrently. The conviction and sentencing at the special bench of an anti-terrorism court in Lahore concluded in a single hearing of just few hours after Lakhvi was produced before it for the first time since his arrest on January 2. The hurried action appeared to prove the view that Pakistan was scampering to comply with Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which is set to take up this month and in February the case of the country, which is currently in the grey list of the global watchdog on terror financing and money laundering. Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar, who pronounced the verdict, also asked Lakhvi, an operations commander of LeT, to pay a fine of Rs300,000 for running a medical dispensary to collect and disburse funds for terror activities. The Counter-Terrorism Department of Punjab Police, which had arrested Lakhvi, clarified that he was detained in relation to terrorism financing and not for a specific militant attack. The court on Friday announced its verdict after recording the statements of all witnesses in the case. India accuses Lakhvi of masterminding the 26/11 attacks of November, 2008 in Mumbai that killed 166 people. He was arrested by Pakistan in 2008 but later released on bail. Pakistan claims that India didnt provide concrete evidence to convict Lakhvi. According to a UN Security Council sanctions committee, which designated him a global terrorist, Lakhvi is the chief of operations and military commander of the LeT. A close relative of LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, he had a central role in planning and executing the assault on Mumbai, according to Indian and US security officials. Lakhvi was born in Okara district of Pakistans Punjab province, which was also home to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only one to be captured alive among the 10 terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks. In the 1990s, Lakhvi was a member of the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, LeTs parent body. Lakhvi worked at LeTs main centre at Muridke near Lahore in the 1990s. Security officials say he was actively involved in fighting in Jammu and Kashmir and later planning the LeTs operations in the state. (With inputs from Agencies) "Our network of local agronomists brings together a wide range of knowledge that helps farmers maximize yield potential," said Steve Wilkens, Golden Harvest East agronomy manager. "We are eager to provide farmers with several virtual options to learn more about important crop management issues as they plan for the upcoming season." Event schedule and topics: Tues., Jan. 12 at 8:00 a.m. Central Corn rootworm management at Central Corn rootworm management Thurs., Jan. 14 at 7:00 p.m. Central Corn silage management at Central Corn silage management Tues., Jan. 19 at 7:00 p.m. Central New and emerging corn diseases: What to watch in 2021 (includes tar spot, Physoderma brown spot, bacterial leaf streak and Southern rust) at Central New and emerging corn diseases: What to watch in 2021 (includes tar spot, Physoderma brown spot, bacterial leaf streak and Southern rust) Thurs., Jan. 21 at 7:00 p.m. Central Soybean weed management at Central Soybean weed management Tues., Jan. 26 at 12:00 p.m. Central Corn seeding rate recommendations at Central Corn seeding rate recommendations Thurs., Jan. 28 at 12:00 p.m. Central Agronomy in Action 2021 Research Review at Central Agronomy in Action 2021 Research Review Mon., Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. Central E-Luminate digital agronomy platform at Central E-Luminate digital agronomy platform Wed., Feb. 10 at 7:00 a.m. Central High yield corn management The 60-minute sessions will be interactive with opportunities for farmers to ask agronomists questions and receive real-time, actionable guidance. David Schlake, Golden Harvest West agronomy manager, said, "Although we prefer to meet face-to-face with farmers whenever possible, the current environment requires us to be flexible and make the best of a difficult situation. We have a great series of virtual summits that will allow us to share vital agronomic information and remain connected to our customers." To view a full schedule with session descriptions and register to attend a Golden Harvest virtual Winter Agronomy Summit, visit www.VirtualAgronomySummit.com. The Golden Harvest portfolio is available from Golden Harvest Seed Advisors, who combine high-yielding seed options with local agronomic knowledge and deliver a Service 365 year-round commitment to doing whatever it takes to yield results for farmers. About Golden Harvest Golden Harvest Seeds has been rooted in genetics, agronomy and service since 1973, offering in-depth seeds expertise combined with the local agronomic know-how of an independent Seed Advisor to maximize yield on each field. Today, every Golden Harvest hybrid and variety is bred with the individual needs of hardworking farmers in mind. Find more information at GoldenHarvestSeeds.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GldnHarvest and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GldnHarvest. Web Resources: Golden Harvest Newsroom Thrive Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This document may contain forward-looking statements, which can be identified by terminology such as 'expect', 'would', 'will', 'potential', 'plans', 'prospects', 'estimated', 'aiming', 'on track' and similar expressions. Such statements may be subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the actual results to differ materially from these statements. 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Important: Always read and follow label and bag tag instructions; only those labeled as tolerant to glufosinate may be sprayed with glufosinate ammonium-based herbicides. LibertyLink, Liberty and the Water Droplet logo are registered trademarks of BASF. GT27 is a trademark of M.S. Technologies and BASF. HERCULEX and the HERCULEX Shield are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences, LLC. HERCULEX Insect Protection technology by Dow AgroSciences. ENLIST E3 soybean technology is jointly developed with Dow AgroSciences LLC and MS Technologies LLC. The ENLIST trait and ENLIST Weed Control System are technologies owned and developed by Dow AgroSciences LLC. ENLIST and ENLIST E3 are trademarks of Dow AgroSciences LLC. Roundup Ready 2 Yield, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, YieldGard VT Pro and Design are registered trademarks used under license from Monsanto Technology LLC. XtendFlex is a registered trademark used under license from the Bayer Group. Under federal and local laws, only dicamba-containing herbicides registered for use on dicamba-tolerant varieties may be applied. See product labels for details and tank mix partners. Golden Harvest and NK Soybean varieties are protected under granted or pending U.S. variety patents and other intellectual property rights, regardless of the trait(s) within the seed. The Roundup Ready 2 Yield, Roundup Ready 2 Xtend, XtendFlex, LibertyLink and Enlist E3 traits may be protected under numerous United States patents. It is unlawful to save soybeans containing these traits for planting or transfer to others for use as a planting seed. Only dicamba formulations that employ VaporGrip Technology are approved for use with Roundup Ready 2 Xtend and XtendFlex soybeans. Only 2,4-D choline formulations with Colex-D Technology are approved for use with Enlist E3 soybeans. The trademarks or service marks displayed or otherwise used herein are the property of a Syngenta Group Company. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. More information about Agrisure Duracade is available at http://www.biotradestatus.com/. SOURCE Golden Harvest Related Links http://www.goldenharvestseeds.com Kathmandu, January 8 The government of Nepal is preparing to legally recognise e-commerce businesses for the first time in history. Although the history of online businesses is more than two-decades-long in Nepal, there was not a law dedicated to this sector. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies has finalised a draft of a bill to regulate the e-commerce sector. Owing to the lack of law, the government occasionally cracked down on such businesses in the past. As per the provisions proposed in the bill, customers can get a refund if the e-commerce businesses deliver them damaged goods. Already existing e-commerce businesses need to register themselves with the government within one year from the enactment of the law whereas all new businesses should register before the operation. A violation of the law will result in legal action at the District Court, the bill proposes. PORTLAND - The Board of Selectmen has withdrawn a proposed gun ordinance and now will examine the towns noise ordinance to determine whether it can be used to address complaints about the sound of gunfire. First Selectwoman Susan Bransfield sought a draft ordinance intended to alleviate what officials said are concerns and complaints about the sound of legal gunfire coming from private property. The selectmen were scheduled to discuss the ordinance at their meeting this week. However, at the beginning of the virtual meeting, Bransfield announced she was withdrawing the proposal. She did so, she said, in light of the many comments we have received, but also because there are lots of problem(s) with this ordinance. Instead, Bransfield said selectmen will review the towns noise ordinance and she will reach out to the town attorney to review the rules and laws that govern shooting on private land. More than a dozen complaints have been made since July 2020 concerning gunfire on private property. Officials have declined to name any specific address in the heavily wooded area near Old Marlborough Turnpike about which residents have complained. Police said they have investigated complaints and have not found illegal activity. One selectman said the shooting noise sometimes goes on for 6-8 hours. The proposal would have required gun owners who intended to shoot and/or hunt on their property to post a yearly notice of intent to all abutting property owners. Violations of the proposed ordinance would have carried a $250 fine. We have received a number of comments about the proposal, Bransfield said - the majority of them opposed to it. Bransfield read 16 emails that she said reflect a lot of the comments and sentiments we have received. A number of people also submitted chat comments during the meeting, several of which were read to the selectmen. The comments generally fell into two groups: Those who said the problem could be dealt with by using the towns existing noise ordinance and those who denounced the proposal as an infringement on Second Amendment rights. Several opponents said a notice requirement would give their neighbors an unfair veto power over hunting and shooting. In one of the emails, a town resident said that if he were hunting or shooting on his own property, there would be no reason that further written permission should be required. This ordinance would inevitably criminalize a citizen who hasnt done anything wrong/unsafe/or illegal, the email said. During the portion of the meeting that was to have been used for discussion of the ordinance, some selectmen shared their thoughts on the issue. What I think we have here is a relatively narrow problem, Selectman James K. Tripp said. My biggest concern is that shooting be done on a piece of property of an appropriate size, Tripp said. He also said he favored looking to the noise ordinance as a possible solution. I think we should try and do this through existing laws, Tripp said. Selectmen Louis J. Pear said he had spoken to a friend who is not a gun owner, who had cautioned Pear that if the town wants to create an ordinance it should be careful to do it correctly and shouldnt make it a burden on hunters. Selectman Michael S. Hernandez thanked the number of people who came forward with comments about the proposal. Now, he said, it is the job of the selectmen to come up with a great solution that everyone can be happy with. We, as the selectmen, are going to work together and do whats best for the town of Portland, Hernandez said. THE HSE announced this week that more than 15,000 people have received the Covid-19 vaccine with the rollout continuing in hospitals and care homes across the country. Irelands current population is close to five million people. That means, as yet, only around 0.31pc of Irish people have been vaccinated. The vaccination programme is currently targeting people aged 65 and older who live in long-term care facilities and frontline healthcare workers. While many other countries have similarly decided to target those key groups first, how does Irelands vaccine rollout programme compare globally? Germany: According to Tuesdays figures from the public health institute in Germany, the Robert Koch Institute, around 265,000 have been vaccinated in the country so far. With a population of around 83m, that accounts for around 0.31pc very similar to Ireland. The German government has been criticised by the countrys Social Democrat party for what they say is a slow rollout of the vaccine, especially as Covid-19 cases continue to spread rapidly over there. UK: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Wednesday that almost 1.5 million Britons have already received their vaccine. There are roughly 66.65m people in the UK, meaning theyre well ahead of both Germany and Ireland, with 2.25pc of the population already having received their dose. Read More The vaccines currently being used in the UK require two doses. The New York Times reported last week that guidelines in Britain had been changed to say that vaccines from different manufacturers may be mixed and matched if necessary. The editor of the British Medical Journal has since asked the newspaper to correct this though, saying it was not a recommendation. USA: Across the Atlantic, around 1.6pc of Americans have been vaccinated, which is around 5.3 million people in the country of 328.2 million. Over 500,000 of those people were in nursing homes or long-term care centres, which account for about a third of US deaths due to the pandemic. USAs top infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, criticised the slow rollout of the vaccine yesterday, as originally federal officials had promised to vaccinate 20 million people before the end of 2020. Israel: Israel has been praised for being the current world leader in administering vaccinations, with almost 15pc of its population of 9.2m having received it. This success has been in part due to the Israeli government ordering early and also paying a lot of money - around 24.50 per dose. However, they have similarly been criticised by organisations such as Amnesty International for denying the vaccine to Palestinians living in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. While Israel celebrates a record-setting vaccination drive, millions of Palestinians living under Israeli control in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip will receive no vaccine or have to wait much longer, Amnesty Internationals Saleh Hijazi said. France: The vaccine rollout remains exceptionally slow in France, with only around 500 people vaccinated in a country of 66.99m. That is less than 0.001pc of the population. Government officials have said they hope to vaccinate one million people by the end of the month. But getting people to take it may prove difficult, with 58pc of French people being sceptical of the vaccine according to figures from the Odoxa polling group and Le Figaro newspaper. New Zealand: This island nation in the south hemisphere managed to lead the way in eliminating the virus and to date has only had 25 deaths. However, the vaccine rollout process looks like it could be a lot slower, with most New Zealanders having to wait until mid-2021. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced back in December that her government had purchased enough vaccines to administer to all 4.8 million New Zealanders. But jabs will only begin when the governments medical authorities have appropriately reviewed the vaccine trials. Italy: Italy became the first European hotspot for Covid-19 and has since managed to vaccinate 259,481 as of January 6. In a country of about 60.36m people, thats about 0.43pc of the population. With more than 76,000 deaths due to Covid-19, the vaccine could be the light at the end of the tunnel for Italy, but like most EU countries the rollout has proved to be relatively slow for now. Some Italian politicians have claimed that Germany have taken more than their fair share of the vaccine. Russia: Russia recently reported their lowest infection rate in six months, and has reportedly vaccinated over a million people. Of course, there are 144.5 million people in Russia, so thats only 0.69pc of their population making it only slightly better than some EU countries. However, unlike them its primarily using the Sputnik V vaccine, which was first approved in August before it had passed standard safety and efficacy tests. Naturally, this was criticised by many western medical offices. Despite such criticism, both Argentina and Belarus will also be using Sputnik V. Spain: Spain was another one of the big Covid-19 hotspots in Europe and has had a pretty slow vaccine rollout so far. Theres around 46.94 million people in Spain, and only 99,753 doses had been administered by January 5. Thats only 27pc of the 370,070 doses they received. However, different parts of Spain have been jabbing faster than others, with Asturias having used 81pc of their doses. Comparatively, the region of Madrid has only used 6pc. The Netherlands: The Netherlands, in general, has been slow to adapt to Covid-19, taking significantly longer than other countries to introduce some of the health regulations which were the norm in the rest of Europe. It appears the vaccine is in the same state of play, with the first vaccinations only being administered on January 6. This made it one of the last EU countries to begin administering the vaccine. Prime Minister Mark Rutte admitted the slow rollout was due to the government not being agile enough. Read More Online Editors Bilateral relations between Hungary and Romania have "huge untapped potential", including in terms of cross-border interregional cooperation, economic and energy cooperation, as well as cooperation with the Visegrad Group in Central Europe, said the president of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), Kelemen Hunor, in an interview published in Friday's edition of the Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet, quoted by MTI. The Romanian Government must recognize that co-operation with Hungary would also benefit its own citizens, including Hungarians in Transylvania, Kelemen Hunor said. "We will concern ourselves with contributing to this process," the UDMR president said, noting that many of his "Romanian colleagues" and the Hungarian Government are also open to improving bilateral co-operation.Kelemen Hunor mentioned that Romania and Hungary will organize a joint government session when a specific joint program can be presented, which in his opinion is hard to believe that "it will happen from one month to the next", given in view of "rather tense" bilateral relations in recent years.The UDMR leader stressed that his party and the Hungarians in Transylvania have always been interested in close cooperation between the governments of Hungary and Romania and in the possibility of "playing a bridge role in this regard.""We cannot promise miracles in this regard, but what we can say is that the beginning of cooperation will increase trust," said Kelemen Hunor. Article 150 of the constitution requires the president to visit the House of Representatives and deliver a policy statement at the opening session. Mahmoud Fawzi, the Houses secretary-general, told reporters this week that the president is also expected to issue a presidential decree naming 28 appointees to the House. We are prepared. We have explored the options and the various ways an opening session in which 596 MPs will be required to take the constitutional oath can be held while observing social distancing measures, said Fawzi. National security expert Mohamed Qashqoush said in an article in Al-Ahram on 2 January that it will be difficult for all 596 MPs to gather in one place and take the constitutional oath. If every two MPs take one minute to read the oath parliament will need at least five hours to finish the session, said Qashqoush. He proposed instead that MPs take a collective oath. Qashqoush also pointed out that it could be risky for 596 MPs to gather in one place to listen to the presidents opening speech. Only a selected number should attend the presidents speech while the majority of MPs follow it on television screens, Qashqoush suggested. The five-year term of Egypts outgoing parliament (2016-2021) concludes on 9 January and the new parliament, according to Fawzi, will be ready to hold meetings the day after. A total of 540 newly elected MPs visited parliament in the last 10 days of December to receive their memberships cards. Between elections and the first session of the new House three MPs have died after contracting Covid-19, and one constituency, Deir Moas in the governorate of Minya, is vacant. So we now have 564 instead of 568 elected MPs, said Fawzi. Hassan Eid, a Mostaqbal Watan Party individual candidate who won the Suez city seat on 8 December, died on 25 December. Fawzi Fata, a candidate representing the National List coalition, died on 4 December after winning a seat in the Nile Delta governorate of Daqahliya. Gamal Haggag, an individual candidate of the Peoples Republican Party, died on 28 November, a few days after winning a seat in Benha, capital of the Nile Delta governorate of Qalioubiya. According to the National Election Authority rules, party list MPs like Fata who die or lose membership are automatically replaced by reserve candidates, while in the case of individual candidates replacements are chosen via by-elections. Elections in the Deir Moas constituency, where the poll was postponed for technical reasons, are expected to be held soon. Egypts two-stage parliamentary elections were held between 24 October and 8 December. The pro-government Mostaqbal Watan Party swept the polls, gaining 315 seats (53 per cent). Mostaqbal Watans coalition with other pro-regime political parties gives it a comfortable majority of 75 per cent in the new parliament. According to Fawzi, the new parliament comprises 472 party-based MPs, 93 independent deputies, 147 women, 31 Christian MPs, and 64 deputies aged 35 or less. Leftist MPs told reporters they will seek to form an opposition bloc in an attempt to offer a counterbalance to the large pro-regime majority. Ahmed Al-Sharkawi, a leftist MP who won a seat in Mansoura city in the governorate of Daqahliya, noted that most of the left-leaning members of the 25-30 group in the outgoing parliament had lost their seats. Only two of the 25-30 group of MPs retained their seats, myself and Diaaeddin Dawoud, the Nasserist MP representing Damietta, said Al-Sharkawi, and we are currently holding talks with independent MPs and leftist political parties, including Tagammu and the Egyptian Socialist Democratic parties, to form an opposition bloc in the new parliament. Tagammu and the Egyptian Socialist Democratic parties each won 13 seats. A healthy parliamentary life requires a strong opposition bloc that includes MPs from different political backgrounds, particularly ones with leftist platforms, said Al-Sharkawi. Many of the new MPs visiting parliament in the last two weeks told reporters that discussing and reviewing Egypts human rights record is high on their agendas. Mohamed Abdel-Aziz, a young MP and a member of the National Council for Human Rights, told reporters on 28 December that Egypt has gone a long way in improving its human rights record and is currently doing its best to raise living standards. Referring to resolutions on the human rights situation in Egypt issued last month by the European Parliament, he said: These resolutions are part of the ferocious attacks and campaigns led by politicised Western institutions that issue reports based on misguided and biased information. Our responsibility in Egypts new parliament is to stand up to these malicious reports and to discuss the human rights situation in Egypt in an open and candid way. We have nothing to hide about human rights in Egypt. We should treat foreign reports on the subject seriously, discuss them in a logical way and respond to them through dialogue and an exchange of views, he said, Some Western media outlets insist that US President-elect Joe Biden will press Egypt over democracy and human rights. We have nothing to hide and know how to protect our country and keep it safe and stable. Ayman Abul-Ela, an MP affiliated with the Reform and Development Party, also told reporters that the human rights file in Egypt will take prominence in the new parliament and Egypt should develop a new strategy to deal with this. Greater coordination between parliaments Human Rights Committee, the Foreign Ministry and the National Council for Human Rights is needed to expose the double standards and politicised reports of some Western organisations, said Abul-Ela. Mohamed Al-Husseini, a member of the National Movement Party, said resolutions on human rights in Egypt issued this month by the European Parliament reflect radical liberal Western views. Al-Husseini also believes the last report issued by the European Parliament was based on information provided by hostile movements like the Muslim Brotherhood. They used Muslim Brothers as sources for information in their report without seeking a counterbalance from local Egyptian organisations or the Foreign Ministry, he said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Richard Wilkins and his girlfriend, Nicola Dale, went Instagram official with their romance back in July. And on Friday, the couple appeared more loved up than ever as they lead the red carpet arrivals at the opening night of the Magic Mike Live show in Sydney. The Channel Nine presenter, 66, looked dashing as he cuddled up to Nicola while they posed for photographers. Glamorous duo: On Friday, Richard Wilkins and his girlfriend Nicola Dale appeared more loved up than ever as they lead the red carpet arrivals at the opening night of the Magic Mike Live show in Sydney. Both pictured He dressed to impress in a black velvet blazer which he paired with a T-shirt and skintight jeans. Richard completed the look with with a pair of boots and accesorised with a simple silver necklace. Meanwhile, Nicola oozed glamour in a black patterned maxi dress that she paired with strappy heels. The blonde bombshell paired the look with a black crossbody bag and a string of pearls around her neck. Style: The Channel Nine presenter looked dashing in a velvet blazer as he cuddled up to Nicola while they posed for photographers Blonde beauty: Nicola oozed glamour in a black patterned maxi dress that she paired with strappy heels. She styled her hair into bouncy curls and accentuated her natural beauty with a smokey eye and lipstick She styled her hair into bouncy curls and accentuated her natural beauty with a smokey eye and lipstick. Also pulling out all the stops in the fashion stakes was former Bachelor star Emma Roche. The 33-year-old stunned in an embellished statement singlet and black cropped jeans that she paired with heels. Va va voom: Also pulling out all the stops in the fashion stakes was former Bachelor star Emma Roche (pictured) Stunner: She styled her long brunette locks into loose curls and stunned with flawless makeup featuring a smokey eye and pink pout She styled her long brunette locks into loose curls and stunned with flawless makeup featuring a smokey eye and pink pout. Emma was joined by fellow Bachelor reject Juliette Hererra, who opted for a monochrome ensemble. The reality star flaunted her trim pins in a white mini-dress and accessorised with black heels and a beige purse. Pals: Emma was joined by fellow Bachelor reject Juliette Hererra (right), who opted for a monochrome ensemble Also enjoying the event were influencers Shannon Lawson, Jordan Simek and Tilly Smith, who cuddled up for several photos together. Health and fitness advocate, Shannon cut a stylish figure in a a black blazer with white crop top and jeans. It seems that beauty influencer, Tilly, also got the jeans and blazer memo, styling hers with a black crop top. Model moves: Also enjoying the event were models and influencers Shannon Lawson, Jordan Simek and Tilly Smith (all pictured L-R), who cuddled up for several photos together She styled her hair in loose waves and flaunted her good looks with minimal makeup. Finally Jordan opted for a glamorous black dress featuring a thigh-high split which she paired with a leather jacket. The blonde beauty wore her hair in an updo with several loose curls framing her face and opted for bold brown and a touch of pink lipstick. Fashion: Jeans were the look of the night with Tilly and Shannon sporting a similar look. Meanwhile Jordan opted for a little black dress featuring a thigh-high split The much anticipated opening night took place after organisers were forced to reschedule the show's premiere in December due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All attendees are required to wear face masks upon entering the venue due to new NSW Public Health requirements. Magic Mike Live is now currently showing. Tickets are available via Ticketmaster. In a significant development to accelerate the ongoing digital transformation in the insurance industry, digital consulting firm ADROSONIC has entered a partnership with INSTANDA, a UK-based SaaS Insurance software platform. Industry experts say that ADROSONIC's insurance domain expertise and INSTANDA's no code platform will empower insurers with the agility to price risk in ways that meet the client's needs in a changing post-Covid-19 world. Delighted over the tie-up, Tim Hardcastle, the CEO Founder of INSTANDA, said: "Partnerships play a key role in the insurance industry, not merely for the growth and expansion of the business involved, but also for the transformation of the industry. The new partnership with ADROSONIC is exciting as it provides capability to new markets in North America, India, Middle East as well as Europe." Mayank, CEO MD, ADROSONIC, said that the tie-up would provide insurers with innovative digital product and customer propositions for new markets as well as liberate insurers from inflexible legacy tech and from high-risk, high-cost and multi-year change programs. "Given the paradigm shift that the market is undergoing, partnership models need to demonstrate not just agility and flexibility but to do so with high quality execution. ADROSONIC and INSTANDA have an outstanding track record of delivery so I am excited at what we can offer insurers to realise their ambitions and bring new ideas to market," Hardcastle added. "An unprecedented event like Covid-19 has left a sudden yet profound impact on the Insurance Industry and their IT Systems, as they are now subject to rigorous scrutiny following the rapid shifting of entire workplaces online that was forced due to the pandemic," Mayank said. "As the key decision-makers respond to the new market demands and opportunities, they are starting to question the limitations of their existing processes and legacy systems, they also had to reassess the cost base turning to a more cost-effective and agile platform which enables them to provide quicker and more responsive service to their customers and clients. In such a scenario, INSTANDA's no code platform coupled with ADROSONIC's domain expertise along with a wide range of digital accelerators including RPA, Data Analytics, CRM are key in liberating insurers from inflexible legacy technologies. These accelerators will power transformation across organisations looking at improving their ROI by dramatically reduced product launch times, underwriting and distribution costs and an unrivalled customer experience," he concluded. INSTANDA works with the leading carriers, MGA's and brokers in UK, Europe, North America, LATAM, Africa, Middle East and Australia. INSTANDA is the Insurance Industry's first no-code business platform and allows insurers to break into new markets as well as overcome the drawbacks of legacy IT systems and embrace the benefits of digital transformation. About ADROSONIC: ADROSONIC is an innovative, business-focused Digital consulting firm empowering organisations with a complete framework of IT Solutions and Services. A trusted partner for both service and product-based companies, ADROSONIC has a global presence with offices in India, UK and the USA. Possessing competencies in the fields of Robotic Process Automation, Data Analytics, CRM services, Application Services, Digital Quality Assurance and Software Testing, ADROSONIC strives to pave the Digital Roadmap for emerging and traditional business organisations. Visit https://www.adrosonic.com/ for more information and follow us on @adrosonic on Twitter and ADROSONIC on LinkedIn. About INSTANDA: INSTANDA works with the leading carriers, MGAs and brokers in UK, Europe, North America, LATAM, Africa, Middle East and Australia. INSTANDA is the Insurance Industry's first no-code business platform and allows insurers to break into new markets as well as overcome the drawbacks of legacy IT systems and embrace the benefits of digital transformation. Converting the lethargic back office to an agile middle and front office with low upfront costs. Using INSTANDA, organisations can now think and act at the same speed, where rates, questions, documents, customer journeys can be amended in minutes and new products can be launched in days and weeks via the INSTANDA no code interface. ROI is delivered in months via dramatically reduced product manufacturing, underwriting and distribution costs with unrivalled customer experience. Visit https://instanda.com/ for more information and follow us @instandaF2X on Twitter and INSTANDA on LinkedIn. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005226/en/ Contacts: ADROSONIC Media Contact Wanpherlin M Shangpliang Wanpherlin.Shangpliang@adrosonic.com +91 22 68159923 INSTANDA Media Contact Jade Pallister Lansons 020 7294 3657 JadeP@lansons.com if the people of Biafra want Republic of Biafra, it will be a reality during my administration. ----Donald Trump Donald Trump I wi... Formula 1 has taken a number of important steps towards the future over the last few years. The budget ceiling has guaranteed fairer competition, and with a range of young talents it also looks good in sporting terms. But what about the sustainable picture of Formula 1? According to Andreas Haupt of Auto Motor und Sport, it is in fact absolutely essential that sport gets to work on this as quickly as possible. He foresees that in the next few years, politicians will accelerate decisions that will completely ban cars powered by fossil fuels. This is already happening in some cities. That would, of course, be a great loss for car enthusiasts, and Formula 1 would be squeezed with internal combustion engines. That is why, in Haupt's view, it is very important that they set the development of CO2-neutral fuels in motion as soon as possible and also use them as soon as possible. In this way, the internal combustion engine might even be a more environmentally friendly solution than an all-electric car. And it is true that the manufacturers are lagging a little behind. They are hesitant about the costs and would therefore prefer to introduce these fuels at the same time as the new engines in 2025 or even 2026, whereas the introduction of eco-fuels was first planned for 2023. FIA has fuel from biomass ready And all this in spite of the fact that a sustainable fuel is available. In fact, the FIA has developed a 100% renewable fuel from biomass, which has now been available for manufacturers to test with since Christmas. Haupt believes that it should be used in the Grands Prix within two years at the latest. The development of other sustainable methods could be speeded up through cooperation with the aircraft industry. Such as synthetic fuels, in which the production process still costs too much energy, and electrolysis, in which water is split into oxygen and hydrogen and the CO2 molecules can bind to them. Several White House officials have resigned following a violent siege of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Following top officials' resignation, many others in the White House are considering it, too Trump supporters outburst their emotions in the U.S. Capitol as lawmakers certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory. On Wednesday afternoon. Deputy National Security adviser Matt Pottinger resigned. Meanwhile, deputy chief of staff Chris Liddell and National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien, at times one of Trump's most vocal defenders in the administration, are considering resignation, as per Bloomberg and CNN. Stephanie Grisham, which is reported "very close" to First Lady Melania Trump, had previously considered leaving multiple times, as per CNN. White House social secretary Rickie Niceta followed Grisham in resignation following the Capitol breach, Forbes reported. In a statement, White House deputy press secretary Sarah Matthews announced her resignation, saying, "As someone who worked in the halls of Congress I was deeply disturbed by what I saw today. Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's wife, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who has spoken in favor of certifying the election, is also considering resigning, as per NBC News. However, Jonathan Swan claims that Chao's resignation is not imminent. According to CNBC, pro-Trump extremists stormed the Capitol Building after Trump supporters rallied in Washington against the electoral College ballots' congressional count that confirms Joe Biden's victory. On Wednesday afternoon. Grisham, former White House press secretary, submitted her resignation in part over the riots. Read also: Congress Certifies Biden as US President For Electoral College Win Grisham said, "It has been an honor to serve the country in the White House." She added that she is proud to become a part of the First Lady's mission to help children and the many accomplishments of the Trump administration. Trump supporters stormed the chambers where lawmakers carried out the procedural count of the electoral votes. To secure locations, lawmakers immediately evacuated. Several law enforcement officials said a woman inside the Capitol building was killed with a shot during the chaos. The state forces and National Guard were mobilized to tamp down the insurrection. Trump promised an orderly transition Donald Trump promised an "orderly transition" after the American Congress has ratified Biden's electoral victory. According to Explica, Trump has assured in a statement that despite a total disagreement with the outcome of the elections, there will be an orderly transition in January 20. Trump urged to emphasize that "the fight will continue in ensuring that legal votes are the only ones to be counted. He noted that the electoral vote result represents the "end of the best first presidential term in history" and his main goal is to "continue his fight in making America great again." Trump's advisor on social networks, Dan Scavino, published the statement on his Twitter account as Trump has been blocked for his comments on Capitol assault, which he described rioters as "very special people." Scavino released messages publicly on his social network soon after Congress ratified Biden's victory in the presidential elections. Read also: Trump Calls for Peace After Supporters Breached US Capitol @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Hillsong Dallas lead pastors Reed Bogard and wife Jess announced their official resignation via a pre-recorded message aired at the megachurch on Jan. 3. In the short message stating their resignation, the Bogards said they are vacating their post because they believed that it is time for them to transition off of their staff and take some time, Religion News reported. "The last 10 years of being in church planting mode has really taken a bit of a toll on Jess and I and our family," they said in the prerecorded message streamed Sunday. "We just really feel like it's time to transition off of our staff and take some time. Remain healthy, get healthy, and really see what this next season holds for us," the message ended without further explanations. After the worship music that preceded the message from the Bogards, Brian Houston, Hillsong co-founder and Global Senior Pastor clarified to the congregation that he had been talking with the resigned pastor over a period of time and agreed on the couple's decision. Houston added that this perfect time for a new season in the Bogards' lives will also mean a new season for Hillsong Dallas. Houston admitted that it would take them some time to find replacements for the couple whom he praised for giving "their heart and soul to the pioneering of Hillsong Dallas." On the other hand, Reed called Hillsong co-founders Brian and Bobbie Houston, as well as his wife Jess, as his "greatest cheerleaders." Expressing his gratitude to the leadership, the resigned pastor said he'd never meet such people who believed in people so much. Reed and Jess founded the New York City Hillsong church in 2010 together with ousted pastor Carl Lentz. They were part of the teams on the ground who planted churches. The Bogards and the Lentzs were products of the Hillsong International Leadership College in Australia. They served as that ministry's headquarters staff in Australia for some time before flying back to the U.S. to start their pioneering work. The two lead pastors' resignation came months after the Hillsong New York city started facing scrutiny after news broke out about the lead pastor Carl Lentz's extramarital affair. Lentz admitted the allegations on his Twitter post apologizing not only to his wife but to everyone whom he believed he betrayed trust, Christianity Daily reports. Weeks after admitting his affair, his alleged mistress, a jewelry designer came out in an interview to confirm the affair that ended the moment Lentz's wife Laura found out. Carl Lentz was terminated from the ministry and Hillsong East Coast started conducting an independent investigation on the inner workings of the church. After the celebrity pastor's firing, volunteers came out and spoke about the hierarchy that took advantage of volunteers and treated pastors as "royalty." Celebrities attending the megachurch reportedly cut ties with Lentz and Hillsong after the reports about the ousted pastor broke out. Justin Bieber whom Lentz baptized said in his Instagram post that he belongs to Churchome, under pastor Judah Smith. EDWARDSVILLE Like many people across the nation, Kenneth W. Moffett couldnt believe what he was seeing. Moffett and millions of other Americans watched the news unfold Wednesday afternoon as a violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol and forced lawmakers into hiding as they voted on whether to certify President-elect Joe Bidens Electoral College win. My initial reaction was shock and disbelief and absolute disgust at what was happening, said Moffett, professor of political science and chairman of the political science department at SIUE. I couldnt have pictured something like this happening in the United States, and the last time the Capitol got stormed was the aftermath of the War of 1812. Now that Ive had a little time to reflect on it, this was a riot, this was an insurrection, and this was an act of sedition. If you look at the legal definition of what seditious activity is, what happened (Wednesday) squarely qualifies. The mob breached the Capitol, smashed windows on a door into the House chamber, creating an armed standoff, and in one case mounted the dais in the Senate chamber to protest the election results. One woman was fatally shot by police and four people died of apparent medical emergencies. Along with many other observers, Moffett laid the blame squarely at the feet of Trump and his loyalists. With (Trump attorney) Rudy Giuliani saying things like lets have trial by combat and some of the things President Trump said, you already have an upset group of people. Youre adding fuel to the fire and you saw what happened (Wednesday), Moffett said. The thing Im thankful for is that no members of Congress or the Vice President (Mike Pence) got killed because this could have been a whole lot uglier. Moffett said the short-term effects from the invasion of the Capitol are already leading to attrition in Trumps staff. I think were seeing some of it now, with some Trump administration officials resigning (including Transport Secretary Elaine Chao), as well as Stephanie Grisham, the chief of staff for the First Lady (Melania Trump) and one other person on the First Ladys staff, Moffett said. There are several former Trump administration officials, including (former attorney general) Bill Barr, who have been ardent defenders of President Trump, and they are coming out and saying that he caused this. As of Thursday, there were 13 days left in Trumps presidency before Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. But Moffett is concerned about what could happen between now and then. I hope that things will be much quieter, however, I also have to prepare for the possibility that things could get much worse, Moffett said. More generally, some of President Trumps actions have decidedly undercut democratic norms, for example, his phone call last weekend with the Georgia secretary of state (Brad Raffensperger) asking him to come up with enough votes (to swing the states vote totals into Trumps favor). He also pressured state legislators to change the outcomes of free and fair elections in their states. After Washington was put under curfew and the Capitol building was secured, Congress reconvened on Wednesday night and was able to continue its work certifying Bidens Electoral College victory. But Moffett, who was already worried about the long-term effects of Trumps challenge to the election results, is even more concerned after what happened at the Capitol on Wednesday. One of the things that democracy rests on is what I call the democratic bargain, which quite simply means if you have a free and fair election, you have to accept the results of that election regardless of the outcome, Moffett said. That is a fundamental component of a democracy and that particular norm has gotten trampled. There is an open letter from political scientists throughout the United States, asking for Trump to either be impeached or to be removed through the 25th Amendment. As far as impeachment, there is probably not much of a chance of that, said Moffett, who has submitted his signature for the letter along with two colleagues from SIUE. If you have impeachment, youve got to have a trial and you have to get all that done in 13 days. Over 1,000 political scientists have signed onto that letter since it went live around 4 or 5 p.m. Wednesday. A lot of them are not the loud, outspoken bomb-throwers in the profession and a lot of them are very calm, cool and rational folks. It just got to the point where they said enough is enough. Wednesdays events at the Capitol provided the deadliest evidence yet of a nation deeply divided, and while Jan. 6, 202 1, may be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the United States, Moffett is hopeful that it will be a wake-up call for America. I hope that some of the really heated political rhetoric gets dialed down a bit, and also that we start working together a bit more as a country, Moffett said. We certainly dont need more division than what already exists. I attended the Million MAGA March on January 6, along with the Mainstreet Patriots chapter of the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I did so not because I believed the Republicans in the Senate or Vice-President Mike Pence would do the right thing -- I knew they would not -- but because it marked th beginning of Middle Americas determination to take back the country. What form that determination will take is up to the wannabe autocrats in the Ruling Class and in particular its Democrat party subsidiary. I did not go to the Ellipse at the White House to watch President Trumps speech but opted to remain in the vicinity of the Capitol and watched his speech on a widescreen monitor set up at the Russell Senate Office Building. After the speech ended, I and Mainstreet Patriot member Mike Goldberg walked less than a block to Capitol Hill to join the ever-growing crowd at the West Front of the Capitol. As we were able to position ourselves within 75 yards of the entrance, we noticed that among a large cadre of what appeared to be young Trump supporters there were many frankly stereotypical Antifa-looking militants waving Trump flags on the steps attempting to get to the doors as the useless barriers of portable and plastic fencing had been easily breached. These militants were at the entrance area before Trumps speech at the Ellipse (two miles away) was finished. The speech could not have incited the subsequent mayhem. It was obvious to me that the Capitol Hill and Metro police were deliberately ill-prepared for a crowd of any size, much less the hundreds of thousands that ultimately arrived. Further, the police presence was miniscule and their only attempt at crowd control were a few random canisters of tear gas. As the crowd at the steps grew, we saw the few police in attendance step aside and essentially allow the mob to flow into the Capitol. And thus, the Ruling Class and its media arm had the story for the day and the validation of their programmed mindset of stereotypically portraying the rally attendees as violent deplorables and President Trump as the execrable instigator. Other than at the immediate Capitol building, among a small handful of what I am convinced were overwhelmingly anti-Trump demonstrators, there were no incidents. Among the overall police presence none were required to disperse or control perhaps 500,000+ attendees. Having attended numerous rallies since the late 1960s, this was the largest and most peaceful I have witnessed. Many police officers we talked to said the same. What I did witness was the confluence of the inhabitants of Middle America of all races and creeds, there to not only express their exasperation with the fraudulent election, but to tell the denizens of the Ruling Class that they are no longer the meek, easily manipulated occupants of flyover country. They are committed to taking back the country from those determined to eviscerate the Constitution for their own megalomaniacal gains. I met people who had traveled from as far away as Hawaii, California, Oregon, Texas, and Alaska. When I asked why, when travel has been made so difficult with the Chinese Virus restrictions, they to a person said: We had to come and make a statement. Further, the general sentiments were that if we cannot have honest and fair elections then we do not have a country anymore. Thus, we can no longer be passive -- we have to get out and march, demonstrate, force the states to change election laws, and throw out the politicians that have betrayed their oath and those that elected them. This march was also an opportunity to express an unalloyed appreciation of President Trump as being the only major political figure since Ronald Reagan to genuinely and unselfishly love America and all of its citizens and for his never-ending battle with the Ruling Class despite the personally destructive and often unfair tactics arrayed against him. Those who are mired in the self-serving and narcissistic swamp of Washington, D.C., or the egomaniacal cesspool of Silicon Valley, or the ostentatious affectations of Hollywood, or the uliginous halls of Wall Street, will never understand the genuine affection that Middle America has for Donald J. Trump. Much of this affection, frankly, has been precipitated by their loathing for the current American Ruling Class. I abhor trafficking in conspiracy theories and have avoided doing so over my entire adult life. Nonetheless, I cannot help but entertain a growing suspicion in the back of my mind, after having witnessed firsthand the events of January 6 and the near complete lack of police presence at the Capitol, and knowing what Antifa has done in other pro-Trump rallies that the powers-to-be at a minimum hoped that what happened would happen. So deep is the loathing for President Trump and his supporters by the Ruling Class that I cannot rule out this possibility. So, to the Democrat, Republican, corporatist and professorial subsidiaries of the Ruling Class, a paraphrased message from a member of the Mainstreet Patriots: We in Middle America have always abided by the adage that we do not riot, we vote. Now you have taken away the vote. Image: Frypie President-elect Joe Biden lit into President Trump on Thursday, accusing him of inciting the violent mob who stormed the U.S. Capitol the day before and comparing the treatment of the presidents lawless supporters with that of Black Lives Matter protesters. Yesterday, in my view, was one of the darkest days in the history of our nation, an unprecedented assault on our democracy, Biden said in a speech delivered in Wilmington, Del. An assault literally on the citadel of liberty, the United States Capitol itself. An assault on the rule of law. An assault on the most sacred of American undertakings ratifying the will of the people in choosing the leadership of their government. Following a rally where Trump encouraged his supporters to head to the Capitol as lawmakers commenced with the certification of the Electoral College votes that confirmed his loss to Biden, a mob of thousands clashed with police and laid siege to the Capitol. What we witnessed yesterday was not dissent, it was not disorder, it was not protest. It was chaos. They werent protesters. Dont dare call them protesters, Biden said. They were a riotous mob, insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. Its that basic. Its that simple, and I wish we could say we couldnt see it coming, but that isnt true. We could see it coming. For the past four years weve had a president whos made his contempt for democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law, clear in everything he has done. President-elect Joe Biden. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Biden then pivoted to a comparison of how Black Lives Matter protesters had been treated in the months following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. A little over an hour and a half after the chaos started, I got a text from my granddaughter Finnegan Biden, who is a senior in her last semester at the University of Pennsylvania. She sent me a photo of military people in full military gear, scores of them lining steps of the Lincoln Memorial because of protests by Black Lives Matter. She said, Pop, this isnt fair, Biden said. No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday they wouldnt have been treated very, very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol. We all know thats true, and it is unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. The American people saw it in plain view, and I hope it sensitized them to what we have to do. In the unsparing speech, Biden accused Trump of unleashing an all-out assault on the institutions of democracy. He also lambasted the lame-duck president for his rhetoric when speaking about the judiciary (my judges) and the military (my generals). Recounting Trumps response to a Black Lives Matter protest in Washington on June 1, Biden said he saw more signs that the president had the leanings of a dictator. He deployed the United States military, tear-gassing peaceful protesters in pursuit of a photo opportunity in the service of his reelection, even holding the Bible upside down, Biden said. Wednesdays events, Biden said, were even more evidence of who Trump really is. Inciting a mob to attack the Capitol, to threaten elected representatives of the people of this nation, and even the vice president, to stop the Congress from ratifying the will of the American people in a just-completed free and fair election, Biden said, his disgust palpable, adding, Trying to use a mob to silence the voices of nearly one hundred and sixty million Americans who summoned the courage during a pandemic that threatened their health and their lives to cast that sacred ballot. Speaking after Biden, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris also said Wednesdays events at the Capitol illustrated the need to transform a justice system that is experienced differently depending on whether youre white or Black, rich or poor. We witnessed two systems of justice when we saw one that let extremists storm the United States Capitol and another that released tear gas on peaceful protesters last summer, said Harris, who will be the first Black vice president in U.S. history. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Bidens speech came after his transition team announced a raft of nominations for Cabinet positions, including Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for Secretary of Labor and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo for Secretary of Commerce. On Wednesday morning, following Democratic victories in two Senate runoff races in Georgia that will give the party a majority in the upper chamber of Congress, Bidens team announced that Merrick Garland, a circuit court judge on the D.C. court of appeals and a onetime Supreme Court nominee, would be the incoming administrations nominee for attorney general. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Photos: How newspapers around the world covered the deadly riots at U.S. Capitol A few years later a small ASX-listed company called RuralAus bought the blue gums and transformed the asset from a MIS business to fully owned plantation company. In 2013 RuralAus changed its name to Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber (KIPT). One former Great Southern employee now admits, the choice of Kangaroo Island back in the early 2000s "raised eyebrows within the company" because of the lack of infrastructure. But Great Southern had already bought up all the available flat land with high rainfall and a nearby port it could find in Australia. "The bit that was missing on Kangaroo Island was the foresight to identify and set aside a site for a port. That was never done," says the current chief executive of KIPT, Keith Lamb. KIPT knew it had to solve the port problem, but always expected the trees would be harvested gradually as they matured. At least, that was until disaster struck. Lamb's predecessor, John Sergeant bought a site at Smith Bay in February 2014 for $680,000 on the islands north and announced plans for a log export facility. The company purchased more plantations and by mid-2017 KIPT had forests worth $81 million. It took out a $57 million loan from the Commonwealth Bank for expansion, including $30 million for the port. With port planning progressing, KIPT bought a used pontoon for $2.9 million and towed it from South Korea to Vietnam for reconditioning. For the next few years it chipped away at planning applications and gained Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) accreditation. The timber assets were expected to generate $850 million over 10 years. As the trees approached maturity, KIPT welcomed new institutional investors onto its share registry Washington H Soul Pattinson and Paradice Investments and maintained the long-term support of Terry Samuel Asset Management. None of these investors wanted to comment on the current state of the company. In mid-2019 Lamb took over as managing director and in one of his first letters to shareholders said wharf construction would begin in mid-2020 with first log exports in mid-2021. The company had 14,369 hectares of trees that were going to deliver $850 million of profits over the next 10 years. Many were now well past maturity. The existing ferry terminal on the far east of Kangaroo Island. "Irrespective of exact timing, we expect 2020-21 to be a transformative year for Kangaroo Island Plantation Timbers as approval for the Seaport is received, construction commences, and we prepare to fully realise the value of the plantation assets on behalf of our shareholders," Lamb said in the October 2019 letter. Then came the fires Lamb says the optimistic tone of that letter was well justified and there was no way of knowing what lay in store for the trees. "The blue gums can be harvested really from eight years on, but the sweet spot is around 10 years of age. And the average age of the trees today is 14, so they are well and truly mature and ready to go," Lamb says. "Or I should say they were on the day the fire started. They were ready to go, we were just awaiting the approval to construct the port." On December 20, 2019 trading paused on KIPT shares at $2.50 after a lightning storm sparked a bushfire. Lamb says he was leaving for Sydney when the storm struck. "I turned around and came back to the island and was there for the first campaign," he says. "We had those fires out by the 24th meaning under control so I went home for Christmas. There were multiple bushfires on Kangaroo Island over the summer of 2019-20 that caused extensive damage on the western end of the island. Credit:Getty Images Trading resumed on Christmas Eve. At this point about $8 million worth of timber had been damaged by fire. KIPT kept refreshing its fire fighting crew from the mainland. "The forecast was there was going to be more heatwaves and more rolling storms, so I went back to the island on the 29th and as it turned out, on the morning of the 30th the next storm event came through," Lamb recalls. Shares went into another trading halt on December 30, but resumed trading on January 2. It did not last long. Another storm lit two fires in the national park on the western end of Kangaroo Island on January 3. The previous fires were in easily accessible agricultural land, but this new fire in the vast wilderness was a "worst case scenario". Amid temperatures of 36 degrees and strong westerly winds, flames ripped through native forests and mature timber plantations. Residents evacuated to townships in the east of the island as thick smoke blocked sunlight. "That afternoon, all of the rest of the estate that hadnt either been burnt through the previous wildfire or the backburning activities, was affected by the fire. As a result 95 per cent of the estate was affected by the fire," Lamb says. The unstoppable fire burnt half the island. Before the fire, KIPT had 4.5 million tonnes of trees standing in the ground insured for $115 million, but with a maximum payout of about $65 million. Its trees were not incinerated, just damaged. "We think it is possible to salvage all of that wood, but it is not all going to go into the same high value markets that it was before. We think about two thirds could go out into the higher value markets," Lamb says. By August 2020 the companys properties were valued at at $59.3 million and the fire damaged trees had an estimated value of $250 million, depending on the Australian dollar. The kicker is, it will cost about $250 million to harvest the wood, build the wharf, and transport it all off the island. "Post fire, KIPT is a land bank and cash box," shareholders were told at the 2020 annual general meeting. "The net tangible asset backing of $2.14 per share in 2020 Annual Report is real and productive, with an added infrastructure play." Shares last traded at $1.20. In late November KIPT started harvesting the worst burnt pine trees, which will be stored in water until the port is built. Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber's managing director Keith Lamb (left), director Shauna Black and forestry operations manager Brian Stewart among fire damaged blue gum trees that are still growing, but need to be harvested. Credit:Sean McGowan Institutional investors have stuck with the company. In a recent letter to shareholders, Terry Samuel Asset Managements Fred Woollard noted KIPT was its "biggest loser" for 2019-20, costing almost 9 per cent of the fund. "KIPTs outlook is uncertain, but it retains substantial asset value in land and cash. At year end KIPT was 4.6 per cent of the Fund." Commonwealth Banks loan has been repaid thanks the insurance money, and KIPT recently started planting a 24 hectare site in a small but symbolic step. The dilemma But KIPT still has a huge problem. And so does the South Australian government. What about the deep water port? If it is constructed it will be busy for three years to clearing 4 million tonnes of fire damaged wood. Then, Lamb says the port would have a "hiatus period of three to four years" while the next crop matures. KIPT wants to share the port with other businesses, such as cruise ships, but not everyone shares this enthusiasm. The current mayor, Michael Pengilly, calls the islands forestry industry "seven decades of disaster". "I dont trust anything KIPT says and have not for several years," he says, "They are yet to deliver on anything." "The majority of Kangaroo Island people would just like to see the forest industry wiped out and returned to agriculture." He says it is "complete nonsense" that cruise ships could dock at a deep water pontoon 650 metres off shore at a remote site with no infrastructure and 22 kilometres from the main town. "Rubbish. Complete nonsense. Bloody furphy. It is regarded as a joke by most," Pengilly says. He also worries about the impact on a successful abalone farm already operating at Smith Bay. But the alternative is to burn all the trees. "If we were to chain and burn - there is four and a half million tonnes of standing timber - so the smoke plume that would arise over the next several years would be greater than the smoke that came out of the bushfires," Lamb says. He calculates this would add 4.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. "The smoke would drift back across to Adelaide and the McLaren Vale to the wine growing region of Victor Harbour". Just before Christmas KPIT received a $5 million federal government grant to build a biomass pellet plant at Timber Creek that would convert fire damaged wood to a fuel source. But it still needs the Smith Bay port to export the pellets overseas. Kangaroo Island Plantation Timber managing director Keith Lamb and director Shauna Black at Smith Bay, the site of the proposed deep-water port. Credit:Sean McGowan But maybe Kangaroo Island is no longer the right place for timberlands. Professor Robert Hill, a palaeontologist specialising in the long-term evolution of native flora, and director of the Environment Institute at the University of Adelaide, says the island's native vegetation evolved for cool and wet conditions. But with climate change, it is becoming hotter and drier. "When fires do start they have the potential to be ferocious," Hill says. "The whole environment is really vulnerable to catastrophic fires. You can't just assume it will go back to how it used to be". He also is against constructing a port, saying "the one good outcome of what was a catastrophic event would be if the port was abandoned". "There is a trend among hardcore gamers who are choosing smaller cases for their high-performance computer builds. It was a major challenge to transform a full tower case like Tower 900 into an ITX form-factor," said Kenny Lin, the CEO of Thermaltake. Thermaltake, the leading PC DIY premium brand for Case, Cooling, Gaming peripherals, and enthusiast memory solutions, announces the launch of the brand new mini-tower gaming PC case, the Tower 100. Based on the award-winning Tower 900, "Pocket-sized" down into a mini-ITX Form factor powerhouse, take on compact cooling and showcase the build with the perfect presentation. "There is a trend among hardcore gamers who are choosing smaller cases for their high-performance computer builds. It was a major challenge to transform a full tower case like Tower 900 into an ITX form-factor. Still, the chassis was well-configured for space utilization, expandability, and cooling while also providing an eye-catching appearance. The thermal control is a top priority with such a tiny chassis. Tower 100 is a new benchmark for real ITX high-end gaming systems!" said Kenny Lin, the CEO of Thermaltake. Featuring support for large graphic card solutions up to 330mm in length, the Tower 100 supports filtered ventilation from top to bottom. Combine the beauty of 4mm thick tempered glass with ventilated steel side panels provides a balance of show and flow. From the foundation, the Tower 100 is opened up for more airflow to the top panels easy push-button cover to provide easy access to connect up the components. Angled top mounted I/O panel supporting USB 3.2 (Gen2) Type-C with USB 3.0 ports and HD audio for easy connectivity. With airflow in mind, cable management is also covered throughout the Tower 100 with a custom cover plate. Modular cut out for larger graphic cards, supporting native "No Sag" vertical mounting, provides a convenient way to hide the GPU cables and easily connect to the power supply located at the back of the case. The large grommet provides access for the I/O and cable connections with a modular honeycomb designed backplate that doubles as storage mounting or more airflow thanks to the rear 120/140mm fan option located on the back panel. Straight forward, All-In-One cooling supports 120mm radiator solutions with an additional 120/140mm fan location above the PSU cover and CPU coolers up to 190mm in height. Providing a modular design, with the enthusiast in mind, easily remove panels for customization or proper maintenance. Mod on with the build to create one-of-a-kind designs and take advantage of easier installation by removing panels from the frame. Removable dust filters make it easy to clean or be removed completely for maximum airflow. Gain more storage with HDD/SSD mounting on the interior side and back panel to lock and load all favorite media and games. Backed by a limited 3-year warranty, the Tower 100 will be available in the US and Canada in late January. Product images can be downloaded: https://bit.ly/2Xj4uWG CES 2021 and Thermaltake Expo While CES 2021 moves to an all-digital experience, Thermaltake will launch their new products by hosting Thermaltake Expo on 1/11/2021 at 10 AM Pacific Standard Time on the YouTube channel. Tower 100, more new PC cases, power supplies, liquid cooling solutions, and gaming peripherals will be revealed with demonstrations. Watch Thermaltake Expo at the link below: https://www.youtube.com/user/Thermaltakereview One-on-One Online Meetings with Thermaltake Media, industry analysts, influencers, and YouTubers are all welcome for a one-on-one video conferencing with Thermaltake for product highlights and expert insights during CES week and January 2021. Meeting by appointment only, please contact Andrew Ouyang on behalf of Thermaltake USA at andrewouyang@ideecreatives.com About "Thermaltake" Thermaltake launched in 1999, first specializing in air cooling and successfully debuting the world's first turbine air cooler, the "Golden Orb". Since then, Thermaltake has taken the world by storm and become the leader in computer hardware and peripherals in the DIY PC market. Homing in on their 3 main lines ("Key 3"), Thermaltake delivers seamless cases, power supplies, and cooling products. The "Key 3 Spirit" represents Thermaltake's promise toward its users; the promise to provide products that display "Quality Performance & Reliability." The "Key 3 Spirit" is the foundation for all Thermaltake products and is the reason for Thermaltake's continuous success worldwide. Learn more at http://www.thermaltake.com Follow Thermaltake USA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThermaltakeNA/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thermaltakeusa/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Thermaltake YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ThermaltakeNorthAmerica Website: https://www.thermaltakeusa.com/ LCGS (Liquid Cooling Gaming Systems): https://lcgs.thermaltakeusa.com/ Media Contact Andrew OuYang iDee Creatives Marketing Consulting Inc. on behalf of Thermaltake USA andrewouyang@ideecreatives.com Schumer and Pelosi Lead Cabal Insisting on Trumps Removal, via 25th Amendment or Impeachment Jan. 7 , 2021 (EIRNS)Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), the future Senate Majority Leader, issued a statement this morning calling on Vice President Mike Pence to immediately invoke the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office. The quickest and most effective wayit can be done todayto remove this President from office would be for the Vice President to immediately invoke the 25th amendment. If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president. Recall that it was Schumer, always loyal to the intelligence community, who told MSNBCs Rachel Maddow on Jan. 3, 2017: Let me tell you, you take on the intelligence community, they have six ways from Sunday at getting back at you. So, even for a practical, supposedly hard-nosed businessman, hes being really dumb to do this. This was the fact that then President-elect Trump had already exposed the intelligence communitys fixation with so-called Russian hacking. LaRouche movement leader Diane Sares 2022 independent campaign against Schumer for his Senate seat will be a particularly timely intervention. The always sanctimonious House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) joined Schumer today in demanding that the 25th Amendment be invoked, repeating the insurrection line and warning that any day can be a horror show for America as long as Trump remains in office. He is a dangerous man...this is an emergency of the highest magnitude, the media quoted her as saying. She and Schumer issued a statement posted this evening: This morning, we placed a call to Vice President Pence to urge him to invoke the 25th Amendment which would allow the Vice President and a majority of the Cabinet to remove the President for his incitement of insurrection and the danger he still poses. We have not yet heard back from the Vice President. The Presidents dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office. We look forward to hearing from the Vice President as soon as possible and to receiving a positive answer as to whether he and the Cabinet will honor their oath to the Constitution and the American people. Meanwhile, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), who was the driving force behind the Democrats failed impeachment effort against Trump, issued a lengthy statement, concluding, I have called upon the Vice President to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove the President from office because he is unfit to serve. And now, I am once again urging that the President be impeached and removed from office. We have a limited period of time in which to act. The nation cannot afford a lengthy, drawn out process, and I support bringing articles of impeachment directly to the House floor. Judiciary Committee members David Ciciline (D-RI) and Ted Lieu (D-CA) headed a group of committee Democratsnot all of them, howeverwho sent a letter to Vice President Pence, to use the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from office after he instigated the storming of the United States Capitol by his supporters, their statement read. The letter insisted Even in his video announcement this afternoon, President Trump revealed that he is not mentally sound and is still unable to process and accept the results of the 2020 election, and therefore he should be removed through the 25th Amendment. According to an NBC tally, there are now 100 legislators who have called for Trumps removal, either through the 25th Amendment or impeachment. Minnesota Rep. Omar Ilham is said to be drawing up articles of impeachment. The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) has also called on Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. In brief: Crime doesn't pay, so the saying goes, though the operators behind the Ryuk ransomware would probably disagree. Security researchers believe that criminals have gained more than $150 million from victims who hand over the Bitcoin ransom. Threat intelligence company Advanced Intelligence and cybersecurity firm HYAS in a joint report wrote that they tracked 61 Bitcoin wallets attributed to Ryuk ransomware. They discovered that criminals send most of the crypto to an exchange via an intermediary to cash out. Once a victim's money is paid to a broker, they send it to the Ryuk operators who move most through laundering services. It then reaches exchanges where it is either cashed out or used on criminal enterprises. Rather than preferring obscure crypto exchanges, the criminals use well-established names, such as the Asia-based Binance and Huobi. Both require proof of identity before someone can transfer fiat currencies to a bank, though the ransomware gangs are likely using fake IDs. "In addition to Huobi and Binance, which are large and well-established exchanges, there are significant flows of crypto currency to a collection of addresses that are too small to be an established exchange and probably represent a crime service that exchanges the cryptocurrency for local currency or another digital currency," write the researchers. Ryuk payments are usually in the hundreds of thousands of dollars range, though some victims end up paying millions. Local governments are a popular target for the operators; Jackson County and Key Biscayne were both hit by Ryuk, which remains the most profitable variant of ransomware. A pair of cherry blossom trees that have brightened the entrance to a Japanese cultural center in San Francisco since the 1990s wont be in bloom this spring. The trees were found vandalized early Tuesday, the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California said on Facebook on Wednesday. Photos show the trees hacked down to their trunks with no branches left. When I saw them I was just stunned: I was shocked, I was mad, I was crushed, Paul Osaki, the centers executive director, said in an interview. It really hurt to see how severely someone damaged those trees. Mr. Osaki said the vandalism was no easy task, as some of the branches were over three inches thick and the trees were 12 to 15 feet high. The center, which is in San Franciscos Japantown neighborhood, planted the trees to commemorate a 1994 visit by Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan during a two-week tour of the United States. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Bharat Rasayan share price added nearly 12 percent in early trade on January 8 as the company is going to consider the buyback proposal. A meeting of the board of directors of the company will be held on January 12, 2021. Amongst other matters, it will also consider the proposal of buyback of equity shares. The trading window for dealing in the securities of the company was closed on January 1, 2021, and shall remain closed till the completion of 48 hours after the announcement of the financial results for the quarter ended December 31, 2020. At 09:19 hrs, Bharat Rasayan was quoting at Rs 10,249.95, up Rs 812, or 8.60 percent on the BSE. The share touched its 52-week high Rs 11,699 and 52-week low Rs 4,586 on 11 August 2020 and 24 March 2020, respectively. Currently, it is trading 12.39 percent below its 52-week high and 123.51 percent above its 52-week low. As part of nationwide COVID-19 vaccination dry run on Friday, will also hold the mock drill and it will be conducted at four centres. COVID Nodal Officer Dr Amit Malakar said that the mock drill will be conducted at four centres in and for 25 people each. "These dry runs will be conducted between 9 am and 11 am at four centres in They will be monitored for 30 minutes by health officials. Officials from our partner agencies like World Health Organisation and United Nations Development Programme will also be present," Malakar told ANI. A dry run for COVID-19 vaccination was conducted by all state and union territory administrations January 2. According to Health Ministry, the objective of the dry run for COVID-19 vaccine s to "assess operational feasibility in the use of COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (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 prior to actual implementation". It said that as a simulation of actual execution, another round of dry run in over 700 districts will he held on January to ensure efficient planning and management for vaccine delivery. (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.) MYSORE, India (JTA) - From the flashing outdoor lights that deck out Park Street, to the bustling pop-up Christmas market at the central rotunda of the sprawling New Market, Christmas has always been a celebratory affair in Kolkata. While this year celebrations are toned down due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the damaging after-effects of Cyclone Amphan that hit the city in May, Isaac Nahoum, a Jewish baker who has seen business tumble from more than 300 customers a day to a mere 30 on average, is not worried. The Christmas rush is still coming through. "This was a big setback. Fortunately, we have the resources to carry on," he said of his family-owned business, Nahoum & Sons, an iconic 118-year old Jewish bakery. "And, as I've said before, it'll pick up next year." Known for its delectable fruit cakes and its selection of Christmas baked goods, Nahoum & Sons is a testament to Kolkata's once significant Baghdadi Jewish community, of which less than 20 members remain. "With the passage of time, the Baghdadis left India because they weren't sure how things were going to be. And gradually the migration carried on," Nahoum explained. "I left in 1951, when there were about 1,500 Jews left in Kolkata." From the antique teakwood counters that hold a delectable mix of sweet and savory confections to the beloved family recipes passed on from one generation to the next, stepping into the century-old storefront, located in Kolkata's vibrant New Market area, transports you to a bygone era. "We've not changed the inside of the shop since 1902. The ceilings came from Italy and the showcases, I believe, came from Belgium," Nahoum said. Nahoum & Sons has remained a family operation ever since it was first established by Isaac's grandfather, Israel Nahoum, who moved to Kolkata from Baghdad in the mid-1800s. "When my dad, my uncles and my grandfather no longer did the business, my brother Norman took it over. He and my brother, Solomon, ran it for about 65 years. My brother David joined them along the way, and ran it until he passed away in 2013." The capital of West Bengal, India's eastern state, Kolkata - or Calcutta, as it was known until 2001 - has long attracted a diverse mix of residents due to its strategic location along the left bank of the Hooghly River. In "Origin and History of the Calcutta Jews," author Isaac S. Abraham notes that the first Jews arrived in Kolkata, then capital of British India and primary hub of the English East India Company, in the early part of the 19th century. In part fleeing persecution in Baghdad and parts of the Middle East, the Baghdadi Jews - or Baghdadis as they came to be known - found India to be a land of tolerance where they could not only practice their religion freely but thrive as traders and merchants. The Jewish community in Kolkata peaked during World War II, with about 5,000 Baghdadi Jews contributing significantly to the city's growth and development, building lavish mansions, three synagogues, two schools, and setting up flourishing businesses like the city's old stalwart, Nahoum & Sons. As a youngster, Nahoum recalls his dad and uncles having a predominately European and Anglo-Indian clientele. But things have changed since then. "Now our customer base is mostly Hindu Bengalis, Muslims, Christians, and Chinese," he said. "We've been fortunate that the population has grown to adapt to our items." While the store receives year-round patronage for its 140 fresh-baked products, including about 40 different handmade biscuits such as ka'ak - a savory caraway cookie that's a Baghdadi Jewish specialty - it's the bakery's renowned rich fruit cakes that draw the crowds during Christmas. The fruit cakes - the recipe is a trade secret - have been a popular offering since as far back as Nahoum can remember. "When the archbishop of Canterbury, Geoffrey Fisher, came in 1966, he was a guest at Covenant House and they ordered our fruit cakes there for tea," Nahoum recalled. "And he said, 'You know, I've never had such a delicious cake.' Now coming from an Englishman, who was entertained by the elite in England, that was a tremendous remark." Unlike India's Cochin Jews, who emigrated due to the formation of the state of Israel, for Baghdadis it was India's independence that proved to be a catalyst for emigration. The had an allegiance to the British and did not think they would succeed in the new India. Many, like Nahoum, ended up migrating to the United Kingdom, as well as Australia, Israel, and Canada. But he would return. Isaac Nahoum/Nahoum & Sons Isaac Nahoum says the quality of the butter and other ingredients the bakery uses is what keeps its products in demand. "When my brother David passed away, I decided I would take up the mantle and run the business. We've stuck to the original recipes that my grandfather had," explained the 85-year old Nahoum, who initially moved to England but now splits his time between Israel and Kolkata. "But, we also moved with the times to have more savory-type things like cheese samosas and chicken patties. I also introduced fish pantras (fried-stuffed savory crepes),vegetable chops and egg chops to the menu." Nahoum believes that the bakery owes its continued success to one key principle: never compromising on quality. "Our ingredients, the butter, the nuts and whatever else goes into our products is all top quality. That's why we're so famous," he said. "We're good because we're old. And we're old because we're good." Indian-American groups have strongly condemned the storming of the Capitol Hill by President Donald Trumps supporters, describing the incident as an assault on the US democracy. The violent attack on the United States Capitol was disgusting. This act of sedition, stoked by Donald Trump, is a threat to our country and to every Americans rights and wellbeing. It must not be tolerated, said Ajay Bhutoria, national finance committee member of Biden 2020, and one of the vice chairs of the Presidential Inauguration Committee. He asserted that the scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect the true America. The United States of America built the most powerful economy in the world in no small part due to the stability of our government and the peaceful transfer of power we have enjoyed for generations, he said. Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund (SALDEF) in a statement condemned in the strongest terms the assault on the Capitol by extremists in a misguided attempt to overturn the certification of the 2020 presidential election results. Violence has no place in democratic protest. Disinformation intended to sow distrust in our democratic processes has no place in a democracy. We strongly denounce those who encouraged and enabled this violence, SALDEF executive director Kiran Kaur Gill said. The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) also condemned the violence, chaos, and anarchy that unfolded at the US Capitol building on Wednesday. It was a sad day for America and for democracy at large, it said in a statement. Hindu Americans are uniquely attune to the foundations of and threats to democracy, as many of us trace our heritage to the Republic of India, the worlds largest democracy. Hindu values and ideals are American values and ideals and the bonds between our people, our commitment to freedom, equality, and representative democracy remain unshaken, the HAF said. The Alliance to Save and Protect America from Infiltration by Religious Extremists and Coalition of Americans for Pluralism in India condemned the presence of Indian tricolour by rioting mobs at the Capitol Hill. ARLINGTON, Va., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Second Front Systems (2F), a venture-backed defense software company, applauds Congress for passing the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the 60th year in a row. "The bi-partisan commitment to NDAA is a testament to the dedication of Committee Chairmen Inhofe and Smith, Ranking Members Reed and Thornberry, and the hard work of their staffs," said 2F Co-Founder and CEO Peter Dixon. "I would also like to thank Congressman Moulton for his leadership on the Future of Defense Task Force that we're now seeing reflected in the priorities set by the NDAA." 2F continues to support investments and policies that advance innovation within the Department of Defense, improve the capabilities of the modern-day warfighter, and are in the best interest of taxpayers. "We are excited to see policies that advance and support defense innovation organizations and their efforts to connect with the venture backed community, start-up incubators, and government-focused accelerators," added Dixon. "Providing these organizations the direction and tools necessary to tap into the best and brightest minds America has to offer is a big step in the right direction as they seek out ways to modernize the DoD." About Second Front Systems Second Front Systems (2F) is a software company that equips defense and national security professionals for long-term, continuous competition for access to emerging technologies. Founded by two former Marines with firsthand experience of the dangers outdated technology poses in combat, 2F is fast-tracking government access to disruptive, commercially proven technology for national security missions. Second Front Systems is a venture-backed, public benefit corporation with a mission to accelerate delivery of emerging commercial technologies to warfighters. For more information, visit https://secondfront.com/ SOURCE Second Front Systems Related Links https://www.secondfront.com Seguin, Texas (78155) Today Mostly cloudy skies. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Low 72F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. The number of coronavirus cases recorded in Spain since the beginning of the pandemic officially exceeded two million on Thursday, amid warnings of difficult weeks ahead. According to the Health Ministrys latest report, all data points clearly indicate that the pandemic continues to follow an upward trend. Thursdays report which also included figures from Wednesday as it was a public holiday (the Health Ministry does not release data on holidays or over the weekend) registered 42,360 new coronavirus cases. The 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants now stands at 321, up from 296 on Tuesday. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital and intensive care units (ICUs) rose by 1,514 and 134, respectively. Thursdays report added 245 Covid-19-related deaths to the official toll. But the Health Ministry does not believe the rising trend will impact the return to school, which has already happened in some regions, and will begin on Monday in others. When asked about the possibility of closing schools on Thursday, health official Maria Jose Sierra replied: We do not recommend it. There are many measures to take before a strict confinement Maria Jose Sierra, from the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts It [schools] is one of the areas that have worked best, where there has been the most control. There were no outbreaks, said Sierra, from the Health Ministrys Coordination Center for Health Alerts (CCAES), who was standing in for the centers director, Fernando Simon. The health official highlighted the enormous social and learning impact of closing schools and said that any new measures would target sectors that are hubs for contagions. On the question of a new home lockdown, which has been introduced in countries like the United Kingdom, Sierra replied: There are many measures to take before a strict confinement. The health official defended the use of partial restrictions, like perimetral lockdowns and limits on social gatherings, which proved their effectiveness during the second wave of the pandemic. On November 9, Spain recorded its highest incidence rate when the 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants reached 529. The incidence rate began to fall after that date until rising again at the beginning of December. It is important to note that Thursdays report recorded a 25-point rise in Spains incidence rate even though the 14-day cumulative number includes three public holidays (Christmas, New Years Day, Kings Day), when there is typically underreporting. Whats more, fewer PCR and antigen tests have been carried out: while 140,000 tests were being done every day in the middle of December, between December 28 and January 3 the last week with complete data only 110,000 tests were administered in the entire week. With fewer tests being done most of which are carried out on patients with symptoms , the positivity rate i.e. the percentage of tests that come back positive out of the total, has also risen. While 20 days ago this figure stood at 8%, it rose to 13.5% last week and to 15.6% on January 4. But experts warn the rise suggests that many chains of transmission are going undetected. Health officials confirmed that nearly 50 cases of the new strain of coronavirus have been detected It is a trend that is worrying us, said Sierra on Thursday, who added that the weekly positivity rate exceeded 15% in five regions and 20% in three. Among suspected cases diagnosed in primary healthcare centers, [the positivity rate] is already close to 30%, she added. According to Thursdays report, Extremadura has the highest incidence rate in Spain, recording a 14-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 inhabitants of 717. It is followed by the Balearic Islands (529) and Madrid (452). Asturias, Andalusia and the Canary Islands are the only regions where the incidence rate is below 200. Hospital and ICU admissions considered one of the most objective indicators of the pandemic also rose significantly since Tuesday. A total of 14,543 Covid-19 patients are currently admitted to hospital, occupying 11.9% of all hospital beds. The occupancy rate in ICUs is 24%, with 2,307 patients in intensive care. Sierra confirmed that Spain has detected nearly 50 cases of the new, more contagious strain of the coronavirus that was discovered in the United Kingdom, while many more cases are being studied. Nearly 60% of Spaniards believe tougher measures should have been taken A new poll from the CIS public research institute has revealed that 59.2% of Spaniards believe that central and regional governments should have taken tougher measures to control the pandemic. One-fourth of those surveyed replied that the adopted measures were necessary, while 2.1% said that no restrictions should have been introduced. English version by Melissa Kitson. Lawton, OK (73501) Today Mostly cloudy skies. A stray severe thunderstorm is possible. High near 90F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. A few storms may be severe. Low 63F. Winds NE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. BBC Northern Ireland has been accused of trolling loyalist activist Jamie Bryson over a picture used on an article about new Irish language signage in Belfast. In an article about the council's decision to approve new bilingual street signs they used a picture of Belfast's Bryson Street, with the Irish 'Sraid Ui Bhriosain' below it. The image has been used by BBC NI on a number of occasions in relation to stories on Irish language street signage. Read More Its latest usage and the similarity to the name of Mr Bryson was highlighted by a number of people on social media. Mr Bryson, who first came to public attention during the Belfast flag protests in 2012, is a regular contributor to BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show. He accused the corporation of "engaging in some plausibly deniable trolling". A BBC spokesperson told the Belfast Telegraph they would not be commenting on the matter. Mr Bryson said: "No doubt they will claim that their persistent use of Bryson street is just coincidental, but I think people can make their own mind up. There are plenty of Irish Street names, yet that is their image of choice persistently." "In my view it demeans journalism and for a publicly funded broadcaster to be engaging in such childish behaviour really is rather unbecoming. "It simply once again reaffirms my long held view that the BBC NI establishment is an hyper-woke liberal elite echo chamber, with a increasingly overt nationalist leaning. "It is infatuated with appealing to the twitterati and winning the plaudits of the latte drinking liberal elite - that is what drives their latest stunt, cloaked of course in plausible deniability." Expand Close Jamie Bryson PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jamie Bryson Bryson Street is an interface area in east Belfast which has seen a number of clashes over the years. Most notably the 'Battle of St Matthew's' took place at a church in the area in June 1970. Between June 27 and 28 three people were killed and over 20 injured during clashes between the IRA and loyalists. On Thursday evening Belfast City Council backed a plan to make it easier for residents to apply for Irish language signage in their area. If one resident or councillor proposes the signage be erected, it will require the support of only 15% of residents on the electoral register to move forward for council approval. Signage can also be requested in any other language, including Ulster Scots. The DUP have said the move will cause "disharmony and resentment". The smooth transition of power after 17 parliamentary elections and over 300 Assembly polls in the country since independence is a salient feature of Indian democracy, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday. Birla's comments came against the backdrop of the unprecedented storming of the US Capitol by outgoing President Donald Trump's supporters on Wednesday and thus disrupting the constitutional process of counting and certification of the Electoral College votes of the presidential elections. Also Read | How US democracy nearly came undone Keeping the people at the centre of governance has been the basic concept of the Constitution and has deepened the faith of citizens in democracy, he said. Birla also said the country cannot be empowered without strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions and making them more accountable to the people. Speaking at an outreach programme here to introduce and familiarise Panchayat representatives with the functioning of Parliament and democratic principles, Birla said Gram Panchayats were the main force behind the strength of Indian democracy. "Smooth transition of power after these 17 General elections and over 300 Assembly polls is a speciality of our democracy. We have made efforts to strengthen democracy from Panchayat to Parliament," the Lok Sabha Speaker said. "Panchayati Raj institutions like Gram Sabha have been our democratic traditions. Our concept of democracy is strong," he said, addressing representatives of Panchayati Raj institutions. He said if Panchayati Raj institutions are run effectively and responsibly, a comprehensive change can be brought about in society. Birla also talked about the scope for development of rural tourism in Uttarakhand. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Rawat attended the programme virtually. "India is strong as a democracy due to the Panchayati Raj institutions. Development in urban centres is mutually dependent on rural development. Rural economy needs to be strong with a corruption-free model of development," Rawat said. The programme was also attended by Uttarakhand Assembly Speaker Prem Chand Agarwal, Panchayati Raj Minister of the state Arvind Pandey, Lok Sabha secretary general Utpal Kumar Singh among others. The programme was organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE), Lok Sabha Secretariat in coordination with the Uttarakhand government. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday urged the United Kingdom to abandon its illusion of continued colonial influence on Hong Kong and to cease interfering in China's internal affairs. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Wednesday that the arrests of politicians and activists in Hong Kong were "a grievous attack on Hong Kong's rights and freedoms" as protected under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing that the core of the Joint Declaration is the resumption of China's exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, which does not grant Britain the right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. "Since the return of Hong Kong, the Chinese government has governed Hong Kong on the basis of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, not the Joint Declaration," said Hua. Hua said those people were arrested on suspicion of committing crimes including subversion under the national security law in Hong Kong. "We firmly support Hong Kong police in performing their duties in accordance with laws to safeguard national security and Hong Kong's security and stability," she said. Hua said that after Hong Kong's return, it is an undeniable fact that Hong Kong residents have enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights and freedoms with the implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy for the region. On the contrary, the British government reserved the right not to apply the provisions related to periodic elections to Hong Kong when ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976. Both the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance during British rule imposed draconian restrictions on assembly, procession and association in Hong Kong, according to Hua. Stressing that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, Hua urged the British side to discard its colonial mentality, abandon its hypocrisy and double standards, earnestly respect China's sovereignty, and immediately cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form. The Tema West Member of Parliament on the ticket of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah has debunked the allegation of some people of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) that he acted on the instruction of his leader in Parliament to snatch the ballot papers. According to the former Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, nobody should blame Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu for the decision he [Ahenkorah] made to snatch the ballot papers during the counting of the ballot papers to elect the next Speaker for the 8th Parliament. Setting the record straight on Okay FMs Ade Akye Abia Morning Show, Hon. Carlos Ahenkorah explained that he only went to his leader, Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu to do something to stop the counting of the ballot papers before it is too late for the ruling party. We sat down for two people in the party to vote against the interest of the party. So, I went to my leader to tell him that they have finished counting the NPPs side and they are about to count the NDCs and so he should do something before the counting is over because I dont want them to finish counting, he explained. but some people are saying that he [Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu] instructed me to go and take the ballot papers. Let me state it on record that it was not my leader who told me to go and snatch the ballot papers. I take full responsibility for my action; it was not my leaders who told me to do that, he debunked. He stressed that Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu rather told him to wait for a while before any legal action is taken when he [Ahenkorah] told him as the leader of the ruling NPP MPs in Parliament to stop the counting using the law of the House. He only told me to wait for a while and I said that they will finish counting if we wait. I was wondering why we should wait for a whileI was expecting him to use the law to stop the counting but he said we should wait and I refused to wait for a while and so I went for the ballot papers with the intention that if they are not able to finish the counting, there are no numbers to stand, he elaborated. Watch Video Below Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected] 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 The Norwegian Oil and Gas Association, the powerful oil lobby in Western Europes largest oil producer, criticized on Friday the Governments plan to more than triple carbon taxes, saying such a steep increase would raise the costs of oil production and reduce Norways competitiveness. The Norwegian Government unveiled on Friday a comprehensive climate action plan for emission reductions by 2030. For the first time, a government is putting forward a compelling, comprehensive plan for cutting emissions in every sector. We must make sure that it pays to cut greenhouse gas emissions, Norways Minister of Climate and Environment Sveinung Rotevatn said in a statement. Norway plans to reduce its emissions by at least 50 percent aiming for a 55-percent reduction by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Under the Governments white paper on the climate action plan, the carbon tax rate would be raised from its current average level of about US$70 (590 Norwegian crowns) per ton CO2 equivalents to US$237 (2,000 Norwegian crowns) per ton CO2 equivalents in 2030. The biggest carbon emitters in Norway, which include oil and gas producers, currently pay a carbon tax of around US$95 (800 Norwegian crowns) per ton CO2 equivalents. This will progressively increase the cost of emitting CO2 and give stronger incentives to reduce emissions. The Governments policy is not to increase the overall level of taxation. Any tax increase will therefore be offset by reducing other taxes correspondingly, the Government said today. Related: Crude Oil Flow From Saudi Arabia To U.S. Falls To Zero The government will show how the oil and gas industry will cut, by 2030, its emissions by 50 percent, Prime Minister Erna Solberg told a news conference, as carried by Reuters. The carbon tax raise would be a significant cost increase for the industry and could weaken the competitiveness of the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Anniken Hauglie, Director General of The Norwegian Oil and Gas Association, NOG, said in a statement, commenting on the plan. The petroleum industry in Norway is among the industries paying the highest total CO2 price globally through the carbon tax and quotas, Hauglie said, noting that the Government and industry should work to avoid making Norway uncompetitive by saddling the industry with high costs. Government and industry should work together for a framework that would achieve Norways climate goals without losing the value, jobs, and government revenues from one of the most important industries, Hauglie noted. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Dublin, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Homocystinuria - Epidemiology Insight - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This 'Homocystinuria (HCU) - Epidemiology Forecast to 2030' report delivers an in-depth understanding of the disease, historical and forecasted HCU epidemiology in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU5 (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan. Epidemiology Perspective The HCU epidemiology division provides insights about historical and current HCU patient pool and forecasted trends for every seven major countries. It helps to recognize the causes of current and forecasted trends by exploring numerous studies and views of key opinion leaders. This part of The report also provides the diagnosed patient pool and their trends along with assumptions undertaken. Key Findings In the year 2017, the total prevalent case of HCU was 41,684 cases in the 7MM which are expected to grow during the study period, i.e., 2017-2030. The disease epidemiology covered in the report provides historical as well as forecasted HCU epidemiology [segmented as Total Prevalent Cases of HCU, Total Diagnosed Cases of HCU, Gender-specific Prevalent cases of HCU, Age-specific Prevalent Cases of HCU, and Treated cases of HCU] in the 7MM covering the United States, EU5 countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom), and Japan from 2017 to 2030. Country Wise- HCU Epidemiology Estimates show that the highest cases of HCU in the 7MM were in the United States, followed by Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Japan in 2017. In the United States, the total number of prevalent cases of HCU was 32,515 cases in the year 2017 which are expected to grow during the study period, i.e., 2017-2030. In the year 2017, the total prevalent cases of HCU were 8,537 cases in EU-5 which are expected to grow during the study period, i.e., 2017-2030. In Japan, the total number of prevalent cases of HCU was 632 cases in the year 2017 which are expected to grow during the study period, i.e., 2017-2030. Key Topics Covered: 1. Key Insights 2. Executive Summary of Homocystinuria (HCU) 3. SWOT Analysis of Homocystinuria (HCU) 4. Epidemiology Methodology 5. Homocystinuria (HCU): Disease Background and Overview 5.1. Introduction 5.2. Signs and Symptoms 5.2.1. Signs and symptoms of HCU due to CBS deficiency 5.2.2. Signs and symptoms of HCU due to cbl defect 5.2.3. Signs and symptoms of HCU due to MTHFR deficiency 5.3. Risk factor and causes 5.4. Genetics 5.5. Pathophysiology 6. Diagnosis of Homocystinuria (HCU) 6.1. Screening Tests for HCU 6.1.1. Newborn Screening Programs 6.1.2. Genetic Testing 6.1.3. Amino Acid Screening 6.1.4. Cyanide-Nitroprusside Test 6.2. Molecular Diagnosis 6.2.1. Antenatal Diagnosis 6.3. Tests to Diagnose HCU 6.3.1. Liver Biopsy and Enzyme Assay 6.3.2. Homocysteine Test 6.4. Other tests 6.4.1. Imaging Tests 6.4.2. Skin Biopsy 6.4.3. Ophthalmic Exams 6.5. Differential Diagnosis 7. Epidemiology and Patient Population 7.1. Epidemiology Key Findings 7.2. Assumptions and Rationale: 7MM 8. Epidemiology Scenario: 7MM 8.1. Total Prevalent Cases of HCU in the 7MM 8.2. Total Diagnosed Cases of HCU in the 7MM 8.3. Gender-specific Prevalent Cases of HCU in the 7MM 8.4. Age-specific Prevalent Cases of HCU in the 7MM 8.5. Treated Cases of HCU in the 7MM 9. The United States Epidemiology 9.1. Total Prevalent Cases of HCU in the United States 9.2. Total Diagnosed Cases of HCU in the United States 9.3. Gender-specific Prevalent Cases of HCU in the United States 9.4. Age-specific Prevalent Cases of HCU in the United States 9.5. Treated Cases of HCU in the United States 10. EU-5 Epidemiology 11. Japan Epidemiology 12. Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/te8dz6 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Ashley Babbitt, Woman Killed at US Capitol, Remembered by Family Members The Air Force veteran who was shot and killed by Capitol Police inside the U.S. Capitol building as throngs of people stormed the building Wednesday was remembered fondly by her family members. Ashley (Ashli) Babbitt, 35, was among a mob of people who stormed the building to protest against the certification of President-elect Joe Biden by Congress. In the midst of the chaos, she was shot and killed by an unnamed officer, according to the Capitol Police. Babbitts grandfather, Tony Mazziott, told ABC News Good Morning America that Babbitt, 35, was an excellent patriot and a loving person. She served time in the military and shes passionate about everything, particularly Donald Trump for some reason, he said. Family members said Babbitt served more than a decade in the Air Force. He added to CBS: She died at a young age. She did many tours in Afghanistan for our country and shot by someone in our country. Babbitts husband, Aaron Babbitt, added that she loved her country and she was doing what she thought was right to support her country, joining up with like-minded people that also love their president and their country. And her ex-husband, Timothy McEntee, said she was a wonderful woman with a big heart and a strong mind, according to the Washington Examiner. I am in a state of shock and feel absolutely terrible for her family, McEntee said. She loved America with all her heart. Its truly a sad day. Protesters mass in front of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Courtesy of Mark Simon) McEntee, who was married to Babbitt for 14 years, said they served in the U.S. Air Force together. [I] immediately knew it was her, but was unaware she was in town, so I initially had doubts because she lives in California, McEntee said. But [I] reached out to a friend, and he said she was in town for the rally. Police also confirmed the death of Brian D. Sicknick, a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died Thursday night. At approximately 9:30 p.m. this evening (January 7, 2021), United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick passed away due to injuries sustained while on-duty, a statement from the U.S. Capitol Police said. Officer Sicknick was responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters. He returned to his division office and collapsed, the statement added. Authorities said that other than Babbitts death, one woman and two men died after suffering medical emergencies during the chaos. The Capitol Police stated the officer who shot Babbitt was placed on administrative leave, per department policy, and the officer was suspended. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department is also investigating the shooting. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, under pressure from Schumer, Pelosi, and other congressional leaders, was forced to resign. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked for and received the resignation of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, Michael Stenger, effective immediately. Paul Irving, the longtime Sergeant at Arms of the House, also resigned. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Senate candidate Jon Ossoff visits Athens, Georgia on Monday, Oct. 26 to speak with community members about his upcoming senate race against incumbent David Purdue and the importance of voting. Both Ossoff and Warnock were the winners of the Senate runoffs, which gives the Democratic Party control of the Senate. (Photo/Sophie Yaeger syaeger@randb.com) The similarity that struck me most, however, was how aimless and lost some of the rioters both in Berlin and Washington appeared to be once they had reached their target. At the Capitol, some trashed offices or sat in chairs that werent theirs. In Berlin, too, there was no plan beyond this spontaneous gesture of rage and disobedience. Many just pulled out their smartphones and started filming once they had reached the top of the stairs. Is this their revolution? A bunch of selfies? It seems like protesters on both sides of the Atlantic long for some sort of control, and want to assert their power over legislative headquarters that they see as representative of their oppression. But all they get in the end is a cheap social media surrogate. Their selfies may resonate in their digital spheres and eventually spill back into the real world to create more disruption but their material effect may be pretty limited. In that case, what can politicians do to deal with these extremists? So far, many politicians have tried to defang the far-right by placating its voters. Since the rise of the Alternative for Germany party in 2015, the mainstream consensus in Germany has been to stress that these voters should not be viewed as extremists, but as angry people, who can and should be won back. Many of them, particularly people in Eastern Germany where the AfD is much stronger than in the West, are seen angry about real grievances, like deindustrialization, job loss, and all the other cultural and economic traumas of Reunification. In some places, this has worked to peel off right-wing voters and bring them back to the mainstream. But the remaining fringe has only drifted further away. Right-wing leaders and conspiracy theorists have now redirected the anger at made-up causes largely decoupled from real world grievances: Many on the far-right in Germany believe that Chancellor Angela Merkel wants to create a corona dictatorship and that vaccines will be used to alter peoples genes. The American equivalent, of course, is that the election was stolen from Mr. Trump. This is a problem. Political compromise, and ultimately, reconciliation, starts with recognition. But real-world politics cannot follow those who become believers in their alternate realities. A different strategy is needed. German policymakers have started to realize this and its only become clearer since the August protests. Germanys secret service has decided to put sub-organizations of the AfD, which is increasingly radical, under observation, an administrative step that allows for the collection of personal data and the recruitment of informants within the party. Organizers of the coronavirus protest in August are becoming a focus, too. The minister of the interior banned several right-wing extremist associations in 2020. Of course, attempts to win voters back, to wrestle them from the grip of the cult, must never stop. But there are no policies and no recognition politics we could offer people who adhere to a cult. Instead, to protect our democracies, we must watch them, contain them, and take away their guns. Anna Sauerbrey, a contributing Opinion writer, is an editor and writer at the German daily newspaper Der Tagesspiegel. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. A heavily tattooed man who allegedly boasted online about being a 'petty car thief with expensive taste' has been charged over an alleged luxury car theft scheme. Luke Lythgoe, 33, was arrested on Thursday following a police investigation into a number of expensive cars being stolen while on test drives from car dealerships in Sydney's inner west. Mr Lythgoe, a former sponsored triathlon athlete, was stopped at a Blacktown shopping centre along with his girlfriend Ashleigh Wilson, 21, with police allegedly finding the keys to several cars in her handbag. Luke Lythgoe (pictured) was arrested on Thursday following a police investigation into a number of expensive cars being stolen while on test drives from car dealerships in Sydney His girlfriend Ashleigh Wilson (pictured), 21, allegedly had the keys to several stolen cars in her handbag when stopped by police at a shopping centre On a social media account started in December, Mr Lythgoe, from the Gold Coast, allegedly documented his exploits, posting a number of photos of videos of himself driving and posing with luxury cars - some with the number plates blanked out. An Audi RS3 stolen from Ryde on December 30 was recovered in the Blacktown shopping centre car park, while a BMW M3 stolen from Parramatta on Monday was recovered in Kogarah. Surrey Hills Police Area Command acting crime manager Detective Inspector Michael Fuller said police have recovered four allegedly stolen cars in total. 'I would say social media has played a role in this investigation. We believe we have recovered all the vehicles but obviously inquiries are still ongoing,' he said. Lythgoe fronted Parramatta Local Court on Thursday where he was remanded on bail charged over a luxury car theft scheme Ms Wilson pleaded guilty to having stolen property and received a $500 fine and a 12-month community corrections order Mr Lythgoe was charged at Blacktown police station with taking and driving a conveyance without the consent of the owner, possessing identity to commit an indictable offence, goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen and three outstanding warrants. Ms Wilson, also from the Gold Coast, was charged with goods in personal custody suspected of being stolen. The pair fronted Parramatta Local Court on Friday via videolink, with Ms Wilson pleading guilty to her charge and receiving a $500 fine and 12-month community corrections order. The court heard Mr Lythgoe would allegedly pose as a buyer at the luxury car dealerships before test driving the cars and not returning. Prosecutors also said Mr Lythgoe was wanted back in Queensland on fraud charges and had three outstanding car theft related warrants issued in 2004, 2005, and 2011. In 2019 Mr Lythgoe was competing in international triathlon competitions representing Australia. 'I was determined to never use drugs again and I sure as hell was never going back to prison,' he wrote in July 2019. His bail application was denied and he will front Parramatta Local Court again on January 12. WASHINGTON Congress could act quickly now that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has put a second impeachment of President Trump on the table, but that doesnt mean its likely that Democrats will oust him from office before Joe Biden becomes president. The day after pro-Trump rioters who had been egged on by the defeated president stormed the U.S. Capitol, Pelosi said Thursday that Congress could impeach Trump if Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet dont remove him from power by invoking the 25th Amendment. This is urgent, the San Francisco Democrat said at a news conference. This is (an) emergency of the highest magnitude. But Bidens inauguration is less than two weeks away, leaving little time for the House to initiate impeachment proceedings and the Senate to hold a trial before Trump will be gone from the White House anyway. Impeaching Trump the first time took more than four months, from the House authorization of an impeachment inquiry to the Senates acquittal in February 2020 on charges of abusing his power and obstructing justice. And either impeachment or an invoking of the 25th Amendment, under which Pence could take power through a Cabinet declaration that Trump is unable to perform his duties, would require a two-thirds vote of the Senate which is still in Republican control. Only one Republican, Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, voted to convict Trump last year. Although several Republican senators have joined Romney in denouncing Trumps baseless claims to have won the November election and his whipping up of supporters at a rally Wednesday before they stormed the Capitol, none has suggested that Trump be removed before Inauguration Day on Jan. 20. Both the House and Senate have adjourned until two days before the inauguration, though lawmakers could be called back into session on short notice. Impeachment does not have to take months. At least one lawmaker, Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, has drafted a privileged resolution for impeachment meaning it would force an immediate vote on the floor if lawmakers were in session. But what comes next could take time. Once the House passes impeachment articles, the Senate must hold a trial on them. While there are requirements for the trial, there is room for leadership to set the rules. And the top leader is still Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The laws of physics allow it, said Jessica Levinson, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles who specializes in politics. There is a physical universe in which that could happen within 13 days. Its a political will question. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, said there was enough time to impeach Trump, even though most House committees havent been organized since the new Congress was sworn in Sunday. It would require taking an impeachment resolution directly to the House floor instead of through committees, she said. I believe that it possible to do it from a House perspective, said Lofgren, a member of the Judiciary Committee who was one of the prosecutors during Trumps Senate trial. The question, I think, is whether the senators are concerned enough at this point to take an action. She added, This is not about affecting the next election or a political statement. This is about securing the United States from someone who seems to have lost it. ... As much as I disagree with Mike Pence, he is living in the real world of reality, and I would not have the same kind of concern at all about his stability. Late Thursday, Trump tried to defuse anger toward him with a video statement in which he said there would be a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power on Jan. 20 and said he was outraged by his supporters attack on the Capitol. As difficult as convicting Trump would be for Democrats in an impeachment trial, making a 25th Amendment ouster stick could be even harder. Assuming Trump objects, the House would have to join the Senate in voting by two-thirds to keep Pence in power. One Republican lawmaker, Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, announced he supported such efforts. Another, Ohio Rep. Steve Stivers, said he trusted the Cabinets judgment on the matter. But 138 Republicans voted late Wednesday to block Bidens election certification in at least one state. Thats nearly a third of the House, and when Trump was impeached in 2019, not a single GOP lawmaker went along. Pence would also have to be on board, and theres no indication he is. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who made the same call for Trumps removal as did Pelosi on Thursday, said that he and the House speaker tried to call Pence early in the day. After they were kept on hold for more than 20 minutes, the vice president declined to get on the phone, Schumer said. Many of Californias Democratic lawmakers also joined the call to impeach Trump or invoke the 25th Amendment. Bay Area Democrats who supported the idea included Lofgren and Reps. Mark DeSaulnier of Concord, Anna Eshoo of Palo Alto, Jared Huffman of San Rafael, Ro Khanna of Fremont, Barbara Lee of Oakland, Jackie Speier of San Mateo, Eric Swalwell of Dublin and Mike Thompson of St. Helena. My phone is exploding with impeach, impeach, impeach, Pelosi said. The president must be held accountable. Sen. Dianne Feinstein said late Thursday that she was in full agreement that the president needs to be removed from office as soon as possible. Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, who is still serving in her California Senate seat, has not commented on removing Trump. Asked by a reporter early Thursday in the Capitol whether he should be impeached, she said, Oy. You know what, and then trailed off without finishing the thought. In remarks at the announcement of Bidens nominees to run the Justice Department, Harris called Wednesdays events an assault on the rule of law and it has no place in our democracy. While Pelosi said action by the vice president would be fastest, Congress could also move quickly if needed. We will review what our options are in terms of the 25th Amendment, Pelosi said. If (Trump) wants to be unique and be doubly impeached, thats kind of up to him and his Cabinet. San Francisco Chronicle senior political writer Joe Garofoli contributed to this report. Tal Kopan is The San Francisco Chronicles Washington correspondent. Email: tal.kopan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @talkopan Many Bexar County Republicans who have supported President Donald Trump are still concerned about possible election fraud, but were appalled by the violence at the U.S. Capitol and say its time for the nation to unite and move forward. Trump, under a mounting threat from legislators to remove him from office prior to President-elect Joe Bidens Jan. 20 inauguration, said Thursday he will leave the White House peacefully after Congress affirmed the election results the night before. In a video, he condemned the violence a day earlier and acknowledged his presidency would soon end, calling for healing and reconciliation. More for you News Editorial: Impeachment for Trump; expulsion for enabler Cruz In Bexar County, a high-ranking elected official found Trumps actions before the riot reprehensible while a former precinct chair running for a school board seat doesnt blame Trump at all. Others saw both sides. Gina Castaneda, a Bexar County Republican precinct chairwoman and local supporter of Latinos for Trump, said she was shocked by the infiltration of rioters inside the iconic government building. She wasnt at the Capitol or at Trumps rally at the White House, but heard about the melee through news reports and personal accounts from friends while in Washington this week. Stefani Reynolds / Bloomberg On ExpressNews.com: Trump faces reality amid talk of early ouster One of them called me. She said it just went utterly crazy, Castaneda said, recalling a conversation with a Republican from California. She just said, Ive never seen anything like this, added Castaneda, 65, a South Side political operative. But she stands by Trumps allegations of voter fraud despite the president and his legal team losing more than 50 lawsuits seeking to overturn the November election results, some of which were rejected with sharp criticism by judges appointed by Trump himself. No evidence of widespread fraud was found. She nevertheless supports the presidents policies. Trump was running the country like a business. Not a political business but as a business because thats his background, Castaneda said. So youve got to understand he is not political. He is just a New Yorker, a Yankee straight-in-your-face man. Hes going to tell you what it is and how it is. Good in business, a novice in politics. Castaneda said she spoke to a contingent of about 40 Republicans from the San Antonio area, including Boerne and New Braunfels, before they attended the Washington rally and pro-Trump demonstrations. I told them, No guns, no knives, nothing. Im hoping that you will follow that. And they did. So Im very proud of the San Antonians that were out there representing. But at the same time, I was very dismayed at what had been done, she said. Ive never known Republicans to act that way. Although Trump accused Vice President Mike Pence of lacking courage to delay Wednesdays certification of election results by Congress, Castaneda said shes not taking a side between the two top elected leaders. I dont have a position because Pence is a very impeccable man, she said. Officially, the Bexar County Republican Party and many elected leaders in the GOP havent publicly commented on the presidents rally and the violence at the Capitol. John Austin, Bexars Republican chairman, said the party would likely still support Trump in general. Jake Kosiba, a former Republican precinct chair who is running for a seat on the Northside Independent School District board of trustees in May, said he was disappointed in Pence and other Republicans in Congress for not voting to put the election certification on hold. Although Biden had about 81.2 million votes while Trump received 74.2 million, some Republicans have said irregularities in key battleground states cast a shadow on the electoral process. Extensive investigation hasnt turned up evidence of any such widespread irregularities. I feel that Pence had an obligation, he has that constitutional authority to set it aside. Lets look into this. I feel like he did not do that and stepped aside, which angered about 75 million voters, said Kosiba, 28. He said he doesnt blame Trump for the Wednesdays criminal acts of vandalism and trespassing at the Capitol. As of right now, I still support the president. I dont know the full story of how it happened, what escalated for that protest to happen, he said. I may not have closure, but whichever side were on, we somehow have to come together as a nation. The last couple of years and the last two presidents, its been very divisive on both fronts, when we had Barack Obama and when we had Donald Trump. Newly elected Bexar County Commissioner Trish DeBerry, the only Republican on Commissioners Court, said she supports Pence for allowing the certification to occur. The president certainly had a right to be able to contest the election. But it became very clear over time that his claims could not be justified. So I think it showed courage on the part of Pence to stand up against somebody that he has followed and supported, said DeBerry, who represents Precinct 3 on the North Side. What he was trying to do was stand up for America. He was doing the right thing, DeBerry, who has shown support for Trump in the past, said she has been dismayed by some of the things the president did and said, and I did not necessarily agree with everything he advocated. She denounced his actions on Wednesday. Inciting of violence of any sort is not presidential. Nor does it indicate any sort of diplomacy or leadership. And quite frankly, in a time of a global pandemic and the civil unrest that weve seen, his actions were completely unnecessary, unwarranted and reprehensible, she said. His comments were very incendiary, DeBerry said. I think rallying people to charge and protest the Capitol and take back our democracy in any way, shape or form you feel like you need to, thats not the United States of America. On ExpressNews.com: How S.A., Texas reacted to chaos at U.S. Capitol DeBerry said the events this week, including Republican congressional losses in Georgia, signal a need for the party to return to communications grounded in kindness, civility and something much less antagonistic than it has been. The Republican tenets, Republican platform has been healthy for the country overall. But clearly, as a result of the Trump tenure, Republicans have a lot of work to do, she said. Castaneda, while far less critical of Trump, said she supports his call for healing and reconciliation. We as a whole nation just need to stop, relax. Lets put our heads together, start talking to someone. Nobodys evil. I just think communication has been a total breakdown, Castaneda said. shuddleston@express-news.net New Delhi: The government has effected change in the 50-year-old rule by setting a deadline of six months to complete probe in corruption cases involving its employees. The decision has been taken to speed up the investigation in such cases, most of them pending for quiet a long time. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) has amended Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965, and decided time-line for critical stages of investigation and enquiry proceedings. The Inquiring Authority should conclude the inquiry and submit its report within a period of six months, says the amended rules. However, an extension for a period not exceeding six months at a time may be allowed for any good and sufficient reasons to be recorded in writing by the disciplinary authority, it said. Earlier, there was no time-frame to complete an enquiry. The disciplinary authority shall deliver to a government servant, accused of irregularity and corruption, a copy of the articles of charge, the statement of the imputations of misconduct or misbehaviour and a list of documents and witnesses by which each article or charges is proposed to be sustained, the new rules said. On receipt of such articles of charge, the government servant shall be required to submit his written statement of defence, if he so desires, and also state whether he desires to be heard in person, within a period of 15 days, it said. Also read: PM Narendra Modi reviews preparedness for GST ahead of July 1 rollout The time-limit can, however, be extended for a period not exceeding fifteen days. But under no circumstances, the extension of time for filing written statement of defence shall exceed forty-five days from the date of receipt of articles of charge, the rules said. At present, there is no time-limit for submission of the employees statement of defence. The new rules are applicable to all category of employees excluding those in all-India servicesIndian Administrative Service (IAS), Indian Police Service (IPS) and Indian Forest Service (IFoS)-- and a few other categories of officers. The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), in a directive, had last year expressed serious concern over delay in finalising corruption cases and asked all departments to complete these inquiries within a maximum period of six months to keep away nothing will change notion associated with governance. The directive comes after the commission noted that administrative authorities are not adhering to the time-schedule prescribed for completion of disciplinary proceedings. In a recent study conducted by the commission, it has been noticed that while the average time taken by the administrative authorities in finalisation of disciplinary proceedings is more than two years, the maximum time taken in a particular case was eight years and at least in 22 per cent cases the inquiry took more than two years, the CVC had said. As per the anti-corruption watchdog, the time-limit for completion of departmental inquiries is six months from the date of appointment of inquiry officer. Also read: World Environment Day: PM Modi emphasises need for nurturing better planet For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Economic activity in the euro zone contracted more sharply than previously thought at the end of 2020 and could get worse as renewed lockdown restrictions imposed to contain the coronavirus hit the bloc's dominant service industry, a survey showed. With infection rates soaring across Europe, countries have clamped down on public life. Germany is set to extend its strict lockdown until the end of the month and Italy decided on Tuesday to keep some nationwide restrictions in place. IHS Markit's final December Composite Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), seen as a good gauge of economic health, did rise to 49.1 from November's 45.3 but was significantly below a flash reading of 49.8. Anything below 50 indicates contraction. "Service sector activity in particular fell more sharply than estimated by the earlier flash PMI estimate, as more countries stepped up their fights against rising virus case numbers," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit. The services PMI registered 46.4 in December, better than the previous month's 41.7 but far weaker than the 47.3 preliminary estimate. With much of the service industry being forced to close demand also shrank a lot more than thought. The final services new business index was 46.6 compared to the flash estimate of 47.9, albeit better than November's 40.6. "Worse may be yet to come before things get better, especially as the latest survey data were collected before the news of the new more contagious strain of the virus," Williamson said. "Service sector activity in particular looks likely to remain constrained by severe social distancing in the early months of the new year." But with vaccines being rolled out across the continent overall optimism about the year ahead improved. The composite future output index rose to 64.5 from 60.4, its highest reading since April 2018. The bloc's economy is expected to gain momentum this year on vaccine hopes, a Reuters poll found last month, and will return to pre-crisis levels within two years. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Trump riot outside the U.S. Capitol. Photo: Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images Five people have died in connection with the chaos that unfolded at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, when a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the government building in what has been labeled an attempted coup. One woman who participated in the riot was fatally shot by Capitol Police, and three others died from unspecified medical emergencies. A police officer was also reported dead on Thursday. Around 6 p.m. on Wednesday, NBC News confirmed the first fatality: The woman who was shot the aftermath of which was captured and widely shared in a graphic unverified video had succumbed to her wounds. While police have yet to confirm the following details, she has been identified by her ex-husband as Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old California native and Air Force veteran. In an interview with the Washington Post, Babbitts ex-husband, Timothy McEntee, said he was unaware that she had traveled to Washington, D.C., though she had posted about attending the riot on social media. Nothing will stop us.they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours.dark to light! she tweeted on Tuesday. In other posts, Babbitt echoed President Trumps baseless claims of voter fraud, and once tweeted a photo of herself wearing a shirt emblazoned with We are Q, the far-right conspiracy theory. She was never afraid to speak her mind and in a way this was her way of speaking her mind (going to the rally), McEntee told the Post. Police have yet to clarify the details of how Babbitt was shot, though the Post reports that Capitol Police fired at her as she was attempting to climb through a broken window pane outside the House chamber. (One unverified video corroborates this narrative.) The Metropolitan Police Department of D.C. is currently investigating her death. The other three deaths were announced late on Wednesday night, when MPD chief Robert Contee told reporters that one adult woman and two adult men appear to have suffered from separate medical emergencies around Capitol grounds, which resulted in their deaths. Local authorities still havent confirmed how these individuals died, but the Daily Beast published their identities. 50-year-old Benjamin Philips of Pennsylvania, who according to the Philadelphia Inquirer coordinated a van to bring other participants to D.C., is believed to have died of a stroke at some point after he dropped off his passengers for Trumps address. The Inquirer, which interviewed Philips before his death, describes him as a fervent Trump supporter who made websites such as The Scummy Democrats and a social network called Trumparoo. There needs to be more uncensored spaces, he told the outlet en route to D.C. I envision a whole network of niche social networks based on interests. You dont need Twitter and Facebook, they hate us. They dont need us there. The Daily Beast also identified 55-year-old Kevin Greeson of Alabama. Greesons wife, Kristie, told the New York Times she was on the phone with him when he collapsed from a heart attack. Calling her husband a political junkie who saw the good and bad in Trump, Kristie Greeson said didnt want him to attend in the first place because she didnt feel like it was safe, but he felt like it was a monumental event. Police have reportedly indicated that, in addition to Babbitt, one more woman died Wednesday, after being crushed by the crowd. Although authorities have not corroborated the details, that woman would appear to be 34-year-old Rosanne Boyland of Georgia, whose sisters confirmed her death to local media. The Daily Beast reports that Boyland also had a history of promoting anti-vaxxer and coronavirus conspiracy theories, along with far-right disinformation from Project Veritas, online. On Thursday morning, Contee announced that at least 56 D.C. police officers had been injured in the previous days events, several of them hospitalized. Now, CNN reports that one of those officers has died. Meanwhile, few arrests were made in connection with the riot. As of Thursday night, 68 people had been arrested. Contee initially said most of those taken into custody received charges related to curfew violations. While the FBI has set up a tip website asking the public to help identify individuals who were actively instigating violence, it is unclear whether any Trump supporters who defaced government property will face repercussions. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, however, has tendered his resignation. This article has been updated. Stay in touch. Get the Cut newsletter delivered daily Email This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Terms & Privacy Notice By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice and to receive email correspondence from us. The China Intelligent Services Forum was held in Hangzhou, China's eastern Zhejiang province, on Jan. 3. The theme of the event was "Opening a New Era of Intelligent Services." During the forum, the establishment of a research group into "smart and sustainable health service models" was announced alongside a "Smart Community Service Model Research and Demonstration Project." In addition, the third generation of the YunHe Intelligent Ward Escort System and a pilot smart community service center in Hangzhou were also launched. The China Intelligent Services Forum was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, on Jan. 3. [China.org.cn] The event was hosted by YunHe (Zhejiang) Technology Group, with support from the China Society for the Promotion of Science & Technology Commercialization and the Research Institute of Machinery Industry Economic & Management, together with several other research institutes and authorities. Against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and a global economic slowdown, the forum participants analyzed the current and future trends of artificial intelligence applications. Participants noted that with the rapid development of the Internet of Things, AI, the industrial internet, 5G, cloud computing, big data, blockchain and Industry 4.0, the integration of information and innovation infrastructures will inject new momentum into social development. They also agreed that intelligent medical care and smart communities will play a key role in the social service system in the future. "The aim of smart services is to promote the intelligent upgrading of enterprises, industries, cities and society, by leveraging applications of the latest scientific and technological achievements," Shi Yide, chairman of YunHe Technology Group, said in his keynote speech. "In the context of the global threat of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as new technological revolutions, industrial changes and community governance innovations, YunHe will live up to its expectations by promoting the innovative development of Chinas smart services, and continue contributing to social wellbeing. YunHe Medical, a subsidiary of YunHe Group, is now a leading provider of intelligent medical care solutions in China. Its core competitiveness lies in the implementation of its intelligent ward escort system, which integrates clinical information with blockchain and IoT technologies, intelligent ward beds, tailor-made software and built-in folding bedside tables. The system can automatically collect patients' information including their electrocardiogram signal, blood pressure and blood oxygen, and realize smart management of infusions, medical imaging, urine volume monitoring and information integration. The smart system can achieve seamless connection between medical staff and patients. It can also connect to all aspects of the hospital, including patient relationship management, electronic medical records, hospital resource planning, scientific research information management as well as regional medical information systems. At present, YunHe Medical has established partnerships with hundreds of hospitals in dozens of provinces across China by providing its intelligent ward escort system solutions. Its major clients, Xi'an International Medical Center and the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, have all adopted the system. YunHe's first flagship pilot program, a local "smart community service center," was also officially opened on Jan. 3 in Zhangjiaba community, Hangzhou's Jianggan District. The forum was attended by several high profile participants many of whom also spoke at the event including Liu Lihua, former vice minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology; Yin Chengjie, former vice minister of the Ministry of Agriculture; Wu Zhongze, former vice minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology; Cao Ronggui, former vice minister of the Ministry of Health and honorary president of the China Hospital Association; and Xu Donghua, president of the Research Institute of Machinery Industry Economic & Management. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. As the effects of COVID-19 spread across the entire world, the primary focus for governments and businesses is the safety of their people. The COVID-19 pandemic has not only created health crisis, but also deepened economic, political and social crisis worldwide.The impact is huge, and not yet predictable, on both revenue and supply chains. Decisions being taken to shut down hotels, restaurants, theme parks, cinemas, not to mention the entire disruptive effect of the travel ecosystem, all have a significant impact on worldwide HoReCa Industry.This is additionally anticipated to lead to loss of employment and income. The coronavirus pandemic has generated unprecedented crisis on the food & beverage sector. The impacts of COVID-19 on the HoReCa industry? The tourism industry is one of the major contributors to the HoReCa industry. The decline in tourism activities globally as a consequence of the COVID-19 disease, has been one of the largest contributing factors for the downfall in restaurant,cafeterias and hotel sector. Covid-19 has affected every sector across the globe, and the hotel industry is among the hardest hit. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), 100.8 million are currently at risk in the tourism sector with 1 million jobs being lost every day. As per an Oxford economics study, Asia is expected to be the worst affected and data suggests the industry could take many months to recover.Governments will have to play a huge role in saving the hospitality industry. France, Switzerland, Spain and other European government have promised aid tallying millions of euros towards rescuing all types of local businesses hit by the COVID-19, and with similar practices adopted by many governments in other parts of the world. Recovery is now expected to start later and be slower than previously foreseen. Travel restrictions and containment measures are likely to be in place for longer, and are expected to be lifted only gradually, with the possibility of reversal should new waves occur. Even when tourism supply chains start to function again, new health protocols mean businesses will be operating at restricted capacity. Demand-side recovery will also take some time, given the interlinked consequences of the economic and health crises, and the progressive lifting of travel restrictions, while consumer confidence and travel behavior will be more deeply impacted the longer the pandemic goes on. This will have knock-on implications for many national economies. In Lithuania, the transformation of tourism sector will be pursued by promotion of innovation and digital technologies through the development of tourism services and products. To this end, the E-business model tool will be used to finance new business models created via introducing e-business solutions, as well as the Retraining of Enterprise Workers tool and the Innovative Checks tool, which will finance the purchase of services of publishing, voice-reading, translation, photography, filming, design, communication, etc. In France, on the 14 May 2020, the Prime Minister announced that the Government will commit $ 21.25 billion to the tourism sector to support the recovery. The support will start with $7.32 billion of guaranteed loans granted to 50,000 companies in the sector. A $ 1.53 billion recovery plan financed by public investment bank. This sum will be supplemented by additional private investments to reach a total of $8.26 billion. Thus, the transformation by means of digital technology, support of government, and efforts by industry player to provide safety to customer will revive the demand in the HoReCa industry. Related Reports: Smart Agriculture Market Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212027 Pea Starch Market Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Stevia Market Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20192026 Source: Reuters The invasion of Capitol Hill by mobs seeking to nullify the will of the people of the United States occurred because the US has too much democracy and too little freedom. US democracy is the playground of lobbies, big and small, local and states-wide to national. By manipulating democracy, these lobbies, make sure that while all of the US is their oyster, the people are robbed of their freedoms. Take a bizarre Virginia law, for example, which made it illegal for those living in the state to dry their laundry in the open air. The law was the work of a lobby for the washing machine industry, which wanted to increase the sales of their clothes dryers to a level where every household or groups of apartments would have to buy drying machines. When ordinary Virginians tried to regain the freedom to dry their clothes whichever way they wished on their private properties, they got helpful advice from a lobbyist. Overturning the law may not be easy because of the power of the laundromat business and the washing machine industry. Instead, Virginians should court the equally powerful environment and clean air lobbies in the state. As a result, Virginia passed another law which permitted the use of wind power to prevent clothes from remaining wet after laundering. This story had a happy ending because the power of one lobby was countered with the strength of another lobby with nobler intentions. Imagine, all this just for the individuals right to dry ones clothes they way one wished something that would be taken for granted in most countries. Even as I covered the anti-war protests against the 2003 US invasion of Iraq with empathy for the peace movement, I was appalled that a church, Westboro Baptist, was picketing military funerals at the hallowed Arlington National Cemetery with placards that read Thank God for dead soldiers. The Westboro Baptist Church managed to win a $200,000 court settlement against one city administration which tried to stop its members from protesting. The court said the US is a democracy, which provided for such protests by any group. In another case involving this church, the father of Matthew Snyder, a fallen soldier in Iraq, sought legal cover for the freedom to grieve for his dead son in peace without intrusion from outsiders. An appeals court, which sided with Westboro Baptists ruled: It is a fair summary of history to say that the safeguards of liberty have often been forged in controversies involving not very nice people. In other words, this church was not being niceto the families of dead soldiers, but democracy allowed deceased veterans to be protested against and their presumed martyrdom on the battlefield discredited. US President George W Bush was a strongman who could overthrow and execute the feared dictator Saddam Hussein and rid Kabul of the Taliban rule. But his power did not extend to providing grieving military families the right to mourn their dead in private. All that Bush could do was to enact a law in 2006, the Respect for America's Fallen Heroes Act, which did not end protests, but restricted them to beyond 300 feet of a national cemetery. When Donald J Trump became US President four years ago, he began treating the government he led and the Republican Party he controlled as twin lobbies for himself. Facts are never sacrosanct for US lobbyists. Instead, they fit the facts to advance their lobbying goals and achieve the desired results. Ethics guidelines exist only in name for their practices. By this reasoning, Joe Biden may have won the presidential election in November, but with effective lobbying, the result can be changed. Trump promoted his businesses with help from lobbies. Since his loss to Biden, the President has embraced the same strategy to achieve his goal of staying on in the White House. Trump sees his supporters who invaded Capitol Hill and attempted to stop the final certification of Biden as the next President merely as one of his lobbies. He wanted Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over this certification process, to act as his lobbyist and not certify Bidens victory. By appointing Supreme Court judges whom he expected to be his lobbying agents mistakenly as it turned out he was certain that the highest court would nullify the results of a free and fair election if the result went against him. These are strategies that Trump often used in business. As Trump sees the present situation, the peoples constitutional freedom to decide who should be their President can be circumvented by interpreting the statutes and tweaking them. That is what lobbyists do. It is not a coincidence that a succession of Trumps campaign managers in both elections have been lobbyists, not political strategists like the managers for several previous Presidents. aul Manafort was a lobbyist for Pakistanis, discredited Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos and Congolese dictator Mobutu SeseSeko. Lawyer Cleta Mitchell guided Trump through his notorious phone call last week to Georgias chief election official, Brad Raffensperger, to find enough votes to reverse Bidens win in the state. She is a registered lobbyist who has had many clients of questionable reputation. The all-important question now is whether the violence on Capitol Hill will change anything in the US. Unlikely. Once Biden settles in the comfort zone of the White House with no challenges to his authority from either chambers of Congress, now controlled by his party, it will be business as usual in the US. A South Korean court on Friday ordered the Japanese government to pay compensation to 12 World War II sex slaves or their families, in an unprecedented ruling that prompted an immediate denunciation by Tokyo. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Japan should pay the victims 100 million won ($91,000) each. It is the first civilian legal case in South Korea against Tokyo by wartime sex slaves for Japanese troops, who were euphemistically labelled "comfort women". The ruling comes despite a 1965 treaty between Seoul and Tokyo which declared claims between them and their nationals had been settled. Imperial Japan was responsible for the "comfort women" system, the court said in its verdict. "The plaintiffs, who were in their late teens or early 20s, were subjected to repeated sexual exploitation," it said. "It amounted to an illegal act against humanity and the defendant has an obligation to compensate the victims for their mental suffering." Tokyo and Seoul are both major US allies, democracies and market economies, but their deepening rift will present incoming US president Joe Biden with an immediate foreign policy headache as he seeks to build a common front on China and nuclear-armed North Korea. Ties between the neighbours are strained by Japan's early-20th century colonial rule over Korea, which is still bitterly resented on the peninsula, and have plunged to their worst in years under South Korea's centre-left President Moon Jae-in. Tokyo denounced Friday's ruling as a violation of international law and summoned Seoul's ambassador to protest, demanding that the South Korean government intervene. "This lawsuit should be rejected. The comfort women issue between Japan and South Korea... has already been resolved completely and definitely," Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters. "Our country will never accept this ruling," he added. Story continues Mainstream historians say up to 200,000 women, mostly from Korea but also other parts of Asia including China, were forced to work in Japanese military brothels during World War II. Friday's ruling came in a legal process that began eight years ago and only five of the original plaintiffs are still alive, the others replaced by family members. - 'Deeply moved' - Tokyo boycotted the proceedings and insists all compensation issues stemming from its colonial rule were settled in a 1965 treaty and linked agreement normalising diplomatic relations between the neighbours. Under them, Japan paid South Korea financial reparations -- which Seoul used to contribute to its transformation into an economic powerhouse -- and the document said that claims between the states and their nationals had been "settled completely and finally". But the court ruled that the pact did not terminate the women's right to seek compensation from Tokyo, which it said bore liability for their suffering decades ago. "I am deeply moved by today's ruling," said Kim Kang-won, the women's lawyer. "It is the first such verdict for victims who suffered at the hands of Japanese troops." Speaking to reporters after the verdict, he insisted that at the time of the 1965 treaty, "the issue of comfort women was not discussed at all". The Japanese government denies it is directly responsible for the wartime abuses, maintaining that the victims were recruited by civilians and that the military brothels were commercially operated. Kim Dae-wol, from the House of Sharing, which cares for the victims, said that reparations were not a major issue for them. "Rather, their wish is to have the Japanese government inform its citizens of the atrocities it committed," he said. The dispute has festered despite the treaty, and under Moon's conservative predecessor Seoul and Tokyo reached a deal in 2015 aimed at "finally and irreversibly" resolving it with a Japanese apology and the formation of a 1 billion yen fund for survivors. But Moon's government declared that agreement faulty and effectively nullified it, citing the lack of victims' consent. The move led to a bitter diplomatic dispute that spread to affect trade and security ties. The same court is due to rule next week on a similar case brought against Tokyo by another 20 women and their families. kjk/slb/kaf/jfx Hu Huaibang, former chairman of the China Development Bank (CDB), was sentenced to life in prison Thursday on charges of bribery by the Intermediate People's Court of Chengde in north China's Hebei Province. Hu, also former secretary of the CDB committee of the Communist Party of China, was also deprived of political rights for life and all of his property has been confiscated, according to the court ruling. The court also ordered Hu to turn over all his illicit gains and interest earned to the national treasury. Hu accepted the court's decision and said he will not appeal the verdict. The court found that Hu took advantage of his various posts to assist others in obtaining bank credit, operating their businesses and securing promotions between 2009 and 2019. In return, he accepted money and gifts worth more than 85.52 million yuan (about 13.24 million U.S. dollars). The court said Hu was given a lenient punishment as he had confessed, provided additional information about his crimes, showed repentance, and voluntarily surrendered his illicit gains, while all his illicit gains had been recovered. (Newser) Sen. Josh Hawley is being blamed by many for encouraging the storming of the US Capitol by a violent mob Wednesdayand now he's lost his book deal as a result. "We did not come to this decision lightly," publisher Simon & Schuster said in a statement cited by the New York Times. "As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: At the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat." The Missouri Republican's The Tyranny of Big Tech was originally scheduled for release in June. Hawley, who was the first senator to announce he would challenge the 2020 presidential election results, fumed against the decision on Twitter, accusing a "woke mob" at Simon & Schuster of taking away his rights. story continues below "This could not be more Orwellian," he posted. "Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition. Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. It's a direct assault on the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published." He promised to see the publishing company in court, leading Simon & Schuster to issue a second statement noting it was acting within its contractual rights. As HuffPost reports, many on Twitter were mocking Hawley's understanding of the First Amendment, which does not actually require publishers to publish one's book. Among those slamming Hawley was Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "Your actions fueled a riot and you fundraised in the chaos. Five people are dead," she tweeted. "You should be expelled." (Read more Josh Hawley stories.) The conservative editorial board of the Wall Street Journal called on President Donald Trump to resign in an unsigned staff editorial Thursday evening. The editorial goes much further than other Republican voices, particularly those in Congress, who have been calculating in their statements on how to respond to Wednesdays siege on the Capitol. This was an assault on the constitutional process of transferring power after an election, the editorial states. It was also an assault on the legislature from an executive sworn to uphold the laws of the United States. This goes beyond merely refusing to concede defeat. In our view it crosses a constitutional line that Mr. Trump hasnt previously crossed. It is impeachable. Advertisement The Journal was unequivocal in its reading of the events of the day and Trumps role in them, a seemingly redundant step, but saying plainly what happened this week over and over again is vital ahead of the revisionist onslaught. Establishing factual truth, out loud, is indispensable to accountability, which will frame the historical rendering of the event. In concise summary, on Wednesday the leader of the executive branch incited a crowd to march on the legislative branch, the Journal wrote. The express goal was to demand that Congress and Vice President Mike Pence reject electors from enough states to deny Mr. Biden an Electoral College victory. When some in the crowd turned violent and occupied the Capitol, the President caviled and declined for far too long to call them off. When he did speak, he hedged his plea with election complaint. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The Journals opinion pages have long been influential in Republican circles, the types of conservatives who were not at the White House rally Wednesday afternoon and did not march on the Capitol. Trump has been extraordinarily successful playing not to these WSJ readers but to the MAGA marchers. So successful, in fact, that Republicans like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, both former clerks in the Supreme Court, have been falling all over themselves to get a piece of the Trump action, to help perpetrate the Trump fiction. It remains to be seen what influence institutional Republicans, like the Journal, retain on the party and its thinking. Over the next two weeks, well get some inkling by which narrative takes hold: The emerging call, as articulated in the WSJ, for some form of accountability? Or that this was actually all Democrats fault somehow? Or will an even more dangerous narrative prevail, one already being pushed by some extremist House Republicans, that this was actually the work of antifa all along? Advertisement The Journal foresees problems with using the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office, fretting that [a] Cabinet cabal ousting him would smack of a Beltway coup and give Mr. Trump more cause to play the political victim. Impeachment has the virtue of being transparent and politically accountable, the Journal writes. If there were enough votes to convict in the Senate, it would also seem less partisan. The best case for impeachment is not to punish Mr. Trump. It is to send a message to future Presidents that Congress will protect itself from populists of all ideological stripes willing to stir up a mob and threaten the Capitol or its Members. The WSJ notes impeachment, too, will be bruising politically for a country that is already black and blue. If Mr. Trump wants to avoid a second impeachment, his best path would be to take personal responsibility and resign, the WSJ writes. We know an act of grace by Mr. Trump isnt likely. In any case this week has probably finished him as a serious political figure. It is best for everyone, himself included, if he goes away quietly, the Journal concludes. Andrew Luker and Julia Knightley invited Mikaela Jacas into their room for sex The 24-year-old Jamaican was seen scaling the hotel wall to meet with the pair The trio were rounded up by hotel security as they enjoyed a post-coital drink The Britons were awaiting Covid test results at Treasure Beach Hotel in St James Ms Jacas has left Barbados and returned home to Jamaica after the incident Knightley previously made headlines for using racy images for her beauty brand Love Island star Zara Holland was also fined in Barbados for Covid rule-breaking This is the Jamaican prostitute sneaked in to a luxury Barbados hotel room by a British couple in the middle of the night for a threesome, MailOnline can reveal. Andrew Luker and Julia Knightley decided to spice up their sex life while on holiday on the Caribbean island by inviting Mikaela Jacas back to their five star hotel for sex. ADVERTISEMENT But the late-night liaison was uncovered by security and the British couple were arrested and fined 4,400 for breaching the island's strict Covid laws. A security guard saw Ms Jacas, 24, hop over the wall of the Treasure Beach Hotel after midnight and enter the room where the couple were staying and raised the alarm. Police were called and the trio were rounded up as they were enjoying a post-coital drink on the patio of their luxury accommodation. Mikaela Jacas, 24, was invited back to a Barbados hotel room for sex with a British couple Ms Jacas, from Jamaica, was spotted jumping over the hotel wall after midnight by a security guard British couple Andrew Luker (left) and Julia Knightley (right) have been fined for breaking Covid rules by inviting a Jamaican woman to their Barbados hotel for sex in the early hours Ms Knightley (pictured), a mother-of-four and qualified nurse, has previously made news headlines for using provocative images of herself to promote her cosmetic clinic in 2016 Click here to resize this module Last night Mikaela Jacas admitted she had taken part in a three-some with Luker and Knightley for money. Speaking from Jamaica, she told MailOnline: Yes I was with them two, Andrew and Julia. Yes we had a sex party and they paid me for my time with them. But I dont want to bash them. They are nice people. Its no ones business what me do with me time and who I do it with. What are the Covid rules in Barbados? Travellers must arrive with a negative coronavirus test taken under three days before. On arrival, they must quarantine for five days in a govrenment-approved hotel, and then take another test The government says some guests may be fitted with electronic monitoring tags. A video has emerged showing Ms Jacas performing the controversial Jamaican twerking dance in a video. She wiggles her bottom in the style which is a popular routine in Caribbean dance halls. A friend told MailOnline she fled home to Jamaica following her arrest with the Britons. She was really shocked to see her name in the paper,' they said. She had no idea she was going to get so much publicity and so she has gone home.' ADVERTISEMENT In court Mr Luker, a plant hire director, from Rochdale, and Ms Knightley, a beautician from Cheadle Hume, pleaded guilty to breaching the Covid-19 quarantine protocol when they appeared in court yesterday. They were each fined 2,200, freed on 7,000 bail, but warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days. Ms Knightley, 41, a single mother-of-four and qualified nurse, made national news headline several years ago when she used provocative images of herself in revealing underwear to promote her cosmetic clinic. She apologized after being accused of being unprofessional over the raunchy way in which she advertised her non-surgical cosmetic clinic in her town. A picture of a scantily-clad girl in black lingerie sitting on a throne and surrounded by whips and paddles is still on the cover of the Facebook page for the beauty salon she runs in her home town. The website states: Slip into a world of opulent grandeur and exclusive elegance, and indulge your desire for passion and pleasure. Ms Knightley is from Rochdale and has four children Ms Knightley is from Rochdale and has four children The couple from Greater Manchester were caught when Jamaican woman Mikaela Jacas was seen scaling a wall at Treasure Beach hotel in St James, Barbados They were each fined 2,200 and freed on 7,000 bail at court They were warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days Police were called when a security guard found Jacas sat with the couple on the patio of their beach-front room With the right password, and the right knock at the door, you can find out more about our sensational anti-wrinkle treatments at Julia Knightley in Cheshire. Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who spared Love Island star Zara Holland jail for a similar breach of Covid regulations. Ms Knightley said ignorance of the law was no excuse for their actions. She admitting to knowing they could not leave the hotel while awaiting test results - but claimed she didnt know they couldnt invite guests to their room. On Wednesday Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who dealt with Love Island's Zara for a similar breach of Covid regulations Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: 'Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologise' A magistrate said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community Love Island star Zara Holland was arrested in Barbados after trying to leave the country with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9 Magistrate Ian Weekes said he was 'baffled' by the couple's actions Ms Knightley said ignorance of the law was no excuse for their actions which fell foul of local Covid laws Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologies. ADVERTISEMENT Magistrate Ian Weekes said he was baffled' by the couples actions. And he said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community. The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 00:58:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) on Friday announced plans to launch a six-month campaign focusing on prevention of COVID-19 pandemic. The six-month campaign which will start on Monday aims to prevent transmission of COVID-19 cases in educational institutions, service institutions, bus stations, market places, religious institutions and public spaces, reported state affiliated media outlet Fana Broadcasting Corporate (FBC). FBC reported members of the Ethiopian federal parliament will participate in the six-month-long campaign, which will include a drive to boost the waning interest in wearing a face mask. Ethiopia confirmed its first case of COVID-19 on March 13. The east African country confirmed its first COVID-19 related death on April 15. Ethiopia has as of Friday morning recorded 127,227 COVID-19 cases and 1,966 COVID-19 related deaths. Ethiopia is the fifth most affected country in the African continent, surpassed by South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Tunisia. A week after Ethiopia announced the first case of COVID-19, the country introduced stringent measures that included closing schools, limiting religious gatherings, postponing large gatherings and sporting events, as well as punishing businesses for unnecessary price-hike on consumer goods so as to contain the spread of COVID-19. Ethiopia also declared a state of emergency last April to minimize the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. It loosened the preventive measures in early October as the state of emergency rule expired. The Ethiopian government is recently advising the public to adhere to the recommended safety measures so as to contain the possible second wave of COVID-19 outbreak. Enditem TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A man has been arrested in connection to a Terre Haute murder investigation. The Terre Haute Police Department says Darius Jenkins has been charged with criminal recklessness. This stems back to a September, 18 homicide at 6th and Poplar Streets where 18-year-old Valentina Delva was shot and killed at a house party. The investigation is ongoing. People are lining up for the COVID-19 test in Shenyang city, Liaoning Province, China, on Jan. 2, 2021. (AFP via Getty Images) Quarantine Centers Overcrowded as Chinese City Tries to Quell COVID-19 Surge A local official in northeastern Chinas Shenyang city who handles quarantine said that dozens of local quarantine centers were overwhelmed with people who were suspected to have COVID-19. At least four local government officials were among those confined, he said in a recent interview. Although the central government announced few new infections in Shenyang, locals told The Epoch Times in interviews that the atmosphere in the city was very tense and the CCP virus outbreak was severe. Lockdown Parts of Shenyang have been on lockdown since late December due to a surge in COVID-19 cases. On the afternoon of Jan. 6, deputy director of Shenyangs transportation bureau Shi Jun said at a press conference that all residents in areas designated as high and medium-risk for virus spread would not be allowed to leave the city. Other residents can leave the city if they presented a negative nucleic acid test result that was issued within the past 72 hours. On Friday, Shenyang changed two neighborhoods in Yuhong district from medium-risk to low-risk but still required residents of the neighborhoods to be confined at home for another seven days. Shenyang still had 14 neighborhoods designated as medium-risk regions located in Huanggu, Yuhong, and Tiexi districts. In those areas, residents are not allowed to leave their homes. A spokesperson of Shenyangs Health Commission Mao Yinbai announced at a Friday press conference that authorities will pick up one swab sample from every resident in medium-risk regions. Officials will visit their homes every 48 hours. Mao added that all residents and villagers in low-risk regions would need to test for COVID-19 within the next 72 hours. Chinese authorities typically do not conduct mass testing for low-risk regions, suggesting that the outbreak in Shenyang was more severe than officials let on. A Shenyang netizen recently shared a video with The Epoch Times, showing people busy with construction work inside a building. The netizen said it was shot inside the No. 6 Hospital of Shenyang on Jan. 4, and that the people were building a makeshift facility for COVID-19 patients. The information could not be independently verified. Overcrowded Quarantine Centers The official from Shenyang, who wished to remain anonymous, said in a Jan. 7 interview that more hospital beds were urgently needed, as well as more quarantine centers, especially in Huanggu district. He said the quarantine centers in Huanggu were over-capacity. There are 15 quarantine centers in Huanggu district. Now, 1,293 people are quarantined there, the insider said, which is more than the normal capacity. Chinese authorities usually convert hotels into makeshift quarantine centers. To avoid cross infections, one person or one family is quarantined per room. The official said Zhixuan Holiday Inn in Huanggu has the capacity to quarantine 264 people at one time. But there are currently over 300 inside. Mingcheng Jinjiang International Hotel has the capacity to house 127 guests, but is quarantining 145 people now, while Jinjiang Zhixing Pinshang Hotel can quarantine 70 people, but now has roughly 90 people, he said. The official added that quarantine centers in other districts and counties were in similar situations. He also said he knew of four officials from Huanggu district who were being quarantined because they are close contacts of diagnosed COVID-19 patients. One works at the citizen calling center at the districts petition bureau, while another works at the petition bureau itself. Two others work at the commerce bureau. All other officials and staff who work at the petition and commerce bureaus were asked to be tested as key suspected patients, the insider added. The Epoch Times contacted both bureaus by phone. The receptionists refused to provide details and did not confirm or deny the insiders claims. But they said all staff were currently self-quarantining at home. Trump led off a video from the White House by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Then, for the first time on camera, he admitted his presidency would soon end though he declined to mention President-elect Joe Biden by name or explicitly state he had lost. Wednesdays violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was hard enough for adults to comprehend, as a mob egged on by President Trump breached the building in a bid to derail Congress certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory. But millions of children, glued to the television with their families, are likely to have an even harder time understanding the events. The unsettling images of angry rioters breaking into the halls of the nations Capitol are not easy to explain, but experts who specialize in child education have some tips. The National Education Association on Thursday issued advice and best practices for parents attempting to talk to their kids about the events that unfolded Wednesday in Washington. The foremost one, the article states, is to explain that the violence was an attack on the country and its democratic institutions, but that communities are coming together to stand up against those who incite and act on violence. Opening up and continuing that discussion is critical to helping students and children understand the reality of whats happening, and also that efforts to divide will not be successful as long as enough people stand up for their communities. Here are the other big takeaways. Validate their feelings and let them know they are safe. Children who may have seen or heard about Wednesdays events may be shaken up, as they can be by other tragedies and traumatic events. Its important for parents and educators to validate those concerns but also help reassure them that they are safe. Notice the way they might be expressing their feelings. Some children may not be straightforward about expressing their fears, or desires to talk; they may hover around their parents instead, for example. Changes in sleep patterns, behavior or even appetite can indicate that your child might be anxious. Making space not pushing but also noticing clues that they might need support will help make them feel that they can process their feelings in a safe way Stick to their normal routine. Keeping to regular schedules for sleep, meals and exercise can help counteract some of the anxiety and uncertainty. Be mindful of how much you do or dont explain. If youre speaking with a child in early elementary school, its probably not best to go into as much detail as you might with upper middle schoolers or high school students. The article spells out how much might be relevant for each age group. Monitor media exposure. Parents should keep an eye on what and how much their children are viewing online, or on television. Too much information and stimulus can be disturbing and counterproductive. The article also urges adults to be careful of how much theyre discussing within their childrens earshot. Some conversations might be best to have in private. Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain The Donald Trump supporter who sat with his feet up on Nancy Pelosis desk during the Capitol Building riot has been arrested. Richard Barnett, the Arkansas supporter of Mr Trump pictured in the House Speakers office, was arrested and charged with entering and remaining on restricting grounds, violent entry, and theft of public property, said the Justice Department. Barnett, 60, of Gravette, Arkansas, had boasted that he took a personalised envelope from Ms Pelosis desk and left her a quarter and a nasty note. Barnett claimed that he and politely knocked on the Democrats office door but was swept inside by a group of rioters. "I'll probably be telling them this is what happened all the way to the DC jail," he later told the New York Times. Authorities have also charged a West Virginia lawmaker who recorded and then deleted a video of himself storming the Capitol in connection with the rioting. Republican Derrick Evans has been charged in a criminal complaint with entering a restricted area and entering the US Capitol, according to Ken Kohl, of the DC US attorneys office. His lawyer has claimed the politician was at the event to engage in peaceful protest, activism and amateur journalism. An online petition calling for the delegate to resign has now collected more than 55,000 signatures. Thousands of pro-Trump activists broke into the building, vandalised property and threatened lawmakers, who had to be protected by armed security. The rioters managed to initially prevent the certification of the electoral college votes, but when the building was re-taken by law enforcement the House and Senate returned to confirm Joe Bidens victory. US Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick was killed in the violence, one woman was shot dead inside the Capitol, and three others died of medical emergencies during the shameful events. Mr Trump infamously initially refused to call in the National Guard and later released a video in which he told the rioters, we love you. He later put out a second video a day later in which he finally condemned the violence but falsely claimed he immediately sent in the Guard. Mr Trumps supporters even defecated inside the Capitol Building before tracking it around the offices of lawmakers. The outgoing presidents rioters smeared their extremist excrement around the building, said sources in Senator Chuck Schumers office. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 10:12:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock and sadness on Thursday after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. The unsettling pictures of the riots at the U.S. Congress made her "angry and also sad," Merkel said in a video statement. She said she deeply regretted that the president had not admitted his defeat since November. "Doubts about the outcome of the election were stoked, and that set the atmosphere for the night's events to become possible," Merkel said. Protesters breached the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon and forced the Electoral College vote counting to halt. Chaos and violence caused an hours-long lockdown on the Capitol grounds and left four people dead and multiple others wounded. "These scenes we have seen are the result of lies and more lies, of divisiveness and contempt for democracy, of hatred and agitation -- even from the very highest levels," said German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday. Enditem The Hohoe High Court has directed applicants seeking to place an injunction on Member of Parliament-elect for the Buem Constituency, Mr Kofi Adams, to serve him with the summons. The court yesterday adjourned the case due to the inability of the applicants to notify the first respondent, Mr Adams of the petition seeking to prevent him from presenting himself to be sworn-in as MP-elect for Buem or from holding himself as such. Counsel for the petitioners, Mr Frank Davies, told the media, that they would attempt to serve him and return to court. Meanwhile, lawyers for the first respondent and the second respondent were absent in court. The second respondent, the Electoral Commission (EC), according to information gathered, were, however, served. Background Messrs Stephen Brempong, Johnson Addo, Titus Ayivor, Fuseini Abdul-Rahman and Wing Commander Emmanuel Kusi Apietu (retd) are part of 13 voters from the Oti Region who have sued National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament-elect for the Buem Constituency, Mr Kofi Adams, and the EC at the Hohoe High Court for disenfranchising them in the December 7, 2020, parliamentary election. The complainants, who are residents of 13 electoral areas in Santrokofi, Akpafu, Lolobi and Likpe (SALL), filed a suit and a petition challenging the election of Mr Adams and seeking a cancellation of the December 7 parliamentary election respectively. The petitioners are also seeking the conduct of a new election which would include their 13 electoral areas to allow them to cast their vote. Meanwhile, the lawyer for the complainants said the petitioners would come back to court when they were able to serve Mr Adams. 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 The state government had stopped the entry of chicken consignments from Kerala and other southern states and asked for samples of migratory birds to be sent for testing to Bhopal Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh government has ordered closure of poultry shops in Neemuch and Indore districts for a week after bird flu infection was found among chickens in these areas, officials said on Thursday. Avian influenza or bird flu virus was found in samples of crow carcasses from seven districts and in chicken samples from Neemuch and Indore, said the state veterinary department in an advisory. The National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD), Bhopal, confirmed presence of bird flu virus in the samples of crows from Indore, Neemuch, Dewas, Ujjain, Khandwa, Khargone and Guna districts, it said. In Indore and Neemuch chicken samples also tested positive for the flu strain, it said. The state government has directed authorities in Indore and Neemuch districts to immediately close all poultry shops for the next seven days, it added. They have also been asked to collect samples of migratory birds from near water bodies and send them to Bhopal for testing. In other five districts too, preventive measures should be taken, the advisory said. On Wednesday, the state government had said it would not allow entry to chicken consignments from Kerala and other southern states for the next 10 days as thousands of poultry birds were culled in Kerala to prevent the outbreak of H5N8 virus. The Centre on Thursday said bird flu has been confirmed only in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh so far, but all states should be prepared for any eventuality. Trump: Supporters Will Have a Giant Voice Long Into the Future President Donald Trump issued a new tweet on Friday morning, saying that the 75 million people who voted for him will have a giant voice in the future. The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future, he wrote. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!! Earlier in the week, throngs of demonstrators amassed near the U.S. Capitol building before some entered the building. In the midst of the chaos, one U.S. Capitol Police officer and four others died, including a woman who was shot by an officer after the group entered the Capitol. That occurred during the Joint Session of Congress as members voted to ultimately certify President-elect Joe Bidens victory. Trump, for months, has said the Nov. 3 election was fraught with irregularities, fraud, and unconstitutional laws around balloting. But in a video on Thursday night, the president said he is now focusing on a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power to a new administration and called for reconciliation. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation, Trump said, adding that the year 2020 has been a challenging time for our people, a menacing pandemic has upended the lives of our citizens, isolated millions in their homes, damaged our economy, and claimed countless lives. Trump noted that defeating the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus and rising to the occasion in the face of other challenges will require all of us working together. It will require a renewed emphasis on the civic values of patriotism, faith, charity, community, and family, he said. We must revitalize the sacred bonds of love and loyalty that bind us together as one national family. The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021 The acts of violence that occurred in the Capitolwhich triggered a lockdown in both the House and Senate and delayed the electoral certificationwere also condemned by Trump. Legacy news outlets, lawmakers, former officials, and other critics have put the blame on Trump for Wednesdays incident. The president had addressed a crowd in Washington where he reiterated his allegations about election irregularities and fraud. However, in the speech, Trump did not call on the demonstrators to attack the Capitol building and he later told them to go home in peace, although some lawmakers said it was too little, too late. Some Trump supporters who demonstrated, in an interview with The Epoch Times, said Trump wasnt telling anyone to riot. No, absolutely not. Theres a line between inciting to riot and standing on convictions, Marine veteran Tony Good told The Epoch Times. He wasnt telling anybody to riot, he was just telling them its our right to protest. Thats a right we have in America. Elizabeth Rowell, of Florida, said Trump didnt incite anyone into violence. I never once felt unsafe. I met a lot of great patriots on the way. The entire time we were there, we chanted U-S-A and sang the national anthem, she said. In a tweet Thursday, rapper Scarface called on San Antonio and other major Texas cities to "chime in" and ask U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz to explain his congressional effort to object the certification of the presidential election results. Scarface, whose real name is Brad Jordan, has been vocal about the recent political events on Twitter. On Dec. 22, he called the senator "cold blooded" for voting against the $900 billion COVID-19 pandemic relief package. Then on Thursday, he reacted to Cruz leading a group objecting the certification of electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania. RELATED: Texas representatives live tweet from the Capitol as protesters storm the building "Ted? @tedcruz Houston is very disappointed in you TEXAS chime in, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin EVERYBODY and tell the senator to meet with us, he's got some explaining to do..WE THE PEOPLE FOR REAL," Scarface tweeted. The tweet came hours after protests erupted in his native Houston on Wednesday calling for the senator's resignation. Cruz is also being scrutinized by his political peers after a Pro-Trump mob on Wednesday breached the U.S. Capitol, forcing congressional members into hiding. Former Housing and Urban Development Secretary and San Antonio mayor Julian Castro also used social media to call out Cruz. Julian jumped on an Instagram Live video with his twin brother U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro on Wednesday while the latter sheltered in his office. Julian pointed to Cruz as a contributor to the Capitol chaos. "He has been spectacularly irresponsible, an embarrassment to the state of Texas," he said in the video. Cruz released a statement via Twitter calling Wednesday's events an "attack" and "despicable act of terrorism." He defended his lead in the effort to dispute election results. "It was the right thing to do. I very much wish Congress had not set aside these concerns, but I respect the position each of my colleagues took," Cruz said in the statement. "Debate in the two houses of Congress is the proper way to resolve our political differences, not through violent attacks." Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove has warned of increasing disruption at Channel ports over the coming weeks as a result of Brexit. Queues have so far been avoided at Dover and the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone because of abnormally low traffic, currently running at just 40 per cent of historic levels for the time of year as companies hold back from testing the new arrangements in place since 31 December. But the new thickets of Brexit red tape are already causing problems, with parcel courier DPD suspending road deliveries from the UK to the EU for five days in the hope of getting on top of the increased administrative burden. The company said as many as 20 per cent of parcels destined for Europe are having to be returned because of the new customs forms required by Boris Johnsons EU trade deal. The suspension came as Scottish seafood producers said they had been hit by a perfect storm of administrative burdens, with queues and rejected paperwork causing utter confusion. And Marks and Spencer said that complex administrative processes resulting from Brexit, as well as tariffs on some products, were significantly impacting on its activities in Ireland, France and the Czech Republic. M&S is one of at least 50 companies hit by rules-of-origin regulations which require tariffs on items imported to the UK before being reimported to an EU state, according to the British Retail Consortium. Percy Pig sweets are among the products affected, said M&S chief executive Steve Rowe, who said: Tariff-free doesnt feel so tariff-free when you look at the small print. Feared gridlock in Kent has failed to materialise in the week since new rules came into effect, with a spokesperson for the Port of Dover saying that traffic had been running smoothly since the end of the post-transition period. But new official figures show that this was due largely to unusually low volumes of freight traffic, with an average of just 1,584 lorries arriving to cross the Channel each day, compared to 4,067 the same week last year. Around 700 lorries have been turned back at the border since the end of the transition period, but the majority of these were not due to Brexit, but to failure to obtain a negative Covid test as required by French authorities, said the Cabinet Office. Mr Gove warned that the real challenge and potential for significant disruption will start on Monday, when traffic flows are expected to begin returning to normal levels, with 40,000 trucks heading for France each week. He appealed to drivers to make sure their papers are in order before they set off, including the new Kent Access Permit (KAP) or Kermit which allows them to head for the ports. Around 18,000 KAPs with 24-hour validity have so far been issued, and around 150 fines of 300 have been handed out to truckers for failing to obtain a permit or attempting to jump queues at the ports. We have always been clear there would be changes now that we are out of the customs union and single market, so full compliance with the new rules is vital to avoid disruption, Mr Gove said. Road Haulage Association spokesperson Paul Mummery said that while a majority of trucks have so far cleared customs formalities successfully, a significant proportion were being turned back for having the wrong paperwork, an issue which he expected to become more visible as traffic levels pick up over the coming weeks. We will see supply chain friction in the coming weeks, he told The Independent. We dont expect it to be as visible as the queues we saw in Kent before Christmas, but the impact will be there just the same, in the form of trucks parked up at inland checkpoints or standing idle in the depot waiting for paperwork to be completed before they set off. Were expecting disruption for around six months until the new systems are bedded in. Ferry company DFDS said it was experiencing a high volume of vehicles being refused and delayed at the ports of Calais, Dunkirk and Dover due to incorrect paperwork being presented at check-in. In a message to customers, DPD said it was pausing its road operations to the EU until 13 January, after a challenging few days following the new year transition, with teams working round the clock to deal with new administrative burdens. Leaving the EUs single market and customs union had resulted in an increased burden with new, more complex processes, and delays and congestion at UK ports and more rigid requirements for Channel crossings, the company said. Mr Mummery told The Independent there were concerns that complex new documentation and the prospect of delays may deter exporters from shipping products, reducing opportunities for hauliers. Some firms may find a way of doing business that focuses more on the domestic market, he said. We have heard that there are firms in the EU that have decided that working in the UK is not worth their while this year. There will be firms in this country who will anticipate the ache of the new procedures and decide not to focus on export markets. If you are looking at hundreds of pounds to fill in forms and then you have delays built in, time is money and it may well be that with tight cost margins, they will say it is just not worth it. Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: The government promised it had a plan to make sure things ran smoothly for businesses and hauliers post-Brexit. Its clear the problems caused by its poor preparation and delaying tactics have not gone away. Ministers have to get a grip on this and make sure essential workers are actually able to do their jobs, or we risk seeing a repeat of the chaos on our roads at Christmas. Press Release 8 January 2021 Urges Board to Sell 20% of MGM China to a Chinese Company as a Strategic Investor Believes Transaction Will Create Significant Shareholder Value for MGM Resorts International Advertisements HONG KONG - Snow Lake Capital Limited, a leading Asian alternative investment management firm with over US$3 billion in assets under management, today sent a letter to the MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) ("MGM" or the "Company") Board of Directors urging them to sell 20% of their MGM China Holdings Limited (HKEX: 2282 HK) ("MGM China") business to a Chinese company as a strategic investor. Snow Lake beneficially owns 7.5% of the outstanding shares. Snow Lake's letter to the MGM Board of Directors can be found below and linked here: https://www.snowlakecap.com/Letters. On this weeks Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discussed the historical significance of Raphael Warnocks and Jon Ossoffs Senate victories in Georgia. This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. David Plotz: On Wednesday morning, we got the extraordinary news that both Georgia Senate seats will now be held by Democrats. Lets talk about what a 50-seat Democratic Senate, with Vice President Kamala Harris breaking any ties, can do and what it cant do. Advertisement John Dickerson: In 2000, Republican leader Trent Lott and Democratic leader Tom Daschle worked out a power-sharing arrangement. It was a 50-50 split, with Vice President Dick Cheney breaking the tie, but the Democrats had a lot of control that they wouldnt otherwise have had as a minority. So, I wonder how that all is going to get sorted between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Advertisement Advertisement The split makes some things easier for Joe Biden, when it comes to confirmations and that kind of thing. The question is: Will a moderate swing coalition of Joe Manchin, D-WV; Susan Collins, R-Maine; Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska; Mitt Romney, R-Utah; and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., try to assert itself? If that existed, it would be right in Joe Bidens wheelhouse. Thats a Senate that he believes in, which could be very interesting. It would also bring a lot of heartburn to activists who will want to see progress of a more robust nature than anything that would be able to pass through a Senate controlled by that kind of coalition. Advertisement Emily Bazelon: They can confirm judges. Thats really important. They can confirm Cabinet appointees. They can pass through budget reconciliation spending bills with only 50 votes. What they cannot do, unless they eliminate the filibuster, is voting rights, and D.C. statehood, and Puerto Rican statehood, and these kinds of structural reform questionsunless theyre willing to change the rules of the Senate. People are suggesting that they could eliminate the filibuster for a special class of bills and get Joe Manchin to take one hard vote. Then the new senators from D.C. or Puerto Rico could run with the ball, and hed be off the hook. I dont know. That seems too clever by half. But budget reconciliation is a very big deal. If you pass a huge omnibus spending bill, like the one that Congress did just pass, you can do a lot to address economic woes and economic inequality, which is such a continuing problem for the country. Advertisement Advertisement Plotz: Right. But you really cant address the big structural problems. That does seem problematic. John, do you think theres any chance they ditch the filibuster Dickerson: No. I dont think so. If youre Joe Biden, and you believe in the Senatewhich he does, because thats the institution he spent the most time inyou could see some opportunity to get things done through a coalition. If you got rid of the filibuster, it would give Republicans a thing to rally around. It would set all the Republicans against him for the rest of the term. Now, a lot of progressives would say, Yeah, well theyre set against you anyway, so deal with the politics of the reality, not the politics you would like to see. That push and pull will be something were going to talk about 80 billion times between now and the end of the Biden presidency. But if you think of it from Joe Bidens perspective, the aggressiveness of getting rid of the filibuster would close off all kinds of other opportunities of things that he might want to try and pass through a Senate that, in his mind, operates close to the one that he used to be a member of. Advertisement Advertisement Plotz: I dont get the excitement about getting Collins and Romney and maybe Murkowski. Thats three votes. To do what? You dont need three votes, you need 10 votes. Bazelon: Its political cover. Then you can claim bipartisan support. Plotz: Yeah. Political cover to do minimal things. Dickerson: You still need 60 votes. Some people will say, Well, you have to look like youre trying to do bipartisan things first, to prove the systems broken. Then you can go do the stuff you want to do. That was Obamas philosophy. Bazelon: Yeah, but the clock is ticking. There isnt very much time. For the full episode of the Jan. 7 Political Gabfest, in which Bazelon, Dickerson, and Plotz also discussed Wednesdays riot at the Capitol, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Another hospital visit. Danielle Busbys daughter Riley took a trip to the emergency room on Thursday, January 7, amid her moms health struggles. Read article Well, Im done with doctors offices today, Adam Busby captioned an Instagram photo. Riley just couldnt let us end the day without a little extra excitement. This is what happens when you want to dance on the bathroom floor as your sisters are getting in and out of the tub. One staple for Riley! She was a trooper though. Courtesy Adam Busby/Instagram; Courtesy Danielle Busby/Instagram In the social media upload, the little one wore a red face mask while a doctor examined the back of her head. He went on to share a video showing the 5-year-olds injury. Read article We had a little uh oh, Adam, 38, said on his Instagram Story. You were dancing in the bathroom on the wet floor and you slipped on water. Shes got a little gash. The reality star, who also shares Blayke, 9, and Olivia, Hazel, Parker and Ava, 5, with Danielle, 37, documented a different doctors visit for his wife earlier that same day. The Louisiana native had an invasive test done on Monday, January 4, amid her unknown health issues. While she wont be having a follow-up surgery based on the results, the TLC personality still has no clear answer on her diagnosis. Danielle explained on Thursday: Please understand, I am in the window of uncertainty and I only feel comfortable sharing as much as this. I will continue to share as more things start to unfold. Thank you for the continued prayers. Read article Danielles first health scare was in November 2020, and she has been trying to figure out whats wrong with her body ever since. I have been seeing multiple doctors to try & help figure out whats going on with me. I was led to the care of a Cardiologist and Rheumatologist, who have both been amazing, she told her Instagram followers earlier this month. Lots of tests have been done for both doctors some results have come back OK, and some not so much. Danielle is known for her and her familys TLC show, OutDaughtered, which premiered in 2016 and is in season 7. The reality show documents her and Adams lives with the only American all-girl quintuplets on record. Friday, January 8, 2021 The Iowa Supreme Court has rejected findings of ethical violations in two litigated matters and dismissed the disciplinary proceeding. The decision is a useful and important tool to explore the line between unprofessional behavior and conduct worthy of bar discipline. The court employs a de novo standard of review in bar discipline matters. The court rejected a Rule 3.1 charge The commissions finding is not supported by the record. At the hearing in August 2013, the mother testified there had been instances since March where B.B. initiated or attempted to initiate sexual contact with N.V. According to the mother, there was an instance in July where B.B. tried to convince N.V. to touch tongues. The father admitted he was aware of the oral sex thats taken place between [N.V.] and [his] nephew [B.B.]. The father admitted he was aware of a recent allegation that B.B. tried to talk N.V. into touching tongues and kissing tongues. Dr. Gillettes report prepared in July 2013four months after the first hearingconcluded there was ongoing sexual abuse, i.e., continued abuse after the March 2013 order. Given the new allegations and new evidence, we cannot conclude the renewed application was frivolous within the meaning of the rule. The renewed application was supported by Dr. Gillettes opinion and the mothers testimony regarding what she perceived to be ongoing risk of sexual abuse. There was contrary testimony at the hearing. Dr. Stokes testified that the acts, even if true, did not constitute abuse. In Dr. Stokess view, the sexual conduct constituted normal sex play that should be addressed appropriately. The district court credited Dr. Stokess testimony. However, the fact that Rhinehart did not obtain relief for his client does not make the application frivolous... As to a false statement charge The commission found the renewed application included false statements that the father was ignoring the district courts prior order, that the father was refusing to protect the child, that the father was leaving the child unattended with the abuser, that the child was suffering from PTSD, and that the father was failing to provide adequate supervision to the child. The commission found Rhinehart violated the rule because the testimony at the hearing failed to substantiate the claims he made in the application. We conclude the Board failed to prove the violation by a convincing preponderance of the evidence. The statements at issue here were not false statements of fact. They were allegations Rhinehart believed could be proved at a hearing on the matter. As discussed above, the allegations in the renewed application were made in good faith and supported by new evidence. Whether the evidence substantiated the claims in the renewed application is immaterial with respect to this alleged rule violation. It would be a stretch to say a lawyer can be disciplined for good faith averments in a petition or application that are not borne out by the evidence. See Caghan, 927 N.W.2d at 601 (stating an attorney cannot be disciplined merely because an argument was unsuccessful). While the district court may not have found Rhineharts evidence credible or convincing, this does not make the good faith allegations in the renewed application false statements of fact in violation of rule 32:3.3(a)(1). The mere fact the district court sanctioned Rhinehart for filing the renewed application does not support the conclusion Rhinehart violated the rules of professional conduct as alleged in the Boards complaint. Not all conduct supporting a litigation sanction violates the rules of professional conduct, and not all conduct violating the rules of professional conduct results in a litigation sanction. Sanctionable conduct and professional misconduct may overlap but are not congruent. Rather Rhinehart engaged in zealous advocacy on behalf of his client. It was his duty to do so. A second bar matter involved the representation of a client in a bitter business dispute and an alleged false statement Although we agree with the commission that Rhineharts statement was incorrect, we cannot conclude the Board proved this violation by a convincing preponderance of the evidence... The circumstances here do not support an inference Rhinehart had the intent to deceive. Rhinehart made a statement regarding his recollection of the testimony in the case. His recollection was wrong. His recollection was more likely than not colored by his apparently sincere belief that Cardona did in fact divert partnership money into the Excel bank account, an allegation Rhinehart found he was unable to prove without access to the Excel bank records. We think it is unlikely that Rhinehart made the statement with the intent to deceive the district court knowing the district court heard Cardonas testimony. We are reluctant to sanction an attorneys statements made in a posttrial motion regarding the evidence at trial when, frequently, the motions are made without a full and complete transcript and the evidence and ultimate fact issues are .disputed. Alleged false statement about a judge On de novo review, we conclude the Board failed to prove the violations by a convincing preponderance of the evidence. Fairly read, Rhineharts statements do not express a false statement concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judge. Iowa R. Profl Conduct 32:8.2(a). There is no mention of the district courts qualifications or integrity. Instead, Rhinehart criticized the district courts decisions regarding discovery and the district courts ruling on the merits. Rhinehart argued the judgment rewarded Cardonas discovery conduct because Koeppe was unable to prove his case against Cardona without the business record. The statements at issue in this case are simply different in kind from the statements we have found to violate rule 32:8.2(a. Chief Justice Christensen specially concurred I join the majority decision but write separately to emphasize that our dismissal of the disciplinary complaint against Rhinehart should not be interpreted as condoning his behavior. In addition to demanding that attorneys maintain ethical behavior as outlined in our rules of professional conduct, we also expect attorneys to behave with civility and professionalism. He had questioned the mental health of opposing counsel Opposing counsel also testified before the commission, and nothing in the record supports Rhineharts claims about opposing counsels mental status. It goes without saying that making flippant, unsubstantiated comments about anyones mental status is incredibly offensive. The district court judge testified before the commission that it was Rhineharts language when [he] referenced [opposing counsel was] a liar and should retire that led the judge to make a referral to the disciplinary board about Rhineharts behavior. Ultimately, Rhineharts behavior in the Koeppe case has forced our court into the unenviable position to act as kindergarten cop and [review] a dispute between attorneys caused by one who either never learned or has forgotten the basic good manners others learned before first grade. Saldana v. Kmart Corp., 84 F. Supp. 2d 629, 640 (D.V.I. 1999), affd in part, revd in part, 260 F.3d 228 (3d Cir. 2001). This is not the first time Rhineharts caustic behavior has come to the attention of our court. But civility lapses may not amount to bar discipline sanction-worthy conduct It costs nothing for an attorney to be civil, but, as this case shows, the costs of incivility are high. Let this case serve as a reminder to all attorneys that their conduct should be characterized at all times by personal courtesy and professional integrity in the fullest sense of those terms. Iowa Ct. R. 33.1(1). Rhinehart likely could have avoided these disciplinary proceedings altogether simply by treating opposing counsel and judges with the sort of basic decency and respect most learn before first grade. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/01/the-iowa-supreme-court-has-rejected-findings-of-ethical-violations-in-two-litigated-matters-and-dismissed-the-disciplinary-pr.html New Delhi, Jan 8 : Naveen Jindal, the Chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), has offered his help towards bringing back the 39 Indian sailors stranded in Chinese waters. Jindal has offered to buy coal for the ships in a bid to aid their return. Two carriers, the 'Anastasia' (IMO 9625970) and the 'Jag Anand', owned by India's Great Eastern Shipping Company, which were transporting Australian coal to China, arrived in Chinese waters when trade tensions were underay between China and Australia. Eventually, China banned the import of Australian coal. The Indian seafarers are stranded in Chinese waters for months now. The matter came to light after reportedly one seafarer recently committed suicide as he was denied permission to return home to look after his ailing wife and two sons, who were diagnosed with Covid-19. Taking to Twitter, Jindal wrote on Friday: "This is a humanitarian crisis: 39 Indian sailors stranded at Chinese ports for months; were carrying coal from Australia to China. We are ready to buy the coal on these ships if it can help bring our sailors back home." The tensions between China and India arising in the past one year have also added to the problem. Vessels flying flags of other countries have been permitted to upload similar bulk cargo while these two with Indian flags have not been given the same permission. UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester said it has launched in an investigation to determine if one or more of its employees were involved in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The regions largest employer said on Friday that it has been made aware that one or more employees may have been involved in the violence that occurred in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. We have been made aware that one or more of our employees may have been involved in the violence that took place at our Nations Capitol, the states third-largest health care provider said in a statement. We strongly condemn such behavior, if true, and have initiated an investigation. In the aftermath of the violence that left at least five people dead, CNN reported that companies around the country have started firing employees who participated in the insurrection. Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump filled the streets of Washington on Wednesday in opposition to the results of the 2020 presidential election that handily gave President-elect Joe Biden an electoral and popular vote victory. Trump and his allies held a rally earlier in the day encouraging his supporters to march to the Capitol. When those at the rally arrived at the Capitol, the mob became violent and stormed the building, running through law enforcement and causing elected officials and their staff to shelter-in-place. On Thursday, Dr. Michael Hirsh, the Director of Trauma Services and Surgeon-In-Chief at UMass Childrens Medical Center and Worcesters medical director, condemned the violence during the citys weekly COVID-19 briefing. It was a tough thing to see, Hirsh said. Even with everything else going on politically, you were also thinking about, theres no social distancing when you have a mob like that. This is going to be a huge super spreader event. The investigation by UMass Memorial comes a day after the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts Andrew E. Lelling said in a statement that any residents of the state who stormed the Capitol will be prosecuted. The Constitution protects the right to freedom of speech and assembly. What is does not protect is a violent assault on government institutions. Americans on the right and left must re-learn the difference, Lelling said. Anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts. Related Content: Even living in a time of isolation, the shock waves that spread across the nation Wednesday were seismic. After insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol, the first breach of its kind in more than two centuries, an insistence also arrived that the events were like something from another country. This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic not our democratic republic, said former President George W. Bush in a statement. Let me be very clear: The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America. Do not represent who we are, tweeted President-elect Joe Biden. But if we look back through accounts over time, the social struggles and cultural tensions that underscore and drive the times in the United States today are all there. Americans besieging the U.S. Capitol is new, but the destruction was ever familiar. The insurrectionists tapped into a centuries-old extralegal tradition of American vigilantism. Thirteen years before the Civil War began, Abraham Lincoln, then a 28-year-old serving as a representative in the Illinois statehouse, expressed concerns about this. In an 1838 speech to the Young Mens Lyceum of Springfield, he argued that should extralegal violence continue, the cost could be the U.S. government. READ MORE: Philly-area immigrants who have lived through coups see American democracys fragility in Capitol attack Alike, they spring up among the pleasure hunting masters of Southern slaves, and the order loving citizens of the land of steady habits. Whatever then, their cause may be, it is common to the whole country, said Lincoln, later adding: Whenever this effect shall be produced among us; whenever the vicious portion of population shall be permitted to gather in bands of hundreds and thousands, and burn churches, ravage and rob provision stores, throw printing presses into rivers, shoot editors and hang and burn obnoxious persons at pleasure, and with impunity; depend on it, this Government cannot last. There are parallels between the insurrection Wednesday in D.C. and the Wilmington (N.C.) coup of 1898, for example. In 1898, the attackers, angered by election results in Wilmington that featured a mixed-race group of winners, killed roughly 60 to 250 Black people, forced more than 100 Black government officials out of their posts, and caused another 100,000 residents to flee for safety. This year, following a yearslong effort to combat Black voter suppression, the attackers at the Capitol challenged the presidential election results, hours after Georgia voters decided for the first time to send a Black man and Jewish man to the U.S. Senate. There are notes that echo from the civil rights movement. Kwame Ture, the Black Panther organizer and Pan-Africanist human rights activist, said this of the white right, in a 1989 talk on Lessons from 60s. Where they disagree with busing they burn buses, where they disagree with abortion they bomb clinics, he said. They themselves have come to demonstrate the use of violence as a potent force in arriving at a political objective. READ MORE: Trump supporters in Washington rejoice over an attack on the U.S. Capitol: Today, its biblical Many of the themes of Wednesdays events, and the Trump era in general, were outlined in the 1975 book Strain of Violence: Historical Studies of American Violence and Vigilantism. Much American violence has related not only to the structure of community, but to the substance of the American experience, historian Richard Maxwell Brown wrote in the book. Group hostility has often escalated to the level of violence in white-Indian wars, white-black confrontations, ethnic rivalries, religious vendettas, agrarian uprisings, and the struggles of laborers against industrialists. Brown, perhaps agreeing with Ture, described violence as a tool to restore the attackers notion of social order. Brown noted: Established groups have been quick to resort to violence in defense of the status quo they dominate. Strain of Violence raises the question Is violence as American as apple pie? Kidada Williams, a Wayne State University historian who studies violence, would say yes. The trend toward vigilante violence that runs through the insurrection, back to 2017 events of Charlottesville, the massacres at Tree of Life in Pittsburgh and Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, back to the neighbors who harassed and attacked Black students through the 60s and 70s, back to the mobs over centuries who terrorized racial and ethnic minorities in cities, can be traced back to the founding of the country. READ MORE: These Capitol riot pictures shouldnt surprise you. They show an American truth. | Opinion Some scholars have argued that slavery and settler colonialism are the down payment of the Revolution; theyre the down payment on American success, said Williams in an interview with The Inquirer Thursday. If youre able to achieve significant success using violence, why would you use any other tactics? Williams, who is writing a book on Black families who were attacked by the Ku Klux Klan amid Reconstruction, said the insurrection reminded her of the Civil War: The rebels were upset over election results, white progressives responded as a matter of preserving the country. The level of surprise this week at the attack at the Capitol, she said, reflects a deep belief in American exceptionalism that sidesteps our history of violence to focus on victories. America, she explained, erases its body count. READ MORE: Why arent Black protesters called great patriots? | Elizabeth Wellington In his 1975 book, Brown called the U.S. a nation conceived and born in violence. The Revolutionary War provided a grand model, what would follow, including, Brown explained, an inclination toward violence for any cause law and order, for example deemed good and proper. Americans would turn to unsanctioned forms of violence when they sensed a grave menace to social stability in cities and on the frontier. And moreover, communities welcomed violence at the hands of police to achieve those same ends. People of color and the social movements theyve created, Williams added, do not have access to this American tradition as white people do, because they do not have the benefit of being perceived as nonthreatening. The American experiment, she said, recasts violence from white residents and from the state, as something other than violence, as something justified. The double standard leads to more Black and brown people dying, but also, a lack of recognition for the threat of domestic terror, she explained. The federal government is expert at destabilizing movements that it perceives as a threat, said Williams, who pointed to the American Indian Movement and the Black Power Movement. (A 2018 New York Times investigation, for example, reported that U.S. law enforcement overlooked a mounting crisis of far-right extremism for almost two decades.) The White Power movement has only recently been seen as a threat. 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. Pittsfield Fire Department Capt. Ken Cowan dons a face mask as he and other firefighters head to a training exercise in May. Massachusetts recorded no fire deaths among children in 2020. An FBI spokesperson confirmed Friday theyre investigating a Texas woman for her participation in the riots at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday that caused lawmakers to be evacuated and the deaths of five people, including a Capitol Police officer. "FBI El Paso and Midland offices are aware of the events involving Ms. (Jenny) Cudd and other West Texas residents at the US Capitol from tips received from community members, Special Agent Jeanette Harper said in an email. We ask that individuals continue sending tips to the FBI's tips.fbi.gov or the Digital Media tip line at fbi.gov/USCapitol." Midlander Jenny Cudd, a former Midland mayoral candidate, posted about charging the Capitol building in multiple social media posts on Wednesday, including a Facebook live video in which she said, We did break down Nancy Pelosis door and somebody stole her gavel. An excerpt from that video has received more than 5 million views on Twitter. Cudd became a trending topic on Twitter Thursday night, with many calling for her arrest, including Texas Rep. Jeff Leach and actors Jane Lynch and Patton Oswalt. About 80 protesters at the Capitol Wednesday have been arrested on various charges, according to news reports. Richard Barnett, the man who was photographer sitting in Pelosis office with his feet on her desk, has been charged with entering and remaining on restricted grounds, violent entry and theft of public property. He is facing 10 years in federal prison on the trespassing charge alone. Other rioters have been charged with assault, property damage, carrying guns into the Capitol building and violating the curfew that was set for 6 p.m. In an interview with the Reporter-Telegram on Thursday, Cudd denied doing anything unlawful during the riots at the Capitol. She said that, unbeknownst to her, individuals with Antifa broke through barriers and assaulted police officers before she arrived. Cudd said she then walked into the Capitol with a large group and took pictures inside the rotunda for about 15 minutes before leaving. She said she did not go onto the House or Senate floors or into any lawmakers' offices. The group of Trump supporters marched to the Capitol with the goal of peacefully assembling in a "show of solidarity," according to Cudd. She condemned the violence incited by some protesters. When reached by phone, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office at the Western District of Texas declined to comment on what charges Cudd and others could be facing if arrested for Wednesdays riots. I dont even want to begin to speculate on it, he said. South Africa: Cash-in-transit heist suspects shot dead Four suspects have been shot dead and two rifles and a pistol have been recovered by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS) following a foiled cross-pavement robbery at a filling station in the Bram Fischer area in Soweto. Yesterday afternoon, an intelligence-driven multidisciplinary team consisting of members from Crime Intelligence and the National Intervention Unit responded to information received of a planned attack on a cash van. The team of SAPS members noticed two suspicious looking vehicles following the cash-in-transit vehicle into the filling station where security officials were to perform their daily duties of collecting money from the ATM. Upon noticing the SAPS members, the two vehicles with a group of armed robbers made an about turn resulting in a high-speed chase. Hot on their heels, the team followed the vehicles to an identified address in the area where a shootout ensued. Four suspects were shot dead while other suspects fled the scene. The National Commissioner of the SAPS, General Khehla Sitole, has hailed the vigilance of the joint team. The vigilance of this team ought to be commended for executing our mandate as the SAPS without fear or favour. This incident should send a stern warning to everyone involved in all forms of crime, especially violent crimes, to steer clear of breaking the law. We are hoping to apprehend the remaining suspects who managed to flee the scene with the implementation of the 72-hour activation plan to mobilise all resources," Sitole said. The possibility of linking these suspects to a spate of violent crimes, including the recent Cash-In-Transit heists in and around Gauteng cannot be ruled out. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Lets stop using the bland, weaselly word events when issuing statements to comment on abominable activities such as the January 6 ransacking of the US Capitol. Events are weddings, birthday parties and ballgames. They are not riots, insurrections and coup attempts. I first became aware of the misuse of events in the aftermath of the World Trade Center/Pentagon terror attacks. Those acts of murder were often called the events of 9/11, a description that did not do justice to the horror of that day. The Business Roundtable issued a scant one-paragraph press release on January 6 that it called a statement on events in the nations capital. BR played down the trashing of the Capitol by calling in the chaos unfolding in the nations capital, which could very well have been a reference to Trumps four-year reign. Public Relations Society of America chimed in on January 7 with A Message from the PRSA Chair on the Events on January 6, 2021. Michelle Olson began her eight-paragraph statement with: As communications professionals, we take pride in our ability to know what to say, and when and how to say it. That is questionable. She admitted searching for the right words as I try to make sense of the unfathomable chaos that took place yesterday. The statement buried the lede. Olson hit her stride in the last graph: We all know that mob mentality is never the right answer and is dangerous, destructive and, tragically, sometime deadly. I hope readers of the PRSAs release made it to the final graph. The National Association of Manufacturers got it right. Its January 6 release is headlined: Manufacturers Call on Armed Thugs to Cease Violence at Capitol. CEO Jay Timmons issued the statement in response to large groups of armed Trump adherents who have violently stormed the US Capital building as members of Congress meet to count the electoral votes. Timmons said: Armed violent protestors who support the baseless claim by outgoing president Trump that he somehow won an election that he overwhelmingly lost have stormed the US Capitol today, attacking police officers and first responders, because Trump refused to accept defeat in a free and fair election. He said elected officials cheering Trump on are violating their oath to the Constitution and rejecting democracy in favor of anarchy and urged VP Mike Pence to seriously consider invoking the 25th Amendment to preserve democracy. Hats off to NAM and Timmons for pulling no punches. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information about pipe bombs which were discovered at the Republican and Democratic committee headquarters in DC. The agency released an image today of a hooded suspect wearing a mask, gloves and carrying an object on Wednesday as hundreds of Donald Trump supporters rioted in the Capitol. One of the improvised explosive devices was pictured on the ground outside the Republican National Committee headquarters, just over 600 yards away from the besieged legislature. A second bomb, which has not been pictured, was discovered just a few blocks away beside the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Both the RNC and DNC headquarters were evacuated following the discovery of the IEDs and the bomb squads called in to dispose of them. Eighty-one arrests have been made since the riot, with cops seeking another 36 suspects, after the mob scaled looted laptops and lecterns, vandalized statues and brawled with officers. The FBI released an image today of a hooded person wearing a mask, gloves and carrying an object as hundreds of Donald Trump supporters rioted in the Capitol on Wednesday Police in Washington, DC, found two pipe bombs near the Capitol after protesters stormed the building on Wednesday. An image of the pipe bomb (pictured), shows it lying on the ground of the near the Republican National Committee headquarters The RNC is just over 600 yards away from the steps of the US Capitol, while the DNC is just over 700 yards from the same building Five people died, including four protesters and a police officer, after hundreds made their way inside to demand that the general election be overturned. VICTIMS OF THE D.C. RIOTS POLICE OFFICER: Brian Sicknick, who was in his 40s, died on Thursday after he was allegedly struck over the head with a fire extinguisher. PROTESTERS: Ashli Babbit, 35, San Diego, California - (gunshot wound) Rosanne Boyland, 34, Kennesaw, Georgia (unspecified medical emergency). Kevin Greeson, 55, Athens, Alabama - (unspecified medical emergency). Benjamin Phillips, 50, Ringtown, Pennsylvania - (unspecified medical emergency). Advertisement In addition to the IEDs, police found an icebox filled with a rifle and Molotov cocktails on the Capitol grounds. According to the Justice Department, an individual who had 11 Molotovs 'ready to go' was arrested. Trump yesterday finally condemned the violence after having initially praised his supporters, saying that the protesters had 'defiled the seat of American democracy' and must be held accountable. Senators and Congressmen were left cowering inside their offices as reports of gunfire spread throughout the building when the hundreds of MAGA supporters raided the legislature. Experts say some could face the rarely used seditious conspiracy charge - which former attorney general William Barr's Justice Department threatened to use against those who caused violence at BLM protests last summer. Acting US attorney for DC Michael Sherwin said 55 cases have been charged so far, but warned it is 'just the beginning.' Fifteen federal cases were expected to be filed on Thursday for crimes including unauthorized access and theft of property, and investigators are combing through reams of evidence to bring additional charges. He said 40 other cases have already been charged in a District of Columbia superior court. Police on Friday morning released a slew of new photos of members of the violent Trump mob wanted on federal charges after storming the US Capitol building Dozens of Trump loyalists were photographed breaking windows, entering both the Senate and House chambers and going into the offices of lawmakers at the Capitol Wednesday The FBI is now working with various law enforcement agencies to identify perpetrators and charge people with federal crimes The FBI's wanted poster shows one of the suspects carrying a Confederate flag inside the Capitol building WANTED: Federal and local authorities are trying to track down at least 36 suspects - in addition to the 68 already arrested - who stormed the US Capitol building, defaced property, fired tear gas and trashed officers on Wednesday in chaotic scenes Photos of the suspects were revealed at a press conference on Thursday as a growing number of politicians, including President-elect Joe Biden and DC Mayor Muriel Bowser, have blamed Trump for the violent uprising that left four people dead. More than 50 Capitol and DC police were also injured in the riot, including several who were hospitalized. Some of the assailants have already been identified through social media - such as the horned QAnon 'Shaman' Jake Angeli and a MAGA fan whose marketing company fired him when they spotted his work lanyard around his neck - but the rest are wanted by law enforcement, and a huge manhunt has been launched across DC and the country. Supporters of President Donald Trump breech the U.S. Capitol as election results are to be certified in Washington DC on January 6, 2021 after breezing past cops The first few defendants charged in the chaos appeared in DC Superior Court on Thursday, CNN reported. Jared Amos, 38, of Florida, pleaded not guilty to unlawful entry to Capitol grounds and violating Mayor Bowser's 6pm curfew. David Ross, 33, of Massachusetts, also pleaded guilty to the same charges. Both men have been ordered to stay away from DC area unless they are attending court hearings. Hyderabad, Jan 8 : The arrest of former Andhra Pradesh minister Bhuma Akhila Priya for her alleged involvement in the kidnapping of businessman Praveen Rao and his two brothers in Hyderabad has brought spotlight back on the role of powerful politicians from Rayalaseema in "settling" land disputes in Hyderabad. Police have also taken into custody A.V. Subba Reddy, an aide of Akhila Priya's family and are on the lookout for her husband Bhargav Ram and other accused in the sensational kidnapping of Praveen Rao, a businessman and former badminton player and his two brothers. The incident has also brought into focus the role played by Akhila Priya's father and former MP Bhuma Nagi Reddy in settling the disputes over lands in and around Hyderabad. Nagi Reddy, who passed away in 2017, was allegedly known for using strong arm tactics for the "settlements". According to police, the kidnapping is related to 25 acres of prime land in Hafeezpet near the information technology cluster of Hitec City. Praveen Rao's family had purchased the land in 2016. "There were some issues on the land, which was mediated by Subba Reddy with the assistance of Nagi Reddy. After the issues got resolved, understanding between Praveen and Subba Reddy was executed. But, Subba Reddy did not execute his terms of understanding with Nagi Reddy. After the death of Nagi Reddy, his daughter Akhila Priya approached Praveen for share in the land. When Praveen stated that he has completed the transaction with Subba Reddy and requested her to approach him, she started threatening him," police said. Akhila's brother Jagat Vikyat Reddy, however, claimed that the piece of land at Hafeezpet belonged to them and there was a dispute over it. "After the death of our father, some people colluded with Subba Reddy. There are many powerful people involved in it," he said. Akhila's sister Mounika Reddy alleged that Akhila Priya was arrested without any evidence. She said police showed over enthusiasm in the case due to political pressure. Initially, police named Subba Reddy as the main accused in the case and Akhila Priya as the second accused. However, in the remand report, the former minister was made accused number one. Denying Akhila's involvement in kidnapping, her brother and sister appealed to Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to do justice. They alleged that their family is being tortured. After the kidnapping and arrest of Akhila, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar said the police will not tolerate such organised crimes in Telangana. "This is a warning to all criminals. The law of the land is firm in Telangana and we will not tolerate what was happening earlier," he said in an obvious reference to instances of 'land settlements' that used to happen in undivided Andhra Pradesh. Akhila Priya, who hails from Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, is daughter of Nagi Reddy, who was MP from Nandyal between 1996 and 2004. He was one of the politicians from the region who played a key role in settling land disputes in Hyderabad when the city witnessed a boom in real estate market. The kidnapping case also brought into focus the relationship between the families of Nagi Reddy and Praveen Rao. The latter's father Krishna Rao allegedly used to work for Nagi Reddy by scouting lands stuck in dispute. After the sudden death of Nagi Reddy in 2017, his children had no information about the properties he had amassed and also about individuals who had title deeds. Following Nagi Reddy's death, differences had also cropped up between his aide Subba Reddy and Akhila Priya and her siblings over the land dealings. Former Andhra Pradesh minister Paritala Ravi and his rival Gangula Suryanarayana Reddy alias Maddelacheruvu Suri were also involved in many land settlements in and around Hyderabad. Ravi was gunned down by Suri's men in 2005 in Anantapur. Suri was shot dead in Hyderabad by his aide Bhanukiran in 2011 after differences between them over ownership of some lands. During the investigations into Suri's killings, police had found that Bhanukiran owned land worth Rs 140 crore. New Delhi: Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Bahrain on Monday cut off diplomatic ties with Qatar amid a deepening rift between Gulf Arab nations. The official state news agency, citing an official source, said Saudi Arabia had decided to sever diplomatic and consular relations with Qatar proceeding from the exercise of its sovereign right guaranteed by international law and the protection of national security from the dangers of terrorism and extremism. Saudi Arabia cut all land air and sea contacts with Qatar and urges all brotherly countries and companies to do the same. Citing protection of national security, Riyadh then announced it was also severing ties with Doha and closing off all land, sea and air contacts, the Saudi state agency said in a statement, cited by Reuters. Egypt was next to join the diplomatic war, with Cairo announcing it is cutting relations with Doha, according to Sputnik news agency. UAE has also issued a notification to Qatar citizens to leave the country within 14 days, while diplomats have been asked to exit within 48 hours. Bahrains Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement early Monday saying it would withdraw its diplomatic mission from the Qatari capital of Doha within 48 hours and that all Qatari diplomats should leave Bahrain within the same period. The ministrys statement said Qatari citizens needed to leave Bahrain within two weeks and that air and sea traffic between the two countries would be halted. It wasnt immediately clear how that would affect Qatar Airways, one of the regions major long-haul carriers. Bahrain blamed Qatars media incitement, support for armed terrorist activities and funding linked to Iranian groups to carry out sabotage and spreading chaos in Bahrain for its decision. Qatar had no immediate comment. Qatar termed the Arab nations' decision a 'violation of its sovereignty' and vowed to citizens that the country will not let the change in diplomatic ties affect them, AP reported. Abu Dhabi-based airline Etihad says it is suspending flights to Qatar amid Gulf diplomatic rift: AP pic.twitter.com/Vy9Z5y3ha4 ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017 For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. First Christian arrested under anti-conversion law in India's Uttar Pradesh while providing aid to poor Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Korean Christian and three citizens of India have been imprisoned in Uttar Pradesh state for providing food and other aid to the poor amid escalating persecution in the majority Hindu country. Accused of fraudulent conversion attempts, the four individuals are the first to be imprisoned under the states newly-enacted anti-conversion laws. Morning Star News reports that on Dec. 19, 50-year-old Mi Kyung Lee of Seoul, South Korea, and the three others were charged under the Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance in Greater Nodia, located in the Gautam Buddh Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh. Raj Kumar Masih, an organizer overseeing the distribution of aid, told the outlet that he has organized relief aid to thousands of people since obtaining permission from the Additional District Magistrate on March 23, 2020. Aid was distributed in various areas, including at his church site. We have proofs of our distribution and names and phone numbers of our beneficiaries, who can testify that we have not asked any of them to change their faith or religion, he said. All beneficiaries were distributed ration kits, but none were promised any kind of money. However, according to the police complaint, a local woman claimed she was approached by the individuals arrested, who invited her to visit the local church to receive free rations offered during the pandemic. She told police the four began visiting her regularly and promised her money if she converted to Christianity. As a result, local police arrested Mi Kyung Lee, a Korean Christian, Umesh Kumar, and two women helping with the distribution of aid named Seema and Sandhya. According to Morning Star News, Kumar and Sandhya are not Christians. The four appeared in court on Dec. 20 and were remanded to jail, charged with violating Uttar Pradeshs new anti-conversion law and blasphemy by outraging the religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. Masih believes the false accusation and arrests are part of a well-planned conspiracy by local Hindu nationalists, noting that "nobody even bothered to ask the arrested their side of the story. What is shocking is that the driver, Umesh Kumar, and Sandhya are not even Christians. The local media have falsely reported them all to be Christians, he said. Though the case marks the first time Christians have been convicted of forced conversions and jailed in India, anti-conversion laws are widely abused in states where they are enacted. Persecution watchdog International Concern notes that Hindu nationalists often abuse these laws by falsely accusing Christians of forcefully converting individuals to Christianity to justify harassment and assault. Local police often overlook violence perpetrated against Christians due to the false accusation of forced conversions. The group previously warned that the anti-conversion law enacted in Uttar Pradesh would incite more religiously motivated violence." Nearly 200 million people live in Uttar Pradesh, with only an estimated 350,000 identifying as Christian. In April, over 30 Christians in southern Indias Tamil Nadu state were arrested on false charges of forcible conversion while providing food and other aid to the poor. However, police released the Christians with a warning that they should not be seen again attempting to convert people in the area. A recent Persecution Trends survey from Release International predicted that in India, intolerance toward Christians and other religious minorities will continue to grow during 2021, largely due to growing Hindu nationalism. RI noted that incidents targeting Indian Christians have risen steeply since 2014, when Narendra Modi of the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power. It cited statistics revealing Christians suffered 225 incidents of religiously motivated violence during the first 10 months of 2020, compared to 218 incidents in the same period in 2019. Many of these attacks were by vigilante mobs. The country is ranked at No. 10 on Christian support organization Open Doors 2020 World Watch List of the countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian. As the saying goes that 'everything is fair in love and war' , a Chhattisgarh man has just proved that right. Well, as 'dabangg' as anyone could ever get, this man married two women at the same time in the same mandap in presence of family members and villagers with all the rituals and formalities. The 24-year-old Chandu Maurya, as per the news reports, solemnised his marriage with the two women, both his lovers, at a ceremony attended by 500 people on January 5, HT reported. I decided to marry both of them because they both loved me. I cant betray them. They agreed they both will live with me forever, Chandu told the newspaper. Meanwhile a video from the wedding ceremony and the invitation card of the function have gone viral on social media. Heres the most unusual love story Maurya, a marginal farmer and laborer in Maoist-affected Bastar district, said he had fallen in love with Sundari Kashyap, 21, in Tokapal area when he had gone there to install electricity poles. The two planned to marry each other, but a year later, Haseena Baghel entered the life of Maurya. The 20-year-old was attending a wedding in his village Tikralohnga when the two met and fell in love. HT reported that Maurya told Haseena that he was already in a relationship but that did not stop her from wanting a relationship with him. Both Haseena and Sundari came to know about each other and agreed to have a relationship with me, he said. Well, it didnt stop there. In fact, the three also started living together at Mauryas house, where he lives with his parents and two siblings. The family members of Haseena came to attend the marriage ceremony but Sundaris family skipped the function, said Chandu. Did you know this is not the first time that a man has married two women at the same time? A man in Madhya Pradesh has married two women at the same ceremony last year. In 2020, Sandeep Uike, a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Betul, had married two women at a ceremony on July 8. One of the women was Uikes girlfriend and the other was a bride chosen by his parents. The wedding was held with the approval of all three families. Tell us your thoughts on this in the space below. 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 8th round of farmer-government talks to be held today India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: The farmers who have been agitating over the farm laws for over a month now will hold talks with the government today. The government has refused to roll back the farm laws. Yogendra Yadav of Swaraj India and a leader of the farmers' agitation said that there are media reports doing the rounds that the government has formulated a new proposal. There is no such thing. This is a game to divert media attention away from our successful tractor march today. Amid tight security, thousands of farmers on Thursday started their tractor-march from protest sites -- Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders -- against the three agriculture laws. PM should talk directly to protesting farmers; Govt has lost trust of entire farming community: Harsimrat Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that farmers participated in the march with over 3,500 tractors and trolleys. According to the protesting farm unions, this is just "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 tractor parade that will be move into the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Farmers started the tractor march around 11 am and moved towards Kundli Manesar Palwal Expressway amid heavy deployment of Delhi Police and Haryana Police personnel. The tractor march, led by senior BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, moved towards Palwal. "In the coming days, we will intensify our agitation against the three farm laws. Around 2,500 tractors from Haryana have participated in today's march. "We want to warn that if the government doesn't not accept our demands, farmers' protest will get intensified further," Abhimanyu Kohar, a senior member of Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, told PTI. The tractor march started from four different points -- Singhu to Tikri Border, Tikri to Kundli, Ghazipur to Palwal and Rewasan to Palwal. Supreme Court expresses concern over massive gathering of farmers during COVID-19 Braving severe cold and sporadic rains, thousands of farmers from Punjab, Haryana and some other parts of the country have been camping at several Delhi border points for over 40 days, demanding repeal of farm laws, a legal guarantee on minimum support price for their crops and other two issues. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News The seventh round of talks between protesting unions and three central ministers ended inconclusively on Monday as farmer groups stuck to their demand for the repeal of three laws, while the government listed out various benefits of the new acts for the growth of the country's agriculture sector. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 9:23 [IST] Chinese tourists are expected to make 230 million trips featuring ice and snow in the 2020-2021 winter season, generating more than 390 billion yuan (60 billion dollars) in revenue, according to a report from the China Tourism Academy (CTA) on Jan. 5. The year 2021 marks the one-year countdown to the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games, which is driving the development of the countrys ice and snow industry. Ice and snow tourism has become an industry that will encourage 300 million people to participate in winter sports, a goal China has set to achieve by 2022, the report said. Ice and snow tourism has also become a new way of life for Chinese tourists. Although the industry was hit hard by the COVID-19 epidemic, peoples confidence is returning. Of those surveyed for the report, 82 percent said they are willing to take short-distance ice-snow trips, and more than 53 percent said they will maintain or increase their budget for such trips compared to previous years. Tourists enjoy themselves in Jilin, northeast Chinas Jilin province. (Zhu Dawei/Peoples Daily Overseas Edition) The report revealed that Chinese tourists now prefer to travel with their families on short trips that are smart, customized, independent and high-quality. The country has increased investment in ice and snow tourism. According to incomplete statistics, from 2018 to 2020, total investment in the industry exceeded 900 billion yuan. To boost the development of ice and snow tourism, China has rolled out over 14 policies concerning ice-snow consumption, peoples health and winter sports, while local governments of provinces and cities, including Hebei, Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Beijing, have introduced 22 industrial policies for the industry. Dai Bin, head of the CTA, said China should develop ice-snow tourist destinations, routes and products with a unique and profound cultural heritage to attract visitors. Elements of the Olympic Winter Games, intangible cultural heritage and folk culture should be added to ice and snow tourism, said Song Qihui, a senior official from Chinas Ministry of Culture and Tourism, who also called for the construction of provincial and national ice and snow-themed resorts. Cities including Harbin, Shenyang, Jilin and Changchun in northeastern China, as well as Zhangjiakou in north Chinas Hebei province, have been selected as top cities for ice-snow-themed tours this year at the China Ice and Snow Tourism Development Forum held on Jan. 5. In this years state budget estimates, $34.4 million was set aside for Fire and Emergency Services, down from the almost $49 million estimated last financial year, with the figure continually decreasing year-on-year until hitting $29.67 million in 2023/24. It indicates just how much of the bushfire season will largely run on the goodwill and dedication of its volunteers, who make up a good number of the 200 fireys deployed at any one time across WA. Loading Volunteer fireys might work at the local IGA or earthmoving business, like Nikki Woods, and because theyre based in fire-prone bush areas, they understand what it takes to protect their properties and, often, livelihoods. The current Gingin bushfire, which jumped containment lines late Monday and continues to threaten lives and homes, also burned many hectares of agriculture, including tainting 25,000 olive trees and putting at risk a West Australian olive oil business in the Shire of Gingin. No lives or residences have been lost so far. But volunteer fire services stay largely quiet over the pressure felt to carry the weight of an increasingly dangerous firefront for fear of biting the only hand that feeds them. Volunteers did, however, express a non-politically motivated disappointment at the lack of an incident review report into the 2019 Yanchep fires. The Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades holds the very firm view that inclusive, transparent and timely reviews of major incidents are the key to learning from the past. It called on the 2020 Bushfire Royal Commission to consider whether the federal government should create a national agency or fund independent consultants to undertake reviews of major incidents on behalf of all states and territories. In short, we believe doing this would mean more opportunities for sharing valuable learnings faster and wider than currently possible, reducing the burden of state departments that might be stretched dealing with other issues (eg. other fires or COVID-19) and perhaps most valuably, the removal of any perception of the inevitable conflict of interest that comes from any entity reviewing itself, they said. On Wednesday, Emergency Services Minister Fran Logan said the firefighting response to the current Red Gully/Gingin blaze and that of the Yanchep bushfires in 2019 was based on the recommendations of an inquiry into the devastating Yarloop fires of 2016. Yarloop is still recovering from the devastating 2016 blaze. Credit:Marta Pascual Juanola Mr Logan said the creation of a co-ordinated fire response involving several government departments at play near Lancelin followed the recommendations made by special inquirer Euan Ferguson in the wake of the South West blaze. The 2016 Yarloop bushfires burned through almost 70,000 hectares and razed more than 160 homes in the area, killing two. After the fire, residents in the small town described the helplessness they felt as trees caught alight in a ring of fire, spreading through the streets and gutting homes. Mr Fergusons 17 recommendations also included the creation of a rural fire service, a more agile system to apply for burning permits for private owners, and expanded roles for volunteer firefighters. But for Greens going into March's state election, the improvements dont go far enough, and climate exchange remains the biggest factor. On the back of the Gingin fires, Greens senator Jordon Steele-John vowed on Wednesday "to ensure the reality that the climate crisis is causing bigger and more damaging bushfires is not swept under the rug." Greens WA spokesperson for climate change, Tim Clifford, had already come out swinging in November over WA Labors aspiration of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, calling it fanciful rhetoric. Loading Western Australia is almost single-handedly contributing to Australias rising emissions due to our burgeoning LNG industry, which has been allowed to operate with little to no pollution controls, he said at the time. And yet this policy fails to hold them accountable for their carbon pollution, despite the fact that offsetting their emissions would only cost these multinational companies 1-2 per cent of their profits and create thousands of sustainable jobs here in WA. The McGowan climate policy focuses on six areas: clean manufacturing and future industries; transforming energy generation and use; storing carbon and caring for our landscapes; lower carbon transport; resilient cities and regions; and government leadership. After announcing that he planned to clarify the meaning Section 230 free speech internet rules back in October 2020, FAA chairman Ajit Pai has now said he wont do so. Thats largely because hell be gone on January 20th when Joe Biden is sworn in as the 46th US President. Theres simply not sufficient time to complete the administrative steps necessary in order to resolve the rule-making. Given that reality, I do not believe its appropriate to move forward, he told Protocol in an interview. In reality, he likely didnt have the power to change the rules anyway, as much as President Trump wanted and demanded it. Section 230, which gives social media sites like Twitter and Facebook immunity from lawsuits over user content, was drafted and passed by Congress. The FCC cannot rewrite acts of Congress to suit its whims, the ACLUs senior legislative counsel Kate Ruane told Recode last year. Section 230 is critical to protecting free speech online and the FCC has no authority to change it, especially not in ways that will undermine free expression. Pai also said that he wouldnt "second-guess" Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and other social media sites over their decisions to ban Trump from posting, and broke from Trump in the area of election fraud. I think it was a terrible mistake to suggest that the results of the election, and particularly the process that culminated yesterday in the Senate and the House, could in any way be changed, he said. That was a terrible mistake and one that I do not think in any way should have been indulged. The rapidly growing calls among Democrats to oust President Donald Trump either by his own Cabinet taking action or by another impeachment are running quickly up against the limits of time and Republican Party politics. Trump on Thursday appeared to be trying to quell the furor and head off any clamor for his ouster within the GOP. He released a video message in which he condemned the storming of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters on Wednesday and said he was prepared for a smooth transition to President-elect Joe Biden. "A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20th," Trump said. "My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power." The president has been besieged on all sides since supporters he inspired vandalized the Capitol and disrupted the House and Senate during the certification of the Electoral College vote. Some administration officials have resigned in protest and several senior Republicans in Congress said he bears responsibility for ginning up the mob and refusing for weeks after the election to acknowledge Biden's victory. Despite that, most Republicans haven't expressed an appetite for another drawn out political battle with the combative president who has just 12 days before he leaves office. Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the lone Republican who voted to convict Trump in last year's impeachment trial, pointed out that there's little time for either an impeachment or what likely would be a drawn out battle over the Constitution's 25th Amendment, which provides for the removal of a president. "I think we have to hold our breath," he told reporters. Trump's encouragement of the mob in Washington prompted Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday to call on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to remove Trump under the 25th Amendment. They both said Trump could be impeached -- again -- if they don't. Pelosi and Schumer are channeling the genuine fear and anger among Democratic lawmakers that spans the party's ideological spectrum from Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York to Stephanie Murphy of Florida, the co-chair of the moderate Blue Dog Democrats. Jim Manley, a former top aide to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said the assault on the Capitol was so unprecedented that it is in the realm of possibility that House Democrats could proceed. Five people died in the episode, including a police officer and a woman who was shot by the police outside the House chamber. The demands by both Pelosi and Schumer "indicates that for many, doing nothing is not an option," he said, even though he does not expect enough Republican votes to reach the two-thirds required for an impeachment conviction. On Thursday evening, Pelosi held a conference call with other top House Democratic leaders, and discussed various options tied to the 25th Amendment and impeachment, and she plans a caucus-wide conference call at noon Friday to discuss what to do, officials said. A number of Democrats are joining the appeal to invoke the 25th Amendment. But that course, too, has legal and procedural hurdles that would make it difficult to carry out by Jan. 20. One person familiar with her thinking said Pelosi, as of Thursday, night, had not determined a course of action. She and her advisers believe they have multiple options but that the outcome is unpredictable, according to the person, who asked for anonymity to discuss private deliberations. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has stayed mum on any next steps regarding Trump after ripping the futile effort by the president's allies to undo the election that was part of the impetus for the mob to invade the Capitol. McConnell is married to Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who on Thursday resigned saying the attack on Congress "deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside." Later on Thursday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also resigned. A top Trump ally, Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said at a news conference Thursday that the riots would "tarnish" the president's legacy and, like many lawmakers in both parties, he thought what happened Wednesday could have been much worse. Still, he didn't think action against Trump was warranted. "I don't support an effort to invoke the 25th Amendment now," Graham said. "If something else happens, then all options would be on the table." Multiple groups of House Democrats, at the same time, were circulating impeachment articles charging Trump with inciting the riot and seeking to bar him from seeking office again. Representative Jerry Nadler of New York said he supported bringing impeachment articles straight to the House floor for a vote given the limited time. For Democratic leaders, there's little risk in pressuring Trump's cabinet and Pence, but impeachment would put the spotlight on Trump instead of on preparing for Biden's incoming administration. Nevertheless, many Democrats were pushing to do so anyway. A former senior House aide who keeps in close contact with representatives and staff said that resolve to remove Trump grew over the hours lawmakers were kept behind locked doors to protect them from the intruders. The former aide said impeachment could move forward regardless of whether Senate Republicans were on board. Pelosi and Schumer also may be trying to prod some GOP lawmakers who are sympathetic to the idea of getting Trump's cabinet to remove him. While Pelosi could call the House back to impeach Trump with a simple majority vote on the House floor, the Senate would be compelled to hold a trial presided over by Chief Justice John Roberts. Given that there are still millions of Trump supporters still on his side, the potential for massive political fallout for Republican senators who cross him might limit how quickly the chamber would act or how many of its members would vote to convict. Representative Susie Lee, a Nevada Democrat, said Trump "deserves to be removed from office, whether by invoking the 25th Amendment, impeachment, or resignation." But she said in a statement that without broad, bipartisan support, the likelihood of forcing him out of office before Biden's inauguration "is extremely low." "Especially after the political theater that consumed the Electoral College certification process in Congress," Lee said, "we owe it to our constituents to be honest." Lucy Hale recently rang in the new year from an iconic setting in New York City. And the Pretty Little Liars star is getting back into her routine, after returning home to Los Angeles. She rocked a cute athleisure look Thursday in purple and blue tie-dye, as she stepped out to pick up some coffee and lunch at Dialog Cafe in Hollywood. Tie-dye vibes: Lucy Hale rocked a cute athleisure look Thursday in purple and blue tie-dye, as she stepped out to pick up some coffee and lunch at Dialog Cafe in Hollywood The 31-year-old paired the Off-White brand tie-dye hoodie with a pair of skintight cornflower blue bike shorts and white trainers. She finished the ensemble with some oval gold-framed sunglasses and silver earrings, as she took precautions against COVID-19 in a black face mask. Hale paid tribute Wednesday on Instagram to her childhood friend Drew Osborne, who recently died at 29 years old. She wrote in part: 'Drew & I had been buds since we were teens. He was one of my first friends in LA and we grew up together. Some of my best, funniest and silliest memories in my life are with Drew. Athleisure chic: The 31-year-old paired the Off-White brand tie-dye hoodie with a pair of skintight cornflower blue bike shorts and white trainers Accessorizing: She finished the ensemble with some oval gold-framed sunglasses and silver earrings, as she took precautions against COVID-19 in a black face mask RIP: Hale paid tribute Wednesday on Instagram to her childhood friend Drew Osborne, who recently died at 29 years old 'If you knew him, you know that he was mind numbingly funny and had the most incredible spirit. The kind of humor that brought you to your knees.' It comes after she hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square, alongside Billy Porter and 16-time host Ryan Seacrest. She took to Instagram after the televised festivities, writing: 'Got to close out 2020 surrounded by some great humans, in heels, sparkly masks , & in an empty Times Square. We celebrated frontline workers, nurses, doctors, teachers, police officers who were the real MVPs of the year. 'Stood in awe of JLo and chugged atleast 5 La Colombe Oat draft lattes. Started 2021 surrounded by McNuggets & fries. Thank you to all who made it safely possible for us to come back this year ! Happy freakin new year everyone,' Counting down: Hale previously hosted Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve in Times Square, alongside Billy Porter and 16-time host Ryan Seacrest Lady in red: She took to Instagram after the televised festivities, donning a white pantsuit trimmed in red, over a red sequined bra, with a fuzzy red overcoat and silver metallic stilettos Black and white: Hale had a couple wardrobe changes throughout the evening, sporting a black jeweled minidress, as well as one in white The Katy Keene actress shared some behind-the-scenes photos in her party look, a white pantsuit trimmed in red, over a red sequined bra, with a fuzzy red overcoat and silver metallic stilettos. She took precautions against COVID-19 in a matching red face mask, as the usually packed crowd watching the ball drop was limited to VIP guests, 40 local frontline workers and their families. Hale had a couple wardrobe changes throughout the evening, sporting a black jeweled minidress, as well as one in white. It was the Fantasy Island star's second time co-hosting the event with Seacrest, after filling in for Jenny McCarthy last year. Lab studies of the South African variant indicate the mutation changes the component of the virus the immune system responds to, which could mean antibodies are less effective against it. Among the six people with the UK variant, two are still quarantined in Special Health Accommodation and four have been discharged after medical assessments deemed they were no longer infectious, Dr Chant said. "There will be mutations arising everywhere," says NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant. Credit:James Alcock But on Friday the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee did not recommend barring UK arrivals. "One of the challenges of just targeting one particular country or UK strain is that we are a world, international travellers go everywhere, and I think we have learned that with COVID, we cannot block a particular group at a particular point in time," Dr Chant said. "There will be mutations arising everywhere," she said. Loading Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new strains presented a challenge, "but getting variations, mutations to a virus is not unusual, it's what happens ... it's not unexpected but of course from time to time a variation can occur that presents an increased risk. Other times it can decrease risks," he said. Concern over the virus variants and calls for tighter measures on UK arrivals have intensified since a Brisbane hotel worker tested positive for the UK strain on Thursday, sparking a three-day lockdown of the Queensland capital. Acting Premier John Barilaro said NSW would not close its border with Queensland as Brisbane begins its lockdown. Instead, he directed anyone in NSW who had been to Brisbane's lockdown zone since January 2 to self-isolate until 6pm on Monday, January 11, in accordance with Queensland's orders. NSW recorded four new cases of locally acquired COVID-19 on Friday, in addition to seven cases in returned travellers. Three local cases were already in isolation when they tested positive: a woman in her 50s and a teenage boy who were household contacts of a case in the Berala cluster, and a child who was a close contact of a case in the Croydon cluster. Shoppers rush to stock up on groceries in Brisbane this morning ahead of a three-day lockdown. Credit:Tertius Pickard Late on Friday night, NSW Health issued a new public health alert for venues in Sydney's inner west and one venue on the northern beaches that had been visited by confirmed cases of COVID-19. Anyone who attended the following Burwood venues at the times listed is a casual contact and must get tested immediately and self-isolate until they receive a negative result: Artisaint Cafe on Burwood Road in Burwood, on Wednesday, January 6, from 10.30am 11am Bing Lee on Burwood Road in Burwood, on Wednesday, January 6, from 11.25am 11.40am. Other venues visited by people who should monitor for symptoms, and get tested if they occur, include Westfield Burwood Shopping Centre, Kmart Burwood, and Costume at Avalon Beach. Further details about the times of possible exposure and NSW Health advice to those who attended is available here. A health worker carries out a COVID-19 test at the Merrylands drive-through clinic this week. Credit:Getty Images The lockdown imposed on the upper northern beaches will be lifted at 12.01 on Sunday, despite health authorities reservations. Their anxieties stem from the fourth case among Fridays tally a man in his 40s in the upper zone who tested positive for the virus after completing his 14-day self-isolation. The source of his infection has not been found. That is a worry, Health Minister Brad Hazzard said. It would be an indicator of [an] unknown chain or chains of transmission still circulating in the far end of the northern beaches. But Mr Hazzard said the high testing rates on the northern beaches had given NSW Health confidence that the lockdown should end, and he urged the community to continue to get swabbed. There were 26,112 tests in the 24 hours until 8pm on Thursday. Mr Barilaro said that number was on the low side and urged the public to come forward for testing over the weekend. Loading Sewage testing found fragments of the virus at a treatment plant in Ulladulla, about 64 kilometres south of Nowra, NSW Health reported. No recent cases have been detected in the catchment area of 32,000 people across Ulladulla, Narrawallee, Milton, Mollymook Beach, Kings Point, Burrill Lake, Dolphin Point and Lake Tabourie. This could mean there are undetected cases of COVID in the community or someone with the virus visited the area, so we are asking everyone to be especially vigilant in monitoring for symptoms - and if they appear, get tested and isolate immediately, NSW Health said. Late on Friday night, NSW Health also said fragments of the virus had been detected in a sewage treatment plant at Northmead. The catchment takes sewage from Merrylands West, Greystanes, South Wentworthville, Merrylands, Westmead, Wentworthville, Pendle Hill, Northmead, North Rocks, Parramatta and Constitution Hill. US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will meet with the delegation of the conflicting parties a bid to accelerate the peace process, the State Department said in a statement on Monday WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 04th January, 2021) US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad will meet with the delegation of the conflicting parties a bid to accelerate the peace process, the State Department said in a statement on Monday. Khalilzad embarked on Sunday on a diplomatic trip to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Qatar and Turkmenistan. "In Doha he will meet with the two Afghan teams, encourage them and offer US support to accelerate the peace process - an immediate, significant reduction in violence and ceasefire and an agreement on a political roadmap and power-sharing as soon as possible," the State Department said. Qatar is hosting the intra-Afghan peace negotiations that began in September. Both sides have announced that they agreed on the framework of the talks, allowing for discussions on substantive issues to kick off. At the same time, clashes between the government forces and the Taliban opposition movement, as well as bombings, continue in Afghanistan. The relatives of missing servicemen who had launched a sitting strike near the military unit in Etchmiadzin stopped the sitting strike after midnight since none of the commanders of the military unit had met with them. This is what Anahit Adoyan, one of the missing servicemens mothers, told Armenian News-NEWS.am. We came home at around 1 a.m. and have decided to go again. A little while ago, I received a phone call telling me we shouldnt go and wait to see what will happen. Government officials and the representatives of the Ministry of Defense havent given us any response and they dont want to express concern since their children are with them. They could care less about the missing servicemen and their families. Yesterday we held a sitting strike, lit a bonfire and stayed until midnight. Now were ready to take other actions. We want this issue to be solved in a nice way. The government should understand that we are incapable of solving this issue. If the government cant solve the issue, it should tell us, Adoyan said. The relatives of missing servicemen would regularly hold demonstrations in front of military units, the government building and the building of the Ministry of Defense with the demand for the start of search efforts in the territory of Zangelan. According to the relatives, the servicemen got lost in that territory. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave a brief statement Thursday after a mob seized the Capitol and interrupted Congress certifying the next president of the United States. McEnany said they are grieving the loss of life and for those injured. "What we saw yesterday was a group of violent rioters undermining the legitimate First Amendment rights of the many thousands who came to peacefully have their voices heard," she said. "Those who violently besieged our Capitol are the opposite of everything this administration stands for." She said people in the White House are working to ensure an orderly transition of power. Four protesters died including one shot inside the building. "Now it is time for America to unite," McEnany said. The comments came after Facebook, Instagram and Twitter temporarily suspended President Donald Trump's social media accounts. Trump has repeatedly harnessed the power of social media to spread falsehoods about election integrity and the results of the presidential race. Trump and his allies encouraged protesters to turn out in force and support his false claim that the election had been stolen from him. He egged them on during a rally shortly before they marched to the Capitol and rioted. His personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor known for his tough-on-crime stance, called for trial by combat. On Wednesday, social media companies focused on a video Trump posted more than two hours after protesters entered the Capitol, interrupting lawmakers meeting in an extraordinary joint session to confirm the Electoral College results and President-elect Joe Bidens victory. Republican lawmakers and previous administration officials had begged Trump to give a statement to his supporters to quell the violence. While Trump told supporters that "you have to go home now, he also repeated false claims about voter fraud affecting the election. He then added: We cant play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. Youre very special. Despite plenty of warnings of a possible insurrection and ample resources and time to prepare, the Capitol Police planned only for a free speech demonstration. But officials also were intent on avoiding any appearance that the federal government was deploying active duty or National Guard troops against Americans. The result is the U.S. Capitol was overrun Wednesday and officers in a law enforcement agency with a large operating budget and experience in high-security events protecting lawmakers were overwhelmed for the world to see. The rioting and loss of control by has raised serious questions over security at the Capitol for future events. The actions of the day also raise troubling concerns about the treatment of mainly white Trump supporters who were allowed to roam through the building for hours, while Black and brown protesters who demonstrated last year over police brutality were faced more robust and aggressive policing. This was a failure of imagination, a failure of leadership, said Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, whose department responded to several large protests last year following the death of George Floyd. The Capitol Police must do better and I dont see how we can get around that. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said that as the rioting was underway, it became clear that the Capitol Police were overrun. There was no contingency planning done in advance for what forces could do in case of a problem at the Capitol. Theyve got to ask us, the request has to come to us, said McCarthy. It took four hours to disperse the protesters from the Capitol complex. By then, they had roamed the halls of Congress, posed for photos inside hallowed chambers, broken through doors, destroyed property and taken photos of themselves doing it. Only 13 were arrested at the time, scores were arrested later. In the aftermath, a 7-foot fence will go up around the Capitol grounds for at least 30 days. The Capitol Police will conduct a review of the carnage, as well as their planning and policies. Lawmakers plan to investigate how authorities handled the rioting. McEnany said Trumps administration found the siege of the Capitol to be appalling, reprehensible and antithetical to the American way. Members of the Worcester School Committee on Thursday night voted to delay the start of hybrid education as cases of COVID-19 continue to surge in Massachusetts. Students with the highest level of needs and Chapter 74 students were scheduled to go back to class on Jan. 25. The committee voted to delay students return until a date to be determined at the recommendation of Superintendent Maureen Binienda. Binienda said the decision came after conversations with Worcester health officials and members of the committee. She said the district wants more information about the current spike in coronavirus cases before welcoming students back to classrooms. Additionally, Binienda said that the availability of the coronavirus vaccine for members of the K-12 community was another important consideration in the decision. Mayor Joseph Petty, the chair of the committee, said the decision was not made lightly. Binienda read a letter from Worcester Medical Director Michael Hirsh, who indicated that the city is seeing close to 200 new COVID cases per day. These numbers are quite daunting, Hirsh wrote. It means that our adults caring for children at school would be a great risk for bringing the virus to school. It also means that children (although we know they dont necessarily get sick from the virus) can transmit the virus from their families at home. A letter from Worcester Medical Director Michael Hirsh to Worcester Public Schools Superintendent Maureen Binienda. Roger Nugent, the head of the Educational Association of Worcester, said returning to class buildings during a surge was among the chief concerns of educators. Committee member Tracy OConnell Novick noted that the district has to consider the health of its employees, as well as the health institutions in the city. The Worcester DCU Center is hosting a field hospital run by UMass Memorial Health Care. The field hospital has treated 275 patients since reopening at the beginning of December, officials said. Committee member Jack Foley said the given the rising number of cases, and the availability of the vaccine on the horizon, it was time to stay cautious. Worcester schools have been remote since the start of this school year, and since, all schools went online last spring as the virus emerged. Initially, students with high needs were slated to return to class in November, a date that was pushed back because of rising cases. Previously, Worcester officials planned for other Pre-K-12 students who do not have high needs to return to class in March. Now remote education will continue. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education last month voted to amend regulations for student learning time. Districts must be in compliance by Jan. 19 or receive a waiver from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Remote districts like Worcester must offer 40 hours of synchronous instruction over a two-week period and daily synchronous instruction. Hybrid districts must offer 35 hours of live instruction over a two-week period and a required daily live check-in. Live instruction includes in-person learning and remote synchronous teaching. Related Content: The Rev. Michael Pfleger, an influential Catholic priest with an activist streak, has stepped aside from his parish on Chicagos South Side while the authorities and the Archdiocese of Chicago investigate an allegation that he sexually abused a minor more than 40 years ago. Cardinal Blase J. Cupich, the archbishop of Chicago, told the parishioners of St. Sabina Church, where Father Pfleger is the senior pastor, about the allegation in a letter on Tuesday, saying that the archdioceses Office for Child Abuse Investigations and Review had been notified about it the day before. The archdiocese, he said, reported it to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services and the Cook County States Attorneys Office. The archdiocese did not disclose details of the accusation against Father Pfleger, nor did the states attorneys office, which said it had referred the matter to the Chicago Police Department. The Police Department said it had opened an investigation but declined to release additional information. If people who live or work in New Jersey are still leery about getting the COVID-19 vaccine, Gov. Phil Murphy reminded them Thursday that it wont cost them any money, even if they dont have insurance. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention negotiated a deal with vaccine providers that they would have to accept whatever insurance covered as payment, Murphy said. And people without insurance would not be charged at all, the governors statement said. As we continue to roll out our robust statewide vaccination program, we want to make it clear to New Jerseyans that no one will have to pay for the vaccine itself, regardless of whether or not they have health insurance coverage, Murphy said in a statement Thursday. We strongly encourage everyone to join hundreds of thousands of their fellow New Jerseyans in pre-registering to receive the vaccine and taking another step toward ending this pandemic. Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride said her office has issued guidance reminding insurance companies of this requirement as the state works to protect the health and safety of our residents in response to the global pandemic. The first-phase priority groups who are designated to receive the vaccine includes medical professionals, nursing home employees and residents, corrections officers and prisoners and first responders, like police officers and emergency management technicians. Since Dec. 15, nearly 138,000 shots had been administered. About 450,000 people signed up on the first day of a new state website that pre-registers members of the public for vaccine when their priority group is called, Murphy has said. The Murphy administration has set a goal of vaccinating 4.7 million or 70% of the state population within six months. But some people, including hospital workers, expressed fears early on the vaccine may not be safe because of the speed in which it was approved. State and federal public health professionals have stressed that no corners were cut during the trials and the vaccines received the same level of scrutiny and testing as any previous vaccine. There is evidence that the public opposition is starting to wane, Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said Monday. A poll taken in late-December found 53% of New Jerseyans would definitely get the vaccine, compared to 44% in and again in mid-December. Ed Lifshitz, director of the state Communicable Disease Service, said the chance of someone being harmed by the vaccine is far outweighed by the threat of the coronavirus. Let me put it relatively simply, Lifshitz, a physician, said during the Monday coronavirus briefing with the governor. In New Jersey, weve had about half a million cases of COVID with almost 20,000 deaths. In the United States, weve given almost 10 times that number of doses or over 4 million doses with zero deaths from the vaccine. I certainly would take my odds with the vaccine over the virus any day of the week. The pre-registration website is located at covid19.nj.gov/vaccine. CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Badger Meter, Inc. (BMI) said Friday it has acquired Analytical Technology, Inc. or ATi, a privately held provider of water quality monitoring systems, for $44 million. The company funded the acquisition with its available cash. Collegeville, Pennsylvania-based ATi specializes in the manufacture and distribution of water quality instruments based on electrochemical and optical sensors. The company's technology is also used to detect toxic gasses used in water treatment and other applications. ATi solutions are deployed predominately in the U.S. and Europe. The company generated 2020 revenue of about $22 million. 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. Sharon Garza, 80, has holed up with her 77-year-old husband for months in their home on the southern edge of Bexar County, wishing and waiting for the vaccine that might help them at least be able to get out of the house. She hasnt seen her children or grandchildren in over a year. Two more great-grandchildren were born last year, but she hasnt had the chance to meet them. So when she found out the state was allowing people 65 and older to get the COVID-19 vaccine, Garza was elated. Ive managed to keep myself occupied so I dont get into a depression or anything, but it would just be wonderful to see my babies, said Garza. I talk to my 3-year-old great-grandson and he knows my name is Memaw but he doesnt know me. Garzas excitement quickly turned to frustration when she began trying to get vaccinated. She called her doctor, CVS Pharmacy and H-E-B. None of them had a shot to give her. Shed read that some people had waited in line for hours to get immunized at one San Antonio hospital, but she cant stay on her feet for more than 30 minutes at a time. Billy Calzada, Staff / Billy Calzada I have congestive heart failure. Im 80 years old. And I need to get the vaccination, Garza said. I was just frustrated thinking, I dont have any idea how to get this accomplished. Vaccines are considered the best weapon in the battle against a disease that has killed nearly 370,000 people in the U.S. and 1.9 million worldwide. But less than a month into the COVID-19 vaccine distribution, Texans are already experiencing frustration and confusion as they scramble to secure shots. The state began shipping COVID-19 vaccines to health systems shortly after the federal government approved the first shot on Dec. 11, reserving the first doses for front-line health care workers and nursing homes residents. But two weeks into the distribution, state officials accused those providers of not administering them quickly enough and opened up availability to the next tier of recipients: anyone 65 and older or with a pre-existing condition. Billy Calzada, Staff / Billy Calzada An estimated 60 percent of Bexar Countys 2 million residents were suddenly eligible. When University Health, one of the few providers to offer public appointments, opened slots on its website New Years Eve, all 17,280 slots on its website filled in less than five hours. The same thing happened Saturday when the city opened up slots at its new mass vaccination site at the Alamodome all 9,000 appointments were claimed six minutes after registration opened. Patients have jammed health provider phone lines and arrived in the predawn hours for vaccination events, waiting hours in hopes of scoring a shot. Others, like Garza who is among tens of thousands of Bexar County residents without a computer are beginning to fear she might miss out. I dont do the internet, said Garza. I dont even have a computer well I guess I have one on my phone, but I dont know how to use it... Its just very frustrating. Billy Calzada, Staff / Billy Calzada The mad dash to track down vaccines has grown even more frantic as the city braces for a virus surge worse than ever before. Hospitals are preparing to stand-up makeshift intensive care units and ration medical care to accommodate hundreds of COVID-19 patients projected to flood area hospitals in the next few weeks. San Antonios mass vaccination providers University Health is providing vaccinations at the Wonderland of the Americas mall. Appointments weren't available as of Saturday, but once it receives more vaccine, people will be able to sign up on this website: universityhealthsystem.com/coronavirus-covid19/vaccine. The city of San Antonio is running the mass vaccination site at the Alamodome. Appointments filled Saturday, but the city will notify the public once more doses are available. The phone number for registration is 311; select option 8. The website is COVID19.SanAntonio.gov/vaccine. WellMed is providing vaccinations at two locations - the Elvira Cisneros Senior Community Center and Alicia Trevino Lopez Senior Center. Appointments opened Saturday and can be made for either location by calling 833-968-1745. See More Collapse And at the same time, medical professionals fear a new variant of the coronavirus could already be spreading in Texas, one thats more contagious than the last. Were just not going to be able to get (the vaccine) into enough arms to make a difference for this current surge, said Dr. Robert Leverence, the chief medical officer for UT Health San Antonio, the citys largest medical school. Theres just no humanly possible way that we can get it to the 2.3 million people in the San Antonio area theres just no way, no how. Marred with delays The nations most ambitious mass vaccination campaign in recent history has been marred with delays, which have been attributed to the federal governments failure to secure enough vaccine supplies and create a nationwide distribution plan. Instead, the burden fell on underfunded health departments and hospital systems already strained by the pandemic. President Donald Trumps administration set a goal to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of December. But a week into the new year, fewer than 6 million people across the United States had received the first of two doses needed for full protection, according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control data. In Bexar County, that figure on Friday afternoon was at about 45,000 about 2 percent of the population, according to state data. Only 1,173 people had received both doses of the vaccine, which depending on the brand, must be administered three or four weeks apart. Leverence said the frustration that many health providers and patients are facing mirrors the situation that unfolded earlier this year when personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves were in short supply. PPE was an enormous issue. It was an enormous anxiety for the health care workers because we felt that at times we werent getting protected, Leverence said. The problem was we didnt have established supply lines; we did not have established protocols. It probably took two or three months, which seemed like an eternity in the middle of a crisis, but after two or three months, most health systems got it down, he continued. Now you rarely hear of PPE being an issue, even though the crisis now is far worse than it was last spring. In an effort to streamline vaccinations, the state on Thursday announced it would create mass vaccination hubs rather than sending smaller shipments of vaccines to hundreds of providers. Three providers will run sites in San Antonio starting Monday. In addition to University Healths existing site at the Wonderland of the Americas mall, the city will launch its site at Alamodome, and WellMed will provide vaccinations at two locations: the Elvira Cisneros Senior Community Center and Alicia Trevino Lopez Senior Center. The three providers each will be able to administer about 1,500 doses per day. But thats only if everything goes according to plan, said Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger, San Antonios coronavirus czar, which doesnt happen very often with COVID. Immunization availability depends on a steady and predictable supply shipments, which have been spotty so far. Bexar County so far has received just 70,000 doses of an expected initial allotment of 90,000, Bridger said. She was told that the state would be sending about 25,000 doses to Bexar County on a weekly basis going forward, but by Thursday, that number dropped to 19,725. When the citys online registration for vaccinations at the Alamodome opened at 9 a.m. Saturday morning, 11,000 people flooded the website in hopes of securing 9,000 available slots illustrating the desperation felt by thousands of San Antonians. The city will offer more appointments once it receives more vaccines. The registration system worked as designed, Bridger said. But there is far greater demand than available supply at this time. The states sudden decision to open vaccinations to anyone in its second tier of recipients even as providers still are trying to vaccinate all of the countys front-line workers has only added to the scarcity, she said. At that rate, it could take many months to vaccinate even those in the states second tier, which make up about 60 percent of Bexar Countys population. It could be months before the vaccine is available to the general public. I think the biggest frustration is, there are 70,000 doses for over 1 million people, Bridger said. No way you slice that does that work. Because the only two vaccines approved so far require two doses, the process could be even more slow-going. If the federal government doesnt ramp up distribution, health providers may be forced to dedicate one month to vaccinating new recipients and the next month to administering the second dose, rather than taking on more people. Bridger placed the onus for the lag in vaccinations squarely on Operation Warp Speed, the federal governments public-private effort to speed the development and distribution of the vaccines. The state, she said, is dependent on allocations from the federal government. Theres just not enough vaccine, she said. A lot of providers who asked for it didnt get it. Those who did get it, like the H-E-B pharmacies, got 100 doses each, which is hard to administer. So the amount of vaccine available right now is the biggest challenge. But there is absolutely no doubt in my mind that we will eventually have enough vaccine for everybody. Almost like a lottery Eventually wasnt good enough for Sharon Baughman, 69, who tried and failed for days to schedule appointments for herself, her 67-year-old husband and her 95-year-old father. We had been checking every single day for hours, all the various providers, checking their websites, making phone calls, getting put on hold for 30 minutes at a time, only to be told no, they dont have any appointments, Baughman said. Her attempts to schedule appointments online didnt go any more smoothly. These systems are crashing, she said. You try to click and it doesnt click. Its not a link. It just led you to believe you might be able to schedule in 3 weeks, 4 weeks from now, but no, youre just left hanging. Its just ridiculous. Baughman echoed Bridgers assessment that the states sudden expansion of eligible recipients before obtaining more vaccine supply has caused much of the frustration. A haphazard distribution at Christus Santa Rosa hospital, where some were able to receive shots without making an appointment, infuriated her. Santa Rosa, excuse me, they let people walk up without telling anyone they were doing it, so guess who those people were, they must have been friends or relatives of people who work at Santa Rosa, she fumed. Its just patently wrong. Even as some in the second tier of recipients have managed to get shots, some health care providers in San Antonio still are waiting. Dr. Charles Bigler, an obstetrician-gynecologist, said he and most of his staff remained on a waiting list at an H-E-B pharmacy. Its almost like a lottery system, said Bigler, 70. The vaccines that are out there are being distributed to a wide swath of clinics that are vaccinating this 60 percent of people in the county. He added, In our practice, we do deal with a lot of pregnant women. So were dealing with people who are high risk in and of themselves. We certainly dont want to take any chances there. Like Baughman, Bigler was discouraged by the word-of-mouth vaccinations at Christus Santa Rosa that drew people in the second tier. By the time you hear about it, its over, he said. I think our biggest concern is getting our staff vaccinated. Its frustrating for them, and now its even more frustrating because there are so many people competing for a limited number of doses. Loading marina.riker@express-news.net bchasnoff@express-news.net Authorities were due to resume the process for sealing a building in Chennai on Friday as the Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamath (TNTJ) has been using for its activities even as it was meant to run a lungi unit. They had taken police protection to seal the building on Wednesday but the operation was suspended after TNTJ protested saying it was not served any notice. TNTJ, an Islamic organisation founded in 2004, said they have been paying Rs4 lakh rent annually for 12 years to the government-appointed custodian of the property. The Custodian of Enemy Property for India (CEPI), which is empowered to appropriate properties of Pakistani nationals in India, took over the building after its owner, Tuba Khaleeli, settled in Pakistan in the 1960s. Also Read: Wilson murder case: NIA arrests accused man from Chennai airport I Ansari, the groups state secretary, said TNTJs former general sectary R Rehamatullah runs a wholesale lungi business from the building. ...social welfare activities of TNTJ have also been on-going for 12 years. All the rental bills are in his name and we have been ready to purchase this after the 2017 amendment (to the Enemy Property Act, 1968). So how can they suddenly come to seal the building with no notice or prior information? We are readying our legal recourse. A CEPI official said issuing notices is not part of their procedures. They [TNTJ] asked for two days... we agreed and that will serve as the notice period. Following that we will seal the building because they have violated the rules. The Centre in January last year formed a panel to monitor the sale of enemy properties. People from the Shiite Hazara community chant slogans during a sit-in to protest against the killing of coal mine workers (Arshad Butt/AP) Pakistans prime minister appealed to the protesting minority Shiites not to link the burial of 11 coal miners from the Hazara community who were killed by the so-called Islamic State group to his visit to the mourners, saying such a demand amounted to blackmailing the countrys premier. Hundreds of mourners, who despite harsh cold weather have been rallying in Quetta at the miners coffins, want prime minister Imran Khan to personally visit them to assure their protection. They have vowed they were ready to continue their protest for 100 days if Mr Khan does not accept their key demand. No premier of any country should be blackmailed like this, Mr Khan said from Islamabad in televised remarks. I want to reassure the Hazara families who lost their loved ones in a brutal terrorist attack in Machh that I am cogniscant of their suffering & their demands. We are taking steps to prevent such attacks in the future & know our neighbour is instigating this sectarian terrorism. Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 6, 2021 I share your pain & have come to you before also to stand with you in your time of suffering. I will come again very soon to offer prayers and condole with all the families personally. I will never betray my people's trust. Please bury your loved ones so their souls find peace. Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) January 6, 2021 Under Islamic tradition, burials take place as quickly as possible after death. But Shiites from the Hazara community for the straight sixth day continued their sit-in, refusing to bury the miners who were killed on Sunday after being abducted near the Machh coal field, 30 miles east of Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan. Mr Khan, speaking from Islamabad in televised remarks, said his government had accepted all of the demands of mourners, except that the dead would be buried when he personally visits them to assure their protection. He said he could travel to Quetta on Friday to meet with the relatives of miners if they bury the miners first. Shiites rejected Mr Khans offer, saying their protest will continue. Expand Close A vigil in Islamabad for peace following the murders of miners (Anjum Naveed/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A vigil in Islamabad for peace following the murders of miners (Anjum Naveed/AP) More than 2,000 residents and relatives began their protest after IS militants abducted and then shot and killed the miners in Baluchistan province. Police video of the bodies revealed the miners were blindfolded and had their hands tied behind their backs before being shot. The Sunni IS affiliate claimed responsibility and since then authorities have been raiding militant hideouts to trace and arrest those who orchestrated the killing of miners, although Mr Khan insists Pakistans neighbour India was behind the violence in Baluchistan. Mr Khan has not shared any evidence to back up his claim. Manitoba First Nations communities with personal care homes are first in line to receive their share of COVID-19 vaccines. Manitoba First Nations communities with personal care homes are first in line to receive their share of COVID-19 vaccines. On Thursday, doses of the Moderna vaccine were scheduled to be delivered to four Manitoba First Nations: Peguis, Pimicikamak (Cross Lake), Norway House and Fisher River. The Southern Chiefs' Organization and the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs confirmed those communities, which are all accessible by road, will be first among 63 Indigenous communities to receive the vaccine. They are some of the largest Indigenous communities with some of the lowest overall COVID-19 case counts. Cross Lake Coun. Mervin Garrick receives the first dose of the vaccine at the nursing station by Nurse Brenda Frogge on Thursday evening as Chief David Monias, Vice-Chief Ivan Monias and Coun. Donnie Mckay watch. (Facebook photo) After more than a week in storage in Winnipeg, 5,300 doses that were earmarked for First Nations were expected to be sent out Thursday afternoon, after Indigenous representatives hammered out a distribution plan with the province's vaccine task force. Another 5,300 doses are expected by Feb. 23. Plans are in the works for the next round of shipments to be sent to communities that also have personal care homes including Nisichawayasihk, Opaskwayak, Sagkeeng, Sioux Valley and Bunibonibee, according to a statement from the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs issued Thursday evening. Many rollout details were still unclear, with several chiefs telling the Free Press they weren't told how many doses they'd receive or exactly when they'd arrive. In Pimicikamak, Chief David Monias issued a statement to say 199 doses were on their way to the community about 770 kilometres north of Winnipeg, and would be first offered to personal care home residents, elders over 70 and elder care home staff. As of Wednesday, there were 29 active cases in Pimicikamak. The first shipments of the Moderna vaccine have started being distributed to First Nations in Manitoba today. Here is a first look at the process: pic.twitter.com/2KieakKSZZ MKO: Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak (@MKO_North) January 7, 2021 In neighbouring Norway House, Chief Larson Anderson said he was breathing a sigh of relief Thursday. His and many other First Nations imposed strict lockdown and isolation restrictions early on in the pandemic, knowing their overcrowded housing conditions could cause rapid spread of the virus. "We've fought really hard to keep our numbers down, so now that we have a bit of a light at the end of the tunnel, we're a little bit less stressed," said Anderson, who likened leading a First Nations community during a pandemic to sailing a leaky boat in a hurricane. The community of about 7,000 has seen 47 cases of COVID-19. "We haven't had a very bad outbreak, and so if we don't get vaccinations, our luck might run out." In Fisher River, one person has died of the virus and there were eight active cases as of Wednesday, according to a notice posted on the band's website. Chief David Crate couldn't be reached for comment Thursday. Peguis, the largest First Nation in the province, marked 20 days without a single case of COVID-19 Thursday. Chief Glenn Hudson said the community's protocol's have "worked well" to stop the spread of the virus while still relaxing restrictions over Christmas to allow for some family gatherings. Of Peguis's 4,800 residents, about 365 are over the age of 60, and Hudson said that aging population likely played a role in bumping his community to the front of the line. But he said he couldn't comment on the criteria used to decide which communities would receive the first doses, nor did he know how many doses his community would receive. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES "Our protocols that we established are far over and above the province's protocols," Peguis First Nation Chief Glenn Hudson said. "Our protocols that we established are far over and above the province's protocols," Hudson said. "We've managed our pandemic plans very well, and I'm sure our vaccination plans will follow and be one of the best in Manitoba, if not the best." In Shamattawa, one of northern Manitoba's most isolated, fly-in communities, about 40 per cent of its 1,000 residents have already contracted the virus, and there's been no word yet on when vaccines are headed there. "They need to be on a plane, like, yesterday," Chief Eric Redhead said Thursday, adding he hadn't received any confirmation about when to expect vaccine shipments. The military had to be called in to Shamattawa last month to help with the pandemic response. Active cases were at 23 as of Thursday, an increase since earlier this week. Redhead expressed frustration with the vaccine rollout. "I'm very disappointed," he said. "Isolation and overcrowding are major factors in the vast spread of this virus, so you need to prioritize those communities where the risk is the greatest." with files from Dylan Robertson katie.may@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @thatkatiemay Advertisement Hunter Biden was spotted on a family outing, toting his baby son around on his hip with two of his daughters in tow, hours after dad Joe's victory was finally certified, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show. The 50-year-old was also accompanied by his South African wife Melissa Cohen, 34. Secret Service agents escorted the family as they grabbed some coffee in Los Angeles hours after Congress certified the vote for Joe Biden in the wee hours of Thursday morning. The father-of-five, who shares three daughters with his first wife Kathleen and a toddler daughter with his baby mama Lunden Roberts, was seen holding his nine-month old son Beau - named after Hunter's late older brother. Hunter's daughters Maisy and Finnegan also tagged along for the trip. His eldest daughter Naomi wasn't seen on the outing. The sighting came a day after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, halting the electoral college vote, with lawmakers being put into lockdown as rioters trashed the building and ransacked offices, including Nancy Pelosi's. The businessman hasn't been seen in public since November, as last month Hunter confirmed that the U.S. Attorney's Office in Delaware was investigating his tax affairs. Hunter Biden was spotted on a family outing, toting his baby son around on his hip with two of his daughters in tow, hours after dad Joe's victory was finally certified, exclusive DailyMail.com photos show The 50-year-old was joined by his South African wife Melissa Cohen, as Secret Service agents escorted the family as they grabbed some coffee in Los Angeles hours after the electoral college vote was certified for Joe Biden around 3am on Thursday morning Hunter's daughters Maisy (pictured together) and Finnegan also tagged along for the trip The father-of-five, who also shares three daughters with his first wife Kathleen and a toddler daughter with his stripper baby mama Lunden Roberts, was seen pushing in a stroller his nine-month old son Beau - named after Hunter's late older brother The last time Hunter was seen out in public was in early November when Biden announced to the world that he had won the 2020 presidential election, inviting his family on stage with him and giving his grandson Beau a kiss on the head In late December, it was reported The Department of Justice was 'in ongoing discussions' over whether to appoint a special counsel to oversee the probe.. Officials there argue the move is 'warranted', Fox News reported, despite the objections of outgoing Attorney General Bill Barr. On Thursday, Hunter sported a US Coast Guard cap. He received an admission discharge from the Navy Reserve in February 2014 after testing positive for cocaine. The last time Hunter was seen out in public was in early November when Biden announced to the world that he had won the 2020 presidential election, inviting his family on stage with him and giving his grandson Beau a kiss on the head. Hunter brought his son and three daughters up on stage - but missing was his two-year-old daughter that he fathered with Roberts then shamefully denied was his. Hunter's cameo caused surprise because he had not been seen in public for months amid a frenzy of speculation over his foreign business dealings and their possible ramifications for the Biden campaign. In the weeks prior to Hunter's appearance, Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's lawyer, allegedly obtained Hunter's old laptop after it was reportedly left at a Delaware repair shop and never collected. On Thursday, Hunter sported a US Coast Guard cap. He received an admission discharge from the Navy Reserve in February 2014 after testing positive for cocaine The businessman hasn't been seen in public in months, as last month Hunter confirmed the U.S. Attorneys Office in Delaware was investigating his tax affairs The sighting came a day after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, halting the electoral college vote, with lawmakers being put into lockdown as rioters trashed the building and ransacked offices, including Nancy Pelosi's Hunter's cameo caused surprise because he had not been seen in public for months amid a frenzy of speculation over his foreign business dealings and their possible ramifications for the Biden campaign The father-of-five, who also shares three daughters with his first wife Kathleen and a toddler daughter with his stripper baby mama Lunden Roberts, was seen holding his 10-month old son Beau - named after Hunter's late older brother The computer, which lacked basic security measures, allegedly contained the personal numbers of senior political figures plus compromising photos that appeared to be of Hunter receiving a sex act and smoking what appeared to be a crack pipe. Last month, it was reported Hunter was finally in the process of divesting the 10% he owns in a Chinese investment fund. A person familiar with the situation told DailyMail.com that Hunter would offload his stake in Bohai Harvest RST, which The Wall Street Journal reported he still owned earlier this week. President-elect Joe Biden again promised in an interview in December that his son would not be involved in any business dealings that could present a conflict of interest. 'My son, my family will not be involved in any business, any enterprise, that is in conflict with or appears to be a conflict, with the appropriate distance from, the presidency and the government,' the president-elect vowed during a CNN sit-down. The Journal had reported that a Delaware-registered corporation called Skaneateles LLC, which is controlled by Hunter Biden, still owned a 10% stake in BHR. The newspaper said it would be possible for Hunter Biden to sell his stake in BHR, but it would be complicated because the firm owns a number of unlisted assets and thus the value would be hard to ascertain. Hunter Biden pledged in October 2019 that he wouldn't serve on any foreign boards if his father won the 2020 presidential election. The statement stopped short on pledging full divestment from foreign entities. In the weeks prior to Hunter's appearance, Rudy Giuliani, President Trump's lawyer, allegedly obtained Hunter's old laptop after it was reportedly left at a Delaware repair shop and never collected The computer, which lacked basic security measures, allegedly contained the personal numbers of senior political figures plus compromising photos that appeared to be of Hunter receiving a sex act and smoking what appeared to be a crack pipe Lunden Roberts (pictured) and Hunter had a brief fling in late 2017 after reportedly meeting up at the Mpire Club, a strip joint in Washington, D.C. where Lunden worked The sighting came a day after Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, halting the electoral college vote, with lawmakers being put into lockdown as rioters trashed the building and ransacked offices, including Nancy Pelosi's But he did resign from the BHR board at that time. Hunter Biden made the promise in the run-up to President Donald Trump's impeachment over a scheme to have the Ukrainian president announce an investigation into Hunter and Joe Biden, while the Trump administration held up $400 million in Congressionally approved military aid. Hunter Biden's business dealings in Ukraine, where he sat on the board of energy company Burisma, and also China had opened up his father to political attacks. An investigation by the Republican-led Senate found no evidence that Joe Biden had influenced U.S. foreign policy to benefit his son. But the December 9 announcement from Hunter Biden that he was under investigation by the federal government over his taxes put renewed attention on his foreign deals. When BHR was formed in 2013, Hunter Biden joined as an unpaid director. BHR was funded by the Bank of China, a state-owned entity, as well as other Chinese government financial firms. In October 2017, after his father left office, Hunter Biden became a shareholder in BHR, according to regulatory filings in China that the Journal found. A statement from Hunter Biden's lawyer last year to the newspapers said that he 'has not received any return on his investment' in BHR. Nairobi, January 7, 2021 Ugandan security forces should stop harassing and attacking journalists, and should ensure that the press can freely cover the countrys upcoming elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since December 11, security officers have assaulted at least 10 journalists covering opposition events ahead of the countrys January 14 presidential election, and briefly detained at least two members of the press and questioned them about their work, according to media reports and journalists who spoke with CPJ. The unabated violence and hostility against journalists ahead of Ugandas general election is shocking. Reporting on the opposition has become an unacceptably dangerous job, said CPJ Sub-Saharan Africa Representative Muthoki Mumo. Authorities must thoroughly investigate these attacks; it is past time for the Ugandan government to move beyond empty words and to take urgent and decisive action. On December 11, in the northern district of Lira, security personnel used batons and the butts of their guns to assault a group of at least six journalists covering the campaign of opposition presidential candidate Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, according to media reports, a statement by the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda, a local press rights group, and four of the journalists, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Police assaulted Busoga One FM reporter Moses Waiswa, BBS Terefayina reporter and anchor Ssesanga Batte, NTV Uganda reporter and camera operator John Cliff Wamala, Bukedde TV reporter David Tamale, Atusingwize Jonan, a reporter with the Pearl of Africa radio station and the online outlet Ghetto Media, and Ronald Mugyenyi, a reporter and cameraperson, also with Ghetto Media, which supports Bobi Wine, according to those sources. Waiswa told CPJ that he suffered cuts on his head, and that he ran and hid in a swamp for about an hour to avoid further assault. He said he was hospitalized for two days and continues to suffer headaches. Atusingwize told CPJ that he suffered pains to his back and stomach, and Mugyenyi said that the officers fractured one of his hands. Ssesanga told CPJ that the officers beat him despite protests that he was a journalist, leaving him with a wound on his head. Tamale and Wamala did not immediately respond to CPJs messages requesting interviews. On December 27, police in Ugandas central district of Masaka fired projectiles that injured at least three journalists covering Bobi Wines campaign, according to media reports and journalists who spoke to CPJ. A police officer fired a projectile that hit Kasirye Saif-Ilah Ashraf, a reporter for Ghetto Media, in the head, according to Atusingwize, the journalists colleague, and Ali Mivule, a reporter with the privately owned broadcaster NTV Uganda, who witnessed the incident, both of whom spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Media footage of the incident shows Kasirye bleeding from his head, and Atusingwize told CPJ that a doctor at a Kampala hospital said the journalists skull was cracked. In a December 27 statement, police spokesperson Fred Enanga alleged that Kasirye was hit by a teargas canister. Atusingwize told CPJ, citing medical reports, that he believed Kasirye was hit with a rubber bullet. As of yesterday, Kasirye remained in the hospital and was unable to speak, Atusingwize said. Kasirye was previously hospitalized for several days in December, after police held his mouth open and pepper sprayed him, as CPJ documented at the time. At the same event on December 27, the officer who fired the projectile that hit Kasirye also fired a teargas canister at Mivule, hitting him on his thigh and causing painful swelling, according to the journalist and news reports. Mivule said that the officer spoke to him and said he was collateral damage. Mivule and Daniel Lutaaya, a reporter with the privately owned broadcaster NBS TV, who witnessed the attacks on Kasirye and Mivule, both told CPJ that they saw the officers name tag on his uniform and identified him as Greater Masaka Regional Police Commander Enoch Abaine. Lutaaya was also injured on December 27, he told CPJ, saying that police fired projectiles near a bodaboda motorbike taxi he was riding, causing it to crash into several other vehicles. Lutaaya, who was wearing a press jacket at the time, said that he could not immediately identify the projectiles, but that he saw teargas cannisters on the ground following the accident. He said that he suffered an injury on his left heel and was hospitalized for five days, and had not resumed work as of today. When CPJ called Abaine for comment, he claimed that no journalist had been intentionally targeted during the December 27 incident in Masaka, and said that reports of his involvement in attacks on journalists were political blackmail and fake news. He said that authorities are investigating allegations that journalists had been injured at the event. On December 30, in Kalangala, central Uganda, security personnel briefly detained two reporters, Derrick Wandera of the privately owned newspaper Daily Monitor and Culton Scovia Nakamya of the broadcaster BBS Terefayina, while they were covering security personnel arresting Bobi Wine, according to the journalists, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and media reports. Nakamya told CPJ that five soldiers and police officers questioned her about her social media posts and accused her of inciting violence in her coverage of Bobi Wines arrest. She responded that she was doing her job, and they released her without charge after about five minutes, she said. Police held Wandera in an open field at the scene of his arrest and questioned him about his live reporting and past coverage, accusing him of negatively profiling security personnel including in a November 10 article about a police officer who allegedly harassed Bobi Wine, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Wandera said the officers then forced him into a patrol car and drove him to the local Kalangala police station, where he was held for several hours before being released without charge. On January 1, in the northern Nebbi district, a man confronted ChimpReports news website reporter and photographer Dedan Kimathi, who was on the campaign trail of opposition presidential candidate Patrick Amuriat, and tried to take his camera from him, according to a report by ChimpReports and Kimathi, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. As he struggled on the ground with his assailant, police officers and soldiers surrounded Kimathi, punched him, beat him with batons, and tried to take away his camera, Kimathi told CPJ. He said the officers broke his camera in the process, and after the scuffle forced him to delete photos that he had taken. Kimathi said he suffered a cut below his left eye and had chest pains as a result of the attack. In a statement on December 27, Enanga said that journalists were regrettably caught up in a confrontation with supporters of Bobi Wine in Masaka, and said that the police Media Crimes Unit had opened investigations into the incident. He said that police pledge better protection cover to journalists covering campaigns. CPJ called, texted, and messaged Enaga for comment, but he did not respond. When CPJ called military spokesperson Brigadier General Flavia Byekwaso, she requested questions to be sent via messaging app. CPJ then sent questions, but she did not respond. CPJ had previously documented physical attacks on journalists covering Ugandas upcoming presidential elections, as well as the use of stringent accreditation rules to restrict election coverage. Loading the player... Private sector willing to support govt in coronavirus vaccine roll-out, says FICCI The private sector is willing to support and augment government's capacity across the value chain of COVID-19 vaccine distribution and administration, industry body FICCI on Thursday said. The FICCI-EY paper, that was developed in consultation with various stakeholders states that India would need 1.3-1.4 lakh vaccination centres, 1 lakh healthcare professionals and 2.0 lakh support staff/ volunteers to support government's mass-inoculation programme. Tesla CEO Elon Musk beats Amazon's Jeff Bezos to become world's richest person Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is now the richest person in the world, according to latest data on Bloomberg Billionaires Index (BBI), which is a ranking of the world's 500 wealthiest people. Musk's net worth now stands at over $188 billion, one billion dollars more than Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's net worth of $187 billion, thanks to the continued rise in Tesla's stock price. Bezos had been the richest person since 2017. MG Motor launches 'refreshed' Hector SUV at Rs 12.9 lakh; adds 7-seater version Chinese carmaker MG Motor India on Thursday refreshed its five-seater midsize SUV Hector while also adding a seven-seater version of the car. It had launched a six-seater version too last year. MG, which is owned by China's largest carmaker SAIC, had entered the Indian market with a bang in 2019 with the Hector receiving instant success. More than 40,000 units of the car have been sold in India so far. 10% COVID-19 vaccines will be wasted, says Centre; to cost Rs 1,320 crore more At least 10 per cent of Covid-19 vaccines procured by the Centre may face "programmatic wastage", according to the vaccination plan guidelines released by the Ministry of Health and Family Affairs Ministry. This means nearly 10 in every 100 vaccines the Centre will buy from approved vaccine makers such as Serum Institute & Bharat Biotech may suffer damage in different phases of vaccine management. Also, the Centre will have to order 110 vaccines to vaccinate 50 people, considering a two-dose regime and 10 per cent "wastage". 'More resilient, reinvented, reconstructed than ever': Rishad Premji thanks Wipro employees in letter Rishad Premji, Chairman of Wipro, has written a letter to his employees thanking them for their contribution and dedication towards the company. He said that they are more resilient, reinvented and reconstructed than ever at the start of this new year. Premji said that their actions in 2020 have demonstrated that they are worthy custodians of the company's proud legacy. COVID-19: Centre finalises 41 destinations for vaccine delivery Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said that the COVID-19 vaccines 'Covishield' and 'Covaxin' are on the verge of being rolled out. The Centre has finalised 41 destinations for the delivery of coronavirus vaccines. In the north region, Karnal and the national capital Delhi have been selected as mini-hub for the delivery of vaccines. In the east and northeast region, Kolkata will be the hub for the vaccines' delivery. Whereas, Pune will be the central hub, and Chennai and Hyderabad will be southern India's hub. Advertisement High security measures are going into place at the U.S. Capitol for the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, after a violent siege there raised fears that President Donald Trump's loyalists will attempt another attack. For the next 30 days, 6,200 members of the National Guard from six states will support Capitol Police, and tall 'unscalable' metal fences will remain in place around the Capitol building. Plans for the January 20 inauguration were already scaled back because of the pandemic, but the brazen attack on Wednesday raises new questions about preparedness for the event. Trump said on Friday that he will not attend the January 20 inauguration, after months of disputing the election results, but it remained unclear whether his supporters will follow suit in skipping the event. Fencing is erected outside the US Capitol, in Washington, DC on Thursday. High security measures are going into place for the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden DC National Guard troops stand watch at the U.S. Capitol on Friday in Washington, DC. Fencing was put up around the building the day before, following the storming of the Capitol A crowd control fence around Capitol Hill is reenforced with concrete barriers on Thursday A few groups have submitted requests for protest permits with the National Park Service for the inauguration, including a group called 'Let America Hear Us Roar For Trump' that seeks to 'support our President.' In November, the leader of the the extremist Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, vowed send his members to the inauguration disguised as Biden supporters to sow chaos. But with Tarrio banned from DC for six months as a condition of bail and federal authorities seeking other members in connection with Wednesday's attack, it was unclear if those plans are still on. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office from the Capitol's West Front, one of the locations where a violent mob overpowered police and stormed the building on Wednesday. They also scaled and occupied the scaffolding and bleachers in place for the ceremonies. The congressional leaders responsible for coordinating the inauguration insisted Thursday night that events will move forward. 'Yesterday was a sad and solemn day for our country,' said Sens. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. 'The outrageous attack on the Capitol, however, will not stop us from affirming to Americans - and the world - that our democracy endures.' Slide me Slide to view: The Capitol's West Front, where Biden and Harris will be sworn in, is seen left during Trump's 2017 inauguration and right on Wednesday A Capitol Police officer stands with members of the National Guard behind a crowd control fence surrounding Capitol Hill on Thursday 'The great American tradition of an inaugural ceremony has occurred in times of peace, in times of turmoil, in times of prosperity, and in times of adversity,' they continued. 'We will be swearing in President-elect Biden.' Security forces have already begun taking extra precautions in the wake of Wednesday's mayhem. Roughly 6,200 members of the National Guard from six states - Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland - will help support the Capitol Police and other law enforcement in Washington for the next 30 days. Inauguration Day road closures may be altered. Crews also erected on the Capitol grounds tall, black metal fences designed to be impossible to climb. Similar structures have previously been used around the White House and in other cities that faced prolonged demonstrations. Such barriers would have gone up in anyway in coming days, however, because the inauguration is a National Special Security Event overseen by the Secret Service and scores of other federal agencies, including the Defense Department, which helps lead counterterrorism efforts associated with the event. That's the same level of security provided during political party conventions or when a dignitary lies in state at the Capitol - but not during a normal congressional session like when rioters breached the building. 'The safety and security of all those participating in the 59th Presidential Inauguration is of the utmost importance,' the Secret Service said in a statement Thursday. 'For well over a year, the U.S. Secret Service, along with our NSSE partners, has been working tirelessly to anticipate and prepare for all possible contingencies at every level to ensure a safe and secure Inauguration Day.' Virginia National Guard troops stand watch near the U.S. Capitol on Friday A member of the military stands guard outside Russell Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill Friday in response to supporters of President Donald Trump who stormed the U.S. Capitol Authorities will have the same military and civilian footprint to handle a crowd of more than a million people for an event expected to draw a fraction of that because of restrictions to combat the coronavirus, according to a person familiar with the security planning. Those who have worked on previous inaugurations said that while this year's events will look different, the tradition of passing power from one administration to another will continue. 'Is it as impactful? You dont have a photo of a million people lined up, so you dont have that sort of powerful image. But I think you will still have the feel there,' said Bill Daley a former commerce secretary and White House chief of staff who helped organize President Barack Obamas first inauguration in 2009. 'The aura of change will be there.' Trump hasn't made that easy. He has falsely argued that the election was stolen, a claim that has been rejected by fellow Republicans in critical swing states and his recently departed attorney general. His many legal challenges were roundly dismissed as meritless, including by conservative judges he appointed. A Trump rally in front of the White House on Wednesday helped rile up the mob that later stormed the Capitol. Trump said on Friday that he will not attend his successor's inauguration, writing in a tweet: 'To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th.' The outgoing president has skipped the incoming president's swearing-in only three times in U.S. history, and the last one to do so was Andrew Johnson 152 years ago. Obama, flanked by Joe Biden, is seen at Trump's 2017 inauguration. Trump will not attend Biden's swearing in on January 20, making him the first president in 152 years to skip his successor's inauguration Trump only acknowledged the upcoming transfer of power after the capital was stormed. Vice President Mike Pence plans to attend the ceremony. Former President Jimmy Carter has announced he wouldn't be there, the first inauguration the 96-year-old will miss since he himself was sworn into office in 1977. He has mostly stayed home amid the pandemic. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will be on hand. Inauguration organizers had already urged supporters not to come to Washington in person because of the pandemic. Viewing stands built to hold crowds of onlookers in front of the White House were recently dismantled. There also won't be the traditional inauguration luncheon and the parade will be virtual, similar to what the Democratic Party did during its all-online convention in August. The inaugural committee has announced that Biden would receive an official escort, with representatives from every military branch, for a block before arriving to the White House from the Capitol. The presidential motorcade usually rolls the mile-plus journey with the new president and first lady walking part of the way and thousands of cheering supporters lining the streets. While final details are still being worked out, it's unclear any of that will occur this time. Whatever happens, it'll be a far cry from Obama's 2009 inauguration, when organizers opened the full length of the National Mall - which extends all the way to the Lincoln Memorial - to accommodate massive crowds. Security was a concern then, too, though. Pro-Trump insurgents stormed Capitol Hill on Wednesday in an attack that left nation stunned An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while Trump supporters gather in front of the Capitol on Wednesday WASHINGTON: The DC National Guard keeps order outside the Capitol on Thursday amid a dispute over who had called it up at the height of the insurrection the previous day The night before, Michael Chertoff, President George W. Bush's secretary of homeland security, informed Obamas team of credible intelligence indicating that four still-at-large Somali men who were thought to be coming over the U.S.-Canada border might be planning a terrorist attack on the inauguration ceremony. In his book, 'A Promised Land,' Obama writes that 'to be safe, we ran through various contingencies with Chertoff and his team.' Obama had an adviser 'draft evacuation instructions that I'd give the crowd if an attack took place while I was onstage.' He later noted that he kept those instructions in his breast pocket while giving his speech and that he was 'relieved' that nothing happened and he didn't have to use them. Jim Bendat, an inaugural historian and author of the book, 'Democracys Big Day,' noted that the outgoing and the incoming presidents usually meet at the White House and chat before joining a procession to the Capitol afor the swearing-in ceremonies. Trump has not invited Biden to the White House and will skip the inauguration, which Bendat said amounts to 'an assault on our Democracy' akin to Wednesday's unrest. 'Those are very symbolic moments that really open our eyes,' Bendat said of the two presidents meeting cordially. 'The world watches those moments because it's something that doesn't occur in most countries.' Still, Daley said Biden, who first ran for president in 1988, may be uniquely qualified for an inauguration that's mostly void of traditional pomp and circumstance. 'I think it's less needed for someone who's been around as long as he's been. And his whole thrust has been, `I can hit the ground running because I've been there, I know this stuff,'' Daley said. 'I don't think he needs to stand there on the podium celebrating himself very long.' [January 08, 2021] Equifax Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Kount ATLANTA, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax (NYSE: EFX) a global data, analytics and technology company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Kount, a provider of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-driven fraud prevention and digital identity solutions, for $640 million. As global digital transformation accelerates, driving customer interactions to digital channels in record numbers, businesses require new ways to establish digital identity trust in real time to fight the growing problem of online fraud while reducing customer friction. This acquisition will expand the Equifax worldwide footprint in digital identity and fraud prevention solutions, helping businesses better engage with their customers while combating fraud with the Kount Identity Trust Global Network - the industry's leading risk-based authentication platform. "As digital migration accelerates, managing authentication and online fraud while optimizing the consumer's experience has become one of our customers' top challenges. The acquisition of Kount will expand Equifax's differentiated data assets to bring global businesses the information and solutions they need to establish identity trust online," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. "Equifax is taking advantage of our strong 2020 outperformance and cash generation to make this strategic acquisition. Our data and technology cloud investments allow us to quickly and aggressively integrate new data and analytics assets like Kount into our global capabilities and bring new market leading products and solutions to our customers." The result of a strong patent portfolio , the Kount Identity Trust Global Network uses AI to link trust and fraud data signals from 32 billion digital interactions, 17 billion unique devices, and five billion annual transactions across 200 countries and territories. As more signals are collected and combined with Kount's AI-driven analytic insights, they become more predictive, helping to prevent digital fraud and protect against account takeovers in real time while enablin personalized customer experiences. "Together, Equifax and Kount will leverage a powerful set of differentiated data assets and advanced analytics to deliver a high performance, integrated view of both digitally-native transactions and signals and traditional offline identity fraud risk indicators while maintaining privacy and security at the highest levels," said Sid Singh, President of United States Information Solutions (USIS) at Equifax. "Whether you're a bank, e-commerce provider, or a car dealer, today's environment demands that consumers have the same - if not better- experience on their digital platform as they do on a major e-commerce retailer's site. We are enabling businesses across industries to establish strong digital identity trust behind every interaction while facilitating new forms of online engagement with current and prospective customers." Identity trust determines the level of trust for each identity behind every payment, account creation, and login event. Businesses can determine the level of trust and risk they are comfortable accepting in order to block fraud in real time and to enable personalized customer experiences. Quick and accurate identity trust decisions can deliver safe payments, account creations, and login events, while reducing digital fraud, chargebacks, false positives, and manual reviews. "More than 9,000 brands worldwide rely on the Kount Identity Trust Global Network to protect against digital fraud while enabling personalized customer experiences and new e-commerce channels," said Bradley Wiskirchen, CEO of Kount. "We are excited to be able to offer Kount solutions with an expansive set of Equifax data, analytics and products. Equifax's global reach will accelerate Kount's international adoption, allowing us to help more businesses around the world to better protect their digital innovations and their customers against emerging threats while improving the customer experience." The full suite of Kount products, including: Kount Command for ecommerce fraud prevention with the Ominiscore AI-driven transaction safety rating; Kount Control for account takeover prevention and digital account protection; Kount Data on Demand for advanced analytics and actionable customer insights; and Near Real-Time Chargeback protection are powered by the Identity Trust Global Network and will be integrated into the Equifax Luminate Platform . Luminate is a comprehensive fraud platform that orchestrates multiple solutions with machine learning to provide risk managers with insights to help manage fraud decisions across the consumer account lifecycle. Kount employees will join the Equifax USIS business unit and will continue to be based in Boise, Idaho. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory review, and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2021. ABOUT KOUNT Kount's Identity Trust Global Network delivers real-time fraud prevention and account protection and enables personalized customer experiences for more than 9,000 leading brands and payment providers. Linked by Kount's award-winning AI, the Identity Trust Global Network analyzes signals from 32 billion annual interactions to personalize user experiences across the spectrum of trust from ensuring frictionless experiences to blocking fraud. Quick and accurate identity trust decisions deliver safe payment, account creation, and login events while reducing digital fraud, chargebacks, false positives, and manual reviews. ABOUT EQUIFAX INC. At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employees, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 25 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com FOR MORE INFORMATION mediainquiries@equifax.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/equifax-announces-definitive-agreement-to-acquire-kount-301203473.html SOURCE Equifax Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] They were never a natural fit, the straight-laced evangelical and the brash reality TV star. But for more than four years, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made their marriage of political convenience work. Now, in the last days of their administration, each is feeling betrayed by the other. Its part of the fallout from an extraordinary 24-hour stretch in which Pence openly defied Trump, Trump unleashed his fury on the vice president, and a mob of violent supporters incensed by Trumps rhetoric stormed the Capitol building and tried to halt the peaceful transfer of power. The Trump-Pence relationship is pretty raw right now, said one top GOP congressional aide, who described multiple phone calls in which Trump berated Pence and tried to pressure the vice president to use powers he does not possess to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Pence, for his part, was left feeling hurt and upset by the episode, according to people close to him. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Also Read | Heinous attack left me outraged: Trump condemns Capitol violence, concedes defeat Pences decision to publicly defy Trump was a first for the notoriously deferential vice president, who has been unflinchingly loyal to Trump since joining the GOP ticket in 2016. Pence has spent his tenure defending the presidents actions, trying to soothe anxious world leaders put off by Trumps caustic rhetoric, and carefully avoiding the presidents ire. He has taken on some of the administrations most high-pressure projects, including leading its response to the coronavirus. And he has stood by Trump even as the president leveled baseless allegations of voter fraud and refused to concede the election after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Under normal circumstances, the vote-tallying procedure that began on Wednesday would have been a mere formality. But after losing court case after court case, and with no further options at hand, Trump and his allies zeroed in on the congressional tally as their last chance to try to challenge the races outcome. In a bizarre interpretation of the law, they argued that the vice president had the unilateral power to reject Electoral College votes supporting Biden. The Constitution makes clear that only Congress has that power. The effort effectively turned Pence into a scapegoat who could be blamed for Trumps loss if the vice president refused to go along with the plan. Trump and his lawyers spent days engaged in an aggressive pressure campaign to force Pence to bend to their will in a series of phone calls and in-person meetings, including one that stretched for hours on Tuesday. When Pence, who consulted with his own legal team, constitutional scholars and the Senate parliamentarian, informed Trump on Wednesday morning that he would not be going along with the effort, the president blew a gasket, in the words of one person briefed on the conversation. Not long after, Trump took the stage in front of thousands of his supporters at a Stop the Steal rally, where he urged them to march to the Capitol and continued to fan false hopes that Pence could change the outcome. If Mike Pence does the right thing we win the election, Trump wrongly insisted. He repeatedly returned to Pence throughout his speech as he tried to pressure the vice president to fall in line. But Trump already knew what Pence intended. And as Trump spoke, Pence released a letter to Congress laying out his conclusion that a vice president cannot claim unilateral authority to reject states electoral votes. He soon gaveled into order the joint session of Congress where his and Trumps defeat would be cemented. Not long after that, members of Trumps rally crowd arrived at the Capitol, where they overwhelmed police, smashed windows, occupied the building and halted the electoral proceedings. Pence was whisked from the Senate chamber to a secure location, where he was held for hours with staff as well as his wife and daughter, who had been there to support him. Trump did not call to check in on his vice presidents safety during the ordeal and instead spent much of Wednesday consumed with anger over Pences action, tweeting, Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution. Later, members of the mob outside the Capitol were captured on video chanting, Hang Mike Pence! For allies of Pence, it was a deeply upsetting episode that put the vice president in danger after four years of unstinting loyalty to the president and left Pence himself feeling hurt. I just think hes had enough, said John Thompson, who served as Pences campaign spokesman and and also worked for the Republican Governors Association. Yesterday just really pulled on his heartstrings, Thompson said. Hes been this loyal individual and the president was asking him to break the law and act outside his constitutional duties. I think it just reached a boiling point and the vice president said, Ive had enough. Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma told Tulsa World, Ive never seen Pence as angry as he was today. He said, After all the things Ive done for (Trump), Inhofe added. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an informal Trump adviser, also came to Pences defense, tweeting that his action was a profile in courage. It remains unclear how the dynamic between Trump and Pence will play out over the next two weeks and how long the president will hold his grudge. The White House declined to discuss Trumps thinking, but allies said Pence intends to spend the next two weeks focused on the transition. He is also expected to attend Bidens inauguration. And while Pence had been banking on his close relationship with the president to propel him to top-tier status if he decides to run for president in 2024, allies said they didnt think the vice presidents actions this week would have long-term consequences, even if some voters blame him for Trumps defeat. I thought that was a very courageous moment for him, Thompson said. And I think thats going to help his future. FRONTLINE workers have spoken out about the chaotic scenes witnessed in their hospitals to raise awareness before its too late, as they fear the stay-at-home message isnt sinking in with the public. Doctors and nurses on the ground have warned that the worrying situation unfolding in Irish hospitals is about to get much worse as the true impact of Christmas will only be felt in the coming week. I dont know how were going to avoid the situation that we saw in countries like Italy, said Rachel McNamara, a ward-based doctor at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). We are going to be overwhelmed in the next few days as people who picked up Covid over the holidays may only begin to feel the real effects now and we dont know how the health system is going to cope, so panic is really setting in. It doesnt feel like people have the capacity to take it as serious this time around and fatigue has really played a factor. Expand Close Rachel McNamara, doctor at University Hospital Limerick / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rachel McNamara, doctor at University Hospital Limerick "I dont know what to say to warn people that this is coming. People will only come to realise it when they see footage of Ireland in the same position as Italy was in last March, and by then it will be too late, Dr McNamara added. The 14-day incidence rate in Limerick is the third highest in the country, with 1252.4 cases per 100,000 of the population. UHL is currently treating 78 patients with the virus, with six in intensive care. All outpatient appointments and elective surgeries have been cancelled. Dr McNamara has been working at UHL for the last three years and has never faced anything like this before. The third wave has so far proven to surpass even her worst fears. Things really feel different this time around. Its a bit lonelier for healthcare workers given that during the first wave the focus was really on protecting the health service and you could see people staying at home, but I think everybody in society has just run out of patience. Read More "They only have enough compassion and empathy to keep themselves going now. Back in March when I would have been driving to work it felt like a post-apocalyptic world. When I drove to work this morning, traffic was at an almost normal level. The situation is going to get out of control. Dealing with family members who lost loved ones to Covid-19 since the start of the pandemic has been one of the most difficult aspects for the Limerick doctor. Im worried people are becoming numb to it and seeing less than 10 deaths as a win. How can that be a win? Behind every death is a heartbroken family. The anxiety and stress these people are under because they cant see their relatives is serious. I have never seen the hospital fill up so quickly, its filled with sicker people than before. At the moment were reaching a stage where Im not sure how much more we can take. People have seen family members, friends and relatives who have sailed through the virus and they might have been asymptomatic, and this makes people drop the guard. Theyre not overly trying to protect themselves. "Some people will be unlucky and the more people with underlying conditions that end up being exposed, the more tragedy were going to end up with. The number of people in the States hospitals with Covid-19 passed 1,000 for the first time yesterday. Paul Reid, chief executive of the Health Service Executive, described the figure of 1,022 patients as a sad milestone that nobody wanted to happen. Mary Dunne, clinical nurse manager in the emergency department at University Hospital Waterford (UHW), told the Irish Independent her biggest concern is running out of bed space or ventilators. Expand Close Mary Dunne, clinical nurse manager in the emergency department at University Hospital Waterford / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mary Dunne, clinical nurse manager in the emergency department at University Hospital Waterford The Government easing restrictions at Christmas and Waterford reaching the All-Ireland hurling final was something of a perfect storm for the county. I was nervous about those events as I expected us to see a surge due to people gathering. Theres plans in place for surges, but were worried about what happens if we go beyond the surge expected, she said. Everyday its getting busier. Sick leave is also an issue as staff are out with Covid and that makes managing the situation harder. Ms Dunne has 30 years experience in healthcare and described the worsening situation as majorly concerning. She pleaded with members of the public to do their part. Theres a lot of Covid in the community and its hugely concerning. Your health is your wealth. People are worried about exams, but if youre not healthy you cant do your Leaving Cert; you cant do your job without your health you have nothing. Its just for a few weeks so if they would just row in, please God we will get that R number down. Well look back at the awful January of 2021 and be out the other side and well have less Covid and less sick people, but we have to do as were told. Meanwhile, thousands of student nurses will be joining colleagues on the frontline in the coming weeks as their college placements begin. The issue of paying student nurses has been a hot topic since the start of the pandemic, with many working more than 36 hours a week for no pay. A report which recommended paying students 100 each week has been described as an insult. Teighlour Fegan (20), a second-year student who will soon be commuting from Wexford to Dublin for her placement, hit out at the treatment of nurses. Expand Close Teighlour Fegan, a second-year student who will soon be commuting from Wexford to Dublin for her placement, hit out at the treatment of nurses. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Teighlour Fegan, a second-year student who will soon be commuting from Wexford to Dublin for her placement, hit out at the treatment of nurses. We, amongst many others are holding up our healthcare system, and all we will receive is a lovely applause from the Government, she said. Were not important enough to get paid, nor do we do real work. It was said by mid-January we could have 2,000 people hospitalised with Covid, but this still isnt enough for the Government to pay student nurses. We sacrifice the health of our families and our own to work on the frontline in this pandemic. "There are so many HSE staff out of work sick with Covid or because they are a close contact, and student nurses have to fill these gaps. Weve been told that an allowance of 100 a week will be made to student nurses and this is so insulting for the work we do and it really shows how worthy we are to our Government. My healthcare job is letting me go whilst Im on placement as Im too high-risk, Ill have no income. How can our hard work and efforts be worth less than 2.80 an hour? Wall Street banks have had a decent crisis so far. That is unlikely to translate to bumper bonus payments for bankers and traders, as chief executives and boards grapple with the optics of big payouts amid economic hardship on Main Street. At Bank of America Corp. the bonus pool is likely to be flat, according to people familiar with the banks plans. Bonuses for some JPMorgan Chase & Co. traders are expected to rise, according to a person familiar with the situation, but not as much as the 39% increase in trading revenues at the New York-based bank in the first nine months of 2020. Morgan Stanley has said it would pay $1,000 bonuses to most employees making less than $150,000, but hasnt given any guidance on payouts for higher-earning staff. Also read Virus spread slows but two states still a worry Its a bad year to have a good year," said Gilbert Swann, a recruiter at Sheffield Haworth in London whose clients include global investment banks. Its not a year that people are going to get paid significantly up, so flat might be the new up." Payouts to bankers and traders are especially contentious this bonus season. Millions lost their jobs as economies were closed and businesses were bankrupted in the coronavirus pandemic. But the banking sector has largely withstood the crisis thanks to trillions of dollars of funding and support for borrowers from governments and central banks. Investment bank revenue surged as trading increased in volatile markets and companies raised fresh debt and equity. Now, traders and bankers expect to be rewarded for their efforts. That is creating a dilemma for chief executives and boards who worry about how their companies are perceived by politicians, regulators and the taxpayers who will be paying for the crisis for years to come. Even the best performers may find their bonuses curtailed because of this public-perception problem. Executives are rightly super-concerned about the optics," said Nick Miller, a partner at London-based recruitment firm Odgers Berndtson whose clients include global banks. Theyre very wary of the fine line between keeping staff motivated and respecting the broader picture of what it looks like to be paying bonuses." Over the course of the coronavirus crisis, banks have emphasized their role in channeling emergency credit to companies and letting households delay paying back loans. Those with investment banks benefited, though, from an everything rally" last year in stocks, bonds and other assets that was fueled by central bank and government stimulus. Global investment banking revenue rose 25% to $188.2 billion in 2020 compared with the previous year, according to a forecast from Coalition Greenwich, benefiting lenders such as JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Wall Street got a lot of support from the Federal Reserve when the pandemic hit," said Tim Schlittner, spokesman for AFL-CIO, the largest U.S. labor federation. We should focus on getting money to Main Street." According to New York-based compensation consulting firm Johnson Associates, banking industry bonuses are likely to be flat overall compared with 2019 but with wide variations, with lower payouts in retail banking and higher payouts for equity and debt traders, salespeople and underwriters, and unusual scrutiny" of pay for chief executive officers. Investment bankers on average are going to get paid more," said Alan Johnson, head of the consulting firm. Its uncomfortable in the middle of a pandemic. Some of these people are not beloved to begin with and then were going to have stories about people going out and buying fancy cars, and fancy apartments, and thats going to make a lot of people angry." In Europe, regulators in London and Frankfurt restricted bonuses and dividend payments in 2020 to make lenders conserve capital in the worsening pandemic. They eased the restrictions in December but told banks to be prudent and moderate on bonuses. Banks will be alert to any backlash from politicians or customers, in a year when the gap between the rich and poor has widened, Carlo Kostka, a lawyer at Covington & Burling LLP, said. The Covid crisis has created massive inequalities, and everyone has to ask themselves at the end of the day if bonuses beyond a certain limit exacerbate that issue," Mr. Kostka said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. WASHINGTON - Joe Biden is expected to begin his term as the 46th president Jan. 20, when he is scheduled to be sworn into office amid an inauguration ceremony unlike any other in recent memory. The coronavirus pandemic will transform the traditions long associated with inaugural celebrations. In fact, Biden's transition team is urging all Americans to stay home, refrain from travel and limit gatherings during the inauguration to stop the spread of the coronavirus. In a tweet on Friday, President Donald Trump said he will not attend Biden's inauguration, which would make him the first president to skip his successor's swearing-in ceremony in 152 years. Galas and balls may be canceled entirely. Some events such as the parade on Pennsylvania Avenue are expected to occur in a smaller and potentially distant form. Other celebratory components may be virtual, drawing inspiration from the Democratic National Convention's online event. And people interested in coming to D.C. for the 59th presidential inauguration will have to navigate coronavirus travel restrictions. Here's a look at what is known so far. Q: Who is organizing the ceremony? A: The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) is responsible for planning the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol on Jan. 20. The theme of the swearing-in ceremony will be "Our Determined Democracy: Forging a More Perfect Union." The six-member committee is led by Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., and includes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.; Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.; House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.; House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md.; and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. Biden's Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), formally launched Nov. 30, is responsible for coordinating and funding the inauguration's opening ceremonies, parades, galas and balls (if they exist this year). The PIC is led by Tony Allen, the president of Delaware State University, who served as a special assistant and speechwriter for Biden during four years of his career in the Senate. Q: Who is organizing the ceremony? A: Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris are slated to be sworn in during a ceremony on the West Front of the Capitol, according to the JCCIC. Biden's PIC said he will give an inaugural address from the platform that has been built there for the ceremony. Attendance, which will be limited, will include other elected officials. Q: Will Trump attend the inauguration? A: Trump has said in a tweet that he will not attend. Trump will become the first president to skip his successor's inauguration since Andrew Johnson decided not to attend the ceremony for incoming President Ulysses S. Grant in 1869. Trump has spent weeks after the election using the power of his office to try to reverse the results, attacking the integrity of the vote with unfounded conspiracy theories. Traditionally, the outgoing president welcomes his successor to the White House on the morning of the inauguration. President Barack Obama hosted President-elect Donald Trump for tea in 2017 before they traveled together to the U.S. Capitol. Q: Who else may attend the ceremony? A: It is unclear whether past presidents will attend for fear that the event could be risky to their health because of the coronavirus pandemic. Spokespeople for former presidents George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter and Obama did not respond to requests for comment, according to The Washington Post's Matt Viser. Q: Will there be the traditional events and inaugural balls? A: It is unclear what, if any, balls will be held. The Walter E. Washington Convention Center, which for years has hosted inaugural balls, will be unavailable for festivities in January. It has been transformed into an emergency field hospital in preparation for a surge in coronavirus cases. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., chairman of Biden's inaugural committee, said he expects 75 to 80 percent of inaugural activities to be virtual. He suggested that a more complete celebration of Biden's presidency could occur July 4. "Hopefully, things will be under control then," he said on CNN. Q: Will there be a parade? A: Biden's PIC said there will be a parade of some sort, but it probably will be more virtual than physical and feature people from across the country. It is expected to be like the virtual roll call held at the Democratic National Convention in August. The District has repaved Pennsylvania Avenue in preparation for the parade. Earlier, the Biden team discussed organizing a parade route on Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House to discourage a large gathering of supporters on the Mall. The city has said it is preparing for the parade to occur in some form but is waiting for direction from the PIC. Q: How can a member of the public attend? A: The JCCIC recently announced that attendance at the inauguration will be strictly limited because of the pandemic. Traditionally, the JCCIC makes 200,000 tickets available to members of Congress to hand out to constituents for the ceremony, but this year each member of Congress may attend with a single guest. The JCCIC said the size of the crowd will resemble that for a State of the Union. However, commemorative ticket bundles and program packets will be made available to congressional offices to distribute to constituents following the ceremonies. The PIC handles ticketing for parades, balls and galas. In the past, members of the public without tickets have been able to access certain areas of the Mall to watch the ceremony and related events. Biden has predicted that the event will be closer to the Democratic National Convention's virtual format than to typical inaugurations. "It's highly unlikely there will be 1 million people on the Mall," he said. Q: What restrictions are in place for people planning to visit Washington for the ceremony? A: If you plan to travel to D.C. for the inauguration, the District's rules require that you get a negative coronavirus test before coming to Washington. If you are staying longer than three days, D.C. rules say that you must receive another coronavirus test in the city. D.C. also currently requires a 14-day quarantine for visitors coming from certain states. Biden's PIC has named David Kessler, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner who has been advising Biden on the coronavirus, to be the inauguration's chief medical adviser. "Americans everywhere must do their part to slow the spread of the virus: wear masks, stay home, and limit gatherings," Kessler said in a statement. "We are asking Americans to participate in inaugural events from home to protect themselves, their families, friends, and communities." Capitol violence Regarding Cruz, Texas Republicans face backlash after violence, (A1, Jan. 7): For hundreds of years, the people of our country have participated in presidential elections, with the outcomes leading to a winning side and a losing side. And for hundreds of years, there has been a peaceful transition of power. These norms that we took for granted were thrown out the window with Donald J. Trump.His election lies were presented to multiple judges and courts, including the Supreme Court, and they were easily dismissed because the judges are principled individuals who refuse to perpetuate lies and chose to serve the people of our country with honesty and dignity. This was in stark contrast to the senator from Texas, Ted Cruz, who chose to perpetuate the lies. Even after witnessing the heartbreaking attack on the Capitol and our democracy, the senator from Texas chose to continue divisive behavior by objecting to the electoral college votes from the state of Pennsylvania. We are deeply disappointed that the senator from Texas chose to represent the great state of Texas in such an offensive manner. The people of Texas have no say on how the people of Pennsylvania chose to cast their votes. And, the people of Texas would never stand for a senator from a different state telling them how to cast their votes. As such, the senator of Texas was serving only himself, and not the people of Texas. In a time when we needed unity, honesty and dignity to rebuke the attack on the Capitol, the senator from Texas failed us. The great state of Texas and its people deserve better. James P. Allison, Nobel Prize winner, and Padmanee Sharma, MD, Houston Regarding Capitol chaos, (A1, Jan. 7): I have never written a letter to the editor before in my life. But events that unfolded Wednesday compel me to give voice to the torrent of emotion that the scenes shown on TV unleashed. Many people have expressed shock at what happened. How can they claim to be shocked? What did you think would happen? Given the heated rhetoric and the incitement emanating from the the commander in chief of our ship of state, what else were they expecting? This was exactly what Donald Trump and his followers wanted to have happen and actively promoted. So give me a break. This was no surprise, unless you have been hiding under your bed for the last four years. All those Republican politicians who rose yesterday to express their dismay are a day late and several dollars short. Where have they been for four years? I arrived in the U.S. 44 years ago as an immigrant. I came from a country where I was ashamed to admit that I was a citizen. Yesterday for the first time I was ashamed to be a citizen of the U.S. This is not who we are supposed to be. Noreen Lewitton, Houston The incoming administration has already sent the message that it will be much more welcoming to immigrants and not only those seeking to enter the United States, but also those who are already here. The administration has a long list of promises to fulfill in its first 100 days, from legalizing Americas approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants and protecting Dreamers to granting temporary protected status to the hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans living in the United States who escaped Nicolas Maduros regime. Mr. Bidens immigration proposals stand in stark contrast to policies imposed by President Trump. In a recent interview with the Washington Examiner, a conservative outlet, Ken Cuccinelli, the acting deputy secretary of homeland security, estimated that up to 140,000 immigrants could cross the border each month under Mr. Biden. I mean, you saw the Trump effect when President Trump came into office, Mr. Cuccinelli said. Youre going to see the Biden effect as well. And its going to be the opposite. And theyre feeding that, and its really bad for America. Its going to be a humanitarian problem, particularly in the midst of Covid. The Central American migrant caravans and the situation in Mexicos refugee camps could become the Biden administrations first major international crises. The president-elect has a $4 billion investment plan to create jobs in Central America and prevent more people from migrating to the United States to look for work though this plan isnt going to have an effect in the region anytime soon. As long as there arent enough Covid-19 vaccines for everyone, its unlikely the Biden administration will allow a massive influx of refugees and asylum seekers into the country. These months of vaccine scarcity will hopefully provide the administration the time it needs to formulate and execute a new immigration policy that can address the crisis. But there is little time to maneuver, and congressional negotiations wont be easy. Mr. Biden and his nominee for secretary of homeland security, Alejandro Mayorkas a Cuban-born immigrant will have to deal simultaneously with the urgency of the caravans and those barely surviving in Mexicos camps. Theyll also have to deal with the unauthorized immigrants who have been in the United States for decades, waiting for their status to be regularized. Mr. Biden shouldnt build walls or separate immigrant families or bar migrants from Muslim-majority countries, as Mr. Trump has. Good leaders are defined by how they treat the most vulnerable in their charge, not the wealthiest or most powerful. And immigrants are, by far, the most vulnerable. Yes, there will be more immigrants in the United States with Mr. Biden in the White House. Under Mr. Trump, annual net immigration fell to just 595,000 people, the fewest since the 1980s, according to the Brookings Institution. In the two years immediately preceding the Trump presidency, the United States saw net immigration of more than one million people annually. Thats the United States I recognize and admire, the one that allowed me to become a citizen and the one that almost disappeared during the Trump administration. Now what I want above all else is for the immigrants who come after me to have the same opportunities and freedoms Ive had. Jorge Ramos (@jorgeramosnews) is an anchor for the Univision network, a contributing opinion writer and the author of, most recently, Stranger: The Challenge of a Latino Immigrant in the Trump Era. The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. Wed like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And heres our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram. Social media users continue to post photos of Azerbaijani soldiers who died during the Second Karabakh war liberating their homeland from the Armenian occupying forces. Residents of all regions of Azerbaijan fought for the liberation of their native land, and in each region, there are martyrs who sacrificed their lives for victory. One of them - Mamedov Shaig Shukur oglu - was born in 1999 in Ganja. He died heroically in the battles for the liberation of Shusha. Minister for Education Norma Foley pictured during budget briefing at the Dept of Education in Dublin. Picture Credit:Frank McGrath Education Minister Norma Foley is casting doubt over whether Leaving Cert exams can go ahead after a three day week for sixth years was ruled out by teacher unions. The minister was forced into a U-turn on the partial re-opening of schools from Monday to allow 60,000 students continue face to face teaching in the crucial run up to the exams. Teacher unions pulled the plug on a plan agreed by Government earlier this week because they had not been consulted and said they had concerns about health and safety. But in a meeting with union leaders today, the minister raised the question about what that meant for the Leaving Cert. Read More Effectively, the ministers message is that if exam candidates dont get back to school soon, there needs to be discussion about a Plan B for the Leaving Cert. Last year, the traditional June exams were replaced by a system of calculated grades, which proved highly controversial and is the subject of about 50 High Court actions. This years Leaving Cert candidates have already suffered serious disruption to their senior cycle education, having been out of schools from March to June last year. Although the Government has been committed to returning to traditional exams this year, the uncertainty posed by Covid created doubts in the classrooms, adding to normal sixth year stress levels. When schools re-opened in September, many teachers and students took the view that the 2021 exams might not go ahead, and have treated every assignment as one that could count for a calculated grade. There is less than 22 weeks to go to the scheduled start of the written exams, but orals and practicals take place even earlier, in the spring. Under current plans, school are closed for three of those weeks, and, at this stage, there is no guarantee that they will reopen on February 1. If an indefinite closure is on the cards, it raises the issue about whether, and when, teacher unions would be happy to instruct their members to attend school. After a difficult week, Minister Foley was meeting unions separate meetings at primary and post-primary - today with all sides keen to get relations back on track and work through solutions to the impasse. Ms Foley had also proposed that special schools and special classes in mainstream schools open from Monday for pupils with special needs, but that has also been shelved because of union objections. Three leading advocacy organisations representing students with additional needs, Down Syndrome Ireland, Inclusion Ireland and AsIAm, have said that u-turn over the re-opening of special schools had left families of children with special educational needs devastated, and immediate supports must be put in place for them. The groups have sought an urgent meeting with Ms Foley. Read More Centre on Friday issued guidelines for the packaging and transportation of the Covid-19 vaccines by air directing airlines and airport authorities to ensure the vaccines are packaged in dry ice and refrigerated material in a bid to maintain low temperatures ranging between -8 C to -70 C essential for its transportation. The guidelines issued by the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) state all scheduled operators who have been currently authorized to carry dangerous goods may carry Covid-19 vaccines packed in dry ice, meeting the regulatory requirements, the guidelines reviewed by HT state. The civil aviation ministry on Friday held a round of meetings with airlines executives and airport authorities to finalise the logistics needed for the transportation of the Covid-19 vaccines. All arrangements have been made at airports for the transportation who are on standby and are ready to carry the consignment as and when the orders are placed, a senior official said. The aviation ministry had directed all airlines in December to begin preparations and had instructed airport operators, including state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI), ground handling service providers and airlines to put in place standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the transportation of Covid-19 vaccines that will be approved by the government. Carriage of Covid-19 vaccines from the manufacturing units to the place of administration gains significant importance especially in the light of the high expectations of the government(s), health care personnel and the general public. It is needless to say that amongst the various modes of transport, air transport is the most efficient option. Hence, it is imperative that air logistics provide a well-defined procedure that meets the global safety standards and requirements based on local conditions, the DGCA noted. Non-scheduled operators including aircraft engaged in general aviation that are required to participate in the carriage of Covid-19 vaccines packed in dry ice shall seek specific approval before commencing such operations. Compliance with ICAO Doc 9284 (Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air) is the responsibility of each operator, it added. Elaborating on the need to package the vaccines with dry ice the DGCA noted that the temperature maintenance requirement for Covid-19 vaccines is reported to be varying from -8 C to -70 C and hence, the use of refrigerant material during the transportation becomes essential. Though there may be different refrigerant options, use of dry ice (Carbon Dioxide Solid) is the most commonly used, affordable and readily available refrigerant material available in the country for transportation of perishables by air. Dry ice continually sublimates (Dry ice that is solid, transforms into Carbon Dioxide gas (COz)) at temperatures higher than -78C (-108.4O F) under normal atmospheric pressure. At reduced pressures, the sublimation rate of dry ice will increase while all other factors being the same, it noted. The DGCA said all operators while engaging in transportation of Covid-19 vaccines packed with dry ice shall establish the maximum quantity of dry ice that can be loaded in a given cargo hold and/ or compartment or in the main deck (passenger cabin) when a passenger version aircraft is deployed for all cargo operations. This maximum quantity shall be based on the aircraft manufacturers information on maximum recommended dry ice quantities that the aircraft ventilation can support, depending on the sublimation rate and also the requirements of the operators Safety Management Systems, it noted. Transportation The guidelines state vaccines packed in dry ice should preferably be transported in lower-deck of the cargo compartments of the planes, however in case the operators desires to carry vaccines packed in dry ice in the passenger cabin area the operators will have to ensure that the occupants on board are limited to the flight crew while other passengers should not be allowed. The operator should take all necessary steps to ensure that the flight crew is not harmed by carbon dioxide incapacitation or intoxication. Flight crew should be properly trained on the hazards and risks of transporting dry ice and on the procedures related to the operation. Any other occupants on-board should only be allowed if required under demonstrated urgent operational needs (e.g., additional flight crew for the return flight or additional persons needed for the cargo handling), it said. Occupants, that are not considered flight crew, should be protected against a potential CO2 intoxication by the following means: Have access during all phases of flight to approved supplemental oxygen equipment ready to be used. Have been properly trained on the use of oxygen equipment, it added. Adequate number of CO2 detectors should be available in the cabin, it noted. For the transport of vaccines in dry ice in excess of the limit specified in the operations manual or other applicable aircraft manufacturer documents, the operator should perform a specific risk assessment. The risk assessment should ensure that all relevant technical and operational aspects have been taken into account, it noted. Ventilation pressurisation system For aircraft dispatch, the air conditioning, air supply and the distribution/ventilation system should use configurations recommended by the manufacturer, DGCA stated. The operators standard operating procedures should also include lowering of temperature in the cargo compartment as much as possible to minimise the sublimation rate of dry ice. To mitigate the risk of higher concentrations of CO2, the ventilation and pressurisation system shall be fully operational, i.e. all air-conditioning packs should be running at all times, it noted. In case of partial failure of the ventilation system in flight, the situation has to be carefully evaluated in order to decide if the flight may continue to destination. The OEM guidance should account for a single next critical failure to enable continuation of the flight, while total failure of the ventilation system in flight should lead to an immediate diversion to the nearest suitable airport, it added. For aircraft dispatch the crew oxygen systems should be fully operative, it noted. It is recommended to use the cargo compartment that is located next to the outflow valve, in order to effectively ensure that even in the case of partial or complete failure of the ventilation and pressurization system during flight, the CO2 will be ventilated overboard, DGCA said. Packaging and handling The operators have to ensure that the shipments containing Covid-19 vaccines packed in dry ice shall be accepted and handled by appropriately trained personnel only. Operators will also have to prepare a Dos & Dont guidance and circulate among those handling personnel the specific requirements that may be applicable for handling shipments containing Covid-19 vaccines. Adequate precautions need to be taken at the end of a flight, as compartments or a Unit Load Device containing dry ice will tend to have high concentration of CO2 and also the area immediately outside the door experiences high concentration of CO2 for several minutes, it noted. Operators also have to ensure that each package containing Covid-19 vaccines packed in dry ice is clearly marked Dry ice or Carvon Dioxide Solid . Operators also have to inform the Pilot-in-command in writing of the quantity of dry ice loaded including loading locations. In line with our business model and cost leadership strategy, we are happy to evaluate the shipment of the Covid-19 vaccines onboard our aircraft and will promise to contribute to the best of our abilities, a spokesperson for Indigo said. Aviation ministry secretary Pardeep Kharola had last week said the SOPs will be drafted in coordination with the ministry of health and the department of pharmaceuticals, which will be spearheading the formation of a multi-mode cold chain that will ensure the refrigerated production, transport, storage and distribution of the vaccines. Indias vaccine roll-out is set to begin by next week. Civil aviation minister Hardeep Puri had last month said that the Centre aims to inoculate at least 300 million people until July 2021 for which at least 600 million doses will be required. When dealing with a life-limiting illness, palliative care can improve the quality of life for patients and families. However, for many people, the fear of "end of life" care prevents them from exploring it. A recent study from William Osler Health System (Osler) and McMaster University examined awareness of palliative care in the South Asian community and found that culture plays a critical role in the perception of palliative care. This perception, in turn, affects whether or not patients will be open to receiving it. Funded by a McMaster University, Department of Family Medicine, Pilot Research Project Funding Grant, the observational study is one of the few person-centered palliative care studies focused on the South Asian community outside India. The results showed that seventy per cent of participants in the study had a lack of understanding of palliative care and forty-four per cent thought that palliative care went against their values and beliefs. At the same time, many of the participants agreed that when facing a life-limiting illness, they wanted to ensure that they or their family members had a better quality of life and alleviated suffering - which is what the palliative care paradigm provides. This research is an essential first step in understanding how the South Asian community perceives what it's like to deal with a serious illness and their fears about palliative care. Too often in health care a one size fits all approach is used in communities with diverse populations. This study illustrates how creating customized approaches focusing on the needs of the local community will allow us to provide more effective palliative care." Dr. Naheed Dosani, Palliative Care physician, William Osler Health System Recent Ontario research also indicates that immigrants of South Asian origin are at a higher risk of aggressive end-of-life care that is often contrary to their wishes. There is a strong likelihood that perceptions of palliative care within the South Asian populations are contributing to this. "Being aware of cultural differences is an important part of working with patients," said Dr. Martin Chasen, Medical Director of Supportive and Palliative Care, William Osler Health System. "This study is a key part of Osler's mandate to strengthen our expertise in treating diverse populations and to ensure all our patients have access to safe, compassionate, quality care." Other key findings in the study showed that participants had differing attitudes when it came to talking about death - ranging from discomfort to frank acceptance. Participants also acknowledged the key role of the family in providing care. While the study showed education is necessary to change common perceptions of palliative care, cultural values, faith, and spiritual beliefs didn't necessarily pose a barrier to participants accepting palliative care services. "Insights from this study will have implications on the development and implementation of culturally competent palliative care services for health care professionals," said Dr. David Price, Chair and Professor, McMaster University Department of Family Medicine. "The term 'palliative care' can mean so many things and this research illustrates the importance of taking into account cultural differences when recommending care in diverse populations." The study was conducted out of Brampton Civic Hospital, where the surrounding community per capita population of South Asian immigrants and peoples of descent is seventy per cent. "I always thought palliative care was focused on end-of-life care," said Tejinder Cheema, the daughter of an Osler palliative care patient. "However, after speaking with the team at Brampton Civic and learning that palliative care is focused on managing symptoms and improving quality of life, I was happy to include it in my mother's treatment plan." Published in the BMC Palliative Care journal in September 2020, Perceptions of palliative care in a South Asian community: findings from an observational study, the study explores how differing cultural and social norms and religious affiliations impact perceptions of palliative care within the South Asian community. (ST. JOSEPH, Mo.) When a mob of pro-Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon, U.S. lawmakers and political science experts watched in dismay and horror. The Capitol, the national legislature, the lawmakers of the entire nation were threatened by armed people, said Missouri Western Professor Melinda Kovacs after watching the events that unfolded in Washington, D.C. Im still trying to find the correct terminology. I think a riot is a useful term to use. I think insurrection is a correct term to use but I dont know what we want to call this, Coup comes to mind. Kovacs is a political science expert who has spent her academic career studying comparative politics and political rhetoric. She said the physical damage to the Capitol can be easily mended. Its the other types of damage shes more concerned about. As a comparativist, I look at this and I feel like today the United States Cross a threshold, the United States lost its ability to look at other countries in the world and tell them, This is how you ought to act, and, This is how you ought not to act, This is what qualifies as democracy, and This is what does not qualify as a democracy, Kovacs said. Following a rally where a number of U.S. lawmakers and President Trump spoke, protestors marched to the U.S. Capitol. A large mob then forced their way into the building, law enforcement cleared lawmakers from the U.S. chambers, and attempted to regain control. Kovacs said while she had hoped for better, Wednesday was foreseeable. There has been rhetoric that has been building and setting the stage for this. I am sad. I am outraged today. The one thing I am not is surprised, she said. Politics is an arena, in which every statement, every word, every tweet, will have direct palpable consequences. Kovacs said its important that as a nation we reflect on the rhetoric and issues that divide us. Given everything that has been happening in the last few years, it is a very sobering thought experiment to imagine the rioters being black, she said. Once you engage in violence and especially when you engage in violence that does not destroy property only but endangers the physical bodily safety of other human beings. You have crossed a threshold. You have gone into a different realm. In UP villagers get cocktail vaccine dose: Covishield first, Covaxin next ICMR to study effectiveness of Covishield, Covaxin in preventing progression of COVID into severe form Modernas COVID-19 vaccine could offer protection for couple of years International oi-Vicky Nanjappa Paris, Jan 08: Moderna's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine is likely to offer protection for a couple of years, the chief executive of the company said. The US biotech company which came up with the vaccine, received approval for its shot from the European Commission on Wednesday. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said at an event organised by financial services group Oddo BHF that the nightmare scenario that was described in the media in the spring with a vaccine only working a month or two is, I think, out of the window. COVID-19 vaccine: Second round of dry runs to be conducted today The antibody decay generated by the vaccine in humans goes down very slowly. We believe there will be protection potentially for a couple of years, the CEO also said. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Bancel also said that the the company was about to prove that its vaccine would be effective against the variants of the coronavirus seen in Britain and South Africa. Early Wednesday morning, roughly a couple dozen people left Jersey City by bus for Washington, D.C., in the hopes of reversing the results of the 2020 presidential election. In a bus rented by the Hispanic Republicans of North Jersey, as well as several private cars, New Jersey Republicans made the three-and-a-half-hour trip to Washington to attend a massive gathering of his supporters calling for President-elect Joe Bidens November 2020 victory to be overturned. But after a rally in front of the White House, in which President Trump called on his supporters to fight much harder and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani called for a trial by combat, the event turned ugly. On Wednesday afternoon, as lawmakers counted electoral votes, a mob of the presidents supporters stormed the Capitol Building, clashing with police and leading to the evacuation of federal elected officials. Jacqueline Price, a Jersey City Republican who attended the event, guessed that there were a probably a million attendees, and said the event was initially very peaceful. There were kids in strollers, there were dogs, she said, noting that she left Washington before protestors broke into the Capitol Building. The majority of the people (were) there to support the president, she said. All we are basically looking for is not to see our country go Communist. But Herminio Mendoza, the president of the North Jersey Hispanic Republicans, watched from outside as the mob stormed the Capitol. It looked like a freaking zombie movie, these people climbing on the walls, he said. Phone service was down, he said, and he could hear booms and firecrackers. In the building, Trump supporters smashed windows, climbed walls in the Senate Chamber, and stole items from lawmakers offices. Mendoza said he saw few police officers, some of whom were just hanging out. Im not trying to defend anybody, but I believe that if you know a lot of people are going to go to an event like this, you should have police there, he said. The Trump supporters who entered the Capitol building made a big mistake, he said. The incident has drawn condemnation from Democrats and Republicans alike. New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez said the violence goes against every value we pledge to uphold as a nation. On Wednesday morning, Hudson County GOP Chairman Jose Arango issued a statement condemning the mob violence, saying, Our party cannot be associated with this. Price cited unfounded claims that the people who broke in could have been members of Antifa or on (George) Soros payroll. If it was Republicans, then it was a very few, she said. And people are to the point where theyre just so fed up, so tired of this, basically, the corruption thats going on. Mendoza said he stayed outside and watched the chaos until he got a text informing him of a 6 p.m. curfew in Washington D.C., then he left. It was a thing that I dont think Im going to forget for many years, he said. Mexican Christian pastor's border shelter aids immigrants seeking asylum in the US Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment For 24 years, Pastor Hector Silva has been running a shelter home for refugees in Mexico who are seeking asylum or work in the United States. It was built to hold 150 people, but it often holds hundreds more than its limit, he said. We are the one home that does this. There arent any others. We help the families who are seeking refuge in the U.S., he said. As refugees and migrants flee their countries in hope of finding refuge and work in the U.S., they face a difficult and dangerous journey. To help these people, Silva founded a shelter near the border, Senda de Vida Casa del Emigrante, he told The Christian Post. In English, the name means Way of Life Immigrant House. As part of his ministry, he gives people fleeing their home countries a place to stay and hear the Gospel. I founded the shelter because I have a heart for families, people and the homeless, Silva said. Right now, the 12,916 square foot shelter holds 540 people, Silva said. "It's big, it's very big," he said. Thirty-five of its current residents are children. We report the children [who arrive alone] and find all of these issues. If theyre here, we find the time necessary to help, Silva said. Most of the shelter's residents are from Spanish-speaking countries including Venezuela, Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Cuba, he said. Others come from as far away as Uganda, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Ghana. Most want to enter the U.S. A majority of people who've sought refuge at the shelter speak Spanish, Silva added. For those who don't speak Spanish, Senda de Vida employs a translator. While people stay at the shelter, Silva provides them with food, medicine, access to technology and child education, he said. Some time ago, we had 1,000 people. We would get overfilled. At 500, were kind of full. At 150, were all right with it, he said. At first it took a lot of patience to understand all the different cultures [in one place]. With compassion, we worked to understand each other. COVID-19 has made the plight of refugees even more difficult and has presented the ministry with new challenges, Silva said. Due to COVID-19, like many other countries, the U.S. closed its borders. Currently, 1,000 people who have stayed at Casa del Emigrante are waiting in Mexico to find out their U.S. immigration status. People waiting for immigration courts to decide their cases are facing the longest immigration court backlog in history, due to the surge in new filings which reached 1,281,586 cases at the end of November, according to Border Report. For the average immigrant, getting a court decision on an immigration case now takes around 500 days. Silva said he was unsure whether most people who've taken refuge at Senda de Vida Casa del Emigrante, were looking for asylum as refugees in the U.S. or seeking some other type of legal status. His ministry helps people who've applied to enter the U.S. legally and helps families find places to live in Mexico, he added. Immigrants can apply for a visa to lawfully enter the U.S. if they have a job waiting for them in the U.S., are related to an American resident, win a green card lottery by coming from a country with low U.S. immigration rates, or if they are seeking asylum from violence, among other categories. The average stay at Senda de Vida before COVID-19 was three to six months, Silva said. To get to the U.S., people fleeing their home countries often pay cartels to transport them north. Doing so can be dangerous. People that pay to travel to the U.S. face danger, said Silva. People can be killed. Many of them are imprisoned for ransom by cartels when they get to North America. When they enter our shelter, we have seen that they face many dangers. We put them in the hands of immigration groups that can protect them. Recently, the number of people traveling north has increased, he said. In this wave of immigration, there are also more children than usual. Immigration rates from Spanish-speaking countries correlate with events in U.S. politics, said Silva. After Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, many people hoping to cross the border illegally believe the U.S. government will not send them back to their home countries. They are more confident that the government will not send them back, he said. I dont really know, but thats what they think. Itll be better, they think. Silva said he also thinks the chance that more Latin Americans will be allowed to enter and stay in the U.S. will improve because of Bidens election. Its what Im thinking too. Im also thinking that theyre going to get an improvement to the way they enter the U.S. Theres going to be lots of change, he said. The number immigrants who are illegally entering the U.S. has substantially increased since the fall. In October and November 2020, U.S. Border Patrol apprehended 140,591 people. This represents the highest number of illegal immigrants found crossing the border in the last eight years, and almost 21,000 more than the average number for these two months. In most years, illegal immigrant numbers are low from September to January, and peak in May. Biden has promised to end many of the Trump administration's border policies. According to Biden's website, his administration would not only put a stop to building a border wall within his first 100 days, but he would also give DACA recipients access to federal student loans and create "a roadmap for citizenship" for the 11 million to 14 million immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally. In 2018, the Trump administration released a proposal to provide a pathway for citizenship to up to 1.8 million young immigrants living in the country illegally, including DACA recipients, in exchange for $25 million toward the border wall and other changes to the immigration system. That plan, however, was opposed by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Biden, who once supported having a barrier along the Southern border, now opposes border wall construction and said he would halt any remaining construction once he's in office. These policy changes will likely motivate more people to attempt border crossings illegally, Jose Luis Gonzalez, the coordinator of nongovernmental organization Guatemala Red Jesuita con Migrantes, told Bloomberg. Gonzalez noted that the economic devastation caused by mass unemployment and hurricanes hitting Central American countries will also lead more people to join illegal mass caravans to the U.S. "There are going to be caravans, and in the coming weeks it will increase, said Gonzalez. People are no longer scared of the coronavirus. Theyre going hungry, theyve lost everything and some towns are still flooded. We defend the rights of immigrants on this side of the border, Silva said, urging Christian in the U.S. to fund ways to help those seeking asylum in the U.S. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday met the party's MPs from Punjab, who have been protesting against the farm laws. Priyanka met them at her brother and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi's residence. The MPs -- Ravneet Singh Bittu, Jasbir Singh Dimpa and others -- have been protesting at Jantar Mantar since December 7. Many Congress leaders, including Shashi Tharoor and Salman Khurshid have joined their protest to show solidarity with them. Congress MP Jasbir Singh Gill Dimpa said: "We will sit here till the farmers protest against the new farm laws continues. The government should withdraw the new farm laws and look into their demands and resolve the matter." Gurjit Singh Aujla said: "The Punjab Congress is with farmers from day one and it is our responsibility to support the farmers... the protest will continue till the government takes back its decisions." The three laws are The Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020; The Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement of Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020; and The Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. [This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource Games Press.] LONDON - January 8th 2021 - Gioteck, a leading British videogames accessories brand, are proud to announce the appointment of CLD as exclusive European distributor across key territories. Effective immediately, CLD will manage exclusive distribution of the entire range of Gioteck gaming accessories across Benelux, France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy. Headquartered in Fernelmont, Belgium, CLD is tasked with accelerating Gioteck's growth across online and retail, echoing the success of Gioteck in the UK. CLD will distribute the entire Gioteck range of incredible value, feature-packed accessories for all major formats, including PC, Mobile, Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Matthew Lamprell, CEO of Gioteck commented, "Our partnership with CLD is central to our exciting growth plan for Gioteck. We have achieved some incredible results with our partners in the UK - so CLD were the natural choice when looking to replicate that success in Europe. The CLD team have immense experience in the gaming field - combined with outstanding channel connections and dynamic, exciting ideas, we're confident they will secure exceptional results." Raphael Pluta CEO & Founder of CLD commented, "We are really proud and pleased to sign this partnership agreement, which marks the start of a long and fruitful collaboration between two major players in the gaming industry. We have great ambitions for Gioteck across Europe, and we are convinced that we will accomplish great things together." ABOUT CLD CLD Distribution is a leading distributor based in Belgium, which brings a wide range of products to the market with a main focus on video games, computer peripherals and merchandising. Two years ago, CLD Distribution decided to completely digitalize its activities, which allows them to bring more product to the market, and to offer a high quality of personalized services to their suppliers and customers. https://www.cld.eu/ ABOUT GIOTECK - THE GO-TO THIRD PARTY ACCESSORY BRAND Gioteck is one of the world's leading gaming accessories brands. Established in 2008 and part of GoodBetterBest Ltd, Gioteck offers gaming and audio enthusiasts the latest and most innovative peripherals to improve their overall immersive experience. Its range of durable, reliable and stylish accessories are packed with the latest technology and support a range of gaming platforms. Gioteck has the technical know-how to understand what real gamers and audio enthusiasts need and want. Accessibility Affordable price points Pro-gaming quality Total ergonomic comfort Design Stunning packaging Wired and wireless models Multiple colours Traditional layouts Reliability Robust build Premium materials Outstanding customer service 24/7 T: @GioteckArmy F: OfficialGioteck www.Gioteck.com It's become trendy to support Catalan independence, as was shown by a manifesto released this week by separatist civic group Omnium Cultural. Calling for renewed dialogue between Madrid and the region's pro-independence government, it carries the signatures of fifty international figures, including five Nobel Laureates, Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh and artist Yoko Ono. One wonders whether these signatories genuinely think that they'll command the attention of a government that's already ignored the UN's advice about Catalonia; nevertheless, it's a fashionable "cause celebre" with which to associate one's name. Whatever their motivations, these apparently concerned onlookers are right to object to the incarceration of nine Catalan politicians, who in October 2019 received sentences of up to thirteen years for organising the 2017 independence referendum. Yes, they broke the law in holding a vote declared illegal in advance by Spain's Constitutional Court; but a hefty fine or a lengthy expulsion from politics would have been more in proportion to their crime than over a decade behind bars. After all, former Catalan president Artur Mas, who in 2014 also orchestrated an illegal independence referendum, was fined 36,500 euros and banned from public office for two years, not thrown in a cell. In posing a series of complex questions, the manifesto also makes you consider both sides of the Catalonia argument. It says, for example, that Madrid denies "the right to self-determination" of Catalonia. Is this a "right"? It is according to the second section of Spain's 1978 Constitution, but anti-separatists point to the same sentence of that document, which also asserts the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish Nation". The right to "self determination" is not the same thing as the right to independence, and Catalonia already has a great deal of the former. Along with the Basque Country, Spain's wealthiest region enjoys substantial powers of self-governance and autonomy. Furthermore, in his recent budget deal with the pro-independence Catalan Republican Left, Pedro Sanchez enhanced Catalonia's privileged status even further, giving it more money and tweaking Madrid's tax laws in Barcelona's favour. The Socialist leader has also signalled his openness to the dialogue for which the manifesto calls, although always with the "Constitution in hand". Talks started in February, but were halted by the outbreak of Covid-19. The signatories want Catalans to have a legal vote on divorcing Spain, and cite the precedents of Scotland and Quebec, which held independence referendums in 2014 and 1995 respectively (both narrowly returned "No" votes). But neither of those plebiscites, it is crucial to remember, required fundamental constitutional reform in order to be held. In other words, it's a lot more complicated than the supporters of the pro-independence manifesto - keen to lend their name to a trendy cause - would have you believe. Universities in Sheffield and Manchester have become the first to scrap student accommodation fees during lockdown - after furious undergraduates threatened 'rent strikes' across the UK. The National Union of Students (NUS) has insisted it is 'unacceptable' that little support has been made available for those who travelled home for the holidays and have since been told not to return to campus. Thousands living in university accommodation have since pledged to withhold rent on rooms they cannot use during the latest Covid-19 lockdown in England, with organisers estimating 15,000 are involved. They are calling for a rebate on rent, despite universities pointing out they only provide around 20 per cent of student housing, the BBC reported. Universities UK added this means 'many decisions on refunds will be made by private landlords and other providers.' However, both the University of Sheffield and Manchester Metropolitan University have confirmed students will not be charged rent for rooms they are unable to use throughout January. Universities in Sheffield and Manchester have become the first to scrap student accommodation fees during lockdown. Pictured: Firth Court at Sheffield University Bosses in Sheffield said today that students who are 'unable to make use of their University owned or managed accommodation between January 4 and February 22' will not be charged rent. 'Those students who are using their accommodation will continue to be charged rent as per their contract,' a statement added. 'We will contact students in our accommodation with more information in due course.' The University added that it 'cannot control the decision of private landlords,' saying: 'We will work with @SheffieldSU to support their lobbying on this issue and we would urge landlords to be as flexible as possible.' A similar decision was made at Manchester Met, who previously stated it would refund rent between January 4 and each student's return date. A spokesman told MailOnline: 'In light of the recent Government announcement, Manchester Metropolitan University will be introducing an additional rent reduction for students who have University-owned accommodation and are not using it. 'This additional reduction is being given because of the Governments request that students do not return to campus until the start of face-to-face activity, and therefore do not move back into their accommodation. Bosses in Sheffield said today that students who are 'unable to make use of their University owned or managed accommodation between January 4 and February 22' will not be charged rent. Pictured: Sheffield University The University added that it 'cannot control the decision of private landlords.' Pictured: University of Sheffield accommodation 'For many students, this now means that, taken together with the rent reduction we previously announced before the national lockdown, we will be issuing a rent reduction to cover the period Monday 4 January until at least mid-February. 'We will automatically extend this additional reduction in line with Government return to campus instructions, as these are announced.' King's College London also previously promised students would not be billed for rooms they aren't able to use due to coronavirus restrictions. Other universities have pledged to offer discounted accommodation, with the University of Manchester announcing in November that students would receive 30 per cent off. This applied to the first half of the academic year, and is estimated to be worth 1,000 per student. The University of Bristol has offered a 30 per cent rent reduction from December 19 for seven weeks, alongside an extra 10-day rent rebate last month. A similar decision was made at Manchester Metropolitan University (pictured), according to Money Saving Expert, who previously stated it would refund rent between January 4 and each student's return date Universities UK told the BBC that universities were 'actively' considering what support they could offer students throughout the lockdown. 'Universities recognise the financial pressures the pandemic has placed on students and are providing increased financial and other support as a result,' a statement said. 'With government restrictions reducing the numbers of students returning in person to universities, now is the time for the government to seriously consider the financial implications for students and institutions and what support they will provide.' It comes as students were today calling on private landlords to stop charging them rent for accommodation they can't live in after being stranded at home by the latest Covid lockdown. Saffron Headech, who studies professional policing at Birmingham City University, has been unable to come back to her studio flat in the city as a result of the new restrictions, but is still to be charged for rent, even though the property is laying empty. Saffron Headech, who studies professional policing at Birmingham City University, has been unable to come back to her studio flat in the city as a result of the new restrictions, but is still to be charged for rent, even though the property is laying empty The 20-year-old said Nido Globe Works still expects her to pay 169-per-week from her student loan for the flat on Cliveland Street, in Newtown - leaving her with just 10-a-week to live on. It is unlikely she will return to the student accommodation until mid-February at the earliest due to the pandemic and has made her feel she is effectively 'throwing 1,000 into the fire' over the next six weeks. The second year student has urged Nido Globe Works to 'please treat us like human beings and not just money machines' - but she says her pleas for compassion and decency have fallen on deaf ears. Welsh lockdown is extended for three more weeks with schools and colleges potentially shut until February Lockdown in Wales has been extended for three weeks and will likely force schools to continue lessons online until at least the February half-term. First Minister Mark Drakeford warned the pandemic is at a 'significant point' and said said measures will be tightened in 'key areas' to stem the spread of infection. The squeeze could see supermarkets and offices told to step up efforts to make premises Covid-secure. Mr Drakeford also warned that unless there was a 'significant' drop in cases before January 29 - when the next three-week review of the regulations is carried out - school and college students will continue remote learning until the February half-term. Advertisement 'The Government said in the summer that universities and private hall providers should be fair with their rent fees. I had signed my contract with them (Globe Works) in December 2019 before Covid was even a thing,' Saffron told BirminghamLive. 'We're being forced to pay for empty rooms even though we want to be in our rooms we are legally not allowed to return. 'Therefore how is it fair we are being forced to pay full price for these empty rooms? 'We ask landlords to show some compassion, to show empathy and decency to understand that students are struggling mentally and financially now more than ever. 'It's so hard to be a university student at the moment let alone with added pressures of being forced to pay for a room we are not allowed to go back to. This money is needed by students, it's important. 'So I myself, among many other students, are asking our landlords to show compassion when it comes to rent fees. We want to be treated like human beings - not money machines.' Saffron, who is currently living at home near Lowestoft in Suffolk, said for a lot of people student loans do not even cover their rent and they have to pay out of the pocket for the rest of it. She said her student loan only just covers her rent and her accommodation contract lasts for 44-weeks. 'It leaves with me with about 10 per week. When you take into account your food, laundry, travel - that is nothing,' she said. 'I know people are struggling with money. From when I've paid my rent to when we are supposed to go back in mid-February I will have basically thrown away 1,000 into the fire because I'm paying for an empty room. 'They are still expecting us to pay for a room we are legally not allowed to go back. It's not like we don't want to go back. 'We just don't want to pay for an empty room. The six-weeks worth of money up to the point where we're allowed back really is not going to put a dent in their pockets. 'But with us it's burning holes in our pockets. The difference is unbelievable. Landlords are earning a living - but students aren't getting any money.' The 20-year-old said Nido Globe Works still expects her to pay 169-per-week from her student loan for the flat on Cliveland Street, in Newtown - leaving her with just 10-a-week to live on Saffron, who is looking to go into the probation service after university, had used the self-contained flat from September to mid-December last year. The student was paying 169-per week, but has since had it reduced it to 136 after she lost her job due to Covid's impact on the hospitality sector. She had got a role working behind the bar at the O2 Academy in the city - but when the pandemic struck it was forced to close. As she had only just completed two shifts at the start of March she did not qualify for furlough. 'It's been really difficult. Students are just feeling so deflated. On top of the same workload, they are feeling like they are getting less teaching,' said Saffron. 'On top of that is stress about accommodation and financial stress. 'Everyone knows students are poor but before coronavirus you could get a job fairly easily to tide yourself over. Now it's just so difficult as everyone is in the same boat. 'Students feel they are being ignored and not listened to. They is no ounce of empathy or understanding. Students feel that no-one cares and are being rinsed for their money.' Saffron's concerns have been echoed by Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, NUS UK Vice President, who is calling for more support over the coming weeks and months Her concerns have been echoed by the NUS, who is calling for more support over the coming weeks and months. Hillary Gyebi-Ababio, NUS UK Vice President (Higher Education) said: 'The government's 'student travel window' told students to leave their term-time accommodation by 9 December 2020 and students are now being told not to return until at least mid-February and likely beyond. 'It is simply unacceptable that students are being told to not live in housing they have paid for, on public health grounds, yet are receiving no government support. 'All student renters must now be offered rent refunds and the option of leaving their tenancy early, if universities and landlords need financial support to make this happen then government must step-in. Scotland legislated to do this, Westminster must now follow.' In an email to Saffron on January 5, Nido Globe Works told her the position remained unchanged. 'Regrettably, we cannot waive or discount any accommodation licence fees,' it said. 'Consequently, the cancellation policy remains as agreed in the Licence agreement and the Licence fee payment is due. 'We therefore would kindly request all students meet their obligations and pay any outstanding Accommodation Licence fees under the terms of the Licence agreement.' A spokesperson for Nido Student told MailOnline: 'As property managers of Nido residences, our role is crucial in maintaining the wellbeing of our students. 'We of course sympathise with all students who have been impacted by Covid-19, however, unlike last year, we and many other student accommodation providers are simply not in a position to offer refunds or discounts this year. 'Many of our students remain in their Nido private accommodation and we must continue doing everything we can on the ground to support them physically and mentally during this uncertain period. 'For those that have not yet returned, we are maintaining frequent communication and look forward to their return when it is safe to do so. 'The Universities Minister has also announced a 20 million fund to support students studying in England and we would urge any student struggling financially to contact the student services department at their respective universities to discuss potential support.' Distance education is being legislated in Kazakhstan - President Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev signed the law "On Amendments and Additions to Certain Legislative Acts of the Republic of Kazakhstan on Education," Akorda reports. Late last year, Senate deputies passed amendments to the law on education, as the process of distance learning had not legislated before the pandemic. The total number of cases infected with the new coronavirus disease (Covid-19) strain that was first reported in the United Kingdom, stands at 82 in the country, the Union ministry of health and family welfare has stated. The results are based on the genome sequencing of Covid-19 positive samples released by the Indian Sars-Cov-2 Genomics Consortium (Insacog) labs. The Central government created a network of 10 advanced labs across the country last month to step up disease surveillance in the wake of mutations detected in the Sars-Cov-2 virus that cause Covid-19. The designated 10 INSACOG labs are - NIBMG Kolkata, ILS Bhubaneswar, NIV Pune, CCS Pune, CCMB Hyderabad, CDFD Hyderabad, InSTEM Bengaluru, NIMHANS Bengaluru, IGIB Delhi and NCDC Delhi. Out of these laboratories conducting genome sequencing, six have found samples positive for the new UK variant. All patients have been kept in a single room isolation at designated health care facilities of respective state governments. Their close contacts have also been put under quarantine. Comprehensive contact tracing has been initiated for co-travellers, family contacts and others. Genome sequencing on other specimens is currently going on. Also read: Bird flu confirmed in 6 states; unusual avian deaths in Delhi being checked From November 25 to December 23, 2020, about 33,000 passengers disembarked at various Indian airports from the UK. All these passengers are being tracked and subjected by states to RT-PCR tests to detect Covid-19. The presence of the new UK Variant has already been reported by countries such as Denmark, Netherlands, Australia, Italy, Sweden, France, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, Japan, Lebanon and Singapore. Meanwhile, the country has been reporting a streak of low daily new cases of the viral disease. According to the health ministry data, only 18,139 people were found to be Covid-19 positive on Friday in the country. The number of new deaths due to Covid-19 has also remained under 300 for the past two weeks. The overall numbers are on a decline, but there are some states where a sudden surge in cases during the past few days has been reported, this highlights the need for people to strictly adhere to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, particularly wearing a mask and maintaining a distance of at least 6-feet with others, said a health ministry official, requesting anonymity. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted residents and businesses throughout the state, but some of the hardest impacts have been seen with some nonprofit organizations. For the Muley Fanatic Foundation, $250,000 it received in CARES Act funding from the Wyoming Business Council will go a long way in helping the organization maintain its commitment to promoting mule deer conservation. The Covid-19 pandemic has been dire to MFF and our efforts to further the mission, MFF cofounder Josh Coursey said. The backbone to our operation and the unique funding model we are built upon is dependent on memberships, chapter banquets and fundraising efforts. Like most events, the MFFs banquets were canceled because of the pandemic and fears of spreading COVID-19 amongst members. In total, the organization was forced to cancel 11 events throughout the year including its Mansface Mountain Music Festival, a festival hosted on Expedition Island for the past two years. The funding the organization received comes from an agricultural relief program under the Wyoming Business Council. The program was originally designed to help the states farmers and rangers with COVID-19 related impacts and expenses, but was opened to some nonprofits. The amount the MFF received was the maximum amount that could be awarded. For the organization, the funding comes at a time when several initiatives were threatened Coursey said. Funding commitments for two ongoing PhD research projects through the University of Wyoming, annual habitat contract work and continued funding to the LaBarge/Big Piney underpasses are just a few of the larger labors that were in jeopardy due to the pandemic, he said. Coursey said the funding was a blessing to the organization because many of their operations are reliant on social gatherings and people engaged in the foundations mission. According to the MFFs website, the funding model the organization uses allows for 70% of the money generated to go towards various projects the organization is focused on. The Wyoming Business Council reports the agriculture relief fund provided $31.5 million to 514 applicants. Overall, nearly $420 million in funding has been distributed. China erupted in amusement at the United States' troubled democracy after supporters of President Donald Trump derailed the US Capitol. Beijing denounced the "sharp contrast" between Washington's response to the siege and the 2019 Hong Kong anti-government demonstrations. China on US Capitol Chaos: 'Beautiful Sight' Tabloid Global Times on Thursday posted an image of Twitter about comparisons of Hong Kong protesters occupying the city's Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with Wednesday's Capitol riot. Global Times compared the security breakdown, which remarkably delayed the certification of Biden in Congress as the next president to recent anti-government unrest in Hong Kong, for which Chinese officials have recently come under Trump government sanctions for suppression. Reminding American leaders they formerly called the often brutal Hong Kong independence protests as "a beautiful site to behold," as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi once did, the tabloid used her words for trolling with a photo of a protester occupying her office and sitting in her chair in the midst of Wednesday's mayhem. China's foreign ministry derided the storming of the mobs of the US Capitol. In a daily press briefing on Wednesday, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stated although the scenes in Washington "looked familiar," United States politicians and media provided a contrary response. According to Hua, "Radical protesters violently stormed the Legco Complex, but the Hong Kong police were highly professional and exercised a high level of restraint, and thus did not cause any deaths. The incident in Washington was not as serious, but still a few protesters died. US mainstream media used 'violence' and 'rioters' while reporting on the incident, but glorified protesters in Hong Kong as democracy heroes. The reasoning behind this is definitely food for thoughts," reported The Standard. Also Read: Congress Certifies Biden as US President For Electoral College Win Russia and Iran have also mocked the US after the mayhem at the US Capitol. According to Konstantin Kosachyov, the chair of the Russian upper house's foreign affairs committee, the appalling events in the US capital displayed that Washington had no right to lecture other countries regarding democracy. Beijing often leaps at the opportunity to underscore when liberal democracies fall and use such moments to bolster its claims that its authoritarian model is superior. The mob of Trump supporters storming the US Capitol on January 6 proffered the most suitable opportunity. The demonstrators were eventually discharged, and police officials said they discovered two pipe bombs. One woman who attempted to break through a barricade was gunned and later died due to injuries. Pro-Trump protesters rampaged through the US Capitol to protest against the election defeat through scuffling with security, taking selfies, and raiding parts of the building. According to the Global Times, "@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong Kong riots as 'a beautiful sight to behold'," citing Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's June 2019 comment regarding Hong Kong's mass pro-democracy protests, which at that time were mostly peaceful, reported NDTV. Global Times further stated on Twitter, "Even though the US has boasted itself as a beacon of democracy, it has never been a paradigm of global democracy. US democratic system has been vandalized, demonstrating how fragile the system is." Related Article: Trump Affirms VP Pence Could Overturn Election Results: 'Hope Mike Pence Comes Through' @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Actor Kangana Ranaut has released another one of her videos, this time complaining about having to mark attendance with the police and not being allowed to speak about the sedition case that has been filed against her. Kangana was also later seen at the Bandra police station to record her statement in the case. Kangana addressed the Supreme Court in her video, questioning why she has been asked to stay silent about the issue. She also compared the treatment she has received to women being burnt alive during the medieval ages. Why am I being mentally, emotionally and now physically tortured? I need answers from this nation.... I stood for you its time you stand for me ...Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/qqpojZWfCx Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 8, 2021 Since I have spoken up in the countrys favour, the way I have been tortured and harassed, the whole country is seeing it. My house was illegally destroyed. I am being slapped with innumerable cases everyday for speaking in favour of farmers. Someone has filed a case against me even for laughing. My sister Rangoli (Chandel) had spoken about the harassment that doctors had to face in the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. A case was filed against her and my name was also added to it. I wasnt even on Twitter at that time, she said in the video. Kangana Ranaut at the Bandra Police Station. (Varinder Chawla) The honourable Chief Justice ji rejected the case saying that it was baseless. I was told that I will have to go to the police station to mark attendance. No one is telling me what this attendance is for. I have also been told that I cannot speak about these harassments to anyone. So I wish to ask the honourable Supreme Court, is this the medieval age where women are burnt alive? They cant say anything to anyone. The whole world can see this torture. Those watching the spectacle, I wish to tell them that the tears of blood that were shed in thousands of years of slavery, you will have to shed them again if nationalist voices are silenced. Jai Hind, she said. At the station, Kangana, who has been provided Y-plus category security of CRPF personnel, arrived at the police station in suburban Mumbai around 1 pm along with her advocate amid heavy media presence. The Bandra police had registered an FIR against Ranaut and her sister Rangoli for allegedly promoting enmity between communities through their remarks in October, an official said. Also read: Mom-to-be Anushka Sharma gorges on pizza as she steps out for lunch with husband Virat Kohli, see pics Earlier, the Mumbai police had sent notices three times asking them to appear for recording their statements in the case. The Bombay High Court in November had granted interim protection from arrest to Kangana and her sister, and directed them to appear before the police on January 8. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10 New Delhi, Jan 8 : Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar and Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, hours before the 8th round of talks between the Centre and the farmers protesting against the three new farm laws. The meeting took place at Shah's 6A, Krishna Menon Marg residence here. The three leaders discussed various issues to break the impasse on the talks as the farmers' protest on the Delhi borders continued for the 44th day on Friday as the farmers remained adamant on the repeal of the "black and anti-farmer laws". After the meeting with Shah, Tomar said he hoped that a resolution to the impasse would come out at the meeting with farmers. The next round of talks with 41 farmer unions began at Vigyan Bhavan here around 2.30 pm. The seventh round of parleys on January 4 had remained inconclusive. Tomar, Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Som Parkash are representing the Centre in the meeting attended by representatives of 41 farmer unions. While the government is ready to make amendments in the three laws, the farmers are adamant on their repeal. Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh, who was present during the seventh round of talks, told IANS: "The demands of the farmers will remain the same. We will urge the government to repeal the three farm laws. Then we will talk on the MSP issue." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A US Capitol Police officer died in the attack on the building by President Donald Trumps supporters, taking the toll up to five as local police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) released photos of men and women involved in the riot, seeking publics help to identify and prosecute them. The Capitol building area was fenced off on Thursday after Wednesdays mayhem, while authorities began investigating the siege. The officer, Brian D Sicknick, died late on Thursday, the Capitol Police said in a statement. He was responding to the riots on Wednesday and suffered injuries while physically engaging with protesters, it said. He returned to his office and collapsed shortly thereafter. He died in a local hospital where he was taken for treatment. Sicknick was reportedly struck in the head with a fire extinguisher on Wednesday while struggling with the rioters who swarmed through the halls of Congress. Ashli Babbitt, a woman who had served in the US Air Force, was shot and killed by police while reportedly trying to smash her way into the House of Representatives chamber through a window, with other rioters. Three other people died of medical emergencies. The office of the US attorney for DC has opened a federal murder investigation into Sicknicks death, according to reports. Those convicted could get the death penalty. The case is being jointly conducted by the FBI and the DC Metropolitan Police Department, and the US Capitol Police. House speaker Nancy Pelosi has ordered flags to fly at half-mast at the US Capitol in Sicknicks honour. On behalf of the House of Representatives, I send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of officer Brian Sicknick, who died after defending the Capitol complex and protecting those who serve and work here, she said in a statement. Make no mistake. With our partners, we will hold accountable those who participated in yesterdays siege of the Capitol, FBI director Christopher Wray said. Let me assure the American people the FBI has deployed our full investigative resources and is working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue those involved in criminal activity during the events. The FBI and the police released 40 photos of rioters seeking the publics help to identify them. They included a man seen walking around with a confederate flag, and one who sat in the Senate presidents seat in the well of the chamber that was occupied just moments before on Wednesday by US vice-president Mike Pence as he had presided over the process to certify President-elect Joe Bidens election victory. Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sidney Powell on Friday, seeking at least $1.3 billion for Powell's 'wild accusations' that the company rigged the presidential election for President-elect Joe Biden. 'Dominion brings this action to set the record straight,' the company said in the suit filed in federal court in Washington. Powell has for weeks claimed without evidence that the election technology vendor, whose vote-counting equipment was used in several states, was part of a scheme to steal the election from President Donald Trump. The company's CEO John Poulos told Axios on Monday that Dominion is exploring similar suits against Trump and others. Sidney Powell is being sued by Dominion Voting Systems for making 'wild accusations' that the company rigged the presidential election for Joe Biden Powell has been representing President Donald Trump (pictured) in a series of unsuccessful lawsuits filed to contest the election outcome. Eric Coomer, Dominion's security director, already has sued Powell, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani (pictuered) and the president's campaign for defamation after he was driven into hiding by death threats Powell has been representing Trump in a series of unsuccessful lawsuits filed to contest the election outcome. She has claimed that the company was created in Venezuela to rig elections for the late leader Hugo Chavez and that it has the ability to switch votes. There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country including Trump's former attorney general, William Barr, have confirmed. Republican governors in Arizona and Georgia, key battleground states crucial to Biden's victory, also vouched for the integrity of the elections in their states. Nearly all the legal challenges from Trump and his allies have been dismissed by judges, including two tossed by the Supreme Court, which includes three Trump-nominated justices. Sidney Powell (left) previously represented President Donald Trump's first National Security Advisory Michael Flynn (right) The company said there 'there are mountains of direct evidence that conclusively disprove Powells vote manipulation claims against Dominion - namely, the millions of paper ballots that were audited and recounted by bipartisan officials and volunteers in Georgia and other swing states, which confirmed that Dominion accurately counted votes on paper ballots.' Dominion said that when it formally told Powell her claims were false and asked her to retract them, she 'doubled down,' using her Twitter account with more than 1 million followers to amplify the claims. Eric Coomer, Dominion's security director, already has sued Powell, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and the president's campaign for defamation after he was driven into hiding by death threats. Conservative columnists and news outlets also were named in Coomer's lawsuit, filed in Colorado, where the company is based. Powell previously represented President Donald Trump's first National Security Advisor Michael Flynn. Powell did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday. YOGYAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) Indonesias Mount Merapi volcano spewed avalanches of hot clouds Thursday morning as hundreds more residents were evacuated from its fertile slopes. Authorities evacuated more than 500 people living on the mountain in Magelang district on Java Island. Thousands of people already have had to leave their homes and farmland because of the dangers on Merapi, Indonesias most active volcano. Light eruptions continued during the day one sending a column of hot clouds rising 200 meters (yards) into the air. The initial eruption was obscured by fog, but using seismic and other data, the Geological Disaster Technology Research and Development Center estimated the hot clouds spread less than 1 kilometer (0.6 miles) from the crater. Until now, the potential danger is not more than 5 kilometers (3 miles), chief of Yogyakartas Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation Center, Hanik Humaida, said in a statement. The geological authority had raised the alert level of Mount Merapi to the second-highest level in November after sensors picked up increasing activity. Tourism and mining activities were halted. Some evacuees had returned to the slopes after the activity subsided but had to leave again Thursday. The 2,968-meter (9,737-foot) mountain is about 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Yogyakarta city center. About a quarter million people live within 10 kilometers (6 miles) of the volcano, according to authorities in surrounding districts. Merapi spewed ash and hot gas in a column as high as 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) into the sky in June, but no casualties were reported. Its last major eruption in 2010 killed 347 people and caused the evacuation of 20,000 villagers. Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 250 million people, sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. Government seismologists monitor more than 120 active volcanoes. About the photo: Mount Merapi spews volcanic steam from its crater seen from Sleman, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. The 2,968-meter (9,737-foot) mountain spewed avalanches of hot clouds on Thursday morning amid its increasing volcanic activities. (AP Photo/Taufiq Rozzaq) Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. OTTAWA - Shortly before 10 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2020, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne peeked at his mobile phone during a particularly intense teleconference. A BBC report of a plane crash outside Tehran airport flashed on his Twitter feed. Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois-Philippe Champagne at Global Affairs Canada in Ottawa on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick OTTAWA - Shortly before 10 p.m. on Jan. 7, 2020, Foreign Affairs Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne peeked at his mobile phone during a particularly intense teleconference. A BBC report of a plane crash outside Tehran airport flashed on his Twitter feed. What a tragic start to the year, the minister thought as he turned back to the high-level government teleconference seized with assessing the fallout of the Iranian missiles that had blasted two American military bases in Iraq, where several hundred Canadian soldiers were stationed. Four days earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a military drone to obliterate Iran's Gen. Qassem Soleimani near Baghdad airport. Iran was retaliating, stoking fears the Canadian military trainers in Iraq might become collateral damage. No one in Ottawa had yet heard of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, which had just lifted off from Tehran's airport. About five hours later, the Global Affairs Canada operations centre roused Champagne in the dead of night to inform him an airliner had crashed, with an unknown number of Canadians on board. "My mind started to race back to what I went to bed with. They said, 'yeah, that's the plane,'" Champagne recalled in an interview. "That's the plane that took off from Tehran. It was going to Kyiv." The events that unfolded in the early morning of Jan. 8, 2020 would swiftly lead to the revelation that Iran's Revolutionary Guard had shot down the passenger jet, after early efforts by Tehran's leaders to cover that up. Canada's political leaders, and its allies in Ukraine, Afghanistan, Sweden and Britain who lost nationals on the flight quickly learned how the airliner was destroyed. But one year later, their combined political efforts to answer another searing question why? remains a work in progress. All 176 people on the plane were killed, and 138 of them were connected to Canada: 55 citizens, 30 permanent residents and 53 more were visitors on their way here, many of them Iranian students bound for Canadian universities. "These are people, by and large, who had made their own decision to look to Canada for their futures and their future opportunities," said Ralph Goodale, the former Liberal public safety minister and the government's special adviser on PS752. "Canada has a particular obligation to do everything we possibly can, leave no stone unturned, to get them, their families, the answers that they deserve." Goodale, who was appointed in March, released a detailed report last month that poses 21 unanswered questions to the largely unco-operative Iranian regime, which has control of the investigation due to the current state of international aviation law. Why were commercial airliners allowed to take off from an airport in the middle of a carefully planned military attack? Were the airlines themselves told of this military action? Goodale's report also contains the recollections of federal public servants, who first learned of the crash and had to mobilize to travel to Iran against formidable odds. It was just after midnight on Jan. 8 when Adam Foulkes, pulling the night shift at the Global Affairs Canada Emergency Watch and Response Centre, confirmed a Ukrainian airliner flying out of Iran had crashed soon after takeoff. He immediately telephoned Canada's embassies in Turkey and Ukraine in search of the plane's passenger list. Kyiv returned his call at about 2:30 a.m. "I'll never forget the shock as they told me that the manifest indicated there were dozens of Canadians on the flight," Foulkes recalled. "It felt like only a few moments later that the first calls from families started coming in." Before the end of Jan. 8, Canadian officials, along with their allies began analyzing satellite data before reaching the inevitable conclusion that PS752 had been shot down. Iran was denying responsibility for the incident, but social media images would soon emerge showing at least one missile striking the jet. "Transport Canada had the radar data, and they described the way the plane suddenly went off the screen. It suggested some kind of catastrophic event that was incompatible with mechanical failure," David Morrison, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's national security and intelligence adviser, told Goodale. By 4 a.m. on Jan. 9, "we had gathered enough reliable information to assess that a missile had likely caused the crash," said Morrison. Now, a major political obstacle had to be overcome this tragedy had occurred in a country with which Canada had severed all diplomatic relations in 2012. The former Conservative government of Stephen Harper determined it could no longer protect Canadian diplomats at a vulnerable Tehran embassy, as it was about to pass legislation designating Iran a state sponsor of terrorism. Now, Canada would have to find a way to get its public servants back into Iran. Canada turned to Italy, which had become the country to which it has essentially outsourced its on-the-ground diplomatic relations with Iran under international conventions. Champagne again turned to his cellphone and texted his Italian counterpart, Luigi Di Maio. Champagne speaks Italian so he didnt bother using either of Canada's official languages when he made his first request for help. "One thing that I've learned in 2020 is to do text diplomacy. It's efficient, it's personalized and it's fast." On Jan. 11, Trudeau called Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who had pronounced the shootdown of PS752 a "great tragedy and unforgivable mistake," and promised investigations and prosecutions. Despite the lack of entry visas to Iran, the government sent several Global Affairs personnel to neighbouring Turkey with two investigators from the Transportation Safety Board. Their visas finally came through, with help of the Italians, and the Canadian team touched down in Tehran on Jan. 13 for six days of helping grieving families deal with the remains of their loved ones, while trying to understand how the plane came to be shot down. Team member Francois Shank recalled his first meeting with PS752 families. "They showed such incredible strength and resiliency, even though I can't imagine how hard it must have been." Eventually, Shank joined team members at the spot where the plane had fallen, which had been bulldozed. "You could see that the plane had crashed in a schoolyard maybe 50 yards from two densely populated areas. It made you think of just how senseless this tragedy was." On Jan. 17, one day after travelling to London for his first meeting of his fellow foreign ministers of the PS752 countries, Champagne landed in the Persian Gulf after a red-eye flight out of Heathrow for a clandestine meeting with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif. The Omani government arranged the meeting in a secluded section of the Muscat airport. "Once the meeting started it was striking to see the different approaches of the two ministers. Minister Champagne, having just come from a vigil for the victims in London, was clearly motivated by the needs of the families and deeply engaged in the details," Peter MacDougall, assistant deputy minister at Global Affairs, told Goodale. Nearly a year later, Champagne reflected on that meeting and the many others he would have with the families of the victims of PS752. He gained an appreciation of what it must be like to be a world leader who has to call the families of fallen soldiers, which is not part of the usual job description of a foreign minister. "I can assure you that it really gets inside of you," Champagne said. "I'm the face of the fight. I have to keep my head to make sure that I can do the best fight for them." In early October, Goodale flew from Saskatchewan to join Champagne and Transport Minister Marc Garneau at a solemn memorial the PS752 families held on the front lawn of Parliament Hill. Masked, with his head down and hands clasped, Goodale listened as the names those killed were read out. Champagne delivered a fiery speech railing against Iran. Dozens of mourners wearing masks, many sobbing, spread out on the lawn during COVID-19's second wave. Goodale said this week the PS752 families have done an exceptional job of commemorating their lost loved ones and fighting for justice during the "complicated and terribly messy year" of the global pandemic. "They haven't been able to travel as they would have liked to. They haven't been able to meet as they would like to. They have made extraordinarily good use of digital technology to maintain contact among all the family members and maintain the appropriate contact with me and with Minister Champagne and Minister Garneau and with the prime minister," he said. "We're coming now to that anniversary date, which is a very appropriate time to refresh everyone's determination to continue the work to get to the bottom of what happened, and why." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2021. As the country comes to terms with the violent siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters that left five dead, the crisis that appears to be among the final acts of his presidency is deepening like few other periods in the nations history. With less than two weeks until hes gone, Democrats want him out now and he has few defenders speaking up for him in his own Republican party. Nearly a century ago, F. Scott Fitzgerald and "The Great Gatsby" introduced readers to one of the great narrators in American fiction, Nick Carraway. Though the character exists solely to chronicle the tragic life of his friend Jay Gatsby, its Nicks vision that has come to define our impressions of early 1920s America: fast cars, gin- and Champagne-soaked shindigs, and the ever-present sound of jazz playing in the background. But for all the details Carraway reveals about the Jazz Age, he remains largely coy about his own life. Just days after the copyright expired on "The Great Gatsby," published in 1925, Michael Farris Smith delivers a prequel that endeavors to fill in the blanks. "Nick" traces Carraways trajectory from his dull Midwestern boyhood to the trenches of World War I, then the mean streets of New Orleanss French Quarter, before finally landing in cozy West Egg. Known for gritty noirs set in his home state of Mississippi, most recently last years "Blackwood," Smith might change tack in his newest novel, but the gloomy atmospherics of "Nick" will ring familiar to fans. Were re-introduced to a war-weary Nick Carraway doing his best to enjoy a weeklong furlough in Paris. There, he meets Ella, a street artist surviving on edible scraps and cigarette nubs swiped from sidewalk cafes. Recognizing a kindred lost soul suffering from the eternal loneliness that resides in us all, he predictably falls in love. She asks him to stay, to run away from the gore of the Great War. Predictably, he returns to the front. "Nick" By Michael Farris Smith 304 pages. Little, Brown and Company. $27. "Nick" works best when mired in the mud and blood of battle; these scenes are as horrifying, as immersive, as the recent World War I thrill ride, "1917." Seeking something more dangerous than trench warfare, Carraway volunteers to work the war beneath the war, as a tunneler burrowing and clawing his way beyond and below enemy lines, operating in silence and perfect stillness. Here, the Nick Carraway weve long known begins to take shape. He was a watcher, Smith writes, a listener qualities that will ensure his survival and later come in handy when narrating the life of Jay Gatsby. Upon returning to a post-Armistice America, Carraway buys a train ticket to the only place that might contain vestigial glimmers of what he left behind in Paris. In New Orleans, he finds a city stumbling through the final months of pre-Prohibition bacchanalia, its buildings leaned against one another as if only trying to make it through the night. Traumatized and melancholic, he holes up in a brothel, refusing drink and, to the dismay of its madame, Miss Colette, refusing company. He soon befriends her estranged husband, Judah, an opium-addicted barkeep and fellow veteran with a spooky, crescent-shaped scar framing his left eye, much like the bespectacled peepers of Dr. T.J. Eckleburg that will haunt Carraway's future in New York. I am the only honest man I know, Judah tells him a lie, obviously, and one that Carraway will repeat in "The Great Gatsby." Carraway reluctantly becomes the third wheel in Judah and Colettes ruinous relationship, a coupling that makes Jay and Daisys doomed rendezvous look downright quaint. Theres arson, card-playing gangsters, and sadistic gunmen out for revenge. The body count piles higher than the guest list at a Gatsby house party. Though "Nick" moves at a steady clip, these New Orleans chapters are suffocating, bewildering, written as if culled from another book, another life not Nick Carraways. There was no way to know where you would end up, he reflects at one point, or what you would become. But we do know what Carraway will become, and it strains credulity that this is the path that will lead him there. "Nick" is a grim tale, one that unfortunately fails to embrace the subtle but salient humor of "The Great Gatsby." Despite a handful of cleverly crafted callbacks, Smiths attempts at expanding the greater Gatsby universe largely disappoint. But as a standalone novel charting the arc of a shell-shocked soldier turned Lost Generation loner, "Nick" succeeds in parts, and will likely have you dusting off your high school paperback of Fitzgeralds masterpiece. By books end, Carraway has taken a job trading bonds in New York. Settled down in West Egg, hes mystified by the colossal mansion next door. You know the rest of the story. One star-lit evening, the mansions shadowy inhabitant finally emerges. Gatsby gazes across the dark waters to a distant green light, welcoming readers new and old with open arms. Rien Fertel is the author of Drive-By Truckers Southern Rock Opera and Imagining the Creole City. He lives in New Orleans. +2 Diving deep and surfacing: Former Times-Picayune restaurant critic writes her first novel The Mermaid from Jeju began, as the best fiction sometimes does, with an unexpected vision. Sitting by her fathers hospital bedside after h They were never a natural fit, the straight-laced evangelical and the brash reality TV star. But for more than four years, President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence made their marriage of political convenience work. Now, in the last days of their administration, each is feeling betrayed by the other. It's part of the fallout from an extraordinary 24-hour stretch in which Pence openly defied Trump, Trump unleashed his fury on the vice president, and a mob of violent supporters incensed by Trumps rhetoric stormed the Capitol building and tried to halt the peaceful transfer of power. The Trump-Pence relationship is pretty raw right now," said one top GOP congressional aide, who described multiple phone calls in which Trump berated Pence and tried to pressure the vice president to use powers he does not possess to try to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Pence, for his part, was left feeling hurt and upset by the episode, according to people close to him. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal matters. Pence's decision to publicly defy Trump was a first for the notoriously deferential vice president, who has been unflinchingly loyal to Trump since joining the GOP ticket in 2016. Pence has spent his tenure defending the president's actions, trying to soothe anxious world leaders put off by Trump's caustic rhetoric, and carefully avoiding the president's ire. He has taken on some of the administration's most high-pressure projects, including leading its response to the coronavirus. And he has stood by Trump even as the president leveled baseless allegations of voter fraud and refused to concede the election after his loss to Democrat Joe Biden. Under normal circumstances, the vote-tallying procedure that began on Wednesday would have been a mere formality. But after losing court case after court case, and with no further options at hand, Trump and his allies zeroed in on the congressional tally as their last chance to try to challenge the race's outcome. In a bizarre interpretation of the law, they argued that the vice president had the unilateral power to reject Electoral College votes supporting Biden. The Constitution makes clear that only Congress has that power. The effort effectively turned Pence into a scapegoat who could be blamed for Trump's loss if the vice president refused to go along with the plan. Trump and his lawyers spent days engaged in an aggressive pressure campaign to force Pence to bend to their will in a series of phone calls and in-person meetings, including one that stretched for hours on Tuesday. When Pence, who consulted with his own legal team, constitutional scholars and the Senate parliamentarian, informed Trump on Wednesday morning that he would not be going along with the effort, the president blew a gasket, in the words of one person briefed on the conversation. Not long after, Trump took the stage in front of thousands of his supporters at a Stop the Steal rally, where he urged them to march to the Capitol and continued to fan false hopes that Pence could change the outcome. If Mike Pence does the right thing we win the election, Trump wrongly insisted. He repeatedly returned to Pence throughout his speech as he tried to pressure the vice president to fall in line. But Trump already knew what Pence intended. And as Trump spoke, Pence released a letter to Congress laying out his conclusion that a vice president cannot claim unilateral authority to reject states electoral votes. He soon gaveled into order the joint session of Congress where his and Trump's defeat would be cemented. Not long after that, members of Trump's rally crowd arrived at the Capitol, where they overwhelmed police, smashed windows, occupied the building and halted the electoral proceedings. Pence was whisked from the Senate chamber to a secure location, where he was held for hours with staff as well as his wife and daughter, who had been there to support him. Trump did not call to check in on his vice president's safety during the ordeal and instead spent much of Wednesday consumed with anger over Pence's action, tweeting, Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution." Later, members of the mob outside the Capitol were captured on video chanting, Hang Mike Pence! For allies of Pence, it was a deeply upsetting episode that put the vice president in danger after four years of unstinting loyalty to the president and left Pence himself feeling hurt. I just think he's had enough," said John Thompson, who served as Pence's campaign spokesman and and also worked for the Republican Governors' Association. Yesterday just really pulled on his heartstrings, Thompson said. He's been this loyal individual and the president was asking him to break the law and act outside his constitutional duties. I think it just reached a boiling point and the vice president said, I've had enough. Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma told Tulsa World, Ive never seen Pence as angry as he was today. He said, After all the things I've done for (Trump), Inhofe added. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, an informal Trump adviser, also came to Pence's defense, tweeting that his action was a profile in courage. It remains unclear how the dynamic between Trump and Pence will play out over the next two weeks and how long the president will hold his grudge. The White House declined to discuss Trump's thinking, but allies said Pence intends to spend the next two weeks focused on the transition. He is also expected to attend Biden's inauguration. And while Pence had been banking on his close relationship with the president to propel him to top-tier status if he decides to run for president in 2024, allies said they didn't think the vice president's actions this week would have long-term consequences, even if some voters blame him for Trump's defeat. I thought that was a very courageous moment for him, Thompson said. "And I think that's going to help his future." Two persons were killed on Wednesday when operatives of the Oyo State Security Network, popularly known as Amotekun, clashed with some youth. PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the killings occurred on Wednesday evening during a clash between the operatives and some residents of Tapa community in Ibarapa North local government of the state. Witnesses told our correspondent that Amotekun operatives engaged some youth having a carnival in the community which led to the violent incident. Hakeem Akogun, a witness, said the security operatives arrived at the carnival around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday and shot following a disagreement with the youths. Immediately the Amotekun operatives got to the scene of the carnival, they ordered the organisers to stop the music and go to their respective houses, he said. Some youths in the community disagreed and it led to a clash between the youths and the Amotekun. The operatives shot directly at them and we confirmed two people dead, he said. Five other persons sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital in the town, sources claim. Amotekun reacts Olayinka Olayanju, the Commandant of Amotekun Corps in Oyo State, confirmed the killing of the two individuals. The retired colonel said the operatives attempted to disperse the youths having carnival when in the community when the killings occurred. Some of the youths fired gunshots at our operatives and they (operatives) responded. They destroyed our vehicle just because we were enforcing a ban on carnivals, he said. Although two people have been confirmed dead, we are still investigating the incident to have a clear picture. This is the third time that Amotekun operatives would be accused of killings in three weeks. This newspaper in December reported how Kolade Gbadebo, an undergraduate of the University of Ibadan, was shot dead by the operatives at Sabo area of Oyo town. ALSO READ: Amotekun operative shoots police officer in Oyo A police officer was also recently shot by an Amotekun officer, Ibrahim Ogundele, last week. Governor reacts In a reaction to public outcry, the Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, in a post on Twitter, assured that his administration is doing everything in its power to address the alleged irregularities of Amotekun operatives. One of the strategies we are using to check insecurity in the state is the recently introduced Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun). I am fully aware of the alleged highhandedness by some members of the corps. We are investigating these issues to address them promptly. The welfare and security of the good people of Oyo State remain our top priority. We will not sit back and watch any harassment or intimidation of members of the public or our security officers. Therefore, I urge the good people of Oyo State to please remain calm and allow members of the corps to perform their legally authorised duties for our peoples well-being. Let me assure you that if any corps members are abusing their office, they will be dealt with accordingly, he said. ADVERTISEMENT The network was set up by South-west regional governors in the wake of the inability of federal security outfits to curb rising insecurity in the region. Randi Pink, author of Girls Like Us, is a writer, mother, and advocate for Black lives. Her latest book, Angel of Greenwood, is a YA historical novel that follows teenagers Angel and Isaiah as they fall in love in their Black neighborhood of Greenwood on the eve of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. We spoke with Pink about Black Excellence, redlining, and about how her newfound motherhood reshaped her activism and writing. What inspired you to write a fictional account of the Tulsa Race Massacre, a tragic historical moment? What about it feels timely to you? Ill rewind to two years ago. I have a folder on my laptop thats entitled Therapy. If Im going through something especially troubling, frustrating, or something I feel like I cant get out of I open a Word document in that folder and just start writing. At the time I was a brand-new mother (probably a little bit post-partum) and frustrated, which is an understatement, but frustrated with the fact that I was still trying to figure out which side of the red line in my town to live on. Now that I had a childa Black childI had to decide if I should live in the mostly white neighborhood or mostly non-white neighborhood. Those red lines are still pretty stark in Birmingham. I felt the same way my mother felt 30 years ago. So, I opened the Therapy folder and just started writing about a place for myself and my Black children to live. No hope of publication, no plota mom and pop ice cream shop here that was Black-owned, a bank across the street that was Black owned, everywhere you can smell flowers. It was beautiful; it was me dreaming. I spoke with a librarian a few weeks after I started that and she asked a dreaded question, Whats next? What are you working on? Whats the next book? I said, Well I dont have a book, but I have this, and I explained it to her. Then the librarian said, Well have you heard of Black Wall Street? I remember the visceral shame in my gut after she explained it. How did I not know about this? I went home, researched a little bit that day and immediately moved [the story] from my Therapy folder to my work-in-progress folder. That was the essence of Angel of Greenwood. The protagonists are both in high school, and find immense joy in using the mobile library to bring literature to disenfranchised areas of their community. What led you to tell this story through the eyes of teens? What are some ways that children and teens today can take initiative in their communities, even in a pandemic? I love that you use the word joy because when I think of Angel and Isaiah, I think of joy. The mobile library, the building of the relationship, the debate: its all just typical teen stuff that kids should do. But theyre doing all of this teen stuff on the heels of Reconstruction! Their parents were possibly enslaved themselves or directly descended from enslaved peoples! So just the fact that theyre able to fall in love in peace is a triumph. For their parents to have a slice of time when they could watch their children walk down the street in peacethats the joy of the novel for me. How can teens now take initiative in their communities even in a pandemic? Whether youre a writer or not, write. Whether youre a teen or not, write about this moment. Get a journal, open a Therapy folder on your laptop and write about the pandemic. Maybe its not going to help right now, but in the future youll certainly be happy you did it. When did you know you wanted to be a writer? Ive always been one. I dont even think I wanted to be one; its just like having a beating heart for me. I dont have a choice. I grew up in a house full of talkers and I was the quiet one in the corner observing and listening. Id have strong opinions, but I didnt know how to vocalize them. I felt like they got stuck somewhere between heart and mouth and I couldnt make it happen. The only way I could do it was to take a pen to paper. I never thought it would be possible to make a career out of itit felt like a pipe dream. Whenever I expressed that I wanted to do that I would get told, No, its not possible. Get a real job, Randi. Move on. But whether I had a real job or not, I was a writer. Did that experience influence you at all while characterizing Angel or Isaiah? I was writing for three months with an infant and a toddler on my shoulder 24/7. I had no escape from these precious babies. I was writing in chaos, so I dont think I realized just how close I was to Isaiah until a final readthrough a couple of months ago. I cried at one particular scene when Isaiah was walking and performing like a peacock. Isaiah is perfect as he is, but hes hiding himself and all of the things that make him perfect and is wondering, What makes me okay? What makes me acceptable? I cried when I read that because I realized I was writing myself in that. How many times had I wondered, Is the world going to accept me? The ideologies of W.E.B. DuBois and Booker T. Washington are mentioned frequently throughout the book as Angel and Isaiahs tools for discussing how to navigate their society. Do you lean toward one writers ideals more than the other? No. I look at them as activate vs. tolerate. I read The Souls of Black Folk and Up from Slavery back-to-back. After hundreds of years of slavery, one philosophy is not enough. I toiled with that because if Im writing a historical fiction novel set in 1921 in a Black community, I cant not discuss how Black people are going to move forward on the heels of slavery, because thats all anybody was thinking about. Is one better than the other? God no, theyre just so different. My heart kind of breaks for Booker T. Washington because of his upbringing, being born enslaved, his mother probably taken by force by a neighboring white man (it was a mystery who his father was), no working door on the shack. His most impressionable years were full of that experience. So, for him to rise up from that in the first place is a triumph, but he was probably terrified! Then theres W.E.B. DuBois, Why did God make me an outcast and stranger in mine own house? Its like screw this! Fists in the air. No! Were not doing it this way. Were going to make them listen to us or were going to protest. Theres no wrong answer. The wrong lies with the white people who caused the pain. The right lies with whoever decides to do something. Do you consider yourself an activist? What does activism mean to you? If you ask my mama shell say, Yes. But am I? I dont think I can avoid that title anymore. So yes. What shifted me into this place was becoming a mama. Once that little Black child took a breath of air I was like, I cant shut my mouth no more. Im still the child in the corner thats not going to involve herself vocally in an argument. I dont know how to do that, but I know how to write a book and essays and I know how to break things that way. My activism is my books. What crossed your mind this summer when the President initially announced that he would be holding a rally in Tulsa on Juneteenth, a day of celebration honoring Black emancipation? (The date of the rally was later changed.) Did it bring a new sense of urgency to your novels publication? Where were you in the process? I still dont even know what to say about that. I had trouble processing. I first saw it on the ticker tape of CNN and I was angry. Angel of Greenwood was actually moved up. It was supposed to be published later in 2021, but got moved up to January last minute. So, we were in the thick of copyedits and timeline edits. When I saw that on the ticker tape I was like, Okay, laptop open. Kids in the pack n play. I was pissed off. Its kind of good for the sake of Angel of Greenwood that all of those things happened because I write my best when Im pissed off. In the back of your novel you list other communities like Greenwood that existed before and after it. Do you think its important that Black people have the right to continue to have flourishing communities that embody Black Excellence? Yes. Thats where the novel came from. Before the world shut down, I used to write in a private room in a beautiful librarythe best library in my town by far. The private room has a panoramic view of this quaint neighborhood. The problem with the neighborhood is that it was not built for me. I would not have been allowed there unless I was cleaning somebodys house. Thats no longer the case, but as a result of how it was built I believe its still over 90% white, this neighborhood with the best library. Sometimes I zone out, longingly looking at this place thinking, We couldve had this if it was not taken. In my research of those townswhich has become a passion projectthere were a few, like Tulsa, that were just torched and taken, but the majority were taken by eminent domain, a freeway project, and urban renewal. Some of these beautiful Black towns are not even on the historical registry and how dare they not be when they were built by enslaved or formerly enslaved people! They deserve to exist! I dont know how to fix that, but I sure am not going to stop trying to at least get them on the historical registry somehow. Redlining was still legal in the 1940s. I believe my city is still one of the most redlined cities. The green and red spots according to those 1940s maps are still the same. The green spots have multi-million-dollar homes; the library I love so much is in a green spot. The red spots, where my grandmother was allowed to live, are still struggling. Its a hard question, but you almost have to open a book on the bylaws of the 40s to understand why things are the way they are and why these things have to be discussed. Whats next for you? My hope is to keep writing and be able to make a life doing it. Thats all I can do, [all] Im good at. As far as works in progress, I have a lot of them, but none that have been announced yet. I have been doing a Thirty Black Towns in Thirty Days thing on my Instagram, @randi_pink. Ive been releasing two-minute videos highlighting those places every morning. Hopefully, one day, therell be another book on that. Fingers crossed. Angel of Greenwood by Randi Pink. Feiwel and Friends, $18.99 Jan. 12 ISBN 978-1-250-76847-6 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Strathclyde researchers have developed a novel way of measuring underwater noise created by ships which poses a danger to marine life. Human-generated underwater radiated noise (URN) from the military, the oil and gas industry and shipping traffic can interfere with the ability of marine animals to hear, navigate, communicate and catch prey. The problem was recognized by the United Nations at its Convention of Migratory Species in 2018 where it called for more research on the impact of URN and for countries to mitigate ocean noise where possible. Professors Patrick Fitzsimmons and Mehmet Atlar of the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering (NAOME), have adapted off-the-shelf equipment to deploy the HyDrone, a waterproof aerial drone fitted with a SoundTrap hydrophone recorder to measure the URN generated by the propulsion systems of marine craft. The HyDrone is capable of landing on the sea, powering off and floating while the SoundTrap hydrophone is suspended below it. The HyDrone is then flown back to the boat it operates from. This novel configuration minimizes extraneous background noise from tidal current cross-flow which affects traditional weighted-line systems, where a hydrophone is tethered to a buoy or support vessel. Professor Atlar, said: "Like carbon emission, increasing emission of URN from ever-growing commercial shipping traffic in the world's ocean has become a life-threatening danger to living mammal and fish whose communications, feeding, breeding and day-to-day affairs are adversely affected by URN emission. "The international and EU regulatory authorities like the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the EU have started campaigns and launched research programs to mitigate and prevent this harmful environmental impact." Professor Fitzsimmons adds "Within this context, technology like the HyDrone can simplify the practical measurement of the URN from ship propellers and other sources. The unit can operate wherever the target ship is operational and so can measure noise levels in shallow waters." More versatile The aerial platform provides a cheaper, more versatile deployment system since it can be launched quickly to sites from 5m to 1.5km from the target vessel and can be recovered in minutes, without requiring the vessel to stop to recover the alternative, heavier in-water drone or buoyed systems. The HyDrone also has an on-board, low-light camera augmented with a more deeply immersed lightweight camera, which can measure temperature and salinity. The system will allow observation of ship propeller's tip vortex cavitationthe creation of vapor filled cavities in the waterand measure near-field noise adjacent to the propeller and at increasing distances behind the vessel. This type of cavitation is caused by increased speed at the propeller tips that can reduce the nearby water pressure at a level of the critical vapor pressure. This induces so-called cold-boiling or "cavitation" which is a nuisance for propellers resulting in blade erosion, vibration and noise when those cavities implode. Such data will be used to validate more advanced computational fluid dynamics simulations of cavitation induced noise, which are being developed within NAOME. The HyDrone may also be adapted to record wave motions. Proving trials were recently conducted off Blyth in Northumberland where the target vessel was the "Princess Royal," a ship which had been designed by Professor Atlar and students in his previous post at Newcastle University. The HyDrone was tested at 10m immersion against a standard vertical array of tethered hydrophones. The trial confirmed the ability of the HyDrone to minimize background noise, with little cross-flow experienced on the line between the drone and the Soundtrap hydrophone. Strathclyde has started student projects involving a series of further trials in the Clyde estuary which will gather a body of URN and video data on a variety of vessels traveling at service speeds and at approach and departure speeds in shallow and deeper waters. The system will also be available commercially. Explore further Marine researchers find trawling noise risk to protected mammals Media coverage that focuses on strategy over issues can harm the electoral success of Senate candidates, according to wide-ranging research gauging news coverage of more than 150 Senate races in the United States in recent years. The new study, published in the Journal Political Communication, focuses on how media coverage affected Senate campaigns over five election cycles between 2008 and 2016. It comes as the high-stakes runoff election in Georgia tips the balance of power in the U.S. for the next four years. Researchers looked at print media coverage of Senate candidates and its relationship with candidates' electoral success, focusing on the type of framing prevalent. Using the Lexis-Nexis archive, they looked at coverage in major U.S. newspapers, such as the New York Times and Chicago Tribune, as well as smaller, local outlets. The study's lead author, assistant professor of communication Dror Walter, said the research included several important and timely findings. "News coverage heavier on strategy-oriented framing, that is, focusing on the horse-race and personal characteristics at the expense of actual policy, is related to lower electoral success of the covered politician," Walter said. "We also find that the prevalence of this type of coverage is influenced by the competitiveness of the race, candidates' past experience, andfor Democratic candidates onlythe conservativeness of the state in which they run." Walter said one explanation for the findings is that horse-race style coverage or strategy-framing was found in prior studies to induce cynicism and alienation among voters, which could, in turn, reduce their intentions to vote for the candidate. The study authors also said that while news organizations often try to provide similar coverage of all candidates, the volume and sentiment of coverage can differ greatly between candidates in the same race. "While there were cases where both candidates were covered with a more strategic frame, there were many more races in which candidates were covered to a very different extent from the strategic point of view," Walter said. "The benefit of our method is that we assign an estimation of strategy and issue-oriented coverage for each candidate. So, both candidates can have a majority of strategy-oriented coverage, but to a different extent." Working with Dr. Yotam Ophir at the University at Buffalo, the research team used machine learning and network analysis to examine the coverage of 312 U.S. Senate candidates in 156 races. "We were able to show how novel computational methods allow researchers to empirically examine important social questions that were not long ago perceived impossible to study," Ophir said. "This is the main goal of the collaboration we've established between our Georgia State and Buffalo labs." Using their computational method, the researchers were able to automatically code the news coverage and study a large number of cases. "Senate elections, especially in some states, tend to gather a lot of news coverage, and analyzing such a large number of articles manually is very challenging," Walter said. "In our case, we wanted to look at 156 Senate races and almost 200,000 articles. Our methodology for computational text analysis enabled us to analyze this very large corpus in a quick and efficient way and address a question that was not examined by past researchers on a large scale." The researchers say their methods and findings could lead to more research into how different types of media coverage and framing of political races can affect which side wins or loses. "Senate races are extremely important to the balance of power in American politics, as is evident by these crucial runoff elections in Georgia," Walter said. "The advantage of Senate races vs. presidential ones is the sheer number of cases, allowing us to draw actual empirical conclusions regarding the factors that shape them." Explore further Twitter brings back election labels for 2020 US candidates More information: Dror Walter et al. Strategy Framing in News Coverage and Electoral Success: An Analysis of Topic Model Networks Approach, Political Communication (2020). Dror Walter et al. Strategy Framing in News Coverage and Electoral Success: An Analysis of Topic Model Networks Approach,(2020). DOI: 10.1080/10584609.2020.1858379 Kim Kardashian is reportedly preparing to divorce husband Kanye West. But the Keeping Up with the Kardashians star is remaining focused on their kids during the dramatic split. She took to her Instagram Story Thursday to share a glam photo of her daughter North twinning with Aunt Kourtney Kardashian, amid the 'imminent divorce.' Twinning: Kim Kardashian took to her Instagram Story Thursday to share a glam photo of her daughter North twinning with Aunt Kourtney Kardashian Calling it quits: The 40-year-old is reportedly preparing to divorce husband Kanye West, but she's remaining focused on their kids during the dramatic split (pictured in November, 2019) The 40-year-old pointed out how her oldest child, seven, is the spitting image of her oldest sibling, 41, writing: 'Twinz.' She also posted a snap of herself twinning with Kourtney in matching SKIMS pullovers at bible study. It comes after a source told Us Weekly that Kanye, 43, is jealous of the time she's spending with their four children. The insider said: 'Kanye is jealous of the amount of time Kim has dedicated to prison reform and the kids. Kanye wanted the family to move to Wyoming full-time. Doting mom: It comes after a source told Us Weekly that Kanye, 43, is jealous of the time she's spending with their four children' Big move: The insider said: 'Kanye is jealous of the amount of time Kim has dedicated to prison reform and the kids. Kanye wanted the family to move to Wyoming full-time. It's where he sees this direction of his life going. Kim just doesn't see their lives full-time in Wyoming' 'It's where he sees this direction of his life going. Kim just doesn't see their lives full-time in Wyoming.' They also said that although the couple has been working on their marriage in counseling, they 'havent had a joint session together in a while.' 'Kim has continued to meet with their marriage counselor in solo sessions. Kim's singular focus is about how this will impact the kids, and Kanye has been receptive to engaging in those discussions.' Multiple outlets have reported that Kim is working with divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who handled her divorce with Kris Humphries, 35, in 2011, after 72 days of marriage. Making it work: They also said that although the couple has been working on their marriage in counseling, they 'havent had a joint session together in a while' (pictured in May, 2013) Divorce court: Multiple outlets have reported that Kim is working with divorce lawyer Laura Wasser, who handled her divorce with Kris Humphries, 35, in 2011, after 72 days of marriage (pictured in May, 2012) Final straw: Meanwhile, Page Six reported that Kanye's failed presidential run was 'the final straw' for Kim, amid their struggle to make the marriage work (pictured in July, 2020) Meanwhile, Page Six reported that Kanye's failed presidential run was 'the final straw' for Kim, amid their struggle to make the marriage work. A source said that the SKIMS mogul 'needed to end the marriage for the sake of her kids and her own sanity.' Things seemingly came to a head in July, when Kanye revealed that they almost had an abortion when she was pregnant with North, ultimately sparking rumors of a divorce. Kim and Kanye tied the knot in Florence, Italy back in May of 2014, and they share daughters North, Chicago, two, sons Saint, five, and Psalm, one. Co-parents: Kim and Kanye tied the knot in Florence, Italy back in May of 2014, and they share daughters North, seven, Chicago, two, sons Saint, five, and Psalm, one She never puts a foot wrong with fashion. And Amanda Holden exuded elegance in a wool coat with faux fur shoulders on Friday as she finished recording her Heart FM show. The radio host, 49, looked incredibly chic as she exited Global Radio Studios and sauntered through Leicester Square. Sophisticated: Amanda Holden exuded elegance in a wool coat with faux fur shoulders on Friday as she finished recording her Heart FM show Her stylish coat featured pockets, chunky buttons and a belt cinched at the waist. Amanda added height to her frame with navy stilettos which complemented her leather handbag. The mother-of-two also rocked skinny jeans and cat-eye sunglasses which framed her visage. She styled her strawberry blonde tresses in a sleek bob and wore a soft make-up look. Seasonal style: The radio host, 49, looked incredibly chic as she exited Global Radio Studios and sauntered through Leicester Square The Britain's Got Talent judge was seen waving and flashing her scarlet manicure in the process. On Thursday it was announced that the competition show had been delayed until the autumn as COVID-19 lockdown had scuppered plans for nationwide auditions. Amanda also claimed having no audience on Britain's Got Talent 'makes no sense', after it was revealed the 2021 edition was postponed. Speaking about the decision on Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston on Friday, the radio presenter said having the public there during auditions was necessary as it 'affects the quality of the show' because they're 'the fifth judge'. She explained: 'We were due to start filming on the 18th of January and then it was pushed to the 28th and then we got the call yesterday before the press release just saying, "look I think out of every show on television Britains Got Talent needs the audience". All in the details: Her stylish coat featured pockets, chunky buttons and a belt cinched at the waist Accessories: Amanda added height to her frame with navy stilettos which complemented her leather handbag 'We need you guys, because we call them the fifth judge and it just makes no sense not to have them behind us.' Amanda said she was happy with the decision to delay the show, as she went on to say she 'would rather wait' until it's safe to have the show with an audience. She said: 'I think it affects the show and it affects the quality of the show and with the biggest will in the world because theres so much hard work backstage and everyones really done a huge effort to make it the best show it can be - it still affects it, so I would rather wait and make it the best it can be and put it on in the Autumn.' Discussing head judge Simon Cowell's return, she added: 'Ill miss Simon though. It will be nearly two years since Ive actually touched him!' Stunning: The mother-of-two also rocked skinny jeans and cat-eye sunglasses which framed her visage. She styled her strawberry blonde tresses in a sleek bob and wore soft make-up Pop of colour: The Britain's Got Talent judge was seen waving and flashing her scarlet manicure in the process Ashley Roberts told her she'd have to 'give him a big cuddle' when they do see each other again, to which Amanda joked: 'I will, if Im allowed or I might poke him with a stick.' In a statement released on Thursday, ITV said they're hopeful the show will return later this year, but they have delayed plans to start auditions later this month due to government restrictions. They said: 'The filming for the 15th series of Britain's Got Talent has been postponed from its proposed record dates in late January. 'With the announcement of the latest Government health guidelines and with our priority of safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved in our programmes we, together with the production teams at Thames and Syco, have taken the decision to move the record and broadcast of the forthcoming series. They added in the statement: 'We will confirm revised dates in due course.' The second mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination was conducted on Friday in 736 districts across 33 states and union territories with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who oversaw the dry run in Tamil Nadu, saying inoculating the country's entire population would soon become a reality. He said vaccines would be made available in the next few days and those at risk such as healthcare professionals would be given priority. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on the other hand, issued guidelines to all aircraft operators who plan to transport COVID-19 vaccines packed in dry ice to various parts of the country. If vaccines packed in dry ice is being transported in the passenger cabin of an aircraft, then the flight crew should be properly trained on the hazards and risks of its transportation, the aviation regulator noted. Dry ice transforms into carbon dioxide gas at temperatures higher than -78 degrees Celsius under normal atmospheric pressure and, therefore, it is classified as "dangerous goods" by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), it said. The health ministry said the objective of the mock drill was to simulate the actual vaccine administration event. The entire planning of the vaccination drive including beneficiary registration, microplanning and vaccination at the planned session sites was tested under the leadership of district collector or district magistrate. 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 dry run also aimed to familiarise the state, district, block and hospital level officers on all aspects of COVID-19 roll-out. After reviewing the dry run at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, Vardhan said the Centre has started a new COVID platform to track particulars of potential vaccine beneficiaries and also issue electronic certificates to them. India, he said, has done extremely well in developing vaccines in the shortest possible time. "We are in the process of ensuring that in the next few days, also in the near future, we should be able to give this vaccines to our countrymen, starting with of course prioritising those who are most at risk, our health professionals, healthcare workers in the public and private sector followed by frontline workers," he added. Vardhan also visited the Government Omandurar Hospital in Chennai and a few other centres. He said the Integrated Vaccine Complex of HLL Biotech Limited (HBL), which has remained non-functional for six months, would soon be optimally utilised to produce COVID-19 vaccines. The government has spent over Rs 600 crore to establish the state-of-the-art facility at Chengalpattu, he said. HBL is a 100 per cent subsidiary of HLL Lifecare Limited, a government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association has appealed to all its members to actively participate in the COVID-19 vaccination drive across the country. "As you all are aware of the COVID-19 vaccine being made available in the immediate future, it becomes our natural responsibility to assist the vaccination drive in a professional way," the doctors' body said in a statement. "With the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 at our doorsteps, it is worth remembering that indigenous vaccines have been developed after the tireless efforts of Indian scientists in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV)," it said. The first nationwide mock drill was held on January 2 which, the health ministry said, helped to iron out any glitches in the final execution and further refinement of the operational procedures. India's drugs regulator has approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states on Monday to discuss the COVID-19 situation and the vaccination roll-out in the country, the PMO said. On Thursday, Vardhan interacted with the health ministers and principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries of all states and union territories through video conference to review the preparedness for the mock drill.He The drill was held at three session sites of 736 districts across 33 states and union territories. In Maharashtra, where the drive was conducted in 32 of the 36 districts, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said there are still "some areas in the overall system where we need to improve efficiency in terms of data updating, delivery of SMS and training the local staff for inoculation". Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar said the state is expected to receive 13,90,000 vials of COVID-19 vaccine in a day or two, and it is likely to be administered from January 11. "We have registered 6.30 lakh healthcare professionals in Karnataka till date. Those who are left out, may be in some medical or dental colleges, we have requested them to register," he told reporters after visiting a private hospital in Bengaluru where the dry run was conducted. LANSING, MI Echoes of an armed statehouse occupation and foiled plot to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were reverberating at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, where experts see parallels between the actions of far-right groups in Michigan and the U.S. Capitol invasion by an armed mob of Trump supporters and anti-government radicals. Can you say dress rehearsal? asked Jeffrey Swartz, who teaches criminal law at Western Michigan Universitys Thomas M. Cooley Law School. These things dont happen in a vacuum, he said, noting the connection to a wider anti-government movement thats become highly visible recently in Michigan and other states. Swartz and others, including Governor Whitmer, see events in Michigan last year as foreshadowing, in retrospect, the actions in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Jan. 6, when a crowd fueled by unproven claims of election fraud from President Donald Trump, stormed the Capitol building in an insurrection that resulted in the death of five people. The sea of people, some armed with handguns and wearing tactical gear such as vests and helmets as they broke into the halls of Congress while lawmakers were in the process of certifying the election for President-Elect Joe Biden, was reminiscent to many of the armed protestors who swarmed through the Michigan capitol on April 30, 2020. The presence of armed men peering down on them from the gallery was jarring for lawmakers and it ignited a debate about allowing guns in the building. Six months later, some of those same men were arrested for allegedly plotting to kidnap Whitmer and spark a civil war. Related: Armed protestors enter Michigan Capitol I mean, this is a very familiar sight, Whitmer told MSNBC on Thursday. Anyone who was paying attention saw this play out in Michigan eight, nine months ago. Months later, the very people that stormed our capitol with long guns and automatic rifles meant to intimidate lawmakers which is what happened last night in our nations capitol some of those very people were implicated in the plot to kidnap and kill me, Whitmer said. Michigan, a battleground state in the 2020 election, has been fertile territory of late for conspiracy theories and misinformation spread by fringe groups and partisan actors seeking to influence voters during the campaign and undermine the authority of state government. Debunked conspiracy claims about mail-in ballots, elite pedophile rings, the pandemic and more have found growing appeal among mainstream audiences in Michigan, and experts say that misinformation is helping divide the country and fueling rage against public officials. Michigan may have just gotten a taste earlier than other states. Jonathan Hanson, public policy lecturer at the University of Michigan and a former congressional legislative assistant, sees parallels between ideologies and people involved in the Michigan statehouse occupation and U.S. Capitol insurrection. Wednesdays melee in Washington involved right wing activists who have organized so-called Stop the Steal rallies in Michigan following Trumps election loss. At least six Michigan residents were among those arrested during the Capitol siege. Seeing that you could march into the Capitol building in Michigan probably did give them ideas and those people went to D.C. with the intent that they could do the same thing, Hanson said. Republicans in Congress have tried to distance themselves from the insurrectionists through statements condemning the violence, although Democrats who also won control of the Senate with Georgia runoff victories on Wednesday are pushing to discipline members who encouraged the Trump mob by objecting to electoral vote certification. Despite there being no evidence of widespread election fraud, three Republican delegates from Michigan U.S. Reps. Jack Bergman, Tim Walberg and newly-seated Lisa McClain objected to Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes after Congress returned to session once the building was cleared. Objection to Michigans electoral votes was filed by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who openly espouses the bizarre QAnon conspiracy, which baselessly claims that Trump is fighting deep state saboteurs in the government who worship Satan and traffic children for sex. The FBI calls the group a domestic terrorist threat. QAnon adherents were among the insurrection mob on Wednesday, including a California woman who was shot and killed by Capitol Police. Josh Pasek, a professor of communication at the University of Michigans Center for Politic Studies, said what unfolded in Washington was predictable given public response to conspiracy theories pushed by Trump and some members of the Republican party. In an environment where social media is able to amplify anyones views, rather than serious gatekeeping of what information is being spread, there are a lot of people who hear a conspiracy over and over again and are rattled and radicalized by it. Repetition induces some belief, Pasek said. In her MSNBC appearance, Whitmer laid the blame for what happened in Washington and in Michigan at the feet of Trump, who has attacked Whitmer repeatedly and posted LIBERATE MICHIGAN on Twitter in April after a drive-through quarantine protest called Operation Gridlock in Lansing. Less than a month later, armed men were marching through the state capitol. As death threats began to mount, Whitmer says she called on Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and other Republican leaders to tone down the rhetoric, but none of them did a darn thing. Words have consequences, Whitmer said. We have a leader in our White House who has been egging this on; who has been encouraging and excusing this. Swartz, a retired Miami-Dade County judge, said he was involved with investigating survivalist groups earlier in his career. He thinks the country needs to refocus efforts on dealing with extremism; recalling a man who boasted of how connected fringe groups were after being caught attempting to assassinate a Miami politician decades ago. The truth is, they are very well connected, Swartz said. They use the Internet where before they just used phones. The leaders of all these groups know each other and talk to each other. This is a very organized effort. People just dont want to recognize it. They have been under a rock; marginalized for years, he said. President Trump has unleashed them, starting with Charlottesville. He made it OK to be like them. We have to start investigating these groups again, working with informants, putting people undercover, Swartz said. Such work was crucial in stopping extremists who are now facing charges for the alleged plot to kidnap and potentially assassinate Whitmer. We have to expose their participants and make them pay for things they do or plan. Michael McDaniel, a retired National Guard brigadier general and former homeland security official at the Pentagon who is a professor at Western Michigan Universitys Thomas M. Cooley Law School, said he expects to see more political violence along the lines of the U.S. Capitol insurrection and the 2017 white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. The president has opened the jar of political violence, McDaniel said. You cant just screw the cap back on. McDaniel cited past Trump comments such as telling neo-fascist groups like the Proud Boys to stand back and stand by during a presidential debate and the presidents remarks Wednesday, in which he urged the crowd to fight like hell before the rioting began. Trumps personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, also told the crowd lets have trial by combat. Swartz said that Trump pushed an angry crowd to a fever pitch and pointed them at the Capitol. Given the clear intentions of many posted on social media before Wednesday, he believes Capitol Police should have been better prepared. Theres no way any of this was spontaneous, Swartz said. Thats just not possible. There were people there who clearly intended for this to happen. Take a look at the video of people rummaging around inside the House of Representatives hall, taking pictures of papers on their desks, looking for boxes of ballots. Those people walked in there with intent. They knew exactly what they were looking for, knew exactly what they wanted to accomplish. Theres no way a loose group of people can act in that type of concert. McDaniel thinks what members of the mob did Wednesday is arguably sedition and meets the definition of domestic terrorism under the Patriot Act. It was clearly intended to intimidate or coerce the government, he said. They kept saying stop the vote. If thats not an assault on democracy, I dont know what is. Related: A coup? Experts ponder how to define Capitol chaos Images of the rioters freely roaming the halls of Congress and looting offices, and then being allowed to leave largely unimpeded by police will encourage similar acts, McDaniel said. Someone from these groups will try something similar again. Pasek concurred, noting that both in Michigan last April and in Washington on Wednesday, law enforcement did not forcefully deter crowds as police did during the Black Lives Matter protests last summer. Violent clashes involving right wing groups also took place in Michigan; notably in Kalamazoo, where the Proud Boys fought with counter-protestors in August. Michigan foreshadowed what happened yesterday in obvious ways, Pasek said. In neither case did the police really do what you would hope and expect them to do, to defend the institutions they were ostensibly defending. Theres discussion that, you know, maybe the police dont view these folks as potentially dangerous, which is itself a misunderstanding of American history. In Michigan, the Capitol insurrection has also renewed debate around the appropriateness of allowing the general public to carry firearms into the state capitol building. McDaniel supports banning guns from the building. Theres no good reason to let people bring firearms into the capitol, he said. Theres already a security force in the building and letting anyone bring guns inside makes it hard for them to distinguish between who is doing so lawfully and those with intent to harm others. If were really a law-and-order society, and we say that we are, lets rely on law and order to do their jobs to protect us, not decide to do it ourselves, McDaniel said. Related stories: Maddocks presence at Capitol before riot questioned Michigan Capitol closed as state police investigate threat Democracy bent but didnt break, Dingell says Trump mob creates sad irony in House chamber Attack at U.S. Capitol threatens constitutional crisis, Walberg clings to his objection even after Capitol riot Calls for Trumps removal begin after Capitol riot This recognition comes amidst news of the United States' upcoming return to the Paris Agreement as part of the Biden administration, positioning the country to once again lead the global charge to combat the climate crisis. "With so many banded together towards the common goal of achieving a greener tomorrow, I'm hopeful that, in the United States, we'll be able to reach net zero emissions by 2050," shares this internationally renowned strategist. "In fact, the urgency of the climate crisis brings an unprecedented opportunity for technology transfer with the potential of promoting a surge of global sustainable growth." A key asset during the recent elections as founder of Americans Abroad for Biden, Verde continues transforming sustainable initiatives into business strategies and public policy with worldwide impact. In addition to this prestigious recognition, Verde's efforts to drive sustainable business practices are demonstrated by his day-to-day work with NPO Advanced Leadership Foundation and private firm Alamo Solutions Consultancy, through which he promotes a green economy, among other issues. Previously, Verde was a key global advocate to Vice President Al Gore's "The Climate Reality Project," helping establish two of its international branches, and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the United States Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama, bolstering sustainable development. In 2019, he was featured in the 25th instalment of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP25. Verde is but one of 100 change agents who were recognized by Sachamama as promoters of the fight towards a greener and more sustainable future. Its executive director Carlos Zegarra notes that the list features executives from recognized companies, high-profile politicians, academics, activists, journalists and Nobel laureates, highlighting renowned public policy figures such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Gracetti and president of Uruguay Luis Lacalle, as well as world-renowned personalities Shakira, Camila Cabello, Alejandro Sanz, Jessica Alba, Penelope Cruz and more. The publication of this list occurs within the framework of No Planet B Latino Summit, the largest meeting of influential Latinos towards the United Nations' 2021 COP26. The nonprofit hopes that visibility of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action promotes advancement towards living in balance with our planet. About Juan Verde: Verde is an internationally renowned strategist for both the public and private sectors with an extensive and unique 25+ year trajectory at the intersection of sustainable development, public policy and international affairs. As a lifelong advocate for the fight against climate change, he's regarded as a leader in promoting clean energy and sustainable economies in both the US and across the world. For the latest news on Verde, please visit juanverde.net. SOURCE Juan Verde Related Links http://www.juanverde.net Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The rapid availability of effective COVID-19 vaccines is a good thing, and the government has launched a nationwide campaign to promote vaccination. But will that campaign work? Florian Heine, researcher at Tilburg University, believes it will, provided the government communicates moral dimensions to greater effect. In addition, the RIVM (the Dutch national institute for public health and the environment) should move to attune its communication more closely to the demographic most likely to refuse. Vaccine availability in and of itself does not lead to high vaccination coverage. In the previous pandemic, the H1N1 swine flu crisis of 2009, at 59% vaccination coverage in the Netherlands was substantially higher than it was in Italy (a mere 5%) and Germany (8%). Even so, with coverage of the Dutch national vaccination program having been on the decline for years, protective group immunity is increasingly under pressure. Now that several promising COVID-19 vaccines are within reach, the matter of the general public's willingness to be vaccinated takes on renewed relevance. And for that reason, it is important to understand which factors inform that willingness. In the Netherlands vaccination is free; here, falling levels of vaccination coverage are related not so much to not having access to vaccination as they are to acceptance arguments amongst the population. Our findings indicate which intuitions and values should play a more prominent role in an effective communication strategy to increase vaccination acceptance. Moral foundations Scientific literature links refusal to be vaccinated to deep-rooted intuitions and values more strongly than to facts and figures. These intuitive ethical motives, which play a role in guiding human behavior, can be measured using the Moral Foundations Theory, a relatively new theory, proposed in 2012 by American professor and social psychologist Jonathan Haidt. In his theory, Haidt distinguishes six foundations: care, fairness, loyalty, authority, sanctity, and liberty, and they are mostly used to identify the moral dimensions of politically sensitive issues, such as capital punishment, abortion, and gun control. Liberal voters tend to prioritize care and fairness, while conservative voters are inclined to favor authority and loyalty. Ennie Wolters and I study how the Dutch government communicates vaccination information. Which moral foundations are accentuated or understated in the brochures the RIVM routinely provides to parents whose children are eligible for vaccination? We linked the data to the Dutch national immunization register to find out what effect using moral dimensions in the government's communication had on vaccination acceptance. Authority and liberty Our findings point to a strong positive effect on vaccination acceptance when communication appeals to authority and liberty. For example, sentences such as "You are under no legal obligation to have your child vaccinated; it is your responsibility to decide' (authority) and "Having your children vaccinated is your own choice; the government cannot force you' (liberty) have an effect of 1 (for authority) and 0.3 (for liberty) percentage points per signal word. Furthermore, it appears that the words authority and liberty are used too little in the RIVM's communication on the vaccinations of the Dutch national vaccination program. Notions relating to sanctity and care (such as safety, harmful behavior, hygiene or illness), are used approximately three times more frequently than notions relating to authority and also significantly more often than liberty (notions like duties, choices or immunity). Vaccine hesitancy In recent weeks, the RIVM has mostly communicated COVID-19 vaccine information through a Frequently Asked Questions web page and factsheet posters on its website. Today the government has also launched a publicity campaign in newspapers. Regrettably, the language used follows a pattern similar to that used in government communication about other vaccines: scant attention to the moral aspects that matter to population groups that are most likely to refuse to be vaccinated. Such notions as freedom, choice, rights, duties, and respect can be particularly effective with that demographic, and the RIVM would do well to target potential objectors accordingly. Explore further Two out of three people would have a COVID-19 vaccine when one becomes available More information: Marloes Bults et al. Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination in The Netherlands: Parental reasoning underlying child vaccination choices, Vaccine (2011). Journal information: Vaccine Marloes Bults et al. Pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination in The Netherlands: Parental reasoning underlying child vaccination choices,(2011). DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2011.06.075 Four people were killed in the violence, and the police arrested many. (Source: Reuters) The attack on the US Capitol clearly demonstrated the destructive impact of sustained distortion of facts, incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders, the UNs top human rights official has said while calling on American President Donald Trump to disavow false and dangerous narratives. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday and clashed with police, resulting in four deaths and interrupting a constitutional process by Congress to affirm the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the November 3 election. We are deeply troubled by Wednesdays attack on the US Capitol, which demonstrated clearly the destructive impact of sustained, deliberate distortion of facts, and incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Thursday. Noting that the allegations of electoral fraud were invoked to try to undermine the right to political participation, Bachelet said she was encouraged to see that the process has continued in spite of serious attempts to disrupt it. We call on leaders from across the political spectrum, including the President of the United States, to disavow false and dangerous narratives, and encourage their supporters to do so as well, she said. Bachelet expressed dismay at the serious threats and destruction of property of media professionals yesterday and voiced support for calls from many quarters for a thorough investigation into the violence and attack on the seat of the American democracy. Top United Nations leadership had expressed sadness and concern over the violence in Washington DC by pro-Trump demonstrators who stormed the US Capitol as lawmakers gathered to certify the Presidential election results. The Secretary-General is saddened by the events at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said in a note to correspondents. "In such circumstances, it is important that political leaders impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence, as well as to respect democratic processes and the rule of law, the UN chief said. President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir had tweeted that as President of the 193-member UN body, Im saddened & concerned by today's developments at the Capitol in Washington DC. The US is one of the world's major democracies. I believe that peace & respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time. Dujarric, responding to questions Thursday on the attack on the Capitol, said Guterres calls on political leaders to impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence and respect the democratic process and rule of law. Its a very important message that political leaders need to give to those who listen to them, he said. He added that the UN had spoken out about risks associated with social media platforms being used to propagate violence and hate speech. I think it just increases the responsibility of the people who manage those platforms to ensure that they are not misused to do physical harm to people, he said. U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat who is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, posted on Facebook a detailed account of Wednesdays mob assault on the U.S. Capitol. Here are excerpts: I was on the House floor taking notes for a rebuttal speech I would make later, when the Speaker (Nancy Pelosi) was whisked out of the room by security, followed immediately by the Majority Leader, Steny Hoyer. The mob had broken into the Capitol, we were informed, and were headed our way. Police were discharging tear gas, there were reports of gunshots, and we were told to take out the gas masks under each seat and prepare to put them on. One of my colleagues, a veteran, was yelling instructions breathe slowly under the hoods or you will pass out. That is when the mob reached the doors to the House chamber and started battering them and trying to break through. Capitol Police pushed furniture in the way to barricade them out and drew their weapons. The mob broke the glass in the doors, and members were instructed by police to leave the chamber through the rear doors ASAP. We did. As bad as it was, it could have been worse. There were many in the violent mob who had every intent to attack people they judged to be their enemies, and several Democratic and Republican members told me to try to keep out of sight. (Editors note: Schiff was a leader of last years House impeachment of President Donald Trump, and he has been a frequent target of the presidents Twitter tirades.) As one Republican said, I know these people and can talk to them. You are in a whole different situation. Capitol police ushered us to a secure location. On the way, one of the Republican members was carrying a large wooden stand he had taken from the House chamber, the hand sanitizer still attached to its top. I could tell he meant to use it as a club, if he needed to. You that worried about your safety? I asked him. Yes, he said, explaining that he had heard gun shots. I didnt recognize him and only knew he was a member from the pin on his lapel. How long have you been here? I asked, expecting him to tell me that he was in his second or third term in Congress. 72 hours, he said. I just got elected. I wasnt sure what to say to reassure him, and merely deadpanned, Its not always like this. (Natural News) The leader of a new political party inspired by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement wants to create a sex offender-style race offenders registry to punish white people who commit micro-aggressions in the workplace. Sasha Johnson, a self-declared Black Panther of Oxford who identifies as a member of the Taking the Initiative Party (TTIP), is pushing for black people to receive Holocaust-style reparations from white people for the discrimination blacks have supposedly had to endure at the hands of capitalism. In addition to defunding Great Britains police forces, 26-year-old Johnson wants to crack down on white people who offended her by preventing them from working, going to school, teaching and engaging in other activities. The Oxford Brookes graduate, during a recent interview with MailOnline, attacked U.K. politicians like David Lammy and Diane Abbott, two Labour MPs (members of parliament) and ethnic minorities whom Johnson claims are tokenistic, despite having dark skin. While the TTIP, of which Johnson is an executive member, is branded as being not just a party for black people, Johnsons admissions reveal that it is an anti-white activist organization no different than the Black Panther Party. The party operates a system of coalition leadership so there is no one specific person in charge and different spokesmen sometimes air views that contradict the official party line, write Daniel Beurthe, Ben Henderson, and Rory Tingle for the MailOnline. Outlining the partys manifesto in her first interview with a national publication, she called for a national register of alleged racists that would ban them from living near people from ethnic minorities. More of the latest news about anti-white racism can be found at Conspiracy.news. Johnson: If youre white, you shouldnt be allowed to live around blacks Johnson wants black people and other ethnic minorities to never have to feel offended in the workplace, which is why she wants to specifically target indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members of a marginalized group. In other words, even if a white person does not intent to come across as racist, he or she could be dubbed as one under Johnsons proposal, were it to be implemented. White people would forever face discrimination of their own, as they would be punished for simply living and working while white. Its similar to the sex offenders register, Johnson told the MailOnline. If you were to be racially abusive to someone, [the register] would question whether someone is fit enough to hold a particular job where their bias could influence another persons life. A lot of racism happens at work and places of education in a micro-aggressive way, she added. If you exhibit an element of bias at work, you should probably receive a warning first [before later being added to the register] so people know in future that you hold these views. According to Johnson, white people should also be prohibited from living in majority-colored neighborhoods because white people are an inherent risk to those people just like if a sex offender lived next to a school, he would be a risk to those children. Johnson hates white people, in other words, and wants them all to go away because this will cure racism, including her own. It could be the same reason why Cornell University wants only black people to be allowed to skip flu shots, while everyone who attends classes as a white person is required to get jabbed. As for reparations specifically for blacks, Johnson says this could be accomplished through special tax free periods during which black people would not have to pay taxes. This would allow them to have the extra money they need to build back up economic stability in black communities. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com New Delhi: At least four terrorists were killed in Sumbal in Bandipora district of Jammu and Kashmir when they tried to attack CRPF camp. The heavily armed militants tried to enter the camp of 45 Battalion CRPF at Sumbal in Bandipora at around 4:10 AM by opening fire at the sentry post, a police official said. He said the firing was retaliated by the guards even as police reinforcement was rushed to the scene of gun battle. Four militants were killed in the retaliatory firing and the suicide attack was foiled, the official said. He said four AK rifles, one UBGL (Underbarrel Grenade Launcher) and some ammunition were recovered from the slain militants. #CRPF recovers 4 AK 47s, over a dozen grenades and a huge cache of ammunition from killed #terroristshttps://t.co/yVcs6tRZHb pic.twitter.com/punYOlhOqo News Nation (@NewsNationTV) June 5, 2017 Confirming the incident, J&K DGP Shesh Paul Vaid tweeted, 45 Bn @crpfindia/@JmuKmrPolice killed 4 terrorists at Sumbal #Bandipore who were attempting suicidal attack on CRPF camp. JaiHind. Terrorists tried storming camp around 3:30 am to execute a fidayeen attack.Thwarted,4 terrorists gunned down, Yogesh Kumar, Sub Inspector CRPF said. We are trying to identify who these terrorists were and which organisation they belong to: Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid pic.twitter.com/QQl0XgK0gf ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017 #WATCH Four terrorists killed as they attack 45 Bn CRPF camp at Sumbal in Bandipora district of J&K (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/crnIB2BeuM ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017 Weapons seized from the Four killed terrorists who were trying to carry out a suicide attack on CRPF camp at Sumbal in Bandipora of J&K pic.twitter.com/Jytj9VqX78 ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017 Four terrorists killed as they attack 45 Bn CRPF camp at Sumbal in Bandipora district of J&K (visuals deferred by unspecified time) pic.twitter.com/YitB4weLZs ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017 #UPDATE: Four terrorists killed as they attack 45 Bn CRPF camp at Sumbal in Bandipora district of J&K ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017 Terrorists attack 45 Bn CRPF camp at Sumbal in Bandipora district of J&K. More details awaited ANI (@ANI_news) June 5, 2017 (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. ROME, JAN 8 - Province of Bologna finance police were on Friday executing an order to seize assets worth around 30 million euros from a businessman who allegedly evaded paying taxes on all of his income. The businessman is formally a resident of Monaco although he allegedly actually lives in the province of Pavia. The confiscated assess featured 11 properties, including a luxury villa on the French Riviera, 38 cars, including several Bentleys, Range Rovers, Porsches and vintage vehicles, and stakes in companies. (ANSA). Angola, IN (46703) Today Partly cloudy skies during the morning hours will become overcast in the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 73F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Rain likely. Low 46F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall may reach one inch. French soldiers stand in an honour guard as the hearse convoy of late French forces soldiers rides on the Alexandre III bridge in central Paris on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (Christophe Ena/AP Photo) France Seeks Change in Strategy to Reduce Troops in West Africa PARISAs it pays tribute Thursday to French soldiers killed in Mali and faces questions over a deadly airstrike, France is considering changing its military strategy against Islamic extremists in Africas Sahel regionand a possible partial troop pullout. President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce a timeframe for the evolution of Frances largest international military operation at a summit in Chads capital NDjamena next month. On Thursday afternoon, an elaborate ceremony was held on the Alexandre III bridge in central Paris to pay homage to two soldiers who were killed in Mali by an improvised explosive device that hit their armored vehicle on Saturday. Three other French soldiers died just five days earlier in similar circumstances. Frances operation in Mali is also shadowed by unclear circumstances surrounding a weekend airstrike that killed at least 20 people in a village where witnesses said Islamic extremists had confronted a wedding party. The French military said those killed were members of a terrorist armed group with no connection to a wedding. French troops have been present in Mali since 2013 when they intervened to force Islamic extremist rebels from power. The operation, called Barkhane, was then expanded to include Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mauritania to improve security and stability in the broader Sahel region. Defense Minister Florence Parly said France will very likely reduce its 5,100 troops in the Sahel region, in an interview to Le Parisien newspaper earlier this week. No specific figures have been released. Attitudes toward the French mission are mixed. French troops could not stay forever so many and (with) such mixed results. In a way, this is a good thing, because it will push each country to take more responsibility, and collaborate better, said Chrysogone Zougmore, president of the Burkinabe Movement for Human Rights, a civil society group in Burkina Faso. Solange adjusts the cap of her husband Gilbert, a French veteran before a ceremony held on the Alexandre III bridge in central Paris on Jan. 7, 2021. (Christophe Ena/AP Photo) The discussion, though, comes amid few signs that Islamic extremist violence is waning: Last weekend militants staged attacks on two villages in Niger near its border with Mali, killing at least 100 people. Siaka Coulibaly, an analyst with Burkina Fasos Center for Public Policy Monitoring by Citizens, warned of a severe degradation of security if the French leave, because African armies arent ready to fill the void. We fear the worst for countries in the Sahel if foreign troops ever leave, he said. Next months NDjamena summit is set to reassess the situation a year after a meeting in the French town of Pau led to France sending 600 additional troops and concentrating military efforts along the porous border separating Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Parly stressed that any reinforcement, by definition, is temporary. French troops in 2020 achieved important successes, by neutralizing several top leaders of terrorist groups and by attacking their logistical network to disorganize them, she added. Last June, Abdelmalek Droukdel, the leader of al-Qaidas North Africa affiliate, was killed in Mali by French forces who had been hunting him in the Sahel for years. AQIM named a new leader in November. In December, the French military chief of staff, General Francois Lecointre, told Le Monde newspaper during a visit to Mali that he aimed at limiting the number of troops there as soon as possible. He said France would not withdraw from Sahel but rather make its operation evolve. France is also pushing to reinforce a regional five-country force launched in 2017 with support from the United Nations, the African Union, and the European Union. But the so-called G5 Sahel has been slow to gain strength and is still short of equipment and training. The French military operation enjoys broad support at home. But some voices are calling for an exit plan. Far-left party France Insoumise (Rebel France), which has 17 lawmakers at the National Assembly, urged the government this week to publicly present its strategy to allow our soldiers to return with no prejudice to the stability of the region. Today, the bogging down is clear, our soldiers are dying, the government acts only in reaction and the goals it pursues are more uncertain than ever, the lawmakers group said in a statement. By Sylvie Corbet James Khuri is the CEO of FJ Holdings, the biggest distributor and manufacturer of the popular trading cards and merchandise of famous franchises such as Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh & Magic: The Gathering. For Christmas, he had an ace up his sleeve. 2020 was a challenging year. For some more than for others. While certain businesses were struggling, others, especially e-commerce, were booming. James Khuri's distribution group FJ Holdings certainly counts to the winners of a disruptive year for the global economy. The group of companies expanded its ventures in over 136 countries, enjoying exclusive treatments by a specially assigned Amazon representative. They also expanded their exclusive partnership with retail giant Walmart, both just two of many clients. With a year and a situation that brought a further shift in consumer behaviour from retail to e-commerce, the established business was able to quickly adapt and build on its existing structure. Khuri, who is very aware that one business's win can very well mean another's loss, wanted to make sure to give back to the community this year. He announced a huge giveaway of goods including trading cards and tons of merchandise & toys to struggling families with young children via his Instagram account just two days before Christmas. The event was a huge success and motivated the CEO to follow up with a similar event soon. Further, he has mentioned that his charity activities will call for a more structured approach in the future. Khuri and his team want to brand Beautiful Mind into a venture that concentrates on children in need. Surely a fulfilling project for the fulfilment plan- master, who is a single father to a son himself. Having only joined social media, Instagram in particular, relatively recently, Khuri's channel is already a major success. The popular business man is sharing insights to his personal life, including his family, workout routines, as well as his garage full of high range Italians. Within less than a year, he has gathered a loyal following of over one million fans all over the world. Some are more interested in the person behind the CEO, others hope for the successor to share some of his secrets to glory. With not only his e-commerce businesses, but also his real estate ventures enjoying extremely positive predictions for the next year, James Khuri will definitely find more and more motivation to dedicate time to his charitable projects. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords had just been sworn in to her third term representing Arizonas 8th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives. On Jan. 8, 2011, she was in Pima County, Ariz., near Tucson, meeting with constituents during a Congress on Your Corner event outside a Safeway grocery store. On that day, 10 years ago, a man with a gun ran up to her and others and began shooting. Giffords, 40, was shot in the head at close range. Six people including a federal judge, a child and Giffords director of community outreach were killed. On Wednesday, that anniversary was on Giffords mind when supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol while Congress performed the electoral vote count for the Nov. 3 election. Giffords husband, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, a former astronaut, was at the Capitol. Giffords tweeted, As I sat waiting for information about @SenMarkKellys safety today, I couldnt stop thinking about what you must have gone through 10 years ago this week. Im so glad you and your staff are safe. I love you, sweetie. This Friday will be 10 years since the shooting in Tucson. Join me for a special event tomorrow with @GabbyGiffords @DrRandyFriese @MaryReedTucson and many others for this Story Teller event with @usastorytellers @TucsonStar @azcentral Sign up here: https://t.co/Vvp12uu2zE pic.twitter.com/cN38N0E5wB Representative Daniel Hernandez Jr (@danielforaz) January 6, 2021 Ten years ago, Jared L. Loughner, 22, a military veteran, began shooting people with a 9mm pistol. He was quickly taken into custody. Giffords was rushed to the University Medical Center in Tucson. She resigned her seat on Jan. 25, 2012, to focus on recovering from the shooting, which was lengthy and included surgeries, physical therapy, reconstructive surgery, and cognitive and language therapy. Giffords told Yes! Magazine last January that she still has vision and speech issues and her right arm and right leg are mostly paralyzed. On the day of the shooting, Loughner was restrained by bystanders and then taken into custody by police. Loughner pleaded guilty to 19 counts of murder and attempted murder. In November 2012, he was sentenced to life in in federal prison plus 140 years. Giffords and her husband founded Americans for Responsible Solutions to fight gun violence. The organization is now known as Giffords. Those who died on Jan. 8, 2011, were federal Judge John Roll; Christina-Taylor Green, 9; Gabe Zimmerman, an aide to Giffords; Phyllis Schneck; Dorothy Morris; and Dorwan Stoddard. Another 12 people were injured. READ MORE A military boat passes in front of the Liberia-flagged oil tanker Nave Andromeda at Southampton Docks, following a security incident aboard the ship the night before off the coast of Isle of Wight, in Southampton, Britain, on Oct. 26, 2020. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters) UK Police Say 7 Nigerians Arrested on Oil Tanker to Face No Further Action Seven stowaways detained in October during a security incident on an oil tanker off the Isle of Wight will now face no further action, UK police said on Friday. The men, who are all Nigerian nationals, were detained on Oct. 25 when British military personnel seized control of the Liberia-flagged tanker Nave Andromeda, after concerns were raised to police regarding the welfare of crew members. 7 men, inc 2 men who had previously been charged, will now face no further action as part of the investigation into the maritime security incident on board the Nave Andromeda off the #IsleOfWight in Oct. Read more: https://t.co/D9Hjn5IAbK pic.twitter.com/lzLQOLfCio Hampshire Police (@HantsPolice) January 8, 2021 They were arrested on suspicion of seizing or exercising control of a ship by use of threats or force under the Aviation and Maritime and Security Act 1990. They were later bailed by police, but remained in the custody of the UK Border Force. The Hampshire Constabulary confirmed on Friday that the seven men will now face no further action as part of the investigation into the Oct. 25 maritime security incident. Two of themMatthew John Okorie, 25, and Sunday Sylvester, 22had previously been charged with an offence relating to conduct endangering ships under the Merchant Shipping Act of 1995, but they, too, will face no further action, the police said in a statement. Nave Andromeda is seen in Portishead, Britain, in a file photo. (Huw Gibby/via Reuters) The decision was taken by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) after additional evidence came to light, the statement said, without elaborating. The CPS has a duty to keep all cases under continuous review and after additional maritime expert evidence came to light, we concluded there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction and discontinued the case, said Sophie Stevens, senior district crown prosecutor. The incident began on the morning of Oct. 25, when the master of Nave Andromeda informed the UK authorities that stowaways had been found on board and that he was concerned for the safety of the crew due to the increasingly hostile behaviour of the stowaways. The seven stowaways had illegally boarded the tanker in Lagos, Nigeria, the tankers Greek operator, Navios Tanker Management, told The Epoch Times in an email. Police received the call just after 10 a.m. and were told the stowaways had made verbal threats towards the crew, according to a police spokesman. Later that might, British military personnel stormed the tanker and all seven stowaways were detained. None of the 22 crew members were hurt during the incident. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Today, Indonesian firebrand cleric Abu Bakar Bashir will walk free from prison. The 82-year-old, who earned infamy in Australia for his role in the 2002 Bali bombings, has served as a bellwether for the Indonesian extremist community: never far from centre frame of its terrifying successes or its abject failures. His release from prison could provide a window into what is next for Indonesia's floundering terrorist networks. Bashir has been an ever-present feature of Indonesia's extremist movement at every key juncture in its rise to international notoriety. In 1993, he helped set up the first regional terrorist network, Jemaah Islamiyah and forge ties with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda, which attracted funding for the 2002 Bali attacks. His 2014 pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State brought a large chunk of local extremists into the group's fold. But time in prison has curbed his ability to shape the extremist community. Indonesian prisons' management of convicted terrorists, while still patchy, has vastly improved over the past decade. During previous prison stints, Bashir was able to publish books promoting his extremist views, address his supporters via mobile phone and hold court with dozens of fawning visitors. But in recent years, authorities have effectively isolated Bashir and other high-profile extremists from everyone on the outside except their close family. After his release Bashir will also find that the terrorist networks he nurtured are shadows of their former selves. Police counterterrorism unit, Special Detachment 88, largely snuffed out the ability of Islamic State, or IS, supporters to mount mass-casualty terrorist attacks (as in Europe), let alone an insurgency (as in the Middle East or West Africa). The tiny band of militants in Poso, Central Sulawesi doesn't count it has never been a threat to the Indonesian state. As cinemas close, again, this is a meagre week for new releases. So, instead, here are a dozen films we can look forward to seeing before 2021 is out. There are some real corkers, too; plenty to get excited about, even if most of the release dates, like so much else in these uncertain times, are still provisional. Happy viewing! Everybodys Talking About Jamie (February) The screen version of the hit West End show, featuring Sharon Horgan, Sarah Lancashire and Richard E. Grant alongside newcomer Max Harwood, in the title role as a boy from a tough Sheffield council estate who yearns to be a drag queen. I cant recommend the stage musical highly enough. Its warm, exuberant and moving (and based on a true story), so heres hoping the film adaptation, along the lines of Billy Elliot 20-odd years ago, will be as good if not better. The screen version of the hit West End show, featuring Sharon Horgan, Sarah Lancashire and Richard E. Grant alongside newcomer Max Harwood, in the title role. Richard E. Grant is pictured as Loco Chanelle Nomadland (February) Frances McDormand is all but guaranteed a raft of award nominations for her stunning performance as a widow on her uppers, who sells her home and travels round the American West in her camper van, picking up seasonal work wherever she can. No Time To Die (April) The producers and distributors of the 25th Bond film decided that its title, in box-office terms, might have come all too true had they pressed ahead with the already-postponed theatrical release in November. So, to the despair of the beleaguered cinema industry, they pushed back yet again. Lets hope that Daniel Craigs swansong as 007 is worth the interminable wait, and then we can concern ourselves with the biggest question of all: who will be next to play the worlds most famous secret agent? Last Night In Soho (April) Anya Taylor-Joy, on a roll after her lead part in the smash Netflix hit The Queens Gambit, plays a would-be fashion designer transported back to the Swinging Sixties in a psychological horror film that for British writer-director Edgar Wright is a rare departure from comedy. Intriguingly, the film also features some of the very people whom you might expect to have encountered in Sohos Carnaby Street back then on a good day, at least including Terence Stamp, Rita Tushingham and, in her final screen role, the late Diana Rigg. Anya Taylor-Joy, on a roll after her lead part in the smash Netflix hit The Queens Gambit, plays a would-be fashion designer in Last Night In Soho The French Dispatch (May) When the name Wes Anderson is attached to a film, the chances are it will be a singular treat. He usually assembles top-notch casts, too, though he has outdone himself in this comedy-drama, presenting three separate tales from the French bureau of a fictional U.S. newspaper. Anderson calls it a love letter to journalism, inspired by his affection for the New Yorker magazine. And hows this for a bill: Bill Murray, Timothee Chalamet, Tilda Swinton, Benicio del Toro, Frances McDormand, Owen Wilson, Saoirse Ronan, Willem Dafoe, Christoph Waltz, Anjelica Huston, Lea Seydoux and Adrien Brody among others. Marry Me (May) Jennifer Lopez plays a pop superstar who, on stage, after learning that her fiance has been cheating on her, picks out of the crowd a random fan holding a Marry Me sign . . . and takes him up on his offer. He happens to be a maths teacher, played by Owen Wilson. Its the sort of daft premise Notting Hill meets The Proposal that might just add up to one of the years best rom-coms. Fan male: Owen Wilson stars with Jennifer Lopez in Marry Me Top Gun: Maverick (July) In 2012, two years after he agreed to make this sequel to his own memorable 1986 film, British director Tony Scott took his own life. But after some uncertainty the project survived that tragedy, with Tom Cruise reprising his role as the U.S. Navys greatest aviator, now a seen-it-all veteran but, naturally, still flying up a storm. The Beatles: Get Back (August) The last documentary from Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson was 2018s remarkable They Shall Not Grow Old, which chronicled World War I so vividly. This time, he has got back to work on hours and hours of unseen Beatles footage, originally shot in 1969 for the film Let It Be. Judging by the teaser he released just before Christmas, it will be a huge treat for fans of the Fab Four. The Last Duel (October) Ridley Scott directs this thriller based on a true story and set in 14th-century France, with Adam Driver and Matt Damon (the films co-writer with Ben Affleck) as a pair of proud knights, former best friends, who are ordered to fight to the death after one accuses the other of raping his wife (Killing Eves Jodie Comer). Affleck plays King Charles VI and Harriet Walter pops up, too. Zut alors! Adam Driver (pictured) and Matt Damon star as a pair of proud knights in The Last Duel Dune (October) Plenty have tried to adapt Frank Herberts mighty and supposedly unfilmable 1965 sci-fi novel for the big screen. David Lynchs 1984 effort was plain weird, so three cheers for French-Canadian director Denis Villeneuve who has impressive form in the genre, having made the well-received Blade Runner 2049 for having another go. Timothee Chalamet leads a fine cast. Elvis (November) After a years delay to the release, its now or never for Baz Luhrmanns biographical drama about Elvis Presley, which stars Tom Hanks as Elviss formidable manager Colonel Tom Parker, with Austin Butler as the king of rocknroll. The shoot, which took place in Queensland, Australia, was postponed while Hanks and his wife, Rita, recovered from Covid-19. He returned to the project six months later, all shook up but unbowed. West Side Story (December) Somethings coming, as lovestruck Jets gang member Tony sings. And that something is a remake. Frankly, if I were asked which classic screen musical was least in need of another version, West Side Story would probably vie with The Sound Of Music for the No. 1 spot. So why has Steven Spielberg, of all people, decided to have another crack? We must wait almost 12 months to find out. For now, I can at least tell you that Rita Moreno, who won an Academy Award for her role as Anita in the original 1961 film, also has a part in this one, even though she turns 90 this year. Michael Flynn and his lawyer, Sidney Powell, leave the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse in Washington on June 24, 2019. (Alex Wroblewski/Getty Images) Twitter Suspends Accounts of Sidney Powell, Michael Flynn Twitter appeared to suspend the accounts of former national security adviser Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn and lawyer Sidney Powell. Both accounts display the text: Account suspended Twitter suspends accounts which violate the Twitter Rules. The accounts have been suspended in line with our policy on Coordinated Harmful Activity, a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement to news outlets on Friday and claimed the suspension had to do with the QAnon movement. Weve been clear that we will take strong enforcement action on behavior that has the potential to lead to offline harm, and given the renewed potential for violence surrounding this type of behavior in the coming days, we will permanently suspend accounts that are solely dedicated to sharing QAnon content. Powell, in a statement to the Epoch Times, said there was no warning at all about her account being deleted, adding that it is stunning. Twitters actions and those of banks who shut down accounts of people who went to DC are fascism in its purest form. The President must act on the foreign interference in this election. It is a communist coup that has been long and well-planned, she said in an email. The account deletions suggest tech firms are now moving to suspend accounts of people who are repeating claims of voter fraud and irregularities during the Nov. 3 election. Brandon Straka, the head of the conservative WalkAway movement, said Friday that Facebook removed the groups page and banned individual accounts belonging to the team. Today my team and I all at the same time got messages notifying us that our accounts were banned and the Walkaway campaign group has been taken down as wellwhich had 508,000 people in it, Straka told The Epoch Times. All of my employees have been banned, he said. All of my volunteers have been banned. Anyone connected with my organization was banned. Twitter also took the unprecedented step of deleting two posts by President Donald Trump while suspending some accounts that shared them. Trump, in one video released as a group stormed the U.S. Capitol, called on protestors to go home in peace and said, We love you. Later, Trump condemned the violence at the Capitol and called for national reconciliation efforts. Straka suggested that the censorship of pro-Trump conservatives will likely get worse, adding, My feeling right now is that this is a very ominous indication of what is to come under a Biden, Harris presidency. Dominion Voting Systems, meanwhile, filed a lawsuit against Powell on Friday, alleging that she made defamatory statements. Dominion brings this action to set the record straight, to vindicate the companys rights under civil law, to recover compensatory and punitive damages, to seek a narrowly tailored injunction, and to stand up for itself and its employees. The Epoch Times reached out to Twitter, Powell, and Flynn about the development. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Retinal Vascular Occlusion (RVO) is the build-up of blood or other fluids in the retina of the eye, which prevents it from properly filtering light caused by the blood clot. RVO may result in a sudden loss of vision, which can be permanent if not treated urgently. RVO is a common vascular disorder and one of the most common causes of vision loss worldwide. Taking into consideration other eye diseases RVO is the second most common cause of blindness after diabetic retinopathy. RVO affects one eye. However, approximately 6%-14% of cases it can also affect both eyes. RVO has an incidence rate of 2.2 cases per 1000 of general population older than 40 years and 5.4 cases per 1000 of general population older than 64 years. Get Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4899 The global retinal vascular occlusion market is experiencing growing demand due to increasing older population, increasing screening, greater emphasis on restorative procedures, the urgency of the RVO treatment, and others. The market restraints are the complications such as the risk of bleeding, infections, pain, especially during surgery, the high cost of retinal vascular occlusion treatment, lack of eye care infrastructure, and lack of focus on other diseases by developing regions, and others. The global retinal vascular occlusion market is expected to reach USD 20.7 billion by 2023, and the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of ~ 9.5 % during the forecast period 2017-2023. Segments The global retinal vascular occlusion market has been segmented on the basis of types, condition, diagnosis, drugs, surgery, and end user. Based on the types, the market has been segmented as retinal artery occlusion & retinal vascular occlusion. Based on the condition, the market has been segmented as non-ischemic and ischemic. Based on the diagnosis, the market has been segmented as fundoscopic examination, optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescein angiography, and others. Based on the drugs, the market has been segmented as an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), corticosteroid, anticoagulants, fibrinolytic, and others. Based on the surgery, the market has been segmented as laser retinal photocoagulation, chorioretinal venous anastomosis, radial optic neurotomy, and others. Based on the end user, the market has been segmented as hospitals and clinics, research and academics, and others. Key Players Some of the key players profiled in the report are Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals LLC, Novartis AG, Pfizer, Inc., AstraZeneca PLC, GlaxoSmithKline PLC, Johnson & Johnson, Teva pharmaceutical industries, Novo Nordisk, Sanofi, and others. Regional Analysis The Americas account for a significant market share owing to high expenditure on the health care, especially, of the U.S. and Canada. Additionally, the greater number of ophthalmology procedures due to greater healthcare penetration in the U.S. and Canada drives the retinal vascular occlusion market. The high concentration of the major hospitals in the developed countries of this region coupled with good reimbursement rates is adding fuel to the market growth. Moreover, the large share of ophthalmology procedures, especially, the retinal vascular occlusion surgery treatment in the returns of hospitals favors the market. The large number of pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. is also a cause for the faster development of retinal vascular occlusion market in the US. The high development of the microsurgery field in developed regions such as the U.S. and Europe is a strong driver of the market. Europe is the second largest market in the world due to growing pharmaceutical industry and healthcare penetration. The European market growth is led by countries such as Germany and France. Germany is expected to be the fastest growing market over the assessment period due to its large pharmaceutical and microsurgery devices industry. Asia Pacific region is expected to grow rapidly; China and India are likely to lead this market due to fast-growing healthcare sector and large unmet needs over the forecast period. South East Asian countries such as China, India, and Malaysia are projected to contribute highly to the market growth. The growing penetration of healthcare industry in the Asia Pacific region is expected to drive the future retinal vascular occlusion market in the region. However, the low expenditure on ophthalmology and eye care coupled with the lack of insurance penetration in the developing regions is a dent in the market. Gulf nations such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are estimated to drive the Middle East & African market. Other Middle East nations to watch out for are Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt, and Iran. The African region is expected to witness a poor growth owing to poor economic and political conditions, and poor healthcare development. Other regions are expected to be laggards due to the poor social development and tribal identities such as sub-Saharan Africa. The focus of the governments of poor countries on fulfilling basic healthcare relegates the retinal vascular occlusion market to the background, which hampers the development of the market. Detailed Table of Contents: 1. Report Prologue 2. Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope Of The Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations 2.3 Market Structure 2.4. Market Segmentation 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Research Process 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation 3.5 Forecast Model 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers 4.2 Restraints 4.3 Opportunities 4.4 Mega Trends 4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators Continued read more @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/retinal-vascular-occlusion-market-4899 About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Funding to Continue Supporting Families and Students Nashville, TNToday, the Tennessee Department of Education announced $1 million will be awarded to Tennessee's six PBS stations- WNPT Nashville, East Tennessee PBS, WCTE Upper Cumberland, WKNO Memphis, West TN PBS, and Chattanooga WTCI- for their partnership to engage families and support quality education for students across the state. "The department is pleased to award the states six PBS station $1 million to support the critical role our public television stations have played, especially throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, to engage families and provide access to educational resources and supports, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. We thank the Tennessee PBS stations for their partnership to ensure students can have daily access to Tennessee teachers and classroom lessons. In collaboration with Tennessee teachers and districts, the department created an at-home learning series with over 300 instructional classroom video lessons for 1st 8th grade students airing across all six Tennessee PBS stations since the spring. It is an honor to work closely with Tennessee Department of Education on providing teacher created content for an At Home Learning Block in this trying time for our Tennessee families and children. COVID-19 put all of us in an unprecedented situation and I'm so grateful that our Tennessee Public Television Stations were ready and willing to serve in this capacity and continue to look for ways to grow that service, said Becky Magura, President and CEO of WCTE. This amazing award of one million dollars to TN PBS stations in support of our amazing partnership in engaging and supporting our families and students could not come at a more important time. As our PBS stations work daily to serve our communities in this pandemic, the support from the Tennessee Department of Education is needed and deeply appreciated. We are so very grateful!" This additional one million dollars is one-time funding from the Governor's Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER) through the CARES Act. This winter, families and students have had the opportunity to utilize the Winter Foundations Bootcamp, which focuses on literacy and math foundational skills for Pre-K through 2nd grade students with additional content on science. These lessons are airing on all six Tennessee PBS stations weekdays from 9 a.m. 11 a.m. CT through the end of January. The schedule and additional information can be found on the departments website. Since April, the department has aired academic instructional classroom videos on Tennessees PBS stations across the state. The video lessons are also available on the departments YouTube page and have had more than 100,000 views there since the spring. For additional information on the departments COVID-19 and school reopening related resources, please visit https://www.tn.gov/education/health-and-safety/update-on-coronavirus/reopening-guidance.html. For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov. ### FRANKFURT (dpa-AFX) - Commerzbank (CRZBY.PK) said the company expects to fully write off the existing goodwill of around 1.5 billion euros and a negative risk result of at least 1.7 billion euros in the financial year 2020. The company noted that the anticipated negative risk result of at least 1.7 billion euros includes a top-level adjustment of around 500 million euros for Corona related effects expected in 2021. Commerzbank said the write-off of the existing goodwill has no effect on the regulatory capital ratio (CET1). 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. OSWEGO, N.Y. Court proceedings are still ongoing in the race for the 22nd Congressional District seat, as the judge continues to review contested ballots. On Thursday, Oswego County Supreme Court Judge Scott DelConte examined more than 400 challenged ballots from Oneida County. Several of the disputed ballots were cast by voters who registered to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles, but say when they went to the polls on Election Day, they werent on the list. Incumbent Anthony Brindisi thinks those votes should count, while his opponent, Republican Claudia Tenney, thinks they shouldnt. As of the last unofficial tally, Tenney was leading Brindisi by 29 votes. DelConte has not yet ruled on the contested ballots. Wednesday was marked by a mob of pro-Trump supporters breaking through a police barricade to storm the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. But Twitter users trying to make sense of the Capitol's lax security were reminded of Nicolas Cage's 2004 film National Treasure. The actionadventure movie and its 2007 sequel became fodder for memes and jokes about how easy it would be to break into the meeting place of the United States Congress and the seat of the legislative branch of the U.S. federal government. Cinematic parallels: Twitter users were out in force with jokes about the insurrection by a pro-Trump mob at the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, on Wednesday as they compared it to Nicolas Cage's 2004 actionadventure film National Treasure National Treasure features a plot line in which Cage's character is determined to steal the Declaration Of Independence, as it has a treasure map hidden on the back (though not in real life). Social media users started pointing out how difficult it was to steal the document in the film, compared to how easy it was for armed rioters to breach the Capitol Building's defenses. One Twitter user joked that the riots could provide the 'Best premise for National Treasure 3.' They also shared a meme with a still of Cage from the first film saying, 'I'm going to steal the Declaration Of Independence.' The meme added the text: 'When you notice that all the cops in Washington DC are distracted by rioters.' Now's the their chance: One person shared a National Treasure meme and joked that the best time to steal the Declaration of Independence was while police were occupied Movie magic: National Treasure features a plot line in which Cage's character tries to steal the Declaration of Independence, as it has a (fictional) treasure map hidden on the back Others joked that the lengths Cage's character went to steal the document from the National Archives weren't believable anymore. 'I am no longer impressed that Nicholas Cage managed to steal the Declaration of Independence,' joked Adam Herman on Twitter. Another user wrote that, 'Now is the perfect time to steal the declaration of independence [sic].' 'STEAL THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE IT HAS A MAP,' wrote another user. 'Starting to think it'd actually be incredibly easy to steal the declaration of independence,' chimed in another person. Not buying it: Others joked that the lengths Cage's character went to steal the document from the National Archives weren't believable anymore 'Perfect time': Another user wrote that, 'now is the perfect time to steal the declaration of independence [sic]' Having a laugh: Another person referenced the fictional map from the movie Walking right in: Other joked about the ease of stealing major historical artifacts One person enthused about a third film in the series. 'Oh Sweet, they finally starting filming National Treasure 3!!' they wrote to caption a photo of the pro-Trump mob while adding the hashtag, '#AssaultOnDemocracy.' 'Suddenly the security violations in National Treasure seem less like a Disney movie and more like a Wednesday,' mused one user. Closer look: One person enthused about a third film in the series by photoshopping Cage in with the rioters Life imitates art: Another person wrote the 'security violations' in the film no longer seemed outrageous in view of Wednesday's news Others joked about Cage as if he was his film character. 'this is probably the best time for Nicolas cage to steal the Declaration of Independence [sic],' one person joked. Actor Devon Sawa wrote: 'Nicolas Cage spent an entire hundred million dollar movie trying to steal the declaration of independence and yet a bunch of mega a**holes were able to walk right in that place. This is why I have trust issues with Hollywood.' 'Thinking about how much Nicolas Cage had to go through in National Treasure to break into the federal buildings and then how easy it was today,' one Tweet read. Another user poked fun at some attempts to downplay the potential crimes the insurrectionists might have committed. 'It's a big misunderstanding. They were all just doing National Treasure.' Leading man: Others joked about Cage as if he was his film character. 'this is probably the best time for Nicolas cage to steal the Declaration of Independence [sic],' one person tweeted Too much work: One user wrote that Cage had a much harder time trying to break into the National Archive (Newser) The FBI and Washington, DC, police are trying to identify members of the mob that stormed the Capitol Wednesdayand they have plenty of photos, some of them taken by the rioters themselves, to help them in that effort. DC police released 26 photos of suspects Thursday and offered a $1,000 reward for information leading to arrests, CBS reports. Most of the "persons of interest" are wanted for unlawful entry. One woman seen outside the Capitol holding what appears to be part of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office sign is wanted for receiving stolen property. Prosecutors say that since almost all the rioters left the Capitol without being arrested, they now have to identify hundreds of suspects from all over the country. More: First federal cases filed. The first federal cases were filed against suspects Thursday, and more than 40 more were filed in a non-federal court, NBC Washington reports. Acting US Attorney Michael Sherwin, the top federal prosecutor in DC, said seditious conspiracy, rioting, and insurrection charges are "on the table" in connection with the riot. story continues below FBI asks for tips . The FBI has asked for "tips and digital media" depicting the rioting. The agency "is working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue those involved in criminal activity during the events of January 6," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. "Make no mistake: With our partners, we will hold accountable those who participated in yesterday's siege of the Capitol." . The FBI has asked for "tips and digital media" depicting the rioting. The agency "is working closely with our federal, state, and local partners to aggressively pursue those involved in criminal activity during the events of January 6," FBI Director Christopher Wray said in a statement. "Make no mistake: With our partners, we will hold accountable those who participated in yesterday's siege of the Capitol." Suspect gloats . One of the most high-profile suspects, Jake Angeli, gloated about the riot before leaving the capital for Arizona Thursday. "The fact that we had a bunch of our traitors in office hunker down, put on their gas masks and retreat into their underground bunker, I consider that a win," he told NBC. Angeli, known as "Q Shaman," was seen inside the Senate chamber shirtless, wearing a fur headdress with horns. . One of the most high-profile suspects, Jake Angeli, gloated about the riot before leaving the capital for Arizona Thursday. "The fact that we had a bunch of our traitors in office hunker down, put on their gas masks and retreat into their underground bunker, I consider that a win," he told NBC. Angeli, known as "Q Shaman," was seen inside the Senate chamber shirtless, wearing a fur headdress with horns. Man who wore company badge fired . Maryland company Navistar Direct Marketing says it has fired an employee who was seen inside the Capitol wearing his employee badge, the AP reports. . Maryland company Navistar Direct Marketing says it has fired an employee who was seen inside the Capitol wearing his employee badge, the AP reports. More firings . Other people fired over social media posts include Rick Saccone, an adjunct professor from Pennsylvania who lost his job at Saint Vincent College after they reviewed his Facebook video from the scene, reports Reuters. In Texas, Goosehead Insurance canned lawyer Paul Davis over an Instagram post in which he said getting tear-gassed at the Capitol was "quite the experience." . Other people fired over social media posts include Rick Saccone, an adjunct professor from Pennsylvania who lost his job at Saint Vincent College after they reviewed his Facebook video from the scene, reports Reuters. In Texas, Goosehead Insurance canned lawyer Paul Davis over an Instagram post in which he said getting tear-gassed at the Capitol was "quite the experience." Suspects posted evidence on social media . Law enforcement investigators and independent online sleuths have been using social media to identify rioters. Many of those who stormed the Capitol gleefully shared their photos from the sceneor, like West Virginia lawmaker Derrick Evanslivestreamed their entry to the building. "Those who stormed the Capitol didnt leave social media breadcrumbs for law enforcement to follow to their front doorsthey left entire loaves of bread," writes Sara Morrison at Vox. . Law enforcement investigators and independent online sleuths have been using social media to identify rioters. Many of those who stormed the Capitol gleefully shared their photos from the sceneor, like West Virginia lawmaker Derrick Evanslivestreamed their entry to the building. "Those who stormed the Capitol didnt leave social media breadcrumbs for law enforcement to follow to their front doorsthey left entire loaves of bread," writes Sara Morrison at Vox. At least 6 GOP lawmakers were present. The Hill reports that besides Evans, at least five other Republican lawmakers were present at the Capitol rioting. They denied entering the building or participating in violence. Tennessee state Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver denied that violence had even occurred. "Just a whole heck of a lot of patriots here," Weaver told the Tennessean Wednesday. Missouri state Rep. Justin Hill marched to the Capitol with fellow Trump supporters after skipping his own swearing-in. (Read more Washington, DC stories.) A 65-year-old cancer patient barricaded himself inside a Manhattan hospital emergency room and fired multiple shots during an hours-long standoff with the police overnight. The suspect, identified this morning as Joseph Gill, was an outpatient at Memorial Sloan Kettering cancer hospital on East 67th Street. He reportedly arrived at the hospital's urgent care facility after 9pm, complaining of pain and asking for more medication. But when a hospital worker went to check Gill's vitals, the staffer found him holding a handgun to his own head, The New York Daily News reports. 'Dont do it! Dont come in here!' he yelled, according to police. Scroll down for video Shots were fired during a two-hour standoff between a cancer patient and NYPD officers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital on East 67th Street in Manhattan The patient, identified as 65-year-old Joseph Gill, surrendered before midnight and was transported by ambulance (pictured) to Bellevue Hospital for a mental health evaluation Police were called to the hospital's urgent care department for reports of an armed patient suffering from a mental health crisis The staffer backed away and called 911. Police received reports of a person suffering a mental health crisis and responded to the scene at 9.25pm. When two officers approached the emergency room door, Gill allegedly fired a shot at them but did not hit anyone. The area of the hospital where the incident unfolded was evacuated, with patients and staff having to move to a different part of the complex. Gill allegedly fired three more shots at additional officers who responded to the scene. No injuries were reported as a result of the shooting. Gill had barricaded himself inside a first-floor emergency room and fired four rounds from a handgun, none of which struck anyone The part of the building where the drama unfolded overnight was evacuated Heavy police presence is seen outside the cancer hospital on East 67th Street on Thursday night It took NYPD negotiators about two hours to convince Gill to peacefully surrender, after which he was taken to Bellevue Hospital for a psychological evaluation. Police recovered the man's black handgun at the scene. An NYPD spokesperson wrote in an email DailyMail.com that Gill has been charged with attempted murder of a police officer and criminal possession of a weapon. Mike has reported on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem's wildlife, wildlands and the agencies that manage them since 2012. A native Minnesotan, he arrived in the West to study environmental journalism at the University of Colorado. Advertisement Britain today approved moderna's coronavirus vaccine - but won't be able to get any of the 17million doses it has bought until March at the earliest. Moderna's Covid jab is the third to be given the green light by regulators in the UK, joining the vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca. Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted that No10 won't get any doses until the spring but said: 'This is further great news and another weapon in our arsenal to tame this awful disease.' And Business Secretary Alok Sharma described it as 'another huge step towards ending lockdown'. The EU - which approved the same vaccine two days ago - will get supplies of the jab from next week after health chiefs struck a deal with the US-firm to buy 180million doses last summer. With Britain now scrambling to vaccinate 13million vulnerable Britons in the hope of ending the constant cycle of lockdowns by mid-February, an extra jab could have been a blessing. Boris Johnson last night revealed he was bringing in the Army to help speed up the UK's sluggish scheme, as the Prime Minister pledged to deliver 200,000 doses a day by next Friday. He also pledged to offer every care home resident a jab by the end of January and announced a new national online booking system that officials hope will drastically speed up the process. So far the inoculation drive - the biggest in British history - has been plagued by supply and staffing shortages, logistical problems and bureaucratic barriers strangling its scale-up, meaning only 1.5million have received at least one dose. It comes after Moderna's chief executive last night say it was likely that the firm's vaccine offers protection for a 'couple of years'. But Stephane Bancel said more research is needed to determine how long its shot wards off the coronavirus. Pensioners pictured queuing outside a vaccination centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, today in a sign Boris Johnson may already be making good on his promise to ramp up the country's roll out Pictured: Scientists working on the Moderna vaccine in a laboratory HOW DOES MODERNA'S VACCINE WORK? Moderna's vaccine works in the same way as Pfizer and BioNTech's, and are types called mRNA vaccines. They use genetic material called RNA from the coronavirus to trick the body into making the 'spike' proteins that the virus uses to latch onto cells inside the body. These cells then look like the real virus to the immune system, so it attacks them as it would if someone was infected with Covid. It uses antibodies and T cells to attack these modified cells. In the process it also creates its own memory of exactly how to destroy anything with the spikes on i.e. the real coronavirus in case it encounters them in the future. Moderna found in trials that its vaccine, which is given in two doses, was 'generally safe and well tolerated'. It said the majority of side effects were mild or moderate. The most common 'severe' effects were pain at the site, muscles or joints; fatigue and headache. These, the company said, were 'generally short-lived'. Moderna said its vaccine can be stored in a normal fridge for up to a month before it is given out, meaning it will be cheaper to store and distribute. Although it must be shipped at -20C (-4F), this is not too cold for normal freezers to handle. Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine, however, needed to be kept at -70C (-94F) at all times until it was about to be used, meaning expensive specialist equipment is needed to transport and store it. Advertisement As Britain prepared to ramp up vaccinations: As many as 100,000 Britons abroad have five days to get home or face being banned without a negative Covid test; Drivers are turned away from England's beauty spots while police question parents with pushchairs amid questions as to whether they are taking enforcement of England's third lockdown too far; Welsh lockdown is extended for three more weeks with schools and colleges shut until February; Horror as 'NHS' fraudster injects 92-year-old woman with fake coronavirus and charges her 160; Care home workers with Covid are told to stay in work due to mounting staff shortages; Pfizer's vaccine does work against the South African and UK strains of coronavirus, study finds; National Express suspends all coach services due to new lockdown and plummeting passenger numbers; Stanley Johnson boasts he is due to he is about to receive his second dose of the Covid vaccine - when many are still waiting for their first And a poll reveals more people are planning to take the Covid vaccine, up to 85 per cent from 78 per cent last month. Moderna's vaccine was the second one to announce the results of its last-stage clinical trials when it did so in November, after Pfizer and BioNTech. They showed the vaccine appeared to prevent 94.5 per cent of Covid cases. Mr Hancock at the time hailed the vaccine as a 'candle of hope' but the UK hadn't pre-ordered it. No10 had placed pre-orders for seven other candidates, including jabs made by Pfizer and BioNTech, Oxford University and AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Valneva, Imperial College London and Novavax. Moderna's and Pfizer's use the same technology, which had never been tried before, so scientists said it would have been a big gamble for the UK to order both. A scramble ensued on the day Moderna's results were published, with British officials managing to hash out a deal for five million doses before Mr Hancock announced it on a TV press conference at 5pm that afternoon. This was later extended to 7million but the figure now stands at around 17million. Pensioners pictured queuing to receive their Covid-19 vaccine outside a centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, today Arthur Clark, 99, an RAF veteran, says he is yet to receive his Covid vaccination despite the programme starting a month ago Speaking to MailOnline from his home in Beckenham, south east London, the great grandfather of four said he had been trying to get an appointment since Christmas. Pictured, left, is Arthur with his family and, right, as an RAF serviceman Grants Shapps say Covid jabs may not beat South African strain, hours after study suggests it will UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned today the current wave of vaccines might not protect against the South African strain of coronavirus. Mr Shapps said introducing a mandatory test and release system for travellers coming into the UK had become 'much more urgent' because of the threat the variant poses to Britain's mass vaccination programme. But there was confusion about the timing of his comments, which came just hours after a study by Pfizer/BioNTech suggested their vaccine could be just as effective against a mutation in the super-transmissible strain. Amid international fears about the South African strain, thought to be at least 60 per cent more infectious than regular Covid, the UK has made it compulsory for travellers to test negative when they arrive in the country. The Pfizer study which hasn't been peer-reviewed yet tested how well the vaccine worked on the key N501Y mutation, an alteration on the virus's spike protein which is thought to be responsible for making it far more infectious than regular Covid. And because current vaccines work by training the immune system to recognise the virus's spike protein and attack it, there were fears this change could render jabs useless, or less effective. Results showed that neutralising antibodies were made against the mutation, which is also found in the highly-infectious Kent variant that is spreading rapidly across the UK. But both strains contain a catalogue of mutations, and the researchers have yet to prove that the vaccine works against them all. Advertisement The catch, however, was that the UK wouldn't get any of the doses delivered until March 2021 because the US had an exclusive contract for the first 20million doses because the government had given so much funding to the company. Hailing the approval today, Mr Hancock added: 'We have already vaccinated nearly 1.5million people across the UK and Moderna's vaccine will allow us to accelerate our vaccination programme even further once doses become available from the spring. 'While we immunise those most at risk from Covid, I urge everyone to continue following the rules to keep cases low to protect our loved ones.' MHRA guidance says the vaccine's two doses should be dished out within 28 days of each other, unlike the controversial advice for the other two jabs, which says they can be taken up to 12 weeks apart. MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said: 'Todays approval brings more encouraging news to the public and the healthcare sector. 'Having a third Covid vaccine approved for supply following a robust and thorough assessment of all the available data is an important goal to have achieved and I am proud that the agency has helped to make this a reality. 'The progress we are now making for vaccines on the regulatory front, whilst not cutting any corners, is helping in our global fight against this disease and ultimately helping to save lives. I want to echo that our goal is always to put the protection of the public first. 'Once in use, all Covid vaccines are continually monitored by the MHRA. This ensures that the benefits in protecting people against Covid continue to far outweigh any potential side-effects. 'Meantime, even if you have had a vaccine it is vital that everyone follows the national lockdown restrictions and remembers stay alert, protect the NHS and save lives at all times.' Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chair of the Expert Working Group of the Independent Commission on Human Medicines said: 'We are delighted to be able to give a positive recommendation for the Moderna vaccine which will help in the roll-out of the Covid vaccination programme. 'As with all the Covid vaccine data we have seen to date, we have ensured a robust and thorough safety assessment has been carried out with the independent experts that sit on this group.' It comes after it was claimed yesterday that a one-shot Covid jab that has the potential to significantly boost Britain's sluggish vaccination scheme may be approved in the UK by next month. Scientists and Government sources believe the vaccine, made by the Belgian arm of pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, could be given emergency authorisation within weeks. The jab uses similar technology to the Oxford University vaccine, making it just as easy to transport and store, but requires just a single injection to protect against Covid. However, it won't be clear how effective the vaccine is until its trial results are made public and submitted to the UK's medical regulator, which is expected to happen by early February. POLICE HUNT CONMAN WHO JABBED 92-YEAR-OLD WITH FAKE CORONAVIRUS VACCINE The City of London Police asked for the public's help in tracing the man (pictured) Police are hunting a fraudster who injected a pensioner with a fake vaccine before demanding 160 for the useless jab. A 92-year-old woman was jabbed in the arm with a 'dart-like implement' after a man claiming to be an NHS worker knocked on her door in South London, saying he was administering vaccines in the area. The conman then asked for 160, which the victim paid as he said it would be reimbursed by the NHS, before leaving her home around 2pm on December 30. Five days later he returned to the pensioner's home in Surbiton, south London and demanded another 100. It is not yet known what substance, if any, was injected, but the victim was later checked over at her local hospital and has suffered no ill effects following her ordeal, police said. Yesterday the City of London Police's asked for the public's help in tracing the fraudster amid fears he may have duped other pensioners and vulnerable people. Detective Inspector Kevin Ives from the City of London Police's Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit said: 'This is a disgusting and totally unacceptable assault on a member of the public which won't be tolerated. 'We are appealing to anyone who may have information that could assist us in identifying this man to get in touch. 'It is crucial we catch him as soon as possible as not only is he defrauding individuals of money, he may endanger people's lives.' The man is described as white with a London accent, in his early thirties, 5ft 9in tall, medium-build, with light brown hair that is combed back. On his second visit to the victim's address on Kingsmead Avenue, he was wearing a navy blue tracksuit with white stripes down the side. An NHS spokesman said: 'The Covid-19 vaccine will always be available free of charge. 'The NHS will never ask you to share bank details to confirm your identity or pay for a vaccine.' Advertisement Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Friday said he had naturally asked police to give him regular intelligence updates related to the farmers protest in the national capital. He said this while rejecting the Opposition claim that he deputed police officers to negotiate with farmers protesting against the Centres farm laws at Delhis borders. Dubbing the accusations as completely baseless and malicious, the CM in a statement said there was no question of deputing police officers to negotiate with farmers. The CM said he had made it categorically clear that the ball was in the Centres court, with the Punjab government having no role to play in the negotiations. With farmer protests going on in his state since long before the agitation started at the Delhi border, he had naturally asked police officers to give him regular intelligence reports and updates on the situation not just from the national capital but also across Punjab, said Amarinder Singh. He trashed the twisted and senseless interpretation being given to the presence of a few Punjab Police personnel at the farmers protest site. It is the job of the state police to keep tabs on the evolving situation and it is his job as both chief minister and home minister to remain updated about all developments, he added. Anyone who believes that a couple of police officers can negotiate with farmers or persuade the kisan leaders to accept the Centres suggestions on amendments to the farm laws is really naive, the CM said. The Aam Aadmi Party while citing some media reports on Thursday had alleged that the CM had assigned two Punjab IPS officers at the Singhu border to engage with the farmer leaders to persuade them to accept the Centres offer. The CM said both SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, as well as their party colleagues, were resorting to lies and deceit in their desperation to cover up their own failures in the entire crisis triggered by the farm laws. Pointing to Sukhbirs claim that the resolutions passed in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha against the three farm bills had not been sent to the governor, he said the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president had clearly lost it. Or perhaps he is suffering from serious amnesia since his party colleagues, including his own brother-in-law Bikram Majithia, had accompanied me to the governors house for submitting the resolution and the three state amendment Bills, said the chief minister, advising Badal to seek medical help. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Favourable global cues along with positive domestic macro economic data pushed the Indian equity indices higher during the mid-afternoon trade session on Friday. Accordingly, Nifty opened at record highs and continued its positive momentum towards 14,300 levels. Buying interest was visible across sectoral indices. Amongst sectors, Media, Auto, IT, Realty and Pharma space is outperforming. At 1.30 p.m., the NSE Nifty50 traded at 14,287.35 points, higher by 150 points, or 1.06 per cent, from its previous close. Similarly, the S&P BSE Sensex made gains. It traded higher by 467.67 points, or 0.97 per cent, at 48,560.99 points from its previous close. "The advance decline ratio continues to signal the bullish mood of the market," said Jay Purohit, Technical & Derivatives Analyst, MOFSL. "Market seems to conclude the week on a bullish note." According to Likhita Chepa, Senior Research Analyst at CapitalVia Global Research: "Markets opened on a positive note at 14258.40 following the global market cues and made a high of 14296.25." "Indian sugar mills are aggressively signing export contracts after New Delhi approved a subsidy for overseas sales and global prices hit their highest level in 3-1/2 years. The result of which can be seen in the price of sugar stocks." San Francisco police have arrested an 18-year-old city resident in the slaying of Jace Young, a 6-year-old boy who was gunned down in the Bayview neighborhood while watching Fourth of July fireworks. James Harbor was arrested Wednesday afternoon, after officers from San Francisco police homicide, special investigations and tactical units served search and arrest warrants at the 100 block of Font Boulevard in San Franciscos Parkmerced, police said Wednesday. Jaces family said the arrest is the first step to justice for the young bright star and computer whiz whom they described as intelligent and empathetic beyond his years. An arrest is good, but this is just the beginning, Jaces dad, Jason Young, said Wednesday evening. We still need to find out what happened on the Fourth of July for it to even mean anything, but the charges and making them stick are whats more important just to get justice for this little boy. Jaces killing shocked a community long plagued with gun violence and bloodshed and spurred urgent calls for justice from city leaders including Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton. Social justice activists said the shooting was a wake-up call for San Francisco, arguing for more gun control and more services and funding directed toward San Franciscos Black youths. In August, San Francisco police announced a $100,000 reward to anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of Jaces killer. At 10:44 p.m. on July 4, San Francisco police were dispatched to a call of a shooting near the 1200 block of Ingalls Street, where they found Jace and a 39-year-old man suffering from gunshot wounds. The man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. Police at the time said that they did not believe Jace or the man were the intended targets and that they were both innocent bystanders hit by gunfire. Booking charges for Harbor were not immediately available. District Attorney Chesa Boudin said he was proud of the work of his homicide team in partnership with San Francisco police homicide inspectors. Tonights arrest is a first critical step in bringing justice to the Young family and is an example of what we can achieve when we work together, he said. Megan Cassidy is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: megan.cassidy@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @meganrcassidy President Donald Trump and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy got into a 'screaming match' Wednesday as pro-Trump rioters attacked Capitol Hill. Punchbowl News reported the scene Friday, writing that McCarthy had demanded Trump release a statement denouncing the rioters. And at first, Trump refused. McCarthy also wanted the president to do more to get in control of the situation than send out a tweet. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, the body's top Republican, got in a screaming fight with President Donald Trump Wednesday as a pro-Trump mob broke into the Capitol Building McCarthy, according to Punchbowl News, wanted Trump (pictured) to issue more than just tweets to tame the situation. Trump tweeted several times and then finally released a video. On Thursday, he released another video where he appeared to concede Trump had misled his supporters into believing Congress had the ability to overturn the results of the presidential election. Lawmakers were meeting to certify the Electoral College votes when the MAGA mob overwhelmed Capitol Hill Trump had misled his supporters into believing Congress had the ability to overturn the results of the presidential election. Lawmakers were meeting Wednesday to certify the Electoral College votes when the MAGA mob overwhelmed Capitol Hill. Earlier in the day, the president had appeared at a rally at the ellipse and encouraged his supporters to march on the Hill. Five people died in the incident, including a Capitol Hill Police officer. McCarthy has long been one of the president's top allies on Capitol Hill - and went on to vote twice to approve challenges to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's Electoral College vote counts. As the events were unfolding, Trump sent out tweets including, 'Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!' But he also tried to explain the protesters actions by continuing to claim that he had been robbed of a second term. Trump has claimed for months that widespread voter fraud prevented him from winning the election, which is false. 'These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long,' Trump said in a tweet Twitter removed from its site. 'Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!' The president also eventually released a video Wednesday - where he continued to make baseless fraud claims. On Thursday, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany came out to the podium to read a statement condemning the violence. Trump followed up with a video address in which he finally appeared to concede the presidential race to President-elect Joe Biden. The screaming match between McCarthy and Trump indicates who damaged the relationship is between the president and top Republican leaders on the Hill. In the House, especially, they've remained loyal, with both McCarthy and his No. 2, Rep. Steve Scalise, voting in favor of Electoral College challenges. A majority of House Republicans sided with Trump in those votes, even after the riots. On the Senate side, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already broken free. He went on the Senate floor Wednesday - even before the mob broke into the Capitol Building - and shamed lawmakers like Sen. Josh Hawley who planned to sign on to House Republicans' Electoral College objections. Punchbowl reported that McConnell is 'basically done' with Trump. McConnell's wife, Trump's Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, resigned from the administration Thursday, citing the riots. MIAMI(BUSINESS WIRE)#AutomotiveAftermarketH.I.G. Capital (H.I.G.), a leading global alternative investment firm with $43 billion of equity capital under management, is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Recochem (Recochem or the Company), a global leader in manufacturing, marketing, and distributing automotive aftermarket and household fluids, has acquired Paint Over Rust Products (POR). Headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, POR develops, manufactures, and markets premium metal restoration products, rust preventative solutions, and related car care accessories under the POR-15 brand. POR has grown rapidly by building an omni-channel brand in the automotive aftermarket while offering best-in-class product quality and service. POR-15 is the premier brand in the metal restoration and rust preventative category with a very strong following among car enthusiasts. POR fits perfectly into our strategy of expanding the Companys presence in the U.S. branded car care market, remarked Richard Boudreaux, President and CEO of Recochem. POR has an excellent reputation for outstanding products and service, and we are very excited to partner with the team at POR to support the companys continued expansion. David Sherman, Chairman of POR, commented, We have worked with Recochem for over 25 years and are very excited to partner with the Company for our next phase of growth. We see significant opportunities to leverage the sophisticated digital marketing capabilities and broad distribution footprint at Recochem to drive our business to new heights. We look forward to partnering with Rick and his team to continue serving our customers and expanding our offering across North America. We are delighted to have supported Recochems investment in POR, said Keval Patel, Managing Director at H.I.G. Capital. The acquisition fits squarely in Recochems strategy of adding leading brands to its growing aftermarket car care division while acquiring best-in-class companies that produce automotive aftermarket fluids with significant value creation opportunities. POR is the fifth acquisition that Recochem has completed since H.I.G. acquired the Company in August 2018. About Paint Over Rust Products Headquartered in New Rochelle, NY, POR develops, manufactures and markets premium metal restoration and rust preventative solutions across online, distribution and retail automotive aftermarket channels. The companys full suite of branded car care products includes topcoats, specialty coatings, clearcoats and other related accessories. For more information, visit www.por15.com. About Recochem Founded in 1951 in Montreal, Recochem has grown into a leading manufacturer and marketer of branded, private label and bulk automotive aftermarket and household fluids for consumers and industrial customers worldwide. The Company operates a global platform, with a network across North America, Europe, Australia, China, India and the Asia Pacific region. Recochems strong reputation in the markets it serves has earned the Company vendor appreciation awards from its customers and long-standing relationships with its suppliers and partners around the world. With innovation and agility built into its DNA, Recochem is poised to continue its expansion into global markets while maintaining its core values of exceptional customer service, consistent product quality and environmental stewardship. For more information, visit www.recochem.com. About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with $43 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firms current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com. * Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. When the 25th Amendment was ratified in 1967, the president, 58-year-old Lyndon Johnson, was a heart attack survivor. His predecessor, John F. Kennedy, had been assassinated in 1963; Kennedys predecessor, Dwight Eisenhower, had suffered a heart attack in office in 1955; and lawmakers agreed that a constitutional provision was needed to replace a president who was unable to serve. What the amendments drafters may not have contemplated was a future president who, while still physically able to hold office, would incite a mob to storm the U.S. Capitol and invade congressional chambers to attack the results of an election that required him to leave the White House two weeks later. While some Democratic leaders have called for President Trump to be impeached a second time, others, joined by a handful of Republicans, are advocating swift removal under the 25th Amendment. Vice President Mike Pence must act to remove this president by immediately invoking the 25th Amendment, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, told reporters Thursday. She joined Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer of New York, who said Trump should not hold office one day longer. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., posted a video on Twitter Thursday saying, The president is unfit and the president is unwell, and the president must now relinquish control of the executive branch voluntarily or involuntarily. ... Its time to invoke the 25th Amendment and to end this nightmare. CNN quoted an unidentified Republican source as saying some Cabinet members have held preliminary discussions about using the amendment to remove Trump. But use of the amendment would require an unlikely set of political events: its invocation by Pence, who has not gone as far as Trump in disputing the presidential election returns but has shown little willingness to cross him, and support by a majority of the presidents Cabinet. Samuel Corum / Getty Images The amendment would also require two-thirds approval by both houses of Congress if Trump challenged his removal, but lawmakers would have three weeks to act, keeping Trump out of office through the end of his term. Impeachment, on the other hand, would require removal from office and disqualification from office in the future only if approved by both a majority of the House and two-thirds of the Senate, a long shot even in the upcoming Democratic-controlled Congress. Norman Ornstein, a scholar at the conservative American Enterprise Institute who supports removing Trump, told reporters Thursday he was extremely skeptical that Pence, even after this shocking set of actions by the president ... would take on a good share of his own party that would view him as a traitor. UC Berkeley Law Professor Bertrall Ross said Pence would be a target of those very individuals who were part of the mob if he invoked the 25th Amendment against Trump. The amendment was chiefly designed for voluntary, temporary transfers of presidential authority, which is how it has been used so far. One provision allows a president who is about to become unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office to notify the House and Senate, temporarily transferring those powers to the vice president. President Ronald Reagan sent such a letter to Congress before undergoing surgery in 1985, and President George W. Bush did so before colonoscopies that required anesthesia for a few hours in 2003 and 2007. Section Four of the amendment has never been invoked. It allows the vice president, joined by a majority of the principal officers of the executive departments, to advise lawmakers that the president is incapable of performing the duties of office, allowing the vice president to take over that office. While the executive departments refer to the Cabinet, the amendment does not specify whether the majority would include vacancies such as the Department of Transportation, with the announced resignation of Secretary Elaine Chao or the numerous acting secretaries in the Trump administration who have not been confirmed by the Senate. Nor does the amendment specify the conditions that would make the president unable to carry out the powers and duties of office. Ornstein said he thinks Trumps instigation of Wednesdays violence, and the presidents apparent obsession with overturning the election results, showed mental disabilities that would meet the Amendments definition of unfitness for office. Edward Foley, an Ohio State University law professor, said Trump seemed to be suffering an electoral psychosis and has translated his own denial of reality to a large portion of his followers. But Jonathan Turley, a George Washington University law professor, said this was essentially a dispute over Trumps policies, not his fitness to remain in office. Turley testified in Trumps support during the 2019 impeachment hearings over the presidents politically fueled attempt to withhold military aid from Ukraine. He said he opposed Trumps attacks on the election and condemned his speech that sent supporters to the Capitol Wednesday, but the speech is not evidence of incapacity or insanity. Being obnoxious and narcissistic is not grounds for removal, Turley said. Indeed, such a standard would leave much of Washington vacant. UC Berkeleys Ross said the amendment should be interpreted to allow replacement of a president who is mentally disabled, but the definition must be kept narrow and precise. I understand the desire to use the 25th Amendment in a moment of crisis, but this could devolve into a slippery slope, declaring someone unhinged because of policy practices they dislike, Ross said. Thats what the impeachment process was set up for. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko The Irish Examiner today publishes the Feeder School data - detailing which students go to which colleges. As well as a 16-page supplement, our interactive database allows parents to browse information about the school of origin of third-level students in each of the 26 publicly-funded third-level institutions in Ireland, including UCC, CIT, UL and others. [diframe=0.41]https://datastudio.google.com/embed/reporting/7528bb14-3282-4024-90c1-ad8e26faa853/page/G8IvB[/diframe] If you can not see the data set above click here. In addition, this list indicates how many students from the Republic of Ireland went on to Northern Irelands two universities: Queens University Belfast and Ulster University. We are also publishing information on how many students attend the two largest fee-paying colleges in the State: Griffith College (which has campuses in Cork, Dublin and Limerick) and Dublin Business School. What can this list tell you? This list includes all schools in the Republic of Ireland where more than 10 pupils sat the Leaving Cert in 2020. In 2019 and all previous years that this list was published, the information was based on the number of students who sat their Leaving Cert in every school (the sits list), and it is provided by the State Examinations Commission. We combine this with a list of the school of origin of all full-time, first-year undergraduate students who began their studies in an academic year. This year, however, the cancellation of the exams and the introduction of calculated grades as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic means that there is no sits list. Instead, the Department of Education has provided information on the number of students that registered for calculated grades this year. This is not simply an account of the Leaving Cert class of 2020. It includes information about how many students who ever attended a school in the Republic of Ireland started in an Irish third-level this year. Whats not included on this list? This list gives a partial picture. The following information is not available: How many students went on to further education (PLC courses) or apprenticeships Where students from grind schools which are run without state support went to college. These include Bruce College Cork, Hewitt College, the Institute of Education and others. How many students went to college in the UK or overseas. Why cant I find a particular school on this list? For one of these reasons: It had less than ten students sitting the Leaving Cert in 2020 and, for data protection reasons, the SEC does not provide this information. The school has closed The school introduced a mandatory Transition Year class in 2018 which means it had no Leaving Cert class in 2020. It amalgamated with other local schools. Where a student attended a school that has since amalgamated, we have credited that student to the new school. How is this data useful? As it stands, this supplement is the only source of information for parents who want to know about the academic success of schools in their area. Although there are critics of feeder school tables within the educational establishment, information is power and transparency is important. This year, the list has an added value in that it provides an indication of what effect, if any, calculated grades had on the progression rate of all schools compared to previous years. [diframe=0.21]https://datastudio.google.com/embed/reporting/3d3fedd9-b465-43e1-90b0-8fb48ee5c69d/page/G8IvB[/diframe] If you can not see the data set above, click here. * To ensure the greatest possible degree of accuracy and fairness, the Irish Examiner uses a standardized system to compile this list. There may be errors in some of the data provided by third-level institutions, but we are able to identify and correct the vast majority of these. However, there are a very small number of occasions where schools will record a slightly lower than accurate third-level progression. The Irish Examiner regrets it cannot enter into correspondence regarding the manner in which the data is compiled. Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation is a group of working-class professionals (doctors, nurses, lecturers, security officers, engineers, entrepreneurs etc.) who have come together to pool resources aimed at helping to alleviate the plight of the poor, needy and less privileged in society. According to the Founder and CEO, Mr. Nicholas Cofie, the NGO was established on March 21, 2018 at Adenta in Accra, explaining that growing up as an orphan himself motivated him to establish the Foundation to assist others, especially orphans, street children, widows etc. The Foundation in its two and a half years of existence has embarked on 9 major projects. In 2020, the Foundation undertook five projects: namely Donation to Nectar Orphanage in the Lower Manya Krobo Area. Distribution of food items to people of Madina and surrounding areas during the covid-19 lockdown (in partnership with Axis Pension Trust). Face mask distribution to indigens of - Chorkor and surrounding areas in Accra. Feeding of street kids in collaboration with Reggie Rockstone. The most recent act of benevolence took place on the 19th of December 2020 at Takyikrom. The project started based on a tip off by a friend of the Foundation who expounded the plight of this community. According to the project Coordinator, the Team initially visited Takyikrom in July 2020, met with the chief, elders, assemblyman and other opinion leaders of the village. They gathered that Takyikrom and adjourning communities had various needs; paramount among them were source of potable water and classrooms. Their sources of water were from a well which provided hard water and a river in the community because the borehole that used to supply potable water was broken down. The Research & Monitoring Team, headed by the Project Coordinator, Mr. Jeff Kwashie visited Takyikrom on five different occasions to properly assess the area and also work with artisans to draw the budgets of the various projects which included classroom block extension, borehole renovation and miscellaneous activities. Takyikrom is a small farming community in the Akuapem South District. The main activity here is farming. Crops cultivated include pineapple, yam, cassava; vegetables etc. and these do very well due to the mostly humid climatic condition. The village has a population of about 1,000. In terms of gender settlement more than 70% of the population is women. The adults appear to be mostly 45 years and above and children under 15 years of age. The village had only one chapel which was constructed over 15 years ago by an NGO and that facility doubled as a place of worship for the village and classrooms to lower primary pupils. The population of school going age in the town is about 300 but until schools closed due to Covid-19 directives in 2020, only about 200 pupils reported to school handled by 5 teachers. The crowded nature of classrooms coupled with lack of learning materials discouraged pupils from attending school. Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation in line with its objective of helping and providing quality education in deprived areas synchronized with the United Nation's 17 sustainable development goals (SDG GOALS) consented to construct two additional structures to provide conducive learning space for these pupils and renovate one dysfunctional borehole that hitherto provided potable water to the community. The Foundation liaised with Jodi Construction Company Ltd. to help repair the borehole at a cost of over 10,000 Ghana Cedis including labour for the community at their own cost. Members of the Foundation raised funds of about 25,000 cedis to handle the classroom extension project and also supply materials like Veronica buckets, nose masks, toiletries, notebooks, exercise books, pens, pencils, erasers, chalk, other teaching aids etc. These were not without hurdles which included financial constraints and the need for skilled artisans to put up the classroom block since Takyikrom is purely a farming community. December 19, 2020 was set to dedicate these projects and hold a love feast with the entire community. About 70 members of the Foundation were conveyed to Takyikrom, arriving at about 9:30 am. The Human Resource Manager, Mr. Isaac Nti and Mr. William Norvidzro, the Health and safety manager of Jodi construction Ltd - a mine construction firm, were present to dedicate the borehole situated at Adukro. The Odikro of the community, Nana Oparegyan, the linguist - Mr. Samuel Kwafo and a representative of the community, Madam Regina Obeng openly expressed their joy and appreciation to the Foundation for such a remarkable gesture. At the durbar grounds, Lady Pastor Audrey and Lady Pastor Cynthia Oduro shared a word of exaltation from the Book of John 3:16 to all gathered. Bibles and Gospel tracts were consequently distributed to the people. Dedication of the first phase of the two-unit classroom extension was done by Mr. Jeff Kwashie on behalf of the Foundation. The books and other learning materials were presented to the community, received by Deaconess Mercy Peprah, Madam Sophia Asare and Madam Benedicta Acolatse. An interview with the Deaconess who happened to be a pupils' teacher at the school revealed that two other teachers have left their post due to the numerous challenges. They expressed much joy with the hope that the items presented will make life better for them and the pupils. The Head Coordinator for CSR from Faytex Ghana- producers of Faytex sanitary pads, Madam Rosina Osabu presented boxes of Faytex sanitary pads to the women and lasses in the community and encouraged them to always choose the right pads and beware of pads made with wrong materials and imitations on the market. She also demonstrated best practices to prevent infections, encouraging good female reproductive health. The Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation medical team had an exposition to teach the correct handwashing techniques and other practices that will prevent covid-19 infections in the community. The children were feted with good music, dancing competitions, food, and drinks. These were not without face painting and Christmas card creation. A big cake was cut to commemorate the day. Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation branded nose masks were distributed to the entire community. MC's for the day were Mr. Patrick Yaw Adjei and Ms. Wendy Mante, both of the Foundation's Media and Publicity Team. An Interview with Pastor Martin Acolatse who doubled as the Headmaster of the school, in his own words stated that "I was posted to Pastor the church 15 years ago. I realized that the nearest school was at Oboadaka which is many kilometers away and that discouraged children from attending school. Five years on, I decided to start a school to reduce the distance travelled to school. Starting was extremely difficult." "But I had to use the chapel which could house just kindergarten to class four. This was not easy at all. It was like a market setting with one class disturbing the other. From class 4 we had to transfer the pupils to continue at Oboadaka. This is quite a journey with no proper means of transport. All those who came by and promised to help us never returned until Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation showed up. Truly they have given us a two-unit classroom. This is a great source of joy to the entire community. It is our prayer that God showers his blessings on this Foundation" He openly admitted that: Student population is expected to shoot up to full capacity from 200 to 300. Pupil Spacing in the classrooms will be possible as a measure to observe COVID-19 protocols. Standard of living is expected to improve since education will prepare them for a brighter future and greater opportunities. Issues of teenage pregnancy will also reduce drastically since it is very common due to lack of proper education. In another Interview with Victoria Oteng Darku and Sandra Osae, pupils who started school in the community school, Elim Divine Academy, stated that: "We were packed in the chapel with teachers screaming all day and struggling to catch our attention. Concentration was difficult. We thank God and Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation for building two more blocks in the school. This will bring a lot of relief to our younger siblings and teachers and encourage more parents to send their children to school. Mr. Nicholas Cofie, in his closing remarks, appealed to Government, other benevolent organizations and public-spirited individuals as well as other international and local NGOs to partner the Foundation to enable them reach out to the less privileged communities such as Takyikrom, Koforikrom and Adukro. He said the Foundation was unable to do many projects since it relies mostly on the contributions of its members to undertake its projects. But he believed that, as stated by Hudson Taylor, "God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supply". He further expressed appreciation to the community heads and all who supported to make this possible. He additionally applauded Jodi Construction Ltd., Faytex, Sheba Food catering Services, Unilever Ghana Ltd, Cake Haven, Mighty Sky Ghana Ltd, Axis Pension Trust Ltd., D&D Catering Services, Ashkan Ltd, Mr. Kusi Afriyie, Madam Eleanor De Heer Clair, Joy Prime, Joy FM, GTV etc and all those who supported in diverse ways for the great sponsorship packages. He also ceased the opportunity to wish all a Prosperous 2021 Source: Myhelp-Yourhelp Foundation 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 Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 02:29:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close RAMALLAH, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestine on Friday condemned the Israeli decision to close the archeological Ibrahimi Mosque site in the southern West Bank city of Hebron for 10 days. Mahmoud al-Habbash, an advisor to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on religious affairs and Islamic relations, said in a press statement that Israel's closure of the mosque is a "war crime." "Banning Muslim worshipers' access to pray at the mosque could fuel the sentiments of Muslims around the world," al-Habbash said, adding that it is an interference into the powers of al-Waqf department. The Ministry of the Palestinian al-Waqf is in charge of the holy sites, mainly mosques in the Palestinian territories. The Israeli media had earlier reported that the Israeli authorities decided to close the mosque for 10 days as part of the precautionary measures to combat the COVID-19 spread in Hebron. Meanwhile, Director of Ibrahimi Mosque Hefzi Abu Sneineh said that "Israel's pretext was baseless since all worshipers and visitors have been following up the health and safety protocols of wearing facemasks and social distancing." Enditem SBC Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd tests positive for COVID-19 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Former Southern Baptist Convention President Ronnie Floyd announced that he has tested positive for the coronavirus, having contracted it last month. In an email to supporters, Floyd explained that he began feeling ill on Dec. 26 and eventually got a test, having been delayed due to the upheaval cause by the Christmas Day bombing in Nashville, Tennessee. While that first day brought my worst symptoms and a few days following have been challenging, it has been nothing like so many others have experienced, Floyd said. By Gods grace alone, I have felt blessed each day as God has seen me through. Thankfully, Jeana has remained negative and we are grateful God has preserved her thus far from this virus. Floyd went on to note that the personal diagnosis of COVID-19 and the horrible, lonely deaths of so many reported everywhere has had a real effect on me. This global pandemic has reminded us again and again that we need God more than ever before, and we need each other more than ever before, he continued. Over these past few days, I have sensed this deeply and know it more personally. Fear of the unknown has been real, but God has seen me through. Amid the uncertainty of his health situation, Floyd wrote that he felt inspired by Psalm 56:3, which reads: What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. I enter 2021 with hope, as I am sure each of you do. My hope rests in Jesus Christ, and I know that no matter what happens in our world, I can trust in Him when I am afraid, when I am joyful, and when I am uncertain, Floyd added. Currently the president and CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee, Floyd was elected president of the SBC in 2014 and held the office until 2016. While president, Floyd championed efforts to advance racial reconciliation between the SBC, which was originally founded by slave-owners, and historically African American churches. For example, in 2015 Floyd participated in a summit on racial unity held in Jackson, Mississippi, alongside Jerry Young, president of the National Baptist Convention, USA. The following year, Floyd was involved in a panel discussion titled "A National Conversation on Racial Unity in America" in St. Louis, Missouri. The sin of racism is a spiritual stronghold in this nation and now is the time this wall must come down, wrote Floyd in 2016. As we repent of it personally, repent of it in our churches, and repent of it in our nation, we will perhaps see the next great spiritual awakening in our generation. English French Yvan Deschamps to assume Chief Financial Officer role as Francois Laurin announces planned retirement from Laurentian Bank MONTREAL, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Laurentian Bank is pleased to announce that Yvan Deschamps has been appointed to the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the organization, effective April 6, 2021. Mr. Deschamps succeeds Francois Laurin, who informed the Bank of his desire to retire at the next Annual General Meeting. Mr. Laurin will continue to work closely with Mr. Deschamps to ensure his smooth transition into the role. I would like to thank Francois Laurin for his leadership and committed service to Laurentian Bank. Earlier in 2020, Francois indicated to the Board of Directors and the executive team his desire to retire and agreed to extend his tenure until this year to ensure a smooth succession process and to support my onboarding as new CEO. His leadership has ensured the Banks strong capital and liquidity positions and his mentorship has provided our organization with an excellent internal candidate for our new CFO, said Rania Llewellyn, President & CEO. It has been a privilege to help lead Laurentian Bank over the last five years and I am confident that Yvan will be highly successful in his new role, said Mr. Laurin. I would also like to thank my colleagues and all the Banks customers and partners for making this such a rewarding experience. Yvan Deschamps has more than 25 years of leadership experience in finance and corporate development. He joined the Bank as Vice President, Corporate Development in 2016 and has served as Senior Vice President, Finance, Accounting & Corporate Development since 2017. Before joining Laurentian, Mr. Deschamps served in progressively senior roles at Real Ventures, CAE Inc., Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, and Bell Canada. He holds the CPA, CGA designation and is a graduate of the University of Sherbrooke, where he obtained a B.B.A. and an M.Sc. in Finance. Yvan has demonstrated great enthusiasm and depth of financial expertise, which will serve him well in this new role. I look forward to welcoming him to the Executive Committee as we work to reset our priorities, refocus our efforts and renew the passion and pride of our employees. Together we will build One Bank to provide long-term sustainable value to our customers, our communities and our shareholders," said Ms. Llewellyn. About Laurentian Bank Financial Group Founded in 1846, Laurentian Bank Financial Group is a diversified financial services provider whose mission is to help its customers improve their financial health. The Laurentian Bank of Canada and its entities are collectively referred to as Laurentian Bank Financial Group (the Group or the Bank). With more than 2,900 employees guided by the values of proximity, simplicity and honesty, the Group provides a broad range of advice-based solutions and services to its personal, business and institutional customers. With pan-Canadian activities and a presence in the U.S., the Group is an important player in numerous market segments. The Group has $44.2 billion in balance sheet assets and $27.8 billion in assets under administration. Information: Fabrice Tremblay fabrice.tremblay@lbcfg.ca Office: 514 284-4500, ext. 40020 Cell: 438 989-6070 Advertisement An Ethiopian tribe's tradition of taking part in a ceremonial duel where men beat each other with sticks in order to win a bride has been captured on camera. The often violent and bloody display among the self-sufficient Suri people in the south of the African nation serves as a rite of passage for young men. The winner is conferred great prestige and the 'Donga' fights are often very competitive, occasionally leading to severe injury and death, with battle scars worn as a mark of pride. An Ethiopian tribe has taken part in a ceremonial duel where men beat each other with sticks in order to win a bride The often violent and bloody display among the self-sufficient Suri people in the south of the African nation serves as a rite of passage for young men The winner is conferred great prestige and the Donga fights are often very competitive, occasionally leading to severe injury and death The men normally compete with little or no clothing and are watched on by their fellow tribespeople In the Omo Valley, the men are seen wearing homemade helmets, thrusting the long sticks into each other's bodies. As well as proving themselves to the women, the fights are designed to trained the young men for future violence in the turbulent region. Neighbouring tribes such as the Nyangatom often engage in battles with the Suri people. A referee is in place during the stick fights but it remains a dangerous sport, particularly since the tribespeople seized guns in recent years, which are occasionally fired from the sidelines. As well as proving themselves to the women, the fights are designed to trained the young men for future violence in the turbulent region A referee is in place during the stick fights but it remains a dangerous sport, and battle scars are often shown off with pride In the Omo Valley, the men are seen wearing homemade helmets, thrusting the long sticks into each other's bodies Neighbouring tribes such as the Nyangatom often engage in battles with the Suri people and the Donga fights help train the young men The Ethiopian government outlawed stick fighting in 1994 but they continue to be a part of tribal life. Photographer Xavier Gil Tabios, 62, from Barcelona, travelled to the Omo Valley to watch the traditional display. Tourists are often unwelcome and tribes have previously said they find it offensive to be photographed without permission. The Ethiopian government outlawed stick fighting in 1994 but they continue to be a part of tribal life Photographer Xavier Gil Tabios, 62, from Barcelona, travelled to the Omo Valley to watch the traditional display Warriors always fight naked to prove that they're tough and don't need armour - although it is strictly prohibited to hit a contestant when he is on the ground Tourists are often unwelcome and tribes have previously said they find it offensive to be photographed without permission But Tabios spent a week with the Suri people and watched on as the young men competed in a Donga fight. He said: 'They fight to demonstrate masculinity, for personal revenge, and to win a wife. 'The participants fight two by two until one winner emerges from the tournament. A woman cries as she watches the violent battles unfold, with the whole village watching on the sometimes distressing scenes There are concerns that as the southern Ethiopian area becomes more connected with the outside world tribes like the Suri will lose their cultural heritage Tabios spent a week with the Suri people and watched on as the young men competed in a Donga fight 'It can be an inhospitable place. You have to negotiate economically to access a celebration like this and you're always making sure that the violence doesn't get out of control. 'In the end, we had to abruptly leave as another clan arrived with guns looking for trouble. 'It's a complicated area but I'd still urge people to try this unique unrepeatable experience.' By 2025, 60 per cent of the State management agencies in Vietnam are hoped to have at least one woman in a leadership role. President of Vietnam National University of Agriculture Nguyen Thi Lan, a NA deputy from Hanoi delegation gives opinions at a NA discussion in November 2020. Photo Doan Tan The percentage is expected to increase to 70 per cent by 2030. These are parts of goals in a programme to increase womens participation in leadership and decision-making process in Vietnam in the next 10 years which Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has approved. At present, according to a Government report, women are part of the leadership at 44.53 per cent of central agencies, 45.52 per cent of provincial agencies, 53.74 per cent at district agencies and 35.64 per cent at commune agencies. The programme hopes to bring into full play the potential and creativity of women, helping Vietnam realise its commitments to achieve sustainable development of gender equality and women's empowerment. Under the programme, by 2025, at least 40 per cent of candidates for managerial/leading positions in States agencies at all levels are hoped to be women. The rate is expected to increase by 50 per cent in 2030. By 2025, 75 per cent of the female candidates for leading positions will be offered training courses and by 2030, the percentage is expected to increase by 90 per cent. In sectors where women make up less than 30 per cent of staff, such rates will be adjusted. In localities home to ethnic minority groups, the proportion of female leaders from the ethnic groups must be suitable to population structure. The programme also points out measures to achieve such goals including an improved legal framework and law enforcement for women, strengthened communication on gender equality as well as on the roles/positions and potential of women in the new era. Vietnam would also boost international co-operation on womens participation in leadership and management through training courses or experience sharing. The country plans to develop a database on female staff and leaders as part of its database on State employees. In Vietnamese politics, women hold three Politburo positions, accounting for 15.78 per cent. Several members of the Party Central Committee are women, while the NA Chair, NA Vice Chair and Vice President are all women. The percentage of female National Assembly deputies in 2017 was 26.7 per cent, one of the highest percentages of female parliamentarians in the region. In the first National Assembly of Vietnam in 1946, female deputies made up only 3 per cent. The percentage has been increasing for years and in the countrys 13th National Assembly (2011-2016), it reached 26.72 per cent with 133 female deputies out of total 496 deputies. The figures make Vietnam rank second in ASEAN and 43rd out of 143 countries across the world in terms of female leadership. During 2016-2021, more women were elected to People's Councils at all levels as they made up 26.59 per cent at commune Peoples Councils, 27.5 per cent at district-level Peoples Councils and 26.56 per cent at provincial Peoples Councils. Women hold key leadership at 32.14 per cent of provincial People's Committees nationwide, 32.64 per cent of district People's Committees and nearly 22 per cent of commune People's Committees. Women constitute 47.7 per cent of the labour force in the country and 26.5 per cent of business owners and CEOs. VNS Setting the scene for Vietnams future human development With Vietnam celebrating the 44th anniversary of joining the UN this month, Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP resident representative in Vietnam, pores over the country's progress in human development and the challenges ahead to tackle various inequalities. Today, bighorns everywhere are at a mere 5% of their historical abundance. Modern practices have contributed to the loss of the species. Credit: Joel Berger/CSU Some of the world's most sacred and spectacular lands unfold across the sovereign Navajo Nationan area nearly the size of Maine encompassing parts of Arizona, Utah and New Mexico. Here, desert bighorn sheep slip silently from view in rugged canyons and among red sandstone cliffs. Evocative petroglyphs and pictographs of the animal, which has been hunted and revered across time, adorn rocks throughout the area. It is also here that a team of Navajo tribal authorities with veterinarians and scientists from Denver Zoo, Colorado State University and the Wildlife Conservation Society successfully captured and released 90 bighorn sheep in December 2020. The team aims to diagnose respiratory disease in the bighorns and track the movement of rams and ewes as the first phase of a study led by Denver Zoo. CSU Professor Joel Berger, who is part of the project, explained that the disease contributes heavily to juvenile and adult mortality. Berger said people involved in the project are cooperating for a common good and for a species of great local relevance to the Navajo people. "That is something to be celebrated," he said. Loss of iconic bighorn sheep affects ecosystems Today, bighorns everywhere are at a mere 5% of their historical abundance. Modern practicesroads, disease, overharvest and competition with livestockhave contributed to the loss of the species. By the 1990s, only 34 individual desert bighorn sheep remained on the Navajo Nation, living along the San Juan River. Tribal authorities have been working to reverse these trends and are involved in restoration and conservation efforts in Arizona and Utah. To prioritize the species' recovery, Navajo Nation Fish and Wildlife, with the help of Stevens Wildlife Consulting, established the Navajo Bighorn Sheep Recovery Program in 1997. Since that time, the teams successfully established two additional populations of bighorn sheep on Navajo lands. Populations steadily increased and peaked at 600 animals in 2016, but a pneumonia epidemic now threatens that recovery and has sent two of three populations into precipitous decline. Jessica Fort, wildlife biologist for the Navajo Nation and the architect of a recent ongoing conservation effort, said she is confident that the project will be successful. "We hope that the bighorn sheep can continue to play an important role, ecologically, economically and culturally, in the Nation's future," she said. Currently, tissue samples from the bighorns are being analyzed for Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, a respiratory pathogen known to affect wild sheep and goats. The wide-ranging movements of bighorn rams are also being monitored to chart visits to domestic herds of sheep. Supported by $260,000 in grants from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the project covers the remote northern lands of the reservation, with boundaries that expand southward from the San Juan River and from Glen Canyon units managed by the U.S. National Park Service. Collaborations add value to conservation efforts Jeff Cole, wildlife manager of the Navajo Fish and Wildlife Department said there is real value added to the project, thanks to cooperation among tribal authorities with state and federal agencies, coupled with university and non-governmental organizations. "If we really want our bighorn sheep populations to thrive, we need a broader knowledge base and a way to ensure that people are involved in building solutions while also incorporating the latest science," he said. Berger, the Barbara Cox-Anthony Chair of Wildlife Conservation at CSU and senior scientist at Wildlife Conservation Society, said the success of the collaboration revealed itself in numerous ways. "When the centrifuge we used to process the bighorn samples in the field failed, we had offers from Navajo communities some 150 miles away to help, as well as from the Bureau of Land Management, from private veterinary clinics and from local hospitals," he said. The second phase of this research project will include a collaboration with local domestic sheep herders to identify possible respiratory disease reservoirs, and ultimately suggest solutions to prevent the spread of disease. The Navajo Nation is a federally recognized Indian tribe with 18 million acres of land in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. The mission of its Department of Fish and Wildlife is to "conserve, protect, enhance, and restore the Navajo Nation's fish, wildlife, and plants through aggressive management programs for the spiritual, cultural, and material benefit of present and future generations of the Navajo Nation." Explore further Pathways of disease spillover among domestic and wild sheep and goats in the western United States After the disturbance inside the Capitol building on January 6, the US Capitol Police Chief had to resign because of the failure to prevent illegal entry. The resignation of the US Capitol Police Chief follows after individuals entered the capitol building last Wednesday. This prompted the allegations of incompetence in dealing with the supposed Trump protestors. US Capitol Police Chief Resigns According to a spokeswoman informing news outlets, Chief Steven Sund's stepping down will be effective on January 16, reported NTD. According to Sund in his defense, the capitol police planned for only a free speech demonstration. The assault took them by surprise, leaving the force ill-prepared. He added the event was the first incident of its like in 30 years in his law enforcement career. The House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called on Lund to vacate the position last Thursday. One of Pelosi's reasons was the failed handling of the situation to the Capitol Police's top. She said this at the press meet, adding that he has not contacted them after the incident. On the day lawmakers gathered for Congress's joint session to certify electoral results but were interrupted while deciding whether to reject Arizona returns. A group of individuals entered the capitol intent on disrupting the process. Who started the breaking in the capitol building at 2:15 p.m. is yet to be determined. At 6 p.m., the breach was stopped and under control, announced capitol police. Once secured, the joint session resumed, and the votes were certified by Mike Pence. Also read: Protestors Dressed in Trump Garb to Deploy National Guard, FBI to get Back Control Before Sund informed of his resignation, he gave praise for the valiant efforts of officers last Thursday. He mentioned their bravery as the individual who attacked were repulsed by his fellow officers resolutely. He said these particular individuals attacked policemen and other law enforcement officers using steel pipes and chemical substances. They were intent on harming officers and had similarities to recent Antifa attacks on police. According to KMGH-TV, the people who attacked the Capitol were intent on destroying everything. The White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany called out the excessive violence on Wednesday in a White House press conference. McEnany said the violence at the nation's capital was not how American's should act. She condemned it and the entire administration in the strongest way possible. Adding those who were involved should be persecuted and met with the full forces of the law. She called the events on Wednesday when this group of rioters had intentionally violated and muddled the legitimate first amendment rights of the many thousands who came in peace. Others wanted to be heard in peaceful protest, not like the few who acted viciously in the Capitol building. McEnany called the siege on the Capitol an attack on what the administration considers sacred. To live in safety and free is what is essential. These people violated it severely. Soon after the incident in the Capitol, assistance is sought by the FBI to identify the assailants in the attack. The National Guard will be in the capital until January 20, on the last day of Trump's presidency. Related article: Make America Great Again: Pro Trump Protesters Flooded 17 Statehouses in Peaceful Demonstrations @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 00:33:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close LUSAKA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Thursday donated more medical equipment to help Zambia tackle the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The donated equipment includes ventilators, oxygen ventilators and other equipment meant to prevent and manage the pandemic. Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie said China has decided to make the donation following the outbreak of the second wave and the urgent call to respond to contain the outbreak. He said the equipment has already arrived in the country and will be distributed to four major hospitals in the country. "We are hoping that the equipment will go to the most needed places and we would also like to see that Chinese experience could also be used in this process of prevention," he said. The Chinese envoy further said the government has organized another medical team comprising of 28 personnel who will be deployed in some hospitals in Zambia for a period of one year. He said 20 of the medical personnel will be based at the country's main referral hospital in Lusaka, the country's capital while four will be deployed in Livingstone in the southern part of the country and another four will be deployed to Ndola hospital on the Copperbelt Province. He expressed optimism that the Chinese medical team will work closely with their local counterparts to enhance the provision of medical services. He acknowledged that Zambia was facing challenges brought by the COVID-19 but was quick to state that the good leadership and support from cooperating partners like China will enable the country to overcome the challenge. Zambia's Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya thanked China for the timely donation, saying it will go a long way in strengthening the response to the second wave of the pandemic. The Zambian minister said the donation was timely as it comes during the time of the second wave which was severe and has resulted in many patients requiring oxygen. Zambia has far recorded 24,297 cumulative cases with 423 deaths. Enditem An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while Trump supporters gather in front of the US Capitol building. (Image: Reuters/Leah Millis) Describing the attack on Capitol Hill by Donald Trump's supporters as one of the darkest days in the US history, President-elect Joe Biden said the violence was the result of the President's "contempt for democracy". The riot at the US Capitol on Wednesday was not dissent, disorder or protest, it was chaos, Biden told reporters on Thursday in Wilmington, Delaware. "They weren't protesters, don't dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob, insurrectionists, domestic terrorists...I wish we could say we couldn't see it coming but that isn't true. We could see it coming. The past four years we have had a president who has made his contempt for our democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law, clear in everything he has done, he said. Biden alleged Trump has unleashed an all-out assault on institutions of US democracy from the outset and the Capitol Hill violence was "the culmination of that unrelenting attack". The incident was "one of the darkest days in the history of our nation", Biden said, underlining that it was an unprecedented assault on the US democracy, on the citadel of liberty and on the rule of law. Trump, he said, has always attacked the free press who dared to question his power, repeatedly calling them the enemy of the people, a language long been used by autocrats and dictators all over the world to hold on to power. Biden said Trump thought he could stack the courts with friendly judges who would support him no matter what but "he was stunned when the judges he appointed didn't do his bidding, instead acted with integrity...upholding the rule of law not just once or twice or three times but over 60 times". At every level, the judiciary rose in the moment during this election, did its job, acted with complete fairness and impartiality with complete honour and integrity, he said. Trump was trying to use a mob to silence the voices of nearly 160 million Americans who summoned the courage in the face of a pandemic that threatened their health and their lives to cast that sacred ballot, he said. Steven Yeun could make history as the first Asian-American nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his new film Minari, and he's opening up about some of his struggles along the way. The 37-year-old South Korean-American actor, who moved to America when he was just five years old. The Walking Dead star appeared on a new Variety podcast to discuss the film, where he opened up about an uncomfortable audition experience he had. History: Steven Yeun could make history as the first Asian-American nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his new film Minari, and he's opening up about some of his struggles along the way Experience: The Walking Dead star appeared on a new Variety podcast to discuss the film, where he opened up about an uncomfortable audition experience he had Yeun was raised in Troy, Michigan after his family immigrated from South Korea, and he ultimately moved to Chicago to pursue a career in comedy at the famed Second City improv theater. He revealed that the first audition he had in Chicago was for a show called Awesome 80s Prom, 'which was an immersive improvised show, where you have this John Hughes spectrum of characters like Ferris Bueller.' 'I auditioned with Ferris Buellers opening monologue. And they said, "that was good. Can you do that all again in an Asian accent?" And Ill be honest with you. I knew that I didnt want to do that,' he said. Audition: He revealed that the first audition he had in Chicago was for a show called Awesome 80s Prom, 'which was an immersive improvised show, where you have this John Hughes spectrum of characters like Ferris Bueller' 'The system had no clue thats not what I wanted. We were just in a different time. And so I remember I did a s****y accent and phoned it, and they still wanted me anyway because thats how far and few between Asian actors were,' he added. 'So they call, and they said, "Wed like to hire you." And I said, "No." And they got really mad. And I was like, "Oh, thats not a good first step in this business. I pissed somebody off,"' he added. Yeun also recalled he wasn't sure if he wanted to pursue acting or not in college, but he recalls following another Korean actor, John Cho, quite closely. Acting: Yeun also recalled he wasn't sure if he wanted to pursue acting or not in college, but he recalls following another Korean actor, John Cho, quite closely 'Id seen John Cho start popping off, and it was really cool to watch him. He hadnt gotten the shine that he deserved at the time, and it took a little bit for him over time,' Yeun said. 'I watched him, and I was like, Wow! Heres a Korean American actor that Ive never seen before, and hes on the screen, and its pretty incredible. He was the first one not to be objectified or fetishized,' Yeun added. 'He was a new version of what an Asian man is seen as. He was something new and fresh and gave me a roadmap to emulate. I thought it was possible for me,' he said. Korean American: 'I watched him, and I was like, Wow! Heres a Korean American actor that Ive never seen before, and hes on the screen, and its pretty incredible. He was the first one not to be objectified or fetishized,' Yeun added Yeun also opened up about his experience on Minari, revealing how he reacted to writer-director Lee Isaac Chung's script. 'I was given a script in October of 2018. I read it, and I was so blown away by the honesty, the truthfulness of the point of view,' he began. 'I can only speak from the Asian American immigrant perspective, but usually, when I read scripts, theyre oftentimes caught in the grasp of a gaze from either side, whether its the American majority-white gaze of needing to explain itself and its culture to two people,' Yeun added. Minari will be released in theaters on February 12 through A24 Films. Photo: pixabay The following letter, dated 23 December 2020, was sent on behalf of faith leaders of varying traditions throughout BC; including the undersigned from the Interior. It was distributed to media on Jan. 7. Dear Dr. Henry & Minister Dix, We are faith leaders from across British Columbia and from multiple denominations within the province. We wanted to publicly reach out to show our deep respect and appreciation for you, your staff and all those in leadership in this most challenging time. We fully support the work you have done throughout 2020 and appreciate your calm, considerate guidance and wisdom as you work to keep us all safe. As faith leaders we have worked hard to keep our communities safe and connected in many imaginative ways. Some of us have remained online throughout this pandemic while others have followed clearly laid out protocols for in-person worship gatherings and events in the summer and early fall. Each of us, along with our leadership, has prayerfully made decisions that we felt best cared for our congregations. Throughout all of these decisions it has been incredibly helpful to have strong guidance from the provincial health officer, the BC CDC and the provincial government. None of us have served in ministry through a global pandemic before and we look to experts to help us through these times. Your work has been invaluable to us. We have been deeply disappointed in the multiple times that the voices of a particular group of faith leaders have been spotlighted and amplified publicly criticizing your work and your mandates. As you are already aware, those voices do not speak for all of us. We want to publicly reiterate our gratitude and support for your work. We are deeply grateful that you have, from the beginning, taken time to be in conversation with faith leaders and have spoken publicly many times in support of the work we are doing. We are looking forward to working with Dr. Robert Daum to continue those conversations. Thank you for your hard work. We continue to hold each of you, your staff, our government, BCs front line workers and all impacted by COVID-19 in our prayers. Sincerely, Rev. Dr. Gregory Mohr, Bishop, BC Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada Rev. Patricia Giannelia, Pastor, Christ Lutheran Church, Kelowna Rev. Brian Krushel, Pastor, Faith Lutheran Church, Kelowna Rev. Curtis Aguirre, Pastor, Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Penticton Andrew Stephens-Rennie, Missioner, Valhalla Anglican Parish, Castlegar Rev. David Hunter, Pastor, Peace Lutheran Congregation, Vernon Rev Robin Jacobson, Minister, Trinity United Church, Vernon, BC The Rev Canon Chris Harwood-Jones, All Saints Anglican Church, Vernon BC Rev. Erik Bjorgan, Pastor, Deo Lutheran Church, Salmon Arm Rev. Jane Gingrich, Pastor, Hills of Peace Lutheran Church, Kamloops The U.S. Food and Drug Administration this week warned that a type of COVID-19 test used at Minute Maid Park and other sites in Houston could lead to false negative results when used on asymptomatic people. The FDA alerted providers that Curative tests should be used only for people who are experiencing symptoms within 14 days of the test, as prescribed in the governments authorization for the tests emergency use. To reduce the risk of false negative results, it is important to perform the test in accordance with its authorization and as described in the authorized labeling, the FDA wrote in its alert. When the test is not performed in accordance with its authorization or as described in the authorized labeling, there is a greater risk that the results of the test may not be accurate. The Texas Department of Emergency Management has not required symptoms for tests at Minute Maid Park. The agency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Curative tests are used in at least six other sites in the Houston area, including at Memorial Park Conservancy and several Kroger stores. Curative was alerting some customers Friday that they are not eligible for the test, depending on a questionnaire about symptoms and possible exposures. Curative told providers it has not observed any changes in test performance and has been working with the FDA to address its concerns. As part of our communication with FDA, Curative recently submitted data from a clinical study that evaluated more than 1,300 subjects and multiple different sample types and comparisons, wrote Amy VandenBerg, an executive with the company. Due to FDA questions about the study design for this additional data, FDAs Safety Communication reminds Healthcare Providers of the existing precautions and limitations that remain in place at this time. Curative said the governments safety guidance stressed parameters that already were in place. We are confident in our data and we are working with the FDA closely on the matter, said CEO and co-founder Fred Turner. Testing sensitivity and accuracy on behalf of our patients is at the heart of our work. Health officials with Houston and Harris County said they are aware of the problem, but neither uses the tests at their own sites. The city health department said there is a chance of false results with all tests and it encourages people to get tested multiple times. The health department helps Curative identify vulnerable areas of the city to locate the companys testing sites and promotes the sites on its website, said Scott Packard, the health departments communications director. Curative tests are not used at any health department operated testing sites. In Los Angeles, where the city uses Curative tests at its sites, officials defended the company. Mayor Eric Garcetti told news reporters Thursday that the company helped catch 92,000 cases in asymptomatic people, about a third of the positive results. This is something that has saved lives, will continue to save lives, Garcetti said, according to the Los Angeles Times. If we move away from it, I fear we would have a lot fewer people diagnosed, and even more spread. Congress uses Curative tests, as well. Dr. Brian Monahan, the Capitol physician, said in a memo about the safety guidance that Curative is the most accurate available and the chance of false negatives is a problem for all coronavirus tests, according to Politico. dylan.mcguinness@chron.com "There is a consensus in the healthcare space that we have lost significant ground in the fight against the opioid crisis as any healthcare system is not equipped to fight two wars on two separate fronts," CMS CEO Nick Stavros said. "Now, more importantly than ever before, we must step up the fight against the drug epidemic that has ravaged our country for decades. And that means expanding access to treatment to those who are suffering from addictions to opioids and other illicit substances." The Phoenix clinic will operate a full-time staff of nurses, medical providers, and counselors around the clock. The clinic will also conduct outreach to local hospitals, harm reduction agencies, justice system and correctional health entities, and crisis system partners to help navigate people into treatment. "We understand that when those suffering from an opioid use disorder make the decision to seek treatment, time is of the essence," Stavros said. "They might change their mind within a matter of hours, so it is absolutely imperative that we give them access to treatment at any given time. We are proud to participate in this opportunity to give new treatment options to people who may badly need it." Easing the health care burden in Wisconsin and Arizona CMS has stayed true to its mission of expanding access to care. The two newest locations in Phoenix, AZ and South Milwaukee, WI brings CMS' total number of clinics to 44 and CMS is currently opening an additional five clinics throughout the country, with its 45th clinic slated to open in East Cleveland in the next few weeks. Both facilities have been planned to address critical needs in the states' health care systems. According to government figures, every $1 spent on Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) results in $4-$7 in societal savings due to decreased crime rates and justice system costs and up to $12 in societal costs when health care costs are included in the equation2. "Emergency Departments are expending high costs as a result of the lack of treatment options during off-peak hours," CMS' Director of Medical Operations Jenn Mason said. "This center will hopefully offset many of these costs to EDs and will ultimately help save the Wisconsin health care system from unnecessary expenditures." CMS also has closely collaborated with Arizona's health care leadership to address the need for a centrally located 24-hour multi-approach facility. "At our Phoenix location, no matter the time, no matter the day, we will be here to guide individuals through the process and remove reduce barriers to treatment," Jesus Godinez, the clinic's manager, said. "Every client will be afforded the same opportunities to address their opioid use, by using modalities best suited for the client. Medical providers, counselors, case managers, and peer support specialists will work one-on-one with clients to ensure that their individualized treatments needs are met. As we continue to break through the stigma of addiction, we offer a safe place for anyone looking to start their recovery journey with us; in recovery there is hope, and hope is a wonderful thing." The Phoenix center opened on Jan. 4, 2021 and is located at 2806 West Cactus Road. The clinic in South Milwaukee, which opened its doors on Oct. 19, 2020 will be open from 5-12pm and will be located at 1333 College Ave Suite M1. Forgotten Epidemic CDC data shows that more than 450,000 Americans died from an opioid overdose between 1999-2018 and recently released data shows that the epidemic began to spike in 20193. Additionally, data from the American Medical Association suggests that the opioid epidemic has been substantially exacerbated by COVID-194. "The last few months have been disheartening as our country has been struggling to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic which to date, has killed more than 228 thousand Americans," Dr. Robert Sherrick, Chief Medical Officer for CMS, said. "However, we must not forget the co-occurring opioid epidemic which has ravished our country and doesn't seem to have an end in sight." More information OTPs provide MAT in the forms of methadone, buprenorphine (Suboxone/Subutex), and Vivitrol, in conjunction with psycho-social counseling and medical support for individuals diagnosed with opioid use disorder (OUD). SAMHSA5, along with the Centers for Disease Control6 and numerous other medical and behavioral health agencies such as American Society of Addiction Medicine7 have said that opioid-agonist treatment (buprenorphine and methadone), is the gold standard of treatment for those suffering from OUD. Additionally, the World Health Organization and the US Department of Justice recommend methadone and buprenorphine as the standard of care for incarcerated individuals suffering from OUD8. Injectable Naltrexone, a newer medication being used in combating the epidemic, has shown promising results in studies involving justice-system involved individuals as well. Research has shown that MAT, particularly methadone treatment, decreases overdose mortality risk by up to 75%9. 1 https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/whats-behind-the-historic-spike-in-drug-overdose-deaths-under-covid-19 2 https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-drug-addiction-treatment-research-based-guide-third-edition/frequently-asked-questions/drug-addiction-treatment-worth-its-cost 3 https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html 4 https://www.ama-assn.org/system/files/2020-10/issue-brief-increases-in-opioid-related-overdose.pdf 5 http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content/SMA14-4443/SMA14-4443.pdf 6 https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/pdf/2015-07-vitalsigns.pdf 7 http://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/public-policy-statements/1obot-treatment-7-04.pdf?sfvrsn=0 8 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3372322/ 9 https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/advocacy/mat-talking-points-final.pdf?sfvrsn=0 Contact: John Koch, Director of Community Engagement Office: 815-735-1546 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Community Medical Services The most shocking thing about Wednesdays assault on the Capitol is that it happened. A mob of Trump supporters, some of them armed, stormed and vandalized both chambers of Congress, sending duly-elected lawmakers into hiding and interrupting the peaceful transition of power from one administration to the next. That this was whipped up by the president Were going to walk down to the Capitol and were going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and were probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them makes it an actual attack on the separation of powers: an attempt, by the executive, to subvert the legislature by force and undermine the foundation of constitutional government. Nearly as shocking as the attack itself has been the response from Congress. On Wednesday night, its members resumed their count of the electoral vote and certified Joe Biden as the next president of the United States. So far so good. But then they adjourned into recess. It was Thursday afternoon before the Democratic leadership Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the soon-to-be Senate Majority leader, Chuck Schumer called for the presidents removal. And even then, they urged the vice president, Mike Pence, to use the 25th Amendment to do it, with impeachment as a backstop. This is backward. A physical attack on Congress by violent Trump supporters egged on by the president demands a direct response from Congress itself. Impeachment and conviction is that response. To rely on the executive branch to get Trump out of the White House is to abdicate the legislatures constitutional responsibility to check presidential lawbreaking. Immigration attorney Henry A. Posada Throughout the history of the United States, immigration, innovation, and economic growth have been inextricably linked. A December 4 op-ed from the Times of San Diego argues for easier pathways for immigrants to legally and permanently reside in the United States. The piece notes that, while its relatively easy for foreign students to attend American universities and schools, remaining in the United States after the fact is marred by bureaucracy and antiquated, overly complicated visa programs. In particular, the op-ed argues for the creation of a startup visa that would allow foreign entrepreneurs the ability to legally start businesses on U.S. soil without having to compete for one of the only 85,000 visas that are awarded via lottery each year to immigrants deemed highly-skilled. Los Angeles-based immigration attorney Henry A. Posada says that throughout the history of the United States, immigration, innovation, and economic growth have been inextricably linked. Mr. Posada says that the economic benefits of immigrants are very clear to seeimmigrant-owned businesses and inventions contribute massively to the U.S. economy every year. Mr. Posada says that, according to published figures, almost half of all Fortune 500 companies were either founded by immigrants or their children. Moreover, these Fortune 500 companies collectively employ over 13.5 million Americans. There is every reason to think, says Mr. Posada, that immigrants dynamism means they punch well above their economic weight in terms of job creation. The Los Angeles immigration attorney notes that the Fortune 500 obviously doesnt include the tens of thousands of immigrant-owned small businesses throughout the United States. Most small businesses employ many individuals, each paying taxes and contributing to the overall economy. He says that without the contributions of these countless immigrant-owned small businesses, the U.S. economy would be unlikely to approach the size that it is today. Mr. Posada says that U.S. immigration law in recent years has increasingly made it harder for immigrants to move to and live within the country. Navigating those seas of bureaucracy and competition without the help of an experienced immigration attorney is exceedingly challenging, if not near-impossible. He concludes that, while the waters can be rough and will not change overnight, opportunities are still bountiful and the future is looking brighter for immigrants looking for success and a better life in the United States. Readers that would like to learn more about Mr. Posada or his firm, the Law Offices of Henry A. Posada, can visit the firms website at https://www.hposadalaw.com/ or call (562) 904-9080. Michael Buble has rescheduled his tour dates for the second time due to the coronavirus pandemic. The Canadian crooner says hell perform at the Times Union Center in Albany on Aug. 25, 2021. Buble first postponed his remaining An Evening With Michael Buble concerts back in March 2020, including a March 22 performance at the Times Union Center. His sole Upstate New York stop was rescheduled for March 11, 2021, but has been pushed back to summer as Covid-19 continues to disrupt live music performances and other industries. Tickets for the original performance will be honored on the new date. I am so looking forward to getting back on stage. Ive missed my fans and my touring family. Meantime, I hope everyone stays safe. We can all look forward to a great night out, Buble said in May. Distribution of a Covid vaccine has sparked optimism that concerts can resume normally sometime in 2021, but its unclear when. Summer events are still currently scheduled at the St. Josephs Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse and other venues, but no new shows have been added. New Michael Buble date!! We are so excited to be announcing shows! Michael is moving his tour to the summer of... Posted by Times Union Center on Thursday, January 7, 2021 Fans at Bills game could be first step for reopening Broadway, concerts, other venues Can coronavirus vaccination be required to attend a concert or sporting event? Gov. Gavin Newsom outlines his 2021-2022 state budget proposal during a news conference in Sacramento on Friday. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Gov. Gavin Newsom sent a budget to the California Legislature on Friday that calls for a swift and expansive boost in the state government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, earmarking much of an unallocated tax revenue windfall for efforts to help workers and businesses, boost public health and speed up the reopening of public school classrooms. In all, the proposal dedicates more than $14 billion to an array of coronavirus relief initiatives, while setting aside money in support of virus vaccination efforts and almost $3 billion in short-term cash reserves if additional needs arise. Newsom urged lawmakers to take action on the most pressing issues including an extension of the state's moratorium on evictions and funding for California's COVID-19 vaccination push by the end of the month. "We can't wait," Newsom said during a lengthy budget presentation in Sacramento. "In this environment, you can't wait." The centerpiece of the governor's economic stimulus plan a $4.5-billion blueprint announced on Wednesday would provide cash infusions to existing state programs that offer tax credits to businesses and apprenticeship programs affiliated with community colleges. Money would also go toward expediting housing construction in urban and neighborhood settings, and subsidies for low-income Californians to purchase zero-emissions cars and trucks. An additional $500 million would be available for tax credits to encourage the creation of additional housing for low-income Californians. "It's an incredible moment in terms of anxiety, but an incredible moment of opportunity to address these issues," the governor said. Newsom has also proposed cash payments of $600 to the state's lowest-wage workers, funds he said he hopes will be distributed in February and March and estimated to cost $2.4 billion. His budget plan also asks lawmakers to fast-track the use of $2.6 billion in federal funds for struggling tenants and new assistance for property owners whose mortgage payments are in jeopardy as a result of unpaid rent. Story continues While Democratic legislative leaders applauded the governor's proposals, there were hints of the concerns raised last year over the Legislature's ability to oversee major spending decisions done quickly in response to the ongoing health emergency. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) called for "careful oversight" of pandemic relief expenses. "We want to make sure that relief for the unemployed, small businesses, nonprofits and others is distributed equitably and efficiently. The same kind of careful budgeting over the last decade provided the surplus that softened the blow from COVID in 2020," Rendon said in a statement. Newsom's ability to take action on his own could extend to spending money in support of vaccination efforts across California. His budget, finalized weeks before the vaccines were approved by federal officials, sets aside $372 million for state-sponsored efforts. While local officials and health providers have a more direct role in the distribution of vaccines, the governor said Friday that he believes at least 1 million COVID-19 vaccine injections should be completed by Jan. 17. "Here's your next thing to hold me accountable to," he said of the pledge. The budget proposal anticipates that even while some sectors of the California workforce have remained steady, the high demand for unemployment benefits will continue. Newsom's proposal expects the state to borrow $48.3 billion from a federal unemployment trust fund to cover benefits provided to state residents. Federal rules require states to pay interest on those loans, and California officials expect that borrowing to cost $555 million in the coming fiscal year. The governor's budget also includes $11.4 million for the California Department of Technology to review and improve services in select, key departments including the Employment Development Department. Not all of the governor's proposals offer additional money to solve pressing problems. The plan he unveiled last week for some of California's youngest students to return to classrooms in February relies on $2 billion in tax revenues already guaranteed to public schools by the state Constitution. Newsom's proposal would dole out those dollars differently: School districts that complete COVID-19 safety plans for in-person instruction by Feb. 1 would receive at least $450 and up to $800 per student for pandemic-related needs even if local virus transmission rates are too high for students to return next month. Schools that don't complete the planning process until March 1 will receive smaller per-pupil grants. The plan would require participating public schools to offer all elementary school students the option to attend at least some classes on campus by mid-March if public health conditions permit it. But those school reopening deadlines can't be met if the Legislature doesn't take action on the plan this month. Even then, school district officials could find the governor's timeline to be challenging. One large hurdle could be that the reopening plans must have the endorsement of the local labor unions representing teachers and school employees. Schools would also be encouraged to offer new summer programs and additional efforts to lessen the blow from learning setbacks caused by remote schooling. In all, Newsom's plan sets aside $4.6 billion for those services. The various proposals unveiled Friday cover both a revision of the existing budget the governor signed into law last summer and his $227.2-billion spending proposal for the fiscal year that begins on July 1. Lawmakers have a larger opportunity this year for a course correction at the midpoint of the current budget cycle, the result of several sectors of the California economy faring better than expected during the first nine months of the public health crisis. Some of last year's spending cuts would be reversed if lawmakers adopt Newsom's plan. Colleges and universities would see, collectively, a $951-million increase in funding for the coming academic year. And spending on the state's judicial system would rise by $381 million, with a focus on ensuring the pandemic doesn't create long delays in handling criminal cases. Items prioritized last year including converting hotels and motels into housing for the state's homeless population would continue under the spending plan. How the state's financial condition went from risky to robust is a story centered on the uncertainty of economic conditions last spring. When lawmakers adopted last year's tax revenue forecast, the expectation was that an unprecedented number of Californians might lose their jobs, with many of them seeking help from the state's health and human services programs. Unemployment rose sharply through much of 2020, but millions of middle-class and high-wage workers were able to keep their jobs and work from home. Tax collections also rose after the strength in the stock market boosted capital gains earned by the state's wealthiest taxpayers. Monthly tax collections through last summer and fall consistently beat expectations. In November, independent legislative analysts predicted last year's overly pessimistic budget projections could result in as much as $26 billion in unexpected cash for state programs. Newsom's budget largely agrees with the legislative forecast but assumes that some of the money will be used to fund social safety net programs and that a large portion must, by law, be set aside in California's long-term cash reserves. The ripple effects, along with the expectation of additional stimulus and pandemic help from the federal government, could offer state government a sizable shelter from the economic storm. It also could lead to some surprises, none more shocking than the potential for a modest but notable $51 million in taxpayer refunds under an obscure 1979 law that measures expenditures, personal income growth and population to determine whether Californians should get a rebate on their taxes. The final determination of whether that will happen won't come until the spring. Times staff writer Patrick McGreevy contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. [January 08, 2021] Yuanyuan's Adventure Episode ?: Contemporary Development BEIJING, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by China.org.cn: On October 25, 1945, Taiwan and Penghu Islands returned to China. Since then, the people of Taiwan were quickly devoted to the modernization drive. Driven by export-oriented policies, Taiwan's economy recovered rapidly and has developed steadily. By the end of the 1970s, Taiwan was counted among the "Four Asian Tigers" that boasted dynamic economic development. Chinese traditional culture was also fully revived in Taiwan after residents were freed from the oppression and cultural repression of the Japanese colonists. With a history of more than 1,000 years, Mazu culture is representative of Chinese traditional culture and an important symbol of Chinese marine culture. Mazu or Ma-Tsu, literally referring to "maternal ancestor," is also known as "Mazupo" ("Granny Mazu") in eat China's Fujian Province, where her hometown is located. The goddess and patroness of the sea, who is believed to protect fishermen and sailors, has been widely worshiped in Taiwan ever since a large number of Fujian residents came to the island in the Qing Dynasty. Nowadays, Mazu culture is an important part of local residents' folk lore. Due to historical reasons, Taiwan, which shares indivisible blood ties with the Chinese mainland, has been separated from the Chinese mainland for more than half a century. The ultimate reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is not only an inevitable trend, but also the expectations of compatriots on both sides. The Chinese mainland upholds the basic state policy of "peaceful reunification; one country, two systems" towards Taiwan, adhering to the "1992 Consensus", firmly opposing "Taiwan independence", as well as maintaining, consolidating and advancing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations under the one-China principle to realize reunification. The Anti-Secession Law passed in 2005 provided a solid legal guarantee for curbing and cracking down on "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, deterring external elements' interference, and promoting the development of cross-Strait relations. A series of measures giving equal treatment to Taiwan compatriots, including the "31 Measures" and "26 Measures" introduced in recent years have laid a solid foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the realization of reunification. The deep-rooted longing for home looms large over the shallow Taiwan Strait. Only when reunification is achieved can compatriots across the Strait realize the Chinese Dream. Yuanyuan's Adventure Episode ?: Contemporary Development http://news.china.com.cn/txt/2021-01/08/content_77092614.htm SOURCE China.org.cn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Well hear straight talk from two nurse executives about what frontline caregivers need from hospital leadership in order to provide uninterrupted care during even the worst-case scenario of a crippling cyberattack, when there is no access to patient information or other hospital data. Interbit Data, a leading technology company providing care teams with on-demand access to crucial patient data, will host a panel discussion on the topic of cybersecurity and downtime preparedness with two nurse technology leaders. The webinar, titled Hospital Cybersecurity and Frontline Patient Care: The Nurses Perspective, will take place Wednesday, January 27, 2021, at 1:00 pm. Featuring a roundtable Q&A format, the webinar will explore the ramifications of hospital cyberattacks on patient care and the patient experience. Panelists will also discuss problems with downtime training and preparedness by clinical staff. Joining Interbit President and CEO Arthur Young will be two leading healthcare technology executives with extensive backgrounds in clinical nursing and healthcare technology: Antoinette Thomas, MSN, RN, NP, U.S. Chief Patient Experience Officer, Microsoft Grace Jaime, RN, MBA, Regional Leader, Healthcare Provider Practice, Cognizant In an unscripted conversation, the three will discuss whats really at stake as more and more hospitals are targeted by cybercriminals, along with what frontline care providers truly need during this era of heightened anxiety and uncertainty brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic and threat of cyberattacks. There will also be time for attendees to ask questions. Health system leaders rightly focus on cybersecurity prevention and restoration measures while neglecting to plan for how they will continue to deliver high-quality patient care during unplanned downtimes, said Young, a healthcare technology veteran who has been an entrepreneur since 1997. Well hear straight talk from two nurse executives about what frontline caregivers need from hospital leadership in order to provide uninterrupted care during even the worst-case scenario of a crippling cyberattack, when there is no access to patient information or other hospital data. Hospital and health system leaders, healthcare IT vendors, industry consultants and analysts, and members of the news media are invited to attend the webinar. Webinar: Hospital Cybersecurity and Frontline Patient Care: The Nurses Perspective Date: Wednesday, January 27, 2021 Time: 1-1:45 p.m. EST Register here: https://interbitdata.webex.com/interbitdata/onstage/g.php?MTID=efa630a2b0f1ea4deb96ff18ddabe72ab About Interbit Data Interbit Data is an industry leader in data accessibility for hospitals and health systems. Our software solutions ensure secure, reliable access to patient information anytime, anywhere including at offsite locations, during system downtimes, and even during cyberattacks. With more than 23 years in business and more than 700 customers across North America, we are experts at data access and report distribution, empowering you to improve efficiency, streamline workflows, provide optimal patient service and high-quality care, all while meeting federal patient privacy and access requirements. Discover more at https://interbitdata.com. One of San Antonios newest dining options isnt a restaurant at all. Ghost Kitchens SA launched Wednesday as a virtual restaurant concept. The term ghost kitchen refers to a food business that cooks and delivers meals without having a physical restaurant space for diners to sit or pick up takeout orders. Ghost Kitchens SA will prepare food under four different established national ghost kitchen brands Outlaw Burger, Mother Clucker, Firebelly Wings and HotBox by Wiz with delivery provided through the Uber Eats and DoorDash apps. Outlaw Burger is known for half-pound burgers loaded with a variety of toppings. Mother Clucker serves a range of fried chicken sandwiches, while Firebelly Wings specializes in chicken wings. HotBox by Wiz, launched by rapper Wiz Khalifa, sells stoner-friendly munchies such as squares of mac and cheese coated in crushed Hot Cheetos, chicken sandwiches and rice bowls. Chef Adrian Cruz, who moved to San Antonio last year, will lead the project in partnership with established San Antonio chefs Stephen Paprocki and Iverson Brownell. On ExpressNews.com: 52 Weeks of Food Trucks launches yearlong series searching for S.A.s best restaurants on wheels Who doesnt want to eat a good burger and chicken wings? Adrian Cruz said in a news release announcing the new concept. Im so excited to be working with these established brands that are everywhere throughout the United States, and now theyre here. This is going to be fun! To order, go to the Uber Eats or Doordash app and search for either Outlaw Burger, Mother Clucker, Firebelly Wings or HotBox by Wiz. pstephen@express-news.net | Twitter: @pjbites | Instagram: @pjstephen The first known Harris County case of the potentially more contagious COVID-19 variant B117 was confirmed this week, resulting in a desperate plea to the public from local officials and medical professionals to stay vigilant as cases and hospitalizations skyrocket. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said during a news conference on Thursday the new variant has the potential to throw jet fuel on the current COVID crisis here. Dr. Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth School of Public Health, said that while this may be true, residents should not panic and continue to do their part to curb the spread. Here is everything to know about the variant and its potential impact on Houston: 1. Scientists are unsure how much more contagious B117 is Medical professionals believe the variant may be more infectious because it binds more strongly to cells it is trying to hijack compared to other strains, but there is much debate on exactly how much more infectious it actually is, Troisi said. We are not 100 percent sure it actually is more infectious, Troisi said. The estimates have been between 40 and 70 percent, but some people think thats too high, that it may be as low as 10 percent. 2. There are undoubtedly more cases of this new variant in Houston already After B117 originated in the United Kingdom, it quickly became the dominant strain there and has since been detected in more than 30 countries. The person identified in Harris County with the strain is the first known case in Texas. That person has no travel history, signifying the variant has already been circulating in the community. There are undoubtedly other cases [of this new variant] out there, Troisi said. We dont know how much it is circulating and until we start doing more genetic sequencing of isolates from infected people, we wont know. 3. It is not more lethal than other strains and approved vaccines should protect against it There is no evidence that it makes people sicker, that they have worse outcomes, or that they are more likely to die, Troisi said. And it appears ... antibodies in those vaccines will protect you from this variant. 4. Everyone is equally susceptible to the new variant Anyone who is not masking, keeping socially distant, washing their hands and avoiding crowds are more likely to get any of the coronaviruses but we do not have any evidence that there are certain subpopulations that are more likely to be infected with it [the variant], Troisi said. Troisi added its important to note that the US is essentially behind the UK on genetic sequencing, which could explain why the variant has been more commonly found there. 5. While B117 does create cause for concern, medical professionals are more concerned about another variant The new South African coronavirus variant 501.V2 is more contagious and could be harmful to the effectiveness of current vaccines. It has yet to be detected in the US, but is already the dominant virus variant in the Eastern and Western Cape provinces of South Africa and has been detected in Austria, Norway, Japan and the UK, according to the BBC. If we found that this South African variant or others that may show up -- the virus is constantly mutating -- is not neutralized by the antibodies that you get when you are vaccinated, then getting vaccinated wouldnt protect you and so we could possibly see a new pandemic, Troisi said. But even if that were the case, it would be relatively easy to tweak the vaccines that we have so that we did make antibodies to this new variant. 6. Residents should stay especially cautious of the virus now more than ever If we have more people infected, our hospitals are going to have serious outcomes -- our hospitals are already overwhelmed, Troisi said. And that is why it is really important for people to keep up these public health measures. The public health measures used against the original strain work just as well against the new variant and are critical to stopping the spread, she added. Dont panic ... we just have to really be conscientious about doing those measures and not taking a chance on what appears to be a more infectious strain, Troisi said. rebecca.hennes@chron.com A city in northern China is urging its citizens to report on those who refuse to get a coronavirus test by offering cash rewards amid a new outbreak. Anyone who successfully helps authorities track down COVID-19 test evaders will receive 500 yuan (57) in cash, according to health officials of Nangong. The offer comes as millions in the city and the surrounding province of Hebei are being tested during a mandatory campaign as part of efforts to control China's most serious outbreak in six months. Nangong, a city in China's new coronavirus ground zero Hebei, is urging its citizens to report on those who refuse to get a COVID-19 test. Pictured, a medical worker taking a swab sample from a man in Shijiazhuang, the provincial capital of Hebei, on January 6 amid a new outbreak All residents, companies and social organisations can tip off the government if they know someone who does not wish to be swabbed, according to the directive issued on Friday. Test dodgers will be given compulsory screening and then quarantined for 14 days at official isolation centres regardless of their testing results. The order was issued by a team of Nangong officials in charge of the prevention and control of the coronavirus outbreak. The prefecture-level city has a population of around 500,000. Test dodgers will be given compulsory screening and then quarantined for 14 days at official isolation centres regardless of their testing results, according to the government of Nangong. People wearing face masks are pictured walking in a mall in Beijing on January 8 The Chinese province of Hebei, which surrounds Beijing, has emerged as a new virus hot spot China has largely controlled local transmission of the virus through the use of measures considered by some to be extreme and highly intrusive, including lockdowns of entire cities, close electronic monitoring of people's movements and bans on travelling to and from parts of the country. But the province of Hebei, which surrounds Beijing, has seen 127 new COVID-19 cases, plus an additional 183 asymptomatic infections, in the past week. Authorities today ordered Shijiazhuang and Xingtai - two cities in Hebei with a combined population of 18million - to be locked down to stem the country's largest COVID-19 crisis since July. Shijiazhuang locked down all residential compounds and shut schools on Tuesday after detecting 11 confirmed cases and 30 asymptomatic cases. People are seen queuing up for nucleic acid testing at a residential community in Zhengding County, Hebei, on January 7 Both cities have cut transport links, banned residents from leaving and launched mass-testing drives to prevent the spread of the disease. The Chinese National Health Commission has reported 53 confirmed cases for Thursday, including 37 native patients and 16 imported infections. Among the local cases, 33 were detected in Hebei. Mass testing programmes started on Monday from Shijiazhuang's Gaocheng District, the epicentre of the Hebei outbreak. As of Friday noon, all of the district's 673,787 residents had been tested and 511,219 swab samples had been analysed by labs, which found 259 positive cases, the city's vice mayor said at a press briefing. In the aftermath of a violent mob invading the Capitol building on Wednesday, calls in Congress are growing for President Trump to be stripped of his power from office under the disability clause of the 25th Amendment. The amendment provides a complex, difficult process for wresting power from a sitting president. Here is a brief history of the 25th Amendment and an explanation of how it operates. What is the 25th Amendment? The 25th Amendment to the Constitution is primarily designed to clarify the presidential order of succession. The first three sections deal with when a president resigns, dies or becomes ill or temporarily incapacitated. The fourth section provides a multistep process for the vice president and a majority of the officials who lead executive agencies commonly thought of as the cabinet to declare that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. That process ultimately requires a two-thirds vote of both houses of Congress. Bangladesh Hindu Parishad calls on govt to sever diplomatic ties with Pakistan Dhaka, Jan 8 (UNI) The Bangladesh Hindu Parishad on Friday called on the government to sever all diplomatic ties with Pakistan, calling it a militant state. The leaders made the call at a protest rally, held in front of the National Press Club, under the banner of Bangladesh Hindu Parishad. The speakers said that with the help of ISK, Pakistan is working to create a militant state all over the world. California had the worst coronavirus infection rate in the nation last week. Now, Arizona has claimed that grim distinction, with one university health expert calling it the hot spot of the world. The New York Times coronavirus tracker on Thursday listed Arizonas daily case rate for the previous week as 124 per 100,000 people, trailed by California at 99. On Dec. 28, Californias rate still was 99.7, but Arizonas was much lower at 84.9, showing an increase of nearly 50% in 10 days. The states have followed a similar trajectory in the surge since November, with California peaking sooner. But the statewide approach on COVID-19 restrictions and mandates for California and Arizona have been quite different, especially in the current surge. Why are the two West Coast states struggling so much? Experts point to many of the same issues in both places, including fallout from the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday and pandemic fatigue. The virus has disproportionately affected communities of color and low-income populations in both states, particularly in Latino and American Indian communities. The Bay Area and San Francisco have taken a much different path compared to Arizona and its largest county, Maricopa. Since November, Maricopa has had a far higher infection rate. ICU admissions and deaths per capita have been higher in Arizona, with deaths in Maricopa soaring above the Bay Area and San Francisco. A closer look at the surge in Arizona and California: ARIZONA The state saw nearly 4,000 cases per day in the summer surge that began in early June. Now, Arizona is seeing 8,000 a day. Deaths are close to 10,000, with a record 297 announced Thursday. Maricopa County, home to the state capital of Phoenix, has the largest population and most cases in the state. But the current hardest hit areas are Yuma and Santa Cruz counties, both on the Mexico border with large Latino populations, and Navajo and Apache counties with predominantly American Indian communities. The coronavirus has ravaged the Navajo Nation, forcing an extended lockdown. Joe Gerald, a professor of public health policy and management at the University of Arizona, said the state pushed down the curve over the summer with restrictions on businesses including restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters and water parks. Given that those venues are some of the highest risk venues, it really seemed to help, he said. Between end of June and end of August we were on a downward trajectory and were actually doing fairly well. By late August, Gerald said, the states three major universities had brought back students, which led to outbreaks. Most businesses had reopened too. Infections increased broadly across the population, affecting all ages. Those outbreaks continued unabated since mid- to late September to where we find ourselves in a really terrible situation, Gerald said. Our daily case counts have never been higher, hospitals are at capacity. ... And while we havent quite reached some of the same levels of overcrowding that were seeing in media reports in L.A. County hospitals, I dont think were that far behind. More than 4,600 virus patients have been hospitalized, and elective surgeries have been postponed. State data showed 7% of ICU beds available Tuesday. In early December, Gov. Doug Ducey announced that businesses would be warned for violating protocols, and a second complaint could lead to closure. He called on local jurisdictions to expand safety measures for events with 50 or more people, but didnt forbid them. This week, the governor came under fire after a video surfaced of his son among maskless partiers. Statewide policies havent changed, which has been very distressing for me and my public health colleagues, Gerald said. Public health officials and heads of hospital systems called for stricter measures, but Gov. Ducey has been reluctant to change course. ... It is literally the Wild West in Arizona, and every man, woman and child is basically fending for themselves. Gerald was referring to a letter from health care and hospital leaders in mid-December asking for a pause on reopening businesses. Last weekend, the state superintendent called for the governor to order schools to remote learning for two weeks. So far Ducey has not gone beyond the previous measures. Arizona is one of about a dozen states without a mask mandate. Pressure from officials over the summer led the governor to allow municipalities to set their own mask ordinances. I think Arizona will see a very bad January, likely be worse than December, Gerald said. Were now seeing more than 500 deaths a week, and probably moving to the 600 to 700 deaths range. And those are just ones we know about. ... Its difficult for us to make COVID tangible and salient to the general public. Its there, but hidden from view. CALIFORNIA On Monday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced more than 70,000 new coronavirus cases, the states highest one-day total. We are entering into what we anticipate the surge on top of a surge is going to put a lot of pressure on (intensive care units) coming out of the holidays, he said. California has had relatively strict coronavirus mandates throughout the pandemic. George Rutherford, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, said while these restrictions were helpful early, not enough is being done now during the worst surge. Our restrictions are mandatory, but not necessarily enforced, which is a problem, he said. You dont need that many people who are not compliant to drive this. Defiance by groups across the state has made headlines, including continued protests against health guidelines in Huntington Beach, and restaurant owners refusing to close for in-person dining. This week, anti-maskers stormed a Trader Joes in Fresno and a Los Angeles mall. Rutherford pointed to states including New York that have strong restrictions but also strong enforcement. In California, its up to each jurisdiction to penalize violators. Some counties have complaint hotlines and issue fines to businesses or individuals not wearing masks. Brad Pollock, associate dean of public health sciences at the UC Davis School of Medicine, said that based on contact tracing, Californias main drivers over the past several weeks seem to be tied to small get-togethers where households mix. Thanksgiving was the first impetus, and now spikes are coming from Christmas and New Years Eve. Southern California is driving the states current surge, with more than 190,000 cases in Los Angeles County alone over the past two weeks. The region has been at 0% ICU capacity, with hospitals forced to treat patients in lobbies, hallways and gift shops, and running out of oxygen. Ambulances have been told not to bring patients to hospitals if they are unlikely to survive. Much of Southern Californias essential workforce has been particularly vulnerable, with many in manufacturing and agricultural jobs, and living in densely populated areas. Most of us feel its population density, Pollock said. Its just so much denser than the rest of the state. San Francisco is super dense, but its a much smaller area. A lot of folks are part of the Latino population and live in multi-generational households. Those who work in frontline jobs with a high risk of exposure can bring the virus home and spread it to their entire households. In the farthest southern counties Imperial and San Diego many people pass through the border to work or return home, which can spread the virus farther. Morgues in San Diego County overflowed at the end of the year. According to the county, cases in recent weeks have mostly been from community exposure, particularly in workplaces and stores, as well as in homes and from travel-related exposures. The new, more transmissible COVID-19 variant, recently discovered in a number of states, has led to dozens of cases in San Diego County. A lot of the same issues are found in the San Joaquin Valley region, where ICU capacity is also at 0%. A significant portion of the population is Latino, and many are farmworkers or work other essential jobs. Californias high cost of living has forced many low-wage workers to live in crowded conditions. The Bay Areas seven-day case rate per 100,000 has hovered in the high 40s and low 50s the past couple of weeks, much lower than the state rate. Experts have cited high compliance with mask mandates and other health orders in the region, and a general sense of trust in public health officials. San Francisco has one of the lowest case rates, at 32.4 per 100,000, while Marin Countys rate is 34.4. Both have seen a significant rise over the past couple of months, but have stayed much lower than the other Bay Area counties. San Francisco has long been credited with leading the way on its careful approach during the pandemic by enacting an early shelter-in-place order, mask mandate and restricted reopenings, even when case rates were extremely low in the fall. Many residents who work in tech jobs or for other big companies work remotely. More for you Local Coronavirus live updates: Bay Area sees plunge in... Marin Countys top health officer has said the suburban, generally health-focused population skews older and more affluent, mostly able to stay home or work there. He also credits the county and community organizations with lowering the spread in lower-income communities. Bay Area case rates continue to be highest in Santa Clara and Solano counties. Daily rates this past week have neared or exceeded 80 per 100,000 in both counties. The health officer in Solano County has blamed the high case rates on holiday and weekend gatherings, including some where those who knew they were sick still gathered with people outside their households. Santa Clara Countys health officials attribute the rise to pandemic fatigue and communities of color being disproportionately affected. In the far north region of California, ICU capacity is much higher at 24.4%. Its the only area not under the states stay-at-home order, which is activated once ICU availability drops below 15%. Most counties in the Northern California region have lower case rates. Trinity County has the lowest with 5.3 per 100,000. Lassen Countys far higher rate of 72.2 can mostly be attributed to prisons, with more than 1,000 infections tied to correctional facilities. Kellie Hwang and Mike Massa are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com, mmassa@sfchronicle.com Gujarat: More than 1,000 mucormycosis patients admitted in hospitals in four cities 3 arrested for sodomising 19 year old model from Gujarat India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Mumbai, Jan 08: Police have arrested three persons from Thane city of Maharashtra on charges of sodomising a 19- year-old model from Gujarat, an official said on Thursday. Senior inspector DS Dhole of the Wagle Estate police station said an offence under IPC section 377 (unnatural offences) was registered against the trio and a search was on for a fourth accused in the case. The accused beat up and robbed the victim and also sodomised him in the premises of a defunct factory in the Wagle Estate area, he said. Loan app scam: 2 Chinese nationals arrested The victim, who hails from Gujarat, had come down to Thane on Sunday last to meet his friend. He also had friendship with one of the accused, Dhole said. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News The crime came to light on Tuesday after the victim lodged a police complaint, he said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 10:01 [IST] COLUMBIA A day after a mob stormed the Capitol building, U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham called for the aggressive prosecution of everyone involved and pinned part of the blame on President Donald Trump. But he stopped short of calling for Trump to be removed from office in advance of President-elect Joe Biden's upcoming inauguration. In a news conference on Capitol Hill, Graham said he was "embarrassed and disgusted" that the Capitol had been "taken over by domestic terrorists while we're in session transferring power from one president to the other." "Sedition may be a charge for some of these people," said Graham, R-S.C., calling for the creation of a joint task force to identify "every person who breached the security of the Capitol, who occupied the chambers, who invaded offices and destroyed property." Graham said, in his view, all of Trump's policy accomplishments for conservatives had been "tarnished" by the events. "The president needs to understand that his actions were the problem, not the solution, that the rally yesterday was unseemly, that it got out of hand," Graham said. But Graham resisted calls by some members of both parties to immediately remove Trump from office, either through impeachment or through the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice president and a majority of the president's Cabinet to oust him. "I do not believe that's appropriate at this point," Graham said. "I'm looking for a peaceful transfer of power. I'm looking for the next 14 days to reset and we will hand off power in a traditional sense." House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, D-Columbia, voiced support for removing Trump from office through either method. While Clyburn, the lone Democrat in South Carolina's congressional delegation, had questioned two days prior whether there would be enough time to go through an impeachment process before the inauguration, Wednesday's events appeared to change his mind. "Time and circumstances may mitigate against invoking the 25th Amendment, which I support, but there is time for impeachment which seems appropriate," Clyburn said. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! Other prior allies of Trump, including former Chief of Staff John Kelly, said Thursday they supported removing the president. While Graham did not go as far, he did not entirely rule out the possibility of that changing in the days ahead. "If something else happens, all options would be on the table," he said. Despite his concerns about Trump's behavior in recent days, Graham said he did not regret forming a close alliance with him over the past few years but urged him to "turn down the rhetoric and allow us as a nation to heal and move forward." "The people of South Carolina wanted me to work with this president and I did," Graham said. "I did the same with Obama, I'll do the same with Biden, but this was a Republican president." Graham said his first priority moving forward would be to hold accountable anyone who committed crimes in Wednesday's riot. Two FBI agents came to Graham's house Thursday morning to ask if he had any surveillance cameras outside that could be used to identify perpetrators, he said. "I did not, but I'm encouraged they're on the case," Graham said. "Trust me, in the social media world that exists today, it won't be that hard to find thousands of people who took the law into their own hands." Without naming names, Graham criticized "some very bad advisers" who he believed were pushing Trump in the wrong direction, while others were directing him toward a more peaceful transition. He encouraged Trump to stop attacking the legitimacy of the election, reiterating his belief from the night before on the Senate floor that Biden was the lawful victor. "My hope is that we can move forward in the next 14 days, but this will depend on what the president does," Graham said. "I am hopeful that the worst is behind us and we can transfer power on Jan. 20." New York, Jan 9 : In an unprecedented action, Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said that she has asked the Pentagon about steps to prevent an "unhinged" President Donald Trump from accessing nuclear weapons launch codes or starting wars amid growing call for him to quit or be removed from office. Two members of his cabinet had reportedly begun informal consultations on ousting him using a constitutional provision with only 12 days left for him to leave office. Pelosi's call to the US military's top general was revealed in a letter she wrote on Friday to fellow Democrats in the House of Representatives increasing pressure on Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet to act. She wrote, "This morning, I spoke to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike." It is significant that Pelosi bypassed the civilian leadership of the Defence Department and reached out to the career generals because of Trump politicising defence. He fired Defence Secretary Mark Esper in November after the election. Esper joined nine other former defence secretaries in writing an open letter asking the military not to any action that could lead to overturning the result of the election. The department does not have a defence secretary confirmed by the Senate but is headed by an acting secretary, Christopher Miller. She had earlier served notice on Pence that he should start constitutional action to remove Trump from office or she would start impeachment proceedings. Several media have reported quoting unnamed sources that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin have held informal consultations on invoking Article 25 of the Constitution to get Trump out of the White House. Under Article 25 of the Constitution, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet can declare the president unfit to continue in his office and remove him. Democratic Party Senate leader Chuck Schumer and Republican Party House member Adam Kinzinger have joined Pelosi in asking for action under Article 25. A second member of Trump's cabinet, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, has resigned saying, "I believe we each have a moral obligation to exercise good judgment." Another cabinet member Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao had also quit. She is the wife of Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party leader in the Senate, who has also criticised Trump's conduct saying his questioning of the election result could send democracy into a "death spiral". Questions have been raised after the attack on Congress by Trump's supporters on Wednesday after he told them at a rally on Wednesday to go to Congress, which was to meet in a joint session to ratify the election of Joe Biden as president and Kamala Harris as vice president. A protester and a police officer were killed when the protesters stormed the Capitol, the building that houses Congress. Short of calling for Trump's removal, several Republic Party leaders have condemned his role in the attack on the Capitol. "He lit the flame," Senator Liz Cheney said on Fox News TV, "The president incited the mob, the president addressed the mob." Pelosi said in her letter, "The situation of this unhinged President could not be more dangerous, and we must do everything that we can to protect the American people from his unbalanced assault on our country and our democracy." (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis) The 2021 Grammy Awards has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns, say the organisers. The ceremony, one of the music industry's biggest awards, was due to take place on 31 January. The event will now take place on 14 March, due to rising infection numbers in Los Angeles and the state of California. Beyonce, Taylor Swift and Dua Lipa led the nominations for this year's awards, which were announced in November. "Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show," said a statement from the Recording Academy, which runs the Grammys. It is unclear whether comedian Trevor Noah, who was set to host the show, will still take part in this year's ceremony. The Grammys' new date clashes with the previously-announced Screen Actors' Guild awards. The actors union said it was "extremely disappointed" by the scheduling conflict. "We announced the same date for the SAG Awards last July with the intent to give the greatest possible scheduling consideration for other awards shows," it said in a statement. "We expect the same consideration from sister organizations throughout the industry." It said it was in conversation with the Recording Academy in an attempt to resolve the situation. This year's Grammys were already due to be a virtual event, in line with other recent award shows, such as the MTV VMAs and the Billboard Awards. Other major ceremonies, including the Oscars, the Golden Globes and the Brit Awards have already been postponed. The US state of California has been particularly hard hit by the spread of coronavirus, with ambulance workers in Los Angeles County being told not to transport patients with extremely low chances of survival to hospital. 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. Featured Video (Alliance News) - Tui AG on Thursday said it plans to raise nearly EUR550 million through a share issue, easing financial strain on the Anglo-German tour operator, who business has been devastated by travel restrictions to combat Covid-19. Tui will raise EUR544.6 million through the issue of 509.0 million shares. Shareholders would be offered 25 new shares for every 29 shares already owned, at a subscription price of EUR1.07, about 96 pence. Tui shares were 18% lower at 400.28p each in London on Friday afternoon. "The principal purpose of the offering is to repay indebtedness in order to improve the company's liquidity position," the company explained on Thursday. On Tuesday, Tui shareholders voted to allow the German state to take a stake of up to 25% in the company. The European Commission announced on Monday that EU competition watchdogs had approved the German state aid of up to EUR1.25 billion for Tui. The state aid package comprises EUR420 million in silent participation, which can be converted into Tui's equity. It also comprises non-convertible silent participation of up to EUR680 million, and EUR150 million of convertible warrant bond. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. The Wenchi High Court has dismissed a restraining order by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) against the inauguration of Mr Martin Adjei-Mensah Korsah as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Techiman South Constituency. The party filed the injunction, praying the court to restrain the inauguration of the MP-elect and challenged the validity and outcome of the parliamentary election results in the constituency. The petitioners accused the EC of manipulating collation of results in favour of the MP-elect, and were of the view that the partys candidate, Mr Christopher Baasongti Bayere, won the parliamentary seat in the just-ended general election. Ruling But at the courts sitting last Tuesday, the presiding judge, Mr Justice Fredrick Arnold Nawurah, indicated that the petitioners had no case, saying the document presented by the NDC was inconsistent and had no substance. Later, Mr Kwabena Asare, counsel for the MP-elect, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that his client was not served any court notice. Electoral violence A post-election violence erupted in Techiman, leaving two persons dead, while four others perceived to be supporters of the NDC sustained gunshot wounds. The incident happened at the Techiman Bonokyempem Hall on Tuesday December 7, when Mr Sampson Ofori Gyamfi, the Techiman Municipal Electoral officer, declared Mr Korsah winner of the parliamentary election. According to the EC, Mr Korsah secured 49,682 votes to beat his keen contender, Mr Beyere, who had 49,205 votes. The total votes cast for the parliamentary elections were 99,828, total valid votes 98,887, and there were 941 rejected ballots. Not satisfied with the EC results and declaration, some aggrieved supporters of the NDC attempted to forcibly break into the Bonokyempem hall where the collation of results was being held, but security operatives did not allow them to do so. The situation led to a heightened misunderstanding between the security operatives and the NDC supporters, and in the the melee, the security personnel fired gunshots to disperse the crowd. 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 Greater Houston could see snow Sunday as a cold front moves into the area. The real kind, that sticks. BIGGEST EVER: Largest canyon in solar system found on Mars Chances are so real that the Texas Department of Transportation is already laying down traction salt in Conroe. Leading up until the snow-chanced evening, Sunday will see rain showers starting in the morning hours. Coastal communities in Brazoria County could see some isolated flooding, but no other issues are anticipated. But when the sun goes down, temperatures could get cold enough for it to snow in communities north of Houston. That's all according to meteorologists with the National Weather Service, whose ever-changing forecast issued Friday calls for a fair chance of snow in northern communities, mainly above Texas Highway 105. National Weather Service Chances south of that area show promise for some freezing rain or sleet, meteorologists say. In the city, the most we'll expect is cold rain. But like much of the forecast, that could change. Temperatures will gradually increase throughout next week. Brisbane residents have been enjoying their final moments of freedom before the harsh three-day lockdown begins. Locals flocked to bars, pubs and cafes after work on Friday evening to socialise in the fresh air before the lockdown kicks in at 6pm on Friday. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the restrictions for Greater Brisbane's 2.5million residents after a Brisbane quarantine hotel cleaner contracted the UK strain of the virus. Two mates share a beer at the QA Hotel in New Farm (pictured) in inner Brisbane as the city prepares to enter lockdown for three days after a hotel cleaner in the city was confirmed to have caught COVID-19 Two Brisbane locals cheers at Joey's Cafe (pictured) in Kangaroo Point on Friday afternoon in a social outing before being confined to their homes for three days Pubgoers at the Belvedere Hotel in Woody Point (pictured) get in a quick refreshment at their local pub before being confined indoors as a coronavirus precaution Queensland reported nine new COVID-19 cases on Friday - although all were in hotel quarantine. The lockdown will apply to council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands. Residents will be required to stay at home until 6pm on Monday and only go out for work if they can't do so at home, for essential shopping or to provide healthcare for a vulnerable person in their local neighbourhood. Those living within the specified council areas will have to wear a mask when out in public, although children under the age of 12 are exempt. Queenslanders in other parts of the state who have been in Greater Brisbane since January 2 have been told they should stay at home for the next three days. Funerals will also be limited to 20 people for the next three days, while only 10 can gather for a wedding. Only two guests are allowed to enter Brisbane homes at any one time. WHAT BRISBANE RESIDENTS CAN AND CAN'T DO DURING THE THREE-DAY LOCKDOWN Residents can only go outside for one of four essential reasons - for work if they can't do so from home, to do essential shopping or to provide healthcare for a vulnerable person in their local neighbourhood. Only two guests are allowed inside the home. Masks must be worn when out in public although children under the age of 12 are exempt. Funerals are limited to only 20 people and weddings to 10 people. Queenslanders in other parts of the state should stay at home for the next three days if they have been in Greater Brisbane since January 2 Brisbane residents will have to wear a mask when out in public as part of a strict three-day lockdown imposed by the Queensland government. People arrive to get COVID-19 tested at the Parklands Christian College in Logan in Brisbane. Advertisement There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane with lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands Punters at the Belvedere Hotel in Woody Point chat (pictured) before a 6pm lockdown requires them to avoid public places such as pubs and cafes for three days A health care worker tests a driver for COVID-19 at a drive-through clinic in Murarrie (pictured) in Brisbane on Friday Patrons at the the Belvedere Hotel in Woody Point, Redcliffe (pictured) enjoy an after work drink on Friday just before a strict three-day lockdown kicks in from 6pm Friday 'Think of it as a long weekend at home. We need to do this. I've accepted the strong advice from Dr Young,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown.' The restrictions come after the state reported on Thursday a Brisbane quarantine hotel cleaner had been diagnosed with the UK variant of Covid-19. Aged care homes across greater Brisbane were sent into lockdown with visitors barred from visiting facilities in the Metro North, Metro South and West Morton heath regions. Residents will be required to stay at home until 6pm on Monday and only go out for work, to do essential shopping or to provide healthcare for a vulnerable person. Pictured are police checks at the Coolangatta border on the Gold Coast on July 10 Only 10 people can gather for a wedding in Brisbane over the next three days (stock image) Hospitals, prisons and disability accommodation in the same areas are also banned from accepting visitors. 'The Chief Health Officer has ordered these immediate steps to protect vulnerable members of the community,' Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk tweeted on Thursday night. The state is on high alert for cases of community transmission after the cleaner tested positive on Thursday. The news comes after the state reported on Thursday a Brisbane quarantine hotel cleaner been diagnosed with the UK variant, sending aged care homes across greater Brisbane into lockdowns (pictured, a testing centre in Murrarrie, Brisbane) The mutated strain plaguing the UK is believed to be up to 70 per cent more infectious than the original. It is causing a sharp rise in cases in England and prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to order a national lockdown until at least mid-February. Britain reported more than 60,000 new confirmed cases in 24 hours for the second day in a row on Wednesday. The hotel cleaner's infection ends almost four months of zero locally acquired cases in Queensland. A terrifying map shows the Brisbane locations which have been exposed to the UK's mutant variant of the virus since January 2, including a busy train line, a Coles and a Woolworths 'Queensland has done a great job containing this virus in our community for 113 days. Sadly, today we do have a locally acquired case,' Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said on Thursday morning. The positive case, a woman in her 20s, was infectious from January 2 before testing positive after showing symptoms on Wednesday. Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus is urged to get tested immediately. Contact tracers are tracking the movements of the cleaner, who worked at the hotel Grand Chancellor on January 2. The infected cleaner, a woman in her 20s who lives in Algester, had been working at the Hotel Grand Chancellor at Spring Hill (pictured), with her most recent shift on January 2 'This cleaner did everything right,' Ms Palaszczuk said earlier on Thursday. 'She developed the symptoms Wednesday and was tested yesterday. 'We need to ensure that there is no community spread. Once again, please, if you're sick, get tested.' The woman from Algester travelled on the public rail network to and from Brisbane's inner city and southside. Health authorities say she visited several locations while potentially infectious. The woman travelled on a train from Altandi station to Roma Street station at 7am on January 2, then returned on the 4pm service the same day. She also visited Woolworths at the Calamvale Central Shopping Centre from 11am to 12pm on Sunday 3 January. The cleaner visited the Calamvale North Woolworths (pictured) between 11am and noon on January 3 while infected She was also at Coles in Sunnybank Hills for 30 minutes from 7.30am on Tuesday 5 January. She was also a newsagent at Sunnybank Hills Shopping Town from 8am to 8.15am on the same day. 'It's important that people if they have any symptoms at all come forward and get tested,' Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said. Residents of Algester, Sunnybank Hills and Calamvale who have symptoms of the infection are especially urged to get tested as soon as possible. The UK variant of Covid entered Queensland via a returned traveller at Brisbane Airport and has been identified in quarantine throughout the nation. This is the first time it has leaked from hotel quarantine The Sunshine State now has 20 active COVID-19 cases and the new positive case comes from 15,000 tests over the previous 24-hour period. Ms Palaszczuk has also announced travellers coming from Greater Sydney will not be allowed into Queensland until at least the end of January. 'I know this is very disappointing for people during this time, but we are concerned still about Greater Sydney. We have a watching brief as well on Victoria,' she said. 'We'll be having a national cabinet meeting tomorrow. I'll get further updates there.' The border closure will be reviewed at the end of the month. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 20:05:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON -- Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday condemned violence that ravaged the Capitol a day earlier, while vowing to ensure an orderly transition of power. "Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem," Trump said in taped remarks posted on Twitter. "And to those who broke the law, you will pay." - - - - BERLIN -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her shock and sadness on Thursday after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. The unsettling pictures of the riots at the U.S. Congress made her "angry and also sad," Merkel said in a video statement. - - - - PYONGYANG -- Kim Jong Un, the top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), vowed to further improve social system and foreign relations at the ongoing party congress, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Friday. Kim suggested practical ways to give full play to the advantages of the country's social system, as he reported to the third-day session of the eighth congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Thursday. - - - - KHARTOUM -- Sudan on Thursday said it is concerned with Ethiopia's announcement of intention to carry on with the second phase of filling the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). "The announcement by the Ethiopian Minister of Irrigation and Energy on his country's intention to proceed with the GERD filling for the second year of 13.5 billion cubic meters of water in coming July, without prior notification and without signing a deal or exchanging of information with the Al-Rusaires Dam, constitutes a direct threat to Al-Rusaires Dam and to the lives of those who live on the banks of the Nile," said Yasir Abbas, Sudan's Irrigation and Water Resources Minister. Enditem Palestinian in Syria have suffered for intense hardships over 2020, including a fall in general living standards writes Zaman Al-Wasl. A Palestinian human rights monitoring group has released an executive summary of the general situation of Palestinian refugees inside and outside Syria in 2020. A report by the Action Group For Palestinians Of Syria highlighted the changes in the general situation of Palestinian refugees inside and outside the war-torn country during 2020, in accordance with a systematic mechanism that was precise and objective in drawing the true landscape of the Palestinian-Syrian situation by addressing the most important indicators such as economics, social, health, education and human rights. The 17-page report, which obtained by Zaman Al-Wasl, has monitored the international, official and factional movement towards Palestinian refugees inside Syria. The nine lean years that have passed in Syria have not ignored the Palestinian refugees there, but they have been crushed by those who have grinded the Syrian people, the report said, adding that those years were not the same for Syria in terms of suffering and pain, but varied, as the missiles and barrels were not covered by the blades of poverty and hunger. The year 2020, when guns were silenced and the intensity of the killing receded, there were many problems, most notably the spread of the coronavirus pandemic, which has cast a shadow over all aspects of life, as well as the deadly consequences of war, including displacement, arrests, killings, economic collapse and the decline of the health and education system. The fragility of Palestinian refugee communities has not been spared or exceeded by these repercussions without penetrating them, leaving behind a deep wound socially, humanly, economically and educationally, the report said. The spread of Covid-19 among the children of the Palestinian camps in Syria has shed the light on the deterioration of the health situation and the great shortage of this sector, where 9,000 casualties were recorded in 2020. The Britain-based monitoring group also monitored the seizure and destruction of Palestinian refugee property and homes in many camps and communities, such as in the camps of Spaina, Khan al-Sheeh, al-Husseiniya, al-Thayabyia in Damascus countryside, and the Neirab and Handarat camps in northern Aleppo province, which belong to Palestinian activists, relief groups, military personnel or detainees accused by the regime of dealing with the Syrian opposition. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. RIGA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 07th January, 2021) The new UK coronavirus strain has been detected in patients and staff at the district hospital of the central Latvian town of Ogre, hospital head Dainis Sirovs said Thursday. There have been no prior reports about patients infected with the new strain in the country. "At the Ogre hospital, we have detected both medical staff as well as patients, who are infected with the new variant of the COVID-19 virus, which is more contagious," Sirovs told journalists, without specifying the number of cases. In late December, the United Kingdom identified a new variant of the coronavirus that is 70 percent more transmissible than other SARS-CoV-2 virus strains. The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Centre to take a decision before January 26 on Balwant Singh Rajoanas plea seeking commutation of death penalty in former Punjab chief minister Beant Singhs assassination case. A bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde said that the decision be taken before Republic Day, which is a good date. We will give two-three weeks. You should complete the process before January 26. January 26 is a good day. It will be appropriate if you take a decision before that, the bench said. Beant Singh and 16 others were killed in an explosion outside the Civil Secretariat in Chandigarh on August 31, 1995. Rajoana was sentenced to death in 2007 by a special court. The Department of Children has secured emergency funding that will allow chikdcare providers open for the children of essential workers, as well as vulnerbale children. A deal to provide childcare for the children of essential workers has been finalised between the Department of Children and Childhood Services Ireland this evening. In a statement in the last hour, the organisation said the Department had secured emergency funding for childcare providers to remain open for the kids of essential workers over the coming weeks. The association said there were still a few details to be worked out such was the haste with which the deal was drawn up, but said the news will come as a huge relief to parents and providers alike. Read More There had been widespread calls from across healthcare and other sectors for the government to secure a deal as soon as possible, with the risk of further people missing work due to a lack of childcare facilities. This sustainability fund will enable the childcare sector to continue to provide services to the children of frontline and essential workers, and vulnerable children. We are utterly committed to playing our part in dealing with this national emergency and our focus is to continue operating safely and responsibly, the statement read. Childhood Services Ireland says full details of the agreement and arrangements will be announced as soon as possible. Childhood Services Ireland is an Ibec association representing childcare providers in Ireland. The ongoing farmers agitation against the three contentious agricultural laws entered day 44 on Friday, when the eighth round of talks between the government and farm union leaders took place. This meeting remained inconclusive too as the Centre told the protesting farmers that it will not repeal the three laws- which were passed by the parliament in September. The next round of discussions will be held on January 15. Thousands of armers have been camping at border points in Delhi and neighbouring states since November 26. Meanwhile, Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha said on Friday that the protesting farmers dont want anything other than the repeal of the farm laws. There was a heated discussion, we said we dont want anything other than repeal of laws. We wont go to any Court, this (repeal) will either be done or well continue to fight. Our parade on 26th Jan will go on as planned, he said. Also Read | Farmers protest updates: Thursdays event a rehearsal for January 26 tractor march, says farm leader Several rounds of between the two sides held earlier have failed to resolve the deadlock, with the government firm the laws wont be repealed, while the farmers are adamant on a complete rollback. The sixth round of talks, on December 30, had ignited hopes of a resolution as the two sides arrived at a consensus on two of the farmers four demands. However, nothing came out of the seventh round on January 4, with a legal guarantee for the Minimum Support Price (MSP) and a total repeal of the three laws being the two sticking points. The government has offered making amendments to the laws, as well as forming committee comprising members from both sides to review these but the proposals have been rejected by the farmers. Follow all live updates from day 44 of anti-farm law protests here: AAP to install Wi-Fi hotspots at Tikri border for protesters AAP leader Raghav Chadha said on Friday that the party had started installing Wi-Fi hotspots at the Tikri border for the protesting farmers after the same was done at the Singh border. After Singhu Border, Sewadaar @ArvindKejriwals WiFi sewa reaches Tikri Border. Free WiFi Hotspot installation in full swing at Tikri, Chadha tweeted. Priyanka Gandhi slams UP govt over handling of farmers issues Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi hit out at the Uttar Pradesh government regarding the handling of farmers issues in the state. In a tweet today, Gandhi shared a video in which police and other administrative officials could be seen arguing with a Sikh man who is a farmer. A solution wouldve been reached if repealing of laws was the only issue; several other issues to be addressed: Haryana CM Khattar Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Friday that he was hopeful that a solution could be reached in the next round of talks on January 15. He however pointed out that if repealing of laws was the only issue, a solution would have been reached. Govt ready to consider any option presented by farmers other than repeal of laws: Agriculture minister Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday that a discussion was held regarding the farm laws but no decision could be taken. He further added that the government was ready to consider any option presented by the protesting farmers other than the of the removal of the laws. Those supporting the protest are of the view that the laws be repealed & there are many others who support the laws. Govt is continuously talking to the unions who want these laws be repealed. We also give appointment to those supporting the laws, when they request us: Agri Min https://t.co/xL7q2BlF2a pic.twitter.com/5gD2OyWzds ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 Dont want anything other than repeal of laws: Farmer leader With the eighth rounds of talks ending between the Centre and the farmers unions, Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha said on Friday that the protesting farmers dont want anything other than the repeal of the farm laws. There was a heated discussion, we said we don't want anything other than repeal of laws. We won't go to any Court, this (repeal) will either be done or we'll continue to fight. Our parade on 26th Jan will go on as planned: Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha pic.twitter.com/uzuckdI8DM ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 Eight round of talks between Centre, farmers unions concludes, next round to be held on Jan 15 Fridays meeting between the Union ministers and the farmers unions remained inconclusive as the former was firm that the new farm laws will not be repealed. Another meeting between the two sides will take place on January 15 as the standoff has entered day 44. Centre tells farmers unions it cannot repeal farm laws amid ongoing discussions The Centre on Friday remained firm on its stand and told farmers unions during the eight round of talks that the three new farm laws, which were passed by Parliament in September, could not repealed. Eighth round of talks begins Eighth round of talks between Centre-farm union leaders begins. Narendra Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive for talks with farmers Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive at Vigyan Bhawan to hold talks with farmer leaders. Delhi: Union Ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal arrive at Vigyan Bhawan to hold talks with farmer leaders pic.twitter.com/4yYZrwaorY ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 Congress MPs, protesting against farm laws, meet Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Congress MPs and leaders, protesting against Centres three farm laws at Jantar Mantar, meet Priyanka Gandhi Vadra at Rahul Gandhis residence. Each side needs to take step to find solution: Agriculture minister Tomar I am hopeful that talks will be held in a positive atmosphere and a solution will be found. During discussions, each side has to take steps to reach a solution, says Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar. Hopeful for a resolution today, says BKUs Rakesh Tikait Were going for talks with the hope that there will be a resolution today, says Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) spokesperson. Hope for best, prepare for worst: Hannan Mollah, farmers leader The minister yesterday categorically declared that repeal of farm laws not accepted. I dont know what will happen during the discussions today. Anyway, we hope for the best and prepare for the worst, says Hannan Mollah, general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS). Farmer leaders leave for eighth round of talks Farmer leaders from Singhu border leave for Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi for the eighth round of talks with the Centre on farm laws. Haryana: Farmer leaders from Singhu border leave for Vigyan Bhawan in Delhi for the eighth round of talks with the Union Government on farm laws pic.twitter.com/ai1vd8VN9K ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 No scope of clause wise talks, says farmer There is no scope of clause-wise talks. The government should hold a meeting to repeal these laws today itself, says Balvinder Singh Raju, a farmer. Solution possible if clause by clause talks are held, says union minister Kailash Chaudhary A solution will be found when clause by clause talks are held with farmers. Government of India is ready to make amendments in the laws. We are hopeful of resolution, says MoS (agriculture) Kailash Choudhary. Peaceful protests integral part of democracy: Rahul Gandhi Peaceful protests are an integral part of democracy. The movement which our farmers are have launched is getting support from all over the country. You too should raise your voice in support of them so that this anti-farmers law ends, tweets Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. Delhis borders with UP and Haryana remain closed Delhis borders with Uttar Pradesh at Chilla and Ghazipur, as well as those with Haryana at Singhu, Tikri, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli, and Mangesh, remain shut due to the farmers agitation. Also Read | Delhi borders remain closed due to farmers protest, traffic diverted 8th round of talks to take place at 2pm today The eighth round of talks between the government and farm union leaders will take place at 2pm on Friday. The seventh round, held on January 4, too, had failed to end the deadlock. File image (Image: Wikimedia Commons) A team of doctors was rushed to the A-2 Central Park of Mayur Vihar Phase III in New Delhi on January 8 after more than 100 crows died in the area, news reports said. The sudden deaths have created panic in the national capital amid a nationwide bird-flu scare. The bird flu, also known as avian influenza, has so far been confirmed in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. The Centre, however, has asked all states and union territories to be alert and take precautionary measures. Bird flu primarily affects birds but can infect humans who come in close contact with sick birds. In Delhi, doctors collected samples for laboratory tests and did not confirm bird flu, which they said would be known after test reports come in. Another incident reported the death of around 20 crows in Mayur Vihar Phase III again. Officials from the animal husbandry unit of the Development Department collected samples from the area and sent them to a designated laboratory in Jalandhar, Punjab. "Around 20 crows have died in the area over the last few days. We are following the standard operating procedure. It is yet to be ascertained whether the cause of death is bird flu infection," Dr Rakesh Singh from the department said. Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had said on Thursday, 7 January, that there is no case of bird flu in Delhi yet and asked officials to keep a close watch on poultry birds coming in from neighbouring states to prevent any infection. Eleven rapid response teams have been set up to monitor Delhi's potential hotspots, officials said. Sisodia had also instructed officials to maintain a strict vigil on birds at major bird sites, especially poultry markets, water bodies, zoos and other potential hotspots. As many as 12 epicentres have been identified in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala after the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research confirmed positive reports of the H5N8 virus, a variant of avian influenza. While no human is known to have been affected by the outbreak, Kerala, which has declared the infection a state disaster, has started culling chickens and ducks. The bird flu scare has slowed the consumption of eggs and poultry in some parts of the country, leading to a drop in prices. Also read: All you need to know about the bird flu outbreak in India (With Inputs from PTI) (Natural News) The popular Judeo-Christian ministry Focus on the Family (FotF) has fully succumbed to the cult of vaccination with its recent endorsement of Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination, which it says is a godly next-step for believers to show that they love thy neighbor. FotF devoted an entire radio broadcast to pushing China virus vaccines as a safe and effective remedy for the plandemic, citing two doctors, Daniel Hinthorn and Scott James, both of whom claim to be Christians and are fully supportive of the jabs. Members of FotFs Physicians Resource Council, a several-dozen-member advisory group that meets twice a year to evaluate FotFs medical information and advice to ensure that it is medically accurate, Hinthorn and James help the ministry form policy on bioethics issues, as well as create content for FotF. Dubbed the Intersection of God and Science, the segment explained how WuFlu vaccines were developed using messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. These chemicals artificially stimulate the body to develop resistance to the Chinese virus, according to Hinthorn, an infectious disease specialist who revealed that human DNA is, in fact, modified during injection. Usually we start with DNA, and the DNA gets unzipped and it gets copied, and the messenger RNA goes out into the cells, into the ribosomes, and it gets attached to the ribosomes, and it makes proteins against whatever it is its making, and it builds the antibody, Hinthorn stated. And what we do is we bypass the steps by injecting messenger RNA directly into the body with the lipid, its called a nanoparticle, and its just a lipid attached to the messenger RNA. That nanoparticle lipid, by the way, is actually an anaphylactic toxin that causes some people to experience severe allergic reactions, possibly leading to death. Focus on the Family bashes Dr. Wakefield, says his MMR vaccine research was fabricated Hinthorn and James conversed back and forth about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines, reassuring listeners that mRNA works quite nicely and that nobody should not be concerned about it. Vaccines have saved many, many lives, they further explained. Christians who are concerned about COVID-19 causing them harm, or who object because of aborted human fetal tissue ingredients, should not worry because both concerns are non-issues. If anything, Jesus would actually support both because getting vaccinated is a good way for believers to think ahead and plan for the future concerning their health, the doctors allege. Getting a Chinese virus vaccine, in other words, is fully aligned with the theology of FotF, which sees the jabs as a good gift from God and a gift of common grace and help when we need it. This is Gods perspective, according to the two doctors and FotF president Jim Daly. As for Dr. Andrew Wakefield, the British doctor who found that MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccines were causing his child patients to develop gastrointestinal problems linked to autism, the two FotF doctors denounced his research as fabricated and encouraged listeners not to even consider Wakefields findings. Those who still worry that COVID-19 jabs might be part of the mark of the beast system were also reassured that this is not the case because pandemics have always existed. The doctors and show hosts then suggested that we are not even in the end times at all. All in all, getting vaccinated is an opportunity to love our neighbor, they concluded. Its a specific action that protects vulnerable people in our communities, so as a follower of Christ, I want to wisely think about how I engage that opportunity, is how James put it, to which Daly responded by citing John 10:10. Poor Dr. Luke did not have the knowledge that we have today, Daly further stated, suggesting that Luke from the New Testament was ill-equipped to heal people back in the day because vaccines had not yet been invented. The latest news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine scam and the religious organizations that are pushing it can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: YouTu.be NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com Iowa Congresswoman Ashley Hinson announced Friday that she would oppose any effort to impeach President Trump in the final days of his presidency. You can read her full statement below: "If the House tries to impeach President Trump over the next two weeks, I will oppose this effort. We dont need any further division right now. As President Trump said last night, he is fully supporting the peaceful transition of power to President-Elect Joe Biden," she said in a statement. "Even though President Trump will no longer be in office, Im never going to stop advocating for the policies he championed. From cutting taxes, to installing a record number of conservative justices, defending the unborn, and rolling back harmful regulations President Trump has done a lot for hardworking Americans. I am committed to continuing to fight for conservative priorities that matter to Iowans." "As I promised Iowans, I will work with anyone to get things done and fix problems for my constituents. I will also work to hold the Biden Administration accountable and protect your taxpayer dollars as I fight to clean up the mess in Washington and deliver results for Iowans." Hundreds of cancer operations in London are being cancelled as the city is inundated with Covid patients, according to reports. Mayor Sadiq Khan today declared a major incident with a stark warning that the capital's hospitals would run out of beds - as the number of people infected with coronavirus reached one person in 30 in some areas. Almost half of London's beds are taken up by the 7,200 Covid patients as Britain endured more than 68,000 new diagnoses of the virus on Friday, with 1,325 more deaths - the highest single day toll so far. Doctors and nurses in the capital are being desperately urged to work in east London's Excel Centre Nightingale hospital, which will aid recovering patients who no longer test positive for coronavirus. Hospitals have also been pleading for medical staff to take on extra shifts to help wards short of staff. But amid rising numbers of virus patients, most hospital 'green sites', meant to be kept Covid-free zones, have been described as 'compromised' in a leaked NHS England cancer resilience plan, The Independent reports. London needs to treat more than 500 cancer patients a week to keep ahead of demand, but just 122 cancer cases have been treated in the capital's NHS hospitals this week, with 101 in private hospitals, leaving a shortfall of 277 cancer patients whose procedures were delayed, reports say. The report said 3,840 patients had already been waiting beyond the 62-day target for their first cancer treatment in London. These are 'priority two' patients who have to be treated within four weeks or face a risk to life or the loss of a limb. A senior NHS source said: 'My concern is that this becomes death by default. Nobody is talking about it or being honest and saying what we can do and are we happy with that loss of life. I'm not clear where the ethical considerations are being discussed. 'We need to be honest with the public and stop pretending this isn't happening.' The Office for National Statistics found in its mass testing programme that almost two thirds (61%) of the positive tests it found in England appeared to be linked to the new variant of the virus. The figure was higher for some regions - particularly in London and the South - but lower in others Hospitals across London must now open up more and more beds for patients, but shortages in staff still remain a major concern. Staff at King's College Hospital were today told there were now nearly 700 coronavirus patients across the two hospitals managed by the trust. Director of performance Adam Creeggan said that increased levels of social mixing at Christmas contributed to a second peak in admissions at King's College Hospital and sustained admissions at near peak levels at Princess Royal University Hospital. BRITAIN APPROVES MODERNA COVID VACCINE BUT WON'T GET DOSES UNTIL MARCH Britain has approved Moderna's coronavirus vaccine - but won't be able to get any of the 17million doses it has bought until March at the earliest. Moderna's Covid jab is the third to be given the green light by regulators in the UK, joining the vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca. Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted that No10 won't get any doses until the spring but said: 'This is further great news and another weapon in our arsenal to tame this awful disease.' And Business Secretary Alok Sharma described it as 'another huge step towards ending lockdown'. The EU - which approved the same vaccine two days ago - will get supplies of the jab from next week after health chiefs struck a deal with the US-firm to buy 180million doses last summer. With Britain now scrambling to vaccinate 13million vulnerable Britons in the hope of ending the constant cycle of lockdowns by mid-February, an extra jab could have been a blessing. Moderna's vaccine was the second one to announce the results of its last-stage clinical trials when it did so in November, after Pfizer and BioNTech. They showed the vaccine appeared to prevent 94.5 per cent of Covid cases. Moderna's and Pfizer's use the same technology, which had never been tried before, so scientists said it would have been a big gamble for the UK to order both. Advertisement In the North Middlesex Hospital 54 per cent of beds are taken by Covid patients. NHS England's London regional team has been contacted for comment. Vin Diwakar, Medical Director for the NHS in London told MailOnline: 'Our staff are working round the clock opening hundreds of beds including the London Nightingale and some surgery is being postponed based on clinical need to ensure all Londoners continue to receive very urgent cancer surgery, making best use of existing NHS facilities and independent sector sites. 'On behalf of our NHS staff, I say to Londoners: We are depending on you. Stay at home, do everything possible to reduce the transmission of the virus, and help us save lives.' Britain on Friday suffered its deadliest day since the Covid pandemic began after health chiefs declared 1,325 more Covid fatalities and another record-high 68,053 infections. The grisly death toll - which has doubled in a week and surpasses the 1,224 declared on April 21 in the darkest day of the first wave - takes the UK to the brink of almost 80,000 victims. Experts fear the daily death counts will continue to spiral because of rocketing cases and hospitalisations, piling further pressure on Boris Johnson to speed up the sluggish vaccination programme designed to get Britain out of lockdown by mid-February. Department of Health figures show the UK has recorded more than 50,000 cases for 11 days in a row, with the five worst days of the pandemic all occurring since the start of 2021. Cases have risen by almost 30 per cent week-on-week. But a senior SAGE official today warned the actual number of Britons currently getting infected every day is closer to 150,000, claiming that the size of the second wave is now way worse than the first. The source also fears England's third national lockdown will not 'slam the R rate down as it did in March' because the country was dealing with a more infectious mutated strain and because adherence to the rules has dwindled. Draconian measures announced days ago have yet to have an effect on the crisis because it can take a week for patients to develop symptoms and get tested. But the SAGE official argued that the tough restrictions will curb the spread of the virus because they curb social interaction, which the virus thrives on. In yet another sign that darker days lie ahead, No10's advisory panel revealed the R rate could be as high as 1.4 in the UK or at the crucial mark of one, with outbreaks growing at similar speeds across all seven regions of England. But the figure reflects the situation Britain found itself in before Christmas and not the current picture because of the data used to calculate it. SAGE last week estimated the figure the average number of people each infected person passes the virus onto was between 1.1 and 1.3. Covid-19 vaccination in India will start in the next few days, said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday, adding that he has requested the NGOs working in the field of health to help in the smooth rollout of the process. "In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers. I request the NGOs working in the field of health to help in the smooth conduct of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and mobilisation of beneficiaries in the best possible manner," said the minister after his visit to the session site in Government General Hospital in Chennai to review the second dry run for coronavirus vaccination on Friday. Also Read | How US democracy nearly came undone "In the past year, government and social organisations, scientists and medical practitioners showed exemplary performance in managing COVID-19 situation. India has the highest recovery rate and the lowest fatality rate. We started the journey with one testing lab and today we have around 2,300 labs in the country," the minister added further. He said the government has ensured that every detail regarding vaccination is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroot level. "On January 2, we did a dry run in almost 125 districts in the country. Today, we are doing it across the country except for the three states, which did it earlier... Lakhs of healthcare workers are being trained through these dry runs and the process to train more is still going on," Vardhan stated. The minister is on a visit to Tamil Nadu to oversee the dry run drill for coronavirus vaccination. The second nationwide mock drill on the COVID-19 vaccination is being held at three-session sites of 736 districts across 33 states/UTs today. The dry run is aimed at testing the laid out mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in the health system. It will also help to assess operational feasibility of using Co-WIN application in a field environment for planning, implementation and reporting at the block, district and state level. According to the health ministry, the objective of the mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination is to simulate the actual vaccine administration event. COVID-19 vaccines of Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech have been granted permission by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) for restricted use in an emergency situation. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Brisbane residents are set to enter a hard three-day lockdown on Friday evening, after a Brisbane quarantine hotel cleaner contracted a new UK strain of COVID-19. And on Friday, media personality Sami Lukis revealed that her parents have been caught up in the stay-at-home order, making this their fourth lockdown since the start of the pandemic. Writing a blog for Nine Honey, the 50-year-old revealed her parents' top tips for surviving lockdown. Not again: On Friday, media personality Sami Lukis (pictured) revealed that her parents have been caught up in Brisbane's stay-at-home order, and shared their tips for surviving lockdown Sami explained that her parents 'swear by' daily Zoom yoga sessions and they love doing it in the 'privacy of their own home'. Another way to pass the time is to 'spring clean' and do all those tasks you have been putting off like 'cleaning the fridge' and 'reorganising the pantry'. '[Mum] guarantees the sense of achievement you'll feel after completing those long overdue tasks will be worth it,' Sami revealed. Advice: Sami explained that her parents 'swear by' daily Zoom yoga sessions and they love doing it in the 'privacy of their own home'. Pictured with her father Finally, her parents say that you have to 'treat yourself' by indulging in a good bottle of wine and a book. 'Crack open the expensive bottle of wine you've been saving,' Sami added. 'Read that book you've been wanting to start for ages. 'And if you're going to use the time to just binge-watch TV, Dad suggests you find a series with multiple seasons. That'll keep you going for DAYS.' Busy: 'Crack open the expensive bottle of wine you've been saving,' Sami added. 'Read that book you've been wanting to start for ages' Sami's parents experienced their first lockdown in March after returning from a holiday in Europe, where they visited a hotspot. On their last day of lockdown, Sami's father tested positive for the virus sending them into another 14-day lockdown. Their third time in isolation came after they visited Sami in Sydney for Christmas, but their trip was cut short when Queensland closed the borders amid the Northern Beaches outbreak. Her parents had to fly back to Brisbane and and spend another two weeks in home-isolation. As Alabama prepares to move into phase 1B of vaccination -- people 75 and older and first responders -- there are things people should be aware of, both short and long term, with the vaccine. Currently, doses of both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are being distributed around the United States, but as we move in later phases of distribution both here locally and nationally, some say well likely have an entire toolbox of vaccines to get the job done. A health care worker is vaccinated during the first phase of Alabama's COVID-19 vaccinations. A health care worker is vaccinated during the first phase of Alabama's COVID-19 vaccinations. Youre going to have multiple options to choose from, some that may be only a single dose, most thatll probably be two doses, some that may have different storage conditions Dr. Neil Lamb of the HudsonAlpha Institute said. Lamb believes that several other vaccine candidates, such as AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson, will have received approval by the end of February. As we look ahead to a period when large portions of the population will be getting vaccinated, Lamb said its important to know that you arent protected as soon as you get the shot. Within those first 10 or 12 days, you dont have any protection and if you come in contact with the virus, youre at the same risk of anyone else of contracting it, he said. I actually know individuals that got the shot and either right before they got the shot, right after they got the shot, they got exposed and they got COVID-19, even though they had been vaccinated. It was that window where theyre still susceptible, where their body hasnt started building up a response. Data from Pfizer and Moderna indicates that after that initial period, the vaccinated group separates itself in terms of immunity, according to Lamb. But how long will it last? Thats the question everyones asking. We know that the people that first got the original doses way back in phase one trials, back in April, that they still have protection, so we know that youre talking about nine months at a minimum, Lamb said. While there is no definite answer at this point, Lamb believes that the vaccine may give people a year and a half to two years of protection, adding that it may just end up being something you get a shot for every year or every other year. Make this new year, THE year your credit union stakes a claim. Puts a flag in the ground. Marks your territory. Drops a pin. Only then will you be able to rise above being a commodity and start thriving as a trusted provider. But how can your credit union make a dent in this crowded space? Get out of the rate race? Compete with the BofAs and Regions of the world? Maybe your credit union cant even process online account openings yet. Dont let those block your growth mindset. Focus on what you DO have! Focus on what no other financial institution can replicate: your culture and your people. We all know each person is unique, so it stands to reason an organization made up of people would also be unique. The personality of an organization the culture stems from the people who make up that organization. Its time to truly own that personality. Show it off to your members and potential members! And guess what, theres never been a better time to double down on your personality. Were all craving human connections and authenticity. Months of limited human interaction mean we definitely notice when an organization shows its humanity. Need another reason to embrace your humanity? A recent Accenture study suggests getting more personal and human is the best way to fight the commoditization of banking. So how can your organization show its humanity and personality? Time to get out from the product promotion cycle and ACT instead. A: Be Authentic The first step to stand out is to be authentic. Own who you are. Stop trying to be who you arent. Your credit union will never be BofA or Navy Fed and thats OK! There are plenty of people out there who dont even WANT to bank with the larger institutions. Your job is to find the ones who want to bank with your people, your credit union. But first you have to be honest about who you are! 1 Analyze your culture Take a good hard look at your culture. Listen to your staff, to your members, to those in the community. What is like to work in the trenches at your credit union, to be a member? How is your credit unions personality, your brand, perceived in the community? And this is a great opportunity to have someone come in to help frame these conversations. Its tough to look at ourselves and be honest. Getting a fresh perspective from outside is definitely more productive. 2 Align your brand to your culture Once you have a handle on your culture and personality, shift your branding to reflect it. It doesnt mean you need a new logo, but it likely means adjusting the visuals and voice to more closely reflect the human side of your credit union. Maybe your culture leans more to the hard-working middle class as your credit union was started by serving manufacturing employees. That branding would look and act very differently than a credit union which is made up of defense contractors. A great example of this is On Tap Credit Union in Colorado which was founded by brewery employees. Theyre now a community credit union but have fully embraced the brewery culture in their branding. It shows up in their branch designs, newsletter copy, community events, even how their front-line staff dresses. 3 Attract your tribe When your branding reflects who you truly are and the real personality is showing up, you will start attracting members who are a great fit for your culture and the way you do business. These new members are less likely to jump ship when they see a lower rate. Theyll feel seen by your staff. Theyll be tied in with your community spirit at a deeper level. But to get to this level of loyalty means taking that stand. Yes, it means you may not appeal to everyone. In fact, I challenge you to take such a stand that some people find your branding a little odd. The parts which make you odd to some people will endear you to others. And you want you need the people who find you endearing. Youll be attracting your tribe. C: Be Consistent Consistent actions by your staff and consistent messaging in your marketing materials all help build awareness and trust. Consistency is critical, especially when you dont have a large advertising budget. The more people see the same message, the more likely theyll remember it. If your messaging changes every month, by the time they start to recognize it, there you go changing it again. Here are three steps to help you be more consistent. 1 Clarify your message So as you shift your branding, create a simple message which is easily repeatable. What is the ONE thing you want your members and potential members to remember about your credit union? I would hope its not we have the lowest auto rates in town. 2 Communicate to your staff Since your branding is now reflecting your culture, your staff will likely feel much more engaged with this new look and voice. Why? Itll be something they believe in! Itll be what theyre seeing day in and day out. Just keep the messaging simple and communicate it often to the staff. This will make it easier for them to live it and reflect it to the members. Branding style guides are a great tool for this give the staff some sort of central resource for messaging. 3 Coordinate your communications Get the new visuals and voice in all of your communications. And look beyond the typical marketing and branch touchpoints. For instance, notification letters are often overlooked but can have a big impact. When your personality is evident even in communications which might typically be full of legalese, your members will be surprised and delighted. T: Earn Trust Being authentic and consistent are great tools in setting your organization apart while you earn the trust of your membership and the community. Your credit union can amp that up with these additional steps: 1 Talk in their language Using technical terms and fancy words was once seen as a sign of expertise and authority. Now though? People are put off by jargon. Its a barrier to making a connection. Instead, use wording everyone already understands. Try letting go of mortgages and use home loan for starters. Banking is full of acronyms, special terms and regulatory language. The credit unions who talk in the language of their membership will make a big impression. 2 Take their interests to heart Being a trusted advisor means valuing the long-term relationship. You want the member to have the best options available to them. So if that means theyre better off getting a loan from a different financial institution, then you send them that way. Maybe your credit unions business lending group isnt offering a suitable loan for a members new side hustle. Send them to the bank down the street. Or maybe your member is wanting to buy vacation property but you dont have a home loan for a second dwelling. By letting them know of other options outside your credit union, youre showing them just how much you want them to succeed, not just be another check on a loan tally sheet. 3 Transparency is key Another way you can stand out from the other financial institutions? Be transparent. Show and tell more of what happens behind the scenes. Provide ways for people to learn more about the process. Sure, some people wont bother with it, but the gesture of even offering the details will make a difference. Then those members who do want to know about how loans get approved, or how their deposits help the credit unions ratings, have those details. Did you notice a common theme to all of these steps? They dont require huge buckets of money. These are steps you can take right now if you and your leadership are truly courageous and committed to standing out from all of the other banks and credit unions. You can do this yourself and make big strides. You can also find partners in helping you discover your authentic culture, aligning your brand with that culture, and creating consistency. But the most important step to take in claiming your stake? Deciding to do so. Australians stranded overseas face a tougher battle to get home as governments try to get ahead of a highly infectious strain of COVID-19, but authorities have held back from a total ban on international flights. Brisbane has gone into a three-day lockdown and made masks mandatory as the Queensland government moves quickly to stop community spread of a virulent strain contracted by a cleaner in one of the city's quarantine hotels. The mutant strain is 70 per cent more transmissible than previous strains of the coronavirus and has taken hold in Britain. Masks are now mandatory on all international and domestic flights as governments battle to stop a highly infectious strain of coronavirus from taking hold in Australia. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The other states and the Commonwealth have declared Brisbane a hotspot and restricted travel from the city. People who were in Brisbane any time after January 2 have been urged to get tested and isolate themselves. National cabinet has also agreed to require anyone flying to Australia to return a negative COVID-19 test before they board their plane, and mandated mask wearing on domestic and international flights and in all airports. All flight crew will be tested on arrival in Australia and quarantine workers, including drivers, cleaners and medical staff, will have to be tested daily. Police called out to investigate reports that a dog walker might have found human remains have said a toe thought to be sticking out of mud was actually a potato. The woman had taken a photo of the scene in a muddy field in Winlaton, Gateshead, on Tuesday and sent it to police to investigate. Northumbria Police said the image did show what appeared to be a human toe, so officers searched the field, with response officers and specialist police dogs sent in. The force said: Eventually, officers tracked down the scene only to discover the toe was in fact a potato with a mushroom growing next to it. The search team did have a chuckle when they realised it was a potato but the call was made in good faith Inspector Phil Hamlani Inspector Phil Hamlani said the call was made in good faith and he encouraged others to report anything suspicious. He said: The person who called this in was very concerned, and in the picture she sent to us the object did look like it could be human remains. It was already dark by the time we got a call and so we had to deploy search teams to track down the scene to rule out any foul play. The search team did have a chuckle when they realised it was a potato but the call was made in good faith and we can only praise the vigilance of the woman who made the call. If anyone does come across suspected human remains, please do the same and give us a call. If it does turn out to be a vegetable, our police dogs will thank you for the treat! The Party will have to draft a new five-year economic plan and review most of its leadership roles. All of them could be promoted or politically marginalized. For Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch, the repression had been worse under Trump than in Barack Obama's time, "because the leaders in Hanoi knew that the State Department under Trump was only interested in trade, not rights." Hanoi (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The Vietnamese authorities are stepping up the repression of dissent a few weeks before the national congress of the Communist Party, with the jailing of prominent journalist Pham Chi Dung on Tuesday just the latest in a string of sentences handed down to critics of the state. Before his arrest, Dung was chairman of the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam, a group he founded that has advocated for press freedom in the country since 2014 yet is considered an illegal organisation by Hanoi. Dung, a former member of the Communist Party, was for two decades part of the state department of internal affairs and security in Ho Chi Minh City. When he resigned from the party in 2013, he said it no longer serves and represents the interests of the majority of the people. Seven years later, following years of outspoken criticism of the Vietnamese state, he and two other independent journalists have been handed severe jail terms. After a brief trial, Dung was given a 15-year sentence, while Nguyen Tuong Thuy and Le Huu Minh Tuan were each jailed for 11 years by a court in Ho Chi Minh City for spreading anti-state propaganda. The court said the trio were trying to fight and change the current political institutions of Vietnam, and accused Dung in particular of writing for foreign media outlets with the intention of fighting the political regime. The United States and the European Union have added their voices to a chorus of condemnation over the rulings, which were among a series of jail terms handed down to journalists and activists for information shared online. The countrys controversial cybersecurity law, which went into effect in January 2019, criminalises criticism of the government online and has led to a steep rise in arrests linked to social media posts, as well as lengthier sentences. They have arrested not only individuals with a big influence on society but also Facebook users who just expressed their dissatisfaction with the states sociopolitical policies, said Vu Quoc Ngu, director of NGO Defend the Defenders. In October, police arrested Pham Doan Trang, one of Vietnams most prominent activists and journalists, for spreading anti-state propaganda. On December 16, poet Tran Duc Thach was handed a 12-year sentence for subversion, and two days later authorities detained popular Facebook user Truong Chau Huu Danh over social media posts they said infringed upon the interests of the state. Rights groups and analysts say the authorities recent moves are primarily aimed at silencing dissent ahead of Vietnams quinquennial national congress. The event, which runs from January 25 to February 2, will see the Communist Party of Vietnam draft a new five-year economic plan and overhaul most of its key leadership positions. The partys four pillar leadership comprising the general secretary of the Politburo; the president; prime minister; and the head of the national assembly, Vietnams parliament could all face either promotion or the political axe. Amid this backdrop of closed-door political jockeying and factionalism, little breathing space remains for those critical of the Vietnamese state. A November report by Amnesty International said there were currently 170 prisoners of conscience in Vietnam, 40 per cent of whom were in jail for their social media activity. Emerlynne Gil, the rights groups deputy regional director, told This Week in Asia that the times preceding a party congress in Vietnam had become an open hunting season against activists and dissidents due to the authorities intolerance of peaceful criticism. It is never safe to advocate for human rights in Vietnam today but the stakes are clearly higher right now, she said. The bigger picture is of a dramatically worsening environment for anyone who dares express criticism of the authorities and the Communist Party. Whether its peaceful activists or foreign tech companies like Facebook, the Vietnamese authorities are sending one chilling signal after another that they aim to stamp out dissent wherever they think they see it. The administration of outgoing US President Donald Trump has regularly faced criticism for turning the other way on human rights abuses in Vietnam, which rights groups say has led to worsening crackdowns, though the US State Department on Tuesday condemned the jail terms for Dung, Tuan and Thuy. Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watchs Asia Division, said the crackdown on journalists in Vietnam had been worse under Trump than the administration of his predecessor, Barack Obama, because the leaders in Hanoi knew that the State Department under Trump was only interested in trade, not rights. But after President-elect Joe Bidens victory in November, Robertson said, Vietnam is going to need to recalculate because the new administration will likely be much tougher on human rights. Ministers must narrow the definition of key worker status, scientists have demanded, after thousands of parents sent their children to school despite the national lockdown. Newly-released figures show that one in three schools in the UK had more than 20 per cent of pupils in on Wednesday. In March, during the first lockdown, only 1 in 100 schools registered as high a figure. Reacting to the news, teachers expressed their concern, while the independent Sage group warned that Covid-19 infections will continue to spread through classrooms where high numbers of children are attending. The group is calling for the definition of key workers to be narrowed and for increased financial support or furlough to be given to those who cannot work amid a large demand for school places. The scientists, chaired by former chief scientific adviser Sir David King, warn that underprivileged children are being exposed to a 'greater risk of infection' due to the high number of pupils who are eligible to attend class. Students at Oasis Academy in Coulsdon administer their own Covid tests today. The amount of students in classrooms is far higher than the first lockdown, it has emerged The warning came after the Government told schools not to limit the number of children of key workers onsite during the national lockdown in England - and it said vulnerable children should be strongly encouraged to attend. Headteachers have been reporting a high demand for places after students in schools and colleges - except children of key workers and vulnerable pupils - were told to learn remotely until mid-February. Vulnerable children can include 'pupils who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home' due to a lack of devices or a quiet space to study. The report from Independent Sage says: 'First ... this undermines the whole point of school closures making the policy less effective and therefore extending the period of closure. 'Second, it exposes underprivileged children to still greater risk of infection.' Addressing high demand from key worker parents, it adds: 'This is in danger of increasing the number in school to a point where the policy becomes less effective and the ability of teachers to deliver remote learning is undermined.' Independent Sage is calling for the creation of a national education task force involving Government, councils, teachers, parents and students to 'create a more Covid-secure environment in schools'. The report also calls for the Government to prioritise immediate provisions of laptops and internet access for every school pupil to ensure remote learning can take place during the tighter restrictions. The Department for Education (DfE) guidance, released on Thursday, said children with at least one parent or carer who was a critical worker could attend class - even if parents were working from home. Some councils and schools have been seeking to prioritise places for parents who were both key workers, or who worked in emergency services. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, is calling on the Government to allow 'reasonable levels of attendance' to be set by individual schools. He said: 'Of course, schools will be trying to offer the maximum number of places to families, but they have been put in an impossible position. They cannot meet the demand created by Government and reduce social mixing in the way the Prime Minister announced.' Full list of key workers to tackle the coronavirus pandemic Health and social care This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers; the support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK's health and social care sector; those working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment. Gavin Williamson said yesterday any NHS worker - from medical to office staff and cleaners - will all be needed at work during the crisis. Education and childcare This includes nursery and teaching staff, social workers and those specialist education professionals who must remain active. Teachers and teaching assistants are certain to required as are nursery workers so children of other key workers can be cared for. Key public services This includes those essential to the running of the justice system. This is expected to include judges, barristers and staff who keep the courts running including clerks and security. If jury-led trials continue jurors may be entitled to the same status during their duties. Religious staff are listed, which includes vicars or equivalent in other religions. Charities who are vital to supporting communities are also listed. The public sector, especially the NHS and social services, are supported by charities who care for people in the community. These workers are likely to be included. Those responsible for the management of the deceased, such as undertakers are listed. Journalists and broadcasters who are providing public service broadcasting are also key workers because of their work informing the public. Local and national government This only includes those administrative occupations essential to the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response or delivering essential public services such as the payment of benefits, including in government agencies and arms length bodies. This is a vague description but this is expected to include council workers such as refuse collectors, planners, environmental health and trading standards staff and workers in frontline roles in departments such as housing and benefits. Food and other necessary goods This includes those involved in food production, processing, distribution, sale and delivery as well as those essential to the provision of other key goods. This means that farmers and other food producers will be given support. People working for supermarkets, either in stores, in delivery or lorry drivers taking products to stores are likely to be key workers. Pharmacists and those delivering pharmaceuticals are also expected to be given key worker status. Public safety and national security This includes police and support staff, vital to running the police service such as 999 call handlers or those in offices processing criminals or dealing with the Crown Prosecution Service, whose workers could also be classed as key workers. National Crime Agency staff are also listed and workers crucial to national security such as MI5 and MI6 staff are not listed, but will be included. Ministry of Defence civilians, contractor and armed forces personnel are listed. There is no more detail, other than saying all workers 'critical to the delivery of key defence and national security outputs and essential to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic'. This could cover thousands of MoD roles. Fire and rescue service employees, including support staff. Mountain rescue staff and other similar roles will likely be included Those considered crucial to maintaining border security at ports and airports are included, as are prison and probation staff. Transport This includes those who will keep the air, water, road and rail passenger and freight transport modes operating during the COVID-19 response, including those working on transport systems through which supply chains pass. Train, Tube and bus drivers will be asked to work to help key workers get to their jobs. The Department for Transport (DfT) said today it had agreed with rail operators across the country to scale back timetables from Monday as people change their travel habits to help stop coronavirus spreading. Core services will continue to run to help people attend medical appointments and allow emergency services and NHS staff get to work. Utilities, communication and financial services This includes staff needed for essential financial services provision (including but not limited to workers in banks, building societies and financial market infrastructure), the oil, gas, electricity and water sectors (including sewerage), information technology and data infrastructure sector and primary industry supplies to continue during the COVID-19 response, as well as key staff working in the civil nuclear, chemicals, telecommunications (including but not limited to network operations, field engineering, call centre staff, IT and data infrastructure, 999 and 111 critical services), postal services and delivery, payments providers and waste disposal sectors. SOURCE: Gov.uk website Advertisement On Monday night Boris Johnson warned schools may act as 'vectors for transmission' causing the virus to spread between households, when he announced the closures. Mr Whiteman is calling on the Government to set out how many pupils on-site is 'too many' if the virus is to be suppressed. He said: 'The Government acknowledges that schools do play a role in the transmission of the virus. Therefore, there comes a point when occupancy levels might be so high that they work against the efforts to bring down infection rates in communities, as is the national aim. ' Mary Bousted, joint general secretary of the National Education Union (NEU), said: 'If the Government is serious about having more children at school during this lockdown it should reduce bubbles and groups sizes to minimise transmission risks. 'However, with current staff already fully engaged in providing remote learning to the children at home, reducing bubble sizes will require more staff.' It comes after the Children's Commissioner for England warned of 'clear disparities' in remote learning. A Liverpool school yesterday said it had received a 'large number of complaints' about mothers and fathers making the attempts for their kids. Leaders at Our Lady's Bishop Eton School revealed the alleged issue in a letter which said it received many of the complaints after an online lesson allowed parents at home to see which children were attending class in person. And MailOnline have learned professions including wine traders have been claiming key worker status to get the classes for their family. But it came as the Children's Commissioner for England said there were huge differences in remote learning opportunities being offered by schools. Anne Longfield said it was 'not acceptable' that some children were unable to learn during lockdown and called for those learning remotely to have daily contact with their teachers. The problem in Liverpool saw the school letter say it had been 'overwhelmed' with requests for key worker spaces for the latest national lockdown. Responding to the complaints, the school said: 'On the application form the school asked parents for as much information as it was able to and has consulted with the local authority with regards to some of the applications. 'We can do no more; particularly when parents making such allegations will not provide the school with the information necessary to investigate them further.' The school said that a 'persistent thread' in the complaints made it 'with regards to families who have a parent at home who is able to provide care, eg: working from home, not employed or on maternity leave.' It added: 'Again, we would ask that if there is a parent at home, children are kept safe at home and out of the transmission chain.' Elsewhere MailOnline has been told class sizes of keyworkers' children have grown since the last lockdown, with the definition of the exempt category being bent to fit demand. Meanwhile a gap between offerings from UK schools has been exposed. Some schools have said they will not do any live sessions at all for younger children - citing safeguarding issues and staffing constraints. In contrast, others live-stream what is happening in the classroom with the children of keyworkers, including some interaction for youngsters at home. Others have a structured timetable and live lessons as well as pre-recorded video clips in between. A number of schools are reporting a higher turnout of eligible pupils on site - including children of critical workers and those classed as vulnerable - than in the March lockdown, prompting concerns about their ability to balance remote education with in-person teaching. It came as Education Secretary Gavin Williamson set out his expectations for schools during the latest lockdown. He said parents can contact Ofsted if they are unhappy with the offer and have previously raised concerns with their headteacher. Ms Longfield said: 'Every child has the right to a good education and it is not acceptable that some children are unable to learn, through no fault of their own, because of a lack of technology, or because their home circumstances prevent them being able to work effectively. 'There are also clearly disparities between what schools are offering children in terms of remote lessons. 'I want the Government to commit to ensuring that all children have access to technical equipment and broadband to support remote learning, alongside an urgent review of guidance for schools to ensure make sure that children receive a broad and balanced curriculum, whether at home or at school. 'As a minimum, those children learning remotely should have daily contact with teachers. 'We know the negative impact the last long lockdown had on the wellbeing of many children and I want to see a speeding-up of the process of introducing mental health support and counselling in every school.' Mr Williamson told the House of Commons on Wednesday that the schools watchdog will enforce legal requirements for state schools in England to provide high-quality remote education during the lockdown. He said schools are expected to provide between three and five hours of teaching a day - and if parents feel their child is not receiving enough learning they should complain to the school first and then ultimately to Ofsted. The Department for Education said it expects schools to have a digital platform, such as G-Suite or Microsoft Education, and to provide at least some of their remote teaching via video lessons - this can be done by school-led videos or using other providers like Oak National Academy. Mr Williamson confirmed that children who do not have access to technology are seen as vulnerable and can attend school in person during the national lockdown. One thread on the Mumsnet website showed that parents are concerned about the disparities in learning. 'I'm concerned about DD falling behind compared to the keyworker children in her class who are being taught by the teacher,' one parent wrote. Another said: 'There seems to be big disparities in what the offers are.' One parent said they felt 'so disheartened' with the offer from their school, writing: 'I have a Year 6 who's had a maths worksheet and two bite-size clips to watch today. 'It's the same provision as the last lockdown. 'I'm so disappointed; I thought it would be better this time round. 'Then I read on here about other primary age children having live lessons and a more structured timetable and it makes me so disheartened.' Newly-released figures show that one in three schools in the UK had more than 20 per cent of pupils in on Wednesday. In March, during the first lockdown, only 1 in 100 schools registered as high a figure Many pupils have to sit at home and access learning and lessons through a laptop or device Another said: 'My Year 5 son is getting three 30-45 minute live lessons per day (his teacher working from home, with his children at home) plus the accompanying work, plus reading.' And one parent said: 'Unfortunately we are just getting worksheets and links to bite-size.' MailOnline reported on Tuesday how experts have warned of serious problems developing as England enters its third national lockdown, with one declaring 'The pandemic has created a mental health ticking time bomb'. Draconian measures designed to curb the spread of the coronavirus variant will heavily impact many during the gruelling winter months. Depression, anxiety and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder are expected as the restrictions create a sense of terrible Deja Vu. The blow comes especially hard due to the proximity of New Year, where many had believed the start of 2021 would signal more optimistic fortunes. Michael Gove said the curbs on freedom would last for months, triggering more gloom among the public. And children - after being told schools would be safe - face difficult home-learning after the U-turn by Boris Johnson and his government. During his coronavirus news briefing today, the Prime Minister said approximately 12billion had been spent on NHS mental health care, with around another 19-20million contributed towards mental health charities. Emma Thomas, Chief Executive at YoungMinds told MailOnline: 'The pandemic is deepening the crisis in young people's mental health and there is a growing body of evidence suggesting that the impact could be significant and long-term. 'Young people tell us that they've struggled to cope with the changes and loss of coping mechanisms brought on by the pandemic, with many experiencing social isolation, anxiety, and fears around their future. 'Many lost access to mental health support during the first lockdown, while others chose not to look for help at a time when the NHS was under so much pressure. With the pandemic continuing through the winter and another lockdown confirmed, it's likely that more young people may struggle to cope.' New contemporary dance works by Gaspard Louis will premiere online The School of Dance announces the online premiere of "The Space Between" and "Space Between, Within, Without," two new contemporary dance works choreographed by former Pilobolus dancer Gaspard Louis in collaboration with senior contemporary dance students. The works explore the dynamics of physical space and relationships in the COVID-19 era while providing practical experience with pandemic-adapted creative processes common in the professional dance world. Videos of the works are available to view online for free. Louis, a Haitian dancer, choreographer and artistic director who has served on the faculty at North Carolina Central University (NCCU) in Durham, collaborated during the fall semester via Zoom with 13 dancers in Agnes de Mille Theatre on the UNCSA campus and three dancers who connected from Oregon, Maryland and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The result is two iterations of the same piece set to original music by noted dance composer Michael Wall. Choreographer, dancer and artistic director Gaspard Louis collaborated with senior contemporary dancers to create "The Space Between" and "Space Between, Within, Without." "The Space Between" explores "the relationship between individuals who occupy the same space but are unable to touch one another," Louis said. "They physically connect but remain separated." Thirteen dancers wearing masks were filmed on campus. Watch UNCSA dancers in "The Space Between" "Space Between, Within, Without" is a compilation of three solos by dancers in remote locations. "As movers, our natural instinct is to soak up the space around us," Louis said. "However, In the age of COVID-19, we find ourselves in situations where were forced to practice self-isolation and remain at a minimum six feet from one another." Watch UNCSA dancers in "Space Between, Within, Without" He said the students who worked remotely were dancing in very small spaces carved out of basements or whatever was available. "I asked them to go outside and explore, to enjoy the space and the air, to move freely and execute the movements more fully," he said. "Space Between, Within, Without" is an "exploration of the space, the air, and the joy of being able to move freely in an environment larger than six-by-six-foot boundaries." The pandemic-defined project is an extraordinary experience for viewers, said Interim Dean of Dance Jared Redick. "You see two different iterations of the same work. It is the same material with two distinct visuals." Louis visited campus once during the process, but mostly worked remotely with the whole class as well as one-on-one and small group sessions to explore his concept and to improvise. "We have equipped our facilities with Zoom rigs, large monitors and cameras so we have the great ability to work remotely," said Associate Dean of Dance Brenda Daniels, who coordinated and facilitated the project. "Gaspard was able to share YouTube videos of his choreography for the students to learn; he was able to see the students and they were able to see him." Louis asked the dancers to describe their relationships to each other through movement. "I prompted them to come up with six to 10 shapes and different combinations of gestures to connect with one another without touching, and then to learn each others movements," he said. "And then I turned the shapes and gestures into fluid movement." That reflects the creative process he uses with the professional dancers in the company he founded: Gaspard & Dancers, based in Durham. Gaspard Louis' "Souke - Shake" premiered during Winter Dance 2018. / Photo: Peter Mueller Redick said the process of collaborating via Zoom provided valuable training for dancers who will enter the profession in the spring. "Our process mirrors what we are seeing in the professional dance world," he said. "Our students are learning the skills and processes they will need during, and even coming out of the COVID era." Technologies like Zoom enable dancers to work with renowned choreographers from around the world without the time and expense of travel, he said. "While you dont get the full in-person experience, the result is interesting and ultimately fruitful, for the dancers and for viewers." Dancers in "The Space Between" include Jacob Barker, Alexi Broman, Christopher Crawford, Ashlyn Daniel, Claire Finfgeld, Katherine Freund, Elena Gimenez, Clarissa Millen, Teresa Noonan, Max OConnell, Hannah Staton, Brandon Talbott and Allyson Williams. Performers in Space Between, Within, Without were Margaux Lucas, Sara Smith and Sylvani Starchild-St. Clair. Willow Longbrake, a fourth-year cinematography student in the UNCSA School of Filmmaking, filmed the group dance and edited both videos. More about Gaspard Louis Gaspard Louis has a B.F.A. from Montclair State University and an M.F.A. in dance from Hollins University, with additional dance studies at Gus Giordano Jazz Dance in Chicago and Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab in New York. He danced with New York-based AllNations, performing traditional dances from many parts of the world to entertain U.S. troops across the globe. With Pilobolus Dance Theatre, he traveled worldwide, collaborating on the choreography of nine major dance works and teaching master dance classes both nationally and internationally. In addition to NCCU, Louis is also Creative Movement Director for ADF Outreach Program at the American Dance Festival and has taught at Duke and Elon universities. He has premiered one other piece at UNCSA. Souke Shake, celebrating the resiliency of the Haitian people after the island was devastated by an earthquake in 2010, was performed by contemporary dancers during Fall Dance 2018. He will be a guest artist in the UNCSA School of Dance again this spring. Contact Media Relations Get the best news, performance and alumni stories from UNCSA. SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly all cancer patients face fear, anxiety, and uncertainty following diagnosis and treatment. Cancer-related distress can impact a patient's emotional and physical well-being, which for many has been further compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Founded by a team of biotech veterans, Blue Note Therapeutics, Inc., is leveraging deep scientific and clinical expertise, neuroscience, and digital innovation to make mental health care available to any cancer patient at any time. In 2020, the company launched COVID Cancer Care , a digital program intended to help adults with cancer cope with stress and anxiety related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Working closely with leading cancer centers, community oncology clinics, and teams of patients, Blue Note is developing clinically validated prescription digital therapeutics (PDTs) to help reduce anxiety, depression, and other forms of cancer-related distress. COVID Cancer Care is a stress management program which uses cognitive behavioral therapy and relaxation therapy. Since launch, nearly 12,000 people across the United States have accessed the program, which is currently available through more than 20 nonprofit and advocacy organizations, including Cancer Support Community. "One of our main priorities this year is serving as the go-to resource for cancer patients and their caregivers navigating the logistical and emotional complexities created by the pandemic," said Kim Thiboldeaux, CEO of Cancer Support Community, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. "As the demand for our services continues to increase, the collaboration with Blue Note Therapeutics' COVID Cancer Care program has been so valuable in helping to meet specific and immediate mental health needs of the community during this challenging time." The COVID Cancer Care program is a preview of the company's lead PDT candidate, BNT001, which received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2020 for the treatment of symptoms of anxiety and depression related to cancer in adult patients. Blue Note previously entered into a licensing agreement with the University of Miami to develop and commercialize BNT001. "Almost everyone with cancer experiences some form of psychological distress, and whether it's anxiety, depression, or other symptoms, it can be harmful to the patient's mental and physical health and impact their treatment progression," said Geoffrey Eich, CEO of Blue Note Therapeutics. "FDA-approved digital therapeutics have the potential to play a key role in reducing cancer-related distress. Blue Note Therapeutics is committed to working through our strategic partnerships to advance innovation and bring cancer patients novel digital therapeutics specifically designed to address mental health." Blue Note also entered into several additional licensing agreements with other leading cancer centers and universities to provide clinically validated interventions for Blue Note's product pipeline. For more details, visit www.bluenotetx.com . BNT001 is not approved by the FDA for any indication. Early access to the COVID Cancer Care program was made possible under the FDA's enforcement policy for digital health devices for treating psychiatric disorders during the COVID-19 public health emergency which was announced in April 2020. About Cancer-Related Distress There are about 18 million cancer patients and survivors in the United States today.1 Nearly half of all cancer patients experience psychosocial distress, anxiety, or depression.2 If left untreated, these feelings can lower a cancer survivors' quality of life and may negatively affect survival.3 The National Comprehensive Cancer Network has proposed guidelines for the delivery of mental health care services in oncology, which include screening patients for signs of distress and implementing a treatment plan to address these needs with a mental health care specialist.4 Unfortunately, fewer than half of patients who experience cancer-related distress, which can be defined as any unpleasant feeling, emotion, or experience that affects a patient's quality of life or ability to cope with cancer diagnosis and treatment, are referred to mental health care specialists.5,6 Prescription digital therapeutics that help to treat cancer-related distress have the potential to help close this cancer treatment gap. About Blue Note Therapeutics Blue Note Therapeutics, Inc., is a prescription digital therapeutics company singularly dedicated to transforming mental health care for cancer patients. We aim to make mental health care available to any cancer patient at any time by merging deep scientific and clinical expertise, neuroscience, and digital innovation. Working closely with leading cancer centers, community oncology clinics, and teams of patients, Blue Note is developing clinically validated prescription digital therapeutics to help reduce anxiety, depression, and other distress related to cancer. For more information, visit us at www.bluenotetx.com . Media Contact Porter Novelli Stefanie Tuck [email protected] (978) 390-1394 1 American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2020. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2020/cancer-facts-and-figures-2020.pdf . 2 Mehnert A, Hartung TJ, Friedrich M, et al. One in two cancer patients is significantly distressed: Prevalence and indicators of distress. Psychooncology. 2018;27:75-82. 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Anxiety and Depression Medicine Use Among Cancer Survivors. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/dcpc/research/articles/anxiety_dep_med_survivors.htm . 4 National Comprehensive Cancer Network. Distress Management, Version 3.2019, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. https://jnccn.org/view/journals/jnccn/17/10/article-p1229.xml. 5 OncoLink. What is Cancer Related Distress? https://www.oncolink.org/support/practical-and-emotional/coping-communication-concerns/what-is-cancer-related-distress . 6 American Cancer Society. Cancer Treatment & Survivorship Facts & Figures 2019-2021. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/cancer-treatment-and-survivorship-facts-and-figures/cancer-treatment-and-survivorship-facts-and-figures-2019-2021.pdf . SOURCE Blue Note Therapeutics, Inc. Related Links http://www.bluenotetherapeutics.com To the Editor: What a dark day for America. What a dark day for democracy. Justified or not, the world looks to the United States to take the lead in many areas. The anti-democratic actions of President Trump over the last four weeks have made the whole world hold its breath. Whether one votes left, right or center, what is important is that elections remain free, fair and democratic and that the rule of law is upheld. President Trump has shown complete disregard for all of these precepts. When will this man be held to account for what is nothing more and nothing less than an attempted coup? In the same breath that I censure all those Republican senators and Trump supporters who know that what they are doing is wrong, but are doing it anyway, I praise unreservedly all those Republicans who have refused to collaborate with this usurper. Their integrity and faith in the democratic political system have helped save the day. Gary Keen Emsdetten, Germany To the Editor: Re Impeach and Convict. Right Now (column, Jan. 9): Bret Stephens said what the rest of decent humanity has been thinking for the length of Donald Trumps presidency. Remove the criminal from office immediately. The rise of the new coronavirus variants has the makers of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine claiming it works. The data comes from a small study not representative of more extensive research, which should be determined. Sars-Cov-2 is the initial name of the virus from Wuhan; later, it was called COVID-19. Typically viruses change and evolve to keep the best adaptation but revert to their original form. PfizerBioNTech Vaccine Can Work Against the New Coronavirus Variants The COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and BioNTech, according to them, can handle the South African and U.K. virus types. Current data about these two recent strains alleged they are very infectious, but these facts need further verification. The U.S. drugmaker base their claims on recent lab studies reported Reuters. It should note that Pfizer has no peer view of its alleged data from the University of Texas Medical Branch. They point out the vaccine negated the mutated spike protein "N501Y", preventing it from infecting the host cell. Usually, spiked proteins are easily defeated by antibodies, but the 501.V2 and B.1.1.7 have significant changes in the hook protein. It concerns scientists the most, which improves the chances of taking over a human cell and infecting it. According to Phil Dormitzer, linked to Pfizer's vaccine development has this to say about it. Probability says that these mutated proteins could make it easily infectious. This evolution of the COVID-19 virus makes vaccines less effective because antibodies won't work on it. An experiment conducted on blood samples of those already inoculated with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was done. One goal is to see how effective the Pfizer COVID-19 medicine is against new coronavirus variants. Also read: According to Dr. Scott Gottlieb, South African COVID-19 Variant May Render Antibody Drugs Useless Data is insufficient to know its full protection because the 501.V2 and B.1.1.7 are not fully mapped yet. These strains are infecting more and still evolving as it travels from one host to another. Dormitzer mentions that the result from the exposure of the U.K. and South African strain to the vaccine showed progress in dealing with mutated proteins. So far, the vaccine was documented to handle 15 mutations tested before. One caveat to these claims is there are dozens of mutations, and 15 is only a minuscule number. It is a big question mark if a vaccine can foster effective immune responses. He added that 16 mutations had been tested with no relevant effect, which is good news. One other thing is the 17th mutation is a concern for the researchers. Dormitzer mention one more adaptation detected in the South African variant, also called the E484K mutation, that is troubling. Researchers are doing the tests on the samples and exposing the vaccines to determine how far it will work on different strains. Working on the new COVID-19 strains may take weeks before anything is definite. When vaccines were issued for emergency use by the FDA, it was expected to work. The 501.V2 and B.1.1.7 are evolved viruses having a set of new attributes that might thwart the new vaccines. Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology, stated that the U.K. and South African strains have changes in their spike protein. Both have different proteins that are concentrated in the spike part that penetrates host cells. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is yet to be determined to deal with new coronavirus variants in more studies. Related article: South African COVID Variant May Have Evolved New Spike Protein to Bypass Immune System @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. S.C. Gov. Henry McMaster is asking lawmakers to keep the states $525 million plutonium windfall out of the upcoming budget and to appropriate the historic sum through standalone legislation, a move that trains the spotlight on Aiken and its surrounding counties. The Republican governor on Friday unveiled his fiscal year 2022 budget request, which proposes no specific investment of the funds. Such an approach, McMaster explained in a letter to members of the Legislature, will maintain full accountability, transparency and equitable distribution of these dollars. With 2020 behind us, he wrote, the time is now to reaffirm our responsible fiscal stewardship of this state to protect our people and prosperity in the year ahead. State Rep. Bill Taylor, an Aiken Republican, on Friday described the keep-it-separate method as very good news. By keeping it out of the state budget scuffle, Taylor suggested, we can focus more greatly on our local area and the needs, the financial needs, here. Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon similarly praised the recommendation, which the governors office communicated to local officials. I think thats positive for the three counties most affected by the discontinuation of the multibillion-dollar Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility, Osbon said. MOX, never finished, was canceled in late 2018. The Aiken Municipal Development Commission, which advises City Council, has previously demanded all the plutonium money millions and millions of dollars be given to the Savannah River Site neighbors: Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties. Commissioners in December approved a list of funding priorities and projects totaling $95.4 million. The $525-million sum stems from a landmark deal struck between South Carolina and the Department of Energy, the Savannah River Site landlord, last year. Terms of the high-wire pact included a DOE promise to remove from South Carolina 9.5 metric tons of plutonium by 2037 years ahead of prior projections and an upfront $600 million payment from the Trump administration. The settlement, unveiled in August, is the single largest in South Carolina history. The Aiken Standard on multiple occasions asked McMaster if he had any preferences, plans or preferred projects for the settlement money; the governor was often noncommittal, in line with Fridays request. But while speaking to the Aiken Rotary Club late last year, he said the Savannah River Site region ought to receive at least the majority, a good majority, of these funds in one way or another. It seems to me, that because of the way the case arose and where it arose, McMaster said at the time, that that area should be prominently figured in the expenditure or investment of those funds. Five lesson from mobbing the US capitol by Raul Gallegos Flickr Creative Commons Five lesson from mobbing the US capitol When a mob of President Donald Trumps supporters storms the US Capitol and disrupts the confirmation of Joe Bidens electoral victory, its time to take stock of uncomfortable realities. This is the type of angry reaction that usually happens somewhere south of the Rio Grande, where drug cartels run amok, politicians can be cheaply bought, millions live poor and uneducated while the elite drive bulletproof SUVs, and where social mobility is almost nonexistent. Surely Americans cant be that angry? They are, and this leaves us with some key takeaways: 1) It can happen again. The people who stormed Congress did not even feel the need to hide their faces, which means they are deeply zealous, motivated, and could not care less about the consequences of doing what they did in a country of laws. Heres a lesson from the tropics: In times of unrest or war, the guy who doesnt care about getting hurt can do a lot of damage, again and again. In other words, the risk of radicals (from the right and the left) clashing in the streets, violently protesting, rioting or otherwise impairing the business of governing will remain very real in the foreseeable future. 2) If you want boring politics back, forget it. Members of Congress these days cant even have lunch with someone from across the aisle without being denounced by party colleagues for treason. Americans have been segregating themselves into enclaves of likeminded people for years. Radical democrats are already unhappy with Bidens early cabinet choices for being too right wing or too close to business interests. Theyre unhappy even though now Democrats control both houses of Congress and the White House. Meanwhile, for millions of Trump-loving conservatives who feel cheated, Biden brings a cosmopolitan agenda that is contrary to their interests. For them its a time of war. 3) Appealing to reason wont be enough. When people feel deeply slighted and trapped, with no way out, reasonable democratic norms, and a gradualist approach to political change doesnt cut it. The Biden administration will need a firm hand with right-wing radicals, and will have to resist left-wing pressure for a populist response to redress the Trump years. A strong law and order approach will be necessary at times (to contain radical troublemakers right and left), even if its unpopular with Bidens own party. Defunding the police, a common chant from the radical left, will look like an increasingly bad idea. 4) Americans need perspective, thick skin, and humility. Theres a bigger problem at play here than just looking like a banana republic. Polarization in America is fed by a severe case of freedom misunderstood. The far left believes it is the role of a democracy to redress every wrong and even deliver equal outcomes to citizens. The radical right sees the government as overbearing, and considers wearing a mask during a pandemic as an affront to basic liberties. There is a sensible role for the government to play in a democracy, and it does not involve doing it all, nor doing nothing. As Americans, we also need to be less quickly offended by ideas we might dislike. A dose of perspective is needed here to understand that these are mostly rich country problems, and that democracy is all about accommodation. 5) Private sector leadership is more important than ever. When politics resembles a high wire circus act, people look to the private sector for rationality and reassurance. No, business cannot take on the role of the state, but it does have a role to play. Engaging with and helping strengthen communities and their institutions, like their police departments, is one way to go. With so much distrust of business prevalent among young Americans, companies will have to work hard to be seen again as solid corporate citizens. To achieve this, companies would do well to maintain high compliance and transparency standards, and they should be seen as caring for workers, clients, communities, and social needs, not just the bottom line. We would all like to think that Trumps defeat signals that a strong democracy is finally coughing up a hairball. For the sake of our politics, our businesses, and our lives, we need to be prepared for the likely scenario that Trumpismo will remain a more dangerous phenomenon for now. As Thomas Hobbes wisely pointed out in Leviathan: Prudence is a presumption of the future contracted from the experience of time past. What Im (Re) Reading ------------------------------------------------------------- I am actually in the middle of Part 1 of Leviathan by Thomas Hobbes these days. The 729-page classic written during the English Civil War (1642-1651) is a dense read, but required for anyone mildly interested in how power works, and the nature of human beings when laws cease to be obeyed (sound familiar?). In the book, Hobbes argues that the natural condition of mankind is perpetual competition for supremacy over others, a kind of war of all against all. And to control our basest inclinations we require the strong hand of a sovereign or government to keep society together, and avoid what he considers the ultimate evil, death. Hobbes opus is famous for his quote describing human life in the absence of government as nasty, brutish, and short. What most appeals to me about the book is Hobbes argument that people living in prosperous, rational societies never come close to experiencing this natural state of man, unless they face civil war. This is something we tend to forget living in advanced societies. But when you have the chance to experience life in poor countries this dysfunction, this Darwinian reality, becomes very real, very fast. The positive aspect of firsthand experience with war, poverty, and corruption is that it keeps you grounded, it makes you appreciate life and rationality more than you do when you are surrounded by abundance, security, and solid institutions. We should all keep that in mind. Like what you've read? Sign up for our list! If you would like to help us grow please recommend this to your friends and colleagues. Original article Raul Gallegos / Pondering Politics / January 07, 2021 / Raul-Gallegos.com raul.gallegos@gmail.com / http://raul-gallegos.com/blog Raul is a former Caracas-based oil correspondent. Director @Control_Risks. Political risk advisor to companies. Author of Crude Nation/Cuando se jodio Venezuela? (Spanish Edition) PW 01/08/2021 New York and Mainz, Germany, January 8, 2021 - Pfizer Inc. . Rapidly spreading variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, initially in the United Kingdom and South Africa. These variants have multiple mutations in their spike or S glycoproteins, which are key targets of virus neutralizing antibodies. Though these two rapidly spreading viruses are different, they share the N501Y mutation, which is located in the receptor binding site of the spike protein and results in the virus's spike protein binding more tightly to its receptor. It has been shown to infect mice more efficiently.i To determine if sera of people who had received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine could neutralize SARS-CoV-2 with the N501Y mutation, a virus with this substitution was generated in UTMB's laboratory. The sera of 20 participants from the previously reported Phase 3 trial neutralized the virus with the mutation as well as they neutralized virus without the mutation. While the virus tested in this experiment did not include the full set of spike mutations found on the rapidly spreading strains in the U.K. or South Africa, neutralization of virus with the N501Y mutation by the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine-elicited human sera is consistent with preserved neutralization of a panel of 15 pseudoviruses bearing spikes with other mutations found in circulating SARS-CoV-2 strains. This indicates that the key N501Y mutation, which is found in the emerging U.K and South Africa variants, does not create resistance to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine induced immune responses. Pfizer, BioNTech, and UTMB are encouraged by these early, in vitro study findings. Further data are needed to monitor the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 caused by new virus variants. If the virus mutates such that an update to the vaccine is required to continue to confer protection against COVID-19, we believe that the flexibility of BioNTech's proprietary mRNA vaccine platform is well suited to enable an adjustment to the vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. AUTHORIZED USE IN THE U.S.: The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine is authorized for use under an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for active immunization to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in individuals 16 years of age and older. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION FROM U.S. FDA EMERGENCY USE AUTHORIZATION PRESCRIBING INFORMATION: Do not administer Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to individuals with known history of a severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) to any component (https://www.cvdvaccine-us.com/dosing-and-administrationdescription) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. (https://www.cvdvaccine-us.com/dosing-and-administrationdescription) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Appropriate medical treatment used to manage immediate allergic reactions must be immediately available in the event an acute anaphylactic reaction occurs following administration of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Monitor Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine recipients for the occurrence of immediate adverse reactions according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines ( https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/ (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/)). (https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/)). Immunocompromised persons, including individuals receiving immunosuppressant therapy, may have a diminished immune response to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may not protect all vaccine recipients. In clinical studies, adverse reactions in participants 16 years of age and older included pain at the injection site (84.1%), fatigue (62.9%), headache (55.1%), muscle pain (38.3%), chills (31.9%), joint pain (23.6%), fever (14.2%), injection site swelling (10.5%), injection site redness (9.5%), nausea (1.1%), malaise (0.5%), and lymphadenopathy (0.3%). Severe allergic reactions have been reported following the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine during mass vaccination outside of clinical trials. Additional adverse reactions, some of which may be serious, may become apparent with more widespread use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. Available data on Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine administered to pregnant women are insufficient to inform vaccine-associated risks in pregnancy. Data are not available to assess the effects of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine on the breastfed infant or on milk production/excretion. There are no data available on the interchangeability of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine with other COVID-19 vaccines to complete the vaccination series. Individuals who have received one dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine should receive a second dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine to complete the vaccination series. Vaccination providers must report Adverse Events in accordance with the Fact Sheet to VAERS at https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html (https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html) or by calling 1-800-822-7967. The reports should include the words "Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA" in the description section of the report. (https://vaers.hhs.gov/reportevent.html) or by calling 1-800-822-7967. The reports should include the words "Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine EUA" in the description section of the report. Vaccination providers should review the Fact Sheet for Information to Provide to Vaccine Recipients/Caregivers and Mandatory Requirements for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine Administration Under Emergency Use Authorization. Please see Emergency Use Authorization. About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients' Lives At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 150 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com . In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News , LinkedIn , YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer . Pfizer Disclosure Notice The information contained in this release is as of January 8, 2021. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this release as the result of new information or future events or developments. This release contains forward-looking information about Pfizer's efforts to combat COVID-19, the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, the BNT162 mRNA vaccine program and the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine. About BioNTech Biopharmaceutical New Technologies is a next generation immunotherapy company pioneering novel therapies for cancer and other serious diseases. The Company exploits a wide array of computational discovery and therapeutic drug platforms for the rapid development of novel biopharmaceuticals. Its broad portfolio of oncology product candidates includes individualized and off-the-shelf mRNA-based therapies, innovative chimeric antigen receptor T cells, bi-specific checkpoint immuno-modulators, targeted cancer antibodies and small molecules. Based on its deep expertise in mRNA vaccine development and in-house manufacturing capabilities, BioNTech and its collaborators are developing multiple mRNA vaccine candidates for a range of infectious diseases alongside its diverse oncology pipeline. BioNTech has established a broad set of relationships with multiple global pharmaceutical collaborators, including Genmab, Sanofi, Bayer Animal Health, Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, Regeneron, Genevant, Fosun Pharma, and Pfizer. For more information, please visit www.BioNTech.de . BioNTech Forward-looking statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" of BioNTech within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may include, but may not be limited to, statements concerning: BioNTech's efforts to combat COVID-19; the collaboration between BioNTech and Pfizer to develop a potential COVID-19 vaccine; our expectations regarding the potential characteristics of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial and/or in commercial use based on data observations to date; the expected time point for additional readouts on efficacy data of BNT162b2 in our Phase 2/3 trial; the nature of the clinical data, which is subject to ongoing peer review, regulatory review and market interpretation; the timing for submission of data for, or receipt of, any marketing approval or Emergency Use Authorization; our contemplated shipping and storage plan, including our estimated product shelf life at various temperatures; and the ability of BioNTech to supply the quantities of BNT162 to support clinical development and, if approved, market demand, including our production estimates for 2020 and 2021. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on BioNTech current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability to meet the pre-defined endpoints in clinical trials; competition to create a vaccine for COVID-19; the ability to produce comparable clinical or other results, including our stated rate of vaccine effectiveness and safety and tolerability profile observed to date, in the remainder of the trial or in larger, more diverse populations upon commercialization; the ability to effectively scale our productions capabilities; and other potential difficulties. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see BioNTech's Quarterly Report for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2020, filed as Exhibit 99.2 to its Current Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 10, which is available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and BioNTech undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. Pfizer: Media Relations Amy Rose +1 (212) 733-1226 PfizerMediaRelations@pfizer.com Investor Relations Chuck Triano +1 (212) 733-3901 Charles.E.Triano@Pfizer.com BioNTech: Media Relations Jasmina Alatovic +49 89 62 81 75 46 Media@biontech.de Investor Relations Sylke Maas, Ph.D. +49 (0)6131 9084 1074 Investors@biontech.de i Gu H, Chen Q, Yang G, et al. Adaptation of SARS-CoV-2 in BALB/c mice for testing vaccine efficacy. Science 2020;369:1603-7. Mayor London Breed on Thursday denounced San Franciscos criminal justice system, saying it failed to prevent the New Years Eve hit-and-run crash that killed two women. Addressing the case of Troy Ramon McAlister, who was on parole when he allegedly struck and killed pedestrians Hanako Abe and Elizabeth Platt at Second and Mission streets in a stolen car, Breed said without naming anyone that the criminal justice system could have prevented the death by holding McAlister accountable for crimes. Had this person been held accountable for the numerous crimes that they committed, then this possibly would not have happened, Breed told the Chinese-language newspaper World Journal in a video interview Thursday night. The mayors comments came as District Attorney Chesa Boudin has been criticized for not filing charges against McAlister after several arrests in the months prior to the crash, including for car theft and auto burglary. Boudin said he referred the incidents to state parole. Following the traffic deaths, Boudins office charged McAlister with two counts of gross vehicular manslaughter, possession of a gun, driving under the influence and causing great bodily injury, leaving the scene of a collision and driving a stolen vehicle. He could spend decades in prison if convicted on all charges. The 45-year old city resident remained free despite several arrests in San Francisco in recent months, according to city officials and public records. He was released on April 10 from a state prison sentence for robbery and was not charged with new crimes after a spate of arrests, the most recent of which occurred just 10 days before the alleged New Years Eve hit-and-run. The criminal justice system in our city has failed, the mayor said in the interview. Right now what you see is a lot of finger-pointing. The finger-pointing should be directed at taking responsibility for the fact that there is a criminal justice system in San Francisco that has failed to acknowledge that a repetitive offender of crime in our city has been able to be released without being held accountable. At a time of increased scrutiny of mass incarceration and renewed calls for criminal justice reform, Breed tempered her criticism slightly. As strong of an advocate as I am of reforms and giving people a second chance and helping people get on their feet, there still has to be accountability, she said. Boudin spent much of the week playing defense, spreading blame for the hit-and-run crash among several agencies his office, parole, San Francisco police and Daly City police, since McAlister allegedly stole the car in Daly City. Deputy Public Defender Scott Grant, who is serving as McAlisters attorney, said McAlister has struggled with drug addiction and Grant believes the New Years Eve tragedy could have been avoided if the criminal justice system addressed the root of the addiction. On Thursday afternoon the district attorney fended off attacks during a virtual neighborhood safety meeting hosted by District 8 Supervisor Rafael Mandelman. Prompted by a string of robberies and a shooting last month in Noe Valley, the meeting also featured reports from police captains at the Mission and Ingleside stations. I think peoples concern about Troy McAlister is that it is reflective of a revolving door that is broader, and that there are people who are committing crimes over and over and over and over again, Mandelman said. To many residents, it seems that people are getting arrested and spending little or no time in jail, particularly for nonviolent crimes, the supervisor continued. Is that a change is that making us less safe? he asked Boudin. Boudin said his hands are tied because he is constitutionally prohibited to punish people until theyve been convicted of a crime, or shown to be a threat to public safety. During the COVID-19 lockdown, it has been more difficult to convict people, he said, because San Francisco courts recently stopped holding in-person criminal jury trials. However, according to court spokesman Ken Garcia, they will resume next week. Boudin previously pointed to COVID-19 when he dismissed a high-profile beating case against two Alameda County sheriffs deputies in March. He said he plans to refile. Were in a real bind on our end of the criminal justice system, Boudin said. Its a tremendous problem, and theres no end in sight. I wish I could snap my fingers and solve it. He argued that because McAlister was on parole, it was more efficient to have the parole agent handle his case than to charge him with new crimes. But when McAlister was arrested on Dec. 20, less than two weeks before the New Years Eve crash, nobody told his parole agent, Boudin said. One of the meeting attendees was Castro resident Jennifer Orloff, whose home was burglarized Thursday morning. Thieves broke into her garage at around 5 a.m. her downstairs neighbor heard the commotion and went outside to see a man riding away on her husbands e-bike. Later, she had to explain to her 5-year-old son why the police were at their house. Orloff found the meeting frustrating, mostly because she wanted a clear, sensible plan of action to combat crime in the neighborhood, not excuses from public officials. I feel like he was a really good speaker, she said of Boudin, but I also feel like it was disingenuous. If what he was saying were true, wed be hearing from friends in other big cities that they cant put their cases through court. Garcia, a spokesman for San Francisco Superior Court, said the courts are open for hearings, bench trials and other business. If the district attorney wants to prosecute a case, he can, Garcia said. Nora Mishanec and Rachel Swan are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com, rswan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec, @rachelswan Press Release 8 January 2021 After several years of dominating headlines, the Brexit transition period is over. What does the deal mean for EU and UK business travelers and how do we make heads or tails of the new restrictions? Advertisements "Ignore the hype," says CWT Client Executive Andrew Dalton, "yes, there are complexities but don't get hung up on reading endless articles. As and when lockdowns lift, travel will resume. Companies can use this time to communicate simple instructions to their employees. Meanwhile, travelers can systematically check for requirements such as whether they have enough pages in their passport and if their passport is valid for long enough." We asked Andrew Dalton, Aisling Gibbons, and Eric Wynton, all within CWT's Customer Group, to answer some common questions. I'm a UK national. When can I travel to Europe? Because of the new variant of COVID-19, some EU borders are currently closed to UK citizens. However, things can change fast. Check government advice regarding avoiding non-essential travel and use our CWT Travel Essentials tool to check for restrictions and requirements, specific to your travel plans. Since each EU country has control over its own borders, exceptions might be made for travel for UK citizens when the pandemic abates. As a UK citizen, what do I need to prepare before I travel to the EU? Passports - Check that your passport is less than 10 years old, has 6 months of validity, and blank pages to stamp. When traveling to Ireland, your passport just needs to be valid for the length of your stay. Check that your passport is less than 10 years old, has 6 months of validity, and blank pages to stamp. When traveling to Ireland, your passport just needs to be valid for the length of your stay. Visas - Check whether you need a work permit for certain business activities such as transferring to work at a different branch of your company. You can visit the EU visa-free for 90 days within a 180 day period for activities including business meetings. If you're a frequent traveler, remember to record your length of stay to ensure that you don't exceed the allowable number of days, or ask your travel management company to help record it for you. Check whether you need a work permit for certain business activities such as transferring to work at a different branch of your company. You can visit the EU visa-free for 90 days within a 180 day period for activities including business meetings. If you're a frequent traveler, remember to record your length of stay to ensure that you don't exceed the allowable number of days, or ask your travel management company to help record it for you. Insurance - Review your company travel and health insurance cover. Taking out travel insurance will help your business trip run smoothly.UK nationals can apply for a GHIC card that covers state healthcare. EHIC cards issued before the end of 2020 can still be used until their expiry date for medical care in the EU. If you're traveling to Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, you'll need travel insurance with healthcare cover. Read our blog for further information on mobile roaming and driving. Can EU citizens travel to the UK? Currently, EU citizens can travel to the UK without a visa. EU citizens need to fill in a passenger locator form, and must self-isolate for 10 days on arrival (or five days, if using the "Test to Release" scheme) unless they are arriving from a country on the travel corridors list. EU citizens can spend 6 months in the UK without applying for a visa. The UK is expected to include EU citizens in its ETA visa waiver scheme by 2025. Are there any benefits to business travel post-Brexit? While there's more admin, there may be some upsides. Duty-free will return, and depending on the speed of the vaccine rollout and the depreciation of the pound, the UK may become an increasingly attractive destination for EU citizens. What can companies do to boost confidence in UK travelers planning trips to the EU and vice-versa? Consider sending targeted messaging to your staff from now and updating your travel policy to convey clear guidance. Read more tips on preparing your people for travel between the UK and EU here. Disclaimer: Guidance reflects the current advice issued by the UK Government. CWT does not offer specific advice about travel restrictions, or policy changes, change in regulations. The information provided here is not exhaustive, may not address your individual requirements, and is for informational purposes only. The information presented should not be construed as legal advice. India: Fish and animal husbandry can change our economic picture by Priyanka Saurabh January 08,2021 | Source: The Avenue Mail Along with agriculture, livestock farming, dairy, fisheries activities are an integral part of human life since the beginning of civilization. These activities improved the food system and helped in saving livestock. Due to climate and topography, the animal husbandry, dairy, and fisheries sector have played a major socio-economic role in Indias growth. Indias livestock and fisheries sector are quite wide. Overall, about 32% of the people live on livestock, fishing, and aquaculture. Agriculture is 5% of GDP and national GDP. Livestock and fish products together contribute more than Rs 7 lakh crore towards agricultural production value. The average annual growth rate of the livestock and fisheries sector together is 6. The share of crops in the value of agricultural production is declining, but livestock and fish products are one of the fastest upwards. The development of entrepreneurship in the field of livestock and fisheries has proved to be a changer for the rural economy. Livestock has contributed 16% to the income of small farm families. Livestock provides livelihood to two-thirds of the rural community. It also provides employment to about 8.8% of the population in India. It provides self-employment to millions of people, especially rural people. It has contributed significantly to the empowerment of women, increasing their income and role in society. It has become a boon for small and marginal farmers, especially in rainfed areas of India. With the view of livelihood at the center of poverty alleviation programs, this region can become Brahmastra. A study by a food and agriculture organization has shown that investing one rupee in the livestock sector can lead to a profit of four rupees. It will be faster than many other areas of agriculture and will contribute to the main sector for the development of the Indian economy. Livestock productivity has been identified as one of seven sources. The inter-ministerial committee under the government is expected to meet the target of increasing income and doubling the income of farmers by 2022. Farmers can increase their income by cultivating paddy, wheat as well as cattle and fish. The government has run many schemes for this. A lot of grants are also being received in these schemes. By doing this, they can strengthen their financial condition. Animal Husbandry Startup Grand Challenge, Appreciating innovations coming from villages to expand dairy, National Livestock Mission, ensuring quantitative and qualitative improvement in livestock, production system and capacity building of all stakeholders, Central Sector Plan on Blue Revolution, Integrated Animal credit card schemes by development and fisheries management (CSS) and small states like Haryana make this sector financially strong. Still, some other steps can attract the farmers in this area. Plans for an integrated approach to increase inland fish production and to adopt large-scale culture-based capture fisheries and cage culture upstream of reservoirs and large water bodies, sustainable exploitation of marine fishery resources especially deep-sea marine farming Through resources and enhancement of marine fish production, encouraging public-private partnerships for sustainable livestock rearing, increasing commercialization of livestock products by improving technologies, increasing market connectivity, processing and storage centers, training, etc. can making it stronger and safer. In a way, youths are getting hit in big cities in search of jobs, while many youths are making good profits from fisheries and animal dairy away from the hustle and bustle of the city. India is geographically the best country for fish farming. In almost every state, fishes are reared and animals are kept. But there is still a lot of potential for new experiments in this field. If the youngsters want to start a business, then they can start fish farming and animal dairy. The loan is also being provided from Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana to do this work. For the eradication of poverty, the livestock and fisheries sector should not be just a vehicle. Rather, it should emerge as a platform to gain a livelihood. Looking at cattle, pigs or poultry may not seem glamorous, but earning good money is certainly an attractive proposition. If the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development along with the National Center for Disease Control and Dairy Cooperative Societies set up a fund association and take it forward to a national level, it will surely change the economic picture of India. The Yankee Air Museums B-25D Mitchell 43-3634, long known as Yankee Warrior, has recently undergone refinishing into the original colors worn when she emerged from the North American Aviation assembly plant in Kansas City 77 years ago. The airplane now reflects her true role in Americas history as a combat veteran flying out of Corsica in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Kalitta Air, a worldwide leader in specialized, on-demand airfreight services agreed to restore the exterior finish of the Yankee Air Museums B-25 Mitchell bomber. Coincidentally both organizations are based at Willow Run Airport in Michigan. Kalitta Air and Kalitta Maintenance are making a fantastic contribution to aviation history, exclaimed Kevin Walsh, President and CEO of Yankee Air Museum. For years, our B-25 has flown in its polished, natural aluminum skin, bearing the name Yankee Warrior. It is beautiful, but inaccurate and does not honor its past. We are very excited to see this World War Two aircraft restored to its original markings. In 1943, when B-25D Mitchell 43-3634 left the North American Aviation factory in Kansas City, it was painted Olive Drab with Neutral Grey underside. This was the paint scheme for the Mediterranean Theater of Operations. Based in Corsica, the airplane flew eight missions with the 57th Bomb Wing, 340th Bombardment Group, 489th Bomb Squadron against high value targets in Italy. Yankee Air Museums B-25 plane flew missions in April 1944 but by May 26th, 1944, she returned to the United States. In October 1944, the airplane transferred to the Royal Canadian Air Force where she served as a trainer until 1961. The Canadian government sold her for salvage soon after, but she was one of the lucky ones to make it into civilian ownership. The Mitchell changed hands a number of times prior to the Yankee Air Museums acquisition in 1987. The Museum restored the aircrafts mechanical components as well as adding some military features such as a top turret, Plexiglas nose, replica guns, insignias and many other features. Conrad Connie Kalitta, Owner/CEO and Pete Sanderlin, Chief Operating Officer for Kalitta, are accomplished aviators who value aviation history. They didnt hesitate to commit to this project and no one can imagine how much we appreciate their help, said Walsh. Vintage B-25 Mitchell bombers with combat experience, still flying today, are exceptionally rare, said Connie Kalitta. We are very happy to help. My time in aviation has been remarkable and its really great to be involved with this project and make a difference. The Kalitta Air livery is contemporary, very sharp and well recognized, said Pete Sanderlin. Our maintenance and paint crews are the very best and they keep our fleet looking great. The B-25 project is different and our team is very enthused to apply their artistry to it. It looks fantastic, said Kevin Walsh, President and CEO of Yankee Air Museum. I am very anxious to see it outdoors, in natural light. The Kalitta Air team has delivered a remarkable, authentic paint job and just like in World War Two, some of the last official paint to go on the plane are the 9C squadron identification markings on the tail, said Walsh. Over the past couple of weeks the museums mechanics have balanced the elevators, reinstalled them and completed a series of mechanical inspections. Our B-25 did not have any nose art, or a name when it was in the war, said Walsh. We will name it and get an artist to paint period correct nose art later this year. Walsh said the B-25 will honor history, and fly to air shows this summer to educate people about the gallantry of our Greatest Generation. Yankee Air Museum salutes Conrad Connie Kalitta with great appreciation and thanks everyone at Kalitta Air for making this project possible, concluded Walsh. The B-25 repainting project could not have been accomplished without a crew of museum volunteers who traveled to Oscoda, spent a few overnights, and took time away from their families this holiday season. Like many non-profit organizations, Yankee Air Museum could not fulfill its mission without the time, skills and labor donated to it by volunteers. With heartfelt appreciation, these B-25 project members are recognized: Paul Hakala, Chief of Maintenance; Angel Estrada, B-25 Crew Chief; and volunteers: Grant Schwartz, Darrel Bazman, Brian Gawronski, Rich Koski, Nick Consiglio, Tim Wedig, Eric Esckelson, Luke Noble, Bob Bailey, Joe Provost, Gene Wedekemper, Justin Walsh and Patrick Trevas. The B-25 pilots for this mission, flying without heat in the cockpit: Mike Vetter and Delane Buttacavoli. About Yankee Air Museum: Established in 1981 the Yankee Air Museum is a non-profit 501 (c) (3) organization. The Yankee Air Museum dedicates itself to educating individuals through the history of American aeronautics, aerospace industry and its associated technologies while inspiring generations through personal experiences to instill pride in our national accomplishments. Yankee Air Museum, located at 47884 D Street, Belleville, Michigan on the grounds of historic Willow Run Airport. Visit www.yankeeairmuseum.org to discover more or call 734-483-4030. About Kalitta Air: Kalitta Air is a Michigan Limited Liability Company owned solely by Conrad Connie Kalitta. Mr. Kalitta is the renowned NHRA champion drag racer and team owner. He has a lifetime of experience in the airline industry dating back to 1967 when he piloted a twin engine Cessna 310 and began transporting parts for the automotive industry. In 2018, Mr. Kalitta received the prestigious Ronald N. Priddy NACA-CRAF Partners in Airlift Medal (Priddy Medal) presented by the National Air Carrier Association. In April 2019, Mr. Kalitta was enshrined into the Michigan Aviation Hall of Fame. Kalitta Air began service in November 2000 with three Boeing 747 aircraft and the fleet has grown to a present total of 24 B747 freighters, nine B767 freighters and five B777 freighters. Capable of air express delivery of virtually any type of freight, the company provides scheduled or on-demand charter service for customers in the United States and around the world. Kalitta Air is committed to providing customers with the most cost effective and complete on-demand air cargo services available in the industry. Whether you are shipping super-heavy machinery, delicate medical equipment or perishable produce and even livestock, Kalitta Air provides the kind of individualized care and service thats won the respect and trust of customers around the world. For more information visit the www.kalittaair.com website Ryanair has warned it expects to run 'few, if any' flights from the UK during the third lockdown, as the struggling travel industry braces for yet more turbulence. The budget airline yesterday said it is now expecting to carry just 26m and 30m passengers in the year to March 31. That is worse than its previous forecast of 'below 30m' and well below the 149m it carried the previous year. Grounded: Ryanair yesterday said it is now expecting to carry just 26m and 30m passengers in the year to March 31 The gloomy update sent Ryanair's shares 1 per cent, or 0.16 lower to 15.6 yesterday. Rival Easyjet also dipped 0.1 per cent, or 0.8p, to 798.6p. Airlines have been forced to trim their already threadbare schedules once again this month after the UK imposed its third national lockdown, preventing all but essential travel. Following the new restrictions, and with neighbouring Ireland also under lockdown, Ryanair said it expects to carry fewer than 1.25m passengers this month. In February and March the monthly figures could drop as low as 500,000 well below the usual 10m or so it would have expected before the pandemic. The British and Irish measures 'will result in few, if any, flights being operated to/from Ireland or the UK from the end of January until such time as these draconian travel restrictions are removed', Ryanair said in a statement. The airline will significantly reduce its flight schedules from January 21 until the end of the current lockdown, it added. The stark situation underlines the challenge facing many airlines, which enjoyed a brief recovery in activity over the summer months but must now survive a bleak winter. Whilst the latest lockdown did not come as a surprise, analysts say it will be another setback to the industry's recovery hopes. Shares in rival IAG were down 0.5 per centafter Andrew Lobbenberg, analyst at HSBC, warned that the airline group might have to sell British Airways. IAG may be left with no alternative due to strict Brussels rules on ownership. She's become an expert over the years at posting Instagram thirst traps. And Kylie Jenner showed off her newest iteration on Friday with a steamy snap of herself enjoying a bubble-filled bath. The 23-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star posted the photo to her Kylie Skin Instagram account to celebrate National Bubble Bath Day on January 8. Steamy: Kylie Jenner, 23, seemed to pose nude with only well-placed bubbles protecting her modesty to celebrate National Bubble Bath Day on Friday Kylie sported her newly dyed red tresses, which seemed to be outfitted with extensions to help her hair reach down to her midriff. She wore it tied back in a high ponytail and swept over one shoulder. The cosmetics mogul appeared to be nude in the picture, but she covered her chest with her arm, which was also swathed in bubbles. It wasn't enough for her though, so she squeezed some extra soap into the bathtub with her long-nailed fingers. Showing off: Kylie first shared the revealing bath photo to her Instagram Stories on Friday night after flaunting her cleavage in a bra from her sister Kim Kardashian's Skims collection Repping her brand: 'The best bras @skims,' she captioned the video, before sharing her bubble bath photo to promote her own brand Celebrating: 'It's National Bubble Bath Day,' she wrote in her caption, while urging her fans to 'Give your skin some extra love and create a spa-like atmosphere in the comfort of your home,' with her brand's rose bath collection 'It's National Bubble Bath Day,' she wrote in her caption, while urging her fans to 'Give your skin some extra love and create a spa-like atmosphere in the comfort of your home,' with her brand's rose bath collection. Kylie first shared the revealing bath photo to her Instagram Stories on Friday night. She flaunted her prominent cleavage in a black bra from her sister Kim Kardashian's Skims collection. 'The best bras @skims,' she captioned the video, before sharing her bubble bath photo to promote her own brand. '& the best bubble bath @kylieskin,' she wrote. Insta purge: Kylie's self-care run followed online drama among her and friends after she went on an unfollowing spree on Instagram, reducing the number of accounts she follows to just 28 Kylie's self-care run followed online drama among her and friends. Earlier this week, the faux billionaire went on an unfollowing spree on Instagram, reducing the number of accounts she follows to just 28. Among the fallen were her friend Sofia Richie, who previously dated her sister Kourtney Kardashian's ex Scott Disick, and Fai Khadra. Although Fai tends to spend more time with her older sister Kendall Jenner, he's been seen at numerous KardashianJenner family functions. Just days earlier he was hitting the ski slopes in Aspen with her and Kendall, making the timing of the unfollow particularly surprising. Some of the other accounts getting the ax belonged to Rosalia, Harry Hudson, Ariel Tejada, Victoria Villarroel and Yris Palmer. Friend of the family: The move comes as a surprised, as Fai Khadra was unfollowed but recently accompanied her and her sister Kendall Jenner on a New Year's ski trip to Aspen The Democratic governors of eight states including California, New York and Michigan are demanding that federal health officials release doses of Covid-19 vaccines currently being held back to ensure people who got their first dose can get their second. The federal government has held back doses equal to the amount it has shipped out, to ensure that everyone who is vaccinated completes the recommended two-shot sequence. But with a new, likely more transmissible coronavirus strain now circulating, public health experts have urged state and federal authorities to pick up the pace of vaccination. The failure to distribute these doses to states who request them is unconscionable and unacceptable. We demand that the federal government begin distributing these reserved doses to states immediately, wrote Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The governors cited concerns over the new coronavirus strain, known as B.1.1.7 and first identified in Britain. HHS responds: It appears unlikely that HHS will fulfill the governors' request. Operation Warp Speed is continuing to ensure second doses are available to vaccine administration sites, at appropriate intervals, as directed by jurisdiction leaders, an HHS spokesperson told POLITICO, referring to the federal Covid-19 vaccine initiative. "There will always be a lag between shots allocated and those ordered, between those ordered and those delivered, between those delivered and those administered, and between those administered and reported as administered." The slow-moving rollout: The federal government had shipped more than 21.4 million doses Covid-19 vaccines as of Thursday morning, according to CDC data. But only 5.9 million people have been vaccinated with the first dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccines, although public health experts have cautioned that vaccination data reporting may be lagging. Whats next: HHS says it is encouraging states to expand priority groups to ensure all vaccines that have been delivered are quickly administered. We would be delighted to learn that jurisdictions have actually administered many more doses than they are presently reporting, the spokesperson said. The federal government released updated rules for lenders just before midnight on Wednesday for the next round of Paycheck Protection Program lending, but it did not set a date for when it expects to begin taking applications. Lenders anticipate the program could restart as soon as next week. Last months stimulus package included $284 billion for new loans through the small-business relief program, which ended in August after distributing $523 billion to more than five million businesses. In this next round, the hardest-hit business those whose sales have dropped at least 25 percent from before the pandemic can qualify for a second loan. First-time borrowers will also be eligible for loans. The Small Business Administration, which runs the program, plans to give small lenders a head start. In its first two days, the program will accept loan applications only from community lenders like Community Development Financial Institutions, which specialize in working with low-income borrowers and in areas underserved by larger lenders. For second loans of more than $150,000, applicants will need to provide their lender with records proving their sales have declined. Lenders will need to do a good faith review of those documents, but will be allowed to rely on borrowers certifications that their claims are accurate a win for lenders, which are concerned about being held liable for fraudulent claims. Marco Rubio responds to CNN's Chris Cuomo for mocking him as 'Bible boy' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., has responded to two CNN opinion hosts who questioned his faith while they sarcastically mocked him as Mr. Bible boy live on air Monday. CNN's Chris Cuomo and Don Lemon lambasted President Donald Trump over his phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger that critics argue demonstrated an attempt to convince an elected official to forge election results. Cuomo and Lemon harshly criticized congressional Republicans for not condemning the presidents phone call more forcefully. Slamming congressional Republicans for what they deemed as enabling Trump, Cuomo specifically singled out Rubio, a former rival of Trumps for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. Referring to Rubio as Mr. Bible boy, Cuomo alleged that Rubio has a Bible quote for every moment, he just never speaks truth to power or acts on any of it in the interests of his own state or of this country. As Cuomo spoke, Lemon repeatedly signaled agreement. Rubio responded to Cuomo on Twitter Tuesday: The verses I tweet are usually the ones chosen by the Catholic Church for that day's mass. But the fact he thinks words written thousands of years ago are relevant to current events proves the Bible isnt just a book, its the word of God. AMEN. The verses I tweet are usually the ones chosen by the Catholic Church for that days mass But the fact he thinks words written thousands of years ago are relevant to current events proves the Bible isnt just a book,its the word of God AMEN.https://t.co/nqsDxWqRJo#FoxNews Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) January 5, 2021 Earlier in the conversation, Lemon held up Raffensperger, who has become a target of criticism from Trump and several Republicans for his handling of the election and his agreement to sign a consent decree that led to loosening of signature verification requirements for mail-in ballots, as a man of faith. According to Lemon, Raffenspergers faith was the reason he could sit there and just very stoically say, Sorry, Mr. President, youre wrong. Our data shows that you did not win Georgia. Throughout the Trump administration, members of the media have repeatedly called into question the faith of Trump and his supporters. In a 2018 interview, Lemon got into an argument with the Rev. Franklin Graham, the CEO of Samaritans Purse, about whether the president exemplified Christian values. Reflecting on his education in Catholic school and citing the Bible passage from the Gospel of Luke proclaiming that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, Lemon remarked that the Bible and everyone always taught me to do unto others and not attack others and thats all this president does. He also called into question evangelical support for Trump in light of reports of his infidelity and use of the word s---hole to describe certain countries. Lemon tried to portray Graham and other evangelical Christians as hypocrites because they called out the personal behavior of President Bill Clinton, who had a sexual affair with an intern while in office, but not Trump. These alleged affairs, that are alleged with Trump, didnt happen while he was in office. This happened 11, 12, 13, 14 years ago. And so, I think theres a big difference, Graham responded. I think the president has changed quite a bit in the last 11 years, he contended. Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council, made similar arguments during an interview with Politico that took place at around the same time: Among evangelicals, there is an understanding that we are all fallen and the idea of forgiveness is very prominent. I think the evangelical community gives him grace for the mistakes that hes made. PM Shmyhal boasts of successful low-interest loans program for businesses Tax holidays for individual entrepreneurs of the first taxation group remain in place. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Start your engines, because the Emmy-winning series RuPaul's Drag Race is coming to Australia. And it's all thanks to our friends across the ditch. The hit reality show is due to start filming an Australian spin-off later this month. However, production will occur in New Zealand due to Sydney's recent COVID-19 outbreak and lingering travel restrictions within Australia, according to a source close to production who was not authorised to speak publicly. American drag queen and TV personality RuPaul Charles. Credit:Stan RuPaul's Drag Race Australia is set to become Stan's first local reality commission (Stan's owner, Nine, is also the owner of this masthead). A spokesman for the streaming service declined to comment for this story. It is not yet known who will judge RuPaul's Drag Race Australia. But the rumour mill is abuzz that RuPaul Charles himself will host the new series. New Zealand-based LGBTIQ magazine Express has reported that RuPaul recently flew into the country and is undergoing mandatory hotel quarantine. RuPaul's Drag Race fans have long speculated that RuPaul would host an Australian spin-off given he has an Australian husband. Those rumours have only grown stronger since the release of RuPaul's Drag Race Canada. The series, which did not feature RuPaul as host, was widely criticised by its fanbase about judging that was perceived to be harsh and inconsistent. Loading The format features a cast of 12 or so drag queens competing to be crowned the "next drag superstar". Contestants are presented with a variety of challenges each episode (such as stand-up comedy, sewing or performing in a musical). The worst-performing queens then face-off in a lipsync battle in a bid to remain in the competition. Former cast members have gone on to perform in sold-out shows across the world. An Australian cast announcement is not expected to drop for a couple of weeks. However, it is likely that one or two queens from New Zealand will compete on the series in the same way that Canadian queens have competed on the American version in the past. As for who else might be a judge, Drag Race alum Courtney Act appears unlikely as she is quarantining in a Sydney hotel after flying home from London. She is no stranger to flashing the flesh online. And Kylie Jenner was at it again, firing up her Insta Stories to post a bit of selfie footage in which she flaunted her assets. The 23-year-old cosmetics tycoon put her ample cleavage in display by going topless except for bra from her sister Kim Kardashian's line SKIMS. She is no stranger to flashing the flesh online: And Kylie Jenner was at it again, firing up her Insta Stories to post a bit of selfie footage in which she flaunted her assets Her saucy new look also allowed her to show off her enviably taut midriff as she posed up a storm in front of the mirror. Kylie was wearing a luxurious red hairdo and a pair of comfortable-looking white sweats for her smoldering new Insta Stories. In between pouts Kylie mouthed along to the SZA song Good Days, which is a breakup number from an album of the same name. 'I try to keep from losing the best of me,' goes one verse of the song. 'I worry that I wasted the best of me on you, babe.' Making it happen: The 23-year-old cosmetics tycoon put her ample cleavage in display by going topless except for bra from her sister Kim Kardashian's line SKIMS Using what she's got: Her saucy new look also allowed her to show off her enviably taut midriff as she posed up a storm in front of the mirror When you got it: Kylie was wearing a luxurious red hairdo and a pair of comfortable-looking white sweats for her smoldering new Insta Stories She also uploaded a snap of her in the bath, pouring Kylie Skin product into the water for bubbles to keep her in line with Instagram's Community Guidelines. Kylie's latest posts comes two days after a swirl of reports that Kim is on the verge of divorcing her third husband Kanye West. The couple, who married in 2014, had a tumultuous 2020 that included the rap star's failed run for the United States presidency. During one campaign rally he tearfully revealed that Kim considered aborting their firstborn daughter North - a disclosure that left Kim 'furious,' per a People source. Leggy sizzler: In between pouts Kylie mouthed along to the SZA song Good Days, which is a breakup number from an album of the same name 'I try to keep from losing the best of me': One line of the song goes: 'I worry that I wasted the best of me on you, babe' Glamour shot: She also uploaded a snap of her in the bath, pouring Kylie Skin product into the water for bubbles to keep her in line with Instagram's Community Guidelines Kanye also embarked on a series of Twitter tirades, accusing Kim of having tried to get him committed and insinuating that she was unfaithful. Kim made a statement referring to her husband's bipolar disorder and pointing out 'that the family is powerless unless the member is a minor.' Eventually the couple traveled to the Caribbean with their four children - North, seven, Saint, five, Chicago, two, and Psalm, one - in what was widely reported as a make-or-break trip to save the marriage. Although the couple put up a unified front on social media following the Caribbean summit a source has now told Page Six that 'they are done.' Meanwhile: Kylie's latest posts comes two days after a swirl of reports that Kim is on the verge of divorcing her third husband Kanye West By the way: Kylie herself has a two-year-old daughter called Stormi by the rapper Travis Scott, who worked with Kanye while dating his sister-in-law The insider alleged Kim has enlisted the services of Laura Wasser, the lawyer who also represented Angelina Jolie when she first left Brad Pitt in 2016. 'Kim has made it clear she wants full custody so if Kanye tries to fight her on that, the custody battle will be brutal,' a source claimed in The Sun. Kylie herself has a two-year-old daughter called Stormi by the rapper Travis Scott, who worked with Kanye while dating his sister-in-law. Although Kylie and Travis ended their romantic relationship in 2019 they have remained amicable co-parents to their daughter. Daddy-daughter: Although Kylie and Travis ended their romantic relationship in 2019 they have remained amicable co-parents to their child Current federal criminal code defines seditious conspiracy as an effort by two or more people to conspire to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the Government of the United States, or to levy war against them, or to oppose by force the authority thereof, or by force to prevent, hinder or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof. Nadia Bartel has once again been targeted by keyboard warriors and AFL supporters on Twitter, this time over her plans to take her clothing brand global in 2021. The 35-year-old copped a barrage of criticism on the social media platform over the weekend when a Melbourne newspaper tweeted out its story about her ambitions with Henne, the womenswear label she co-owns with her sister Michelle Ring. The trolling is nothing new: every time a glowing puff piece about Nadia is published in the local press, footy fans flock to Twitter to ironically call her 'stunning and brave'. 'Why isn't her fashion line called Stunning and Brave?' Nadia Bartel has once again been targeted by trolls on Twitter, this time over her plans to take her clothing brand global in 2021 Like clockwork, Nadia's critics homed in on a Twitter post shared by the Herald Sun on Sunday to spam comments about her 'stunning bravery'. One troll even taunted Nadia by asking why her fashion label wasn't called 'Stunning and Brave'. 'So brave,' another wrote, while a third tweeted: 'Thank God we have another brave Nadia story to keep us going.' Poor Nadia! The trolling is nothing new: every time a puff piece about Nadia is published in the Melbourne press, footy fans flock to Twitter to ironically call her 'stunning and brave' One person tweeted a GIF alongside the text: 'Nobody gives a f**k.' Nadia had told the Herald Sun she wanted to take her fashion brand overseas. 'We are so known in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth, but I would really love to take the brand overseas,' she said. Under fire: Like clockwork, Nadia's critics homed in on a Twitter post shared by the Herald Sun on Sunday to spam comments about her 'stunning bravery' Ouch: One person tweeted a GIF alongside the text: 'Nobody gives a f**k' In September last year, Nadia was targeted by trolls and called 'stunning and brave' once again. The 'stunning and brave' tweets are mostly from Victorians making fun of Nadia and her cheerleaders at the Herald Sun. The meme routinely surfaces on Twitter whenever a certain gossip columnist, who is friends with Nadia, writes a flattering article about how brilliant and 'dignified' she is. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Nadia has anything to do with the gushing praise, and it's understood the public commentary about her is beyond her control. Targeted: In September last year, Nadia was targeted by trolls and called 'stunning and brave' once again. The 'stunning and brave' tweets are mostly from Victorians making fun of Nadia and her cheerleaders at the Herald Sun newspaper 'She is brave and soon will have a statue outside the MCG for her bravery. Well deserved for everything she has done for you, me, the nation and the world. Well done Nadia Bartel you are an inspiration to us all,' a troll tweeted at the time. Similar posts included: 'She's so, so, so brave', 'Stunning and brave, congratulations', 'Brave. And Stunning', and 'Photos of what "brave" Nadia Bartel wore to Juddchella.' The joke derives from an episode of South Park in which everybody in the town agrees that Caitlyn Jenner is 'stunning and brave' because they're afraid they will be labelled transphobic otherwise. The phrase has since become a popular meme used when someone is being conspicuously over the top in their praise for another person - with the implication being the praise isn't deserved. Avalanche: Excited AFL fans often brace themselves for a deluge of 'stunning and brave' comments whenever the Herald Sun tweets out an article about Nadia Satirical: The 'stunning and brave' joke derives from an episode of South Park in which everybody in the town agrees that Caitlyn Jenner is 'stunning and brave' because they're afraid they will be labelled transphobic otherwise Excited AFL fans often brace themselves for a deluge of 'stunning and brave' comments whenever the Herald Sun tweets out an article about Nadia. 'Here for the "brave" comments! Not disappointed!' one Twitter user wrote recently. Another added: 'Came for the stunning and brave comments. Laughing.' In September, the paper published a story downplaying Nadia's relationship with personal trainer Nathan Brodie, and it was soon met with an avalanche of trolling. One reader tweeted in response: 'Nadia Bartel bravely jogged with a man who sadly isn't a new suitor but just an exercise buddy - sad for her. Braver than I ever imagined. So brave and who she runs with so important it's behind a paywall.' Former AFL glamour couple Nadia and Jimmy Bartel announced their separation on August 15 2019, but they are believed to have actually split two months prior. They share custody of two children, sons Aston, five, and Henley, two. The Brownlow Medal winner, 36, is now dating office worker Lauren Mand. Nadia has yet to publicly acknowledge her romance with Nathan. Case of the ex: Nadia and Jimmy Bartel announced their separation on August 15 2019, but they are believed to have actually split two months prior Bengaluru, Jan 8 : Karnataka is expected to receive 13.90 lakh vials of Covid vaccine in a day or two, state Health Minister K. Sudhakar said here on Friday. The minister told reporters that the good news for Karnataka is that he has received information from the Union Health Ministry that on Saturday or Sunday, the state would probably receive 13.90 lakh vials of Covid vaccine. "It's a big news for all of us," Sudhakar said after visiting a private hospital where a vaccination dry run was conducted. He added that vaccines will first be administered to healthcare workers. "Already 6.30 lakh healthcare professionals have registered in Karnataka till date. The healthcare workers' data has already been compiled for all the government facilities. At least 80 per cent of the private health facilities have also shared their data. Those who have been left out, may be in some medical or dental colleges, we have requested them to register," he said. The minister said that healthcare workers will be followed by those with comorbidities, those above 60 years of age and those in other departments like police and revenue working against the pandemic. The minister added that Karnataka had already initiated measures for delivery, distribution and administration of Covid-19 vaccine whenever it arrives as advised by the Union government. The state task force on Covid-19 had met on Tuesday and reviewed the preparations made for vaccine storage and delivery, he said. "The government has identified 29,451 vaccination sites and 10,008 vaccinators as per the norms of the universal immunisation programme," Sudhakar said. On the storage facilities in the state, the minister said that Karnataka has around 2,855 cold-chain points for storage and distribution of vaccines. "With a view to have a better supply chain network and distribution of vaccines in a timely manner, three new regional vaccine stores in Bengaluru Urban, Shivamogga and Ballari have been proposed," Sudhakar observed. He pointed out that these newly proposed regional vaccine stores will also require additional walk-in-coolers and walk-in-freezers. "The assessment of the vaccine stores has been completed. The state has 10 walk-in-coolers and four walk-in-freezers. Besides this, the Union Health Ministry is going to supply three walk-in-coolers and two walk-in-freezers for which necessary civil works are being initiated," he said. On dry storage, Sudhakar said the state needs to have dry storage space assessment for the vaccine programme. He explained that the Union government has already allocated certain deep freezers and ice lined refrigerators as per the universal immunisation programme norms. Regarding the usage of animal husbandry department's facilities, the minister said in order to have adequate capacity, the cold storage facilities of the animal husbandry department are also being compiled. "Further, the spare cold storage facilities available with private hospitals are also being assessed," he said. Spending more than three decades working in the Capitol, Kirk had a unique perspective on what he saw on television. At home, he first learned about the events when he started getting texts from former colleagues. As he watched, he was stunned. He tied the shooting of Ashli Babbitt, one of the protesters, to bloodshed on the same spot 150 years ago. West Midland Family Center (WMFC) has received $30,000 from the Midland Area Community Foundation (MACF). These funds were approved and disbursed in support of organizations that have experienced a disruption in their pre-pandemic revenue stream as a direct result of COVID-19. WMFC has experienced growing across the board losses with reduced childcare fees having the greatest impact. WMFC will use the allocated funds to address challenges associated with rebuilding programs and services which were trimmed due to COVID-19 closures. WMFC operating revenue is projected to be significantly lower than last year and is entirely attributed to COVID-19. While WMFC has received other funding targeted toward COVID -19 relief, none have covered lost operating revenue. China and Pakistan signed a memorandum on translation and publication of classics on January 5, which is expected to give fresh impetus to cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two nations. Although diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan were established on May 21, 1951, the interaction between them started thousands of years ago. Xuan Zang, Chinas famous Buddhist monk and translator, visited Pakistan over 1,300 years ago, creating a cultural bond that still thrives today. The ancient Silk Road also served as a cultural tie connecting China and Pakistan. Traders from China, traveling to Europe via the Silk Road, communicated with locals in Pakistan, bringing opportunities for people from both sides to learn each others culture. Photo taken on Nov. 8, 2020 shows an Orange Line metro train arriving at a station in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, which is an early-harvest project under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. (Xinhua/Sajjad) The foundation of Chinese-Pakistani friendship is solid and deep. In the early days of the establishment of diplomatic relations, the priority of our relations was primarily political and diplomatic. Cooperation between China and Pakistan enhanced rapidly, with agreements signed between the two countries in many sectors, including cooperation in education, culture, science and technology, etc. The signing of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in 2013 opened many avenues of cooperation on the economic front. Initially, the focus was on power projects and infrastructure developments. In phase II, cooperation was enhanced in more areas, such as agriculture, industrialization, social sector, health, and poverty eradication. The success of CPEC is a fruitful result from China and Pakistans mutual understanding and harmonious relations. There is a need to understand each other's culture, language, traditions, history, political system, and governance. Under the newly signed agreement, the two sides agreed to publish 50 classics considered to be the most classic, meaningful, and top-rated in the two countries in the next five years, with experts' joint efforts in culture and publication from both sides. Some famous books and publications may be translated into each other's language. There will also be cooperation among media outlets of the two countries. It was recently noted that publishers on both sides are eager to strengthen collaboration and bring the two iron brothers closer. The film industry of both countries is also engaged in collaborations. In addition, the real potential of tourism is crucial to enhance people-to-people contact. Tourists may enjoy the nature and hospitality of each other and at the same time, through interaction, learn each other's culture, traditions, strengths and potentials. Tourism may become a useful tool to promote harmony and opportunities for collaboration. The signing of this agreement is also part of the activities to mark the 70th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan. Both governments are committed to highlight the importance of the anniversary and generate more avenues of cooperation and collaboration in all-dimensions. It is expected that after the pandemic, many new projects and activities will emerge. This agreement may only be the first step, but many other activities will be visible for the rest of the year. It is the second memorandum on translation and publication of classics signed by China with an Asian country, following the one signed with Singapore on December 8, 2020. The opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and not necessarily to People's Daily Online. Zamir Ahmed Awan is a senior fellow with the Center for China and Globalization (CCG) and a sinologist at the National University of Sciences and Technology in Pakistan. E-mail: [email protected] Mumbai: A non-governmental organisation led by Congress leader Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra is all set to adopt 208 farmer families, whose sole bread winners have committed suicide owing to agrarian crisis in the region. This Foundation known as Padma Bhushan Dr Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil will be launched on June 15 and has decided to adopt distressed farmer families from Ahmednagar district, said its Chief Executive Officer Sujay Vikhe Patil. Balasaheb Vikhe Patil, a former Union minister was a visionary and engaged in several social works. The veteran Congressmans son Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is presently Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly. He has served as the Agriculture minister in the previous Congress-NCP regime. The initiative will commence on his birthday (June 15), Sujay said adding various social programs are organised every year on the occasion. The Foundation will provide aide to the wife, parents and children of 208 farmer families in Ahmednagar district, he said. It will take care of education, marriage and health-care needs of these families. It will also try to provide a source of income by supporting the family to start a business or secure a job, he said. These are families that are already covered under some government scheme. However, we conducted a survey in the last two months across the district and realised that the state governments aide was insufficient. Hence we decided to chip in and fill the gap, he said. On Radhakrishna Vikhe Patils absence from the farmers stir scene, Sujay said, My father got injured during the last phase of the Sangharsh Yatra, organised by Congress and NCP across the state. Doctors have advised him to avoid any stress and movement for sometime. Hence, he can not participate personally but he has extended his support to the farmers cause. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. PATIENTS in the Henley area are waiting to hear when they might receive a dose of the coronavirus vaccine. Health authorities approved the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab last week and ordered 100 million doses, enough to immunise 50 million people as it must be administered twice. When combined with a full order of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, which received the go-ahead on December 2, there should be enough to protect the entire population. The first 530,000 doses of the newer jab were set to be given nationwide this week, with care home residents, the over-80s and healthcare workers having priority. Unlike its counterpart, which must be stored at minus 70C and will degrade after 120 hours out of the freezer, the Oxford vaccine may be kept in a fridge so it is easier to transport. Elderly patients at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford were given it on Monday but neither Oxfordshires NHS clinical commissioning group nor NHS England, which distributes the vaccine on the Governments behalf, could say when it might be rolled out in the Henley area. Both said efforts were being made to introduce it as quickly as possible, echoing a pledge by the Prime Minister, and promised more announcements as soon as dates could be confirmed. AstraZeneca says it should be able to manufacture more than two million doses a week, each of which could be given up to 12 weeks apart so the vaccine is up to 90 per cent effective. There should be a widespread protective effect from the spring. A commissioning group spokeswoman said: The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine roll-out will help ensure that as many people as possible quickly benefit from a first dose while infection rates are so high and our health services are under great pressure. Getting both doses remains important so we would urge people to return when they are called. It is important that anyone who has the vaccine continues to follow guidance on social distancing and wearing a mask as well as any additional measures where they live. Meanwhile, hundreds of pensioners in Henley and surrounding villages have received their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab. Almost 1,000 patients of the Hart and Bell surgeries in Henley, Nettlebed Surgery and Sonning Common Health Centre returned to the Henley sites for a follow-up on Tuesday and Wednesday. A smaller number also returned to the Wargrave Surgery, which is part of the Berkshire West clinical commissioning group and was sharing its trial batch with another practice in Tilehurst. The patients, all aged over 80, were among the first in Britain to receive their jabs on December 15 and 16 because they were in a vulnerable age group but otherwise in good health. Their counterparts at Goring and Woodcotes joint medical practice and the Mill Stream Surgery in Benson got their first jab at Wallingford Community Hospital on December 21 and will return for the follow-up on Monday. The sessions went ahead despite surgeries elsewhere in Britain postponing second jabs, saying they would still be effective with a gap of up to 12 weeks. Chief medical officers have defended the move following outcry from individual GPs. Those who attend Watlington Surgery are yet to receive any, as are those at practices in Caversham and Emmer Green. It isnt yet known which of the two vaccines will eventually be offered to younger age groups. Dr Kiren Collison, who chairs the Oxfordshire commissioning group, said: The vaccination programme is very complex and we are working hard to ensure our most vulnerable patients are protected as quickly as possible. Other age groups and cohorts will be offered the vaccination in a phased way, in line with national priorities, but we need to expect this is going to take time. Meanwhile, we can all do our bit by continuing to keep ourselves and others safe by socially distancing, wearing a face covering and following the hand hygiene guidance. Patients are urged not to make enquiries about their jab but to wait for a letter of invitation. The US Treasury Department announced sanctions today against Falih al-Fayadh, the chair of Iraqs Popular Mobilization Units (known variously as Hashd al-Shaabi, PMU and PMC), for his alleged role in violent repression of anti-corruption protests in 2019. During protests beginning in October 2019, Iran-aligned PMC forces attacked Iraqi civilians protesting against corruption, unemployment, economic stagnation, poor public services and Iranian interference in Iraqs domestic affairs, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a press release. Fayadh was the head of the PMC when its forces fired live ammunition at protesters resulting in the deaths of Iraqi civilians, Pompeo said. In a separate statement, US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin accused Fayadh of directing and supervising the murder of peaceful Iraqi demonstrators and waging a violent campaign against Iraqi democracy and civil society. Fayadh has been sanctioned under an executive order building on the Global Magnitsky Act, which allows the United States to sanction figures abroad accused of human rights abuses. The Iraqi official, who served as national security adviser to former Prime Minister Adel Abdul-Mahdi and current Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, is the most influential Shiite Iraqi official ever sanctioned by the United States. Kadhimi replaced Fayadh as head of the countrys National Security Agency in July 2020 amid a US-backed push to isolate the influence of the PMU and Iran-linked figures, but he has remained chair of the PMU. On Friday the United States accused Fayadh of being a member of crisis cells supported by the elite Quds Force of Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, along with Qais al-Khazali and Hussein Falah al-Lami, both of whom were previously sanctioned. Last year the Trump administration slapped a terrorist designation on Khazali, who founded the Iran-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haqq and played a leading role in the violent insurgency against the US occupation of Iraq. The US military killed former Quds Force commander Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike outside Baghdad International Airport last January along with the de facto head of the PMU, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. A teenage girl killed by a suspected great white shark at New Zealand's Waihi Beach was dragged out to deeper waters by a strong current just before she was attacked. Kaelah Marlow, 19, from Hamilton on the North Island, has been named as the victim of the fatal shark attack on Thursday. She had been swimming with a group of friends at the popular tourist beach 153 kilometres southeast of Auckland, when the rip caught her and pulled her out to deeper water. Kaelah Marlow, 19, from Hamilton, NZ, was caught by an undertow and dragged out to deeper water beyond where the surfers sit before she was attacked by a suspected great white shark Eyewitness Amanda Gould was swimming with her husband and two young boys in waist-deep water about 5m away from Kaelah when she saw her being dragged out to sea in the current. 'She got separated from all her friends and was pulled really far out, beyond where the surfers would sit,' she said. The teenager was so far out that it was obvious she was in danger, and Ms Gould said nobody had seen her waving but she heard a scream. Lifesavers were only 10m away from Kaelah (pictured) as the shark attacked. They were racing out to check on her welfare since she was so far out Waihi Beach on the Bay of Plenty, NZ, pictured on Friday, the day after Kaelah was killed Volunteer lifesavers on duty raced out to her aid in an inflatable dinghy and were just 10m away from her when the shark attacked, NewsHub reported. Ms Gould said the rough waters delayed the lifeguards, pushing their boat back towards shore every time they tried to push it out. At first she thought she saw another person in the water out near Kaelah - but the lifeguard told her no - it was a shark. 'So I was watching the shark's fin go around, not another person,' Ms Gould told NZ news website Stuff. Upset people laid flowers at Waihi beach near Bowentown, NZ, on Friday 'I didn't see any blood... she was alive and when they got to shore. They started CPR straight away.' Ms Gould said there was chaos with people panicking as they fled the water. Kaelah was brought to the beach with bite wounds on her legs. The lifeguards tried to resuscitate her on the sand for half an hour, and were soon joined by a doctor on holiday, paramedics, and an emergency services helicopter. Tragically, the teenager died at the scene The distraught surf lifesavers who witnessed the attack have been stood down for counselling. The species of shark responsible has not yet been officially identified but locals say a great white shark had been seen in the area recently. Shark scientist Riley Elliott said juvenile and immature great whites had been lurking in the area since last summer. While bronze whalers were more common than great whites, they had not attacked a human in a long time, he told the NZ Herald. Official confirmation of the species is expected soon after a post-mortem being conducted on Friday, as the bite marks will help experts to identify the species. The death has also been referred to the coroner who will officially determine the cause of death. Kaelah Marlow (pictured) died on Thursday on the sand despite desperate efforts to save her Kaelah Marlow, 19, had been swimming with friends when she got caught in an undertow The popular holiday beach near a country town on the Bay of Plenty is known for its sharks. It was briefly closed for an hour just a few days previously after a shark was sighted but lifeguards reopened the beach after it swam by. 'The irony is that over the past six or seven days there have been untold shark sightings close to shore, but I never imagined one would try to bite anyone,' said camper Matt Lawry, who heard the sirens from the nearby Bowentown Beach Holiday Park and went to investigate. Mr Lawry told the NZ Herald how traumatic it was to see the haunted looks on the faces of the girl's friends and first responders trying to save her, especially one man who walked into the water and began splashing himself after the CPR stopped. 'It was harrowing and I can't stop thinking about the extreme grief I saw on his face as he left the beach.' A great white shark (species pictured) is suspected to have killed Kaelah Marlow. Numbers have increased since they were protected with many juveniles seen at Waihi since last summer On Friday a steady stream of grieving people left tributes of flowers on Waihi Beach including one man who waded into the water scattering hydrangea petals. 'I just want to pay my respects,' said the man as he choked back tears. Surf Life Saving New Zealand eastern region lifesaving manager Chaz Gibbons-Campbell told Newshub that the mood at the beach was sombre. 'Our team that was on yesterday has been quite heavily affected by this,' he said. Police said on Friday that it was New Zealand's first fatal shark attack in eight years. The previous 12 months were the deadliest in decades for shark attacks in neighbouring Australia, with nine deaths recorded in 2020 of which five were by great whites. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... When the Great Recession ended in 2009, it took the United States five years to regain lost jobs. In New Mexico, recovery took twice that long, with the state surpassing its pre-recession employment levels just before the COVID-19 pandemic brought the economy to a halt. It was a lost decade of job growth that stalled upward mobility for workers and families and forced college graduates New Mexicos future to leave the state for opportunities elsewhere. The reason it took twice as long to recover: New Mexicos answer to tight budgets was to cut economic development investments in the LEDA fund to almost zero and to suppress funding to New Mexicos longest and best-rated workforce training program, the Job Training Incentive Program (JTIP). The current COVID-19 pandemic-induced recession happened faster and is more severe in many ways. While the state lost about 50,000 jobs over two years during the last recession, New Mexico shed 100,000 jobs in just one month, between March and April 2020. Some of those positions have returned, but employment levels are still down 60,000 from the months before COVID-19. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ In this new year, we must focus like a laser to bring these jobs back. We must get employees back to work, increase wages and establish economic security for families. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and this administration will accept nothing less. There is no doubt that the uncertainty from COVID-19 led many businesses to pull back. Still, with support from Lujan Grisham, New Mexico worked hard in 2020 to build momentum for faster job growth. Through the state Local Economic Development Act (LEDA job-creators fund), the Economic Development Department worked with 18 businesses who made a commitment to create 2,500 jobs in New Mexico. These include Netflix in Albuquerque, Ascent Aviation in Roswell, High Plains Processing in Las Vegas, N.M., Natures Toolbox (NTx) in Rio Rancho, Big Tuna in Las Cruces, Savant X in Santa Fe, and SpinLaunch at Spaceport America. Because of LEDA, companies will invest over $761 million in private money into New Mexico over the next 10 years, and over $150 million in new payroll. In addition, the Job Training Incentive Program is helping 75 businesses around New Mexico hire new employees or retrain existing workers in 2,380 jobs. The state is partnering with businesses that will bring jobs in industries that are exciting and growing: biosciences, advanced manufacturing, aerospace, film and television, cybersecurity. The average annual salary for LEDA-created jobs last year was $61,000. We are attracting new investment from family-owned Asian businesses that want to come to North America and locate in Southern New Mexicos border zone to diversify their manufacturing chains and be closer to customers. In the coming 2021 Legislature, the Economic Development Department is asking that our very successful LEDA and JTIP assistance programs be fully funded. We are asking that LEDA be modified so the state can assist with larger projects without pulling back on assistance for smaller home-grown companies. In addition, Lujan Grisham was one of the first governors to recognize that outdoor recreation can drive job growth to tribal and rural communities. The Economic Development Department is asking for a one-time appropriation of $3.2 million for The Great New Mexico Trails Package so we can leverage matching federal money from the Land and Water Conservation Fund to improve trails, outdoor infrastructure and other recreation amenities that make us all healthier. Another important lesson weve learned from the pandemic is that no one person or organization has all the answers. We need to work together to find initiatives that work for each corner of the state. Thats why the department has secured a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration to administer a 20-year economic plan for the state. But we cant lose another decade. That is why targeted, smart economic development spending is the only way to build back better. [January 08, 2021] Governor Newsom Appoints Two New Members to California Children and Families Commission California Governor Gavin Newsom yesterday made two appointments to the California Children and Families Commission, also known as the First 5 California Commission. To serve in the role of First 5 California Commission Chair, Governor Newsom appointed Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, California Surgeon General. Additionally, Governor Newsom appointed Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of Health, Monterey County Health Department, as a Commission member. Dr. Burke Harris is California's first-ever Surgeon General, and she is a nationally recognized expert in the field of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress. As Surgeon General, Dr. Burke Harris is an advisor to the governor and serves as the leading spokesperson on matters of public health and leading on solutions that tackle Californians most pressing health dilemmas. As the founder of the Center for Youth Wellness, Dr. Burke Harris is considered a national leader in advancing pediatric medicine to raise awareness and transforming societal responses to ACEs and toxic stress in young children. Dr. Burke Harris' TED Talks (TEDMED) presentation, "How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across a Lifetime" has amassed more than 8 million views. "Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is an outstanding choice to lead the Commission," said George Halvorson, immediate past Chair of the First 5 California Commission. "Her professional background and experience will serve the Commission well in advancing its mission and goals of serving California's youngest children and their families. Her leadership and passion will propel the Commission in its pursuit of health and equity for Californians and she will continue to make helping young children in their earliest months and years a high priority for California and the Commission." Dr. Burke Harris recently collaborated with First 5 California in television and radio ads promoting its award-winning Talk. Read. Sing. campaign, which emphasizes the benefits of talkin, reading, and singing to children from birth in order to stimulate critical brain development during the earliest months and years of their lives. "As we continue to respond to the secondary impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have a tremendous responsibility to California's children and families," said Dr. Nadine Burke Harris. "The First 5 California Commission's work in supporting families and children is imperative, especially in our years ahead. I am thrilled to be of service in continuing the work and promotion of science-based solutions to support the development of healthy children and families." New Commissioner Elsa Mendoza Jimenez oversees the Monterey County Health Department, consisting of nearly 1,000 employees who are committed to improving the communities' collective health through prevention, empowerment, and the application of HiAP, (Health in All Policies). HiAP incorporates health considerations as an investment in prevention when making policy decisions. As a current First 5 Monterey County Commissioner, her appointment to the State Commission will allow her to bring years of leadership, management, and fiscal experience in local governance and apply them to statewide issues affecting children and families, including a concerted effort to address issues of race, equity, diversity, and inclusion. "I am honored by this appointment. I am a strong advocate for investing in early childhood initiatives focused on policies and systems change strategies to remove obstacles and provide resources so that all Californian children have an opportunity to achieve their fullest potential," said Ms. Mendoza Jimenez. "Elsa has been instrumental in advocating for "whole family, whole child" and the Health in All Policies (HiAP) systems approach. During this time of multiple traumatic experiences in our nation and the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot think of anyone better qualified to serve Californians at this time," said Francine M. Rodd, Executive Director of First 5 Monterey County. "To have Governor Newsom appoint two professionals who specialize in the needs of young children and their families is an honor," said Ms. Maben. "Ms. Mendoza Jimenez and Dr. Burke Harris are all-stars in their fields, and their appointments are a true benefit to Californians," added Ms. Maben. For more information about First 5 California, visit www.ccfc.ca.gov. ABOUT FIRST 5 CALIFORNIA: First 5 California was established in 1998 when voters passed Proposition 10, which taxes tobacco products to fund services for children ages 0 to 5 and their families. First 5 California programs and resources are designed to educate and support teachers, parents, and caregivers in the critical role they play during a child's first five years - to help California kids receive the best possible start in life and thrive. For more information, please visit www.ccfc.ca.gov. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005581/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The number of road accidents on the Pune-Mumbai expressway has come down in 2020 as compared to 2019, according to the data shared by the Maharashtra Highway State Police (HSP), Pune division. As per the data for Pune division in 2020 (January to December), a total of 42 accidents were reported and 26 people lost their lives, while in 2019 (January to December) a total of 87 accidents were reported and 37 people lost their lives. According to highway police officials, they have undertaken several road safety awareness drives and undertaking infrastructure work because of which the accidents have reduced. The officials also pointed out that due to Covid-related lockdown restrictions the expressway was open only for essential services vehicles. Our team is constantly working to curb the accidents and monitor the vehicular movement on the expressway. Continuous action is been taken against people speeding vehicles and flouting norms said, Sanjay Jadhav, superintendent of police, HSP, Pune. During the lockdown period, meanwhile, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) carried out several infrastructure works, he said. Also, the response time of our team has improved during this period, so the accident victims got aid on time, he said. It was expected that there would be less number of fatal accidents on the e-way in last year. But certainly, the behavioural change was noticed amongst the drivers, when they found the e-way not crowded drivers go in high speed leading to accidents, said Tanmay Pendse, road safety activist. As there was a lockdown for almost four months and only emergency vehicles were allowed to travel, still the accidents didnt reduce to that extent, he said. Kiran Pisal, a regular traveller on the expressway, said, Since the unlock process has started, I regularly travel to Mumbai via the expressway. Till now I have gone to Mumbai more than 15 times in the last six months and I found it safer than earlier. The presence of police on the highway has increased and even the Amrutanjan bridge has been demolished. I even noticed some infrastructure development on the highway, he said. Andrew Luker and Julia Knightley invited the woman into their room for sex The Jamaican woman was seen scaling the hotel wall to meet with the couple The threesome were rounded up as they were enjoying a post-coital drink The pair were awaiting Covid test results at Treasure Beach Hotel in St James Knightley previously made headlines for using racy images for her beauty brand Love Island star Zara Holland was also fined in Barbados for Covid rule-breaking A British couple who decided to spice up their Barbados holiday by inviting a Jamaican woman to their hotel for sex have fallen foul of islands tough Coronavirus quarantine rules. Andrew Luker and Julia Knightley follow a number of Britons, including Love Island star Zara Holland, to have fallen foul of the Caribbean island's strict pandemic laws. ADVERTISEMENT A security guard spotted local Mikaela Jacas hop over the wall of the Treasure Beach Hotel after midnight and enter the room where the couple were staying and raised the alarm. Police were called and the threesome were rounded up as they were enjoying a post-coital drink on the patio of their luxury accommodation. Andrew Luker (left) and Julia Knightley (right) have been fined for breaking Covid rules by inviting a Jamaican woman to their hotel for sex Knightley, a mother-of-four, has previously made headlines for using provocative images of herself to promote her cosmetic clinic in 2016 What are the Covid rules in Barbados? Travellers must arrive with a negative coronavirus test taken under three days before. On arrival, they must quarantine for five days in a govrenment-approved hotel, and then take another test The government says some guests may be fitted with electronic monitoring tags. Mr Luker, a plant hire director, from Rochdale, and Ms Knightley, a beautician from Cheadle Hume, pleaded guilty to breaching the Covid-19 quarantine protocol when they appeared in court yesterday. They were each fined 2,200, freed on 7,000 bail, but warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days. Ms Knightley, 41, a single mother-of-four and qualified nurse, made national news headline several years ago when she used provocative images of herself in revealing underwear to promote her cosmetic clinic. She apologized after being accused of being unprofessional over the raunchy way in which she advertised her non-surgical cosmetic clinic in her town. A picture of a scantily-clad girl in black lingerie sitting on a throne and surrounded by whips and paddles is still on the cover of the Facebook page for the beauty salon she runs in her home town. ADVERTISEMENT The website states: Slip into a world of opulent grandeur and exclusive elegance, and indulge your desire for passion and pleasure. Ms Knightley is from Rochdale and has four children Ms Knightley is from Rochdale and has four children The couple from Greater Manchester were caught when Jamaican woman Mikaela Jacas was seen scaling a wall at Treasure Beach hotel in St James Click here to resize this module They were each fined 2,200 and freed on 7,000 bail They were warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days Police were called when a security guard found Jacas sat with the couple on the patio of their beach-front room Ms Knightley apologized after being accused of being unprofessional over the raunchy way in which she advertised her non-surgical cosmetic clinic in her town Ms Knightley apologized after being accused of being unprofessional over the raunchy way in which she advertised her non-surgical cosmetic clinic in her town With the right password, and the right knock at the door, you can find out more about our sensational anti-wrinkle treatments at Julia Knightley in Cheshire. Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who spared Love Island star Zara Holland jail for a similar breach of Covid regulations. Ms Knightley said ignorance of the law was no excuse for their actions. She admitting to knowing they could not leave the hotel while awaiting test results - but claimed she didnt know they couldnt invite guests to their room. Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologies. Magistrate Ian Weekes said he was baffled' by the couples actions. And he said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community. ADVERTISEMENT The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9. On Wednesday Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who dealt with Love Island's Zara for a similar breach of Covid regulations Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: 'Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologise' A magistrate said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community Love Island star Zara Holland was arrested in Barbados after trying to return leave with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9 Magistrate Ian Weekes said he was 'baffled' by the couple's actions Pennsylvania education officials on Thursday encouraged school districts to bring elementary school students back to classrooms with hybrid learning models as soon as this month, a recommendation that drew immediate backlash from the states largest teachers union. It remains up to school districts to decide when to bring students into classrooms, but the states top health and education officials said the benefits of in-person education for certain students outweighed the risks of spreading the coronavirus despite ongoing substantial community spread in every county in the commonwealth. As the nationwide debate about whether to return students to classrooms rages on, schools around the region have taken different approaches to the states guidance throughout the pandemic, from bringing some students back five days a week to offering only virtual learning since school buildings closed in March. This doesnt accelerate our timeline to get children back, Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. said Thursday of the states guidance. Philadelphia schools are fully virtual. Hite has said hes eager to get certain groups of students elementary school children, young people with special needs, students in career and technical programs into classrooms as soon as possible. But theres not yet a firm date for when that might happen. The announcement of the new guidance, which is not a mandate and goes into effect Jan. 25, came on the same day Pennsylvania officials confirmed the new, more transmissible variant of the coronavirus had been found in the state. A Dauphin County resident was infected with the variant and recovered, Health Secretary Rachel Levine said . The new variant first raised alarm last month when it was detected spreading in the United Kingdom, contributing to record-high case counts, overwhelming hospitals, and leading to new lockdown measures. While experts say the new variant spreads more easily, there is no evidence it makes people sicker or will make the vaccines ineffective. Public health experts are in the early stages of working to better understand this new variant, how it spreads and how it affects people who are infected with it, Levine said. Pennsylvania recorded 265 deaths Thursday, pushing its two-day total to more than 630. The state also reported 9,698 newly confirmed cases. Nationwide, the seven-day average number of new cases reported each day once again climbed above where it was before Christmas, according to New York Times data. The country logged a new single-day record of nearly 3,900 coronavirus deaths Wednesday. Anthony S. Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, predicted that the surge will worsen in January and that the national death toll, now above 364,000, will continue rapidly rising. READ MORE: U.S. registering highest deaths yet from the coronavirus Schools weigh risk Pennsylvanias new schools recommendation will replace its previous guidance, which urged elementary schools in counties with substantial community spread to keep buildings closed and teach their students remotely. That remains the sole recommendation for middle schools and high schools across the commonwealth. Education Secretary Noe Ortega and Levine said the benefits of in-person education to the development of students in elementary school, with disabilities and in English-learning programs would be greater than the risk of spreading the virus if schools employ hybrid learning models and follow the states required mitigation measures. We know that it is impossible to eliminate the risk of disease transmission entirely in a school setting when community spread is present, Levine said, adding that research has shown that elementary school students dont spread the virus easily when public health measures are taken and, if they become infected, generally experience less severe cases. The states largest teachers union disagreed, accusing Gov. Tom Wolfs administration of rushing students back into classrooms and saying that a push now to return children to school could set back reopening efforts, particularly if the state does not implement a more stringent system for tracking schools compliance with safety measures. We have serious concerns about any plan to allow more students to attend school in-person without ensuring that all schools are following the states COVID-19 health and safety guidance, Rich Askey, president of the Pennsylvania State Education Association, said in a statement. This is no time to encourage schools to bring more students and staff in contact with one another in areas with high rates of community spread. Some districts in the region already have kids in the classroom at least part-time; others were already moving toward hybrid learning. Cheltenham, for instance, plans to start returning students to classrooms Feb. 1. In other cases, school officials said the new state guidance wouldnt override local considerations. The Norristown Area School District, which has been virtual since last March, has already decided it wont return to in-person instruction until case levels within the district fall below 75 per 100,000, and a 7.5% test positivity rate thresholds that fall below what the state considers substantial transmission. While hes seen research indicating younger students may be less likely to spread the virus and are probably those that would benefit the most from in-person instruction Norristown Superintendent Christopher Dormer said he felt returning to classrooms was still too risky, in part due to the districts population density and demographics. We know this virus is disproportionately affecting communities of color 85% of our school district is Black and brown families. Were putting them at greater risk through in-person instruction, Dormer said. A head-on fight Pennsylvania was doing really well this week in speeding up coronavirus vaccinations, Levine said Thursday, with close to 213,000 first doses administered statewide and more than 35,000 in Philadelphia to date. Though the state still has not received a report on how many people in nursing homes have been vaccinated, which are being administered by CVS and Walgreens, Levine said Thursday that CVS had completed the majority of its clinics in Pennsylvania. She also said the Health Department was pleased with a coming federal program that will offer vaccines in retail pharmacies and said that would begin in Pennsylvania as soon as possible. In Montgomery County, the next phase of vaccinations for essential workers and people 75 and older could begin by the end of the month, County Commissioner Val Arkoosh said Thursday. Like everywhere else, though, the timeline will depend on how quickly vaccine doses are delivered. As counties and states grapple with how to identify and notify people who can be vaccinated in the next phase of the rollout, Montgomery County is working with institutions and groups that work with essential employees, such as the public school system, to make sure eligible recipients are notified. Arkoosh, who also is a physician, said that reaching out to those who are 75 and older will be a little more complicated, and that once the Office of Public Health has a better idea of the timeline for when that group can be vaccinated, it will conduct outreach much more directly. READ MORE: When can I get the COVID-19 vaccine? Here's what's known so far New Jersey on Thursday reported 6,314 newly confirmed cases, 128 deaths, and 3,711 people hospitalized with the virus. In both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, where the vaccines are primarily being given out by hospitals and nursing homes to employees and residents, counties are hoping to open vaccination clinics, but many are waiting to receive doses for distribution. Camden County has a facility ready to vaccinate up to 500 people a day, but has not yet received any doses, said county official Louis Cappelli Jr. Philadelphia will open its first vaccination clinic Friday for health-care workers unaffiliated with hospitals. Montgomery County plans to vaccinate about 800 people per day at its clinic, which got up and running this week. We take the fight head-on to the virus as we begin mass vaccination, Arkoosh said, later adding: Remember, we remain in a very serious and evolving situation. Together, we have the power to keep this virus in check while we await the arrival of enough vaccine. Staff writers Kristen A. Graham, Bethany Ao, Frank Kummer, Laura McCrystal, and Rob Tornoe contributed to this article. CHICAGO (TNS) As a nurse manager for one of Chicagos busiest safety-net hospitals, Raquel Prendkowski has witnessed COVID-19s devastating toll on many of the citys most vulnerable residents including people who lack health insurance because of their immigration status. Some come in so sick they go right to intensive care. Some dont survive. Were in a bad dream all the time, she said during a recent day treating coronavirus patients at Mount Sinai Hospital, which was founded in the early 20th century to care for the citys poorest immigrants. I cant wait to wake up from this. Prendkowski believes some of the death and suffering could have been avoided if more of these people had regular treatment for the types of chronic conditions asthma, diabetes, heart disease that can worsen covid. She now sees a new reason for hope. Amid a deadly virus outbreak that has disproportionately stricken Latino communities, Illinois recently became the first state to provide public health insurance to all low-income noncitizen seniors, even if theyre in the country illegally. Advocates for immigrants expect it will inspire other states to do the same, building on efforts to cover undocumented children and young adults. Currently, Democratic legislators in California are pushing to expand coverage to all low-income undocumented immigrants there. The fact that were going to do this during the pandemic really shows our commitment to expansion and broadening health care access. Its an amazing first step in the door, said Graciela Guzman, campaign director for Healthy Illinois, a group that advocates for universal coverage. Undocumented immigrants without health insurance often skip care. That was the case for Victoria Hernandez, 68, a house cleaner who lives in West Chicago, a suburb. The Mexico City native said she had avoided going to the doctor because she didnt have coverage. Eventually, she found a charity program to help her get treatment, including for her prediabetes. She said she intends to enroll in the new state plan. Im very thankful for the new program, she said through a translator who works for the DuPage Health Coalition, a nonprofit that coordinates charity care for the uninsured in DuPage County, the states second-most populous. I know it will help a lot of people like me. Healthy Illinois pushed state lawmakers to offer health benefits to all low-income immigrants. But the legislature opted instead for a smaller program that covers people 65 and older who are undocumented or have been legal permanent residents, also known as green card holders, for less than five years. (These groups dont typically qualify for government health insurance.) Participants must have an income at or below the federal poverty level, which is $12,670 for an individual or $17,240 for a couple. It covers services like hospital and doctor visits, prescription drugs, and dental and vision care (though not stays in nursing facilities), at no cost to the patient. The new policy continues a trend of expanding government health coverage to undocumented immigrants. Illinois was the first state to cover childrens care a handful of states and the District of Columbia have since followed suit and organ transplants for unauthorized immigrants. In 2019, California became the first to offer public coverage to adults in the country illegally when it opened eligibility for its Medi-Cal program to all low-income residents under age 26. Under federal law, undocumented people are generally not eligible for Medicare, nonemergency Medicaid and the Affordable Care Acts health insurance marketplace. The states that do cover this population get around that by using only state funds. An estimated 3,986 undocumented seniors live in Illinois, according to a study by Rush University Medical Center and the Chicago demographer group Rob Paral & Associates but that number is expected to grow to 55,144 by 2030. The report also found that 16% of Illinois immigrants 55 or older live in poverty, compared with 11% of the native-born population. Given the outgoing Trump administrations crackdown on immigration, some advocates worry that people will be afraid to enroll in the insurance because it could affect their ability to obtain residency or citizenship. Andrea Kovach, senior attorney for health care justice at the Shriver Center on Poverty Law in Chicago, said she and others are working to assure immigrants they dont need to worry. Because the new program is state-funded, federal guidance suggests it is not subject to the public charge rule designed to keep out immigrants who might end up on public assistance. Illinois has a legacy of being a very welcoming state and protecting immigrants privacy, Kovach said. The Illinois policy is initially expected to cover 4,200 to 4,600 immigrant seniors, at an approximate cost of $46 million to $50 million a year, according to John Hoffman, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. Most of them would likely be undocumented. Some Republicans criticized the coverage expansion, saying it was reckless at a time when Illinois finances are being shredded by the pandemic. The Illinois Republican Party deemed it free healthcare for illegal immigrants. But proponents contend that many unauthorized immigrants pay taxes without being eligible for programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and that spending on preventive care saves money in the long run by cutting down on more expensive treatment for emergencies. State Rep. Delia Ramirez, a Chicago Democrat who helped shepherd the legislation, advocated for a more expansive plan. She was inspired by her uncle, a 64-year-old immigrant who has asthma, diabetes and high blood pressure but no insurance. He has been working in the country for four decades. She wanted the policy to apply to people 55 and older, since the vast majority of those who are undocumented are not seniors (she noted that a lot of older immigrants 2.7 million, according to government estimates obtained legal status under the 1986 federal amnesty law). The real impact of this plan will likely be felt in years to come. At Esperanza Health Centers, one of Chicagos largest providers of health care to immigrants, 31% of patients 65 and older lack coverage, compared with 47% of those 60 to 64, according to Jeffrey McInnes, who oversees patient access there. Ramirez said her uncle called her after seeing news of the legislation on Spanish-language TV. And I said to him, Tio, not yet. But when you turn 65, youll finally have health care, if we still cant help you legalize, Ramirez recalled, choking up during a recent phone interview. So it is a reminder to me that, one, it was a major victory for us and it has meant life or a second chance at life for many people, she said. But it is also a reminder to me that we still have a long way to go in making health care truly a human right in the state and, furthermore, the nation. The Continental Mobility Study 2020 shows that enthusiasm for electric cars is strong in China, while reservations still need to be overcome in Germany, France, the US and Japan. The study also shows that acceptance of electric mobility has increased in all five countries surveyed in recent years. The Continental Mobility Study 2020, surveyed representative groups of people in France, the US, Japan, China and Germany about their mobility habits in cooperation with social research institute infas. The main complaints about EVs cited by respondents are a lack of charging stations and the low range compared to gas or diesel vehicles. Main arguments against all-electric cars by international comparison. Source: Continental The majority of people in Germany (59%) cannot imagine buying an electric vehicle in the future. In France (57%) and the US (50%), at least half of the population cannot yet imagine themselves in an electric car, and the percentage in Japan is only slightly lower (46%). Compared with those surveyed in Chinaa large number of whom can imagine buying an all-electric car in the near futurerespondents from the US are not quite as enthusiastic about it, but still have a much more positive attitude than those in Germany, France and Japan. According to the study, many doubts about electric cars continue to persist, with a lack of charging stations being the most cited argument against electric driving in four of the five countries studied. Only in France is the price the most discouraging factor. The four main arguments of electrosceptics are evenly distributed from an international perspective: the low availability of charging stations, range anxiety, the need for charging breaks on longer journeys, and the high price when compared with cars with combustion engines. A positive trend can still be seen overall, however: since 2013, the proportion of car owners declaring an intention to buy an all-electric car has risen significantly in the US (+28 percentage points), China (+27 percentage points) and Germany (+18 percentage points). In France (+3 percentage points) and Japan (+1 percentage point), a small increase can be observed. According to the Continental Mobility Study 2020, the topic of charging stations is primarily an issue in metropolitan areas: in larger cities, the proportion of car owners who could potentially charge an electric car in their normal parking spot is significantly lower than in rural areas. This is particularly the case for European and Japanese cities. A lack of charging stations is cited more frequently as an argument against buying an electric car in the near future in larger cities. In all the countries studied, policymakers attempt to steer buyers toward alternative drive systems by means of monetary and other incentives. All five countries offer purchase premiums for electric vehicles, for example. In Germany, these have been increased as part of the stimulus package to alleviate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the economy; in China, the premiums that were set to expire have also been extended. In Japan, policymakers are additionally targeting manufacturers and paying innovation premiums for increases in range. Charging infrastructure is also being expanded in all the countries studied. Range anxiety is another key argument against buying an electric car in all countriesbut most people can now already easily meet their daily mobility needs with an electric vehicle, since the distances that need to be covered are usually short and charging stations are becoming increasingly available at home or at work and in public spaces. There are, however, other obstacles that cannot be overcome by technological developments alone. In Germany, a third of respondents say that they would not consider an electric car since they doubt that the technology is environmentally friendly. In France, a quarter say the same thing. The situation is entirely different in the other three countries included in the study, where the percentage of those who doubt the ecological credentials of electric cars is much lower, ranging from 11% in the US to just 1% in Japan. Since 2011, Continental has carried out the Continental Mobility Study on various key topics at regular intervals. The Continental Mobility Study 2020 is the sixth edition of the study, which asks people in Germany, France, the US, China and Japan about various aspects of mobility. In the first stage in September 2020, a representative sample of the population was surveyed in five countries on three continents. In addition to the expectations and attitudes regarding electric vehicles, the survey also dealt with changes in mobility against the backdrop of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Measures to stop the spread of the virus temporarily reduced mobility to a great extent in all of the surveyed countries as part of strict lockdowns imposed on their populations. At the same time, the behavior of many people changed, even after the measures were relaxed and mobility could largely return to normal. The findings of the survey reveal specific changes in behavior, attitudes and expectations. The Mobility Study 2020 is a joint effort between Continental and the market and social research institute infas, which has been supporting the Mobility Study since 2011. U.S. Capitol Facebook President Trump Jan. 20 Joe Biden Donald Trump Joe Biden Mark Zuckerberg Facebook San Bruno's Sarah T. Roberts UCLA Facebook Silicon Valley Facebook Facebook Michelle Obama Silicon Valley Alex Stamos Facebook Stanford's Internet Observatory Jennifer Grygiel Syracuse University Capitol (TNS) In the wake of Wednesday's siege of theby a violent and seditious mob seeking to prevent the certification of the presidential election,is blockingfrom posting until at least, when President-electis sworn in.Twitch and YouTube have also taken action against the president's false election claims and incitement of mob action. Twitter, the president's favored social media outlet, temporarily suspended his posting privileges Wednesday, but allowed him to resume posting Thursday.It's a radical change for the tech companies, which have largely maintained a kid-gloves approach to the president's increasingly wild social media postings. Critics say the companies should have acted much earlier."The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that Presidentintends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor,," Facebook CEOwrote in a post Thursday.Facebook's move followed years of criticism that the social network wasn't doing enough to prevent the spread of misinformation from the president and his supporters. The company deleted some of Trump's posts on Wednesday.-owned Instagram also suspended Trump's account.Twitter suspended Trump for 12 hours after Wednesday's riot, only lifting the penalty after he agreed to delete several tweets that violated its policies. Trump posted a conciliatory video Thursday afternoon, saying that "America is and must always be a nation of law and order."A Twitter spokesperson said Thursday afternoon the company is continuing to monitor the situation, including statements made off Twitter. "We will keep the public informed, including if further escalation in our enforcement approach is necessary," the emailed statement said.Live-streaming site Twitch, owned by Amazon, also disabled Trump's account in light of Wednesday's violence, according to a company statement, andYouTube, which is part of Google, moved to limit the spread of disinformation, including removing some recent Trump videos and threatening a permanent ban on accounts that repeatedly perpetrate false claims.Social media scholars said the decision to boot Trump from Facebook and other social media was necessary, but too little, too late."They've given him a bully pulpit to speak directly to people of the last four years," said, a professor atwho studies online content moderation. Access to that medium was only temporarily taken away by the social networks after he used their services to foment insurrection, she said."It's a lot of closing of barn doors and hand wringing after the horses have already left," she said.Companies likehave faced attacks from conservatives who say their sites unfairly treat right-wing content differently than that disseminated by liberals. Lawmakers including Trump have long pointed to a perceived liberal bias inBut liberal lawmakers have castigated the companies for allowing disinformation and falsehoods about elections to spread.Zuckerberg has walked a fine line in attempting to appease both sides of the political aisle. Roberts said it was notable that the company took the decision to ban Trump at least temporarily only once a presidential transition became certain.TheCEO wrote that the company had taken a light touch with the president "because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech."Now, he said, "the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government. We believe the risks of allowing the president to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great."It remains to be seen whether Democratic control of the federal government will increase pressure on companies liketo moderate content.Former first ladycalled for a permanent ban on Trump and more stringent policies."Now is the time forcompanies to stop enabling this monstrous behavior and go even further than they have already by permanently banning this man from their (services) and putting in place policies to prevent their technology from being used by the nation's leaders to fuel insurrection," she said in a statement Thursday.The moves by Big Tech do not address a larger question about how online conversation should be moderated,, the former head of security at, wrote on Twitter."There is no easy answer to 'how should billionaire CEOs protect us from reality-star politicians?'" Stamos, who now works atprogram, wrote.Many employees of social media companies expressed support for the bans.A survey of more than 400 Facebook and Twitter employees overwhelmingly found their employees believed the companies had done the right thing in locking Trump out, at least for a time.The survey by Blind, an app that lets employees talk about their companies anonymously, found that 80% of Facebook employees surveyed said the social media companies acted correctly, while 75% of Twitter workers who participated said the same. Its results were published Thursday."Just as users are becoming more sophisticated and vocal about the expectations and demands of these firms, I think workers are too," Roberts said.Generous pay and benefits "do not allay the concerns about the (political) cracks being exacerbated or wholly caused by material circulating on these channels," she said.She pointed to a small but growing group of workers at Google parent Alphabet unionizing as evidence of ongoing discontent within the tech workforce and a potential model for other companies to follow.At a higher level, Trump's use of Twitter to get around the traditional news media raises questions about what the government should be able to disseminate directly to people on social media."Who says the president needs to be able to tweet?" said, a professor atand a social media expert.Grygiel has argued for checks on the government's ability to distribute what she calls propaganda on social media in order to preserve the role of the free press to enforce accuracy and transparency."We cannot simply rely on Zuckerberg to do the right thing" in deciding when and for how long to check the government's access to social media, Grygiel said, pointing to Wednesday's chaos at the"We need to make sure that can never happen again." The famous Grill nightclub in Letterkenny looks set to be demolished. A much-loved night out for generations of young people from Derry, the building which housed the popular nightspot has been unused for some time. An application has now been lodged to knock it down and redevelop the site. If approved, it will mark the end of an era for the hospitality sector in the north west. At its height, the Grill would have attracted young people from throughout Derry and Donegal. Buses would have left from Foyle Street in Derry each weekend for the popular disco. The Grill first opened in the early 1960s and, as well as a nightclub, also hosted some of Ireland's best known bands and performers. However, the business has been closed for several years. Copenhagen, Denmark (PANA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a tipping point in the fight against COVID-19, amid surging cases in Europe and the fresh challenge of a mutating virus Virtual 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi on January 9 Photo courtesy: Twitter/@hcikl The 16th edition of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 9. A flagship event of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, PBD 2021 will be held virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention is the flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs and provides an important platform to engage and connect with the overseas Indians, said a press release by the MEA. In view of the sentiments of our vibrant diaspora community, the 16th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention, is being organized on 9th January 2021, despite the ongoing Covid pandemic. The Convention will be held in virtual format, as were the PBD Conferences held recently in the run up to the Convention, the release added. The theme of the PBD Convention 2021 is "Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat". The Convention will have three segments beginning with the inauguration by PM Modi with a keynote address by the Chief Guest, H.E. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, President of the Republic of Suriname. The inaugural session will also see the announcement of the winners of the online Bharat ko Janiye Quiz for the youth. Bharat ko Janiye Quiz was launched in 2015-16 in order to strengthen the engagement with young overseas Indians and encourage them to know more about their country of origin. The first edition of the online "Bharat ko Janiye" Quiz was organized for young overseas Indians and foreigners of 18-35 years of age in 2015-16. This was followed by the second edition of Bharat ko Janiye Quiz in 2018-19. This year, the third edition of Bharat ko Janiye Quiz 2020-21 has been held virtually from September 30 to December 28 2020. Fifteen winners of the Bharat ko Janiye Quiz will be announced during the PBD convention and will be invited for an India Tour (Bharat ko Janiye Darshan) at a later date. This will be followed by two Plenary sessions. The first Plenary on Role of Diaspora in Aatmanirbhar Bharat, will feature addresses by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. The second Plenary on Facing Post Covid Challenges - Scenario in Health, Economy, Social and International Relations, will be addressed by the Minister of Health Dr Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan. Both Plenaries will feature panel discussions inviting eminent diaspora experts. Also read: MEA launches Global Pravasi Rishta Portal to connect with Indian diaspora ahead of PBD 2021 The finale would be the Valedictory Session where the President of India Ram Nath Kovind will deliver his Valedictory address to mark the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas. The names of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees for 2020-21 will also be announced. These awards are conferred to select Indian diaspora members to recognize their achievements and honour their contributions to various fields, both in India and abroad. Geojit's report on Agri Picks The National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India has offered discount of 5-10% on chana produced in the 2019-20 (Jul-Jun) rabi season, and subsequently procured by the agency at the minimum support price for that year, according to its website. The minimum support price for chana was 4,875 rupees per 100 kg. Sri Lanka's tea exports fell 7.8% on year to 20.2 mln kg in November, according to data released by the Tea Exporters Association Sri Lanka. Coffee output in India in the 2020-21 (Oct-Sep) season is estimated nearly 15% higher at 342,000 tn, according to data by Coffee Board of India. The Cotton Association of India has marginally scaled up its estimate for production to 35.9 mln bales (1 bale = 170 kg) for the ongoing 2020-21 (Oct-Sep) season, from 35.6 mln bales projected in the previous month, the association said in a release. India's tea exports during Jan-Oct declined 18.2% on year to 170.80 mln kg, according to data released by the Tea Board of India. Tea production in India fell 15.2% on month to nearly 149.0 mln kg in November, data from Tea Board of India showed. During Apr-Nov, production reached 1,107.33 mln kg. Crushing of mustard seed in the country fell 18.2% on year to 450,000 tn in December, data from the Mustard Oil Producers Association of India showed. In November, mills crushed 500,000 tn of the oilseed. For all commodities report, click here Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. Read More FEE-PAYING schools are hoping to bounce back from last years hiccup when some of them didnt get their usual crop of top grades across the board. The vast majority of their Leaving Cert students still went to college. But the performance of these schools was equalled by more non-fee paying schools than usual. Such were the vagaries caused by Education Minister Norma Foleys decision to disregard past performance of individual schools when using calculated grades. A nightmare for fee-paying schools would be a repeat of last years use of calculated grades without taking into account past performance. But thats in the laps of Covid-19 and of the courts where challenges over last years arrangements are still being fought. Taoiseach Micheal Martin says the Government hopes the Leaving exam will go ahead as normal in June. If it does, the traditional pattern of grades will presumably resurface and the fee-paying schools will continue to do well. Most of them are cautiously optimistic about the future anyway. Their applications are healthy, with many twice or three times over-subscribed. They are safe in the knowledge there is no immediate threat to the annual 100m subsidy they get from the taxpayer for teachers salaries, etc. Last year this included 2m from pandemic-related funds for schools. So far, so normal. They could, however, face a new nightmare after the next election if we end up with a government dominated by the left wing. All of the left-leaning parties are looking to reduce if not abolish that subsidy. This is in spite of the fact that some opposition leaders had themselves attended fee-paying schools, including Mary Lou McDonald (Notre Dame Des Missions); Eoin O Broin (Blackrock College); Paul Murphy (St Killians Deutsche Schule) and Richard Boyd Barrett (St Michaels College). Read More Its easier to make promises in opposition than it is to implement them in government. Sinn Fein is seeking to broaden its electoral base to appeal more to the middle and aspiring middle classes, the very people that send their children to fee-paying schools in Dublin where most are located. The party has softened some of its more extreme tax proposals in recent years to win over that vote. It risks alienating the parents of the 25,000-plus pupils in fee-paying schools because of a point of political principle that wouldnt save any money in the long run. The reality is that ending taxpayers support would drive most fee-paying schools into the Free Education scheme where the teachers salaries have to be paid anyway and where schools would become entitled to building and other grants. And what about those smaller Protestant schools whose continued existence would be under threat? Sinn Fein says it has a plan to safeguard minority-ethos schools but trying to implement it would almost certainly spark a legal challenge by Catholic schools who would claim discrimination. Apart from the parents of current pupils in the fee-paying sector, there are thousands of others who aspire to send their children to these schools but cant get them in. They are prepared to pay for the advantages, such as the extra teachers and smaller classes for which the fees pay. Beyond the academic, some want their children to attend these schools for mainly social reasons. However, parents of children in fee-paying schools dont all fit the well-heeled social stereotype. Many middle-income earners make huge sacrifices such as forgoing foreign holidays and bigger cars so they can give their children what they regard as a good start in life. The extent of the unmet demand is shown on the websites of individual schools, which are now required to publish annual notices disclosing the number of places available for applicants. Information about applications is easier to find on some websites than others. One of the most transparent is that of Belvedere College in Dublin, which had 550 applications for its 168 first year places last year. These included 50 for its Social Diversity Programme that supports 10pc of the schools intake by providing bursaries for students from financially and socially deprived backgrounds. Blackrock, Gonzaga, and Castleknock Colleges in Dublin all had twice as many applicants as places last year while Loreto College on St Stephens Green had 502 applicants for 100 places. Loreto Dalkey had 173 applicants for 132 places last year and its easy-to-follow website gives a breakdown of how many sisters of existing pupils or past pupils enrolled last year. Fee-paying schools werent the only over-subscribed ones, of course, as many in the Free Education scheme were as well. St Josephs Secondary School in Galway city, for example, had 283 applicants for 130 places. Mount Temple in Dublin was almost three times over-subscribed, receiving 462 applications for 161 places. The new admissions rules are much clearer and mean that schools can no longer compile waiting lists of applicants for places years from now. Instead, applications are made in the year of entry. The days when some parents put down the names of their children in fee-paying schools as soon as they were born are gone. Not before time. New Delhi: Ahead of the eighth round of talks between the Centre and the protetsing farmer unions in Delhi, Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait spoke to Zee News and reiterated that the three contentious farm laws must be repealed. Tikait said that the farmers have stood by their demands for the roll back of the three farm laws, MSP rules and implementation of Swami Nathan's report and nothing short of this will work. The government is saying that they will amend the law. In today's meeting we will discuss about this. "The farmers conveyed to the government that they do not want these laws, end the law. When a businessmen buy crops for less amount then under which law will a case be filed against them," Tikait said. Discussing about the future of the agitation, Tikait said, "We are planning and preparing a road map till May 2024. We will continue with our farming will keep the movement alive side-by-side." He assured that the protesters are taking full precautions against the coronavirus. "We are following the protocols and are maintianing clealiness. The government should also follow the rules. The COVID rules were broken during the Bihar elections while in Jharkhand, road marches were carried out. Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar claimed that the government is ready to consider any proposal other than the repeal of three farm laws - which is the key demand of the farmers. The minister along with Union Railways Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, is leading the negotiations with the 40 farmer union leaders. The fresh round of talks will be held at 2PM on Friday at Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan and is critical as the previous meeting on January 4 remained inconclusive with both sides sticking to their positions. Live TV English Estonian In 2020 Q4, 5.8 million tonnes of cargo and 0.6 million passengers passed through the harbours of Tallinna Sadam. Compared to the same period of previous year, the cargo volume increased by 2.5% and the number of passengers decreased by 73%. The number of vessel calls declined by 7% to 1768 calls. The number of passengers travelling between the Estonian mainland and the main islands decreased by 10%, but the number of vehicles increased by 3% and the number of charter days of the icebreaker Botnica decreased by 25% compared to the same period of previous year. In 2020, the total cargo volume of Tallinna Sadam was 21.3 million tons, increasing by 7% compared to the previous year, driven by strong growth in the volume of liquid cargo. The number of passengers decreased by 59% to 4.3 million as a result of the pandemic, while the number of vessel calls decreased by only 9.8% due to the continuation of cargo transportation on the international passenger lines. The number of passengers between the Estonian mainland and the main islands decreased by 18% and the number of vehicles by 8% due to the restrictions related to the pandemic. The number of charter days of the icebreaker Botnica decreased by 5% due to the shorter charter period of the Canadian project in Q4, caused by the decline in the iron ore export volumes related to the impact of the pandemic on the customer's mining operations. According to Valdo Kalm, Chairman of the Management Board of Tallinna Sadam, the company's balanced business model including four business areas has proven itself particularly well in today's corona era. "Due to the pandemic, our passenger business is suffering significantly, but at the same time the cargo volume has grown strongly reaching a record level of the last five years, shipping business in the form of ferries and icebreaker Botnica has continued on a stable course," said Kalm. Cargo volume increased in Q4 and also annually, primarily supported by liquid cargo, due to successful cooperation between the port and operators and their customers. At the same time, liquid cargo products continue to be a project-based rather niche product business, the continuous growth of which cannot be expected. The volume of ro-ro cargo also increased due to the preserved number and frequency of liner vessel calls and a slight increase in the demand of road transport. The decline in passenger numbers was due to a reduction in people's confidence and travel due to the constantly changing movement restrictions and instability imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic during the year. "In 2020, we have lost more than half of our passengers, but thanks to state support for passenger operators to maintain the movement of cargo with the same ro-pax vessels, international passenger shipping lines continue operations and ship operators are ready to serve passengers in the same volume again as the situation normalizes. From the new year, we also expect the return of cruise tourists and at least a partial recovery of tourism," said Kalm. The operational volumes of Tallinna Sadam group for 2020 Q4 and full year are presented in the following table: Q4 2020 Q4 2019 Change 2020 2019 Change Cargo volume by type of cargo (th tonnes) 5 790 5 647 2,5% 21 327 19 931 7,0% Liquid bulk 2 484 2 459 1,0% 9 111 7 619 19,6% Ro-ro 1 465 1 327 10,4% 5 563 5 365 3,7% Dry bulk 1 286 1 312 -2,0% 4 417 4 514 -2,1% Containers 458 441 4,1% 1 808 1 835 -1,5% in TEUs 56 031 52 971 5,8% 213 928 222 607 -3,9% General cargo 92 109 -15,8% 410 595 -31,1% Non-marine 5 0 - 17 4 376,1% Number of passengers by routes (th) 630 2 342 -73,1% 4 333 10 639 -59,3% Tallinn-Helsinki 586 2 051 -71,4% 3 987 8 798 -54,7% Tallinn-Stockholm 2 218 -99,2% 140 933 -85,0% Muuga-Vuosaari 30 36 -16,5% 118 114 3,8% Tallinn-St.Petersburg 0 11 -100,0% 0 70 -100,0% Cruise (traditional) 0 19 -100,0% 0 660 -100,0% Other 12 7 67,4% 87 64 36,5% Number of vessel calls by vessel type 1 768 1 893 -6,6% 7 088 7 854 -9,8% Cargo vessels 394 386 2,1% 1 637 1 743 -6,1% Passenger vessels (incl. Ro-Pax) 1 374 1 498 -8,3% 5 451 5 766 -5,5% Cruise vessels (traditional) 0 9 -100,0% 0 345 -100,0% Ferries* (Saaremaa and Hiiumaa lines) Passengers (th) 416 464 -10,4% 1 976 2 396 -17,5% Vehicles (th) 223 217 2,7% 963 1 046 -8,0% Icebreaker Botnica Charter days 42 56 -25,0% 249 261 -4,6% *Ferry traffic volumes show the general demand for the service, but do not directly affect the financial results of the ferry segment, as the fee is fixed in the service contract regardless of the number of passengers and vehicles served. More detailed statistics of passengers by nationality, gender and routes on monthly basis, can be viewed on the Tallinna Sadam web page: https://www.ts.ee/en/statistics/ . We now also publish quarterly key figures 2014-2020 in xlsx format: https://www.ts.ee/en/investor/key-figures/ Detailed statistics on the number of passengers and vehicles on passenger ferries: https://www.praamid.ee/wp/statistics/ Tallinna Sadam is one of the largest cargo- and passenger port complexes in the Baltic Sea region, which serves annually 10 million passengers and 20 million tons of cargo in average. In addition to passenger and freight services, Tallinna Sadam group also operates in shipping business via its subsidiaries OU TS Laevad provides ferry services between the Estonian mainland and the largest islands, and OU TS Shipping charters its multifunctional vessel Botnica for icebreaking and construction services in Estonia and offshore projects abroad. Tallinna Sadam group is also a shareholder of an associate AS Green Marine, which provides waste management services. According to audited financial results, Tallinna Sadam groups sales in 2019 totaled EUR 130.5 million, adjusted EBITDA EUR 74.3 million and net profit EUR 44.4 million. Additional information: Marju Zirel Head of Investor Relations Tel. +372 5342 6591 m.zirel@ts.ee Attachment The Chinese city of Shijiazhuang has temporarily taken control of train travel and banned its residents from leaving the city in an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19. The public security bureau of Shijiazhuang, capital city of north China's Hebei Province, has imposed interim epidemic prevention and control measures at the city's railway station, with all passengers temporarily banned from entering the station and boarding the trains. Travelers may contact the railway ticketing department for refunds. All the vehicles and people in Shijiazhuang are also banned from leaving the city, local authorities said at a press conference held on Thursday evening. The city is currently undergoing citywide nucleic acid testing. People in the worst-hit Gaocheng District, which has been classified as a high-risk area for COVID-19, have been asked to stay put in the district. The province reported 51 new locally transmitted COVID-19 cases and 69 asymptomatic cases on Wednesday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in hospitals to 90, the provincial health commission said Thursday. Among the newly confirmed cases on Wednesday, 50 were reported in Shijiazhuang, while 67 of the asymptomatic cases were also reported in the city. The city's Gaocheng District has already completed its mass testing, with about 670,000 people in the district having been sampled for nucleic acid tests as of 8:00 a.m. on Thursday. As of Thursday, the provincial emergency management department has allocated relief materials worth 2.38 million yuan (about 368,900 U.S. dollars) to assist Shijiazhuang's epidemic prevention efforts. The relief goods include 1,000 tents and 4,000 cotton overcoats. The goods will aid Shijiazhuang as it carries out citywide nucleic acid testing with epidemic control staff and volunteers stationed to secure medium- and high-risk areas. The provincial health commission on Wednesday dispatched 1,000 medical staff from other cities in the province to support the epidemic control in Shijiazhuang. On Thursday, another 2,000 medical personnel are expected to be transferred to Shijiazhuang to help accelerate the mass nucleic acid testing. The city has set up 5,011 sites to collect swab samples for the tests. President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday met behind closed doors with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State at the State House, Abuja. Addressing State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting, the governor said he updated the president on the progress so far made in the ongoing reconstruction of the state. The reconstruction was as a result of the destruction and damages caused by the ENDSARS protests in the state in October, 2020. According to him, the state government is already resuscitating small scale businesses through the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund. It is work in progress. We are carefully taking a proper study to know what we need to do, taking our time to get it right but we have started something. Some businesses that were affected, some people having their shops looted or burnt or something. We have been able to directly begin to support such businesses, especially on a micro, small level using the Lagos state Employment Trust Fund. They have started intervening and supporting some of these small businesses, giving them grants, giving them soft loans and making sure that they can come back together very quickly. The bigger, larger items around infrastructure, around transportation, they will take a fairly longer time. We are talking about a period that is still under three months. So, its still a working document that we are doing right now and we also have to be very creative on how we raise the finance. We didnt have money anywhere, you know it was toward the end of a financial year and we are just starting another year. The governor said to be able to complete the rebuilding process, the state government will need more support from both public and private sectors. So, to be able to make budgetary provisions for these things and to be able to raise required funding, both support from the private sector and also from the public sector before we can begin to reconstruct some of those huge infrastructure. But we have them all focused and will be tackling them. But the low hanging ones, like I said, are the small businesses that we have started supporting so that people can get back to life very quickly, he said. On the second wave of COVID-19, the governor stressed the need for Nigerians to take full personal responsibility because of the threat of the pandemic. He added that the Lagos State Government had already commenced the building of oxygen tents and plants to help reduce the number of casualties. We have seen, unfortunately, the fatality rate around the country, even in Lagos. One of the things we have realised is that a lot more people require oxygen attention, they need additional breathing aid, so we have started building what we call oxygen tents, we are building about ten of such facilities, we have commissioned about four or five of them. We are also building proper oxygen plants, additional to oxygen plants in the state so that we can meet the respiratory requirements, he said. ADVERTISEMENT (NAN) MYRTLE BEACH Horry County Council faces a tough decision: to allow a needed hospital in one of its most populous regions or to protect environmentally sensitive lands that will allow for major road building projects. When Conway Medical Center announced a new in-patient medical center in the Carolina Forest area, many welcomed the increased health care, but others quickly raised environmental concerns. CMC is seeking to rezone a nearly 360-acre property from General Residential to Inpatient Medical Services which would allow for a hospital to be built on the property a plan that the planning commission approved, 6-2, on Thursday, sending it to the County Council for consideration in the near future. Without the rezoning, the plans cannot move forward as the existing code only allows for apartment and condos. The developers argued the hospital is a better service to the public than another apartment complex. Carolina Forest is a fast-growing area and Horry County expects hundreds of thousands of new residents in the coming decades, as Rob Wilfong, representing the developers, noted. He said many more hospital beds will be needed to care for all those people, and International Drive gives great access to all parts of the county. Wilfong added the pandemic shows more hospitals are needed in Horry County. This new building could help isolate more patients given it will be built in a post-pandemic world with the lessons learned in mind. Its a tremendous amount of access, said Wilfong, who is the principal engineer with Development Research Group. We are talking about a hospital. We are talking about helping people. CMC President Bret Barr said 50 inpatient beds would be moved to the facility creating hundreds of new jobs. Plans to bring a medical facility here have been debated for months as the developers look to make the property work while also satisfying concerns from the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and a potential threat to a land bank that allows for RIDE III projects. The situation is fluid as designs could change, but given the circumstances, clearly county leaders face a tough choice at the intersection of growth, health and environmental protections. Concerns about developing the property The property, located off International Drive, abuts 2,223 acres of environmentally protected lands across from the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve, protected acres that contain Carolina Bays, hunting grounds, black bears and other unique flora and fauna. The property in question was purchased in 2002, according to land records, and is not cleared. The closest medical facility McLeod Health Carolina Forest is about two miles away on International Drive. Particularly, Horry County is home to the unique Carolina Bays, a rare and unique habitat that fosters unique life like the venus fly trap. Satellite imagery throws three bays in the mitigation bank called the Horry County Independent Republic Heritage Preserve. Wetlands are also on the potential medical center property itself, but the developers are working to build the center in a way far away from environmentally sensitive areas. There are significant wetland concerns that are on this property, Schwerd said, adding residents in nearby neighborhoods are worried about traffic and noise from the hospital. Further, the heritage preserve could be used as a necessary mitigation bank for many major road projects currently being built in Horry County. This program essentially allows for the purchase of land set aside for preservation in exchange for credits that cover environmental costs of the project. Several years ago, the county purchased hundreds of acres along International Drive to set up a wetlands mitigation bank. The effort allowed for the RIDE III projects to move forward in a way that was overall cheaper than purchasing credits through another avenue. RIDE III is a major road construction fund that backs projects like the extension of Highway 31, as well as the widening of Carolina Forest Boulevard and of Forestbrook Road. Currently there are not enough available credits for the county to purchase to complete road projects, Schwerd said, adding the bank should be fully set-up in the coming months. If a hospital is to be built on this sight, it could endanger our ability to have a wetland mitigation bank ... RIDE projects could be put on hold. Mitigation credits Sign up for our Myrtle Beach weekly update newsletter. Sign up for weekly roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Myrtle Beach area. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Myrtle Beach news staff. Email Sign Up! The development could or could not affect the mitigation credits, but county staff has serious concerns. A lot of the concern is based on DNRs position, but private environmental groups also requested the project be denied. As a part of the mitigation efforts, the land must regularly burn to rejuvenate the forest. This prescribed burning was agreed to in the 2019 document that started the set-up of the mitigation bank. But with a hospital on the edge of the property, it would be impossible to do the burns while maintaining air quality requirements on the potential property. SCDNR Spokesperson David Lucas said these burns must happen for the land to be considered protected. While Horry County Council ultimately controls what happens with the land, DNR is not dropping its spoken concerns. SCDNRs position regarding the use of prescribed fire management on the Lewis Ocean Bay property has not changed. It is a requirement to maintain the sensitive habitats on the Lewis Ocean Bay Heritage Preserve and it is an obligation SCDNR has to the citizens of SC to maintain, as we have done for the past 31 years, Lucas wrote in an email. Ultimately, Horry County will be responsible for decisions regarding compatibility for the rezoning request. The SCDNR wants anyone who may be our neighbor to understand that smoke and fire will be a part of this landscape, and SCDNRs use of prescribed fire cannot be limited. These controlled burns mimic the naturally occurring wildfires on the property that lead to ecological rejuvenation, according to the letter sent from DNR to Horry County expressing the state agencys concerns. Council member Bill Howard was on council when Horry County purchased the mitigation lands in 2018 for $11 million and knows how integral they are to the future of development and environmental protections locally. This purchase hoped to cheapen the cost of the RIDE project by offsetting the environmental credit costs while also preserving wetlands. Howard, who represents that area the hospital would be in, said he is weighing his constituents' needs and desires alongside the potential threat of mitigation credits. He understands why the hospital would want a location at the property given its proximity to major roads like International Drive, Carolina Forest Boulevard and Highway 31. He is awaiting to learn more from DNR before taking any firm decision, but said there are many concerns over allowing the project to move forward. I need to see all the facts and what the impacts will be, Howard said. We will see how it goes with planning and zoning. The impacts to mitigation credits could be costly and harmful to the RIDE projects that depend on them. It would require the county to compete with private industry for the credits, and Schwerd said it could cost $50 million of RIDE money to get the needed credits. The overall financial impact of losing the RIDE projects completely could reach $590 million of the money. While SCDNR has no regulatory authority over mitigation banks, it is a member and provides input to the Interagency Review Team within the Army Corps of Engineers that oversees credits. This board will need to give the final approval to the credits later this year. If DNR is not allowed to do the prescribed burns, it could lead to Horry County losing some of the mitigation credits which would be costly and potentially devastating to the future of RIDE III road building. You cant burn next to a hospital because of the air quality. I dont get why we can burn next to a neighborhood, thats okay, but next to a hospital is not okay, Howard said. We bought that land for mitigation credits and those credits are used for highways and major roads ... we are going to get our money back and then some once we start using those credits. If that development hurts that land bank, its hurting the whole county. Wilfong said he will continue to work with DNR to resolve the issues without harming the mitigation bank and can engineer around the potential fire impacts. Barr added the hospital is willing to create a buffer or some sort of conservation easement. Ultimately, the future of the mitigation credits will likely come down to negotiations. Whats next For the past several months engineers have worked to fix environmental concerns with the property, but for now DNR is not dropping its issues. On Thursday, the planning commission voted to recommend the plans and a potential change to the future land use maps to allow for the project largely citing the need for hospitals. County Council will have a chance to vote on the matter at an upcoming meeting, but could delay the project further to give engineers more time to work with DNR. Some of the things may look like it cant be worked out, but council can defer it for longer, said Steven Neeves, chairman of the Planning Commission. Current plans indicate the campus would sit on a small portion of the tract off International Drive near The Farm neighborhood, as far away as possible from wetlands, Schwerd said. Residents of The Farm have expressed concerns about the potential plan. Allyson Floyd, spokesperson for CMC, said Thursday afternoon that CMC plans to reassess its plans as needed, depending on the outcome of the vote. We are still completing our due diligence on purchasing the property, Floyd said. A millionaire Qatari businessman has been charged with killing a pedestrian in a Rolls Royce crash near to Buckingham Palace. Hassan Nasser Al-Thani, 41, is accused of causing the death of 66-year-old Charles Roberts while driving a purple 250,000 Rolls Royce Wraith around Hyde Park Corner. Mr Roberts, from Harpenden in Hertfordshire, died at the scene of the 3am crash in Duke of Wellington Place, while Al-Thani stopped and was questioned by police. The businessman has now been charged with causing death by careless driving, and is due to appear at court on Monday. It is said he was driving without due care and attention and reasonable consideration for other persons using the road when his car hit Mr Roberts on August 22, 2019. Following the crash, Al-Thani confirmed he had been involved in the incident and a friend said he was devastated at the death of Mr Roberts. The Qatar-registered Wraith was left with a large crack on the windscreen in the aftermath of the crash. Al-Thani, who has given the address of a luxury apartment overlooking Hyde Park to the authorities, is due to appear at Westminster magistrates court on Monday morning. Google is planning to eliminate third-party cookies in its Chrome browser by 2022, which sounds like a good thing for consumers worried about privacy. However, UKs competition regulator has announced that its investigating the changes, out of concern that advertising dollars could become even more concentrated on Googles ecosystem at the expense of its competitors. To increase privacy while still allowing personalized ads, Google introduced something called the Privacy Sandbox project back in 2019. The aim is to banish third-party cookies that allow for bot fraud and fingerprinting that can track you across the internet. Those would be replaced by trust tokens that would still let advertisers provide relevant ads without tying the data to an individual. As the CMA found in its recent market study, Googles Privacy Sandbox proposals will potentially have a very significant impact on publishers like newspapers, and the digital advertising market. But there are also privacy concerns to consider, which is why we will continue to work with the ICO as we progress this investigation, while also engaging directly with Google and other market participants about our concerns. The UKs Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said it found in a recent study that [Google] could undermine the ability of publishers to generate revenue and undermine competition in digital advertising, entrenching Googles market power. It also said that it has received complaints from a group representing newspaper publishers and technology companies, alleging that Google may be abusing its dominant position. Given those concerns, the CMA decided to conduct a formal investigation into Googles changes. The regulator said it has an open mind and has not reached any conclusions at this stage as to whether any laws have been broken. It will continue to work with Google to address both privacy and competition concerns as development of the new tools progresses. Meanwhile, Google told Engadget that its trying to balance privacy laws and the need to support content creators, newsrooms, web developers, videographers and other who rely on ad revenue. It added that the Privacy Sandbox proposals have not been finalized, and it will continue to collaborate with technologists, businesses, publishers, regulators and others before making any changes in 2022. A Google spokesperson also gave the following statement: The American Capitol has long known violence in its halls. In 1814, the British stormed and burned it. In 1856, southern slaveholding Rep. Preston Brooks nearly beat abolitionist Charles Sumner to death on the Senate floor. During the Cold War, armed Puerto Rican nationalists barraged into the Chamber, shooting five Congressmen while unfurling the Puerto Rican flag. Over the last four years, many have warned the public about the flagrant threat to democracy that President Donald Trump poses. Wednesday's failed coup proved that "MAGA," or Trumpism, is not over simply because Trump lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. Trumpism is far from dead. Instead, it is now their New Lost Cause. The Lost Cause, also known as the Lost Cause of the Confederacy, is America's most successful disinformation campaign. It was an ahistorical theory advocating the erroneous belief that all White southerners valiantly fought for the Confederacy to save true "American" (read: White supremacist) values. It centers on the delusion that slavery, known as "the peculiar institution," was often benign and even welcomed by the enslaved. This postwar mythology exploded nationally in the late 19th and early 20th century through popular culture vehicles like the films "The Birth of a Nation" and "Gone With the Wind" and White supremacist laced textbooks that argued the American Civil War hinged on the protection of states rights from an aggressive North or federal government -- not the expansion of slavery -- and the promise that the South would rise again. A New Lost Cause raised the Confederate flag During Tuesday's Georgia runoff election, the South did rise to meet our historical moment and elected two Democrats, further spurring Trump's New Lost Cause, a dangerous delusion of election fraud spread rampantly by social media algorithms proven to spread disinformation faster than fact, Russian bot farms and far-right media. But the main perpetrator and beneficiary of the myth is Trump himself, who claimed even before the election took place that it would be stolen through rigged election practices, hacked voter machines and by fraudulent ballots. Much like the perpetrators of the Confederate Lost Cause, the proponents of the New Lost Cause claim to be patriotic defenders of the "real America" or authentic (White) America. Much of Wednesday's melee was more reminiscent of both the triumphs and the tribulations of the historical era that created the Lost Cause: Reconstruction. Its distorted representations in popular culture, with its brilliantly hopeful beginnings, its progressive ideals, and its attempts at racial justice unbearably gave way to an unrelenting violent, deadly white backlash that had no repercussions or consequences for home-grown terrorists. Wednesday, for the first time in American history, White supremacists treasonously raised a Confederate flag inside the United States Capitol, disrupting America's peaceful transfer of power and invoking tangled memories of our nation's Civil War. Live on CNN, Washington, DC's former Chief of Police said the national guard needed to "take back the Capitol," a structure built by enslaved Black laborers, making it clear that the bedrock of our nation's legislative body was under siege. Reconstruction is more than a punch line As historian Heather Cox Richardson argued Thursday, "Yesterday the Executive Branch of our government tried to destroy the Legislative Branch." Perhaps realizing this, Sen. Lindsay Graham, one of Trump's most ardent defenders, finally spoke out against the violent attempts to avenge Trump. Invoking the 1876 election that essentially ended Reconstruction, Graham quipped that for people "looking for historical guidance, this is not the one to pick." As a White Senator from the state that launched the Civil War, his aside about Reconstruction served to historically distance himself from the bloody violence and racist terror of his Confederate and segregationist forefathers. Sen. Ted Cruz, advocating for a "third option," also hearkened to the 1876 compromise to call for an electoral commission "to examine claims of voter fraud," urging Congress to create a committee of House Members, Senators, and Supreme Court Justices to "conduct a 10-day emergency audit." Like Graham and Cruz, Sen. Dick Durbin also compared the Trumpist objections to the 2020 election results to the 1876 election. Durbin stressed the cataclysmic ramifications of ending Reconstruction too early: "It was a commission that killed Reconstruction, that established Jim Crow ... (that) re-enslaved African Americans," Durbin said. Relating the 1876 compromise to modern-day voter suppression, he blamed Trump for inciting the attempted coup. Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democrat from Michigan, connected the day's events to the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s, tweeted that politicians who supported the coup "have put their name on a list with Orval Faubus, George Wallace and Bull Connor." Faubus, Wallace and Connor all used the Confederate flag as a rallying cry to White supremacists to join in Lost Cause ideology and maintain Jim Crow segregation. As rioters, incited by the President and with some carrying White supremacist imagery descended upon the Capitol, scaled its walls, planted pipe bombs, and dangled from its railings, the pictures and videos were simultaneously stunning and revolting: The bright reds of the Confederate and Nazi flags and matching MAGA hats simmered against a sea of Trump flags now sold on street corner popup shops that outnumbered American flags, a noose, a raised wooden cross reminiscent of Klan lynchings, and a sweater reading "Camp Auschwitz." The lineage between the slaveholding secessionists and the modern insurrectionists could not have been more clear: Both groups were willing to destroy the union and both used violence to deflect their own racial fantasies of power and privilege slipping away. A scene -- literal and figurative -- from 'The Birth of a Nation' Many historians have feared, and some have warned of the possibility of this day for months, some for years. Trump even campaigned in the style of the Jim Crow South's White supremacist demagogues, running on hatred and grievance, and cashing in on racism and xenophobia. Now, in the same moment as the historic election of Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, who will respectively be the first Black and Jewish senators to represent Georgia, White supremacists armed with equipment ideal for taking hostages staged the nation's first real coup attempt while seeking to burn the Electoral College ballots. Just like their Confederate forebears, they angrily rejected legitimate election results, vowing vengeance and inciting racist violence. To be sure, the chaos and uncertainty from the attempted coup and their defiling antics were jarring but not without precedent - the entire scene could have been lifted out of the 1915 White supremacist film "The Birth of a Nation." As the first major motion picture screened in the White House, the blackface epic rife with disinformation and Lost Cause sentiment had been based on the bestselling novel "The Clansman: An Historical Romance of the Ku Klux Klan." Former President Woodrow Wilson, a historian and architect of federal segregation, was rumored to have deemed "The Birth of a Nation" "like writing history with lightning." In one of the most pivotal scenes in the saga, set in 1871, former slaveholding Confederates watched in horror from the Capitol's gallery -- the exact place where Reps. Jason Crow and Susan Wild were pinned to the floor beneath chairs yesterday -- and gawked at America's newly-elected Black congressmen and the first (fictional) Black speaker of the House. Like the domestic terrorists who vandalized House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office, defiantly putting their feet on her desk with the American flag prostrate, the Black congressmen in "The Birth of a Nation" (White actors in blackface) were admonished to keep their shoes on, with their feet off desks. The blackface congressmen snuck liquor into the Capitol. They devoured fried chicken while wildly gesturing as they argued in favor of interracial marriage. They openly brandished guns and knives, gambled, and leered lasciviously at cowering white women in the gallery. As a silent movie, a title card on screen explained it all: "The helpless white minority." The lie of the 'helpless white minority' "The helpless white minority." That simple lie lays bare so much of America's misery and suffering. The far-right and White supremacists' purported fear of losing status, wealth and most importantly, political power, in the face of mass Black voter turnout has always been part of what animated racial violence in this country, from riots to lynchings to police brutality. It's no coincidence that the infamous "The Birth of a Nation" scene that perverts and degrades Black leadership supposedly occurs in 1871, one of the most tumultuous years in Reconstruction. Hiram Revels, America's first Black Senator and a preacher like Warnock, was in office, serving only a year. Union Army Generals founded the National Rifle Association, and Congress passed the Ku Klux Klan Act outlawing terrorist conspiracies by white supremacists. The act gave the President the power to suspend the writ of Habeas Corpus in regions prone to homegrown terrorism. Despite this act, and the formation of Black militias and voting blocs throughout the South, White supremacist violence accelerated unabated throughout the region for another 90 years with a legacy that still haunts us today. Slavery, Jim Crow and Reconstruction's failures to prosecute treasonous Americans materialized yesterday - in the plume of gun smoke inside the Capitol. The task of peaceful unification is monumental, but it is imperative America upholds the Constitution and prosecutes those who commit treason to the full extent of the law -- for the stability of the nation and for the continuation of democracy. As the Radical Republican Congressman Thaddeus Stevens aptly concluded just months after the bloody Civil War, "If we fail in this great duty now, when we have the power, we shall deserve and receive the execration of history and of all future ages." What is the spiritual meaning of dreams? He seemed so real. Chubby cheeked with bright blue eyes and wearing a blue shirt with little jean overalls. He lifted his hands and babbled at me. And then I heard a voice: You will have a son in one years time, and then I woke up in tears. We had been praying for six years for another child. We tried and with each passing month, I began to question God, his love, and promises. But then I had that dream again and I couldnt shake it. Being a wobbly toddler at best in my Christian faith, I visited with my friend Angela, a pastors wife about the dream. She told me to cling to two verses and keep my eyes on Christ. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart Psalm 37:4 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight Proverbs 3:5-6 Why? Because God does talk to us through our dreams. I never put much stock in dreams until I began walking with the Lord, especially after my son was born. But does that mean we should try to interpret every dream as if it were from God? Not necessarily. The pizza you had last night may be the thing thats taking up your dream space. The medical definition of dreams are stories and images our minds create while we sleep. They can be entertaining, fun, romantic, disturbing, frightening, and sometimes bizarre. We all dream, even if we don't remember it the next day. Dreams can happen at any time during sleep. But you have your most vivid dreams during a phase called REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is when your brain is most active. No one knows why we dream but there are theories. Some researchers say dreams have no purpose while others say we dream for our mental and emotional health. So what does the Bible say about dreams? What Does the Bible Say about the Spiritual Meaning of Dreams? The spiritual view of dreams differs greatly from the medical definition of dreams. The spiritual point of view differs from the secular one. The Scripture declares that the influence of the Spirit of God upon the soul extends to its sleeping as well as its waking thoughts, which is a spiritual definition of dreaming, although one might argue that waking thoughts which come from God are visions, not dreams. The word "dreams" occurs the most times in the book of Genesis (33 total occurrences) followed by the book of Daniel (27 times) in the King James translation. Both words occur only eight times in the entire New Testament. Interestingly, the only two people Scripture states were blessed with the ability to correctly interpret them were Joseph (Genesis 40:12, Genesis 40:13, Genesis 40:18, Genesis 40:19, Genesis 41:25-32) and Daniel (Daniel 2:16-23, Daniel 2:28-30, Daniel 4). God used dreams for three reasons throughout the Bible. Dreams were used for encouragement, to reveal prophecy, or to reveal a warning. The first dream mentioned in the Bible found in Genesis 20 when God stopped King Abimelech from sleep with Abrahams wife, Sarah. The next mention is found in Genesis 28:12 when Jacob dreams of a ladder between heaven and earth. Later God talks to Jacob in his dreams to instruct him to go home and return to the land of his father. The book of Daniel is filled with dreams where God shows him the future of our world. In this dream, Daniel sees a lion, a bear, a leopard, and another strange, ten-horned beast come out of the sea. The Ancient of Days judges the beasts, and the Son of Man is given dominion over all the earth. The four beasts represent human empires. Later in the New Testament, we read about a cluster of dreams about the birth of Christ in Matthew 1:18-2:23. Josephs Future Wife: An angel tells Marys betrothed that there is no need to divorce her. The child she is expecting is the savior (Matthew 1:1824). Magis Warning: The wise men visit Jesus. God tells them in a dream to avoid King Herod as they return home because he was plotting to kill the baby. Josephs Warning: God warns Joseph to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt before Herod hunts down the children of Bethlehem. Return to Nazareth: After Herod dies, God tells Joseph he can come back home from Egypt. Avoid Judea: However, Herods son is in power, so God warns Joseph to steer clear of his territory. What Is the Spiritual Meaning of Dreams from God? If you feel like God might be communicating to you through your dreams, here are four ways of discovering his message. The first action step is to pray because it helps us center our mind, spirit, and soul on God. Sometimes identifying Gods guidance is sometimes a bit more difficult than bowing our heads in prayer because we know God communicates to us through His Word, the Holy Spirit, through the words or actions of another person, a phrase, an image, a feeling, or even a dream. But interpreting dreams comes with a warning because there is an enemy in this world and his goal is to deceive us any way he can. Theres a demonic influence that would love to steer us wrong and off the path of obedience, so place all things against Scripture, and if it lines up with the Word of God, it could well be a message from God, and maybe Hes trying to tell you something that you might not understand by other means. The Apostle Paul said that even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light (2nd Corinthians 11:4), so we must test all things according to the standard of the Word of God. A dream might be from God, but he speaks most clearly in His Word. The Bible is the gold standard for all things. Here are four ways of discovering his message through dreams. Write it Down Job 33 reminds us, For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night We need to be willing to listen and open to whatever dreams God may have for us. If we have a dream that seems to be from God, the first step is to write it down. In Habakkuk 2, God instructed the Israelites to write down the revelation and make it plain on the tablets. Similarly, in Daniel 7, after Daniel had a dream, he wrote down the dream; he recorded a complete account of the matters. Ask Questions Asking the who, what, when, where, and how can answer a lot of your whys as you pray through the dream. What was said in the dream? Pay attention to the dialogue to discern messages. What is the main focus of the dream? Who were the people in your dream and what do they represent? Where did the dream take place? What was the setting? What was the time period of the dream? Was it in the past, present, or future? What stood out in the dream? Colors, numbers, symbols? Consider your emotions in the dream and how you feel about the dream. Pray through the Dream and Compare it to the Word Just as God gives you the opportunity to communicate with him for help, comfort or counsel, he also allows you to pray to know if your dreams are answering your prayers. Keep in mind this step is vital because weve already discussed there is an enemy out there who wants to deceive us. This is why Gods Word and praying through the dream is vital. Take out your journal and read through the dream. As you read and pray its possible to get more revelation on what the Lord said or how to apply it to your life. Praying through the dream is the primary way to unlock deeper meanings. Sometimes dreams will parallel scriptural truths, like crossing a river, facing a mountain, walking through fire, or facing a mountain. If you dream of rivers, take time to look up rivers in the Bible and learn what it says. Although there are different words and meanings for rivers in the Bible, sometimes Scripture or phrases will stand out and be illuminated for you. Pray through those verses and stand on what the Bible says within the context of when it was written. Let the Bible help you interpret your dreams. Remember Gods Word is the ultimate source of truth through which God communicates. So, if your heart tells you that you listen to that simple but powerful message from your dream, dont hesitate to do so. You are a child of God and he will always seek your heart and show you the great love he has for you. Photo credit: GettyImages/metamorworks Heather Riggleman is an award-winning journalist and a regular contributor for Crosswalk. She calls Nebraska home with her three kids and a husband of 22 years. She believes Jazzercise, Jesus, and tacos can fix anything and not necessarily in that order! She is author of I Call Him By Name Bible Study, the Bold Truths Prayer Journal, Mama Needs a Time Out, and a contributor to several books. You can find her at www.heatherriggleman.com or on Facebook. SPRINGFIELD State Sen. Jason Plummer, R-Edwardsville, is opposing a proposal backed by Democrat lawmakers to alter criminal justice policy in Illinois. Senate Amendment #2 to House Bill 163 is a 600-page proposal that irresponsibly endangers the safety of Illinois citizens, according to Plummer. This proposal contains a number of shockingly shortsighted and irresponsible changes that would jeopardize the safety of our communities, said Plummer. We should call this what it is, a blatant attack on the police profession and an underhanded attempt to defund our law enforcement. A coalition representing Illinois law enforcement leadership and rank-and-file officers issued a statement in opposition to House Bill 163 as amended, saying it would destroy law enforcements ability to keep communities safe. The Illinois Law Enforcement Coalition recently enumerated its Safe Communities plan, a sensible approach to modernizing Illinois law enforcement, but House Bill 163 as amended would lead to unsafe communities in Illinois, the coalition said in a released statement. The coalition includes Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) State Lodge, FOP Labor Council, FOP Chicago Lodge 7, Illinois Sheriffs Association and the Illinois Association of Chiefs of Police. According to Plummer, the proposal makes numerous changes to Illinois criminal justice system, including: Forces multiple unfunded mandates on police departments with threats of funding cuts if all the mandates are not met. Potentially make it impossible to hold suspects in custody before trial even when they pose a credible danger to the community. Would significantly limit offenders being detained, which could pose a significant threat to victims, witnesses and the public. Impede law enforcement investigations, which could significantly reduce the number of crimes that are solved. Severely limits accountability for accomplices to murder by amending the Felony Murder Rule. Removes due process protections for police officers which could end the policing profession as it is now known. Our men and women in blue are role models and it is despicable to see them treated and portrayed as the enemy, said Plummer. I encourage my Democrat colleagues to immediately withdraw this offensive and dangerous piece of legislation. Derry Girls star Nicola Coughlan has revealed she got a telling off from her mum for cursing on TV. The award-winning actress may be reaching new heights with her latest role in Netflix hit, Bridgerton, but if there is one person that keeps her grounded its her mum. The 33-year-old joined Taskmaster for the shows one-off New Year special, facing off against actor John Hannah, who is most-known for his role in Four Weddings and a Funeral, journalist Krishnan Guru-Murthy, presenter Rylan Clark-Neal, and Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas. All was well until Coughlan, who plays Clare Devlin in the Channel 4 comedy, Derry Girls, dropped the S word. Read More With her gaffe now forever immortalised in GIF form, the actress took to Twitter to tell fans that shes still in hot water with her mum. My mum was so cross at me for saying shite on TV that Im still paying the price for being such an edgelord. My mum was so cross at me for saying shite on TV that Iam still paying the price for being such an edgelord https://t.co/V1HReiwtYB Nicola Coughlan (@nicolacoughlan) January 7, 2021 Fans of the star were quick to show their support. One tweeted: "What are mammys for it not to keep you grounded." While another wrote: "Never watched taskmaster. Now I have a reason. Shite is not used often enough on TV. The Galway girl is currently wowing audiences in 'Bridgerton', where she plays wallflower, Penelope Featherington. "Penelope is a young girl who is a member of high society but feels very much like an outsider," Coughlan says. "We see her in her first year debuting, meeting the queen and going to balls; and she feels completely uncomfortable about it. She's a wallflower, she stands at the back and doesn't dance with anyone. "But she's a fascinating character because she starts off very innocent but goes on this amazing journey in the series which really changes her." 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 WASHINGTON/BEIJING:Washington may sanction those involved in the arrest of over 50 people in Hong Kong and will send the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations to visit Taiwan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday, drawing anger and the threat of retaliation from Beijing. Pompeo said he was also appalled" by the arrest of an American citizen in Wednesdays crackdown and added: The United States will not tolerate the arbitrary detention or harassment of U.S. citizens." Hong Kong police arrested 53 democracy activists in dawn raids on Wednesday in the biggest crackdown since China imposed a security law last year that opponents say is aimed at quashing dissent in the former British colony. Among those detained was American lawyer John Clancey, who was allowed to leave a police station along with some others on Thursday. Pompeo called the arrests an outrage and a reminder of the Chinese Communist Partys contempt for its own people and the rule of law." The United States will consider sanctions and other restrictions on any and all individuals and entities involved in executing this assault on the Hong Kong people," Pompeo said. He said it would also explore restrictions against the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the United States, and take additional immediate actions against officials who have undermined Hong Kongs democratic processes." Pompeo also announced that Kelly Craft, Washingtons U.N. ambassador, would visit Chinese-claimed and democratically run Taiwan, a highly symbolic trip as the island is not a U.N. member due to the objections of Beijing, which views Taiwan as a wayward province. Taiwan shows what a free China could achieve," he said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Pompeos comments represented a serious interference in the countrys internal affairs, which China strongly condemned. China will take all necessary steps to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and security interests," Hua told reporters. The United States must pay a heavy price for its mistakes." In a later statement, Chinas mission to the United Nations called on Washington to stop its crazy provocation" and warned that whoever plays with fire will burn himself." Taiwan welcomed Crafts visit, which will be the first of a sitting U.S. ambassador at the U.N. to the island, saying it demonstrated strong U.S. support for Taiwans international participation. DAY OF TURMOIL Pompeos statement came after a day of turmoil in Washington that saw supporters of President Donald Trump stormed Congress in a bid to overturn his November election defeat. Lawmakers called the action an embarrassment to U.S. democracy that would play into the hands of rivals, and deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, a leading figure in the development of Trumps China policy, was among a list of officials who quit in protest. I think theyre high-fiving in Beijing," Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a China hawk, told Tucker Carlson on the Fox News channel. It kind of bolsters their claim that were falling apart and theyre the country of the future." On Wednesday, Chinas Washington embassy issued an advisory warning Chinese citizens to strengthen safety precautions in light of the large-scale demonstration" in the U.S. capital and a curfew announced by the local government. Trump has pursued hardline policies towards China on issues ranging from trade to espionage and the coronavirus and relations plummeted to their worst level in decades when he ramped up rhetoric in his unsuccessful re-election campaign. His administration has already imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for crushing Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement and other alleged rights abuses. After a series of actions against Chinese firms, U.S. officials were expected to discuss a proposed expansion of an executive order banning investment in companies with alleged ties to Chinas military at a Thursday afternoon meeting, two people familiar with the matter said. 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 Russian Navy has slowly been introducing stealth into its surface warfare tactics. Its latest surface ships, like the Buyan and Karakurt corvettes, are designed to be difficult for radar to detect and are equipped with weapons and systems that can operate in a radio-silence environment. These corvettes, all under a 1,000 tons displacement, are designed for coastal patrol and defense and in wartime can fight without transmitting any electronic (radio or radar) signals. Each Karakurt carries one or two Orlan-120 UAVs. These can stay on the air up to 16 hours and operate under pre-programmed instructions. The ship can send an Orlan out 300-400 kilometers from the ship to patrol an area and transmit encrypted messages with pictures and location of anything spotted. The corvette would receive this and determine if the target was worth one or more Kalibr or P800 anti-ship missiles. Both of these travel at about 700 kilometers an hour to the area where the target was reported to be, taking into account where the moving enemy ships were since their last reported position. The enemy would be listening for any radio broadcasts and, if spotted, Orlons could easily be shot down. Distance and the speed of the targets and incoming anti-ship missiles are important. Russia has been practicing using networks or ships, aircraft and satellites to monitor the position of enemy ships and enable surface ships to remain silent for as long as possible. That means a Russian corvette would never be operating alone. Rather it would be part of a battle-group that could also involve submarines posted at locations from which passive (just listening) sonar could detect enemy warships and launch Kalibr missiles via their torpedo tubes. If an enemy ship was close enough the subs could use torpedoes. These new tactics involve enabling the shooters to remain silent and concealed as long as possible while using expendable UAVs or other sensors, like land or space-based radars to do the spotting. Stealth warfare is not radically new, it has been practiced since World War I when all ships had radio and World War II when most had radar, at least by the end of the war. German intelligence monitored use of ship radios and were able to triangulate where the allied convoys were in the Atlantic and order their subs to head for where the convoy was and assemble for a Wolf Pack attack. The subs did not broadcast during an attack, and then only briefly after an attack as they dispersed. The Wolf Pack tactics were lethal in an area midway between the U.S. and Britain where land-based patrol aircraft could not reach. To deal with this problem the Americans built 124 escort carriers, which were cargo ship hulls rebuilt as small carriers capable of carrying about a dozen aircraft, usually fighters that could carry out reconnaissance as well as attacking ships or air defense missions. A small group of destroyers, cruisers or battleships would be accompanied by one of more escort carriers to provide reconnaissance and airstrikes. Escort carriers also escorted convoys of merchant ships through submarine infested waters, especially in the North Atlantic. The escort carriers were key to eliminating the stealth advantage of the German subs and, despite desperate measures to counter the escort carriers, the Germans never recovered their edge against the convoys. Russian military planners are keen students of history and during the Cold War had to cope with the fact that their adversaries were much better at providing aerial and space-based reconnaissance. With the Cold War over Russia was slow to adopt UAVs and stealth warfare but they are catching up. Both Russia and China are also developing anti-satellite weapons and the ability to quickly put replacement satellites into orbit to replace losses. All naval powers are seeking to maintain an edge in stealth warfare and it is a category of naval operations that gets little publicity. In wartime it is critical, something everyone was reminded of during World War II and what little naval combat that has taken place since. The ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has been sternly cautioned against relaxing after winning the difficult 2020 national elections. Members of the party in all the 16 regions of the country have therefore been advised to sustain the hard work that helped the party to win the 2024 polls. Edmund Kyei, the Asokwa Constituency NPP First Vice Chairman, who gave the advise, said the party would suffer during the 2024 polls if they relax now. In this regard, he humbly suggested that the momentum that contributed to help the NPP to retain political power in 2020 should be maintained at all cost. The 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections are just around the corner since four years in politics and even in real life, is just a short time period. Therefore, I am appealing passionately to my party members from the national to the last member of the party to continue to work hard for the NPP. There is no holidays in politics, therefore we should continue from where we won the 2020 elections from today so that victory 2024 will be easy for us. Edmund Kyei, who is also a member of the NPP National Communications Team, stated that definitely the NPP would retain political power in 2024. I believe in the competence and hard-working nature of President Akufo-Addo so surely his government will deliver to make election 2024 easier for NPP. Edmund Kyei also admonished his party members to forgive one another, especially where there is rancor so that the party would remain united. Source: I.F. Joe Awuah Jnr., Kumasi 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 UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned today the current wave of vaccines might not protect against the South African strain of coronavirus. Mr Shapps said introducing a mandatory test and release system for travellers coming into the UK had become 'much more urgent' because of the threat the variant poses to Britain's mass vaccination programme. But there was confusion about the timing of his comments, which came just hours after a study by Pfizer/BioNTech suggested their vaccine could be just as effective against a mutation in the super-transmissible strain. Amid international fears about the South African strain, thought to be at least 60 per cent more infectious than regular Covid, the UK has made it compulsory for travellers to test negative when they arrive in the country. Mr Shapps told Sky News: 'This is an extra check and we're doing this now because there are these variants that we're very keen to keep out of the country, like the South African variant, for example. 'There are the concerns about the South African one in particular about how effective the vaccine would be against it so we simply cannot take chances. So today because of that variant it has become much more urgent.' The Pfizer study which hasn't been peer-reviewed yet tested how well the vaccine worked on the key N501Y mutation, an alteration on the virus's spike protein which is thought to be responsible for making it far more infectious than regular Covid. And because current vaccines work by training the immune system to recognise the virus's spike protein and attack it, there were fears this change could render jabs useless, or less effective. Results showed that neutralising antibodies were made against the mutation, which is also found in the highly-infectious Kent variant that is spreading rapidly across the UK. But both strains contain a catalogue of mutations, and the researchers have yet to prove that the vaccine works against them all. UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned today the current wave of vaccines might not protect against the South African strain of coronavirus The mutations of the coronavirus has caused changes to the spike protein on its outside (shown in red), which is what the virus uses to attach to the human body (Original illustration of the virus by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Dr. Michael Forino, right, gets the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, California on Thursday The researchers took blood samples from vaccinated patients and exposed them to a strain of the virus with the N501Y mutation. Q&A: Everything we know about the South African variant Has the variant been found in the UK? The variant was found in two people, one in London and another in the North West, who came into contact with separate people returning from South Africa. It was detected through the UK's world-leading genomics sequencing group, which constantly monitors how the coronavirus spreads and mutates. The two cases of the South African variant were detected through random routine sampling which picks out only around one in 10 tests carried out in the UK. This suggests there are many more cases of the variant already in Britain. Where has the new strain come from? The new variant emerged after the first wave of coronavirus at Nelson Mandela Bay, in South Africa's Eastern Cape Province, in mid-December. South Africa picked up the strain through genomic sequencing. It is believed to be the reason behind infections soaring from under 3,000 per day at the beginning of the month to over 9,000 by the end. Where else has the variant been found? Confirmed cases have been announced in France, Japan and Britain. It is likely to be circulating in many more countries but only a select few nations have the genomic sequencing ability to be able to spot it when it's present in low numbers. What has been done to tackle it? Both of the people in the UK who had the new strain of the virus were quarantined, along with their close contacts. Public Health England researchers are currently investigating the variant at their research laboratory at Porton Down in Wiltshire. All flights to and from South Africa have been banned. What does it mean for the fight against the virus? One mutation in the new strain, called N501Y, is thought to help the virus become more infectious and spread more easily between people. That means measures such as social distancing, wearing masks and avoiding unnecessary contacts have become more important. Scientists tracking the strain's spread believe it is even more transmissible than the Kent strain currently plaguing the UK. The British strain is 50 per cent more infectious than regular Covid, so this new South African variant is likely to be higher than that. Studies are ongoing to put a figure on its transmissibility. What about the vaccine? Scientists are undecided about whether the South African strain will impact the current iteration of Covid vaccines. Dr Susan Hopkins, from Public Health England, said there is no evidence yet that it will impact any of the current jabs. But Sir John Bell, regius professor of medicine at Oxford University, argued the strain was more concerning than the Kent one. He said it has 'pretty substantial changes in the structure of the protein', meaning vaccines could fail to work. Scientists will test the blood of those who have been vaccinated against coronavirus, or have recovered from it, to ensure they can fight off the new strain. The strain has a series of mutates on its spike protein, which it uses to latch onto and enter human cells. Covid vaccines including the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca jabs currently being rolled out across Britain work by training the body to spot the virus's spike protein. If the spike mutates so much that it becomes unrecognisable then it could render vaccines useless or make them less potent. Advertisement Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizer's top viral vaccine scientists, said the vaccine stimulated a strong immune response against the altered virus, which he described as 'good news'. However, the findings are limited because the research only studied the N501Y mutation and did not look at the full set of alterations found in either the new UK mutant strain or the South African one. Both strains have more than a dozen mutations, although most of them have no impact on the way it spreads and affects people. Another mutation found in the South African variant, called E484K, which is not found in the UK version, is also concerning. It also seems to help the virus disguise part of its signature spike protein. Dr Dormitzer said it was encouraging that the vaccine appears effective against the N501Y mutation, as well as 15 other mutations the company has previously tested against. 'So we've now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact. That's the good news,' he said. 'That doesn't mean that the 17th won't.' The researchers plan to run similar tests to see if the vaccine is effective against other mutations found in the UK and South African variants and hope to have more data within weeks. Several top scientist investigating the variants in the UK called the findings 'misleading'. Professor Ravi Gupta, a microbiologist at the University of Cambridge, said: 'This work should be ignored until properly conducted work is made available.' Professor Paul Hunter, an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, added: '. It does seem to me that this preprint does suggest a small increase in resistance to vaccine produced antibodies, that even if not sufficient in itself could in combination with other mutants be an important step on the pathway to reduce the efficacy of pre-existing vaccines...at present the jury is still out on the impact of the South African variant on vaccine efficacy. 'It is likely that vaccines will still be effective but maybe a little less so unless of course additional variants arise.' Other experts welcomed the findings and said they were 'useful', despite not being proof that the vaccine works against the two exact mutant strains. Sian Griffiths, who co-chaired the Hong Kong inquiry into the 2003 SARS outbreak, said a US university report into the Pfizer vaccine's impact on UK and South Africa coronavirus variants is 'good news'. Professor Griffiths, an epidemiologist who also serves on an advisory board for Public Health England, told BBC Breakfast: 'There's some good news this morning it's not a peer-reviewed paper yet but it's a report from Texas University where they took blood from patients who had been immunised and tested it against both the Kent and the South African strain and the results were very positive, meaning that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine does protect against those variants and also other variants.' She said the UK's 'good genomics' had allowed scientists here to understand the new variant which pushed infections up in London and the South East of England. She said: 'Other countries are needing to do more work on which variant it is that's pushing their numbers up, and what we need to do is have these amazing scientific advances that we've made through the pandemic apply to making sure that vaccines do cover variants and therefore provide protection. 'So the good news this morning is that it appears that the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine does protect against the South Africa strain, so people can rest assured that that particular strain isn't escaping the population.' Scientists have expressed concern that vaccines being rolled out may not be able to protect against the new variants, particularly the one that emerged in South Africa. Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said this week that while both variants had some features in common, the one found in South Africa 'has a number additional mutations' that included more extensive alterations to the spike protein. The British strain, which first emerged in Kent in September, has been shown to be about 50 per cent more infectious than regular Covid. Scientists say the South African strain is even more infectious than the Kent one, although studies are still ongoing to put an exact figure on its transmissibility. But experts have told MailOnline there was no publicly-available data to suggest any of the new strains possesses the ability to escape the current iteration of jabs, even though they are more transmissible. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, claimed he was 'almost certain' the vaccines will still be effective at some level. He added that, in the unlikely event any new strain does makes vaccines redundant, it would take 'a few days or less' to tweak the jabs to target them. Professor Jones told MailOnline: 'At the moment there is no data on the ability of either the UK or SA variants to evade the immune response generated by the vaccine. 'The vaccines all produced multiple antibodies that block the virus-receptor interaction and while the changes in the variants might dodge a few of these they are unlikely to dodge all of them so it is almost certain the vaccine will still be effective at some level. 'And as long as severe Covid is prevented even a partially effective vaccine would be useful. If a change in the vaccine was required the genetic alternation required could be done in a few days but of course the scale up to millions of doses will take time.' Vaccine makers have said they are already looking at ways to tweak their jabs to protect people from new variants. Professor Sarah Gilbert, one of the leading scientists behind the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine, told the BBC today: 'We are looking at how well [the vaccines] work on these new variants and others that will come in the future. 'And we're also thinking about what we'll need to do if it ever becomes necessary to replace the version of the vaccine we're using now with a new one. 'We don't think we're at that point yet, there's no reason to suppose we need to make a switch now but it is possible that in the future we need to make a tweak, a change, to the vaccine. 'So, with my team, I'm still working on how we make that change really quickly if we ever need to.' Asked how quickly that change could come if needed, Professor Gilbert added: 'We don't expect to have to make a switch in the near future. But we're thinking that this vaccine is going to be used over a period of many years probably. 'As with flu vaccines we have a new version every year, which takes into account the changes in flu viruses circulating. Something similar is probably going to have to happen with the coronavirus vaccines. 'I don't think it's necessarily going to be a very rapid switch that we have to make. But what we might be looking at is when we're coming round to planning vaccinations for next autumn, thinking about another wave at end of 2021, which is a theoretical possibility, we will be considering whether to continue with the same version [of the vaccine] or a different version.' German firm BioNTech, which helped deliver the Pfizer vaccine approved in the UK last month, said it could use existing technology to produce a new vaccine against mutations of coronavirus in six weeks. The team's vaccine uses brand-new mRNA technology, which BioNTech's chief executive says can be engineered much more easily than traditional vaccines. A young protestor throws a mask onto a burning pile during the Free Wyoming rally against Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon and the mask mandates Monday outside the Capitol in downtown Cheyenne. The protest was organized by Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, who has been a vocal opponent of any statewide mandates. CHEYENNE About 250 people demonstrated in front of the Wyoming State Capitol Monday afternoon to protest a statewide mask mandate and other COVID-19 related restrictions. Calls to "Stop the tyranny," "Free Wyoming" and make Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon a "one-term governor," were the rallying cries the protesters belted out after about an hour of listening to elected officials and other citizens decry the mask mandate, including outgoing Rep. Scott Clem, R-Gillette, who challenged people to burn their masks. "At some of these rallies, you see the radical left go out there, and they burn Bibles and flags. You know what I think about burning? Masks," Clem told the crowd. "Burn them up," the crowd responded with raucous affirmation. Clem then doused a disposable mask in hand sanitizer before lighting it on fire in front of the crowd, some of which threw their own masks down for kindling. Capitol security, which was monitoring the entire event, quickly came over to extinguish the small fire. "They don't like us burning masks," Clem said. "We don't like it when they trample on our freedoms." Gordon announced Saturday that the mask mandate he first issued in December will remain in effect until Jan. 25. Beginning this Saturday, Jan. 9, the governor has lifted previous restrictions on operating hours for bars and restaurants. Wyoming's mask mandate, which requires people to wear masks while shopping at businesses, riding public transit or entering or leaving restaurants, among other instances, is similar to the mandates passed in dozens of other states across the country, and is a policy designed to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March, the virus has killed 438 Wyomingites and approximately 352,000 total Americans. "The governor is killing Wyoming," said Clem, who organized Monday's event, known as the Free Wyoming rally, to the crowd from a podium at the foot of the steps leading to the entrance of the Capitol. "He can come out here and say whatever he wants, but I am not content until he gets rid of all of these restrictions," Clem said, before encouraging small business owners to file suit against the state for placing restrictions on their operations. Clem, the pastor of Central Baptist Church in Gillette has been an outspoken voice against any government-prescribed public health measures since the virus started 10 months ago. State Rep. Roy Edwards, R-Gillette, was a member of Clem's congregation before he died of COVID-19 last fall. "I'm all for personal responsibility," Clem said. "If you're in one of those high-risk classes, do what you need to do to make yourself safe. But for those who are not, that is your freedom, your liberty, that is something you have the right to do. "This is our constitutional duty to stand up for our rights, to stand up against tyranny and make our voices heard. If (Gordon) ridicules us for that, then he's unworthy of that office, and he should resign." The majority of people who attended Monday's rally were not wearing face coverings, though a few scattered counterprotesters were. Pat Baird, a longtime resident of Cheyenne who recently lost a friend to the virus, stood in the crowd while wielding a sign reading: "2 Rs = Respect and Responsibility Toward our Fellow Citizens." "Gov. Gordon has walked a fine line," Baird said. "He's doing everything necessary to fight this pandemic, but I don't think he's gone over the line. He's tried to balance having businesses open and making the economy work while also trying to keep safe our general population." Gordon, who famously referred to people not willing to comply with public health recommendations and orders as "knuckleheads," did not make an appearance at the rally, but several other elected lawmakers did. Rep. Chuck Gray, R-Casper, criticized what he and many others at the rally perceive as an overreach of power by Dr. Alexia Harrist, who was appointed by the governor to serve as the state health officer and state epidemiologist. Harrist, who previously worked for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, works on behalf of the Wyoming Department of Health. She has offered state officials her medical expertise on how best to respond to the threat of the virus. "Overnight, we saw an unelected official the state health officer become the most powerful person in our state," Gray said. "There's still been no accountability on this unelected health officer. The media today want to tell us this is not a big deal. That's been their lie for the last 10 months, but this stuff adds up. Before you know it, we've lost our constitutional republic." On Wednesday, President Donald Trump instigated a fascist coup aimed at halting the congressional session at which Trumps defeat in the 2020 presidential election was being certified. In response, leading members of Jacobin magazine, which is associated with the Democratic Socialists of America, responded with a campaign to downplay the significance of what was happening. The lead was given by Jacobin founder and editor Bhaskar Sunkara who tweeted near 6 p.m. on Wednesday: Whats the advantage of saying this is a coup? I just dont understand the advantage in finding the most extreme labels for bad things. Bhaskar Sunkara, the founding editor and publisher of Jacobin, tweets that the events of January 6 were not a coup What was happening prior to Sunkaras warning against placing extreme labels on the days events? Between 1 and 2 p.m., thousands of Trumps supporters swarmed the Capitol building, following a speech by Trump insisting that youll never take back our country with weakness. With the complicity of the police, they entered the building around 2 p.m., taking over office buildings and the Senate chamber. Photos showed insurrectionists dressed in camo armed with guns and zip ties, which would have been used to secure hostages. Jacobin responded with a coordinated campaign to insist that nothing particularly remarkable was happening. Leading staff writer Branko Marcetic tweeted at 4:58 p.m.: The events in DC are certainly alarming, but its also worth bearing in mind this is not the first time a capitol building has been stormed (or whatever term you want to use) by armed protesters, and it didnt mean the end of American democracy then either. Marcetics tweet assuring everyone that American democracy was safe and sound came just 40 minutes after President Trump released a video praising the fascist protesters as very special people. Only about 15 minutes after Marcetics tweet, videos released on social media showed far-right rioters charging the media. Less than a half-hour later, at 5:52 p.m., Sunkara tweeted his indifference to the events. He followed up his initial tweet cited above with another outlining his assessment of the events: Ive seen the stability of US republican institutions in the face of a right-wing mob and a party whose leader is committed to their delegitimation so far. Sunkaras tweet was followed by another from Julia Damphouse, Jacobin magazines reading groups coordinator and European editor. She wrote at 6:42 p.m., Calling this a coup is like calling the CHAZ in Seattle a coup because Kshama Sawant let people into city hall. Get a grip. That is, in response to the fascist insurrection in Washington DC, an event that will go down in history as a significant political turning point, Jacobins European editor tells concerned workers and youth to get a grip, its founder and chief editor insists on the stability of US republican institutions, and one of its leading staffers declares that nothing extraordinary is happening. As the Jacobin writers were opposing the notion that a coup was underway, the Democratic Party itself was silent. For hours after the insurrection began, there were no statements from major Democratic Party officials denouncing the conspiracy or calling for popular resistance to the coup. When Biden finally appeared before the public, it was only to issue an appeal to Trump, the leader of the conspiracy, to step up and call it off. Throughout Trumps coup plottingprior to and after the electionthe Democrats have worked to cover up the far-reaching assault on democratic rights. As a party of Wall Street and the military, its principal fear has been that an exposure of the conspiracy would spark mass opposition from below that could not be controlled. Jacobin and the Democratic Socialists of America, functioning as a faction of the Democratic Party, played their assigned role. On Thursday morning, the day after Sunkara, Damphouse and Marcetics tweets, Jacobin published an article by David Sirota, a longtime Democratic Party operative and former speechwriter for Bernie Sanders, titled, The Insurrection was Predictable. The article is an exercise in political cover-up. Sirota begins by claiming that Jacobin had previously warned about the growing threat of a coup attempt, wondering why it wasnt being taken more seriously by Democrats and the media. We were scoffed at and eye-rolled, as if such things could never happen in America. Nobody is scoffing or eye-rolling anymore, after Wednesdays events at the US Capitol. Sirota fails to mention that the primary eye-rolling is coming from none other than the editor and founder of the very magazine for which he is writing! As for the claim that Jacobin has been at the forefront of warning about the growing threat of a coup attempt, nothing could be further from the truth. Of the three links provided by Sirota as proof of the so-called warnings from the magazine, only one is actually a Jacobin article. On the contrary, over the course of the past year, Jacobin has published a series of articles downplaying the threat to democratic rights. On April 17, Daniel Finn wrote that calling Trump a protofascist was melodramatic hyperbole. Later in the year, when fascist plots to kidnap and kill governors Gretchen Whitmer and Ralph Northam emerged, Jacobin waited two weeks to respond. When it finally did address the situation, the article, by Branko Marcetic, argued that the Michigan plot was exaggerated, the media was engaged in sensationalism, and far-right violence remains a statistically minor threat to life. As recently as December 2, Jacobin declared, in another article by Daniel Finn, that Trumps would-be coup had ended with a feeble surrender, and that Trumps bark proved to be much worse than his bite. Jacobins denial of the scale of the crisis, its insistence on the stability of US republican institutions is bound up with its organic hostility to revolution. Jacobins politicsand this is the politics of the Democratic Socialists of America as a wholeis based on the claim that social reform will be achieved within the framework of the Democratic Party and the capitalist system. Sirotas column, which acknowledges the reality of a coup, on its face conflicts with the initial response of Sunkara. The conclusion, however, is the same. Sirota proclaims that the way to undermine the strength of Trump is to pressure the Democrats to implement social reforms, which they will not do. Those who make up the editorial board of Jacobin, speaking for privileged sections of the upper-middle class, are characterized by their complacency, opportunism and unseriousness. Everything they write is aimed at containing the growing social opposition from below. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Ahead of Republic Day, Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested a key member of an interstate illegal arms supply racket and also confiscated 35 pistols along with 60 live cartridges from his possession. The accused was identified as Ashish Kumar Pandey (24), a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Allahabad. Police said that acting on a tip-off the accused was arrested from Pitampura area on Thursday. "During a search of his car, which was earlier stolen from the Pandav Nagar area, 35 illegal semi-automatic pistols and 60 live bullets hidden in a secret cavity in the vehicle were recovered. "We have also confiscated a mobile handset alongwith a SIM card, used in illegal arms supply activities, from him. "Four pistols were recovered from the secret cavity of each door of the car and 19 pistols from under the stepney. A case was registered at PS Special Cell, Delhi," said Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, DCP, Special Cell. During interrogation, Ashish disclosed that he was a part of an illegal arms supply syndicate and used to supply the weapons and cartridges to various persons after getting them from Prahalad, a resident of Badwani in Madhya Pradesh. Ashish, who confessed to being in this illegal trade for more than two years, said that he provided the illegal pistols to criminals in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. He admitted to having made the secret cavities in the car's doors to dodge the law enforcement agencies. He disclosed that it costs hardly Rs 7,500 to manufacture a pistol and Rs 15,000 to supply one. Pistols supplied by him in Delhi were eventually sold for Rs 25,000 to Rs 35,000 per pistol, in the adjoining areas. M&A Is Perspecta on the verge of going private thanks to its biggest shareholder? One of Perspectas largest shareholders, Veritas Capital, is working on putting together an offer to acquire the government technology services company, according to recent filings. This development is also the first time we get a clear, confirmed glimpse at how Perspecta could be thinking about its future amid investor speculation, media reports and cryptic statements from the company that strategic options are on the table. In a regulatory filing posted Wednesday (scroll to Purpose of Transaction), private equity firm Veritas Capital said it is in preliminary discussions with Perspecta regarding a potential transaction and has been granted access to initial due diligence materials. Perspecta officials have not commented beyond the filing, which said the company granted Veritas a limited standstill waiver to proceed. Veritas owns 11.7 percent of Perspectas stock, which was trading at around $26 per share early Friday afternoon for an estimated $4.1 billion total market value. Veritas has 60 days from Wednesday to make offers or proposals to Perspectas board of directors, of which Veritas CEO Ramzi Musallam is a member. It is of course possible that Veritas decides not to make a formal offer. So too is a board decision not to accept it. In Summer 2018, Veritas merged two of their portfolio companies in Vencore and KeyPoint with the former DXC Technology U.S. public sector business to form the publicly-traded Perspecta. Veritas started out with 14 percent of the stock but has apparently sold off just over 2 percent since then. Now a two-fold question: Why would Veritas go down the path of taking Perspecta private, and why would Perspecta at least nudge that door open for itself? "In a market of scale, Veritas is a key contender with portfolio companies like Peraton and Alion Science and Technology to rival any of the larger competimates, said Jon Yim, managing director at KippsDeSanto & Co, which is owned by Capital One. A waiver of standstill obligations allows for Perspecta to fully explore their options in an open market. Speaking of scale, Perspecta recorded $4.5 billion in revenue for its last fiscal year that ended March 31 2020. Sometime by Junes end, Peraton will triple in size to low-to-mid $3 billion in annual revenue when it combines with the Northrop Grumman IT services business. Veritas is paying $3.4 billion to buy the Northrop IT business and add it to Peraton. Data from Moodys Investors Service indicates Veritas other government market portfolio firms generated around $2.5 billion in sales during their most recent fiscal years: Alion at $1 billion and Guidehouse at $1.2 billion. If successful, along with the previously announced Peraton/Northrop deal, Veritas would own businesses collectively generating more than $10 billion of revenue from government customers, said Garrett Asta, a senior vice president in Houlihan Lokeys aerospace, defense and government practice. Its hard to imagine a more knowledgeable acquirer for this business considering Veritas extensive legacy and experience in the sector, current ownership stake in the company, prior ownership of Vencore and Keypoint, and experience with DXC on a few fronts. To the last point Asta brought up -- Veritas is also a known to DXC. They worked together to create Perspecta, which DXC shareholders owned 86 percent of the stock in at the launch. Late last year, DXC sold its U.S. state and local health and human services business now known as Gainwell Technologies to Veritas for $5 billion. Another known is the debt markets would support a Veritas acquisition of Perspecta, according to Asta. He pointed out that Veritas has the kind of profile that can bring in equity partners for large deals, including when they worked with Elliott Management to acquire then-public health care software firm Athenahealth in 2018 for $5.7 billion. Veritas and Elliott also reportedly put in a bid for another publicly-traded company in Cubic Corp. late last year. One unknown in all of this is what the activist hedge fund Jana Partners would make of it. They first revealed their stake in Perspecta in June of last year and now own hold around 8 percent of Perspectas stock. Jana presumably would get to vote on any acquisition offer if made. The stock was at around $21 when Jana disclosed the investment and is now trading at around $26. Treasury Sends Millions of Stimulus Payments by Prepaid Debit Card The Treasury Departments Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this week began sending about 8 million of the $600 payments approved as part of the latest COVID-19 relief package as prepaid debt cards with clearer identification than last year. The cards will be sent to some individuals who, in the past week, didnt receive the payments designed to help millions of Americans struggling due to CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus lockdowns, the department said in a press release Thursday. IRS and Treasury urge eligible people who dont receive a direct deposit to watch their mail carefully during this period, IRS said in a statement. The prepaid debit card, called the Economic Impact Payment card, is sponsored by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service and is issued by Treasurys financial agent, MetaBank, N.A. it said. The IRS does not determine who receives a prepaid debit card. The payments will be sent in white envelopes bearing the Treasury departments seal. The front of the cards will state that they are Visa debit cards, and MetaBank, N.A. will be displayed on the back, the Treasury said. The changes to how the government will deliver the cards follows complaints last year that some people threw away them away, thinking that they were scams. Last spring, prepaid debit cards were delivered in plain envelopes with no mention of the Treasury or the IRS. Some individuals who received a $1,200 stimulus payment in the form of a paper check in Spring 2020 may receive a prepaid debit card this time round, and vice versa, the IRS said. All eligible recipients across 50 states and the District of Colombia are being sent the debit cards, the agency said. The cards can be used to make purchases online or in stores anywhere that Visa debit cards are accepted. People can also withdraw cash from in-network ATMs or transfer the funds to personal bank accounts. Replacement cards can also be obtained without fees, the department said. Congressional leaders in December reached a deal on a new COVID-19 relief package after months of negotiations. It includes the $600 payments for taxpayers; half of the $1,200 checks provided under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed in March. The IRS said in a statement that eligible recipients will receive a payment of up to $600 for individuals or $1,200 for married couples and up to $600 for each qualifying child. Dependents who are 17 and older dont qualify for the child payment. Those with an adjusted gross income for 2019 up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns and surviving spouses, will receive the full amount of the second payment. The payment amount is reduced by $5 for every $100 earned above the income threshold, the IRS said, meaning that individuals earning more than $87,000, or couples earning more than $174,000 will get nothing. The IRS has a Jan. 15 deadline to make the stimulus payments. Taxpayers can monitor the status of their stimulus payments with its Get My Payment tool. Individuals who do not receive a payment can recover it on their 2020 tax return, the agency said. Many Scottish fishermen have halted exports to European Union markets after post-Brexit bureaucracy added days to their delivery times and hundreds of pounds to their costs. Fishing exporters have told Reuters their businesses could become unviable after the introduction of health certificates, customs declarations and other paperwork. Business owners said they had tried to send small deliveries to France and Spain to test the new systems this week but it was taking 5 hours to secure a health certificate in Scotland, a document which is required to apply for other customs paperwork. In the first working week after Brexit, one-day deliveries were taking three or more days - if they got through at all. Several owners could not say for sure where their valuable cargo was. A trade group told fishermen to stop fishing exported stocks. "Our customers are pulling out," Santiago Buesa of SB Fish told Reuters. "We are fresh product and the customers expect to have it fresh, so they're not buying. It's a catastrophe." Britain's departure from the EU's orbit is the biggest change to its trade since the launch of the Single Market in 1993, introducing reams of paperwork and costs that must be completed to move goods across the new customs border. Those trading in food and livestock face the toughest requirements, hitting the express delivery of freshly caught fish that used to move overnight from Scotland, via England, into France, before going on to other European markets in days. David Noble, whose Aegirfish buys from Scottish fleets to export to Europe, said he would have to pay between 500 to 600 pounds ($815) per day for paperwork, wiping out most profit. His concern is that this marks more than just teething problems, and says he cannot pass on the higher costs of doing business. "I'm questioning whether to carry on," he said. "If our fish is too expensive our customers will buy elsewhere." The City Council race for San Antonios District 3 is shaping up as a battle between a possible new South Side political dynasty and one seeking redemption. Phyllis Viagran wants to keep the Southeast Side seat in the family when her younger sister, Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, leaves the position this summer after eight years forced out by term limits. Meanwhile, the tarnished Uresti dynasty is attempting another comeback as former state Rep. Tomas Uresti, brother of imprisoned former state Sen. Carlos Uresti, vies for the District 3 seat. Phyllis Viagran and Tomas Uresti are among a still-forming slate of candidates jostling to fill the open seat, which represents a part of town that has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. District 3 has seen some of the highest coronavirus death rates in the city and the pandemic has laid bare gaps in access within the district to health care, the internet and jobs that can be done remotely for safety. Among the topics on candidates minds so far: how to boost internet access for seniors and students, bring stimulus dollars to the districts mom-and-pop businesses in the district and add jobs without fueling gentrification. Viagran and Uresti face the task of defining themselves independently of their siblings. For Viagran, who hasnt held elected office, that largely means introducing herself. For seven years, she was a civilian in the San Antonio Police Departments domestic violence unit working with victims of family violence. After that, Viagran worked at Visit San Antonio, the public-private nonprofit that promotes the city to tourists and convention planners. She now works at Senior Planet, which teaches elders how to use technology, and sits on the board of the charitable arm of the Brooks Development Authority. We have the same last name, we have the same work ethic, Phyllis Viagran said of her sister. There are similarities. But I think at the end of the day, Im a District 3 resident thats going to bring a fresh perspective and that has the qualifications and has the knowledge of what the city does to get us through what were facing next. Although hes better known, Tomas Uresti may have a tougher hill to climb. His brother the former senator was convicted in 2018 on 11 federal felony counts, including money laundering and fraud, stemming from his involvement with a now-defunct frac-sand company. Back then, voters didnt seem to want either Uresti around. Weeks after his brothers conviction, Democratic primary voters nixed Tomas Urestis bid for reelection to his state House seat which covers much of southern Bexar County. Instead, they gave the nomination to Leo Pacheco, who now holds the seat. Tomas Uresti has since tried to get back on the horse. He finished fourth in a special election to fill the Texas Senate seat lost by his brother only months after losing the primary for his state House seat. In 2019, the former Harlandale School Board trustee made a failed run to regain a seat on the board. This time around, Tomas Uresti has seen encouraging signs. For one, the Harlandale board recently ended a years-long controversy involving its former engineering contractor. Board members admitted last year that the board had for years broken state law by giving lucrative work to Jasmine Engineering without a competitive bidding process behavior that Tomas Uresti railed against while he was on the board. Last month, it paid Jasmine $700,000 to settle a two-year lawsuit. Now, Tomas Uresti feels vindicated and sees it as a card to play to prove his anti-corruption bona fides. On top of that, Bexar County voters re-elected his brother Albert Uresti as the countys tax assessor-collector by a healthy margin in November. Tomas Uresti takes that as a sign voters have moved past his brother Carlos felonious actions which he called unfortunate. I think that they know that they can continue to trust us to serve, Tomas Uresti said. Others in the race are betting that District 3 voters will be hungry for new names. People are tired of just the same old politics and same old political families continuing the same traditions, family after family, said Rodolfo Rudy Lopez, who owns event halls on the South Side. Mark Arthur Vargas, another candidate, echoed that. Its important that we make sure that the same people from the same families arent treating the same positions as revolving doors, Vargas said. Its important that we highlight newer voices, newer faces. A fifth candidate, Katherine Herrera, did not respond to a call for comment. The official filing period for the citys May ballot starts Wednesday and ends Feb. 12. jfechter@express-news.net | Twitter: @JFReports On Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference in the Capitol Visitor Center. Pelosi was Fridays KVML Newsmaker of the Day. Here are her words: Good afternoon. I dont know if the word good is the way to describe it, but because yesterday, the President of the United States incited an armed insurrection against America, the gleeful desecration of the U.S. Capitol, which is the temple of of our American democracy, and the violence targeting Congress are horrors that will forever stain our nations history, instigated by the President of the United States. Thats why its such a stain. In calling for this seditious act, the President has committed an unspeakable assault on our nation and our people. I joined the Senate Democratic Leader in calling on the Vice President to remove this President by immediately invoking the 25th Amendment. If the Vice President and Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment. That is the overwhelming sentiment of my Caucus, and the American people, by the way. Justice will be done to those who carried out these acts, which were acts of sedition and acts of cowardice. To those whose purpose was to deter a responsibility, you have failed. You did not divert the Congress from our solemn Constitutional purpose to validate the overwhelming election of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as President and Vice President of the United States. Despite the desecration of our Capitol, we upheld, in front of the country and the world, the bedrock principle that the people are sovereign and that they hold the power to choose their leaders through the ballot, rejecting this attempted coup on the part of President Trump and his supporters. Accountability is also needed for Republicans in Congress who promoted the extreme conspiracy theories that provoked the violence, encouraged the mob and who, after desecration of the Capitol, went back to the House Floor and continued to push the falsehoods and underpinned this assault that underpin this assault on our democracy. These Republicans abdicated their oath of office that was taken just three days prior to protect the American people and to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. The House worked through the evening and into the morning, till nearly 4:00 a.m., to validate the electoral count, again, proclaiming Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the duly elected President and Vice President of the United States. I just want to say how proud I am of my Members. For a while now, our four scholars we call them, Jamie Raskin; Zoe Lofgren, the Chair of the committee of jurisdiction; Adam Schiff; and Joe Neguse, set forth a plan that was about the Constitution. It wasnt about Donald Trump and all the reasons he shouldnt be president. He was not part of this. It was about the Constitution, and how we have to we are a country of law. We are not a monarchy with a king, as Jamie said has said over and over again. I want to also thank the Members of the Arizona Delegation, led by Raul Grijalva, and the Pennsylvania Delegation, led by Mike Doyle, the two deans, for the presentations that they made to refute the ridiculous statements being made by our colleagues. For what reason, I dont know, but it wasnt about reason. So, I thank them for that. So, all of this, this week, our swearing-in on Sunday; passing our Rule and preparing for Wednesday, as the week began; the election of two Democrats in Georgia, because of the overwhelming participation of people at the grassroots level, so many people. Im so proud of our House Members, Congresswoman Williams, the Chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, Lucy McBath, the newly elected Carolyn Bordeaux, David Scott, Mr. Bishop, who was the Dean of that Delegation, and Hank Johnson. Well, they had their plan already, should they have objected to Georgia, as did Nevada, as did Michigan, as did Wisconsin. So, we were prepared. Members worked hard about defending the Constitution, honoring our purpose to count and ascertain the Electoral College numbers for the presidency. So, I was proud of them. And I did, over and over again were very pleased now that we have in thirteen days, President Joe Biden, a Democratic House Majority and a Democratic Senate Majority that will work to heal, to heal and restore the soul of our nation. I will, too, close by evoking, as I did last night, the Song of St. Francis, our patron saint in San Francisco, whose Song of St. Francis is our our citys anthem. Lord, make me a channel of thy peace. Where there is darkness, may we bring light. Where there is hatred, love; despair, hope. The list goes on. And so does the time for healing. Take us down a path of unity, of unity for our country * * * With that, I would be pleased to take any questions. Yes, maam. Q: Have you encouraged Cabinet members not to resign, so that they can invoke the 25th Amendment Speaker Pelosi. No, but lets go over that list. Why wouldnt they, if you were a member of the Cabinet, a secretary in the Cabinet, youre in the line of succession to the presidency President, Vice President, Speaker of the House, Senate [President] Pro Temp, and then Secretary of State. When just for the information of some when you have the 25th the 25th Amendment invoked, that would be calling upon the Vice President, as we hope to do, to take the lead, and with a majority of the Cabinet to be able to unseat the President of the United States, a very dangerous person who should not continue in office. This is urgent. This is emergency of the highest magnitude. So, youre Pompeo, the Secretary of State. Do you stand by this President dangerously staying in office? Secretary of the Treasury Mnuchin, what is it? Is it about success in business later? Or is it do you believe in this do we have the list? I know it because I know it. Then the way it goes is ST. DAIACLHHTEEVH. Its a mnemonic Secretary of State, Secretary of Treasury, Secretary of Defense, the Acting Secretary of Defense I dont know what authority he may have, but he certainly has to answer for where the National Guard was yesterday. Secretary of then-Attorney General, Attorney General Barr, do you subscribe to the presidency of Donald Trump after the act of sedition he committed yesterday? Its next, Postmaster General. But thats, thats it when our Founders put it together, Interior, the list goes on. Ask each member of the Cabinet, do they stand by these actions? Are they ready to say in the next thirteen days, this dangerous man can do further harm to our country, an assault on our democracy on the first branch of government. Rosen, we spoke to yesterday, why would he not? Why would he not as the Acting AG, as the Acting AG, say this is wrong? There are some courageous Republicans who are speaking out. I salute Secretary of Defense Bill Cohen and others, other Defense Secretaries whove signed a letter, even before yesterday about what is going on in the White House and how that is not a good thing for our country. And the message that it sent to the world, a complete tool of Putin, this President is. Putins goal was to diminish the role of the view of democracy in the world. Thats what he has been about. And, again, his enabler has been Donald Trump for a long time. Thats why I said in that photo when Im leaving his meeting, With you, Mr. President, all roads lead to Putin. Putin wants to undermine democracy. Thats what hes about domestically and internationally. And the President gave him the biggest of all of his many gifts to Putin, the biggest gift, yesterday. My friends, we are in a very difficult place in our country, as long as Donald Trump still sits in the White House. Yes, sir. Q: You said you may be forced to pursue impeachment. Under what circumstances would you do that and how long would you give this 25th Amendment process to play out before going down that route? Speaker Pelosi. Well, its a simple matter in terms of the Constitution. The Vice President, working with the Cabinet, more than 50 percent of the Cabinet can immediately, can immediately improve the security of our country. If that doesnt happen, Jamie Raskin has [introduced] legislation that enables another step in the 25th Amendment process. The 25th Amendment processes is when it is determined that the President is unfit, for whatever reason, to be President of the United States, in case some people dont know what that is. And he clearly has indicated that over and over again, and by inciting sedition, as he did yesterday, he must be removed from office. While its only thirteen days left, any day can be a horror show for America. So so, the next step would be that Congress, and this can be done quickly, can establish a commission, very fast, of maybe former presidents, cabinet people that know something about health, the health of the president and the rest, and and that that group can make its recommendations to the Congress. The list goes on. Having said that, if that if that the best route, the most immediate route would be the Vice President to recognize the danger of the Donald Trump presidency and take this action, A. B, my Members are very much interested, as my phone is exploding with impeach, impeach, impeach. The President must be held accountable. Again, he likes Q: Madam Speaker, how do you have enough time for your Members left for impeachment? Speaker Pelosi. We would be prepared to do that, but I dont have immediate plans, because we havent even been to sleep since since the folly of the Republicans deciding we should go into four oclock in the morning for no purpose whatsoever, except to be enablers of the Presidents sedition, by undermining, by undermining the elections. Imagine that, the President of the United States undermining the elections in our country. So, in any, in any event, we would be prepared. Q: How long are you willing to give Pence, 24 hours, 48 hours? Speaker Pelosi. I dont know how quickly he might respond. Well see. And that should that could be quick. Q: But you said theres great urgency. The clock is clearly ticking. Theres thirteen days. Speaker Pelosi. Thats right. Q: How long are you willing to give the Cabinet and Pence before you start your own procedures? [Crosstalk] Speaker Pelosi. I dont think that itll take long to get an answer from the Vice President. It will either be yes, or it will either be no. And well see. But we want to make sure. Q: Today, do you expect an answer today? Speaker Pelosi. We would hope. But we had, we Mr. Schumer, the new Majority Leader of the Senate and I have made our interest in this known. So, well see what they come back with. But they have to answer for it, and in answering for whether theyre prepared to do that, they are answering for the behavior of Donald Trump. Yes, sir. [Crosstalk] Im sorry. Im talking to you. Q: The security breaches here, Chuck Schumer is talking about firing the Sergeant-at-Arms over there. Are you thinking of a similar step over here? What are you going to do to address the security breaches on the Capitol? Well, let me just say that that is very important question. Let me hold for a moment, because it is not we have to do the after-action review. I have I am calling for the resignation of the Capitol, the Chief of Capitol Police, Mr. Sund. And I have received notice from Mr. Irving that he is, will be submitting his resignation. Having said that, we will have the after-action review, but it goes beyond the Capitol Police. It goes to the FBI. What was what was the shortcoming in their intelligence that they provided? It goes to the Department of Defense. How long did it take for them to respond or anticipate the need for the National Guard? It goes to many other elements of the Executive branch. And I think we have to have a full review. But from the standpoint of let me just say this, many of our Capitol Police just acted so bravely and so with such concern for the staff, for the Members, for the Capitol, for the Capitol of the United States. Many of them, and they deserve our gratitude. But there was a failure of leadership at the top of the Capitol Police. And I think Mr. Sund he hasnt even called us since this happened. So, I have made him aware that I would be saying that were calling for his resignation. Now, on that score, getting back to what was underestimated. That the President of the United States would not be as insightful, perhaps somebody thought for a moment that he would be patriotic before he leaves office for just this once. So, again, the fact that these people were incited and you know what? Last night, I dont know if you heard on the Floor, but some of the Republicans and their enabling of the Presidents bad behavior, have said, Those were not Trumpites, they were Antifa invading the Capitol, disguised as Trumpites. Right. So, we have a problem here with the enabling that is going on with the Republicans in the Congress, as well. Undermining the election, again, enabling the President. And if they dont recognize what yesterday was a threshold was crossed of such magnitude, that there is no way that this President should be allowed to make any decision to rouse any troops and, of his Trumpites, to whats next? What happens today? Who knows? But what we do know, that he must be contained. Any other question? Yes, maam. [Crosstalk] Yes, maam. Q: I wanted to ask, for the inauguration, what are your plans? How are those changing and how do you plan to keep Members and people in the Capitol secure at that time? Speaker Pelosi. Well, Ill go back to my original point. We have thirteen days more of Donald Trump to deal with, who was a danger to our country. So, when we talk about the inauguration, that is a national security event, and that rises to a different level of security protection. We want every day at the Capitol to be deemed a national security event. So that theres no, Well, I didnt know, and that highest level of concern, intelligence seeking, redundancy, if necessary, to protect. Weve been working a long time on the inauguration and, just in terms of coronavirus another shortcoming of the President. People have died because of his denial, distortion and the rest, calling it a hoax. This man is deadly, to our democracy and to our people. But to get to your point, so because of coronavirus in our meetings on the intelligence excuse me, on the inauguration, as far as we have jurisdiction in the Congress. But then, it becomes the purview of the Presidential now, designee, Joe Biden. But to the point that we have, that decision was encouraged to just have a very small inauguration. I dont want to make I dont know what is in the public domain on it but I dont Im not going to put that out there, except that it would be very small, and hopefully have a celebration at some later time when were not coronavirus centric. Now, on top of that, to see what happened yesterday. If theres any I dont want to use the word benefit, because theres nothing could justify. But if theres anything learned about it, it is that we have to be very, very careful because these people and their leader, Donald Trump, do not care about the security of people. They dont care about our democracy. They dont care about the peaceful transfer of power. Something is very, very wrong here. Now, let me just say one more thing about what he did yesterday, and relating to other national security events. People saw throughout the world, something that looked like it was out of a banana republic or some other kind of a third world where the President of the country turned on the people. Turned on the people. And what was sad about it is, of course, as Members of Congress, we sign up, we sign up for the exposure that we have. But to see in the eyes of so many of the staff people, especially the younger ones, the trauma, the fright, that it was for them to be locked into rooms with terrorists banging on the doors, hiding under desks, under tables and the rest of that. They didnt sign up for that. We didnt sign them up for that. A blessing to be interested in public service, to learn from it here. Perhaps, to go on into public service, but to carry that important value into whatever they do in life. But to see, to meet with them and to see how frightened they were, how traumatized they were. Because these thugs, these Trump thugs, decided that they would desecrate the Capitol with no thought of what harm they might do physically, psychologically, or in any other way. And they will be prosecuted, and they will be prosecuted, justice will be done. So, in terms of the inauguration, I dont know if it could be made any smaller. But I dont trust whatever the President might have in mind, because I do not trust because I think hes a very dangerous man. So, again, well review what our options are in terms of the 25th Amendment. Review what our options are if he wants to be unique and be doubly impeached. Thats kind of up to him and his Cabinet as to whether he should stay in office, defeated impeached, defeated, impeached, gone. And its really a sad tragedy for our country. I say I pray for the President every day and I do. Last night was the hardest day for me. Night, at like five oclock in the morning when I finally got home, as I was praying at night just, you gotta keep praying for him, you gotta keep praying for him. Maybe, maybe theres some hope. But we cant take that chance because peoples lives are at stake, as well as our democracy. Thats it for now. Thank you. The Newsmaker of the Day is heard every weekday morning at 6:45, 7:45 and 8:45 on AM 1450 and FM 102.7 KVML. A woman who falsely accused a Black teenager of stealing her phone and then tackled him at a New York City hotel was arrested in her home state of California. Miya Ponsetto, 22, was jailed Thursday in Ventura County, a spokesperson for the sheriffs office there said. It wasnt immediately clear what charges she might face. The New York Police Department flew detectives out to California earlier Thursday with a warrant for Ponsettos arrest. The trip followed days of intense media coverage of the fracas at the hotel and demands by the teens family and activists that she face criminal charges. Ponsettos lawyer, Sharen Ghatan, said in an interview before the arrest that her client is emotionally unwell and remorseful for her Dec. 26 conflict with 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. at Manhattans Arlo Hotel. The teens father, jazz trumpeter Keyon Harrold, recorded the confrontation and put the video online. In his video, an agitated woman is seen demanding the teens phone, claiming he stole it. A hotel manager tries to intervene. Keyon Harrold can be heard in the recording telling the woman to leave his son alone. Ghatan confirmed that Ponsetto is the woman in the video. Security video later released by the NYPD shows Ponsetto frantically grabbing at the teen as he tried to get away from her through the hotels front door. Shes seen clutching him from behind before both tumble to the ground. Ponsettos missing phone had actually been left in an Uber and was returned by the driver shortly afterward, Keyon Harrold has said. The altercation drew comparisons to cases like that of Amy Cooper, a white woman who was charged with filing a false report for calling 911 and saying she was being threatened by an African American man during a dispute in New Yorks Central Park in May. Ventura County Sheriffs deputies arrested Ponsetto after spotting her driving near her home in Piru, northwest of Los Angeles, said department Capt. Eric Buschow. She drove two blocks before stopping her vehicle, then refused to get out of the car, Buschow said. She tried to slam the door on one of the deputies and thats when they just reached in and forcibly removed her, he said, adding that the sheriffs office would ask county prosecutors to charge her with resisting arrest. Ghatan said she spoke to her client earlier Thursday, and that she strikes me as someone whos unwell. She said Ponsetto lashed out over worry about her phone disappearing, and that it wasnt racially motivated. It could have been anyone, she said. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 18:42:42|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China has allocated 1.75 billion yuan (about 270 million U.S. dollars) from its central budget to ensure agricultural production and alleviate disasters during this winter and next spring, according to the Ministry of Finance. The fund has been channeled to 24 provincial-level regions including Inner Mongolia, Liaoning, Sichuan and Gansu, the ministry said in a statement on Friday. The fund will be used for reserving fodder for livestock through the winter, preventing and controlling disasters triggered by cold weather, as well as restoring facilities damaged by water-related disasters. Preparation of backup water sources for possible droughts and implementation of protection measures against droughts and floods shall also be supported by the fund, according to the ministry. Enditem (JTA) Anne Neuberger, a cybersecurity expert and Orthodox Jewish woman, will be appointed to a new role on the National Security Council focusing on cybersecurity, according to Politico. Neuberger will serve as deputy national security adviser for cybersecurity, where she will likely play a major role in responding to a Russian cyberattack from last year, the scope of which the federal government is still trying to determine. Neuberger most recently ran the National Security Agencys new Cybersecurity Directorate. In that role, she was one of the highest ranking women in the NSA. Neuberger, also known as Chani, is from the heavily Jewish Brooklyn neighborhood of Borough Park, where she attended the Bais Yaakov Jewish day school for girls, according to Yeshiva World News. She is a graduate of Touro College in New York and Columbia business school, and she worked in the White House Fellows program. ADVERTISEMENT Neuberger is widely respected in Washington. One congressional staffer told Politico that Neuberger had proven herself to be one of the most capable and respected cyber experts across government throughout her decade-plus of experience at NSA. Wednesdays unrest at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., revealed not only the depth of the political divide in the United States but the divide within the Republican Party, as well. As Donald Trump continued to make claims about the integrity of Novembers election while rioters wearing red MAGA hats stormed the halls of the Capitol, some of his closest allies like Vice President Mike Pence began to distance themselves from the president. Members of Trumps cabinet resigned Thursday night as talk of invoking the 25th Amendment and new impeachment proceedings gained traction. All the while, Republican voters across America watched in dismay and started to question their partys leadership. David Jesuit, a political science professor at Central Michigan University, offered his insight and analysis of this weeks events and discussed what they mean for America and the future of the Republican Party itself. Q: What do you think these events mean for the Republican party? Do you think we are seeing the birth of a new political party or the end of extremism in the Republican Party? Jesuit: So much of what happens next depends on how Donald Trump behaves and what he says in both the short term, leading up to the inauguration, and the medium-term, leading up to the midterms and especially the 2024 presidential election. I know that he Tweeted early Thursday morning and said that there would be a peaceful transfer of power. But that was hardly reassuring. If he chooses to tone down his rhetoric and stop attacking other Republicans, we might see the GOP manage to reincorporate the Trump wing and survive as a party. Moreover, if Trump decides to leave politics altogether, we could see a GOP presidential primary more like 2012. In short, while the party will remain farther to the right than in previous decades, it would be an end to the extremism or Trumpism you mention. However, I think Trump is more likely to tone things down only for the next two weeks and then come out swinging again after the inauguration. In that case, he might strengthen his hold on the GOP and run again in 2024. That would likely lead some GOP voters and legislators to defect to the Democratic party. Then that party would shift to the right. What happens to one party affects the other in our two-party system. Q: Have we ever seen anything like this before? Are there differences between the events over the summer and what occurred yesterday in Washington? Jesuit: We havent seen anything quite like this, though the reconstruction period after the Civil War was even more violent and dangerous for the republic. The implications of the assault on the Capitol and lawmakers makes what happened quite different than what happened over the summer. Q: I think there are things to talk about regarding the difference between a protestor, a rioter and a terrorist. Also, what about the 25th amendment? How does that work? Is there a case to remove the president from office following these events? Jesuit: You saw a mix in the mob (Wednesday). I think most were probably protestors. Some became rioters. Others went there with the intent to cause fear through their acts of violence in order to achieve their political objectives. They are terrorists. As for the 25th amendment, I do not know what Trumps state of mind is. A majority of his cabinet or Congress, together with the VP, would have to agree that he is not able to fulfill his oath of office. Then they could remove him. Impeachment (again) is certainly appropriate. I doubt either will happen, but impeachment and conviction is more likely than invoking the 25th. Q: For individuals feeling as if they are now without a "party" following recent events, where do they go from here? How do we effectively move past a two-party system? Jesuit: The type of electoral system we have is not conducive to having more than two major parties. Having said that, it is possible if parties organize themselves along regional lines. For example, we had a southern and northern Democratic party for decades. Some political scientists referred to the USA having a two and half party system during this time. We could see a southern Republican party and a northern/midwestern one, with the latter being somewhat less extreme. Q: Can or will America ever step back from the polarization of the past decade or so, or will the widening socioeconomic divide make that impossible? Jesuit: You are correct that the socioeconomic divide contributes to political polarization. For example, my research, and those of many others, shows that income inequality erodes trust between people in society. That trust is essential for democracy and good governance. Unless something is done to address this widening economic divide, I am not optimistic and would expect polarization to continue. I suppose the good news is that public policy can help reduce gap between rich and poor. It would require investments in public education and fiscal policies that are more redistributive. But I am not too optimistic that there will be the political will to do this, like there was in the 1930s-1960s. The nephew of a woman who was last seen almost 30 years ago has launched a fresh appeal for information, and says he believes his aunt's disappearance might be connected to organised crime. Bernadette Cooper, originally from Co. Monaghan, Ireland, was last heard from on 10 January 1993 when she phoned a friend from a pub in Tooting, south London. At the time Bernadette was living in the town of Benalmadena on Spain's Costa del Sol, where she ran a struggling Irish bar called Molly Malone's. She had returned to the UK in the hope of finding the funds she needed to keep her Spanish dreams afloat, but mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Now, almost three decades later, her nephew Leon Moore is doubling down on his search for his missing aunt after making a deathbed promise to his dying father that he would find out what happened to his sister. Missing: Bernadette Cooper, pictured, originally from Co. Monaghan, was last heard from on 10 January 1993 when she phoned a friend from a pub in Tooting, south London Surrey Police has also launched an investigation into Bernadette's disappearance, after she was finally officially reported missing last year. Speaking on the Missing Podcast, Mr Moore said: 'There is a human life here. There is a woman's life at stake. The truth is out there.' Born in a small town in Ireland, Bernadette, who would now be 77 years old, moved to London in the 1960s. She met her second husband, Brian. 'She was in a bigger city and was thriving,' Mr Moore said. 'She loved her new life and the opportunities it gave her.' In 1987 the couple moved to Spain where they opened Molly Malone's, an Irish pub that quickly became popular with tourists. There is still a pub by that name operating in Benalmadena, but it has no connection to the one run by the Coopers. While the pub enjoyed success in its first couple of years, it was soon hit by the recession that gripped Europe in the late 1980s and early 1990s. 'It became a very, very difficult place to be,' Mr Moore said. Searching for answers: Now, almost 30 years later, her nephew Leon Moore is appealing for fresh information about his missing aunt. Pictured, on a radio show about the case By the summer of 1991, the Coopers' marriage had crumbled and Brian returned to the family home in England to prepare for a divorce. 'Bernadette soldiered on,' Mr Moore continued. 'But things were still extremely difficult. Many of her friends decided to pack it in. Others urged her to do the same but she was very, very, very determined to carry on... She saw it as a setback for sure... but she wanted to have it. I knew her as a very determined woman. ' Towards the end of 1992, Bernadette could no longer afford to keep the bar running. She returned to the UK, telling her friends in Spain that she was only shuttering Molly Malone's temporarily while she went to finalise the divorce and find the funds she needed to continue with her Spanish dream. 'This is the point where things become very obscure and it is hard to ascertain exactly what happened with Bernadette,' Mr Moore said. They always tell you how vital it is in the first 24/48 hours to ascertain what happened. Of course, when 12 months goes by, you're starting on the back foot with a cold trail and that can be very, very difficult indeed Leon Moore It is thought the first thing Bernadette did was ask her siblings, including Mr Moore's father, for the money she needed: 10,000, equivalent to 20,000 today. It was more than anyone could afford. 'Nobody was in a position to help her,' Mr Moore said. 'But she took it badly. There were some arguments. So when the family assumed she had gone back to Spain they decided to give her a wide berth. A cooling off period. And let the dust settle.' No one from the family contacted Bernadette for a few weeks, assuming she was back in Spain. It was only later, after not hearing from Bernadette on birthdays and at Christmas, and after being unable to reach her on the phone, that 'red flags went up'. Bernadette's sister flew out to Spain to find out what was happening. She was shocked when she turned up at the door of Molly Malone's to discover it was under new ownership, with a Scottish woman behind the bar. Her sister's belongings were packed up in the loft, gathering dust, and no one had heard from her for 12 months. The family leapt into action, contacting all of Bernadette's friends in Spain, but to no avail. Her ex-husband Brian also hadn't heard from her. Struggling business: Bernadette ran an Irish pub in Benalmadena, on Spain's Costa del Sol. At the time of her disappearance it was a crime hotspot and Mr Moore believes this could be a significant factor in what happened to his aunt. Pictured, the beach at Benalmadena in 2019 'It was a mystery,' Mr Moore said. 'They always tell you how vital it is in the first 24, 48 hours to ascertain what happened. Of course, when 12 months goes by, you're starting on the back foot with a cold trail and that can be very, very difficult indeed.' The last anyone heard of Bernadette was a phone call she made from the Horse and Groom pub in Tooting, south London. She spoke to a friend in Spain to say she had 'got the money and was coming home'. In the aftermath of the disappearance, the family enlisted the help of the Salvation Army, hired a private investigator, as well as putting in calls to hospitals and morgues. However they didn't turn to the police. 'It's a question that's been asked many times,' Mr Moore said, when probed on why they didn't file a missing persons report at the time. 'I can only give you the answer that might not make sense to anyone outside the family. Still missing: Bernadette Cooper before her disappearance. She would be 77 today 'For Irish people living in London at the time, there was a question mark about going to the police, there was a kind of fear about going to the police.' One 'romantic' theory was that Berndatte was 'just being Bernadette' and had taken the money to start a new life somewhere, maybe because she met someone new. 'Certainly it would never have entered their [the family's] minds that it could be as macabre as foul play, or more than that,' Mr Moore said. There is also the possibility that Bernadette, who Mr Moore described as 'loud', might have been overheard in the pub talking about the 10,000 she had recently acquired. 'It was not the Ritz, that bar, let's put it that way,' Mr Moore said. 'It was a bar of some repute. I don't think all the individuals in there went to Mass on a Sunday.' He continued: 'She was catnip to men and she enjoyed their company. She could well have fallen in with someone, she could have gone onto another bar, she could have met someone when she was travelling. 'And from there something untoward could have happened regarding the money, and that could have been a motive for any amount of things that might have happened to her.' Another, darker theory, and the one that Mr Moore believes is most likely, is that Bernadette somehow fell foul of gangsters from one of the organised crime syndicates that operated in the Costa del Sol, then known as the crime capital of Europe. Can YOU help find Bernadette Cooper? The police, Mr Moore and missing persons organisation Locate International want to speak to: Anyone who was drinking in the Horse and Groom, in Tooting, in January 1993. Anyone who was in touch with Bernadette in late 92 or early 93. Whoever lent money to Bernadette. Advertisement 'Any number of high profile gangsters from the UK and Ireland, particularly, had set up shops, had opened bars and restaurants very close, if not beside, to where my aunt had set up her own bar,' Mr Moore said. 'And they decided to pray upon the expat community as their new source of income. 'For example there were many, many, time share scams, there were extortion and protection rackets.' There were reports of bar owners being threatened, either for money or as a warning to keep quiet about the drug dealing and other crimes taking place around them. They were also pressured into laundering money or storing stashes of party drugs like cocaine and ecstasy for dealers. Mr Moore, who has spent years investigating his aunt's investigation independently, believes his aunt's disappearance could very well be linked to organised crime. He told one story about how Bernadette and Brian were 'gassed and robbed' in their apartment in a 'military-style' operation. 'When I found out that it was their takings that were robbed, I thought "well here's a bar that at this stage is not doing very well at all. What exactly were they stealing?"' The report cannot be verified. However in 1996, two years after Bernadette's disappearance, Brian was sentenced to five years in prison after being caught producing ecstasy for a criminal gang. There is no evidence that Bernadette or Brian were involved in organised crime before she disappeared. Mr Moore recently published an article addressing the possibility that his aunt's disappearance was linked to organised crime and said he had since received a 'death threat' and threats of violence. 'In addition to that, there are some people who are too frightened to speak,' he said. 'There is something about this picture that is not right.' After carrying out his own enquiries, Mr Moore decided he needed support from the police and filed a missing persons report last year. Surrey Police are now investigating. 'That's where we are today,' Mr Moore said. 'A police investigation and bits of information that are leading us to new areas of inquiry which I hope will bear fruit and give us the answers we've all been looking for for 28 years.' Anyone with information is encouraged to visit the podcast website. Ireland has another 8,248 confirmed cases of Covid-19 this Friday evening January 8, as figures reach highest yet. Laois has been hit with another 55 cases as the third wave of the virus continues to rise since the Christmas break. The latest figures from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) show that 55 new cases were confirmed in Laois on January 8 bringing to 1,831 the total number of cases since last February. In its daily statement issued today NPHET reported that incidence rose again in Laois to 742.6 per 100,000 population due to 629 cases in the past 14 days. In some small consolation, Laois still has the seventh-best incidence of the disease despite the continued surge in cases in the county, with no county escaping the surge. The worst hit neighbouring county is Kildare with 314 new cases, while Carlow and Kilkenny have the joint lowest number of new cases in Ireland, at 41 each. FULL TABLE AT END OF STORY. Nationally, NPHET also confirmed that the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) was notified of 20 additional deaths related to COVID-19. There has been a total of 2,327 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Thursday 7th January, the HPSC has been notified of 8,248 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 135,884* confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. The daily figures for Ireland mean the incidence is now a record 1087.7 cases per 100 k population with 51.795 reported over the past two weeks. Monaghan has the highest incidence at 2119.4 per 100 k on the back of 1,301 new cases in last 14 days. Dublin has the fifth worst record. COUNTY TABLE AT END OF STORY. NPHET said that as of 2pm today, 1,180 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 109 are in ICU. 116 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. New South African variant of the disease reaches Ireland: Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; Three cases of a new variant of COVID-19 recently identified in South Africa have been confirmed in Ireland today by whole genome sequencing. All of the cases identified are directly associated with recent travel from South Africa. Anyone who has travelled from South Africa recently is advised to self-isolate for 14 days and identify themselves through a GP for testing as soon as possible. We are particularly advising healthcare workers travelling from South Africa, that it is essential that they self-isolate for 14 days before entering/re-entering the workplace. While this variant has not yet been identified in many European countries we believe the identification here reflects the extent of genome sequencing surveillance in Ireland," Dr Holohan said. Dr Cillian De Gascun is Medical Virologist and Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory. The ECDC Assessment states that preliminary analyses indicate that 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 this variant is associated with higher severity of infection. There is currently not enough information available to determine whether this variant poses a possible risk related to vaccine match and effectiveness. The antigenic characterisation of this new variant is ongoing, and results are expected in the coming weeks," Dr De Gascun said. Of the cases notified today: 3,834 are men / 4,375 are women. 61% are under 45 years of age. The median age is 38 years old. NPHET highlighted the following counties: 3,013 in Dublin, 1,374 in Cork, 538 in Limerick, 314 in Kildare, 310 in Donegal. It said the remaining 2,699 cases are spread across all other counties. The 7-day incidence 889.4 per 100,000 while the 5-day moving average is 6,800. *Validation of data at the HPSC has resulted in the denotification of 21 confirmed cases. The figure of 135,884 confirmed cases reflects this. Advertisement Brian Sicknick, pictured, was named last night as the Capitol Police officer who died in the mob attack on the US Congress on Wednesday Federal prosecutors have launched a murder investigation into the death of a Capitol cop who died on Thursday night a day after being 'hit over the head with a fire extinguisher' during the MAGA mob riot. Brian D. Sicknick is the fifth person to have died as a result of Wednesday's insurrection but he is the only cop - the other four were all Trump fanatics. His social media pages indicate that he, like the mob, supported Trump. It is unclear where he was when he was allegedly attacked or whether or not he was alone and outnumbered, as many of his colleagues were. Police say he was injured while 'engaging' with the mob. He then returned to his division office, where he collapsed, and was taken to the hospital where he was put on life support briefly. On Thursday night, hundreds of Sicknick's colleagues lined the streets of DC to honor him as his body was transported to the morgue. His family have since revealed that he wanted to be a cop his entire life. 'Brian is a hero and that is what we would like people to remember,' his brother Ken told They stood in salute and flashed the sirens while he was driven past. Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered flags on Capitol Hill to be lowered to half staff in honor of the fallen officer. Sicknick was a Trump fan whose social media pages were full of support for the President. Above, his Twitter profile White House Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere released a statement on behalf of Trump calling Sicknick an 'American hero' but the President - whose social media channels have been locked - has not spoken. Rudy Giuliani's son Andrew, who is a Trump aide, said: 'We, the party of law and order, as we preached all summer long, should never attack our men and women in that wear the badge.' The Capitol Police said late on Thursday night that their homicide division was investigating Sicknick's death. On Friday morning, federal prosecutors took up the probe. It's unclear if they have identified any suspects yet or if there is surveillance footage of his death. Since Wednesday's disastrous riot, Capitol Police have not answered many of the media's questions. Chief Steven Sund stepped down on Thursday after being told to resign by Nancy Pelosi and amid claims the force was deliberately under-supported to avoid inflaming tensions with what might have been perceived as bad optics. Another of the photos on Sicknick's Facebook page Anonymous sources told The Wall St Journal on Thursday that defense and police officials did not want to line the streets with armed National Guardsmen, as they did in the summer during the height of the BLM movement, because it would have raised the already bubbling tension in the Capitol. Instead, fewer than 2,000 Capitol cops and only 300 unarmed National Guard were on duty to meet the mob of some 10,000. Sicknick's brother confirmed his death on Thursday, telling ABC7: 'After a day of fighting for his life, he passed away a hero. 'I would like to thank all of his brothers and sisters in law enforcement for the incredible compassion and support they have shown my family. 'My family and I hope that our privacy can be respected as we grieve. Thank you.' Pelosi said in a statement: 'On behalf of the House of Representatives, I send our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Officer Brian Sicknick, who died after defending the Capitol complex and protecting those who serve and work here. The perpetrators of Officer Sicknicks death must be brought to justice. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the Capitol's flags to be flown at half-staff on Friday in Sicknick's honor Capitol Hill Police salute their fallen colleague Brian Sicknick on Friday after lowing the Capitol Building flag to half-staff Hundreds of Capitol Police cops lined the streets on Thursday night to honor their fallen colleague A police motorcade was seen escorting US Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick on Constitution Ave Thursday night The mob used fire extinguishers to keep the police away from them on Wednesday Sergeant at Arms Paul D. Irving (left) - whose job is to protect the House chamber - and the chief of Capitol Police, Steven Sund (right) both stepped down on Thursday. Police are now building a 7ft wall around the Capitol to protect it over the coming weeks Senator Ted Cruz was among those who mourned Sicknick's death on Friday 'The violent and deadly act of insurrection targeting the Capitol, our temple of American Democracy, and its workers was a profound tragedy and stain on our nations history. But because of the heroism of our first responders and the determination of the Congress, we were not, and we will never be, diverted from our duty to the Constitution and the American people. 'I have ordered the flags at the Capitol lowered to half-staff in Officer Sicknicks honor. The sacrifice of Officer Sicknick reminds us of our obligation to those we serve: to protect our country from all threats foreign and domestic. May it be a comfort to Officer Sicknicks family that so many mourn with and pray for them at this sad time.' Sicknick's family say he wanted to be a cop his whole life Sicknick, who was in his 40s, had been with USCP since 2008. He most recently served in the first responder unit but he previously served in the military. His death is the fifth to be linked to the chaos. Protester Ashli Babbit, a 35-year-old Air Force veteran, was named Wednesday as the first casualty after being shot dead by an officer. The three other Trump fanatics who died were named Thursday as Benjamin Phillips, 50; Kevin Greeson, 55; and Roseanne Boyland, 34. More than 50 police officers were also injured in clashes with protesters. Ted Cruz, one of the Republican senators whom Democrats blame for stirring up the chaos by opposing the certification of Biden's victory, said news of Sicknick's death was 'devastating'. 'Heidi and I are lifting up in prayer the family of the U.S. Capitol Police officer who tragically lost his life keeping us safe. He was a true hero,' Cruz said. 'Yesterday's terrorist attack was a horrific assault on our democracy. Every terrorist needs to be fully prosecuted.' Congressman Tim Ryan, a Democrat, said last night that 'my heart breaks' over Sicknick's death. WH STATEMENT ON COP'S DEATH Anytime a member of law enforcement dies in the line of duty it is a solemn reminder to us all that they run toward danger to maintain peace. The President and the entire Administration extend our prayers to Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknicks family as we all grieve the loss of this American hero Judd Deere, deputy press secretary Advertisement 'This tragic loss is a reminder of the bravery of the law enforcement who protect us every day,' he said. Muriel Bowser, the Democratic mayor of Washington DC, said her 'thoughts and prayers are with the family, friends and colleagues' of the fallen officer. 'May he rest in peace, and we work tirelessly to honor his service to the Congress and our nation,' she said. The names emerged as the chief of the Capitol Police submitted his resignation on Thursday night after Nancy Pelosi and the union representing his officers called for him to step aside, following the total failure to protect Congress on Wednesday. Steve Sund, appointed to the role in June 2019, will step down on January 16 - four days before Joe Biden's inauguration. His resignation came after that of the Sergeant at Arms, Paul Irving - whose job it is to protect the House. He stepped down on Thursday after being told he would be fired for failing to protect the Capitol, as heads began to roll over the horrifying day of violence in America's capital. They were followed by Michael Stenger, the Senate Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, who submitted his resignation to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, effective immediately. Lawmakers had voiced their horror at the lack of preparations ahead of Wednesday's Stop the Steal rally, which had been promoted by Trump for weeks. Shortly before 2pm, the rioters descended on Capitol Hill while lawmakers were inside certifying the vote. Over the next two hours, the violence escalated. Some broke into politicians' offices, tauntingly sat at their desks and left threatening notes. One of the protesters was shot dead by cops (bottom right) Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier Wednesday at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepared to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of fraud Irving had been warned by Chuck Schumer that he would be fired over his office's total failure to stop armed insurgents from breaking into the House chamber. Pelosi had on Thursday called for the resignation of Chief Sund. He failed to call in the National Guard to help on Wednesday, instead leaving his 2,000 cops on the hill to deal with the mob of nearly 10,000. Four Trump rioters also died in Wednesday's unrest which saw ugly scenes as the overwhelmed Capitol Police rushed to secure the House and the Senate floors. Ashli Babbitt, 35, was a 14-year air force veteran who was fatally shot in the chest by Capitol Police as she breached the building. A witness to the shooting suggested the San Diego local was shot by police when she tried to climb through a broken window to get into congressional chambers. Maryland court records show Babbitt had run-ins with law enforcement before despite being a respected Air Force veteran, described as a 'boisterous firecracker' by a fellow soldier. She was previously prosecuted for reckless endangerment, malicious destruction of property and tampering with a car, and was the subject of two restraining orders, court records obtained by DailyMail.com reveal. Babbitt was born Ashli Pamatian, and was recorded as living under that name in North Pole, Alaska in her early adulthood. She joined the Air Force in 2006, first serving at Eielson Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska, where she met her first husband, Staff Sergeant Tim McEntee. A January 2008 photo on the base's website shows the couple with their adopted former military working dog, Sorbon. Babbitt was later stationed with the DC Air National Guard from at least 2014, where she moved in with her future second husband Aaron in Huntingtown, Maryland. But Maryland court records show the McEntees' marriage didn't end until August 2018 when they filed for divorce. Video showed Babbitt climbing through a broken window seconds before she was shot Paramedics tend to Babbitt moments after she was shot inside the Capitol on Wednesday In June 2019, Babbitt married former Marine Sergeant Aaron Babbitt, who served from 2000 to 2005 according to his Facebook page. The bereaved former soldier told KUSI News on Wednesday his wife was a strong supporter of President Trump and a great patriot to all who knew her. He did not respond to a request for comment from DailyMail.com. An unidentified loved one sent Babbitt a portentous text message as she flew to DC for the protest, according to an apparent screenshot from her phone shared on social media. 'Be safe. I cannot lose you,' the sender wrote. Babbitt texted back a selfie from her airplane seat wearing a 'Trump 2020' mask and wrote 'Tons of trump supporters on my plane!!!! I'll watch my 6' using the military term for looking out behind you. Three other Trump fanatics died after suffering medical emergencies. Benjamin Phillips, 50, from Pennsylvania died after suffering a stroke; and Kevin Greeson, 55, from Alabama suffered a heart attack 'in the midst of the excitement'. According to The Inquirer, Phillips described the day as 'the first day of the rest of our lives'. 'They should name this year Zero because something will happen,' his friends claim he said before the riot got underway. Phillips founded the website Trumparoo, where Trump supporters can speak to each other, and organized transport for dozens of people to get to DC from Pennsylvania on Wednesday. It's unclear at what point in the day he suffered his stroke, or if he was married or had children. Greeson's son announced his death on Facebook. 'My dad had a heart attack yesterday and sadly passed away. We all loved him so much. 'He was such a great man we all miss you so much. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers,' he said. Social media photographs show Greeson posing proudly with two AR-15 rifles. He regularly posted on the website Parler where he encouraged violence against Democrats. Among recent comments was: 'Let's take this f*****g country BACK! Load your guns and take to the s streets. 'Let's give them a war... Democrats don't have guns... we do.. bring your stick, I'm bringing my guns.' He also tweeted that hydroxychloroquine was a known cure for COVID - which has not been proven. His family however say he was not violent and was only there to show his support for Trump. 'Kevin had a history of high blood pressure, and in the midst of the excitement, suffered a heart attack. 'Our family is devastated. 'We are thankful for all of the thoughts and prayers and appreciate privacy at this time as we grieve,' they said. It's unclear if the two men were among the violent mob who stormed the building. Roseanne Boyland, 34, from Georgia was 'trampled in the Rotunda', her family told DailyMail.com on Thursday after police she had been potentially 'crushed' in the mob. Her family said she had planned to 'hang back' but was emboldened by Trump's speech earlier on Wednesday. 'This was her first one. She wasn't even supposed to go... we all didn't want her to go. She was hanging back and then after the speech yesterday,' the relative said. 'They're still working on [the details]. Someone said she was trampled, others said she collapsed.... we're still trying to figure it out.' Roseanne was 'trampled in the Rotunda', her family told DailyMail.com on Thursday after police she had been potentially 'crushed' in the mob. TIMELINE OF THE CHAOS 6AM: Crowds start to gather for Trump rally that is scheduled for 10am On December 19, Trump told his fans on Twitter to gather in Washington DC. He said: 'Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, be wild! They gathered peacefully in their thousands outside the White House to first wish Eric Trump a Happy Birthday, and then head from the President himself. 11.50am: Trump speaks at Save America Rally, promises to walk with crowd down to the Capitol In a long, sermon-like speech that went on for more than an hour, Trump told his fans that he'd walk with them. At that stage, there was no mention of violence. 'And after this, we're going to walk down there, and I'll be there with you, we're going to walk down ... to the Capitol and we are going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women,' he said. He did not, however, walk with with them as promised. 1pm: Lawmakers gather in the House chamber to certify Biden's election win 1.10pm: Rioters arrive at the Capitol building and start clashing with police. At 1.26pm, Capitol police order the evacuations of Library of Congress, Madison Building and Cannon House Office Building but not the House chamber 1.40pm: D.C. Mayor Muriel Bows orders a 6pm curfew but does nothing to address the escalating situation at the Capitol. Meanwhile, Capitol police request back-up. 2.11pm: The rioters scale the walls of the Capitol. Vice President Mike Pence is evacuated from the House chamber moments later. 2.39pm: Videos and photographs emerge showing rioters smashing the windows of the Capitol building 2.47pm: Rioters are seen at the dais 2.53pm: Congress is removed from the Chamber in breathing masks and escape hoods 3:51 p.m. The District of Columbia National Guard, about 1,100 troops, is mobilized to support local law enforcement. 6pm: Washington DC curfew begins, many ignore it to stay put 8pm: Lawmakers return to the Chamber to certify Biden win Advertisement Her brother-in-law, Justin Cave, said the rally cost her her life. He blames Trump for her death. 'Roseanne, like a lot of people there, was really passionate about her beliefs as was her right. 'I personally believe that the President incited a riot that cost four of his biggest fans their lives. One of them happened to be my sister. 'I personally believe we should invoke the 25th amendment.' In a statement that he read aloud, he said: 'Our family is devastated by the loss of Roseanne. She was a wonderful sister, daughter and aunt. Anyone who knew her knows how compassionate she was. 'She would always put others before herself. As we watched these awful events unfold, we hoped that Roseanne was not among the crowd. 'Tragically, she was and it cost her her life,' he said. A witness who was inside the Capitol with protesters on Wednesday said they saw Babbit get shot, other people get 'trampled' in a mob stampede, and believed they saw a second woman severely injured. 'A second woman died (or came close),' the witness wrote on Twitter. 'It was a very intense situation that occurred after I saw several people get trampled, nearly avoiding that myself. 'She collapsed in the entryway to the capital building and was trampled. Compressions were performed on her but I was unable to feel a carotid or femoral pulse. Several men carried her back to the police line. She was very cyanotic [discolored skin due to lack of oxygen] & bleeding from the face.' The witness described a terrifying and deadly crush of people in the building, panicking as they fled police. 'I was filming at the edge of the entrance just outside the flow a large group of people pressing into & being pressed from behind into the hallway,' they wrote. 'A large man grabbed from behind, pushed me into the Frey and said, 'you're going in, get in there,' (I think). And I was fought in the mob and pressed into the entry hallway. 'I managed to pull myself into a corner nook against the wall. Moments after, the police inside made a great push outward against the dozens of people pushing inward. Everyone became packed like sardines unable to move against the flow of bodies.' They added: 'At this point, the police and citizens began unleashing a sea of spray mace from both sides. It was nearly impossible to breathe or keep from panicking. 'The man next to me passed out but remained standing due to how tightly we were packed. I slapped his face and he revived. About this time, the woman collapsed, the police overcame the crowd, and I began to see people being seriously trampled as people were fleeing.' President Trump has said nothing of their deaths himself. In a brief statement in the White House briefing room, his press secretary Kayleigh Mcenany said: 'Those who violently besieged our capitol are the opposite of everything this administration stands for.' She walked away without taking any questions from the press. Trump's Twitter and Facebook accounts have been locked. MAGA'S MOST WANTED: The mob fanatics being hunted by the FBI Jean-Etienne Liotards Portrait of Philibert Cramer a masterpiece of the Enlightenment From London to Constantinople, Liotard was the portraitist of choice for princes, popes and kings. Still owned by the descendants of the sitter, this depiction of Voltaires publisher is a sublime example of why his skills were in such great demand Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702-1789) is occasionally referred to as a journeyman artist. However, it would be entirely wrong to imagine him on the move from place to place soliciting commissions. During the 18th century, his services as a portraitist were in constant demand from royals, aristocrats and other elite clients across Europe. Liotards sitters included Louis XV of France, Pope Clement XII, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Marie Antoinette, and the future George III of Great Britain, while he was Prince of Wales. What made the artist so special? According to the English novelist and art historian Horace Walpole, truth prevailed in all his works. Which is to say that Liotard was a realist whose likenesses were as exact as possible. Flattery wasnt in his repertoire, yet that never diminished his popularity among the eminent figures of his day. Perhaps most impressive of all was the fact that he worked chiefly in pastel rather than oils. Pastel consists of powdered pigment thats mixed with a binder to form sticks in various colours; those sticks are then applied to paper or vellum. The British Prime Minister was so delighted with a Liotard portrait of his son that he paid twice the agreed price for it Nowadays we tend to regard pastel as suited to expressive mark-making, as exemplified so masterfully in the late 19th century by Degas. In the mediums golden age, the 18th century, the likes of Maurice-Quentin de La Tour and Rosalba Carriera produced pastel portraits of a feathery quality. In contrast to all those artists, Liotard used the medium to create works of exquisite smoothness and verisimilitude. In 1763, the British Prime Minister, John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute, was so delighted with a Liotard portrait of his eldest son that he paid twice the agreed price for it. Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702-89), Self Portrait in Turkish Costume, circa 1746. Pastel on paper. 60.5 x 46.5 cm. Gemaldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden, Germany. Photo: Staatliche Kunstsammlungen Dresden / Bridgeman Images Born in Geneva, then an independent city state, the artist had a cosmopolitan career that took him to Paris, London, Venice, Vienna, Amsterdam and, for a spell between 1738 and 1742, Constantinople. It was in the Ottoman capital that he began sporting a waist-length beard and red kaftan, both of which he would keep after returning west. They can be seen in several self-portraits, and ended up serving as a form of promotion: Liotard came to be known by the nickname of le peintre turc (the Turkish painter). Apparently, he only shaved his beard off when his Dutch fiancee insisted on it as a prerequisite for their getting married. The couple wed in 1756 and would settle in Liotards home town, which was then undergoing civil unrest because of its leaders perceived betrayal of Genevas Calvinist roots and subservience to France. In 1758, the artist created Portrait of Philibert Cramer (below) which is offered in the online Old Master & British Drawings sale (14-28 January) at Christies. Jean-Etienne Liotard (1702-89), Portrait of Philibert Cramer, circa 1758. Pastel on blue paper, mounted on canvas. 25 x 21 in (63.5 x 53.8 cm). Sold for $810,000 on 28 January 2021, Online Its dashing young subject ran an important Geneva publishing house with his brother, Gabriel. The Cramers were the principal publishers of Voltaire and responsible for the first editions of major works such as the novel Candide. Many of Voltaires letters to the brothers survive. With characteristic wit, he once joked that their chief interest wasnt literature but playing cards, having supper with the Duc de Villars, taking ladies around in their carriage and enjoying life. But the Frenchmans affection for the Cramers was undeniable. He often referred to Philibert as le prince de Geneve. Liotard has drawn hair that you want to comb and clothes you want to touch In the portrait which comes to the market courtesy of one of Philiberts descendants Liotard depicts a handsome, charismatic 30-year-old. As was the artists wont, he both bathes his sitter in a bright, even light and renders him in gorgeous clothing against a plain background. Cramer wears a sky-blue coat embroidered with silver, over a white shirt with ruffles. His arms are folded in a way that oozes self-assurance and intellectual flair. Liotard has drawn hair that you want to comb and clothes you want to touch. No strokes are visible, just a porcelain-like sheen, achieved by pressing his pastel sticks deep into the paper. According to Neil Jeffares in his Dictionary of Pastellists Before 1800, such pressure altered the reflectivity of the pastel compared with lighter application. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe The first Alabama GOP congressman to weigh in on the House Democrats plan for a second impeachment of President Donald Trump said Friday there isnt enough time to move forward with new proceedings. U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said in a statement that he feels as if the president has now lost much of his support around the country and I believe his political influence has been greatly diminished. But Aderholt said there was not enough time to pursue the articles of impeachment against Trump. House Democrats are eyeing a vote of impeaching Trump in the middle of next week. Some Democrats claim the nation is in grave danger as long as the president remains in office. President-elect Joe Biden will take office on January 20. Instead, over the next 12 days, we need to focus on the peaceful transition of power, like weve always done, Aderholt said. At this juncture, impeachment could actually further divide us as a nation. We need to look for ways to unite our country and to prayerfully come together as a nation as we move forward. Aderholt is the first GOP lawmaker to weigh in on impeachment considerations that have grown since Wednesday, when a mob of people attending a Trump rally outside the Capitol rushed the building and ransacked it. The chaos disrupted proceedings inside the Capitol to certify the Bidens Electoral College victory, which were finalized early Thursday. U.S. Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, the states lone Democratic member of Congress, has called for the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office and instill Vice President Mike Pence for the final days of the presidency. She said if the 25th Amendment is not acted on by the remainder of Trumps cabinet, then impeachment should occur. Her comments match those of Democratic leaders in Congress. Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi rand presumptive Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, are demanding that Vice President Mike Pence invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office before Bidens inauguration. Pelosi said that Congress will take action if Trump does not leave office imminently. Related: Alabama Democratic congresswoman calls for Trumps removal The rest of the Alabama congressional delegation has not weighed in on the calls to remove the president after the Capitol was under siege by Trump supporters. U.S. Rep. Gary Palmer, R-Hoover, in an interview with Talk 99.5s Matt Murphy Show in Birmingham said he held Trump responsible for the sending those people to the Capitol. Aderholt and the rest of the GOP congressional delegation from Alabama, excluding U.S. Senator Richard Shelby, opposed the counting of Electoral College votes in several battleground states. The votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania were challenged by Republicans in the House and Senate, but there were not enough votes to advance either measure. The challenge against the Electoral College votes were pushed by Trump for weeks after the president claimed widespread voter fraud. The claims were baseless and there was no evidence of widespread election issues that would alter the presidential result. Numerous lawsuits seeking to over turn results in key battleground states were dismissed over the past few months by federal and state judges , many of them citing lack of evidence of voter fraud. Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was sentenced to fiftheen years in jail on Friday by a Pakistani anti- court in Lahore in a terror financing case, amidst growing pressure on Islamabad to bring to justice terrorists roaming free in the country. Anti- Court (ATC) Lahore Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar sentenced UN proscribed terrorist Lakhvi to five years of rigorous imprisonment each on three counts with a fine of PKR 100,000 (approximately $620) each on three counts. His punishment will run concurrently. The Anti- Court (ATC) Lahore convicted Lakhvi for commission of offences of terrorism financing in a case registered by the CTD for 15 years under different sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, a court official told PTI after the hearing.In default of payment of fine, he will have to undergo an imprisonment of six months each on three counts. He has been sent to prison to serve the sentences, the official said.Lakhvi pleaded before the court that he was falsely implicated in this case. He was accused of running a dispensary and using funds collected for terrorism financing. He and also collected funds from this dispensary and used these funds for further terrorism financing. He also used these funds for personal expenses, the CTD said.India respondsIn New Delhi, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the timing of these actions clearly suggests the intention of conveying a sense of compliance ahead of APJG (Asia Pacific Joint Group) meet and the next FATF (Financial Action Task Force) plenary meet in February 2021. It has become routine for to come up with farcical actions prior to important meetings, he said when asked about the jail sentence to Lakhvi, and issuance of an arrest warrant against Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar by another court.UN proscribed entities and designated terrorists act as proxies for Pakistani establishment to fulfil its anti-India agenda. It is for the community to hold to account and ensure that it takes credible action against terror groups, terror infrastructure and individual terrorists, Srivastava said.Interestingly, Lakhvi was presented before the Lahore ATC on Friday and was convicted the same day in the terror financing case registered against him some time ago. The court was told that Lakhvi, a resident of Renal Khurd Okara district of Punjab, was living in Islamabad before his arrest in this case.Lakhvi, 61, who was on bail since 2015 in the Mumbai attack case, was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province on Saturday.He was designated as a global terrorist by the UN in December 2008 for being associated with LeT and al-Qaeda and for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of both the entities.Proscribed terrorists and entities are subject to an assets freeze, wherein all states are required to freeze funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities, a travel ban that prevents the entry into or transit through nations territories by the designated individuals and an arms embargo. Last month, the UN Security Councils 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee allowed for a monthly payment of PKR 1.5 lakh for Lakhvi to meet his personal expenses.The permission was granted 10 days before his arrest. Lakhvi has named his son Hafizur Rehman and brother Saadat Bashir Waheed who would send him PKR 90,000 and PKR 60,000 respectively in his bank account. He said that his son and brother both have the bank accounts in the same branch.The Paris-based FATF placed Pakistan on the Grey List in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action to curb money laundering and terror financing by the end of 2019 but the deadline was extended later on for Covid-19.On Thursday, an anti-terrorism court in Gujranwala issued an arrest warrant for banned Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief Masood Azhar on the charges of terror financing.The court issued the warrant against Azhar during a hearing in a terror financing case instituted by the Counter Terrorism Department of Punjab police against some members of the JeM.The LeT, led by Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans.The UN has named Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice.The global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is instrumental in pushing Pakistan to take measures against terrorists roaming freely in Pakistan and using its territory to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere. NHPC rose 1.82% to Rs 25.20 after the National Comp Any Law Tribunal (NCLT) approved the company's Rs 165 crore resolution plan for taking over Jalpower Corporation as going concern. Jalpower Corporation (JPCL) was executing 120-mw Rangit Stage-IV Hydroelectric Project in Sikkim. JPCL is currently undergoing Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process which was initiated on 9 April 2019 vide an order of NCLT and Sanjay Kumar Deewani was appointed as Interim Resolution Professional (IRP). In its resolution proposal (RP), NHPC had proposed a resolution amount of Rs 165 crore as full and final settlement for all stake holders including financial, operational and other creditors. NHPC's RP was found to be feasible and viable and the company was declared as the successful resolution applicant by Committee of Creditors (CoC) on 24 January 2020. Earlier, NHPC had successfully acquired Lanco Teesta Hydro Power through the NCLT process. NHPC is engaged in electric power generation by hydroelectric power plants. The firm is also engaged in contracts, project management and consultancy works. As of 30 September 2020, the Government of India held 70.95% stake in the company. The company's consolidated net profit declined by 7.6% to Rs 1,188.04 crore on a 5.5% fall in net sales to Rs 2,899.56 crore in Q2 FY21 over Q2 FY20. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Source: Reuters Crude oil futures surged to more than 10-month high of Rs 3,770 per barrel on the MCX since February 21. Crude oil price rose after Saudi Arabia unexpected pledged to cut additional production, rally in global equity markets and a sharp decline in US crude stockpiles. Crude oil prices were boosted by the Democrats' victory in Georgia election giving them control of both the chambers of Congress enabling US President-elect Joe Biden to spend more freely. Tapan Patel- Senior Analyst (Commodities), HDFC Securities said, Crude oil prices traded higher with benchmark NYMEX WTI crude oil were trading half a percent up to $51.12 per barrel on Friday. MCX Crude oil January futures were trading up to Rs 3,758 by noon session. Crude oil prices extending weekly gains on Saudi output cut pledge and demand growth optimism. The rally in equity indices also supported oil prices to trade high for the day. We expect crude oil prices to trade sideways to up with support at $49 and resistance at $52. MCX Crude oil January has support at Rs 3,690, resistance at Rs 3,790, Patel noted. MCX iCOMDEX Crude Oil Index inched up 14.83 points, or 0.35 percent, at 4,277.27 at 16:01. In the futures market, crude oil for January delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 3,770 and an intraday low of Rs 3,738 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 3,770. Crude oil delivery for January rose Rs 12, or 0.32 percent, to Rs 3,750 per barrel at 16:02 hours IST with a business turnover of 2,656 lots. Crude oil delivery for February gained Rs 2, or 0.05 percent, to Rs 3,741 per barrel with a business volume of 12 lots. The value of January and Februarys contracts traded so far is Rs 242.09 crore and Rs 0.07 crore, respectively. West Texas Intermediate crude was up 0.73 percent quoting at $51.20 per barrel, while Brent crude, the London-based international benchmark soared 0.90 percent to $54.87 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. British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday there were concerns about how effective the COVID-19 vaccines might be against the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa. There are concerns that the South African one in particular about how effective the vaccine would be against it so we simply cannot take chances, Shapps told Sky. Pfizer Inc and BioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine appeared to work against a key mutation in the highly transmissible new variants of the coronavirus discovered in the UK and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the U.S. drugmaker. The not-yet peer reviewed study by Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch indicated the vaccine was effective in neutralizing virus with the so-called N501Y mutation of the spike protein. The mutation could be responsible for greater transmissibility and there had been concern it could also make the virus escape antibody neutralization elicited by the vaccine, said Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizers top viral vaccine scientists. 'The devil has a plot but God has a plan': Christian artists deplore US Capitol riot Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In the aftermath of the US. Capitol invasion on Jan. 6, Christian artists took to social media to condemn the violence and stress the reality of spiritual warfare. On Wednesday, dozens of people breached security perimeters at the Capitol intending to stall Congress' certification of the Electoral College votes and pressure Republican lawmakers into overturning former Vice President Joe Biden's electoral victory. The protests resulted in four casualties and dozens of arrests. Some people who stormed the Capitol building did so with JESUS 2020 signs, In God We Trust banners and a large cross, drawing condemnation from pastors and evangelical leaders across the political spectrum. There are two kingdoms at war," hip-hop artist Lecrae wrote on his Instagram page. "The empires of man and the Kingdom of God." Here's how Christian artists responded to the events of Jan. 6. US President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally on January 6, 2021 in Washington. (Image: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) President Donald Trump has suggested to aides he wants to pardon himself in the final days of his presidency, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions, a move that would mark one of the most extraordinary and untested uses of presidential power in American history. In several conversations since Election Day, Trump has told advisers that he is considering giving himself a pardon and, in other instances, asked whether he should and what the effect would be on him legally and politically, according to the two people. It was not clear whether he had broached the topic since he incited his supporters on Wednesday to march on the Capitol, where some stormed the building in a mob attack. Trump has shown signs that his level of interest in pardoning himself goes beyond idle musings. He has long maintained he has the power to pardon himself and his polling of aides views is typically a sign that he is preparing to follow through on his aims. He has also become increasingly convinced that his perceived enemies will use the levers of law enforcement to target him after he leaves office. No president has pardoned himself, so the legitimacy of prospective self-clemency has never been tested in the justice system and legal scholars are divided about whether the courts would recognize it. But they agree a presidential self-pardon could create a dangerous new precedent for presidents to unilaterally declare they are above the law and to insulate themselves from being held accountable for any crimes they committed in office. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has considered a range of pre-emptive pardons for family, including his three oldest children Donald Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump Ivanka Trumps husband, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, and for close associates like the presidents personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Trump has expressed concerns to advisers that a Biden Justice Department might investigate all of them. Trump, who has told advisers how much he likes having the power to issue clemency, has for weeks solicited aides and allies for suggestions on whom to pardon. He has also offered pre-emptive pardons to advisers and administration officials. Many were taken aback because they did not believe they were in legal jeopardy and thought that accepting his offer would be seen as an admission of guilt, according to the two people. Presidential pardons apply only to federal law and provide no protection against state crimes. They would not apply to charges that could be brought by prosecutors in Manhattan investigating the Trump Organizations finances. The discussions between Trump and his aides about a self-pardon came before his pressure over the weekend on Georgia officials to help him try to overturn the election results or his incitement of the riots at the Capitol. Trump allies believe that both episodes increased Trumps criminal exposure, and more potential problems emerged for the president on Thursday when the Justice Department said it would not rule out pursuing charges against him over his role in inciting Wednesdays violence. We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building, said Michael R. Sherwin, the top federal prosecutor in Washington. As aides urged Trump to issue a strong condemnation on Wednesday and he rejected that advice, the White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, warned Trump that he could face legal exposure for the riot given that he had urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and fight beforehand, according to people briefed on the discussion. Trump had appeared to White House aides to be enjoying watching the scenes play out on television. Beyond that, the extent of Trumps criminal exposure is unclear. The special counsel, Robert Mueller, outlined 10 instances in which Trump may have obstructed justice but declined to say whether Trump broke the law, citing legal and factual constraints of prosecuting a sitting president. Former Justice Department officials and legal experts said that several of the acts should be prosecuted. In 2018, federal prosecutors in New York named Trump as a conspirator in an illegal campaign finance scheme. Pardons can be broad or narrowly tailored. White-collar defense lawyers said that Trump would be best served by citing specific crimes if he pardoned himself, but such details could be politically damaging by suggesting that he was acknowledging he had committed those crimes. A self-pardon would complicate the already fraught question for the Biden Justice Department about whether to investigate and ultimately prosecute Trump. Democrats and former Justice Department officials contend that if Trump pardons himself and the Justice Department declines to prosecute Trump, it will send a troubling message to Americans about the rule of law and to future presidents about their ability to flout the law. The Biden Justice Department will not want to acquiesce in a Trump self-pardon, which implies that the president is literally above federal law, said Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard law professor and former top Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration. A self-pardon would align with Trumps unprecedented use of the pardon power. The framers of the Constitution gave the president almost total authority to grant clemency for federal crimes, positioning the head of the executive branch as a check on the judicial branch and as someone who could dip into the justice system to show grace and mercy on the downtrodden. But Trump has eschewed the formal Justice Department process set up to ensure pardons are handed out fairly. Instead, he has used his pardon power unlike any other president to help allies, undermine rivals and push his own political agenda. Of the 94 pardons and commutations Trump has granted, 89% were issued to people who had a personal tie to Trump, helped him politically or whose case resonated with him, according to a tabulation by Goldsmith. The only president to receive a pardon was Richard Nixon. A month after Nixon left office, his former vice president, Gerald Ford, pardoned him for all crimes he committed in office. The move was widely criticized at the time as allowing the presidency to hover above the law. Ford supporters later blamed the pardon for his election loss two years later, though ultimately the pardon came to be seen as a move that helped the country move on from Watergate. Trump has maintained throughout his presidency that he has the authority to pardon himself and first discussed the possibility with aides as early as his first year in office. Those discussions began when his campaigns ties to Russia were being scrutinized and investigators were examining whether he had obstructed justice. Legal scholars are less certain about Trumps declaration that he has an absolute right to pardon himself. The Justice Department said in a short August 1974 opinion, just four days before Nixon resigned, that it would seem that presidents cannot pardon themselves under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case. But the president is not bound by those opinions, and there is nothing stopping Trump from signing a pardon for himself. The questions would be whether the Justice Department under another president would honor the pardon and set aside any potential prosecution of Trump and, if he were prosecuted, whether the judicial system would ultimately decide whether the pardon insulates Trump from facing charges. Only a court can invalidate a self-pardon, and it can only do so if the Biden administration brings a case against Trump, Goldsmith said. A Trump self-pardon would thus make it more likely the Biden team prosecutes Trump for crimes committed in office. Throughout Trumps presidency, he and allies have looked to pardons as a way of helping the president protect himself in criminal investigations. During the Russia investigation, Trump and his personal lawyer John M. Dowd dangled pardons to former aides. One, his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, flouted a plea deal to work with prosecutors. By Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman c.2021 The New York Times Company The United Arab Emirates' minister of state for foreign affairs said Thursday that Gulf states will first resume trade and travel links with Qatar before reestablishing normal relations following the Gulf unity deal. Anwar Gargash said the UAE and other Gulf states would first work on airlines, shipping and trade with Doha. He said other issues will take more time, saying at a news conference, We have issues with rebuilding trust, according to Reuters. On Monday, Saudi Arabia and Qatar agreed to open their borders with one another for the first time since 2017. The next day, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states signed a deal pledging mutual solidarity. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE are all members of the GCC along with Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. The agreement has its roots in the 2017 Qatar diplomatic crisis. This occurred when Saudi Arabia and its allies the UAE, Egypt and Bahrain cut relations with Qatar and closed their land and sea borders and air spaces to it. The quartet alleged that Qatar was supporting terrorism. Qatar has policy differences with Saudi Arabia and its allies, especially with regard to Qatar's relations with the Muslim Brotherhood and Iran. Qatar mounted legal challenges to the quartets actions and denied it supported terrorism. NEW DELHI: Delhi government on Friday said that those arriving from the United Kingdom and found COVID-19 positive will be kept under isolation to prevent the new coronavirus strain from spreading further. The announcement was made by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, according to news agency ANI. "All those arriving from the UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine," Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said. All those arriving from the UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine: Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/EyTnkNMvNA ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 The order came shortly after India and the United Kingdom resumed normal flight operation, nearly a week after the government suspended the flights to and from the United Kingdom amid concerns over the new coronavirus strain. According to reports, the first flight carrying 256 passengers arrived in the national capital from London today. The resumption of the normal flight operations comes nearly a week after the government suspended services between India and UK on December 23 over the new and more contagious strain of the virus. According to an announcement by the Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Puri, 30 flights will operate every week - 15 each by Indian and UK carriers. This will stand till 23 January, as per the announcement made by the Minister. Meanwhile, the authorities at the Delhi airport have advised passengers to keep a gap of at least 10 hours between their arrival from the UK and the connecting flight to their cities. It may be recalled that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Thursday urged the Centre to extend the flights ban till January 31 because of the "extremely serious" COVID situation in the UK. "The Centre has decided to lift the ban and start UK flights. In view of the extremely serious situation in the UK, I would urge the central government to extend the ban till January 31," Kejriwal had tweeted. "With great difficulty, people have brought the COVID-19 situation in control. UK's COVID situation is very serious. Now, why should we lift the ban and expose our people to risk?" the Chief Minister had said. In Delhi, 13 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus variant. The Civil Aviation Minister had tweeted that further frequency of flights would be determined after reviewing the situation. All passengers from the UK arriving between January 8 and January 30 will be subjected to self-paid COVID-19 tests on arrival. Passengers are also required to carry COVID-19 negative reports from a test done 72 hours before their journey and quarantine for 14 days even if they test negative on arrival, according to the government's new SOP. Live TV Then-Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, who stepped into the top DOJ job when Barr resigned last month, told prosecutors in a memo in September that they should consider the use of seditious conspiracy charges against violent demonstrators, saying it does not require proof of a plot to overthrow the U.S. government. No one charged in the civil unrest sparked by George Floyds death has actually been charged with sedition. Real-time data from realestate.co.nz suggests that stock shortages will continue to pose challenges for Kiwi buyers at the start of 2021. Housing stock was down year-on-year in almost every region in New Zealand during December, with 16 of 19 regions falling to all-time lows since records began 13 years ago. The national stock level was also at a record low. Vanessa Taylor, spokesperson for realestate.co.nz, says this is despite a year-on-year 19.2 per cent increase in new listings coming onto the market during December. There were 29.1 per cent less homes available for sale at the end of last month compared to December 2019, creating a significant mismatch in supply and demand. Were still seeing a lot of competition in the market and I expect this will continue to drive strong prices in the first quarter of 2021, encouraged by low mortgage rates and a lack of international travel, says Vanessa. The national average asking price is now $799,190 a 13.6 per cent increase on December last year. Average asking price up 13.6 per cent on last year, with record highs in two regions Real-time data from realestate.co.nz shows the national average asking price remained stable month-on-month in December with a marginal 0.3 per cent increase on November 2020. However, this number increased by 13.6 per cent when compared to December 2019. The asking price for properties around New Zealand was $799,190 at the close of 2020, compared to $703,780 in December 2019. Asking prices nationally are now $95,410 more than the same time last year, says Vanessa. Two regions reached all-time average asking price highs in December, with Bay of Plenty and Central North Island recording peak prices since realestate.co.nz records began 13 years ago. Bay of Plenty prices were up 8.1 per cent year-on-year, with the asking price reaching a high of $780,475. But it was Central North Island that recorded the countrys biggest increase, with the regions average asking price climbing to $685,044 up 20.7 per cent on November 2020 and 38.8 per cent on December 2019. Although this might be welcome news for sellers, it may not be time to celebrate just yet. We saw a significant number of high-end and large lifestyle properties come onto the market in the Central North Island during December, which has pushed the average asking price up, cautions Vanessa. Stock shortage continues, with record lows nationally and in 16 regions Property remains in short supply across the country with only 12,932 homes available for purchase in New Zealand at the end of December 29.1 per cent less than the same time last year, a 13-year record low. Housing stock was down year-on-year in almost every region last month, with 16 of 19 regions falling to record lows. Only Auckland, Gisborne and Central Otago/Lakes avoided hitting 13-year record stock lows in December, says Vanessa. Wairarapa, Coromandel and Nelson & Bays had the lowest stock compared to 2019, decreasing by 58.5 per cent, 50.3 per cent and 49.2 per cent respectively. The stock shortage will likely continue to prove challenging for buyers at the beginning of 2021, says Vanessa. This is a long-term factor impacting the New Zealand market and the number of Kiwis returning from overseas, combined with low mortgage rates and lack of international travel, are only adding to the demand for property. 13-YEAR RECORD TOTAL STOCK LOWS Region Total stock Dec-2019 Total stock Dec-2020 Year-on-year decrease Northland 1,194 698 -41.5% Waikato 1,315 789 -40.0% Bay of Plenty 1,232 669 -45.7% Hawkes Bay 371 203 -45.3% Taranaki 342 221 -35.4% Wellington 571 346 -39.4% Nelson & Bays 352 179 -49.2% West Coast 324 201 -38.0% Canterbury 2,786 1,766 -36.6% Otago 394 287 -27.2% Southland 314 252 -19.7% Coromandel 441 219 -50.3% Marlborough 245 125 -49.0% Wairarapa 205 85 -58.5% Central North Island 305 192 -37.1% Manawatu / Whanganui 609 315 -48.3% National 18,230 12,932 -29.1% New listings up but regions still in short supply New listings are up 19.2 per cent year-on-year to 6592, with 1064 more properties coming onto the market last month than December 2019. Although its promising to see pockets of new listings coming onto the market across the country, it was largely our major centres that did the heavy lifting last month, says Vanessa. Of the 6592 properties that came onto the market in December 2020, more than half were in Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury. Buyers in regional New Zealand are still faced with little choice at the moment, says Vanessa. Auckland saw the most significant increase in new listings last month, with 52.0 per cent more new listings compared to December 2019, while Marlborough saw the biggest decrease with 23.5 per cent fewer properties coming onto the market. ROGERS CITY, MI The last living survivor from the wreck of the S.S. Carl D. Bradley has died. The Besser Museum for Northeast Michigan announced Friday the passing of Frank Mays, who was one of two men to survive when the vessel broke in two and sank in northern Lake Michigan during gale-force winds on Nov. 18, 1958. In total, 33 men were killed, including 23 from Rogers City, leaving Mays to tell their remarkable story, and his, through his books If We Make it til Daylight, and A Lot More to Do: The Remarkable Life of Frank Mays. READ MORE: Carl D. Bradley split in two, sank 61 years ago, causing heartache for Michigan town Our staff meets many local authors, artists, and interesting people who pass through our door, staff at the museum in Alpena wrote on Facebook. It was truly an honor to meet such an amazing, positive man and hear of his many life adventures. He will be missed. Mays, who eventually moved to Florida, annually returned to Northern Michigan for a memorial ceremony held at the Great Lakes Lore Maritime Museum. The Edmund Fitzgerald gets lots of attention, because of the Gordon Lightfoot song and the speculation on what caused it to sink. However, the Bradley sinking claimed more lives, featured an unbelievable night of four men clinging to a small raft and the thrilling rescue attempt, said Eric Gaertner, a news leader for MLive in Grand Rapids who wrote a book about the wreck called Torn in Two: The True Story of the Carl D. Bradley Sinking and the Challenges for Those Left Behind. While conducting interviews and researching the sinking of the Carl D. Bradley, the thing that struck me was the sheer loss of human life for one small town. An overwhelming majority of the 33 men who died in the tragedy were from Rogers City, a town of about 4,000 at the time. Its difficult to comprehend that a visitation service inside the local high school gym featured 15 caskets. The S.S. Carl D. Bradley was built in 1927 by the American Ship Building Company in Lorain, Ohio. She retained the title of Queen of the Lakes for 22 years as the longest and largest freighter on the Great Lakes before her tragic sinking about 12 miles southwest of Gull Island in 1958. Kenrick Haywood, a resident of Rose Place, gave a detailed account of the misuse of the garbage facilities in that community by outsiders. Kenrick Haywood is among residents of Rose Place who are calling for businesses and other outsiders to stop disposing of their garbage in the facilities provided for that community. And he is appealing to the relevant authorities to "close down the concrete enclosure in particular, since it encourages an unhealthy environment. The concrete enclosure is one of two facilities provided for garbage disposal in the community, the other being a garbage skip. Residents in the community of Rose Place on Tuesday morning blocked one of the main road in the area with garbage and other debris that they said were left undisposed since before Christmas Day. However, following media attention health officials and workers at the Solid Waste Management Unit responded swiftly and cleaned the area. Haywood who lives in proximity to the concrete enclosure, told THE VINCENTIAN on Tuesday that outsides are using the community as a dumping ground. "Restaurants, Syrian stores, coconut vendors, government buildings and all, hospital and all throwing things there, Haywood stated with a tone of disgust. "Why the business places them dont get the garbage truck to remove their garbage? What they are doing is that they looking for the vagrants and pay them a three dollars or a five dollars to throw the garbage down here. I telling you the truth, and is early morning and late night they are throwing the garbage a lot of the times. "Me and them does have argument because I does wake up early morning too and waiting for them. Even if the garbage dump is full they still throwing their waste here, Haywood detailed what seemed to be a routine. "They can do better and the health authorities should enforce the law to fine persons who are dumping their garbage illegal, said Haywood. Haywood called for the concrete enclosure to be "removed, a call that was echoed by MP for the West Kingstown constituency, Daniel Cummings. He is also appealing to Vincentians on a whole to keep the country clean and stop urinating in public or else face the prospect of being fine. THE VINCENTIAN visited the community again on Wednesday, a day after the action taken by the Rose Place residents. Garbage could be seen in the concrete enclosure. Scott Disick's model girlfriend Amelia Hamlin posed for a risque mirror selfie in a tiny black bikini top, after returning home from her romantic getaway in Cabo San Lucas. After spending a few glorious days enjoying one of Mexico's most beautiful beaches, the 19-year-old daughter of Lisa Rinna showed off her enviable tanned physique. In her latest snap on her Instagram Story, the beauty proudly displayed her gym-honed abs and midriff as she wore a pair of skintight black biker shorts. Stunning: Scott Disick's model girlfriend Amelia Hamlin posed for a risque mirror selfie in a tiny black bra, after returning home from her romantic getaway in Cabo San Lucas While Hamlin hid her face behind her phone, she appeared ready to soak up the sun as she kept her black shades perched atop her head. While keeping her accessorizes to just a silver chain bracelet on her right wrist, she cheekily placed an emoji of a pair of eyes looking slightly to the side on her ample bust. Over the weekend, the brunette bombshell posted a number of other steamy shots from her New Year's Eve trip with Disick, 37. Gym-honed abs: After spending a few glorious days enjoying one of Mexico's most beautiful beaches, the 19-year-old daughter of Lisa Rinna showed off her enviable tanned physique Scott, who has three children with ex Kourtney Kardashian, split with Sofia Richie last summer after two years of dating. First linked around Halloween, things between Hamlin and Disick have continued to heat up as they have been spotted getting cozy in Malibu together and even went away to Santa Barbara. When Scott seemed to be in the market for a new house, Amelia was by his side as they fueled rumors they were scoping out a potential joint pad, albeit a very fast move. Blessed: Amelia recently returned from a New Year's Eve holiday in Cabo San Lucas with new beau, Scott Disick, 37 'People are judgmental': Hamlin hit back at criticism of her relationship with Scott Disick, 37, in an impassioned Instagram post over the weekend Amelia, who has fronted campaigns for Too Faced and Hudson Jeans, recently defended her romance with the much older Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, who has been known to have a predilection for younger girls. 'ppl r extra weird and judgmental these days...people can embrace themselves however they feel fit for them at that moment in time. people grow. people learn to love themselves more and more.' Despite seeming to be all in with Disick, Amelia's parents were not so sure based on his track record with public relationships as well as his seemingly playboy ways. On Christmas, the family celebrated without him even though sister Delilah Belle's boyfriend Eyal Booker was present as they all dressed up in matching red pajamas. Thankful: Amelia recently posted a beach selfie with new beau Scott and a friend at the end of last month, which she captioned: 'Thankful 4 these ppl' [sic] A source told The Sun that Lisa and dad Harry Hamlin are 'worried' for Amelia. 'Sofia was a bit hurt that Scott was flaunting his relationship with Amelia Gray Hamlin so freely. Scott has been preoccupied with Amelia and Scott is the type of guy who can't be alone and always needs someone there.' Kardashian - who he shares Mason, 11, Penelope, eight, and Reign, six, is not bothered by the relationship at all according to the source. 'Kourtney isn't bothered that Scott is hanging out with Amelia Gray Hamlin and is so far past thinking about him in a romantic way. She knows Scott better than anybody and she is supportive.' The Bexar County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether a jail lieutenant broke policy or any laws by attending a pro-Trump rally that turned into an angry mob storming the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Sheriff Javier Salazar said 46-year-old Roxanne Mathai, an eight-year veteran with the department, posted selfies and photos of the crowd in Washington, D.C. to her Facebook page, identifying herself as a BCSO employee. The sheriff said he was made aware of the photos Thursday morning and sent the photos to the local FBI agency to see if Mathai participated in any illegal behavior during the incident. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox The photos don't show Mathai committing an unlawful act, but the FBI has facial recognition abilities that can determine if she entered the Capitol building. BCSO officials also want to know if she was on Capitol grounds after dispersal orders were given, which would be in violation of the law. In one of the photos' caption, she wrote she did not want to do something illegal and "catch a case." Salazar said some of the photos show the lieutenant in the middle of the crowd that assaulted law enforcement agents. If that is the case, the sheriff said Mathai will be investigated on administrative charges of conduct unbecoming and wants her to "never set foot in (BCSO) again." READ ALSO: Dan Crenshaw tells pro-Donald Trump mob: 'Stop this bullsh-t' "If she just stood by while first responders were assaulted, it would be more than just troubling, it would be downright infuriating," Salazar said. "It makes you mad ... if someone that wears a uniform just stood there, watched and took pictures." The sheriff, who is a registered Democrat, said his decision is based on discipline not on Mathai's support of Donald Trump. If others think otherwise, Salazar said "sorry not sorry." Salazar emphasized that Mathai has the right to travel and attend a Trump rally but said once the assembly turned unlawful, she should have left. Mathai has been on administrative leave since October after allegations of an improper relationship with an inmate surfaced, according to Salazar, who said her behavior was concerning because she is in a management level position and oversees at least 80 deputies inside the jail. BCSO's Internal Affairs Unit is investigating the allegations, and Salazar said he plans to open another investigation in connection with Mathai's photos from the Capitol. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway By Larry McShane, the New York Daily News (TNS) Officer Brian Sicknick, mortally wounded by a fire extinguisher to the head while defending the U.S. Capitol from rioters, was a true American patriot: An Iraq War veteran, unafraid to question his countrys leaders. Sicknick, a 42-year-old New Jersey native, died around 9:30 p.m. Thursday, one day after he was attacked by rioters who invaded the Capitol following an incendiary speech by President Trump. Flags at the Capitol flew at half-staff Friday to honor Sicknick, who joined the Capitol Police in 2008. No arrests were yet made in the killing of the veteran law enforcer, who was injured in a scuffle with protesters. Prosecutors were set to launch a federal murder investigation into his slaying. This undated image provided by the United States Capitol Police shows U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who died Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, of injuries sustained during the riot at the Capitol. A native of South River, N.J., Sicknick served in the New Jersey Air National Guard and went on to a law enforcement career, which his family said was his lifelong dream. He joined the Capitol Police in 2008. (United States Capitol Police via AP)AP Sicknick, a former Air National Guardsman, served in Operation Desert Shield and Operation Enduring Freedom before joining the D.C. police force, his brother told the Daily Beast. The veteran officer collapsed Wednesday after returning to his police division office and never recovered. The sacrifice of Officer Sicknick reminds us of our obligation to those we serve: to protect our country from all threats foreign and domestic, said Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. May it be a comfort to Officer Sicknicks family that so many mourn with and pray for them at this sad time. Back in 2004, Sicknick penned a letter to his local New Jersey newspaper about the White House race between incumbent President George W. Bush and Democratic challenger John Kerry. Bushs foreign policies are one reason the world has become as dangerous as it is, wrote Sicknick. I dont know why everyone is brainwashed that only Bush can protect us. The letter included two lines that rang particularly true in recent days as Trump refused to acknowledge his November defeat by Democrat Joe Biden. I implore everyone to vote their conscience in the upcoming presidential election, wrote Sicknick. No more rewarding incompetent politicians with a second term. Sicknick, who grew up in South River, N.J., was a graduate of the Middlesex County Vocational Technical High School in neighboring East Brunswick, N.J. He was living in Springfield, Va., at the time of his killing. His passing brought the number of fatalities in the riot to to five, including one protester who was shot to death by Capitol Police and three other civilians who died during the rampage. West Australian Premier Mark McGowan has urged residents not to leave the state unless it is "absolutely necessary" as he teased the return of a hard border with the rest of the country. Mr McGowan has asked everyone in WA buy a reusable face mask after the state shut its border to Queensland due to Brisbane going into a three-day lockdown over a community case of the more infectious 'UK strain' of coronavirus. WA Premier Mark McGowan has announced a hard border with Queensland as Prime Minister Scott Morrison outlined a swag of new COVID-19 safety measures for the country. Credit:Cameron Myles WA now has a hard border arrangement for the three biggest states in Australia and Mr McGowan said the situation could change extremely quickly. "If this keeps happening we don't rule out just shutting the border completely," he said. Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said from July 2021 the health sector will carry out medical examinations and treatment while reducing paper usage. Great achievements Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long Long said at the national conference of the healthcare sector on January 6 that the biggest achievement of the sector in 2020 was the successful control of Covid-19. All Vietnamese joined forces to fight the pandemic, which had never been seen before and was similar to a war effort. During the pandemic, Vietnam showed its firm stuff and wisdom when becoming one of the first four countries to successfully sequence the coronavirus gene and one of five countries to produce antibodies. It is also one of a few countries which are manufacturing vaccines against Covid-19, and making medical bio-products and ventilators. Long said Vietnamese people gained these great achievements thanks to the unanimity among people and organizations joining forces to fight the pandemic under the direction of the National Steering Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control. The fight against the pandemic has been effective also thanks to media campaigns. Accurate information about the pandemic has been delivered to people through different channels. Telecom carriers have sent 20 billion SMS messages to people, a record high number. Since February 2020, border guards have set up more than 1,600 check points with more than 10,000 soldiers guarding the border. Many of them have been on duty for the last six months and still have not returned home. The fight against the pandemic has been effective also thanks to media campaigns. Accurate information about the pandemic has been delivered to people through different channels. Telecom carriers have sent 20 billion SMS messages to people, a record high number. Just within a short time, the Vietnam Fatherland Front successfully mobilized VND2 trillion to help fight the pandemic. Some mothers sold part of their assets, and one man told the Prime Minister he was willing to sell the land of his family to get money to support the fight. Despite the success, Long called on agencies, organizations and people not to be complacent about the achievements and neglect their duties to fight the pandemic. Fighting Covid-19 will still be the top priority task in 2021. 2021: reducing paper usage The minister said the healthcare sector carried out strong reform in 2020. It was one of two sectors that upgraded online public services to the fourth level just within six months, connecting with the national one-stop-shop portal. And it committed to continue to cut 30 percent of administrative procedures this year. The Ministry of Health in 2020 for the first time implemented 90 percent of its program on building laws and ordinances. It plans to submit a draft law on examination and treatment and an amended health insurance law. Within 45 days, the healthcare sector connected 1,000 remote examination and treatment points, while the number of points reached 1,500. It is expected that from now to 2025, 100 percent of medical establishments nationwide will have connections for remote examination and treatment. In 2020, Vietnamese surgeons successfully conducted complicated surgeries, including intestinal transplants, organ transplants, twins dissection, and limb transplants. The primary healthcare program has brought initial results. The average height of Vietnamese people in the 1990-2000 period was equal to Japanese people in 1945-1955. If all intervention measures are implemented, height will be further improved. Regarding digital transformation, within a short time, digital products were created, including the medical network application platform which connects all doctors and medical workers at different levels; and the V20 commune medical center connections. Elaborating on the plan for 2021, Long said AI will be applied in licensing drugs, from March. Meanwhile, from July, medical examinations will be provided without using paper. Medical records will also be shared among medical centers. At present, many medical centers are sharing data and test results. However, this is just a first step. In the future, medical records will be shared among hospitals at all levels, which is a foundation for applying AI and Big Data to analyze and anticipate disease trends in order to find timely solutions. Le Ha Vietnam named among Asian trio to have competently dealt with COVID-19 Nikkei Asia, the worlds largest financial newspaper published by Japanese media giants Nikkei Inc., has named Vietnam among the Asian trio that has succeeded in limiting the local transmission rate of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) to almost zero. Prime Minister of Abkhazia Alexander Ankvab being infected with Covid-19 flew to Moscow on a special flight, the press service of the republic's Cabinet of Ministers informed today. He will undergo treatment in the capital hospital of the Federal Medical-Biological Agency of Russia. The relevant decision was made yesterday by a council of doctors, recommending that Ankvab be put to a specialized Russian clinic in order to avoid complications, RIA Novosti reports. The Abkhazian prime minister endured the flight normally, his condition is stable, the press service informs. Pence cant escape responsibility for Trumps abominable reign, but its not too late to do a service to his country that no one else can do: Call on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, strip the president of his powers and urge congressional Republicans to agree. If he and the Cabinet were to act, Pence would take over until Congress decides otherwise which it might not do by Jan. 20, when Biden takes over. Royal School Dungannon will not take part in transfer tests this year. Royal School Dungannon has become the second of Northern Irelands grammar schools to back out of transfer tests this year. The school said it will not be using the AQE test, which has been rescheduled for February 27, to select pupils for the 2021/22 intake. Earlier this week Strabane Academy said it would not be using the AQE test. Both schools said they want to give certainty to pupils. The first AQE exam was due to be taken by P7 pupils this weekend, with two more dates in January. All were cancelled because of the rising number of Covid-19 infections in Northern Ireland, while Northern Irelands other private company running tests on behalf of schools, the PPTC, said it had abandoned its tests for this year. The NI Executive is discussing the AQE tests today amid calls for the Education Minister to step in and call a halt to the process. Education Minister Peter Weir said he had no intention of stopping AQE from holding its test in eight weeks time. Now Royal School Dungannon, one of Northern oldest grammar schools, has taken matters into its own hands. In a statement on the school website, the school said: RSDs Executive Committee of the Board of Governors met on Thursday 7th January to decide if RSD would use the 27th February single AQE test or RSDs contingency admissions criteria. The RSD Board of Governors supports the principle of academic selection but in this exceptional year, after careful consideration, Governors unanimously decided not to use the AQE single test scheduled for 27th February and, instead, to use RSDs contingency admissions criteria for Year 8 admissions for September 2021. In so doing, our most important consideration was giving certainty to P7 pupils and families during the Covid-19 public health crisis. The AQE test will, therefore, not take place at RSD on 27th February. The RSD contingency admissions criteria are on the RSD website and will be provided to the Education Authority for publication. We realise that the children have worked hard in preparing for the tests and that this is not how any of us would have wanted the transfer process to have worked this year. However, in the circumstances, we have taken this decision based on what we believe to be in the best interests of the childrens immediate welfare and their longer term prospects of success at RSD. Reuters are reporting Democrats will introduce new articles of impeachment against Donald Trump on Monday. Photo: AP. Democrats in the US House of Representatives plan to introduce new articles of impeachment against Republican President Donald Trump on Monday, calling for his removal from office, two people familiar with the matter said on Friday. The sources said the articles, which are formal charges of misconduct, were crafted by Democratic Representatives David Cicilline, Ted Lieu and Jamie Raskin following this week's assault on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. A copy of the measure circulating among members of Congress charges Trump with "inciting violence against the government of the United States" in a bid to overturn his loss to President-elect Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election. Read More The articles also cite Trump's hour-long phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, in which he asked the state election official to "find" enough votes to overturn that state's election, which Biden won. "President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government. He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power and imperiled a coordinate branch of government," the legislation states. Trump's supporters, inflamed by his false claims of election fraud, stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday, smashing windows, sending lawmakers into hiding and leaving five dead. More to follow GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Yemens Houthi group has suggested that two Saudi airmen captured in February 2020 be released in exchange for the freeing of 60 Palestinians detained in Saudi Arabia, including Hamas members. The proposal follows a similar initiative the Houthis made in the spring. The head of the Houthis' prisoner affairs committee, Abdul Qader al-Murtada, said in a televised speech Dec. 30 that his group was ready to release the airmen if Saudi Arabia frees the Palestinians. Hamas welcomed the Houthi initiative. Saudi Arabia has been detaining a number of Palestinians since early 2019, and brought a number of them before courts on charges of financing a terrorist entity. These Palestinians include Mohammed al-Khodari, 82, who was a Hamas representative between the mid-1990s and 2009 in Saudi Arabia, and his son Hani. Riyadh continues to refuse to respond to any attempts or initiatives regarding their release. Murtada told Al-Monitor that his committee informed Saudi Arabia, via several parties and mediators, that the Houthis will only release the Saudi captives when Saudi Arabia frees the Palestinian detainees, who are living under harsh conditions in Saudi prisons. Murtada said the Houthis captured the two Saudi airmen on Feb. 15, 2020, after shooting down their Tornado fighter jet with an air-to-ground missile in the northern province of al-Jawf, near the Saudi-Yemeni border. The two Saudis ejected from the jet just before it crashed and were captured. Murtada said no reply has been heard from Saudi Arabia regarding the latest Houthi offer. He described the offer to exchange prisoners as part of the Houthis' duty involving the Palestinians, in light of the Saudi pursuit and sanctioning of Palestinians with the aim to normalize ties with Israel and liquidate the Palestinian cause. The new Houthi offer follows a March 26, 2020, initiative announced by Houthi leader Abdul Malek al-Houthi to release one of the airmen and five other Saudi troops in exchange for Riyadh freeing Hamas prisoners. Bassem Naim, a member of Hamas' international relations bureau, told Al-Monitor, We appreciate all efforts exerted by any party to help release the Palestinians detained in Saudi prisons. Naim did not reveal whether or not the Houthis communicated with them about the initiative or the number and names of the detainees that would be released. He said Hamas, along with other Palestinian parties, are continuously seeking the detainees release. He said he believes the continued detention of the Palestinians is a negative message from the Saudi regime when it comes to the Palestinian cause. During an online meeting of the Hamas movement on Dec. 29, Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas political bureau, appealed to Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud for the release of the Palestinian detainees in Saudi Arabia. He said, They [the detainees] have not tampered with Saudi security, and it is unacceptable to keep them in jail. In October, Khodari family members and their lawyers expressed concerns about the health of their relatives in Saudi prisons. Abdel Majed al-Khodari, the brother of Mohammad al-Khodari, told Al-Monitor that his brother suffers from chronic diseases and his health is deteriorating in prison. Abdel Khodari said he fears the coronavirus will threaten his brothers life. Khodari said Saudi authorities moved his brother and nephew from Dhahban central prison to the prison in Aseer a few months ago, and have prevented them from making any phone calls except for short ones with the bother's wife, who is still in Saudi Arabia. He revealed that a new trial session for his brother and nephew will be held Jan. 10, noting that all attempts to free them have failed so far. He added that he appreciates the Houthi offer on the release of Palestinian detainees. Saudi Arabia has yet to comment on the Houthi offer. It seems the kingdom has decided to move ahead with the trial of Palestinian detainees before Saudi courts as it has been reluctant to respond to Hamas call for their release. Sharhabeel al-Gharib, a political analyst close to Hamas, told Al-Monitor that through their initiative to exchange prisoners, Houthis want to show that they support the Palestinian people and their cause, unlike Saudi Arabia. Gharib expects secret contacts to take place between Hamas and the Iran-backed Houthi group regarding the swap deal, pointing out that Hamas is a key pillar of the Iran-led axis in the region. Tayseer Muhaisen, a professor of international relations at the Islamic University of Gaza, told Al-Monitor that the Palestinian dossier is of great importance to the various regional parties that are convinced that supporting this cause would generate sympathy from the people. Muhaisen said Riyadh will most likely refuse the Houthi offer, because Saudi Arabia believes the Yemeni group is seeking to give the impression that it is more supportive to the Palestinian cause than Saudis. He expects more contacts between Hamas and the Houthis regarding the names and number of those who would be released in case Saudi Arabia consents to the Houthi offer in the future. As part of the investigation, the circumstances of the vaccination of individuals at medical institutions are being checked. The SBU Security Service of Ukraine is probing into the importation and use of poisonous or potent drugs in Ukraine under the guise of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine. This is reported by the Suspilne.Media outlet with reference to the SBU's press center. Read alsoUkraine may get m-RNA vaccine against COVID-19 soon health ministry "As of now, it is known that a group of persons by prior conspiracy, in violation of the established rules purchased, transported, stored, and sold poisonous or potent drugs under the guise of a COVID-19 vaccine produced by Pfizer," the agency said. Criminal proceedings on the fact began on January 6 under Part 3 of Article 321 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. As part of the investigation, the circumstances of the vaccination of individual citizens both in medical and other institutions are being checked. Secret vaccination against coronavirus in Ukraine Earlier, the media reported that some Members of Parliament and officials had secretly been vaccinated against COVID-19 with a Pfizer vaccine that was allegedly brought to Ukraine from Israel illegally. Prime Minister Denis Shmyhal instructed the Health and Interior Ministries to check reports on secret vaccination of lawmakers with pharmaceutical preparations of unknown origin. On January 6, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that the first batch of 8 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine as part of the global COVAX facility was expected to arrive in Ukraine at the end of the first quarter or the beginning of the second quarter of 2021. Meanwhile, Ukraine could get the first 700,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine out of 1.9 million from China's Sinovac in February this year. Reporting by UNIAN Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - GoldHaven Resources Corp. (CSE: GOH) (OTCQB: GHVNF) (FSE: 4QS) ("GoldHaven" or the "Company") provides a corporate update and outlines exploration plans for 2021. GoldHaven achieved significant milestones in 2020. Starting with its IPO in March, followed by the acquisition of the Rio Loa and Coya Project concessions, as well as five additional concessions comprising the Apolo Projects. GoldHaven's large land position now totals approximately 25,100 hectares (251 square km's) in the highly prospective Maricunga Gold Belt. This belt is host to discoveries in the last ten years of over 100 million ounces of gold, 450 million ounces of silver and 1.3 billion pounds of copper. During the 4th quarter of 2020, GoldHaven completed a capital raise of $2.4 million and was joined by industry expert Jack Pritting (ex. Kinross lead exploration at Kinross' La Coipa mine) to assist with the Company's exploration programs. The Company is now well positioned to take advantage of favourable Gold and Silver markets and is sufficiently funded to conduct its first phase of drilling. GoldHaven has identified a 3km long north-south trending alteration zone averaging 1km width on its Rio Loa Project. Trenching and rock sampling with numerous erosion windows exposing altered volcanics have returned highly anomalous As and Pb as well as locally anomalous Au and Sb values. This geochemical response is a defining characteristic of high sulphidation deposits within the Maricunga Gold Belt such as at Goldfields' Salares Norte mine, 25 km to the north of Rio Loa, and Kinross' La Coipa mine nearby. The Salares Norte mine contains 5.2 million ozs Au-equivalent. Gold Fields is targeting production at 350,000 ozs Au per year. GoldHaven plans to commence drilling at Rio Loa in January 2021. The initial drill program will be approximately 5,000 metres. In addition to Rio Loa, the Company has six other high priority assets to test and drill. This will keep the Company busy during 2021. The Company is advancing its Apolo Project's Roma and Alicia properties as well as its Coya assets and preparing them for drilling. These targets have been designated as high-priority owing to their extensive and pervasive alteration, favourable geology and highly anomalous rock geochemistry results, as well as their relative proximity to existing deposits. Daniel Schieber, GoldHaven's CEO stated: "We've had a great 2020 building our portfolio of assets and building up our treasury. Now we're onto a great start to 2021 with the addition of exploration mining expert Jack Pritting to the team. Our group is committed to attracting the best talent to explore and unlock the value in our projects." About GoldHaven Resources Corp. GoldHaven Resources Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration Company active in the Maricunga Gold Belt of northern Chile. The Maricunga Belt measures 150 km north-south and 30 km east-west and is host to discoveries in the last ten years of 100 million ounces of gold; 450 million ounces of silver and 1.3 billion pounds of copper. The Company has agreements in place to acquire seven high priority exploration targets as identified by geological studies. To date, GoldHaven has identified four of these seven properties as being "High Priority" targets and, will commence a drilling program during the first quarter of 2021. The four priority targets include Coya, located approximately 16 km northeast of the La Coipa mine where Kinross has extracted over 6.2 million ounces.; the second is Rio Loa, a project located 25 km south of Gold Field's Salares Norte deposit (5.2 million ounces of Gold equivalent; the third and fourth projects are Alicia and Roma which are approximately 35 km. south of the Salares Norte deposit. These priority targets have been designated as High Priority owing to the extensive pervasive alteration, favourable geology and highly anomalous rock geochemistry results as well as their relative proximity to existing deposits. We Seek Safe Harbor. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Daniel Schieber For further information, please contact: Daniel Schieber CEO & Director www.goldhavenresources.com Office Direct: (604) 638-5938 Cell Direct: (604) 722-5798 Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE- Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, the intended use of the proceeds received from the Offering, the possible acquisition of the Projects, the Company's expectation that it will be successful in enacting its business plans, and the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "will", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "potential", "scheduled", or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that investor interest will be sufficient to close the Offering, and the receipt of any necessary regulatory or corporate approvals in connection with the Offering and the Assignment, that there will be investor interest in future financings, market fundamentals will result in sustained precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future exploration and development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the exploration and development of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the estimation or realization of mineral reserves and mineral resources, the inability of the Company to obtain the necessary financing required to conduct its business and affairs, as currently contemplated, the inability to close the Offering, the inability of the Company to enter into definitive agreements in respect of the Letters of Intent which are the subject of the Assignment, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of precious metals, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including by the Exchange, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Management's Discussion and Analysis and filed with certain securities commissions in Canada. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71603 The president and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital visited her family home in Quebec during the holidays, against provincial health advice that discourages Manitobans from travelling. The president and CEO of St. Boniface Hospital visited her family home in Quebec during the holidays, against provincial health advice that discourages Manitobans from travelling. Martine Bouchard joins a growing list of Manitoba public figures who have ignored pleas by the premier and health officials to stay home during the code red pandemic restrictions. "As Manitobans are aware, Ms. Bouchard... accepted this leadership role in our province pre-COVID with arrangements to return home to her husband and children with some regularity," a hospital spokeswoman said Thursday in an email to the Free Press. "As the pandemic progressed, efforts were made to extend her stays in Winnipeg, as often as possible, especially as she and our executive continued to monitor and respond to the unfolding pandemic." Bouchard's frequent commutes to Montreal have sparked controversy in the past. She also worked exclusively from her Quebec home between April and August 2020. She has held the hospital's top job since April 2018. St. Boniface Hospital would not say how much time Bouchard spent in Quebec over the holidays nor confirm whether she has yet returned. "She did travel to Quebec to be with her immediate family over the holidays. When returning to her home in Winnipeg, she follows all public health orders, including self-isolation," the hospital spokeswoman wrote. NDP health critic Uzoma Asagwara said it's disappointing to see persons in powerful positions failing to adhere to public health guidelines. "It sets a bad example. And it sends the message to Manitobans that there's one set of expectations for one group of folks and another set of expectations for people in positions of leadership... That's unacceptable," the Union Station MLA said. In recent days, it's been revealed the province's top civil servant, clerk of the executive council David McLaughlin, was allowed to work from his family home in Ottawa for the last two weeks of the year. The province's director of strategic communications and marketing, Logan-Theanna Ross, also travelled to Eastern Canada during the holiday period. Progressive Conservative MLA James Teitsma (Radisson) took a driving trip to British Columbia with his family Dec. 21-30. Premier Brian Pallister has said he is "clearly not pleased" with the Tory backbencher's decision, but has made no move to discipline Teitsma. Meanwhile, a source said Thursday a special assistant to former health minister Cameron Friesen also travelled out of the province over the holiday season. The source said the ministerial assistant and Ross were both cleared to travel by a senior human resources official who reports to the premier. Olivia Billson, Pallister's press secretary, declined to comment on the claim. "As you are aware, HR matters are confidential, and thus I am unable provide comment," she said in an email. Asagwara said while Bouchard travelled to see her family in Quebec, Manitobans were prohibited from visiting extended family over the holidays and some were prevented from being at the bedside of dying loved ones. While Bouchard was in Quebec, hospital officials were asking health-care workers to voluntarily give up their booked time off in late December and January, in exchange for vacation pay, Asagwara noted. "I think it's a slap in the face to the health-care workers at St. Boniface Hospital who didn't get to see their family members over the holidays, who continue to work exorbitant amounts of mandated overtime, who put their health and the health of the families at risk in order to make sure that the health-care system is accessible and continues to meet the needs of Manitobans," Asagwara said. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca The U.S. Capitol is getting its own version of a border wall Thursday in response to the infiltration and vandalism of the building Wednesday by supporters of President Donald Trump. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said construction of a 7-foot, non-scalable fence around the Capitol complex began Thursday morning and will remain in place for at least 30 days. Calling Wednesday a "horrible, shameful day in our history," McCarthy said during a press conference with Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser that his department moved quickly to contribute resources as soon as city officials reached out early that afternoon. Read Next: Military Officers in Congress Join Call to Invoke 25th Amendment, Remove Trump The entire D.C. National Guard -- 1,100 members -- was activated and will be joined by units from Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and New York. More than 6,200 National Guard members will take part in the response, McCarthy said. Roughly 150 Guard members were on the 60-acre grounds Thursday morning, with 850 more expected by the afternoon, he added. The fence will run along two of Washington, D.C.'s most scenic and utilized thoroughfares, Independence and Constitution Avenues, and surround the front and back of the Capitol from 1st Street NE to 1st Street SW, stopping short of the Capitol Reflecting Pool. It will secure the building and provide a perimeter that lets the Metropolitan Police Department "get back into the streets of Washington," McCarthy said. "We can take over [the complex's] static security positions," he explained. When questioned why U.S. troops weren't present to protect the Capitol on a day when unrest was expected, McCarthy said the Defense Department "relies on intelligence from law enforcement," adding that no request was made for the D.C. National Guard to perform that function. Roughly 340 Guard members had been activated before Wednesday, with more than 100 on the streets to help with traffic and crowd control, although they were not armed. McCarthy said that Pentagon and D.C. officials are investigating the "pre-coordination" efforts to help determine how the Capitol breach was allowed to occur. Protesters marched to the Capitol on Wednesday, following a rally organized to protest the certification of the Nov. 6 election of former Vice President Joe Biden to the presidency. Once they arrived, they stormed the building, breaking windows, vandalizing offices and smashing furniture. They also removed an American flag from the building and cast it aside in an attempt to raise one emblazoned with Trump's name. The Metropolitan Police Department has launched a media campaign to identify some of the perpetrators of the violence, placing security footage on its website. At least 69 people were arrested in the incident, and 14 police officers were injured. Four people died, including a trespasser inside the Capitol who was shot and three who succumbed to medical emergencies outside. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: National Guard Will Wear Black ID Vests to Stand Out From Police During DC Protests Nearly a decade after regulators first heard allegations that carriers were paying kickbacks to mortgage servicers who purchased lender-placed insurance policies, a federal appellate court is asking the Washington Supreme Court to help resolve one of the last remaining lawsuits concerning alleged abuses. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals on Dec. 31 asked the states high court whether unjust enrichment and racketeering claims by a homeowner are barred by a judicial principle known as the filed rate doctrine. In essence, the 9th Circuit wants to know if a lawsuit filed against a subsidiary of NationStar Mortgage fails because the homeowner was charged a rate that had been filed with the Washington state insurance commissioner. Because this critical question of state law is not settled, we have concluded that the appropriate course of action is to certify questions regarding this issue to the Washington State Supreme Court, and we respectfully request that it provide the answer, the 9th Circuit said in its order. Almost all mortgage contracts come with a requirement that the borrower buy adequate insurance. If a homeowner allows coverage to lapse, the mortgage servicer will buy a lender-placed, or force-placed policy to protect the creditor. In 2012, the Center for Economic Justice charged that two insurers Assurant and QBE/Balboa controlled 98% of the lender-placed homeowners insurance market and were charging homeowners excessive rates while paying commissions and other fees to mortgage servicers that purchased policies while billing the homeowners for the cost. CEJ Executive Director Birny Birnbaum, a former chief economist for the Texas Department of Insurance, testified during a hearing before the National Association of Insurance Commissioners that insurance regulators had allowed reverse competition to develop in the credit insurance market because the higher the cost of the insurance the more money the mortgage services made on commissions. He said LIP insurers were enjoy loss ratios of less than 20%. Homeowners who were forced to pay premiums for lender-placed insurance filed at least four lawsuits against NationStar Mortgage and its subsidiary Harwood Service Co., a database of federal court cases shows. Some of those suits cite Birnbaums testimony before NAIC to support allegations that insurers were paying illegal kickbacks and excessive fees to mortgage servicers while charging excessive rates. Two of those lawsuits were settled and a third was dismissed after state attorneys general took legal action against insurers and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reformed mortgage-servicing rules. However, a lawsuit filed in 2015 by Seattle homeowner Spencer Alpert remains unresolved. NationStars mortgage service, Harwood, bought a lender-placed policy on Alperts home in Seattles Blue Ridge neighborhood in 2012, after Safeco canceled his policy because he had failed to remove moss from the roof of the home. The $5,088 annual cost of the policy was charged to Alperts escrow account. The Associated Press reported in 2014 that Harwood the year before had collected $40 million on commissions for $200 million in insurance billed to homeowners. Rules by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, state regulators and class-action settlementsnow prohibit such commissions. Alpert filed a lawsuit in 2015 charging that Nationstar and Harwood had accepted kickbacks from Assurant subsidiaries and charged excessive rates. The suit says Alpert was forced to pay $17,318 for insurance from October 2012 to July 2015, when he purchased a new policy with an annual premium of $1,369. It is notable that the Commerce West Insurance coverage includes personal property, liability and other risk coverage included in the Nationstar/Assurant defendant force-placed policies, the lawsuit says. But U.S. District Judge Richard A. Jones found that the filed rate doctrine bars Alperts kickback claims. Jones wrote in his order that Alpert was essentially asking for a rebate on the premiums that he paid. If the court granted that request, he said, that would render the insurers filed rates inequitable because other homeowners who paid premiums would not receive the same rebate. In ruling on Alperts appeal, the 9th Circuit noted that Nationstar and Harwood are intermediaries they themselves did not file the rate in question. Accordingly, we are faced with the issue of whether, under Washington law, the filed rate doctrine applies to situations in which the filed rate is charged by an intermediary and not the regulated entity that filed the rate, the court said. While the Supreme Court waits for the Washington Supreme Court to respond, controversy over the regulations that govern lender-placed policies continues. A lender-placed insurance working committee appointed by the National Council of Insurance Commissioners completed work in December on a model law to govern the practices of lender-based insurers. It will be considered by NAICs Executive Committee during its spring national committee, a spokeswoman for the organization said. Birnbaum said in an interview that the proposed model law does nothing more that memorialize the current practices used by carriers and makes no meaningful changes that address excessive rates. Birnbaum also challenges Nationstars argument that the filed rate doctrine bars Alperts cliam. It makes no more sense to invoke the filed rate doctrine for charges styled as insurance from a servicer to a borrower than it would to invoke the FRD for a charge by a landlord to a tenant styled as insurance, he said. NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM), operator of financial markets for 11,000 U.S. and global securities, today announced Zoetic International PLC (LSE: ZOE;OTCQX: ZOEIF), a vertically integrated CBD business with sales in the US and UK, has qualified to trade on the OTCQX Best Market. Zoetic International PLC upgraded to OTCQX from the OTCQB Venture Market. Zoetic International PLC begins trading today on OTCQX under the symbol "ZOEIF." U.S. investors can find current financial disclosure and Real-Time Level 2 quotes for the company on www.otcmarkets.com. The OTCQX Market is designed for established, investor-focused U.S. and international companies. To qualify for OTCQX, companies must meet high financial standards, follow best practice corporate governance, and demonstrate compliance with applicable securities laws. Graduating to the OTCQX Market from the OTCQB Market marks an important milestone for companies, enabling them to demonstrate their qualifications and build visibility among U.S. investors. Trevor Taylor, Co-CEO of Zoetic, commented, "The commencement of trading on OTCQX reflects the Company's tremendous progress towards transitioning to a pure play, integrated CBD company over the past 12 months. Our recent product development and wholesale distribution expansion have set the stage for the first leg of projected multi-year, sustainable growth for the Company. We couldn't be more pleased with our progress to date, as well as our current position in this high-growth market. We want to thank the folks at OTC Markets for their efforts in enabling this next step for the Company." About Zoetic International PLC Zoetic is a vertically integrated CBD business. The company sells a range of products in the US and UK through two brands. In the US, the Chill brand is a tobacco alternative selling smokables and chew pouches. In the UK, the Zoetic brand is a premium supplier of CBD oils, gummies, softgels and cosmetic and beauty products. In total, the company has over 25 product lines across its retail operations in the US and UK. About OTC Markets Group Inc. OTC Markets Group Inc. (OTCQX: OTCM) operates the OTCQX Best Market, the OTCQB Venture Market and the Pink Open Market for 11,000 U.S. and global securities. Through OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN, we connect a diverse network of broker-dealers that provide liquidity and execution services. We enable investors to easily trade through the broker of their choice and empower companies to improve the quality of information available for investors. To learn more about how we create better informed and more efficient markets, visit www.otcmarkets.com. OTC Link ATS and OTC Link ECN are SEC regulated ATSs, operated by OTC Link LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. Subscribe to the OTC Markets RSS Feed Media Contact: OTC Markets Group Inc., +1 (212) 896-4428, [email protected] SOURCE OTC Markets Group Inc. Related Links http://www.otcmarkets.com Wuhan, a city located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, arrested 110 suspects in 2020 during its crackdown on illegal fishing along the waterway, local authorities said Thursday. The police in Wuhan, the capital city of central China's Hubei Province, cracked 77 criminal cases related to illegal fishing, arresting 110 suspects, amid a national crackdown on such practices along the nation's longest river. The local police launched a targeted campaign after the Wuhan section of the Yangtze River basin entered its closed fishing season in March 2020. In August, 10 people were caught engaging in destructive fishing practices along the river. Around 1,078 kg of aquatic products were seized on site. The case was also listed by the Ministry of Public Security among China's 10 major typical cases of illegal fishing in the Yangtze River basin. On December 31, 2020, a ceremony was held in the city for the launch of the fishing ban in key waters of the river. According to the central government's plan, a complete 10-year fishing ban has been imposed in key waters of the Yangtze, starting from Jan. 1, 2021. Farmers, most of them from Punjab and Haryana, want the new agri farm laws scrapped. The protesting farmers will hold their eighth round of talks with the government on January 8 amid the government's ruling out any possibility of repealing the three agri-reform laws. The last round of talks on January 4 failed to end the impasse and the farmers, adamant on their demand, have threatened to intensify the stir and enter Delhi on Republic Day if their demands are not met. There is no question of repealing the laws. We have made these laws after a lot of homework keeping the farmers interest in mind. We are with them, if they are ready for discussions on amendments in the laws, Kailash Choudhary, union minister of state for agriculture told Economic Times on January 7. READ: Govt ready to consider any proposal apart form repeal of three farm laws, says Narendra Tomar Thousands of farmers staged a tractor march from their camps on Delhis borders to converge on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway on January 7, ahead of a planned march to the Capital on Republic Day. Sources said the government is working on a proposal to make the three laws optional for states giving options to states that do not want to implement them. There are media reports doing the rounds that the government has formulated a new proposal. There is no such thing, said Yogendra Yadav, president Swaraj India. Follow our LIVE BLOG on Farmers' Protest HERE In the seventh round of talks on January 4, the farmers insisted on repealing the three laws enacted in September last year, the government fixed another date for the meeting on January 8 For 44 days now, thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points, demanding repeal of the laws, and a legal guarantee on minimum support prices for their crops, among other things. Farmers have threatened that, if their demands were not met, they would march in their tractors at Rajpath during the Republic Day parade In the seven round of talks between the farmers unions and the government so far, two of the four demands have been met with. The farmers, however, insist that the protest would continue unless the farm reform laws are repealed. The Supreme Court of India will hear petitions against farm reform laws on January 11. Shah Rukh Khan is currently gearing up for his return to the big screen after the two-year hiatus. The actor who is shooting for Pathan has been making headlines every day. However, recently, one of his fans has caught netizens' attention. A Bengaluru-based freelance filmmaker, Jayanth Seege has made it his 2021's mission to meet SRK and pitch his film. According to report, Jayanth has been trying to get into SRK's house for days now, reportedly standing outside Mannat for days, and plans on continuing until he gets to meet the actor. He opened up about his plans in a post for Humans of Bombay. He said, "In August, when I came across Shah Rukh Khan's interview where he said that he hadn't signed any new movies since Zero, I literally went bonkers. I was like, 'What if I get SRK to act in my movie?' So, I created a movie poster overnight and tweeted it, tagging SRK." After his post didn't catch any attention, Jayanth flew to Mumbai from Bengaluru in December 2020 in order to narrate the script face to face. Reportedly, he has been standing outside the superstar's house every day from sunrise to midnight, ever since then. He also revealed that the amount of time he spends outside Mannat lead to the security guards being friendly with him. Calling the mission, Project X, he added, "Eventually, I realised I had to do something atrociously magnanimous like he does in his movies. Here I am. And I'm going to stay put until he signs my movie." Jayanth has been sharing updates on Twitter since Decemeber 31, and in his latest post he thanked everyone for showing support and sharing his post on social media. For New Year's he shared, "Friends: New year plans? Me: I am pitching my script to @iamsrk. How? #SRK #PROJECTX #MakeItCount." He also shared a picture on Twitter which shows him standing next to the film's banner sized concept poster outside Mannat. Meanwhile, SRK after Zero, will be seen in Pathan alongside Deepika Padukone and John Abraham. However, the makers are yet to confirm any details about the project. ALSO READ: Shah Rukh Khan Wishes For A 'Better And Brighter' 2021, Shares A Special Message For Fans ALSO READ: SRK's Pathan, Salman's Radhe Or Aamir's Laal Singh Chaddha- Trade Experts Predict Which Will Emerge As Winner Can Americans still have a sensible and friendly political discussion across the partisan divide? The answer is yes, and we intend to prove it. Julie Roginsky, a Democrat, and Mike DuHaime, a Republican, are consultants who have worked on opposite teams for their entire careers yet have remained friends throughout. Here, they discuss the weeks events with Tom Moran, editorial page editor of The Star-Ledger. Q. Is this, finally, the end of the Trump era? Does Wednesdays violence discredit Trumpism in a lasting way? Mike: Thinking the Trump era is over is wishful thinking as he will still maintain influence, yet the influence is sure to diminish over time. And Wednesdays violence will tarnish him forever. If he had been a gracious in defeat like John Adams, perhaps history would have, in time, looked at his accomplishments more than his failures, but that will never be the case now. Julie: Trump wasnt joking when he said that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and his supporters would stick by him. Well, he was responsible for the shooting at the Capitol that cost a woman her life and his supporters are sticking with him. Trump may be gone soon but the toxic forces he has unleashed are sadly here to stay well beyond January 20th. Q. How worried should we be about President Trumps mental stability during his final few weeks? Do you take seriously the talk about invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him, or even impeach and convict him? Mike: I dont take it seriously. His sycophantic and selfish enablers like Ted Cruz (TX) and Josh Hawley (MO) already knew he was unstable and spouting lies about the election results, yet breathed life into his conspiracy theory for personal political gain. They wont stop now. Julie: Trumps cabinet and Mike Pence should have resigned en masse on Wednesday but didnt, so I dont have high hopes for the cabinet invoking the 25th Amendment. The House should immediately move to impeach and dare Republican senators like Susan Collins and yes Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham not to convict the man who quite literally put their lives in harms way. This is dangerous - a congressman justifying violence because of a lack of confidence in elections, confidence shaken because he himself is spreading false claims. Tell people lies and then use those lies to justify bad behavior. Inexcusable and idiotic. https://t.co/vZ4pszasLe Mike DuHaime (@MikeDuHaime) January 7, 2021 Q. Did the police do the right thing by letting the mob roam through the Capitol, vandalizing offices and stealing artwork, then allowing most of them to leave without consequence? Thats de-escalation, yes, but many people see white privilege as well. Whats your take? Mike: Lets not overthink privilege here. The police seemed unprepared and were definitely undermanned, but those police on the scene acted heroically to save lives first. They could not worry about artwork when our elected representatives and the good and faithful public servants on their staffs had their very lives in danger. Four people died. They had to fall back, protect individuals inside, and in doing so, our democracy first. I hope those who perpetrated these acts are found and arrested, but I dont fault the police who acted in the moment to protect those under attack. it's lucky for the DC rioters that they were just a lawless mob of armed white terrorists storming the Capitol building and vandalizing offices, and not, let's say, a black man selling loose cigarettes on a street corner, because there are serious consequences for that Jeff Tiedrich (@itsJeffTiedrich) January 7, 2021 Julie: This wasnt de-escalation. This was capitulation. Im old enough to remember when law enforcement officers tear gassed peaceful protesters marching for racial justice this summer. The Capitol Police know how to disperse rioters because that is literally what they are trained to do, so I find it puzzling that it appears some officers opened the barricades for these seditionists to loot the Capitol and endanger the lives of the very people these officers are sworn to protect. I was working in the Senate on 9/11 and was evacuated with a good numbers of senators to the Capitol Police Building, where we subsequently sheltered in place that day. I saw first-hand what the Capitol Police is capable of in service of its mission. What I watched on Wednesday pales in comparison. Mike: My old office at the RNC on Capitol Hill was evacuated yesterday because a bomb was found there. My current DC office is less than a mile walk from the Capitol. We can criticize the response, but none of it would have happened without Trump and others who know better lying to those who dont. He gave people false hope and fueled their rage to save his own ego. Julie: Amen to that, Mike. Yes whoever could have instigated this its such a mystery https://t.co/vQn4yLStFb Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) January 7, 2021 Q. Rep. Jeff Van Drew and more than half the Republicans in the House stuck with Trump to the end, voting against accepting the election results. But leading loyalists, including McConnell and Pence, abandoned him. What happens to the party now? Will it split in two? Mike: Julie, you can take Van Drew back now if you want. Im embarrassed and humiliated that a majority of House Republicans voted for this charade. I always hoped most would put country first at a moment of real crisis, but they failed, led by Hawley and Cruz, two Ivy-League grads who, with little self-awareness, take aim at elites. Julie: Mike, its not too late for you to come over to the side of truth and light. Ill be happy to send you a Democratic Party registration form since I cannot imagine how anyone watching the events of the last few days still wants to belong to the party of Jeff Van Drew, Hawley and Cruz and more than half of the Republican House conference, who voted for sedition. I once said the party of Lincoln and Reagan is off taking a nap. The nap has become a nightmare for our nation. The GOP must awaken. The invasion of our Capitol by a mob, incited by lies from some entrusted with power, is a disgrace to all who sacrificed to build our Republic. John Boehner (@SpeakerBoehner) January 7, 2021 Mike: We used to have healthy splits in the party based on policy or ideology social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, national defense hawks, moderates, deficit hawks, etc. but it was based on policy and what was best for the country. Now, the split is based on what is best for one man. One side engages in fantasy in hopes of a positive tweet to preserve their now-stained careers. The party has sadly split into who will sacrifice it all for Trump, and who believes the country and party are bigger than he. Julie: What does the Republican Party even stand for, anyway? The days advancing fiscal conservatism and a muscular foreign policy are long gone. Its now nothing more than a cult based out of Palm Beach, rather than Jonestown. The modern-day Republican Party is all about power and nothing else. Mike: I hoped there could be a GOP post-Trump return to the principles of Lincoln, the courage of Grant, the progressive beliefs of Roosevelt and the strength of Reagan. Throw in the modern-day selflessness of McCain and empathy of George W. Bush. But I must face that many in the party wont agree with any of that anymore. Her team is doing polling and focus groups right now to see which "hard truths" she will pretend to tell. https://t.co/pJT2vyI0uf Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) January 7, 2021 Q. In Georgia, Democrats took both Senate seats, giving them full control on Capitol Hill. How far will Biden press that advantage? Will he find it tougher to manage the expectations of progressives? Mike: Senate Democrats are not socialists (okay, one literally is). A powerful group of Senate Democrats will be moderates like Chris Coons (DE), Joe Manchin (WV) and Jon Tester (MT). Legislation wont move without their support. They can keep the country from going too far left, as could moderate Democratic House members from New Jersey like Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill. Julie: If the Senate doesnt immediately end the filibuster, Biden wont get very far. Institutionalism doesnt work if one side is intent on blowing up institutions. Allowing McConnell to gum up the works like he did during the Obama years only ensures that the Senate will continue thwarting the will of the voters through the use of arcane senate procedure. Mike: Manchin has already said he wont vote to end the filibuster. See, Im already right. Julie: Im pretty sure Joe Manchin will change his mind if McConnell blocks help for West Virginia. Never in the history of our Republic has a senator lost a re-election for flip-flopping on arcane senate procedures. Mike: Thats why McConnell will help West Virginia, which nicely borders Kentucky. Julie: McConnells policies and tactics have long screwed Kentucky, so I wouldnt get my hopes up, if I were in West Virginia. It may not feel like it for some, but every Kentuckian will be better off because of the Georgia election results. Well. Almost every Kentuckian. Rep. John Yarmuth (@RepJohnYarmuth) January 6, 2021 Q. Finally, what do you make of the block on Trump during this insurrection by social media, including Twitter, Facebook and Instagram? Mike: It was the right thing in the moment, but too little too late really. Like cable news platforms, social media giants care about business first. Trump has made all these platforms a fortune. He made Twitter more relevant than ever for five years. Hes used Twitter to spread conspiracy theories for a decade, but they looked the other way because it grew their business. Now they lock him out for 12 hours. Its meaningless now. Zuckerberg is absolutely complicit in yesterday's events. For many, many years, he refused to crack down on insane conspiracy theories from Trump and his supporters that culminated in the attempted coup yesterday. Had Trump won, he still wouldn't be cracking down. https://t.co/VEAskwJrB9 Julie Roginsky (@julieroginsky) January 7, 2021 Julie: Trump is a drug to these companies. It is a mutually beneficial, co-dependent relationship. A 12-hour timeout is a joke, because he has continued to use other accounts to tweet his malignant world view and especially because neither Twitter nor Facebook have even pretended to crack down in any meaningful way on the myriad conspiracy theories his supporters, Russian bots and others continue to spread while attempting to foment a coup. So Trump has access to the nuclear codes but he can't Tweet or post to Facebook. Andrew Ross Sorkin (@andrewrsorkin) January 7, 2021 Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Roadies fame presenter Rajiv Lakshman on Friday deleted a picture he had posted earlier in the day, featuring him with late actor Sushant Singh Rajput's girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. He also apologised for what he said was an irresponsible choice of words that he had used as caption. "My girl," Rajiv had written as caption on the picture that captured Rhea hugging him, smiling into the camera. This had led to widespread speculations if the two were together. Subsequently, while apologising, Rajiv wrote: "I seem to have created unnecessary trouble with my irresponsible choice of words on a post. Rhea is a dear old friend and I am happy to meet her again and I wish her well." Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14 last year. His girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau on September 8 as part of the probe, and granted bail after a month on October 7. Advertisement The Florida mansion where Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused young girls has been bought by a real estate developer who plans to demolish it. Todd Michael Glaser, a Florida real estate developer, has signed a contract to buy the property, and is hoping to close on it by January 15. He plans to tear the property down and replace it with a 14,000-square-foot 'Art Moderne home' and if everything goes according to plan he hopes to have the place flattened before April 1. Before such a demolition can proceed, Glaser must ask for permission fromneighbors in order to raze the six-bedroom main house and three-bedroom staff house. Such a request is necessary because of the pricey nature of the posh enclave which usually prohibits such demolition projects during the winter months, when wealthy snowbirds flock to so-called Billionaires Row for its warm climate, white sandy beaches and palatial homes. Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion on El Brillo Way where he sexually abused young girls is set to be knocked down Florida real estate developer Todd Michael Glaser intends to demolish the existing house and build a new one. The house has 170 feet of water frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway and space for a private dock 'Neighbors who are usually against something like this will possibly be for it,' Glaser told The Daily News. 'We have all these gawkers. If the house is gone, what are they going to take a picture of? So we might be able to get it knocked down early, which I want to do, just to get rid of it,' he said. 'Palm Beach is going to be very happy that it's gone,' he added. 'It's wild. People came out to the site, sent emails. People showed up at my house in Miami Beach. I have a woman telling me she's calling the EPA, something about nuclear medicine,' he said. Jeffrey Epstein was facing spending the rest of his life in prison when he died in jail in what was ruled suicide 'A women's group wants to go in and do a prayer. I've got neighbors praying I can knock this down,' he said. 'I'm trying to get this thing knocked down.' The waterfront Palm Beach estate, just over a mile from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, went on the market in July for $21.995 million. The property had been locked up for over 18 months, since Epstein's arrest, and has been graffitied with the words with the words 'GONE BUT NOT FORGIVEN' in blood-red paint. He declined to confirm the price, but said he received a discount. Sources told the paper the sale price was around $18 million. Glaser is known for building extravagantly-designed homes for wealthy and demanding clients, such as a home on Miami's Star Island that recently sold for about $49.5 million. He was also one of the developers of the One Thousand Museum tower designed by the late Zaha Hadid in downtown Miami. In June, Glaser confirmed that he had bought a 1925 mansion in Palm Beach for $17 million, which he intended to 'restore to its former glory', and where he intended to live with his wife, Kim. Glaser has been developing property in the Palm Beach area since 2017. In February, he and partners Philip Levine, Scott Robins and Jonathan Fryd sold a spec home at 113 Atlantic Avenue for $9.41 million to a scion of the family that founded Cumberland Farms, according to The Real Deal. Next door, at 111 Atlantic Avenue, another spec home that the partners developed is under contract and is expected to close in July, Glaser said. The partners also developed two spec villas with a courtyard at 237 Brazilian Avenue in Palm Beach, which recently hit the market for $7.9 million each, the site reported. The swimming pool at Epstein's house, shaded by palm trees. The property has roughly 170 feet of water frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway, with space for a dock The millionaire financier bought the property in 1990 for $2.5 million, according to records Epstein's home (bottom right, with the white roof) is in an area considered prime Palm Beach real estate Epstein, who died in jail awaiting his sex trafficking trial in August 2019, bought the Palm Beach property in 1990 for $2.5 million. The property has roughly 170 feet of water frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway, with space for a dock. The six-bedroom, roughly 14,000-square-foot house with a large swimming pool was designed by architect John Volk in what is described as West Indies style. Built in 1952, it was one of a number of properties where Epstein groomed and sexually assaulted underage girls and women as part of a sprawling sex trafficking scheme, prosecutors said. The house was where the crimes that would eventually lead to his downfall were first reported, in 2005. Epstein had been recruiting teenage girls for 'massages' from Palm Beach high school, and one eventually confessed to her mother what was going on, who then went to the police. Epstein died in a New York jail in August 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide Dozens of victims were underprivileged middle and high school girls recruited in and around Palm Beach County between 1998 and 2006. Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida state prostitution charges in 2008 and served 13 months in a local jail however, the sentence ended up being a work-release program. After his conviction, Epstein continued living high-life and would jet between his homes in Palm Beach, his Manhattan Upper East Side townhouse, Paris, his New Mexico ranch and a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Little St James which were also venues for abuse. He was arrested again at Teterboro Airport in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors in New York and Florida and died by suicide in jail a month later. The New York townhouse is still on the market, with a reduced asking price of $65 million, according to the website of the listing agent, Adam Modlin of Modlin Group. The sprawling East 71st home saw its price decrease some 26 percent from its original asking price of $88 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Former U.S. Sen. Doug Jones, who left office this month after losing the Nov. 3 election to newly sworn-in U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, today expressed his support for President-elect Joe Bidens pick for attorney general, Merrick Garland. Jones had been considered a front-runner for the position along with Garland. Biden announced Garland on Wednesday to lead the U.S. Department of Justice. Judge Merrick Garland will bring the integrity, professionalism and dedication to DOJ that is badly needed, Jones wrote in a statement posted on Twitter today. The events of yesterday only underscore the challenges that he and his talented team will face on day one and they will need everyones support. He and the team certainly have mine. Jones gave an emotional farewell address to the senate on Dec. 9, 2020. Jones won a 2017 special election that made him the first Democratic senator from Alabama since his mentor, U.S. Sen. Howell Heflin, retired in 1997. Garland and three others Biden has picked for Justice Department leadership posts were being introduced Thursday afternoon in Wilmington, Delaware. They include Obama administration homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco as deputy attorney general and former Justice Department civil rights chief Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general, the No. 3 official. He will also name an assistant attorney general for civil rights, Kristen Clarke, now the president of Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy group. Also on Thursday, Jones issued a statement about the mob attack on the Capitol. Like so many of you I was horrified by what I saw from our President and his insurrectionist supporters yesterday, Jones said. I was also ashamed that seven members of the Alabama delegation put their loyalty to Donald Trump above their loyalty to the Constitution. Judge Merrick Garland will bring the integrity, professionalism & dedication to DOJ that is badly needed. The events of yesterday only underscore the challenges that he & his talented team will face on day 1 & they will need everyones support. He & the team certainly have mine. Doug Jones (@DougJones) January 7, 2021 West Virginia House of Delegates member Derrick Evans, left, is given the oath of office in the House chamber at the state Capitol in Charleston, W.V., on Dec. 14, 2020. (Perry Bennett/West Virginia Legislature via AP) Lawmaker Who Filmed Himself Entering US Capitol During Protest Wont Resign: Attorney A lawmaker from West Virginia who filmed himself while protesters entered the U.S. Capitol building in Washington earlier this week wont resign despite facing bipartisan calls and mounting pressure, his lawyer said. Derrick Evans, a Republican and member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, was among other people from the state who traveled to Washington to attend the multi-day rallies that were organized near the White House against the Electoral College results and alleged election fraud. John H. Bryan, an attorney representing Evans, said in a statement (pdf) on Jan. 8 his client did nothing wrong and did not engage in any violence, or destruction of property. Mr. Evans did nothing wrong, the civil rights attorney said. He was exercising his First Amendment rights to peacefully protest and lm a historic and dynamic event. He engaged in no violence, no rioting, no destruction of property, and no illegal behavior. Bryan added that his client did not organize or lead a group to travel to the protest. The statement reads Evans personally bought himself a ticket for a charter bus ride to attend the Stop the Steal rally which was already planned long before the Jan. 6 incident. Evans was seen in a now-deleted cell phone recording that was widely shared online wearing a helmet as he joined a group of protesters pushing their way into the Capitol building, livestreaming himself strolling inside. Protesters are seen taking pictures inside the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Were in! Were in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol! the lawmaker can be heard saying. Our house! he yelled once inside the Capitol halls. I dont know where were going. Im following the crowd. Evans, who is also an independent activist and journalist with more than 30,000 followers on Facebook, has not publicly posted on social media since issuing the statement, which says he attended the events as an independent member of the media to film history. Attending the planned peaceful protest is consistent with Mr. Evans long history of exercising his constitutional rights in this manner, Bryans said in the statement. He has previously traveled throughout the country for similar in furtherance of his activism and amateur journalism to other planned peaceful protests and potentially historic events. At no point was Mr. Evans located in the crowd on the West side of the (Capitol) building, nor anywhere else on the Capitol grounds, where violence and destruction of property was, or had been, occurring, the attorney added. Given the sheer size of the group walking in, Mr. Evans had no choice but to enter. The Republican speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Roger Hanshaw, said Wednesday night that Evans will need to answer to his constituents and colleagues for his actions. Democratic leadership called for his prosecution. About 40,000 people signed a petition on change.org asking for Evans removal. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News After managing to flatten the Covid-19 curve within months of reporting the countrys first coronavirus case last year, Kerala is now grappling with a sharp surge in its daily infections, prompting the Centre to send a high-level team to assist it. However, the state government maintains the high numbers are a result of robust surveillance and reporting system, while pointing to its low fatality rate. Close to 40,000 cases have been reported from the southern state in the last week alone, with a daily addition of around 5,000, even as its neighbours and other high prevalence states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have started seeing a reversal. As of Thursday, Kerala recorded 5,051 new coronavirus cases, including four UK returnees and 5,638 recoveries as the total caseload inched towards the eight lakh mark. The toll stood at 3,234 while the active cases are nearly 65,000. The rise in the number of cases in the state is due to a robust surveillance and reporting system. We managed to delay the peak of the pandemic and upgraded the threshold of our health system. Our ultimate aim is to save the lives of the people and reduce the mortality rate. Even with this high number of cases, we managed to reduce the death rate, Health Minister KK Shailaja told PTI. She said the upward graph could also be attributed to the recently concluded local body polls, swept by the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF. The state saw the virus curve flatten in April-May last year, even as it witnessed an increase in the cases later in the wake of the return of Keralites from abroad following the lockdown. Shailaja said Kerala managed to maintain a very low case fatality rate in the state even as it was in a vulnerable position with high population density, high number of old-age population and the most number of diabetic patients. Yes there is an increase in cases due to the recently concluded local body polls and all. But we need to understand that the pandemic is still here and the lockdown restrictions were eased. The most scientific method of approach in connection with a pandemic is to delay the peak of it. Many nations faced a shortage of beds as the cases peaked and choked their health system resulting in high mortality rates, she added. When asked about the state accounting for over 25% of new cases in the country, she said it is meaningless to say that Keralas situation is worse. In certain other states, when they reached the peak of the pandemic, thousands had lost their lives and their health systems were choked. It is meaningless to say that Keralas situation is worse as we have a high number of positive cases. They are not considering the case fatality rate. Look at the example of Dharavi (in Mumbai). They have done a good job there. But the pandemic was contained there after nearly 400 deaths, the minister said. She inissted the state delayed the peak of the pandemic by maintaining a stable plateau without a sudden surge in cases and the advantage is that we could maintain the number of cases within the potential threshold of our health care system giving us breathing space. By delaying the peak of the pandemic, the government increased the number of ICUs, ventilators in the hospitals and oxygen supply has been ensured to all beds. Even though there was an increase in the number of cases, it has only taken up 50% of our hospital capacity. Similarly, we are using only 50% of our ICUs, and only 40% of our ventilators are filled. Our case fatality rate is at 0.4%, she said. On the Centre deputing a team, headed by the Director of the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Dr SK Singh to support public health interventions for Covid-19 management in Kerala, Shailaja welcomed the move. It is always good to have a central team visiting the state. We can explain to them the steps taken by us in containing the virus, she added. Public Health officials of the state say the percentage of active cases is high in Kerala because of the states discharge policy which stipulates that the patient should record a negative result before discharge. Our increased number of cases at this period of time is rather a reflection of our success of implementing the delaying of the peak of the pandemic rather than our failure. That is the way we deal with a pandemic. The only question that will be asked at the end of the pandemic is how many lives we have saved and at what cost, Dr Mohammed Asheel, Director of Social Security Mission said. A senior public health official from the state told PTI that along with the case fatality rate, it is equally important to keep the system from being over stretched. The official said Kerala never had any issue of shortage of beds in ICUs in the hospitals. We never had any issue of shortage of oxygen. Such lapses are being reported even from developed nations. In Kerala such a situation will never arise as we are all prepared. Still we need our numbers to come down and for that public should take the responsibility, the official said. While the total virus caseload in the state has mounted to 7,95,933, recoveries have touched 7,28,060 and the active cases stand at 64,445, as of Thursday. At least 1,93,370 people are under observation in various districts, including 11,435 in hospitals. A 19-year-old woman has been killed in a suspected shark attack in New Zealand, in the first such incident for eight years. Kaelah Marlow, from Hamilton, was just beyond the wave line at Waihi Beach when she was heard screaming, local media reported. Lifeguards, paramedics and a doctor attempted to save the teenager after she dragged from the water with leg wounds, but she died from her injuries. The popular tourist spot 153 kilometres (95 miles) drive south east of Auckland, which is on the countrys North Island. Witness Amanda Gould said that Ms Marlow was pulled out to sea by a rip tide. We were in the water at the same time as the girl and her friends... they were about five metres in front of us, but they kept getting further and further out, she told New Zealand based media outlet Stuff. A woman prepares to lay flowers near the scene of the attack / AP She got separated from all her friends and was pulled really far out, beyond where the surfers would sit. Ms Gould added that no one saw Ms Marlow waving for help, but she did hear her scream. Flowers laid at Waihi Beach / AP You could tell she was struggling because there is no way she would go that far out", she said. No one saw her waving out, but I did hear a scream. Police, who said the incident was a suspected shark attack, later named the teenager and said an autopsy had been scheduled for Friday. Gov. Henry McMaster announced the allocation of $19.9 million in federal COVID-19 aid Tuesday for education and workforce training statewide. Of those funds, $8 million will go to the South Carolina Technical College System to provide training programs for 3,100 adults in career fields like healthcare, computer technology, information technology, distribution and logistics, advanced manufacturing and criminal justice and corrections, according to a press release from the governor. Aiken Technical College, one of 16 institutions in the S.C. Technical College System, offers some short-term training courses that would be eligible for the funding. ATC President Dr. Forest Mahan said the funding supports the college's efforts to increase access to short-term training in high-demand career fields. This is a good day for technical education and workforce development in Aiken County. Members of our community have been impacted by job loss or are underemployed, but are eagerly wanting to support themselves and their families ," Mahan said in an ATC press release. "We will be able to help people gain the skills they need to find employment as soon as possible while ensuring our local industries have the skilled workforce they need." Among other short-term training courses, ATC offers manufacturing training. Dr. Steven Simmons, dean of technical and continuing education, said manufacturing is an industry that continues to demand a highly-skilled workforce locally, according to the press release. Receiving this funding at this time is a critical step in assisting citizens of Aiken County in preparing and finding work, specifically in manufacturing. This funding will provide tuition coverage for students enrolled in the ManuFirst and Aiken Technical College Manufacturing Certified Program. We will soon release details regarding the enrollment process and course schedules, Simmons said in the press release. The money is coming from the Governors Emergency Education Relief Fund, or GEER, which was provided last March through the CARES Act. The U.S. Department of Justice has released more details of a pro-Trump mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday, including an Alabama man who had nearly a dozen Molotov cocktail devices ready to go. The New York Daily News reports the DOJs principal assistant U.S. attorney Ken Kohl held a conference call with reporters Friday, detailing how Lonnie Coffman, 70, of Falkville, Ala., had a cache of weapons in his pickup truck including 11 Molotov cocktails with homemade napalm, an M4 Carbine assault rifle and two handguns. He was arrested on gun and ammunition charges Wednesday night, plus possession of a destructive device after authorities responded to a report of possible pipe bombs in a truck with Alabama plates. AL.com reports Coffman is charged with carrying a pistol without a license, which is a felony crime in Washington, D.C. Kohl also said Derrick Evans, a Republican legislator from West Virginia, has been charged with unlawfully entering restricted areas of the Capitol during Wednesdays riot, which left five people dead including a police officer. Evans live-streamed video of himself breaking into the Capitol screaming were in with other Trump supporters. The Justice Department unveiled charges on more than a dozen people Friday, including Richard Barnett, an Arkansas man who was photographed breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office and putting his foot on her desk. Newsweek reports Barnett, 60, was arrested in Little Rock, Arkansas, on charges of entering and remaining on restricted grounds, violent entry and theft of public property. Kohl also said the DOJ has found no indication antifa played any role in the Capitol siege, according to NBC 4 Washington reporter Scott MacFarlane and Fox News Jake Gibson. The New York Times reports a large number of conservative voices and social media users have pushed an unfounded claim that liberal activists that are members of the anti-fascist movement known as antifa somehow infiltrated the rally and acted violently to make Trump supporters look bad. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Alabama), conservative commentator Candace Owens, Georgia lawyer L. Lin Wood, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Fox News host Laura Ingraham, and former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin all spread the false rumor to tens of millions of followers. Speaking on the House floor, Gaetz referenced a report from the right-wing publication The Washington Times claiming that facial recognition software showed evidence that rioters inside the Capitol included members of antifa. The Washington Times retracted and corrected the story Thursday afternoon, noting XRVision did not identify any Antifa members. Photos of a shirtless man wearing a horned helmet and an American flag painted on his face also went viral as Twitter users falsely said he was an antifa supporter. The Arizona Republic identified him as Jake Angeli, a QAnon supporter who has been a fixture at Arizona right-wing political rallies over the past year. President Trump has not repeated any claims antifa was part of Wednesdays violence, but previously sought to designate it as a domestic terrorist group and suggested left-wing radicals were responsible for violence at nationwide social justice protests. However, FBI Director Chris Wray said in September that antifa is an ideology, not an organization, and an Associated Press review of court documents found most people arrested in protests are not antifa. FBI seeks publics help identifying pro-Trump mob that stormed Capitol US Capitol police officer dies of injuries from pro-Trump siege Katko faults Trump for inciting violence at U.S. Capitol, regrets endorsement Syracuse activists see double standard in police response at Capitol vs. summer protests here 3 1 of 3 Waterbury Police Department photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Waterbury Police Department / Contributed photo Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Connecticut native Latrisha Chambers, 40, died after a fire in Brooklyn on Jan. 5, according to the Republican American. The paper reports that Chambers was found unconscious inside her apartment and later pronounced dead at the hospital. According to the Republican American, Chambers was originally from Danbury and was involved with New Hope Baptist Church in town. She graduated from Stone Academy in Waterbury and had worked in a plastic surgery office in Ridgefield, "where she was regarded as a trustworthy employee who would open the office each morning, among other past jobs," Chambers' mother told the paper. Is the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) capable of real-time response when faced with crisis? Naturally that question has been asked throughout the last several months. To address some misconceptions, I would like to explain how a department reliant on lengthy approval processes can expedite timelines and mobilize to the needs of communities when it is most crucial. This year has had its challenges, to be sure. Just as most of us were coming to grips with the reality of a 100-year pandemic, historic rains deluged people in Midland and some adjoining counties. The water flowing into Wixom and Sanford lakes ultimately breached the dams and flooded the nearby communities. The floods destroyed homes, roads, and bridges. Fortunately, no lives were lost. We are grateful for the swift action of first responders who worked tirelessly to help those who were displaced. At the direction of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, MDOT staff immediately moved to repair and replace roads and bridges washed away. MDOT engineers also offered their technical support to the local road agencies. Damage is telling enough when flood waters cover a road, but once that water recedes, you get an up-close look at the destruction. These floods came with a hefty price tag, and a daunting timeline. Fewer than 72 hours after the flood, MDOT awarded the first emergency contract to start repairs on US-10 at Sanford Lake. Two weeks later, crews restored one lane of traffic in each direction, and just a few weeks after that, all lanes were open in each direction. Other locations presented more challenges. Some required multiple contracts to complete, like the M-30 bridge in Edenville. Crews started removing debris in June and began repairing the structure and road approach in August. Last month, MDOT began work on the final major bridge repair for 2020, just north of Midland County, which is a temporary prefabricated steel bridge. This temporary bridge is expected to serve the public for five to seven years once experts agree on a modern replacement for the dam. So why spend more than $4 million on a temporary bridge? The answer is that the commuters and businesses depending on the flow of commerce cannot wait for a long-term agreement on dam restoration and funding. The future holds many unknowns. Once hydraulic experts come to some kind of consensus on long-term water flow, MDOT engineers can design a bridge that will be there for 80 to100 years. Building a temporary bridge now allows time for myriad federal, state and local agencies to agree on long-term plans. When a permanent structure is built, likely in the next 10 years, the bridge will be designed to meet that long-term outcome. In the meantime, the M-30 corridor will be re-established, supporting commuter and commercial traffic because that is what MDOT does. We build roads and bridges. We use innovative tools and techniques wherever practical. And we live in and support communities like those afflicted by the floods in Midland and Gladwin counties every day. To those residents, we extend our thanks for your patience during this process. MDOT, our local partner agencies, and the contractors tasked with these repairs are looking forward to approaching these final steps. Paul C. Ajegba is the director of the Michigan Department of Transportation. There will be a total of 26 Tableaux (9 central ministries/departments and 17 states/UTs) in this year's R-Day parade. India's celebrations of its 72nd Republic Day on January 26 this year will look different owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. With strict COVID-19 restrictions in place, this Republic Day will be of a shorter duration, with smaller marching contingents and fewer cultural performances. Though, the parade will be carried out in the same manner as last year, social distancing has been factored in all activities. As opposed to last year's seating arrangement for 1.15 lakh, this year only 25,000 seats will be there. Also, no standing spectators will be allowed. There will be 26 Tableaux (9 central ministries/departments and 17 states/UTs). New attractions at the parade This year's Republic Day parade will also see new attractions such as two special tableaux. One by the Ministry of Culture heralding '75 years of Independence' and another by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting that will showcase 'New India'. 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 Apart from that we also will see a contingent from Bangladesh as Lead Contingent to commemorate the 50th year of the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971. We'll also have 23 bands, 18 from the Army, one from the Air Force, and one from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) to play 24 music tunes. Apart from all the other attractions, it's also quite new that the Republic Day Parade doesn't have a confirmed Chief Guest yet, as UK Prime Minister Borris Jhonson cancelled due to the worsening COVID-19 situation in his country. COVID-19 precautions in place Enlisted below is the detailed set of precautions finalised to keep everyone safe at the parade venue. -Entry gates, placement of queue manager, etc have been planned suitably. -No tiered stand would be used for seating in Republic Day Parade and Beating The Retreat Ceremony this year to ensure separated seating. -The chairs will be placed on wooden elevated platforms of heights 3inches/5 inches/10 inches. It will be placed height-wise to arrange a suitable number of rows. -The protocol will be followed as per the Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health & Welfare. The advisory for COVID safety will be included in the instructions. -Thermal screening will be available at all entry points along with eight isolation /resting booths if any attendee is detected having symptoms of COVID-19 during entry. There will also be one doctor and one paramedic stationed at each of these booths. -Hand sanitizers, masks, and gloves will be available and thorough sanitization of the premise will be carried out. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said that as the rioting was underway, it became clear that the Capitol Police were overrun. But he said there was no contingency planning done in advance for what forces could do in case of a problem at the Capitol because Defence Department help was turned down. Theyve got to ask us, the request has to come to us, said McCarthy. It is not clear how many officers were on-duty on Wednesday, local time, when the Save America rally was scheduled, but the complex is policed by a total of 2,300 officers who protect the 435 House representatives, 100 US senators and their staff. By comparison, the city of Minneapolis has about 840 uniformed officers policing a population of 425,000. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video There were signs for weeks that violence could strike on January 6, when Congress convened for a joint session to finish counting the Electoral College votes that would confirm Democrat Joe Biden had won the presidential election. On far-right message boards and in pro-Trump circles, plans were being made. The leader of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys was arrested coming into the nations capital this week on a weapons charge. He admitted to police that he had made statements about rioting in Washington, local officials said. Trump and his allies were perhaps the biggest megaphones, encouraging protesters to turn out in force and support his false claim that the election had been stolen from him. He egged them on during a rally shortly before they marched to the Capitol and rioted. His personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, a former New York mayor known for his tough-on-crime stance, called for trial by combat. Loading McCarthy said law enforcement's intelligence estimates of the potential crowd size in the run-up to the protests were all over the board, from a low of 2,000 to as many as 80,000. So the Capitol Police had set up no hard perimeter around the Capitol. Officers were focused on one side where members of congress were entering to vote to certify Bidens win. Barricades were set up on the plaza in front of the building, but police retreated from the line and a mob broke through. Lawmakers, at first unaware of the security breach, continued their debate. Soon they were cowering under chairs. Eventually they were escorted from the House and Senate. Journalists were left alone in rooms for hours as the mob attempted to break into barricaded rooms. Sund, the Capitol Police chief, said he had expected a display of First Amendment activities that instead turned into a violent attack. But Gus Papathanasiou, head of the Capitol Police union, said planning failures left officers exposed without backup or equipment against surging crowds of rioters. We were lucky that more of those who breached the Capitol did not have firearms or explosives and did not have a more malign intent," Papathanasiou said in a statement. "Tragic as the deaths are that resulted from the attack, we are fortunate the casualty toll was not higher. US Capitol Police try to hold back rioters. Credit:AP The Justice Department, FBI and other agencies began to monitor hotels, flights and social media for weeks and were expecting large crowds. Mayor Muriel Bowser had warned of impending violence for weeks and businesses had closed in anticipation. She requested National Guard help from the Pentagon on December 31, but the Capitol Police turned down the January 3 offer from the Defence Department, according to Kenneth Rapuano, assistant defence secretary for homeland security. We asked more than once and the final return that we got on Sunday the 3rd was that they would not be asking DOD for assistance, he said. The Justice Departments offer for FBI support as the protesters grew violent was rejected by the Capitol Police, according to the two people familiar with the matter. They were not authorised to publicly discuss the matter and spoke on condition of anonymity. By then, it was too late. Officers from the Metropolitan Police Department descended. Agents from nearly every Justice Department agency, including the FBI, were called in. So was the Secret Service and the Federal Protective Service. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives sent two tactical teams. Police from as far away as New Jersey arrived to help. It took four hours to evict the protesters from the Capitol complex. By then, they had roamed the halls of Congress, posed for photos inside hallowed chambers, broken through doors, destroyed property and taken photos of themselves doing it. Only 13 were arrested at the time; scores were arrested later. Loading In the aftermath, a two-metre fence will go up around the Capitol grounds for at least 30 days. The Capitol Police will conduct a review of the carnage, as well as their planning and policies. The acting US attorney in the District of Columbia, Michael Sherwin, said the failure to arrest more people is making their jobs harder. Look, we have to now go through cell site orders, collect video footage to try to identify people and then charge them, and then try to execute their arrest. So that has made things challenging, but I cant answer why those people werent zip-tied as they were leaving the building by the Capitol Police. AP FP Trending Lenovo has launched ThinkStation P620, a new generation workstation desktop computer in India. The device is designed for heavy-duty work and is powered by AMD Ryzen Threadripper Pro processors up to 4.0 GHz, helping deliver heavy-duty work. Lenovo in a release said that ThinkStation P620 offers a dual-CPU experience in a single-processor system. The company claims that with fully customised and scalable chassis, the latest machine has reimagined the traditional workstation. It has been fine-tuned for those requiring more power for present time multi-threaded applications. The Lenovo ThinkStation P620 include Nvidia Quadro RTX 8,000 or four RTX 4,000 graphics cards, have up to 20 TB storage and memory that is expandable up to 1 TB. Lenovo says that ThinkStation P620 comes with faster memory, quicker storage transfer speeds, and 10 GB of built-in Ethernet. It has been designed to be the most versatile workstation in the market. Lenovo along with AMD has created a customised heat sink that uses a unique air-cooled solution to manage the increased thermal requirements, arising due to the advanced design of the processor. Lenovo said that the ThinkStation P620 has undergone its rigorous standards and testing. The workstation has support for ThinkStation Diagnostics 2.0 for real-time alerts and Lenovo ThinkShield customisable security platform. It also supports AMD Secure Processor for data and application integrity. The AMD Memory Guard enables full memory encryption to shield it against advanced physical attacks. The ThinkStation P620 weighs 24 kgs. Lenovo ThinkStation P620 will be available at a starting price of Rs 3,99,000 and can be purchased from lenovo.com. The company is providing a 3-year standard after-sale warranty and an upgradable warranty for up to 5 years. WASHINGTON - Outside the Capitol on Thursday, Sheridan Harvey took out binoculars and gazed hundreds of yards into the distance, looking for evidence of the damage rioters had caused to a complex that is an enduring symbol of American democracy. "You can see the broken windows," Harvey, a retired Library of Congress reference librarian, told her friend Merritt Chesley, a retired Foreign Service officer. On Wednesday, Harvey had devoured a bag of Cheetos as the two women texted each other, both watching news coverage of the mob that overwhelmed the landmark at the center of their neighborhood. "What they're doing to our country is appalling, appalling, appalling," Chesley said. "I was never afraid that the building would fall or that the rioters would take control," Harvey said. "But symbolically? It was devastating." Less than 24 hours after rioters desecrated a singular emblem of Washington power, the nation's capital struggled to regain a sense of order as work crews cleaned up litter on the Capitol's grounds and tourists returned to admire its gleaming dome. Clusters of National Guard troops ringing the complex, along with newly installed security fencing, signaling that the path to normalcy would not be simple or quick. "It's reassuring to see it on a lovely, clear day on the one hand, and I'm happy to see the National Guard," Laird Trieber, 55, a retired Foreign Service officer who lives in the neighborhood, said as he walked his beagle past the east side of the Capitol. "But what a shame. It's not something I would expect to see in my lifetime. It's the kind of thing you see somewhere else, and it's usually a sign of real trouble." Michael Kanter awoke Thursday at a downtown hotel, put on his red "Make America Great Again" cap and headed straight for the Capitol, where he had spent hours the day before. Instead of voicing more outrage over the election results, as he had when he marched with thousands of other supporters of President Donald Trump, Kanter said he wanted to make sure the building was secure. The 67-year-old dentist from Florida still insisted that the election was "stolen" from Trump, who has made unfounded allegations about rigged voting for months. But Kanter described himself as upset that the Capitol had been vandalized by hordes of his fellow Trump backers, who overtook police, broke windows and ransacked congressional offices. "I wanted to see it quiet and peaceful," he said as he gazed at the building. "I just wanted to see the beauty of it." As much as the White House, perhaps, the Capitol is a cultural icon, depicted on the $50 bill, in countless movies and on postcards. Storming the complex as lawmakers were certifying the election results was akin to "violating a cathedral," said Georgetown University history professor Michael Kazin. "Our Constitution, the White House, the Mall, the Capitol - they're like a secular version of religion," Kazin said. "Those are the places people know if they know anything about the country." Over the course of U.S. history, the Capitol has been the setting for the attempted assassination of President Andrew Jackson, three bombings and several shootings, including the 1998 slaying of two Capitol Police officers. During the War of 1812, British troops torched the building while it was still under construction. Yet, Wednesday's attack was unprecedented because of the size of the mob, cheered on by Trump, that overwhelmed the police and jammed the Capitol's hallways and stairwells. "Most of these previous incidents was a person or a few people doing something dastardly," said Stephen Hess, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution who writes about government and the media. "These were countless people, swarming in and over the Capitol. It was a stampede. The vision of that was sickening." Hess, 87, a District of Columbia resident who has been decoding the workings of Washington since the 1950s, said he was stunned with astonishment as he sat in front of his television for hours watching the mob. "The Germans bombed Britain, but they were Germans," he said. "In this case, it wasn't an invasion. They weren't our enemy. They were our people - friends, inspired by our president. That's the horrible thing about it." Many of the marauders wore Trump hats or carried Trump flags as they entered the building Wednesday. But on Thursday, there were supporters of the president - like Kanter - who came back downtown and showed reverence for the institutions of government. Some picked up debris near the White House. At the Capitol, a woman who identified herself only as "Asia" said she had marched Wednesday but retreated once the vandalism had begun. "I didn't want to be part of that," she said. "I'm glad to see there's not a lot of trash," she said after emerging from a van with a Maine license plate, wearing a dirt-bike helmet fashioned to look like a skull. "I believe in our country, but I don't believe in hurting each other. There's a way to do it, and we messed up." A few yards away, Monica Squires, 35, said she did not think the pro-Trump crowd had done anything wrong. She had traveled from California for the Trump rally and saw the mayhem on the Capitol grounds but said she did not enter the building. "The fact that I saw it with in my own eyes is really so cool," she said, after returning to the area Thursday in hopes of running into Alex Jones, the right-wing conspiracy theorist. "I feel like I saw history. I don't see what happened as any kind of desecration. I see it as the government should be afraid of the people. They should listen to our grievances. I thought it was all kind of entertaining." After the curfew imposed by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, lifted at 6 a.m., the city's roadways filled with traffic and Washingtonians emerged to buy groceries, walk their dogs and get fresh air. Daniel Bell, a social-work student who lives in D.C., visited Black Lives Matter Plaza, near the White House, because he wanted to see the remnants of Wednesday's "destruction." He found a largely vacant stretch of asphalt, except for several visitors, some of whom wore hats signaling support for Trump. Bell, 27, who grew up in the city, said his ingrained sense of security in his hometown has been shaken by the demonstrations in recent months. "My neighbors are kind and caring, but the people who visit?" he said. "I'm not feeling so safe right now. I've been terrified since November." At an intersection where rioting erupted after Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination in 1968, Delontay Ericson, 28, unloaded fold-up tables from his van to sell T-shirts emblazoned with the faces of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. On most days, Ericson said, he also offers shirts and flags promoting Trump, as well as items that invoke an obscenity to express contempt for the president. But on Thursday, those items remained out of sight. "All the Trump stuff stays in the bag," he said. "I'm a capitalist. I don't need no trouble today." WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump promised a smooth transition in a video message posted on Twitter Thursday night, saying that his supporters had pursued post-election challenges in good faith, but "now tempers must be cooled and calm restored." Trump's comments are the closest he has come to acknowledging his loss, and they follow escalating calls for his removal, coming hours after the nation's top congressional Democrats demanded he be removed from office for his role in the deadly sacking of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., called on officials to immediately invoke the 25th Amendment, warning that they are prepared to begin impeachment proceedings if the Cabinet and vice president do not act. Though that extraordinary step is unlikely to succeed, it is a sign that a growing number of Democrats and Republicans now believe Trump is too dangerous to remain president. Trump "invited an armed insurrection against the United States of America," Pelosi told reporters a day after a pro-Trump mob incited by the president stormed the Capitol, vandalizing the building and forcing lawmakers to evacuate. One woman was fatally shot and three people died of other causes. Over the course of the day, a growing chorus of officials - including current Cabinet secretaries and Trump allies - strongly chastised the president, who stayed out of sight until his evening message, in which he denounced the mob attack, adding "to those who broke the law, you will pay." Reading off a script in a flat voice, Trump claimed he immediately deployed the National Guard to help secure the building and expel the intruders. Other officials have disputed that account. Trump also claimed his attempts to overturn the election results were simply his efforts to "ensure the integrity of the vote." "Now, Congress has certified the results," he said. "A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power." Late Wednesday night, lawmakers certified President-elect Joe Biden's victory, the proceeding they were in the middle of when the pro-Trump riot began. The Senate voted 92 to 7 to reject a Republican challenge to Biden's victory; the House dismissed the challenges in a 282 to 138 vote. Shortly after Congress affirmed Biden's win, Trump released a statement pledging "an orderly transition," even as he continued to falsely claim the election was riddled with fraud. The statement was tweeted by White House social media director Dan Scavino as Trump remained locked out of his account. "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said. Hours earlier, Trump had encouraged his followers to march on the Capitol and sympathized with the rioters even as the insurrection was underway, calling them "great patriots" and explaining away the lawless siege as the consequence of a stolen election. Even some Trump allies, who rarely rebuke the president and often take pains to defend his behavior in public, tried to distance themselves from the president, criticizing Trump's behavior as unacceptable. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who served the entire four years of Trump's presidency, announced her intention to resign, effective on Monday. Chao, the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., became the first Cabinet secretary to leave over the insurrection. In an email to the department staff, Chao cited the actions taken in Trump's name. "Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed. As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside," Chao wrote. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also submitted her resignation Thursday, citing the president's role in the riot on Capitol Hill. "There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me," she wrote in a letter to President Trump. She said her resignation is effective Friday. Acting homeland security secretary Chad Wolf called on Trump to denounce the violence carried out by "some supporters" of the president. Wolf said he des not plan to quit. Former attorney general William Barr called Trump's conduct "a betrayal of his office and supporters." Barr's direct condemnation of Trump was especially notable because of his record of defending previous Trump excesses, including the forcible clearing of peaceful protesters from the park opposite the White House last summer. Those protesters were airing complaints about racial injustice and police brutality. Mick Mulvaney, Trump's former acting chief of staff, said Thursday he is resigning from his current post as a special envoy to Northern Ireland in the wake of the "international travesty" at the Capitol. During an appearance on CNBC, Mulvaney said Trump is "not the same as he was eight months ago" and suggested the violence at the Capitol could have been avoided if Trump had pledged an orderly transition weeks ago. "I can't do it," he said. "I can't stay." Former homeland security secretary and Trump chief of staff John Kelly, now a Trump critic, urged the Cabinet to meet and discuss Trump's removal, telling CNN that he would vote for that if he were he still a Cabinet member. Former Trump national security adviser H.R. McMaster tweeted that the main reason for the attack on Congress "is the sad reality that President Trump and other officials have repeatedly compromised our principles in pursuit of partisan advantage and personal gain." One set of proposed impeachment articles was circulated Thursday by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., who invited colleagues to join her efforts because "our country, our democracy, and our national security remain in danger" as long as Trump is in office. The drumbeat on Capitol Hill for the president's removal grew louder when Schumer, the soon-to-be Senate majority leader, said in a statement that Trump "should not hold office one day longer" after inciting an "insurrection against the United States." Schumer said Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet should invoke the emergency provisions of the 25th Amendment and move to strip Trump of his power ahead of the Jan. 20 inauguration. "If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president," Schumer said. Pelosi and Schumer made a joint phone call to Pence Thursday asking him to consider invoking the 25th Amendment, but they didn't reach him, Schumer told reporters Thursday. "They kept us on hold for 25 minutes and then said the vice president wouldn't come on the phone," he said. "So we are making this call public because he should do it and do it right away." Pence made no public appearances or statements Thursday. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., also came out in favor of Trump's removal, the first Republican member of Congress to do so. Kinzinger has emerged over the past two months as an outspoken critic of Trump's efforts to undermine the election. Kinzinger said in a video that it was time to "end this nightmare." "The president caused this. The president is unfit and the president is unwell, and now the president must relinquish control of the executive branch, voluntarily or involuntarily," he said. But most Republicans remained on the sidelines, and some senior Republican officials applauded Trump when he briefly called into a members-only gathering at the Republican National Committee's winter meeting Thursday morning. RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel put Trump on speakerphone, according to people in the room. "We love you!" some in the room shouted. Trump made no mention of Wednesday's violence at the Capitol, according to the people present, who were not authorized to speak publicly about the president's remarks. The practicalities of removing Trump are daunting, especially with less than two weeks left in his term. While the 25th Amendment could put Pence quickly into the presidency, it gives Congress review power that could make it tricky to keep Trump from reclaiming the office. The Democratic-controlled House could swiftly impeach Trump, bypassing levels of committee review to put an impeachment resolution directly on the House floor. But that would break with modern precedent, which has involved a time-consuming period of investigation and legal foundational work. Schumer's call came after a mounting number of more junior Democrats issued public demands for Trump's removal. They included the No. 3 Senate Democratic leader, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who called for Trump's removal via the 25th Amendment early Thursday as Congress was still working to certify Biden's electoral votes. "As history watches, I urge Vice President Pence and the president's Cabinet to put country before party and act," Murray said. Others calling for action Thursday included Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.), the chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. "If the vice president and Cabinet fail to act, we have a duty to pursue impeachment," she said. Sen. Mitt Romney, Utah, who was the only Republican to vote for Trump's impeachment last year and spoke out against GOP attempts to undo the November election, said "time's a little short" for impeachment and dismissed talk of invoking the 25th Amendment. "I think we've got to hold our breath for the next 20 days," Romney said. Neither the House nor Senate is currently expected to meet again before Jan. 19 except in skeleton pro forma sessions. But lawmakers could be called back if circumstances warrant. - - - The Washington Post's Felicia Sonmez, Josh Dawsey and John Wagner contributed to this report. Advertisement House prices nudged upwards to end 2020 at an all-time high of 253,374 after a boom led by homeowners heading for the country, but experts now say buyers could be looking to return to London. The mini-boom that arrived after the property freeze at the start of lockdown led house prices to climb 6 per cent last year, with the average home adding 14,295 in 2020, according to Halifax. Estate agents now predict a boom in sales in London in the wake of an exodus of City workers last year, who fled lured by the prospect of working from homes in the countryside and on the coast. London-based estate agent Dexters said it expects to see sales and lettings transactions in the Capital doubling in volume during 2021, with the boroughs of Camden, Kentish Town, Tufnell Park and Kensington and Chelsea tipped to be the year's 'star performers.' Property listing website Rightmove, meanwhile, has seen a record number of viewings this week, recording its busiest ever start to a new year. The firm said the number of people contacting estate agents about a property to buy is 11 per cent higher than at the start of 2020, and those enquiring about a property to rent is up by 22 per cent. This property in Kenwood, north London, was one of the Capital's most viewed properties for the month of December. The eight-bed detached house is on the market for 15,000,000 At the other end of the market, this property in Romford, was also one of London's most viewed properties in December. It is on the market for 120,000, shared ownership This stunning modern four-bed home in Abbots Oak, Leicestershire is listed on Rightmove for 1.65m Also listed on Rightmove is this two-bed apartment in this historic building in Bath for 450,000 Estate agents Yopa told MailOnline and This is Money that 24.1 per cent of viewing requests in January 2020 were for London properties, which plummeted to 17.6 per cent in April and May as the pandemic took hold London-based estate agent Dexters said it expects to see sales and lettings transactions in the Capital doubling in volume during 2021, with the boroughs of Camden, Kentish Town, Tufnell Park and Kensington and Chelsea tipped to be the year's 'star performers' (pictured in this map) Busiest ever start to the year as home-hunters seek New Year moves Rightmove has recorded its busiest ever start to a new year, with visits to the site up 30 per cent on the same time period in 2020. People contacting estate agents about a property to buy is 11 per cent higher than at the start of 2020, and those enquiring about a property to rent is up by 22 per cent. The impending end to the stamp duty holiday, more people re-evaluating where they live and the housing market staying open have all contributed to Rightmove recording its busiest ever start to a new year. Rightmove said it saw record viewings this week despite the new lockdown. The property giant said it 'gives hope to those who already have or those who are planning to put their property on the market to sell or rent out in early 2021.' Rightmove's Director of Property Data Tim Bannister said: 'January is usually one of our busiest months of the year as people start to make new year plans to move, as was the case at the start of last year when we also had the post-election bounce that gave hope of an active spring market, before that all changed with the temporary closure from March until May. 'We didn't know how this year would start with so much change and uncertainty around restrictions, but it's been reassuring for those people hoping or needing to move that the demand we've seen so far is the highest we've ever had in January.' While house prices ended the year on a high, according to Halifax's house price index, the monthly rate of growth slowed to 0.2 per cent in December. December was the sixth consecutive month that a record price high had been hit, this month-on-month growth was a big fall from November's 1 per cent, and suggests that the market is cooling down. Dexters currently has more than 100,000 people registered looking for a London home, as well as thousands of enquiries from international buyers looking to snap up properties in the Capital once overseas travel resumes. Buyers are coming from Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia wanting to purchase 'bolt hole' homes, 'due to concerns over the political and economic stability of their country,' according to the estate agent. Estate agents Yopa told MailOnline and This is Money that 24.1 per cent of viewing requests in January 2020 were for London properties, which plummeted to 17.6 per cent in April and May as the pandemic took hold. That fell further to 16.3 per cent in June - when there was first talk of a possible city exodus as many no longer needed to live near the office thanks to homeworking becoming the norm. But viewing requests for London homes have regained some ground, rising to 22 per cent in September, 24.2 per cent in October, 25.5 per cent in November and then ending the year on 22 per cent. Estate agent Russell Quirk told MailOnline and This is Money that demand from buyers for London is already gaining traction again. Mr Quirk added: 'I firmly believe homeowners and buyers will return to the Capital. While transactions in London in 2020 were down dramatically, demand has started to return from enquirers via the portals. 'I think there is some data that shows there was a bit of an exodus, with several estate agents reporting more people moving out, than into London. But it has to be said that some of those reports are merely self-serving for firms. 'There was definitely a sentiment for home owners that they didn't need to be in the city and so close to their desks because of working from home; which I'm sure to some extent will remain a fairly robust sentiment for come City workers. But that change of mindset will only ever be temporary. 'I also think that, working aside, we are inherently social creatures and because of that there will be generally a return of wanting to come back to the office. The city centre will hopefully revitalise and the move towards living in the wilds of the countryside and working with a dodgy broadband will subside in time. 'Some people suggest that Covid will change our ways and habits, but I think when we look back in a few years' time, we will say that it was just a blip in history. 'I firmly believe homeowners and buyers will return to the Capital. We must also look at the data there is soft data that shows people are simply browsing homes out in the wilds. It is the hard data that shows actual transactions.' Halifax reported a 6 per cent increase in house prices across 2020 as a whole, as this chart from BuiltPlace.com shows, which also compares the bank's mortgage-based index to Nationwide's In Long Melford, Suffolk, this four-bed detached home is listed on Zoopla for 550,000 This three-bed detached home in Oswestry, Shropshire is priced at 250,000 on Zoopla Last year saw exceptional house price growth as the market bounced back strongly after the March lockdown. This is Money's analysis of indexes for the year to November showed that the average house price across the major reports increased by 6 per cent, or 15,000. Other than the North East, all regions of England surpassed their 2007 pre-downturn peak. Halifax predicted that house prices would fall by between 2 per cent and 5 per cent by the end of 2021, although it admitted that forecast uncertainty was much higher than usual this year. The 2020 increases were spurred on by the introduction of a stamp duty holiday by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in July that added to an already buoyant market, but this is due to end on 31 March unless the government opts to extend it. Halifax also said the impact of the pandemic on people's finances had been delayed by government support, but that unemployment would rise as the year continued. Russell Galley, the managing director of Halifax, said: 'While the economy should begin to recover in 2021, helped by the roll-out of Covid vaccines, the jobs market will inevitably adjust to the changes in demand that are occurring, and unemployment is expected to rise. House prices increased in December 2020, but only by 131 as growth starts to slow down 'With the stamp duty holiday also due to expire in March and lower levels of demand housing market activity is likely to slow. 'Taking all of this into account, the post-summer surge in house prices is unlikely to be sustained.' Even though prices are likely to fall, Galley says that they could end 2021 at the same place they started before the pandemic. 'Prices are expected to fall by between 2 per cent and 5 per cent, although forecast uncertainty is much higher than usual given the current economic and political environment,' he said. 'It is also important to note that such a fall would only partially reverse the almost 18,000 (7.6 per cent) increase in average prices experienced over the past 12 months.' Nick Barnes, head of research at estate agent Chestertons, predicted a smaller decrease in house prices in 2021 of 1.5 per cent. 'There were 4 per cent more homes for sale in 2020 than the previous year compared to a more than 40 per cent rise in buyers. In London, Chestertons' pipeline of deals at the end of 2020 was 53 per cent higher than a year ago and buyer enquiries were 49 per cent higher,' he said. 'Although the hangover from Covid-19 will be felt throughout 2021 and beyond, and despite the uncertainties following the UK's departure from the European Union, the outlook for the residential market in 2021 is positive.' Anthony Codling of property data platform Twindig said: 'In 2020 house prices were subdued in the first half and strong in the second. 'Will 2021 be a mirror image of 2020 a strong first half and a subdued second as the stamp duty Holiday ends and the possibility of increased capital gains tax on housing transactions takes the heat out of the housing market? Or will the vaccine cure Covid and heal our economy and keep the UK housing market-fighting fit? Time will tell, but for now, it's onwards and upwards.' [January 08, 2021] Data from Vallon Pharmaceuticals' ADAIR Selected for Symposia Presentation at the Virtual 2021 APSARD Annual Meeting PHILADELPHIA, PA, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vallon Pharmaceuticals Inc., (Vallon or the Company), a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of novel drugs for CNS disorders, today announced data from two studies evaluating its investigational new drug, A buse D eterrent A mphetamine I mmediate R elease (ADAIR), have been selected for a symposia presentation at the virtual 2021 American Professional Society of ADHD and Related Disorders (APSARD) Annual Meeting being held January 15-17, 2021. Summarized below is the symposia abstract title selected for presentation. The APSARD Annual Meeting agenda and abstracts are available online at the conference website . Symposia Sesson: Novel Pharmacology and Technology Approaches to the Non-Medical Use of Stimulants Date: Friday, January 15, 2021 at 4:05 PM Presenter: Timothy Wilens, M.D., chief of the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is co-director of the Center for Addiction Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital Abstract Title: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Studies of an Abuse Deterrent Formulation of Dextroamphetamine About ADAIR ADAIR (Abuse Deterrent Amphetamine Immediate Release) is an investigational new drug; a novel, patented formulation of dextroamphetamine designed to deter attempts to crush and snort it or take it by other non-oral routes that can produce a greater high. Dextroamphetamine has been used clinically for more than fifty years. It is the same active ingredient used in FDA-approved products, such as Adderall, Dexedrine, and Vyvanse. ADAIR is not approved by the FDA. About Vallon Pharmaceuticals Inc. Vallon Pharmaceuticals Inc. is a private, clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company, headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. The Company is focused on the development of new medications to help patients with central nervous system (CNS) disorders. The Companys lead investigational product candidate, ADAIR, is a novel formulation of amphetamine immediate release being developed for the treatment of ADHD and narcolepsy. For more information about the company, please visit www.vallon-pharma.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter . *Adderall, Dexedrine, and Vyvanse are registered trademarks of their respective companies. Investor Contact: JTC Team, LLC Jenene Thomas (833) 475-8247 vallon@jtcir.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Daniel T. McCort, 38, died January 1, 2021, after a brief illness. Born and raised in Syracuse, he attended H.W. Smith School, Christian Brothers Academy, Fayetteville Manlius High School, Onondaga Community College, Drew University and Syracuse University, where he earned his master of arts degree in broadcasting media and film production in May of 2020. He was a comedian on the Upstate New York comedy circuit. He had performed at Funk n Waffles on University Hill and Wise Guys in downtown Syracuse. He won the Ithaca Comedy Festival in 2017 and wrote a book on the theory of stand-up comedy, according to his obituary. McCort also loved music and was a drummer for Central New York rock and blues groups. He also was an award-winning sketch artist praised for his style of meticulous realism. If you have a suggestion for a feature obituary, please email the link and any other information youd like to share to bduncan@syracuse.com In a file photo from 2000, Daniel McCort blows bubbles while waiting for the graduating ceremonies to begin for Fayetteville-Manlius High School's 47th annual commencement. At left popping bubbles was Melissa McCall, a fellow graduating senior. More recent feature obituaries: Contact Brenda Duncan anytime: 315-470-2265 | Email | Twitter Parks Commission OKs Location of Springside Pump Track PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Parks Commission is seeking community input on the proposed pump track in Springside Park. On Tuesday evening, the commission approved the location and concept for a bike skills track at Springside Park subject to additional public input. Due to project timelines, this was a special meeting called outside of the commission's usual meeting times. "That's another step forward in what we hope to become a great addition to the park system," Chairman Anthony DeMartino said about the approval. "obviously still a lot of work to do, but a step in the positive direction." Park, Open Space, and Natural Resource Program Manager James McGrath said he will begin working with the program's representative Alison McGee to inform the public of this proposal and give them an opportunity to voice opinions at the regularly scheduled Parks Commission meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 19. McGee has drafted a survey for residents of the Morningside neighborhood and the two school communities that Springside Park surrounds. She also wants to make sure the larger community has voiced their thoughts on the project. "We have a vision for what we want the project to be but we are really open to making it something that fits the community," McGee said. "so by opening it up for some input in the next month that would really enhance the project and make it a very solid asset to the community." The approval of the pump track's concept and location allows for McGee, who is president for the Berkshire Chapter of the New England Mountain Bike Association (NEMBA), to pursue funding and project designer/contractor Will Conroy of Powder Horn Trail Co. to develop a full detailed design plan. The track will be of zero cost to the City of Pittsfield, as Berkshire NEMBA with the Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series and Shire Shredders will pursue funding on their own, independent of the park or city. In November, McGee said they have already fundraised enough to cover the cost of an initial concept plan by Powder Horn from a community bike race event in March 2020 at Bosquet in Pittsfield. Members of the Parks Commission met with McGee for a walkthrough of the site early last month, which raised questions from commissioners relating to cost, location, and maintenance. McGee, who previously taught at Morningside Community School and currently works at a middle school, thinks that an outdoor recreation facility will steer students away from going down the wrong path. In her opinion, a pump track located at Springside Park is ideal because it benefits both the Morningside and Reid Middle School neighborhoods. "I think providing a recreation opportunity to these at-risk communities is extremely important," she said. "Because many of these families cannot have cars to drive to access recreation and to be able to provide something that the kids and adults can bike to from their homes is really valuable." McGee also said the Springside Park location will increase the chances of the project receiving funding and support, as several of the grants she has looked into specifically like to support projects that are targeting at-risk neighborhoods and will promote diversity and inclusion. NEMBA and the Berkshire Mountain Bike Training Series will have a memorandum of understanding with the city that states that the two organizations are solely responsible for all maintenance of the track. Each generation has the responsibility to teach and train the next generation. You know, if we win a few elections, were still going to be losing unless we win the hearts and minds of our children. This is the battle. Hitler was right on one thing. He said, whoever has the youth has the future, she said. Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi preside over a Joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol earlier in the day on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. Members of Congress returned to the House Chamber after being evacuated when protesters stormed the Capitol and disrupted a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump.(Erin Schaff / POOL / AFP) An unusually tame Trump, in a video he released on Twitter after a temporary suspension, condemned rioters who rampaged in his name through a congressional session that certified Biden's victory, although he did not go so far as to congratulate or even say the name of his successor. "This moment calls for healing and reconciliation," said Trump, in a jarring shift of tone a day after a grievance-fueled outdoor rally in which he encouraged thousands of supporters to march on the Capitol. "We have just been through an intense election and emotions are high, but now tempers must be cooled and calm restored," said Trump, standing before a lectern with the presidential seal. "A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power," he said. "Serving as your president has been the honor of my lifetime," Trump said, without explicitly conceding and insisting he was "fighting to defend American democracy." Trump's turnaround came as aides including one cabinet member resigned and the two top Democrats in Congress urged his immediate removal, fearing the damage he can still inflict in his less than two weeks left in the world's most powerful job. Biden, who won seven million votes more than Trump in the November 3 election as well as a decisive edge in the vital state-by-state Electoral College, declined to address demands for Trump's removal but accused him of an "all-out assault on the institutions of our democracy." "Yesterday, in my view, was one of the darkest days in the history of our nation," Biden said at an event to introduce his nominee for attorney general, respected judge Merrick Garland, who if confirmed will quickly need to decide whether to prosecute Trump. "They weren't protesters," Biden said. "They were a riotous mob, insurrectionists, domestic terrorists." "I wish we could say we couldn't see it coming but that isn't true," Biden said. "We could see it coming." "The past four years, we've had a president who's made his contempt for our democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law clear in everything he has done," he said. - Calls to remove Trump - House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer urged Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, which allows a majority of the cabinet to remove a president deemed unable to discharge his duties. They threatened otherwise to impeach Trump for an unprecedented second time in hopes that the Senate, where Democrats are projected to have won control after runoff elections Tuesday in Georgia, will now oust him. "This is an emergency of the highest magnitude," Pelosi said, describing Trump as a "very dangerous person." "By inciting sedition, as he did yesterday, he must be removed from office," she said. "While it's only 13 days left, any day can be a horror show for America. Few Republicans came forward to back such remedies although Representative Adam Kinzinger, a frequent Trump critic within his party, said it was time to "end this nightmare" and also called for invoking the 25th Amendment, which has been used previously when presidents undergo a surgical procedure. "The president is unfit," Kinzinger said. "And the president is unwell." Invoking the amendment would make Pence the acting president for the remaining two weeks the administration has in office. Speaking to CNN, retired Marine Corps general John Kelly, who served as Trump's chief of staff for 18 months, said the cabinet should consider the 25th Amendment but believed the president had been chastened. "He can give all the orders he wants but no one is going to break the law," Kelly said. Pence, loyally by Trump's side until the final days, rejected Trump's vocal pressure to somehow intervene in Tuesday's session, which has taken place every four years for more than two centuries without drama. In the middle of the night, after hours of delay due to the riots and Trump loyalists' contesting of the results, it was Pence who formally announced the victory of Biden as the 46th president and Kamala Harris as the next vice president. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell and is one of Trump's longest-serving cabinet members, announced she would resign over the "entirely avoidable" violence at the Capitol. Thursday evening Education Secretary Betsy DeVos became the second cabinet member to quit, telling Trump in a letter that such "behavior was unconscionable for our country." Others who resigned included Mick Mulvaney, a former Trump chief of staff who is now US special envoy to Northern Ireland, and the deputy national advisor, Matt Pottinger, an architect of Trump's hawkish line on China. - Scrutiny on security - During the mayhem in Congress, security forces fired tear gas to drive out the flag-waving crowds and police said a woman, reportedly a Trump supporter from California, was shot by police and killed. Three other deaths were reported on the Capitol grounds but the circumstances remained unclear. Bipartisan anger was brewing over the failure of law enforcement to prevent the mobs from entering Congress. Steven Sund, the chief of the 2,300-strong Capitol Police, handed in his resignation and lawmakers vowed a thorough investigation on security lapses. Many questioned how police would have responded had the crowd been not overwhelmingly white Trump supporters but Black anti-racism protesters, who were met with force in nationwide demonstrations last year. "True progress will be possible only once we acknowledge that this disconnect exists and take steps to repair it," said former first lady Michelle Obama. "And that also means coming to grips with the reality that millions voted for a man so obviously willing to burn our democracy to the ground for his own ego." Farmers, most of them from Punjab and Haryana, want the new agri farm laws scrapped. The eighth round of talks between the farmers and the government held on January 8 failed to end the impasse yet again as the Centre ruled out any possibility of repealing the three agri-reform laws. While the government reiterated that it was ready for a clause-by-clause discussion on the laws, farmers' union leaders were adamant on their demand of repealing all the three laws which they said was the key reason for the ongoing protests that started in November last year. "Discussion on the laws was taken up, but no decision could be made. The government urged that if farmer unions give an option other than repealing, we'll consider it. But no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded," Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar told reporters after the meeting. The next round of meeting will be held on January 15. Tomar said he was hopeful that the deadlock will end in the next meeting. The government also suggested farmers to form an informal group with members from both the sides to find a solution. "Those supporting the protest are of the view that the laws be repealed and there are many others who support the laws. The government is continuously talking to the unions who want these laws be repealed. We also give appointment to those supporting the laws, when they request us," the minister said. Farmer leaders said they would continue the protests. "There was a heated discussion, we said we don't want anything other than the repeal of laws. We won't go to any court, this (repeal) will either be done or we'll continue to fight. Our parade on January 26 will go on as planned," Hannan Mollah, General Secretary, All India Kisan Sabha, said. During the meeting that began at 2:45 pm in Vigyan Bhawan, farmers carried placards reading, "Either we will die or win" and "Qanoon wapas toh hum ghar wapas (repeal farm laws, we will return home)". Follow our LIVE BLOG on Farmers' Protest HERE Farmer leader Balbir Singh Rajewal who lead the dialogue from farmers' unions reportedly told Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar to repeal the laws as the Centre had right to frame laws in agricultural sector. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal was also present in the meeting representing the government. Tomar, who had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah before the talks, had outrightly rejected farmers' demand to repeal the laws. The government told farmers that it would only repeal laws if the Supreme Court declares them illegal. Farmers have also refused to discuss any amendments to the laws. The Supreme Court of India will hear petitions against farm reform laws on January 11. Earlier, the seventh round of talks held on January 4 had remained inconclusive, too. The two sides had arrived at some common ground in the sixth round of talks held on December 30 with the government agreeing on two of the four demands of farmers removing stubble burning penalty on farmers and withdrawing provisions in the draft Electricity Amendment Bill, 2020, which intend to change the mode of subsidy payment to farmers. The Samyukt Kisan Union, the umbrella body of farmers unions protesting on Delhi borders, has threatened that the farmers will lead a tractor parade into Delhi, and across country, on January 26, if the remaining two demands are not met. Thousands of farmers staged a tractor march from their camps on Delhis borders to converge on the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway on January 7, ahead of a planned march to the Capital on Republic Day. For 44 days now, thousands of farmers, primarily from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points, demanding repealing the laws, and a legal guarantee on minimum support prices for their crops, among other things. READ: Govt ready to consider any proposal apart form repeal of three farm laws, says Narendra Tomar In the seven round of talks between the farmers unions and the government so far, two of the four demands have been met with. The farmers, however, insist that the protest would continue unless the farm reform laws are repealed. The Centre has projected these farm laws as major agriculture reforms aimed at helping farmers and increasing their income, but the protesting unions fear that the new legislation has left them at the mercy of big corporates by weakening the MSP and mandi systems. Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Jan 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Jan, 2021 ) :Central Asian Kyrgyzstan will hold presidential polls Sunday that are likely to see populist Sadyr Japarov go from prisoner to president following a crisis over a disputed parliamentary vote. Unrest began the day after the October 4 vote, as losing parties took to the streets to decry large-scale vote-buying campaigns benefiting parties close to then-president Sooronbay Jeenbekov. By night-time the protests had morphed into clashes with police, with one protester killed as several prominent politicians, including ex-leader Almazbek Atambayev and populist Japarov were freed from jail. The days that followed saw politicians jostle to fill a power vacuum, with Japarov's supporters the largest of the groups insisting on Jeenbekov's immediate resignation despite authorities cancelling the vote results. Kyrgyzstan is no stranger to volatility, with revolutions unseating successive presidents in 2005 and 2010. But the sudden nature of the crisis appeared to take even key ally Russia by surprise. President Vladimir Putin's Deputy Chief of Staff Dimitry Kozak flew into Bishkek to meet with both Jeenbekov and Japarov. Whilst the visit was seen as bolstering Jeenbekov's position, he resigned just days later, citing the need to avoid bloodshed as a crowd backing Japarov gathered close to his official residence. Japarov acted as head of state until November when he stepped down from the post in order to run in Sunday's presidential vote. - A referendum as well - In his first televised address to the nation on October 16, the new acting leader pledged "a real fight against corruption" and said that organised crime "will stop dictating its terms". But Japarov's critics fear his main aim is to concentrate power in the style of the strongmen who rule in neighbouring post-Soviet countries Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. On the same day as the presidential vote, the people of Kyrgyzstan will also choose between a presidential form of government championed by Japarov and parliamentary rule. While work on the new constitution will continue after the vote, it seems likely the new basic law will do away with unrepeatable terms for sitting presidents -- a stipulation introduced in 2010 to curb authoritarianism. Japarov quit his executive roles to run in the January 10 vote in November after seeing loyal allies installed in key positions and a potential electoral rival -- former premier Omurbek Babanov -- rule himself out of the contest. Since then, the vote favourite has packed out stadiums in campaign rallies across the country, basking in the glow of fawning crowds while failing to attend any of the televised debates between candidates. During one theatrical appearance in his home region of Issyk-Kul, Japarov was "blessed" by seven male elders sporting extravagant national garb. On Tuesday, he took to Facebook to criticise small demonstrations against the referendum in the capital Bishkek. "From now on, we must learn to reckon with the people," Japarov wrote. "If someone does not want this, we will teach them." Rep. Mary Miller on Capitol Breach: We Were Sitting Ducks Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.) on Thursday recalled the moment the U.S. Capitol building was breached during a Jan. 6 joint session to count and certify Electoral College votes for the 2020 presidential election, saying she was left shaken by the incident and that lawmakers were at one point sitting ducks. Proceedings in the chambers to debate whether to reject votes for Arizona were interrupted in the afternoon when a group of protestors stormed the U.S. Capitol at around 2:15 p.m. Officials declared around 6 p.m. the Capitol building had been secured. Congress, in the early hours of Thursday, certified the Electoral College vote for former Vice President Joe Biden. Miller, the newly-elected congresswoman of the Illinois 15th Congressional District, voted in favor of the objection to Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral results. Both objections failed to get a simple majority in either chamber. It was shocking. We were in the House and we were told that the Capitol had been compromised, then I believe we were hearing some kind of gunfire, all kinds of things, Miller said during an interview with The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program. Several of the members got up and left, then we were told, get your gas masks outwhich I didnt even know we had them under our seats. I was shaking under the gas mask, Miller continued. I think Im in pretty good shape, but I dont know its adrenaline or we actually were rushing to the point that I was tired and out of breath. Congresswoman Mary Miller speaks to NTD on Dec. 22, 2020. (screenshot NTD) Miller said lawmakers were then led to a room with windows next to a door and with no police officer present. I was thinking how we were sitting ducks there. We were there, just, maybe five minutes, she said. Then the police came and said come with us again, and then took us to a secured room with no windows. They did tell us, do not tell the media where you are. We werent there very long. Miller described Jan. 6 as a very sad day in our nation. It is unclear who instigated the breach of the building, however, the FBI is seeking the publics help to identify those who were involved. Four people were confirmed dead on Capitol grounds late Wednesday, among whom was a woman who died from being shot inside the Capitol building. The D.C. Police Department identified her as 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt of Huntington, Maryland. The department said the three others died in separate medical emergencies. They were 50-year-old Benjamin Philips of Pennsylvania, 55-year-old Kevin Greeson of Alabama, and 34-year-old Rosanne Boyland of Georgia. A U.S. Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick, also died due to injuries while on duty responding to the unrest. The U.S. Capitol Police Department (USCP) confirmed in a statement that he died at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday. His death will be investigated by the D.C. Police Departments Homicide Branch, the USCP, and its federal partners. Police officers in riot gear walk toward the U.S. Capitol as a group of protesters breached the Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) I, of course, joined my colleagues in denouncing this violence. I want to be part of bringing healing to our nation, Miller continued. I support our police, the Capitol Police, Im sure all of them have been doing all that they can, and Im sorry that this has happened. Miller cautioned against rushing to conclusions regarding who was behind the breach of the U.S. Capitol building, saying that the nation is more polarized than ever. I think that we shouldnt rush to conclusions. One side saying its Trump, the other side saying its Antifa. Personally, Im going to be slow in making a statement about that. Im sure that its under investigation. I wouldnt be surprised if it was both. I do think that our nation is more polarized than ever, and I hate it. I hate the angry rhetoric. I think that the leaders should try to pull our nation together, she added. Last night in the Capitol the Democrats were accusing us of treason, sedition, insurrection, we caused it. Thats really unhelpful, and its a lie. Its untrue. And I think that we should stop that kind of talk and work together for the good of our nation. Mimi Nguyen Ly contributed to this report. "Hearing concluded in the SSR sisters matter. Justice will prevail. The FIR registered by Rhea likely to be quashed," tweeted Sushant's family lawyer Vikas Singh in the evening the same day. Hearing concluded on a case filed by the sisters of late Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput at Bombay High Court on Thursday. Advocate Singh arrived in the city on Wednesday to appear the first time for the physical hearing in the case filed by the deceased actor's sisters, against an FIR filed by his girlfriend Rhea Chakraborty. The advocate is hopeful that the FIR registered by Rhea will be quashed. Sushant was found dead in his Bandra apartment on June 14 last year. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) took up investigation in the case after Mumbai Police had initiSushant ally declared the death as suicide. For more stories click here: Kollywood l Malayalam l Bollywood l Telugu Korea plans to increase hiring in the public sector this year, the vice finance minister said Friday, as the job market has been hit hard by the new coronavirus outbreak. Vice Finance Minister Kim Yong-beom also said the government will hire more than 800,000 people in job posts that are created with fiscal spending in the first quarter. "The government will increase hiring at public institutions this year to help younger people who have been frustrated with job seeking," Kim said at an economic meeting, saying that details will be disclosed later this month. He also added the country plans to increase the number of state-backed job posts by 10 percent to 1.04 million this year to support the underprivileged hit by the pandemic. The number of employed people in South Korea declined for the ninth straight month in November 2020 as the coronavirus outbreak continued to deal a blow to the job market. It marked the longest streak of job losses since the 1997-98 Asian financial crisis. The ministry said the number of employed people is expected to grow by 150,000 in 2021, a turnaround from estimated job losses of 220,000 last year. Since taking office in May 2017, President Moon Jae-in has placed top priority on creating more jobs, with the government hiring more people in the public sector and expanding temporary job posts for those aged 60 and older. (Yonhap) [January 08, 2021] Conveyor System Market worth $10.6 billion by 2025 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets CHICAGO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Conveyor System Market by Industry (Retail & Distribution, Food & Beverage, Automotive, Electronic, Mining, & Airport), Type (Belt, Roller, Overhead, Floor, Pallet, Crescent, Cable, Bucket, Others) Component, Operation, & Region Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Conveyor System Market size is projected to reach USD 10.6 billion by 2025, from an estimated value of USD 8.8 billion in 2020, at a CAGR of 3.9%. Higher adoption of automation processes in various end-use industries and rising demand for handling larger volumes of goods are the driving factors that are expected to boost the Conveyor System Market. The constant R&D efforts by conveyor system manufacturers to modernize the industry will offer favorable opportunities for manufacturers and propel the demand for automated conveyor systems in the coming years. Browse in-depth TOC on "Conveyor System Market" 164 Tables 57 Figures 252 Pages Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=31314058 Airport industry in Europe is expected to drive the market from 2020 to 2025 In the airport industry, the increasing traffic at airports has increased the need for the expansion, modernization, and development of new airports. For example, Germany's long-delayed Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is expected to be operational during the last quarter of 2020. Italy's new Brescia-Verona Airport is also expected to be completed by 31st December 2020. Similar developments are currently underway in Asia Pacific countries such as China and India. The Airport Authority of India has planned the development of 100 airports by 2024, while China has announced plans to build 215 new airports by 2035. In the airport industry, conveyor belts are used in airports for passenger luggage in which, belt and tri planar types dominate the global airport conveyor belts market. Food & beverge industry in North America is expected to be the second largest market in 2020 The food & beverage industry is influenced by factors such as economic growth, research and technological developments, food safety regulations and, most importantly, changes in consumer lifestyles and demand. Conveyor systems used in the food & beverage industry are classified into two major categoriesfood processing and packaging & labeling. The US is home to various key players in the food & beverage industry such as PepsiCo, Coca-Cola, Tyson Foods, Kraft Foods, Kellogg's Company, and others. Due to stringent quality regulations in the food processing and packaging industry, many of the industry players use conveyor systems as modes of transportation, conveying food products from one station to another. Request FREE Sample Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=31314058 Europe is projected to be the largest market The market in Europe is projected to be the largest by 2025. Growth can be attributed to the increasing e-commerce in the region. The focus on infrastructure and increase in demand for material handling from the warehouse and pharmaceutical companies during the COVID-19 crisis has increased the demand for conveyor systems. Germany has one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Europe and offers significant opportunities for suppliers of conveyor systems. Daifuku Co., Ltd. (Japan), Continental AG (Germany), Siemens AG (Germany), and Fives Group (France) are expected to be the market leaders. These players have adopted strategies such as supply orders, new product development, expansions, partnerships, agreements, and acquisitions to increase their share and diversify and strengthen their business networks in the Conveyor System Market. Browse Related Reports: Baggage Handling System Market by Mode (Airport, Marine, Rail), Solution (Check-In, Screening & Load, Conveying & Sorting, Unload & Reclaim), Check-In (Assisted, Self), Conveying (Conveyor, DCV), Tracking (Barcode, RFID), Region - Global Forecast to 2025 Automated Material Handling Equipment Market by Product (Robots, ASRS, Conveyor and Sortation Systems, Cranes, AGV), System Type (Unit Load, Bulk Load), Software & Services, Function, Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2024 About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. 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Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/conveyor-systems-market.asp Visit Our Web Site: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/conveyor-systems.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] As companies struggle to motivate teams working remotely, new research reveals that employers who support their staff to volunteer in schools and colleges find employees to be more motivated, more productive and have a better sense of well-being. The Value of Volunteering report examines the effect on individuals of volunteering in schools and colleges and the parallel benefits to their employers. It finds that volunteering in UK schools and colleges brings three-way wins, with benefits for employers, staff and young people. Volunteers are already playing a vital role in supporting schools and young people during the pandemic. For example, volunteers serve as governors to help schools make complex Covid related decisions or support young people by talking about different jobs and giving purpose to children's learning at a time when this has never been more crucial. The Education and Employers charity has also pioneered virtual interactive sessions between volunteers from a wide diversity of backgrounds and young people to help to motivate and inspire them. These sessions are available simultaneously as home-learning and in school for children of key workers. At a time when some staff are feeling more disconnected from their workplaces than ever before and UK bosses are grappling with how to inspire their teams, Education and Employers are calling on employers to encourage more staff to volunteer in education. Education and Employers runs Inspiring The Future and Inspiring Governance which connects volunteers and schools quickly, easily and for free. Researchers surveyed over 1,000 people volunteering in activities such as career insights talks, mock interviews, mentoring or serving as a school governor. Over 80% of volunteers reported benefits for their communication, influencing relationship skills. The new research, funded by Bank of America, tallies with previous Education and Employers research which shows that meeting real life role models from the world of work improves academic attainment, increases young people's earning potential, broadens young peoples' horizons and raises their aspirations. Nick Chambers, CEO of Education and Employers, said: "The pandemic has caused a significant loss of learning for pupils of all ages experienced most acutely by those from disadvantaged backgrounds. "Volunteers from the world of work provide young people with inspiration, they help broaden their horizons, raise aspirations and increase motivation which leads to improved attainment." ENDS View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210107005047/en/ Contacts: Simon Francis simon.francis@campaigncollective.org 07738487259 Former Capitol Police Officer Alexander Clabia was appalled to learn protesters broke their way into the Capitol building Wednesday. The policy of the U.S. Capitol police is that you keep everything outside the Capitol, he said. Capitol police failed to do that. Clabia, of Drums, who served with the polices first responder unit from 1987-2003, was glued to coverage of the Capitol breach. Something wasnt right. Something wasnt right with the U.S Capitol Police, he said. Thats not the way we are trained. Police werent wearing riot gear. Most were positioned on the west front of the Capitol. And only a thin stretch of snow fence circled an entrance, he noted. Why wasnt more done? Its not like they didnt know there wasnt movement up to the Capitol. They did nothing. There was no type of emergency activation, he said. That was something we would have gotten ready for, just in case. You dont know what other groups could be up there and could confront them. Clabia, who received SWAT training and was an acting sergeant, said Capitol police historically deal with more riots than any other departments. But when protesters began to approach the Capitol, Clabia questioned why members of Congress werent escorted to safety. We man the halls so they can get through. If anything happens we evacuate the members of the Congress, he said. It was almost like, to me, that from what Ive seen, it almost looks like a setup. Things didnt go as they normally would function. And if the force was overwhelmed, he said, it could have called on any of five departments in Washington, D.C. We all work together, he said. Clabia remembered when the U.S. Pentagon was attacked the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. He was scheduled to work at 3 p.m. that day but began his shift an hour after the strike. We knew what to do. We all came in, whatever shift we were on. We went to our lockers, got dressed and we made a circle around the U.S. Capitol. All of us, he said. We were there until 1 in the morning and all we were doing was looking up at smoke from the Pentagon. We stayed at the Capitol. Thats the main thing to protect the Capitol. He also recalled protecting foreign dignitaries including Yasser Arafat and Queen Elizabeth II of England. When these people come to the Capitol, do you think there arent measures in place to protect them?, he asked. We were good. And we kept control. We always kept control. We stopped things before things really happened. A Vietnam veteran, Clabia is the founder of the U.S. Conservative Veterans and Police Association. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Encrypted messaging app Signal saw a significant surge in new users signing up for its platform after the worlds richest person on planet, Elon Musk, tweeted to his 41.5 million followers to use Signal and apparently shun WhatsApp. Musk tweeted a meme late on Thursday, criticising Facebook for its inability to stop Capitol chaos going viral. The tweet posted an image of a series of ever-larger dominos, juxtaposed the start of Facebook on the Harvard University campus, all the way into becoming a platform that helped facilitate the attack on Capitol Hill. "This is called the domino effect," Musk said in a tweet. A vocal critic of Facebook-owned WhatsApp, he added: "Use Signal". Signal then saw a flood of new users attempting to sign in. "Verification codes are currently delayed across several providers because so many new people are trying to join Signal right now (we can barely register our excitement). We are working with carriers to resolve this as quickly as possible. Hang in there," Signal tweeted. "Everyone should be able to register without delay again. Thanks to all of the carriers who flipped the right switches so that people can keep switching," it further said. Last year, taking a dig at WhatsApp over repeated users' privacy violation amid security vulnerabilities, Musk took to Twitter with a meme, showing various 'mechanical arm' emojis representing Apple, Google, Microsoft, Samsung and WhatsApp respectively. Musk posted the image with the caption: "New emoji! Last one comes with free phone hack." The "last one" happened to be the WhatsApp version of the robotic arm emoji. Creating history, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk, who had once decided to sell off Tesla owing to poor results, became the richest person on the planet on Thursday, going past Amazon Founder Jeff Bezos on Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a ranking of the world's 500 wealthiest people. Sao Paulo: A coronavirus vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech was 78 per cent effective in a late-stage Brazilian trial and entirely prevented severe COVID-19 cases, researchers said, although a lack of data details stirred calls for more transparency. The announced efficacy, closely watched by developing countries counting on the vaccine to begin mass inoculations to help end a raging pandemic, was below preliminary findings from Turkish researchers and lacked detailed data provided on US and European vaccines. The director of Brazilian biomedical centre Butantan Institute, Sinovac's research and production partner, said detailed results of the CoronaVac vaccine were being submitted to health regulator Anvisa as part of a request for its emergency use. "One thing is a presentation at a news conference. It's something else to get the data and analyse it, which is what Anvisa will do," said Cristina Bonorino, who sits on the scientific committee of the Brazilian Immunology Society. "If it's what they say, that's an excellent result," she added. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s propaganda machine stepped up a gear this week, mocking the United States after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Congress building in Washington as it prepared to vote on endorsing President-elect Joe Biden's win in November's elections. The Global Times, a nationalistic tabloid with close ties to CCP mouthpiece the People's Daily, ran a slew of op-ed and opinion articles accusing the U.S. of hypocrisy after its politicians supported the pro-democracy movement in Hong Kong. It was especially keen to make a comparison with Wednesday's attack on Congress and the storming of Hong Kong's Legislative Council (LegCo) in a bid to secure universal suffrage and fight plans to extradite alleged criminal suspects to mainland China. One article cited comments from Chinese internet users referring to "karma" in a reference to perceived U.S. support for the storming of LegCo, while state broadcaster CCTV's headline ran: "Mob storms Capitol Hill, U.S. democracy smashed!" State-run news agency Xinhua was more measured in its coverage, reporting on outrage and shock at the attack, and quoting European and Canadian leaders' condemnations of the violence. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular news briefing on Jan. 7: "Some people in the U.S. reacted and used very different words to what happened in Hong Kong in 2019 and what took place in the U.S. today." Hua referred to "a beautiful sight taking place in the U.S." in an apparent reference to U.S. House of Representatives speaker Nancy Pelosi's description of the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement as "a beautiful sight." A Beijing-based academic who declined to be named for fear of reprisals said state media had given lavish coverage to Wednesday's storming of the Capitol by Trump supporters that left four people dead, including a police officer. "They are deliberately confusing the reasons, demands and nature of the two incidents," the academic said. "For example, gangsters will break in to your home, and so will firefighters -- to fight fires." "No honest person would confuse those two things." Former Hong Kong lawmaker Nathan Law, now exiled in the United Kingdom, said the Hong Kong protesters had been fighting for social justice, and had run a disciplined and careful operation when they stormed the LegCo chamber on July 1, 2019. Posting photos of messages left by protesters to warn others not to damage books and other items, Law said protesters had also left money for cans of soda taken from the cafeteria. "Don't mess things up around here. We are not rioters," one hand-scrawled message read. "They were demanding an unelected government to implement a fair and open electoral system. These mark the differences," Law wrote on his Twitter account in response to the parallels being drawn by CCP supporters online and in the media. Differences in legitimacy U.S.-based commentator Hu Ping, honorary editor-in-chief of the online magazine Beijing Spring, said Hua was deliberately trying to obliterate the differences between the two situations. "The first thing [Hua is doing is trying to] erase the fundamental difference between Hong Kong and the United States, which is that the latter is a democratic system and the other has no democracy," Hu told RFA. "[She is also ignoring the fact that] the U.S. government has never expressed support for violent protests." Zhao Sile, a researcher at the Asian Law Center of Georgetown University in the United States, said there was no comparison between the levels of legitimacy of the two protests, even though they may appear similar to the casual observer. "The sense of legitimacy is completely different when you look at the goals and demands of the protesters from a point of view of human rights and democracy," Zhao said. He said Hua's take on the storming of the Capitol could still gain considerable traction among CCP supporters and in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the Chinese diaspora in the U.S., however. In Taiwan, the United Daily News, which supports the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), which advocates closer ties with China and which operated an authoritarian, one-party state in Taiwan under decades of martial law, also drew a parallel between the storming of the Capitol and Taiwan's 2014 Sunflower movement, during which peaceful demonstrators occupied the island's parliament in protest over a trade deal struck between the KMT and China. Taiwan-based historian Catherine Chou said the paper was "the 1st (?) major Taiwanese outlet to compare the events in DC with the Sunflower Movement in order to...you guessed it...shame [Democratic Progressive Party president] Tsai Ing-wen as anti-democratic," Chou wrote on Twitter. In an op-ed article titled "Whose side is Tsai Ing-wen on?", the paper hit out at Tsai for failing to condemn the 2014 occupation of the island's Legislative Yuan equally. "Never mind the KMT also occupied the legislature last year," Chou tweeted. Scoring political points Beijing-based political commentator Zha Jianguo said many in China saw the incident as an opportunity to score a political point against Washington, which has sanctioned Chinese and Hong Kong officials linked to a crackdown on political opposition, peaceful protest and free speech in the city. "Some Chinese took the opportunity to attack the social order and democratic procedure in the U.S, but the two countries have completely different political systems," Zha said. "In China, people have no democracy, nor any right to demonstrate," he said. "Given that the U.S. already has democracy, the question should be how they can do better." Beijing high-school teacher Li Xiangqun agreed. "There is no way that this would happen [here]," Li said. "Anyone attacking key organs of state would be shot dead, no question." Hebei-based independent scholar Ding Jie said the key thing was that the violent protest hadn't manage to break the separation of powers. "The separation of powers, of the three branches of government, is intact," he said. "Presidential power is still subject to checks and balances." "This powerful ability of the U.S. to heal itself depends on them not concealing social and political divisions," he said. Reported by Jane Tang, Qiao Long and Wang Yun for RFA's Mandarin Service, and by Malik Wang and Hoi Man Wu for the Cantonese Service. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. ANN ARBOR, MI A University of Michigan professor is accused of demonstrating racist, misogynistic, xenophobic and illegal behavior against a female colleague and researcher, according to a lawsuit filed in December. Mark L. Day, a UM urology professor, worked from 2012-17 with Egyptian biologist Layla Fakhr El-Din El-Sawy and the Egyptian European Pharmaceutical Industry as part of a research agreement to provide scientific studies needed for the government to approve a potential new cancer drug, according to the lawsuit filed Dec. 30 in U.S. District Court. While working at UM, Day subjected El-Sawy to relentless harassment and discrimination based on her gender, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin and naturalized citizenship, the lawsuit states. Day was abusively profane to El-Sawy and made clear that her status in his laboratory was inferior because he was a white man, according to the lawsuit. I am a white guy in the United States and I can do whatever the hell I want and nobody will believe you, Day once told El-Sawy, according to the lawsuit. On another occasion, the lawsuit states he told El-Sawy, Everyone needs to understand that I am a Western man and you cant touch me. Day was quoted extensively in an August 2017 article in Southernmost Flyer, a publication produced at the Naval Air Station in Key West, Florida. EEPIs parent company, Pharco, believed he had provided the author with confidential information and the companies stopped all communications with Day, which sparked days of abusive behavior by Day, nearly all of which was directed at Ms. El-Sawy, and that escalated to stalking, the lawsuit alleges. In all, Day sent 48 communications to El-Sawy, including emails, text messages and phone calls, according to the lawsuit. In two days, Day called, texted or emailed El-Sawy 41 times, including 30 communications within a seven-hour period, according to the lawsuit. Those messages included threats to cut El-Sawy and EEPI out of patents, to contact the Egyptian Minister of Health and to ruin El-Sawys career, the lawsuit states. According to the lawsuit, Day wanted to make sure El-Sawy will never work in science in US (again), and said he would fly over there (to Egypt) and address this personally with you guys! And it wont be pretty! Neither Day nor Miller Law Firm, which is representing El-Sawy and EEPI, immediately responded to requests for comment. UM will carefully review the complaint, Spokeswoman Kim Broekhuizen said. El-Sawy filed a complaint with UM in October 2017, but UM informed El-Sawys counsel that the university decided to suspend El-Sawys pay for failure to perform her work duties, the lawsuit states. During a conference in February 2018, UM employees in the Department of Urology agreed Days actions were inappropriate and unacceptable, with multiple employees apologizing to El-Sawy on behalf of UM, according to the lawsuit. About two months later, Day wrote a letter apologizing to El-Sawy, and he wrote another apology letter in July 2018 to officials at Pharco, according to the lawsuit. EEPI and El-Sawy are seeking more than $6 million in damages for breach of contract, fraud and harassment and discrimination against El-Sawy. READ MORE: $9.95M going to University of Michigan for 20 smart intersections in Ann Arbor Violence at U.S. Capitol condemned by University of Michigan, Eastern Michigan University officials University of Michigan students start free online tutoring service for low-income families (TNS) Boston, Mass., Mayor Martin Walsh is President-elect Joe Biden's pick for Labor secretary, setting up a monumental shake-up of the Hub's political landscape.Walsh is a longtime labor leader who was the president of Local 223 and then head of the Boston Building Trades before being elected mayor in 2013. He is a favorite of the AFL-CIO, which pushed for his nomination to the department overseeing workforce and labor policy.Announcing the pick, Biden's campaign wrote Walsh "has worked tirelessly to rebuild the middle class, create a more inclusive, resilient economy, and fight for workers in his hometown."Walsh, a 53-year-old Dorchester native who's the son of Irish immigrants, rose to power through his labor ties and a compelling personal story, including surviving childhood cancer and remaining in recovery for alcoholism for more than two decades. Walsh is a popular and highly visible mayor in Boston, a city that's seen development boom during his tenure, and he's seen as handling the coronavirus pandemic effectively.But the mayor's administration has had labor-related dust-ups, most recently regarding the federal criminal charges related to accusations that his top lieutenants pressured the Boston Calling music festival organizers to use union workers. The pair were convicted before a judge then threw out the decisions and acquitted them both.Earlier in Walsh's tenure, his administration took flak for connections to four Teamsters charged with threatening "Top Chef" employees over that television show's use of nonunion labor. Testimony entwined Walsh's City Hall in that scandal, but the mayor claimed vindication after the jury found the Teamsters not guilty in 2017.Walsh didn't respond to multiple requests for comment."Working people, labor unions, and those fighting every day for their shot at the middle class are the backbone of our economy and of this country," Walsh said. "As Secretary of Labor, I'll work just as hard for you as you do for your families and livelihoods. You have my word."Walsh, a former state representative, is personal friends with Biden, who presided over the mayor's second inauguration. But he didn't endorse Biden in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary, which also included Massachusetts U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, with whom Walsh has a good relationship.U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, the powerful Ways & Means Committee chair from Western Massachusetts, said in a statement, "Throughout his career he has been a champion for worker's rights and I am confident that he will succeed in this new position in the Biden Administration."Walsh for months now has downplayed speculation about the Labor nomination, saying in November that he expects to be mayor for years to come. And people close to him have said he's done the same privately, too many expected him to want to remain mayor in the city where he grew up, and where he still takes care of his mother. Many Boston politicians, including those friendly with the mayor, were caught by the surprise as the news broke.If Walsh indeed leaves, City Council President Kim Janey becomes acting mayor. She'd be the highest-ranking Black official in the city's history.Walsh was quickly congratulated by labor unions and by his presumed mayoral opponents City Councilors Andrea Campbell and Michelle Wu, the latter of whom immediately began fundraising off of the announcement."There is much work to do to clean up the backwards, anti-worker politics of the Trump administration that have hurt so many here in our city, and Boston needs a partner to fight for working families at the federal level," Wu wrote in an email to supporters.Campbell said in a statement, "Congratulations to Mayor Walsh on his nomination as Secretary of Labor a fitting role for someone who has spent his entire career fighting for working people in and out of public service." France is extending its mass cull of poultry in an attempt to stop the spread of bird flu in the southwest of the country. The virus is circulating rapidly in duck breeding areas of southwest France. The country is facing a race against time to contain the virus, said Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie on Friday. Several European countries have reported outbreaks of contagious strains of bird flu this winter. It has provoked fear in the poultry industry that there could be a repeat of the 2016-17 bird flu crisis, where tens of millions of birds were killed. As a precaution, France has decided to slaughter birds in the Landes region of the southwest, known for breeding ducks to make foie gras. The agriculture ministry has told farmers that those who have had to cull flocks will be compensated. Mr Denormandie told the local radio station, France Bleu Gascogne, that nearly 400,000 ducks have been slaughtered. The Agriculture Minister added that without doubt there would be many more. Authorities have confirmed more than 100 outbreaks of H5N8 bird flu in the region. This compares with just under 50 on 1 January. Although the bird flu virus is deadly to birds, is it not known to be transmitted to humans. Other countries that have experienced bird flu outbreaks this winter include Belgium, the Netherlands, the UK, Sweden and Ireland. In the Netherlands, authorities ordered the culling of 190,000 chickens in November when the virus was discovered at two farms. In Northern Ireland 30,000 birds are due to discovery of the virus there. Outbreaks have also been reported in India, Egypt and South Korea, with India saying that tens of thousands of poultry will be slaughtered in response to the surge in cases. A new stamp marking the 150th Anniversary of the Disestablishment of the Church of Ireland issues today from An Post. The 1 N rate stamp, by Dublins Vermillion Design, features an image of the sun, moon and stars stained-glass panel in the Cathedral of Saint Fin Barre in Cork City. The Church of Ireland was officially disestablished on 1 January 1871. This meant it was no longer tied to the Church of England or to the State. Disestablishment (along with Home Rule and the Land Act) was part of British Prime Minister William Gladstone's efforts to deal with 'the Irish question'. Disestablishment was of national importance, removing the status of a state church that had commanded the allegiance of only a minority of the population. The Most Revd Dr Michael Jackson, Archbishop of Dublin and Bishop of Glendalough welcomed the new stamp saying: "Disestablishment has enabled the Church of Ireland to be free to shape its own future. Today's Church of Ireland wants to invest the energy of that freedom in the life of today's Irish society. When the Irish Church Act 1869 dissolved the union between the Church of Ireland and the state, an early strategist of the disestablished church said that the Church of Ireland was free to shape her future course, independent of state control and focus on its own personal and spiritual mission. Disestablishment would see the Church of Ireland becoming an entity in its own right from 1871, tied to neither the Church of England nor the State. It has enabled the Church to find afresh its independence and mission. It has conferred freedom for laity and clergy to develop a synodical way of life and understanding and to engage with confidence with those of other traditions, he concluded. The Sun, Moon and Stars panel is one of the 74 windows in St Fin Barres Cathedral featuring the watercolour paintings of William Burges, who was awarded first prize in the architectural competition to rebuild the cathedral in 1863, and Horatio Walter Lonsdale. The image was reproduced by the kind permission of the Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral. The stamp and a special First Day Cover envelope are available from today at anpost.com/shop (with free delivery) for 12 months, at the GPO Dublin and main Post Offices. Also read: 40 gardai in Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal not at work due to Covid The internet fax service FaxZero has completed its annual tally of how many faxes were sent overall and which destinations and elected representatives in the U.S. were faxed the most. "Again in 2020, FaxZero made it easy for constituents to reach out to members of Congress as well as state governors," said Kevin Savetz, a faxing expert since the 1990s and founder of FaxZero. "The site's fax-your-reps service is free, and it takes just a few clicks to make your voice heard." In 2020, a grand total of 1,813,899 faxes were sent via FaxZero.com, including via desktop computers and mobile devices. Nearly 22 million faxes have been transmitted since the service started in 2006. There are both free and low-cost faxing options at FaxZero, along with international faxing. FaxZero is a popular choice for all kinds of business, medical, household and other faxing needs. The most-faxed destination in 2020 was New York state's Unemployment Office. In fact, of the top 15 places faxed using FaxZero, 10 of them were related to unemployment insurance or workforce development. "The sheer number of faxes sent related to job loss is a sad reflection of the Covid-19 pandemic," Savetz said. "I'm glad that FaxZero can help in some small way by providing free faxing." Also faxed a lot in 2020 were: TD Ameritrade, FSSA Document Center, the Department of Veterans Affairs, Chase Bank, two different education support referral agencies and the University of California at Berkeley. For the prior year, 2019, the top five destinations were: Amazon, Southwest Airlines card services, FSSA Document Center, Equifax, and the office of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Savetz added the free fax-your-representatives feature to FaxZero a few years ago, and it was immediately popular. Usage ramped up in 2017, which led Savetz to dub it "The Year of Protest Faxing." The most-faxed member of the House of Representatives this year was again Rep. Pelosi, Democrat of California. For the second year in a row, the senator receiving the most faxes was Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky). Other senators receiving the most faxes via FaxZero's free fax the senate service were, in order: Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Pat Toomey (R-Pennsylvania), Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and Susan Collins (R-Maine). The Democrat to receive the most faxes was Senator Dianne Feinstein of California, followed by now vice president-elect Kamala Harris of California. The most-faxed members of Congress, after Pelosi, were: Adam Schiff (D-California) and Alan Lowenthal (D-California). The most-faxed Republican was, same as in 2019, Alexander Mooney of West Virginia. Following him was Justin Amash of Michigan, who changed his party affiliation from Republican to Independent to Libertarian and did not run for reelection. FaxZero also offers the ability to fax state governors. In 2020, the most-faxed governors were, in order: Andrew Cuomo of New York, Gavin Newsom of California, and Phil Murphy of New Jersey. FaxZero lets users send up to five free faxes per day in the U.S. and Canada. For those who wish to fax their representatives, FaxZero pre-fills the legislators' name and number so it's easy to send with just a couple of clicks. "Faxing is a great way to reach out to one's elected officials," Savetz said. "Constituent emails are often filtered, and phone lines can be busy." The simple interface at FaxZero accepts documents in DOC, PDF, JPG and other formats via cell phone, handheld device or desktop computer. Faxes usually take five minutes or less to transmit, and all personal information is carefully guarded. For users who need to send more than five faxes in a day or faxes longer than three pages, the premium faxing option is $1.99 per fax. International faxing is as low as $2, depending on the nation faxed. More than 180 countries around the world can be reached using FaxZero. FaxZero has been featured in publications such as U.S. News, Reuters and PC World. Savetz is also the creator of more than 100 FreePrintable.net sites including FreeFaxCoverSheets.net, which has 460 fax cover sheet designs. FaxZero.com is part of Savetz Publishing, Inc., a company devoted to creating useful and informative web sites of interest to consumers and small businesses. Image: Broadleaf Books Today I welcome Crystal L. Downing, PhD on The Exchange to discuss her recent release Subversive: Christ, Culture, and the Shocking Dorothy L. Sayers. Downing is the Co-Director of the Marion E. Wade Center and co-holder of the Marion E. Wade Chair in Christian Thought at Wheaton College: a position she shares with her husband, David C. Downing. Downing is also a professor of english at Wheaton College, IL. Ed Stetzer: Sayers name will not be as familiar to our audiences, but her influence will be. Tell us more about why people should know and engage her work? Crystal L. Downing: C. S. Lewis identified Dorothy L. Sayers (1893 1957) as an important influence on his spiritual life, largely due to The Man Born to Be King, her series of BBC radio plays about Jesus. After Sayers sent him a published copy in 1943, Lewis developed a lively correspondence with her, reading through her plays for his Lenten devotions every year until he died. Stretching Lewis to think in new ways, Sayers can do the same for us, exposing what she calls an idolatry of language among Christians, as when she was attacked for not using King James English in the radio plays. Inundating Sayers with hate mail, Christians set up a nationwide censorship campaign, demanding the plays be taken off the air. Ironically, scores of skeptics who usually avoided religious programming listened to the broadcasts due to the controversy. And what they heard was the Gospel message in language that made sense to them. Sayers received thousands of letters reporting how the radio plays had led people to take the Gospel message seriously for the first time in their lives. Ed: She did not publicly identify with Christianity for a long time. Why? Downing: The daughter of a clergyman, Sayers never renounced her faith. Instead she compartmentalized it, largely due to the way she saw Christians using Jesus as a protector of the status quo. In her twenties, she published a verse drama exposing how believers, rather than proclaiming For me to live is Christ, act as though For me to live is my party's political platform, using Christ to prop it up. Her title, The Mocking of Christ, is as revelatory as her epigraph: So man made God in his own image. Ed: How do her earlier writings (detective novels, for example) relate to her later works? Downing: Sayers started writing detective fiction primarily to make money, inventing a decidedly non-Christian sleuth named Lord Peter Wimsey. After her novels became bestsellers, Sayers felt free to address more subtle issues in her fiction, such as the integrity of work. Her life changed in 1936 when, at age 43, she was asked to write a play for performance in Canterbury Cathedral. Feeling the need to assess how the integrity of work relates to Christian faith, Sayers finally embraced the Trinity as the primary guide for her life and her work. Ed: The promotion for the book says, "Thanks to her unmatched wisdom, prophetic tone, and insistent strength, Dorothy Sayers is a voice that we cannot afford to ignore. Why? Downing: Young people today seem to be leaving the church in droves, some downright contemptuous of evangelicals. I wrote Subversive in response, believing that Sayers can shock the disenchanted, and those who love them, into seeing the truth of Christ in new ways. For example, in the plays valued by Lewis, Sayers has the penitent thief on the cross ask Jesus to remember him only because he feels sorry for this loony who thinks hes Goddamighty. But when Jesus mentions seeing him in Paradise, the thief suddenly realizes that Jesus isindeed God Almighty, and he confesses his unworthiness. Sayers thus establishes that it is Jesus who saves the thief, not his belief. This helps her subvert notions that all religions lead to the same God: a subversion that informs much of my book. As far as Sayers was concerned, the truth of salvation through Christ does not change, and for that very reason our language about it and application of it must change as culture changes. Ed: Your book makes the case that her approach may be an example for us to follow in these polarized times. Please unpack that more. Downing: The Incarnation guided Sayers's engagement with culture. Doctrine that Jesus was both fully God and fully man was established in defiance of Christians who promoted either/or rather than both/and thought, as when Docetists preached that Christ was not fully human and Arians argued that Christ was not fully God. Sayers suggests that anyone who endorses the Incarnation and who desires to become more Christlike should therefore want to resist polarizing either/or rhetoric, often articulated with certitude as either you support my denominational/political position or you are not a true Christian. In her radio plays she relates such thinking to Judas. Praised by Jesus for embracing His mission, Judas regarded the Triumphal Entry as politically incorrect for such a mission and therefore betrayed Jesus. In other words, Judas trusted his certitude more than he trusted Jesus. Though the word does not appear in English translations of the Bible, certitude seems to fuel political rhetoric today as much as when Christians wrote Prime Minister Winston Churchill protesting Sayers's colloquial radio plays. She can guide Christians in the 21st century to be people of faith rather than certitude, followers of a both/and Christ who came to earth not to protect traditional practices, but to reconcile us to our Creator. And because we are created in the Creator's image (Gen 1:27), Sayers calls us to fulfill the imago Dei by becoming creators as well, developing new language that draws people to Christ rather than practicing an idolatry that drives them away. The Beer Association of South Africa (Basa) has issued an urgent call to President Cyril Ramaphosa to lift the blanket ban on alcohol from the 16th of January. "This is imperative to ensure the survival of small business owners of craft breweries, who now find themselves on the brink of closure due to the third alcohol ban, as announced by the Presidency on 28 December 2020," the association said. Olaf Speier via 123RF Struggling small businesses SAB to challenge third alcohol ban in court SAB supports measured alcohol restrictions, but will approach the courts on the constitutionality of the 3rd alcohol ban, which came into effect when South Africa moved to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown... Liquor traders, taverners plead for off-premise sales Liquor traders from the tavern sector are appealing to the government to allow off-premise alcohol sales to resume on 16 January, to help protect the 250,000 jobs in the sector and safeguard livelihoods. Call to government It continued, "Basa remains aware of the severity of the crisis we face as nation as we battle Covid-19, and understands the great difficulties faced by both government and citizens as the virus spreads. And while we support all efforts to curb the infection rate, we need to work together to ensure that we are able to save both lives and livelihoods in this fight."Basa comprises the Craft Brewers Association of South Africa (CBASA), Heineken South Africa and South African Breweries.Wendy Pienaar, CEO of CBASA, says that the third ban on alcohol sales has had a devastating impact on the craft brewing industry. CBASA has been inundated with calls from members who have been left depleted of their savings and reserves, and are now in desperate need of financial relief if they are to survive.The third ban is devastating to craft brewers, who are small businesses owners who work within small margins, always putting the welfare of their staff before their own. It is now no longer a question of keeping businesses open it has become a question of whether business owners, their employees and families will have any food to eat this month, Pienaar said.To make things worse, these craft brewers are the very same people who stepped up during the hard lockdown last year by producing soup and stew in their brewhouses from donated vegetables to feed over 2 million hungry people, while also manufacturing sanitiser to help fight Covid-19. It is heartbreaking to receive calls from brewers who are now in danger of losing everything. We have to stand together to find alternative solutions to the outright ban on the sale of alcohol, says Pienaar.One example is Lethu Tshabangu, owner of Ukhamba Beerworx, who opened a new taproom at Makers Landing at the V&A Waterfront in 2020. However, due to the alcohol ban, he now finds himself R300 000 in debt and has rental fees which he cannot pay as he is unable to sell any stock. He is concerned for the education of his children without any sales, there has been no income, and he does not know how he will pay for his daughter to start her first year of high school in 2021.We need to fight Covid-19 without starting other fires you dont bring a snake into your home because you have a problem with rats. The President is protecting us from Covid-19, only to kill us with hunger because we are not allowed to work the government has condemned my livelihood, and those of my employees, whose jobs meant a great deal to them they also have families and children to feed, said Tshabangu.South Africa's first black female brewery owner, Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela of Brewsters Craft, stated that she has no idea how they will make it through this third ban. "I am hoping we can reopen in order to make a few sales so that we can at least pay our employees something. But I have had to make them aware to not expect much at month end that is our reality."The situation faced by small business owners and craft brewers is dire the last two alcohol bans had a devastating impact on the beer industry, with an estimated 7,400 jobs lost, R14.2bn in lost sales revenue and more than a R7.4bn loss in taxes and excise duties.Basa has called on President Ramaphosa to consider the plight of craft brewers by not extending the blanket ban on alcohol beyond 15 January 2021. Basa proposes this be done through safe alternatives, such as the use of click-and-collect platforms to assist in ensuring the safety of consumers.Basa maintained that the current curfew (21:00pm 06:00am) should remain in effect, along with the 20:00 pm closing time for businesses. "This, together with a ban on gatherings, increased policing and enforcement will ensure that we protect both lives and livelihoods while we fight the spread of the virus," the association said.It added, "Basa remains committed to working with government to ensure the safe and responsible trading and consumption of liquor and we have proposed a number of measures to save lives without sacrificing livelihoods. It is critical that government and the industry work together to come up with solutions to tackle alcohol abuse in communities, prevent the spread of Covid-19 while ensuring we safeguard businesses and livelihoods across the value chain." Just before 2020 came to a close, Egypts Ministry of Emigration and Expatriate Affairs launched the Speak Arabic campaign to encourage Egyptians living abroad to speak their mother language and to find pride in doing so. Among the platforms to promote the campaign is a Facebook page where videos are uploaded to raise awareness of the importance of the Arabic language, and the consequences of losing it. Page followers are encouraged to post videos of their children speaking or singing in Arabic. Throughout January 2021 the campaign will be releasing a number of programmes on YouTube designed to help children and youth learn more about their language. The Arabic language is indispensable, as it is both the language of our society and our religion, says Mohamed Fathi, Arabic language specialist at Al-Azhar University, adding that Egyptian youth both living in Egypt and abroad are at risk of losing their Arabic identity. One of the problems Fathi noticed was that children in international schools and those living abroad need to practise reading and writing the language, citing that many teenagers find it taxing to read an Arabic sentence even if they speak the language daily. In fact, many find it easier to write what they call franco, which is writing Arabic using a mix of the English alphabet and numbers. Fathi said youths will taint a pure Arabic sentence with foreign words. By mixing both languages they are removing themselves from learning more about their own language beyond their daily necessities, he added. However, the problem lies in the ease of learning foreign languages compared to the Arabic language, Ahmed Sabra, a recent international school graduate says. Its much easier for me to replace an Arabic word with an English one, Sabra said, adding that it happens subconsciously without him noticing. He also said that its generally considered a sign of prestige to speak in a foreign language, which is why some people prefer doing so in front of others. There are also people like him who generally prefer using the English language because that is the language they use to think. The problem lies within the Egyptian society itself, said Ali Salah, a sociology and psychology teacher, explaining that generally it is viewed that international schools offer better education than national schools. In some schools it is even customary to interview the parents before interviewing the potential student, with the odds of the student being enrolled depending on the level of the English mastery of the parents, Salah said. One of the biggest sources of education for teenagers used to be the schools they go to; it is there where students generally learned more about their language. However, Adel Metwali, a sociology teacher for high school seniors, believes that with much of education going online because of the coronavirus, the effect of schools in supporting the strengthening of the Arabic language among teens lessens. Working from home and online education has severely limited the way teachers interact with students. As such, the enrichment of language has become one of the lower priorities of students because they do not feel pressured to learn it. The responsibility, according to Metwali, lies in the family to teach their children the importance of the Arabic language. He believes that the current generation of students are severely lacking pride and appreciation of Arabic. Fathi reached a similar conclusion, however, he feared that family members may not be up to the task of teaching the Arabic language to their children as they themselves may have faults in their language. In sociology, one of the most important aspects is to constantly enhance the identity of a society, and one of the biggest factors in the identity of a society is its language, Salah said. Salah believes that the Egyptian society generally gives more importance to foreign languages rather than its own, citing the higher salaries of English teachers compared to Arabic teachers, and how companies will demand a second language when hiring. That being the case, Metwali said that nowadays it is completely possible for a foreigner with meagre skills in Arabic to be able to excel in Egyptian society, in direct contrast to other countries such as Germany, where if one cannot speak German, they will have a very hard time getting anything done. Sabra agreed, saying that work demands that he focus completely on the English language, so much that his Arabic wouldnt be an advantage for him in the work place. Fathi believes that focusing only on Egyptians abroad is not enough and that the campaign needs to address the domestic audience as well. Stressing the importance of the campaign Fathi explained that the issue is not to get people to speak classical Arabic, fus-ha, because that would be impossible, however it was important that they speak correct Arabic. That, he said, can be achieved through what he called media Arabic, a simplified form of fus-ha. By constantly being introduced to correct forms of Arabic, one can subconsciously become a better Arabic speaker, he said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: A second nationwide drill to test the countrys preparedness for conducting a mammoth Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccination drive is set to be conducted on Friday across 737 districts in 33 states and Union Territories. Fridays drill will be the largest undertaken in the country so far. The first countrywide drill that was held on January 2 covered 74 districts. The first dry run was carried out in just eight districts in four states on December 28-29. The lessons learnt from the earlier exercises will be made use of to execute another dry run. Whatever was lacking earlier has been rectified, and will be tested in Fridays dry run, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan told states and Union Territories in an online meeting on Thursday. The planning of the vaccination drive, including beneficiary registration, microplanning and vaccination at the planned session site, will be tested under the leadership of district collector or district magistrate. Also read | Third vaccination dry run covering all 11 districts of Delhi today The dry run will also familiarise the state, district, block and hospital level officers on all aspects of Covid-19 roll-out. This activity is aimed to help administrators in strengthening the linkages between planning, implementation and reporting mechanisms, identification of any residual challenges prior to the actual implementation and to provide confidence to the programme managers at all levels to carry out a smooth implementation of the vaccination drive. The exercise is to test the Co-WIN digital platform, which is the backbone of Covid-19 vaccine delivery management system, to provide real time information of vaccine stocks, their storage temperature and individualised tracking of beneficiaries of the Covid-19 vaccine. This platform will assist the programme managers across all levels through automated session allocation for pre-registered beneficiaries, their verification and for generating a digital certificate upon successful completion of the vaccine schedule. At least 7.8million beneficiaries have already been registered on the platform. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON President Donald Trump has suggested to aides he wants to pardon himself in the final days of his presidency, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions, a move that would mark one of the most extraordinary and untested uses of presidential power in American history. In several conversations since Election Day, Trump has told advisers that he is considering giving himself a pardon and, in other instances, asked whether he should and what the effect would be on him legally and politically, according to the two people. It was not clear whether he had broached the topic since he incited his supporters on Wednesday to march on the Capitol, where some stormed the building in a mob attack. Trump has shown signs that his level of interest in pardoning himself goes beyond idle musings. He has long maintained he has the power to pardon himself and his polling of aides views is typically a sign that he is preparing to follow through on his aims. He has also become increasingly convinced that his perceived enemies will use the levers of law enforcement to target him after he leaves office. No president has pardoned himself, so the legitimacy of prospective self-clemency has never been tested in the justice system and legal scholars are divided about whether the courts would recognize it. But they agree a presidential self-pardon could create a dangerous new precedent for presidents to unilaterally declare they are above the law and to insulate themselves from being held accountable for any crimes they committed in office. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has considered a range of pre-emptive pardons for family, including his three oldest children Donald Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump Ivanka Trumps husband, senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, and for close associates like the presidents personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani. Trump has expressed concerns to advisers that a Biden Justice Department might investigate all of them. Trump, who has told advisers how much he likes having the power to issue clemency, has for weeks solicited aides and allies for suggestions on whom to pardon. He has also offered pre-emptive pardons to advisers and administration officials. Many were taken aback because they did not believe they were in legal jeopardy and thought that accepting his offer would be seen as an admission of guilt, according to the two people. Presidential pardons apply only to federal law and provide no protection against state crimes. They would not apply to charges that could be brought by prosecutors in Manhattan investigating the Trump Organizations finances. The discussions between Trump and his aides about a self-pardon came before his pressure over the weekend on Georgia officials to help him try to overturn the election results or his incitement of the riots at the Capitol. Trump allies believe that both episodes increased Trumps criminal exposure, and more potential problems emerged for the president on Thursday when the Justice Department said it would not rule out pursuing charges against him over his role in inciting Wednesdays violence. We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building, said Michael R. Sherwin, the top federal prosecutor in Washington. As aides urged Trump to issue a strong condemnation on Wednesday and he rejected that advice, the White House counsel, Pat A. Cipollone, warned Trump that he could face legal exposure for the riot given that he had urged his supporters to march to the Capitol and fight beforehand, according to people briefed on the discussion. Trump had appeared to White House aides to be enjoying watching the scenes play out on television. Beyond that, the extent of Trumps criminal exposure is unclear. The special counsel, Robert Mueller, outlined 10 instances in which Trump may have obstructed justice but declined to say whether Trump broke the law, citing legal and factual constraints of prosecuting a sitting president. Former Justice Department officials and legal experts said that several of the acts should be prosecuted. In 2018, federal prosecutors in New York named Trump as a conspirator in an illegal campaign finance scheme. Pardons can be broad or narrowly tailored. White-collar defense lawyers said that Trump would be best served by citing specific crimes if he pardoned himself, but such details could be politically damaging by suggesting that he was acknowledging he had committed those crimes. A self-pardon would complicate the already fraught question for the Biden Justice Department about whether to investigate and ultimately prosecute Trump. Democrats and former Justice Department officials contend that if Trump pardons himself and the Justice Department declines to prosecute Trump, it will send a troubling message to Americans about the rule of law and to future presidents about their ability to flout the law. The Biden Justice Department will not want to acquiesce in a Trump self-pardon, which implies that the president is literally above federal law, said Jack Goldsmith, a Harvard law professor and former top Justice Department official in the George W. Bush administration. A self-pardon would align with Trumps unprecedented use of the pardon power. The framers of the Constitution gave the president almost total authority to grant clemency for federal crimes, positioning the head of the executive branch as a check on the judicial branch and as someone who could dip into the justice system to show grace and mercy on the downtrodden. But Trump has eschewed the formal Justice Department process set up to ensure pardons are handed out fairly. Instead, he has used his pardon power unlike any other president to help allies, undermine rivals and push his own political agenda. Of the 94 pardons and commutations Trump has granted, 89% were issued to people who had a personal tie to Trump, helped him politically or whose case resonated with him, according to a tabulation by Goldsmith. The only president to receive a pardon was Richard Nixon. A month after Nixon left office, his former vice president, Gerald Ford, pardoned him for all crimes he committed in office. The move was widely criticized at the time as allowing the presidency to hover above the law. Ford supporters later blamed the pardon for his election loss two years later, though ultimately the pardon came to be seen as a move that helped the country move on from Watergate. Trump has maintained throughout his presidency that he has the authority to pardon himself and first discussed the possibility with aides as early as his first year in office. Those discussions began when his campaigns ties to Russia were being scrutinized and investigators were examining whether he had obstructed justice. Legal scholars are less certain about Trumps declaration that he has an absolute right to pardon himself. The Justice Department said in a short August 1974 opinion, just four days before Nixon resigned, that it would seem that presidents cannot pardon themselves under the fundamental rule that no one may be a judge in his own case. But the president is not bound by those opinions, and there is nothing stopping Trump from signing a pardon for himself. The questions would be whether the Justice Department under another president would honor the pardon and set aside any potential prosecution of Trump and, if he were prosecuted, whether the judicial system would ultimately decide whether the pardon insulates Trump from facing charges. Only a court can invalidate a self-pardon, and it can only do so if the Biden administration brings a case against Trump, Goldsmith said. A Trump self-pardon would thus make it more likely the Biden team prosecutes Trump for crimes committed in office. Throughout Trumps presidency, he and allies have looked to pardons as a way of helping the president protect himself in criminal investigations. During the Russia investigation, Trump and his personal lawyer John M. Dowd dangled pardons to former aides. One, his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, flouted a plea deal to work with prosecutors. Michael S. Schmidt and Maggie Haberman c.2021 The New York Times Company Facebook said it was extending a ban on posts by U.S. President Donald Trump indefinitely, or for at least two weeks, until Joe Biden takes office. We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said in a post Thursday. The blocks in place will be extended until the peaceful transition of power is complete. President-Elect Biden is to be sworn in on Jan. 20. The social media giant suspended Trump on Wednesday for 24 hours its first-ever ban on the president on both Facebook and Instagram, for encouraging violent rioters who had mobbed the U.S. Capitol. Twitter also suspended Trumps account for 12 hours conditional on him removing three tweets, including one video message of Trump expressing love for the insurgents and calling the election fraudulent. Twitter warned at the time that Trump could receive a permanent suspension if he continued to break the rules. Snap has also banned Trump indefinitely. Twitter and Facebook had previously removed some of Trumps content or put it behind a warning screen if it contained misinformation or incendiary language, but neither company had ever completely suspended his account, saying his messages had inherent news value. Zuckerberg said the current context is fundamentally different. Trumps decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the U.S. and around the world, Zuckerberg said. The social network removed those statements because they judged their effect and likely their intent would be to provoke further violence. The events in Washington Wednesday caused public outrage, much of it targeted at social media companies, who were blamed for providing the president with a megaphone to incite violence. Trump used Twitter as well as other social media providers, including Facebook and Googles YouTube, to urge supporters to protest and remained silent for hours as the mob scene grew dangerous. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube all took steps to delete or limit the circulation of some of Trumps recent postings in the chaos of Wednesdays events. But those moves didnt quell the calls to delete the presidents accounts altogether. Youve got blood on your hands, @jack and Zuck, tweeted venture capitalist Chris Sacca, a well-known early Twitter investor. For four years youve rationalized this terror. Inciting violent treason is not a free speech exercise. If you work at those companies, its on you too. Shut it down. The sanctions against Trump started to spread beyond social media on Thursday. Shopify, a Canadian e-commerce platform, said it pulled all digital stores affiliated with Trump, including the official retail site of the Trump Organization, Trumpstore.com off its platform. Shopify does not tolerate actions that incite violence, a Shopify spokeswoman said by email. Trumps actions violate the companys Acceptable Use Policy, which prohibits promotion or support of organizations, platforms or people that threaten or condone violence to further a cause, she said. As a result, we have terminated stores affiliated with President Trump. Since Trumps inauguration, the nation has rarely gone so long without hearing from the president via the internet. When he came down with Covid-19 in October, observers took it as a sign he was truly sick when the tweets stopped for a few hours. Critics have long called on the platforms to enforce their own rules against Trump. After Bidens inauguration, Trump becomes a private citizen and is more vulnerable to permanent bans if he breaks social media rules. Mark Zuckerberg post Now read: Joe Biden defeats Trump to win US election Washington may sanction those involved in the arrest of over 50 people in Hong Kong and will send the US ambassador to the United Nations to visit Taiwan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday, drawing anger and the threat of retaliation from Beijing. Pompeo said he was also appalled by the arrest of an American citizen in Wednesdays crackdown and added: The United States will not tolerate the arbitrary detention or harassment of US citizens. Pompeos statement came after a day of turmoil in Washington that saw supporters of President Donald Trump storm Congress in a bid to overturn his November election defeat. Trump finally conceded on Thursday that Joe Biden, who is due to be sworn in on Jan. 20, will be the next US president. [nL1N2JI0JO Editorials in Chinas state media on Friday said the attack on the Capitol reflected a failure of leadership as well as the deep divide in American society and accused US politicians of double standards. In Hong Kong, violent actions are described as a beautiful sight, in the US, people involved in this chaos are called mobs, said The Global Times, a tabloid run by the Peoples Daily, the newspaper of the ruling Communist Party. Hong Kong police arrested 53 democracy activists in dawn raids on Wednesday in the biggest crackdown on dissent since China imposed a security law last year. Among those detained was American lawyer John Clancey, who was allowed to leave a police station along with some others on Thursday. Pompeo called the arrests an outrage and a reminder of the Chinese Communist Partys contempt for its own people and the rule of law. The United States will consider sanctions and other restrictions on any and all individuals and entities involved in executing this assault on the Hong Kong people, Pompeo said. He said it would also explore restrictions against the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in the United States, and take additional immediate actions against officials who have undermined Hong Kongs democratic processes. Pompeo also announced that Kelly Craft, Washingtons U.N. ambassador, would visit Chinese-claimed and democratically run Taiwan, a highly symbolic trip as the island is not a U.N. member due to the objections of Beijing, which views Taiwan as a wayward province. Taiwan shows what a free China could achieve, he said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Pompeos comments represented a serious interference in the countrys internal affairs. China will take all necessary steps to resolutely safeguard its sovereignty and security interests, Hua told reporters. The United States must pay a heavy price for its mistakes. In a later statement, Chinas mission to the United Nations called on Washington to stop its crazy provocation and warned that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. Taiwan welcomed Crafts visit, which will be the first of a sitting US ambassador at the U.N. to the island, saying it demonstrated strong US support for Taiwans international participation. Day of turmoil US lawmakers called the attack on Congress an embarrassment to US democracy that would play into the hands of rivals, and deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, a leading figure in the development of Trumps China policy, was among a list of officials who quit in protest. Theyre high-fiving in Beijing, Republican Senator Marco Rubio, a China hawk, told Tucker Carlson on the Fox News channel. It kind of bolsters their claim that were falling apart and theyre the country of the future. Trump has pursued hardline policies towards China on issues ranging from trade to espionage and the coronavirus and relations plummeted to their worst level in decades when he ramped up rhetoric in his unsuccessful re-election campaign. His administration has already imposed sanctions on Chinese officials for crushing Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement and other alleged rights abuses. After a series of actions against Chinese firms, US officials were expected to discuss a proposed expansion of an executive order banning investment in companies with alleged ties to Chinas military at a Thursday afternoon meeting, two people familiar with the matter said. (Natural News) President-elect Joe Biden excoriated President Donald Trumps supporters who stormed Capitol Hill as domestic terrorists on Thursday. (Article by Charlie Spiering republished from Breitbart.com) They werent protesters dont dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob, insurrectionists, domestic terrorists, Biden said sternly in a speech Thursday. The president-elect angrily excoriated Trump and his supporters for enabling the violence in the Capitol, during an event in Wilmington, Delaware, to introduce his nominations for the Justice Department. I wish we could say we couldnt see it coming, but that isnt true the past four years weve had a president whos made his contempt for our democracy our constitution the rule of law clear in everything he has done, he said. Biden defined Wednesdays riots on Capitol Hill as one of the darkest days in American history describing it as an assault literally on the citadel of liberty. The president-elect added that the Capitol Police failed to carry out equal justice by allowing the protesters into the building. He said that his granddaughter Finnigan Biden sent him a photo of military soldiers from the Summer protests set up to guard the Lincoln Memorial from Black Lives Matter protesters, and pointed to the disparity of law enforcement response. No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, they wouldnt have been treated very, very, differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol, he said disapprovingly. Biden said that the incident was the result of Trumps long record of disdain for American institutions, democracy, and the rule of law. Yesterday was but the culmination of that unrelenting attack, he said. Biden revisited four years of frustration with President Trump for challenging the governments intelligence services, media organizations, and gassing peaceful protesters in Lafayette Square and again falsely claimed that the president held the Bible upside down for a photo op. The president-elect also accused Trump of trying to stack the Supreme Court for the purpose of winning any electoral challenges in the 2020 election and attacking the Department of Justice. Biden said that Trump was trying to use a mob to overturn the votes of 160 million Americans who voted for him. Our Democratic institutions are not relics of another age, theyre what sets this nation apart, theyre the guardrails of our democracy, and thats why we have no president thats a king, he said. Read more at: Breitbart.com and JoeBiden.news On Wednesday afternoon, Representative Carolyn Maloney of New York was watching the debate to finalize Joe Bidens election as president of the United States when everything changed. We are doing our work, we were debating, she told Yahoo Finance during a telephone interview Wednesday evening while locked in her Capitol Hill office as first responders continued to root out pro-Trump rioters. The violence, during which one person was fatally shot, began when President Donald Trump directed the crowd to march to the Capitol to protest on behalf of his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud. Hundreds of pro-Trump rioters followed his lead and briefly overran the building. Maloney, chairperson of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, watched the events unfold in real-time. Chaos was breaking out on the floor, Maloney recounted. It was disturbing to see desks pushed up against the doors to keep [rioters] out. It's beyond belief and devastatingly disruptive, and I've never been so upset, she added. Supporters of President Trump enter the US Capitol's Rotunda as reported tear gas smoke fills a corridor. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Her office is across the street from the Capitol and, as such, she was also able to view the hours of response directly from her office once she was she sheltered in place. There have been sort of groups of police officers moving into the Capitol, sort of moving in precision. Say roughly 30 at a time, she said. There was a lot of smoke coming out from the Capitol. I don't know what that was or where it came from. Since 9/11, I've participated in many Capitol Hill security drills that involve shelter-in-place and donning protective gear, but I never dreamed I'd have to do it for real because of terrorism inspired by the President of the United States, Maloney said. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) is the Chairwoman of the House Oversight and Reform Committee. (Alex Edelman-Pool/Getty Images) Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi later announced her plan to proceed [with the vote] tonight at the Capitol once it is cleared for use. Maloney, whose district includes parts of Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn, supported the plan, noting, We came to work today knowing that we would stay here until the proceedings ended. - Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC. Read more: Amid Capitol violence, Facebook, YouTube remove Trump video U.S. business group urges officials to consider quick removal of Trump 1 shot dead, Congress evacuated, National Guard activated after pro-Trump rioters storm Capitol Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. Many people worry about estate taxes, either for themselves or for loved ones. Estate taxes leave individuals who inherit part of an estate with a potential financial burden, as they may owe taxes on the value of the estate. As a result, many people wonder what estate taxes look like on the state level as well as the federal level. If youre curious about estate taxes in Georgia, heres what you need to know. What Is an Estate Tax? Estate taxes are financial obligations placed against the value of an estate left by a deceased person. At times referred to as the death tax, its a financial obligation associated with the value of the property involved. It is important to note that estate taxes and inheritance taxes are not the same things. An estate taxed is levied before any heirs receive money or property. Inheritance taxes are only assessed after an heir receives any funds or property they are receiving from the deceased. Is There a Georgia Estate Tax? No, there is no Georgia estate tax. In 2014, OCGA 48-12-1 went into effect, eliminating estate taxes at the state level. It all ensured that no estate tax returns were required by Georgia. Does Georgia Have an Inheritance Tax? No, Georgia does not have an inheritance tax. However, Georgia residents may still be on the hook for inheritance taxes if the state where the deceased lived has legislation allowing out-of-state individuals to be subjected to its inheritance tax requirements. Are Georgians Exempt from Federal Estate Taxes? No, Georgia residents are not exempt from federal estate taxes, even if they arent paying estate taxes at the state level. Whether Georgians will own any federal estate taxes depends on the overall value of the estate. What Federal Estate Taxes Look Like How much a person owes in federal estate taxes depends on the value of what they receive from the estate. After any available exemption, you could owe 18 to 40 percent in taxes, depending on the taxable amount. For 2020, the estate tax exemption is set at $11.58 million for individuals and $23.16 million for married couples filing jointly. If the value of what the heir will receive is at or below the exemption, they do not owe federal taxes on that amount. If the value exceeds the exemption, the amount above the exemption is taxable. For 2021, the exemptions are increasing. Single taxpayers exemption is $11.7 million. For married couples, it is $23.4 million. 5. Mortgage Refinancing Points Spousal Exemptions It is important to note that spouses dont have to worry about exemptions. One spouse can inherit an unlimited amount of a deceased spouse without having to worry about estate taxes. However, there is a chance these high-value exemptions wont remain in place. President-elect Joe Biden has announced that he may attempt to return the exemptions to 2009 levels, lowering it to a $3.5 million exemption per person. Are you concerned about estate taxes in Georgia, either for loved ones who inherit your estate or as a potential heir? Why or why not? Share your thoughts in the comments below. Read More: If you enjoy reading our blog posts and would like to try your hand at blogging, we have good news for you; you can do exactly that on Saving Advice. Just click here to get started. If you want to be able to customize your blog on your own domain and need hosting service, we recommend trying BlueHost. They offer powerful hosting services for $3.95/month! To understand what's gone wrong with big-city public education -- where militant teachers union bosses dictate urban school policy and politics -- just look to Chicago and the saga of Sarah Chambers. Her embarrassing story has gone worldwide. But it does have a message. It tells public school parents who want their kids back in school, and property taxpayers, everything they need to know: That they don't count. And their children don't count. Which is why some parents are leaving shutdown cities like Chicago to find places where their children can benefit from in-classroom learning rather than be dumbed down by Zoom instruction, which fails the kids. And it is another reason, for the sake of all kids -- but especially low-income children trapped in large, substandard public school systems -- that there must be real school choice. Chambers is a Chicago Teachers Union leader who was part of a union delegation that visited Venezuela in 2019 and praised its socialist government. On her social media accounts -- which were under Sarah4Justice before she deleted them -- she repeatedly posted entries telling teachers to stay out of classrooms and thwart Chicago school officials' plans to reopen this week. CTU officials have insisted it is all about saving lives during the pandemic. As first reported by WGN-TV's Ben Bradley, hours after another of her protestations she took an embarrassing selfie while poolside in sunny Puerto Rico and posted it on her Instagram account. Chambers was lying on her stomach, wearing a floppy sun hat. She was beaming and said she was going to enjoy some delicious seafood. "Then we are going to old San Juan to get some yummy seafood mofongo! We have an entire private Airbnb house to ourselves." Is mofongo tasty? I certainly hope so. I prefer lemon, olive oil and oregano. But I've learned that mofongo is actually a soup made with shrimp, rice and tomato sauce. I'd love to try it. Chambers wore something else besides that floppy sun hat: She wore the extreme arrogance of the CTU, where she was on the executive board. She's reportedly no longer on the board, and she has issued some kind of apology and suspended her social media accounts. I'm not writing this to pick on her. I respect teachers. I married one. But until union members wake up and challenge the militant CTU leadership that has led them and hundreds of thousands of students astray, this disaster will continue. Chambers made a stupid move, yes. But she's a special-education teacher and wouldn't have entered the field without caring for special-ed students. Yet she should know better because children who suffer from learning disabilities have been among those most hurt by the loss of in-classroom instruction during the pandemic shutdowns of public schools. More than half of Chicago Public Schools teachers who were expected to return to school on Monday did not show up for work. Some teachers defied their militant union bosses and did go, knowing they should be in the classroom. They care about their kids. Teachers know that oftentimes, a public school teacher is the only adult who really cares for the kids. But more than half not showing up? That's unacceptable. The union leaders prattle on that they're concerned about the lack of what they say is adequate COVID-19 protection. They once insisted that they "follow the science" in urging public schools be closed. But now science tells us a different story, that children are not major transmitters, that the best place for kids is in the classroom, that remote learning is a failure, and that many students -- especially low-income minorities -- are being lost. Supermarket cashiers go to work every day. Store managers like my brother go to work. Cops go to work. Nurses, paramedics, firefighters, doctors, streets and sanitation workers, bus drivers. Are all of them less human or worthy than a teachers union boss chowing down on mofongo? One study, now a bit outdated, showed at least 39 percent of Chicago Public Schools teachers sent their own kids to private schools. I figure the number is probably higher today. Those schools, for the most part, have been open, either fully or in some hybrid fashion. Many Democratic politicians who kowtow to the power of the teachers unions also send their own children to private schools. In Chicago, the teachers union leadership hones its image as political intimidators. Mayor Lori Lightfoot has caved to them before, giving teachers 16 percent pay raises over five years. But Chicago police are still waiting for their contract. To illustrate the reach of CTU political leverage, more than 30 Chicago aldermen signed a letter of concern supporting the teachers union against the Chicago Public Schools. "Why the concern now?" CPS boss Janice Jackson asked on Tuesday. "Do they care more about the lives of CPS teachers than the Catholic schoolteachers that have been going to school since August?" Unfortunately, she didn't answer her own question. So, I'll answer it for her. Because the old Chicago political patronage system -- which supplied generations of political workers for elections -- has broken down. The power vacuum was filled by the CTU and other public worker unions. They're organized. They have money for political contributions and provide muscle in the precincts that can break political careers. They mayor is clearly afraid of the militant CTU leadership. The aldermen are, too, as are, I suppose, many good and committed public school teachers who'd rather not speak up against their leaders, though they know they're doing wrong by the children. And what are the students and their parents and taxpayers to do? They can leave. Or they can chew on a big bowl of mofongo and think of Sarah Chambers, smiling, in that big floppy hat at poolside, telling public school teachers not to go to school. (C)2021 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Prayagraj : , Jan 8 (IANS) The Allahabad High Court has come to the rescue of another inter-faith couple, facing harassment at the hands of their families. A single bench of Justice Saral Srivastava said that no one can interfere with the lives of two adult individuals who have decided to live together. The court directed that police protection be granted, if necessary, to a couple that had married across religions. Justice Saral Srivastava reiterated that nobody is entitled to interfere with the peaceful lives of two adults who were living together. In this case, a Hindu woman had converted to Islam prior to marrying a Muslim man. The petitioners claimed that they are adults and living together out of their own free will. They told the court that the woman decided to follow the Muslim religion and converted herself voluntarily. The couple approached the court and said that they were being threatened and harassed by family members. In support of their age, the petitioners brought on record their High School mark sheet and Aadhar cards. After the certificates confirmed that the petitioners were adults, the court directed the police to provide protection to the young couple, if necessary. The Court also directed the husband to create a fixed deposit of Rs. 3 lakhs in favour of his wife by the next date of hearing on February 2, 2021. This is not the first time in the recent months that the High Court has come to the aid of couples who had married across faiths. The Court has repeatedly held that where the two individuals having attained the age of majority, are living together, nobody is entitled to interfere in their peaceful life. In December last year, the High Court had expressed that a woman who had attained the age of majority had the right to live her life on her own terms. In November, the Court said that the right to live with a person of one's choice is intrinsic to the right to life and personal liberty irrespective of religion. In both cases, the Court granted relief to couples who had approached the Court on account of facing opposition to the marriage across faiths. New wellness brand rooted in Ayurvedic knowledge and ingredients set to launch in the UK. A London-based entrepreneur is set to launch a wellness brand rooted in Ayurvedic knowledge. Aradhana Bhandari, who graduated with a degree in South Asian Studies from SOAS, University of London and later worked for the international charity, Save the Children, decided to launch her brand, Kacchi London, after being inspired by her grandfathers commitment to eating well following a difficult health spell. After finding ingredients such as raw turmeric to be very effective for her own digestion, Aradhana recognised that others could experience the benefits, too. The idea for her business was inspired by her own sensitive digestion, passion for her culture and desire to do something to contribute to other peoples quality of life. The young founders vision is to create a line of fresh food accompaniments that make Ayurveda accessible for the busy people of the UK. Aradhana Bhandari said, I realise now more than ever that health should not be a luxury its a necessity for all, and everyone should be able to eat well. However, unfortunately, many peoples busy lives mean their wellbeing is being compromised. The Kacchi London range is made from individually chosen fresh ingredients to support immunity and digestion. Backed by recognised scientific journals, the products offer a whole host of health benefits. Aradhana continued, I truly believe in fresh ingredients and honouring Indian history and knowledge and this is the foundation of the Kacchi London ethos. The business is also symbolic of family and was inspired by my two grandfathers.I am also focusing on making my packaging and presentation as environmentally conscious as possible, as I dont believe we should take advantage of what and who nurtures us. Aradhana has chosen to take a hands-on approach in the lead up to launching Kacchi London as the brand and products are so very close to her heart. She used her previous graphic design experience to create both the brand logo and website and has continually been adding to her research by reading medical journals, with plans to share her findings on KacchiLondons website. Aradhana is excited to share her journey with you and has been documenting behind-the-scenes of the brand journey on her Instagram @kacchilondon stop by to say hello and watch this space for exciting announcements! Kacchi London is set to be launched and unveiled online 6th February in the UK. To know more, visit the Instagram handle @kacchilondon Disclaimer: This is a company press release. No HT journalist is involved in creation of this content. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday slammed NCW member Chandramukhi Devi for her remark a day earlier that the gang rape and murderous assault on a woman in Badaun would not have happened if she had not stepped out alone in the evening or if she were accompanied by a child. "Do you think that women's safety will be ensured after this kind of statement? The NCW member is blaming the victim for the crime. The administration is upset how the post-mortem report got leaked; in Moradabad, a victim is battling for her life. Women will not forgive this kind of treatment," the Congress leader said. National Commission for Women member Chandramukhi Devi had visited the village of the 50-year-old gang-rape victim in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, and stirred a hornet's nest by saying that the crime would not have happened had the woman not stepped out alone in the evening. "This is a crime that has shamed humanity, but I would also like to say that women should not step out alone at odd hours. I feel that had the woman not stepped out in the evening, or one of her children had accompanied her, the incident would not have happened," the NCW member allegedly said. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said: "I don't know how and why the member has said this but women have the right to move on their own free will, whenever and wherever they want to." The victim had gone to a temple on Sunday evening and was gang-raped and brutally assaulted by the temple priest and his accomplices. She was dropped outside her home in a critically injured condition by two men on Sunday night. She later succumbed to her grievous injuries. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Like Peter Pan, some cells never grow up. In cancer, undifferentiated stem cells may help tumors such as glioblastoma become more aggressive than other forms of the disease. Certain groups of genes are supposed to help cells along the path to maturity, leaving their youthful "stemness" behind. This requires sweeping changes in the microRNAomethe world of small non-coding material, known as microRNAs, that control where and when genes are turned on and off. Many microRNAs are tumor-suppressive; in cancer, the microRNAome is distorted and disrupted. Recent work by researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital pinpoints critical changes in an enzyme known as DICER, which create a cascade of effects on this microRNAome. The team identified primary actors circ2082, a circular RNA, and RBM3, an RNA-binding protein, which form a complex with DICER to trap it in the nucleus of glioblastoma cells, therefore disrupting the cytoplasmic microRNAome. Findings are published in Science Advances. "We are always trying to find the magic bullet to fight cancer. The problem with the magic bullet is that it's only going to hit a few tumor cells, since the other tumor cells don't have that target. We are looking for the common vulnerabilitywhat is the common thing that we can target?" said Antonio Chiocca, MD, Ph.D., chair of the Brigham's Department of Neurosurgery. "With this discovery, we can target something way upstream: a very common target at the epigenetic level." Prior research showed the number of microRNAs expressed in cancer cells to be low when compared to non-cancerous cells. In addressing this observation, primary researchers Jakub Godlewski, Ph.D., and Agnieszka Bronisz, Ph.D., both formerly at the Brigham and now based at the Mossakowski Medical Research Centre of Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland, led a team that determined the absence of DICER enzyme is likely the cause of this cytoplasmic microRNA depletion. The team discovered DICER was being trapped in the nucleus by repressive interactions with RBM3 and circ2082. In order to characterize these new actors, researchers used patient-derived glioblastoma cells, which allowed them to study outcomes genetically and phenotypically similar to real patient outcomes. The cells were studied both in vitro and in vivo through implantation into the brains of lab mice. The level of microRNA expression in these mice changed their survival rates. If circ2082 was knocked down, the nuclear DICER complex of circ2082, DICER, and RBM3 was disrupted, more microRNAs were present in the cytoplasm, and the survival outcome was far greater. In these mice whose tumors had circ2082 knocked down, death by tumorigenesis never occurred, while their non-knockdown counterparts all experienced death by tumorigenesis. The downstream effect of this circ2082 expression also heavily influenced morbidity in human patients whose tissues were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with circ2082-dependent signature less widely expressed had overall longer lifespans after cancer diagnosis. "Targeting these upstream tumor proliferators has the potential to dramatically change the cancer treatment landscape," said Chiocca. "We look forward to clinical translation of this research as we search for the right inhibitors." Explore further Researchers identify DNA repair enzyme as a potential brain cancer drug target More information: A. Bronisz et al, The nuclear DICERcircular RNA complex drives the deregulation of the glioblastoma cell microRNAome, Science Advances (2020). Journal information: Science Advances A. Bronisz et al, The nuclear DICERcircular RNA complex drives the deregulation of the glioblastoma cell microRNAome,(2020). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abc0221 Attorney Jomo Thomas did not let the government escape without reprimand for their disregard for court rulings against it. Jomo Thomas, attorney-at-law and former Speaker of the House of Assembly, has chided the ruling Unity Labour Party for disrespecting court orders, as it relates to settling with persons against who it had loss court cases. Thomas, speaking at a press briefing last Wednesday at his Chambers in Kingstown, highlighted governments reluctance to settle with persons against whom it had lost court matters, and referenced the matters involving Otto Sam, three teachers (Kenroy Johnson, Elvis Daniel, and Addison "Bash Thomas), as well as the conflict with Public Servants. He noted that the government has a way of grinding into the ground, persons with whom they have issues, and he blasted the ruling regime for violating Leon Bigger Biggs Samuels property rights, effectively preventing him from putting it (his property) to productive use. As far as Thomas was concerned, the government "is stiff-necked. However, he was heartened that the "chickens are coming home to roost, and more people are seeing the intention of the Unity Labour Party government. Thomas, who contested the 2015 general elections on a Unity Labour Party ticket, declared, "the government won the elections but lost the country. BOWDON, Ga. (AP) A historic Georgia church was engulfed in flames Monday and officials believe the fire was intentional. The Carroll County Sheriffs office said fire crews responded to Smith Chapel Methodist Church in Bowdon and found the 100-year-old building in flames, news outlets reported. No one was injured. County Communications Director Ashley Hulsey told the Times-Georgian a witness saw flames coming from a pile of hymnals at the pulpit inside the chapel. Hulsey said the building did not have electricity or gas and weather conditions were pristine, ruling out an accidental fire. Investigators said they were searching for suspects in the arson. The Georgia Arson Control Hotline is offering a $10,000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction. The church was founded by the Methodist Rev. John Thurman in 1851 and was formerly known as Mount Pleasant, according to Historic Rural Churches of Georgia, news outlets reported. Myric Young told the Times-Georgian she inherited the property the chapel rested on from her parents. She said vandalism has occurred for years and the family would call authorities but no vandals were ever caught. It makes me really really mad, Young said. I dont understand how anybody could be mean enough to burn a building, especially if its a church building. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Hundreds of National Guard troops on emergency mobilization orders began arriving Thursday to reinforce security in the city a day after the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol that left five dead. Supporters of President Donald Trump became an angry mob Wednesday afternoon and forced their way into the Capitol building, terrifying lawmakers and halting the official count of Electoral College votes to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Command Sgt. Maj. Jimmy Nugent, the command sergeant major of the Maryland Army National Guard, was working at headquarters when his wife called and told him to turn on the news. Read Next: Air Force Brass Order Removal of All Offensive, Non-Inclusive Patches, Mottos and Emblems "She said, 'Are you watching the news? Do you see what is happening?" Nugent told Military.com, adding that he was stunned at the footage. "I was shocked, I was sad, and I was angry; things like that do not happen in the United States of America. We are a nation of laws and a nation of law and order. That was not supposed to happen." The Pentagon has authorized up to 6,200 Guard members from Maryland, Virginia, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania to deploy to D.C. on federal status to maintain security through Inauguration Day. Staff Sgt. Ronald Vasquez (left) and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Daniel Wood of the D.C. National Guard stand a security post across from the U.S. Capitol as supporters of President Trump drive by in a red pickup flying a Trump flag on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (Matthew Cox/Military.com) Most Guard members in Maryland were at home when the call came at approximately 7 p.m. Wednesday to pack their rucksacks with cold weather gear and be ready to move out by 6 a.m. Thursday. Cpl. Daniel Morozevich, a 37-year-old infantry team leader with the Maryland Guard's Delta Company, 175th Infantry Battalion, said he was at home taking down his Christmas tree as he watched Trump supporters enter the Capitol on the news. He spent most of the night getting ready to depart Thursday morning. "I had just moved into a new house, so everything was in boxes," Morozevich said. "So, it took me some time ... to pull out all my cold weather gear and throw it in a ruck." Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, said she started telling staff to begin preparing after watching the situation in D.C. deteriorate on the news. "For me, I am always going to be prepared," Birckhead told Military.com. "We don't want to be late to need, so anytime we see our neighbors right next door [in trouble], we say, 'OK, there is a possibility.'" About 500 Maryland Guard soldiers, many from the 175th Infantry and the 115th Military Police Battalion, arrived at the District of Columbia National Guard Armory building by bus and tactical vehicle Thursday. "Because of what has been going on with COVID-19 operations, we are at a high state of readiness already, so it really didn't take much to say, 'I need to shift this group of people to do this' because we are already rolling in to support the Inauguration, and those soldiers were already coming in next week," Birckhead said. Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, commander of the Maryland Army National Guard, talks with 2nd Lt. Carter Brockman, a signal officer with the 115th Military Police Battalion, as the 500-member Maryland Guard contingent sets up operations outside the D.C. Armory after deploying to D.C. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 to help with security in the aftermath of Wednesdays riot. (Matthew Cox/Military.com) Maryland Guard troops will wear Operational Camouflage Pattern uniforms without tactical gear, she said. "Soldiers do not have weapons ... no body armor," she said, adding that the contingent brought riot shields and protective facemasks if the need arises. "We are guarding on the Hill. We are going to be specifically around the Library of Congress, the Senate and House office buildings in support of the Capitol Police." Before leaving, Birckhead, who has served in the Guard for more than 25 years, reminded her soldiers to maintain their professionalism, saying this mission is "what it means to serve our country." "We are not political; we are apolitical, and we are here to serve the citizens of the nation and of the region," Birckhead said. "We are here to serve. We are here in support of the D.C. National Guard, the Capitol Police and the District of Columbia,, and that is what we are here to do. "And they were like, 'Got it, ma'am.'" On Monday, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy authorized a request from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser for Guard support, sending 340 Guard troops into the city to man roadblocks and stand posts at Metro stations. On Wednesday, Trump addressed thousands of supporters who showed up to support the president's unsubstantiated claim that massive voter fraud had stolen his victory. Trump urged the crowd to march on the Capitol, which they soon did, breaking down temporary barriers and pushing past federal police to storm the building. Lawmakers were forced to shelter in place as Trump supporters walked through the halls, destroying offices and breaking windows. Shortly after the chaos, many in Washington criticized the security plan, raising questions about why there weren't more security measures in place prior to the well-announced event. A female Air Force veteran was shot and killed in the riot, and two men and another woman died of medical emergencies. On Thursday evening, U.S. Capitol Police announced that an officer had died of injuries sustained during the incident. McCarthy defended the decision to stage just a few hundred National Guard members around the city before the breach, saying that the Army was given unclear information about how many protesters would be in Washington, D.C., this week. Later in the evening, the Pentagon activated all 1,100 D.C. Guard members to reinforce police. Staff Sgt. Eric Kuper, a 42-year-old D.C. Guardsman, was working at the D.C. Armory on Wednesday in his Active Guard Reserve (AGR) status job, preparing orders for fellow soldiers. By Thursday morning, he was standing post in a dispersed line with other D.C. Guard members across the street from the Capitol as workers erected seven-foot tall security fencing. Trump supporters occasionally drove by in cars with Trump flags hanging out the windows. "We are just trying to make sure people are safe while the fencing is being put up," Kuper told Military.com. He said he was surprised by what happened Wednesday just as he was during the riots that occurred in June in the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, a Black man, in the custody of Minneapolis police. "Whether I was in the Guard or not, I didn't think I would see that, nor did I think I would see what happened in June," he said. "This has been a crazy six months. I am happy to serve my country and do my job. If anything is our job, this is certainly our job." Morozevich echoed Kuper's sentiment. "Everyone has a right to say what they want to say and practice their freedom of speech. It's a federal building, it is paid by tax dollars and essentially it is open to the public as long as they follow the rules," he said. "They can come in and watch the proceedings that go on, but they can't stop the democratic process from taking place. They can't instill fear into our elected officials. So whatever we need to do to maintain the peace, to maintain the government and to allow the democratic process to function in this country -- that is what I took an oath for." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Related: Military Leaders Say 'Tremendous Confusion' Delayed Response to Capitol Siege The Solana Beach School District is weighing its options on how to deal with the increased growth in Pacific Highlands Ranch, riding out the enrollment wave by maximizing its existing capacity across the district or potentially building an eighth school. At a Sept. 26 workshop, the board grappled with where to assign students from the 515 units that are expected to be built in Pacific Highlands Ranch from 2019 to 2023, the bulk of students arriving in 2019 and 2020. The board is expected to make a decision on attendance areas for the swell of PHR students at its Oct. 11 board meetingin November, the board is expected to make a decision on whether or not to build the districts eighth school in Pacific Highlands Ranch in order to handle the wave of new students. SBSD President Debra Schade said that the board is tasked right now with managing new growth, declining enrollment and limited dollars to make a decision that is best for students, families and the community. Advertisement We have to be delicate, responsible, careful and as transparent as possible, Schade said. We are faced with a very difficult decision right now. We want there to be absolute transparency for people on which one of our beautiful Solana Beach School District schools their students will be attending when they buy their homes, echoed SBSD Superintendent Jodee Brentlinger. Currently students from the 944 units occupied or now selling in Pacific Highlands Ranch are assigned to Solana Ranch Elementary School in Pacific Highlands Ranch (Carmel Valley) and Solana Santa Fe Elementary School in Rancho Santa Fe. In one of the boards options, all students from the 515 homes east of Pacific Highlands Ranch Parkway will be assigned to Carmel Creek (K-3) and Solana Pacific (4-6) in Carmel Valley or Solana Santa Fe (K-6). The board gave direction back in March for an option that fills Carmel Creek first rather than Solana Highlands, due to the schools distance from Pacific Highlands Ranch. Board members did not believe it was reasonable to carve out an attendance area in PHR for Solana Highlands, asking homeowners to exit the community and drive out to the farthest school across town, about 3.7 miles down Del Mar Heights Road. Carmel Valley Road and Del Mar Heights Road is truly a nightmare, SBSD Vice President Julie Union said, stressing how important livability is in the boards decision. As noted by resident Bruce Cameron, who served on the Carmel Valley Community Planning Boards PHR traffic committee, PHR residents in the Del Mar Union School District face 30-minute commutes to go the mile-and-a-half to Sycamore Ridge School. (The Del Mar districts general obligation bond Measure MM on the November ballot includes funding for a new school in Pacific Highlands Ranch). With the attendance area proposed, the board considers Carmel Creek to be a better option for residents as they can get off Del Mar Heights Road sooner on Carmel Canyon or Carmel Country Road to access Carmel Creek and Solana Pacific. They would, however, still have to drive past the neighborhood school Solana Ranch to get to their school of attendance. Advertisement The PHR homes assigned to Solana Santa Fe have access to Rancho Santa Fe Farms Road to get to Rancho Santa Fe. Students from the Santa Barbara development, off Del Mar Heights Road across from Cathedral Catholic, have been attending Solana Ranch. In the boards option, siblings of current students would be grandfathered in to Solana Ranch but new students will be assigned to Carmel Creek and Solana Pacific. The boards attendance area decision also includes the new 608 units from One Paseo, which is expected to be occupied in 2018-20. Students from One Paseo are proposed to be assigned to Solana Highlands and Solana Pacific. Facilities and financing Advertisement As part of its workshop, the board members considered the challenges of all of their schools capacity and how their space is being utilized. Currently the Solana Highlands campus is 73 percent utilized with 296 students enrolled, Carmel Creek is at 76 percent with 344 students, and Solana Pacific is at 94 percent capacity with 518 students. Solana Ranch currently has 572 students enrolled and the district recently added two modular classrooms to the campus to help handle the increased enrollment. With no new development, Solana Santa Fes enrollment is expected to decline from 310 students to 260 over the next five years, according to Caroline Brown, executive director of capital programs and technology. A chunk of students from PHR would help save Solana Santa Fe, which is slated for a modernization beginning in 2021. Brown said the modernization and scale for the new Solana Santa Fe has yet to be determined as the area has seen some very big changes. Advertisement It used to be sleepy and quiet there but now theres lots of traffic, Brown said of the fact that San Dieguito Road is now used as a cut-through for many commuters and El Apajo Road is very congested. Pick-up and drop-off at Solana Santa Fe is extremely challenging, said board member Vicki King, something to keep in mind if they bring more students to the school. There are a lot of concerns about safety at that campus right now. If the district decides to build school #8, it could opt to send all PHR students to the two PHR campuses. This option would help even out the population at Solana Ranch although Solana Santa Fe and Carmel Creeks enrollment would continue to decline, Brown said. Each housing option has fiscal implications. In addition to the possibility of building school #8, in order to house students the board must consider options such as adding an additional classroom wing to Solana Ranch and adding portables to Solana Santa Fe and Solana Pacific campuses. Advertisement According to Lisa Davis, assistant superintendent of business services, with community facilities district (Mello Roos) funds and bond proceeds, the district has about $40 million available.The option to right size Solana Ranch by adding eight classrooms would be about $11 million, two additional portables at Solana Pacific would cost about $880,000, and the costs to replace eight aging portables at Solana Santa Fe with 10 new portables would be a lease of about $4 million. The projected cost of a small school #8 (for about 350 students) is about $48.5 million, leaving the district with a $15 million shortfall at this point to build that school, Schade noted. The cost estimate may be higher as the district has to acquire the 10-acre property on Golden Cypress Place from Pardee Homesthe updated land appraisal is expected by the end of October. Union and King said they would like to see the board move forward as soon as possible on some of these big decisions, I dont want to see us go too long given the accelerated growth were seeing, King said. Clerk Holly Lewry agreed, saying it would be helpful for district families to know that there is a master plan in place. Advertisement Before the board makes its final decision on attendance areas on Oct. 11, it gave Superintendent Brentlinger direction to research the drivability of streets on proposed routes to school and traffic and safety implications, including possible busing options and pedestrian safety at Solana Santa Fe. Police are searching in Ireland for the next of kin of a 70-year-old man who died in Scarborough on January 2. Pic: PA stock British police have widened the next-of-kin search for a 70 year old man without a family to Ireland. Simon Curtis Smith died at his home address in Scarborough in North Yorkshire aged 70 on January 2. However, enquiries by the North Yorkshire Police have not yet identified Mr Smiths next of kin. Police now believe that his relatives may be in Ireland, although they do not know where. The search has now been widened to Ireland and the coroner has appealed to people in Ireland who may be related to Mr Smith. Our coroners officers are appealing to people in Ireland as they continue their search to find the next of kin of Simon Curtis Smith who died at his home address in Scarborough aged 70, said a spokesperson for the force. Anyone who can help locate any members of his family is asked to contact the Coroners Office on 01609 643168. Deputy of the Prosperous Armenia faction of the National Assembly of Armenia Naira Zohrabyan has posted the following about Nikol Pashinyan on her Facebook page: The most cold-hearted and most cynical traitor and xenophobe in the history of the Armenian people is lying again. Before visiting Moscow and signing another treacherous document, he is making an attempt to mislead, with manipulation of words, the small sector of people who definitely havent read and wont read the capitulation act signed on November 10, 2020. The traitor is cheating the parents of prisoners of war and missing servicemen once again, saying that the price of the return of their sons may be the signing of another treacherous document that he will sign for the sake of prisoners of war. The most disgusting lie is that the communication between Azerbaijan and Nakhchivan is still a matter of discussions in the future. The marked parts of the signed trilateral document show the opposite. Even now when everyone understands that what happened was the cruelest and most cynical treason in the history of the Armenian people, he continues to lie and manipulate words. Dear parents of prisoners of war and missing servicemen, the traitor has assumed an obligation to ensure communication to Nakhchivan through the territory of Armenia, and he will do it. Unfortunately, he will continue to take advantage of your sorrow and grief to end his mission to betray the nation. Lucknow, Jan 8 : A petition has been filed in the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court, against the acquittal of all accused in the Babri mosque demolition by the Special CBI court. The petition has been filed by Haji Mehboob, a petitioner in Ayodhya suit. The petition has been filed exactly 100 days after special CBI court had acquitted all 32 accused, including BJP veterans L.K. Advani, Murli Manohar Joshi and Uma Bharti in the Babri Masjid demolition case. Along with Haji Mahboob, 70, Hafiz Sayyad Akhlaq, 80, who deposed during the trial at the Lucknow court has moved the plea. Both their houses, which were in close proximity to the mosque, were torched by a mob on December 6, 1992. (Jewish Journal via JNS) The pro-Israel educational organization StandWithUs sent a letter to the University of California Merced on Dec. 24 calling on it to take action against professor Abbas Ghassemi over his use of anti-Semitic statements and images on social media. StandWithUs CEO and co-founder Roz Rothstein, Saidoff legal department director Yael Lerman and Center for Combating Antisemitism head Carly Gammill wrote to UC Merced Chancellor Dr. Juan Sanchez Munoz and professor emeritus Dr. Thomas Peterson that Ghassemi has issued a number of since-deleted tweets that appear to be anti-Semitic. The tweets, which were posted from October to December 2020, included an image of The Zionist Brain featuring a Star of David and a Holocaust Memory Centre. A separate tweet asserted that the Zionists and IsraHell interest have embedded themselves in every component of the American system, media, banking, policy. Ghassemis posts demonstrate an alarming obsession with hatred for Jews, Israelis and Zionism, a core part of mainstream Jewish identity, the letter states. Many of his posts run afoul of the IHRA [International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance] definition of anti-Semitism adopted by the U.S. State Department and the Department of Education, which is used in Title VI investigations into campus antisemitism. They added that they were concerned that a spokesperson for the university told the Jewish News of Northern California that Ghassemis tweets were the opinions of a private individual, not the positions of the institution and that the university is committed to uphold the right to freedom of expression and encourage a culture of dialogue, understanding and civility in all interactions. The issue here is not whether Ghassemi has a constitutional right to make anti-Semitic comments, which, of course, he does, the letter states. 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. Ghassemis discriminatory statements are egregious for a professor presumably responsible for teaching and grading a protected minority on campus Jewish and Israeli students. The letter pointed to recent examples at Rutgers University, Oberlin College and Babson College, in which the schools disciplined professors over anti-Semitic social-media posts. Like these professors, Ghassemi should face an investigation and repercussions for his antisemitic rhetoric, just as we presume you would investigate similar allegations of statements from faculty that targeted students based on race, gender or sexual identity, it states. Instead of the message already conveyed by your administration protecting an allegedly antisemitic professor and downplaying his expressions of hate, we urge you to send a clear message to your community that there is no place for discrimination or bigotry at UC Merced, and that all members of your community are protected equally. Rothstein also said in a statement that professor Ghassemi used Twitter as an extended public platform at the university to promulgate hatred toward Jews and Israelis through classic antisemitism. This is not a simple matter of free speech. In addition to promoting a hateful environment on campus, this professor is responsible for the grades and academic success of students he appears to hate. University administrators have an ethical, if not legal obligation, to take all measures necessary to protect their students from any discrimination. Other Jewish groups have also condemned Ghassemis tweets. Anti-Defamation League Central Pacific regional director Seth Brysk told the J that the tweets are textbook examples of crude, antisemitic canards; mendacious allegations about Jewish power and control, attempts to dehumanize and demonize Jewish people, denial of Jewish peoplehood and the right to self-determination, Holocaust trivialization, insinuations about Jewish greed and more. The Simon Wiesenthal Center decried in a tweet that the university spokespersons comments to the Jewish News essentially defended Ghassemis free (hate) speech rights. Such rules only apply when Jews are attackedany other protected minority targeted would get this bigot fired. Stop Antisemitism.org also labeled Ghassemi as their Antisemite of the Week on Dec. 27, stating that Ghassemi was caught tweeting about Jews dominating the world, demonizing Jews [and] devaluing the Holocaust. Why is this antisemitic bigot allowed to continue teaching? Ghassemi did not respond to the Jewish Journals request for comment. This article was first published by the Jewish Journal. Advertisement Richard Barnett, 60, has been charged with unlawful entry The MAGA rioter who put his feet up on Nancy Pelosi's desk has been arrested along with a man who brought 11 Molotov cocktails, two handguns and an assault rifle to the Capitol on Wednesday. The DoJ announced on a call with reporters on Friday afternoon that 13 people had been charged including Richard Barnett, 60, who was seen putting his feet on Speaker Pelosi's desk and leaving a threatening note on it on Wednesday. Barnett, who proudly referred to himself as a white nationalist on social media, was charged with unlawful entry. He was taken into custody at his home in Little Rock, Arkansas. It's unclear where he now is or if he'll be extradited but he is in custody. He has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful entry; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and theft of public money, property, or records. Lonnie Coffman, 70, has also been arrested after police found his red GMC pick-up truck near the RNC - where a pipe bomb was left. He has not been charged over the pipe bomb but cops found two handguns, 11 Molotov cocktails and an M4 carbine assault rifle in his vehicle. He has been charged with possession an unregistered firearm (destructive device) and carrying a pistol without a license. Officials on Friday called what he had produced 'homemade napalm' and said the Molotov cocktails The MAGA rioter who put his feet up on Nancy Pelosi 's desk was arrested along with a man who brought 11 Molotov cocktails, two handguns and an assault rifle to the Capitol on Wednesday West Virginia Republican state Del. Derrick Evans exits the Sidney L. Christie U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building after being arraigned, Friday More than 80 people have been arrested in total and 55 are being pursued on federal charges, officials said on the call. THE RIOTERS AND THEIR CHARGES Cleveland Meredith - making interstate threats to Nancy Pelosi Richard Barnett - breaking into Pelosi's office Lonnie Coffman - possession of an unregistered firearm and carrying without a license. He had 11 Molotov cocktails in his truck. Mark Leffingwell - entering a restricted building, punching a cop Christopher Alberts - carrying a 9mm gun Joshua Pruitt - entering restricted building Matthew Council - entering restricted building, disorderly conduct Cindy Fitchett - entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct, violent entry Michael Curzio - entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct Douglas Sweet - entering a restricted buulding , disorderly conduct Bradley Ruskelas - entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct Terry Brown - entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct Thomas Gallagher - entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct Advertisement Dozens more remain free and the FBI is scrambling to catch them with public appeals for help and rewards for information after Wednesday's disastrous attempts by law enforcement to control the crowd. Their failure to arrest the rioters - many of whom had guns and overpowered them - has outraged millions of Americans who compared the soft touch to the harsh crackdown by police on BLM protesters during the summer. The cops found Coffman's vehicle and searched it after securing a perimeter in the area surrounding the DNC and RNC, where two pipe bombs had been left. The bomb squad had been called in to help with that. It was during a sweep of the area that they found Coffman's van. 'One black handgun was recovered from the right front passenger seat of the vehicle. 'After locating the black handgun, officers proceeded to search the rest of the pickup truck, including the bed of the truck, which was secured under a fabric top. 'During the search of the cab of the truck, officers recovered, among other things, one M4 Carbine assault rifle along with rifle magazines loaded with ammunition,' the affidavit supporting his arrest says. Coffman was arrested after approaching cops in a female friend's car, asking if he could access his vehicle again. He asked them: 'Did find the bombs?' which the cops thought was a reference to the materials in his car but he says was in reference to those left outside the DNC and RNC. The cop who Leffingwell is accused of punching signed his arrest affidavit. In it, he describes how he attacked him in the Captiol building. 'In the course of this effort and while inside the Capitol building, I encountered an adult male who later identified himself to me as Mark Jefferson Leffingwell. 'Leffingwell attempted to push past me and other officers. 'When he was deterred from advancing further into the building, Leffingwell punched me repeatedly with a closed fist. The DoJ announced on a call with reporters on Friday afternoon that 13 people had been charged including Richard Barnett, 60 'I was struck in the helmet that I was wearing and in the chest. 'Working with other officers, I was able to gain control over Leffingwell, who attempted to struggle while being detained. 'I transported Leffingwell to United States Capitol Police headquarters for processing,' the cop, Daniel Amendola, wrote. West Virginia Del. Derrick Evans filmed himself entering the Capitol building Another cop described seeing a 'bulge' in Christopher Alberts' pocket which he recognized to be a handgun at 7.25pm, more than an hour after the curfew had been put in place. 'While pushing Alberts towards the line, I tapped the bulge with my baton and felt a hard object that I immediately recognized to be a firearm. At the time, Alberts was also wearing a bullet-proof vest and carrying a backpack,' officer Dallan Haynes wrote. Pruitt was among a group of people who refused to leave the Capitol after the 6pm curfew. Council was among the group that pushed a barricade down to get into the building. Cindy Fitchett, Michael Curzio, Douglas Sweet, Terry Brown, Bradley Rukstales, and Thomas Gallgher are charged in the same complaint for refusing to leave. No one has been arrested yet in connection with the death of Capitol cop Brian Sicknick, 42, who died in the hospital after being hit, allegedly in the head, with a fire extinguisher. 'This is an ongoing investigation we're working this with our partners to ascertain what happened in that situation. 'We are 100 percent on it and are getting to those answers,' FBI Washington Field Office ADIC Steven D'antuono said. Sicknick was himself a Trump fan who posted on social media about his support of the President. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Two new locations of the popular chicken sandwich chain Chick-fil-A have announced a grand opening next week in West Michigan. Locations in Kalamazoo and Norton Shores will both be open for business for drive-thru only on Thursday, Jan 14. The location at the corner of Drake Road and West Main Street in Kalamazoo will be the second Chick-fil-A in Kalamazoo County. The restaurant will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The current location on Westnedge Avenue in Portage is open for drive-thru only due to indoor dining restrictions. The new site at 504 N. Drake Road was first made public in February 2019. That April, the Kalamazoo City Commission approved rezoning requests to turn the lot from a residential single dwelling to a commercial zone. RELATED: Chick-fil-A hiring dozens for its new Northville and Shelby Twp. locations set to open soon The restaurant will look similar to the one in Portage with a two-lane drive-thru, Zoning Administrator Pete Eldridge said in 2019. The Norton Shores location at 5607 S. Harvey St. will be the first Chick-fil-A in Muskegon County. The restaurant will be drive-through only until indoor dining restrictions lift. Hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday. The franchise broke ground in July but construction was delayed by several months because of coronavirus, said project manager, John Downing, of Buffalo Construction, a Louisville, Kentucky, building company. In place of Chick-fil-As typical grand opening celebration, where the first 100 customers are eligible for giveaways, the two new restaurants in West Michigan have each identified 100 local heroes making an impact in the region and will surprise them with free Chick-fil-A for a year, according to a press release. Additionally, the Chick-fil-A Foundation has partnered with Feeding America to donate $25,000 to a local food bank for every new restaurant opening, according to the release. More on MLive: Historic mansion, moved in 2019 and restored, opens doors as bed and breakfast in Spring Lake Muskegon-area libraries reviving bookmobile dear to the hearts of residents Kalamazoo Candle Company continues to grow nationwide, currently hiring Moving container PODS turned into makeshift private dining rooms at Kalamazoo restaurants The guests have been revealed for tonight's Late Late Show on RTE, the first of 2021. On the first Late Late Show of 2021 this Friday night, Vicky Phelan will be telling viewers about her upcoming trip to the US for an experimental new treatment, and why she is preparing to risk spending six precious months away from her family in her fight to stay alive. Women's health campaigner Vicky will be discussing why she hopes this treatment will give her the time she desperately needs, how the last nine months have helped her re-evaluate life, and why our frontline workers need our support now more than ever. Ryan will be joined by Paul Reid, the CEO of the Health Service Executive, for an up to the minute assessment of how our health system is coping under the impact of this latest surge in the Coronavirus pandemic and what the coming days and weeks will hold for anyone needing to access healthcare in Ireland. Dr Colm Henry, the Chief Clinical Officer of the HSE and NPHET member, will join Ryan live in studio to oversee the inoculation of six of Ireland's healthcare workers, against COVID-19 with the approved vaccine. Dr Henry will explain how it works and when you can expect to receive your dose of the vaccine in the coming months. Wexford Hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald is back on our screens with Ireland's Fittest Family and preparing for upcoming show Davy's Toughest Team, and he joins Ryan to discuss how the past year has changed his perspective on hurling and family. He'll also be discussing why recent events have led him to take a stand against online bullying. Donie O'Sullivan, the CNN journalist from Kerry who was reporting live from Washington this week as chaos broke out across the US capital will also be chatting to Ryan. There will be music from Lucia Evans who will give a very special performance alongside the Discovery Gospel Choir. All of this, plus more, on The Late Late Show on RTE One Friday, January 8 at 9.35pm. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos reportedly submitted her resignation to President Donald Trump Thursday night, citing the impact his rhetoric had on riots that culminated with an attack on the Capitol a day earlier. The Wall Street Journal first reported that DeVos, a Michigan native and former chair of the states Republican Party, told Trump the Capitol riots were an inflection point for her. DeVos is the second member of Trumps Cabinet to resign over the presidents response to protesters who breached the Capitol to prevent the certification of the Electoral College vote. According to the Associated Press, DeVos blamed Trump for inflaming tensions in the violent assault in Washington D.C., which led to the death of four people. The New York Times published a copy of the letter, in which DeVos celebrated her role in the presidents administration but said the country is left to clean up the mess caused by violent protesters. That behavior was unconscionable for our country, DeVos wrote. There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me. Impressionable children are watching all of this, and they are learning from us. I believe we each have a moral obligation to exercise good judgment and model the behavior we hope they would emulate. They must know from us that America is greater than what transpired yesterday. Reflecting on her term, DeVos said history will show we were correct supporting the reopening of schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also blamed union bosses who control so much of the traditional system for denying children access to education. Related: Betsy DeVos calls online-only schools a tragedy for kids, urges in-person learning DeVos was a polarizing figure in the Trump administration due to her work to change federal guidelines advising college campuses on how to handle sexual assault allegations and support for school privatization. In her farewell letter to Congress, sent earlier this week, DeVos urged legislators to support school choice and prevent the incoming Biden administration from reversing her regulations. The stakes for Americas students have never been higher than they are today, DeVos said in the Jan. 5 letter. The decisions you make in the coming days, months, and years will determine a lot about the opportunities our children will get as they pursue their American Dream. DeVos and her family are high-profile donors for conservative causes and her husband unsuccessfully ran for Michigan governor in 2006. The Associated Press contributed to this report. READ MORE ON MLIVE: Michigan representatives call for Trumps removal after riots in U.S. Capitol Betsy DeVos has long been the boogeyman of public education. Critics say her push to reopen schools shows why. Protesters at Betsy DeVos mansion say push for in-person classes puts students, staff in danger Radhika Kumaraswamy has been summoned by Central Crime Branch in Bengaluru for allegedly receiving Rs 75 lakh from a man who had been arrested for duping a realtor. Kannada actress Radhika Kumaraswamy has been issued summons by the Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Bengaluru for allegedly receiving Rs 75 lakh from a man who had been arrested for duping a realtor. The actress, who had been asked to appear before an investigating officer, had told reporters on Wednesday that she had received Rs 15 lakh from the man Yuvaraj, who identified himself with a right wing party. Radhika said she received the money from Yuvaraj to make a period film. She, however, expressed ignorance about the remaining Rs 60 lakh deposited in her account. She had even said she would cooperate with the investigation if the CCB summoned her. "I knew Yuvraj for 17 years and he was close to my father. I didn't know what his background was or how he cheated people which I'm getting to know now," Kumaraswamy was quoted as saying by India Today. The CCB had arrested Yuvaraj in December following a complaint by a realtor who alleged that he was duped to the tune of Rs 10 crore with the promise of an election ticket. The raid on his residence led to the recovery of a cash of Rs 26 lakh and cheques for Rs 91 crore. (With inputs from Press Trust of India) Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on January 8, 2021 2021/01/08 CCTV: State Councilor Wang Yi has just concluded his visit to Botswana. What do you think is the most important achievement or the highlight of this visit? Hua Chunying: Every stop of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Africa comes with its own highlight. He has just concluded a successful visit to Botswana. President Masisi met with State Councilor Wang Yi, and State Councilor Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister Unity Dow. The two sides all spoke highly of bilateral relations. This important visit to Botswana came as the two sides celebrate the occasion of the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As the two foreign ministers singed a MoU on BRI cooperation on behalf of the two governments, Botswana has become the 46th African country inking BRI cooperation documents with China. This is a highlight and a good symbol, which will bring out new opportunities, break new grounds, and open up new prospects for our mutually beneficial cooperation. China is willing to work with Botswana to further implement the important consensus reached between the heads of state of the two countries and the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID19, enhance political mutual trust, strengthen practical cooperation, and promote China-Botswana relations to a higher level. The Paper: Elon Musk, CEO of electric vehicle producer Tesla, said in an interview with an American news outlet that the Chinese government cares a lot about the well-being of the people and is possibly more responsible to people's happiness than the U.S. government. Do you have a comment? Hua Chunying: I have also taken note of the report. I believe Mr. Musk made an objective statement when he said that the Chinese government cares a lot about the well-being of the people. Since its founding, the CPC has dedicated itself to the mission of serving the people. To improve people's living standards and to meet their increasing needs for a better life is the motivation and purpose of all our work. The CPC is a party of the people, for the people and by the people. In this lies the source of its invincible confidence in overcoming all difficulties as the ruling party. As you've all seen, in the fight against COVID-19, the CPC puts people and life front and center and makes the best effort possible to protect every citizen's safety, health and dignity. We waged the largest and most vigorous battle in human history against poverty, lifting 850 million out of poverty. This year we will begin a new journey toward fully building a modern socialist country, which will help meet people's increasing needs for a better life. According to authoritative international research, the Chinese people's overall satisfaction toward the Central Government exceeds 90 percent for many years. Foreign friends free from bias and wishing to get an objective understanding of China will surely arrive at their own conclusion from the history of China's development in the past century and the changes taking place now. We welcome more foreign friends to come to China for tourism, study, work, sightseeing and visit so as to get a first-hand experience of the real China through their interactions with the Chinese people. Global Times: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted that "We've released more information about the CCP threat to the American people and U.S. businesses than any other administration." Do you have any comment? Hua Chunying: During his tenure of office, Secretary of State Pompeo makes "lying diplomacy" a byword for U.S. foreign policy, when this U.S. administration has dented U.S. image and reputation as well its relations with other countries more than ever. This is a consensus shared by the international community, including those clear-eyed Americans. In recent year, the United States has been pursuing unilateralism, undermining multilateral cooperation, wantonly pulling out of treaties and organizations, and arbitrarily resorting to use or threat of sanctions. To date, it has withdrawn from a dozen international treaties and organizations. On climate change, it refuses to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and has withdrawn from the Paris Agreement. On arms control and non-proliferation, it pulled out of the JCPOA and the INF Treaty, unsigned the Arms Trade Treaty, announced its withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty, and has been dragging its feet towards extending the New START. At the crucial juncture when members of the international community joined hands to fight COVID-19, the United States pulled out of WHO. Facts have proven time and again that the United States is the biggest destabilizing factor for global peace and security. Polls surveying people in over 10 countries including Germany, Japan and the ROK show that half or more interviewees believe the United States poses major threats to their national security. Many Americans believe that the biggest threat to the United States is no other but itself. For his own benefit, Pompeo unscrupulously suppressed China, and put on stage his "final madness" as his term is coming to an end, and frantically sabotage bilateral relations. His actions will only put him on the wrong side of history and in odds with the friendly sentiment cherished by the Chinese and American peoples. He will be convicted by history. AFP: The European Union has called for the immediate release of over 50 people arrested in Hong Kong and urged authorities to respect Hong Kong's rule of law, democracy and freedom. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has also said it was deeply concerned over the arrests, calling for the release of the arrested people who were "exercising legitimate rights to participate in political and public life". What is the foreign ministry's response? Hua Chunying: First, the wanton criticism by the few people you mentioned of the Hong Kong Police Force's law enforcement constitutes grave interference in China's sovereignty and domestic affairs. China is firmly against it. Those arrested are suspected of subverting state power as set out in the Law on Safeguarding National Security in Hong Kong. They were by no means "exercising legitimate rights to participate in political and public life". The national security law provides clear definitions of crimes threatening national security. It also stipulates that the rights and freedoms which the residents of Hong Kong enjoy under the Basic Law and the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as applied to Hong Kong, shall be protected in accordance with the law. As we've stressed repeatedly, Hong Kong affairs are entirely China's domestic affairs that brook no external interference. No one has any right to demand that China release lawfully-arrested criminals. As I said while answering your question yesterday, although the scenes in the United States and Hong Kong were similar, the descriptions or reactions by some are entirely different. Why is it that protesters of the same nature are branded "rioters" in the United States, but eulogized as "heroes of democracy" in Hong Kong? Why is it that the same thing is called two different names, defense of democracy and freedom in the United States, but suppression of democracy and freedom in Hong Kong? I saw on TV this morning a statement by the White House press secretary. She said that the First Amendment guarantees the right of the people to peaceably assemble, but what they saw yesterday in Washington was not that, and the rioters were undermining the legitimate First Amendment rights. She also said they condemn the violence in the strongest possible terms and those that broke the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As you know, some social media platforms have imposed restrictive measures on the U.S. leadership. This shows that even in the United States, freedom of speech is not limitless. Those that abuse this freedom will pay dearly for it. Why must something unacceptable in the Unites States be acceptable in Hong Kong? Why must freedoms off limits in the Unites States be within reach in Hong Kong? What happened in Hong Kong is plain and clear. You may have noted the detailed information released by the SAR government and police force and their position. There have also been a large amount of reporting by Hong Kong media. Those arrested are suspected of breaking the national security law with a view to paralyzing and subverting the SAR government. Undermining national security has nothing to do with democracy or freedom. There is a distinct difference between political dissent and seriously disrupting the normal functioning of the government. No country or society with rule of law will allow activities that undermine national security or seriously disrupt the normal functioning of the government. As to democracy and freedoms, as I said yesterday, during the British colonial rule over Hong Kong, were the people granted any rights or freedoms? When ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976, the British government made a reservation not to apply to Hong Kong the periodic elections provisions. Both the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance during the British rule imposed draconian restrictions on assembly, procession and association in Hong Kong. It was only after Hong Kong's return that a democratic institution was truly established and developed. The tremendous efforts made by the Chinese government and the Hong Kong SAR government to promote democratic progress in Hong Kong in accordance with the Basic Law and decisions by the NPC Standing Committee shall not be denigrated. I also noticed that some media claim what happened in the United States should not be compared with the storming of the Legislative Council of Hong Kong. Speaking of where they differ, I can think of at least two points. First, the riot was much worse in Hong Kong. The mob that stormed the Hong Kong Legislative Council back in July 2019 vandalized the facility, harassed innocent civilians and attacked police officers with petrol bombs and daggers while in the US, it's just climbing over exterior walls of the Capitol and storming into Congress. The mob in Hong Kong more justly deserve to be called rioters and terrorists and be punished by law. Second, what happened on Capitol Hill was organized by Americans, but what happened in Hong Kong was instigated, orchestrated and implemented by external forces, with some in the United States playing a dishonorable role. Those saying what happened in the United States is different from what happened in Hong Kong. This double-standard reaction reveals their deep-seated sense of western supremacy and ideological bias. It bears on the question of how to define democracy and freedoms. During your post here, you might have heard a popular Chinese saying which can be translated as "trophies or prizes, nothing is worth more than good word of mouth". The ultimate yardstick for measuring a country's democracy and freedom is people's sense of satisfaction, happiness, security and gain. We should see if it is the whole society or just a small minority that enjoys freedoms and progress. Unlike the American government, which, according to international academics, is of, by and for the one percent, the Chinese government represents and safeguards the interests of the vast majority and is committed to defending the value and dignity of every life. Our democracy is broad-based, real and it works. As you've witnessed, since the founding the New China, the Chinese people's freedoms and rights to subsistence and development have been effectively guaranteed; political, economic and cultural rights made visible progress; and historic leaps have been made in the cause of freedom; over 800 million people have got out of poverty. As a foreign academic puts it, the Chinese people have experienced 30 years of the fastest improvement in living standards throughout the past 3,000 years. I'm not sure if you know that an average of 120 million Chinese tourists travel abroad every year. After a pleasant trip in foreign parts, what do they do? They get back home! If what the politicians and media said were true, that the Chinese people are oppressed and stripped of their freedoms, why, then, would the 120 million tourists choose to come back? The international research I mentioned just now also shows that the Chinese government's satisfaction and support rate exceeds 90 percent. Isn't this enough to prove the point? I think those criticizing China on democracy and freedoms either don't know the real situation in China or are just too full of themselves. We hope they will get off their high horse and try to understand the real China. We are more than ready to show them the real conditions. That being said, we are firmly against their interference in our domestic affairs in the name of democracy and freedom. Bloomberg: I'd like to ask a question about the MSCI Inc. who will remove three Chinese telecom companies from its indexes on Friday. I'd just like to ask what the foreign ministry's comment is? Hua Chunying: I have been responding to questions similar to this these days. The relevant Chinese companies have always abided by the rules and regulatory requirements of the United States, which is widely recognized by global investors. For the three companies you mentioned, we believe that they can properly deal with the negative impacts caused by the current situation. I also said earlier that China will take necessary measures to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies. Since you asked again, I'd like to reiterate that China firmly opposes the U.S. side abusing state power, stretching national security concepts, and oppressing Chinese companies. We also believe that the U.S. actions are short-sighted. The United States not only violates the market competition principles and international economic and trade rules it brags about, but also goes against the trend of the times. By doing so, it harms the interests of investors from all countries and its own national interests, image and reputation. RIA Novosti: The U.S. Mission to the United Nations announced last night that U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft will visit Taiwan from January 13 to 15. Do you have any response? Hua Chunying: We stated China's principled position yesterday. China's position on the issue of U.S.-Taiwan exchanges is clear and consistent. The actions of the U.S. side seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques. China firmly opposes it. There is only one China in the world. Taiwan is an inalienable part of Chinese territory, and the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing China. This is a fact recognized by the international community. The United States made a clear commitment on this in the Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between China and the United States. China firmly opposes any form of official ties between the United States and the Taiwan region. This position is consistent and clear. We have noticed that for a period of time, a few anti-China politicians in the Trump administration, or Pompeo and his like if you will, have put on stage their "final madness", unscrupulously using the remaining days in office to sabotage China-U.S. relations and serve their personal political gains. This trick goes against the tide of history and runs counter to the desire of the Chinese and American peoples for friendship and peace, which will definitely get punished by history. We also urge the U.S. side to return to reason and stop any words and deeds that undermine bilateral relations. China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard its own sovereign and security interests. If the U.S. side insists on going its way, it will pay a heavy price for its wrong words and deeds. South China Morning Post: The U.S. Congress confirmed Joe Biden as the presidential election winner. What's your comment? Hua Chunying: We noticed that the U.S. Congress has officially confirmed that Biden was elected as the new president. On November 25, 2020, President Xi Jinping sent a message to Joe Biden to congratulate him on election as U.S. president. Beijing Youth Daily: Some American media reported that China is taking advantage of the chaos in the United States to expand China's influence, and the United States is even more unable to stop China's development. What is your comment on this? Hua Chunying: I think such reports reveal that these media's points of view are problematic. No country can achieve its own long-term development by taking advantage of chaos in other countries. China's great development and progress is achieved through the diligent and hard work of all Chinese people. Regarding some problems in current China-U.S. relations, we know that some people in the United States are indeed very anxious about China's rapid development, and are trying to dominate or delay China's development. But as State Councilor Wang Yi pointed out, the best way to keep one's lead is through constant self-improvement, not by blocking others' development. We don't need a world where China becomes another United States. This is neither rational nor feasible. Rather, the United States should try to make itself a better country, and China will surely become its better self. CRI: Recently, a director-general virtual meeting on COVID-19 and poverty relief cooperation by China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Could you give us more details? Hua Chunying: You are well-informed. Indeed, on January 6, China, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh held the first meeting of director-general level working groups on COVID-19 and poverty alleviation cooperation. This meeting is a follow-up step to the video conference of foreign ministers of China, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal on COVID-19 in July and the video conference of vice foreign ministers of China, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh on COVID-19 in November 2020. At the meeting, representatives from all parties shared anti-epidemic and poverty relief experience, exchanged views on addressing COVID-19's impact, resuming economic and trade cooperation, responding to non-traditional security challenges, advancing the sustainable agenda and eradicating poverty, and reached preliminary consensus on practical cooperation in relevant fields. The successful meeting demonstrates all parties' strong will and firm confidence in strengthening regional anti-epidemic cooperation, jointly addressing challenges and achieving development through cooperation. China stands ready with all parties to implement the consensus of the meeting, produce visible outcomes and make greater contributions to building a shared community of health for the region. Beijing Daily: Some western media commented that the Chinese media are comparing the Capitol Hill riot with the violent riot Hong Kong experienced to serve its own propaganda purpose. What is your response? Hua Chunying: What's happened at the Capitol Hill has been extensively covered by the US media. We've seen TV programs playing out violent scenes 24/7. We've heard world leaders commenting on it. People from all walks of life in the United States are talking about it. Then why, when the Chinese media are following this widely-reported event, it suddenly became propaganda? When I responded to a foreign journalist's question yesterday, I invited all of you to seriously think about why some people reacted differently to similar scenes played out in the United States and Hong Kong and why they termed them differently. Why are factual reports by the Chinese media being labeled propaganda or even disinformation? Is it simply because some people in the United States find them unpalatable? I don't think this complies with the truthfulness principle of journalism. Besides, facts are there, beyond anyone's denial, regardless of whether they came up in the Chinese media reports or not. However, this does uncover the ubiquitous existence of double standard when it comes to Chinese media and reflect the sense of superiority and ideological prejudice long harbored by some individuals. For some people in the west, they pride themselves on their democracy and freedom, even though deep down they have their grievances and dissatisfaction; they criticize China as being authoritarian and totalitarian, even though deep down they may hope they could lead a life as the Chinese do. For those issues that have come up in the United States or in other western countries, they in the west can argue, debate and comment in ways whatever they want, but if the Chinese side pitches in, then it suddenly morphs into "propaganda" or "disinformation". It has been very aptly pointed out by a very famous scholar on social media that the Western establishment is clinging to the past, in denial of the present, and living in fear of a very different future. I do think that it is time for them to wake up, do some reflection, discard their double standard, and open up their eyes and minds to the world. The media has a particularly special role to play in this, as their commitment to the principle of truthfulness and objectivity has a strong bearing on the direction the world is heading towards. AFP: The media has noted some similarities and some differences between what happened in Hong Kong and in the United States. I think one issue that news reports pointed out was also the intent behind the unrest. In the U.S. case they were trying to overturn the results of an election, while in Hong Kong they were demanding for more democracy. I'm just wondering if you could clarify your take on this? Hua Chunying: The two are very similar in terms of subjecting legislature to violence. On July 2019, radical protesters stormed the legislature, trashed the place, defaced the Hong Kong emblem, fan up anti-police sentiment, and hurled toxic liquid and powder at and even stabbed police force. But the Hong Kong Police Force responded with maximum restraint. Similar scenes played out in the United State but were reported by some press in different words. Protesters were "thugs" and "domestic terrorists" when they stormed the Capitol Hill, but were "democratic fighters" and even "heroes" when they stormed the Hong Kong Legco. It would be difficult if not impossible to find a better definition for double standard. You said those in Hong Kong were demanding for democracy, but you lost sight of their true face hiding behind their masquerade of so-called democracy. Under the pretext of democracy, they committed the crime of subversion of state power under the Hong Kong national security law. Chanting "all five demands must be fulfilled", on July 2019, they committed violent crime, trampled on Hong Kong's rule of law and social order, challenged the bottom of "one country, two systems", and plunged the interests and security of the HKSAR and China into grave danger. What they did is nothing but political intimidation, blackmailing and extreme violent crimes, not even remotely related to democracy. I just cited a statement by the White House Press Secretary. She said herself that the protesters undermined the right of the people to peaceably assemble under the First Amendment. It is fair to say that even in the US, freedom comes with boundaries, and abusing freedoms comes with a price. An Bord Pleanala has upheld a decision by Cork County Council to grant permission for a facility near Mitchelstown that will convert slurry and household waste into natural gas to be fed back into the national network. In June of last year planners gave the green light to the facility on a site at Corracunna/Garryleagh near Mitchelstown which had been chosen as one of the proving grounds for Gas Network Ireland's innovative GRAZE (Green Renewable Agricultural & Zero Emissions) project, which the company had previously said would be the first step to "de-carbonising Ireland's gas network." Mitchelstown has been selected as the location for the this phase of the overall project due to the large number of cattle in the surrounding area and its close proximity to Ireland's biggest gas pipeline. The plan made provision for the demolition of agricultural structures on the 1.8 hectare site and the construction of a Central Gas Injection (CGI) facility and associated works for a 10-year period. However, An Taisce objected to the development on a number of grounds, including that the applicant had failed to consider what they described as the "considerable environmental impacts" of biomethane production. The appeal also claimed that the Environmental Report submitted with the application did not "evaluate the direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts of the feed source, digestion process, transport, outputs and fugitive emissions" associated with the proposed plant. In their order the appeals board considered that, subject to conditions, the development would be in accordance with EU, national, regional and local policy. The board said that the development would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety, would not have an unacceptable impact on the amenities of the area and would, therefore "be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area." The list of conditions imposed, which can be viewed at www.pleanala.ie dealt with issues under various headings including public health and safety, the protection of local ecology and environmental protection. The Mitchelstown facility, which will cost in the region of 28 million to build, will be the second of its kind in the country to be developed under the GRAZE project and will involve the placement of a series of up to 20 agri-anerobic digestion biomethane units within a 50km radius of the proposed central injection facility. They will convert animal waste, slurry, municipal waste and grass into renewable gas that will be collected by a fleet of purpose built tankers in similar to the operating model currently used for milk collection by dairy co-ops. Once operational the development will produce enough natural gas to supply roughly 8% of Ireland's residential gas demand, supplying green energy to some 54,000 homes. The use of animal waste in particular will have the additional benefit of reducing harmful emissions from Ireland's beef and diary industries. In addition the GRAZE project will fund the development of two Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations, part of a network of 70 similar facilities planned for around the country that will facilitate HGV and bus operators from using diesel to renewable gas in their vehicles. This will help to substantially reduce transport emissions, with gas generating a 99% reduction in particulate matter when compared to diesel. It is estimated that at maximum capacity the Mitchelstown operation alone will reduce Ireland's annual harmful CO2 emissions by up to 170,000 tonnes per annum, 27,000 tonnes of which will be made up from agricultural emissions. [January 08, 2021] NASA, FAA Partnership Bolsters American Commercial Space Activities WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) reaffirming the agencies' longstanding relationship to foster robust American commercial space transportation capabilities, including commercial crew and cargo activities. The NASA-FAA MOU follows the success of NASA's SpaceX Crew-1 launch the first crewed mission from American soil to be licensed by the FAA. The new agreement will support the transportation of government and non-government passengers, cargo, and other payloads for orbital and suborbital space missions in a safe and cost-effective manner, as well as streamline spaceflight standards and requirements. "NASA is now flying commercial cargo and cre missions to the International Space Station, and soon we will send more people and science to space on new suborbital flights," said NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. "Our partnership with the FAA will support the growth of American commercial aerospace capabilities that will benefit NASA, the nation, and the entire world." Under the MOU, NASA and the FAA will focus on building a clear framework for private industry to follow for commercial launch and re-entry, as well as coordinating an approach for sharing safety data with the public to enhance understanding of the known risks of commercial space travel. NASA also will collaborate with the FAA on the licensing of orbital and suborbital flights, facilitating new space technologies and research opportunities, and advancing point-to-point commercial suborbital pilot programs. The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing commercial space launch and re-entry licensing. "The partnership between the FAA and NASA is vital to continue the growth, innovation and safety of commercial space operations, and maintain the pre-eminence of U.S. leadership in the aerospace sector," said FAA Administrator Steve Dickson. Continuing this partnership is critical to achieving the goals and objectives of multiple U.S. space policies, including the 2020 National Space Policy and Space Policy Directives 1, 2, and 3. The MOU also builds upon existing collaborations, including between the FAA and NASA's Flight Opportunities program, which helped develop a framework for flying researchers from industry and academia on commercial suborbital flights, allowing them to propose to fly with their NASA-sponsored payloads for the first time. NASA also is collaborating with the FAA on commercial suborbital spaceflight activities through the Commercial Crew Program's Suborbital Crew (SubC) efforts to extend suborbital space transportation capabilities for NASA astronauts and other NASA personnel. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-faa-partnership-bolsters-american-commercial-space-activities-301203546.html SOURCE NASA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] She recently enjoyed a sun-soaked holiday on Hamilton Island with her boyfriend and two children. But Tammy Hembrow appears to be back on the Gold Coast, as she shared a pair of photos to Instagram on Friday that were seemingly taken at her Broadbeach Waters home. The fitness mogul, 26, showed off her classy date night outfit while posing in her backyard, which overlooks the Nerang River. Looking good! Fitness mogul Tammy Hembrow showed off her classy date night outfit in a series of photos shared to Instagram on Friday Tammy's stylish ensemble comprised a metallic grey one-shoulder top with strappy details across the side, matching flared pants and tinted sunglasses. She completed her look with nude heels and a Prada handbag. The Saski Collection founder styled her long blonde hair in two ponytails and opted for a glamorous makeup palette. She was most likely heading for a night out with her boyfriend, surf lifesaver-turned-restaurant owner Matt Poole. Dripping in designer: Tammy's stylish ensemble comprised a metallic grey one-shoulder top with strappy details across the side, matching flared pants, nude heels and tinted sunglasses The couple just got back from a vacation on Hamilton Island with Tammy's two children from a previous relationship, Wolf, five, and Saskia, three. While on holiday, she raised eyebrows by sharing a photo of herself kneeling on the foreshore of a beach, which was covered with small, sharp stones. Many fans noted that holding the position would have been quite painful for Tammy, who is used to perfectly sandy beaches on the Gold Coast. Vacation mode: Tammy just returned from a holiday on Hamilton Island with her boyfriend, Matt Poole, and her two children from a previous relationship, Wolf, five, and Saskia, three Ouch! While on holiday, she raised eyebrows by sharing a photo of herself kneeling on the foreshore of a beach, which was covered with small, sharp stones 'The sand looks like it might hurt the skin,' one follower wrote on Instagram. 'Huge props to you because I couldn't even walk on that coral when I was there,' another added, using the hashtag #NoPainNoGain. 'How's the knees?' a third asked, while a fourth wryly observed: 'Surely [that's] hurting your knees.' Painful: Many fans noted that holding the position would have been quite painful for Tammy, who is used to perfectly sandy beaches on the Gold Coast Pain is beauty: 'The sand looks like it might hurt the skin,' one concerned follower wrote Cheeky: 'How's the knees?' another fan asked Having their say: 'Surely [that's] hurting your knees,' one of Tammy's followers wryly observed The Border Security Force on Thursday said it has been coordinating with other security agencies in Tripura, to prevent the NLFT, a banned insurgent outfit, from getting active in the state. Members of the NLFT are trying to exploit people, taking advantage of the difficult terrains of the state, Inspector General of BSF, Tripura Frontier, Sushanta Nath said. "We are working in coordination with the Tripura Police so that the insurgents cannot regroup. The BSF is maintaining the highest vigil on the border. The ultras are getting active and exploiting people, taking advantage of the difficult terrains of the state," the official said. The National Liberation Front of Tripura members had kidnapped three construction workers from a village near the Indo-Bangla border in Dhalai district on December 7 last year. However, the labourers were released in the last week of December 2020, Tripura Police AIG Subrata Chakraborty said. "The insurgents were forced to release the workers as continuous operations by the security forces were conducted. The Bangladeshi authorities had also launched operations in their side," he said. Recently, extortion notices were allegedly served by the banned outfit to seven residents of Vangmun village in North Tripura district. The BSF held 131 people in Tripura in the last one year for trying to cross the Indo-Bangla international border illegally, Nath said. "Among the 131 people apprehended, 85 are Indians and the remaining 46 Bangladeshis. Some of them were involved in smuggling activities," the official told reporters at BSF headquarters here at Shalbagan. He also said the border guard personnel have destroyed a huge number of ganja plants worth Rs 9.41 crore in the bordering areas of the state and seized gold bars, valued at Rs 95.93 lakh, in the last one year. They also recovered 2,209 cattle-heads during the same period. Tripura shares 856-km long international border with Bangladesh, in which around 67 km still remains unfenced. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Insurance fraud seems like it might be an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are often so huge, one wonders how they might not even notic... Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain COVID-19 vaccination rates must reach 80% to achieve herd immunity, but only about 60% of Americans are willing to be vaccinated, according to the Pew Research Center. Stanford physician and economist Kevin Schulman suggests marketing tactics to boost compliance. More than 300,000 Americans have died of COVID-19about 1 in every 1,000 people in this country. But will people agree to be vaccinated against the virus that causes the disease? In November, only about 60% of Americans were willingfar short of the 80% believed necessary to stop the disease from spreading, according to a survey from the Pew Research Center. On Dec. 31, the Los Angeles Timesreported that about 50% of Riverside County's frontline workers declined the injection. In an article published Jan. 6 in the New England Journal of Medicine, Kevin Schulman, MD, MBA, professor of medicine, and Stacy Wood, Ph.D., professor of marketing at Duke University, note the strong correlation that has been observed between a person's political views and his or her willingness to comply with social distancing, mask wearing and other efforts to keep the virus in check. This correlation, they suggest, calls for different communication strategies in upcoming vaccine launches and coronavirus vaccination campaigns. They also explore principles of marketing that could help health care professionals and policymakers frame their messaging to encourage vaccine participation. Recently, science writer Krista Conger spoke with Schulman about their recommendations. Why is it important to consider lessons from marketing when framing important public health messages? Schulman: Encouraging 80% to 90% of people in this country of over 300 million people to be vaccinated with not one but two doses of vaccine is one of the largest communications challenges any of us have seen in our lifetimes. We need people across the political spectrum to pull together and get vaccinated. But we learned early in the pandemic that our communications strategies about prevention weren't working. In many cases, masks haven't been used effectively, for example. So how do we learn from that and adopt new strategies now? As clinicians, we're comfortable dealing with patients in front of us in the exam room, but populationwide questions, like who should be vaccinated, require us to pivot from one-to-one conversations to one-to-many. That's where marketing and good messaging come in. We all want this pandemic to end. We want the economy back and functioning well. We want everyone's lives to be back to normal. Some piece of this message should resonate with everyone, regardless of who you voted for. What can health care providers do to encourage vaccination? Schulman: It's important to understand human nature. When faced with three choiceslike three possible cup sizes at your favorite coffee shopmost people will choose the one that is less extreme. Moderation feels safe. Framing a health care decision in similar terms can make people feel more comfortable. For example, rather than asking whether someone will get the vaccine, ask whether they are going to get it today, next week or wait until summer, emphasizing that summer is a less recommended option. Make getting the vaccination the normal, rather than an extreme, choice. Another critically important piece is the power of personal stories to demonstrate the safety and importance of vaccination. If someone feels the vaccine is unsafe, tell them about someone in a similar situation who took the vaccine and is doing well. Frame the availability of the vaccination to certain groups as a mark of respect for their service to society, and use visible badges or bracelets to indicate to the public that you've been vaccinated because you're a first responder, or a patient-facing employee, or an essential worker. Celebrate and normalize vaccination. A former student of mine was the leader of the polio eradication efforts in Nigeria. To build confidence in rural villages, he would first take the vaccine himself in front of everyone. Then the village elders would take it, and then the elders' children. Only then would the rest of the villagers take it. Our personal stories and examples are really important. What are other things to keep in mind when speaking with someone who isn't planning to be vaccinated? Schulman: Be careful with numbers and statistics. It can be very challenging for many people to truly understand risks, odds ratios and other statistics that physicians are taught throughout medical school. Instead of talking about the rare risk of side effects, for example, convey concepts with analogies. If they want a guarantee that the vaccination will protect them from the disease, describe how the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine is about the same as dying in a car crash. It's not zero, but it's very unlikely. Another strategy in framing the need for vaccination is to find a common enemy, such as poverty, unemployment or the lockdowns we are now experiencing. Regardless of our political views or our beliefs about the virus, we all want those to end. Don't talk down to them, or belittle them. Try to find a common ground. Finally, it's important to realize, as medical care providers, that we can't be falsely reassured that everyone out there feels the way we do about the availability of vaccination. There are a lot of people who say they probably won't or definitely won't get the vaccine. But we need these people too. How can we reach and reassure these folks as well? What can medical institutions like Stanford Medicine do to help in this effort? Schulman: Creating a visible symbol of vaccination, like a wearable badge or a digital stamp for social media or Zoom meetings, can help spread awareness and excitement about the vaccine. It's also important to gather and spread success stories on websites and across social media promoting the relief and increased freedom experienced by vaccine recipients. It's clear that misinformation and reports of adverse events spread rapidly over platforms like Twitter and Facebook, so it's important to actively combat those with positive, personal stories. Finally, we also need to be aware of the many different communities we serve, and choose analogies and stories that are statistically appropriate and resonate with each audience and their cultural background. Taking note of what is most successful for each group, and sharing that information among our physicians, would provide a valuable resource when speaking to patients about vaccination. Are efforts to achieve adequate vaccination rates for COVID-19 likely to be an ongoing challenge? Schulman: Absolutely. It's vital to be clear that we need to vaccinate somewhere between 80% and 90% of our population to stop the spread of this virus. Those rates may even be higher as the virus mutates and spreads more quickly. Until we get to that last mile, we are not done. This is not just a persuasive challenge but a logistical one. Even some people who are eager for the vaccine will not follow through unless it is easy and convenient to do so. As time goes on, we are going to have to do even more, not less. The last time we had a similarly urgent public messaging campaign was World War II, when we pulled out all the stops in terms of engagement of the whole population. Eradicating COVID-19 is going to take a communication effort of that scale to be successful. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: Stacy Wood et al. Beyond PoliticsPromoting Covid-19 Vaccination in the United States, New England Journal of Medicine (2021). Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine Stacy Wood et al. Beyond PoliticsPromoting Covid-19 Vaccination in the United States,(2021). DOI: 10.1056/NEJMms2033790 Miya Ponsetto, aka "SoHo Karen," seen in her booking photo after she was arrested Thursday afternoon for a fugitive warrant in connection with a recent assault in New York. (Ventura County Sheriff's Department/Handout via Reuters) Miya Ponsetto the woman dubbed SoHo Karen after tackling 14-year-old Keyon Harrold Jr. in a New York City hotel on Dec. 26 over false accusations that the teen had stolen her phone was finally arrested overnight on Thursday, in Ventura County, Calif., and charged Saturday with attempted assault, attempted robbery, endangering the welfare of a child and grand larceny, according to ABC News. After creating the violent scene in Manhattans SoHo neighborhood, Ponsetto returned to California, where she spent time lying low at her mothers home in Piru, heading out to casually grab McDonalds and, just before her arrest, digging what looks like a deeper hole for herself in an interview with Gayle King for CBS This Morning. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In footage of the interview, released Friday morning, Ponsetto, sitting alongside her lawyer, says she is supersweet, denies any claims of racial bias or wrongdoing, and accuses the teens father (Grammy-winning Jazz musician Keyon Harold Sr.) of assaulting her, all before ending the interview by holding a hand up to King and declaring, All right, Gayle. Enough. But earlier in the saga, on Jan. 2, came one of the most insidiously problematic moments of all: Ponsetto, during her McDonalds run, defending herself to reporters for her attack of the young man by saying, Im actually 22, so I dont know what the problem is here, before adding, And Im also Puerto Rican, so thank you, apparently a way to explain that she could not possibly behave in a racist manner. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Yahoo Life spoke to experts in Afro-Latinx culture to get some help in breaking down why Ponsettos defense is inherently racist, and why such sentiments can be so damaging. Anti-Black sentiment is not exclusive to anyone In response to Ponsettos defense, Denise Diaz, co-director of Central Florida Jobs With Justice, tells Yahoo Life, She demonstrates how anti-Blackness is something that isnt always perpetrated by someone with blue eyes and blond hair. On a surface level, she said that to deflect her own biases and harm at the same time being anti-Black by erasing the experience of Black Puerto Ricans. Story continues To be clear, Diaz explains, some people might have said, Oh, shes a person of color, so therefore, this isnt a Karen experience. It was something else. To a certain degree, this is what happened with Trayvon [Martin and George Zimmerman]. [Zimmerman is] Peruvian, so therefore, this is not a racist, or, like, the fact that one of the Proud Boys leaders is Cuban. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Being Puerto Rican doesnt mean that you fully understand the Black experience unless you're Black and it doesnt absolve her of causing harm to Black people. She is capable of that, regardless of ethnicity, adds Diaz. Fordham University School of Law professor Tanya K. Hernandez also breaks down the problems with Ponsettos rationale. explaining, Unfortunately, its a very typical response on the part of Latinos who dont identify as Black and/or sort of live their lives like theyre either racially ambiguous, racially unidentified or viewing their Puerto Rican-ness as a race. For all those individuals, the typical response is to think of their own Latino identity as a shield against all accusations of racism. Its the idea that their ethnic identity somehow makes them immune from anti-Black bias. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The denial of Afro-Latinx heritage Hernandez tells Yahoo Life that such a narrative completely denies the obvious existence of many people of African descent because it undermines the ability to continue with this light-skinned privilege that both exercises whiteness and, at the same time, wants to deny any culpability for doing so. Just last year, Orange Is the New Black actress Dascha Polanco found herself under similar scrutiny when she was called out for a tweet about the lack of Latinx representation among Emmy nominations seemingly targeting the Black community and then backpedaling by claiming Blackness. In a since-deleted Instagram video, saying that her words were misconstrued, she said, It was not shading our Black community. Blackness is in my DNA, as a Dominican and an Afro Latina. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. And one year prior, Basketball Wives LA star Evelyn Lozada had a similar take when she was called out for her own anti-Black bias toward Nigerian castmate OG Chijindu having called her a monkey, and committing other racially charged micro-aggressions throughout the shows eighth season. As a defense, she quickly pointed out that she began identifying as Afro-Latina, which unleashed another wave of backlash when some critics pulled Lozadas old tweets in which she denied having any affiliation with Blackness. In response, she posted an explanation of her own interpretation of Afro-Latina, citing the history of colonization on the island of Puerto Rico. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Diaz explains that although history plays a significant role, many people misinterpret its impacts, noting, For Puerto Ricans, its constantly said that were mixed of Spanish from Spain, indigenous from Taino and Black, so that then becomes the pass [for biased behaviors]. Its complicated, but its really that we are a product of colonization, and people tend to romanticize that. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. She says, Ive been in spaces with other Puerto Ricans that are blue-eyed with blond hair and theyre like, Were all from Africa, which Diaz says minimizes her own experience as a Black Puerto Rican but also notes that any such objection is usually reduced to pettiness if called out. In a 2020 op-ed for The Americano, novelist Anjanette Delgado explored why she was wrong for identifying as Afrolatina in the past, recalling her own experiences, while also factoring in those of others within the African diaspora. She wrote, I grew up thinking I was black because of my nose, and lips, and hair, regardless of skin color, and I was damn proud of it. The problem with that theory? It is born of old ideas that extend whiteness a greater degree of exclusivity than it does to other races, and it erases the fact that darker skinned people live a different experience than the rest of us. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In a 2020 opinion piece for Al Dia, Fordhams Hernandez explained that Latino racial attitudes facilitate the erasure of Afro-Latinos. Under the homogenizing banner of we Latinos are a syncretic racially mixed single people known as mestizaje (racial mixture celebration) imagines Latinos as a mixed-race population without true Black people and in turn without anti-Black racism. However, this mythological tale of Latino racial tolerance gets disrupted when we listen to the narratives of Afro-Latinos who have been the victims of Latino discrimination. In the past few years, stars like Love and Hip Hop: Miamis Amara La Negra have spoken out about Afro-Latina erasure. In her VH1 Meet the Cast video, she says, Theres women that look like myself in every single Latin country, but everybody just admires and looks at the J.Los and the Shakiras, but Im Latina too! What happened to us? Further, in a 2018 piece for Afropunk, Quinn Smith-Matta echoed that sentiment, writing, Amaras query is a valid one. With over 1.4 million Mexicans self-identifying as Black or having African ancestry in 2015 and Brazil being the second Blackest nation in the world, its almost absurd how the term Latino has managed to secede itself from Blackness. Sofia Vergara, Mario Lopez, and other light-skinned and/or white-passing Latinx people have become the poster children for Latin America, failing to reflect the large Black populations in their respective countries of origin. However, this separation of Black heritage from Latino identity is not accidental. Smith-Matta cited cultural policy as one of the main culprits. Afro-Latinx people have shaped the music, the food, the celebrations, and almost everything that draws so many people to these beautiful countries, and we have yet to get the acknowledgement we deserve. People love reggaeton and punta, but they dont love us, she added. However, Hernandez says, it remains taboo to talk about these things in the Latino community, and that has inspired her to create a manuscript, in part to challenge the visual of light-skinned and white skin as being the default for when you talk about Latino. The forthcoming book from Beacon Press, she shares, is titled On Latino Anti-Black Bias: Racial Innocence and the Struggle for Equality. The reason for that default is to try to act as if Latino is its own race, so that we dont get into giving closer scrutiny to all the problematic anti-Black bias and anti-indigenous discrimination that exists within Latinidad, Hernandez notes. Diaz recalls her own childhood, saying, I remember hearing Arregla la raza, like, Youre fixing the race. And the indicator of how you do that is getting with someone who was white, or social status things that you do to increase your proximity to whiteness. But Spanish isnt owned by light-skinned people or whoever you see as this poster child of what it is to be a Latina or Latino. As far as SoHo Karens Puerto Rican defense, there should be a bigger expectation that we check that, adds Diaz. Because I'm a lighter-skinned Black Latina, or because I have more proximity to whiteness, I actually have to be more responsible in how I yield it and when, she says. Weve always got to check, because there could be harm there. We just can't say, Oh, I didn't know. Finally, Diaz cautions, it's really important for everyone to examine the nuances of how anti-Blackness is perpetuated and when we perpetuate it, looking at how are we owning and minimizing the harm. Read more from Yahoo Life: Want daily wellness, lifestyle and parenting news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. ELIZABETHTOWN, N.Y. The Adirondack Park is suffering from overuse since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Adirondack Council is urging the state to take action. The council says the park was already facing overuse of its wilderness areas, as well as water pollution, acid rain, invasive species and a lack of demographic diversity. Ahead of the 2021 State of the State, the council is urging Gov. Andrew Cuomo to invest in protecting the park by providing more resources, planning and staffing. The Adirondack Park once again displayed its priceless value this year as it became the escape hatch for millions of people who sought relief from the pressures of an extended economic lockdown, severe travel restrictions and efforts to avoid the potential contagion of crowded cities, said Adirondack Council Executive Director William C. Janeway. New York needs to invest in protecting and preserving the park as a place of much-needed refreshment and renewal for generations to come. According to the Adirondack Councils website, overuse can cause trail damage, erosion, widening, damage to vegetation, water pollution and impact wildlife at the park. Cuomo says he will give his State of the State address on Monday, Jan. 11. The ancient city of Talakadu situated on the banks of the Kaveri river, about 45 km east of Mysore, was once the capital of the Western Ganga dynasty which ruled over Karnataka in southern India about a thousand years ago. The once flourishing city with over 30 temples now lies in ruins, devoured by sand when the Kaveri river shifted course. The loss of Talakadu is an unfortunate ecological disaster, but there are many who believe that an ancient curse is to blame. An excavated temple in Talakadu. Photo: badattidude.blogspot.com The city of Talakadu was first mentioned in connection to the Western Ganga dynasty, whose king Harivarman made Talakadu his capital in around 390 CE. The towns origin is not known, but according to a popular lore, Talakadu got its name from two Kirata twin brothers, Tala and Kadu, who, after cutting down a tree they saw wild elephants worshiping, discovered that it contained an image of Lord Shiva, and that the elephants were actually shape-shifting sages in disguise. The tree was then miraculously restored and the place was named Talakadu. The Ganga dynasty which emerged in 345 CE after the fall of the Ikshvakus of Nagarjunakonda originally had their capital in Kolar, before King Harivarman moved it to Talavanapura or present-day Talakadu. The kingdom of the Gangas flourished in trade and commerce and although their territory was small, the Gangas contributed greatly to polity, culture and literature of the modern south Karnataka region. The Ganga kings were famous for their patronage toward Jainism resulting in the construction of many Jain monuments and temples, of which little remain today. Photo: badattidude.blogspot.com The Western Ganga dynastys 600-year-rule came to an abrupt end in 1000 CE, following their defeat by the Cholas, and Talakadu was renamed Rajarajapura. In 1117, Vishnuvardhana, one of the greatest rulers of the Hoysala dynasty seized Talakadu from the Cholas and assumed the title of Talakadugonda, or conqueror of Talakadu. To celebrate this achievement, he built the Keerthinarayana temple here. From the 17th century, the river began to shift and the town started to get buried under sand. Geologists believe that it may have been caused by the construction of a dam just north of the city, in the 14th century. The dam may have caused the water around the Kaveri river to become very shallow, exposing the sand beds. The south-westerly winds then carried the sand and deposited it on the old town of Talakadu. For the next two hundred years the sand ruled Talakadu, and the people tired of this uninvited intrusion simply moved away. A new town sprang up on the north. This sleepy little town is just a shadow of its older self, but in recent years, the new Talakadu has emerged as the epicenter of some of the latest advances in horticulture and wine making. Often referred to as Bangalore's Gourmet Valley, Talakadu now produces fine wines, exotic fresh produce, artisan cheese and other diverse culinary experiences. An excavated temple in Talakadu. Photo: miraclesofhinduism.blogspot.com What caused the sand dunes to suddenly start closing in on the city has not been conclusively proved, but according to a popular folklore, its all because of a curse. The story of Talakadus famous curse goes back to the 17th century when Tirumala Raya, the governor of the Vijayanagara Empire which then ruled Talakadu, came to the city to offer prayers in the temple of Vaidyesvara in the hope that the divine grace of god will heal the incurable disease that he was suffering from. Tirumala Raya left his wife Alamelamma in charge of governance while he was gone. But one of Tirumala Rayas dependencies, Raja Wadiyar of Mysore, saw this as an opportunity and wrested power from Alamelamma. He then chased Alamelamma to the banks of the river Kaveri, where the queen threw herself into the waters to escape Raja Wadiyars goons. Before she drowned, she uttered a three-fold curse: Let Talakadu become sand; let Malangi become a whirlpool; let the Mysore Rajas fail to beget heirs. The providence is said to have played outTalakadu got buried in sand, and Raja Wadiyars only surviving son died depriving the rulers a heir to the throne. But Raja Wadiyar was truly repentant. In his grief he had an idol of Alamelamma made in gold, installed it in the palace, and worshiped it as a deity. Alamelammas idol can still be found inside the Mysore Palace. Photo: Bangaloregetaways References: # Temple tales, Deccan Herald # Aditi Shah, Talakadu: A Town Buried Under Kaveris Sands, Live History India # Chitra Ramaswamy, By the river, in the sand, Deccan Herald # Wikipedia Installation view of John Patrick Kelantumama Jarakalani jantu (Turtle boat) 2001. Credit:NGV Jarakalani jantu (Turtle boat) (2001) by John Patrick Kelantumama a bright little ceramic sculpture in green, pink and black was the first piece I noticed when I exited the elevator. It was so vivid and exciting. Three men are riding in their fishing boat, the vessel transformed into a turtle by the excitement of the turtle hunt, growing flippers, a head and tail. Its a bold and powerful piece, despite its size. I waited there for NGV curator Judith Ryan, who would be, to my delight, showing me around TIWI, the largest survey of the art of the Tiwi people ever staged. The ceramics run the gamut from the most ancient of classical Tiwi stories to a hunting party in a ute. They are the first clue that while Tiwi culture and tradition is fundamental to Tiwi art, each artist is encouraged to find their own expression. The Tiwi islands are about 80 kilometres north of Darwin but are nevertheless remote; the two-and-a-half hour ferry ride is often so rough that they cancel it completely. Wurrumiyanga, where the ferry unloaded us, is on Bathurst Island, looking out on the narrow strait that separates it from Melville Island. The rest of Tiwi country is so remote and rough you can only move around if someone picks you up in town or near the punt that crosses the strait; or if you can afford the eye-watering cost of flying. In Wurrumiyanga live some of the friendliest people I have ever met. Patakijiyali Museum in town was worth the long boat ride, as were the centres where visitors can experience the art where it is born. Entering the TIWI show at the NGV delivers a surprise. Space, light and white walls greet the visitor; the darker bark, wood and the four colours of ochre flash out from the brightness. The space reminds me of the open sky, sand and water, the uniquely bright sun of the Tiwi islands. The curators and designers clearly understood how best to bring this art to life. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's niece and youngest daughter of Sarat Chandra Bose, Chitra Ghosh, took her last breath on Thursday at her ancestral home in Kolkata. She was 90. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over her death. Modi also recalled his meeting with Ghosh when he discussed various issues, including declassification of files relating to the great freedom fighter Subhas Chandra Bose, with her. Taking to Twitter, the PM said: "Professor Chitra Ghosh made pioneering contributions to academics and community service." "I recall my interaction with her, when we discussed many subjects including declassification of files relating to Netaji Bose. Saddened by her demise. Condolences to her family. Om Shanti." Ghosh was in the education service of West Bengal government since the beginning of her long teaching career which began at Bethune College. She headed the department of political science at the Lady Brabourne College, a premier girl's college in Calcutta, and was also a visiting lecturer in the Political Science and International Relations Departments of Calcutta and Jadavpur Universities. Later, she became the professor of Social and Political History at Netaji Institute for Asian Studies, Calcutta. She was also associated with social work and extensively worked towards the upliftment of the socially backward. She has authored many books that include, the Rights and Obligations of Indian Women, Women's Studies in India, Women and Politics World Wide (IPSA), Women Movement Politics in Bengal, The World of Thai Women(1990) and Opening of Closed Windows(2002). -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that passengers arriving from the UK will be kept at an isolation facility if they are found Covid-19 positive, in a step to protect city residents from the new strain detected in the country. "To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility," Kejriwal announced in a series of tweets, after chairing a cabinet meeting. He also said that the UK passengers with negative Covid reports will be taken to a quarantine facility for seven days, followed by seven days home quarantine. Kejriwal's announcement comes a day after his request to the Central government to extend the ban on UK flights till January 31 against the backdrop of new coronavirus strain which so far has infected a total of 82 persons in India. The Delhi CM had made the appeal to the Centre after it earlier announced to resume international flights from the UK from January 8. Flights between India and the UK were suspended from December 23 to January 7 in the wake of detection of a more infectious coronavirus strain in UK population. As per the fresh safety guideline issued on January 4, the Centre had said that those travelling between January 8 and 31 would be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival at the Indian airports. Congressional Democrats on Friday were weighing impeaching U.S. President Donald Trump for an unprecedented second time after his supporters, inflamed by his false claims of election fraud, stormed the US Capitol. Democrats in the House of Representatives, which holds the power to impeach the president, will hold a conference call at noon (1700 GMT) to discuss their next steps, according to two Democratic aides. Amid mounting calls for his removal from office, Trump finally denounced Wednesdays violence that left five people dead, including a police officer. In a video released on Thursday evening, the Republican president also promised a smooth and orderly transition of power later this month, though he stopped short of abandoning his claims of fraud. In the immediate aftermath of the assault, which halted a session of Congress held to certify Democrat Joe Bidens election win, Trump had declined to condemn the incident, instead telling supporters he loved them and repeating his assertion that he was being cheated of victory. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded on Thursday that Vice President Mike Pence and Trumps Cabinet invoke the Constitutions 25th Amendment, which allows them to strip the president of his powers if he cannot discharge the duties of his office. Pence opposes the idea, an adviser said. Pelosi and Schumer, along with other Democratic leaders, called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Pence and the Cabinet refuse to take steps to remove Trump from power. Biden is due to take office on Jan. 20. The presidents dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office, they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an insurrection. Katherine Clark, the assistant House speaker, said on CNN on Friday that Democrats were prepared to move forward with impeachment proceedings as early as next week. Trumps video on Thursday was the closest he has come to conceding defeat in the Nov. 3 election, as he promised a smooth transition to a new administration, after weeks of making false claims of massive electoral fraud and a rigged vote. In a speech on Wednesday, Trump had exhorted a crowd of thousands to descend on the Capitol. Rioters stormed the building, overwhelming police and forcing authorities to transport lawmakers to secure locations for their own safety. A Capitol police officer died from injuries sustained in the assault, the force said on Thursday. A woman protester was fatally shot by the authorities, and three people died from medical emergencies. Running out of time? With Trumps term almost expired, it was not clear whether there would be enough time to complete the impeachment process. Pelosi has not announced a decision, though she told a news conference on Thursday that rank-and-file Democrats in her caucus wanted action. If impeached in the Democratic-led House, Trump would theoretically face trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which is scheduled to be in recess until Jan. 19. Aides to Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, have not said whether he would reconvene the Senate if the House approved articles of impeachment. Democrats are set to take narrow control of the Senate after winning two runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday, but the new senators will not be sworn in until the state certifies its results later this month. In the event of an impeachment, the Senate must vote with a two-thirds majority to convict and remove a president from office. The House impeached Trump in December 2019 for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden, but the Senate acquitted him in February 2020. Only two other presidents in history have been impeached, and none has ever been impeached twice. In Thursdays video, a flat-toned Trump struck a conciliatory note seldom seen from him during his presidency, calling for healing. As recently as Thursday morning, however, he was still claiming the election was stolen. The Trump campaign and its allies filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the vote counts but state and federal courts rejected almost all of them. Election officials have said there is no evidence to back Trumps claims. At least two Republicans, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and US Representative Adam Kinzinger, said Trump must go. Several senior Trump administration officials have resigned in protest over the invasion of the Capitol, including two Cabinet members: Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and McConnells wife, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary. At a news conference to introduce his pick for attorney general, Biden blamed Trump for instigating the attack but did not comment on his possible removal. Congress certified Bidens election victory early on Thursday, after authorities cleared the Capitol. More than half of House Republicans and eight Republican senators voted to challenge election results from some states, backing Trump. The president has isolated himself among a small circle of diehard advisers and lashed out at those he perceives as disloyal, including Pence - whom Trump wanted to try to block Congress from certifying Bidens win - according to sources. The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information on people responsible for placing pipe bombs in the headquarters of the two main US political parties. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 10:19:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello speaks during a press conference in Brasilia, Brazil, Jan. 7, 2021. Brazil has signed an agreement with the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo to purchase 100 million doses of CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines, developed by Chinese company Sinovac, Eduardo Pazuello said on Thursday. (Photo by Lucio Tavora/Xinhua) BRASILIA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Brazil has signed an agreement with the Butantan Institute of Sao Paulo to purchase 100 million doses of CoronaVac COVID-19 vaccines, developed by Chinese company Sinovac, Brazilian Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said on Thursday. A total of 46 million doses will be delivered in April and another 54 million doses by the end of the year, Pazuello said during a press conference. All vaccines from the Butantan Institute will be incorporated into the national immunization plan, and will be fairly distributed throughout the country, the minister said. The purchase of the CoronaVac vaccine was made possible on the basis of a decree announced by President Jair Bolsonaro on Wednesday, which allows the federal government to purchase COVID-19 vaccines in advance without the approval of the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency, Pazuello said. On Thursday, the country reported a record daily count of 87,843 COVID-19 cases with 1,524 more deaths. Enditem State officials will start distributing most of Texas vaccine doses next week to a handful of large pharmacies and hospitals, creating vaccination hubs where more people can get a shot quickly, the Department of State Health Services said Thursday. Those hubs will receive about 75 percent of the states vaccine allotment next week and could inoculate more than 100,000 people, officials said. The state will release the list of providers by Saturday, after the federal government decides how many doses Texas will receive next week. The large-scale vaccination model represents a shift in strategy for the state, which so far has allocated a small number of vaccines to roughly 1,000 providers statewide. The new effort, DSHS officials said, will consolidate vaccination sites and provide people, especially vulnerable individuals, with a simpler way to sign up for an appointment. The department issued a survey to providers earlier this month gauging their ability to operate large-scale community vaccination sites. Providers participating in the program will post registration phone numbers and websites where people can sign up for a dose. Currently, the state is vaccinating Texans in groups 1A or 1B health care workers, first responders, nursing home residents, those ages 65 and older, pregnant women and anyone 16 and older who has a pre-existing condition, such as cancer, obesity or sickle cell disease. In total, both large and small providers statewide will receive about 200,000 more doses next week, according to DSHS. As of Thursday, Texas providers have received more than 1.3 million doses of the vaccine. In San Antonio, Assistant City Manager Colleen Bridger said she expects about 19,725 doses to arrive in Bexar County next week just for the mass inoculation effort. Asuper small number of other doses will go to a handful of other providers, she said. Health officials are planning to hold three large-scale vaccination events every week at locations on the North, central and South sides of the city, she said. Bridger had previously indicated that both the state and Bexar County were moving toward a mass vaccination model, with an early example being one at Wonderland of the Americas mall. There, University Health System has been inoculating about 1,500 people a day, having started on Monday. Theyre pivoting away from their original model, which was 100 doses (each) to 1,000 providers statewide, Bridger said earlier this week. And now theyre saying, Alright, we want to focus on mass-vaccination clinics, so were going to send 100,000 doses to a handful of providers. The shift to a mass vaccination model accompanies widespread confusion surrounding the states vaccine rollout, with eligible Texans unsure where to turn to find a dose. At the end of December, the state had said providers were leaving a significant portion of Texas vaccine allotment on shelves, while pharmacies and hospitals said they had scheduled out all available doses. Those data discrepancies, some of which were attributable to technological errors, only further muddled the publics understanding of the process. The federal government has approved two vaccines one by Pfizer, and the other by Moderna. Both are mRNA vaccines and have a 95 percent effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 disease in adults when given as directed in two doses. For the Pfizer vaccine made with BioNTech, the second dose comes 21 days after the first one. Moderna's second dose is 28 days later. Only about 322 Bexar County residents have received both doses as of Wednesday. That leaves more than 39,000 people in the San Antonio area mostly front-line health care workers and nursing home residents still in need of the second dose to get full protection against the coronavirus. Statewide, more than 527,000 Texans have received their first dose, and nearly 14,000 people are fully vaccinated. Providers are not responsible for reserving second doses for their patients; instead, the federal government is keeping track of that supply and will provide the doses when they are ready to be administered. This week, Texas providers received more than 325,000 first doses and nearly 225,000 second doses, according to DSHS. Local officials are counting on federal leaders to continue following through on those allocations. So far, they have kept their promise, said Dr. Robert Leverence, chief medical officer for UT Health San Antonio, the citys largest medical school. (It) does cause some anxiety, though. Staff writer Brian Chasnoff contributed reporting. Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic advisor to French President, on January 7 called on India for combined initiatives between New Delhi and Paris during the countrys tenure at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). India began its tenure as a non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation UN organ for the 2021-22 term on January 1. While speaking at an event in New Delhi, Bonne called Indias term critical and said that France wants to develop ties with India in a long-term approach. Bonne said, India will be a member of the UNSC for two years. This will be a critical occasion for both of us to take initiatives whether it will be on the Indo-Pacific region or it is about addressing terrorist threats. We need India..we want to develop ties with India in a long term approach, he added. READ: Allegations Of Chemical Weapons Use In Syria Should Be Addressed Through Consultation: India At UNSC Further, the French diplomat thanked Indian authorities and civil society for the support when France was under attack by some leaders in Turkey and Pakistan and in other countries. He said that France very much appreciate the support they got from India. Meanwhile, earlier this month, French Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain welcomed Indias eighth tenure at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for two years starting from January 1, 2021. In a statement on Twitter, Lenain not only said that France welcomes India but also vouched for India to get a permanent seat at the UNSC. French Ambassador to India also expressed eagerness to work alongside India to counter the challenges including terrorism. READ: India Raises Concern On Use Of Chemical Weapons At UNSC; Highlights Syria's Conflict Issue India to be UNSC Prez in Aug 2021 India will be the UNSC President in August 2021 and will preside over the council again for a month in 2022. India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN) TS Tirumurti said on Monday that India will not shy away from raising its voice against the common enemies of humanity like terrorism and will use its tenure on the UN Security Council (UNSC) to bring human-centric and inclusive solutions to matters of international peace and security. He said, We will use our tenure to bring human-centric and inclusive solutions to matters of international peace and security. India will be a voice for the developing world. We will not shy away from raising our voice against the common enemies of humanity like terrorism. (With inputs from ANI) READ: 'India Vows To Raise Voice against terrorism': UNSC Envoy Sends Out Strong Message READ: Indian Flag Installed At UNSC As India Begins Eighth Term As Non-permanent Member Despite an uncertain and ever-changing fall, Colchester School District had something to celebrate Thursday when one of its own was selected a Tony Hsieh left a legacy of development and innovation in downtown Las Vegas, and is now overlooking the area on building wraps around the headquarters of Zappos, where he served as CEO until last summer. An image of Hsieh alongside the message Thank you Tony can be seen on wraps installed last week on two sides of the online retailers downtown Las Vegas office building. Hsieh, who died from injuries sustained in a house fire in New London in November 2020, retired in August as CEO of Zappos after 20 years leading the company. He has been credited with helping revitalize downtown Las Vegas over the years. The building wrap was done in commemoration for the passion and service Tony brought to Zappos and the downtown community, a Zappos spokesperson said in a statement. We hope it brings some happiness to Tonys friends and family to see his legacy honored. The wraps were created by the Las Vegas print and installation company, Screaming Images. Zappos said it has used the vendor frequently over the years and that the owner and founder, James Swanson, proactively offered his services and chose the image of Hsieh. One of the wraps is 69 feet by 38.8 feet and the other, which faces the freeway, is 64.25 feet by 36 feet, Zappos said. Las Vegas Mayor Carolyn Goodman has mentioned a long-term memorial to Hsieh is being considered for downtown, according to the Las Vegas Review Journal. Soon after coming to Connecticut this fall, Hsieh died after being trapped in a New London house fire. It was early morning on Nov. 18, 2020, when 911 callers reported a fire in a storage area connected to the house at 500 Pequot Ave. Callers said a person was trapped or barricaded inside, based on initial dispatch reports from that morning. That person was later identified as Hsieh, 46. Hsieh was pulled unresponsive from the fire and rushed to nearby Lawrence + Memorial Hospital. From there, he was transferred to Bridgeport Hospitals burn center where he died on Nov. 27. James Gill, the states chief medical examiner, ruled Hsiehs death accidental from complications of smoke inhalation. Local authorities said last month that investigators continue to examine evidence to piece together the hours leading up to the fire and what caused it. New London Police Chief Peter Reichard said last month that investigators were still waiting for Hsiehs toxicology reports, a part of the autopsy process that can take up to eight weeks to complete. Reichard did not return a request for comment for an update on the investigation this week. Members of Congress from the Philadelphia region joined a growing Democratic chorus Thursday urging President Donald Trumps cabinet and Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump from power. If that long-shot effort doesnt gain traction, many of them said they would support impeaching Trump a second time before he leaves office on Jan. 20. That step, too, would be extremely difficult to achieve, politically and logistically, with such little time to act. But Democrats said Wednesdays riot at the Capitol, which they said was driven by Trumps rhetoric, demanded action. President Trump is a threat to our domestic and national security. It is self-evident that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, Sen. Bob Casey (D., Pa.) said in a statement. He urged Pence to invoke the amendment, which allows a majority of the cabinet and the vice president to strip a presidents power when he is deemed unable or unfit to serve. Casey called it the quickest way to protect our domestic and national security. His call, and those of many other Democrats in the region, came after Congress top two Democrats, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, urged using the amendment to strip Trumps power in the final days of his presidency. Under the amendment, which has never been invoked, Pence would assume the powers of the presidency. Every Pennsylvania Democrat representing Philadelphia and its collar counties including Reps. Dwight Evans, Brendan Boyle, Madeleine Dean, Chrissy Houlahan, and Mary Gay Scanlon said they supported reining in Trumps power via the 25th Amendment. The amendment can be invoked if the vice president and a majority of the cabinet vote that the president is unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office. Yet that requirement, and history, means it faces steep odds of happening. The offices of the regions Republican members of Congress Sen. Pat Toomey and Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Jeff Van Drew did not respond to requests for comment. Here is what local officials said of the push: Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 21:15:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Mei Yiqi (L) disinfects the box containing nucleic acid samples in a refrigerated vehicle in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, Jan. 8, 2021. Mei Yiqi, 30, who works in the logistics department of Wuhan KingMed Diagnostics Group Co., Ltd., bid farewell to his family on Wednesday and took a high-speed train from Wuhan to Shijiazhuang to help fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Mei participated in the anti-pandemic work in Wuhan and Chengdu successively including taking charge of the collection and transportation of COVID-19 testing samples in Wuhan Leishenshan Hospital. Mei Yiqi takes his job as a patient sample "deliveryman," who fetches samples from several sampling collection sites in Shijiazhuang by the refrigerated vehicle. Sometimes, he needs to drive to expressway stations and get samples from neighboring cities. To ensure the safety and sealing of the samples, Mei must prepare special transport boxes with several disinfection for each batch of samples. The samples will be brought back to the nucleic acid testing service institution in the shortest possible time. On January 6, Shijiazhuang launched citywide nucleic acid testing. As a patient sample "deliveryman," Mei Yiqi has worked more than 18 hours a day and tries his best to race against the virus. Over the past few days, Shijiazhuang has experienced freezing weather, with the temperature dropping to minus 15 degrees Celsius. In the previous work, Mei Yiqi has not encountered such coldness. "Fingers freeze even if I'm wearing gloves", he said. "The pandemic in Shijiazhuang is not over yet, and I will continue to fight until we embrace the victory", said Mei, "and I am proud to have played my part in this special period." (Xinhua/Mu Yu) (Natural News) The anti-Trump bias at Fox News strikes again! (Article by Marty Walsh republished from TrendingPolitics.com) During an interview on The Story, Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum kicked things off by claiming that its a pervasive belief among Republicans that Joe Biden didnt win the Nov. 3 presidential election. Then, in an equally condescending tone, network contributor Geraldo Rivera declared that Trump supporters who believe there was widespread voter fraud in the election are listening to propaganda. MacCallum said, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution did a piece where the reporter said not one person on the Republican side believes Joe Biden won this race. That is a pervasive belief out there. What do you say to all that. Rivera said, Its a belief, Martha, based on propaganda. Weve heard nothing but whining and complaining. What about the courts? Dont we have courts for a reason in this country? Every court that reviewed this matter decided against the Republicans, against President Trump. The high court of the United States, including three Trump-appointed Associate Justices, have ruled against or declined to take these cases. At what point do we say okay, basta, enough. Its pathetic this has been dragged so long. WATCH: Fox's @marthamaccallum says it's a "pervasive belief," among Republicans, that Biden didn't really win the election. "But it's a belief based on propaganda!" @GeraldoRivera exclaims. pic.twitter.com/kNeL0sjZMI Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) January 5, 2021 Rivera, once a steadfast ally of Trump, has been going after the president a lot lately. Last month, Rivera took to Twitter to declare that hes fed up with Trumps unwillingness to accept the results of the Nov. 3 election. Rivera admitted that he defended Trump for four years from what he called leftist creeps but added that the president has behaved like an entitled frat boy since the election. He also attacked Sidney Powell, whom he called a pathetic lawyer who was only wrecking Trumps legacy with failed lawsuits. For almost 4 years Ive supported @realDonaldTrump who was assailed by leftist creeps who conjured the Russia Hoax to wreck his presidency. Nevertheless he prevailed. Sadly he lost a bitterly contested election. Shit happens. However since he has behaved like an entitled frat boy Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) December 27, 2020 Sidney Powell is a pathetic lawyer who among others is working to destroy the legacy of @realDonaldTrump https://t.co/MxkpuOUoCT Geraldo Rivera (@GeraldoRivera) December 27, 2020 Prior to that, Rivera called on Trump and his supporters to stop attacking the presidential election as fraudulent and accept defeat. During a tense interview on Fox News, Geraldo spoke about Trumps election lawsuits after the Electoral College officially voted for Biden as president-elect. WATCH: Rivera criticized Bidens speech before saying, However, hes absolutely right: It is over. I want my friend, the current president, the 45th president to understand it is over. The Electoral College has voted. The longer we drag this out, the more we damage the fabric of our democracy and it also damages the legacy of Donald Trump, who should be taking a victory lap right now celebrating the vaccine that he almost single-handedly forced the scientific community to get ready to save millions of lives. Read more at: TrendingPolitics.com and Journalism.news. Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. China in Focus (Jan. 7): Shijiazhuang City to Undergo Mass Testing Beijing begins to limit contact with a neighboring province, with checkpoints between them already set up. The move aims to curb the spread of the pandemic. One Chinese-made vaccine threatens more than 70 different side effects. An expert calls it the most dangerous vaccine in the world. The Trump administration considers blacklisting two major corporations. They reportedly have ties to the Chinese military. And Hong Kongs Chief executive has faced criticism for siding with the Chinese Communist Party. But her husband may have a different stance toward the regime. Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China. For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter. Local newsies were forced to talk with quite a few college professors and other experts in order to try and find a local angle on the recent Democracy hot mess. Accordingly, here's our collection of some of their more interesting reports worth sharing . . . Road Tripping Local Trump supporters who traveled to DC recount Capitol protests WASHINGTON - FOX4 has been in contact with groups of people from the Kansas City metro who traveled to Washington D.C. to attend Wednesday's rallies. Some of those people say they wanted to witness history, hoping the presidential election would be overturned and confirmed to be fraudulent by Congress. Kansas Backs Down Objecting Sens. Hawley, Marshall react differently day after Capitol riot KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A day after the Electoral College certification process was delayed by a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol , Sen. Roger Marshall called for "a peaceful transition of power." Marshall, a Kansas Republican, was one of six senators along with Sen. All Rioters Are Equal Activists see double standard between BLM protests, riot at the US Capitol THE PLAZA LAST SUMMER. YESTERDAY WAS DEFINITELY SHOCK TREATMENT. I THINK IT SHOWS CITIZENS ACROSS THIS COUNTRY JUST HOW FAR HAVE BECOME DIVIDED BIANCA: -- DIVIDED. BIANCA: TARENCE MADDOX SAYS THE RESPONSE TO THE MOB AT THE U.S. CAPITOL DEMONSTRATED THE RACIAL DISPARITY PROTESTED IN 2020. MAGA History Achieved US Capitol has never seen chaos quite like this, local expert says KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Wednesday's violence at the nation's Capitol will go down in history books. Rebecca Best, associate professor of political science at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, said there have been violent attacks on the Capitol in the past but not quite like this. History Of Violence Exposed There have been other attacks at the US Capitol before this week Video above: McConnell says 'our democracy will not be deterred' after Capitol riots The chaos at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday wasn't the first time there's been violence at one of the most iconic American buildings.For more than four hours, supporters of President Donald Trump occupied the Capitol in an attempt to fight against the ceremonial counting of the electoral votes to confirm President-elect Joe Biden's win. Election Questions Persist Law professor weighs in on voter fraud claims that underpin Capitol riot After a riot that disrupted Congress on Wednesday in the U.S. Capitol, many are now asking why it happened. Christopher Gunn, a Washburn University professor of law, said it boils down to rhetoric from president, who has consistently claimed the the election was rigged. Prez Trump Fired?!?! Impeachment, 25th Amendment: Explained by UMKC constitutional law scholar KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -- Top Democrats in Congress, and at least one Republican now, are calling for President Trump to be removed from office either through the impeachment process or the 25th Amendment, under a section that allows for forcefully removing the President of the United States. Developing . . . The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has alleged that a party supporter was hacked to death in the Cooch Behar district of north Bengal on Thursday night by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers. One person has been arrested by the police. Nadiram Mandal (63), a resident of Madhya Marichbari village in the Pundibari police station area of Cooch Behar North assembly constituency went missing on Thursday after he went to the market. Hours later, his body was found in a pool of blood by the roadside, about half a kilometre from his home. There were stab injuries on the face and back, police officials said. Police have arrested Kamaleshwar Roy, a local resident, on the basis of a complaint lodged by Mandals family. Mandals son Nikhil claimed Roy was a BJP activist and had an old feud with his father. Also Read: Owaisis politics wont work in Bengal: Muslim clerics react to AIMIMs poll debut Rabindranath Ghosh, minister in charge of the north Bengal development department, said, Mandal was an active TMC member. He was killed by BJP supporters. Four TMC supporters have been killed by the BJP in Cooch Behar district in the last three months. Malati Rava Roy, the BJPs Cooch Behar district committee president dismissed the charges. She said, The man arrested in this case is also a TMC supporter. The crime is the fallout of a family feud. The TMC is politicising this because it is fast losing its base. In the last six months, seven BJP supporters were killed by TMC men. K Kannan, superintendent of police, said, One man has been arrested and investigation is on. SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2021 / The intersection of sustainability and innovation is familiar territory for San Francisco-based HB+A Architects and its principal, Hafsa Burt. As the lead architect for HB+A's recent groundbreaking Box Factory project, she continues to showcase the firm's commitment to discover fresh sustainable solutions, while prioritizing the health and safety of occupants. Image Credit: Doug Birnbaum. For nearly two decades, Burt has been bringing attention to climate change and its impact on the design-build community. "The developed world must do better and be held accountable for its energy consumption and use of resources. What's happening in other parts of the world is disheartening and tragic. Poorer parts of the world will suffer on account of increasing temperatures and rising water levels because of our lifestyle choices, and some of those countries only have a carbon footprint per capita of 0.2. We believe that all of us within the A/E/C Industry have an obligation to continue to strive for sustainable solutions and not become intellectually lazy but continue to innovate and constantly look for better solutions," said Burt. In its latest effort to design solutions to combat global climate change, HB+A Architects embarked on the Box Factory project, a 1,750-square-foot single-family housing structure in Jackson, California, just two hours north of the Bay Area. Zero-Energy, Zero-Carbon, with Stunning Design Aesthetics Image Credit: Doug Birnbaum. It's a zero-energy, zero-carbon structure equipped with R-50 walls and roofs, powered by a solar array which provides more energy than the building uses. Additionally, the prefabricated structure features a highly customized metal building system and sandwich panels, allowing it to be built in just 12 days. Patent pending, Burt said the Box Factory was designed through the firm's development arm, Box Lab, as a spec project to see if an off-grid, prefabricated building could meet the timeline and objectives HB+A set out to accomplish. The result? A highly durable, efficient, resilient and versatile minimalist living space designed to last from 100 to 200 years. The home in Jackson sits on an east-west axis to control solar gain. The north elevation features a wall of windows looking out over a valley. Light wells help bring light into the interior of the home while minimizing the effect on the wall's energy efficiency. Additionally, the interior features ample open spaces with breathtaking views, as well as large ceiling fans and operable windows to help circulate air. Conditioned air simply isn't needed. Image Credit: Doug Birnbaum. "Space, sweeping views, and energy efficiency were at the forefront of our approach. We had to take a step back and reimagine a floor plan which was simple and uncluttered, but also flexible enough to cater to the changing needs of the occupants," said Burt. Customizability was key to the success of the Box Factory. Prefabrication structures won't work in every environment. They have to be tailored for sustainability to truly function off grid and be zero energy. "This was never intended to be a cookie-cutter or easily replicable, modular structure which could be set up on any piece of land," Burt said. "It was designed with purposes of exploring zero energy goals in mind first and foremost." Image Credit: Doug Birnbaum. HB+A plans to use the patented product and mold it to fit the specific site conditions of its clients. While they won't duplicate it precisely, the same principles will be used to customize it to a different site and functional needs of the occupants in order for sustainability to work. With electrification mandates, this project serves as a working example not dependent on fossil fuels for any of its functions. The Box Factory at a Glance Location: Jackson, CA. Size: 1,750 square feet. Architect/MEP: HB+A Architects, San Francisco, CA. Prefabricated: A highly customized metal building system and sandwich panels allowed main elements of the structure to be built in just 12 days. Solar Array: A solar array and battery system provide all the power needs for the residence, making it zero energy. Durability: The products selected were designed for durability so that the structure could last 100 to 200 years. Walls and Roof: The walls and roof have R-50 insulation and careful attention to vapor control. Image Credit: Doug Birnbaum. Burt attended the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) where she obtained her undergraduate and Professional Master of Architecture (M.Arch.) degree, with a minor in Electronic Design. Her extensive project experience ranges from the (N) proposal for the Guggenheim Museum for NYC at Gehry's office, a fast-track design-build secure connector for the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), to smaller 2000 square foot tenant improvement (TI) projects and custom single family homes targeting Net Zero Energy goals. Image Credit: ArchitectBlueprint.com / HBAarchitects / Doug Birnbaum. With varied experience in urban retail, institutional, commercial and mixed-use markets, Burt is actively involved in all projects with a passion and commitment to the practice of architecture as a collaborative and innovative enterprise with a sense of responsibility to the bigger picture of a building's place in the world standing against climate change and socio economic problems. Burt is proud of what HB+A has accomplished with the Box Factory project, but she isn't satisfied with the larger picture when it comes to the issue of climate change. "Was this a rewarding experiment which achieved our objectives? Absolutely, when it comes to efficiency, consumption and resilience. Is it a panacea for our climate issues? Absolutely not, and we rapidly need to be doing much more. But, we're going to continue to keep our nose to the grindstone and find tailored solutions for different climates and vast environments," concluded Burt. About Campaign Writer Campaign Writer is a leading sales and marketing content writing copywriting firm working with Top Professionals, Executives and Leaders in their field, to help tell their story more effectively through its Team of Award-Winning Copywriters, Wordsmiths, and Ghostwriters, for sales, marketing, public relations, direct response and email marketing campaigns. Campaign Writer is led by Chief Strategy Officer Marty Stewart. For a strategic, exploratory conversation on how your company can leverage content writing, visit https://CampaignWriter.com. Or, call toll-free +1-877-463-9777 within the United States, or +1-702-997-1222 if calling Internationally. SOURCE: Campaign Writer View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623549/HBA-Architects-Zero-Energy-Zero-Carbon-Box-Factory-Project-Led-by-Hafsa-Burt YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Healthcare dismissed the Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyans concerns over a potential extension of the quarantine regime a precautionary nationwide regime introduced by the government in 2020 as a replacement for the COVID-19-related state of emergency. The quarantine regime enables the government to continue requiring citizens to wear face masks in public areas, enforce other safety rules and measures whenever necessary and demand COVID-19 tests at border crossing points. The Ministry of Healthcare proposed the Cabinet to extend the regime for another 6 months from January 11. The proposal is yet to be debated and approved. Economy Minister Kerobyan said in an interview that the decision hasnt been discussed with his ministry and that theyd agree with it only in the event of strongest arguments. But the fact is that now the economy need oxygen above all, and we must do everything for the economy to work maximally open, Kerobyan had said. But now the Healthcare Ministry spokesperson Alina Nikoghosyan has announced that the proposed extension of the quarantine regime wont anyhow restrict or ban any types of businesses. First of all Id like to note that the activities of different organizations, including educational ones, rendering of services, closed institutions (for example psychiatric institutions) are carried out with adherence to epidemiological safety rules and other similar regulations, Nikoghosyan said. She said that if the quarantine regime is not extended, the authorities wont be able to carry out the preventative measures any longer. This decision doesnt envisage any ban on any type of economic activity, it rather envisages requirements which enable to reduce the risk of transmission of the coronavirus disease in those organizations, Nikoghosyan said. Nikoghosyan said the authorities should not stop the preventive measures in the light of the new strains of the COVID-19 emerging globally, the tense epidemiological situation in many countries and the unavailability of a mass vaccination yet. Nikoghosyan fired back at Kerobyans oxygen remarks, saying: Minister Vahan Kerobyan also mentioned that right now the economy needs oxygen above all. During the last months, coronavirus patients also needed oxygen above all, which was ensured as the efforts of the ministry of healthcare. We are hopeful that the ministry of economy will in turn spare no effort for ensuring oxygen for the economy, without increasing the number of patients, as well as without disrupting the supply of oxygen needed for treating them. She added that the healthcare ministry is ready to discuss any reasonable and substantiated proposal. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan Two samples of poultry tested positive for the avian influenza virus in two districts of Madhya Pradesh on Thursday, said an official from the animal husbandry department. This is the first instance of bird flu in poultry in the state. The district administrations of Indore and Neemuch sent samples of poultry to the laboratory of National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases (NIHSAD) in Bhopal on Wednesday and the positive reports came on Thursday, said JN Kansotia, principal secretary, animal husbandry department. Though the virus found in the poultry is H8N as per the institutes report, Kansotia said the exact strain (whether N5 or N1 or some other strain) was yet to be known. Also Read: No bird flu cases in Delhi yet, sample collection ordered to check spread The state government issued an order to shut poultry shops within a radius of 1km of the affected areas in Indore and Neemuch for seven days, as per Kansotia. However, in Neemuch, the district administration decided to order the closure of all meat and eggs shops in the district and sent more samples of poultry to Bhopal for a test. Two days ago, 40 crows were found dead in Neemuch but bird flu is yet to be confirmed in the crows. As a precautionary measure, we ordered closing of all the meat and eggs shops in Neemuch, said Jittendra Singh Raje, district collector, Neemuch. Bird flu was confirmed in crows in 11 districts of MP. The H5N8 strain of Avian influenza caused the death of more than 700 crows in MP, according to animal husbandry departments data. The state government has set up a central control room at State Disease Investigation Lab of Animal Husbandry department at Bhopal with the phone number 0755-2767583 . Another control room at the state level has been set up in the directorate of animal husbandry department with the phone number 0755-2270279, as per an official release. Amid a bird flue scare, shops selling poultry meat in the capital on Friday claimed they have recorded a 20-25 per cent dip in sales over the last few weeks. A Delhi government official on Friday said around 50 birds, mostly crows, have died in Dwarka, Mayur Vihar Phase-III and Hastsal in west Delhi in the last three to four days. According to Poultry Federation of India president Ramesh Khatri said, "There has not been an outbreak of in broiler chicken anywhere in the country. Still, their prices have fallen at farm level by up to 50 per cent due to sentiments." In north India, farm gate price of broiler chicken declined to Rs 50 per kg on Friday from Rs 100 per kg. Egg rates have also dropped to Rs 5 per piece from Rs 5.30 per piece, he said. As a result, demand for chicken from restaurants and hotels has fallen sharply, he added. Irshad Kureishi, general secretary of the Delhi Meat Merchants Association, said, "Ever since the news of came out, the chicken sales have gone down by at least 20 per cent. "We understand that customers go in a state of panic and stop buying chicken as a precaution, but it is important to know that once cooked properly, there is no health risk," said According to him, the dip in from "Rs 200 per kg to Rs 150 per kg is a loss for both poultry farmers as well as the shopkeepers". He added that the impact of scare on their business came while they were still dealing with the effects of COVID-19. "We are yet to go back to our pre-COVID-19 business because the restaurants are no longer ordering meat in the same quantities. In weddings too, the requirements have significantly decreased, and now the bird flu news has only made things worse," he said. To reassure their customers, Kureishi said the Delhi Meat Merchants Association has sent out a set of new guidelines to all their "6,000 licensed member meat shops" to ensure top notch hygiene practices. "We issued a fresh set of guidelines to our members about keeping the shop clean, stocking only required amounts of meat, dealing with the fly menace and others," he said. Poultry company Venky's (India) General Manager Prasanna Pedgaonkar said prices have fallen due to a panic reaction, adding that it is a temporary disruption and prices will see correction in the next 10-15 days," The price fall in broiler chicken varied in different cities. For instance, farm gate price of broiler chicken has declined to Rs 70 per kg on Friday from Rs 85 per kg a fortnight back, he said. Pedgaonkar said there was a localised impact on prices in bird flu reported in four states due to the government measures. Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia had on Thursday said no cases of bird flu were reported in Delhi yet, but asked officials to keep a close watch on poultry birds coming in from neighbouring states to prevent any infection. The Centre on Wednesday had said avian influenza or bird flu outbreak had been reported at 12 epicentres in Kerala, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, while Haryana is on high alert due to unusual mortality at poultry farms in Panchkula. Ever since the bird flu scare began in Delhi, "every day has been a Tuesday", said Ravinder Pal Singh of Sardar, A Pure Meat Shop in Dwarka. "The bird flu news has had a huge impact on our sales. We haven't sold practically any chicken since last week. It's like everyday is a Tuesday, when we keep our shop closed because people prefer not to consume meat on that day," he said, adding that all their 52 outlets across NCR are facing a similar situation. Sisodia on Thursday at a meeting with officials of the animal husbandry unit of the Development Department took stock of the Delhi government's preparedness to prevent bird flu. He also instructed them to maintain a strict vigil on birds at major bird sites, especially poultry markets, water bodies, zoos and other potential hotspots. These include Ghazipur Fish and Poultry Market, Shakti Sthal Lake, Sanjay Lake, Bhalswa Horseshoe Lake, Delhi Zoo, and smaller water bodies in DDA parks among others. Rahul Kashyap, owner of the Bharat Chicken Inn, said his 15-year-old shop in Nirman Vihar started seeing a noticeable decrease in the post December 31. "People have completely stopped buying chicken since the new year began. There has been at least a 90 per cent drop in sales. Business has been very bad. The only saving grace for us is that we don't have to pay rent," Kashyap said. Earlier in the day, Delhi government officials said around 50 birds, mostly crows, have died in the capital over the last three to four days, officials said on Friday. "We received information about the death of crows in Dwarka and Mayur Vihar Phase 3 and of a few wild birds in Hastsal in West Delhi. "However, it is yet to be ascertained if bird flu infection is the reason," Dr Rakesh Singh from the animal husbandry unit of the Development Department said. Joseph R. Biden Jr. snagged Rhode Island's four electoral votes. The state's voters have favored the Democratic candidate in every presidential election since 1988. In 2016, Hillary Clinton won the state by more than 15 percentage points. Read more Democrats also won the Senate race and two congressional races. While the makeup of the states political representation was unlikely to shift, voters did approve a change to something else at the heart of the state: its name. The only ballot initiative asked voters whether Rhode Islands official name should be changed from "State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations" to simply "State of Rhode Island." The initiative comes amid a national reckoning over race. But when voters were last presented with the name-change in 2010, more than 75 percent rejected the measure. NICHOLAS BOGEL-BURROUGHS Read less Even before a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building, leaving one of their number dying in its venerated corridor, Wednesday would have been an extraordinary day in American politics. As the chaos unfolded, the results of Tuesdays two Senate run-off elections in Georgia were confirmed, with Democratic candidates winning both by a margin of less than 2 per cent. The Democrat victors in the Georgia run-offs, Raphael Warnock (left) and Jon Ossoff. Credit:AP These two narrow victories will have significant national and global ramifications. As a result of these wins, US President-elect Joe Biden now stands a chance of becoming a president of consequence. With the extra votes, the Democratic Party has secured the slenderest margin in the Senate, which it now holds along with the House of Representatives and the White House. The Republican Party can no longer arbitrarily block all Democratic legislation. Jeremiah Johnson apologizes for inaccurately prophesying a second term for Trump Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Jeremiah Johnson of Jeremiah Johnson Ministries apologized to his followers Thursday for inaccurately prophesying that President Donald Trump would win a second term and warned Christians to repent of their idolatry of the populist leader. I would like to repent for inaccurately prophesying that Donald Trump would win a second term as the President of the United States. I refuse to blame the saints and say, It didnt come to pass because they did not pray enough. Nor will I proclaim, Donald Trump actually won, so I was right, but now it has been stolen from him, Johnson said in a statement. I believe the first statement seeks to alleviate the prophetic messenger from the responsibility of what he prophesied, and the second statement is filled with potential pride and an unwillingness to humble himself and admit he was wrong, he added. Johnsons apology comes after widespread and growing condemnation of the president who urged his supporters to rally outside the Capitol. Five people died after hundreds broke through barricades and stormed the Capitol building. Police shot and killed an unarmed woman as she attempted to climb into the House chamber, three others died from health emergencies, and a Capitol Hill police officer died Thursday after he sustained injuries while responding to the riots. At the time of the riots, lawmakers were undergoing the electoral certification process and were forced to stop. The confirmation of President-elect Joe Biden's victory was affirmed by Congress early Thursday morning after Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers reconvened. Johnson also apologized to believers he might have caused to doubt the voice of God because of his false prophesy. I was wrong, I am deeply sorry, and I ask for your forgiveness, he wrote. I specifically want to apologize to any believer in whom I have now caused potential doubt concerning the voice of God and His ability to speak to His people. As a human being, I missed what God was saying; however, rest assured, God Himself is NOT a liar and His written Word should always be the foundation and source of our lives as Christians. Despite repenting for prophesying inaccurately about a second term for Trump, Johnson declared I will never repent for being pro-life, pro-religious liberty, pro-Israel, and pro-traditional marriage. He added that he believes the Church would be much better off concerning these issues under another four years of Donald Trump if he had repented of his pride and the church had not put him on a pedestal but this is not what happened. He said he has accepted Trumps defeat as the will of God and urged Christians to now humble themselves. A humbling has come and is coming to the American Church like never before. How we choose to respond to this correction and judgment from the Lord will determine many outcomes in the years ahead, he wrote. I encourage the remnant to continue to stand for righteousness and truth in America. We must focus our efforts on preaching the Gospel and making disciples like never before. Remember the words of Jesus, Let the wheat and tares grow up together until the time of harvest I, for one, am choosing today to dedicate 2021 and beyond to the testimony of Jesus Christ, he added. Washington: US President Donald Trump has vowed to spend his final days in office working to ensure a smooth transition to a Biden administration, in an abrupt change in tone after the most senior Democrats in Congress demanded he be removed from office for inciting violence in the US capital. A day after his supporters stormed into the Capitol building - resulting in five deaths - Trump released a video message in which he effectively conceded that the Biden administration would take over on January 20. At the end of the video Trump told his supporters that "our incredible journey is only just beginning", leaving open the possibility he may run for president again in 2024. He called for calm and condemned the violence in Washington. The judgement in the Nirav Modi extradition case will be delivered in the Westminster Magistrates Court on February 25, judge Samuel Goozee announced on Friday at the end of a two-day hearing after defence teams made concluding arguments. Claire Montomery, Modis lawyer, and Helen Malcolm of the Crown Prosecution Service representing India, quoted from emails, witness statements, bank and other documents, and presented their versions on issues such as prison conditions, mental health treatment facilities and the possibility of a Modi receiving a fair trial, if extradited. Under the UK-India extradition treaty, India needs to establish in UK courts that there is a prima facie case against the person requested not a conviction based on charges that would amount to offences in law in both countries. One of Montgomerys major objections to the extradition is the alleged lack of a prima facie case against Modi, which was countered by Malcolm, who argued that the charges against Modi would amount to similar criminal charges under British law. There is multiplicity of evidence, Malcolm told the court, that Modi indulged in fraud in relation to seeking loans from the Punjab National Bank in Mumbai. The evidence is sufficient to establish a prima facie case against him, she said. Malcolm also reiterated Indias charges that Modi interfered with witnesses, was involved in destroying servers and mobile phones, and also threatened to kill one of the witnesses. It is not for the court to start double-guessing what amounts to a crime in India, she added. Besides the alleged lack of a prima facie case, Modis defence team has argued that he would not receive a fair trial in India, would not receive appropriate treatment for mental ailments and that there was a risk of suicide. There was no evidence on Indias charge that Modi and others conspired to defraud the bank, the team argued. Modi, 49, who is lodged in the Wandsworth prison in west London and attended the hearing remotely, wearing a jacket and sporting a beard, is the subject of two extradition requests; one processed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the other by the Enforcement Directorate. Charges against Modi involve PNBs Mumbai branch that extended his companies loans worth over Rs 11,300 crores. The CBI case relates to large-scale fraud upon PNB, through the fraudulent obtaining of Letters of Understanding (LOUs/loan agreements); the ED case relates to the laundering of the proceeds of that fraud. The second extradition request was made on the basis of two additional offences as part of the CBI case, relating to allegations that Modi interfered with the CBI investigation by causing disappearance of evidence and intimidating witnesses (criminal intimidation to cause death). The Oregon State Beavers always planned to add multiple commitments via the NCAAs transfer portal this offseason, and secured their fourth pledge Thursday. Utah State offensive lineman Heneli Bloomfield, who has three years to play three, announced his commitment to Oregon State over offers from Syracuse and Rutgers, as well as significant interest from California: Excited for this new chapter, time to work!! pic.twitter.com/8iG31aU2Lu Heneli Bloomfield (@heneli64) January 8, 2021 Bloomfield is set to arrive in Corvallis next week and enroll for winter term. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound interior lineman, originally out of Jordan High School (Sandy, Utah), missed all of last season with a knee injury, but played in 13 games and started four in 2019. An unrated prospect coming out of high school, Bloomfield earned Utah class 5A first-team all-state honors from the Deseret News and second-team all-state honors from the Salt Lake Tribune at defensive tackle, according to his Utah State player bio. Bloomfield is the fourth FBS transfer addition to Oregon States roster this offseason, joining Georgia wide receiver Makiya Tongue, South Carolina running back Deshaun Fenwick and Kansas cornerback E.J. Jones. -- Andrew Nemec | anemec@oregonian.com | @AndrewNemec MIAMI, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the setback of the boating industry being able to participate in their yearly events that people from all over the world flock to in the fall & winter due to COVID-19, Miami natives, Mauricio Urbina and Osniel Sanchez created "The Florida Boat Show" to show support for the boating community throughout this difficult time. The Florida Boat Show is the first of its kind, an exclusive boat show that is made by locals, for locals. With years in the industry under their belts, Urbina and Sanchez curated this event so that guests from all walks of life can look forward to an event that both manufacturer and consumer can benefit from. Big names such as Everglades, Mako, Sea Hunt, Suzuki, Yamaha, Mercury, Garmin and Simrad will be participating in this boat show event of the year, showing off their best available. Urbina says that they created this event "to show their economic support for the boating industry that took a big hit during COVID-19 and we want to do so in a safe manner with everyone's health as a top priority." All safety precautions will be taken at The Florida Boat Show including and not limited to: temperature checks upon entry, mandatory mask requirements, hand sanitation stations and limited capacity in exhibitor spaces. Food and drinks will be available outdoor and indoor by the Miami-Dade Fair & Expo Center. The Florida Boat Show will be held at Miami-Dade Fair & Expo Center at 10901 SW 24th St. Miami, Florida 33165 on Thursday January 15th, 2021 Sunday, January 17th 2021. General Admission Tickets are available on www.thefloridaboatshows.com. The Florida Boat Show in Miami 2021 is the first in a series of boat shows that will take place throughout Florida. About The Florida Boat Show We Know What Locals Want! A Boat Show that was made by Floridians for Floridians. From well-known to newcomers, The Florida Boat Show encompasses all needs for boaters from all walks of life. We encourage you to be a part of history and join us for our first in a series of boat shows throughout Florida , beginning in Miami in January, 2021. SOURCE The Florida Boat Show Related Links http://www.thefloridaboatshows.com The year 2020 with all its negative connotations associated with the terrible Covid-19 pandemic was also a fruitful year on a geopolitical level, especially for Egypt and Greece. This was the year that decisively marked the return of the Mediterranean as a focal geopolitical space on a world level and highlighted the strategic importance of Egypt and Greece. The internal unrest in Libya and the new power landscape in the Mediterranean drew the attention of the international community. Regional security challenges and energy cooperation projects in the Mediterranean emphasised its renewed geopolitical importance on a global scale. In January, Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority established the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF), while France will become a member of this in 2021. The EMGF is a fundamental new international organisation in energy security and a new financial power bloc that will be able to cooperate with the European Union. The EU, US and UAE will also become permanent observers. In August, Egypt and Greece signed a maritime demarcation deal establishing the respective Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of each country in the Eastern Mediterranean southeast of the island of Crete and northeast of the Matrouh governorate in Egypt. According to Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri, the EEZ deal between the two countries permits Egypt and Greece to go ahead with maximising benefits from riches available in the exclusive economic zones of both countries, particularly promising gas and oil reserves. It expresses the joint will of the two states to overcome unfounded territorial claims in the Mediterranean by revisionist and aggressive state actors. In November, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi made an official visit to Athens, confirming the excellent bilateral relations between the two countries and their will to move forward in new fields of cooperation. He stressed the identity of views between Egypt and Greece on matters of security, stating that there is a consensus between Egypt and Greece to stand against regional threats and to cooperate on various levels. Bilateral relations between Egypt and Greece have grown steadily against the background of a global redistribution of power and regional challenges. In November and December, the Medusa joint aeronautical exercise was carried out that saw military forces from Egypt, Greece, Cyprus, the UAE and France operating off Alexandria. This was a clear manifestation of the ability of these states to confront any outside interference in the Mediterranean. What could happen in 2021, and what is the way forward? In 2021, Greece will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Greek Revolution against the former Ottoman Empire. In 2022, Egypt will mark the 100th anniversary of Egyptian independence. History is our guide, but the creation of the future is our duty. On a diplomatic level, the emphasis on the Mediterranean will remain a steady pattern. The EEZ Agreement signed in August between Egypt and Greece is a partial one, and there is more work to be done on full demarcation. On the situation in Libya, Egypts proposals concerning the future of this war-torn country are the only sensible path forward. On a financial level, the evolution of the EMGF and energy cooperation are fundamental not only for economic gains but also for regional stability. On a military level, Egypt, Greece and Cyprus will be able further to upgrade their cooperation and ties. Egypt has a powerful military due to president Al-Sisis reforms and initiatives, while Greece is upgrading its air force with the inclusion of Rafale and F-35 jets. Greece, as a NATO member, could put forward Egypts role as a valuable partner in Africa and the Mediterranean. Egypt and Greece could establish a joint force for patrolling the seas and safeguarding common interests. This force could extend its operations from off the coast of Libya to Cyprus. The Mediterranean is no longer an area of secondary importance, and instead it has become an international focus and a pivotal area of geopolitical importance. The countries of the region can reap the fruits of cooperation and regional alliances. The strategic orientation of Egypt and Greece has shifted towards this ancient sea that has been the home of Egyptians and Greeks for thousands of years. The Mediterranean will be essential for international security in the years to come. *The writer is a lecturer in geopolitics at the University of Athens, Greece. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: After a riot took place at the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters amid the congressional certification of the presidential election, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said that the president condemned the act. According to a The Hill report, the White House alerted reporters around 5 p.m. Thursday that McEnany would be making an appearance in the briefing room at 5:15 p.m. President Donald Trump has not made an appearance in more than 24 hours. McEnany read a prepared statement on behalf of the entire White House, including the president. "The violence we saw yesterday at our nation's capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way," McEnany said during the briefing. Related story: Trump Calls on National Guard to Quell Riot in DC, Secure US Capitol She stressed that the president and the administration condemn the riot in the strongest possible terms. The press secretary continued to say that those inside the building are working to ensure that there will be an orderly transition of power, adding that it is now time for America to unite together to reject the violence that took place in the Capitol. World Leaders Condemning the Capitol Riot As the world watched the riot at the U.S. Capitol, international leaders expressed shock and condemned the scenes in Washington, D.C. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson wrote on Twitter that what he saw were disgraceful scenes in the U.S. Congress. Johnson added that the United States stands for democracy worldwide, and it is vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power. According to a Voice of America News report, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed support to Biden. She tweeted that she believes in the strength of U.S. institutions and democracy. Calls for Trump's Immediate Removal House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the immediate removal of Trump on Thursday after the Capitol's breach. According to an ABC News report, Pelosi called on Vice President Mike Pence to immediately invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump for what she described as inciting sedition by allegedly encouraging the rioters. If Pence disagrees, Pelosi threatened to start impeachment proceedings. "That is the overwhelming sentiment of my caucus -- and the American people by the way," Pelosi said in a report. Pelosi added that she does not think it will take long to get an answer from Pence. She continued to say that she and Schumer have already made their "interest" known to Pence. Meanwhile, Joe Biden, who has been certified by Congress as the winner of the presidential election, called on Trump to fulfill his oath of defending the Constitution and demand an end to "this siege," according to a VOA News report. Biden said that what happened in the Capitol was not a protest, but an insurrection. The president-elect further noted that the U.S. democracy is under unprecedented assault, describing it as a disorder. Biden said it must end now. Related story: Trump Vows 'Orderly Transition' After Biden Certified as Next President India on Friday took a tacit swipe at Pakistan for backing cross-border terrorism as it announced it would be chairing three key UN sanctions committees, including the Taliban sanctions committee, during 2021-22. TS Tirumurti, Indias envoy to the UN, said the country had been asked to chair three important subsidiary bodies of the Security Council the Taliban sanctions committee or the 1988 sanctions committee, the counter-terrorism committee and the Libya sanctions committee. The move follows India joining the Security Council as a non-permanent member for 2021-22. India will chair the Taliban sanctions committee also called the 1988 sanctions committee as it was formed through resolution number 1988 in 2011 by splitting the 1267 sanctions regime on al-Qaeda at a time when there is growing concern worldwide at alarming levels of violence in Afghanistan that has been blamed on the Taliban. Also Read: Afghanistan busted Chinese spy ring, kept it a secret. NDS chief explains why The Taliban sanctions committee, also called the 1988 sanctions committee, has always been a high priority for India, keeping in mind our strong interest and commitment to peace, security, development and progress of Afghanistan, Tirumurti said in a video message. Without naming Pakistan, he added: Our chairing this committee at this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of terrorists and their sponsors threatening the peace process in Afghanistan. It has been our view that peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand. After a recent visit to Pakistan by a Taliban delegation led by Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, videos emerged of the groups leaders visiting terror training camps on Pakistani soil and meeting injured fighters at a hospital in Karachi. One of the videos showed Baradar the groups main negotiator at the peace talks in Doha telling Taliban members in Karachi that the group makes all decisions related to the peace talks after consulting its leadership and clerics council based in Pakistan. Referring to the counter-terrorism committee, which will be chaired by India in 2022, Tirumurti noted that the panel was formed in the aftermath of the 9/11 terror attacks in New York and that India had led it during its last stint as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council during 2011-12. He also noted that India would chair the counter-terrorism committee on the 75th anniversary of the countrys independence. The chairing of this committee has special resonance of India, which has not only been in the forefront of fighting terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, but has also been one of its biggest victims, he said. The Libya sanctions committee, also known as the 1970 sanctions committee, is a very important subsidiary body of the Security Council that implements a sanctions regime, including a two-way arms embargo, assets freeze, travel ban and measures to prevent illicit export of petroleum, Tirumurti said. India will chair this committee at a critical juncture, when there is international focus on Libya and on the peace process in that country, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken to social media to boast that every Indian is proud that two (COVID-19) vaccines have been made in the country, even as the virus continues to rage, endangering the lives of millions of workers and poor people. On January 3, the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) authorised two vaccinesone developed by the British-Swedish pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, with Oxford University (Covishield), and another by a local pharmaceutical company, Bharat Biotech (Covaxin)for emergency use. Health workers screen residents for COVID-19 symptoms at Deonar slum in Mumbai, India. (Image Credit: AP Photo/Rajanish Kakade) Having indulged in a mud-slinging campaign against each other, just a few days earlier, the two companies issued a joint statement, following the DCGIs approval, declaring that their current concern was to ensure a smooth rollout of vaccines. Health experts have reportedly questioned the transparency of the authorisation process. Earlier, Adar Poonawalla, chief executive officer of the Serum Institute of India, declared in a TV interview that the rest of the vaccines, other than Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca-Oxford, were as safe as water. The vaccination drive is supposed to begin on January 13 and reach 300 million peoplearound 20 percent of the populationby August. This timeline indicates that a vast section of the Indian population will continue to be vulnerable to the virus for the rest of this year, and beyond, even if the largest ever Indian vaccination effort is successful. By January 5, according to government data, Indias coronavirus death toll had exceeded 150,000, while the total number of cases is over ten million. These, however, are grossly understated figures, due to a lack of proper data on deaths and the inadequacy of PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) tests. The number of global coronavirus cases has reached 88 million, with close to 1.9 million deaths. The health minister of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led federal government, Harsh Vardhan, tried to downplay the danger facing Indias working people due to the pandemic, declaring that India has one of the highest recovery rates in the world, at 95.46 percent. Contrary to Vardhans statement, the real death toll from COVID-19 must be well above the official figures, given the under-registration of deaths in India. According to the media, even before the pandemic, only 70 percent of Indias deaths were registered and only one fifth of these were medically certified. By the end of November and early December, PCR testing in the country was reportedly reduced to less than 60 percent of the total, with the rest consisting of rapid antigen tests. These tests, however, are known to fail to detect coronavirus infections in 50 percent of positive cases. Moreover, Indias total number of tests is around 128,000 per million people, the lowest among the ten countries that currently have the most cases in the world. According to the second national sero-survey, conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the likely real number of infections is 16 times the official figure, with current cases as high as 160 million. Former professor of clinical virology, CMC Vellore T. John, told the press that India does not have reliable data on any communicable disease, be it rabies, cholera, tuberculosis or Covid The Covid statistics derived through the healthcare system, cannot be complete. Moreover, by January 6, the Indian government reported 73 cases of the new COVID-19 strain that originated in the UK. This indicates that the pandemic is further intensifying throughout the country, as the new strain is believed to be 70 percent more contagious. Indias scientists have already expressed fear over the spread of the new variant of the coronavirus. Cardiologist, K. K. Agarwal previously warned that if new variants of the coronavirus, which have been discovered in the south of England and South Africa arrived in the country, a second peak of infections was possible. Modis crisis-ridden government, which faces mounting resistance from workers and farmers, is belittling the suffering being borne by the masses. At the same time, it is campaigning, along with the corporate media, to insist that a second wave would be much lower in number than the first. The government claims that reported daily cases have reduced to around 25,000, from almost 100,000 in September. Last spring, Modis BJP government prematurely imposed a back to work policy, thereby infecting workers and the broad masses, after an ill-prepared ten-week lockdown. The brief shutdown was organised without any social support being allocated to the tens of millions of internal migrant workers who lost their income overnight. Around 30,000 Indian Railway workers have contracted the virus over the past several months, and 700 of them died before the end of last year. This was a considerable increase from September, when close to 15,000 railway workers were infected, with 336 deaths. The government-owned Indian Railways (IR) manages the fourth-largest network in the world with a route length of some 68,155 kilometres. It currently operates more than 1,000 special trains, while major population centres Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai are running their suburban services at 88, 60 and 50 percent capacity respectively, according to Railway Board chairman V. K. Yadav. These high volumes and the absence of adequate health safety measures have exposed workers to the dangers of infection and death. The Railway Board chairman insisted in a press briefing: They [railway workers] are frontline workers who have helped the Railways facilitate the movement of migrants by running special trains. They have been on platforms and in areas where contracting the infection was highly probable. He hypocritically added: They are like the railways unsung heroes. Answering a question in the national parliament, representatives of the railway ministry made clear that no compensation would be granted to the families of employees in the sector who died on the job. They stated that there was no provision for ex gratia payments as death on account of any disease is not included in these guidelines. Nothing could more clearly expose the contemptuous attitude of the Indian ruling class to the workers who have become victims of their pro-business reopening of the economy. The devastation confronting ordinary people stands in stark contrast to the fortunes of the Indian and global corporate elite, which have grown substantially during the pandemic. The Economist recently reported that Gautam Adani, whose conglomerate sprawls from ports to coal mines to food, has seen his personal wealth more than double, to some $32bn. Mukesh Ambanis riches, which derive from oil refining, telecoms and retail, among other things, have grown by just 25 percent, albeit to an intimidating $75bn or so. Ambani has been a beneficiary of the mobile phone market and Adanis wealth has been boosted by government logistics contracts. The bank balances of the ultra-rich are soaring amid the contraction of the countrys economy by ten percent, which has pushed tens of millions of workers into unemployment and poverty. The pandemic has also adversely affected millions of Indian patients suffering from terminal illnesses such as cancer, leukemia, chronic diabetes, tuberculosis, as well as a variety of mental illnesses, due to the lack of secure health care facilities. According to one paper, published by the Asia Pacific Journal of Oncology Nursing: Amid the coronavirus pandemic, there are chances of approximately 100,000 cancer cases going undiagnosed per month in India, and the numbers might change depending on travel restrictions and lack of easy availability of transport. The total unpreparedness of Indias public health system has been caused primarily by the miserly budget allocations for the sector by successive governmentsled, not only by the current ruling BJP, but also by the main opposition party Congress. Between 2009 and 2019, Indias health budget was just two percent of the countrys gross domestic product. The Indian government contributes only 16.7 percent of current health expenditure, while Indian patients have to pay the highest portion, i.e., more than 62 percent of their out-of-pocket expenses. Biden Plans to Release Almost All COVID-19 Vaccine Doses After Taking Office President-elect Joe Biden plans to release nearly all available doses of the COVID-19 vaccines after he takes office, a spokesperson said Friday. The president-elect believes we must accelerate distribution of the vaccine while continuing to ensure the Americans who need it most get it as soon as possible, T.J. Ducklo, a spokesman for the transition team, told news outlets in a statement. He supports releasing available doses immediately, and believes the government should stop holding back vaccine supply so we can get more shots in Americans arms now. He will share additional details next week on how his Administration will begin releasing available doses when he assumes office on January 20th, Ducklo added. Two vaccines have been authorized for emergency use by drug regulators, one from Moderna and one from Pfizer and BioNTech. Both are centered around messenger RNA platforms and require two doses, spaced apart about three weeks, for full effectiveness. Trump administration officials have chosen to hold back doses in order to guarantee that patients who get one shot will have a second dose available when three weeks elapses. Dr. Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speeds chief scientific adviser, said during an event last month that releasing all doses without holding any back for peoples second injection would be leaving them completely in the dark. Modeling showed giving everyone their first dose and being unprepared to give people second doses wasnt realistic, he added. The Biden team feels otherwise, as evidenced by the new announcement. Syringes containing the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine sit in a tray in a vaccination room at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2021. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo) The announcement came after a group of eight Democratic governors, including Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Operation Warp Speed Chief Operating Officer General Gustave Perna. In the letter, the governors asked the federal government to begin distributing reserved doses to states, immediately. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many states have not administered even half of the vaccine doses theyre received. Michigan, for instance, has gotten 662,450 doses but has only given 137,887 doses. New York has received 1.1 million doses but has only administered 353,788. Slaoui and others involved in the vaccine development and distribution said they believed 20 million Americans would be vaccinated by the end of 2020, but just 5.9 million have gotten one of the shots as of 9 a.m. on Thursday. While some officials have blamed the statesover 21 million doses have been distributed to statesthats still far short of the projection. Biden and his advisers have criticized the slow rollout, which Trump administration officials expect to get faster. He has also vowed that 100 million people would be vaccinated in his first 100 days in office, a feat that would be difficult but possible, according to Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. A Biden adviser last month said he would utilize the Defense Production Act to quicken the production of vaccines, like President Donald Trump did last year to speed the production of ventilators and other items. The idea there is to make sure the personal protective equipment, the test capacity, and the raw materials for the vaccines are produced in adequate supply, Dr. Celine Gounder, a member of Bidens COVID-19 advisory board, said on CNBCs Squawk Box. What does Xena: Warrior Princess have to do with the rioting at the Capitol this week? The fierce fighter wasnt among the mob of instigators, and she wasnt with the police. But when Hercules starts making some dodgy claims about those events, youd better believe shell be there to debunk them. Kevin Sorbo, who starred as Hercules in the 90s series Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, started the bout by weighing in on a photo of Trump supporters who breached the Capitol. Sorbo, 62, a Trump supporter, was responding to a tweet from attorney and fellow Trump supporter Rogan OHandley. Do these look like Trump supporters? OHandley tweeted, sharing a photo of pro-Trump rioters inside the Capitol Wednesday. Or Leftist agitators disguised as Trump supporters... Twitter had already designated the tweet manipulated media because of OHandleys false claim. There is no evidence that the pro-Trump mob that breached the Capitol was made up of Leftist agitators or Antifa, as some have asserted. But Sorbo, who is also known for the early-aughts series Andromeda, quote-tweeted Handley, supporting his debunked claim. (Caution: tweets contain explicit language.) No, Peanut. They are not Patriots. They are your flying monkeys,homegrown terrorists, QAnon actors. They are the douchebags that go out and do the evil bidding of people like you who like to wind them up like toys and let them do their worst. #keepingYourFilthyHandsclean #enabler Lucy Lawless (@RealLucyLawless) January 7, 2021 They dont look like patriots to me... he said, doubling down despite the overwhelming evidence that the group was made up of Trump supporters. Lucy Lawless, who played the title character in the successful Hercules spinoff series Xena: Warrior Princess, was ready with her own pointed reply. No, Peanut, she said, replying to her former castmates tweet. They are not Patriots. They are your flying monkeys, homegrown terrorists, QAnon actors. They are the d--chebags that go out and do the evil bidding of people like you who like to wind them up like toys and let them do their worst. #keepingYourFilthyHandsclean #enabler. Lawless, 52, an actress from New Zealand, played Xena from 1995 to 2001, winning hearts as a warrior princess who defended the vulnerable in the fantasy series set in ancient Greece. Though Xena was only supposed to have a short arc on Hercules, the character was a hit. The spinoff ended up running for six seasons, surpassing the original show when it wrapped in 1999. Lawless went on to appear in TVs Battlestar Galactica reboot, Spartacus: Blood and Sand, Parks and Recreation, Salem and Ash vs. Evil Dead. She voices a villain in the upcoming Illumination film Minions: The Rise of Gru. But on Thursday night, it was her response to Sorbo that earned applause from Twitter, propelling Xena into the trends. Lawless continued to refer to Sorbo as Peanut in follow-up tweets. The social media face-off inspired Xena fans to profess their undying love for the character and Lawless. Lucy Lawless , as badass as her namesake. Love her forever. pic.twitter.com/y0YMzQgd30 Timo Tjahjanto (@Timobros) January 8, 2021 Xena was always top tier to Hercules. She earned that spin-off. Lucy Lawless, you badass princess. pic.twitter.com/OJHL3NX18Q Jennifer (@iamjennwhy) January 8, 2021 Xena just killed Hercules pic.twitter.com/YztzupyRJY cancel culture stan account. (@TheRealNubian2) January 8, 2021 I grew up watching Xena. Lucy Lawless was badass and a strong female lead during the 90s....don't play wit ha! pic.twitter.com/Ld22zHFpT9 Reesha Johnson (@ree_the_divaa) January 8, 2021 Xena folding Hercules is the Content I'm Here For pic.twitter.com/QbovmDJ8ke Bekka Supp (@valhallabckgirl) January 8, 2021 Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter. Sri Lanka has paid a horrendous price for not addressing the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people and other minority communities, and for unscrupulously exploiting the differences among the communities to garner political mileage. The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) wholeheartedly welcomes the statement by Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar (Jan.6, 2021) that it is in Sri Lankas own interest that the expectations of the Tamil people, for equality, justice, peace and dignity, within a united Sri Lanka are fulfilled. Though it is stating the obvious, the message is timely and to the point. Sri Lanka has paid a horrendous price for not addressing the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people and other minority communities, and for unscrupulously exploiting the differences among the communities to garner political mileage. The tragic history of Sri Lanka demonstrated that these led to decades of violence and a country stagnated with limited economic progress and stigmatised among the progressive nations of the world. The repeated noises made by the ideologues of the Rajapaksa government, to the effect that minority aspirations and solemn international commitments are expendable in the altar of hard-line majoritarian politics, rang alarm bells, not just among the Tamils, but also in the international community. It appeared as though the Sri Lankan leadership is setting the scene to abolish Provincial Councils established under the 13th Amendment to the constitution, despite the fact that for more than a decade Rajapaksas have promised to its citizens, to India and to the international community that they will not only implement 13th Amendment in full, but will also build upon it to make power devolution more meaningful. It is in this context that Minister Jaishankars reference that it applies equally to commitments made by the Sri Lankan government on meaningful devolution, including the 13th Amendment is immensely significant. 20 Shares Share I recently read an opinion by a physician regarding the decision as to which COVID patient would receive care and which would not when hospitals became too full to care for every patient. He suggested that no one need be denied care if some structural changes were made in health care delivery. Given the expected post-Christmas/New Year tsunami of new cases; and limited supplies, equipment, and staff, it is doubtful his suggestions would be sufficient and hard decisions on the receipt of care will have to be made. Can such decisions be justified? At least one religious and one secular theory of medical ethics allow for this decision making. A Jewish medical ethics specialist discussed this scenario of differential care with COVID. He stated that while a ventilator, for example, could not be removed from one patient to benefit another patient who may have a better chance of survival, a doctor may choose which patient receives a ventilator if both patients need this technology at the same time. Thus, a value may be placed on life. Implicit is the belief that any means used to deny care are based on some rational foundation, i.e., current scientific knowledge, and that the guidelines changed as the science changed. In this sense, age would not be used for care denial. Rather, the presence of co-morbid conditions, their severity, and number can form a rational basis for a decision. Though there is an indirect relationship between age and co-morbidities, it would be more likely, but not absolute, that care denial would exist solely for elderly patients. If the criteria used are not capricious but standardized, this would not be age discrimination. Too, from a Jewish perspective, it is inappropriate to postpone death. In an individual with one or more noteworthy co-morbidities and COVID, given current knowledge regarding his/her likelihood to die regardless of life-saving measures, placing this individual on a ventilator may be a violation of this dictum. Even though medical knowledge is not an absolute guarantee of death, it remains the best information available and again, could be used to choose one life over another. Utilitarian ethics, in this instance, represent the maximization of individual wellbeing within community wellbeing. They can be used to place different values on humans (i.e., based on comorbidities), given finite medical services, and the likelihood that with a poorer prognosis, peoples wellbeing would not be increased. This would not infer that one person was worth less than another, but which patient would best benefit from limited assets. Although often compared to Nazi practices by people repelled by these theories purported inhumanity, they are dissimilar as they are based on rational foundations and not on personal beliefs. If one examines utilitarian ethics dispassionately, they can complement portions of Jewish medical ethics, as discussed in the presented situation. One could question whether the proximate cause of patient death in these circumstances was a no care decision by a physician or whether this decision was an outcome, and the true cause of death was an earlier decision by another individual. That is, was the proximate cause the decision of a family member to visit granddad over the holidays or to enter public spaces on the misguided belief that not wearing a mask was an individual right? These venal individuals forget that there is a concomitant responsibility for every right and that rights can be temporarily curtailed, ethically, and legally, in a national emergency. In these instances, I believe that blaming a relative for granddads death can be an ethically appropriate response. M. Bennet Broner is a medical ethicist. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie issued a statement Friday morning addressing the invasion of the U.S. Capitol, two days after a mob breached the building and two military veterans were killed, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer bludgeoned in the assault, according to law enforcement officials who spoke to The Associated Press. As of Thursday evening, all U.S. Cabinet secretaries except Wilkie had issued strongly worded statements denouncing the violence, while two had resigned. The VA press team did not respond to a request for comment Thursday from reporters. Wilkie finally released a relatively muted statement via Twitter on Friday morning: "Our veterans fought to defend the freedoms that were attacked this week. The assault on the Capitol is an affront to all who have worn the uniform," wrote Wilkie, a former member of the Navy Reserve and colonel in the Air Force Reserve. Read Next: Military Leaders Say Tremendous Confusion Delayed Response in Capitol Siege The statement followed the resignations of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos in protest over the events and the role President Trump played in inciting the violence. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf issued a statement Thursday morning condemning the violence -- prompting the Trump administration to withdraw Wolf's nomination as permanent secretary 90 minutes later. And in a statement Thursday afternoon, Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller called the events "reprehensible and contrary to the tenets of the United States Constitution." "Our Republic may have been disrupted yesterday, but the resolve of our legislators to conduct the people's business did not waver. Due to their efforts, supported by local and federal law enforcement and the National Guard, the attempts of those who tried to stop our government from functioning failed," Miller wrote. "I strongly condemn these acts of violence against our democracy. I, and the people I lead in the Department of Defense, continue to perform our duties in accordance with our oath of office, and will execute the time-honored peaceful transition of power to President-elect Biden on January 20," he added, hours before President Donald Trump issued a video also pledging a peaceful transition. Responding to a question regarding the VA's delay, officials said Wilke was touring Louisiana facilities ravaged by hurricanes late last year. They added that he has no intention of resigning. "The Secretary has led VA to achieve landmark improvements in Veterans' trust, quality of care and employee satisfaction. He will continue to lead the department, including its historic response to the COVID-19 pandemic," VA Press Secretary Christina Noel said Friday. Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., issued a sharp rebuke to Wilkie over his statement regarding a situation in which two Air Force veterans died -- one a protester shot while climbing through a broken window to enter the U.S. Capitol; the other, a U.S. Capitol Police officer who died from injuries sustained when rioters bludgeoned him with a fire extinguisher -- saying he should resign or be fired. The calls echoed those late last month from lawmakers and veterans service organizations over Wilkie's handling of a sexual assault investigation at a Washington, D.C., VA hospital. "Wednesday's insurrection at the U.S. Capitol wasnt just an affront to our veterans and those whove worn the uniform, it was an attack on our democracy. In the days that followed the assault on the U.S. Capitol, you failed to join those urging that the 25th Amendment be invoked to remove a president that has shown himself to be unfit for office, instead taking to social media to issue a measly two sentence statement that remained silent on the President's seditious actions, Takano said. There is only one honorable option left for you to ensure we preserve the freedom and liberty millions of service members have fought and died for-- resign immediately." Others agreed. "This pathetic statement is weak, notably late and shows a loyalty not to veterans -- but to Trump," said Paul Rieckoff, host of the Angry Americans podcast, who founded the group Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. Rieckoff called Wilkie's reaction "not at all surprising" for a man who "supported the Sons of Confederate Veterans and defended the display of Nazi swastikas on VA property." "The only statement veterans want to see now from Wilkie is his resignation. Or one from the White House that says he's been fired," he added. Last month, the nation's top veterans organizations wrote Trump asking for Wilkie to be fired for his actions following the alleged assault at the Washington, D.C., medical center. The VA Office of Inspector General found that Wilkie had questioned the integrity of a Navy Reserve lieutenant commander who reported the assault, casting aspersions on her and working to undermine her credibility. The investigation did not substantiate reports that Wilkie actively sought information to discredit the veteran or ordered VA employees to look into her background. Groups calling for his resignation at the time included the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Paralyzed Veterans of America. On Friday, an American Legion spokesman said his group agreed with Wilkie's statement. "We wholeheartedly agree with the Secretary that the assault on the Capitol is an affront to all who have worn the uniform," American Legion spokesman John Raughter said. The conservative Concerned Veterans for America, which traditionally has supported the Trump administration's reform efforts at the VA, criticized Wilkie's leadership in the Washington, D.C., sexual assault case but did not comment on Wilkie's response to the Capitol violence, CVA Executive Director Nate Anderson issued a statement Thursday on the violence at the Capitol, saying that the events did "not reflect the America I fought and sacrificed for." "As we reflect in the wake of these events, we must resist the dangerous tribalism that has led to this moment, and instead remain optimistic in our future. This country, and the values it stands for, will endure," Anderson said. -- The Associated Press contributed to this report. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Monster.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: VA Secretary Pick McDonough Pledges to 'Fight Like Hell' Tourists visit Zengpintang Aged Liquor Museum in Nanchang, capital of east China's Jiangxi Province, Jan. 6, 2021. Covering over 4,500 square meters, the museum with 18 exhibition halls showcases a collection of over 13,000 exhibits. (Xinhua/Wan Xiang) JC Olivera / Getty Images Laverne Cox announced she is pulling out of "Sell, Buy, Date," a documentary about the sex work industry, after receiving backlash on social media from sex workers. Sex workers on Twitter said the documentary did not consult sex workers and instead spoke over the community. Cox, who was set to executive produce the film, said she is stepping down from the project to prioritize her health. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. Actress and activist Laverne Cox has announced she's pulling out of a sex industry documentary after receiving backlash on social media. "Sell/Buy/Date," based on a play of the same name by Sarah Jones, takes a deep dive into the sex industry by looking at "inequality (criminal justice, race, sexism, poverty) through the lens of the debate around the sex industry," according to a press release. Cox signed on as an executive producer along with other A-listers like Meryl Steep and Rashida Jones. However, after the project was announced on January 5, Cox received backlash from several sex workers on Twitter who said the project did not consult them and instead spoke over the sex work community. "Just what the world needs. Another movie where non SWers debate whether sex work is exploitative or empowering. @Lavernecox this project is everything you're supposedly against. Stop trying to tell sw stories by ignoring and doxxing them," one Twitter user wrote. Read More: TikTok's most famous stripper is being accused of making up the salacious stories that have earned her millions of followers and media attention Others questioned why Cox would work with Rashida Jones for a documentary about sex workers, who has previously been criticized for outing sex workers in her Netflix documentary series "Hot Girls Wanted." Cox released a statement on Twitter announcing her withdrawal from the project. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "When I agreed to come on as an executive producer of 'Sell, Buy, Date' I did so because I was so deeply moved by Sarah Jones' brilliant play and her unbelievable, undeniable talent as an artist, as an actor," Cox wrote. "I am not in an emotional place to deal with the outrage by some around my participation in this project so I have decided to pull out." "I have to take care of my mental, physical and emotional health," Cox wrote. In the comments of her statement, some Twitter users thanked her for pulling out of the project and asked her to openly support the decriminalization of sex workers. Cox responded to many of the comments with a 2014 clip of her speaking out in support of trans women of color who engage in sex work. "When we talk about trans women, specifically trans women of color's experiences, I think we have to talk about sex work because it's the reality for far too many of us and we have to talk about decriminalizing it," Cox said in the clip. Sarah Jones posted in support of Cox on Twitter, thanking her for her help with the project and asking people to "give Laverne her space while keeping an open mind about the project before judging it." Read the original article on Insider Stocks to watch today: Here is a list of top stocks that are likely to be in focus in Friday's trading session based on latest developments. Share Market News Live: Sensex rises 300 points, Nifty at 14,150; Infosys, TCS, HCL Tech top gainers TCS: The IT major will announce its earnings for the quarter ended 31 December today. Tata Consultancy Services is expected to sustain the revenue momentum in Q3FY21 following an uptick in business activities. Tata Power: The company has received an order from the Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) to develop a 110-megawatt (MW) solar power project in the state. In another update, the company completed acquisition of 51 percent equity shares of TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited and TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited for Rs 127.50 crore and Rs 255 crore, respectively. Union Bank: Bank has raised Rs 1,000 crore by issuing Basel III-compliant bonds on a private placement basis. Biocon: Biocon Biologics received Rs 555 crore ($75 million) capital injection from ADQ. The transaction valued Biocon Biologics at around $4.17 billion. Strides Pharma: Former HDFC Bank managing director Aditya Puri has joined the Strides Group as an advisor and also will be a director of its associate company Stelis Biopharma. HCL Tech: The IT services major said it has partnered with Claim Genius, an artificial intelligence (AI) automation solutions provider for the auto insurance market, to jointly develop and market new AI claims management solutions. NTPC: Company has served notices to six states and two Union Territories for non-payment of dues, according to a PTI report. The states include Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Sikkim and Telangana, while the Union Territories (UTs) are Jammu and Kashmir and Puducherry. Uttam Sugar Mills: The company reported a profit of Rs 11.70 crore in Q3 FY21 against Rs 13.32 crore in the year-ago. Company's revenue rose to Rs 433.26 crore YoY from Rs 426.68 crore. NHPC: The resolution plan submitted by the company for Jalpower Corporation has been approved by NCLT. Bharat Rasayan: The company is to consider the proposal of buyback of equity shares on January 12. NALCO: Company will invest around Rs 30,000 crore for its ambitious expansion and diversification projects in the next six to seven years, which will help achieve the Centre's goal of 'Atmanirbhar Bharat', Union minister Pralhad Joshi said. SBI, IOC: State Bank of India (SBI) and Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) have launched a co-branded contactless RuPay debit card. A customer, anywhere in the country, can get the card by visiting the SBI's home branch. It is a contactless card and transactions up to Rs 5,000 can be paid for with just a tap, the bank said in a release. Sanghvi Brands: Rajesh Srinivas Bail has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer of the company. AGC Networks: CRISIL assigned long-term credit rating for the company's bank loan facilities at BBB- with a stable outlook. UFO Moviez India: ICRA reaffirmed the long-term rating outstanding of A+ for the captioned line of credit and revised the outlook to Negative from Stable. Figure 1 (a) Level structure of 151 Eu 3 + ions at zero magnetic field. (b) Diagram of the experimental setup. The acoustic optic modulators labeled as AOM 1 and AOM 2 are employed to generate the preparation and input beams. The input and preparation beams are combined by a beam splitter (BS) with a reflection-to-transmission ratio of 90 10 . The combined beam is coupled into the waveguide and then collected into a single-mode fiber with a lens group. The mechanical shutter 1 and shutter 2 ensure that the single-photon detector is protected from the strong preparation light. Inset: top view of the on-chip quantum memory under a microscope. Six tracks are fabricated on the sample with a spacing of 23 m , forming five type IV waveguides. The central one with the minimum insertion loss is employed for the quantum storage. Silver lines provide the electric field for storage time control. FC: Fiber coupler, HWP:half-wave plate. Phys. Rev. Lett. 125, 260504 Researchers from CAS Key Laboratory of Quantum Information of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have demonstrated on-demand storage of photonic qubits in an integrated solid-state quantum memory for the first time. This work was published in Physics Review Letters. Quantum memory is the core technology for building large-scale quantum networks. Quantum repeaters or quantum hard drives, based on quantum memories, can effectively overcome photon loss in the channel, thus extending the working distance of quantum networks. On-demand storage requires determination of the storage time after the photon has been absorbed by the quantum memory, which is essential for quantum networks. However, integrated solid-state quantum memories demonstrated so far are all based on the atomic frequency comb (AFC) scheme with a predetermined storage time. In order to achieve on-demand storage, the researchers adopted a modified quantum memory scheme: the Stark-modulated AFC scheme. They made use of the Stark effect to manipulate the evolution of the rare-earth ions in real-time by introducing two electrical pulses to control the storage time of the quantum memory. The researchers first used a femtosecond laser micromachining (FLM) system to fabricate optical waveguides on the surface of a europium-doped yttrium silicate crystal, and then placed two on-chip electrodes on both sides of the optical waveguides, so that the storage time could be controlled in real-time with a transistor-transistor logic (TTL)-compatible voltage. The insertion loss of the optical waveguide was below 1 dB, which is currently the best value reported for integrated solid-state quantum memories. They demonstrated on-demand storage of time-bin qubits with such integrated solid-state quantum memory, with a storage fidelity of 99.3%0.2%. This result is close to the best storage fidelity achieved with in bulk crystals (99.9%, PRL108, 190505) which was also reported by the same research group in 2012. The high fidelity indicates the reliability of this integrated quantum memory. This work is of great importance for building large-capacity quantum memory and constructing quantum networks. Explore further Researchers achieve multifunctional solid-state quantum memory More information: Chao Liu et al. On-Demand Quantum Storage of Photonic Qubits in an On-Chip Waveguide, Physical Review Letters (2020). Journal information: Physical Review Letters Chao Liu et al. On-Demand Quantum Storage of Photonic Qubits in an On-Chip Waveguide,(2020). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.260504 (CNN) Amazon is pledging to invest more than $2 billion over the next five years toward affordable housing in three cities where it has major operations. The tech giant's new Housing Equity Fund will invest in moderate- to low-income housing around Seattle, Nashville and Arlington, Virginia, where the company ultimately expects to have at least 5,000 employees each. "This new $2 billion Housing Equity Fund will create or preserve 20,000 affordable homes in all three of our headquarters regions -- Arlington, Puget Sound, and Nashville," said Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder and CEO, in a statement. "It will also help local families achieve long-term stability while building strong, inclusive communities." The first investment of more than $567 million will go toward 1,300 affordable apartment units near "HQ2," Amazon's new Virginia headquarters, and up to 1,000 apartments near its Seattle, Washington headquarters. In Arlington, Amazon said it has invested $381.9 million in loans offered at below market rates, as well as grants to Washington Housing Conservancy that will go toward 1,300 affordable homes on the Crystal House property near HQ2. And in Washington, Amazon's investment of $185.5 million went to the King County Housing Authority to preserve up to 1,000 affordable homes. in Bellevue. Amazon has been criticized in the past for gentrifying the areas where it has opened large operations and driving up the cost of housing. A number of cities competed aggressively to become the new home for HQ2 -- with Arlington, Virginia, and Long Island City, Queens, in New York ultimately winning the bid for a split headquarters in 2018. But backlash from community leaders and local government officials in Queens ultimately led Amazon to pull out of New York. Local officials said at the time that Amazon showed little interest in conversations about things like traffic congestion and rising housing costs that may have come along with thousands of highly paid tech workers in Queens. Amazon says its new approach is designed to help low- and middle-income families in the areas it currently calls home. In each of the three regions, the company is targeting homes for households making between 30% to 80% of the area's median income. In addition to its $2 billion investment, the fund also includes $125 million in grants to minority-led organizations and public agencies aimed at improving the shortage of affordable housing, which disproportionately affects people of color, Amazon said. The fund will also give grants to government partners, like transit agencies and school districts, to help working families in those fields. "In booming cities across the US, many apartment buildings affordable for teachers, healthcare providers, transit workers, and others with modest incomes are increasingly being redeveloped into luxury apartments, causing displacement and reducing housing options for working families," said Sarah Rosen Wartell, president of the Urban Institute in a statement. "Investments like those announced by Amazon that help preserve these existing buildings and maintain moderate rent levels are critical to local efforts that promote economic inclusion and support the stability and economic mobility of moderate- and low-income families." This story was first published on CNN.com "Amazon to invest $2 billion to build affordable housing in these three cities" Matthew Mashburn is a member of the Georgia State Election Board and an avid Power Line reader. Mr. Mashburn has kindly forwarded Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffenspergers 10-page letter responding to each of the major fraud allegations made in connection with the Georgia presidential election results. The letter is addressed to two Georgia Senator Kelly Loeffler and Reps. Barry Loudermilk and Jody Hice. I have embedded it below. I thought some readers might find it of interest. It is submitted for the consideration of those who have wanted to see each of these claims addressed. On a related note, I believe that Raffenspergers release on January 3 of the conversation he secretly recorded with President Trump, Mark Meadows, Trumps local Georgia counsel, and Cleta Mitchell the previous day likely cost Republicans the two Senate seats in the runoffs this past Tuesday. In addition to President Trumps own abuse of officials in Georgia, I should add, Raffenspergers maneuver was the straw that broke the camels back. I infer from Martha MacCallums interview with Raffensperger that he he authorized release of the recording at that time in part to harm Senator Perdue for petty personal reasons. In my judgment it is a black mark against Raffensperger regardless of the merits of his defense below. Letter to Congress From Secretary Raffensperger (1!6!21) by Scott Johnson on Scribd Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) The body of flight attendant Christine Angelica Dacera was embalmed before an initial autopsy was done by police, Metro Manila police chief Vicente Danao, Jr. confirmed Friday. "Sinabi po niya 'yun na na-embalm bago po na-autopsy [He said that the body was embalmed before it went through autopsy]," Danao told CNN Philippines' The Source, referring to forensic examiner Police Major Michael Nick Sarmiento. Danao questioned the move. However, he admitted that revised rules of the Scene of the Crime Operatives (SOCO) due to the COVID-19 pandemic allowed such arrangements. TIMELINE: The Christine Dacera Case "Meron po tayong pinalabas [We released] last year regarding the protocol on how to conduct an autopsy when there is a found dead body baka 'yun po ang naging basis niya," he added. "We are in a pandemic time, baka po hindi natin alam what's the cause of her death." "This is a very abnormal time kumbaga sa atin. Sa akin pong experience, mas nauuna po dapat 'yung pag-conduct ng autopsy dahil kapag na-embalm na po 'yan, definitely it will change lalong-lalo na kung anong meron diyan," Danao said. [Translation: This is a very abnormal time for us. In my experience, the conduct of the autopsy should come first because when a body is embalmed, definitely that will change what's inside.] Dacera's family cried foul regarding the first autopsy report provided by the Philippine National Police, which cited ruptured aortic aneurysm or natural causes for the 23-year-old's death on New Year's Day. READ: Foul play in flight attendants death? Initial exam showed suspects used force, police say Her mother, Sharon Dacera, said the autopsy report did not factor in the bruises, lacerations, and supposed semen found in her body, which were the basis of the initial rape and homicide complaint the family filed against 11 respondents. The Dacera family also requested for a second autopsy, but expert forensic pathologist Dr. Raquel Fortun warned Thursday that it may be too late to retrieve swab samples from Christine's body. It has been a week since the flight attendant was found dead in a hotel room in Makati City. The Makati City Prosecutor's Office ordered on Wednesday the release of three men who were with Dacera on the day she was found unconscious in the bath tub of the hotel room where she and her friends spent the night partying to welcome the New Year. It also asked for additional evidence. The fiscal asked for DNA analysis, toxicology or chemical analysis, and histopath examination reports, which Danao said are currently being conducted by the PNP Crime Laboratory. These tests will support or debunk claims of rape and drug intoxication. The Metro Manila police chief added that he is not sure if investigators were able to extract specimen samples given the fact that the body was embalmed before the tests were done. Danao admitted that there is a "big possibility" that the samples taken from Dacera may be contaminated due to the embalming process, which entails draining body fluids and gases and injecting chemicals to slow down decay. "Sabi niya (medico-legal officer), mas mape-preserve nga 'yung evidence kapag na-embalm. Sabi ko: Paano kaya mangyayari 'yan? Paano kung pinaliguan mo 'yan?," Danao said. [Translation: He (medico-legal officer said) the evidence will be preserved due to embalming. But I said: How can that happen? What if you already rinsed the body?] The PNP has formed Special Investigation Task Group Dacera to probe the incident, which has been a hotly debated case the past few days. The group is looking to gather additional evidence to "strengthen" the case, which will undergo preliminary investigation on January 13. The National Bureau of Investigation is assisting the PNP in the probe. RELATED: We are just starting: DOJ stresses Dacera case not dismissed as search for more evidence continues This afternoon, in typically humble fashion, bestselling author and beloved Irish woman Marian Keyes offered to help would-be writers with their novels by hosting an online book writing course for the next number of weeks. "Life is GRUELLING right now," she wrote. "So.... would you like a distraction? If you've sometimes thought you wouldn't mind trying to write a novel but you're not sure how to go about it, then maybe I can help?" She went on to explain that the first week of the course, starting on Monday, January 11, will be structured around the themes of 'Getting Started,' 'Research,' 'Plot' and 'Motivation'. She's asking her students to send any specific questions on, promising to do her very best to answer. This is not the first time that Marian has shown herself to be kind, thoughtful, and compassionate. Tara Flynn, Josepha Madigan TD and Marian Keyes with a number of Ireland's leading writers Calling for a Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. Picture: Gareth Chaney Collins She is a staunch supporter of those of us who find ourselves in dire straits And she has lent her voice to the abolishment of Direct Provision and in support of Repealing the Eighth Amendment. She is honest about her struggles, and that makes those of us who are struggling feel better Last year, she posted about why it's ok to fail on Instagram: "A salvage operation is what happens. SOMETIMES a bodge job can pull things together, making the outcome acceptable if not ideal. Sometimes waiting things out gives unexpected insight, energy, a fresh perspective. And sometimes weve no choice but to give up on it: to fail. Which we at least I am terrified by. But the only way to avoid failure is to play it safe and I dont want to do that either." 'There is an awful lot of riding' in her books And we are here for them. Not for Marian, the unattainable sex scenes that sound like they require an accompanying manual. Oh no! She makes real-life sex, sexy again. All fans of Marian Keyes fancy 'Real Man' Luke Costello of Rachel's Holiday in his sexy jeans. It is a fact, just like the fact that all Marian Keyes fans re-read her books when they are in need of comfort. Marian is a well-documented supporter of other Irish female writers She uses her social media platform to throw light on new and emerging authors, particularly here in Ireland. She famously says that 'Chick-Lit' the umbrella term for her particular genre of writing, is a mechanism of putting women writers down. Its definitely a pejorative term. Im going to quote Gandhi here: First they ignore you, then they mock you, then they fight you', Keyes said to the audience at the Hay Festival in 2015. This is very much a patriarchal society. And I think one way of keeping women less well paid and having to do more work is to mock them and anything they love. Hello Tomorrow is my wedding anniversary - TWENTY-FIVE years since Himself and meself tied the knot. I am the luckiest person I ever met. He is the VERY BEST of all the people, the kindest man alive, my utter and always favourite pic.twitter.com/W22Afow4ue Marian Keyes (@MarianKeyes) December 28, 2020 She has the kind of love story that most of us aspire to And she tells it all about it. Her 25-year marriage to Tony Baines or 'Himself' is the kind of marriage that every girl wants. He adores her, she adores him. During their struggles with Marian's mental health, 'Himself' has been omnipresent in her updates; a soothing presence there we know to mind our Marian. She is a beauty influencer we can trust And she might know a bit more than most 'experts' out there. Marian Keyes has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things skincare and makeup-related. If it is a Lady Nice Thing, she will know about it, and if she hasn't heard of it, she will investigate it on behalf of her fans. During the pandemic, she has been covering skincare issues on her Instagram account, making sure that she gets swizzed by the products that don't work, so we don't have to. Marian Keyes writes books filled with characters that we immediately want to be best friends with. Marian Keyes is one of the best writers to come out of Ireland It does not matter which book you pick up from her back catalogue; to read a Marian Keyes novel is like giving yourself a warm bath with a super-indulgent facemask. Her prose speaks directly into the heart of women, and that's because she understands what complex creatures we are. For anyone suffering from pandemic fatigue, or in need of comfort or a salve for the soul, disappearing into a Keyes book this weekend is just the way to achieve it. Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General January 8, 2021 LANSING A man who reportedly threatened to kill a state representative has now been charged with multiple felonies after he allegedly made a threatening phone call Thursday claiming there was a bomb at the Michigan Capitol building. Authorities quickly determined the bomb threat to be false. Following an investigation and arrest by the Michigan State Police (MSP), Attorney General Dana Nessels office has charged a Charlotte man with felony terrorism charges. Michael Varrone, 48, was arrested outside his residence Thursday afternoon without incident by the MSP Emergency Support Team and Fugitive Team and is currently lodged at the Lansing City Jail. He was arraigned today before Magistrate Laura Millmore in 54-A District Court in Lansing on two counts of false report or threat of terrorism, a 20-year felony; and one count of false report or threat of bomb/harmful device, a four-year felony. One count of false report or threat of terrorism is related to a phone call Varrone allegedly made in December in which he threatened the life of state Rep. Cynthia Johnson. The other two charges stem from Thursdays reported bomb threat. The court set Varrone's bond at $50,000 cash. Threats to our democracy must not be tolerated, and my office will work tirelessly to ensure the people who work and visit our Capitol can do so safely, Nessel said. I am grateful this incident did not result in any serious injury or harm. However, I hope this incident and the disgraceful tragedy that occurred Wednesday at our nations Capitol in Washington, D.C., can serve as reminders of the security measures we must work to maintain and improve to protect the sanctity of our democracy and the safety of our people. On Dec. 12, Varrone reportedly called the Michigan House of Representatives six times and on at least one occasion threatened the life of Rep. Johnson and her family members, according to the complaint. Around 6:45 a.m. Thursday, as MSP previously reported, Varrone allegedly telephoned a control operator at the Capitol complex and said everyone needed to evacuate because the building was going to explode. The employee immediately reported the bomb threat to MSP state properties security officers stationed at the Capitol. Capitol staff were then notified to ensure their safety and the building which had already been closed to the public was closed to staff. Authorities performed a sweep of the premises and by 9 a.m. had confirmed there was no real threat. Varrone has a probable cause conference scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 22 and a preliminary exam scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Jan. 28. Both hearings will be before Judge Kristen Simmons. No additional information will be provided at this time. Click here to view a copy of Varrone's charging documents. ### Metro Manila CNN Philippines, January 9) Authorities and researchers are on the lookout for the presence of emerging COVID-19 variants, including a new one detected in Philippines' southeast Asian neighbor Malaysia. Aside from closely monitoring the variant found in United Kingdom that is believed to be 70% more contagious, the Department of Health on Friday said they are also keeping track of the ones from South Africa and Malaysia. The Philippine Genome Center, which conducts whole genome sequencing in samples, is capable of detecting emerging variants, Health Secretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said. "Sa ngayon mayroon na tayong tatlong variant na binabantaayan... Kapag tinest ang whole genome, lahat ng klase ng variant na maaari nating makita ay nakikita doon. Not because UK variant lang ang binabantayan, UK variant lang (ang makikita)," she said in a briefing. [Translation: We are now monitoring three variants... When we test the whole genome, we will see all kinds of variants. Not because we are only monitoring the UK variant, it doesn't mean that it's the only variant we will find.] The genome center reported on Wednesday that no new variants of COVID-19 have been detected in the country based on a review of 305 samples taken in November and December. DOH said this was only the first batch of the review. Researchers will continue its surveillance system to include more samples from Visayas and Mindanao. Experts warned that cases in the Philippines will increase exponentially once new variants reach the country. Dr. John Wong, founder of the health research institution Epimetrics, said it could result in a 15-fold increase in infections in just a month if it becomes the dominant variant in the country. Following reports of new COVID-19 variants, the Philippines suspended all flights from the UK beginning December 24, a ban that later included 26 other countries and territories, namely, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, and Brazil. The travel restrictions will last until January 15, but the government's COVID-19 task force will discuss if it needs to be extended. There are no restrictions on outbound travel, but that would depend on the rules of country destinations. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, asking him to lead by example and take the first shot of COVID-19 vaccine, following which other leaders will also get vaccinated. Tej Pratap's remarks come amid staunch disapproval of the vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech by opposition party leaders including Congress leader Manish Tewari and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav. Indias drugs regulator had on Sunday approved Oxford-AstraZeneca's Covishield and the indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. However, opposition including Congress questioned the grounds on which the Centre gave a nod to Bharat Biotech's COVID-19 vaccine without conducting phase-3 trials. A number of eminent etymologists and other medical practitioners have expressed surprise with regard to the fact that this vaccine has been cleared without phase III trials having been completed. This obviously raises questions with regard to the efficacy of the vaccine. Tewari was quoted saying in a report by Hindustan Times. Congress Leader From Kerala, Shashi Tharoor was also seen objecting to the use of the vaccine, calling the process 'ethically dubious'. Meanwhile, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Tuesday that the state government was all prepared for administering Covid 19 vaccinations across the state. We are prepared for administering vaccination in Bihar, the CM said at a function and spelled out the priority list for Covid-19 vaccination. Online fashion group Asos has announced it will invest 90m in a new centre after annual profits quadrupled last year. The retailer plans to open the centre in Lichfield, Staffordshire within 12 months and will employ 2,000 people at the site over the next three years. The 437,000 square feet, AEW and Allianz Real Estate joint venture warehouse at Fradley Park will open within 12 months and will be fully operational by 2023, Asos said in a statement. The company in October reported it had seen its annual profits more than quadruple thanks to cost-cutting action and as customers returned fewer items amid the pandemic. Asos plans to open a new distribution centre (pictured another near Barnsley) in Lichfield, Staffordshire within 12 months and will employ 2,000 people at the site over the next three years Asos chief executive officer Nick Beighton said: 'This significant investment in infrastructure and large-scale job creation is a reflection of the confidence ASOS has in its future and the quality of the skills and talent available in this well-placed location.' Business secretary Alok Sharma said the firm was a 'great British success story' with a 'skilled workforce'. 'This job-creating investment in Lichfield is exactly the type of long-term commitment we need from businesses as we build back better from the pandemic,' Mr Sharma added. The company in October reported it had seen its annual profits more than quadruple thanks to cost-cutting action and as customers returned fewer items amid the pandemic Asos chief executive officer Nick Beighton said: 'This significant investment in infrastructure and large-scale job creation is a reflection of the confidence ASOS has in its future' Asos reported pre-tax profits of 142.1 million for the year to August 31, up 329% from 33.1 million a year earlier, as sales jumped 19% including 18% growth in the UK. It shrugged off soaring costs due to the pandemic by making savings across the group, while a trend for customers to buy more carefully and return less also offset plunging demand for 'going-out' items. Marks & Spencer's quarterly sales drop by more than 7% compared to 2019 High street giant Marks & Spencer revealed today it had seen sales fall in the past three months thanks to tough coronavirus restrictions - although its food division grew during the pandemic. Purchases in the quarter leading up to December 26 fell 7.6% on a like-for-like basis, with the food division increasing 2.6%, but clothing and home sales dropped 24.1%. It shows how the national lockdown in England hit particularly hard, with both food and non-food sales down 4.5% and 40.5% respectively. Online sales were strong thanks to a new tie-up with Ocado to offer grocery deliveries for the first time as shoppers were keen on buying sleepwear and leisurewear as they stayed indoors. Advertisement Mr Beighton said at the time: 'Life for our 20-something customers is unlikely to return to normal for quite some time.' But he said in the face of the pandemic, Asos had 'met this challenge head on'. The group upped its full-year profit outlook in August as it said customers were being more careful about what they buy to avoid sending clothes back during the crisis. It said shoppers were returning fewer items because they have changed what they buy on the site, switching from formalwear to products such as activewear and mascara, which are less likely to be sent back in normal times. Asos said UK customer numbers rose 11% over the year to 7 million. But while online outlets see profits soar, the future of the high street is hanging in the balance as a second lockdown looms. A raft of popular high street stores including Oasis, Laura Ashley, Debenhams and Warehouse shut up shop after being forced into administration when the UK went into lockdown. Today, Marks & Spencer revealed it had seen sales fall in the past three months thanks to tough coronavirus restrictions - although its food division grew during the pandemic. Purchases in the quarter leading up to December 26 fell 7.6% on a like-for-like basis, with the food division increasing 2.6%, but clothing and home sales dropped 24.1%. It shows how the national lockdown in England hit particularly hard, with both food and non-food sales down 4.5% and 40.5% respectively. Online sales were strong thanks to a new tie-up with Ocado to offer grocery deliveries for the first time as shoppers were keen on buying sleepwear and leisurewear as they stayed indoors. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Cancer therapy is typically applied at the highest dose that a patient can tolerate. Although this approach succeeds in shrinking tumors, it often fails in the long run because a minority of cancer cells are resistant to the treatment. These cells rapidly expand to fill the space left by the cells that were destroyed. Cancer regrowth has frequently been fatal. Recently, mathematical oncologists have proposed a radically new approach to tackling this problem based on evolutionary principles. Known as containment or adaptive therapy, this as-yet unproven strategy aims to prevent or delay the failure of cancer treatment by exploiting competition between drug-sensitive and resistant cells. It uses relatively low doses and has the added potential benefits of reducing side effects and improving quality of life. Spatial constraints within tumors Dr. Robert Noble, a Lecturer in City's Department of Mathematics, started working on adaptive therapy in collaboration with cancer cell biologists while he was a postodoctoral student in Montpellier, France: "We validated the concept using a combination of biological, computational and mathematical models. In particular, we showed how spatial constraints within tumors can be exploited to suppress resistance to targeted therapy." Shortly after that study was published three years ago, Dr. Noble attended a workshop at the Lorentz Center in Leiden on the topic of understanding cancer through evolutionary game theory. There, he not only met his future City colleague, Professor Mark Broom, but also Dr. Yannick Viossat, a mathematician at Universite Paris-Dauphine who had recently become interested in modeling cancer treatment. Like Dr. Noble, Dr. Viossat was concerned that existing mathematical understanding of adaptive therapy was inadequate. As each study used a different model, set of assumptions, or parameter values, it was difficult to draw general insights. The pair of academics decided to collaborate to establish a more rigorous mathematical theory of tumor containment, unifying the various models that had been previously proposed. Supported by a small grant from Fondation Mathematiques Jacques Hadamard, Dr. Noble and Dr. Viossat worked together for three years, occasionally meeting either in Paris, or in Basel, where Dr. Noble was pursuing his second postdoc. Using mathematical analysis and numerical simulations, they established general conditions under which a containment strategy is expected to control tumor burden more effectively than applying the maximum tolerated dose. Importantly, they also identified conditions under which containment might fail to outperform standard of care. Their study was recently accepted for publication; an earlier version is available as a preprint. Optimal treatment regimens As interest in adaptive therapy is rapidly growing, Dr. Noble and Dr. Viossat decided to organize a workshop for mathematical modelerslike the one at which they met in Leidento survey the state of the art, discuss future directions, and foster collaborations. They held the four-day event online in December, with co-organizers from the US and South Korea. The virtual event was attended by one hundred persons who participated in more than twenty talks, interacting via the Sococo virtual meeting platform. Due to the success of this workshop it will become an annual event. Having started as a Lecturer at City in July 2020, Dr. Noble plans to continue developing mathematical models to improve cancer treatment. His long-term objective is to design optimal treatment regimens for each tumor type, and ultimately each patient. Starting this Summer, this network will provide 15 Ph.D. students with the training needed to further expand and advance the field of evolutionary game theory. EvoGamesPlus will focus on two applications: epidemiological modeling and the modeling of cancer and its treatment. "I look forward to helping these students lead the way towards more effective clinical strategies based on mathematical and evolutionary insight." Explore further Adaptive therapy based on Darwin's evolutionary principles could help fight cancer More information: Katarina Bacevic et al. Spatial competition constrains resistance to targeted cancer therapy, Nature Communications (2017). Katarina Bacevic et al. Spatial competition constrains resistance to targeted cancer therapy,(2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01516-1 Robert A. Gatenby. A change of strategy in the war on cancer, Nature (2009). DOI: 10.1038/459508a Yannick Viossat et al. The logic of containing tumors, bioRxiv (2020). DOI: 10.1101/2020.01.22.915355 Journal information: Nature Communications , Nature Friday was deja vu for the City of Laredo as the area once again saw sky-high totals in its coronavirus update. Laredo finished off the week by hitting a new high for hospitalizations for the second straight day. It also had consecutive days of recording the second-highest total of new positive cases added, as the area has now seen 28,721 positives and 526 deaths historically. "Things are intensifying day by day," Mayor Pete Saenz said. "The issue of hospitalizations is now beyond dire." Laredo confirmed that 228 people are currently hospitalized in medical facilities with COVID-19, up 12 from Thursday and 35 from Wednesday. There are also 64 patients in the intensive care unit, up five from Thursday and nine from Wednesday. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) also released data on Friday evening, correcting Thursdays report for COVID-19 hospitalization rate. That report was set to be extremely significant, as the city saw its figures drop from 38.1% on Tuesday to 29% on Wednesday. A drop that significant so quickly typically calls into question the figures being reported, especially since Laredos hospitalizations have only gone up. The COVID-19 hospitalization rate theoretically can fall even as hospitalizations increase, as it reflects the percentage of total resources in the city being utilized to treat COVID patients. However, Thursday did not bring an answer to that question as the DSHS data instead was the exact same as the previous day across the board for every city. Instead, Fridays numbers brought the truth. DSHS data Friday showed that the Laredo area had a 43.6% hospitalization rate on Thursday. Fridays figures which typically come out the same night but have been delayed a day frequently since 2021 started were not available as of press time. The reason for the drop in Wednesdays numbers appears to be a recorded rise in the citys hospital capacity, which the DSHS has recorded at 714 beds. However, this number has previously hovered around 500, and LMT confirmed that the figure was simply not accurate. "There have been instances where the inputted data has been incorrect," Laredo emergency management coordinator Guillermo Heard said. "We've never had a capacity of 714." Heard further explained that the city's hospital capacity currently stands at 463, and that hospital beds have not significantly increased in recent days despite the amount of help received through the state. As of Thursday, a total of 327 healthcare professionals are operating in Laredo who have been diverted through the State of Texas Assistance Request (STAR) system. Richard Chamberlain, head of the Laredo Health Department, said they have already reached out to the DSHS Incident Command Center for clarification on the declining rate. That means that with Laredos correct figures in place, the city never lost its lead over the rest of the state in COVID-19 hospitalization rate, despite the recent major rise in Waco. Laredo has been on top of every other major area in Texas for the past 28 days, with Friday potentially being 29 dependent on the data. As of Thursday, Waco sits second at 33.5% while 11 others are over 20%, the highest of which is Dallas/Ft. Worth at 25%. Nonetheless, the city continues to work on methods to lessen the burden on the local medical community, and it is eagerly anticipating the opening of an antibody center at the Haynes Recreation Center on Monday. The center will offer antibody treatments designed for those with COVID-19 showing mild symptoms. Through the treatments, city leaders are hoping get to patients before they require a trip to the hospital. Mayor Saenz also announced the possibility of additional tented areas at local hospitals. While Saenz said a commitment is still pending, further information is expected in the coming days. According to the mayor, the tented areas are expected to serve as additional locations for the infusion treatment. Yet it's possible that they could also be used to evaluate citizens, helping to deal with the overflow of patients recently seen at local emergency rooms. Discussions, however, are still underway, and their location when operational is not yet known. "It's not just about expanding hospital capacity but also making use of other preventative measures to prevent hospitalizations in the first place," Heard said. Meanwhile, hospitalizations are set to keep rising if current positive figures are any indication. For the second consecutive day, Laredo recorded its second-highest day for positive cases after 556 were announced Friday, just 13 shy of the citys overall record of 569 from Dec. 9. The figure is a staggering one, just the second time the area has ever been above 500 and the fifth time eclipsing 400. And combined with Thursdays 479 cases, the combined 1,035 are easily the most announced over a two-day span besting the 830 from Dec. 8-9. In fact, the surge at the end of the week gave it 1,732 positives over these seven days, the second-highest week so far during the pandemic behind only the 1,763 from Aug. 8-14. Weeks must be calculated on a Saturday through Friday basis to accurately account for the time Laredo stopped briefly providing updates during weekends. Officials also confirmed an additional fatality as a man in his 60s died Thursday. City officials continue to heed caution over the upcoming weeks, anticipating a surge in cases due to gatherings held over the holidays. "The next few weeks will be the hardest yet for our community," Heard said. "If we work together, we can get through this." As of noon Friday, 205,205 tests for the coronavirus have been administered in Laredo. The areas rolling seven-day test positivity rate sits at 8.9% as it has climbed from its brief drop this week falling to as little as 5.6% on Wednesday. It has still remained below double digits for the 10th straight day after being above the previous 25. Texas rolling test positivity rate sits at 19.3% and the United States rate is 13.6%. lsanmiguel@lmtonline.com Many Nigerian governors will be given COVID-19 vaccine on live television to encourage Nigerians to accept the vaccine, an official has said. Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti, who addressed journalists in Abuja after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, said he and his colleagues had accepted to do so. Absolutely, Mr Fayemi answered when asked if governors will also take the vaccines on live television. We too will like to demonstrate to our citizens that we believe that vaccines would work. Dont forget, we have a lot of experience on this. Governors Forum managed the polio vaccines administration in the country and we have garnered a lot of experience, said Mr Fayemi, the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum. PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported plans by the government to get President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to take the vaccines on live television when it finally gets to the country. Amidst the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic and new COVID-19 variants ravaging some parts of the world, many countries are already on the queue to access effective vaccines for its citizens. Nigeria is expecting its first 100,000 doses of Pfizer and bioNtech vaccines at the end of this month, according to the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Faisal Shuaib. The country is also expecting free 42 million doses of vaccines in the second phase through the COVAX facility, an initiative run by the vaccine alliance, GAVI, to ensure equitable access to a COVID vaccine. The Nigerian government has also inaugurated an 18-member national COVID-19 task team to ensure vaccine security on arrival. Fears However, there are fears that many may not accept the vaccine due to doubt of safety, religious beliefs amongst other factors. To encourage Americans to receive shots of their own when they could U.S President-elect, Joe Biden, in December 2020, received a COVID-19 vaccine on live television. Also, the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was vaccinated against the COVID-19 on live television on Saturday, becoming the first Israeli and one of the worlds leaders to be inoculated. No threats Mr Fayemi said the motive behind getting the vaccine administered on live television is to reassure the general public that the vaccine is safe. He said the number one priority in vaccine management relates to public health and risk communication. He commended the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 for its plans to use prominent Nigerians as publicity vehicles for reassuring the public of the safety of the vaccines. He noted that state leaders are working hard to prevent cultural and religious factors that may discourage people from getting administered. But the good thing is, Mr President has agreed with me that he would convey to the PTF the necessity of using other influencers, maybe the Chief Imams, the Bishops, top musicians, our sports personalities, Mr Fayemi said. Because the more of such people are seen taking the vaccines the more the likelihood of resistance will break down in our various localities. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Fayemi also explained the need for Nigeria to ramp up local manufacturing of vaccines to prevent dependance on other countries. Its okay that COVAX that Nigeria is part of is going to be delivering some vaccines to us. But, there is nothing as good as having the ability to manufacture our vaccines locally, he said. State forces ramp up security after attack Twitter Two gendarmes, one police officer, and one civilian were reportedly killed in the wee hours of Friday, January 8, 2021, when suspected armed separatists attacked a security checkpoint along the Babadjou-Matazem highway. Babadjou is in the West Region of Cameroon while Matazem is in the North West Region. Provisional reports say a gendarme officer serving at the Mbouda Gendarmerie Company was injured along with a civilian, an assistant truck driver. Open sources say the state forces killed in the attack include a gendarme officer serving at the Mbouda Gendarmerie Company, a police inspector serving at the Mbouda Police Station, and a gendarme serving at the Babadjou gendarmerie brigade. The lone civilian who died is said to be a truck driver whose assistant was injured. Those familiar with the incident say bullets perforated the truck and other vehicles that were around the scene of the attack. Fridays attack comes two days after an improvised explosive device reportedly planted by separatist fighters in Momo, North West Region detonated, killing five persons, including four soldiers and the Momo Divisional Delegate for Communication, Mrs. Liwusi Rebecca Jeme. Another Improvised Explosive Device was diffused by state forces in Kumba on Thursday. On Wednesday, Navy Captain Atonfack Guemo Cyrille Serge, Head of the Communication Division at the Ministry of Defense said a soldier sustained severe bullet wounds in an attack on New Years Eve. An operation by security officers the next day led to the death of two persons Kum Bah Gilbert alias Lion and Ngong Godlove. Authorities said those killed were members of a gang. Cameroons state forces have been battling to dislodge armed separatists who pitched their tents in the North West and South West Regions since Anglophone protests transformed into an armed conflict in 2017. Corporate demands by Common Law Lawyers and Anglophone Teachers led to protests in November 2016. The street demonstrations later morphed into ongoing running gun battles between state forces and armed separatist fighters in the predominantly English-speaking regions, leading to untold destruction of human lives, their habitats, and livelihoods. Tit-for-tat killings, kidnappings, arsons, maiming, and outright terror have become part of daily lives in some parts of the English-speaking regions. Source: Reuters Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday announced new travel restrictions and described as serious the situation in Brisbane where a cleaner at a hotel was diagnosed with the highly transmissible UK variant of COVID-19, prompting the authorities to announce a three-day lockdown in the countrys third-largest city. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the lockdown after informing on Twitter that a cleaner working at a Brisbane quarantine hotel had tested positive for the UK strain of COVID-19. Following a confirmed case of the highly infections UK coronavirus strain, Greater Brisbane will be entering a three day lockdown. From 6pm Friday until 6pm Monday, Local Government Areas of Brisbane, Moreton Bay, Ipswich, Redlands and Logan will enter a three-day lockdown. Stay home and stay safe this weekend, she tweeted. "Your safety is our number one priority. For the next three days, were asking people in Greater Brisbane to stay at home. If you need to leave your home, masks are mandatory. If we dont do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown, she said. Following the infection in Brisbane, Prime Minister Morrison announced new travel measures in a bid to curb the spread of more infectious strains of COVID-19 in the community, including flight crews now subject to stricter conditions and testing. 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 Morrison has said 80 percent of Australians registered overseas were in countries where the new UK mutant strain of COVID-19 was evident. "And there are other strains as well, as the Chief Medical Officer will set out, which means that this virus continues to write its own rules, and that means that we must continue to be adaptable in how we continue to fight it," he said. Morrison said the national Cabinet had approved measures to tighten the end-to-end process of international arrivals, "both from the time of embarkation and entry into the airport, all the way through to the acquittal from the formal quarantine period". "What we do know is that this new strain is some 70 percent more transmissible than the previous strains of the virus. This strain is likely to become, in the very near future, the dominant strain [as it largely already is] in the UK," he said. "The idea that it somehow can be contained just out of the United Kingdom is a false hope," he said, adding that it meant the latest lockdown in Brisbane announced by the Queensland Premier on Friday was very important move. "The situation in Brisbane is a serious situation. It moves so quickly - far more quickly than previous strains of the virus - and that means we need to give our contact tracers that head start to ensure that they can track down and run down all of the contacts from this individual and ensure that they can be identified," he said. Caps on international arrivals in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland would be reduced by 50 percent until February 15 this year and overseas travellers must now return a negative COVID-19 test result prior to their departure to Australia, with some exemptions for "extenuating circumstances". Morrison said the country had a lot to learn from how the situation in Brisbane played out. "To lock in these positions would be imprudent. I think we're going to learn a lot in the next three to five days. The whole world is trying to understand how this new strain works, he said. "We've got a very live example in Brisbane, one of our major cities. Let's learn what we need to learn over the next few days. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. There's no need to catastrophise this. But there is a very real need to address it seriously as both the Queensland government is and the Commonwealth government is," he said. Announcing the new capping on international arrivals, Morrison said, "In the smaller jurisdictions - the ACT, the Northern Territory, Tasmania - they are very bespoke arrangements in relation to those airports, and they'll be settled between the Commonwealth and those jurisdictions specifically." "So this is a temporary suspension of those higher levels of intake, as we learn more about what's happening here and what's going around the world and this isn't the only new strain," he said. The number of people able to arrive in NSW, WA and Queensland from overseas has been halved while there is no change in Victoria, which is already operating at less than half of its capacity. South Australia will also keep its intake of 490 people each week. Follow our LIVE blog for latest updates of the novel coronavirus pandemic "The purpose here is to both reduce and debulk the risk in terms of exposure to the new strain," Morrison said. Yesterday, Morrison also announced Australia could start vaccinating vulnerable groups of the population next month. The federal government sealed a deal with Novavax for a further 51 million vaccine doses. "There will be five phases of priority populations as we work through over the course of this year to administer the vaccine, both the Pfizer vaccine and the AstraZeneca vaccine, Morrison said. "Those populations in that first phase are quarantine and border workers, front line health officials, as well as those working in aged care and disability care and those in aged care, and disability care residents. We anticipate optimistically that we would hope to start the vaccination with around 80,000 vaccinations a week. That's what we are targeting," he said. Australia on Friday recorded 24 new COVID-19 cases including four locally acquired in NSW. National death toll from COVID-19 stands at 909. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Older adults, people with chronic medical conditions and front-line essential workers including some educators are next in line under New Mexicos vaccination plan. The state Department of Health released a broad schedule Friday outlining the expected sequence of COVID-19 vaccine distribution, from winter through summer. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ It generally prioritizes New Mexicans by age and risk of infection. People 75 and older are at the top of the list, followed by adults with medical conditions that could complicate their recovery from the virus. A broader group of people who cannot work remotely would come next, including family caregivers and employees in child care centers, schools and grocery stores. The goal is to vaccinate people who have the most person-to-person contact. This is welcome news and a critical step in getting back to the educational gold standard, which is in-person learning, Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said in a written statement. The state Department of Health made the announcement Friday as New Mexico moved into its Phase 1b round of vaccinations an expansion from the first phase, which focused on health care workers, first responders, residents and staff at long-term care facilities, and Native American communities. The population covered by the Phase 1b round, however, exceeds current supply, so the state indicated it will start with older adults and those with preexisting conditions before moving to front-line workers, according to a seven-page plan released Friday. Even front-line workers will be prioritized when its their turn, starting with family home caregivers and child care staffers. After that, the group spans from people working in education to those employed in hardware stores. On-site education is now heavily restricted in most of New Mexico to limit disease transmission, but vaccination could aid efforts to reopen schools. The Public Education Department said school employees covered by Phase 1b will include classroom teachers, cafeteria and janitorial workers at schools, and administrative and support staff. Many of these workers operate in roles that require significant person-to-person interactions and place them at greater risk of COVID-19 infection, the vaccine plan says of Phase 1b. Vaccine access is critical not only to protect these workers, but also to maintain the essential services they provide in New Mexico. Phase 1b would end with the vaccination of residents in group settings, including jails, prisons and homeless shelters. Dr. Tracie Collins, who leads the Department of Health, is scheduled to take questions in an online news conference Monday. Overlapping phases Federal recommendations allow for the vaccination rounds to overlap to ensure no doses go to waste. In New Mexico, for example, some older adults in Phase 1b say they have already been called in to receive shots, even though their phase hadnt officially started a step intended to ensure no vaccine is spoiled if supplies exceed demand at certain sites. New Mexicans who register through the states vaccine website cvvaccine.nmhealth.org should get a notice when their vaccine is available. The Department of Health is asking everyone to register so that the state can match people with every available appointment. The site asks for information on a persons age, health conditions and employment to help manage the vaccination schedule. People who have trouble with the website or lack internet service can call a state hotline at 1-855-600-3453. Sequence The vaccine distribution plan announced Friday suggests this schedule: Winter and spring: Phase 1b, a group that includes people 75 and older or most at risk of complications. Front-line employees who cannot work from home would be next, among them early education and K-12 teachers and staff, and people working in grocery stores, public safety and transit, and mortuaries, among other locations. Spring: Phase 1c, a group that includes adults 60 and over, in addition to other people who cant work remotely such as employees in transportation and logistics, utilities, food service, retail, finance, information technology and communication, media, the legal system and veterinary services. Summer: Phase 2, or members of the general public 16 and older. The vaccines havent been approved for anyone under 16. The state schedule is based largely on CDC recommendations. Federal officials have, however, said its fine for people to be vaccinated out of order when necessary. U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Friday the phases may overlap if states decide this is best for their situations or their current supply exceeds demand. New Mexicos vaccine plan says workers should be prepared to verify their employment and sign a sworn statement. Qualifying medical conditions may also require verification. The two vaccines now on the market both require two doses, spaced a few weeks apart, for full protection. The state estimated Wednesday that about 62,000 to 68,500 vaccines had been administered, from a supply of about 107,000 delivered to the state. The supply has since climbed to about 145,000 doses, according to the CDC. Spread accelerates New Mexico reported more than 1,600 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday and state calculations show the disease spreading as fast as it has since mid-November. The Department of Health estimated the states COVID-19 transmission rate at 1.12 in the most recent 10-day period with data available. Its the highest spread rate since Nov. 18. The figure represents how fast cases are growing, based on statistical modeling. Each person infected with the virus, for example, is expected to infect 1.12 other people on average, according to the calculation. New Mexico has averaged about 1,300 cases a day over the past week, a 24% increase from New Years Day. The growth comes after health and hospital leaders expressed fear that social gatherings over the holidays would accelerate spread of the disease. Health officials also tallied 30 more virus-related deaths Friday, pushing the statewide death toll to 2,710 residents. The state reported 703 coronavirus hospitalizations Friday, roughly in line with recent days. Hong Kong: Hospital staff tests positive The Hospital Authority today announced that a patient care assistant at Tseung Kwan O Hospital has tested positive for COVID-19. The assistant works in the Department of Anaesthesia & Operation Theatre. He attended the Mona Fong General Out-patient Clinic on January 6 for coughing and throat discomfort. His deep throat saliva test was positive for COVID-19. He is being arranged for isolation treatment and in a stable condition. As the assistant wore surgical masks and was equipped with appropriate personal protective equipment at work in accordance with infection control guidelines, the authority said no patients have been classified as close contacts. Also, he had no contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients at the hospital. A staff member who had a meal together with him has been classified as a close contact and will undergo quarantine for 14 days. The staff member tested negative for the virus. The authority added that thorough cleaning and disinfection of the assistants workplace has been conducted. This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. (Newser) Neil Sheehan, a reporter and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who broke the story of the Pentagon Papers for the New York Times and who chronicled the deception at the heart of the Vietnam War in his epic book about the conflict, died Thursday. He was 84. Sheehan died of complications from Parkinson's disease, said his daughter, Catherine Sheehan Bruno. His account of the Vietnam War, A Bright Shining Lie: John Paul Vann and America in Vietnam, took him 15 years to write. The 1988 book won the Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction. Sheehan served as a war correspondent for United Press International and then the Times in the early days of US involvement in the Vietnam War in the 1960s. It was there that he developed a fascination with what he would call "our first war in vain" where "people were dying for nothing," the AP reports. story continues below As a national writer for the Times based in Washington, Sheehan was the first to obtain the Pentagon Papers, a massive history of US involvement in Vietnam ordered up by the Pentagon. Daniel Ellsberg, a former consultant to the Defense Department who had previously leaked Vietnam-related documents to Sheehan, had allowed the reporter to see them. The Times reports, which began in June 1971, exposed widespread government deception about US prospects for victory. Soon, the Washington Post also began publishing stories about the Pentagon Papers. The documents looked in excruciating detail at the decisions and strategies of the war. And they told how involvement was built up steadily by political leaders and top military brass who were overconfident about US prospects and deceptive about the accomplishments against the North Vietnamese. (Read more obituary stories.) NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DLA Piper represented Atlanta-based startup SalesLoft in its recent US$100 million Series E financing led by Owl Rock Capital, with participation from Insight Partners, HarbourVest, and Emergence. SalesLoft's sales engagement platform helps industry-leading companies generate more revenue and deliver better experiences to their customers. DLA Piper also advised SalesLoft in its US$70 million Series D round in 2019. The company has now raised a total of US$245 million and is valued at US$1.1 billion. "We were proud to again partner with SalesLoft in its latest financing round, bringing our wide-ranging experience advising high-growth technology companies on complex transactions to achieve a successful result. We look forward to supporting SalesLoft in its success as it expands its customer base and continues to transform the sales industry," said Jeffrey Leavitt, the DLA Piper partner who led the firm's deal team. "Working with Jeff and the DLA Piper team has been a phenomenal experience. The team provides an exceptional level of support and guidance, and their attention to detail and professionalism ensured that closing this financing round was a smooth and efficient process," said Kyle Porter, CEO of SalesLoft. "DLA Piper brings a business-oriented approach to every matter they take on, and Jeff's background as a former VC and entrepreneur himself gives him a unique ability to understand and prioritize the business issues we care about. The firm's focus and responsiveness was a key factor in helping us secure this funding and move our goals forward. We were extremely pleased to partner with them once again," said Chad Gold, CFO of SalesLoft. In addition to Leavitt (Atlanta), the DLA Piper team advising SalesLoft included partners Stacy Paz (Silicon Valley), Julia Kovacs and Jennifer Kashatus (both of Washington, DC); and associates Puja Vadodaria and Mario Bolanos (both of Atlanta). DLA Piper's Emerging Growth and Venture Capital practice includes more than 200 lawyers in the US who provide strategic counsel to emerging companies in high-growth industries, including biotech, manufacturing, communications, software and semiconductors. Over the last three years, DLA Piper has completed more than 2,100 financings totaling over US$31 billion. DLA Piper's global Technology sector lawyers work across practice areas and offices to support technology clients from startups to fast-growing and mid-market businesses to mature global enterprises doing business around the world. About DLA Piper DLA Piper is a global law firm with lawyers located in more than 40 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia Pacific, positioning us to help clients with their legal needs around the world. In certain jurisdictions, this information may be considered attorney advertising. dlapiper.com SOURCE DLA Piper Related Links http://www.dlapiper.com The violence inflicted on America Wednesday by Donald Trump and his mob shows how vulnerable our democracy is to a would-be authoritarian who craves power and adulation above all else. It also underscored Trumps contempt for a diverse modern culture. One small example which I hope will now be seen for the idiotic notion that it is is his cynical embrace of the idea that some brands of architecture are morally superior to others. The mob of vandals nearly all male and nearly all white, from what we could see on TV who stormed the U.S. Capitol didnt pause to contemplate how the 19th century landmark was built in a classical style meant to encourage civic virtue. Nor did they pause to contemplate how cloaking government buildings in classical garb supposedly conveys ... the dignity, enterprise, vigor, and stability of Americas system of self-government. I take these phrases from an executive order signed by Trump last month on Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture. It decrees that federal structures should be designed in traditional styles, not contemporary ones, and calls for the creation of a Presidents Council on Improving Federal Civic Architecture. The Dec. 18 order was a victory for a group of classical architecture buffs with White House connections who want to impose their tastes on new government buildings. The language is toned down from a draft leaked last February, but theres still a dig at elite architects and such provocative recent structures as the San Francisco Federal Building that opened in 2007 and features a tower cloaked in perforated steel rising from a heavy concrete base. The problem with such buildings, according to the executive order, is that they dont radiate a visual embodiment of Americas ideals. Government structures that look traditional or classical, by contrast, ennoble the United State, and command respect. Right. If anything has defiled Americas claim to deserve respect, it is the horde of hateful and belligerent Trump supporters who, many wearing MAGA caps and others waving Confederate flags, pushed past Capitol police and for several hours occupied the building at will. They broke windows, scaled walls, ransacked offices and preened for one another in the Senate chamber. Greg Baker / AFP via Getty Images 2020 Once outside, some of the mob taunted reporters and smashed the equipment of film crews brave enough to try and document the scene. Others mocked police and said that theyd be back next time with rifles. Nowhere to be found: the instigator in chief, who urged on supporters at a rally beforehand near the Washington Monument telling them them were going to the Capitol before he headed back to the White House while the mob assaulted the home of Congress. What does this antidemocratic rampage have to do with architecture? Nothing. And thats the point. The issue isnt that classical buildings such as the U.S. Capitol arent beautiful. They are. They radiate a stately grandeur that makes me appreciate what America strives to be in its best moments. But Adolf Hitler loved classical architecture, too. Dan White gunned down Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in San Francisco City Hall, an aspirational masterpiece of Beaux Arts classicism if ever there was one. Evil pursues evil without regard for architectural trappings. The man who signed the executive order emphasizing that federal architecture should celebrate the stability of Americas system of self-government is the same one who on video said, We love you. Youre very special to the mob that sought to prevent Joe Biden from being certified as the president-elect. Once Biden moves into the White House, he can revoke Trumps executive order, true. But he has more important things on his plate, from the tenacious devastation of COVID-19 to the Trump administrations methodical assaults on environmental regulations. At the very least, an edict like the Executive Order on Promoting Beautiful Federal Civic Architecture is a naive attempt to try to turn back the clock to a time that never really existed. It suggests that there is unified vision of beauty that all of us share, except for those snooty urban elites who dont appreciate real American values. It ignores that many classical American landmarks, such as Thomas Jeffersons Academical Village at the University of Virginia, were built in large part by slaves. Or that in a country as diverse as todays America, what one person sees as noble, another sees as hollow or oppressive. It is fundamentally wrong to suggest there should be some kind of (official) state style, said Craig Hartman, a consulting design partner at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill who was the architect for big federal projects including the courthouse in Los Angeles and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. We as a culture and civilization are so far beyond that. Whats far worse is the notion that how buildings look is more important than what happens within or that there is nothing wrong with trying to undermine democracy while calling on federal buildings to encourage civic virtue. Some of the classical architecture sycophants who got Trump to throw them a bone might believe that. The vandals happy to riot on his behalf know better. John King is The San Francisco Chronicles urban design critic. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron Rev Dr Stephanie Dowrick arrives at the Thai restaurant smiling and characteristically well prepared. The author has printed out a few documents that might be useful as we discuss a new edition of her bestselling book Intimacy and Solitude. Here on the documents are the answers she gave to a New Zealand journalist recently about the effects of loneliness and the beautiful benefits of solitude. And here's her blog about how desperately important connection and communication can be in a time of pandemic. I know how distracting it can be if you are having an interesting conversation and have to eat and order as well, she says. Although I won't be eating much. But you must order something that you would really like, perhaps duck or prawns; that would make me feel a lot better. I tell her that I am happy with her vegetarian choices of golden tofu (which she says sounds lovely), crispy dumplings and pad Thai. Infuzions Thai in Cammeray is our venue because of its proximity to a studio where the Balmain-based Dowrick has been recording the audio book for Intimacy and Solitude. As it happens, recording has been completed, so there is plenty of time to move around the largely empty restaurant in search of the best spot for recording and photography. Stephanie Dowrick Credit:Edwina Pickles Dowrick's vibrantly patterned dress, in what interior designers would call jewel colours, blends well with the richly coloured Thai cushions and warm woods. Lead, Kindly Light, she jokes, quoting a famous hymn, as we search for the most flattering spot. In addition to being a versatile author of almost 20 fiction and non-fiction books, and a psychotherapist, Dowrick is an interfaith minister who was based at Pitt Street Uniting Church from 2006 to 2017. More recently she has been co-leading sacred gatherings at the InnerSpace Centre in Five Dock. Rabat, Morocco (PANA) - A unit of the Moroccan Navy coastguard provided assistance early Thursday morning to save a makeshift boat in difficulty off the coast of Nador (North), with 21 Sub-Saharan Africans on an illegal migration on board, including the dead bodies of a woman and a baby, the Moroccan news agency (MAP) reported, citing a military source Two of the three samples sent by the Haryana animal husbandry department from poultry farms in Panchkulas Barwala belt to the High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal tested positive for avian influenza on Friday. More than 4.37 lakh poultry birds have died in Panchkulas Barwala and Raipur Rani areas, considered Asias second largest poultry belt, over the past 26 days. Also read: Bird flu spreads to six districts in Rajasthan, Centre takes stock While the Jalandhar-based Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory is still processing the samples sent to it, the Bhopal lab has confirmed the presence of influenza. The central team, which visited the Community Health Centre at Raipur Rani, is discussing the line of action with the Panchkula district administration. Culling of birds is to take place within 1 km area of Kheri and Ghanauli villages from where the samples tested positive. The death of poultry birds has been taking place since the first week of December and the Panchkula administration has come under criticism for inaction. The state animal husbandry and dairying department sent samples twice to the Jalandhar lab but the reports were inconclusive. It was only after the central team got the samples sent to Bhopal that the report came positive for bird flu overnight. Dr Saroj Aggarwal, deputy civil surgeon, Panchkula, said that arrangements have been made at CHC, Raipur Rani, and isolation wards have been set up, while Tamiflu tablets have been procured to check human-to-human transmission of the influenza. We are ready to deal with any situation, she said. DC police release photos of alleged members of Trump mob (DC Police) At least six Republican state legislators took part in events surrounding the storming of the US Capitol. West Virginia Delegate Derrick Evans posted a video of himself entering the building but later deleted it, The New York Times reported. Tennessee state lawmaker Terri Lynn Weaver told the Tennessean that she was in the thick of it during the rally before the storming of the Capitol. She said there was Just a whole heck of a lot of patriots here". She later tweeted a picture of the mob at the base of the Capitol, saying: Epic and historic day gathering with fellow Patriots from all over the nation DC. Virginia state Senator Amanda Chase denied that any violence had taken place, despite the overwhelming evidence, and later accused the police of murder after the shooting of a California woman inside the Capitol. "A veteran who was brutally murdered by Capitol Police today, Chase wrote on Facebook according to the Henrico Citizen. These were not rioters and looters; these were Patriots who love their country and do not want to see our great republic turn into a socialist country. I was there with the people; I know. Dont believe the fake media narrative," she wrote. Missouri State Representative Justin Hill skipped his swearing-in ceremony to be in DC. He marched to the Capitol but didnt enter, the St Louis Post-Dispatch reported him as saying. Pennsylvania State Senator Doug Mastriano made sure that a busload of people could be in DC. He said in a video that he didnt participate in the clashes with police, The Hill reported. Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock was also at the scene, according to The Hill. This comes as the FBI and DC Police released images of people wanted on federal charges for violently storming the US Capitol. They are trying to track down 36 people after 68 were already arrested after violent clashes with police as the Trump-supporting mob broke into the Capitol, forcing members of Congress to evacuate and seek shelter in undisclosed locations. Four rioters died and 56 officers were injured in the ensuing chaos. One officer remains in hospital after being beaten and tased by the mob. Story continues Charges include inciting a riot and weapons violations. Rioters scaled the Capitol building, defaced statues, committed countless acts of vandalism and fought with police. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The suspects include Holocaust deniers, White supremacists, and conspiracy theorists. Several of them have already been identified online, such as 32-year-old Jake Angeli, sometimes called the "QAnon Shaman" according to the Arizona Republic. Shirtless and wearing horns and a fur, the Trump-supporting QAnon conspiracy theorist was seen in numerous images from the Capitol on Wednesday. An unnamed man was fired from his job at a Maryland marketing firm after wearing his company badge while storming the Capitol. Trump news - live: President asking to pardon himself as he flees to Camp David amid 25th amendment talk But many have yet to be identified. Former Deputy Director of the FBI Danny Coulson told Fox News that: "It didn't just happen," asserting that inciters of the riot were to blame. "There were people there that came to do it and generated it and caused this horrible mayhem," he said. Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement: "The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our Government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions under the law." "Some participants in yesterdays violence will be charged today, and we will continue to methodically assess evidence, charge crimes and make arrests in the coming days and weeks to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. DC Police released 26 pages of images showing people wanted for "Unlawful entry". "We still have a significant amount of work ahead of us to identify and hold each and every one of the violent mob accountable for their violent actions," Metropolitan Police Department chief Robert Contee said. Read More Lindsey Graham urges Trump officials to stay on through transition Trump has told aides he wants to pardon himself, reports claim Schumer says he supports Pelosis move to impeach Trump Pelosi to Pence: Remove Trump or Democrats will impeach him This is the quickest way to impeach Trump (again) Coverage of yesterdays invasion of the US Capitol by Trump supporters has since led news reports the world over. In the UK, The Guardian referred to the invaders as a mob. So did the BBC, in recent coverage, though at least one earlier report called them Trump supportersa phrase widely used in other outlets, including the Times of London, Australias Herald Sun, and Canadas Toronto Star, as noted in an Axios roundup. Axios also noted a pivot in terms used by US news outletsfrom calling the demonstrators protesters to mobs and rioters. The same pivot was visible in international coverage during the past twenty-four hours. A BBC headline from yesterday afternoon described turmoil at the Capitol as violent Trump supporters breach building. A more recent story referred to the event as a siege, and to its perpetrators as a pro-Trump moba term that also featured in coverage by Al Jazeera and The Mainichi, in Japan. Others took a different approach. The Times of India referred to the group as stormtroopers, while Israels Haaretz published the names of white supremacists who were present at the Capitol, some of whom had attended previous white-supremacist rallies. A headline from Frances Le Monde asked, Complotistes, neonazis, negationnistes qui sont les insurges du Capitole? Still, many outlets avoided such specificity. Coverage in the Folha de S.Paulo and O Globo, both in Brazil, referred respectively to multidao, a Portuguese word meaning crowd, and to the manifestantes, sometimes describing their costumes and weapons. Journalist Robert Moore, from Britains ITV News, referred to the invaders as the pro-Trump crowd that fought with the police when following them for a video segment that has since received over nine million views. Headlines consistently conjured the violent atmosphere of yesterdays event. Some outlets, such as Daily News Egypt, quoted from comments made by President-elect Joe Biden to refer to chaos in headlines; others, including Mexicos El Universal, used the word directly. A headline in the Bangkok Post referred to a day of debate and tumult. The Guardian and the Times of London both referred to the event, in headlines, as a siege, while several stories in Nigerias Punch termed it the Capitol riot. As in the US, insurrection featured in many headlines, from Canadas Globe and Mail to South Africas Mail and Guardian. Many outlets featured the responses of world leaders. An Al Jazeera headline led with the word disgraceful, in reference to quotes by both British prime minister Boris Johnson and Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Punch, in Nigeria, published a roundup of responses from international government figures, including German foreign minister Heiko Maas, who urged Trump supporters to stop trampling on democracy. The Hong Kong Free Press, a nonprofit news site, assessed the response of pro-Beijing officials and state media, reporting that both groups delight[ed] in comparing US Capitol unrest with [the] 2019 storming of [the] Hong Kong legislature. Sign up for CJR 's daily email A spokesperson for Russias Foreign Ministry said the day revealed that the US electoral process is archaic, according to the Moscow Times, which included additional comments and characterizations from several prominent Russian figures, including media personalities and political officials. President Vladimir Putin also spoke with reporters, following an Orthodox Christmas service held on an island northeast of Moscow, though, according to the Moscow Times story, he made no statement on the unprecedented chaos in the United States. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Feven Merid is a CJR fellow. A city cop who opened fire and killed his civilian friend at Nyari police station in Westlands, Nairobi has spoken out about the shooting saying it was an accident. Police Constable Edgar Mokamba is said to have pumped up to 10 bullets into his friend on December 29 while he was on guard duty at the patrol base in Westlands. They are said to have been chewing miraa inside a Toyota Probox before gunshots rang out prompting an officer-in-charge to rush to the scene. The officer is said to have pumped up to 10 bullets into his friend killing him on the spot. The officer in charge found the lifeless body of the victim at the drivers seat of the car. PC Mokamba was subsequently disarmed and arrested; he appeared before the court on Thursday, January 7, to plead to a murder charge but the High Court ordered that he undergoes the mandatory mental test first. Speaking to the press after the court session, the accused expressed remorse and asked for forgiveness from Kenyans. Through his lawyer Danstan Omari, Mokamba said he was with his friend when a suspicious-looking woman of Somali descent entered the gate. He then took out his AK47 rifle suspecting that she was a terrorist and moved towards her. Omari said that his client then cocked his gun which released bullets, killing his friend. The lawyer indicated that they will seek a plea deal with the public prosecutor for the accused to plead guilty to a manslaughter charge. Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, currently own one of Byron Bay's most expensive homes: a mega-mansion in Broken Head worth an estimated $20million. But the Hollywood power couple could soon be overshadowed by an even more expensive home when a luxury beachside pad worth $61million hits the market. A three-storey off-the-plan property called The Beach House is set to be built next to the Byron Beach Hotel and opposite Main Beach, reports Realestate.com.au. Move over, Thor! Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky could soon be overtaken as the owners of Byron Bay's most expensive house when a beachside mansion hits the market for $61million The property is set to feature a rooftop pool, 360-degree beach views, a Japanese hot tub, an elevator and even a self-contained residence for the owner to rent out. The house was contracted by Cavvanbah Projects' Adam Hammond last August and has been listed for sale by high-end property agency Beauchamp Estates. Melbourne-based architect John Bornas is also working on the design. Mr Hammond and Mr Bornas are believed to be submitting the development application to the council next month. Ambitious project: A three-storey off-the-plan property called The Beach House is set to be built next to the Byron Beach Hotel and opposite Main Beach, reports Realestate.com.au 'The sort of person who can spend just over $60million on a house, which realistically will be a holiday house, will likely have a net worth of at least half a billion dollars,' Mr Hammond said. He suggested the future owner of the property could be a foreign billionaire, noting that 'billionaires are fairly thin on the ground' in Australia. Mr Hammond added that the site could potentially have retail space on the ground floor for extra income. Lap of luxury! The property is set to feature a rooftop pool, 360-degree beach views, a Japanese hot tub, an elevator and even a self-contained residence for the owner to rent out It comes after a leading Byron Bay real estate agent, who has sold homes to the Hemsworths and other celebrities, insisted Hollywood types weren't driving up property prices in the trendy coastal town. While frustrated locals blame a few high-profile residents for the influx of wannabe models and social media 'influencers' to the area in recent years, Peter Yopp of LJ Hooker said A-listers weren't actually the ones spending the most money. Mr Yopp told Realestate.com.au the soaring house and rent prices in Byron Bay were in fact the result of the 'secretly rich' splashing the cash. Grand plans: The house was contracted by Cavvanbah Projects' Adam Hammond last August and has been listed for sale by high-end property agency Beauchamp Estates. Melbourne-based architect John Bornas is also working on the design 'To be honest, the people with the real money look like they don't have any money. You wouldn't even know who they are,' he said. Mr Yopp also said sale prices were constantly rising, with new records being set whenever a luxury property changes hands. 'The latest sale is the new bottom,' he told the website. 'As soon as something else comes along, it supersedes it [in price].' According to Domain, the median house price in Byron Bay is now more than $1.44million, which is up 22.8 per cent from last year. Celeb hotspot: It comes after a leading Byron Bay real estate agent, who has sold homes to the Hemsworths and other celebrities, insisted Hollywood types weren't the ones driving up property prices in the trendy coastal town. Pictured: notable Byron Bay resident Zac Efron Meanwhile, rent has 'jumped by a third in six months', reports Realestate.com.au. Notable Byron Bay residents include actor Chris Hemsworth and his wife, Elsa Pataky, who own a $20million 'mega-mansion' in Broken Head; model and The Block winner Elyse Knowles, who bought a $2.3million beach house last year; and The Project host Carrie Bickmore, who rents out her $3million holiday home to visitors. In addition to the famous locals, many Hollywood stars have rented in Byron Bay while visiting Australia, including Zac Efron, Natalie Portman and Mark Wahlberg, who spent his 14-day quarantine at a luxury $2,500-a-night retreat in the area. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 08:12:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Undated photo provided by Dalian Ocean University shows members of the university's anti-epidemic volunteer team delivering supplies to students' dormitory at the university in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. In response to the recent outbreak of COVID-19 cases in the city, Dalian Ocean University closed the campus on Dec. 21, 2020. A total of 17 young people, with an average age of 19, joined the volunteer team, delivering food, necessities and epidemic prevention materials for teachers and students quarantined in the dorm area. They have delivered 12,219 meals for 5,109 teachers and students. (Dalian Ocean University/Handout via Xinhua) KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2021 - 19:08 | All, World, Japan A group of Japanese high school students seeking nuclear disarmament will send letters of encouragement to 122 countries and regions that have signed or ratified a U.N. treaty banning such weapons set to enter into force this month, it said Friday. In a press conference in Nagasaki, the student peace ambassadors said the letters, written in both Japanese and English, express high expectations of their efforts toward nuclear abolishment. The letters also aim to persuade those that have signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to take immediate action to ratify the pact. The group said they will be sent to the embassies of the countries or through other channels before the treaty takes effect on Jan. 22. In October, the United Nations said that 50 countries have ratified the treaty, reaching the threshold required for it to enter into force. However, nuclear weapon states, such as the United States, Russia and China, are not part of it. Japan, the only country to have suffered the devastation of atomic bombings, has decided not to sign the treaty in consideration of its security alliance with the United States. In an effort to build support for the pact, the student group, which began its peace efforts in 1998, will also send letters to lawmakers, governors and mayors in Japan. The treaty, which was adopted in 2017, will become the first international pact outlawing the development, testing, possession and use of nuclear weapons. Related coverage: U.N. nuke ban treaty to take effect in Jan., Japan in dilemma The first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive will take place at 1,500 vaccination centres in all the 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh and the health department plans to hold 3,000 sessions for the vaccination of health workers, who will be the first to get the shot. The vaccination programme will be launched across the state in a phased manner, as per the guidelines announced by the Central government, said Amit Mohan Prasad, additional chief secretary, health and family welfare. The health and family welfare department has also started preparations for the second dry run across UP on January 11, before the launch of the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination. Prasad said the state government has planned to vaccinate 900,000 health care workers in the first phase. The Central government will supply the vaccine to Uttar Pradesh in a phased manner. It will take a decision on the quantity of vaccine to be supplied to the state, he said. Also Read: Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appears effective against mutation in new coronavirus variants: Study Chief minister Yogi Adityanath has indicated that the Covid-19 vaccine is likely to be available in UP around Makar Sankranti (January 14). In the first phase, health workers, officers, employees in government and private health units, ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers and supervisors will be vaccinated. In the second phase, frontline workers from other government departments, including state and Central police personnel, homeguards, prison staff, local bodies, municipal corporation staff, personnel deployed for rescue and relief work during natural calamities, will be vaccinated. In the third phase, people above 50 years of age as well as those below 50 years of age but with co-morbidities like diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure and respiratory disease will be given the shot. Three sessions of the vaccination will organised in hospitals, while more than three sessions can be organised in big hospitals, according to the availability of space, said Prasad. As many as 100 beneficiaries will be vaccinated in each session. The list of the beneficiaries will be uploaded on the Covid-19 portal, he added. The district magistrates have been directed to constitute a district task force, tehsil task force and block task force to review the vaccination drive in the respective areas. The officers of all state government departments as well as representatives of WHO, Unicef and UNDP will be members of the task force, he said. Medical waste will be disposed of according to the guidelines issued by the state government. The control rooms will be established at the district and block level in all 75 districts of the state. All the district magistrates and chief medical officers have been directed to launch a massive campaign highlighting the utility and quality of the vaccine to motivate people to get themselves immunised, he said. The additional chief secretary said adequate security arrangements should be made during the transportation of the vaccine in districts. Security personnel will be deployed 24X7 and CCTV cameras will be installed at cold chain points. There will be no video recording or CCTV cameras in the vaccination rooms during the vaccination session, added Prasad. Source: Reuters It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the most crucial and awaited Union Budget for the education sector in the past decade. Education for 270 million children in India has been disrupted by the worlds largest school closure in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to an Oxfam study, teachers fear that a third of the children might not return even after schools reopen, most of whom are likely to belong to the most marginalised social groups Dalits, Adivasis, and Muslims. Thus, this Budget has a crucial role to play in supporting the recovery of school education and prevent large-scale dropout of children. If the Narendra Modi-led government does not want to lose decades of progress in the field of school education, the government must ensure the below provisions in the Union Budget 2021-22. First, the government must ensure additional finances to support safe reopening of schools: A survey by Oxfam found that 40 percent schools are being used as quarantine centres. Further, only 54 percent schools have toilet, drinking water and hand-washing facilities. As we move towards reopening schools, the government must renew its commitment of making a Swachh Bharat and allocate additional funds for making adequate WASH facilities (water, soap and functional toilets) available in all schools before they reopen. In line with the NHRC advisory on protection of rights of children during COVID-19, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must be developed for safe reopening and resources must be allocated for capacity-building of school management committee members and teachers on these SOPs to prevent outbreaks of the virus. It is estimated that students from disadvantaged backgrounds will lose 40 percent of their previous years learning due to their interrupted access to education. The Budget must provide for additional academic support and learning materials to recover the lost instructional time. Second, the central government must provide support to states for a back-to-school campaign and additional financing for existing out of school programmes: A report by the ILO and UNICEF estimates that a 1 percent increase in poverty leads to a 0.7 percent rise in child labour. The NSSO (2017-18) estimates put the figure of out-of-school-children (OoSC) at 32 million a number likely to rise even further because of the pandemic and the ensuing economic crisis. The Budget must allocate funds for a back-to-school campaign to minimise dropouts. The campaign should include a large-scale mapping exercise to identify children who are out of school, and support their transition back to school through the special training centres, which would need additional financing given that millions of children are currently out of school. Third, the Budget should allocate funds to the gender and social inclusion funds, recommended under the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP): Girls from disadvantaged families could lose 50 percent of their total years of education in the aftermath of the pandemic if preventive measures are not taken. To prevent this, the Budget must implement the recommendation put forward in the NEP 2020, of creating gender and social inclusion funds to support states in implementing community-based interventions to address context-specific barriers to education for girls, transgender children and for children belonging to disadvantaged social groups. Fourth, the government must provide adequate financing for effective implementation of the Right to Education (RTE) Act: Eleven years after it came into effect, only 12.7 percent of all schools comply with infrastructural norms laid out under the RTE Act. In Bihar and Jharkhand, compliance is less than 4 percent. This is a direct consequence of resource inadequacy. Now, more than ever, it is crucial to fulfil the vision of the RTE Act by ensuring adequate and equitable financing. According to an estimate, an additional 1.2 percent of GDP is needed every year for RTE financing. This must be provided for, with a focus on providing a fiscal stimulus to lagging states. We risk losing hard-won gains in school education and ending up with a lost generation of children if education financing is not prioritised in the upcoming Budget. India will have the largest population of young people in the world over the next decade. How well we can provide them with universal access to quality educational opportunities will determine Indias future. Boris Johnson praised two arthritis drugs that researchers claim to be very effective in severe COVID-19 patients. They also stated that new medicines could reduce death cases by up to 24%. Also Read: COVID-19 Mutation B117 Spreading Fast, Is the Current Vaccine Effective Against It? Bloomberg reported that the United Kingdom confirmed that it would start using Roche Holding AG arthritis drug to cure COVID-19 patients that are suffering from extreme symptoms. On the other hand, the country's prime minister confirmed that the anti-inflammatory drugs sarilumab and tocilizumab would be available through the NHS. When will the arthritis be available? The scientists claimed that the two drugs would have an immediate effect and could save thousands of lives once they are implemented. "I'm pleased to tell you today British scientific research has now contributed to the creation of more new life-saving treatments that have just passed rigorous clinical trials," said Johnson via The Daily Mail UK. He added that the two drugs would soon be available to everyone since the researchers found out they can decrease the time spent in intensive care by as much as ten days.The prime minister also said that medicines could reduce critical ill patients' death risks. "These life-saving drugs will be available through the NHS with immediate effect, potentially saving thousands of lives," he added. On the other hand, the researchers also discovered that the two new drugs are useful for patients who are taking dexamethasone. This medicine is a steroid that the British scientists discovered to reduce the most severe COVID-19 patients' death risks over summer. Can the new study shed light during the COVID-19 pandemic? The British politician Matt Hancock said that the new study is another breakthrough during the ongoing global pandemic. The discovery could really be helpful, especially since there are new strains of the novel coronavirus that are now spreading across many countries, including Singapore, China, and more. REMAP-CAP trial is the one that released the new study's results, which involved 3,900 people with severe COVID-19 symptoms in 15 countries. The drugs will be marketed under the brand names Kevzara and Actemra. They are expected to be administered via an intravenous drip for an hour. The new study revealed that those who took the two new drugs dropped their death rate by 25.3%. On the other hand, the patients who only received dexamethasone had a death rate of 35.8%. For more news updates about new COVID-19 drugs, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: UK and US Requires Their Residents to Take Two COVID-19 Vaccine Jabs! How Fast Would You Need the 2nd One? This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A comprehensive forensic examination is underway in Ukraine. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova has said the Ukrainian side started examining a flight crew tablet found at the crash site of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752 that was brought down by a missile in Iran a year ago. "The investigation of the plane crash near Tehran continues under the procedural guidance of the Office of the Prosecutor General. Throughout the year, over 200 procedural and investigative actions were carried out, 18 inquiries for international legal assistance were sent to other countries, while we are in constant contact with the competent authorities of Iran and Canada," she wrote on Facebook. As part of international cooperation, Venediktova added the Ukrainian delegation had traveled to the crash site where the team were able to partially inspect and make photos of the wreckage. "A comprehensive forensic examination is underway in Ukraine to establish the causes and nature of aircraft crash, the amount of material damage and compliance with the rules of international flights," she said, adding Ukraine had started examining the flight crew tablet found at the crash site, which Iran handed over to Ukraine in December 2020. Venediktova reiterated the Ukrainian side had recently received from Iran a draft final technical report on the plane crash. "It takes 60 days to analyze the document and offer comments and suggestions, after which the Iranian side is set to finalize it in a month. And it will be made public only after it is approved by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)," the prosecutor general said. Read alsoPS752 downing: Iran to be held accountable to deliver justice Joint statementPS752 downing in Iran: Background On January 8, 2020, Kyiv-bound Boeing 737 passenger jet flight PS752, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed in Iran shortly after takeoff from Tehran Airport. All 176 people on board, including 11 Ukrainian nationals nine crew and two passengers were killed. Among victims are also citizens of Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani admitted that the Ukrainian liner had been shot down as a result of an unintentional "human error," and promised to bring those responsible to justice. On June 9, media reports said Iran had accused six persons in the PS752 downing case. On July 20, the flight recorders were delivered to Paris and decrypted on July 21. On July 24, it was reported that data from the black boxes had confirmed external interference with the aircraft's operation. On October 23, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Yenin said Iran would pay compensation to the relatives of victims of the UIA flight PS752 crash, but the process might last up to two years. On December 9, however, Yenin said that Iran had withdrawn the offer to handle the payments to the families of those killed in the UIA plane crash. In the middle of December, Canada expressed its position on the Iranian investigation into the downing of the Ukrainian plane, saying it is not credible. On December 22, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that Iranian investigators, during a video conference, had provided representatives of other countries whose citizens were victims of the crash with a technical report on the UIA downing. On December 23, Yenin said that Ukraine had not received the report. On December 24, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed concern that Iran was delaying the negotiation process on the case of the downed Ukraine International Airlines plane. He noted that Ukraine had not received a technical report from Iran on the plane downed almost a year ago. On December 30, Iranian cabinet members reportedly agreed at a session to allocate US$150,000 or its equivalent in euros to each family of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash in January 2020. Reporting by UNIAN Drinking two cups of Oolong tea per day can help you burn fat while you are sleeping, by boosting your night time metabolism, according to researchers. The speciality brew is only partially oxidised - providing specific health benefits including burning fat, according to University of Tsukuba researchers in Japan. A group of healthy volunteers were asked to drink either oolong tea, pure caffeine or a placebo over a two week period to study how it changed the breakdown of fat. Both oolong tea and pure caffeine increased fat breakdown by about 20 per cent compared with a placebo but oolong continued to work even as volunteers slept. Drinking two cups of Oolong tea per day can help you burn fat while you are sleeping, by boosting your night time metabolism, according to researchers Senior author Professor Kumpei Tokuyama said oolong contains caffeine, which impacts energy metabolism by increasing our heart rate - it also increases the breakdown of fat independent of the effects of the caffeine. Tokuyama believes drinking oolong tea regularly - a couple of cups per day - will combat the over indulgences of the festive season. Losing weight while you sleep may sound too good to be true - but drinking oolong tea might help you do just that, he said. 'The stimulatory effects of oolong tea on fat breakdown during sleep could have real clinical relevance for controlling body weight,' explained Tokuyama. Metabolism slows down when people are in bed and stationary but it never stops completely - even when in the land of nod. Caffeine is known to inhibit sleep - which in turn can impact metabolism - but there was no noticeable difference in sleep patterns when people drank oolong tea. This shows the beverage is unlikely to prevent you from getting a good night's rest, said Tokuyama. All tea comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. But the degree of oxidation, a chemical reaction that turns tea leaves black, defines its specific variety. The speciality Taiwanese brew is only partially oxidised - providing specific health benefits, according to researchers from the University of Tsukuba, Japan For example, green tea is unoxidised and mild in flavour, while the distinctive colour of black tea comes from complete oxidation. OOLONG TEA: A PARTIALLY OXIDISED BREW WITH HEALTH BENEFITS You may not be familiar with oolong tea, which originates from China. Any tea that has been oxidised between eight and 85 per cent (semi oxidised) can be considered an oolong tea. Tea oxidation is one of many steps in the production of oolong tea. As soon as you pluck a tea leaf, it starts to oxidise. Black teas are fully oxidised whereas green teas are hardly oxidised at all. Oolong, also known as 'black dragon tea' falls into the middle. A cup would contain caffeine, vitamins, minerals, amino acids and beneficial tea polyphenol antioxidants, according to USDA Food Composition Databases. These properties all have potential for health benefits including weight loss, brain function, heart health and diabetes prevention. But their efficacy in tea needs more research. Advertisement Oolong lies somewhere in between - displaying characteristics of both green and black tea. Whilst green tea is lauded for health benefits - the benefits of oolong remain unknown. It has been used for centuries in Chinese medicine - yet only accounts for two per cent of overall tea consumption worldwide. The study published in Nutrients also found neither oolong tea or the placebo treatment caused an increase in energy expenditure. This indicates that the volunteers developed a tolerance to the stimulatory effects of caffeine, explained Tokuyama. 'However, we need to determine whether the effects we observed in the two week study translate into actual body fat loss over a prolonged period. 'In addition, we want to trial a decaffeinated oolong tea to better distinguish the effects of caffeine from other components of tea, which will help us understand exactly how oolong helps with fat breakdown.' Oolong tea is believed to contain more antioxidants than green tea - increasing metabolism and preventing the spread of fat cells to maintain weight loss. Previous research has found drinking it could burn up to 3.4 per cent more total calories every day. It has also been shown to keep bones strong. Elderly people who drink oolong tea are said to have a 64 per cent lower risk of brain function decline. It also lowers heart disease risk by 61 per cent - and may even reduce the risk of breast cancer, according to the findings of an unrelated study. Interest in the health benefits of tea has grown dramatically in recent years. All varieties have been shown to help stave off heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer's. Experts say plant chemicals called flavonoids are the beverage's main health giving ingredient. The findings have been published int he journal Nutrients. New Delhi: According to a data released by the Centre for Science and Environment, the warmest years in the last fifteen years due to climate change have been experienced by India. An analysis which looks at temperature trends in the country, both annual and seasonal, from 1901 till 2017, has found that the country has been getting warmer continuously, consistently and rapidly. Citing the data, CSE Director General Sunita Narain expressed concern over US President Donald Trump pulling his country out of the Paris Agreement on climate change. With the US exiting the Paris Agreement, controlling emissions and temperature is now a tougher task for the world. With the increasing temperature, we are moving towards a disaster and we appeal to the global community to come together and take strong actions, Narain said in a Facebook live while releasing the data. India is warming and warming rapidly. The implications of this fundamental fact are serious for economic, social and ecological well-being of the country. We are experiencing frequent extreme weather events, and our weather is becoming unpredictable. Losses due to extreme weather events are mounting and it is our poor who are suffering the pains of climate change, said Chandra Bhushan, Deputy Director General, CSE. According to the report, the annual mean temperature in India has increased by about 1.2 degrees Celsius since the beginning of the 20th century. Annual mean temperature in India has rapidly increased since 1995. At this rate of increase, it will breach the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark within the next two decades. 1.5 degrees is the aspirational target set under the Paris Agreement, the report said. 13 out of the 15 warmest years were during the past 15 years (2002-2016). The last decade (2001-2010/ 2007-2016) was also the warmest on record, the report revealed. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Scientists have welcomed Defra's new consultation on gene editing as the technology will lead to increased crop yields and improved resilience to pests and diseases. Rothamsted Research, one of the oldest agricultural research institutions in the world, says gene editing technologies will soon be contributing to a more sustainable and productive farming sector. "Weve already seen the huge benefits genome editing brings to areas such as medicine its now time to apply the same sort of innovation, together with responsible regulation, to our food production," Director Professor Angela Karp said. Humanity faces some grave challenges over the coming decades, and the solutions that genome editing make possible cannot come too soon. Scientists at the Hertfordshire institution explain that the benefits to the environment from the technology could include less land being used for farming. It may also lead to a reduction in farm inputs such as water, fertilisers, and pesticides - as well as a drop in overall greenhouse gas emissions. Defra's 10-week consultation will look at plans to regulate the products of precision breeding techniques in the same way as conventional breeding methods, rather than as GMOs as they are classified under EU law. Countries such as Australia, Japan, Argentina, the US and Brazil already regulate genome edited agricultural products in this way. Rothamsteds Professor Johnathan Napier said: This consultation sends an important message that the UKs bioscience sector is open for business and equipped to meet the many challenges facing agriculture using new technology. Early benefits of gene editing for agriculture could include gluten-free wheat, oilseeds with heart-healthy fats, disease-resistant sugar beet and potatoes that are even healthier than those we have now. Gene editing can also help accelerate the improvement of orphan crops like cassava, millet, cowpea and yams, which are critical to food security in less developed parts of the world. The consultation will run for ten weeks from 7 January to 17 March 2021. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Gov. Tim Walz has proposed to legislative leaders that they write into law some of the key emergency measures that he's imposed to deal with the coronavirus. The move would give lawmakers more of a say in shaping the states response. The Democratic governor didnt propose specific legislation. But he offered some principles that he said would facilitate the eventual wind-down of the states peacetime state of emergency. They include codifying the mandate for face masks in public indoor spaces and businesses. Republican lawmakers have chafed over the governors heavy reliance on executive orders to manage the pandemic. (@FahadShabbir) WARSAW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2021) The number of undocumented migrants crossing into the EU was the lowest in 2020 since 2013 due to the impact of COVID-19 pandemic and relevant restrictions, the EU border agency Frontex said in a press release on Friday. "The number of detections of illegal border crossings along the EU's external borders fell 13% last year to around 124 000, in large part due to the impact of COVID-19 restrictions put in place by various countries, according to preliminary figures collected by Frontex. This was the lowest number of illegal border crossings since 2013," Frontex said. According to the agency, Syrian refugees constituted the majority of those who illegally crossed into the bloc in 2020, followed by Moroccans, Tunisians and Algerians. "Despite a rise early in the year, the Eastern Mediterranean migratory route ultimately saw the biggest fall in the number of arrivals, which fell by over three-quarters to around 20 000. The number of illegal border crossings in the Western Mediterranean region decreased by 29% to around 17 000," the statement said. Meanwhile, the Canary Islands experienced a record number of migrant arrivals in 2020, largely due to a significant increase over the last four months of the year. "In total, more than 22 600 illegal border crossings were detected on the Western African migratory route, eight times the tally from the previous year," Frontex said. According to Frontex, male migrants accounted to a much larger proportion of the total number of undocumented migrants arriving in Europe, while women accounted to only about 10 percent. A year ago, women amounted to a quarter of all migrant arrivals. Union minister for agriculture Narendra Singh Tomar said on Friday the farmers unions representatives were adamant on their demands of repealing the three farm laws during the eighth round of talks. Tomar also pointed out that the government urged farmers unions representatives to propose alternatives other than demanding a total rollback. Discussion on the laws was taken up but no decision could be made. The government urged that if farmers unions give an option other than repealing, we will consider it. But no option could be presented, so the meeting was concluded and it was decided to hold the next meeting on January 15, Tomar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Tomar, along with Piyush Goyal and other Union ministers, has conducted eight rounds of discussions with the representatives of the farmers unions but both parties have failed to reach an agreement over the farm laws. Ahead of the meeting, Tomar had reiterated that both sides need to take steps to reach a solution. I am hopeful that talks will be held in a positive atmosphere and a solution will be found. During discussions, each side has to take steps to reach a solution, Tomar had said before reaching Vigyan Bhavan. While the government has previously indicated that it is ready for the long haul and is not keen on repealing the laws, farmers unions representatives also remained stolid on their stance. The farmers, who are agitating at Delhis borders since the last 45 days, have warned that the protests will further intensify and more tractor rallies will be organised to protest against the governments stance. Rakesh Tikait, Bharatiya Kisan Union leader, said that farmers will continue to remain at Delhis borders unless the laws are repealed. Farmers wont relent before the laws are repealed. Well come on Jan 15 again. Were not going anywhere. The government wanted to talk about amendments. We dont wish to have clause wise discussions. We simply want a repeal of the new farm laws, Tikait was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Hannan Mollah, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) leader, who had earlier in the day said that he is ready for any eventuality, echoed similar sentiments and said that the protest scheduled for January 26 will go ahead as planned. He said, There was a heated discussion, we said we dont want anything other than repeal of laws. We wont go to any Court, this (repeal) will either be done or well continue to fight. Our parade on January 26 will go on as planned. Tomar also said that there are several farmers groups who are supporting the farm laws and are ready to discuss concerns with them. The government believes that the introduction of these laws will help the agricultural sector in the country and allow farmers to double their incomes. Farmers believe that 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 will affect the procurement of yields under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system and allow multinational companies to use the sector to maximise their profits at the expense of the farmers. LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe By Barbara Feder Ostrov | CalMatters Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. Lea este articulo en espanol. Getting the coronavirus vaccines into the arms of as many Californians as possible has become a race against time as COVID-19 cases continue to spiral upward and a more infectious variant of the virus takes root. Many questions remain unanswered about how the next -- and much larger -- wave of Californians will be vaccinated, even as doctors and other health providers in the first priority group are complaining to state officials that they still can't get access to the vaccines. At a vaccine community advisory committee meeting on Wednesday, state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan announced an ambitious immunization goal, acknowledging widespread criticism that the state has moved too slowly to vaccinate its first priority group of frontline health care workers and nursing home residents. California now aims to immunize 1 million people within the next 10 days, Pan said. Officials are recruiting dentists and other health professionals to become vaccinators, and Gov. Gavin Newsom asked state lawmakers to approve $300 million to support the vaccination push. "We do need to move faster," Pan said, "especially in the middle of this surge." Nearly 530,400 doses of either the newly authorized Pfizer or Moderna vaccines had been given by the end of Wednesday, just over a quarter of the more than 2 million doses shipped to California hospitals and county health departments. " In written comments submitted before the meeting, doctors in the first priority group who aren't affiliated with large health providers complained that they had no way to obtain vaccines for themselves and their staff even though they treat COVID-19 patients. Licensed midwives and home health care workers had similar complaints. The current system "leaves out workers who are not employed by the major health systems, and some of these workers face a high risk of COVID infection," wrote Dr. Ana Sanchez, an Orange County ob/gyn, in her public comment. She noted that she and her staff provide prenatal care to mostly low-income women, some of whom are infected. A doctor for the Solano County jail wrote that he was surprised to find that he was not included in the first priority group despite treating COVID patients. "We are the 'forgotten physicians,'" wrote Dr. Lysa Nguyen, another Orange County physician in a four-doctor family medicine practice. "Though we are not working in the hospitals, we are swabbing patients and providing outpatient care to those with COVID-19 in hopes of helping our local ERs from being inundated." At the meeting, a state working group of experts unveiled newly refined priorities for which groups should be vaccinated after health care workers and nursing home residents. These recommendations will be finalized soon by state health officials. Under these recommendations, the next wave of vaccinations, known as Phase 1b, includes people over 74 years old plus teachers and childcare workers, food industry and agriculture workers and non-medical first responders. Phase 1b's second-priority group includes people over 64 years old, prisoners and the homeless, and essential transportation, manufacturing and construction workers at risk of exposure. The final priority group, Phase 1c, includes people over 49 years old, people ages 16 to 64 with chronic conditions or disabilities, and essential workers in the water, defense, energy, communications, financial and government sectors, among others. State public health officials set the priority groups, but counties have some leeway within them to prioritize certain occupations or high-risk people. In an agricultural county, for example, migrant farm laborers might be prioritized over other workers. Public health officials acknowledged that it's difficult to tell when each county will be able to move from one phase to the next, but emphasized that local health officials should be the ones to decide. Many questions remain, including how to notify Californians when their turn comes. It was relatively easy to notify and screen the eligibility of frontline hospital workers and nursing home residents. But logistics will be far more complicated now. How will counties decide which people over 74 should be immunized first? What documents will workers need to provide to prove their eligibility in a priority group? Who's responsible for ensuring that people don't jump the line? Should a pharmacy be able to collect social security or driver's license information as a requirement for immunization? What about people, including the blind or disabled, who need help with transportation to a vaccination site? The answers are just starting to surface as officials continue to work on the daunting logistics of delivering highly perishable vaccines to millions of Californians. For example, to ensure that the vaccine is equitably distributed to people of color and lower-income Californians -- who have disproportionately been affected by COVID-19 -- some counties are prioritizing communities that score lower on the California Healthy Places Index, which identifies disadvantaged neighborhoods and highlights their health concerns. Health officials said Californians can call the state COVID hotline, open seven days a week, at 1-833-422-4255 to talk to a staff member who can advise on when they will be eligible depending on their job, age and other criteria. The experience at some Los Angeles area vaccination sites foreshadows some of the challenges to come. Vaccinators weren't checking credentials of people earlier this week, allowing non-health care workers to jump the line, the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday. "Across the state, our goal is to get vaccine safely into people's arms as quickly as we possibly can," said Kim Saruwatari, director of the Riverside County Public Health Department. "We are getting faster and identifying the logistical challenges and working through them, and I think that's only going to improve as we move forward." More than 36,000 new cases and 583 deaths were reported today. At least 34 cases of the new, more infectious COVID-19 variant have been reported in Southern California, including 32 in San Diego County. Particularly in the hard-hit Los Angeles region, some hospitals are so full that California Public Health Officer Dr. Tomas Aragon late Tuesday ordered hospitals with open beds to accept intensive care patients from hospitals in crisis. Under the order, hospitals with less than 10 percent intensive care capacity also must cancel some elective procedures, including colonoscopies, knee replacements and cataract surgeries. Many hospitals throughout the state already have cancelled those surgeries. While some scientists have proposed reaching more people by giving half-doses of vaccine or delaying the required second dose nationwide, Aragon said California officials expect to stick with the current regimen authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. He said there is "not enough scientific evidence at this moment to adopt this new approach." This story was originally published by CalMatters. Jersey City Police Chief Michael Kelly is set to retire next month, Mayor Steve Fulop announced Thursday. Fulop said on Twitter that after serving 33-plus years on the Jersey City police force, Kelly informed him Wednesday that he will retire next month. Im really thankful for his partnership over the years as he has led the JCPD amidst some of the most challenging times, Fulop said. He commanded the JCPD through an active shooter last year, he has helped drive crime down to historical lows for our city, and has been a partner in making sure the JCPD is properly staffed for a city our size while at the same time making sure our department accurately reflects the city they serve. Kelly, 59, joined the police department in 1988, and rose to become the commander of the citys West District and then a deputy chief. In 2018, he emerged from a group of 40 candidates to replace former Police Chief Phillip Zacche. Since then, hes been credited for reductions in violent crime across the city. But Kelly has also been there from some of the departments darkest and most tragic hours. In 2009, while running the departments major case unit, he was on the scene of the infamous Reed Street shootout when Detective Marc DiNardo was fatally shot. In 2013, he was the commander of the West District when Melvin Vincent Santiago, a rookie cop on the force just six months, was shot and killed at a drug store blocks from the police precinct. Kelly also led the department through the tragic kosher market shooting on Dec. 10, 2019 that killed Jersey City Detective Joseph Seals, Douglas Miguel Rodriguez, Leah Minda Ferencz and Moshe Deutsch. Participating in a local program to plant trees. Participating in a local clean-up effort. I will take alternative transportation to conserve fossil fuels. I will volunteer with a local recycle drive. I don't know, but I will do something to mark the day. I would like to, but I'm not aware of any volunteer efforts for Earth Day. I do these things regularly. I never recognize Earth Day. Vote View Results Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - UrbanGold Minerals Inc. (TSXV: UGM) ("UrbanGold" or the "Company") is exclusively focussing its activities this winter on its central Troilus-Frotet area properties. These properties consist of the Pallador property, 26,585 hectares, 100% owned by the Company and BullsEye property, 8,558 hectares, 50% owned by the Company under a joint venture with Argonaut Gold. UrbanGold is the operator. Mathieu Stephens P Geo., President and CEO of the Corporation, has requested a temporary reduction of his duties to focus on personal matters and advance key Troilus-Frotet area exploration. The Board is pleased with the outstanding work done by Mr. Stephens in assembling the large and key Troilus-Frotet land package, and equally pleased he will focus on its exploration. During this temporary period, Jens Hansen P. Eng, the founder of Urbangold, has agreed to undertake the President and CEO functions. Mr. Hansen will receive assistance on specific matters from Urbangold board members. Please see the Corporation's news release dated December 21, 2020, for detailed information on the exploration activities carried out by the Corporation in the Frotet- Troilus area. About UrbanGold UrbanGold Minerals Inc. is a precious metals exploration company with its activities focused on the Troilus-Frotet gold belt, Quebec. The Company specializes in project generation supported by substantial exploration expertise. The Company's common shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "UGM". Forward Looking Information This news release may contain certain forward-looking information and statements, including without limitation, future exploration work and the temporary change to management responsibilities. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking information and such information involves various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. A description of assumptions used to develop such forward-looking information and a description of risk factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from forward-looking information can be found in UrbanGold's disclosure documents on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. UrbanGold does not undertake to update any forward- looking information except in accordance with applicable securities laws. For further information Investor Relations First Canadian Capital Corporation Phone: 416-742-5600 MI3 Phone: 514-346-3813 Jens E. Hansen, P.Eng Interim President and Chief Executive Officer jeskhansen@gmail.com Phone 1-888-397-3566 www.urbangoldminerals.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71656 Mr. Biden has promised to reinvigorate the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration part of the Labor Department which has been criticized for failing to protect workers during the pandemic, including through lax oversight of workplaces like meatpacking plants. And he has pledged to provide more economic aid to small businesses, particularly those run by Black, Hispanic, Asian and Native American owners. This team will help us emerge from the most inequitable economic and jobs crisis in modern history by building an economy where every American is in on the deal, Mr. Biden said in a statement. They share my belief that the middle class built this country and that unions built the middle class. They know how to work with states, cities, small towns and tribal communities, along with labor, entrepreneurs and businesses to get things done for American workers. The Democratic-controlled Senate is likely to accelerate consideration of the new presidents political appointees. Nominees who had been expected to run into roadblocks like Neera Tanden, a scathing critic of Republican senators and Mr. Bidens pick to oversee the Office of Management and Budget now appear far more likely to be confirmed. The new political calculations were on display just hours after the results of the Georgia races were clear on Wednesday, when Mr. Biden revealed he had selected Judge Garland of the Federal Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit as attorney general. Before Tuesdays elections, some Democrats had expressed worry that choosing Judge Garland would allow a Republican-controlled Senate to replace him on an important court. Now that Democrats are in control, that is no longer a concern. It will also allow Mr. Biden to nominate and confirm other judges as well, including justices to the Supreme Court, if an opening arises during the next two years. More broadly, the president-elect and his team are setting higher expectations for a legislative agenda now that his party controls Congress. Efforts like expansion of the Affordable Care Act and an ambitious overhaul of the nations immigration laws are more likely than they were with the Senate in Republican control. Several immigration advocacy groups issued statements urging Mr. Biden to quickly put the Democratic gains to use. Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 8 : As many as 5,142 new coronavirus cases were reported in Kerala on Friday even as 5,325 more COVID-19 patients recovered, Health Minister KK Shailaja's office said. As many as 64,236 corona patients are under treatment in Kerala, the official release said. As many as 59,569 samples were tested in the past 24 hours. The positivity rate is 8.63 per cent. Ernakulam district reported the highest 708 new cases and Kasargod lowest 65 cases. Three UK returnees tested positive on Friday, taking such cases in Kerala to 50. The samples of corona positive UK returnees were sent to the National Institute of Virology at Pune in Maharashtra for further tests, of which six were found infected with new virus strain. Kerala's COVID-19 death toll increased to 3,257 with 23 more fatalities on Friday. Of those who tested positive, 88 have come from outside the state whereas 4,563 persons got infected through contact. The sources of contact of 424 persons are not clear. A total of 67 health workers also tested positive on Friday, including 20 in Pathanamthitta, 10 in Ernakulam, six each in Kollam and Thrissur, five each in Palakkad, Kozhikode and Kannur, four each in Thiruvananthapuram and Kasargod, one each in Idukki and Wayanad. As many as 1,98,270 people are now under observation in various district, including 1,87,104 persons in home or institutional quarantine and 11,166 in various hospitals. New hotspots -- Mattathur in Thrissur (Cantonment Zone, ward 9), Malayalapuzha in Pathanamthitta, and Thottapuzhassery (Sub-ward 1, 2 and 6) -- took the total hotspots in Kerala to 440. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) (Newser) Potentially up next in President Trump's slew of pardons are two rappers. Lil Wayne, who will be sentenced Jan. 28 on a weapons possession charge, and Kodak Black, who is currently serving a 46-month sentence for weapons charges, are on the list of people Trump is considering, according to Bloomberg. So are some senior White House officials and family members, the outlet reports. Trump is expected to announce the pardons Jan. 19, the day before Joe Biden's inauguration. story continues below Trump is also reportedly considering preemptive pardons for people like Mark Meadows, Stephen Miller, Dan Scavino, Ivanka Trump, and Jared Kushner, who have not yet been charged with any crimes. And, according to the New York Times' sources, the president has even in recent weeks suggested to aides the idea of pardoning himselfsomething no president has ever done, therefore it's not clear such a thing would be recognized by the courts. According to Business Insider, "The president has granted more pardons and commutations to his allies than any of his predecessors." (Read more presidential pardon stories.) Two separate delegations of Samajwadi Party (SP) visited Ghaziabad and Badaun respectively on Thursday to probe the crematorium tragedy of January 3 and Badaun gangrape and murder of the same evening. Both the teams demanded CBI probe in the respective cases. The Badaun delegation, led by SPs former Badaun MP Dharmendra Yadav, met the family of the 50-year-old woman who was gang-raped and murdered in a village of the district. Assuring the family of his partys support, Yadav demanded that the government pay Rs25 lakh to the bereaved and that the incident be probed by CBI. The Ghaziabad team visited the site where the crematorium roof collapsed in Muradnagar, killing at least 25 people. It also visited some of the victims families. At least Rs50 lakh should be paid to each family. We want a transparent investigation and the guilty should be punished. We are here to help victims get justice and not to indulge in politics, said Ashu Malik, SP leader and former MLC. On their return to Lucknow, the teams would submit their reports to party president Akhilesh Yadav. THE case presented against one of the men accused of murdering gangland boss Robbie Lawlor was "a masterpiece of vagueness", a court heard today. Counsel for Adrian Holland (37) claimed the charge depends entirely on complex, circumstantial CCTV evidence, number plate registrations and mobile phone analysis. Lawlor was gunned down in broad daylight outside Holland's house at Etna Drive in Ardoyne, north Belfast on April 4 last year. Prosecutors claim the 36-year-old underworld figure had moved north because he feared he was going to be attacked in a deadly feud. But his assassination had already been commissioned three weeks earlier at a meeting in a Sligo hotel attended by an international drugs dealer, it has been alleged. Read More Neither Holland nor 45-year-old co-defendant Patrick Teer, of Thornberry Hill in Belfast, are accused of being the gunman. Instead, they were charged as part of a joint enterprise to murder, based on their alleged involvement in events surrounding the shooting. According to police, Lawlor went to Etna Drive in a pre-arranged appointment to collect cash. A gunman emerged from the property and opened fire, shooting him in the head and body. Lawlor died at the scene. The attack is believed to have been part of an ongoing drugs dispute which claimed three lives in the past year. Originally from Dublin, Lawlor was heavily involved in a bitter feud between rival Drogheda-based factions. With both of the men charged with his murder still in custody, counsel for Holland challenged the case advanced against his client at a previous hearing. Joe Brolly told Belfast Magistrates Court: "The outline of the facts by the prosecution was a masterpiece of vagueness." Confirming Holland intends to apply for bail next month, the barrister requested police interview tapes and CCTV from a Tesco store in Crumlin, Co Antrim where Lawlor allegedly met a suspect on the day before his murder. Footage from a hotel in Sligo where police claim a meeting was held to commission the assassination should also be disclosed, it was contended. Mr Brolly added: "The evidence against this accused is the coincidence of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), CCTV footage, and cell-site analysis of a mobile phone not recovered which the prosecution say is attributable to the accused." Crown lawyer Natalie Pinkerton responded that evidence is not ready to be disclosed at this stage, but added that she would take instructions on the material sought. Adjourning the case for four weeks, District Judge George Conner told defence representatives: "I suggest you put in writing the matters you are specifically asking for. "I expect the prosecution to examine those matters and to release any documents that can be released at this stage." The deadlock continues as the talk between the Centre and Farmers remained inconclusive yet again today. Ahead of the farmer-centre meet today, farmer unions had announced a tractor march on Republic Day, i.e January 26. As the farmers continue to protest at Delhi-NCR border braving the winters and thunderstorms, the Centre had called the representative of farmer union for a fresh round of talks today. In what is seen as the eighth round of talks, efforts were made to reach a mutual agreement on the two core demands put forth by the protestors, i.e repeal of new farm laws and legal guarantee on minimum support price. In a bid to make the Centre concede their demands, the farmer unions had already announced a tractor march on January 26. A glimpse of which, was seen on Thursday as thousands of farmers headed towards Delhi via Ghaziabad and Manesar in their tractors. Speaking about the rehearsal march, one of the farmers expressed that they will protest against the government and showcase that they are united and wont back down. Amid the no-deal situation, the Supreme Court recently expressed concerned over mass gatherings of protesting leaders. Heading a three-judge bench, Chief Justice Bobde addressed Centre and remarked that a Tablighi Jamaat situation can arise at the protest site and they dont know if the protestors are protected from Covid-19. In another development, the World Trade Organisation, while reviewing Indias trade policy, has said that MSP are distorting cropping patterns. It observed that the practice of procurement in certain states is resulting in regional disparities and added that it is suggested that farmers receive only a fraction of the price paid by consumers due to the fragmentation of agricultural markets and weak infrastructure. In the latest turn of events, the talk between the Centre and Farmers remained indeterminate today and the deadlock continues. The next round of talks between the Central Government and farmer leaders is now scheduled to be held on 15th January. Agricultural Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said that the government will consider if the farmer unions present another option instead of repealing. But since the Farmers are adamant about repealing the laws and no other option could be presented, the meeting ended on an inconclusive note. Hannan Mollah, the General Secretary of All India Kisan Sabha remarked that, There was a heated discussion, we said we dont want anything other than repeal of laws. We wont go to any Court, this (repeal) will either be done or well continue to fight. Our parade on 26th Jan will go on as planned. He added that they (farmer unions) do not want clause wise discussions and simply want the new farm laws to be repealed and are willing to fight till death. The Farmer Unions are said to decide their next course of action on 11th January. Simon & Schuster has canceled its planned June publication of The Tyranny of Big Tech by Sen. Josh Hawley. The junior U.S. Senator from Missouri, a Republican, was the first senator who objected to the Electoral College results declaring Joe Biden the president-elect of the United States after winning the 2020 presidential election. The objections triggered a debate in Congress on January 6 that became the target of the armed insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol in apparent response to rhetoric by Trump and his allies, including Hawley. S&S said it canceled publication after witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, D.C. In its statement, the publisher said that it did not come to this decision lightly, and noted it weighed its mission as a publisher to amplify a variety of voices with its public responsibility as citizens." It was that latter responsibility, the statement continued, that convinced company management that S&S cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom. In response, Hawley released his own statement on Twitter, describing the cancellation of his book as "Orwellian" and his erstwhile publisher as a "woke mob." He added: "Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. It's a direct assault on the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published." (The First Amendment protects the right to free speech, but not the right to a platform, or to be paid for the publication of that speech.) S&S, responding to Hawley's statement, replied that it was "confident" that its decision to cancel the book was "fully within our contractual rights." Shortly after the riots at the Capitol calmed down Wednesday night, social media was filled with speculation over whether S&S would go ahead with publication of Tyranny given Hawleys role in looking to overturn the election results. On Thursday morning an author writing under the pseudonym of Celeste Pewter, who works for an elected official in her day job, launched a social media campaign urging her friends and followers in the publishing community to contact S&S and complain about Hawley's book. Her Twitter campaign received more than 700,000 impressions by Thursday evening. Pewter said that she launched the campaign after witnessing via television the events that occurred in the Capitol Wednesday. "We must do our part in holding the people responsible for such violence accountable. I wanted to take a stand as a member of the writing community: Hawley should not be given a platform. It's clear he does not take responsibility for what happened. He continued anyway yesterday evening with his objections, despite knowing he was the first senator coming forward with the allegations that caused such violence. He was unrepentant," Pewter explained. Josh Hawley has a book coming from Simon & Schuster this June. What responsibility does publishing bear for platforming and profiting off of incitements to violence? https://t.co/XkqyIEe5kX https://t.co/a5e6iEGdof Constance Grady (@constancegrady) January 6, 2021 Maybe it's time to tell @simonschuster that they shouldn't fucking publish a book in 2021 by traitor and conspiracy theorist Josh Hawley. https://t.co/Fc2yHk4Uxq Maris Kreizman (@mariskreizman) January 6, 2021 Hawleys book, still listed for sale on Amazon as of Thursday evening, argues for a new approach to controlling the power of Amazon, Facebook, Google, and other technology giants. These companies, the marketing blurb reads, are threatening Americas republican form of government. To reverse the concentration of these companies, which define our era, Senator Hawley argues that we must correct the mistakes of the progressive past and recover a more truly republican politics, a politics premised on the importance of the working man and woman. NCAC Says S&S Wrong to Cancel The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) issued a statement Friday saying it was deeply concerned with S&Ss decision to cancel the Hawley book. While saying it shares the outrage against the mop that attacked the Capitol as well as those, such as Hawley, who fed the mob, NCAC said killing the deal weakens free expression. American publishers play a critical role in our democracy by disseminating the books that inspire the public debate that shapes our future, the statement continued. Many of the booksand many of the authorsare highly controversial and generate intense opposition. When that happens, it is crucial that publishers stand by their decision to publish, even when they strongly disagree with something the author has said. Canceling a book encourages those who seek to silence their critics, producing more pressure on publishers, which will lead to more cancellations. The best defense for democracy is a strong commitment to free expression. This article has been updated with further information. Rogelio Rodriguez, 74, has won Cuba's 2020 National Book Critics Circle Award for a book that examines Chinese influence on Cuban literature. Published under the title "The Chinese Trace in the Cuban Literature," Rodriguez's award-winning work provides readers with an in-depth analysis on how novels portray China's intangible cultural heritage like "My Uncle, the Employee" by Ramon Meza, and "Paradiso" by Jose Lezama Lima. The author, also president of the Cuban Academy of the Spanish Language and senior professor at the University of Havana, said "Chinese descendants have substantially contributed to enhancing historical links that unite the two countries." His literary essays have gained popularity among writers, critics and university students interested in getting insights into different processes and tendencies in the history of the island's national literature. "Our literature has not only portrayed China through literary characters and symbols but also through a fluent dialogue with Chinese customs and traditions embedded in the very heart of the Cuban people," he said. He also praised the "very positive" steps China has taken to promote Spanish language learning among its population as a "clear proof of Chinese government's will to strengthen bilateral relations with Latin America and Caribbean countries." "Cuba could become a platform to increase dialogue between Chinese people and the Spanish speaking world," he said. "I have never been there but I would love to," said Rodriguez. An author of a dozen books and a columnist for national and international magazines, he has also done research on exchanges between Chinese and Cuban people by late 1990s. The writer is now working on a reviewed edition of his book, which will include new findings of the study he has conducted while sheltering in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hosted by the Cuban Book Institute, the contest for the National Book Critics Circle Award is held annually to recognize the most relevant literary works released by the country's publishing houses throughout the year and to promote creative writing nationwide. This year's book award ceremony will take place during the 30th Havana International Book Fair this year, though the date for the event has yet to be confirmed. Today Mainly clear. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Mainly clear. Low 53F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 78F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph, becoming WNW and increasing to 15 to 25 mph. SALEM, Ore. -- Today the Oregon Legislature released its safety plan for the upcoming 2021 Legislative Session. The plan for floor sessions will be similar to previous ones, creating distance for when members can be on the floor for voting. They'll also continue with committees meeting only virtually. Public hearings and work sessions won't happen on the same day, and the public record will be open longer so people can participate. House Speaker Tina Kotek says they want to model best workplace practices so that the work can get done safely. As we know the pandemic will be with us for a foreseeable future. More than 1,500 Oregonians have died from COVID-19 and our state's hospital capacity continues to be stretched. Then, there's still a high level of community spread throughout the state, and Marion County has been designated at extreme risk for quite awhile. We do not want our actions in the Capitol starting this month to make matters worse," Kotek said. Physical entry to the Capitol is permitted for authorized personnel, but legislators say if public health conditions improve, public entry will be expanded. Kotek says they're going to communicate more with the public about the safety plan, making sure everyone understands how they can participate remotely by phone or video. Our goals have been to both balance public health with public input and participation in the legislative process. We have focused on safety primarily, and we want to have a plan that focuses on making sure the process in this environment is transparent. We want public engagement and we want to be able to do the people's work," Kotek said. The Legislature will meet on Monday for the swearing in of new members. The Legislative Session will begin on Tuesday, January 19th. Hong Kong: GBA job scheme launched The Government today invited enterprises to join the Greater Bay Area Youth Employment Scheme to offer jobs for young people to help them pursue careers in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Announcing the schemes launch, the Government said it is one of the measures announced by the Chief Executive in the 2020 Policy Address to encourage and support youngsters to work in bay area cities to help them understand the latest developments of Hong Kong and these cities and leverage the opportunities in the bay area. As pointed out by the Chief Executive in the Policy Address, taking into account Hong Kong's economy and market scale, the youth unemployment rate may remain at double digits for some time. With a population exceeding 70 million, the bay area has huge development potential and offers many career development opportunities for the young people of Hong Kong. Noting that the governments of Guangdong and Shenzhen have expressed strong support for the scheme, the Government said young people should broaden their horizons to the motherland and seize the opportunities to study, work and live there. Enterprises with operations in Hong Kong and Mainland cities in the bay area are welcome to join the scheme to offer jobs. Participating enterprises should employ eligible graduates locally under Hong Kong laws, and station them in bay area cities to work and receive on-the-job training. The scheme provides 2,000 places, around 700 of which are designated for innovation and technology posts. The Government will grant a monthly allowance of $10,000 to enterprises for each graduate employed for up to 18 months. To join the scheme, graduates should be Hong Kong residents lawfully employable in the city and hold bachelor's degrees or above awarded locally or by institutions outside Hong Kong from 2019 to 2021. The graduates employed under the scheme will receive a monthly salary of no less than $18,000. They should work in Hong Kong and the Mainland cities of the bay area, with each location taking up six to 12 months. For I&T posts, graduates should also possess degrees related to science, technology, engineering or mathematics. A secretariat set up by the Labour Department and the Innovation & Technology Bureau will handle applications from enterprises and the disbursement of the allowance. Job vacancies will be uploaded on the schemes website after they are processed and vetted by the department and the bureau. This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. For Rep. Rob Wittman, the only member of Congress from Hampton Roads voting to reject some electors pledged to Joe Biden, it came down to a view that his job Wednesday was not just ceremonial or administrative. But the 1st District Republican said he accepts that many Virginians might not see his vote against certifying electors from Pennsylvania that way. On the other hand, there are Democrats who, in 2005, took a similar view when 31 voted to reject Ohios electoral votes for President George W. Bush, he said. This was not about overturning the election, I knew my vote wasnt going to do that, Wittman said. But in 2005, rejecting Ohio would have ... People may say youre a traitor for voting that way, but John Lewis (the late civil rights era hero who represented a Georgia district in Congress) voted to reject Ohio, and I would never say he was a traitor, Wittman said. There were concerns about voter suppression ... those concerns were addressed because of that vote, Wittman said. Wittman said the process for certifying electors set out in the Constitution is not pro forma. I know I have colleagues who say its just ministerial; open the envelopes, check that there arent competing slates, and certify, he said. But if the founders meant that, I think theyd just have the Clerk of the House and the Clerk of the Senate do that. Wittman said he believes Congress role is to make sure the states follow their laws and the U.S. Constitution. He said his decision not to certify the Pennsylvania electors was meant to air the concerns hes heard about the way officials handled that election. His aim was to discuss those concerns with the hope of fixing any problems for future elections. Look, I know emotions are raw. People feel passionately ... what makes it worse is when people feel disenfranchised, he said. Its important that they know their concerns are heard and debated. A federal appeals court dismissed some Pennsylvania Republicans lawsuit challenging election results, alleging missed votes and improper procedures, by saying the challenge presented no evidence. Story continues Wittman said he was concerned about certifying those electors when a Trump campaign suit, filed after that dismissal, is still pending before the U.S. Supreme Court. But rejecting Pennsylvanias electors was not a vote to deny Pennsylvanians their right to vote, he said. I know the numbers, I knew the electors were going to be certified, that Joe Biden was the president-elect. You can say the vote disenfranchised his supporters, but what about disenfranchising people who didnt vote for him but believe the election was unfair, he said. Wittman said complaints hes heard about voting in Arizona, whose electors some more than 100 of his colleagues voted to reject, did not raise those concerns, which is why he voted to certify that states electors. He was not in the Capitol when Trump supporters broke in. I had been in the chamber, wanting to talk to colleagues to see how things were going to play out, and was headed back to my office, he said. He and his staff stayed there, monitoring events and following directives from Capitol Police and House officials. Wittman called for an audit to review why the attackers were able to cross four barricades and enter the Capitol. He said the attack was a blemish on the nation that left him saddened and hoping it wont stop people working together to tackle the nations challenges. But he said he realizes that his vote is stirring much criticism. Some came from his opponent in the 2020 election, Democrat Qasim Rashid, who tweeted: White supremacists & nazis committed insurrection. Terrorists planted 3 bombs to commit mass murder. My 2020 opponent @RobWittman calls it a blemish & still demands overturning the election. Dave Ress, 757-247-4535, dress@dailypress.com The California Air Resources Board announced a settlement with AltAir-Paramount, LLC addressing reporting violations under the Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS). The settlement is valued at $132,500. AltAir produces renewable diesel and renewable jet fuel from tallow at its facility in Paramount, CA. CARB staff determined that Altair made unauthorized changes to quarterly and annual reports, reclassifying certain fuel volumes and adding previously unreported gasoline sales. Due to the late reporting of the deficit imbalance AltAir was in violation of 95485 and subject to penalties of 95494(c). AltAir admits the violations, cooperated with CARBs investigation and is now in full compliance with the LCFS regulation. AltAir paid a penalty amounting to $132,500, calculated in keeping with CARBs enforcement policy. Of that total, $66,500 goes into Californias Air Pollution Control Fund. The additional $66,000 will fund a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) developed by Tree Fresno to evaluate the effectiveness of using vegetative barriers to reduce near-road pollution exposure. Mumbai: Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut on Friday reached the Bandra police station here to record her statement in a case related to sedition and other charges. Ranaut, who has been provided Y-plus category security of CRPF personnel, arrived at the police station in suburban Mumbai around 1 pm along with her advocate amid heavy media presence. Kangana Ranaut The Bandra police had registered an FIR against Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel for allegedly promoting enmity between communities through their remarks in October, an official said. The FIR was registered following orders from a magistrate court in Bandra. The court had directed the police to carry out an inquiry against Ranaut and her sister after a complaint was lodged against them for allegedly trying to create hatred and communal tension through their social media posts. Kangana and Rangoli Munawwar Ali Sayyad, a casting director and fitness trainer, had filed the complaint referring to tweets and other statements of Ranaut and her sister. They were booked under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 295-A (deliberate acts hurting religious sentiments) and 124-A (sedition), 34 (common intention). Lockdown: The chain's pubs, including All Bar One, have suffered loss of earnings during Covid restrictions. Photo: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Mitchells & Butlers, the UK pub chain in which Irish horse racing magnates John Magnier and JP McManus own a combined 23pc stake, is considering raising equity as the UK enters its latest lockdown. The group owns about 1,700 outlets that trade under names such as ONeills, Harvester, Toby Carvery and All Bar One. Of the groups estate, 82pc is freehold. The company employed about 46,000 people before the Covid crisis began. Mitchells & Butlers said that it currently has cash balances of 125m (138m), with all its available facilities having been drawn. It said that with no sites trading, ongoing monthly cash burn is now between 35m and 40m before a debt servicing cost that amounts to 50m per quarter. The next debt service payment is due on March 15. The pub chain said the future for the UKs hospitality sector remains uncertain. It is not possible to estimate with any confidence what restrictions on our ability to trade lie ahead of us and for how long, it said in a trading update. As a result, the directors believe it is prudent to explore an equity capital raise, to give the group increased financial and operational flexibility. No decision has yet been made with regards to the timing, size, or terms of any such equity capital raise, the pub and hotel group noted. Mitchells & Butlers was a high-performing business going into the pandemic and with the support of our main stakeholders I have every confidence that we can emerge in a strong competitive position once the current restrictions on us are lifted, said chief executive Phil Urban. He added that there is a real and pressing need for support for UK businesses. Mitchells & Butlers secured initial waivers on debt in March last year as the pandemic began. An additional waiver secured in June by the group noted that as part of the deal it had secured a reduction in the amount of the minimum amount required to be spent on capital expenditure during the remainder of the 2020 financial year and the 2021 financial year. In the first quarter of the current financial year, which includes the Christmas period, total sales were 67.1pc below prior year, Mitchells & Butlers said yesterday. On a like-for-like basis (for sites when open, excluding periods of closure) trading was 30.1pc down on prior year across the period, it added. Progressively tighter restrictions were imposed through December both across the UK and in Germany resulting in an ever smaller number of sites open and significantly reduced the possibility of sales activity through the important festive trading season, noted the group. In the year to the end of September 2020, Mitchells & Butlers saw its revenue slump 34.1pc to 1.47bn as it felt the impact of the pandemic. Its operating profit tumbled to 8m from 297m a year earlier. Before Covid hit, the group had had a strong start to the year. Mr Magnier and Mr McManus have been shareholders in Mitchells & Butlers since 2007. Shares in the group were down more as much as 9pc yesterday, but had partially recovered later in the day. The company has a market capitalisation of 972m, valuing the Irish investors holding at more than 228m. A family is raffling off their 180,000 home in the Lake District for just 2.50 a ticket to raise funds for a charity dedicated to finding a cure for their daughter's rare cancer. Samantha Wilkinson, 36, said her family's life was turned 'upside down' after her then 19-month-old daughter Oonagh was diagnosed with two cancers in December 2018. The girl, who is now three, was diagnosed with Stage 1 Neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that mostly affects babies and children. Samantha Wilkinson, 36, (pictured with family) said her life was turned 'upside down' after her then 19-month-old daughter Oonagh was diagnosed with two cancers in December 2018 The family, from Dalton-on-Furness, need to move into a three-bed home after welcoming their third child, and decided to sell 120,000 tickets at just 2.50. The house, situated just ten minutes from the Lake District, features two bedrooms, an open plan kitchen and living room, and a luxury bathroom. Any funds raised above the home's 180,000 evaluation will be going to Neuroblastoma UK and if all tickets are sold they'll raise 40,000 for the charity. The family have sold 11,000 tickets so far. Oonagh, who is now three, was diagnosed with Stage 1 Neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer that mostly affects babies and children (pictured) Oonagh had two MRIs on New Year's Day 2019 at Furness General Hospital which revealed the tumours which had grown in her kidney and spine. The cause of the cancer is still unknown but it affects around 100 children each year in the UK - mostly under the age of five. Two months later she was admitted to Manchester Children's Hospital where she had a successful five hour surgery to remove both tumours. The family moved to Spain in June 2019 but are hoping to return to the UK later this month to be closer to their family in Cumbria after a 'gruelling year with Covid'. They have welcomed a third child, two-year-old Clark, so they need to sell the two-bed home to move into a three-bed. Samantha said: 'It's a beautiful house in a lovely location. The house, (pictured) situated just ten minutes from the Lake District, features two bedrooms, an open plan kitchen and living room, and a luxury bathroom 'We would gladly stay there if we didn't need to upsize after having Clark, but it's a great opportunity for someone to get a home or even a holiday house for just 2.50. 'We chose the charity because it's one that's close to our heart. We'd love to be able to give something back to them to hopefully push forward research into this cancer.' She added: 'We want to raise as much money as possible for Neuroblastoma UK as they're only a small charity who do such great work which has gone into Oonagh's treatment plan. 'Without their incredible work and dedication things could have been so different for us.' The stay-at-home mother said that the raffle gave someone the chance to have a newly refurbished house. There was the added bonus that they could raise up to 40,000 for Neuroblastoma UK, as the charity holds an important place in the familys life. She said: 'I was so shocked when they said they were looking for cancer in her blood tests. 'Getting that news was just completely devastating. It felt like our world had collapsed around us. 'It was all a bit of shock as it was all so sudden. We never thought her tummy being swollen could be cancer. She was a healthy baby.' Oonagh was tested again in November 2020 and thankfully doctors said she was cancer free and healthy. Hi everyone, we would say Happy New Year but that feels tonally off at this point, so instead well say: We made it through the first full week of 2021! If the last year has taught us anything, its how to adapt to the unexpected. So while we started the week covering Georgias Senate runoff elections, we soon pivoted to covering the buildup to, and fallout from, a violent mob ransacking the Capitol. Heres a recap of this week on The Daily. Monday: How Black women mobilized the vote in Georgias special election. Tuesday: We asked Republican voters in Georgia: Would the presidents claims about election fraud affect their turnout? Wednesday: What the Senate results in Georgia mean for the future of the state, and the presidency. Thursday: The story of the storming of the Capitol from Times journalists on the inside. Many areas of the state could start seeing a loosening of pandemic-related restrictions by the end of next week after Gov. J.B. Pritzker indicated regions that are showing progress could move up to Tier 2 mitigation standards. It is not clear if Region 3 which includes Morgan, Adams, Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Christian, Greene, Hancock, Jersey, Logan, Macoupin, Mason, Menard, Montgomery, Pike, Sangamon, Schuyler and Scott counties will be among those that can move up. Melaney Arnold, spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said the state will only clear regions that have shown improvement loosen restrictions. IDPH will continue to track the positivity rates and hospital capacity metrics in regions over a 14-day monitoring period to determine if mitigations can be relaxed, if additional mitigations are required, or if current mitigation should remain in place, Arnold said. Regions that have had a positivity rate of 12% or less for three consecutive days, have a 20% or greater intensive care unit availability and a declining hospitalization in seven out of the past 10 days will be eligible to ease restrictions. Currently, Region 3 has 11 consecutive days with a positivity rate under 12% but only has a 19.3% ICU bed availability. Tier 2 restrictions still will prevent indoor dining, require all bars and restaurants to close by 11 p.m., limit social gatherings to 10 people and limit organized groups to 25 guests or 25% of overall room capacity. Molly Peters, administrator for Greene County Health Department, said the state is waiting two weeks past the holidays before allowing things to begin to open up. We expect to see some increase from the holidays, Peters said. We are waiting the 14-day period to limit the community spread. Greene County has a 13.1% positivity rate. While the region as a whole currently meets many of the standards to move tiers, several counties in the region still are seeing higher rates. Both Brown and Cass counties have a positivity rate of 15.4%. Morgan County has a 13.1% positivity rate. Pike County has a lower positivity rate of 8.7% but also only has 17% ICU bed availability. Scott County has a 7.7% positivity rate. Jersey County has an 8.7% positivity rate. All the counties have 17% ICU bed availability. Arnold said individual counties numbers will not stop the full region from moving tiers. Changes between tiers will occur at the regional level and not county level, Arnold said. The region will move as a whole. Even as restrictions decrease, people still need to continue to take precautions as they move around more, including wearing a mask and maintaining social distance, Peters said. We still have to do our best to prevent the spread in the community, she said. If you are sick, stay home. COVID is still here, we still have to do testing and work on distributing the vaccine. Appointment of Michael Petter to the Board brings another seasoned board member with strong industry, capital markets and strategic planning expertise. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - Lobe Sciences Ltd. (CSE: LOBE) (OTC Pink: GTSIF) ("Lobe" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Michael Petter as an independent director to the Company's Board of Directors, effective immediately. Mr. Petter replaces Thomas Baird, who resigned from the Company's Board of Directors effective today, but still remains CEO of the Company. Michael Petter is an accomplished leader and entrepreneur with significant experience in the psychedelics and cannabis industry, co-founding and acting as a director of several companies that successfully completed M&A transactions. He holds a Bachelors in Computer Science from London University, is a Chartered Engineer and private pilot. Since January 2009, he has been the Managing Director of Eyvo eProcurement Solutions, a US-based private company that is a leading eProcurement provider in the SaaS space. He also runs a business mentoring program that assists businesses and individuals with change management. Mr. Petter has significant psychedelic and cannabis industry expertise. Mike was co-founder and director of Eleusian Biosciences Corp., which the Company acquired in July 2020. He also co-founded and was a director of Tassili Life Sciences Corp. which was acquired by CSE-listed Champignon Brands Inc. in March 2020. Mr. Petter has independent board experience being chairman of a compensation committee and as a member of an audit committee. His executive advisory skills focus on providing guidance on strategy, operations, finance and logistics. Jonathan Gilbert, Executive Chairman of Lobe states, "We are extremely pleased to have Mike join our team with his extensive leadership and industry expertise. I have had the privilege of working with him co-founding several companies including Tassili and Eleusian. Michael is a successful businessman and his experience as a seasoned board member in our industry will be extremely valuable to the Company as we continue to drive innovation, and strive to be a leader in this exciting and emerging industry." The Company would also like to thank Mr. Baird for his contributions to the Board of Directors. About Lobe Sciences Ltd. Lobe is a growth-oriented research, technology & services company that provides financial, management, IP and branding support to businesses. The Company operates a portfolio of companies focused on developing transformational medicines and applies refined strategies to help partner companies reach their full potential. Based in Vancouver, BC, Lobe Sciences creates value through acquisitions and development of assets, products and technologies by leveraging its scientific, engineering, branding and operational expertise supported by strong capital markets acumen. For further information please contact: Lobe Sciences Ltd. Jonathan Gilbert Executive Chairman info@lobesciences.com Tel: (949) 505-5623 THE CSE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the future operations of the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including statements regarding the future plans and objectives of the Company, growth of the business, are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulations. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of the forward-looking statements may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including changes to the regulatory environment; and that the current Board and management may not be able to attain the Company's corporate goals and objectives. As a result, the Company cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made only as of the date of this news release and the Company does not intend to update any of the included forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable Canadian securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71652 Businesses yesterday called for tougher lockdown measures, with some going as far as proposing a long curfew spanning from 6 p.m to 6 a.m. The curfew now starts at 9 p.m. and goes till 5 a.m. Businesses also called on the Government to free up the importation of Covid-19 vaccines to allow private sector participation and to allow people to travel overseas to get vaccinated. In the past, weve published pieces in this space supporting coal and wishing for it to return to prominence as an economic generator in Southwest Wyoming. As the years roll on, thats looking less and less likely. While many local leaders continue to work on making the Middle Baxter Road industrial complex dream a reality, theres a saying of not putting all of ones eggs into a single basket. While mineral extraction, specifically trona extraction, will likely be a big economic generator in Sweetwater Count for the foreseeable future, a healthy economy is a diversified economy and minerals shouldnt be the only focus our leaders have for the countys economy. Tourism is a major player during the summer months, especially as Sweetwater County is generally marketed as a stopping off point for travelers on trips to Wyomings famous national parks or as they pass through the state. National parks in particular are a source of revenue for any nearby community and are a source of pride for residents across the state. With that in mind, we think our leaders should start lobbying to designate Adobe Town as a national park. For those who have been to Adobe Town, the place is the definition of what a national park should be. Tall, picturesque rock outcroppings surrounded by badlands and dotted with canyons, Adobe Town and the surrounding areas provide a person with vistas rarely matched anywhere else in the United States. The areas name comes from how the rock formations resemble adobe structures seen in the Southwestern United States. Historically speaking, theres more than 12,000 years of human habitation recorded in the area. More recently, the area was used by Butch Cassidy as a place to store horses for the Tipton train robbery. The area is beautiful and should have more attention that it already has. The development of a national park would help protect the area and showcase it to the countys visitors for generations to come. It would also provide a seasonal economic generator to Sweetwater County that doesnt already exist. There are other unique and spectacular places in Sweetwater County, but Adobe Town is a crown jewel of of Sweetwater Countys beautiful places. It deserves to be showcased and the area can benefit from it. On December 30, Turkeys pro-government news outlet Daily Sabah published a year-end article claiming the country achieved relative peace in Syria in 2020. Syria witnessed major developments in 2020, yet another rocky year in the country's decadelong civil war, the article stated. The Daily Sabah then strayed into deceiving readers when it discussed U.S. support for the Syrian Kurdish YPG (Peoples Protection Units). Meanwhile, while sanctioning the Assad regime, the U.S. continued its massive financial support for the YPG terrorists in 2020, the article stated. It added: Although the U.S. recognizes the PKK as a terrorist organization, it denies the group's connection with the YPG, despite the ideological and organizational links between the groups. American support for the terrorist organization has long vexed Ankara because Washington views the YPG as a reliable partner in its fight against Daesh (Islamic State terrorists) and continues to provide it with arms and equipment in the face of strong objections from Turkey. This black-and-white description of the U.S. support for the YPGs fight against Islamic State terrorists in Syria is misleading. Although the United States and Turkey designate the PKK as a terrorist group, U.S. policymakers view the YPG in Syria as a separate group from the PKK; the latter conducts operations inside Turkey. The government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan denies any distinction between the two groups. The U.S. began supporting the YPG somewhat reluctantly, as an expedient way to counter the rise of Islamic State (IS) in 2014 without deploying large numbers of U.S. troops to Iraq. The catalyst for U.S. backing of the YPG was the IS siege of the northern Syrian town of Kobane, close to the Turkish border. During that battle, the U.S. began conducting airstrikes in support of the Kurdish fighters, who eventually broke the siege. Turkey was criticized for not intervening against IS forces that were moving against the city, allegedly due to the Turkish governments antipathy toward the YPG. At the time, some inside the U.S. government opposed teaming up with a group opposed to Turkey, a NATO ally. Apart from causing friction with Turkey, critics said the Kurdish group alienated some of Syrias Arab population. After halting the IS offensive, the U.S. continued to support the YPG as a reliable ally against Islamic State. An anonymous U.S. State Department official was quoted as describing the U.S. relationship with the YPG as temporary, transactional, and tactical. While the U.S. withdrew from northern Syria in late 2019, it still maintains ties with the group. The U.S. has tried to assuage Turkish security concerns throughout the Syria conflict with steps that include pressuring the YPG to dismantle fortifications along the border with Turkey. The U.S. military allies also urged the YPG to change its brand, leading to the creation of a coalition known as the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). While the YPG has played a leading role in the SDF, the coalition also includes personnel from various ethnic militias, including Arabs, Turkmen, Assyrians, and fighters from outside Syria. "It's a few years on now and, yes, he is an old man. But I have concerns we are living in a world now when more than ever people are looking for community, searching online and are more inclined to be radicalised. "Over the years you have to learn to let go and let people deal with those matters. If I waste my time, anger and emotions on things that I can't change, Im not living my best life for my family." Perth-based Mr Britten has kept an eye on Bashir's case. In 2019, Indonesian President Joko Widodo considered releasing Bashir on health grounds, but scrapped the plan after the cleric declined to pledge allegiance to the Indonesian state. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Two years on, Australia appears powerless to address Mr Britten's concerns. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Friday said it was "very distressing" for the friends and families of the 88 Australians killed in the Bali bombing. "We have always called for those who were involved to face tougher, proportionate and just sentences in these cases," Mr Morrison said. "Decisions on sentences, though, as we know, are a matter for the Indonesian justice system. We have to respect the decisions that they take. Residents and tourists evacuate the scene of the 2002 bomb blast in Bali, Indonesia. The attack killed 202 people including 88 Australians. Credit:AP "That doesn't make it any easier for any Australian to accept that, ultimately, that those who are responsible for the murder of Australians would now be free." For Michael Curtis, who was in the middle bar of the Sari Club when the roof collapsed on him and pinned his leg to the floor, Bashir's release has brought back the nightmare of that night. Loading "It's really disappointing. It basically encourages them to make it OK," he says. "Those kids who look up to him they will think it's OK, you can get away with it." Mr Curtis, 42, who lives in Tumby Bay, South Australia, says the 2002 attack never goes away, and in some ways it gets worse over time. "It's still very front of mind. I haven't dealt with it all that well. I'm a man's man, I hold everything in," he says. Loading "Letting him [Bashir] out really disappoints me, anger comes to mind and disappointment. It brings it all up again." Gary Nash, who was near Paddy's Bar when the first bomb went off and suffered burns to 54 per cent of his body, lays the blame on the Indonesian government. "They should have kept him in jail or executed him with the rest of them," the 76-year-old says. "Hes getting a bit old now, but he still wields a lot of influence and I think there is evidence that there are still a lot of extremists there who are willing to listen to him." "Im still suffering badly. We talked about amputation [of the legs] at one stage. I still have heavy bandaging, I still have to see the burns and vascular people at the hospital, I still get a nurse coming in three days a week just to remind me of what is going on." While Australian survivors of the Bali blast feel let down, the release of Bashir barely caused a ripple in Indonesia. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Sidney Jones, director of the Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict, says the country has been preoccupied with battling a surge in COVID-19 cases and outlawing the hardline Islamic Defenders Front. She says the views of the Australian government and public on the Bashir release were well known in Jakarta, but any push to stop the release would have been seen as interference and deeply resented. Loading "I don't think he's a threat now. He hasn't been connected to Jemaah Islamiah for over a decade, and [radical cleric] Aman Abdurrahman was far more influential than Bashir in terms of inspiring support for ISIS," she says, referring to the Islamic State terror group. "He will be watched like a hawk, and COVID-protocols will surely be strictly enforced to prevent any mass gatherings." Ansyaad Mbai, the former head of Indonesia's National Counter-Terrorism Agency, says Bashir could still pose a threat by inspiring others. "If he keeps making [radical] statements, incite people, calling for jihad if that happens, it will create a new problem," he says. "But hopefully, after years being in prison, he can change. The problem is, he is an ideologue and it is difficult for an ideologue to change. "As long as he can still think, gives sermons, the government must monitor [him]." Ridlwan Habib, an expert on terrorism issue from the University of Indonesia, says Bashir's influence within Jemaah Islamiah has declined after being cut off from the outside world for the past 15 years. But he says the "legendary figure" could be used by other groups to drive their own agenda. "We must remember that in 2014 Abu Bakar Bashir took the oath of allegiance to ISIS and it caused him to lose his influence within JI, the organisation he helped build in 1985," he says. "And from the ISIS point of view, Bashir's role is also minimal within JAD [Jamaah Ansharut Daulah - Islamic State's ally in Indonesia] because it is Aman Abdurrahman who is the central figure of JAD. Mr Habib says the Indonesian government also had plans to use Bashir an agent or figure of deradicalisation. It is doubtful whether this strategy will work after Bashir reportedly declined to participate in deradicalisation programs when he was in prison. Despite the ongoing threat of terror attacks in the country, the Australian government believes Indonesian authorities have come a long way over the past two decades in its efforts to counter terrorism, including through its deradicalisation programs. Even after Covid-19 has wreaked havoc on almost everything else, the new year begins with surging growth for renewable energy. 2020 was the year of positive surprises for the environment in a way that very few saw coming, says Jeff McDermott, head of Nomura Greentech. It was the breakout year in sustainability and infrastructure. Growth will likely continue into 2021, fueled in part by last years major turning points. China has now committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2060, putting the worlds biggest market for solar and wind power on the path to ramp up installations as it begins its next five-year plan. Some analysts have predicted that the U.S. power sector is approaching peak natural gas. That would leave room for solar-panel installations to build on the ongoing boom. To understand whats driving the renewable expansion as well as what might hold it back here are the biggest recent developments and the major forces shaping the global renewable market in 2021. Solar broke records, good and bad Residential installations in the U.S. dropped nearly 20 percent in the second quarter of 2020 from the first the most ever as the pandemic prompted stay-at-home orders, according to Wood Mackenzie and the Solar Energy Industries Association. By the end of the year, however, the sector bounced back and the country added 19 gigawatts of total solar power, based on projections in December from Wood Mackenzie and SEIA. That would be slightly more power than existed in the entire nation of Colombia at the end of 2019, according to BloombergNEF. Installations doubled in China Even after the government locked down large swathes of the country early in the year, businesses still wanted solar. The countrys main solar industry group expects a record surge in business over the next five years following President Xi Jinpings September announcement that the country will zero out carbon emissions by 2060. A battery boom in the U.S. New battery-storage capacity in the U.S. more than doubled in the third quarter of 2020 from the second, according to Wood Mackenzie and the U.S. Energy Storage Association. Projects in California were a key reason for the surge. Renewables top fossil fuels in European energy During the height of the pandemic, when overall power demand sank, renewable power's share of the grid surged in Europe. About 40% of the electricity in the first half of 2020 in the European Union came from renewable sources, compared with 34% from plants burning fossil fuels, according to environmental group Ember. U.K. goes coal-free for more than two months A 67-day period became Britains longest stretch without coal since the Industrial Revolution and helped make 2020 the countrys greenest year yet for its power grid. Britain is going to completely phase out the polluting fuel by 2025 as a growing share of its power comes from wind farms. Prime Minister Boris Johnson also vowed to ban new gas-power cars by 2030 and spend $1 billion this decade to capture carbon emissions from at least two industrial hubs. Solar-panel makers face rising prices An explosion and a flood shut down two Chinese factories that produce polysilicon, a crucial material for photovoltaic cells, sending prices up 75% in less than two months. Solar glass prices also soared as increased use of two-sided, or bifacial, panels boosted demand, while capacity was constrained by limits on heavily polluting glass factories in China. Rising costs have so far not affected sales, but they have rippled through the solar supply chain, with module prices experiencing the first quarterly rise since 2015. That could be bad news for project developers who bid low prices assuming equipment costs would continue to follow their long historic decline. A new climate-change risk While electricity shutoffs prompted by wildfire risk has contributed to mounting U.S. homeowner interest in rooftop systems and batteries, Northern Californians in September learned a cruel irony: smoke from a large blaze blotted out the sun, and so rooftop solar withered. Im now 67 and cant recall a prayer ever making the national news until now. On Jan. 3, Emanuel Cleaver, who is a Democratic congressman from Missouri as well as a United Methodist minister, offered a prayer at the opening of the 117th Congress that baffled and angered any number of conservative Americans. After asking God to bless us and keep us and give us peace, Cleaver then prayed, We ask it in the name of the monotheistic god, Brahma, and god known by many names, by many different faiths. Amen and A-woman. Conservatives were not amused. Former House speaker Newt Gingrich tweeted that House Dems focus on gender security by abolishing virtually every normal gender term. Donald Trump, Jr. tweeted Amen means So Be It in Latin. It isnt a gendered word but that didnt stop them from being insane. Ben Shapiro of Fox News, who is an Orthodox Jew, denounced Cleavers prayer. This is some of the dumbest s**t I have ever seen in my life, Shapiro tweeted. Much like his father, Trump, Jr.s command of facts leaves much to be desired. Amen isnt Latin. According to Dictionary.com, its a Hebrew word and means certainty, truth and verily. Amen is typically used after a prayer, creed or other formal statement to express ratification or agreement. When used adverbially, amen means certainly, it is so or as Donald the Younger noted, so be it. Trump, Jr. was correct, however, in affirming that amen isnt a gendered word. When Snopes asked Cleaver why he had concluded his prayer in such an unusual fashion, he expressed disappointment that my prayer has been misinterpreted and misconstrued by some to fit a narrative that stokes resentment and greater division among portions of our population. Cleaver stated that his prayers conclusion was a light-hearted pun in recognition of the record number of women who will be representing the American people in Congress during this term as well as in recognition of the first female Chaplain of the House of Representatives whose service commenced this week. Cleaver concluded his statement by characterizing these developments as blessings from God for which I am grateful. So we now know that Cleavers prayer wasnt part of some sinister plot to degenderize the United States. Had it been so, this ministers prayer certainly wouldnt have concluded with Amen A-woman. Cleaver would have closed his prayer with a simple A-persons, which would have covered Americans of every gender and no gender. How do you think that would have sat with conservatives? The gender issue rather overshadowed other interesting aspects of Cleavers prayer. Conservative Americans continue to insist that the United States is a nation founded on Christian principles and acclaim our Judaeo-Christian heritage. Cleavers mention of a monotheistic god, however, included the deity of Islam and Sikhism since both those religions, like Christianity and Judaism, are monotheistic faiths. Many Americans are unfamiliar with Sikhism, which is the fifth-largest religion in the world. About a half-million Sikhs live in the United States. A white supremacist perpetrated a mass shooting in a Sikh temple in Wisconsin in 2012. Cleaver also mentioned Brahma in his prayer. Brahma is the creator god in the Hindu religion. Four practicing Hindus currently serve in the House of Representatives. The population of the United States includes about 3.3 million Hindus, most of them immigrants from south Asia. The author of Ecclesiastes reminds us in chapter 3 that To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven, which includes A time to weep, and a time to laugh. The conclusion of Cleavers prayer was definitely a time to laugh. A religion that has no place for humor lacks spirit and, as the apostle Paul remarks, the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. John J. Dunphy is an author, the Godfrey 15th Precinct Democratic Committeeperson and recording secretary for the Godfrey Democrats. PFAS investigation in Pellston completes second round of samples Officials discovered polyfluoroalkyls in Pellston residential water sources in late 2019. The airport is believed to be the source of the substances. Australians are set to emerge from the festive season with the lowest January credit card debt in more than a decade after the pandemic made consumers more cautious and accelerated changes in the way we pay. Since 2011, the combined outstanding balance on credit cards in the month following Christmas and the New Year sales has been between $48 billion and $53 billion, but a sharp decline in credit card use in 2020 means the total this January is likely to be below $40 billion. Australians have cut back on the use of credit cards during the past year Credit: The latest Reserve Bank figures show $37.8 billion was outstanding on credit cards in October, the lowest monthly total since 2006, and down almost $12 billion compared with a year earlier. The average credit card balance in October was $2728, nearly a fifth less than a year earlier and close to a 14-year low. Credit card industry expert Michael Ebstein, of MWE Consulting, expects the 2020 Christmas season credit card binge will be far smaller than in recent years. File image: Billionaire philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft, Bill Gates (Image: Reuters) Allying with Blackstone Group Inc., Bill Gates' Cascade Investment LLC on January 8 stated that is has joined the battle to acquire London-based Signature Aviation Plc. Along with Blackstone, Cascade is willing to spend $4.3 billion approach for the worlds biggest operator of private jet bases. Microsoft Corp. founder Gates' Cascade, which owns 19 percent of Signature, is mulling to contribute his shareholding and top it up with cash to become a 30 percent owner. Under the Blackstone's $4.3 billion approach, Blackstone owns 70 percent of the bidding entity. Global aviation revenues may reach 70% of pre-COVID levels in 2021, says founder of leading SaaS provider to travel industry According to details, both Gates and Blackstone are in advanced discussions with the London-based firm on a $5.17-a-share cash offer, Bloomberg reported. Earlier in December 2020, Signature Aviation had stated that it would accept Blackstone's approach if a firm offer were made at that level. With Gates involving in Blackstone's approach, the latter's chances to purchase Signature has increased significantly. Next to Blackstone, Carlyle Group Inc and Global Infrastructure Partners are under consideration by Signature. With the COVID-19 pandemic and the social distancing becoming the norm since 2020, private flying has gained momentum as one of the few travel sectors to have benefited, as passengers want to minimise potentially risk of coming in contact with fellow passengers. Last year, Signature sold parts distributor Ontic for $1.4 billion and has focused on private aviation in recent years. The firm bought rival Landmark Aviation for $2.1 billion from Carlyle in 2016 and had acquired Epic Fuels for $88 million in 2018. The Microsoft founder, though Cascade Investment LLC., became an investor in 2009 and holds his stake. Meanwhile, Signature has confirmed the Carlyle approach which is working with Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley. It has also set a deadline February 4 for a Carlyle's offer, while for Blackstone and GIP, Signature has given the deadline as January 14, 2021. Tommy Tuberville, the football coach turned senator who now seems to be the most popular wrong number in Washington. AP Photo/John Minchillo, File It appears Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama is difficult to get ahold of. On Wednesday, Rudy Giuliani left a long and rambling message for Tuberville on a different lawmaker's voicemail. On the same day, during the Capitol siege, President Donald Trump attempted to reach Tuberville but got Sen. Mike Lee of Utah instead, according to the Deseret News. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. It seems that nobody can get Sen. Tommy Tuberville of Alabama on the first try. On Wednesday, President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani left a long, rambling, and rather revealing voicemail that was meant for Tuberville but instead was sent to a different, unnamed politician. The voicemail, which urged Tuberville to slow down the Electoral College vote certification as much as possible, was sent to The Dispatch and transcribed in full. It seems President Donald Trump also attempted to reach Tuberville on the same day. This time, the call reportedly went to Sen. Mike Lee of Utah, who happened to be hunkering down near Tuberville in the Senate chamber of the US Capitol that was under siege by a pro-Trump mob. Lee told the Deseret News of his strange call with the president. "How's it going, Tommy?" he recalled the president asking. Lee told Trump he wasn't Tommy. "Well, who is this?" Trump asked. "It's Mike Lee," the senator said. "Oh, hi, Mike. I called Tommy." Lee told the Deseret News he then handed his phone to Tuberville, who he said spoke with the president for about 10 minutes. In the midst of their phone call, Lee said, the police began evacuating lawmakers from the area. Lee said he then asked Tuberville for his phone back. "I don't want to interrupt your call with the president, but we're being evacuated and I need my phone," he recalled saying. Lee told the Deseret News that, based on a conversation with Tuberville a bit later, he didn't think the president was aware the siege was happening during the call. Tuberville was one of several Republican senators - including Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas - who voted to overturn election results in Arizona and Pennsylvania. Those efforts failed, and after Congress reconvened following the siege it certified Joe Biden as president-elect. In December, Tuberville received praise from Trump after he said he would not rule out objecting to the election results during the Electoral College certification process. Following the siege of the Capitol, Tuberville tweeted condemnation of the mob of Trump supporters. "Yesterday was a sad day for our great country," he wrote. "I strongly condemn the violence and actions we saw from those who stormed the Capitol. It undermines the freedoms we enjoy as Americans, and it has no place in our democracy." Read the original article on Business Insider WASHINGTON The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol is intensifying scrutiny over security at an inauguration ceremony for President-elect Joe Biden already reshaped by a pandemic and the prospect that his predecessor may not attend. Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will take the oath of office from the Capitol's West Front, one of the very locations where a violent mob overpowered police and stormed the building. They also scaled and occupied the scaffolding and bleachers in place for the ceremonies. Inauguration plans were already scaled back because of the coronavirus. But the brazen attack raises new questions about preparedness for the event that welcome the new administration after a bitter election. The congressional leaders responsible for coordinating the inauguration insisted Thursday night that events will move forward. Yesterday was a sad and solemn day for our country," said Republican Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri and Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. The outrageous attack on the Capitol, however, will not stop us from affirming to Americans and the world that our democracy endures. The great American tradition of an inaugural ceremony has occurred in times of peace, in times of turmoil, in times of prosperity, and in times of adversity, they continued. We will be swearing in President-elect Biden. Security forces have already begun taking extra precautions in the wake of Wednesday's mayhem. Roughly 6,200 members of the National Guard from six states Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland will help support the Capitol Police and other law enforcement in Washington for the next 30 days. Inauguration Day road closures may be altered. National Guard from 6 states heading to D.C. after deadly riot at Capitol The goal is to have Guard members help secure the U.S. Capitol through the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. Crews also erected on the Capitol grounds tall, black metal fences designed to be impossible to climb. Similar structures have previously been used around the White House and in other cities that faced prolonged demonstrations. Such barriers would have gone up in anyway in coming days, however, because the inauguration is a National Special Security Event overseen by the Secret Service and scores of other federal agencies, including the Defense Department, which helps lead counterterrorism efforts associated with the event. That's the same level of security provided during political party conventions or when a dignitary lies in state at the Capitol but not during a normal congressional session like when rioters breached the building. The safety and security of all those participating in the 59th Presidential Inauguration is of the utmost importance, the Secret Service said in a statement Thursday. For well over a year, the U.S. Secret Service, along with our NSSE partners, has been working tirelessly to anticipate and prepare for all possible contingencies at every level to ensure a safe and secure Inauguration Day. Authorities will have the same military and civilian footprint to handle a crowd of more than a million people for an event expected to draw a fraction of that because of restrictions to combat the coronavirus, according to a person familiar with the security planning. Those who have worked on previous inaugurations said that while this year's events will look different, the tradition of passing power from one administration to another will continue. Is it as impactful? You dont have a photo of a million people lined up, so you dont have that sort of powerful image. But I think you will still have the feel there, said Bill Daley a former Secretary of Commerce and White House chief of staff who helped organize President Barack Obamas first inauguration in 2009. The aura of change will be there. Outgoing President Donald Trump hasn't made that easy. He has falsely argued that the election was stolen, a claim that has been rejected by fellow Republicans in critical swing states and his recently departed attorney general. His many legal challenges were roundly dismissed as meritless, including by conservative judges he appointed. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up A Trump rally in front of the White House on Wednesday helped rile up the mob that later stormed the Capitol. It's unclear whether Trump will be at his successor's inauguration. The outgoing president has skipped the incoming president's swearing-in only three times in U.S. history, and the last one to do so was Andrew Johnson 152 years ago. Trump only acknowledged the upcoming transfer of power after the capital was stormed. Vice President Mike Pence plans to attend the ceremony. Former President Jimmy Carter has announced he wouldnt be there, the first inauguration the 96-year-old will miss since he himself was sworn into office in 1977. He has mostly stayed home amid the pandemic. Former Presidents George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will be on hand. Inauguration organizers had already urged supporters not to come to Washington in person because of the pandemic. Viewing stands built to hold crowds of onlookers in front of the White House were recently dismantled. There also won't be the traditional inauguration luncheon and the parade will be virtual, similar to what the Democratic Party did during its all-online convention in August. The inaugural committee has announced that Biden would receive an official escort, with representatives from every military branch, for a block before arriving to the White House from the Capitol. The presidential motorcade usually rolls the mile-plus journey with the new president and first lady walking part of the way and thousands of cheering supporters lining the streets. While final details are still being worked out, it's unclear any of that will occur this time. Whatever happens, it'll be a far cry from Obamas 2009 inauguration, when organizers opened the full length of the National Mall which extends all the way to the Lincoln Memorial to accommodate massive crowds. Security was a concern then, too, though. The night before, Michael Chertoff, President George W. Bushs secretary of homeland security, informed Obamas team of credible intelligence indicating that four still-at-large Somali men who were thought to be coming over the U.S.-Canada border might be planning a terrorist attack on the inauguration ceremony. In his book, A Promised Land, Obama writes that to be safe, we ran through various contingencies with Chertoff and his team. Obama had an adviser draft evacuation instructions that Id give the crowd if an attack took place while I was onstage. He later noted that he kept those instructions in his breast pocket while giving his speech and that he was relieved that nothing happened and he didn't have to use them. Jim Bendat, an inaugural historian and author of the book, Democracys Big Day, noted that, in addition to attending the inauguration, the outgoing and the incoming presidents usually meet at the White House and chat before joining a procession to the Capitol and swearing-in ceremonies. He called that not occurring an assault on our Democracy akin to Wednesday's unrest. Those are very symbolic moments that really open our eyes," Bendat said of the two presidents meeting cordially. The world watches those moments because its something that doesnt occur in most countries. Still, Daley said Biden, who first ran for president in 1988, may be uniquely qualified for an inauguration that's mostly void of traditional pomp and circumstance. I think it's less needed for someone who's been around as long as he's been. And his whole thrust has been, I can hit the ground running because Ive been there, I know this stuff,' Daley said. I don't think he needs to stand there on the podium celebrating himself very long. By WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Washington contributed. I have long been of the view that the world started to tilt off its axis on the day David Bowie died, on January 10 five years ago. Nothing has ever seemed quite the same without the man who guided so many of us through the many changes of our world and his consistently inventive and thrilling musical career. He provided not only the soundtrack to our lives, but an inspiration of inquiry by which to live it. So the on-screen arrival of a filmed version of the musical Lazarus, his last creative project, which premiered in New York weeks before his death at the age of 69, and in London in November 2016, feels like a good way to mark what would have been his 74th birthday. It's available on dice.fm until Sunday. Filmed initially for archive purposes only, under the direction of Nick Morris, it now emerges in a sleekly powerful creation, subtly different in impact from the stage production and much more than a simple record of Ivo van Hove's stylish direction. No one could claim that this continuation of the story of Thomas Newton, originally played by Bowie in Nicolas Roeg's The Man Who Fell to Earth, is a masterpiece. In the hands of Enda Walsh, who wrote it with Bowie, it's bafflingly bonkers, with a hole where its narrative arc should be. But it is, to me, strangely compelling. What I loved about the stage show (to which I gave four stars) was its wild and whirring energy. That's depleted, naturally, with the intrusion of cameras. What remains though is more coherent than I originally appreciated. Or perhaps it is just that the story of a man trapped both in his own head and in a single room has gained more impact with the arrival of a world lockdown which keeps all of us in a broadly similar place. When we first meet Newton he is slumped in despair, watching television and drinking gin. (Sound familiar?) In what is presumably a journey inside his fractured mind, he is surrounded by images of horror and of loss, yet finally discovers a kind of hope, a way of making sense of the violence and misery that both fill his fantasies and also represent the truth of the world in which he is trapped. Bowie's songs, wrenched into new places and different meanings, provide the soundtrack and they are memorably played by the onstage band, led by pianist and musical director Tom Cawley, and strongly sung by the cast including Michael C Hall (of Dexter fame) as Newton, Amy Lennox as his home help who undergoes a personality change, and Sophia Anne Caruso as a sort of ghost with the mousy hair who comes to save him. Best of all is Michael Esper as a deranged serial killer who not only gets to belt a chilling version of "Valentine's Day" but also "Dirty Boys" with its great, blasting horns. The real star on film, however, is Jan Versweyveld's set which, filled with Tal Yarden's video projections, becomes an ever-changing paint box for Newton's visions, from the glistening lights of New York, to memories of Berlin, to the blood-seeped aftermath of Valentine's killing sprees. The script is its weak spot, never quite rising to the profundity it seeks. But watching it again, I am struck more than ever by the way the show parallels confinement and escape, despair and hope, and in the end leaps for the better options. Newton escapes when he finds humanity and unselfish love. It seems entirely fitting that Bowie, a man who was never afraid to try something new, left as his last legacy a project that doesn't absolutely work but which speaks even more strongly now than it did when he made it, and asks us to find our better angels as we search for a way forwards. Abu Dhabi Fund for Development said its technical team is remotely inspecting the projects it had financed in many partner countries. The move is part of the Funds effort to ensure continuity, timely progression or completion of all development activities it had undertaken in beneficiary countries, regardless of the challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic. The team inspected these projects in Cuba, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, St Vincent, the Grenadines, Colombia, Togo and Guinea. It said that all the projects were being implemented as per schedule. "Despite many challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic, Abu Dhabi Development Fund has taken all necessary measures to ensure continuity and timely implementation of various projects in beneficiary countries," said Mohammed Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of ADFD. "This is the time when our partner nations need our support the most. We need to live up to their expectations as well as our promises. Moreover, these projects are crucial for supporting the economies in these countries at a challenging time," he stated. Al Suwaidi said that the Fund had discussed with stakeholders in the beneficiary countries about the hurdles in project implementation and effective ways to address the challenges so that they could continue to achieve economic growth in a sustainable manner. Over the past months, the fund had launched various initiatives to ease financial burdens thrust upon the governments of the beneficiary countries by the Coved-19 pandemic and provide support to the affected strategic sectors. The key projects in parter countries are: *Solar PV Project, Cuba The ADFD team inspected the solar PV project in Cuba, whose production capacity was raised to 15 MW from 10 MW in order to meet the growing demand. The AED55 million project includes the construction of four power plants in four provinces. *Hybrid Energy Project, Antigua and Barbuda The innovative hybrid solar- and wind-power project in the Caribbean state is 70 per cent complete. Once operational, the AED 55 million initiative will produce 4MW electricity and directly contribute to the countrys goal of generating 20 per cent energy from renewable resources so as to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The project will power water desalination plants that supply potable water to about 90,000 individuals. *Hydropower and water supply projects, Argentina The team inspected progression of the Nahueve hydroelectric project and Desvio Arijon water treatment project being carried out in the South American nation. The hydropower project is 45% complete, while the latter is more than halfway through. The AED 55 million Nahueve project will give 54,000 people in the northern province of Neuquen access to electricity, annually offset carbon dioxide emissions by 23,000 tonnes, save 7.3 million litres of fossil fuel and help irrigate 120 hectares of agricultural land. The Desvio Arijon project will serve 19 provinces, providing potable water for more than 300,000 people. *Solar Project, Togo The 30MW solar plant is being set up in Blitta with a funding of AED55 million by ADFD. The project, more than half of which is complete, will serve about 600,000 households, over 700 small and medium enterprises, as well las sectors such as education and health. In addition, it will create jobs in the region. *Electricity distribution and community development projects, Guinea Abu Dhabi Fund for Development financed the establishment of the AED67.5 million (US$18.36 million) National Distribution Centre with an aim to enhance the capacity of the national distribution network in the capital region of Conakry by efficiently managing and ensuring stability of supply. The project was completed and inaugurated in November 2020. The Fund also financed an AED42 million community development programme in Guinea, which includes the establishment of automated laboratories, an automatic bakery, a training facility in the Bouke region and rural road development. In addition to financing projects, ADFD directly supervises their management and implementation. It also ensures implementation of its projects in accordance with the agreements signed with the beneficiary countries. Abu Dhabi Fund announced in 2020 a decision to defer the monthly installments on any outstanding dues of countries, that availed of its concessionary credit facility. The initiative was aimed at helping beneficiary countries to weather the economic fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic.-TradeArabia News Service WASHINGTON - Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, one of President Donald Trump's longest-serving and most loyal Cabinet members and also one of his most controversial, submitted her resignation Thursday, citing the president's role in the riot on Capitol Hill. "There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me," she wrote in a letter to Trump. The behavior of the "violent protestors overrunning the U.S. Capitol" was "unconscionable," she wrote. "Impressionable children are watching all of this, and they are learning from us. I believe we each have a moral obligation to exercise good judgment and model the behavior we hope they would emulate," she wrote. "They must know from us that America is greater than what transpired yesterday." She said her resignation is effective Friday. The resignation, she said, was "in support of the oath I took to our Constitution, our people, and our freedoms." DeVos has rarely said anything that could be read as a criticism of Trump. In recent days, though, even as Trump disputed the election results, DeVos publicly acknowledged that President-elect Joe Biden had defeated him. She joined several other Trump administration officials who quit with less than two weeks left in his term, in protest of the violence Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Elaine Chao - who is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. - resigned as transportation secretary, saying she was "deeply troubled" by what had happened at the Capitol. In addition, Mick Mulvaney quit his job as the U.S. special envoy for Northern Ireland. DeVos served as secretary for almost the entire Trump term, holding on to her job even as a string of other senior officials left or were pushed out. She was fiercely loyal. Last year, for instance, she spent three days defending proposed funding cuts to the Special Olympics that the White House had insisted on, and then watched as Trump announced that he was restoring the funding. "Can someone pull Betsy from under the bus?" asked Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis. Throughout her tenure, DeVos was fiercely opposed, and even hated, by many Democrats, who said she was unfit for the position in the first place and cared more about supporting private schools than public education. Her difficulty answering questions under pressure, starting with her Senate confirmation hearing, cemented her place for many as unqualified. Vice President Mike Pence had to break a tie vote in the Senate in order to confirm her. Years later, DeVos remained a rallying point on the left, with Democrats invoking her name as they campaigned for office. She also was the subject of threats, and required protection from U.S. marshals, a first for an education secretary. Opponents gave her little if any credit for taking a stand with her resignation. "Good riddance," was the two-word statement issued by Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers."Regardless of her actions in the waning days of this disastrous presidency, Betsy DeVos will go down as one of the worst Secretaries of Education in history," said Kelly Gonez, board president of the Los Angeles Unified School District. But Jeanne Allen, chief executive of the Center for Education Reform, a strong supporter of school choice policies, lauded her decision and her tenure. "Many criticized her, some spew hatred, some will disagree, but many have valued her advocacy for giving parents & kids choices," Allen wrote on Twitter. "She never disparaged or bullied anyone despite the attacks." A billionaire, DeVos had never held public office before being named to the job, although she had worked in Republican politics in Michigan and had worked nationally to promote school choice initiatives, the cause of her life. She used her tenure to promote school choice, the use of taxpayer dollars to support alternatives to traditional public school such as charter schools and school vouchers. That agenda did not go very far on the federal level, but supporters say her advocacy led to action in several states. "We have sparked a national conversation about putting students and parents in charge of education, leading to expanded school choice and education freedom in many states," DeVos wrote in her letter. She also joined Trump this summer in pushing schools to reopen for in-person classes amid the pandemic. In her letter, she said that history will prove that was the right call. DeVos also stirred controversy in rolling back many civil rights initiatives from the Obama administration, such as protections for transgender students. A regulation giving more rights to students accused of sexual harassment and assault was lauded by some but attacked by others, and Biden has vowed to unravel it. DeVos drew the ire of advocacy groups for overturning Obama-era regulations to protect college students from bad actors in the for-profit college industry. She spent the early months of her tenure refusing to process applications for student debt cancellation from defrauded borrowers and implement rules to make it easier for them to secure loan forgiveness. Her defiance led dozens of state attorneys general to sue DeVos and the department. The cases continued to mount as DeVos proceeded to undo consumer protection regulations. - - - The Washington Post's Danielle Douglas-Gabriel contributed to this report. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 8 January2021 LSE: PDL Petra Diamonds Limited ("Petra", "PDL" or the "Company" or, in conjunction with its subsidiaries, the "Group") Proposed Scheme of Arrangement of Petra Diamonds US$ Treasury Plc Scheme Meeting Results Approval of the Scheme of Arrangement at the Scheme Meeting Further to the announcement issued by the Company on 10 December 2020, a meeting of the holders of the Company's Notes was convened for today (the "Scheme Meeting") to vote on the Scheme proposed by Petra Diamonds US$ Treasury Plc in connection with the Restructuring. The Company is pleased to announce that the Scheme was approved by the requisite majority of Scheme Creditors at the Scheme Meeting (being a majority in number, representing at least 75 per cent. in value of the Scheme Creditors present and voting). There were 194 Scheme Creditors present and voting at the Scheme Meeting (by proxy), together representing US$696,255,102.65 in value of the Notes Debt (being both principal and interest owing) and 98.44 per cent. of the total Scheme Claims. 100 per cent. by number and value of those 194 Scheme Creditors present and voting at the Scheme Meeting voted in favour of the Scheme. Accordingly, the Scheme was approved. Successful completion of the Scheme is now conditional upon, among other things, the Scheme being sanctioned by the Court in its discretion at the Scheme Sanction Hearing and the Scheme becoming effective and unconditional in accordance with its terms. As noted in the announcement issued by the Company on 17 November 2020, each of the elements of the Restructuring (of which the Scheme is an integral part) are inter-conditional, meaning that the Scheme will only become effective if each of the other elements of the Restructuring are approved and/or completed. The Scheme Sanction Hearing is anticipated to take place on 12 January 2021. Please see the announcement issued by the Company on 4 January 2021 for further information regarding the time and details of the Scheme Sanction Hearing. Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement have the meaning given to them in the Explanatory Statement. ~ Ends ~ For further information, please contact: Petra Diamonds, London Telephone: +44 20 7494 8203 Cathy Malins investorrelations@petradiamonds.com Des Kilalea Marianna Bowes Rothschild & Co Giles Douglas giles.douglas@rothschildandco.com Glen Cronin glen.cronin@rothschildandco.com Mahir Quraishi mahir.quraishi@rothschildandco.com Lucid Issuer Services Limited Telephone: +44 20 7704 0880 Oliver Slyfield petradiamonds@lucid-is.com David Shilson About Petra Diamonds Limited Petra Diamonds is a leading independent diamond mining group and a consistent supplier of gem quality rough diamonds to the international market. The Company has a diversified portfolio incorporating interests in three underground producing mines in South Africa (Finsch, Cullinan and Koffiefontein) and one open pit mine in Tanzania (Williamson). Petra's strategy is to focus on value rather than volume production by optimising recoveries from its high-quality asset base in order to maximise their efficiency and profitability. The Group has a significant resource base of ca. 243 million carats, which supports the potential for long-life operations. Petra conducts all operations according to the highest ethical standards and will only operate in countries which are members of the Kimberley Process. The Company aims to generate tangible value for each of its stakeholders, thereby contributing to the socio-economic development of its host countries and supporting long-term sustainable operations to the benefit of its employees, partners and communities. Petra is quoted with a premium listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange under the ticker 'PDL' and is a constituent of the FTSE4Good Index. The Company's US$650 million loan notes due in 2022, currently subject to restructuring, are listed on the Global Exchange market of the Irish Stock Exchange. For more information, visit www.petradiamonds.com . Important Notice This announcement contains statements about Petra that are or may be forward looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this announcement may be forward looking statements. Without limitation, any statements preceded or followed by or that include the words "targets", "goals", "should", "would", "could", "continue", "plans", "believes", "expects", "aims", "intends", "will", "may", "anticipates", "estimates", "hopes", "projects" or words or terms of similar substance or the negative thereof, are forward looking statements. Such forward looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect expected results and are based on certain key assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or implied in any forward looking statements. Due to such uncertainties and risks, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Petra disclaims any obligation to update any forward looking or other statements contained herein, except as required by applicable law or regulation. N.M. Rothschild & Sons Limited ("Rothschild & Co"), which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority, is acting exclusively for Petra and no one else in connection with the contents of this announcement and will not be responsible to anyone other than Petra for providing the protections offered to clients of Rothschild & Co nor for providing advice in relation to the subject matter of this announcement or any other matters referred to in this announcement. State police incident reports State police at Hazleton reported the following: A 17-year-old Hazleton girl and a 20-year-old Hazleton woman were cited with retail theft after Walmart loss prevention workers at the Hazle Twp. store said they failed to scan $125.86 worth of food merchandise on Dec. 30 and then attempted to leave the store. Troopers responded to Poolside Drive in Hazle Twp. on Dec. 21 at 11 p.m. for a report of an unauthorized use or motor vehicles. During the investigation they recovered the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio on Interstate 81 south. The victim was notified and the investigation continues. Albert P. Gordon, 83, Wilkes-Barre, was traveling east on Club 40 Road in Hazle Twp. on Dec. 29 at 2:38 p.m., in a Mazda 3, approaching the intersection of Stockton Mountain Road, but failed to stop at a stop sign and continued into the path of Wendy A. Barna, 55, Freeland, who was traveling north on Stockton Road in a Pontiac G8. Gordon wasnt injured but his passengers, Mary E. Sokoloff, 70, Wilkes-Barre, and Danuta Dmochowski, 70, Jersey City, New Jersey, were taken by Lehigh Valley EMS and Greater Hazleton Ambulance to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton. The vehicles were towed and Gordon will be cited. Troopers were called to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton, 700 E. Broad St., on Dec. 20 at 9:53 p.m. regarding an 8-year-old child who ingested marijuana infused brownies. Officers determined a 39-year-old Freeland man made the marijuana brownies and left them unattended inside 34 Spring St., Foster Twp. The child found them and ate one but began to experience side effects a short time later. The child was taken to the hospital by a private vehicle. The investigation is ongoing and charges are forthcoming. WEST HAZLETON Man allegedly fled from police A Hazleton man who fled from West Hazleton police on July 17 was charged and recently arraigned. Gary J. Cieniawa, 31, faces flight to avoid apprehension and criminal trespass by West Hazleton police. The charges were filed against him July 28 and he was released on $2,000 unsecured bail Dec. 29 by Magisterial District Judge David Barilla, Forty Fort. Police said they were on patrol when they saw Cieniawa acting suspiciously in the area of rear 244 W. Green St. He was wanted by the Luzerne County Sheriffs at the time for robbery, but as the officer was confirming that warrant, Cieniawa ran, arrest papers state. He took off through a yard surrounded by a fence at 242 W. Green St. and police were unable to find him in the area, according to court papers. TAMAQUA Woman charged with assault A Tamaqua woman was charged by borough police after a Dec. 24 incident at a house. Dawn Stelling, 47, faces simple assault and harassment and was released on $10,000 unsecured bail Dec. 24 by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer, Tamaqua. Arrest papers state the charges were filed after police responded to a disturbance at 237 Lafayette St., and met with a man who said he wanted Stelling out of the house. Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], January 8 (ANI): Police on Friday used water cannons against BJP Yuva Morcha members protesting outside Kerala Assembly demanding the resignation of Kerala Assembly Speaker P Sreeramakrishnan. This comes as Assistant Private Secretary of the Kerala Assembly Speaker K Ayyappan on Friday morning appeared before the Customs for interrogation in the Dollar Smuggling case. He arrived at the Commissionerate this morning in an auto-rickshaw. Customs had issued a third notice to Ayyappan to appear before it on Thursday after he failed to appear before it the day before. Ayyappan had informed the Department through mail that he could not appear due to the busy schedule of the Kerala Assembly session beginning today. On Wednesday, the Kerala Assembly Speaker's office issued a letter to the Customs Department stating that the Speaker's permission is required to interrogate his Assistant Private Secretary. The dollar smuggling came to light during the investigation of the Kerala gold smuggling case, which is currently being probed by the National Investigation Agency, the Enforcement Directorate, and the Customs department. The matter, which pertains to the smuggling of gold in the state through diplomatic channels, had come to light after 30 kg gold worth Rs 14.82 crores smuggled in a consignment camouflaged as diplomatic baggage was busted by the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram on July 5. (ANI) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 20:59:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- China will step up financial support for green development, said Yi Gang, governor of the People's Bank of China. The central bank will prioritize the goals of peaking carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality by 2060 in its work for 2021 and beyond, Yi told Xinhua in an interview. Meeting those targets will entail profound changes in areas including industry structures, energy and investment, and people's lifestyles, he said. Regarding the promotion of green finance development, Yi highlighted the importance of policy design and planning, as well as the role of finance in resource allocation, risk management and market pricing. The governor said work focuses will include improving systems for green finance standards, developing green finance products and strengthening international cooperation in the sector. China's green finance has solid underpinning thanks to its early start, according to Yi. Official data shows the country's balance of green loans has thus far exceeded 11 trillion yuan (about 1.7 trillion U.S. dollars), ranking first globally. Enditem The family of an Irish CNN journalist have told of their pride after he was praised for his cool coverage of the violence in Washington DC. Donie O'Sullivan reported from outside the US Capitol as it was stormed by supporters of Donald Trump. O'Sullivan, from Cahersi- veen, Co Kerry, also offered live updates from the streets as the clashes between Trump supporters, including far right groups, and police continued. Four people died in the violence. O'Sullivan's calm, informed coverage, often while being barracked by noisy protesters, earned him praise across the US, Ireland and other countries. His mother, Noreen, admitted she feared for his safety as the scenes around the Capitol grew more violent. She said she was relieved when the protests finally ended and her son escaped unscathed. "We were watching it and my husband said it was great that Donie was keeping such a cool head," she said. "But I was worried. I was off the wall a bit with fright. Watching it back afterwards at 3am, I thought he had done incredibly well to be so cool under pressure. "He was very calm and level-headed throughout it all." Dream Mrs O'Sullivan, who is a US citizen, lives with her husband, Donal, in Cahersiveen. She said she was proud of her son's work in Washington and admitted he was fulfilling a dream. "Donie said he always wanted to be a journalist, we're very proud of him," she said. Among those who praised his coverage were CervicalCheck campaigner Vicky Phelan and CNN anchor John King. His reporting of the violence on CNN attracted such a following that his name trended on Twitter. His sister, Sinead O'Sull- ivan, a Cork-based law student, said the family were overwhelmed by the reaction. "Everyone seems to know my brother now," she said. "So proud of you Donie." Ms O'Sullivan is no stranger to covering news events, having worked for University Express. Her brother has worked in the US for a nearly decade and has been with CNN for five years. He worked previously with CNN's investigations team, which has covered stories ranging from the rise of far right groups to the social media contro- versies arising from the 2016 US presidential election. He also worked as part of CNN's Social Discovery team. Travellers to be banned from entering the UK from next week if they do not have negative test MailOnline understands that travellers will be able to present negative PCR or rapid flow tests as proof But there are concerns in the travel industry some will be stuck away on holiday with little time to get back It is expected to cause a scramble for return flights before Wednesday as 100,000 Brits are abroad Industry leaders including Michael O'Leary believe the new testing rule will further damage aviation industry Scientists warned that giving travellers the option of a 'less accurate' test could mean missed positive cases Are you rushing to get home before the testing rule comes in? Email martin.robinson@mailonline.co.uk or tips@dailymail.com Coronavirus cases could be missed at Britain's border following the government's decision to let travellers choose 'less accurate' lateral flow tests to prove they're Covid-free, scientists have warned. Those arriving in the UK will be able to present negative PCR or lateral flow Covid tests as proof that they do not have coronavirus. ADVERTISEMENT Grant Shapps has said nobody will be able to depart for Britain by plane, train or ferry unless they present a 'recognised' test result at check-in along with a valid passport and visa if required. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will also adopt the measure. PCR tests can take longer because they are sent off to a lab to check for Covid, with some critics saying 72 hours could be too tight. Rapid 'lateral flow' tests can be turned around in minutes, but missed cases and false positives are more common. The difference has sparked concerns that Covid-positive travellers could present a negative test at the border to gain entry to Britain. Professor Jon Deeks, a testing expert at the University of Birmingham, said: 'The lateral flow test, we know, is not very sensitive so it will miss cases and it isn't suitable.' He added: 'Other countries are using PCR and I would be concerned if we didn't. There are alternatives, but we need something with similar accuracy to PCR.' Dr Alex Edwards, a pharmacy researcher at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'Given that this is a screening programme particularly for asymptomatic people, you want the most sensitive tests available, and PCR tests are the most sensitive available. 'But even different manufacturers have varying levels of accuracy and not everyone is positive if they're infected, which can cause enormous problems. 'I think the problem is that, in general, the lateral flow tests are almost always less sensitive. If you have a really good PCR tests you might catch 80 per cent of people so you can reduce the number cases coming in five-fold. ADVERTISEMENT 'We've seen huge variations in accuracy [of lateral flow]. Accuracy is always compared to PCR and when they were used in the real world, for example the study in Liverpool, it showed it was only capable of picking up half of the PCR cases, and that's half of 80 per cent, so you can't even reduce the number of people coming in by two-fold.' Dr Edwards added that using lateral flow tests would prevent scientists from being able to detect or monitor new strains being brought into the country from abroad. The negative Covid test for all travellers to the UK will be imposed 'next Wednesday or Thursday' as stars including Amanda Holden slammed the Government's plan as too little too late as mutant strains from countries like South Africa entered the country. The controversial testing regime was announced, as: Boris Johnson promises 200,000 vaccine doses a day by next FRIDAY with Army running jab drive - as Britain records 1,162 Covid deaths in second worst day ever of pandemic; The PM slammed Covid deniers and told them to 'grow up' while NHS boss Sir Simon Stevens slammed their 'lies' about hospitals being empty; Three people have been charged with assaulting Scottish police after officers entered a family's home because they were told there were 'too many people inside'; Passengers queue up at a Covid-19 Testing Centre at London Heathrow as Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan declares a Major Incident as cases continue to spread throughout the capital Those arriving in the UK will be able to present negative PCR or lateral flow Covid tests as proof that they do not have coronavirus (pictured: January 8, Heathrow) Travellers will be banned from entering the UK next week if they do not have a negative test within 72 hours of departure. Pictured: Heathrow Seething: Amanda Holden shared bikini snap on Instagram on Friday as she slammed government's 'delayed' decision to test people coming into UK for COVID Not impressed: Amanda shared this lengthy post along her swimwear snap In disbelief: So it comes as no surprise that she commented on Amanda's post as she expressed her own disappointment In disbelief: So it comes as no surprise that she commented on Amanda's post as she expressed her own disappointment. Other stars also agreed with her rant There are concerns in the travel industry some will be stuck on holiday because many destinations do not have facilities for carrying out tests. Pictured: A man being tested at Heathrow It is expected to cause a scramble for return flights as around 100,000 Brits are currently away in hotspots such as Dubai and the Maldives. Pictured: Heathrow last month Christopher Mardon, a lorry driver travelling to Caen, France via Portsmouth, receives a COVID test at the new haulier testing site at Sutton Scotney services. Hauliers will be exampt coming the other way Click here to resize this module Mr Shapps told the BBC: 'They can be different types of tests - your viewers will have heard of PCR tests perhaps, but there are also lateral flow tests and lab tests. ADVERTISEMENT 'The important thing is that it is up to a certain specification. Then people take that test and as long as it is negative, then they can fly. But they can't board the plan for example without having that negative test.' HOW LATERAL FLOW TESTS ARE ONLY TRUSTWORTHY WHEN ADMINISTERED BY TRAINED STAFF Lateral flow tests are only accurate at diagnosing coronavirus when administered by trained professionals, studies have repeatedly shown. The tests, which give results in as little as 15 minutes, use swabs of the nose or throat. Samples are then mixed in a testing liquid and put into a plastic cassette which can detect the presence or absence of coronavirus and then produce an image of a line, the same way as a pregnancy test, to indicate whether it is positive or negative. The Department of Health and NHS are instructing people to use the tests on themselves, despite manufacturers of some kits saying they shouldn't be used as DIY swabs. Both the swabbing procedure and the use of the test cassette can easily be done wrong and affect the accuracy of the test. If the swab isn't done for long enough, or deep enough into the nose or throat, it may not pick up fragments of virus. Medical professionals are also able to use nasopharyngeal swabs, which go right to the back of the nostril, whereas this is not advised for people who test themselves. And if the sample isn't properly inserted into the cassette the result might be wrong, or people may misread the display when it produces a result. SELF-TESTING CUT ACCURACY FROM 79% TO 58% A University of Oxford and Public Health England evaluation of the Innova lateral flow test, which is being widely used in the UK, found its sensitivity - the proportion of positive cases it detected - fell from 79 per cent to 58 per cent when it was used by untrained members of the public instead of lab experts. Based on this evaluation, officials pushed ahead and used it for a real-world self-testing trial. PILOT IN LIVERPOOL FOUND FEWER THAN HALF OF POSITIVES When the same Innova test was trialled on members of the public in Liverpool - with people taking their own swabs and trained military staff operating the tests - the swabs picked up just 40 per cent of positive cases. In the study the rapid tests detected 891 positive results, compared to lab-based PCR swabs that found 2,829 positives in the same group. This means 1,938 people got a wrong negative result from the rapid test. The study didn't compare this to professionally done rapid tests, but the manufacturer Innova claims its test is 95 per cent sensitive in lab conditions. ...BUT TESTING DONE BY MEDICS IN SLOVAKIA 'REDUCED INFECTIONS' Despite rapid lateral flow tests getting bad press, officials in Slovakia used them on 5.2million people - almost the entire population of 5.5m - in a trial that a study later estimated to have cut the country's infection rate by 60 per cent. The tests used were between 70 and 90 per cent accurate and all the swabs and evaluations were carried out by trained medical workers. They used deep nasopharyngeal swabs, that go to the back of the nose, whereas self-testing generally relies on a swab of only the nostril. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine researchers said that the scheme successfully weeded out coronavirus cases that wouldn't have been found otherwise, slashing the number of cases by over half in a week during a lockdown. HOW RAPID TESTS ARE DIFFERENT TO LAB-BASED PCR SWABS Lateral flow tests are an alternative to the gold standard PCR test - known scientifically as polymerase chain reaction testing - which is more expensive and more labour-intensive but more accurate. PCR tests also use a swab but this is then processed using high-tech laboratory equipment to analyse the genetic sequence of the sample to see if any of it matches the genes of coronavirus. This is a much more long-winded and expensive process, involving multiple types of trained staff, and the analysis process can take hours, with the whole process from swab to someone receiving their result taking days. It is significantly more accurate, however. In ideal conditions the tests are almost 100 per cent accurate at spotting the virus, although this may be more like 70 per cent in the real world. The Transport Secretary's diktat forcing travellers to present a negative covid test before travelling to the UK will ground almost all flights to and from Britain until the summer and further lay waste to the aviation industry, Ryanair chief Michael O'Leary warned today. The outspoken Irish billionaire said Mr Shapps' management of the coronavirus crisis has been 'shambolic' and believes the policy is tacit confirmation the Prime Minister is lying to the British people about how quickly Britons will be vaccinated. Mr O'Leary said: 'This is more mismanagement by Grant Shapps. This new rule is going to ground almost all flights to and from the UK. Nobody is going to make any bookings because you cannot book with any certainty. The other problem we have is there is no end date. Boris Johnson is going around saying he'll have all the four main risk groups vaccinated by mid-February - so why aren't they ending this rule then. Otherwise Boris Johnson is lying to the UK or Grant Shapps is'. Businesss leaders also believe the plan will further damage Britain's travel industry with boss of Heathrow, John Holland-Kaye, warning: 'Very few people will travel with this in place'. Amanda Holden has today slammed the policy after cancelling her family's holiday on Boxing Day because of Tier 4 regulations. Sharing a beach bikini picture on Instagram the star slammed a 'senseless year of neglect of Government rules at our borders' and the 'lack of common sense' by ministers. She said: 'Other countries have done it before us. Why has it taken us so long? No one seems to have an answer... or be questioning it?!! Surely this could have prevented the increase of the spread?!!!' Fellow star Jessica Wright replied saying: 'Cancelled mine too for Boxing Day & couldn't agree more, in disbelief over it all' while actress Tracy Ann Oberman also backed her rant with some clapping emojis. MailOnline readers also have concerns about the policy stranding them and loved-ones abroad. Peter Higgins said: 'My son is currently overseas and is in isolation after having contracted Covid-19. Scientific knowledge is that it is highly unlikely that he will be unable to provide a negative test for some time. This will result in his being denied entry following his isolation period, despite being Covid-19 free'. David Peacock told MailOnline: 'I am employed in the Merchant Navy and due to pay off in Antigua between the 15th and 22nd of January. Obviously this all depends on my relief being able to get here and availability of testing facilities either here or somewhere in transit'. The new policy is expected to cause a scramble for return flights as around 100,000 Brits are currently away in hotspots such as Dubai, the Caribbean and the Maldives. Ministers agreed the strict measures last night amid growing pressure to tighten borders - but have not confirmed a start date, although it is expected to be next week. They will apply to Britons and foreign nationals in a bid to keep out infections and mutant strains such as the one in South Africa. Travellers will still have to quarantine for ten days even if they test negative if arriving from a 'red list' country with high rates of Covid-19. But they will be able to leave isolation if a second test, which can be taken from the fifth day, is negative. Mr Shapps said that airlines or other travel firms such as Eurostar or P&O would be forced by law to check - and turn back anyone without one. Anyone who slips through will face a 500 on-the-spot fine. It is not clear whether they will then forced into quarantine or prosecuted. He said the new rules will be imposed in five or six days time to avoid a scramble to get back from abroad. 'The carriers, airlines, train operators or a ferry, would be required by law to check for a test result in the same way they check you have a passport or if you are going to the States you have a visa or a visa waiver,' he told Sky News. 'They will need to check whether you have a coronavirus test valid within the 72 hours before you fly. We hope that soon most people will be vaccinated so this is not something we will want to do permanently'. Britons may be stranded abroad as ministers say travellers will be banned from entering the UK within days if they do not have proof they are clear of coronavirus. Passengers on planes, boats or trains will be banned from entering the UK next week if they do not have a negative test within 72 hours of departure. But there are concerns in the travel industry some will be stuck on holiday because many destinations - such as in the Caribbean - do not have testing facilities. Every traveller coming into UK ports or airports should have a pre-flight negative test to enter or will face a 500 on-the-spot fine. It is not clear whether they will then forced into quarantine. Heathrow Airport's chief executive John Holland-Kaye said that as coronavirus vaccines are rolled out in the UK and other countries, flights would return and passenger numbers would start 'building up' through the summer and into the autumn. But he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'That's an awful long time for the aviation sector to survive and we need to see some support from the Government for the airport sector. 'Already we're seeing some airports closing. 'Newquay has closed temporarily. Stansted has closed for half of the day. And we're likely to see more of this unless the Government takes steps to protect it.' He said Heathrow had been calling for business rates relief for airports as has been provided to the retail sector. Mr Holland-Kaye added: 'We pay 120 million a year at Heathrow alone and that's a fixed cost that we just have not been able to reduce at a time when we've been cutting our costs in all other areas.' Airlines and other carriers should bar people from travelling without them but Border Force guards will carry out spot checks on arrivals. However, the travel industry raised fears some Britons could be stranded as countries such as popular destinations in the Caribbean do not have the resources. WHICH LATERAL FLOW TESTS DOES THE UK GOVERNMENT USE? There are currently three lateral flow test devices on the Government's approved list. They are: SD Biosensor Standard Q Antigen Test Manufacturer: SD Biosensor When tested: August Claimed accuracy: 95.5% Real-world accuracy: Thought to be around 70% - source Price: Unknown SD Biosensor's rapid coronavirus test Innova Tried & Tested Antigen Test Manufacturer: Innova Tried & Tested When tested: August Claimed accuracy: 99% Real-world accuracy: 'At least 50 per cent', according to Dept Health Price: 8.69 per test (bulk order) Innova's rapid coronavirus test Healgen Rapid Covid-19 Antigen Test Manufacturer: Healgen When tested: September Claimed accuracy: 97.3% Real-world accuracy: Unknown Price: Unknown Healgen's rapid coronavirus test One holidaymaker on a Caribbean island told the Times there was 'zero chance' they could be tested before their flight to the UK tomorrow. All travellers will require a 'passenger locator form' and face a 500 fine if they fail to comply. Children under 11 will be exempt as will hauliers. Hauliers crossing the Channel to France will also still need a negative test before departure following a decision by the French government on Thursday. Some people will also dodge the new rules if they are coming from 'countries without the infrastructure available to deliver the tests'. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: 'With new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions. 'Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence.' Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford said he 'strongly supports' the measures being in place once Wales begins welcoming international travellers again. Mr Shapps said the new rules became a 'much more urgent' requirement due to the spread of new coronavirus strains. He told Sky News: 'This is an extra check and we're doing this now because there are these variants that we're very keen to keep out of the country, like the South African variant, for example. 'There are the concerns about the South African one in particular about how effective the vaccine would be against it so we simply cannot take chances.' He also defended the Government against allegations it should have moved sooner to close the border during the pandemic, arguing the UK as an island needed the movement of goods and people. 'Look what happened in the United States, for example, where they did last March entirely closed the border,' he said. 'It hasn't helped them at all, not one iota.' Labour MP and Commons Home Affairs Committee chairwoman Yvette Cooper said there are still 'many gaps' in the UK's approach. 'Currently the UK still has no testing on arrival and very patchy self-isolation arrangements for arriving travellers, in contrast to the strong arrival testing and quarantine arrangements that other countries have,' she said. She urged ministers not to 'make the same mistakes again' on preventing coronavirus cases from arriving from overseas, saying border measures were 'too weak' last spring. Britain's airline industry said it recognised the need to act to introduce pre-departure testing but only as a short-term, emergency measure. Chief Executive of Airlines UK Tim Alderslade said: 'Once the roll-out of the vaccine accelerates, the focus must be on returning travel to normal as quickly as possible in order to support the UK's economic recovery.' But travel consultant Paul Charles raised concerns about how realistic it is to have a pre-arrival test policy. He pointed to reports there is 'zero' chance of getting a test in Barbados because all resources are focused on test and trace. He tweeted: 'How I wonder is the government's plan for everyone departing from overseas to take a test ever going to work?' He also questioned what will happen if test results come back slowly, and whether the infrastructure is in place to handle the paperwork. The government was working with the devolved administrations of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to roll out similar measures. The new rule would not apply to the Common Travel Area which includes England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland as well as the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. It comes after ministers extended the travel ban on arrivals from South Africa to its neighbouring countries to keep out the new strain. It affects Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola, plus the Seychelles and Mauritius. The ban comes into effect from tomorrow at 4am. The Department for Transport said the move was in response to data showing a steep rise in cases of the new variant in the region. Last night Israel was also removed from the 'safe' list. Lockdown restrictions which came into force on Wednesday mean holidays are banned. All passengers arriving from countries not on the government's travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for ten days, regardless of their Covid test result. Scotland, which has devolved powers over transport policy, announced on Thursday travellers from Israel and Jerusalem, Botswana, Mauritius and the Seychelles were being removed from its travel corridor list and passengers arriving from those countries would still be required to self-isolate for 10 days. Around 230 planes hit the tarmac at Britain's six busiest airports on Wednesday, with 26 coming from the US which is being battered by the virus. Thousands have arrived at Heathrow in the past few days, with full data not yet available but sources at the airport said the figure was be in the tens of thousands. In November nearly 747,000 entered through the London hub airport. Figures from Labour yesterday showed that just three in every 100 people arriving in the UK are being checked to see if they are complying with quarantine requirements. Mr Thomas-Symonds has written to Priti Patel to demand 'an urgent review and improvement plan of quarantine arrangements'. Mr Thomas-Symonds said analysis of Government data suggested just three per cent of arrivals expected to quarantine in England and Northern Ireland were successfully contacted by compliance checkers in the summer. He said the Government's Isolation Assurance Service, tasked with ensuring quarantine compliance, did not contact more than 1.9 million of the two million passengers spot checked by Border Force between June and September. Ministers agreed the strict measures last night amid growing pressure to tighten borders (file image) The new rules mean travellers will have to quarantine for ten days even if they test negative if arriving from a red list country with high rates of Covid-19. Pictured, passengers arriving in New York on a flight from London Boris Johnson confirmed earlier this week a requirement for arrivals to have tested negative will be introduced, amid alarm at the spread of new variants around the world. Pictured, border control at Heathrow Airport Boris Johnson Keir Starmer Who doesn't have to provide a negative test on arrival in the UK? Hauliers Children under 11 Air crews People travelling from countries where tests are not available Border staff In a letter to the Home Secretary, Mr Thomas-Symonds said the numbers were 'deeply concerning' and demonstrate that 'efforts to track, trace and isolate cases coming into the UK have been completely undermined'. He said: 'The lack of a robust quarantine system as a result of shortcomings from the Government mean that it is virtually impossible to keep a grip on this spread or other variants that may come from overseas, leaving the UK defenceless, and completely exposed, with the nation's doors unlocked to further COVID mutations. The Labour frontbencher said there must be 'an urgent review and improvement plan of quarantine arrangements' rolled out as soon as possible. The calls for action come amid growing concerns over a variant of the disease discovered in South Africa. The Home Office has defended its 'stringent measures', and pointed to its move to stop direct flights from South Africa to the UK. In the first lockdown, the Government argued against introducing border restrictions while the prevalence was so high in the UK, with experts arguing it would do little to bring down infection rates. ADVERTISEMENT However, a quarantine period was introduced in June after the first peak and when cases were more under control. Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro will have AMD Ryzen mobile processors. The United States is very lucky this year of 2021 since the new device will soon arrive in the country. The giant laptop manufacturer announced its new lineup of IdeaPad for 2021. However, only one of them will arrive in the U.S., and that's the IdeaPad 5 Pro. Although this is the case, that device will give interested consumers in the United States new exciting treats. Why? Because Lenovo confirmed that the upcoming gadget is one of its most powerful IdeaPad laptops it ever made. Aside from the H-Series AMD Ryzen mobile processor, the IdeaPad 5 Pro can also be configured with the next-gen Nvidia GeForce RTX GPUs. Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro's other specs Lenovo's upcoming IdeaPad 5 Pro will be really expensive since it'll cost $1,149.99. Although it is not budget-friendly, it has great features that you can really take advantage of. Aside from AMD Ryzen and Nvidia RTX GPUs, the new laptop can also get up to 1TB of SSD PCIe M.2 storage and 32GB of DDR4 memory. Another exciting feature is its 90% screen-to-body ratio. Also Read: Samsung's New LTPO Screen Could Lead to iPhone With An Always-On Display! Will iPhone 12 Have It? This means that Lenovo IdeaPad 5 Pro will offer a 16:10 display, making it almost an all-screen laptop. It also provides extra space for multitasking and productivity over a 16:9 device. Aside from these, The Verge reported that the new IdeaPad 5 Pro can also reach 400 nits of brightness and has a 90Hz refresh rate. Lenovo confirmed that the new device will give you an improved keyboard, thanks to its soft-landing switches. You can also enjoy a larger trackpad compared to the older IdeaPad models. The upcoming laptop is expected to arrive in May. Lenovo also announced the new Ideapad 5G 14. However, this device will only be available in selected markets. Lenovo also hasn't announced its released date yet. Cheapest Lenovo laptop? If you're looking for a cheap Lenovo laptop, then you should get the IdeaPad 3. According to PC Gamer's latest previous report, this laptop went on sale for $379. The deal allows you to save $120 and enjoy the not-so-heavy gaming experience. Before, the IdeaPad 3 costs $499. Although its price went down, you can still enjoy its AMD's Ryzen 5 3500U. This chip is a quad-core chip with eight threads clocked at 2.1GHz to 3.7GHz. It also has 4MB of L3 cache. The IdeaPad 3 also features AMD's Vega 8 graphics, with 8 graphics cores. However, you must remember that you still can't do a lot of gaming activities with this laptop since it only has an integrated solution. For more news updates about Lenovo's upcoming IdeaPad models in the United States, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: LG Gram 2021 Laptop Series Will Feature Intel's 11th-Gen Processors and 19 Hours Battery Life This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Charlotte Pence Bond (pictured) extended her congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris just after her father certified the Democrats' Electoral College victory Mike Pence's daughter Charlotte Pence Bond extended her congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris just after her father certified the Democrats' Electoral College victory early Thursday morning. Charlotte, 27, is the outgoing vice president's middle child, between his son Michael and second daughter Audrey. 'Congratulations to President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris,' she tweeted with an American flag after Congress officially confirmed that her dad's time as vice president was up. Pence oversaw the certification proceedings, provoking fury from Trump as he refused to align with the president's false claims that he had the power to single-handedly overturn the election results. The proceedings were cast into chaos as a crowd of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol grounds on Wednesday afternoon, with dozens of them breaking into the building itself to loot and riot. Charlotte revealed that she was a witness to the anarchy in a second tweet on Thursday, in which she condemned the actions of the mob and defended Capitol police who failed to block it. Charlotte, 27, showed their is no bad blood between the incoming administration and outgoing Second Family in her tweet on Thursday morning In a second tweet Charlotte revealed that she was a witness to the anarchy that erupted on Capitol Hill on Wednesday when her father oversaw the election certification proceedings Charlotte (second right) is the eldest daughter of the vice president and his wife Karen (pictured with their youngest daughter Audrey on Air Force Two in 2017) 'Anyone who is blaming the Capitol Hill Police for the domestic terrorism that occurred yesterday should seriously reconsider their position. I was there. The people who held the line are our heroes,' she wrote. Capitol Police have faced growing criticism over their handling of the situation, which led to the deaths of four people, including a woman who was shot by an officer. Chief of the Capitol Police Steve Sund submitted his resignation on Thursday night after Nancy Pelosi and the union representing his officers called for him to step aside. Defense and police officials cited by The Wall Street Journal said it was a deliberate move not to put heavily armed cops or troops on the streets because they didn't want to inflame tensions between protesters and counter-protesters. The sources said that police were trying to avoid the tensions that were seen during the summer - when BLM protesters clashed with police in cities all over the country. The pro-Trump insurgents stormed the Capitol, breaching the Senate chamber where Pence had been presiding moments before Protesters used flag poles to break windows around the Capitol building on Wednesday Shortly before 2pm, the rioters descended on Capitol Hill while lawmakers were inside certifying the vote. Over the next two hours, the violence escalated. Some broke into politicians' offices, tauntingly sat at their desks and left threatening notes. One of the protesters was shot dead by cops (bottom right) But the strategy backfired gravely on Wednesday. Videos have emerged showing some officers assisting some of the rioters down the steps of the Capitol building, standing aside as crowds rush past them and even running away in fear from them up flights of stairs. Those images stand in stark contrast to the stealthy response shown from the police during the BLM protests of the summer. Only 80 people have been arrested and the police are asking for public help to identify dozens of others. In June, 289 were arrested during a single night of BLM protests. Pence and other lawmakers were whisked to safety as protesters stormed the Rotunda at around 3pm, some of them chanting: 'Where's Pence?' The vice president was quick to denounce the mob and posted photos on Twitter of himself thanking police officers who had been on duty. Pence was quick to denounce the mob as he was whisked to safety Pence spent all of Wednesday on Capitol Hill and tweeted his thanks to officers On Thursday Charlotte retweeted a post wherein former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich praised her father's response to the turmoil. 'Vice President Pence was a profile in courage yesterday,' Gingrich wrote. 'He understood that his oath was to the Constitution not to a party, policy, or person.He did what he believed was right and he did so under enormous pressure. 'Whether you agreed with his actions his courage deserves credit.' By recasting the sari which, since the days of the Indian freedom struggle, had come to become a symbol of Indian nationalism through his itinerant imaginations, Satya Paul imbued the national garment with a transnational spirit, capturing the mood of that period. Satya Paul, the legendary fashion designer and yogi, whose lasting contribution lies in rendering the sari in visionary forms and laying the bedrock of unconventional design-thinking for future designers to build on, died yesterday at the Isha Yoga Center in Coimbatore, aged 79. Along with his son Puneet Nanda, Paul began his eponymous brand in April 1985 as a colourful outburst of vivid prints and bold patterns. Largely attributed as the first designer sari brand in India, it punctuated the traditional aesthetics of the sari with art-to-wear garments that were imprinted with diverse elements: Cyrillic script and Japanese calligraphy; paintings by Picasso, Klimt, Mondrian, and Raja Ravi Varma; portraits of Marilyn Monroe, Madonna, and Sita; and even the comic strip, Calvin and Hobbes. The brands 2003 reproduction of SH Raza paintings on silk scarves are collectors items today. I am influenced by all the elements of life around me, Paul said, in a 1988 interview with the New York Times. He added that while others were dabbling in the art of fashion design, he was the first to introduce choreographed collections in India, in the style of Paris fashion houses. As creative director of his brand, most of Pauls design output came in the 1990s, the early years of Indias economic liberalisation. His designs were modern, quirky, and refreshing for those times. They are also cultural artefacts. By recasting the sari which, since the days of the Indian freedom struggle, had come to become a symbol of Indian nationalism through his itinerant imaginations, Paul imbued the national garment with a transnational spirit, capturing the mood of that period. Soon after, in 2000, the designer took a backseat by appointing his son as creative director. Detachment from his success, a trait displayed by the reclusive designer throughout his career, came from his lifelong passion, spirituality. Born in the Layyah district of Pakistan in 1943, Satya Paul migrated to India following Partition. His first entrepreneurial venture was a restaurant in Delhis Sarojini Nagar which he ran with his father. Thereupon, he entered the textile business with the thought, he once said, that it would be less taxing. Never formally trained in design, Paul had begun to design his own clothes and those of his friends while still in school, and opened two stores, Handloom Emporium (renamed Heritage) in 1968, and Laffaire in Delhi in 1980. By the mid-1970s, he was exporting fabrics to high-end stores in Europe and America such as Pariss Galeries Lafayette and New Yorks Bloomingdales. In 1982, Paul gave up his business, distributing it between his brothers, and moved with his wife and two children to Rajneeshpuram, the controversial Osho commune in Oregon. Nanda, only 12 at that time, decided to leave school and worked in the video department at the commune, which triggered his interest in photography and graphic design. Many people are not aware, more than as [sic] a designer or entrepreneur, he has been steadfastly a seeker, he wrote of his father in a Facebook post. Upon their return to India, brimming with his spiritualism, art-prints, and impressions from his various travels, Paul launched his brand. Both father and son quit the brand in 2010, and Paul subsequently found Sadhguru in 2007, immersing himself in Yoga. At the time of his death, he had been living at the Isha Yoga Center with his family since 2015. Following a stroke on 2 December 2020, he had been admitted into a hospital and was taken back to the centre upon his wishes. He couldnt have had a sweeter life or passage... at the feet of the Master, wrote Nanda. Those who have been with him at any point in life would recall him as one who showered his love without hesitation or any barriers. I can attest to him having lived in totality and left fulfilled in every possible way. It is the greatest testament to him as he went joyously, without fear. The Satya Paul brand, over the years, has diversified into other products such as ties, bags, and most recently, a menswear line. The designer Masaba Gupta helmed the brand between 2012 and 2016, introducing lipsticks into its lexicon of zany prints. This year, the brand announced Rajesh Pratap Singh as creative director with a renewed focus on artisanal textiles and menswear. As a student at NIFT Delhi, Singh first met the designer in 1993, who went on to sponsor handwoven fabrics for his final-year collection. An extremely generous, creative, and inspiring pioneer of the Indian fashion and textile industry, he lived a pure and beautiful life, Singh told Firstpost. At the start of every new year for the past few years, Indonesia is greeted by heaps of plastic waste that washes up on the shore. The beautiful beaches of the country, especially in Bali, turn into dumpsters. This year has been no exception with volunteers and NGO workers visiting the beaches for cleanliness drives. To draw more attention to the grave issue, an ocean activist from Belgium, Laura, came up with an interesting initiative. She dressed up as a mermaid and posed on the waste-laden beach. Quite like the marine animals that wash up on the shores, the drone shot of the mermaid lying in a filthy beach has become the talking point on the internet as many environmental bodies have shared her picture. The image was captured by Bali-based freelance photographer Wayan Suyadnya. Shot at Kuta Beach in Bali, other than the drone shot, Laura posted several other pictures and videos of the place. The entire span of the beach seems to have been filled with a layer of plastic waste as the environment advocate lauded the efforts put in by the volunteers. A mermaid was seen lounging in trash as volunteers tried to remove rubbish and plastic from Bali's famous Kuta Beach pic.twitter.com/ZaAtUoUjGH Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) January 5, 2021 She wrote, The planet is what we all have in common, and explained how due to the rainy season, plastic disaster temporarily spoils the beaches of Bali every year. She tagged a few bodies and individuals who took the initiative to come out and clean the beaches and said it was heart-warming to see their effort. Calling them heroes, Laura said that the community had risen up to the challenge to protect our beautiful planet. However, she also wrote how cleaning the beach every year was not a viable solution. A great display of effort but hardly beneficial as big corporations continue churning out plastic in huge quantities even now. So no matter how much was cleaned, the garbage will just keep piling on. But this is going to keep happening until the polluters STOP MANUFACTURING and selling things we use for minutes, that pollute the ocean and environment for centuries! Laura wrote. As the only possible way to solve this problem, the activist tagged big companies like Coca Cola, Unilever, Pepsi and Nestle and urged them to stop manufacturing plastic. Laura said that the world needed the giant firms to put the environment before [their] greed. An official of the Kuta Beach Management Unit told new agency Reuters that the person in costume posed for the pictures first after which she had joined the volunteers in cleaning up the beach. A man charged with murder in the shooting death of a 9-year-old Bridgeton girl has been indicted on charges that he tried to get witnesses to recant their claims that he was involved in the crime. Michael L. Elliott, 28, of Bridgeton, was charged along with three others for allegedly firing on a group of people gathered in front of an Elmer Street home around 12:30 a.m. on July 17, 2018. While prosecutors say the target was a man in that group, one of the bullets pierced the wall of a nearby home and struck Jennifer Trejo as she slept in her bed. She died in her fathers arms as he rushed her to a hospital. No one else was injured. Jennifer Trejo, 9, of Bridgeton, was struck and killed by a stray bullet in 2018. Elliott, along with Leroy Frazier III, 22, Charles H. Gamble, 20, and Zahmere K. McKoy, 21, were indicted on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, attempted murder and aggravated assault. A jury convicted Frazier on charges of first-degree aggravated manslaughter, conspiracy to commit murder and attempted murder in January 2020. He was sentenced to 42 years in prison. The three others are still awaiting trial and are due in court Monday for a hearing on the case. Meanwhile, a Cumberland County grand jury indicted Elliott in December on a second-degree charge of conspiracy to commit witness tampering. While in jail in March 2019, Elliott allegedly spoke to Kamal Martin, 43, of Millville, about getting witnesses in the shooting to recant their statements identifying him as one of those involved. Prosecutors said Martin helped Elliott in this effort. (Elliott) talks about having three and then four affidavits signed by witnesses of the prosecution, recanting their statements, the affidavit of probable cause adds. Martin was charged with a third-degree count of hindering apprehension and struck a plea deal with prosecutors under which he will serve four years. Sentencing is slated for Tuesday. That sentence will run concurrent to another sentence for a federal parole violation, according to plea documents. Martin is currently housed in the federal detention center in Philadelphia. Elliott, Gamble and McKoy remain in Cumberland County Jail. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Panaji, Jan 8 : Goa, geographically India's smallest state, has been witnessing a series of protests over land intensive projects over the last few months. While the ruling BJP has blamed the "anti-development" agitations on the upcoming state assembly polls scheduled in early 2022, a fast disappearing critical resource, land, is emerging as the key factor for popular unrest against "mega-projects". The most sustained protests of 2020, which have spilled into the near year, are linked to three central government-backed projects linked to double tracking of the South Western railway line, the expansion of the National Highway 4A and an interstate power project. All the projects are earmarked in protected areas, especially in and around Mollem village, which is ringed by the Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park. The rail, road and power projects are expected to be spread over an area of 135 hectares, 32 hectare and 48 hectares of forest land in protected areas respectively. The protesters, who have been agitating for more than a year, have accused the government of utilising forest land for facilitating coal transportation. In a recent letter to Union Minister for Environment and Forests Prakash Javadekar, former Goa Forest Minister and BJP MLA Alina Saldanha makes a case for diminutive Goa's inability to handle mega projects. "The neighbouring states of Maharashtra and Karnataka are 82 and 52 times bigger than Goa. Therefore, what may be possible in these big states cannot be contained in the dot-sized state of Goa," Saldanha said in her letter. The letter makes a specific reference to Goa's small geographic size, as an impediment to facilitation of big-ticket and land intensive projects, especially those linked to possible pollution. According to the India State of Forest Report, a document compiled by the Dehradun-based Forest Survey of India, out of Goa's total area admeasuring 3,702 sq. mts, 1,225 sq. mts (nearly 33 per cent) falls under the 'recorded forest area' category and 972 sq. kms. falls under the 'unclassed forest' category. Goa also has six wildlife sanctuaries and one national park. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has repeatedly stated that with protected forests in the hinterland and coastal regulation zone norms along the coastline, there is a lot of pressure on the state's land resources for development purposes. The anxiety over shrinking land resources is also reflected in the ongoing protest against an upcoming Indian Institute of Technology campus in North Goa's Melaulim village. The IIT campus project was relocated from Canancona sub district to Sanguem sub district over the last few years amid opposition from local village groups. The proposed project which spans an area of nearly 10 lakh sq. mts, was eventually conceived in Melaulim village in North Goa, where it has been opposed by local villagers too. Although technically, the land in question is owned by the Goa government, the Melaulim villagers, mostly tribals, claim that the government is trying to displace them from the land on which they have settled for centuries. More than 100 persons were booked, many of them charged with attempt to murder, by the local police after a scuffle between them and the protesters. According to the Congress party, the series of protests against land intensive projects proves that the corporate lobby in connivance with the Goa government is eyeing the state's most prized resource. "It is abundantly clear that the corporate lobby is eyeing Goa's most prized resource which is shrinking; land. Cornering land is similar to cornering power in Goa now," party spokesperson Trajano D'Mello said. Shrinking land resources as well as largescale in-migration are two key reasons why thinkers and activists in the state had been lobbying for granting of Special Status to Goa to help the state retain its unique identity. A Canadian minister has denounced China for intimidation of people around the world through Beijings state entities or proxies in order to silence dissent, pressure political opponents and instil general fear of state power. In a letter to lawmakers, Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety responsible for the countrys internal security, said that foreign states, including the PRC (Peoples Republic of China), attempt to threaten and intimidate individuals around the world, including in Canada, through various state entities and non-state proxies. That letter was sent in response to a motion moved by the Opposition calling for the government to outline its plans for participation of the Chinese telecommunications company Huawei in Canadas 5G infrastructure and to table a plan to counter foreign interference. In the letter, as cited by the outlet National Observer, Blair added that the government is aware that these tactics can also be used as cover for silencing dissent, including on university campuses, pressuring political opponents and instilling general fear of state power, no matter where a person is located. He mentioned Chinas Operation Fox Hunt as one such example. Operation Fox Hunt was launched under the direction of Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014 through the Ministry of Public Security to target Chinese nationals who he sees as threats and who live outside China, around the world, according to Christopher Wray, director of US Federal Bureau of Investigation. Citing Blairs letter, the outlet Global News said the government was particularly concerned about giving foreign adversaries control over and access to sensitive technologies, critical infrastructure and the personal data of Canadians. Blair also noted that the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Communications Security Establishment, and Canada Border Services Agency, were engaged in combating such foreign interference. Such interference, the minister said, had worsened after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic as government agencies had observed state-sponsored information manipulation with such campaigns aimed at sowing doubt about the origins of the Covid-19 virus and the means required to counter it; discredit responses to Covid-19 while casting their own as superior. The motion is expected to come up for discussion in the House of Commons once it reconvenes later this month. Earlier, according to a report in the daily Global & Mail, in the strongest public denunciation of Chinas bullying of the community in Canada, a spokesperson for the Canadian Security Intelligence Service had said that the fear of state-backed or state-linked retribution targeting both them and their loved ones, in Canada and abroad, can force individuals to submit to foreign interference. Together, Canadas spy agency felt, such activities constitute a threat to Canadas sovereignty and to the safety of Canadians. Andrews Hints NSW-Victoria Border May Open Next Week Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has hinted that falling COVID-19 cases may see border restrictions with New South Wales begin to ease next week allowing thousands of stranded people to return home. Andrews said a recent mystery case in Victoria and cross-state vacations had prevented borders opening up sooner. [I]f it werent for that case then maybe we would be further along in terms in getting the borders open, Andrews said on Friday. He added that it wasnt for people taking trips to regional parts to New South Wales; we would be further along. The Victorian government suddenly enacted a hard border to NSW on New Years Day in response to increasing CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus cases in Syndeys Northern Beaches area. In the week leading up to Jan. 1 over 40 positive cases were recorded in NSW, which then led to outbreaks in Victoria, breaking the states 60 days without community transmission. But now, for the second day in a row, no locally acquired virus cases were recorded in Victoria. At the same time, NSW had four new cases on Friday after also registering zero on Thursday. There have been no reports of deaths or people in ICU. When asked when borders will open, Andrews said border rules are dependent on community transmission. Im working towards and what I absolutely want to be able to do some time next week is to say that people can come home and they can come home soon, and not in a few weeks later, but as soon as possible, Andrews said. This is the second time in as many days Andrews has hinted that the state government would ease the border restrictions, contradicting comments made earlier this week by Victorian Health Minister, Martin Foley who said it would be unlikely the border will be removed before the end of January. The Victorian government have granted over 570 exemptions to people to return home from NSW for medical or hardship reasons. It is estimated thousands more await permission to enter Victoria. Andrews also acknowledge that the delay in allowing people to return was frustrating many Victorians who are stranded in New South Wales. Police officer patrols and checks for entry permits to Victoria at a border checkpoint in Mallacoota, Australia on Dec. 31, 2020. (Diego Fedele/Getty Images) I know thats deeply frustrating for those caught on the other side of the border. We get that. We understand that, thats why were working night and day to bring under control cases in Victoria, Andrews said. UK Strain Causing Increasing Concerns For Authorities An outbreak of the highly-infectious mutation of SARS-CoV-2 from the United Kingdom in Queensland, is also raising concerns with the state government. Andrews will attend a special national cabinet meeting today to discuss Australias measures against the spread of the UK COVID-19 mutation, as well as the tightening of testing for aircrew. Read More Brisbane Goes Into Three Day Lockdown The most recent UK strain which is just wreaking havoc we dont want that here, its new, and we have an opportunity to keep it out, and we must all play our part to do that, Andrews said. By Jonathan Shorman, The Kansas City Star KANSAS CITY, Mo. Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley called Simon & Schuster a woke mob for canceling his upcoming book Thursday, the day after an actual mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Simon & Schuster said in a statement it had decided not to release the Republican senators book, The Tyranny of Big Tech. The company added that it didnt come to the decision lightly. Hawley was the first senator to sign on to an objection to the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory, joining a challenge to Pennsylvanias results that ensured Congress would debate the election Wednesday. As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom, the statement said. After rioters stormed the Capitol, Hawley faced condemnation for his objection. Former Sen. John Danforth, a Missouri Republican who had promoted Hawley as the future of the party, called his support of Hawley the biggest mistake Ive ever made in my life. Hawley, who has faced criticism for not more strongly condemning the violence, said the companys actions could not be more Orwellian. Simon & Schuster is canceling my contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition. Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. Its a direct assault on the First Amendment, Hawley said in a statement posted to Twitter. The First Amendment prohibits the government from restricting speech, but it does not require publishers to print material, such as a book. However, Hawley promised to fight cancel culture with everything I have and told the company he would see you in court. Amid the crises currently faced by the country up to today, North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un vowed that the hermit kingdom's military capabilities would be expanded, during the Worker's Party Congress, Thursday. Kim Jong Un Pledges to Bolster Military Capabilities of North Korea The announcement comes as Kim marks his 10th year in power, and in the midst of an economic and health crises that the country is facing. At the moment, the rogue nation's economy is down due to the lockdowns that Pyongyang imposed on its borders in order to stop COVID-19 from entering the country. According to ABC News, North Korean state media (KCNA) reported that the dictator promised to increase the state defense capabilities of the country and set goals in order to achieve it. Moreover, in the past months, North Korea also faced several natural disasters that crippled their economy further, as well as numerous international sanctions due to its program on nuclear weapons. Kim's promise of a more capable military also comes weeks before the United States inaugurates President-elect Joe Biden into power. In the past, US President Donald Trump has met with Kim in order to discuss denuclearisation, however, a breakthrough did not happen at the time, neither did they reach a deal on loosening the North's sanctions, South China Morning Post reported. Aside from the promises of military capability expansion, Kim also discussed other policies which could improve the living standards of North Koreans during Wednesday's session of the Worker's Party Congress. This happened just a day after the dictator admitted that the country had fallen short in achieving its previous economic goals. Read also: Protecting North Korea's Supreme Leader: Kim Il Sung's Former Bodyguard Speaks up After announcing a temporary pause on nuclear testing and the launch of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) in 2018, the Kim regime has resumed its production of nuclear weapons. In the past year, Pyongyang has made a series of small missile launches, and back in October, the country unveiled its largest ICBM yet. In a report by Aljazeera, it was stated that Ahn Chan-il, a former North Korean defector and now a researcher at the World Institute for North Korea Studies in Seoul spoke to AFP news and said that Kim's declaration basically means that the nuclear capabilities of the North will be strengthened. He also added that the dictator was only careful not to use the word 'nuclear' as he is wary of president-elect Biden's stance on Pyongyang, which he described as "uncompromising" than that of Trump's. In addition, he also stated that Kim is simply careful not to provoke Biden at this point, but stressed that the North will clearly not give up its nuclear weapons. The Worker's Party Congress is where North Korea's top ruling party convened in order to discuss new policies and is viewed to be a set-piece in reinforcing the authority of the regime. Several analysts are highly monitoring the event through satellite imagery since the North is a highly reclusive country and most information is only supplied by the state-controlled media. According to said analysts, there have been several indications that a huge parade, with 'military elements' is being planned by Pyongyang to celebrate the gathering. Related article: North Korea Seeks Assitance from Global Alliance to Procure COVID-19 Vaccine @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Washington, Jan 8 : The US Justice Department announced on Thursday that Boeing has agreed to pay more than $2.5 billion to resolve a criminal charge related to a conspiracy to defraud regulators over the 737 MAX crashes. "The tragic crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 exposed fraudulent and deceptive conduct by employees of one of the world's leading commercial airplane manufacturers," said David P. Burns, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department's criminal division. "Boeing's employees chose the path of profit over candor by concealing material information from the FAA concerning the operation of its 737 Max airplane and engaging in an effort to cover up their deception," Burns said, referring to the Federal Aviation Administration. Boeing, a US-based multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells commercial airplanes to airlines worldwide, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed in the Northern District of Texas, the Justice Department said in a statement, the Xinhua news agency reported. Under the terms of the DPA, Boeing's $2.5-billion fine is composed of a criminal monetary penalty of $243.6 million, compensation payments to Boeing's 737 MAX airline customers of $1.77 billion, and the establishment of a $500-million crash-victim beneficiaries fund to compensate the heirs, relatives, and legal beneficiaries of the 346 passengers who died in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, according to the statement. Boeing's 737 MAX jets had been grounded across the globe since early March 2019 following more evidence emerging indicated that its key flight control software played a part in two deadly air crashes in less than one year. In November, the FAA cleared Boeing 737 Max to fly again after a 20-month grounding. Last week, American Airlines flew a Boeing 737 Max from Miami to New York with paying passengers on board, making the first commercial flight after worldwide grounding of the troubled aircraft. After Manish Tewari and Akhilesh Yadav have shown concerns regarding Covid-19 vaccine, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav today joined the opposition who are against taking the vaccine shot. The RJD leader on Friday told ANI, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take the first shot of Covid-19 vaccine, then, we will also take it." The comments come three days after Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said that the state government was all prepared for administering Covid 19 vaccinations across the state. Also Read: Virus spread slows but two states still a worry On Tuesday, the Bihar chief minister said, We are prepared for administering vaccination in Bihar," and spelled out the priority list for the vaccination drive. The vaccination will be done in accordance with the Centres guidelines and priority will be given to those who are more than 50 years of age or are involved in professions like health care, frontline workers, priority age groups, public representatives, all people engaged in government works, contract workers, shopkeepers, traders and all vulnerable groups, etc.," the CM had said. Recently, several Congress leaders including Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh have expressed their apprehensions regarding Covaxin, the vaccine made by Bharat Biotech and recently approved by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). Tewari said, A number of eminent etymologists and other medical practitioners have expressed surprise with regard to the fact that this vaccine has been cleared without phase III trials having been completed." This obviously raises questions with regard to the efficacy of the vaccine." Meanwhile, Ramesh had tweeted, Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan should clarify." Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister @drharshvardhan should clarify. pic.twitter.com/5HAWZtmW9s Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) January 3, 2021 Tharoor said, In other words, those Indians who would be administered Covaxin would, in effect, be volunteers for the required third stage clinical trial - without the mandatory informed consent. This is, to put it mildly, highly unusual. It is also ethically dubious." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The process, which involves dropping a nanosheet suspension onto a substrate heated by a hot plate and then removing the solution, leads to a uniform surface tension-driven tiling of the nanosheets, with limited gaps between them. Credit: American Chemical Society Scientists at Japan's Nagoya University and the National Institute for Materials Science have found that a simple one-drop approach is cheaper and faster for tiling functional nanosheets together in a single layer. If the process, described in the journal ACS Nano, can be scaled up, it could advance development of next-generation oxide electronics. "Drop casting is one of the most versatile and cost-effective methods for depositing nanomaterials on a solid surface," says Nagoya University materials scientist Minoru Osada, the study's corresponding author. "But it has serious drawbacks, one being the so-called coffee-ring effect: a pattern left by particles once the liquid they are in evaporates. We found, to our great surprise, that controlled convection by a pipette and a hotplate causes uniform deposition rather than the ring-like pattern, suggesting a new possibility for drop casting." The process Osada describes is surprisingly simple, especially when compared to currently available tiling techniques, which can be costly, time-consuming, and wasteful. The scientists found that dropping a solution containing 2-D nanosheets with a simple pipette onto a substrate heated on a hotplate to a temperature of about 100C, followed by removal of the solution, causes the nanosheets to come together in about 30 seconds to form a tile-like layer. Analyses showed that the nanosheets were uniformly distributed over the substrate's surface, with limited gaps. This is probably a result of surface tension driving how particles disperse, and the shape of the deposited droplet changing as the solution evaporates. The scientists used the process to deposit particle solutions of titanium dioxide, calcium niobate, ruthenium oxide, and graphene oxide. They also tried different sizes and shapes of a variety of substrates, including silicon, silicon dioxide, quartz glass, and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). They found they could control the surface tension and evaporation rate of the solution by adding a small amount of ethanol. Furthermore, the team successfully used this process to deposit multiple layers of tiled nanosheets, fabricating functional nanocoatings with various features: conducting, semiconducting, insulating, magnetic and photochromic. Explore further Novel metal-organic framework nanosheets developed for anticorrosive coating More information: Yue Shi et al. Single Droplet Assembly for Two-Dimensional Nanosheet Tiling, ACS Nano (2020). Journal information: Science , ACS Nano Yue Shi et al. Single Droplet Assembly for Two-Dimensional Nanosheet Tiling,(2020). DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c05434 PV Real Estate It's Time to Pay Your Puerto Vallarta Property Taxes Property taxes for homes and condos in Puerto Vallarta and around Banderas Bay are exceptionally affordable, with a single-family home in an area like Fluvial Vallarta only owing around 5000 pesos in annual taxes. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Property taxes. Just the words make most Canadian and American homeowners nervous about potential damage to their bank balance, but in Mexico you don't need to worry. Property taxes for homes and condos in the Banderas Bay region and throughout Mexico are exceptionally affordable, with a single-family home in an area like Fluvial Vallarta only owing around 5000 pesos in annual taxes. Additionally, if you pay your property taxes in January you will receive a 15% discount, 10 percent for those who do it in February, and 5 percent discount for those who pay in March. If this is your first time paying your property taxes in Puerto Vallarta, here is what you need to know: a Property taxes may be paid at either City Hall or at UNIRSE in Fluvial. a You will need a copy of the account number from your previous year's property taxes. If you are a new owner, the tax form from the previous year should be included in the documents you were provided by your notary at the closing of your sale. If not, bring the deed to your home with you to City Hall or UNIRSE. a Taxes can be paid via cash, debit or credit card. a File your receipt safely away, both as proof of payment and to easily access your account number for the following year. You may also pay your Puerto Vallarta property taxes using the municipal government's online payment system, which is available at Before you log onto the online tax payment center, be sure to have your Predial account number in hand. This is usually a 4 digit number (could be more) found on the top right hand side of your property tax bill in the box that says "Cuenta." When you visit the website, type in your property tax id number where it says 'Cuenta' and click 'Buscar.' The amount you owe will show up and payment can be made with your Visa or Master Card. Make sure to keep the payment receipt in your records as you may be asked for it at some point. Any unpaid balances will become delinquent and subject to interest and penalties. Whichever way you pay, your property taxes in Mexico aren't going to make nearly the dent in your wallet that they would in other parts of North America, so you can welcome 2021 without the worry of a large tax bill looming. It's just another great benefit of living in Puerto Vallarta. Warren Brander is an expert real estate agent working with Remax in Puerto Vallarta. He can be reached at 322-200-2253, or by email at warren(at)remaxinpv.com. You can also check out his website for a great selection of Puerto Vallarta condos and homes for sale at WarrenBrander.com. To learn more about Warren Brander Real Estate, click HERE. - Property taxes. Just the words make most Canadian and American homeowners nervous about potential damage to their bank balance, but in Mexico you don't need to worry.Property taxes for homes and condos in the Banderas Bay region and throughout Mexico are exceptionally affordable, with a single-family home in an area like Fluvial Vallarta only owing around 5000 pesos in annual taxes.Additionally, if you pay your property taxes in January you will receive a 15% discount, 10 percent for those who do it in February, and 5 percent discount for those who pay in March.If this is your first time paying your property taxes in Puerto Vallarta, here is what you need to know:a Property taxes may be paid at either City Hall or at UNIRSE in Fluvial.a You will need a copy of the account number from your previous year's property taxes. If you are a new owner, the tax form from the previous year should be included in the documents you were provided by your notary at the closing of your sale. If not, bring the deed to your home with you to City Hall or UNIRSE.a Taxes can be paid via cash, debit or credit card.a File your receipt safely away, both as proof of payment and to easily access your account number for the following year.You may also pay your Puerto Vallarta property taxes using the municipal government's online payment system, which is available at pagos.puertovallarta.gob.mx. Before you log onto the online tax payment center, be sure to have your Predial account number in hand. This is usually a 4 digit number (could be more) found on the top right hand side of your property tax bill in the box that says "Cuenta."When you visit the website, type in your property tax id number where it says 'Cuenta' and click 'Buscar.' The amount you owe will show up and payment can be made with your Visa or Master Card. Make sure to keep the payment receipt in your records as you may be asked for it at some point. Any unpaid balances will become delinquent and subject to interest and penalties.Whichever way you pay, your property taxes in Mexico aren't going to make nearly the dent in your wallet that they would in other parts of North America, so you can welcome 2021 without the worry of a large tax bill looming. It's just another great benefit of living in Puerto Vallarta. Site Map Print this Page Email Us Top New Delhi: Even before the scheduled eighth round of talks, the government and the farmer unions stuck to their respective positions. The agitating farmers took out tractor rallies to press their demand for rollback of new farm laws and the Centre asserted it is ready to consider any proposal other than their repeal. While rumours say that some states have been allowed to opt out of the Centre's laws but the agitating unions said they had not received any such proposal from the government. Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka, a senior member of the Samkyukt Kisan Morch, said that unions have not received any proposal for allowing some states to opt out and asserted that they will reject the same if it is sent to them. "I want to make it clear that Samkyukt Kisan Morcha has not received any proposal on allowing states to opt out of the three farm laws. We will not accept anything less than the repeal of three agriculture laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price for our crops," Kakka told PTI. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan also denied receiving any such proposal from the Centre. Meanwhile, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar made it clear that the government is ready to consider any proposal other than repeal of three farm laws, which has been the key demand of the farmers. Tomar who is leading the negotiations along with Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, said he cannot say right now what would be the outcome of the January 8 meeting with 40 protesting farmer union leaders. On Thursday, the agitating farmers took out tractor marches from protest sites of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders and Haryana's Rewasan as the unions asserted they would not accept the Centre's offer of amendments to the three farm laws. According to the protesting farm unions, these marches were a "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 "Kisan parade" to the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The fresh round of talks will be held at 2PM on Friday at Delhi's Vigyan Bhavan and is critical as the previous meeting on January 4 remained inconclusive with both sides sticking to their positions. Even as both sides look for a resolution to the deadlock which has lasted more than a month. Live TV A Group in the Wulensi constituency of the Northern Region of Ghana known as the 'Wulensi Development Consortium' is calling on the government of President Nana Akufo Addo to consider Hon Thomas Donkor Ogajah as the next Northern Regional Minister for his experience and services to the NPP. Hon Thomas Donkor Ogajah was a District Chief Executive officer for the Wulensi District during the Kufour era and also served as an MP for the NPP in the Wulensi constituency for two terms until January 7, 2021. The Wulensi Development Consortium under its spokesperson by name Mr BABA M. Yakubu believed that with the experience and networks, Hon Ogajah can make a good Minister of the Northern Region hence their advocacy. When contacted, Hon Thomas Donkor Ogajah indicated that he was available to serve the government of the NPP in any capacity and will not hesitate to accept appointment into the position of Northern Regional Minister if the current Minister, Hon Salifu Saeed was no longer interested in the job. Hon Thomas Donkor Ogajah is a teacher,. businessman and politician and sees his diverse background as the best for the Northern Region which is a highly diverse region. 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. Featured Video Education Minister Norma Foley is casting doubt over whether Leaving Cert exams can go ahead after a three day week for sixth years was ruled out by teacher unions. The minister was forced into a U-turn on the partial re-opening of schools from Monday to allow 60,000 students continue face to face teaching in the crucial run up to the exams. Teacher unions pulled the plug on a plan agreed by Government earlier this week because they had not been consulted and said they had concerns about health and safety. But in a meeting with union leaders today, the minister raised the question about what that meant for the Leaving Cert. Read More Effectively, the ministers message is that if exam candidates dont get back to school soon, there needs to be discussion about a Plan B for the Leaving Cert. Last year, the traditional June exams were replaced by a system of calculated grades, which proved highly controversial and is the subject of about 50 High Court actions. This years Leaving Cert candidates have already suffered serious disruption to their senior cycle education, having been out of schools from March to June last year. Although the Government has been committed to returning to traditional exams this year, the uncertainty posed by Covid created doubts in the classrooms, adding to normal sixth year stress levels. When schools re-opened in September, many teachers and students took the view that the 2021 exams might not go ahead, and have treated every assignment as one that could count for a calculated grade. There is less than 22 weeks to go to the scheduled start of the written exams, but orals and practicals take place even earlier, in the spring. Under current plans, school are closed for three of those weeks, and, at this stage, there is no guarantee that they will reopen on February 1. If an indefinite closure is on the cards, it raises the issue about whether, and when, teacher unions would be happy to instruct their members to attend school. After a difficult week, Minister Foley was meeting unions separate meetings at primary and post-primary - today with all sides keen to get relations back on track and work through solutions to the impasse. Read More Ms Foley had also proposed that special schools and special classes in mainstream schools open from Monday for pupils with special needs, but that has also been shelved because of union objections. Three leading advocacy organisations representing students with additional needs, Down Syndrome Ireland, Inclusion Ireland and AsIAm, have said that u-turn over the re-opening of special schools had left families of children with special educational needs devastated, and immediate supports must be put in place for them. The groups have sought an urgent meeting with Ms Foley. The water authorities have upgraded their emergency flood control response level for the Yangtze River basin after a continuous rise in water levels. In Wuhan, the water level rose to 24.78 meters (81 feet) on Tuesday, 4.01 meters higher than the same period in previous years, and not far from the warning level of 27.3 meters May 26, 2021 05:16 PM Capitol police officer Brian D. Sicknick has died from injuries he sustained during the riot at the Capitol on Wednesday. Ashli Babbitt, one of the protesters, died during the riot. She was shot by an officer as she climbed through a window into the building. Three other protesters died due to medical emergencies. According to reports, more than 50 law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the rioting. Thats slightly less than the number of Secret Service officers who reportedly were injured protecting the White House during BLM/leftist rioting this Summer. Thankfully, there were no deaths on either side during that rioting, at least as far as I recall. However, that wasnt for lack of trying by the radical leftist mob. Its members threw projectiles such as bricks, rocks, bottles, fireworks at the officers, who were also kicked, punched and exposed to bodily fluids. The attacks near the White House were more violent than the one at the Capitol, which did not involve most of the forms of assault described above. Yet, media and Democrat outrage over these attacks was muted at best. At worst, it was directed at those like William Barr who tried to ensure the safety of the area. Before the pandemic, I used to encounter members of the Capitol police regularly at the Library of Congress where they provide security. Sometimes, I encountered them at the Capitol, as well. And passing by the Capitol on my way to the Library, I sometimes saw members of the force helping tourists find their way around. I always found members of the Capitol police force to be professional, courteous, and helpful. Its most unfortunate that so many of them have been injured and that one of them has been killed. It may well be that the leaders of the force let their officers down by not anticipating the attack and/or taking measures that might have nipped it in the bud. Im sure there will be an inquiry and there should be. But the main blame here goes, of course, to the mob and to those who incited it. David Finn is among business owners who are calling on the Government to clear up the uncertainty around reopening dates. Mr Finn, a hairdresser, owns the Style Bar in Portlaoise, Co Laois and said he would prefer to know now if the current lockdown is going to be extended. He was responding to comments by Tanaiste Leo Varadkar who said: "If I was running a business now, I would be thinking it's a probability that I'll be closed until the end of March." Mr Varadkar added the situation will be reviewed at the end of January. Mr Finn said alerting businesses to a later reopening at this point could save them money: "You might be able to get rebate from insurance because you can negotiate that now in advance." He does not have an issue with the current restrictions but is anxious to know what will happen beyond the end of January. Reopening "It has been stop-start and when we got going in December, I think a lot of us thought that was going to be the end of the lockdown for a couple of months," he said. "There are costs involved with reopening so the more that happens the less inclined you are to be planning now for the end of January, when you don't know if that is going to be the case." Mr Finn, who employs 18 people, said his business needs a time frame to fill or cancel appointments. "So if people are booked in for February, do we need to cancel them? "Likewise, if we knew we were reopening in March we would start opening up appointments books for that time but at the moment we can do neither." Mr Finn said businesses have ongoing costs, even when they are shut. "We have an online booking system. We pay a couple of hundred euro a month for it." An Iraqi court has issued an arrest warrant for outgoing President over the killing of deputy chief of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, commander of the paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, in January 2020. On January 3, 2020, a drone strike struck a convoy near Baghdad Airport that killed al-Muhandis, as well as Qasem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps. "A judge in Baghdad's al-Rusafa court in charge of investigating the killing of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, issued an arrest warrant (on Thursday) against the President Donald Trump," Xinhua news agency quoted the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council as saying in a statement. The judge issued the warrant after hearing the complaints of al-Muhandis' family members and the completion of the preliminary investigation procedures, the statement said. "Investigation procedures are continuing to find out the other participants in committing this crime, whether they are Iraqis or foreigners," it added. The Hashd Shaabi or the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) is a Shia paramilitary force made up of former militias with close ties to Iran. It was recognised under a 2016 Iraqi law as an independent military force that answers directly to the Prime Minister. Iranian state media had reported on Monday that Tehran has also issued an arrest warrant for Trump over Soleimani's death. Tehran attorney general Ali Alqasi Mehr claimed that Trump would be prosecuted after his term ends. --IANS ksk/ (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.) (CNN) -- A version of this article first appeared in the "Reliable Sources" newsletter. You can sign up for free right here. "Fox and Newsmax, both delivered to my home by your company, are complicit," NJ state Assemblyman Paul Moriarty texted a Comcast executive on Thursday. "What are you going to do???" "You feed this garbage, lies and all," Moriarty added to the executive, according to a screen grab of the texts he provided me. Moriarty was referring to the fact that Comcast's cable brand, Xfinity, provides a platform to right-wing cable networks that have for weeks been disseminating disinformation about the November election results to audiences of millions. Moriarty has a point. We regularly discuss what the Big Tech companies have done to poison the public conversation by providing large platforms to bad-faith actors who lie, mislead, and promote conspiracy theories. But what about TV companies that provide platforms to networks such as Newsmax, One America News -- and, yes, Fox News? Somehow, these companies have escaped scrutiny and entirely dodged this conversation. That should not be the case anymore. After Wednesday's incident of domestic terrorism on Capitol Hill, it is time TV carriers face questions for lending their platforms to dishonest companies that profit off of disinformation and conspiracy theories. After all, it was the very lies that Fox, Newsmax, and OAN spread that helped prime President Trump's supporters into not believing the truth: that he lost an honest and fair election. Yes, Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson and Mark Levin and others are responsible for the lies they peddle to their audiences. But the TV companies that beam them into millions of homes around the country also bear some responsibility. And yet we rarely, if ever, talk about them. Are there any rules? Tech companies have community guidelines governing the content posted on their platforms. Do cable carriers? If so, what are they? Surely, these companies many of which boast about their social and civic responsibilities have limits to the content they disseminate. It's hard, for instance, to imagine they'd carry a fringe and conspiratorial network like InfoWars. So why do AT&T (which I should note is CNN's parent company), CenturyLink, and Verizon carry OAN? Why do AT&T, CenturyLink, Verizon, Comcast, Charter, and Dish carry Newsmax? And why do they all carry Fox which is, frankly, at times just as irresponsible and dangerous with its platform as its smaller competitor networks? Dodging questions I asked all of these companies for comment on Thursday. I asked them if they have any guidelines governing the content that they carry on their platforms. I asked them if they have any regret over carrying right-wing channels that were in many ways partly responsible for what took place in our nation's capital this week. Only CenturyLink provided a comment, saying it was committed to providing "a variety of broadcast channels covering thousands of topics" and that as a company it does not "endorse specific media or outlets." CenturyLink didn't respond to a follow up email, but at least it responded in some way. AT&T, Verizon, Comcast, Charter, and Dish did not. They chose to simply ignore the questions. At least Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and others have acknowledged they have some responsibility for the content they host and they have very clearly posted community guidelines on their websites for all to see. Why do we expect any less of TV companies? SPEAKING OF MEDIA COMPANIES DODGING Qs... Premiere silent after Limbaugh seemingly endorses violence It's not a TV carrier, but its one of the biggest distributors of right-wing talk radio in the country and yet you rarely hear about Premiere Networks. That's despite hosts like Rush Limbaugh regularly misusing the platform to spread outright falsehoods or make grossly irresponsible comments. Limbaugh did just that on Thursday when he appeared to endorse political violence one day after the Capitol Hill riot. "There's a lot of people calling for the end of violence," he said on his radio show. "There's a lot of conservatives on social media who say that any violence or aggression at all is unacceptable regardless of the circumstances. I am glad Sam Adams, Thomas Paine, the actual Tea Party guys, the men at Lexington and Concord didn't feel that way." So I asked a spokesperson for Premiere Networks, the company that distributes Limbaugh's show, if the company had any comment. Is it OK with its top host appearing to endorse political violence, especially in the wake of at least five dying in our nation's capital as a result of it? The spokesperson did not reply... This story was first published on CNN.com, "Analysis: TV providers should not escape scrutiny for distributing disinformation" A father, who sold his two sons to a fisherman for the business of fishing, has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment in hard labour. Mawuli Sosu, a 43-year-old mason from Keta, sold his two sons, aged 18 and 15 years, to the fisherman, David Akweteybor, who resides at Tewoekpo, an Island near Tokoranu, in the Dambai District in the Volta Region to fish on the Volta Lake. The father was reported to have been paid GH300 as a yearly fee for each of his sons. The court also sentenced Sosu to seven years on the crime of provision of a trafficked person, eight years on the human trafficking charges and five years for the charge of conspiracy. The fisherman was also handed a five-year jail term for conspiring with Sosu to exploit the boys on the Volta Lake. The sentences are, however, to run concurrently. Charges The Ho Circuit Court presided over by Mr Felix Datsormor, yesterday convicted Sosu and Akweteybor on the charges levelled against them after a full trial and sentenced them accordingly. Sosu was charged with conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, human trafficking; two counts of provision of trafficked person, and two counts of human trafficking, while Akweteybor faced a charge of conspiracy to commit crime, to wit, human trafficking, and two counts of use of trafficked persons. The trial judge, who said the sentences were to serve as a deterrent to others, further ordered the convicts to individually pay GH5,000 compensation to each of the victims. Facts of case Presenting the facts to the court, a State Attorney, Mr Andrews Dodzi Adugu, said the complainant was Joyce Nyamekye, the mother of the victims and a petty trader living at Kpone Kokompoe, near Tema. Sosu and Nyamekye were married but have been separated for a number of years. The prosecutor said the children had been living with their mother following the separation, until she sent them to their father at Keta during a school vacation. However, when school reopened, all attempts by the mother to get the children return to continue with their education failed as the father refused to send them back, while all attempts to get access to her children also proved futile. Following a period of waiting, the childrens mother went to Keta only to be informed that they had been sold to a fisherman known as T. T. Amekudzi (now deceased) at Tewoekpo. The prosecutor said on June 9, 2017, the complainant saw Sosu in Tema and made a complaint to the Tema Police leading to his arrest. Sosu reportedly confirmed that he had sent the victims to T. T. Amekudzi at Tewoekpo to fish and farm at an annual fee of GH300 per child. On August 31, 2017, Sosu led the police to Tewoekpo where the victims were rescued from Akweteybor, a relative of T. T. Amekudzi. The prosecutor told the court that Akweteybor explained that the children had all the time been with Amekudzi until his death when they were transferred to him on the same terms as before. The two brothers did not have the benefit of going to school throughout the period of their servitude. 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 Beijing: The Chinese government has joined the chorus of countries accusing the US of double standards, by comparing the storming of the US Capitol by supporters of President Donald Trump and last year's often-violent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, but noting that no one had died when demonstrators took over the legislature of the China-ruled city. Clips of the chaotic scenes from Washington have aired repeatedly on Chinese state television. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily briefing that while events in Hong Kong in 2019, when the city's legislature was stormed, were more "severe" than those in Washington, "not one demonstrator died". Students break into the Hong Kong Legislative Chamber to protest against an extradition bill in July 2019. Credit:AP Relations between Beijing and Washington are at their worst in decades over a range of disputes, including China's heavy clampdown on Hong Kong, and Chinese diplomats and state media often draw attention to news of gun violence and chaos in the United States. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. DecisionDatabases added the latest report with a global perspective on the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer Market studied under different segments, including type, application, and regions. The report is treated with size, trends, growth, share, and forecast till 2025. Besides, the research report studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall growth at the global level. This report also offers a lucrative area of the industry at the regional and country level. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-30317 According to this study, over the next five years, the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer business, shared in Chapter 3. This Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Eaton Forsta Amiad Orival Judo Water Treatment North Star Russell Finex Rain Bird Comap Morrill Industries Stf-Filtros VAF Filtration Systems Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-30317 This study considers the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Mechanically Cleaned Backwashing Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Domestic Water Aquaculture Ballast Water Industrial Water Agricultural Irrigation Other In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-30317 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Automatic Self-Cleaning Strainer submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/automatic-self-cleaning-strainer-market-size-share-growth-outlook-forecast-research-report-till-2025/ Kevin Sorbo, far left, (with Michael Hurst as Iolaus), and Lucy Lawless, the stars of 1990s shows "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and "Xena: Warrior Princess," traded words on social media about the D.C. riots. (Geoffrey Short / Universal Television) It was a clash of the titans on Twitter: Kevin Sorbo and Lucy Lawless threw down about Wednesday's riots at the U.S. Capitol, where supporters of President Trump forced their way into the building, caused damage and sent lawmakers and staff members into hiding. The stars of the 1990s show "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and its spinoff "Xena: Warrior Princess" couldn't be more different on social media. He's a Trump-supporting Republican; her bio includes calls for clean energy and shout-outs to Black Lives Matter and the LGBTQ community. On Wednesday afternoon, Sorbo retweeted a photo of some of the people who swarmed the U.S. Capitol that had been captioned, "Do these look like Trump supporters? Or Leftist agitators disguised as Trump supporters..." The actor added his own thoughts: "They don't look like patriots to me ..." The image he shared included the shirtless, self-identified "QAnon shaman" in a Viking hat, Jake Angeli of Arizona, who has been identified as a fixture at right-wing political events in his home state. Lawless showed up in the response thread Thursday morning with a message for her former costar. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. "No, Peanut. They are not Patriots. They are your flying monkeys, homegrown terrorists, QAnon actors. They are the douchebags that go out and do the evil bidding of people like you who like to wind them up like toys and let them do their worst. #keepingYourFilthyHandsclean #enabler," she wrote. Sorbo did not respond to her. The brief exchange came after tweets earlier in the day where Sorbo advised those storming the Capitol to "Please be careful, do not act like ANTIFA. Respect the police and know they are mostly on our side, they are simply trying to do their job." Less than an hour later, he posted, "ANTIFA led the charge into the capitol building dressed as Trump supporters." That conspiracy theory has since been debunked as more people in the mob are identified. Story continues As of Friday, more than 80 people have been arrested connected with the Capitol riot, mostly for violating the 6 p.m. curfew that was placed on Washington, D.C., on Wednesday. More than a dozen, however, were charged with federal crimes, including one man prosecutors said was arrested near the Capitol building with a semi-automatic rifle and 11 Molotov cocktails. "Were there Trump supporters up there? Absolutely. But they dont understand what it means to be a patriot, Kimberly Fletcher, founder and president of national nonprofit Moms for America, told The Times in a story published Friday. "That wasnt the majority of the people who were there. That was just a minority who were stupid." This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Lawless, meanwhile, had more important things to worry about. "But now to more serious matters: the earth needs us, people! @GretaThunberg is telling hard truths. Get behind a climate/habitat saving org. We can do it!" she tweeted overnight. Sorbo got right back to business as well, shifting his message Friday morning away from the riot and back to the pandemic lockdowns. "The government: "Shuts down the country "Destroys peoples livelihoods "Offers condolences with $600," he tweeted. "Also the government: 'Why are people mad at us?' This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Flash Southwest China's Yunnan province, one of the country's most-visited tourist destinations, received more than 530 million visitors in 2020, local authorities said. According to the Yunnan Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, the province generated 678 billion yuan (about $104 billion) from tourism, about 60 percent of that in 2019. Yunnan's culture and tourism sectors have been speeding the resumption of operations amid the COVID-19 epidemic. So far, 360 Class A tourist attractions have opened to the public, accounting for 97 percent of the total. The province boasts rich tourism resources, including five UNESCO world heritage sites, such as the Old Town of Lijiang and the Hani rice terraces. It is also home to over 20 ethnic groups, a fact that appeals to both domestic and foreign tourists DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The United Arab Emirates announced on Friday that it would reopen its borders and airspace to Qatar after boycotting the tiny energy-rich country alongside its Gulf allies since 2017. The decision to restart commerce and travel would take effect on Saturday, Foreign Ministry official Khalid Abdullah Belhou was quoted as saying by the UAEs state-run WAM news agency. The move comes after Saudi Arabia declared a breakthrough in settling the yearslong rift with Qatar during the annual Gulf summit this week, saying the kingdom would restore diplomatic ties and that its allies would follow suit. Saudi Arabia announced the reopening of its airspace and borders with Qatar earlier this week. National carrier Qatar Airways said it had started to reroute some flights through Saudi airspace, with the first flight cruising over Saudi skies from Doha to Johannesburg, South Africa on Thursday night. The president of the United Nations' civil aviation arm, Salvatore Sciacchitano, welcomed the easing of Gulf airspace restrictions on Thursday, saying the resolution would help assure the important socio-economic benefits of international air connectivity can be better optimized. The UAE indicated on Friday that its restoration of full diplomatic relations with Qatar would take longer. Belhou said the federation of seven sheikhdoms is continuing talks to end all other outstanding issues. Opposition to Qatars support for Islamist groups like the Muslim Brotherhood runs deeper in the UAE than in Saudi Arabia, which is primarily concerned with Qatars close ties with regional foe Iran. Bahrain and Egypt, which had joined the UAE and Saudi Arabia in isolating Doha, have yet to publicly elaborate on their pledges to ease the boycott signed this week in the ancient Saudi desert site of al-Ula. The four Arab states severed commercial and diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017, accusing the country of cozying up to Iran and financing extremist groups in the region, charges that Doha denies. Story continues This week's breakthrough followed a final push by the outgoing Trump administration, which has been seeking to end the dispute that has troubled Americas foreign policy and defense strategy in the region and hampered U.S. attempts to further isolate Iran. The boycott only pushed Qatar closer to Iran, for instance by forcing Qatar Airways to change routes through Iranian skies. Analysts estimate the move has given the Islamic Republic hundreds of millions of dollars in overflight fees. The reopening of Saudi and Emirati airspace to Qatar is critical as the country prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which is expected to draw over 1 million foreign soccer fans. Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion where he sexually abused young girls is set to be knocked down The estate was sold for $18 million having been originally priced at $22 million Florida real estate developer Todd Michael Glaser intends to demolish the existing house and build a new one Glaser must ask permission from neighbors before commencing the demolition because such noisy construction work is normally prohibited during the winter months when other area holiday homes are full Epstein, who died in August 2019, bought the house in 1990 for $2.5 million, according to property records The Palm Beach mansion was one of a number of homes where he sexually abused underage girls Its location is considered prime Palm Beach real estate: Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago is less than a mile away The Florida mansion where Jeffrey Epstein sexually abused young girls has been bought by a real estate developer who plans to demolish it. Todd Michael Glaser, a Florida real estate developer, has signed a contract to buy the property, and is hoping to close on it by January 15. ADVERTISEMENT He plans to tear the property down and replace it with a 14,000-square-foot 'Art Moderne home' and if everything goes according to plan he hopes to have the place flattened before April 1. Before such a demolition can proceed, Glaser must ask for permission fromneighbors in order to raze the six-bedroom main house and three-bedroom staff house. Such a request is necessary because of the pricey nature of the posh enclave which usually prohibits such demolition projects during the winter months, when wealthy snowbirds flock to so-called Billionaires Row for its warm climate, white sandy beaches and palatial homes. Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach mansion on El Brillo Way where he sexually abused young girls is set to be knocked down Florida real estate developer Todd Michael Glaser intends to demolish the existing house and build a new one. The house has 170 feet of water frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway and space for a private dock 'Neighbors who are usually against something like this will possibly be for it,' Glaser told The Daily News. 'We have all these gawkers. If the house is gone, what are they going to take a picture of? So we might be able to get it knocked down early, which I want to do, just to get rid of it,' he said. 'Palm Beach is going to be very happy that it's gone,' he added. 'It's wild. People came out to the site, sent emails. People showed up at my house in Miami Beach. I have a woman telling me she's calling the EPA, something about nuclear medicine,' he said. Jeffrey Epstein was facing spending the rest of his life in prison when he died in jail in what was ruled suicide 'A women's group wants to go in and do a prayer. I've got neighbors praying I can knock this down,' he said. 'I'm trying to get this thing knocked down.' The waterfront Palm Beach estate, just over a mile from Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago, went on the market in July for $21.995 million. ADVERTISEMENT The property had been locked up for over 18 months, since Epstein's arrest, and has been graffitied with the words with the words 'GONE BUT NOT FORGIVEN' in blood-red paint. He declined to confirm the price, but said he received a discount. Sources told the paper the sale price was around $18 million. Glaser is known for building extravagantly-designed homes for wealthy and demanding clients, such as a home on Miami's Star Island that recently sold for about $49.5 million. He was also one of the developers of the One Thousand Museum tower designed by the late Zaha Hadid in downtown Miami. In June, Glaser confirmed that he had bought a 1925 mansion in Palm Beach for $17 million, which he intended to 'restore to its former glory', and where he intended to live with his wife, Kim. Glaser has been developing property in the Palm Beach area since 2017. In February, he and partners Philip Levine, Scott Robins and Jonathan Fryd sold a spec home at 113 Atlantic Avenue for $9.41 million to a scion of the family that founded Cumberland Farms, according to The Real Deal. Next door, at 111 Atlantic Avenue, another spec home that the partners developed is under contract and is expected to close in July, Glaser said. The partners also developed two spec villas with a courtyard at 237 Brazilian Avenue in Palm Beach, which recently hit the market for $7.9 million each, the site reported. The swimming pool at Epstein's house, shaded by palm trees. The property has roughly 170 feet of water frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway, with space for a dock Click here to resize this module The millionaire financier bought the property in 1990 for $2.5 million, according to records Epstein's home (bottom right, with the white roof) is in an area considered prime Palm Beach real estate Epstein, who died in jail awaiting his sex trafficking trial in August 2019, bought the Palm Beach property in 1990 for $2.5 million. ADVERTISEMENT The property has roughly 170 feet of water frontage on the Intracoastal Waterway, with space for a dock. The six-bedroom, roughly 14,000-square-foot house with a large swimming pool was designed by architect John Volk in what is described as West Indies style. Built in 1952, it was one of a number of properties where Epstein groomed and sexually assaulted underage girls and women as part of a sprawling sex trafficking scheme, prosecutors said. The house was where the crimes that would eventually lead to his downfall were first reported, in 2005. Epstein had been recruiting teenage girls for 'massages' from Palm Beach high school, and one eventually confessed to her mother what was going on, who then went to the police. Epstein died in a New York jail in August 2019, while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide Dozens of victims were underprivileged middle and high school girls recruited in and around Palm Beach County between 1998 and 2006. Epstein pleaded guilty to Florida state prostitution charges in 2008 and served 13 months in a local jail however, the sentence ended up being a work-release program. After his conviction, Epstein continued living high-life and would jet between his homes in Palm Beach, his Manhattan Upper East Side townhouse, Paris, his New Mexico ranch and a private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Little St James which were also venues for abuse. He was arrested again at Teterboro Airport in July 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking minors in New York and Florida and died by suicide in jail a month later. The New York townhouse is still on the market, with a reduced asking price of $65 million, according to the website of the listing agent, Adam Modlin of Modlin Group. ADVERTISEMENT The sprawling East 71st home saw its price decrease some 26 percent from its original asking price of $88 million, according to the Wall Street Journal. Around 300 extremists pictured raising hands in fascist Roman salute They had gathered to commemorate Franco Bigonzetti, 20, and Francesco Ciavetta, 18, Stefano Recchioni, 19, who were killed on January 7 1978 No one has been convicted for the attack, known as the Acca Larentia massacre Hundreds of Italian far-right activists have performed the fascist Roman salute at a memorial commemorate three young nationalists who were gunned down in Rome 43 years ago. The disturbing images show around 300 extremists raise their hands in the famous straight-arm salute as a show of respect to the men who were killed on January 7, 1978. ADVERTISEMENT The three victims murdered in the attack, known as the Acca Larentia massacre, were all members of the far-right Italian Social Movement in Rome. Hundreds of Italian far-right activists can be seen performing the fascist Roman salute at a memorial commemorate three young nationalists who were gunned down in Rome 43 years ago The three victims murdered in the attack, known as the Acca Larentia massacre, were all members of the far-right Italian Social Movement in Rome Click here to resize this module Franco Bigonzetti, 20, and Francesco Ciavetta, 18, were shot and killed outside the organisation's headquarters as they prepared to hand out leaflets. They were with three other far-right activists at the time of the ambush by alleged left-wing militants and sprayed with bullets. One engineer was injured in the attack but survived. Hours later, the third man, Stefano Recchioni, 19, was killed by a police officer after riots erupted as the news of the murders spread. No one has been convicted for the three murders but a belief that the crimes were committed by the left led to a rise in far-right militancy against them. Around 300 far-right activists yesterday gathered in front of the commemorative plaque in front of the former Italian Social movement headquarters in Acca Larentia, Roma, in an event organised by the neo-fascist movement Casapound They can be seen uniformly stretching out their right arms in a fascist Roman salute. The gesture closely linked with fascism and the Nazi salute Around 300 far-right activists yesterday gathered in front of the commemorative plaque in front of the former Italian Social movement headquarters in Acca Larentia, Roma, in an event organised by the neo-fascist movement Casapound. They can be seen uniformly stretching out their right arms in a fascist Roman salute. The gesture closely linked with fascism and the Nazi salute. Much to the frustration of locals, they were not wearing face coverings or social distancing amid rising coronavirus cases and deaths. A wreath is laid at the site of the killings of the three Italian Social Movement activists who were killed in 1978 Far-right activists gather to lay wreaths for the three men murdered in the attack. Earlier in the day, Giorgia Meloni, the leader of the far-right Italian political party Brothers of Italy, paid tribute to the victims of the massacre, reports The Rome Chronicle. Meloni said: 'Forty-three years ago the massacre of Acca Larentia, a tragedy still remains without guilty convictions. ADVERTISEMENT 'It is a wound that has never healed because for Franco Bigonzetti, Francesco Ciavatta and Stefano Recchioni there was no justice. 'We honour the memory of these three innocent young people, victims of terrorism and political violence, and we continue to ask that full light be shed on one of the darkest pages of our national history.' DETROIT, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank and Comerica Charitable Foundation announced today contributions of nearly $240,000 to 11 nonprofit organizations to support food security, education initiatives, health and human services, and COVID-19 relief outreach in Michigan. These latest contributions bring total 2020 funding, contributions and community investments in Michigan to $4.3 million specifically for community and small business recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "Comerica recognizes the impact the pandemic has had on our communities from food security to education," said Mike Ritchie, Comerica Bank Michigan market president. "Our support aims to aid in Michigan's recovery by supporting essential resource programs right here in our neighborhoods. The stability of our communities is vital as we look towards the future, and Comerica will continue its state-wide support until recovery is achieved." This latest round of funding ($240,000) was directly provided to nine in-state community partners and two national philanthropic organizations impacting individuals in Michigan, including: "Investing in our community partners by supporting such efforts as COVID relief, education, food security and health and human services is crucial as our communities continue to struggle," said Linda Nosegbe, Comerica Bank Southeast Michigan External Affairs Manager. "These partnerships become vital in sustaining programs and outreach efforts that positively impact the lives of individuals and families." COVID RELIEF ASSISTANCE The Master's Commission: Comerica Charitable Foundation contributed $40,000 to The Master's Commission, a nonprofit initiative of Greater Grace Temple in Detroit, to aid in COVID relief efforts as well as helping deliver resources to numerous Detroit shelters to assist with food insecurity. "Greater Grace Temple (The City of David) has enjoyed a very amicable relationship over the years with Comerica Bank that has extended far beyond a financial partnership," said Bishop Charles H. Ellis III, senior pastor of Greater Grace Temple and president of The Master's Commission. "For over a decade Comerica's funding support of our church's outreach arm (The Master's Commission) has enabled us to provide schooling, housing, life skills and other beneficial programs to a vast impoverished community. This year, Comerica's COVID-19 funding assistance aided our Master's Commission to provide winter coats to hundreds of school aged children as well as food and essential household goods to their families." The partnership assisted in providing nearly 1,000 winter coats distributed at Greater Grace Temple on December 26 and will help deliver food to nearly 16 shelters around the city. Alternatives for Girls: AFG, an organization that assists homeless and high-risk young girls and women through resource programs, received funding to help the organization meet the intensified basic needs of girls and young women experiencing homelessness and pregnant and parenting youth. This includes minor children who are in the care of their young mothers as a result from the health and economic crisis caused by COVID-19. Citadel Community Development Corporation: Comerica's partnership assisted in organization's drive-up distribution of COVID-19 Relief Care Packages on December 22 that included cleaning supplies, face masks and more to assist Detroit residents during the holidays. FOOD SECURITY Comerica Bank donated $40,000 to food pantries and homeless shelters in Detroit, as well as over $7,000 in Grand Rapids. With a target to further impact food security, especially during this great time of need, Comerica contributions are assisting a variety of community partners, including: All Saints Soup Kitchen, Cass Community Social Services, Covenant House, Pope Francis Center, Kid's Food Basket (Grand Rapids, Mich.) This adds to community contributions that Comerica has delivered to organizations assisting with food security needs, including a $100,000 donation to Capuchin Soup Kitchen that was announced in November. EDUCATION AND HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SUPPORT Recipient of the Comerica Detroit Lions First Down Program grant in 2018, Beyond Basics will receive $25,000 to aid two of the organization's initiatives, including its Family Literacy Program and Beyond Basics' food insecurity assistance. Funds will help reinforce literacy with both child and parent while contributing to narrow the food security gap for program recipients. Founded in 2002, the nonprofit organization provides tutoring and one-on-one reading lessons for students with Detroit Public Schools. Students who work with the group also have access to free books and other supplemental programs to improve their reading, writing and art. Partnerships with two national community organizations dedicated to meeting education and health and human services needs, National College Resource Foundation and National CARES Mentoring Movement, were driven by funding from Comerica Charitable Foundation. The national partnerships resulted in an additional $100,000 investment into Michigan-based programming, with each organization dedicating $50,000 to programs assisting students in the state. National College Resource Foundation: NCRF creates programs and initiatives to provide guidance, resources, information and pipelines to empower students toward positive post-secondary pursuits. NCRF's mission is to curtail high school dropout rate and increase degree and/or certificate enrollment among underserved and underrepresented students. Comerica Charitable Foundation's contributions will assist college students supported by NCRF who face homelessness and food insecurity in addition to those students' struggles they face to earn degrees or certificates. National CARES Mentoring Movement: The community-galvanizing movement, which enhances and protect the health and well-being of low- and moderate-income individuals and families, is dedicated to alleviating intergenerational poverty among African Americans. The movement offers children in low-income families and unstable communities the social, emotional and academic support they need to unleash their potential and graduate from high school prepared to succeed in college or vocational-training programs and 21st-century careers. COMERICA MICHIGAN COVID-19 RELIEF COMMITMENT Comerica's support of Michigan businesses spans 171 years and has expanded greatly amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Comerica Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundation have committed over $4.3 million through funding, contributions and investments to directly support Michigan communities and businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Comerica Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundation have invested $1.8 million in Michigan supporting community programming and businesses impacted by COVID-19. Comerica also moved $2.5 million in deposits to First Independence Bank, the only Minority Depository Institution (MDI) headquartered in Michigan, and launched a strategic partnership that includes collaboration, mentorship and exchange of expertise in key lines of business. MDIs assist minority and under-served communities and foster economic viability in these communities. In addition to Comerica's $4.3 million supporting statewide communities and business, the bank has also engaged in national partnerships impacting small businesses in Michigan, including the National Business League ($1 million,) Lendistry ($1.5 million) and Local Initiative Support Corporation ($1 million.) About Comerica Bank Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $83.6 billion as of Sept. 30, 2020. SOURCE Comerica Bank Related Links http://www.comerica.com Bangladesh: Improving disaster management by Helal Uddin Ahmed January 08,2021 | Source: The Financial Express Natural disasters in Bangladesh and the losses accruing as a result have increased in recent years due to the adverse impacts of climate change. In fact, Bangladesh occupied seventh position in global ranking and stood third among the countries most hit by natural disasters, according to the Global Climate Risk Index-2020 prepared by 'Germanwatch' based on natural disasters during the period 1999-2018. Around 35 million people in the coastal region and 6.50 million in the char (shoals) areas of the country are constantly at risk due to cyclones, tidal surges, salinity and river erosions. Moreover, losses to properties and infrastructures are gradually on the rise due to weaknesses in disaster responses, fragile embankments and inadequate maintenance. People living in the coastal areas have been severely affected by recent disasters including the super-cyclone 'Amphan' that struck Bangladesh in May 2020. These disasters caused widespread losses to lives and properties. But deficiencies in good governance in the area of disaster management have been posing a big challenge to minimising losses caused by disasters in a sustainable manner. In this backdrop, the Bangladesh Chapter of Transparency International (TIB) has recently released a report titled 'Challenges to Good Governance in Tackling Disasters and Way Forward: Recent Experiences including the Cyclone Amphan'. Its objectives included a review of pledges, laws, policies and orders related to disaster management; strengths and weaknesses of programs adopted for tackling five recent disasters including the cyclone 'Amphan'; and recommending measures for tackling the challenges to good governance in disaster management based on findings from the study. The international treaties to which Bangladesh is a signatory include the Paris Climate Change Agreement 2015 and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (2015-30). Under the former, the industrially developed nations pledged to compensate the poorer countries for losses and damages due to disasters resulting from climate change under the Warsaw International Mechanism, alongside funding for adaptation and mitigation. But Bangladesh has demonstrated a dearth of capacity in preparing reports and eliciting required funds for the purpose from international sources. Similarly, although the Sendai Framework calls for transparency in the implementation of disaster-related programs, Bangladesh lacks structured guidelines on disseminating information at the national and local levels. The legal and policy framework for disaster management in Bangladesh includes the Disaster Management Act 2012, National Disaster Management Policy 2015, Cyclone Shelter Construction, Maintenance and Management Policy 2011, and Standing Orders on Disaster 2019. But the law does not stipulate specialised qualifications for the concerned director general, as a result of which leadership weaknesses are observed in the functioning of disaster management department. Besides, although section 12(1) of the Act provides for establishment of a National Disaster Management Research and Training Institute, no such organization has been set up till now resulting in paucity of research-based information on disasters. The disaster management policy calls for modernising the signalling system, but that has not been done yet although the old system heightens the risks of losses in lives and properties. Besides, no initiative has been taken for preparing an online database of relevant reports and documents on disaster management although the policy made such a recommendation six years ago. The cyclone shelters policy was framed for proper construction and management of shelters as well as their usage. Although the policy calls for environmental impact assessment of shelter sites, exceptions are observed in many cases resulting in their collapse due to river erosion. Besides, despite the policy stipulating application of Geographic Information System (GIS) technology for selecting sites - that is not always complied with. Rather, there are instances of straying from the policy by abusing political and administrative powers in order to advance the unethical interests of influential quarters. The local people are also not involved in the management of shelters as stipulated by the policy. The standing orders on disaster are aimed at fixing individual and institutional responsibilities for tackling disasters. Although the orders provide guidelines for construction and maintenance of disaster-resilient structures like shelters, roads and embankments, those are not properly followed in practice. Gaps are also found in adherence to modern and timely methods for disseminating cautionary and safety messages in accordance with the orders. Besides, deficiencies are observed in delivery of services like food, water, sanitation, healthcare and security in the shelters, and corruption and irregularities frequently occur in relief cum rehabilitation programs. Overall, the disaster management efforts are constrained by lack of transparency, capacity, accountability, participation and coordination, as well as prevalence of corruption. TIB opines that effective steps are lacking for bringing to account the defaulting individuals and institutions despite exacerbation of economic losses and people's sufferings owing to corruption in the construction and maintenance of disaster-resilient infrastructures. Estimates of the actual tally of losses, requirements for relief, and coordinated action plans for rehabilitation remain deficient due to lack of capacity of local government bodies and lax inter-organizational coordination. The TIB recommendations include updating the signalling system and dissemination of publicity materials in a language comprehensible to the common people; timely delivery of forecasts and warnings by according priority to more risk-prone areas; and transparent running of relief and rehabilitation measures by attaching more importance to people and locations in imminent danger. Besides, all information related to relief and rehabilitation should be kept open for public view through local and national portals, and disaster preparedness should be maintained by keeping in mind the disaster risks through effective participation of local level committees, volunteer groups and relevant stakeholders. Sufficient number of area-wise shelters should be ensured based on locations that can also cater to the special needs of women, children, the aged, and the handicapped. The shelters should ensure adequate provision of food, water, as well as sanitation and healthcare; and disaster-resilient sustainable infrastructures should be built, repaired and renovated through a participatory process by involving the affected population. Most importantly, accountability has to be ensured for curbing corruption, irregularities and wastages in all matters related to disaster management. A group of young women who were incorrectly identified on social media as having to be rescued after they got stranded on the Mourne Mountains have set the record straight. The women, whose picture accompanies video footage of a separate group being rescued by emergency air ambulance, took to their respective Facebook pages to clarify that it was not them. The group photo of five girls, some of whom are in their underwear, has been circulating on social media alongside video footage of girls being rescued by helicopter. A WhatsApp message alongside the photo states: "Had to get emergency helicopter from Scotland to get them, Irish were all busy. Seemingly all Irish helicopters were busy so the coastguard had to ask for a chopper from Scotland to fly across". However, a post on the Facebook page of Shauna Rogan says: "Hello, I appreciate everything that your team and the air ambulance does for our community. "I just wanted to clear up the viral comments that is being shared about the girls who had to be saved from the top of Donard. I hope they are okay. "Photos are circulating and very nasty comments about my friends and I, as people believe it was us who was air-lifted. This is not the truth and hopes that anyone sees this stops the negative comments being shared to all involved. "Keep up the fantastic work that you do." The post is added above a picture of five young women, some of whom have stripped to their underwear, with the caption, Braving the elements on top of Slieve Doan this morning. An earlier post adds: "F**k me blue there's viral posts going around saying we needed airlifted and rescued from the Mournes last week... just to be clear we obviously didn't. "The snapchat of those wee girls getting rescued was on Donard...we were on Doan and were up and down the mountain in 4 hours. People are wild. Another post on her friend Jodie Murphys page adds: "Banter TV page removed the post straight away, and are now being targeted also. They have apologised for sharing it. Can people please not comment or message them. "Let's just get one thing cleared up. The girls in the video, who got stuck up at the top of Donard who needed to get an air ambulance, is not us. Our photos are being circulated and shared to say it was us. I've been messaged by several people about this being shared on WhatsApp groups also. "We have had comments made about us, despite the fact it was not us. We appreciate everything the air ambulance does, thankfully we did not need their services. Hopefully the girls are safe and sound. "We went up Doan, and came down all by ourselves. Thanks." And another post on the Facebook page of Beth Gray Donaldson adds: "Hey this is just a post to say, we are not the girls that went up donard, we went up doan & we most definitely didn't get stuck and call for air ambulance, just woke up with loads off messages asking are we all okay lol we are all fit, healthy & well! "Hope the girls that were stuck are all okay! Thanks to the air ambulance services too! keep safe! " In its message, the Brazilian Communist Party (PCB) lauded the CPVs efforts to prepare for the congress, especially in the context of the serious impacts brought by the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters. The PCB showed its hope that during its 13th Congress, the CPV will outline national development orientations to gain greater achievements in the socialism building process. It also affirmed its commitment to boosting friendship and solidarity between the two Parties and peoples. The Communist Party of Argentina (PCA) said in its greeting letter that the targets the CPV set forth for the 13th Congress demonstrate the Vietnamese Revolutions success over the past decades of nation building and safeguarding. The PCA emphasised that the achievements gained by Vietnam in the over 30-year renewal process would be a foundation for the country to work on development plans for the next five years, towards the celebration of the 100th founding anniversary of the CPV (2030) and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now Socialist Republic of Vietnam) (2045). Meanwhile, the Solidarity Party of Argentina (PSOL) stressed the significance of the 13th Congress for Vietnams development in the coming years, amidst complicated and unpredictable developments in the international situation. The Communist Party of Uruguay (PCU) lauded the sound leadership of the CPV during Vietnams past struggle for national liberation as well as the current national building and safeguarding cause. It affirmed that under the leadership of the CPV, the Vietnamese people are the role model for the world in terms of organisation and discipline in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. The party expressed its belief that the 13th Congress will be a premise for Vietnam to further promote economic development and improve its peoples living conditions. File / Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media GREENWICH Four crew members who were kidnapped in late November from a product-tanker vessel owned by Greenwich-based Diamond S Shipping off the coast of the west African nation of Togo have been released, the company announced. All four crew members are safe and will undergo further medical examinations today, the company said in the announcement. Diamond S would like to thank all those involved in securing their release. Due to the sensitive nature of the incident, Diamond S will provide no further updates on this matter. Pakistani court orders release of 4 men acquitted of Daniel Pearl murder By Cnaan Liphshiz (JTA) A court in Pakistan on Thursday ordered the immediate release of four men who had been jailed there since 2002 for the murder of the Jewish-American journalist Daniel Pearl. The Sindh High Court in Karachi ordered the release of the men, who had been acquitted of the murder, calling their detainment illegal, the Dawn newspaper reported. They had been involved in Pearls kidnapping, the court found, but not in his murder. The court did not identify the killers in the acquittal. Ahmed... Hyundai Motor Group's Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP). The platform will be used to produce electric vehicles for the group's Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands. / Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group By Baek Byung-yeul Since Apple will reportedly commence electric vehicle (EV) production, news surrounding the U.S. tech behemoth has been creating a stir in Korea, raising expectations that the iPhone maker will invite numerous local EV companies to its supply chain. Following speculation in late December that LG Group could supply components needed for Apple's EVs, Hyundai Motor Group was also linked to the EV production, according to a local report, Friday. Hyundai Motor, the country's largest automotive group with three brands Hyundai, Kia and Genesis is reportedly in early-stage talks with Apple to jointly develop the car. A PR official of Hyundai said the automotive group was in discussions with numerous EV makers for potential cooperation and nothing has been decided yet. "We've been receiving requests for potential cooperation from various companies regarding the development of autonomous EVs. No decisions have been made as discussions are in the early stages," the official said. Thanks to the potential EV cooperation with Apple, shares of Hyundai Motor surged 13 percent in early trading Friday. As of 2:35 p.m., an hour before the close, Hyundai Motor's share price had increased by 17.23 percent from the previous. Apple has reportedly conducted its vehicle-making project, Project Titan, since 2014, but the company has never announced any visible results from the project. But the EV industry is undergoing rapid changes, and Reuters reported Dec. 21 that Apple was planning to jump into the market. Since then, rumors have swirled that Apple has been talking with numerous EV component companies. The report said Apple plans to produce a passenger vehicle by 2024 that could include its own battery technology. LG Electronics already drew attention as it will set up a joint venture with Canada-based vehicle parts maker Magna International to produce EV components. Given Magna was engaged in Project Titan, LG Electronics shares soared as investors anticipated the joint venture could potentially supply components for Apple's EVs. For Apple, Hyundai Motor Group, the world's fifth-largest automotive group, probably looks attractive because the Korean carmaker owns production facilities across the world. Hyundai also has Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP), a dedicated battery electric vehicle platform, designed to serve as core technology for the next-generation EVs of its Hyundai, Kia and Genesis brands. The carmaker said cars produced on the platform have a maximum driving range of over 500 kilometers on a fully charged battery. Hyundai Motor launched its EV-only brand IONIQ in August and plans to release three dedicated EV models the IONIQ 5, 6 and 7 by 2024. CHICOPEE Arnolds Meats knows its wholesale customers restaurants that order meat for their customers plates are hurting, and it wants to help out with a Restaurant Rescue. Starting this week, and probably for all of 2021, Arnolds is selling gift certificates from its restaurant customers at its markets on Grattan Street in Chicopee and Shaker Road in East Longmeadow. Customers who buy a gift certificate $50 for high-end places and probably less for cheaper eateries will get 10% off their Arnolds purchase on that shopping trip. Jeff Katz, vice president of Arnolds, said the stores will showcase a restaurant of the week in their print advertisements Thursdays in The Republicans Food & Dining section and rewrite the jingle in its radio ads each week to mention the restaurant. The company will promote the restaurants on social media as well. Its a goodwill, give back to the restaurants that have been good to us over the years, he said. We have a wholesale business. You see the trucks going around. His father, company President Larry Katz, came up with the idea. Anybody who orders from us, we are going to give it right back to you, Jeff Katz said. You get a free week of advertising, on us, as a goodwill gesture. Fewer restaurant customers have been ordering wholesale meat, and those that have been ordering are not ordering as much or as often. The phones dont ring for orders during the day, Katz said. Weve seen a lot of our restaurants close. A lot of them have been operating at 20 to 60% capacity. Some are just done and are selling the place. The trucks are not loaded as they were last year at this time. Arnolds Meats Restaurant Rescue 2021 Week #1! From January 6 - January 12 visit either Arnolds location, buy a $50... Posted by Arnold's Meats on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 The first restaurant featured is FitzWillys in Northampton. Its a great idea, said Fred Gohr, co-owner of FitzWillys. Ive known Larry for a long time and Ive been doing business with him for 40 years. FitzWillys had a strong summer with outdoor dining, something the city encouraged by blocking off parking spaces so restaurants could put out tables. But its cold now and business is off. The restaurant has room for 280 people under normal circumstances. So 25% of capacity is still a pretty good crowd. But Gohr said customers concerns about COVID-19 and reluctance to go out in public make it hard to do business. Takeout has been a bigger part of our business lately, he said. Thats for sure. Also in Northampton, Joes Pizza will be featured in an upcoming week. We pride ourselves at having a good local relationship, said owner Meaghan Sullivan. I think exposure at any level is good. Also on deck for Arnolds promotions is the Steaming Tender in Palmer. We do use Arnolds as one of our suppliers, said owner Robin Lamothe. We believe in their quality. Itll help them as well. Were here to help each other out. Also scheduled to be featured in coming weeks are Tandem Bagel Co., with locations in Easthampton, Hadley and Northampton; Yarde Tavern in South Hadley and Enfield, Connecticut; Food 101 in South Hadley; Center Square Grill in East Longmeadow; Eastside Grill in Northampton; and Sturbridge Porterhouse in Sturbridge. Katz said one of the benefits of the promotion is it helps introduce customers who shop at Arnolds in East Longmeadow or Chicopee to restaurants outside those two communities. And it helps introduce restaurant customers in those other communities to Arnolds. And he said the 10% discount can add up. Some Arnolds customers shop every other week for a big, hungry family. Sometimes people come to the register with $400 worth of food. Related Content: Financial year 2020-21 can be considered a lost year with the first advance estimates released by the statistics office showing a contraction of the real gross domestic product (GDP) by 7.7 per cent, mostly owing to the pandemic. There are, however, signs to suggest that the economy will be able to return to normal on its own in 2021-22 -- as long as liquidity and credit remain available. But in past crises, the major mistake has been to over-stimulate the economy and to remain engaged in loose monetary and fiscal policy for too long. This mistake must not be repeated by either the finance ... One of the men charged in connection with an alleged 1m cannabis haul at the Curragh has claimed he was forced to get involved and that he would be tortured. Tran Kan Duc appeared before Naas District Court by videolink on January 6 and is facing additional allegations of possessing cannabis valued at 13,000 on the same occasion as well as cultivation of the drug. Judge Desmond Zaidan was told that when charged with the additional allegations, he said he was forced to do it. He added: They torture me. They pour hot water on to my leg, I still have the scar. They hit me. Read more County Kildare news The Garda Natonal Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau have referred these allegations to the Garda National Protective Services Bureau, which advises and guides gardai on a variety of issues including human trafficking, domestic abuse intervention, child protection and organised prostitution. Paul Flood, 58, whose address was given as Ballysax, Curragh, faces allegations of having cannabis for the purpose of sale or supply at Ballysax and The Curragh on November 3. Alan McCabe, 33, whose address was given as 141 Ballyshannon Road, Kilmore West, Dublin is alleged to have had cannabis in his possession on November 3 at Junction 12 on the M7 Northbound. Khac Quang Nguyen, 23, of no fixed abode and the man remanded as Tran Khanh Duc on November 6 and stated to be a 16 year old at a previous hearing, are both being prosecuted for possessing cannabis for sale or supply at Ballysax, Curragh, on November 3. Its been claimed that 800,000 worth of cannabis plants were found in Ballysax and 200,000 worth of cannabis was found in a vehicle at Junction 12. All four face additional charges in relation to the discovery of cannabis. The court heard that when Mr Flood was charged with possessing cannabis worth 13,000 or more and cultivation he replied no comment. The court also heard that Alan McCabe remained silent when charged with possession of the rug worth 13,000 or more. Both Mr Flood and McCabe will appear again on February 3 having been remanded on continuing bail. Khac Quang Nguyen, the court heard, said he had no reply when charged with cultivation and possession of the drug worth 13,000 or more. He appeared by videolink from prison where he has been remanded in custody and will appear again on January 13. The court was told through a Vietnamese interpreter that the defendant had made contact with the Vietnamese embassy. Tran Kan Ducs case was also adjourned after solicitor David Gibbons said he had no bail application to make and the defendant had not contacted the Vietnamese embassy. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. DecisionDatabases added the latest report with a global perspective on the HCG Rapid Test Market studied under different segments, including type, application, and regions. The report is treated with size, trends, growth, share, and forecast till 2025. Besides, the research report studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall growth at the global level. This report also offers a lucrative area of the industry at the regional and country level. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global HCG Rapid Test market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the HCG Rapid Test Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-30325 According to this study, over the next five years, the HCG Rapid Test market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the HCG Rapid Test business, shared in Chapter 3. This HCG Rapid Test market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the HCG Rapid Test market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Church & Dwight Egens Biotech SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics Quidel BioMerieux Abbott Laboratories Runbio Biotech Geratherm Medical Guangzhou Wondfo Zizhu Pharm CIGA Healthcare Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-30325 This study considers the HCG Rapid Test value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Test Strip Digital Devices Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Hospital and Clinic Home Use In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global HCG Rapid Test Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-30325 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global HCG Rapid Test consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the HCG Rapid Test market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global HCG Rapid Test manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the HCG Rapid Test with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of HCG Rapid Test submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/global-hcg-rapid-test-market-report-industry-trends-growth-business-challenges-analysis-2020-2025/ .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Local restaurateur and bar owner Nicole Kapnison has ventured outside her service industry comfort zone to create spirits. Kapnison founded Nikle Co. Authentic Spirits with the help of some silent partners. Being from the restaurant and bar world, I have always been interested in spirits, Kapnison said. I wanted to create something that was natural free of additives, chemicals and sugars, which the majority of spirits have so much of. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ It was Kapnison goal to create spirits with non-GMO ingredients and keep them at reasonable prices. I wanted to create something that would pair well in my cocktails but that you could also drink over ice and not have a harsh kick or burn, she said. Most natural or organic spirits come with an increased price tag. I wanted something affordable. The vodka retails for $24.99, and the gin is $34.99. You shouldnt have to break the bank to drink something good. Kapnison said the best way to describe Nikle vodka is clean. It doesnt have an odor like rubbing alcohol, she said. Its smooth in your mouth and doesnt burn your throat. I tell people it is dangerously smooth. The smoothness comes from six times charcoal distillation. Nikle gin uses the same base of corn and water but skips the gin basket. Instead of a gin basket, we use a maceration process, which allows us to pull out different flavors at different points of distillation to create the floral profile we want, which includes Los Poblanos lavender, angelica, ginger, and grapefruit peel. Kapnison developed Nikle gin for people who do not usually favor the spirit. I developed the gin for the typical I dont like gin drinker, she said. It is very easy drinking and has a wonderful nose to it. Its different than the typical London Dry gin, which is heavy on the juniper and hard to drink for a non-gin drinker. Nikle Co. has been in the works for a few years. We started this journey 3 years ago and have learned a ton along the way, Kapnison said. We started producing the actual spirits early 2020. Nikle Co. spirits are produced and bottled in Albuquerque under the direction of Kapnison and Jennifer Veith. Nikles founder, Nicole Kapnison, is a native to the restaurant and bar scene in Albuquerque. In creating these spirits, she wanted to stay true to her dedication to all-natural ingredients. All Nikle stills, bottles and boxes are American-made. I created our recipes rounds and rounds of dumped product, different botanicals, and multiple rounds of tasting, Kapnison said. Jennifer Veith is our head of operations and oversees our distillers and the distilling process. Our production facility has about five employees. Nikle vodka and gin are available at local retailers including Jubilation Wine & Spirits, Quarters Discount Liquors on Yale SE, Paradise Liquors on 98th NW and Kelly Liquors on Fourth NW and in the Mountain Run Shopping Center on Eubank NE. For more information, visit nikleco.com. (Newser) Maryland's Republican Gov. Larry Hogan said Thursday that he would support the resignation or removal from office of President Trump after early attempts to send his state's National Guard to Washington, DC, on Wednesday were denied. Hogan said federal defense officials repeatedly rejected offers to send help for 90 minutes after House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer called him "pleading" for help, as Capitol Police were overwhelmed, reports the Capital Gazette. Per the Baltimore Sun, Hogan could not invoke the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which allows the guard to assist in others states, because the Capitol sits on federal property. That meant the request to deploy had to come from a federal agency, which Congress is not. The order eventually came via a call from US Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy. story continues below Five hundred Maryland National Guard members and 200 state troopers are to remain in Washington for the rest of the month, Hogan said at Thursday's presser at the State House in Annapolis. "There's no question that America would be better off if the president would resign or be removed from office," he added, saying Trump had "chosen to fan the flames of hate and mislead millions of voters through lies and conspiracy theories." Maryland Democratic Party Chair Yvette Lewis responded that Hogan should actively support calls for Trump's removal and the resignation of Maryland GOP Rep. Andy Harris, who voted to reject electoral votes. Harris has refused to resign. (Read more National Guard stories.) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The U.S. Congress early Thursday morning certified the Electoral College vote making Joe Biden the 46th president of the United States. Vice President Mike Pence confirmed Mr. Bidens victory at 3:41 a.m. ET. The historic vote followed a scene I never thought I would see: the U.S. Capitol was breached yesterday for the first time since the War of 1812. One of the protesters, a U.S. Air Force veteran named Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed. Three other people died of what Washington Police Chief Robert Contee called separate medical emergencies. Fourteen officers were injured in the riots as well. President George W. Bush called the attack a sickening and heartbreaking sight and stated, This is how election results are disputed in a banana republicnot our democratic republic. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.), a former CIA case officer, said, This is what we see in failing countries. This is what leads to a death of democracy. My purpose today is to offer biblical context on this tragic moment in our nations history. One: Violence against our Capitol and electoral process must be condemned. Scripture says of our Lord, His soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence (Psalm 11:5). Solomon instructed us, Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways (Proverbs 3:31). I watched last night on television as authorities lit the U.S. Capitol brightly, both to help police remove protesters and to illumine this beautiful building as a beacon to the world. The assault on our Capitol was an assault on our nation. All Americans must condemn the mob actions we witnessed. Silence is not an option. Unless we respond proactively and redemptively, this senseless assault will only deepen the divisions in our nation. Two: Election concerns must be handled through due process. Many have alleged fraud with regard to the 2020 elections, from mail-in ballots to state regulations, alleged votes-for-cash schemes, and other corruption. The credibility of a democracy and its leaders depends on the credibility of its elections. As a result, all Americans should want our elections to be fair. As I have stated previously, this is not a partisan issue. However, as I noted above, violence is not the answer. The assault on our Capitol did nothing to make our elections more secure. The Lord calls us to let justice roll down like waters (Amos 5:24) and commands us to seek justice, correct oppression (Isaiah 1:17). We need to ensure that all Americans trust our elections to be just, but we must use just means to do so. Three: This attack will have long-ranging consequences. Scripture teaches that sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4) and warns that the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). I have often quoted the maxim, Sin always takes you further than you wanted to go, keeps you longer than you wanted to stay, and costs you more than you wanted to pay. We are already seeing global consequences from yesterdays violence. Michael Morell served as Acting and Deputy Director of the CIA. I heard him report on television yesterday regarding two responses by our adversaries overseas. First, they are showing footage of the Capitol assault and telling their people, This is what democracy brings. Be glad you dont live in a democracy. Second, they are telling the rest of the world, This is what the U.S. is trying to bring you when it spreads democracy. I fear that the violence we saw yesterday will be repeated in the future unless we take proactive steps forward as a nation, which leads to my fourth observation. Four: God can redeem this tragedy as a turning point for our nation. As we close today, please join me in praying for God to redeem the Capitol attack. First, pray for our leaders and people to seek reconciliation and peace. We can move forward or we can move backward after this tragic event. God calls us to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you (Ephesians 4:32). With whom will you start today? Second, pray for Christians to respond with truth and grace. I was grieved to see some who breached the Capitol yesterday carrying Christian flags. Some in the media are already blaming evangelicals for yesterdays violence. Now is a time for us to redouble our commitment to speaking the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15). We must not say about people what we do not say to them (Matthew 18:15). Slander is sin (1 Peter 2:1). Our Lord calls us to let your speech always be gracious (Colossians 4:6). Will you answer his call today? Third, pray for more Christians to be engaged in our democracy. Christians are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5:1316), but both must contact that which they are to change. Similarly, I have said for years that God is calling more believers into public service than are answering his call. You and I can participate locally and nationally on issues of biblical significance. We can be the presence of Christ in our culture, pointing others to the only One who can heal us, unite us, and redeem us. When we were children, we put our hands over our hearts every day in school and pledged allegiance to one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Originally published at the Denison Forum William Shakespeare, 1st man in world to get approved coronavirus vaccine, dies aged 81 Spain Congress of Deputies committee accepts pro-Armenian motion Erdogan says meeting with Biden will mark 'start of new era' in relations with Washington Armenia acting Deputy PM on creation of third high-voltage electric communication line with Iran Vladimir Zaynetdinov: CSTO has taken note of application submitted by Armenia acting PM Armenia's Pashinyan says addressing UN Security Council not ruled out Armenia acting FM: International pressure on Azerbaijan is growing Netanyahu tells Blinken that Israel is against reopening US consulate for Palestinians 23 political parties and 4 alliances apply to Armenia Central Electoral Commission ahead of snap parliamentary elections Instagram launches ability to hide likes Iran FM on solutions to problems in the region, territorial integrity Bloomberg: Support for Erdogan's ruling party hits record low Inter-agency commission sums up reports on implementation of roadmap for EU-Armenia CEPA Armenian acting PM on CSTO and Russia and their duties as Armenia's allies Slovakia allows use of Russian vaccine Sputnik V Armenia acting PM on situation in Syunik Province: CSTO still hasn't clearly expressed its position Armenia's Pashinyan: It's very rarely that Baku made provocations in Syunik and Gegharkunik Provinces on its own Armenia acting PM: There will be no demarcation of borders until Azerbaijani troops are pulled out of territory Record-setting number of political parties register to run in snap parliamentary elections in Armenia Blinken describes Egypt as a "real and effective partner" Armenia's Pashinyan slams opposition again Yerevan court ends trial over Armenia 3rd President's nephew Hayk Sargsyan Armenia President expresses condolences on passing away of Catholicos-Patriarch Krikor Bedros XX Gabroyan Armenia President hosts Iran FM-led delegation Armenia acting PM doesn't see need to declare martial law in the country Iran to send delegation of intellectual companies to Armenia EU demands to fine AstraZeneca for not fulfilling contract Zakharova: Russia is closely participating in settling Armenia-Azerbaijan border incident Armenian soldier killed by Azerbaijan, electoral lists for snap elections submitted, May 26 digest Armenia 1st President Levon Ter-Petrosyan heads Armenian National Congress Party's electoral list Armenia acting PM: Acting defense minister to visit Moscow soon Taliban oppose establishment of US bases in region after withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan Two new videos showing incidents between Armenian and Azerbaijani soldiers Central Bank to raise Armenia economic growth forecast for 2021 Acting minister: Armenia MOD, Russian peacekeepers dismiss Azerbaijan statements Armenia Ambassador presents Letters of Credence to Tunisia President Dollar goes up in Armenia Newly appointed Ambassador of Jordan presents Letters of Credence to Armenia President Karabakh President receives multiple Guinness record setter Ashot Khanoyan Opposition Prosperous Armenia Party submits electoral list to Central Electoral Commission Laurence des Cars to become Louvre director Armenia State Revenue Committee and Iran Chamber of Commerce chiefs meet in Tehran Armenia ruling party electoral list top 30 names are made public Armenian government officials answering MPs' questions in parliament (LIVE) Armenia Parliament Speaker receives Argentina Ambassador, presents situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border Armenia opposition MP: Turkey and Azerbaijan want to push Russia and CSTO out of the region "Armenia" bloc submits electoral list to central election commission MOD: Armenia army did not fire at all on Azerbaijan in mentioned days Armenias Pashinyan congratulates Georgia PM on National Day Armenia President congratulates Georgian counterpart on occasion of Independence Day Armenia acting PM, Iran FM discuss steps aimed at resolving situation on Armenian-Azerbaijani border Prosperous Armenia Party MP on snap parliamentary election: We will not form coalition with anyone Armenia ruling bloc MP on applying to CSTO: I do not rule out us reaching also Article 4 of the treaty Armenia ruling party submits electoral list to Central Electoral Commission Armenia legislature majority: No discussion about declaring martial law, canceling elections Armenia parliament majority leader on appointment as ambassador: There is confirmation from American side Health ministry: Wearing face masks in open spaces no longer mandatory in Armenia as of June 1 Rouhani says Iran has agreed on positions on key issues of nuclear deal Armenia legislature elects members of economic competition and public services commissions Lepekhin: Russia is a huge unique resource that Armenia has but does not use IAEA chief: Level of development of Iran's nuclear program requires reliable verification system Several Armenia parliament majority lawmakers to not be on ruling party electoral list Kopirkin: Russia-Armenia allied relations are without alternative Ardshinbank becomes a partner of Olympicos, a new musical animated movie Armenian FM to Iranian counterpart: Azerbaijan is trying to create new geopolitical realities (PHOTOS) Armenia, Russia MODs discuss situation in Karabakh 130 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia "Armenia" bloc electoral list top 20 is announced Armenia parliament pays tribute to soldier killed by Azerbaijan invaders World oil prices dropping Newspaper: Yerevan mayor to leave office despite snap parliamentary election results Iran FM arrives in Armenia (PHOTOS) Newspaper: Armenia officials try to persuade university rectors ahead of snap parliamentary election Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: You have to constantly invest money in countrys image Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Business world has to deal only with tax authorities US: 1,100 pounds of methamphetamine found in watermelons Tesla owners will be paid $ 16,000 each due to slow charging MFA: Netherlands parliament demands that Azerbaijan immediately withdraw its forces from Armenia Security Council chief: Pashinyan-Putin contacts have agreement that Azerbaijan should leave Armenia territory 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 The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost. MILFORD - Local businesses struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic can get help from the city, according to Economic and Community Development Director Julie Nash. Nash, who this week held a webinar on applying for aid , said the funds are available through the Community Development Block Grant - Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, also known as CARES. We want to get the money out, Nash said. We want to make it as easy as possible, but again these are the things we must have for the federal government. Weve pared down the original application. There are a lot of ins and outs. Business applicants can receive a short-term reimbursable grant up to $5,000 upon review of requested documentation, she said. Grant administrator Sheila Dravis said the money comes from the federal department of Housing and Urban Development. The city receives funding based on several criteria, including population and the concentration of low and moderate income families in the community. Milford is among the Connecticut communities that is eligible. The program seeks to strengthen and enhance small businesses, while benefiting employment opportunity for low- and moderate-income households. A business owner may be eligible for funds in the form of a reimbursement for expenses incurred after March 27, 2020 directly related to planning, preparing and responding to the economic impact of the coronavirus. Applications will be reviewed based on overall need and eligibility of the business. Nash said the most important factor in receiving grant funds is completing the application thoroughly. The checklist is important, Nash said. Every application we have received so far has not included all of the checklist information. That delays everything. We cant start processing unless it is all there. Also, business owners should avoid duplicating reimbursements, she said. If you have received funding from another program, say for rent, you would have to ask for help with something else like utilities payments or hand-washing stations,she said. You cannot duplicate funding received from other sources. The webinar also gave business owners a chance to ask questions about applying for grant reimbursement. Businesses with up to 30 employees, including the owner, or with a payroll less than $1.5 million at the end of 2019 are eligible for grant funding. Applicants must provide proof of the economic impact due to COVID-19 resulting in a loss of income due to canceled contracts, closure, reduced business hours, care for sick family, employee resignations. To be eligible, the business must be in operation at least a year from the date of application. Business or employee income must meet HUD median income limits for Milford and the business must have its principal operations located in Milford. Business must be current on all federal, state and local tax obligations. To ensure the goals are met, recipients are required to provide brief quarterly reports on business activity, job creation and growth for a one-year period after the assistance. Allowable expenses to qualify for reimbursement include rent and up to three months utility costs, payroll expenses to hire or replace employees choosing not to work due to COVID-19 related circumstances. Equipment and safety materials including sanitizer stations and personal protective equipment are also reimbursable, as is professional cleaning services, delivery services and job training to expand the skills of employees. william.bloxsom@hearstmediact.com Twitter: @blox354 (Reuters) - UK's competition watchdog said on Friday it has launched an investigation into Google's proposals to remove third-party cookies and other functions from its Chrome browser. "The investigation will assess whether the proposals could cause advertising spend to become even more concentrated on Google's ecosystem at the expense of its competitors," the Competition and Markets Authority said. (Reporting by Tanishaa Nadkar in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur)(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by ... The family of a Georgia father-of-two who died in jail three days after being arrested on a probation violation for not reporting his change of address have spent the past four months trying to find out what happened to him - and track down missing pieces of his heart. Lee Creely, 34, was booked into the Chatham County Detention Center on September 3, 2020, for failing to let his probation officer know about his new residence three weeks prior. Creely, whose record included arrests for drug offenses in 2018 and 2019, had just moved from a motel to a house so his sons, aged 12 and 7, could have their own rooms. Lee Creely, 34 (pictured right next to his girlfriend), was arrested on a probation violation in Georgia and booked into the Chatham County Detention Center on September 3 Three days after his arrest, Creely was found dead in his cell at the Savannah jail 'We were making a fresh start,' Creely's girlfriend, Jessica Hodges, told Reuters. Three nights after his arrest, on September 6, officers and nurses discovered Creely on the bed in his jail cell, with his face and hands turned blue, his fists clenched in rigor mortis. He was pronounced dead. Creely, whose record included arrests for drug offenses in 2018 and 2019, had failed to report his change of address to his probation officer On Wednesday, four months after Creely's death, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation told his family that the inmate died from a fentanyl overdose, but they believe the official autopsy results do not tell the whole truth, reported WSAV. 'Tell this family what happened in this jail, because they havent been told anything,' said William Claiborne, the family's attorney. Claiborne said his clients have been unable to commission an independent autopsy because Creely's heart had been removed and parts of it have not been returned. 'No one with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation or the Chatham County Coroners Office has told the family where Mr. Creelys heart is, despite their repeated requests,' Claiborne claimed. The GBI released a statement denying that Creely's heart was missing. 'A complete autopsy was performed and all organs were returned to the body as per the GBI Medical Examiners Office protocol,' read the statement. 'As a part of a routine autopsy examination, the heart is dissected and very small pieces are retained for microscopic examination.' Chatham Sheriff John Wilcher and his office announced the firing of five officers for allegedly failing to check on Creely or respond more quickly. Creely and his girlfriend, Jessica Hodges (left and right), had just moved from a motel to a house so their sons, aged 12 and 7, could have their own rooms An autopsy showed that Creely (right) died in jail from a fentanyl overdose, but internal jail records show that the facility's medical provider, CorrectHealth, delivered Creely's daily drug withdrawal medications just once in four days One deputy, Terence Jackson, was arrested on a felony charge for allegedly writing falsely in log books that he checked inmates' cells 10 times over two and half days when video from jail security cameras showed he had stayed at his desk. 'Im not going to tolerate it,' Wilcher told a news conference in September. 'Weve got a job to do here and these people need to be treated humanely.' Wilcher asked the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to carry out a probe. According to reporting by Reuters, which has reviewed confidential internal jail records, the facility's medical provider, CorrectHealth, delivered Creely's daily medications just once in four days. He had been prescribed the medications to help manage his withdrawal from heroin and benzodiazepines. Chatham County Sheriff's Deputy Terence Jackson has been charged with falsifying records for allegedly writing falsely in log books that he checked inmates' cells 10 times over two and half days CorrectHealth also stopped checking his vitals after his second day in jail, violating the company's own protocols. CorrectHealth's nurses had not visited Creely's cell in almost 48 hours before finding his corpse, the records show. Two correctional healthcare specialists, who reviewed the records gathered, said the failure to provide medications and monitor someone in withdrawal violated jail medical standards. The abrupt halting of benzodiazepines can cause seizures, while unsupervised withdrawal from heroin can lead to severe dehydration. 'Benzodiazepine withdrawal can kill someone,' said Dr. Robert Cohen, a former director of medical care at New York's jail complex on Rikers Island, who has served as a federally appointed monitor overseeing inmate healthcare across the United States. The GBI said it is examining the actions of both jail and medical staff. Like two-thirds of American jail inmates who die behind bars, Creely died without being convicted of the charge on which he was being held. Hodges appeared at a press conference on Thursday, demanding answers on Creely's death 'My younger son keeps asking, "Why did they let my daddy die?"' said Hodges, the mother of their children. 'I don't know why.' Hodges told The Daily Beast she first met Creely 13 years ago. She conceded that he battled drug addiction, but insisted that he was a good father to their two sons and would have given the shirt off his back to anyone. Hodges said she was on the phone with her boyfriend when he was picked up by police officers while shopping for groceries. She was scheduled to visit Creely in jail on September 7, but a day earlier she got a call telling her he has died. Claiborne demanded that the county jail in Savannah, which he slammed as a 'death factory,' terminate its contract with CorrectHealth after a string of deaths, including Creely's. At least 24 inmates died over 12 years at the facility, two-thirds of them in the last seven years. CorrectHealth won the contract in 2016. A year later, an outside monitor suggested the county fine the contractor $5.2million for staffing and healthcare lapses. The county waived the fines and dismissed the monitor. In November, the county awarded CorrectHealth a $500,000 bonus, citing its increased costs during the COVID-19 pandemic, and boosted its overall contract by more than $1million for next year. William Claiborne, the family's lawyer, said his clients are unable to commission an independent autopsy because portions of Creely's hearts have not been returned 'They are not providing proper care to the inmates through privatization,' said Georgia House Representative Sandra Scott. The Democrat said the state should better monitor healthcare in jails across Georgia, including at the Chatham County facility, to ensure inmates are promptly being seen by medical staff and receiving their medications. A fellow Democrat, Representative Kim Schofield, said she plans on collaborating with Scott in drafting bills mandating more stringent oversight in a state with no mandatory inspection system for local jails. 'This stuff has gone on long enough,' she said. The Odisha government is likely to bolster the security of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after he received an anonymous letter, claiming that a conspiracy has been hatched to eliminate him. The state government has also ordered an inquiry into the matter, officials said on Thursday. The letter, written in English, said contract killers armed with sophisticated firearms could attack the chief minister anytime. "I would like to inform you that some contact killers (illegible).. to kill you. These contact killers are professional criminals, equipped with the latest weapons like AK- 47 and semi-automatic pistols. "I would like to tell you that you can be killed anytime, so please be aware..," it said, adding, the weapons have already been brought to the state. The letter also said that the mastermind of the conspiracy lives in Nagpur. Following the receipt of the letter on January 5, Special Secretary (Home) Santosh Bala asked the state's director general of police, director-general of intelligence, and the commissioner of police, Bhubaneswar, to inquire into the matter. Bala said the security of the chief minister at his residence, the secretariat as well as during his journey to various places may be assessed and tightened. . Former Almaty Mayor Viktor Khrapunov and his wife, Leila Khrapunova, both sentenced to lengthy prison terms in absentia in Kazakhstan on corruption charges that they have rejected as politically motivated, have been granted asylum in Switzerland. Switzerland's Federal Administrative Court (FAC) issued a statement on January 7 saying that the decision to provide asylum to "a Kazakh couple who are now divorced" was made because the two "who previously held high-ranking positions in the Kazakh regime, are at risk of being subject to unfair criminal proceedings if they return to the country." "This couple therefore has a special profile which would put them at particular risk were they to return to the country. For this reason, the FAC rules that asylum must be granted to these people. These judgments are final and may not be appealed to the Federal Supreme Court." Leila Khrapunova confirmed the couple in the FAC statement was her and her husband in a Facebook post on January 7 and that the decision was made on December 29. Khrapunov was mayor of Almaty from 1997 to 2004. He was later appointed governor of the East Kazakhstan region but was dismissed from that post in 2007 and served for a short time as emergency situations minister. Khrapunova served as the chairwoman of Kazakhstans national television and radio corporation in 1994-95. Khrapunov and his family moved to Switzerland in 2007 in the wake of a scandal surrounding parcels of land that he was accused of distributed illegally during his tenure as mayor. In October 2018, a court in Almaty tried the couple in absentia and found them guilty of organizing a criminal group, financial fraud, and bribe-taking. Khrapunov was also found guilty of abuse of office and of the illegal privatization of property belonging to another person. The court sentenced Khrapunov to 17 years in prison and his wife to 14 years. Both have vehemently denied the charges, calling them politically motivated. President Donald Trump on Friday said he will not attend President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on 20 January. He will be the first incumbent president since Andrew Johnson to skip his successor's inauguration. On Thursday, Trump pledged a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power" following a violent insurrection by his supporters at the U.S. Capitol earlier this week. In a Friday tweet Trump said, To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th." To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 8, 2021 Trump offered no clues for how he would spent his final hours in office. Biden will become president at noon regardless of Trumps plans. Meanwhile, Reuters reported while quoting a source that Trump will depart Washington, DC a day before the inauguration and is expected to travel to this Florida resort. Vice President Mike Pence is still expected to attend the inauguration. Bidens transition team had no immediate comment on Trumps announcement. But Jen Psaki, the president-elects incoming White House press secretary, said last month that whether Trump attended the inauguration was not top of mind for Biden. With 12 days left in his term, Trump has finally bent to reality amid growing talk of trying to force him out early, acknowledging hell peacefully leave after Congress affirmed his defeat. Trump led off a video from the White House Thursday by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Then, for the first time on camera, he admitted his presidency would soon end though he declined to mention President-elect Joe Biden by name or explicitly state he had lost. A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20," Trump said in the video. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Inter Milan outcast Christian Eriksen could make a sensational return to Tottenham if Dele Alli reunites with Mauricio Pochettino at PSG, according to reports in Italy. Just a year after departing Spurs for Italy in a cut-price 17.5million move, the Dane finds himself seeking pastures new after falling out of favour under Antonio Conte. But an unlikely move back to Spurs, where Eriksen starred before antagonising fans with his desire to leave, is becoming more likely, according to Gazzetta dello Sport, who add that would be contingent on Alli sealing a transfer of his own. Christian Eriksen could return to Spurs if Dele Alli is able to secure a move away this month Eriksen made over 300 appearances for Spurs before joining Inter Milan 12 months ago They claim that a return to Spurs is on the cards for Eriksen if Alli moves to PSG and reunites with their former boss Pochettino, who took over at the French giants this week. Though Sportsmail reported this week that Eriksen is a primary target for Pochettino, the Gazzetta report indicates that the Argentine is in no rush to work with him again. Like his former team-mate, Alli is also struggling for playing time this season having been frozen out by Jose Mourinho. Inter CEO Beppe Marotta last month confirmed that they would be seeking a permanent transfer for Eriksen. Mauricio Pochettino is reportedly keen to reunite with Alli after taking over at PSG He said: 'We've been very clear many times that there are players on the so-called transfer list, these are players who want to play more regularly, and the club is ready to make them happy and find replacements. 'Eriksen is on the transfer list, Piero Ausilio confirmed as much. He has struggled to settle into the squad, he is not functional to the squad. 'That is not any insult towards his professionalism, there is no punishment. 'It's just a situation that has developed and it's only fair he goes where he can play more regularly.' Eriksen is on Inter Milan's transfer list for the January window, according to their CEO Eriksen spent seven years at Spurs, making 305 appearances after his arrival from Ajax in 2013. He was a key figure in their run to the final of the Champions League in 2019, but left just six months later as he searched for a new challenge. But it has not worked out for him at the San Siro, with the 28-year-old struggling for form and consistency during 12 months in Italy. All Australian states and territories will begin testing hotel quarantine staff daily and quarantine international aircrew amid fears a highly infectious British variant of the coronavirus could spread locally. The premiers and chief ministers also agreed to pre-flight testing and masks will be made mandatory on all international and domestic flights. Other leaders pushed for weekly testing of hotel quarantine workers, but finally agreed to daily testing, the Victorian government has confirmed to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW Health announced this week that all staff working across the state's hotel quarantine program would be screened daily by the end of February. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today used the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building by Donald Trump supporters to ridicule the country and their 'American values'. Khamenei said the recent post-election chaos is 'God's revenge' for the U.S. sowing instability in the Middle East. His comments come after hundreds of Trump's mob ransacked the seat of American democracy in a 15-hour saga that left four dead in a bid to demand Joe Biden's election to be overturned. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today used the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building by Donald Trump supporters to ridicule the country and their 'American values' His comments come after hundreds of Trump's mob ransacked the seat of American democracy in a 15-hour saga that left four dead in a bid to demand Joe Biden's election to be overturned Khamenei slammed the U.S. in a series of scathing tweets and said their 'American values' are being 'ridiculed even by their friends' following the riots Khamenei slammed the U.S. in a series of scathing tweets and said their 'American values' are being 'ridiculed even by their friends' following the riots. He also claimed the country wanted to start a civil war in Iran in 2009, but the tables have now turned and 'God has afflicted them' with their own instability. The Supreme Leader tweeted: 'Have you seen the situation in the U.S.? This is their democracy and this is their election fiasco. 'Today, the U.S. & 'American values' are ridiculed even by their friends.' The Supreme Leader tweeted: 'Have you seen the situation in the U.S.? This is their democracy and this is their election fiasco'. Pictured: Pro-trump protesters pictured with police after they stormed the Capitol A pro-Trump protester shouts in celebration as hundreds storm the US Capitol building He added: 'The US openly says its interests require instability in this region [the Middle East]. 'The U.S. wanted to start a civil war in Iran in 2009, and now God has afflicted them with the same predicament in 2021. 'The recent chaos reached a point where Congress members had to escape through secret tunnels.' A protester walks through Congress carrying Nancy Pelosi's lectern after storming the Capitol with hundreds of others calling for Joe Biden's election to be overturned Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., helps ATF police officers (special highly trained officers) clean up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Thursday after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, DC, on Wednesday Speaker Nancy Pelosi's suite of offices were also targeted by the rioters who smashed a mirror, cracked the Democrat's nameplate and left a menacing message scrawled on a file: 'WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN' U.S. Congressmen were seen down on their knees yesterday picking up debris alongside police officers as dawn broke on the carnage that left four dead in Washington DC and terrified lawmakers who hid in their rooms and under seats in the chamber. Speaker Nancy Pelosi's suite of offices were targeted by the rioters who smashed a mirror, cracked the Democrat's nameplate and left a menacing message scrawled on a file: 'WE WILL NOT BACK DOWN.' A laughing Trump protester was even pictured leaning back in Pelosi's chair with his feet up on her desk as hundreds of Representatives and Senators feared for their lives. Another was pictured carrying Pelosi's lectern after storming the Capitol. Trump finally accepted his fate yesterday after Pence ended his desperate campaign to overturn the election Trump finally accepted his fate yesterday after Pence ended his desperate campaign to overturn the election and certified Biden's win in the early hours of the morning as lawmakers thrashed out the process to verify the result of the Electoral College which had infuriated the MAGA mob. Iran's Supreme Leader continued his blistering remarks and argued that Iran's involvement in the Middle East creates stability, whereas the US only causes instability. Khamenei said: 'Contrary to the US, Iran's involvement in the region creates stability and is aimed at preventing instability. 'This was proven in the fight against ISIS and the like. Iran's involvement in the region is definite and will continue.' Iran's Supreme Leader continued his blistering remarks and argued that Iran's involvement in the Middle East creates stability, whereas the US only causes instability In a live televised address to the nation, the Iranian Supreme Leader today demanded the US lift its 'brutal sanctions' on the country In a live televised address to the nation, the Iranian Supreme Leader today demanded the US lift its 'brutal sanctions' on the country. He also said Tehran was in no rush for the U.S. to rejoin a 2015 nuclear deal. Khamenei said: 'We are not insisting nor in a hurry for the deal. But what is logical is our demand [that] is the lifting of the sanctions. These brutal sanctions must be lifted immediately.' Tensions have grown between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when U.S. President Donald Trump exited the deal between Iran and six world powers - which sought to limit Tehran's nuclear programme and prevent it developing atomic weapons - and reimposed sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy. In retaliation, Tehran started gradually violating the accord. Potentially complicating efforts by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the deal, Iran said on Monday it had resumed 20% uranium enrichment at its Fordow underground nuclear facility. The U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran had started the process of enriching uranium to 20% purity. Tehran says it can quickly reverse its breaches if U.S. sanctions are removed. Biden, who takes office on Jan. 20, has said the United States will rejoin the deal if Iran resumes strict compliance with the pact. By Prossy Kisakye Buganda Premier, Charles Peter Mayiga has blamed the current challenge of Ugandan leaders on the failure to uphold the rule of law. He made the remarks while meeting Democratic Party presidential candidate, Norbert Mao, at Bulange Mengo. Mayiga said the problem started in 1966 when the constitution of Uganda was violated, resulting in impunity and now, it requires politicians who are not self-seeking to revive this country. He also urged opposition leaders to respect rule of law before coming into power to assure citizens that they can really bring about positive change. US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs David Schenker underlined, on Thursday in Algiers, that negotiations on the Sahara issue should occur within the context of the autonomy plan. For the United States, only political negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario within the context of the autonomy plan can resolve the conflict over the Sahara, said Schenker at a press conference in the Algerian capital. He stressed that it is time to move towards courageous solutions, noting that all the steps taken before have failed. On a visit to Algiers as part of a tour in the region which will also take him to Morocco, he said that the recognition by the American administration of the sovereignty of Morocco over its southern provinces is a courageous approach aiming to find a solution to the conflict over the Sahara. During a telephone conversation on December 10 with King Mohammed VI, the American President Donald Trump had announced the promulgation of a presidential decree, with what this act entails as undeniable legal and political force and with immediate effect, relating to the decision of the United States of America to recognize, for the first time in its history, the full sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over the entire region of the Moroccan Sahara. In this context, and as the first implementation of their sovereign initiative, the United States of America decided to open a consulate in Dakhla, with an essentially economic vocation, in order to encourage American investments and contribution to economic and social development, particularly for the benefit of the inhabitants of the southern provinces. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Hope Hicks will leave her post at the White House next week. Bloomberg News reported that the 32-year-old top aide of President Donald Trump has told colleagues that her departure, just a week before the end of Trump's term, is not in protest of the president's handling of Wednesday's riot on Capitol Hill. Hicks, who was Trump's original campaign press secretary before becoming the country's youngest White House Communications Director, only to leave the West Wing and come back, was one of the few 'Trump whisperers' left. Hope Hicks will leave her post at the White House next week, Bloomberg News reported. The move is not in protest to President Donald Trump's handling of Wednesday Capitol Hill riot President Donald Trump (left) points at outgoing White House Communications Director Hope Hicks (right) before she left her job at the White House for the first time NBC News reported that Hicks had planned to leave prior to inauguration since Trump was defeated in November. And her end-date had been decided on earlier than this week. With Hicks out, that leaves Ivanka Trump and only a few other close aides steering the White House during the president's last week. While it's normal that some administration figures depart early during an administration change-over, Trump's incitement of the Capitol Hill siege on Wednesday hollowed out the corridors of power more quickly. He promptly lost two cabinet secretarties: Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secetary Betsy DeVos. The White House social secretary, Rickie Niceta is gone, as is Stephanie Grisham, first lady Melania Trump's chief of staff and an ex-press secretary. Mick Mulvaney, a former White House chief of staff and OMB director who was the special envoy for Northern Ireland, also resigned in protest. Reports out of the White House suggest it's currently a miserable place to work. 'A lot of people don't want to talk to him,' a senior administration official told The Washington Post. 'He's in a terrible mood constantly, and he's defensive, and everyone knows this was a horrible mistake,' the aide said of the president's handling of the MAGA mob. The Post also reported that Trump had surrounded himself with just a small group of aides on Wednesday during the crisis, including Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino, his personnel director Johnny McEntee and policy adviser Stephen Miller. Jared Kusher, the president's son-in-law, The Post reported was 'disengaged.' Hicks returned to the White House in early March, in a position where she worked under Kushner. Hicks had originally left the White House, having been promoted to the Communications Director role, in February 2018. Her resignation came a day after she testified behind closed doors to the House Intelligence Committee, as part of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Hicks' personal life had also attracted unwanted attention after DailyMail.com reported in February 2018 that her boyfriend, Staff Secretary Rob Porter, had abused both of his ex-wives. She left the job in March 2018. Between White House jobs, Hicks moved to Los Angeles to work in communications for Fox Corporation. File image of a healthcare volunteer receiving a dummy COVID-19 vaccine as part of an earlier vaccination dry run (Image: News18) Ahead of the second nationwide COVID-19 vaccination dry run, several states have raised concerns regarding software, connectivity and broadband issues. Many have even asked the Union Health Ministry to upgrade its Co-WIN platform with details of the time and quantity of vaccine that will be made available to them. Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan on January 7 held a virtual meeting with health ministers of all states on preparation and protocol for the dry run. Track this LIVE blog for latest updates on coronavirus pandemic The dry run is aimed at familiarising the state, district, block and hospital-level officers on all aspects of COVID-19 vaccination rollout. The drill will be held in three sessions at sites of 736 districts across 33 states and Union Territories, the health ministry said in a statement. Jammu and Kashmir's representative asked the government to allow offline registrations and management of vaccine beneficiaries instead of the online Co-WIN system. "We have a serious connectivity issue with most state in the 2G network Since the whole exercise is driven by the Co-WIN platform, this is a challenge," said Rajiv Bhatnagar, advisor to the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir. 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 Read: Co-WIN app: Where to register for COVID-19 vaccine in India Similarly, Kerala's Health Minister KK Shailaja asked Vardhan to provide a template for sample data collection for the elderly on the Co-WIN app. Maharashtra's Health Minister Rajesh Tope said that while they have conducted the first dry run successfully, the state is facing software problems in 14 districts. The Gujarat government also requested the Centre to allow an offline system of sharing information for remote places in the state where internet connectivity is an issue. The request was made by Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel during his virtual discussion with Vardhan. Also read | New coronavirus strain: How dangerous is the mutation, can it hamper a vaccine; all questions answered "There are issues of Internet connectivity in remote as well as hilly areas of the state. In such a situation, the administration faces difficulty in sharing information about the vaccine with the beneficiaries. Thus, I request you to consider allowing an offline system for such areas," Patel said. COVID-19 Vaccine Tracker: All you need to know about manufacturing and pricing The COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) system -- a digitalised platform -- will be used to track enlisted beneficiaries for the vaccination and anti-coronavirus shots on a real-time basis. Poor internet connectivity may hamper the functioning of the platform. More than 78 lakh beneficiaries have been already registered on the platform. Even though we are starting to bring students back I also want to reiterate that students who are staying remote for the next quarter will still receive high quality instruction, Thurmond said. While I might not be able to hug them when they return, I am looking forward to hearing their voices and laughter in my building again and watching them flourish as students in ways they did not even know they were capable of. National Guard troops walk through the grounds of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (John Moore/Getty Images) Five Eyes Leaders Echo US Leaders Condemning Violence, Lawlessness at Capitol Prime Minister Scott Morrison joined the leaders of the Five Eyes nationsthe UK, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Statesin expressing their sentiments about rioters and protestors storming the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday during a joint session of Congress. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnston wrote on Twitter that the scenes were disgraceful. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power, he wrote on Jan. 6. Disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power. Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) January 6, 2021 His sentiments were echoed by both Australias and New Zealands prime ministers, Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern. Morrison said America was one of the greatest democracies in the world and that Australias thoughts were with them. The riots and protests that we have seen in Washington D.C have been terribly distressing, Morrison said. They are very concerning. Ardern wrote that the voice of the people should not be undone by a mob. Democracy the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully should never be undone by a mob. Our thoughts are with everyone who is as devastated as we are by the events of today. I have no doubt democracy will prevail, she wrote. Democracy the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully should never be undone by a mob. Our thoughts are with everyone who is as devastated as we are by the events of today. I have no doubt democracy will prevail. Jacinda Ardern (@jacindaardern) January 7, 2021 Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter that Canadians were disturbed about the attack on democracy in the United States, its closest neighbour and ally. Democracy in the US must be upheld and it will be, Trudeau said. The rioters and protestors who stormed the U.S. Capitola small percentage of the larger crowd gathered on Capitol Hilltriggered the evacuation of Congress members. The mayhem left at least four people deadthree for medical reasons after authorities released tear gas to disperse the crowdsand dozens of police officers injured, D.C. police said. The violence we saw yesterday at our nations capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. We condemn it, the president and this administration, in the strongest possible terms, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh MacEnany told reporters. It is unacceptable, and those that broke the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, she said. President Donald Trump addressed America on Jan. 8 and said he was outraged at the heinous attack on the U.S. Capitol. Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem. I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the capital have filed the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country, and to those who broke the law you will pay, he said. The president called for calm after an intense election and said his campaign vigorously pursued every legal avenue to contest the election results in order to ensure the integrity of the vote. In so doing, I was fighting to defend American democracy. I continue to strongly believe that we must reform our election laws to verify the identity and eligibility of all voters and ensure faith and confidence in all future elections, he said. Trump also said he believed election laws must be reformed to verify the identity and eligibility of voters and said there would be a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power on Jan. 20. Irish Rail has published a revised timetable to operate on its rail network from Monday to account for additional Government Covid-19 restrictions. Irish Rail has advised customers that, following the further level 5 restrictions announced by Government, a revised and reduced schedule will operate across the rail network from Monday, January 11, approved by the National Transport Authority. The revised schedule reflects significantly reduced demand, and will ensure service continuity and resilience for essential workers and carers who must travel. To effectively manage the 25% capacity available for use, the requirement to pre-book Intercity travel, in place over the Christmas and New Year period, is extended until further notice. Customers are also reminded that, under current COVID-19 measures: * Only those travelling for essential purposes should travel by rail or other public transport * The wearing of face coverings is mandatory on board and in stations * Those whose travel is essential should avoid using cash wherever possible * Irish Rail continuing to implement enhanced cleaning and sanitisation measures on trains and at stations, with a focus on customer touchpoints * Catering services remains suspended on board Intercity, and alcohol is prohibited on all trains Revised schedule from Monday, January 11 From Monday, January 11, a revised and reduced schedule will operate across the network. Customers for whom travel is essential should check all times before travel at www.irishrail.ie , but in summary, service arrangements will be as follows: Monday to Saturday DART Saturday schedule Northern Commuter Saturday schedule - PLUS 06:30hrs Dundalk to Connolly Maynooth/M3 Commuter - Saturday schedule - PLUS 06:15hrs Longford to Connolly Heuston Commuter (including Phoenix Park Tunnel) Revised and reduced schedule Cork Commuter Revised and reduced schedule Heuston Intercity routes (Dublin to Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Galway, Westport/Ballina, Waterford) - Revised and reduced schedule Dublin Connolly to Sligo / Rosslare - Revised and reduced schedule Dublin Connolly to Belfast - Normal schedule Limerick to Limerick Junction - Normal schedule Limerick to Ennis/Galway - Revised and reduced schedule Limerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh) - Services suspended Waterford to Limerick Jctn - Services suspended Sunday DART, Northern Commuter, Maynooth/M3 Commuter, Cork Commuter - Normal Sunday schedule Heuston Commuter - Normal Sunday schedule with minor alterations Intercity Normal Sunday schedule on all routes, except some cancellations on: Dublin-Limerick Dublin-Galway Dublin-Westport Dublin-Waterford Dublin-Sligo Limerick-Ennis Limerick to Ballybrophy (via Nenagh) - Services suspended Pre-booking Intercity travel will ensure the available 25% capacity on Intercity services is effectively managed, providing rail customers with a safe and sanitary travelling environment over the Christmas and New Year period. Intercity travel can be pre-booked at www.irishrail.ie along with further information, and customers are advised: * Please only book Intercity journeys if your travel is absolutely essential * Holders of existing tickets (e.g open returns, season tickets, DSP free travel) can also pre-book their Intercity reservations during these dates at no charge via www.irishrail.ie or at 1850366222 * Seating will be unassigned, and customers are asked not to sit in seating designated as restricted, to ensure appropriate distancing Irish Rail thanks customers for their continued cooperation and overwhelming compliance with measures in place during COVID-19. Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan. (Pic by Dylan Vaughan) Strict new rules on political advertising online will help ensure the spread of misinformation doesnt impact on elections here, Junior Minister Malcolm Noonan has said. Mr Noonan argued US President Donald Trumps online activity contributed to the unrest seen in Washington DC this week with the storming of Capital Hill by his supporters. He said were in a very different situation here but its important to anticipate what might happen and to ensure there is a good, regulatory basis for voters to get good, sound, robust information around candidates, political parties and election events themselves. Read More Mr Noonans remarks come as he published the outline of the Electoral Reform Bill along with Housing Minister Darragh OBrien. The Bill also includes setting up an independent Electoral Commission and measures to allow elections to take place safely during the ongoing pandemic. The commission, which Mr Noonan hopes will be in place by the end of the year, will regulate online political advertising during electoral periods among other responsibilities. Such advertising will have to be clearly labelled with a transparency notice that says who paid for it, the costs and any micro-targeting of the campaign. Mr Noonan said its an important section of the Bill adding: Weve seen whats happening in other countries and how particularly online political advertising is now having an influence on the outcome of electoral events. He referred to the events in Washington this week. "Finally weve seen some action from some of the social media outlets restricting and banning President Trump, he said. I think thats a welcome albeit very late in the day step. A lot of his activity has led to that this week. Obviously I think were in a very different situation here. He said the regulations on online political advertising couple with the setting of the Electoral Commission will allow work to be done to ensure information reaching voters is managed in such a way that you dont have that skewing of information or misinformation in political advertising. The Bill separately allows for polling over more than one day to assist with social distancing if an election does have to be held while Covid-19 restrictions are in place. It also gives flexibility to returning officers to provide a postal vote to those on the special voters list if nursing homes and hospitals are inaccessible at the time of an electoral event. Mr Noonan said this is to ensure there are alternative arrangements in place in case theres a by-election, or another form of vote. But he said hes absolutely not anticipating a general election during the pandemic. We have a good, stable Government that wants to deliver a very ambitious programme over the next number of years. And this is part of that, he said. Fianna Fail TD James Lawless who previously put forward proposals aimed at regulating political communications online, welcomed the Bill but said he still hopes to progress his own legislation. He has concerns over the ability of people or political parties to set up fake social media accounts and his legislation included provisions around that. He said the Electoral Commission Bill is badly needed adding: We have seen in the States again recently the absolute destructive and potentially destabilising and sinister nature of fake news. Its not longer just a fad or novelty. Its actually destabilising of democracy. He said it can be seen here during the pandemic citing examples like anti-mask protesters and suggested that a tipping point is being reached where we begin to question the value of social media versus the downsides. The former model, 29, who studied drama at Yale and is known professionally by her middle name, plays heroine Marion Brook For those on the hunt for a good old costume drama to get your teeth into, there is good news on the horizon. Filming resumes imminently on The Gilded Age, the lavish new nine-part drama created by Downton Abbey writer Julian Fellowes. It stars Christine Baranski and Cynthia Nixon as aristocratic siblings who take in their orphaned niece, played by Louisa Jacobson, youngest daughter of Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer. The former model, 29, who studied drama at Yale and is known professionally by her middle name, plays heroine Marion Brook who, in 1882, moves from Pennsylvania to be with her aunts in New York after her father, a Civil War general in the Union army, dies. Shooting was to have started last spring. I remember Fellowes telling me about the sets that had been created; all the fancy costumes, and locations in Newport, Rhode Island, where the wealthy tycoons of New York and Philadelphia built their spectacular mansions (though they always referred to them as cottages). But then the pandemic delayed filming. It resumed briefly last autumn, but will start up again later this month. Im told theres several months shooting left to do, so we arent likely to see the HBO series on our TV screens for a while. Following the tradition of Downton and Belgravia, the new series explores the lives of the fabulously privileged, and those less so, at a time, during the late 19th century, when America became more prosperous and saw unprecedented growth, thanks to the rise of transcontinental railways and huge advances in industrial technology. The Gilded Age also stars Harry Richardson (Drake Carne in Poldark) as the Harvard-educated son of wealthy upstart neighbours (Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon) Fellowes once told me: I like my film stars to look like film stars. And as the creator, writer and executive producer with Gareth Neame, his longtime Downton partner he has chosen wisely here. The Gilded Age also stars Harry Richardson (Drake Carne in Poldark) as the Harvard-educated son of wealthy upstart neighbours (Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon). The show has been a boon, too, to Broadway names who, like theatrical colleagues over here, have seen their livelihoods eroded. The line-up includes Denee Benton, Kelli OHara, Donna Murphy, Debra Monk, Katie Finneran and Simon Jones. It stars Christine Baranski (left) and Cynthia Nixon (right) as aristocratic siblings who take in their orphaned niece, played by Louisa Jacobson, youngest daughter of Meryl Streep and her husband Don Gummer Shooting was to have started last spring. I remember Julian Fellowes (above) telling me about the sets that had been created; all the fancy costumes, and locations in Newport, Rhode Island, where the wealthy tycoons of New York and Philadelphia built their spectacular mansions (though they always referred to them as cottages) I want to be like Judi, says Nicole Nicole Kidman said that Judi Dench is her heroine. Shes like the Queen, right? Shes so soothing. The Oscar-winning actresses worked together on the movie musical Nine. It was just the once, but Ive spent time with her; and I love how shes the centre of her family... but shes so mischievous! Kidman told me. In fact, shes been trying to follow Denchs example, and bring a bit more mischief into her life like Judi though professionally rather than personally. She likes the way Dench takes on deep and difficult roles, followed by something where a few more larks can be had. Kidman was chatting after seeing the success of her roller-coaster thriller The Undoing on Sky and HBO, which she followed up with The Prom on Netflix. Shell next be on the small screen in the mini-series Nine Perfect Strangers, based on fellow Australian Liane Moriartys novel. Moriarty also wrote Big Little Lies, which was another TV winner for Kidman. This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:59 pm Many saw it coming. And yet, watching people storm the U.S. Capitol in the other Washington, people across the state were still amazed, saddened and almost speechless. They clung to optimism, believing in a return to American stability and democracy as we know it, while acknowledging that wouldn't be easy. "It makes me weep," said Nanci Main, a chef and former restaurateur in Southwest Washington's Pacific County, and then she proceeded to do just that. "It's like the biggest form of blasphemy to me." Nobody had seen anything like it before, not in the U.S. A mob refusing to accept that President Donald Trump lost the election, egged on by the president himself, breaking glass to get into the chamber where lawmakers were counting electoral votes. Congress members ducking for cover and donning gas masks while a woman was shot and killed. The president tweeting for an end to the violence, then in a later video telling rioters "go home, we love you." Among them were people from Washington, like Michelle Le, a Bellevue real estate broker and ardent Trump supporter who sees Democrats as having the kind of socialist agenda that took over her homeland of Vietnam. Reached at a Virginia hotel Wednesday evening, Le said she was part of a group that went to D.C. Talking briefly before meeting up with other members of the group, she said she stayed in the back of crowd and didn't see the violence firsthand. She said she couldn't comment on it before watching videos of the day, but raised suspicion of a "mole" in her group and a "setup" exactly what kind she didn't say before rushing off. "Michelle Le was my real estate agent. I know her," said Uyen Nguyen, co-owner of the Seattle restaurant Nue and board member of a national progressive Vietnamese American group called PIVOT. She said she was baffled by such die-hard Trump supporters, including one of Nguyen's brothers. Born in Vietnam just as the war ended in 1975, Nguyen said, "the White House and America has always been very emblematic of freedom for many of my years. To see it being taken down so easily ... Wow, what's going on?" In the end, the government was not taken down. The D.C. National Guard was activated. The Senate reconvened to confirm Democratic President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory. Still, retired Seattle city contract processor Annie Daniels was also mystified by the ease with which insurgents took over the halls of power. Where was the security? "It's unbelievable," she said. Yet, she added," I knew something was going to happen." Before the election, some were predicting a civil war when the results came in. Retired Yakima teacher Bruce Whitmore was one, discouraged like most everyone at the extreme polarization between Republicans and Democrats. When it didn't happen, he said, "I felt a lot of relief." But then came Trump's refusal to concede the election and claims of fraud. Though he failed to produce evidence, and court and after court threw out his lawsuits, many supporters believed him and determined to "stop the steal." Mount Vernon dairy farmer Jason Vander Kooy said he doesn't support violence. The Trump supporter spent Wednesday tearing down old buildings on his farm. But he understands the skepticism of election results. "It's not like the old days where I went to the fire station and put my signature beside my name and voted. Now everything is computerized," he said. And different states have different rules, for instance about how long after Election Day ballots are counted. "Maybe it is all legit but they have not convinced me of that," said Vander Kooy, who also questions whether Washington Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp lost by as a big a margin as announced. Like Trump, Culp refused to concede and claimed voter fraud. James Kane, a Trump supporter who owns a small general store in rural Lincoln County, also continues to question the election results. "If we have questions, just audit the damn vote, shove it in our face, wag your finger at us and say 'look you lost,'" Kane said. "They don't want to do that." He said he doesn't condone the violence, nor blame the president's rhetoric for it. "If he was going to call the people to arms, it'd be a little bit clearer," Kane said. Whitmore, on the other hand, began to fear violence again as the retired teacher heard Trump amp up his attacks on the election's integrity. Actually, Whitmore said he expected worse, including holding Congress members hostage. Even so, he said, "I feel the country is going to come back to a center, like it always has." The 73-year-old, who lived through the Vietnam War and assassinations of the Kennedys and Martin Luther King Jr., said that's what his lived experience has taught him. He expected Biden to be confirmed, people to be arrested and Trump to be "embarrassed and sidelined." It could not come soon enough for Whitmore, who said he wanted the president to be immediately removed through the 25th Amendment, as Democratic lawmakers are now seeking. Main, the Pacific County chef, also said she expects the U.S. to recover, eventually. 'I am hopeful that down the line we're going to get our country back to where it should be, with lessons learned. I feel committed to that." "I guess one big thing is not taking freedom and democracy and our country for granted." On Wednesday, though, she had to reassure her 95-year-old mom, who lives in an assisted living facility. She'd been though the Depression and World War II. But when Main talked with her mom today about what was going on in D.C., the older woman was afraid. "Don't worry Mom," Main said. "I'm here. I'm going to make sure you're always safe." Source: Reuters Congressional Democrats were moving closer to a historic step on Friday as they weighed impeaching President Donald Trump for a second time, two days after his false claims of election fraud helped encourage a mob that breached the US Capitol. Top Democratic leaders, including House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Vice President Mike Pence and Trump's Cabinet refused to take steps to remove Trump from power. "The president's dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office," they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an "insurrection." As calls for his ouster mounted on Thursday, Trump released a video in which he denounced the violence that saw one person shot dead by police and three die from medical emergencies. The Republican president came the closest yet to conceding his loss in the Nov. 3 presidential election, promising to ensure a smooth transition to a "new administration." President-elect Joe Biden, a Democrat, is set to be sworn in on Jan. 20. Trump's words were in stark contrast to his speech on Wednesday, when he exhorted a crowd of thousands to descend upon the Capitol as Congress met to certify Biden's election victory. Rioters stormed the building, overwhelming police and forcing authorities to transport lawmakers to secure locations for their own safety. A Capitol police officer died from injuries sustained in the assault, the force said late on Thursday, bringing to five the number of related deaths. With less than two weeks left in Trump's term, it was not clear whether enough time remained to complete the impeachment process. Pelosi has not announced a decision, though she made clear at a news conference that rank-and-file Democrats in her caucus were clamoring for action in the wake of Wednesday's siege. If impeached in the House, Trump would theoretically face trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which is scheduled to be in recess until Jan. 19. Aides to Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, have not said what he would do if the House approves articles of impeachment. The Democratic-led House impeached Trump in December 2019 for pressuring the president of Ukraine to investigate Biden, but the Republican-held Senate acquitted him in February 2020. Only two other presidents in history have been impeached, and none has ever been impeached twice. Democrats will control the Senate after sweeping two runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday, but the new senators, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, will not be sworn in until the state certifies the results. The state deadline to do so is Jan. 22, though it could come sooner. In Thursday's video, a flat-toned Trump struck a conciliatory note seldom seen from the mercurial president, calling for "healing." As recently as Thursday morning, however, Trump was still claiming the election had been stolen, and he stopped short of acknowledging his loss. Since November, Trump has baselessly railed against the election results as "rigged" due to widespread fraud. The Trump campaign and its allies filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the vote counts but were almost universally rebuffed in state and federal courts. Election officials have said there is no evidence to back Trump's claims. Pelosi and Schumer called on Pence and Trump's Cabinet to invoke the US Constitution's 25th Amendment, which allows them to strip the president of his powers if he cannot discharge the duties of his office. But Pence opposes the idea, according to an adviser. At least two Republicans, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and US Representative Adam Kinzinger, said Trump must go. The Wall Street Journal editorial page, seen as a leading voice of the Republican establishment, on Thursday evening called on Trump to resign. Several high-ranking Trump administration officials resigned in protest over the invasion of the Capitol, including two Cabinet members: Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and McConnell's wife, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary. At a news conference to introduce his pick for attorney general, Biden blamed Trump for instigating the attack but did not comment on his possible removal. Congress certified Biden's election victory early on Thursday, after authorities cleared the Capitol. More than half of House Republicans and eight Republican senators voted to challenge some states' election results, backing Trump. The president has isolated himself among a small circle of diehard advisers and lashed out at those he perceives as disloyal, including Pence - whom Trump wanted to try to block Congress from certifying Biden's win - according to sources. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2021) Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Friday promised support to Belarus' opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the Baltic country since the August presidential election. "Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is the real leader of Belarus, with whom we discussed serious problems of Belarus, ranging from help to secure early access to EU COVID-19 vaccine for the Belarusian people to Belarus' daily fight for free and fair elections," Gabrielius said. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it considered the 38-year-old Belarus' legitimate representative. It cited the top diplomat as saying that Vilnius would continue its close cooperation with Tikhanovskaya to help the Belarusian people in their "struggle for freedom. " Meanwhile, according Tikhanovskaya's office, Vilnius also proposed to establish "a Belarusian mission in Lithuania" and considered it important to change the country's name in the Lithuanian language from Baltarusija (White Rus) to Belarus. Tikhanovskaya lost the August 9 election to Belarus' long time president, Alexander Lukashenko, who won more than 80 percent of the vote. She fled to Lithuania amid protests against perceived electoral fraud and set up a transitional government with the help of Baltic state authorities. @Newzroom405 we have spoken to Serum Institute, our president has also spoken to the prime minister of India. We have our agreement and will receive the vaccines. There is no issue on our end. Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 8, 2021 @MorningLiveSABC the estimation takes us to about 1,5 million. It is a whole package; public and private sectors, doctors, nurses, general workers, security etc. It is across the spectrum that will be vaccinated. Dr Zweli Mkhize (@DrZweliMkhize) January 8, 2021 Collaborating with medical schemes He was briefing Parliaments Portfolio Committee on Health, following calls from opposition parties for a National Assembly debate on South Africas Covid-19 vaccine rollout plan. The government has come under fire for being vague on the details of its vaccine programme and being slow in implementing it.Mkhize said teams from the National Department of Health and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (Sahpra) were fine-tuning and aligning all the regulations processes to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays or regulatory impediments to activate the roll-out.We are happy that the SII/Astra Zeneca vaccine has already been approved by various regulators and is being rolled out in other countries," he said.The first phase of the rollout will target frontline healthcare workers.Phase two will cover essential service workers, persons over the age of 60 and those 18 years or older with comorbidities. The third phase will target those that are older than 18 years.While the fiscus will carry the burden of procuring the Covid-19 vaccine, government will reach out to medical schemes to make a contribution. They will also consider asking medical schemes to co-subsidise some members of the public, as government makes a push to raise funds to procure vaccine doses as early as next month, Mkhize said.I think as we stand at the moment, a few points that I think are important to mention are that, for one, we have had lots of discussions with the minister of finance [Tito Mboweni] basically to say that the fiscus is going to carry the major burden of procuring the vaccine.We have also agreed that we will look to activate other means of raising additional funds, and that the second way would be to approach the medical schemes and ask them to make a contribution, which will also be on the basis of social solidarity, wherein they could also co-subsidise some of the members of the public.The third one is to get business donors to make their own contributions, he said. BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- What if you could charge your mobile phone without conventional electricity, but with a bottle of hot water instead? Space thermoelectric technology could soon make this sustainable solution a reality. Thermoelectric devices are made from materials that can convert a temperature difference into electricity. Previous researches have suggested that thermoelectric devices can harvest wasted heat and produce electrical energy to back up the battery on spacecraft. Chinese scientists are now hoping to take advantage of space thermoelectric technology to benefit people's daily life. Researchers at the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, one of the country's rocket makers, have developed a type of insulated water bottle equipped with a thermoelectric chip that can turn water heat into electricity to charge a mobile phone. As mobile phones have gotten more powerful processors and larger touch screen interfaces, their power requirement has correspondingly increased. However, people often face the problem of charging their phones, especially when traveling on trains or camping in mountains, said lead researcher Ma Wei. "Our solution to this problem is a water bottle-based thermoelectric device, a heat source to generate electricity," Ma said, adding that the invention does not require any electrical sources. A demonstration video showed that the thermoelectric device was embedded in the bottle cap, which has a USB charging port on it. When a researcher connected an iPhone to the bottle with a cable, the battery icon on the screen appeared green with a lightning bolt indication in the middle. "We have found that the water bottle can provide 20 to 30 minutes of electricity after we poured 300 to 500 milliliters of boiling water into it," said Sheng Jiang, a member of the research team. The bottle can also provide electricity for laptops, cameras and other low-power household appliances. Researchers are now seeking to forge cooperation with enterprises to market the concept. The product is likely to be priced from 150 yuan (about 23 U.S. dollars) to 200 yuan. A thermoelectric chip might make the bottle 200 grams heavier than the same size product on the market, but Sheng said it would be easy to carry as researchers have reduced the bottle weight by the use of a light heat insulation material, originally created for spacecraft, to replace stainless steel container. Emphasizing the safety of the invention, Sheng said it produces low voltage and has no risk of short circuit. India is slowly moving in the right direction when it comes to the LGBTQIA community, however still there is a long way to go till one can rest. Several problems are faced by queer folks in India today and there is no denying that, be it the struggle to come out to their families or have the right to marry who they love. Tushar Tyagi has made a film on this issue itself called Saving Chintu and the good news is that the film is in the race to win an Oscar this year under the Live Action Short category. The film has been produced by Ritika Jayaswal and Adil Hussain and stars Sachin Bhatt, Angad Dev Dogra, Adil Hussain and Dipannita Sharma in crucial roles. Saving Chintu revolves around the life of a queer couple who flies down to India from New York to adopt a child named Chintu whos suffering from HIV-AIDS. The story of the queer couple runs parallel to that of a doctor and his wife who also want to adopt a child. The film surely has been successful in projecting the emotional complexities of the protagonists and movingly bring forth the challenges a queer couple has to face if they ever decide to start a family. Saving Chintu also gives a little ray of hope about love triumphing over all and coming out victorious in the end. This impressive film has been screened at several film festivals including the Iris Prize LGBT+ Film Festival, South Asian Film Festival of Cincinnati and more and is now in the running to grab an Oscar this year. We wish the team of the film all the very best for the same and hope they make the cut. Check out the trailer of the film below Saving Chintu - Official Trailer from Tushar Tyagi on Vimeo. A criminal barrister claims she is earning less than the National Living Wage despite working 19 hour days. Alejandra Llorente Tascon, 27, of London, is a defence barrister for the legally aided bar, providing assistance to those unable to afford legal representation and access to the court system. She told how she put herself through university with 'no financial backing' from her mother, who works as a cleaner, and is still paying off her university loan. In an interview with BBC News, she told how, unlike many affluent barristers, after expenses and with no payment for her preparation work or conferences, she is making less than the National Living Wage of 8.72 an hour. Alejandra Llorente Tascon (pictured), 27, London, is a defence barrister for the legally aided bar, providing assistance to those unable to afford legal representation 'My working day yesterday was a total of 19 hours and thats pretty typical, and those long hours start to get to you,' she said. With defence barristers paid 91-126 per standard hearing, Alejandra told the BBC that with expenses, she makes less than the minimum wage. 'We dont get paid for any of our preparation work, our conferences, our travel,' she said. In October, the Bar Council claimed that some publicly funded barristers were earning less than 13,000 per year pre-tax, working out at 6.25 per hour for a 40-hour week. Unlike many affluent barristers, Alejandra put herself through university with 'no financial backing' from her mother, who works as a cleaner (pictured together) Alejandra was educated in state schools and is still paying back her university loan after funding her university course with no extra financial help What is the National Living Wage? The National Living Wage (NLW) was introduced in the 2015 Summer Budget by then-Tory Chancellor George Osborne, and became law on April 1 the following year. The NLW was simply a renaming of the NMW and not completely linked to the cost of living. The NLW is currently set at the same level as the NMW; it means anyone over the age of 25, and not in the first year of an apprenticeship, has to be paid 8.72 per hour or above. Advertisement In a paper submitted to the Treasury ahead of their spending review, the council claimed the lack of pay was putting the future of the legally aided bar at risk, and will have a disproportionate impact on diversity in the profession. Alejandra warned that lawyers are 'turning their back' on the legally aided bar and choosing more financially rewarding options instead. 'It makes me very angry and I know that that is the general consensus across the criminal bar,' she said. 'I know many people are choosing other areas that are more financially rewarding and theyre choosing to completely turn their back on the legally aided bar. Alejandra was educated in state schools and is still paying back her university loan after funding her university course with no extra financial help. 'Ive never had any financial backing from my family... because my mum is a single parent, she works as a cleaner,' she said. 'So I had to take a loan to pay for the course myself; I'm still paying back for that loan.' When asked whether she regrets her career choice, she added: 'I dont because I love my job and I love what I do and its what I've always wanted to do.' Branching out: DNA discovery could advance degenerative disease treatments New research on the structure and dynamics of a branched form of DNA called a three-way junction could lead to more effectively targeted treatments for degenerative disorders like Huntingtons Disease, scientists say. In a new paper published in the journal Nature Communications, chemists from the University of Glasgow show for the first time how three-way DNA junctions undergo unexpected rearrangements in their structure. Their findings could lead to an improved understanding of the processes which underly a group of degenerative disorders known as repeat expansion diseases, or REDs. That could help drug developers make better-targeted treatments to prevent or slow the progression of these kinds of genetic diseases in the future. The iconic DNA double helix is formed from two strands, each made from four organic building blocks adenine (A), thymine (T), guanine (G), and cytosine (C) - known as nucleotides. If the DNA sequence contains repeats of the same nucleotides, there is the potential to form a structure in which the repeat sequence extrudes from the double helix, pairs with itself and forms a new double-stranded section of DNA known as a slip-out or hairpin. The resulting branched structure is known as a three-way junction. These structures are implicated in the progression of REDs, but the processes by which they are formed and how they behave are not well understood. The Glasgow team set out to learn more about how these three-way junctions work by examining DNA with slipouts with two different types of nucleotide repeats composed of bases of CAG or CTG. These trinucleotide repeats are known to cause at least 17 different types of REDs, including Huntingtons Disease. They were able to monitor individual three-way junctions in real time using single-molecule fluorescence microsopy by tagging DNA with two different fluorescent labels and taking advantage of a process known as Forster resonance energy transfer, or FRET, to measure the distance between the two labels. They studied three-way DNA structures containing slip-outs of between two and 30 repeats of either CAG or CTG, revealing new details about their underlying movements. They found new evidence that the behaviour of the junction differed depending on whether the nucleotide repeats were confined within the slip-out, or continued along the double-stranded DNA to which the slipout was connected. The team observed that junctions that only contained repeats in the slip-out could interconvert between two structural forms a change in the overall orientation of the branches of the junction with no effect on the base pairing. The same Glasgow team had previously observed this behaviour in earlier research. However, when repeats extended from the slipout into the parent DNA, the results were unexpected. New FRET signals showed a second type of interconversion was occurring, which could be attributed to migration of three-way junctions branchpoint, the location at which the slipout extrudes from the double-helical DNA. This process has been observed in other kinds of branched DNA molecules such as four-way junctions, but never before in three-way junctions. The Glasgow team proposed a model that involves unpairing at the branchpoint, strand exchange and movement of a small DNA loop around the slip-out. Unlike branchpoint migration in four-way junctions, which is independent of sequence, the model for three-way junctions applies specifically to those with repeat slipouts. The research was led by Dr. Steven Magennis of the University of Glasgows School of Chemistry, and conducted by PhD student Tianyu Hu and Dr. Michael Morten. Dr. Magennis said: Up until now, three-way DNA junctions havent received a great deal of research attention. Weve known that these kind of intrastrand slip-out hairpins existed, but we didnt know much about their behaviour at the molecular level. Many of the conventional techniques for exploring DNA are limited in their ability to follow structural changes in real-time. What weve been able to do for the first time is demonstrate that these slip-outs have the ability to migrate. That has implications for their reactivity and repair in cells, and it could help explain the processes by which repeat expansion diseases progress. Medical researchers have recently started paying more attention to slip-out structures as potential targets for drugs which could slow the progress of REDs. We think that our research could help inform that kind of drug development, and weve already begun speaking to colleagues about potential future collaborations in this area. The teams paper, titled Conformational and migrational dynamics of slipped-strand DNA three- way junctions containing trinucleotide repeats, is published in Nature Communications. The research was supported by funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the China Scholarship Council. U.S. Deputy Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette (left) speaks during a press conference in Berlin, Germany on Feb. 12, 2019.(Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images); Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller at a hearing in Washington D.C. on Sept. 24, 2020. (Tom Williams-Pool/Getty Images) Energy Secretary, Acting Defense Secretary to Stay Until Jan. 20 Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette both issued statements on Jan. 7 saying that they intend to remain in office until Jan. 20, the day of the presidential inauguration. Miller and Brouillette in separate remarks condemned the violence that took place Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol and interrupted a joint session of Congress to count electoral votes. Violence broke out at the building when a group of protesters breached the building at around 2:15 p.m. and interrupted lawmakers who were at the time debating whether to reject Electoral College votes for Arizona. Yesterdays violence at the Capitol was reprehensible and contrary to the tenets of the United States Constitution, Miller said. I strongly condemn these acts of violence against our democracy. The acting defense secretary said that he will, until Jan. 20, continue to perform his duties in accordance with his oath of office. [I] will execute the time-honored peaceful transition of power to President-elect Biden on January 20, Miller added. An email from Brouillette to his staff obtained by Politico meanwhile condemned the Jan. 6 violence, and states that he doesnt intend to resign. I was pleased President Trump stated that he would support an orderly, peaceful transition of power to President-elect Biden, he wrote. At the Department of Energy, my leadership team and I have been and will remain committed to proving the support and resources needed to ensure a smooth transition within the Department. President Donald Trump (L) and President-elect Joe Biden in file photographs. (AP Photo; Getty Images) To that duty, I will remain fully focused over the next 13 days in my capacity as Secretary, Brouillette said. The presidents end of term has been roiled by a string of resignations. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos submitted her resignation on Jan. 7, blaming Trump for contributing to the civil unrest that unfolded during demonstrations he supported over concerns about election integrity. There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, DeVos wrote in a letter to the president. Thousands of protesters gathered around the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon after his speech outside the White House, during which he asked protesters to peaceful and patriotically make your voices heard at the Capitol and urged Vice President Mike Pence to send contested Electoral College Votes back to state legislatures. President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo) DeVos became the second Cabinet secretary to resign following the acts of violence and lawlessness that transpired as some protesters decided to unlawfully enter the capitol building as the majority of Trump supporters rallied outside. She had been one of the presidents longest-serving Cabinet secretaries. DeVos said her resignation is effective Friday, Jan. 8, calling Wednesdays civil unrest the inflection point for her. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao also submitted her resignation Thursday morning after taking the time to absorb what happened on Jan. 6 and the presidents response to it. Trump has condemned the acts of violence and lawlessness. Born in 1970 as a W-code Mustang of the Boss 302 variety, the car wears both the original paint and the native interior specification. There were a bit over 7,000 302s made back then, but just 575 or so had the Calypso Coral paint sprayed over the body. Of them, fewer still (78 as were told) matched that with a Vermilion Red interior. This one has them both.The Mustang is for sale as part of the Barrett-Jackson auction scheduled to take place in March in Scottsdale, Arizona, and as such, it comes with a verified story.Apparently, the car was shipped as new to the Oklahoma Panhandle region, from where it was sold. It arrived in Texas in 1972, and for a while was used as a road-going car. The owner of the machine then decided the 302 was up for some racing, and entered it in various events in Amarillo.Apparently, the Boss was raced so hard that at one point, the engine blew, and the car had to be parked.Now its back in working order, and it uses the same matching-numbers 302-ci (4.9-liter) engine wrecked while racing. The powerplant, still linked to the stock 4-speed manual transmission, was remade during work on the car that brought the entire overall package back to its former shine.Showing 30,000 miles (48,000 km) on the clock, the Mustang probably cant wait to get all of its four Magnum 500 wheels dirty again, and for a better chance of that happening, it goes with no reserve during the Barrett-Jackson event in March. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED WITHIN THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS DEEMED BY HARROGATE GROUP PLC TO CONSTITUTE INSIDE INFORMATION AS STIPULATED UNDER THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU) NO. 596/2014, AS AMENDED ("MAR"). ON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE ("RIS"), THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. HARROGATE GROUP PLC (formerly Iberian Gold plc; "Harrogate" or the "Company") RESULTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 30THSEPTEMBER 2020 Chairman's Statement The Directors present below the condensed, abridged, unaudited financial statements for the half-year ended 30thSeptember 2020, which show a loss before taxation of (63,559) (30thSeptember 2019: 0)) and cash-at-bank of 1 (30thSeptember 2019: 1). The financial statements which follow have not been reviewed by the Company's statutory auditors. The loss for the half-year was in line with the Directors' expectations at the beginning of the period under review. Trading Performance During the period under review, the Company continued to be operationally dormant. We anticipate commencement of operations as soon as prevailing government restrictions permit. Other Developments Shortly prior to the beginning of the period under review, for the purposes of seeking admission to the Aquis Exchange Growth Market ("AQSE") ("Admission"), the Company appointed Keith, Bayley, Rogers & Co. Limited as AQSE Corporate Adviser. In September 2020, the Company issued 100,000,000 new ordinary vendor consideration shares to the shareholders of Greencore Commercial Limited ("Greencore"), a private company, in a related party transaction in which Greencore acquired the education and training assets of Ngage Training and the Company acquired 100 per cent. of Greencore's issued share capital. This transaction was approved by Harrogate's shareholders in general meeting. Post- Balance Sheet Events i. On 9thNovember 2020, the whole of the Company's issued ordinary share capital was admitted to AQSE. ii. On the same day, the Company was pleased to confirm the appointment (which had been conditional upon Admission) of Sir Aubrey Brocklebank, Bt. as an independent, non-executive Director of the Company. Reginald Brealey, Chairman, 24thDecember 2020 Harrogate Group plc: Condensed Profit and Loss Account for the period ended 30 September 2020 Notes 30-Sept 2020 30-Sept 2019 Operating expenses 1, 4 (63,559) - Operating loss (63,559) - Loss on ordinary activities before taxation (63,559) - _ (63,559) Total comprehensive loss for the period attributable to members 3 (63,559) Nil Harrogate Group plc: Condensed Balance Sheet as at 30 September 2020 Notes 30-Sep 2020 30-Sep 2019 Fixed assets Investment in subsidiary 2 5,000,000 - 5,000,000 - Current assets Cash at bank and in hand 1 1 1 1 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (146,947) (83,388) Net current liabilities (146,946) (83,387) Net assets 4,853,054 (83,387) Capital and reserves Called up share capital 12,785,336 7,785,336 Share premium 6,455,018 6,455,018 Shares to be issued 5,430,557 5,430,557 Profit and loss account (19,817,857) (19,754,298) Shareholders' funds 4,853,054 (83,387) Harrogate Group plc: Condensed Statement of Changes in Equity for the period ended 30 September 2020 Share capital Share premium Shares to be issued Profit and loss account Total At 1 April 2019 7,785,336 6,455,018 5,430,557 (19,754,298) (83,387) Loss for the financial period - - - - - At 30 September 2019 7,785,336 6,455,018 5,430,557 (19,754,298) (83,387) At 1 April 2020 7,785,336 6,455,018 5,430,557 (19,754,298) (83,387) Issue of ordinary shares 5,000,000 - - - 5,000,000 Loss for the financial period - - - (63,559) (63,559) At 30 September 2020 12,785,336 6,455,018 5,430,557 (19,817,857) 4,853,054 Harrogate Group plc: Condensed Cashflow Statement as at 30 September 2020 30-Sept 2020 30-Sept 2019 Cashflows from operating activities Operating loss (63,559) - Movement in working capital: (Decrease)/ increase in trade and other payables 63,559 Nil - Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period 1 1 Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period 1 1 1 1 Notes* to the Condensed, Abridged Financial Statements for the period 1stApril 2020 to 30thSeptember 2020: 1 Financial information The financial information set out above does not constitute statutory accounts within the meaning of Section 434 of the Companies Act 2006. It has been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with the recognition and measurement criteria of the IFRS as adopted by the European Union. The accounting policies used in the preparation of this set of condensed interim financial statements are consistent with those which will be applied to the preparation of the Company's annual financial statements for the year ending 31stMarch 2021. Statutory accounts for a dormant company for the year ended 31stMarch 2020 were approved by the board of directors and delivered to the Registrar of Companies on 9thApril 2020. The accounts were unaudited. The financial information for the period ended 30thSeptember 2020 has not been audited or reviewed. As permitted, the Company has chosen not to adopt IAS34 'Interim Financial Statements' in preparing this financial information. 2 Fixed assets: Investment in subsidiary On 21stSeptember 2020, the Company acquired Greencore Commercial Limited which principally consists of a long-established youth training scheme. The assets were independently valued at 5,000,000. The consideration for the transaction was the issuance of 100,000,000 ordinary shares of 5p each at par. 3 Earnings per share The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on the loss attributable to ordinary shareholders divided by the weighted average of ordinary shares in issue being 78,125,383 during the period. This results in a loss per share of 0.00p (2019 - 0.00p). 4 Directors' remuneration The Directors received no remuneration during the period. * Note 1 applies to the condensed, abridged financial statements above, as a whole. The Directors of Harrogate Group, after due and careful enquiry, accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement. REGULATORY ANNOUNCEMENT ENDS. Enquiries : Keith, Bayley, Rogers & Co. Limited Graham Atthill-Beck: +44 20 7464 4091/ +44 7506 43 41 07 / Graham.Atthill-Beck@kbrl.co.uk Brinsley Holman: +44 20 7464 4098 / Brinsley.Holman@kbrl.co.uk Harrogate Group Public Limited Company Michael Burton: +44 7894 23 36 94/ enquiries@harrogategroupplc.co.uk OnePlus has confirmed the launch of its first smart wearable product, the OnePlus Band in India. After weeks of teasing its fitness tracker, the company will finally make its foray into the smart wearable segment with the OnePlus Band on January 11. The OnePlus Band has been leaked previously and the company has separately confirmed several key features of the fitness band. OnePlus took to its social media handles to reveal that it will launch the OnePlus Band on January 11 at 11 AM. The announcement will take place online where the company will announce its fitness tracker. The rumour mill has been keeping up with the companys plan to launch the OnePlus Band. We have seen several leaks now and OnePlus has confirmed some of those features as well. Introducing the new face of fitness. Staying fit has never been easier. OnePlus Band#SmartEverywear Dropping 11am IST | 11th January Get notified: https://t.co/tyxlW6cRmE pic.twitter.com/Opuo3E2lTc OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) January 8, 2021 The launch date of January 11 was previously tipped in a leak and it is also expected to be priced around Rs 2,499 in India. The OnePlus Band could feature a 1.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen with 5ATM certification making it resistant to dust and water. The fitness band is expected to arrive in three colours, Black, Navy and Tangerine Gray and weighs 22.6 grams. It is also equipped with SpO2 blood-oxygen saturation monitor, optical heart rate sensor and more. The OnePlus Band will offer 14-day battery life from its 100mAh battery. The companion app for the OnePlus Band is called OnePlus Health and it was recently released on the Play Store. The app will serve as the dashboard for all OnePlus wearables going forward and is expected to let users keep a track of their sleep, heart rate and fitness along with providing reports based on the analysis. OnePlus is also working on a smartwatch powered by Googles WearOS and it is tipped to launch in early 2021. We expect the OnePlus smartwatch to make an appearance alongside the OnePlus 9 series that is rumoured to launch by mid-March. The company could also tease the smartwatch during the launch of OnePlus Band next week. A 20-year-old criminal with links to the gangs involved in serious organised criminality in Drogheda is due to be sentenced next month in a landmark money mule case. Sean Everitt from Hill View in the Co Louth town is already serving sentences for drug dealing and aggravated burglary but he can expect more jail time after he admitted having 10,000 in his bank account which was the proceeds of crime. It is understood he was to be paid about 1,000 for the use of his bank account which he hoped would go towards paying off a drugs debt to one of the violent gangs involved in the deadly Drogheda feud. However, Everitt was busted after he unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw the cash from a bank in August, 2019, in an incident which was caught on CCTV. Sources say that the bank had the money locked and provided the information to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) who had set up a major investigation codenamed Operation Ransom. This investigation began after over 200 customers of an Irish bank became victims of a major 2.7 million phishing scam in which they provided their bank details after receiving a bogus text message that led to their bank accounts being cleared out. The international crime gang behind the massive theft then used money mules such as Everitt who allowed their bank accounts be used by the crime organisation to withdraw and deposit money stolen from other accounts. GNECB detectives identified 56 money mules across the country and 39 of these people have now been arrested. Everitt was the first person to be arrested as part of Operation Ransom when fraud squad detectives brought him from Cloverhill Prison for questioning in October, 2019. At that stage, he was on remand in the jail on charges of possession of cocaine totalling 16,000 and cannabis resin worth 19,000. On November 16 last, Everitt was handed a four year jail sentence for this offence at Drogheda Circuit Court and on the same date he was also given an additional four year term for his role in an horrific aggravated burglary in which a wheel brace was used to terrorise a family in Tullagh, Co Louth in September, 2019. He will be sentenced next month at Dublin Circuit Court for possession of 10,000 believed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct after he pleaded guilty at a court sitting in December. A senior source said that Everitt is not typical of most young people who act as money mules, the vast majority who are teenagers without any previous convictions. He got involved through pure criminality but in many other cases students who have never had any involvement in crime become money mules, the source explained. The organised crime gang use social media particularly Snapchat to find people who will allow their bank accounts be used to launder money and they often target students who receive very little reward for letting their bank accounts be used once they get involved they lose complete control of their accounts, the source explained. The average age of people arrested as part of Operation Ransom is 19 and among the suspects detained as part of the massive investigation is a 20-year-old Clondalkin man who had 44,000 in his bank account. Investigations also established that in Limerick, a young man used the account of his 15-year-old brother to launder a large amount of money leading to the arrest of the teenager. Of the 56 people arrested so far, at least 19 are Irish nationals with the rest being Romanian, Nigerian, Pakistani and Lithuanian nationals. GNECB have identified hotspots for money mules in Kildare, Limerick, Mallow and Galway and anywhere where there are third level colleges across the country. Operation Ransom is just one of around half a dozen different investigations into money mules and the fraud squad have identified an additional 600 suspects across the country in these probes with many more arrests expected this year. Last September gardai and the banks warned of an increase in the crime, with the industry estimating that more than 12m has been laundered using money mules in the first nine months of last year. 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 Hilaria Baldwin, second wife of actor Alec Baldwin, is not quite who we thought she was. It was a niche piece of gossip that, unless you followed a particular cohort of celebrities on social media over that hazy period around Christmas and New Year, you might have missed, or dismissed as facile. The problem was, with so many people in lockdown around the globe with nothing to do beyond scrolling their phones, it became a thing. A thing so big, Hilaria was eventually interviewed by The New York Times about it. Hilaria and Alec Baldwin at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in January 2019. Credit:Getty In case you werent looking at your phone, a quick recap: 36-year-old Hilaria has, for many years, branded herself as Spanish. She and Alec, currently residing in the Hamptons, have five kids together under age eight, all with Spanish names (Romeo, Eduardo, for example). She's bilingual and has appeared in interviews speaking with a Spanish accent, and in a now-viral moment, once apparently forgot the English word for "cucumber". She posts in Spanish and about her love of flamenco and paella; a talent agency bio said she was born in Mallorca; she has suggested she moved to New York from Spain at 19; and many references to her being Spanish went uncorrected. But a furore was sparked by a tweet on December 21 that read: "You have to admire Hilaria Baldwins commitment to her decade long grift where she impersonates a Spanish person." It emerged that Hilaria is in fact Hillary Thomas, an American born in Boston to American parents. Her ties to Spain? She would holiday in the country growing up, her parents moved there in 2011. Critics have called her behaviour cultural appropriation. Hilaria denies this and says she's been misrepresented. But the mirth over what many perceive as a "gotcha" moment and the outrage over her omissions have yet to die down. A father has spoken of his terror after his seven-month-old son was rushed into hospital gasping for breath with Covid-19 after catching it from him and his partner. The crisis began between Christmas and New Year when Bonnie Saunders, a nurse at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen, Wales, developed coronavirus symptoms. She had recently returned to work following maternity leave after the birth of her son Jack last year. Aware of the significance of her symptoms, she arranged to have a Covid-19 test at the local testing station in the Nantyci area, which returned positive. A few days later her fiance Alan James started to get similar symptoms, and he too then tested positive. Mr James, a lecturer at Coleg Sir Gar who lives in Carmarthen, thought everything would be fine and that baby Jack would not contract the virus, or at least if he did, he would be able to bounce back from it quickly. Children seem to be less at risk of developing severe coronavirus symptoms and dying from the disease, due to differences between the bodies and immune systems of youngsters and adults, research indicates. But on January 2, Jack fell ill, developing a fever and eventually starting to wheeze heavily, really struggling to breathe and gasping for air, Mr James said. Alan James and Bonnie Saunders's son Jack was rushed to hospital after he caught coronavirus and his condition deteriorated suddenly The crisis began between Christmas and New Year when Bonnie Saunders, a nurse at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen, Wales, developed coronavirus symptoms On January 2, Jack fell ill, developing a fever and eventually starting to wheeze heavily, really struggling to breathe and gasping for air, Mr James said Mr James said: 'It was obvious before he was tested that it was the virus,' said Mr James. 'His temperature was raging and he had a cough, and obviously he had been around the both of us who had tested positive. We arranged for him to be tested and it came back positive. 'The usual painkiller medicines were doing the trick in terms of keeping his temperature OK and his behaviour and general mood was quite normal so we kept him at home. 'But then on Monday night he started to wheeze heavily and he was really struggling to breathe. He was gasping for air. 'We rung the ambulance and they came out and took him to hospital. Why children are less affected by Covid-19 Children are less at risk of developing severe Covid symptoms and dying from the disease due to a host of differences between the bodies and immune systems of youngsters and adults, a study shows. Australian researchers have identified several specific physiological differences which may explain why Covid-19 is rarely severe or fatal in children. These include strong, undamaged cells in their blood vessels which prevent inflammation and clotting; elevated levels of vitamin D; an immune system that is both fast acting and well-oiled; and fewer ACE2 receptors, which the coronavirus uses to infect cells. Melbourne-based researchers at Melbourne Children's Research Institute reviewed all currently available research on the topic and analysed the results to unravel the reasons for age-related differences in Covid-19 severity and symptoms. One key finding was that in many adults with severe Covid-19, so-called endothelial cells which line the heart and blood vessels are already damaged. Patients with already damaged endothelial cells are known to be at higher risk of blood clots, strokes and heart attacks. SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes Covid-19, also infects these cells and causes inflammation. Adults also have a 'higher density and increased affinity' of ACE2, the receptor on the surface of cells which the virus hijacks and uses to infiltrate cells, the researchers write. ACE2 becomes more prevalent as children grow up, which may explain why older children are more likely to develop symptoms than toddlers. Another contributing factor to the relative immunity of children is the fact they often have been recently vaccinated for other diseases, including with MMR. This can confer 'off-target' protective benefits which effectively help train the immune system and keep it firing on all cylinders. Children are also more likely to be infected with other pathogens, catching colds and picking up germs in the playground. This can help build a strong natural immune system in a process dubbed 'trained immunity', the researchers say. Advertisement 'We don't live that far from the hospital but because all three of us had Covid, and because of the seriousness of Jack's situation, we phoned 999. 'I had never rung 999 before, and it's not a nice experience because you're dealing with a real emergency - I found that it's really difficult to concentrate when you're panicking.' Jack was put in the ambulance and his mother Bonnie was allowed to go with him to hospital, where he was treated with steroids and given oxygen to help him breathe. He was kept in all day and allowed home when his condition improved on Tuesday night. Mr James said his son was now 'on the mend' but his recovery might take some time, along with his own. His partner's recuperation has been quicker, perhaps owing to the fact that she has already received the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. 'Bonnie, as part of her job, was given the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine a few weeks ago, and she is due to have the second dose in due course. 'So, obviously, she caught coronavirus after being vaccinated but her symptoms were far milder than mine and Jack's. Whether that's the reason, I don't know. 'He's on the mend but it's quite slow. It's not like he has a cold as such, and he's not sniffling, he's just very lethargic and not himself, and he has a throaty cough. As for me, it's been a week since I became ill and I'm still rough now. 'I consider myself to be reasonably fit and I don't get ill often, but this has really knocked me back. I remember having the flu a few years ago but this is different. It hits you in the chest and just leaves you with no energy.' He added: 'I thought he would be OK because you don't often hear of young children having it, or becoming ill with it, so the message always seems to be that young people don't really get affected by coronavirus. 'Because of what I had read I was more concerned about Bonnie or myself getting it, so it was really shocking to see how it took hold of Jack and just how rapidly he went down with it. 'It just happened really quickly - the coughing, the temperature, and then the wheezing and the struggling to breathe. 'I think it's important to raise awareness that babies do get coronavirus and can become seriously ill with it. Our older children have been fine, they haven't had any symptoms at all. 'Maybe that's because they're around us less, they spend time in their rooms or outside, whereas a baby is at your side or in your arms all day. 'As for poor Jack, he hasn't been ill at all since he was born; he's never had a cough, not even a sniffle, so the first thing he's ever caught has been Covid-19.' He said the shock and terror of waiting for the paramedics to arrive as your baby gasped for breath continued to linger. 'It was hell,' said Mr James. 'It was certainly the scariest thing I've experienced.' Businesses have been left 'shell-shocked' after Annastacia Palaszczuk locked down Brisbane due to one new case of Covid-19. The premier ordered 2.5million Greater Brisbane residents to stay at home and businesses to close down for three days after a quarantine hotel cleaner caught the highly contagious UK strain of Covid-19 from a returned traveller. Chief Health officer Dr Jeanette Young said the decision was taken to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed even though there is not a single person in Australia in intensive care with Covid. Residents in Brisbane rushed to the shops to stock up ahead of a weekend in lock down LNP Senator Gerard Rennick was left furious by the dramatic decision Queensland tourism businesses were surprised by the drastic move on Friday morning but are hopeful the lockdown will be short. 'We are just all completely shell-shocked,' said Daniel Gschwind, Chief Executive of the Queensland Tourism Industry Council. Mr Gschwind told Daily Mail Australia the situation is devastating for tourism companies who are struggling to stay afloat with state borders closed and overseas visitors expected to be locked out until at least October. 'The entire nation is in a state of uncertainty, and certainly from a consumer point of view in relation to tourism it's not a great back-drop for anyone to make a booking. 'There will be very few people willing to put their money into a booking anywhere, I suspect,' he said. Residents line up outside a 24-hour COVID testing clinic south of Brisbane on Friday But despite his shock, Mr Gschwind said he backed the lockdown due to the uncertainty over the new strain which is up to 70 per cent more infectious. 'If we can contain it in these three days then it may be worth it,' he said. 'There's no point arguing the toss for us. The response is supported in the population here. It is dramatic but maybe that's what it takes.' Mr Gschwind said he had calls from the deputy premier, the treasurer and the tourism minister who told him him they hoped the lockdown would only last three days. 'They're certainly hopeful but the clear message was we really can't tell yet and it very much depends on what the testing and tracing reveals over the next three days,' he said. LNP Senator Gerard Rennick was left furious by the dramatic decision. Brisbane residents lined up for Woolworths ahead of lockdown kicking in at 6pm He Tweeted: 'The Premier has lost the plot. One case and she locks down Brisbane for three days. How pathetic. NSW has successfully managed their latest Covid outbreak with many more cases and no deaths. Typical Labor-command and control at every opportunity.' However, Scott Morrison said the thee-day lockdown was a 'wise decision' even though there were no new cases recorded on Friday. The AHPPC had recommended the shut down due to the infectiousness of the new strain. Australian Medical Association backs lockdown in statement 'The appearance of the new UK strain of COVID-19 in Queensland shows the need to act quickly to head off any further outbreaks. 'This UK strain appears to be a greater risk of breaking out of hotel quarantine, and then spreading quickly to outrun and overwhelm our last lines of defence - physical distancing and testing and tracing. 'It must be stopped before it enters the community, and we commend the Queensland Government for taking strong, fast action, and National Cabinet for backing those actions. 'The three-day lockdown across Brisbane and other south-east Queensland regions may not be popular. Nor may the stricter quarantine rules, and the testing of passengers before they board a plane to Australia. 'But we have seen in the past that decisive action, taken early, is the best way to stop this wicked enemy.' AMA president Dr Omar Khorshid Advertisement The lockdown applies to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands. Residents will be required to stay at home from 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Monday. 'Think of it as a long weekend at home. We need to do this. I've accepted the strong advice from Dr Young,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown.' Residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: essential shopping, exercise in the local neighbourhood, healthcare reasons or for work. The mutated strain is believed to be up to 70 per cent more infectious than normal Covid-19. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday residents will also have to wear face masks as part of the new measures There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane with lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands 'Please, everybody, let's be in this together, let's stay at home, look at it as a long weekend at home with your family and friends,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'It will be tough on everyone for these three days. I think everybody in Queensland, especially the Greater Brisbane area, knows what we are seeing in the UK and other places around the world is high rates of infection from this particular strain. 'We do not want to see that happening here in our great state and that is why we are taking those strong actions today.' Queensland reported no new locally transmitted cases and nine new cases in hotel quarantine on Friday. Aged care homes across greater Brisbane were also sent into lockdown with visitors barred from visiting facilities in the Metro North, Metro South and West Morton heath regions. Hospitals, prisons and disability accommodation in the same areas are also banned from accepting visitors. The new strain causing a sharp rise in cases in England and prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to order a national lockdown until at least mid-February. The UK reported more than 60,000 new confirmed cases in 24 hours for the second day in a row on Wednesday. Queensland's chief health officer Dr Jeanette Young said health authorities were acting fast to trace down anyone who had come into contact with the cleaner. The infected cleaner, a woman in her 20s who lives in Algester, had been working at the Hotel Grand Chancellor at Spring Hill (pictured), with her most recent shift on January 2 'We need to find every single case now,' Dr Young said. 'We need to find every person who might have had contact with that lady now, find them find them, and get them into quarantine. That's what we've got to do over the next three days.' The hotel cleaner's infection ends almost four months of zero locally acquired cases in Queensland. 'Queensland has done a great job containing this virus in our community for 113 days. Sadly, today we do have a locally acquired case,' Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said on Thursday morning. The positive case, a woman in her 20s, was infectious from January 2 before testing positive after showing symptoms on Wednesday. The cleaner visited the Calamvale North Woolworths (pictured) between 11am and noon on January 3 while infected Anyone with symptoms of coronavirus is urged to get tested immediately. Contact tracers are tracking the movements of the cleaner, who worked at the hotel Grand Chancellor on January 2. 'This cleaner did everything right,' Ms Palaszczuk said earlier on Thursday. 'She developed the symptoms Wednesday and was tested yesterday. 'We need to ensure that there is no community spread. Once again, please, if you're sick, get tested.' The woman from Algester travelled on the public rail network to and from Brisbane's inner city and southside. Health authorities say she visited several locations while potentially infectious. The woman travelled on a train from Altandi station to Roma Street station at 7am on January 2, then returned on the 4pm service the same day. She also visited Woolworths at the Calamvale Central Shopping Centre from 11am to 12pm on Sunday 3 January. She was also at Coles in Sunnybank Hills for 30 minutes from 7.30am on Tuesday 5 January. The UK variant of Covid entered Queensland via a returned traveller at Brisbane Airport and has been identified in quarantine throughout the nation. This is the first time it has leaked from hotel quarantine She was also a newsagent at Sunnybank Hills Shopping Town from 8am to 8.15am on the same day. 'It's important that people if they have any symptoms at all come forward and get tested,' Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said. Residents of Algester, Sunnybank Hills and Calamvale who have symptoms of the infection are especially urged to get tested as soon as possible. The Sunshine State now has 20 active COVID-19 cases and the new positive case comes from 15,000 tests over the previous 24-hour period. Ms Palaszczuk has also announced travellers coming from Greater Sydney will not be allowed into Queensland until at least the end of January. 'I know this is very disappointing for people during this time, but we are concerned still about Greater Sydney. We have a watching brief as well on Victoria,' she said. 'We'll be having a national cabinet meeting tomorrow. I'll get further updates there.' The border closure will be reviewed at the end of the month. He acknowledging in a video released on Thursday evening that a "new administration" would be sworn in on January 20 and vowed to ensure a "smooth transition of power. As Democratic leaders demanded he is ousted, Mr Trump came closer to a formal concession. They forced senators and members of the House of Representatives to evacuate as they smashed windows and looted. After a rally where Mr Trump exhorted his supporters to "fight" to overturn the November 3 election he lost, hundreds of them stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. A woman demonstrator, Ashli Babbitt, was fatally shot by authorities , and three people died from medical emergencies. Mr Trump, who initially praised his supporters, later condemned the violence , saying the rioters had defiled the seat of American democracy and must be held accountable. Metropolitan homicide officials will investigate the death of Mr Sicknick, who joined the Capitol Police in 2008, along with the Capitol force and its federal partners. President Donald Trump condemns Capitol riot and concedes election to Joe Biden Wednesday's breach of the legislative building came as lawmakers were certifying the victory of President-elect Joe Biden. It brings the death toll from the riot to five. He collapsed when he returned to his divisional office and was taken to hospital, where he died from his injuries, they added. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick was injured while confronting protesters , the force said in statement. police officer has died after being injured as Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building . MORE ABOUT A man has been arrested in connection with the alleged importation of liquid ecstasy worth $675,000 allegedly hidden in wine bottles. The illegal drugs allegedly arrived on Christmas Day by air freight from the United Kingdom. Australian Border Force officers noticed inconsistencies in a delivery and inspected a package, which was declared as containing wine bottles. In it they found bottles containing 4.5kg of clear liquid. A scan (pictured) showing the contents of six bottles confiscated by ABF officers on Christmas Day which they allege contain $675,000 worth of liquid ecstasy One of the bottles confiscated by ABF officers and used in Operation Strike Force Dices (pictured) 'The liquid was tested and returned a presumptive positive result for MDMA, which has an estimated potential street value of $675,000,' New South Wales Police said. Redfern Regional Enforcement Squad (RES) and Strike Force Dices seized the package and as part of their investigation 'conducted a controlled delivery'. Police then arrested a 63-year-old Bankstown man after stopping his vehicle on Lang Road, in Moore Park on Thursday morning. He was charged with the alleged possession of a commercial quantity of an unlawful import (border controlled drug). Officers then executed search warrants at a restaurant at Woollahra and a Bankstown home, seizing more than $25,800 cash and electronic devices, which will undergo examination. The man was refused bail and was scheduled to appear at Parramatta Local Court on Friday. Strike Force Dices investigations are continuing. Boeing agreed to pay more than $2.5 billion in a legal settlement with the Justice Department stemming from the 737 Max debacle, the government said on Thursday. The agreement resolves a criminal charge that Boeing conspired to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration, which regulates the company and evaluates its planes. With less than two weeks left in the Trump administration, the agreement takes the question of how a Biden Justice Department would view a settlement off the table. President Trump had repeatedly discussed the importance of Boeing to the economy, even going so far last year to say he favored a bailout for the company. Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla and SpaceX, is now the richest person in the world. An increase in Teslas share price on Thursday pushed Mr. Musk past Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a ranking of the worlds 500 wealthiest people. Mr. Musks net worth was $195 billion by the end of trading on Thursday, $10 billion more than that of Mr. Bezoss. Mr. Musks wealth has increased by more than $150 billion over the past 12 months, thanks to a rally in Teslas share price, which surged 743 percent in 2020. The carmakers shares rose nearly 8 percent on Thursday. Wayfair, the furniture and home goods e-commerce business, said on Thursday that all of its U.S. employees would be paid at least $15 an hour. The increase, which took effect on Sunday, applies to full-time, part-time and seasonal employees. More than 40 percent of Wayfairs hourly workers across its U.S. supply chain and customer service operations received a pay bump. 1. Calls for President Trumps removal are growing. Shock, fury and horror have been washing over the country in the day since the president incited a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol. Demands for repercussions are multiplying. Among those who want Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to wrest the power of the presidency from Mr. Trump are Congresss top Democrats, Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi; a Republican representative, Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; and John Kelly, a former chief of staff to Mr. Trump. Ms. Pelosi threatened to start impeachment proceedings if Mr. Pence did not act. The Justice Department said that it would not rule out pursuing charges against Mr. Trump. We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building, said the U.S. attorney in Washington. And Joe Biden picked Judge Merrick Garland to be the next attorney general. EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting a two-day business and networking conference March 9-10, featuring some of the states most prominent industry leaders. Early-bird registration is open. Tickets are limited. Lawmakers have moved forward with a plan to establish low fines and warnings for underage marijuana use in an attempt to compromise with Gov. Phil Murphy on legalizing weed in New Jersey. Two legislative committees Thursday approved a bill (A5211) that seeks to address issues in bills to legalize and set a market for marijuana (A21) and decriminalize weed (A1897). The votes by the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee set up both bills for full floor votes in the Senate and Assembly Monday. If passed, they go back to Murphys desk to become law. The governors office did not immediately return a call seeking comment on whether Murphy will accept the latest bill. Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, who sponsored the legalization bill, said he expects other issues could arise with the complexities of regulating the new marijuana industry, but hopes they come after the bill is signed and that the delays end here. There are more issues that will come up, he said. No doubt in my mind. Lawmakers passed final versions of the bills in mid-December, expecting Murphy to sign them before the new year. While voters overwhelmingly said yes to legalizing marijuana in the 2020 election, the ballot question only allowed for those over 21 to legally purchase it. The governor announced last week that he would not sign the bills until a discrepancy on underage penalties was fixed. He recommended fining those under 21 years old $250 for possessing one ounce of marijuana and $500 for possessing more. Lawmakers did not want to see fines for juveniles. On Tuesday, the Assembly instead introduced a bill that would levy fines on those ages 18 to 20, but would subject those under 18 to juveniles delinquencies, like community service or drug programs. But during Thursdays hearing, the committee advanced a bill that lowers even those penalties. Under this version, people ages 18 to 20 who possess one ounce of marijuana or less would see fines of $50 to $250, and those younger would face curbside warnings and or stationhouse adjustments, according to the amendments. Those penalties are less severe than those for underage drinking, but stricter than sanctions for under 21 tobacco use. A curbside warning involves a police officer counseling the person about their conduct, but not taking further action against them, according to the bill. The stationhouse adjustments would allow law enforcement to resolve issues with a person under the age of 18 without going forward with formal court proceedings, but instead with a signed agreement and conditions to attend drug education programs. Fines for those 18 to 20 would increase to $100 to $500 if the person had more than one ounce of marijuana. Chris Goldstein of NORML, a cannabis activism group, said he liked the lowered fines, but still found the higher range concerning. But he also said he worries about a piece that would allow courts to revoke licenses of those under 21 found sitting in a car with marijuana for up to six months. That, and another part that could allow those under 18 to face drug treatment for possessing marijuana, are harsher than the original decriminalization bill, he said. Scutari clarified that the drug treatment would be optional, but echoed the concerns about driving privileges. I absolutely agree with you, he said. You should know that, before this bill is passed you could get your license suspended for walking down the street with marijuana. Well work on that. Joe Johnson, an ACLU-NJ policy attorney, said during the hearing Thursday morning he had planned to oppose the cleanup bill, but found the amendments addressed some of the organizations concerns. The ACLU, he said, wants to see marijuana treated like tobacco, where the seller is punished instead of the user. Assemblyman Herb Conaway, D-Burlington, said he also saw value in a health-based approach to preventing underage use, like smoking. But he said he supported the bill, to ensure that we at least move closer in a more reasonable approach. Editors note: This story has been updated to change the total possession amounts that would trigger fines, which also changed as a result of amendments made to the bill. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Vietnam, Cambodia sign 2021 defense cooperation plan Vietnamese Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Samdech Picheysena Tea Banh have signed a defense cooperation plan for 2021. Minister of National Defense Ngo Xuan Lich hosts welcome ceremony for Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense Samdech Picheysena Tea Banh at the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense in Ha Noi on December 20, 2019 The signing ceremony was held digitally as part of the pairs virtual talks on January 8. At the talks, both sides spoke highly of the outcomes of bilateral defense cooperation in 2020 despite numerous difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The majority of contents of last years cooperation plan realized effectively, especially in such areas like training, mutual assistance in COVID-19 response, and collaboration between border guard forces, and search for and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese volunteer soldiers and experts who laid down their lives in Cambodia. Lich appreciated Cambodias support for and contributions to the events, especially the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM) and ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense as the ASEAN 2020 Chair. He congratulated the Government of Cambodia on effective management of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Tea Banh congratulated Viet Nam on outstanding performance as the ASEAN 2020 Chair . Regarding future cooperation orientations, both sides agreed to continue implementation of the Protocol for 2020-2024 period and the 2021 cooperation plan, with a focus on accelerating communication on the bilateral traditional friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation; improving efficiency of collaboration mechanisms, especially the Defense Policy Dialogue. The two countries will step up all-level delegation exchanges, intensify cooperation in personnel training and cooperation and coordination in combatting cross-border crime and drug smuggling. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Photo: The Canadian Press The Canadian economy posted its first monthly loss of jobs since April in December amid tightened public health restrictions to slow a resurgence in the pandemic. Statistics Canada said Friday the economy lost 63,000 jobs while the unemployment rate edged up to 8.6 per cent compared with 8.5 per cent in November. The job losses ended a streak of monthly job gains that began in May, when initial restrictions put in place to slow the spread of the pandemic began to ease. Full-time employment in December rose by 36,500, but there was a loss of 99,000 part-time jobs. In British Columbia, the unemployment rate was pegged at 7.2 per cent, up from 7.1 per cent the previous month. In Kelowna, it was 4.5 per cent, down from 4.7 per cent. Statistics Canada said that total hours worked fell for the first time since April as they declined 0.3 per cent in December. Employment fell in industries most directly affected by the new and continuing public health measures. The accommodation and food services industry lost 56,700 jobs for the month, while the "other services" category, which includes hair salons, laundry services and other areas affected by public health measures, lost 30,800. The information, culture and recreation group lost 18,800. The number of jobs in the services-producing side of the economy fell for the first time since April as it lost a total of 74,000 in December. The goods-producing sector gained 11,300 jobs. Statistics Canada said its report was a snapshot of the labour market conditions as of the week of Dec. 6 to 12. It noted that additional public health measures were put in place in many provinces after that period and would likely to be reflected in its January labour force survey results. Financial data firm Refinitiv says economists on average had expected the report to show a loss of 27,500 jobs for December. The unemployment rate was expected to be 8.6 per cent. Thousands of Donald Trump supporters storm the United States Capitol building following a (Getty Images)" /> Condemning the violent rioters who stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, acting attorney general Jeffrey Rosen in a statement assured that those responsible for the attack would "face the full consequences of their actions under the law." The protesters are liable to be punished with up to 10 years in prison for injury of federal property," under the executive order signed by President Donald Trump during the Black Lives Matter anti-racism protests in July 2020. "I just had the privilege of signing a very strong Executive Order protecting American Monuments, Memorials, and Statues - and combatting recent Criminal Violence," Mr Trump wrote on Twitter on 26 June, after people took to the streets in the wake of George Floyds murder. "Long prison terms for these lawless acts against our Great Country!" Mr Rosen, in the statement, did not mention a specific punishment or refer to the executive order. "Our criminal prosecutors have been working throughout the night with special agents and investigators from the US Capitol Police, FBI, ATF, Metropolitan Police Department and the public to gather the evidence, identify perpetrators and charge federal crimes where warranted," he said. "Some participants in yesterdays violence will be charged today, and we will continue to methodically assess evidence, charge crimes and make arrests in the coming days and weeks to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law," Mr Rosen continued. The FBI has sought assistance from the general public in identifying individuals involved in instigating the violence and has requested witnesses to share pictures, photos and videos on its website. A mob of thousands of pro-Trump rioters attacked the Capitol Hill perimeter shortly after Mr Trump told them, as he repeated his unsubstantiated claims of voters fraud: We're going to walk down to the Capitol. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong. Story continues At least five people died during the riots, including a police officer who died in hospital late on Thursday. Members of Congress from across the ideological spectrum have demanded the removal of Mr Trump from the Oval Office in the wake of the attack. It was not until after the violence was well underway that Mr Trump told his supporters to respect the law, while falling short of asking them to leave the premises. I am asking for everyone at the US Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you! he tweeted on Wednesday evening. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. As the situation worsened further, he followed up the tweet by posting a short video on Twitter where he asked the rioters to go home, but told the mob: We love you. You're very special. Social media users were quick to highlight the contrast in his messaging as they dug up his support for the executive order during the Black Lives Matter protests. Television producer Kyle Griffin posted a screenshot of Mr Trumps tweet in July, and wrote: Flashback: July 27. Trump called for protesters who damaged federal buildings to get a minimum of 10 years in prison. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Comedy writer Scott Zabielski joked: Can't wait to see this enforced equally and author George Papadopoulos added: There is ALWAYS a tweet! Read More Michelle Obama on the Capitol Hill riots: I hurt for our country No regrets from Trump supporters after Capitol siege Trump calls for healing and reconciliation after Capitol riots White House resignations as Republicans turn on president Capitol riots: Officer on life-support after violence in DC The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 116,469. Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko said 438 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed in the city in the past 24 hours as of January 8, 2021. "In the past day, another 438 residents of Kyiv tested positive for the coronavirus, including 19 healthcare workers. There were 11 fatalities," Klitschko reported via Telegram on Friday. "As of today, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the city is 116,469." According to the city mayor, 238 women aged 20 to 91 and 179 men aged 20 to 88 are among those infected. The new cases include eight girls aged eight to 17 years and 13 boys aged one to 17 years. Klitschko said 42 new patients had been hospitalized, while the rest were self-isolating, undergoing treatment at home under medical supervision. Read alsoKyiv to close all festive locations amid lockdownHe added that 126 people had recovered in the past day. In total, 42,336 Kyiv residents have already tackled the coronavirus. The highest number of the new cases in Kyiv was registered in Darnytsky district (131), Obolonsky district (73), and Desniansky district (58). The death toll in the city stands at 2,052. Coronavirus in Ukraine: Latest developments Ukraine said 5,676 new active COVID-19 cases had been confirmed across the country in the past 24 hours as of January 8, 2021. The total number of confirmed cases grew to 1,105,169. Reporting by UNIAN Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman says he is taking a serious look at another run for the U.S. Senate in 2022, an ambition he plans to share with supporters on Friday. The 2022 cycle in Pennsylvania is going to be one of the most, if not the most, important races, Fetterman told The Inquirer in a brief interview Thursday. Pennsylvanias open-seat Senate race is already considered one of the most competitive in the country and will help determine which party controls the chamber after the midterm elections. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Lehigh Valley Republican, announced in October that he wont seek a third term or run for governor in 2022. A stampede of candidates in both parties are expected to run. Fetterman, who lost a 2016 Democratic Senate primary, would bring a nationally known political brand and a social-media-savvy approach to governing and campaigning. His public profile has been elevated considerably over the last couple months as he emerged as a prominent defender of Pennsylvanias election results, with frequent appearances on national TV. You already know exactly where I stand, Fetterman plans to tell supporters in an email Friday. I havent had to evolve on key issues, because Ive always said what I believe is true and have been saying the same things for 20 years. READ MORE: Pat Toomey's retirement makes the 2022 elections in Pennsylvania a total free-for-all The race will draw national interest as a referendum on President-elect Joe Bidens administration, with the Senate majority in the balance. The chamber will soon be evenly split with 50 Democrats and 50 Republicans following Democratic wins in Georgia, giving Democrats an effective majority with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris able to cast tie-breaking votes. A candidate will likely need to raise at least tens of millions of dollars to win. The most expensive Senate races in 2020 neared or topped $200 million in total spending each, according to the website OpenSecrets. Fetterman was in the national spotlight this week following a dispute during the opening session of the state Senate as Republicans who control the chamber refused to seat a Democrat who narrowly won reelection because his challenger is fighting the results in federal court. Fetterman loudly protested, prompting Republicans to remove the lieutenant governor as the chambers presiding officer. He has made regular appearances on national cable news and radio networks criticizing President Donald Trumps false claims of widespread voter fraud in Pennsylvanias election and the national rollout of vaccines to combat the coronavirus pandemic. READ MORE: Pa. GOP senators refused to seat a Democrat and removed Lt. Gov. Fetterman from presiding He repeatedly mocked on Twitter and on television a promise Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a Republican, made two days after the November election to pay up to $1 million for evidence of voter fraud. Fetterman offered up three Trump supporters from Pennsylvania accused of attempting to vote for dead relatives and demanded that Patrick, whom he kept calling my dude, pay the state $3 million. His announcement will head off what might have been a volatile Democratic gubernatorial primary against state Attorney General Josh Shapiro. Shapiro, who just won a second term, is widely seen as the front-runner for his partys 2022 nomination for governor. Several Republicans and Democrats are jockeying for position in both races. Among the Republicans seen as possible candidates for statewide office are U.S. Reps. Dan Meuser, Guy Reschenthaler, Glenn Thompson, and Lloyd Smucker, former U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello, former gubernatorial candidate Paul Mango, State Sens. Camera Bartolotta and Doug Mastriano, U.S. Attorney Bill McSwain, and Jeff Bartos, who ran for lieutenant governor in 2018. Among the Democrats: U.S. Reps. Brendan Boyle and Conor Lamb, State Sen. Sharif Street, Montgomery County Commission Chair Valerie Arkoosh, and state Treasurer Joe Torsella, who just lost a bid for a second term. READ MORE: A Pa. Republican gets a political boost from pushing Trumps false election claims with 2022 in sight Fettermans ascent in statewide politics has been remarkable for its speed. Five years ago, he was the mayor of Braddock, an economically blighted former steel mill borough home to 2,100 residents, eight miles down-river from Pittsburgh. He started drawing attention from national media outlets in that post. At 6-foot-8, with several tattoos on each arm and a penchant for wearing work shirts and pants rather than suits, his approach to politics as been atypical in the state His first Senate campaign helped build a loyal base of supporters from around the country, despite a loss in the Democratic primary to Katie McGinty, who went on to lose to Toomey. Fetterman returned to the fray in 2017 with an unconventional approach, aiming to knock then-Lt. Gov. Mike Stack III off the Democratic ticket as Gov. Tom Wolf ran for a second term in 2018. Wolf, no fan of Stacks, stayed neutral in that undercard bout but was widely perceived as leaning Fettermans way. He easily won a five-way primary Stack finished fourth and won the general election with Wolf. In Harrisburg, they quickly adopted roles as a political odd couple, with the professorial Wolf helping the gargantuan Fetterman shop for a suit and tie since his duties would involve presiding over the Senate which has a dress code. Fetterman used his new post, often an afterthought in state government, to pursue a progressive policy agenda. He staged a statewide listening tour to discuss the legalization of marijuana and then declared his support for it, citing the potential economic benefits to the state and the impact it could have in criminal justice reform. He also used his post as chairperson of the states Board of Pardons to push for expanded use of clemency in criminal cases, a position that put him at loggerheads with Shapiro, the states top law enforcement officer, who also sits on the board. Shapiro is seen as having Wolfs backing if he runs for governor as expected. Gov. Tom Wolf stopped short on Friday of calling for Franklin County Republican Sen. Doug Mastrianos resignation for his participation at a protest rally to support President Donald Trump that led to Wednesdays attack on the U.S. Capitol . At a virtual news conference on Friday, the governor said he was upset Mastriano was there and agreed that the senator should be held accountable and I think the voters should do that. Wolf said whether Mastriano resigns is the senators decision. Im not calling for it yet, the governor said. I have a pretty good idea how we came to this. https://t.co/DUCv4Mr0TE Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) January 8, 2021 Wolf began the news conference about changes to the states COVID-19 vaccination plan by condemning the assault on the United States Capitol and all those who played a part in inciting that violent attempted coup. He went on to criticize Republican politicians who have willfully, and purposefully spread conspiracy theories and disinformation not misinformation disinformation, all of which undermines our democracy. Wolf went on to say, They lied to their constituents. They misled the public about the safety and security of our electoral process and this behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Mastriano, who was sworn in on Tuesday to his first full four-year Senate term, has been a strong Trump supporter. He traveled to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday as well as helped to organize a bus trip for others to join him to show support for the President and his baseless claims of election fraud at a Stop the Steal rally of Trump supporters in the Ellipse. At that rally, Trump told the massive crowd, If you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. He implored them to march to the U.S. Capitol where Congress was doing its work to finalize President-elect Joe Bidens victory. Heeding his direction, the crowd including Mastriano made their way to the Capitol. There, the situation turned violent. People overpowered police and stormed into the Capitol, halting Congress counting of the electoral votes and causing destruction inside offices, hallways and other parts of the building. Mastriano, an Army veteran and retired colonel, condemned the violence that occurred and said those who violated laws must be prosecuted. Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Franklin, is under fire for his participation at Wednesday's Trump rally at the U.S. Capitol that turned violent as Congress was trying to count the electoral votes to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory. AP File Photo/Julio CortezAP File Photo/Julio Cortez Mastriano, who did not respond to a request for an interview on Friday, said in a statement issued Wednesday evening when lawlessness broke out, he and his wife turned away and headed back to their vehicle. He said he never stepped foot near the Capitol. That wasnt enough to suit his Senate Democratic colleagues as well as some House Democrats and advocacy groups and citizens who have called on Mastriano to resign. Sen. Tim Kearney, D-Delaware County, said, Mastriano is a sitting senator who has actively organized a violent insurrection in an attempt to prevent a peaceful transfer of power. Senator Corman and Republican leadership should call for his immediate resignation. If he doesnt resign, Senator Mastriano should be removed from all committee or leadership positions. Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre County, on Thursday indicated he had no intention of taking action against Mastriano. One of our fundamental rights is that of peaceful assembly. I talked with Senator Mastriano who shared with me that he and his wife attended the political rally in Washington, D.C., but left as the horrific turmoil began to unfold, Corman said in a statement. He assured me that he did not participate in any unlawful activities. Absent facts to the contrary, the Senate has no cause to act. The state Senate will not return to session until Jan. 25. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Dominion Voting Systems on Friday filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sidney Powell, demanding more than $1.3 billion in damages for havoc it says Powell has caused by spreading "wild" and "demonstrably false" allegations, including that Dominion played a central role in a fantastical scheme to steal the 2020 election from President Donald Trump. For weeks, Powell has claimed that Dominion was established with communist money in Venezuela to enable ballot-stuffing and other vote manipulation, and that those abilities were harnessed to rig the election for former vice president Joe Biden. Her claims - though rejected by multiple judges and elections officials - have gained traction with many right-wing voters and with Trump himself. In a 124-page complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, Dominion said its reputation and resale value have been deeply damaged by a "viral disinformation campaign" that Powell mounted "to financially enrich herself, to raise her public profile, and to ingratiate herself to Donald Trump." The defendants named in the lawsuit include Powell, her law firm and Defending the Republic, the organization she set up to solicit donations to support her election-related litigation. In an interview, Dominion CEO John Poulos said the lawsuit aims to clear his company's name through a full airing of the facts about the 2020 election. Poulos said he would like the case to go to trial rather than settle. "We feel that it's important for the entire electoral process," he said. "The allegations, I know they were lobbed against us . . . but the impacts go so far beyond us." Powell did not immediately respond to a request for comment. L. Lin Wood, a lawyer who has worked alongside Powell on post-election lawsuits and who says he is representing her in connection to defamation matters, called the lawsuit an attempt "to censor speech or try to intimidate people from telling the truth." "I haven't seen the lawsuit, but I don't have any concerns about Dominion," he said in an interview. As Powell's accusations about Dominion spread after the election, the company's employees were stalked, harassed and received death threats via email, text and phone: "we are already watching you," read a text message to one Dominion employee, according to the complaint. "Come clean and you will live." The company says it has spent more than $565,000 on protection for personnel since the election. Dominion has sent retraction demands or document preservation letters, often precursors to litigation, to more than 20 individuals and entities, including to Wood, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone and Trump's personal attorney, Rudolph W. Giuliani; and to Fox News, Newsmax, One America News and the Epoch Times, media companies that have lent Powell an enormous platform in the two months since the election. Some of the news outlets, including Fox, have since backed off the claims or issued corrective statements. Thomas A. Clare, an attorney representing Dominion who is well-known for litigating defamation cases, said his team filed against Powell first "because she's been the most prolific and in many ways has been the originator of these false statements." "But to be clear, none of this would have been possible without other individuals and without other media outlets that have their own responsibility," Clare said. "And we're looking at all of them." Asked whether Dominion intends to sue Trump, Clare said no one has been ruled out. "We're going to follow this wherever the evidence leads us." In the complaint filed Friday, Dominion chronicles more than three dozen of Powell's public statements about the company, showing how she continued attacking it even after multiple local, state and federal officials rejected claims of widespread election fraud. She has claimed that Dominion's voting system was created in Venezuela to rig elections for former Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and has said that secret algorithms in Dominion machines were used to manipulate votes in favor of Biden in 2020. She has accused the company of bribing Georgia officials to win a no-bid contract with the state. She has promised to tweet a video of Dominion's founder - Poulos - saying he could "change a million votes, no problem at all." No such video ever materialized. Dominion's lawsuit cites "mountains of evidence conclusively disproving Powell's vote-manipulation claims." While many pages of the complaint are devoted to dissecting and rebutting of those claims, the company notes in particular that hand counts - including a statewide hand count of millions of ballots in Georgia - have confirmed that Dominion machines tabulated votes accurately. Dominion sent Powell a letter on Dec. 16 demanding that she retract her "wild, knowingly baseless, and false accusations." Four days later, Powell wrote on Twitter that she was "retracting nothing." "We have #evidence," she wrote. "They are #fraud masters!" Since then, Powell has continued accusing Dominion of wrongdoing, including in a Jan. 3 tweet claiming that thousands of votes in Georgia were switched from Trump to Biden. The complaint filed Friday accuses Powell of breaking state defamation laws in Georgia, where she spoke at a "Stop the Steal" rally in December, and in the District of Columbia, where she appeared at a November news conference and has given multiple interviews from the Trump International Hotel. It also alleges that she engaged in deceptive trade practices by using false statements about Dominion to raise her public profile, gain clients and sell more copies of a book she wrote in 2014. The lawsuit, which seeks both compensatory and punitive damages, is based on Powell's statements to the public and the media rather than on the allegations she made in federal lawsuits she filed seeking to overturn election results in four battleground states. But Powell's actions in those cases - popularly known as the "kraken" suits, after a mythological sea-creature that Powell has adopted as a mascot - are under separate legal scrutiny. On Tuesday, the city of Detroit asked a federal judge in Michigan to punish Powell and her team of lawyers, including Wood, for using the courts to put forth "false and frivolous claims while seeking relief with massive implications for our democracy." Powell's lawsuit in Michigan was "full of intentional lies" and baseless accusations, and the Dominion-related conspiracy theory was "perhaps the most baseless," Detroit's lawyers wrote in a 56-page motion for sanctions. They asked Judge Linda V. Parker of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan to refer Powell and her team of lawyers to the court's chief judge for disbarment, and to refer them for further professional discipline to authorities in their homes states - Texas, in Powell's case. Detroit also asked the judge to levy a financial penalty "sufficient to deter future misconduct," at least equal to the amount of money that Powell and her team have raised to fund their post-election lawsuits. Wood said Friday that he had not seen Detroit's motion but believed it was politically motivated. "On the face of it, I'd call it nonsense," he said. Parker, who will decide how to handle the request, is the same judge who heard Powell's kraken lawsuit in December. She dismissed it, finding that the allegations were "nothing but speculation and conjecture." Powell has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane, on Friday inaugurated a new Command Hospital at the Pune Military Station, officials said here. Image Source: IANS News Pune : , Jan 8 (IANS) Chief of Army Staff, General MM Naravane, on Friday inaugurated a new Command Hospital at the Pune Military Station, officials said here. A multi-speciality tertiary facility, the new hospital will focus to provide medical support to troops deployed in operational areas and veterans of the armed forces. Earlier, on a visit to the Southern Command Headquarters in Pune, Gen Naravane was received by Lt Gen CP Mohanty, Commander of the Army's Southern Command, an official said. Lt Gen Mohanty briefed Gen Naravane on various operational and training issues, and updated him on the contributions of the Southern Command troops in humanitarian and disaster relief operations, particular assisting civil administrations during Covid-19 pandemic and floods in several parts of Maharashtra. On his part, Gen Naravane lauded the Southern Command for maintaining a "high state of combat-readiness and training" despite the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic across the country. Appreciating the initiatives and welfare projects undertaken by the Southern Command to improve the quality of life of the troops and their families, Gen Naravane reiterated the Army's commitment to national efforts in overcoming the challenges posed by the pandemic. Like President Donald Trump, the San Diego woman fatally shot by police as a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol had used Twitter to amplify her views, including false allegations that Novembers election was riddled with fraud. Nothing will stop us....they can try and try and try but the storm is here and it is descending upon DC in less than 24 hours....dark to light! Ashli Babbitt wrote Tuesday, a day before she and thousands of other Trump supporters took part in the siege in Washington, D.C., to try to keep the president in power. 18 Aftermath of Capitol building insurrection Capitol Police on Thursday identified Babbitt, 35, as the woman who was fatally shot by an unidentified officer. Bystander video shows she was trying to climb through the broken window of a barricaded doorway inside the Capitol when the officer fired. While some who support debunked views on everything from the coronavirus to the election are likely to view her as martyr, Capitol Police Chief Steven A. Sund said the mob was involved in criminal riotous behavior, not free speech. On social media, Babbitt often ranted against the presidents frequent targets illegal immigration, government mandates to contain the coronavirus and, most of all, Trumps critics. Her Twitter account promoted mainstream conservative views but also included references to the QAnon conspiracy theory, which centers on the baseless belief that Trump has been secretly fighting deep state enemies and a cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals operating a child sex trafficking ring. Babbitt, an Air Force veteran who identified as a Libertarian and supporter of the Second Amendment, frequently posted unsubstantiated views about election fraud by the president and his most extreme supporters activists whose conspiracy theories and unflinching support for Trump have attracted large online followings. Videos she posted online show her fulminating against illegal immigration. Her posts were sometimes profane. Babbitt appeared to view pleas to wear masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus as an affront to her personal freedoms. She backed a recall drive against California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who has imposed strict stay-at-home orders. Mask Free Autonomous Zone Better Known as America, read a large sign on the front door of a pool service business she ran with her husband in Spring Valley, near San Diego. No one answered the door Thursday at the business or the couples home, a modest duplex in San Diego. In August 2016, Babbitt was charged with reckless endangerment for hitting a womans car three times in Calvert County, Maryland, and pursuing her through the streets in whats described as road rage. She was acquitted months later. Babbitt was among the rioters who smashed their way into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, forcing members of Congress to hide, Sund said. Rioters actively attacked law enforcement with metal pipes, discharged chemical irritants and took up other weapons against our officers, he said. Babbitts husband, Aaron Babbitt, told KSWB-TV, a Fox affiliate in San Diego, that he sent his wife a message about 30 minutes before the shooting and never heard back. She loved her country and she was doing what she thought was right to support her country, joining up with like-minded people that also love their president and their country, he said. She was voicing her opinion and she got killed for it, he said. Videos posted by bystanders show a crowd in a corridor massed against a set of barricaded, glass-paneled doors. Some beat at them with sticks and poles as people yell, Bust it down! A gloved hand with a gun is visible, pointing it diagonally at the doors. Someone yells, Hes got a gun! Babbitt appears to be hoisted up against one of the glass panes. An officer points a gun at her, fires and she falls to the ground. Shots fired! someone yells. A bystander says, Ladies and gentlemen, a lady was just shot. She might be dying right now. Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, said Babbitt will be remembered as a martyr by people with a range of grievances spanning from disbelief in the seriousness of the pandemic to beliefs in QAnon conspiracy theories. When you have people in an alternate universe, they will take a catalytic event and spin it in a way that is most appealing to their emotions and fears, irrespective of what the facts may end up showing, he said. Babbitts ex-husband, Timothy McEntee, called her a wonderful woman with a big heart and a strong mind in an email to The San Diego Union-Tribune. McEntee said he and Babbitt were married from April 2005 to May 2019. A Facebook account with Babbitts name says she married Aaron Babbitt on June 25, 2019. The Air Force said Thursday that Ashli Elizabeth McEntee was on active duty from 2004 to 2008, most recently at Dyes Air Force Base near Abilene, Texas. She was also member of the Air Force Reserve from 2008 to 2010 and the Air National Guard from 2010 to 2016. Judy Norton and Richard Thomas worked together for years on The Waltons. The heartwarming show about a big family navigating life in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II eras was immensely popular with viewers. Thomas played eldest Walton son John-Boy, who was the focus of many episodes, while Norton was his younger sister Mary-Ellen. When The Waltons began, John-Boy Walton was a thoughtful teenager who hoped to one day become a writer. He is eventually able to attend college and achieve his dream of publishing a novel. Later, he goes missing while covering World War II for Stars & Stripes. But in real life, Thomas wasnt anything like John-Boy, despite what his fans may have thought. Judy Norton says Richard Thomas wasnt like John-Boy Walton [L-R] Judy Norton of The Waltons; Richard Thomas as John Boy Walton | CBS via Getty Images RELATED: The Waltons: 2 Lead Actors Were Always Mooning Co-Stars In a video she shared to YouTube in September 2020, Norton talked about what her co-star Thomas was really like behind-the-scenes. Richard was different than John-Boy in a lot of ways, Norton said. He grew up in New York as opposed to a rural area. He was much more sophisticated, very well read, very erudite. Thomass parents, Barbara Fallis and Richard Thomas, were dancers with the Ballets Russes, the American Ballet Theatre, and the New York City Ballet, he told The Wall Street Journal in 2019. I was a backstage baby, he said. I even have a photo of me asleep in a trunk at the Paris Opera. Aside from his cosmopolitan upbringing, Thomas also had a wonderful sense of humor, Norton said, adding that he wasnt nearly as angst-ridden as John-Boy often was. Richard Thomas talked about living up to the image of John-Boy Walton Actor Richard Thomas and his family in 1968. | Jack Mitchell/Getty Images Thomas might have been very different from John-Boy Walton, but that didnt stop fans from assuming he shared traits with the character he played on TV. I was a misbehaving young actor who had been an actor in New York. I was the farthest thing from that kid. Thomas said in an interview with the Television Academy Foundation. He added that he would cuss like a sailor and was raised backstage. I had a whole other sensibility going, and they always expect this thing of you, Thomas went on to say. Thomas didnt like it when people tried to make The Waltons political The Waltons are coming to MeTV January 1! pic.twitter.com/5pSu78hXTE MeTV (@MeTV) December 16, 2019 In the interview, Thomas also talked about how he and the rest of the cast reacted when politicians or others tried to use The Waltons to further their own agendas. People wanted to use the show to illustrate a point about public decency or the way television should be we all were offended and bristled at that kind of stuff, he said. We were just about a family of people, the actor added. According to Thomas, The Waltons wasnt meant to be a symbol of anything other than what it takes to be a family during difficult times. A Rajasthan native has played a key role in ensuring that a woman from Harda in Madhya Pradesh, who was stuck in Saudi Arabia, returned home safely. The woman reached New Delhi on Thursday night and was placed under quarantine. Earlier, News18 had raised the plight of Rina Gehlot, who had gone to Saudi Arabia for a job, but soon after she was ill-treated by the employer, who did not pay her the promised wages. As the distressed family of Gehlot got no help from anywhere, New18 took up the cause on November 16, 2020. Following the report, district collector Harda Sanjay Gupta took cognisance of the case and raised the matter with the Department of Home, Madhya Pradesh. Later, Agriculture Minister Kamal Patel, who hails from Harda, had also got in touch with the family and had assured help. As the matter had reached the Ministry of External Affairs, the Indian embassy enquired about the case and extended help to the Gehlot by getting in touch with her employer. Meanwhile, a Rajasthan native, Charmesh Sharma, came ahead to help as he raised the issue with the Centre and various authorities. For the past several years, Sharma has been helping out Indian nationals stranded in foreign countries. He was informed about Gehlots case by a Boondi-based couple, who had found out about her through the news report. Sharma later scanned for details on the Google, finding necessary information from News18 stories on Gehlot. He then got in touch with the affected family and co-ordinated in the rescue efforts as he also kept in touch with the PMO, the Ministry of External Affairs and the Presidents office. After Rina returned to New Delhi, Sharma, speaking to the News18 on phone, thanked the channel for raising the issue. Gehlot has undergone test for coronavirus after reaching New Delhi and will be allowed to return home as soon as the test confirms her negative status. Besides, husband Bansilal, Rina has three daughters, Vaishali, Divya and Bhanu in the family. (Inputs Pravin Singh Tanwar, Harda) Jay R. Jordan / Jay Jordan, Staff While chasing a crew of suspected auto burglars, a police patrol car crashed early Friday into an uninvolved car in west Houston, officials said. No one was injured in the collision, which happened shortly after 3 a.m. on the 12600 block of Ashford Point Drive, according to OnScene TV. The officer crashed into a private security vehicle while chasing the suspects through an intersection with lights and sirens activated. KPMGs new lead energy consultant Angie Gildea started her career in health care, but was quickly drawn to oil and gas. The sixth-generation Texan and longtime Houstonian studied biomedical science at Texas A&M and landed her first job at an MD Anderson lung cancer clinic. She soon found her calling, however, as an adviser to oil exploration and production companies. Ive been around oil and gas my entire life, Gildea said. We had oil and gas leases on our ranch and family in the industry. Gildea who was recently named KPMGs national sector leader of energy, chemicals and natural resources has witnessed several oil boom and bust cycles in her more than 20 years in the industry. The Chronicle sat down with Gildea over video chat to discuss the industrys prospects for recovery from the coronavirus-driven downturn. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. Oil hit $50 a barrel this week for the first time since the pandemic started. Is the worst behind us? Hopefully, the worst is behind us, but there's still some uncertainty about when and how this recovery is going to happen. Were seeing incremental lockdowns in the United Kingdom and parts of the U.S. The rollout of the vaccine is going to drive a lot of this recovery. KMPG economists say it will take two years for the gross domestic product (a key measure of economic output) to return to pre-pandemic levels. How do your clients in the oil and gas industry view the $50 oil milestone? Of course, everybody would like higher prices, but $50 seems to be the number that is sort of the new normal. There is definitely a viewpoint that youve got to be able to operate and maintain resilience at $50, but be prepared to survive at $40 to weather these storms. Whats different this time around is companies mindset around low oil prices. Its not just lower for longer, but potentially lower prices forever. Weve been working remotely, online learning and avoiding travel for the better part of a year. Do you think some of these habits will continue even after the pandemic ends, and what implications will that have on the oil and gas industry? Some of the trends were seeing in the pandemic are going to stick. Companies are rethinking work-from-home and business travel. Were not going to go back to the rate of business travel we had in the past. But weve also seen trends go the other way. Theres been a pivot more to personal car ownership than public transit, because people feel safer commuting that way. All of those things are going to impact energy demand. LOOK AHEAD: For Houston's economy, experts predict 2021 to be a year of healing and uncertainty Saudi Arabia this week announced plans to cut its crude production by 1 million barrels a day in February, citing a fragile recovery as coronavirus cases continue to climb globally. Should U.S. producers be more cautious as they ramp up domestic production? The Saudis stepped up and took a voluntary production cut. What that says to me is theyre concerned about the recovery and the uncertainties around the recovery. Its another signal around potentially how fast the recovery is going to happen. In the U.S., we have so many companies and aspects at play, I dont necessarily see that caution here. Devon Energy this week completed its $5.8 billion acquisition of WPX Energy. Weve seen other mergers and acquisitions, including Chevron and Noble Energy as well as ConocoPhillips and Concho Resources. Will we see more consolidation in 2021? Yes, were going to continue to see consolidation in the upstream exploration and production sector. Its really going to be a survival of the fittest. In fact, KPMG has seen an uptick in the deal market across the board, not just in energy. The thinking behind mergers and acquisitions used to be to buy as many leases as you can and hold it, but companies have really become strategic about optimizing their portfolio and shedding assets they cant put capital toward. Were also starting to see more deals around the renewable space. Last year saw several major oil and gas companies make commitments to lowering their greenhouse gas emissions. Will that continue this year, and how will that impact jobs in Houston? The investor community has been really forcing oil and gas companies to start looking at their business models and take steps around lowering their carbon footprint. Thats going to have a lot of impact in the Houston area and how we as a city and the energy capital of the world are going to handle that. Were transitioning to a lower carbon footprint, but that doesnt mean that energy is going away. The demand for plastics and petrochemicals is not going away. Weve seen a lot of energy companies reduce headcount due to the pandemic, but at this point, I havent seen a lot of companies reduce their headcount because of the energy transition. The energy transition is going to create some job opportunities and there will be more hiring in this space. Indian luxury fragrance market is mostly dominated by foreign brands, the reason behind this is most of the elite customers do not find the quality of local brands up-to-the-mark. But there is a businessman who is changing the scenario. Adil Qadri is the man behind indigenous luxury perfume brand, He has named it after his own name. Adil Qadri's range of perfumes is famous for its high quality and up-market scent. The x-factor of these perfumes is that they are alcohol-free. This is the reason they are particularly liked by customers who do not like alcohol-based perfumes and those who for religious reasons can not use alcohol-based perfumes. The 2 new natural perfumes launched by Adil Qadri are AdilQadri Oud-Al-Hashmi and AdilQadri Musk-Al-Ghazali. AdilQadri Oud-Al-Hashmi is a perfume derived from genuine soft oud. This has a warm smoky scent that comes from agarwood, which is the most expensive wood in the market. Apart from luxury perfumes, Adil Qadri has the other range as well which is easy for the pocket. These are also alcohol-free perfumes for daily usage. The fragrances of these perfumes are also very light and suitable for the contemporary lifestyle. Their other famous attars available on e-commerce platforms are Adil Qadri Shanaya attar, Adil Qadri's amazing signature attar, and Adil Qadri Safwan attar. These fragrances have been made to take care of the demand of modern youth. Adil Qadri has also launched non-alcohol based deodorants. There is a separate range of deodorants for men and women. At present these deodorants are available on Adil Qadris official website and soon will be available in retail outlets as well. Adil Qadri is a very ambitious and competitive man. He says that we must present the better alternative to customers then there is no reason that they would not use our products. Although perfumes are the most liked products from brand Adil Qadri, it is also famous as an e-commerce brand that sells Muslim faith specific products. It is one of the preferred e-com platforms to buy products such as Barkati Topi, Muslim faith specific symbols, designer Muslim caps, and dry fruits as well. Adi Qadri had planned to launch 2 retail outlets in 2 different metro cities. The plan was put on hold amid global pandemic COVID-19. He is waiting for the situation to get better. Once market conditions are conducive consumers will be able to buy products through these retail outlets as well. Adil Qadri is a self-made man who has made his fortune with sheer hard work and the support of his family and friends. He comes from a humble background. Due to financial obstacles, life was pretty difficult during his childhood. He faced difficulties due in education due to prolonged illness as well. In the initial days of his business, he has struggled a lot, but his uncle has supported him a lot in starting up and establishing the business. He is a firm believer in God and dedicates all his success to Allah. The entire range of perfumes and other products could be browsed on their website www.adilqadri.com . (Disclaimer: This is a featured content) Phuket hotels start closing again PHUKET: Hotels across Phuket that had re-opened in the hope of attracting enough guests to at least pay operating costs are now closing again, Kongsak Khoopongsakorn, President of the Thailand Hotels Association Southern chapter, has confirmed. COVID-19Coronaviruseconomicstourism By The Phuket News Friday 8 January 2021, 01:02PM A normally bustling street in Patong now dark and quiet at night. Photo: Chutharat Plerin The lack of even domestic tourists due to the current COVID-19 outbreak has taken its toll, he said. As a result of the new outbreak of COVID-19, some hotel operators are considering temporarily closing their hotels again because a lot of bookings have been cancelled, and they cannot handle the costs, Mr Kongsak said. From questioning about 10 hotel operators, three of them have confirmed that they are closing again because they cannot handle the cost and loss, he said. There must be more hotel operators considering closing, but at this stage I cannot estimate how many, he added. I believe this current outbreak will last at least one month because the number of infected people in the country is still increasing. Even though there are no new infected cases in Phuket, the tourists who would normally come to Phuket are usually from the high-risk provinces anyway, Mr Kongsak explained. Hotel operators in Phuket have offered exceptional discounts, but to no avail, he added. For example, some have offered promotions such as spending more than B2,000 on dinner will give you one-night stay free. Even though there have been some tourists, overall these [promotions] have not had much effect, he said. The current outbreak is now causing deep, long-term damage to Phukets tourism infrastructure, Mr Kongsak noted a factor he warned of in April last year. The effect from the virus outbreak on Phukets tourism industry may last until 2024. Before this, we expected that tourism would become much better by the end of this year [2021], or the beginning of next year, he said. Most Thai tourists who come to Phuket are from Bangkok, which now has areas that are classified as high-risk, and people living there are asked to stay home. Hotel operators themselves are also worried to welcome tourists from these areas, Mr Kongsak explained. The crisis in Phuket will reach its peak this year, after operators kept trying to keep their businesses alive last year. Both small and big businesses are going to die in the same way this year, Mr Kongsak said. This year, some hotel operators may announce to sell their hotels at prices that are 50-60% less than the value of the hotel, he warned. We need the government to save us. From AoT [airports of Thailand] reports, the number of tourists coming through Phuket International Airport is continuously falling, so Phuket tourism is still far from recovery, Mr Kongsak said. If the government does not have clear measures about soft loans, and moratoriums on debt and interest, many businesses operators will have no choice but to raise the white flag to this situation, he added. Bhummikitti Ruktaengam, President of Phuket Tourist Association, noted, Although some tourists came to Phuket during the New Year holidays, the number of tourists was lower than expected. Mr Bhummikitti told The Phuket News that he did not have clear figures for the number of tourism arrivals over the New Year. At this stage it would be better to confirm with the airport the number of arrivals [during the holidays], he said. Phuket International Airport General Manager Thanee Chuangchoo on Wednesday (Jan 6) confirmed that the number of flight bookings cancelled had seen six airlines reduce the number of flights to Phuket for the rest of January. AoT Phuket also confirmed that from Jan 1-5 a total of 38,915 passengers passed through Phuket airport, as follows: Jan 1 - 7,662 passengers; Jan 2 - 8,692 passengers; Jan 3 - 10,458 passengers; Jan 4 - 7,084 passengers; and Jan 5 - 5,015 passengers. Domestic passengers passing through Phuket airport for the same days last year totalled 115,714, as follows: Jan 1 - 23,244 passengers; Jan 2 - 24,323 passengers; Jan 3 - 23,808 passengers; Jan 4 - 22,563 passengers; and Jan 5 - 21,776 passengers. In total, the number of domestic passengers passing through Phuket airport this year was down 69.37% on last year, AoT reported. This time, even without a lockdown there are very few tourists because the Thai guests are people who live in the epidemic provinces, which are currently not traveling, Mr Bhummikitti said. A very important factor at the moment is the control of both the source and the destination. The source already has a control process [for COVID-19], but what about the destination?, he posed. The control [at the destination Phuket] has not been that strict We cannot let this continue, he said. Although it has always been discussed that It wouldnt be possible to have zero infections, we cannot have a cluster that spreads. When an infection is found, it must be quickly dealt with so that business and epidemic control can work together hand in hand, Mr Bhummikitti said. But the weight is now more likely to go to epidemic control, which the business community itself gives importance to because we personally think that even if Phuket can control new infections, we will be okay, but if there is an outbreak, no one will come, he added. Mr Bhummikitti offered words of encouragement for hotel operators to hold on to survive. We have all been hit, including our brothers and sisters in outbreak areas who need a lot of encouragement, who as people who travel to Phuket cannot come. So at this time Phuket must keep itself as the safest area. When the situation improves, it will be easier to travel to Phuket," he said. However, Mr Bhummikitti also said that Phuket hotel operators had been wrung dry, with many operators not knowing what their next course of action should be. It has been exhausting, he said. Hopefully the government will understand, even though there are many tough questions to be answered. But one thing I want to keep in mind all the time is that the outbreak will eventually end. Then the focus will move back to economic matters. If entrepreneurs are able to survive this period, when the outbreak is over they can continue to operate. But if you let them fall, the impact will be much more negative and will cause damage to the economy for a long time, he said. For now, the government must focus on tackling the current outbreak, but must also start providing genuine relief for operators struggling to survive, Mr Bhummikitti said. The government must prioritize control of the outbreak, because if the outbreak continues to spread, sparks [sic] will fall all over the place, and tourism definitely will not return. Go put out all the sparks first, and then come to see about tourism, he said. But in the meantime, there must be support for entrepreneurs, which have three main issues: existing debt, the issue of labour, and paying for basic utilities, Mr Bhummikitti noted. Because there are two sides to tourism: demand and supply. For the demand side, there is the We Travel Together campaign which is very good, but at this time there is probably no one traveling due to the outbreak. But there must be something to support the supply side also, he said. London: Boris Johnson has "unreservedly condemned" Donald Trump for inspiring the dramatic assault on the Capitol building, making the British Prime Minister the first world leader to directly blame the US President for the riot. In some of the strongest criticism of Trump by any US ally to date, Johnson told reporters at Downing Street that the outgoing US President was to blame for Wednesday's extraordinary violence. "Insofar as he encouraged people to storm the Capitol and insofar as the President consistently cast doubt on the outcome of a free and fair election, I think that was completely wrong," Johnson said. Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, pictured last year at a NATO conference. Credit:AP "I think what President Trump has been saying about that is completely wrong and I unreservedly condemn encouraging people to behave in the disgraceful way they did in the Capitol." Mercedes-Benz Canada and its national dealer network team worked tirelessly throughout 2020 to ensure that every dealership could protect customer and employee health while continuing to deliver the highest standard of service. Despite the challenging circumstances, Canadian customers were excited by the Mercedes-Benz product lineup's best-in-class technology, exceptional luxury and high performance. In 2020, SUVs continued to make up an increasing share of overall sales, with a total of 19,846 units retailed, compared to 10,383 passenger cars. This means that in 2020, SUVs accounted for 65.6% of Mercedes-Benz Canada sales, compared to 34.4% for passenger cars. Standout sales performances were seen throughout the company's remarkable SUV lineup: the refined GLE SUV (+11.3% compared to 2019); the sleek and spacious GLS SUV (+15.9% compared to 2019); and the solid, sporty GLB SUV, which was the fifth-highest selling vehicle in the entire Mercedes-Benz lineup in its first full year. On the passenger car side, high volumes came not only from the C-Class Sedan, which remained the top-selling passenger car model, but also from the A-Class Sedan (+58.3% compared to 2019) and the stylish CLA Coupe (+2.0% compared to 2019). 2020 was once again an impressive year for the Pre-Owned division, which achieved milestones including three best-ever sales months (February, June and July), and the best sales month of all time (June 2020, when Mercedes-Benz Canada retailed 1,750 pre-owned units). Overall, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 15,300 pre-owned units. In 2020, Mercedes-Benz Canada also continued to achieve success with the Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program, hitting six record months (January, February, June, July, August, September), including the best CPO sales month in Mercedes-Benz Canada's history (June 2020, when the company retailed 1,500 CPO units). In 2020, Mercedes-Benz Canada achieved an overall CPO penetration rate of 86.4%, a 4.1 percentage point increase over the previous record in 2019 and the new highest year-end CPO penetration rate ever. In 2020, Mercedes-Benz Vans also achieved strong results, especially in the second half of the year, which was driven by heightened market demand across the country and strong direct fleet sales. In total, the Vans team delivered 5,167 vehicles. While a slight decrease compared to 2019 (-6.1%), this was a positive achievement and a testament to the division's hard work to generate momentum and rebound following a challenging spring season. Q4 2020 Highlights In Q4 2020, the company retailed 5,759 SUVs and passenger cars (-12.1% compared to Q4 2019). Standouts in this quarter included both the GLE SUV (+16.1% compared to Q4 2019) as well as the GLE Coupe (+20.5%) and the GLB SUV, which continued its strong first-year performance. The top-selling passenger car in Q4 2020 was the C-Class Sedan, followed by the E-Class Sedan and the A-Class Sedan. In Q4 2020, Mercedes-Benz Canada's Pre-Owned division maintained its strong 2020 results by delivering 3,789 pre-owned units, of which 3,284 were CPO. This means that in Q4 2020, Mercedes-Benz Canada achieved a CPO penetration rate of 86.7% (a 4.1 percentage point increase compared to Q4 2019). Mercedes-Benz Vans retailed 1,727 units in Q4 2020, a substantial increased compared to Q4 2019 (+28.1%). "As we reflect on 2020, I want to share my deep appreciation for the women and men who proudly represented the three-pointed star across the country," said Felix Britsch, acting President and CEO, Mercedes-Benz Canada. "Their resilience, flexibility and deep commitment to the brand made it possible to safely demonstrate Mercedes-Benz' world-leading lineup of all-new and refreshed SUVs, passenger cars and vans to our customers. We are excited to continue delivering incredible customer experiences in 2021 in safe ways and can't wait to introduce Canadians to Mercedes-Benz' exceptional new automotive technology and sustainable luxury, from the breathtaking all-new flagship S-Class sedan and award-winning E-Class sedan to our groundbreaking all-electric EQ lineup." SALES Q4 Year-End Totals 2020 2019 % 2020 2019 % Mercedes-Benz Vehicles* 7,947 10,595 -25.0 30,229 40,324 -25.0 Mercedes-Benz Vans 1,727 1,348 28.1 5,167 5,504 -6.1 TOTAL* 9,674 11,943 -21.0 35,396 46,090 -23.2 *Q4 and Year-End Totals comparisons exclude 2019 smart fortwo vehicle sales, which totalled 13 units in Q4 2019 and 262 total units in 2019. About Mercedes-Benz Canada Mercedes-Benz Canada is responsible for the sales, marketing, and service of Mercedes-Benz and Mercedes-AMG passenger vehicles and Mercedes-Benz Vans. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. employs approximately 1,050 people in 17 locations across Canada. Through a nationwide network of seven Mercedes-Benz own retail operations and 52 authorized dealerships, Mercedes-Benz Canada sold 35,396 vehicles in 2020. This positioned Mercedes-Benz as the top luxury manufacturer in Canada for the seventh consecutive year. SOURCE Mercedes-Benz Canada Inc. For further information: Zakary Paget, (647) 267-5932, [email protected]; Further information from Mercedes-Benz Canada is available at media.mercedes-benz.ca. Related Links www.mercedes-benz.ca Colorado Springs, CO (80903) Today Mainly clear skies. Low 49F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Mainly clear skies. Low 49F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Receiving a postcard from a loved one is a rare occurrence in this day and age of instant messages and video calls. So, 75-year-old Chris Harmon was in for a pleasant surprise when he received a postcard from an American pen friend. However, what was even more surprising is that the postcard was sent 66 years ago. The lost correspondence was discovered at a charity shop in Dorchester, Dorset. It was a part of Weldmar Hospicecares stamp collection fundraising appeal, Metro UK reported. The postcard addressed to Chris Harman caught the eye of a volunteer, who took it upon himself to track Harmon down and hand him the letter. The volunteer found Harmon on a social media platform and messaged him to confirm whether he was, in fact, the person the postcard was addressed to. I was absolutely elated when I got the message telling me about the postcard I could not believe what I was reading, it was just so out of the blue, Harmon was quoted saying. The letter, which features a Grand Central Station marking and vintage airmail stamp, was supposed to have reached Harmon when he was 9-years-old and residing in Peacehaven. The letter contained a reply from Harmons American pen friend, Fred Kendall, who signs off as Uncle Fred despite not being related and promises young Harmon a 10th birthday present. The report said that the pair remained pen-friends across the Atlantic until the 1970s, after which they lost contact. Harmon, a retired salesman, said that he was elated to receive the postcard after nearly seven decades. Expressing his gratitude to the hospice and the volunteer finding him and passing on the postcard, he said: I was absolutely elated when I got the message telling me about the postcard I could not believe what I was reading, it was just so out of the blue. Harmon said that the letter was addressed to Barclays Bank House in Peacehaven, Sussex, where he lived as a child. Wondering how the postcard landed up at the hospice, he was quoted as saying: I have no idea how it ended up in a hospice charity in Dorset, and I would love to find out more about it. It really is quite bizarre. Elvis Aaron Presley was born on Jan. 8, 1935, to Vernon and Gladys Presley in Tupelo, Miss. His twin brother, Jessie Garon, was stillborn. Elvis would have turned 86 years old this year. The Presley family moved to Memphis, Tenn., in 1948. Elvis began his career in 1954 and according to www.graceland.com, and was an international sensation by 1956. On May 1, 1967, he married Priscilla Beaulieu. They had a daughter, Lisa Marie, on Feb. 1, 1968. Priscilla and Elvis divorced in 1973. Elvis died Aug. 16, 1977, at his home, Graceland, at the age of 42. According to biography.com, medics found Elvis on the bathroom floor in his pajamas. Initially, they didnt recognize the victim, but then noticed the thick, graying sideburns and the large medallion around the neck and realized it was Elvis Presley. His skin was dark blue and cold to the touch. Checking for vital signs, the medics detected no pulse and no response to light from his pupils. They quickly prepped him for transport. It took several men to lift Presley onto the stretcher. He was obese, almost bloated. The unbalanced distribution of weight made navigation difficult around corners and down the stairs. As the medics loaded Presley into the ambulance, a stocky man with white hair, leapt into the back just as the doors closed. Dr. George Nichopoulos, Presleys doctor, affectionately known as Dr. Nick, ordered the driver to take Elvis to Baptist Memorial Hospital, 21 minutes from Graceland. It was not made clear at the time why he didnt say Methodist South Hospital, which was only 5 minutes away. But Dr. Nick knew the staff at Baptist Hospital was discrete, according to biography.com. According to biography.com, an autopsy at the hospital found no signs of stroke, heart failure, or lung disease. They saw evidence that Presley was chronically ill with diabetes and constipation. Physical evidence indicated possible, long-term use of drugs, but toxicology tests would have to confirm that. The toxicology report weeks later revealed high levels of pharmaceutical painkillers such as Dilaudid, Quaalude, Percodan, Demerol, and codeine in Elviss body. The headline in The Patriot the next day said, Mr. Swivel Hips, Presley, 42, dies. Presley never performed in the Harrisburg area but was scheduled to appear Sept. 25, 1977, at Hersheypark Arena. According to Graceland, Elvis starred in 33 movies, sold more than one billion records and has 14 Grammy nominations and three wins. He received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award when he was just 36 years old. Some of Elvis top selling singles are: Its Now or Never, 1960 Jailhouse Rock, 1958 Are You Lonesome Tonight, 1961 The Wonder of You, 1970 All Shook Up, 1957 Suspicious Minds, 1969 Return to Sender, 1962 In the Ghetto, 1969 Hound Dog, 1956 READ MORE Protestor part of pro-Trump mob hanging from the balcony says he urged for calm (Getty Images) A man who was seen hanging on to the wall of the Senate balcony during the Wednesday siege of the Capitol and sat on a seat reserved for vice president Mike Pence, has said he was urging his companions to respect the sacred place. Josiah Colt, who was allegedly part of the pro-Trump mob that attacked the Capitol, belongs to Boise, Idaho, according to the local KBOI-TV. He was updating videos on his social media handles from inside the premise and claimed to be the first person to enter the Senate chamber. Now expected to be facing charges like many others in the mob, Mr Colt told KBOI-TV that he is in consultation with his attorney. Talking about his motive behind joining the crowd that stormed the Capitol, he told the channel that he got caught up in the moment. I love America, I love the people, I didnt hurt anyone and I didnt cause any damage in the Chamber. I got caught up in the moment and when I saw the door to the Chamber open, I walked in, hopped down, and sat on the chair. I said my piece then I helped a gentleman get to safety that was injured then left, said Mr Colt. Thousands of rioters, who were earlier egged on by Mr Trump at a rally, stormed into the Capitol on Wednesday as Congress was tallying the electoral college votes to confirm president-elect Joe Bidens victory, sparking clashes, chaos and destruction that ensued for hours. Photos and videos after the building was evacuated showed rioters looting the building, vandalising offices and flipping tables. Mr Colt also said several people wanted to steal things and destroy the place. He says: While in the Chamber I told the other protesters that this is a sacred place and not to not do any damage. Some of them wanted to trash the place and steal stuff but I told them not to and to leave everything in its place. Were still on sacred ground. He also stated an apology to Americans, attributing his actions to the heat of the moment. And I sincerely apologise to the American people. I recognise my actions that have brought shame upon myself, my family, my friends, and my beautiful country. In the moment I thought I was doing the right thing. I realise now that my actions were inappropriate and I beg for forgiveness from America and my home state of Idaho. My intention wasnt to put a stain on our great countrys democratic process, he said. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. A video attributed to him was reposted several times by other users, where a breathless Mr Colt can be seen in the Capitol premise claiming he was the first person to enter the Senate chamber. I just got in the Capitol building, I hopped down into the chamber. Then he goes on to say he was in Speaker Nancy Pelosis chair. However, his claim was wrong as pictures showed him sitting in the Senate chamber on a seat reserved for Mr Pence. Read More Photo of lawmaker Andy Kim cleaning up after mob rampage goes viral Murder the media: Shocking images show aftermath of Capitol rampage Siege of US Capitol by pro-Trump mob forces hard questions President Klaus Iohannis has signed a decree for the post-mortem decoration of Mildner Steffen from the Federal Republic of Germany, a former specialist in rehabilitations in the cultural field. According to the Presidential Administration, in sign of "appreciation for the opening manifested towards our country, for being deeply involved and dedicated in promoting Romania's cultural values", president Klaus Iohannis awarded the National Order "For Merit", post-mortem, in the rank of commodore, to Mildner Steffen, from the cultural sector, from the Federal Republic of Germany. The genomes of egg-laying monotreme mammals, platypus and echidna, have been published in the prestigious journal Nature, providing a valuable public resource for research in mammalian biology and evolution, with applications for their conservation and health. Monotremes display a unique mix of mammalian and reptilian features and form the most distantly related, and least understood, group of living mammals. Their genetic blueprint provides fundamental insights into their unique biology and into the evolution of all mammals. The platypus and echidna are the only egg-laying mammals, and so provide the key to understanding the change in reproductive strategy from egg-laying to the production of live young in all other mammals." Marilyn Renfree, Professor, School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne "During their short in egg incubation, they have kept one of the three major egg proteins that is used to make the yolk in chickens, but after hatching both platypus and echidna have a complex milk like other mammals to support their young during their long lactation." The research was the result of an international collaboration involving Australian scientists from the Universities of Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, LaTrobe University, as well as researchers from China, Japan, USA and Denmark. The 40 researchers brought together expertise in bioinformatics, cytogenetics, developmental and molecular biology to produce and analyze the first ever echidna genome and a greatly improved, high quality platypus genome sequence. University of Adelaide Professor Frank Grutzner, who co-led the study, said the findings were significant. "More than 15 years ago we discovered that monotremes have different sex chromosomes to all other mammals," Professor Grutzner said. "This finding revolutionized our understanding of mammalian sex chromosome evolution but also raised fundamental new questions. With the new genomes we can now tackle important questions about how sex chromosomes control monotreme sexual development and reproduction, and how they evolved." Co-first author of the study, University of Adelaide Dr Linda Shearwin-Whyatt, said the system for safe removal of the oxygen carrier, hemoglobin from blood was thought to be common to all mammals. "We were surprised when we discovered the system was missing from monotremes, implying that it arose quite recently in the ancestor of all other mammals," she said. In contrast, University of Melbourne Dr Fenelon points out that monotremes have lost several key tooth genes and their adult teeth. LaTrobe University's Professor Jenny Graves said the egg-laying monotremes, unique to Australia, help to answer some of our deepest questions of mammal evolution. "We last shared a common ancestor with the platypus and echidna about 180 million years ago, so comparing the monotreme and human genomes can tell us about our common ancestor," Professor Graves said. Knowledge of monotreme reproduction is also relevant for conservation and captive breeding programs. Researchers are excited that the new genome sequences also provide a roadmap for genetic management of threatened echidna populations and exciting new leads for drug development via the discovery of novel peptides in platypus venom. Professor Renfree said the new understanding would help conserve these iconic and unique Australian mammals. When Ben Uchitelle arrived at United Hebrew Temple in the fall of 1960, the synagogue was already packed with more than 2,000 people. Uchitelle could only find a seat on the side of the room. It wasnt Yom Kippur but rather the opening of the 33rd year of a series called the Liberal Forum, sponsored by the Jewish Community Centers Association. The speaker was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and Uchitelle recalled, I and everyone in the audience was mesmerized by the eloquence of his remarks. ADVERTISEMENT Six decades later, Uchitelle still thinks about it. He will discuss the experience as part of a celebration of the 60-year-anniversary of Kings visit to the synagogue on Skinker Boulevard, which is now the Missouri Historical Society Library & Research Center. And that organization is organizing the virtual talk, which will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 17 (the day before Martin Luther King Jr. Day). Koach Baruch Frazier, a St. Louis activist who is now a rabbinic student at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and Rev. Gabrielle Kennedy, director of Faith & For the Sake of All, will also reflect on what it means to lead congregations in the legacy of this renowned civil rights leader, according to the society. For more information, visit https://mohistory.org/mediaroom/mlk-celebration In 1960, Uchitelle was a young attorney and a member of United Hebrew. When he arrived, the place was electric, he told the Light. King started quietly and slowly and he just kept building up on the need for opening doors. The title of the talk was The Future of Integration. It was about three years before King delivered the I Have A Dream speech and more than seven years before he was assassinated. King expressed dismay at the white supremacist groups in the South that prevented desegregation from occurring because they inspired fear in moderate white people and threatened Black people with economic reprisal, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported in 1960. What communication did exist between the races is now closed, King said. King said he was impressed by President-elect John F. Kennedy, but his assessment of Washington, D.C. will likely resonate with many today. What we can expect is more executive orders and actions from (Kennedy). I am not too optimistic about getting all that is needed and wanted from Congress, King said. Still, King said, opponents of desegregation were fighting a losing battle. And he was proven right. Uchitelle, meanwhile, in 1961 founded Freedom of Residence, an organization to promote fair housing, which spearheaded the construction of integrated apartment buildings in St. Louis. He also served as mayor of Clayton from 1991 to 1998 and 2004 to 2007 and was a founder of Central Reform Congregation and a board member of Jewish Family and Childrens Service. At 87, he still teaches a class on the U.S. Constitution at University of Missouri- St. Louis. And he still thinks about King. Today, the contrast between our present leader and the actions of Dr. King are so profound, it brings to (mind for) me and many others what can be good and what can be important versus what can be dire and evil, so Dr. Kings words resonate, Uchitelle said. They really do. Mr. Fu, 29, claimed to be a tourist, but protesters were suspicious of his identity. They began punching and kicking him, and also bound him with zip ties and shined lights into his eyes, prosecutors said. The judge, Lee Hing-nin, said that CCTV and media footage of the incident proved the guilt of the three defendants: Lai Yun-long, 20; Amy Pat Wai-fan, 25; and Ho Ka-lok, 30. A fourth defendant was acquitted after Judge Lee said his role in the episode was not clear from videos. Judge Lee wrote in his ruling that the defendants had tried to stimulate and provoke feelings of hatred in the crowd toward Mr. Fu, and that they had prompted fears that they would inspire others to destroy the peace of society. The protests, which began in June 2019, were set off by a proposal to allow extraditions from Hong Kong, a former British colony that returned to Chinese control in 1997, to mainland China and other places. They soon evolved into broader demonstrations against the Chinese government, marked at times by fierce resentment and outright aggression toward anyone seen as affiliated with the mainland. Some demonstrators later apologized for their behavior during the airport protest. They said that the Hong Kong polices use of undercover officers to infiltrate their ranks had made them fearful and suspicious. In 2020, the export of Russian natural gas to non-CIS countries decreased by 10% amid the crisis caused by the pandemic and the reduction in demand. The data on the preliminary results of the company's work in 2020 was presented by the head of Gazprom, Alexei Miller, the press service of the company informed in Telegram. "The company exported 179.3 billion cubic meters of gas to non-CIS countries in 2020, the result is in the top five in its entire history," Miller said, RBC reports. Rep. Mondaire Jones, D.-N.Y., was sworn in Sunday as one of the first openly gay Black members of Congress. Days later, he thought he might have to physically fight for his life after hundreds of supporters of President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in an effort to prevent lawmakers from certifying the election of President-elect Joe Biden. I spoke with Jones on Thursday about what transpired, how it laid bare discrepancies in the way Black protesters are treated compared to the mostly White rioters in the Capitol Wednesday, and why he believes that President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers who sided with his election challenges should be removed from office. Jones, 33, is an attorney who began his activist as a teen with the NAACP. After he announced his intention to unseat Rep. Nita M. Lowey, D.-N.Y., she chose not to seek reelection. Jones's name is mentioned among the most liberal Democrats in Congress, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D.-N.Y., and Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D.-N.Y., another freshman lawmaker. Here's our conversation, lightly edited for length and clarity. Q: Can you connect what you experienced yesterday to what you've previously experienced with law enforcement? A: As a young Black man experiencing yesterday's event, I am acutely aware of the fact that I would not have been under siege by a mob of domestic terrorists had they been Black because they would have been gunned down before they made it within spitting distance of the Capitol. We see the way Black protesters for racial justice are treated, who demonstrate peacefully, and contrast that with images of Capitol police officers taking selfies with MAGA supporters who have breached Capitol security and also letting mobs through metal barricades so that they are able to get closer to the Capitol, which is reflected in some of the footage I saw in social media as well. Q: What do you think needs to happen now? A: I think there must be accountability at all levels. Obviously the president of the United States needs to be impeached again. That's why I've co-sponsored articles of impeachment. The reason yesterday happened, in part at least, is because this president knows that there are never any consequences for his criminal conduct, both legally and politically. And I also want to signal to the other "Donald Trumps" in the Republican Party who want to run for president or any other office that there will be consequences for their conduct if they, too, decide to incite violence. I'm also co-sponsoring [Democratic Missouri Rep.] Cori Bush's resolution to investigate and expel any of my Republican colleagues in the House and Senate who were co-conspirators in the incitement of yesterday's violent insurrection. Q: Is there anything President-elect Biden needs to do? A: Joe Biden needs to continue to condemn yesterday's assault on the legislative branch of the United States government, and he needs to also call for consequences for the people responsible and become a champion for democracy reforms like those contained in the For the People Act [legislation aimed at expanding voting rights and limiting gerrymandering]. I want everyone to remember that yesterday began as a myth about voter fraud. My Republican colleagues - 140 of them in the House - who objected to the certification of Pennsylvania's electoral votes, for example, and not pointed to actual voting fraud. Republicans in Congress are doing this to lay the foundation for another decade of voter suppression. It is no coincidence that today we are hearing about proposals to make it more difficult to vote in Georgia after that state helped to deliver the presidency to Joe Biden and control of the Senate to Democrats. Q: How does this situation change your view of America as a whole, if at all? A: As a Black man in America, I knew already that we live in a nation where very powerful people are deeply racist. And indeed that racism pervades our institutions, but even I was shocked by the number of my Republican colleagues who were complicit in yesterday's events, and I do count among them every single Republican who objected to the Pennsylvania certification yesterday after witnessing their own lives and the lives of their colleagues put at risk. I mean, I was on the House floor along with approximately 200 other members of Congress and staffers and including people in the gallery overlooking the House floor, when not just the Capitol was overtaken, but when it was not clear that we would be protected from these insurrectionists on the other side of the door into the House chamber, where there was only a sprinkling of law enforcement agents to protect us from dozens of terrorists who were banging on the door. And who eventually did get into the House chamber after we were evacuated to another location. Many of us, myself included, thought that we would have to physically fight for our lives yesterday and were unsure that we would survive. Jannatun Khatun stands with her 2-month-old son in front of their home in Satkhira district, southwestern Bangladesh, Dec. 31, 2020 Healthcare facilities in rural Bangladesh have been denying care to many pregnant women over fears they might be infected with the novel coronavirus or because doctors themselves have COVID-19, according to clinical data and new mothers in one such area. Healthcare providers prefer to turn away pregnant women who seek care because rural hospitals have to send patients COVID-19 nasal swabs to labs located dozens of miles away, and then wait for days for results, said the head of health services for Satkhira district in southwestern Bangladesh. This could lead to a rise in maternal and infant mortality because expectant mothers would be left with no choice but to turn to village quacks and untrained midwives, health experts said. While he acknowledged that hospitals may have been refusing care to pregnant women at the beginning of the pandemic, Bangladeshi Health Minister Zahid Maleque said they were not doing so anymore. The situation in hospitals is not like what it was in the beginning. However, now, many patients are afraid of coming to the hospital, he told BenarNews. The central government has already begun setting up more laboratories in all districts and has warned hospitals of strict action against them if they refuse to treat patients particularly women who are pregnant Maleque said. If pregnant women are being deprived of treatment, it is very sad. We will take action if any complaint is received. The government has instructed all hospitals and clinics in the country to treat all types of patients, especially pregnant women. My baby started turning blue Taslima Khatun, 20, a resident of Shyamnagar sub-district, said she suffered genital injuries while giving birth to her first child with the help of a village midwife in October. I was becoming a mother for the first time. I wanted the delivery to be done at the hospital, but I was not admitted because I had a cold and a cough. I didnt have a negative COVID-19 certificate because the test was not available near where I live, Khatun told BenarNews. Another Shyamnagar resident, Ismat Ara, 22, suffered throughout her pregnancy and came close to losing her baby on the day she delivered. I traveled about 10-12 km [6-7 miles] to see a doctor at Shyamnagar Upazila Hospital. But the doctors there were infected with the coronavirus and I could not see them. I had various problems, including swollen legs and abdominal pain, Ara told BenarNews. She came down with a cold as her delivery date approached. This time around, hospitals refused to admit Ara because, she recalled, personnel there feared that she may be infected by the coronavirus. She turned to a midwife in her village. My baby started turning blue right after he was born. Luckily his grandmother didnt have a cold or cough and she managed to rush to a clinic 14 kilometers [8-9 miles] away and my baby survived, Ara said. Lucky, is how Jannatun Khatun, 17, described her delivery. She did not get any care from the hospital for the same reasons as Ara, but she managed to be admitted to a hospital for delivery. Her baby boy needed oxygen support as soon as he was born. I could not have saved my child if he had been delivered by a midwife in the village, Jannatun told BenarNews. At the best of times, medical care for expectant mothers in rural and remote areas is just passable, said Atiq Ahsan, an anthropologist with years of experience doing fieldwork in Bangladeshs hinterlands. As it is, we have fewer gynecologists in the countryside. For this reason, pregnant women in remote areas suffer a lot. Due to COVID-19, the situation has deteriorated further. It has increased the risk of maternal and child death, Ahsan told BenarNews. Regular check-ups during pregnancy are a must because pre-natal care helps reduce risks to ensure a safe and healthy delivery, said Dr. Bilkis Begum Chowdhury, a professor of gynecology and obstetrics at Kumudini Medical College. Many pregnant women in rural areas are not getting care from hospitals and clinics during the pandemic. This has led to more deliveries being done by inexperienced midwives in villages, and can lead to maternal and child deaths, Chowdhury told BenarNews. Bangladesh reported 1,007 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, taking the total number of nationwide cases to 519,905. With 31 new deaths on Thursday, coronavirus-related fatalities rose to 7,718, the Directorate General of Health Services said. Coronavirus tests Not many districts in Bangladesh have laboratories that can test for COVID-19, said Dr. Muhammad Hussain Shafayat, Satkhira districts head of health services. A person in Shyamnagar wanting to know if she is infected, has to have her sample sent first to the district headquarters 70 kilometers [43 miles] away. From there, the samples have to be sent to neighboring Jessore or Khulna districts, both of which are a further 70 kilometers away, Shafayat said. It then takes at least 3-5 days, or more, to get the report back from Jessore or Khulna. Bangladesh Health Secretary M. Abdul Mannan told BenarNews that efforts were underway to set up more laboratories in rural areas that can test for COVID-19. Forty Rapid Antigen Test Centers have already been set up as part of a government initiative, Mannan said. Shafayat said that when doctors already scarce in rural areas get COVID-19 symptoms, they have to wait for days to know if they are infected, and during that time they prefer not to see patients as a precaution. And if they find out they are infected, it is even longer before doctors can see patients, he said. As a result, outpatient care is reduced drastically, Shafayat said. Meanwhile, because the testing process is time-consuming and cumbersome, rural hospitals often refuse to admit pregnant women rather than taking their samples and getting them tested, the health officer said. Fewer admitted to hospital Far fewer expectant mothers were admitted for delivery last year than the year before, shows data from two rural private clinics for the March-July 2020 period. For instance, 57 pregnant women gave birth at Nagar Private Hospital in Shyamnagar from March-July 2020, compared with 172 during the same period in 2019, according to data that the hospital showed BenarNews. At Sundarbans Nursing Home, another clinic in Shyamnagar, 43 women delivered their babies at the facility from March-July 2020, compared with 115 during that five-month period in 2019, the data showed. Abul Khair, a manager at the Nagar Private Hospital, acknowledged that a smaller number of patients were being admitted because of COVID-19 fears. The biggest problem is that we cant admit those who have COVID-19 symptoms like a runny nose and a cough, because we have no way of knowing if they are infected, Khair told BenarNews. As a result, for the sake of the rest of the patients, doctors and nurses in the hospital, we send them back. We are helpless. When pregnant women are turned away from healthcare facilities, they resort to seeking the services of village midwives. Laila Begum, a self-admittedly untrained midwife in Shailkhali village in Satkhira, told BenarNews that she helped with 12 deliveries from July to November 2020 many more than during non-pandemic times when she would deliver one baby in two months. Winter blues Now, as winter has set in in Bangladesh, more people are showing coronavirus-like symptoms, including colds and coughs, due to the drop in temperature, said Helena Bilkis, a health care provider at a community clinic in a village near Shyamnagar. But still no individual has been tested for COVID-19 in this village so far. Although testing facility is available in and around Shyamnagar, it has not reached this remote village. As a result, there is no way to know whether anyone is infected or not, Bilkis told BenarNews. Many ailing villagers find it hard to be seen by doctors or admitted to hospital because healthcare facilities fear they may be infected with the virus, she said. At this difficult time, other patients as well as pregnant women are facing problems in getting treatment. In villages like this, community clinics or fake doctors are the last hope for pregnant women, Bilkis said. Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has said he will not be blackmailed into flying to Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, to meet Hazara protesters who are yet to bury the 11 coal miners killed in a terror attack claimed by Islamic State on January 3. Khan said that he would visit the families only after the slain miners have been buried. We cant do this if you set a condition for the burial of the dead, he told journalists while speaking at a conference in Islamabad on Friday . If you bury them today, then I will take a plane and come to meet you today. Khan said he sent three members of his cabinet to meet the protesters to assure them that the state will take care of them and compensate them for the loss of their loved ones. However, instead of soothing nerves, the visit of the three ministers angered members of the Shia Hazara community. Special advisor Zulfikar Bokhari had asked the protestors what benefit they would get if the Pakistan PM came to visit them. Despite calls since January 3 and nationwide protests by members of the Hazara community, the Pakistan PM has refused to visit the protesting families while opposition leaders have visited the protesters, including PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and PML-N vice president Maryam Nawaz. The massacre in Machh coal mine is part of the conspiracy that I have been speaking about since March, Imran Khan told the media, adding, India is trying to spread sectarian violence in Pakistan. However, interior minister Shaikh Rasheed told a media briefing on Friday that it was still not clear who was behind the attack. It could be Daesh [Islamic State], it could be any outfit, he told journalists. He said the countrys intelligence agencies are still to come up with their findings. When asked about the PMs reluctance to visit Quetta, the interior minister hinted that there were security concerns about his travel to the Balochistan provincial capital. Last year, American support for religious freedom survived COVID-19. The right to free speech held firm amid racial tensions. And vigorous backing of the First Amendment endured a contentious presidential campaign. So concludes the 2020 Becket Religious Freedom Index, which will monitor the resilience of the United States first freedom through the yearly challenges to come. Americans understand religion as a fundamental part of an individuals identity, said Caleb Lyman, director of research and analytics at The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty. It is no surprise that they support strong religious freedom protections in work and public life. Designing 16 questions across six categories, the annual index measures perspectives on the First Amendment. Now in its second year, in October it polled a nationwide sample of 1,000 Americans, scoring their support from 0 (complete opposition) to 100 (robust support). The composite score is 66, a statistically insignificant decline from 67 in 2019. Beckets report recognizes that the religious impulse is natural to human beings, and therefore religious expression is natural to human culture. Through their law firm, they defend religious rights. Through their index, they discover if Americans agree. The 16 questions are repeated each year, to measure consistency across detailed application: Support for Religious Pluralism measured 77. The most significant decline across the six categories, down from 80, it gauges popular support for holding beliefs about God, adhering to a religion, and living out the basic tenets of religion in daily life. Support for Religious Sharing measured 69. Down from 71, it explores the extent to which people should be free to share their religious beliefs with others. Support for Religion and Policy measured 66. Down from 67, it probes the proper place of religion in crafting law and public policy. Support for Religion in Action measured 65. Holding steady from last year, it studies the freedom to practice beliefs beyond the walls of the homes or place of worship. Support for Religion and Society measured 62. Down from 63, it reviews the contributions of religion and people of faith to the creation of healthy communities. Support for Church and State measured 56. Down from 58, this most controversial category examines the boundaries of interactions between government and religion. But beyond the questions that populate these categories, the index also tallied opinions on the salient issues of 2020 in light of a foundational respect for religious identity. Nearly 2 in 3 Americans (65%) view religious faith as a way of life for some people, and 60 percent said so of themselves. This faith cannot be quarantined, according to the index, as 62 percent said that faith was important to them during the pandemic. But COVID-19 was not the only national controversy. More than 8 in 10 Americans (84%) said religious organizations and people should have a role in advocating for racial equality and justice. And while 7 in 10 said that religion was important to them during times of social unrest, 78 percent viewed it as an important source of social stability. Nonetheless, the survey revealed a perceived lack of leadership. Only 39 percent said that religious congregations were treated fairly during the pandemic. Only 49 percent said their faith community did a good job on racial issues. And in terms of protecting religious liberty, the courts (27%)not politicians (the president: 19%; Congress: 15%)win the highest confidence. Even so, more leadership is desired. More than 6 in 10 registered voters (61%), and 78 percent of people of faith, say that a candidates stance on religious liberty is important to them. Nuanced readingsand other pollshint it may not stay this way. According to Becket, over 60 percent of both Republicans and Democrats view support for religious freedom as an important aspect of a political platform. But it is extremely important to more than a quarter of Republicans, compared to only 8 percent of Democrats. And in November, Religion in Public asked 1,600 Americans to evaluate a statement in support of religious freedom. Support was strong when not attached to a political candidate. But when attributed to both Joe Biden and Donald Trump, support declined. It declined further when attributed only to Biden, and further still when attributed only to Trump. The nature of the religious citizen in need also matters. An August poll by The Associated Press found religious freedom important to 8 in 10 Americans, and very important to 55 percent. According to 77 percent of political liberals, Muslim freedoms are at risk. Only 32 percent of conservatives agree. But when it comes to threats to the freedom of evangelicals, Catholics, and other Christians, the percentages switch. Conservatives outpoll liberals by a 2-to-1 margin. The divide itself is a great threat, said Asma Uddin, a religious liberty lawyer. The vast majority of religious believers dont view religious freedom as a partisan tool, she said. It is a way to protect something that is core to their identity and with deep meaning in their lives. The continued polarization of religious freedom risks that protection. Uddin, a fellow with the Inclusive America Project at the Aspen Institute (and a Muslim previously interviewed by CT), was formerly a legal counsel with Becket. She highlighted the indexs question on COVID-19 to illustrate the political divide. Whereas only 29 percent of Republicans believed the government treated religious congregations fairly, 45 percent of Democrats said it did. Becket insists, however, that while there are differences in specific application along party lines, across the board there is little evidence that one party will become more supportive of religious freedom than the other over time. All 16 questions show minimum 60 percent support. And 7 of the 16 index questions reveal less partisan polarization than the year before: To pray or worship without fear of persecution (86% of Americans agree) To practice religion in daily life without facing discrimination or harm (85%) Tolerance and respect for a broad array of ideas and beliefs about God (82%) To practice ones religious beliefs even if contrary to majority practices (79%) For religious employees to wear religious clothing at work (75%) To believe that marriage is between a man and a woman (74%) To run businesses or organizations according to religious beliefs (71%) But on one question, Becket signaled concern. The decline in Religious Pluralism was driven largely by eroding of the tolerance question above. Though the partisan gap narrowed overall, Democratic and Generation Z support dropped 5 percent. In fact, the generational gap may be of more concern than politics. The index asked a sub-question about the right of religious organizations at public universities to determine their own leaders and membership criteria. Overall, 48 percent of Americans were in support, with 16 percent opposed. Baby Boomers registered 51 percent support, with the same 16 percent opposition. But Generation Z supported at only 38 percent, with 23 percent opposition. Another question asked if religion and people of faith are part of the solution to what happens in the country, or part of the problem. Overall, 61 percent of Americans said they were part of the solution. Baby Boomers agreed at 65 percent, while Generation Z agreed at 57 percent. In general, support for religious freedom declined each generation. But significantly, the solution question saw significant increases in supportacross categories. Generation Z had only 50 percent agreement in 2019. Democrats rose from 45 percent to 50 percent. And even people of no faith increased their agreement from 29 percent to 37 percent. While this may be due in part to the increased religious outreach of the Biden campaign, Church and State remained the most controversial category. Support for religious aid organizations to receive government funding registered at 65 percent, while support for government use of religious symbols registered at 53 percent. Sub-category questions revealed greater divide. Nearly 4 in 10 Americans (39%) support the tax-exempt status of religious organizations, while 3 in 10 (29%) oppose. Speaking politically should not threaten this status, say 34 percent, while 31 percent say it should. Yes, there continues to be broad support for religion and religious freedom, said Uddin, whose forthcoming bookThe Politics of Vulnerability explores these issues. But how that is defined with respect to government power is a politicized issue. Evangelicals, she recommends, must advocate for religious freedom as widely as possible in order to counteract this trend. If they do, America will stand with them. Nearly 8 in 10 Americans support the freedom for faith to guide ones voting principles. And 7 in 10 support the right to argue that certain behaviors are sinful, immoral, and should be avoided in society. Evangelicals, like everyone else, should cherish the First Amendment. Americans view faith as an essential, stabilizing force and they want their elected officials to do a better job of protecting religious freedom, said Luke Goodrich, senior counsel at Becket and co-editor of the index. We will all be better off if our leaders and government officials respect [this] foundational value. (Natural News) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi accused the United States government of trying to suppress China and start a new cold war in recent years, adding that U.S. policymakers have serious misconceptions about China. It was an obvious jab at President Donald Trump and his administration, as similar comments were repeatedly used by the Chinese regime at the height of the 20182019 trade war. But Wang was singing a different tune when talking about Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden. In a recent interview with Chinese state-run media Xinhua and China Media Group, Wang said that Biden represents a new window of hope for the SinoU.S. relationship. According to Wang, the two countries could resolve their differences as long as the United States can draw lessons from the past and work with China in the same direction. He expressed hopes that the incoming U.S. administration will return to a sensible approach. The Trump administration has opposed the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on a range of issues, including unfair trade practices, espionage, malign influence in the United States, security threats posed by Chinese technology and its human rights abuses against minorities and Hong Kong residents. Critics of Biden are concerned that he may go soft on China on those critical issues. Just recently, Trump issued an executive order to the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) to delist China Mobile, China Telecom and China Unicom as the three companies were found by the Pentagon to have ties to the Chinese military. The NYSE originally announced on Dec. 31, 2020, that it would begin the delisting process, but reversed its decision a week later. China saw it as a win. In an article published on Jan. 5, Chinas state-run media Global Times used the sudden decision by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) not to delist three Chinese telecom companies as a sign that a more flexible administration under Biden would be more friendly toward Beijing. Chinese experts translated the move as a voice of reason from some in Wall Street and US political circle, who wish the incumbent US president wont hamstring the incoming Biden administration in making decisions related to China, the article stated. Sadly for them, the NYSE has since reversed course again and said on Jan. 6 that it would go ahead in delisting the three Chinese telecom companies. (Related: Will China retaliate against POTUS Trumps tariffs with ban on rare earth materials? Green energy production could be sharply impacted.) China prefers Biden over Trump An AP article published prior to the U.S. presidential election stated that Chinese leaders hope Washington will tone down conflicts over trade, technology and security if Joe Biden wins the Nov. 3 presidential election. Yu Wanli, a professor of international relations at Beijing Language and Culture University, was quoted in the article saying that at the least, Bidens policy wont be as emotional and ridiculous as Trumps. Zhong Yuan, a researcher focused on Chinas political system, explained in a commentary article published in the Chinese-language Epoch Times that the CCP preferred a Biden presidency because he would implement a policy of engagement with Beijing. According to Zhong, there was an urgency for the CCP to start working with Biden because there is an internal division within the Party about how to handle the deteriorating SinoU.S. ties. Zhong added the division threatened the position of Chinese leader Xi Jinping within the Party and was it likely the reason why the Chinese state-run media took up the position of supporting Biden. Interestingly, Chinese leaders favored Trump over Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election. But they were turned off in a major way when Trump increased tariffs on Chinese exports in 2018 over complaints that Beijing steals or pressures companies to hand over technology. The Chinese are hoping a Biden presidency might restore a more predictable relationship between the two countries after the shocks of Trumps tariff war. Sources included: TheEpochTimes.com APNews.com BBC.com BRUSSELS - European Union leaders will hold a videosummit on Jan. 21 to discuss coordination on the fight against the coronavirus pandemic, a spokesman said Friday. The meeting comes as authorities across the 27-member bloc face criticism over the slow roll-out of vaccines against Covid-19. (AFP) On January 7, Facebook and Instagram suspended President Trump's accounts indefinitely, but at least for two weeks. Snapchat suspended President Trump's account indefinitely on Wednesday after the riots at the Capitol that left four dead and many injured. "We can confirm that earlier on Wednesday we locked President Trump's Snapchat account," a Snapchat spokesperson told The Hill. The spokesperson said the company is concerned about the rhetoric coming from Trump and the attacks on Democratic institutions. What is more, Twitch, the Amazon-owned live video streaming platform, disabled President Trump's account. Read alsoFour people die in Washington D.C. amid pro-Trump protests"In light of yesterday's shocking attack on the Capitol, we have disabled President Trump's Twitch channel," a spokesperson from Twitch told Axios. "Given the current extraordinary circumstances and the President's incendiary rhetoric, we believe this is a necessary step to protect our community and prevent Twitch from being used to incite further violence." Read alsoRussian chants heard in video of protesters storming CapitolD.C. unrest: Background On Wednesday afternoon, President Donald Trump supporters breached the Capitol building of the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C., where the meeting was held to officially affirm Joe Biden's election win. The meeting was interrupted after a number of protesters broke through cordons and rushed into the building. It was resumed only a few hours later. By the morning of January 7, Congress affirmed Biden's victory. Trump assured he was up for an orderly transition of power on January 20. More than 50 people were detained amid protests. National Guard troops were sent in to clear the Capitol. In Washington, a public emergency was prolonged until the day after the inauguration. On January 7, Facebook and Instagram suspended President Trump's accounts indefinitely, but at least for two weeks. Reporting by UNIAN Graham Norton has confirmed that Eurovision will go ahead in 2021 after it was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The host, 57, explained how the show is 'ready for any eventuality' even if that means some countries will have to appear on video because of travel restrictions. Organisers of the international celebration are also confident about the upcoming spectacle and are thought to be prepping four options for how the contest will go. Get ready! Graham Norton has confirmed that Eurovision will go ahead in 2021 after it was cancelled last year due to the coronavirus pandemic (pictured ahead of the 2020 special) According to The Mirror, the host told told Sirius XM radio: 'There's definitely going to be a Eurovision this year, the competition element is going to happen. 'I think they're ready for any eventuality. If some countries can't travel, they can Zoom in a performance. I doubt we'll be in a stadium full of 20,000 people.' He added: 'I feel like the minute we can [get back to normal], people will leave their houses in droves. And Eurovision, it's a joyous thing.' It has already been revealed that this year's Eurovision Song Contest will happen in Rotterdam. The Dutch city was supposed to host the event in 2020 but had to cancel due to the pandemic. Bring it on! Organisers are thought to be prepping four options for how the contest will be set up, with the potential of keeping some elements of video calling (pictured is 2018 winner, Israeli Netta Barzilai during her performance in 2019) In the coming months organisers are set to decided how the 2021 show will look and which bits of last year's extravaganza will be kept. Sietse Bakker, executive producer of the show, said: 'The stage will be carried over to next year [2021], because that was already prepared. 'Apart from that, a lot depends on what is possible at that time, on the availability of all those involved and on what fits the spirit of 2021.' The current date for the grand final is 22 May 2021 and it will be staged at Ahoy. Graham has provided his witty commentary for the competition since 2009 when he took over from Terry Wogan. He'll be back: Graham has provided his witty commentary for the competition since 2009 when he took over from Terry Wogan (pictured at the competition in 2018) Eurovision had to be cancelled in 2020 amid the coronavirus pandemic however fans were still able to celebrate as the BBC filled the evening schedule with an array of specials in honour of the acts and iconic songs from years past. Kicking off the themed line-up of shows was a UK vote for the nation's favourite song from its 64-year history. Hosted by Graham, fans saw an array of different acts from throughout Eurovision's history, before being given a chance to vote for their favourite. Following that a Europe-wide special Eurovision: Shine A Light aired live from Rotterdam, featuring all 41 acts that would have taken part in this year's final, with Graham once again offering his usual commentary. Over on BBC Two, Rylan Clark-Neal presented The A-Z of Eurovision to lookback at some of the show's best and most bizarre moments. TV personality Rahul Mahajan, who was recently evicted from Bigg Boss 14 as a challenger opened up about the different contestants of the reality show. In an interview with Pinkvilla, Rahul was tasked to select monikers for his house-mates. While picking names, he was asked to choose who the 'Angry Young Man or Woman' in Bigg Boss 14 was and he picked actor Eijaz Khan. "Angry 'middle-aged' man is Eijaz Khan. Not young man or woman, middle-age. He's my age so I told Eijaz bhai, 'Don't do this. You might get a stroke or a heart attack. Don't push yourself.' He's not well. He can't even shout anymore. He'll be like (makes gargling sounds). It will get stuck. So, I said, 'It not's good for your health. For a show, you should not sacrifice yourself like this,'" he admitted. The ex-contestant also added that he advised Eijaz to 'come into the comedy zone,' and show the audience his funny side. He said that those moments were not shown on TV as it was out of his character. "He had a lot of funny moments with me which was not telecasted at all," Rahul added. Rahul, along with Kashmera Shah are the two challengers who have been evicted from the Bigg Boss 14 house. Challengers are celebrties who were a part of the previous Bigg Boss seasons who are taking part in the current season to fight for the winner's trophy. Among the challengers, Manu Punjabi had to leave the reality show due to health issues. Vikas Gupta, Arshi Khan, and Rakhi Sawant are still in the show that airs on Colors. Rahul, who is the son of late politician Pramod Mahajan, was one of the most popular and talked-about contestants when he entered the house in Bigg Boss season 2. Sacramento, CA California is anticipated to have a one-time 26-billion windfall as Governor Gavin Newsom prepares to release his fiscal year 2021-22 proposed budget. The states non-partisan Legislative Analyst reports that revenues have increased this past year despite the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, the impact has been uneven as the states tax code relies more heavily on the wealthy earners, who have been less affected, especially in sectors like technology, when compared to shuttered restaurants and hospitality businesses. Newsom previewed some aspects of the budget earlier this week. For example, he is proposing a $4.5-billion Equitable Recovery for Californias Businesses and Jobs Plan, and a $600 stimulus check for those making under $30,000 per year. The Governor plans to release more details around 11 oclock this morning. Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. MP police finds evidence of teenagers gang rape on arrested robbers phone A mobile phone of an accused, arrested for an incident of loot, revealed evidence of a gang rape of a teenager, who didnt register the crime with the police fearing social stigma. Madhya Pradesh police arrested all the four accused and has now booked them for gang rape on Thursday evening. Read more Captain acting as BJPs CM, attempting to weaken farmers protest: Sukhbir Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Friday alleged that chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh has been working as the BJPs CM since the Congress formed the government in the state in 2017. Read more Covid-19: Harsh Vardhan inspects dry run in Chennai, promises vaccine in a few days Union health minister Harsh Vardhan, who on Friday oversaw the dry run for Covid-19 vaccination at government and private hospitals in Chennai and is on his way to the adjoining district of Chengalpattu said that the vaccine would be rolled out in a few days. Read more Elon Musk crowned worlds wealthiest: Here are 9 other richest people on the planet South African-born US entrepreneur Elon Musk has become the worlds richest person, with a net worth of $195 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the worlds richest people. Musk, the chief executive officer (CEO) of both SpaceX and Tesla, had a rather underwhelming response to his crowning glory moment, tweeting How strange! adding, Well , back to work. Read more India vs Australia: Steve Smith breaks Kohli, Tendulkars record as he scores 27th Test hundred Steve Smith roared back into form on Friday as he put an end to his miserable run in the four-match Test series against India. Smith scored a century on the second day of the Third Test in Sydney as he powered Australia to a first innings total of 338 runs. Read more Kiara Advani is extremely charged for 2021, her rigorous fitness post is proof After coming back from her vacation in the Maldives and ringing in the New Year in the land of white beaches and blue water, Kiara Advani has started 2021 on a fitter note. The actor, who was in the Maldives with her rumoured boyfriend Sidharth Malhotra shared a lot of gorgeous images from the little slice of heaven where she enjoyed the sun and gorged on delicious food. Read more Pieces of a Woman movie review: Simply brilliant, if you can get over Shia LaBeoufs problematic presence Pieces of a Woman peaks in its prologue. In hindsight, downhill is the only direction it couldve gone in. This isnt because the rest of the film is poor, but only because that opening is outstanding. Read more Rescue cat who lost her babies adopts two orphaned kittens. Watch Stories showcasing animal bonding often leave people with a warm feeling in their hearts. Just like this beautiful post that describes how a rescued cat, who lost her babies, adopted two orphaned kittens. A video of this feline family, shared alongside the post, has now struck a chord with many. Read more Watch: Kangana Ranaut, Rangoli reach Bandra police station to record statements Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut reached the Bandra police station on Jan 8 to record her statement in a case related to sedition and other charges. Ranaut, who has been provided Y-plus category security of CRPF personnel, arrived at the police station in suburban Mumbai around 1 pm along with her advocate amid heavy media presence. Watch here President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has said the United State of America no longer have the moral right to punish another nation. ... President of Zimbabwe, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has said the United State of America no longer have the moral right to punish another nation. Mnangagwa said this while speaking on the invasion of Capitol Hill by pro-Trump supporters yesterday. He said sanctions were placed on Zimbabwe by President Donald Trump in 2020 citing concerns about Zimbabwes democracy. Mnangagwa urged Trump to withdraw sanctions it placed, adding that the events that followed the recent presidential election shows that they have no moral right. His tweet read: Last year, President Trump extended painful economic sanctions placed on Zimbabwe, citing concerns about Zimbabwes democracy. Yesterdays events showed that the U.S. has no moral right to punish another nation under the guise of upholding democracy. These sanctions must end. The President used the opportunity to congratulate President-elect, Joe Biden on his confirmation as the 46th President of the United States. Zimbabwe is, as it always has been, ready to work together as friends and partners with the US for the benefit of both our peoples. Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021 4:04 pm Washington will next prioritize vaccinating anyone who is 70 years and older, or anyone 50 and above who lives in a multigenerational household, the Washington state Department of Health announced Wednesday. Dr. Umair Shah, the state's health secretary, said the state has not yet approved vaccinating people in this tier, called B1, but plans to later in January. Health providers and industry groups have been waiting for the guidance to begin preparations. The new guidance establishes a complex web of priority tiers and charts the state's course through the next four months of vaccination. As much of the nation struggles to increase the pace of vaccination, the guidance highlights the dual concerns of health officials, who must get vaccines into arms quickly, but also provide doses for those who stand to lose the most from COVID-19 if they are not protected. "These are really tough decisions," said Michele Roberts, the state Department of Health's acting assistant secretary, who said the plan is designed to be an "equitable way to protect people in our state most at risk." Meanwhile, state data suggests the pace of vaccine administration continues to trail delivery, though it has improved since last week. The federal government has sent to Washington state 522,550 doses of vaccine from Pfizer and Moderna to date, Shah said. Vaccine providers have administered at least 126,602 doses, Shah said, noting that data reporting of administration lags by about three days. In addition to the next tier of vaccinations the department detailed through April who else would be eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine, in phases B2, B3 and B4. Phase B2, slated to begin sometime in February, prioritizes critical workers who are 50 and over and at high risk because they work closely with others, including K-12 school staff, jail or corrections workers, food processing workers and agriculture workers. Phase B3, planned for March, includes anyone over the age of 16 who has two or more health conditions that overlap and cause concern with COVID-19. Phase B4, which is aimed for April, includes high-risk critical workers of any age, as well as people and staff in congregate settings like homeless shelters, correction facilities and group homes. Overall, the tier system refines and differs somewhat from federal guidelines, which suggested prioritizing those 75 and up, along with essential workers. Roberts said the prioritization is designed to first protect seniors, who are most at risk of dying or suffering from severe disease. "We know many families take care of elders in their home and we want to make sure we're reaching those families as well, to protect those at most risk," Roberts said. Roberts said the Health Department assessed data on risk specific to Washington state and also used feedback from the public in adjusting the state plan. "75 is a pretty high age to start with," Roberts said, adding that lowering the bar could avoid disproportionate impacts of the disease in some racial and ethnic groups that have lower average life expectancies. Janet Baseman, a professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Washington, said it was clear state health officials sought to strike a thoughtful balance with their system. "Prioritizing vaccine, when there are vaccine shortages, is always fraught because there are clearly a lot of people who should get priority and not enough vaccine to get it to everybody at the same time," Baseman said. "Trying to weigh the really elevated risk of death among the older age group and the greater risk of exposure among the essential workers is a real challenge." Baseman said speed is imperative, and if the system proves too complicated for those administering vaccine, it should be changed. "Anything that slows down the delivery of vaccine we have needs to be adjusted," Baseman said. Hospitals and industry groups for weeks have been clamoring for the state's guidance. "We're pleased to have it," said Cassie Sauer, chief executive of the Washington State Hospital Association, who said she was happy the groups outlined were "not so narrow" because hospitals had a difficult time parsing earlier advice on which health workers qualified. Some industry groups still sought more information, though. Tammie Hetrick, the president and chief executive officer of the Washington Food Industry Association, said she remained unsure if convenience store workers would qualify. "I am waiting for clarification," Hetrick said. Hetrick said she understood the state's reasoning with the tiers, but was disappointed with the timeline for vaccination, particularly because of its implications for the economy. "I definitely wish we could find a way to expedite this. My next concern is when are we going to open up?" Hetrick said, acknowledging that federal vaccine supply and state administration are factors that could drive reopening plans. "Does this get us really where we need to be? Maybe it's the best we can do." Meanwhile, some advocacy groups were displeased. "The prioritization they have proposed does not protect our food supply and ultimately that is what this should be about," said Erik Nicholson, who is representing the nonprofit United Farm Workers Foundation. Farmworkers younger than 50 would likely have to wait until April for vaccination, according to the state's plan. "It's too late," he said. "There are a large number of farmworkers working right now in the fields," pruning grapes, cherries and other fruit. Shah said the general public should avoid calling hospitals with questions about when they can be vaccinated. Health officials said they plan to make available on Jan. 18 an online questionnaire tool called PhaseFinder, to help Washington residents identify when they are eligible to receive vaccine and where they could seek vaccination. The tool, and the state's plan, rely on an honor system and for Washingtonians to faithfully represent themselves. Shah said it was the department's "top priority" to figure out how to speed vaccination's first phase, which includes health care workers, first responders and long-term care residents. Vaccine arrived in Washington state on Dec. 14., and some hospital workers received shots the next day. The effort to vaccinate at long-term care facilities largely relies on a federal partnership with CVS and Walgreens pharmacies that launched Dec. 28. Public health experts promised early days of vaccination would be marked by logistics hiccups, with underfunded health agencies and hospitals stressed by COVID-19 leading the effort to get vaccines into people's arms. Indeed, the rollout in Washington has been uneven at times. Early on, miscommunication between state and federal officials clouded the state's expectations of vaccine supply, and shipments to hospitals were delayed or changed, confounding plans. Some hospitals in rural areas have reported receiving an excess of vaccine for the number of people eligible in their communities. Many health care providers who qualify to be vaccinated, but are not connected to a large medical system, have reported difficulty finding sites to receive their first shots. As concern grew over the pace of vaccination, the Health Department expanded the first phase to allow health workers not on the front lines to receive shots. Some 96,000 doses of the allotment the federal government has sent to Washington have been set aside for people in long-term care facilities. The federal program to vaccinate those in long-term care facilities is off to a "slower start than, I think, ideally, than we all wanted to see," Roberts said. Roberts said the state is working with Walgreens, CVS and the federal government to speed up that process, but said it was a complicated endeavor with about 2,400 facilities to visit. Those administering vaccine must sometimes travel from room to room. "It's a much slower pace than having employees standing in line," Roberts said, making a comparison to hospitals. ___ (c)2021 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A familiar face returns to Red Shores Racetrack and Casino at the Charlottetown Driving Park this Saturday (Jan. 9), as Rose Run Quest will take on Prince Edward Island's best in the $2,900 Preferred Pace. First post time for the 14-dash Saturday program is 12:30 p.m. AST. Rose Run Quest, a former Governors Plate champion, returns to the Gilles Barrieau stable after a short stint in Ontario for owner Blair Hansen. The 49-time winner will start from post 2 in the Preferred at 6-1 morning line odds after going down to defeat in all three of his Ontario starts. Screen Test, who carries a two-race win streak at the Preferred level, is the top choice from post 6 for driver Corey MacPherson and trainer Ronnie Gass. Other top contenders include Chocolate Swirl (Jason Hughes, post 3), who has won both of his East Coast tries from the red-hot Jennifer Doyle barn, and Revenant (Adam Merner, post 5), who also looks to build on a two-race win streak. Peter MacPhee with the Post Time Picks places Screen Test on top of his tickets: Screen Test blasted off the wings last week and made every call a winning one scoring in 1:56.4, MacPhee said. Hes assigned post 6 this week and well see what Corey does, but if they fire home in 28.1 again. he could triple up. Winter Blast (Ken Murphy) and Burn Out Hanover (David Dowling) round out the Preferred field. Valleygrove Farms' Woodmere Chella leads the way in the $2,900 Fillies and Mares Open (race nine) for driver MacPherson and trainer Gass. In her return to Island racing, she was the runner-up to Dreamfair Zenfire, who is not entered this week. Roselily makes her East Coast debut in the same event for trainer-driver Merner and owner Robin Burke. The seven-year-old daughter of Big Jim has been racing the claiming ranks at Yonkers Raceway in New York and has amassed 17 wins and $211,109. Race five is the Chef Of The Year Andrew Smith Pace, with Pacific Delight having been installed the morning line favourite from the trailing post 9 for driver Barrieau and trainer Ron Matheson fresh off a win in 2:00 in her return to the Island after racing on the Ontario circuit. Smith, Red Shores' executive chef, was recently named the 2019 chef of the year by the P.E.I. Association of Chefs and Cooks. Watch all the action live at redshores.ca and wager online at HPIBet.com. To view Saturday's complete entries, click the following link: Saturday Entries Red Shores Charlottetown. (Red Shores) Batavia, NY (14020) Today Sunshine and clouds mixed. High 62F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with light rain developing after midnight. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Someone, somehow, leaked a database of two million CCP (Chinese Communist Party) members, including many who are living and working in the West. The database was up to date as it also included current employment. China quickly responded in several, often contradictory ways. China denounced the bad behavior of whoever was responsible for stealing and publicizing the date. China also insisted that the database was of no practical use to foreigners. Finally, China insisted that the database was a fake, created to embarrass China. Based on what was already known about how the CCP operates and the need for key Chinese officials to be members, it appeared that the database was authentic. It is standard practice for CCP members living and working abroad to quietly form cells consisting of between three and a dozen members working in the same foreign company or locality. Originally these cells were meant to insure loyalty of all cell members because one job of CCP members is to monitor the behavior of other CCP members and the most efficient way to do that, especially outside China, was to organize cells. If one cell member misbehaved and was caught, all the cell members were held responsible. At the very least this became part of each cell members' permanent record, at worst it could mean a criminal investigation of each cell member. For overseas cell members this reliability aspect is particularly important because overseas cells are often engaged in carrying our espionage missions or supporting cells or local operatives that are. The CCP currently has about 90 million members. Few of these are true communists because the CCP has evolved from a political movement to a powerful tool for political control inside China and espionage abroad. Currently CCP membership indicates someone who is trusted by the government and is subject to regular, or special scrutiny by the government to regularly confirm loyalty and reliability. Since the 1980s, as China became wealthy by allowing a market economy, party members often took advantage of their party connections to become successful entrepreneurs. At the same time the CCP was no longer demanding ideological purity from new members. If they were loyal to the CCP, they could be members and most successful people in business and the professions became CCP members because without that they could not get far in their economic endeavors. Non-members were always suspect. This CCP member scrutiny has been going on for over a decade and serves mainly to detect and punish corruption. That was because after 2000 the senior leadership began to realize that the major threat to their power, and ability to control the nation, was growing public anger at the corruption common at all levels of the party. Cleaning up this mess is still a work in progress and a decade ago, as investigations into the extent of this corruption were conducted, it became obvious that the problem was far more pervasive and damaging than senior officials realized. By 2011 the government was publicly threatening to execute corrupt judges as well as members of the security services. The government leadership was getting desperate about stopping the growing public anger over corrupt officials, and the threat of rebellion, or just widespread unrest, that it implied. The CCP that has controlled China for over seventy years came to accept the fact that it is its own worst enemy. The problem is the ancient Chinese flaw of corruption. One advantage of joining the Party is that it gives you an edge in getting government jobs, especially ones that enable you to get rich by taking bribes. Since the 1990s, the government has announced several campaigns to eliminate the corruption, and all the anger and anti-government gossip among the people the communists are supposed to be serving. Most of these efforts hardly made a dent in the corruption. While more death sentences for corrupt senior officials makes headlines, its the millions of minor acts of corruption every day that cause most of the anger. One of the more common irritants is police corruption, which often takes the form of police being used by corrupt officials to steal land or other assets. In addition to that, police often demand bribes to avoid punishment for real or imagined crimes. The government acknowledges that there is a problem with the cops, but have not been able to do anything meaningful to reform the two million strong police force. Too many cops are basically for hire, often to the highest bidder among local officials, businessmen or gangsters. The central government can only intervene in a few places, and the threat of that ensures that the police put a priority on keeping the peace in their neighborhood. As a result, police commanders were punished because of the Uighur and Tibetan unrest, but not for all the bribes police took, but how that played a role in causing the unrest among the Uighurs and Tibetans. The local police were actually being punished for not being able to clean up the mess they made and the mass punishment of local police did send a powerful message to all Chinese police. There's a lot of corruption remaining in the military as well. Since the 1990s, the government has worked to eliminate the worst of the theft and moonlighting. The most outrageous examples of this have been curbed. Military officers no longer use cash from the defense budget to set up weapons factories they then run and profit from. Big chunks of procurement cash no longer disappear into the offshore bank accounts of generals and admirals. But there's still a lot of corruption. Much is still for sale, like promotions. Lower ranking officers and NCOs can still be found selling weapons and equipment that is reported "destroyed" or "missing." Commanders who are not doing so well can pay to have reports of their performance upgraded. The best indicator of how well corruption in the military has been handled is how officials personally assess the military. Senior Chinese officials still have doubts about how effective the military would be in another war, and that is discussed quietly before small groups of officials. Details of those confidential discussions often get leaked eventually. First as chatter and eventually as public comments to try and put the reported chatter into perspective. Even staff at the state controlled mass media pick up on in this quality issue. It has been noted, usually by journalists, that the army response to several recent national disasters, which usually employ troops for disaster relief, had problems. This is not supposed to be reported, but the journalists discuss it among themselves, and some of this knowledge gets onto the Internet and outside the country. People love to gossip, especially in a police state like China. But for the government, gossip against them is the first stage of revolution. And the biggest topic of such gossip are the unrelenting complaints about government corruption. Senior officials prefer to ignore problems until they can no longer be ignored. Corruption has reached that level and senior leaders are trying to improve the effectiveness and loyalty of CCP members. Most of the corrupt individuals punished are party members, although that is ignored or played down in the state-controlled media. Most Chinese take it for granted that corrupt=CCP member. Purging the CCP is not easy because so many Chinese are members. The government is using its new Big Brother continuing monitoring and evaluation (of individuals) system to make it easier to detect and deal with corrupt party members before there is a public incident. Big Brother is watching party members too and cell members are advised to keep that in mind. Since 2002, about 156 million fingerlings of naked carp have been rescued and cultivated by a rescue center located on the bank of Qinghai Lake, the largest salt water lake in China, contributing 23 percent to the recovery of naked carp resources in the lake. Photo shows fingerlings of naked carp. (China News Agency/Li Jun) The species of carp is endemic to Qinghai Lake in northwest Chinas Qinghai province. As the only large wild economic fish in the lake, naked carp occupies a core position of the lakes ecosystem. Having 18 outdoor fishing grounds with a total area of 15,000 square meters, the rescue center provides a shelter for 20 million fingerlings of naked carp to survive winter. "In winter, the temperatures on the plateaus are very low, and the oxygen content will gradually decrease. It is extremely important to help the fingerlings survive the winter. Our center is like a kindergarten for naked carps. They grow up from needle-sized fingerlings to one year old, and will then be sent back to Qinghai Lake, said Tian Wengen, head of a breeding ground of the rescue center who has been taking care of batches of naked carp "babies" for 10 years. Photo shows the constant temperature breeding workshop in the rescue center, December 28, 2020. (China News Agency/Li Jiangning) There is no aeration equipment in the outdoor fishing grounds, which means a very important job for Tian and his colleagues in winter is to timely remove snow from the ice surface so that the plankton can release oxygen in the water through photosynthesis. The rescue center has also adopted an advanced constant-temperature circulating water system to improve the quality of naked carp. Photo shows eggs of naked carp. (China News Agency/Li Jun) Under such efforts, the average length of the species of carp has been improved from 7.5-10 cm to approximately 15 cm, with its average weight lifted from 10g to around 16g. In addition, the center has meticulously archived information on the fish fingerlings, a move to protect the stock of naked carp from each sub-species, explained Shi Jianquan, director of the breeding center. Two staff members of the rescue center observe the status of naked carp, December 28, 2020. (China News Agency/Li Jiangning) There are more than 180 nurses out of work in CUH due to Covid-19. The HSE has issued a call for help to volunteer nurses and care assistants, saying it urgently requires the assistance of trained medical staff in Cork, the Irish Examiner have reported. The call for urgent assistance was put out through the Cork Volunteer Centre. The email sent to volunteers states that The HSE urgently requires the assistance of qualified nurses and care assistants in Cork. Please note that these are paid roles, but the HSE has asked us to circulate to anyone who may be in a position to help. The email goes on to say: they really need help. Read More This comes as Cork University Hospital (CUH) cancelled all but essential services after a surge in Covid-19 cases, the Irish Examiner reported earlier today. The hospital is currently caring for over 110 Covid-19 patients, surging in recent days and triggering an escalation plan that has seen all non-essential services. Hospitalisations from Covid-19 have continued to climb with 1,153 people currently being treated for coronavirus in Irish hospitals, with more than 100 hospitalisations in the last day. There are 109 people in ICU in Ireland as of 2pm today with Covid-19. Gerard OCallaghan, CEO of CUH, said the number of cases in the hospital meant it was the right time for the hospital to begin its escalation plan. The ICU in the Cork hospital has experienced a particular hit to its staff with 30 of their critical care nursing staff out of work due to Covid-19. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The Copernicus Climate Change Service, the EU's Earth Observation Programme, on Friday announced that 2020 was the warmest year ever recorded tying with 2016, the previous record-holder. The unusually high temperatures throughout 2020 happened despite the occurrence of La Nina, a recurrent weather phenomenon that has a cooling effect on global temperatures. The announcement confirms the continuation of a worrying trend, with the last six years on the calendar corresponding to the six hottest on record. It also highlights the need for countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions, which are the main responsible for global warming. While experts agree that current plans are insufficient to meet the Paris Agreement, regions such as China, Japan and the European Union have recently put forward more ambitious climate targets. Scientists agree that as the planet warms, the frequency and intensity of many extreme weather events increases. There were many signs of this in 2020, with record temperatures in the Arctic, very large wildfires in Australia and the US, and heavy downpours that caused severe floods in several Asian countries during the monsoon season, including India. Floods in India had a very high death toll, with 2,067 people killed. Losses are estimated at $10 billion. The analysis of mean global temperatures is performed regularly by several scientific institutions. In addition to Copernicus, observatories from NASA, NOAA, Berkeley Earth and Hadley, all monitor global temperatures throughout the year. Because they use different methodologies, there are small differences between the datasets and it's possible that these other groups might find that 2020 was not necessarily hotter than 2016. Despite these small discrepancies, all the analyses confirm the overall trend, with recent years consistently found to be the hottest on record. 2020 has been a turning point for international climate action. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused the largest decrease ever in the world's annual greenhouse gas emissions. And several major economies announced throughout the year their commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. China's President Xi Jinping said in September that the country will peak emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. China is currently the world's largest emitter, the country with the highest population and the planet's second biggest economy. Other countries in the region, such as South Korea and Japan, also announced that they would become carbon neutral by 2050. A few days before the end of the year, the European Union increased its climate targets and aims now to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 55 per cent by 2030, as compared to 1990 levels. And in the US, president-elect Joe Biden has pledged to rejoin the Paris Agreement soon after taking office, and to unroll an ambitious climate plan. The United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in November in Glasgow, could set the stage for a low-carbon economy. Over the next months, countries have to submit their updated plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions. And with renewable energies now as the cheapest option in the market, it is expected that countries will ramp up their ambition. A year of extreme events. In 2020, extreme weather events worldwide cost more than $150 billion, according to a recent report. These events included heatwaves, wildfires, floods and tropical cyclones -- all of which are known to be influenced by global warming. Extreme temperatures were constant throughout the year and broke several records. These include: Hottest day on record in Siberia, with temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius, the highest ever recorded north of the Arctic Circle. The extreme temperature was reached amid a heatwave that would have been "almost impossible" without climate change, according to a study. Ferry from Algeciras Arrived Today In line with the information already made public in technical notices by the Government, a ferry arrived in the port this morning carrying goods of animal origin from the United Kingdom to Gibraltar. It will be recalled that the UK and Gibraltar are both third countries now in relation to the EU. This means that goods of animal origin in transit from the UK to Gibraltar have to enter the EU through a Border Control Post (BCP) generally in France and then exit through the nearest BCP in Algeciras. They then transit in a ferry across the Bay to Gibraltar. The ferry, owned and operated by German company FRS, has allocated at least ten slots to trucks and lorries destined for Gibraltar in each vessel and six such sailings a week are expected. The infrastructure, including a new ferry ramp, were already constructed at the port with a view to a possible no-deal Brexit at the time of the Withdrawal Agreement. The facilities for Government departments, agencies and authorities to deal with the import of goods by sea through the ferry have also been put in place. The EU requirement for the use of a BCP for this kind of goods from outside the Union means that the processes and procedures involved are more cumbersome and more bureaucratic both on entry into the EU and again on exit. The entry controls in France being logically more intense than those on exit. This new mechanism applies to all relevant products of animal origin from the UK in transit through the EU and not only to those destined for Gibraltar. The Government has said it is very grateful to the different agencies, authorities and departments who have been working hard to make this a reality. It is also grateful to the food suppliers and supermarkets in Gibraltar with whom it has been working very closely now on these matters for a long time. There are some who have set up operations in the EU in order to formally import the goods and then formally re-export them to Gibraltar. This method does not require a BCP which is only required for goods in transit. The Government said it would also like to acknowledge the very close cooperation with the FCDO and DEFRA in the United Kingdom, who have engaged with our food suppliers and importers and organised webinars on the new arrangements. It is important to emphasise that the new ferry route only applies to products of animal origin from outside the EU in transit through it and not to all other products. It therefore does not apply to products from inside the EU which can continue to cross the border as usual without needing to use the ferry or the BCP in Algeciras. This whole issue is a direct consequence of our departure from the EU on 31 January 2020 and of the end of the transition period on 31 December 2020. Christine Angelica Dacera, a 23-year-old Filipino flight attendant who was named Miss Philippines, was found dead in an empty bathtub in a hotel room in Makati City, where she and her friends were having a New Year's party. The death of Dacera has raised a lot of questions, as she was raped and murdered by a group during the party. According to the first versions of the events, one of Dacera's friends invited other men to the party in one of the hotel rooms. She was the only woman. Witnesses state that she was seen in the bathtub sleeping and was covered with a blanket. Hours later, however, they realised that her body was purple and unresponsive, so they tried to revive her without success. Early medical reports have indicated that Christine died of an aneurysm, but police have indicated that she also had "sperm in her genitals" and that she had been sexually assaulted by 11 men in the room. The Makati city police chief made it clear that only three of those attending the party were friends of the young woman. The authorities have now managed to capture three of these suspects and are on the trail of the remaining eight. Reporter Stephanie Earls is a news reporter and columnist at The Gazette. Before moving to Colorado Springs in 2012, she worked for newspapers in upstate NY, WA, OR and at her hometown weekly in Berkeley Springs, WV, where she got her start in journalism. We dont know if this is one person or several people, but we know they are persistent, Earley said. I tend to think of Arlington Heights as a great community for people to live and a community that wants to be welcoming to all. So, to have someone sending a message of disinvite is disappointing. ATLANTA On Wednesday, while much of the countrys attention was focused on the riots unfolding in Washington, D.C., another standoff was taking place in Georgia. Militiamen and other far-right Trump supporters in Atlanta surrounded the states Capitol building in search of Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. As the group tried to enter the building to hand deliver a list of grievances about the November election, and Raffenspergers refusal to overturn the results, Georgia Capitol police, fearing for the safety of the secretary of state and his staff, escorted them out of the building, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. We heard reports of threats and left immediately, spokeswoman Deputy Secretary of State Jordan Fuchs said. Brad Raffensperger, Georgia's secretary of state. (Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg via Getty Images) Raffensperger is Georgias top elections official, who last Saturday was pressured by Trump on a phone call that was recorded and published by the Washington Post. On the call, Trump is heard asking Raffensperger to find him enough votes to overturn the results of the general election in the state. The standoff at Georgias Capitol building followed a small Stop the Steal protest nearby where roughly two dozen people, some carrying assault-style weapons, had gathered to challenge the legitimacy of the November election. One of the men in attendance was Chester Doles, a longtime white supremacist and member of the Ku Klux Klan, who made headlines last month after posing with a picture with GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler. Some cars passing the protest honked in support, while others looked on in dismay. The incident came the same day history was made in the state as Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff were declared the winners of their Senate runoff races against incumbents Sen. Kelly Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue. Those wins will give Democrats control of the U.S. Senate for the first time since 2015. Warnock became the first Black senator from Georgia and Ossoff became the first Jewish senator to represent the state. The Georgia state Capitol building in Atlanta. (Wang Xiaoheng/Xinhua via Getty) But the significance of those victories were overshadowed by what took place in D.C. Todays insurrectionist attack on the U.S. Capitol was incited by Trumps poisonous lies & flagrant assault on our Constitution, Ossoff tweeted Wednesday. The GOP must discard and disavow Trump once and for all, end its attacks on the electoral process, & commit fully to the peaceful transfer of power. In this moment of unrest, violence and anger, we must remember the words of Dr. King, Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that, Warnock tweeted. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. Let each of us try to be a light to see our country out of this dark moment. Atlantas demonstration was puny in comparison to the massive Stop the Steal rally where 25,000 to 35,000 diehard Trump supporters gathered before hundreds of them stormed the Capitol and occupied it before the National Guard was called to restore order. Four people died as a result of that rally, according to Washington, D.C., police. Supporters of President Trump at a "Stop the Steal" rally in Georgia. (Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire) In an interview with Yahoo News on Thursday, Warnock maintained that Wednesdays riot in D.C. shows that words matter. What we saw yesterday is that words have power, Warnock said. Unfortunately, the occupant of the White House has been ginning up this bigotry, frustrations and resentments [for] some time. The problem is its been aided and abetted by other politicians, including my opponent during this Senate race. So this is what you get. Cover thumbnail photo: Dustin Chambers/Bloomberg via Getty Images _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Arad border police caught 16 migrants from Afghanistan, Pakistan, Cameroon and the Ivory Coast who in the last 24 hours attempted to leave Romania illegally on foot or hiding in cargo lorries. A lorry driven by a 52-year-old Turkish national hauling auto parts to Slovakia was checked at the Border Crossing Point (PTF) in Varsand. "Following specific risk analysis, border guards carried out a thorough control of the vehicle. Thus, five people were discovered inside the lorry, hidden in the cargo compartment. During preliminary checks, the border guards established that the people are citizens of Afghanistan, aged between 16 and 24," reads a press statement released on Friday by the Arad Border Police.At Nadlac II a lorry driven by a 36-year-old Romanian hauling refrigerators to France was checked. Six people, young people from Afghanistan and Pakistan aged between 18 and 29, were found hidden in the cargo compartment.Also in the PTF Nadlac II area five migrants were caught in the field, about 100 metres away from the border line with Hungary attempting to cross into Hungary on foot. It has been established that they are from Cameroon and the Ivory Coast and are between 21 and 39 years old.In all cases, the migrants could be prosecuted for attempting to cross the state border illegally, and the two drivers for trafficking in migrants. The Syrian army's air defences responded to an Israeli missile attack on several targets south of the capital Damascus late Wednesday, Syria's military said .A military official said the air defences shot down several missiles before they hit their targets. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, an opposition war monitor, said Israel struck positions in the southern province of Sweida, adding that there were casualties. It did not say how many. There was no immediate word from the Israeli side. In the past few years, Israel has acknowledged carrying out dozens of airstrikes in Syria, most of them aimed at suspected Iranian weapons shipments believed to be bound for Lebanon's Hezbollah. In recent months, Israeli officials have expressed concern that Hezbollah is trying to establish production facilities to make precision- guided missiles. (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) Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday slammed NCW member Chandramukhi Devi for her remark a day earlier that the gang rape and murderous assault on a woman in Badaun would not have happened if she had not stepped out alone in the evening or if she were accompanied by a child. "Do you think that women's safety will be ensured after this kind of statement? The NCW member is blaming the victim for the crime. The administration is upset how the post-mortem report got leaked; in Moradabad, a victim is battling for her life. Women will not forgive this kind of treatment," the Congress leader said. National Commission for Women member Chandramukhi Devi had visited the village of the 50-year-old gang-rape victim in Badaun district of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, and stirred a hornet's nest by saying that the crime would not have happened had the woman not stepped out alone in the evening. "This is a crime that has shamed humanity, but I would also like to say that women should not step out alone at odd hours. I feel that had the woman not stepped out in the evening, or one of her children had accompanied her, the incident would not have happened," the NCW member allegedly said. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said: "I don't know how and why the member has said this but women have the right to move on their own free will, whenever and wherever they want to." The victim had gone to a temple on Sunday evening and was gang-raped and brutally assaulted by the temple priest and his accomplices. She was dropped outside her home in a critically injured condition by two men on Sunday night. She later succumbed to her grievous injuries. A great-grandmother's heart-warming reaction to receiving meals on her front porch from her 'angels' has delighted people across the country. Mary Ronald, 84, was interviewed on ITV News on Wednesday as she was handed her lunch from volunteers in Cardiff. And viewers fell in love with her exclamations of joy, with many falling in love with her bubbly personality as she received meals from Leanne and Sue. She said of the deliveries: 'It's a lifesaver, it's a lifesaver. Mary Ronald praised those who deliver her food as 'guardian angles' in an endearing clip shared on social media from ITV News 'The girls are wonderful. I don't know we'd do without them. The loneliness we've had for months now and without them I don't think I could go on. 'It's been tough, very lonely on my own but they're wonderful. They cheer me up, they bring me things. I praise them all the time. 'They're all angels to me, they're all angels. 'I've never known it so bad.' Grandson Matthew De Freitas, 36, told the MailOnline people have always loved his nan's positivity. He said: 'She's hilarious. 'Nothing was put on for the cameras, she's just a really positive lady. Everything she says is gold. 'She said she might be on the news and we were all watching. My phone lit up afterwards saying we've seen you nan. I told her about it and she was chuffed. Everyone has really taken to her, she's loving it. 'Lockdown has been horrendous for her but she's never negative. She just sits in and watches the telly and her DVDs. She's watched them all two or three times. We've tried things like the internet and Netflix but she won't have it. 'Everyone who comes into her life can't believe how positive she is.' He had earlier tweeted a link to his nan's chat on the telly, talking of his pride. Telly viewers loved Mary's attitude as she told the reporter about lockdown life. Tim Bullock tweeted: 'What a great lady. Who were the girls who were helping her? They sound wonderful too.' Another added: 'Star quality, you either have it or you don't-Mary has it!' And one account said of the great-grandmother: 'Iconic queen.' NEW DELHI: The much-awaited teaser of Yash starrer KGF 2 was released on Thursday (January 7) to contain the damage of the video's leak. The makers had initially planned to release the teaser on Friday, to mark the 36th birthday of KGF star Yash. The 2:17 long teaser also brings glimpses of Raveena Tandon, Sanjay Dutt, who will be seen as Adheera in the film, lead protagonist Srinidhi Shetty. While Srinidhi Shetty and Yash will be seen reprising their roles of Rocky Bhai and Reena, the addition of Sanjay and Raveena to the cast has added to the expectation of those who are awaiting the release of the film on the big screen. The teaser of the KGF: Chapter 2 begins with glimpses of promise that protagonist Rocky made to his dying mother, that he won't die in poverty. The power-packed teaser which has glimpses from the prequel, focuses primarily on the introduction of the new powerful Rocky Bhai and antagonist Sanjay Dutt. The shooting of Chapter 2 began in March 2019 and the film was scheduled to release in October 2020 but was delayed due to Sanjay Dutt's illness as well as Coronavirus pandemic. KGF: Chapter 2, which is a Kannada language period-drama film, will be dubbed in Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Telugu languages. The film has been marked as the most expensive and first Rs 100 crore budget film in history of Kannada cinema. The film also features Prakash Raj and Achyuth Kumar playing key roles. Berkeley County Sheriffs Office deputies are now wearing green-colored uniforms with a new patch design as opposed to the previous blue uniforms. Former first lady Michelle Obama on Thursday voiced her outrage against Wednesdays violence in Washington, DC when thousands of protesters supporting President Donald Trump laid siege to the US Capitol as the process to validate Joe Bidens victory was on. The protesters were demanding that presidential election result be overturned. In a statement posted on Twitter, Michelle described Trump as infantile and unpatriotic as she said, the day was a fulfillment of the wishes of a President who cant handle the truth of his own failures. She also suggested that the protesters would have been treated differently had they been Black. This summers Black Lives Matter protests were an overwhelmingly peaceful movement... And yet, in city after city, day after day, we saw peaceful protesters met with brute force. In contrast, those who desecrated the center of American government this week were led out of the building, not in handcuffs, but free to carry on with their days, she said. Also Read | US Congress certifies Joe Bidens win: The whos who of president-elects cabinet Yesterday made it painfully clear that certain Americans are, in fact, allowed to denigrate the flag and symbols of our nation. Theyve just got to look the right way, she also said. Further noting that true progress can only be possible once we acknowledge that this disconnect exists and take steps to repair it, she wrote, That also means coming to grips with the reality that millions voted for a man so obviously willing to burn our democracy down for his own ego. Michelle also called on Silicon Valley which is home to many startups and global technology giants like Apple, Facebook and Google, to address its role and ban Trump from its platform for fuelling insurrection. Now is the time for Silicon Valley companies to stop enabling this monstrous behavior - and go even further than they have already by permanently banning this man from their platforms and putting in place policies to prevent their technology from being used by the nations leaders to fuel insurrection, she said. On Wednesday thousands of protesters - spurred on by a speech given by President Donald Trump - marched to the seat of the US legislature, where some broke down barriers and doors to invade the building in an unprecedented act that played out on live television. But police officers in charge of security held off using tear gas until intruders had reached the heart of the building, where they roamed freely, ransacking offices. The scene stood in stark contrast to last years anti-racism protests in the nations capital and beyond, which saw demonstrators forcibly dispersed by police, and the National Guard regularly deployed as an early preventive measure. During the Wednesdays protests, National Guard reinforcements did not arrive until several hours into the chaos despite public knowledge of the protests. Following this, many Americans have accused authorities overseeing Wednesdays underwhelming response of double standards. (With inputs from agencies) 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. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry signed Jan. 5 a reconciliation agreement with Qatar during a Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the Saudi city of al-Ula. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement published on its Facebook page that Egypt is keen on [maintaining] solidarity among the Arab Quartet countries and their efforts to close ranks and remove any disagreements among brotherly Arab nations. The ministry called for building on this step to strengthen the Arab action and support relations between the brotherly Arab countries, based on goodwill and noninterference in the internal affairs of other countries. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Bahrain severed diplomatic and trade relations with Qatar in 2017, accusing Doha of supporting terrorist groups. Qatar has denied the accusation, saying the Saudi-led blockade aims to infringe on its sovereignty. The four countries had produced 13 conditions for Qatar as a price for lifting their blockade, including ending support to the Islamist movement of the Muslim Brotherhood, closing Al Jazeera television, removing a Turkish garrison from Qatar and scaling down cooperation with Iran. The content of the reconciliation accord between Qatar and the blockading nations was not disclosed, but Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud said Riyadh and its three allies agreed to restore full relations with Doha, including the resumption of flights. On Jan. 4, Saudi Arabia reopened its airspace and land and sea borders to Qatar. Today is a complete erasing of all disagreements and a full restoration of diplomatic ties. It will hopefully be a strong pillar for the future and stability of the region, Farhan told a press conference following the GCC summit. The top Saudi diplomat said the final communique of the summit also called for bolstering cooperation in combating terrorist groups and respecting the principles of good neighborliness. It remains unclear what concessions Qatar made to encourage Egypt and its allies to end their blockade. The summit communique gave no details, only speaking about a general pledge of solidarity. The Qatari Foreign Ministry said the communique strengthens the bonds of friendship and brotherhood between people, anchoring the principles of good neighborliness and mutual respect. Qatar Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also tweeted that the GCC leaders closed the page on disagreement. Egypt accuses Qatar of interfering in its internal affairs by supporting the Muslim Brotherhood, which Cairo listed as a terrorist organization in 2013. Hundreds of Brotherhood members have fled to Qatar in the wake of the ouster of Brotherhood President Mohammed Morsi. Cairo also denounces Doha for using its media machine to criticize the Egyptian policies and undermine the countrys regional and international standing. Pro-government journalist Mustafa Bakri accused Qatar of harboring the Muslim Brotherhood and paying millions of dollars to tarnish the image of the Egyptian regime and army. Reconciliation with Qatar paves the way for it to carry out more conspiracies against all of us, Bakri tweeted Jan. 4. In December, Egyptian state-run media decried Qatar for raising its funding for foreign think tanks to launch hostile media campaigns against Egypt. Several newspapers, citing sources, said Doha has increased funding for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace to write negative reports about the situation in Egypt and the Egyptian economy. Commenting on reports of a breakthrough in Kuwait-led efforts to heal the rift between the Quartet nations and Qatar, Ahmed Hafez, spokesman for Egypts Foreign Ministry, underlined Dec. 31 the importance of sincere intentions to achieve true reconciliation. [This reconciliation] should be based on the principle of noninterference in internal affairs, combating any threat to security and stability of the Arab countries and peoples and maintaining the Arab national security, Hafez said. Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud had invited Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to attend the GCC summit, but the Egyptian leader dispatched his foreign minister instead. Two Egyptian intelligence sources cited by Reuters said that Cairo was still insisting that Qatar end support to the Brotherhood leaders abroad in return for the restoration of relations with Doha. I think Egypt's reconciliation with Qatar will be a cold peace. Qatar's support for the Muslim Brotherhood will continue, Samuel Ramani, nonresident fellow at the Gulf International Forum, told Al-Monitor. If the past conduct of Qatari media outlets is anything to go by, they might tone down criticism of fellow Gulf monarchies but remain critical of Egypt, he said. Egypt reconciled with Qatar not expecting any concessions, so I don't see a partnership forming. Ramani opined that reconciliation with Qatar gives the Egyptian president a chance to show to the administration of US President-elect Joe Biden that he is pragmatic and willing to contribute to the stability of the MENA region. Shortly after the GCC summit, Qatari Finance Minister Ali Sharif Al-Emadi arrived in Cairo, where he inaugurated the St. Regis Hotel in Cairo. The hotel, which cost $1.3 billion and stretches over an area of 9,360 square meters (2.3 acres), is owned by state-run Qatari Diar real estate company. By investing in this project through the Qatari Diar company, Qatar practically confirms its commitment to contribute to supporting Egypts tourism sector and its vital role in economic development and job creation, and this project is one of the Qatari investments in Egypt exceeding $5 billion in various fields, Emadi said during the visit. Egypt and Qatar have maintained a vibrant underground commercial partnership despite political tensions. Qatar invests heavily in Egyptian petroleum refineries and Egypt wants greater Qatari foreign investment, Ramani said. Formally ending Egypt's political rift with Qatar will encourage Qatari businesses that have been sitting on the sidelines to invest in the Egyptian economy, he concluded. Trump Lost in One Stroke Whatever He Gained in Four Years Why Trump became controversial though he was not unpopular in equal measure? by N.S.Venkataraman There is no doubt that President Trump was a controversial figure. But, he was not that unpopular amongst American citizens,to the extent that he was controversial during his four years of administration. This is clearly revealed by the fact that Trump received support from a large number of voters in the recent Presidential election, though it was not enough to win in the election. Certainly, the recent Presidential election in the USA was not a wash out for President Trump. Why Trump became controversial though he was not unpopular in equal measure? Ever since Trump took charge as President of the USA and a few months before that , he has been the target for a section of the media, so called activists and critics. They carried out a relentless campaign against him and did not hesitate to use abusive terms ,publish uncharitable cartoons and even raised doubt about his personal integrity. When facing such vehement and motivated criticisms, Trump returned the compliment with equally vehement repartee in an attempt to silence the anti Trump critics. In such circumstances, Trump received media glare for all wrong reasons. Many American citizens and his friends abroad were disgusted that Trump brought down the stature of US President by recognizing the motivated critics, instead of ignoring them. Look at the difference between Indian Prime Minister Modi and President Trump. Both of them are leaders of the government in noisy democratic countries with media freedom at an extreme level. Modi has been called a thief by one opposition party leader and another chief mInister of a province said that she would want to slap Modi. What was the reaction of Modi to such abuses? He simply ignored them and went ahead with his work. Modi did not lose his reputation but his critics did. Obviously, Trump has a lesson or two to learn from Modi. Certainly, several measures implemented by Trump caught the imagination of American citizens. His efforts to checkmate China to prevent China emerging as superpower at the cost of USA, successful peace moves in Middle East region, promoting America first policy by preventing immigrants getting jobs at the cost of Americans and taking measures to ensure that the investment by American industrialists would be focused on USA and finally his moves in favour of Tibet by unequivocally supporting cause of Tibetans, victim of Chinese aggression, have all been very laudable measures, as far American interests are concerned. Some of the positive measures initiated by President Trump have not been taken by earlier President Obama. Trumps move to stop funding WHO and withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord have been appreciated by atleast some section of Americans. Everything lost in one stroke: After completion of the recent Presidential election, Trump complained about rigging of polls, which is unbecoming of a US President. Trumps refusal to concede defeat was seen as an adverse reflection against the election machinery in the USA, which means questioning the fairness and neutrality of the election officials. Finally, when the supporters of Trump stormed into Capitol Hill, which is the seat of the US government , Trump lost all reputation. Several world leaders have condemned the act of rioters protesting against the election verdict. Everyone thinks that Trump instigated his supporters to indulge in such vandalism. The criticism and the disapproval of the violent acts of protesters by many people and leaders not only in the USA but in several other countries is a disapproval of President Trump himself. Thus, President Trump lost in one stroke, whatever he gained in four years. The future history will highlight the negatives of Trump and ignore his positives. This is how history is always made. Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson will take a medical leave after recently resuming cancer treatments, the company announced in a statement on Thursday. Adelson's leave of absence will be effective immediately, the company said. President and COO Robert G. Goldstein will take the post of acting CEO and chairman. The casino billionaire, who is 87, first announced that he was being treated for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma back in 2019. He is the 39th richest person in the world, with an estimated fortune of $34.1 billion as of Friday, according to Bloomberg's real-time billionaires index. Las Vegas Sands chairman Sheldon Adelson will take a medical leave after recently resuming cancer treatments, the company announced in a statement on Thursday Adelson's company owns the Venetian and Palazzo hotel and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, along with properties in Singapore and Macao (above) Adelson is the majority shareholder of the Las Vegas Sands, and one of the world's biggest casino moguls. The company owns the Venetian and Palazzo hotel and casinos on the Las Vegas Strip, along with properties in Singapore and Macao. Adelson is a Republican megadonor who recently gave $75 million to a super PAC that attacked President-elect Joe Biden in the lead-up to last November's election. Adelson and his wife Miram, 75, set new records for political donations in the 2020 cycle, giving a total of $218 million to President Donald Trump's campaign and various Republican causes. For the 2018 midterm elections, Adelson donated about $113 million to the Republican Party through various conservative political action committees. Adelson and his wife Miram, 75, (together in 2019) set new records for political donations in the 2020 cycle, giving a total of $218 million to Republican causes Adelson is a Republican megadonor who recently gave $75 million to a super PAC that attacked President-elect Joe Biden in the lead-up to last November's election A five-day view of Las Vegas Sands shares shows the stock sliding on Thursday He also owns the largest circulating newspaper in the Nevada, the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Though Adelson is not the listed publisher of the Review-Journal, the rival Las Vegas Sun recently accused him of having 'operational control' of the paper in a court dispute over a joint-operating agreement. Adelson recently made news for offering his private jet to Jonathan Pollard, who spent 30 years in U.S. prison for spying for Israel. Pollard used Adelson's lavish private Boeing 737 to return to Israel last month, after finishing his sentence for selling classified U.S. secrets to the nation in the 1980s. Las Vegas Sands shares were down 1.4 percent in afternoon trading on Friday, following news of Adelson's medical leave. Judge Merrick Garland, nominated by President-elect Joe Biden as attorney general, speaks during a press conference at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., on Jan. 7, 2021. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images) Garland Promises an Independent Department of Justice If Confirmed as Attorney General Attorney General nominee Merrick Garland on Thursday said he would oversee an independent Department of Justice if confirmed by the Senate. Garland recounted during a press conference how one of his first jobs was assisting then-Attorney General Ben Civiletti decades ago. Civiletti sought to turn norms that would ensure the departments adherence to the rule of law into written policies, Garland said. Those policies included: guaranteeing the independence of the department from partisan influence and law enforcement investigations, regulating communications with the White House, establishing guidelines for FBI investigations, ensuring respect for the professionalism of DOJs lawyers and agents, and setting our principles to guide the exercise of prosecutorial discretion. Those policies became part of the DNA of every career lawyer and agent, he said. If confirmed, my mission as Attorney General will be to reaffirm those policies as the principles upon which the department operates. As Ed Levi said at his own swearing-in, Nothing can more weaken the quality of life, or more imperil the realization of the goals we all hold dear, than our failure to make clear by words and deed that our law is not the instrument of partisan purpose. Garland worked in the Department of Justice (DOJ) until 1997, when he became a federal judge. He still works as a judge, pending his confirmation. Garland said he believes the essence of the rule of law is that like cases are treated alike and that Democrats and Republicans should not be treated differently. He mentioned ensuring racial equity in the justice system and pursuing violent extremists. President-elect Joe Biden, who announced Garlands nomination earlier Thursday, said he made clear to DOJ nominees that they wouldnt work for him. You are not the president or the vice presidents lawyer. Your loyalty is not to me. Its to the law, the Constitution, the people of this nation, to guarantee justice, Biden said. Hunter Biden (L) embraces his father, President-elect Joe Biden, in Wilmington, Del., on Nov. 7, 2020. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AP Photo) The Democrat has faced questions about how his administration would handle the ongoing probe into his son, Hunter Biden. The Trump administrations DOJ has declined to appoint a special counsel to oversee that probe, which supporters say would insulate it from potential interference once Biden enters office. Biden later praised Garland, saying he embodies honor, decency, integrity, fidelity to the rule of law and judicial independence. He said he expects Garland will be swiftly confirmed by the Senate. Garland is familiar to Biden. During the Obama administration, when Biden was vice president, Garland was nominated to the Supreme Court. Republicans in the Senate declined to hold a vote on the nomination, stalling it until the 2016 presidential election. President Donald Trump eventually filled the seat with Neil Gorsuch. Other Biden nominees to the DOJ include Lisa Monaco as nominee for deputy attorney general, Vanita Gupta as nominee for associate attorney general, and Kristen Clarke as nominee for assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division. Most consumers don't associate sustainability with meat processing. However, sustainability is the mission of OSI Group, an Illinois-based conglomerate of meat processors that operates 65 facilities in 17 countries. According to OSI Group's website, the company's overall sustainability goal is to "maintain a positive and sustainable relationship with the people, the communities and the environments we contact. We work to responsibly manage our business within the social, economic and environmental frameworks in which we operate while continually exploring ways to improve our sustainability impact." Those are some pretty ambitious and lofty statements. However, this company is not just "talking the talk." OSI Group applies sustainability best practices in all aspects of its work. For example, the company treats all animals respectfully and promotes good antibiotic stewardship, uses natural resources responsibly and helps to reduce risk of climate change by mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. It also makes sure that all OSI Group workplaces are spaces where everyone's rights are protected. Additionally, the company has a stated goal of giving back to the communities where it operates and to practice overall good social responsibility. Helping to Make Sustainability an Industry Best Practice OSI Group isn't satisfied with making sustainability business as usual for its own facilities. The company strives to make these best sustainability practices industry norms. To that end, the company has created the OSI Sustainability 365 Program. This program, which began in 2019, recognizes those farmers in the OSI Group supply chain that practice sustainable farming. It also provides a forum where farmers and others in the supply chain can share ideas regarding sustainability best practices. Recently, OSI Group has entered into partnerships with members of the US. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB) who are also interested in sustainability in an effort to help ranchers and farmers improve grazing conditions and practices in the Northern Great Plains area of Montana. These partnerships are designed to promote and instruct ranchers and farmers on more restorative grazing methods. The goal of this group is to expand the program to include 200,000 acres of Montana grassland. Restorative grazing includes practices like rotational grazing, which involves moving livestock on a regular schedule to different pastures. This practice works to stimulate vegetation growth in the different areas and allows longer periods of rest for the areas that cattle previously occupied. Some of the many benefits of restorative grazing include improving overall soil health and reducing ranchers' carbon footprint. Interestingly, OSI Group, which has supplied beef burger patties to McDonald's restaurants for more than 65 years, has recently partnered with Impossible Foods (IF) to create and distribute the Impossible Burger, a plant-based alternative to a traditional hamburger that mimics real beef in color, texture and taste. This partnership, which began in early 2019, allowed IF to immediately double its production capacity and will quadruple it down the road. The Impossible Burger is available at select food outlets in the United States and beyond, including Burger King, Cheesecake Factory, White Castle, Applebee's, Red Robin and a variety of pizza restaurants. In explaining this unconventional move to farmers, David McDonald, president and Chief Operating Officer of OSI said, "Expanding into plant-based proteins is an addition to our company's product offering, not a replacement. OSI is committed to supporting sustainable farming and agriculture and will continue to put sustainability for all our supply chains and operations at the forefront of our mission." OSI Group Awarded for Its Sustainability Efforts OSI Group has been recognized by numerous organizations. These include the Sustainability and Environment prize from Spain's Meat Industry Association, a number of North American Meat Institute Environmental Recognition Awards, environmental prizes from the British Safety Council and, in 2017, the 3-Star Good Production Chicken Award in China. In addition, OSI Group leadership has been recognized. For example, The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) honored President and Chief Operating Officer David McDonald with the E. Floyd Forbes Award in 2019. The company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon Lavin was inducted into the Meat Industry Hall of Fame in 2013 and NAMI presented him with the Edward C. Jones Community Service Award in 2016. About OSI Group The OSI Group was founded in 1909 as a Chicago-area meat market in the suburbs of Chicago. It expanded into the wholesale meat trade in 1917, then became known as Otto & Sons in 1928. Over several decades it established a local reputation for offering quality meats. The company expanded in 1955 when it became the first of the four suppliers of fresh beef to Ray Kroc's first McDonald's restaurants. It's a relationship that continues to this day. "Forbes" magazine included The OSI Group in 2018 as #68 on its list of America's largest privately-held companies. OSI Group facilities employ more than 20,000 workers worldwide and produce a variety of private-label meat products, including bacon, hot dogs, pizza, pork, poultry and fish. The company's reach has expanded considerably from Chicago and now includes facilities in China, Australia and Europe as well as the United States and Canada. In addition to McDonald's, OSI Group provides products to a number of other leading restaurant and retail brands. An executive with the Alabama Democratic Party is taking aim at freshman U.S. Rep. Jerry Carl, R-Mobile, and is criticizing him for his role in challenging Electoral College votes this week in Washington, D.C. Wade Perry, a Mobile native, told AL.com Tuesday before the siege on the Capitol occurred on Wednesday that Carls opposition of the Electoral College vote could signify an unwillingness to work on bipartisan agreements that will be important for the regions burgeoning aerospace industry and for its expanding port. Said Perry, Well probably be fine as long as (Senator Richard) Shelby is around, but it seems unlikely Congressman Carl, for example, will be willing or able to reach across the aisle and get things done for the Port, or Austal, or Airbus after action in such an egregious, irresponsible, partisan manner in trying to delegitimize our electoral process and President-elect (Joe) Biden. Carl joined his Alabama GOP colleagues in contesting the Electoral College votes in several battleground states, including Arizona and Pennsylvania, that backed Biden on November 3. Also supporting the challenge was Reps. Robert Aderholt, Gary Palmer, Barry Moore, Mike Rogers and Mo Brooks. The only Alabama congressional Republican who did not join in on the challenges was Senator Richard Shelby. Alabamas lone congressional Democrat, Rep. Terri Sewell of Birmingham, also opposed. Perry, later on Wednesday, said that Carl and other Alabama Republicans had sullied themselves and jeopardized their ability to work with a Democratic president and Congress to get things done for Alabama and Alabamians. A Carl spokesman, on Wednesday, defended the congressman by saying he has a long record of bipartisanship. Carl was a member of the three-person Mobile County Commission prior to his election last year to Congress. Congressman Carl has a long record of working across the aisle at all levels of government to get things done for the Port, Austal, Airbus and our region as a whole, said Zach Weidlich, the congressmans spokesman. Congressman Carl is fully committed to the First District and will fight in Washington for his constituents. As a member of Congress, it is his responsibility to question elections. Adam Bourne, chairman of the Mobile County GOP, also defended Carls ability to work with Democrats and Republicans in a bipartisan effort that will be crucial in fighting for federal contracts for shipbuilding at Austal USA in Mobile or with continued expansion of the Alabama State Docks. Ive known Congressman Carl for a long time and certainly when he was a county commissioner here and my experience is hes willing to work with people of different viewpoints to achieve common goals, said Bourne. The concerns Mr. Perry raised is probably something we should not be concerned about given the history of (Carls) bipartisanship. (The Electoral College votes) wont impact his ability to serve the people and to achieve the goals for our area. Comfortable in my stance Backlash against congressmen and senators who supported the presidential election challenge is mounting in the days after the chaotic scene in Washington, D.C., in which lawmakers had to be evacuated from the Capitol building after a mob of protestors at a Trump rally charged the building and ransacked it. The sieged turned deadly with five people killed including 55-year-old Kevin Greeson of Athens, who died from a heart attack. Some lawmakers are calling for the suspension of Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley for orchestrating the opposition of the Electoral College votes in the Senate. Democrats are also calling for the 25th Amendment or impeachment to oust President Donald Trump before the January 20 inauguration of Biden as the nations next president. The effort to toss out Electoral College votes was led by Trump and was rooted in weeks of baseless and unproven claims of voter fraud by the president and his supporters. The claims focused on battleground states that were won by Biden. Numerous lawsuits seeking to overturn the results were dismissed over the past few months by federal and state judges , many of them citing lack of evidence of voter fraud. At least one GOP political strategist in Alabama is concerned that there could be repercussions on the state after seven of the eight Alabama members of Congress backed the Electoral College challenge. Those Republicans who stood by their challenge of the Electoral College after the seditious act of storming the Capitol may see punitive actions by the new Democratic majority in Congress, said Brent Buchanan, a GOP pollster based in Montgomery. Carl, in a news release Thursday, said the reason he voted to challenge electors from Pennsylvania and Arizona was due to what he felt was voter fraud and election irregularities in both states. Carl, during an interview with radio show host Sean Sullivan on FM Talk 1065 in Mobile, said he stood by his decision to challenge the votes. Tuberville was one of six senators to challenge the Electoral College votes in the U.S. Senate, down from about 13 before the violence occurred at the Capitol. Republican Senators were also initially planning to challenge electoral votes in other states, but only Arizona and Pennsylvania were contested. We did what we promised our constituents we would do, said Carl, during an interview that was broadcast on Thursday. I felt very comfortable in my stance and I felt everyone going in knew what would happen in (the challenges) not passing (Congress). I dont think anyone was thinking any different. But the events (Wednesday) with the rioting changed a lot of peoples minds (about challenging the electors). It did not change my mind. Asked whether he felt the incident would tarnish Republicans or Trumps legacy, Carl responded, Its a tarnish on America as a whole. We talked about reaching across the aisle. Its OK to disagree about stuff. That doesnt mean we need to take it to the next level and be violent. We need to slow down as human beings, as Americans and try to consider the fact our neighbors may have a different opinion but they are still our neighbors and we are still here to love them. Carls reactions were praised by state Rep. Matt Simpson, R-Daphne, who has also been critical of Capitol siege. Simpson said that Carl made a very strong statement condemning the violence at the Capitol and should be commended for that. I think we need to take a deep breath and really look at the rhetoric being used in politics today, said Simpson. I think many people are putting their own personal agendas ahead of what is good for the country and that is dangerous territory for us all. This is now their legacy Perrys criticism of Carl comes as state Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, and the chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party, is also calling out the freshmen GOP congressmen from Alabama -- Carl, Rep. Barry Moore of Enterprise and Senator Tommy Tuberville -- for having their first acts as federal lawmakers in participating in and voting for this nonsense. England said the three lawmakers, as well as U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt, share in the culpability for what happened Wednesday. This is now their legacy. Mo is not alone. @SenTuberville @CarlForAlabama @RepBarryMoore first acts in their capacity was participating in and voting for this nonsense. @Robert_Aderholt put his name on this BS as well. They share in the culpability for what happened Wednesday. This is now their legacy. Chris England (@RepEngland70) January 8, 2021 England has called on U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, to resign for his role in leading the efforts to overturn the presidential election and for being a ringmaster in Wednesdays violence outside the Capitol. Brooks, during a speech before Trump supporters, said, Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass. England recognized Palmer for at least calling out the Trumps rhetoric for inciting the violence. Carl, during his interview with Sullivan, declined to assess blame on the president. This was not the MAGA movement that I have been a part of, said Carl. I saw people and things yesterday Ive never seen before. He added, I dont care who they were. What they did was wrong. I dont care what side they are on, what they did was wrong period. What happened in Seattle and all summer in some of the cities weve point out (where Black Lives Matter protests occurred) and said, Im glad it didnt happen here, well it happened here. It happened in your house. We got to find out who these people are and what the movement is. PICK OF THE WEEK Dogs Best Friend Simon Garfield, Weidenfeld & Nicolson, $32.99 Credit: Virginia Woolfs childhood dog Shag was dispatched to the country for bad behaviour only to turn up at the family door years later, deaf and bedraggled, and go straight to its usual spot. Shag, it seems, came home to die. Its just one of the many shaggy-dog tales in this light-hearted but heartfelt tribute to mutts and our relationship with them. The central question is how did we get from hunting with dogs to buying them electric blankets or taking them to the pictures (such cinemas exist). Part of the answer lies in the special bond, based on absolute trust, that has grown up between humans and dogs. This engaging study, by turns wry, ironic and poignant, goes from prehistory to now. By the end even though the dog comes when you call you wonder who really is in charge. How We Live Now Bill Hayes, Bloomsbury, $32.99 Credit: When New York writer and photographer Bill Hayes wasnt editing the manuscripts of his late partner, Oliver Sacks, he was walking the streets of the city through much of 2020, interviewing and photographing strangers, grieving and forming new relationships the result a kind of journal of a plague year. He remembers the subway at peak hour, the stations and trains now eerily deserted. We stroll with him to his local bookshop where he calls his orders from the street, are with him when he visits his barber shop and recalls the comforting ritual of a trim, and are privy to his conversations with the homeless. Woven into this is his own tale, past and present. Although the poetry is less engaging, this is a vivid, often haunting picture of the Big Apple in lockdown. The Glamour Boys Chris Bryant, Bloomsbury, $29.99 Credit: The eponymous Glamour Boys were an anti-appeasement group of 17 British Conservative MPs 10 of whom were gay or shades of gay that then PM Neville Chamberlain, who had their phones tapped, hated. Although Bryant himself a gay Labour MP makes some sweeping, if not over-stated claims for them, saying, Without them we would never have gone to war with Hitler, Churchill would never have become Prime Minister and Nazism would never have been defeated, this is an atmospheric, intriguing read. Berlin was a gay mecca in the 1930s and they knew the city, were the first to see the danger of Nazism and lobbied relentlessly in alliance with Churchill, Eden and Macmillan to oppose Hitler in a viciously anti-gay Britain. Four of the 10 died in action and now have commemorative shields behind the Speakers chair in the House of Commons. Where Shadows Have Fallen Adrian Mitchell, Wakefield Press, $29.95 Simon & Schuster have cancelled the publication of an upcoming book by Senator Josh Hawley, one of several members of Congress who tried to overturn the results of the presidential election. Hawley, an ally of President Donald Trump, has been criticised for challenging the election results and accused of helping incite the mob that stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. His book, The Tyranny of Big Tech, was scheduled to be published in June. "We did not come to this decision lightly," Simon & Schuster said in a statement on Friday. "As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat." Senator Josh Hawley tried to overturn the results of the presidential election. Credit:AP In a statement posted to Twitter, Hawley said that the cancellation of his book was an affront to the First Amendment. A British couple who decided to spice up their Barbados holiday by inviting a Jamaican woman to their hotel for sex have fallen foul of islands tough Coronavirus quarantine rules. Andrew Luker and Julia Knightley follow a number of Britons, including Love Island star Zara Holland, to have fallen foul of the Caribbean island's strict pandemic laws. A security guard spotted local Mikaela Jacas hop over the wall of the Treasure Beach Hotel after midnight and enter the room where the couple were staying and raised the alarm. Police were called and the threesome were rounded up as they were enjoying a post-coital drink on the patio of their luxury accommodation. Andrew Luker (left) and Julia Knightley (right) have been fined for breaking Covid rules by inviting a Jamaican woman to their hotel for sex Knightley, a mother-of-four, has previously made headlines for using provocative images of herself to promote her cosmetic clinic in 2016 What are the Covid rules in Barbados? Travellers must arrive with a negative coronavirus test taken under three days before. On arrival, they must quarantine for five days in a govrenment-approved hotel, and then take another test The government says some guests may be fitted with electronic monitoring tags. Advertisement Mr Luker, a plant hire director, from Rochdale, and Ms Knightley, a beautician from Cheadle Hume, pleaded guilty to breaching the Covid-19 quarantine protocol when they appeared in court yesterday. They were each fined 2,200, freed on 7,000 bail, but warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days. Ms Knightley, 41, a single mother-of-four and qualified nurse, made national news headline several years ago when she used provocative images of herself in revealing underwear to promote her cosmetic clinic. She apologized after being accused of being unprofessional over the raunchy way in which she advertised her non-surgical cosmetic clinic in her town. A picture of a scantily-clad girl in black lingerie sitting on a throne and surrounded by whips and paddles is still on the cover of the Facebook page for the beauty salon she runs in her home town. The website states: Slip into a world of opulent grandeur and exclusive elegance, and indulge your desire for passion and pleasure. Ms Knightley is from Rochdale and has four children and was on holiday with Mr Luker, a plant director from Cheadle The couple from Greater Manchester were caught when Jamaican woman Mikaela Jacas was seen scaling a wall at Treasure Beach hotel in St James They were each fined 2,200 and freed on 7,000 bail, but were warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days Police were called when a security guard found Jacas sat with the couple on the patio of their beach-front room Ms Knightley apologized after being accused of being unprofessional over the raunchy way in which she advertised her non-surgical cosmetic clinic in her town With the right password, and the right knock at the door, you can find out more about our sensational anti-wrinkle treatments at Julia Knightley in Cheshire. Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who spared Love Island star Zara Holland jail for a similar breach of Covid regulations. Ms Knightley said ignorance of the law was no excuse for their actions. She admitting to knowing they could not leave the hotel while awaiting test results - but claimed she didnt know they couldnt invite guests to their room. Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologies. Magistrate Ian Weekes said he was baffled' by the couples actions. And he said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community. The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9. On Wednesday Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who dealt with Love Island's Zara for a similar breach of Covid regulations Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: 'Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologise' A magistrate said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community Love Island star Zara Holland was arrested in Barbados after trying to return leave with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9 Los Angeles: Actors Shia LaBeouf and Margaret Qualley have reportedly parted ways after the Transformers" star was sued by former girlfriend FKA Twigs. According to People magazine, the duo broke up last week. They broke up on Saturday. Theyre just in different places in their lives," a source said. LaBeouf and Qualley, who started dating after they appeared in NSFW music video Love Me Like You Hate Me" in 2020, were last photographed together on January 4, in Studio City, California. The source further said that Qualley is focusing on her acting career as she is ready to get back to work". Another source close to the couple said that Qualley was subjected to online backlash in the wake of FKA twigs lawsuit against Labeouf, which also played a role in things ending between them. In December, FKA twigs sued LaBeouf for relentless abuse", including sexual battery, assault and infliction of emotional distress. FKA twigs, whose real name is Tahliah Debrett Barnett, filed the lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court. She and LaBeouf had dated for about one year in 2018 and 2019, after working together on the film Honey Boy". Credit: CC0 Public Domain The blockchain that underpins digital currencies can be used much more widely to create smart contracts and immutable and protected digital products and services. The potential of this innovation is only now being recognized but looks set to start an intellectual and innovation revolution that will have as great an impact on society as the invention of the internal combustion engine did on transport and the internet did on communications. Writing in the European Journal of International Management, Tamir Agmon of both the Faculty of Management at Tel Aviv University, in Tel Aviv-Yafo, Israel and the School of Business, Economics and Law at Gothenburg University in Gothenburg, Sweden, discusses how distributed digital technology unshackles individual creators and producers and even multinational enterprises from conventional firms, financial intermediaries, and event regulatory authorities in a way that was not possible in the pre-digital age. "Major innovations are about reducing transactions costs," explains Agmon. "This has been true since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and it continues along the inventive process in the last 220 years." He adds that the nature of the emerging distributed, non-centralized, digital technologies are disrupting conventional markets right now, However, as with the motor car and the telephone before them, they have the potential to improve the welfare of many people by transforming the way we carry out transactions in the market in the future as workers, creators, and consumers. Indeed, this new distributed digital technology could bring us closer to the hypothetical notion of the neoclassical perfect market model wherein limited productive resources are utilized in a more optimal manner than is possible with conventional approaches. It is likely that recognition of this revolution will emerge most rapidly in the realm of information and communications technology (ICT) before the concepts spread more widely. More information: Tamir Agmon. The new distributed digital technology world trade and MNEs: another step in the inventive process, European J. of International Management (2020). Tamir Agmon. The new distributed digital technology world trade and MNEs: another step in the inventive process,(2020). DOI: 10.1504/EJIM.2021.111945 A 45-year-old Lithuanian man who was arrested this morning with more than 1m in cash in the van he was driving was moving the money on behalf of the notorious The Family gang, senior sources revealed. The suspect is being detained at Portlaoise Garda Station under anti-gangland legislation, where he is being questioned about involvement in a criminal organisation, to facilitate money laundering, relating to the suspected proceeds of drug trafficking, gardai said in a statement. Detectives believe the arrested man, who is based in the midlands, had been moving the huge cash haul on for one of Irelands biggest drugs trafficking networks. Gardai believe the cash was to be moved out of the country. It is the second major cash seizure against the gang in just over three months after a multi-million euro seizure last year. The west Dublin based drug trafficking mob led by convicted heroin dealer Brian Grendon (42) have been the subject of numerous raids by specialist garda units in recent years but they remain one of the biggest drug dealing organisations in the State. The Family gang have been using Dublin businesses to launder money for years. In June, 2017, in a major operation by the Criminal Assets Bureau five businesses were raided and another three visited by officers in searches which yielded than 1m worth of assets, including luxury watches and high-end cars. Friday mornings operation involved members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), intercepting a van on the M7 near Ballybrittas, Co Laois, at 6.30am in which the seven figure cash sum was found in the vehicle. Around 10,000 in cash was then discovered during follow-up searches in the midlands by detectives. Brian Grendon along with his older brother Philip are classified as two of the main leaders of the mob whose stronghold is in the Clondalkin and Ballyfermot areas. Expand Close Brian Grendon / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Brian Grendon Brian was jailed for six years in December, 2002, for the possession of 1.9m worth of heroin in a Palmerstown pub in November, 2001. Brians older brother Philip (45) is understood to have been released from a tough Spanish jail in 2018 after he was caught in a bizarre bust in August, 2014. Spanish police arrested him after threw one of two suitcases containing 3.8m worth of cocaine from a Valencia hotel window in a paranoid fit. Speaking about the massive M7 cash seizure, Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll, who heads Organised and Serious Crime, within An Garda Siochana, said: "An Garda Siochana continues to pursue organised crime groups who are believed to involved in supplying illicit drugs within our communities, the motivation for which is financial gain. We again today have made a significant advance in our attempt to dismantle organised crime groups, by locating and seizing the suspected proceeds of their criminal activity. "Despite our significant commitment to tackling issues associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, at this time, An Garda Siochana remains focused on protecting communities from serious and organised crime, including cyber enabled crime, drug trafficking and associated money laundering. 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 Read More Online Editors Researchers were able to enhance light-based chipsets for computers! Right now, people are demanding more powerful computing abilities for applications in artificial intelligence. These include speech and pattern recognition, or self-driving vehicles. The demands often exceed the capacities of conventional computer processors. And now, the researchers at the University of Munster are creating new methods and process architectures. They can cope with these tasks more efficiently. These experts revealed what they call photonic processors. These chips process by means of light, and can process information much more rapidly and in parallel. Electronic chips nowadays are not capable of doing this kind of task. Combining photonic structures with PCMs According to Science Codex's latest report, the scientists and researchers combined the phase-change materials or PCMs with the photonic structures. They used PCMs as energy-efficient storage elements. These materials are commonly integrated into BluRay discs or DVDs in optical data storage. However, the new chips are now unable to store and preserve matrix elements without the need for an energy supply. To solve this issue, the scientists used a chip-based frequency comb as a light source to carry out matrix multiplications on multiple data sets in parallel. Also Read: Samsung's New LTPO Screen Could Lead to iPhone With An Always-On Display! Will iPhone 12 Have It? Munter physicists explained that a frequency comb provides different optical wavelengths. These are processed independently of one another in the same photonic chip. The innovation allowed the new chipsets to enable highly parallel data processing. They can now do this by calculating on all wavelengths continuously. Top chip manufacturers today As of the moment, almost all giant chipset manufacturers are still developing and focusing on electronic chips. Although this technology has certain limitations, they are still able to integrate great features that can really improve the experience of many users. ElectronicsAndYou's are listed as the top manufacturers right now. Samsung Electronics SK Hynix Intel Corporation Micron Technology TSMC Avago Technologies Nvidia Toshiba Qualcomm Texas Instruments For more news updates about new chipsets, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Nvidia RTX 3080 Mobile GPU Specs, Benchmark Leaked Ahead of CES 2021 Launch This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Authorities are searching for a Birmingham man in connection with the December slaying of a woman found dead inside a north Birmingham apartment. Jeremy Lafayette Dumas, 36, is wanted for questioning as a person of interest in the death of 50-year-old Lashawn Williams Parrish. Birmingham police said Dumas should be considered armed and dangerous. Parrish was found dead about 11:30 a.m. Dec. 28 at Mayfair apartments on 12th Street North. Her son made the discovery when he had not been able to reach her for several days. Police said it appears there was forced entry into the upstairs apartment. They have not said how the woman was killed but said she was found unresponsive of the living room floor and pronounced dead on the scene. Sgt. Rod Mauldin said the slaying is believed to be domestic-related. Dumas is a Black male, 5-feet, 11-inches tall and weighs 195 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Authorities caution against approaching him and instead asking anyone to call 911 or 205-572-1162. Even his supporters might be relieved by his decision to stay away on Jan. 20. The country is in a collective state of shock and exhaustion following a week of alarming upheaval and violence inside the Capitol. The news of another death attributed to Wednesdays siege, Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was allegedly smacked with a fire extinguisher, adds to the anger and bewilderment and continues to narrow the target of responsibility. For more than an hour preceding the violence, Trump goaded his rallying supporters directly, repeating his stolen election claims and encouraging them to fight and to go to the Capitol: A distracted driver has been captured swerving into a traffic light and knocking it straight onto the ground. The crash, which happened at a busy intersection in Australia, was caught on dash cam. In the footage, a white Toyota ute can be seen approaching a green light and driving onto the median strip and knocking down a traffic light pole. A Toyota ute has crashed into a traffic pole at a busy intersection in Australia (pictured) The ute continued to drive over the light pole, colliding again with another traffic light close by. As the Toyota came to a halt, parts of the damaged vehicle were thrown across the busy road. But despite the vehicle carrying multiple glass panels, none of the cargo was damaged. The viral footage was uploaded to Dash Cam Footage Australia on Thursday, and garnered angry reactions from viewers. The driver continues to collide with the second traffic light pole at the busy intersection (pictured) 'Driving slow and most likely in their damn phone,' one said. 'Go home ute, you're drunk,' another said. Others were impressed the driver managed to save the glass panels in spite of the collision. 'I'm just impressed he didn't break the glass', one commended. 'How he managed to save the glass, we'll never know', another wrote. A 55-year-old publican who sexually assaulted a 20-year-old employee in his office and then asked: How was that for you?, later pretended that she had made an advance to him but that he spurned her approach. The publican later admitted this was not the case and he confessed to the sexual assault. He faced sentencing for the crime at Cork District Court yesterday. It emerged during the sentencing that the injured party recorded apologies he made to her on two occasions. When gardai questioned him initially and disclosed the recordings he said he was apologising for rejecting her approach to him. He later accepted this was not the case and he expressed deep remorse for his actions. The publican is not named in this case as the victim would be identified from identifying him and the premises in County Cork where it occurred over two years ago. Judge Olann Kelleher noted that the young woman who was 20 at the time had not alone been sexually assaulted in a significant breach of trust by her employer who was 55 at the time. But, he said, matters were made worse by the fact that she suffered constructive dismissal as she did not feel she could continue to work at the pub where she enjoyed working and socialising. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said the accused had brought 10,000 compensation to court for the victim. Judge Kelleher said it was not enough. He adjourned the case for a month so that this figure could be increased to 15,000 with sentencing to take place thereafter. Case background Sergeant Pat Lyons outlined the background to the case which arose out of a lunchtime incident on August 24, 2018. The accused was with the injured party in the office of the licensed premises. He pulled the injured party onto his lap, placed his hands on her vagina, over her clothes and he put his head down on her breasts and pretended to bite the injured party and asked, How was that for you? Sgt. Lyons said. Judge Olann Kelleher noted from the victim impact statement, which was not read out in court, that the injured party went to a shed at the back of the premises immediately afterwards and phoned her mother. She went home immediately when a bar manager at the premises said that is what she should do. She was contacted by the manager later who asked her to return as the publican wanted to speak to her. She recorded what occurred at that meeting where the publican apologised without specifying what he had done. He later apologised again in similar terms and again this was recorded. When the gardai approached him he denied sexual assault and said he had only apologised for rejecting her advances and hurting her feelings. Mr Buttimer, solicitor, said the publican had since pleaded guilty to sexual assault, engaged fully with the probation service and fully appreciated the consequences for the injured party. He said on behalf of the defendant that there was genuine empathy for the victim and for his own part, a huge burden of guilt. The solicitor said the defendant was never in trouble in his life, would not be again and that his actions on that day had caused significant difficulties in his domestic circumstances. Judge Kelleher said of the publican: He was in a position of trust and he abused that trust Her main complaint was that the accused changed his story and minimised his guilt although he has changed that completely since. The accused man pleaded guilty to a charge of sexually assaulting her on August 24, 2018. NASHVILLE The Tennessee Wine and Grape Board will meet Jan. 13, 2021 at 10 a.m. CST. In accordance with Governor Bill Lees Executive Order 71, the Tennessee Wine and Grape Board will meet and conduct business by electronic means. The meeting is open to the public to attend via an internet-based teleconferencing system. There is no cost to participants. Instructions and alternative methods of communication are below. The agenda includes approval of the previous meetings minutes, a quality assurance committee report, a Coronavirus Agricultural and Forestry Business Fund update along with other old business. The Wine and Grape Board is comprised of seven members and their purpose is to support the growth of the wine industry in Tennessee. For more information, contact the Tennessee Department of Agricultures Business Development Division at 615-837-5160. WebEx instructions: Click to join the meeting. Or enter the URL in your browser: https://tngov.webex.com/tngov/j.php?MTID=m8014f7858e82fcffba537bdacd3a1fa7 Enter your name and email and click Join. The meeting password is rkCZtdeu765. For audio connection: (Recommended) Choose Call Me and enter your phone number, including area code. The system will call you. If you are using your computers audio and video system, choose Call Using Computer. Click the Raise Hand button to be recognized by the Chairman. Connect to WebEx session at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting to make sure your connection works. WebEx YouTube tutorials are available: www.youtube.com/watch?v=fE5FnEUKtaE www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FCiXqFD1O4 To join the meeting via phone, dial 1-415-655-0003 and use access code 178 915 8857. AGENDA Call to order Bill Sanderson, Chair Roll Call and Minutes Rachel Sullivan Committee Report -- Quality Assurance Committee Update Dr. Tony Johnston Old Business CAFB Fund Update Kyle Hensley UT Research Proposal Dr. Alicia Rihn TAEP Application B update Erica Alexander New Business Next Meeting Adjourn Video of Tennessee Wine and Grape Board meeting A man who invaded the premises of Accra-based radio station Zylofon FM and succeeded in taking the station off the air on Tuesday (January 5, 2020) was shot by private security as he attempted to make an escape. In a statement, Zylofon Media, the parent company of Zylofon FM said the unidentified man broke into the company around 4 pm and threatened the life of its popular radio host Blakk Rasta (known in his private life as Abubakar Ahmed). The statement added that after a tussle, he was shot by the Head of Security of Zylofon FM with a licensed gun before the East Legon District Police arrested him. "This man first went to the station's server room, succeeding in disconnecting some of our cables, therefore, shutting down transmission before threatening the life of the host of the Taxi Driver Show, Blakk Rasta, known in private life as Abubakar Ahmed," the statement said. "It was unclear what the real motive of this assailant was but he engaged details at the premise a scuffle and sprayed a strange content into their eyes while baying for the blood of Blakk Rasta as he struggled to break into the studio during the live transmission of the Black Pot segment on the Taxi Driver Show. "The East Legon District Police team were immediately called in as the melee ensued and at this point, the assailant attempted escaping. Judging the danger at hand, our Head of Security had to overpower him and, in the process, shot at him with a licensed gun. "The Police team upon arrival wok the shot assailant away together with some staff of the station to help with investigations and has since taken charge of the promises to ensure protection of life and property. Our presenter Blakk Rasta is safe and unhurt". Read the entire statement below; 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 As the eighth round of talks between the and protesting farmers on Friday failed to break an over-a-month-long deadlock, Agriculture Minister said no decision could be reached as unions did not give alternatives to their demand for the repeal of laws. Speaking to reporters after the meeting that lasted for little over two hours, Tomar said the government is still hopeful that union leaders will come with alternatives to discuss in the next round of talks on January 15. But, he virtually ruled out repeal of the laws saying many other groups across the country are supporting these reforms. On whether the government made a proposal to farmers to join a pending case in Supreme Court on issues related to farmers' protest, Tomar said the government did not make any such suggestion but it is always committed to follow whatever is decided by the Supreme Court. Sources said the next date has been decided after keeping in mind a scheduled hearing of the Supreme Court on January 11 as the government feels the apex court may look into the legality of the three laws, besides other issues related to farmers' protests. Asked whether the government would consider any proposal for allowing states to decide whether to implement the laws or not, Tomar said no such proposal was made by any farmer leader in this regard, but if such a suggestion is made the government will take a call at that time. After the meeting, union leader Joginder Singh Ugrahan said the meeting was inconclusive and it was unlikely that any resolution can happen in the next round of talks as well. "We do not want anything less than the repeal of laws," he said. "Government is testing our strength, but we will not bow down. It seems we will have to spend Lohri and Baisakhi festivals here at protest sides," he said. Another union leader Hannan Mollah said farmers are ready to fight till death and going to court was not an option. He said the farmer unions will meet on January 11 to decide their next course of action. Jai Kisan Andolan union leader Ravinder Kaur was seen crying after the meeting and said many mothers have lost their sons and many daughters have lost their fathers. Sticking to their key demand of the repeal of three farm laws to end their protest, farmer leaders told the government their "ghar wapsi" from protest sites on Delhi borders can happen only after "law wapsi" but the insisted talks must be limited to contentious clauses and ruled out a complete withdrawal of Acts. At the eighth round of negotiations with the 41-member representative group of protesting farmers, the government ruled out the repeal of the laws, while asserting that these reforms have been welcomed by a large section of farmers in various states and asked the unions to think about the interests of the entire country. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Railways, Commerce and Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, who is an MP from Punjab, have been holding talks with unions at Vigyan Bhawan in the heart of the capital, while thousands of farmers have stayed put at various Delhi borders to protest against the three laws they find pro-corporate and against the existing mandi and MSP procurement systems. At the outset, Tomar appealed to unions for discussions on the laws, while farm leaders reiterated their demand that the new Acts must be withdrawn, sources said, adding that the agriculture minister stressed on protecting the farmers' interest of the entire country. "Our 'ghar wapsi' (return to home) can happen only if you do 'law wapsi' (repeal of laws)," a farmer leader said at the meeting. "Ideally, the should not interfere in agriculture matters as various Supreme Court orders have declared farming as a state subject. It seems you (the government) do not want to resolve the issue as talks have been happening for so many days. In that case, please give us a clear answer and we will go. Why waste everyone's time," another farmer leader said at the meeting. All India Kisan Sangharsh Coordination Committee (AIKSCC) member Kavitha Kuruganti, who was also present in the meeting, said the government has told unions that it can not and will not repeal these laws. Around one hour after the meeting, the three ministers stepped out of the discussion hall for their own internal consultations, after union leaders decided to observe silence while holding out papers with slogans including 'Jeetenge ya Marenge' (We will either win or die). The union leaders, however, refused to take a lunch break and stayed put in the meeting room, a source said. Before the start of the meeting, Tomar had also met senior BJP leader and Home Minister Amit Shah for about an hour. Separately, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also met Shah here. (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.) For nearly two weeks now, Avian Flu commonly known as bird flu has been silently spreading across several parts of India. Himachal Pradesh to Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Kerala have so far confirmed the outbreak, either among migratory birds, crows, or poultry birds. BCCL Many others like Chandigarh, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh have recorded suspicious bird deaths in recent days and they are yet to be confirmed to be linked to the avian influenza outbreak. Over 50,000 birds killed already A total of 50,935 birds have been killed in Kerala. Out of these, 43,206 were from Alappuzha district and 7,729 birds were from Kottayam district. AFP A total of eight districts including Indore, Neemuch, Khargone, Guna, Mandsaur, Agar, Dewas, and Khandwa have reported confirmed cases of bird flu in Madhya Pradesh, an official said. Madhya Pradesh government has banned chicken trade with southern states for the next 10 days. Maharashtra Animal Husbandry Minister Sunil Kedar said that the state government has issued a red alert in the state and asked the district officials to keep a strict vigil. AFP "We are on alert as avian influenza has caused deaths of hundreds of birds in states of Kerala, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh. Around 10-12 birds had died in Thane, samples of carcasses have tested negative for bird flu," he said. The Government of Jammu and Kashmir imposed a complete ban on the import of live birds, including poultry meat, for any purpose into the Union Territory with immediate effect, till January 14. BCCL It is believed that the virus entered India through migratory birds and then spread to local species and poultry birds. According to experts, the reason behind the high number of bird deaths is the strain of the virus - H5N8, which is highly contagious. According to the UK's NHS, there is no recorded data till now on H5N8 infecting humans. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! [January 08, 2021] Molina Healthcare of Ohio and Cityblock Health Deliver Innovative Model of Care to Ohioans Molina Healthcare of Ohio ("Molina") announced today an exclusive partnership in Ohio with Cityblock Health ("Cityblock") to bring its personalized health care program to 10,000 Ohioans in urban Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus. This partnership will launch in 2022 and result in close to 100 new clinical and non-clinical job opportunities across the three communities in the first year alone. Cityblock is a national company focusing on providing health care access for Medicaid and lower-income Medicare beneficiaries. The company provides personalized primary and behavioral health care for people who are experiencing complex needs in their health and daily lives. This personalized care includes 24/7 access to multi-modal care delivery, where doctors and other clinical and non-clinical care team members treat patients in their homes, community settings, virtually using telehealth, or at Cityblock hubs like the Molina One-Stop Neighborhood Centers to be opened in Ohio. Molina and Cityblock's close partnerships with community-based organizations and their focus on addressing social determinants of health will focus on inequities exacerbated by COVID-19, which has disproportionately impacted vulnerable populations. The goal of this partnership is to improve health outcomes by identifying and eliminating systemic inequities like access to nutritious food and stable housing. Cityblock's Community Health Partners, who are hired from the communities in which they serve, will work closely with Molina members in Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Columbus on their individual care plans, and will connect them to local community organizations and care teams to facilitate key needs. "Molina is dedicated to addressing the social determinants of health impacting the overall wll-being and outcomes of our members," said Ami Cole, Molina Healthcare of Ohio's plan president. "Our most vulnerable members can be the hardest to reach. We are excited to partner with Cityblock to meet these members where they are and continue to deliver innovative approaches to improving not only their health outcomes, but their overall quality of life." "We are thrilled to begin this work in Ohio through our partnership with Molina," said Iyah Romm, Cityblock's CEO and co-founder. "Like Molina, we believe everyone should have access to the care they need in their community. We will partner with community-based organizations, health care providers, and behavioral health specialists to deliver comprehensive care, improve outcomes, and drive access to truly equitable health care for those who need it the most." About Molina Healthcare of Ohio Since 2005, Molina Healthcare of Ohio has been providing government-funded, quality health care to low-income individuals. As of September 30, 2020, the company serves approximately 348,000 members through Medicaid, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Health Insurance Exchange programs across the state. To learn more, visit MolinaHealthcare.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. About Cityblock Health: Founded in 2017, Cityblock Health is a transformative, value-based healthcare provider for Medicaid and lower-income Medicare beneficiaries. They partner with community-based organizations and health plans to deliver medical care, behavioral health, and social services virtually, in-home, and in their community-based clinics. Modern technology is at the core of the model, with custom-built tools to support every facet of care team operations and member interactions. Cityblock currently serves 70,000 members in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit cityblock.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005062/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Schuylkill County recorded 161 more cases of COVID-19, the state Department of Health said Thursday. The new cases move the county total to 8,969 since the pandemic began last March. Figures from the department also put deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the county at 261, an increase of three. Statewide, there were 9,698 additional positive cases of COVID-19 reported, bringing that total to 693,087. As of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, there were 265 new deaths reported statewide for a total of 17,179 deaths attributed to COVID-19. To date, 3,337,716 individuals have tested negative in the state. The Department of Health also reported on its website Thursday that 177,767 doses of vaccine have been administered to combat the pandemic statewide, including 2,125 doses in Schuylkill County. Hospitals in the state began receiving shipments of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the week of Dec. 14. The next week, hospitals began receiving the Moderna vaccine. The BJP chief will float the Ek Muthi Chawal (fistful of rice) project, under which party workers will collect rice from farmers homes and brief them about the new farm laws Kolkata: Almost a month after his convoy came under attack, BJP national president JP Nadda will be visiting West Bengal's Purba Bardhaman district on Saturday to launch the party's new campaign aimed at wooing farmers, amid the ongoing protest over the contentious agriculture laws. The top BJP leader, during his daylong visit, would also hold a rally at Katwa and a roadshow at Bardhaman town, which would be followed by a press conference, sources in the saffron camp said. Nadda, in a bid to blunt opposition camp's "anti- farmer" allegations against the BJP-led central government, will float 'Ek Muthi Chawal' (a fistful of rice), a project under which he would collect rice from farmers' homes and brief them about the benefits of the new legislations. Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, are protesting at Delhi borders for over a month against the three laws. They have stayed put despite heavy rains and waterlogging at protest sites over the last couple of days, besides severe cold weather conditions prevailing in and around the national capital. "After our party president launches the campaign, our cadres will fan out to 48,000 villages of the state, where they will be visiting households of farmers to collect rice and brief them about the new farm laws. Nadda ji will address rallies, have lunch at a farmer's residence and hold a gram sabha meeting, during his visit," party sources said. There are 71.23 lakh farmers' families in West Bengal, 96 percent of them small and marginal. According to state BJP, Nadda's visit assumes immense significance as this will be his first visit to the state after the attack on his convoy during his journey to Diamond Harbour from the city on 10 December. The Home Ministry had subsequently summoned three IPS officers to serve in central deputation, following the alleged security lapses which led to the attack on Nadda, kicking off a Centre-State war and leaving CM Mamata Banerjee fuming. BJP state president Dilip Ghosh had said that Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nadda would visit the state every month until the end of assembly elections. Both Nadda and Shah were on a two-day visit to the state on separate occasions in December. Election to the 294-member Bengal Assembly is due in April-May. In this file image, a police officer stands at Hampden Park National Stadium in Glasgow, Scotland, on Dec. 20, 2020. (Ian MacNicol/Getty Images) Three Scots Arrested After Challenging Police Who Entered Home Over Suspected Lockdown Breach Three people were arrested in Scotland after they became irate and challenged the right of police officers to enter a home over a potential breach of CCP virus regulations. Some of the incident was caught on video, which quickly spread on social media. Scotland is currently under lockdown measures, with people not permitted to leave home except for certain essential reasons and are not allowed to enter each others homes. Police Scotland said in a statement to The Epoch Times, We received a report of an ongoing party in breach of coronavirus regulations at a property on Fonthill Road, Aberdeen, around 11:20 p.m. on Wednesday, 6 January, 2021. Officers attended and two women (aged 18 and 48) and a 43-year-old man were charged in connection with assaulting police officers and threatening and abusive behaviour and will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal. The statement made no mention of any legal actions taken for a breach of CCP virus regulations. In the video, a woman can be seen in a hallway arguing with two police officers, one of whom is just inside the open doorway. She challenges the officers right to enter her home. My house. That is bullying. This is my house. Get out of my house. I did not ask you in here, she says. The officer says that they could force the door if she didnt open it. She tells him again to get out, pointing her finger at him. Threaten me again, and Ill arrest you for a breach of the peace, says the officer. A man then puts himself between the two as she continues to challenge the officer with aggressive language. Seconds later, the officer physically starts to engage with them both and then they move out of shot. According to laws brought into force to try to stem the spread of the virus, police in Scotland can enter private homes if they think regulations are being breached. The officers believed that there was a house party, according to Scotlands Chief Constable. Police urge members of the public to stay off the frozen pond at Queens Park as sub-zero temperatures continue in Glasgow, Scotland, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) According to unconfirmed reports, however, a member of the household had returned from hospital, Police Scotland have publicized an online portal for people to report suspected breaches of CCP virus rules by others. Chief Constable Iain Livingstone said during a briefing today that he was aware of the incident, and that he was satisfied that the response was justified and proportionate. He has, however, ordered a full review of the incident by an independent human rights lawyer who has set up an advisory group to look at police powers during the coronavirus pandemic. Livingstone warned against overinterpreting from one limited video source without context, saying that they would be looking at body camera footage from officers. Police in Scotland have issued over 7,000 on-the-spot fines and made almost 550 arrest over virus-related legislation, according to Livingstone, with over 100,000 interactions with the public on the matter. Our communities have demonstrated forbearance when asked to co-operate with extensive, necessary restrictions on personal liberty, personal freedoms, he said. In general police in Scotland require a warrant to enter a homewith a number of exceptionsaccording to the Citizens Advice Bureau. However, regulations introduced this year stipulate power of entry if that person reasonably suspects that an offence under regulation 5(1) is taking place on the premises. Regulation 5(1) refers to a whole slew of legislation introduced to tackle the CCP virus, including restrictions on gatherings and entering other peoples homes under certain conditions. Farmers have been issued a security warning following a series of quad bike thefts on farms in Powys and Monmouthshire. According to NFU Cymru, a growing number of farms in these areas have been targeted by thieves in recent weeks. Several successful and unsuccessful attempts have been made to steal quad bikes and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). The union is warning farmers to be extra vigilant and mindful of on farm security following the incidents. Although these most recent thefts occurred in the Mid Wales and South East Wales areas, were encouraging farmers across the country to give urgent consideration to their on farm security," said John Davies, NFU Cymru president. "It seems lockdown restrictions and cold temperatures are doing little to deter would-be thieves from taking items, such as quad bikes and ATVs which are integral to our daily work, from our farms. It goes without saying that prevention is better than the cure and the most prudent advice is to make buildings, fields and vehicles safe and secure dont allow yourself and your business to be an easy target." It comes amid an increase in farmers across the UK using tracking security devices on farm machinery to stamp out such thefts. In 2019, trackers helped Police Scotland recover stolen tractors and quad bikes worth 893,000. How can I prevent quad bike theft? The recent incidents in Wales have led NFU Cymru to issue advice to farmers to help them prevent theft of quad bikes and ATVs: Invest in a bespoke quad security device or a quality padlock and chain, such as those approved by Secured By Design - a police approved product scheme. Never leave your keys in the ignition, even if you only briefly leave your ATV unattended. Keep gates to yards closed as open gates can be an open invitation to thieves. Install TRACKER devices on agricultural machinery as this system can support police with locating and retrieving those vehicles once they have left the farm ADVERTISEMENT ipNX Nigeria Limited is one of Nigerias fastest growing Information and Communications Technology companies. In our business, we connect everything people, information, and services. We are specialized in network connectivity, and delivery of internet, telephony, television as well as cloud-based software application services to corporate and residential customers. Job ID: 66 Location: Lagos Department: Infrastructure Function: Operations Reporting to: Head, Facilities Travel Frequency: N/A Purpose of the Job To produce designed documentation that supports the OSP infrastructure deployment. Design, establish, optimize and monitor the Data Centre network infrastructure to achieve an efficient data network with maximum uptime that will allow continuous business operations for both internal and external stakeholders. Expected Key Results: Design and implementation of LAN, WAN and SAN networks of the Data Center according to standards organization best practices and industry directions. Ensure the Quality of Service of the Data Centre network by continuous monitoring of network services and performance & reporting of network KPI statistics on a weekly basis. Regular optimization of the Data Centre network by tweaking configuration parameters to ensure optimal and stable infrastructure. Research and analysis of current and future networking technologies and its benefits to the organization in order to maintain competitive advantage. Ensure operational efficiency of colocation services of the Data Centre READ ALSO: Educational Qualifications & Functional Skills Bachelors degree / HND in any of the following: Electronics and Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, Computer Engineering and other related disciplines. (Second Class Lower/Upper Credit at minimum) Possession of Cisco CCNP certification. Other vendor technology certification (e.g. Juniper, Huawei) will be desirable. Knowledge of BGP, OSPF, EIGRP, STP, HSRP and other TCP/IP protocols will be beneficial. Knowledge of Linux administration with experience in any scripting language is desirable. Ability to meet the customers need in line with the business requirements. Adept at conducting tests to identify faults in network systems. Ability to work with sales managers to ensure smooth work operations. Knowledge of various forms of Open Source Software will be advantageous. Demonstrated troubleshooting and problem-solving skills. Candidate must be able to lift, push and pull up to 20kg. Candidate must be able to tolerate temperature of below 20 C for extended periods of time. Can handle multiple projects and tight deadlines. Work Experience: Minimum of 3 5 years of practical experience working in Data Centre network operations and relevant field. Experience in troubleshooting complex data centre environments. Experience configuring LAN switching infrastructure VLANs, Trunking, etc. Experience with configuring routing protocols and creating VPNs on cisco devices. At least 3 years of working with Cisco, Juniper and Huawei network products. Other Requirements: Customer Focus Tech savvy Action orientation Drive results Ability to optimize work processes Self Development Nimble Learner Interpersonal skills Self-Starter Communication and writing skills Application Closing Date 31st March, 2021. Method of Application Interested and qualified candidates should CLICK HERE to apply WASHINGTON, D.C. Oregon lawmakers are calling for President Donald Trump to be removed from office on Thursday, a day after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building. As yesterdays assault on the legislative branch, the rule of law and the will of the people showed, Donald Trump is a threat to our democracy, national security and the safety of all Americans. He must be removed from office immediately, Rep. Peter DeFazio wrote in a statement. I am calling on VP Pence & the Cabinet to immediately declare through the 25th Amendment that Trump is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. I also strongly support articles of impeachment in the House against the President: https://t.co/arPKASG6na Rep Peter DeFazio (@RepPeterDeFazio) January 7, 2021 Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley have also called for Trumps removal. RELATED: Oregon's Congressional delegation reacts to chaotic day at the U.S. Capitol As I said last night Donald Trump is a clear and present danger to our democracy. His Cabinet must use the 25th amendment to act. And if Mike Pence and Trumps 'see-no-evil' Cabinet dont have the stomach to do their duty, Congress should re-convene to impeach this dangerous man, Wyden wrote on Twitter. Several lawmakers across the country have been calling for articles of impeachment to be drawn up. DeFazio supports this move, saying the president incited an armed insurrection against Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that if President Trump is not removed through the 25th amendment, the House may move forward with a second impeachment, the Associated Press reported. The former option has reportedly been under discussion by at least some senior Trump administration officials. MORE: Staffers whisk away Electoral College ballots during Capitol breach, Sen. Merkley says The Oregon Republican Party issued a statement on Wednesday condemning the violence that took place at the Capitol but called for lawmakers to challenge the electoral votes, echoing Trump's allegations of election fraud. Congress certified the election results confirming Joe Biden as the winner after the building was secured. After posting a video message on Wednesday that was removed by Facebook and Twitter for its continued and repeated references to a "stolen" election, President Trump returned on Thursday with a new, more measured statement. In it, he condemned the "heinous attack" at the U.S. Capitol and called for a peaceful transition to the new administration later this month. on Thursday approved procurement of 30 million doses of Covishield COVID-19 vaccine from India, co-developed by European pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca and Oxford University. drug regulator Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) has authorised Beximco Pharmaceuticals Limited to import and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine from In the initial six months of the first phase, Beximco will procure five million vaccine doses per month, reported Dhaka Tribune. "Beximco pharma can now import and distribute the COVID-19 vaccine from It will first supply the vaccine in meeting the government's requirements. Then it can supply the vaccine to private hospitals approved by the government," said DGDA Deputy Director Md Salauddin. Earlier on Monday, the government issued a no-objection certificate (NOC) on emergency use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. After the UK authorized the vaccine on Wednesday, India's drug regulator on Friday approved the vaccine for emergency use, reported Dhaka Tribune. The Serum Institute of (SII) is the local manufacturer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. Earlier, in November, signed an agreement with the SII, through which Beximco Pharma will avail 30 million doses of the vaccine. Additionally, the DGDA on Wednesday approved for clinical trial Globe Biotech Limited's manufacture of its Covid-19 vaccine, Bongavax, reported Dhaka Tribune. (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.) Along with the admit card, students will be required to carry a valid photo identity card for verification at the test centre IBPS SO main exam admit card 2021 has been released by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection on Friday (8 January). Candidates who have successfully registered for the exam can download the hall ticket from the official website - ibps.in. The IBPS SO Mains exam 2021 will be conducted on 24 January. Candidates who have cleared the prelims exam are eligible for the main examinations. The IBPS SO prelims result was declared on 6 January, 2021. Candidates will be able to download IBPS SO Main exam 2021 admit card by 24 January. The hall ticket will mention the students' name, roll number, registration number, photograph, exam centres name and address. The admit card will also mention the guidelines that candidates appearing for the exam will have to follow on the day of the test. Those who forget to carry a printout of their hall ticket will not be allowed to appear for the exam. Candidates will be required to key in their IBPS registration number and password correctly. Along with the admit card, students will be required to carry a valid photo identity card for verification at the test centre. Steps to download IBPS SO Main Exam admit card 2021: Step 1: Open the official website of Institute of Banking Personnel Selection - ibps.in. Step 2: Tap on the link that reads, "Click here to download the online main exam call letter CRP SPL-X." Step 3: You will be directed to a new page where you will be required to enter your registration number/ roll number and password/ date of birth in DD/MM/YY format. Step 4: In the box, type the image as displayed on the page and press the Login button. Step 5: Your IBPS SO main exam admit card 2021 will appear on the screen. Step 6: Carefully check the details including your name, registration number before saving and taking a print out. Here is the direct link to download IBPS SO main exam 2021 admit card IBPS is conducting the recruitment drive to fill up 645 vacancies of Specialist Officers' cadre posts for IT Officer (Scale I), Agricultural Field Officer (Scale I), Rajsabha Adhikari (Scale I), Law Officer (Scale I), HR/ Personnel Officer (Scale I) and Marketing Officer (Scale I). Shortlisted candidates will be posted in banks such as Canara Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, Central Bank of India, UCO Bank, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Union Bank of India, Bank of India, Indian Bank, Punjab & Sing Bank and Bank of Maharashtra. Bay of Plenty We are looking for a storeman with an OSH forklift license. You will need to be physically for as the job is about 70% forklift... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Three House Democrats are planning to introduce articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump on Monday, meaning the chamber could potentially vote on his removal from office by midweek, according two people familiar with the planning. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has not yet said whether the House will vote on impeachment, and the caucus is meeting at noon to discuss the idea after pro-Trump supporters ransacked the Capitol on Wednesday. But if leadership does decide to move forward, they could vote on articles of impeachment drafted Wednesday by Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California. They are expected to be introduced Monday, said the people, who were granted anonymity to discuss the planning. The articles say Trump willfully made statements that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol. From earlier: WASHINGTON (AP) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she has spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about preventing President Donald Trump from initiating military actions or a nuclear strike. Pelosi said in a statement to colleagues that she spoke with Gen. Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike. She said, the situation of this unhinged President could not be more dangerous. Pelosi is meeting with the House Democratic caucus Friday to consider impeachment proceedings against the president. She and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer have called on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to to force Trump from office. Its a process for removing the president and installing the vice president to take over. Trump is set to leave Jan. 20 when Democrat Joe Biden is to be inaugurated. Democrats are discussing whether to act quickly to impeach Trump as soon as next week if his Cabinet doesnt first try to remove him after he encouraged loyalists who ransacked the Capitol in a siege that has left five people dead. The articles are expected to be introduced on Monday, with a vote as soon as Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the planning and granted anonymity to discuss it. If Trump, whose term ends Jan. 20, were to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he could be prevented from running again in 2024 or ever holding the presidency again. Trump would be only the president to be twice impeached. House Democrats planned a caucus meeting at noon Friday, the first since Wednesdays harrowing events at the Capitol, and could take up articles of impeachment against Trump as early as the week ahead. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., discussed the prospect of impeachment with her leadership team Thursday night, hours after announcing the House was willing to act if Vice President Mike Pence and other administration officials did not invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment the forceful removal of Trump from power by his own Cabinet. The final days of Trumps presidency are spinning toward a chaotic end as he holes up at the White House, abandoned by aides, leading Republicans and Cabinet members. He is set to leave office when Democrat Joe Biden is sworn in, but top officials are gravely warning of the damage that he still could cause on his way out. Rep. Adam Schiff, who led Trumps impeachment in 2019, said in a statement Friday that Trump lit the fuse which exploded on Wednesday at the Capitol. Schiff, D-Calif., said that every day that he remains in office, he is a danger to the Republic. Five people are now dead from the violent melee, including a Capitol Police officer, Brian Sicknick. Pelosi said in a statement Friday that Sicknicks death reminds us of our obligation to those we serve: to protect our country from all threats foreign and domestic. She said those responsible for the officers death must be brought to justice. Though Trump has less than two weeks in his term, lawmakers and even some in his administration began discussing options for his removal Wednesday afternoon as Trump first encouraged rally-goers near the White House to march on the Capitol, then refused to forcefully condemn the assault and appeared to excuse it. Massachusetts Rep. Katherine Clark, a member of House Democratic leadership, said procedural steps could allow lawmakers to move far more quickly than they did on Trumps impeachment last year. Rep. James Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat, said he could confirm that we have had discussions about it and I would hope that the speaker would move forward if the vice president refuses to do what he is required to do under the Constitution. Clyburn, D-S.C., told CNN: Everyone knows that this president is deranged. One leading Republican critic of Trump, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he will definitely consider impeachment. The president has disregarded his oath of office, Sasse told CBS This Morning. He said what Trump did was wicked in inciting the mob. If the House impeaches, I will definitely consider whatever articles they might move, Sasse said. Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have called for Trumps Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to force Trump from office before Biden is inaugurated. Schumer said he and Pelosi tried to call Pence early Thursday to discuss that option but were unable to connect with him. Pelosi, during a new conference Thursday, challenged several Cabinet members by name, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Do they stand by these actions? Pelosi asked. Are they ready to say that for the next 13 days this dangerous man can do further harm to our country? Most Democrats, and many Republicans, put the blame squarely on Trump after hundreds of protesters bearing Trump flags and clothing broke into the Capitol and caused destruction and mass evacuations. The president had urged his supporters to protest as Congress was counting the electoral votes that confirmed Bidens win. Pelosi said a threshold was crossed of such magnitude that Trump should not be allowed to make any decisions. Three Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee began Thursday to circulate articles of impeachment. Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California wrote in the articles that Trump willfully made statements that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol. The House impeached Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020. Pence has not publicly addressed the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment, but that possibility may have faded after two Cabinet members resigned Thursday in protest after Trump egged on protesters who then mounted the deadly assault on the Capitol. Yet senior Trump administration officials did raise the long-shot possibility as the chaos unfolded at the Capitol. Officials across the government went so far as to study up on the procedures for declaring Trump unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. No member of the Cabinet has publicly expressed support for the move, which would make Pence the acting president. But several were believed to be sympathetic to the notion, believing Trump is too volatile in his waning days. While the House could quickly vote to impeach Trump, it is extremely unlikely that Congress could remove the president in the next 13 days. The Senate would have to receive the articles and then hold a trial and vote on them. And even if it did so, the Republican Senate would be unlikely to vote to convict. But in one measure of the uncomfortable position that Trumps goading of the mob had placed Republican lawmakers, there was a noteworthy lack of GOP statements attacking Democrats calls for his removal. New York, Jan 8 : Reeling from the mob attack on Congress, the nation's two highest-ranking Democrats and a Republican Congressman have demanded that Vice President Mike Pence act to remove President Donald Trump from office. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Party leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday said that he could pose a danger to the country in the 13 days left for him to be in office and Pence and the cabinet should invoke the constitution to declare him unfit to function as president and oust him. A Republican member of the House of Representatives, Adam Kinzinger also called for Trump's removal from office. Pelosi threatened to start impeachment proceedings against Trump if Pence and the cabinet did not remove him under the Constitution's 25th Amendment. "If the Vice President and Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment," Pelosi said. Many leaders from both parties have blamed Trump for his supporters creating nightmarish scenes by storming the Capitol on Wednesday. Schumer said that the attack would not have happened if he was not the President. Kinzinger said Trump "invoked and inflamed passions that gave fuel to the insurrection." Trump is becoming increasingly isolated even within his Republican Party after the attack on the Capitol, the Washington building housing Congress, after he addressed a rally of supporters and asked them to go to the Congress, which was to meet to declare Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned from the cabinet saying that the attack on Congress has "deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside." She is the wife Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republican Party in the Senate, who has broken with Trump and said that his continuing to question Biden's election could send democracy into a "death spiral". He and Pence refused to heed Trump's requests to undo Biden's election when the Congress took the final step on Wednesday to ratify the electoral college's votes making Biden the President. Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, Stephanie Grisham, former Trump' spokesperson who was First Lady Melania Trump's chief staff, president's Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Mathews, and White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina Niceta, have also resigned. As pressures on Trump increased, he said early Thursday that there would be an "orderly transition" on January 20, when Biden and Harris will take office under the Constitution. While Trump had been criticised for not unequivocally condemning the riot, his Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnnany said on Thursday, "Let me be clear -- the violence we saw yesterday at our nation's capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. We condemn it -- the president and this administration -- in the strongest possible terms." Under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet can write to the speaker and to the President pro tem of the Senate that the President is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" and automatically remove him from office making the Vice President the successor. The amendment does not specify the grounds for declaring the President unfit to continue, but a President's mental health could be a ground given that concern over the president's health was the driving force for enacting it in 1965. Action by Pence and a majority of the cabinet would have immediate effect, while impeachment would need to go through the House and then to the Senate, which will come under Democratic control, before he is removed. Schumer said that every one of the 13 days left for Trump to be president "is a threat to democracy." "The quickest and most effective way to remove this President from office is to invoke the 25th Amendment," he said at a news conference in New York. With Democrats seizing control of the Senate with the twin victories in Georgia State, Schumer will become the majority leader in the Senate, replacing McConnell. Pelosi said, "We'll review what our options are in terms of the 25th Amendment." Trump was impeached in 2019 by the House, but the Republican-controlled Senate did not convict him. The last time the US faced a similar crisis was in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned while was facing impeachment and erosion of political support. The move to impeach him was for his involvement in the Watergate scandal in which the Democratic National Committee office was broken into by operatives linked to him. His Vice President Spiro Agnew had resigned earlier after being accused of petty corruption. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text All travellers to England and Scotland from international destinations will have to test negative for coronavirus before they can enter the country, it has been announced. Under plans set out by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, from next week passengers arriving in England by boat, train or plane including UK nationals will have to take a test up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure. Similar measures have been announced by the Scottish Government, while officials were said to be working closely with the devolved administrations in Wales and Northern Ireland on adopting them there. Mr Shapps said the move was designed to prevent new variants of the disease which have emerged in countries such as South Africa and Denmark. Failure to comply will lead to an immediate 500 fine. There will be a limited number of exemptions, including hauliers, children under 11, crews, arrivals from the Common Travel Area with Ireland and for those travelling from countries without the infrastructure available to deliver tests. The move follows the decision to suspend all direct travel from South Africa following the emergence there of a new strain of coronavirus thought potentially to be even more virulent than the mutant variant which has led cases to surge in the UK. Mr Shapps said: We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of Covid-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally, we must take further precautions. Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks. The announcement comes at a time when the latest lockdown restrictions across the four nations of the UK mean there is very little international travel. The airline industry which has been devastated by the pandemic acknowledged the need for the restrictions but urged ministers to lift them as quickly as possible. Tim Alderslade, the chief executive of the industry body Airlines UK, said: This should be a short-term, emergency measure only and once the rollout of the vaccine accelerates, the focus must be on returning travel to normal as quickly as possible in order to support the UKs economic recovery. Under the new rules, passengers will need to present proof of a negative test result to their carrier on boarding while the UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrivals. All passengers arriving from countries not on the Governments travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their test result. Hauliers crossing the Channel to France will also still need a negative test before departure following a decision by the French government on Thursday. Meanwhile, First Minister Mark Drakeford has announced lockdown restrictions in Wales will be strengthened in key areas to try to halt the spread of the new variant. He warned that unless there was a significant drop in cases before January 29 when the next three-week review of the regulations is carried out school and college students will continue to learn online until the February half-term. In Scotland places of worship across the mainland will close from Friday as the latest set of coronavirus restrictions continue across the country. On Thursday, Boris Johnson pledged an unprecedented national effort to rollout the vaccine to nearly 14 million of the most vulnerable people by mid-February. At a No 10 news conference, he acknowledged there would be some lumpiness and bumpiness but pledged that all elderly care residents will have been offered the jab by the end of January. The pressures on the health service were laid bare by NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens who said there were 50% more patients in hospital with Covid than there were at the peak of the first wave in April, and 10,000 admissions since Christmas Day. Expand Close (PA Graphics) Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp (PA Graphics) In Northern Ireland, hospitals have been cancelling planned operations due to a surge of patients with coronavirus. There was however a ray of light with the news critically ill Covid-19 patients admitted to intensive care units will be able to receive new drugs that can significantly reduce the risk of death as well as time spent in hospital by up to 10 days. NHS patients will have access to tocilizumab and sarilumab which are typically used to treat rheumatoid arthritis under updated guidance due to be issued by the Government and the NHS to trusts across the UK. Two of Leitrim's seven secondary schools saw 100% of students who received calculated grades in 2020 take a place at an Irish third level institute. Ballinamore and Carrick-on-Shannon secondary schools borth saw all of their Leaving Cert students move onto third level institutes this year. The table published by the Irish Indepdenent today provides a breakdown of where pupils from the Leaving Certificate class of 2020 started in a higher education college in Ireland last autumn. The figures do not include the many school-leavers who went into further education, such as post-Leaving Cert (PLC) courses. Nor does it cover those who pursued an apprenticeship, an earn-and-learn approach that leads to a qualification at either further education or higher-education level. The table is a snapshot of who went where, although it must be treated with certain caution because not all colleges provide the information in the same way. The table does not record students from the Republic who have enrolled in British colleges, nor the growing number of school-leavers who have taken up a college place elsewhere in the EU. The stats also do not take into account students who sat exams in November 2020. 48 students completed their Leaving Cert 2020 in Ballinamore Community School. 100% of the class went on to third level compare to 56% in 2019. DCU was the most popular choice of college for students. 41 students were in Leaving Cert year in Carrigallen Vocational School. 61% went onto third level this year compared to 49% last year. The most popular college choice was IT Sligo. 81 students from Carrick-on-Shannon Community School went onto third level education, representing 100% of students. This is up from 74% from the class in 2019. The most popular choice of college was NUI Galway. There were 49 Leaving cert students in Drumshanbo Vocational School 2020. 71% went on to third level education, down from 74% in 2019. IT Sligo was the most popular choice from Drumshanbo. There were 20 Leaving Cert students in Lough Allen College, Drumkeerin in 2020. 75% went onto third level, down from 83% in 2019. IT Sligo was the most popular choice this year. 62 students completed their Leaving Cert in Mohill Community College in 2020. 73% of the class went to third level college down from 75% in 2019. DCU was the most popular colelge choice this year. St Clare's Comprehensive School in Manorhamilton had 95 Leaving Cert students in 2020. 84% went onto third level, up from 83% in 2019. It Sligo was the most popular college choice. Also read: Waiting on a parcel? DPD pause deliveries until next week Houston ISD principals can stop offering online-only classes to some struggling students who refuse to return to campus this year, district administrators announced this week, but it is unclear how often school leaders will follow through with the option. In a memo to sent to the districts principals, HISD Interim Chief Academic Officer Yolanda Rodriguez said campus leaders can employ a state-authorized power to terminate online classes for students with poor academic performance or attendance. HISDs embrace of the policy comes as the district grapples with higher student failure rates and lower attendance rates in the first few months of the 2020-21 school year. School officials must notify families at least two weeks in advance of their intention to discontinue remote learning before ending online classes. Families opposing the move can seek a medical exemption or request a meeting with campus staff. If HISD staff do not grant an appeal, families could refuse to return to campus and un-enroll from the district. The policy does not state that the district must request a return to in-person learning, HISD administrators said in a statement Thursday. A request to return would be made after considerable discussions and planning sessions between educators and parents. Principals are in the process of contacting parents whose children may require additional academic supports. HISD leaders have not explicitly encouraged or mandated that principals enforce the policy, which the Texas Education Agency allowed districts to implement starting in November. As a result, some school leaders are uncertain about the administrations appetite for dismissing families who will not send children back to campuses. If you follow the policy and the family still says the child is not coming back for whatever reason I dont care, Im not comfortable, Im afraid, I cant get him to school then the district needs to be prepared to open up the conversation about what happens then, said Josephine Rice, executive director of the Houston Association of School Administrators. I would say that conversation hasnt happened at all. About half of HISDs nearly 200,000 students were attending online-only classes before the winter break. HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said Thursday that she did not know how many students could be subject to the policy, which applies to those with a class average grade of 70 or below and those with three or more unexcused absences in a marking period. About 40 percent of all HISD students failed at least one class in the first marking period, while daily attendance rates have hovered slightly above 90 percent. Few of the states largest districts are employing the practice amid concerns about the potential academic impact on students and the financial hit tied to enrollment losses. Ultimately, principals could use the threat of terminating online classes to entice students back to campus, then back down when families balk at returning. In Pasadena ISD, which announced it will employ the policy starting in January, Superintendent DeeAnn Powell said the move is designed partly to make sure parents are hearing us when staff try to connect with struggling students. Powell said Pasadena leaders will give students several weeks to re-engage with their coursework before moving toward ending online classes. HISD Trustee Judith Cruz said she fears the possible ramifications for already-struggling students if they are forced to un-enroll from the district. I think I understand the intent of where the TEA is coming from, that its going to put pressure on parents, Cruz said. But I really worry about the outcome of a situation like that long-term. In a November survey of about 15,400 families with children in virtual classes, about 56 percent of said the general risk of contracting COVID-19 factored into their decision to have their kids learn from home. About 20 percent cited concerns about the health of their children or family members. The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately impacted lower-income, Black and Hispanic families, who make up a large majority of HISDs population. jacob.carpenter@chron.com While he has gone down in history as one of the most beloved and treasured presidents in United States history, John F. Kennedy was also known for his notorious reputation with women. Its been well documented that Jackie Kennedy knew that her husband was unfaithful, but she accepted it for what it was. However, many people dont know that after JFKs assassination, the widowed former first lady had an affair of her own. Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy | Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Image) Jackie Kennedy turned a blind eye to John F. Kennedys infidelity throughout their marriage Though she was and still is one of the most beloved first ladies in United States history, Kennedy spent most of her marriage turning a blind eye to her first husbands infidelity. In fact, she was hesitant to marry JFK after watching her own fathers infidelities. .Jackie Style author Pamela Keogh said, She came from a world where that is what men did, and it was accepted. An insider told People, It was a marriage of its time. At the end of the day, Jack came back to Jackie and that was it. They loved each other She wasnt trying to change him. In the end, the duo worked well as a team, and the Vassar College and George Washington University alum was devastated when her husband was killed. RELATED: Surprising Secrets We Never Knew About JFK and Jackie Kennedy Until Now Jackie Kennedy became increasingly private after JFKs assassination Kennedy was always meticulous about her image; she didnt even allow White House photographers to take pictures of her smoking when she was the first lady. Following JFKs death, it is said that the former first lady suffered PTSD and was increasingly paranoid as the media became more obsessed with her. She stepped back from the spotlight, turning down President Lyndon B Johnsons offers to be an ambassador to France. Though she stayed in D.C. for one year following JFKs death, she moved herself and her children to a penthouse apartment in New York City in 1964 with the hopes for more privacy. Jackie Kennedy had a secret affair after JFKs death Though she mostly stepped away from the spotlight following the former presidents death to protect her children and herself, the former first lady did find love again before her controversial marriage to Aristotle Onassis. In 1967, she became very close to David Ormsby Gore, the fifth Lord of Harlech and the British Ambassador to the United States. Kennedy and Gore connected after the ambassadors wife died in a car accident. Kennedys brother-in-law, Robert Kennedy knew of her bond with Gore and greatly disapproved. The fashion icon finally cut off communication with Gore when she married Onassis. She wrote to the ambassador in a letter that was found among his things following his death. She said via Inside Hook, Omar Lali, the Lamu native who dated Keroche heiress Tecra Muigai until her tragic death in May 2020, was a topic of discussion for the better part of Thursday after his picture with an unknown woman emerged on social media. We are not exactly sure why but excitable internet users immediately jumped to the conclusion that the girl was Omar Lalis new catch. A section of Kenyans, led by blogger Nyakundi, even celebrated the 51-year-old grey-bearded boatman for copping himself a dime. The plaudits were soon cut short after the lady in the picture came out to clarify that Omar is just a friend. The beauty, identified as Koko Kamillah, responded on Instagram where she had posted the photo with Omari. She slammed Nyakundi for using her photo to spark false dating rumors. So I woke up today to lots of Dms and Whatsapp messages telling me that Im trending(For the wrong reasons) Someone (Cyprian. Nyakundi) took my pic with my old friend and posted it with totally out of context captions and now Im just enjoying the show, she posted. The fitness and travel enthusiast also laughed off the rumors and some cheeky comments from netizens. Here are the screengrabs. A smartphone with the Huawei and 5G network logo is seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture taken on Jan. 29, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters) Huawei Eyes Off Australian 6G Network After 5G Ban Huaweis Australian arm has not given up developing the countrys future mobile network, saying it wants to be part of Australias distant 6G or 7G rollout. In 2018, the Chinese telecommunications firm was banned from involvement in Australias 5G network due to security concerns. Jeremy Mitchell, Huawei Australias chief corporate affairs officer, was confident though that the telco could contribute to future iterations. The conversation we now want to have with the Australian government is what do we do when 6G or 7G comes, because like it or not Huawei or another Chinese company will be the leader in this area, Mitchell told the Sydney Morning Herald. We would like to work with the government to ensure Australia has access to the best technology but do so in a way which gives security agencies confidence in terms of risk mitigation, he said. 6G is just at the very beginning of research development, but its important to get in now to understand where this technology is going, he added. He pointed to Ericssons recent lobbying efforts to force the Swedish government to reverse its 5G ban on Huawei as proof Australia made the wrong decision to ban the company. In Europe theyve always had an open and competitive environment when it comes to the vendor space, he said. The Swedish Post and Telecommunications Administration issued a ban barring telcos from using Huawei or ZTE products or equipment in the nations 5G network. Operators have until January 2025 to remove offending parts. Ericsson CEO Borje Ekholm has threatened the Swedish government, saying the multinational would leave the country if the bans continued. Ericsson meanwhile has extensive business interests in China and has 5G contracts with the three largest telecommunications companies, including China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom. These interests have contributed to soaring share prices and enormous profits for the company. Simon Yuen from Artificial Intelligence Technology, who has 25 years experience in telecommunications, said 6G was still in its infancy and undergoing research and development. He said it was also unlikely that the Australian government would allow Huaweis involvement in future mobile networks. I think there would need to be a fairly substantial paradigm shift for Australia to adopt Huawei, he told The Epoch Times. Changes at the political level would need to be wholesale in nature he said. Australia was the first nation in the world to ban Huawei and ZTE in 2018 from involvement in its 5G network. The carrier was deemed a high-risk vendor under government guidelines for setting up 5G. At the time current Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who was Acting Home Affairs Minister released a statement (pdf) saying the incumbent 4G network allowed separation between core and edge networks. This means companies using the network for functions such as connecting handsets, laptops, and tablets, could be distanced from more sensitive core functions including access control and data routing. 5G however blurs the lines between these networks. Morrison said in the statement that companies likely to be subject to extrajudicial directions from a foreign government could not adequately safeguard 5G from interference. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Venue Plus continues In Case You Didnt Know, a weekly feature with fun tidbits about New Mexicans and their projects. One could call Ryan Begay a renaissance man. The New Mexico native has spent years working on a number of crafts. Hes an actor. Hes a photographer. Hes a videographer. And thats just the tip of the iceberg. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Born in Gallup, Begay moved to Arizona before returning to New Mexico to pursue a life in the film industry full time. Hes been successful. Begay has worked on New Mexico-based projects such as Sicario: Day of the Soldado, The Night Shift, Get Shorty, Stargirl, Santa Fake, Fast Color and Drunktowns Finest. His most recent gig was out of state in NBCs coming series Rutherford Falls. Its pretty interesting, Begay says of the project. It has a lot of Native actors in it. When hes not on set, Begay is at the helm of his production company, Sovereign Mind Productions. Ive doing doing public service announcements and other videos, he says. I was really just dabbling in it before 2015. Thats when I opened the company and its taken me a while to make connections in New Mexico. This past year, I was busy with PSAs and commercials. Begays journey has been filled with peaks and valleys. He got interested in the film industry while in the Air Force. After leaving the military, he became a state systems engineer. It was then he began to take film classes. I made the switch from electrical engineer to film production, he says. Getting to know the camera department on each production has been fun. It takes the two worlds that I know and creates something magical. Since he moved back, Begays network has grown and hes excited for the future. I want to create Navajo content, he says. Ive been working hard to get here. Ive went through the states FCAP (Film Crew Advancement Program) and I got my bachelors at IAIA (Institute of American Indian Arts) in Santa Fe. 1 I recently started rock climbing. 2 I enjoy dancing. 3 I have a twin sister. 4 I like to shoot on film again. Maybe do a short film on 32mm print that would be something to do. Or even shoot on 16mm. The last project I did was Succession on HBO, and they shot on film. 5 I love to cook. I can make some great frybread. Ive been working on it for the past six months. Online New Mexico native Ryan Begays work can be seen at sovereign mindproductions.com Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. DecisionDatabases added the latest report with a global perspective on the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors Market studied under different segments, including type, application, and regions. The report is treated with size, trends, growth, share, and forecast till 2025. Besides, the research report studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall growth at the global level. This report also offers a lucrative area of the industry at the regional and country level. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-30347 According to this study, over the next five years, the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors business, shared in Chapter 3. This Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Endress+Hauser METTLER TOLEDO Hach Atlas Scientific Yokogawa Hamilton Honeywell Krohne Knick Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-30347 This study considers the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Glass Sensor ISFET Sensors Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Water Treatment Oil & Gas Pulp & Paper Textile Others In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-30347 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Heavy Duty Industrial pH Sensors submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/heavy-duty-industrial-ph-sensors-market-size-share-growth-outlook-forecast-research-report-till-2025/ BRUSSELS - EU border agency Frontex said in a statement Friday that in 2020 the "number of irregular arrivals in the Central Mediterranean almost tripled to over 35,600, making it the most active migratory route into Europe". "Despite the stark increase in departures from Tunisia, slightly more irregular migrants detected on this route had departed from Libya," it said. It said the Canary Islands experienced a record number of arrivals of migrants on its shores in 2020, mainly because of a significant increase in the last four months of the year. In total, on the Western African migratory route more than 22,600 illegal border crossings were detected, eight times the tally from the previous year and the highest number since Frontex began to collect data in 2009, it said. The number of irregular migrants on the Western Balkan route rose by over three-quarters to around 27,000. In general, however, according to preliminary Frontex data, in 2020 illegal border crossings along the EU's external borders fell 13% last year to around 124,000, in large part due to the impact of Covid-19 restrictions put in place by various countries, resulting in the lowest number of illegal border crossings since 2013. The Eastern Mediterranean migratory route ultimately saw the biggest fall in the number of arrivals, down by over three-quarters to around 20,000. Joanna Lumley may be one of the best-loved faces on British television, but when she skips into the room (she moves in a way thats both livelier and more exaggerated than your average mortal) she shakes everyones hand and announces, Hello! Im Joanna! as if we didnt know. Shes a larger-than-life personality genuinely absolutely fabulous which only makes her co-star and fellow TV legend Nigel Havers seem positively grey in comparison as he sits down beside her. Were meeting, pre-Covid, on the west London set of Joannas first TV drama for years, Finding Alice, in which she and Nigel play husband and wife. And the first thing she reveals is that she learned why charming manners are important from another screen legend, Ava Gardner, and has tried to be the nicest and the most generous person on set ever since. Joanna Lumley, 74, plays the wife of Nigel Havers, 69, (pictured) in new six-part series Finding Alice I was in a film with Ava Gardner she was a massive star and I was playing a tiny part, Joanna recalls. We were all in awe of her work but also she was a complete and total sweetheart. She made us all feel loved and even invited us round to her place. 'Ive discovered that the people who have tended to be brattish in my long, long, very long career are the people who havent quite made it, or think they ought to have done better. 'Theyre disappointed and they take it out on wardrobe or make-up by being terribly grand. But there arent many of them. Sadly, a few weeks after our meeting in February the entire production was halted because of the virus, but filming resumed in the summer and the deliciously quirky new show will air later this month. Co-produced by Keeley Hawes, who also stars as the Alice of the title, it sees Joanna steal every scene shes in as Alices rather brutal mother Sarah. In terms of category its a hard show to pin down, and thats what makes it so completely refreshing. Ostensibly its a drama about death and grief, but it boasts an extraordinarily light touch, with laugh-out-loud moments amid the intriguing mystery at its heart. Strangely for a show about death, its actually very life-affirming. Series follows Keeley Hawes as Alice, who has to pick herself up and find her inner strength after her husband unexpectedly dies. Pictured: Alice and her daughter Charlotte On the night Alice, her husband Harry (Jason Merrells) and their daughter Charlotte (Isabella Pappas) move into their dream home which Harry, a property developer, has been building for years, he falls down the staircase and dies. The six-part series then focuses on how Alice slowly picks herself up and finds her inner strength, especially as the police are investigating exactly how her husband came to fall down the stairs. And then there are Harrys parents, Gerry (Kenneth Cranham) and Minnie (Gemma Jones), to contend with As the days go on, Alice begins to discover more and more secrets about the man she loved, her partner of 20 years. The first time we see Joannas character Sarah is when she and her husband Roger arrive to comfort Alice. What on earth are you wearing? is Sarahs greeting to her grieving daughter. WE WERE LIKE A COUPLE OF PENCILS IN BED! Joanna Lumley has played the wife of Nigel Havers in two previous programmes. Pictured: Joanna as Loretta Finding Alice is the third time Joanna Lumley and Nigel Havers have played a couple, and you can quite imagine how this handsome pair really could produce an equally gorgeous daughter like Keeley Hawes in the show. We were first in bed together in a series called A Perfect Hero, a wartime drama, says Joanna. I already knew Nigel through friends, and then we had this scene where we had to be in bed together with no clothes on. Pictured: Nigel as pilot Hugh in A Perfect Hero in 1991 'That was disconcerting because when you know somebody and like them as a friend, and youve only ever sat at dinner with them, then suddenly youve got nothing on well, its really hard. Im not a good enough actress to get away with that, so I became frostier and frostier and more and more clipped, and in the end we looked like a couple of pencils in bed! Advertisement Ive moved into that era of my life where I only play unsympathetic characters, total bitches, sighs Joanna, 74. I think it might be partly because of Patsy in Absolutely Fabulous because she was hard-hearted beyond belief. And also, I know I sound like I must be a snob so I get a lot of these sorts of snobby parts. But I love roles like this that you can immediately start fleshing out. Sarah is hard-hearted and tactless and she cant even bring herself to kiss her daughter, so theres something interesting there. Because the writers are so clever theres a whole back story. 'This is a disappointed woman. She started off as a young and gorgeous model, marrying an up-and-coming young lawyer who was going to become a QC. She might have become a lady and had masses of money. But that didnt happen. Her husband Roger is a retired local lawyer, and so her bitterness is because of the circumstances she finds herself in. 'Shes perpetually irritated, especially by Alice, who she thinks made the wrong choice in the man she married. Harry was a builder and, really, shed hoped for a bit better than a builder. Its a brilliant bit of writing. As for Roger, Sarah thinks hes really just a bit dull. He hugs people for too long and he cries and cries and, well, hugs people. 'Hes quite emotional. He never made enough money for her. Hes just as wet as a hen, quite frankly. Poor Nigel, 69, isnt getting much of a word in edgeways as we talk. He just wasnt successful enough for Sarah, he sighs. Joanna and Nigel were always Keeleys first choices to play Alices parents in the show, which she has co-produced with The Durrells creators Simon Nye and Roger Goldby. A few people have said Joanna and I are kind of similar, which is incredibly flattering, confides Keeley. She is a brilliant actress and nobody does comedy like her. Its a dream come true to be working with her. The idea for a contemporary light drama about loss was first discussed when the three were working on The Durrells. In that hit period drama, Keeleys character Louisa had been recently widowed, and in this new series co-writers Simon and Roger wanted to explore a world in which everything had changed and yet the mundanity of life continued. Death is something that touches everyones life, says Keeley, 44. We wanted to look at what happens when someone dies, especially when theyre young; what happens to all of those people they leave behind. It can be like a grenade being thrown into a family, especially because of who Alice is. Shes someone and I think we all know people like this who is almost completely reliant on the other person in their relationship. Harry is the breadwinner and shes been at home looking after their daughter and just existed within their family. 'At one point she says, I havent got any friends because I only needed Harry. First she has to learn how to cope without him, and then she discovers all this other stuff about him. A lot of the humour comes in the form of the uber-smart house Harry has built. Because theyve just moved in Alice cant find the fridge or open the curtains, and even discovers rooms she never knew were there. The whole thing is meant to work using voice- activated commands but, as we all know, these things have a way of frustrating us rather than making life easier. The exteriors of the house were filmed at a modern property in Farnham in Surrey, while the interiors were created at the West London Film Studios. One of the inanimate characters in the story is the staircase Harry built, which has no banister. Health and safety notices were put on scripts to ensure everyone was extra careful when going up and down the stairs that had been built in the studio. A lot of funny moments happen in the house, says Keeley. Joanna revealed her character Sarah, is 'hard-hearted' and disappointed by her daughter's choice of husband. Pictured: The cast of Finding Alice Its Harrys dream hes within the fabric of it. But it starts to change Alices perception of him. Shes left with a lot of questions about who she was married to. As the series continues you see that all the characters have their secrets. Theyre all very human. 'I think a lot of Harrys secrets were created to protect Alice because he adored her but now they cause her real problems. Keeley found the role particularly challenging because shes in every scene. With three BAFTA nominations under her belt, this was an excuse to completely push herself in situations that constantly switch from grief to humour. Its a luxury to be in every scene because theyre all so brilliantly written, she says. Yes, this is about a woman grieving, and that can be difficult. But theres also so much humour in it whether its from not knowing her PIN number to the way her mother keeps berating her for what shes wearing. As humans, we try to bring humour into difficult situations, and its good not to shy away from the mess that life can be. Finding Alice starts later this month on ITV. We hear bizarre heist stories every now and then, but most of them are still believable. Recently, a heist was reported from Arizona, wherein some thieves broke into the Cottonwood Airport and stole a plane. The local police are now looking for the thieves along with the stolen airplane. The thieves broke into the airport at midnight on New Years Eve by disabling the main gate and forced it open. Facebook The police said in a Facebook post, "The subjects entered the Airport and stole a box trailer which contained an airplane. These subjects also stole airplane parts while inside. The loss of theft has been estimated at around $70,000-$80,000. An old picture of the aircraft shows its a small red and white aircraft with the tail number N153PR. Facebook The police have requested people with any information regarding the theft of an airplane to contact the police. Also, if someone wants to stay anonymous, one can contact Yavapai Silent Witness who is offering a reward of up to $450 for information leading to an arrest. What do you think of this bizarre heist? Let us know in the comments section below! (Newser) A South Korean court has ordered Japan to pay compensation to a dozen women who were forced into sexual slavery by its military during World War IIbut seven of them have died since the lawsuit was filed in 2013, and the survivors may not live to see the money. Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said the country could not accept the ruling, which Amnesty International said was the first time a court had found Japan accountable for the abuse, reports Reuters. The Seoul Central District Court ordered Japan to pay each of the women 100 million won, around $91,000, the AP reports. During the war, an estimated 200,000 Korean women and girls, euphemistically called "comfort women" by the Japanese military, were forced to have sex with dozens of soldiers a day in military brothels. story continues below The ruling is expected to raise tensions between Seoul and Tokyo. Japan argues that the issue was settled in a 2015 deal, but the judge ruled that the women were still entitled to seek compensation. "It was a crime against humanity that was systematically, deliberately and extensively committed by Japan in breach of international norms," Justice Kim Jeong-gon said in the ruling. At the House of Sharing, a shelter where the five women live, spokesman Kim Dae-Wol said the two women healthy enough to follow the trial welcomed the ruling and said the money wasn't the important part. "They said it's never enough even if Japan pays tens of times more, but they don't put much meaning on compensation," Kim said. "They just want Japan to apologize and let more of its people know, so that there will no longer be such war crimes." (Read more South Korea stories.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-07 23:01:11|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Dec. 14, 2020 shows the White House in the rain in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese government spokesperson on Thursday voiced firm opposition to any form of official ties between the United States and China's Taiwan region. Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the statement when asked about U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's announcement that the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations would visit Taiwan. Zhu voiced opposition to these "extremely wrong actions," saying they are violations of the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiques. The Democratic Progressive Party authority's stubborn reliance on the United States to seek "Taiwan independence" leads nowhere and will backfire, Zhu said. Over the years, people have used Google Earth to spot various things - from their own house, to finding people. Recently, a man in Japan has found pictures of his father on Google Earth. His father died seven years ago and the mans tweet describing his discovery is being widely circulated. Twitter user @TeacherUfo said that during the pandemic, he had planned to look for his parents' house on Google out of boredom. Twitter He was shocked to discover, however, that the Google camera had caught his late father standing by the side of the road, walking up to him with his mother. 'I saw my father who passed away seven years ago, he wrote, sharing two images of the street in Japan. My father must have been waiting for my mother to return home. My father was a quiet but kind man, he wrote. He also requested Google not to refresh the street view picture for the spot. The tweet has received over six lakh likes and a lakh retweets since being released. This is not the first time a Google Earth find has gone viral. Last year a video doing rounds on social media suggested that a Google Earth user apparently discovered what is believed to be a '400-foot ice ship' lying 160 km off the coast of Antarctica, in an iceberg. The ice structure appeared to resemble a cruise liner (going by what seemed to be a line of windows) and was spotted on Google Earth, south of New Zealand. The video was shared by YouTuber MrMBB333 and in it, he explained the discovery in a very detailed 10-minute-long clip. Over the last 10 years I have become very familiar with our planet, the mechanics of it and how it reacts to many different aspects of space weather and many other things as well," he stated on his website. Also Read: Man Travels Across The Country Just So He Could Spell 'Marry Me' On Google Earth In the video, a large chunk of ice can be seen sitting above a white landscape. However, when the view is changed to 3D, the chunk looks like a ship. You look down on it and it looks like the outline of a ship. This measures 400ft long, whatever that looks like, it looks like a ship. An ice ship if you want to call it a 400ft yacht just sitting there off the coast of Antarctica, the YouTuber says in the video. Later in the video, MrMBB333 shows his viewers another patch of ice which he says shows evidence of entryways and walls. Google Earth seems to be a gift that keeps on giving. Also read: Best Place On Earth For Sky Gazing Is Antarctica, According To Scientists One of the states largest school districts will delay its return to hybrid instruction for at least six more weeks due to rising coronavirus cases in the community. Woodbridge schools will remain all-remote until at least March 1, Superintendent Dr. Robert Zega said in a pre-recorded video posted on the districts YouTube.com page Friday. Students had been given a tentative return date of Jan. 19 when Zega announced in mid-November that the district was pivoting back to an all-remote schedule. Woodbridge has an enrollment of 13,770 and is New Jerseys seventh largest, according to state figures. We want to reassure our parents that when they send their students to school, theye going to be safe, Zega said. When the infection rate is this high, its very difficult to make that promise. Zega cited the increasing number of cases among students and staff since October 12, when the school began its hybrid model after starting the school year all-virtual. An average of 8.6 students and 4.8 faculty and staff have tested positive per day, according to the most recent five-day average. In October, those numbers were about 2.4 and 0.4, respectively, the superintendent said. More than 320 students and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 since October, Zega said. All Woodbridges 24 public schools have been remote since Nov. 23. The district switched to all-remote learning at several schools, including all three high schools and four of the five middle schools on Nov. 10. Woodbridge is the seventh-largest municipality in the state with about 102,000 residents. For the seventh week in a row, all 21 counties are orange, indicating high coronavirus activity, according to data released by the state Department of Health Thursday. The weekly COVID-19 Activity Level map breaks New Jersey into six regions and uses local health data to calculate where COVID-19 is spreading the fastest. If any region turns red on the map, virus activity is considered very high and all schools in those counties must switch to all-remote learning. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Nokia 6.2 was introduced back in September at the IFA, now the renders of its successor which could be Nokia 6.3 / 6.4 has surfaced in CAD renders, thanks to @OnLeaks. This shows the phones 6.45-inch flat display and a waterdrop notch. There is a large chin below the screen. It shows quad rear cameras with dual LED flash below it. The phone has 3.5mm audio jack on the top along with secondary microphone, and on the bottom there is a primary microphone, USB type-C port and loudspeaker grill. The phone has side-mounted fingerprint scanner that doubles up as a power button, compared to rear-mounted scanner in the predecessor. There is dedicated Google Assistant, button on the left side along with a microSD slot. It is said to measure 164.976.89.2~10.1mm with the rear camera bump. Other specifications are not available yet. We should know more details in the coming months. Source Indonesia has decided to give COVID-19 vaccinations to working age adults before older citizens. The plans differ from vaccination programs in countries such as the United States and Britain, which give priority to older individuals who face a higher risk of death from the disease. Indonesias program aims to vaccinate adults 18-59 after health care workers and public servants. The government hopes the program will help the population reach herd immunity faster and improve the countrys economy. The Mayo Clinic notes that herd immunity happens when a large percentage of a community, the herd, becomes immune to a disease, making the spread from person to person unlikely. As a result, the whole community becomes protected, not just those who are immune. Why 18-59 year-olds first? Indonesia plans to begin its program with a vaccine developed by Chinas Sinovac Biotech. Health officials say they do not yet have enough information on the effectiveness of the vaccine on older people. Trials carried out in Indonesia have involved people aged 18-59. Health ministry official Siti Nadia Tarmizi told the Reuters news agency the government will wait for guidance from the countrys drug regulators before deciding on vaccination plans for older individuals. Britain and the United States began their vaccination programs with a shot developed by Pfizer-BioNTech that showed a high rate of effectiveness in people of all ages. So far, Indonesia has only been able to secure the Sinovac vaccine. The Southeast Asian nation has a deal to receive 125.5 million doses of Sinovacs CoronaVac shot. A first shipment of 3 million doses has already arrived. The first doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are not expected to arrive in Indonesia until the third quarter. A vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University is expected to be released in the second quarter. Peter Collignon is a professor of infectious diseases at Australian National University. He said that while Indonesias vaccination plans could slow spread of the disease, it may not affect death rates. But Collignon noted that because Indonesias vaccination program is different from the U.S. and Europe, it can be very valuable. Because it will tell us (whether) youll see a more dramatic effect in Indonesia than Europe or the U.S. because of the strategy theyre doing, he said. Professor Dale Fisher is with the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine at the National University of Singapore. He told Reuters he understands the reasoning behind Indonesias plans. Younger working adults are generally more active, more social and travel more so this strategy should decrease community transmission faster than vaccinating older individuals, Fisher said. Can it lead to quick herd immunity? Government officials hope the strategy of vaccinating more socially and economically active individuals can quickly lead to herd immunity. Indonesias health minister has said the country needs to vaccinate 181.5 million people, or about 67 percent of its population, to reach herd immunity. The government believes this would require almost 427 million doses of vaccines. Some experts question whether the plan could quickly lead to herd immunity. They say more research is needed to find out whether or not vaccinated people can pass on the virus. There could be the risk of people still capable of spreading the disease to the others, said Hasbullah Thabrany, chief of Indonesias Health Economic Association. Will it help economic recovery? Economists have argued that a successful vaccination program covering around 100 million people will help energize the economy. They say this is because vaccinated individuals are more likely to return to economic activity such as spending and production. Faisal Rachman, an economist with Bank Mandiri, said the 18-59 age group has consumption needs that are higher than other groups. Such individuals, he said, could help fuel a faster economic recovery because household consumption makes up more than 50 percent of Indonesias economy. The pandemic pushed Indonesia, Southeast Asias largest economy, into its first recession in more than two decades. Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters reported this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the report for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, and visit our Facebook page. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story priority n. something that is very important and that must be dealt with before other things immune adj. having special protection from something; of or relating to the body's immune system regulator n. a person or organization that creates rules for a system or government dose n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time dramatic adj. very sudden or noticeable strategy n. a plan used to achieve a particular goal capable adj. able to do things effectively and achieve results consumption n. the amount of something that someone uses, eats or drinks Worsening floods in several Malaysian states have displaced some 46,000 people, with 12,487 families being sheltered in 426 flood relief centers, the Malaysian Department of Social Welfare said on Friday. As of Friday afternoon, the states of Pahang, Terengganu, Kelantan, Perak and Johor have seen strong downpours with the east coast state of Pahang being the worst hit, with 26,250 people having to be evacuated and three rivers in the state have passed the danger level, according to the data released by the department. Also Read | How US democracy nearly came undone The body of a 19-year-old woman who had fallen off a capsized boat was recovered, according to state news agency Bernama, bringing the death toll related to the floods to at least six. Meanwhile, Malaysia's meteorological department issued a warning that the bad weather and heavy rains are expected to continue till January 12. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 09:21:48|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday commended the municipal elections in four different municipalities in western Libya. "UNSMIL welcomes the first four municipal council elections in 2021 that are taking place today in the municipalities of Hay Alandalus and Swani Bin Adam of Greater Tripoli, and Gasr Alakhiar and Zlitin, in the West," the mission said in a statement. Stephanie Williams, acting special representative of the UN secretary-general in Libya, praised the "determination of the Libyan people to exercise democratic right and the efforts of the Central Committee for Municipal Council Elections (CCMCE) in conducting electoral processes in full compliance with precautionary measures for COVID-19, in line with the recommendations of National Center for Disease Control and the World Health Organization." "I encourage all registered voters, in particular women, youth and vulnerable groups to participate in the polls, while taking all precautionary measures, to contribute to peaceful and inclusive electoral processes," Williams said. According to the CCMCE, the voting in the four municipalities was concluded on Thursday, with a voter turnout of 35 percent. Enditem At the introduction ceremony of the book (Photo: TDO) The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has recently held a press conference to debut a book entitled Le Van Hien, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos by Dr. Singthoong Singhabannha. The book, which consists of 132 pages, records partial diplomatic activities of Mr. Le Van Hien from 1962 to1976 as the first Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos. In particular, it includes many valuable documents, which are Ambassador Le Van Hien's own records during the 15 years he worked in Laos. The book also contains a number of articles, assessments and comments of former high-ranking Lao leaders, of General Vo Nguyen Giap, related to the working life and the contributions of Ambassador Le Van Hien to the Vietnamese and Lao revolutions, and the relationship between the two countries. The book also provides valuable documents about the turbulent history of Laos in the 1960 1975 period, when the Lao patriotic revolutionary forces led by the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Prince Souphanouvong were representatives, persisting in the path of struggling for national unification. The author has studied extensively many documents and photos about the talented and moral first Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, who took the role of bridging the Vietnam Laos friendship. In addition, the book relies on documents collected at archives and museums of both Vietnam and Laos regarding the history of diplomatic relations between the two countries, along with the works of historical researchers and officers working in the diplomatic field during the period when Ambassador Le Van Hien took up his assignment in Laos. Dr. Singthong Singhapanya said that during his interviews with high-ranking Lao officials to compile the book, all highly appreciated the role, results and contributions of Ambassador Le Van Hien to the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, States and peoples. The publication of the book will help Lao people understand more about Laos' struggle for national liberation, with the fact that there are things that Laos cannot do on their own but require help from friend countries, especially Vietnam. This information will contribute to helping the next generations better understand and continue to contribute to the national defense and construction of Laos and Vietnam./. Ten days after arresting vehicle designer Dilip Chhabria, the Mumbai Police on Thursday called comedian-actor Kapil Sharma to record his statement in the case, officials said here on Thursday. Some time ago, Sharma had ordered and bought a highly-luxurious vanity van from Chhabria which has been the talk of Bollywood circles. The comedian was called by the Crime Intelligence Unit of Mumbai Police on Thursday to give his statement as a witness in the case after the high-profile matter was unearthed last month, Deputy Commissioner of Police, S. Chaitanya, told IANS.It may be recalled that the CIU had nabbed Chhabria on December 28, 2020, on charges of running a fake car financing and registration racket involving his self-designed DC Avanti sportscars.The fraud came to light after a two-seater sports car bearing a fake registration number was seized from one Indermal Ramani from near a five-star hotel on December 18.Further investigations revealed that another car with the same engine and chassis number was registered in Haryana, which unearthed multiple loan frauds involving around 90 such cars.This week, the CIU seized another 14 DC Avanti cars and 40 engines, besides 19 other high-end vehicles, in a raid at Chhabria's Pune workshop.Proclaimed as India's maiden indigenously made sports car, DCDPL rolled out its first model in 2016, a year after securing approval from the Automative Research Association of India (ARAI).Not ruling out further arrests, the police are also checking if the tentacles of the scam are spread in other states, the involvement of people from finance companies or NBFCs, etc.Chhabria shot into limelight in the 1990s after he produced some eye-catching fancy cars for various celebs and even vanity vans for Bollywood personalities besides some concept cars, luxury passenger buses, and even aircraft interiors to soon become a legend in the country's niche automobile-designing industry. For more stories click here: Kollywood l Malayalam l Bollywood l Telugu SUV Mercedes-Benz is no stranger to off-roaders, building the legendary G-Class since 1979, but the growing popularity of the sport utility vehicle () segment in North America during the 1980s encouraged the manufacturer to develop one too.In early 1991, the Stuttgart-based carmaker announced plans to build such a vehicle through a joint venture with Mitsubishi Motors.Using the Montero/Pajero platform as a base, they intended to develop a model that would be sold both as a Mercedes-Benz and as a Mitsubishi, but it all got canceled a year later with the companies citing "technical problems."Even though this promising project was abandoned, development continued in Stuttgart, and by 1993, Mercedes had laid the groundwork for the new model, which would be built both in Europe (in Graz, Austria), and the U.S. (at a newly-commissioned plant near Vance, Alabama).It took another three years of design work, engineering, as well as rigorous testing for a near-production prototype to be built, and in January 1995, at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit, the AAVision concept was revealed.Showcasing the carmakers vision of an all-activity vehicle (AAV), it premiered in Europe two months later at the famed Geneva Motor Show, using the M-Class nameplate for the first time.After another year of arduous work and last-minute tweaks, the M-Class returned to the NAIAS, offering new details about the chassis , drivetrain, and the newly developed 3.2-liter V6 engine.By this time, the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International plant in Alabama had been completed, and final preparations for the state-of-the-art assembly line were being made.The same year, Mercedes allowed the producers of the upcoming blockbuster The Lost World: Jurassic Park to use modified pre-production versions of the M-Class in the movie, as a way of promoting the new vehicle.In February 1997, the production version of the first-generation W163 series M-Class was revealed in the United States for the upcoming model year, with sales beginning in September.It was an instant hit, bridging the gap between luxury passenger cars and capable off-road vehicles. The M-Class provided a spacious interior with enough space to comfortably seat five adults while also offering an advanced all-wheel-drive system and high ground clearance.Mercedes vehicles are renowned for ride comfort, and the companys first SUV made no exception. It used a sophisticated independent suspension system for all four wheels, and instead of conventional differential locks, it was the first vehicle in the segment to pack an electronic stability control system.Additionally, the M-Class featured front and side airbags with advanced occupant detection for the front passenger seat, which helped it earn high safety scores in crash tests.Mercedes quickly rose to the top of the SUV segment, as the new M-Class became extremely popular worldwide. It would lay the foundation for the carmakers current SUV fleet.Since 2015, the model family has been renamed the GLE-Class due to a long-standing dispute with arch-rivals BMW, but it continues to be one of the most popular SUVs on the market, contributing to the astonishing rise in popularity of this versatile segment. IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ZO Skin Health, a premium California-based skincare brand sold internationally through physicians and skincare professionals, announced today that industry expert Kathy O'Brien will be joining its board of directors. This comes after the recent acquisition of a majority stake in the business last October by funds managed by Blackstone Tactical Opportunities. Ms. O'Brien is an experienced consumer marketing executive. She served from 1984 to September 2018 in roles of increasing responsibility at Unilever PLC., a global consumer goods company. At Unilever, she most recently served as Vice President/General Manager, Skin & Marketing Services, and was a member of the North America Leadership Team. Ms. O'Brien has been a member of the Board of Directors of Tabula Rasa HealthCare, Inc., a publicly traded healthcare technology company, since November 2018 and has been a member of the Board of Trustees of Lehigh Valley Health Network, a healthcare network, since June 2017. She also joined the Board of Directors at AMAG Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a publicly traded pharmaceuticals company, in 2019. Ms. O'Brien brings decades of experience and recognition in the consumer marketing field to the board of ZO Skin Health, including digital and social media, focusing on women's personal care products. She led programs for Unilever that helped Dove, its leading personal wash brand in the United States, reach 8 million girls with self-esteem programming. Ms. O'Brien also brings her vast experience in leadership, building brand equity and executing brand activation. On her new role on the board, Ms. O'Brien shared, "I've thoroughly enjoyed seeing ZO Skin Health grow from its infancy to the esteemed medical-grade skincare company it is today, and look forward to helping the company elevate further and drive its mission of providing broad access to healthy skincare products." "As an award-winning and innovative industry leader, we're thrilled to have Kathy on board as we continue to grow our global brand," said Mark Williams, President and CEO of ZO Skin Health. "She's exemplified true leadership in her roles to-date, and we're excited to learn and benefit from these experiences." "Kathy's depth of experience at Unilever and her passion for delivering market leading products to consumers will be incredibly valuable for ZO Skin Health, particularly as we continue executing on the company's long-term growth strategy," said Blackstone Senior Managing Directors Todd Hirsch and Ram Jagannath. Founded in 2007 by world-renowned dermatologist Dr. Zein Obagi, the company continues to support their mission of providing healthy skin for all, regardless of age, ethnicity, unique skin condition or skin type, while utilizing the power of science to help pave the way for breakthrough in skincare. About Blackstone Blackstone is one of the world's leading investment firms. We seek to create positive economic impact and long-term value for our investors, the companies we invest in, and the communities in which we work. We do this by using extraordinary people and flexible capital to help companies solve problems. Our $584 billion in assets under management include investment vehicles focused on private equity, real estate, public debt and equity, life sciences, growth equity, opportunistic, non-investment grade credit, real assets and secondary funds, all on a global basis. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow Blackstone on Twitter @Blackstone. About ZO Skin Health ZO Skin Health develops and delivers innovative skincare solutions that optimize skin health based on the latest advances in skin therapy technologies, unique delivery systems, bioengineered complexes and exclusive formulations. By providing comprehensive skincare programs for physicians and their patients, ZO bridges the gap between therapeutic treatments and daily care, allowing patients to experience continuously healthy skin regardless of their age, ethnicity or unique skin condition. For more information, please visit www.zoskinhealth.com. SOURCE ZO Skin Health Related Links https://zoskinhealth.com It is the logistical challenge of a lifetime: the roll-out of essential Covid-19 vaccines at a rate that, hopefully, will help free the country from the endless cycles of lockdowns. With 1.5 million doses dispensed so far and the promise of two million a week to come Louise Kyle, a nursing leader in a large inner-city practice, gives an insight into the gargantuan effort required for just one vaccine hub to play its part. Mon, December 7 The usual business of a Monday morning is compounded by news that our proposed vaccine hub has been given the OK to go live in eight days. Wed volunteered to be an active wave one site for the Pfizer jab from the moment we were able. Now, here we were, at the coal face of this history-making exercise. Louise Kyle, (pictured) a nursing leader in a large inner-city practice, gives an insight into the gargantuan effort required for just one vaccine hub to play its part Its exciting, but daunting given the huge challenge that lies ahead, the scale of which becomes apparent almost immediately when, within a day of receiving our news, NHS England changes its guidelines to say that all vaccinated patients will have to stay behind for 15 minutes after receiving their jab, in case of an allergic reaction something that simply isnt possible in the site wed prepared, given the need for social distancing. It means a hasty pivot to a new arrangement, in our case asking our district nurses to vacate their clinical rooms the best we can do at a weeks notice. Still, it gives us some practice thinking on our feet, which Im sure, given what lies ahead, will prove useful. Wed, December 9 With our vaccine site confirmed the focus is on logistics. Given the vaccines strict shelf life once it comes out of its deep-freeze storage, we have a 90-hour window to vaccinate 1,000 people. That means reaching some 2,000 registered patients in our area who are aged over 80 to get those who wish to take up the offer booked in. Time constraints mean theres no time to reach them by post and, given that we cant rely on the mass-texting system we use to reach younger patients, we have a team of 12 staff across our practices phoning patients solidly from dawn until dusk. I even recruit my 19-year-old son, now at home from university, to help man the lines. Its a complex business, not least because English is not the first language for some of our patients, while others are lonely and want to chat for hours. Its one reason we give our team a script to stick to. Happily, most patients are only too eager to accept their proffered appointment, but its dismaying that one in five of them either decline to have the jab at all, or say they want to wait a bit longer before making their decision. It is the logistical challenge of a lifetime: the roll-out of essential Covid-19 vaccines. Pictured: Taking delivery of the first batch in its takeaway-style box Fri, December 11 Two days of our first three-day vaccine schedule are now fully booked, with more than 600 patients scheduled to receive a jab on the coming Tuesday and Wednesday, leaving only Thursday to be sorted. Theres a palpable sense of excitement among the team. As I go home for a well-earned glass of wine I hope this is the moment that we turn the corner to combat Covid in our area, where it has been running rife. Along with many of my colleagues, I caught the virus back in March before the first national lockdown and though I pulled through fine, it was still a wretched experience. For others, of course, it can be a matter of life or death. Ive lost several much-loved patients to this cruel disease over the past months. Sun, December 13 I spoke too soon! My peaceful Sunday morning is overturned by an email informing us theres been a 24-hour delay to the vaccines arrival. Cue a hasty scramble to get colleagues in to work to contact all of Tuesdays patients and tell them to come in on Friday instead. Since many of them had relatives or friends who had taken time off work to bring them in, its a major inconvenience, but mercifully most understand its not our fault. Mon, December 14 Our telephone terriers hit the phones again to book Thursdays remaining slots, while I visit a local hospital to see how the vaccine vials arrive and are mixed to ensure the correct dosage. The answer to the former, I discover, is that they come in what looks strangely like a small pizza box rather different to the sci-fi cube emitting clouds of dry-ice that Id half been expecting. Were similarly underwhelmed back at base by the arrival of the storage fridge, which wed all pictured as some futuristic number but, in reality, is like a small under-the-counter affair you might keep your drinks in at home: A G&T or a dose of Pfizer, darling? With the delivery of all the aprons, syringes and wipes were going to need, things are gearing up, although Im anxious that with just hours to go until V-Day were still awaiting the national protocol which allows our healthcare assistants and other junior staff or lay vaccinators to help us administer it quickly and safely. Ralph Evans, 88, receives the vaccine in Merthyr Tydfil. He is among the 1.5million to have been given the NHS jab Tue, December 15 Its here! The vaccine arrives mid-morning, and given all the fuss, Id been braced for an elite squad of specialists, bearing it forth with all the awe of a holy relic. Instead, its a man-in-a-van: more Amazon delivery than Indiana Jones. Nonetheless were all excited to have what one colleague quips is the Pizza Box from Heaven. Inside are 195 precious vials, each containing five doses, meaning 975 separate vaccines. Were all keenly aware that every second now is vital, as the countdown to beat the strict five-day expiry date has already begun, starting from the moment they leave the laboratory freezer. Unlike the vintage pots of hummus in my fridge back home, theres no wriggle room on best before dates here. Our schedule is based on three vaccinators working 9am to 7pm, giving a jab every five minutes. On paper, that looks do-able, until you think about the reality of dealing with elderly, sometimes frail, patients who need time to move around, remove their layers of winter clothing and so forth. Throw in the strict social distancing requirements and it becomes trickier still, especially when you consider the additional personnel in the building required by the guidelines: as well as our three vaccinators, there has to be a GP on site, two healthcare professionals and a team of five marshals to shepherd the patients around. Wed, December 16, V-Day One The big day arrives. My job is to take the vials and convert them into syringe-dosages, following a labyrinthine series of procedures which require such delicate handling we have taken to calling them our little V-babies. First the vials are removed from the fridge into a light-proof bag they are light-sensitive as well as heat-sensitive. I then take out the first six vials, mark them with a special time label, and leave them for ten minutes to get them to room temperature, before inverting each vial ten times and adding 1.8 millilitres of sterile saline and withdrawing the same amount of air. They then have to be inverted another ten times before another date and time label is added. With over 20 years experience, Im used to this kind of painstaking procedure, but I cant help thinking that for many of the groups proposing to join the vaccine army it would be somewhat daunting and time-consuming. Unlike the flu jab, which comes arm-ready as it were, this is more complicated. If the Governments going to hit its targets, there will need to be some swift training factored in. Im intrigued by the instruction to only take five 0.3 millilitre doses out of each vial and throw away whats left. Out of interest I drew the last dose out of one vial and discovered it was 0.5 millilitres, which strikes me as a dose wasted. But rules are rules. The day passes quickly, and its heartening to learn from my vaccinating colleagues that every single one of their patients was so grateful to receive it, although some of them expressed guilt at being at the front of the queue and said they felt key workers and teachers should have been vaccinated first. The day ends on a happy note when we learn that the traffic warden wed spotted hovering outside wasnt handing out tickets, but helping our elderly patients out of their cars and taxis. Its a Christmas miracle! Thu, December 17 Another change from NHS England: overnight they decide we can now take six doses from each vial. That means we suddenly have 65 extra doses spare, and can vaccinate more patients. Our team hit the phones again. Every dose used is another life protected. One step forward . . . two little hiccups back. Our IT system goes on the blink for an hour and a half, while we learn one of our marshals has called in sick with Covid. Fri, December 18 Another busy day, and by 4pm, as we count the number of patients left waiting, with a handful of no-shows through the day, we realise well have a few vaccine shots left over. But as the clock runs down, were nearing the use-by deadline. Quick! We hit the phones to rally local healthcare professionals within a one-mile radius who, unlike more elderly patients, can get here pronto. We want to ensure not a precious drop is wasted. We finish at 9pm, following an exhausting 12-hour shift: everyone had fitted the equivalent of a standard full NHS working week into three days. Weve administered 1,031 doses, were all knackered, and my knees hurt, but theres a real buzz. I spend much of Saturday morning trying to catch up on the Christmas shopping Ive had no time to do, only to discover that afternoon that my area is to be plunged into Tier 4 rules, meaning non-essential shops will have to close. Sorry, kids, Santas been a bit busy. Mon, December 21 Its a return to normal business, as I try to catch up with all the patients Ive had to cancel from my usual clinics to work on the vaccine roll-out. That means everything from smear tests to frailty reviews managing elderly patients end of life plans, and whether or not they would like to be resuscitated in the event of cardiac failure. Theres a slightly grim irony in undertaking the latter with a patient who, just a few days earlier, had been given a life-saving jab. It feels like saying: Weve helped save your life, now how would you like to die? Wed, December 23 I thought I was off for Christmas, a time to recharge the batteries, but lo and behold the holidays interrupted with another goalpost-moving missive from NHS England, this time informing us they are going to extend the period between the two vaccine doses from three weeks to 12 weeks. This means that any area which started administering their vaccines on or after Wednesday 16th needs to cancel those patients due their second jab, and book a thousand new patients in for their first instead. Oh, and we cant even tell the first thousand when they should come back, as the vaccine supply is so patchy at the moment we cant make plans that far ahead. How on earth can we make those 2,000 phone calls in time? On a good day, one telephone terrier working flat out can reach about 120-150 patients a day. Frantic conversations between health chiefs ensue, until a pragmatic solution is reached. Huge relief! Nonetheless, given all the coverage in the media, we still have to call all 1,000 patients to reassure them their appointments are going ahead. Tue, January 5, 2021 Hallelujah! The second lot of vaccines arrive at our hub on schedule. This time Im at least expecting a man-in-a-van, not the Messiah. Wed, January 6 Round two gets under way. It feels calmer this time as weve established a good working rhythm. With a fair wind, well pick up speed, but the fiddly nature of the Pfizer jab means its surely going to be a huge challenge to scale-up on a national level. The Government are making promises to have administered 12 million doses by mid-Feb. As my eye-rolling teenager would say: good luck with that. Fri, January 8 Another day of mixed news. Our final tranche of Pfizer jabs is marred by the IT system used to register all vaccinations called Pinnacle going down for most of the morning. Now all 480 patients due in will have to be logged by hand and inputted onto the database at a later date. I worry the system is struggling to cope as more and more hubs join the national roll-out. On the plus side, we get the first arrival of 400 doses of the alternative Oxford or AstraZeneca vaccine, which are to go to local care homes as theyre more transportable and require less gentle care than our Pfizer V-babies. On paper, this is good news if only we werent all so hampered by NHS Englands obsession with running all vaccinations through specific designated hubs like ours. The reality of this is that the maximum number of front-line vaccinators we can have working from the hub at any one time is four, whereas if we were allowed to give it out at our usual local GP surgeries too, I could have two vaccinators working at each of our ten sites taking that number up to 20. Thats a huge potential to upscale, if only NHS England would listen. Overnight, we got another missive from them saying the Oxford vaccine can at least be delivered to different sites, but still no clarity on whether it can be administered there, too. If it cant, then Im afraid Boriss pledge of delivering two million doses a week doesnt stand a chance, especially given the baffling reality that by the time you read this, our hub will stand empty and unused. At the time of writing, we have no further vaccine deliveries scheduled. And so we wait . . . After all our efforts, its disheartening. And very worrying. These marches were a rehearsal for their proposed Jan 26 Kisan parade to the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and UP Farmers, with more than 5,000 tractors and other vehicles, have again showed to the world that they are united, focused, tireless, and firm in their resolve. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: On the eve of another round of talks with the government, thousands of farmers on Thursday took out tractor marches from protest sites of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders and Haryana's Rewasan as the agitating unions asserted they would not accept the Centre's offer of amendments to the three farm laws. According to the protesting farm unions, these marches were a "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 "Kisan parade" to the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The tractor marches started from four different points -- Singhu to Tikri Border, Tikri to Kundli, Ghazipur to Palwal and Rewasan to Palwal. The protesting unions claimed the marches were "a grand success". With their eighth round of meeting with the Centre is scheduled to take place on Friday, the protesting unions made it clear that three farm laws should be repealed and minimum support price for crops should be made into a legal right of all farmers. "We will never accept the amendments offered by the government and to fulfil our demands, we will continue to intensify the protests," Samkyukt Kisan Morch, an umbrella body of 40 protesting unions, said. From the Singhu and Tikri borders, farmers drove their tractors towards the the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway in the morning and then they came back later. Perched on their tractors, protesting farmers moved slowly through the protest sites, with speakers on their vehicles belting out music keeping their spirits high. Other protestors lined the path providing fellow farmers with all kinds of supplies, including peanuts, fritters, tea, and newspapers. Farmers, with more than 5,000 tractors and other vehicles, have again showed to the world that they are united, focused, tireless, and firm in their resolve, Morch's senior member Darshan Pal said. As farmers, especially youths owing allegiance to different farm bodies took part in the march, their tractors sported the tricolour, the flags of the farmers' unions and banners mentioning 'No Farmer No Food'. Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that they will not accept anything less than the repeal of the three farm laws. Another BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) leader Shingara Singh Mann said "The tractor rally was peaceful and was a complete success." The last meeting between farm unions and Union ministers remained inconclusive on Monday as the former stuck to their demand for the repeal of the three laws, while the government listed out various benefits of the new acts for the growth of the country's agriculture sector. From Ghazipur, the tractor march, led by senior BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, moved towards Palwal. "In the coming days, we will intensify our agitation against the three farm laws. Around 2,500 tractors from Haryana have participated in today's march. "We want to warn that if the government doesn't not accept our demands, farmers' protest will get intensified further," Abhimanyu Kohar, a senior member of Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, told PTI. At Tikri Border protest site, some persons allegedly misbehaved with mediapersons. Samkyukt Kisan Morch condemned the attack on a section of media, saying that the discipline committee is investigating into the reports received and the individuals concerned will be handed over to the police. "The government has been hosting meeting after meeting. They know what we want. We want the laws to be repealed, but all we get are futile talks. With this rally, we want to give them a glimpse of what we can do, and what we will do on January 26. "Today, the rally is happening on the periphery of Delhi, but when our farmer leaders decide that we need to enter the capital, we will do that," Harjinder Singh, a participant of tractor march from Punjab's Hoshiarpur, said. In a statement later, Sankyukt Kisan Moarcha claimed that across the nation, farmers showed unity by participating in tractor marches in their own localities, adding that farmers in many districts of Uttar Pradesh had tractor marches in their respective block and district headquarters. Women farmers also participated in all marches in large numbers, it stated, adding that farmers in various towns of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand also participated in this nationwide event. Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen 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 the MSP and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 WASHINGTON Congress confirmed Democrat Joe Biden as the presidential election winner before dawn Thursday after a violent mob loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a stunning attempt to overturn the election, undercut the nations democracy and keep Trump in the White House. Biden on Thursday denounced the rioters as domestic terrorists and he blamed Trump for the violence that has shaken the nations capital and beyond. The riot by Trump supporters who breached the security of Congress on Wednesday, Biden said, was not dissent, was not disorder, was not protest. It was chaos. Those who massed on Capitol Hill intending to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was certifying Bidens election victory over Trump werent protesters. Dont dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. Its that basic, Biden said. In solemn tones, Biden said the actions Trump has taken to subvert the nations democratic institutions throughout his presidency led directly to the mayhem in Washington. In the past four years, weve had a president whos made his contempt for our democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law clear in everything he has done, Biden said. He unleashed an all-out assault on our institutions of our democracy from the outset. And yesterday was the culmination of that unrelenting attack. The mob of hundreds of Trump backers broke into the Capitol and roamed the halls looking for lawmakers, who were forced to halt their deliberations and seek safety. The violent protesters were egged on by Trump himself, who has falsely contended that he lost the election due to voter fraud. Trumps claims were repeatedly dismissed in the courts, including the Supreme Court, and by state election officials from both parties, and even by some in his own administration. But the president went to greater and greater lengths to try to subvert the election, culminating this week in efforts by some Republican members of Congress to object to the certification of the results and the violence at the Capitol. After the disruption, Congress returned to work late Wednesday and affirmed Bidens victory early Thursday. Biden ticked off a list of Trumps assaults on American norms, including his attacks on the press and the intelligence community and his pressure on state and federal officials and judges to submit to his efforts to overturn the election. Biden said that on Wednesday, Trump tried to use a mob to silence the voices of nearly 160 Americans who voted in November. And both he and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris spoke about the police treatment of the largely white protesters on Wednesday, compared with the heavy-handed way in which police have handled Black Lives Matter protests. We witnessed two systems of justice, when we saw one that let extremists storm the United States Capitol and another that released tear gas on peaceful protesters last summer, Harris said. Biden declared that no one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, they wouldnt have been treated very, very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol. He expressed hope that images comparing the police presence Wednesday to that marshaled to prepare for Black Lives Matters protests would open Americans eyes to the needs for reform. The remarks came during an event in Wilmington, Delaware, to introduce Bidens Justice Department team, to be led by federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland as attorney general. Biden also announced Obama administration homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco would serve as deputy attorney general and former Justice Department civil rights chief Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general, the No. 3 official. He also named an assistant attorney general for civil rights, Kristen Clarke, now the president of Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy group. The Justice Department is expected to dramatically change course during the Biden administration, with a greater focus on civil rights issues and a review of policing policies. Both Biden and Harris spoke Wednesday about the importance of an independent judiciary. Biden said some of the most important work for the nation remains committing ourselves to the rule of law in this nation, invigorating our domestic and democratic institutions carrying out equal justice under law in America. There is no more important place for us to do this work than the Department of Justice, he said. SEATTLE, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sana Biotechnology, Inc. (Sana), focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines, announced today that Josh Bilenker, M.D., Alise Reicin, M.D., and Michelle Seitz, CFA, have been appointed to the Sana Board of Directors. "Josh, Alise, and Michelle all share a passion and commitment to our long-term vision of engineering cells to make medicines that improve the lives of patients," said Sana President and CEO Steve Harr. "The diversity of their experiences, backgrounds, and expertise will be critical to our strategy, decision-making, risk-management, and governance. I look forward to working with them to continue to build Sana." Dr. Bilenker is CEO of Loxo Oncology at Lilly, a research and development group of Eli Lilly. He joined Eli Lilly when the company acquired Loxo Oncology, Inc., where he had been founding CEO. Prior to Loxo, Dr. Bilenker joined Aisling Capital LLC in April 2006 and has served as an Operating Partner since November 2013. Previously, he served as a medical officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the Office of Oncology Drug Products. Dr. Bilenker trained at the University of Pennsylvania in internal medicine and medical oncology, earning board certification in these specialties. He received his M.D. from The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and his A.B. degree in English from Princeton University. Dr. Reicin is CEO and President of Tectonic Therapeutic, Inc. Previously, Dr. Reicin was President, Global Clinical Development at Celgene Corporation, overseeing the clinical development organization. Prior to Celgene, Dr. Reicin was the Head of Global Clinical Development at EMD Serono. Prior to joining EMD Serono, Dr. Reicin served as Vice President, Program and Pipeline Leadership, Oncology at Merck and Co. Before joining Merck, Dr. Reicin was a faculty member at Columbia Medical School, and a physician and researcher at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital. She received her B.S. in biochemistry from Barnard College of Columbia University and her M.D. from Harvard Medical School, where she was enrolled in the Health Sciences and Technology program with Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Ms. Seitz is Chairman and CEO of Russell Investments. Previously, Ms. Seitz spent 22 years at William Blair, serving 16 years on the firm's board and as CEO of William Blair Investment Management. She is a member of Challenge Seattle, an alliance of CEOs from the region's largest employers dedicated to ensuring that Seattle continues to thrive as one of the most globally competitive regions in the world. Ms. Seitz is on the board of the Washington Roundtable and on the Dean's Council at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, where she graduated with a B.S. in accounting. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and past board member of The Financial Accounting Foundation (FAF), the governance board of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). About Sana Sana Biotechnology, Inc. is focused on creating and delivering engineered cells as medicines for patients. We share a vision of repairing and controlling genes, replacing missing or damaged cells, and making our therapies broadly available to patients. We are more than 250 people working together to create an enduring company that changes how the world treats disease. Sana has operations in Seattle, Cambridge, and South San Francisco. Contact [email protected] SOURCE Sana Biotechnology, Inc. Wall Street banks are asking a key regulator to drop a proposed rule that would force them to do business with energy and firearms companies that could subject them to public scorn, questioning the legal basis for a measure they say is being unfairly fast-tracked. The fair access rule proposed by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency on Nov. 20 would create undue burdens for lenders and could threaten their business models, banking industry groups said in comment letters to the agency. The industry groups also challenged OCCs authority to issue the rule and argued that the 45-day comment period that ended last Monday gave them insufficient time to respond. Brian Brooks, the OCCs interim chief, wants to bar banks from refusing to serve legal businesses such as those in the oil, prison and firearms industries that they might otherwise avoid because of the potential for reputational harm. Under the rule, a bank must conduct a risk assessment on any prospective customer, and cant refuse the business so long as the numbers are sound. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The OCCs effort was initiated after Republican lawmakers complained about banks declining to finance energy projects, citing climate-change concerns. Lenders including Citigroup Inc. and Bank of America Corp. have also limited ties to the gun industry. The opening salvo in the debate was Operation Choke Point, a controversial effort by the Obama-era Justice Department to stymie money laundering in industries it saw as particularly risky including payday lenders, firearms dealers and escort services. The program sparked criticism from Republican lawmakers, including Senate Banking Committee Chairman Mike Crapo, who backs the OCCs new push. Brooks, who has been nominated by President Donald Trump for a full term as comptroller, is facing time pressure to finish the rule because he could be replaced after President-elect Joe Biden takes office Jan. 20. The proposals fundamental practical problems are compounded by its basic legal deficiencies, the Bank Policy Institute said in its letter. It would effectively replace the traditional business of American banking by dumping a firms risk-management decisions for a system in which the regulator dictates to whom financial services must be provided. The proposal drew thousands of comment letters, many of them from people supporting its requirement that big banks open their doors to firearms businesses. Breaking News: Get email alerts from Chron.com sent directly to your inbox Consumer groups and Democratic lawmakers joined lenders in criticizing the rule, focusing more on climate change issue than on banks business models. This proposed rule directly undermines the OCCs responsibility to ensure a safe and sound banking sector, said Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), who co-signed a comment letter with a group of congressional Democrats. It is extremely troubling that a federal regulator is using its supervisory authority to pressure banks to finance projects the banks themselves have deemed too risky. Bankers also questioned OCCs reliance on Dodd-Frank Act language directing the agency to ensure fair access to financial services as a basis for the rule. It strains credulity to anchor a significant, burdensome and novel rule on that clause, the American Bankers Association said in its letter. We are considering all of the stakeholders comments as we prepare a final rule, said Bryan Hubbard, an OCC spokesman. Education Minister Sorin Cimpeanu said on Thursday that opening schools on February 8 will be "successful" "one way or another." According to the minister, the problems with virtual teaching are "structural, not circumstantial problems," which "any country meets." "We will manage to open the schools; it is my deep conviction that on February 8 we will manage to open either all the schools in Romania or the schools in areas with allow infection rate. We will prioritize primary education, kindergarten, knowing a virtual approach is the most difficult, and we might prioritize 8th and 12th grade students who take the national exam. My conviction is that one way or another we will manage to open the schools. Education remains a priority of the incumbent government," Cimpeanu told Realitatea Plus private broadcaster. AGERPRES . Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger looks on as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 11, 2020. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images) Deputy NSA and Top China Adviser Resigns Following DC Violence Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger announced his resignation on Thursday, joining a number of officials who have left President Donald Trumps administration following violence at the U.S. Capitol building earlier this week. The White House hasnt immediately commented on Pottingers departure, although Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Ezra Cohenwho has worked together with the deputy during past activitiesacknowledged his departure. Matt Pottinger is a consummate national security professional and public servant. We worked closely together during the interagency policy review of PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) malign activity and beyond, Cohen said on Twitter. He has served our country with great distinction, he continued. I am grateful for his time in office. Matt Pottinger is a consummate national security professional and public servant. We worked closely together during the interagency policy review of PRC malign activity and beyond. He has served our country with great distinction. I am grateful for his time in office. Ezra A. Cohen (@EzraACohen) January 8, 2021 Pottinger started to serve the Trump administration as the deputy national security advisor in September 2019 and was also part of the National Security Council as Asia director since 2017. Before his political career, he worked as a journalist and has been an officer with the U.S. Marine Corps. During his time at the Trump administration, he was a leading participant in the development of the administrations policies toward China. His resignation is one of many that have occurred in the wake of the Capitol breach. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao was one of the first Cabinet members to announce resignation shortly after protesters breached the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday. Chao, married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, said in a message to staff that the attack has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), delivers his victory speech next to his wife, Elaine Chao, at the Omni Louisville Hotel in Louisville, Ky. on Nov. 3, 2020. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images) She said in her resignation letter it has been an honor for her to serve the department and hoped workers in the agency would carry forward our vision but added that shes resigning effective Jan. 11. Stephanie Grisham, an aide to First Lady Melania Trump and a former White House press secretary, and U.S. Special Envoy for Northern Ireland Mick Mulvaney, Trumps former chief of staff, was also among those who announced early they are resigning following Wednesdays incident. Others who resigned in the wake of the riot are Ryan Tully, senior director for European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. Epoch Times reporter Zachary Stieber contributed to this report. From NTD News Subscriber content preview By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer Boeing will pay $2.5 billion to settle a criminal charge of defrauding safety regulators in connection with the development of the 737 Max aircraft, which suffered two deadly crashes. The Justice Department said Thursday that Boeing agreed to the settlement that includes money for the crash victims' families, airline customers and airlines, as well as a fine. . . . ATLANTA Democratic control of the U.S. Senate came one step closer to fruition Friday after Georgia Republican David Perdue conceded his runoff loss to Democrat Jon Ossoff. A day earlier, the GOP's Kelly Loeffler conceded to Democrat Raphael Warnock in Georgia's other Senate race. Perdue thanked supporters in a statement before acknowledging his loss in Tuesday's election, saying I want to congratulate the Democratic Party and my opponent for this runoff win. After their contentious race marked by sharp personal attacks, Perdue's statement did not mention Ossoff by name. A spokesperson for Ossoffs campaign said the Democrat had not received a call from Perdue and that they learned about his concession from media reports. Ossoffs victory will make him the youngest sitting member of the U.S. Senate. Perdue, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was first elected to the Senate in 2014. He led Ossoff by about 88,000 votes in November's general election, but failed to top 50% required to avoid the runoff. When Georgias two Senate contests went into overtime, Ossoff was buoyed by the national implications of the race as well as Trumps continued false attacks on the election results. READ MORE: Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman is eyeing a run for Senate in 2022 Recently, Hubei Tiandao New Energy Automotive Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Tiandao New Energy), a leading new energy logistics vehicle manufacturer, signed a contract with China Fortune Land Development Co (CFLD). The agreement will see the latter company invest in the construction of a lightweight magnesium alloy material-based new energy vehicle (NEV) parts production base in Jiayu New Industry City in Central China's Hubei province. This marks the first new energy auto parts project introduced by CFLD to Jiayu New Industry City, which will hopefully help attract companies related to the new energy vehicle industry chain to settle and develop in Jiayu county. As a supplier for numerous logistics giants such as JD.com, YTO Express, Yunda, and SF Express, Tiandao New Energy's primary products include new energy lightweight logistics vehicles, new energy tractors, and new energy special vehicles. The annual output of these products is expected to reach 210,000, ranking Tiandu New Energy among the top three Chinese companies in terms of domestic logistics e-commerce transportation sales. In order to meet increasing demand, Tiandao New Energy invested in the construction of a lightweight magnesium alloy material-based new energy auto parts production base in Jiayu New Industry City. In the future, it will become an upstream firm of its parent company. Jiayu New Industry City is located in the "half-hour within-reach economic circle" of Wuhan, capital of Hubei province. The development zone boasts several advantages in the auto parts manufacturing industry, including close to 10 traditional automobile factories such as Dongfeng Motor Corporation and Shanghai General Motors Co. Ltd, and five new energy automobile production bases and many other auto parts firms. Based on Jiayu county's industrial advantages, Zhao Wei, executive president of CFLD, said that CFLD will continue to improve its industrial development capabilities, introduce high-quality projects to foster industrial clusters in Jiayu county, and promote the sustainable development of the regional economy. The Tiandao New Energy construction project officially began 20 days after the contract was signed. Yang Zhansheng, general manager of Tiandao New Energy, said that from contract signing to project implementation, the total industrial services provided by CFLD were very professional and its strong resource coordination capabilities and meticulous services played an important role in ensuring the rapid implementation of the project. As China's leading New Industry City operator, CFLD adheres to the core strategy of "prioritizing developing industry," focusing on the development of key auto parts industrial clusters in Jiayu New Industry City. With 18 years of industrial development experience, CFLD has built a capabilities-driven industrial development ecosystem supported by a professional team, substantial capital, and excellent technology, and continues to introduce advanced industrial clusters in China. Based in Amsterdam, Media Distillery was founded in 2014 to solve the increasing challenge of TV operators and broadcasters to understand automatically what is contained within large amounts of video content. The company analysed over 7.5 million hours of video content in 2020 and its Deep Content Understanding technology is said to impact over 40 million viewers globally on a daily basis and is growing rapidly.The technology sees use in analysing video content to determine relevant topics, events or specific time markers, all in real-time and cloud-based. This it says creates an ultimate user experience, increased consumer satisfaction, engagement and loyalty. Current Media Distillery technology users include operators such as Telenet (Belgium), YouSee (Denmark), Eutelsat (France) Proximus (Belgium) and VTR (Chile).The company says that the video industry is experiencing a tremendous shift in consumer behaviour in the past five years and quotes research showing that in 2020 the average streaming household was using 3.3 video streaming platforms. It added that as consumers are presented with a multitude of options for video consumption, it is increasingly relevant for video platforms to deliver content in a way and with a user experience that the consumer expects nowadays, to ensure a competitive advantage in the crowded market.The 3 million has been gained from a group of entrepreneurs and executives from the international TV and broadcast industry. With the funding, Media Distillery says it will accelerate the expansion of the companys team, international business growth and to scale the research and development teams working on next-generation, more complex, content discovery solutions.The commercial potential of creating a sticky video environment is enormous when consumers are engaged to a video platform that is personalised to ones interests and when they can discover relevant content in the blink of an eye, commented Media Distillery CEO Roland Sars. Media Distillerys use of AI technology to tackle these matters and gives video platforms the opportunity to set themselves apart from competition and boost viewership metrics. Tier 2 of Phase 1B, set to begin in April, will make residents between the ages of 65 and 75 eligible, alongside shelter residents, workers in critical manufacturing, the incarcerated, the homeless and residents of sheltering facilities. From there, eligibility widens: phase 1C includes residents 50 years of age or older, or residents between the ages of 16 and 64 with underlying medical conditions or disabilities. It also includes workers across essential sectors, including government operations, waste or water management and community service. That phase is forecast to begin in May, Relucio said, emphasizing these timelines are highly contingent upon the availability of vaccines and the infrastructure to administer them. County residents under the age of 50 who are not essential workers and do not have pre-existing conditions should not expect to be vaccinated until at least the summer June or July, Relucio added. Vaccine rollout is made logistically complicated because of the procedure that must be followed upon administering the shot, experts have said. It takes time to explain the vaccine and its possible side effects to patients, who then may have additional questions. And each recipient must be observed for 15 minutes after theyve been given the shot in case of allergic reaction. Remote working became the new normal in 2020. Credit: Elenabsl/Shutterstock The economist John Maynard Keynes predicted in 1930 that the amount we work would gradually shrink to as little as 15 hours a week as technology made us more productive. Not only did this not happen, but we also began to spend extra time away from home due to commuting and suburban living patterns, which we often forget are recent historical inventions. However, 2020 has changed all that. In my new history of remote work during COVID-19, I marvel at how much it has shaken up our lives and how much we took for granted. My research also points to a number of trends that will help shape working life in 2021. Over "in time for Christmas" At the start of 2020 remote work was a gradually rising long-term trend. Only 12% of workers in the US worked remotely full time, 6% in the UK. Naturally the world was unprepared for mass remote work. But COVID-19 instantly proved remote work was possible for many people. Workplace institutions and norms toppled like dominos. The office, in-person meetings and the daily commute fell first. Then the nine to five schedule, vacations and private home lives were threatened. Countries even started issuing remote work visas to encourage people to spend lockdown working in their territory. As old norms vanished, a rapid procession of novel technologies marched uninvited into our homes. We had to master Zoom meeting etiquette, compassionate email practices, navigate surveillance, juggle caring responsibilities. The list goes on. In the face of grim statisticsthe UN predicted 195 million job lossesonly the tone deaf complained about working from home. Nonetheless, COVID-19 created the biggest remote work experiment in human history. In July, UK prime minister Boris Johnsonwith Edwardian optimismdaydreamed a sense of normality would return "in time for Christmas." Fast forward through summer to lockdown 2.0 and the fantasy of a 12-week experiment faded into sepia tinged memories. One interviewee joked: "I really thought we'd be back in the office by July, what fools we were!" Are you disciplined? Silicon Valley companies Google, Apple and Twitter were among the first to announce employees could work from home. Ahead of the curve, they were well practiced. Predictably, they already had a fancy term for it: distributed working. In 2021 concepts such as distributed and hybrid working will proliferate. Most were less prepared than Silicon Valley. In March, I published findings from a four-year research study tracking remote workers. I warned, to be a successful remote worker deep reserves of self-discipline were required, otherwise burnout followed. We understand this now. But I spent the first lockdown patiently explaining to news outlets why working from home was so hard. When I suggested returning to the office might be considered a luxurybecause it helped people structure their daysa news presenter laughed. For good or ill, conversations about disciplined routines will intensify in 2021. By May 2020 many reported experiencing Zoom fatigue. I naively predicted Zoom use would subside. I'd have been right if we'd returned to the office. Instead necessity dictated we up our Zoom gameeven if they were draining. Zoom simultaneously saved and ruined working from home, and it's not going away anytime soon. The commuting paradox Remote workers, grateful to still have jobs, also reported a gnawing sense of survivors' guilt. Overwork was one way of expressing this guilt. Many felt working extra hours might secure their job. In April 2020, I joined other academics researching work-life balance on a project called eWorkLife. The research data revealed increases in working hours when it wasn't obvious when the working day ended. Especially with no obvious signal to end the working day. In my four-year remote study, I had noticed a strange pattern. Participants initially said "escaping the commute" was a key benefit of remote working. Yet months later these same workers started recreating mini commutes. The eWorkLife project uncovered similar findings. People wanted to create "a clear division between work and home." Study lead Prof Anna Cox urged people to do pretend commutes so they could maintain a work-life balance. In 2021 work-life balance must become recognized as a public health issue and the eWorkLife project is urging policymakers to act. The right to disconnect What's happened to the time previously lost to commuting? Many are using it to catch up on admin and email. This taps into a worrying trend. Pre-pandemic warnings about an encroaching 24/7 work culture were intensifying. Social scientists argued that contemporary workers were being turned into worker-smartphone hybrids. In 2016, French workers were even given the legal right to disconnect from work emails outside working hours. A hopeful wish-list for 2021 includes continued increases in workplace activism and for companies and governments to reveal their remote working policies. Twitter and 17 other companies have already announced employees can work remotely indefinitely. At least 60% of US companies still haven't shared their remote working policies with their employees. Remote workers tell me until bosses reveal their post-pandemic policiesplanning for their future is impossible. The late activist David Graeber described the failure to achieve Keynes's 15-hour work week as a missed opportunity, "a scar across our collective soul". COVID-19 may have started conversations about alternative futures where work and leisure are better balanced. But it won't come easily. And we will have to fight for it. Explore further Amazon extends remote work option to mid-2021 for some employees This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. WASHINGTON - The top federal prosecutor in Washington D.C. said Thursday that President Donald Trump was not off limits in his investigation of the events surrounding Wednesday's riot at the U.S. Capitol, saying "all actors" would be examined to determine if they broke the law. Asked if federal agents and prosecutors will look at the incendiary statements made by speakers at Trump's rally shortly before a mob of his supporters breached security at the Capitol and wreaked havoc inside, acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin said: "Yes, we are looking at all actors here, not only the people that went into the building, but . . . were there others that maybe assisted or facilitated or played some ancillary role in this. We will look at every actor and all criminal charges." Asked specifically if that included Trump, who had urged the crowd to "fight like hell," before the rioting began, Sherwin replied, "We are looking at all actors here, and anyone that had a role, if the evidence fits the element of a crime, they're going to be charged." Not long after the prosecutor made those remarks, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany gave a brief statement, saying: "What we saw yesterday was a group of violent rioters undermining the legitimate First Amendment rights of the many thousands who came to peacefully have their voices heard in our nation's capital. Those who violently besieged our capitol are the opposite of everything this administration stands for." The far-reaching federal investigation could spell fresh legal jeopardy for the president's personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, who also spoke to the crowd, declaring at one point, "let's have trial by combat," and declaring he was willing to stake his reputation, and that of the president, on being able to someday find criminality in the 2020 vote count. On Thursday morning, Giuliani tweeted that the previous day's violence "was shameful. It was as criminal as the rioting and looting this summer which was not condemned strongly enough by the Left. This violence is condemned in the strongest terms. Our movement values respect for law and order and for the police." Two of the president's sons also spoke at the event, though their remarks were less incendiary, threatening to primary Republicans who did not support Trump's effort to change electoral college tallies. "Have some backbone. Show some fight. Learn from Donald Trump," Eric Trump told the crowd. "And we need to march on the Capitol today. And we need to stand up for this country. And we need to stand up for what's right." Sherwin, the prosecutor, said that the first priority of investigators are the individuals who personally engaged in destructive or violent acts at the Capitol, or what he called "the closest alligators to the boat." He also noted there were potential national security risks in Wednesday's chaos, with video showing papers strewn around lawmakers' offices, and some accounts of people taking things from the building. "This is probably going to take several days to flesh out what was stolen, what wasn't," he said. "Items were stolen from senators' offices, documents were stolen, and we have to identify what was done, and it could have potential national security equities." Sherwin spoke to reporters by phone Thursday to emphasize that the Justice Department and FBI are rapidly pursuing cases against those who engaged in violence or other lawbreaking, saying that dozens of people would be charged by the end of the day, and investigators are continuing to piece together evidence to bring additional cases. The vast majority of those who broke into the Capitol building were allowed to politely leave once the chaos ended. One online video even showed an officer holding the door for a stream of angry individuals, including one who triumphantly shouted: "We stopped the vote!" Now, investigators face a more complex task of piecing together digital evidence to identify and charge those who engaged in violence. That could take weeks or in some cases months, meaning that the bulk of that prosecutorial work may be left to the Biden administration. Sherwin said investigators' work was made more difficult by the fact that Capitol Police let so many of the people who broke into the building simply walk out. "It appears they were not apprehended or zip-tied by the police," said Sherwin, and agents will now have to gather cellphone records and video footage to "identify people, charge them, and execute their arrest." FBI agents have already received thousands of tips after asking for the public's help in identifying people in the photos and videos of the mob storming the Capitol building. Officials said they have a broad list of possible crimes to consider, from seditious conspiracy to damaging federal property to simple unlawful entry. But there are other, more serious potential charges in play, too. Pipe bombs were discovered outside the Republican National Committee headquarters and the Democratic National Committee headquarters. Officials have yet to charge anyone with leaving those homemade bombs there, but such actions may lead to terrorism charges. "The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our Government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions under the law," Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement Thursday. While prosecutors vowed to file the toughest charges possible, they also signaled that they plan to file cases on lesser crimes like unlawful entry, which may be easier to prove, given the voluminous social media postings of the rioters. D.C. Metro police released dozens of photographs Thursday seeking to identify and possibly charge with unlawful entry some of those who stormed into Congress, including a heavily tattooed shirtless man draped in animal fur and wearing Viking horns. FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday said the FBI has deployed its "full investigative resources" and will "hold accountable those who participated in yesterday's siege of the Capitol." The political fallout from the rioting continued Thursday, as Republicans faced a deep, angry rift within their party over the pro-Trump riot. Former Attorney General William Barr - who before his Dec. 23 resignation had been one of Trump's most loyal and effective cabinet secretaries - issued a statement condemning the president. "Orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable," Barr said in the statement, released through his former spokeswoman. "The President's conduct yesterday was a betrayal of his office and supporters." EDITORS NOTE: On Jan. 12, NJ Cannabis Insider hosts a virtual networking event, featuring professionals in the legal cannabis industries. Tickets are limited. Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin has named his pick to serve on the Cannabis Regulatory Commission which will oversee legal marijuana in New Jersey, selecting a former Verizon executive who has also served in the Marine Corps. Coughlin, D-Middlesex, recommended Sam Delgado to the post Friday. He, Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Gov. Phil Murphy each get to nominate the five commissioners who will develop rules and regulations for the new marijuana industry. Murphy, who gets three picks, also has to approve the choices of Coughlin and Sweeney. But the start of that industry saw another setback Friday. Lawmakers have scheduled Monday votes on a bill (S3320) that would mark a compromise with Murphy on legalization, but then pulled it due to opposition. The Legislature is now in a stalemate with the governors office, and its not clear when the legalization bill will become law. Once it does, its up to the commission to get to work on establishing rules and eventually licensing applicants. Delgado is a former vice president of external affairs for Verizon New Jersey. He also spent 20 years with the Marine Corps and monitored human rights abuses in Haiti, according to a release from Coughlins office. Sam Delgados professional and military service is outstanding and I strongly believe he is the best person to serve on the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, Coughlin said in a statement. Sam is an expert in the fields of community leadership, business management, strategic planning, supplier diversity and regulatory policy. He will bring these talents to the commission and is a valued addition. Delgado joins the commission alongside Dianna Houenou, who works for Murphy and formerly on cannabis policy at the ACLU-NJ; and executive director Jeff Brown, who currently oversees the medical marijuana program as an assistant commissioner in the state Department of Health. Houenou and Brown both come from backgrounds in cannabis. Delgado, who lives in Perth Amboy, marks a departure from such picks. He is married to Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, D-Middlesex. Sweeney also named a marijuana industry outsider, Krista Nash, who is a South Jersey social worker. Delgado has assisted in earthquake relief efforts in Haiti in 2010 as a liaison for Doctors without Borders, the Haitian Government, U.S. Military Units and other organizations, according to the release. He also co-chaired the Housing and Economic Development transition team when Newark Mayor Ras Baraka took office and is a founding board member of the New Jersey Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I am honored to have been chosen by Speaker Coughlin to serve as a member of the Cannabis Regulatory Commission, Delgado said in a statement. I am excited to work with my fellow Commissioners to usher in a new era of economic opportunity, social justice and equity for the emerging cannabis industry in the State of New Jersey and look forward to serving the residents of New Jersey in this capacity. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. US airlines and law enforcement agencies have bolstered security at the two big Washington-area airports as supporters of President Trump return home following Wednesday's riots, as a top lawmaker urged authorities to ban anyone who invaded the Capitol from flying. The beefed-up security at Dulles International and Reagan National airports comes amid outrage at the mob of MAGA protesters who smashed their way into the seat of American democracy. A Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority spokesman said passengers can expect to see an increased law enforcement presence as they travel through airports. United Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines said they were working closely with law enforcement agencies to keep people safe and would continue enforcing strict mask policies on flights. United and American also increased staffing at the areas airports and earlier this week moved their crews away from downtown DC hotels. Southwest Airlines said it was monitoring events and expected customers to adhere to applicable laws, federal air regulations and crew member instructions while traveling. It came as the Democratic chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, Bennie Thompson, demanded that any rioters who were identified as having entered the Capitol building be banned from future flights. A Trump supporter is seen above walking through a terminal at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Thursday US domestic airlines said they are increasing security in the DC airports after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol building on Wednesday Homeland Security police patrol at Washington's Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Virginia, in this November 24, 2020, file photo. Security has been beefed up at the two major Washington, DC-area airports We already saw reports of unruly mobs in air on the way to Washington, DC, Thompson said in a statement. It does not take much imagination to envision how they might act out on their way out of DC if allowed to fly unfettered. He urged the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to add the rioters to the federal no-fly list. The no-fly list is a database managed by the Terrorist Screening Center which contains the names of people who are not allowed to board commercial aircraft for travel within, into, or out of the United States. The list was created in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania. Civil libertarians have criticized the use of the list, saying that the names of those added were done without due process. In October 2019, a federal appellate court upheld the largely secret criteria that the government uses for adding suspected terrorists to the list after four people filed suit. (AFA) International President Sara Nelson issued a statement calling the 'mob mentality' that occurred on several flights to D.C. 'unacceptable' The federal government has largely kept secret the number of people on the list, though in 2014, it was learned that at least 47,000 names were on it. A prominent union leader has also called for the Trump supporters to be barred from commercial flights out of the region. Acts against our democracy, our government and the freedom we claim as Americans must disqualify these individuals from the freedom of flight, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA) representing workers at 17 airlines, said in a statement late on Wednesday. American Airlines on Thursday announced that it will no longer serve alcohol on flights to and from the nation's capital after flight attendants 'were forced to confront passengers exhibiting politically motivated aggression towards other passengers and crew.' 'We are working closely with local law enforcement and airport authority partners to ensure the safety of our customers and team members on the ground and in the air,' the airline's statement said, CNN reports. No specific incident was highlighted by the American Airlines as having been the reason for the move. Some flight attendants have expressed concern that protesters would spread COVID-19. The TSA, which has authority over US travel security, said late Wednesday it had multiple layers of security in place without providing details. Trump supporters on Wednesday stormed the barricades surrounding the US Capitol campus and entered the congressional building, sending frightened members of Congress to underground bunkers. Five people died, including a Capitol Police officer who was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. Three others suffered medical emergencies during the riots and one Trump supporters was fatally shot while trying to break into the House Chamber. Most of those who stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday have yet to be arrested and federal law enforcement officials are seeking the public's help in identifying the suspects. As of Thursday night, 82 people were arrested in connection with the storming of the US Capitol, with 60 of them booked for violating DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's 6pm curfew. Another 37 have been arrested on suspicion of unlawful entry. WANTED: Federal and local authorities are trying to track down at least 36 suspects - in addition to the 68 already arrested - who stormed the US Capitol building, defaced property, fired tear gas and trashed officers on Wednesday in chaotic scenes Police on Thursday released photos of members of the violent Trump mob wanted on federal charges after storming the US Capitol building Dozens of Trump loyalists were photographed breaking windows, entering both the Senate and House chambers and going into the offices of lawmakers at the Capitol Wednesday The FBI is now working with various law enforcement agencies to identify perpetrators and charge people with federal crimes Others were charged with assault, property damage and an assortment of gun charges, according to the Los Angeles Times. Many were charged with more than one offense. Police say they are now in the process of tracking down at least 36 suspects - in addition to the 82 already arrested - who scaled the Senate and House Chambers, vandalized statues, fired tear gas and defaced property on Wednesday in chaotic scenes. Earlier this week, Senator Mitt Romney of Utah was heckled and taunted by Trump supporters while on a flight from Salt Lake City to Washington, DC, ahead of the 'Save America' rally. During his remarks to the supporters outside the White House, the president mocked Romney, sarcastically wondering if he 'enjoyed his flight.' Viral video showed Romney being heckled by pro-Trump passengers aboard the flight. 'Let him know what we think,' a woman screams before a group of Trump supporters with their masks pulled down chant 'traitor' and 'traitor Mitt' from their seats. Romney is believed to be sitting further ahead in the plane, but he cannot be seen as the Trump fans record the incident. The move is one of several new 'precautionary' measures taken by the airline and comes after videos showed various flights where Trump supporters heckled Senator Mitt Romney on his flight to DC During a flight on Tuesday to D.C., Romney was heckled by Trump supporters. 'Let him know what we think,' a woman screams before a group of Trump supporters with their masks pulled down chant 'traitor' and 'traitor Mitt' from their seats. Romney is believed to be sitting further ahead in the plane, but he cannot be seen as the Trump fans record the incident. It is not known if the same woman who approached him in the airport was on the flight. 'Resign Mitt. We want to know your connection to Burisma and Joe Biden, Mitt Romney,' one woman shouts. The senator was defended by another woman who shouted: 'We love you Mitt Romney you're great, you're doing awesome. I'm one of your constituents and I think you're doing wonderful.' 'You're one of maybe a million who think opposite of you,' a Trump fan tells her. One woman later tweeted about the incident alleging: 'Flew into DC with coward @MittRomney hiding with two masks, glasses and a bubble helmet. Don't worry- we let him know what we thought about him #TRAITOR.' In response to the heckling, Romney told reporters Wednesday: 'That's something I've gotten used to over the years. That's the nature of politics today. Another video shared on Wednesday showed more Trump supporters traveling on a plane from Texas to Washington, DC. In the new footage, flight attendants struggle to control the plane full of pro-Trump passengers. At one point in the video, someone on the plane displays a 'Trump 2020' projection before the lights in the cockpit are turned on. In a second video shared on Tuesday, a woman who says she is a Republican Utah voter, approaches 73-year-old Senator Mitt Romney as he waits by the gate for his flight in Salt Lake City. She demands to know why Romney is not supporting Trump Romney eventually tries to walk away as the woman continuously questions him Meanwhile, people are heard yelling at each other, with one saying: 'Shut the hell up!' Others are heard claiming that someone on the flight 'threatened' them but it's unclear what happened. In a second video shared on Tuesday, a woman who says she is a Republican Utah voter, approaches 73-year-old Romney as he waits by the gate for his flight. She demands to know why Romney is not supporting Trump with the president's unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. He immediately asks her to put her mask on as it is required by law in the airport. 'Don't tell me what to do,' she answers back. 'I'm standing six feet away. You know what I'm going to go ahead and do it because I want to have a chat with you.' 'Why aren't you supporting President Trump? You're not supporting him,' the woman continues. 'I do support President Trump. I'm sorry, I do agree with many of the things he's for and I support him, Romney answers. The woman remains unhappy, however, and continues to push Romney on whether he will be supporting Trump regarding 'fraudulent votes'. 'No, I'm not,' the senator answers. 'It's a long story but it's a constitutional process and the constitution is clear. I will follow the constitution and I will explain all that when we meet in congress this week.' Another video shared on Wednesday showed more Trump supporters traveling on a plane from Texas to Washington, DC. Images from the plane shows a 'Trump 2020' projection in the cockpit She continues to push Romney about not supporting Trump in the election and tells him: 'You were voted in as a conservative to represent the conservative constituents. Period.' 'Actually, that's not how the constitution works,' Romney fires back as he begins to pack up his laptop to try and walk away. 'It is you're voted in to represent us, you work for us. Am I wrong?' the woman then questions. 'I work for the people of Utah,' Romney says, to which she responds, 'Exactly and I am from Utah. There's a lot of people who didn't vote for you.' 'I wouldn't be surprised if you weren't even voted in legally,' the woman adds. 'You're a joke, an absolute joke, it's a disgusting shame.' Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Friday called the storming of the US Congress by Donald Trump 's supporters a disgrace that has "shocked humankind". Erdogan had developed a close personal friendship with the outgoing US leader and had waited three days before congratulating Joe Biden over his November 3 presidential election win. But he pulled no punched in condemning what happened on Wednesday in, as Erdogan put it, "the so-called cradle of democracy". "This is a disgrace for democracy," Erdogan told reporters in Istanbul. "We hope that the transition to Mr Biden on January 20 will be peaceful and that America will go back to being at peace." Erdogan also extended condolences to the families of those who died in the violence. Ankara's relations with Washington suffered from a failed 2016 coup attempt against Erdogan that he blames on a US Muslim preacher Turkey has unsuccessfully sought to extradite. But Erdogan's friendship with Trump has helped shield Turkey from past sanctions and also muted US criticism of Erdogan's deteriorating record on human rights. Erdogan's comments Friday represented one of his strongest repudiations to date of the Trump administration. The Turkish foreign ministry had issued a more muted statement late Wednesday urging the US to "overcome this internal political crisis in a mature manner". This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. NEW MILFORD Through a communitywide effort, a polluted stream with invasive plants in New Milford will soon be restored to its natural beauty. In a partnership with Sustainable New Milford, the Housatonic Valley Association, and community residents, $15,000 was raised toward the cleanup of Great Brook, a 4-mile stream that flows near downtown New Milford. About $7,500 was raised for the effort in less than two months through an online restoration crowdfunding campaign on patronicity.com called Help Restore New Milford's Great Brook. Sustainable CT, a voluntary certification program that recognizes thriving and resilient Connecticut municipalities, matched every dollar that was donated, to double the contribution. With the funds raised through the campaign, HVA representatives will provide technical assistance and plant material to restore Great Brook. The cleanup is estimated to begin in late spring or early summer, and completed by Aug. 1. According to Courtney Morehouse, conservation projects manager with the HVA, portions of Great Brook such as Hulton Meadow Park and the New Milford Center Cemetery, contain non-native vegetation. She said over time, as floods come through the area, there will be soil erosion. Additionally, Morehouse said the area provides very little shade for wildlife, and a lot of trash and other debris have washed down the river. As part of the project, the HVA did a state-mandated water quality management program. Through research, they were able to identify spots on Great Brook that are publicly accessible, that volunteer community work would help restore, said Julie Bailey, co-caption of the New Milford 2021 Sustainable Connecticut Re-certification Team. As part of the restoration effort, the HVA will provide training for the volunteers as well as supervision on the site, according to Bailey. To prevent soil erosion, the HVA will provide live tree material to the area. According to Bailey, this involves live sticks that are planted to restore the integrity of the banks of the Great Brook stream. Additionally, the funds will go toward a complete watershed management plan for the entire Great Brook stream, that will identify areas that need to be repaired to restore it. Due to the coronavirus pandemic and depending upon the status of the COVID-19 vaccinations at that time, safety protocols will be put in place during the project, such as social distancing and masking, according to Bailey. The HVA, which has a location in Cornwall Bridge, is a river conservation organization that works to protect the Housatonic river and surrounding land. The Housatonic River Watershed runs from Pittsfield, Mass. to the Long Island Sound. Bailey said the Great Brook project is exciting because not only does it increase community awareness of the importance of maintaining our streams that are tributary to the Housatonic, but it also demonstrates what happens when town and community volunteers are able to access the expertise of groups like the HVA. sfox@milfordmirror.com BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - At 8:30 am ET Friday, the Labor Department will release U.S. nonfarm payrolls data for December. Ahead of the data, the greenback pulled back from its early highs against its major counterparts. The greenback was worth 103.89 against the yen, 0.8839 against the franc, 1.2248 against the euro and 1.3591 against the pound as of 8:25 am ET. 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. LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Our reporting is free for everyone, but its not free to make. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe By Rae Ellen Bichell and Lauren Weber | KHN Our news is free on LAist. To make sure you get our coverage: Sign up for our daily newsletters. To support our non-profit public service journalism: Donate Now. As Los Angeles hospitals give record numbers of COVID patients oxygen, the systems and equipment needed to deliver the life-sustaining gas are faltering. It's gotten so bad that Los Angeles County officials are warning paramedics to conserve it. Some hospitals are having to delay releasing patients as they don't have enough oxygen equipment to send home with them. "Everybody is worried about what's going to happen in the next week or so," said Cathy Chidester, director of the L.A. County Emergency Medical Services Agency. Oxygen, which makes up 21% of the Earth's air, isn't running short. But COVID damages the lungs, and the crush of patients in hot spots such as Los Angeles, the Navajo Nation, El Paso, Texas, and in New York last spring have needed high concentrations of it. That has stressed the infrastructure for delivering the gas to hospitals and their patients. The strain in those areas is caused by multiple weak links in the pandemic supply chain. In some hospitals that pipe oxygen to patients' rooms, the massive volume of cold liquid oxygen is freezing the equipment needed to deliver it, which can block the system. "You can completely -- literally, completely -- shut down the entire hospital supply if that happens," said Rich Branson, a respiratory therapist with the University of Cincinnati and editor-in-chief of the journal Respiratory Care. There is also pressure on the availability of both the portable cylinders that hold oxygen and the concentrators that pull oxygen from the air. And in some cases, vendors that supply the oxygen have struggled to get enough of the gas to hospitals. Even nasal cannulas, the tubing used to deliver oxygen, are now running low. "It's been nuts, absolutely nuts," said Esteban Trejo, general manager of Syoxsa, an industrial and medical gas distributor based in El Paso. He provides oxygen to several temporary hospitals set up specifically to treat people with COVID. In November, he said, he was answering calls in the middle of the night from customers worried about oxygen supplies. At one point, when the company's usual supplier fell through, they were hauling oxygen from Houston, more than a 10-hour drive each way. Branson has been sounding the alarm about logistical limitations on critical care since the SARS pandemic nearly 20 years ago, when he and others surveyed experts about the specific equipment and infrastructure needed during a future pandemic. Oxygen was near the top of the list. OXYGEN AS COLD AS NEPTUNE Last spring, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut faced a challenge similar to what is now unfolding in Los Angeles, said Robert Karcher, a vice president of contract services for Acurity, a group purchasing organization that worked with many hospitals during that surge. To take up less space, oxygen is often stored as a liquid around minus 300 degrees Fahrenheit, about as cold as the surface of Neptune. But as COVID patients filling ICUs were given oxygen through ventilators or nasal tubes, some hospitals began to see ice form over the equipment that converts liquid oxygen into a gas. When a hospital draws more and more liquid oxygen from those tanks, the super-cold liquid can seep further into the vaporizing coils where liquid oxygen turns to gas. Branson said some ice is normal, but a lot of ice can cause valves on the device to freeze in place. And the ice can restrict airflow in the pipes sending the oxygen into patients' rooms, Karcher said. To combat this, hospitals could switch to a backup vaporizer if they had one, hose down iced vaporizers or move patients to cylinder-delivered oxygen. But that puts additional strain on the hospitals' cylinder oxygen supply, as well as the medical gas supplier, Karcher said. Hospitals in New York began to panic in the spring because the icing of the vaporizer was much greater than they had seen before, he added. It got so bad, he said, that some hospitals worried they'd have to close their ICUs. "They thought they were in imminent danger of their tank piping shutting down," he said. "We came pretty close in a couple of our hospitals. It was a rough few weeks." The strain on Los Angeles health care infrastructure could be worse given the now-common treatment of putting patients on oxygen using high-flow nasal cannulas. That requires more of the gas pumped at a higher rate than with ventilators. "I don't know of any system that is really set to triple patient volumes -- or 10 times the oxygen delivery," Chidester said of the L.A. County hospitals. "They're having a hard time keeping up." THE OXYGEN SHORTAGE DOOM LOOP In and around Los Angeles, the Army Corps of Engineers has so far surveyed 11 hospitals for freezing oxygen pipe issues. The hospitals are a mix of older facilities and smaller suburban hospitals seeing such high demand amid skyrocketing cases in the area, said Mike Petersen, a Corps spokesperson. One of the worst examples he saw included pipes that looked like a home freezer that had not been defrosted in some time. The problem gets worse for hospitals that have had to convert regular hospital rooms to intensive care units. ICU pipes are bigger than those leading to other parts of a hospital. When rooms get repurposed as pop-up ICUs, the pipes can simply be too narrow to deliver the oxygen that COVID patients need. And so, Chidester said, the hospitals switch to large cylinders of oxygen. But vendors are having a hard time refilling those quickly enough. Even smaller cylinders and oxygen concentrators are in short supply amid the surge, she said. Those patients who could be sent home with an oxygen cylinder are left stuck in a hospital waiting for one, taking up a much-needed bed. 'EXTREME RURALITY' In early December, doctors serving the Navajo Nation said they needed more of everything: the oxygen itself and the equipment to get oxygen to patients both in the hospital and recovering at home. "We've never reached capacity before -- until now," said Dr. Loretta Christensen, chief medical officer for the Navajo Area Indian Health Service, in mid-December. Its hospitals serve a patient population in the southwestern U.S. that's spread across an area bigger than West Virginia. The buildings are aging, and they aren't built to house a large number of critical patients, said Christensen. As the number of patients on high-flow oxygen climbed, several facilities started to notice their oxygen flow weaken. They thought something was broken, but when engineers took a look, Christensen said, it became clear the system was just not able to provide the amount of high-flow oxygen patients needed. She said a hospital in Gallup, New Mexico, put in new filters to maximize oxygen flow. After delays from snowy weather, a hospital serving the northern part of the Navajo Nation managed to hook up a second oxygen tank to boost capacity. But medical facilities in the area are always a little on edge. "Honestly, we worry about supply a lot out here because -- and I call it extreme rurality -- you just can't get something tomorrow," said Christensen. "It's not like being in an urban area where you can say, 'Oh, I need this right now.'" Because of the small size of certain hospitals and the difficulty of getting to some of them, Christensen said, Navajo facilities aren't attractive to big vendors, so they rely on local vendors, which may prove more vulnerable to supply chain hiccups. Tsehootsooi Medical Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona, has at times had to keep patients in the hospital and transfer incoming patients to other facilities because it couldn't get the oxygen cylinders needed to send recovering patients home. Tina James-Tafoya, COVID incident commander at Fort Defiance Indian Hospital Board, which runs the center, said at-home oxygen is out of the question for some patients. Oxygen concentrators require electricity, which some patients don't have. And for patients who live in hogans, homes often heated with a wood stove, the use of oxygen cylinders is a hazard. "It's really interesting and eye-opening for me to see that something that seems so simple like oxygen has so many different things tied to it that will hinder it getting to the patient," she said. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente. This story also ran on NBC News. It can be republished for free. After it was reported that Priyanka Chopra flouted Covid-19 lockdown rules in the UK by stepping out for a salon appointment, her representative said that the actor had paperwork legally permitting her to be there. She went to get her hair coloured for her film, Text For You, which she is currently shooting for in London. Priyanka reportedly arrived at the salon with her mother, Dr Madhu Chopra, and pet dog Diana at around 4.55pm on Wednesday. The UK is under a total lockdown to curb the Covid-19 pandemic, and according to the regulations, personal care services, including salons and spas, must remain closed. Metro.co.uk quoted Priyankas spokesperson as saying, Following government guidance, Priyankas hair was coloured for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting in London. The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations. As I am sure you are aware, film and TV production is permitted to continue in the UK, and locations can continue to accommodate shoots and recces (pre-filming visits) that are carried out in-line with government guidelines. The paperwork legally permitting her to be there was provided to the police, and they left satisfied, the spokesperson said. Also read | Renee Sen says mom Sushmita Sens boyfriend Rohman Shawl is a man of few words: Means a lot when he says he is proud of me Earlier, it was reported that the police were alerted of the breach of lockdown rules at the salon and reached there at around 5.40pm. They left after issuing a verbal reminder to the owner and did not impose any fine. Priyanka is in London with her husband, Nick Jonas, who shot for a cameo in Text For You last month. The film, a remake of the German film SMS Fur Dich, also features Sam Heughan, Celine Dion, Russell Tovey and Omid Djalili. Recently, Priyanka was seen in Netflixs Christmas release, We Can Be Heroes, which revolves around a group of children who must team up and save the day when invading aliens capture their superhero parents. A sequel has already been sanctioned. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10 Celebrities send prayers to Dr. Dre after brain aneurysm; now in recovery Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Legendary hip-hop producer Dr. Dre suffered a brain aneurysm on Monday and was rushed to the hospital. While news of his hospitalization circulated, celebrities flooded the internet with prayers and well wishes. TMZ reported, Our sources say the 55-year-old music mogul is stable and lucid, but doctors dont know what caused the bleeding and they are doing a battery of tests. Thousands of fans and supporters immediately began sharing posts on social media, wishing him a speedy recovery. Several of his Hollywood peers also turned to prayer for the beloved music mogul. Among those praying is N.W.A.s own Ice Cube. Send your love and prayers to the homie Dr. Dre, he tweeted along with a photo of the two of them posing when Ice Cube was given his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Ice Cubes son, OShea Jackson, also chimed in, saying, I didnt want this to be my first tweet of 2021 but I had to stop working just to say I just prayed for Dr. Dre and his family. Me and my family are with you. Others in hip-hop such as Juicy J shared his intent to pray as well. Noooooo not Dr Dre praying for a speedy recovery, the Three 6 Mafia rapper wrote with some prayer emojis. Other celebrities also turned to the power of prayer on Dr. Dres behalf. "Praying for you my Brother," LeBron James posted on social media after learning of the hospitalization. Another baseketball icon, Magic Johnson, also wrote online, "Cookie and I are praying for our friend Dr. Dre to make a full recovery! Get well soon my friend!" NFL star Russell Wilson tweeted, "Prayers up for Dr. Dre." The producer posted a message on Instagram thanking everyone for their love and support. "Thanks to my family, friends and fans for their interest and well wishes. I'm doing great and getting excellent care from my medical team. I will be out of the hospital and back home soon. Shout out to all the great medical professionals at Cedars. One Love!!" the message read. In a communique, the ministry said vaccine will be supplied to the identified consignee points of 19 states and union territories As a simulation of actual execution of the vaccine roll-out, another round of dry run will be conducted in all districts except Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, on January 8. (Representational Photo:AP) New Delhi: The Union health ministry has informed states and union territories that they are likely to receive the first supply of Covid-19 vaccine shortly and asked them to be prepared to accept these consignments. In a communique, the ministry said vaccine will be supplied to the identified consignee points of 19 states and union territories -- Telangana, AP, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal by the supplier. The vaccine for remaining 18 states and UTs will be received from their respective government medical store depots. Dr Pradeep Halder, advisor, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) in the health ministry, said. Meanwhile, as a simulation of actual execution of the vaccine roll-out, another round of dry run will be conducted in all districts except Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, on January 8. In Pune, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said it is geared up to deploy its resources to facilitate transportation of the vaccine across the country. Consignments of 'Covishield' vaccine, manufactured at city-based Serum Institute of India (SII), are scheduled to be dispatched to various locations in the country from the Pune airport. Elsewhere, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday sought keen oversight and personal indulgence of health ministers, principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries of states and UTs to lead the second nationwide mock drill on January 8. Vardhan interacted with the health ministers and principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries through video conference to review the preparedness for the mock drill. The objective of the mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination is to simulate the actual vaccine administration event, the ministry said. Border crossing points to Delhi from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh continued to remain closed for traffic on Friday due to the ongoing farmers protest against the three farm laws enacted in September to liberalise the sector. The Delhi Police have advised commuters from Uttar Pradesh to take routes passing through Anand Vihar, DND, Loni DND, and Apsara as Chilla and Ghazipur border crossings are closed. The Delhi-Haryana borders at Singhu, Tikri, Auchandi, Piau Maniyari, Saboli, and Mangesh, too, remain closed. Also Read: Are farmers protected against Covid?: SC asks Centre, cites Tablighi event The police have advised commuters from Haryana to take alternate routes via Lampur Safiabad, Palla, and Singhu school toll tax borders. The traffic from Haryana has been diverted from Mukarba and GTK Road. Commuters have been advised to avoid Outer Ring Road, GTK Road, and NH-44. Motorists can also take the Delhi-Gurgaon and Delhi-Faridabad routes between the two states. The protests have been going on for 44 days now and farmers leaders will hold another round of talks with the Centre on Friday. Thousands of farmers took out a tractor rally on Thursday near Delhi as a trailer of their planned march on the Republic Day if the government does not accept their demands for scrapping the laws, which they say benefit big corporations at their cost. The shelter-in-place order in Somers has been lifted as police continue their search for armed suspects after a shooting in Vernon early Friday. Vernon Police Lt. William Meier said officers responded to the Parkwest Apartments to investigate a reported shooting around 12:45 a.m. Responding officers found an apartment had been hit by bullets. Meier said the apartment was occupied when the shooting occurred, but there were no injuries. Based on the initial investigation, it is believed a disturbance preceded the shooting, Meier said. During this disturbance, the suspect arrived in a vehicle, a red Jeep Cherokee with Massachusetts license plates and fired at least one shot that struck one of the buildings, he said later that day. Shortly after the shots were fired, an officer spotted a vehicle believed to be involved in the shooting on Route 83, Meier said. The driver refused to pull over and a pursuit began, Meier said. The officer pursued the vehicle into Somers, where it became disabled, Meier said. Earlier Friday morning he said the suspect vehicle was involved in a crash and the occupants ran off. Later that afternoon, Meier said police believe the car was occupied by one adult male suspect. As Vernon police began to search the area, Connecticut State Police troopers also responded to help. Police dogs and drones were used in the search, Meier said. In an update about two hours after the initial shooting report, Meier said Vernon police and state troopers were searching the area of Michelle Drive, Colton Road and Four Bridges Road in Somers. Police urged residents in the areas to stay inside, lock their doors and call 911 if they see anything out of the ordinary The suspect, who Meier said is believed to be armed and dangerous, was last seen in the area of Route 190 and Route 83 in Somers. After an exhaustive search by the Connecticut State Police, investigators believe the subject is no longer in the Somers area, Meier said. He said police are working to provide more information on what the suspect looked like. Police are asking for homeowners to share video surveillance footage that may have captured the suspect fleeing. Anyone with footage from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. Friday should review it. Meier said the suspect may have fled several miles from the Route 190 and 83 intersection he was last seen. Police have arrested 23-year-old Trevaughn Velez of Springfield, Mass., in connection with the original disturbance. Velez was charged with possession of narcotics and possession of narcotics with intent to sell as well as breach of peace, risk of injury to a child, criminal mischief and third-degree assault. He is being held on $250,000 bond, and appeared in court Friday, Meier said. As law enforcement converged on the area, police sent a reverse 911 call to residents in central Somers, advising them to shelter-in-place Friday morning. An updated message that lifted the order was sent around 8 a.m., urging residents to be extra cautious as police continue their search for those involved in the Vernon shooting. Around 6:30 a.m., police said Somers Public Schools would be on a two-hour delayed opening Friday morning. By 8 a.m., schools were switched to remote learning as a precaution, police said. Anyone who sees suspicious activity is asked to call 911 immediately. Anyone with video footage they believe is relevant is asked to call Vernon Police Detective Charles Hicking at 860-872-9126. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. HOLYOKE Describing himself as a leader who brings people together, School Committee member Devin Sheehan said Friday that he will run for mayor. In a press event held online due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sheehan stressed priorities including business growth, better communication with residents about city services and bringing the public school district back under local control. I am ready to be a mayor that is responsive to the needs of its citizens, said Sheehan, the first candidate to make a formal announcement following Mayor Alex B. Morses decision not to run for reelection. I am ready to help grow the economy by not only promoting the city for new business, but a commitment to help our current businesses so they can prosper. He added, I am prepared to help our business owners recover from the economic impact of this pandemic. Sheehans announcement came at the outset of what promises to be a vigorous campaign season. At-large City Councilor Rebecca Lisi said Friday that she will launch a mayoral bid, with a campaign announcement scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday outside the citys public library. I am excited about Devin Sheehans run for mayor, Lisi said. I think that Holyoke deserves to have smart and hardworking candidates vying for the position. Sheehan, 38, was elected to the Holyoke School Committee in 2009 and is on the board of directors for the Massachusetts Association of School Committees. During his announcement Friday he touted his advocacy for the Student Opportunity Act, a $1.5 billion education funding bill signed by Gov. Charlie Baker in November 2019. As mayor, he said, he would promote and push for local control of the schools by working with state education officials. State-appointed receivers have managed the school system since 2015, when the district was designated chronically underperforming. Public education works best when schools are run by locally elected leaders, Sheehan aid but the city needs to articulate how to get there. I want a plan in place, he said. I want to see the steps out of receivership, and I want the school committee leading the school district with a superintendent hired by the citizens of Holyoke. As chairman of a city School Building Committee, Sheehan supported a $132 million plan to build two new middle schools that relied on a local tax increase to fund the citys share of the costs. Nearly 65% of voters in a November 2019 election cast ballots against the proposed override. Sheehan said the voters sent a clear message. If elected, he said, he would focus on growing the tax base and probing municipal finances to determine how to pay for school improvements and new buildings without raising taxes. Its also about bringing people together, he said. I think that its a lot about bringing people that were maybe not supportive of an override, but are supportive of public education, to the table so we can work collaboratively to get that done. Reflecting on Morses tenure, Sheehan praised the work of the mayors administration to attract marijuana businesses to Holyoke. We need to see how those tax dollars can really help out our city, he said. Were seeing other communities that are being able to use stabilization money to lower tax rates, especially during the pandemic, and thats something that I think Holyoke needs to look at in the future. Sheehan works as an analyst for the office of instruction in Springfields school district. He is a longtime member of the St. Patricks Parade Committee, and has served as its president. A lifelong city resident and 2001 graduate of Holyoke High School, he was one of several potential candidates along with Lisi whose names were floated when Morse announced he would not run for another term. At-large City Councilor Michael J. Sullivan has formed an exploratory committee for a potential run. Billy Glidden, a former special assistant to Morse, said in December that he had yet to make a decision about his political future. Former state Rep. Aaron Vega, who did not run for reelection in 2020 and has taken a job as the head of the citys Office of Planning and Economic Development, has said he does not intend to run. As of Friday morning, the state Office of Campaign and Political Finances list of recently organized campaign committees did not include any Holyoke mayoral candidates. Morse was first elected in 2011 at the age of 22. He ran for Congress in 2020, losing a Democratic primary to U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal. Note: This story was updated to include more information from Sheehans announcement. Related Content: COVID-19: The Politics of a Pandemic Moral Panic Book Excerpt Book Excerpt The economic cost of forcing nearly 3.3 million Canadians into unemployment by May 2020 is enormous and has yet to be tallied in full. While individuals and companies were able to receive some form of help from their governments, many businesses will not be able to rebound from their losses and many who do will not long survive. The corrupting effect of subsidy is also being felt outside of the economic sphere, with many now pushing for the lockdown to continue, either because they live in fear of being infected by the virus or because the subsidies have made it more desirable to remain home than to work. As Felix Leclerc wrote in the 1950s: The best way to kill a man is to pay him to do nothing. By March 2020, the Canadian economy had shrunk 7.2 percent, but the pandemic shutdowns did not begin until the middle of the month. April saw the economy contract by 11.6 percent, the deepest drop on record. About one-third of the workforce remains under-utilized by the fall 2020, either as a result of the highest unemployment since the 2009 recession, or as a result of roughly a million individuals ceasing to look for work. Across most of the private sector, economic activity shrunk in record amounts. In March, manufacturing fell 22.5 percent, construction fell 22.9 percent, retail and hospitality fell 42 percent, and transportation fell a shocking 93.7 percent. In Atlantic Canada, for example, the governments of Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have opted for establishing a regional bubble. The rules allow for interregional travel but make it difficult for people from away to enter and exit. As a result, airports lost 92 percent of their summer traffic. The bubble decision caused the region to lose over five million visitors, forgoing the better part of $140 million in revenue for their airports. Figures for Canada show that between April and June, the annualized GDP dropped by 38.7 percent. By the summer, the deficit was 16 percent of GDP, the largest in the G7. Government subsidies to individuals and businesses constitute the kind of help that hurts. It hurts people psychologically and economically, but the monetary subsidies most people received fell short of their effective losses, both for businesses and for individuals. These losses, again, were policy-induced, and their direct effects will be felt for years to come. Moreover, the government of Canada paid its citizens directly, whereas the Americans relied on businesses to channel money to citizens, which had the effect of maintaining the monetary link between businesses and employees. The difference was significant inasmuch as simple direct payments to Canadian citizens were offset by complex payment deferrals and loans to companies. Philip Cross suggested the approach chosen expressed the typical suspicion of recent Liberal governments towards business in Canada. This obviously contrasted with the American attitude, but more importantly, it ensured that the reopening of the Canadian economy would take longer and would be accompanied by much greater hesitation than in the United States. The Conference Board of Canada came to a related conclusion about the state of the economy: What weve come to realize is the economy will be operating well below (pre-pandemic) levels for some time. In short, things are worse than originally expected. In addition, the massive debt that the provinces and federal government have taken on as a result of the decision to lock down will weigh heavy over the next couple of generations. No expression could better describe the disconnect between the dire effects of policy decisions and the economic realities Canadians will have to face in the future than the prime ministers belief that his government had relieved the burdens of economic responsibility from Canadian citizens; he declared that his government had taken on massive debt so that Canadians would not have to. Let us be frank: this is absurd. In Alberta, where the authors live, and where a recession already was in place (in 2019, the Alberta economy contracted by 0.6 percent when the average growth in the country was 1.7 percent), the anticipated COVID-19 effects promise to be devastating. Making matters worse, Albertas economy has been at the receiving end of two critical blows before and during the pandemic. A market glut of oil produced by a price war between Russia and Saudi Arabia reduced prices to levels that sent Canadian oil producers into massive cash-crunches, prompting new rounds of job losses to the province. In addition, as is well known, Alberta has been besieged for years by a federal policy embargo against development of its hydrocarbon resources. The province has for some time been economically choked by the Canadian governments application of impossible standards to projects that would never be imposed on other industries and in some cases, are not even imposed to the same or similar industries in other provinces. Simultaneously, Ottawa, having been encouraged by eco-radicals and less-than-friendly sister provinces, has blocked efforts both to the east and west to build more capacity to send Alberta resources to market. Alberta then received Edmontons orders to lock down on March 17, 2020, adding an extra layer to further cripple its economic activity. Robert Roach, Alberta Treasury Branchs director of economics and research, noted that things in Alberta are currently in a brutal situation, pointing out that this is going to be a year of deep recession. The depth of the brutality Roach described in June is the result of the confluence of these economic and political hurdles facing the province. By mid-September, the situation in the province continued to deteriorate because of the consequences of the lockdown, which were more severe than in the rest of the country. The lingering effect of COVID-19 continues to be felt harder in Alberta, writes veteran Alberta journalist Bill Kaufmann, with 53 percent of residents financial lives still disrupted, whereas the equivalent figure for the rest of the country is 10 points lower. Similarly, 20 percent of Albertans are struggling with reduced work hours, where the equivalent is 15 percent in the rest of the country. Copyright Frontier Centre for Public Policy with authors permission. Excerpt from COVID-19: The Politics of a Pandemic Moral Panic. Barry Cooper, PhD, is a political science professor at the University of Calgary. Marco Navarro-Genie, PhD, is a senior fellow with the Frontier Centre for Public Policy and president of the Haultain Research Institute. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. New Delhi, Jan 8 : As the unfolding of the ghastly attack inside Capitol Hill in Washington by outgoing US President Donald Trumps supporters shocked the US and the rest of the world, a large section of the people in China celebrated the incident and called it 'Karma. "Many Chinese netizens 'confessed' in their comments that they saw the 'chaos in the US' as revenge. After inciting so much chaos around the world under the pretext of 'freedom and democracy,' the US finally tasted the 'karma' of its double standards," Chinese news platform Global Times noted. "America is in ruinous decline because its government and economic system was forged into something rotten and was neglecting society in many ways," China Daily quoted Mario Cavolo, an American writer living in China. However, world leaders underlined the need to uphold the pillars of democracy. Trump's own aide Vice President Mike Pence came out strongly against the rioters. "The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building," Pence said in a tweet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his tweet said: "Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests." Calling the incident "disgraceful" UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson tweeted saying that "it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power". Capital Hill incident shocking but does not defeat democracy While China has reasons to believe that the Capitol Hill incident strengthens its own case of undermining democracy and promoting a single party system, experts said that though the unprecedented incident was shocking, it did not strangle democracy altogether. Former ambassador Pinak Chakravarty said that though the incident was unexpected, democracies can be chaotic but need to be nurtured and upheld. "These were incredible scenes and quite unexpected too but also underlined the desperate nature that Trump finds himself in. However, he hasn't succeeded and it has now cleared the way for a change over. Though this is not a good advertisement for American democracy, all democracies are a bit chaotic at times, which countries like China would not understand," Chakravarty, also a visiting fellow at ORF, said. An analyst on the condition of anonymity said that China does not allow dissent but the fact that Trump has agreed to a smooth transition showed that the voices of the people finally mattered. "China should not comment on democracy, something that the country has never experienced," the analyst said. "It is shocking and the lesson we learn is the democracy will always remain work in progress, it needs to be protected at all times," Narendra Taneja, economist and an expert on energy security told IndiaNarrative.com. However, Taneja said that the incident will only boost President-Elect Joe Biden's support not just within his own country but the world across. "Typically Biden would have had to deal with the baggage of outgoing President Donald Trump but this incident will free him of that, he can start on a clean slate," Taneja said, adding that China's understanding of democracy is negligible. Experts also said that Biden will have to deal with a polarised society which could pose a "big challenge". (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text 'The worker picked up Pakhom's spade, dug a grave, and buried him - six feet from head to heel, exactly the amount of land a man needs.' The above is from Leo Tolstoy's 'How Much Land Does a Man Need', a tale capturing the greed of craving more land than is needed. The same meter was used over 70 years later by the late John B Keane in one of his seminal works, 'The Field', based on a murder in Raemore townland in 1958 when neighbours fell out over a patch of land no better than a landing pad for snipe and pheasant. But whether it's Tolstoy's Russia or Keane's Kerry, the vice of coveting land is a universal one. Listowel publican Billy Keane recently explored the backdrop to his father's play in the RTE documentary - The Real Field - which saw him disturb the lightly sleeping story of Moss Moore's murder near his home on the night of November 6, 1958. Many blamed his neighbour, Dan Foley, due to a dispute over land with Moore. Moore's body was found 10 days later, concealed under rushes in a stream just 50 meters from his home. Whether Foley was guilty or not has never been established. But Foley's sentence was, perhaps, even worse than jail itself - ostracisation from his community. Foley died from a heart attack, alone in a field of cattle, in 1963. Reviving the story of a murder that would have been all but forgotten but for the pen of John B Keane was not easy for Billy to take on. Community and memory are perpetually in motion in North Kerry; stirring old enmity can be risky. Expand Close The scene at Raemore in November 1958 when they discovered the dead body of Moss Moore / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The scene at Raemore in November 1958 when they discovered the dead body of Moss Moore The documentary features Dan Foley's nephew, John, who insists on his uncle's innocence, saying he was framed for Moore's murder. There is a scene where John talks with Billy about buying back the disputed piece of land, land that is today totally covered in briers and scrub. "Land is, in my opinion, something that you can't just acquire, or get. It doesn't grow," John explained. "Land is land...Ownership of land is, in my opinion, everything. I hope those who follow me would have the same sentiment and pride in owning Raemore," he added. In many ways, the scene underscores the age-old tussle between owning land for practical purposes versus the emotional need to acquire it. The documentary also reveals that John Foley thinks he knows who murdered Moss Moore on that night in '58, but he is reluctant to go further. "My family are of the opinion that maybe I should call it a day, say no more about it," he says. Billy admits to initially having mixed feelings about doing the documentary. "I said to myself 'Am I only dragging up old sores?' But I kind of felt it could be viewed as a warning to people over land," Billy said. "It's not totally a rural message either, I got that message from a few people in Dublin. People need to be careful of how these obsessions can grow on you, and how they get caught up in your life. "These [disputes] can also be passed on to your family. Sometimes if you were left something in a will, it might be seen as an advantage when, in fact, it could be seen as a terrible disadvantage, as you're left with a legacy of trouble and hate. "I suppose there is a bit of trying to change Ireland for the better about the programme," said Billy. The Kerryman newspaper covered the story in great detail at the time, which caused a sensation in the quiet and conservative enclaves of rural Kerry. The Kerryman of November 29, 1958, asks: "Who murdered Moss Moore? Police may find the answer in the scores of statements taken from neighbours of the 46-year-old farmer during the last two weeks since his body was found." In the same article, it touches on the murderer's motive: "If Moore's murderer was an acquaintance, it is thought unlikely that he was killed for his money. He would have known that the quiet man, who liked to be known as a farmer, could have had little riches." Billy says one of the driving forces behind the documentary is to inform a new Ireland of old Ireland's failings. Behind the acquisition of land, property, wills and inherited fortune lie the unseen perils of rancour and violence. Theatrical tales of savage brutality running counter to the quaint perception of Irish family and community life extend back to John Millington Synge's 'The Playboy of the Western World' (1907). When 'The Field' first hit the stage in the Gaiety Theatre in 1965, it produced similar shock-waves, themes that were amplified even more in Jim Sheridan's 1990 hit movie - The Field - with Richard Harris as the 'Bull' McCabe. It is easy to see why some people may have felt unhappy that the portrayal of 'Bull' inadvertently depicted Dan Foley as cold and stubborn. "It was never my dad's intention to hurt the Foley family. The real story and the play are quite different in many ways," said Billy. "I still don't know who did it [the murder], but the big thing is that the Foley family's side of the story is known. The Foleys are a lovely family, John is a great community man. It is a tragedy all round; it's a warning to all of us, there is a time to prioritise. "Even though the story was kind of known, a lot of people didn't know the story behind it. The biggest reaction I got from it [the documentary] is people telling me about an experience in their own family. "This isn't just a Raemore phenomenon, it is everywhere. It just happened to be made more famous because of the play. The reaction to the programme has been very good. I think people felt we were fair, especially to the Foley family." Lastly, Moyvane poet Gabriel Fitzmaurice features in the documentary. He captures the never-ending saga of the murder: "That murder still resonates to this day, here especially in this area," said Gabriel. "It resonates among the older generation because of the genius of John B Keane, who brought the murder to us...It takes over 100 years for these things to be forgotten. You can forgive, but maybe you can't forget. John B Keane has made the murder unforgettable." Reviewing parliaments fifth session (2019-2020), Speaker Ali Abdel-Aal told the media that despite the difficulties caused by the global coronavirus pandemic MPs were able to pass a mix of political, socio-economic, financial, and security laws, reports Gamal Essam El-Din. Parliaments Secretary-General Mahmoud Fawzi provided more details: the House had passed 891 laws, including a total of 8,287 articles, in the last five years, and of this total passed a record number of 233 laws, including 2,490 articles, in the fifth session (2019-2020). In supervisory terms, Fawzi said the House had discussed 1,278 urgent statements, 6,008 information requests and 4,133 questions in the last five years. Since the fifth session was the last before parliamentary elections were held between October and December 2020, it was only to be expected that political laws should have dominated the agenda. In July, parliament approved changes to legislation covering the exercise of political rights, the formation of the House of Representatives, the formation of the Senate, the redrawing of electoral districts, and the performance of the National Election Authority. Abdel-Hadi Al-Qasabi, leader of the majority Support Egypt coalition which drafted the amendments, said the House law, in line with the constitution, set the number of MPs and stipulated that 25 per cent of the 568 elected seats be reserved for women. The Senate law, on the other hand, reserved just 10 per cent of the Senates 300 seats for female candidates. The law which directly paved the way for the House elections was the one redrawing electoral districts. It divided Egypt into 143 individual districts each returning two MPs, and four party list districts with another 284 seats between them. In April the House made changes to the emergency law. The amendments, said Al-Qasabi, were necessary to grant the president greater powers to help contain the coronavirus pandemic and security threats. They grant the president new emergency powers such as closing down schools, universities, ministries and government offices, and offering financial help to sectors negatively affected by the pandemic. Indeed, parliaments fifth session included several laws prompted by the pandemic. The Health Committee proposed changes to the law on the prevention of epidemic diseases, approved by MPs in May, which allowed the Minister of Health to make face masks and other protective measures obligatory, with fines ranging between LE300 and LE5,000 for non-compliance. The changes also stipulated that the bodies of coronavirus victims be dealt with in a manner that prevents the spread of the disease while respecting the dignity of the deceased and their religious and social traditions. The government moved on multiple fronts to contain the economic fallout of the pandemic. Minister of Finance Mohamed Maait told MPs in May that the outbreak hit just as Egypt was moving towards building a strong economy capable of absorbing shocks and winning the confidence of international institutions and investors. Parliament moved to introduce changes to the 2020-21 budget, increasing healthcare allocations by LE78.9 billion and the education budget by LE166.6 billion. In May MPs approved a controversial legislative amendment seeking to boost government revenues. While most MPs said the amendment came at the wrong time, Maait insisted the law was necessary to contain the economic impact of the pandemic. An amendment to Law 147/1984 was approved increasing levies on a wide range of items including diesel, pet food, tobacco products, and mobiles. The government took MPs by surprise in June and July when it submitted two laws tailored to reducing the pandemics impact on state coffers. The first set an additional LE80 billion allocation to the 2020-21 budget, a sum Maait said was needed to allow the government to settle a portion of its outstanding debts. More significant was parliaments approval of legislation setting up a mutual fund to mitigate the impact of pandemics and viruses. The Mutual Support Contribution Fund to Mitigate the Economic Consequences of the Spread of Pandemics aimed to generate additional revenues necessary to contain the economic impact of the coronavirus. It provided for a one per cent deduction from the monthly net income of each state employee, and a 0.5 per cent reduction from the pensions of retired employees. The deductions, which began to be applied on 1 July, will continue for one year and are expected to raise between LE8 billion and LE10 billion. According to Fawzi, 50 per cent of laws passed in the Houses fifth session addressed financial and economic issues. In July, parliament approved major laws regulating the performance of the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) and the Public Enterprises Sector, seeking to raise the CBEs capital to LE20 billion, and allowing the president to name the CBE governor, who must then be ratified by parliament. The governors term was set at four years, renewable once. A new law stipulated that banks operating in Egypt should have capital of at least LE5 billion, and those maintaining representative offices capital of at least LE150 million, and created a new regime for dealing with defaulting banks and protecting deposits. MPs voted in favour of government-drafted amendments to 29 articles of the Law on Public Enterprises 203/1991 despite ferocious objections from workers and their representatives in parliament. Independent MP and General Federation of Trade Unions Secretary-General Mohamed Wahba said the amendments opened the door to the privatisation of public-sector companies in a way that undermined the interests of employees and would push 40 per cent of companies into liquidation and harm thousands of workers. In August, parliament ratified the maritime border demarcation deal with Greece which was signed by the Egyptian and Greek foreign ministers in Cairo on 6 August. The deal permits Egypt and Greece to maximise benefits from the gas and oil reserves in the exclusive economic zones of both countries in the Mediterranean, said Abdel-Aal. The piece of legislation which cause the greatest controversy was probably the law on reconciliation in construction offences, passed first in March 2019, subsequently amended and finally ratified by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi in January 2020 (Law 1/2020). Under the law citizens who have violated construction codes are required to submit a reconciliation request and, if it is accepted, pay a fee, fixed according to the square metre, to have the status of their building regularised. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Kington, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2021 -- Intuit recommends that a Pro or Premiere company file be maintained at the 150MB and an Enterprise file, 1GB. QuickBooks Premier and Pro have a hard limit of 14,500 names in the data file. A name is a customer, vendor, account, employee, item or other name. The same number is 100,000 for Enterprise. "Hitting F2 when you are in QuickBooks gives you a count of all items," E-Tech's John Rocha said. A proven and effective method to help reduce file size is by merging items of the same type. Service items can be merged together, but a service type item cannot be merged with a non-inventory item type. Other effective techniques include using the QuickBooks Clean Up Company Data feature to replaces most transactions from previous years by much smaller monthly journal entries. This feature also allows for the creation of a new company file without any transactions left, but with all lists of items intact. "This would require one to manually recreate the opening balances for all your accounts, starting from a certain date, including open invoices, open bills, inventory, bank accounts," Rocha said. Another method to reduce file size is to start a brand new company file which calls for the recreation of all the opening balances and all item lists. If none of these methods seem to be an option, E-Tech's File Size Reduction service will reduce the file size by re-indexing and optimizing the data file. This service will copy all transactions into a brand new, clean company file and remove unnecessary temporary data. Since all transactions are copied into the new data file, all financial reports will match the source data file while significantly reducing the file size of the company data file. More service specifications for E-Tech's QuickBooks File Size Reduction service can be seen at https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/quickbooks-file-data-services/quickbooks-file-size-reduction-service/. About E-Tech E-Tech is the leading service provider of QuickBooks File Repair, Data Recovery, QuickBooks Conversion and QuickBooks SDK programming in the UK and Ireland. In their 20 years plus of experience with Intuit QuickBooks, they have assisted over 1000 satisfied customers with their requirements. E-Tech UK covers US, UK, Canadian, Australian versions which include Reckon Accounts, and New Zealand versions of QuickBooks through PC and Mac platforms. For media inquiries regarding E-Tech, individuals are encouraged to contact Media Relations Director, Melanie Ann via email at Melanie@e-tech.ca. To learn more about the company, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/ Media Contact Melanie Ann E-Tech 61 Bridge St. Kington HR5 3DJ Melanie@e-tech.ca www.quickbooksrecovery.co.uk Friday, January 8, 2021 Here we are in the first full week of 2021 and it seems an awful lot like 2020 redux. This week we experienced an event of epic proportions that never should have happened. I am speaking of course, of the breakup of Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. It looks like that huge assand his wife, are calling it quits, thus ending the American dream, or nightmare. We also had a dustup on Capitol Hill this week that momentarily turned us into one of those third world countries we have seen on the news. A mob stormed the Capitol to protest the fact that Trump lost the election, and it looked worse than when people gathered outside Wal-Mart on Black Friday. The only positive thing I can take away from this event is that Trump has been banned from Twitter. Had he been banned four years ago, he might still be president. So I wish the best to K & K as well as the incoming administration, and hopefully we will make it to 2022. In the meantime, let's take a look at some of the funnier stories in this week's news. RONALD MCDONALD IS CRYING China, the country that gave us COVID-19, is at it again. McDonalds restaurants in China have come up with a product that hopefully never leaves their country. They are offering a new burger made of two slices of Spam topped with crushed Oreo cookies and mayonnaise. Let me just say WTF, What No Fries? This taste travesty is available for a limited time but people are eating it because they can't taste it due to effects from COVID-19. They are also working on a new dessert made from beets, horseradish, and cod liver oil. It will be called the McVomit. DUMBASS OF THE WEEK Long time contributor to the Funnies, Richard Rosso, found this week's DOTW in New York. Robert Galinsky filed a class action suit against the makers of King's Hawaiian sweet rolls because he found out they were not made in Hawaii. He learned this because the package reads "Made in Torrence, CA." While Mr. Galinsky follows up on his lawsuit, I would like to point out that Vienna Sausages are not made in Vienna; Canada Dry ginger ale is not made in Canada, and Brussels sprouts are not imported from Belgium. Wise up pal and use your money for something more positive, like finding out which part of the chicken is the McNugget. NEED MONEY? HAVE BABIES A city in South Korea is paying its citizens to have babies. In trying to combat a declining population the city of Changwon is giving up to 100 million South Korean won ($100,000 US) to couples who have three babies. All couples residing in the city will receive loans for that amount and if they have a baby, the interest on the loan is forgiven. With two babies the loan is reduced by 30%, and when they crank out the third one, the loan is forgiven. What a deal. In China, couples are allowed to have a maximum of one child and they get no financial remuneration. Perhaps they should consider moving to South Korea. By Susan Cornwell, Linda So, Michael Berens, Andrea Januta and Joseph Tanfani (Reuters) - As the mob swarmed into the U.S. Capitol, Pennsylvania congresswoman Susan Wild took cover, squeezing into a tight aisle in an upper-floor gallery and inching across the floor as supporters of President Donald Trump banged on the doors. That was when it really started to get scary, said Wild, 63, describing Wednesdays dramatic siege of the complex that houses the U.S. Congress. After she fumbled to work a gas mask and briefly lost a shoe while dragging herself toward a door to evacuate, gunfire rang out. Police shouted, Get down. Get down. Get down! as people screamed, Wild said in an interview with Reuters. Moments earlier, as hundreds of rioters stormed the building, U.S. Capitol Police officers barricaded the lawmakers inside the chamber of the House of Representatives, where they had just started the final certification of electoral votes showing Democrat Joe Biden had beaten Trump in the November election. It wasnt until things really escalated that there was a kind of a panicky state, said the Pennsylvania Democrat. A day after the historic security breach of the iconic domed building that houses the U.S. House and Senate, lawmakers told harrowing tales of their escapes from grave danger in the deadly mob assault that many say was incited by Trump. Several told Reuters that top Capitol security officials had assured them they would be safe ahead of the planned protests and that everything was under control. As recriminations began in Congress, officials at other branches of government said they could have provided more people to secure the Capitol but no one from the Capitol Police asked. A senior U.S. defense official said that the Pentagon had been in touch with the Capitol police last week and as late as Sunday but were told that they would not require assistance from the National Guard. "We asked more than once, and the final return that we got on Sunday, January 3, was that they would not be asking DOD (the Department of Defense) for assistance," said Kenneth Rapuano, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and global security. Story continues The siege that left five people dead, including a police officer, and up to 60 officers injured, prompted lawmakers to demand an investigation into security lapses. Fallout has been swift. The Capitol Police chief will resign. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the House sergeant at arms would resign. And top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer said he would fire the Senate sergeant at arms. In interviews with Reuters and in public statements, lawmakers fumed over the failure of the Capitol Police - a 2,000-member force dedicated to guarding the Capitol Grounds - and other agencies. Lindsey Graham, one of Trumps closest allies and chief defenders, said the invaders, many carrying weapons or unsearched backpacks, could have blown the building up. They could have killed us all. They could have destroyed the government. How could we not be prepared? he asked at a news conference. If the Capitol Police had been in the military, he said, they would have been relieved of their commands and most likely court-martialed and tried for crimes in a military court. Capitol Police did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday evening. Earlier in the day, U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund released a statement praising his officers response to an overwhelming situation. The department, he said, had a robust plan to handle anticipated First Amendment activities. Sund, who on Thursday agreed to resign, described the mass riots as criminal and said the officers were heroic given the situation. DOING THE BEST WE CAN For weeks, Trump had urged supporters to show up for a wild march to Save America in the nations capital on Jan. 6. In his speech that day, he repeated baseless claims of voter fraud in the election won by Democrat Joe Biden and exhorted his supporters to fight. Despite danger signs leading up to Trumps rally, several lawmakers told Reuters that top Capitol security officials had assured them in meetings they did not expect violence at the event. No one could get on the Capitol grounds and police had plenty of manpower to handle any incidents, the lawmakers said security officials told them. Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the House Financial Services Committee, said she had repeatedly warned Police Chief Sund and other police officials about growing evidence that right-wing extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers planned to descend on the nations capital. There had been pervasive chatter on the web and social media platforms, she said, focused on how these groups would try to sneak weapons into the District of Columbia. The California Democrat said she initiated a one-hour telephone call with Sund on Dec. 31. They had assured us that everything would be under control, Waters told Reuters in an interview. She called Sund again during the riots, while barricaded in her office with her staff. She said she was frightened and furious at the lack of communication from police. Sund offered little comfort, she said. As she watched the events unfold on the television in her office, Waters described the scenes to the chief as they talked. The chief, who seemed calm, told Waters several times, We are doing the best we can. She responded: Its not good enough, and hung up. Reuters was unable to reach Sund for comment Thursday evening. Tim Ryan, a Democratic Representative from Ohio, was working in his Capitol office when the mob stormed the building on Wednesday. He said that ahead of Trumps rally, he too had conversations with the Capitol Police chief and the Senates sergeant at arms, who both assured him they werent anticipating violence and had taken precautions to keep demonstrators away from the Capitol. The next thing you know, you turn on the TV and theyre swinging from the Capitol building with flags, Ryan said in a video news conference with reporters. Ryan questioned whether officials performed an adequate threat assessment and intelligence gathering ahead of the planned protests. He said he expressed concerns about possible violence to the top Capitol security officials leading up to the event, but was told the protests would be pretty vanilla with maybe some dustups. OFFERS OF HELP TURNED AWAY Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said that there had been no military contingency planning for the Capitol because the Capitol Police had not made any requests in the lead-up to the protests. Defense officials also said that intelligence reports provided by law enforcement did not suggest any threats of the kind of violence that broke out Wednesday. The reports estimates of expected crowds varied wildly - from 2,000 to 80,000, they said. "It was all over the board, McCarthy said, noting the military relies on law enforcement for information on potential threats in a protest. So it was very challenging. The actual turnout was difficult to estimate but crowds numbered in the thousands, enough to easily overwhelm police when the Capitol was stormed. Rapuano said there had been some mention of social media discussions on pro-Trump online forums about Jan. 6 demonstrations during interagency meetings that were chaired by the Department of Justice. But "overall the assessment that we got repeatedly was no indication of significant, significant violent protest." Sources familiar with planning at the Homeland Security and Justice departments also said the agencies were not asked to provide security forces for the Capitol beforehand, in contrast to their deployment during last summers racial justice protests. The Justice Department sent 500 law enforcement officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and four other offices to the Capitol on Wednesday but only after the rioting was under way. Former Washington Police Chief Charles Ramsey said the breach reflected poor planning and a failure of leadership. The outside of the Capitol shouldve looked like a scene from the Game of Thrones, Ramsey told Reuters, referring to the popular - and violent - television series. They wouldve already been on the ground and had the gear on. They wouldve been ready. INADEQUATE WARNINGS Congresswoman Nikema Williams had arrived on Sunday at the Capitol for her first day as Georgias newly elected Democratic representative. She remembered staring up at the ceilings and taking pictures, thinking, Im in a building where I feel secure and safe, and nobodys getting through here, she told Reuters. That sense of security was shattered days later. She arrived early on Wednesday to avoid the expected crowds and wasnt concerned. She was watching the vote on a TV in her office and realized something was wrong when she saw House Speaker Nancy Pelosi escorted away. She said the official security emails were vague and lacked specifics about what was happening. If it hadnt been for Twitter, and the group texts and emails that I was in, I would not have any information, she said. New Congressman Jamaal Bowman, a Democrat, said he had stronger security protocols and briefings at a New York City middle school where he served as principal. He said members of Congress were advised to arrive at their offices early and stay inside the buildings because of the expected protests, but received no security briefings and no communication about possible dangers inside the building. It was a debacle, he said. To come to Congress, which should be the most secure place in the country, and be here for three days and the Capitol gets breached, Im blown away. (Reporting by Susan Cornwell, Linda So, Michael Berens and Andrea Januta; Additional reporting by Joseph Tanfani, John Shiffman, Idrees Ali and Mark Hosenball; Editing by Jason Szep and Brian Thevenot) A 30-year-old woman said her 5-month-old French bulldog was stolen by three men who assaulted her at gunpoint this week while she was walking her dogs in San Franciscos Russian Hill neighborhood. San Francisco police responded to a report of a robbery at the 1700 block of Hyde Street shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday. Sarah Vorhaus told police that she was walking her two dogs when an unknown man approached from behind while she was cleaning up after her bulldog and said, Give me the dog. Vorhaus said when she turned around, the man held up a gun and began punching her in the face. The man took Vorhaus French bulldog, Chloe, and three men fled in a waiting vehicle driven by a fourth person, police said. Vorhaus other dog was not taken. This is has been the most traumatic 24 hours of my life, Vorhaus said Wednesday. Vorhaus was treated on-site by medics and then transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. By Wednesday afternoon, Vorhaus said her face was still swollen, but the pain was manageable. Chloe, the bulldog puppy, is gray and weighs about 13 pounds. She was wearing a purple collar when she was stolen. The dog was going to be microchipped next month when she became old enough to be spayed, Vorhaus said. Officials said the investigation is early and active. We just want to keep spreading the word because my hope is shes out there. With everything that's happening in the world, and the political state of our country, I know this is small potatoes, but she means so much to us, Vorhaus said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the SFPD 24-hour tip line at 1-415-575-4444 or Text a Tip to TIP411. Vanessa Arredondo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: vanessa.arredondo@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @v_anana [January 08, 2021] Booz Allen Invests in Industry Leading Digital Forensics and Incident Response Company Tracepoint Booz Allen Hamilton (News - Alert) (NYSE: BAH) announced today that it had made a strategic investment in Tracepoint, a rapidly growing digital forensics and incident response company serving leading clients in the public and private sectors. The company, co-founded by Baton Rouge-based Plexos Group and several industry experts, specializes in supporting cyber insurance carriers, lawyers, brokers, and their clients through crises. The investment announced today enhances the ability of both Tracepoint and Booz Allen to defend clients against a growing number of debilitating cyber threats. "This past year has been dominated by increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks, from the evolution of ransomware business models to a surge in attacks related to remote work," said Bill Phelps, executive vice president and leader of the firm's global commercial business. "Organizations must be able to detect, respond, and remediate the most consequential cyber threats to fully capitalize on the benefits of digital transformation. This investment in Tracepoint is part of our broader commitment to delivering comprehensive cyber services and solutions to ensure business resiliency for our global client base." This investment complements Booz Allen's existing cybersecurity portfolio, which supports many Fortune 100 and Global 2000 clients, as well as nearly every U.S. defense and federal agency. Booz Allen's leadership in cybersecurity continues to grow. The firm's practice was recently ranked by Frost & Sullivan (News - Alert) as having the largest market share in Managed and Professional Security Services in the Americas. The firm's commercial business delivers advanced cyber services for clients across multiple industries, including financial services, health and life sciences, energy, transportation, and manufacturing. "Both of our organizations, Tracepoint and Booz Allen, are dedicated to helping clients defend against and respond to some of today's most sophisticated and dtermined cyber actors," said Chris Salsberry, Tracepoint's chief executive officer. "We're excited to have Booz Allen, a recognized cybersecurity leader, as an investor and partner. Their support helps elevate and grow our incident response capabilities. As we've seen across client engagements, organizations must relentlessly prepare for a cyber incident to reduce their risk." Plexos president and CEO David Odom said of the investment, "We are extremely pleased with the tremendous growth of Tracepoint. Booz Allen's strategic investment affirms the unique value this growing company brings to the cybersecurity industry." This investment follows the recent addition of Andrew Turner, the former chief security officer for Fidelity National Information Systems, as a Booz Allen executive vice president and market strategy leader in the firm's global commercial business and marks an important step in Booz Allen's ongoing strategy to expand the firm's global commercial business. The deep expertise of Booz Allen practitioners is earned through real-time cyber operations, leading edge technical innovations, critical large-scale incident responses, and advanced cyber threat intelligence. "Cybersecurity is a business-enabling function that directly affects an organization's potential to deliver to the bottom line," said Jerry Bessette, a Booz Allen senior vice president and leader of the firm's commercial strategic readiness and incident response team. "Tracepoint has a proven track record of helping clients respond to attacks with resiliency and we're proud to invest and enhance these incident response capabilities. A growing array of domestic and international cyber threats means that having tested plans in place to mitigate threats will only become more of a business imperative." In connection with the transaction, Booz Allen retained Goldman Sachs & Co LLC as financial advisor and King & Spalding LLP as legal advisor. Tracepoint retained Raymond James & Associates, Inc. as financial advisor and Holland & Knight, LLP as legal advisor. Terms of the investment were not disclosed. To learn more about Booz Allen's Commercial incident response capabilities, visit: BoozAllen.com/Commercial-IR. BAHPR-CO About Booz Allen For more than 100 years, military, government and business leaders have turned to Booz Allen Hamilton to solve their most complex problems. As a consulting firm with experts in analytics, digital, engineering and cyber, we help organizations transform. We are a key partner on some of the most innovative programs for governments worldwide and trusted by its most sensitive agencies. We work shoulder to shoulder with clients, using a mission-first approach to choose the right strategy and technology to help them realize their vision. With global headquarters in McLean, Virginia, our firm employs about 27,600 people globally as of September 30, 2020 and had revenue of $7.5 billion for the 12 months ended March 31, 2020. To learn more, visit www.boozallen.com. (NYSE: BAH) About Tracepoint Tracepoint specializes in digital forensics and incident response with a comprehensive portfolio of pre- and post-breach services. Tracepoint's team of experts has decades of experience helping organizations address cyber incidents, including ransomware, phishing, business email compromise, payment card incidents, and sophisticated trojan and malware attacks. Having investigated some of the most complex and disruptive security incidents, Tracepoint's deep understanding of emerging threats proactively helps its clients improve their security posture and reduce the risk of falling victim to a costly cyber-attack. About Plexos Plexos is a leading program delivery, business consulting and information technology company, providing disaster recovery, grant management, claims management and information technology solutions for commercial, industrial and governmental clients throughout the United States and its territories. As part of its market strategy, Plexos develops new companies through strategic investment and management support. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005097/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) With many Filipinos doubting the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, the Pharmaceutical and Healthcare Association of the Philippines or PHAP says educating the public is key to allaying their worries. Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Exchange with Rico Hizon, PHAP President Dr. Beaver Tamesis says Filipinos' lack of confidence in vaccines has long been present even before the Dengvaxia controversy even broke out, noting the dengue vaccine had only intensified people's hesitancy. Recent surveys revealed many Filipinos are unwilling to get vaccinated against the coronavirus even if doses become available in the country, due to safety concerns. "Yes, I anticipated that that would be the response. That just tells us tama yung dapat gawin natin [what we need to do] in the vaccines' rollout [is right] which is really education of the masa [masses], of the community when we actually have it," commented Dr. Tamesis. Dr. Tamesis cited his group's experiences with vaccines they have sold before, wherein they converted low confidence rates into levels past 90% by sitting down with different stakeholders and educating them on the concerned vaccines. "Everybody has to be involved. Doctors, the city mayor, the city health officer, association of retired persons, all of these civil organizations have to be involved," said the medical expert. Dr. Tamesis also emphasized the role of openness regarding vaccine production, as the process normally takes at least a decade. Manufacturers across the globe have been simultaneously developing vaccines against the highly contagious virus in record speed, driven by the urgency of the pandemic which has infected tens of millions and claimed the lives of many. This has also led to people questioning the vaccines' safety, particularly what side effects do they really bring, he added. "Kaya importante yung transparency, yung nilalabas lahat ng resulta, pinag-uusapan sa scientific journals," Dr. Tamesis said. "The scientists can weigh in, the clinicians can study the side effects that are coming out before they will say that 'yes, okay tayo rito' [we're okay with this]." [Translation: That's why transparency is important, wherein all results are released and discussed in scientific journals.] Meanwhile in terms of vaccine distribution, a hospital group encourages coordination with local governments in executing vaccination efforts. "I understand our country is used to vaccinating only what, 1 to 2 million a year," said Metro Pacific Hospitals Holdings Inc. President & CEO Augie Palisoc, noting the national government's vaccination target is a "huge logistical challenge." Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. earlier said the country aims to secure 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines this year, which will vaccinate around 50 to 70 million Filipinos by year-end if things go as planned. Palisoc, whose group owns Makati Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, and Davao Doctors Hospital among others, also said they have been preparing their personnel for upcoming vaccination efforts. The U.S. has made a preliminary determination that most Vietnamese tire exporters did not dump products in the U.S. and not subjected them to anti-dumping duties. Six producers and exporters of passenger vehicle tires from Vietnam, who account for over 95 percent of Vietnamese tire exports to the U.S., were found to not dump following an investigation by the Department of Commerce that began last June. But some other companies were hit with a 22.3 percent anti-dumping duty, with the Trade Remedies Authority of Vietnam saying it was because they did not fully cooperate with U.S. authorities. The U.S. has imposed duties of 13.25-98.44 percent on South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. A final determination will be issued on May 14. The U.S. imported nearly $4 billion worth of tires from the four in 2019, with Vietnam accounting for $469.64 million. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - Chakana Copper Corp. (TSXV: PERU) (OTCQB: CHKKF) (FSE: 1ZX) (the "Company" or "Chakana"), is pleased to announce that Noble Capital Markets. Inc. ("Noble") has initiated equity research coverage on the Company. The publishing analyst is Mark Reichman, Senior Mining Analyst at Noble. The Company announced in a news release on November 25, 2020 that it had entered into an equity research agreement with Noble, a Florida corporation. Noble is a FINRA and SEC registered broker dealer. The full report on Chakana is now available on Channelchek at: https://www.channelchek.com/news-channel/id/yJ08TSm0a8 and is also available on the Company's website at https://www.chakanacopper.com/investors/analyst-coverage/. About Noble Capital Markets and its Subsidiaries: In 2018, Noble Financial Group, Inc. launched Channelchek - a new investment community dedicated exclusively to small and micro-cap companies and their industries. Channelchek is tailored to meet the needs of self-directed investors and financial professionals. As the first service to offer institutional-quality research to the public, for FREE at every level without a subscription, Channelchek lists more than 6,000 emerging growth companies alongside growing content, including webcasts, podcasts, and balanced news. For more information, visit https://www.channelchek.com. About Chakana Copper Chakana Copper Corp is a Canadian-based minerals exploration company that is currently advancing the high-grade gold-copper-silver Soledad Project located in the Ancash region of Peru, a highly favorable mining jurisdiction with supportive communities. The Soledad Project consists of high-grade gold-copper-silver mineralization hosted in tourmaline breccia pipes. A total of 33,353 metres of drilling has been completed to-date, testing nine (9) of twenty-three (23) confirmed breccia pipes with more than 92 total targets. Chakana's investors are uniquely positioned as the Soledad Project provides exposure to several metals including copper, gold, and silver. For more information on the Soledad project, please visit the website at www.chakanacopper.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD (signed) "David Kelley" David Kelley President and CEO For further information contact: Joanne Jobin, Investor Relations Officer Phone: 647 964 0292 Email: jjobin@chakanacopper.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71642 Mumbai, Jan 8 : Actress Kangana Ranaut has alleged that she is being tortured mentally, emotionally and physically. She further claimed she has been asked not to disclose to anyone about the kind of torture she is being subjected to. Kangana released a video on her verified Twitter account on Friday where she spoke about the cases filed against her and the torture that she is facing every day. She added that we are going back to the medieval age where women were burnt at stake. In the video, Kangana speaks in Hindi: "Ever since I have started speaking for the interest of the nation, the way I am being treated and tortured, the entire country can see that. My house was broken in an illegal manner. Everyday new cases are being filed against me because I have spoken for the interest of the farmers. One case has been filed against me even for laughing. My sister Rangoli has protested against doctors being tortured during the beginning of the pandemic. A case was filed against her and my name was also dragged into it, whereas I was not even on Twitter at that time. Our honourable Chief Justice ji has rejected it." "I have even been ordered to give haajri (attendance) at the police station although I don't know for what reason. I have also been asked not to disclose to anyone or talk about the kind of torture I am facing. I want to ask the honourable Supreme Court, have we returned to the medieval age where women were burnt alive and their voices were silenced?" she added. "People who are having fun and enjoying this situation, I would like to tell them only one thing that the tears of blood that we have shed in our 1,000 years of subordination, that will be repeated once again if nationalist voices are silenced now," concluded the actress. "Why am I being mentally, emotionally and now physically tortured? I need answers from this nation. I stood for you and it's time you stand for me. Jai Hind," tweeted Kangana. -- Syndicated from IANS ROME, JAN 8 - Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Friday that Premier Giuseppe Conte's government must not be allowed to collapse, as the centrist Italia Viva (IV) party continued to threaten to pull its support due to a row about the COVID-19 Recovery Plan. "This government must continue," Di Maio, a senior member of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), said via Facebook. "The country cannot risk falling into a state of paralysis. "Palace games are not acceptable. Transparency is needed. "Let's all work together on a more articulated government pact that gives certainties on the various issue to each political party (in the ruling coalition), but together with Giuseppe Conte, who must be respected and supported". IV leader and ex-premier Matteo Renzi has repeatedly blasted as lacking ambition the government's plan on how to use over 200 billion euros Italy will get from the EU in grants and low-interest loans. Conte and several senior ministers are set to hold a crunch meeting on the Recovery Plan with representatives of the parties in the ruling coalition later on Friday. In addition to IV and the M5S, the ruling coalition also features the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the left-wing LeU group. Agriculture Minister and IV bigwig Teresa Bellanova said her party's patience was running out. "We are making a big effort because, as far as I'm concerned, time is up," Bellanova told La7 television early on Friday. "We are not asking for positions (in government) but solutions that have not been forthcoming. "We should have had very clear signals by now. "No one is indispensable here. "I'm not, IV is not and neither is the premier". She subsequently told State broadcaster RAI that IV wanted see the text of the Recovery Plan before Friday's meeting. "The premier should recognise that this experience is at the end of the line and say if we all are able to start over," she said. PD leader and Lazio Governor Nicola Zingaretti said it would be an "unforgivable mistake" to trigger the collapse the government and early elections in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. He said replacing the Conte executive with an administration led by technocrats could "open the door to the return of the national right". Zingaretti added that Conte should take proposals made by the various parties in the coalition to draft a pact for a programme the rest of the current parliamentary term. (ANSA). As state governments in the US face deficits estimated to be over $400 billion, school districts and colleges are implementing severe budget cuts, beginning with arts and humanities programs. These measures are just the initial expression of what is to come if there is no organized opposition in defense of education, and particularly the arts and humanities. University of Vermont (Photo creditJared C. Benedict) Several states have already announced large education cuts. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced plans to cut $300 million in K-12 funding and $100 million in college and university funding for the current year. Meanwhile, Georgias top budget officials told the states schools to plan for large cuts for the fiscal year starting July 1, where lawmakers have signed off on a spending plan of about $2.2 billion in budget cutsincluding nearly $1 billion less for public schools. Randolph Public School District, located in the Greater Boston, Massachusetts region, has cut its entire K-12 arts, music, and physical education (PE) programs and staff from its 2020-21 budget. In Brockton, Massachusetts, 24 teachers received pink slips and the district intends to leave 40 teaching vacancies unfilled, mostly positions in the arts, PE and music departments. The state as a whole has laid off over 2,000 teachers. The Cleveland Metropolitan School District, which serves nearly 38,000 children, over 42 percent of whom live below the poverty line, faces a potential loss of up to $127 million in state and local revenue in the upcoming year, including $23 million in K-12, and the elimination of $12 million in state-provided student wellness funds. Eric Gordon, Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), told a Congressional committee hearing last summer that the district faced losing nearly 25 percent of its net operating budget. This was on top of $23 million in cuts his district made prior to the pandemic! Gordon told the House Education and Labor Committee: If this worst case scenario were to occur, I will have no choice but to make deep, devastating cuts to my district this coming winter, cuts that would include school building closures, reductions of force at all levels of the organization, elimination of student transportation, and all extra-curricular activities, elimination of art, music, physical education and other classes from K-8 schools and of electives from high schools. In late September, the Joint Appropriations Committee of Wyoming asked Wyomings school districts to envision what operations would look like with 16 percent less from the Wyoming School Foundation. The Natrona County School District (NCSD), of 12,000 students, would lose nearly $32 million, or approximately 11 percent of the districts annual budget, from the Wyoming School Foundation. In a response to the proposed measure, Chair of the Natrona County School Board Rita Walsh wrote, A reduction of this magnitude would necessitate NCSD to reduce educational programs, increase class sizes, lay off personnel, extend the purchasing cycle of curriculum materials, eliminate course offerings, and much more. Class sizes could be increased to up to 40 students with such drastic cuts. The University of Vermont has recently announced plans to terminate majors including Geology, Religion, Asian Studies and several language programs, including Greek, Latin and German. The plan would eliminate entirely the colleges Classics, Geology and Religion departments. Other departments would be consolidated. Indiana University of Pennsylvania, in Indiana County, Pennsylvania, will close five fine arts programs as part of plans to merge its fine arts and humanities schools and slash arts programs. The cuts could result in the elimination of nearly 130 jobs. Rice University (Photo creditDaderot) More than 50 university doctoral programs in the US in the humanities and social sciences wont be admitting new students for the fall of 2021. The School of Arts and Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania will also pause admissions for school-funded Ph. D. programs for the 2021-2022 academic year. All five of Rice Universitys humanities doctoral programs will suspend admissions for a year. Public education is under attack Public education in the US, after decades of austerity measures, was already in a severely damaged, precarious condition even before the pandemic struck. Systematic defunding has produced horror stories across the country: water leaking from the ceilings of schools caught in buckets in Florida; drinking water contaminated with lead in Detroit schools; dilapidated or non-working heating, cooling and HVAC systems and bloated classroom sizes in too many school districts to namejust to mention a few of the problems. A June 2020 study released by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) found in a national survey that about half (an estimated 54 percent) of public school districts need to update or replace multiple building systems or features in their schools, including an estimated 36,000 schools that need to update or replace heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Attacks on arts and humanities courses and the deteriorating conditions of schools over the past decades go hand in hand. As schools and districts balance their books, money for repairs, system upgrades, teachers and courses are the first things to go. Economic stimulus plans such as the CARES Act, as well as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, have been boondoggles for Wall Street and the corporate elite, while leaving next to nothing for state funding and education. The last time states faced such a massive budget crisis, in the wake of the 2008 recession, emergency federal aid closed only about one-quarter of state budget shortfalls. States then were forced to cut funding to K-12 schools to help meet their balanced budget requirements. By 2011, 17 states had cut per-student funding by more than 10 percent. Local school districts responded to the loss of state aid by cutting teachers, librarians and other staff; scaling back counseling and other services; and even shortening the school year. By 2014, state support for K-12 schools in most states remained below pre-recession levels. School districts have never recovered from the layoffs that were imposed. At the time that COVID-19 hit in 2020, K-12 schools employed 77,000 fewer teachers and other workers than they did when the 2008 recession began forcing layoffs, while the number of students had increased by some 1.5 million. Overall funding in many states is still below pre-recession levels. For the defense of public education and the political independence of the working class! Students and workers are being starved, in all senses of the word, of the right to a quality education, to art, to culture and to leisure. Even more historic cuts and continued deterioration to education and other social services are on the horizon. The current plans to cut arts and humanities programs to balance current state and local deficits are part of an ongoing process, in which private wealth is protected and continuously accumulated at the expense of the working class and young people. While school districts and states face large deficits and devastating cuts, the reported wealth of 643 of Americas richest billionaires, according to the Institute for Policy Studies, rose from $2.95 trillion to $3.8 trillion between March 18 and September 15, or almost $1 trillion. This figure is more than twice the entire budget deficit facing all 50 states. In combination with the near $1 trillion yearly military budget, there is sufficient wealth to fund the public education system four or five times over from these sources alone. Clearly, there is more than enough money to rebuild decaying schools, with small class sizes, offering arts and cultural education. But it is not a question of convincing progressive sections of the ruling class, their political agents and school district leaders of the importance of art and culture. Mobilizing these resources to meet human need and not private profit requires the political organization of the working class in a fight for socialism. The ruling elite will not willingly give up a penny of their ill-gotten gains. This fight requires a complete break from the duopoly of the two capitalist parties who work hand in hand to implement the policies that have left social infrastructure gutted and a socialist political program based on the expropriation of the vast sums of private wealth that these two big business parties represent. We urge you to join the IYSSE and SEP, read the World Socialist Web Site and contact us to build rank-and-file-committees at your school or workplace to protect education, win the resources to stop the pandemic and fight against the unsafe reopening of schools. About The Video From Covaxin's phase 3 trial to China locking down Hebei, here are the top updates on the coronavirus pandemic. Bharat Biotech enrolled over 25,000 volunteers for the phase 3 trial of their vaccine Covaxin. Covaxin is one of the two vaccines to get DCGI nod in India. Meanwhile, Union health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan held a meeting with health ministers of states and union territories. The minister asked to stop misinformation on vaccines. Harsh Vardhan said over 30 crore people will be inoculated after vaccine roll-out. Also, China locked down the largest city in Hebei province to prevent the spread of Covid after Hebei reported 51 of 52 local cases on Thursday, as per media reports. Watch the full video for more updates on the pandemic. I apologize for my post last night that clearly misrepresented my feelings for what is happening at the Capitol. It failed to clearly express my contempt for those who take part in intimidation and physical violence against others, Elkmann wrote. My sarcastic comment was based on early unsubstantiated claims that certain groups were masquerading as members of others to which they didnt belong. It was in poor taste and done in jest at a time when everyone is concerned with the state of our nation, A police officer has died from injuries sustained as President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol, a violent siege that is forcing hard questions about the defeated presidents remaining days in office and the ability of the Capitol Police to secure the area. The US Capitol Police said in a statement that Officer Brian D. Sicknick was injured while physically engaging with protesters during the Wednesday riot. He is the fifth person to die because of the melee. The rampage that has shocked the world and left the country on edge forced the resignations of three top Capitol security officials over the failure to stop the breach. It led lawmakers to demand a review of operations and an FBI briefing over what they called a terrorist attack. And it is prompting a broader reckoning over Trumps tenure in office and what comes next for a torn nation. Protesters were urged by Trump during a rally near the White House earlier Wednesday to head to Capitol Hill, where lawmakers were scheduled to confirm Bidens presidential victory. The mob swiftly broke through police barriers, smashed windows and paraded through the halls, sending lawmakers into hiding. Five have died because of the Capitol siege. One protester, a white woman, was shot to death by Capitol Police, and there were dozens of arrests. Three other people died after medical emergencies related to the breach. Despite Trumps repeated claims of voter fraud, election officials and his own former attorney general have said there were no problems on a scale that would change the outcome. All the states have certified their results as fair and accurate, by Republican and Democratic officials alike. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said news of the police officers death was gut-wrenching. None of this should have happened, Sasse said in a statement. Lord, have mercy. Sicknick had returned to his division office after the incident and collapsed, the statement said. He was taken to a local hospital where he died on Thursday. Two House Democrats on committees overseeing the Capitol police budgets said those responsible need to be held to answer for the senseless death. We must ensure that the mob who attacked the Peoples House and those who instigated them are held fully accountable, said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Ct., and Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio. in a statement. Earlier Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said any remaining day with the president in power could be a horror show for America. Likewise, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the attack on the Capitol was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president, and Trump must not stay in office one day longer. Pelosi and Schumer called for invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to force Trump from office before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. Schumer said he and Pelosi tried to call Vice President Mike Pence early Thursday to discuss that option but were unable to connect with him. At least one Republican lawmaker joined the effort. The procedure allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. The vice president then becomes acting president. Pelosi said if the presidents Cabinet does not swiftly act, the House may proceed to impeach Trump. Trump, who had repeatedly refused to concede the election, did so in a late Thursday video from the White House vowing a seamless transition of power. Two Republicans who led efforts to challenge the election results, Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri, faced angry peers in the Senate. Cruz defended his objection to the election results as the right thing to do as he tried unsuccessfully to have Congress launch an investigation.nIn the House, Republican leaders Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California and Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana joined in the failed effort to overturn Bidens win by objecting to the Electoral College results. With tensions high, the Capitol shuttered and lawmakers not scheduled to return until the inauguration, an uneasy feeling of stalemate settled over a main seat of national power as Trump remained holed up at the White House. The social media giant Facebook banned the president from its platform and Instagram for the duration of Trumps final days in office, if not indefinitely, citing his intent to stoke unrest. Twitter had silenced him the day before. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the shocking events make it clear Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, under pressure from Schumer, Pelosi and other congressional leaders, was forced to resign. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked for and received the resignation of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, Michael Stenger, effective immediately. Paul Irving, the longtime Sergeant at Arms of the House, also resigned. Sund had defended his departments response to the storming of the Capitol, saying officers had acted valiantly when faced with thousands of individuals involved in violent riotous actions. Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser called the police response a failure. Lawmakers from both parties pledged to investigate and questioned whether a lack of preparedness allowed a mob to occupy and vandalize the building. The Pentagon and Justice Department had been rebuffed when they offered assistance. Black lawmakers, in particular, noted the way the mostly white Trump supporters were treated. Newly elected Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., said if we, as Black people did the same things that happened ... the reaction would have been different, we would have been laid out on the ground. The protesters ransacked the place, taking over the House area and Senate chamber and waving Trump, American and Confederate flags. Outside, they scaled the walls and balconies. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., a former police chief, said it was painfully obvious that Capitol police were not prepared. Priyanka Chopra, whose is currently put up in London, violated the UKs Covid-19 lockdown rules, as per reports doing the rounds. The country is under a total lockdown to curb spiralling cases amid rising concerns surrounding a more infectious new variant of the novel coronavirus. The regulations state that personal care services, including salons and spas, must close. However, Priyanka was seen visiting a hair salon with her mother Madhu Chopra and pet dog Diana. Celebrity stylist Josh Wood was also present. The police were alerted of the breach and reached the salon to give a verbal reminder to the owner of the salon. No fine was imposed. A website quoted a spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police as saying, Police were alerted at around 17:40hrs on Wednesday, 6 January to reports of a Covid breach taking place within a hairdressers on Lansdowne Mews, Notting Hill. Officers attended and the owner of the salon was given a verbal reminder of the important need to comply with all regulations regarding Covid-19 and signposted to other sources of advice. No fixed penalty notices were issued. The Hollywood stars representative told the website, "Following government guidance, Priyankas hair was coloured for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting in London. The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations." Priyanka is currently shooting for upcoming film Text For You in London Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement which governs in Gaza, has agreed to reengage in a reconciliation process with Palestinian Authority (PA) President Mahmoud Abbas and move toward elections in the West Bank and Gaza. This may all sound familiar. The parties have started down this road before, but this time it just might happen. Why? Well, for one, economic conditions in Gaza are grim, as we wrote last month, and a recent UN Conference on Trade and Development report warns that Gazas economy is "near collapse. There are almost zero prospects that there will be a change for the better, absent a dramatic change in Gaza and the regional environment. The larger issue for Hamas is its isolation, which is increased by the normalization agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan; US-brokered reconciliation among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states; and a new push for an Israeli-Palestinian peace conference, led by Abbas and Egypt. With a new US administration coming in, Iran, Hamas, Syria and Hezbollah find themselves even more on the outside looking in with regard to regional trends. So Hamas is looking to play as many cards as possible, to stay relevant and engaged as events unfold. Election roller coaster talks on track Abbas wants to see an international conference on Palestine this year. For that to happen, he needs the momentum, legitimacy and boost that should come from long-overdue elections, and that requires the buy-in of Hamas. Daoud Kuttab has the scoop this week that Hamas finally came around, or so it appears, after Hamas agreed to a sequence that will start with legislative elections, which would then be given a "national unity" pedigree, followed by executive elections. Hamas previously broke off discussions with the PA when Abbas resumed security coordination with Israel after Joe Biden was elected president in November. That intransigence eroded following recent shifts in the regional environment. Hamas had counted on support not only from its chief benefactor, Iran, but also the diplomatic good offices of Egypt, Turkey and Qatar. Normalization makes that proposition more tenuous, so Hamas agreed on elections after getting assurances from Egypt, Turkey, Qatar and Russia to oversee the election process. "The recent reconciliation between the Gulf countries and Turkey's decision to send its ambassador back to Tel Aviv and the role that Egypt has played appears to have had a strong influence on Hamas and allowed it to overcome its initial hesitation and agree to the PLOs terms despite the return of security coordination," writes Kuttab. ... thanks to an Egyptian diplomatic surge No surprise that Egypt closed the deal between Hamas and the PLO. We wrote back in August 2019 that Egypt matters more than ever. We could actually write that column every year, or every few months. Witness the events of the past week. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry was party to the reconciliation agreement with Qatar at the GCC summit Jan. 5. While Egypt-Qatar relations will take time to rebuild trust, as Mohamed Sabry explains, healing the rift within the Arab fold places Egypt in an even stronger position on dealing with Israeli-Palestinian and regional issues, including Libya, Syria and Yemen. The next day, on Jan. 6, Shoukry was on the phone with his Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi, and Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Malki, ahead of a conference next week in Cairo about efforts to advance the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, as Rina Bassist reports. Whether intentional or not, Egypts diplomacy is also a signal to the incoming Biden administration about Cairos role in the region. Egypt may be wary of increased pressure from Washington on human rights and press freedoms. US President Donald Trump and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, had a good working relationship, and Trump shielded Egypt, as well as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, from human rights demands and other pressures from Congress as much as possible. That could change under Biden. Egypts diplomatic surge is a reminder of its many links to vital US national security interests in the Middle East, as well as Africa and the eastern Mediterranean. as Hamas keeps options open with Assad and Iran The normalization agreements between Israel and the UAE, Bahrain, Morocco and Sudan, as well as reconciliation within the GCC, not only have implications for the Palestinian territories but also for the so-called rejectionist front of Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas. They face pressure to close ranks. One opportunity Hamas may exploit is a reestablishment of ties with Syria. Hamas split from Damascus after the uprisings in Syria in 2011, in solidarity with Islamist groups opposed to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Hamas is now pursuing a rapprochement between Gaza and Damascus, thanks to the mediation of Iran and Hezbollah, as Ahmad Abu Amer reports. Another sign of recent Hamas diplomacy is its collaboration on a triangular prisoner exchange with Yemens Houthi group, which is backed by Iran. The Houthis have suggested that two Saudi airman captured and held since February 2020 be exchanged for 60 Palestinian prisoners, including Hamas members, held in Saudi Arabia, as Abu Amer reports. Meanwhile, Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and other smaller "resistance" factions in Gaza conducted a joint military drill in Gaza last week both to commemorate the killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force commander Qasem Soleiman by the United States on Jan. 3, 2020, and as a show of force in response to military exchanges with Israeli forces last week, as we report here. and demolishes Palestinian homes on border Most stories on Palestinian home demolitions involve Israeli forces. Not this time. Residents of a 13-acre strip of land near Gazas Rafah border crossing with Israel woke up to Hamas bulldozers and demolition crews to appropriate land that Hamas claimed was public property, a claim hotly disputed by residents, as Rasha Abou Jalal reports. ALTON The Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic has opened at 1417 Washington Ave., Alton. This facility is part of a larger group called Doctors Urgent Care Group (DUCG). The group, based in Troy, Michigan, has recently expanded to 20 locations nationwide, including facilities in Granite City and Belleville. In addition, the group has more than 60 physician assistants and nurse practitioners and a staff of more than 150 nationwide. Heather Harman, Nurse Practitioner for the Alton facility, said that the idea for a facility in Alton came early in 2020. They (DUCG) definitely wanted to expand here and in other places, she said. According to Harman, what differentiates DUCG clinics to others is their fast and friendly service. We really care about what you have going on, she said. We take the time to listen and do our best to address the issue. The Alton clinic will offer free COVID-19 testing, Harman said. The current test being used is the polymerase chain reaction (PRC) test that typically take about two to four days for results. How it will be done, according to Harman, is that the patient will call the clinic ahead of time and the test will be administered in the patients vehicle. Harman said the clinic allows in-person visits but also offers telemed visits for people of high risk for COVID-19. The clinic also can test for strep throat and influenza. The facility officially opened on Dec. 28 with limited hours. As of Monday, the clinic has adopted full time hours from 9 a.m to 9 p.m. seven days a week. For more information or to schedule a telemed appointment, visit https://urgentcarealton.com/. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The Government is exploring ways to force childcare providers to repay parents who are charged fees for services that cant be used due to Covid-19 restrictions. There is concern among parents that creches will still charge fees for January so that their childs place can be maintained. The average fee nationally was put at 736-a-month in one study in 2019 with parents in Dublin forking out an average of 1,000-a-month for one child. Childrens Minister Roderic OGorman said he is asking that childcare providers refund parents whose children cant be cared for under the current restrictions. Read More The Government hopes that creches will do this voluntarily. But the Department of Children confirmed last night that ways to enforce the payment of refunds are also being explored, and said that many childcare providers are already offering refunds. But it added: The relationship between a service and parent is a private one based on a contract. "The Department is examining whether there are mechanisms whereby it can mandate services to repay fees. On Wednesday Taoiseach Micheal Martin was asked about childcare providers seeking payments for January to maintain a childs place and whether they should be allowed to do this. Mr Martin said: The minister will be engaging with the childcare providers and with the sector to iron out these particular issues. Last night Mr OGorman told the Irish Independent: In light of the extensive financial support the State is providing to the childcare sector I am asking that providers would refund or credit those parents who are not essential workers and cant take up childcare for the next three weeks. Meanwhile, Leaving Cert students will study remotely until the end of January after the Government performed a major U-turn on its decision to proceed with classes in schools three days a week. The move follows widespread opposition from teachers, parents, pupils and special needs assistants due to grave concerns over health and safety amid the worsening Covid-19 situation. Plans to reopen special schools next week are also to be cancelled. Unfortunately I am left with no alternative but to pause the limited reopening on Monday to allow further engagement with all education stakeholders, Education Minister Norma Foley said in a statement last night. The Labour Partys education spokesman Aodhan O Riordain said the Government has averted a disaster. Attention will now turn to the exams as students continue to voice their concerns about sitting the traditional Leaving Cert in the summer. Chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan last night appeared to be taken by surprise by the Governments U-turn. He was asked about the decision at the end of an hour-long briefing after earlier distancing himself from the original proposal to bring Leaving Cert pupils back. Dr Holohan said he accepted the Government had to take into account a broader view in its decision making around the issue. The decision to switch to remote learning follows one of the countrys main teaching unions telling members to stay at home from school on Monday. The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) called on its members to teach remotely and defy the Governments plan to allow classes go ahead for Leaving Cert and special needs students following a meeting with public health and education officials. ASTI president Ann Piggott said: The ASTI has repeatedly sought sufficient assurances that schools are safe for students and teachers at this time, in the context of the new variant of Covid-19 circulating in the community and the alarmingly high numbers. Unfortunately, the assurances we sought have not been forthcoming. More than 700 principals and deputy principals also took part in an online meeting of the Joint Managerial Board yesterday, which represents over half of second-level schools. Sources who took part in the meeting described the mood as panic stricken and angry: The general feeling was that schools wont open in the way the Government is saying. Nobody said they would start teaching in schools on Monday. "The logistical challenge of doing mixed learning is too much. Dr Holohan had advised the Government that the full reopening of schools would constitute a very significant additional risk as the country battles with an unprecedented level of Covid-19 transmission in the community. In a letter to Health Minister Stephen Donnelly, dated January 5, he noted data received by the National Public Health Emergency Team (Nphet) shows schools are a safe environment. But given the current epidemiological situation, significant levels of mobility and linked activity generated by the reopening of schools would pose too risky. Rachel OConnor, principal of Ramsgrange Community School in New Ross, Co Wexford, told the Irish Independent she was extremely anxious about students returning after the area was ravaged by an outbreak over the Christmas period. From her role as a beloved royal to a grieving mother, Vanessa Kirby showcased a superb performance in the "Pieces of a Woman" Netflix movie. Directed by award-winning filmmaker Kornel Mundruczo and written by Kata Weber, the heart-wrenching film stars the British actress as Martha Weiss and the loving but immature partner Sean Carson, portrayed by BAFTA winner Shia LaBeouf. The story follows a devastating story of a new mom from Boston, who had a heartbreaking experience after her home birth ended in an unfathomable tragedy. Following the loss of her unborn child at the hands of her midwife Eva (portrayed by Molly Parker), Martha began her year-long journey of grief as she tried to pick up the pieces left by the tragic experience. Unfortunately, this has fractured her relationship with her loved ones, most especially with Sean who was also unable to cope with his own grief. "Pieces of a Woman" Reviews Based on a review cited by Netflixlife.com, "The Crown" actress gave a "magnetic performance" and was a "tour de force" on the screen. "She is able to convey so much to the audience without saying a word. Whether it's her eyes or mannerisms, she fully embodies the grieving mother with utter excellence, and it feels safe to say that she completely crushes it in this role," the outlet mentioned. Meanwhile, LaBeouf's complicated life off screen has transpired in the movie that made him a "compelling player" in the film. "Shia Labeouf's take on Sean is pretty on point and proves that despite his many flaws off-screen, he is still a compelling player in front of the camera." The blonde beauty was also praised by EW, most especially during her unforgettable birth scene: "Kirby as an actress - of the sort whose capital A is somehow invisible but heavily implied - had arrived." Moreover, the outlet lauded the Hungarian director for giving the Emmy nominee "the room not only to rage and grieve, but just to be." On the other hand, fans flocked to social media to express their opinion towards the jaw dropping performance and storyline of "Pieces of a Woman" on Netflix. "Vanessa kirby's performance was flawless and heartbreaking. pieces of a woman has left me into a woman in pieces," one fan wrote. A second fan pointed out that the movie is more than just a hype but a mutch watch as well. "Pieces of a Woman ... Definitely a must watch on Netflix." READ MORE: 'Hell's Kitchen' Season 19: Gordon Ramsay's New Sous Chef, Jason Santos, Gets Real About Yelling at Contestants See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles Despite his friendship with Donald Trump, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday strongly disapproved attempts by the violent supporters of the outgoing United States President to disrupt the proceedings of the American Congress and stop it from officially clearing the way for Joe Biden to take over. Modi not only termed the protest by the supporters of Trump as unlawful, but also stressed on orderly and peaceful transfer of power in Washington D.C. Distressed to see news about rioting and violence in Washington DC. Orderly and peaceful transfer of power must continue, the Prime Minister posted on Twitter. The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests," he added. Read: Trump agrees for 'orderly transition on January 20' He is among the many world leaders to publicly condemn violent protests staged by the supporters of the outgoing US President in the Capitol Hill of Washington D.C. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern too tweeted to disapprove the attempt to disrupt the proceedings of the American Congress and stop it from certifying the result of the US presidential elections. At least four people died and 52 were arrested as Trumps supporters stormed into the Capitol Hill shortly after the outgoing US President delivered a speech in a rally, reiterating that he would never concede defeat to Biden. Read: US Congress certifies Biden win over Trump Biden won 306 of the 538 electoral college votes in the elections held in November 2020, leaving Trump far behind with only 232. Trump, however, continued to challenge the outcome of the election, alleging irregularities in conduct of the polling and counting of votes in several battleground states, even after 61 of the 62 lawsuits filed by him and his lawyers were rejected by the courts across the US. Modis strongly-worded tweet disapproving the violent protests by the supporters of Trump also appeared to be a move by New Delhi to distance from the outgoing US President and to reach out to the incoming administration of Biden. Read: Washington chaos leaves image of 'exceptional' America in tatters Soon after the US TV networks had declared Biden and his Indian-American running mate Kamala Harris as President-elect and Vice-President-elect on November 7, Modi had congratulated them on Twitter. He did not wait for outgoing Trump to concede defeat, notwithstanding the bromance the two leaders displayed in public at least twice during the run-up to the elections first at the Howdy! Modi event in Houston on September 22, 2019 and then again at its sequel, the Namaste Trump conclave in Ahmedabad on February 24, 2020. Modis Aab Ki Bar Trump Sarkar comment at the Howdy! Modi event was interpreted by some as his call to Indian-American community to support the US Presidents re-election campaign. New Delhi had to clarify later that the Prime Minister had in fact, referred to the US Presidents 2016 campaign seeking support of the Indian-American community. Female Sergeant Honored for Bravery After Saving Fellow Soldier From Smoking Car Wreck A female U.S. Army sergeant didnt hesitate to pull over to assist after a vehicle flipped off the road. Little did she know that her quick-thinking actions had saved the life of her fellow soldier. Nigerian-born Sgt. Mary Ehiarinmwian, assigned to the 21st Theater Sustainment Command, enrolled in the U.S. Army in 2017. Three years later, she witnessed a serious road accident that put her training to the test. The brave soldier was later honored for her heroism and selflessness. The sergeant was driving to Physical Readiness Training at Hawaiis Schofield Barracks in June 2020 when the vehicle in front of her collided with a road sign and rolled over several times before it pierced through the top of a security gate, reported Army News Service. There was a purpose for me to be there, Ehiarinmwian told Army News Service. U.S. Army Sgt. Mary Ehiarinmwian receiving the 2020 USO Soldier of the Year award in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Dec. 15, 2020. (Spc. Katelyn Myers/U.S. Army) The collision had wrecked the car and almost impaled the driver. Ehiarinmwian spoke to the driver, ascertaining that he was in pain and disoriented but conscious. She didnt know at the time that the injured man was a soldier from her very own 21st Theater Sustainment Command unit. Without wasting a moment, she pulled the driver from the smoke-filled vehicle using an underarm drag, directed him to rest on the ground to prevent internal bleeding, and stayed by his side until medics arrived. Ehiarinmwian told the Army News Service that she was concerned the car would catch fire. But at the time, I didnt think of the danger, she said. U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Sean Howard and U.S. Army Sgt. Mary Ehiarinmwian of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command holding the USO Soldier of the Year plaque in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Dec. 15, 2020 (Spc. Katelyn Myers/U.S. Army) The soldier sustained only minor injuries and Ehiarinmwian made it to training at Schofield Barracks. But when the sergeants superiors heard about her heroic, spontaneous act, they decided a formal recognition was in order. Ehiarinmwian was announced as one of six recipients of the USOs Soldier of the Year award on Nov. 12, 2020, each representing a different branch of the military. She received her award in a ceremony held in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Dec. 15, 2020. Ehiarinmwian said that receiving a congratulatory call from Sgt. Maj. of the Army, Michael A. Grinston, the U.S. Armys top enlisted soldier, was a big deal. Im very proud of Sgt. Ehiarinmwian, Grinston said, according to Army News Service. This is exactly the type of leader the Army buildssomeone that is decisive and quick to take the appropriate action. After talking with her and hearing her story, its a great reminder that our Army is full of people from all walks of life, looking for something bigger than themselves, Grinston added. (LR) U.S. Army Sgt. Mary Ehiarinmwian, USO Area Operations Manager Casey Pizzuto, and USO Area Director Konrad Braun pictured in Kaiserslautern, Germany, on Dec. 15, 2020 (Spc. Katelyn Myers/U.S. Army) Ehiarinmwian, of St. Robert, Missouri, had emigrated from Nigeria to Germany as a child, where she later attended school and married before relocating to the United States. [The U.S.] is different than where I grew up, she said, and I just wanted to give back and do something meaningful. In the military, we take on danger every day. We wake up [and] dont have regular jobs. We dont know where were going. We could deploy tomorrow, she said. Its good to lend a helping hand. We would love to hear your stories! You can share them with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com Protesters bash an entrance of the Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jon Cherry/Getty Images) Trump Attorney Overseeing Pennsylvania Lawsuit Quits, Cites Breach of Capitol A lawyer for President Donald Trumps campaign moved Thursday to resign from a case in Pennsylvania, citing the storming of the U.S. Capitol the day prior. Jerome Marcus announced the action in a court filing (pdf). He said he was asking to withdraw as counsel for the case pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct inasmuch as the client has used the lawyers services to perpetrate a crime and the client insists upon taking action that the lawyer considers repugnant and with which the lawyer has a fundamental disagreement. In a separate filing, Marcus told the court that he served the motion for leave to a representative of the Trump campaign. Trumps campaign didnt respond to a request for comment. Protesters in Washington stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, triggering the evacuation of members of Congress from the House and Senate chambers. Several people were killed, including a pro-Trump protester who was shot while attempting to enter the House chamber. Trump called on his supporters to be peaceful and respect law enforcement. He later urged them to exit the Capitol and go home. The group that barged into the Capitol included at least one anti-Trump person, a Black Lives Matter activist. Marcus was representing Trumps campaign in a case against the Philadelphia County Board Of Elections. The campaign alleged the board was blocking poll watchers and campaign representatives from observing the canvassing of ballots. The lawsuit said the board was intentionally violating state law. District Judge Paul Diamond denied a request for an emergency injunction in November 2020. He hasnt ruled on the broader case as of yet. Indonesian Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the suspected mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings that killed 202 people, walked free from prison on Friday after serving 10 years for setting up a militant training camp. Authorities said Bashir, 82, who was never convicted of a direct role in the bombings, would enter a deradicalisation programme amid concerns over his continued influence in extremist circles. Photographs showed him dressed in white and wearing a mask as he left the prison in Bogor, south of the capital Jakarta, before being driven to his home at an Islamic boarding school near the city of Solo in Central Java. Abu Bakar Bashir was released from Gunung Sindur prison at 5.30 a.m., Rika Aprianti, a spokeswoman for the corrections department, told reporters. Bashir, 82, who is regarded as the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a jihadist network with ties to al Qaeda, was imprisoned in 2011 for 15 years for his links to a militant training camp in Aceh province. After periodic cuts in his jail term, he served 10 years. Although Indonesian police and intelligence agencies say Bashir was linked to the 2002 Bali attacks and a 2003 attack on the J.W. Marriott hotel in Jakarta, he was never convicted of direct involvement and denied any ties. A conviction for being part of a conspiracy to carry out the Bali bombings was later overturned. The Bali bombings killed 88 Australians, and the country has pressed Indonesia to ensure Bashir does not incite more violence. On Friday, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Bashirs release was very distressing to the friends and families of the Australians, the 88 Australians, who were killed in the Bali bombings. Thiolina Marpaung, an Indonesian wounded in the 2002 attacks, said she wanted authorities to keep supervising Bashir. We dont know what he was doing in prison, she said by telephone. Bashir pledged allegiance to the militant group Islamic State in 2014 while in jail. A spokesman for the Coogee Dolphins rugby club in Sydney, which lost its president and five members in the Bali attacks, said Bashirs release would be difficult. Some will never forgive, there will be others who will be just angry today, said Albert Talarico. Others will stay silent because they dont wish to have the old wounds opened again. DERADICALISATION PROGRAMME Some Indonesians defended the release of the cleric, saying he had served his time and was a practising Muslim. There are many people who discredit Muslims, thinking that we are related to terrorism, but...we are not, said Asqar Kustiwa, 63, a resident of Depok, near Jakarta. Bashir will undergo a deradicalisation programme, Eddy Hartono of Indonesias anti-terrorism agency said in a statement, adding that he hoped the cleric, after his release, can give peaceful, soothing preachings. In the wake of the Bali attacks, Indonesia set up an elite anti-terrorist unit that weakened JI and resulted in scores of suspected militants being arrested or killed. But other extremist groups have since formed and conducted attacks in the worlds biggest Muslim majority country while only last month police arrested 23 militants. Ahead of the release, Abdul Rohim, Bashirs son, told Reuters his father would return to the Al Mukmin Islamic boarding school, which Bashir founded in the 1970s and whose graduates have been linked to militant networks and attacks. He has completed his term, Rohim said. This is purely over. JIs prominence is fading, say analysts, to be replaced by other Islamic State-inspired groups blamed for new attacks. They say Bashir does not wield as much power over JI or other groups, but could still influence other militants. Bashir is an ideologue, his words will be followed and made examples of, said analyst Stanislaus Riyanta. (Natural News) President Donald Trump asked his supporters to keep calm and cooperate with the authorities as Washington D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered a citywide curfew following a chaotic incident at the Capitol. Please support our Capitol Police and law enforcement. They are truly on the side of our country. Stay peaceful, Trump said in a tweet. Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021 Bowsers order stemmed from a reported breach and lockdown of the U.S. Capitol. Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) confirmed the lockdown on Twitter. Im currently in lockdown in the House chamber as the President of the United States incites his supporters to violence and to storm the Capitol. This is the outcome of Trumps presidency. Rep. Jason Crow (@RepJasonCrow) January 6, 2021 The curfew runs from 6 p.m. Wednesday (January 6) to 6 a.m. Thursday (January 7). Alerts about the curfew were sent to phones across the District of Columbia. During the hours of the curfew, no person other than persons designated by the mayor shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park or other public place within the District, Bowsers order said. The order wont apply to essential workers, including media employees with company-issued credentials. Earlier, demonstrators broke into offices of lawmakers and vandalized properties at Capitol Hill. They crowded halls inside the Capitol building and climbed over chairs. Some made it inside the Senate chambers. Shots and chemical irritants were fired. One person was reportedly shot and killed during the commotion while at least three others were injured and taken to the hospitals. (Related: Woman shot by Capitol police after ramming barricades was on psychiatric drugs, antidepressants.) The Federal Bureau of Investigation is investigating reports of two suspected explosive devices, though both have been rendered safe. The incident also raised questions about how demonstrators managed to force their way inside the Capitol and whether there was enough law enforcement presence in the vicinity. In my experience in 50 years in law enforcement, this is unprecedented, said John Magaw, a former Secret Service director. The coordination of security has virtually fallen apart. We are watching the deterioration of law and order in the U.S. It just becomes chaos. I dont see any sign that the current president is going to stand up and lead like presidents have led in the past, Magaw said. Our democracy is on the edge of a cliff. Some lawmakers immediately made their feelings known about the incident. Violence and anarchy are unacceptable. We are a nation of laws. This needs to end now, wrote Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) on Twitter. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) was more diplomatic: Thank you to Capitol Police for protecting the Peoples House. Protesters have a Constitutionally-protected right to be heard, but I urge them to remain peaceful. Joint session halted The chaos at the Capitol abruptly ended the debate in the joint session about whether to certify Joe Bidens election win. The Democrat won the popular and electoral vote, but a number of Republicans had moved to object the certification process. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi vowed the two chambers would reconvene and resume proceedings Wednesday evening at the Capitol once it is cleared for use. Even before the demonstrators entered the scene, the joint session was already off to a fiery start. Pence opened the proceedings in his constitutional role as president of the Senate. In a statement, Pence said that while he shared the concerns about the integrity of the election, it was not correct that he should be able to accept or reject electoral votes unilaterally. Dozens of House representatives and one senator objected to the electoral votes for Arizona, which led to a debate and eventual vote by both chambers. About an hour later, the House and the Senate were locked down. The lockdown lasted nearly four hours. Sources include: Twitter.com 1 Twitter.com 2 TheEpochTimes.com CBSNews.com USAToday.com WASHINGTON - So far this offseason, the Washington Nationals have signed one free agent to a major league contract. Welcome Sam Clay, a left-handed reliever who has pitched seven years in the minors and has yet to debut. But don't mistake the deal for their familiar, annual need to remake the bullpen over the winter. For once, the Nationals can point their energy elsewhere. They do, however, have to still seek another reliever or two. If they don't, they'd need to lean on some mix of Clay, Kyle McGowin and Ryne Harper - or spring training invites such as Javy Guerra or Luis Avilan - to fill out an eight-man bullpen in 2021. Daniel Hudson, Will Harris and Tanner Rainey are the locks. Kyle Finnegan and Wander Suero should be, too. Then one of Joe Ross, Erick Fedde or Austin Voth will likely serve as a long man, depending on who gets squeezed out of the rotation. That would leave two open bullpen spots for additions or internal competition. And with the Atlanta Braves front-running in the National League East, and the New York Mets trading for star shortstop Francisco Lindor on Thursday, additions seem like the better bet. The Nationals' charge is to win what's become the league's most competitive division. That returning group above - Hudson, Harris, Rainey, Finnegan, Suero - does not include a lefty. Sean Doolittle is a free agent after three and a half years in Washington. Roenis Elias is a free agent after making just four total appearances for the Nationals. Clay, 27, is actually the only left-handed reliever on the current 40-man roster. Manager Dave Martinez has felt little need for a matchup lefty since the league adopted the three-batter minimum rule. He also likes how both Harris and Suero use their cutters to attack left-handed hitters, and often uses those pitches as justification for not carrying more lefties in his pen. Harris, 36, has a long track record of excelling against left-handed hitters. Suero, 29, has done so in a smaller sample, at least relative to his results versus righties. But the Nationals' NL East schedule includes regular matchups with Freddie Freeman, Bryce Harper and Michael Conforto. As one Nationals staffer, who isn't authorized to speak publicly about the team's needs, put it recently: "It doesn't hurt to have a good left-handed reliever, especially in this division. You just don't want to get a lefty for the sake of it and then have him knocked around by Freddie and Harp all year." That follows the logic of using Harris, a proven veteran, before chucking Clay on the mound just to satisfy convention. Or the Nationals could deepen their options through free agency. The best available left-handed reliever is Brad Hand, whom the Cleveland Indians placed on waivers in November. None of the other 29 teams picked up his $10 million option. Hand led the American League by finishing 21 games in 2020. He had a 2.05 ERA in 22 innings and a high strikeout rate. In 749 career matchups with left-handed hitters, he's held them to a .552 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Hand is logical if the Nationals want to spend on a lefty. The relief market, though, has over 100 available pitchers that fit any budget. The size of it - and the pace it's moving at - makes it hard to decipher which directions teams will go in. The Nationals are no exception. Former Washington reliever Blake Treinen signed a two-year, $17.5 million contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. Ryne Stanek signed a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Houston Astros on Thursday. A few of the top remaining relievers are Hand, Liam Hendriks and Alex Colome, whom Washington nearly dealt for at the 2019 trade deadline and who has always been of interest. Then there's a huge pool of names. Doolittle, for example, is just one of many veteran relievers floating through this winter abyss. He could find a team on a low-cost, short-term deal. Or, if teams stay so resistant to opening their wallets, he may need to fight for a job in spring training. He wouldn't be even close to alone. Teams are choosing between those high-priced relievers; a middle-shelf group of Mark Melancon, Brandon Kintzler and Jake McGee, among dozens of others; and guys like Doolittle, in his mid-30s and coming off a season-ending oblique injury. What the Nationals do have is three late-inning arms in Hudson, Harris and Rainey. They have Suero and Finnegan, who ate innings and handled high-leverage situations as a rookie in 2020. They have Clay and Harper, a rubber arm fit to swing between the majors and minors. They have McGowin, who excelled in spurts after evolving from ineffective starter to slider-heavy reliever. They have Guerra and Avilan coming to West Palm Beach, Fla. - and most of these relievers, in fact, profile best as backup plans. After that, they could take their pick from a sputtering market. "Could" is the operative word. The Nokia 6.3 we've been hearing about since last May was expected to be unveiled by the end of 2020. But that didn't happen, and while we wait for an official word from HMD about it, renders of what will be called the Nokia 6.3 or 6.4 have been shared by OnLeaks, who says the smartphone will go official before April. The Nokia 6.3/6.4 looks similar to the Nokia 6.2 and packs a waterdrop notch display that measures 6.45" diagonally. The smartphone shares the circular camera island with the 6.2, but it now houses four cameras, and the LED flash has been moved outside the module. The source didn't detail the cameras, but previous leaks claim the Nokia 6.3 will feature a 16MP selfie shooter, and the camera system on the back will comprise a 24MP primary, 12MP ultrawide, 2MP macro, and 2MP depth sensor units. The fingerprint scanner that was present on the back below the cameras on the 6.2 is now embedded in the power button located on the right side of the phone's frame below the volume keys. On the left side of the 6.3/6.4 is the SIM card slot and a dedicated Google Assistant button, and at the bottom is the USB-C port flanked by the microphone and speaker. The 3.5mm headphone jack is located at the top. Nokia 6.3/6.4 The Nokia 6.3 is rumored to come with a Snapdragon 67x or a Snapdragon 730 SoC, and the base model with 3GB RAM and 64GB storage is said to have an average global retail price of 249. Although this information is over six months old and plans may have changed. Source A mob of Trump supporters broke into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, shattering windows, destroying furniture, ransacking offices and stealing property. Storming the Capitol Rotunda and pushing their way into lawmakers' offices, the unruly crowd's intent was to thwart Congress from certifying President-elect Joe Bidens Electoral College win. They ultimately stalled the process but didn't stop it, as Congress reconvened later in the evening. Will there be legal ramifications for their actions? The answer is yes, according to legal experts, with the list of possible offenses ranging from the less severe violation of curfew to the more serious seditious conspiracy. Even those who weren't arrested on site could face justice. "The baseline is that peaceful assembly is lawful, so many people involved in the demonstrations who did no more than assemble are not guilty of any crime," said George Bisharat, a professor of law at UC Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco. "But many engaged in criminal behavior." Washington, D.C., officials said the FBI and the local Metropolitan Police Department were leading the investigation into identifying individuals who took part in Wednesdays violence. D.C. police have arrested at least 68 people so far. Bisharat said those who were arrested on Jan. 6 will likely be charged first, but officials will track down other offenders, likely through photos and video posted on social media and broadcast by news outlets. The mob smashed windows and broke doors, sending lawmakers into hiding. Some perpetrators, many of whom weren't wearing masks, were captured in videos and photos posted all over social media. Its always helpful to prosecutors if people pose for pictures in the midst of committing crimes, said Stanford Law School professor David Sklansky, a former federal prosecutor in California. The Metropolitan Police Department released a series of photo of persons of interest they're seeking in unrest-related offenses. The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin, said 40 cases have already been presented in superior court and prosecutors planned to file 15 federal cases on Thursday. Sherwin said all options are on the table, including sedition charges. There are a number of offenses that could be pursued against many of those involved in yesterday's attack, said Binyamin Blum, also a professor of law at Hastings. The most straightforward ones include violation of curfew, trespassing and destruction of government property, Blum said. "Those could quite easily be established against those arrested," Blum said. Firearms offenses, civil disorder, breaking and entering and assault of law enforcement officers are also on the table, experts said. You can literally throw the book at them and it would be a pretty heavy book, said Laurie Levenson, a former federal prosecutor and professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Levenson said its important for prosecutors to send a message with their charges. This cannot happen again, she said. This was a very scary moment for America and it cannot set a precedent that the way you deal with political opposition is through violence and destruction. Here's a closer look at a few of the charges members of the mob who broke into the U.S. Capitol could face: Trespassing: "Its not generally trespassing to enter the public areas of a public building, but entering into private areas like offices that arent generally open to the public would involved trespassing," Bisharat said. Damage to government property: "Its clear people engaged in destruction of property, and in D.C. law as I understand, it there are several levels of destruction of property that turn on the value of property destroyed," Bisharat said. "If its under $1,000, its a misdemeanor; if its over $1,000, its a felony." Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen commented Thursday on the legal consequences of "willful injury of federal property," noting that they could include being charged under President Donald Trump's executive order protecting American monuments, memorials and statues, and authorizing up to 10 years in prison for "injury of federal property," according to Fox News. Theft: There were many reports of people stealing items from the Capitol building, and some of these people could potentially be identified and charged. A photo circulating on social media showed someone walking off with a lectern with the House speaker logo on it, but it's unclear if the lectern was taken from Pelosi's office or from another location. Another photo of a man lounging at a desk in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office has gone viral, and 60-year-old Richard Barnett, who has been widely identified by media outlets, was photographed holding a piece of mail from Pelosi's office. "There are always issues of discretion in prosecutors' decision to charge people," said Bisharat. "Would you charge a guy like that for taking an envelope? Probably not." Assault against a law enforcement officer: "In some of the clips, Ive seen assault against police officers seems to have occurred," Bisharat said. "Assault against anyone is a criminal offense. Assaults against law officers involve more severe penalties If the assault involved a weapon, pole, or sticks, then those could lead to more serious charges." Sedition: Experts also say some in the pro-Trump mob could face the seldom-used sedition charge that carries up to 20 years in prison and involves the forceful interference in a federal authority as it performs a lawful action. "To my knowledge its quite rare," Bisharat said. "The circumstances are strongly suggestive of it. The reasons for the protesters going to the Capitol were quite explicit and they involved interfering with Congress performing its lawful duty in the certification of the election." The Associated Press contributed to this report. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2021) Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis on Friday promised support to Belarus' opposition politician Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has been living in self-imposed exile in the Baltic country since the August presidential election. "Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya is the real leader of Belarus, with whom we discussed serious problems of Belarus, ranging from help to secure early access to EU COVID-19 vaccine for the Belarusian people to Belarus' daily fight for free and fair elections," Gabrielius said. The Lithuanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it considered the 38-year-old Belarus' legitimate representative. It cited the top diplomat as saying that Vilnius would continue its close cooperation with Tikhanovskaya to help the Belarusian people in their "struggle for freedom." Tikhanovskaya lost the August 9 election to Belarus' long time president, Alexander Lukashenko, who won more than 80 percent of the vote. She fled to Lithuania amid protests against perceived electoral fraud and set up a transitional government with the help of Baltic state authorities. Badaun: The Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested Satyanand - the main accused in the Budaun gang-rape and murder case, almost four days after a 50-year-old woman was allegedly raped and abandoned outside her home at a village in Badaun district. The arrest was made on Thursday night. Confirming the news, Budaun District Magistrate, Kumar Prashant said that Satyanand, the local temple priest and the main accused, was hiding in the house of one of his followers in a village from where he was picked up and arrested. Two of his aides were been arrested earlier. It may be recalled that the victim, a 50-year-old woman, had gone to the temple on Sunday evening. Later, on Sunday night, she was dropped outside her home in a critically injured condition by two men. The woman later succumbed to the injuries. According to sources, the victim was a regular visitor to the temple. Satyanand had come to the village around five years ago and remained mostly aloof. He lived in one of the rooms in the temple complex. People who frequented the temple said Satyanand conducted rituals for them and also offered concoctions for aches and pains. Badaun SSP Sankalp Sharma said, "The two men arrested have said that they found the woman in an injured state and wanted to help her." The woman`s family rejected the arrested duo`s assertion. Her son-in-law said, "If they wanted to help, they could have woken up people in the village. But their intention was to leave her dead. She was a God-fearing lady; we cannot imagine something like this would happen to her in a temple." Meanwhile, National Commission for Women member Chandramukhi Devi, who visited the village on Thursday, has stirred a hornet`s nest by saying that the incident would not have happened had the woman not stepped out alone in the evening. "This is a crime that has shamed humanity, but I would also like to say that women should not step out alone at odd hours. I feel had the woman not stepped out in the evening, or one of her children had accompanied her, the incident would not have happened," she said. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said, "I don`t know how and why the member has said this but women have the right move on their will whenever and wherever they want to." India and Sri Lanka: Jaishankar Meets Sri Lanka Minister, Discusses Cooperation On Fisheries January 08,2021 | Source: Business World External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met Douglas Devananda, Sri Lanka's Minister of Fisheries during his three-day visit to the country, and reviewed cooperation in a joint working group session on fisheries. "A productive meeting with Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda. Reviewed our cooperation in fisheries after the recent Joint Working Group session. Look forward to working with him closely," Jaishankar wrote in a tweet. Jaishankar, who is on a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, also met with Sri Lanka's former Prime Minister of the Democratic Socialist Republic and Leader of the United National Party (UNP) Ranil Wickremesinghe. "Pleasure to catch up with former PM @RW_UNP. Appreciated his long-standing support for our bilateral relationship," Jaishankar wrote in a tweet. Jaishankar also called on Sri Lanka's leader of opposition Sajith Premadasa and exchanged views on bilateral relations. "Happy to meet Leader of Opposition @sajithpremadasa and his delegation. Appreciated the exchange of views on our bilateral relationship," Jaishankar wrote in a subsequent tweet. Taking to Twitter, Jaishankar said that he interacted with the business leaders of Sri Lanka "A very useful interaction with business leaders of Sri Lanka. Appreciated their insights and suggestions on economic cooperation," Jaishankar wrote in a tweet. This is the first foreign visit by Jaishankar in 2021, and also the first by a foreign dignitary to Sri Lanka in the new year. Opinion Article 8 January 2021 From encouraging longer stays to energy-performance contracting, the hands-on advice and strategic guidance provided by seasoned experts are geared towards future-proofing our industry. Advertisements The talks in hospitality are about recovery, resilience, recalibration, pivoting or bouncing back; that's right, we've been shaken to our core and it is time to take stock of our industry's abilities. We need to figure out what is working well and doesn't need adjusting and what is no longer working nor appropriate and needs changing. The hospitality industry is vulnerable and this is because our businesses are often at the frontline of natural and man-made risks placing guests, staff and operating models at peril. However uncertain the economic future may be, major crises of earth systems continue unabated. So looking ahead, how do we decouple growth from impacts, most notably carbon emissions? How do we ensure that sustainability and resiliency go hand-in-hand? What priorities must the hospitality industry put in place to tackle resiliency and sustainability at the same time in 2021? Over 65 recommendations were brought forward by industry professionals, consulting experts and academic researchers. Following an analysis of all entries, a summary is presented here in the form of a Tree Map with 14 themes (See Resiliency & Sustainability 2021 Tree Map below). Each theme represents a priority area for the hospitality industry in regards to resiliency and sustainability. The size of the quadrants/rectangles equals the number of mentions by each expert. Photo: IU International University of Applied Sciences Continue reading for extended summary of outcomes: It is a hard job to do justice to all experts' input, but here we go: 14 Themes on Resiliency and Sustainability in Hospitality - what do experts say? 'Looking under the hood' is proposed by Eric Ricaurte, Founder at Greenview, whereby 'more critical thought and scrutiny will be given to things that we were complacent about, or nobody mainstream really dug any further past the shiny report'. Diversity, Employment, Employees, Leadership So let's start with diversity, ethical and inclusive employment, both Ricaurte and Madhu Rajesh, Chief Executive Officer Sustainable Hospitality Alliance, point to the vulnerability of employees and communities 'disproportionally affected by the pandemic'. The same communities are a cornerstone of recovery plans. Catherine Dolton, Vice President Global Corporate Responsibility at InterContinental Hotels Group, expands on the central role hotels play in their local ecosystems 'from local spending, sourcing, and employment, right through to providing a place for people to do business'. A local community is also a source of resilience. Employees are also a source of resilience argues Ioannis S. Pantelidis, Director of Postgraduate Research Studies at Brighton Doctoral College, who bets on people first as 'THE key component must surely always be talented people.' Building on that argument, Franziska Altenrath, Co-Founder at TUTAKA, advocates for a bottom-up sustainability approach 'bringing different in-house experts together on decarbonization, water, and biodiversity stewardship, on gender equity, inclusion and diversity overcomes silo thinking' but also leadership in the form of simply 'more courage when it comes to binding commitments from executives'. Employees 'can go a long way to support you on your journey to tackle unnecessary consumption of resources' so Benjamin Lephilibert, Founder & CEO LightBlue Environmental Consulting. Climate, Emissions, Resource Usage Unsustainable use of resources also equates to emissions and both Maurice Bergin, Managing Director at GreenHospitality.ie and Maribel Esparcia Perez, University Professor at the University of Lleida, argue for achieving 'deep cuts in rising greenhouse-gas emissions' and this entails establishing a 'Carbon Reduction Plan'. Along the same line, Christopher Warren, Founder of My Green Butler, advocates for hotels to 'refurbish and retrofit improvements that cut carbon', and Julia Massey, Vice President Global Sustainability at Kempinski Hotels S.A., discusses the rise of Energy Performance Contracting as a 'profit-sharing model, or ESCo, with zero investment for technology, and a period of profit sharing to pay off the technology installed'. The concept is particularly interesting since it helps 'to combine GOP recovery due to the cut in utilities, with a sustainable reboot of hospitality (and other) business'. Xenia zu Hohenlohe, Partner/Director at the Considerate Group, supports the creation of 'solid local supply chains both for products but also for guests acquisition' which has a dual impact of economic impetus and reduction in emissions. Climate action received the most entries and suggestions across all experts. Federico Vignati, Principal Executive at CAF - development bank of Latin America, calls on the policy makers as 'climate policies should be in place with the right incentives' because all stakeholders have a role to play here as 'collectively we must beat the odds' argues Jonathon Day, Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director School of Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University. Stakeholders, Product Development And that collective mindset is crucial as we are all in the same boat, connected and interdependent and Carlos Martin-Rios, Associate Professor at Ecole hoteliere de Lausanne (EHL), suggest that 'we should openly debate about whether the answer lies with a bottom-up meaningful stakeholder engagement system (individuals, companies, communities) or a top-down hierarchical approach of global players (multinationals, governments, societies)'. And 'what if we changed not only the narrative but also our attitude?' asks Frauke Fischer, Founder Agentur Auf!. That also means 'growth' with a 'focus on quality over quantity' as argued by Johanna Wagner, Co-Founder of La Belle EDuC. The focus on change in consumer behavior is central to the argument presented by both Elena Cavagnaro, Professor of Sustainability in Hospitality and Tourism at Stenden University of Applied Sciences and Florian Kaefer, Founder & Editor Sustainability Leaders Project, who encourages hotels to 'encourage slow tourism' with 'fewer vacations, for a longer time'. Regeneration, Biodiversity, Nature Andreas Koch, Managing Director at blueContec GmbH, argues further that regeneration is in fact needed (in multiple spheres from 'regenerative climate protection, regenerative technology and regenerative humanity') as sustaining the status quo is not a desideratum in itself. Similar arguments are brought forward by Cassia Patel, Program Director of Oceanic Global, where regeneration represents a shift away from 'linear, extractive systems to models of circularity'. This system thinking is emphasized by Arjan van Rheede, Senior Research Fellow in Sustainability at Hotelschool The Hague, who states that 'ecological resilience needs to be assessed on a system level: taking into account the interconnectedness and interdependency of all elements within this system'. And the result is the recognition of the important of biodiversity for our industry and all our processes. Jose Koechlin von Stein, Founder & CEO at Inkaterra Hotels, recognized the value of biodiversity decades ago as the 'main source of inspiration for the vast array of experiences available in our properties'. Biodiversity is not an abstract concept; in times such as these, when confined at home, many are missing those 'nature escapes', this forced disengagement from nature even has a name: it is known as nature-deficit disorder and has taken a new level of importance in light of the Great Lockdown. So everyone needs a dose of nature. Social Impact, Performance, Communication There are still numerous activities worth taking in 2021 such as a greater emphasis on measuring the 'impact on education, healthcare, wellness, poverty reduction, hygiene, and equality' argued by Eric Ricaurte. The topics of reporting, disclosures and communication received much attention by experts, only second to climate action and as Catherine Dolton explains, 'there has been a shift in the importance of consistent and robust ESG reporting, with disclosures such as the task force for climate-related financial disclosures (TCFD) now becoming legal requirements in some countries'. And sustainability is not there to go, Henri Kuokkanen, Associate Professor at Institut Paul Bocuse, asks 'how would guests react if sustainability was completely removed from the picture?' The answer to this may be best provided by Madhu Rajesh who reports that sustainability in the minds of consumers has 'been heightened by the pandemic rather than eclipsed' and Cassia Patel who reports that '57% of adults want businesses to focus more on sustainable practice in 2021 (Sourcing Journal) and 60% of respondents under 30 want the focus of COVID-19 reopening strategies to prioritize addressing inequality and climate change (GlobeScan)'. In 2021, people will recover best from the stresses of daily life by soaking the natural environment, as many experienced this past year. How about re-imagining the hospitality environment with nature at the center of guest experiences, particularly in urban settings? Resiliency is multifaceted, it requires creative solutions and the courage to implement them. A Capitol Police officer stands with members of the National Guard behind a crowd control fence surrounding Capitol Hill a day after a group broke into the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 7, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) US Capitol Police Officer Dies After Protests in Washington A U.S. Capitol Police officer has died on Thursday night due to injuries while on duty responding to riots that broke out amid the civil unrest in Washington, police confirmed in a statement. The officer, Brian Sicknick, died at about 9:30 p.m. In a public statement, the U.S. Capitol Police Department (USCP) said that it expresses its deepest sympathies to Officer Sicknicks family and friends on their loss, and mourns the loss of a friend and colleague. Sicknick first joined the department in July 2008 as part of its First Responders Unit. He was injured while physically engaging with protesters, according to the USCP. He returned to this division office and collapsed, the departments announcement reads. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. His death will be investigated by the D.C. Police Departments Homicide Branch, the USCP, and its federal partners. Lawmakers in Congress on Twitter expressed an outpouring of condolences upon news of the officers death. Our hearts break over the senseless death of United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick, who was injured in the line of duty during yesterdays violent assault on the Capitol, Reps. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) and House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) wrote in a joint statement. Our prayers are with his family, friends, and colleagues on the force. This tragic loss should remind all of us of the bravery of the law enforcement officers who protected us, our colleagues, Congressional staff, the press corps, and other essential workers yesterday. To honor Officer Sicknicks memory, we must ensure that the mob who attacked the Peoples House and those who instigated them are held fully accountable. Vice President Mike Pence in a statement said that he and his wife were deeply saddened to learn of the news. Officer Sicknick is an American hero who gave his life defending our Capitol and this Nation will never forget or fail to honor the service and sacrifice of Officer Brian Sicknick, he said in a statement. I am devastated to hear about the passing of U.S. [Capitol Police] Officer Brian Sicknick and extend my deepest sympathy to his family. My staff and I cannot say enough to express our appreciation for his sacrifice to keep us safe, Rep. John Curtis (R-Utah) said in a statement. Devastating news. Please join me in praying for our fallen Capitol Police officers family during this heartbreaking time, House Republican Whip Rep. Steve Scalise (R-La.) said in a statement. Earlier in the day, the USCP said in a statement it disputed reports that an officer had died. Media reports regarding the death of a United States Capitol Police (USCP) officer are not accurate, the USCP previously said in a statement to The Epoch Times. Although some officers were injured and hospitalized yesterday, no USCP officers have passed away, the statement read. We ask that our officers and their families privacy be respected at this time. Should a statement become necessary, the Department will issue one at the appropriate time. White House Press Secretary on Thursday characterized Wednesdays events as a group of violent rioters undermining the legitimate first amendment rights of the many thousands who came to peacefully have their voices heard in our nations capital. Those who violently besieged our capitol are the opposite of everything that this administration stands for, she said. The core value of our administration is the idea that all citizens have the right to live in safety peace and freedom. Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) preside over a Joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results after protestors stormed the Capitol earlier in the day in Washington on Jan. 6, 2020. (Erin Schaff/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Lawmakers were gathered at the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday for a joint session of Congress to count and certify Electoral College votes for the 2020 presidential election that ultimately certified the vote in favor of former Vice President Joe Biden by the early hours of Thursday despite objections from state legislators. Large numbers of protesters had amassed in Washington, including around the U.S. Capitol, calling for investigations to ensure election integrity. President Donald Trump had called for his supporters to come to Washington for a planned protest. Proceedings in the chambers to debate whether to reject a slate of Electoral College votes for Arizona were interrupted in the afternoon when rioters and protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol. It is unclear who instigated the breach of the building, which occurred around 2:15 p.m. Officials declared around 6 p.m. that the Capitol building had been secured. Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said that 55 cases had lead to charges within 36 hours, related mostly to the breach of the building. Four people were confirmed dead on Capitol grounds late Wednesday, among whom was a woman who died from being shot inside the Capitol building. The DC Police Department identified her as 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt of Huntington, Maryland. The department said the three others died in separate medical emergencies. They were 50-year-old Benjamin Philips of Pennsylvania, 55-year-old Kevin Greeson of Alabama, and 34-year-old Rosanne Boyland of Georgia. We grieve for the loss of life and those injured and we hold them in our prayers and close to our hearts at this time, McEnany said at a press conference. We thank our valiant law enforcement officers who are true American heroes. President Donald Trump speaking in a video posted on his Twitter released on Jan. 7, 2020. (Screenshot/@realDonaldTrump) Trump late on Wednesday also condemned violence at the nations capital. Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem, Trump said. I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay. The president also said, A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power. This article was updated with updated information about the condition of the U.S. Capitol police officer. A rapist who pounced on a girl while she walking home from school with AirPods in before dragging her into the woods and sexually assaulting her is jailed for 12 years. Dean Lockley, 30, targeted the 14-year-old as she walked home from school along the Loop Line in Aintree, near Orrell Park, Liverpool at around 4pm on September 21 last year. The father-of-one dragged the teenager into the woods and gagged her with her own socks before he sexually assaulted her then claimed that he was 'sorry'. Lockley, of no fixed address, said he was too ashamed to attend his sentencing because he didn't want to listen to his horrific crimes laid bare. Dean Lockley, 30, (pictured) targeted the 14-year-old as she walked home from school last year He was meant to face justice yesterday but refused to leave his cell after he was ordered to be produced at Liverpool Crown Court. That meant his victim, who was in court with her mother, had to wait until today, when Lockley insisted on being sentenced in his absence. Nicola Daley, defending, said: 'He was too ashamed to listen to what he had done again.' Addressing him in his absence, Judge David Aubrey, QC, said: 'You subjected a girl to the most unimaginable and terrifying ordeal. 'You gagged her with her own socks, you put her own shorts around her mouth, you tied both her hands with her bobble behind her back.' 'She thought she might die: This girl, alone, frightened, scared. Lockley targeted the girl along the Loop Line in Aintree, near Orrell Park, Liverpool at around 4pm on September 21 last year (file image) 'What was she thinking at the time? I quote her own words: "I was thinking I'm going to die. I was just accepting the fact I was going to die."' Gareth Roberts, prosecuting, said Lockley was from the Aintree area, where his victim was walking home along the abandoned railway track, close to Helsby Road. She was with her friends but they separated and she continued on her own before putting AirPods in to talk to friends and listen to music because she was 'scared'. The court heard this was because she wondered whether the previous week she had been followed, which she had discussed with friends at the time, although she could not be sure whether that was by Lockley. Mr Roberts said as the child approached a bridge, during 'a particularly lonely' stretch of the track, she became aware of a man behind her. Lockley grabbed her, put a hand over her mouth and another around her neck, then pulled her by the hair into bushes near swampland and a disused brickworks. Her belongings fell out of her school bag, she cut herself on branches and her shoes came off, before he pinned her down on a pillow in the clearing and shoved one of her socks in her mouth. Mr Roberts said: 'He told her that if she screamed he would kill her. He then threw her school bag into some bushes.' The court heard he sexually assaulted the girl, then told her to perform a sex act on him, and when she didn't understand what he meant, forced her to do it. Mr Roberts said: 'He then stopped, told her to get dressed and said he was sorry and that he wasn't usually like that. 'She, being a terrified teenage girl, told him that it was "okay". 'He told her if she screamed or told anyone he would kill her.' Lockley told her to wait for 20 minutes and then ran off. The girl got dressed and ran home but her mother and father were at work so she went to a neighbour's house and disclosed what happened. Police were called and the girl was examined by doctors, who found numerous abrasions and other injuries, along with Lockley's DNA on her neck and underwear. His DNA was also recovered from the scene. When arrested and interviewed, Lockley denied responsibility, but accepted being in the area and claimed he previously had sex in that spot with women. However, the girl picked him out in an identity parade and Lockley admitted false imprisonment, sexual assault and causing a child to engage in sexual activity. The girl is now scared to go out on her own or walk home from school and suffers from anxiety and panic attacks. She said: 'I sometimes wake up panicking, wondering if I'm going to be grabbed, then realise I'm safe at home.' The girl added: 'He saw the school uniform. I'm scared he might come to school looking for me.' Lockley has no previous convictions for sexual offences but has a record including robberies and assault. Ms Daley said he suffered from schizophrenia but had not been taking antipsychotic medication. She said this was 'because he was not dealing with the adoption of his daughter and the breakdown of a previous relationship well'. Ms Daley said: 'He considered at that stage to potentially take his own life.' She said her client, who been living in a nearby hostel but also sleeping in the park, claimed not to remember the attack. Ms Daley added that he had an unstable upbringing when he was abused. Judge Aubrey said Lockley was 'lurking in the area' before he 'pounced' on his victim and dragged her to the secluded spot, where he told her to lie on a pillow. He said: 'I'm satisfied that you had planned this grave act.' The judge said after the attack, Lockley asked whether the girl was okay and told her he was sorry. He said: 'Those in my judgement were hollow words.' Judge Aubrey said the victim statement showed the girl's 'fortitude' and 'courage'. He said: 'It can be described as an understatement because I have no doubt that your victim is trying to be brave and trying to repress that which occurred. 'I have no doubt that it will live with her for the rest of her life.' The judge said despite Lockley's mental health issues that he did not accept that he couldn't recall what he did. He said: 'You seek to hide behind the mask, behind the enormity of that which you did.' Judge Aubrey said Lockley was a 'dangerous' offender and jailed him for 12 years with an extended five years on licence. This means he will spend at least two thirds of the custodial term - eight years - behind bars. He will only be released before the end of his sentence if a parole board considers he is no longer a risk. Lockley must sign on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Almost half of patients who undergo surgery to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament will develop knee osteoarthritis. Rehabilitation specialists and researchers have long hypothesized that ACL injury results in gait changes that contribute to the onset of osteoarthritis, said Lindsey Lepley, assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Michigan. A recent study led by Lepley is the first known to demonstrate that link. Lepley's team, led by McKenzie White, a doctoral student in movement science, developed a novel, noninvasive rodent model of ACL injury that is very similar to human ACL injury, and were able to establish the first known direct link between altered gait and knee osteoarthritis. "This study helps to firmly justify the need for gait-retraining after ACL injury," Lepley said. "If it is not already being undertaken, we suggest patients with ACL injuries talk with their rehab specialists about incorporating a gait retraining program into recovery. "Many studies and clinical interventions stand on the hypothesis that altered gait drives osteoarthritis development, but there really is a lack of data to substantiate this claim. Our data provides a clear link that gait matters, and bad gait is associated with worse knee health. From a clinical standpoint, this means that changing the way people walk after injury may in fact be a good way to help keep joints healthier." The ACL is one of the ligaments that connects the femur (thigh bone) to the tibia (shin bone). It runs diagonally through the knee and helps stabilize it by preventing the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur. It also provides rotational stability to the knee. Lepley said the gait deficits observed in their animal model of ACL injury include limping and stiffness, and are "very similar to what we see in humans, where they have reduced knee flexion angles that get worse over time as joint health deteriorates." The researchers found that knee flexion angles and bone architecture were severely impacted after ACL injury and that the biomechanical adaptations in gait resulted in considerable losses of bone volume. "A significant challenge for the rehabilitation community is understanding which factors to target with treatments and when," Lepley said. "Developing models of injury that closely replicate the human injury condition is key to testing treatments aimed at slowing or preventing osteoarthritis." The study appears in the Journal of Orthopedic Research. Explore further More than a knee injury: ACL tears cause harmful changes in our brain structure More information: McKenzie S. White et al. Relationship between altered knee kinematics and subchondral bone remodeling in a clinically translational model of ACL injury, Journal of Orthopedic Research (2020). McKenzie S. White et al. Relationship between altered knee kinematics and subchondral bone remodeling in a clinically translational model of ACL injury,(2020). DOI: 10.1002/jor.24943 Hayden: Graves County Saw Less Crime in 2020 By West Kentucky Star Staff GRAVES COUNTY - The Graves County Sheriff's Office has released statistical crime data for 2020.According to Sheriff Jon Hayden, there was a 13 percent decrease in serious crime last year, including fewer reported cases of rapes, robberies, and thefts. However, there were more reported assaults, arsons, and burglaries.Additionally, Hayden reported a 25 percent decrease in misdemeanor crimes and a 14 percent decrease in traffic accidents. Although traffic accidents were down, there was a 3 percent increase in DUI arrests.Hayden told West Kentucky Star he believes that part of the decreases can be attributed to COVID-19."Back in the Spring when we first started experiencing COVID, things really got shut down. We literally went a month or a month and a half where there wasn't any crimes being reported because everybody was at home for the most part. So we think COVID has affected the crime rate at least in some degree." Hayden said, "That's probably contributed to us having fewer traffic accidents as well."Hayden said he believes that as other law enforcement agencies release their numbers, the results will be consistent.You can see the complete report below. Irans Supreme Leader on Friday banned the government from importing COVID-19 vaccines from the United States and Britain, labelling the Western powers untrustworthy, as the infection spreads in the Middle Easts hardest-hit country. In a live televised speech, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei raised the prospect of the two Western countries, long-time adversaries of the Islamic Republic, possibly seeking to spread the infection to other countries. He added however that Iran could obtain vaccines from other reliable places. He gave no details, but China and Russia are both allies of Iran. Imports of US and British vaccines into the country are forbidden ... Theyre completely untrustworthy. Its not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations, said Khamenei, the countrys highest authority. Given our experience with Frances HIV-tainted blood supplies, French vaccines arent trustworthy either, Khamenei said, referring to the countrys contaminated blood scandal of the 1980s and 1990s. Iran launched human trials of its first domestic COVID-19 vaccine candidate late last month, saying it could help Iran defeat the pandemic despite US sanctions that affect its ability to import vaccines. Tensions between Washington and Tehran have risen since 2018, when President Donald Trump abandoned Irans 2015 nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions to pressure Tehran into negotiating stricter curbs on its nuclear program, ballistic missile development and support for regional proxy forces. In retaliation for US sanctions, which were lifted under the nuclear deal, Tehran has gradually violated the accord. US President-elect Joe Biden, who takes office on Jan. 20, has pledged to rejoin the agreement, if Tehran also returns to full compliance. Khamenei said Tehran was in no rush for the United States to re-enter the deal, but that sanctions on the Islamic Republic must be lifted immediately. Irans utmost authority, Khamenei ruled out any talks over Tehrans missile programme and Irans involvement in the Middle East, as demanded by the United States and some other major powers. Contrary to the US, Irans involvement in the region creates stability and is aimed at preventing instability ... Irans involvement in the region is definite and will continue. Shortly before Khameneis speech, Irans elite Revolutionary Guards unveiled an underground missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location. The West sees Irans missiles both as a conventional military threat to regional stability and a possible delivery mechanism for nuclear weapons should Tehran develop them. But Iran, which has one of the biggest missile programmes in the Middle East, regards the programme as an important deterrent and retaliatory force against US and other adversaries - primarily Gulf Arabs - in the region in the event of war. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 6) Department of Health Undersecretary Ma. Rosario Vergeire has been named as head of a group of experts tasked to study new COVID-19 variants and suggest policies to the country's coronavirus task force. In a statement, Malacanang said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases on Tuesday created the Technical Working Group (TWG) on COVID-19 Variants upon the order of President Rodrigo Duterte. "This Technical Working Group will monitor and identify the occurrence of new variants of COVID-19 in the country and will provide policy recommendations to the IATF on the appropriate response regarding these variants," the Office of the Presidential Spokesperson said. READ: Study on presence of new COVID-19 variant in PH out this week Vergeire heads the body while Dr. Jaime Montoya, executive director of the Philippine Council for Health Research and Development, will serve as co-chair. Other members of the TWG are Dr. Anna Ong-Lim, Dr. Marissa Alejandria, and Dr. Edsel Maurice Salvana of the DOH Technical Advisory Group; Dr. Celia Carlos, director of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine; Dr. Eva Maria Cutiongco-Dela Paz, executive director of the University of the Philippines National Institutes of Health; Dr. Cynthia Saloma, executive director of the University of the Philippines Philippine Genome Center; and Dr. John Wong, president of EpiMetrics who is also an epidemiologist and data analytics adviser for the IATF. The group of medical professionals will recommend policies to the IATF, a group composed of military generals and Cabinet secretaries of President Rodrigo Duterte. The Philippines is on guard against the new COVID-19 variants and their possibly entry. The variant first discovered in the United Kingdom is said to be more infectious, and is believed to be the cause of the recent surge in cases. RELATED: What we know and what we don't about the UK coronavirus variant A travel ban covering 21 countries is in place from December 22 until January 15, although Filipinos flying home from these jurisdictions will be accepted subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine even if they test negative for COVID-19. Testing czar Vince Dizon said Tuesday that authorities are checking 74 overseas travelers who entered the country from December 22 to January 3 and tested positive for COVID-19 to see if they they acquired the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus. Their swab samples have been turned over to the Philippine Genome Center and RITM for genome sequencing. Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has said that there is still no person in the country infected with the new COVID-19 variant. He also said it will take about a week for local scientists to confirm if a swab sample carried the new variant. Hong Kong authorities reported Tuesday that a traveler from Manila who entered the city in December carried the new variant. The DOH previously said that researchers are also studying samples from hospitalized patients who tested positive for COVID-19 in November and December if they were infected with the new variant. There is also a reported COVID-19 variant in South Africa. Foreign travelers coming from or with recent travel history from countries with confirmed cases of the new variant will be denied entry in the Philippines, except for accredited diplomats and representatives of international entities such as the World Health Organization and the United Nations. The latter will be allowed entry subject to an RT-PCR test and strict two-week isolation. Individuals entering the Philippines who received COVID-19 vaccines abroad will still be required to undergo testing and quarantine, Malacanang added. READ: Current COVID-19 vaccines still effective vs. new variant, says expert Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Potato Chips (Savory Snacks) Market in Saudi Arabia - Outlook to 2024; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) under Food category. The Potato Chips (Savory Snacks) Market in Saudi Arabia is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports. Potato Chips (Savory Snacks) Market in Saudi Arabia - Outlook to 2024; Market Size, Growth and Forecast Analytics (updated with COVID-19 Impact) is a broad level market review of Potato Chips market in Saudi Arabia. Potato Chips - thin slices of potato deep fried until crisp and then seasoned with salt or other spices. 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Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/potato-chips-savory-snacks-market-in-saudi-arabia-outlook-to-2024-market-size-growth-and-forecast-analytics-updat/2202215 About Us Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 2000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms. Contact us at: Market Reports On Saudi Arabia Tel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773 Email: info@marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Website: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn Amplifi products launched in Vireo's popular Ultimate Purple strain and are currently available at licensed dispensaries in Maryland. The brand's second strain, Gorilla Girl, will be available later this month. In addition to the launch in Maryland, the Company expects Amplifi products to be available in Arizona at the Vireo dispensary located in Phoenix and at third-party dispensaries statewide starting in February. "We are excited to announce the launch of Amplifi, a new brand that will feature several of our most popular strains of dry cannabis flower," said Chief Executive Officer of Vireo Health, Kyle Kingsley, M.D. "Not only will Amplifi feature Vireo's next generation strains, but the flower's terpenes will be preserved and enhanced by our TerpSafe packaging. We believe that this proprietary technology will become the standard for flower packaging throughout the industry." Recently featured in a peer-reviewed research paper published in the Journal of Cannabis Research, Vireo's new TerpSafe technology is a novel approach shown to preserve cannabis flower by inhibiting the gradual loss of terpenes. The technology works effectively towards terpene preservation for a variety of different cannabis flowers, grown and stored under various conditions. Multiple lab tests and real-world analyses have shown that cannabis flower stored in traditional packaging lost nearly half of its native terpenes over a four-week period. When the same flower was stored in Vireo's TerpSafe packaging system, the terpene content increased over the same four-week period. Researchers were also able to successfully adjust the terpene profile of cannabis stored using the TerpSafe technology. This will provide patients and manufacturers the ability to customize the terpene profile of their cannabis as a result. "In addition to keeping cannabis flower fresher for longer, what sets TerpSafe apart from conventional terpene-preserving packaging is that it is proven to reinfuse the product even after multiple openings," said Vireo Chief Scientific Officer, Eric Greenbaum. "Our research design included conditions which mimicked patient use, where the bottles were opened periodically over a period of weeks and conclusively showed that the terpene-preservation capabilities of our system are not adversely affected by the jar being opened at a normal-use rate." The new packaging will enable cultivators and manufacturers to protect and enhance the naturally occurring terpenes in cannabis flower. This helps ensure the terpene levels in cannabis products are preserved throughout the distribution chain from greenhouse to the customer home so that consumers can enjoy a robust and consistent flavor profile. Last year, Vireo signed a limited exclusive licensing agreement with eBottles420, the largest supplier of cannabis packaging in North America, to manufacture and distribute TerpSafe packaging. About Vireo Health International, Inc. Vireo Health International, Inc. is a physician-led cannabis company focused on bringing the best of technology, science, and engineering to the cannabis industry. Vireo manufactures proprietary, branded cannabis products in environmentally-friendly, state-of-the-art greenhouses and other facilities and distributes its products through its growing network of Green Goods retail locations and third-party dispensaries. Vireo's team of more than 400 employees, led by scientists, engineers, and cultivation experts, is focused on efficiency and the creation of best-in-class products, while driving scientific innovation within the cannabis industry and developing meaningful intellectual property. Today, Vireo is licensed to grow and/or process cannabis in seven markets. The Company is operational in five of those markets including the core markets of Arizona, Maryland, Minnesota, New Mexico, and New York. The Company holds 29 total retail dispensary licenses, of which 16 are currently open for business. For more information about Vireo Health, please visit www.vireohealth.com. Media Inquiries Albe Zakes Vice President, Corporate Communications [email protected] (267) 221-4800 Investor Inquiries Sam Gibbons Vice President, Investor Relations [email protected] (612) 314-8995 Forward-Looking Statement Disclosure This press release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable United States and Canadian securities legislation. To the extent any forward-looking information in this press release constitutes "financial outlooks" within the meaning of applicable United States or Canadian securities laws, such information is being provided as preliminary financial results and the reader is cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose and the reader should not place undue reliance on such financial outlooks. Forward-looking information contained in this press release may be identified by the use of words such as "plans," "expects" or "does not expect," "is expected," "look forward to," "budget" "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "will continue," "intends," "anticipates," "does not anticipate," "believes," "should," "should not," or variations of such words and phrases or indicates that certain actions, events or results "may," "could," "would," "might," "should," or "will" "be taken," "occur," or "be achieved." Forward-looking information may include, without limitation, statements regarding the operations, business, financial condition, expected financial results, performance, prospects, opportunities, priorities, targets, goals, ongoing objectives, milestones, strategies and outlook of Vireo, and includes statements about, among other things, the value of assets, the amount of liabilities, the designation of certain businesses or assets as "core" or "non-core," decisions about allocation of capital and other resources, future developments, the future operations, potential market opportunities including the potential effects of the approval of adult-use cannabis in one or more markets, potential opportunities to monetize assets, strengths and strategy of the Company. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of presenting information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future and readers are cautioned that such statements may not be appropriate for other purposes. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward-looking information includes statements with respect to the opportunities for the Company to leverage increasing scale to improve sales growth and operating performance; the anticipation that the medical-only state markets in which the Company's subsidiaries operate could enact recreational-use legislation over the near-to mid-term future; the anticipated benefits of strategic initiatives; the effects of reduction of corporate overhead and SG&A expenses; improvement to unit economics; expansion of retail dispensaries in key markets; the expectation that such expansion will drive stronger revenue growth, operating margins and free cash flow; the anticipated closing of certain divestitures and the timing thereof; the anticipated benefits of the land purchase option acquired by the Company in New York; the Company's anticipation that it will enter into definitive loan documents with Green Ivy Capital and receive proceeds from a resultant loan; the expectation that a preliminary base shelf prospectus will become final or that any securities will be sold under a base shelf prospectus; the anticipated share issuance and proceeds related to the Company's redemption of all subordinate voting share purchase warrants issued to participants in the March 10, 2020, private placement; the transition of the Company's financial reporting from IFRS to U.S. GAAP; and updates on actual and proposed development initiatives, including estimates of the timing of completion of such initiatives. Forward-looking information includes both known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this press release. Financial outlooks, as with forward-looking information generally, are, without limitation, based on the assumptions and subject to various risks as set out herein. Our actual financial position and results of operations may differ materially from management's current expectations and, as a result, our revenue and cash on hand may differ materially from the revenue and cash values provided in this press release. Forward-looking information is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management, believed but not certain to be reasonable, in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors relevant in the circumstances, including assumptions in respect of current and future market conditions, the current and future regulatory environment; and the availability of licenses, approvals and permits. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct, including preliminary financial expectations regarding the annualized reduction of corporate overhead and SG&A expenses. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Forward-looking information is subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks related to preliminary financial results being subject to the completion of the Company's financial closing procedures and not being audited or reviewed by the Company's independent registered public accounting firm; the timing of recreational-use legislation in markets where the Company currently operates; current and future market conditions, including the market price of the subordinate voting shares of the Company; risks related to the COVID-19 pandemic; federal, state, local and foreign government laws, rules and regulations, including federal and state laws in the United States relating to cannabis operations in the United States; limited operating history; changes in laws, regulations and guidelines; operational, regulatory and other risks; execution of business strategy; management of growth; difficulty to forecast; conflicts of interest; risks inherent in an agricultural business; liquidity and additional financing; foreign private issuer status and the risk factors set out in the Company's listing statement dated March 19, 2019, filed with the Canadian securities regulators and available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and in the Company's registration statement on Form 10, filed November 5, 2020 on EDGAR with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Vireo Health International, Inc. Related Links http://www.vireohealth.com Harry and Meghan are in a "very good place" one year on from sparking a major royal crisis when they dropped their bombshell that they wanted to quit as senior royals. Photo: Finnbarr Webster/PA Wire Prince Harry and wife Meghan are in a very good place one year on from when they dropped their bombshell that they wanted to quit as senior British royals. The couple released their shock statement this day last year saying they intended to step down and become financially independent, but still support the queen a dual role which, in the end, was unworkable. The Sussexes have since settled into a new life in the US away from the monarchy, secured lucrative deals with both Netflix and Spotify and established their Archewell foundation. But the couple have also experienced heartache, with Meghan revealing in a newspaper article in November that she had suffered a miscarriage in the summer, writing: I knew, as I clutched my firstborn child, that I was losing my second. A source said: After a very turbulent 12 months for everyone in the world and massive changes of moving country and all the rest of it, they have also been very vocal about what they have gone through in their own personal life. Read More They have a house. They have created the financial independence that they were after. They have launched their organisation and their organisation is under way doing amazing things already. And so I think that they are in a very good place. Harry and Meghan now live in an 12m home in Montecito, California, with their 20-month-old son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor. They have set out their goal to build a better world through their non-profit organisation, recently announcing partnerships with several tech and research-focused organisations. Archewell is expected to focus on the issues the couple have been raising both during and before the pandemic racial justice, gender equity, climate change, mental health, tackling online hate speech and empowering diverse voices. The couple also have several ongoing legal actions. Meghan is suing Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), publisher of the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, over an article which reproduced parts of the handwritten letter sent to her father Thomas Markle in August 2018. Harry has brought cases against News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers over alleged historical phone hacking. On January 8 last year, fresh from a six-week break in Canada and the day after their first royal engagement of the decade at the Canadian High Commission in London, Harry and Meghan declared they had chosen to carve out a progressive new role within the monarchy. BETHLEHEM - The Slingerlands Price Chopper is undergoing a makeover and will become a Market 32 supermarket by the summer. Price Chopper, which is headquartered in Schenectady and has more than 130 stores in New York, New England and Pennsylvania, has been re-branding its stores under the Market 32 name over the past several years. FOX News- Officials have released additional details surrounding the alleged crimes of four people who have since been hit with federal charges in connection with Wednesdays riots and attacks on Capitol Hill. A senior Justice Department official said Friday that law enforcement took Richard Barnett into custody in Little Rock, Ark., after a viral photograph showed him sitting inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office with one leg resting on her desk. After the break-in, Barnett told KFSM he was looking for the bathroom when he saw the door to Pelosis office was open. "I sat down here in my desk. Im a taxpayer. Im a patriot. That aint her desk we loaned her that desk," he reportedly said. "And she aint appreciating the desk, so I thought I would sit down and appreciate the desk." He was charged with violent entry and theft of public property, among other things. Previous reports allege he took a letter from Pelosi's office. A second suspect, Lonnie Coffman whom AL.com identified as being 70 years old was found to have been in possession of two handguns, an assault rifle and 11 Molotov cocktails that included gasoline and materials that appeared to constitute homemade napalm, the official said. Coffman, from Falkville, Ala., was identified after police linked him to a suspicious red GMC pick-up truck with Alabama plates. Also charged was Mark Leffingwell, accused of knowingly entering restricted ground and assaulting an officer after he entered the Capitol. Court papers released Thursday in connection with his U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) arrest show Leffingwell repeatedly punched a USCP officer in the helmet and chest. The fourth man is Christopher Michael Alberts, a Maryland man, accused of illegally entering the Capitol while in possession of a loaded Taurus 9mm handgun, as well as a separate magazine filled with ammunition. USCP said Alberts, who was wearing a bulletproof vest, had "immediately tried to flee" before police detained him, court papers show. He also allegedly had a pocketknife at the time. Alberts told police he had the gun "for personal protection and he did not intend on using the firearm to harm anyone," court papers show. Officials previously announced the arrests of 82 individuals at the state, local and federal levels, according to reports. The FBIs Washington Field Office early Friday morning released 40 photos of people who are still wanted in connection with Wednesdays events. The Metropolitan Police Department said Friday morning that law enforcement agencies have received roughly 17,000 tips since releasing images of people wanted in connection with Wednesday's "insurrection." The FBI is asking anyone who recognizes someone from the wanted posters or who witnessed any of Wednesdays activity to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit information online here. Fox News' Greg Norman contributed to this report. Experts say that Kim Jong Un appears to admit that tough times lie ahead for the country. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaks during the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang, North Korea, in this photo supplied by North Korea's Central News Agency (KCNA) on January 8, 2021. As North Koreas ruling Korean Workers Party held its congress this week, residents of the impoverished country reacted cynically, saying that nothing that could be decided during the rare political meeting could improve their lives, sources in the country told RFA. The eighth party congress opened Tuesday, with the countrys leader Kim Jong Un admitting in a speech that the country fell a long way short of the set objectives of the five-year economic plan introduced in 2016, the last time the congress met, which was the first such meeting since 1980. North Koreas economy is struggling under a legacy of mismanagement, international nuclear sanctions, closures of the border with China to prevent the spread of coronavirus, and a summer of natural disasters that tore through the country. On Wednesday, Kim talked about policies that would pursue a tangible turn in improving the peoples living standard, and on Thursday vowed to expand the military to improve the countrys defense, state media reported. Though the congress is widely covered by North Korean media in glowing terms, residents say that they are not fooled by what is very obviously propaganda. On the first page of the Rodong Sinmun newspaper, the Eighth Party Congress was introduced as a congress of struggle and progress that will be a watershed moment in the development of our socialist society, a resident of North Hamgyong province, in the countrys northeast, told RFAs Korean Service Wednesday. But the residents are expressing their great distrust, saying that the congress will do nothing to improve the current difficult situation, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. The source said that residents took particular issue with what they said were Kims admonishment of the partys successes as a true testament of the countrys ability to rely on itself during his opening speech on Wednesday. Without specifically saying what the successes were, Kim characterized them as victories and events noteworthy in the 5,000-year history of the Korean nation, and a sure guarantee for reliably defending the destiny of the country and the people, generation after generation. But the residents are saying that the peoples economy is hitting rock-bottom under U.S. sanctions and the shutdown of the border with China, and that we cant solve this economic crisis by ourselves, the source said. Another source, a resident of the northwestern province of North Pyongan, told RFA that cynicism over the Rodong Sinmuns reporting on the congress was widespread there as well. The Rodong Sinmun claimed that the congress would be an epoch-making steppingstone toward strengthening national power and improving peoples lives, but the residents are really disappointed that the Highest Dignity is talking about self-reliance at a time like this, the second source said, using an honorific title to refer to Kim Jong Un. Self-reliance or 'Juche' is North Koreas founding ideology. The term is often used in political writings and speeches as an expression of nationalism, and it is the countrys stated goal for the people to become self-reliant and strong so that true socialism can be achieved. The peoples economy is in shambles due to the sanctions and the coronavirus crisis. The people wonder if it can really survive on self-reliance, said the second source, who requested anonymity to speak freely. A mere re-emphasis on the strength of our socialist society basically means maintaining military-first politics based on nuclear arms, combined with personal self-reliance, so the residents are really disappointed, said the second source. The source noted that it was extremely unusual for Kim to have admitted the countrys failures. But rather than looking for the root causes of the major shortfalls of the goals of the last economic plan, the country is proposing as a resolution to strengthen its power and self-reliance, which has repeatedly failed so far, so the residents are very unhappy with it. Two U.S.-based experts told RFA Thursday that the admission of failure and the deference to self-reliance were acknowledgement that the next few years will be challenging for North Korea. His review of the last five years is very negative, extremely negative. I'm surprised at the words he used, of how... the economy [was] dead in the last five years. That's my first takeaway, Georgetown Universitys William Brown told RFA. I think it probably means that they're going to have very modest goals for the new five-year plan. And they won't get big numbers We need to do things better, not more, so I suspect its sort of dampened down expectations, Brown said. Brown contrasted the optimism that was prevalent among North Koreans prior to Kims summits with U.S. President Donald Trump in 2018 and 2019. Some people thought Oh great, finally we can get more food on our plates, and now two years later it's a very different dismal story. Now they are saying, Wow we failed Don't be too optimistic we have to do everything ourselves and we're not going to get foreign help, so buckle down, said Brown. Ken Gause of the Virginia-based CNA thinktank said Kims message indicated challenges ahead. You don't see the rhetoric in there about how We're going to make all these glorious advances in the near term. He is basically saying, This is going be a long hard slog. We can do it, but we have to be all on same page. I think that is his message to the party, Gause said. I think they are very clear-eyed and very pragmatic in the way that they're thinking about this. Whether they have a prayer of making any progress is open to debate, but I think they are not trying to paper it over and [make excuses] for where we're at, he said. New Years letter Ahead of the congress, Kim Jong Un penned a handwritten letter in lieu of his customary televised New Years address, in which he professed his gratitude for public support even in difficult times. Sources told RFA that authorities ordered government offices to prominently display copies of the letter and hold ceremonies to declare allegiance to the party. But the residents saw this gesture as a mere rehash of propaganda and meaningless political rhetoric of more than seven decades of dynastic rule under Kim, his father Kim Jong Il, and grandfather Kim Il Sung. It was enshrined like a portrait, and party members and workers gathered at each factory office in the province to read the letter and pledge allegiance to the partys Central Committee, said a resident of North Pyongan who requested anonymity told RFA Monday. The people, however characterized the letter as nothing but a false document that deceives and ridicules the public, said the third anonymous source. Another source, a graduate of a university in North Pyongan, told RFA the same day that Kims letter is anything but inspirational. Its all a political agitation strategy to try to proclaim public unity ahead of the partys Eighth Congress If you read between the lines, it means that those who harbor self-interest in the Central Committee will be punished relentlessly, the college graduate said. The last time a letter was given in lieu of a New Years address was in 1995, penned by Kims father and then-ruler Kim Jong Il, a year after regime founder Kim Il Sung died. Reported by Jieun Kim, Jung Min Noh and Hyemin Son for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president JP Nadda will launch the partys first campaign aimed at farmers in poll-bound West Bengal when he visits East Burdwan district, which is considered as the states rice bowl, on Saturday. With the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government planning to hold a special session of the legislative assembly to introduce a resolution against the Centres recent farm laws that led to unrest in Punjab, the BJPs focus on Bengals farmers prior to the crucial assembly polls is a significant move, BJP leaders feel. The BJP central office in Delhi announced in a statement on Friday that Nadda will visit Jagadanandapur village in Katwa at 11.50 am where he will address a Krishok Surokkha (farmers protection) meeting. This will mark the beginning of 40,000 such meetings to be held across Bengal before the elections, the party announced. Nadda will also kick-start a door-to-door rice collection programme which has been named Ek Mutthi Chawal Sangrah (collecting a fistful of rice) campaign in Jagadananadapur village after offering prayers at a popular temple. He will also have lunch at the home of a local farmer. The Ek Mutthi Chawal Sangrah campaign is to reassert the party and its governments commitment and conviction towards the growth, progress and prosperity of farmers. Before the 2021 Vidhan Sabha elections in West Bengal, the BJP will reach out to the homes of all the 73 lakh villagers across the state, the BJP central office said in the statement. The TMC reacted by calling the campaign ridiculous and meaningless. This is ridiculous. At a time when thousands of farmers are agitating outside the gates of Delhi against the Centres farm laws, going for a symbolic procurement of rice at a village in Katwa is meaningless. There is no problem with procurement in Bengal. Nadda should rather stay in Delhi and talk to the farmers whose problems are yet to be resolved, said TMC Lok Sabha member and party spokesperson Saugata Roy. At the receiving end of attacks by the BJP since 2014 for not implementing the Centres social welfare projects for farmers, chief minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Centre on September 9 that she was open to the implementation of the Prime Minister Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme for farmers as well as the Ayushman Bharat Yojana healthcare scheme if the funds were transferred directly to her government for disbursement. This has been opposed by the Centre and the BJP. Nadda will also offer prayers at the historic Sarbamangala temple in Burdwan town and lead a roadshow from Burdwan Clock Tower to the Curzon Gate. Later, he will address the media and the partys core committee members before returning to Delhi. Naddas plane will land at Andal airport in West Burdwan district in the morning and leave late in the evening. He is scheduled to fly from Andal to Katwa in East Burdwan in a chopper. This is Naddas first visit to Bengal since his convoy was stoned at Diamond Harbour in South 24 Parganas district on December 10. Security arrangements for Nadda has been tightened manifold in view of the attack. 66 Shares Share That hospitals in South Carolina (SC) began COVID-19 vaccinations in mid-December of 2020 is a marvel of human ingenuity, resilience, and courage. Tragically, however, more than 5,000 confirmed South Carolinian lives have now been lost due to COVID-19. Although SC is above the national average for vaccination, many say the pace is too slow. Medical students, including myself at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, received vaccination access via their clinical affiliate, Prisma Health, due to remaining Phase 1a vaccines after the institutions direct care teams were vaccinated. This included other individuals not engaging in patient contact, which is in line with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)s broad definition of health care personnel (HCP). Even so, many of these individuals, myself included, are too low risk for current prioritization to maximize equity and minimize death. Student vaccination serves to protect students who are and will soon be engaging in clinical rotations and patients who will contact students. Still, the decision to vaccinate all students and corporate members should be met with inquiry at a time of limited vaccine and soaring COVID-19 cases across the country. According to The State newspaper, Governor Henry McMaster called upon the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) last Thursday to increase vaccine distribution transparency to maintain the publics confidence and participation in the COVID-19 vaccination effort. Proving tremendous transparency, SC DHEC agreed, and we now know that thirty-four facilities (henceforth, vaccine HQs) in our state have been allocated 129,675 COVID-19 vaccinations as of January 4, 2021. SC has greater than 150,000 health care professionals and more than 17,000 individuals in long-term care facilities, revealing insufficient vaccine doses for these two groups deemed the highest need by current SC DHEC and ACIP Phase 1a categorization. Therefore, it is not surprising that I am hearing of frontline health care providers outside vaccine HQs who still lack access to vaccines. Even physicians in other states are expressing their anguish regarding this issue. This painful reality is not easy to accept. In my view, it would be ideal if these groups were prioritized over first and second-year medical students and low risk, vaccine HQ corporate populations for which patient contact can be minimized during a period that CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield has called the most difficult in the public health history of this nation. Vaccination speed is not everything. For further public transparency at the state level, accessibility of the vaccine to the student and corporate employees of vaccine HQs who are not performing direct medical care to suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 patients should be made known. The current situation is acceptable only because ACIPs definition of HCP remains so broad, I speculate, to ensure the reliability of complex health care systems that often require individuals who dont engage in patient care to function optimally. In addition, current guidelines from the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) regarding patient care activities for medical students lack recommendations regarding vaccination to medical students. SC DHEC guidelines state that the overarching principle in Phase 1a is averting deaths. Medical students including Oscar Chen, Dennis Li, David Hong, and Abhi Ganguly, argue that health care students on clinical rotations receive the COVID vaccination in subsequent vaccine rounds, primarily because these groups are on the average young, healthy and make up a low proportion of death due to COVID-19. After subtracting the 30 to 32 percent of COVID-19 related deaths in SC that occur in long-term care settings, adults 65 years or older still account for half of total SC deaths, making them the largest age group to have died from COVID-19 in SC. Unfortunately, this vulnerable group is on the Phase 1b-c vaccination schedules. It seems unjust for relatively low-risk groups without absolute requirements for clinical care activities to receive the vaccine solely because of their association with vaccine HQs before those experiencing the most death, much less those outside vaccine HQs at the frontlines in Phase 1a. It is in the best interest of a states highest risk groups for medical schools and universities who have not yet been allocated student vaccination to continue considering alternatives to traditional clinical exposure for health care professions students, particularly those in pre-clinical training phases that can be modified to avoid direct patient care. Making this commitment and relaying this to vaccine distribution sites can free up vaccines for Phase 1a-c high-risk groups and reduce COVID-19 fatalities. As vaccine access arrived unexpectedly early at my school, such risk categorization seems either overlooked or considered nonpragmatic. And indeed, parceling medical students and some corporate employees into different risk categories seems against current ACIP guidelines due to their apparently all-encompassing definition of HCP, even though further risk categorization would prioritize the highest risk groups. Medical student Lauren Burgoons argument for the vaccination of entire medical student bodies seems to be in the right based solely on the guidelines. I fully believe this vaccines safety has been rigorously demonstrated and want to make sure that I convey that to fellow community members of all backgrounds; this is why I ultimately went through with receiving the vaccine myself. Still, with so many other high-risk groups dying disproportionately, at what unmeasurable cost does the failure further distinguish levels of risk among Phase 1a individuals come? Rapid acceleration of SC pathways and across the nation for vaccine access to frontline workers outside vaccine HQs and those at least 65 years old outside long-term care settings needs higher prioritization immediately. U.S. and international medical school, university, and public health organizational leaders should perform further inductive, medical ethics analysis regarding current phasic vaccination schedules fundamental inequities. Current full corporate and student prioritization before our highest risk groups does not seem optimally in line with ACIPs four guiding ethical principles of 1) maximize benefits and minimize harms; 2) promote justice; 3) mitigate health inequities; and, 4) promote transparency. Devin M. Kellis is a medical student. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Image: Reuters Lawmakers of both parties raised the prospect Thursday of ousting President Donald Trump from office, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that if he wasn't removed, the House may move forward with a second impeachment. Though Trump has less than two weeks in office, lawmakers and even some in his administration began discussing the issue Wednesday afternoon as Trump first refused to forcefully condemn the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol by a mob of his supporters, and then appeared to excuse it. In pictures: Pro-Donald Trump mob storms US Capitol building to overturn election Senior Trump administration officials raised the long-shot possibility of invoking Section 4 of the 25th Amendment the forceful removal of Trump from power by his own Cabinet. Pelosi told a news conference she is waiting for a decision from Vice President Mike Pence and other Cabinet officials. She challenged several of them by name, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Do they stand by these actions?" Pelosi asked. "Are they ready to say that for the next 13 days this dangerous man can do further harm to our country? Most Democrats, and many Republicans, put the blame squarely on Trump after hundreds of protesters bearing Trump flags and clothing broke into the Capitol on Wednesday and caused destruction and mass evacuations. The president had urged his supporters to protest as Congress was counting the electoral votes that confirmed Joe Bidens win. Pelosi said a threshold was crossed of such magnitude that Trump should not be allowed to make any decisions. And if the Cabinet doesn't act, the House might, she said. There did not appear to be public support for the move, for now, among members of Trumps Cabinet, especially after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned in protest Thursday following the Capitol attack. But officials across the government went so far as to study up on the procedures for declaring Trump unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. According to two people involved in the administration talks, staff-level discussions on the matter took place across multiple departments and even parts of the White House. No member of the Cabinet has publicly expressed support for the move, which would make Pence the acting president. But several were believed to be sympathetic to the notion, believing Trump is too volatile in his waning days before Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20. Under the 25th Amendment, Trump could dispute his Cabinets finding, but the Cabinet could quickly reaffirm its position, keeping Pence in power while the question fell to lawmakers. As lawmakers assessed damage in the ransacked Capitol, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer also called Thursday for the Cabinet to remove him. Schumer said the attack on the Capitol was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president. He said Trump should not hold office one day longer. Schumer said Pence and the Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment and immediately remove Trump from office. Otherwise, he said, it's up to Congress. If the vice president and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president, Schumer said. While the House could quickly vote to impeach Trump, it is extremely unlikely that Congress could remove the president in the next 13 days. The Senate would have to receive the articles and then hold a trial and vote on them. And even if it did so, the Republican Senate would be unlikely to vote to convict. Democrats are set to narrowly take the Senate when Biden is inaugurated, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell holds the gavel until then. But in one measure of the uncomfortable position that Trumps goading of the mob had placed Republican lawmakers, there was a noteworthy lack of GOP statements attacking Democrats calls for his removal. Biden distanced himself from his fellow Democrats' push to oust Trump with the 25th Amendment. Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the president-elect, said Biden was focused on taking office on Jan. 20 and will leave it to Vice President Pence, the Cabinet and the Congress to act as they see fit. As Pelosi suggested impeachment was a possibility, three Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee announced articles of impeachment. Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California wrote in the articles that Trump willfully made statements that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol. The House impeached Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020. At least one House Republican also called for Trumps removal. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., a frequent Trump critic, said in a video on Twitter that Trump is unfit and unwell. Kinzinger said the president must now relinquish control of the executive branch voluntarily or involuntarily. Former Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., whos clashed with Trump for years, said he doesnt think invoking the 25th Amendment is realistic because of the support it would need from Cabinet members and because of the short time left in Trumps term. But he said in an interview that he supported the decisions both by some White House and administration officials to quit and others who are remaining to ensure that basically the guard rails stay where they should. Flake added: Weve got two weeks here, and lets make sure we get to the inauguration. India Pakistan Shells and bullets are hurtling thicker and faster than ever between Indian and Pakistani forces across Kashmir's ceasefire line, killing and maiming at a rate not seen in the entrenched conflict for two decades. Zameer Ahmad was building a community bunker on the Indian side of the Himalayan region's disputed frontier -- officially known as the Line of Control (LoC) -- when a sniper round fired from Pakistani-controlled territory struck the ground nearby. Ahmad and co-worker Sadakat Hussain took cover behind a wall in the village of Simari. "We finally decided to try to run but we both got hit," the 26-year-old told AFP. Ahmad took a bullet in the stomach and now has to wear a colostomy bag. Hussain, 23, walks with a limp because of his wounded foot. "It is scary, we just don't know why the firing starts," said Hussain, speaking during a visit to the frontier zone organised by the Indian military. Similar stories are told on both sides of the 344-kilometre (213-mile) partition amid ever-tougher talk between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who have fought two wars over the region in the past seven decades. Scores of civilians have been killed this year, and a UN observer mission car was struck by a bullet in December. India says at least 10 of its forces have been killed by artillery shells or sniper fire from Pakistani-controlled Kashmir since the start of November. It claims Pakistan violated a 2003 ceasefire accord more than 5,000 times last year -- the highest since it started. About 20 civilians were killed over the year, and incidents included drones dropping grenades into Indian territory. Pakistan, in turn, accuses India of more than 3,000 violations in 12 months, leaving 29 dead, 250 civilians wounded, and hundreds of buildings destroyed or damaged. Jura, just four kilometres from the LoC in the Neelum Valley, has been worst hit on the Pakistani side, authorities say. - House arrest - The shelling can last for hours or days, the town's residents told AFP. Half the homes have blast damage and the farmland is pock-marked with craters. "Most of the time we are shut up in our house. It is a war on us," Amna Bibi, 40, said while washing clothes outside her home. In the nearby village of Chilyana, the 500 inhabitants also rarely stray outside. "When we leave in the morning to open our shop, we don't know if we will return home," Khawaja Zubair Ahmad said. With each side blaming the other, the firing is at dangerous levels, according to observers. Residents say tensions have risen since February 2019 when India staged an air attack on Pakistani territory after a suicide bomber killed 40 Indian troops in Kashmir. India says Pakistan uses shelling to cover increased attempts to infiltrate militants across the line to fuel an insurgency. Pakistan has been incensed by India's revoking of Muslim-majority Kashmir's semi-autonomous status in 2019 -- "a move that Islamabad regarded as a particularly serious provocation", said Michael Kugelman, a South Asia specialist at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. Residents on the Indian side say Pakistan deliberately cut off their water supply for farms. Pakistan bemoans the closure of a bridge that until last year was used to bring divided families together. Khaleel ul Rahman, village head in Sudhpura on the Indian side, rushes to his cow shed and stays with the animals when a midnight barrage starts. Sudhpura suffers badly even by Kashmir's violent standards. It is surrounded on three sides by Pakistan-administered Kashmir and a third of the village is on the Pakistan side. Shells also fall when markets are open and children are in school. "People just panic. It is like a stampede," said local school principal Mansoor Ahmad. Observers say though that neither India nor Pakistan is in a rush to find a solution. The Hindu nationalist government in New Delhi and Muslim administration in Islamabad are too entrenched. "The history of India-Pakistan relations has had many more lows than highs, and right now we're experiencing a particularly ugly, prolonged low," said Kugelman. "There is little incentive on either side to dial down tensions." Rival prime ministers Narendra Modi and Imran Khan both offered better relations on taking office -- Modi even visited Pakistan -- but their gestures were rejected by the other. Modi boasted last year that Pakistan would "bite the dust" in seven to 10 days if it started a new war. Khan replied last month that India would get a "befitting" response if it tried anything. Beijing has sent medical and disease control experts to Hebei province to help tackle the COVID-19 outbreak following a recent resurgence of locally-transmitted cases in the region, said Gao Xiaojun, a spokesperson for the Beijing Municipal Health Commission, at a press briefing Thursday. To contain the spread of COVID-19 in Beijing, people who recently travelled to medium- and high-risk areas in Hebei province should report to the organizations they work for or communities they live in according to epidemic prevention and control measures. Those people who are in need of medical service will also be directed to designated consulting and treatment areas, Gao added. Beijing now has 252 nucleic acid testing facilities for COVID-19. People can make appointment to take the test via the 114 appointment platform as well as the websites and mobile apps of each medical testing facility. Gao also advises people to cancel unnecessary trips, wear a mask, avoid mass gatherings, and practice social distancing as the Chinese New Year draws near. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-07 21:04:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Students attend the opening ceremony for undergraduate students class of 2020 in a stadium at Tsinghua University in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong) BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese education authorities will spot check undergraduate theses once a year to prevent plagiarism and ghostwriting, according to a trial guideline issued by the Ministry of Education. Provincial-level education administration departments should randomly pick theses of those awarded a bachelor's degree in the previous academic year, the guideline noted. It added that the volume of spot-checked theses should be no less than 2 percent. Universities and colleges that are found to have a relatively high number of problematic theses for two consecutive years will be required to cut their admissions and make rectifications. Authors of the problematic theses will have their degrees revoked, according to the guideline. Donald Trumps Twitter timeout is over. One day after Twitter made the unprecedented decision to suspend the president for 12 hours, Trump officially regained his tweeting privileges, posting a two-and-a-half minute video addressing the violence in Washington DC. Twitter had previously locked the presidents account, citing repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy. As part of the suspension, Trump was required to remove three tweets, which the company had previously warned posed a risk of violence. Facebook imposed an indefinite suspension for the same messages. Both Twitter and Facebook are facing renewed pressure to permanently ban Trump from their platforms. Now is the time for Silicon Valley companies to stop enabling this monstrous behaviorand go even further than they have already by permanently banning this man from their platforms," Michelle Obama wrote in a statement. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin also called for a longer suspension, urging Twitter to impose a more severe penalty. So did former Twitter executive Adam Sharp, who previously headed up the companys work with lawmakers and government officials. Internally, some employees have also called for Twitter to deactivate his account, NBC News reported. Future violations of the Twitter Rules, including our Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies, will result in permanent suspension of the @realDonaldTrump account. Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 7, 2021 Twitter, which previously confirmed Trump will lose his special protections once he leaves office, said that future violations of its rules will result in a permanent ban. Our public interest policy which has guided our enforcement action in this area for years ends where we believe the risk of harm is higher and/or more severe, the company said. Even for the ruthless Iranian regime, the abduction and execution of dissident journalist Ruhollah Zam were noteworthy for their viciousness and flagrant disregard for international norms. Iran hanged the founder of the popular anti-regime website AmadNews on December 12, just days after an Iranian court upheld the death sentence he was given for the so-called crime of spreading corruption on earth. But Mr. Zams real crime in the eyes of Irans authorities was challenging their rule and exposing their hypocrisy. Living in exile as an asylee in France, Mr. Zam was reportedly abducted by the IRGC and brought back into Iran in 2019. He was put on trial in February 2020. He was accused of inciting the anti-government demonstrations that broke out in 2017, and his forced confession was broadcast on television. He was convicted in June. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo strongly condemned Mr. Zams execution, calling it unjust and barbaric. In a tweet he noted that Zam exposed the brutality and corruption of the regime which has killed or arrested more than 860 journalists in its 41 year reign of terror. Mr. Pompeo added, The Iranian people deserve a free and diverse media, not censorship, arrests and the execution of journalists. The international community also expressed outrage over the killing of Ruhollah Zam. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said she was appalled by the execution. She said Zams case was emblematic of a pattern of forced confessions extracted under torture and broadcast on state media being used as a basis to convict people. Sherif Mansour of the Committee to Protect Journalists described his death as monstrous and shameful. In a statement, the French Foreign Ministry called his execution barbaric and unacceptable, and France joined Germany, Austria and Italy in cancelling its participation in the Europe Iran Business Forum, which was to be held December 14. U.S. Special Envoy for Iran and Venezuela Elliott Abrams pointed out that Zams execution followed the execution of champion Iranian wrestler Navid Afkari in September. It is another reminder that we are dealing with a brutal and radical regime that does not hesitate to defy international law and norms to assert power and control, Mr. Abrams said. That is why it is so crucial that the worlds leading state sponsor of terrorism never acquire the worlds most deadly weapon. Burma Rakhine Campaigners Demand Myanmar Releases Political Prisoners Stickers are appearing in Ann Township demanding the release of elected politician Dr. Aye Maung and other political prisoners. Yangon Rakhine State protesters have called for the release of prominent politician Dr. Aye Maung and other political prisoners. Activists from across Ann Township on Wednesday evening attached stickers along roads and at the towns central market, said resident Ko Myo Lwin. Dr. Aye Maung is a Lower House lawmaker elected by Ann residents. Thats why our township has started the sticker campaign to demand his release, he told The Irrawaddy. In March 2019, Dr. Aye Maung and writer Wai Hin Aung were sentenced to 20 years in prison for high treason under Article 122 of the Penal Code and another two years for sedition under Article 505, to be served concurrently. They were arrested in January 2018 in Sittwe for remarks they made earlier that month at an event in Rathedaung Township commemorating the 233rd anniversary of the fall of the Arakan kingdom to the Burmese in 1785. In January 2020, the pair lost a special appeal to the Supreme Court of the Union. Ann residents called for the unconditional release of other political prisoners, including Wai Hin Aung, student activists who protested against human rights violations in the state and war and other ethnic Rakhine campaigners. Ko Htay Aung from Kan Kyun village, who participated in the sticker campaign, said: We have conducted the campaign for the release of our representative, Dr. Aye Maung, students and Rakhine citizens who were detained on political charges. They said similar campaigns could be expected across the state until their demands are met. Daw Mya Mya Thet, the wife of Dr. Aye Maung, told The Irrawaddy: I welcome the demand of Ann residents. People have made demands and politicians have also called for their release. If the government has any union spirit and aspires to national unity and peace, I ask it to release them. National League for Democracy (NLD) spokesman Dr. Myo Nyunt said the government has to decide on their release. The Ministry of Home Affairs is fully controlled by unelected members of Myanmars military. It is the business of the administration. Our party emphasizes the rule of law. We accept anything legal. It is up to the administration to consider what relaxations it can make, said Dr. Myo Nyunt. In October, the Arakan Army (AA) abducted three NLD candidates for Taungup Township. The NLD asked the AA to release the three if the armed group wants to solve ethnic issues and build peace. After the AA released them on Jan. 1, hopes were high that Rakhine prisoners, including Dr. Aye Maung, would be released on Jan. 4, Myanmars Independence Day, when presidential pardons are usually granted. No pardons were granted on Jan. 4. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: NLD Sends First Delegation to Discuss Federal Union with Myanmars Ethnic Parties Myanmar Government Eyes Town Status for Controversial China-Backed Project Fugitive Former Myanmar Army Officer on Sedition Charge Turns Himself in .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... The development of the atomic bomb was deeply rooted in New Mexico. Last year was the 75th anniversary of the creation. Larry Sheffield, a New Mexico native filmmaker, set out to tell another story with his documentary Alamogordo, Center of the World, Trinity 1945. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Seventy-five years later, were still dealing with the effects of that moment, Sheffield says. Its good for the topic to remain at the forefront, because so much happened. I wanted to give a different perspective with this film. Sheffield wanted to create a short film less than 10 minutes when he started the project about six years ago. After his mother died, he was going through some family photos and Christmas cards. I always knew my grandfather (John Emde) worked at Los Alamos (National Laboratory), he says. I started connecting some dots. I found out my grandfather was in Hanford (Washington) and Oak Ridge (Tennessee). Then he moved to Ruidoso to work in Los Alamos. Sheffields grandfather would travel from Ruidoso to Los Alamos for the week and the get back home Friday evening. I thought he was doing construction work, he says. But his clearance was more than that. That spurred my interest into the Trinity Site, and thats where the film goes. As he started doing research and collecting artifacts, it was clear that he wanted to tell the story from Alamogordos point of view. The city was selected because it wasnt near anything. I grew up in Alamogordo, and a lot of people dont realize the significant role it played, he says. The film is about the citys role from the beginning to after the Trinity Site. Sheffield got some help from the historian at LANL. I was sent over 400 photographs and video footage, he says. I had all this stuff in my hands and started to put together a cool story. As the film came closer to finishing, the pandemic began and Sheffields plans to screen in front of a live audience in Ruidoso began to diminish. He actually had an event scheduled on July 16 at the Flickinger Center for Performing Arts in Alamogordo. I thought by July the pandemic would be over, he says. Of course the world just stayed paralyzed by the pandemic. But that wasnt the end. Sheffield was able to go the festival circuit route and has found success. The film got an award of recognition at the Accolade Global Film Competition. It also picked up an award at the Best Shorts Competition, as well as a win at the Top Shorts Film Festival. Recently, it was an official selection at the Independent Shorts Awards in Los Angeles. Three separate film festivals we picked up awards for, he says. A fourth is an honorable mention for documentary. Getting recognized is special because I didnt expect any of this when making the film. In 2021, Sheffield would still like to screen the film in Alamogordo, as well as at the National Museum of Nuclear Science & History in Albuquerque. 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. The plot is about to thicken even more on The CW's teen mystery Riverdale. Deadline announced on Thursday that Broadchurch star Chris Mason is joining the cast of the hit series for a recurring role in season five. The actor, 29, will portray Veronica Lodge's husband Chad Gekko, a controlling and jealous Wall Street trader. New blood in the 'Dale: Broadchurch star Chris Mason is joining the cast of the hit CW series Riverdale for a recurring role in season five According to the outlet, Chad feels threatened by Archie, played by KJ Apa, who has enjoyed a years-long friendship with his wife Veronica (Camila Mendes). Judging from the name, Mason's character might be a nod to Gordon Gekko, the fictional character in 1987's film Wall Street which won actor Michael Douglas a Best Actor Oscar. Chad Gekko will be introduced in the episode four of Riverdale' Season 5, which will air on Wednesday, February 10th. She'll be shocked: The actor will portray Veronica Lodge's (Camila Mendes, left) husband Chad Gekko, a controlling and jealous Wall Street trader; seen here with Lili Reinhart Riverdale is based on the classic characters from the Archie Comics, but the show is decidedly darker and moodier than its source material. The show stars Apa, Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Lili Reinhart, Casey Cott and Madelaine Petsch. The cast have all been seen over the last few months in Vancouver, Canada filming the hit show's fifth season amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. According to the outlet: Chad feels threatened by Archie, played by KJ Apa, who has enjoyed a years-long friendship with his wife Veronica Mason, born in Liverpool, England, first gained significant notoriety playing grisly rapist Leo Humphries on television series Broadchurch in 2017. He went on to portray Nolan Hotchkiss in the short-lived spinoff Pretty Little Liars: The Perfectionists. Chris's other credits include the 2014 feature film Vampire Academy, Dirty John on USA and HBO Latin Americas limited series The American Guest, among others. Chilling: Mason, born in Liverpool, first gained significant notoriety playing grisly rapist Leo Humphries on television series Broadchurch in 2017 MOBILE, Ala., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today that Angela Nocera, P.E., has been promoted to Associate Vice President and Regional Practice Lead Federal for the firm's Southeast Region. Ms. Nocera will focus on deepening partnerships within Michael Baker's Federal practice to provide even greater support to its military and federal clients. "Angela brings nearly 15 years of experience providing environmental and civil engineering consulting services to federal, state and municipal agencies," said Tommy Montgomery, P.E., Southeast Regional Director at Michael Baker International. "She will continue to serve as a trusted advisor to clients and colleagues alike in her expanded leadership role, aiding in the ongoing growth of our Federal work in the Southeast Region." As an environmental engineer, Ms. Nocera has developed planning documents, conducted site investigations/sampling, provided construction oversight, and managed Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) projects under the Military Munitions Response Program (MMRP) and Installation Restoration Program (IRP) for the U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). She has also conducted designs, evaluations and construction sequencing for infrastructure, including USACE levees and pump stations, state and county roads and municipal airfields. Additionally, Ms. Nocera has managed individual projects, as well as multimillion-dollar programs under U.S. Army indefinite delivery contracts. Prior to joining Michael Baker in 2017, Ms. Nocera spent three years as a Senior Project Manager at PIKA International, Inc. and began her career as a civil engineer with ARCADIS/Malcolm Pirnie. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of South Alabama and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. Ms. Nocera is also a member and fellow of the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) as well as a Director of the Girls Exploring Math & Science (GEMS) Program, which provides STEM workshops to hundreds of middle school girls and their parents to increase awareness of STEM career paths available within their communities. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services, including design, planning, architectural, environmental, construction and program management. The company provides its comprehensive range of services and solutions to support U.S. federal, state, and municipal governments, foreign allied governments, and a wide range of commercial clients. Michael Baker's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement to help solve challenges for clients and communities throughout the country. To learn more, visit www.mbakerintl.com. Contact: Julia Covelli [email protected] (866) 293-4609 SOURCE Michael Baker International Related Links http://www.mbakerintl.com Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to re-establish sea, land and air links. The GCC summit on Tuesday in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, was decisive. Host Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman welcomed Emir al-Thani with a hug. Trade relations can resume, but it will take some time for full diplomatic relations. Abu Dhabi (AsiaNews/Agencies) Tomorrow the United Arab Emirates will reopen its borders with Qatar after closing them three years ago as a result of a row that shook the Gulf countries. The easing of tensions became visible in recent days, just before the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit, and the trend seems bound to continue as a step towards boosting the anti-Iranian camp. This comes as the region is getting ready for the new US administration led by Democrat Joe Biden, after the years of Donald Trump who spent a lot of money to create an axis between Israel and the Sunni monarchies to oppose Tehran. The deal between the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Egypt was reached at Al-Ula, a futuristic tourist resort during a summit largely centred on renewing ties with Qatar, which were cut in 2017 because of alleged Qatari support for the Muslim Brotherhood (and trade with Iran). For its part, the small but rich emirate has always rejected the charge. The Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman bin Hamad al-Khalifa was present at the summit, as were the Deputy Prime Minister of the Sultanate of Oman Fahd bin Mahmoud al-Said, the Emir of Kuwait Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah , UAE Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, and Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. The Qatar delegation was headed by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, who was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman (pictured) with a hug, a highly symbolic gesture that violated anti-COVID regulations. The UAE "will work to reopen all land, sea and air borders to incoming and outgoing" traffic from Qatar, said Khalid Abdullah Belhoul, Under-Secretary of the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Trade and travel are set to resume within a week, whilst fully diplomatic relations will take more time as the parties iron out their differences. DICKINSON At Dickinson City Hall Thursday night, democracy was put on hold in favor of two ping pong balls at the bottom of a black top hat. After a Dec. 15 runoff between Dickinson mayoral candidates Jennifer Lawrence and Sean Skipworth resulted in a deadlock a recount Tuesday confirmed that each candidate received 1,010 votes the city decided to leave the winner up to chance. In accordance with state law, the fate of the contest would be decided by a random drawing of names out of a hat. I do want to thank the candidates for doing it this way, said Julie Masters, the current Dickinson mayor, whose term will end next week. We had several options, we had several folks who had ideas on how we could do this, including arm wrestling, but I thought this was probably the best and they agreed. Now Playing: Video: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle This unlikely scenario was put into play after a four-way race between Lawrence, Skipworth, Mark Townsend and Jon Junemann resulted in none of the candidates receiving a majority of the vote on Election Day. The December runoff initially left Skipworth with a three-vote lead, over Lawrence, though that tiny margin vanished after provisional, absentee and overseas ballots were counted. In the end, the tally showed that both candidates had received the same number of votes. So on the race went to a drawing of the lots. In front of a small, masked crowd of about 50 people most of whom watched from the hallway of City Hall due to COVID-19 protocol Lawrence and Skipworth each wrote their name with a sharpie on white ping pong balls and placed them in a black top hat. Mike Foreman, the Friendswood mayor and soon-to-be president of the Galveston County Mayors and Council Members Association, stuck his hand in the hat and pulled out one of the balls. After a pregnant pause, Skipworth identified the victor: Thats my name, he said, and immediately hugged his wife and children. Both candidates embraced as well, showing no hard feelings despite a less than satisfying conclusion to a hard-fought race. Even Foreman, whose unbiased hand determined the ultimate victor, was pained by the result. To do all that work and have it come down to picking a ping-pong ball out of a hatit hurts, he said. The look of relief in Skipworths eyes was visible, even with half his face covered by a polka dot face mask. He said he did nothing special to brace himself for the drawing, instead distracting himself Thursday with mundane activities reading a book, watching television anything to keep his mind off the possibility of losing. You say some prayers here and there, and hope other people are rubbing rabbits feet for you or something, he said. Skipworth will be sworn in as the new mayor on Jan. 12 when the City Council will convene for the first time in the new year. He said his first order of business as mayor would be putting a city manager in place before getting to work lobbying state lawmakers on tax code issues before the start of the legislative session. (Changes) to the sales tax are going to affect us a lot and we need to get together and figure out how we're going to talk to the lawmakers, and try to make sure that that doesn't hurt us, Skipworth said. Across the hall, Lawrence held court with friends and supporters. She said after the drawing that she was mentally prepared for the possibility of a loss, though pleased that the community came together and put to rest any possibility of lingering tension. I had peace, Lawrence said. I just knew that either way, it's meant to be, I'm a very meant to be girl. Things have happened in my life, and I know they have a reason. A day after armed insurrectionists stormed the U.S. Capitol in violent objection to President-elect Joe Bidens general election victory, Skipworth added he was heartened that even in a nonpartisan election in a small city like Dickinson, two candidates can walk away gracious in victory and defeat even by random chance. Hopefully, this is a reminder to everybody that in America we resolve our differences and move forward, Skipworth said. nick.powell@chron.com Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei banned Irans government on Friday from importing COVID-19 vaccines from the United States and Britain. Imports of U.S. and British vaccines into the country are forbidden. I have told this to officials and Im saying it publicly now, Khamenei said in a live televised speech. I have no confidence in them. Sometimes they want to test vaccines on other nations ... If the Americans were able to produce a vaccine, they would not have such a coronavirus fiasco in their own country. Iran, the country that has been worst hit by the novel coronavirus in the Middle East, launched human trials of its first domestic COVID-19 vaccine candidate late last month, saying it could help Iran defeat the pandemic despite U.S. sanctions that affect its ability to import vaccines. However, Khamenei praised Irans efforts to develop domestic vaccines but said Iran could obtain vaccines from other reliable places. He gave no details but China and Russia are both allies of Iran. Im not optimistic about France either because of their history of infected blood, Khamenei said, referring to the countrys contaminated blood scandal of the 1980s and 1990s. Short link: A New Jersey resident arrested during Wednesdays storming of the U.S. Capitol building condemned rioters who entered the structure, NBC reported Thursday. The Lower Township man, Leonard Guthrie, did not blame President Donald Trump for the violence, despite the fact that he urged his supporters to march on the Capitol building during a rally earlier in the day, according to the report. Trump told everybody, he said, Go over to the Capitol, let them hear your voice, Guthrie told NBC. It was stupid, he said of those who entered the building. You know, thats not what this was about. This was about revival. It wasnt about kicking doors. He told NBC that he wasnt among those who entered the building but did admit to crossing to a police line. Guthrie was charged with unlawful entry, the U.S. Capitol police said in a press statement Thursday. Guthrie wasnt home Thursday afternoon when an NJ Advance Media reporter knocked on his door. A wrecked car and broken down dune buggy were observed in front of the house. The riot, which interrupted the vote to accept the Electoral College results declaring Joe Biden as president elect, led to a woman being fatally shot, and three others dead from other incidents, police in Washington said. The Metropolitan Police Department said they made at least 80 arrests during the civil unrest and riots. U.S. Capitol Police arrested 14 people on Wednesday, NBC stated. Gov. Phil Murphy called the attack an act of domestic terrorism, and one-time Trump ally, former Gov. Chris Christie said the presidents response, as people invaded the building home to Congress, was wholly insufficient and said Trump was selfish and self-centered. Reporter Kevin Shea contributed to this report. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Michelle S. Jordan of Jacksonville has been named to the fall semester honor roll at Oregon State University. To be named to the honor roll, a student must earn a 3.5 or higher grade point average. The first flight from Brisbane to Melbourne to arrive after the 6pm lockdown took effect in Greater Brisbane landed earlier tonight. As with earlier flights from Brisbane today, passengers were not greeted by authorised officers to inform them of a request to test and isolate until Monday. Qantas passengers Jen and Dan, with children Pippa and Tilda, arrive in Melbourne from Queensland on Friday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui One passenger, Jess, told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald she was going to organise to be tested as soon as possible and go straight home. "I know about it because I've been looking at [the Department of Health and Human Safety] all day online but there was no announcement on the plane or anything," she said. Four more flights are scheduled to land in Melbourne from Brisbane tonight at 9.10pm, 9.15pm, 9.40pm and 11.15pm. Earlier, one Victorian family - made up of mum Jen, dad Dan and daughters Pippa and Tilda - said they were lucky they happened to be on a flight home from Queensland on Friday night, hours after Greater Brisbane had been declared a national hot spot. Loading The family, who did not wish to use their surname, had been holidaying in north Queensland near Mackay and only passed through Brisbane airport to transfer to a flight to Melbourne. They said they were in the dark about whether they were required to be tested and isolate or not. "We were on the ground [in Brisbane] for like 40 minutes," said Dan."We literally walked from one gate to another," said Jen. The couple said they were both "very surprised" not to have been met by health authorities in Melbourne. "We were just told to check our restrictions and it was our responsibility [to stay up to date]," said Jen. Well before he incited this weeks mob violence on Capitol Hill, Donald Trump had become a global hate figure, and for good reason. With his narcissism, vulgarity and misogyny, he personified what many foreign observers see as Americas worst values. What happened on Thursday morning AEST was, by any standards, truly abominable a direct result of his unhinged and self-serving campaign to overturn Novembers presidential election, which he lost. Whatever legacy Trump could boast his 2016 victory, his booming pre-pandemic economy, his Middle East peace breakthroughs has been erased. The Republican Party has to renounce Donald Trump and his party of protest-style of government. Credit:AP It is true that for the past four years the Republicans made no attempt to control Trump, his family and some of his advisers until it was too late. His moral character was so defective that he only survived this long because of the complicity of the Republicans rather than with their support. Some of them Ted Cruz, for example are now damaged goods. However, there were signs of grace when both the Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and Vice-President Mike Pence realised that the respectability of the US constitution and their political movement took precedence over any loyalty to an American president. Just as Trump has all but destroyed the soul of American conservatism, so he has inflicted significant damage to American democracy. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A.I.S. Resources Limited (TSX-V AIS, OTCQB: AISSF) (the Company or AIS) AIS announces a non-brokered private placement of up to 15,625,000 units ("Units") at a price of $0.08 per unit for gross proceeds of $1,250,000. (the "Private Placement"). The proceeds will be used for exploration of the Companys gold projects and general working capital purposes. Each Unit consists of one common share and one transferrable share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one additional common share for a period of 12 months from the closing date of the offering at a price of $0.12 per common share provided that if the closing price of the common shares of the Company on any stock exchange or quotation system on which the common shares are then listed or quoted is equal to or greater than $0.15 for a period of fifteen (15) consecutive trading days, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry of the warrants to a date that is not less than ten (10) business days from the date notice is given. The Company may pay finders fees of up to 8% cash and 8% finders warrants on a portion of the placement. Closing of the Private Placement is subject to acceptance by the TSX Venture Exchange. All securities issued in connection with the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period from the closing date under applicable Canadian securities laws. Certain directors and officers may participate in the Private Placement. Such participation is considered a related party transaction within the meaning of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The related party transaction will be exempt from minority approval, information circular and formal valuation requirements pursuant to the exemptions contained in Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, as neither the fair market value of the gross securities to be issued under the Private Placement nor the consideration to be paid by the insiders will exceed 25% of the Company's market capitalization. A material change report will be filed less than 21 days before the closing date of the transactions contemplated by this news release. The Company believes this shorter period is reasonable and necessary in the circumstances. The Private Placement securities have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), or under any state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, or delivered within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) absent registration or an applicable exemption from the registration requirements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation to buy such securities in the United States. About A.I.S. Resources Limited A.I.S. Resources Limited is a publicly traded investment issuer listed on the TSX Venture Exchange focused on precious and base metals exploration. AISs value add strategy is to acquire prospective exploration projects and enhance their value by better defining the mineral resource with a view to attracting joint venture partners and enhancing the value of its portfolio. The Company is managed by a team of experienced geologists, with a track-record of successful capital markets achievements. In November 2020, AIS received TSX-V approval to acquire the New South Wales Yalgogrin Gold Project JV, the Fosterville-Toolleen Gold Project and the Kingston Gold Project in Victoria Australia. Phillip Thomas CEO A.I.S. Resources Limited For further information, please contact: Phillip Thomas, Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1-747-200-9412 Email: pthomas@aisresources.com Or Martyn Element, Executive Chairman Tel: +1-604-220-6266 Email: melement@aisresources.com Website: www.aisresources.com ADVISORY: This press release contains forward-looking statements. More particularly, this press release contains statements concerning the anticipated use of the proceeds of the Private Placement. Although the Corporation believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on them because the Corporation can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. The intended use of the proceeds of the Private Placement by the Corporation might change if the board of directors of the Corporation determines that it would be in the best interests of the Corporation to deploy the proceeds for some other purpose. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Corporation undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. A Dec. 23 graphic on Fox News showed "Palestine" as a country even though it is not an actual nation. (JNS) - A graphic on Fox News last week showed "Palestine" as a country, despite it not being an independent nation. The graphic appeared during the Dec. 23 broadcast of "America's Newsroom" during a segment about U.S. President Donald Trump complaining about foreign aid in the legislative package Congress passed this week that included $1.4 trillion to fund the government and around $900 billion in COVID relief. Fox News did not respond to a request for comment. A similar error occurred in April when an MSNBC graphic showed "Palestine" in a rolling list of countries. While the "State of Palestine" is recognized by some 138 countries and has the status as a non-member observer state of the United Nations, there does not exist a sovereign independent Palestinian state. The Palestinian Authority is an interim Palestinian government established under the Oslo Accords, which its final status was left for future negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians. Currently, the P.A. has control over portions of the West Bank, known as Areas A and B, while the terrorist group Hamas controls the Gaza Strip after it ousted the P.A. from the coastal enclave in 2007. During his remarks, Trump lamented U.S. assistance allocated toward certain countries, referring to more than $85.5 million for Cambodia, more than $134 million for Burma, $1.3 billion for Egypt and more than $505 million for Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama. He also complained about the $25 million allocated for democracy and gender programs in Pakistan. However, he did not mention U.S. assistance to Israel or the $250 million allocated over five years to expand coexistence between Arabs and Israelis, in addition to peacebuilding programs in the region and to support projects to strengthen the Palestinian economy. None of the $250 million can go to the Palestinian Authority in accordance with the Taylor Force Act, which prohibits funding from going to including, but not limited to, the P.A. or any individual or group the secretary of state determines to be involved in or advocating terrorist activity. On Sunday night, Trump signed the omnibus spending bill into law after a significant delay but before a government shutdown were to take place. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has received its first application for a new drone operator approval, which is available under new EU drone regulations which came into force in December 2020. The approval, officially titled a light UAS operator certificate (LUC), will be recognised in all EU member states, providing greater business opportunities for Irish-based commercial drone operators including allowing an organisation to self-authorise operations, removing the requirement to obtain a prior authorisation. Galway-based commercial drone operator Manna Aero is the first company to apply for a LUC, following its recent trials of drone delivery services. Its application will now be reviewed by the IAA in line with the requirements of the EU regulations. Speaking at the handover of the application by video conference call, newly appointed IAA aviation regulator Diarmuid O Conghaile welcomed the submission, calling it an exciting development. Local delivery by drone is a green technology and an economically efficient way to provide services to rural communities and isolated individuals, including delivery of food and medicines." Mr O Conghaile said the new pan-European regulation opens doors for "innovative companies" such as Manna Aero, giving them access to a market of "over 500m consumers." "The IAAs review will ensure that the service meets all of the safety requirements, including appropriate risk assessment, he said. Earlier this year, Manna Aero began trialling using drones for takeaway including a trial with Supermacs at the Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall, Co Offaly. The Irish company promises delivery in three minutes or less within 2km. Since the introduction of the new EU drone regulations, the IAA has registered more than 1,100 drone operators. Lucknow, Jan 8 : Teams of Congress leaders in Uttar Pradesh have started camping in various districts to build up the party organisation. The initiative, known as 'sangathan srajan' will continue this entire month. Under the programme, the party proposes to set up its units in all the 8,000 'nyay panchayats' wards in urban areas to bolster the party's chances in the state polls to be held next year. Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is closely monitoring the exercise and is likely to visit a district in a random manner to make an on-the-spot assessment. UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu said, "We are following the exercise of setting up and holding meetings of nearly 8,000 nyay panchayat units under the programme. This programme has been organised all over the state at the behest of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. We also propose to set up nearly 60,000 village level units by next month." Lallu said that there were indications that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra would soon visit the various districts of the state. Five party secretaries Jubair Khan, Dheeraj Gujar, Bajirao Khade, Sachin Naik and Rohit Chaudhary along with teams of the UPCC office bearers and other youth leaders have also begun camping in districts allotted to them. "We are closely following the exercise. No meeting of nyay panchayat is considered complete unless attendance of party's representatives of all the villages under the respective nyay panchayat is verified. As nyay panchayats will lead to setting up of nearly 20,575 member committees in 823 blocks of the state, the party will have a verified and committed team of more than 28,000 leaders ready at the grassroots level soon," said Ajay Kumar Lallu. Besides setting up the units at nyay panchayat levels, the Congress also proposes to focus on setting up ward units in the cities. According to a Congress spokesman, "Our city units have begun setting up party structures at the ward levels. We hope to complete the same after the completion of nyay panchayat level exercise." "We have already set up our units in 45 out of 110 wards. We will complete the exercise in all the wards by the deadline," said Lucknow City Congress Committee president Mukesh Chauhan. Or even when we do, we can find a bit too much comfort in tuning in only to content that supports our point of view, even when that content pushes paranoid conspiracy theories like QAnon, a goofy but popular notion that includes the viewpoint that President Trump is fighting a secret war against a pedophile ring run by top Democrats. Sounds like a potentially good spy thriller. Or fever dream. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / January 8, 2021 / Sky Gold Corp. (TSX-V:SKYG) (OTC PINK:SRKZF) ("Sky Gold Corp." or the "Company") reports that the diamond drill program has resumed on the Company's Mustang Property contiguous to the Queensway Gold Project owned by New Found Gold Corp. ("New Found Gold"). Previously seven holes were completed on the Mustang Property, comprising 1,321 meters, with assays pending. As reported (Press Release December 30, 2020) hole MT-20-06 contained fine grained visible gold at ~260 meters down the hole. This interval and other selected intervals (quartz veining, brecciation and silicification, and quartz stockwork, with associated sulphides (pyrite, arsenopyrite, sphalerite)) from Hole MT-20-06 and MT-20-07 have been split and sampled and have been "rushed" for gold assaying at Eastern Analytical Ltd., in Springdale, Newfoundland, an ISO 17025 certified laboratory. Logging, core cutting and sampling is ongoing from a facility established in Gander. Drilling on the Mustang property has been contracted to Cabo Drilling (Pacific) Corp. with a minimum 3,000-metre diamond drill program over multiple target locations situated within the highly prospective Gander gold district. Drilling in 1st quarter 2021 will also investigate the Barite, Jasperoid and Road Breccia showings on the western portion of the Mustang property, which have never been drilled. Recently completed trenching and soil geochemistry results are also pending. Company President and CEO Mike England commented "The Company is excited to resume drilling activities on the Mustang property. We welcome the surface rock and soil geochemistry results shortly and "rushed" assay results from sections of hole MT-20-06 and 07." All of the Company's field activities are conducted under Federal and Provincial COVID-19 operating protocols and safety measures as required. Planet X Exploration Services Ltd.'s field crews, retained through Grassroots Prospecting, a local, Newfoundland-based prospect generation company, are undertaking all field and drill activities on the Company's Newfoundland properties. SKY GOLD'S NEWFOUNDLAND PROJECTS Virginia Property The Virginia property comprises 100 hectares and is approximately 5.7 kilometres northeast of New Found Gold's drill hole NFGC-19-01 which intersected 92.86 g/t Au over 19 metres (see New Found Gold Corp. press release dated August 12, 2020). Historic results completed in the early 1990s by Manor Resources Ltd., reports two areas of mineralization (Zone A-2). One showing comprised quartz veining developed over a 35-metre-wide zone within sheared gabbro and graphitic shale (main shear) returning up to 8.7 g/t Au, and a second showing comprised a sheared gabbro returned a grab sample up to 109.6 g/t Au*. Mustang Property The recently expanded Mustang property comprises 1,625 hectares and is contiguous to New Found Gold's Queensway project and approximately five kilometres southwest of their discovery hole. The Mustang property hosts numerous gold prospects including the Mustang and Piper zones, on trend with New Found Gold Corp's current drill program, and the Road Breccia, Jasperoid, and Barite showings on the western portion of the property. Gold mineralization was discovered at the Mustang zone in 1987 by Noranda Exploration Company Ltd., who completed geologic mapping, trenching and shallow (average 84 metres) diamond drilling (12 holes totaling 1,007.6 metres). Altius Resources Inc. ("Altius") completed diamond drilling over the Mustang zone in 1998 (10 holes, 1,197.6 meters). In late 2001 Altius held the current claim area, with the Mustang zone anchoring a major northeast-southwest structural feature of prospective geology covered by a larger property project known as the Mustang trend. Altius optioned the property to Barrick Gold Corp. who undertook reconnaissance exploration in 2002, resulting in the discovery of several new gold showings on the western portion of the property including the Road Breccia, Barite, and Jasperoid showings. Highest surface gold values from the Mustang zone include up to 28 g/t Au over 0.8 metres, occur in dark grey hydrobreccia units, associated with higher arsenopyrite concentrations*. Selected diamond drill assay results from Noranda's drill program include 1.27 g/t Au over 11.3 metres, 0.67 g/t Au over 18.3 metres and 0.92 g/t Au over 9.0 metres*. The company is focused on confirming and extending these known mineral showings with the proposed diamond drill program. *Gold values on adjacent properties in similar rocks, and assays based on historical work in surface sampling and drilling, are not representative of the mineralization on the property, and have not been verified and should not be relied upon. Qualified Person Catherine Fitzgerald, P.Geo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101, and Independent Director of Sky Gold, is the Qualified Person responsible for reviewing and approving the technical contents of this news release as they pertain to the Mustang and Virginia properties. About Sky Gold Corp. Sky Gold Corp. is a junior mineral exploration company engaged in acquiring and advancing mineral properties in Canada and the USA. In addition to the Company's Newfoundland properties, the Company also owns the Evening Star property, located 12 km southeast of Hawthorne, NV, which is prospective for gold mineralization and CRD (Carbonate Replacement Deposit) base and precious (silver and gold) mineralization. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Mike England" Mike England, CEO & Director FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Tel. 1-604-683-3995 Toll Free. 1-888-845-4770 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward -looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at WWW.SEDAR.COM). SOURCE: Sky Gold Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623578/Sky-Gold-Resumes-Drilling-at-The-Mustang-Project-Newfoundland RTHK: Court orders Japan to compensate 'comfort women' A South Korean court on Friday ordered Japan to compensate 12 women who were forced to work in its wartime brothels, a ruling that drew a strong rebuke from Tokyo and threatened to rekindle a diplomatic feud between the two countries. Reminders of Japan's 1910-45 colonial rule of the Korean peninsula are contentious for both sides, with many surviving "comfort women" - a Japanese euphemism for the sex abuse victims - demanding Tokyo's formal apology and compensation. Japan says the issue was settled under a 1965 treaty that normalised diplomatic ties, and the two countries agreed to "irreversibly" end the dispute in a 2015 deal. But the Seoul Central District Court, a lower tier court, ordered Japan pay each of the women 100 million won (US$91,000), saying neither of the pacts can cover their right to seek compensation. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato called the verdict "unacceptable," urging Seoul to take "appropriate measures". Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba summoned South Korean Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo to lodge an "extremely strong protest". South Korea's foreign ministry did not have immediate comment, but Ambassador Nam said in Tokyo that he would strive to prevent the ruling from having an "undesirable impact" on ties. "I emphasised that it was most important for both sides to respond in a calm, restrained manner in order to resolve the issue," Nam told reporters after being called in. After taking office in 2017, South Korean President Moon Jae-in effectively nullified the 2015 settlement, in which Japan issued an official apology and provided 1 billion yen (US$9.6 million) to a fund to help comfort women victims. Some historians estimate up to 200,000 Korean girls and women were forced to provide sex to Japanese troops during the colonial era, sometimes under the pretext of employment or to pay off a relative's debt. "It was a crime against humanity that was systematically, deliberately and extensively committed by Japan in breach of international norms," Justice Kim Jeong-gon said in the ruling. "Even if it was a country's sovereign act, state immunity cannot be applied as it was committed against our citizens on the Korean peninsula that was illegally occupied by Japan." Only 16 registered Korean survivors are still alive, and six of the 12 victims have died since they initiated the lawsuit in 2016. The women's lawyer, Kim Kang-won, said he was "deeply moved" as the ruling acknowledged the Japanese government was accountable for the atrocity. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. A working group of four US intelligence agencies has issued a press release declaring that hackers behind the unprecedented cyberattack on hundreds of government and corporate users of the SolarWinds Orion platform were likely Russian in origin. The joint statement by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) and the National Security Agency (NSA) was first published on Tuesday afternoon on the website of the ODNI. The statement says that the Trump administrations National Security Council has created a task force called the cyber Unified Coordinating Group (UCG) composed of the four agencies to organize the investigation and remediation of this significant cyber incident involving federal government networks. It says that the UCG is still working to understand the scope of the incident but has the following updates on its investigative and mitigation efforts. The press release is the first official statement by any US government agency to claim that Russians carried out the hack, saying the work of the UCG indicates that an Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) actor, likely Russian in origin, is responsible for most or all of the recently discovered, ongoing cyber compromises of both government and non-governmental networks. Up to this point, accusations that Russian intelligence carried out the supply chain attackin which the hackers embedded malicious code into multiple software updates and users unwittingly downloaded it into their Orion network administration platformwere made by the corporate media based on anonymous sources as well as the comments of individual political figures. Like the previous claimssuch as that of Secretary of State Mike Pompeo that it was pretty clear that it was the Russiansthe US intelligence task force presents no evidence or proof of its claim that Russia organized the SolarWinds hack. The US intelligence task force statement mentions Russia only once and does not refer to the Russian intelligence service SVR or go into any details about the hacking group Cozy Bear which the corporate media has repeatedly stated is behind the breach. The UCG statement also reveals that fewer than 10 U.S. government agencies have been compromised by the hack, although it does not say which ones. Media reports have indicated that among these agencies are: Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, National Institutes of Health, The Pentagon, Department of Energy, Department of the Treasury and Department of Commerce, as well as state and local government bodies. Few details have been revealed about the impact of the hack on the government entities. Some reports have said that email messages were being monitored for months and that information or data may have been stolen. An earlier statement on December 16 by the newly-formed UCG, that did not include an assertion of Russian involvement, is very similar to the document published on Tuesday. According to a report in the New York Times, the statement was modified after Mr. Trump erupted at his intelligence briefers and said they had no evidence to link the action to Russia. President Trump has consistently suggested on Twitter that the hack was carried out by China, not Russia. While it is impossiblebased upon presently available informationto determine precisely who is behind the SolarWinds cyberattack, the issuing of the latest UCG statement shows a growing consensus within the US intelligence community and political establishment that a renewed geostrategic offensive by US imperialism against Russia is a top priority of the incoming Biden administration. As the New York Times indicated in its report by David Sanger and Julian. E Barnes late Tuesday, the UCG statement, however carefully worded, the formal conclusion sets the stage for retaliation, most likely by President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr. after he takes office. Mr. Biden, unlike Mr. Trump, has declared that whoever was behind the operation would pay a steep price. It is significant that the UCG statement was issued two days after the New York Times published a major front-page story in its Sunday editionco-written by Sanger, Barnes and Nicole Perlroththat ratcheted up the hysteria about the unproven Russian hacking of SolarWinds Orion and said absolutely nothing about the ongoing criminal cyberwarfare activities of the US intelligence agencies against the people of the world. Based upon interviews with key players investigating what intelligence agencies believe to be an operation by Russias SVR intelligence service, the Times provided six bullet points. Among these are that the hackers managed their intrusion from servers inside the United States, exploiting legal prohibitions on the National Security Agency from engaging in domestic surveillance and eluding cyberdefenses deployed by the Department of Homeland Security. In other words, with Biden in White House, the drive by US imperialism to retaliate against Russia will be accompanied by an intensification of NSA cyber surveillance and further attacks on the democratic rights of the public within the borders of the US. SILVER SPRING, Md., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting clinical laboratory staff and health care providers that the FDA is monitoring the potential impact of viral mutations, including an emerging variant from the United Kingdom known as the B.1.1.7 variant, on authorized SARS-CoV-2 molecular tests, and that false negative results can occur with any molecular test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 if a mutation occurs in the part of the virus's genome assessed by that test. The SARS-CoV-2 virus can mutate over time, like all viruses, resulting in genetic variation in the population of circulating viral strains, as seen with the B.1.1.7 variant. The FDA is taking additional actions to ensure authorized tests remain accurate by working with test developers and conducting ongoing data analysis to evaluate all currently authorized molecular tests. The FDA believes the risk that these mutations will impact overall testing accuracy is low. "The FDA will continue to monitor SARS-CoV-2 genetic viral variants to ensure authorized tests continue to provide accurate results for patients," said FDA Commissioner Stephen M. Hahn, M.D. "While these efforts continue, we are working with authorized test developers and reviewing incoming data to ensure that health care providers and clinical staff can quickly and accurately diagnose patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, including those with emerging genetic variants. At this time, we believe the data suggests that the currently authorized COVID-19 vaccines may still be effective against this strain. The FDA will continue to keep health care providers and the public informed of any new information as it becomes available." The FDA has been monitoring SARS-CoV-2 viral mutations, and potential impact on testing, throughout the pandemic. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 genetic variants in a patient sample can potentially change the performance of a SARS-CoV-2 test. Tests that rely on the detection of multiple regions of the genome may be less impacted by genetic variation in the SARS-CoV-2 genome than tests that rely on detection of only a single region. Three currently authorized molecular tests, MesaBiotech Accula , TaqPath COVID-19 Combo Kit, and Linea COVID-19 Assay Kit, may be impacted by genetic variants of SARS-CoV-2, but the impact does not appear to be significant. Importantly, the detection pattern that appears with the TaqPath and Linea diagnostic tests when certain genetic variants are present may help with early identification of new variants in patients to reduce further spread of infection. The recently identified B.1.1.7 variant has been associated with an increased risk of transmission, therefore early identification of this variant in patients may help reduce further spread of infection. The FDA has reminded clinical laboratory staff and health care providers about the risk of false negative results with all laboratory tests, including molecular tests. Laboratories should expect some false results to occur even when very accurate SARS-CoV-2 tests are used. Today's announcement also provides important information and recommendations for clinical laboratory staff and health care providers who use molecular tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The FDA will continue to communicate with the public as we have additional information to share. The FDA encourages stakeholders to report any adverse events or suspected adverse events experienced with molecular tests for detection of SARS-CoV-2. Voluntary reports can be submitted through MedWatch, the FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting program . Health care personnel and clinical laboratory staff employed by facilities that are performing COVID-19 testing should follow the reporting requirements for authorized laboratories as specified in the test's Emergency Use Authorization. Prompt reporting of adverse events can help the FDA identify and better understand the risks associated with medical devices. Additional Information: Media Contact: Audra Harrison, 301-908-6101 Consumer Inquiries: Email, 888-INFO-FDA The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines, and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation's food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products. SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration Related Links http://www.fda.gov South Korean victims of wartime sexual enslavement won their first legal victory Friday against the Japanese government in a landmark ruling. The Seoul Central District Court ordered Tokyo to make financial reparations of 100 million won (US$91,300) each to 12 "comfort women" who were dragged away from their homes and forced to work in front-line military brothels for Japanese soldiers during World War II. "Evidence, relevant materials and testimonies show that the victims suffered from extreme, unimaginable mental and physical pain due to the illegal acts by the accused. But no compensation has been made for their suffering" the court said in a verdict. In the country's first ruling of its kind, the court rejected Japan's claim that the case should be dropped based on sovereign immunity, a legal doctrine that allows a state to be immune from a civil suit in foreign courts. It sided with the victims that the rule should not apply to "systematic crimes against humanity" and war crimes. Following the court ruling, Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba summoned Nam Gwan-pyo, South Korea's top envoy in Tokyo, to lodge a protest over the court decision. He told the ambassador that the court decision is "utterly unacceptable" and expressed regret that the Seoul court denied the concept of sovereign immunity, according to Kyodo News. In a press conference, Katsunobu Kato, the top government spokesman, said Japan will not appeal the ruling. Tokyo maintains the issues of comfort women were permanently resolved through a bilateral agreement in 2015 with the then South Korean government. But the victims have called the agreement inadequate, saying it lacks a sincere apology from Tokyo and left out their voices in the negotiation process. The court viewed that state-level agreements, including the 1965 postwar treaty between Seoul and Tokyo, did not override the victims' rights to seek reparations from Japan for their hardship. The victims filed a petition for dispute settlement in August 2013, in which they claimed that they were either cheated or coerced into sexual slavery, and demanded they be compensated with 100 million won each for their suffering. However, the case could be referred to a court only in January 2016, as Tokyo had not officially responded to the South Korean court's correspondence. The court held its first hearing on the case in April last year. Only five of the 12 plaintiffs are still alive. In South Korea, there are 16 surviving victims registered with the government. According to historians, there were around 200,000 victims, mostly from Korea. Kim Kang-won, the lawyer for the plaintiffs, welcomed the verdict, saying he felt "very emotional." And he will review how to make Tokyo actually pay damages to the victims as ruled, which is expected to be an uphill battle, if history is any guide. While the ruling is lauded for finally bringing some justice -- if belatedly -- to the victims, it is also feared to further aggravate bilateral relations between Seoul and Tokyo, which are badly frayed over thorny issues, such as wartime forced labor and Tokyo's export curbs. According to Amnesty International, survivors from various countries, including Taiwan and the Philippines, have filed around 10 lawsuits against Tokyo over the past three decades, but none of them won their cases. Another ruling in a similar case is expected to come out next week. (Yonhap) Why has the Lankan MPs links to Kasargod come under the ambit of the Indian agencies Babbar Khalsa narco terror case: NIA raids six locations in Punjab India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: The National Investigation Agency conducted searches at 6 locations in Punjab's Tarn-Taran district in connection with a narco terror case. The case pertains to the seizure of 61 kilograms of Heroin along with arms and ammunition on September 20 2020 at the International border at Arnia, Jammu. The searches were conducted at the residences of six accused persons namely Jasraj Singh, Sham Lal, Bishan Dass, Ajeet Kumar, Gurbaksh Singh and Gurpartap Singh. These accused persons were arrested for hatching a criminal conspiracy to carry out anti-national and unlawful activities, and to help terrorist organisations by collecting funds and channelising the proceeds of the drugs for furthering the activities of terrorist organisations like the pro-Khalistan Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). Narco terror: Drug proceeds sent to Pakistan and Kashmir says NIA Gurpratap Singh is the kingpin of this module. In the second week of September, 2020, Gurpratap Singh had received 10 Kg of Heroin from Pakistan based handlers through his associates. The consignment in the instant case was also intended to be received by Gurpratap Singh to fund the activities of BKI in Punjab. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News During the searches conducted digital devices and other incriminating documents having financial details and accounts numbers have been seized for further scrutiny and analysis. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 9:52 [IST] A radical cleric linked to the deadly Bali bombings has been released from prison on Friday, stirring grief and anger among victims nearly 20 years after Indonesia's worst terror attack. Abu Bakar Bashir, 82, is considered the spiritual leader of militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Islamist network responsible for the 2002 Bali terror attack that killed more than 200 people, including 88 Australians. He was seen leaving Gunung Sindur prison in Bogor, West Java in the early hours on January 8, after completing a jail term for helping fund militant training in the Aceh province. Indonesian radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir (pictured) is seen leaving Gunung Sindur prison in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia on January 8 More than 200 people were killed, including 88 Australians, in the Bali Bombings in October 2002. Pictured, an aerial view of the bomb blast scene as Australian Federal Police join Indonesian counterparts in sifting through the rubble of the bomb blast scene in Kuta, Bali Originally sentenced to 15 years in 2011, the firebrand preacher's term was later cut due to regular sentence reductions handed to most prisoners in Indonesia. Bashir had been previously jailed over the Bali nightclub bombings, but that conviction was quashed on appeal. He has repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks. Bashir's lawyers had appealed for his release citing his age and risk of contracting Covid-19 in the Southeast Asian nation's notoriously overcrowded prison system. Bashir has refused to renounce his extremist views in exchange for leniency. Two years ago, plans to grant Bashir early release on humanitarian grounds sparked a backlash at home and in Australia. Dozens of Australians were killed in the Bali attacks and the early release plan was shelved. His planned release Friday brings back the 'horror of the memories' for Jan Laczynski, 51. Abu Bakar Bashir (pictured leaving prison), 82, is considered the spiritual leader of militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an Islamist network responsible for the 2002 Bali terror attack that killed more than 200 people Survivors of the Bali Bombings say they do not want Bashir released. Pictured, Indonesian police stand guard amongst the debri in Kuta Beach after the bombing of two popular bars in October 2002 Laczynski was drinking with friends at the Sari Club before flying back to Australia. Hours later, five of his friends were among the hundreds killed in the bomb blasts. 'It hurts me a lot. I wanted to see justice done,' Laczynski told AFP from Melbourne. 'There are still people even next week having operations for their burns; people are still suffering.' Several JI members implicated in the attacks were later executed or killed in confrontations with Indonesian authorities. The 2002 bombings -- and a later attack on the holiday island in 2005 -- prompted Jakarta to strengthen co-operation with the US and Australia in counter-terrorism. Al-Qaeda-linked JI was founded by a handful of exiled Indonesian militants in Malaysia in the 1980s and grew to include cells across Southeast Asia. As well as the Bali bombings, the extremist group was blamed for a 2003 car bomb at the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta and a suicide car bomb the following year outside the Australian embassy. Photo: The Canadian Press The Senate of Canada building and Senate Chamber are pictured in Ottawa. All but five of Canada's 93 senators say they have not travelled outside the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighty-eight senators say they've been following public health guidelines to refrain from international travel in bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Two have admitted to travelling abroad over the holidays. Conservative Senate leader Don Plett briefly went to Mexico before thinking better of it and returning three days later to Manitoba, where he is currently quarantining. Vern White, a member of the Canadian Senators Group, visited his wife's parents in Finland, where he is currently in quarantine. Three other senators, all members of the Canadian Senators Group, have not responded to repeated queries about whether they've been out of the country since Dec. 1. They are CSG leader Sen. Scott Tannas, deputy leader Sen. Josee Verner and Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais. Despite Covid-19 set back, the tech company launches 15 new cities on its platform, drives 6,000 times around the world with ride-hailing tours and sees 700,000 user requests per day Hamburg, 07 January 2021 / News Aktuell - FREE NOW, the leading provider of multi mobility services, today announces major milestones in the last year. The mobility platform counts its 10 millionth user in Germany and is therefore the most used ride-hailing app in the country. This milestone is especially remarkable because Germany was the market, where FREE NOWs success story began back in 2009, founded as mytaxi the app started digitalizing the industry. Today, FREE NOW is one of the leading providers for multi mobility solutions across Europe. In total, all FREE NOW drivers in Europe covered a distance of 231 million kilometres last year which is like 6,000 times around the world or flying from Earth to Mars and back. In peak times, FREE NOW saw more than 700,000 ride-hailing requests per day. From 2020, the tech company offers a diverse mix of micro mobility services like e-scooters, e-bikes and e-mopeds next to its traditional ride-hailing offer. Almost one year earlier - in summer 2019 - FREE NOW introduced its private-hire vehicle service Ride. Since then, all Ride drivers combined covered nearly 77 million kilometres in the countries the service is live - which are France, UK, Germany, Portugal and Romania. CEO of FREE NOW, Marc Berg, stated: For us as one of the leading mobility providers across Europe, it is really impressive to see that many millions of users are benefitting from our services. In addition to our well performing and growing taxi business, we are proud that new options like Ride are accelerating. Also our recently integrated micro mobility offerings are getting enormous response and are inspiring many new customers, especially in these times where safety and distance are paramount. Support for health care workers At the start of the pandemic, FREE NOW helped drivers to install separation screens, handed out face masks as well as protective gloves. In total, 38.000 FREE NOW cars are equipped with protective screens in order to reduce the risk of an infection. Furthermore, FREE NOW launched special fleet types during the first lockdown phase in various markets in order to transport medical staff for a reduced price. One of which was the Heroes service in countries like Italy, Ireland and the UK, which led up to 13% of all tours during the first lockdown in these countries. Overall, the health care workers travelled nearly 170,000 kilometres with FREE NOW. At FREE NOW, we believe it is our duty to support our community in critical times like these. We are proud that we were able to provide safe and affordable mobility to healthcare workers and support the general public with delivery services of school books, food and groceries says Berg. Expansion of countries, cities and services FREE NOW is globally present in 15 markets and 150 cities. In September, the leading mobility provider migrated its French business, which operated under the Kapten brand before, onto the FREE NOW platform. Next to the launch in Paris, Lyon and Nice, FREE NOW also expanded its service in Romania to ten additional cities as well as to Linz in Austria and is also available nationwide in Portugal. As well in countries like Ireland, where every second person above 18 years has activated the FREE NOW app, FREE NOW is continuing to grow the passenger base. With that, all drivers in Ireland drove the equivalent of 15,000 times around the country coast. Another important milestone was achieved by FREE NOW for Business: The team welcomed more than 2,500 clients in 2020. Last year also marked the start for FREE NOWs micro mobility offer: In Germany, users are now able to book VOI e-scooters, BOND e-bikes and Emmy e-vespas via the FREE NOW platform. Furthermore, FREE NOW started a partnership with the car sharing services Miles. The micro mobility offer will be massively rolled out to other markets in 2021, also further modes of transportation will be available next year. About FREE NOW: FREE NOW is the multi-service mobility joint venture backed by BMW Group and Daimler AG. Next to ride hailing, FREE NOW also offers micro-mobility services and car sharing. It consists of the services FREE NOW (10 European markets), eat (5 Latin American and 1 European market) and hive (e-scooter and e-bikes in 3 European markets). Summed up, those services currently attract 47 million users in 15 markets and more than 150 cities. FREE NOW is therefore the biggest multi-service mobility provider in Europe and the fastest-growing ride-hailer in Latin America. FREE NOW works with various third party providers to offer their customers an even wider range of options to get from A to B. In total, more than 2,200 employees in around 35 offices work for the services of FREE NOW, which is led by CEO Marc Berg. Press Contact: FREE NOW Jana Tilz Director of Communications Telephone: +49 (0) 160 95161455 E-Mail: jana.tilz@free-now.com Election 2020 Myanmar President, State Counselors Pre-Poll Campaign Activities Legal: Spokesman State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint / Myanmar State Counselors Office, Myanmar Presidents Office / Facebook YANGONNeither Myanmar President U Win Myint nor State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi did anything that breached the Constitution or the Union Election Commission (UEC)s rules and directives while taking part in the ruling partys activities ahead of the Nov. 8 vote, a government spokesperson said on Friday in response to a legal challenge mounted against the two state leaders. Mandalay-based lawyer U Zaw Wait of the Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP), which was formed by a former military advocate general, filed an application with the Supreme Court asking it to issue a writ against the President, State Counselor, military chief and the chairperson of a constitutional tribunal for failing to act within the limits of their powers. U Zaw Htay said that while the Constitution bans the President and Union ministers from engaging in party activities during their terms of office, according to Article 38(a) of the Constitution, the Union Government Law and the UECs directive regarding campaigning, government officials are allowed to participate in their parties organizational work and activities ahead of the election if they are standing as parliamentary candidates. Citing the articles and directive, the spokesperson added that the President and State Counselor had the right to take part in the partys works and that by doing so, they didnt violate the Constitution as alleged in the writ application. The details of the accusations contained in the application are still unknown. No legal violation was made by the President or State Counselor, he said during a press briefing in Naypyitaw on Friday. The President and State Counselor stood as parliamentary candidates contesting Lower House seats in Yangon Regions Tamwe and Kawhmu townships, respectively, in the election. Both were elected. The Presidents Office spokesperson dismissed the legal challenge against the state leaders as the act of people who couldnt accept their election loss. To be frank, these are the acts of those who cant accept defeat. The public who cast votes know best about the election, and whom they voted for and supported, he said. I would say those who are making false accusations are committing political suicide, he added. Following their humiliating loss to the ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on Nov. 8, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the DNP cried foul, claiming the election was unfair and marred by mass fraud, despite international and domestic election observers reporting no major irregularities. The USDP only won 71 seats (down from 117 in 2015) or 6.4 percent out of 1,117 contested seats in the Union, state and regional legislatures. The DNP did not win any seats. The NLD won a supermajority with 920 seats (82.3 percent). The DNP has filed an application of writ against the President and three other government officials, and another against the UEC chairman and 14 others. The USDP has also filed an application of writ against the UEC alleging electoral misconduct. The Supreme Court announced that all three applications would be heard via a videoconference on Jan. 29 , after which the courts preliminary hearing board will decide whether to proceed with the applications or not. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Govt Takes Steps to Rein In Controversial China-Backed Gambling Hub in Karen State Will the Position of State Counselor be Renewed by Myanmars New Government? ADVERTISEMENT Barring any last-minute changes, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State will announce the appointment of a professor of Sociology at the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, Wahab Elias, as the institutions acting vice-chancellor. Mr Elias, who is the incumbent deputy vice-chancellor in charge of academics, would take over from the outgoing 8th substantive vice-chancellor, Olanrewaju Fagbohun, whose tenure ends on Monday, January 11. The announcement is expected to be made today (Friday) by the chief press secretary to the governor, Gboyega Akosile. When contacted, Mr Akosile asked to be given time to speak on the matter. Confirming the new development to PREMIUM TIMES on the phone, a reliable source who was part of the decision, said Mr Elias will occupy the position for a period of 45 days during which a new selection process for a substantive vice-chancellor will be conducted. PREMIUM TIMES learnt that Mr Sanwo-Olus decision is as a result of the controversies that have continued to trail the selection process for the universitys 9th substantive vice-chancellor. This newspaper has extensively reported the controversies surrounding the selection process and how the dilemma faced by the governor was heightened by the pressure from interested parties including traditional rulers and political bigwigs across the state. Though the institutions governing council had shortlisted five applicants out of which three were nominated for eventual possible appointment of one by the governor, stakeholders had kicked against the process. The governor is thus believed to have nullified the nomination of the professors Olumuyiwa Odusanya, Sena Bakre and Kabir Akinyemi who were shortlisted for the position. Selection committee stands Meanwhile, Mr Sanwo-Olu has also reportedly refused to dissolve the joint council and senate committee of the university that conducted the nullified selection process. He is expected to, however, order a fresh process with a new advertisement to be made in the national dailies. According to the source, the entire process is expected to be completed within the next 45 days and the acting vice-chancellor should not exceed the 45 days in office. About Elias Mr Elias who hails from Ikorodu, Lagos East Senatorial District, is a professor of Sociology with specialisation in Demography of Agein. He also obtained a degree in Law in 2007 from Lagos State University and presented his inaugural lecture in 2017, ranking the third alumnus of the university to present his inaugural lecture. "TRUMP INCITES MOB," was the headline of the New York Times. "INSURRECTION," declared the San Francisco Chronicle. "ANARCHY," noted the Ottawa Sun. On Thursday morning, newspapers around the world attempted to make sense of the shocking event of Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., in a futile attempt to stop the Electoral College vote count to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Below is a selection of their front pages as they covered the attack on America's symbol of democracy. Ms. Hes case has been a closely watched test of the Chinese governments tolerance for the countrys small but spirited #MeToo movement. The decision by the court, in the eastern city of Hangzhou, highlights the challenges for women in China who come forward with accusations of sexual harassment and assault against prominent men. #MeToo has gained traction in China in recent years, despite the governing Communist Partys strict limits on activism and dissent and its tight control of the internet. A number of prominent men at Chinese companies, religious institutions and universities have been forced to resign after women spoke out about harassment and abuse. But many obstacles remain. Rape and sexual harassment are often considered taboo subjects in China. The authorities often discourage women from filing complaints. And in recent years men accused of harassment have sued their accusers for defamation, in what critics say is an effort to intimidate and silence them. In her article, which circulated online in China after Mr. Zou published it on his social media account, Ms. He wrote about her time in 2009 as a 21-year-old intern at Phoenix Weekly, a Chinese magazine, where Mr. Deng was the chief journalist. She said that Mr. Deng invited her to a hotel room to discuss stories, then forcibly kissed and groped her. After the article was published, Mr. Deng sued both Ms. He and Mr. Zou for defamation. The court in Hangzhou sided with Mr. Deng, saying that Ms. He and Mr. Zou had not provided enough evidence of the alleged assault. What they described lacks factual evidence and legal basis, the court said. The Hudson County Commissioners are looking to close down its chamber, citing the rise in COVID-19 cases and security concerns. The commissioners will hold a special emergency meeting Monday at 4 p.m. to vote on the temporary closure of the chambers for public meetings until further notice. While many public meetings have moved online, the commissioners meetings have been held in person and remained open to the public throughout the pandemic. The commissioners also have provided the public the option to livestream the meeting through Zoom. Commissioner Chairman Anthony Vainieri said the meetings will continue strictly online if the commissioners decide to close the chambers. We dont know whos coming in the building, Vainieri said. We are jeopardizing our safety, the staff safety and the police officers safety. New Jersey reported another 5,791 positive coronavirus cases and 112 more COVID-19 deaths Friday. Just a day before, the state had its highest positive cases reported yet with 6,314 new cases. Hudson County added 620 new cases of COVID-19 Thursday and 19 deaths since the start of the new year. You dont know who is walking through that door, Vainieri said. You dont know who has the (virus), who doesnt have the (vrius). It is scary out there and everybody has families they go home to. But Vainieri said the pandemic is not his only concern. Hed like to see a security plan in place after the events that occurred in Washington, D.C., and at several other state capital buildings. The country watched rioters urged by President Trump Wednesday rally near the Capitol Building as President-elect Joe Bidens victory was being certified by Congress. Trump supporters then stormed the Capitol, forcing senators and house members to evacuate. Five deaths, including a Capitol police officer originally from New Jersey, have been attributed to the riot. I would like to see a security plan in place, God forbid it happened in our neighborhood, Vainieri said. Commissioner Bill ODea said as long as there are no limitations on peoples ability to participate in the meeting, he is not going to raise any strong objections. Tensions between the commissioners and local protestors were at a high a month ago after the county decided to continue a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house immigrant detainees at the Kearny jail for $120 a day. The clash between the two groups has led to a complaint filed against Commissioner Anthony Romano and a temporary restraining order filed by five commissioners and County Executive Tom DeGise against protestors. At the last meeting before Christmas, four commissioners left during the public comment portion of the meeting. KASHMIR: True to its reputation of rescuing people in distress, the Indian Army yet again helped a pregnant Kashmiri woman and took her to a hospital in Kupawara. According to reports, a group of Indian Army army personnel in Karalpura in Kupwara received a distress call from a man whose wife had just gone into labour. The man was crying for help since he had no means to get his wife to the nearest hospital owing to heavy snowfall in the area. The caller, Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh, from Pharkian village told the Army personnel that he was unable to reach either the community health service vehicle or local transport. Realising the seriousness of the situation, the Army personnel quickly arrived on spot with medical staff. The troops then escorted the woman and her family for almost 2 km in knee-deep snow. braving the extremely unpleasant weather. After reaching the hospital in Karalpura, the medical staff, who had been alerted earlier, helped the woman deliver a baby boy. The Ministry of Defence also shared a video of the Army personnel carrying the pregnant woman on a stretcher on Twitter. Heavy snow in Kashmir brings unprecedented challenges for citizens, especially in higher reaches. Watch the Soldier & Awam fighting it out together by evacuating a patient to the nearest PHC for medical treatment. #ArmyForAwam#AmanHaiMuqam pic.twitter.com/DBXPhhh0RP PRO Udhampur, Ministry of Defence (@proudhampur) January 7, 2021 The incident took place at the midnight on January 5. Live TV A matter of minutes after Queensland's Chief Health Officer advised there was no need to panic buy ahead of Greater Brisbane's three-day lockdown, supermarkets across the state's south-east were inundated with shoppers. Queensland police said in a social media appeal advising against panic buying that officers were "responding to traffic congestion and crowd issues around shops" across the state's south-east. The queue at Coles in Fairfield on Friday morning, a case of minutes after the lockdown announcement. Credit:Felicity Caldwell Even supermarkets on the Sunshine and Gold coasts, which are not part of this weekend's lockdown, were slammed, as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk called for calm. "There is no need to rush out and panic buy. Groceries and essentials such as medicine will still be available while Greater Brisbane is in lockdown. Make sure you wear a mask and observe social distancing," Ms Palaszczuk posted on social media as pictures of panic buying emerged. Bugula neritina. Colony collected intertidally on Atlantic Beach, USA. Credit: SPbU Scientists from Russia, Austria, and the USA have discovered virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoaa phylum of colonial aquatic invertebratesfilter-feeders dominating in many bottom ecosystems. The research project was planned and supervised by scientists from St Petersburg University. Some of the virus-like particles resemble red blood cells, while others have a sea-urchin-like appearance. Although viruses have never been reported inside symbiotic bacteria in bryozoans, scientists suggest that this 'matryoshka doll' may have a prominent effect on the bacterial hosts. Life of most organisms on our planet is closely associated with bacterial communitiesmicrobiota that play a very important role in the health of the host, from helping to control digestion to protection of the host from infections. Bryozoa are not an exception. Inside some of these invertebrates the symbiotic bacteria live that, e.g. make larvae inedible for fish. Yet how the symbiosis can benefit the host itself still remains a mystery. Scientists from the St Petersburg University tried to solve it and eventually made an unexpected discovery. They encountered the virus-like particles in the colonies of the cheilostome bryozoan Bugula neritina that were intertidally collected from the east coastal area of the USA, and in Paralicornia sinuosa that was collected near Australia. Between bacteria of B. neritina virus-like particles were found that resembled red blood cells. The particles found inside and between bacteria of P. sinuosa were reminiscent of sea urchins. These were spherical and consisting of cylindrical/tube-like elements evenly radiating from the central double-walled 'core.' To gain a better understanding of what the particles are and what role they play in the life of moss animals, the biologists from the University established a collaboration with experts from the Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, the Russian Academy of Sciences. The virus-like particles found in bacteria inside Paralicornia sinuosa. The samples are collected on the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea, Australia. Credit: SPbU "So-called 'urchins' from the Australian bryozoan are much alike the 'metamorphosis associated contractile structures (MACs)' described by American scientists in 2014. These structures can be found inside the biofilm-forming marine bacteria Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea. MACs have the same origin as the viruses-bacteriophages. In fact, MACs are an assemblage of multiple contractile systems related to the contractile tails of myoviruses (tailed bacteriophages with contractile tails). Contacting the biofilms of Pseudoalteromonas can induce larval metamorphosis in the tubeworm Hydroides elegans. When settling, the larvae of H. elegans contact the biofilm at sea bottom, and the 'urchins' inside the biofilm inject a protein signal into the cells of the larvae. The delivery of the protein induces larval metamorphosis," said Professor Andrey Letarov, Head of the Laboratory of Microbial Viruses at the Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, RAS. Yet there are some differences, Dr. Letarov explained. The 'urchins' inside the bacteria that were studied by the Americans are very large and not well-organized," while the particles inside the bacteria of Paralicornia sinuosa are finely structured into tiny spheres. But generally speaking, there is much in common between these structures. What role the 'urchins' play in this biological system remains unclear. Yet there is some tentative evidence. "We know that in some bryozoan species, in particular in Bugula neritina, bacteria from maternal tissues are transmitted to larvae thus providing the vertical transfer of the symbionts between bryozoan generations. Viruses should be transmitted together with bacteria. Yet not all of the bacteria are moved into the larvae. Those that remain in the host can multiply producing an excess of toxic metabolites. This can pose a potential threat to the host. Presumably, the newly discovered viruses can destroy these bacteria thus regulating the symbiont number in the bryozoan hosts," said Andrew Ostrovsky, Professor at the Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg University, and head of the research project. The virus-like particles found in bacteria inside Bugula neritina. The samples are collected intertidally on Atlantic Beach, USA. Credit: SPbU "The MAC-like structures ('urchins') found in the Australian bryozoan also destroy bacteria. Yet it remains unclear whether they have analogous functions as in the system P. luteoviolaceae - H. elegans. In other words, whether they can deliver a signal from bacterial symbionts to the host," added Dr. Letarov. Much has to be done, especially in respect to molecular processes in which the virus-like particles can be involved. The scientists are planning to sequence the genome of bacteria containing these virus-like particles to reveal genetic information that regulates their formation. The work will be done in collaboration with bioinformaticians. This may help in gaining a better understanding of what proteins are produced by the 'urchins' and how they can influence other parts of this biological 'matryoshka.' Yet collecting fresh bryozoan colonies to continue this research is rather difficult task. Cultivation of the bryozoan symbiotic bacteria in the laboratory has been unsuccessful. They can be collected only in their natural habitats, which are the coastal area of Australia and the east coastal area of the USA. But even getting there, especially during the current pandemic, is very difficult. This leads scientists to consider working with similar symbiotic systems near the Marine Biological Station of the University at the White Sea. Among bryozoans found in the region, some species possess bacteria. "Viruses are non-cellular infectious agents. Presumably, they are the most numerous 'particles of life' on the planet. They can replicate, i.e. make copies of themselves, by using bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. In other words, all living organisms," Andrew Ostrovsky said. "It is a gigantic world that dates back to the period when cellular life on Earth began. It is not surprising then that viruses are deeply involved in regulation of many processes in living organisms. Without viruses, life and the planet would not exist." Explore further From the bottom of boats to the human gut, this beneficial bacterium has many uses More information: A. E. Vishnyakov et al, First evidence of virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports A. E. Vishnyakov et al, First evidence of virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-78616-4 Goldman Sachs has been forced to rebrand its unfortunately named 'Storm the Hill' conference scheduled for D.C. next week in light of Trump supporters on Wednesday violently breaking into the U.S. Capitol. The company quickly remarketed the virtual event, created to urge lawmakers to provide more aid and resources to small business owners, on Thursday after four Trump rioters died in the clashes and a Capitol cop was left on life support. The bank also called to attendants not to wear the 'Storm the Hill' t-shirts they had distributed in the mail beforehand, as the name of the January 13 event was changed to Virtual Capitol Hill Day. Goldman had used the slogan as a rallying cry for thousands of small business owners to virtually descend on the Capitol to call for further economic relief strong the pandemic. Goldman Sachs has rebranded its 'Storm the Hill' even scheduled for next week after Wednesday's violent scenes as Trump supporters rioted through the building Goldman had used the slogan as a rallying cry for thousands of small business owners to virtually descend on the Capitol to call for further economic relief strong the pandemic CEO David Solomon had been among the financial leaders to immediately speak out against the violence on Wednesday as he claimed in a statement that Americans need to 'begin reinvesting' in democracy and start to rebuild U.S. institutions. 'For years, our democracy has built a reservoir of goodwill around the world that brings important benefits for our citizens,' Solomon said. 'Recently, we have squandered that goodwill at a rapid pace, and today's attack on the U.S. Capitol does further damage. It's time for all Americans to come together and move forward with a peaceful transition of power.' CEO David Solomon, pictured above, had condemned the violence on Wednesday Solomon has also previously congratulated Joe Biden on his win in the election The event being sponsored by Goldman Sachs in D.C. next week is set to offer the opportunity for small business owners to meet with lawmakers, and participants include graduates of the bank's entrepreneur-training program called 10,000 Small Businesses. In a memo sent on Thursday to attendees, the company explained that the slogan was initially chosen 'to represent our enthusiasm to take part in a democratic process to advocate for small business'. 'If you have other 10,000 Small Businesses apparel, we would encourage you to wear it,' the memo added, according to the Wall Street Journal. The bank has been involved in lobbying on behalf of small business owners for rent and child-care assistance and favorable tax treatment for emergency pandemic loans that have kept their businesses running despite the shutdowns. It is also pushing for liability protection as employees return to work with the nation's outbreak still worsening. 'On June 9th -11th, 2,100 small business owners joined the 10,000 Small Businesses Voices Virtual Capitol Hill Week to connect with Members of Congress through 434 online meetings to make their voices heard on Capitol Hill,' the event's website states. 'Participants also attended programming on topics such as adapting to a new operating environment, preparing for a phased re-opening, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on Black communities.' Ahead of the conference, on Tuesday Goldman had 10,000 'Help Still Wanted' signs on the lawn of Capitol Hill as they continued with its plea. Solomon was also in D.C. this week where he met with small business owners and predicted that they will survive the current storm. On Tuesday Goldman had 10,000 'Help Still Wanted' signs on the lawn of Capitol Hill as part of its push for lawmakers to offer more support for small businesses during the pandemic 'A lot of small businesses have had to make some investment in digitization and technology to connect to their customers more digitally than directly,' Solomon said, according to Axios. 'Some of that will last and will help their businesses. 'I think that there's probably a good chance we're going to need more to help us get to the light at the end of the tunnel and get past the pandemic,' he added. 'My guess is we'll have to do a little bit more.' There have now been four fatalities linked to the breach of the U.S. Capitol yesterday, as lawmakers have questioned how law enforcement had not prepared for the large crowds descending on D.C. given that Trump had been promoting the 'Stop the Steal' rally for weeks. As of Thursday night, a Capitol police officer is also on life support after allegedly being hit with a fire extinguisher and suffering a stroke. OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio -- Late last year, Mayor James Graven announced that the city is receiving $75,000 from the state capital spending budget. The funds are earmarked for new playground equipment at Village Green Park. The kids will be happy were going to replace antiquated equipment, Graven said. Hopefully, well try to add another $75,000 to the project. One of my goals for 2021 is to improve parks and recreation, so were hoping to have it installed in late spring or early summer. The mayor said the plan is to meet with Olmsted Falls Service Director Joe Borczuch and Park and Recreation Board Chairperson Jill Lukes regarding the new equipment at the popular Columbia Road park. Lukes said the equipment will not only have unique accessibility elements, but will also deliver more value to the community. Obviously, were thrilled the administration put in this request for funding in 2020, Lukes said. We intend to work with the service department, since they have experience with relatively large projects like this. A recent example was building the bathrooms at East River Park. So well get every penny of value out of that $75,000 by leveraging resources within the city through the service department. The state money is tied to the recent $2.1 billion capital bill, which includes many school, infrastructure, public service and local community projects. While Olmsted Falls initially requested $400,000 -- which would have included park upgrades at both Village Green Park and East River Park -- the mayor is happy to receive $75,000. You always ask for a little bit more as a cushion, Graven said. Obviously, you dont always get the full amount, but were very happy and thankful that the state awarded $75,000.. Read more news from the Sun Post Herald. Stripped of all meaning, Branchburg resident Kyle Kappmeier merely wanted to have a bottle of sand dumped onto the ground. But actions are rarely meaningless. Kappmeier said hes been a proud supporter of the military for most of his life, developing the appreciation through stories from his grandfathers, who both served in World War II, and continuing that gratitude for those who serve up until present day. Its a big focus for me to support the military and recognize the sacrifices that they made, Kappmeier said. Its something I raise my kids on. Serve those who serve us. Thats why, when he received sand from Iwo Jima as a gift from a friend in the Marines, he was compelled to store it in a glass container he had laser engraved, prominently displayed atop a bookshelf in his office, and why he later determined even that wasnt enough for this gift he deemed so sacred. Instead, he realized the proper home was the John Basilone Statue in Raritan Borough in Somerset County, a statue he has driven past countless times on the way to his Branchburg home, and one that honors an idolized Marine who fought at Guadalcanal and Iwo Jima. I was immediately blown away by that (gift), Kappmeier said. I dont know what I did to deserve that. I wasnt a Marine, so I felt like it wasnt something that was rightfully mine to have on display. (Basilone) is just a legendary and iconic figure, and the fact the he grew up so closely connected to where I currently live, I felt like I was being pointed in that direction. Basilone, who was raised in Raritan, served as a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sgt. in World War II. He was awarded the Medal of Honor when he carried 90 pounds of weapons to assist a disabled gun crew under attack by enemy fire in Guadalcanal. Throughout the attack by Japanese troops, Basilone ran back and forth between gun pits to supply his fellow Marines with ammunition. At the end of the battle, which raged for two days, only Basilone and two other Marines were left alive. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism, subsequently returning to the battlefield, where he died in February 1945 during the invasion of Iwo Jima. Basilone was given the Navy Cross posthumously. Kappmeier enlisted the help of Marines stationed at Recruiting Sub Station Somerville to complete the task he deemed too sacred for a civilian to do. Pictured, from left, Marine Staff Sgt. Wyatt Barr, Kyle Kappmeier and Marine Staff Sgt. Steward Bach posed next to the John Basilone statue after pouring sand from the coastline at Iwo Jima on the ground in front. Words cant describe the honor we felt, as Marines, to be able to be a part of that, Staff Sgt. Steward Bach said. There isnt a Marine on the face of the planet who doesnt know (Basilones) name. Bach went on to explain how meaningful the gesture truly was, detailing the importance of the Battle of Iwo Jima in the eyes of Marines, describing the island as hallowed ground and explaining it has become a right of passage for Marines to walk the beach and gather their own collection of sand. Bach said Basilone has come to symbolize the essence of service over self. Thats the biggest reason why hes so important to Marines, Bach explained. He decided to go back. He portrays that archetype of what a Marine is. That bond of brotherhood, having your brothers backs. To us hes a hero because of the way he lived his life and the specific way that he died. Those two concepts put together show how difficult it is to take that symbolic sand that he fought on, and to put it on his symbolic monument in the town he was raised in. It makes sense that Kappmeier would think to make that symbolic gesture. Kappmeier said one of his biggest regrets in life is not joining his childhood friends David and Jacob Schuhlein into the military, but he has found ways to honor those who serve throughout his life, sending care packages to Marines and honoring firefighters and police officers in his local community with charitable donations. A big part of that service was the relationship Kappmeier developed with Jacob Schuhlein, with their friendship rekindled thanks to social media in the late 2000s and Kappmeier making a point to reach out after seeing that Schuhlein was going to be stationed in Korea. He truly deserves to be recognized for a lot of stuff hes done for a lot of people, Jacob Schuhlein said, when asked about Kappmeier. He just made me feel like I was doing something for a purpose, and I always felt that my young Marines should enjoy that atmosphere too. That type of service became fairly regular for Kappmeier, who would send care packages to Schuhlein and his Marines with magazines, candy and baby wipes. To Kappmeier, it was just a small gesture to show his appreciation any way he could. Its that type of character that Schuhlein said is the reason he eventually gifted Kappmeier the sand from Iwo Jima. Kyle is the only person Ive ever given Iwo Jima sand to, Schuhlein said. I hold that ground that Ive walked on, on that island, as sacred as my children being born. It is a true historic battleground where prior Marines selflessly walked on that island, knowing that the odds were definitely not in their favor. The laser engraved glass container Kyle Kappmeier originally stored the sand from Iwo Jima in, perched atop the bookcase in his home office. At first, Kappmeier thought of the sand as a conversation starter. He felt obligated to use this gift to spread awareness of what those in the military have done for the country. Its a lesson he tries to instill in family, friends and especially his two children, who he said hed support if they want to pursue careers in the military when theyre older. Still, it wasnt until Kappmeier rewatched the HBO miniseries The Pacific, while stuck at home during the coronavirus pandemic, that the idea of the statue came to mind with Basilone a character in the limited series. It was a poetic conclusion to Kappmeier, but it was an even more meaningful moment to the Marine who gifted him the sand, and the two Marines who helped him use it to honor Basilone at the memorial. Im truly honored by the way he handled it, Schuhlein said. Im trying to get him more sand because I know he selflessly sacrificed the sand that was given to him. I know that means more than anything to him to do that because thats just the type of human being he is. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Evan Slavit may be reached at eslavit@njadvancemedia.com. China silent on independent probe on charges of COVID-19 leak from Wuhan bio lab Milkha Singh continues to be stable, shifted out of ICU; wife admitted with COVID pneumonia COVID-19 origin: Biden asks US intel community to investigate, calls on China to cooperate New COVID variant: Air India flight with 256 from UK to land in Delhi India oi-Briti Roy Barman New Delhi, Jan 08: An Air India flight from UK to be land in Delhi shortly with 256 passengers on board amid concerns about the fast-spreading new coronavirus variant that emerged in Britain. Flights from UK have been resumed today after the government suspended services between Indian and UK on December 23 following the spreading. The number of people who have tested positive for the new UK variant in India has climbed to 73. According to the government, 30 flights will operate every week - 15 each by Indian and UK carriers. This will stand till 23 January, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri has said. New study suggests Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine protects against virus variant that erupted in Britain, SA The Delhi airport has advised passengers to keep a gap of at least 10 hours between their arrival from UK and the connecting flight to their cities. Meanwhile, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal tweeted, "The Centre has decided to lift the ban and start UK flights. In view of the extremely serious situation in UK, I would urge central government to extend the ban till January 31." Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News "With great difficulty, people have brought COVID situation in control. UK's COVID situation is very serious. Now, why lift ban and expose our people to risk?" the CM said. The Ambala animal husbandry department on Friday collected 40 samples from poultry and wild birds to test them for avian influenza. Two of the three samples sent from poultry farms in Panchkulas Barwala belt to High Security Animal Disease Laboratory in Bhopal tested positive on Friday. More than four lakh poultry birds have died in Panchkulas Barwala and Raipur Rani belts, that are just 30 kilometres away from the Naraingarh subdivision in Ambala. This has prompted the administration to constitute 26 teams comprising doctors, paramedic staff and other officials, who will keep an eye on nearly 46 lakh poultry birds at different farms in the district. However, no unusual death of domesticated or wild birds has been reported anywhere in the district, said Dr Devender Dhull, assistant poultry development officer. As a precautionary measure, we have collected 40 samples from different poultry farms and wild ponds where migratory birds are found, mostly in Jalbera area of Ambala City. The samples will be sent to the Jalandhar-based Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory on Saturday morning to test them for bird flu, Dhull added. Deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Sharma said instructions have been issued to the department to keep a close eye on poultries. Special teams are also inspecting the wetland areas in Naraingarh belt and other areas where migratory birds had arrived last year, officials said. Pupils have been swabbing themselves as school nurses watch on despite proof rapid tests only work if they are administered properly. Students at Oasis Academy in Coulsdon, Surrey, were sent the kits on Monday and given instructions by nurses on how to carry out the tests themselves. Only vulnerable children or those whose parents are key workers are allowed to attend lessons in person during the latest national lockdown. It comes as figures suggest schools could still be attended by up to 20 per cent of pupils. But children are now being supervised by nurses, similar to how some walk-in testing centres are run, rather than having a nurse carry out the tests themselves. The idea is that fewer medical experts or volunteers are needed allowing a larger number of people to be test more quickly. But multiple studies show lateral flow tests - when self-administered - could miss cases, due to the force and depth needed to collect a sample. It comes as calls to limit the number of children in school is growing, with attendance levels surging to more than 50 per cent in some areas. Student Molly Tinker takes a COVID-19 test at Oasis Academy in Coulsdon, Surrey, today Student Ruby Soden receives instructions on how to self-administer her coronavirus test Student Henry Parker receives instructions and equipment on how to take his virus test Student Lily Mae Milliman takes her COVID-19 test using a mirror to assist in using the swab After use the swab is placed into a reacting agent which shows whether the user has Covid The tests were sent out to schools before they were shut down under the UK's new lockdown The tests, which give results in as little as 15 minutes, use swabs of the nose or throat. Samples are then mixed in a testing liquid and put into a plastic cassette which can detect the presence or absence of coronavirus and then produce an image of a line, the same way as a pregnancy test, to indicate whether it is positive or negative. Experts recommend a trained nurse or professional carries out the insertion of the swab to get to the necessary spot, which can be extremely uncomfortable. Experts warned last year some self-tests are less accurate because they use shorter swabs and do not need to be inserted as deeply into the nose. And in December a study in the British Medical Journal warned the rapid test kits were not as effective as others. The findings of a pilot of 3,199 people blew a hole in the Government's mass testing strategy, which featured plans to hand out millions of 30-minute tests to allow Britons to go back to living life normally. The lateral flow tests produced by US-based Innova only pick up 48.89 per cent of active infections, according to a University of Liverpool pilot programme. It contradicted earlier lab tests, which found the test had an overall sensitivity of 76.8 per cent, rising to 95 per cent in individuals with a high viral load. It said the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was more accurate and gained better detection results. The BMJ report said: 'The Innova Lateral Flow SARS-CoV-2 antigen test failed to detect three in 10 cases with the highest viral loads, in preliminary data released from the field evaluation of testing in asymptomatic people.' Jonathan Ball, professor of molecular virology at the University of Nottingham, said they did have a practical use and defended them. There fears self-administered tests could miss cases, due to the depth needed to take swab Professional use swabs are longer and when administered by a nurse can be painful He said: 'Even though it won't detect as many infected individuals as the PCR test, it will identify those with the highest viral loads, and it's those people who are most likely to go on to infect others. 'It won't replace other tests like PCR, but it is a useful additional tool for coronavirus control.' Instructions for some of the tests say: 'No force is needed and you do not have to push far into your nostril.' However, professional-use swabs - which are much longer and are designed to take samples from the 'floor' of the nose - can make people gag, their eyes water or even trigger nosebleeds when carried out properly. Infectious disease specialists say letting people do swabs themselves - notoriously difficult even for trained medics - makes false negatives more likely. False negatives mean people who are infected with the virus are wrongly told they're in good health. Infectious disease specialists say letting people do swabs makes false negatives more likely Schools could still spread coronavirus Covid-19 infections will continue to spread through classrooms where high numbers of children are attending schools in the lockdown, experts have warned. Scientific advice group Independent Sage is calling for the definition of key workers to be narrowed and for increased financial support or furlough to be given to those who cannot work amid a large demand for school places. The group of scientists, chaired by former chief scientific adviser Sir David King, warns that underprivileged children are being exposed to a 'greater risk of infection' due to the high number of pupils who are eligible to attend class. The warning came after the Government told schools not to limit the number of children of key workers onsite during the national lockdown in England - and it said vulnerable children should be strongly encouraged to attend. Headteachers have been reporting a high demand for places after students in schools and colleges - except children of key workers and vulnerable pupils - were told to learn remotely until mid-February. Vulnerable children can include 'pupils who may have difficulty engaging with remote education at home' due to a lack of devices or a quiet space to study. The report from Independent Sage says: 'First ... this undermines the whole point of school closures making the policy less effective and therefore extending the period of closure. 'Second, it exposes underprivileged children to still greater risk of infection.' Addressing high demand from key worker parents, it adds: 'This is in danger of increasing the number in school to a point where the policy becomes less effective and the ability of teachers to deliver remote learning is undermined.' Independent Sage is calling for the creation of a national education task force involving Government, councils, teachers, parents and students to 'create a more Covid-secure environment in schools'. Advertisement John Murphy, CEO of Oasis Trust, said on Monday before the lockdown and general school closures: 'What we know for sure is that our young people make the best progress with quality first teaching, with their teachers, in the classroom with their friends. 'Therefore, once effectively delivered, we are assured that mass testing in schools will provide additional confidence to our children, parents, teachers and staff, and has the potential to greatly reduce disruption to learning, alongside our existing Covid controls. 'In January we will be piloting the testing in a number of our schools before implementing this to all our secondary academies across the country.' Schools were given comprehensive online training modules with 1,500 military personnel on hand to provide advice and guidance on establishing the process. Britain's current guidelines mean there is no rule to tell them to stay at home after a negative test, even if they have symptoms. Medics say Britain is out of step with other countries such as New Zealand - which contained its Covid-19 outbreak quickly, which place less importance on tests and do them multiple times. Norwich-based researcher Dr Katherine Deane, branch equalities officer for the University and College Union, is worried about how effective infection control will be. She told the Eastern Daily Press: 'Schools don't have experts in infection control, so the level of precision there will be on the set up, the cleaning of the area, the wearing of personal protective equipment and the ventilation is all worrying. 'When you have a swab test, that tends to produce a cough - a gag reflex and the droplets go into the air. 'The big ones will fall quickly, but the fine ones can stay in the air for up to an hour. 'And yet, the idea of the testing is that you get a student swabbed, you clean up and five minutes later the next student is tested. 'It means the volunteers supervising can be at higher risk of infection and, unless the infection control is meticulous, the venues run the risk of being the site of super-spreader events.' Professor Jon Deeks, a biostatistics expert at the University of Birmingham, said: 'A single negative test result doesn't exclude the disease. You can so easily miss the virus - they give a lot of false negatives.' Research suggests up to 30 per cent of professional swab tests return false negatives, meaning the number of positive cases may be underestimated by thousands. It is not clear how inaccurate self-swabs are, even though they are being carried out more than 60,000 times a day in the UK. The Department of Health will not release data about the false negative rates of its tests. The UK is spending more than 1billion on rapid coronavirus swab tests to try and achieve Operation Moonshot an ambition of testing everyone in the country at least once per week. HOW LATERAL FLOW TESTS ARE ONLY TRUSTWORTHY WHEN ADMINISTERED BY TRAINED STAFF Lateral flow tests are only accurate at diagnosing coronavirus when administered by trained professionals, studies have repeatedly shown. The tests, which give results in as little as 15 minutes, use swabs of the nose or throat. Samples are then mixed in a testing liquid and put into a plastic cassette which can detect the presence or absence of coronavirus and then produce an image of a line, the same way as a pregnancy test, to indicate whether it is positive or negative. The Department of Health and NHS are instructing people to use the tests on themselves, despite manufacturers of some kits saying they shouldn't be used as DIY swabs. Both the swabbing procedure and the use of the test cassette can easily be done wrong and affect the accuracy of the test. If the swab isn't done for long enough, or deep enough into the nose or throat, it may not pick up fragments of virus. Medical professionals are also able to use nasopharyngeal swabs, which go right to the back of the nostril, whereas this is not advised for people who test themselves. And if the sample isn't properly inserted into the cassette the result might be wrong, or people may misread the display when it produces a result. SELF-TESTING CUT ACCURACY FROM 79% TO 58% A University of Oxford and Public Health England evaluation of the Innova lateral flow test, which is being widely used in the UK, found its sensitivity - the proportion of positive cases it detected - fell from 79 per cent to 58 per cent when it was used by untrained members of the public instead of lab experts. Based on this evaluation, officials pushed ahead and used it for a real-world self-testing trial. PILOT IN LIVERPOOL FOUND FEWER THAN HALF OF POSITIVES When the same Innova test was trialled on members of the public in Liverpool - with people taking their own swabs and trained military staff operating the tests - the swabs picked up just 40 per cent of positive cases. In the study the rapid tests detected 891 positive results, compared to lab-based PCR swabs that found 2,829 positives in the same group. This means 1,938 people got a wrong negative result from the rapid test. The study didn't compare this to professionally done rapid tests, but the manufacturer Innova claims its test is 95 per cent sensitive in lab conditions. ...BUT TESTING DONE BY MEDICS IN SLOVAKIA 'REDUCED INFECTIONS' Despite rapid lateral flow tests getting bad press, officials in Slovakia used them on 5.2million people - almost the entire population of 5.5m - in a trial that a study later estimated to have cut the country's infection rate by 60 per cent. The tests used were between 70 and 90 per cent accurate and all the swabs and evaluations were carried out by trained medical workers. They used deep nasopharyngeal swabs, that go to the back of the nose, whereas self-testing generally relies on a swab of only the nostril. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine researchers said that the scheme successfully weeded out coronavirus cases that wouldn't have been found otherwise, slashing the number of cases by over half in a week during a lockdown. HOW RAPID TESTS ARE DIFFERENT TO LAB-BASED PCR SWABS Lateral flow tests are an alternative to the gold standard PCR test - known scientifically as polymerase chain reaction testing - which is more expensive and more labour-intensive but more accurate. PCR tests also use a swab but this is then processed using high-tech laboratory equipment to analyse the genetic sequence of the sample to see if any of it matches the genes of coronavirus. This is a much more long-winded and expensive process, involving multiple types of trained staff, and the analysis process can take hours, with the whole process from swab to someone receiving their result taking days. It is significantly more accurate, however. In ideal conditions the tests are almost 100 per cent accurate at spotting the virus, although this may be more like 70 per cent in the real world. Advertisement In a TV briefing at the end of October Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: 'We now have the immediate prospect of using many millions of cheap, reliable and above all rapid turnaround tests. 'Tests that you can use yourself to tell whether or not you are infectious and get the result within ten to 15 minutes. 'And we know from trial across the country in schools and hospitals that we can use these tests not just to locate infectious people but to drive down the disease. 'And so over the next few days and weeks, we plan a steady but massive expansion in the deployment of these quick turnaround tests.' He said they would be applied in 'an ever-growing number of situations' including in hospitals to testing 'whole towns and even whole cities'. But scientists warned the tests weren't accurate enough for people to consider themselves Covid-free if they get a negative result. Loughborough University's Dr Duncan Robertson said in a series of tweets about the Liverpool report: 'So... we have a mass testing regime that has large numbers of false negatives. The problem with this is that people may take tests, be told the test is negative, and then believe they are negative. 'This can put vulnerable people at risk, and those in the communities in which they reside, such as residents in care homes. 'The vital message is - if you have a negative test it does not mean you are not infectious or will not be infectious.' Meanwhile calls to limit the number of children in school is growing, with attendance levels surging to more than 50 per cent in some areas. Head teachers are in an 'impossible position' as they cannot allow all eligible pupils to attend while reducing 'social mixing'. Some schools have seen five-fold increases in demand for places from key worker families compared to the last lockdown. And pupils are in 'super-size' bubbles of up to 32 children, leaving staff 'genuinely scared' about the potential spread of Covid. The Department for Education has widened the categories of vulnerable children who can still go to school and added more critical workers whose children can also attend. The already extensive key worker list now includes Brexit transition staff. But last night the department updated its guidance to clarify that 'children with at least one parent or carer who is a critical worker can go to school or college if required'. However, these 'parents and carers should keep their children at home if they can'. An accompanying DfE blog said: 'If a child has a parent who is a critical worker, it is for the parent to decide whether they are able to keep the child at home. We encourage parents to consider the spirit of lockdown when making their decision.' The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) have called for urgent clarification on the 'maximum' number of pupils that can attend. It comes as Independent Sage a group of scientists who offer an alternative view to the Government's advisers yesterday said that underprivileged children are now at 'risk of greater infection' as they can attend lessons if they do not have access to digital devices at home. It has recommended that the Government narrows the definition of key workers. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said making 'lack of internet access a vulnerable criteria' has 'only added to the numbers physically' in classrooms. Schools have experienced a much higher demand for places during this lockdown, with reports of some 'having 50-70 per cent' attendance levels. This is an issue as schools aid the transmission of the virus. One in 27 secondary pupils and one in 39 primary pupils had Covid-19 on Christmas Day, according to the Office for National Statistics. Mr Whiteman added: 'Schools have been put in an impossible position. They cannot meet the demand created by Government and reduce social mixing. We would urge the Government to be clear about how many pupils on-site is too many, if the virus is to be suppressed.' Geoff Barton, general secretary of ASCL, said: 'We are hearing reports that attendance in some primary schools is in excess of 50 per cent because of demand from critical workers and families with children classed as vulnerable under criteria which has been significantly widened. We are urgently seeking clarification about the maximum number who should be in school.' Half of all pupils at Willerby Carr Lane Primary School in the East Riding of Yorkshire are still attending lessons. Some 187 children turned up for class on Wednesday in 'super-size' bubbles ranging in size from 25 to 32 pupils. Invicta Primary School in Deptford, south-east London, has five times as many pupils still attending compared to the last lockdown. Journalist Clive Irvings clear-eyed and richly detailed new biography, The Last Queen: Elizabeth IIs Seventy Year-Battle to Save the House of Windsor, covers the British monarchs life from her father King George VIs 1937 coronation, when she was 11, to her grandson Prince Harrys wedding in 2018. Irving explains ten little-known facts about the worlds oldest reigning monarch. At the age of 94, Queen Elizabeth II has ruled through seven decades of enormous social and political changes to her realmand the world. In The Last Queen, I focus on the major crises of her life and how wellor notshe has responded to them. With a line of male heirs ahead, and an uncertain future for the monarchy, she will likely be the last queen of the United Kingdom. 1. The queens nanny caused a scandal by going public. Members of the royal household rarely go public with the reality of life in Buckingham Palace. The first to do so was Marion Crawford, affectionately known as Crawfie, who was nanny to the young Princess Elizabeth and her sister Margaret during WWII and was regarded as a member of the family. In 1949, she sold her memoirs to a womans magazine. It was an adoring and anodyne account, but it shocked the family and made a pariah of Crawfie. Later, both Princess Diana and Prince Charles were embarrassed by people who broke the sacred rule that nobody should cash in on their inside knowledge. 2. The queen knows what to look for if there is trouble under the hood. In February 1945, Elizabeth enlisted in the Womens Auxiliary Territorial Service and trained as a driver and mechanic (though she was allowed to return each night to her home at Windsor Castle). She was required to learn the essentials of car mechanics and maintenance at a time when army vehicles were very basic. As a result, she later took to driving Land Rovers on her private estates because they were derived from a military jeep-like design and she was able to diagnose any problemsthough that would not include changing a tire. 3. Both the queen and her sister complained that they had been poorly educated. Elizabeths education went deep on only one subject, the amorphous English constitution. At that time, university was thought unsuitable for the princesses, but their Victorian-style home schooling was no substitute. Later the queen said she felt the lack of a broader knowledge. Margaret was freer to develop wide cultural interests, as she had a far wider circle of friends in the arts. But at the age of 94, the queens life has been an education in itself, beyond that of any other monarch. 4. The queens sister falsely made her look cold-hearted. The first family crisis to face the queen was caused by Princess Margaret. In 1953, at the age of 23, Margaret fell in love with a handsome war veteran and top royal aide, Group Captain Peter Townsend, who was15 years older than her and about to be divorced. It was commonly believed that the queen opposed the marriage. In fact, Elizabeth was ready to allow the marriage when Margaret reached the age of 25. In 2004, when official papers of the time were finally released, they revealed that Margaret had cooled on Townsend. But the image of a fairytale romance being thwarted by officials and the queen was a myth that Margaret chose to leave in place. 5. Prince Philip bitterly fought to change the family name. For the first decade of the queens reign, her husband Prince Philip waged a relentless campaign to change the royal name from Windsor to Mountbatten-Windsor. It was instigated by his uncle, and mentor, Lord Louis Mountbatten, who wanted to restore the connection to the royal familys German roots. One prime minister who tried to mediate, Harold Macmillan, was shocked by Philips brutal attitude. The queen was in tears as she tried to placate Philip. Eventually, a compromise was reached: grandchildren not in the line of succession would take the name Mountbatten-Windsor. Hence, Prince Harry and Meghan Markles son Archie is a Mountbatten-Windsor. 6. The queens favorite destination in the U.S. is Kentucky. During her reign, Elizabeth has spent five vacations in the Bluegrass State. This is because her greatest personal passion is horse breeding and racing. When in Kentucky, she was the guest at the homes of some of Americas richest men, who shared her passion and knowledge. One courtier present during these visits has noted that in that company she felt very much at homethere was an atmosphere of informality and gaiety I never saw in England. Guests were all from the horse world; conversations rarely strayed from thoroughbred topics. 7. The queen is one of the richest women in the world. She has a fortune reckoned to be about $26.5 billion, even though her father started out relatively poor. In 1931, when he was Duke of York, he had to sell his six hunting horses to save money as the worlds economies collapsed in the Great Depression. When George VI died in 1952, the government decided, in secret, that the new queen should not pay tax on her income from investments. The crown has huge holdings in real estate, particularly in central London, where the book value has multiplied many times over. Together with a portfolio of stocks managed for her by financial experts, those holdings have pushed Elizabeth to a level of riches unimaginable in 1931. 8. The queen knowingly protected a Soviet mole for 15 years. In 1979, Sir Anthony Blunt, curator of the Buckingham Palace art collection, was publicly revealed as a Soviet spy. Fifteen years earlier, British security services had disclosed his role to the queen. In WWII, Blunt had passed to the Russians a torrent of military secrets, and was part of a long-term spy ring finally uncovered by the FBI. It was a devastating act of treachery, but the British government and the queen decided to let Blunt remain in his post until a later prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, outed him. The queen has never explained her readiness to overlook Blunts treachery. 9. The queen had to give up her private yacht and airline. In 1954, a year after her coronation, Queen Elizabeth took delivery of Britannia, a large and luxurious royal yacht. The family also had exclusive use of two small airliners operated by the Royal Air Force and their own royal train, fitted out with all the comforts of the Orient Express. The queen insisted that the yacht should be furnished like her suite in Buckingham Palace, even down to the same telephones, rather than naval issue. Eventually, both Britannia and the royal flight had to be given up, as expensive relics of a more extravagant age. Only the royal train remains, but its rarely used. 10. Prince Andrew is the the queens favorite son. Caught in the scandal surrounding the sexual predator Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew has been stripped of his office at Buckingham Palace, dropped by all the charities associated with his name, and barred from all public duties. Yet Andrew has always been the queens favorite son, and she is still reluctant to condemn his behavior. For decades, Prince Charles has resented this, and he has now been instrumental in sending Andrew to the gulag. Charles has always felt his parents never really understood him, which is true. Andrew much more complied with their stereotypical ideal of a muscular, outward-going prince, even though he has turned out to be arrogant and shallow. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, one of President Donald Trumps original Cabinet members, resigned on Thursday evening after the president incited a mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6. The resignation, effective Friday, brings an end to one of the most contentious periods in recent Education Department (ED) history. Beyond the ED being sued 455 times during her tenure the most in any administration since ED became a Cabinet-level agency in 1980 what is Devos legacy? I don't think there's going to be much of a legacy once the Biden folks get to work, Michael Petrilli, a former ED official and current head of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a right-leaning think tank, told Yahoo Finance. The things that they did via guidance or regulation are going to be undone pretty quickly. President-elect Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos pose for a photo after their meeting at Trump International Golf Club, November 19, 2016 in Bedminster Township, New Jersey. (Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images) DeVos didnt enact much lasting policy, recently lamenting that the federal government was even more bureaucratic than any of us could have ever imagined, and it takes longer to get anything done than I could have ever imagined. The DeVos-era footprint is largely shaped by litigation related to overturning Obama-era policies, her policies focused on disempowering the public K-12 school system, and her defense of for-profit colleges. The ED declined multiple interview requests and requests for comment. Getting government out of the way DeVos became the 11th Secretary of Education in February 2017 after a rocky confirmation hearing. When asked if she believed guns had a place in schools, DeVos responded that she would leave that decision up to local governments. She added that in Wyoming, I would imagine that there is probably a gun in the schools to protect from potential grizzlies. DeVos won confirmation after a tie-breaking vote cast by Vice President Mike Pence, marking the first time in U.S. history that a vice presidents vote was necessary to approve a Cabinet nominee. Betsy DeVos, President-elect Donald Trump's pick to be the next Secretary of Education, testifies during her confirmation hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill January 17, 2017 in Washington, DC. (Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) A billionaire from Michigan and Republican mega donor, as well as sister of Blackwater Founder Erik Prince, DeVos embarked on an aggressive mission to dismantle ED policies put in place during the eight-year administration of President Barack Obama. Secretary DeVos characterized her approach as getting government out of the way so that teachers could do their jobs, Adam Kissel, former deputy assistant secretary for higher education from 2017 to 2018 at ED, told Yahoo Finance. (Kissel wrote about his experience at ED in a recent op-ed.) That ethos manifested in 2020 as schools looked for federal-level direction amid the coronavirus pandemic. Joanne Weiss, the chief of staff to Obama-era Education Secretary Arne Duncan and the director of the Race to the Top Program, told Yahoo Finance that the lack of ED directives in 2020 was absolutely unconscionable. The superintendents were supposed to understand the science and make these decisions for themselves. The government just completely abdicated its responsibility during the coronavirus it was just a sham of what government is supposed to do. A teacher works with a student behind a shield at Freedom Preparatory Academy on September 10, 2020 in Provo, Utah. (Photo: GEORGE FREY/AFP via Getty Images) Ironically, the biggest obstacle DeVos faced may have been her boss: The Trumpian psychodrama, according to Rick Hess, director of education studies at the right-leaning American Enterprise Institute, made it even more difficult to enact any new education policies. Trump's personality and approach to the office were horribly suited to trying to get anything done in education, Hess said, explaining that enacting education policy requires putting together coalitions that have some component of crossing and Trumps entire approach was predicated on polarizing various sides of any given issue. Amid renewed urgency to reopen schools as new studies came out that seemingly revealed that children were not transmitting coronavirus at high levels, for example, Trump managed to make it such a culture war clash, Hess noted. I think [that situation] could have been a real opportunity for Secretary DeVos and the administration to get up front saying, Well, we have to protect educators and communities, but schools have got to be their job. U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the daily coronavirus response briefing as Education Secretary Betsy DeVos looks on at the White House in Washington, U.S., March 27, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst When people tell you who they are, you should listen DeVos, who previously spearheaded a radical expansion of charter schools in Michigan, directed a lot of ED energy toward the K-12 space. DeVos never cared about public education that 90% of kids go to, Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers, told Yahoo Finance Live. She basically cared about undermining it, and dismantling it, and destabilizing it. And so, she leaves a legacy of basically just undermining what people tried to do as educators. Roughly 90% of American students in the K-12 system attend public schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, while the remaining 10% attend private schools. U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos testifies before the House Education Committee on "Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education" on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S., May 22, 2018. (Photo: REUTERS/Leah Millis) National Education Association Chief Becky Pringle, head of a union that represents 3 million educators, asserted that there are no highlights to the DeVos era. When people tell you who they are, you should listen, Pringle told Yahoo Finance of DeVos. And I think that Donald Trump did. And the purpose of her being in that position was to advance her herself and other billionaires who saw education as an industry that they could mine, and do their very best to destroy. A 2020 Network for Public Education report revealed that the federal government spent more than $1 billion on ghost schools charter schools that never opened. The data highlights how Michigan, where DeVos had led the charter school push, had been granted $111,074,605 in federal tax dollars since 1995 through EDs Charter Schools Program with dismal results. Echoing Weingarten, Pringle added: For the Secretary of Education to be someone who ignored 90% of the students who are in public schools and spent her time focusing on 10% of the students who are in private schools really pretty much says everything you need to know. US Education Secretary Betsy DeVos (L), Ivanka Trump (C) and Eric Trump walk to board Marine One at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 31, 2018 as US President Donald Trump departs for Florida. (Photo: NICHOLAS KAMM / AFP) Decimated the office of civil rights Pringle also asserted that DeVos decimated the Office for Civil Rights in the Department of Education because she had no intention of being a champion for students. The Education Departments Office for Civil Rights is responsible for investigating discrimination complaints in U.S. schools and often deals with issues and objections based on race, sex, and disability. Under DeVos, more cases were closed in 2018 and 2019 than in any year during Obamas presidency. DeVos also made changes to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, which protects people from discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities that receive federal financial assistance. Under the new provisions, those accused of campus sexual harassment and assault would be granted expanded protections. U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos testifies during a hearing before House Education and Labor Committee December 12, 2019 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. (Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images) We can, and must, condemn sexual violence and punish those who perpetrate it while ensuring a fair grievance process, DeVos said in 2018. Those are not mutually exclusive ideas. They are the very essence of how Americans understand justice to function. The new provisions were finalized in 2020. Reflecting on the agenda for the Biden administration, Pringle listed the first item shed prioritize: To undo the harm that Betsy DeVos has done. Doing so, according to Pringle, would involved a reckoning with hundreds of years, centuries of institutional racism, and how that has impacted the opportunity and access of millions and millions of Black and Brown and native students. Federal Student Aid system seen as one of the nations largest banks In terms of higher education, DeVos is most known for rescinding Obama-era rules regarding oversight of for-profit schools, suspending forgiveness to those who had attended now-defunct schools, and lambasting the current federal student loan system. Helming ED was essentially a management job that involved running one of the nations largest banks, according to DeVos. There was no substantial progress on the student debt crisis, which includes a federal loan portfolio of more than $1.55 trillion owed by roughly 42 million borrowers. What she inherited was not fabulous, but she made a mess of it, said AFTs Weingarten. Ask anyone who has tried to get Public Service Loan Forgiveness, or is trying to figure out what their repayment plan is. (Graphic: David Foster) Kissel, the former ED staffer, agreed with DeVos in the argument that the Obama-era programs unfairly came down on for-profits when many not-for-profits were also guilty of the same bad behavior. Applications for debt relief through borrower defense surged as the Obama administration regulated for-profit schools. DeVos, claiming that the Obama administration weaponized the rule to crack down on schools it simply didnt like, placed a hold on approving borrower defense applications. The stance by DeVos seemed to be just a complete lack of compassion for students who were mistreated and did not get the value from their education, Bob Shireman, senior fellow at the Century Foundation and former ED official during the Obama administration, told Yahoo Finance. It seemed to be her assumption that borrowers were trying to take advantage somehow it boggles my mind. The ED then rewrote the roles to offer only partial cancellation of student loans for defrauded students. Both the House and the Senate passed legislation to overturn that new policy in March 2020, but President Trump vetoed the bill in support of DeVos. Overall, the DeVos-era actions on borrower defense hurt borrowers [and] permanently damaged the integrity of the federal student aid program, Toby Merrill, an attorney who leads Harvards Project on Predatory Lending, told Yahoo Finance. The borrower defense process should hold institutions accountable and provide relief to borrowers, and dramatic action will be required to move the process back in that direction. DeVos is expected to be replaced by former public school teacher Miguel Cardona. Aarthi Swaminathan is a reporter for Yahoo Finance, covering education. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter at @aarthiswami. Reggie Wade is a writer for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter at @ReggieWade. Read more: Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. UPDATE 1/8 7:10pm ET: Twitter has permanently banned Donald Trump due to due to the risk of further incitement of violence. Facebook and Twitter finally delivered an answer to what has been one of the most pressing questions during Donald Trumps presidency: What would it take for him to actually lose his accounts? After years of fierce criticism, its no longer a hypothetical question. Facebook and Twitter have both temporarily pulled the plug on Trumps account, after the president incited a mob to storm the Capitol. For Twitter, the suspension lasted less than a day, and resulted in the removal of just three tweets. While Facebook imposed a lengthier penalty, extending its initial one-day ban to at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete. Though it was the first time the platforms had imposed any kind of ban on the president, it was far from the first time the companies faced pressure to do so. Twitter, which has long been Trumps preferred social media app, has faced questions about Trumps rhetoric since he first began promoting the birther conspiracy theory. In 2017, critics argued that Trumps tweets about North Korea broke the companys rules regarding violent threats. Twitter ultimately said no; explaining that under its newsworthiness policy tweets from world leaders were generally considered to be in the public interest, and thus the company had an obligation to let them stay up. Dorsey made a similar argument last year, when pressed by Congress on why Twitter didnt sanction Irans leader for threatening Israel. We did not find those to violate our terms of service because we considered them saber rattling, which is part of the speech of world leaders in concert with other countries, Dorsey said at the time. Twitter did make one concession between those two events, though. In 2019, the company said it would label tweets from politicians that would otherwise break its rules, while still allowing them to be viewed. The company said it was trying to "strike the right balance between enabling free expression, fostering accountability, and reducing the potential harm caused by these tweets." Among the considerations is "newsworthiness" and whether a Tweet is of public interest 3/6 Twitter Public Policy (@Policy) September 25, 2017 This was the policy put to the test last May when Trump tweeted that when the looting starts, the shooting starts, in response to the protests over the killing of George Floyd. Twitter said the tweet glorified violence and put a public interest notice on it. If Twitter has at times seemed reluctant to punish Trump, Facebook has been even more permissive. The company has, notably, declined to fact check Trump (or any other politician) with Mark Zuckerberg repeatedly claiming an aversion to his company becoming an arbiter of truth. But the companys first Trump-influenced rule change came in 2015, when he was still just a presidential candidate. At the time, Trump posted a video calling for a ban on Muslims entering the country. Facebook employees reportedly wanted to take the video down under the companys hate speech rules. The company ultimately declined to do so, and Zuckerberg was talked out of his desire to remove the post, according to The Washington Post. By 2016, Facebook had officially created an exemption for newsworthy content that may otherwise break its rules. Though Facebook said the newsworthiness exemption was prompted by the companys removal (and reinstatement) of a historical photograph, it also gave the company cover to avoid applying its rules to Trump and other world leaders. By 2019, Zuckerberg was actively pushing back against calls for Facebook to better rein in Trump. That year, he gave a speech at Georgetown defending free speech. Facebook, he said would err on the side of greater expression. A month earlier, Facebook officials confirmed that politicians were not just exempt from the companys rules, but from being accountable to its fact checkers. Carlos Jasso / Reuters Zuckerberg in particular seemed opposed to putting any kind of limits on Trump. When Twitter fact-checked the presidents tweets about election fraud last year, the Facebook CEO promptly criticized the move. When Twitter restricted Trumps tweets that threatened protestors, Zuckerberg declined to take a similar action. He said after a phone call from Trump that Facebooks policies allow for discussion around state use of force. (That decision prompted a virtual walkout from Facebook employees.) But Zuckerberg has now changed his tune. On Wednesday, the company removed a video posted by Trump, in which he praised the rioters as special people, and then imposed a 24-hour suspension. By Thursday, the company had extended the lockout for at least the next two weeks. Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules, at times removing content or labeling his posts when they violate our policies, Zuckerberg wrote on Thursday. We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech. But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government. The bigger question now may be what Facebook and Twitter decide to do next. After sitting out his timeout (and deleting three tweets), Trump has regained his tweeting privileges, though the company has said future rule-breaking could lead to a permanent ban. Facebook hasnt indicated when it will turn his posting abilities back on. Like all of you, Ive been feeling so many emotions since yesterday. I tried to put my thoughts down here: pic.twitter.com/9xzRvrpk7y Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) January 7, 2021 Both companies are facing increasing pressure to permanently ban Trump an action that just a few months ago would have been unthinkable for the platforms. Now is the time for Silicon Valley companies to stop enabling this monstrous behaviorand go even further than they have already by permanently banning this man from their platforms," Michelle Obama wrote in a statement. West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin also called for a longer suspension, urging Twitter to impose a more severe penalty. So did former Twitter executive Adam Sharp, who previously headed up the companys work with lawmakers and government officials. Internally, some employees have also called for Twitter to deactivate his account, NBC News reported. The next two weeks aside, theres another reason for the urgency behind these calls. If Trump leaves office, but immediately declares himself a candidate for the 2024 race, Facebook and Twitter may once again opt to give him special consideration as a candidate for office. While still a hypothetical scenario, the prospect has prompted some critics to call for a lasting ban before he leaves office. Whether or not that plays into Facebook or Twitters decision making isnt clear. What is clear is that theres less incentive than ever for them to make excuses about why its okay for Trump to violate their own policies. Trumps accounts may finally have to follow the same rules as everyone else. After a crowd of protestors stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, which led to the death of Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, there has been a chorus of calls for the removal of President Trump via the 25th Amendment or another impeachment. Whatever one thinks of Trumps rhetoric and the protests and violence on Jan. 6, it pales in comparison to what weve seen from Democrats and their viciously violent supporters. To prove this, we dont have to go back to Obama and Ferguson, Missouri or Get up and get in their faces; or, If they bring a knife, you bring a gun; or, We will reward our friends and punish our enemies. We dont have to go back to President Trumps 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton, or the riots that followed. We dont even have to go back to the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, when a pro-abortion mobotherwise known as a death cultinvaded the U.S. Capitol, threatened to shut it down as they were fired up by Democrat Senator Elizabeth Warren, violently banged on the doors of the Supreme Court, occupied the Hart Senate Office Building, and accosted multiple U.S. senators. All we have to do is look back at 2020. Throughout 2020, for months on end, in dozens of American cities, numerous mobs involving hundreds-of-thousands of left-wing thugs devoted to the Democrat party and its policies, rioted, burned, looted, and murdered. The memorable images remind us of this carnage. As a result of this rampant lawlessness, dozens of innocent Americans were murderedincluding several police officershundreds of police officers were significantly injured, and billions of dollars of U.S. propertyoften minority-owned small businesseswas destroyed. The property destruction was the most costly manmade damage to American property in U.S. history. In spite of all of this, as they have done for years, whether through their silence or direct words, Democrat politicians across America, along with their apologists in the left-wing media, encouraged and enabled this evil. House Democrats blocked a resolution that condemned the rioting and looting, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris helped raise bail money for the many criminals arrested throughout the riots. Powerline's John Hinderaker noted that Harris said this: Theyre not going to stop. Theyre not going to stop. This is a movement, Im telling you. Theyre not gonna stop. And everyone beware because theyre not gonna stop. Theyre not gonna stop before Election Day and theyre not going to stop after Election Day. And everyone should take note of that. Theyre not gonna let up and they should not. In other words, Democrat fingerprints were all over the 2020 riots that plagued America. Andunless they were concerned about how the riots might be helping President Trump politicallythe media simply didnt care. Trevor is the author of The Miracle and Magnificence of America Image credit: Andrew Mercado via Storyful, and CTV News, via YouTube video screen shot Accused of a crime that carries the death penalty, the woman will not reveal her truth. She is too ashamed to say that her husband, an upstanding, respected lawyer, used to rape her. Criminal Justice: Behind Closed Doors is a fictional show. But its central theme is all too real for hundreds of thousands of women, opening up a conversation on marital rape that India refuses to have. For all its flaws too many digressions, an ending thats too neat I watched all eight episodes of the show that debuted on HotStar with interest. By week two, 9.9 million people had watched it. It takes courage to push a conversation that evokes almost zero public sympathy in an audience that is inclined to believe that consent has no place on the marital bed. A proudly liberal male lawyer once said: You cannot have the law in the bedroom. But the law is already in the bedroom. Much of domestic violence takes place behind closed doors. In seven states, more than a quarter of married women have experienced it, according to the National Family Health Survey 2019-20. If theres no data for marital rape, it is because India, like 36 other countries, does not consider it a crime. We have a pretty good idea of how bad it is. In 2013, a United Nations survey found that a quarter of 10,000 men in six Asia Pacific countries, including India, said they had raped a female partner. Also, in 2013, Ashish Gupta of Rice Institute, a non-profit, found that the number of women who experienced sexual violence by husbands was 40 times that of women who experienced it from non-intimate perpetrators. Yet, our lawmakers insist that marriage is a sacrament and the concept of marital rape goes against our culture. If culture is a reason to not legislate against marital rape, then here is popular culture presenting a point of view without ambiguity, treating abuse as something that is complex, layered and committed by the best of us. Times are changing, Apurva Asrani, the shows writer whose past work has included the stereotype-smashing Aligarh, told me. This show is positioned for an audience that doesnt talk about these issues. The Supreme Court has ruled that women are not the property of men (the Joseph Shine judgment on adultery). As far back as early 2013, the Justice JS Verma Commission had recommended the criminalisation of marital rape. For women like the protagonist in the show, Anu Chandra, rape by a husband represents not just the breaking of trust but a denial of her identity, autonomy and right to say no. In the past few years, India has broken traditional silences on sexual abuse, on consent, and on the rights of sexual minorities. Its time to break another traditional silence. A popular show might have just begun that conversation. Namita Bhandare writes on gender The views expressed are personal Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 01:48:41|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Health said on Thursday that the total nationwide COVID-19 infections reached 600,755, after 790 new cases were added. The ministry also reported four more deaths, the lowest in about seven months, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,869. It also reported 1,781 more recovered cases, bringing the total recoveries to 551,127 in the country. A total of 4,774,142 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease in February, with 33,278 done during the day, according to the statement. Iraqi Minister of Health Hassan al-Tamimi told the official Iraqi News Agency (INA) that Iraq continues with the restrictions recently imposed at airports and border crossings to prevent the new strain of coronavirus characterized by faster transmission. "The new strain of coronavirus needs special laboratories to detect, and we have urgent coordination with the World Health Organization about testing the new virus, including building two laboratories in Baghdad; one in the Medical City and the other in Central Public Health Laboratory," al-Tamimi said. Meanwhile, Sayf al-Badr, health ministry spokesman, told Xinhua that many factors have contributed to the decline in the recent daily infections and deaths. "When the ministry started confronting the pandemic, it had only one laboratory, and now we have more than 70 laboratories for testing coronavirus," al-Badr said, noting the number of hospitals' beds was increased to 14,000 in the past months. In addition, "we started with dozens of tests for the virus, and now we have the ability to conduct about 40,000 tests per day," he added. The spokesman, however, complained about the failure of citizens to fully adhere to health measures in the past few months and warned of the danger of a new strain of coronavirus that has spread in many countries. Late in December 2020, the Iraqi authorities decided to ban travel to Britain, South Africa, Australia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, Iran, Japan, and any other country the Ministry of Health would recommend. The authorities also banned the entry of travellers from these countries, except for Iraqi citizens who must be quarantined for 14 days until a PCR test proves that they are not infected with COVID-19. Moreover, the authorities decided to suspend the ground border crossings, except for emergencies and trade exchange, and to close malls, restaurants, and other public facilities from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. for two weeks starting Dec. 24. China helped Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. A Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq from March 7 to April 26 to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad. China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem Bhubaneswar, Jan 8 : BJP's national spokesperson and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarangi on Friday sought a status report from the Director General Police (DGP) on the alleged murder of 17 party workers in Odisha. In a letter to the DGP, Sarangi listed out the instances of political violence and murder of BJP workers in the state. She said instances of political violence, especially against BJP workers, have seen an upward trend in the past few years. "The BJP workers can not be the victims of political vendetta. It is the duty of the police to ensure law and order and prevent continued perpetration of such heinous crimes. If the state government fails to do so, it will not to be far when we will see West Bengal-like scenario in Odisha," said the MP, a former bureaucrat. Sarangi said Odisha has been witnessing increasing crime rate and disproportionately low conviction rate. "In all the murders, either the culprits have not been nabbed or have got bail because of poor investigation," she alleged. The letter from the BJP MP came at a time when the party is mounting pressure on the state government to take action against Law Minister Pratap Jena over the gruesome murder of two BJP workers, Kulamani Baral and Divyasing Baral, a few days back. The party alleged that the two BJP workers were killed at the behest of Jena. Kulamani Baral was in-charge of the Salepur mandal of the BJP and former chairman of the Mahanga panchayat samiti. The law minister represents the Mahanga Assembly constituency. The main responsibility for the storming of the Capitol lies with President Donald Trump and his gang but the rise of paranoia in the right-wing US media has also played a poisonous role. The rioters were egged on by these US publishers who amplified Mr Trump's false claims that the election had been stolen and it could be overturned by a vote in Congress. By contrast, the rioters reviled journalists from "elite" mainstream media organisations which they claimed were part of the conspiracy to cheat them of their victory. Journalists from the mainstream media sent to cover the events were threatened and harassed, their equipment trashed. The split between an aggressively right-wing media and what some call the "liberal" dominated mainstream media underlies much of the divisive politics of the Trump era. Mr Trump rode to power in part thanks to support from Rupert Murdoch's Fox News. More recently other news sources such as Breitbart and OneAmerica news network have joined in and taken even more extreme positions especially on racial, climate and cultural politics. They have undermined the US response to COVID-19 which they said was a hoax. PHOENIX, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CND Life Sciences (cndlifesciences.com), an innovative medical technology company pioneering the detection, visualization, and quantification of protein deposition in cutaneous nerve fibers, will participate in the 2021 virtual Biotech Showcase taking place during the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference (January 11-14, 2021). The company is capitalizing on a wave of forward momentum fueled by the first full-year of commercialization and adoption of its Syn-One Test for Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. "We are excited to present at the Biotech Showcase and will use this year's virtual platform as an opportunity to connect with potential partners," said Richard Morello, Chief Executive Officer, CND Life Sciences. "There is great interest in our Syn-One Test, which is an evidence-based diagnostic tool to aid in the confirmation of synucleinopathy in patients with suspected Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and other serious neurological disorders." Companies registered for the Biotech Showcase can view the CND Life Sciences presentation on the partneringONE event portal . Following the meeting, an abridged version of the presentation will be viewable on our website . NIH Grant Helps Advance Syn-One Test Platform In October 2020, CND Life Sciences was awarded a $2.4 million Phase II Small Business Inno- vation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH grant allows CND to conduct a 500-patient, multicenter clinical study with leading neurologists at academic centers across the U.S. This study aims to further validate the sensitivity and specificity of CND's Syn-One Test and distinguish between the different types of synucleinopathies. This large-scale scientific assessment of CND's diagnostic approach and pathological methods will provide physicians and patients with even greater evidence to support broad clinical adoption of the Syn-One Test. About the Syn-One Test The Syn-One Test leverages a decade of published science by world experts and carefully honed laboratory techniques to identify an abnormal form of a protein known as alpha-synuclein. By obtaining three small punch skin biopsies performed in office by the patient's clinician, CND applies specialized methods to detect folded, phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in dermal layers of the skin. This abnormal form is a well-known biomarker for a family of diseases called synucleinopathies, the most prominent type being Parkinson's disease. A physician ordering Syn-One receives a detailed report of the pathologic findings of the test, including visual images of the patient's cutaneous nerve fibers and a determination of the presence of abnormal synuclein. About Synucleinopathies There are over 20 million people in the US who suffer from movement disorders, cognitive impairment, autonomic dysfunction, and sleep disorders collectively. A percentage of these patients exhibit signs and symptoms indicative of a synucleinopathy, a group of serious neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies, that universally feature abnormal alpha-synuclein. For a portion of these patients, the absence of objective pathological proof makes a physician's diagnosis and treatment choices difficult to determine with confidence. Published studies suggest that even the most experienced neurologists specializing in movement disorders have challenges making positive diagnoses of Parkinson's disease in 30% of cases early in the disease course. About CND Life Sciences Founded in 2017, CND Life Sciences is dedicated to supporting the care of patients suffering from neurodegenerative diseases and other related conditions. Operating a CLIA-certified laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona, CND launched the Syn-One Test as the world's first commercially available test to detect, visualize, and quantify the presence of abnormal, phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in cutaneous nerve fibers. The test is intended to serve as an objective, evidence-based diagnostic tool to aid in the confirmation of synucleinopathy in patients with suspected Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy body (DLB), multiple system atrophy (MSA), pure autonomic failure (PAF or REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD). Through proprietary staining and analysis of three (3) small punch skin biopsies performed and provided by a referring clinician, CND offers a convenient, accurate, minimally invasive alternative to add clarity and confidence in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. The company has research collaborations with multiple biopharmaceutical companies and in 2020 was awarded a prestigious NIH SBIR award to advance the validation and clinical utility of its Syn-One Test. For more information visit www.cndlifesciences.com . Disclosure: Research reported in this publication was supported by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number R44NS117214. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. SOURCE CND Life Sciences SOURCE CND Life Sciences Related Links https://cndlifesciences.com/ Season 22 of Law & Order: SVU has had some new experiences so far, including a woman in Sergeant Odafin Fin Tutuolas (Ice-T) life. So, who is this new woman and will we see more of her? We have the information you need to know. Who is Fins new girlfriend? Ice-T in Law & Order: SVU | Virginia Sherwood/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank Fin has a new love interest according to the newest episode of season 22, episode 4, titled Sightless in a Savage Land. Her name is Phoebe Baker (Jennifer Esposito), a Vice Sergeant, and she and Fin were each others first partners while working in the Narcotics division. They had a relationship at the time, but things didnt work out when Fin was not able to trust her, according to her Fandom page. She popped up during a previous case before in season 20, episode 15 called Brothel. At that time, Fin tried to rekindle the flame, but Phoebe wasnt going for it, as she was dating someone already. But Phoebe is back in Fins life, and theyve started dating again in 2020. In episode 4 this season, Fin shows Captain Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) a beautiful engagement ring that he purchased for Phoebe. Fin asks if its too much, but Benson assures him its just right. He asks Benson What if she says no? But Benson tells him that she wont. When he first goes to propose at a fancy restaurant on New Years Eve, Fin gets called in on a case when an Amber Alert goes out, so he isnt able to make things official just then. What happened in Sightless in a Savage Land? Jennifer Esposito in Law & Order: SVU | Virginia Sherwood/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank RELATED: Law & Order: SVU: The Bromance Some Fans Preferred Over Benson and Stablers Dynamic In season 22, episode 4, the action centers around a 13-year-old girl named Nydia Davis (Vanessa Carrasco), who is missing. Phoebe even gets involved in the case at one point, as she arrested Nydias mother and her pimp in the past. They find Nydia, who has been left on a sidewalk by an ambulance bay, and she is brought to the hospital. It turns out she has been sexually assaulted by her foster parent, Ajay Sharma (Bhavesh Patel). Apparently hes been sexually assaulting girls in his care for years. Nydia was pregnant, and he gave her medications to make her have an abortion. Her father, Mickey Davis (Brett Parks), who fought in Afghanistan on six tours and was wounded, shoots and kills Ajay after his initial arraignment. ADA Dominick Sonny Carisi Jr. (Peter Scanavino) ends up going against Rafael Barba (Raul Esparza), who Benson and Fin get involved in the case in hopes he can plead Mickey out. However, Barba puts up a good case and things get heated in the courtroom. But Mickeys comments while on the stand help lead to his guilty verdict, and he must serve time for second degree manslaughter after admitting hed do it again, leaving him with a three and a half year prison sentence. Does Fin eventually propose to Phoebe? So does Fin finally propose to Phoebe? Apparently it all happens off-screen. When Fin meets up with his fellow detectives for drinks, he says, Uh oh, my fiance wants me home. That morning he asked her to marry him, but he says there was one condition: No more herbal tea. Everyone congratulates him, and when Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish) asks if hes chosen a date for the big day, he says, Gotta go. Its likely well see Phoebe again, since shes now Fins new fiance. Its nice to see Fin with a companion, and it will add an interesting dynamic to his character. Well have to see when Fins big wedding will take place. Maybe well get to see it happen this very season. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page UNODC acts as the custodian of the international standards and norms in the field of crime prevention and criminal justice, including those specifically designed for the management of prison facilities and the treatment of prisoners, in particular the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules). Read more VIOLENT EXTREMIST PRISONERS Supporting themanagement of violent extremist prisoners and the prevention of radicalisation to violence in prisons is a four year (2018-2021) a joint initiative of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Nations Counter-Terrorism Centre (UNCCT), implemented in partnership with the United Nations Security Council Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (UNCTED). It is co-funded by the European Union, the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) and the Netherlands. This initiative is implemented in three beneficiary countries - Kazakhstan, Tunisia and Uganda and responds to the emerging and significant KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2021 - 23:08 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Osaka and two other western Japan prefectures decided Friday to jointly request the central government to expand the state of emergency to their areas as coronavirus infections continue to rise. Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures will join Osaka in making the official request to Yasutoshi Nishimura, minister in charge of the government's response to the novel coronavirus, during an online meeting on Saturday afternoon, according to Osaka prefectural government sources. "If we don't ask (the central government) to raise measures against infection a notch, the medical system will collapse," Osaka Gov. Hirofumi Yoshimura said. The prefecture confirmed 654 new infections, an all-time high for the third day in a row. Nishimura said the three prefectures, which all reported record infections on Friday, are in an "unpredictable situation," and that he will work closely with them to decide on a response. Tokyo and its three neighboring prefectures of Chiba, Kanagawa and Saitama were put under a one-month state of emergency from Friday amid record numbers of cases. The capital reported 2,392 additional cases, the second-highest total after 2,447 were recorded on Thursday. A total of 17 prefectures reported record new infections on Friday, bringing the nationwide daily increase to around 7,900, a fresh high for the fourth consecutive day. The daily death toll also hit a record of 78. With other major cities also seeing a worrying upward trend, there have been growing calls from health experts and regional authorities to expand the area under the emergency to beyond Tokyo and the three prefectures. Aichi Gov. Hideaki Omura said at a press conference Friday that he will consider asking the central government to add his prefecture, which has also been seeing record numbers of infections, to the list. Related coverage: Japan business leaders call for support under coronavirus emergency Anxiety mounts over another coronavirus state of emergency in Tokyo area Major events related to coronavirus and Japan At an online meeting with the heads of major Japanese business organizations, Nishimura requested that they push their members to promote teleworking to help the Tokyo area achieve a 70 percent reduction in commuters. Nishimura said the number of infections in recent weeks is on a "whole different level" compared with the previous state of emergency last spring. "Unless we restrain the flow of people eating and drinking (together), we will not be able to contain infections," he told the three major business lobbies -- the Japan Business Federation, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Japan Association of Corporate Executives. The meeting was held a day after Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared the latest emergency, enabling local authorities to urge people to stay at home as much as possible and restaurants to close earlier. Alarmed by the increasing strain on the medical system, the governors of Tokyo, Chiba, Kanagawa, and Saitama prefectures, accounting for about half of the nationwide tally, asked the central government earlier this month to consider declaring a state of emergency. Suga, when he met the press Friday morning, again called for people to cooperate in stemming the resurgence of infections and said, "I'd like to overcome the difficult situation by any means." When asked whether he would include Aichi and Osaka prefectures under the declaration, Suga said, "We will assess the situation and deal with it in close cooperation with the regions." Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike was concerned after she was told by officials that rush-hour trains in the capital were still crowded. "I'd like people to thoroughly implement measures, such as cutting commuter traffic by 70 percent and doing telework immediately," she told reporters. "The most important thing is to stop the flow of people. I want people to forgo New Year gatherings and parties this year," she said. At Tokyo Station, Wakako Ikegami, 37, who lives in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture, said she felt her train had fewer commuters but was nevertheless skeptical that cases could be quickly curbed. "When the previous state of emergency was declared, it took time for the number of infections to decline. I wonder if we'll see any impact in one month," she added. Among major steps authorized to be taken by Tokyo and neighboring prefectures are asking restaurants, bars and karaoke venues to close by 8 p.m. and requesting establishments to cease serving alcohol at 7 p.m. through Feb. 7. While paying up to 60,000 yen ($580) per day should such establishments comply with the request, the government has warned it will publically disclose the names of businesses that do not cooperate. Stanley Johnson has claimed he is having his second shot of the coronavirus vaccine today after receiving his first dose three weeks ago - despite his son Boris Johnson telling people to wait 12 weeks between jabs. The 80-year-old father of the prime minister said he was 'very much looking forward' to getting his second and final jab today. He said: 'I had my first jab on December 18 and three weeks on is today and I'm very much looking forward to it. I don't have to go far.' To accelerate the rollout of the vaccine, the Government recently opted to extend the gap between the first and second jab to 12 weeks to allow it to be administered to a greater number of people. Ministers have set a target of vaccinating the 14 million people in the top four priority groups - which includes the over-80s - by mid-February. Care home residents, vulnerable people and frontline health workers are also first in line for jabs of the Pfizer and Oxford vaccines. Revealing his second jab today on Good Morning Britain, Stanley queried if the vaccine would give him a 'get out of jail free card' to resume normal life - but this was quickly kiboshed by presenter Kate Garraway who said it would not. Stanley said: 'I'm very reassured by the fact that we have got a grip of the vaccination programme... and as someone said - "give us the tools and we will finish the jab!" I'm confident we'll get there by Easter.' Today he blamed his 'prominent nose' for a picture showing him without a mask covering his face while waiting for a train Stanley has often struck an upbeat tone during the pandemic, in contrast to Boris Johnson's somber messaging He also defended his lockdown-busting behaviour by insisting that 'sometimes the mask slips' as he prepared to receive his second vaccine shot today. During the pandemic he has often undermined his son, the Prime Minister, by not wearing a mask, travelling to his Greek holiday home and going against initial advice by declaring he would still visit the pub. Today he blamed his 'prominent nose' for a picture showing him without a mask covering his face while waiting for a train. Grilled about his antics on Good Morning Britain, he said: 'Sometimes the mask slips, by accident, I have a very prominent nose and sometimes it's not very easy to keep it all covered.' Garraway, whose husband Derek Draper remains struck down with coronavirus, branded him 'naughty' and put it to Stanley that his bullish tone has at times been at odds with the Boris Johnson's more somber messaging. Stanley insisted he will now behave 'perfectly properly' as the 80-year-old revealed he was due to have his second vaccine administered today. Presenter Kate Garraway, whose husband Derek Draper remains struck down with coronavirus, branded him 'naughty' and put it to Stanley that his bullish tone has at times been at odds with the Boris Johnson's more somber messaging. He came under fire in July after going against Government guidance not to travel overseas unless essential by visiting his holiday villa in Greece. At the time he said he did not post photos of himself abroad 'in a spirit of defiance' and insisted he was there to Covid-proof the property, which he lets. But it was nevertheless a thorn in the side of the PM, who came under questioning as to why his father had ignored his son's advice. Mr Johnson and Stanley have also been at odds over Brexit - a division which flared recently when Stanley revealed he had applied for French citizenship following the UK's divorce this month. He came under fire in July after going against Government guidance not to travel overseas unless essential by visiting his holiday villa in Greece Today he said it was a 'sentimental and symbolic' gesture to his mother and that the PM should be 'jolly pleased' with the decision. He said: 'I'm rather pleased with the notion, I like the idea. My thought is that at this moment we certainly don't need to be anti-European. 'This is a little, tiny gesture by me to build the bridge, faire le pont, I think you might say. 'I think (Boris Johnson) should be jolly pleased. His middle name... is after my French grandmother. As a matter of fact I think he's lived most of his life as an American. He's perfectly aware of this... it's a nice idea.' Asked about how he thought his son was governing, he compared his achievements to those of Winston Churchill during the war. Multiple stakes winner Crazy Wow, 2, 1:54; 3, 1:51.1 ($2,532,143), a world champion son of Crazed and his sires all-time leading earner, is relocating from Leatherstocking Equine in New York to Diamond Creek Farm Kentucky for the upcoming breeding season, as announced Friday (Jan. 8) by Crawford Farms. He will stand the 2021 season for $3,000. Al and I are very excited to have Crazy Wow standing at Diamond Creek in Kentucky, especially with the upcoming Kentucky Sire Stakes program and new tracks opening, said Michelle Crawford. We feel that, with the new bonus program in place, it will attract breeders and horsemen looking to participate in this opportunity. Crazy Wow has thrown correct, long-legged, beautiful individuals, and we feel with his strong pedigree and conformation that he will make his presence known in Gods Country. Working with Adam Bowden and the Diamond Creek staff is always a pleasure, and we are looking forward to the beginning of a great partnership with their cutting-edge stallion facility and team! A tough and tenacious performer from ages two through six, Crazy Wow was a world champion at two. The precocious juvenile captured two legs and the final of the New York Sire Stakes, as well as the Madison County en route to a 5-for-11 record in his freshman season on the track. Crazy Wow enjoyed his best season at three, winning nine of 17 starts and amassing earnings of $1,027,612. He won the Colonial, Erskine, Empire Breeders Classic (in track record time of 1:51.1), the Matron, a division of the Bluegrass, and three legs of the New York Sire Stakes at Monticello, Vernon and Yonkers. He added to his already impressive accomplishments at five, taking the Harry Harvey Invitational, the Cleveland Trotting Classic (world record of 1:52.3), the Charlie Hill (track record of 1:52f), and the Maxie Lee Invitational over JL Cruze at Harrah's Philadelphia. At six, his final season on the track, he won the Maple Leaf Trot. We are looking forward to this collaboration with Crawford Farms, said Diamond Creeks Adam Bowden. We have come close in the past to working with Al and Michelle, and now we are excited to cement this partnership with the addition of Crazy Wow to the Kentucky Farm. I am Crazy Wow excited! All told, Crazy Wow banked $2,532,143 in a spectacular career on the track, competing against some of the toughest trotters in recent years and he retired with a record of 22 wins in 67 starts. Produced from the stakes winning mare No Pan No Gain (by Mr Vic, a son of the influential Valley Victory), Crazy Wow boasts an out-cross pedigree and matches with mares from a wide variety of sire lines. He will be represented by his first yearlings this year. All breeding and booking inquiries should be directed to Diamond Creek Farm at (717) 638-7100 or via email to [email protected]. (Crawford Farms and Diamond Creek Farm) By Xing Liangjun and Tao Chenglong On December 23, 2020, two young men in Hechi city, South Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were publicly notified by the local government for refusing to perform military service after recruitment and were disciplined by multiple departments. From the initial voluntary application for enlistment, to strong objection to military discipline, till being removed from the military, some individual youths appear to be too self-willed and lack a sense of responsibility. At the same time, however, some in-depth reflections are probably also needed concerning Chinas national defense education. At the end of 2020, the Ministry of Education of the Peoples Republic of China formulated and promulgated the Educational Disciplinary Rules for Primary and Secondary Schools (hereinafter referred to as the Rules), which will be officially implemented since March 1, 2021. It is worth noting that when the draft of the Rules was released for comment, over 10,000 parents voted against it, believing that being disciplined in school would get their children mentally hurt. As an old Chinese saying goes, nothing can be accomplished without norms or standards, which means we have to behave under appropriate rules and follow them. While a good education can not only rely on compliments and encouragement, rules and disciplines are also indispensible. Seeing the children with rude or disappointing behaviors, wed better reflect on the problems possibly existing in the school education, family education, and public education, instead of merely blaming on the children. Will excessive care to increase the chances of a child growing into an exquisite egoist? Will the exam-oriented and strict cultivation of children limit their outlook and self-improvement? Will the overly pampering in family weaken the children masculinity, senses of independence and responsibility? A family is the smallest integral unit of a country. Good family education and school education are the foundation of national defense education. The cultivation of patriotism and sense of responsibility for Chinese youths requires mobilizing the power of the whole society. For instance, organizing more activities such as Open Days for Military Camp and military summer camps; inviting combat heroes to go to schools to conduct personal exchanges with the students; and using modern media technology to push forward all-round national defense education. A country is strong when her youth is strong; a country is smart when her youth is smart, said a great Chinese scholar Liang Qichao (1873-1929) in his famous book Youth Are Strong. With more and more youths growing up with the deep love for her, China will grow stronger. The Northern Ireland protocol is proving a monumental challenge for officials implementing EU rules at the ports, the chief vet said (Liam McBurney/PA). The Northern Ireland protocol is proving a monumental challenge for officials implementing EU rules at the ports, the chief vet said. On New Years Day, following the end of the Brexit transition, some traders arriving did not pre-notify about their goods, meaning that had to be done retrospectively. The Governments senior vet, Dr Robert Huey, said he expected traffic through the ports next week to be busier and added companies wanted to comply. He said: Pieces are coming together, it is just a matter of time and giving the industry time to adjust to this monumental challenge. The Northern Ireland protocol means animal products arriving from Great Britain must fulfil EU standards and paperwork requirements. The number of vehicles checked by Mr Hueys officials had reached 133 by Wednesday. Northern Irelands Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Daera) vets are mounting a 24/7 operation at the ports using newly-built temporary facilities. Some of his staff are also in Cairnryan in Scotland to conduct checks. Dr Huey added: We have climbed a fair mountain this week. He said the industry had made great steps towards compliance and no lorryloads have been sent back to Great Britain yet but predicted that would happen eventually. Aodhan Connolly, director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium which represents larger businesses, said industry faced another cliff edge in April when a grace period for transporting some products ends. He said: Supply chains remain robust. ACT NOW: There are new rules when moving agrifood goods from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Support is available from the Movement Assistance Scheme. Make sure you're ready: https://t.co/adyZJ0Fmnl pic.twitter.com/aWy7Nj7pLg Northern Ireland Office (@NIOgov) January 5, 2021 We are able to move things but there is a lot of ironing out to do, wrinkles within the system. He warned: Some suppliers have opted out of Northern Ireland for the moment. That primarily involves a small number of firms not aware of the rules on parcel deliveries after last-minute official guidance was issued. Mr Connolly said his NI Business Brexit Working Group was working to get those businesses back onboard. He added some people were only being trained on New Years Eve for changes introduced the following day. This is the opening skirmish in what is going to be a truncated embedding period while everyone gets used to the new systems, he said. Mr Connolly acknowledged he was becoming like Oliver Twist, always asking for more from the UK Government in addressing the next Brexit challenge. He told Stormonts agriculture committee: We need a sustainable and simplified way of working to ensure we continue to give choice and affordability to Northern Ireland consumers and allow Northern Ireland businesses to be competitive. Two international rights watchdogs have expressed concerns over the inclusion of the five Russian citizens on a controversial list of foreign agents seen by the West as a way for Russian authorities to clamp down on dissent. The UN Human Rights Office and the OSCE's Representative on Freedom of the Media both on January 8 decried the move, saying that it curbs free speech and democratic practices. "The UN Human Rights Office regrets the inclusion of the five individuals in the foreign agents list, which targets human rights defenders and journalists and appears to be aimed at limiting their freedom of expression and speech," Liz Throssell, a spokeswoman for the UN Human Rights Office, said in a comment to RFE/RL on January 8. The Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media added in a separate comment that the move "narrows the space for freedom of expression, freedom of the media, and free flow of information in the Russian Federation." "[All] OSCE participating states have repeatedly affirmed (including in their 2018 Ministerial Council Decision) that the media in their territory should enjoy unrestricted access to foreign news and information services; that the public will enjoy similar freedom to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority regardless of frontiers, including through foreign publications and foreign broadcasts; and that any restriction in the exercise of this right will be prescribed by law and in accordance with international standards," the Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media said in a written statement. . On December 28, Russia said it had placed five people -- three journalists who contribute to RFE/RL and two human rights activists -- on the Justice Ministry's registry of "foreign mass media performing the functions of a foreign agent." Previously, only foreign-funded nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and rights groups had been placed on the registry, in keeping with Russia's passage of its controversial "foreign agents law" in 2012. The law was later expanded to include media outlets and independent journalists. The three listed individuals affiliated with RFE/RL are Lyudmila Stavitskaya and Sergei Markelov, freelance correspondents for the North Desk (Sever.Realii) of RFE/RL's Russian Service; and Denis Kamalyagin, editor in chief of the online news site Pskov Province and a contributor to RFE/RL's Russian Service. Prominent human rights activist Lev Ponomaryov was also named to the registry, as was activist and Red Cross worker Darya Apakhonchich. On December 29, the ministry expanded the list again, adding the Nasiliu.net human rights center, which deals with domestic violence cases. The additions bring the total number of individuals or entities listed to 18, the majority of them affiliated with RFE/RL. According to Russia's controversial "foreign agents law," any individual who distributes materials of a publication or a legal entity recognized as a foreign agent, participates in its creation, and receives foreign funding from abroad can be recognized as a "foreign media agent." The Justice Ministry did not explain on what grounds it included the recent additions of the five individuals and one entity to the registry. Russian officials have previously said that amending the "foreign agents law" to include mass media in 2017 was a "symmetrical response" to the U.S. requirement that Russia's state-funded channel RT register under the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). U.S. officials have rejected that claim, arguing that the U.S. and Russian laws differ and that Russia uses its "foreign agent" legislation to silence dissent and discourage the free exchange of ideas. In 2017, Human Rights Watch, a U.S.-based rights group, called the law "devastating" for local NGOs, saying more than a dozen had been forced to close their doors. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as a whole was listed in the original registry in December 2017, along with several of RFE/RL's news sites focusing on events in Russia and Current Time, the Russian-language network led by RFE/RL in cooperation with Voice of America. In November 2019, the list was expanded to include Sever.Realii. In February 2020, the Russian Justice Ministry added RFE/RL's corporate entity in Russia. RFE/RL has said it is "reprehensible" that professional journalists were among the first individuals singled out by Russia as "foreign agents." The Council of Europe also has expressed concerns over situation, saying that the foreign agent law in general -- "stifles the development of civil society and freedom of expression." (Israel Hayom via JNS) Saudi authorities have been removing anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist content from the countrys textbooks for the coming school year, a report by the Jerusalem-based Institute for Monitoring Peace and Cultural Tolerance in School Education has found. The report came amid growing speculation of a potential rapprochement between the Jewish state and the Arab Gulf power. Saudi Arabias neighbors, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, normalized ties with Israel in September in a deal brokered by the United States. Washington has made it no secret that it would like to see Riyadh join the Abraham Accords before U.S. President Donald Trumps term in office ends next month. The monitoring group said that while it did not find that new tolerant material had been injected into the curriculum, a substantial amount of offensive material had been removed. The report said that many of the books no longer include the prediction of a religious war in which Muslims would annihilate all Jews. Furthermore, the classic anti-Semitic trope saying that Zionist forces use nefarious methods to control the world has been dropped. Examining the trendline of our 2002, 2008 and even 2019 reports of the Saudi curriculum, it is clear that these new 2020 textbooks represent an institutional effort to modernize the Kingdoms curriculum, said IMPACT-se CEO, Marcus Sheff. The Saudi authorities have begun a process of rooting out anti-Jewish hate. Attitudes towards Israel are becoming more balanced and tolerant, the institute said, giving as an example the removal of an entire chapter that was titled the Zionist danger, which delegitimized Israels right to exist. More generally, the majority of references to jihad have been removed, whereas a decade ago the focus of the curriculum was to prepare students for martyrdom, the group found. This being said, anti-Israel content does still remain in the curriculum, IMPACT-se noted. Hatred of Jews is still present, including a decontextualized and ambiguous story about Jewish wrongdoers, who are described as monkeys. Despite this progress, the report found that Israel is still not shown on maps of the region, while Zionism is depicted as a racist political movement and in many places, the name Israel is replaced with Zionist enemy. According to the report, There is clearly still work to be done. However, the changes made thus far show promise for a moderate and tolerant curriculum. Further improvements need to be made. But the overriding impression is of a willingness to engage, to participate in dialogue regarding curriculum content and finally move towards textbook reformation. Responding to the findings, a U.S. State Department official told Time Magazine that Washington is encouraged by the report that finds positive changes in influential textbooks used throughout Saudi Arabia. The magazine quoted Fahad Nazer, spokesperson for the Saudi Embassy in Washington, as saying that the kingdom is making a very concerted effort to remove all [offensive material] from the entire curriculum. Director of International Interreligious Affairs at the American Jewish Committee Rabbi David Rosen presented the report to senior kingdom officials when he visited Riyadh at the invitation of ruler King Salman, said the statement. This article first appeared in Israel Hayom. Teacher Katie Burrows-Stone started simply. On Jan. 6, 2021, a terrible thing happened, began a prompt she wrote for her students at Science Leadership Academy-Beeber in West Philadelphia. Today, we are the people that lived through history that will be remembered, and because of that, our voices matter. On the day after rioters stormed the Capitol, teachers across the country grappled with how best to help students make sense of what happened, often shelving previously written lesson plans to lead young people through content about American history happening in real time. READ MORE: A quick escalation into chaos: Photojournalists share what they witnessed during the Capitol attack As Philadelphia Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. watched the events unfold Wednesday, he thought about how tough it could be for his teachers to lead lessons on the interruption of the peaceful transfer of power: Many adults felt scared by what unfolded at the Capitol. But he wanted to make sure everyone teaching the public school systems 120,000 students gave them the space, the time, the permission, the trust, the support to talk about what they observed, the emotions it generated, the questions they had, Hite said. They need to reconcile how and what they have been learning about democracy and citizenship with what they saw yesterday. For Burrows-Stone, a district English teacher, the jumping-off point was an assignment that allowed her 11th graders to write a poem about the events, to talk about how they were feeling, or to record their own history of the day. Burrows-Stone allowed her students to opt out of the conversation if they didnt want to join, but most were eager to share. It wasnt the first time, after all, that theyve had to process trauma during virtual school: These are teenagers who recently lived through civil unrest in the aftermath of George Floyds killing by Minneapolis police, and more recently, protest after Philadelphia police shot and killed Walter Wallace Jr., a Black man who wielded a knife in West Philadelphia. READ MORE: Need healing for the new year? A new Philly hotline offers poems of hope. The students were aghast at the sights and stories coming out of the Capitol, Burrows-Stone said, but wanted to talk about a way forward. They had such wise things to say about the need to listen, about the need to be an ally, to challenge people that have problematic ideas, to not just have performative activism in social media, but to be an activist in relationships with real people, she said. Megan Langman, an English teacher at Cherry Hill High School West, had planned a lesson on Romeo and Juliet for Thursday. Instead, she gave her freshmen the option to talk about what unfolded in Washington. About half, roughly a dozen, many students of color, wanted to unpack the Capitol breach. They needed to talk and they needed to hear from each other, said Langman. She said she plans to broach the topic again Friday when her Holocaust and genocide class meets. Some protesters at the siege were wearing clothing with anti-Semitic phrases. We are watching history, said Langman. We are studying history. READ MORE: These Capitol riot pictures shouldnt surprise you. They show an American truth. | Opinion During his sixth-grade social studies class at Wagner Middle School in West Oak Lane, Hayden ORourke showed students a chart of the political spectrum: liberal, moderate, conservative, and extremes on both sides. What we may have seen, based on reports, is people on the extreme right, trying to take down the Capitol building, ORourke told students. Whats your definition of a leader? Should the president be doing this, or should he be doing something else? One by one, the Wagner sixth graders unmuted themselves and spoke up: This isnt how a leader acts, they said. A leader inspires his people to do the right thing. They also wanted to talk about how the insurrectionists were able to breach a seat of American government. Im pretty sure if it was a group of Black people going [to the Capitol], they would not even get close to it, one girl said. They would see us as a threat and they would probably teargas us. READ MORE: Philly BLM activists say police brutalized them, while a white Capitol mob was met with grace The disparity in treatment of Black protesters this summer and the pro-Trump white mob came up in most discussions. But some classes chose not to touch the events. Throughout Anne Griffins morning Thursday a virtual cap-and-gown assembly for seniors at suburban Radnor High School, followed by Zoom classes no one brought up the prior days events. Griffin, 18, found the omission unbelievable. Between the pandemic and social justice movement that swept the nation this summer, this was never going to be a normal time to graduate, said Griffin. Then you have terrorism at the Capitol yesterday. You just wonder, how can this be the priority now? The bell rings and you go to your next class. Jenna Ahart, a senior at Unionville High School in Chester County, said she wished schools were doing more to help students, many of whom are having their first encounter with politics, navigate credible sources. READ MORE: Schools nationwide should teach ethnic studies | Opinion So many kids get their news from social media. Theres so much speculation happening right now, said Ahart, 17. David Fortin, a history teacher at St. Josephs Prep, began his lesson by discussing the facts. Most students were appalled, Fortin said, but some were giving Fortin pushback. The Prep sits in North Philadelphia, but many of its students come from suburban and affluent families, and some students said initially that the thefts and violence that occurred after Floyds death were worse than the Trump supporters insurrection. Ultimately, Fortin said, his job is to help students sift through misinformation and understand the historical and political significance of what happened Wednesday. I said, Guys, this is unprecedented this didnt even happen in the Civil War, said Fortin. Theyre just trying to wrap their heads around it. This was going after the foundations of our government. Though her students are young, Angela Chan, a third-grade teacher at Jackson Elementary in South Philadelphia, felt honor bound to discuss the storming of the Capitol. I said that Donald Trump believed the election was stolen, but that was not true, but he encouraged other people to keep him in power using information that was not true, said Chan. The kids said that was scary, and it was scary that they saw guns. The students talked about the civil rights movement and read an essay by John Lewis. They talked about peaceful protests. And when she gave them the opportunity to come back to an optional meeting in the afternoon, six kids wanted to keep talking. I am exhausted, Chan said, but I was uplifted. Joseph Todd of Prairieville flew with his father and nephew to Washington to attend Donald Trumps Save America March, but not because he believes the presidents assertions of voter fraud. In his view, the president hasnt proven the case, yet Todd thinks the election that Trump lost to Joe Biden highlighted areas where voting security could improve. That's the message he said he wanted to convey Wednesday in Washington. But he now frets it was drowned out forever because a mob of pro-Trump supporters invaded the Capitol. +10 Rouses co-owner engulfed in controversy after photo shows him at Trump rally outside Capitol Louisiana businessman Donald Rouse Sr. and the regional supermarket chain he co-owns became engulfed in controversy after a photo surfaced on When I heard they infiltrated, I almost started crying, said Todd, who after rally at The Elllipse moved toward the Capitol yet left when it became clear some marchers were breaking off to storm the building. It destroys everything we are trying to promote. This cannot be the label on the masses. Todd was among a half-dozen Louisianans who spoke with The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate on Thursday after going to Washington to support Trump ahead of the congressional vote to affirm the Nov. 3 election result. Unlike Todd, some of those who attended the rally said they think Trump was indeed robbed of a second term, espousing unproven hypotheses that have nonetheless been lent widespread credence on right-leaning news outlets and social media platforms. But like Todd, they all drew a distinction between themselves and the rioters who breached the Capitol and delayed for hours the vote that sealed Trumps defeat. The best-case scenario was for that event to be peaceful, said rally attendee Michael Farris, a Bossier City security consultant who describes himself as a Trump supporter and a registered independent. I knew if it became violent, we would alienate people who were on the fence or uninformed. What happened at the Capitol added another rock to the rock pile of polarization. Like Todd and Farris, St. Tammany Parish residents Marcus Clavier, William Wolcott and Dave Schwefel all listened to Trump and other speakers at the rally before heading to the Capitol, where the fateful vote was to take place. News reports have highlighted how Trump's attorney, Rudy Giuliani, who has led legal efforts to overturn the results of the election, called for trial by combat in his remarks at the rally. But Wolcott and Farris said the speeches mostly left them underwhelmed, simply parroting many of the talking points that Trumps camp had used since losing the election. I was hoping for great revelations of information, but there kind of wasnt, said Wolcott, who owns a pawn and gun shop in Slidell. Attendees said they were struck by how few police officers they saw at the Capitol and along the way to it. Clavier, a real estate broker, said hes used to seeing streets packed with officers working crowd control at Mardi Gras parades and other major events in New Orleans. But it was nothing like that Wednesday. Todd, Farris, and Clavier all said they didnt think much of it. They said they simply planned to demonstrate peacefully, to give lawmakers a visual reminder about how many people were upset about the election. Todd, who was accompanied by his father, David Durio, and nephew, Jacob Todd, said he worried things might take a sinister turn when he saw people approaching members of the crowd and telling individuals they were looking for folks to storm the Capitol. He said he brushed off one person who made such a suggestion, saying: What are you talking about? This isnt how this works. But some of those in the crowd werent of the same mind as Todd. They muscled through police lines, entered the building and occupied the Senate and House chambers. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Police shot one woman to death. A police officer died Thursday night after being injured during the melee. A few others died from medical emergencies, including one man whom Todd recalled seeing outside the Capitol. We couldnt get to him to help him, Todd said. It was horrible. Authorities locked down the building until they regained control and cleared it of invaders. The siege, which has since prompted the Capitol police chiefs resignation, not only delayed Congress certification of Bidens victory until early Thursday. It also shocked the world. The Louisianans who were interviewed for this story all disavowed the takeover of the Capitol. They also insisted that those intruders were a small minority of the group that went to the rally. The few people who went in are not indicative of this movement. Theyre just not, Clavier said. Though Trump lost both the popular and Electoral College votes to Biden by ample margins, Clavier noted that more than 74 million American still cast their ballots in favor of the president. In that broad spectrum, you will have a nutcase, Clavier said. But the vast majority are level-headed, hard-working Americans who want a functioning, efficient government which isnt f---ing them over, and to know that their vote counts. Not everyone agreed that attendees and organizers of the Save America March could disassociate themselves from the Capitol invasion. Kenner native Bhavna Pandit Ghia, a Democratic political fundraiser who has lived in Washington for 20 years, said her experience Wednesday in her Capitol Hill neighborhood was not unlike being hit by a hurricane. Her sons preschool is closed until next week, after the campus was locked down most of Wednesday with teachers unable to mute the commotion from outside. The mayor imposed a 6 p.m. curfew, and neighbors have discussed whether its better to just evacuate until things subside. Nobodys ever seen anything like this, Ghia said of her neighborhood. It was as horrific as you saw [on the news]. Theres no sensationalism. Having taken his co-workers to the march as sort of a political field trip, Ryan Robin of New Orleans said he realized things were devolving into chaos when he got tear-gassed and suddenly found himself trying to navigate his way out of the crowd. It went from something pretty nice so quickly to something stupid, Robin said. My stomach turned immediately. Robin said he was ashamed to be there and no longer considers himself a Trump supporter or Republican. Looking back, Im like I should have never wasted my money, Robin said. I felt like I was used as a prop. Andrea Gallo contributed to this report. This post was updated to note that the critically wounded Capitol police officer had died. THE case presented against one of the men accused of murdering Irish gangland boss Robbie Lawlor was "a masterpiece of vagueness", a court heard today. Counsel for Adrian Holland (37) claimed the charge depends entirely on complex, circumstantial CCTV evidence, number plate registrations and mobile phone analysis. Lawlor was gunned down in broad daylight outside Holland's house at Etna Drive in Ardoyne, north Belfast on April 4 last year. Prosecutors claim the 36-year-old underworld figure had moved north because he feared he was going to be attacked in a deadly feud. But his assassination had already been commissioned three weeks earlier at a meeting in a Sligo hotel attended by an international drugs dealer, it has been alleged. Read More Neither Holland nor 45-year-old co-defendant Patrick Teer, of Thornberry Hill in Belfast, are accused of being the gunman. Instead, they were charged as part of a joint enterprise to murder, based on their alleged involvement in events surrounding the shooting. According to police, Lawlor went to Etna Drive in a pre-arranged appointment to collect cash. A gunman emerged from the property and opened fire, shooting him in the head and body. Lawlor died at the scene. The attack is believed to have been part of an ongoing drugs dispute which claimed three lives in the past year. Originally from Dublin, Lawlor was heavily involved in a bitter feud between rival Drogheda-based factions. With both of the men charged with his murder still in custody, counsel for Holland challenged the case advanced against his client at a previous hearing. Joe Brolly told Belfast Magistrates Court: "The outline of the facts by the prosecution was a masterpiece of vagueness." Confirming Holland intends to apply for bail next month, the barrister requested police interview tapes and CCTV from a Tesco store in Crumlin, Co Antrim where Lawlor allegedly met a suspect on the day before his murder. Footage from a hotel in Sligo where police claim a meeting was held to commission the assassination should also be disclosed, it was contended. Mr Brolly added: "The evidence against this accused is the coincidence of ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition), CCTV footage, and cell-site analysis of a mobile phone not recovered which the prosecution say is attributable to the accused." Crown lawyer Natalie Pinkerton responded that evidence is not ready to be disclosed at this stage, but added that she would take instructions on the material sought. Adjourning the case for four weeks, District Judge George Conner told defence representatives: "I suggest you put in writing the matters you are specifically asking for. "I expect the prosecution to examine those matters and to release any documents that can be released at this stage." Read More Online Editors Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Were all stuck at home at the moment, so here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Sinking Ship The late-night hosts were still reeling along with the rest of the country on Thursday, the day after a Trump-incited mob stormed the Capitol. Well, guys, its been a pretty epic 24 hours, Jimmy Fallon said at the top of The Tonight Show. Joe Biden was certified as our next president, several staffers have resigned from the White House, Trumps social media accounts were banned, and yet, compared to yesterday, its a slow news day. Supervisor Shamann Walton has been elected president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in a unanimous vote that elevated him to the top of the citys most powerful political body and put him second in line to the mayor. Walton represents District 10, the southeastern edge of San Francisco, which includes neighborhoods like Bayview-Hunters Point, Potrero Hill and Dogpatch. Now, he will also lead the 11-member board through an uncertain and tumultuous time in San Francisco. He will be the first Black man to serve as president of the board, a post that he will hold for a two-year term. The Board of Supervisors is instrumental in crafting policy and budget decisions that influence how the city weathers the pandemic, which has ravaged small businesses, pushed more people toward poverty, and caused a massive budget deficit that will likely force layoffs and service cuts later this year. Walton will also take charge of the board as City Hall is enmeshed in a public corruption scandal that is still unfolding and widening to involve new people and allegations. I am truly humbled, elated and heartened, to serve as the San Francisco Board of Supervisors first Black male president, Walton said in a statement. I want to thank my colleagues for entrusting me with the opportunity to unify everyone during this major pandemic. Waltons day-to-day role as board president will largely be administrative and grants him only a little more power than his colleagues. The board presidency is often seen as a stepping-stone to higher office. He will join a list of notable former board presidents, including Mayor London Breed, Assemblymember David Chiu and Sen. Dianne Feinstein. The District 10 supervisor was heavily praised by his colleagues Friday. His close ally, Supervisor Hillary Ronen, said he is a natural-born leader, and Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said he has a backbone of steel. Walton will take over from Supervisor Norman Yee, who termed out of office this week. Yee was a calm and steady leader, who stayed out of the spotlight and away from controversy even when board meetings devolved into heated, hours-long debates late into the night. Breed endorsed Walton for supervisor in 2018. He has since become part of a tight progressive faction on the board that often spars with the mayor over issues, most recently about the citys homeless hotel program and $13.1 billion budget. That dynamic may be exacerbated under Waltons board presidency. If there is anytime to put aside our difference in the name of accomplishing something greater, this is that time, Breed said at Fridays meeting. Lets stop pointing fingers, because the people of San Francisco are not interested in that. They are interested in results. Supervisor Aaron Peskin said he wanted to address the elephant in the room and urged his colleagues to put aside the political divisions and camps that exist within the board and between the mayor. Peskin was also seriously considered by his colleagues for the job of board president. There will be time for those fights, but the work in this coming year in an economic recession and COVID and climate change ... is way too important, he said. Now is the time for true, honest, intellectually honest collaboration. Earlier in the meeting, two new members of the board, Myrna Melgar and Connie Chan, were sworn into office. Waltons first big task will be to appoint his colleagues to committees, which could have implications on how legislation is amended before it hits the full board. Walton spent the first few years of his life in public housing in the Bayview and on Potrero Hill, before moving to Vallejo with his mother at 11. He moved back to the Bayview in 2014. Before joining the board, he was president of the San Francisco Board of Education and the executive director of Young Community Developers, a nonprofit that provides job training and develops affordable housing. The election for board president is sometimes a contentious decision among the 11 supervisors, as they balance their own political alliances, personal differences and public perception as they cast their votes. Yee was elected in 2019 after a dramatic few weeks in City Hall, as the supervisors spent weeks fighting over who should be in charge. In comparison to previous elections, this years vote for board president was tame. We are at a pivotal time when a unified voice has never been more important, Walton said in a statement. Peaceful transitions should be the norm and we will be the example as a City and quite frankly for the country. Trisha Thadani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tthadani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @TrishaThadani Elon Musk makes one thing clear with his recent statement, and he said that electric rockets could not be used for launching from Earth to orbit as it is impossible and not ideal in the planet's situations. However, Musk added that this would soon be a need for early Mars mission and some time for the Earth, as electric rockets are the "long term solution" needed for spacecraft technology. The billionaire and multi-company CEO, Elon Musk, has spoken. It is now about how electric rockets would need to work and how it can be used to apply for intergalactic travels in the future. Musk is widely known for his significant ventures that include EV company, Tesla, and aerospace travels, SpaceX, but the thought of combining both is a thing for the future. Read Also: Dr. Michio Kaku Believes Elon Musk's Mars Colonization Feat is Highly Feasible with Self-Replicating Robots Elon Musk Electric Rocket: Not Possible, Unfortunately, Says CEO Good thing Elon Musk is a realist and does not appease or leave people to wonder or hope for his company's future innovations whenever he answers or shares something publicly via his personal Twitter account. That said account is also known to be the gateway for all the latest news and updates for several of his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, Neuralink, The Boring Co., etc. A blog account asked a vague question on Twitter, whether electric rockets would be a thing or would it be possible to make one. According to Elon Musk's reply (@elonmusk), it would be "unfortunately" impossible, especially when talking about launching to orbit from the Earth's surface. Not to get to orbit, unfortunately. In space, photon emission powered by matter-antimatter annihilation would rock, but thats more of a long-term solution. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021 However, despite denying the Earth possibility of an electric rocket, its technology would "rock" while in rigorous space conditions as "photon emission" coming from "matter-antimatter annihilation" would work. This explanation by the CEO means that while Earth launch cannot work, its use for profound space travels could be possible, but it would be for future tech. Elon Musk Electric Rockets: SpaceX Mars Mission Need Some Time in the Future What Elon Musk added, later on, says that electric rockets would soon be a possibility and would probably be something that his company, SpaceX, would take on in the future. Musk noted that electric rockets would need future "early" Mars missions by SpaceX and, soon, for the home planet. Indirectly, an electric rocket is possible by using electricity to convert CO2+H2O > CH4+O2. This will be needed on Mars even for early missions & Earth too over time. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 7, 2021 These are all based on Elon Musk's word to take for speculations, but it seems that electric rockets would be crucial on Mars missions, and the CEO said that it is needed for "early" schedules. The first SpaceX Mars mission is projected to be around 2026, which is approximately five years from now, and would be enough time for the company to work a prototype around. However, the spacecraft would not be entirely reliant on batteries and electricity, preferably using energy to convert carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) to methane (CH4) and dioxide elements (O2). Elon Musk's electric rockets suggest that they would still use fuel, but it would be from renewable energy sources as converted by electricity. Related Article: Will Elon Musk Bring Us An Electric Jet? Tesla CEO Hints Possibility of Making One, First Mentioned in Marvels' Iron Man 2! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Alonzo 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Despite Premier Brian Pallister touting his government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, Manitoba has been one of the slowest jurisdictions in Canada to get jabs into the arms of its residents. Despite Premier Brian Pallister touting his government's COVID-19 vaccine rollout plan, Manitoba has been one of the slowest jurisdictions in Canada to get jabs into the arms of its residents. THE CANADIAN PRESS Manitoba's first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods While everyone expects the program to ramp up quickly, the current vaccination pace means it would take until June 2024 to get all 1,068,553 adults in Manitoba immunized. "We can't use middle-of-the-pack or mediocrity as being our threshold for success. We should be doing better than this," said Dr. Jason Kindrachuk, a University of Manitoba virologist. "It's been slow across the country." Manitoba says it is about to implement plans to drastically scale up the effort. Here are four ways it can do so: 1) Dish out leftovers Israel, which is on track to lead the world in vaccinations, has numerous sites for people in priority groups to get COVID-19 vaccines. In addition, the public is allowed to pop by at the end of the day at some sites to get leftover shots. Those opting to be on standby get a crack at the extra dose contained in some vials, which is meant to account for mistakes such as dropped syringes. It also prevents doses from being wasted when appointments are cancelled. Kindrachuk says a similar system might work at Manitoba's vaccination hubs such as Winnipeg's downtown convention centre. "Every dose that we get rid of is really a person that could get vaccinated. So I think we want to utilize all of that as well as we can," he said. Thats especially pertinent with the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, both of which are only effective for a few hours once theyve been thawed, mixed and put into vials. Kindrachuk added that officials would have to ensure those who unexpectedly get a first dose would still get a booster shot on time. 2) Lean on pharmacies The president of Shoppers Drug Mart says his company has offered to help the Manitoba government with the first phase of vaccinations at provincial super sites, and the company would like to eventually help immunize Manitobans at its own pharmacies. "Weve offered up using some of our pharmacists in those centres for the first phase with the Pfizer vaccines (to help) with the refrigeration requirements," Jeff Leger told the Free Press. Shoppers and its pharmacies in Superstores and No Frills stores managed to immunize two million Canadians with the flu vaccine in five weeks in the fall. CP Shoppers and its pharmacies in Superstores and No Frills stores managed to immunize two million Canadians with the flu vaccine in five weeks in the fall of 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS FILES/Sean Kilpatrick The industry believes it could administer 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses per week across Canada. Leger said pharmacies already notify patients about their booster shots and prescription refills using text messages, emails and automated calls, all based on provinces electronic billing systems. That system could ensure Manitobans don't miss their second dose. Pharmacists Manitoba said in a statement that 1,000 pharmacists are trained to administer injections. "Pharmacists will be an absolutely vital link in the safe and efficient distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine, especially in many rural and remote communities," wrote group head Pawandeep Sidhu. "Pharmacies have made many changes to meet this year's increased demand for flu shots including an online booking system to avoid crowding, PPE procurement, and extended clinic hours." Kindrachuk said its an obvious choice. "Frankly, pharmacists have a pretty good insight into their communities and they have trust." 3) Make it seamless The eligibility pool for COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to increase as criteria are expanded. Manitoba is currently focused on booking appointments for health-care workers and getting doses to people who live in congregate settings, such as care homes. 74 per cent of Manitobans to be vaccinated by year's end: plan Click to Expand THE CANADIAN PRESS/John Woods Manitoba's new COVID-19 vaccination site at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. Under it's current plan, the province estimates that only 74 per cent of its population will be vaccinated by years end. Posted: 8:03 PM Jan. 7, 2021 The Manitoba government has no idea how the federal government will manage its goal of immunizing all adults by September. Its figures show that under current arrangements, only 74 per cent of the provinces population will be vaccinated by years end. The figure is in a document titled Manitobas Immunization Rollout Plan which cautioned its estimate was a planning projection only. Read Full Story Some countries that immunize people in the broader population issue emails or app notifications to people who are eligible for a shot. That saves medical staff from having to do that time-consuming work. Similarly, digital consent forms for the flu vaccine saved pharmacists from waiting for patients to fill out forms, and having to sterilize pens and clipboards. Kindrachuk said these methods could save time as long as they dont prevent people from accessing shots, such as those who lack access to computers. He said it will be important to ensure nurses and pharmacists are certain the person to be vaccinated is eligible for the shot. "I don't think we want to put them in the position of having to decide independently who fits in a category," said Kindrachuk, arguing inconsistently applied criteria would undermine public trust. "It's difficult. We don't have an algorithm to be able to plug in some of these components and say: these are the groups where you should fit in, perfectly." Leger said that can usually be achieved if a government issues a standard questionnaire for use in pharmacies. "Pharmacies are happy to help with whatever the (government) sets out as a priority," he said. "We're there to help and give extra resources to make it as easy to get to as many people as possible." 4) Build trust Kindrachuk says now is the time for governments and community groups to help people get comfortable with vaccines. "Vaccination is going to get us out of this, but we really have to provide information to people to help them understand what vaccines are, how they work, what they can and can't do, and frankly what the vaccines are," he said, citing the example of how an mRNA differs from an inactivated-viral vaccine. "All these things are important so that people feel that they are educated and knowledgeable about what they're getting." In Manitoba, confusion about the 2009 H1N1 swine flu led to Indigenous people being hesitant to get the vaccine, despite being a priority group because the flu disproportionately killed them. Kindrachuk said he rejects the idea that getting more Manitobans immunized will naturally resolve questions from those who are hesitant about vaccines, and that could be a barrier to achieving herd immunity. "We have to actively engage those communities and be quite up front about what we know and what we don't know about the vaccine." With files from Michael Pereira dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca The risk management society RIMS announced that Ellen R. Dunkin will lead the organization as president for the 2021 term, which began January 1. Dunkin is the senior vice president, general counsel and chief risk officer for Amalgamated Life Insurance Co. in White Plains, New York. She has more than 25 years of experience driving strategic and enterprise risk management programs, as well as overseeing legal initiatives for companies including Crump Group; Marsh & McLennan Companies and Willkie Farr & Gallagher. From 19982007, Dunkin was employed by RIMS, serving as general counsel and director of Government Affairs. She has been a member of RIMS for nearly 15 years and was actively involved with RIMS New York chapter, serving as its president from 2015 to 2016. Dunkin joined the RIMS global board of directors in 2017. She was also a Spencer Educational Foundation director in 2000. Risk professionals from around the world met 2020s challenges with fervor, delivering critical insight that allowed their organizations to adapt and emerge stronger, said Dunkin. However, its up to us, risk professionals, to go one step further. We must continue to promote the value that we add, our impact on business development and position ourselves as indispensable strategic advisors who are pivotal to future success. As president, Dunkin succeeds 2020 RIMS President Laura Langone, who is head of Insurance Operations for Airbnb. Dunkin will serve along with the following officers, some newly elected. Officers on RIMS 2021 Board of Directors: President: Ellen R. Dunkin, Esq.; Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Risk Officer, Amalgamated Life Insurance Company, a Member of the Amalgamated Family of Companies. Vice President: Patrick Sterling, SPHR, SHRM-SCP; Senior Director, Legendary People and Risk Management, Texas Roadhouse. Treasurer: Jennifer Santiago, MBA, RIMS-CRMP, ARM; Assistant Vice President & Chief Risk Officer, The Pennsylvania State University. Secretary: David E. Arick, ARM; Assistant Treasurer, Global Risk Management, International Paper Company. New Board Members: Kevin Bates; Group Head of Risk & Insurance, Lendlease. Christy Kaufman, CPCU; Head of Governance, Risk and Compliance, American Family Ventures. Penni Nelson; Assistant Vice President, Risk Management, Hillwood a Perot Company. Incumbent Board Members: Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. According to information published on January 6, 2021, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Tanjung Manis zone has received the Semilang-class patrol boat KM Semilang (2161). According to information published on January 6, 2021, the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency Tanjung Manis zone has received the Semilang-class patrol boat KM Semilang (2161). Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Semilang-class patrol boat KM Semilang 2161. (Picture source MMEA) The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), formally known as Malaysia Coast Guard for international identification, is the coast guard organization of Malaysia, and the principal government agency tasked with maintaining law and order and coordinating search and rescue operations in the Malaysian Maritime Zone and on the high seas. The Agency and its members are part of the Malaysian Federal Civil Agency and report directly to the Ministry of Home Affairs. The MMEA however, can be integrated under Malaysian Armed Forces command during an emergency, special crisis, or wartime. Citing The Borneo Post, Currently, the Tanjung Manis zone has only one boat and with the added asset, MMEA will be able to carry out better monitoring and search and rescue operations. The SEMBILANG Vessel Class (ex SIRI 100) then worked in the service of the Fisheries Department in 1986. Assigned to monitor the local fishermen in the sea. After 20 years in the service of the Fisheries Department in June 2006, the ship was handed over to the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA). The ship is used as a patrol boat and has a length of 21 meters. A Queensland-based company is set to release its own production of milk this year that stays fresh for at least 60 days. Naturo, a food-technology company on the Sunshine Coast, is expected to unveil its unpasteurised milk at the end of next month. The milk, created by Naturo CEO Jeff Hastings, uses the haelen method which involves cooling the liquid down - rather than heating it up - which is normally the case during pasteurisation. The product has no additives or preservatives and has the ability to kill specific bacteria. The milk, which was created by Naturo CEO Jeff Hastings (pictured) uses a haelen method which involves cooling down the milk rather than heating it up like it usually is through pasteurisation Naturo's milk has even caught the eye of the Australian federal government which will be giving a $1million grant to the company on Friday. Mr Hastings said the milk trials were on track with the product expected to be ready for domestic sale at the end of February. The long-lasting milk will first be used for commercial purposes while Naturo looks to set up a production site. It's expected that once it's up and running, up to ten million litres of the milk will be produced each year, and will be shipped around Asia. Mr Hastings said that during the trials those drinking the milk were amazed at how fresh it tasted even 60 days after production. The milk can stay fresh for at least 60 days and is expected to be ready for domestic sale at the end of next month 'When we give the milk to people they say that the flavour is like it's straight out of the vat,' he told the Sunshine Coast Daily. 'It tastes like raw milk.' The innovation was given the green light after being independently tested and validated by industry regulator Dairy Food Safety Victoria, who approved the process as healthy and safe. Naturo's process claims to be safer than usual pasteurisation because it contains higher levels of vitamins B2 and B12 which are vital for liver function and bone development. Milk is one of the biggest exports of the dairy industry, with exports valued at more than $3billion. Australia produces more milk than it consumes - meaning large amounts can be exported. Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Karen Andrews, said the million-dollar grant to Naturo would help it set up a pilot plant in Coolum to kick-start production. 'I'm so impressed by the ingenuity and determination of Aussie businesses like Naturo who are using science and technology to turn bold ideas into job-creating realities,' Minister Andrews said. 'This grant will help the company build a pilot plant in Queensland to create their product and then export it to the world, while also paving the way for a full scale facility to be built in regional Tasmania.' MUMBAI: Cryptocurrency exchanges in India have stepped up their efforts to detect suspicious activities and clamp down on pump and dump schemes, as bitcoin breached the $40,000 mark yesterday. CoinDCX, a large cryptocurrency exchange said that it has frozen 4 accounts which were used for artificially pushing up the price of smaller cryptos in a bid to lure retail investors to enter at inflated prices. India lacks any formal KYC rules or exchange regulations for cryptocurrency and hence exchanges have devised their own rules. The lack of regulation comes even as the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FINCEN) has proposed compulsory KYC norms for transfers of cryptocurrency to non-custodial wallets above $3,000. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry There have been instances where certain transactions were red flagged when they were in conflict with AML policies on the exchange and we had to seek details on source of funds from the customers," said Monark Modi, founder and CEO, Bitex, a UAE based cryptocurrency exchange that has operations in India. At Bitex in addition to ensuring strict KYC, we also have stringent Anti Money Laundering (AML) policies that ensures that transactions done on the exchange are legitimate and in accordance with regulations," he added. Neeraj Khandelwal, co founder, CoinDCX warned investors against investing in small cryptocurrencies without adequate knowledge. While small cap crypto coins may look lucrative, similar to penny stocks, it is imperative that new cryptocurrency investors do adequate research about the projects, team, investor backing, technicals, and fundamentals before investing in low price and illiquid markets," he said. We observed pump and dump manoeuvres by operators in small cap, low trading volumes crypto coins and we estimate this has affected multiple users across the globe. We have proactively identified and frozen 4 accounts of such persons," he added. The heightened push towards compliance comes even as interest in crypto investing has surged in India. WazirX, Indias largest cryptocurrency exchange, now reports a user base of over 1 million, up from the 550,000 users it mentioned in a blogpost in June 2020. The exchange reported transactions worth $2.34 billion in 2020. However 70% of its users were below the age of 34 and 85% were men, according to data released to Mint by the cryptocurrency exchange. The market capitalisation of cryptocurrencies surged past the $1 trillion mark on the back of a sharp rally over the past month. Bitcoin surpassed its 2017 peak of just under $20,000 on 16 December 2020 and currently trades close to $40,000. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Moderna's Covid-19 mRNA vaccine is likely to offer protection of up to a couple of years, its chief executive said on Thursday, even though more data is still needed to make a definitive assessment. The US biotech company, which stunned the world last year by coming up with a vaccine against the disease caused by the new coronavirus in just a few weeks, received approval for its shot from the European Commission on Wednesday. Given vaccines development and pharmacovigilance usually requires years, the protection duration of Covid-19 shots is a lingering question for scientists and regulators. "The nightmare scenario that was described in the media in the spring with a vaccine only working a month or two is, I think, out of the window," Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said at an event organised by financial services group Oddo BHF. "The antibody decay generated by the vaccine in humans goes down very slowly (...) We believe there will be protection potentially for a couple of years." Bancel added his company was about to prove that its vaccine would also be effective against variants of the coronavirus seen in Britain and South Africa. Scientists have said newly developed vaccines should be equally effective against both variants. Also read: Air India to deliver first batch of COVID-19 vaccine to Delhi today Also read: Vaccination drive: First shipment likely to be released today Photo: Anadolu Agency/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Dozens of members of the pro-Trump mob who attacked the U.S. Capitol have now been charged for the seige on Wednesday which left five dead. Many more will be charged in the coming weeks, according to acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Michael Sherwin, who told NPR on Sunday that hundreds more could face criminal charges, ranging from destruction of federal property to murder. The federal charges began on Friday, when the Department of Justice announced it had charged 13 people involved in the attack. Two of the insurrectionists are accused of illegal possession of weapons, including one man who is said to have brought 11 Molotov cocktails to Capitol Hill. The rest were hit with a variety of charges alleging they unlawfully entered the Capitol grounds and assaulted law-enforcement officers. (At least 40 others have been arrested and charged in D.C. court already on similar charges.) Among them are Richard Bennett of Arkansas, who was infamously photographed seated with his feet on House Speaker Nancy Pelosis desk. Bennett was taken into custody, as was Lonnie Coffman of Alabama, who feds say brought the Molotovs and two firearms. Thats Richard Bigo Barnett, 60, from Gravette, Ak., showing off the personalized envelope he took from Speaker Pelosis office. He insisted he didnt steal it I left a quarter on her desk. pic.twitter.com/aST7MCoRwP Matthew Rosenberg (@AllMattNYT) January 6, 2021 West Virginia lawmaker Derek Evans, a Republican, was also charged, according to the AP and taken into custody by FBI agents at his home. On Saturday, Evans submitted a letter of resignation to the states Governor Jim Justice. #BREAKING WV Delegate Derrick Evans has been taken into federal custody. Hes charged after allegedly entering a restricted area of the US Capitol with rioters Wednesday. A woman saying he was his grandmother came out telling us to leave as he was put in a car. #WSAZ pic.twitter.com/wK2RqFcaF7 Chad Hedrick (@WSAZChadHedrick) January 8, 2021 Other insurrectionists seen in widely-distributed photos this week were arrested over the weekend. On Saturday, the Department of Justice announced that Jacob Anthony Chansley, the Arizona man who entered the Capitol shirtless and wearing a fur headdress with horns, was arrested on charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, and with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds on Saturday. The shirtless man photographed during US Capitol Hill violence, Jake Angeli, was taken into custody today and charged by federal court for riots. pic.twitter.com/kZTtZQS6Xe Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) January 10, 2021 In the same statement, the DOJ announced that Adam Johnson the man from Florida seen stealing with Nancy Pelosis lectern is in custody and has been charged with one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; one count of theft of government property; and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. The picture of a white man roaming the halls of Congress with Nancy Pelosis podium reflects the America Black people know: an America of ignorant white people secure in the knowledge that nothing bad will happen to them. @jimstgermain89 writes https://t.co/YMs8DFIJdj New York Magazine (@NYMag) January 8, 2021 Doug Jensen, the Iowa man who allegedly led the push toward the Senate chamber, was arrested by the FBI and is facing five federal charges, including trespassing and disorderly conduct. The man seen chasing a Black Capitol police officer up the stairs during the Capitol attack is Doug Jensen, according to a CNN comparative analysis of his booking photo and posts on social media. Jensen is one of the individuals now facing federal charges. https://t.co/4F6JeJ0CtI Clare Foran (@ckmarie) January 10, 2021 On Sunday, the FBI arrested Eric Gavelek Munchel, the 30-year-old Tennessee man photographed carrying zip ties inside the Senate chamber. He is facing a federal charge of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. In the same announcement, the Department of Justice stated it had arrested another man, Larry Rendell Brock of Texas, on the same charges. Brock also allegedly entered the Capitol in tactical gear with flex cuff restraints. The F.B.I. arrests a man who had carried zip ties into the Capitol.https://t.co/REHOSqtCc1 JJ MacNab (@jjmacnab) January 10, 2021 The search for suspects in the Capitol riot continues, with the FBI receiving over 40,000 digital media tips in the first four days after the attack. Just because youve left the D.C. region, you can still expect a knock at the door, if we find out you were part of the criminal activity at the Capitol, said Steven Dantuono, the No. 2 in the FBIs Washington Field Office, according to Politico. We are sparing no expense or personnel or effort to root those perpetrators out and find them. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for the suspect who planted pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic parties. Military and law enforcement investigators are also turning the focus on their own ranks. On Sunday, U.S. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told Rep. Jason Crow that at least 25 domestic terrorism cases have been opened into military personnel allegedly on the scene on Wednesday. Police departments in Virginia, Washington, and Pennsylvania have begun investigations into their own officers who traveled to D.C. for the rally. Federal investigators are also reportedly investigating the death of U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick as murder. Four members of the mob also died in the attack, including a 35-year-old Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, who was shot by a Capitol police officer when she climbed through a window leading to an entryway outside of the House chamber. This post has been updated throughout. will chair the crucial Taliban and Libya sanctions committees and the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council during its tenure as non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation UN body. India, which has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UNSC, began its two-year tenure at the Council on Friday last. "The UN Security Council establishes subsidiary bodies on specific issues, including on the sanctions regimes. "I'm happy to announce that has been asked to chair three important committees of the Security Council, which include the Taliban Sanctions Committee, Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Libyan Sanctions Committee, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in a video message on Thursday. Tirumurti said the Taliban Sanctions Committee, also known as the 1988 Sanctions Committee, has always been a high priority for India, keeping in mind the country's strong interest and commitment to peace, security, development and progress of Afghanistan. Our chairing this committee at this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of terrorists and their sponsors threatening the peace process in Afghanistan. It has been our view that peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand, he said. Tirumurti will chair the CTC in 2022, the year in which will commemorate the 75th anniversary of its independence. "India will also chair the Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of India's independence. The chairing of this committee has a special resonance for India, which has not only been in the forefront of fighting terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, but has also been one of its biggest victims, he said. Tirumurti said the Libya Sanctions Committee, also called the 1970 Sanctions Committee, is a very important subsidiary body of the Council, which implements the sanctions regime, including a two-way arms embargo on Libya and assets freeze, a travel ban and measures on illicit export of petroleum. We will be assuming the chair of this committee at a critical juncture, when there is focus on Libya and on the peace process, he said. The three committees are highly significant subsidiary bodies of the UNSC and India chairing them is a ringing endorsement of the country's leadership to steer the panels. India is a leading voice at the UN in the fight against the global scourge of terrorism, particularly the threat posed in the region by cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. India has underscored that the fight against terrorism will be a key priority for it as it sits at the UN high-table for the 2021-22 term. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said as a Council member, India will not hesitate to raise its voice against the enemies of humanity, including terrorism and will always speak in support of peace, security and prosperity. Former Indian Ambassador to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, had chaired the CTC for the term 2011-12 when India was last in the UNSC as the non-permanent member. The CTC, established in the wake of the 9/11 terror attack in the US, works to bolster the ability of UN member states to prevent terrorist acts both within their borders and across regions. It is assisted by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), which carries out the policy decisions of the body, conducts expert assessments of each member state and facilitates counter-terrorism technical assistance to countries. Tirumurti thanked Permanent Representative of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Rhonda King, who, as the chair of the informal Working Group on Security Council Working Methods, had steered this process to its logical conclusion. The 1988 Sanctions Committee relating to Taliban oversees the sanctions measures imposed by the Security Council. Individuals and entities are designated on the 1988 Sanctions List as individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan. The committee designates individuals and entities for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts; supplying, selling or transferring arms; recruiting and supporting acts or activities of groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban. The listed entities and individuals are subject to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. Under the Libya Sanctions Committee, all member states are required to prevent the sale or supply of arms and related material to Libya; prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of all listed individuals; freeze all funds, other financial assets and economic resources that are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the listed individuals or entities. The Flag State of a designated vessel is required to direct the vessel not to load, transport, or discharge petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, from Libya, among other measures. In 2021, India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico join non-permanent members Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam and the five permanent members China, France, Russia, UK and the US in the Council. It is the eighth time that the country has had a seat on the powerful horseshoe table. (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.) U.S. President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at the Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. AP President-elect Joe Biden has denounced the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol as ''domestic terrorists'' and he blamed President Donald Trump for the violence that has shaken the nation's capital and beyond. The riot by Trump supporters who breached the security of Congress on Wednesday was ''not dissent, was not disorder, was not protest. It was chaos.'' Those who massed on Capitol Hill intending to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was certifying Biden's election victory over Trump ''weren't protesters. Don't dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob _ insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. It's that basic,'' Biden said Thursday. In solemn tones, Biden said the actions Trump has taken to subvert the nation's democratic institutions throughout his presidency led directly to the mayhem in Washington. ''In the past four years, we've had a president who's made his contempt for our democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law clear in everything he has done,'' Biden said. ''He unleashed an all-out assault on our institutions of our democracy from the outset. And yesterday was the culmination of that unrelenting attack.'' The mob of hundreds of Trump backers broke into the Capitol and roamed the halls looking for lawmakers, who were forced to halt their deliberations and seek safety. The violent protesters were egged on by Trump himself, who has falsely contended that he lost the election due to voter fraud. A series of missteps unfolded to leave the Capitol unprotected from a mob of pro-Trump rioters Wednesday with congressional leaders directly intervening with calls to governors and Capitol Police seeking reinforcements that were slow to come. The Mayor of Washington, D.C. had activated National Guard ahead of Wednesday's events, which had been forecast on social media and with President Trump urging his followers to attend through tweets. But once his followers breached the Capitol after Trump urged them to 'fight' for his false claim that he won the election, chaos ensued with insufficient planning, a tangle of jurisdictions and chain of command issues, and officials failing to act. On Thursday night following the turmoil, the top four congressional leaders Sen. Mitch McConnell, Sen. Charles Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy spoke with acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller and chairman of the Joint Chiefs Mark Milley about the chaotic response. Immediately available Guard forces weren't armed and delays in activating forces prevented an immediate infusion of forces that might have stopped rioters who ran wild inside the building. National Guard troops march past the Dirksen Senate Office Building on the U.S. Capitol grounds on Thursday, January 7, 2021, following the riot at the Capitol the day before. It took precious time to get reinforcements for overrun Capitol Police on Wednesday The Capitol Police, a 2,000-strong force that protects Capitol grounds, had not requested outside help before the start of Wednesday's incursion. After it happened, police chief Steven Sund asked for 200 troops. The Army oversees the guard in D.C., due to its special jurisdiction as a federal city, not a state. Sund got asked if he wanted Guard help on a call and 'there was a pause,' a Washington, D.C. official told the Washington Post. He responded yes. ' 'Then there was another pause, and an official from the [office of the] secretary of the Army said that wasn't going to be possible.' The Army official, on behalf of the Secretary of the Army, cited the 'optics' of armed troops marching through the U.S. Capitol. Army Secretary Ryan D. McCarthy is charged with responding to D.C.'s request to activate National Guard due to its special jurisdictional status National Guard troops clear a street from protestors outside the Capitol building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC after the mayor imposed a curfew. There were problems activating Guard and getting them in proper gear in a timely manner Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, gets his first shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, administered by HN Samantha Alvarez at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on December 14, 2020 in Bethesda, Maryland. He assumed his post after the resignation of Defense Secretary Mark Esper Supporters of President Trump who are trying to overthrow the results of the 2020 presidential election clash with police as the crowd storms up the west side steps of the US Capitol during the session where members of Congress certify the election D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told the paper 'There was some concern from the Army of what it would look like to have armed military personnel on the grounds of the Capitol.' There were other struggles to get backup for overwhelmed Capitol Police. House House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland dialed his state's Gov. Larry Hogan, while Hoyer was with congressional leaders Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. 'I was actually on the phone with Leader Hoyer, who was pleading with us to send the guard,' said Hogan. 'He was yelling across the room to Schumer and they were back and forth saying we do have the authorization, and I'm saying, 'I'm telling you we do not have the authorization.' He said the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard got turned down by the Pentagon. 'The general . . . kept running it up the flagpole, and we don't have authorization,' he told the Post. The Big Four congressional leaders spoke to acting Defense Sec. Christopher Miller Thursday following the fiasco at the Capitol An hour and a half after his conversation with Hoyer, Hogan got a call from Army Secretary McCarthy, who asked if he could dispatch Guard and have them 'come as soon as possible.' 'It was like, yeah, were waiting, were ready,' he responded. Hogan told the Baltimore Sun the leaders were 'pleading' with him to activate Guard forces to assist. But he said DOD officials repeatedly turned down his requests to send help over 90 minutes until he got a call from the Army Secretary. 'Yesterday was a horrible and shameful day here in the capital, and the nation at large,' Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy said on a press call Thursday, according to a Pentagon write-up. "The District of Columbia asked the Army for help, and our National Guard responded." When the events began, that included 340 Guard who were not armed and were on traffic-type duty. The confusion over the deployment follows a Pentagon purge and post-election staff changes that had Secretary of Defense Mike Esper resign and a group of Trump loyalists move in to key positions. The Acting Secretary of Defense is Christopher Miller following Esper's resignation. Millery authorized the deployment, and had talks Wednesday with Vice President Mike Pence as the crisis unfolded. He had the authority to activate the Guard, but Pence himself is not in the chain of command with the president at the top. The delays follow complaints about aggressive use of federal assets during peaceful protests near the White House over the summer. Meanwhile, Pelosi was seeking assistance from Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam, and D.C. was seeking help form neighboring Virginia. Rushing additional forces prepared for a riot situation on a tight timeline proved problematic. Amid the jurisdictional confusion, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy got into a 'screaming match' with President Trump over his pleadings the president forcefully tell his supporters to stop rampaging through the Capitol, Punchbowl reported. Even with Guard troops stationed around to D.C., getting them to the Capitol with riot gear protection and arms was another matter. When Mayor Bowser requested additional support once the Capitol was overrun, it took an hour for Army Secretary approval, Military Times reported. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany tweeted at 3:36 p.m.that Trump had directed the activation of more troops but by that point his supporters had been roaming around the Capitol and engaging in acts of vandalism and repeated clashes with police. Once activated, Guard had to travel to the D.C. Armory to get protective gear. Memos issued early this week stated that Guard were prohibited from carrying ammo or riot gear, She has joined a plethora of reality stars and influencers on 'work' trips to Dubai amid the UK's third national lockdown. But despite being in the sunnier climes of the UAE city, Sophie Kasaei bemoaned not being able to get enough of a holiday tan and was forced to hit the sunbeds instead. Taking to Instagram on Friday, the Geordie Shore star, 31, filmed herself at a tanning salon as she prepared to get a golden glow. Tough times: Sophie Kasaei, 31, bemoaned not being able to get enough of a holiday tan during her Dubai trip and was forced to hit the sunbeds instead on Friday Sophie took a break from her partying and boat-tripping to share a snap of herself in a black crop top and shorts, where she told how she hasn't managed to get brown enough during her sunny getaway. She penned: 'Dunno what it is with Dubai but no one can seem to tan'. After enjoying a session on the sunbed, the reality star later took to her stories again where she told how she feels much better after topping up her fan. Filming herself while she inspected her skin, Sophie said: 'I'll tell you what, that sunbed's done me the world of good. Finally got a little bit of tan on this skin.' Fun in the sun: Sophie has joined a plethora of reality stars and influencers on 'work' trips to Dubai amid the UK's third national lockdown Sophie has joined a long line of reality stars and influencers who have travelled to Dubai this month, amid strict coronavirus restrictions back home in the UK as the third national lockdown takes hold. And despite her tanning woes, she has shared a plethora of bikini-clad snaps of herself sporting a bronze complexion. Sophie previously enjoyed a sun-soaked trip to Dubai before returning home to spend Christmas with her loved ones. But she returned to the celeb-favourite city to wave in the New Year alongside her reality star pals, including Geordie Shore's Chloe Ferry and Bethan Kershaw. What a relief: After enjoying a session on the sunbed, the reality star later took to her stories again where she told how she feels much better after topping up her fan All is well: Filming herself while she inspected her skin, Sophie said: 'I'll tell you what, that sunbed's done me the world of good. Finally got a little bit of tan on this skin' Last month Sophie was accused of breaking coronavirus social distancing rules after she appeared to mix with three households and attended a family party on Christmas Day. The reality star appeared to flout rules around mixing during the festive period by travelling to numerous houses and documented some of the celebrations on her social media, according to The Sun. A source claimed: 'Sophie put the whole day on Instagram Stories - I couldn't believe what I was seeing. 'She started the day with her mum at her house, then she went to her dad's house to see him and her nan, then she went back to her own house - and then went off to her cousin's house for a family party. Holidays: Sophie has joined a long line of reality stars and influencers who have travelled to Dubai this month, amid strict coronavirus restrictions back home in the UK as the third national lockdown takes hold 'Then she had the cheek to tweet about how good the day was - it's one rule for celebrities and one for everything else.' After eating her Christmas dinner, Sophie recorded herself travelling to her cousin's house for a bash. The reality star said: 'We're on our way, cuz. We've got our bottles, hun. Get us a lemonade ready, cuz.' The North East was under Tier 3 restrictions at the time, meaning people could visit a maximum of two households on December 25. Rules: Last month, Sophie was accused of breaking coronavirus social distancing rules after she appeared to mix with three households and attended a family party on Christmas Day Festivities: According to The Sun, the TV personality appeared to flout rules around mixing during the festive period by travelling to multiple houses Lockdown: The North East was under Tier 3 restrictions at the time, meaning people could visit a maximum of two households on December 25 The Government website said: 'If you do not live in a Tier 4 area, you may see a maximum of two other households (your 'Christmas bubble') on Christmas Day (25 December). You cannot see anyone from a Tier 4 area. 'You should think very carefully about the risks and only form a Christmas bubble if you feel you absolutely need to. Wherever possible, discuss alternatives to meeting up in person.' It's unclear whether Sophie's father and grandmother are classed as one household, and whether her mother is living with her during the COVID-19 restrictions. MailOnline has contacted representatives of Sophie for comment. Ugandan presidential hopeful and political activist Bobi Wine has been arrested on numerous occasions in the run up to January 14 election day. (Ronald Kabuubi/AP) Uganda has space in its prisons to cope with any spike in arrests during next week's presidential election and the police beat reporters for their own good, senior security officials said on Friday. Campaigning ahead of the January 14 election, which pits President Yoweri Museveni against 10 other candidates including popstar-turned-lawmaker Bobi Wine, has been marked by brutal crackdowns on opposition rallies. Wine has been arrested multiple times and security personnel routinely break up his rallies. In November, 54 people were killed as security forces quelled protests after Wine was detained. Reporters have also been attacked by police. Read More At a pre-election news conference with senior security officials, Uganda's police chief Martin Okoth Ochola refused to apologise, saying reporters would be stopped from trying to go to areas where their lives could be at risk. "You are insisting you must go where there is danger. Yes, we shall beat you for your own sake to help you understand that you do not go there. Yes, we shall use reasonable force to ensure that you don't go where there is a risk. Actually, I have no apology," he said. The authorities say Wine's rallies break laws governing public order and Covid-19 restrictions on large gatherings. In November, the International Press Institute called on Uganda to investigate police attacks on reporters. Human Rights Watch, a watchdog based in New York, also said in November that Museveni's government was using Covid-19 rules as a pretext to violate rights and crack down on the opposition and the media. Johnson Byabashaija, Uganda's commissioner general of prisons, told the news conference at police headquarters in the capital Kampala that his service was ready to handle any increase in detainees. "There's always an upsurge of the prison population, especially after the elections. I can assure you that we can accommodate whatever number of people are, or will be, thrown at us," Byabashaija said. Dozens of campaign staff working for Wine are being held in a military barracks after authorities defied court orders to release them, Wine's lawyer George Musisi said on Friday. He said 118 Wine supporters and staff were arrested on December 30 on Bugala Island in Lake Victoria, where they had travelled to campaign. A court ordered their release on Monday but the prisons service did not comply, Musisi said. On Thursday, 46 were freed and 72 were taken to Makindye military barracks on the outskirts of Kampala, he said. Military spokeswoman Flavia Byekwaso told Reuters she needed time to study the situation before responding. Prisons service spokesman Frank Baine did not answer a call to request comment. On Friday, 49 of those held in the barracks were arraigned before a court martial in Kampala and charged with the unlawful possession of ammunition, Musisi said. They included Wine's singing partner known as Nubian Li and his bodyguard. Uganda's anti-terrorism laws allow for civilians who commit crimes using weapons that are generally only used by the defence forces to be charged in military courts. Read More Reuters Co-founder of Legal Way NGO Ruben Melikyan today posted on his Facebook page that an urgent meeting will be held near the Ministry of Justice of Armenia today at 12 p.m. and added that there are a large number of police troops in front of the building. Melikyan also posted the following: This morning, a small group of citizens and I came to the Ministry of Justice with the intent to address questions to the Minister of Justice in regard to rather plausible information that the presses spread yesterday according to which the text to be signed on January 11 is ready and has been secretly sent to the Ministry of Justice for bringing certain provisions of the text into compliance with the Constitution of Armenia. We saw that there are many police forces here, and this reinforced our conviction that there is a problem and that the draft is most likely at the Ministry of Justice. Ruben Melikyan emphasized that he and the group will hold an assembly near the Ministry of Justice at 12:00 to demand information about the topic. We dont want to be lied to anymore. We were told that we were winning the war for 44 days and then we were told that we were defeated and were embarrassed. We demand information about the treaty, concessions, etc., Melikyan added. The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Thursday held a meeting to hear a series of work reports. The reports were from leading Party members groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as from the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech. The authority and centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee is the paramount principle of upholding the Party's leadership and the fundamental guarantee for China's institutional strengths, said a statement issued after the meeting, describing the annual hearing of work reports by the CPC leadership as a major institutional arrangement for upholding such authority and leadership. The meeting acknowledged the achievements of the leading Party members groups of the top legislature, central government, top political advisory body, top court and top procuratorate, as well as the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, in various areas of work over the past year. The meeting called for both confidence and precautions against possible dangers as China stands at a historical juncture of wrapping up its efforts to achieve its first "centenary goal" and starting to work for the second. The meeting urged the leading Party members groups to continuously improve the ability to judge and understand political issues and implement political requirements so as to always stay in conformity with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in terms of thinking, political orientation, and actions. The leading Party members groups were urged to focus their work on grand plans designed by the CPC Central Committee, rise up to their responsibility, and strengthen the morale to fight so as to do their jobs well. The meeting also called for efforts to unremittingly improve Party conduct, fight corruption and encourage Party members and cadres to keep motivated in work to celebrate the CPC centenary this year with outstanding achievements. The Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee was urged to make solid efforts to accomplish tasks assigned by the CPC Central Committee. The Swearing-in ceremony of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, January 7, 2021, saw impressive turnout of international and local dignitaries, which added credence to the country's growing democracy. Notable among them included; President Professor Alpha Conde of Guinea, who was given the opportunity to present a goodwill message to President Akufo-Addo on his ascendency to the highest office of the land for a second four-year term. President Conde lauded President Akufo-Addo and the good people of Ghana for lifting the image of the country's democracy high amongst the comity of nations in Africa and globally. The heads of state who attended the President's investiture were President Alassane Ouattara of Cote d'lvoire, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, President George Manneh Weah of Liberia, President Umaro Sissoco Embalo of Guinea-Bissau, President Macky Sall of Senegal and President Roch Marc Christian Kabore of Burkina Faso. The colourful and well-organised ceremony was also witnessed by Vice President of Angola, Bornito de Sousa, Transitional Vice President of Mali, Colonel Assimi Goita, Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the UN Secretary-General's Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, Ambassador J.Peter Pham, Special Envoy of the United States responsible for the Sahel, Mr Faki Mahamat, African Union Commission President, Mr Guillaume Athanase Tolon, and Minister of Foreign Affairs for Cape Verde, Dr T.D.A. S Olivia, Minister of Foreign Affairs for Madagascar. Other local dignitaries included; Former President John Agyekum Kufuor, First Lady Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, Wife of the Vice President Mrs Samira Bawumia, Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Chairman of the Council of State, members of Parliament, the Clergy and traditional rulers. President Akufo-Addo, in his inaugural address, thanked Ghanaians for the confidence reposed in him and pledged to pursue policies and programmes to create prosperity for all. He told the gathering his government's commitment to create jobs for the youth and resuscitate the economy, ravaged by the global COVID-19 pandemic and lead it to the path of progress and prosperity. President Akufo-Addo pledged to work with the newly-elected Speaker of Parliament, Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin, the immediate Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament of the Seventh Parliament, who is from the opposition National Democratic Congress, to enhance the country's democracy. President Akufo-Addo has become the sixth President of the Fourth Republic who begins a second four-year term from today, January 7, 2021. 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 "There is no way Biden won legally. It was outright fraud." Lenny Dupere, who travelled to the rally with his wife, Linda, was hopeful Trump would find a way to remain in office. Credit:Matthew Knott Addressing the crowd, Trump vowed to never concede defeat. "To use a favourite term that all of you people really came up with, we will stop the steal," he said. At the end of the 70-minute speech, Trump called for his supporters to march towards the Capitol Building and give Republicans "the kind of pride and boldness that they need to take back our country". What happened next shocked the world and convinced some of Trump's closest allies that he had finally gone too far. As the members of the Senate and House of Representatives met to certify the election results, dozens of Trump supporters stormed into the Capitol Building. The home of American representative democracy suddenly resembled a war zone. Rioters smashed windows and ransacked offices. The members of Congress were quickly evacuated and Vice-President Mike Pence was taken to a secure, undisclosed location. In the melee, four people died: a woman from California was shot by police and three others died in medical emergencies. A fifth, a Capitol police officer, died on Friday of injuries sustained in the clashes with protesters. It was the first time since the War of 1812 when British troops burned the Capitol that the building had been assaulted in this way. A couple of hours after the riots began came news that would have dominated headlines on any other day. The Associated Press declared that Democrat Jon Ossoff had defeated incumbent Republican senator David Perdue in their runoff Senate contest in Georgia. Ossoff's victory means the Democrats will have 50 Senate seats, giving them a majority in that chamber thanks to a tie-breaking vote from Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris. With just two weeks remaining in his presidency, the hefty political and moral price of the Republican Party's bargain with Trump came into stark focus. The Congress was under attack from their own voters and the Republicans' Senate majority was down the drain. It wasn't a pretty sight. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton was a staunch Trump backer - until the riots. Credit:Bloomberg When Donald Trump proposed some of the most outlandish and controversial ideas of his presidency, Tom Cotton was there to support him. Remember when Trump suggested buying Greenland in August 2019? While people around the world were snickering, Cotton, an ambitious and deeply conservative Republican senator from Arkansas, published an opinion article in The New York Times saying it was a brilliant idea. Trump, he wrote, was "crazy like a fox". Then, last June, when Trump suggested invoking the little-used Insurrection Act to call in the military to crack down on left wing protesters, Cotton again leapt into print in the Times to back him up. The piece provoked such a backlash among the papers readers and staff that the editorial page editor was forced to resign. Loading Cotton, who has obvious presidential ambitions, was following the playbook for Republicans who wanted to move up the ladder in the age of Trump: leave as little room between yourself and the President as possible. The Republican base is devoted to Trump and aspiring presidential candidates are jostling to position themselves as his heir apparent. But everyone has their limits and Cotton found his when Trump called on Republicans in Congress to object to Bidens election victory. In a statement this week, Cotton said he was "grateful" for all the Presidents accomplishments but objecting to the election results would not hand him a second term and would impinge upon states rights to run their own elections. After the assault on the Capitol, Cotton's language became stronger as he delivered his harshest rebuke of Trump. "Its past time for the President to accept the results of the election, quit misleading the American people and repudiate mob violence," Cotton said. After tip-toeing around Trump's norm-shattering behaviour of the past four years, other Republicans in Congress let rip like never before by accusing him of inciting violence. Republican senator Pat Toomey labelled Trump a "demagogue". Loading Liz Cheney, one of the most senior Republicans in the House of Representatives, said: "There is no question that the President formed the mob, the President incited the mob, the President addressed the mob. He lit the flame." Lindsey Graham, one of Trump's most loyal allies, threw up his hands. "Count me out," he told the Senate. "Enough is enough. I've tried to be helpful." Several Republican senators abandoned their plans to challenge the election results. Meanwhile, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, issued a scathing denunciation of Trump's conspiracy theories, saying that "nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election". "If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral," he said. "The voters, the courts and the states have all spoken ... If we overrule them, it would damage our republic forever." "Enough is enough," Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said as he dropped his opposition to certifying Joe Biden's election. Credit:Senate Television As well as the violent scenes at the Capitol, McConnell had another reason to feel angry at Trump. For the past five years, McConnell has been the Senate majority leader, making him one of the most powerful people in the country. McConnell was never a fan of Trump's populist leanings or outlandish rhetoric, but he formed an effective working relationship with him. In return for overlooking Trump's flaws, the President left McConnell alone to enact massive tax cuts and fill the courts with conservative judges. In order for McConnell to remain majority leader, Republicans needed to win just one of the two Senate run-off elections in Georgia this week. It should have been a relatively easy task. Republicans nearly always beat Democrats in run-off elections in Georgia. A repeat of their performance from November when congressional Republicans outperformed Trump would have been enough to secure victory. Republican David Perdue, for example, won 90,000 more votes in November than Ossoff, while Biden beat Trump by just 13,000 votes. And the two Republican candidates, Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, had what looked to be a powerful argument to voters: elect us to ensure Democrats do not have total power in Washington. But there was a problem: Trump had gone to war with the state's top Republican officials, accusing them of being complicit in election fraud. Republicans worried that this could depress Republican turnout: after all, it's tricky to convince people to vote if they believe the electoral process is rigged against them. At an election-eve rally in Georgia on Tuesday (AEDT), Trump spent much of his speech airing grievances about the November election rather than convincing his supporters to show up and vote. In the end, Ossoff and fellow Democrat Raphael Warnock squeaked out narrow victories and delivered the Democrats control of the Senate. Loading When Trump came to power in 2017, Republicans controlled the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives. From January 20, they won't control a single one. A Democrat Senate majority will give Biden a much better chance of passing legislation to tackle climate change and expand access to health insurance, as well as appointing progressive judges to the courts. New Coronavirus strategies for Cancun tourism sector being considered Cancun, Q.R. Vaccinated tourist service providers along with Covid testing points are some of the measures that the Hotel Association of Cancun, Puerto Morelos and Isla Mujeres are looking into. Roberto Cintron Gomez, head of the association says he has had talks with state governor Carlos Joaquin about implementing the strategies to maintain the regions competitiveness in the face of the pandemic. He said that it is only a matter of time before the U.S. will begin requesting a PCR test for re-entry into the country, a move that Canada recently made for all incoming travelers. Cintron Gomez says it is for this reason they would like to be able to offer tourists the services so they can comply with such requirements without having to leave the Cancun Hotel Zone. The vaccination for all hotel employees and service providers would make the region the first to offer complete security to its visitors, while guaranteeing the health of the entire workforce. The investment would be borne by the hotels themselves, and although they are utilizing both Pfizer and Astra Zeneca, the second is the most possible given the ease of application and distribution. Roberto Cintron also said in the event of a positive tourist test, there are already four hotels near the airport that would charge preferential prices to the families of the infected. Roberto Cintron Gomez says a new strategy to deal with Coronavirus is being considered for the Cancun Hotel Zone All the hoteliers with whom I have spoken agree and have already accounted for around half a million vaccine doses for the northern region of the state. We have talked with the governor of the state, Carlos Joaquin, to establish a strategy to pay attention to tourists who could test positive, something that will be established in due course. The association head explained that we already have a place so that the interested laboratory can be installed for the taking of samples. That would be in the Coral Beach Hotel. Another strategic point is the place where Outback was. We are also looking into one more point, possibly the Mayan Museum in Cancun. We are talking with several laboratories and for now, the best price is $100, but we will continue to look for better prices to avoid higher expenses for our visitors, he added. He also made a reference to the management of a health visa with the Secretary of Tourism Miguel Torruco, so that those who have already been vaccinated do not need to retake PCR samples. President Donald Trump on Thursday finally acknowledged publicly that a new administration will be taking office shortly as calls grew for his removal from office and a top federal prosecutor said the presidents incendiary remarks to his supporters before they stormed the Capitol will be a part of an investigation into this shocking attack on US democracy. Now, Congress has certified the results, and new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power, Trump said in a two-and-a-half-minute video in which he also condemned the attack on Congress, essentially to distance himself from his supporters who carried it out to prevent it from certifying President-elect Joe Bidens election victory. On Wednesday, he had told them he loved them. Five people died in the hours-long assault on the seat of US democracy that had forced Vice-President Mike Pence, who was presiding over the certification process, his family, who were also there, and lawmakers to take shelter wherever they could behind furniture and under desks. Badly outnumbered, security personnel had withdrawn, yielding full control of the premises to the rioters clad in Trump campaign gear and carrying his flag, and those of the confederacy. The outgoing presidents long overdue acknowledgement of his electoral defeat came hours after his supporters failed attempt to prevent the certification of Bidens election, and amidst calls from top Democrats for his ouster, purely a punitive move to end his term just 12 days short of its expiry on January 20. I join the Senate Democratic leader in calling on the vice president to remove this president by immediately invoking the 25th amendment. If the vice-president and cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment. That is the overwhelming sentiment of my caucus - and the American people by the way, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives told reports on Capitol Hill. She added: By inciting sedition as he did yesterday, he must be removed for office. While theres only 13 days left, any day could be a horror show for America. But Pence was elusive. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer complained to reporters separately he and Pelosi had tried to call Pence to tell him to invoke the 25th amendment of the American constitution, which empowers the cabinet to remove the president for being unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. But the vice-president did not take their call as, it was reported later, he is not convinced of the judiciousness of the move given the chaos in the White House and the administration. Trumps role in the attack on Congress will be part of a sprawling investigation that is underway to identify and prosecute the rioters. Asked if federal agents and prosecutors will look at the incendiary statements by speakers at a rally Trumps addressed shortly before the mob set forth for the Capitol, interim US attorney for the District of Columbia, Michael Sherwin, told reporters on a briefing call: Yes, we are looking at all actors here, not only the people that went into the building, but were there others that maybe assisted or facilitated or played some ancillary role in this. We will look at every actor and all criminal charges. Trump had explicitly incited participants at the rally to march to Congress, promising to walk along with them which he didnt to cheer lawmakers speaking in support of his election fraud claims. Were going to walk down to the Capitol, and were going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women, Trump had told his supporters, referring to the certification process. And were probably not going to be cheering, so much for some of them because you never take back our country with weakness, you have to show strength and you have to be strong. Rudolph Giuliani, the presidents personal lawyer, had called for a trial by combat at that rally. And the presidents eldest son, Don Trump Jr, had called for a message (to be sent) to all the Republicans who have not been willing to actually fight, the people who did nothing to stop the steal. Tracey Jewel has suffered a pregnancy health scare, leaving her terrified about the well-being of her unborn son. The Married At First Sight star revealed she was rushed to hospital on Thursday after noticing 'some minor bleeding'. 'Yesterday was not an ordinary day in pregnancy. I had some minor bleeding. As we are away from home, my obstetrician thought best to check it out,' the 37-year-old wrote on Instagram. Health scare: Pregnant Married At First Sight star Tracey Jewel has revealed she was rushed to hospital after noticing 'some minor bleeding' on Thursday 'Received all the checks, saw our baby's heartbeat so relieved and pleased that our baby boy is fine, and bleeding has now stopped,' she said. She went on to say she was 'grateful for all the excellent care and service the Albany hospital maternity ward have provided.' 'Was contemplating sharing this on social media but decided to as let's be real about pregnancy journeys and days - the good and bad!' Emergency: 'Yesterday was not an ordinary day in pregnancy. I had some minor bleeding... Received all the checks, saw our baby's heartbeat so relieved,' she wrote The Perth-based reality star revealed she was expecting a child with her boyfriend Nathan Constable in September. 'We're having a baby! We are so happy to share our beautiful news with everyone,' she wrote on Instagram. 'I have always believed in second chances and my second baby I've been waiting so long for,' she added. Growing family: The Perth-based reality star revealed that she was expecting a child with her boyfriend Nathan Constable (pictured) in September 'My daughter Grace is going to be an amazing big sister and I'm so so grateful to be experiencing pregnancy and motherhood again with my love Nate x.' The wellness entrepreneur is already a mother to 10-year-old daughter Grace. Tracey rose to fame in 2018 thanks to her ill-fated union with Dean Wells on Channel Nine's Married At First Sight. Days after two petitions challenging the 'love jihad or anti-conversion laws were presented before the Supreme Court, Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra vowed on Friday that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will bring the law in West Bengal if it comes to power. Amid cow smuggling cases in the State, he also assured that the BJP government will also bring laws to protect cows. Mishra said, It is unfortunate that innocent Hindu girls were lured and converted through love jihad. Also, Bengal is notorious for being a hub for cattle smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border. If BJP comes to power, we are certainly going to bring two laws against love jihad and cattle smuggling. Hitting out at former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and members of the Gandhi family, he said, Our former President Pranab Mukherjee mentioned in his book 'The Presidential Years' that they did everything to divide our country. They were responsible for creating Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. It was them who supported Article 370 in Kashmir. People of India will never forgive them for destroying their dream of Akhand Bharat. On January 6, the apex court issued a notice on the two petitions challenging the laws which have provisions that prohibit religious conversion for the purpose of marriage. The bench of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde, Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian had said that the bench will hear the petitions. Recently, BJP appointed Mishra as in-charge of 48 assembly seats in Asansol and Bardhman areas of West Bengal. In the 2016 Assembly, BJPs vote share was 10.2 per cent (increased by 5.56 percent as compared to 2011 polls) and in 2019 Lok Sabha it went up to 40.3 per cent. There was an increase of 30.1 percent vote share mainly because of Hindus coalescing towards the BJP. In the last three years, BJP managed to cultivate religious driven politics in Bengal and it was evident with its significant rise in Bengal in terms of its vote share. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 01:19:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHATO, Tanzania, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday said under the leadership of President John Magufuli, the Tanzanian government and people have worked hard and blazed a path of revitalization suited to its national conditions. "As friends, we are sincerely happy about the achievements and express our warm congratulations," said Wang at a joint press conference here with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Palamagamba Kabudi. Tanzania is a staunch friend of China in Africa and holds a special and important place in China's diplomatic history and the story of China-Tanzania friendship is the most vivid memory of every Chinese in their youth, he said. China will not forget that it was the late Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, and then Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere who forged the all-weather friendship between China and Tanzania with sincerity, Wang said. The late Premier Zhou visited Tanzania from thousands of miles apart and President Nyerere visited China 13 times in his life, said Wang, adding that these scenes have forged a historical chapter of China-Tanzania friendship. China will not forget that more than 50,000 Chinese engineers and technicians traveled across oceans to Africa and fought side by side with the Tanzanian people to build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway under extremely difficult conditions, said Wang. During the construction of the railway, which is hailed as a "road of freedom" and "road of friendship", 65 Chinese experts have sacrificed their precious lives, and their sweat and blood have watered the eternal flower of China-Africa friendship, said Wang. China will never forget that Tanzania, along with other African brothers, in 1971 helped the People's Republic of China (PRC) to restore its lawful seat in the United Nations, said Wang. And former Tanzanian Prime Minister Salim Ahmed Salim, as a representative spearheading the campaign, congratulated the PRC with cheering and applause at the venue, which left a record on the UN stage of defying power and upholding justice, Wang noted, adding that as the PRC celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding in 2019, Salim was granted China's Friendship Medal. China will never forget that Tanzania was the first African country that President Xi Jinping visited after he took office as the Chinese president in 2013. During that visit, Xi proposed the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith and the approach of upholding the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, which is now the guiding principle of China when dealing its relations with Africa, said Wang. The value of China-Tanzania relations has gone beyond the bilateral scope and played an important role in guiding China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation, he said. Wang said the two sides have agreed that China-Tanzania traditional friendship is a precious treasure shared by both sides and the people of China and Africa, adding that it must be cherished, passed on from generation to generation and carried forward. Wang said both sides have agreed to make full use of their shared vision and goals in the construction of country, political parties and armed forces, in a bid to further enhance communications at all levels and deepen exchanges of experience on governance. Wang said both sides have agreed to strengthen practical cooperation, jointly build the Belt and Road, support more Chinese enterprises to invest in Tanzania and expand the import of Tanzanian high-quality products. China fully understands the significance of Tanzania's construction of the standard gauge railway and is willing to continue to support Tanzania in promoting major infrastructure construction, accelerating the industrialization process and enhancing Tanzania's capacity for independent development, Wang said. Wang said both sides have agreed to strengthen coordination in international affairs, jointly support multilateralism, oppose external interference, safeguard international equity and justice, and build a strong fortress to safeguard each other's core interests and the common interests of developing countries. "This is my 15th visit to Africa. What has impressed me most during the trip is that, no matter what kind of international situation, difficulties and obstacles we are facing and no matter what kind of interference or damage we are confronting, the traditional friendship between China and Africa remains unchanged and becomes stronger over time," said Wang. China and Africa are comrades-in-arms who share life and death, brothers who care for each other, and partners for common development on the way forward, said Wang. Noting that as a good friend and true friend of African countries, Wang said China is willing to work with African countries to unswervingly deepen the China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and join hands to forge a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. Enditem With ever-increasing numbers of positive Covid-19 cases, Gibraltar went into lockdown for the second time on Saturday night for an initial period of two weeks. Making the announcement that same afternoon, chief minister Fabian Picardo said the rate of community infection and transmission was so high that it would not be possible to reduce the rate of infection without more drastic measures than those already in place. The R rate at the time was 1.51, with the virus propagating more quickly than it could be controlled. Lockdown People in Gibraltar are now not permitted to leave their homes except for certain essential purposes, including exercise for a short period. All non-essential shops have closed and supermarkets have to close at 9pm. Nobody is permitted to cross the border into Spain unless for work, medical reasons or because they have a home or second home there, and entry to Gibraltar across the border is only allowed for essential work or to catch a flight. Stressing that the government was introducing this lockdown with a "very, very heavy heart", the chief minister said, "Our first and foremost resolution for 2021 must be to see the back of this damned virus and get back to freedom as soon as possible. Your government, however, can not do it alone. The Gibraltar Health Authority cannot deliver this alone. Your support is essential". Vaccine Gibraltar's first batch of the vaccine is due to arrive on Saturday. The government has decided to follow a single-dose strategy, and the 5,000 doses due this weekend will allow all or most of the vulnerable members of the population to be protected from the virus first. The chief minister is due to hold another press conference today (Friday). Five rescue teams, including from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), continue to search for 10 Para (Special Forces) Captain Ankit Gupta, who drowned during a training exercise at Takhat Sagar Lake in Jodhpur on Thursday. Captain Gupta is the commander of 10 Para Special Forces, which was selected as the best unit of the year (2020) in the Indian Army. As a part of a drill, he jumped from a helicopter into the Takhat Sagar reservoir on Thursday. Three other commandos also jumped with him, but Captain Ankit could not come out. The armys search operation in the lake started Thursday afternoon but had to be halted after dark. The teams of NDRF, SDRF, civil defence and army are continuously searching for the submerged captain, but he is still missing. As part of the exercise, some jawans jumped into the lake from the helicopter to improve their skills in rescuing drowned people, said SHO Jaikishan Soni. He added that 10 Para personnel initially tried to locate Captain Gupta but informed their seniors after they failed. Search operations were carried out throughout Friday with no luck. During the exercise, the commandos of the 10 Para had to throw their boats in the water and jump from a helicopter. After this, they were to attack the enemy by riding on a boat. Under this mission, four commandos led by captain Ankit threw their boat first into the Takhat Sagar reservoir and then jumped into the water themselves. Three commandos reached the boat, but Captain Ankit could not. After waiting a bit, the commandos started searching for him, said a senior police official from Jodhpur. 28-year-old Ankit, a resident of Gurugram, got married less than two months ago on November 23, 2020. His passion for the army can be gauged from the fact that he stayed with his wife for a very little period after marriage and returned to complete his special training, the police official said. The unit, famously known as the Desert Scorpions, is among the most battle hardened units of the Indian Army. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON BCG vaccine trial extends across Devon, in partnership with RD&E A large global trial designed to test the theory that the widely used BCG vaccine might help protect against COVID-19 amongst healthcare staff and care home workers in the UK continues to recruit participants. The Exeter study site started recruitment in October and is ongoing in the UK and globally. Now, the University of Exeter has partnered with the Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Trust (RD&E) to recruit staff, and has opened new clinics in Teignmouth and North Devon Researchers in the trial said that as well as finding out if the BCG vaccine reduced COVID-19 disease severity, they would also be testing whether it could boost the effect of specific COVID-19 vaccines by training the bodys immune system. The University of Exeter is leading the UK arm of the trial, called the BCG vaccination to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers (BRACE) Trial. Professor John Campbell, of the University of Exeter Medical School, is the UK lead on the BRACE study. He said: Given recent news regarding the emergence of new strains of the COVD-19 virus, the BRACE trial remains even more relevant than ever. COVID-19 has killed more than 1.5 million people globally, with well over 75 million people acquiring the disease, sometimes in its severest forms. BCG has been shown to boost immunity in a generalised way, which may offer some protection against COVID-19. Were excited to be contributing to the large-scale, international BRACE study where we are seeking to establish whether the BCG vaccine could help protect people who are at risk of COVID-19. If it does, we could save lives by administering or topping up this readily available and cost-effective vaccination. Dr Michael Gibbons, who is leading the trial at the RD&E, said: We know that healthcare workers are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19, and while the arrival of vaccines has of course come as a huge relief, with the BRACE trial we are seeking to add to the armoury we have against the virus. This research could prove hugely valuable in protecting health workers and our patients against COVID in the future. The BRACE trial is coordinated by the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute (MCRI) in Melbourne, Australia. The trial has received more than $10M from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and AUD1.5M from the Minderoo Foundation to allow its global expansion. The Peter Sowerby Foundation has contributed funding to support the Exeter trial site. The UK is working with centres in Australia, the Netherlands, Spain, and Brazil in the largest trial of its kind. Globally, the trial will recruit more than 10,000 healthcare staff. Participants will be given either the BCG vaccine (currently given to more than 100 million babies worldwide each year to protect against tuberculosis (TB)) or a placebo injection. In the UK, routine BCG vaccination was stopped in 2005 because of low rates of TB in the general population. Previous studies suggest that the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine could reduce susceptibility to a range of infections caused by viruses including those similar to the novel coronavirus causing COVID-19. Examining the mechanism by which this may work is part of the trial being conducted by BRACE researchers. The BCG vaccine boosts immunity by training the immune system to respond to other subsequent infections with greater intensity. Researchers hope this improved innate immunity will buy crucial time at this crucial phase of national deterioration in COVID-19 and increased pressure on the NHS. Professor Campbell added: The BRACE trial provides us with a great opportunity to offer potential help to healthcare and care-home workers in the UK. Id really encourage care-home staff and other healthcare workers to join us, to help us find out if the BCG vaccine might provide a safe, widely available and cost-effective way to reduce the risk of COVID-19. The BCG vaccine may offer a general boost to the immune system and so may have the potential to act against new, emerging strains of the COVID-19 virus. People receiving BCG remain eligible to receive COVID-19-specific vaccines as they become available. People who have already had BCG in the past are also eligible to join the BRACE trial. The BRACE trial is conducted by the Exeter Clinical Trials Unit and supported by the local National Institute for Health Research funded Clinical Research Network. The trial is recruiting a wide range care and healthcare workers in the South West of England and will shortly start recruit around Keele in Staffordshire. The trial is targeting these professionals because they work in fields with high exposure to COVID-19. The trial is specifically looking at whether the BCG vaccine reduces coronavirus infection or COVID-19 symptom severity. Professor Nigel Curtis, global lead of the BRACE trial at MCRI, said: We are delighted that the UK is contributing to this international trial to help determine if we can repurpose an existing safe vaccine to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in healthcare workers, including those working in care homes who are at particular risk. Participants are asked to complete a daily symptom diary via an app, be tested for COVID-19 whenever they have symptoms, complete regular questionnaires and provide blood samples. These samples will allow scientists to understand how blood cells respond differently to exposure to COVID-19 and other viruses, with and without the BCG vaccine. If youre a healthcare worker you can sign up online and book an appointment at a time that suits you at any of the locations in Teignmouth, Exeter or Barnstaple. Visit the BRACE website at https://www.exeter.ac.uk/brace Borsa Italiana non ha responsabilita per il contenuto del sito a cui sta per accedere e non ha responsabilita per le informazioni contenute. Accedendo a questo link, Borsa Italiana non intende sollecitare acquisti o offerte in alcun paese da parte di nessuno. Sarai automaticamente diretto al link in cinque secondi. Pieces of a Woman Director - Kornel Mundruczo Cast - Vanessa Kirby, Shia LaBeouf, Molly Parker, Sara Snook, Ellen Burstyn Pieces of a Woman peaks in its prologue. In hindsight, downhill is the only direction it couldve gone in. This isnt because the rest of the film is poor, but only because that opening is outstanding. Were introduced to Martha and Sean, a young couple played by Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf, as they prepare for a home birth. The drill is in place, the music carefully picked out, and the midwife on her way. Played by Molly Parker, Eva wasnt the couples first choice, but had to be summoned because of a last minute set-back. She seems competent enough, though. Her voice has a calming effect on the agitated Martha, and she seems to be following a rule book. But competent enough doesnt cut it when youre a midwife. Heck, it wouldnt cut it if you were in charge of the fries section at a McDonalds. Watch the Pieces of a Woman trailer here Across 30 nerve-shredding minutes, we watch in helplessness as Martha and Sean go from nervous excitement to sheer terror, as the baby begins showing signs of distress on its way into the world. The heartbeat that was loud enough to fill the room minutes ago disappears as the scene unfolds, in real-time. Its a brutal opening act -- an astounding piece of visual storytelling that not only transports you into the same room as the characters, but in a way hands you a towel and a pair of gloves and demands, Do something! Director Alfonso Cuaron filmed a similar scene in Roma, but that was four minutes long. When Pieces of a Woman finally cut to black, 30 minutes had gone by. Relieved and at genuine risk of having an anxiety attack, I paused the film (thanks, Netflix), and performed a series of quick breathing exercises. Little did I know that the movie would deflate like a spluttering balloon, too. It had set the bar too high for itself, and had it, by some miracle, managed to sustain that level of intensity for another hour-and-a-half, it wouldve been the movie to beat at the Oscars. But as it stands, a nomination for the excellent Kirby is all it can realistically hope for. As difficult as it can get to watch Martha, especially in a couple of scenes, it is impossible to take your eyes off her. She internalises her pain, which leads many, including Sean, to arrive at harsh judgements about her, as if there are wrong ways to grieve. Pieces of a Woman makes rather astute observations about how men and women tackle trauma differently. While Sean has emotional outbursts and suffers a relapse, Martha clinically tries to take back control of her crumbling life. Nearly as harrowing as the childbirth scene is an incident involving sexual abuse that unfolds around midway through the film. That the abuser is played by LaBeouf, who was recently accused of similar behaviour by a former partner, makes matters all the more uncomfortable. Shia LaBeouf as Sean and Vanessa Kirby as Martha, in a still from Pieces of a Woman. (Netflix) By definition, the situation in the prologue is such that even if everything were going according to plan, it would still be wrought with tension. The rest of the film traces the aftermath of the tragedy, in a narrative that is as fractured as the relationships on screen. Director Kornel Mundruczo, who shares a film by credit with real-life partner and writer Kata Weber, has crafted a movie that is all jagged edges. An innocuous title appears on screen after every sequence, informing us that another month has passed. These time jumps force you to play catch up for the first few moments of every new chapter. Oh, so the midwife is being sued at the insistence of Marthas mother? Makes sense, Americans are a litigious people. Wait, Sean is having an affair with their lawyer now? The writing was on the wall, I guess. Pieces of a Woman, in its second and third acts, retains the classy European sensibility that won Kirby a best actress award at the Venice Film Festival, but in its heart of hearts, its an old-fashioned melodrama. Every character gets at least one item scene, as Saif Ali Khan would say. These are the scenes thatll play on a loop when Kirby and Ellen Burstyn, who plays Marthas Holocaust survivor mother, eventually and inevitably receive awards attention. Also read: Honey Boy movie review: Shia LaBeouf delivers career-best performance in bleak but brilliant biopic on Amazon Prime LaBeouf, despite delivering a truly heartbreaking performance, will likely be ignored by awards committees, mirroring the treatment his character gets in the films final act. Almost as if they knew LaBeouf was about to be made a pariah, Mundruczo and Weber effectively erase Sean from the narrative in a most unsatisfying manner. But thats true of the film as a whole. Too many plot threads are introduced, only to be left dangling as the movie narrows its gaze on Martha. In its staging and writing, Pieces of a Woman feels positively premeditated, even though everyone is trying very hard to appear natural. Some camera moves are so precise that theres no way that the scenes could have been improvised, even though the script is working double shifts to convince you that they are. Pieces of a Woman is a piercing examination of grief, and as if that wasnt enough, its also a drama about a disintegrating relationship. Like its fellow Massachusetts tragedy, Manchester by the Sea, its gripping, but gruelling. Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar ott:10 (Newser) Calling President Trump's actions this week "a far greater dereliction of duty" than his communications with Ukraine that led to his impeachment, the Wall Street Journal has called for his resignation. "This would be the cleanest solution," the editorial says, "since it would immediately turn presidential duties over to" Vice President Mike Pence. Trump incited a crowd to attack Congress, waited too long to try to stop the mob, and tried to get President-elect Joe Biden's electoral victory thrown out. "This was an assault on the constitutional process of transferring power after an election," the editorial says, and crosses a constitutional line that Trump hadn't crossed before. "It is impeachable," the Journal says. Removing the president through the 25th Amendment might work but could be portrayed by Trump as a coup. story continues below The New York Times points out that the Journal is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who employs some of Trump's highest-profile defenders at Fox News Network. The paper's editorials have been critical of Trump before, but not like this one, which was headlined "Donald Trump's Final Days." Generally, they've been supportive of Trump, per the Wrap, though foreshadowing may have come last month when one denounced the Republican effort to overturn Biden's win. "We know an act of grace by Mr. Trump isn't likely," the Journal writes. Still, "It is best for everyone, himself included, if he goes away quietly." (In a video, Trump belatedly responds to the attack on the Capitol.) New Delhi: Nearly a week after the government suspended the flights to and from the United Kingdom amid concerns over the new coronavirus strain, the two countries resumed normal flight operation from Friday. According to reports, the first flight carrying 256 passengers arrived in the national capital from London today. The resumption of the normal flight operations comes nearly a week after the government suspended services between India and UK on December 23 over the new and more contagious strain of the virus. The flight operations between India and the United Kingdom resumed today after a week of suspension due to new Covid strain. The first flight carrying 256 passengers arrived in Delhi today from London. ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 According to an announcement by the Civil Aviation Minister, Hardeep Puri, 30 flights will operate every week - 15 each by Indian and UK carriers. This will stand till 23 January, as per the announcement made by the Minister. Meanwhile, the authorities at the Delhi airport have advised passengers to keep a gap of at least 10 hours between their arrival from the UK and the connecting flight to their cities. It may be recalled that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had on Thursday urged the Centre to extend the flights ban till January 31 because of the "extremely serious" COVID situation in the UK. "The Centre has decided to lift the ban and start UK flights. In view of the extremely serious situation in the UK, I would urge the central government to extend the ban till January 31," Kejriwal tweeted. "With great difficulty, people have brought the COVID-19 situation in control. UK's COVID situation is very serious. Now, why we should lift the ban and expose our people to risk?" the Chief Minister said. In Delhi, 13 people have tested positive for the new coronavirus variant. The Civil Aviation Minister had tweeted that further frequency of flights would be determined after review. All passengers from the UK arriving between January 8 and January 30 will be subjected to self-paid COVID-19 tests on arrival. Passengers are also required to carry COVID-19 negative reports from a test done 72 hours before their journey and quarantine for 14 days even if they test negative on arrival, according to the government's new SOP. Live TV China's "artificial sun"a nuclear fusion reactor that mimics the activity taking place within our nearest starcould help the country reach its target of producing fusion energy for commercial use by 2050, insiders said. The new-generation HL-2M Tokamak began operating in December in Chengdu, Sichuan province. It has since achieved its first plasma discharge, said China National Nuclear Corp. Designed to replicate inner sun reactions using hydrogen and deuterium gases as fuel, the apparatus will provide clean energy through controlled nuclear fusion and is expected to greatly enhance the research and development of key technologies in plasma physics research in China, CNNC said. China plans to build an experimental reactor as early as this year and an industrial prototype by 2035, and allow it to enter large-scale commercial use by 2050, according to its fusion technology development plan. Analysts said that as China turns on its artificial sun, this proves that relevant authorities have mastered the key technologies of the design, construction and operation of the self-developed device. The device, so far the country's largest in scale and highest in parameters, with a more advanced structure and control mode than its predecessor, is capable of withstanding repeated bombardment by waste particles produced by the hot gas, which carry a huge amount of energy, said Zhong Luwu, a lead scientist with the HL-2M project from the Southwestern Institute of Physics under CNNC. Joseph Jacobelli, an independent energy analyst and executive vice-president for Asia business at Cenfura Ltd, a smart energy services company, said that while nuclear fusion is a long way off, it is believed China definitely has the will, the technological know-how and the capital to develop the technology. "An enormous amount of research and development still needs to take place so it is difficult to gauge its future in China or elsewhere at this stage. But the country's need for clean energy means that nuclear power generation definitely has an important place in the long term energy mix," he said. Jacobelli added that while safety is not so much of a concern with fusion reactors, the cost per kilowatt-hour will be important, especially as solar, wind and other clean energy solutions become even cheaper over the next few years. On the other hand, Chinese companies' cost control capabilities and technological advancementsespecially in renewable energyare also likely to continue providing companies with advantages, he said. Nuclear fusionwhen two atoms fuse to form a larger atom, such as hydrogen to heliumreleases enormous amounts of energy. It is the energy source for stars, although keeping man-made imitations from exploding remains a big challenge, as gas formed by fused atoms is extremely hot. Despite the challenges, the Chinese government is looking to proceed with building the China Fusion Engineering Test Reactor as soon as this year, and plans to use powerful magnetic fields to contain the hot gas and plasma. The CFETR is aimed at ensuring keeping hot gas burning for months and building structures durable enough to contain it. These are similar engineering problems also facing construction of a commercial nuclear power plant. Few new fusion research facilities have been added around the globe recently. The world's largest fusion experiment, the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project in France, experienced long delays and the US government is also considering cutting financial support or withdrawing entirely from fusion power. China, however, is more ambitious and looking forward to achieving commercial production of fusion energy by 2050. In China, the ambitious project still faces two major uncertaintieshow to keep the reactor burning for as long as possible and how to make sure commercial fusion plants operate at a minimum of 10 times the temperature of the sun's core. The HL-2M Tokamak is just the technology needed to achieve these targets. Yang Qingwei, chief engineer of the HL-2M at the Southwestern Institute of Physics under the CNNC, said the artificial sun will provide key technical support for China's participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project and frontier research fields including flow instability and magnetic phenomena of ultrahigh temperature plasma. Together with the artificial sun, China is also trying to find solutions at the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak in Hefei, Anhui province, which was built to make the fusion reaction last several minutes or longer. Analysts said that with advances through research and development, China is likely to become a trailblazer in developing fusion energy. Nuclear experts in China have mastered the core technologies of third-generation nuclear reactors, while the country's nuclear sector has risen from novice to expert level, Jacobelli said. "China is keen on developing more nuclear power projects, and even diving into the nuclear heating sector, in order to reach carbon goals more smoothly and quickly," said Wei Hanyang, a power market analyst at Bloomberg New Energy. "So far with the existing pipeline, China has the world's largest nuclear capacity under construction, and more of the domestic technology will be adopted to satisfy the surging power demand of coastal regions, with installations likely nearing 100 gigawatts by the end of 2030," Wei said. China's nuclear sector has been steadily moving forward with the country's independent research and manufacturing in the industry continuing to increase. China had the third largest number of nuclear power plants in the world with 48 facilities in operation and capacity of about 49.88 GW as of end-September. Nuclear makes up 2.5 percent of the country's total installed energy capacity, said the China Nuclear Energy Association. According to a recently released white paper entitled Energy in China's New Era by the State Council Information Office, China is giving priority to non-fossil fuel energy including nuclear power, and is striving to substitute low-carbon for high-carbon energy and renewables for fossil fuels. The country has built a number of nuclear power plants using advanced third generation technologies, and made significant breakthroughs in a number of nuclear energy technologies such as new-generation nuclear power generation and small modular reactors, it said. So far, nuclear power units in operation are generally safe, and there have been no incidents or accidents of level 2 or above on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale, said the paper. The focus of nuclear construction around the world is expected to shift from developed countries to developing countries, said Qiu Jiangang, deputy head of the experts committee with the CNEA. China's installed capacity for nuclear projects under operation will reach 79 GW by 2025, with those under construction reaching 30 GW. Nuclear facilities will be more prominent in China's energy mix during the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25) period to further help the country reach carbon neutrality. A crackdown on political ads has been unveiled by the Government in a bid to bring more transparency to social media advertising. Under the proposed new rules, online election campaigning will be labelled as political ads. The strict rules will also reveal who is behind the message and show which campaigners are involved in the ads that appear on media sites including Facebook and Twitter. The clampdown on political ads is contained in a new General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill published on Friday. It provides for a range of significant electoral reforms including the establishment of a statutory, independent Electoral Commission. We've just published the General Scheme of the Electoral Reform Bill 2020. It includes: ai An Electoral Commission for Ireland ai Modernising our electoral register ai Regulating online political advertising in the run-up to electoral events More https://t.co/FJpXQOgEPM pic.twitter.com/gp3zDu9L2N Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage (@DeptHousingIRL) January 8, 2021 The Bill was published by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien, and the Minister of State with Responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan. The Bill incudes the regulation of online political advertising during electoral periods, oversight of the Electoral Register, and a new public information, research and advisory role in relation to electoral matters. It states that online political ads will be clearly labelled political advert and will include a link to a page displaying a transparency notice. The notice will include details of the name, postal address, email address and the website address of the buyer who paid for the online political advertisement. It will also include confirmation of whether micro-targeting was applied in the placement, display and promotion of the online political ad. Social media companies will be required to appoint a person to identify and verify the information and documentation provided by the buyer of an online political ad. Anyone who cannot provide the information required under the Bill, will not be able to publish the ad. Expand Close A crackdown on political ads has been unveiled by the Irish Government in a bid to bring more transparency to social media advertising (PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A crackdown on political ads has been unveiled by the Irish Government in a bid to bring more transparency to social media advertising (PA) Senior management in social media companies can only approve political ads paid for by someone from outside the State. Social media companies will be told to take appropriate action to examine the source of funding behind ads to ensure that there is no undue foreign influence. The Bill also includes amendments to electoral law which would allow polling to be held over two days during Covid-19. This would cater for social distancing at polling stations and give the flexibility to returning officers to provide a postal vote to those on the special voters list if nursing homes and hospitals are inaccessible at the time of an electoral event. The Bill also states that it would allow returning officers to carry out elections in a safe manner, while spreading out numbers attending polling stations and avoiding queues. The Electoral Commission, which will be independent of Government, will take on several existing statutory electoral functions, including responsibility for the registration of political parties and the work currently carried out by Referendum Commissions. The Electoral Reform Bill will be the most significant development for our electoral system in decades. Darragh OBrien Changes to the Electoral Register will see the simplification of forms and the registration process, including an online option, as well as the introduction of provisional registration for 16 to 17 year-olds which would become active at the age of 18. Mr OBrien said: I am truly delighted, along with Minister Noonan, to be driving the Governments electoral reform agenda forward, delivering on commitments made in the Programme for Government Our Shared Future. The Electoral Reform Bill will be the most significant development for our electoral system in decades. Mr Noonan said: These reforming measures are essential in order to strengthen our electoral system. We live in an evolving society, and the electoral system must evolve with it. We are working to both respond to the challenges we face now, and build measures and capacity to anticipate and address the challenges which we will face in the future. As President Trump denounced the violence in he Capitol and called for peace and order, Joe Biden had a different idea: Attacking President Trump. And pinning the racism tag on the cops. In a posturing speech attempting to look enraged and furious, Biden told a slew of lies -- accusing President Trump of starting the riots, painting the Washington D.C. cops as racist, and throwing in the discredited canard about Trump claiming white supremacists at Charlottesville were "fine people." Judicial Watch's Tom Fitton summed it up best. .@realDonaldTrump took the high road today. Mr. Biden and Sen. Harris slung racialist, anti-police slurs. Tom Fitton (@TomFitton) January 8, 2021 And Victory Girls, (hat tip: Sara Hoyt at Instapundit) has an excellent analysis of its own. Ostensibly Biden made his speech to introduce the person who finally agreed to become his Attorney General, Judge Merrick Garland. Garland, you will recall, was nominated to the Supreme Court by then-President Obama, but saw his nomination scuppered when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McDonnell refused to put his name up for a vote. So now, in the most fraught job in the Biden administration, the job of busting Hunter Biden and exposing the plots against President Trump, we have this desperate man who really really wants his Supreme Court seat. Biden it appears, will give it to him, but if he protects Hunter and buries the Russiagate-origin investigation to boot. Which would explain why Biden was so careful to claim Garland was a man of probity, loyal only to the laws and the people. The lady doth protest too much because he knows what we are thinking. Biden began by blaming President Trump for the riots using every dishonest sleight of hand. According to the Rev.com transcript: The past four years, weve had a president whos made his contempt for our democracy, our constitution, the rule of law, clear in everything he has done. He unleashed an all-out assault on our institutions of our democracy from the outset. And yesterday was but the culmination of that unrelenting attack. Hes attacked the free press who dared to question his power, repeatedly calling the free press the enemy of the people. Language, at the time he first used it, I and others said has long been used by autocrats and dictators all over the world to hold onto power. The enemy of the people. Language that is being used now by autocrats and dictators across the world, only this time with the imperator of an outgoing President of the United States of America. Joe Biden: (02:51) Hes attacked our intelligence services, who dare tell the American people the truth about the effort of a foreign power to elect him four years ago, choosing instead to believe the word of Vladimir Putin over the word of those whove sworn their allegiance to this nation, many of whom had risked their lives in the service of this nation. Joe Biden: (03:18) He deployed the United States military, tear gassing peaceful protestors in pursuit of a photo opportunity in the service of his reelection, even holding the Bible upside down. The action that led to an apology from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and an outspoken denunciation of the use of military for domestic political purposes, from scores, scores of former military leaders and Secretaries of Defense, led by Secretary Cheney. He thought he could stack the courts with friendly judges who would support him no matter what, they were Trump judges, his judges. He went so far as to say he needed nine Justices on the Supreme court because he thought the election would end up in the Supreme Court and they would hand him the election. So questioning a fraudulent election put on by one-party blue-city political partisans is now an "attack" on "our democracy." And note in the transcript that he seems to be claiming that 160 million people, not less than half that, actually voted for him. And Trump did it because he has contempt for our democracy in everything he does, even though nobody ever sees the U.S. flag at Biden's sparsely attended events, and Biden's partisans include the 1619 bunch. Trump, contempt for our democracy? No president ever loved America quite like Trump. Biden bizarrely speaks of Trump as anti-democratic and a dictator, but flings the word 'democracy' around as his own and accusing his opponent of hating it, and on the mantle of a fraudulent election, he claims to be democracy's standard-bearer .... is something Hugo Chavez used to do. You know, the dictator. As if that weren't divisive enough and offensive to the Americans who voted for Trump, Biden then set the stage for racial grievance mongering with the event, attempting to never let a crisis go to waste. Claiming in other parts of his speech to be the great champion of the police, he then got into hurling accusations of racism at the police. President Trump, for real, called them the good guys during the Capitol siege. Biden, though, called them the emblem of unequal justice and said their enforcement actions on Capitol Hill, which were both weak and harsh, with police standing down as crowds rushed in, and then with shooting live gunfire that killed a trespassing white woman, were somehow racist to black people: Justice serves the people. It doesnt protect the powerful. Justice is blind. What we saw yesterday, in plain view, was another violation of the fundamental tenet of this nation. Not only did we see the failure to protect one of the three branches of our government, we also saw a clear failure to carry out equal justice. Joe Biden: (08:57) [inaudible 00:08:57] used to say in the Senate, excuse a point of personal privilege. Well, over an hour and a half after the chaos started, I got a text from my granddaughter Finnegan Biden, who is a senior in her last semester at University of Pennsylvania. She sent me a photo of military people in full military gear, scores of them lining the steps of the Lincoln Memorial because of protest by Black Lives Matter. She said, Pop, this isnt fair. No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, they wouldnt have been treated very, very differently than the mob of thugs that storm the Capitol. We all know thats true and it is unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. The American people saw it in plain view. I hope its sensitizing what we have to do. What's he saying? That police efforts to protect the Lincoln Memorial after it had been vandalized by leftists, were wicked and racist because they deployed sufficient personnel, while the under-manned effort to protect the Congress, was somehow a nod to white skin privilege instead of defunding the police, even though a trespassing white woman was actually shot and killed by the cops? Did Biden want the situation reversed? With lots of cops and no casualties at the Capitol, and weak, ineffective cops who couldn't hold a crowd back firing live and killing off a black protestor? Is killing a black protestor what he wanted? Biden's logic was just pure pandering, because then he really got going in accusing the cops of racism in "I hope it's sensitizing to what we have to do." Which pretty well brings up what's really on his mind, which is priming the nation for reparations. He's got such a racist past himself he's desperate to prove his bona fides to black voters, according to this NBC News report, which means reparations will go to the front of his queue as president. That may be why he called the Capitol Hill cops a bunch of unequal racists. To drive the point home, he repeated the lie that President Trump was the racist, not himself. He bold-facedly claimed that President Trump called neo-Nazis "good people" which the record shows never happened. The bottom line here is that Biden is out to whip up division -- black against white, cops against civilians, lies against Trump. He's not about unity, he's about stoking as much division and chaos at he can, and the chaos at the Capitol was just the perfect opportunity. Why let a crisis go to waste? So much for Mr. Unity. Image credit: KTLA 5 via shareable video from YouTube, screen shot Washington's Metropolitan Police Department said it had made no additional arrests on Thursday connected to the rioting, during which one woman was fatally shot by the Capitol Police and a Capitol Police officer suffered injuries from which he later died. The officer, Brian Sicknick, died about 9.30pm on Thursday, the Capitol Police said in a statement. He had been with the agency since 2008. A rioter hangs from the balcony in the Senate chamber. Credit:Getty Sicknick was responding to the riots on Wednesday and "was injured while physically engaging with protesters", the agency's statement said. He later collapsed after returning to his division office and was taken to the hospital. News outlets had prematurely reported on his death earlier in the day while he was apparently still on life support. On Wednesday, the Metropolitan Police detained 68 people, plus the 14 picked up by the Capitol Police during the unrest. Dozens more were still being sought by federal authorities. Their number included a 60-year-old gun rights activist from Arkansas who was pictured sitting in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office, men in tactical gear taking selfies in the Rotunda and a woman in the House chamber, carrying a QAnon-inspired sign about children. DC National Guard on the night of January 6, after the Capitol had been secured and a curfew put into force. Credit:AP Some of those who had also surged forward in the crowd seemed to show a bewildered wonder at what they were seeing in front of them. A few remarked on the opulence of the Capitol building and offices, a quality that seemed to confirm their suspicions about the corruption of Washington. "Yeah look at all this fancy furniture they have," said a man in a winter parka and red hat, standing on the west side of the Capitol and peering through the glass at empty desks, computer screens and ergonomic chairs. Several people banged on the windows with their fists, including a man who shouted, "Put the coffee on!" One man hit his head, not seeing the outer layer of glass was there, it was so clean. A supporter of US President Donald Trump sits inside the office of US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Credit: As people rushed inside, there was a strange mix of confusion and excitement, and the almost complete lack of police presence in the beginning amplified the feeling of lawlessness. They gawked at a place of wealth and beauty, adorned with art and marble, a domain of the powerful, and for a short while on Wednesday afternoon, the rioters were in control. For once, they felt, they could not be ignored. Aaron, the construction worker from Indianapolis, and his two friends had heard people talking about going to Pelosi's office. Once inside, they decided instead to find Senator Chuck Schumer's office. Both are Democrats. "We wanted to have a few words" with Schumer, he said. "He's probably the most corrupt guy up here. You don't hear too much about him. But he's slimy. You can just see it." Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House chamber. Credit:AP But they could not find Schumer's office. He said they asked a Capitol Police officer, who tried to direct them. But they appeared to have got nowhere near the Senate Minority's Leader's office. They ended up smoking a few cigarettes inside the building "We can smoke in our house," Aaron said and one of his friends, who would not give his name, joked that he had gone to the bathroom and not flushed. A woman in a coat sat on the couch in a small room with a blue carpet and watched as a man ripped a scroll with Chinese lettering hanging on the wall. "We don't want Chinese bullshit," the woman said. Demonstrators attempt to breach the US Capitol after they earlier stormed the building . Credit:Bloomberg Nearby, six men sat at a large wooden desk. A lamp with a white shade was knocked over and broken. Someone was smoking pot. "This is the pot room!" a young man said. In the Crypt, people walked around taking photographs of the statues and themselves with their phones. One man had a selfie stick, like a tourist in a foreign land. A woman in baggy jeans and a blue puffer jacket was shouting chants into a megaphone, while a man in a black T-shirt that read "Not Today Liberal" ran around the central columns in what looked like a frenetic victory lap. As authorities try to identify those in the mob, some will be less hard to pin down than others. The group included some well-known figures from the conspiratorial right, including Jake Angeli, who has pushed the false QAnon claims that Trump was elected to save the US from deep-state bureaucrats and prominent Democrats who worship Satan and abuse children. He was pictured sitting in Congress in a viking helmet and furs. Angeli, who is known as the "Q Shaman", has been a fixture in the pro-Trump protests in Arizona since the election, and there are indications that he and other right-wing activists had planned to spark a confrontation with authorities before Wednesday's rally. Rioters walk through the doors of the US Capitol building as Congress was meeting to certify the election results. Credit:Bloomberg There were also leaders from the Proud Boys, a far-right group whose participants have espoused misogynistic and anti-immigrant views, such as Nick Ochs, a failed Hawaii state legislature candidate and member of a collective called "Murder the Media". Chris Hood and members of his National Socialist Club, a neo-Nazi group, posted photos on Telegram from outside the Capitol on Wednesday. Loading And the Three Percenters, a far-right armed group, were seen gathered in Washington's Freedom Plaza on Tuesday night, most wearing helmets and Kevlar vests adorned with the group's symbol, a Roman numeral three. The mob came from the broader crowd, tens of thousands of Trump's most loyal supporters, many of whom had driven through the night, or taken buses with friends and neighbours, to watch him speak and be part of a day that many hoped would finally hold some answers to what had been months of false claims that the election had been stolen. A number of people interviewed said they had never been to Washington before. In interviews on Wednesday, protesters in the broader crowd expressed a sense that something would happen something that was bigger than they were. What exactly it would be no one could say. Before the Capitol was stormed, some hinted darkly about violence and the looming threat of civil war. But when pressed for what that might mean, they tended to demur, saying simply that, if called, they would serve their side in a conflict. "There's been lots of people talking about this day coming for a long time," said Brian Sachtleben, 40, an asphalt truck driver from a small town near Sheboygan, Wisconsin, who was looking at the sea of people spreading from the Washington Monument to the Ellipse, marveling at the numbers, shortly before Trump began to speak. Loading When asked what he thought might happen, he said: "I don't know. I really don't know." He referred cryptically to the Thomas Jefferson quote: "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." Then he added: "I don't think anything is going to be back to normal ever again." He left town before the violence began. Loading When those who entered the Capitol later re-emerged after their rampage, many were welcomed like returning heroes. "Yeah, we stopped the vote!" screamed a man in a navy-blue zippered jacket, as he emerged, hands held high, from a tall yellow wooden door, as people outside whooped and cheered. "Murder the media" was scrawled in black marker across the other part of the double door. Many said they would not have tried to go in, but they sympathised with those who had. "I'm not going in there, but, yeah, I'm kind of OK with it," said Lisa Todd, 56, a high school teacher from Raleigh, North Carolina. She was standing with three friends, all fellow teachers. Loading Others expressed some regret. Storming the Capitol was "probably not the best thing to do", said Eric Dark, 43, a truck driver from Braman, Oklahoma, who was tear-gassed when he got to the top of the steps to the building but never made it inside. He had been standing with Brian Hobbs, mayor of Newkirk, Oklahoma, near the top of the steps on the western side of the building around 4.30pm when officers in riot gear started moving to clear out the thousands of people who had gathered. There were no casualties over the period under review. The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported eight violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Thursday, January 7. "In the past day, January 7, eight 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 8, 2021. In particular, enemy troops fired anti-tank and automatic grenade launchers, and heavy machine guns near the village of Luhanske, as well as anti-tank grenade launchers near the village of Khutir Vilny and grenade launchers of various systems and automatic rifles near the town of Popasna. Read alsoChief of "LPR people's militia" injured in apartment block blast in occupied Luhansk mediaAlso, the invaders used grenade launchers of various systems and rifles twice near the village of Vodiane, as well as a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher near the town of Avdiyivka and an automatic grenade launcher and a heavy machine gun near the village of Hranitne. The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) of the ceasefire in Donbas. Since Friday midnight, January 8, four ceasefire violations by the Russian occupation forces were recorded in the area the Joint Forces Operation. In particular, the enemy fired proscribed 120mm mortars, grenade launchers of various systems and a heavy machine gun near Vodiane. 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, the report says. 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 In a sensational disclosure, late President Pranab Mukherjee says in his much-talked-about autobiography The Presidential Years, has revealed how former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru committed a major blunder by rejecting Nepals King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shahs offer that the Himalayan nation is made a province of India. According to the reports, in the chapter titled, My Prime Ministers: Different Styles, Different Temperaments, late President Mukherjee wrote that Nehru dealt with Nepal very diplomatically. He noted that after the Rana rule was replaced by the monarchy in Nepal, he wished for democracy to take root. Pranab Mukherjee in his autobiography added, Interestingly, Nepals king, Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah, had suggested to Nehru that Nepal be made a province of India. But Nehru rejected the offer on the grounds that Nepal was an independent nation and must remain so. In the yet-to-be-published book written by late President Pranab Mukherjee, he writes that had Indira Gandhi been in Nehrus place, she would have perhaps seized upon the opportunity, like she did with Sikkim. Sikkim was a kingdom which became part of India in 1975. On April 9, 1975, the Sikkim Parliament announced that the king was deposed. Through a referendum, Sikkim became part of India. On May 16, 1975, the Indian parliament announced that Sikkim officially became a state of India. Expressing his views on the Former Prime Ministers and Presidents of India, late President Mukherjee reportedly writes, Every PM has his or her own style of functioning. Lal Bahadur Shastri took positions that were very different from that of Nehru. There can be divergent perceptions among PMs, even if they happen to come from the same party, on issues such as foreign policy, security and internal administration. The memoir by Pranab Mukherjee has yet again ignited a debate regarding the cost India has been paying due to the strategic blunders that were committed during the Nehruvian era. Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, during his tenure, not only made blunders by gifting territories to Pakistan and China but also responsible for India ceding territories with much crucial strategic significance. The indecisions of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru has cost the country much more than just vast swathes of Jammu Kashmir, Ladakh, Coco Islands and many other strategic locations along the border including Tibet and Nepal. Source : OpIndia Iran has been hit hard by the Wuhan virus but, surprisingly, the pandemic is the least of the governments worries. In addition to rising opposition within Iran, the world is also starting to hold Irans leadership to account. The Iranian regime's response to the coronavirus pandemic has been severely bungled. Now, in another extremely irresponsible move, it has signaled a preference for eschewing foreign-made vaccines in favor of an unproven domestic variant that was recently rushed into production. There are a number of factors unrelated to Covid-19 that are going to hold Iran back from returning to normal. In fact, any semblance of normalcy had already evaporated long before the coronavirus was even discovered. For Tehran, the arrival of that virus may have even been a sort of lifeline, since it temporarily distracted attention from a ruined economy and multiple other social and political crises, all of which fueled massive anti-regime protests. By all accounts, the unmitigated spread of coronavirus infection interfered with nationwide activist organizing that had been accelerating. Had it not been for that, there would have almost certainly been more uprisings like those in January 2018 and November 2019, and even the month before Iranian coronavirus infections were confirmed in February 2020. Even during the pandemic and with public health concerns, multiple local protests have taken place objecting to everything from water shortages to delayed wages. In a post-pandemic era, the Iranian people will have even more incentive to rise up against the regime than they had in 2019. All the issues associated with previous uprisings economic disaster, Tehran's pillaging of national funds to pay for foreign terrorism and to pursue nuclear weapons, and outrage over a lack of accountability in the face of the regimes crimes have worsened. Added to the mix is outrage over the handling of the coronavirus, which opposition sources say has so far claimed the lives of close to 200,000 people and has caused enormous economic pain for the people. The Iranian people are seeking accountability for the regime's wrongdoing, mismanagement, and crimes. During the uprising of November 2019, an estimated 1,500 people were killed in a matter of days because they asked for regime change. The international community was largely silent. In 2021, the US will come under new presidential leadership and opportunities will most likely arise for changing overall Western policies in ways that exert more pressure on the theocracy in Iran. These are the other factors that could make a return to normalcy almost impossible for Iran. There are further signs of trouble for Tehran. In January, a Belgian court will hand down a verdict in the case involving Assadollah Assadi, a high-ranking Iranian diplomat accused of executing an order to blow up a gathering of tens of thousands of Iranian dissidents outside Paris in June 2018. Assadis guilt appears firmly established and he faces up to 20 years in prison. He would be the first Iranian diplomat to be formally charged with a terrorist offense. Another trial will begin in Sweden later this year, involving a former interrogator and torturer at Gohardasht Prison in Karaj, west of Tehran. The defendant, Hamid Noury, is accused of having facilitated and even personally carried out some of the executions at Gohadasht. He was involved in the massacre of political prisoners in Iran in 1988, during which at least 30,000 dissidents were executed and secretly buried in mass graves. Survivors of that massacre and the families of its victims, the overwhelming majority of whom were members and sympathizers of Irans principal opposition, have been pursuing justice for more than three decades, but Noury is the first known perpetrator to actually face the prospect of a prison sentence. For those survivors and for pro-democracy dissidents, the dual court cases represent a rare glimmer of hope that the world community is finally starting to hold the regime accountable for its crimes against humanity. Unlike other nations, the Iranian people's hope for 2021 is that things do not return to normal because normalcy would mean international tolerance for the regime's human rights abuses and terrorism. That is in stark contrast to what the people have struggled for over the past 40 years: holding the regime accountable and replacing it with a democratic, secular, non-nuclear republic. The Assadi and Nouri cases ought to inspire the new White House and its European allies to coordinate a broader strategy to hold Tehran's murderers accountable. If this happens, the people will be more motivated for an uprising than ever before. The Iranian people have made every effort to take back control of their country from the theocrats, and they have made remarkable progress. Now policymakers in Europe and the United States should be asked to imagine how much more those people might have been able to accomplish in the presence of meaningful foreign support for their democratic cause. The year 2021 could be the year in which that question is finally answered. IMAGE: Hassan Rouhani. YouTube screengrab. President is conceding to President-elect and condemning the violent supporters who stormed the nation's Capitol Wednesday. In a new video message, Trump says that now that Congress has certified the results, the new administration will be inaugurated on January 20 and his focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power. He is also speaking out against the violence, calling it a heinous attack that left him outraged by the violence lawlessness and mayhem. Trump did not address his role in inciting the violence. But he is telling his supporters that, while he knows they are disappointed, he wants them to know our incredible journey is only just beginning. (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.) MP Anthony Albanese speaks to media during a press conference at the Unity Hall Hotel in Balmain in Sydney, Australia, on May 19, 2019. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese Taken to Hospital After Car Crash Federal Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese has been taken to hospital, badly shaken but ok after a serious car crash in Sydney. It is understood the 57-year-old Labor leader was driving when his Toyota Camry was T-boned by a Range Rover in a serious collision in Marrickville on Friday afternoon. The ABC reported that emergency services received reports of a crash and were called to Hill Street in Marrickville at about 5 p.m. The driver of the Range Rover was a 17-year-old, police were told. He has been taken to hospital to have precautionary x-rays, and is badly shaken but ok a spokesman from his office said. The other driver was not hurt, it is understood. NSW Police told ABC the driver of the Range Rover was travelling west along Hill Street when he struck Albanese. The driver of the Toyota was treated at the scene before being taken to RPA in a stable condition, Police said. Officers attached to Inner West Police Area Command attended and have commenced an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident. Enquiries are continuing. More to come. By Tiffany Turnbull John Garing, former Air Force and DISA exec, dies at 78 John Garing has died at 78, but leaves behind a legacy as a mentor to the people around him and a leader always looking for new and better ways to improve government He retired from government in 2010 after having served 24 years as an Air Force officer and then another 13 years in the senior executive service the Defense Information Systems Agency, where he was chief information officer and the director for strategic planning and information. In 2010, he was recognized by our sibling publication Government Computer News with a Hall of Fame award. The award specifically recognized his work aligning DISAs planning, engineering, acquisition, and operations with the needs of the armed services. In 2009, he received the Fast Company Most Creative People in Business award. After leaving government, Garing worked for Suss Consulting and then became vice president for Vion Corp. He fully retired in 2017, but only after health complications following back surgery. In a Facebook post, his daughter Stacy Garing Yentz wrote eloquently about his devotion as a father and the pride he took in his government service. He was a family man who instilled in us the great value of family and all the blessings that come with it, she wrote. I learned so much from my dad and know that he loved us and is proud of us. Thank you for being the best daddy. We will cherish the memories and the lifelong values. The numerous comments in response to her posting illustrate the impact he had on many peoples lives, both professionally and personally. I was an executive at (Hewlett-Packard) and Cisco and worked with your Dad when he was at DISA, wrote Bruce Klein, who ran the federal business for Cisco and HP. John was an icon and a great man. So glad I got to work with him. He leaves a legacy with his family and those he worked with. In a separate email to Washington Technology, Klein said Garing was creative and innovative and may have been the first to push for storage on demand, a new model at the time. He was a man you could look up to both professionally and personally. That personal touch came through again and again in the Facebook comments people shared with Yentz. I was lucky enough to work with John for a few years and he was an amazing person, one person wrote. Just a couple of days ago, I gave some advice to a friend that your father once gave to me. Another commenter called him a bounty of wisdom and (a) shoulder for me so many times in my career and personally. In an email to Washington Technology, former IBM executive Anne Altman called Garing a passionate patriot who took great pride in his time at the Air Force and at DISA. He worked tirelessly, she said. He had immense pride in his team at DISA; he trusted their judgment and cared deeply about their success. Altman also noted that Garing had a quick wit and a kind soul. Vion Corp. CEO Tom Frana, Garing's former boss, said he was loved and respected by everyone. Vion was a supplier to Garing at DISA and introduced the idea of a consumption-based model in 1999 or 2000. At the time, Garing asked all his major suppliers to come in a tell him something he didnt know. Garing ran with the idea now known as as-a-service" and pushed it to the rest of DISA and the Defense Department. It is one of the primary procurement methods used today in the federal government and it is DISAs primary acquisition strategy today, Frana said. Over a decade later, Garing was working for Frana as a vice president at Vion. John was a true road warrior, he said. He loved being in front of customers and prospects. John Garing was born April 29, 1942, in St. Paul, Minnesota to the late John and Helen Garing. He is survived by his wife Gerri Perras Garing. They were married for 54 years. His family remembered him as a teacher. He taught everyone he met something to remember respect, loyalty, friendship, and love, they wrote in his obituary. In addition to his wife, other survivors include his son Matt Garing and three daughters: Chris Garing and her partner Christopher, Stacy Garing Yentz and husband Kevin, Nicole Garing Kinney and her husband Michael; plus seven grandchildren. A funeral mass will be conducted 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12 at St. Bridget of Ireland Catholic Church in Berryville, Virginia. Burial will be later at Arlington National Cemetery. The family is asking that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors Family Support. The US topped 4000 coronavirus deaths in a single day for the first time, breaking a record set just one day earlier, with several Sun Belt states driving the surge. The tally from Johns Hopkins University showed the nation had 4085 deaths on Thursday, along with nearly 275,000 new cases of the virus evidence that the crisis is growing worse after family gatherings and travel over the holidays and the onset of winter, which is forcing people indoors. A nurse works in a COVID-19 unit at Mission Hospital in California. Credit:AP Meantime, the United Kingdom recorded its highest daily death toll on Friday since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as London declared a major incident, warning that its hospitals were at risk of being overwhelmed. With a highly transmissable new variant of the virus surging across Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has shuttered the economy and is rushing out vaccines faster than the country's European neighbours in a bid to stem the pandemic. The BBC's Persian service has been accused of promoting the Iranian regime's homophobic views with posts calling gay people 'f*****s' and 'an abomination'. The claims have been made by LGBT charity, the Peter Tatchell Foundation, which says a recent post on the BBC Persian website used a number of derogatory terms, also comparing gay people to opium addicts and people who commit incest. Peter Tatchell (pictured) of the LGBT charity, the Peter Tatchell Foundation. The charity has asked the BBC to explain the publication of a 'homophobic' article on BBC Persia On another occasion, the site mockingly referred to 'so called' LGBT+ Pride and apparently attempted to out an Iranian interviewee. This was broadcast on its TV channel on July 6, 2019, and is still available online, despite protests by LGBT+ Iranians urging it to be removed, the charity said. Director and campaigner Peter Tatchell has now sent a strongly-worded letter to BBC Director General Tim Davie, condemning the 'appalling homophobia' of BBC Persian, its alleged 'apologia' for the tyranny in Tehran and its seeming praise for 'Jihad and martyr's culture.' He also demands a public apology and urging the 'dismissal of the director of BBC Persian.' The Peter Tatchell has written a letter to top BBC chief Tim Davie (pictured and other senior figures at the broadcaster for an explanation Furthermore, Mr Tatchell calls for an independent inquiry into the 'administration, staffing, monitoring and content of the BBC Persian service;' querying whether 'BBC Persian is infiltrated by staff who are apologists or possibly agents for the Iranian dictatorship.' Speaking to the MailOnline, Mr Tatchel said: 'It is unbelievable that BBC Persian allowed these homophobic insults on its website. Was it deliberate or dont they check text before it is published? 'I am sure BBC top brass are horrified by these anti-gay slurs but it seems that BBC Persian is a law unto itself and is not being adequately monitored. 'I am glad the BBC World Service is mounting an investigation. They need to do more than apologise. There have to be new protocols to ensure that this never happens again.' Iran is ruled by a theocratic regime and homosexual behaviour, adultery and sex outside of marriage are illegal under Iranian law and can carry the death penalty. Pictured: Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei addresses the people on Friday in a live broadcast Iran is ruled by a theocratic regime and homosexual behaviour, adultery and sex outside of marriage are illegal under Iranian law and can carry the death penalty. When approached for comment, the BBC said the article was a 'freelance opinion piece', and that it had been updated. 'A freelance opinion piece has been updated with an acknowledgement on our website,' the statement from a BBC spokesman said. 'We will provide a full response to Mr Tatchell in due course.' The BBC's Persian service (pictured) has been accused of promoting the Iranian regime's homophobic views with posts calling gay people 'f*****s' and 'an abomination' by LGBT charity, the Peter Tatchell Foundation An explanation and apology was also added to the article to say that it had been updated - a translated version of which has been provided to the MailOnline. 'In an earlier version of this article, a word was used to refer to homosexual relations in the historical context of Iran that is not among the terms that BBC uses to describe sexual orientations and was therefore inappropriate. It is now corrected,' the editorial note in the article read. Originally from Australia, Peter Tatchell is a British human rights campaigner, focusing primarily on working with LGBT social movements. In 1981, he was selected as the Labour Party's parliamentary candidate for Bermondse, but is now affiliated with the Green Party after joining in 2004. During four long years of the U.S. Civil War, no Confederate army ever managed to touch the city of Washington, although rebellious Virginia was just across the Potomac. But in the spring of 1861, President Abraham Lincoln and U.S. soldiers, using field glasses, had spied a large rebel flag flying from a rooftop in Alexandria, Virginia, less than nine miles from Capitol Hill. Col. Elmer Ellsworth, a friend of the Lincoln family, was killed during the Union occupation of that city as he and his men removed the enemy flag from the hotel. He became the first Union officer to sacrifice his life in the war. How shameful it was Wednesday to see photos of a pro-Trump rioter prominently carrying a Confederate battle flag through the Capitol. It is no coincidence that Confederate and neo-Nazi symbols made an appearance during the riot. At the outbreak of the Civil War, the anti-government crowd protested that their constitutional rights were being violated. Conspiracy theories, opposition to immigration, and demands for racial privilege are as American as apple pie, just not as warm and wholesome. It may be the 21st century, but our political mindset is still thoroughly grounded in that of the mid-19th. Ken Johns, Brunswick 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. A worker sweeps up the dust and debris that was left behind by protesters in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 7, 2021. (Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Elites War on Party of the Country Is Now out in the Open Commentary When a regime sanctions the political violence of one faction against another, events such as the bloody skirmishes at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 are a foregone conclusion. Presumably, the countrys corporate, political, and cultural elite assumed that after four years of trying to humiliate and unseat President Donald Trump that his supporters would simply accept their continued degradation, impoverishment, and disenfranchisement. Or maybe they thought that with their allied press and social media obscuring reality, no one would notice they were waging war on Americans. Details of the events on Jan. 6 are still unfolding. In places, protestors overran police. A Capitol Police officer died of injuries suffered while holding off protestors and others were reportedly injured. Elsewhere, it seems that law enforcement welcomed Trump supporters into the Capitol and posed for pictures with them. No doubt there were agents provocateurs among the MAGA crowd, but Ashli Babbitt, who was shot and killed by a Capitol Hill policeman when she tried to crawl through a window, wasnt with Antifa. She proudly supported Trump, as she proudly served her country, doing four tours of duty in Afghanistan and Iraq. No one in the building that the 15-year Air Force veteran entered illegally can explain why America is still committed to those strategically pointless wars. Neither can anyone on the Democratic or Republican side rationally justify why large parts of the country are still under coronavirus lockdownspublic health measures draining Americans life savings and, as importantly, their hopeto fight an illness with a 99.7 percent survival rate. No one can say why the senior FBI, CIA, Justice Department, Pentagon, and State Department officials from the Obama administration who plotted against Trumps White House before he was inaugurated are still at liberty, and why some have been named to the incoming administration of Joe Biden. Nor can the representatives of the American people explain to them why the lights went out in half a dozen states on election night with Trump holding commanding leads, and came back on hours later with Biden in front in all six. But dont blame the people sent to Washington for the fate and fortune of the Americans theyre supposed to represent. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) says Trump is at fault for the Jan. 6 unrest. The president formed the mob, the president incited the mob, the president addressed the mob, she said. The Wyoming congresswoman is one of the staunchest supporters of the Afghanistan war, begun when her father was George W. Bushs vice president. To hand down a war from one generation to the next is a sign of a careless and depraved elite. Trumps former Defense Secretary James Mattis also blames the president. His use of the Presidency to destroy trust in our election and to poison our respect for fellow citizens has been enabled by pseudo-political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice, the retired Marine general wrote. In June, he defended the Black Lives Matter and Antifa riots that caused billions of dollars in damage across the country and left dozens dead, including law enforcement officers. Those protests, said Mattis, are defined by tens of thousands of people of conscience who are insisting that we live up to our values. Both parties within the Beltway are joined in their attacks on Trump because partisan identityDemocrat and Republicanis no longer relevant in U.S. politics. Its the Country Party, currently represented by Trump, versus the Establishment Party, representing the interests of an oligarchy anchored by Big Tech and owing its power, wealth, and prestige to its access to cheap Chinese labor and Chinas growing consumer market. The Establishment Party protects its protestors because they are the instruments weaponized to target Trump supporters. Protestors should not let up, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris said of the summers violence. There needs to be unrest in the streets as long as theres unrest in our lives, said Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.). I just dont even know why there arent uprisings all over the country, said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). It isnt hypocrisy that corporations such as Bank of America and Coca-Cola that issued statements in support of the summer riots were quick to denounce the Jan. 6 protests. Nor is it hypocrisy that the activists who took over parts of a Senate office building to protest the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh were celebrated, while Biden and the press labeled the people who broke into a federal building as domestic terrorists. It isnt hypocrisy for the establishment to draw a sharp divide between allies and enemies, but rather just evidence that they are at war with the party of the country. History, as well as simple common sense, tells that when one side shoots at the other, the side taking incoming has two choices: surrender or shoot back. Theres little doubt the party of the establishment will use the events on the Hill to implement further measures to punish the party of the country, for they would use any pretexta respiratory illness, for exampleto serve those ends. But now, they can no longer be sure how the party of the country will respond. Lee Smith is the author of the recently published book The Permanent Coup: How Enemies Foreign and Domestic Targeted the American President. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A single woman has shared her amusing dating struggles after her return to Tinder didn't go the way she hoped. Comedian Melanie Bracewell, from New Zealand, uploaded a now-viral TikTok video of her message exchange with a potential date. The man complimented the 25-year-old on her sense of humour, saying 'for a woman, you're pretty funny' after he 'super liked' her on the dating app. But she never heard from him again after she fired back: 'Shut the f*** up b****.' Scroll down for video Comedian Melanie Bracewell (pictured) has shared her amusing dating struggles after her return to Tinder didn't go the way she hoped In the video, Melanie said: 'I'm back on Tinder and I'm not handling it well' She explained how she 'replied a bit strongly' after his opening line. Melanie captioned the video: 'Since filming this, I am no longer on tinder.' The clip has since been viewed more than one million times, with one saying: 'Justified! If that's his opening line, imagine the rest.' Another wrote: 'Sounds like the perfect response to me.' Many sided with Melanie's response, suggesting the man had it coming after his 'pretty sexist' comment while others simply saw the funny side to the joke. 'Girl, the only way to reply is to be honest,' one said, while a second added: 'Looks like you were handling it very well,' along with a laughing emoji. In another video, Melanie shared a message she received from a stranger who made a bizarre proposition. 'How much to buy your feet pics?' the person asked. Melanie responded: '1 million dollars,' to which the person replied: 'Deal'. Melanie said in the video: 'I didn't expect this to happen... Very romantic opening line, I just threw a figure out there. Um... 'If I have a yacht in my next TikTok video, it's not even related. Honestly, I could never do that.' She uploaded a now-viral TikTok video of her message exchange with a potential date. The man complimented the 25-year-old on her sense of humour, saying 'for a woman, you're pretty funny'. But she never heard from him again after she responded: 'Shut the f*** up b****' In another video, Melanie shared a message she received from a stranger who made a bizarre proposition Melanie is known for using makeup to transform herself into New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and sharing uncanny videos of herself impersonating the politician Melanie is known for using makeup to transform herself into New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and sharing uncanny videos of herself impersonating the politician. Last year, the young comedian finally got to meet the prime minister. 'Kia Ora everyone it's me Jacinda Ardern, I obviously have a lot of fans out there so I like to get selfies with my fans sometimes,' Melanie, who was dressed like the PM, said in a now-viral TikTok video with more than 1.6 million views. Moments later, Ms Adern appeared in her video, acting as if she was the fan. 'Hi, what's your name,' Melanie asked, to which Ms Adern replied 'Jacinda,' while giggling as the pair placed their arms around each other for a selfie. 'Ah nice to meet you. Okay that's enough now,' the impersonator said as she pulled away from Ms Adern. Congress was on break when Tom Williams, a photographer for CQ Roll Call, stepped out of the House chamber to file some shots of the vote to certify the election. Then he noticed something out a window facing east: a skirmish between dozens of cops and hundreds of Donald Trump supporters. I thought they would run up and occupy the steps with their flags, cheer, take pictures, and eventually be cleared out, Williams said. He shrugged and returned to what he was doing. Then he heard a bang on the door: the mob was breaking in. The crowd seemed ready for a photo opportunity; democracy was under siege by a spectacle of costumes, body paint, and an unknown number of weapons. Some of the insurrectionists wore maga hats or camo-gear; they brandished flags for Trump and for the Confederacy; few wore masks. Williams headed out to find a good vantage point and saw people with bleary eyesthe rioters and the police had exchanged pepper spray, he later learnedand bloodstained faces. He captured some images of rioters shoving their way through a wall of police. Soon, an officer escorted Williams and a few other photographers to the third-floor gallery of the House chamber, then told them to lie low. He clenched his equipment. I was trying to quickly and surreptitiously take pictures the whole time, he said. We were like, Holy shit. A throng had entered the Capitol. Saul Loeb, a staff photographer for Agence France-Presse, had been editing images in a workspace on the third floor, on the Senate side of the Capitol, when he heard a loudspeaker announcement referring vaguely to a security situation in the building and instructing people to take cover. He followed that directive at firstuntil he heard a rumbling, and followed the noise. Hundreds of Trump supporters swarmed the Rotunda, unencumbered by law enforcement. They were streaming in from every direction, coming from everywhere, Loeb said. Seemingly, the protesters had complete control over that area of the Capitol. It was surreal: Loeb watched as they chanted, posed for selfies with statues, and livestreamed along the way. In the Senate chamber, an insurrectionist decked in all black stood atop the dais, his gloved fist raised beneath the inscription E pluribus unum; another slouched in a chair, holding up a smartphonedespite the brazen means by which hed infiltrated, he looked rather bored, or numba black hoodie over his red cap, jacket unzipped. I think they were also amazed that they were there, Loeb said. I mean, I dont think in their wildest dreams they could have imagined that they would actually get into the building. I think they were all just like, Well, this was our plan, but we didnt think it was actually gonna happen. And so, like, what do we do now? Loeb followed with his camera. As he traversed the corridors, Loeb saw members of the mob sitting at desks, settling in front of computers, and sifting through papers. He stopped at Nancy Pelosis suite. There was a woman wearing a maga hat, and she was vaping or something, making herself at home, he said. I also came across another guy at another desk in the office, looking through the mail there, with his feet up on the desk like he owned the place. You know, he wasnt upset that I was taking his picture; he didnt try to hide his face at all, or anything. Loeb snapped a photo, which soon went viral. In the hall, he encountered a man in a bull-horned Viking hat and fur, his face painted red, white, and blue, sparring with an officer. That was, as it turned out, Jake Angeli, a QAnon believer from Arizona who has been a fixture at right-wing extremist gatheringsand schooled at making himself irresistible to photographers. Loeb got a shot. These protesters were obviously very visually interesting, he said. Plus: At that point, they could basically do whatever they wanted in, you know, a good amount of that building. Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project Back in the House chamber, Williams braced for impact. You could hear the rioters outside the chamber, he said. The police ordered us to get gas masks out from under our seats and have them ready. Soon, Williams and the rest of his group were escorted to a safe location elsewhere in the building. On his route, he said, he passed a bunch of the guys the police detained and laid out on the floor, all over the place. By then, officers were more focused on the security of elected officials than the hell-bent crowd. In a livestream that went viral, members of the mob could be seen chatting convivially, as if on a tour of the Capitol. A cop leaned in for a selfie with an insurrectionist and gave him a friendly nod. There was no visible standoff; if not for the uniforms, the cops would have been indistinguishable from the rioters. From where Loeb was standing, elsewhere in the building, he said, I realize now that what these police officers were trying to do was engage peacefully with them to buy time for the senators and staff in the chamber to evacuate safely. Outside, Leah Millis, a photographer for Reuters, raced down Independence Avenue, on the west side of the Capitol. Instinctively, she put on a gas mask and helmetshed covered confrontations with police beforeand found a place to climb on scaffolding for the stage that had been set up for inauguration. By nightfall, security was escalating, and shed lost cell service. Millis cut bait, seeking a corner of the Capitol where she could find a connection to file her photos. Windows had been broken, she observed; furniture had been vandalized and dragged out of the building. Somewhere along the way, she was doused in pepper spray. Armed forces in fatigues appeared. Thats when they finally started to release flash-bangs into the crowd and tear gas to truly disperse the crowd, she said. She managed to take a photo of the explosiona blaze of light onto the vulnerability of Americas center of governance. Later that evening, Williams uploaded his pictures from the break-in. A particularly evocative image depicts the anguish on the faces of House members as they take cover; in one photograph, Rep. Jason Crow can be seen comforting Rep. Susan Wild, whose hand is on her heart. The chaotic and violent threat of right-wing extremism had now been made manifest, and resolved into a chilling visual. I was just trying to get a view of anything, Williams said. So whoever I had a clean composition of, I shot quicklybecause I wasnt supposed to be taking pictures. ICYMI: The mob that stormed the capital was its own media Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Shinhee Kang is a CJR fellow. Marty Walsh speaking at the unveiling of a monument in Connemara to Irish emigrants. US president-elect Joe Biden has nominated Boston mayor and gaeilgeoir Marty Walsh as the next US Secretary of Labour, providing a boost to his ancestral home. Mr Walsh has served as mayor since 2014, and is a first-generation Irish American, with parents originally from Galway. Micheal Coyne hails from his father's hometown Callowfeenish, and said it was great to see someone from the Irish speaking community in such a position. Read More Hes from the Connemara Gaeltacht on both sides, he said. Weve had a history of immigration through America, through Boston, New York, Chicago. So its a great thing, especially for a community thats been ravaged by immigration for many years. And a lot of people went to Boston to work and so on, and its great to see someone from a community climb the ranks, like Kennedy did in the 1950s. Mr Coyne went to visit Boston in 2017 while Mr Walsh was running for re-election as mayor, and was struck by the number of gaeilgeoiri he encountered. I spoke more Irish in Boston than I did at home I think, he said. The thing about Connemara people is that no matter where they go, theyll speak Irish. Its that sense of identity. This topic would later spark Mr Walsh to unveil a plaque in 2018, in Cill Chiarain in honour of all those who emigrated from Ireland. He also opened the emigrant centre in Carna, Galway. Expand Close Marty Walsh unveiling a monument to Irish emigrants with Micheal Coyne. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marty Walsh unveiling a monument to Irish emigrants with Micheal Coyne. Its a monument to people who left Ireland, who had to leave due to emigration, Mr Coyne of Coynes Gastropub said. But more so it was for people from the Gaeltacht - Irish speaking areas - because when they left, they took the language with them. Mr Biden said he looks forward to working with Mr Walsh and explained why he decided to choose him over senator Bernie Sanders, who had requested the position. I did give serious consideration to nominating my friend Bernie Sanders to this position, he said. After Tuesdays results in Georgia we cant put control of the Senate at risk at the outcome of the special election in Vermont, and he [Mr Sanders] agreed. Marty knows worker power means not just protecting the right to unionise, but encouraging unionisation, he said. The president-elect also mentioned Mr Walshs heritage, while making sure to get in a joke: [Hes] the son of Irish immigrants - the only downside is they arent from Mayo, theyre from Galway. This was a reference to Mr Bidens own Irish roots, with his great-great grandfather Patrick Blewitt growing up in Ballina, Mayo. Democrats won a narrow ran-off election in Georgia and could face similar challenges in Mr Sanders home state of Vermont. Mr Biden would later go on to praise the Boston mayor, saying: I know him - tough as nails. Diagnosed with cancer at age seven, beat it at 11. He always puts working people safe. Fighting for $15 minimum wage, paid family leave, providing frontline workers with emergency childcare and equipment they need. Marty understands like I do that the middle class built this country, and unions built the middle class. A mother of three was so drunk and angry she was 'virtually frothing at the mouth' when she attacked two strangers at a tram stop. A court was told on Thursday that Julia Melin spat on and punched the face of a woman waiting at a tram stop on December 13, 2019, in the Adelaide CBD. When the victim's father and other witnesses restrained Ms Melin she tried to bite one of them on the cheek, a police prosecutor told the Adelaide's Magistrate Court. The mother of three (pictured) was drunk when she attacked strangers in the Adelaide CBD Julia Melin (pictured) has been convicted after attacking two strangers at an Adelaide tram It's quite clear that she was angry enough to be virtually frothing at the mouth,' Melin's lawyer told the court, Adelaide Now reported. 'She's not in a position to dispute that saliva came out of her month but she doesn't recall that being deliberate,' the lawyer said. The court heard that the 34-year-old had recently split with her partner and was 'clearly intoxicated' during the incident. Ms Melin's lawyer also said she had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and had been sober since October 2020. The 34-year-old pleaded guilty to charges including assault and disorderly behaviour and was charged on some counts. 'It doesn't help the victims in this case to know the reason they were punched or manhandled was because you were having a bad day or a bad life,' he said. The Magistrate sentenced Ms Melin to a total of 27 days jail, but the sentence was suspended on a $200 good behaviour bond of 18-months. A Covid-19 digital sign is seen on Dee Why beachfront in Sydney, Australia on Dec. 19, 2020. (Lee Hulsman/Getty Images) Sydney Health Alert for Avalon Cluster A new COVID-19 alert was announced on Friday for the Woolworths and Chemist Warehouse in the northern beaches of Sydneys Avalon suburb. Officials advise that anyone who has visited the Avalon Woolworths between the specified times from Jan. 2 to Jan. 6 should get tested and self-isolate until a negative result is received. Anyone who has visited the Chemist Warehouse in Avalon on Sunday, Jan. 3 between 1 p.m. and 1:15 p.m. must also undergo the same procedures. The alert comes after a man who tested positive had visited these venues after the initial cut-off of the northern beaches. Chief Health Officer Dr. Kerry Chant said the man only experienced symptoms after he had finished his initial quarantine from returning overseas. NSW Health advises testing for even the mildest symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, cough, sore throat or runny nose. Although the man has been quarantined, officials cannot confirm if his infection is directly linked to the Avalon cluster which currently involves 149 infected individuals. It is speculated that there were other opportunities through which it was possible that he had been infected. The Thursday report by NSW announced that out of the nearly 28,000 people tested there had been no new local cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours leading up to Wednesday at 8 p.m. The last recorded zero new local cases for NSW was on Monday. Restrictions are expected to be lifted on Saturday for suburbs north of Narrabeen Bridge after stay-at-home orders were issued since before Christmas. The restrictions which includes a $200 fine for failing to wear a mask in specified areas will be reassessed on Saturday before they are lifted. Although the Australia-India Test on Friday will go forward with a mask mandate for all attendees, the residents of the northern beaches will unfortunately not be permitted to attend. AAP contributed to this article. A bill reintroduced in the House this week to create a commission to examine reparations for the African American descendants of slavery is being seen by many as an early test of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris proclaimed commitment to tackling structural oppression. The commission of 13 people would be tasked with examining the history of slavery in the United States and the systemic racism that resulted, including federal and state governments role in supporting it, and "recommend appropriate remedies" to Congress. The bill, known as HR 40, was reintroduced Monday by Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, a Texas Democrat. Given the role that Black people played in the election, getting him nominated and saving his campaign theres no reason they shouldnt support this bill, Mary Frances Berry, a professor of history at the University of Pennsylvania, said of Biden and Harris. This is one of the best ways to make good on their promise to attack systemic racism and white supremacy and elevate the economic and social condition of Black people. Support for the bill has grown steadily since it was introduced in 1989 by then-Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich., when 23 representatives co-sponsored it. Conyers reintroduced it every year until his death in 2019, when Lee first reintroduced it. It now has 173 co-sponsors. Despite such support, the bill has yet to be brought to a full vote. Lee called the bill "a crucial piece of legislation because it goes beyond exploring the economic implications of slavery and segregation." The call for reparations represents a commitment to entering a constructive dialogue on the role of slavery and racism in shaping present-day conditions in our community and American society, she said in a statement. It is a holistic bill in the sense that it seeks to establish a commission to also examine the moral and social implications of slavery. Biden has not endorsed the bill by name, but he has supported a study of what form reparations could take. A statement on the Biden-Harris website states that the administration will "address the systemic racism that persists across our institutions today. Story continues In his victory speech, Biden promised to have Black Americans backs. That commitment, however, has long been tainted by his role in the 1994 Crime Bill, which disproportionately affected Black communities, when he was a senator from Delaware. He has called parts of the bill a mistake while defending the legislation more broadly. One critic highlighted Bidens apparent career-long commitments to austerity and policing as a solution to our social problems, while he has also faced heat, even from Harris, on his record on school desegregation. Experts like Berry say getting HR 40 passed presents an opportunity for Biden to repair his legacy on race and for Harris to change her own standing with those who have criticized her record while attorney general in California. If they were to do this, it would go a long way toward removing the bad taste some people have in their mouths over having to support them, Berry said. Its not a heavy lift to support a commission," Valeria Sinclair-Chapman, a political science professor at Purdue University, said. "Supporting a commission like youd support a task force thats actually one of the easier things to do. It would be a landmark to have this reparations commission. Federal consideration of reparations isnt new. The first effort was introduced in January 1865 with Union Gen. William Tecumseh Shermans order to redistribute hundreds of thousands of acres of land to newly freed Black families. Abraham Lincolns successor as president, Andrew Johnson, quickly overturned Shermans order. It would be more than a century before reparations legislation would be formally introduced to Congress by Conyers. Congressional leaders have acknowledged the atrocities of slavery over the years, and Congress in 2009 apologized for the impacts of slavery and Jim Crow-era laws on the nations Black population. In 2019, the conversation became a topic of debate in 2019 as Democrats battled for the 2020 presidential nomination, and the writer Ta-Nehisi Coates delivered moving testimony at a hearing on reparations by the House Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties. It was Coates 2014 article The Case for Reparations in The Atlantic magazine that helped to rekindle the reparations debate. Talk of reparations isnt only happening at the national level. Some city and state leaders have offered reparations through funding Black business ownership to increasing access to housing. Critics say that, although these efforts may appear beneficial, wealth distribution would be more helpful than simply making inequitable systems more accessible to Black people. In 2015, organizers in Chicago fought successfully for an ordinance that would provide reparations to dozens of people tortured under a Chicago police commander, Jon Burge, in the 1970s to the '90s. Reparations have gone in and out of headlines in recent years, and the summers protests following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor have only thrust the topic into the spotlight again. How Biden and Harris engage the conversation, and HR 40 specifically, could foreshadow what Black people can expect from the administration in the coming years. HR 40 is symbolic work," Chapman of Purdue University said. "Its symbolic and substantive. Theres something about a bill like this that helps people to organize across the country. It brings an issue from the sidelines to the mainstream, and thats the important work of legislators like John Conyers and Rep. Lee. "Should it be the measure of commitment among Black people? I think it should be among many. Supporting HR 40 would be easy. There are other substantive proposals that need to be addressed, too. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Trump supporters in the Senate chamber Wednesday in Washington, D.C. (Win McNamee / Getty Images) Jan. 6, 2021, is now or so we have been told a day that will live in infamy. And certainly infamy, n. the state of being well known for some bad quality or deed, feels accurate. But Wednesday was also the Feast of the Epiphany, and epiphany, n. a moment of sudden revelation of insight, is just as accurate. Democracy was threatened, specifically and spiritually, by anti-American domestic terrorists, incited by a sitting president and several members of Congress, and while the world gasped and gagged, democracy held. So a bad news/good news day, really, and one that revealed exactly what America is a democratic country being threatened from within by people who are not at all interested in living in a democracy. And those people are now easily identifiable the officials who took part have done little to hide their intentions and the members of the extremist mob that illegally broke into the Capitol building spoke into cameras and took selfies. Like every villain in every story, many of them even monologued. "We were normal, law-abiding citizens," one man shouted at an ITV reporter after coming through the Capitol's broken door. "The government did this to us." "We're storming the Capitol," said a woman, upset that she had been pushed out and maced. "It's a revolution." Identifying herself as "Elizabeth from Knoxville," she quickly went viral. As shocking as the day's events were, weve seen this kind of final reveal before, many times. It's the kind of moment on which so much of our storytelling hangs when The Manchurian Candidate realizes what he is or L.A. Confidentials kindly police chief is unmasked as a criminal mastermind. It is Andy Griffiths media personality in A Face in the Crowd unknowingly spewing his mockery of the sheep who follow him into a live mic, and Thanos explaining that he murdered half the living creatures on Earth to save the world. Story continues Movies and television series are filled with corrupt leaders and their lackeys, historical and fictional, who leverage warped patriotism and civic complacency to further their personal power and oppressive intentions. Watching them, we anxiously await the narrative guideposts, the musical cues that assure us their true intentions will soon be laid bare, resulting in their downfall and a restoration of justice and order. ("Tiny Dancer," which the mob blasted on loud speakers at the National Monument before it began its march into domestic terrorism, is, it must be said, an unexpected soundtrack choice for an insurrection, and I'm sure Elton John will have a thing or two to say about it, possibly in court.) Timing-wise, this unprecedented event is, one hopes, the penultimate episode of the Trump presidency, though there are still two weeks before Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are sworn in, so it could also become the kind of midseason event that "Game of Thrones" made famous. But if Jan. 6, 2021, wasnt a big, conclusive reveal for every citizen not actively working to overthrow democracy, then Americans have willingly surrendered the power to control their own narrative. Just to recap: On Jan. 6, 2021, soon-to-be former President Trump summoned a group of pro-Trump extremists to a rally he called "Save America." Addressing the crowd, he repeated lies about the election being stolen by liberals, said he would "never concede" and told them to "go down there ... and give our Republicans the kind of pride and boldness they need to take back our country." So chanting, among other things, "Stop the steal," members of the mob pushed past police and broke into the Capitol building in an effort to halt the legal and democratic certification of the election Trump had lost, legally and democratically, to President-elect Joe Biden. In other words, Trump unleashed a mob on Congress and put the lives of many Americans and an entire branch of the federal government, along with his own vice president, in danger. Indeed, members of the mob erected a makeshift gallows in sight of the Capitol building. While this was clearly a symbol of the groups white supremacist beliefs, echoed by the Confederate battle flag one criminal carried into the Capitol, the president had, over the last few days and in his speech to the crowd, expressed his desire that Vice President Pence overturn the election, which Pence did not and could not. So it's not much of a stretch to believe the noose was intended, if only symbolically, for Pence. These pro-Trump extremists, mostly men, mostly white, followed the presidents explicitly fascist exhortations and forced Congress to evacuate and resulted in at least five deaths and vast damage to federal property. Beyond chanting "USA," looting and taking a bunch of selfies, however, these domestic terrorists for such they became the moment they laid siege to a federal building did not have much of a plan. The president was canny enough to not issue specific instructions beyond, you know, stopping "the steal," saving America and not being "weak," but several of the terrorists were carrying weapons and/or zip ties, so taking hostages was evidently not out of the question, and two pipe bombs and a cooler filled with Molotov cocktails were found near the Capitol during the occupation. President-elect Biden, who believes in democracy, publicly deplored the actions of the mob and called for peace Wednesday, but soon-to-be former President Trump publicly praised those who had done his bidding until all forms of media, including those social platforms that Trump had used for years in an effort to avoid and vilify the free press, finally shut him down. The terrorists were removed, Congress resumed the certification process, and at 3:40 a.m. Eastern despite continued efforts by certain members of Congress, including Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) Joe Biden and Kamala Harris were confirmed as the next president and vice-president. They will preside over a Democrat-majority House and Senate because while Trump was assailing the founding principles of this country, the people of Georgia were upholding them, electing two Democratic senators in runoff races that the president had preemptively attempted to delegitimize So bad news/good news. There are American citizens, including members of our own government, who have publicly demonstrated their desire to live in an authoritarian state, but their attempts to make this a reality through violence have thus far failed. And now we know who they are. The faces of those who invaded the Capitol building, including the men who broke down doors and windows and the guy carrying that Confederate flag, are everywhere and, presumably, the FBI will be in touch with many of them shortly. (Im really hoping for several night scenes involving helicopters, like when agents tracked down the guy who signaled gunmen during the assassination attempt in The West Wing.) But even if we dont get the satisfaction of televised SWAT team-assisted arrests, even if the 25th Amendment is not used to oust Trump from office, we now know that when Cruz, Hawley and the more than 100 Congressional representatives who voted against certifying the election results in several states are fundraising, running for reelection or, heaven forbid, entering the 2024 presidential race, they are doing so in the hopes of making this country something other than a democratic republic. And we will know who supports them in doing this. Now we know that those right-wing extremists the ones who claim that Black athletes taking a knee during the national anthem to protest racism are disrespecting the flag will use that same flag to attack our seat of government and threaten the lives of our elected officials. Now it is impossible not to see their use of the word patriot as the ultimate doublespeak, the nationalist claim used by fascists everywhere. Now we know that everyone who started and spread conspiracy theories about the validity of this election was simply attempting to overthrow a democratically elected president and put a dictator in his place. And I absolutely include Lou Dobbs and Sean Hannity in this list as well as anyone who still watches them. And dont pull any false equivalencies because you will just look stupid. Liberals angry over Trumps election never stormed the Capitol building, smashed its windows and took selfies with their feet up on Mitch McConnells desk. They wore pink pussyhats and marched peacefully; they said not my president, which is not at all the same as saying not the president. On Thursday afternoon, Trump, facing many calls for his ouster via the 25th Amendment or impeachment, did finally concede his defeat in the 2020 election. He also said, with a straight face, that he would work toward a peaceful transition of power. But it's too late. The events of Jan. 6 left no room for vacillation, and those who attempt to minimize or excuse the behavior are simply acknowledging their support of its aims. The curtain has been pulled back, the mic has been made live and the gun in the gallery clearly visible to absolutely everyone. Guess what? Thanos plan to make the world better is not about making the world better. Ignorance, misunderstanding, claims of party divisions are no longer applicable the division is not about big government versus small, its about democratic government versus dictatorship. This is not about the grievances, real and imagined, of small town America or the danger of elitist bubbles, real and imagined, of coastal cities. This is about people who believe America won't be great again until representative democracy is not just suppressed through racist voter restrictions and regional gerrymandering but completely destroyed. So now we all know. For sure. And how this story ends is up to us. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Loading Professor Fitzgerald said the identification of community cases was generally five to seven days behind the infection date, leaving contact tracers to search for previous contacts that could now be infectious. "If they've identified by Monday there's no further flow-ons from the person who was infected, then they may be confident enough to just lift [the lockdown] and go back to where we were, or maybe some intermediate step," he said. Australian Medical Association Queensland president Chris Perry also issued a statement saying doctors welcomed the three-day lockdown. "Little is known about the peculiar characteristics of the new COVID strain from the UK and, until we understand how best to protect frontline health workers and the community, we must take an abundance of caution," Professor Perry said. "As we have learnt from interstate experiences, a short, quick response is better than the weeks of lockdown they are now enduring in the UK." Mater Health director of infectious diseases Paul Griffin said the three-day lockdown was a "good place to start" in managing the potential community spread of the UK strain. He said the COVID-19 virus had mutated repeatedly since it first emerged last year, but the UK and South African strains increased how the virus bound itself to cell receptors, making it more infectious. "[The lockdown] is a good place to start I don't think we could be 100 per cent sure it won't be extended. That will obviously be very much dependent on the situation," he said. "I guess the way people should look at it now is [that] the three days is the best-case scenario, and is likely to be the scenario we're able to follow if everybody does the right thing and adheres to the restrictions, wears masks, gets tested so we know where the cases are. "If everybody does that well, then three days is very likely to be the duration. If we don't do that very well or the situation escapes control, then it's likely to be much longer." Dr Griffin said the key issue at hand was the management of hotel quarantine to ensure no further outbreaks of the UK strain were established in Australia. "What we need to get right is the quarantine of international travellers," he said. "All of the situations that we've faced in the last few months in NSW, Victoria and now Queensland have arisen from the virus escaping from that quarantine of international travellers. Loading "And I would like to think we can get that right, as a priority, and perhaps focus less on some distracting activities, like the domestic borders, when realistically if we can get the returning international quarantine perfect, then we won't have the virus in this country." The Prime Minister and premiers also agreed on Friday to lower the cap on the number of international arrivals until mid-February, halving the number of people able to arrive in Queensland to 500 until more was learned about the new strain. Thea van de Mortel, Griffith University's deputy head for learning and teaching at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, said she believed the three-day lockdown to be a "very sensible" approach. "She's actually giving us a three-day period to see how this plays out, so it doesn't mean that it will stop at three days," Professor van de Mortel said. "It's much, much better to lock down now, than it would be to wait for a week and go, 'oh, look at that, it's spreading through the community' and then try to lock down." Professor van de Mortel said people preparing for the lockdown should ensure they have masks that are well-fitted and comfortable. Surgical masks were most effective, she said, but cloth masks with at least two or three layers of material were also good. People should also practise good hand hygiene and respect social distancing, particularly on public transport, she said. The Mountain States TRUSTED news source. Click here to stay informed and subscribe to The Charleston Gazette-Mail. Click #isupportlocal for more information on supporting our local journalists. Learn more about HD Media According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, the average smartphone replacement cycle in Western Europe will shorten from 40 months in 2020 to 33 months by 2025. Improving economic conditions after the Covid pandemic and cheaper 5G models will encourage European consumers to upgrade their old smartphones more often. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005371/en/ Exhibit 1. Smartphone Replacement Cycle in Western Europe from 2015 to 2025 (Graphic: Business Wire) Boris Metodiev, Associate Director, at Strategy Analytics, said, "We estimate the average smartphone replacement cycle in Western Europe has lengthened from a low of 25 months in 2015 to a peak of 40 months in 2020. European consumers today are replacing their old smartphones less frequently due to operator de-subsidization, lack of major hardware innovation, 4G maturity, and a virus pandemic that has wreaked havoc in the region." Linda Sui, Senior Director at Strategy Analytics, added, "We expect smartphones to make a European comeback in the next half-decade. Triggered by economic recovery and 5G migration, we forecast the smartphone replacement cycle in Western Europe to shorten to 39 months in 2021 and shorten further to 33 months by 2025. This is good news for hungry smartphone makers in the region, such as Xiaomi or OPPO, because a faster replacement cycle means European consumers will buy more smartphones." Boris Metodiev, Associate Director, at Strategy Analytics, added, "How often European consumers replace their smartphones varies wildly by country. For example, UK consumers upgrade their smartphones every 2 years or so. By contrast, smartphone owners in France upgrade on average every 3 years. Local factors, such as 5G readiness, play a big role in local replacement cycles." About Strategy Analytics Strategy Analytics, Inc. is a global leader in supporting companies across their planning lifecycle through a range of customized market research solutions. Our multi-discipline capabilities include: industry research advisory services, customer insights, user experience design and innovation expertise, mobile consumer on-device tracking and business-to-business consulting competencies. With domain expertise in: smart devices, connected cars, intelligent home, service providers, IoT, strategic components and media, Strategy Analytics can develop a solution to meet your specific planning need. For more information, visit us at www.strategyanalytics.com. Source: Strategy Analytics, Inc. SA_Devices For more information about Strategy Analytics Smartphone Strategies: Click Here View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005371/en/ Contacts: Report contacts: Boris Metodiev, Associate Director, bmetodiev@strategyanalytics.com Linda Sui, Senior Director, lsui@strategyanalytics.com All the air passengers arriving from the UK to the national capital Delhi will be sent to seven days of institutional quarantine before home isolation even if they test negative for coronavirus, according to an order by the Delhi government. In an order issued by Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) it was mentioned that "All travellers coming from the United Kingdom to India would be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival at the airport. Those who are found positive shall be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in a separate (isolation) unit as per existing laid down protocol". Further, the order stated: "Those who are found negative shall be kept in compulsory institutional quarantine for a period of 7 days followed by 7 days of home quarantine". Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted the DDMA order and wrote, "To protect Delhiites from exposure to the virus from UK, Delhi government takes important decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine". To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine pic.twitter.com/hYDsaOn8q1 a Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2021 Flight services from the UK to India resumed partially on Friday after being suspended for 16 days. On Friday, an Air India flight from the UK landed in Delhi, carrying 256 passengers on board. The government had suspended services between the two countries on December 23 over the new and more contagious strain of the virus. At present, at least 82 people have tested positive for the new UK variant in India. According to Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, 30 flights will operate every week - 15 each by Indian and UK carriers till January 23, 2021. Also read: Bharat Biotech seeks DCGI nod to conduct trials of nasal Covid-19 vaccine Also read: Phase 1 vaccination to cost govt Rs 21,000-27,000 crore: SBI Research Bihar is prepared to vaccinate its 4.42 lakh healthcare workers, who have enrolled on the CoWIN portal for vaccination against coronavirus disease (Covid-19), even as training for vaccinators was stepped up so that there was no technical glitch. The dry-run on Friday, to assess the states preparedness, was successfully carried out across 114 locations, including 30 government district hospitals, nine medical colleges, 16 private health facilities, 23 outreach session sites and 36 other locations across the state, said Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey. He said Bihar was prepared to roll out the vaccine as soon as the Centre makes it available. Meanwhile, the health department will continue to train vaccinators as well as potential vaccinators identified for the campaign. The health department will depute three master trainers at the Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) on Saturday to assist in the ongoing training session, said its superintendent Dr Bimal Karak. The PMCH, which has between 3,500 and 4,000 healthcare workers, is among the biggest session sites in the state. We are training our staff, including security guards, nurses, ward attendants and paramedics, who will comprise the six-member vaccination team. The State Health Society will support us in training by deputing a few more master trainers tomorrow. We will have 10 teams. Each team will vaccinate 100 people in a day, said Dr Karak. An average 45-minute, including the 30-minutes in the observation room to assess Covid appropriate behaviour after vaccination, was required to vaccinate a person during the dry run at the PMCH, the superintendent added. Training of personnel for vaccination is an ongoing process. We have identified over 3,000 potential vaccinators apart from the regular vaccinators engaged in the routine immunization process, said Patna civil surgeon Dr Vibha Kumari Singh. Around 44,000 healthcare workers have enrolled in Patna alone, said Dr Singh. She, however, could not specify how many among them were doctors. The vaccination officers carried out the thermal screening and checked the identity proof of the beneficiaries. The beneficiaries were then verified on the CoWIN portal. Twenty-five beneficiaries per session site participated during the dry-run. Four locations were selected in Patna for the dry-run. These included the PMCH, Nalanda Medical College Hospital, Paras Hospital and Research Centre and Girls Middle School in Khagaul. Three session sites, including a medical college or a district hospital, private health facility and urban or rural outreach centre were selected for the dry-run across 38 districts of the state. Many district magistrates (DMs) visited session sites during the dry-run. Darbhanga DM Thiyagrajan SM visited the Darbhanga Medical College Hospital (DMCH) and took stock of the arrangements, including the observation room. The DM also talked to the vaccination officers and gathered information about verification of select beneficiaries. He also directed the civil surgeon to prepare a list of potential beneficiaries while asking DMCH principal to provide a list of remaining health workers. In Purnia, three centres were selected - Red Cross society, Kasba primary health centre - besides district hospital for the dry-run. A total of 13,894 beneficiaries have registered on the CoWin application. Dry-run exercise went off without any hitch, Purnia district magistrate Rahul Kumar said while expressing happiness over the successful dry-run. In Kishanganj, the dry-run was undertaken at MGM Medical College and Hospital, district hospital and community health centre, Bahadurganj. In Araria, besides the district hospital, the dry-run went off at Forbesganj and Jokihat sub-divisional hospitals. In Katihar, the dry-run was undertaken at Sadar hospital, Tajganj Fasiya primary health centre in town areas and Katihar Medical College and Hospital. (Israel Hayom via JNS) Prominent figures on Israels right are furious with Defense Minister Benny Gantz for telling London-based Saudi news outlet Asharq Al-Awsat in a recent interview that he does not envision full regional peace without the Palestinians, and that Jerusalem had enough room to include a future Palestinian capital. When asked about the status of Jerusalem, Gantz was quoted as saying, Jerusalem must remain united, but it will include a place for a Palestinian capital. It is a very big city and full of places sacred to us all. Jerusalem Affairs and Heritage Minister Rafi Peretz (Jewish Home Party) said in a Twitter post that united Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people, not the capital of anyone else. This is where our forefathers walked and this is where we were created. Gantz, I know you enough to know you believe that, too. Knesset Speaker Yariv Levin (Likud) wrote on his Facebook page that Jerusalem was the heart of the Land of Israel and the State of Israel, for which Jews longed during 2,000 years of exile. We were privileged to unite Jerusalem as the capital of Israel forever. There are not two Jerusalems and no one has the right to question our full right to it. No one has the right to forgo the dream of generations that came true. Likud Knesset member and former Jerusalem mayor tweeted: This is the eternal capital of the Jewish people, the capital of the State of Israel. Gantz, a former IDF chief of staff who currently heads the Blue and White Party, was also criticized by the Bithonistim, a croup comprised of former military officials, which issued a statement calling on him to resign and retract his remarks. Gantzs statements absolutely contradict Israels principles of security and have the potential to cause great harm to its security In his remarks, Gantz gives up the most basic principle on which Israel was foundedour ability to defend ourselves by ourselves, and instead calls for security guarantees, in other words, that someone else will defend our security, read a statement authored by three retired majors-general (Jerry Gershon, Gershon Hacohen and Danny Biton) and signed by a number of retired brigadiers-general and some 1,500 members of the movement. Gantz told Asharq Al-Awsat: The process with the Arab world is a true, great opportunity. Because I want to reach an agreement with the Palestinians, I am sure that without them, there will be no full, comprehensive peace. I call on them to cooperate with me and with the Arab partner states so that they will have a place of honor in the new peace process. Gantz was asked if he was willing to pay the price for peace, and if it was possible to discuss an end to the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state along the 1967 borders, with an exchange of territories and a solution to all the core issues [of the conflict], such as Jerusalem and right of return for Palestinian refugees, or whether the old thinking was still in place. Gantz, who is also Israels alternate prime minister, replied that the Palestinians want and deserve an entity in which they will live independently. When asked if he was referring to a state, Gantz said, Let them call it what they want a state or an empire. They have a right to feel independent and have their own capital and a solution to all the issues. We must speak in a new, contemporary language about ways to a solution, not stick to the traditional discourse. For our part, we want to separate from them and their promises of our security. If we can agree on security issues, the political solution will come easily. We must not only solve the problems, but also cooperate fully on the economy, science, technology, education and everything. This is a historic opportunity. When asked about future borders, Gantz told the Saudi news outlet that Israel needed the Jordan Valley to ensure its own security, but would not necessarily declare sovereignty in 30 percent of the territory as outlined by the Trump Peace to Prosperity plan. We opposed the annexation plan from the beginning, he said, referring to his party. Before the United Arab Emirates made its demand and [Prime Minister] Netanyahu agreed to freeze it, we opposed regulating settlement outposts. We want a Palestinian entity to have an appropriate geographic size that will allow a comfortable life without obstacles, he added. What we are demanding is security. We need strategic points for security. Of course, we can talk about an exchange of territories, although I dont see what and where. We are saying that the 1967 borders will not be reinstated, but there is always the possibility of an interim agreement. What is important is to keep the process alive, said Gantz. Yori Yalon and Ariel Kahana contributed to this report. This article first appeared in Israel Hayom. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The brother-in-law of a woman killed during Wednesday's assault on the U.S. Capitol by a mob seeking to overturn President Donald Trump's election loss said he blames Trump for the riot, and has joined calls for him to be removed from office. Rosanne Boyland, a 34-year-old resident of Kennesaw, Georgia, was one of four civilians who died in the rioting, according to Washington, DC police. A Capitol Police officer also died from injuries in the melee. Police did not disclose the cause of Boyland's death. However, Justin Winchell, a friend who accompanied Boyland to a Trump rally near the White House and marched with her to the Capitol, told Atlanta CBS affiliate WGCL that she was trampled to death in a massive crowd surge when protesters clashed with Capitol Police. "I got my arm underneath her, that was pulling her out - pulling her out - and then another guy fell on top of her and another guy was just walking" over her, he said. "I mean, there was people crushed." Boyland's brother-in-law, Justin Cave, told Atlanta media that his wife, Boyland's sister, had tried to persuade her not to attend the Trump rally in Washington. Boyland was "passionate about her beliefs" and support of Trump and the family was grieving for others killed and injured in the rioting, he told https://twitter.com/aungeliquefox5/status/1347325983393800194 a local Fox television reporter. "I've never tried to be a political person, but it's my own personal belief that the president's words incited a riot that killed four of his biggest fans last night and I believe that we should invoke the 25th Amendment at this time," Cave said. A White House spokesman did not respond to a request for comment about Boyland's death. Asked if Trump was to blame for his friend's death, Winchell said: "Does he have blood on his hands? No!" Trump urged his supporters to come to Washington for the rally Wednesday, the day the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate were scheduled to certify his election loss to Joe Biden, then told them to walk to the Capitol "to fight." Story continues Under the 25th Amendment, a president can be forcibly removed from power if the vice president and a majority of cabinet members agree that the president is unfit for office. Democratic leaders in Congress have called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Vice President Mike Pence and Trump's Cabinet fail to seek to remove Trump from power. Washington, DC, police on Thursday said that three other civilians were killed in the rioting on Wednesday. Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old California native, was shot by a Capitol Police officer in an incident that DC police are investigating. Babbitt, a U.S. Air Force veteran, had embraced far-fetched right-wing conspiracy theories, according to her social media activity. New video https://twitter.com/bellingcat/status/1347428500530204674 of the moments leading to Babbitt's shooting emerged on Friday, showing a plainclothes officer fire in a chaotic scene as Babbitt attempted to enter the Speaker's Lobby outside the House of Representatives chamber through a smashed glass partition. OTHER DEATHS DC Police also said Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama, and Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania, died after experiencing medical emergencies. A statement released by Greeson's family to local media said that the avid motorcycle rider had suffered a heart attack. "Kevin was an advocate of President Trump and attended the event on Jan. 6 to show his support. He was excited to be there to experience this event," according to the statement quoted in The News Courier in Athens. Phillips, a computer programmer, died of a stroke, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Also killed was Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, 40, who suffered a stroke after injuries sustained "while physically engaging with protesters" the department said. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Heather Timmons, Andrea Ricci and Daniel Wallis) I carry with me every day that while I lived, wonderful Americans died: Judge John Roll a Republican who never let our political differences prevent us from respectful conversation and admiration. A third-grader named Christina-Taylor Green, just 9 years old, who was there that day to meet me because she was interested in running for office someday. My staffer and friend, Gabe Zimmerman. This anniversary is not only mine, but belongs to their families, and all those who survived, as well. The last year has been so hard for all of us. The pandemic has ravaged our families and communities. I lost my friend Manny Alvarado to Covid-19. Jobs have been lost. Kids are trying to learn on screens. Its heartbreaking. People are scared, and theyre angry. All around us is rancor, rage and hate, culminating in the scenes this week of Americans attempting to undermine their own democracy. Its going to take a long time before we feel strong again. And yet I remain not only determined, but optimistic. I draw upon my experiences these last 10 years. Working with local leaders and activists, the gun safety movement has grown from tentative and scattered to passionate, diverse and effective. Weve taken on the N.R.A. and the corporate gun manufacturers and passed hundreds of laws at the local level. We passed universal background checks through the House on a 50-vote, bipartisan basis in 2019. We elected a president and statewide leaders dedicated and determined to reduce gun violence. Setbacks are only that: temporary delays. I have worked every day to move my right arm and leg. I have trained every day to get my speech back. This summer I gave my longest speech ever in support of President-elect Joe Biden and his vision for a safer, stronger America. Theres no magic recovery in store for us as a nation. We have a long way to go. We are living with the consequences of years of inflammatory speech and false accusations. Through hard work, intention and commitment our country will overcome the rage of those who stormed the Capitol with Confederate flags and symbols of hate. We draw strength from the bravery and determination of our first responders and frontline workers. They inspire me. We will move ahead together as I did and still do every day one foot after another. When one person flags, another person steps in to lift up the weak, and give strength to the doubtful. Together, our resolve and determination will be fuel for years to come. Gabrielle Giffords was a Democratic representative from Arizona from 2007 to 2012. She is the founder of Giffords, a national organization dedicated to saving lives from gun violence. Just as global technology giants including Google Inc., HUAWEI, and top social networking company, Facebook, another international tech heavyweight, Microsoft Corporation, has disclosed plans to partner with the Federal Government for the benefit of the Nigerian people, especially young people. Specifically, Microsoft is now offering support for the Digital Transformation pillar of the Federal Governments Economic Sustainability Plan. This will be a continuation of the technology companys investment in Nigeria after the establishment of an African Technology Development Centre in 2020, all in affirmation of the efforts of the Buhari administration in the creation of a viable technology ecosystem in Nigeria. Vice President Yemi Osinbajo Thursday noted in a virtual meeting with Microsoft Corporation team led by its President, Brad Smith that the companys interest in supporting the efforts of the Federal Government is a welcome development and could be leveraged to address issues affecting the youths especially in engaging them productively. While Google Inc. in July 2020 announced plans to establish its first Google Launchpad Space outside the United States in Lagos, Facebook, in September of same year made public its decision to open an office in Lagos as part of its planned expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa. HUAWEI on the other hand last November promised the Vice President that the company will position Nigeria as a technology center for the African continent. Speaking on the need to constantly engage with the youths, the Vice President noted that Nigerias case is peculiar given that the youths constitute a larger percentage of the countrys population hence the need for all stakeholders to pay more attention to that demography. His words: It seems to me that there is just a wave of general anger around the world and people are generally impatient. Impatient with government, impatient with practically all of the formal structures there are. But I am open and happy to hear what views there might be on trying to engage and engage even more with young people (and in our case, that is 70% of our population, if not more). So, we are really talking not just about the youth population but the Nigerian populace because that is the majority. So, whatever it is that we are able to deploy to be more inclusive, to engage, even more, is really a solution for the entire populace as opposed to a solution for just a segment of our population especially given the fact that young people constitute 70% or even more. Speaking on the government efforts in developing the technology space especially in boosting viable sectors of the economy, Prof. Osinbajo noted that we have a digital innovation initiative which we hope will be the foundation for doing far more in the digital space than we are doing at the moment. Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo emphasized that just looking at agriculture, this is obviously something that weve spent quite a bit of time and resources on especially in the past few years. We have also seen the development of a good number of agric-tech type companies and fin-techs that are also working in the agric sector. So, its a whole load of innovation around the agric tech space, especially in the past few years. So, I think we really are up for programmes that will support these sorts of agric-tech initiatives. Referring to the partnership with Microsoft, especially the establishment of the development centre, the Vice President said I have always wondered how Microsoft can just be a much more effective partner with us as a country. Beginning with the African Development Centre which I think is excellent, I think it shows the commitment of Microsoft in developing the digital centre here in Nigeria. And it also shows the companys confidence in the sort of talents that we have and the commitment of government to ensuring that we develop that talent in the best possible ways that we can. Assuring investors in the Nigerian economy of the commitment of the Buhari administration in creating the right environment for businesses to thrive, the Vice President said we are all working to create the right environment for innovation and creativity. That remains an issue that we are dealing with on a daily basis, and I think that the challenges are the challenges of the sort that we are going to have to be dealing with (in my view) even in the coming years. On his part, Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Ali Isa Pantami, said the Federal Government has already put in place the necessary structures to partner with Microsoft and other tech companies in developing Nigerias technology ecosystem. He said the National Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship Policy, the National Policy on E-governance, among others, have been adopted by the Buhari administration to support the growth of technology and innovation in the country. Earlier in his remarks, Mr. Smith, noted that his companys vision for investment in Nigeria was one that would lead to the creation of Africas most viable technology ecosystem. Mr Smith said the companys investment in Nigeria is a demonstration of its enthusiasm about the digital transformation ongoing in Nigeria under the Buhari administration. He proposed a 90-day timeline for stakeholders on the government side and from Microsoft, to iron out details of the various areas of collaboration. ADVERTISEMENT Other participants at the meeting include the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Pantami; Microsoft Corporations Country Manager for Nigeria and Ghana, Mr Akin Banuso, among others. Laolu Akande Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity Office of the Vice President 8th January 2021 Caring gentleman: Alan Henry passed away at the hospital where he once worked A man from Co Antrim who died after contracting Covid-19 just days after his wife shared an emotional plea to take the virus seriously has been described as a "friendly and caring gentleman". Alan Henry from Ballymena passed away at Antrim Area Hospital on Wednesday after being admitted to the intensive care unit. He is survived by his wife Noeleen, three children, and four grandchildren. Mr Henry was a former member of Antrim Area Hospital's rapid response before joining the dementia team. A death notice said Mr Henry will be "very sadly missed by his loving wife, family and many friends". Mr Henry's wife, who has been working as a nurse in the ICU where her husband died, explained that they both contracted Covid-19 in December despite taking extra care. "Bar a loss of taste and smell, I'm fine but my hubby - the happy go lucky, silly ejit of a man that he is - is on life support in ICU," she wrote last week. "What makes things even worse is I am a staff nurse working there in the same unit having been redeployed back there since March." She added that after reading social media posts in which people complained about the effect of lockdowns, Mrs Henry asked "are these excuses really worth a life?" "The economy will recover, the kids will catch up on their education and you will all be let out of lockdown but at the minute I don't know how long I will have my husband for, my three children will have a father for or my four grandchildren will have a grandad for," Mrs Henry added. "Please for everyone's sake, this Covid is real. For myself the symptoms are minor but my hubby is not so lucky, please be vigilant and don't take any chances. "Please pray for Alan. He thinks I'm the strong one but I've never told him it's actually the other way round. We would be lost without him." Unison's Northern Health Branch said it was "devastated" to hear of the passing of their friend, colleague and member. Read More Chairperson of the branch Stephanie Greenwood stated: "The branch officers, stewards, members of Unison Northern Health Branch and Unison regional office extended their deepest sympathies to Alan's family, friends and colleagues. "We would like to reiterate Noeleen's plea to all of our members to take the Covid crisis seriously, to stay safe and look after each other. We offer any help or support the family need at this awful time." Due to the current health and safety regulations, Mr Henry's funeral will be private. The funeral cortege will travel from James Henry Funeral Services in Ballymena at 12.30pm on Saturday before burial at Ballee Cemetery. Friends have been invited to pay their respects along the route. Donations in lieu, if desired, can be made out to the Northern Trust via James Henry Funeral Services. 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 A sign marks the entrance to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (David Goldman/AP Photo) HHS to Grant $22 Billion for CCP Virus Test Expansion and Vaccination Distribution The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on Wednesday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will provide more than $22 billion for states and local authorities to tackle the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic, according to the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act. HHS said in a statement that they will allocate some $19 billion to support testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation to monitor and suppress the spread of the virus, through a CDC Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) cooperative agreement. Another more than $3 billion will be available for supporting vaccination activities through the CDCs Immunization and Vaccines for Children cooperative agreement. The announcement came as the reported deaths caused by the CCP virus in the United States spiked on Jan. 6 to 3,865, an all-time high, and the new cases also jumped to 253,145, according to Johns Hopkins resource center. HHS said that 64 jurisdictions including all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, and Philadelphia are eligible for testing funds based on a population-related formula. New York, Texas, California, Florida, and New Jersey are the top 5 states in total death cases, according to Worldometers data. For the testing expansion fund, California will receive nearly $1.7 billion, with Los Angeles County getting $577 million. Texas will receive over $1.5 billion, with Houston receiving $133 million. New York State will reveive $639,861,809, while New York City will receive $479,853,706. On top of the substantial support weve already provided, the funding bill signed by President Trump in December has billions of dollars in new funding for COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, said HHS Secretary Alex Azar. Were making these billions in new funds available to states as quickly as possible to support our combined efforts to end the pandemic, Azar added. 64 jurisdictions including 50 states and territories and New York City, Chicago, Houston, Philadelphia, and San Antonio are eligible for vaccination funds, based on a population-related formula. California will receive the most at $357 million, Texas (less Houston and San Antonio) $227 million, and Florida at $194 million. U.S. prosecutors are preparing to bring criminal charges against some of the hundreds of pro-Trump rioters that took part in a violent assault Wednesday on the U.S. Capitol. Acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen said in a statement the charges will be filed later Thursday and that investigators will continue to gather evidence and make arrests in the coming days and weeks. The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our Government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions under the law, Rosen said. Rosen said that federal prosecutors have been working throughout the night with agents from the FBI, ATF, and local police to gather evidence, identify the perpetrators and make arrests. He did not say how many arrests have been made. But the U.S. Capitol Police, which is in charge of protecting Congress, has announced 68 arrests in connection with Wednesdays riots. Four people died and dozens of others were injured when hundreds of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building while members of Congress were meeting in a joint session to certify President-elect Joe Bidens win in the November 3 election. Trump has faced wide condemnation for inciting the violence by urging his fans angry over his electoral loss to march on the Capitol. Former Attorney General William Barr, a staunch Trump ally while in office, said the presidents conduct was a betrayal to his office and supporters. Orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable, Barr said a in statement to the Associated Press. The FBI said it is seeking to identify the perpetrators of the riots and urged the public to share tips and digital media depicting rioting or violence. Make no mistake: With our partners, we will hold accountable those who participated in yesterdays siege of the Capitol, FBI Director Christopher Wray said. Hundreds of people participating in the storming of the Capitol could face criminal charges, ranging from destruction of government property to threatening members of Congress, according to law enforcement officials. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel revealed at a virtual event on Thursday how long the firm's COVID-19 vaccine might prevent infection against the infectious disease caused by the new coronavirus. Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Moderna is the second biotechnology company that received its emergency used authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration just one week after giving the same to the Pfizer-BioNTech. Both companies are using the same technology in developing the vaccine. Despite the vaccine's development that will help end the global pandemic, many are still worried and do not want to get vaccinated since there were reports of allergic reactions after getting vaccinated recently. Moderna announced that its COVID-19 vaccine gives 94.1 percent efficacy while 100 percent efficacy for severe cases. The company added that its vaccine is close to proving that it is effective against the new variant of COVID-19, Reuters reported. Read also: CDC Issues New Guidance to Address Allergic Reactions to Coronavirus Vaccine Protection Efficacy of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine During the virtual event by financial service group Oddo BHF, Moderna's CEO Stephane Bancel said the once-believed nightmare scenario that the vaccine will not work is now out of the window. The CEO said: We believe there will be protection potentially for a couple of years." Bancel further noted that the "antibody decay generated by the vaccine in humans goes down very slowly," according to a published article of CBS News. However, there are still questions about the case of elderly patients because, as is true with every virus, their immune system goes down over time. Meanwhile, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) admitted that reinfection for COVID-19 is possible. It is the reason why they encouraged those who got infected to get vaccinated. The CDC also revealed that it is still unclear how long natural immunity or the immunity someone gains from having an infection will last. The agency noted that natural immunity varies from person to person, and several pieces of evidence suggest it may not last very long for COVID-19. Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 Vaccines Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech used the same technology in developing their vaccine. Their initial results during their Stage 3 human clinical trial showed that their vaccines are safe and effective. It shows above the 50 percent safety and efficacy rate set by the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these vaccines are administrated in different ways. The Pfizer-BioNTech's second vaccine shot would be given three weeks after the first shot, while Moderna's vaccine will be given four weeks after. The CDC said that those who received the first shot should get the second shot to boost the vaccine's effectiveness. The next dose must also be from the same company as the first. Meanwhile, the agency recently released a new guideline that those who got allergic reactions after receiving the vaccine should immediately report and not get the second shot. They added that those who have histories of allergic reactions should consult first their doctors before getting the vaccine. Read also: FDA Reveals New Side Effect of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine Is sex work exploitative or empowering? Exploitative. Next. Reply Thread Link ot but your icon gives me such joy. so cute. Reply Parent Thread Link that's the baby chanco effect Reply Parent Thread Link I don't mean offense, and I apologize in advance for my question, but I don't understand why the documentary is controversial? Reply Thread Link Criticising sex work in any way is now anti feminist. Reply Parent Thread Link Because prostitution, previously regarded as one of the vilest forms of exploitation (as it is directly linked to extreme precarity and human trafficking), is now lauded as "just work" by people who want to call themselves leftist/thinkers. No proper debate on this topic can be permitted, or we risk being faced with the reality of matter. Edited at 2021-01-08 04:13 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link Thank you for clarifying, thought I had missed something Reply Parent Thread Link Apparently criticising an industry that functions through exploiting girls and women in extremely harmful ways is misogynistic now. Reply Parent Thread Link Because Jones does not make much of an effort to criticize the broader issues with labor and capitalism that make sex work the best option for marginalized people. She moralizes and rubbernecks on the issue, knowing anything related to sex work gets a ton of views but doesn't pay it forward to create new economic pathways for sex workers to be able to leave or get justice. Edited at 2021-01-08 05:06 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link A bunch of blue check feminists are upset and I bet most of them haven't even seen the film. Reply Parent Thread Link The exploitive vs. empowering in sex work is a highly nuanced discussion. If the documentary focuses too much on one end or the other without exploring that nuance, it will put people off. I dont blame her for pulling out. Reply Thread Link Sex work is exploitive and harmful for women, even if they choose to work in that profession. Reply Thread Link Yeah Im all for regulation and protection for these ladies but idk I always feel theyll some form of abuse, manipulation, coercion and other things that under the radar. Reply Parent Thread Link In what way is sex work empowering? Is it the idea of kinda controlling men through sex? I dont get it. Its not empowering. That doesnt mean I look down on sex workers. I dont give a shit if women consensually have sex for money. I just dont see how anyone can say its empowering. Reply Thread Link There's a book called Female Chauvinist Pigs: Women and the Rise of Raunch Culture by Ariel Levy and it kinda explores what you're talking about. It's this I'm taking control by sexualizing and objectify myself kinda thing that women in the 2000's and now still perpetuate to an extent. Reply Parent Thread Link Yea I'll never get it, the ones with the money hold the power imo. They can take their business elsewhere if they aren't getting what they want. Reply Parent Thread Link You can't control men through sex when you're just playing into patriarchal norms. I don't look down on those engaging in sex work and believe they should be protected, but the idea that they are being radical or are empowered is naive. Reply Parent Thread Link Consent can't be bought so one could argue that there's no such thing as consensual sex when one of the parties has to pay for it. Reply Parent Thread Link I guess, but there are obviously instances where women completely want to have sex for money and dont actually have to. Reply Parent Thread Link No, one couldn't. Reply Parent Thread Link I think people see it as a her choice thing. Or making money from sex themselves. I don't know how it could be anything other than harmfull. Reply Parent Thread Link I've known some women find it as a way to own their sexuality and dismantle stereotypes about women and sex. The subject is nuanced and complicated. I don't often see sex work discussed in a nuanced way. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I don't think sex work by itself is empowering. The empowerment comes from getting men to pay lots of money $$$$ for various intimacy and sexual "favors." The money is empowering. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link At least she didn't agree with the bullshit outrage in that quote. Empowering my ass. Reply Thread Link Yeah, her approach is definitely the best one. Just a very polite fuck you people, I don't need to deal with this crap right now. Reply Parent Thread Link I cant about this current wave of commenting on the very real exploitation in the sex trade as stigmatizing sex work. The sex trade is inherently exploitative, thats it, thats a fact. If you participate in the sex trade willingly and with full autonomy over your choices, bully for you. The vast majority of those in the sex trade either are participating in survival sex, dont have other available financial options, are manipulated into it, or are flat out trafficked. If mentioning that makes you as an ~empowered~ sex worker feel bad, then reflect on why youre comfortable participating in an industry where the most vulnerable and marginalized are grossly exploited. All those who conflate being anti-sex trade with being anti-sex worker need to get over themselves. Literally no one coming from a progressive or feminist perspective is against individual women involved in the sex trade and fully support their access to healthcare, work safety, social supports, etc. Its like saying your against child labour exploitation means you hate and are against children. If you disagree because your OF is your liberation, dont respond to me, I dont care. Reply Thread Link Yeah I remember someone here bringing up the disparity of it by mentioning how a woman from a comfortable middle class background may dive into the sex work world on a whim and enjoy this new untapped~ version of herself and then leave when shes had her fill. She can then write think pieces or books. Whereas a woman from a lower-class background maybe had to do that outta necessity than curiosity. The likelihood of her getting out when she had enough is different. I thought that was interesting just I can actually see example 1 coming out with thinkpieces and TEDtalks lol. Reply Parent Thread Link Yep, though statistics are often older and in general not collected enough, the ones that exist all show that vast majority of women want to exit the sex trade (the 2003 study Prostitution and Trafficking in Nine Countries: An Update on Violence and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder." found 89% of women wanting to exit and Ive seen other studies with similar numbers of around 90%) Reply Parent Thread Link I also find a lot of those that get defensive about sex work also claim to be anti-capitalist etc. There's a cognitive dissonance in recognizing that the sale and exploitation of primarily female, and primarily WOC, bodies is the ultimate form of capitalistic expression and completely incompatible with their "anti-capitalist" views. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I'm just wondering who exactly is saying sex work is "empowering?" I get de-stigmatizing it and protecting sex workers by decriminalizing it for them/affording them protections, but "empowering?" I'm guessing based on your comment it's new cam workers who maybe aren't in vulnerable situations? I know there's been discussion around who is or isn't considered a sex worker. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link What a flawless comment Reply Parent Thread Link perfectly put. I see so much sex work related posts on my feed (by people who don't take part in sex work) and it's not a discourse i want to start online with these people, but you wrote out exactly the points that i wish people would grasp. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is beautiful, especially the last sentence. I appreciate your boldness. Reply Parent Thread Link The documentary asks the question, 'Is sex work exploitative or empowering?'" You know this question is really tough for me. I struggle immensely with navigating my feelings on sex-positive feminism and it's something I'm still trying to find my footing on and learn about. Does anyone else feel this way? I worked on research regarding the porn industry and I can't say I find it empowering at all. There are so many avenues to travel down why the industry is toxic (perpetuating sex with minors, fetishizing the bodies of people of color, desensitizing young men and women into the belief that violent sex is the only way to have sex, not enough emphasis on the enjoyment of women having orgasms, the belief that all women have to be hairless/men have to be ripped and have a 9 inch dicks which again just sorta feeds into unrealistic body image, rampant drug and alcohol addiction, human trafficking, and of course high suicide rates, etc) it's just so much. On one hand yes it's acting and they're just actors but on the other hand, it's like even then it's sending a message to the audience. Edited at 2021-01-08 04:14 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Sex positive to me doesnt involve supporting porn or prostitution. 1. It is all but impossible to find porn that isnt degrading or harmful. Theres so few of it I have the few I enjoyed bookmarked. Its usually home made stuff and its couples who are thoroughly enjoying it. Its few and far between. Even in home made stuff its often degrading 2. The women who engage in prostitution and sex work voluntarily are few and far between. Especially when it comes to women who engage in it with men directly. (There is more safety for those who dont engage with men face to face) The harm is well documented over and over again. I dont think you can be a feminist and support porn or prostitution. Supporting sex workers to get out of the industry is needed. And I dont judge any women who is or has been a sex worker. But with the normalisation of sex work its never going to happen. The patriarchy has convinced women its empowering now. Reply Parent Thread Link You worded this very well, thank you. I agree completely. Reply Parent Thread Link I find that older porn videos tend to be a lot less degrading. Like the soft lighting romantic porn from the 80s/90s, that is borderline soft core. The porn industry has really become more and more extreme. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Personally, I think the term sex positive is the problem. Its one thing to have healthy attitudes toward sex and making healthy choices about sex are very individual. Some people feel comfortable and willing for one night stands, others would rather have committed relationships...both are good and a personal choice. I think what has happened was the loudest sex posi people are the ones loudly proclaiming that sex positive is only having one night stands, and anything else is sex shaming. Then you add in the people who watched Secret Diary of a Call Girl and think being a high end escort or cam girl is the only type of sex work and we shouldnt shame sex workers because its a choice. They have completed ignored the negatives and damaging aspects of sex work and the porn industry in favor of crowing about how ~choice~ is more important than the realities. Reply Parent Thread Link i rly dislike sex positive ~feminism. i blame it fir minors saying they cannot wait to turn 18 so they can get an onlyfans/do sex work. ive also been sexualised at a very young age so my opinions on all that are....rigid because of it. Reply Parent Thread Link Same. I go from thinking that it might be a choice some women make freely to being convinced nobody would ever do that. But, that is just me feeling like nobody would make that choice if they didn;t feel they needed to or felt like they are not worth much anyway. In the end I always come down to thinking it is not empowering at all. Because how can it be anything other than using another person like an object. Reply Parent Thread Link I struggle with this, too. For me, the reason why is because I struggle with the idea that working in an Amazon warehouse or a fast food restaurant for minimum wage under horrible conditions is any less exploitative than sex work. Either way, it's dehumanizing. But at least with porn and other types of sex work, you're making more money. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I've come to the conclusion that capital SP Sex Positivity is just another sham to sexualize us more and punish us for not putting out. I've never met someone who self-proclaimed themselves to be sex-positive who believes that people have a right to NOT partake in sexual activity as much as they have a right to not be shamed for also taking part. It's always one extreme or the other and you know maybe I just don't wanna be a poly-kinkster exhibitionist today :\ or this month. Or ever. /exhausted feelings Reply Parent Thread Expand Link You're definitely not alone. Messaging related to female sexuality is often brutally contradictory as like, a quick example, in one instance, we want the entrenched cultural sexualisation of barely pubescent girls to fucking stop, ffs. Easy enough, right? In another, we recognise that cis women are shamed for their bodies from like, fucking birth, and puberty and the things that come along with it (breast/hair growth in particular) are shameful. How do we strike the right balance when telling young women that they have nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to their bodies, that they should not be ashamed of wanting to be beautiful or desirable or sexy (pick a euphemism), without feeding into a system that sexualises and degrades them even before puberty? There's a lot of dumb bullshit out there about purity culture, but it is true that if sex/human sexuality/the human body are treated as shameful or things to be constantly concealed, it will affect the girl being subjected to that stigma. At the same time, they deserve to be free of constant sexualisation because that will also affect them. How do we teach women to love themselves and their bodies, and to own their sexualities, and that they deserve to experience sexual pleasure, but prevent predators from taking advantage of these lessons? It sounds simple enough, teach women that it's about what they want, they should do what they're comfortable with, but when women are raised in a culture that constantly pushes for more, more, more, and then shames them for it at the same time, how can they know what they really want? I'm in my early 20s and sometimes I want to post tit pics but then I'm like, do I actually want that, or is it just my terrible self esteem making me want someone to tell me that my titties are, in fact, good titties, because I don't think I believe it? I don't know if I'm making sense because I'm so inarticulate about shit like this because it's personal but it's a no win game. It's all so fucked. I really don't think there is a correct answer, sometimes. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm very confused about the issue here and nothing I've read yet is really helping me understand. Good for Laverne for choosing to take care of her mental and emotional health here tho, I hope everyone leaves her tf alone unless it's to give her positive energy. Reply Thread Link The documentary asks the question, 'Is sex work exploitative or empowering?'" that's the issue. there are plenty of points being made in the comments in this post about it being exploitative, and i'm sure you've heard the arguments that have been made through the decades about it being empowering. Reply Parent Thread Link so everyone just has to accept that it's empowering? Whew. I was looking for details on the message of the play that were controversial but it looks like its mere existence offends ppl, bc it doesn't unequivocally endorse sex work... just yikes. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The fact that OnlyFans accounts have multiplied exponentially during this pandemic and the accompanying economic duress should tell you everything you need to know to about sex "work" tbh. Reply Thread Link The fact that it's normalized by Youtubers tweens/teens watch just makes me want to barf. It's the same thing when we had the wave of it being cool and aspirational to have a sugar daddy. Reply Parent Thread Link It is kind of wild how when I see a cute guy on Tik Tok if I click on his links theres almost always an OF link I guess you could argue thats just my algorithm Reply Parent Thread Link In Marxist terms, there's a global lumpen-ization that happened due to the pandemic and recession. It's astounding how the Internet enables this. Reply Parent Thread Link "Several social media users criticized Sarah Jones for potentially contributing to the stigma around sex work." But...but...the whole plays deals with women in different types of sex work. How is that contributing to the stigma? So even having women talk about it now is controversial? I agree that it's a very nuanced conversation to have but it seems like people are just put out about the subject matter. Reply Thread Link Yes. Talking about sexism work is bad now, unless its full and total support. Nothing else allowed. Fuck me this is infuriating. Reply Parent Thread Link They don't want to hear the truth, they just want to hear middle class white women talk about how fun and empowering it is. Reply Parent Thread Link If there's one thing I've learned in the 2010s, it's that women aren't allowed to talk about how they are subjugated and suppressed by the patriarchy EVEN IN THEIR OWN SPACES. Like at least we used to have that. Reply Parent Thread Link Sex work isn't "empowering" by itself, but earning decent money (for those sex workers who do earn decent money, I understand not all of them do) is. Reply Thread Link Sex work is one of those things I've changed my stances on as I got older, I definitely had more of a choice feminism view on it in my late teens/early twenties. Reply Thread Link I have definitely changed my opinions on it a lot in the last few years too. I wish I had known more of what I do now back then. Reply Parent Thread Link moving beyond "choice feminism" has been a huge part of my adult life tbh, it's definitely been a journey Reply Parent Thread Link Same, escaping the choice feminism mindset was so important for me; I know there's still times where I fall into old habits, but overall, it's so much better for me since choice feminism led me to make a number of personally damaging choices in my teens. Reply Parent Thread Link For me I always thought it was exploitative but as I got more into social justice I felt that I had to pretend to support it or I was a bad feminist, or that I was just dumb and didnt understand why it was empowering and should just listen to the self-proclaimed experts on the topic who said it was empowering. Its been a relief to see more people openly discuss the problems with choice feminism and realize I shouldve just trusted my instincts instead of doubting or second-guessing myself. Reply Parent Thread Link Im so exhausted of the narrative that pointing out the dangers of sex work somehow means people are shaming sex workers. Imagine having to sell your actual fisical body for them to do what ever the fuck they want cause they paid for you as if you were a chair. To do things that are so beyond your control that they can even kill you cause for this men sexworkers are disposable subhumans. And tell me again how the fuck is this empowering... I dont give a fuck if someone decided to open up an onlyfans to gain enough money to get a new iphone. That's your choice but don't go around calling it feminist and emporwerment just because you are a woman. Because even if you choose to do it for yourself the commodification of female bodies will never be an empowering move as long as we live under a patriarchy. Reply Thread Link your actual fisical body That always trips me up a bit when I read texts/interviews about sex work/with or from sex workers who say they are not selling their body, but a service. And while to an extend I get that we all do our work with our bodies and it's therefor part of our work, the intimacy and vulnerability required from the body of a sex worker is not comparable imo. I want any person who is a sex worker protected by proper labour laws etc., but the sex industry makes me really uncomfortable. Edited at 2021-01-08 05:28 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link That's even another issue on itself, how do you detach from your body when another person is taking advantage of your economic vulnerability by paying to use your fiscal self for their own satisfaction with the uttermost disregard of your wellbeing? Even more important, is it healthy for the sexworker? And should we encourage it? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link and even if you're "only" doing online work, you're still open to stalkers, verbal abuse, and having other career opportunities ruined. I've known more than a few cam girls in my social circles and they're all very blunt about the shit they put up with just to get a tip. Like some of the vilest comments about their bodies you can imagine. And every single one of them was completely numb to it by that point. Like still venting about it, but it was very "just part of the job, like working retail and a Karen yelling at you that you're incompetent" and as someone who has worked retail I just can't imagine opening myself up to even MORE debasement and abuse about my literal naked body. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link A British hedge fund tycoon has been charged with fraud by Danish authorities relating to one of the biggest financial heists ever seen. Sanjay Shah, who had his 15million Hyde Park mansion seized by the Danes last year, is accused of defrauding Denmark to the tune of 1.5billion after his firm Solo Capital drew up an elaborate financial wheeze. Known as cum-ex trading, multi-millionaire Shah allegedly duped the Danish authorities using fake documents to claim tax relief in the country. Great Dane robbery: Sanjay Shah is accused of defrauding Denmark to the tune of 1.5bn after his firm Solo Capital drew up an elaborate financial wheeze In Denmark companies pay tax on share dividends but foreign investors can have the tax refunded. The Danish tax authority says it was deceived into paying multiple refunds on dividends to British firms between 2012 and 2015. At least 800million ended up in Solo Capital, Shah's fund, which closed in 2016. The 50-year-old married father of three who lives in Dubai is one of two charged. The Danish state prosecutor said: 'This is a case of extremely serious and extraordinarily extensive crime committed against the Danish state.' Prosecutors believe the two Britons submitted more than 3,000 separate applications to claim billions in tax refunds over the period. They have charged both with fraud of an aggravated nature, crimes that carry an eight-year sentence, but said they would seek 12 years. Shah maintains he took advantage of loopholes, but did nothing illegal. Last year he told news agency Bloomberg that two years ago Danish authorities wanted him to 'admit all allegations, pay all of the money you received and tell us how the trading was done'. He said in return they offered 'a four day trial in Denmark rather than four months and a really nice cell for your four year sentence' before adding: 'I obviously rejected that.' The Community Worship Center will be giving out 500 free meals to community members on Saturday, starting at 10 a.m. at 2300 Butternut Lane. Edward Mayberry, senior pastor at Community Worship Center, said the church is modeling the event after the story in the Bible when Jesus feeds the 5,000, but instead of 5,000 their goal is to feed 500 people. A few weeks ago, Mayor (Patrick) Payton invited me to a Zoom meeting with some other clergymen and he was walking us through some of the challenges COVID has caused, he said. One of the major challenges was families going without food. He challenged us as clergymen and pastors to try to help support families who need food. Mayberry said the mayor has been a champion through the pandemic including with the Dec. 8 call to action -- and that he has continued to communicate with Payton through email. If he gets us on the phone again and has another plan or another direction that he wants us to pivot to, then we will pivot to that, he said. Were always up to any challenge that we think we can meet. With the help of God in our community, we are always up for it. Mayberry said he took the plan back to his church and they created the Operation 500 plan. The church will be passing out plates with pancakes, sausage, oatmeal and a drink in a drive-thru at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center parking lot. During the summer, the Community Worship Center works with MISD to hand out plates to students. This event will be the first food-giving outreach since the pandemic began. Every summer, we do this big event called Community Fest where we give away backpacks and we have food, Mayberry said. It ends up being a fun event to end the summer on. It was canceled this year due to COVID, and with this event, we wanted it to be a time where families could put out tables and sit, but when talking to the health department, they advised us not to have that style of event. Latoya Mayberry, Edwards wife and co-pastor at Community Worship Center, said they decided to serve breakfast because its the most important meal of the day. We want to do more, she said. So, we may hit people up again with breakfast or we might do lunch. We already give free clothes away, so we are just trying to help meet the needs. Attendees dont have to bring any financial papers to receive a free breakfast, Latoya said. Food will be prepared by Tiara Jackson from Tubbys Mobile Kitchen. Even though it is a challenge that COVID brought, it is a blessing that were able to still meet peoples needs in a different way, Edward said. Edward said the church is also trying to find funding to pay medical expenses for people living in southeast Midland that have incurred medical expenses during the pandemic. He said the church has adopted the southeast side of Midland as their community because these are the people they serve and where they host events. I think it serves two purposes, Edward said. One, it eliminates the obligations on citizens who cant pay back for something that they never saw coming but also helps our medical team as well as our hospital to be able to recapture some of the money that they spent trying to make sure that everybody stays safe. We are still looking at the best way to do that, but I think it will be a big help to our community. ADVERTISEMENT The Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, on Friday said that security forces have rescued 103 kidnapped victims. Mr Masari made this known while addressing some of the rescued victims at the Government House, Katsina. This is in continuation of the exercise that started with the recovery of the 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, he said. We saw an opening and we are working with some stakeholders to make sure that we exploit the opening and bring back as many kidnapped victims as we can. We have so far returned 103 of the kidnapped victims and the process is still ongoing. We are doing this as quietly as we can, to make sure that nobody is harmed and further kidnapping is stopped. So, we are doing this with the army, the police, Air Force and the Department of State Security. I can assure you that no ransom was paid to the kidnappers, he said. Mr Masari urged the victims to consider the incident as something from God. You have seen how you were rescued. No ransom was paid. this should show that prayer is effective, be patient, may Allah reward you for the difficulties you have gone through, he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that some of the rescued victims were nursing mothers and girls aged from six to 16. NAN also observed that a 70-year-old man, as well as a soldier and an Anti-Riot Policeman were among those rescued. (NAN) A group of Fijian and Chinese guests gathered at the China Cultural Center in Fiji to celebrate its fifth anniversary of establishment on Thursday. Fiji's Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Rosy Akbar, who witnessed the official inauguration of the center in 2015, extended her congratulations to the center, saying that she was lucky to witness the birth and fast growth of the center over the past five years. "China Cultural Center in Fiji is like a home of friendship. It has built a bridge of friendship and mutual understanding for Fijians and Chinese. It has done a lot of meaningful activities and I hope it will continue to grow and continue to engage with our people in the years to come," she said. For her part, Bernadette Rounds Ganilau, secretary of the Fiji-China Friendship Association, who has visited China and attended the center's activities for many times, told Xinhua that the key point of cultural exchange between countries like China and Fiji is respect, exchange and mutual learning. She was very glad that the center has helped promote the friendship between the two countries. Chinese Ambassador to Fiji Qian Bo told Xinhua that the China Cultural Center in Fiji had done much to strengthen China-Fiji relations. "Cultural exchange is vital for countries to further develop bilateral ties because mutual learning between different civilizations really helps promote people's mutual understanding and friendship between different countries," he said. "As two countries with wonderful cultures, China and Fiji have respected and learned from each other over the past years. Both can take the advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative to deepen our cultural exchange which is part of the people-to-people exchange." Sun Jie, director of the China Cultural Center in Fiji, told Xinhua that China and Fiji have set a good example of cultural exchange. "Over the past five years, the China Cultural Center in Fiji has done everything possible such as exchange of visits, exhibitions and cultural performances to help enhance friendship and mutual understanding between our two peoples, and this has also helped strengthen the stable development of our bilateral ties." "I believe that our two countries will have a lot to learn from each other's culture in the future," he said. The U.S. economy lost 140,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 6.7 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. It was the nations first monthly job loss since April. In December, 15.8 million people reported that they had been unable to work because their employer closed or lost business due to the pandemic. That means they did not work at all or worked fewer hours at some point in the last 4 weeks due to the pandemic. This measure is 1.0 million higher than in November. These figures are based on two surveys. One, of households, gives the unemployment figure. Another, of employers, gives the jobs figures. Among the unemployed, the number of people on temporary layoff increased by 277,000 in December to 3 million. This measure is down considerably from the high of 18million in April but is 2.3 million higher than in February. The number of permanent job losers declined by 348,000 to 3.4 million in December but is up by 2.1 million since February, the federal government said. The number of unemployed reentrants increased by 282,000 to 2.3 million over the month, 452,000 higher than in February. The labor force participation rate and the employment-population ratio were both unchanged over the month, at 61.5 percent and 57.4 percent, respectively. These measures are up from their recent April lows but are lower than in February by 1.8 percentage points and 3.7 percentage points, respectively. Among those not in the labor force who currently want a job, the number of persons who have stopped looking for work,, at 2.2 million, changed little in December but is up by 749,000 since February before the COVIdDpandemic started Local and state unemployment figures for December will not be available for a few weeks. The Massachusetts unemployment rate improved by seven tenths of a percentage point to 6.7% in November, Massachusetts added 12,200 jobs in November, according to the state Department of Unemployment Assistance. National unemployment numbers by sector of the economy: Leisure and hospitality declined by 498,000, with three- quarters of the decrease in food services and drinking places (-372,000). Employment also fell in the amusements, gambling, and recreation industry (-92,000) and in the accommodation industry (-24,000). Since February, employment in leisure and hospitality is down by 3.9 million, or 23.2 percent. private education decreased by 63,000 in December. Employment in the industry is down by 450,000 since February. Government employment declined by 45,000 in December. Employment in the component of local government that excludes education declined by 32,000, and state government education lost 20,000 jobs. Federal government employment increased by 6,000. Since February, government employment overall is down by 1.3 million. Other services lost 22,000 jobs in December, with over half of the loss in personal and laundry services (-12,000). Employment in the other services industry is down by 453,000 since February. Professional and business services increased by 161,000, with a large gain in temporary help services (+68,000). Job growth also occurred in computer systems design and related services (+20,000), other professional and technical services (+11,000), management of companies and enterprises (+11,000), and business support services (+7,000). Employment in professional and business services is down by 858,000 since February. Retail trade added 121,000 jobs in December, with nearly half of the growth occurring in the component of general merchandise stores that includes warehouse clubs and supercenters (+59,000). Job gains also occurred in nonstore retailers (+14,000), automobile dealers (+13,000), health and personal care stores (+10,000), and food and beverage stores (+8,000). Employment in retail trade is 411,000 lower than in February. Construction added 51,000 jobs in December, but employment in the industry is 226,000 below its February level. In December, employment rose in residential specialty trade contractors (+14,000) and residential building (+9,000), two industries that have gained back the jobs lost in March and April. In December, employment also increased in nonresidential specialty trade contractors (+18,000) and in heavy and civil engineering construction (+15,000). Transportation and warehousing rose by 47,000 in December, largely in couriers and messengers (+37,000). While employment in transportation and warehousing overall is 89,000 lower than in February, employment in couriers and messengers has increased by 222,000 over the same period. In December, employment also grew in warehousing and storage (+8,000) and in truck transportation (+7,000), while transit and ground passenger transportation lost 9,000 jobs. Health care added 39,000 jobs. Employment growth in hospitals (+32,000) and ambulatory health care services (+21,000) was partially offset by declines in nursing care facilities (-6,000) and community care facilities for the elderly (-5,000). Health care employment is 502,000 lower than in February. Manufacturing employment increased by 38,000, with gains in motor vehicles and parts (+7,000), plastics and rubber products (+7,000), and nonmetallic mineral products (+6,000). By contrast, miscellaneous nondurable goods manufacturing lost 11,000 jobs over the month. Despite gains over the past 8 months, employment in manufacturing is 543,000 below its February level. Wholesale trade employment rose by 25,000 in December but is down by 251,000 since February. In December, job gains occurred in durable goods (+11,000) and nondurable goods (+11,000). In December, employment changed little in other major industries, including mining, information, and financial activities, the Commerce Department said Congressman Mo Brooks stood firm Friday, saying I make no apology for his fiery speech Wednesday that preceded pro-Trump supporters briefly taking control of the Capitol hours later. I make no apology for doing my absolute best to inspire patriotic Americans to not give up on our country and to fight back against anti-Christian socialists in the 2022 and 2024 elections, Brooks said in a text message to AL.com. I encourage EVERY citizen to watch my entire rally speech and decide for themselves what kind of America they want: One based on freedom and liberty or one based on Godless dictatorial power. In fact, Brooks repeated a call for kicking Democrats ass. For emphasis, an ass is a donkey, the socialist Democrats mascot and symbol, Brooks said. I call again for kicking that ass all the way back to the communist dictatorships that ass now worships. Related: Huntsville preacher says Mo Brooks bears some responsibility for Capitol protests State Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa, blistered Brooks in a series of messages on Twitter on Friday morning pointing directly at the Huntsville Republican for the deaths of five people as protesters stormed the Capitol. Wednesday was the day the people he charged up, manipulated, and lied to decided to go into the chamber and take names and kick ass just as he said, England chair of the Alabama Democratic Party -- said on Twitter. As a result, 5 people are now dead including a LEO that was trying to protect him from the melee he incited. So, @RepMoBrooks, Wednesday was the day the people he charged up, manipulated, and lied to decided to go into the chamber and take names and kick ass just as he said. As a result, 5 people are now dead including a LEO that was trying to protect him from the melee he incited. Chris England (@RepEngland70) January 8, 2021 England also said on Twitter that Brooks and his minions do the same thing that Trump is going to do at some point between now and January 20th, and just go on home with him. A prominent Huntsville pastor also said Friday that Brooks bears some responsibility for the chaos that occurred at the Capitol during a joint session of Congress to approve the Electoral College results from the states. Travis Collins, pastor at Huntsville Baptist Church, described himself as believing in basic Republican tenets such as pro-life and pro-family values even as he levied criticism at his congressman. Collins said he had heard from other Republicans who agreed with his perspective. On Friday, Brooks reiterated that he did not support the violent protests that occurred at the Capitol. I also have called for aggressive prosecution of all of those who forcefully and illegally broke into the U.S. Capitol, regardless of their political persuasion, Brooks said. Peaceful protest is an Americans Constitutional right. Violence is not. Brooks said his speech, though, did not advocate for violence. The radical lefts absurd claim that I called for violence is pure bunk, Brooks said. I called for exercise of freedom of protest at the Capitol and for fighting for our cause at the ballot box in the 2022 and 2024. Brooks also maintained his position that massive voter fraud occurred during the presidential election won by Democrat Joe Biden. President Donald Trump on Thursday acknowledged, for the first time, Bidens win more than two months after election day. Brooks was the first lawmaker in Congress to announce plans to challenge the Electoral College results. During debate on the House floor in the objection of Arizonas electoral votes, Brooks was among those who gave speeches supporting the objection. Patriotic Americans who support liberty and freedom took a beating in recent elections at the hands of anti-Christian socialists, Brooks said Friday. Recall the recent sarcastic Amen and A-woman House floor prayer close (on Jan. 3 by Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver). 70-plus million Americans are despondent because of the 2020 election results, the massive voter fraud and their fear for Americas future. Let us now turn to Thailand. As soon as you enter the country you are made aware of the Indian impact. The Bangkok International Airport is called Suvarnabhumi and there is a beautiful depiction of Samudra Manthan, adorning the walls of the airport. by Prof. V. Suryanarayan The month of Margazhi (mid-December to mid-January) is the most auspicious month for the Tamil Hindus scattered across the world. Margazhi is derived from the Sanskrit word Margashira. All sections of Hindus Saivites, Vaishnavites, and Smarthas celebrate various festivals in the month with intense devotion and actively participate in the pujas in the temples. Early in the morning, before sunrise, women, after a bath, draw colorful kolams (Rangolis) before the house. The place, where Kolams are drawn, is sprinkled with water mixed with cow dung and sanctified. In Besant Nagar, in South Madras, where I live, it is a pleasant sight to see young girls, after customary bath and wearing clean clothes, thronging the temples, recite Thiruppavai and Thiruvampavai, and finally partake prasadams which consist of Ven Pongal and Sakkara Pongal. In the 1960s when I used to live in Karol Bagh in New Delhi, before sunrise, I could hear Hindu devotees, unmindful of the cold, walking through the streets singing sacred songs. Tamil Nadu, from very early times, had two important Bhakti movements. The saints who worshipped Siva were called Nayanmars and those who worshipped Vishnu were called Alwars. The story of 63 Nayanmars is chronicled in Periya Puranam. They travelled throughout Tamil Nadu, visited important Siva temples, and composed songs in praise of each temple. The work of Thirunavukkarasar is called Thiruvasagam. Thiruvampavai is part of Thiruvasagam and was composed in the temple town of Thiruvannamalai during the month of Margazhi. Unmarried girls would get up early in the morning, have a bath, and sing and dance with their friends. They observed Pavai Nombu for ten days before Thiruvadirai nakshathram, praying for good and loyal husbands and happy married life. An atmosphere of sanctity and devotion prevails in important Siva temples in Tamil Nadu Kapaleeshwarar temple in Mylapore in Chennai, the temple of God Nataraja in Chidambaram, Arunachaleshwar temple in Thiruvannamalai, and Meenakshi-Sundareshwarar temple in Madurai, to mention a few. Thiruvampavai is sung with intense devotion by the devotees. Marghazhi is the coolest season of the year and it provides a congenial atmosphere for religious festivities. The days are shorter and the nights longer. Unfortunately, for strange reasons, marriages are not celebrated in this month nor do people change their houses. It was in the month of Margazhi that God Krishna gave Geethopadesa to Arjuna. God Krishna said to Arjuna, Among the months I am Margazhi. In all Vishnu temples, special poojas are conducted which begin before sunrise. The devotees sing Tamil hymns from Thiruppavai of Andal, daughter of Periazvar; each day one verse of Tiruppavai is sung. Thiruppavai has a collection of 30 hymns. People throng the famous Vishnu temples in Sri Rangam and Sirivilliputhur. Andal, who wanted to merge with God Vishnu performed Pavai Nombu. Girls in Tamil Nadu observe Pavai Nombu to get good husbands and lead prosperous lives. Arudra Darshan falls on the full moon night of the month when the Thiruvadirai (Arudra) star falls. It is the longest night of the year. It is considered most auspicious to visit the Nataraja temple in Chidambaram, where God Siva (as Nataraja) performs the cosmic dance. A special dish known as Kalee is distributed to the devotees. Vaikunta Ekadasi also falls in Margazhi, when Swarga Vaasal is thrown open to the devotees, early in the morning. Vaikunta Ekadasi is celebrated in a grand scale in Balaji temple in Tirupati and Ranganathaswami temple in Sri Rangam. The last day of the month of Margazhi is celebrated as Bhogi Pandigai when old things in the house are burnt to bring forth prosperity. Throughout the world, Marghazhi has become famous because of the Margazhi music festival celebrated in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Madurai with pomp and splendor. It is a great honour for a budding artist to be invited to perform during the Margazhi festival. Music lovers from all parts of the world throng to Chennai during this season and it has given a boost to cultural tourism. Unfortunately, this year because of covid, the performances are telecast through the internet. When I visited Thailand for the first time in 1978 I was pleasantly surprised that the country retains and takes pride in its cultural indebtedness to India. Let me start with a memorable meeting which I had the good fortune to attend in Chennai on June 25, 2019. The meeting was organized by Andal Bakthargal Peravai and Chennai Centre for Global Studies. The Guest of Honour was Phra Maharaja Guru Bidhsrivisudhigun, the religious adviser and preceptor to the King of Thailand. The Rajguru performs the religious rites associated with coronation as a result of which the King acquires divinity and gets the title of Rama. The entourage of Rajguru consisted of four people, and they were all dressed in white dhoti worn up to the knees, with white buttoned up coat, and white shoes. What was striking about the entourage was their well- oiled kudumi (tuft) which proved that their ancestors originally came from Tamil Nadu. There are 14 Brahmins in Thailand today, they are highly respected, they keep alive the Hindu traditions, they are the unofficial ambassadors of India in Thailand. While discussing Indias abiding cultural influences in Southeast Asia, permit me to narrate two facts. The greatest Hindu temple in the world today is not in India but in Cambodia. Angkor Wat, constructed by Suryavarman II in the 11th century, dedicated to God Vishnu, carries in architectural form Samudra Manthan, churning of the ocean. On one side are the Devas and on the other side are the Asuras. The rope is serpent Vasuki and the churning stick is Mount Meru. It must be highlighted that we in India, as far as I know, do not have Samudra Manthan depicted in any of the temples. The predominantly Muslim country, Indonesia, takes pride in its Hindu heritage. President Sukarno was named by his father after the great Mahabharata hero Karna. The Government of Indonesia has issued several stamps featuring the heroes of Ramayana and Mahabharata. Indonesian Airlines is known as the Garuda Air Lines. Ramayana was translated into the Kawi language long before Kamba Ramayana was put into writing. The Central Bank of Indonesia is named after the Hindu God of Wealth Kubera. .Sage Agastyas statues are found in different parts of Java. Hanuman is the official mascot of Indonesian Military Intelligence. In the 1977 Asian Games held in Jakarta, the official mascot was Hanuman. Let us now turn to Thailand. As soon as you enter the country you are made aware of the Indian impact. The Bangkok International Airport is called Suvarnabhumi and there is a beautiful depiction of Samudra Manthan, adorning the walls of the airport. The name Siam is derived from the Sanskrit word Shyam. The Thai language is full of Sanskrit words, though it is pronounced differently. Ramayana and Mahabharata have formed the basis of great literary works in Thailand. The knowledge of Ramkein (Thai version of Ramayana) is essential for a cultured Thai. Their legal system is based on Manusmriti. The Government of Thailand has named some of the departments after the Hindu Gods. The Meteorological Department is named after Varuna. The Department of Fine Arts is named after Ganesa. Ganesa is also the emblem of Silpakorn University and the National Theatre. Outside the main building of Chulalongkorn University is the statue of Saraswathi, all in white, mounted on a swan. From a Tamil Nadu perspective, what endears Thailand is the immense popularity of Thiruppavai and Thiruvampavai. In December-January, corresponding to Margazhi, Oonjal (swing) festival is celebrated with great gusto. Thai girls, all Buddhists, early in the morning, take bath before sunrise, place the image of Dakshinamurthy (Siva) in the swing and recite verses from Thiruppavai and Thiruvampavai so that they would be blessed with loving husbands. Dr. V. Suryanarayan is the founding Director and Senior Professor (Retd.), Centre for South and Southeast Asian Studies, University of Madras. His email id: suryageeth@gmail.com ER actor Dearon Thompson, who often used the stage name Deezer D, has died at the age of only 55 in Los Angeles. He was discovered at his residence unresponsive Thursday and his family are of the opinion that he had a heart attack, his brother Marshawn told TMZ. However the authorities have yet to formally release a cause of death for Deezer D, who shot to fame on ER as nurse Malik McGrath. Dearly departed: ER actor Dearon Thompson, who often used the stage name Deezer D, has died at the age of only 55 in Los Angeles; pictured in 2004 Deezer D is survived by a 'young son,' according to his friend and fellow actor Scott Baio who mourned him on Twitter this Thursday. Between the years of 1994 and 2009 he racked up 190 episodes on ER, many of them acting opposite the show's breakout star George Clooney. Deezer D also became a motivational speaker and broke into a career in hip hop, including with Christian tracks he performed at religious events. His death comes less than 12 years after he spent six hours in surgery to address a leaking heart valve and enlarged aorta. Rise to fame: Between the years of 1994 and 2009 he racked up 190 episodes on ER, many of them acting opposite the show's breakout star George Clooney A few days before the surgery he told Radar Online that he had experienced 'over 10 episodes of heart failure in the last eight months alone.' Deezer D stated: 'The problem with my aorta is the same thing that killed John Ritter. I am so grateful that my doctor found it in time.' John Ritter died of a previously undiagnosed aortic dissection on September 11, 2003, only six days before he would have turned 55 himself. According to Deezer D's IMDb page he married one Samantha Enson in 2004 and had a child with her, but they eventually got divorced. As seen in 1997: Deezer D also became a motivational speaker and broke into a career in hip hop, including with Christian tracks he performed at religious events His first acting role was in Cool As Ice, the 1991 movie designed as a vehicle for rapper Vanilla Ice but that earned him a Razzie. However Deezer's career climbed, with roles in the hip hop mockumentary Fear Of A Black Hat and the Chris Rock comedy CB4 both in 1993. The following year he began acting on ER, and alongside that role continued with films such as Romy And Michele's High School Reunion and The Big White Hype. His last album was the 2008 release Delayed But Not Denied and the final film credit on his IMDb is as a pawnbroker in the 2017 movie Crowning Jules. Bereaved: Twitter users expressed their grief in the wake of the news including Scott Baio who wrote: 'I'm sadden to learn the sudden passing of my friend Deezer' However he also apparently worked on an upcoming film called Courting Mom And Dad produced by the evangelical Christian company Pure Flix. Twitter users expressed their grief in the wake of the news including Scott who wrote: 'I'm sadden to learn the sudden passing of my friend Deezer.' Scott added: 'He was a devoted Christian. I just had the privilege of working with #DeezerDThompson on a @PureFlix movie. #CourtingMomAndDad. Sending my prayers and condolences to his family. Especially his young son.' 'A very sweet, kind man and wonderful to work with on ER': Neal Baer, who wrote several episodes of ER, tweeted: 'Sad to learn that Deezer D has passed away' Neal Baer, who wrote several episodes of ER, tweeted: 'Sad to learn that Deezer D has passed away. A very sweet, kind man and wonderful to work with on ER.' Actor Terry Wilkerson wrote: 'I had the pleasure of working with Deezer D on E.R. One of the kindest most Gentle souls ever.' Terry added: 'Even before Diversity was popular he made it on one of the biggest Shows on Network. Prayers to his family. Rest Easy my Brother.' In the confusion that followed Wednesdays desecration of the Capitol, it was widely reported that the last time the building was stormed was in 1814. That overlooked a desperate day in 1861, nearly as lethal to democracy. On Feb. 13, a mob gathered outside the Capitol and tried to force its way in to disrupt the counting of the electoral certificates that would confirm Abraham Lincolns election three months earlier. The key difference between then and now is that the building was guarded by men who were prepared for the onslaught. Nerves were on edge as the day began, with all eyes on Washington, and families trying to get into the galleries to watch the proceedings. In the days before the count, rumors had been spreading across the capital that armed militias might sweep in from Virginia and take over the Capitol or the entire District of Columbia. Virginias former governor Henry Wise was openly calling for an invasion, and many diary accounts and newspaper articles of the time expressed fear that some kind of takeover was imminent. In The New York Times, a reporter mentioned plots to take the city, blow up the public buildings, and prevent the inauguration of Lincoln. Another article described the blowing up of the Capitol as a distinct possibility. The central edifice of the government home to Congress, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress and all federal records was a tinder box waiting for a match. But the militias had not reckoned with the determination of Gen. Winfield Scott, an aging war hero charged with the defense of the capital. Scott was a proud Southerner, born near Petersburg, Va., seven years before the cornerstone of the Capitol was laid in 1793, well before there was a city surrounding it. But above all, he was a patriot, in the original sense of a word that has been abused in recent days. Just three months are left for the conclusion of academic session 2020-21 and varsities in the state are yet to complete the admission process for the current academic session. Patna University (PU), which started online process on April 30 last year, has once again opened admission portal for accepting online applications for postgraduate courses till January 14 while admission in various undergraduate process is going on. PU is taking admissions in LLB course for which counselling will be done till January 12. Meanwhile, vacant seats in traditional and vocational UG courses are being filled through spot round admission. PU officials attributed the Covid-19 outbreak, state Assembly elections and winter vacations as reasons behind the delay. NK Jha, dean of students welfare, said, We have opened admission portal for MA, MCom and MSc courses to give fair opportunity to students whose final results were pending. We have received large number of applications against a handful of seats in many popular courses. Since we have to follow reservation criteria for preparing merit list, it takes long time in preparing roster. Due to Covid-19 safety protocols, students are being called in groups for counselling stage. All these factors have slowed down the admission process. We are hopeful to complete the process by month end, he added. PU has completed admission process for BA, BSc and BCom and in all constituent colleges. Amit Kumar, who has enrolled in BSc, said, Despite getting enrolled in the course, I am yet to visit the college for regular classes. We are running at least six months late as per published academic calendar. Meanwhile, constituent colleges have geared up for allotment of hostel rooms to new comers. Patna Science College commenced accepting applications on Thursday for seat allotment in hostel. We will finalise seat allotment in February. Meritorious students hailing from distant native places will be given preference, said a college official. Meanwhile, Patliputra University has completed admission process for the current session. More than 1 lakh students have been enrolled in various UG courses for the session. We are also clearing pending exams of UG courses to match with academic calendar, said BK Mangalam, media in-charge of PPU. [January 08, 2021] Meritech to acquire Eoxys Systems India for its Push into IoT BANGALORE, India, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Meritech Co., Ltd. HQ in Japan announced today that it will acquire majority stake in Bangalore-based Eoxys Systems India, which provides engineering services and solutions for IoT; through its subsidiary Meritech Software Private Limited in India. Meritech Software Private Limited ("Meritech" ) will acquire the majority stake of Eoxys Systems India Private Limited ("Eoxys" ) in all cash deal with undisclosed amount. Meritech is a leading Telecommunication Testing & Measurement solutions provider and IoT solutins company in Japan with its R&D center in India. Meritech has made this acquisition to build up and flex a newer arm of its business: IoT Solutions. Today, the company announced that it is buying Eoxys, an engineering company based out of Bangalore, India, which builds IoT and cloud-based solutions aimed at carriers and enterprises. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Meritech and Eoxys, which are privately held companies and do not have any outside investor(s), already had a relationship for the last few years. The Japanese company has been working with Eoxys for building its IoT products and services for Japanese carriers and enterprise users in the cellular IoT space. All employees and current customers of Eoxys will continue to remain so. "Eoxys is delighted by the opportunity to become part of the Meritech," said Prabhakar Annavi, CEO of Eoxys. "Joining hands with Meritech will provide us with unique ability to contribute towards this large industry movement and create a highly innovative IoT ecosystem. We look forward to being a part of this journey." "This acquisition will enable Meritech to strengthen its footprint in the IoT space. Eoxys will help bolster Meritech's market share in Cellular IoT, especially NB-IoT and industrial IoT. We are excited to make Eoxys part of Meritech group and will continue to invest more in Cellular IoT market space", said Harish Sachdeva, Group CEO of Meritech. About Meritech Meritech Co., Ltd. is a leading manufacturer of mobile network monitoring and performance optimization and IoT solutions company in Japan with its R&D center in India. Meritech offers innovative solutions to monitor and optimize NR5G, LTE-A, LTE, WCDMA, HSPA, GSM / GPRS and WiFi network performance and Cellular IoT solutions. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1396907/Meritech_Eoxys.jpg Media Contact : pr-meritech@meritech.co.jp [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] How is he going to operate in the Senate with Republicans? When (Senate Majority Leader) Mitch McConnell pleads dont do this and he does it, and then this is the consequence, he said. How is he going to get along with his colleagues? How is he going to do anything? Whats his political future? New Delhi: The eighth round of talks between the Centre and the farmer unions to end over-a-month-long agitation remained inconclusive here at Vigyan Bhawan on Friday (January 8). While the farmer leaders remained adamant on repealing the new agricultural laws, the government, however, ruled out the same reiterating that it was ready for the amendment. The next meeting has been now been fixed for January 15, amid indications that any headway will now depend on a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for January 11 on a batch of petitions related to the protest. This simply indicated that the Supreme Court's direction would probably break the ongoing deadlock between the two sides. The four key points of Friday's meeting are: 1. Farmer leaders appeared quite agitated in the meeting. They told Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar that the government does not want to resolve the matter, but was dragging it unnecessarily. 2. About 40-member representative groups of protesting farmer leaders attended the eighth round of negotiations. They were adamant about repealing the new agricultural laws, but the government ruled out their demand. 3. The government also stated that apart from repealing the new agri laws if farmers can come ahead with any other option, then that can be considered. The government is, therefore, ready for amendment, but has no intention to repeal the new laws. 4. Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar expressed that it is better now that the Supreme Court should make a decision as he failed to find a solution coming forth, but the farmer leader opposed this. In simple words, the government now wants that the Supreme Court should find a middle ground in this matter while the farmers want the government should take a final call as the three have been passed by the government. Briefing the media after the talks, Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said no decision could be reached as the farmer leaders did not present alternatives to their demand for the repeal of the laws. He, however, expressed hope that the unions will come up with alternatives in the next meeting for the consideration of the government. Asked whether there was any progress in talks beyond 50 per cent, Tomar said: "It is stuck at 50 per cent as of now." When asked if the government is open to giving an option to states for implementing the laws, the Union minister said, "Farmers have not given any such proposal. But, the government has time and again said it will consider all alternative proposals." Indicating that the issue is already scheduled for hearing in the Supreme Court on January 11, Tomar said, "We are a democracy and when laws are passed in Parliament, the Supreme Court has the authority to analyse them. Everyone, including the government, is obviously committed to the apex court and its decisions. The government is always committed to any direction given by the Supreme Court." On inviting the farmers to support the laws in the ninth round of talks, Tomar said there was no such plan as of now but it can be looked into in the future if required. Tomar also appealed to unions for discussions on the laws while keeping in mind the interest of farmers of the entire country. It appears that the government wants the matter to be settled by the Supreme Court and that is why the next round of talks between the two sides has been kept on January 15. The farmer groups have decided to meet on January 11 to decide their next course of action, even as many leaders said they have lost hope now that any resolution could be reached even in the next round of negotiations. Notably, farmers have been protesting at different borders of the national capital since November 26 against the three newly enacted farm laws - 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. It seems almost hard to believe, in the era of working-from-home style and lockdown leisurewear, that the sexiest, most glamorously feminine and most restrictive clothing item of all is making a comeback. You can blame Bridgerton for the corsets unlikely resurrection the Netflix series is so eye-poppingly beautiful that it was only a matter of time before fans went mad for the look. With a reported costume budget of millions and 7,500 dresses seen on screen in the first season alone, Bridgertons freshly modern period style was destined to create a fashion moment of its own. According to eBay UK, searches for Regency-inspired clothes and interiors details, including decorative headbands, tea-sets and corsets, have skyrocketed since the shows debut on Christmas Day. Corsets, the online auction house reveals, specifically have seen a 39pc increase in searches. Depending on whom you ask, the humble boned and laced corset, designed to constrict the waist into bizarre proportions, is a torturous tool of female subjugation, designed to keep women bound to a certain (unfair) bodily ideal. That, or its the sexy, curve-creating style icon that has never really gone away. Either way, images of women being all but beaten into the things abound in pop culture. Kate Winslets Rose Dawson in Titanic could barely breathe in hers. In Gone With the Wind, the female cast members were often seen being forcefully laced into their undergarments. In Bridgerton, getting squeezed into one is a must-do ritual that seems almost comical to us 21st-century watchers (is she to breathe, Mama?). And of course, Madonna all but built a pop empire on a slice of style iconography, designed by Jean-Paul Gaultier. The fashion moment was such a success that Gaultier then launched a torso-shaped Classique perfume bottle with the same silhouette. I vividly remember Madonnas peach-coloured, conical-breasted satin bodice on her Blonde Ambition tour. I was just in my early teens, but even I could see the subversive power of the outfit. With a wry nod to the cone bras of the 1950s and the forbidding hip-to-waist ratios before that, Madonnas corset was provocative and sexy as hell. She had shrugged off her Italians Do It Better machismo and gone straight for the kill with high-octane glamour. Ironically, it seemed like a moment of true feminine liberation. The underwear-as-outerwear trend soon followed, and stuck around for much of the 90s. More recently, Kim Kardashian turned heads at the 2019 Met Gala in a Thierry Mugler wet-look dress, with a corset that gave her the sort of vital stats that would give Jessica Rabbit a run for her money. Fully aware of the power of an hourglass silhouette, Kardashian has pivoted into shapewear, often pouring her own abundance of curves into her Skims garments: every bit as form-fitting as your typical corset, but perhaps not as overtly torturous. Kardashians step-parent Caitlyn Jenner appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair in 2015 when she announced her new gender identity. That she was wearing a corset the most feminine and determinedly glamorous item of all was certainly no coincidence. The Spring/Summer 20 couture catwalks featured plenty of lace-up corsets, from Kristin Mallison to Australian brand All is a Gentle Spring, but the trend soon died on its behind thanks to you know what. Which brings us neatly to the dawn of 2021. We have bridged the sartorial gap between dressing for sheer comfort and avoiding slob territory. Whats more, we like it. And with lockdown continuing for now, and for the foreseeable, the rise in popularity of the corset right now seems a little well, odd. What are the recipients of these new eBay-acquired corsets meant to do? Wear them under their dressing gowns with a knowing smile? Go full-on glamorous for their next Skype business meeting? Have Bridgerton dress-ups on Zoom? (The latter, I suspect). The corset may be a tool of sexy, feminine power, but lets be honest, its also there to be looked at and admired. Wearing one is a performance in and of itself, and one thats aimed at the gaze of others. Like that lone tree in the forest, if youre doing it at home alone in front of Fair City, are you really doing it at all? Meanwhile, Irish designer Sinead ODwyer has turned the entire corset business on its head, creating silicon bodices moulded from lifecasts of her (very real-bodied) friends and acquaintances. My work is a sort of f*** you, and a declaration of pride in your body, she recently told i-D magazine. I think it conveys the power that comes from women deciding that they dont have to accept the status quo. You shouldnt have to feel compelled to live up to an externally set, arbitrary standard. You should have the control. I can certainly do business with that, alone in front of Fair City, or otherwise. One of the US police officers who shot 26-year-old emergency room technician Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky, and the officer who prepared the warrant for the botched raid during which she was killed in her apartment have been dismissed, their union said. Ms Taylor was fatally shot when police entered her apartment in Louisville on March 13 last year, one of a string of killings of African Americans that fueled mass protests across the US last year as part of the Black Lives Matter movement. Detective Myles Cosgrove, one of the officers who shot Ms Taylor, and Detective Joshua Jaynes, who prepared the search warrant, had been told in December that the Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) aimed to fire them. Their union, the River City Fraternal Order of Police, said the two had been dismissed and described the terminations as unjustified. The LMPD did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside normal working hours. Ms Taylors boyfriend, who was with her when police burst into the home, fired once at what he said he believed were intruders. Three police officers responded with 32 shots, six of which struck Ms Taylor, killing her. There is certainly no evidence in this case that policies and procedures of the LMPD were violated to the extent that warranted termination, the union said. Interim Chief Gentry not only made the wrong decision but also sent an ominous message to every sworn officer of the Louisville Metro Police Department, the River City FOP said. Det Cosgrove was fired for use of deadly force for firing 16 rounds into Ms Taylors home and failing to activate his body camera, CNN reported yesterday. Det Jaynes, who had prepared the search warrant for the raid on Ms Taylors home, was fired on Tuesday for failing to complete a Search Warrant Operations Plan form, according to a copy of his termination letter obtained by CNN. ROCK SPRINGS (Wyoming News Exchange) A Rock Springs man was arrested after allegedly charging police officers with a knife. At 1:30 a.m. Monday, Dec. 28, officers of the Rock Springs Police Department were dispatched to the 1000 block of Evergreen Way for a physical disturbance. Officers said they encountered Tommy Ortega, 18, who was allegedly destroying furniture and screaming at the officers. As the officers attempted to calm him down, he armed himself with a knife and charged the officers, according to a press release from the Rock Springs Police Department. Officers used non-lethal techniques to bring him under control and into custody without injury to any of the officers or the suspect. Ortega was placed under arrest and faces several charges, including alleged aggravated assault and battery, felony-level interference with a peace officer, felony-level possession of deadly weapon with unlawful intent, and misdemeanor interference with an investigation. This case remains under investigation. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 74F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Rain. Low 48F. Winds E at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near an inch. "The surgery went well, said Fan Haining, vice president of Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital, northwest China's Qinghai province. Fans words reassured Tsering Tandrup, 40, whose wife was diagnosed with echinococcosis four years ago. Qinghai is a plateau province and home to a vast number of herdsmen. Echinococcosis was once the No. 1 threat for the herdsman there, as they always live on grassland or by the water, and have close contact with livestock. In addition, the poor healthcare condition and high cost of treatment also made local herdsmen reluctant to go to hospitals. Therefore, the disease was also one of the largest barriers for poverty alleviation. Since Qinghai launched a campaign to eradicate echinococcosis in 2016, the province has screened a total of over 5 million residents, which covered almost all the population living in endemic areas. The number of the infected added up to 14,000. More than 7,900 of them received free medical treatment, and more than 2,800 received free surgeries. We established standardized wards for treating echinococcosis patients and adopt a graded treatment method, said Cui Hongyuan, member of a medical team sent to Qinghai by the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Communist Youth League of China Central Committee. Key doctors are sent to local communities to perform surgeries for patients with mild symptoms, while those in severer conditions are transferred to Xining, the capital of Qinghai province for treatment, Cui explained. "We are also supported by medical insurance and charity fund, which enables us to not only pay for the medical cost of the patients, but also offer them living allowances," Cui told People's Daily. The campaign is led by major hospitals in the province and joined by a team headed by academician Dong Jiahong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering. Free drugs are handed out to all patients by cities and prefectures, counties, townships and villages, and those in severe conditions are centralized for surgeries. Letso is a cadre sent to the Qinghai University Affiliated Hospital by Gande county of Qinghai province to handle communication and coordination work. In order to admit as many patients as possible, counties of Qinghai joined efforts with local hospitals. The county governments organize, screen, evaluate and transfer the patients, while hospitals receive and treat them, as well as complete follow-up visits. This month 40 patients were discharged, and well be able to make a triumphant return in the next couple of days, Letso said, being proud of what she has done. Given the efforts made by local governments, cadres, doctors and nurses, as well as the medical insurance and charity fund, patients are becoming increasingly more willing to be treated at hospitals. We shall not only perform surgeries and treatment, but also focus on how to precisely prevent and control the disease in a scientific manner, Dong said. He made a clear timeline to eradicate echinococcosis: to effectively contain it by 2020, control it by 2025, and eliminate it by 2030. In June the last year, Qinghai kicked off a special action to perform surgeries for echinococcosis patients. As of the end of November, patients in all cities and prefectures other than Golog and Yushu had their surgeries performed, and all the remaining 156 were expected to go through surgeries before the end of 2020. An echinococcosis control paradigm that combines scientific research, cultivation of doctors, education on patients and diagnosis and treatment management has been established, thanks to the joint efforts made by multiple departments and relevant parties, said an official from Qinghais health commission. According to the official, the health commission will keep enhancing the public health capability of the pasturing areas, so as to further consolidate the achievements of poverty alleviation and the building of a moderately prosperous society in all respects. Fox News - House Democrats are drafting new articles of impeachment against President Trump following a deadly riot at the Capitol Wednesday in a failed attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory. Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California are taking the lead on drafting the impeachment resolution for Trump's efforts to incite his supporters to charge the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a major security breach, forcing lawmakers to evacuate to secure locations, Fox News has confirmed. Rep. Ilhan Omar, of Minnesota, has also been circulating articles of impeachment. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi discussed impeachment efforts Friday afternoon in a call with the Democratic caucus. Earlier Friday, Pelosi said she had spoken to Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley about protecting the nuclear codes from an "unhinged president." Pelosi and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York had pushed for Trump's immediate removal of office through the 25th Amendment arguing it's too dangerous to keep Trump in power until Jan. 20 when Biden is inaugurated. But if Vice President Mike Pence and the cabinet don't remove Trump, which seems unlikely, Democrats seem to have broad support among the caucus for a second round of impeachment. "[F]ollowing the Presidents dangerous and seditious acts, Republicans in Congress need to ... call on Trump to depart his office immediately," Pelosi wrote in a letter to her fellow Democrats Friday. "If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action." Cicilline's four-page impeachment resolution is expected to be introduced into the House on Monday as a privileged resolution, Fox News confirmed. The one article of impeachment is for "incitement of insurrection" and states that Trump engaged in high crimes and misdemeanors by "willfully inciting violence against the government of the United States." The resolution also calls out Trump for his Jan. 2 phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger where he urged him to "find" enough votes to overturn Biden's win and issued vague threats if he failed to do so. Trump's actions warrant removal from office and "disqualification" to run ever again, the impeachment resolution states. A few Republicans, including Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, have expressed an openness to Trump's removal from office after his repeated false claims that he won the presidential election in a landslide and urging his supporters to march to the Capitol as Congress was in the middle of certifying Biden's electoral victory. As a result of the violence, at least five people have died, including a U.S. Capitol Police officer. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said a second impeachment would further fracture the country. "Impeaching the President with just 12 days left in his term will only divide our country more," McCarthy said Friday in a statement. "I have reached out to President-elect Biden today and plan to speak to him about how we must work together to lower the temperature and unite the country to solve Americas challenges." McCarthy was one of 138 House Republicans who voted to toss out Pennyslvania's electoral college votes early Thursday morning when the congressional count resumed after the riot. Eventually, the election was certified by the Joint Session of Congress with Biden winning 306 electoral votes Trump's 232. Rep. Tim Ryan, D-Ohio, blasted McCarthy as having "no guts" to stand up to Trump even after the desecration of the Capitol and the death of officer Brian Sicknick. Ryan supports Trump's removal from office. "He [McCarthy] has his lips firmly attached to President Trump's rear end," Ryan said Friday. "And he wont do anything that will offend him even if the President is promoting insurrection and supporting domestic terrorists who just killed a United States Capitol Police officer." Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accompanied by Health Minister Yuli Edelstein (directly to his left), greeting Jabarin Muhammad (seated), the millionth citizen to receive the coronavirus vaccine, in Umm al-Fahm, Jan. 1, 2021. (JNS) - Israel vaccinated its millionth citizen against COVID-19 on Friday, just three days after announcing the 500,000th Israeli had received the first dose of the vaccine. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Health Minister Yuli Edelstein were on hand in Umm al-Fahm to meet Arab-Israeli Jabarin Muhammad, 66, in the presence of Mayor Samir Sobhi Mahameed, Clalit Healthcare Services chairman Harel Locker, Maccabi Healthcare Services chairman Ran Saar and Ayman Saif, the official responsible for coronavirus affairs in the Arab sector. "We are breaking all of the records," said Netanyahu, according to a statement from his office. "We are ahead of the entire world ... moving forward at great speed in order to vaccinate the entire population." According to the website Our World in Data, based at Oxford University, Israel's per capita vaccination rate far outpaces the rest of the world-more than three times that of Bahrain, the country with the second-highest rate. As soon as the number of vaccinations reaches "critical mass," said Netanyahu, "we will be able to open commerce, stores and restaurants; we will be able to fly abroad, to make deals and travel to all the countries that we have made peace with," referring to the recent normalization agreements with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco. The health minister lauded the "great achievement" of vaccinating a million Israelis. "With God's help, Israel will be the first country in the world to be vaccinated," said Edelstein. "Within a few months, we will be able to say 'hasta la vista' to the coronavirus and return to normality," he added. When it comes to COVID-19, he said, "We are all in this together. There is no difference between Jews and Arabs, religious and secular." However, he added, "we are not there yet, and we must strictly adhere to the directives. It is a pity for each person who, instead of being at home, is in serious condition in a hospital coronavirus ward. Let us make another effort to emerge from this with ... without the virus running amok again." Israel began its third nationwide coronavirus lockdown on Dec. 27 due to a steep rise in the COVID-19 infection rate. The move, however, was not without controversy, even within the medical community. The country's Public Emergency Council for the Coronavirus Crisis, which is made up of medical experts and senior researchers, has called into question the data upon which the decision to implement the current lockdown was based. In a letter to the Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, the experts wrote that this information "is riddled with 'alternative facts' and irrelevant data, which ... can only be defined as irresponsible, partial and unprofessional." Another controversy surrounds Jabarin Muhammad, the millionth citizen to be vaccinated-according to a report by Israel's Kan Newsfollowing the release of a photo of the event in Umm al-Fahm, Muhammad served a prison sentence more than 20 years ago after being convicted of murdering two people. New Delhi: To further increase its presence and collaborations in Indias North-East, the Embassy of Israel in India has appointed Joyshree Das Verma as honorary consul in the region, to be based in Assam with jurisdiction over the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura and Sikkim. The Embassy aims to identify all possible areas of cooperation in the North-East, where Israel can bring in expertise and advanced Israeli technologies to benefit people in the region. Announcing the appointment, Ambassador of Israel in India, Dr Ron Malka said, The relations between our two countries are growing and expanding rapidly. We are now going to take it forward and increase our presence in North-East India. I am proud to present the credentials of Israeli honorary consul to Mrs Joyshree Das Vermas, who will work with us to further strengthen our growing partnership in this region. Live TV Joyshree Das Verma has said, I am immensely honoured and humbled to represent Israel as Honorary Consul for the North-Eastern states. This all-encompassing role excites me greatly as there are vast possibilities & opportunities to leverage Israels technology and expertise in various areas. I am pledged to work in the best interests of Assam and all the North Eastern States. In November 2020, Ambassador Dr Ron Malka visited Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura. He held official meetings with the Chief Ministers of the states, in which the sides discussed collaboration on a range of subjects including agriculture, water management, tourism, horticulture, fisheries and dairy. During the visit, the Ambassador laid the foundation stone of a Center of Excellence (CoE) for Vegetables in Khetri, Assam. The regions first Indo-Israeli Centre of Excellence was inaugurated in Mizoram in 2018. It has become a strong, sustainable platform for addressing challenges via applicable research and introduction of relevant, innovative Israeli agro-technologies, tailored to the needs of local farmers. UPDATE: The law enforcement officer seen in the video punching Duke has been charged with assault and says she has been relieved of her duties pending an investigation. _________ Another Massachusetts resident has been identified as being at the US Capitol Building on Wednesday. The woman was identified as Therese Duke by her daughter after a video of her being punched outside the US Capitol went viral. Hi mom remember the time you told me I shouldnt go to BLM protests bc they could get violent, Helena Duke tweeted on Thursday. A LinkedIn profile for Therese Duke lists UMass Memorial Health Care as her employer, and tweets have been sent tagging UMass Memorial and alerting the organization to Dukes participation at the Capitol. UMass Memorial would not make confirmations beyond its earlier statement. Helena also confirmed in tweets that her mom works for UMass Memorial Health Care. hi mom remember the time you told me I shouldnt go to BLM protests bc they could get violent...this you? https://t.co/9ZkbAq0ehO Helena Duke (@duke_helena) January 7, 2021 Duke tweeted that her mom, her uncle Richard Lorenz, and her aunt Annie Lorenz, were all at the Capitol Building when it was stormed on Wednesday. The video shows the woman Helena identified as Therese appearing to grab at a police officer before the officer responded with a punch to the face. Another video shows Therese with a bloody face. The original video Helena used in her tweet had more than 8 million views as of Friday afternoon. It also had more than 100k likes. Helenas tweet also had more than 3k replies and nearly 350k likes. US Attorney Andrew E. Lelling said that any Massachusetts residents who took part in storming the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday will be prosecuted. The Constitution protects the right to freedom of speech and assembly. What is does not protect is a violent assault on government institutions. Americans on the right and left must re-learn the difference, Lelling said. Anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts. According to tweets, Helena was kicked out of her house for going to Black Lives Matters protests. She said on Twitter that she plans to go to the University of San Diego next year. Hi this is the liberal lesbian of the family who has been kicked out multiple times for her views and for going to BLM protests to care what happens to me so: Mom: Therese Duke Uncle: Richard Lorenz Aunt: Annie Lorenz pic.twitter.com/cuBAPJ3GJA Helena Duke (@duke_helena) January 7, 2021 On Friday, UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester said it had launched an investigation to determine if one or more of its employees were involved in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. We have been made aware that one or more of our employees may have been involved in the violence that took place at our Nations Capitol, the states third-largest health care provider said in a statement. We strongly condemn such behavior, if true, and have initiated an investigation. Some being identified at the Capitol are losing their jobs. On Friday, CNN identified at least three others who have left or lost their jobs because of it. One man was photographed wearing his company ID badge inside the Capitol building, the news station reported. While we support all employees right to peaceful, lawful exercise of free speech, any employee demonstrating dangerous conduct that endangers the health and safety of others will no longer have an employment opportunity with Navistar Direct Marketing, the company said in a statement provided to CNN. A Massachusetts man was also arrested after storming the U.S. Capitol. David Lester Ross, a 33-year-old, was arrested on misdemeanor charges of unlawful entry and violating the citys curfew. Court documents obtained by MassLive show he is a resident of Pittsfield. Related Content: The United Arab Emirates will reopen its borders to Qatar beginning Saturday, the Emirati Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation announced Friday, days after the Gulf countries agreed to resume ties with Doha. The UAE will begin to end all measures taken against the State of Qatar, the ministry said in a statement carried by the official WAM News Agency. The government will work to re-open all land, sea and air ports for inbound and outbound movement. On Thursday, Emirati Foreign Affairs Minister Anwar Gargash announced that trade, shipping and air travel between Qatar and the four Gulf states would resume within a week but establishing diplomatic relations could take longer. Some issues are easier to fix and some others will take a longer time, Gargash said, according to Reuters. We have a very good start but we have issues with rebuilding trust. Saudi Arabia and its allies Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed ties with gas-rich Qatar in June 2017, accusing their neighbor of funding terrorism and growing too close to Iran and Turkey. Doha denies supporting terrorist groups, but admits to backing Islamist movements including Egypts outlawed Muslim Brotherhood. Qatar refused to comply with the Quartets 13 conditions for lifting the three-year blockade, including cutting ties with Iran and shutting down the Qatari-funded Al Jazeera TV network. The three-year rift drew to a close on Tuesday at the annual summit of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, held this year in the Saudi desert city of Al-Ula. Following mediation from the United States and Kuwait, the Gulf neighbors reached a solidarity and stability pact with Qatar to ease the diplomatic and economic blockade. On the eve of the Gulf gathering, Saudi Arabia agreed to open its air, land and sea borders to Qatar. On Thursday, Qatar airways announced on Twitter that it would start rerouting scheduled flights through Saudi Arabia, beginning with a flight from Doha to Johannesburg. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeNet Health, Virginia's federally designated Organ Procurement Organization (OPO), coordinated a record 616 organ transplants in 2020, exceeding the previous year's record by 31 organs. It is the third consecutive record year for transplants in LifeNet Health's service area. In all, 237 organ donors saved the lives of 555 patients some of whom received multiple organs through the selfless gift of donation. "These donors provide an altruistic gift to patients who desperately need a second chance at life," said LifeNet Health President and CEO Rony Thomas. "We are humbled by their kind decision to donate and are honored to be stewards of the selfless gifts they provide." Successful transplants require the navigation of complex logistics and medical protocols. The record number of transplants and donors in 2020 reflects the strong partnerships between LifeNet Health and the hospitals and transplant centers throughout Virginia. Together, they persevered through the unusual challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to honor each donor's final wish to provide life to others. "We are honored to be a part of this life-saving process and thankful to donors and families who provide hope to so many patients in need," said LifeNet Health Vice President and OPO Executive Director Todd Hubler. "This achievement would not be possible without the unwavering commitment of our hospital and transplant center partners and their support for donation. Hundreds of people are alive today thanks to the teams' tireless dedication and the donors' inspiring generosity." There are more than 108,000 men, women and children in the U.S. waiting for a life-saving organ transplant. In Virginia, there are nearly 2,500 people on the transplant list. Every 10 minutes, another patient is added to the national list, with the need for kidney transplants being the most severe. In Virginia, more than 80 percent of patients on the waiting list need a kidney. One donor can help save the lives of nine people with organ donation and give hope to more than 150 people through tissue donation. With 20 people dying every day because the organ they need is not available in time, more registered donors are needed. Sign up as a donor at the DMV, or go to RegisterMe.org to learn more and register. About LifeNet Health LifeNet Health helps save lives, restore health, and give hope to thousands each year. It is the world's most trusted provider of transplant solutions from organ procurement to bio-implants and cellular therapies and a leader in regenerative medicine, while always honoring the donors and healthcare professionals who enable healing. For more information about LifeNet Health, go to www.lifenethealth.org. SOURCE LifeNet Health Related Links http://www.lifenethealth.org The Yemeni Journalists Syndicate (YJS) has documented 112 cases of violations of media and journalists rights in 2020, including killings, torture, kidnappings, arrests and bans. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) stands in solidarity with Yemeni media workers and joins its affiliate in warning warring parties against intolerable attacks against the media. Journalists and mourners lift placards and banners during the funeral of TV reporter Adib al-Janani who was killed in an attack on Aden airport. Credits: AHMAD AL-BASHA / AFP In its annual report on press freedom violations in Yemen, the YJS again identifies Yemens internationally recognized government of President Hadi and the Houthis who lead the de facto government in Sana as those mainly responsible for the attacks against media workers. The government committed 44% of all registered violations while the Houthi group was responsible for 29.5% of the violations. Unknown individuals committed 13 violations ( 11.6%) and the Southern Transitional Council (STC) committed 12 (10.7%). The YJS reported 33 (29.5%) cases of kidnappings and arrests in addition to 22 cases (19.6%) of threats and incitement against journalists. Thirteen cases (11.6%) of bans and confiscation of material and equipment and 10 cases (8.9%) of prosecution and investigation were reported. In addition, 10 cases (8.9%) of journalists being suspended from their job and 7 cases (6.3%) of torture were reported. Six cases (5.4%) of assaults and 3 cases (2.7%) of murder were documented. One of the most dangerous countries for journalists Since the beginning of the civil war in Yemen in 2015, the country has become one of the most dangerous countries for journalists in the world. The war, which is often considered as a forgotten war, has very little international media coverage due to attempts to silence independent reporting, which has resulted in a news deficit. The crimes that Yemeni journalists suffer daily range from targeted killings, imprisonment, attacks on media houses, shutdown of media and confiscation of newspapers to death threats, harassment, torture and murders. Today, thirteen journalists remain kidnapped, of which eleven were seized by the Houthis. Some of them have been held for more than five years. The latest crime against a Yemeni journalist happened on December 30, when a TV journalist was killed in a missile attack on Aden Airport. It is still unclear who is behind the attack and nobody has claimed responsibility for it. IFJ General Secretary, Anthony Bellanger, said: The YJS annual report reveals the extremely difficult and dangerous context in which Yemeni journalists do their job. On top of this, the level of impunity for crimes against journalists in Yemen is obscenely high, something the IFJ has repeatedly condemned. The authorities must take action to stop the targeting of journalists and media". NGD's industry-leading, made-in-USA 32TB U.2. NVMe SSDs, powered by a revolutionary 14nm ASIC-based controller, manage massive amounts of drive data locally by bringing compute resources to the drives themselves, which reduces the data movement and processing burdens of a host server's or workstation's memory and CPUs. These drives are particularly beneficial for large data sets and latency-sensitive applications requiring real-time insights. "We are very excited to be partnering with Trenton Systems to deploy ruggedized and innovative solutions using our computational storage drives (CSDs)," says Nader Salessi, CEO of NGD Systems. "By combining our NVMe SSD solutions with Trenton Systems' latest storage platforms, we can deliver the value of added compute to the platform. Using a JBOF solution to deploy large-scale storage, up to 32TB per U.2 Drive, and added compute locally, provides a unique and innovative way to solve data analytics where data is generated." NGD's CSDs are a performance game-changer for modern, large-scale AI and ML workloads and are also available in extended temperature ranges for rugged computing solutions like those manufactured by Trenton. This adds an extra layer of physical protection to the drives as they assist with providing key operational insights amid the world's harshest environments. NGD's drives are also extremely power-conscious, requiring just 12W under load. Michael Bowling, CEO of Trenton Systems, says the combination of Trenton Systems' rugged computing solutions and NGD Systems' state-of-the-art NVMe SSDs is an ideal fit for real-time business and mission-critical intelligence applications crunching big data to drive decision-making. "One of the biggest challenges for real-time business intelligence with large amounts of data is to make compute decisions as close to the edge as possible," Bowling said. "Traditionally, all AI and ML decisions are often waiting for data to flow to a centralized processing root complex, whether that's a CPU or GPU, but with NGD Systems' computational NVMe drives and Trenton Systems' servers, the drives themselves have the ability to analyze and prioritize whether the data needs to flow upstream for further processing." Bowling continued, "Trenton Systems has long been developing large amounts of PCIe slots into its own servers and NVMe JBOF products. This made a natural partnership with NGD's PCIe SSD drives, and we're excited about the practical applications that this will have for high-capacity, mission-critical, real-time storage applications that can benefit from pushing the computational analysis to the extreme of the edge." Sean Campbell, Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Business Development at Trenton Systems, says the partnership will allow Trenton to provide AI and ML customers with a more efficient rugged computing solution at the edge by leveraging the pioneering CSDs devised by the talented NGD Systems. "As applications such as AI and ML continue to accelerate the proliferation of edge computing systems, new storage collaborations are needed to address the evolving and dynamic workloads expected from our customers," Campbell said. "Leveraging the power of NVMe, NGD Systems' innovative CSDs are purpose-built to support the raw volume, speed, and diversity of data at the edge. Trenton Systems' close collaboration with NGD Systems will help redefine storage drives for the increasing data demands our applications require currently." The two companies will host a webinar on Feb. 21, 2021 to discuss the combination of their respective solutions and how, together, they can bring speed, efficiency, and resilience to your edge computing solution. The date and time for the webinar will be announced later. To discuss a rugged computing or storage solution for your program or application, contact Trenton Systems at [email protected] or NGD Systems at [email protected] today. About Trenton Systems, Inc. Trenton Systems designs, manufactures, assembles, integrates, tests, and supports made-in-USA rugged servers, workstations, processor boards, PCIe backplanes, storage systems, blade servers, PCIe expansion kits, mini PCs, and custom high-performance computers for programs and applications operating in harsh environments worldwide. Founded in 1989, Trenton Systems provides the defense/military, government, industrial, and commercial markets with in-house engineering, testing and support services, computer life cycle planning, revision control, a five-year warranty, and customization/configuration support. Trenton Systems' rugged computers and components meet or exceed UL, CE, FCC, ITAR, and military standards (MIL-STD-810, MIL-STD-461, MIL-S-901, DO-160), are backed by a five-year warranty and in-house support, and are manufactured in the company's Lawrenceville, Georgia, USA facility, which is certified to ISO 9001:2015 quality management standards. About NGD Systems NGD Systems enables infrastructure success and growth by delivering the industry's most innovative Computational Storage NVMe SSDs in the largest capacity and most power-efficient storage products available. This provides an increase in system-level performance for near-real-time processing at the edge where data is generated. The Newport Platform uses a patented In-Situ Processing solution to radically reduce the bandwidth required to analyze mass data sets and reduce the strain on customer infrastructure. NGD Systems' Computational Storage products enable compute at the edge without moving data from storage devices, overcoming challenges that current system architectures cannot solve. NGD Systems' breakthrough technology is ideal for hyperscale environments, edge computing and AI/data analytic applications. Founded in 2013 with headquarters in Irvine, Calif., NGD Systems' breakthrough technology will fundamentally change the IT industry by bringing compute to storage in ways never implemented before. For more information, please visit www.ngdsystems.com. 2021 Trenton Systems, Inc. All rights reserved. All marks are the property of their respective owners. Design and specifications are subject to change. Contact: Brett Daniel (770) 287-3100 [email protected] SOURCE Trenton Systems, Inc. Related Links https://www.trentonsystems.com The U.S. Capitol Police force, which uses a roster fit for a mid-sized city to defend a compact 270-acre campus, is under a type of scrutiny it's rarely seen in two centuries of existence. Outmatched officers failed to prevent a mob of President Donald Trump supporters from invading the Capitol Wednesday, sending lawmakers fleeing for safety. The fallout has been swift, with Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund saying he'll resign effective Jan. 16. House Sergeant at Arms, Paul Irving, who plays a role in overseeing the police, also quit. But even as the force defended its actions as heroic, lawmakers are calling for investigations and demanding answers for the force's failure. "What the hell?" tweeted Rep. Maxine Waters, a California Democrat, after Wednesday's violence. She said Sund had assured her days earlier that "the terrorists would not be allowed on the plaza & Capitol secured" and called for an investigation. The storming of the Capitol brought unusual focus on a department known locally for scanning visitors to the building and for enforcing traffic laws nearby streets. At the same time, the officers protect Congress, their staff and visitors. Capitol Police said one of its officers, Brian D. Sicknick, died Thursday night from injuries suffered the previous day while engaging violent protesters. Sicknick, who joined the force in 2008, collapsed in his division office following his injury and was taken for treatment at a local hospital, where he died, the police said in a statement. Sicknick's death will be investigated by federal and local law enforcement, the police said. He is the fifth person who died in connection to the storming of the Capitol by pro-Trump crowds. One woman was shot to death by Capitol Police outside the House chamber and three other people succumbed to medical emergencies, according to authorities. Rep. Zoe Lofgren, a California Democrat and chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, said she plans to help lead an inquiry into the Capitol Police's response to the Trump supporters who occupied and vandalized the building. "I have very serious concerns about the security response to this mob," Lofgren told reporters. "We can't allow terrorists to come in and invade the Capitol of the United States. It's completely unacceptable. We've got to prevent that from happening again." The storming of the Capitol also left rank and file members of the force "frustrated and demoralized by the lack of leadership," the U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee said in a news release reported by Politico. "Lack of planning led to the greatest breach of the U.S. Capitol since the War of 1812," police union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou said in the news release, referring to the British forces burning the building in 1814. The force is responsible for maintaining order while protecting the Capitol, which sits in a 58-acre park at one end of Washington's Mall. The Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial can be seen in the distance from the Capitol's west side, where Democrat Joe Biden is to be inaugurated on Jan. 20. Most visitors to lawmakers or to the Capitol encounter Capitol Police officers at checkpoints that include metal detectors at entrances to House and Senate office buildings. Each year the Capitol is visited by 3 million to 5 million people from around the world. The force can figure prominently in reining in demonstrations, such as the July 2017 arrest of the Reverend Raphael Warnock as he was singing and praying during a protest in a Senate office building. Warnock was elected to the Senate this week from Georgia. But its activities often are cloaked in secrecy, said David Schuman, policy director for Demand Progress who spent two years studying the Capitol Police. "Most police forces have transparency and accountability mechanisms. The Capitol Police doesn't operate that way," Schuman said in an interview. The force isn't required by law to respond to public information requests, Schuman said in a June letter to Congress. It doesn't publish an annual report on its activities, nor does it publish reports from its oversight body, the Capitol Police Board, or its Inspector General, Schuman said in the letter. Arrest statistics over two years show that half the incidents, or 348, were traffic-related infractions, and another 14%, or 106, were drug-related, according to the study. About one in eight arrests took place within a block of Union Station, a train depot more than half a mile from the Capitol. The force has seen its budget expand fourfold, from $119 million annually to $516 million, over the past 25 years. It has about 2,450 employees including around 2,000 officers, and absorbs one-tenth of Congress's administrative budget, according to an analysis by Demand Progress. The size of the Capitol Police's budget is comparable to that of the city of San Antonio, Texas, with a population of 1.5 million. The workforce size eclipses that of major city departments like New Orleans and Miami, according to Demand Progress's study. For all that, the Capitol Police were caught short on Wednesday. "They didn't have enough resources to deal with any potential problems. Why they didn't call for extra help, have them standing by, I have no idea," said Charles Ramsey, former police chief of Washington, D.C. He noted that the Capitol Police has mutual aid agreements with the D.C. metropolitan police and law enforcement in Maryland. Historically, the Capitol Police has communicated effectively with those other organizations. "They've always been well-trained, well-run, well-led," Ramsey said in an interview. "I don't know what the hell happened." Lofgren said she asked about the line of command and coordination with the National Guard ahead of the Wednesday riot. "We were told that was all in place, and there was no doubt that they were completely able to keep us secure in the Capitol," Lofgren said. "That was not correct. Not only were they not prepared, but what they told me about the National Guard was just not true. The guard was not even activated." Addis Ababa, Jan 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2021 ) :The Ethiopian army says it has killed four senior members of the Tigray region's ruling party targeted in a military offensive, state-affiliated media reported late Thursday. Ethiopian soldiers also arrested nine members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), who led the region until being overthrown last year in the military campaign. Those killed included a TPLF spokesman, Sekoture Getachew, and the former head of the Tigray finance bureau, Daniel Assefa, according to Brigadier General Tesfaye Aylew, cited by Fana Broadcasting Corporate. The former director of the Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority and a journalist close to the party, Abebe Asgedom, were also killed. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, last year's Nobel Peace prize winner, announced the military campaign against the TPLF on November 4, saying it came in response to TPLF-orchestrated attacks on Federal army camps. Abiy declared victory after federal forces took the regional capital Mekele in late November, but the UN says clashes persist in the region which remains very difficult to access for the media and humanitarians. The leader of the TPLF, Debretsion Gebremichael, and other leaders of the party have been on the run since Mekele fell, and the army is offering a reward of 10 million Ethiopian birr (roughly $250,000 / 205,000 Euros) for information leading to their capture. The TPLF dominated Ethiopian politics for three decades until the arrival of Abiy who was appointed in 2018 and progressively sidelined them. Abiy has now appointed a new regional government in Tigray and declared an official end to the operation in November. The fighting in Tigray has left thousands dead, according to the International Crisis Group (ICG) think tank, and sent tens of thousands of refugees streaming across the border into Sudan. BATTLE CREEK, Mich., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Tues., Jan. 19, 2021, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation will virtually host the fifth annual National Day of Racial Healing, an afternoon of essential and timely conversations about racial healing, equity and justice with leading advocates, artists and influencers. The 100-minute (approx.) online event will feature conversations, panels and performances featuring Ta-Nehisi Coates, John Legend, Padma Lakshmi, Yara Shaidi, Storm Reid and more. The program will be led by Kellogg Foundation President and CEO La June Montgomery Tabron, and include performances by Aloe Blacc, Connie Lim (MILCK), Flor de Toloache, the Detroit Youth Choir, including an original poem by Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. The annual program is designed to bridge divides, affirm our common humanity and inspire action. Conversations explore the truth-telling and trust-building that lead to racial healing and a more just and equitable future for all. The event will also recognize work done by grantees implementing the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation (TRHT) process in communities across the U.S. What: A 100-minute (approx.) virtual National Day of Racial Healing event with panels, conversations, videos, music and creative performances; local virtual events are also being held across the country. Where: To RSVP for the national event, please visit: www.dayofracialhealing.org When: Tues., Jan. 19, 2021 from 3:00 pm - 4:45 pm EST Who: Hosted by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and featuring: Aloe Blacc Cheryllyn Branche Dominique Brown Ta-Nehisi Coates Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas Detroit Youth Choir Dr. Monica Moreno Figueroa Flor de Toloache Amanda Gorman Maria Hinojosa Saru Jayaraman Fr. Tim Kesicki Padma Lakshmi Connie Lim (MILCK) (MILCK) Hasan Minhaj John Legend Dr. Manuel Pastor Rabbi Jonah Pesner Storm Reid Martin Sensmeier Yara Shahidi La June Montgomery Tabron Jerry Tello Baratunde Thurston Lance Wheeler And other youth advocates, performers and speakers Visuals: Speakers, panelists and conversations, as well as music, dance and spoken-word poetry performances. Visit www.dayofracialhealing.org for a complete list of events taking place around the country including Los Angeles, CA; Chicago, IL; Selma, AL; New Orleans, LA; Buffalo, NY; Baton Rouge, LA; Battle Creek, MI; Flint, MI; Kalamazoo, MI; Dallas, TX; and Richmond, VA. Join the conversation on social media via the hashtag #HowWeHeal. About National Day of Racial Healing The "National Day of Racial Healing" was established by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in 2017 to promote healing as a critical path for ending racial bias and creating a society in which all children can thrive. The annual outreach grew out of W.K Kellogg Foundation's Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation effort, a national and community-based process designed to bring transformational and sustainable change to communities, while addressing the historic and contemporary effects of racism. About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation The W.K. Kellogg Foundation, founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, W.K. Kellogg Foundation works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special attention is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. W.K. Kellogg Foundation priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti. Contact: Aprill O. Turner or Louie Tan Vital, [email protected] SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Department is asking the public for help identifying people suspected of committing unlawful entry offenses in Wednesday's siege of the U.S. Capitol. The department released a document featuring photos and screen captures of video footage showing persons of interest who may be guilty of criminal acts. If you can identify any of these individuals, you can call police at 202-727-9099 or text your tip to 50411. The department is offering up to $1,000 to anyone who provides information that leads to the arrest and indictment of a person or persons responsible for a crime committed in Washington, D.C. Trump supporters led a violent siege of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a rampage that shocked the world. Storming the Capitol rotunda and breaking into lawmakers' offices, the mob attempted to thwart Congress as it was certifying Joe Biden's Electoral College victory. They stalled the process, but after hours of unrest, Congress reconvened. Washington, D.C., officials said the FBI and the local Metropolitan Police Department were leading the investigation into identifying individuals who took part in Wednesday's violence. D.C. police have arrested 68 people so far. The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin, said that 40 cases have already been presented in Superior Court and that prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases on Thursday. Sherwin said "all options are on the table," including sedition charges. Four people died, including a woman who was shot and killed by police inside the Capitol. Three other people died after "medical emergencies" related to the breach, said Robert Contee, chief of the city's Metropolitan Police Department. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - Origen Resources Inc. (CSE: ORGN) (the "Company" or "Origen") is pleased to provide this year-end review and outline plans for an active 2021. "The whole Origen team is extremely proud of what we have accomplished in eight short months since listing in May amidst the challenges that COVID-19 has delivered. We were able to enhance our asset base by acquiring five new projects, entering into option agreements to advance projects and making strategic investments that are currently valued at approximately $2,200,000. With the momentum created by these achievements, 2021 is looking very positive for our shareholders," states Origen President, Blake Morgan. 2020 Highlights: Gold discoveries in newly acquired LGM and optioned Wishbone projects in B.C.'s Golden Triangle in a two phase program setting the stage for an exciting 2021. Entered into an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Middle Ridge property in the prolific "Exploits Subzone Gold Belt" in Newfoundland. Acquired a 100% interest in two base and precious metals projects in southern B.C. Entered into agreements with third parties to advance two of the Company's exploration assets. Completed two investments in Exploits Discovery Corp. that resulted in the purchase of 3.67 million shares. Origen began trading on May 5th and hit the ground running by acquiring a 100% interest in the precious and base metal Bonanza Mountain and Broken Handle projects located in southern BC. The Company capitalized on this momentum with the acquisition of a dominant 30,742 hectare land package in the mineral endowed Golden Triangle of northwest B.C. Origen acquired a 100% interest in the LGM project and an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Wishbone project which lies 12km to the west of the LGM and adjacent to Teck and Newmont's Galore Creek project. The final property acquisition of 2020 occurred in November with the Company entering into an option to acquire a 100% interest in the Middle Ridge property in the prolific "Exploits Subzone Gold Belt" in Newfoundland, home to New Found Gold Corp.'s Queensway discovery. During 2020, Origen also made two investments in Exploits Discovery Corp. to diversify its asset portfolio. The two investments resulted in the combined purchase of 3.67 million shares of Exploits Discovery that are currently valued at approximately $2,200,000. This investment will provide the Company with an alternative, non-dilutive source of financing in the future. Phase 1 exploration work kicked-off at the LGM and Wishbone projects in July and led to several exciting discoveries. The Wishbone property has experienced substantial glacial retreat since it last witnessed systematic exploration work which aided in the discovery of the Rat gold zone, a 1000m x 500m area that exhibits broad gold-silver mineralization and is open in all directions. At the LGM project, soil sampling 900 meters north of the known Lucifer showing at the NULU target shows a gold anomaly and correlated copper and molybdenum values similar to Lucifer. The newly reported NULU gold anomaly is aligned with historical Noranda results and may represent the northerly extension of the Lucifer target and remains open to the north. The Company completed a follow-up phase two field program in September and is still awaiting assays results due to unprecedented delays with analytical labs. Results are expected shortly and will be released as they are received. With a stable of high-quality exploration properties in its portfolio, the Company received considerable interest in 2020 from parties seeking to acquire an interest in assets of this calibre. In June, the Company entered into an option agreement with Tearlach Resources Ltd. ("Tearlach") agreeing to terms on the Bonanza Mountain property whereby it can earn up to a 75% interest in the property. The Company has received notification from Tearlach that the option agreement has been approved and option payments are forthcoming. Following the Bonanza Mountain deal, the Company completed its divestment of its interest in the Kagoot property to West Mining Corp. in exchange for shares. Bringing in partners to advance the Company's assets is a main part of Origen's business model and is expected to continue in 2021. 2021 Exploration Outline Planning is well underway and will see Origen active on a number of fronts to build upon successes from 2020. Exploration plans for 2021 include: An airborne magnetometer and EM survey, set to be flown over the Middle Ridge Property in the coming weeks. An aggressive follow-up program at the LGM and Wishbone projects that includes drilling, airborne geophysical surveys, and additional mapping and sampling on the extensive land package. About Origen Origen is an exploration company engaged in generating, acquiring and advancing base and precious metal properties. The Company currently holds a property portfolio of four 100% owned precious and base metal projects in southern British Columbia, a 100% interest in the 26,771 ha LGM project and an option to acquire a 100% interest in the 3,971 ha Wishbone property in the mineral rich Golden Triangle of British Columbia, and a 100% interest in the Middle Ridge Pond project in Newfoundland. On behalf of Origen, Blake Morgan President For further information, please contact Blake Morgan, President at 236-878-4938 or Gary Schellenberg, CEO at 604-681-0221. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information." In particular references to the private placement and future work programs or expectations on the quality or results of such work programs are subject to risks associated with operations on the property, exploration activity generally, equipment limitations and availability, as well as other risks that we may not be currently aware of. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71617 Relatives to Christina Mata-Gron who died last May under mysterious circumstances said the mother of two was planning to divorce her husband as the pandemic forced them to stay home. Authorities arrested her husband, Brian Gron, late Tuesday at a Lake Livingston cabin and prosecutors charged him with murder after investigators concluded that he had a role in his wifes death. The 35-year-old woman died of blunt force trauma, according to medical examiner records, though the manner of death remains undetermined. He was released Wednesday from the Harris County Jail within hours of being ordered held on a $75,000 bail. The charging papers also take note of an outcry that the couples 6-year-old son made. He reported seeing his father on top of his mother and screaming, court documents show. The murder charge follows the Harris County Sheriffs Offices eight-month investigation, which also coincided with law enforcement raising the alarm on rising domestic violence because of the pandemic. They were stuck at home with each other, Mata-Grons stepfather, Ricardo Mora, said. The relationship continued to sour as the virus waged on in the Houston area and at one point, Mata-Gron who worked as a paralegal refused to let her husband come home and possibly infect their kids after he spent a night out drinking with friends. She forced him to quarantine for two weeks, Mora continued. They were having problems, Mora said. We all suspect that she had it with him and wanted a divorce. What caused Mata-Grons death is mainly attributed to a head injury but how that May 6 incident unfolded remains unclear. The court document outlining the charge against Gron accuses him of hitting his wifes head with an unspecified blunt object. A deputy with Harris County Precinct 4 Constables Office who was initially dispatched to the death saw scratch marks on Grons neck and requested homicide investigators. The husband then admitted to having a physical altercation with her before going to bed, prosecutors said in probable cause court. The husband purported that the two spent their day drinking and that she overdosed on alcohol and prescription medication, records show. During the fight, he said Mata-Gron attacked him and that he pushed back. He was unable to remember if she tripped or fell, authorities said. He said found her passed out on the bedroom floor and said he slept alongside her, records show. The autopsy completed in July found minor traces of alcohol contradicting the levels of drinking Gron had said happened, prosecutors said in court. Contradictions in Grons statement are what prompted prosecutors to request a $75,000 bond which hearing officer Lionel Castro granted. Mora also described what happened when he first learned of his stepdaughters death. He was beckoned to the couples home in the 6000 block of Capella Park Drive and Gron greeted him with a hug. He smelled of alcohol, he recalled. The first thing I asked him: What happened to my daughter, Mora said. The husband repeated his claim of an alcohol-fueled evening and that Mata-Gron fell on the floor and passed out, Mora continued. Mora and other family members grew suspicious and the months that followed were marred by additional heartbreak as Gron stopped bringing their grandchildren around, he said. Both children were in the house at the time of the death, officials said. They were not with the father at the time of his arrest. A public defender, Rebekah Kratochvil, after exchanging messages with Grons hired attorney, pointed out that the charge appears reliant on the outcry of the eldest child and that statement is likely the result of a pending custody dispute. Kratochvil said that authorities have not yet interviewed the child. Meanwhile, Mora contends that the childs father has not let that interview happen. Mora has since started a GoFundMe account to raise education funds for the two kids. The youngest child looks exactly like her mother and will never know her, he continued. nicole.hensley@chron.com A MOTHER-of-three tried to smuggle drugs to her boyfriend in prison after her home and children were threatened over a debt he had built up. Sarah Smith (41) was caught after she agreed to take the package of tranquilliser tablets into the prison out of "naivety". Judge David McHugh gave her a three-month suspended sentence. Smith, with an address at Moreen Avenue, Sandyford, pleaded guilty to smuggling drugs into Wheatfield Prison last March 5. Blanchardstown District Court heard the accused went to the prison on a visit to her boyfriend at 2.50pm and tried to hand over a drugs package to him. She was observed by staff and was taken from the visiting area to a side room, where she gave them the package, which contained 20 worth of diazepam. Smith, who had no previous convictions, was taking the case very seriously, her barrister Jennifer Jackson said. She was "absolutely petrified" to be in court. Remorse Smith had shown "deep regret and remorse from the moment she was caught", was very cooperative with prison staff and gardai and made full admissions at the time. Judge McHugh said it was a serious offence for anyone to attempt to take drugs into prison. It was "contrary to good order in the prison, put stress on staff and was a danger to the health of those receiving it", he said. Smith was "fully aware of the gravity of the situation", Ms Jackson said. She had no experience of the criminal justice system and there was a "bit of naivety" involved. The accused had been with her boyfriend only since last January. He had built up a drug debt in prison, and Smith received a threat to her home and her children. Rather than go to the gardai, Smith felt this was the best way to deal with the situation, "to protect her children and her home". She was not going to benefit financially from the crime. "It's the vulnerable that seem to be the people that are used in this type of situation," Judge McHugh said. Notwithstanding the mitigation, he said he would impose a sentence, but suspended it for a year. Emmanuel Bonne, Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, said that has not let China play any procedural games regarding the security concern in Kashmir. "Whether it be on Kashmir, we've been supportive of India in the security concern. We haven't let the Chinese play any kind of procedural games. When it comes to the Himalayas, check our statements, they are perfectly clear. What we say publicly, we say it to the Chinese privately. There is no ambiguity," he said while speaking at an event here on Thursday. He further called on China to respect international rules and be less aggressive to other nations. "We want China to respect certain rules, we want China to be less aggressive, we want China to understand that we are present in the field, willing and able to defend our interests," he said. Bonne also asserted the need to be strong enough to not let the Chinese administration develop another set of norms and principles, and the need to be able to counter China by creating a global proposal, which drives China to work within the same framework as other nations. He further said that China does not comply with the rules, certain consequences could be drawn from it. Earlier today, Bonne spoke on India's two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that the term will be critical for both Paris and New Delhi to take initiatives related to the Indo-Pacific region and terrorist threats. "We need India..we want to develop ties with India in a long term approach," he added. India's tenure at the Security Council formally began on Monday with a flag installation ceremony. Bonne is in India for annual strategic dialogue between the two countries. (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.) Al Mohler dismayed by 'American nightmare' on US Capitol, but stands by Trump vote Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Though dismayed by the American nightmare that took place on Capitol Hill, Southern Baptist leader Al Mohler said he stands by his vote for President Donald Trump, as he could not vote for Joe Biden in a binary system. I stand by the comments that I've made at every point, Mohler, president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, told The Houston Chronicle on Wednesday evening. If I could rewind history and know then what I know now, wed be talking about a different kind of judgment. But we have to live life in a temporal line and seek to be faithful in those moments. The evangelical leader, who did not vote for Trump in 2016 but later supported him in 2020, called the storming of the U.S. Capitol the unfolding of an American tragedy and scandal. This is a sight I never thought Americans would see: The necessity of the National Guard called out basically to protect the United States Capitol and the work of Congress in fulfilling its constitutional responsibility, he said. He condemned those who protested while carrying JESUS 2020 signs and In God We Trust banners, stressing that though attempts to co-opt Christianity for political purposes arent new, there is absolute shock in the extent to which it was on full display in Washington. Mohler said he does not regret voting for Trump in the binary system, but argued the president bears full responsibility for his actions and his words. And he bears full responsibility for encouraging what amounted to an attempted insurrection against the United States government. Today I could not vote for Joe Biden any more than I could not vote for him on November the third, he explained. But what we have seen is the true character of Donald Trump come out in a way that I do find not that I don't accept was merely inevitable. When pressed, Mohler reiterated he did not choose Trump as the nominee of the Republican Party, nor did he choose a binary in which I have to choose between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, or Joe Biden and Donald Trump. So there's no way to enter into this as if there is some realistic alternative. And so the Never Trumpers can feel quite self-satisfied. But the reality is that I don't believe their position was any more tenable, he said. Mohler later reiterated his position on his daily podcast The Briefing, explaining that while he was dismayed by what happened Wednesday, he had no regrets about his voting choice. I voted for Donald Trump for president of the United States. I encouraged others to vote for him too, Mohler said. Based upon the binary choice we faced on November the third, I believe then that that was the right action to take, and going back to November the third, I would do the same thing again. Other SBC leaders condemned the violence at the Capitol, including Russell Moore, J.D. Greear, and Beth Moore. I don't know the Jesus some have paraded and waved around in the middle of this treachery today. They may be acting in the name of some other Jesus but that's not Jesus of the Gospels, Beth Moore tweeted. In a lengthy op-ed for the Gospel Coalition, Russell Moore lamented it will take decades to rebuild from the wreckage in this country. But, as Christians, we can start nowjust by not being afraid to say what is objectively the truth, he said. Joe Biden has been elected president. Millions of babies are being aborted. The pandemic is real. So is racial injusticeboth personal and systemic. So is the sexual abuse of women and children. If Christians are people of truth, we ought to be the first to acknowledge reality. The stakes are high. As the church, we, like Augustine at the fall of Rome, have another citya city that will outlast all the others, he added. Countries can fall. I hope this one doesnt. But, either way, lets not fall with it. rvolkan/iStockBy NATHAN LUNA, MINA KAJI, and AMANDA MAILE, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- The U.S. Justice Department charged The Boeing Company with "conspiracy to defraud the United States" -- concluding after a lengthy investigation that the company knowingly misled regulators while seeking approval for its 737 MAX aircraft. Boeing is now entering into a "deferred prosecution agreement" worth $2.5 billion consisting of a $243 million criminal penalty, $500 million to relatives who lost loved ones and $1.77 billion to global airlines affected by the MAX groundings. In October 2019 pilots struggled to regain control of the MAX and it plunged into the Java Sea off the coast of Indonesia. Five months later another MAX crashed near Addis Ababa airport in Ethiopia just six minutes after takeoff, killing all on board, and forcing regulators around the globe to ground the plane. Three hundred and forty-six people perished in both accidents. In an SEC filing released Thursday, Boeing said it agreed to the charge "based on the conduct of two former 737 MAX program technical pilots." "I firmly believe that entering into this resolution is the right thing for us to doa step that appropriately acknowledges how we fell short of our values and expectations," David Calhoun, Boeing president and CEO, said in a note to employees. "This resolution is a serious reminder to all of us of how critical our obligation of transparency to regulators is, and the consequences that our company can face if any one of us falls short of those expectations." Investigators found that both crashes were tied to the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System, or MCAS, software, which had been designed to help stabilize the jet after heavier, repositioned engines placed on the aircraft caused the plane's nose to point too far upward in certain circumstances. In both crashes, incorrect data from a faulty sensor caused the MCAS to misfire, forcing the planes to nose down repeatedly. MCAS was not mentioned in the pilot manual -- allowing pilots to enter the MAX cockpit without simulator training that would have cost the airlines more money. Boeing has been accused of withholding information from the Federal Aviation Administration regarding MCAS. In internal messages that surfaced in October 2019, the chief technical pilot for the aircraft, Mark Forkner, told another pilot that the MCAS flight control system was "running rampant" in a simulator session. The documents released by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee show Forkner told FAA officials that MCAS was safe despite calling it "egregious" based on simulator tests, according to internal messages and emails. "I basically lied to the regulators (unknowingly)," Forkner said to his colleague in the messages. Forkner was the main point of contact between the administration and Boeing in regard to areas like pilot training and manual recommendations, an FAA official explained at the time. Forkner was reportedly questioned by federal prosecutors. Boeing said in a statement in October 2019 that Forkner's comments "reflected a reaction to a simulator program that was not functioning properly, and that was still undergoing testing." In January 2020, Boeing released more than 100 pages of internal communications that the company itself called "completely unacceptable." In one exchange, an unnamed Boeing employee says the 737 Max "is designed by clowns, who in turn are supervised by monkeys," after complaining about the flight management computer. In another 2018 message a Boeing employee asks, "Would you put your family on a MAX simulator trained aircraft?" "I wouldn't," he said. "No," the colleague responded. Boeing has since rewritten the MCAS software, receiving the FAA's approval for the jet to reenter commercial service on Nov. 18, 2020. Last week, American flew the first Boeing 737 MAX with paying passengers in almost two years. United Airlines said it will start flying the MAX out of its Denver and Houston hubs on Feb 11. Southwest Airlines estimated that the MAX will return to service no sooner than March. American, Southwest and United have all said they will be completely transparent with customers who are scheduled to fly on a MAX and will allow them to rebook with no change fee or request a refund if they do not feel comfortable. But for the family members who lost loved ones the changes Boeing made are not enough to convince them the plane is safe. "I wish that the Boeing executives would have been there to have experienced watching coffins being lined up and wondering who your loved one is," Zipporah Kuria, who lost her father Joseph Waithaka in the Ethiopia crash, told ABC News. "Having those coffins opened up and being traumatized by what we saw, what was left of our loved ones, and then maybe they would be forward thinking maybe if they walked a mile in our shoes as the people who have had to pay for their negligence. They would think twice before going ahead and putting this aircraft back up." When asked for comment, the FAA deferred to the Justice Department. ABC News' Sam Sweeney contributed to this report. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Vietnam will continue to seek measures to enhance the efficiency of and expand the areas of engagement in UN peacekeeping operations, heard a conference held by the Ministry of National Defence in Hanoi on January 7. Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations addresses the conference (Photo: VNA) The conference was chaired by Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, who is also head of the Ministry of National Defence's steering committee for the participation in UN peacekeeping operations. It saw the attendance of representatives from ministries, agencies, sectors and military units. Major General Hoang Kim Phung, Director of the Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations, said that from June 2014 to December 2020, Vietnam sent 179 officers and soldiers, including 126 military medical staff of two level-2 field hospitals, to UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, the Central Africa Republic and the UN Peace Operation Department at the UN headquarters, adding that the move was highly appreciated by the UN and supported by domectic and world opinions. Vietnam is also training 259 sappers for the future engagement in peacekeeping operations at an appropriate time, the officer noted. Vietnams involvement in UN peacekeeping missions has helped promoting defence cooperation between the country and partners, enhancing its position and prestige in the regional and global arena, and contributing to Vietnams success in running for non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council in the 2020-2021 tenure, he said. Participants at the event shared experiences and sought measures to further increase the efficiency of Vietnams engagement in UN peacekeeping operations in the future. Deputy Minister of National Defence Sen. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh presents certificates of merit to collectives and individuals with outstanding achievements (Photo: VNA) They agreed that along with the maintaining of operations of a level-2 field hospitals in South Sudan and officers in other positions, Vietnam will seek opportunities to deploy the sapper force, while considering the possibility of expanding its engagement in other operation areas such as military police, infantry guards and transport helicopters, while continuing to send officers to take part in contests for commanding positions at missions and UN agencies. The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations will give more advice to the Central Military Commission and leaders of the Ministry of National Defence as well as the steering committee on measures to protect the safety of Vietnamese officers amidst COVID-19 pandemic. Vietnam will strive to develop the department into a centre for the enhancement of peacekeeping capacity in the region and the world./.VNA President Donald Trumps Abraham Accords have been singular in focusbuild Middle East peace upon Arab states establishing full relations with Israel. And although not officially linked, three of the four nations to normalize with the Jewish state this year received something from the United States in return. The first, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), was cleared to purchase American F-35 fighter jets. (The second, Bahrain, which already hosts a US naval base, is understood to be part of a gradual Gulf alignment with Israel.) The third, Sudan, was removed from the US list of state sponsors of terrorism. This month, the fourth, Morocco, was granted US recognition of its longstanding claim to the Western Sahara, a mostly desert region on the northwest coast of Africa, which seeks independence. But absent from the accords is any emphasis on religious freedom, despite the Trump administration making it a central feature of its foreign policy. And in relation to Christians, each nation has a unique situation. The Emirates is officially 100 percent Muslim, though it facilitates the worship of its majority population of migrant workers. And following normalization, the UAE relaxed its sharia-based laws. Bahrain has a native Christian population of about 1,000 people, descended from communities in Lebanon, Syria, and India. Three years ago, its king signed a declaration esteeming individual freedom of [religious] choice as a divine gift. Sudans Christians, though only 3 percent of the population, are indigenous citizens. And following the 2019 popular revolution, Sudan implemented religious reforms, including repeal of its apostasy law. Morocco is in between. Long lauded for its treatment of local Jews, Moroccos constitution recognizes Judaism and considers the 3,000-strong community as an integral part of its society. And during last years visit by Pope Francis, King Muhammad VI interpreted his official title of Commander of the Faithful as the Commander of all believers [including] Moroccan Jews and Christians from other countries, who are living in Morocco. But the omission stood out. He didnt mention us, said Zouhair Doukali, a Moroccan Christian. I want the government to recognize all minorities, so that we can live as Moroccan citizens. Estimates of the North African nations unofficial Christian citizens vary widely, from 5,000 to 50,000. Foreign-resident Christians are estimated at about 30,000 Catholics and 10,000 Protestants, who enjoy religious freedom in legally registered churches. But whereas the UAE and Sudan have been improving their religious freedom image, Morocco has moved backwards, according to a new report on blasphemy laws by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). One of eight nations to have expanded blasphemy provisions since USCIRFs last report, in 2018 Morocco doubled its fines and jail terms. It also expanded the laws jurisdiction from only official publishers to include any individuals in public or online forums. And proselytizing, described as shaking the faith of a Muslim, can be punished with up to three years in prison. Open Doors ranks Morocco No. 26 on its World Watch List of the 50 countries where it is hardest to be a Christian. But unlike the UAE, where conversion is illegal and can meet the death penalty, Morocco assigns no penalties for conversion. The government has said so publicly. There is no persecution in Morocco, stated spokesman Mustapha El Khalfi, and there is no discrimination on the basis of faith. Moroccan Christian sources agree there is no state persecution. Over the past decade, the government has largely left converts alone. And since all are assumed to be Muslim, there are no issues marrying other believers. (Marriage in Morocco is a matter of civil registration, whereas in some Arab states it has a religious character and Muslims may not enter into Christian marriage.) Some Christians, however, want full human rights. Doukali accepted Christ in 2000 and lived 10 years as a secret believer. But taking courage from the book of Acts, he decided to go public. You cannot stay afraid forever, he said. Some family members stopped talking to me, but I won back my life. It helps that he is self-employed as an electrician. Most Moroccan Christians keep their faith private, Doukali said, afraid of social pressures that might cost them their jobs. But private does not mean hidden. Most Christians meet in house churches, with many locations known by local residents, and presumably all by national intelligence. Doukali worships with about 15 others in Casablanca, under a local Moroccan pastor. The rule for safety is the same for neighborliness: Keep down the noise. But allowance is not the same as facilitation. In 2016, Doukali and other believers formed the Coordination of Moroccan Christians (CMC) and approached the National Council of Human Rights. They were received warmly, he said, and were promised assistance. The next year, they gave their papers to the government to register as an official organization. To date, there has been no reply. Several sources stated they were involved in the CMC at some point, but the organization has since withered amid personal disputes. Still, the demand remains for legal recognition as Christians and registration of church buildings. Some also ask for the right to Christian marriage and burial. For others, there are more important issuesincluding personal safety. We are not asking for freedom, said Saeed, a Moroccan Christian using a pseudonym in order to protect his ministry. We have to build the church first, so people can be firm in their faith. Having become a Christian in 1990, Saeed translated the Bible into the local dialect of his Amazigh language. The indigenous population of many parts of Morocco and Algeria, the Amazigh were a mix of Christians, Jews, and animists before the spread of Islam. Notable church leaders include Augustine (whose heritage was previously highlighted by CT), Tertullian, and Cyprian of Carthage. Today, Saeeds house church includes about 40 believers. They meet in a single-family home, so their worship does not alert the neighbors. He is concerned about Muslim radicals, not the government. But there is an advantage to keeping faith below the radar, Saeed said. Security monitors the public figures, which he believes can limit their effectiveness. We are not a threat to the government; we are too small, he said. Our treatment depends on their interests, and what they want to show to the outside world. Moroccos reputation is good. In 2012, the UN Human Rights Office convened in the nations capital and formulated the Rabat Plan of Action to curb discrimination and incitement against religious minorities. In 2016, the Marrakesh Declaration assembled more than 200 clerics from around the world, urging Muslim nations to better protect their Christian minorities. And now in 2020, normalization with Israel highlights Moroccos historical relationship with the Jews. During World War II, the then-king rebuffed Nazi efforts to deport the community to Germany. The accord with Israel will help Christians indirectly, Saeed said. Ordinary Moroccans will learn to accept diversity and eventually Christian citizens also. One day, thousands will come to Christ, he said. He wants the church to be ready to receive them and not risk complicating things now through public advocacy. If the radicals rise up in offense, the government may be forced to crack down. I can deal with prison, or death, but we have to take care to protect the others, Saeed said. If you want to do things long term, you have to be wise, and slow. However, that does not necessarily mean silent. Youssef Ahmed is one of the few second-generation Moroccan Christians. From Tangier, his father converted in 1936 through the colonial-era headquarters of the North Africa Mission. In 1945, the father spent two years in prison after refusing to recant his faith. And as a boy, Youssef regularly had rocks thrown at him on the way to the mission school. In 1975, Youssef married a fellow Moroccan Christian, but shortly afterwards the government seized the mission hospital and church in which they had wed. Many believers stopped meeting, afraid for their safety. But others joined to form a house church in the Ahmed family home, known to neighbors to this day. In 2004, God called him into full-time ministry. Six years later, he helped mitigate a crisis. By then the house church movement was going strong. In 2005, the Newsboys headlined a Christian music festival in Marrakesh. But in 2010, the government kicked out more than 100 foreign Christian workers throughout the country. Once again, Moroccan believers scattered. Only this time, there was significant infighting. Pastors feared informants. Would-be leaders jostled over funding. And denominational conflicts between groups connected to Baptist or Pentecostal missions contributed to overall disunity. Ahmed, now 66 years old, summoned his senior status to convene 35 national leaders from each region of Morocco. After leading them in reconciliation, the church began to grow again. The king says you have the freedom to believe what you want, but not to show it publicly, Ahmed said. The message is this: We respect your religion, but you respect oursmeaning Moroccos. Polling data, however, suggests Moroccans are respecting their own religion less and less. The number declaring themselves not religious has tripled since 2013, now encompassing 15 percent of the population. The same survey, released in 2019 by Arab Barometer and the BBC, finds only 25 percent have faith in their religious leaders. And 4 in 10 desire to emigrate. Some of these come to the church seeking baptism, said Ahmed. Their aim, however, is the baptismal certificate they can present to officials in Europewhen they seek asylum. After clarification, some become true seekers. But while care must be taken lest Christian pastors shake the faith of a Muslim, many leaders want the record put straight. If anyone claims religious asylum because of government persecution, he is lying, said Rachid Imounan, an Amazigh church planter who lives in the southern city of Agadir. The king has my loyalty and respect, as a Moroccan Christian. Like Ahmed, Imounans children have had rocks thrown at them. He has suffered death threats. Yet he continues his public internet radio ministry and supervises a network of 150 believers in the surrounding areaincluding the Western Sahara. The security network serves the monarchy and keeps overall stability, he said. While the king has implemented a liberal agenda, the Moroccan government has been dominated by political Islamists since 2011, when constitutional reforms staved off Arab Spring protests. Moroccan Christians hope next years elections might unseat them. The prime minister has not publicly rejected normalization with Israel, though he used the opportunity to pledge unshakable support for the Palestinians. But his coalition allies have called it deplorable. All Moroccan Christian sources expressed strong support for relations with Israel, however. And obtaining US recognition of the disputed Western Sahara territoryrich in phosphates and fishing resourceswill strengthen the nations economic development, especially in the south. Many analysts chided the Trump administration for reversing longstanding US policy, which favored a referendum on independence, and noted the territorys facilitation of church-supported Christian workers. But Moroccan believers once rejected a shipment of Arabic Bibles due to their inclusion of a world map listing the Western Sahara as distinct from Morocco. Muhammad VI chairs the al-Quds [an Arabic name signifying Jerusalem] committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). Formed in 1975, the committee is dedicated to implementing the OIC resolutions in the Arab-Israeli conflict. Anger from the Palestinians has been muted compared to the preceding normalization deals, as the king reached out directly to assure them of his continued support for their independent state. But while the recent deal brokered by the Trump administration is popular with the small Christian community, polling data suggests they are the minority. In a November survey by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, only 17 percent of Moroccans express support for the Abraham Accords. Only 26 percent believe Israel has a right to exist, and 7 in 10 view the Jewish state unfavorably. Imounan used to be one of them. Moroccans were raised to be against Israel, and to hate the Jews, he said. But now this will changeand be a blessing to our nation. Since the accord, the education ministry announced it has revised curriculum to include Jewish history and culture. Whether or not future developments include Moroccos Christian heritageand presentthe young church believes that relations with Israel signal that the nation is headed in the right direction. As Christians, our goals are for peace, with love toward all peoples, said Imounan. This puts Morocco on the right path with the world. Getty Images U.S. Sen. Christopher Murphy was quoted in Augusts New York Times as saying that, Democracy is unnatural, and that it was doomed from the start, referring to President Trump and world affairs. While debatable, if foreign nations interfered either in 2016s or 2020s, elections, veritably, it is unlikely that enough fraud could have changed either outcome. In between, democracy domestically was tested. Throughout the world, nations leaders are obfuscating democracy, from Chinas Chairman Xi (the declared leader for life), to Russias Putin (the same), to Turkeys Erdogan, to Hungarys Orban, to countless leaders in the global South. Many ask will democracy survive? America is emerging from Trumps isolationism. Much depends on President-Elect Joe Biden, who has been hawkish, such as suggesting in 2014 sending U.S. troops to fight the Russians in Crimea, to dovish, in opposing the Afghanistan troop increase. Joe Biden reminds one of Joe Kennedy the Irish Catholic Biden family has endured tragedy like the Kennedys. Joe Kennedy, while an ambassador, declared that democracy was dead in opposing fighting totalitarianism. Police in Krong Pa District, Gia Lai Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, have arrested the chairman of a company contracted to carry out an afforestation project, claiming the executive played a leading role in local deforestation. Le Hoang Phuc, 67, from My Tho City in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang, will likely be held in custody for three months, local police announced on Thursday. Phuc is the chairman of Phuc Phong Gia Lai Forest Products Co. Ltd, an enterprise which rented 859 hectares of forest land from the Nam Song Ba Protection Forest Management Board for an afforestation project in 2017, according to the Peoples Procuracy in Krong Pa District. The approval allowed Phuc Phong Gia Lai to clear vegetation in the area and plant trees on the land. The firm was not allowed to encroach on forested areas. However, in November 2018, the forest protection unit of Krong Pa District, in collaboration with Nam Song Ba Protection Forest Management Board, found that three hectares of forest in Chu Drang Commune had been destroyed. The devastated area included both a productive forest and a natural wood forest. The felled trees measured eight centimeters to 38 centimeters in diameter and three meters to 12 meters in height. The forest protection unit of Krong Pa District launched legal proceedings against the deforestation case and transferred it to the districts police for investigation where authorities launched legal proceedings against Luc Van Khoa, 50, and Le Van Tuyen, 33, two Phuc Phong Gia Lai employees who had been living in Krong Nang District, Dak Lak Province. During the investigation, authorities identified that Le Hoang Phuc was responsible for the deforestation. Before his arrest, Phuc was unwilling to cooperate with investigators, opening him up to prosecution. In another development during the investigation, Phuc submitted documents confirming his treatment for mental illness, the local authorities said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Percy Pigs are struggling to find their way across the Irish Sea to supermarket shelves in the Republic of Ireland in one of the first Brexit casualties. Marks & Spencer revealed that getting to grips with new post-Brexit rules are becoming particularly tricky for the retailers porcine favourite. At the companys Christmas trading update, chief executive Steve Rowe explained how the sweets are a typical example of the problems facing retailers, as several report difficulties with new red tape. But the problem is not confined to Percy Pigs and other retailers are already reporting struggles in understanding the new rules. Mr Rowe said: Essentially, there is about a third of the product in our food business that is subject to very complex rules of origin arrangements, around the components within it, and how much has been altered in the UK. Depending on that there is a variable tariff. Expand Close Marks and Spencer chief executive Steve Rowe (Marks and Spencer/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Marks and Spencer chief executive Steve Rowe (Marks and Spencer/PA) Any product thats manufactured in Europe, comes to the UK and is then redistributed to somewhere like Republic of Ireland also, potentially faces a tariff. So, the best example is Percy Pig is actually manufactured in Germany, and if it comes to the UK and we then send it to Ireland, in theory, he would have some tax on it. So weve got a lot to do in terms of composition and rerouting, but its really important that we continue to be focused on trading the business. And, at the moment, making sure weve got constant continuity of supply in our Irish business. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said that at least 50 of its members face potential tariffs for re-exporting goods following the agreement of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA). We appreciate that the rules of origin in the TCA were designed to be facilitative on trade in goods, but we need a solution which genuinely reflects the needs of UK-EU supply and distribution chains for goods, said William Bain, trade policy adviser at the BRC. We are working with members on short-term options and are seeking dialogue with the Government and the EU on longer-term solutions to mitigate the effects of new tariffs. Expand Close Freight lorries at Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford, Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Freight lorries at Rosslare Europort in Co Wexford, Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) Following the agreement of the withdrawal deal, a raft of retailers including John Lewis and TKMaxx suspended deliveries into Northern Ireland amid uncertainty over new Irish Sea trading arrangements. To try and combat the envisaged problems, M&S launched a new distribution centre in Motherwell exclusively to deal with supplying products to the island of Ireland, rather than from a warehouse that previously supplied Ireland and Britain. But eight days into the new arrangements between the EU and UK, the centre is said to be struggling to cope with the new rules. One problem for M&S is that many of its products sold in Ireland, like Percy Pigs, are sourced to the UK before being shipped out. However, EU rules say point of origin must be declared on products going into member states. Percy Pigs may find a workaround over time, but, bigger concerns will be with M&Ss myriad of ready meals or prepared dishes, which tend to have a long list of ingredients from around the world. Meats, dairy and vegetables point of origin must be declared, meaning butter in one dish must be accounted for from one country, alongside a separate form for the meat and another for the vegetables, even if they are all in the same ready meal. 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 An American service member stationed in South Korea died earlier this week in a car accident during a military training, the U.S. military said Friday. Staff Sgt. James Wento, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene Tuesday, as the military vehicle he was driving overturned during the training event of his unit at the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex in Pocheon, northeast of Seoul, according to the 2nd Infantry Division. "The circumstances surrounding the accident are under investigation," the division said. The wheeled vehicle mechanic, affiliated with the 2nd Combat Aviation Brigade, joined the U.S. Army in 2009 and was assigned to South Korea in May 2019. (Yonhap) One year into a changed world, the numbers defy comprehension. More than 21 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the United States a rate approaching one in 15 people plus untold millions who had mild or no symptoms and were never identified. Add the millions who have received their first doses of vaccine, and it is fair to wonder: Can we start to look forward to when life returns to normal? The answer hinges on that often-misunderstood concept of herd immunity, made all the more complicated by the emergence of two variants of the coronavirus that seem to spread more rapidly, one of which is already in the United States. Evidence so far suggests that the new mutations will have little, if any, impact on how well the vaccines work, and they do not seem to result in a more severe illness. Yet given the wintertime surge in cases possibly aggravated by the new mutations and the question of how long immunity lasts, public health experts say this is no time to relax precautions. For a reality check on how far weve come, we spoke to three researchers who study the spread of infectious disease: Temple University epidemiologist Abby Rudolph, Drew University biologist Brianne Barker, and Pennsylvania State University biologist Maciej Boni. Like a forest fire The term herd immunity was coined a century ago by veterinarians studying the spread of disease in livestock. Simply put, they meant that if enough cows developed immunity to an illness, the herd would be protected. Even if an animal or two were somehow to become infected on occasion, they would be unable to pass it on. Boni, who has served on World Health Organization committees for malaria and other disease epidemics, likens the concept to a forest fire. If a lot of the trees have been burned down, he said, you have a forest thats sparse enough that no fire can take off in the forest. But in practice, achieving the threshold necessary for mass protection from disease is complicated. For one thing, the number varies depending on how easily the microbe in question spreads. READ MORE: All your COVID-19 vaccine questions, answered Measles, to borrow the forest analogy, spreads like proverbial wildfire with each infected person passing it on to more than a dozen others in an unexposed population. It is so infectious that more than 90% of a population must be immune in order to prevent outbreaks, whether as the result of natural infection or a vaccine. And even then, the level of protection is not uniform. Vaccines are not foolproof, and some people choose not to get them. If a school or neighborhood is home to enough people in that category, there is fuel for a potential outbreak. COVID-19 is far less transmissible. In a naive population with no prior exposure and no precautions in place, each infected person spreads the virus to an average of three others, epidemiologists calculated early in the pandemic. Social distancing, masks, and other safeguards can drive that number down so long as everyone is on board, but a key point to remember is that word average. Some people with COVID-19 are super-spreaders passing on the disease to far more than three others, whether because they are careless, or unaware theyre infected, or both. Taking those uncertainties into account, scientists estimated that 60% to 70% of people needed to be immune before the virus could be contained. Then in December, a new wrinkle emerged: a variant of the coronavirus that seemed to spread more rapidly. The British variant Viruses mutate a tiny bit every time they copy themselves in order to spread from cell to cell. In the vast majority of cases, these random changes have no effect on how well a microbe spreads. Or they have a negative effect, causing a particular lineage to die out. When a new variant started to spread rapidly in Britain, researchers said it could be the result of something called a founder effect meaning that version of the virus gained traction simply because it happened to be the one carried by a person who exposed lots of other people, not because of some change in the virus itself. But mounting evidence suggests that mutations in the virus, not human behavior, are somehow enabling the faster spread, said Drew Universitys Barker, who studies the biology of the immune system. READ MORE: Why the new COVID-19 mutations might not be as scary as you think A key indicator is that every time the variant arrives in a new location, it seems to spread just as rapidly as it has in the United Kingdom, Barker said. The odds would be against having it be a founder effect or some behavioral issue in each new country, where we know the restrictions and the behaviors are so different, she said. Pennsylvania health officials said Thursday that the new variant, dubbed B.1.1.7, had been identified in a Dauphin County resident who apparently became infected while abroad. Meanwhile, another fast-spreading variant has been identified in South Africa. It remains unclear just how much faster these new strains can spread, or exactly which genetic changes are to blame, Barker said. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has estimated that the threshold for herd immunity from COVID may now be above 80%. If theres any good news, neither set of mutations in the new variants is thought to be significant enough that the vaccines will no longer work. And neither version of the virus seems to make people more sick. READ MORE: COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects. Heres why that shouldnt stop you from getting the shots. But the health consequences of COVID-19 were bad enough to begin with. If the same fraction of infected people become seriously ill, then an increase in overall infections means more people end up in hospitals, and more people die. All this means to me, Barker said, is that we have a lot less room for error in all of the interventions that were doing. So how close are we? One challenge in measuring the spread of the coronavirus is the fact that many people have mild symptoms or none at all, and never undergo the nasal-swab tests that detect a current infection. Scientists have tried to get past that roadblock with a different test: measuring blood samples for the presence of antibodies, which can remain in the blood for months after an infection. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has undertaken several such studies, including one in Pennsylvania, testing samples from people who get their blood drawn for various reasons at commercial labs. This month, scientists at the drug companies Pfizer and Merck analyzed these studies and others to conclude that, as of mid-November, 47 million Americans 14% of the population had antibodies to the virus. That finding, published in JAMA Network Open, represents more than four times the official case count of 11 million by that point. But the analysis has limitations, said Rudolph, an associate professor of epidemiology at Temples College of Public Health, who was not involved in the study. Among other issues, the people whose antibody levels were measured might not be representative of the general population in some way. They might have gotten their blood drawn because of an underlying health issue that made them more susceptible to infection. Or maybe they were more liable to take precautions, meaning they could be less likely to have been infected with the virus, Rudolph said. The biases can go in either way, she said. The study authors acknowledged these limitations and others, and said their 14% figure represented an estimate, ranging from below 12% to above 18%. READ MORE: What COVID-19 has taught medicine in 2020 Boni, the Penn State biologist, said 14% was at least in the ballpark. And since then, cases have surged. If the rate of undetected cases remains several times higher than the official case count, that could mean the United States is approaching 60 million or 70 million infections perhaps 20% of the population, though it varies from state to state. Pennsylvania is likely close to that level of infection, and with a continued post-holiday surge, seems poised to hit 28% by the end of January, said Boni, who has analyzed state data. A grim forecast, for sure. But at the same time, the rate of vaccinations is picking up, contributing to herd immunity in a safe fashion. A good target would be to vaccinate 10% of the population each month, he said. That would mean 38% protection (28% plus 10%) by the end of January, and maybe more than 50% immunity by the end of February. Now March looks good, he said. And if March looks good, April looks really good, with some aspects of life starting to seem close to normal. Thats if all goes well. But the vaccines are not 100% effective. And it is unclear how long immunity lasts, though a recent study led by the La Jolla Institute for Immunology found that after infection, various defenses in the immune system retained their memory of the virus for up to eight months. It is, in effect, a race against time, Boni said. The more illness we wish to prevent, the faster we should make sure every pharmacy and clinic is supplied with syringes. We have to keep vaccinating, he said. We dont have any alternative. UC San Francisco scientists have discovered a new way to control the immune system's "natural killer" (NK) cells, a finding with implications for novel cell therapies and tissue implants that can evade immune rejection. The findings could also be used to enhance the ability of cancer immunotherapies to detect and destroy lurking tumors. The study, published January 8, 2021 in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, addresses a major challenge for the field of regenerative medicine, said lead author Tobias Deuse, MD, the Julien I.E. Hoffman, MD, Endowed Chair in Cardiac Surgery in the UCSF Department of Surgery. "As a cardiac surgeon, I would love to put myself out of business by being able to implant healthy cardiac cells to repair heart disease," said Deuse, who is interim chair and director of minimally invasive cardiac surgery in the Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery. "And there are tremendous hopes to one day have the ability to implant insulin-producing cells in patients with diabetes or to inject cancer patients with immune cells engineered to seek and destroy tumors. The major obstacle is how to do this in a way that avoids immediate rejection by the immune system." Deuse and Sonja Schrepfer, MD, PhD, also a professor in the Department of Surgery's Transplant and Stem Cell Immunobiology Laboratory, study the immunobiology of stem cells. They are world leaders in a growing scientific subfield working to produce "hypoimmune" lab-grown cells and tissues -- capable of evading detection and rejection by the immune system. One of the key methods for doing this is to engineer cells with molecular passcodes that activate immune cell "off switches" called immune checkpoints, which normally help prevent the immune system from attacking the body's own cells and modulate the intensity of immune responses to avoid excess collateral damage. Schrepfer and Deuse recently used gene modification tools to engineer hypoimmune stem cells in the lab that are effectively invisible to the immune system. Notably, as well as avoiding the body's learned or "adaptive" immune responses, these cells could also evade the body's automatic "innate" immune response against potential pathogens. To achieve this, the researchers adapted a strategy used by cancer cells to keep innate immune cells at bay: They engineered their cells to express significant levels of a protein called CD47, which shuts down certain innate immune cells by avtivating a molecular switch found on these cells, called SIRP. Their success became part of the founding technology of Sana Biotechnology, Inc, a company co-founded by Schrepfer, who now directs a team developing a platform based on these hypoimmune cells for clinical use. But the researchers were left with a mystery on their hands -- the technique was more successful than predicted. In particular, the field was puzzled that such engineered hypoimmune cells were able to deftly evade detection by NK cells, a type of innate immune cell that isn't supposed to express a SIRP checkpoint at all. NK cells are a type of white blood cell that acts as an immunological first responder, quickly detecting and destroying any cells without proper molecular ID proving they are "self" -- native body cells or at least permanent residents -- which takes the form of highly individualized molecules called MHC class I (MHC-I). When MHC-I is artificially knocked out to prevent transplant rejection, the cells become susceptible to accelerated NK cell killing, an immunological rejection that no one in the field had yet succeeded in inhibiting fully. Deuse and Schrepfer's 2019 data, published in Nature Biotechnology, suggested they might have stumbled upon an off switch that could be used for that purpose. "All the literature said that NK cells don't have this checkpoint, but when we looked at cells from human patients in the lab we found SIRP there, clear as day," Schrepfer recalled. "We can clearly demonstrate that stem cells we engineer to overexpress CD47 are able to shut down NK cells through this pathway." To explore their data, Deuse and Schrepfer approached Lewis Lanier, PhD, a world expert in NK cell biology. At first Lanier was sure there must be some mistake, because several groups had looked for SIRP in NK cells already and it wasn't there. But Schrepfer was confident in her team's data. "Finally it hit me," Schrepfer said. "Most studies looking for checkpoints in NK cells were done in immortalized lab-grown cell lines, but we were studying primary cells directly from human patients. I knew that must be the difference." Further examination revealed that NK cells only begin to express SIRP after they are activated by certain immune signaling molecules called cytokines. As a result, the researchers realized, this inducible immune checkpoint comes into effect only in already inflammatory environments and likely functions to modulate the intensity of NK cells' attack on cells without proper MHC class I identification. "NK cells have been a major barrier to the field's growing interest in developing universal cell therapy products that can be transplanted "off the shelf" without rejection, so these results are extremely promising," said Lanier, chair and J. Michael Bishop Distinguished Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. In collaboration with Lanier, Deuse and Schrepfer comprehensively documented how CD47-expressing cells can silence NK cells via SIRP. While other approaches can silence some NK cells, this was the first time anyone has been able to inhibit them completely. Notably, the team found that NK cells' sensitivity to inhibition by CD47 is highly species-specific, in line with its function in distinguishing "self" from potentially dangerous "other". As a demonstration of this principle, the team engineered adult human stem cells with the rhesus macaque version of CD47, then implanted them into rhesus monkeys, where they successfully activated SIRP in the monkeys' NK cells, and avoided killing the transplanted human cells. In the future the same procedure could be performed in reverse, expressing human CD47 in pig cardiac cells, for instance, to prevent them from activating NK cells when transplanted into human patients. "Currently engineered CAR T cell therapies for cancer and fledgling forms of regenerative medicine all rely on being able to extract cells from the patient, modify them in the lab, and then put them back in the patient. This avoids rejection of foreign cells, but is extremely laborious and expensive," Schrepfer said. "Our goal in establishing a hypoimmune cell platform is to create off-the shelf products that can be used to treat disease in all patients everywhere." The findings could also have implications for cancer immunotherapy, as a way of boosting existing therapies that attempt to overcoming the immune checkpoints cancers use to evade immune detection. "Many tumors have low levels of self-identifying MHC-I protein and some compensate by overexpressing CD47 to keep immune cells at bay," said Lanier, who is director of the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. "This might be the sweet spot for antibody therapies that target CD47." ### Authors: The study's lead authors were Deuse and UCSF TSI lab research scientist Xiaomeng Hu; Lanier and Schrepfer were the study's senior authors, and Schrepfer is corresponding author. Other authors were Sean Agbor-Enoh of The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); Moon K. Jang at the NHLBI; Hannah Valantine at Stanford; Malik Alawi and Ceren Saygi of the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf in Germany; Alessia Gravina, Grigol Tediashvili, and Vinh Q. Nguyen of UCSF; and Yuan Liu of Georgia State University. Funding: The research and researchers are supported by NHLBI (R01HL140236), the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, and the US National Institutes of Health (NIH P30 DK063720 NIH S10 1S10OD021822-01). Disclosures: Deuse is scientific co-founder and Schrepfer is scientific founder and Senior Vice President of Sana Biotechnology Inc. Xiaomeng Hu is now senior scientist at Sana Biotechnology Inc. Neither reagents nor any funding from Sana Biotechnology Inc. was used in this study. UCSF has filed patent applications that cover these inventions. About UCSF: The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) is exclusively focused on the health sciences and is dedicated to promoting health worldwide through advanced biomedical research, graduate-level education in the life sciences and health professions, and excellence in patient care. UCSF Health, which serves as UCSF's primary academic medical center, includes top-ranked specialty hospitals and other clinical programs, and has affiliations throughout the Bay Area. Learn more at ucsf.edu, or see our Fact Sheet. Follow UCSF ucsf.edu | Facebook.com/ucsf | YouTube.com/ucsf Stratovolcano 2968 m / 9,737 ftCentral Java, Indonesia, -7.54S / 110.44E(4 out of 5)1548, 1554, 1560, 1584, 1586(?), 1587, 1658, 1663, 1672, 1678, 1745, 1752, 1755, 1768, 1791, 1797, 1807, 1810, 1812-22, 1822-23, 1828, 1832-36, 1837-38, 1840, 1846, 1848(?), 1849, 1854(?), 1861, 1862-64, 1865-71, 1872 (large vulcanian-subplinian eruption VEI:4) , 1872-73, 1878-79, 1883-84, 1885-87, 1888, 1889, 1891-92, 1893, 1894, 1897, 1902, 1902-04, 1905, 1906-07, 1908, 1909-13, 1915, 1918, 1920-21, 1922, 1923(?), 1924, 1930-31, 1932, 1933-35, 1939-40, 1942-45, 1948, 1953-58, 1961, 1967-1970, 1971(?), 1972-85, 1986-90, 1992-2002, April-July 2006, Oct 2010-2011 Feb, 2018 (May), late 2018 - ongoingHighly explosive. Large Plinian eruption every few 1000 of years (the last ones at about 1000 BP and 2000 BP), sometimes with associated flank collapse. Growth of lava domes, pyroclastic flows.(16-days study and photo tour to Java, Indonesia)(17-day walking and trekking tour on Java) If you havn't done it yet,to get one of the fastest volcano news online: PVMBG recorded an explosion on 10 April at 09:10 local time that generated a dense grey ash plume, which rose approx.above the summit. Eruptions have occurred 13 times since September 2019 which marked the intrusion of new magmas. ... After a phase of relative calm since mid April, another explosion occurred at the volcano earlier today, at around noon local time After a phase of relative calm since beginning May,occurred at the volcano today, atThe both eruptions took place 328 seconds and 100 seconds respectively. ... Over the past several days, seismic activity from the Merapi volcano Indonesia's most active has been increasing significantly, suggesting that a more intense phase of volcanic activity is on its way. ... The eruptive activity has increased at the volcano and is becoming more and more dangerous. This had also been expected from the recent increase in volcanic earthquakes. ... The lighthouse of the Thyrrhenian Sea - thanks to its typical, regular explosions that coined the term "strombolian activity", Stromboli is one of the most famous and photogenic volcanoes in the world. We're proud to present our 2020 volcano calendar: 13 different and attractive images of volcanoes, volcanic landscapes and phenomena taken during volcano tours over the past two years. Did you know that there are at least 15 active volcanoes in China? The last eruption was from the Kunlun volcano in 1951. Support us - Help us upgrade our services! 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If you find the information useful and would like to support our team in integrating further features, write great content, and in upgrading our soft- and hardware, please PayPal or Online credit card payment )., these features have been added recently: Actor Sonam Kapoor is missing her husband Anand Ahuja dearly. Sonam, who had been living in London for a big part of last year, is now is Glasgow for a films shoot. Taking to her Instagram Stories, Sonam wrote: Its lovely to cohabitate with you best friend @anandahuja I miss you come soon. She followed it up with another one and said: I miss you @anandahuja too much. Anand, forever her loving husband, shared it on his Instagram Stories and wrote: Comingggg you crazy girl. Sonam and Anands Instagram posts. Sonam said she was missing her family too. Sonam has not just been missing her husband, she is also missing her family in Mumbai. Sharing a picture of her sister and business partner, Rhea, Sonam wrote on Instagram Stories how she hasnt seen her family in six months: Miss my sister the most in the world havent seen her or my parents in over six months. Love you rhee bee miss you too much @rheakapoor. Sonam is in Glasgow to shoot for her new film, Blind. Sharing a picture with a dog named Elsa, who also features in the film, Sonam had written few days back, Everyone meet Elsa my beautiful dog in #blind and she loves my character #gia and #gia cannot function without her. She had shared another picture with her team and had written: All in our small little bubble. The A Team ... #BLIND #GIA .. our little normal. Also read: Mom-to-be Anushka Sharma gorges on pizza as she steps out for lunch with husband Virat Kohli, see pics Sonam returned to London in July last year after a long stay in India, first in Delhi and later in Mumbai. The couple, which is based in London, had returned to India in March when coronavirus pandemic had began spreading at a dangerous rate. Speaking to Film Companions Anupama Chopra, she 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. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10 West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee allowed 100% occupancy in cinema halls during the week-long Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF), which was inaugurated on Friday. At present, because of the pandemic, only 50% occupancy in cinema halls is allowed. I would ask the states chief secretary to come up with a notification today so that 100% seats can be occupied, Banerjee said while addressing the inauguration of the 26th edition of the KIFF. On January 4, the Tamil Nadu government had issued a similar order to increase the occupancy in cinemas, theatres and multiplexes to 100% capacity. The centre, however, has asked the Tamil Nadu government to revoke its order saying it diluted the guidelines issued by the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA). I would urge cinema hall owners to ensure that people wear face masks and use hand sanitizers. Sanitization should be done after every show. Every audience should carry his own sanitizer or a tissue paper. Now-a-days you also get machines with which you can sanitize the entire hall in just five minutes, she added. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was virtually present for the inauguration. This year, 81 full-length feature films and 50 short films and documentaries from around 45 countries would be screened in eight venues over the next one week. Also Read: TMC supporter killed in north Bengal; party blames BJP The KIFF is usually held in the month of November every year but had to be postponed because of the pandemic in 2020. While the state had more than 36,000 active cases in November, the number has come down to less than 9,000 now. Even though citizens can book the tickets online, three helpdesks have also been set up at Nandan, Tollygunge and Salt Lake for those who find difficulty in booking tickets online. Not everyone can purchase e-tickets. Many people think that if they have the card of the festival they would be allowed. I think the authorities should allow every card holder, Banerjee said. She also urged the authorities to put up LED screens outside the cinema halls so that more people can see without entering any closed spaces such as cinema halls and theatres, where chances of infection are more. WASHINGTON - A growing corps of House Democrats, furious over the invasion of the Capitol on Wednesday by a mob inspired and encouraged by President Donald Trump, is pushing to rapidly impeach the president a second time - hoping to force Trump from office even a few days early rather than allow him to leave on his own terms. Removing Trump by constitutional means is a tall order for the 12 days remaining in his presidency, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has not made a formal determination to move forward with a second impeachment, even as she consulted Friday with the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about curbing Trump's ability to launch nuclear weapons. "With great respect, our deliberations will continue," Pelosi said in a statement Friday evening that laid out several options including impeachment. She expressed hope that Trump would "immediately resign" instead. President-elect Joe Biden declined to say Friday whether he supported Trump's impeachment, giving space for the effort in the House to proceed: "I'm focused on the virus, on the vaccine and economic growth. What the Congress decides to do is for them to decide." Outrage over Wednesday's events grew to a fever pitch Friday, making it difficult for Pelosi to ignore. But rushing into an impeachment proceeding could have serious ramifications for the opening weeks of the Biden administration - prompting a Senate trial that could prevent Cabinet nominees from being confirmed for weeks. That is the point being subtly made in a fresh memo from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who sent a document to GOP senators that outlines how a potential Senate trial would work for Trump - proceedings that would all but certainly occur after he leaves the White House. In the memo, obtained by The Washington Post, McConnell's office notes that the Senate will not reconvene for substantive business until Jan. 19, which means the earliest possible date that impeachment trial proceedings can begin in the Senate is the day before Biden is inaugurated. Although the Senate will hold two pro forma sessions next week, on Jan. 12 and Jan. 15, it is barred from conducting any kind of business during those days - including "beginning to act on received articles of impeachment from the House" - without agreement from all 100 senators. With a cadre of Trump-allied senators in the Republican conference, that unanimous consent is highly unlikely. In effect, that makes the matter of an impeachment trial an issue that will need to be taken up by incoming Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., in the first days of the Biden presidency. McConnell and Schumer have not spoken about any impeachment proceedings, aides said. Pelosi and Schumer spoke Friday afternoon with Biden, but an account of the call provided by the Biden transition did not mention a discussion of impeachment. Aides to Pelosi and Schumer declined to comment on the confab. Multiple House Democratic members and aides, however, said they hoped an impeachment vote could be scheduled by early next week. Virtually all of them said it was a matter of civic obligation. "We have a great sense of unity that we have a moral obligation to act," said Rep. Daniel Kildee of Michigan, a Democratic deputy whip. "If we can shave any number of days of the threat this president represents off the calendar, we will have done public good, but there's also another important aspect of this. . . . It would be a more accurate view of history if this president suffered the ultimate penalty for his crimes against his country, no matter how many days are removed from his tenure." Trump acknowledged Thursday that there will be a new administration Jan. 20 but has not shown any indication that he will resign before then. Pelosi said Friday in a letter to Democratic lawmakers: "If the President does not leave office imminently and willingly, the Congress will proceed with our action." She did not specify what that action would be. In the letter, she also described speaking to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, "to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike." She further described Trump as "unhinged" and said lawmakers "must do everything that we can" to protect the nation from him. The top House Republican, Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, warned Democrats against proceeding: "Impeaching the President with just 12 days left in his term will only divide our country more," he said in a statement, adding that he had reached out to Biden to speak about how "to lower the temperature and unite the country to solve America's challenges." The White House also spoke out. "A politically motivated impeachment against a President with 12 days remaining in his term will only serve to further divide our great country," said spokesman Judd Deere. One key Senate Democrat also warned against proceeding with impeachment - saying that he preferred that Trump resign or be removed through the 25th Amendment, out of concern that an impeachment trial could hamstring the Biden administration. "We have to put our government together quickly - that's the most important thing we should do," said Sen. Joe Manchin III, D-W.Va. "We don't need any more political theater." In a three-and-a-half-hour conference call with Democratic lawmakers Friday in which the vast majority of those who spoke signaled support for impeachment, Pelosi did not tip her hand further about next steps, according to participants who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a private call. But other top Democrats were more forthright about proceeding quickly with impeachment, and some lawmakers said Friday that an impeachment vote could come together as soon as Monday or Tuesday if the decision is made to move forward. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said on the call that Trump "must be held accountable for his actions," calling the Wednesday riot "an attack on the caucus, the Congress, the country and the Constitution that was incited and facilitated by Donald Trump." Jeffries had called for Trump's immediate impeachment in a tweet Thursday. House Majority Whip James Clyburn, D-S.C., said in an MSNBC interview after the conference call Friday that "the sentiment of the caucus is moving toward impeachment: The American people have seen enough, and they are ready for us to do the job of impeaching this man." In a signal of the deep support for further action, more than 60 House Democrats signed a letter late Thursday asking top Democratic leaders to reconvene the House as soon as possible to "show the American people that Congress is continuing to meet its responsibilities in the face of extraordinary threats" and take action, including a possible impeachment. "We are the only branch of government that is capable of governing this country and led by sane and competent people," reads the letter, led by Reps. Tom Malinowski, D-N.J., Dean Phillips, D-Minn., and Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. "Going home and staying home until the eve of President Biden's inauguration should not be an option." Two draft articles of impeachment have been circulated among House Democrats that cite Trump's incitement of the mob and his delayed decision to encourage it to disperse as high crimes and misdemeanors necessitating removal. One four-page draft that had 131 co-sponsors as of noon Friday impeaches Trump on the grounds of "Incitement of Insurrection" and accuses him of having "gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government." "He threatened the integrity of the democratic system, interfered with the peaceful transition of power, and imperiled a coordinate branch of government," it reads. "He thereby betrayed his trust as President, to the manifest injury of the people of the United States." Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., an author of that draft, said it was "unthinkable" that Congress would treat Wednesday's events as just "one more unfortunate faux pas by the president." "We just suffered the most massive, violent invasion of the U.S. Capitol in American history since the War of 1812," he said. "He has counseled and invited an attack on the Congress of the United States itself." No Republican House members have indicated that they would back impeachment. One, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., has called on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Trump. Others have suggested that they would welcome Trump's resignation or his removal under those circumstances. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., told "CBS This Morning" on Friday that he would "consider" any impeachment articles forwarded by the House. "He swore an oath to the American people to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution," Sasse said. "He acted against that. What he did was wicked." While House Democrats could impeach Trump in the House on their own, removing him would require a two-thirds vote of the Senate - meaning 17 Republicans would have to join with the 50 Democrats that will be seated once Sens.-elect Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock are certified as the winners of last Tuesday's Georgia runoffs. Senate impeachment trials are governed by an intricate and lengthy set of procedures that could be difficult to waive. Trump's first impeachment trial, which concluded in February, lasted 20 days. Trump could still be impeached after he leaves office, most constitutional scholars say, which would have the effect of barring him from the presidency again. But there is a political barrier to proceeding with a Senate trial: the impending inauguration of Biden, and his need to rapidly confirm a Cabinet. A lengthy impeachment trial could obstruct efforts to staff Biden's administration and prepare to govern amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as well as dire circumstances abroad, including a simmering threat from Iran. At a news conference Friday, Biden suggested those concerns were on his mind even as he chose not to dissuade lawmakers from impeaching Trump. Were it six months from the end of Trump's term, Biden said, "we should be moving everything to get him out of office - impeaching him again, trying to invoke the 25th Amendment, whatever it took." "But I am focused now on us taking control as president and vice president on the 20th and get our agenda moving as quickly as we can," he said. The House could have other options to take action in the coming days. Raskin has written a bill to create a commission on presidential disabilities to prepare for action under the 25th Amendment, and other House Democrats have called for censure of GOP lawmakers for inciting violence. "We need every tool in our constitutional tool kit on the table to deal with the crisis," Raskin said. "I believe we should work on parallel tracks to defend the government and the people of the United States." Pelosi on Thursday did not raise the disruption a Senate trial could cause but said that impeachment represented "the overwhelming sentiment of my caucus and the American people." "My phone is exploding with impeach, impeach, impeach," she said. "The president must be held accountable again." - - - The Washington Post's Seung Min Kim contributed to this report. Kuala Lumpur, Jan 8 : The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Friday banned three Indonesian shuttlers for life for involvement in match fixing. It also said that it has suspended a Malaysian citizen who is a representative of an equipment that sponsors international badminton players. The BWF said that the two cases had come to light due to reports from whistleblowers about "corrupt behaviour including approaches to fix a match or to manipulate part of their match for money". "Eight Indonesian players who knew each other, and competed in lower-level international competitions mostly in Asia up until 2019, breached BWF Integrity Regulations related to match fixing, match manipulation and/or betting on badminton," said the BWF in its statement. "Three of them were found to have coordinated and organised others into being complicit in the behaviour and have been suspended from all badminton related activities for life." The sport's global governing body said that it has been investigating the Malaysian citizen for "a number of years". "The IHP found that the individual had approached international badminton athletes and offered money to manipulate matches, bet on multiple badminton matches including matches involving players that were sponsored by the individuals' employer and had abused his position of influence as an executive in a sporting brand in an attempt to corrupt international badminton and enrich himself," the BWF said. CHICAGO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ryerson Holding Corporation (NYSE: RYI), a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, announced today the appointment of James J. Claussen, 47, to the position of executive vice president & chief financial officer (CFO), effective January 11. Mr. Claussen currently serves as the president of Central Steel & Wire Co. (CS&W), which was acquired by Ryerson in 2018. Mr. Claussen will continue to serve as the president of CS&W until his successor is named. Eddie Lehner, Ryerson's President and Chief Executive Officer said, "I could not be more delighted for Ryerson's stakeholders that Jim will become Ryerson's next executive vice president and chief financial officer. Jim took the road less traveled by developing a track record of accomplishment in our company and industry spanning senior financial and operational leadership positions over more than 18 years that makes him uniquely qualified to excel in the role as we move into the next phase of our company's transformation." Mr. Claussen joined Ryerson in 2002. Prior to becoming the President of Central Steel & Wire, Jim held several financial leadership positions in the company, including CFO of Ryerson's North-West Region and general manager of corporate development. Jim has a bachelor's degree in accounting from Minnesota State University, Mankato, and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Minnesota Carlson School of Management. Ryerson is a leading value-added processor and distributor of industrial metals, with operations in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and China. Founded in 1842, Ryerson has around 3,900 employees in approximately 100 locations. Visit Ryerson at www.ryerson.com. SOURCE Ryerson Holding Corporation Related Links http://www.ryerson.com A Chief Magistrate in Uyo, Winifred Umohandy, on Thursday, cautioned Deborah Archibong, the mother of the victim of the alleged sexual abuse at the Deeper Life High School to desist from discussing the case on Facebook. Mrs Archibong has been gaining a huge following on Facebook since December when she came out to say via Facebook live that her 11-year-old son, a JSS1 student of the school, was sexually abused by two senior students of the school. The video, like subsequent ones she did on the case, went viral on Facebook, as well as on Twitter, with over 7,000 comments on Facebook alone. Mrs Archibong at some point said some unnamed people were putting pressure on her to pull down the video. Let the media stay off, let the court do justice on the merit of the case, the magistrate said to Mrs Archibong, after cautioning her to cease further discussion on Facebook. The magistrate asked her and her husband to stand up in the court, while she addressed the issue which was prompted by a complaint from the lawyer to the Deeper Life High School, Fidelis Igwe. Mrs Archibong on Friday informed her Facebook friends, fans and supporters she would no longer discuss her sons case on the social media site, apparently in obedience to the magistrates instruction. Good afternoon, beautiful people! Please, I want to beg everyone, the matter is in court, we are not going to discuss anything here pertaining to the matter, lets allow the court to handle it, she said in a live broadcast. She used the broadcast to rather market her personal businesses. A day before the court sitting, Mrs Archibongs lawyer, David Okokon, said his client would no longer need to talk to Nigerians through Facebook since the matter was going to be brought before a magistrate. Five officials of the Deeper Life High School, Uyo, on Thursday pleaded not guilty to the charges brought against them over the alleged sexual abuse. Two SS1 students of the school, both of them 13 years old, were also arraigned in the same court. The two also pleaded not guilty. The officials are Joseph Nseabasi, Akpan Johnson, Egor Wilson, Joseph Ikenna, and Ndidi Solomon, the suspended principal of the school. Allegations The victims mother, Mrs Archibong said the two senior students of the Deeper Life High School sexually abused her son when the school authorities switched him from his dormitory to another dormitory filled with senior students. They will remove his boxer and push their legs and hands into his anus, Mrs Archibong said in the Facebook video. Look at a child I sent to school, he came back with a broken anus, she added. Mrs Archibong said her son was frequently starved and beaten up by the senior students. The Deeper Life High School is owned by a Pentecostal church, The Deeper Christian Life Ministry. ADVERTISEMENT The school trended on Twitter a few days ago over the case, with several Nigerians calling on William Kumuyi, a pastor and founder of The Deeper Christian Life Ministry, to ensure that the victim gets justice. We will like to state that Deeper Life High School stands on the core values of integrity and uprightness and will not attempt to cover up any immoral act under any guise, Thelma Malaka, the schools education secretary, who spoke through a video uploaded on Twitter, said of the sexual abuse allegation. We have unflinching confidence in our God to resolve the issue such that at the end the truth will ultimately prevail, she said. The school suspended the principal of the embattled Uyo campus and launched an investigation. U.S. employers shed jobs last month for the first time since April, cutting 140,000 positions, clear evidence that the economy is faltering as the viral pandemic tightens its grip on consumers and businesses. At the same time, the unemployment rate stayed at 6.7%, the first time it hasn't fallen since April. Friday's figures from the Labor Department suggest that employers have rehired roughly all the workers they can afford to after having laid off more than 22 million in the spring - the worst such loss on record. With consumer spending barely growing over the past few months, most companies have little incentive to hire. The economy still has 9.9 million fewer jobs than it did before the pandemic sent it sinking into a deep recession nearly a year ago. The pandemic will likely continue to weaken the economy through the winter and perhaps early spring. But many economists, along with the Federal Reserve's policymakers, say they think that once the coronavirus vaccines are more widely distributed, a broad recovery should take hold in the second half of the year. Grim numbers: SHops and restaurants have been among the worst hit by the pandemic's effects In recent months, retailers have been especially hurt by the slump in consumer spending. Debit and credit card data tracked by JPMorgan Chase, based on 30 million accounts, shows that Americans slowed their purchases during the holiday shopping season. Such spending was 6% lower in December compared with a year ago. That was worse than in October, when card spending was down just 2% from the previous year. Restaurant traffic has also dropped, according to the reservations website OpenTable. Seated dining is down 60% this week compared with a year ago, much worse than two months earlier, when they were down about 35%. The $900 billion financial aid package that Congress enacted last month should also help propel a recovery, economists say. It will provide a $300-a-week federal jobless benefit on top of an average weekly state benefit of about $320. In addition, millions of Americans stand to receive $600 payments, and the Treasury Department said Thursday that 8 million of those payments were going out this week. Late Wednesday, Goldman Sachs upgraded its forecast for economic growth this year to a robust 6.4% from its previous estimate of 5.9%. Its upgrade was based in part on the expectation that the Biden administration will implement more stimulus. Still, for now, about 11 million people are officially unemployed. Millions more have stopped looking for work, either because they're discouraged about their prospects or worried about contracting the coronavirus, and aren't counted as unemployed. Fridays monthly jobs report, the last of Donald Trump's presidency, shows that the nation has 3 million fewer jobs than it did four years earlier. That makes Trump the first president since Herbert Hoover (1929-1933), early in the Great Depression, to preside over a net loss of jobs. All the job losses during the Trump administration occurred after the pandemic struck. Before then, the unemployment rate had fallen to a 50-year low of 3.5%. Still, Trump had pledged to create 25 million jobs in four years. WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI Shannon McFall sees a generational divide in people who have been eagerly waiting to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who will inevitably decline to do so. I deal with people on a regular basis from their teens all the way up to 80, 90 years old, and those in my generation or a little bit older are skeptical, said McFall, 50, a Black Pittsfield Township resident and former business owner. They come from the mindset of the Tuskegee Experiment and theyre like, Were not going to deal with this vaccine stuff and have something happen to us for several decades. The Tuskegee Experiment was a 40-year study that misled impoverished Black men to participate in what researchers said was the observation of the natural progression of untreated syphilis. A large number of participants died or experienced severe health problems, leading to a generation of mistrust between Black Americans and the health care system. Related: Overcoming vaccine skepticism in shadow of Tuskegee Experiment a tall task in Michigans Black communities The expedited Pfizer and Moderna vaccine rollouts present another reason for concern to some, said McFall, a lifelong Washtenaw County resident who said he plans to get the vaccine as soon as its available. They got so into expediting and getting it out there that they didnt fully explain. We need explanation nowadays, just based on the way things are on social media. I think thats where they are losing a lot of peoples trust, McFall said. When they start throwing out these side effects, the older people start sinking their teeth into that stuff because they dont know if theyre real or its fake. On Monday, Jan. 11, the Washtenaw County Health Department and Michigan Medicine will begin the next phase of vaccinations, which includes older adults. It remains unclear when the vaccine will be available to the general public. However, distrust of the COVID-19 vaccine is a real issue health officials admit they must address, particularly within Black communities, when the vaccines availability does reach the general public. Related: Whos eligible for COVID-19 vaccine and what else to know about program expansion For those of us who have been taken over by COVID-19 in terms of work, it can be disheartening to hear things like, Its not trustworthy or that It was made too fast, Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, Washtenaw County Health Department spokeswoman, said. What were trying to accomplish is to make sure that health is equitable, and that information and resources are available to everyone. Tony Denton, Michigan Medicines chief operating officer, acknowledges that past vaccination experiences have created long-standing concerns that make some communities of people vulnerable to misleading information that affirms their distrust. He said he hopes to see stories of worry turn into those of success as a result of open conversations about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. We want to make sure that older adults and at-risk populations have the science-based data where they can make an informed choice about a COVID-19 vaccine, Denton said. There are historical fears in communities of color around vaccines and clinical trials, and there are worries that you just dont know what it is youre getting. We want to really listen and acknowledge those concerns and then create engagement and dialogue to try to improve trust and confidence about this vaccine and how it can be of life-saving importance for individuals and families in these communities. Michigan Medicine plans to take a role in vaccine education with initiatives that focus on communication and its sponsorship of awareness campaigns on social media and in town hall sessions and videos, Denton said. We want to push information out across different mediums and to create a space for community voice, with medical and scientific experts and clergy who can join and listen but also share information about the effectiveness of the vaccine, he said. Getting the COVID-19 vaccine when he learned he was eligible to receive it was a no-brainer to University of Michigan senior dental student Patrick Lucas-Perry, who got the first dose of the vaccine at Michigan Stadium on Dec. 31. The pros outweigh the cons, Lucas-Perry said. I think the vaccine is just a necessary step honestly, just like going to the doctor. Being aware of where information guiding personal health decisions is coming from is vital, Lucas-Perry said. I think you have to be careful about your news sources right now, he said. Theres so much misleading information and I think its really important to have a source thats validated and trustworthy. If you do hear something about an allergic reaction or something, understand what it is, read into it a little bit more and get all the facts before you make a decision. The Program for Multicultural Health at Michigan Medicine will host a virtual town hall, COVID-19 and the African American Community, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Jan. 16 that includes several medical experts, as well as Bishop Harry Grayson of Ypsilantis Messias Temple, to discuss steps toward equitable and ethical healthcare. READ MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Washtenaw County ramping up COVID-19 vaccination efforts after slower start Trump needs to be impeached and removed immediately, Rashida Tlaib says Everyone who illegally stormed U.S. Capitol should be held accountable, U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg says West Michigan Republicans describe siege of Capitol by pro-Trump domestic terrorists Advertisement The MAGA mob rioter who was pictured swinging from the Senate balcony is now begging for forgiveness because he just got 'caught up in the moment', while a data-analytics CEO arrested for his involvement says it was the 'single worst' decision of his life. Several Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday are now expressing their regret as authorities continue to arrest those involved in the rampage that lawmakers have branded a 'terrorist attack'. More than 80 have been arrested so far but dozens of those involved, who were labeled as 'great patriots by Trump, are yet to be identified. The FBI is asking for help in trying to track them down. Josiah Colt, a 34-year-old who runs his own digital marketing firm in Boise, Idaho, is among those who have apologized in the wake of the violent siege after he was identified as the rioter hanging from the balcony. He was not among those arrested as of Friday morning. The infamous image of him dangling from the balcony after Trump supporters forced their way into the Capitol quickly went viral around the world as the chaotic scenes unfolded. Colt, who bragged on social media after the rampage saying 'I'm all over the news now', says he didn't cause any damage and claims he told other protesters that the chamber was 'a sacred place'. Josiah Colt, a 34-year-old from Boise, Idaho, has been identified as the Trump supporter who was pictured swinging from the Senate balcony. He is among those who have since apologized in the wake of the violent siege Colt is pictured here after jumping down from the balcony onto the floor of the Senate chamber. Colt has not been arrested over the siege but said he is speaking with an attorney Soon after he jumped from the balcony onto the Senate floor, Colt was pictured standing on the dais inside the Senate chamber where witnesses say he screamed: 'Trump won that election!' 'I love America, I love the people, I didn't hurt anyone and I didn't cause any damage in the Chamber,' Colt said in a statement obtained by CBS2 News. 'I got caught up in the moment and when I saw the door to to the Chamber open, I walked in, hopped down, and sat on the chair. I said my peace then I helped a gentlemen get to safety that was injured then left. 'While in the Chamber I told the other protesters that this is a sacred place and not to not do any damage. Some of them wanted to trash the place and steal stuff but I told them not to and to leave everything in it's place. We're still on sacred ground. 'And sincerely apologize to the American people. I recognize my actions that have brought shame upon myself, my family, my friends, and my beautiful country. In the moment I thought I was doing the right thing. 'I realize now that my actions were in appropriate and I beg for forgiveness from America and my home state of Idaho. My intention wasn't to put a stain on our great Country's Democratic process.' Colt has not been arrested over the siege but said he is speaking with an attorney. He has deleted all of his social media accounts and has taken down his company's website. Soon after he jumped from the balcony onto the Senate floor, Colt was pictured standing on the dais inside the Senate chamber where witnesses say he screamed: 'Trump won that election!' Colt, who bragged on social media after the rampage saying 'I'm all over the news now' (pictured above), says he didn't cause any damage and claims he told other protesters that the chamber was 'a sacred place Bradley Rukstales, who is the CEO of a Chicago-based data analytics firm called Cogensia, is among the rioters who have been arrested by Capitol Police. The 52-year-old said he regrets his involvement and described it as the 'single worst personal decision of my life'. He has since said he had followed hundreds of Trump supporters through the 'open doors' of the Capitol to see what was taking place inside. 'In a moment of extremely poor judgment following the January 6 rally in Washington, I followed hundreds of others through an open set of doors to the Capitol building to see what was taking place inside,' Rukstales said in a statement. 'I was arrested for the first time in my life and charged with unlawful entry. 'My decision to enter the Capitol was wrong, and I am deeply regretful to have done so. Without qualification and as a peaceful and law-abiding citizen, I condemn the violence and destruction that took place in Washington. 'I offer my sincere apologies for my indiscretion, and I deeply regret that my actions have brought embarrassment to my family, colleagues, friends and fellow countrymen. 'It was the single worst personal decision of my life; I have no excuse for my actions and wish that I could take them back.' His company, Cogensia, tweeted a statement after Rukstales' involvement in the siege became known, saying he had been placed on leave. Bradley Rukstales, who is the CEO of a Chicago-based data analytics firm called Cogensia, is among the rioters who have been arrested by Capitol Police. The 52-year-old said he regrets his involvement and described it as the 'single worst personal decision of my life' 'Our CEO, Brad Rukstales participated in the recent Washington DC protests. Those actions were his own and not acting on behalf Cogensia nor do his actions in any way reflect the policies or values of our firm. He has been placed on leave of absence while we assess further.' Another rioter, who was among those leading the charge up the stairs inside the Capitol, has been identified as Iowa native Doug Jensen. He was pictured inside the Capitol in a stand-off with police during the siege. Jensen was identified as a person of interest by the Metropolitan Police Department. It comes as the FBI on Friday released a new wanted poster of at least 10 additional MAGA mob rioters they are hunting down. Federal authorities are seeking the public's help in tracking down those pictured for making 'unlawful entry' into the Capitol building. The most recent wanted poster is in addition to the dozens the FBI have already said they are trying to track down. Authorities have already arrested more than 80 rioters who breached the Capitol building, scaled the Senate and House Chambers, vandalized statues, fired tear gas and defaced property. Fifty-five are being pursued on federal charges, authorities say. Another rioter, who was among those leading the charge up the stairs inside the Capitol, has been identified as Iowa native Doug Jensen. He was pictured inside the Capitol in a stand-off with police during the siege. Jensen was identified as a person of interest by the Metropolitan Police Department The FBI has released new photos of at least 10 additional MAGA mob rioters they are hunting down after they stormed the US Capitol in the violent siege that left five dead The most recent wanted poster is in addition to the dozens the FBI have already said they are trying to track down Here DailyMail.com breaks down the others who have already been identified: The 'QAnon Shaman' - Jake Angeli The heavily-tattooed Trump supporter who sported horns, a fur hat and face paint and occupied the Senate dais moments after Vice President Mike Pence delivered his rebuke to Donald Trump has been revealed to be an Arizona-based QAnon believer who used to promote himself as a singer and actor. Jake Angeli, 32, often known as the QAnon Shaman, has become a fixture at recent right-wing rallies while decked out in his signature attire. One of his tattoos is said to show the symbol of Wotanism, an acronym for 'Will of the Aryan Nation.' Dr Adam Rutherford tweeted: 'I know this jamiroquoi wannabe muthaf***a is kinda funny but his tattoo is the symbol of Wotanism, which is a Nazi/Odin occult that believes Jews control the government, the Holocaust is exaggerated and champions the 14/88 slogan. He's a real card-carrying Nazi.' Angeli was at the front of a group of agitators who broke into the Capitol and faced off with DC police who desperately tried in vain to protect the establishment. He then made his way into the Senate chamber where he was seen shouting and posing for photos. Angeli flexed his left arm as he stood behind the dais in the Senate chamber where just moments earlier Vice President Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi had stood. He was flanked by an American flag and his fellow rioters took photos of him on their smartphones. The heavily-tattooed Trump supporter, who has become a fixture at recent right-wing rallies decked out in his signature attire, has been identified as Jake Angeli The 'Qanon Shaman' was also seen screaming in the chamber and clutching a megaphone. Angeli has become a prominent figure at pro-Trump rallies, always sporting his signature outfit of fur, horns, face paint and bare chest, where he has spouted off about QAnon conspiracy theories. Most recently he has been active at Arizona rallies calling for the results of the presidential election to be overturned, after Trump has refused to concede and pushed unfounded claims of voter fraud ever since he lost to Joe Biden. Angeli has previously admitted his belief in QAnon started after reading conspiracy theories on the internet At a pro-Trump rally at the Arizona State Capitol in February, he held aloft a banner reading 'Q Sent Me' in reference to QAnon. He was also seen at reopen Arizona rallies protesting against lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. In one photo posted on his Facebook account in November, where he calls himself Yellowstone Wolf, Angeli is seen shaking hands with Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney - who hours before the violence kicked off encouraged supporters to pursue a 'trial by combat'. He has also posted about numerous conspiracy theories including a video claiming there is a 'globalist plot for world domination thru the plandemic & its numerous different agendas'. Angeli has previously admitted his belief in QAnon started after reading conspiracy theories on the internet. 'At a certain point, it all clicked in a way,' he said in an interview in February, reported AZCentral. 'Oh, my God. I see now the reality of what's going on.' QAnon is the debunked extreme right wing conspiracy theory that claims Satan-worshipping pedophiles are plotting against Trump and are running a global child sex trafficking ring. An undated profile for Angeli on Backstage.com shows the 32-year-old was a singer, screenwriter and actor. Barnett has also bought into Trump's unfounded claims that the election has been 'stolen' from him and has been spotted at other Stop The Steal rallies including one in Bentonville in November. The longtime Arizona QAnon supporter dressed in fur and a horned helmet, was among the violent mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol Wednesday Florida firefighter - Andy Williams Andy Williams was identified among the MAGA mob after a photo posted on social media showed him posing below a sign for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. He wore a trucker cap emblazoned with Trump's campaign logo, along with a hydration backpack and a mask pushed under his chin. Williams has served as a firefighter in Sanford, Florida, since 2016, department spokesperson Bianca Gillett confirmed. He has been placed on leave pending an investigation by the city, Gillett said. Andy Williams was identified among the MAGA mob after a photo posted on social media showed him posing below a sign for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office 'Baby Lives Matter' founder Tayler Hansen Tayler Hansen, who founded an anti-abortion group called Baby Lives Matter, identifies himself as an independent journalist. He was linked to Wednesday's turmoil after posted a graphic video on Instagram which showed the aftermath of a shooting that left female protester Ashli Babbit of San Diego dead. Babbit, 35, was reportedly shot by Capitol Police as she tried to climb through a window protesters had broken in an effort to get inside congressional chambers. Hansen posted on Twitter Wednesday night: 'After Ashli was killed outside the chamber doors Our elected officials went back to work hours later as if it were nothing, these people dont represent us. They are EVIL. The sooner you realize that, the sooner youll realize how much trouble our Country is in.' Tayler Hansen, who founded an anti-abortion group called Baby Lives Matter, identifies himself as an independent journalist. He was linked to Wednesday's turmoil after posted a graphic video on Instagram which showed the aftermath of a shooting that left female protester Ashli Babbit of San Diego dead Adam Johnson - The stay-at-home dad who stole Pelosi's lectern The looter who smiled for a photo as he made off with a lectern has been identified as Adam Johnson - a psychology graduate turned furniture maker from Bradenton, Florida. He is a stay-at-home dad to five children; his wife is a doctor, according to The Bradenton Herald. He has previously faced possession of marijuana and violation of probation charges, the paper reports. Photos on his now-deleted social media accounts show him posing next to a sign reading 'closed to all tours' inside the building. Johnson, 36, who was pictured inside the Capitol making off with a lectern, appears to have removed his social media platforms in the aftermath of the siege. Another looter who smiled for a photo as he made off with a lectern has been named as Adam Johnson - a psychology graduate from Bradenton, Florida Photos on his now-deleted social media accounts show him posing next to a sign reading 'closed to all tours' inside the building Johnson, who was pictured inside the Capitol making off with a lectern, appears to have removed his social media platforms in the aftermath of the siege Johnson shared images of himself sporting MAGA hats and sinking beers as he wrote that he had 'made it to DC' Tuesday - the day before the siege Brooklyn Supreme Court judge's son - Aaron Mostofsky Aaron Mostofsky was pictured Wednesday walking down the stairs outside the Senate Chamber dressed in fur pelts and a bullet proof vest and carrying a wooden walking stick. He is the son of Shlomo Mostofsky, a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge, Gothamist reports. Mostofsky was seen walking just ahead of a man carrying the confederate flag. He told The New York Post: 'The election was stolen.' He had refused to give the paper his name but said he found the riot shield on the floor. His brother, Nachman Mostofsky, who also attended the rally but said he did not enter the Capitol building said his brother 'did nothing illegal' and 'was pushed inside'. Aaron Mostofsky was pictured Wednesday walking down the stairs outside the Senate Chamber dressed in fur pelts and a bullet proof vest and carrying a wooden walking stick Organizer of a Trump boat parade - Kristina Malimon The organizer of a Trump boat parade was also named as one of those arrested Wednesday. Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon. They both now face charges of unlawful entry and violating curfew, Buzzfeed reports. The younger Malimon helped to organize the event in Portland Oregon in August which resulted in a boat sinking. She is also affiliated with the Young Republicans of Oregon and Turning Point USA. Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon, according to reports Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon. They both now face charges of unlawful entry and violating curfew, Buzzfeed reports. The younger Malimon helped to organize the event in Portland Oregon in August which resulted in a boat sinking. She is also affiliated with the Young Republicans of Oregon and Turning Point USA. Navistar Direct Marketing employee A Maryland marketing company on Thursday fired a pro Trump rioter who was seen walking through the Capitol with his work pass hanging around his neck. Navistar Direct Marketing issued a statement Thursday which read: 'Navistar Direct Marketing was made aware that a man wearing a Navistar company badge was seen inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 during the security breach. 'After review of the photographic evidence the employee in question has been terminated for cause.' The unidentified employee was pictured inside the Capitol building Wednesday. 'While we support all employees right to peaceful, lawful exercise of free speech, any employee demonstrating dangerous conduct that endangers the health and safety of others will no longer have an employment opportunity with Navistar Direct Marketing,' the company added. Several images of the worker show him alongside Angeli. A Maryland marketing company has fired a pro Trump rioter who walked through the Capitol with his work pass hanging around his neck on Wednesday Angeli leads a mob of supporters breaking into the Capitol Wednesday night causing lawmakers to evacuate the chambers Richard 'Bigo' Barnett Meanwhile, the insurrectionist who brazenly put his feet on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk in her office is now known to be a 60-year-old Arkansas man who claims he will run for Arkansas governor in 2022 and describes himself as a white nationalist online. Richard 'Bigo' Barnett boasted outside the Capitol following the siege that he 'wrote [Pelosi] a nasty note, put my feet up on her desk and scratched my balls'. A photo from Pelosi's office showed another threatening note on her desk reading 'we will not back down'. Meanwhile, in Pelosi's office, Barnett posed for a photo reclining in the House Speaker's chair before he later returned to the crowd of supporters outside and flashed a hand-written envelope he had looted. It later emerged Barnett is an independent contractor and was the recipient of a $9,300 PPP loan as part of a COVID relief package, The Daily Dot reports. In Pelosi's office, 60-year-old Barnett posed for a photo reclining in the House Speaker's chair before he later returned to the crowd of supporters outside and flashed a hand-written envelope he had looted In one selfie on his Facebook page, Barnett is seen posing with a semi-automatic rifle Barnett later told the New York Times reporter Matthew Rosenberg he 'fell' into Pelosi's office as he showed off the personalized envelope which was addressed to The Honorable Billy Long and had Pelosi's signature on it. 'I didn't steal it,' he claimed, saying he 'left a quarter on her desk'. 'And I left her a note on her desk that says 'Nancy Bigo was here you b**ch'.' He also denied storming her office, claiming he politely knocked on her office door and was pushed in by other protesters. 'I'll probably be telling them this is what happened all the way to the DC jail,' he said. In a November post on Facebook, where he goes by the alias George Reincarnated Patton, Barnett claimed he will run for governor of Arkansas in 2022 saying he will 'be running on the COMMON SENSE platform'. He has also shared images of the Gadsden flag snake - which is regarded as a racist symbol - and boasts of being a white nationalist. In several photos, he is seen posing with semi-automatic rifles. Baked Alaska, real name Tim Gionet Another of the mob was Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska who is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist who was involved in the far-right Charlottesville rally in 2017. Gionet posted video that showed Trump supporters in 'Make America Great Again' and 'God Bless Trump' hats milling around and taking selfies with officers who calmly asked them to leave the premises. The Trump supporters talked among themselves, laughed, and told the officers and each other: 'This is only the beginning.' Gionet, who had his YouTube channel banned in 2020, is said to have attended the rally Wednesday after telling followers on January 4 that he had testing positive for COVID-19, The Daily Dot reports. He can be seen in pictures without a mask. It is not clear when he tested positive for the virus or if he was tested before the rally. Another of the mob was Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska who is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist who was involved in the far-right Charlottesville rally in 2017 Donald Trump signs the tattooed arm of Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska, in 2016 Rick Saccone, former state lawmaker in Pennsylvania Even elected politicians were part of the mob. Rick Saccone, who ran for a U.S. House seat in 2018 and was once a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, bragged on Facebook that 'we are storming the Capitol' and that 'our vanguard has broken through the barricades'. Saccone also told his followers: 'We are trying to run out all the evil people and RINOs that have betrayed our president. We are going to run them out of their offices.' He later deleted that post but not before it was seen by his followers, CBS reports. He added: 'Hello Mr. President, we love you. Keep doing what you're doing. We're with you. Until next time, in God we trust.' Even elected politicians were part of the mob. Rick Saccone, who ran for a U.S. House seat in 2018 and was once a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, bragged on Facebook that 'we are storming the Capitol' In a later Facebook post Saccone said: 'I see some people are twisting the peaceful protest into something else. Everyone from our group was involved in peaceful, first amendment assembly. It was part of the metaphor to storm the castle so to speak. 'People that I heard breached some barricades to reach the steps to wave flags. Some carried a huge American flag up the steps which drew a loud roar of approval from the crowd. No one I no of intended or condones any violence unlike those on the left. Did not see any violence but did see some smoke what some said was tear gas being sprayed at people. 'I cannot imagine anyone being shot for a trespass. The punishment for trespass is not death. My heart goes out to the young lady who was shot. Again, these were hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors, especially those from Pa. What do you think?' Derrick Evans Derrick Evans, a member of West Virginia's House of Delegates, streamed live footage from the Capitol Wednesday Derrick Evans, a member of West Virginia's House of Delegates, streamed live footage from the Capitol as he joined in the march. He later claimed he was 'simply there as an independent member of the media'. Evans, who calls himself an activist online, later deleted the footage showing him rushing inside with the mob. Paul Davis livestreamed from outside the Capitol; he was later fired from his job 'We're going in,' he tells followers. In other clips he could be heard chanting 'stop the steal', The New York Times reports. Joshua Pruitt, Proud Boy Joshua Pruitt is the only person arrested on a felony charge of violating the Riot Act so far, according to the city's arrest sheet. The 39-year-old was taken into custody at the Capitol building. He is reported to have links to the Proud Boy movement, CNN states. Paul Davis, lawyer fired from his job Paul Davis livestreamed from outside the Capitol to his followers online. He is understood to have been fired from his job at Goosehead Insurance as a result. A spokesman for the company told DailyMail.com: 'His actions are not a representation of or supported by Goosehead in any way. 'He is no longer employed by Goosehead, An official statement will be released.' Davis later posted to Instagram saying: 'For those of you claiming I was trying to storm the Capitol, its obvious from my entire story that I was peacefully demonstrating. They gassed the entire crowd that was standing there with me. I was not trying to break in. Was just talking to the police officers and praying over them.' Jon Schaffer, heavy metal musician Jon Schaffer, the guitarist in heavy metal band Iced Earth was also pictured breaching the Capitol Wednesday, LouderSound.com reports. Schaffer, 52, warned in an interview last year: 'They will go down. They're messing with the wrong people, believe me.' Jon Schaffer, the guitarist in heavy metal band Iced Earth, was also said to have been pictured breaching the Capitol, right in the blue sweatshirt Leigh Ann Luck Outside the chaos in the capitol, another vocal Trump supporter Leigh Ann Luck, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty as she shouted in protest against Biden's victory. Outside the chaos in the capitol, another vocal Trump supporter Leigh Ann Luck, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty as she shouted in protest against Biden's victory United Airlines is joining other major U.S. carriers in no longer allowing emotional-support animals to fly for free. United said Friday that starting Monday, it will no longer let passengers book free travel for companion animals. For people who book before the deadline, free travel for companions will end Feb. 28. After that, United said, only trained service dogs can fly in the cabin while not being in a carrier. Owners will have to submit a government-approved form attesting to the dog's training, vaccines and disposition. Therapy animals trained to visit nursing homes and other settings don't count as service dogs, United said. The new policy was announced a month after the federal government reversed a rule that allowed travelers to bring chickens, peacocks, snakes, and other exotic creatures aboard flights while claiming they were there for emotional support. Alaska Airlines, American Airlines and Delta Air Lines announced similar policies in the last several days. The moves follow a Transportation Department rule that lets airlines crack down on the growing number of emotional-support animals in recent years. United said Friday that starting Monday, it will no longer let passengers book travel for companion animals. For people who book before the deadline, free travel for companions will end Feb. 28 The government rules announced last month require airlines to accept service dogs that are trained individually to help a person with a disability. But the rules let airlines deny free boarding for so-called companion animals that aren't actually officially trained service animals, such as a guide dog for someone with visual impairment. Pet owners were furious on Tuesday after American Airlines became the latest US domestic carrier to require anyone seeking to fly with an emotional support animal to pay a fee - changing their policy that let such animals fly in the cabin for free - in a move that could generate as much as $60million a year. Owners may be able to transport other animals in the cargo hold or in carriers that fit under a seat in the cabin. Either way, the owner will pay a pet fee, which starts at $125 per flight American on Tuesday also said that it would allow animals in the cabin free of charge only if they are trained service dogs. Angry pet owners blasted the company, accusing it of being greedy. Breanna Morello tweeted: 'WE BAILED OUT THESE AIRLINES.' 'Now they want to charge dog owners $250 to bring their dogs onboard. 'If your dog doesnt fit in a bag under the seat, they want to put your dog under the plane. 'These airlines are greedy. Let them ALL fail next time.' The airline industry received $25billion in coronavirus relief money from the federal government that expired in late September. The latest relief package gave the battered industry an additional $15billion to rehire furloughed workers. Breanna Morello blasted the airline as 'greedy.' She wrote: 'WE BAILED OUT THESE AIRLINES. Now they want to charge dog owners $250 to bring their dogs onboard' 'Ugh,' tweeted Chris Jahn. 'Why not limit it to just support dogs and cats and not allow other wild animals onboard that people have tried to get onboard. My dog is so well behaved and loves visiting family. Theres no reason he cant sleep in my lap for 4 hours.' Another Twitter user wrote that American Airlines was 'trash' 'Considering Ive seen at least one dog on every flight (many) Ive taken for years I imagine this wont last long,' the Twitter user predicted One Twitter user vowed to fly on Delta Airlines, tweeting a photo of herself with her dog The latest coronavirus relief package signed into law last week will grant US airlines $15billion in new payroll assistance that will allow them to return more than 32,000 furloughed workers to payrolls through March 31. US airlines furloughed more than 32,000 workers in October, after a six-month $25 billion bailout measure expired on September 30. American Airlines alone furloughed 19,000 employees, while United Airlines furloughed more than 13,000. United's change in the emotional support animal policy takes effect on Monday, although passengers who already bought tickets can fly with a companion animal until February 1. Owners may be able to transport other animals in the cargo hold or in carriers that fit under a seat in the cabin. Either way, the owner will pay a pet fee, which starts at $125 per flight. 'We're confident this approach will enable us to better serve our customers, particularly those with disabilities who travel with service animals, and better protect our team members at the airport and on the aircraft,' the airline said in a statement. The move follows a similar decision by Alaska Airlines and is likely to be copied by other carriers. Alaska Airlines, the Seattle-based air carrier, last week announced changes to its service animal policy, stating that beginning on January 11, the airline will no longer allow any emotional support animals on its flights. American Airlines is the latest US domestic carrier that will require anyone seeking to fly with an emotional support animal to pay a fee. An American Airlines plane is seen above at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport in Dallas on December 2 The above image is a file photo of a therapy assistance poodle being petted by people. The airline said Tuesday that it will allow animals in the cabin free of charge only if they are trained service dogs 'Alaska will only transport service dogs, which are specially trained to perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability,' the airline said in a press release. Under the revised policy, Alaska will accept no more than two service dogs per guest in the cabin. BIZARRE PETS PASSENGERS HAVE ATTEMPTED TO BRING ON PLANES - Emotional Support Pig In 2014, a woman was booted off a from Connecticut to Washington state because her large pet pig was being 'disruptive'. A fellow passenger told CNN the pig weighed between 70 and 80 pounds, and began dropping things in the aisle and squealing - Emotional Support Squirrel In October 2018, Cindy Torok was left livid after Frontier Airlines barred her pet squirrel, Daisy, from accompanying her on a flight from Orlando to Cleveland. Torok appeared on numerous TV programs blasting the company, claiming she had a letter from her doctor saying that the squirrel helped with her anxiety disorder - Emotional Support Hamster In 2018, Belen Aldecosea, 21, admitted to flushing her emotional support hamster down an airport toilet after Spirit Airlines stopped her from bringing the rodent with her on the plane Advertisement Passengers will be required to complete a form on the airline's website, confirming that their animal is a legitimate service dog, is specially trained and vaccinated and will behave appropriately during the flight. The US Transportation Department cleared the way for the crackdown against companion animals last month. American said passengers with a service dog will need to complete a government form vouching for the dogs health, training and temperament. Other animals, including dogs not trained as service dogs, will only be able to fly in the cargo hold or a kennel that fits under a seat in the cabin. Either way, American will collect a pet fee ranging from $125 to several hundred dollars. United Airlines also requires its passengers to pay a $125 fee each way if they plan on bringing an emotional support animal. Southwest Airlines' fee is a bit lower - $95 each way. On December 18, Delta Air Lines updated its policy. Delta won't allow any emotional support pets on flights longer than eight hours. Any animals under the age of four months also will not be permitted regardless of the length of flight. 'Safety is our core value and we applaud the Department of Transportation (DOT) for acknowledging the concerns that Delta and many other stakeholders have repeatedly raised and for finalizing the new service animal rule,' the airline said in a statement. 'This rule will allow airlines to put safety first for all of our customers and employees, while protecting the rights of customers who have disabilities and need to travel with trained service animals. 'We are currently reviewing the new rule and will continue to work with Deltas Advisory Board on Disability to implement it in a manner that improves the experience for all our customers. 'At this time, there are no changes to Deltas current service and support animal policies.' The airline said it will allow a grace period for passengers who purchased tickets up to February 1. After that date, however, no emotional support pets will be permitted. Jessica Tyler, American's president of cargo, said the rules will help passengers with service animals and protect employees on planes and in airports. The number of animals on planes took off several years ago, and a cottage industry grew around providing papers, doctors notes and even dog vests for support animals. Pigs won't fly: Alaska Airlines last week announced that beginning on January 11, it will no longer allow any emotional support animals, such as this jet-setting pig In early December, the US Department of Transportation said that it will no longer require airlines to make the same accommodations for emotional support animals as for service dogs Frequent fliers: Airlines argued that passengers abused the situation to bring a menagerie of animals on board including cats and ducks The DOT said it was rewriting the rules partly because passengers carrying unusual animals, such as this panda, on board 'eroded the public trust in legitimate service animals' Among the most bizarre service animals in recent years has been Dexter the Peacock Under the DOT's final rule, which takes effect in early January, a service animal is a dog trained to help a person with a physical or psychiatric disability. Advocates for veterans and others had pushed for inclusion of psychiatric service dogs. Airlines for America, a trade group for the biggest US carriers, said the new rule will protect passengers and airline employees while helping people travel with trained service dogs. SERVICE ANIMALS VS EMOTIONAL SUPPORT ANIMALS The US Department of Transportation's Final Rule issued on December 2 defines a service animal as a dog of any breed or type that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a person with a disability. The policy calls for airlines to treat psychiatric service dogs the same as other service dogs and no longer allows airlines to require a letter from a licensed psychiatrist attesting to the traveler's need of the animal as a condition of transport. The Final Rule permits airlines to treat emotional support animals, including non-service dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles, birds and other creatures, as pets and no longer requires air carriers to accommodate them on board fliht. The policy does not prohibit the transport of emotional support animals. An airline may choose to transport them as pets for an additional fee. Advertisement 'The days of Noahs Ark in the air are hopefully coming to an end,' Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants told USA Today. Proponents of emotional support animals have been up in arms about DOT's new rule, arguing that the animals help them with anxiety, post-traumatic or other issues that would prevent them from traveling. Passengers only needed a note from a health professional, and a cottage industry sprang up to provide those notes along with vests and other accouterments for their animals. Airlines and particularly flight attendants took a more critical view, saying passengers were exploiting a loophole in federal regulations to avoid pet fees. In a few cases, including some involving serious injuries, companion animals bit other passengers. In December 2017, an Alaska Airlines passenger was at a terminal in Portland International Airport in Oregon while she and her children waited to board a flight Texas just before Christmas. As Mirna Gonzalez was buying coffee, she heard her daughter scream after a pit bull that was flying with its owner as an emotional support dog bit her. The mauling led Gonzalez to file a $1.1million lawsuit against the airline as well as the Port of Portland, which operates the airport. In June 2017, a Delta passenger, Marlin Jackson, was mauled by an emotional support dog before takeoff on a flight from Atlanta to San Diego. The attack left Jackson with a series of punctures and cuts to his face requiring 28 stitches, as well as permanent nerve damage and pain, according to a lawsuit filed by Jackson against both the airline and the pet's owner. Jackson, who lives in Alabama, 'bled so profusely that the entire row of seats had to be removed from the airplane,' according to the complaint. Last month, the Transportation Department settled the matter, siding mostly with the airlines. It said carriers were free to ban any animal other than dogs formally trained to help people with physical or psychological disabilities. The department estimated that under the new rules airlines will scoop up $59.6million a year in pet fees. On Twitter, would-be travelers reacted angrily to the new policy while others defended the airline and accused those with emotional support pets of taking advantage of the situation at the expense of those who are more reliant on service dogs, like those who are visually impaired. 'Ugh,' tweeted Chris Jahn. 'Why not limit it to just support dogs and cats and not allow other wild animals onboard that people have tried to get onboard. In December 2017, Gabriella Gonzalez (left), an Alaska Airlines passenger, was mauled by a pit bull that was flying as an emotional support animal at Portland International Airport in Oregon. In June 2017, a Delta passenger, Marlin Jackson (right), was mauled by an emotional support dog before takeoff on a Delta flight from Atlanta to San Diego. Both Gonzalez's mother and Jackson filed lawsuits against the respective airlines 'My dog is so well behaved and loves visiting family. Theres no reason he cant sleep in my lap for 4 hours.' 'So they're punishing the people who have legitimate needs because a bunch of a******s abused the system? That's wrong and sad,' tweeted another Twitter user. Another Twitter user predicted that the airlines that continue to allow emotional support animals will benefit. 'Considering Ive seen at least one dog on every flight (many) Ive taken for years I imagine this wont last long,' the Twitter user predicted. 'Itll add up. The airline that remains pet friendly will prosper.' Another Twitter user commented: 'AA is trash and been trash.' One Twitter user vowed to fly on Delta Airlines, tweeting a photo of herself with her dog. Others, however, were not as sympathetic toward those who bring emotional support pets on board. 'Whatever did we do before emotional support animals were allowed?' one Twitter user said sarcastically. Others, however, were not as sympathetic toward those who bring emotional support pets on board Another Twitter user wrote: 'Yep, Americans love to abuse systems and push the boundaries and try and get away with anything and everything. Thus, ruining it for all. It's the American way' Another Twitter commenter wrote: 'Dont blame American Airlines, blame inconsiderate people who register their pets as emotional support animals, just to have them in cabin on planes' One Twitter user commented: 'Whatever did we do before emotional support animals were allowed?' One Twitter user wrote: 'My support elephant flies wherever I fly!' Another Twitter user joked: 'Horrible airline! If I cant bring Timber, my emotional support rattlesnake, then Im boycotting!' Wrote another Twitter user: 'They are not saying no pets, they are saying if you bring your pet you cant call it an ES animal & not pay the fee. 'Pay the fee, follow the rules & you can still bring your pet.' Another Twitter commenter wrote: 'Dont blame American Airlines, blame inconsiderate people who register their pets as emotional support animals, just to have them in cabin on planes. 'Now its ruined for people in actual need of that service. Reforms with the registration process instead!' Another Twitter user wrote: 'Yep, Americans love to abuse systems and push the boundaries and try and get away with anything and everything. Thus, ruining it for all. It's the American way.' One Twitter user wrote: 'My support elephant flies wherever I fly!' Another Twitter user joked: 'Horrible airline! If I cant bring Timber, my emotional support rattlesnake, then Im boycotting!' A Maple Shade man was sentenced to five years in state prison for shooting a neighbors poodle in the head with an air rifle, leading the dog to be euthanized, prosecutors said Thursday. William D. Stroemel, 65, was sentenced Wednesday after he pleaded guilty in April to animal cruelty and a weapons offense as part of an agreement with prosecutors, according to the Burlington County Prosecutors Office. Stroemel, a heavy equipment operator also known as Wild Willie, shot the dog, a 9-year-old Pomeranian-poodle mix named Toby, in September 2019 as it passed by his home in the street, according to investigators. He gave the gun to an acquaintance and asked him to hold the weapon for him after the shooting, authorities said. The dogs owners discovered Toby, howling in pain, authorities said. An exam revealed the poodle was shot in the head and the animal was euthanized a day later. He admitted that he shot Toby, an innocent, defenseless pet, Burlington County Prosecutor Scott Coffina said in a statement. But rather than express true remorse, he attempted to evade the custodial sentence that was agreed upon. Superior Court Judge Gerard H. Breland handed down the sentence in line with the negotiated plea agreement despite calls from Stroemel and his attorney against prison time. Defense attorney information was not immediately listed. Assistant Prosecutor Melissa OMara, who handled the case, told the court Stroemel should be held accountable for the attack, according to an account from the prosecutors office. Mr. Stroemel is here because he possessed a weapon he could not have, he used that weapon unlawfully in broad daylight and shot a dog in the middle of the street in Maple Shade, killing that dog, and then took that weapon and gave it to somebody else to hide, OMara said. Police initially charged Stroemel with a weapons offense after a search warrant revealed a .22 caliber pistol at his home, authorities said. Charges were added when a necropsy linked a pellet taken from Tobys head to an air rifle that Stroemel had. As part of the plea, Stroemel was also ordered to pay restitution to the poodles owners for the costs of veterinary care and a necropsy. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. This is horribly wrong and it is indicative of what is going on at the national level, Abu-Taleb said. This is an attack on a small business and its owner. It is an attack on my neighbor. It is an attack on all of us. I am calling on all the good people of our community to reject racism, to stand together against injustice wherever it may exist. Let us all stand firm together and condemn such acts in the strongest possible terms and whoever is behind this act should be held accountable. The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) has confirmed that a criminal investigation into the death of George Nkencho is under way. GSOC said it has been in contact with Mr Nkenchos family since the day of his death: A family liaison officer (FLO) was appointed by Gsoc on the evening of Mr Nkenchos death and has been in contact with the family since then, providing the services of an FLO. Solicitor Phelim ONeill released a statement on behalf of the Nkencho family in which he welcomed the news of a criminal investigation. The statement expressed extreme concern about what it described as Gsocs distinct lack of urgency in its approach to the probe. The Garda Ombudsman Commission has been unable to specify when it will be in a position to take witness statements from George Nkenchos three siblings, who were eyewitnesses to their brothers shooting outside the front door of their family home, the statement said. This admission is made in circumstances where it is acknowledged in the same letter by the investigating officer that these statements are vital to the investigation. However, Gsoc told the Irish Independent: Gsoc has begun taking witness statements and, as is the case with any investigation, there are a number of matters to be explored and further witnesses to be contacted. This would be in keeping with the carrying out of all criminal investigations. A Gsoc spokesperson declined to comment on whether eyewitnesses have been interviewed yet. The solicitors statement added: It is a well-known fact that with the passage of time memories fade and crucial details can be lost, possibly forever. The eyewitnesses have crucial evidence which both An Garda Siochana and Gsoc have failed as yet to seek out and preserve. It is understood the interviewing process for witnesses has begun, but it is unclear if eyewitnesses have been spoken to. Mr ONeill said he was also concerned about Gsocs admission that the exact number of gardai present or number of shots fired has not yet been confirmed. Expand Close Queen Edbiri from Baldoyle takes part in a protest outside Blanchardstown garda station after the death of George Nkencho. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Queen Edbiri from Baldoyle takes part in a protest outside Blanchardstown garda station after the death of George Nkencho. This admission comes in circumstances where, elsewhere in the letter, Gsoc confirms it has taken possession of the firearms discharged at the scene; yet, despite this, it maintains that it does not know what officers were present and/or who fired the shots. Gsoc claims to be independent of An Garda Siochana, yet has still refused to identify the members of An Garda Siochana who discharged their firearms and shot George Nkencho, the statement said. Gardai have consistently said the decision by a highly trained and experienced male officer from the Armed Support Unit (ASU) to fire shots was because the garda believed there was an imminent threat to life. Meanwhile, Mr Nkenchos sister Gloria spoke on RTEs Prime Time last night about her older brother. George was charismatic, he was sociable, he was popular, he was intelligent, he was caring, she said. I guess life happens, and people go through things theyre not able to articulate, or theyre not able to explain, she said. Deep depression sets in and they change. I have never known a world where I didnt have my brother, and now here it is this is my reality now. MILFORD A year after he was arrested on kidnapping charges, Bridgeport school board member Chris Taylor told a judge Thursday he is finally ready to hire a lawyer. I sustained a nearly fatal fall from a two-story building. On Oct. 10th I had shoulder surgery, so Ive been immobile since then. Unfortunately, because of COVID, I was not able to get a lawyer, Taylor told Superior Court Judge Peter Brown during a hearing here Thursday. Taylor, who is charged with conspiracy to commit second-degree kidnapping, attempted second-degree kidnapping with a firearm, impersonation of a police officer, first-degree threatening, third-degree assault and risk of injury to a minor, previously told the judge he intended to represent himself. Taylor walked into the courtroom under his own power and stood before the judge. Are you considering hiring counsel? the judge asked him Thursday. The problem is that I was considering hiring counsel, but nobody was looking at having a consultation with me, especially for free, Taylor answered. Then my accident, the pain prescriptions I cant believe the legislature allows those substances to be given, but thats a matter for another time. Taylor asked the judge for a further continuance. To see if I can get my mobility back, I cant even write, he said. With no objection from States Attorney Margaret Kelley, the judge continued the case to April 8. Taylor is accused of allegedly posing as a police officer and attempting to kidnap his wifes 21-year-old son at gunpoint. Taylors wife, Stacy Taylor, who is facing similar charges to her husband, is represented by the public defender. Both Taylor and his wife are free after each posted $100,000 bond. Taylor declined comment on Thursday. Seymour police said officers were dispatched to an apartment building on Pearl Street on Nov. 23, 2018, for a complaint of an assault. When officers arrived, people identified as Taylor and his wife had fled, police said. The landlord later told officers he had received a call from a man who identified himself as a police officer with warrants for the arrest of the victim, police said. The landlord said the man on the telephone told him both he and a female officer would be arriving at the apartment building to arrest the victim. Police said Taylor and his wife arrived in front of the apartment building and Chris Taylor allegedly told the landlord that other officers had the street blocked off. Police said the landlord then let Stacy Taylor into the apartment where she grabbed the victim and put his arm behind his back, taking him out of the building to where Chris Taylor was waiting by a car. I heard yelling and fighting as the three exchanged words, police said the landlord told them. I got behind my car because I was scared someone was going to start shooting. As the victim fought to get away, the landlord told police he heard Chris Taylor yell, Stop or Ill pull my weapon. Police said the landlord heard a young child crying in Chris Taylors car while this was all going on. Police said the victim told them Chris Taylor was trying to force him into their car. Chris then grabbed me around the body and was trying to push me to the ground and pick me up. ... I believe that if I had not fought him off, he would have been able to get me in the car, police said he told them. He managed to get free and ran over to his landlord, police said. K.G.F. Chapter 2 teaser is out now after a long wait. The movie, a sequel to Kannada action flick K.G.F. Chapter 1, will be up for release soon. To add to the excitement before the movie's release, director Prashanth Neel and the team decided to surprise their fans with the much-awaited teaser on Yashs birthday. The lead actor, a night before his special day, took to social media to announce the release of the teaser of K.G.F. Chapter 2. The teaser starts with the text, A promise was once made and concludes with That promise will be kept. The promise, as shown in the first movie, was Rocky giving his words to his dying mother that he will never die in poverty. Introducing Kannada superstar as Rocky Bhai once again, the video also has the message, Happy Birthday Rocking Star Yash. The sequel to KGF. Chapter 1 continues to be tale of power struggle. Apart from Yash, other leading roles in the movie will be played by Sanjay Dutt, Raveena Tandon and Srinidhi Shetty. Raveena will be seen in a strong role, while we get to see a glimpse of Dutts back in the video, with him holding a sword. Meanwhile, Srinidhi, who played Yashs love interest in the first movie, will reprise her role. She can be seen waiting for someone eagerly. Yash, who reveals his character at the end, can be seen in a cool avatar, full of attitude, blowing cars with a gun. Watch the much-awaited teaser here: Sanjay Dutt shared the teaser and wrote, "The love that you all have shown for #Adheera till now has been overwhelming. Sharing #KGF2Teaser" Within hours of its release, the video gathered more than 16 million views, winning hearts of fans. Curious fans will get to know more about the film once the trailer releases. Going by the teaser, for now, it is safe to say that the movie will have double the action and drama than KGF Chapter 1. State-run carrier Air India will ferry the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine to Delhi from Pune as the government ropes in Indian Air Force (IAF) and commercial airlines for the delivery of vaccines in the country. The Air India flight (AI 850) will deliver the vaccine in Delhi around 9 PM, The Economic Times reported, citing government sources. However, there is no clarity regarding the number of vaccines that will be delivered on this first flight. Air India may be used to transport vaccines across the country in the first phase, says the daily. In the first phase, the government has planned to vaccinate about as many as one crore healthcare workers, two crore frontline and essential workers, and 27 crore elderly, most above the age of 50 years with co-morbidities. Delhi is all geared up for the inoculation drive, and will conduct its second dry run today. The first dry-run was held on January 2. A total of 1,000 vaccination centres will be set up at various locations in Delhi, about 600 of which will be set up in the first phase. At every vaccination centre, there will be multiple booths, each to take a maximum of 100 people. There will be a nodal officer at each vaccination centre. The Delhi health minister has said the government is fully prepared to receive, store, and administer COVID-19 vaccine to 51 lakh priority category persons in the first phase. Three lakh healthcare workers and nearly six lakh frontline workers will be vaccinated initially. The COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network or Co-WIN app will be used to manage the vaccination drive. Everything will be fed to the database in real-time. After vaccination, each person will be kept under observation to check any adverse events. Also read: Vaccination drive: First shipment likely to be released today Also read: Pune airport ready for transportation of COVID-19 vaccine: AAI James Bond and Coronation Street director Michael Apted has died aged 79, his agent has said. The British filmmaker was known for the Up series of documentaries which followed the lives of 14 children since 1964, as well as directing Coal Miner's Daughter and Gorillas In The Mist. Apted also directed the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, which starred Pierce Brosnan. Thomas Schlamme, president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), led tributes to Apted. He said: 'Our hearts are heavy today as we mourn the passing of esteemed director, longtime DGA leader and my friend Michael Apted. 'His legacy will be forever woven into the fabric of cinema and our Guild. 'A fearless visionary as a director and unparalleled Guild leader, Michael saw the trajectory of things when others didn't, and we were all the beneficiaries of his wisdom and lifelong dedication.' James Bond and Coronation Street director Michael Apted has died aged 79, his agent has said The British filmmaker was known for the Up series of documentaries which followed the lives of 14 children since 1964, as well as directing Coal Miner's Daughter and Gorillas In The Mist. Left: With wife Paige Simpson in 2012. Right: With Pierce Brosnan and Denise Richards Apted also directed the 1999 James Bond film The World Is Not Enough, which starred Pierce Brosnan (pictured together on set) What has Apted directed? Up Coal Miner's Daughter Gorillas In The Mist The World Is Not Enough Bloodline Unlocked Bending the light Chasing Mavericks The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage of the Dawn Treader The Fifa 2006 World Cup Film: The Grand Finale Advertisement Apted, who served as the president of the DGA from 2003 to 2009, was born in 1941 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, before moving to London with his father after the Second World War. As a child, he studied at the City of London School where he first developed an interest in cinema. In 2008 he was made a companion of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George in the Queen's Birthday Honours for services to the British film and television industries. He won four Baftas, including three for Up. A tweet from the film academy said the organisation is 'very sorry to hear of the death of director Michael Apted'. The producers of the James Bond film franchise paid tribute to Apted's ability to move 'effortlessly and successfully between all genres'. A Twitter post signed by Michael G Wilson and Barbara Broccoli said: 'It is with very heavy hearts that we share the news of the passing of Michael Apted. 'He was a director of enormous talent and range and unique in his ability to move effortlessly and successfully between all genres. 'He was beloved by all those who worked with him. 'We loved working with him on The World Is Not Enough and send our love and support to his family, friends and colleagues.' The official Twitter page for the Oscars also paid tribute, saying: 'Director Michael Apted will always be remembered for the groundbreaking documentary 'Up' series. 'A past president of the Directors Guild and Academy Governor, he also made many acclaimed feature films, from 'Coal Miner's Daughter' to 'The World Is Not Enough.' He will be missed.' Thomas Schlamme, president of the Directors Guild of America (DGA), led tributes to Apted (pictured in 1994) Pictured: Robbie Coltrane, Pierce Brosnan, Denise Richards and Michael Apted Apted poses for photographs after he was awarded the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in 2009 A tweet from the official Twitter page of Bafta said the organisation is 'very sorry to hear of the death of director Michael Apted'. It added: 'Winner of 4 BAFTAs, including 3 for his acclaimed and ground-breaking 'Up' documentary series. 'Michael is pictured here (left) receiving his BAFTA for 28 Up from David Frost in 1985.' ITV managing director Kevin Lygo highlighted Apted's long association with the broadcaster. He said: 'At ITV, we are deeply saddened by the news that Michael Apted has passed away. 'Michael's long and distinguished career began and ended with ITV, spanning six decades, which is in itself truly remarkable. What that association produced was truly unique. 'The Up series demonstrated the possibilities of television at its finest in its ambition and its capacity to hold up a mirror to society and engage with and entertain people while enriching our perspective on the human condition. 'The influence of Michael's contribution to film and programme-making continues to be felt and he will be sadly missed.' Actor and director Paul Feig said he was 'very very sad to hear of the passing of Michael Apted'. 'He was always so kind to me and I was such a great admirer of his work,' he added. 'We were on the DGA board together for a couple of years and I always looked forward to sitting next to him. RIP Michael.' Screenwriter John Fusco, who worked with Apted on the film Thunderheart, tweeted: 'Sad to learn of the passing of brilliant film director Michael Apted. 'In directing 'Thunderheart' he was the only director to ever truly capture one of my screenplays as envisioned. Excelsior, Mate.' A post on the Twitter account of the band Garbage, who performed the theme for The World Is Not Enough, labelled Apted a 'delightful, charming soul'. 'Thank you for sprinkling us with some of your stardust,' the post added. The song's composer David G Arnold, who worked with Apted on three other films including The Chronicles Of Narnia: The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader, tweeted: 'I was lucky enough to go to the rodeo with Michael on 4 films, including 'Bond' and 'Narnia'. 'A more trusting, funny, friendly and, most importantly, kind person you'd never meet. So pleased to have known him and so sad that he's gone.' Michael Apted's legacy remains secured with his influential and ambitious Up documentaries Filmmaker Michael Apted was no stranger to a Hollywood blockbuster, but his enduring legacy will be the Up documentary series - an intimate, profound insight into Britain's social history. Originally planned as a one-off for Granada Television, producers in the early 1960s plucked a group of children from various backgrounds in a bid to examine the enduring strength of the country's class structure. Seven years later, Apted, a researcher on the first series, returned to the subjects to check on their progress, setting in place the structure for one of the most influential and ambitious documentaries ever. Filmmaker Michael Apted was no stranger to a Hollywood blockbuster, but his enduring legacy will be the Up documentary series - an intimate, profound insight into Britain's social history The most recent instalment, 63 Up, aired in 2019. Apted, who has died at the age of 79, graduated from TV to Hollywood, and his films included the 1980 Oscar-winning musical biopic Coal Miner's Daughter, 1988 drama Gorillas In The Mist and 1999 Bond film The World Is Not Enough. Apted was born in 1941 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and moved to London following the war with his father, who worked for a fire insurance company, and his homemaker mother. He had a brother and a sister, who was adopted, and as a child studied at the prestigious City of London School. It was here that Apted first developed a love of cinema and once described watching Ingmar Bergman's Wild Strawberries as a teenager as his 'road to Damascus' moment. After studying at Cambridge, Apted began working for Granada at a seminal time for the nascent commercial TV industry. He served as an assistant to Up director Paul Almond and one of his roles was procuring the children who would take part in the series. They included three boys chosen from a prestigious pre-preparatory school in Kensington, London, a girl from a working-class east London neighbourhood and a boy from a small farm in a tiny village in the Yorkshire Dales. Left: Apted is pictured with Benedict Cumberland. Right: Apted and Orlando Bloom attend a special screening of 'Unlocked' at The May Fair Hotel in London in 2017 Up starkly illustrated the different lives children from disparate levels of society led. The black-and-white programme opened with the children playing at a zoo as a narrator explained: 'We brought these children together because we wanted a glimpse of England in the year 2000. 'The shop steward and the executive of the year 2000 are now seven years old.' The first show, an illustration of the class system's deep-rooted influence, proved popular but a follow-up series was not immediately mooted. Instead, Apted busied himself with other projects. He worked on Coronation Street in the early 1960s, as well as sitcoms The Dustbinmen and The Lovers. It was around this time the idea of returning to the original Up children was floated. 7 Plus Seven, with Apted as director, aired in December 1970. Its subjects were now teenagers and gone was the eager innocence of the original series. Apted later said it was the most difficult to film. Award-winning filmmaker Apted is pictured with Polly Walker during HBO's 'Rome' London Premiere at UGC Trocadero in London The differences between the children was now more pronounced - the well-off filmed strolling through their elite schools contrasted with their more working-class counterparts. As the film's original premise suggested, it was more often than not easy to see in which direction the respective children's lives were going, even at 14. Away from the Up series, Apted was stretching his wings in cinema. In 1980 came Coal Miner's Daughter, which starred Sissy Spacek as country music singer Loretta Lynn. Spacek won the Oscar for best actress, one of the film's seven nominations. It was also up for best picture. The 1980s brought further success for Apted, with movies including Continental Divide, Critical Condition and Gorillas In The Mist. The latter, starring Sigourney Weaver as the naturalist Dian Fossey, again combined Apted's skills for matching an instinct for popular entertainment with deep emotional insight. In 1991, 35 Up arrived, producing the now regular update on the participants' lives. Tony Walker, who was chosen from an East End primary school, had found work as a London taxi driver. In 35 Up, it was revealed he and his wife had lost the baby she had been carrying in the previous series, causing a strain on their relationship. By 42 Up Tony had admitted being unfaithful, though the marriage had survived. Apted continued to work in Hollywood, with 1994's Nell, starring the Oscar-nominated Jodie Foster as a young woman who has to face the world for the first time after being raised by her mother in an isolated cabin. In 1999 came Apted's swing at a Bond movie. He directed Pierce Brosnan in The World Is Not Enough, also starring Robert Carlyle as terrorist Renard. Notoriously, the film starred Denise Richards as Dr Christmas Jones, a role still bemoaned by 007 fans. Despite this, and mixed reviews, The World Is Not Enough was a box office success, making more than 361 million dollars (about 267 million) at the global box office. Apted's final film was 2017 thriller Unlocked, starring Noomi Rapace, Orlando Bloom, Michael Douglas, John Malkovich and Toni Collette. However, it is for Up he will be best remembered. By 2019's 63 Up, death, illness and misfortune had befallen the subjects and the documentary had earned its place among the most acclaimed and influential ever. Apted married his third wife, Paige Simpson, in 2014. 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. A history of vaccine controversies in Japan may cast a long shadow over the coronavirus jab roll-out, experts warn, even as the country battles a severe third wave of infections. While vaccine hesitancy, and outright opposition, has been growing in developed countries in recent years, public suspicion dates back much further in Japan. Even as millions in the UK and US are being inoculated against Covid-19, Japan has yet to approve a single jab, and vaccinations will not start before late February at the earliest. This week, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he would be among the first to be vaccinated, in an apparent attempt to bolster lukewarm confidence about the jab. Just 60 percent of Japanese respondents in a December Ipsos-World Economic Forum survey said they want the vaccine, compared with 80 percent in China, 77 percent in the UK, 75 percent in South Korea and 69 percent in the US. The figure was still significantly higher than the 40 percent recorded in France. Another poll, by Japanese broadcaster NHK, showed just half of respondents want the vaccine, with 36 percent opposed. Mistrust in Japan dates back decades, with experts pointing to a vicious cycle of lawsuits over alleged adverse events, media misinformation and government overreaction. "The reason why Japanese are hesitant, I think, is because there is a lack of trust in government information," Harumi Gomi, professor at the Center for Infectious Diseases at the International University of Health and Welfare, told AFP. - Loss of confidence - As early as the 1970s, class action lawsuits were filed against the Japanese government over side effects linked to smallpox and other vaccines. And two deaths that followed vaccination with the combined diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus shot prompted the government to temporarily withdraw the jab. It was reintroduced shortly after with new rules but confidence did not recover. Then in the late 1980s and early 1990s, cases of aseptic meningitis among children who received locally produced combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccines caused renewed outcry, prompting withdrawal of the combined jab. Story continues A key turning point was a 1992 court ruling that held the government liable for adverse reactions to several vaccines, including side effects -- even without scientific evidence of a link. "Following the lawsuits, I think the government must have thought they would be sued if they actively introduced vaccines and there was a problem," said Tetsuo Nakayama, a project professor at the Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences who focuses on clinical virology. "People thought something (negative) might happen if they get vaccines," he added. "As a result, Japan's vaccine programmes did not advance for 15 to 20 years." There has been grassroots work by doctors to build trust, with some success, notably with the Hib vaccine, given to young children to prevent an infection that can otherwise lead to meningitis. "Hib vaccines became available in 2008 thanks to efforts by pediatricians," Nakayama said, adding Japan's vaccine programme "began to change course then". But there was another setback soon after, with massive media attention on adverse reactions allegedly tied to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Despite scientific doubt about the links, the outcry prompted the government to remove the vaccine from its list of actively recommended shots. - 'Proper risk communication' - Subsequent investigations have found no cause for concern, and the HPV vaccine is widely administered elsewhere. But in Japan, uptake has plummeted from 70 percent to less than one percent, according to an article in the Lancet medical journal. "This is a very disappointing situation to me as a specialist," Gomi said. For now, Japan is weeks, if not months, from any large-scale roll-out of a coronavirus vaccine, which will be provided for free. It has secured sufficient doses for all 127 million residents in deals with Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, which filed for approval of its jab in December. A decision on that is unlikely before February, and Nakayama said the government should work to build trust before then through "proper risk communication with the public". "They need to explain the risks when infected with the virus, the benefits of vaccines and their side effects," he said. Gomi, who is treating virus patients, said vaccine uptake would depend on clear explanations by healthcare workers and responsible media coverage. "No vaccine is 100 percent safe. Vaccine programmes won't work if that's what people want," she said. nf/sah/jah YEREVAN, 8 JANUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 8 January, USD exchange rate up by 0.20 drams to 522.79 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 1.37 drams to 639.74 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate stood at 7.02 drams. GBP exchange rate up by 1.47 drams to 710.94 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 781.86 drams to 32273.21 drams. Silver price up by 16.64 drams to 456 drams. Platinum price down by 1,082.40 drams to 18539.32 drams. Worcesters two hospital systems combined to average five coronavirus deaths per day over the last week. Officials in Worcester expect that number to climb even higher as cases of the virus continue to surge within the city. Were really in a bad way in terms of the number of cases that were seeing, Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said. City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. reported 1,376 new cases over the last week with 257 new cases on Thursday alone. The total includes one extra day with the holiday last week. Since the start of the pandemic, the city has experienced 15,910 cases. The number of patients, including those in the ICU, at Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care decreased over the last week. They represented the only positive signs reported by Augustus, who said the two systems reported 40 deaths over the last eight days. With an expected surge from the holidays coming within the next two weeks, Hirsh said that number of deaths at the citys hospitals could increase to as many as more than 50 weekly. A lot of the deaths are a function of comorbidities, Hirsh said. Unfortunately at the holiday time, its a time when people with comorbidities, COPD, or obesity, diabetes, cancer survivors, they wanted to be with their loved ones. They decided to do the family gatherings that we advised them not to do. The numbers have caused both of the citys hospitals to suspend elective surgeries. Over the last seven days, Worcester averaged 167 new cases per day. Thats up from averaging 92 new cases per day during the final week of November, Augustus said Hirsh said the virus appears to be spreading faster than it has in the spring. On the week of Nov. 12, the city reported 512 cases. That number nearly tripled to 1,376 cases this week. You can see the significant week over week growth since Thanksgiving, Augustus said. There are currently 54 patients at the DCU Center, which has served 294 people with COVID since reopening in December. Officials were optimistic, though, thanks to the arrival and distribution of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. On Monday, Worcester will begin administering the Moderna vaccine to its first responders and those in the six surrounding health alliance communities, which include Grafton, Holden, Leicester, Millbury, Shrewsbury and West Boylston. They hope to provide at least 300 vaccines per day. We are very excited about this vaccination project taking off, Hirsh said. Hirsh hoped that Phase 1 of Gov. Charlie Bakers vaccination plan would be complete within the city by the middle of February. Phase 3, which is when the general public would be able to receive the vaccine, Hirsh said, likely wont happen until April. While some debate the dosage or number of times a vaccine should be administered, Hirsh agreed with a recent statement by the FDA, that the original guidelines should be followed. The approval from the FDA was based on a certain structure of how they were administered in the study, Hirsh said. I think if we deviate from that, were not following the science. Related Content: Indian airlines are in discussions with pharmaceutical manufacturers to facilitate the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines across the country after the country's drug regulator cleared two jabs for emergency use. Plans are afoot for the transportation and delivery of millions of doses to expedite the vaccination programme the rollout of which is expected in the next few days. Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said the vaccination programme may begin on January 13. A civil aviation ministry official told Mint that airlines cargo facilities will be used to distribute the vaccines. The business comes as good news for aviation firms who took a big hit due to the coronavirus. Moneycontrol could not independently verify the report. Follow our LIVE Updates on the coronavirus pandemic here 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 is fully prepared to transport the vaccines, an official from the national carrier told the newspaper, adding there was still no word on when the process would begin. Spokespersons for the GMR-operated Delhi and Hyderabad airports also said they were ready to handle and distribute the COVID-19 vaccines. Delhi airport, which has the countrys largest cargo hub, has equipped two terminals with facilities to handle temperature-sensitive shipments, it said. Another source said a pact between the Centre and two pharma companies may be announced soon after which dispatch through airlines would commence. Check here for the latest updates on all COVID-19 vaccines Aviation officials also said they were working with pharmaceutical companies and suppliers of temperature-controlled facilities to ensure proper handling at their facilities. Both the approved vaccines, Covishield and COVAXIN, require 2-8C storage. A spokesperson for GMR Hyderabad Air Cargo, attached to the Hyderabad International Airport, said they were in talks to meet the specific requirement for export and import of COVID-19 vaccines. They expect most exports to Asian, African and Latin American regions, while imports would likely be for ingredients from Europe. The total number of COVID-19 cases in India is now at 10,413,417 with 10,037,398 recoveries and 150,570 deaths as per the Health Ministrys January 8 update. The mortality rate in the country stands at 1.4 percent, with Punjab reporting the highest (3.2 percent). Globally, more than 8.80 crore people have been infected by the coronavirus and 18.98 lakh have died so far, as per the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Centre. A fallout between partners in a 2,400-acre master-planned community in western Bexar County has led one to file a lawsuit seeking more than $2 billion in damages. Dallas developer George Chip A. Field III has sued partner Bill Knight of Fort Worth for breach of fiduciary duty, alleging Knight and other defendants are holding properties hostage in an effort to renegotiate the terms of their partnership. Field, 70, and Knight, 80, formed their partnership in 2004 to develop commercial real estate in Texas. The far West Side master-planned community, at the northeast corner of Potranco Road and Texas 211, is known as Stevens Ranch. The project has more than 4,000 residential lots, with 538 acres earmarked for commercial development, an online brochure shows. The pair also are developing the Orchard, a 565-acre project on the west side of Texas 211 at Highway 90 across from Briggs Ranch. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox Knight receives 90 percent of net cash flow generated by the partnership, while Field receives the remaining 10 percent. That is supposed to become a 50/50 split when the partners achieve a return of their investment. Knight and related entities have received more than $70 million from the partnership, Fields lawsuit says. Knight has demanded 100 percent of the net cash flow from the sale of two parcels at Stevens Ranch, says the complaint, filed Dec. 31 in state District Court in San Antonio. The arrangement would leave Field with nothing to show for the cash equity and sweat equity he has built up over the past 16 years, the suit says. It adds that it would bankrupt him and cause him to forfeit the entire enterprise to Knight and the other defendants. Knight and two other defendants son David Knight and Jason Brown did not respond to a request for comment Thursday. Lamont Jefferson, a San Antonio attorney representing Field, declined to comment. As land developers, Field and Knight invest in undeveloped real estate and then obtain the entitlements for specific uses on the property and build the infrastructure. They then sell parcels to builders and others for construction. For example, in 2017 they sold 24 acres at 14325 Potranco Road to H-E-B for a grocery store that opened in October. On ExpressNews.com: H-E-B to open new store on San Antonios far West Side Knight controls the partnerships finances and has been the primary source of funding. Field who runs its day-to-day operations has contributed millions of dollars that now represent about $15 million in partnership equity, the suit says. Field alleges Knight wants to make changes to their partnership as its investments are coming to fruition. Bill has betrayed the partnership, seeks to usurp the partnership opportunities for himself, and in doing so threatens to undermine over two billion dollars in partnership value, the suit says. Knight and the other defendants actions killed two major sales ($15 million) and resulted in the purchasers filing two lawsuits seeking specific performance for the sale of the two parcels at Stevens Ranch, Field alleges in his lawsuit. Court records show both home builder Horton Capital Properties LLC of Southlake and SRSA One LLC of Houston sued Stevens Ranch-related entities on the same day in February to enforce purchase agreements. Both companies later were able to complete their purchases, property records show, and the lawsuits were dismissed. Other potential buyers chose to walk away, costing the partnership nearly $30 million in sales, Field alleges. As much as $265 million in sales could face a similar fate, he says. Stevens Ranch is a public improvement district, where property owners pay taxes to finance improvements. The partnership gets a share of that tax money. However, Field says the closing delays have caused damages in the form of lost future PID revenue of more than $47 million. Knight and the other defendants have poisoned the market with respect to future sales of the Stevens Ranch properties because potential purchasers are reluctant to conduct business with the partnership that is certain to end up in litigation or costly delays, the suit says. Over $750 million in appraised present value of partnership assets has effectively been reduced to zero. pdanner@express-news.net : A convention for employees of the Chandigarh administration was held at the Rose Club in Sector 16 on Friday. It was held on the call of the coordination committee of Government and MC Employees and Workers, Chandigarh. During the convention, It was decided to hold a one-day pen down/tool down strike on February 10 against the unfair behaviour of Chandigarh Administration towards the legitimate demands of the employees, said Rakesh Kumar, general secretary of the coordination committee. The administration has completely failed to settle the long-pending demands of the employees. It has not taken any action against unfair treatment by contractors of Government eMarketplace (GeM) portal. Outsourced workers are exploited by contractors who demand money to let them keep their jobs, he added. The committee demand that the administration stop engaging manpower through GeM Portal, regularise daily wage employees against vacant posts and release pensionary benefits to retired employees without delay. The committee strongly condemned the administrations move to freeze the DC rates of outsourced workers and demanded its revision. Jaipur, Jan 8 : The second dry run of Covid-19 vaccination was successfully conducted in Rajasthan on Friday. State Health Minister Raghu Sharma said that a mock drill of Covid-19 vaccination involving 2,550 health workers was carried out on Friday by setting up 102 vaccination centres in all the districts of the state. During the exercise, information was provided regarding the possible adverse effects that the beneficiaries could witness after Covid-19 vaccination and about the necessary protocols. Sharma said that this was the second dry run of Covid-19 vaccination. In the first round, a mock drill was conducted for 424 corona warriors at 18 centres in 7 districts of the state on January 2. He said that during both these dry runs, vaccination management was done taking all precautions and by following the scientific protocols. He said that Friday's mock drill was conducted by creating three categories of vaccine centres in each district. A total of 102 vaccine centres were set up in the medical colleges and district hospitals as part of the first category; CHCs, PHCs and urban dispensaries were part of the second category, while private medical institutions formed the third category. A target of 25 vaccinations was fixed for each centre. State Health Secretary Siddharth Mahajan inspected the dry run by visiting the vaccine centres in Jaipur and other districts. Other senior health officials under the leadership of the district collectors monitored the dry run and gave necessary directions. Explaining the process, Sharma said that first of all, a model vaccination room and monitoring room were set up for the beneficiary following which rehearsal of administering the vaccine was done. The vaccination officers verified the identity documents and then gave entry to the beneficiary. The beneficiary was then sent to the vaccination room after certifying on the COVID-19 Vaccine Intelligence Network (CoWIN) software, where the vaccinator completed the vaccination process (demo) and made entry on the CoWIN portal about administering vaccine to the beneficiary. Sharma said that the beneficiary was them kept at the monitoring room for 30 minutes under the observation of the vaccination officer. During the process of dry run, the time taken to vaccinate one beneficiary and making entry on the CoWIN software was assessed and the process of running the software was checked. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said US President Donald Trump should immediately be removed from office or Congress may proceed to impeach him. Ms Pelosi joined those calling on the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Mr Trump from office. It came a day after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, forcing the building into lockdown. Mr Trump called them "very special" people and said he loved them. Ms Pelosi said at the Capitol: "The president of the United States incited an armed insurrection against America." She warned he could do further harm to the country: "Any day can be a horror show for America." Democrats and even some Republicans want Mr Trump removed before his term ends on January 20 with Democrat Joe Biden's inauguration. The 25th Amendment allows for the vice president and a majority of the cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. The vice president then becomes acting president. Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger and top Democrat Chuck Schumer have also called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked. In another blow to Mr Trump, Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said she is resigning, becoming the highest ranking member of the administration to quit in protest after the insurrection at the Capitol. Ms Chao, who is married to Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell, said the violent attack "has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside". Chaos Mr Trump only acknowledged his election defeat and promised an "orderly transition" after a day of chaos and destruction as a mob of his supporters stormed the Capitol building and unleashed unprecedented scenes of mayhem in hopes of halting the peaceful transition of power. Members of Congress were forced into hiding, offices were ransacked, and the formal congressional count of Electoral College votes was halted for more than six hours. "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20," Mr Trump said in a statement posted to Twitter by his social media director. Mr Trump's own account had been locked by the company for posting messages that appeared to justify the assault on the seat of the nation's democracy. Mr Trump added: "While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again!" However, President-elect Joe Biden called the mob that descended on the US Capitol "domestic terrorists" and laid the blame for the violence squarely at Mr Trump's feet. During remarks in Delaware yesterday, Mr Biden said people should not call the Trump supporters who broke into the Capitol protesters. He said they were "a riotous mob - insurrectionists, domestic terrorists". He accused Mr Trump of "trying to use a mob to silence the voices of nearly 160 million Americans" who voted in November. Mr Biden also said the president has "made his contempt for our democracy, our constitution, the rule of law, clear in everything he has done" and unleashed an "all-out attack" on the country's democratic institutions that ultimately led to the violence on Wednesday. Mr Trump has spent the past two months refusing to concede and making baseless allegations of widespread voter fraud, even though his own Justice Department, federal courts, including the Supreme Court, and state governments have said repeatedly the vote was carried out freely and fairly. His refusal to accept reality and his incendiary rhetoric reached a breaking point on Wednesday when loyalists violently occupied the Capitol in one of the most jarring scenes ever to unfold in the nation's capital of Washington DC. Authorities said four people died during the violence, including one woman who was shot by an officer outside the House chamber. Mr Trump later appeared to excuse the violent occupation by the mob. "These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long," Mr Trump wrote in a message that was later deleted by Twitter. He added: "Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!" Mr Trump spent much of Wednesday afternoon watching the insurrection on television from his private dining room off the Oval Office. But aside from sparing appeals for calm issued at the insistence of his staff, he was largely disengaged. Instead, a White House official said, most of Mr Trump's attention was consumed by his ire at Mr Pence, who defied Trump's demands by acknowledging he did not have the power to unilaterally reject the electoral votes that determine the next president. Mr Trump only reluctantly issued the tweets and taped a video encouraging an end to the violence. The posts came at the insistence of staff and amid mounting criticism from Republican politicians begging him to condemn the violence. Two Massachusetts school districts reported 12 staff coronavirus cases during a two-week period that included winter break. Both the Worcester Public Schools and the May Center School for Brain Injury and Related Disorders Residential (Brockton) reported 12 staff cases, the highest number of positives associated with schools during the two weeks included in a report released Thursday by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. In total, 431 cases of COVID-19, split between 178 students and 253 staff members, were detected between Dec. 24 and Jan. 6, according to the report. This weeks report is different than usual because it contains two weeks of data, including the winter break period from Dec. 24 to Jan. 1. Typically, DESE releases one week of data each Thursday. The report only includes cases if the infected person has been in a school building within the seven days before testing positive. That means any students who test positive but are in a remote learning model are not included. This weeks report includes 171 student cases and 208 staff cases at local school districts. There were two student cases and six staff cases at education collaboratives. And there were five student cases and 39 staff cases at approved special education schools. The largest number of student cases among districts was nine in Marshfield. There were eight student cases each in Hudson and Melrose. Find numbers for your district or school in this searchable database. If youre having trouble accessing the database, click here. There are an estimated 450,000 students and 75,000 staff members currently in public school buildings during the pandemic, according to the department. Some schools have transitioned to remote learning as COVID cases surge statewide, and some districts, including Worcester and Springfield, have relied on remote learning since September. The last time DESE released a COVID report, on Dec. 24, cases were reported among 552 students and 397 staff members. The week prior, 1,009 cases were announced, the highest number reported by DESE in a single week. Education officials announced earlier this week that Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System testing would be shorter for students in grades 3-8, that there will be a modified competency determination for the class of 2021, and that the commissioner will not name any new schools or districts as underperforming or chronically underperforming. Even though the results from this years tests will not be used to declare any school or district as underperforming, they will provide critical diagnostic information for educators, parents, schools and districts, Massachusetts Secretary of Education James Peyser told MassLive on Tuesday. Related Content: Karnataka: Regular class for first, second year college students after Jan 14 India oi-Deepika S Bengaluru, Jan 08: After a gap of nine months since the coronavirus-induced lockdown, regular classes for first and second-year college students in Karnataka would resume after Sankranti on January 14. Announcing this on Friday, Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan, who holds the higher education portfolio, asked the Vice Chancellors of government and private universities, senior officials of several departments, including that of higher education, to suggest a date for resumption of the classes. The Vice Chancellors attended a meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister and all of them were unanimous that the government should start the offline classes. Karnataka to receive 13.90 lakh vaccine vials in a couple of days: Health Minister Narayan asked them to suggest a date and based on their submission, the date to start classes would be announced. This applies to first and second-year students of degree, post-graduation, diploma and engineering. The offline or regular classes for Class 10, second-year pre-university, final-year degree and postgraduate students have already started and are running successfully. By taking this success into account, it has been decided to open the remaining classes also, he said. Regarding the students' bus passes, Narayan said the confusion would be cleared soon by discussing with another Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi, who holds the transport portfolio. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Saturday, January 9, 2021, 0:28 [IST] M arks and Spencer today warned the Stock Exchange that its stores in the EU had been hit hard by complicated new Brexit tariffs. The government trumpeted its exit deal as creating tariff-free trade between the UK and Europe. But M&S and other retailers say they are being caught with big taxes due to so-called Rules of Origin. Its far from alone. What are Rules of Origin? UK-made goods exported to the EU are tariff-free, as if we were continuing to be in the EU. However, what constitutes UK-made goods? If a dress is made for a British retailer in Bangladesh, it is a Bangladesh-origin product, so is subject to tariffs. Fair enough. Where it gets complicated is where a UK factory processes raw materials from abroad and then exports the finished item. Is the item British, or a re-export? Give me an example Lets take a box of dates. If a UK factory working for M&S simply takes the stone out of the dates then exports them to the M&S store on the Champs Elysee, they will be liable for a tariff. Not enough processing has happened in the UK to make them qualify for exemption. But if the date is stoned, chopped up and used in a marinade for a ready meal, it is deemed a UK made product and is tariff-free. Dates are generally imported from the Middle East, so you can sort of see why the EU might want tariffs applied. Where it gets crazy is where EU-made goods can also be liable when exported back into the EU. For example, if a UK food manufacturer grates by hand some Emmental cheese into a product, the cheese would be liable to EU tariffs when exported back because it is not deemed transformed enough. If it is grated by a machine, it is tariff-free. The amount of non-UK stuff permitted can also vary from item to item. On dairy goods, youre allowed 20%, on white chocolate its 40%. If its a smoothie, the milk will carry one percentage cap and the various fruits another. The rules also vary if ingredients come from the EU or further afield. How widespread is the problem? Huge. All food and drink exporters are wrestling with it this week, having hoped the Government would have been able to get a more comprehensive deal. But, of course, its not just on food. Materials, textiles, advanced manufacturing, chemicals, cars and electronics are all hit. Retailers with stores on the continent are among the worst affected, particularly the many who have stores in Ireland which were often seen largely as an extension of their UK operations. The British Retail Consortium says at least 50 UK shop chains are struggling with the problem. So, what can be done? Companies are trying to find workarounds, but the problem seems sticky. John Lewis and TK Maxx have suspended deliveries to Northern Ireland, which also has to follow EU customs rules, while they try and figure it out. Exporters have to be able to provide evidence to prove the origin of their products ingredients. Next year, they will also have to provide suppliers declarations too, and EU officials may demand those retrospectively, so exporters need to have them now. Next is looking to use bonded warehouses, which are tax and duty exempt, for its exports. Other companies are considering setting up factories or distribution hubs in the EU to supply their shops there. But that is expensive. Cynics say the EU would not complain at all if British firms had to invest in new operations there. Exporters have to be able to prove where their products ingredients are from. Next year they have to provide documentation, too, and EU officials may demand that retrospectively, so they need to have the information ready now. That means companies are scrambling to work out the origins of all the products in their supply chain. In the car industry, electric vehicles and hybrids buy nearly all their batteries from Asia, which would push UK-made cars over the normal cap for tariffs. The two sides have agreed to allow a higher non-UK or non-EU ratio for a few years to encourage the industry to make batteries in the UK and the EU. The cap falls from 60% to 45% in 2027. How are businesses feeling? That varies from industry to industry. Carmakers seem fairly relaxed having had been cut a break on the batteries issue. The British Retail Consortium less so. William Bain, its trade policy adviser, says the current rules dont reflect the genuine needs of UK-EU supply and distribution chains. Any other crazy rules? Plenty. One retailer has just discovered that if they ship their goods in an individual package it is tariff free as long as its worth under e150. But each item has to have its own export documentation. If they ship in bulk to save on the paperwork, they lose the tariff waiver because the total value goes up through the e150 exemption. The U.S. economy could suffer if President Donald Trump serves his last two weeks in office, according to one of the hundreds of political science professors who signed an open letter to Vice President Mike Pence, Congress, and the Presidents Cabinet seeking his removal. It's not just the immediate next 13 days we need to be worried about in terms of political instability affecting markets, Edmund Malesky, Duke University professor of political economy, told Yahoo Finance Live on Thursday. The professor pointed out that Trump had repeated the false claim that he won the election prior to Wednesdays attack on the Capitol that left four dead and dozens of Trump supporters arrested. Claims of voter fraud by the Trump campaign, mounted in courts across the country in the weeks following the November election, failed to win endorsement from dozens of judges. As long as the incumbent president continues to proffer that lie, it will continue to burden the next administration, and will lead to future problems with political stability that will help make long-term investors feel quite uncertain, Malesky said. Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT / AFP) (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images) Economic stability is among three reasons why Vice President Mike Pence and Trumps remaining Cabinet members should invoke the 25th Amendment, which allows the president to be removed under certain circumstances. The notion of invoking the 25th Amendment has been gaining momentum among senior lawmakers. Alternatively, the professors said, lawmakers should vote for impeachment. Malesky said he also believes Trump should be removed based on concerns that before the end of his term he could use his power to stoke activity similar to the assault by Trump supporters on the nations capital Wednesday, and that additional physical escalations could take away from efforts to combat the coronavirus and other global concerns. We are dealing with tremendous threats, international relations threats, the hacking, issues with Iran, Malesky said. And also in terms of the pandemic, in terms of our ability to address COVID, to roll out the vaccines, and to deal with the new variants. And we have a president right now that is extremely distracted from those important efforts and is not interested in managing the government to deal with these critical threats. The practical realities of the 25th Amendment Despite increasing calls for the commander-in-chief to be removed from office prematurely, practical realities of using the 25th Amendment and voting for impeachment at such a late stage of the lame duck session could frustrate the efforts by deeming them moot, or by risking additional rioting. Utilizing the 25th Amendment requires a declaration by the vice president and a majority of the president's Cabinet stating that Trump is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. Although such a declaration would remove Trump immediately, the presidents own declaration in response, affirming he can in fact carry out his powers and duties, restores his position until two-thirds of Congress votes for his removal. Impeachment proceedings require an even more protracted timeframe, and would likely extend beyond the weeks remaining in the presidents term. Asked whether proceedings to remove Trump could provoke more upheaval, Malesky said bipartisan support would help temper additional friction. If you don't have bipartisan support for this you are not going to have the 25th Amendment, and then this is all an academic exercise, he said. So the threat of increased crisis really depends on, or would be, I think, in some way allayed by the fact that Republicans absolutely have to be a part of this process. Alexis Keenan is a legal reporter for Yahoo Finance and former litigation attorney. Follow Alexis Keenan on Twitter @alexiskweed. Read More: Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, SmartNews, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. Find live stock market quotes and the latest business and finance news For tutorials and information on investing and trading stocks, check out Cashay Two days after a mob of supporters for outgoing-president Donald Trump seized control of the United States Capitol, the event is receiving condemnation for all sides of the political spectrum. "The Jan. 6, 2021 assault on our Constitution, the electoral process and the institutions of our government is indefensible," reads a statement posted on the Midland County Republican Party's Facebook page. "Differences of opinion on the issues should never again devolve to violence. We are thankful that our Congressman is safe and for the efforts of law enforcement. Republican or Democrat, we are all Americans first and foremost." The group's chair, Cathy Leikhim, added that she found it "sad" that some Midlanders chose to have a "partisan protest" in front of the local office of Congressman John Moolenaar, R-Midland, Wednesday night. Midland County Democratic Party chair Jennifer Austin said her group "unequivocally condemns" the event. "(The riot) was the culmination of years of toxic rhetoric that has attacked the most sacred cornerstone of our democracy: our free and fair elections," Austin said. "Those responsible, from the rioters smashing windows to the elected leaders baselessly questioning the integrity of our elections to those in the highest office directly inciting violence, must be held accountable." Austin added that everyday U.S. citizens must also hold themselves accountable. "This did not occur in a vacuum, and every Republican, Democrat and Independent must examine their bias, their faith in cold hard facts and their commitment to country and Constitution over parties and leaders," Austin said. In a memorandum sent out on Friday, Northwood University president Kent MacDonald expressed his community's shock at the "lawlessness" of Wednesday's riot, especially as a champion of the "The Northwood Idea" that promotes freedom, responsibility, free enterprise and the rule of law. "We witnessed an unprecedented attack on the freedoms, values and structure of our country," the statement read. "A democratic republic is fragile when in times of crisis, good people remain quiet and do nothing. As President, you can count me among those who condemn the violence and the disruption of the democratic process. I also want to personally recognize our elected representatives, who worked tirelessly, to fulfil their responsibility to complete the peaceful transfer of presidential power." David Jesuit, a political science professor at Central Michigan University, said an event like Wednesday is unprecedented in American history. "We haven't seen anything quite like this, though the reconstruction period after the Civil War was even more violent and dangerous for the republic," Jesuit said. "The implications of the assault on the Capitol and lawmakers makes what happened quite different than what happened over the summer." Moolenaar and Flint Democrat Dan Kildee condemned the mob on Wednesday night, with Kildee calling their actions "a dark moment for the history of our country." Another man has been shot in the Creggan area of Derry tonight. On Wednesday night, a man in his 30s was shot in the leg in the Southway area of the estate. Police said that attack had all the hallmarks of a paramilitary-style attack. The PSNI said another man was shot outside a house in the Creggan Heights area around 7.45pm tonight. A police spokesperson said the man's injuries were not life-threatening but may be 'life-changing'. He has been taken to hospital. Detective Sergeant Gavin McLaughlin described the shooting as 'barbaric'. "Those responsible for this criminal act do not represent the interests of this community, nor do they contribute anything to it. "They do it to try and exert influence, or gain control of those they claim to represent." He appealed for anyone with information about the attack to contact the police. A car was also set on fire in the Creggan area tonight. Foyle Sinn Fein MLA Karen Mullan condemned those behind the shooting. There is no place for guns or this type of activity on our streets," she said. This is the second shooting this week and at a time when our hospitals are under severe pressure and people are dying as a result of the pandemic, it's the last thing that the people of Derry want to see. Anyone with information on this attack should bring it forward to the police. The shooting was also condemned by SDLP councillor John Boyle. "Another shooting, another victim and yet more trauma," he said. "The barbarity involved in callously shooting another human being is unfathomable. "The community in Creggan abhor this and are consistent in their opposition to those who seek to drag us all back to the darkest days of the past. A new TV advert fronted by Professor Chris Whitty is urging everyone in England to stay at home in a throwback to the messaging during the first lockdown. The chief medical officer is the face of the ad which is part of a campaign encouraging the public to control the spread of Covid-19. It comes as a third vaccine in the fight against coronavirus was approved for use as the UK recorded its highest number of Covid-19 deaths reported on a single day. Today 1,325 people died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 - the highest number of UK deaths reported on a single day since the outbreak began. There were a further 68,053 lab-confirmed cases of coronavirus in Britain, the highest figure reported in a single day since the start of mass testing last May. Meanwhile in London, mayor Sadiq Khan declared a 'major incident' as the spread of coronavirus threatens to 'overwhelm' the capital's hospitals. Elsewhere in the crisis: The R rate of the virus is thought to be between one and 1.4. The R refers to the number of people an infected person will pass the virus on to; Police in England and Wales have handed out more than 30,000 fines under coronavirus laws since the start of the pandemic; Most school pupils in Wales will be taught online until January 29, with this continuing until the February half-term unless there is a 'significant reduction' in Covid-19 cases, First Minister Mark Drakeford has said; Around one in 50 people in England have coronavirus, according to the Office for National Statistics; Meanwhile, eight in 10 recent positive cases of Covid-19 in London and eastern England could be the new variant discovered in the UK; Some 44 per cent of adults in England, Scotland and Wales said they formed a Christmas day bubble, ONS data shows. A new TV advert fronted by Professor Chris Whitty is urging everyone in England to stay at home in a throwback to the messaging during the first lockdown A patient arrives by ambulance at the Royal London hospital on January 8 in London Nurses work on patients in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London Speaking in the advert, Prof Whitty says: 'Covid-19, especially the new variant, is spreading quickly across the country. 'This puts many people at risk of serious disease and is placing a lot of pressure on our NHS. 'Once more, we must all stay home. If it's essential to go out, remember: wash your hands, cover your face indoors and keep your distance from others. 'Vaccines give clear hope for the future, but for now we must all stay home, protect the NHS and save lives.' The campaign also urges people to 'act like you've got it' adding that 'anyone can spread it'. A third vaccine in the fight against coronavirus was approved for use in the UK on Friday. The jab, from US biotech firm Moderna, has been given the green light by the MHRA - joining the vaccines from Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca. The approval of the Moderna vaccine means the UK should have three vaccines to use when it comes on stream in spring. The Government has increased its order of the vaccine to 17 million doses - enough to vaccinate 8.5 million people - with batches expected to be released in phases. It has been shown to be 94 per cent effective against Covid-19 in clinical trials. Mr Johnson tweeted: 'Excellent news the @MHRAgovuk has approved the use of the @moderna-tx vaccine. 'Our national vaccine effort is accelerating to vaccinate priority groups with our existing two vaccines, and the Moderna doses will add to that when they become available in spring.' The Office for National Statistics found in its mass testing programme that almost two thirds (61 per cent) of the positive tests it found in England appeared to be linked to the new variant of the virus. The figure was higher for some regions - particularly in London and the South - but lower in others Health Secretary Matt Hancock tweeted: 'This is fantastic news and another weapon in our arsenal to tame this awful disease.' Nearly 1.5 million people in the UK have already been vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca vaccines, with the Government aiming to jab 15 million of those most at risk by mid-February. But in London, Mayor Khan declared a 'major incident' as the spread of coronavirus threatens to 'overwhelm' the capital's hospitals. City Hall said Covid-19 cases in London had exceeded 1,000 per 100,000, while there are 35 per cent more people in hospital with the virus than in the peak of the pandemic in April. A 'major incident' means the 'severity of the consequences' associated with it are 'likely to constrain or complicate the ability of responders to resource and manage the incident'. Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health England's regional director for London, said: 'This is the biggest threat our city has faced in this pandemic to date. 'The emergence of the new variant means we are setting record case rates at almost double the national average, with at least one in 30 people (in London) now thought to be carrying the virus. 'Our NHS services are under immense pressure and currently another 800 people are being admitted to our hospitals every day.' Positive cases appeared to be starting to fall or level off in London, the East and South East of England in this week's ONS data, which Professor Christ Whitty picked up on in a press briefing earlier this week The new variant of coronavirus (blue line) has become the dominant strain in England but is not yet more common than other types of the virus in the UK's other countries, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, ONS testing shows The Kent variant of the virus (blue line) has become dominant in London, the East of England and the South East, but not yet in other parts of the country, although it is narrowing the gap in most places A graph presented by Professor Chris Whitty this week showed that the number of people testing positive for the new variant of coronavirus (blue line) appeared to start coming down in London and the South East towards the end of December, although it has risen in other regions The Covid Symptom Study, which uses reports from around one million people who have the app on their phones, showed that cases have been surging non-stop since the effects of England's second lockdown wore off in early December Elsewhere, hospitals also reported increasing pressures, with more than half of all major hospital trusts in England currently having more Covid-19 patients than at the peak of the first wave. A doctor from Merseyside said her hospital is 'almost at the limit' with patients having to wait in corridors or ambulances. Scientists advising the Government believe the current lockdown may lead to a plateau of cases across the UK rather than the dramatic cut seen in the March and April lockdown. They estimate there are currently more than 100,000 new infections per day and possibly higher than 150,000. HOW THE R RATE GREW ACROSS ALL OF ENGLAND IN THE FIRST WEEK OF JANUARY Region East London Midlands North East&Y North West South East South West R rate 1.1 to 1.3 1.1 to 1.4 1.1 to 1.4 1.1 to 1.4 1.0 to 1.4 1.1 to 1.4 1.1 to 1.5 Growth rate % +1 to +6% +1 to +6% +1 to +7% +1 to +6% 0 to +6% +1 to +6% +2 to +8% Advertisement They believe this estimate puts the current number of daily cases at a higher level than during the first wave of the pandemic. Hospitals are now seeing far more younger people than during the first wave. With the current lockdown and vaccine rollout, deaths from coronavirus are expected to start dropping in February, while hospital admissions should drop. Coronavirus cases are expected to drop in the spring due to vaccination plus the fact people spend more time outdoors, making it harder for the virus to spread. Elsewhere, research published on Friday suggests the Covid-19 vaccine from Pfizer and BioNTech appears to protect against a mutation in two coronavirus variants. The pharmaceutical giant and researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch carried out lab tests on the strains -from the UK and South Africa. Both variants contain mutations including N501Y, an alteration in the spike protein of the virus, which is a target for vaccines. In the study, not yet peer-reviewed, people given the Pfzier jab had neutralising levels of antibodies which appeared to work against N501Y in the new strains. But one of the mutations in the South Africa variant, named E484K, has not yet been studied and is still causing concern for experts. While scientists at the top of Government increasingly believe the UK variant can be tacked with existing vaccines, there is concern that the South African variant has the potential to make them less effective, though studies are ongoing. In future years, it is thought that Covid-19 vaccines will need to be tweaked annually much in the same way the winter flu jab is. Meanwhile, papers released by the Government from the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Behaviours (SPI-B), which advises ministers, suggests communication campaigns will be needed to ensure those who are vaccinated continue to adhere to lockdown rules. It said there was some evidence that, 'in the absence of any mitigation policies, some of those who have been vaccinated will show a reduction in personal protective behaviours' such as mask-wearing and social distancing. It is not yet known whether vaccination can prevent people passing the virus onto other people. BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States is once again provoking China over Taiwan question with the State Department declaring R. Clarke Cooper, the assistant secretary for political-military affairs, to deliver remarks during a U.S.-Taiwan political-military dialogue on Thursday. This is a violation of three China-U.S. joint communiques which allow no official exchanges of any form between the United States and Taiwan. Beijing has made it crystal clear that the Taiwan question is the most important and sensitive issue in China-U.S. relations, and the one-China principle is the political foundation of the bilateral relationship. Challenging China's red line on the Taiwan question is not only unwise but also dangerous. On the one hand, playing the Taiwan card is toxic to China-U.S. relations, as the act seriously damages China's national interests and grossly interferes in China's internal affairs. On the other hand, playing the Taiwan card is toxic to cross-Strait peace and stability. Official exchanges between the United States and Taiwan have dangerously emboldened separatist forces on the island, risking pushing the region into further confrontation. The current U.S. administration is in its twilight days. It should refrain from irresponsible acts like this and leave a clean slate for the next administration. Provocations like this, based on the selfish interests of certain politicians, mean the next administration will inherit nothing but mess and obstacles. That would leave one of the world's most important bilateral relations in worse shape. Since taking power, the Taiwan Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority has been attempting to deceive and mislead the residents of Taiwan, provoke and escalate cross-Strait confrontation, undermining cross-Strait relations, as well as peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. These acts are doomed to fail. Taiwan separatists need to give up their fantasy of counting on foreign intervention to keep China permanently divided, and understand that Washington is merely using the island as a pawn in its power play against China. They also need to stop daydreaming about using politics and the military -- or whatever Thursday's dialogue entailed -- to buck the historical trend towards reunification. Both the DPP and Washington should understand clearly that Beijing will never compromise on its core interests. China has the resolve, full confidence and sufficient capability to thwart any form of interference by external forces and the separatist acts of "Taiwan independence." VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) -- This was the first time since 1814 that the United States Capitol building was breached. In 1814 it was taken over by the British during the war of 1812. Steven Webster is a Political Science Professor at Indiana University. He specializes in anger in politics and what that looks like. He said he wasn't really surprised when he saw what was happening. Webster said tensions had been growing across the country, politically, for a long time. Now, after the protests and riots from last night, many Democrats and Republicans are talking about a second impeachment or invoking the 25th amendment which would remove President Trump from office. Vice President Mike Pence would take his position until president-elect Joe Biden was inaugurated. He said many of these things we have not ever seen in American history. "That a sitting president is challenging the legitimacy of an election, the fact that we see the capitol stormed by these protestors, talks of using the 25th amendment, a second impeachment, this truly is unchartered waters," Webster said. Meanwhile, Illinois and Indiana state leaders were in D.C. during the riots. Indiana Congressmen Larry Bucshon said was in lockdown all day. He said he was not actually in the capitol building, because of COVID-19 restrictions, but he said he was on lockdown in his office. Congressman Bucshon said the actions that took place should be condemned and that they should not and cannot be tolerated. Bucshon said before the break-in at the capitol he was planning on objecting to 2 of the state's election results. To "prove a point" and continue the conversation of local and state election issues. But, he said after he saw what happened he changed his course and did not object. Bucshon said he believes what President Trump said at his rally on the national lawn earlier that day helped to incite what happened. He said that is not how America settles political disputes. "In America, we have a peaceful transition of power. We settle our political disputes at the ballot box with a vote of the American people. We settle our disputes in congress with heated debate, with our friends many times. We don't solve our political issues violently," Congressman Bucshon said. Wednesday night congress did reconvene and finish counting the electoral college votes. Bucshon and Webster said that was a symbolic moment for democracy in our country. A fan named Jayanth Seege, based out of Bengaluru, came to Mumbai to share a film script with Shah Rukh Khan. The entire episode started when he read in an interview about SRKs last film being Zero. Jayanth decided to cast the actor in his movie. He soon shared a poster of a film directed by him. He shared the poster on Twitter and tagged SRK. Next, he tweeted the same poster on the occasion of SRKs birthday, but that went unnoticed. In December, Seege flew down to Mumbai from Bengaluru to narrate the script of his film to the Bollywood king. In order to seek King Khans attention, he started visiting Mannat frequently. At present, he claims that he has become friendly with the guards of Shah Rukhs Mumbai residence, Mannat. The idea of wanting to cast SRK in his film struck him after he apparently saw a video in which the Bollywood actor said that he had not signed any film after Anand L Rais Zero. Soon after making daily trips to Mannat, Jayanth realised that he will have to do something unique to get SRK's attention. The next thing he tried was to hold a placard on December 31. On New Years Eve, he stood outside Mannat with a placard that read, Friends: New Years Plans? Me: Pitching my script to SRK. HOW? Seege's act garnered a lot of attention on social media and many people shared his post. Currently, he is in Mumbai and is adamant about meeting SRK. While speaking to Humans of Bombay, he quoted a famous SRK dialogue from his film Om Shanti Om, Kisi cheez ko shiddat se chaho toh poori kainath usse tumse milane ki koshish me lag jaati hai. Amelia, from Sussex, went missing while backpacking in Asia in October 2019 Her body was found in sea a week later and authorities ruled she had drowned After having her remains shipped home, family requested toxicology reports Tests showed 21-year-old had GHB, ecstasy and hallucinogen MDA in her system Mother Linda Schultes requested Cambodian authorities reopen investigation Cambodian police could reopen the case of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge after tests showed the date rape drug GHB was in her system when she died. Amelia 21, from Sussex, was found floating at sea in October 2019 and an inquest later determined her cause of death as 'accidental drowning'. ADVERTISEMENT But a bombshell toxicology report made public last month found traces of the drug in her system when she drowned in the sea off Cambodia, sparking fears her drinks were spiked. If the British Government formally requests a review, officers in the Asian country say they will revisit the tragic case. Cambodian police could reopen the case of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge (pictured) after tests showed the date rape drug GHB was in her system when she died Amelia (circled) on the night she vanished Toxicology tests carried out on the remains of British backpacker Amelia Bambridge (pictured) revealed she had drugs in her system when she died sparking fears her drinks were spiked Mother Linda Schultes, 53, believes her daughter would never have taken drugs willingly MDMA - commonly known as ecstasy - and the hallucinogenic drug MDA were also found in her body but Amelia's mother Linda Schultes, 53, says she would never have taken these willingly. Instead, Linda believes her daughter was 'spiked' while partying on Police Beach on the Cambodian island of Koh Rong and passed out before she was swept out to sea. The mother suspects there has been a 'cover up' and believes the culprit who allegedly spiked Amelia is still at large, accusing local cops of bungling the original probe. Cambodian National Police spokesman Lieutenant General Chhay Kim Khoeun told local media The Khmer Times: 'I think if there is a diplomatic note requesting a review of the case to the National Police and the specialised department, we will continue to investigate the case.' Mother-of-five Linda, of Worthing, West Sussex, is calling on the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, to pressure Cambodian officers into reopening the case. Amelia's family left on a boat to continue their search in October, 2019. Her mother Linda believes her daughter was 'spiked' Click here to resize this module Search and rescue teams retrieved the body of Amelia Bambridge in Cambodia. She was found floating at sea in October 2019 and an inquest later determined her cause of death as 'accidental drowning' She added: 'It's just against nature really for a mother to have to bury their child. 'It breaks my heart really because when I was down there I saw how corrupt it was and understood all these backpackers go to these islands thinking the place is safe, but it really is not at all.' ADVERTISEMENT Linda added: 'I just want answers and to know what is going on in that island and what happened to her and how that stuff got into her system. 'The UK Government should be putting pressure on them to give me some answers because it is just not fair.' Amelia went to a party on Police Beach in Koh Rong with two or three female friends she'd made while travelling on October 23, 2019. Amelia was staying at a hostel, the Nest Beach Club. Her handbag - which contained her purse, phone and bank cards - was found on a beach 40 minutes away where she had been at a party A map showing where Amelia Bambridge was last seen on October 23 and the approximate location where her body was found floating in the sea in the Gulf of Thailand a week later Search and rescue teams retrieve the body of missing British backpacker Amelia Bambridge after it was discovered near the Thai border a week after her disappearance from Koh Rong She was last seen at the beach party at about 3am on the 24th and friends grew alarmed when she vanished, as she always stuck with the group. A search party started looking for her the following day after she didn't check out of her hostel or turn up at the port to catch a ferry off the island, as planned. A frantic seven day search ended in tragedy when her body was found 30 miles offshore. Six men employed in local restaurants and hotels were detained and quizzed by cops in relation to Amelia's disappearance, but no one was charged with a crime. Linda has accused Cambodian police of bungling the initial investigation, saying police there failed to find CCTV, didn't seal off potential crime scenes and some of Amelia's belongings were stolen after being taken by officers. ADVERTISEMENT The FCDO has been approached for comment. The citys police also announced that they had arrested nearly 70 people at the riot on charges that included unlawful entry, illegal gun possession and assault. Rioters rifled through the offices of lawmakers and stole electronics, prosecutors said. Mr. Sherwin said that the theft of files and electronics opened the possibility of national security breaches but that the Justice Department did not yet have a full understanding of the scope of the problem. One federal complaint accused a man named Mark J. Leffingwell of assaulting a Capitol Police officer around 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday in a hallway in the Senate wing of the Capitol. The officer, Daniel Amendola, said in the complaint that Mr. Leffingwell was part of a crowd that had breached a window. When Officer Amendola sought to stop him and others from entering the building any further, Mr. Leffingwell punched him repeatedly in the head and chest, according to the complaint. Mr. Leffingwell then spontaneously apologized. Prosecutors also unsealed charges against a Maryland resident, Christopher Alberts, accusing him of illegally carrying a Taurus 9-millimeter pistol at the riot. Officers first saw Mr. Alberts leaving the Capitol complex around 7:30 p.m. and noticed a bulge on his right hip. When they stopped Mr. Alberts, the officers found the pistol, which had one round in the chamber and a magazine filled with 12 rounds, according to the complaint. They also discovered that he was wearing a bulletproof vest and had a gas mask in his backpack. After he was taken into custody, the complaint said, Mr. Alberts told the police that he had the weapon for personal protection and did not intend to harm anyone. Mr. Sherwin said he would not rule out investigations into Mr. Trump and his inner circle for their roles in the rioting, just as he would not rule out an investigation into anyone who may have assisted, facilitated or played an ancillary role in the events. All options are on the table, he said. We will look at every actor and all criminal charges. Mr. Trump is said to have discussed in recent weeks the possibility of pardoning himself, an unprecedented and untested use of presidential power, but it is uncertain whether that would ultimately protect him. The incoming Biden administration plans to restructure and expand the operations of the White House National Security Council, establishing new senior positions on global health, democracy and human rights, and cyber and emerging technology, signaling a sweeping shift in priorities, according to a senior adviser to the Biden transition. Russia, which the Trump administration had subsumed into the NSC directorate for European affairs, will again be given its own NSC director, the adviser said, speaking on the condition of anonymity about plans and positions to be announced Friday. "We expect to be taking a stronger position on China than has been the case in past Democratic administrations," with significant new staff positions to handle "a much more assertive China abroad, and a much more repressive China" at home, the adviser said. Each new administration has reorganized the NSC and put it to different purposes since the body was established more than seven decades ago to coordinate and reconcile diplomatic and military perspectives. Most have hewed, with mixed success amid competing priorities and conflicting personalities, to a basic formula in which NSC aides refine options, tee up final decisions to be made by the president, and make sure they are carried out. President-elect Joe Biden, facing massive domestic problems and a rapidly changing strategic landscape, has said his goal is to break down barriers between national security and domestic policy, "especially on crosscutting issues" such as "covid, climate, migration and even U.S.-China relations that have touched so many domestic equities," the senior adviser said. In a news release prepared for an announcement of new NSC hires, Biden said he and his team would "ensure that the needs of working Americans are front and center in our national security policymaking." With more appointments still to come, more than half of the newly appointed senior NSC officials are expected to be women. Another transition official said that even on those issues that don't have an obvious domestic nexus, such as nuclear threats from North Korea and Iran, "part of the metric" for judging policy success will be "what this is doing for the American people, American workers, American families." Washington Post photo by Demetrius Freeman. Biden's NSC also is designed to repair what he and other critics charge has been a largely dysfunctional national security team under President Donald Trump, who hired four and fired three national security advisers. The current holder of that office, Robert O'Brien, has reportedly considered resigning after Wednesday's Trump-incited storming of the U.S. Capitol by a mob of the president's supporters, a step already taken this week by O'Brien's deputy, Matthew Pottinger. The policymaking influence of Trump's NSC, like much of his administration, rose and fell depending on the whims of the president. In its first iteration, it gave Trump's then-chief strategist and campaign guru, Stephen Bannon, a seat at the NSC "principals" table, usually reserved for top national security officials and Cabinet secretaries, and downgraded the roles of military and intelligence chiefs. Biden's only addition to the traditional table is former secretary of state John F. Kerry, whom he has named as special envoy for climate and a fully fledged NSC principal. Most of Biden's top national security picks so far, including Jake Sullivan as national security adviser and Antony Blinken, his nominee for secretary of state, are veterans of the Obama administration, as are many of the new hires. They include Elizabeth Cameron, a biologist and biodefense expert who wrote the Obama "pandemic playbook" as NSC director for global health security, the job to which she will now return as senior director for global health security and biodefense. The health directorate itself was eliminated by Trump. Among nearly two dozen appointees to be named Friday, Jon Finer will become Sullivan's principal deputy. He was an adviser and speechwriter for then-Vice President Biden before becoming chief of staff for then-Secretary Kerry at the State Department. Yohannes Abraham, director of the Biden transition team who is to become NSC chief of staff, held substantive roles in the Obama White House and became a senior adviser at the Obama Foundation. Brett McGurk, who will serve as overall coordinator for the Middle East at the NSC, spanned the Obama and Trump administrations as White House special envoy to the international coalition against the Islamic State, until he quit in late 2018 in protest of Trump's decision to withdraw U.S. troops from Syria. Under Obama, McGurk also served as deputy assistant secretary of state for Iraq and Iran, working closely with Biden when he was President Barack Obama's designated point person for negotiations with the then-struggling Iraqi government. Rebecca Brocato is to become senior director for legislative affairs, a step up from a similar job she held in the Obama White House. Tarun Chhabra, NSC director for strategic planning under Obama, will become senior director for technology, and Juan Gonzalez is to be senior director for the Western Hemisphere, a promotion from similar jobs he held at the Obama NSC and State Department. The incoming NSC senior director for South Asia, Sumona Guha, focused on that region in Kerry's State Department policy-planning staff. Emily Horne, to be named NSC spokesperson, was assistant press secretary at the Obama NSC. Amanda Sloat, to be named senior director for Europe, held similar jobs at the State Department and White House. Andrea Kendall-Taylor, named as senior director for Russia and Central Asia, has been a senior intelligence officer on the region. Melanie Nakagawa, senior director for climate and energy, advised then-Secretary Kerry on that issue. Others have less immediate Obama-Biden administration connections. Shanthi Kalathil, who is to be named coordinator for democracy and human rights, directs the International Forum for Democratic Studies at the National Endowment for Democracy. Sasha Baker, to become senior director for strategic planning, served as national security adviser to Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and deputy policy director for Warren's presidential campaign. Tanya Bradsher, a veteran of the Obama NSC and Department of Homeland Security, who left a job as chief of staff for Rep. Don Beyer, D-Va., to join the transition team, will serve as senior director for partnerships and global engagement. Biden advisers and transition officials said that the presence of so many Obama veterans should be seen as an advantage rather than a source of concern, bringing years of experience in more junior jobs to leadership positions. "The people that Biden has hired have deep experience in the agencies where they're operating now," said a former top Obama national security official. "I think that counts for a lot, particularly after a period when that wasn't the case." "This is a generation coming up to leadership positions," the former official said, noting that Sullivan will become the youngest White House national security adviser since McGeorge Bundy under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. "It's a team that knows each other well. . . . They're collegial, but I think will challenge each other" and be challenged by Biden. In addition to long-standing ties to Biden, many have direct relationships to each other. Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, Biden's choice as defense secretary, stands as the odd one out on the senior national security team, having spent his career in the military. But he is close to Biden, going back to the military service of Biden's late son, Beau, who served under his military command in Iraq. Outside concerns have been expressed over Kerry's expansive role. While his brief is limited to climate, Biden sees that as having a foothold in virtually every foreign policy and national security issue. Questions have been raised among career officials inside the State Department, where his office is expected to be housed, about the potential size of his staff and influence over the department and Blinken, his former deputy secretary. A person familiar with Biden's thinking dismissed those concerns as misplaced. "To our mind, it's simple," said this person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss high-level personnel issues. "John Kerry will be the climate envoy; in that role he will be involved in climate diplomacy. It will be pervasive in our diplomacy, but it will be nested under our broader foreign policy." "I know there's this idea of 'what if Kerry freelances?' There's no freelancing in diplomacy. And that's how we're approaching it. The issue of climate policy is often on the table in the Situation Room. That's why Kerry has the rank of NSC principal. But Tony [Blinken] will be the secretary of state, there's no confusion about that." Staffing positions for Kerry "are still very preliminary," the person said. "It is true that an office like the climate envoy's office has to be resourced if we're going to be serious about tackling climate in a serious way. . . . A few dozen people . . . doesn't strike me as outlandish." Kerry, who is expected to have a demanding travel schedule as he represents the United States at ministerial-level climate summits and other international meetings around the world, will have to compete with other top officials for allocation of full-time staff and use of finite resources such as official aircraft. Rather than the contests for influence over policy and resentments that have plagued so many administrations, "having a lot of smart and seasoned people at the table is a high-class problem to have," said John Gans, author of "White House Warriors: How the National Security Council Transformed the American Way of War." "History suggests that positions don't cause problems, people do. Kerry, Blinken, Sullivan and the president-elect have worked together constructively and cordially in the past; there's every reason to think they can do so again." - - - The Washington Post's John Hudson contributed to this report. Japan has declared a virus state of emergency in greater Tokyo, but its vaccine roll-out will be haunted by a fraught history A history of vaccine controversies in Japan may cast a long shadow over the coronavirus jab roll-out, experts warn, even as the country battles a severe third wave of infections. While vaccine hesitancy, and outright opposition, has been growing in developed countries in recent years, public suspicion dates back much further in Japan. Even as millions in the UK and US are being inoculated against COVID-19, Japan has yet to approve a single jab, and vaccinations will not start before late February at the earliest. This week, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said he would be among the first to be vaccinated, in an apparent attempt to bolster lukewarm confidence about the jab. Just 60 percent of Japanese respondents in a December Ipsos-World Economic Forum survey said they want the vaccine, compared with 80 percent in China, 77 percent in the UK, 75 percent in South Korea and 69 percent in the US. The figure was still significantly higher than the 40 percent recorded in France. Another poll, by Japanese broadcaster NHK, showed just half of respondents want the vaccine, with 36 percent opposed. Mistrust in Japan dates back decades, with experts pointing to a vicious cycle of lawsuits over alleged adverse events, media misinformation and government overreaction. "The reason why Japanese are hesitant, I think, is because there is a lack of trust in government information," Harumi Gomi, professor at the Center for Infectious Diseases at the International University of Health and Welfare, told AFP. Loss of confidence As early as the 1970s, class action lawsuits were filed against the Japanese government over side effects linked to smallpox and other vaccines. Japanese experts warn careful communication about the risks and benefits of a virus vaccine is needed to secure public trust And two deaths that followed vaccination with the combined diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus shot prompted the government to temporarily withdraw the jab. It was reintroduced shortly after with new rules but confidence did not recover. Then in the late 1980s and early 1990s, cases of aseptic meningitis among children who received locally produced combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccines caused renewed outcry, prompting withdrawal of the combined jab. A key turning point was a 1992 court ruling that held the government liable for adverse reactions to several vaccines, including side effectseven without scientific evidence of a link. "Following the lawsuits, I think the government must have thought they would be sued if they actively introduced vaccines and there was a problem," said Tetsuo Nakayama, a project professor at the Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences who focuses on clinical virology. "People thought something (negative) might happen if they get vaccines," he added. "As a result, Japan's vaccine programmes did not advance for 15 to 20 years." There has been grassroots work by doctors to build trust, with some success, notably with the Hib vaccine, given to young children to prevent an infection that can otherwise lead to meningitis. "Hib vaccines became available in 2008 thanks to efforts by pediatricians," Nakayama said, adding Japan's vaccine programme "began to change course then". But there was another setback soon after, with massive media attention on adverse reactions allegedly tied to the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Despite scientific doubt about the links, the outcry prompted the government to remove the vaccine from its list of actively recommended shots. Vaccinations are not expected to begin in Japan before late February at the earliest 'Proper risk communication' Subsequent investigations have found no cause for concern, and the HPV vaccine is widely administered elsewhere. But in Japan, uptake has plummeted from 70 percent to less than one percent, according to an article in The Lancet medical journal. "This is a very disappointing situation to me as a specialist," Gomi said. For now, Japan is weeks, if not months, from any large-scale roll-out of a coronavirus vaccine, which will be provided for free. It has secured sufficient doses for all 127 million residents in deals with Moderna, AstraZeneca and Pfizer, which filed for approval of its jab in December. A decision on that is unlikely before February, and Nakayama said the government should work to build trust before then through "proper risk communication with the public". "They need to explain the risks when infected with the virus, the benefits of vaccines and their side effects," he said. Gomi, who is treating virus patients, said vaccine uptake would depend on clear explanations by healthcare workers and responsible media coverage. "No vaccine is 100 percent safe. Vaccine programmes won't work if that's what people want," she said. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Sleuthing in the Digital Age Unraveling the Mystery of Two 1890s Richmond District Houses by John Freeman I always perk up when someone says they have old photos from San Francisco that need location identification. Sometimes Im lucky and know the site; other times there is too little to go on. A grouping of contemporary photos, like in an album, adds more clues to find locations. I recently was presented with a series of photos in two albums that became one of the more challenging and fun projects I have attempted. This is a detective story of sleuthing collaboration, combining old research skills and new digital technology mixed with a good dose of luck. In late October 2011, Craig Bryan in Northridge, California, contacted the San Francisco Museum and Historical Society by email, hoping to find help figuring out the background and maybe the creator of two albums he found a couple of years ago in a corner of a prop-shop liquidation sale in Los Angeles. The secretary of the Society forwarded the email with its four photos to me to see if I wanted to get involved. The photos showed two identical houses, a street view taken from the porch of one of the houses, a burned-out brick building suggesting the 1906 fire, and a cable car passing along a street. Not much to go on, but I bit and contacted Craig to see what else he had that led him to think the albums originated in San Francisco. Craig sent me four other scans at higher resolution and another variation of the street seen from a front porch. I immediately recognized a beach scene below the ornate 1896 Cliff House and a view that sure looked like a family swimming outing inside Sutro Baths, so there was no doubt that the photos had a San Francisco connection. One scanned photo in this group really grabbed my attention. It was another street scene, but with a very institutional-looking building on the right. The building looked as if it might be the original French Hospital. I had a dedication brochure from the hospitals opening in 1895 and it had a photo that matched the album photo! The mystery photographer had taken a picture of the hospital sometime between 1895 and 1906. After the 1906 earthquake, significant structural damage to the brick building had to be repaired, followed by some changes to the facade, including a distinctive mansard roof on the administration building. I had a location, Sixth Avenue and Point Lobos Avenue (Geary Street was not extended past Presidio Avenue until after 1909), but what was the occasion that caused all those men to congregate around, drawing the attention of the photographer? Closer examination shows an American flag draped over the facade of one of the buildings. Camp Merritt, the main part of the temporary camp for army volunteers awaiting transport to the Philippines in the Spanish-American War, was from First to Fifth Avenues, Point Lobos to Fulton Street. These men in uniform were only in the Richmond District camp from May to August, 1898. The celebration must have been Fourth of July, 1898. If the photographer was taking a picture of the Independence Day celebration, he might have lived close by. I studied the view of the two houses and the intersection seen from the porch more closely. The two identical houses had no visible numbers or other clues to location, except that they were on a slight hill. The intersection, however, did yield a few clues. There were two windmills, and behind the trees on the right was a long white building with a Gothic window and a cross on the peak of the roof. There was only one church near Point Lobos Avenue in 1898, the original Star of the Sea, which faced Eighth Avenue (right behind the nave of the current church today). I had a photo of that church in my files and brought it up. I made another match, and since the cross would have been at the rear of the church, the two identical houses would be on the south side of Point Lobos Avenue. I next turned to the 1899-1900 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map to find a footprint of two identical houses. I compared footprints on the west side of the 400 block of Tenth Avenue, since that was the only street on a grade with the south side of Point Lobos Avenue that could match the view of the south side and back of Star of the Sea Church. I found my match easily at 425 and 427 Tenth Avenue and contacted Craig to share my excitement. Knowing the address in 1899 was great, so I made a check of the microfilm at the San Francisco Public Library of the 1900 census, by blocks, figuring it would yield the residents name. The only writing in either album gave the names of two children, a girl named Marian, born in 1891, and her brother George born in 1893. By 1900, there would have to be two children, ages seven and nine, to match the family living at either of these addresses. The census match didnt work, because the data at the time of the census showed that each resident had children with different first names and the wrong ages. We were stopped cold. I knew that the reverse-directories in History Center of the San Francisco Public Library didnt start until the mid-1920s, so how could we find out who lived in one of these houses in 1898? I consulted with a researcher friend, and he told me about a website where you can download an entire city directory as a PDF file, then do a digital search by address. The 1898 city directory was nearly 2,000 pages and would take about a half hour to load, but Craig gladly took on the task. A few hours later, he had the name that might match: "Low George P., propr. and pub. Journal of Electricity" A search of an online ancestry program told us George lived at 315 Cherry Street at the time of the 1900 census, and besides his wife, he had two children, ages nine and seven, named Marian and George! We had found the family in the photographs; now we had to see if the houses were still on Tenth Avenue. The early years of house numbering often used one number per family dwelling, but as the outer neighborhoods expanded in the early twentieth century, the popularity of duplexes and triplexes changed the numbering system. I figured that 425 and 427 might change by the next Sanborn map in 1913, but when I searched near mid-block, I couldnt find the characteristic footprint of the buildings found in the 1899 map. I rejected Craigs suggestion that the 1906 earthquake could have destroyed these two substantial-looking houses, because the serious quake damage in the Richmond District had only been to brick structures or chimneys. Maybe a house fire destroyed the building? I got my next break when a friend sent me a supplementary Sanborn map of the block dated 1905 that showed the original building footprints, but with addresses of 447 and 449. With a hint of the new addresses, I did a contemporary Google street search for these addresses. There were two buildings I had looked at and rejected in my earlier search because they bore no resemblance to the peak-roofed dwellings of the 1898 photo. But with close examination, I saw what I had missed small architectural trim features that had been retained when the buildings were converted from single-family homes to flats or duplexes nearly a century ago, in the style of the early 1910s. I found building permits showing that 447 had become 447/449 Tenth Avenue when it was remodeled in 1911 and 449 became 451/453 when it was remodeled in 1913. The remodeled building footprints did show up on the 1913 Sanborn map, but were so radically altered, I had missed them. Craig and I continued pursuing George P. Low, and found that he was a respected electrical engineer who had supervised the electrical system of the Midwinter Fair in Golden Gate Park in 1894, and had signed off on the last phase of the electrical work of the City Hall in 1899. He had written briefly for the Morning Call years earlier, and in 1895 he founded the Journal of Electricity, Power and Gas, listing his office as 427 Tenth Avenue by 1897. Like so much of this story, a lot of luck went along with skill in uncovering the details. The location of the houses was moderately easy, but finding the name of the man who made the album was a bigger challenge. George Perley Low had only lived on Tenth Avenue for about a year and a half before moving to Cherry Street, then Mill Valley where he died in 1909. But he was a professional person whose career as an electrical engineer was noted in the press when he gave lectures or supervised building projects. The journal he founded and edited has been digitized by the San Francisco Public Library and recently became available online. The albums were rescued by Craig Bryan just before being tossed in the dumpster. Craig became obsessed with finding out who had photographed and composed these albums, and contacted a local historical society 350 miles away, whose secretary passed the challenge on to me. Most of the albums contained baby pictures, parlor views and family outings. There was no writing except to identify the children when they were infants. Only a few of the photos had distinguishing characteristics that could be used to identify time and place, but the sum of the parts aided the search. Only a few years ago, solving this mystery would have been impossible without at least a family name, but digital technology continues to make more and more archival items not only available, but also accessible by computer without leaving home. Special thanks to the staff of the San Francisco History Center, San Francisco Public Library for help and suggestions; to researchers Peter Field and Frank Sternad for advice and research solutions; and to Craig Bryan for salvaging important photos of the Richmond District, and for collaboration and tenacity to solve the puzzle of who composed the albums and trace their journey to Los Angeles. Contribute your own stories about western neighborhoods places! Michelle Obama chastised President Donald Trump over Wednesday's riots at the Capitol, calling him "infantile and unpatriotic" before delivering an emotional critique of how police responded to the mob as compared to this summer's Black Lives Matter protests. In a statement posted to social media on Thursday, the former first lady said the riots were a "fulfillment of the wishes of an infantile and unpatriotic president who can't handle the truth of his own failures." Trump supporters descended on the Capitol on Wednesday after the president delivered a speech at a rally against the election results, falsely claiming the election was stolen from him and encouraging the crowd to fight back. The march soon spiraled into chaos and bloodshed after a group of rioters breached the Capitol building, taking over the Senate chamber and forcing lawmakers and reporters to go into hiding. In response, Trump posted a video to social media repeating more election falsehoods and telling supporters, "We love you." Obama also addressed the law enforcement response, which she suggested would have been far stronger if the rioters were Black. "What if these rioters had looked like the folks who go to Ebenezer Baptist Church every Sunday?" she said. "What would have been different?" "Seeing the gulf between the responses to yesterday's riot and this summer's peaceful protests and the larger movement for racial justice is so painful," she added. "It hurts. ... in city after city, day after day, we saw cracked skulls and mass arrests, law enforcement pepper spraying its way through a peaceful demonstration for a presidential photo op." Obama compared athletes kneeling during the national anthem, which Trump and his allies have loudly criticized as disrespectful to the flag, to Wednesday's "unpatriotic" scene, saying it "made it painfully clear that certain Americans are, in fact, allowed to denigrate the flag and symbols of our nation. They've just got to look the right way." Story continues Obama ended by saying, "even in the darkness, there are glimmers of hope." The path to recovery is not for any one person, politician or political party. But together, entering with "honest, unwavering love for our country," healing can begin. Both Barack and Michelle Obama largely shied away from criticizing their successors during the beginning of the Trump presidency. As the 2020 campaign ramped up and Covid-19 ravaged the country, both began to speak out more strongly. During her speech at the Democratic National Convention, the former first lady called Trump "the wrong president for our country." "He has had more than enough time to prove that he can do the job, but he is clearly in over his head," she said. "He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us." Victoria's COVID response commander Jeroen Weimar told Melbourne radio on Friday afternoon that authorities would greet incoming passengers at Tullamarine to advise them of the situation. A government spokesperson said later that the government would be contacting passengers using contact information supplied by the airlines, to advise them of their obligations. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Official advice stipulates that any Victorians who have returned from Brisbane between January 2 and midnight on Friday should isolate and get tested for the virus. Mr Weimar also warned Victorians not to travel to Brisbane and recommended that people cancel their plans to go anywhere else in Queensland due to the risk of border closures to come. But those arriving in Melbourne last night were told nothing. "Flying into Brisbane there was cops there who checked our licences and everything to make sure we hadn't been into Sydney or whatever but nothing here coming back," Mr Daffy said. "I got a message from Qantas saying 'Stay up to date', but there's been no information anywhere as to what the up-to-date information actually is," said Ms Bryant. Lisa Millar at Tullamarine airport on Friday evening. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui Another passenger, ABC journalist Lisa Millar, was also on the flight that arrived at about 5.30pm. She brought forward her return trip to Melbourne after the Queensland situation escalated. She said she "found it incredible" to have landed in Melbourne without being met by authorities. "We weren't told anything on board about what we should do, the only reason I know what to do is because I was connected to the wi-fi and I was reading about it on the way." The difference between arriving in Melbourne and her arrival in Brisbane at the start of her trip was "startling," she said. Another Victorian family, made up of mother Jen, father Dan and daughters Pippa and Tilda they did not want their surname used said it was lucky that they happened to be on a flight home from Queensland on Friday night. They had been holidaying in northern Queensland near Mackay and only passed through Brisbane airport to transfer to a flight to Melbourne. They were in the dark about whether they were required to be tested and isolate or not. Qantas passengers Jen and Dan, with children Pippa and Tilda, arrive in Melbourne from Queensland on Friday. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The couple said they also were both "very surprised" not to have been met by health authorities at the airport. "We were just told to check our restrictions and it was our responsibility [to stay up to date]," said Jen. The Brisbane lockdown came as a family of four in Sydney tested positive to a new, more infectious South African strain of the virus, and an urgent meeting of national cabinet toughened the testing regime at the international borders. The lockdown prompted supermarkets in Brisbane to reinstate buying limits on essential items as people rushed to the shelves to stock up, while a major highway out of Brisbane turned to gridlock as people tried to beat the lockdown. Shoppers packed local shopping centres in Brisbane after the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced a three day lock down. Credit:Tertius Pickard A Jetstar flight arriving in the Northern Territory from Brisbane on Friday turned around and flew straight back as passengers were newly required to spend 14 days in hotel quarantine. South Australia and Tasmania imposed a 14-day quarantine and Western Australia imposed a hard border to Queensland from midnight. Associate Professor Adam Kamradt-Scott, a specialist in global health security at the University of Sydney, said a three-day lockdown was unlikely to be enough to halt the virus circulating in Brisbane. He predicted it would be extended to at least 14 days the length of time it takes for any infected people to show symptoms. Loading Anxious travellers overwhelmed airline phone lines. Virgin Airlines said it was operating Queensland services as usual but planned to make changes after the hotspot declaration. The airline asked passengers travelling within the next three days to avoid calling and to visit its website instead as border restrictions were an "evolving situation". Qantas and Jetstar also said they had experienced a large volume of passengers trying to change their bookings. Mr Weimar said the Health Department would provide further advice on Monday on the situation in Queensland, but his personal advice was for people not to travel there. Theres no closure on other parts of Queensland, I think my advice would be to start making plans to come home unless you plan to be up there for a significant period of time, Mr Weimar told 3AW Radio Melbourne on Friday. We just dont know. And as weve seen with NSW, we dont know how this cluster is going to pan out over the coming days and weeks, so if you have a pressing need to be thinking of coming back to Victoria in the coming weeks, my personal advice would be Id start thinking about making a plan to come home. I would not be planning a trip to Queensland at this time. The Victorian border with NSW remains shut. Nearly 580 Victorians and their dependents have now been granted exemptions since the border was abruptly closed on New Year's Day with the number of applications in the system remaining steady on Friday at about 4000. Victoria recorded just one new case of coronavirus on Friday, with a returned traveller in her 30s testing positive in hotel quarantine, after processing 23,000 tests. An IT problem with private pathology firm Dorevitch led to the delay in processing the results of another 10,000 tests, all of which returned negative results. The data is expected to be included in Saturdays totals. Trump to Supporters: Our Incredible Journey Is Only Just Beginning President Donald Trump said in an address to the American people that serving as their commander-in-chief has been the honor of my lifetime, while encouraging his supporters to remain hopeful for American democracy. To the citizens of our country, serving as your president has been the honor of my lifetime, Trump said in a brief video message released on Thursday evening. And to all of my wonderful supporters. I know you are disappointed but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning. This comes as Trump condemned the violence and lawlessness of the attack on the Capitol and promised to ensure an orderly transition of power to the upcoming administration led by President-elect Joe Biden. Congress certified the Electoral College votes for the former vice president in an emotionally-charged joint session that ended at around 3 a.m. on Thursday. The media, lawmakers, former officials, and other critics have been criticizing Trump after a group of rioters and protestors waving American and Trump flags illegally stormed the Capitol building. The mayhem left at least four people deadthree for medical reasons after authorities released tear gas to disperse the crowdsand dozens of police officers injured, D.C. police said. The president condemned the heinous attack by intruders on the Capitol, saying the demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay. He acknowledged that, while emotions are high after an intense election, thou tempers must be cool and calm restored. We must get on with the business of America. Trump said his only goal in challenging the 2020 election results since Nov. 3 was to protect the sanctity of the ballot box and defend American democracy. I continue to strongly believe that we must reform our election laws to verify the identity and eligibility of all voters, and to ensure faith and confidence in all future elections, the president said. The president and his team had pursued a series of challenges in the courts over concerns that allegedly illegal votes were cast and counted in several states due to what the campaign claims were unconstitutional last-minute changes to state election laws and alleged election fraud. Although a slew of evidence was released in recent weeks in the form of sworn affidavits and expert testimony, the claims were repeatedly denied by ruling election officials and some lawmakers. Trumps critics and most members of legacy media have also characterized the claims as baseless. Meanwhile, a large proportion of cases filed by the Trump campaign, Trump allies, and numerous independent watchdog groups have been thrown out by judges for procedural reasons, including by the U.S. Supreme Court. Judges in several cases have also said that they have not been convinced by the allegations brought forward by Trumps team. The presidents concerns over election integrity have been shared by a number of experts and lawmakers, and a Reuters/Ipsos poll from November shows that 39 percent of Americans strongly agree or somewhat agree that the 2020 election was rigged, while 54 percent said they strongly disagreed or somewhat disagreed with the statement. (CNN) Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine has been authorized by the UK medicines regulator following months of rigorous clinical trials involving tens of thousands of people and an extensive analysis of the vaccines safety, quality and effectiveness, the country's Department of Health said in a press release on Friday. The UK government has agreed to purchase an additional 10 million doses of the Moderna vaccine on top of its previous order of 7 million, taking the total to 17 million, the release said. Supplies will begin to be delivered to the UK from this spring once Moderna expands its production capability, it added. This is further great news and another weapon in our arsenal to tame this awful disease, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said. "We have already vaccinated nearly 1.5 million people across the UK and Modernas vaccine will allow us to accelerate our vaccination programme even further once doses become available from the spring." On Wednesday, the European Commission also authorized the use of the Moderna coronavirus vaccine across the European Unions 27 member nations, hours after the European Medicines Agency recommended it do so. This story was first published on CNN.com. Tyler Andrews, Texas recently discussed why you may need a personal financial advocate. ROCKWALL, TX / ACCESSWIRE / January 8, 2021 / A financial advisor is an expense many people consider cutting out of their budget. It's true that not every needs to meet with a financial planner on a regular basis. However, those who don't manage their wealth with an advisor may actually be missing out on serious gains. President and CEO of Andrews Associates, Inc., Tyler Andrews Texas recently discussed why you may need a financial advisor. "Many people think they don't need a personal financial advocate, because they can do it themselves," Tyler Andrews Texas said. "However, this often leads to their money sitting in a bank account when it could be properly invested and making them money." Tyler Andrews Texas asked people to consider whether or not they will really manage investments and make important financial decisions themselves. These are decisions that require immense amounts of effort, skill, and knowledge. A qualified financial advocate has spent years in schooling and professional work environments learning the ins and outs of wise investing. Tyler Andrews, Texas-based, added that making smart investments and properly managing wealth is a time-consuming process, and many people do not have the time to do it in the most beneficial way. "Working parents, busy executives, and just about anyone who doesn't have excessive free time will likely benefit from hiring a financial advisor," Tyler Andrews Texas said. "Even if you're not someone who is constantly working and caring for family, you may want to spend your free time doing more than researching investment questions and comparing investment options." Tyler Andrews Texas President and CEO of Andrews Associates, Inc. explained that a personal financial advocate can also help you organize your wealth and see where you stand. This can be especially helpful if you're planning to make a major life change, such as purchase a home, have kids, or retire. Many people have their finances spread across numerous assets and financial institutions. This can leave them without any real savings plan or strategy. Tyler Andrews Texas stated that a quality financial advisor can help you move your IRAs, 401(k)s, and other investments into fewer places, so they're easier to monitor. "A financial advisor can help you determine where you're financially successful and where your flaws may be," Tyler Andrews Texas said. "They'll help you get organized, understand your financial standing, and develop a plan for reaching your savings or retirement goals." Tyler Andrews of Andrews Associates, Inc. finished by stating that a personal financial advocate can be a priceless asset to improving your wealth and your overall quality of life. Your life savings is essential to ensuring a brighter future for your family, and a financial advisor can help you reach financial goals that may be unattainable on your own. CONTACT: Caroline Hunter Web Presence, LLC +1 7865519491 SOURCE: Tyler Andrews View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623628/Tyler-Andrews-Texas-Discusses-Why-You-Need-a-Personal-Financial-Advocate The UK will start using a Roche Holding AG arthritis drug to treat critically ill Covid-19 patients after a study showed that it reduced mortality and shortened recovery times in intensive care. Some 27% of critically ill patients who got the Roche arthritis drug Actemra or a similar treatment from Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. died in the hospital, compared with about 36% of those who didnt get them, an Imperial College London research team said. Those treated with the medicines were able to be released from the hospital an average of a week earlier, the study found. The findings could have immediate implications for the sickest patients with Covid-19, Anthony Gordon, chair in anesthesia and critical care at Imperial, said in a statement. Released in a preprint on Thursday, the results have not yet been peer-reviewed. The study also raised hopes in the UK, which helped fund the research, that using the arthritis medicines will ease the strain as a surge of virus cases swamps its health system. The government will encourage the use of Actemra across the country immediately and is working with Roche to ensure the medicine is available to UK patients, the Department of Health and Social Care said in a statement. Though drug companies have tested a range of existing treatments against Covid-19, few have proven helpful. The biggest success so far has been dexamethasone, a steroid that has been shown to reduce the risk of death by one-third for patients on ventilators. Bit of Optimism Thursdays results injected that bit of optimism we all need to keep trying with arthritis medicines as well, Martin Landray, a professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Oxford, said in a statement. Landray helps lead another large study, called Recovery, that helped pinpoint the benefit of dexamethasone and is looking at Actemra as well. Still to be answered are questions of how well the drug works in different types of patients and whether, if given earlier, it might reduce the need for ventilators in the first place, Landray said. Roche will also continue its own studies on Actemra in Covid-19, the Swiss drugmaker said in a statement. In previous studies, Actemra had reduced the need for patients to be ventilated and appeared to help them leave hospitals earlier. Yet, puzzlingly, the drug hadnt appeared to help reduce deaths. The earlier studies enrolled people who were less sick, Gordon said. A crucial difference may be that in our study, critically ill patients were enrolled within 24 hours of starting organ support, he said. After a trial with the other drug, Kevzara, failed in September, Sanofi and Regeneron had said they wouldnt pursue the treatment further for use in Covid-19. Called REMAP-CAP, the trial reported Thursday assigned patients randomly to a range of potential Covid-19 treatments. It has enrolled more than 3,900 patients, most of them in the UK, though only a portion of those people got the arthritis treatments. Actemra was given to 350 patients, while 45 patients got Kevzara. In this June 13, 2012, file photo, Asian carp, jolted by an electric current from a research boat, jump from the Illinois River near Havana, Ill. Illinois, Michigan and a federal agency have agreed on funding the next phase of an initiative to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes by upgrading defenses on a Chicago-area waterway, officials said Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/John Flesher, File) Michigan, Illinois and a federal agency have agreed on funding the next phase of an initiative to keep Asian carp out of the Great Lakes by strengthening defenses on a Chicago-area waterway, officials said Thursday. The two states and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will share pre-construction engineering and design costs for the $858 million project at Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois. The structure on the Des Plaines River is a choke point between the Illinois River, which is infested with the invasive carp, and Lake Michigan. A plan approved by the Corps in 2019 calls for installing a gantlet of technologies to deter approaching fish, including electric barriers and underwater speakers that would blast loud noises, plus an "air bubble curtain." A specially designed "flushing lock" would wash away carp that might be floating on the water as vessels pass through. The next step is developing design and engineering specifications, expected to take three to four years and cost about $28.8 million. Under the new agreement, the Corps will pay $18 million and Michigan $8 million. Illinois will chip in $2.5 million and serve as the "non-federal sponsor" required for such projects. The federal share of the design and engineering funds still needs to be provided through annual Corps work plans, said Col. Steven M. Sattinger, commander of the Corps' district office in Rock Island, Illinois. Both states will collaborate with the Corps as it designs the complex mechanism, which will require thousands of pages of drawings. Extensive research is still needed for some features, which never have been built to the scale that will be required at Brandon Road, Sattinger said. "It's not as easy as it sounds," he said during an online news conference. Four species of carp were imported from Asia in the 1960s and 1970s to clear algae from Deep South sewage ponds and fish farms. They escaped into the Mississippi River and have moved north into dozens of tributaries in Middle America. Government agencies, advocacy groups and others have long debated how to prevent them from reaching the Great Lakes, where scientists say they could out-compete native species for food and habitat. The lakes region has a fishing industry valued at $7 billion. "If Asian carp invade the Great Lakes, they would have a devastating impact on our fisheries, tourism and outdoor recreation economies, and way of life across the region," said Marc Smith, policy director for the National Wildlife Federation. A shipping canal that forms part of the link between the Mississippi and Lake Michigan has a network of fish-repelling barriers, which the Corps says is effective but critics consider inadequate. The Brandon Road project will provide another layer of protection further downstream. "Long in planning, we're pleased to finally put these agreements into action, allowing us to move the project to its next stepsplanning and designand, ultimately, construction," said Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Once design is complete, building the system will take six to eight years, Sattinger said. The deal between states that have sometimes quarreled over how to stop the carp is "a model of partnership that we hope to see more of in the future as we work toward a common goal of securing the health and longevity of our states' greatest natural resource," said Molly Flanagan, chief operating officer of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. Explore further Illinois governor OKs first steps on blocking Asian carp 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Georgian Ambassador Archil Dzuliashvili on Friday sought India's cooperation in providing COVID-19 vaccine to his country. He discussed the issue during his meeting with Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari at the Raj Bhavan here, an official statement said. "The Ambassador of to India Archil Dzuliashvili today sought the cooperation of India in providing the vaccine to his country," the statement issued by the Raj Bhavan said. Noting that has more than 5,000 COVID-19 cases, Dzuliashvili said that like many other countries, is expecting India to make available the vaccine to his country, it said. The ambassador described Georgia as a "small yet vibrant country with ancient civilization" and said it is keen to enhance business and trade cooperation with India, especially in the fields of ports, clean energy and culture. Dzuliashvili observed that many Indian companies are already working in Georgia. He also said that Indian students are pursuing medical studies in Georgia "in large numbers". According to him, Georgia has become a "favourite" destination for Bollywood filmmakers, with many new movies being shot there. Welcoming Dzuliashvili, Koshyari said there is a scope for enhancing relations in ports, manufacturing and culture. The Honorary Consul of Georgia in Mumbai, Satinder Singh Ahuja, was also present on the occasion, the statement said. Gavin Williamson Teaching unions have urged the Government to revisit the guidance on key workers after complaining that too many children are being sent to school during lockdown. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) has asked Gavin Williamson to consider scaling back on the number of children able to attend, with reports that some schools have seen up to two thirds of pupils turning up. Where schools are struggling with capacity, ministers have been asked to consider restricting places to children in two-parent families where both are key workers, as opposed to just one, as well as allowing heads to prioritise children according to need. ASCL and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) are also calling on the Government to provide guidance on the maximum safe number of children that there should be in school at once. Separately, the National Education Union has urged ministers to redraw the criteria for vulnerable youngsters, having told members to minimise mixing as much as possible in order to get the virus levels down. However, hitting back, Robert Halfon, the Conservative chairman of the Commons education committee, said it was absolutely vital that everything is done to welcome these children into school. The key workers are on the frontline, just like teachers and support staff, he told The Telegraph. Everything should be done to welcome these children into school, rather than putting barriers in the way. Its absolutely vital that their children can be educated and they are not left behind. His comments were echoed by a Government source, who ruled out changes and argued it was wrong to suggest more pupils in schools was problematic from a health and safety perspective. They pointed to fresh guidance issued by the Department for Education on Thursday, which states that limiting attendance does not suggest that schools and colleges have become significantly less safe for young people." Story continues The document also makes clear that schools should not limit the number of children of key workers on site. It adds that pupils with at least one parent who is a key worker can attend class, even if their parents are working from home. The row comes after The Daily Telegraph revealed on Wednesday that demand for key worker school places had soared compared to the lockdown in March, with some heads resorting to urging eligible parents to keep their children at home. The official criteria for vulnerable children has been amended since the last period of school closures, with children who find it have "difficulty engaging with remote learning" - due to lack of study space, wifi or a device to work from - now deemed eligible for a place at school. Meanwhile, the number of professions classed as key workers has also been expanded, with the latest update including thousands of university lecturers as staff. Geoff Barton, the general secretary of ASCL, warned the changes had the potential to lead to huge demand. He added that the union was receiving reports of some primary schools, where attendance is higher, receiving 160 pupils per today, up from 20 during the first lockdown. He went on: "This is creating a public health concern as the point of restricted opening is to reduce the number of contacts in order to suppress the risk of coronavirus transmission. "In fact, we now seem to have ended up in a situation where there are very significant numbers of contacts in some schools." Echoing his concerns, Paul Whiteman of the NAHT said: "We're increasingly concerned about the sheer demand for key worker and vulnerable pupil places this week. "Our members are telling us that demand for places is much higher than it was during the first lockdown last spring. We've heard stories of some schools having 50-70 per cent in. "This could seriously undermine the impact of lockdown measures, and may even run the risk of extending school closures." IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) A white man who deliberately sped his car through a crowd of racial injustice protesters in Iowa City, striking many, will avoid prison and have the incident erased from his record if he stays out of trouble for three years. A judge has granted a deferred judgment for 45-year-old Michael Ray Stepanek, who told police he drove his Toyota Camry through the crowd in August because protesters needed an attitude adjustment. The sentence means Stepanek will have a felony charge of willful injury resulting in bodily injury dismissed and expunged if he doesn't commit a crime during a three-year term of probation. A Pakistani court has convicted and sentenced an alleged leader of a banned militant group that was blamed for the deadly 2008 Mumbai attacks in India. The Punjab Counterterrorism Department (CTD) said on January 8 that a court in Lahore sentenced Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to five years in prison and fined him 100,000 Pakistani rupees ($622) in a case of terrorism financing. Lakhvi was arrested last week, accused of running a dispensary in Lahore as a front for financing militant activities. He was a prominent figure in the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) charity, which is believed to be a front for Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT), the group blamed by the United States and India for the Mumbai siege in which at least 166 people were killed. The man was detained days after the attacks but released in 2015 by Pakistani courts. Last year, JuD leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, who denies involvement in the Mumbai attacks, and other members were sentenced to prison on terrorism-financing charges. The sentences come as Pakistan faces potential punitive blacklisting by the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an intergovernmental organization that underpins the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing. The organization, which has kept the country on its "gray list" since 2018, urged Islamabad in October to implement a set of guidelines by February next year. LeT is an Al Qaeda-linked armed militant group fighting against Indian control in the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir and was banned in 2002 after being linked to an attack on India's parliament. LeT militants have also been accused of carrying out militant activity elsewhere, including Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and Russias North Caucasus region of Chechnya. With reporting by AP and Reuters An annulment of a FOURTEEN YEAR marriage with 3 kids??? Insanity lmao Reply Thread Link If this is true, the only explanation is that she had a loooot of dirt on him. Reply Parent Thread Link Mmm, this is the Catholic Church. I wouldn't be shocked to learn this annulment had a price tag. Reply Parent Thread Link Meanwhile Ross and Rachel couldn't get their vegas wedding annulled, he could've had just 2 divorces after all. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Is it terrible I assume that he's bisexual had something to do with the church granting it? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link if you pay enough, you can get an annulment no matter the circumstances, I remember an expose about it a few years ago on tv here (Im Italian) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Whats the point of the sanctity of marriage if you can just erase one for another? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link A VERY public marriage too...as if no one is going to know she was married to him now that its annulled. Reply Parent Thread Link She must have donated a lot to make that happen. Reply Parent Thread Link It's not a legal annulment, it's a Catholic Church annulment. Legally, they were still married and divorced. You can even get an annulment years after you've remarried. You just have to have a new ceremony by a Catholic priest. Edited at 2021-01-08 04:35 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link like truly the fakest thing lmao Reply Parent Thread Link I think she gave them a large "donation" and her celebrity status ultimately helped with the annulment. The Catholic church can claim "rock star" Gwen Stefani as one of its own. Reply Parent Thread Link Right? I'd always thought annulments were for very short marriages, like the "we got loaded in vegas and it seemed like a good idea at the time" kinds of things, not over ten years and three kids later, like how? Reply Parent Thread Link How can one take religion seriously? Reply Parent Thread Link Money talks. My dad and stepmom wanted to be married in the Catholic Church and paid a ridiculous amount of money to have their marriages of 20 years annulled. My mom didn't deserve that. Reply Parent Thread Link She likely got it on grounds of he cheated Reply Parent Thread Link Unsurprising. My dad got his marriage to my mom annulled (12 years/2 kids) because he totally proved his case and not at all because of the huge donation he made at the same time. Reply Parent Thread Link Leave it to religion to make no sense whatsoever. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean... if this just doesn't prove what bullshit these religious rules are idk what does Reply Thread Link Lol, this is such bullshit. I wonder what reason they gave (there are very few possible for a Catholic annulment of marriage, and at least one of them - no sex ever - is obviously not an option). Annulment is not just like a Catholic divorce - it's saying the marriage was never valid in the first place. Considering all the kids and the length of their relationship, it's obvious they're full of shit here. Reply Thread Link I'd guess she fought for it on grounds of his adultery Reply Parent Thread Link The Vatican stays corrupt. Reply Thread Link How??? I thought one of the major points of annulment was the marriage not being consummated. They have THREE kids!! Did all my romance novels lie to me??? Reply Thread Link It's one of the possible reasons you can give to get an annulment, but not the only one. Other possible reasons include stuff like fraud or "ignorance about the nature of marriage". Reply Parent Thread Link Oh I remember that guy wanted an ANNULMENT from his marriage to Kim Kardashian essentially on the grounds that he thought they were really getting married and she was doing it for the publicity. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link She probably just made a nice donation, but it wouldn't surprise me if his frequent and well known infidelity across like their entire marriage helped too. Reply Parent Thread Link You can get one for a lot of other reasons. Like you could get one if your priest was drunk or did the ceremony incorrectly (apparently some priests do it on purpose so that the couple has the chance to get an annulment further down the line) or if one partner lies about basic facts pertaining to the marriage like if one knows that they will not be able to conceive/sire children. There honestly are some wild reasons. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Lol my friends parents got an annulment because her dad said he was drunk when they said their vows and he couldnt remember saying them. Reply Parent Thread Link It's a religious annulment, not a legal one. So the Church can grant them for whatever reason they want. Reply Parent Thread Link But Blake is also a divorce? I thought both had to either have never been married before or be a widow(er) to get married in the Catholic church? How did she get an annulment anyway? A big donation? Reply Thread Link maybe he never marriage through the catholic church? i just googled his wedding pics (barf, lol) and it seems to be like a pastor type wedding, not a priest. idk how it looks in the US though, maybe it's different from what i have in mind. Reply Parent Thread Link Ohhh so first marriages don't really count to the Catholic church if they weren't Catholic weddings maybe Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The church granted her an annulment because she probably paid a shit ton of money that the church can now put in its' coffers to pay off more of its' victims of sexual abuse. Christianity is a lot like the GOP, neither is based in reality. Reply Thread Link lol @ at someone giving you a thumbs down for stating facts Reply Parent Thread Link apparently it doesn't take much to file for one. he cheated so she just has to say he went into the marriage unable to fulfill his vow to be faithful. she's famous and can pay the fees so I'm sure the church was happy to oblige Reply Thread Link -laughs at ONTD- Oh, boy. You guys don't disappoint. It depends on the ground of the annulment and how to present her case. Length of marriage and kids don't matter. Gwen could use a lot of other things as her case since we know how public their divorce was. And the time is about right too since the "church" is trying to speed up cases. For my dad's first marriage to get annulled, it took about 5 to 6 years. Reply Thread Link It doesn't change the fact that she still got divorced in the ~eyes of god. It's like wanting your virginity back bc you want to marry in all white or whatever the fuck the bible says women should do. It's done, sis, you've been married already and divorce is ~sinful according to your people. Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe in her case but until recently, it wasn't it. If you remarried within the chruch, in their eyes, they wouldn't acknowledge the new marriage (it thought of adultry) and they couldn't receive communion. The church is weird...to surprise of no one. Reply Parent Thread Link ya lmao dumbass ontd and their lack of knowledge on celebrity annulments Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the fact that I'm picturing a mouse in a wedge of cheese laughing maniacally Reply Parent Thread Link -laughs at secular law in 2020- Reply Parent Thread Link The rules are stupid and arent based in reality. Reply Parent Thread Link I don't think there's anything unreasonable in the comments here. I'm a former Catholic and the rules are bonkers. They should be questioned and laughed at. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link my first reaction is oh so gwen stefani could get an annulment from the catholic church but when henry viii tried it they told him to kick rocks. i'm sure cardinal wolsey is seething in the afterlife. Reply Thread Link I'm sure the ones he beheaded (Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard) are seething too Reply Parent Thread Link Maybe Gwen's nephew had the Pope under siege, Charles V-style. Reply Parent Thread Link The only reason Henry VIII couldn't get an annulment was because he was married to a Spanish princess who also was the King of Spain's sister. SPAIN was the more powerful nation and better aligned with the Papacy. When Spain says "No divorce," the Holy See says no divorce. Reply Parent Thread Link Also, as another user pointed out, it is hard to get a divorce from the pope if the pope is currently a prisoner of your wifes nephew, the Holy Roman Emperor, lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link plus, they'd already granted an annulment for Catherine's marriage to Henry's brother Arthur. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link LMAO THE FACT THAT MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS SIMILAR i'm here like "poor anne, wtf" Reply Parent Thread Link OMG this comment is my everything. Reply Parent Thread Link I have no idea much about Henry VII but watching some parts of The Tudors years ago so now I'm Googling stuff about him, his wives and his daughters for a long time right now lol so seriously thanks since reading and watching videos is very interesting. Reply Parent Thread Link there is a fourfold classification of contractual defects: defect of form, defect of contract, defect of willingness, defect of capacity. For annulment, proof is required of the existence of one of these defects, since canon law presumes all marriages are valid until proven otherwise. hhmmmmmm still i think money talks, as always lol i'm guessing maybe they made a huge $$$$$donation$$$$$? how the fuck do you annul a long marriage?hhmmmmmm still i think money talks, as always lol Reply Thread Link "My husband was in a gay relationship before our marriage, I *a good Catlik girl* was HOODWINKED by teh gayz, CAN I HAZ ANNULMENT PLIZ, also as an unrelated aside, I notice you have a budget deficit this year, I know I know those new external audits are BRUTAL, how very dare they pry into the Lord's finances, let me get my checkbook out, I ASSURE you it's no trouble, are those new robes Monsignor, why don't you get them in all the colors, on me, so we good on that annulment?" Reply Thread Link nnnnn Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously though, fuck Gwen for using Gavin's sexuality to get what she wants ~in the eyes of God~ or whatever. Reply Parent Thread Link To be fair we have no reason to believe that she did that. Shes trash for other reasons but this is just a straight up imaginary reason. Reply Parent Thread Link I made that bit up though SORRY GAVIN Reply Parent Thread Link Poor heterosexuals, constantly scammed by the gays. :( Reply Parent Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link Gotta love how straight people interpret the bible ~rules however they see fit. Being divorced, not marrying a virgin, eating pork (is it pork?), getting tattoos... It's all fine and dandy but if it's gay people merely showing their love it's like OMG CALL THE CHURCH ELDERLY THE GAYS ARE BEING SINFUL AGAIN. bunch of hypocrites. Reply Thread Link Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (469) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (881) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (897) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (851) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (809) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (852) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (950) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (942) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (667) (Newser) In 1988, Donald Trump spoke at Lehigh University's commencement ceremony, where the school conferred on him an honorary degree. Now, more than three decades and multiple petitions later, that distinction for Trump is no more: The university's board of trustees has rescinded and revoked the degree as a result of the violent riot this week on Capitol Hill that the president incited. Per the Brown and White student newspaper, the decision was reached Thursday during a special session of the executive committee, then "fully affirmed" on Friday. NPR notes that multiple petitions have circulated over the past few years to make this happen, including one from three years ago that amassed nearly 80,000 votes. story continues below Trump "does not reflect Lehigh University's values. Therefore, he does not deserve to bear the distinction of an honorary degree from Lehigh," that petition read, spelling out point by point the principles detailed in an official university document on diversity and inclusion. In a Thursday statement, Lehigh President John D. Simon issued a statement calling what happened in DC Wednesday a "violent assault," though he didn't mention Trump. LehighValleyLive.com notes the revocation comes as the squeeze is felt from various corners for Trump to resign or be otherwise legally removed from office in his final days in the White House. (Read more President Trump stories.) NBC News - Arizona, California and Rhode Island are among the hardest-hit places in the world at this stage of the pandemic, with the highest rates of Covid-19 infections per capita, according to a data analysis by NBC News. The sobering figures, reflected as rolling seven-day averages of new reported cases, highlight just how dire the situation is in the U.S., particularly as a new, more contagious variant of the coronavirus has emerged in several states. Arizona currently has the highest per-capita rate of new Covid-19 infections, with 785 cases per 100,000 people over the past seven days. That rate not only leads the U.S., but is the highest in the world, according to NBC News data. For comparison, the Czech Republic, the country with the highest per-capita rate of infection, has reported 653 cases per 100,000 over the past seven days. Rhode Island and California also have higher per-capita rates of infection than any other country. Over the past seven days, Rhode Island reported 671 new cases per 100,000, and California had 658 per 100,000. The U.S. reported 451 new cases per 100,000 over the past seven days. That is the 10th highest countrywide rate in the world, though several of the nations that are ahead of the U.S. including San Marino and Lichtenstein are much smaller. The staggeringly high rates of infection foretell the challenges that lie ahead, and experts are still expecting to see increases associated with the holidays, despite the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urging people to avoid gatherings and limit travel. The trends are especially worrisome for states that are already under siege. Hospitals in California have been overwhelmed as the state grapples with record numbers of daily deaths and hospitalizations. In Los Angeles County, which saw its case numbers increase by 905 percent since Nov. 1, 10 people are getting sick with Covid-19 every minute, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti said Sunday in an interview with CBS News Face the Nation. The L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a statement Monday that the state is likely to experience in January the worst conditions that we have faced the entire pandemic. More than 7,600 people are currently hospitalized with Covid-19 in L.A. County, and 21 percent of these patients are in intensive care, leading to fears that some hospitals may need to start rationing care. Public health officials have also expressed concerns about the more transmissible strain of the coronavirus that is already spreading in the U.S. Cases involving the variant, which is thought to have first emerged in the United Kingdom and has now been reported in more than 30 countries, have already been confirmed in California, Colorado, Florida and New York. It is a very big concern, and it is a strain that is obviously around the world and you are going to find over the days ahead it is in many locations in the United States, Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota and a member of President-elect Joe Bidens Covid-19 task force, said Tuesday in an interview with CNBC. A recent report from the U.K.s Department of Health and Social Care found that the new strain doesn't appear to be more deadly and doesn't cause more severe illness, but it is estimated to be 50 percent to 70 percent more transmissible. As a result, the U.K., which has recorded more than 50,000 new cases a day for the past week, announced a new nationwide lockdown on Monday in an effort to contain the countrys ballooning outbreaks. "It is clear that we need to do more to bring this new variant under control," Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a televised address announcing the new lockdown. "That means the government is once again instructing you to stay at home." WASHINGTON - The collision of two major news events Wednesday - the breach of the U.S. Capitol and Democrats' clinching of the Senate majority - has unleashed a burst of momentum for District of Columbia statehood at the start of a new congressional session. At a Thursday news conference, Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, grew impassioned as she sought to frame the stakes of the statehood cause against the backdrop of Wednesday's insurrection: District residents, she said, risked their lives to defend a Congress that affords them no voting representation. "I am heartened that our police and guardspeople were able to get control of the building and that our lawmakers went back into that building to vote," Bowser said. "I'm upset that 706,000 residents of the District of Columbia didnot have a single vote in that Congress yesterday, despite the fact that our people were putting their lives on the line to protect our democracy." Propelled by the historic passage of a statehood bill last summer in the Democratic-majority House, advocates have pointed to Democratic control of the White House and the Senate as the necessary building blocks for the bill to become law. The victories of Georgia Democratic Sens.-elect Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock - who both support District statehood - mean the Senate is split 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris able to cast tiebreaking votes. Both Harris and President-elect Joe Biden support statehood. Bowser said Thursday that she wants a statehood bill on the president's desk within his first 100 daysin office. She alsourged Congress to strip the power to control the District National Guard from the president and give it to the District mayor, citing delays and confusion over mobilizing the Guard to deal with Wednesday's unrest. In states, governors have the power to mobilize their National Guard units. But despite the Democratic gains, the road to statehood, for now, remains full of potholes. Senate Republicans oppose District statehood, in part because it would almost certainly bring two more Democratic senators to the chamber. Because of the Senate's filibuster option, whichtriggers a requirement for 60 votesto pass legislation, Democratic control of the bodyis not good enough. To advance, statehood legislation would need to draw the support of 10 Republicans - unless the Senate votes, as some are pushing for, to eliminate the filibuster. But many Democrats and Republicans oppose removing the filibuster,believing it encourages bipartisanship. "Democratic control of the Senate moves us light-years," said District Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District's longtime nonvoting representative to Congress, who has introduced a statehood bill every session since 1991. However, "it doesn't move us to statehood just like that." Senate Minority Leaders Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., who is expected to become majority leader, has previously said he would make District statehood among his top priorities for expanding voting rights. He did not rule out the elimination of the filibuster when questioned at a news conference Wednesday. And House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., whose decision to relinquish his long-standing opposition to statehood last May paved the way for its House passage, pledged to bring statehood to the floor for a vote again this session. In a statement to The Washington Post, Hoyer also pointed to Wednesday's breach of the Capitol as adding urgency to the statehood cause. "The events of Wednesday and the unprecedented assault on the Capitol building and the city further illustrates the critical need to grant statehood to the District of Columbia," Hoyer said. "It is wholly unacceptable that the 700,000 American citizens who reside in the District do not have the same rights as their neighbors in Virginia and Maryland based solely on where they live." Adam Jentleson, a former top aide to then-Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., said Democrats' best opportunity to eliminate the filibuster may come during Biden's first two years in office, if Republicans repeatedly obstruct his agenda. "They're going to have a hard time getting things done, and they'll basically have to choose between reforming the filibuster or getting nothing done in the first two years of the Biden administration," Jentleson said. Paul Frymer, a politics professor at Princeton University, said one way to "lure" moderate Republicans into warming up to D.C. statehood would be to push equally for Puerto Rican statehood - if Republicans could be convinced Puerto Rico could potentially lean red, despite its different political landscape. "The Republican Party is at a crossroads right now," said Frymer, whose book "Building An American Empire" explores statehood debates throughout history, "and one direction would be to push much harder on Puerto Rican outreach." During the Georgia runoff election that put Warnock and Ossoff into power, however, the Republican Party appeared intent on turning both District and Puerto Rican statehood into boogeyman issues to rile up GOP voters. The issue of statehood appeared in ads and was featured on the stage at campaign rallies - which Norton said she "loved," believing it only raised awareness of Washington's lack of voting rights. "The Schumer, Pelosi, Ossoff change? Defund police. Voting rights for illegal immigrants. Washington, D.C. as the 51st state," warned one of the first ads by former senator David Perdue, who lost to Ossoff. Frymer said there are clear racial undertones to opposing statehood, since Puerto Rico is primarily Hispanic and Washington is 46 percent Black. Republicans in Congresssuggested last summer that Washington is not home to "real" Americans,comments thatwere condemned as racist. Race, Frymer said, alsoloomed large in many of the nation's previous statehood debates, namely for states with large Native American populations such as Oklahoma and New Mexico. The question, he said, is whetherenough moderates - including Biden - will go out on a limb to push statehood loudly as a moral issue without fear of political consequences. "Is Biden going to see this as a moment of great opportunity in pushing a strong agenda?" Frymer said. "Or is he going to see this as a point of caution," believing that pushing the issue would put vulnerable Democrats at risk. There has been far less focus in recent years on the issue of legislation to transfer control of the District National Guard, though Norton has introduced bills to do so without success. At her news conference on Thursday, Bowser made clear thateven if she had direct control of the Guard, she would not have been able to deploy them to the U.S. Capitol without the invitation of federal authorities. Still, District Council Chairman Phil Mendelson, a Democrat, said the episode illustrates why the District deserves statehood. "There's no question the mayor's inability to directly and immediately redeploy the National Guard inhibited public safety and our ability to help protect the Capitol and that's because we don't have statehood," Mendelson said. "Congress has historically been afraid that the District is going to be the threat - the locals are going to be the threat - and if anything, the local government was critical in helping to restore order to the Capitol." WASHINGTON, Jan. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On behalf of Airlines for America (A4A) and our member carriers, we sincerely thank Secretary Elaine Chao for her dedicated service over the past four years as the head of the Department of Transportation (DOT). She is a proven leader who consistently applied her vast knowledge of aviation and other transportation issues. During her tenure at DOT, she was guided by her steadfast commitment to safety. She worked collaboratively with the FAA and other agencies to prioritize safety, keeping commercial aviation the safest mode of transportation in the U.S. and around the world. Additionally, she successfully worked to ensure that aviation rulemakings were effective, driven by data and rooted in science to the benefit of all stakeholders. She was a staunch advocate of the industry during the CARES Act negotiations, working diligently to help preserve airline jobs flight attendants, pilots, mechanics, gate agents and others through the Payroll Support Program. We deeply appreciate her unwavering dedication to strengthening our nation's transportation infrastructure. She has continuously understood the important role commercial aviation plays in driving our nation's economy. Her wealth of experience throughout her distinguished career has benefited the millions of Americans who depend on safe, affordable and accessible air travel every day. Sec. Chao has been known for years in the nation's capital for being a sharp-minded, talented professional and devoted public servant. She is also a trusted, loyal friend. We wish her tremendous success in her future endeavors. ABOUT A4A Airlines for America (A4A) members are Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Atlas Air, Delta Air Lines, FedEx, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, United Airlines and UPS. Air Canada is an associate member. A4A advocates on behalf of the leading U.S. airlines, both passenger and cargo carriers. A4A works collaboratively with industry stakeholders, federal agencies, the Administration, Congress, labor and other groups to improve aviation for the traveling and shipping public. For more information about the airline industry, visit our website airlines.org and our blog, A Better Flight Plan, at airlines.org/blog. Follow us on Twitter: @airlinesdotorg. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AirlinesforAmerica. Join us on Instagram: instagram.com/AirlinesforAmerica. SOURCE Airlines for America Related Links www.airlines.org WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors and the FBI are scouring photos and videos of Wednesday's riot at the U.S. Capitol, looking for evidence of a long list of crimes to charge those who engaged in wanton acts of violence on federal property. Seditious conspiracy. Damage to federal property. Use of explosives. Crossing state lines to commit crimes. Those are just some of the unlawful acts listed in a September memo by then-Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen - now the acting attorney general - urging prosecutors to consider tough federal charges for those engaged in violent unrest. At the time, Rosen and his boss, then-Attorney General William Barr, were pushing for federal prosecutors to aggressively charge, and hopefully deter, further civil unrest over police conduct in cities such as Portland, Ore.; New York and Chicago. In turn, civil rights advocates and liberals expressed concerns that the Trump administration was seeking to overcharge crimes more typically prosecuted at the local level with lesser prison sentences. Now, however, amid disturbing scenes of a mob smashing their way into a joint session of Congress to disrupt a ceremonial but essential part of the installation of the next president, law enforcement officials say Rosen's memo is a blueprint for pursuing federal cases against Wednesday's rioters. "The Department of Justice is committed to ensuring that those responsible for this attack on our Government and the rule of law face the full consequences of their actions under the law," Rosen said in a statement Thursday. "Some participants in yesterday's violence will be charged today, and we will continue to methodically assess evidence, charge crimes and make arrests in the coming days and weeks to ensure that those responsible are held accountable under the law." The potential charges include seditious conspiracy, an ominous-sounding and rarely used criminal statute that bars the use of force "to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States, or by force to seize, take, or possess any property of the United States contrary to the authority thereof." The charge carries a maximum possible prison sentence of 20 years. Other lesser charges like unlawful entry are also likely, and may be easier to prove, given the voluminous social media postings of rioters storming into lawmakers' offices, taking material and smashing things. Federal law explicitly makes it a crime to damage federal property, engage in civil disorder, or cross state lines in a conspiracy to commit certain crimes of violence. On Wednesday night, a number of federal prosecutors publicly declared their intention to bring cases against anyone from their districts or states who traveled to Washington to riot. U.S. Attorney Trent Shores tweeted that if anyone from his district in northern Oklahoma "traveled to DC to commit these violent acts then they'll be prosecuted" by his office. "We take an oath to protect the Constitution against all enemies foreign and domestic," he said. Traditionally, most crimes arising from public protests in Washington, D.C., have been prosecuted locally, but with poor results, particularly in the case of scores of people charged with crimes in the city on the day of President Donald Trump's 2017 inauguration. Since two suspected pipe bombs were found outside the Republicans' and Democrats' party headquarters Wednesday, there is also the potential for terrorism charges to be filed, depending on what evidence the FBI finds. FBI Director Christopher Wray on Thursday decried the "blatant and appalling disregard for our institutions of government and the orderly administration of the democratic process. As we've said consistently, we do not tolerate violent agitators and extremists who use the guise of First Amendment-protected activity to incite violence and wreak havoc." He said the FBI has deployed its "full investigative resources" and will "hold accountable those who participated in yesterday's siege of the Capitol." While about a dozen people were arrested by Capitol Police as the rioting was ongoing, the vast majority of the mob that broke into the building were allowed to politely leave once the chaos ended. One online video even showed an officer holding the door for a stream of angry individuals, including one who triumphantly shouted: "We stopped the vote!" Now, investigators face a more complex task of piecing together digital evidence to identify and charge those who engaged in violence. That could take weeks or in some cases months, meaning that the bulk of that prosecutorial work may be left to the Biden administration. District of Columbia Metro police released dozens of photographs Thursday seeking to identify and possibly charge with unlawful entry some of those who stormed into Congress, including a heavily tattooed shirtless man draped in animal fur and wearing Viking horns. The political fallout from the rioting continued Thursday, as Republicans faced a deep, angry rift within their party between those who condemned the violence and Trump's instigation of it, and those who continued to foster the unfounded notion behind the mayhem - that the presidential vote count giving Democrat Joe Biden a clear victory was somehow amiss. Barr - who had been one of Trump's most loyal and effective cabinet secretaries and, for a time, supported his baseless claims about widespread voter fraud - issued a statement condemning the president. "Orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable," Barr said in the statement, released through his former spokeswoman. "The President's conduct yesterday was a betrayal of his office and supporters." Barr resigned as attorney general on Dec. 23, his relationship with the president having soured in his last months in office. Although he had before the election warned of the dangers of fraud from mass mail-in voting, Barr said afterward that the Justice Department had not detected evidence of such conduct that could affect the result - infuriating the president. On Wednesday after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, Barr had issued a statement condemning the violence and calling on federal agencies to disperse it - though not taking aim at Trump. His Thursday statement made clear he blamed Trump at least in part for what occurred. The South Dakota State Bar Association is advising attorneys against providing legal services to businesses seeking to produce or sell marijuana in the state. South Dakota voters approved legalizing both recreational and medical pot on the same ballot in November. In the State Bars January newsletter, the group says theres no doubt that manufacturing, distributing or dispensing or possessing marijuana remains illegal under federal law. It notes that the Rules of Professional Conduct for attorneys in South Dakota states a lawyer shall not counsel a client to engage or assist a client in conduct the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent, but may discuss the legal consequences of that conduct. The association says a lawyer may not ethically provide legal services to assist a client in establishing licensing or otherwise operating a marijuana business, KOTA-TV reported. The state bars website states lawyers who fail to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct may be disciplined and given penalties ranging from a private reprimand to permanent loss of the privilege to practice law. The legalization of marijuana in South Dakota is facing several challenges since voters approved Amendment A, which legalized recreational marijuana, and Initiated Measure 26, which legalized medical marijuana. Two state law enforcement officials have filed a lawsuit claiming Amendment A is unconstitutional. Gov. Kristi Noem has spoken out against both measures, saying theyre the wrong choice for South Dakota. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics South Dakota 4G compatibility to become mandatory for phones sold in Vietnam An Internet speed test is run on a phone using 5G in Hanoi, November 30, 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Luu Quy. Phones sold in Vietnam would have to support 4G and 5G in accordance with new national standards that would take effect in July, a communications official said on Thursday. Luong Pham Nam Hoang of the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority (VNTA) said at a tech forum on Thursday that his agency has submitted to the Ministry of Information and Communications national standards which include this provision. It would take effect in July, he said. Vietnamese telecom providers have been trialing 5G since 2019, and are expected to toll it out in June, he said. 5G services would be deployed in phases to save costs, he said. Tech companies like Viettel, VinSmart, Bkav, and VNPT have been urged by the ministry to look into producing parts required for 5G support, he added. Importing them would be more expensive, he said. Globally, around 140 telecom providers in 59 countries and territories have launched 5G services. By 2023 around 15 percent of telecom providers would support standalone 5G without relying on 4G infrastructure. Vietnam aims to have nationwide 5G coverage by 2030, offering all citizens broadband Internet connection at low prices, according to the VNTA. To try to undermine democracy to convince people an election is stolen using conspiracy theories, and then, you know, culminating in what happened yesterday, I looked at that and I said, this is a dangerous moment, Kinzinger, of Channahon, said. And when I woke up and I saw that, you know, the narrative being driven with this wasnt, you know, Trump supporters that did it, it was a false flag, thats when I realized ... this could actually go really wrong in the next week if were not careful. WASHINGTON - John Danforth, a former Republican senator from Missouri, had once viewed Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., as a "once-in-a-generation" talent - a young, upstart politician with a promising future in Washington. Yet after a mob of Trump supporters burst into the Capitol on Wednesday, Danforth said that campaigning for Hawley to take his old seat was "the worst mistake I ever made in my life." Hawley had been the first senator to announce he would object to President-elect Joe Biden's victory, citingbaseless claims of mass election fraud. So when the rioters bashed inside, attempting to overturn the election, it was clear he was at fault, Danforth said. "But for him it wouldn't have happened," Danforth told the Kansas City Star. "He was responsible." The former senator was far from the only one to lay blame on his former protege. In the span of about five hours on Thursday afternoon, Hawley was denounced by one of his top donors, dropped from a book deal and lambasted by several Missouri Republicans. Calls for him to resign poured in from the editorial boards of Missouri's two major newspapers and students at the law school where he was once taught. His office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Washington Post late on Thursday. But in a statement to KSDK, the 41-year-old senator was unrepentant about his role in challenging Biden's electoral college victory. "I will never apologize for giving voice to the millions of Missourians and Americans who have concerns about the integrity of our elections. That's my job, and I will keep doing it," he said. In leading the Senate's objection to Biden's electors alongside Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Hawley has rapidly lifted his national profile, amassing the kind of attention that many observers speculate could pave the way to a future White House bid. But it has also arguably brought him more blame for the riots than anyone besides President Trump. As The Washington Post's Kim Bellware reported, Hawley raised his fist in solidarity when he strode past Trump supporters outside the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon. Hours later, part of that crowd invaded the building, bringing the certification process to a sudden halt. But when Congress reconvened later in the day, Hawley continued with his objections. After witnessing the "disturbing, deadly insurrection," Simon & Schuster on Thursday said it had canceled a book deal with the senator, who had been first elected to Congress in 2018. "We take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom," a statement from the publishing house said. The senator had been set to release a book with Simon & Schuster titled "The Tyranny of Big Tech," about how big tech companies "represent the gravest threat to American liberty since the monopolies of the Gilded Age," The Post's Amy B Wang reported. Hawley responded by decrying the publisher as a "woke mob" and pledging to fight its "cancel culture" in court. "This could not be more Orwellian," he said in a statement on Twitter. "This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they don't approve of." Yet much of the backlash against Hawley was in fact coming from other Republicans - and in at least one case, from the man whose donations fueled the senator's political ascent. David Humphreys, a businessman and onetime conservative Missouri megadonor, said Thursday that Hawley should be censured for his use of "irresponsible, inflammatory and dangerous tactics." "He has now revealed himself as a political opportunist willing to subvert the Constitution and the ideals of the nation he swore to uphold," Humphreys, president and chief executive of Tamko Building Products, said in a statement to the Missouri Independent. According to the Independent, Humphreys's donations amounted to about one-third of Hawley's total fundraising for a 2016 campaign for Missouri attorney general. Two years later, the megadonor's family contributed an estimated $2 million to groups supporting Hawley's Senate bid. On Twitter, Shamed Dogan, a Republican Missouri state representative, wrote that he regretted voting for Hawley. "His refusal to accept the legitimacy of Joe Biden's election, even after today's violence, is an embarrassment," Dogan said. Not unsurprisingly, the strongest rebukes on the social media platform came from Democratic lawmakers in Congress, including Reps. Cori Bush, D-Mo., Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. All three called for Hawley to resign. The Kansas City Star editorial board, which had once endorsed Hawley as the "clear choice" in the 2018 Republican Senate primary, took a more pragmatic view. "If Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley had a conscience, he'd resign," the editorial's headline said. Instead, "he'll have to be removed." - - - The Washington Post's Kim Bellware and Amy B Wang contributed to this report. In the next few days, we should be able to give COVID-19 vaccines to our countrymen, said Union Health Minister Dr after his visit to the session site in Government General Hospital in Chennai to review the second dry run for vaccination on Friday. "In a short time, has done well by developing vaccines... In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers," the Minister said. He added that the government has ensured that every detail regarding vaccination is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroots level. "Lakhs of healthcare workers are being trained through these dry runs, and the process to train more is still going on," Dr Vardhan stated. The Minister is on a visit to Tamil Nadu to oversee the dry run drill for vaccination. He is scheduled to visit Session Site at government Omandurar hospital in Chennai, vaccination centre at Apollo hospital in Chennai, and vaccination centre in Chengalpattu, Chennai. The second nationwide mock drill on the COVID-19 vaccination is being held at three-session sites of 736 districts across 33 States/UTs today. The dry run is aimed at testing the laid out mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in the health system and to assess operational feasibility of using Co-WIN application in a field environment for planning, implementation, and reporting at the block, district, and state level. According to the health ministry, the objective of the mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination is to simulate the actual vaccine administration event. On Thursday, Dr had directed all States/Union Territories to be vigilant against rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Last week, the Drugs Controller General of announced "restricted emergency use" for Bharat Biotech's 'Covaxin' and Serum Institute of India's 'Covishield', which has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The earlier national mock drill on January 2 helped to iron out any glitches in the final execution and further refinement of the operational procedures. The feedback from most of the States/UTs was satisfactory conduct of the dry run. (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.) If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here PHILIPSBURG:--- On Thursday, January 7th, Prime Minister & Minister of General Affairs Silveria Jacobs, Minister of Finance Ardwell Irion, Minister of Justice Anna Richardson, Minister of VROMI Egbert Doran, and their support staff met with State Secretary of Interior & Kingdom Relations Raymond Knops and his delegation in a series of meetings at the Government Administration Building to update and follow-up on agreements made prior to the end of 2020. The Dutch delegation consisted of Dutch Representative Chris Johnson, Country Director-General of Kingdom Relations Saskia de Reuver, and Acting Program Manager for St. Maarten Sanne Kouwenhoven who are appointed to the Temporary Working Organization (TWO) of BZK awaiting the establishment of the Caribbean Organization for Reforms and Development (COHO). Both delegations were able to convey their support and eagerness to begin this process while emphasizing the long and challenging road ahead to realize the ambitious Country Reform package. The Ministers specifically took the opportunity to highlight areas of importance for which work and collaboration are immediately needed as well as to outline their hopes and intentions for the many projects that can be implemented under the umbrella of the Country Packages. During the working visit, State Secretary Knops and his delegation were also introduced to the governments newly implemented and approved structure for the discussions regarding the Country Package. The structure consisting of a Monitoring Committee and Secretaries-General Platform/Consultation was explained giving an indication of communication lines with counterparts in the TWO established by the Dutch. The government of St. Maarten, including Ministers, Secretaries-General, Department Heads, and civil servants, will all play a major role in the planning and execution of the reforms ensuring that the subsequent programs and projects have the interest of St. Maarten and its people first and foremost and have our input from the beginning, stated Prime Minister Jacobs. As such, the St. Maarten government representatives will commence meetings on a technical level scheduled for today, Friday with the Dutch TWO, and will continue Monday and Tuesday to deal with the most urgent matters with upcoming deadlines. During the first meeting, Prime Minister Jacobs and Minister of Finance Irion were able to provide State Secretary Knops and his delegation with an update on meeting the conditions for the second and third tranches of liquidity support. Furthermore, the reconstruction via the Trust Fund was discussed along with progress and challenges. Prime Minister Jacobs also highlighted gratitude to the Dutch Government for the areas of collaboration in the matters related to public health and the COVID-19 response, as well as challenges that still exist in relation to needed personnel and the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy of the Kingdom and St. Maarten. These topics will be further elaborated on in the technical meetings to be held in the coming days. The State Secretary Knops provided an update on the status of the COHO draft legislation law, upon the query of the Prime Minister, which is still at the Kingdom Council of State and confirmed that St. Maartens questions were added to those of the other Caribbean Kingdom partners. The timeline moving forward was also briefly discussed, including the trajectory for the draft law to be handled in all the Parliaments in the Kingdom after the Council of State has rendered their advice. Throughout the negotiation process, Prime Minister Jacobs has sent all documents pertaining to St. Maartens Country Reform package to Parliament and has also kept the members of Parliament updated on a regular basis about the conditions agreed upon for the second and third tranches of liquidity support. In subsequent meetings held, the Minister of VROMI Doran highlighted several matters in relation to the Trust Funds Emergency Debris Management Project (EDMP). Solid waste management, challenges at the Landfill, as well as the challenges being faced with the resettlement of residents living near the landfill were among the issues discussed. Challenges experienced with the World Bank regulations and the necessity of awaiting their input and approval to be able to proceed in areas needing immediate attention requires real collaborative efforts on all sides to get this project moving, seeing the three years that have already elapsed. In the meeting related to pending Justice matters, Minister of Justice Richardson discussed matters in relation to the working relationship with UNOPS which is the organization proposed to build and manage the new prison. Minister Richardson also discussed the collaboration of our law enforcement and immigration matters and there was agreement that much of the follow-up would be done in the upcoming Kingdom Ministerial consultation in the JVO meetings. This marks a new beginning for the Netherlands and St. Maarten as we embark together on this mutual agreement. The government of St. Maarten identifies and acknowledges the opportunity to make St. Maarten resilient through structural reforms. As such, we are developing our implementation strategy for the package of reforms which is to be complementary to the projects and initiatives already in place via the Trust Fund and World Bank, stated Prime Minister Jacobs. In a Jan. 7 statement, the two employee groups said, State labor law is very clear that the Board of Education must negotiate matters of health and safety with the Union. By unilaterally discarding its own health metrics and choosing to expose all employees to elevated risk without bargaining in good faith, the Board of Education has failed to follow the law. Los Angeles, Jan 8 : Hollywood star George Clooney has condemned the Capitol Hill siege, saying that the name of Donald Trump will now always be associated with insurrection. During an episode of KCRW's "The Business" weekly podcast, Clooney opened up about the attack on Capitol Hill in the US by supporters of Donald Trump, reports hollywoodreporter.com. "It's devastating to watch the people's house being desecrated in that way," he said. The actor continued: "But it is also a tremendous overreach in a way -- everybody kept waiting for, what's the one thing, the straw that breaks the camel's back and it just seemed like that line just kept getting moved and moved and moved and outrage didn't even matter anymore, even to the point of calling the Secretary of State in Georgia and pressuring him. None of that seemed to matter. This mattered." "This puts Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr. Ivanka -- all of them -- into the dustbin of history. That name will now forever be associated with insurrection.," he added. The actor then referenced how former White House Chief of Staff General Kelly said recently that if he was in the cabinet he would have voted for the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. "This is a big, big difference. If this is what it takes to set us on the right path, I think that, not that it's worth it, it's not worth it in any shape or form, but at least we should find something hopeful to come out of some of this disaster," said Clooney. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 09:48:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The United States has decided to suspend proposed tariffs on about 1.3 billion U.S. dollars worth of French products amid a dispute over digital service taxes (DSTs), the U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR's) Office said Thursday. The additional 25-percent tariffs on certain French products were announced in July 2020 in response to France's DST that impacts major U.S. technology companies, and were scheduled to go into effect on Wednesday. "The U.S. Trade Representative has decided to suspend the tariffs in light of the ongoing investigation of similar DSTs adopted or under consideration in ten other jurisdictions. Those investigations have significantly progressed, but have not yet reached a determination on possible trade actions," the USTR's Office said Thursday in a statement. "A suspension of the tariff action in the France DST investigation will promote a coordinated response in all of the ongoing DST investigations," the statement said. The move came after the United States on Wednesday claimed that DSTs adopted by India, Italy and Turkey discriminate against American companies without taking any tariff actions. "USTR is not taking any specific actions in connection with the findings at this time but will continue to evaluate all available options," the USTR's Office said Wednesday. In June 2020, the United States initiated Section 301 investigations into DSTs considered by 10 U.S. trading partners, including the European Union, Brazil and India. The so-called Section 301, under an outdated U.S. trade law adopted in 1974, allows the U.S. president to unilaterally impose tariffs or other trade restrictions on foreign countries. The global trading community has become increasingly concerned that the U.S. government's frequent use of Section 301 would go against the World Trade Organization rules, undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt the global supply chain. Enditem Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. U.S. Army Sgt. Alongkorn Khamkam, South Carolina National Guard Medical Command, gives a COVID-19 vaccine to a citizen at the Tidelands Waccamaw Community Hospital in Murrells Inlet. The Commission prioritised the womens helpline number in the state 181 and have kept the She Teams initiative on their priority agenda. (DC Photo: Pavan Kumar) Hyderabad: The newly-appointed Telangana State Women's Commission, headed by V. Sunitha Laxma Reddy, a former minister, took charge at the Buddha Bhavan on Friday, in the presence of TRS working president and minister K.T. Rama Rao. Sunitha Laxma Reddy, who has earlier served as women and child development minister, said that there are challenges that lay ahead due to non-functioning of the commission for two-and-a-half years, and that she will analyse the situation in the next few weeks. They have prioritised the womens helpline number in the state 181 and have kept the She Teams initiative on their priority agenda, saying that the commission will work with the government to implement it effectively, soon. The 24x7 helpline number, 181, will be available for women across the state. It will respond immediately and connect them wherever necessary with the police, ambulance, and other emergency services, as well as the nearest Sakhi centre, Sunitha Laxma Reddy said. Among the members of the commission are representatives from different sections of society The Women's Commission will be working with the government to make policy recommendations in the state. Manikarnika actor Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel appeared before the Bandra police to record their statements in a sedition case and other related charges. Ranaut, who has been provided Y-plus category CRPF security cover, arrived at the Bandra police station along with her sister Rangoli Chandel and her lawyer. The Bandra police had registered an FIR following orders from a Bandra magistrate court against the Bollywood actor and her sister on allegations of promoting enmity between communities through their remarks in October last year. The Bandra magistrate court had instructed the police to conduct an inquiry against Ranaut and her sister for allegedly trying to incite hatred through their social media posts. A casting director and fitness trainer, Munawwar Ali Sayyad, had filed a complaint with the Bandra police against Ranaut and her sister Rangoli for allegedly inciting hatred and communal tension through social media. Both the sisters were booked under IPC sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race), 295A (deliberate acts hurting religious statements), 34 (common intention) and 124A (sedition). The Simran actor and her sister had moved the Bombay High Court against this order and sought to quash the FIR. While hearing this petition, two-judge bench comprising Justices SS Shinde and MS Karnik had observed that it was of the prima facie opinion that Indian Penal Code's Section 124A, which deals with sedition, was wrongly invoked by the police. The court had said, "If someone does not fall in line with the government, then can sedition charges be invoked?" (Edited with PTI inputs) Also read: KBC Season 12: Neha Shah first Mumbai-based contestant to win Rs 1 crore Also read: Kangana Ranaut hosts New Year brunch for team Dhaakad with Arjun Rampal, Gabriella Demetriades .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Crepes, thin pancakes that can be folded into triangular pouches around savory or sweet fillings, are just the thing for these takeout times. They make eating a utensils-free proposition. With the recent closure of La Crepe Michel after more than 30 years of operation in Old Town, our citys crepes scene is now dominated by Billy and Mandy Nguyen, owners of the Burrow Cafe in the Northeast Heights. The Nguyens formerly ran two Breve Crepes and Coffee locations before deciding to close those places and launch their new venture in the spring of 2020 at Bridges on Tramway, a fledgling multiuse development. Lots of natural light bathes the high-ceilinged interior, where a row of leather couches and chairs sit waiting for the return of dining in. The cafe dishes out breakfast and lunch six days a week, featuring a decent selection of savory and sweet crepes. Fillings on the savory side include pesto chicken and salmon lox with cream cheese. The ham and cheese crepe ($9.25), a classic French street food, is served with fresh spinach and sliced tomato. The whole thing is folded multiple times so that you get layers of light, eggy crepe interspersed with melted cheddar cheese and thick slices of caramelized ham. Its a well-executed dish, the crepe finished on the grill to make a crunchy armor around it all. The diced, fried potatoes on the side were nicely done, crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Fillings such as Nutella, berries and sliced bananas turn up in the sweet crepes. A strawberry cheesecake crepe ($10.25) is lined with cream cheese frosting and sliced strawberries and topped with crumbled graham crackers. The fruit was fresh and flawless I wish there had been more of it and the flavor combination of the ingredients was irresistible, like cheesecake without the heaviness. The breakfast menu includes omelets, several variations of oatmeal and a breakfast sandwich called the Croissant Eggwich ($8). The latter, a toasted croissant sandwiched around a scrambled egg and a layer of melted cheddar cheese, was solid if unremarkable. It does the job of filling you up for the day ahead. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Burrow Cafe makes its crepes with wheat flour, making them a no-go for gluten-free diners. You can get gluten-free bagels there for a $2.95 surcharge. In the gluten-free lox bagel ($11), the mildly salty, smoked salmon got a charge from pickled onions and generous schmears of lemon caper cream cheese. The cafe serves a variety of espresso- and drip coffee-based drinks made with beans from Albuquerque-based Red Rock Roasters. Along with the usual assortment of lattes, cappuccinos and cafe au laits, are Asian variations, such as a rich, sweet Vietnamese iced coffee ($5.50) made with condensed milk over ice and a spicy chai tea latte ($5), less sweet and therefore better than the version turned out by a certain ubiquitous chain. I ordered online through Selflane and was given a pickup time of 25 minutes, which proved to be accurate. There is a patio out front, but the patio furniture was stacked inside when I visited. A server told me they will set up a table and chairs outside on request. The Burrow Cafe nicely rounds out the lineup of restaurants at Bridges on Tramway, with a number of menu items ideally suited for takeout and an inviting space in which to while away an hour or two once dining in resumes. THE BURROW CAFE 3 stars LOCATION: 12501 Candelaria NE, 508-0075, abqbrunch.com HOURS: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Saturday; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday; closed Tuesday NO ALCOHOL According to Vietnamese trade counselors, in 2021, Vietnamese goods, in general, have a great opportunity to export to Europe, Northern Europe, the US, the Eurasian Economic Union, Japan, South Korea, and China. Dairy products of Vietnam Dairy Products Joint Stock Company (Vinamilk) are exported to many fastidious markets around the world. Photo: SGGP The disruption of many global supply chains from the beginning of last year until now because of the Covid-19 pandemic has created gaps in foreign markets. Meanwhile, Vietnamese products have regained their advantage on the home ground when 76 percent of surveyed consumers said that they preferred to use Vietnamese goods due to their high reliability. It has also created opportunities for Vietnamese products to not only expand their export market shares but also to secure their footholds in the domestic market. Competitiveness in terms of price and quality According to Vietnamese trade counselors, in 2021, Vietnamese goods, in general, have a great opportunity to export to Europe, Northern Europe, the US, the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Japan, South Korea, and China. Especially branded agricultural, aquatic, seafood, deep-processed food products that meet food safety and hygiene standards. Currently, Vietnam's export turnover in major markets, namely the US, Europe, Northern Europe, and the EAEU, merely accounts for 2 percent of the total import turnover from other countries and territories. Mr. Bui Vuong Anh, Vietnam Trade Counselor in Germany, said that earlier, Vietnamese export products were often imposed high import tariffs of about 7-12 percent. Even in some product categories, the export tax was up to 22 percent. In comparison with the same product group of countries enjoying preferential tax, Vietnamese goods cannot compete on price. However, with the free trade agreements (FTAs) that Vietnam has signed and come into effect with the EU, the EAEU, Japan, and South Korea, Vietnamese products are no longer concerned about price competitiveness, so export advantages will also be better. Agreeing with this point of view, Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, CEO of Nafoods Joint Stock Company, affirmed that the price difference due to tariffs had made Vietnamese goods suffer in terms of competitiveness. Now with the preferential tax rate of zero percent, barriers, such as quality, and food safety and hygiene standards, are no longer a concern. In recent years, to grasp opportunities from FTAs, many domestic enterprises have quickly changed their production technologies and even boldly apply production technology from Europe and the US. As a result, their products meet the most stringent technical barriers of these fastidious markets. Another factor that Vietnamese export products are considered to have potentials is that consumers around the world have favored Vietnamese goods more. Enterprises investing in the export of processed products have paid more attention to branding. Therefore, consumers around the world also have the opportunity to directly access Vietnamese products selling in foreign distribution networks, and hence, the position of Vietnamese products has also raised significantly. In the opposite direction, the domestic market has also been opening up many opportunities for Vietnamese products to regain market coverage. Research by the Blue Ocean Business Consulting Company shows that the outbreak of Covid-19 has significantly changed consumer trends. In Vietnam, up to 76 percent of surveyed consumers said that they prioritize consuming domestic goods, especially long-standing branded products with easy traceability. Enterprises actively change their thinking Mr. Do Thang Hai, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT), emphasized that the food production industry has always been one of the important economic sectors with great potential for development in Vietnam. The country has gradually become an important and rich source of supply of agricultural products and foodstuffs for many countries. However, this year, the shock of Covid-19 will more or less continue to happen, causing disturbance to the production activities of enterprises. The issues will focus on broken raw material supply chains, delayed logistics activities and freight transportation, congestion at ports, a shortage of goods and capital, or high inventory. Consumer trends will shift towards prioritizing health-enhancing products, foods that strengthen resistance and immunity, natural and organic foods, and clean and healthy foods. This fact will require enterprises to have appropriate strategies to change and respond. Facing difficulties that may arise, domestic food and foodstuff producers have actively changed their thinking of production and business in the new context by investing in modern machinery, equipment, and technology, and paying attention to quality and product designs to conquer the global market, while firmly keeping domestic market share. The MoIT would directly support enterprises to improve the quality of trade promotion and coordinate with industries to guide and improve product quality. Thereby, they would increase the value of export products, the export turnover, and market share, then gradually affirm the position of Vietnam in the global value chain. The goal of this year is to maintain the export growth rate at 5-10 percent for key commodities, Mr. Vu Ba Phu, Director of the Trade Promotion Agency under the MoIT, confirmed. From the perspective of enterprises, Mr. Chu Tien Dung, Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City Union of Business Associations, suggested that the Government and relevant authorities should soon disburse financial packages to support enterprises. At the same time, they should accelerate procedures to guide tax exemption and reduction, debt freeze, and debt rescheduling for enterprises, creating conditions for them to restore production capacity, regain growth momentum and develop after having struggled for a year by the pandemic. As for key export products, the strategy to support enterprises in building national brands should be implemented more quickly and effectively. This is also an opportunity to create resilience for enterprises to deeply participate in the export market, especially during the golden time brought by the FTAs. SGGP Ai Van New Delhi, Jan 8 : Soon after the brutal murder of 11 coal miners of the Pakistans Hazara minority community, which drew international condemnation, human rights of Pashtuns have also come under the scanner. The Pashtuns have been rocked with a series of arbitrary detentions by state authorities at the behest of Pakistans intelligence agencies at the forefront of targeting countrys religious minorities. After the shock police custody of Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement (PTM) leader Ali Wazir, a sitting member of the Pakistan parliament,on charges of hate speech, another senior leader of PTM and a senior Pashtun politician, Said Alam Mehsud was arbitrarily arrested from his home on January 3. As if that were not enough, the Pashtuns were in for more shock and disbelief after Sanna Ejaz, a human rights worker and a PTM member, was arrested along with 45 other PTM activists in Peshawar on Wednesday. The series of arbitrary detentions and persecution of Pashtuns who have been peacefully protesting economic exploitation, enforced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and arbitrary detentions of Pashtuns in the Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas of Pakistan has been condemned the world over. "Authorities must immediately and unconditionally release protestors belonging to the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement who have been arbitrarily detained in Peshawar," said Amnesty International South Asia. While the Pashtun movement for self-determination has a long history, a new wave of brutal repression has begun, after the Pakistan and China bonded to develop the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The risk-averse Chinese have been prodding the Pakistanis to ensure the security of their project, which mostly passes through three major sensitive zones - Balochistan, Gilgit Baltistan claimed by India, and China's restive Xinjiang Autonomous Region. Xinjiang, where a separatist movement is raging, is at the heart of the China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), of which CPEC is the flagship. China's BRI has therefore become a critical factor in the gross human rights violations of Pakistan's ethnic minorities. Unsurprisingly, the Imran Khan government is facing the heat after global condemnation over the killing of Hazaras from the minority Shia community earlier this week. The mysterious death of eminent Baloch activist Karima Baloch in Canada's Toronto last month has added further international pressure on Islamabad, which is already reeling under the weight of the 11-party Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) opposition alliance through its various marches and rallies since October. "This hybrid regime has lost its marbles but then did it ever have marbles. They think by arresting PTM workers and disappearing Baloch they will succeed in crushing the Pashtun and Baloch Rights. That is what they did in #Bangladesh and got their just desserts. Release @sanaejaz2," tweeted Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur who has been vehemently condemning the enforced disappearances in Balochistan and Sindh for years now. The Pashtuns have maintained that PTM is a non-violent and peaceful civil movement which strives for peace and basic rights to live in Pakistan and that the arrests of its top leaders and activists reflect a "senseless" violation of fundamental human rights. "PTM started its activities in 2018 against the extra-judicial killings, enforced disappearances and demolition of entire Pashtun cities and towns by Pakistani army in Waziristan and other Pashtun areas under the auspice of 'war on terror' in Pakistan," the Pashtun Council of Canada said in a statement on Tuesday. "Pakistani state security agencies have murdered and arbitrarily detained numerous PTM leaders and activists. Said Alam Mehsud's peaceful political struggle for the rights of Pashtuns and peace in Pashtun watan spans several decades. He raised his voice and mobilized Pashtun masses and intellectuals against terrorism and its state sponsors. He has saved the lives of thousands of children as a professor of paediatric surgery," the statement sent to the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said. The Pashtuns have appealed to the UN Human Rights Council, international human rights organisations, European Parliament and "friendly governments supporting the cause of justice and human rights" to put pressure on Pakistan to immediately release the PTM activists. The PTM USA has also decided to hold a demonstration outside the residence of the Pakistani ambassador to the US on Saturday in Washington. Not that the massive humiliation and worrying situation bothers the Pakistani authorities much. Their embassies around the world are now used to playing host to such demonstrations. As reported by IndiaNarrative.com yesterday, hundreds of Pakistani expats had gathered outside the Consulate General of Pakistan in New York on Tuesday, demanding end of impunity enjoyed by the terrorists involved in Hazara genocide in Balochistan. Dozens of protest rallies have also been held in North America, Europe and in Pakistan over the past few weeks demanding a thorough probe into the death of Karima Baloch even as the Pakistani deep state continues to persecute people with impunity because of their religious beliefs. Two months ago, US Congressmen Brad Sherman and Jamie Raskin had introduced a bill for consideration calling for an end to enforced disappearances in Asia and around the world and calling upon the United States to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance. Besides mentioning the atrocities committed against the Uyghur Muslims in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China, the resolution also detailed that the majority of the victims of enforced disappearances in Pakistan are Baloch, Pashtun, or Sindhi. (This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) Hawley Plans Lawsuit After Simon & Schuster Cancels Publication of His Book Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) said Thursday he plans to sue Simon & Schuster after the publishing company canceled a contract for his book. Calling the people behind the cancellation a woke mob, Hawley said the move could not be more Orwellian. Simon & Schuster is axing the contract because I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition, Hawley said in a statement. Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. Its a direct assault on the First Amendment. Only approved speech can now be published. This is the Left looking to cancel everyone they dont approve of. I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have. Well see you in court. Simon & Schuster said earlier in the day that Hawleys decision to object to electoral votes during the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress motivated the cancellation. We did not come to this decision lightly, the New York-based company said in a statement. As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: At the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat. After Hawley announced the pending litigation, Simon & Schuster said it was confident the cancellation of the contract was legal. Hawley, abiding by federal law, objected to electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania, pointing to alleged and proven election irregularities and moves from officials to change election processes in contravention to state Constitutions. In Pennsylvania, even apart from fraud allegations, you have a state Constitution that has been interpreted for over a century to say that there is no mail-in balloting permitted except for in very narrow circumstances thats also provided for in the law, and yet, last year, Pennsylvania elected officials passed a whole new law that allows universal mail-in balloting and did it irregardless of what the Pennsylvania constitution said, Hawley said on the Senate floor, explaining why he objected to the states votes. And then when a Pennsylvania citizen tried to go and be heard on this subject before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, they were dismissed on grounds of procedure, timeliness, and violation of that Supreme Courts own precedent. So the merits of the case have never been heard, the constitutionality of the statute actually has never been defended. I am not aware of any court that has passed on its constitutionality. I actually am not aware of anybody who has defended the constitutionality. This is the statute that governed this last election in which there were over 2.5 million mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania, Hawley added. This is my point, that this is the forum. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court hasnt heard the case. There is no other court to go to to hear the case in the state. And so this is the appropriate place for these concerns to be raised, which is why I have raised them here today. Democrats and some Republicans tried blaming Hawley and other legislators who objected to electoral votes for the storming of the U.S. Capitol, which led to a delay of hours in the joint session and resulted in several people dying, including a woman who was shot by the U.S. Capitol Police. Hawley thanked that agency, along with other law enforcement agencies, who helped respond to the Capitol breach and said he opposed violence. There is no place for that in the United States of America. And thats why I submit to my colleagues that what we are doing here tonight is actually very important, because for those who have concerns about the integrity of our elections, those who have concerns about what happened in November, this is the appropriate means, this is the lawful place where those objections and concerns should be heard, he said. The digital transformation trend was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing businesses to rapidly switch to new ways of working and confront an expanding landscape of cyber threats. We spoke with Prentiss Donohue, Executive Vice President of SMB and Consumer Sales at OpenText, about what this means for the future of business, especially in terms of security and cyber resilience. How has 2020 changed the need for cyber resilience? We have become even more dependent on technology to work, to send our kids to school, order supplies for our home, and stay connected to other human beings. With that dependence on technology comes vulnerability. We are more vulnerable than we have ever been. We have increased the surface area the bad guys can go after, and we have never needed to be more resilient than we need to be right now. What does it mean to be resilient in this way? When you hear the term cyber resilience, we mean the ability to bounce back from an adverse event and get back to running your business or getting your kids back to school, or really getting your home life and your work life back up and running as seamlessly and as effortlessly as possible. It could be ransomware or a very targeted cyberattack, but it might also be something more analog. What if you have a fire in your data center? What if your daughter spills grape soda on your phone? What if your laptop is stolen out of the trunk of your car while youre at the grocery store? Cyber resilience is about being digitally fit so you can avoid adverse events altogether or recover from them quickly when they do happen. So youre saying cyber resilience needs to be a priority for everyone, not just big businesses? There are hundreds of millions of victims of ransomware. Hundreds of millions. Forty-three percent of all businesses have been the victim of a cyber crime. And it seems like almost every week we are reading about a new attack. This stuff is costing individuals and businesses literally billions of dollars. The pandemic hasnt seen any slowdown. The bad guys are able to work from home just fine, and our challenges continue to grow. How have the threats been changing? The attacks themselves are becoming more and more sophisticated. A huge majority of malware and viruses is now polymorphic. That means that code that lands on a device is a little bit different every time it lands there, like its wearing a disguise when it shows up in your data center. The phishing and highly targeted spear phishing attacks are becoming cleverer. Its no longer an attack in broken English from a Nigerian prince who desperately needs your help to move money out of the country. Phishing attacks now appear to be from your own bank, from your coworker or from a childhood friend. When threats are changing so quickly, what does this mean for security? Your security education and your security technology need to keep up, to improve at the same pace and in real time. Whats more, the cost of not being resilient isnt always measured in hard dollars. Its not only the cost of paying the bad guy in a ransomware attack its also the downtime and loss of productivity. Downtime due to cyber crimes is up 38 percent in the last decade. This downtime and this loss of productivity leads to reduced customer confidence and often a real loss of revenue following an attack. For many mid-market and smaller businesses, they simply cease to exist following an attack theyre put out of business in one fell swoop. Can you talk about OpenTexts approach to cyber resilience? Our strategy is pretty simple and straightforward: its really to secure users and devices, and their data, no matter where they are, no matter if youre in the office or at home, at work or at play. We do this by giving IT what they need to block threats, diagnose potential threats, and we do this with real-time, up-to-the-minute, artificial-intelligence-based threat intelligence for new and emerging threats. And we do all of this across a common platform that simplifies security management and recovery all from one place. How does that approach work in real life? Can you give an example? One of our customers, Webcor, is a large commercial construction company based in San Francisco. It knew it had to protect itself against the same kinds of threats that larger organizations face but had more limited resources with which to do that. So, it turned to the OpenText Managed Security Services team. The team did a full security risk assessment, then developed a comprehensive security solution that also provides improved resilience against cyberattacks or compromised data. That solution includes managed threat detection and response, as well as proactive protection through OpenTexts threat hunting service. It not only provided Webcor with much stronger cyber protection but helped it manage the challenges of moving to remote work when the pandemic hit. A federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit against the city of Wilmington and several former city officials stemming from an arson that left three city firefighters dead and three others injured. A three-judge panel on Wednesday agreed with a federal district judge who had ruled that the risk of injury or death is inherent to a firefighters job and that any increase in risk based on actions by city officials did not alter the fundamental nature of that risk. The lawsuit was filed in 2018 by the injured firefighters and the estates and survivors of those who were killed. The lawsuit argued that a policy of rolling bypasses that took fire engines out of service in an effort to save costs led to staffing shortages and increased the risk that firefighters would be hurt or killed. The plaintiffs claimed that those cost-saving measures violated their substantive due process rights under the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The appeals court noted that while a government employee can bring a substantive due process claim if the state compelled the employee to be exposed to a risk of harm that was not inherent in the job, the Constitutions due process clause does not guarantee public employees certain minimal levels of safety and security. It also noted that the judge had found no indication that the firefighters were compelled, either by threats of job loss or otherwise, to be exposed to such risks. The judge also had noted in her ruling last year that the policies questioned by the plaintiffs were well known and had been in place for many years before any firefighters were allegedly injured as a result. Citing federal circuit rulings, the judge said that while the defendants may have a duty under state law to provide a working environment free from unreasonable risks of harm, they have no duty to do so under the Constitution. Arson suspect Beatriz Fana-Ruiz was sentenced to 30 years in prison in December 2019 after pleading guilty to one count each of second-degree murder, arson and assault. She had been charged with six counts of first-degree murder, as well as assault, arson and reckless endangering. Authorities said Fana-Ruiz was angry about her living situation and unhappy with her life when she set a fire in the basement of the row house where she was staying. Lt. Christopher Leach and Senior Firefighter Jerry Fickes died at the scene after the first floor of the home collapsed. Senior Firefighter Ardythe Hope was hospitalized in critical condition for several weeks before she died. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Delaware Residents on the northern beaches are nervous about the end of the local COVID-19 lockdown at midnight on Saturday due to fears that visitors from Greater Sydney will bring the virus back to the region from Sunday. Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the area would reopen despite "reservations" over a mystery case of a man in his 40s linked to the cluster who tested positive after three negative tests and 14 days in quarantine. All aboard: Only six passengers board the Fantasea Palm Beach ferry to Ettalong. Business is down by more than 90 per cent thanks to COVID-19. Credit:James Brickwood While they welcomed the opportunity to leave the peninsula, Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan said local residents had concerns about outsiders visiting the beaches on Sunday, when sunny weather and temperatures above 25 degrees are forecast. "I have had emails and phone calls from locals saying, if we are COVID-free, then we don't want people from Greater Sydney coming in here now and spreading things after we have gone through a hard lockdown," he said. The spread of the coronavirus accelerated sharply in U.S. counties where large universities held classes in person last fall, federal health researchers reported on Wednesday. Incidence rates in those counties rose more than 50 percent in the first three weeks after classes started, compared with the previous three-week period, according to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By contrast, infection rates declined in counties without large universities or where large universities held classes remotely last fall, the study said. The findings come as many students who were home for the holidays prepare to return to campus. They will converge on college towns at a time when the virus is surging in many parts of the country, overwhelming hospitals and straining health care services. At least 3,964 new coronavirus deaths and 255,728 new cases were reported in the United States on Wednesday, according to a New York Times database. A police officer checks the identification of a man in a park in Montreal on May 2, 2020, as police patrol the park to make sure people are observing physical distancing protocols amid the pandemic. (Graham Hughes/The Canadian Press) Civil Liberties Groups Raise Concerns About New Quebec Curfew Province trusts police judgement in enforcing curfew measures, public security minister says The Quebec government says it trusts police judgement in enforcing the provinces new curfew measures announced on Jan. 7, but civil liberties groups are voicing concern about the move. This week, Quebec became the first province in Canada to impose a pandemic-related curfew, with premier Francois Legault pointing to the provinces overburdened hospitals as justification for the four-week curfew, to begin Jan. 9. The curfew will prohibit people from leaving their homes between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., unless they are going to work or in certain situations deemed essential, such as receiving health care or attending night school. Those who break curfew rules could face fines ranging from $ 1,000 to $6,000. Joanna Baron, executive director of the Canadian Constitution Foundation, says the curfew largely duplicates other measures already in place, offering questionable support in stemming COVID-19 while significantly impacting civil liberties. Contacts with people outside of your immediate household are already prohibited, theyre basically just amplifying the spectre of state coercion, she said in an interview. So to that extent, its an admission of failure in enforcing existing rules. Baron says curfews are more appropriate for other types of emergencies such as natural disasters or civil unrest that have an obvious benefit to restricting movement at a certain time, whereas COVID-19 isnt more transmissible after 8 p.m. This seems to be a general signalling effort to prompt greater compliance, but its an arbitrary limitation on Section 7 [Charter] rights, she said. Quebecs caseload has continued to spike despite existing lockdowns and restrictions, prompting health officials to conclude they needed to crack down further on gatherings in residences. Legault said Jan. 6 that the curfew is a form of shock treatment for Quebecers, who he said need to be jolted into appreciating the seriousness of the health crisis. Quebec Premier Francois Legault listens to a question during a news conference in Montreal on Dec. 22, 2020. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press) Public health director Dr. Horacio Arruda has said the curfew is aimed at reducing the possibility of gatherings and of contact between people overall, saying that gatherings around the Christmas holiday period may have led to an increase in cases. Cara Zwibel, director of the Fundamental Freedoms Program at the Canadian Civil Liberties Association, says the government needs to communicate, using reliable data and evidence from other jurisdictions, why its necessary to impose curfews. She notes that punitive measures such as ticketing or fining people appears to have had little impact in slowing the pandemic so far. Theres no public health benefit that seems to have come from that approach. That doesnt seem to have worked in terms of flattening the curve, Zwibel told The Epoch Times. So the question is, what are we trying to accomplish and are we going to see the same tactics needed even though they havent proven to be successful in achieving the ultimate goal? Zwibel says she is worried the curfew will also unfairly target disadvantaged socio-economic groupsmany of whom are already facing outsized challenges during the pandemicsuch as shift workers, those cant work from home, racialized groups, and homeless people. It might increase the ability of police to stop people and question them, which gives us cause for concern, because we know that when that happens, there are some people who are traditionally stopped much more regularly than others, she said. Zwibel echoed Barons sentiments that a curfew is more suited to a public order crisis than a public health crisis, and that the polices main role in the pandemic should be to educate the public, while charges and arrests should be a last resort. You Can Be Intercepted at any Time Quebecs Deputy Premier and Public Security Minister Genevieve Guilbault told reporters at a press conference on Jan. 7 that Quebecers who leave their homes after curfew will need to provide a good reason to be outside. This could include a note from an employer, a receipt from the drug store, or other proof of exception. You can be intercepted at any time by a policeman or woman, and you will have to explain what youre doing, said Guilbault. Police keep an eye on social distancing in Montreal on April 3, 2020. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press) She said police are used to showing judgment and discernment and that the province is putting its trust in police to enforce its new curfew measures. Guilbault said shell be meeting with public security on Jan. 8 to discuss the details of how police will enforce the new rules, and that its possible police presence will be increased during the curfew. Zwibel says it will be difficult for the province to document all the possible legitimate reasons people may have to be outside their homes after curfew, leading to a grey area of police judgment that could be prone to abuse. Questions around what is a legitimate reason has to be spelled out with enough specificity in the regulations so that we dont allow police officers unlimited discretion to make their own determinations, she said. At the same time, I think the government cant really put in writing every possible exception, so its going to be challenging. Baron says asking police to enforce a curfew will inevitably lead to greater frequency of carding type incidents, where people are stopped, harassed, or documented by police despite no particular offence being investigated. She points to cases of improper escalation in recent weeks that have gone viral online, including a 21-year-old man being forcibly detained by Calgary police at an open outdoor skating rink for failing to identify himself, and arrests made at a home in Gatineau on New Years eve after a neighbour reported a six-person gathering. In a tragic recent case, 24-year-old Durham resident Moses Demian reportedly took his own life within 48 hours of being arrested by Toronto Police in Scarborough on Jan. 2, charged with obstructing arrest after a dispute with officers for allegedly failing to identify himself. With files from The Canadian Press Six days after vowing to take a tougher stance on protest-related vandalism, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler is backtracking on his plan to ask state lawmakers to make changes to Oregons property crime laws. The Portland City Council approved its state legislative agenda Wednesday, which includes a list of priorities that the city wants to see state lawmakers address in the 2021 regular session, which begins Jan. 19. The agenda didnt include any proposals regarding protest-related crimes. I continue to be deeply concerned about repeated acts of vandalism and violence within the City, Wheeler said in a statement Thursday. Im in conversations with my colleagues on Council and others about the best approach to address the challenge. Protests consumed downtown Portland nearly every night this summer. While many were peaceful, demonstrators often clashed with law enforcement outside the federal courthouse and there were frequent acts of vandalism, including graffiti, window smashing and burning of debris and dumpsters. While protests eventually dwindled in late fall, two successive nights of people damaging property and clashing with police downtown on Dec. 30 and 31 prompted Wheeler to sharply criticize the destruction and call on state lawmakers to increase penalties for people who repeatedly vandalize property. During a Jan. 1 press conference, he also said he could ask the legislature to change state laws to allow for increased city surveillance. The press conference marked a stark difference in Wheelers response, with his forceful statements and willingness to offer concrete solutions to an issue that has plagued business owners for months. But Wheeler must have known at the time that the proposals still needed to be vetted for their feasibility and there was unlikely to be enough time to make significant changes to the legislative agenda before it was adopted by the City Council Wednesday. Jim Middaugh, a spokesman for the mayors office, said more research is needed to determine whether the ideas the mayor proposed bringing to state lawmakers make sense or are feasible. He said Wheeler currently has no specific initiatives regarding protest-related crimes that he plans to bring to state lawmakers and that its possible that no proposal will come to fruition. Middaugh also said amendments could still be made to the citys state legislative agenda with support from a majority of the city council, and that Wheeler could also lobby state legislators for action on his own. I think the mayor is trying to focus on concrete actions the city and its partners can take to address the ongoing criminal destruction, Middaugh said. We were aware the legislative agenda was pretty fixed and we also have opportunities to amend it or supplement it. We did not have time to prepare a thorough proposal in the five days between New Years and the council hearing to get those fully fleshed out. Wheeler is planning to meet with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on Friday morning to discuss specific actions to address the vandalism. Earlier this week, Middaugh said Wheeler would ask law enforcement about what resources and help from other agencies they might need and what new approaches could be taken to address property damage and violence. Wheeler also said Thursday that restorative justice should be part of the solution. He said he believed people who destroy property should be required to meet with the owners of businesses they vandalize and repair damage or clean up graffiti themselves. He said the city also must do everything it can to respond to incidents, make arrests and perform solid investigations, although it remains unclear what solutions Wheeler and the city will pursue to prevent such property crimes. People who engage in intimidation, violence or criminal destruction must be held accountable for the harm they are causing, Wheeler said, no matter what their ideology. -- Jamie Goldberg | jgoldberg@oregonian.com | @jamiebgoldberg Jonah Hill appears to be finishing off the first week of 2021 with some outdoor fun. On Friday, the 37-year-old was spotted catching some waves in Manhattan Beach, just south of Los Angeles. The Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor appeared to be having a great time as he paddled out to get a couple of good rides in with a friend. Scroll down for video Dropping in: Jonah Hill was spotted going on a surfing trip with a pal at El Porto beach just south of Los Angeles on Friday The actor was seen wearing a dark multicolored wetsuit to keep himself comfortable in the frigid winter water. Hill appeared to be unshaven during his session and let his brunette hair hang loose for his time in the water. At a certain point during the trip, the War Dogs actor took a wave lying down on his board without attempting to ride into its barrel. On another occasion, he managed to get upright on his board as he rode it calmly into the bubbling white water. Dual approach: While Hill managed to stand upright for a couple of the waves that he had caught, he rode a few others lying down Finishing up: The Sausage Party actor appeared to be in a good mood as he carried his surfboard above his head while making his way out of the water At the end of his session, the Moneyball actor carried his surfboard above his head as he made his way out of the water and back towards the shore with his pal. Hill has been very open about his newfound love of the sport, and made a post to his Instagram account in November featuring him posing next to pro surfer Mick Fanning and a group of their friends. The photo was taken at the Surf Ranch in Lemoore, California, which is run by former surfing world champion Kelly Slater; the park features an artificial wave pool that creates consistently good waves. The caption for the post partially read: 'We all got tested and came down. It was one of the best days of my life.' The actor added: 'Thanks to all my friends who got me into surfing. It's been one of the most positive additions to my life. I'm forever grateful.' Better together: In November, the actor met up with a number of other surfers, including pro Mick Fanning, to test out the artificial wave pool at Kelly Slater's Surf Ranch In a conversation with Fanning for World Surf League, Hill noted that his ultimate goal was simply to be confident enough in himself as a surfer to go and enjoy the waves by himself. He stated: 'My whole goal was just "can I go surf by myself? Can I go surf a spot by myself and stand up on waves?" That's it! That was like, "if I can do that, that's my life's goal from now on."' The actor later spoke about how the circumstances of his life up to the point of the interview had caused him to rethink his priorities and overcome his past fear of judgement for his lack of ability on a surfboard. Hill said: 'You kind of realize life's too short, and August fifth of last year was the first day I ever went surfing...and I've surfed at least five days a week every day since then.' New Delhi, Jan 8 : As the latest talks between the government and farmers on Friday failed to break the deadlock, the Congress stepped up its attack on the Modi government, with party leader Rahul Gandhi questioning its intentions. The government strategy is to keep giving dates, he alleged, as the government announced that the next round would be held on January 15. Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram suggested that government should keep the laws in abeyance. "Saddened that the government remains as adamant as ever and refuses to relent. The wise course is to keep the unpopular Farm Laws in abeyance and start talking to all stakeholders on a clean slate," he said. Chidambaram said that any reform of agricultural produce marketing must be based on the widespread consultation and "not through midnight ordinances". "If the government has nothing to offer, why has it asked for another meeting with the farmers' organisations? Is it a tactic to tire the protesters by asking them to remain in the bitter cold for another week?" he asked. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Prof. Zhang Min Senior Research Fellow at Institute of European Studies of CASS and Chinese executive director of the CASS-UC Centre for China Studies Prof. Amilcar Celta Falcao Rector of the University of Coimbra Portugal I. Portugals key to combating the pandemic: implementing scientific prevention and control measures and making concerted efforts Zhang Min:Dear Rector Falcao! Before the new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic broke out, I had the pleasure to pay various visits to the University of Coimbra (UC) under your leadership. The University of Coimbra, which was historically established in the Royal Palace of Alcacova, was named one of the worlds top five heritage universities by UNESCO. The Guangming International Forum Dialogue provides us with an opportunity to develop mutual communication. It is a pleasure to discuss with you on the topics of fighting against the new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic and of the issues in the post-pandemic era. The current new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic is still spreading around the world. The worldwide number of confirmed new coronavirus pneumonia cases has exceeded 66 million, and the death toll has exceeded 1.5 million. Mankind is experiencing the most serious global public health emergency since the end of the Second World War. How do you view the impact of the pandemic on human society? Falcao:Such transnational exchanges are of great importance. It is concerning that that European countries are currently experiencing the second wave of the new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic. The outbreak of the new coronavirus is bound to exert a profound impact on all aspects of human society, not only on the economic operation of countries, but also on international relations and social structures. I think the new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic will become a major historic turning point for human society. No matter what the considerations or reasons that lead to disagreements among some countries are, I sincerely hope that public policymakers can be united and work together to eliminate social inequality, famishment and poverty and to make efforts to achieve environmentally sustainable development. Zhang Min:The website of the Presidency of Portuguese Republic issued a statement on 8 March 2020, saying that Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa decided to follow a two-week quarantine rule on his own initiative and cancelled all scheduled official activities due to the confirmed cases of new coronavirus pneumonia in the school of the students, with whom the president met. The Portuguese president insisted on wearing masks in public and set an example for the public in order to combat the pandemic. Thus, Portugal has also become one of the countries that achieved comparatively significant results in fighting against the pandemic. Falcao:Portugal has performed relatively well in the fight against this global public health emergency. The series of anti-pandemic measures are in line with the guidelines of the World Health Organization and basically adopted the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan considered by the medical community. From government leaders to the general public, Portugal has demonstrated its consensus and determination of concerted efforts to combat the pandemic. These factors have helped Portugal achieve a phased victory in the fight against the pandemic. I hope we can keep up the good work until everything will gradually return to normal. As you mentioned, you very much appreciated President De Souzas exemplary role in fighting the pandemic. Indeed, President De Souza is a leader with a sense of responsibility and mission. He has deep feelings for people and is very close to the public. He is a responsible leader, leading by example and sending a signal to the Portuguese people: when it comes to the new coronavirus pandemic, the whole society must not let their guard down and must take it seriously. This will help the general public continue to deepen their understanding of the harmfulness of the new coronavirus, to raise awareness of prevention and to strengthen their anti-epidemic confidence. A man wearing a mask is walking on the street of Lisbon, Portugal. (Xinhua News) At the moment, like other European countries, Portugal is facing the second wave of the new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic. Considering that the usual severe weather in autumn and winter can cause epidemic diseases such as influenza, the impact of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic may be worse. The more worrying thing is that under the combined effect of all these factors, the country may experience a run on the public health system or face management difficulties. In a response to these problems, we should do our best to prevent the outbreak. Generally speaking, unless absolutely necessary, our economic activities will be gradually normalized and cannot be suspended abruptly as in the first wave of the pandemic. In the past few months, we have accumulated experience in the fight against the pandemic, and our understanding of the new coronavirus has been deepened. The public has adopted more responsible and cautious attitudes. These factors enable Portugal to actively respond to the sudden emergency situation of the new coronavirus pandemic in a more effective way. Zhang Min:The new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic has brought unprecedented shocks to the medical and health systems of various countries. In order to prevent the spread of the virus, the governments urgently employed legal means and adopted various measures, such as quarantine, suspension of work and production, tracing the origin of the virus, timely diagnosis and active treatment and so forth, continuously accumulate experience in preventing and controlling the outbreak, adjust and optimize the public health governance systems. Temporary closure of schools and suspension of classroom teaching are the necessary prevention and control measures, but they seriously affect the order of teaching and research activities and international cooperation. Nevertheless, the temporary closure of schools does not mean interruption of teaching. On the contrary, it just provides practical opportunities for countries to try and innovate modern educational methods. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, education departments in various countries have worked hard to adapt to the new situation and flexibly adjusted their teaching arrangements. Online teaching, online classrooms and online forums are becoming new teaching models. The University of Coimbra of Portugal is not only the oldest university in the Portuguese-speaking world, but also an important base for Portuguese history, law, literature, archaeology, technology and other subjects. During the pandemic, how did your University organize teaching and research activities? Falcao:In order to deal with the outbreak, the University of Coimbra has made a number of major and innovative decisions. Our university is one of the first universities to rapidly shift traditional teaching to digital teaching and conduct online assessment. The university actively adjusted its teaching tools and teaching methods. In doing so, it aims to primarily protect the health of teachers and students. We have also estimated the impact of the new coronavirus outbreak during the entire semester and examination periods. Besides, the purpose of launching online teaching and remote classrooms is to equally treat domestic and international students, on-campus and off-campus students. This is because online education makes it possible for all the students to have fair learning opportunities. Without much doubt, it is a very difficult choice to adjust the teaching patterns and methods. However, after a while, its found that the results of online teaching and relative activities during the epidemic was very good. All the teachers and students managed to both qualitatively and quantitatively complete their teaching and learning activities in a safe environment. In the new semester, we mainly offer classroom teaching, which is the teaching tradition and the main teaching method. At the same time, we will continue to maintain remote teaching and set up online classrooms. This is especially important for foreign students who are in other countries and cannot return to the university on time. The purpose of having these considerations and practices is to be ready for dealing with possible new changes in the new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic. II. To strengthen cooperation is the only way to fight off the global threat Zhang Min:Since the outbreak of the pandemic, China and Portugal have maintained close high-level communications. The two countries work together under mutual encouragement, and this demonstrates the strength of cultural exchanges between China and Portugal under the background of fighting the pandemic. On the packing boxes of medical supplies that China offered to Porto, a Chinese poem was attached: Haiguo Yichi Qi, Yuanzeng Yuanli Chun. The verse signals a message that: while China and Portugal are far away from each other, mutual concern is unabated. A similar verse of the famous Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa is actually echoing the Chinese poem: All is worthwhile if the soul is not small. How do you view the ideas of humanitarianism, solidarity and mutual assistance, and friendly coexistence advocated by China in the global fight against the pandemic? Falcao:In the fight against the pandemic, China has not hesitated to provide Portugal with strong support and share anti-pandemic experience. The University of Coimbra has also received generous donations from various Chinese institutions. In addition to expressing our gratitude, we will bear in mind: the support is very helpful to promote mutual cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries, to enhance the friendship between Portugal and China, and to promote academic exchanges between the University of Coimbra and Chinese universities. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Chinese Embassy in Portugal and the important academic partner of University of CoimbraChinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). At the most critical time of the outbreak, they generously donated masks and other pandemic prevention and control supplies. Our anti-pandemic cooperation and mutual support have reflected the importance of international humanitarianism and solidarity and friendship and have fully demonstrated that when humans are facing difficulties, countries can be united and develop mutual cooperation. Through overcoming difficulties together, countries will be able to tackle the crisis at the end of the day. When the coronavirus outbreak in China was still serious tt the beginning of this year 2020, we also did our best to donate anti-pandemic supplies to China. This is to inherit and carry forward the values of unity and cooperation that the University of Coimbra has been upheld, which is also the foundation of this ancient university. This shows that we are attaching importance to cooperation with China and will continue to do so. In the fight against the pandemic, the Confucius Institute at the University of Coimbra has played an active role. The Confucius Institute and its partner Zhejiang University of Traditional Chinese Medicine worked together and made a lot of efforts to overcome all the difficulties, and they delivered a batch of urgently needed medical supplies to Portugal in time. This example of Sino-Portuguese cooperation has made us feel the selfless help and sincere friendship between the institutions and people of the two countries. Zhang Min:The new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic broke out and spread all over the world. After experiencing the difficult moments of fighting the pandemic, people of all countries can better understand the profound connotation of cooperation, mutual assistance and overcoming the difficulties together. But the incomprehensible thing is that some US politicians have engaged in political stigmatization and attacked China. So far, the world top powers such as the United States are deeply mired in the coronavirus outbreak. In your opinion, what attitude should all the countries adopt in the face of global disasters? What kind of responsibility should a major country take? How will the coronavirus pandemic urge the reform of the global public health governance system? Falcao:From the perspective of international politics, everyone must actively promote solutions to global problems, especially to strengthen multilateralism and the role of international organizations such as the World Health Organization. There is no other way. From this sense, I even more firmly believe that only when all the countries strengthen cooperation can they eventually overcome the global threats. In any case, no country can consider issues only from the perspective of its own interests, but should perceive and think about issues from a transnational perspective. Obviously, the new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic is a major public health emergency worldwide. Countries should reach consensuses on many aspects of politics, diplomacy, science, etc. Otherwise, it will take much longer to find effective treatments, or even unable to develop efficient and safe vaccines. This will cause unnecessary loss of life, affect economic recovery, restrict social development, and hinder the development of human society. Therefore, now is the best time for all the countries to work together and strengthen multilateral mechanisms. All the countries should advocate coordination and oppose divisions. The situation requires us to put aside the selfish motives of the countries. Countries, public or private parties and other stakeholders should share their best practices under multilateral mechanisms and strive to find the best possible solutions with a purpose of achieving more fairness and equality. The role of the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other international organizations should be brought into full play, and the role of regional organizations and institutions such as the European Union should also be strengthened in order to create a better future. III. China and the EU as two important forces upholding multilateralism Zhang Min:Viruses respect no borders. Nor are races relevant in face of diseases. Human beings are in face of a common destiny. During the pandemic, President Xi Jinping expressed his aspiration during his calls with EU leaders to strengthen China-Europe cooperation and jointly combat the pandemic. Falcao:I always believe that we must unite the forces of the world and actively take measures to eliminate the threats that affect people all around the world. The more the political communities, business circles and universities actively participate in the fight against the current COVID-19 pandemic, the better it will be for the world economy to quickly stage a comeback and achieve sustainable economic growth. In the global village, unity, sincere cooperation and joint efforts are the only real solutions to problems. Zhang Min:China and Europe are the two major forces in the world today. At present, countries in the world are not only severely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, but also face many threats and challenges such as unilateralism, protectionism, the rise of Cold War mentality and so forth. What are your expectations for China and Europe to safeguard multilateralism and economic globalization? Falcao:The new coronavirus pneumonia pandemic has made people more convinced that unity and cooperation rather than isolationism can bring prosperity and well-being for people all around the world. Against a backdrop of deepening the global digital process and the interdependence between economies, advocating cooperation and international order on a basis of multilateralism will be helpful to achieve the good wishes of people with different races, beliefs, genders and nationalities. China and the EU are two important world forces upholding multilateralism. They have maintained intensive communications and active dialogues during the pandemic period and have worked hand in hand to promote green recovery. Without doubt, China-EU cooperation will certainly do contributions to global unity, prosperity and development. Zhang Min:China-Portugal bilateral cooperation is an integral part of China-EU cooperation. Portugal can be exemplarily viewed as a model of great diplomacy of a small country, playing a unique role in Europe and the world in a wider sense, especially in Portuguese-speaking countries. As the countrys great poet Luis de Camoes says, Portugal is the place where the land ends and the sea begins. Portugal opened the era of great navigation in history and has been an important link connecting Portuguese-speaking countries. Portugal is a founding member of the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP) and a major member of the Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-Speaking Countries (also known as Forum Macao). Portugal has played an important role in promoting this cooperation mechanism. Falcao:Since its establishment in 2003, the Forum Macao has played an active role in promoting economic and trade cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. As a member of the forum, Portugal has participated in all the previous ministerial forums. In 2019, our university established The Sino-Lusophone Academy (Academia Sino-Lusofona) hoping to promote academic exchanges between think tanks from China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Sino-Lusophone Academy also hopes to become a think tank partner under the mechanism of Forum Macao in the future and promote our university to become an important academic base for relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. The Confucius Institute of our university is characterized by the promotion of traditional Chinese medicine culture, and it is now becoming platform for the University of Coimbra to carry out cultural exchanges with China. Confucius Institute attracts a large number of Chinese culture lovers every year. They learn Chinese language as well as Chinese culture. During the pandemic, our Confucius Institute held a number of online forums, which played a positive role in promoting communications between Chinese and Portuguese people. We look forward to deepening educational cooperation and exchanges with China. Our university is known as the university with the strongest Brazilian features outside of Brazil, and the number of Brazilian students who come to study at the University of Coimbra continues to grow every year. I hope that in the future we can also say: We are the university that attracts Chinese students most in Portugal or Portuguese-speaking countries, and the Portuguese university that has the strongest cooperation with China and with the greatest academic influence. IV. Looking forward to further cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative Zhang Min:Regarding the relationship between China and Portugal, President Xi Jinping once published a signed article A friendship that transcends time and space, and a forward-looking partnership. Portugal is not only the first EU country to formally establish a Blue Partnership with China, but also the first European country on the Atlantic coast to sign the Belt and Road cooperation memorandum with China. In the post-pandemic era, the Belt and Road initiative will further highlight its public product attributes. China is committed to building the Belt and Road Initiative into a road to promote cooperation and solidarity in meeting challenges, a road to protect people's health and safety, a road to encourage economic and social recovery, and a road to unlock development. In doing so, China aims to make it a community of interests, a community of responsibility, and a community of shared future. The countries along the Belt and Road share the results and join hands to fight the pandemic under the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits, which will further deepen the relationship between China and the countries along the Belt and Road, including Portugal. Falcao:The key sectors of Portugals socio-economic development, such as energy, insurance, health, etc., have long attracted a large amount of Chinese direct investment. We expect other fields to become key areas of Chinese investment. Portugal and China have a long history of bilateral relations and supported each other. In particular, when Portugal suffered a debt crisis in the past years, China provided timely assistance. The relationship between Portugal and China will surely deepen via cooperation. From a global perspective, the Belt and Road initiative has had a wide-ranging impact on the economic and social development of many countries. We look forward to other Portuguese-speaking countries, such as Brazil, Angola, Mozambique, Cape Verde, Sao Tome and Principe, Guinea-Bissau, East Timor, etc., to expand investment cooperation with China under the BRI initiative. The Institute of China and Portuguese-speaking Countries of the University of Coimbra will make full use of the good opportunities for cooperation between Portugal and China, make Macao as a communication link to further intensify cooperation with other Chinese universities and research institutions, and play the role as a bridgehead in the cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Zhang Min:During President Xi Jinpings state visit to Portugal in December 2018, witnessed by the Presidents of China and Portugal, CASS-UC Centre of China Studies was officially established, which opened a new chapter in the cooperation and exchanges among think tanks from China and Portugal. As the Rector of your university, what will be your suggestions for Sino-Portuguese education cooperation in the post-pandemic era? Falcao:Portugal and China have huge potential for cooperation in education, science, research and development and innovation. The Rectors Office of the University of Coimbra, either the current Office team or the previous one, regards long-term cooperation with China as one of our universitys educational development strategies. We believe that China will play an increasingly important role in international geopolitics. The increasingly close cooperation between the University of Coimbra and China will help deepen the relations between Portugal and China and enhance the friendship between people of the two countries. It is particularly worth mentioning that the establishment of CASS-UC Centre of China Studies is one of the important achievements of academic exchanges between Portugal and China. It is a major event in the history of academic exchanges between the two countries and an important node for deepening cooperation between the academic circles of China and Portuguese-speaking countries. Although the Centre has a short history, it has carried out a series of academic exchange activities, which has aroused positive responses in the academic community. We look forward to further cooperation between the two parties in the areas of corporate law, commercial law, international arbitration law and so forth. The Chinese Academy of Social Sciences has a large collection of talents, building up a strong academic atmosphere and promoting extensive foreign exchanges. CASS is a reliable academic partner of the University of Coimbra. We look forward to closer relations between China and Portuguese-speaking countries through collaborative research. We wholeheartedly welcome Chinese scholars to Portugal to promote bilateral cooperation in the fields of education, scientific research and knowledge innovation. The University of Coimbra will continue to be committed to deepening and advancing academic exchanges with China and to pushing the relationship between Portugal and China towards a high-quality direction. Only in this way can we continue to maintain and enjoy the academic status as a world-renowned university and truly become an important bridge and link for deepening cooperation between China and the Portuguese-speaking countries. The University of Coimbra has a sacred and historical mission: to promote fairness and rule-based globalization and to build a peaceful and harmonious world. Note: This dialogue was launched under the assistance of International Cooperation Bureau of the CASS and CASS-UC Centre of China Studies and coordinated by WANG Lei and ZHOU Miao. Translator: Zeren LANGJIA, Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of European Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. [ Editor: WPY ] Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi inspected on Friday a mega project aimed at major expansion of agricultural production through the reclamation of 500,000 feddans along the Dabaa Axis Highway in the countrys North West. According to an official statement, Presidency Spokesman Bassam Rady said the new project, dubbed Mostaqbal Misr, comes as part of the states strategy to maximize productive opportunities in the areas of land reclamation and agricultural production. The project is a new addition to the series of mega developmental projects under-execution by the state in all fields and across the country, Rady explained. Mostaqbal Misr aims to provide high quality crops with affordable prices to the public, fill the gap in the local market between imports and exports in order to save foreign currency for the national economy. The president was briefed on the development in the project by officials on the ground. El-Sisi ordered bolstering coordination and cooperation between concerned bodies to complete the project, which would be an added value to the country's arsenal of national projects in the field of agriculture and food. Mostaqbal Misr will also provide thousands of direct job opportunities, hundreds of thousands of indirect job opportunities, as well as investment opportunities for leading agricultural firms in the private sector. The project is located along the extension of the Dabaa Axis Highway, which is one of the new major roads executed as part of the under-expansion national network of roads, Rady said. He added that the area of the project enjoys several geographical advantages including easy access to several export ports, airports, and industrial zones. The infrastructure of the project will see a fully integrated system for irrigation and farming, which will be equipped with high tech equipment for various agricultural operations. These high tech equiment include a central "Pivot" watering system, two power plants with a capacity of 250 megawatts, an internal power grid spanning 200 kms, as well as a main and sub roads extending 500 kms. After the inspection tour, El-Sisi met with several heads of specialized agricultural firms participating in the project in the attendance of the Commander of the Air Forces Lieutenant General Mohamed Abbas. Short link: Staff celebrate annual Community Grant with a drive-thru parade View Photos San Andreas, CA Three Mountain Ranch organizations started the new year off with an unexpected funding boost of over $30,000. These local organizations will focus on collaborative projects that will provide both continued and new access for the Mountain Ranch Community, remarked MTMC President and CEO Doug Archer. All three of these organizations are contributing towards improving upon the health vulnerabilities as identified in our Community Health Needs Assessment. Access to Primary and Specialty Care, Behavioral Health, Cardio Vascular Disease, and Older Adult Health are the four significant needs that have been identified in our 2019 report. Those receiving the monies include the Central Calaveras Fire and Rescue Protection District, Mountain Ranch Youth Alliance and Resource Center/Food Bank and the Mountain Ranch Community Center/Park (MRCC). The Dignity Health Mark Twain Medical Center (MTMC) Community Grant for 2020 earmarks $32,000 towards their partnership in The greater access initiative, according to hospital officials. This grant will ensure the increased health and wellness of the older adults in our community, stated Lynn Darmsted; Mountain Ranch Food Pantry Director and Vice-President of the Mountain Ranch Youth Alliance and Resource Center. This grant will allow us to provide higher quality food options provided by the Mountain Ranch Food Pantry, access to Behavioral Health services, increasing the availability of quality low-cost meals served, and the use of technology to provide telemedicine for the older adults in our community, Mountain Ranch was one of the most heavily impacted communities in the county due to the 2015 Butte Fire. It destroyed 475 homes, burned over 500 homes and 70,000 acres. The fire consumed approximately 62% of Central Fires District, said hospital officials, who added that many property owners did not have insurance and multiple residents are still living in temporary housing. This grant will allow us to purchase advanced EMT skill- materials, CPR mannequins and teaching materials for our instructors and class participants. All of these materials will enable us to provide the highest level of Basic Life Support (BLS) care to our community, commented Central Fire Division Admin Chief Joana Tedder. Park officials relayed that during the difficult time of the COVID-19 pandemic, these funds will allow for improvements like enhancing residents ability to get out, have a great place to walk, exercise, and enjoy the fresh air. They add that seniors, dog owners, parents, and children will all benefit from this gift. Typically, this award is announced each year at a luncheon, but due to the pandemic, this year hospital staff held a mini-parade for the grant recipients with thank you signs in hand. To date, more than $440,000 has been awarded to Calaveras organizations. Another 787,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits as the pandemic continues to spread across the U.S. and world. On Thursday, the Labor Department reported nearly 800,000 Americans filed for aid, which was adjusted for seasonal changes. From the prior week, it was a slight decrease in claims and fewer than what the economists expected. Chief economist at PNC Gus Faucher said that unemployment benefits could be volatile around the holidays, so it might be a few weeks before it becomes clear. Read also: New Jersey Minimum Wage Increases to $12 per Hour, Aims to Reach $15 by 2024 U.S. unemployment crisis is not over According to CNN, the unemployment claims were nearly four times higher in the same period a year ago. Under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, the regular first-time claims were 161,460 workers, without seasonal adjustment. The program was made to heal those who are not qualified for regular state aid, including those self-employed. The PUA program was included in last spring's CAREs Act, slated to expire in late 2020. But the new $900 billion stimulus bill signed into law extends the program by eleven weeks. There may be a delay in receiving the unemployment benefits, while workers can file claims, receiving payments under the extension. The aid typically takes a few weeks to reprogram their computers, but some states move quickly. With the various additional kinds of first-time claims, nearly 1.1 million Americans filed for unemployment benefits without seasonal adjustment. Meanwhile, 5.1 million Americans have continued claims for their second week or more. There are 19.2 million total Americans who have received some government benefits form in the week ending December 19. Nancy Vanden Houten, Lead US Economist at Oxford Economics, said, "While prospects for the economy later in 2021 are upbeat, the economy and labor market will have to navigate some difficult terrain between now and then, and we expect claims to remain elevated." The unemployment aid was extended The unemployment benefits were adjusted by 3,000, bringing 790,000 in total for the week ending on December 26. On Thursday, the number fell slightly to 787,00 for the week ending January 2, as per the officials. According to Daily Mail, the government will issue Friday gloomy jobs report for December. Late last month, unemployed Americans gained urgently needed help when the $900 billion COVID-19 relief aid was finally signed into law. The measure provides a $300 weekly federal unemployment benefit and an average state benefit of $320. Nearly half of all states in the U.S. began the federal benefit distribution, as per an unofficial tally at UnemploymentPUA.com. Some states that take longer paying out the $300 unemployment aid can be made retroactively for the missed payments. The congressional legislation expanded the federal benefits to 24 weeks, making the program to last until mid-March. Simultaneously, the new program that gives unemployment aid for gig and contractor workers, who are not eligible for the previous assistance, was extended for eleven weeks. On December 26, the benefits temporarily expired and cut off all aid for ten million unemployed Americans. Read also: Weekly $300 Unemployment Benefit: Here are Essential Things to Know @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Americans traveling to the UK will now be required to produce a negative COVID-19 test result before entering the country, in a new effort to stop the spread of mutant coronavirus strains circulating around the world. The rule applies to all international travelers, including British nationals, arriving by boat, plane or train, the UK's Department for Transportation announced on Friday. Passengers must provide proof of a negative test - taken up to 72 hours in advance - to their transportation carrier and complete a Passenger Locator Form before entering the country. Those who fail to comply will be denied boarding by airlines or other transportation operators and be subjected to an 'immediate' $680 (500) fine, officials said. It comes after the US government in December imposed similar restrictions on airline passengers arriving to the US from the UK. All international travelers must test negative for COVID-19 up to 72 hours before entering the UK or be subject to an on-the-spot fine, UK officials announced Friday (stock image of Heathrow Airport) The new measure was designed to prevent the spread of new mutant coronavirus strains recently found around the world. Pictured: A man being tested at London's Heathrow Airport UK Border Force guards will also carry out spot checks on arrivals to ensure travelers have adhered to the rules. Who doesn't have to provide a negative test on arrival in the UK? Hauliers Children under 11 Air crews People traveling from countries where tests are not available Advertisement It was unclear whether PCR tests will be demanded in all circumstances or if rapid tests, considered less accurate, might also be accepted. The agency said travelers will still be subject to national lockdown restrictions. Officials did not specify when the new measure will come into effect, however it is expected to be next week. Britain was the first country to record cases of the mutant B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant, which is 70 per cent more infectious than the standard virus. The mutant strain has recently fueled a surge in cases in the UK, prompting many countries to shut their borders to travelers from the country. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) later announced last month it was taking steps to curb spread of the strain in the US with testing requirements. The health agency imposed a mandate requiring all passengers arriving from the UK must present a negative PCR or antigen test taken within 72 hours of departure. Their decision marked a turnaround after the Trump administration had told US airlines it was not planning to require any testing for those passengers. Prior to that, the health agency had issued new guidance asking international travelers to get tested before and after arriving in the US and to quarantine for a week upon arrival however, this was only a recommendation. UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps on Friday said the new move was designed to prevent new variants of the disease which have emerged in countries such as South Africa and Denmark. 'We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of COVID-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally, we must take further precautions,' Shapps said. 'Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defense helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks.' Those who fail to comply will be denied boarding by airlines or other operators and be subjected to an 'immediate' $680 (500) fine, officials said Travellers will be banned from entering the UK next week if they do not have a negative test within 72 hours of departure. Pictured: Heathrow There will be a limited number of exemptions, including hauliers - or workers who transport goods by road - children under 11, crews, arrivals from the Common Travel Area with Ireland and for those traveling from countries without the infrastructure available to deliver tests. And foreign travelers arriving from countries not on the UK's travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days, even if they test negative. The move follows the UK's decision to suspend all direct travel from South Africa following the emergence there of a new strain of coronavirus thought potentially to be even more virulent than the mutant variant which has led cases to surge in Britain. The announcement comes at a time when the latest lockdown restrictions across the four nations of the UK mean there is very little international travel. The airline industry - which has been devastated by the pandemic acknowledged the need for the restrictions but urged UK ministers to lift them as quickly as possible. Earlier this week a group representing major US airlines also urged the Trump administration to lift travel restrictions on passengers flying in from Brazil, Europe and the UK. The plea came in a letter authored by Airlines for America (A4A), a trade group that represents most US airlines including international giants American, United and Delta, in which they backed a CDC proposal to implement a global testing program requiring negative tests for most international passengers returning to the US. The letter, addressed to Vice President Mike Pence, called on the Trump administration to 'move ahead with recommendations to rescind current entry restrictions on travelers from Europe, the United Kingdom and Brazil as soon as possible.' The more infectious 'super-covid' variant has so far been detected in at least seven states The group said the entry restrictions should be 'removed concurrently with the testing program, which will provide yet another layer of safety in the travel journey'. The Trump administration in March had banned most non-US citizens that have been in Europe from visiting the United States. Then in November, a Reuters report revealed that the White House was considering rescinding restrictions from the 26 members of the Schengen area that allow travel across open borders, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brazil. 'We believe a well-planned program focused on increasing testing of travelers to the United States will further these objectives in a much more effective way than the blanket travel restrictions currently in place,' the airlines' letter released Monday said. They also proposed a notice period of at least 14 days before new requirements take effect and 'consideration of inadequate testing and results availability in specific countries rather than a blanket worldwide requirement is also needed.' The more infectious 'super-covid' variant has so far been detected in at least seven states, a CDC official told DailyMail.com Tuesday, but refused to reveal which remaining two states beyond Colorado, California, Florida New York and Georgia have cases. Dr Greg Armstrong, director of the Office of Advanced Molecular Detection at the CDC's National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases said that the new variant accounts for 'fewer than one in 200' samples run by US labs. 'It's up to the states' to disclose when they have discovered a case of the new variant, Dr Armstrong said. 'Almost all regulatory authority is at the state level.' Georgia on Tuesday announced its first case of the 'mutant' COVID-19 strain. The virus is said to have been found in an 18-year-old boy with no travel history. Georgia joins New York, California, Colorado and Florida in all reporting cases. Graphs from the UK show how the more infectious mutant strain of the virus overtook other variants to become dominant across areas of the south and east of England, including London. Graphs from the UK show how the more infectious mutant strain of the virus overtook other variants to become dominant across areas of the south and east of England, including London The new variant of the virus, which has a mutated 'spike' protein on the outside which makes it better at invading the body, was announced in November. It has been traced back to someone in Kent in September, which is believed to be the first instance of it anywhere in the world. It has since spread worldwide and across Britain, causing the UK's coronavirus infections to surge at the end of 2020. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said this week that one in 50 people in England more than a million people are now thought to be infected with the deadly virus. The country entered a new lockdown this week, imposing the strictest rules since the first lockdown in March in a bid to bring cases down. The public are only allowed to leave home for one of five reasons: to go to work if essential, shop for necessities, exercise - allowed with one other person from another household, care for someone, or to seek medical help or flee threat such as domestic violence. San Francisco, CA, USA, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- We, at the United Religions Initiative, share concern and grief following the violence that took place at the United States Capitol on Wednesday, January 6th, 2021. During a Joint Session of Congress to certify the Electoral College's results for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris, hundreds of rioters stormed the chambers and offices of the US Capitol, resulting in the injuries of dozens, the death of five people, and a nation whose framework for democracy hangs in the balance. We unequivocally condemn these attacks and any attempt to undermine the voice and integrity of a united and free people. The politicized and conspiratorial intention of this insurrection speaks to the larger moral urgency that calls each of us to seek equity and justice for all. This event overlaps with the unanswered calls for racial justice, a rampant epidemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, and a toxic political divide that has changed the nature of how we communicate with one another. This future offers so much uncertainty that we have no way of knowing what might happen next. We cannot ignore the feelings of despair and anger that consume us when our livelihoods, our families, and our communities are at risk. These emotions are valid and invite us to look deeper into our purpose and our interconnectedness with the world around us. When we fight for what's right, we do not do it just for ourselves; the ripple effect of this work reaches far and wide to help all those that need it. This is why we must listen to each other's pain and deepen our understanding and trust in one another. This is why we must speak truth to power, even if those truths make us uncomfortable. This is why we come to reconcile and resolve the issues and systems that harm us so the healing can truly begin. A new presidential administration will be inaugurated on January 20th and with it comes the outstanding question posed by Dr. Martin Luther King's final book - Where Do We Go From Here? Chaos or Community? We unapologetically choose the latter. As always, we remain to uplift, strengthen, and serve for the greater good. May we upend audacity with courage. May we heal the wounds of ignorance with the balm of compassion. And may we extinguish the flames of anger and hatred with revolutionary love. Adeola Fearon Chair of the URI North America Leadership Council Ex Officio Member of the URI Global Council Fred Fielding Member of the URI North America Leadership Council URI Global Council Trustee for North America Tahil Sharma Regional Coordinator for URI North America Attachment Kyrgyzstan appears to be all set to hold a presidential race on January 10, the head of the Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS) election observer mission said on Friday BISHKEK (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2021) Kyrgyzstan appears to be all set to hold a presidential race on January 10, the head of the Commonwealth of Independent States' (CIS) election observer mission said on Friday. "So far, we have the impression that the republic is ready to hold elections. Everything is organized at a proper level, so we have no reservations to make, all issues are resolved strictly in accordance with the republic's legislation," Vasily Volkov told reporters. Kyrgyz people will cast their ballots on Sunday both in the presidential election and a referendum to choose between the existing parliamentary system and a presidential one. The race for the top office was called in October after then-President Sooronbay Jeenbekov resigned amid violent protests that followed parliamentary elections. Seventeen people are vying for presidency, including Sadyr Japarov, who took over the office during the October turmoil but stepped down in mid-November to run in the race. Varsha Bansal, a contemporary dancer and instructor from Jaipur, used to describe herself as confident and optimistic. That was before she contracted Covid-19 in November. Its almost as if there is a Before and an After version of myself, she said. She now describes herself as hopeless and insecure, largely because of the brain fog left behind after three weeks of fighting the virus. I find it hard to concentrate and remember things. My ability to grasp and process information has diminished, said the 25-year-old. Unable to remember choreography as she used to, Bansal quit a six-week virtual dance course with the prestigious Martha Graham Dance Company of New York, 10 days in. She has stopped conducting classes herself, and no longer promotes her work on social media. I feel like Im damaging my career and this makes me sad and anxious. I have thoughts racing through my head and I have trouble sleeping, Bansal said. Difficulty concentrating and impaired memory have shown up in study after study, among the after-effects of Covid-19. The umbrella term brain fog is now used to indicate the range of post-Covid cognitive symptoms reported, which include confusion, memory loss, dizziness, and delirium. There is no definitive cause for Covid-19-related brain fog. Hypothesis suggests it is caused by the bodys prolonged inflammatory response to the virus, said Dr Pavan Pai, a neurologist at Wockhardt Hospital, Mumbai. Bansal first noticed something was amiss when she couldnt remember whether or not she had taken her Covid-19 medication while she was still battling the virus. Even more worrying, she couldnt remember what the medications were. While reading, she began forgetting the names of characters and confusing plot lines. She still forgets simple errands shes supposed to run, what she wants to say mid-speech, and says she finds it hard to process conversation if it is between more than three people. Bansal has decided to take things slow and focus on interests other than dancing. Im learning to be kind to myself. I keep reminding myself that even taking a nap, reading or eating healthy are productive activities. This helps me feel less flustered and distraught, she said. Hiral Shukla, 28, a public relations executive from Nagpur, is battling something similar. After contracting the virus in November, she says she has become forgetful, has trouble processing information, and is unable to multi-task. She has to read and re-read emails to understand the contents, and now handles only a single client at a time, where she earlier juggled three or four. I have to ask people to speak slowly, one at a time, she said. I feel less inclined to meet people and I find it hard to make eye-contact when talking to them. I was an outgoing, social person who was great at multi-tasking. My job requires me to be that way. I feel like a very different person now. To get through the day, Shukla makes lists, notes and detailed schedules. She has also been meditating to try and improve her concentration. Her boss and colleagues are supportive. But she feels uncomfortable telling her boss that she cant do what she used to be able to do, and she feels bad about making mistakes like forgetting to return calls. Her parents are encouraging her to learn to drive and take up activities that will make her feel good about herself. In my experience treating patients with brain fog, I have found that meditation, mild exercise, a healthy sleep-wake cycle, playing memory games and solving puzzles can help, said Dr Pai. But whats most important is acceptance of the condition, by the patient and their family, friends and colleagues. Brain fog is a known phenomenon and it is going to affect the productive population of countries. So, dont stigmatise it. The authorities will on Friday conduct the second dry run for the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in Delhi that will span across several districts of the national capital, officials said. The districts include South Delhi, South East Delhi and North West Delhi and New Delhi, they said. The first dry run for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out was held in Delhi on January 2 for which three sites were chosen across the national capital. Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had reviewed the exercise at a dispensary in Daryaganj, and said COVID-19 vaccine will be provided to people in the national capital for free once it arrives, and asserted that the city government has made all preparations for the vaccination drive. The previous three sites were GTB Hospital Shahdara, Urban Primary Health Centre, Daryaganj, and Venkateshwar Hospital, Dwarka. Officials on Thursday said 10 vaccination centres have been chosen in South Delhi district for the dry run, and the sites include AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, Pt Madan Mohan Malaviya Hospital, Pushpwati Singhania Hospital and Research Institute. In South East district, 19 sites have been chosen across three sub-divisions. These sites include Batra Hospital, Fortis Hospital, Escorts Hospital, National Heart Institute, Holy Family Hospital, Apollo Hospital and MCW Gautampuri. In North West District, the 12 sites chosen for the exercise include Max Hospital and Fortis Hospital, both at Shalimar Bagh; Saroj Hospital, Jaipur Golden Hospital, and BSA Hospital, officials said. Four sites have chosen in the district, including NorthernRailway central hospital and Fortishospital, Vasant Kunj. The Union health minister chaired an online meeting with health ministers of all states and union territories regarding COVID-19 vaccination dry run to be conducted on January 8 in all districts of the country, according to the bulletin issued by the Delhi health department on Thursday. India's drugs regulator has approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. It paves the way for the roll-out of at least two vaccines in the country in the coming days. A total of 1,000 vaccination centres will be set up in Delhi. And, about600 centres will be set up in the first phase, for which work is underway in full swing. At every vaccination centre, there will be multiple booths, each to take a maximum of 100 people, officials said on Wednesday. There will be a nodal officer at each vaccination centre, officials said. COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network or CoWIN app and its ecosystem will be used to manage and scale up the massive vaccination drive that is expected to begin soon across the country. Everything will be fed to the database in real-time. Also, the person after being vaccinated will be kept under observation for any AEFI (adverse events following immunisation). Delhi Health Minister Jain on Saturday said the city government had so far made preparations to vaccinate one lakh people in a day. The Delhi government is fully prepared to receive, store and administer COVID-19 vaccine to 51 lakh priority category persons in the city in the first phase of vaccination, the minister had said. These include healthcare workers, who will be first to receive, followed by frontline workers, people aged above 50 and those below 50 years but with co-morbidities, he added. Vaccination centres will either be hospitals or facilities linked to hospitals. As part of the first phase, about three lakh healthcare workers and nearly six lakh frontline workers, totalling about nine lakh, will be the first ones to get the vaccine. (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| 2021-01-08 17:41:00|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday appointed Abdoulaye Mar Dieye of Senegal as the special coordinator for development in the Sahel. Dieye is a macroeconomist and development expert with strong leadership experience in managing complex development portfolios over the last 35 years, said Guterres' press office. The special coordinator will lead collective efforts, including financing, to implement the UN integrated strategy for the Sahel and its support plan for a scaled-up UN development response for the Sahel, a region plagued by terrorism, armed insurgency and a climate crisis. Dieye is currently special adviser to the administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP). He has held several positions in the UNDP, including as assistant administrator since 2006. Prior to that, he served as deputy special representative for the UN Operations in Cote d'Ivoire and resident and humanitarian coordinator/UNDP resident representative in Abidjan. Before joining the United Nations, Dieye held several senior positions within the government of Senegal. Enditem Photo: The Canadian Press President-elect Joe Biden walks from the stage after speaking in Wilmington, Del., Thursday. President-elect Joe Biden has denounced the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol as domestic terrorists and he blamed President Donald Trump for the violence that has shaken the nation's capital and beyond. The riot by Trump supporters who breached the security of Congress on Wednesday was not dissent, was not disorder, was not protest. It was chaos. Those who massed on Capitol Hill intending to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was certifying Bidens election victory over Trump werent protesters. Dont dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. Its that basic, Biden said Thursday. In solemn tones, Biden said the actions Trump has taken to subvert the nations democratic institutions throughout his presidency led directly to the mayhem in Washington. In the past four years, weve had a president whos made his contempt for our democracy, our Constitution, the rule of law clear in everything he has done, Biden said. "He unleashed an all-out assault on our institutions of our democracy from the outset. And yesterday was the culmination of that unrelenting attack. The mob of hundreds of Trump backers broke into the Capitol and roamed the halls looking for lawmakers, who were forced to halt their deliberations and seek safety. The violent protesters were egged on by Trump himself, who has falsely contended that he lost the election due to voter fraud. Trumps claims were repeatedly dismissed in the courts, including the Supreme Court, and by state election officials from both parties, and even by some in his own administration. But the president went to greater and greater lengths to try to subvert the election, culminating this week in efforts by some Republican members of Congress to object to the certification of the results and the violence at the Capitol. After the disruption, Congress returned to work late Wednesday and affirmed Biden's victory early Thursday. Biden ticked off a list of Trump's assaults on American norms, including his attacks on the press and the intelligence community and his pressure on state and federal officials and judges to submit to his efforts to overturn the election. Biden said that on Wednesday, Trump tried to use a mob to silence the voices of nearly 160 million Americans who voted in November. And both he and Vice-President-elect Kamala Harris spoke about the police treatment of the largely white protesters on Wednesday, compared with the heavy-handed way in which police have handled Black Lives Matter protests. We witnessed two systems of justice, when we saw one that let extremists storm the United States Capitol and another that released tear gas on peaceful protesters last summer, Harris said. Biden declared that no one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesting yesterday, they wouldnt have been treated very, very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol. He expressed hope that images comparing the police presence Wednesday to that marshalled to prepare for Black Lives Matters protests would open Americans eyes to the needs for reform. The remarks came during an event in Wilmington, Delaware, to introduce Biden's Justice Department team, to be led by federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland as attorney general. Biden also announced Obama administration homeland security adviser Lisa Monaco would serve as deputy attorney general and former Justice Department civil rights chief Vanita Gupta as associate attorney general, the No. 3 official. He also named an assistant attorney general for civil rights, Kristen Clarke, now the president of Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, an advocacy group. Emily Ratajkowski was spotted going for an early-morning coffee run with her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and their shared pup Columbo. The two appeared to be enjoying each other's company as they made their way through the streets of New York City during an especially chilly day. The pregnant supermodel hid her baby bump well in a black outfit with a puffy red jacket that made her look ready for a day on the ski slopes. Better together: Emily Ratajkowski was seen covering up her baby bump as she went on a coffee run with her husband Sebastian Bear-McClard and their dog on Friday morning The 29-year-old supermodel looked chic in the tomato red jacket which looked to provide plenty of insulation during the frigid East Coast winter weather. She also wore a black sweater over her growing baby bump and matched it with a pair of joggers; the model contrasted her clothing choices with a pair of white sneakers. The Vogue favorite wore large pair of black sunglasses to keep the luminous winter sun out of her eyes during her walk. Ratajkowski also wore a red North Face beanie, while her husband opted for a dark yellow version of the same headwear. Cozying up: The married couple both wore puffy jackets and similar North Face beanies to keep themselves warm in the freezing New York winter weather Bear-McCloud could be seen in a predominantly black-and-yellow clothing ensemble as he wore a puffy jacket with the same colors. He was spotted in a pair of black sweatpants with yellow lettering and a set of dual-tone high-top sneakers; he also wore sunglasses for the trip. The future parents both wore face masks in order to reduce the chance of any potential exposure to COVID-19. Ratajkowski has updated her fans regularly through her Instagram account after she first announced her pregnancy in October via that month's issue of Vogue. In an interview for the publication, the supermodel spoke about the questions that she was waiting to answer upon the maturation of the couple's child. Playing it safe: Ratajkowski and her husband both wore large face masks to keep themselves protected from any potential exposure to coronavirus ahead of the birth of their child Putting it out there: Ratajkowski first announced her pregnancy in October and featured on the cover of Vogue magazine that same month Ratajkowski pondered: 'Who will this person be? What kind of person will we become parents to? How will they change our lives and who we are? This is a wondrous and terrifying concept, one that renders us both helpless and humbled.' She also made remarks about how fast the information about her pregnancy was circulated through social media, which she was concerned about. 'Instagram knows I'm pregnant before most of our close friends or even my parents do. My timeline is filled with targeted ads for maternity clothes, and my explore page is all pictures of babies...and tips for expecting mothers,' she said. The model has still appeared to be excited for the upcoming birth of her child, and posted a number of photos to her Instagram account on New Year's Eve displaying her baby bump in full. The caption for the post read: 'Here we go 2021.' Going in-depth: The supermodel spoke about her concerns regarding her pregnancy in an article for Vogue and noted that the prospect of becoming a parent was 'a wondrous and terrifying concept' to her The German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern may have a plan to facilitate the completion of Russias Nord Stream 2 pipeline amid US attempts to sink the $11 billion gas project in the Baltic Sea, RT reports. The regional government proposed to set up a special Foundation for climate and environment protection. In a statement on Wednesday, it said that the purpose of the organization is to carry out environmental projects as the nation is trying to phase out coal power, adding that it could also contribute to the finalizing of the Nord Stream 2 project. It is believed that the fund could help the companies involved in Nord Stream 2 to acquire and store equipment and materials needed for the pipelines construction. Thus it could shield the firms from punitive measures threatened by Washington as they wouldnt directly be linked to the energy project. The northeastern German state is located on the shore of the Baltic Sea and is home to the landing point for the underwater pipeline that stretches from Russia. The project is expected to double the existing Nord Stream 1 pipelines capacity of 55 billion cubic meters annually. Two similar foundations were previously created for Nord Stream, the statement added, noting that the entities have since been supporting environmental projects in the Baltic Sea. The foundation is yet to receive approval from the states parliament, that is set to announce the decision on the matter later on Thursday. If agreed, the region will transfer some 200,000 euros of public money to the fund. The subsidiary of Russian energy major Gazprom, Nord Stream 2 AG, which is in charge of the project, pledged to contribute 20 million euros to the foundation and make additional donations after the pipeline becomes operational. Washington has been long trying to derail the gas project, while simultaneously seeking to boost imports of its own liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe. After the latest expansion of the punitive measures against the project, a Norwegian contractor, in charge of verification procedures, abandoned its work. Nevertheless, the construction of the pipeline is ongoing, with around 150 kilometers still needed to be laid. A smart home device like Alexa is usually used for controlling smart home devices, getting information, and getting responses whenever you ask for something, However, in a very odd incident, an Alexa device was able to save a puppys life from a burning home. Unsplash/chris-karidis A couple in Orlando, USA was able to save their home and puppy from a house fire, The couple were at a friends place when they got an alert from their Amazon Echo on his phone. Now Alexa devices cant really detect fires unless it is connected with a smart smoke detector, however, it does have a feature that helps in protecting users homes. Alexa Guard is enabled on every Echo device where it sends an alert to the app when it hears noises like broken glass or smoke alarms. This feature is usually used to protect users from home thefts and fires and in this instance, it came very handy. When they used the Alexa app to listen in, they heard a crackling noise and the smoke alarm which prompted them to rush back home. They were able to resume their five-month-old French bulldog in time as the smoke engulfed the house within 25 seconds of their arrival. Firefighters showed up minutes later and contained the fire. The couple is now grateful for the added security feature that saved their home and puppy. If it wasnt for this piece of technology in our kitchen, our little one wouldnt be with us today, they said. Unsplash/channey Google also offers a similar sound detection feature through its Nest devices however it costs extra to have that feature enabled. Amazon will be adding a new feature to Guard that will add emergency calling for an additional cost soon. Unsplash/andres-urena This incident proves that having a smart device at home is not only good for using smart devices but also keeping your home and loved ones safe. Currently, Amazon, Google and Apple all offer their smart home devices in India. Alexa and Google Assistant can be used in multiple languages as well, If you would like to set up Alexa Guard for your Echo devices, head on over to Settings and scroll down to the Guard Menu. You can then enable what kind of sounds your device can identify including glass breaking and smoke alarms. If you opt to use Guard Plus, your Echo device can also detect dog barking sounds and send smart alerts when you are away from your home. source: WFTV Former HDFC Bank managing director has joined global pharma major Strides Group as an advisor and will also serve as a director of its associate company Stelis Biopharma. "Eminent corporate doyen joins the Strides Group as an advisor and also will be a director of its associate company, Stelis Biopharma," Science Ltd said in a regulatory filing. Science said Puri's appointment to the Stelis board comes at an exciting juncture for the company as it transitions from its incubation phase to a consolidation and growth phase to establish itself as a partner of choice globally with the aim of bringing world-class treatments at affordable costs to patients in both emerging and developed markets. On his appointment, Puri said the Stride Group's established parentage, global success and headstart in terms of basic infrastructure gives him the opportunity to be involved in and guide Stelis and other Group endeavours in their exciting growth story. Arun Kumar, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Strides, said: I am delighted to welcome Aditya as our advisor and to the Stelis board. This a huge vote of confidence in the potential of Stelis. Aditya's illustrious legacy is well-known. Having nurtured HDFC Bank since inception, his deep experience will be extremely valuable for the Strides Group and Stelis in particular. "With Stelis poised for its next leg of growth, this is the right time to expand the board, and ensure robust guidance and governance by the best possible industry minds. I look forward to working with Aditya and leveraging his expertise to take Stelis to new heights". Puri, who led HDFC Bank since its inception over 25 years ago, retiredin October 2020, after a highly successful career which has made the bank the largest among private sector lenders. While heading a foreign bank's operations in Malaysia in the early 1990s, Puri got an offer from Deepak Parekh of mortgage major HDFC to come back to India to start a bank in an economy which had shifted gears with liberalisation moves. In November 2020, Puri was roped in by US-based global investment firm Carlyle Group as a senior advisor. Emergency vehicles patrol the perimeter while battling a bush fire south of Perth on January 4, 2021. (Photo by TREVOR COLLENS/AFP via Getty Images) Western Australia Fire Crews to Battle Hot Dry Weather Firefighters have managed to slow the spread of a dangerous bushfire burning north of Perth. Still, authorities fear the upcoming extreme weather conditions will impede efforts to bring it under control. The Red Gully blaze which has been burning since Saturday Jan. 2 now has a perimeter of more than 100 kilometres and destroyed over 9500 hectares in the Gingin and Dandaragan shires. An emergency warning remains for local communities around the two shires, with major concerns for Ocean Farms Estate residents. Authorities urge residents to enact their bushfire plans and evacuate immediately if safe to do so. Emergency Services Commissioner Darren Klemm said the efforts of firefighters and aerial support managed to halt the western flank of the fire about three kilometres from Ocean Farms Estate. But he said the extreme heat and wind conditions are a devastating combination which could result in small fires going out of control. This weeks weather conditions are some of the most challenging firefighting conditions I have seen in many years, and unfortunately, weather conditions are not easing over the coming days, in fact, they are only going to get worse, Klemm said in a statement. There have been no reported incidents of homes lost. However, pine plantations and olive groves are believed to have been damaged. Around 200 firefighters are battling the blaze with aerial support, including two large air tankers flown in from Victoria. Nine fires were burning on Wednesday and conditions across those areas are expected to remain very hot until a cool wind change on Sunday. These conditions are not something weve seen for the last two or three years, Klemm said in a press conference. There hasnt been that typical strong easterly weather that weve been experiencing the last four days with gusts of up to 80 kilometres an hour. It makes it incredibly difficult for firefighters. Not only is it not safe to put firefighters at the head of the fire in those types of circumstances but its also incredibly difficult once fire hops over, to be able to get around and put it out, he said. Watch and act warnings are in place for the fires near Indian Ocean Drive, Yanchep Pine Plantation, and Yeal Nature Reserve and for people near Lancelin and Ledge Point. Residents are advised to closely follow fire warnings in case of sudden changes in conditions. Source: Reuters It is not surprising that United States President-elect Joe Biden wants to reverse much of incumbent Donald Trumps shambolic and disruptive foreign policies. But on at least one aspect of Trumps foreign policy China Biden should be building on and staying the course. The only change required is to forego Trumps propensity to cut deals with the Chinese in favour of short-term gains. Biden can bring in consistency and firmness, and be willing to make it costly for China to renege on promises. However, there are already at least two Biden moves with implications for China policy that raise some concerns about how well the incoming administration understands Beijing or Washingtons partners. The first is the appointment of former US Secretary of State John Kerry as special envoy on climate. As a Democratic Party heavyweight, Kerry will have the ear of the President and likely have the freedom to drive the agenda while Biden is busy with other challenges. Kerry, however, is also believed to think cooperation with China on climate change mitigation efforts will be fruitful. This belief though flies in the face of all recent evidence of the US or any other country trying to co-operate with China. The Chinese, under Xi Jinping, are no longer willing to look like they are bowing to foreign least of all, American pressure. Like Trumps trade deal with China that went nowhere, any deals the Biden administration signs with China on the environment are likely to be ignored by the latter in practice. A China-centric climate change approach also ignores another important trend within China the increasing commitment towards environmental clean-up, sustainable growth and green technologies. In other words, China is serious about Communist Party of China General Secretary and Chinese President Xi Jinpings call for a Beautiful China, and it will thus in any case, contribute to climate change mitigation even without US pressure. This is driven by self-interest and supported by a consistent reliance on scientific rationality a quality that the US and India have often been lacking in at various times. If China does not move at the pace the US and Europeans want, then it will not be for want of trying. Note, for example, Chinas recent promise to have carbon-dioxide emissions peak by 2030 and to become carbon neutral by 2060; even the US has not yet made such a commitment. In this context, to privilege bilateral climate change efforts with the Chinese is actually a waste of US effort. What Kerry should be focusing on is the Chinese sale of old and polluting technologies to other countries under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Even here, though, pressure on the Chinese will be less effective than assistance to recipient countries to understand what is on offer, and to demand better. The US might also consider being more generous with green technologies and collaborating on this front with populous, growing economies such as India, Indonesia, Brazil, Nigeria and Bangladesh among others if it is serious about climate change. This it should do, if nothing else to prevent Beijing from setting the standards or monopolising markets for environment-friendly technologies as part of its mercantilist approach to global trade, and as it has sought to do in 5G, for example. The second big concern observers watching the incoming Biden administrations China moves have is about the return to the use of the expression Asia-Pacific instead of Indo-Pacific. The switch was made by no less a person than Secretary of Defense nominee, General Lloyd Austin (retd). While, Biden did subsequently use Indo-Pacific, a less than fulsome commitment to the concept is worrisome for a number of reasons. One, while the semantics do not ultimately matter to the Chinese who have decided they are in an existential conflict with the US, the expression Indo-Pacific provides a US-supported spine to incipient Asia-centred counters to China, linking Japan and India and potentially many others. For this reason, it has both worried and irritated the Chinese no end. Not only has it taken up a lot of their energies to badmouth, it also forced them to look in two directions at once when evaluating their threat environment. One could also argue that it allowed the PLA Navy to knit its maritime strategies better together and to justify presence in the Indian Ocean, but this was always going to happen. The public articulation of the Indo-Pacific concept actually only forces this strategy out into the open. Two, dropping Indo-Pacific or using it interchangeably with Asia-Pacific also signals a lack of commitment to the initiatives and concerns of allies and partners despite Bidens talk of taking them along. The Indo-Pacific as a strategic concept has its origins in India and Japan, and both countries have made much intellectual and material investments accordingly in recent years, despite constraints. This investment should inform the Biden team that these countries believe the US has declined in relative power and will continue to do so, and that their problems with China are theirs to face and deal with by themselves. The US should not make this more difficult than it already is. What the incoming US President should then do is course correct and base American global leadership more on better supporting countries that are both aligned with it in values and actually doing the standing up to China. The emergence in Britain and South Africa of two new variants of Sars-CoV-2, which are potentially far more infectious versions of the virus, has prompted widespread concern. Here is what we know -- and what we don't -- about the mutations. All viruses mutate when they replicate in order to adapt to their environment. Scientists have tracked multiple mutations of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, since it appeared in China in late 2019. The vast majority of mutations did not materially alter either the virus's virulence or transmissibility. However, one mutation -- variant B117, which likely emerged in southeastern England in September, according to Imperial College London -- has now been detected in countries across the world, including the United States, France and India. Another variant, 501.V2, was detected in South Africa in October, and has since spread to several nations, including Britain and France. Both have multiple mutations to the virus, most notably on its spike protein -- the part of the virus that latches on to human cells and helps it spread. Specifically, the mutated versions have an altered receptor binding domain known as N501Y, which is situated on the virus' protein spike and which allows easier access to the ACE2 receptor in human cells. This makes the mutated versions potentially more infectious than other strains. The European Centre for Disease Control says that while there is "no clear relationship" between enhanced ACE2 binding and increased transmissibility, "it is plausible that such a relationship exists". Indeed, several recent studies-- yet to be peer-reviewed -- have concluded that the British variant of Sars-CoV-2 is likely to be far more transmissible than other strains. The NERVTAG expert committee which advises the British government on disease control has estimated the new mutation is between 50 percent and 70 percent more transmissible. A team at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) concurs, with experts putting increased transmissibility in the 50-74 percent range. Last week researchers at Imperial College London released the results of a study into thousands of genetic sequences of Sars-CoV-2 found in Britain between October and December. They found that the new variant had a "substantial transmission advantage", with a reproduction rate between 0.4 and 0.7 higher than the unmutated virus. Preliminary studies on the South African variant have also concluded it is more contagious than regular Sars-CoV-2. Although initial data seems to confirm that the two new versions are more contagious, experts have urged caution. Bruno Coignard, head of infectious diseases at France's heath authority Sante Publique France, told AFP that the British variant's spread was due to "a combination of factors". "These concern the virus' characteristics but also prevention and control measures put in place," he said. There is currently no evidence to suggest that the mutated viruses are any stronger than normal. But increased transmissibility alone poses an enormous problem, given that a small but consistent percentage of Covid-19 patients require hospital care. "Increased transmissibility eventually translates to a far higher incidence rate, and even with the same mortality, this means significant pressure on health systems," said Coignard. Adam Kucharski, an epidemiologist at LSHTM, said that a virus that is 50 percent more contagious would be a "much bigger problem" than one that is 50 percent more deadly. In a Twitter thread, he explained how a disease such as Covid-19, with a reproduction (R) rate of 1.1 -- where each patient on average infects 1.1 others -- and a mortality rate of 0.8 percent would be expected to produce 129 deaths within a month. If the mortality rate increased 50 percent, the number of deaths would rise to 193. But due to the exponential growth in cases with a more contagious variant, a disease with a 50 percent higher transmission rate would see the death toll hit 978. Arnaud Fontanet, an epidemiologist with France's science council, admitted on Monday that the new British variant was "extremely concerning right now". Initial studies also concluded that the British variant was significantly more contagious among young people, which raises the issue of whether or not to keep schools open. The LSHTM study concluded that lockdowns similar to those seen across Britain in November would be insufficent to stem the new variant's spread "unless primary schools, secondary schools, and universities are also closed". As vaccination campaigns get underway across the world, is there any reason to fear that the new mutations may not respond to the host of vaccines already on the market? After all, the messenger RNA vaccines developed by Pfizer and Moderna trick the body into reproducing the virus's spike protein -- the precise part of the pathogen that has mutated in the new versions. The ECDC said it was too soon to know if the mutations will impact vaccine efficacy. Last week Henry Walke from the American Centers for Disease Control told reporters that "experts believe our current vaccines will be effective against these strains". On Monday however, Francois Balloux, professor of Computational Systems Biology and Director at University College London's Genetics Institute said that the South African variant's spike protein mutation "helps the virus to bypass immune protection provided by prior infection or vaccination". German vaccine developer BioNTech said Friday its vaccine appeared to be effective at neutralising a variant of the coronavirus that shared a key spike protein mutation with the British variant. In unreviewed research, scientists in the US took blood samples from 20 people who had received two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and exposed them to virus molecules with the N501Y mutation. They found "no reduction in neutralisation activity against the virus bearing the (mutated) spike". Coignard said it was impossible to eradicate the new viral variants entirely, although the goal from policymakers should be "maximum delay" of their spread. The ECDC says that in countries currently unaffected by the new mutations, "efforts to delay the spread should mirror those made during the earlier stage of the pandemic". These include tests and quarantining of new arrivals, contact tracing and limited travel, it said. By sheer luck, certain existing PCR tests can detect the British variant. Fontanet therefore advocated "extremely aggressive surveillance" through widespread testing. "We need to be even more vigilant in our prevention measures to slow the spread of Covid-19 by wearing masks, staying at least six feet apart from people we don't live with, avoiding crowds, ventilating indoor spaces and washing our hands," said Walke. Christian crowdfunding site raises more than $100K for Proud Boys leader after arrest Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A campaign on GiveSendGo, the #1 Free Christian Fundraising site, has raised more than $100,000 for the legal defense of Henry Enrique Tarrio, the Afro-Cuban international chairman of the far-right Proud Boys group who was arrested Monday for the burning of a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Washington, D.C., church. Tarrio, 36, who was found with high-capacity firearm magazines, was also banned on Tuesday from entering the District of Columbia, with very limited exceptions to meet with his attorney or appear in court until June, the Sun Sentinel reported. The court order banning Tarrio from Washington, D.C., prevented him from participating in pro-Trump events on Wednesday, during which Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building. Four people died, according to officials. Tarrio cheered the attack on the Capitol on social networking website Parler and promised legal support on Thursday to any member of his group who ends up getting arrested for their role in it. To those that are currently being hunted by the tyrannical government and media...Unless you destroyed property or assaulted an officer... (Which is serious but theyve dropped those charges for anarcho-Communists)they can only charge you with trespassing. Do not let them scare you with anything else. This is the time to say F**K THE SYSTEM, he wrote in a statement to his members. We will find attorneys to represent you if needed. We will help raise you money for your legal defense. You are not alone. All of you helped when I needed it the most. So I am forever in your gratitude and I will always be here for you. Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee told USA Today that four people died during the unrest, including a woman who was shot by the U.S. Capitol Police, and three others two men and one woman who died in separate medical emergencies. The woman shot dead was identified as 35-year-old Ashli Babbitt from San Diego. She was an Air Force veteran who served for 14 years. She loved her country, and she was doing what she thought was right to support her country in joining up with like-minded people that also love their president and their country, her husband, Aaron Babbitt, told KTLA5. She was voicing her opinion, and she got killed for it. Tarrio is alleged to have lit a banner stolen from Asbury United Methodist Church during a Dec. 12 rally, and later challenged authorities to arrest him for his actions. I did it. Come get me if you feel like what I did was wrong. Well let the public decide, he declared. In a message on the fundraising campaign, Tarrio said: I was arrested in Washington DC on 1/4/2021 this fund has been created to fund my legal defense and counter suit against the city of Washington DC. As of Thursday evening, he had raised more than $113,000 of a $200,000 goal. In a big development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a virtual meeting with the Chief Ministers of all states at 4 pm on Monday. The interaction will centre around the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine. Since the commencement of the lockdown in March 2020, the PM has chaired regular meetings with the CMs to take stock of the novel coronavirus situation. The government of India will inoculate 30 crore individuals belonging to priority groups in the first phase of its COVID-19 vaccination drive. PM to interact with CMs ahead of vaccine rollout At 4 PM on Monday 11th January, PM @narendramodi will interact with Chief Ministers of all states via video conferencing. They will discuss the COVID-19 situation and the vaccination rollout. PMO India (@PMOIndia) January 8, 2021 So far, the country has recorded 1,04,13,417 novel coronavirus cases out of which 1,00,37,398 patients have recovered while 1,50,570 fatalities have been reported. The country has also witnessed two rounds of dry run of the vaccine, aimed at ensuring efficient planning and management for vaccine delivery in all the states and Union Territories. While reviewing the dry run in Chennai, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan had revealed that lakhs of healthcare workers have been trained for administering the vaccine. Read: 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine Dry Run Begins; Health Minister Assures Sufficient Doses For Everyone Two COVID-19 vaccines approved In a big breakthrough in India's fight against COVID-19, the Drug Controller General of India accepted the recommendations of the Subject Expert Committee of Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on January 3, paving way for the approval of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN. Manufactured by the Serum Institute of India with technology transfer from Oxford University-AstraZeneca, COVISHIELD is a Recombinant Chimpanzee Adenovirus vector vaccine with its overall efficacy at 70.42 per cent. 50 million doses of this vaccine are ready. On the other hand, COVAXIN is a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and NIV. Bharat Biotech has completed the enrolment of 25,800 volunteers for the phase 3 clinical trials of COVAXIN. However, it has been approved in "public interest" in the clinical trial mode so that there can be more options for vaccination in case of infection by mutant strains. Both the vaccines have to be stored between 2-8 degrees celsius. Countering the charge that COVAXIN was approved hastily, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan made it clear that all the recipients of this vaccine will be tracked and monitored as if they are in clinical trial mode. Read: EU Doubles COVID-19 Vaccines Order With Pfizer-BioNTech SNSF Sinergia grant awarded to research groups in Switzerland and Norway to identify novel treatment strategies for children with aggressive brain tumors. The new Sinergia consortium involves principal investigators from the DMG/DIPG Center Zurich, at University Children's Hospital, the ETH Zurich, and the Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM) and aims to harness novel technologies for precision medicine in pediatric diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). An international and multidisciplinary team of researchers, clinicians, and data scientists have been awarded a Sinergia grant from the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) to improve treatment for children with aggressive brain tumors. The new Sinergia consortium involves principal investigators from the DMG/DIPG Center Zurich, at University Children's Hospital, the ETH Zurich, and the Centre for Molecular Medicine Norway (NCMM) and aims to harness novel technologies for precision medicine in pediatric diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). DMG/DIPG is an aggressive brain tumor that primarily affects children but can also affect adults. The survival time for patients is negligible, with over 90% of DMG/DIPG patients dying within two years of their diagnosis. Whilst significant progress has been made in recent years in better understanding the molecular biology of DIPG/DMG, there has been a lack of similar advancements in finding novel and effective drugs or combinations of drugs. The Sinergia consortium received CHF 3.1 million for a research project to discover therapeutic vulnerabilities in patient-derived preclinical DMG models, and to utilize a drug repurposing strategy whereby thousands of approved and investigational drugs are tested for anticancer activity. Each research group will contribute their expertise to address the main project goal of using novel technologies for molecular characterization of DMGs, rapid discovery and validation of effective and safe drugs, and the discovery of biomarkers of drug sensitivity. Dr. Javad Nazarian, Head of the Translational Research Program of the DIPG/DMG Center, at University Children's Hospital Zurich and Lead of the Sinergia consortium, will perform high-throughput drug screening using 30 patient-derived DMG models and thousands of drugs that have so far not been investigated in preclinical DMG studies. The DIPG/DMG Center will use this opportunity to harvest novel technologies to discover therapeutic vulnerabilities in patient-derived preclinical DMG models and utilize a drug repurposing strategy whereby thousands of approved and investigational drugs are tested for anticancer activity. Dr. Sebastian Waszak, Head of the Computational Oncology Group at NCMM, will characterize the genomic and the epigenomic landscape of preclinical DMG models and develop a computational drug repurposing strategy for DMG/DIPGs. Prof. Fatih Yanik, Head of the Neurotechnology Group at the ETH Zurich, will develop a novel minimally invasive brain network measurement technology that will allow the team to assess neurotoxicity of drugs and drug combinations. Other project partners include Prof. Adriano Aguzzi (University Hospital Zurich), Prof. Stephan Neuhauss (University of Zurich), Dr. Pan Pantziarka (Anticancer Fund), Dr. Anton Yuryev and Dr. Jabe Wilson (Elsevier Life Sciences Professional Services), Mr. Finlay MacLean (formerly at Elsevier), and the Children's Brain Tumor Network. Sabine Mueller, MD PhD MAS (University of California, San Francisco) as an expert neuro-oncologist will contribute to the translation of the project results to clinical studies. The Sinergia consortium hopes that this project will have a major impact on the design of future clinical trials and, thus, help to improve outcomes for children diagnosed with DMG. We are honored to be the recipient of one of the largest government grants in support of a deadly childhood brain cancer. DIPG/DMG is a devastating and challenging pediatric disease and it will take a multidisciplinary team to tackle the problem. We thank the SNSF for supporting us and we look forward to establishing effective therapies for this patient population." Dr. Javad Nazarian, Head of the Translational Research Program of the DIPG/DMG Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich Dr. Sebastian Waszak adds: "This consortium will allow us to develop a genome-based approach to drug repurposing and hopefully, in the near future, will improve precision medicine-based therapies for children with diffuse midline glioma." The Anticancer Fund, which played a key role in the initiation of this collaboration, welcomes the news. According to Dr Pan Pantziarka: "This type of multi-disciplinary, focused project promises to make great strides in developing the next generation of drug repurposing. We believe it will be a model with wide application to other cancers with few therapeutic options." SACRAMENTO Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed a $227.2 billion budget Friday that would shore up Californias financial reserves and use a one-time windfall to chart an economic recovery out of the coronavirus pandemic. The proposal, which includes a record $164.5 billion general fund, is more than 12% larger than the state spending plan adopted last year amid widespread unemployment and a painful economic contraction. Tax revenues have rebounded more quickly than officials anticipated in the months since, which would allow the state to put nearly $19 billion back into the reserve accounts it tapped into last year and leave a $15.6 billion discretionary surplus. Newsom proposed Friday using that money to send direct aid to low-income Californians, increase tax credits that promote hiring, help schools reopen for in-person learning, expand early childhood education and university funding, build more affordable housing, and hire more fire crews. We are investing, in our energy and our focus, to deal with the disproportionate impacts of this pandemic, Newsom said during a news conference in Sacramento. Under his plan, much of the states one-time windfall would be spent on economic aid programs, including two initiatives he unveiled earlier this week and asked the Legislature to approve by the end of the month. The governor typically offers a revised proposal in May, kicking off a month of negotiations with lawmakers, who must approve a balanced budget by June 15. A Newsom proposal to send $600 direct payments to low-income Californians who file for the states earned income tax credit for the working poor would double the second round of federal stimulus checks for nearly 4 million taxpayers. The governor said the program, which would cost about $2.4 billion, could help tenants who are struggling to pay the rent remain in their homes. Newsom also urged legislators to quickly approve $575 million for a state fund offering grants to small businesses of between $5,000 and $25,000 to adapt their operations for the pandemic. That money is part of a broader $4 billion economic recovery package Newsom proposed. It would also provide $430 million to increase a tax credit for businesses that relocate to or expand in California; $71 million in fee waivers for bars, restaurants, barbershops and other businesses that have been required to close down or limit their capacity during the pandemic; $500 million in grants to bring down the cost of housing developments; and $1.5 billion to boost the states transition to clean cars by funding construction of charging stations and rebates on vehicle purchases. Democrats, who dominate the Legislature, overwhelmingly expressed support for the immediate priorities Newsom laid out as they prepare to begin budget hearings next week. Sen. Nancy Skinner, the Berkeley Democrat who chairs the Senate budget committee, said there was no disagreement over efforts to prevent mass evictions or help small businesses, though she anticipated some debate about a plan to offer financial incentives to reopen schools. The governor has absolutely rightfully identified that we need to get Californians vaccinated and put resources toward getting control of the pandemic, Skinner said. The question is, how do we do that safely? To get California students back into classrooms, Newsom has proposed advancing school districts $2 billion, or up to $750 per student, if they come up with a plan to resume in-person instruction by February. The governor said Friday that the money would come on top of $85.8 billion in funding for K-12 schools and community colleges next year, reflecting the highest level of per-pupil spending in state history. More than $4 billion of that would be dedicated to summer school and other programs to make up for learning time lost during the pandemic. But large school districts, including in the Bay Area, have already cast doubt on Newsoms plan, arguing that current health conditions would make it nearly impossible to reopen on his timeline, while teachers unions have been reluctant to return to the classroom. The governor reiterated Friday that he would not force schools to resume in-person instruction. If were going to successfully educate our most vulnerable kids, he said, we have to do it in partnership with (school districts). This notion of imposition, closed fist versus an open hand, is a distinction for me thats important. Facing a projected $54.3 billion shortfall, California lawmakers and Newsom approved a spending plan last summer that relied on reserve accounts and internal borrowing to avoid widespread cuts to health and social services during the coronavirus pandemic. Officials hoped they could reverse billions of dollars in reduced or deferred funding for universities, courts, affordable housing grants, state worker pay and schools with a federal bailout. That aid did not materialize last year, leaving California with difficult choices about how to prepare for bigger deficits expected in years ahead. State leaders resume their push for Congress, newly controlled by Democrats, to provide relief. Some of those programs would see their budgets rebound under Newsoms plan, including nearly $281 million more for the University of California and California State University, as well as $350 million in one-time money for the university systems to address their maintenance backlog. After a year in which wildfires wreaked havoc on the state, the governor proposed $143 million to add 30 fire crews. Building on state efforts to house more of Californias growing homeless population during the pandemic, Newsom proposed $750 million to extend a program to convert hotels, vacant apartment buildings and other sites into permanent supportive housing. Local governments that received grants, including San Francisco and Oakland, have bought more than 6,000 units so far. Another $1 billion would be made available to apply the same model to mental health and senior care facilities. The governor is also seeking more than $300 million to bolster Californias coronavirus vaccine distribution efforts, which have been slow in the first few weeks since the state began receiving doses. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Japan's colonial rule over the Korean Peninsula ended more than seven decades ago, yet that legacy still roils everyday politics. South Korea and Japan, major trading partners and both U.S. military allies, have been at loggerheads over what constitutes proper contrition and compensation for Koreans conscripted to work in factories and mines that supplied Japan's imperial war machine, and those euphemistically called "comfort women," who were forced to work in military brothels. Japan contends all claims were settled under a 1965 bilateral agreement and a fund set up in 2015. Seoul argues Japan hasn't done enough. Some of Japan's largest companies have been dragged into the fray, and the situation is affecting the two countries' ability to cooperate on security and other issues. 1. What are the roots of the labor dispute? Hundreds of thousands of Koreans were conscripted during the 1910-1945 colonial period to work, often in brutal conditions, at dozens of Japanese companies. At the time of a 1965 treaty that established diplomatic ties between the two countries, Japan paid the equivalent of $300 million -- $2.5 billion in today's money -- and extended $200 million in low-interest loans on the understanding all claims were "settled completely and finally." The then-struggling South Korea invested the money in industries that eventually helped turn it into an economic powerhouse. However, South Korean court rulings since late 2018 have said some conscripted workers were not properly compensated for their emotional pain and suffering. 2. What is the fallout for the companies? South Korea's Supreme Court ruled in 2018 against two of Japan's largest companies: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. was ordered to pay as much as $134,000 to each of 10 claimants, while Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp. was ordered to pay $88,000 to each of four plaintiffs. A South Korean court in August ordered the seizure of shares, then-valued at about $356,000, that Nippon Steel has in a joint venture with South Korean steelmaker Posco, a move Tokyo calls unlawful. These assets could be liquidated at any time, something Japan has said would inflame tensions. 3. What has Japan done to push back? Japan rejected a South Korean proposal for a joint compensation fund, seeing it as a breach of international law and their 1965 treaty. The Japanese government removed South Korea from a so-called "white list" of trusted countries that benefit from less-stringent trade checks. That followed a move to restrict exports of materials vital to South Korean manufacturers of semiconductors and computer displays. 4. And South Korea? South Korea removed Japan from its list of most-trusted trading partners. Seoul said it would withdraw from a military intelligence-sharing agreement, but later backed down in the face of heavy U.S. pressure. In July 2020, the World Trade Organization agreed to mediate in a dispute over Japan's trade restrictions, which South Korea described as "politically motivated." 5. Are other Japanese companies affected? There are more than a dozen such cases pending in South Korea involving about 70 companies, according to the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. An estimated 725,000 Korean workers were sent to mainland Japan, Sakhalin and the southern Pacific islands to work in the mining, construction and shipbuilding industries, according to a Stanford University research paper. Most of the former laborers have died, but some of their family members have sought legal standing to sue. 6. What about the 'comfort women' controversy? That's also flaring again after a Seoul court ruled in January 2021 that Japan should compensate the women, a decision the Japanese government strongly protested as not permissible under international law. Historians say anywhere from 50,000 to 200,000 women -- many of them Korean -- were forced into service in Japan's military brothels. There are fewer than two dozen known survivors in South Korea. In 2015, Japan and South Korea announced a "final and irreversible" agreement that came with a personal apology from then-prime minister Shinzo Abe as well as about $9.6 million for a compensation fund. But many South Koreans opposed the deal, which was signed without consulting the victims, some of whom refused the money in protest. Under President Moon Jae-in, who took office in 2017, South Korea shut down the fund, angering Tokyo. Following that, South Korea's National Assembly Speaker Moon Hee-sang said in an interview with Bloomberg News that Japan's then-Emperor Akihito -- whom the speaker called "the son of the main culprit of war crimes" -- should hold hands with the women and personally apologize. Japan demanded an apology for that and a retraction. 7. Has Japan apologized before? Several times, yet many in South Korea have doubts about its sincerity. In 1990, Akihito expressed his "deep regret" for the colonial rule. In 1993 Japan issued the Kono Statement, where it offered "its sincere apologies and remorse" to the comfort women. The statement has been Japanese government policy since then. The apologies have been undercut by comments from leading Japanese politicians seen as whitewashing the militarist past, and visits made to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo, where the country's wartime military leaders -- including Class A war criminals -- are among those honored. South Korea has also been angered by what it sees as Japan's repeated failure to acknowledge that the human rights of Korean conscripted workers were abused at Hashima, one of a group of sites recognized by UNESCO as representing Japan's industrial revolution. 8. How bad can things get? A poll published in October 2020 by Genron NPO found almost 72% of South Korean respondents had a bad image of Japan, and almost 90% of South Koreans perceived relations between the two countries as bad. The friction has never escalated to the point where it has severely damaged economic or military ties, however, although some have warned about dangers associated with the recurring feud. Moon has expressed willingness to work with Japan in some areas, including the international push to end North Korea's nuclear ambitions. Emily Ratajkowski claimed Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook had 'the most power' after the social media chief announced that President Donald's account would be blocked until after the inauguration. The model took to Twitter Thursday to lambaste Zuckerberg and Big Tech in a thread in which she shared her worry and posted conspiracy theories about Capitol police. In an extraordinary blog post announcing the block Wednesday, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg accused Trump of using the platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government. The 29-year-old model pondered her conspiracy when offering her critique on Zuckerberg. Emily Ratajkowski claimed Mark Zuckerberg and Facebook had 'the most power' after the social media chief announced that President Donald's account would be blocked until after the inauguration In an extraordinary post, Zuckerberg accused Trump of using Facebook to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government 'Anyone else feel like proper amount of Capitol police being absent/letting Trump people in/providing insane visuals of MAGA dudes on the floor of the house was wildly convenient to justifying big techs rollout of censorship,' she asked. Ratajkowski continued: 'This gives Facebook/tech/Zuck THE MOST POWER.If he can shut the president up/off he can shut any of us up/off.' 'My concern is that this gives big tech the opportunity to shut down leftist extremists who are important political organizers.' People took to the comments of the posts to ask the model if she was talking about censorship, while others slammed President Trump's words as falling under 'hate speech.' Some people also pointed out to Ratajkowski that organizers on the left were already being heavily censored, but she quickly pointed out that 'before tech leftists were being blacklisted by other means.' 'Anyone else feel like proper amount of Capitol police being absent/letting Trump people in/providing insane visuals of MAGA dudes on the floor of the house was wildly convenient to justifying big techs rollout of censorship,' Ratajkowski asked She continued: continued: 'This gives Facebook/tech/Zuck THE MOST POWER.If he can shut the president up/off he can shut any of us up/off' 'People responding to my tweet somehow do not understand what license this gives big tech to continue to do so this time with people cheering,' she added. 'Patriot act 2.0?' President Trumps Facebook and Instagram accounts would remain locked until at least January 20th amid fears that he will incite more violence, after his supporters stormed the US Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. The decision was announced by Zuckerberg on Thursday, and will likely put pressure on Twitter after Trumps favorite social media platform suspended him for 12 hours on Wednesday evening. Zuckerberg said the president used his Facebook page 'to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building' and that allowing him to freely post in the final 13 days of his term would pose too great a risk. 'My concern is that this gives big tech the opportunity to shut down leftist extremists who are important political organizers,' the model said People took to the comments of the posts to ask the model if she was talking about censorship, while others slammed President Trump's words as falling under 'hate speech' 'People responding to my tweet somehow do not understand what license this gives big tech to continue to do so this time with people cheering,' she added. 'Patriot act 2.0?' The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden, Zuckerberg wrote. The White House condemned Facebook's decision. A spokesperson for the president told DailyMail.com: 'It is indisputable that nobody has been more successful at using digital media than President Trump to communicate directly with the American people, but its incredibly ironic, yet not surprising, that when the President spoke to the country at a critical time Big Tech chose to censor and block him from doing so. 'Big Tech is out of control. has sought comment from the White House.' The Facebook decision came as Michelle Obama demanded social media firms ban Trump permanently, to stop his 'monstrous' behavior. The former first lady said in a statement: 'Now is the time for Silicon Valley companies to stop enabling this monstrous behavior - and go even further than they have already by permanently banning this man from their platforms and putting in place policies to prevent their technology from being used by the nations leaders to fuel insurrection. Twitter suspended Trump's account for 12 hours on Wednesday and for the first time deleted his tweets after he praised the mob who stormed Congress and said he 'loved' them. Trump had been tweeting again on Friday. In September 2019, Trump posted a photo of him shaking hands with Zuckerberg during a meeting in the Oval Office. 'Nice meeting with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook in the Oval Office today,' the president wrote at the time Four people died on Wednesday after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the barricades and breached the US Capitol building in Washington, DC, as a joint session of Congress convened to certify President-elect Joe Biden's victory Trump was reportedly livid at being blocked temporarily from Twitter, and complained to aides that he could not send messages to his followers, sources told the Daily Beast. He allegedly claimed his ban was an example of Big Tech firms trying to silence him. Trump was told by Twitter that he could continue to use his personal Twitter account only if he deleted three controversial posts about the Capitol Hill violence. Trump's social media blackout Multiple social media companies have announced that Trump's accounts have been suspended following the violence at the Capitol: Facebook - Account access suspended until at least January 20th Instagram - Owned by Facebook. Account access suspended until at least January 20th Twitter - Trump's access to @realdonaldtrump account for 12 hours on Wednesday and deleted three incendiary tweets. YouTube - Video posted by Trump after the violence removed. Site-wide ban on videos which promote election fraud conspiracies Snapchat - Trump's account disabled 'indefinitely' Twitch - Trump's account disabled 'indefinitely' Advertisement The president reportedly complied and will thus regained use of his account, according to The Wall Street Journal. Snapchat blocked Trump on Wednesday morning. The platform said their locking of his account was indefinite. On Thursday, streaming site Twitch announced it had indefinitely suspended the president's account. DailyMail.com has contacted Twitter seeking comment on whether it intends to follow Facebooks lead. It also emerged Thursday that YouTube, which is owned by Google, had banned all videos containing 'Content that advances false claims that widespread fraud, errors, or glitches changed the outcome of any past U.S. presidential election'. In the 13 days left in his presidency, Trump will not be able to communicate to his more than 35.2 million followers on Facebook. The president will also be blocked from his 24.6 million followers on Instagram, a Facebook-owned property. His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world, the statement by Zuckerberg read. We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect - and likely their intent - would be to provoke further violence. Following the certification of the election results by Congress, the priority for the whole country must now be to ensure that the remaining 13 days and the days after inauguration pass peacefully and in accordance with established democratic norms. Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules, at times removing content or labeling his posts when they violate our policies. In the 13 days left in his presidency, Trump will not be able to communicate to his more than 35.2 million followers on Facebook We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech. But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government. Zuckerberg concluded: We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete. Zuckerberg's relationship with Trump has seen its ups and downs. The Facebook chief has been fiercely criticized by both his own employees as well as wide swaths of the public for not cracking down harder on the president's most controversial posts. In a statement posted to her social media accounts, Michelle Obama also slammed the lenient police response to the mob, arguing that it was a far cry from law enforcement's crackdown on Black Lives Matter protesters this past summer Now is the time for Silicon Valley companies to stop enabling this monstrous behavior - and go even further than they have already by permanently banning this man from their platforms and putting in place policies to prevent their technology from being used by the nations leaders to fuel insurrection. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg (left) announced on Thursday that President Trump's (right) accounts on both Facebook and Instagram will be locked until at least January 20th In September 2019, Trump posted a photo of him shaking hands with Zuckerberg during a meeting in the Oval Office. 'Nice meeting with Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook in the Oval Office today,' the president wrote at the time. Zuckerberg and Trump had dinner at the White House in the fall of 2019. The two men were joined by billionaire tech investor Peter Thiel. Thiel, one of Trump's earliest supporters, was also one of Facebook's initial investors. He remains a member of the company's board of directors. Zuckerberg met with Trump and other Republican lawmakers as well as prominent conservative commentators in recent years in an effort to ease concerns that the platform was hostile to conservatives. Critics of Facebook have accused Zuckerberg of currying favor with Trump in order to head off any possible regulatory action by the federal government as it relates to the company's business practices. Facebook and other tech giants like Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple have been accused by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as well as consumer advocates of wielding too much power. Last month, the Trump administration and 48 states and districts sued Facebook, accusing it of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors. The FTC fined Facebook $5billion in 2019 for privacy violations and instituted new oversight and restrictions on its business. The fine was the largest the agency has ever levied on a tech company, although it had no visible impact on Facebooks business. Facebook is the worlds biggest social network with 2.7 billion users and a company with a market value of nearly $800billion whose CEO, Zuckerberg, is the worlds fifth-richest individual and the most public face of Big Tech. The actions by Zuckerberg's company as well as other social media platforms in limiting Trump for the final 13 days of his presidency are likely to once again fuel suspicions by some of an anti-conservative bias among the large tech firms. Trump's social media posts and videos in the aftermath of the violence at the US Capitol on Wednesday were slammed for their apparent mixed messaging as the president declined to condemn the mob that breached the congressional campus. One of the deleted tweets read: 'These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long. Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!' Donald Trump finally addressed his mob of supporters in a video Wednesday where he continued to claim the 'election was stolen' In a deleted video, he poured more fuel on the fire, claiming the election was 'stolen' and telling the rioters that he 'loved' them. Meanwhile, Facebook barred its own employees from discussing the Capitol Hill rioting on internal message boards, where tech company workers were demanding the president be permanently banned from the site. In his video, Trump told rioting supporters: 'I know your pain. I know you're hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us. 'It was a landslide election, and everyone knows it, especially the other side, but you have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order. We have to respect our great people in law and order. We don't want anybody hurt.' Trump said it was 'a very tough period of time,' and emphasized his own personal loss. 'There's never been a time like this where such a thing happened, where they could take it away from all of us, from me, from you, from our country. 'This was a fraudulent election, but we can't play into the hands of these people. We have to have peace. So go home. 'We love you. You're very special. You've seen what happens. You see the way others are treated that are so bad and so evil. I know how you feel. But go home and go home at peace.' In a shocking tweet, Donald Trump sent mixed messaged Wednesday regarding the anarchy in Washington, saying 'Remember this day forever!' and calling the rioters 'great patriots' In the third tweet deleted by Twitter, Trump attacked Mike Pence for lacking 'courage' The third deleted tweet, posted several hours before the others, attacked Mike Pence for failing to stop the certification of Joe Biden's win. 'Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify,' he tweeted. 'USA demands the truth!' The video and tweets were removed on Wednesday night. Twitter showed an image saying: 'This tweet is no longer available', and linked back to their page explaining their rational for blocking or putting warnings on tweets. Police deployed tear gas at protesters who refused to step away from barriers outside the White House Twitter said it had removed the tweets for violating their 'Civic Integrity policy'. 'As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy,' the social media company said. 'This means that the account of @realDonaldTrump will be locked for 12 hours following the removal of these Tweets. If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked.' Trump on Wednesday fumed to his aides that he was being silenced by Twitter due to the platform's alleged anti-conservative bias. Insiders told The Daily Beast that Trump was angry he wasn't able to post tweets during his 12-hour suspension from Twitter. The president also accused Twitter of covering up the 'crime' that resulted in his losing the election to President-elect Joe Biden. Trump reportedly rejects claims that he incited the mob to storm the Capitol. He also lashed out at Republicans for abandoning him during his unsuccessful attempt to undo the results of the election. The president has also instructed aides to look into allegations that the ransacking of the US Capitol building was a 'false flag' operation carried out by Antifa, though there is no indication this is true. A Facebook spokesman said: 'We've assessed two policy violations against President Trump's Page which will result in a 24-hour feature block, meaning he will lose the ability to post on the platform during that time.' Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, said: 'We are locking President Trump's Instagram account for 24 hours as well.' Andy Stone, another Facebook spokesman, earlier told CNN Business: 'The violent protests in the Capitol today are a disgrace.' He added: 'We prohibit incitement and calls for violence on our platform. We are actively reviewing and removing any content that breaks these rules.' Farshad Shadloo, YouTube spokesperson, said in an email to Insider: 'We removed a video posted this afternoon to Donald Trump's channel that violated our policies regarding content that alleges widespread fraud or errors changed the outcome of the 2020 U.S. 'We do allow copies of this video if uploaded with additional context and sufficient educational, documentary, scientific, or artistic (EDSA) value.' And Rachel Racusen told The Information that Trump's Snapchat account was also locked. 'We can confirm that earlier today we locked President Trump's Snapchat account,' she said in a statement. Paramedics and protesters work together to transport a wounded man on a barrier near the Capitol The mostly maskless crowd flooded the halls of the Capitol with little resistance from Capitol Police A protester walks through Congress carrying Nancy Pelosi's lectern after storming the Capitol The DC National Guard was deployed to the streets to help enforce a 6pm curfew He will not be able to share new content until Snap decides to lift the restriction, she said, noting that his account was locked on Wednesday before he posted the video about the 'stolen' election. A statement for Twitch said: 'In light of yesterdays shocking attack on the Capitol, we have disabled President Trumps Twitch channel. 'Given the current extraordinary circumstances and the Presidents incendiary rhetoric, we believe this is a necessary step to protect our community and prevent Twitch from being used to incite further violence.' Twitch had previously banned Trump's channel for two weeks back in June for airing 'hateful conduct'. Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have previously labeled content posted by the president with warnings over the last year, in particular his claims about election fraud and COVID-19. Throughout the 2020 presidential election, the platforms placed labels on dozens of Trump's tweets that made false or misleading claims about voter fraud. However, this appears to be the first time Twitter flagged a tweet as posing 'a risk of violence.' Amid the violence, Facebook employees were surprised to see that the company froze at least three chat threads on the internal Workplace messaging network, according to BuzzFeed News. Some of the employees at the Menlo Park, California-based social network expressed anger at Trump for the violence and discussed the next steps that the company needs to take, including removal of his account. Donald Trump has directly incited a terror attack on Capitol Hill, one Facebook employee wrote in a chat that was later frozen. We need to take down his account right now. This is not a moment for half measures. The employees received no explanation as to why the chat threads were frozen. DailyMail.com has reached out to Facebook for comment. The internal discontent at Facebook reflects wider outrage at the tech giant as well as its competitors who are being urged to impose a total ban on Trump. During the Trump presidency, Facebook employees have complained about what they perceived as CEO Mark Zuckerberg's hands-off approach. In June, employees were outraged over Zuckerberg's refusal to remove a post in which the president spoke of 'looting and shooting' during the protesting that erupted in the wake of the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. On May 29, as riots engulfed Minneapolis and unrest spread to other parts of the country, the president took to social media and wrote: I cant stand back & watch this happen to a great American City, Minneapolis. A total lack of leadership. Either the very weak Radical Left Mayor, Jacob Frey, get his act together and bring the City under control, or I will send in the National Guard & get the job done right. These THUGS are dishonoring the memory of George Floyd, and I wont let that happen. 'Just spoke to Governor Tim Walz and told him that the Military is with him all the way. Any difficulty and we will assume control but, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. Twitter has banned the president from its platform for 12 hours Facebook and Instagram have banned Trump for 24 hours from their platforms Thank you! Trumps tweet was slapped with a disclaimer by Twitter, which flagged the president for violating the companys rules about glorifying violence. The phrase when the looting starts, the shooting starts was made famous by Walter Headley, Miamis chief of police who was known to be a racist and who used it when describing attempts to put down race riots in the late 1960s. Trump told reporters that he was unaware of the racially charged history of the phrase. In trying to clarify, the president later tweeted: Looting leads to shooting, and thats why a man was shot and killed in Minneapolis on Wednesday night - or look at what just happened in Louisville with 7 people shot. I dont want this to happen, and thats what the expression put out last night means.... It was spoken as a fact, not as a statement. Its very simple, nobody should have any problem with this other than the haters, and those looking to cause trouble on social media. Honor the memory of George Floyd! Unlike Facebook, Twitter also put a disclaimer on another tweet by Trump - this one about his claim that vote-by-mail initiatives are susceptible to voter fraud. In response, Trump signed an executive order which threatens to remove legal protections that prevent social media companies from being sued over content posted by third parties. Several Facebook employees resigned in protest over the decision not to remove the 'looting and shooting' post, and internal emails showed that most voted in a poll to demand that the company no longer allow unfettered free speech on its platform. In a virtual town hall with employees, Zuckerberg defended the decision not to take down the post. He said that he didnt think that the post read as a dog whistle for vigilante supporters to take justice into their own hands. The CEO said it was decided to leave up the post because people need to know if the government is planning to deploy force. During the hyper-partisan Trump era, Facebook has come under fire from both liberals, who blame the social network for helping the president win election in 2016, and conservatives. Liberals argue that Facebook allows the spread of disinformation that foments unrest and violence while conservatives have accused the platform of censoring their views. Snapchat on Wednesday morning barred the president indefinitely from its site One woman died on Wednesday when a mob of angry Trump supporters breached the Capitol and entered the House and Senate chambers. The Senate was evacuated at 2.30pm. There are more than 2,000 Capitol Police officers with special jurisdiction on Capitol Grounds. But they were overrun as protesters smashed through a window and penetrated the building. Capitol Police were seen absorbing violent lunges by Trump supporters on the first floor of the Capitol building. Police from neighboring Montgomery County, Maryland were also rushed to the Capitol vicinity, CNN reported. Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington DC, had already mobilized National Guard troops in advance of the pro-Trump rally billed as a 'stop the steal event' although it coincided with the effort proscribed in law for Congress to count the votes of the Electoral College. The entire D.C. National Guard was to be activated within hours, the Washington Post reported, after Bowser asked on duty guard to be sent to the Capitol. Bowser also imposed a 6 pm curfew for Washington. Key players are engaged on creating and developing cables & leads for medical equipment which are cost-efficient and user-friendly to support in R&D of infection inhibiting technical solutions. DUBAI, UAE / ACCESSWIRE / January 8, 2021 / Fact.MR: The cables and leads for medical equipment market is poised to register a CAGR of about 5% over the assessment period, 2020-2030.With growing concerns in relation to transmission and infection control, medical centers are choosing to utilize disposable medical equipment, this is fuelling demand for cables & leads for medical equipment in the healthcare sector. "With surging hospital admission cases amid the COVID-19 outbreak, the requisite for medical devices has soared up, in that way contributing to the market growth over the forecast period." says the Fact.MR report. Request a report sample to gain comprehensive market insights at https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=5418 Key Takeaways North America remains one of the most lucrative regions in the global market due to growing investments on R&D by both, international companies and governments. Hospitals end use segment will record high demand due to growing investments by both emerged and emerging regions. ECG is gaining traction among application categories in the global market. The cables & leads for medical equipment will foresee a surge in demand owing to growing number of patients in hospitals. Driving Factors Increasing geriatric population and increasing incidences of key chronic diseases are driving the market growth. Increased government programs for instance Medicaid and Medicare and healthcare expenditure has positively impacted demand for medical services, along with the cables & leads for medical equipment. Growing instances of cardiovascular ailments has caused expansion in use of ECG accessories and equipment, thus encouraging the demand over the forecast period. Constraints High cost associated with the disposable cables & leads is hindering the full-fledged expansion in the market. Growing inventions for the expansion of wireless healthcare devices will limit demand for cables & leads. Anticipated Market Impact by COVID-19 Outbreak The cables & leads for medical equipment market is slated to foresee noteworthy expansion amid the forecast period as the healthcare sector is gaining traction. While the market encountered several hiccups amid the initial phases of the pandemic such as supply chain disruptions, travel and transportation restrictions. However market players are coming up with novel strategies to recover pace, the market is projected to regain from losses as well as swell ahead in the future. Competition Landscape The global market is highly competitive, due to augmented healthcare expenditure. Taking advantage of this, key players are investing comprehensively in research and development. Players are further focusing on expanding their footprints and enhancing their product portfolios, across the globe. Some of the prominent players functioning in the market are AVX Corporation, Molex, LLC, Fischer Connectors SA, TE Connectivity Ltd, LEMO S.A., Samtec, Inc., ITT Inc., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Amphenol Corporation, and Smiths Group Plc. More on the Report The Fact.MR's market research report provides in-depth insights into the cables and leads for medical equipment market. The market is scrutinized based on product (cables and leads) application (pacemakers, defibrillators, EEG, and ECG), end user (hospitals, ambulatory care centers, academic research institutes, specialty clinics, and others), across five major regions (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA)). Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of Fact.MR's Healthcare Landscape 3D Printing Medical Devices Market: Find insights on the 3D printing medical devices market with analysis of segments, statistics, influencers, market players, and business strategies adopted over a forecast period of 2012-2022. Medical Beds Market: Fact.MR's report on the medical beds market offers insights on the market during 2012-2022, including restraints, revenue sources, market leaders, and market strategies. Endoscopy Ultrasound Market: Read an analysis of the endoscopy ultrasound market with insights on growth factors, opportunities, restraints, regional market forecast, regulatory policies, and strengths of market leaders. About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a leading provider of market intelligence and consulting services, serving clients in over 150 countries Fact.MR is headquartered in Dublin, and has offices in Dubai. Fact.MR's latest market research reports industry analysis help businesses navigate challenges and take critical decisions with confidence and clarity amidst breakneck competition. Contact Unit No: AU-01-H Gold Tower (AU), Plot No: JLT-PH1-I3A, Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, United Arab Emirates MARKET ACCESS DMCC Initiative SOURCE: Fact.MR View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623579/How-Big-is-the-Opportunity-in-Medical-Cables-and-Leads-Post-COVID-New-Report-Analyzes White Throat is the second crime novel from Sarah Thornton featuring disgraced ex-lawyer Clementine Jones. We find ourselves in Queensland beautiful one day, murder the next where Clem is house-sitting on the shores of Paradise. Easily bored, unable to resist a noble cause, she joins a local environmental group trying to save an endangered turtle. Suddenly, a corpse is found in a local quarry. Police believe it was suicide; Clem does not. So, she investigates with her mate Torrens, a beefy ex-con, providing a bit of muscle (when hes not dealing with his own loose ends). Thornton has created a feisty and fearless detective who doesnt mind playing dirty if she must. The novel is crisply composed, unspooling with finely judged pace and suspense. A good bet for anyone casting about for a new Australian crime series to read over summer. Christina Baker Klines The Exiles delves into Australias convict history, a subject that has fascinated the American writer since she read Robert Hughes The Fatal Shore as a student. Her novel captures the unstinting brutality of the era, especially for women, with appalling vividness. A naive young English governess, Evangeline, is seduced and betrayed by the scion of a landed family. Sentenced to transportation on ginned-up charges, she finds herself pregnant and bound for Tasmania on a former slave ship, where her story becomes entwined with that of a Scottish urchin transported for petty theft. Meanwhile Mathinna, an Aboriginal girl living on Flinders Island, is taken from her home by the Governors wife. Although it loses narrative focus midway, this grim historical novel remains well-researched and boldly imagined. Ready Player Two Ernest Cline, Century, $32.99 Credit: Made into a Spielberg film, Ernest Clines Ready Player One introduced a global VR environment known as OASIS, where every avatar was searching for an Easter Egg left by the deceased creator. The prize for finding it was control of OASIS; the clues were buried within a dense layer of 80s pop-culture references. In the sequel, the victor in that quest, Wade Watts (aka Parzival), inherits even more advanced tech that allows users to plug their brains directly into OASIS. Its an addictive and dangerous development with unforeseen social consequences, but they remain superficially explored, as Wade is compelled to search for a new prize that could unleash a force with even more revolutionary (and catastrophic) potential for humanity. There is still plenty of 80s nostalgia, but Wade is less likeable this time, and the sequel lacks the sci-fi Charlie and the Chocolate Factory spark that animated the original. Artifact Arlene Heyman, Bloomsbury, $29.99 Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 18:18:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KABUL, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Amid calls for cease-fire in Afghanistan, fighting continues in the country with more than 80 people killed in the past two days, officials said Friday. In the latest clash, Taliban militants attacked security checkpoints in Bala Block district of the southwestern Farah province early Friday and the government forces retaliated from ground and air, killing seven militants and injuring three others, said an army statement. In another development on Friday, Taliban-related activities killed four policemen including a police district chief in the western Herat province, said police official Atiqullah Wasiq. According to official, five Taliban militants were killed and seven others injured in the fighting in Ghoryan district. Army statement released in the southern Kandahar province reported the killing of 44 militants in the province on Thursday, when 17 militants were killed and four others injured in the eastern Nangarhar province. According to another army statement, seven insurgents were killed in the southern Uruzgan province on Thursday night. There have been no comments on the casualties in security forces. Without commenting on the casualties on its side, spokesman for the Taliban militants Zabihullah Mujahid said that the group is capable enough to defend itself. Fighting continues in Afghanistan amid peace talks in Doha, capital of Qatar, and despite domestic calls for a cease-fire. The Afghan people from all walks of life have been calling on warring sides to end fighting if they want to see the peace talks succeed. Afghan officials including Abdullah Abdullah, head of the Afghan High Council for National Reconciliation, have repeatedly demanded a cease-fire. Hundreds of people at a gathering in the northern Kunduz city on Friday denounced the ongoing war as illegitimate and called on the Taliban group to observe cease-fire. However, the Taliban outfit, according to local media reports, rejected the demand, saying there will be no truce unless the two sides reach an agreement on the future governing system of Afghanistan. Negotiators from the Afghan government and Taliban sides resumed peace talks in Doha on Tuesday after a break of more than three weeks. Enditem SolarWinds hackers were confirmed to have accessed thousands of email accounts of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ). This just shows that the cybercriminals are still focusing on the U.S. government agencies. "After learning of the malicious activity, the [Office of the Chief Information Officer] eliminated the identified method by which the actor was accessing the O365 email environment," said the DOJ via TechRadar. The agency added that they have no lead yet if their classified systems were also breached. The U.S Department of Justice noted that the number of potentially accessed O365 mailboxes appears to be limited to around 3%. SolarWinds hackers breached 3,500 email accounts Although the 3% might sound like a small number, it consists of around 3,500 email accounts, given that the U.S. agency employs more than 115,000 people. However, they did not confirm if the compromised accounts or mailboxes belonged to specific individuals at the Department of Justice. They also didn't clarify of the hackers took a more scattergun method or approach. Also Read: Telegram's People Nearby Feature Can Be Exploited to Reveal User's Location, Launch an Orchestrated Attack on Neighbors The hackers first attacked the giant software company SolarWinds, leading to a huge supply chain malware attack. About 18,000 individuals were affected since they used the company's Orion platform during the massive hack. The attack also targeted private companies, government agencies, and other people who are using the vulnerable platform version. After the massive breach was discovered, security researchers claimed that the people involved in cyber crime were connected to the Russian state. A Czech software development firm was accused According to ZDNet's latest report, JetBrains was accused of being involved with the alleged Russian SolarWinds hackers. However, the Czech software development firm denied the accusation and reports of popular news platforms, such as The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times. The claim states that the company is currently under investigation for possibly being involved in the SolarWinds massive hack, which affected thousands of companies around the world. However, Maxi Shafirov, the CEO of JetBrains, said that the software development company was unaware that it was under investigation for its role in the previous massive attack. For more news updates about other massive security breaches, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: FBI Warns Public Against FAKE SWAT Emergency Live Streams: Here's What You Need to do to Protect Your Device This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The global caseload of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is close to 88 million, while nearly 1.9 million people have succumbed to the infection, the Johns Hopkins University tracker shows. Immunisation drives are currently underway in several countries, with most countries having cleared the vaccine of Americas Pfizer Inc and its German partner BioNTech SE, as well as that of Moderna, another American firm. The vaccine developed by British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca, in collaboration with Oxford University, too, has been granted emergency use authorisation (EUA) by several countries. Here are some latest updates on the Covid-19 vaccination front: 1. A second pan-India dry run will be carried out on Friday, after the first phase was conducted on January 2. The first vaccination dry run of any kind in India was carried out on December 28 and 29 across four states: Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat and Punjab. India has granted EUA to AstraZeneca-Oxford Universitys Covishield and Bharat Biotech International Limiteds Covaxin. The vaccines are likely to be rolled out across the country next week. Also Read | 2nd vaccination dry run across the country today: All you need to know 2. Officials in Brazil, the worlds third worst-hit country, on Thursday announced that the vaccine candidate developed by Chinas Sinovac was found 78% effective in a late-stage trial in the South American nation. Officials further said detailed results will be submitted to the countrys health regulator, Anvisa, to seek EUA for the vaccine. Brazil is yet to clear a vaccine against Covid-19. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage 3. Spains health minister Salvador Illa on Thursday said the country will receive its first batch of Modernas vaccine in the next seven-10 days. In the coming six weeks, Illa said, Spain will receive 600,000 doses of the vaccine. Spain has already authorised the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and has distributed 744,000 doses thus far. 4. South Africa, the worst-affected country in Africa, will procure 1.5 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine for its health workers, its government announced on Thursday.The first 1 million doses will be delivered later this month, with the next 500,000 to arrive in February, health minister Zwelini Mkhize said. This will also be South Africas first purchase of a Covid-19 vaccine. 5. Americas Novavax Inc disclosed in a regulatory filing on Thursday an advanced agreement had been signed by Australia to purchase 51 million doses of its experimental Covid-19 vaccine. Australia can purchase up to an additional 10 million doses, with the initial delivery expected by mid-2021, the company said. 6. Mexicos government on Thursday said it had sent two top officials, including the countrys deputy health minister, to Argentina for urgent discussions over Russias Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine. Argentina rolled out the vaccine on December 29. Mexico, on the other hand, has rolled out Pfizers vaccine. Both countries have also authorised the AstraZeneca vaccine. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: Passenger flights resumed from the UK to India in limited numbers from Friday onwards after remaining suspended for 16 days due to the emergence of a new coronavirus variant in that country. The first flight to land at the Delhi airport from London on Friday was Air India's AI112 that had 256 passengers in it, said Gauri Agarwal, founder of the Genestrings Diagnostic Center, on Thursday. FlightsOne Vistara flight with 291 passengers will come from London to Delhi on Saturday and two flights - one of British Airways and another of Air India - with a total of 481 passengers will land at the Delhi airport on Sunday, she added. Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri had announced earlier this month that only 30 flights per week will operate between India and the UK between January 8 and January 23. Indian and UK carriers will each be operating 15 flights per week during the period. Flights Earlier this month, the Union Health Ministry stated that a passenger coming from the UK can board a flight to India only when he has a negative test report from a sample taken 72 hours prior to the journey. Moreover, as per the rules, the passenger also has to take the RT-PCR test on arrival at the entry airport in India. SPRINGFIELD Meredith Corp.s three WGGB television stations ABC40, CBS3 and Fox6 collectively branded as Western Mass News, are up for sale, according to the industry trade publication, TV News Check. Also up for sale are Meredith operations WNEM in Saginaw, Michigan; WALA in Mobile, Alabama; and KMOV in St. Louis. Meredith reportedly wants to sell them to a single buyer at an estimated price of $400 million to $500 million. A source told TV News Check that Meredith might unload its entire local broadcast portfolio, a prize that could fetch $2 billion on the market. Meredith would not confirm or deny to The Republican whether it plans to sell off WGGB. As part of our ongoing strategic planning process, we regularly review our media portfolio to determine what steps we could pursue to enhance shareholder value, said Kara Kelly, director of corporate communications for Meredith. As a matter of policy, we never publicly speculate on this process. Meredith purchased WGGB from Gormally Broadcasting in 2014 for $53.8 million. Gormally had purchased the station seven years earlier for $21.2 million. Meredith, which also owns People Magazine and other titles, told investors this week that its political advertising revenue at its television stations in the last six months 2020 were approximately $165 million. In a presentation to investors, the company said that its non-political advertising business is recovering as expected from the shock of the pandemic. The companys stock MDP on the New York Stock Exchange, was trading at $19.59 a share, down 83 cents of 4.09% on the day. Its Springfield station began as WHYN-TV, broadcasting on UHF channel 55, back in 1953. WGGB has changed ownership several times since its founding with previous owners including Guy Gannett Broadcasting Services and Sinclair Broadcasting. Possible buyers, according to TV News Check, include private equity investor Apollo Global Management, which bought a majority stake in Cox last year; Allen Media, owned by Byron Allen; and Standard Media, headed by Deborah McDermott and backed by hedge fund manager Soo Kim; as well as publicly traded consolidators Tegna; Gray and Sinclair. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 21:51:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- U.S. employers slashed 140,000 jobs in December, the first monthly decline since April, as recent COVID-19 spikes disrupt recovery in the labor market, the Labor Department reported Friday. Enditem Just like many parts of the world, Covid-19 has had a dramatic impact on Egypts healthcare system. When the pandemic was at its peak in April and May, a shortage of intensive care beds and ventilators was a common problem. Non-governmental organisations often stepped in, donating ventilators where and when they could.The ultimate challenge to health providers throughout this year was putting Covid-19 under control to limit its impact on the public. As of January 2021, in Egypt, the virus had affected over 140,000 people and killed more than 7,800. The first medical treatment protocol for the coronavirus was introduced in March last year. It has been changed and amended since then at least four times. Medications were removed and others added or tailored according to individual cases.Egypt has agreed with The Vaccine Alliance, GAVI, to secure its share of the potential vaccine against the epidemic. Though the vaccine does not guarantee 100 per cent protection against the virus, it is essential as it reduces the severity of its symptoms. The vaccines effect will last from 3-12 months.The government has already reserved doses of the US Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine as well as the British vaccine developed by Oxford University and the Chinese vaccine to cover from 20-30 per cent of the countrys needs. Minister of Health and Population Hala Zayed noted that the vaccines have obtained emergency approval from WHO, accordingly, Egypt was able to receive its share. Priority will be for people who are more likely to contract infections, such as doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, seniors and those suffering from chronic diseases. The previously mentioned categories will receive their first dose shot from the Chinese vaccine within the coming few days.On 5 January, the health minister inspected the medical centers which have been designated for receiving the vaccine.According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Health, Zayed has also checked on the process of electronic registration for citizens on the website https://egcovac.mohp.gov.eg/ launched for the vaccination process. The website will soon be activated to receive peoples requests for taking the vaccine.The 2014 Constitution affirmed the universal right to healthcare and that the state shall allocate a percentage of GDP on health not less than three per cent, a value that represents almost twice the current governmental expenditure on the health sector.One thing Covid-19 did was prioritise spending on the health sector; the government increased health spending. According to a press release issued by the Ministry of Finance on the state budget for the current fiscal year 2020-21, Egypt increased public spending on health care to about three per cent of its Gross Domestic Product. The increase will be directed to the gradual implementation of Egypts comprehensive health insurance system which will be expanded to include those unable to access social security pensions. There will be an increase in the allocations for health insurance, medicines and treatment of the needy at the states expense. Further finance will go to the Public Authority for Health Care. Health sector incentives for doctors and nursing staff also increased.Health experts say the increase in doctors renumeration will be the beginning of a better appreciation of the role of doctors and an improvement in their working conditions, reasons why many doctors have for years chosen to work abroad. Doctors were on the front line of the fight against the virus. According to the Doctors Syndicate, due to the shortages of personal protective equipment and a lack of adequate safety measures, thousands of doctors tested positive for Covid-19. The virus death toll among doctors has reached 200.While the coronavirus may have prompted the government to act quickly to meet the challenge, efforts were already underway to overhaul the system. These include the launch of the Universal Health Insurance (UHI) system in late 2019 with the aim of providing all Egyptians with full health coverage, something that the current health insurance system does not provide for. The UHI is being rolled out over several phases with a target to fully cover the country by 2032.Health outcomes in Egypt mirror epidemiologic transition; increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and persistent high levels of selected communicable diseases (CDs) place a huge financial burden on the health systems limited resources, says a 2019 paper published on the WHO website titled The Egyptian health map: a guide for evidence-based decision making.According to the paper, non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, were the leading national cause of death in Egypt. Non-communicable diseases are estimated to account for 82 per cent of all deaths in Egypt. Cardiovascular disease mortality rates were the highest among NCDs.The past few years also saw the government launching health campaigns to address certain areas of challenge such as virus C. Detection and treatment of virus C was dubbed one of the great accomplishments in the past few years. Fifteen million out of Egypts 100 million people were infected with virus C, one of the worlds highest prevalence of the virus. Each year there were 165,000 new cases in Egypt. And the virus killed around 40,000 a year in Egypt.The presidents initiative helped in curing more than 90 per cent of virus C patients and ended waiting lists.The 100 Million Health initiative of virus C was not only limited to Egypt but included 18 African countries for eliminating the virus which has infected one million Africans. The initiative will expand to include hepatitis B.Ahmed Al-Sabaawi, a member of the initiative and rapporteur of the National Committee for Combating Non-Communicable Diseases, pointed out that the 100 Million Health presidential campaign comprised several initiatives seeking the welfare of Egyptians health. The most important of these was the elimination of virus C, putting an end to virus C waiting lists, the early detection of breast cancer for women, the early detection of anaemia, obesity and stunting, and the detection of non-communicable diseases such as blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, Al-Sabaawi said.Among the other major achievements of the 100 Million Health presidential initiative is to diagnose and treat newborns with hearing impairments. The initiative which took place in 2019 was not only for screening Egypts 2.6 million infants with hearing impairments but also providing free treatment through early detection of hearing problems.Among these initiatives is the health campaign Tomorrows generation grows healthier being implemented to meet Egypts 2030 vision. The initiative took place under the umbrella of the 100 Million Health campaign which targeted the health of school students to actively contribute to their own well-being and provide positive future opportunities in the community. The initiative provides free healthcare to anyone suffering from conditions associated with malnutrition such as anaemia, obesity or stunted growth as well as raising awareness about how to avoid such problems in the future.Among further presidential health initiatives is Health of Pregnant Women which kicked off in January 2020 for early detection and treatment of diseases and preventing mother-to-child transmission of infections during pregnancy.There was also the presidential initiative for examining and treating chronic diseases as well as the early detection of nephropathy. It provided screening for chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cardiac diseases. The initiative also examined patients with renal impairment due to their chronic diseases. The initiative targeted citizens over the age of 40. More than 1.5 million citizens who turned out to be suffering from chronic diseases and more than 500,000 suffering nephropathies were provided free medical treatment.According to Al-Sabaawi, all these initiatives ended many diseases in Egypt. As a result of the presidential initiatives, 60 per cent of the citizens have been enrolled in the ministrys health files, thus facilitating the process of undergoing future medical examinations for entire families. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: In the aftermath of the violence that erupted Wednesday in Washington, D.C., records show at least three Oregonians were arrested. One of them was Rodney Taylor, 57, of Bandon. Taylor said Thursday that many of the officers he encountered during his trip were friendly. The majority of the cops that I interacted with in D.C., they strike an unmistakably sympathetic pose or tone, he said. He said he saw Capitol police retreat immediately, and offer almost no resistance when the violence began and a mob supporting Trump broke into the U.S. Capitol. Taylor, who owns US Survey Supply, a company that sells surveying equipment and has a master contract with the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, was arrested for curfew violation Wednesday and released early Thursday morning. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser imposed a 6 p.m. curfew after rioters stormed the Capitol Wednesday. It was Taylors third trip to the nations capital in eight weeks, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive in a phone call from D.C. Thursday. Taylor said he traveled to D.C. for the preservation of the republic and because he is gravely concerned about the United States becoming a communist country. The phenomenon of seemingly friendly police has been widely reported. A viral video captured amid the chaos shows an unidentified police officer posing for pictures with rioters who broke into the building. Taylor told KGW he ascended the Capitol stairs but didnt enter the building. He told The Oregonian/OregonLive that he supported peaceful protest and he believed Antifa agitators were behind the violence, citing images he has seen on Twitter and Parler and the fact that some agitators were wearing Trump hats backward and didnt respond to his questions about Republican lawmakers. These claims, including the theory that Antifa wears Trump hats backward, have been repeatedly debunked. Taylor was arrested hours after the break-in. He said he was attempting to show police officers a video on his phone. We had witnessed police beating a woman with a baton, Taylor said. Police should not hit women with batons. He was in front of his hotel, he said, when he approached police to show them the video, cellphone in one hand and my other hand in the air. Taylor said he told the officer, I mean you no harm, and the officer responded by telling him he was violating the curfew ordinance. My response was, Sir, I only wish to show you this video, he said, And his response was, You are under arrest. Taylor said he was put in handcuffs and after about a half an hour, taken to a remote interim jail facility, where he was processed with about 75 other men. During his arrest and processing, Taylor said, I took the opportunity to mention to several different officers that I thought that what was happening was grossly unfair. I was met with a certain amount of agreement, he added. At about 3:30 a.m., he said, he was released and shared an Uber with another man back to the area of his hotel. Taylor said he was fined $25. -- Lizzy Acker 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com, @lizzzyacker Available below is a new ad for the entire Yaris family from Toyota. The message is totally wholesome, as would be expected for the Yaris: three adult children are supposed to be meeting at their parents home for some sort of family celebration. The ad doesnt specifically say what kind of gathering, but theres cake involved, and it bears a picture of mom and dad, with the message Happy 30th anniversary. Aw.Only one of the three kids has remembered the special day, and shes trying to get the other two to arrive on time. The boy of the family is working on something in his garage so, when hes reminded of the family get-together, he jumps into his 2021 GR Yaris and speeds off. In doing so, he powerslides out of the garage and, for less than a couple of seconds, breaks traction. Later in the 30-second video, hes shown speeding on what is clearly a backcountry road.Several complaints were lodged with Australias Advertisement Standards Bureau regarding the video, which, apparently, was deemed very dangerous for promoting reckless behavior at the wheel. Specifically, complaints claimed the ad was in violation of the Federal Chamber for Automotive Industries Motor Vehicle Advertising Code regarding unsafe driving and breaking the speed limit, according to Car Expert The Advertisement Standards Bureau eventually ruled that the ad didnt show driving above the speed limit, but it did promote unsafe driving for that two-second powerslide. As such, the ad has been pulled.Toyota takes the opinion of the complainant very seriously, Toyota says in a statement to the same media outlet. However, it is our belief that the Advertisement does not contravene the FCAI Code or the applicable laws and regulations that govern community roads and driving standards.Now, if only that unfortunate pirate porch whose Yaris got stuck in the tiniest snowbank on his victims driveway had seen this oh so dangerous ad promoting such dangerous behavior prior to his attempt to steal packages. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A team of researchers affiliated with institutions in Australia, the U.S. and France has found evidence of relatively recent water movement in meteorites that only recently collided with the Earth. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes their study of carbonaceous chondrite (CC) meteorites that landed on the surface of the Earth within the past century and what they found. A lot of scientists believe that the water present on Earth came from meteorites. This theory has been difficult to prove because the meteorites recovered to date do not contain water and because chemical reactions that might have involved comet-borne water occurred millions of years ago. In this new effort, the researchers took a look at the idea from another anglethey studied isotopes in meteorites that have landed on Earth over just the past century. Prior research has suggested that most, if not all, CC meteorites were formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago as part of larger asteroids. To find out if recent arrivals might have evidence of a water history, the researchers looked at uranium and thorium distributions in samplesthe former is water-soluble while the latter is not. Logic suggests that if water ever existed in the meteorite, it would have had to move as it melted, and that movement would be reflected in the distribution of thorium and uranium isotopes. Also, both isotopes have short half-lives, which means if their distributions in meteorites could be found, they would have occurred relatively recentlyon the order of a few million years. In studying nine of the meteorites, the researchers found the distributions they were looking fora finding that suggested water had been moving due to melting, likely within the past 1 million years. The researchers suggest that not only could such meteorites have delivered water to Earth during the planet's formative years; they could also have been doing so in the much more recent past. They note that this idea could be tested by sampling asteroids before they strike the Earth, such as was done recently by Japanese and American spacecraft. Explore further Study finds meteoric evidence for a previously unknown asteroid More information: Simon Turner et al. Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites experienced fluid flow within the past million years, Science (2021). Journal information: Science Simon Turner et al. Carbonaceous chondrite meteorites experienced fluid flow within the past million years,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abc8116 2021 Science X Network (JTA) The sweatshirt, spotted amid the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, seemed designed to provoke fear. Camp Auschwitz, it read, along with the message Work brings freedom a rough translation of the message that greeted Jewish prisoners at the infamous Nazi concentration camp. The back of the shirt said Staff. ADVERTISEMENT A photo of the man wearing the sweatshirt was just one of the images of hateful symbols that have circulated from the mob, whose violence led to four deaths and wreaked havoc on Congress. Confederate flags and nooses were among the overt hate signs that the insurrection brought into the Capitol. Other slogans on flags, clothing or signs were code for a gamut of conspiracy theories and extremist ideologies. Heres what you need to know about them and the far-right movements they represent. QAnon slogans Several members of the mob wore or carried signs invoking the pro-Donald Trump QAnon conspiracy theory, which is laced with anti-Semitism. QAnon, which began in 2017 and has gained millions of adherents, falsely alleges that an elite cabal of pedophiles, run by Democrats, is plotting to harvest the blood of children and take down Trump. Trump has praised the movement and espoused its baseless ideas. Here are some of the QAnon symbols present in the Capitol on Wednesday. Q Q represents the purported high-ranking government official who shares inside information with QAnon followers through cryptic posts on fringe websites. QAnon followers often wear T-shirts emblazoned with a huge Q and several of them were part of the Capitol mob. Trust the Plan As Qs supposed predictions have proven false over the years including the election of Joe Biden, which Q predicted would not happen many QAnon followers became disillusioned. Others told them to trust the plan and place their faith in QAnons theories. The phrase has become one of the conspiracy theorys slogans. Trust the Plan logos were also visible in the Capitol, referring to the plan QAnon followers believe is happening. Save the Children Messaging related to saving children is a core tenet of QAnon because it alleges a global pedophile ring. In the photo above, a woman carries a sign saying The children cry out for justice, referencing children who QAnon conspiracists falsely believe have been abducted by Democrats and progressives, including the Jewish billionaire financier George Soros. Neo-Nazis Prominent Holocaust deniers and neo-Nazis were part of the Capitol mob. A far-right activist known as Baked Alaska livestreamed from inside House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office. Another extremist, Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist who leads the far-right Groyper Army, was said to be in the room with him. Fuentes denies this but was outside the Capitol on Wednesday. The Neo-Nazi group NSC-131 also joined the insurrection, according to reporter Hilary Sargent. NSC stands for Nationalist Social Club and has small regional chapters in the United States and abroad. The 131 division is from New England. In a video, one participant can be seen brandishing a flag with what some Twitter users identified as a swastika, though it isnt entirely clear. Confederate flags and nooses Other flags on display also were associated with long histories of white supremacy. At least one protester carried a Confederate battle flag into the Capitol building. Meanwhile, nooses a prominent symbol of racist violence were placed outside. In one instance, after members of the mob started destroying camera equipment from The Associated Press, they made a noose out of the cords, according to BuzzFeed News reporter Paul McLeod. Anti-government militia symbols Flags bearing the phrase when tyranny becomes law, rebellion becomes duty (a version of a quote dubiously attributed to Thomas Jefferson) and the Roman numeral III also were seen. III is the logo of the Three Percenters, also known as the III% militia, an anti-government militia founded in response to the election of President Obama. The ADL defines the Three Percenters as extremists who are part of the militia movement. Another symbol favored by militias is a coiled snake above the phrase Dont Tread on Me, known as the Gadsden flag, which symbolizes support for gun rights and individual liberties. The symbol, emblazoned on a flag, has been used as well by the Boogaloo Bois, a loose affiliate of anti-government militias that comes armed to protests. They are known to wear Hawaiian shirts (not as yet seen at the march) or camouflage (which was very much on display). The Boogaloo movement, which aspires to start a second Civil War, gained prominence last year when its members showed up to anti-lockdown protests and racial justice marches. At least one man wearing a shirt advocating for a civil war was present at the Capitol, though its unclear if he was an adherent of the Boogaloo Bois. The Oath Keepers, an anti-government group like the Three Percenters, according to the ADL, were in D.C. and at a similar protest in Arizona on Wednesday. Other far-right symbols Proud Boys Members of the Proud Boys, the violent far-right group that Trump told to stand back and stand by during a September presidential debate, wear black-and-yellow Fred Perry polo shirts along with red Make America Great Again caps. (Fred Perry, a U.K. brand, has said it would stop selling the shirts because of their association with the group.) Proud Boys founder Gavin McInnes, who said he quit the group in 2018, was spotted in the D.C. crowd. The groups current leader, Enrique Tarrio, was ordered to leave the city earlier this week after being arrested on weapons charges. An earlier version of this article mentioned reports of a Proud Boys protester wearing a 6MWE shirt, which stands for Six Million Wasnt Enough, a reference to the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust. However, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency was not able to substantiate this claim, as the image circulating on social media appears to be from a Proud Boys protest in December rather than from this week. Crusader crosses The shooter who committed the 2019 massacre at a New Zealand mosque appropriated symbols of the Crusades, and theyve become popular with other far-right, ethnonationalist groups. The symbols, such as medieval-style helmets or Templar and crusader crosses, are meant to harken to an era of white, Christian wars against Muslims and Jews. The Punisher The Marvel comic anti-hero The Punisher has been adopted in recent years by white nationalists and neo-Nazis, to the dismay of its creator. The fact that white nationalists and Nazis embrace it is a tragic misunderstanding, Gerry Conway told Inverse. Its a misappropriation of the character and a blatant disregarding of reality. Intactivists Anti-circumcision activists, also known as intactivists, support banning all forms of circumcision. Jewish law requires circumcision, and the intactivist movement often features anti-Jewish imagery. An intactivist comic book called Foreskin Man portrays blonde Aryan superheroes fighting Jewish mohels, who perform circumcision. The above image shows a protester in front of the Supreme Court in October, and similar signs and outfits were seen this week in D.C. Wednesdays demonstration featured protesters carrying anti-circumcision signs reading circumcision is the mark of the beast of satan and outlaw satans circumcision. New Delhi: The Indian Research Space Organisation (ISRO) has spread its wings and is flying high yet again with the successful launch of GSLV MK-III rocket that carried and injected the GSAT-19 communication satellite into the orbit on Monday. In a historic moment for India, ISROs heaviest and most powerful rocket lift off from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Monday at 5.28 PM. It then placed the heaviest GSAT-19 satellite into the orbit after a flight of 16 minutes and 20 seconds. Here is everything you need to know about the GSLV-Mk III rocket and why this launch is crucial for India: 1. The GSLV MK-III carried the GSAT-19 communications satellite wighing 3,136 kilograms, the heaviest to be lifted by an Indian rocket. The GSLV MK-III took the satellite to an altitude around 179 km above the Earth after a flight of 16 minutes and 20 seconds. 2. The Rs 300 crore GSLV MK-III rocket was developed after an intensive research of 15 long years. The rocket weighs 4,000 kg and stands 43.43 meters tall. 3. Till now, India had to rely on foreign launchers for the launch of communication satellites that weigh beyond 2.3 tonnes. Now, with this launch, India has proved that it can launch satellites weighing four-tonne on its own rocket. It doesnt have to pay huge amounts of money to foreign space agencies for the launch of heavy satellites. 4. ISRO has sought Rs 12,500 crore from the Centre for its mission to send humans in space. Once approved, it will take ISRO roughly 7 years to achieve this mission. ISRO has already developed critical technologies for a manned space mission. 5. The GSAT-19 satellite could be the first to provide internet services using a space-based platform hence the launch can prove to be revolutionary for ISRO. ALSO READ: Video | ISRO's GSLV Mk-III rocket successfully injects GSAT-19 satellite into orbit; proud moment for India 6. For the first time ever, indigenously-built Lithium-ion batteries will power the GSAT-19, which can later be used to power electric vehicles like cars and buses. 7. GSAT-19 has a life span of 10 years. It is a multi-beam satellite that carries Ka and Ku band forward and return link transponders and geostationary radiation spectrometer. 8. The purpose is to study and monitor the nature of the charged particles and influence of space radiation on spacecraft and electronic components. 9. The GSLV Mark-III rocket will also feature advanced spacecraft technologies including bus subsystem experiments in electrical propulsion system, indigenous Li-ion battery and indigenous bus bars for power distribution, among others. 10. A game-changer mission, the GSLV Mark-III rocket will allow ISRO to launch heavier communications spacecraft to geostationary orbits of 36,000 km. ALSO READ | ISRO GSLV MKIII launch | PM Modi says nation is proud: Heres who said what For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. China has held its first meeting with Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to discuss Covid-19 and poverty relief cooperation besides resuming trade and economic ties disrupted by the pandemic. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a media briefing, here on Friday, that the first meeting with the South Asian countries on anti-epidemic cooperation and poverty reduction was held on January 6. This is Chinas third meeting held with these countries to discuss cooperation to deal with Covid-19. In July last year, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video conference with his counterparts of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nepal to discuss plans to contain Covid-19, boost economic recovery and the resumption of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects. Later in November last year, China conducted a Vice-Ministerial meeting on controlling Covid-19 with Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. This is the first time China has included poverty relief, non-traditional security challenges besides Covid-19 cooperation in these meetings. Hua said the January 6 meeting was a follow up to the two ministerial conferences held last year. In this meeting, the representatives shared experience on anti-epidemic and poverty relief, she said. They talked about dealing with the impact of the pandemic, resuming economic and trade cooperation, dealing with non-traditional security challenges and advancing sustainable development and reached initial consensus, she said. It shows our strong will and confidence in dealing with challenges together and achieving cooperation. China would like to work with all sides in implementing our consensus and make a greater contribution to building a regional community with a shared future for health, Hua said. President elect Joe Biden on Friday called on the Senate to start the process to confirm his top Cabinet nominees immediately, saying there should be no vacancies during the coronavirus pandemic and economic crisis. Biden is in danger of not having a single Cabinet official confirmed on Inauguration Day. Traditionally the Senate - which is sworn into office a few weeks ahead of a president - starts the confirmation process so there is at least part of a national security team in place when the president takes office. 'We've done our job. We've begun the job of naming these people and it's my expectation and hope that the Senate will now move to confirm these nominees promptly and fairly. As is especially the case for the nominees of secretary of state, defense, treasury, and homeland security,' he said. 'They should be confirmed as close to January 20th as possible.' President elect Joe Biden called on the Senate to start the process to confirm his top Cabinet nominees immediately Mitch McConnell remains in the Senate until January 20th Biden also said he considered naming Senator Bernie Sanders as his labor secretary but the two of them agreed that control of the Senate shouldn't rest on a special election in Vermont. 'I'm confident he could have done a fantastic job,' Biden said of Sanders, adding 'Bernie and I agreed that we can't put the Senate at risk with a special election in Vermont.' The special elections in Georgia have throw off the makeup the Senate. The winner of the contests decided which party controlled the upper chamber. Democrats took both seats, making a Senate a 50-50 majority. That means which ever party holds the White House is the majority since the vice president is the tie breaking vote. The new Senate was sworn in on January 3 and, with Mike Pence the vice president, that means Republicans are in charge. When Biden and his Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are sworn in on January 20th, the Senate will switch to Democratic control. They will take office as the country is dealing with the COVID pandemic, where more than 4,000 people have died in a day. Additionally the jobs report out Friday showed the economy is on the decline. U.S. employers cut 140,000 jobs in December, the Labor Department said. But Biden's plea could be for not. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who currently controls the calendar, has sent the Senate home until January 19. Senate Committee chairs, who are Republicans, however, have only scheduled on confirmation hearing for that of retired General Lloyd Austin, Biden's pick to head the Pentagon who will need a congressional waiver to be confirmed. Hearings could take place in the coming weeks and Senate could hold votes held when the chamber returns. Four years ago, that is what happened and the Senate confirmed Jim Mattis and John F. Kelly as secretaries of defense and homeland security on the same day President Donald Trump took the oath of office. But, additionally, the work of the Senate is hampered until Georgia certifies that Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff won their elections and the two are formally seated in Washington. Until then, committees can't report out their work, a technical process that is needed before the Senate can hold a full floor vote on Biden's picks. The Biden team is working on contingency plans to install acting secretaries in most, if not all, Cabinet posts, The Washington Post reported. Biden said he considered naming Bernie Sanders as his Labor Secretary but needs him in the Senate The president-elect said with Friday's announcement his Cabinet picks are complete. He finished naming his economic and jobs team, which included Secretary of Commerce nominee Governor Gina Raimondo; Secretary of Labor nominee Boston Mayor Marty Walsh; Small Business Administrator nominee Isabel Guzman; and Deputy Secretary of Commerce nominee Don Graves He called his entire team 'historic.' 'This will be the first cabinet ever that is evenly composed as many women as men in the Cabinet. This will be the first Cabinet ever with a majority of people of color occupying this Cabinet. And it has more than one dozen history making appointments including the first woman secretary of treasury, first African-American defense secretary, the first openly gay cabinet member and the first native American secretary.' (Natural News) The mainstream media has declared both Democrats who ran in Georgia Senate runoff election to be the winners, even though there is clear evidence that votes were stolen from Sen. David Perdue during live broadcasts on CNN and ABC. Captured footage shows that 32,400 votes magically disappeared from Perdues tally as the fake news pundits were speaking and pointing at election maps which is the exact same thing that happened to President Donald Trump on Nov. 3. Watch this video to see the fraud take place in real time on ABC: https://twitter.com/KanekoaTheGreat/status/1346691396040704000 And in the video below, you can see the same thing happen on CNN: Senator Perdue had 774,723 and when the vote tracker uploaded it went down to 742,323, reported We Love Trump. This is way too familiar During the presidential election, the mainstream media did the same thing while counting President Trumps votes. The first time, we suppose it could have just been a coincidence, though this is highly unlikely. The second time, however, it becomes clear that this is another coordinated case of fraud. Im sure election officials and news networks will have a pretty good lie to cover this up, We Love Trump concluded. Whats a patriot to do? Between this and the false flag attack on the Capitol, America is all but lost. If these heists are allowed to stand unpunished, there will never again be a free and fair election in our country. The future of our republic looks bleak, save for a miraculous about-face in which someone, anyone stands up for what is right before it is too late. Just days remain before the deep state swears in its latest puppet, after all. All hope is not lost, but we are dangerously close to the point of no return. Now that Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell have both outed themselves as treasonous scumbags, along with most of Congress, we can clearly see that the number of real patriots in this country who hold positions of power is relatively small. This does not mean that we should just give up, however. First and foremost, we need to humble ourselves and pray for mercy and intervention from God. All things are possible when divine hands are involved, and nothing is possible without them. Continue to share the truth with your loved ones, emphasizing the fact that if election fraud prevails, there will never again be a free and fair vote for any American. Even the left will eventually come to a rude awakening about this, but by then it will already be far too late. And finally, ready yourself with a plan of non-participation in the new communist system that, assuming Trump has already exhausted all of his options, will inevitably come under the new administration. Since the election itself was fraudulent, so are any of the new laws and executive orders that will surely come flowing down the pipeline. Refuse to participate and adopt an ethos of civil disobedience to every unconstitutional edict that comes your way, including any new taxes that violate your rights as a sovereign citizen. Patriots have allowed these rats to sneak in for decades and infiltrate American culture, religious beliefs, morals, etc., wrote one We Love Trump commenter. Its not too late to fight, the same individual added. These people have never seen the sleeping giant fighting back. I remember the disgusting way they treated the vets returning from the Vietnam War. Now, theyre running Washington, D.C. Prayer is called for, but a good fight is also called for. Visit our election fraud headquarters at Trump.news for more stories like this one. Sources for this article include: WeLoveTrump.com NaturalNews.com I probably began coming in here at the age of 7 and helped stock shelves, swept floors, washed windows, went out on deliveries and pretty much anything else that was needed, Riley said on Wednesday as his tenure at the store was winding down. Originally, I went to college and got a bachelor of arts degree in business and didnt work at the store at all for about two years. A joint group of scientists from Finland, Russia, China and the USA have demonstrated that temperature difference can be used to entangle pairs of electrons in superconducting structures. The experimental discovery, published in Nature Communications, promises powerful applications in quantum devices, bringing us one step closer towards applications of the second quantum revolution. The team, led by Professor Pertti Hakonen from Aalto University, has shown that the thermoelectric effect provides a new method for producing entangled electrons in a new device. "Quantum entanglement is the cornerstone of the novel quantum technologies. This concept, however, has puzzled many physicists over the years, including Albert Einstein who worried a lot about the spooky interaction at a distance that it causes", says Prof. Hakonen. In quantum computing, entanglement is used to fuse individual quantum systems into one, which exponentially increases their total computational capacity. "Entanglement can also be used in quantum cryptography, enabling the secure exchange of information over long distances", explains Prof. Gordey Lesovik, from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, who has acted several times as a visiting professor at Aalto University School of Science. Given the significance of entanglement to quantum technology, the ability to create entanglement easily and controllably is an important goal for researchers. The researchers designed a device where a superconductor was layered withed graphene and metal electrodes. "Superconductivity is caused by entangled pairs of electrons called "cooper pairs". Using a temperature difference, we cause them to split, with each electron then moving to different normal metal electrode," explains doctoral candidate Nikita Kirsanov, from Aalto University. "The resulting electrons remain entangled despite being separated for quite long distances." Along with the practical implications, the work has significant fundamental importance. The experiment has shown that the process of Cooper pair splitting works as a mechanism for turning temperature difference into correlated electrical signals in superconducting structures. The developed experimental scheme may also become a platform for original quantum thermodynamical experiments. ### The work was carried out using the OtaNano research infrastructure. OtaNano provides state-of-the-art working environment and equipment for nanoscience and -technology, and quantum technologies research in Finland. OtaNano is operated by Aalto University and VTT, and is available for academic and commercial users internationally. To find out more, visit their website. The work was supported by funded from QTF (Academy of Finland CoE). Gordey Lesovik's visiting professorship funding came fro Aalto University School of Science and Zhenbing Tan's post doctoral grant came from the Academy of Finland. The full paper, Thermoelectric current in a graphene Cooper pair splitter can be read here http://dx. doi. org/ 10. 1038/ s41467-020-20476-7 Contact Pertti Hakonen Professor Aalto University pertti.hakonen@aalto.fi Sidney Powell speaking during a press conference at the Republican National Committee headquarters in Washington on Nov. 19, 2020. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Dominion Voting Systems Files Defamation Lawsuit Against Sidney Powell Dominion Voting Systems on Friday sued lawyer Sidney Powell, alleging she defamed the company. Powell made a series of wild accusations that are demonstrably false, Dominion said in its lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. That included claims that Dominion rigged the 2020 election and that the company bribed officials in Georgia for a contract concerning its election machines and software, according to the 124-page suit. Powell did not produce evidence to back her claims, other than declarations from a motley crew of conspiracy theorists, con artists, armchair experts, and anonymous sources who were judicially determined to be wholly unreliable,' Dominion added. When Dominion sent a letter to the lawyer, putting her on formal notice and asking her to retract her claims, Powell told her 1.2 million followers on Twitter on Dec. 20, 2020, about the letter and said she was retracting nothing because [w]e have #evidence and They are #fraud masters! In the days and weeks that followed, Powell appeared for a number of media interviews and continued to double down on her false accusations about Dominion, the suit states. Dominion brings this action to set the record straight, to vindicate the companys rights under civil law, to recover compensatory and punitive damages, to seek a narrowly tailored injunction, and to stand up for itself and its employees. President and CEO of Dominion Voting Systems John Poulos testifies during a hearing in Washington on Jan. 9, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Dominion is asking for at least $651 million in compensatory damages and at least $651 million in punitive damages. Powell didnt respond to a request for comment. Dominion, a Colorado-based company, in recent weeks sent letters to a slew of people and media companies, threatening to sue if they did not comply with demands. The suit on Friday appeared to be the first one filed by the company in regards to allegations against its equipment and intentions in the 2020 election. Dominion says its machines and/or software are used by 28 states. A Dominion employee last month sued President Donald Trumps campaign, arguing it spread false theories related to the election. The suit from Eric Coomer, director of product strategy and security for Dominion, also named Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Powell as defendants. Defendants, by their actions, have elevated Dr. Coomer into the national spotlight, invaded his privacy, threatened his security, and fundamentally defamed his reputation across this country, the lawsuit said. Jack Phillips contributed to this report. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... AZTEC The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has extended a moratorium on utilities disconnecting residential customers who have been unable to pay their utility bills. This comes as utilities face mounting amounts of unpaid bills and tens of thousands of customers have been unable to pay their bills. I think we all realize this is a major decision by this commission, said Commissioner Joseph Maestas during the Jan. 6 meeting. Looking across the country, different states are taking different actions. But, you know, we are New Mexico and certainly we cant allow the moratorium on disconnections to expire. PRC General Counsel Judith Amer said Public Service Company of New Mexico, the states largest electric utility, has 54,000 residential customers who have missed payments. Amer said PNM has the highest dollar amount of unpaid bills, totaling about $21.6 million in December. Of the residential and commercial customers that have unpaid bills, only 13.6% 7,000 residential and 300 commercial customers have entered into an extended payment plan with PNM. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Others are reading: NM Supreme Court temporarily halts evictions due to coronavirus She said Southwest Public Service worked out a total of 8,880 payment plans with customers who were delinquent on paying bills. Amer said 1,389 customers were able to satisfy their debt through the payment plans and 1,394 payment plans are still active. But 5,486 of those payment arrangements were broken, meaning the customer defaulted on the payment plan. The moratorium alone will not be enough, Maestas warned. He supported a transition plan that would help customers who have not been able to pay bills and he said the PRC should pressure the Legislature to assist. This is a broader issue here that we need to think about, Maestas said. The pandemic is not going to last forever. I dont think we really thought ahead about ok, whats this transition plan going to be like, how much time should we give people to get on their feet. While the moratorium has been extended, the commissioners expressed concerns about how the moratorium will impact rural electric cooperatives that do not have shareholders. Keep reading: We need people to stay alive. Utility disconnections on hold during COVID-19 pandemic The PRC voted 4-1 to extend the moratorium and solicit input on ways to move forward that would help customers without causing financial ruin to small utilities like rural electric co-ops. Commissioner Jefferson Byrd cast the sole dissenting vote. During the meeting, he expressed concerns about the rules impacting some utilities but not others. The PRC only has authority over investor-owned and cooperative utilities. That means municipal utilities do not have to abide by the PRC-issued moratorium and some of them are disconnecting customers. Byrd also expressed concerns that furthering the moratorium could make it hard for rural electric cooperatives to continue operations. Not every one of our companies is a publicly-traded utility, Byrd said. Theres many small utility providers that rely on that monthly payment to pay their staff and make repairs and make sure that theyre delivering the product as promised. Commission Chairman Stephen Fischmann said the PRC may want to ask the Legislature for assistance both for customers and small utilities. The PRC will have a future public meeting to discuss ways to address the pandemics impact on both utilities and residential customers that have not been able to pay their bills. Read more: Navajo Nations COVID-19 financial relief clears another step, starting date still pending The moratorium extension will remain in place at least through Jan. 29. Hannah Grover covers government for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652 or via email at hgrover@daily-times.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription: http://bit.ly/2I6TU0e This article originally appeared on Farmington Daily Times: PRC extends utility disconnection moratorium, but says legislative action is needed ___ (c)2021 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Western Australia has closed its border to all of Queensland even though only Greater Brisbane is going into lockdown for the next three days. WA Premier Mark McGowan said he could not afford to hesitate in shutting his borders with the Sunshine State after the highly-infectious UK strain of COVID-19 was detected in a hotel quarantine worker. The hard border with Queensland and WA will be effective from midnight. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk earlier announced Greater Brisbane would enter a hard lockdown for three days from 6pm on Friday. She said locals will have to wear face masks when leaving the home. Arrivals at Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport are pictured on Friday. Western Australia has closed its border to the whole of Queensland despite the state's severe three-day lockdown only affecting Brisbane Mr McGowan said anyone trying to enter from Queensland after midnight will need to 'meet a strict exemption category to enter WA'. There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane - with the lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands. 'Think of it as a long weekend at home. We need to do this. I've accepted the strong advice from Dr Young,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison called the lockdown a 'wise decision' and said it was a 'proportionate' response to the threat of the UK strain. He urged people in Brisbane not to leave, saying 'stay where you are.' Residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: essential shopping, exercise in the local neighbourhood, healthcare reasons or for work. The mutated strain of Covid-19 is believed to be up to 70 per cent more infectious, worrying health authorities. Masked pedestrians in Newstead in Brisbane on Friday. Residents of the Queensland capital will only be allowed to leave their homes for one of four essential reasons from 6pm There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane with lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redlands WA Premier Mark McGowan said he could not afford to hesitate in shutting his borders with the Sunshine State 'Please, everybody, let's be in this together, let's stay at home, look at it as a long weekend at home with your family and friends,' Ms Palaszczuk said. The UK mutation of Covid-19 has health authorities worried that if they don't act quickly, it may spread quickly in the community. 'Please, everybody, let's be in this together, let's stay at home, look at it as a long weekend at home with your family and friends,' Ms Palaszczuk said. Long queues have formed outside of shops and supermarkets as shoppers rush to buy groceries ahead of lockdown in Brisbane 'It will be tough on everyone for these three days. I think everybody in Queensland, especially the Greater Brisbane area, knows what we are seeing in the UK and other places around the world is high rates of infection from this particular strain. 'We do not want to see that happening here in our great state and that is why we are taking those strong actions today. Residents will also not be allowed to have more than two visitors are their home while restaurants will only be open for takeaway. A shopper visits the Coles at New Farm ahead of the hard lockdown in Brisbane from 6pm Friday Prime minister Scott Morrison tweeted his support following the announcement of the lockdown. 'Wise call by Queslsand Premier AnnastaciaMP to have a brief lockdown to enable Queensland health authorities to get on top of the UK strain case in Brisbane,' it read. 'A big thanks in advance to everyone in greater Brisbane for their patience in coming days.' Shoppers headed straight to a Coles at New Farm after it was announced Brisbane would be placed into a hard lockdown Shoppers queue outside a Woolworths at Camp Hill ahead of hard lockdown in Brisbane Queensland reported no new locally transmitted cases and nine new cases in hotel quarantine on Friday. Aged care homes across greater Brisbane were also sent into lockdown with visitors barred from visiting facilities in the Metro North, Metro South and West Morton heath regions. Hospitals, prisons and disability accommodation in the same areas are also banned from accepting visitors. Although supermarkets will still be open during the lockdown in Brisbane, shoppers have rushed to buy groceries The mutated strain plaguing the UK is believed to be up to 70 per cent more infectious than the original. It is causing a sharp rise in cases in England and prompted British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to order a national lockdown until at least mid-February. Britain reported more than 60,000 new confirmed cases in 24 hours for the second day in a row on Wednesday. DUBLIN, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Cell and Gene Therapy Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Cell and Gene Therapy Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change provides the strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global cell & gene therapy market. Major players in the cell and gene therapy market are Gilead Sciences, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis AG, Amgen, Merck, Organogenesis Holdings, Dendreon, Vericel, Bluebird Bio and Fibrocell Science. The global cell and gene therapy market is expected to decline from $6.68 billion in 2019 to $6.92 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.61%. The slow growth is mainly due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of industries and other commercial activities resulting in operational challenges. The entire supply chain has been disrupted, impacting the market negatively. The market is then expected to recover and reach $13.23 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 24.10%. The cell and gene therapy market consists of sales of cell and gene therapies by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that develop cell and gene therapies. Cell therapy refers to the transfer of intact, live cells that are originated from autologous or allogenic sources and gene therapy refers to the introduction, removal, or change in the genome for treating diseases. The market consists of revenue generated by the companies developing cell and gene therapy products by the sales of these products. In December 2019, Roche, a Swiss multinational healthcare company, acquired Spark Therapeutics for $4.3 billion. The acquisition supports the commitment of Roche to bring transformational therapies and innovative approaches to people with serious illnesses. Spark Therapeutics will continue to work within the Roche Group as an independent company. Spark Therapeutics, headquartered in Philadelphia, is a fully integrated commercial company involved in the discovery, production, and distribution of gene therapies for genetic disorders including blindness, hemophilia, lysosomal storage, and neurodegenerative diseases. The cell and gene therapy market covered in this report is segmented by product into cell therapy; gene therapy and by application into oncology; dermatology; musculoskeletal; others. Limited reimbursements preventing patients from receiving treatments are expected to limit the growth of cell and gene therapy (CGT market. In 2019, Trinity Life Sciences, a life sciences solution provider, researched national and large regional commercial health insurance plans in the US. It found that the confluence of increasing price, patient volume and number of CGTs on the market is likely to change the reimbursement model for CGTs and impact payer budgets by 5-10%. Payers realize that financing needs to be generated for cost management due to the uncertainty surrounding reimbursement of ancillary costs. Limited reimbursements and uncertain insurance plans are preventing patients from receiving high-cost CGT, which is expected to limit market growth. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is shaping the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market. (CAR) T-cell therapy is a combination of cell and gene therapy in which T cells are collected from the patient's blood and are genetically engineered to produce modified receptors at their surface, known as chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These modified T cells with special structures (receptors) are reinfused into the patient. Then, the modified receptors of T cell help in targeting the surface antigen of the cancer cell that ultimately results in the killing of tumor cells in patients. In 2020, the US-FDA approved Bristol-Myers Squibb's two CAR-T cell therapies to treat lymphoma and multiple myeloma and is set to be launched. Currently, FDA approved CAR-T cell therapy treatments like Tisagenlecleucel for the treatment of B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and Axicabtagene ciloleucel for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma. Steady investment and consolidation in cell and gene therapies contributed to the growth of the cell and gene therapy (CGT) market. After recognizing the potential of the CGT market, 16 out of the 20 largest biopharma companies by revenue, added CGT products to their portfolio. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Cell And Gene Therapy Market Characteristics 3. Cell And Gene Therapy Market Size And Growth 3.1. Global Cell And Gene Therapy Historic Market, 2015 - 2019, $ Billion 3.1.1. Drivers Of The Market 3.1.2. Restraints On The Market 3.2. Global Cell And Gene Therapy Forecast Market, 2019 - 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 3.2.1. Drivers Of The Market 3.2.2. Restraints On the Market 4. Cell And Gene Therapy Market Segmentation 4.1. Global Cell And Gene Therapy Market, Segmentation By Product, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Cell Therapy Gene Therapy 4.2. Global Cell And Gene Therapy Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion Oncology Dermatology Musculoskeletal Others 5. Cell And Gene Therapy Market Regional And Country Analysis Companies Mentioned Gilead Sciences Bristol- Myers Squibb Novartis AG Amgen Merck Organogenesis Holdings Dendreon Vericel Bluebird Bio Fibrocell Science Biogen Pfizer ViroMed Advantagene Advaxis Alnylam Pharmaceuticals AnGes USA Anterogen Atara Therapeutics Athersys AveXis BioCardia BioMarin Pharmaceuticals BrainStorm Cell Therapeutics Caladrius Bioscience Celyad Cook MyoSite Cytori Therapeutics Ferring Pharmaceuticals Gamida Cell For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gbqubv Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com The 25th Amendment has been on Rep. Earl Blumenauers mind for almost four years. The first public forum I had after [President Donald Trump] was elected was about the 25th Amendment and how we needed to use it, the longtime congressman from Oregons Third Congressional District said in a statement on Thursday. Now, in the wake of a chaotic and violent scene in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday that saw hundreds of Trumps supporters storm the U.S. Capitol at the presidents behest, Blumenauer believes its time to trigger the constitutional mechanism that would remove the president from office. Its so disturbing to me that we still need to advocate for this with just 14 days left in his term, but its no longer optional, Blumenauer said, suggesting that Trump could create more crises if left to finish out his full time in office. Rep. Peter DeFazio seconded that view, stating that the most expedient way to remove Trump from office is to invoke the 25th Amendment. I am calling on Vice President Pence and the cabinet to immediately declare through the 25th Amendment that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. The congressman from Oregons Fourth District, who said he anticipated trouble at the Capitol on Wednesday and so carried bear spray for protection, described Trump as a threat to our democracy. Oregons two U.S. senators -- both Democrats, like Blumenauer and DeFazio -- are on the same page as the congressmen. U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley support removing President Trump from office. (Oregonian archives) Sen. Ron Wyden called Trump a clear and present danger to our democracy. His cabinet must use the 25th amendment to act. Sen. Jeff Merkley said the amendment should be invoked today and Trump should be removed from office. Wyden added Wednesday on Twitter: Todays riots by insurrectionists in the nations Capitol caps off four years of Donald Trump fanning the flames of fanaticism. Every Republican lawmaker who supported his efforts to overturn a legitimate election shares responsibility for todays violence. The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, provides a legal means for removing a president who has become physically or mentally incapacitated. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that shes in favor of government officials using the amendment to remove Trump from office immediately. The amendment is not the only way to end Trumps time in office before his term expires. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, a Democrat from Oregons First District, tweeted Thursday afternoon that shes in favor of another route for removal: I support impeaching Donald Trump. Again. Most of Oregons members of Congress have said they would back impeaching Trump a second time if, as is likely, Trumps vice president and cabinet refuse to take up the 25th Amendment. Such an action would come almost exactly a year after Trump was impeached by the U.S. House for abuse of power and obstruction of justice for allegedly attempting to force the Ukrainian government to launch an investigation to benefit the president politically. The Republican-led U.S. Senate acquitted Trump of the January 2020 impeachment charges. DeFazio said in a statement he would support articles of impeachment against the President for inciting an armed insurrection against Congress, subverting a free and fair election and trampling on our nations Constitution. Rep. Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., wants to impeach President Trump a second time. She says she also backs invoking the 25th Amendment. (Stephanie Yao Long/The Oregonian)LC- The Oregonian Proposed impeachment articles being circulated by Democratic members of Congress Thursday focus not only on the U.S. Capitol assault but also on a recent call Trump made to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger in which he said Raffensperger should recalculate the states November vote in the presidents favor. If Trump were impeached a second time, and this time convicted in the Senate, he would be immediately removed from office. He also wouldnt be able to run for president again. Not every member of Congress from Oregon is gung-ho about using the 25th Amendment or impeachment. Rep. Kurt Schrader, a Democrat from Oregons Fifth Congressional District, reportedly said Lets hold our fire on Oregon Public Radios Talk Out Loud, adding: This president is gone in two freaking weeks. The one Republican member of the Oregon congressional delegation, Rep. Cliff Bentz, also pointed to the looming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on Jan. 20 as a reason to leave Trump be. Democratic Rep. Kurt Schrader says Trump soon will be gone without impeachment or the 25th Amendment. (Mike Zacchino/The Oregonian)LC- Staff As far as judging the president, I dont see how thats very productive right now, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. Bentz, who represents Oregons Second District, was one of the Republicans in Congress who supported Wednesdays unsuccessful effort to undermine Bidens victory over Trump in Novembers presidential election. The new congressman tried to downplay the violent events on Wednesday that caused at least four deaths in Washington, D.C. I would not describe [it] as a coup, he told The Oregonian/OregonLive. I would call it a protest gone really wrong, really bad. Blumenauer, for one, has little patience for such word games. Lets be clear about what happened here, he said in his Thursday statement. The President of the United States sent a mob of domestic terrorists down Pennsylvania Avenue to attack and take over the U.S. Capitol in order to stop the certification of an election that he lost badly. This man needs to be removed immediately and I am hopeful he will face further consequences for his actions. -- Douglas Perry dperry@oregonian.com @douglasmperry Despite continuing concern from public health officials about COVID-19 positive test statistics and a new, more communicable strain of the virus being confirmed in Texas, the seven members of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will continue to host in-person meetings as the new year begins. On HoustonChronicle.com: Coronavirus live updates: Employers shed 140,000 jobs in December as economy struggles under COVID-19 The decision, confirmed by township officials on Thursday, comes the day after the townships Development Standards Committee voted to remain in an online meeting format for the foreseeable future due to safety concerns from the coronavirus. Nick Wolda responded to questions about future meetings, noting enhanced safety protocols are in place for all township employees and for anyone attending the in-person meetings. The board had met online from mid-March 2020 until returning to the in-person meetings on Oct. 22. The most recent board meeting, which lasted less than 15 minutes, was hosted online Dec. 18. At this time, the township plans to continue to hold in-person meetings. All township employees are required to participate in health screening when arriving to work, Wolda said. The Woodlands Township takes COVID-19 seriously and has implemented health and safety precautions that include, but are not limited to, mask-wearing protocols, observing 6-foot social distancing, limiting room capacity, health screening protocols and routine sanitizing of high touch point surfaces. In addition, the microphone and podium for public speakers is wiped down with disinfectant after every speaker. Wolda also said township officials who may test positive cannot take part in meetings. Following CDC guidelines, township employees who test positive are required to quarantine and would not be permitted to participate in-person at a public meeting, he added. According to the townships daily COVID-19 updates posted online Thursday, Jan. 7, positive rates for the coronavirus in what is called Trauma Service Area Q, which includes Harris and Montgomery counties, has experienced more than seven (7) consecutive days above the 15 percent COVID hospitalization threshold indicated in Gov. Greg Abbotts Executive Order GA-32. As a result, the Texas Department of State Health Services has listed Trauma Service Area Q as a high hospitalization area which puts in place occupancy restriction rollbacks, the release stated. Despite the positive test result increase, Wolda reiterated the board will continue in-person meetings and he said township officials are unaware of anyone in attendance at a meeting possibly contracting the coronavirus from a meeting. Safety plans The township installed new COVID-19 screening kiosks and a robust safety plan for the return to in-person meetings, buying eight high-tech devices that scan a persons body temperature and then, if at an acceptable level, issue a sticker that is worn indicating the person has cleared the screening. On HoustonChronicle.com: Township directors to resume in-person meetings in October Social distancing has been in place in meeting spaces since the Oct. 22 meeting, reducing capacity in the board chambers by about two-thirds from normal. Attendees are required to wear face masks or coverings while in the lobby, but not inside the chambers as long as they are social distanced. Township directors are also separated by newly installed plexiglass shields that are in place between each of their seats. The Woodlands Township Board of Directors will next host a regular board meeting in-person at Town Hall chambers at 6 p.m. Jan. 21. Due to capacity restrictions and social distancing, attendance is very limited to between 33-35 attendees in the chambers. jeff.forward@chron.com Remember Ivy Brenda Cherotich? The beauty queen was Kenyas first case of COVID-19 back in March 2020 and she was referred to as the countrys Patient 1 until April 2020 when her identity was eventually revealed. The model is back on the public scene seeking votes from Kenyans as she battles it out for the Miss Tourism crown in Malaysia. The 27-year-old who was crowned Miss Tourism Kericho County in 2018 is going up against 30 other Miss Tourism contestants from all over the world seeking to be named the winner of Miss Glamorous Carlo Rino beauty pageant contest. Meet your new Miss Tourism delegate to Malaysia. Join me as I battle it out with Miss Tourism contestants from all over the world for the Final Crown. Help me bring the crown home so the world can discover Kenyas magical story and the untold wealth of destinations. You can win 10,000/= by voting for me. Just FOLLOW THE LINK BELOW and comment I VOTE KENYA under their Facebook post. Lets run this ! Ivy wrote on social media. The winner will be announced in Miss Tourism International 2020/21 Online Judging World Final on Sunday, January 17th. One of the first times Joseph Schoendorf recalls declaring he wanted to be a firefighter was as a guest on the childrens variety show Wonderama. The host of that show was Bob McAllister, and at the beginning of the show he interviews the kids, he recalled. One of the questions was What would you like to be when you grow up? and the first word out of my mouth was firefighter. More than 50 years later, hes not only well into fulfilling that dream, but is leading the 80-member volunteer Secaucus Fire Department after being sworn in as chief Tuesday. Fred Schneider was also promoted to deputy chief and Larry Marciano was sworn in as battalion chief. Schoendorf, 59, replaced Carl Leppin, who is now a marine division captain. The department selects a new chief every two years. Im looking forward to working with the men and women of the Secaucus Fire Department and my Deputy Chief Fred Schneider and my Battalion Chief Lawrence Doc Marciano, Schoendorf said. It wasnt long after Schoendorfs Wonderama appearance that he fulfilled his career goal. He joined the Glen Ridge Fire Department in 1978 and later a department in Orangeburg, New York, for four years. After settling in Secaucus in 1991, he took a break, but couldnt stay away for long. Hes been with the volunteer department here since 2003. Now, his two sons, Joseph and Michael, serve with him. Joseph is a captain and Michael is a first lieutenant. Its just been a wonderful experience watching them grow, watching them learn the fire service and seeing them put that forward on actual work on fire scenes, Schoendorf said. The chief also works for the towns municipal utilities authority. Mayor Michael Gonnelli, also a volunteer firefighter, called him a great man. I was a chief at one time, so I know what its like to be chief, he said, Its a tough job and you do it for free here so my hats off to Joe. I think hes going to do a great job. Shake Shack has introduced a little Seoul to its menu nationwide, with a new Korean-inspired fried chicken sandwich, chicken bites and fries featuring gochujang sauce and kimchi. The company was inspired by its teams' work and travel in South Korea, according to a website post, and decided to spotlight some traditional Korean flavors in the new items. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused Donald Trump of causing 'one of the darkest days in US history' after his supporters stormed the Capitol. Dozens of Trump supporters breached the security perimeter and entered the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon as Congress voted to affirm Biden's presidential win. One woman was shot dead and several police were injured. Mr Turnbull laid the blame at the President's feet and also savaged Rupert Murdoch's media empire which includes Fox News, a TV channel that supported Trump for most of his presidency. Former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (pictured on Friday) has accused Donald Trump of causing 'one of the darkest days in US history' after supporters stormed the Capitol 'It was incited by the president. This has been building up for a while. Trump, supported by his enablers in the Republican party and right-wing media, particularly Murdoch, have been assaulting democracy and the rule of law in America for years,' Mr Turnbull told Nine's Today show. 'Leaders have an obligation to bring their communities, their countries together. Trump, on the other hand, has sought to exacerbate and exploit divisions. 'He sought to turn Americans against each other to advance his own political interest, and in doing so, he has been supported by powerful voices in politics and in the media,' Mr Turnbull added. President Trump has been accused of inciting the violence after spending weeks repeating false claims that the election was fraudulent. Mr Turnbull also criticised current Prime Minster Scott Morrison for not condemning Trump strongly enough. Mr Morrison had condemned Trump supporters in a tweet but refused to criticise the President. Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the US Capitol on Wednesday 'The riots and protests that we've seen in Washington DC have been terribly distressing,' he told reporters. On Thursday night Mr Turnbull told ABC News that Mr Morrison's response was 'a bit weak' and 'a bit tepid.' Overnight UK PM Boris Johnson Johnson was much stronger, saying: 'In so far as he encouraged people to storm the Capitol, and in so far as the president consistently has cast doubt on the outcome of a free and fair election, I believe that that was completely wrong.' Mr Turnbull criticised Mr Morrison even harder on Friday, telling Today: 'I think Scott should have really condemned Trump's actions. I see Boris Johnson in the United Kingdom has done that. I mean, at some point, you have got to call a spade a spade. 'I know from experience, you are always reluctant as an Australian PM, to get involved in or commentate on political affairs in other countries. 'But this was different. This was not an issue of domestic American politics. This was the President of the United States inciting a mob, many of whom were armed, to attack and lay siege to the country's Parliament. 'This is staggering stuff. It is insurrection and sedition.' A woman was shot in the chest and later died. Pictured: Police try to revive her in the Capitol During the carnage, a female Trump supporter was shot in the chest and later died, although it was not clear who shot her. Dozens of police were also reportedly injured in the violence and at least one suspected explosive device was found. As protesters continued to occupy the Capitol hours after the violence unfolded, President-elect Joe Biden called for the 'mob to pull back' and said the uprising bordered on sedition. A protester walks through Congress carrying Nancy Pelosi's lectern after storming the Capitol Trump - after remaining silent for much of the afternoon - told his 'very special' supporters inside the Capitol that he loves them and understands their pain but urged them 'to go home'. He had initially urged his supporters to march to the Capitol after a rally earlier in the afternoon before only asking them to remain peaceful when violence broke out. As the protesters broke down police barricades and stormed into the Rotunda, Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders were whisked to safety. Lawmakers cowering inside the House Chamber were urged to put on gas masks as tear gas was fired in the Rotunda. Officers at the front door of the chamber had their guns drawn as a protester tried to break down the door. Eventually, the Capitol was cleared and a curfew was imposed banning people in Washington DC from the streets. A driver put a cyclist at "substantial risk of death" when he almost crashed into him during a high-speed road rampage, a court was told. Mark Fagan (19) is alleged to have been driving at speeds of up to 120kmh in the incident. Judge David McHugh ruled the case was too serious to be heard at Blanchardstown District Court and adjourned it for further directions from the DPP. Mr Fagan, of Croftwood Green, Ballyfermot, is charged with reckless endangerment and dangerous driving on the night of July 7 and 8, 2019. Detective Garda John Mc- Weeney said the DPP had consented to summary disposal of the case at district court level. Colliding He said a Nissan Almera was driven at speed on the Nangor Road, Clondalkin, going through red lights at the Kill- een Road junction and across Luas tracks before nearly coll- iding with a cyclist at Kyle- more Avenue, Ballyfermot. Det Gda McWeeney said the cyclist was put at "substantial risk of death". The Almera overtook cars and crossed to the wrong side of the road. It was being driven at 100 to 120kph and the roads were wet due to heavy rainfall. The court heard the car went the wrong way around roundabouts at Cherry Orchard Avenue and Cedarbrook Way. Judge McHugh refused jurisdiction and adjourned the case to next month for the DPP "to consider her position". When the DPP consents, a book of evidence will be prepared and the accused will be returned for trial to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The list of states to identify the dangerous new coronavirus variant is growing. Texas, Connecticut and Pennsylvania confirmed their first cases on Thursday, joining California, Colorado, Georgia, Florida and New York. Florida has at least 22 confirmed cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. California has reported at least 26. Experts have warned that the United States is woefully ill-equipped to track the rapidly transmissible variant. Without a robust, national system to identify genetic variations of the coronavirus, states are left on their own to identify the variant. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services said an adult male resident of Harris County, which includes Houston, with no history of travel tested positive for the coronavirus. Genetic sequencing this week showed that the infection was caused by the variant. Ottawa, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2021) - Enablence Technologies Inc. (TSXV: ENA) ("Enablence" or the "Company"), a leading supplier of optical components and subsystems, today announces that the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange") has changed the Company's Tier classification from Tier 1 to Tier 2, effective December 17, 2020, as the Company does not meet the Exchange's Tier 1 Continued Listing Requirements ("CLR"). The reclassification of the Company as a Tier 2 issuer will not result in any change to Enablence's trading symbol, which will remain "ENA". The Company remains subject to a Cease Trade Order issued by the Ontario Securities Commission on June 9, 2020. As previously announced on November 30, 2020, the Company is completing its interim financial statements and accompanying management discussion and analysis for the three months ended September 30, 2020 (the "Quarterly Financial Information") and its audited annual financial statements and accompanying management discussion and analysis for the year ended June 30, 2020 (the "Annual Financial Information"). Following filing of the Annual Financial Information and the Quarterly Financial Information, the Company will apply to revoke the Cease Trade Order and evidence Tier 2 CLR, pursuant to applicable securities laws and Exchange policies. About Enablence Technologies Inc. Enablence is a publicly traded company that designs, manufactures and sells optical components and subsystems to a global customer base. It utilizes its patented technologies, including planar lightwave circuit intellectual property, in the production of an array of photonic components and broadband subsystems that deliver a key portion of the infrastructure for current and next-generation telecommunication systems. The Company's components are key elements in large optical network infrastructure builds which enable global networking and large-scale computing for businesses and individuals, including data centers and 5G telecommunications networks. For more information, visit www.enablence.com . Forward-looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company based on current expectations and assumptions of management, which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties associated with our business and the economic environment in which the business operates. All such statements are forward-looking statements under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements require us to make assumptions and are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties. We caution our readers of this news release not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements as a number of factors could cause actual results or conditions to differ materially from current expectations. Please refer to the risks set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure documents that can be found on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under Enablence's issuer profile. Enablence does not intend, and disclaims any obligation, except as required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information contact: Scott Larin, co-CEO and CFO Enablence Technologies Inc. +1 613 656-2850 Ashok Balakrishnan, co-CEO and CTO Enablence Technologies Inc. +1 613 656-2850 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71609 WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 23: U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) asks a question at a hearing of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee on September 23, 2020 in Washington, DC. The committee is examining the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Alex Edelman-Pool/Getty Images) Photo by Alex Edelman-Pool/Getty Images Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska became the first Republican member of Congress to urge President Donald Trump to resign from office over this week's Capitol insurrection. "I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage," Murkowski told the Anchorage Daily News in an interview published on Friday. Trump is accused of inciting the rioters to breach the Capitol by lying for months that the presidential election was stolen and could even be overturned by Congress and the vice president. Murkowski also suggested that she might leave the GOP. "If the Republican Party has become nothing more than the party of Trump, I sincerely question whether this is the party for me," she said. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska is the first Republican member of Congress to call for President Donald Trump to resign from office over Wednesday's insurrection on the US Capitol by Trump supporters. "I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage," Murkowski told the Anchorage Daily News in an interview published on Friday. Trump, whose presidency is set to end in 12 days on January 20, is accused of inciting a violent mob of rioters to breach the US Capitol earlier this week as Congress convened in a joint session to count electoral votes. The violence forced Congress to go into recess and members to evacuate while also resulting in massive property damage and numerous injuries. Five people, including a Capitol Police officer, died during the day's events. "I think he should leave. He said he's not going to show up. He's not going to appear at the inauguration. He hasn't been focused on what is going on with COVID. He's either been golfing or he's been inside the Oval Office fuming and throwing every single person who has been loyal and faithful to him under the bus, starting with the vice president," Murkowski told the Anchorage Daily News. Story continues "I don't think he's capable of doing a good thing," she added. Other Republican lawmakers have condemned Trump's conduct and blamed him for the deadly violence. Murkowski is the first senator to advocate that he resign from office while Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger said on Thursday that the president should be removed via the 25th Amendment. Murkowski, who famously won a 2010 general election as a write-in candidate, also hinted that she may reconsider remaining in the GOP if it continues to mold itself in Trump's image. Two of her Senate colleagues, Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Angus King of Maine, are independents who caucus with Democrats. "I will tell you, if the Republican Party has become nothing more than the party of Trump, I sincerely question whether this is the party for me," said Murkowski, who is up for reelection in 2022. Read more: Ahead of the deadly Capitol riot, Trump's administration failed to follow the normal security playbook used for events like the Super Bowl and the State of the Union Democrats are set to retake control of the Senate later this month after winning two runoff elections in Georgia. "I think that that was another area where I think you can look directly to President Trump," Murkowski told the Anchorage Daily News of Republicans' losses in Georgia, which she described as "disappointing." Trump has vowed to back primary challengers to any and all Republicans who dare defy him, and already threatened to campaign against Murkowski. She earned his ire in July by publicly agreeing with former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' criticism of the president's response to nationwide anti-racism and -police brutality protests following George Floyd's death. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. In a subsequent tweet, Trump added: "Get any candidate ready, good or bad, I don't care, I'm endorsing. If you have a pulse, I'm with you!" Murkowski, for her part, will be somewhat inoculated from a GOP primary challenge than many of her colleagues. Starting in 2022, Alaska will move to a top-four instant runoff primary system with ranked-choice voting. Instead of each party separately holding their own primaries, candidates of all party affiliates will run in the same primary with the top four advancing to the general, where voters will rank the candidates in order of preference. Expanded Coverage Module: capitol-siege-updates Read the original article on Business Insider Gardai who seized 75,000 worth of cannabis during an operation on the south side of Cork city arrested two men and brought them before Cork District Court. Detective Garda John Sheedy arrested Zain Ali Haidri, 29, and brought him before the court. Ali Haidri with an address at 80 Noonan Road, The Lough, Cork, was charged with possession of cannabis and having the drug for the purpose of sale or supply at the Amber Garage on Bandon Road, on Tuesday January 5. Det. Garda Sheedy cautioned the 29-year-old that he did not have to say anything but that whatever he might say would be taken down in writing and given in evidence. Ali Haidri made no reply to the charge. The detective said it was alleged that drugs squad gardai stopped a car at the Amber filling station on Tuesday and carried out a search. It was further alleged that approximately three kilos of cannabis worth 60,000 were located in the car. Det. Garda Sheedy said there was a follow up search at the defendants address and three quarters of a kilo of cannabis with a street value of 15,000 was discovered. Sergeant John Kelleher said directions in the case were awaited from the Director of Public Prosecutions. Sgt. Kelleher said there was no objection to the accused being remanded on bail but that conditions were required. Those conditions were outlined by Det. Garda Sheedy. The accused is to sign on three days a week at Togher garda station. He must surrender his passport and undertake not to apply for a new one. Daithi O Donnabhain solicitor, applied for free legal aid to represent the accused stating that the accused was earning 250 to 300 a week in part time work. Judge Olann Kelleher granted free legal aid. The case against Ali Haidri was adjourned until March 18 to allow time for the DPP to give directions. While the judge was told of the alleged seizure of 15,000 worth of drugs in the house at Noonan Road there was no charge brought in relation to that aspect of the case. Later in the day, Detective Garda Robert Kennedy brought Conor Casey of Mount St. Josephs, Bakers Road, Gurranabraher, Cork, before the same court on the same two charges of having cannabis and having them for sale or supply at the Amber filling station on Bandon Road on January 5. The 24-year-old was remanded on bail to March 18 also, on condition that he would sign three times a week at Gurranabraher garda station and not apply for travel documents. A series of powerful aftershocks have rocked central Croatia following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake on 29 December. The tremors could be felt in several neighbouring countries. By Robin Gomes Caritas Internationalis, the worldwide federation of national Catholic charities, has launched an appeal for 880,000 to help Caritas Croatia ensure safe and dignified living conditions for people made homeless by a powerful earthquake recently. A series of powerful aftershocks have rocked central Croatia following a magnitude 6.4 earthquake on 29 December, which struck around 30 miles to the south of Zagreb, between the towns of Petrinja, Sisak and Glina. Tremors were felt as far away as Austria's capital Vienna. The second earthquake in two days and the strongest in the area for 140 years killed 7 people, injured more than 20 and caused widespread damage. The tremors could be felt in several neighbouring countries, officials and residents said. The ground has been shaking every day since the original earthquake and people are living in constant fear and stress. A vast area of around 2000 square kilometres has been affected, said Suzana Borko, deputy director of Caritas Croatia. She said 200 Caritas volunteers have been out delivering food and hygiene items to those affected since the earthquake struck. Long-term recovery Caritas is now focusing on long-term recovery and is helping people rebuild their homes and communities. Its 8-month project will initially help up to 200 households by providing prefabricated container accommodation and financial and technical help so people can repair their homes. According to Borko, many of those affected in rural areas want to stay near their crops and livestock, so they are sleeping in barns, in their cars and in the ruins of their homes. She said, Caritas Croatia will help them as they rebuild their homes and communities so they can live in safe and dignified conditions. The response of Caritas will focus on helping people in rural areas who risk being overlooked because of their geographical isolation. Borko estimates up to 90 per cent of houses in villages between Petrinja and Glina have been damaged. One of the challenges is to reassess if the homes are inhabitable after each successive quake. Despite the challenges, she is optimistic about the solidarity response. At this challenging time, she said, weve seen a miraculous humanitarian response within our country, with many people sending food and clothes and construction items to the affected areas. Decent shelters and the rebuilding of homes are a primary focus for us and we will stick with these communities until we have achieved this, Borko added. Popes closeness Soon after the quake, Pope Francis expressed his solidarity with the victims. Speaking at the weekly General Audience the following day, he expressed his closeness with the injured and those affected by the quake, assuring his prayers for the dead and their families. The Holy Father hoped that the international community would help Croatian authorities to bring the needed help those suffering. Apostolic nuncios visit The Apostolic Nuncio to Croatia, Archbishop Giorgio Lingua visited the Diocese of Sisak, the worst affect by the quake. Accompanied by Bishop Vlado Kosic, he visited the distribution centre of the diocesan Caritas and met with its volunteers. He described their commitment as "a sign of hope that helps us understand that at the root of man is always the good. The bishop, whose cathedral has been badly damaged, thanked the Holy See for its closeness in the difficult times for the diocese, as well as for the spiritual and material help that comes from all over the world, in response to the appeal of the Pope. I agree with the nuncio that this event teaches us how fragile we are and how we should work for a better world, Bishop Kosic said. Anyone wishing to support the work of Caritas in Croatia can do so by donating here: https://www.caritas.org/donate-now/croatia-earthquake/ John Cremin was the first community hospital resident to receive the Pfizer BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in Kerry The HSE is to step up the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine next week, giving the jab to thousands of residents and staff in more than 180 long-term care homes. It comes as Ireland is in line for around 3.3 million more doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine under a new deal with the European Commission. This follows the decision of the EU to order another 300 million doses for member states. It also emerged today that the European Medicines Agency is to allow vaccinators to extract six instead of five doses from each vial, which will further increase the number of people who can get the jab. However, it is not for January and February, when around 40,950 doses a week of the Pfizer vaccine will arrive here. These vaccines are being offered to frontline healthcare workers and long-term care residents over the age of 65. The aim is to have most of these groups fully protected with two doses by the end of next month. Read More Around 35,000 people will have been vaccinated this week, including around 5,000 long-term care residents. The plan is to roll it out to around 180 long-term care homes next week. A weeks supply of the vaccine will have to be held back to ensure that each person who is given a first dose gets a second dose. However, question marks still hang over supply from March onwards. The Moderna vaccine, which was given the green light this week, is to arrive here shortly but it is only expected to add around 10,000 doses per week to HSE stocks initially. It could be well into the summer before big volumes of vaccines for the wider population come on stream. Ireland has already ordered 2.3 million doses of the Pifzer vaccine and another 880,000 of the Moderna vaccine. The HSE is banking on the AstraZeneca vaccine being given approval and sees it as a game changer in providing large volumes of doses. However, it is not expected to get approval from the European Medicines Agency until the end of the month. The vaccine has been rolled out to several hospitals already and staff with direct patient contact are being prioritised. A study conducted by Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch has found that the vaccine is unlikely to be impacted by the two fast-spreading strains of the virus which it was feared would impact the effectiveness of the jabs. Read More Online Editors Mumbai, Jan 8 : Bollywood actress Kangana Ranaut and her sister Rangoli Chandel appeared before the Bandra Police on Friday, pursuant to a Bombay High Court order in connection with a sedition case filed against them, a lawyer said. "As directed by the Bombay HC, they reached the Bandra Police Station at around 1 pm and are presently recording their statement," lawyer Ravish Zamindar, the advocate for the complainant Munawwarali S.A. Sayyed, told IANS. In November, a division bench comprising Justices S.S. Shinde and M.S. Karnik accepted advocate Rizwan Siddique's undertaking that the two Ranaut sisters would report to the Mumbai Police on January 8, in response to the summons issued to them. The court had also barred the two sisters from making any "instigating statements" on social media platforms to the subject matter in the FIR lodged by the police, Zamindar added. The high court orders came in a plea filed by Ranaut-Chandel seeking to quash the police FIR lodged on October 17 on the directions of Bandra Court Metropolitan Magistrate J.Y. Ghule over alleged hateful social media posts by the duo. Following the FIR, the sisters were issued summons by the Bandra Police to appear on three different dates which they skipped on various grounds. After the third summon, they moved the Bombay HC. "Among the charges are those under Section 124-A (sedition) of the Indian Penal Code... besides spreading communal hatred and falsehoods. The police had already recorded the statement of Sayyed in this connection in October," Zamindar said. A Bollywood casting director and fitness trainer, Sayyed had accused Kangana and Rangoli of defaming the film industry, portraying the people working in it in bad light with allegations of nepotism, drug addiction, communal bias, and attempting to drive a wedge between artistes of different communities, calling them murderers, insulting religions, etc. on social media and through their public utterances. In his complaint, he also charged the Ranaut sisters with seeking to create a 'Hindu-Muslim divide' through objectionable comments, citing Rangoli's remarks like "make the mullahs and secular media stand in line and shoot them down; history may call us Nazis, who cares" to prove his point. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the Kisan Rail scheme in August last year and said it would benefit many as they would get to sell their produce in urban areas as well. In the Union Budget 2021, the government is likely to announce an expansion of the ongoing Kisan Rail scheme. This will give further boost to Farmers welfare and help in achieving the 'Doubling the Farmer's Income' mission. The Railway Ministry is looking to complete the expansion and reach as many farmers in the financial year 2021-2022. The farmers can avail of the KIsan Rail which includes refrigerated compartments in freights and trains, making it convenient to transport produce over long distances. They can transport notified fruits and vegetables at subsidized rates, upto 50 percent, across the nation. They will also get a 50 percent subsidy on the sales of their produce. With these amenities farmers can also sell their produce at lower than usual rates and earn more as well as be able to sell the majority of their fruits and vegetables. Kisan Rail has been a game changer and is ensuring fast transportation of agriculture produce across the nation. It provides a seamless supply chain of perishable produce. The first Kisan Rail' was introduced from Devlali to Danapur on 7th August, 2020. The 100th Kisan Rail from Sangola in Maharashtra to Shalimar in West Bengal was flagged off on 28th December 2020. UPDATE: Jenna Ryan, the North Texas real estate agent who took a private plane to participate in the U.S. Capitol protest that evolved into a violent riot on Jan. 6, has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building without lawful authority and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds according to a complaint filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. In a filing from the Department of Justice submitted Jan. 15, prosecutors said authorities recovered a deleted Facebook live video showing Ryan entering the Capitol building through the Rotunda entrance. Jon Cherry/Getty Images, MBR / TNS "We are going to f---ing go in here," Ryan could be heard saying in the video as she approaches the top of the stairs. "Life or death, it doesnt matter. Here we go." Ryan then exposed her face on camera, saying, Yall know who to hire for your realtor. Jenna Ryan for your realtor. The video continued to show her entering the building, chanting U-S-A! U-S-A! and yelling, Here we are, in the name of Jesus! She exposed her face on video again while inside the building. Ryan previously claimed she did not enter the Capitol building. She posted a public statement to her Twitter page on Jan. 8. "I was invited to go to Washington D.C. by a friend to witness the march," Ryan wrote. "Unfortunately, what I believed to be a peaceful political march turned into a violent protest. I do not condone the violence that occurred on January 6, 2020, and I am truly heartbroken for the people who have lost their lives. Hatred and violence toward each other are not going to solve our country's issues. As a nation, we need to come together Republican, Democrat and Independent and have an open and honest discussion about the issues in our country and resolve our issues in peace." EARLIER: Facebook.com/jenna.ryan1 One Dallas-area woman flew by private jet to participate in the initial protest at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday that turned violent as the mob breached the building. Realtor and radio host Jenna Ryan took a private jet with three others to Washington D.C. to protest the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's victory over President Donald Trump. AFTER THE CHAOS: Internet detectives are identifying scores of pro-Trump rioters at the Capitol. Some have already been fired. "OK guess who's going to DC by private jet?!?! Meeee," Ryan wrote on Facebook on Jan. 3. She and three others can be seen in the private plane in a photo posted Jan. 5. Newsweek's Lydia Smith reports that Ryan flew from US Trinity Aviation in Denton. Twitter/@dotJenna Ryan posted several videos and photos from the Capitol grounds on her Facebook and Twitter accounts. In one photo posted to Twitter, she poses next to a broken window. "Window at The capital," Ryan wrote. "And if the news doesn't stop lying about us we're going to come after their studios next..." Ryan also livestreamed from the Capitol grounds. It is unclear if she ever entered the building. "All these working-class people taking the week off," Ryan said in the stream. "We flew here for freedom. They want to steal the election, they want to steal everything." Ballard County Semi Crash Fatality Identified By West Kentucky Star Staff BALLARD COUNTY - The Kentucky State Police released details about the fatal semi accident Wednesday afternoon in Ballard County.The crash involving a commerical motor vehicle and a pickup truck happened in the 3600 block of KY 121.Troopers said 58-year-old Larry Alcorn of Boles Scott, AR was pulling a goose neck trailer, and 67-year-old Danny Hart of Hickory was driving an oncoming semi-tractor trailer truck.Police said Alcorn's pickup crossed the center line into the path of Hart's semi.Alcorn was pronounced dead at the scene by the Ballard County Coroner. Hart was not injured.KY 121 was closed until about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night. SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket completed its first mission of 2021 by sending the Turkish-owned Turksat 5A communication satellite into orbit - despite outcry from Armenia to cancel the launch. Hundreds of Armenia activists gathered around the firm's headquarters in Hawthorne, California last October, with the hopes the Elon Musk-owned company would sever ties with Turkey. Protesters held signs alleging the satellite would be used to 'kill civilians' by targeting Armenians with unmanned aerial vehicles amid the deadly conflict between the two nations. It seems their voices went unheard, as SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 with the satellite at its helm Thursday evening. Scroll down for videos SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket completed its first mission of 2021 by sending theTurkish-owned Turksat 5A communication satellite into orbit - despite outcry from Armenian activists to cancel the launch. It seems their voices went unheard, as SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 with the satellite at its helm Thursday evening The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is mostly controlled by ethnic Armenians. Fighting periodically breaks out around Nagorno-Karabakh's borders, often deadly, notably in 2016 and July 2020. Since recent fighting erupted in October, dozens have been killed and wounded in apparent shelling by both sides - and each country blames the other. Armenian activists took to the streets to protest SpaceX's ties with their enemy and also sent the firm emails with the subject 'What if Elon was Armenian.' Hundreds of Armenia activists gathered around the firm's headquarter in Hawthorne, California in October, with the hopes the Elon Musk-owned company would sever ties with Turkey In the email, obtained by TechCrunch, activists explained Armenians worldwide, an ethnic and national group, has suffered under the authoritarian rule and regional influence of Turkeys President, Tayyip Erdogan and the word genocide was shown numerous times in the message. TechCrunch exchanged emails with a person listed as the campaign's originator who said: 'There are calls for sanctions of Turkey by the US and other NATO countries.' 'SpaceX is strongly urged to take all these factors into consideration and decide for itself whether or not it wants to continue to aid Turkey in the face of such overwhelming and clear evidence of criminal actions.' 'At the very least, Elon Musk and SpaceX can halt the launch to see what these investigations lead to. While this may be a loss of profit for SpaceX it would be a huge leap for world progress.' According to Space.com, SpaceX is planning on sending another Turskat satellite into space later this year. The Turskat 5A satellite is currently floating in orbit that, according to its Turkish owners, will enhance communication abilities in Turkey, along with parts of Asia, Europe and Africa. SpaceX's Falcon 9 took off from Cape Canaveral at 9:15pm ET Thursday, following a 45-minute delay - the cause has not yet been revealed. Following the mission, the Falcon 9 booster fell back to earth to land on the droneship Just Read The Instructions sitting in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX's Falcon 9 moments before it took off for its first mission of 2021 SpaceX's Falcon 9 took off from Cape Canaveral at 9:15pm ET Thursday, following a 45-minute delay - the cause has not yet been revealed SpaceX had a busy launch season in 2020 it clocked in 29 successful missions but 2021 is set to be twice as exciting for the firm that plans to send its Falcon 9 rockets into orbit more than 40 times. Musk's firm is also poised to launch its latest Starship prototype, Serial Number 9 (SN9), as soon as this weekend, according to airspace restrictions. SN9 would attempt the same mission as its predecessor Serial Number 8 (SN8) that completed a high-altitude test flight of 7.8 miles on December 8. The massive rocket hit its flight goal, but exploded on the launch pad the moment it touched down. However, Musk deemed the launch a success saying that the prototype, even though it was destroyed, collected a trove of data that will bring SpaceX one step closer to sending humans to Mars aboard the rocket. Men claiming to be from Bangladesh react from inside a cell at a detention center in Songkhla, Thailand, after a crackdown on human smuggling near the border with Malaysia, Feb. 12, 2014. A Bangladeshi man has been sentenced to 46 months in prison for smuggling his countrymen into the United States, the United States Department of Justice said Thursday. After serving out his sentence Moktar Hossain will have three years of supervised release, a DOJ statement said. The defendant was a key player in an organized smuggling network that operated for profit and preyed on Bangladeshi nationals who wanted to enter the United States illegally, it quoted Acting Assistant Attorney General David P. Burns as saying. Hossain was based in Monterrey, Mexico, a city about 182 kilometers (113 miles) from the border of the U.S. state of Texas, the statement said. There, he provided accommodations for people aiming to enter the United States illegally. He also paid drivers to transport them to the southern border and instructed them how to cross it, the DOJ said. Between March 2017 and August 2018 Hossain smuggled 14 Bangladeshi nationals into the U.S. in exchange for payment, according to an indictment. He pleaded guilty to the charges in August 2019, the department said. He was arrested on Nov. 29, 2018 upon arriving at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, according to an earlier DOJ statement. Border security and national security are one [and] the same, said Ryan K. Patrick, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas. We must know who is coming into the country, and we cannot allow unfiltered access. Meanwhile in Dhaka, Bangladeshi police said Thursday they had arrested four suspected members of an international trafficking ring that targeted Bangladeshis intent on going to Europe, holding them for ransom in India before abandoning them in Sri Lanka. Police recovered 26 passports, 19 seals of different embassies, banks and agencies, and fake visas when they arrested the four, Sheikh Omar Faruque, additional deputy inspector general of the Criminal Investigation Department, told a press conference in the Bangladeshi capital. Sharif Khiam contributed to this report from Dhaka. A Job in the Middle East Worth It? In the 1970s and 1980s, the non-resident Indians (NRIs) held an exalted position in the minds of average Indians. They returned home from time to time with attractive gifts, the latest gadgets, seemingly unlimited spending money, and stories of the wonderful lives they lived in those far-off lands. Now that prosperity has reached India at last, and everything is available right here if you have the money, being an NRI is no longer the dream of aspiring young men. Yet, the attractions remain and life abroad, especially in the Middle East, is still seen to be a desirable goal. What is it like to live and work in the Gulf countries? I can only speak for the white-collared folks. The countless Indians, who toil under the hot sun for paltry wages, trying to repay the loans they have taken to reach this dubious heaven, have a very poor life. I suspect that many would not have ventured away from home had they been aware of what kind of life lay ahead. For a well-placed executive, the scene is very different. Let me tell you a bit about it. First the pluses, and there are several. Incomes are good and there are no taxes, at least no income-tax, as of now. There are many indirect taxes, of course, but they are not onerous. Living conditions are great. Everything is clean; traffic is orderly; houses and flats are good if not luxurious by Indian standards nothing wrong with any of these. A white-collared employee, from a clerk to a CEO, earns more and saves more in the Middle East than (s)he would while working in an equivalent position in India. And that too, with a decent lifestyle commensurate with your status no penny-pinching needed. In terms of daily life, the Gulf is the ideal blend of East and West. Everything that you might desire is available, at a price, of course. You can have Danish chocolates, Australian lamb, Californian wines, Swiss cheese, a Mercedes you name it; you can buy it. At the same time, you dont have to wash your car, vacuum your home or take out the garbage, as you would have to if you were living in the West. Efficient and obedient cooks and maids are available in plenty at salaries that are actually very affordable. All right, so you know all of this, you have heard it all from your NRI friends and relatives. Now for the bits that you may not have heard about. First of all, the Middle East is not a place where you build a career. If you are working on your own, as a businessman or a specialist, maybe you will progress over the years, but not if you are a salaried employee. Indians are hired for the skills they possess now, and not for them to grow in the organisation. Promotions are rare. If you have started as a sales manager, you are likely to remain a sales manager, if a CFO, remain a CFO. Career growth and advancement are for the citizens. Therefore, it is important to ensure that your first job is a good job, one in which you earn a lot and save a lot even after enjoying a good life. Young men in their 20s or early-30s stagnate in the same job for decades and save very little, but a man in his 40s, in a senior position, can make, and save, quite a bit of money. An important point to remember is that the Gulf experience has very little value in the Indian job market. A successful sales manager, or a competent CFO, will find that when he returns to India after his Middle East stint he will find prospective employers heavily discounting his career abroad. The Indian market, with its huge size, large diversities and many complexities requires in-depth knowledge of how businesses operate here. Employers prefer someone who knows the local conditions and can operate with confidence, rather than someone, who is out of touch and needs to learn the business all over again before he can start delivering. A rare exception is someone who acquires some unique skill, in ultra-modern construction techniques, for example, which may be valued back in India. A major error that many people make is to convert the Gulf salary to Indian rupees when they decide to take up a Gulf job. A salary of 10,000 dirhams per month, equivalent to Rs2 lakh, does not have anywhere near the same buying power. This level of salary is just about adequate to live decently, if you have a wife and two children to support. The simple fact is if you earn only 10,000 dirhams a month, your living expenses will not be half of a person who earn 20,000. The core costs of housing, transport, and school fees do not increase or diminish in line with salary. A sensible thing to do is to ascertain what it will cost you to live, and what proportion of your income will be consumed by living costs, before taking the plunge. A sword that looms over the head of any salaried man in the Middle East is the fear of retrenchment. If you have been in the same job for 10 years, and your salary has increased bit by bit over the years, there is a good chance that, one day, your employer will reckon that he can get a younger person to do your job at a much lower salary. When that happens, you are gone. Job security is non-existent in the Middle East for any expatriate. Lets say you have been in the Middle East for 10 years and your children are approaching college age. Where will you put them? Though the schools in the Middle East are pretty good, or at least adequate, the colleges are not. Besides, in most Gulf countries boys above 18 cannot stay with their parents unless they have jobs, though girls can (gender discrimination in reverse). Where do you send your child? Getting admission in a high-ranking college in India, in any stream, is very difficult. Hardly any boy or girl has secured admission to an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), for example, after finishing school in the Middle East, though some do get in on the NRI quota. The only option is to send your child to some other country, say Australia or Canada. But that is expensive, and if you dont have the money saved up, and are depending on your future salary to meet these expenses, you will be in for a rude shock if you lose your job while your child is still in college. All said and done, working in the Middle East can be rewarding if you start on a good salary; keep your nose clean; bear in mind that you could lose your job any day; live a moderate life-style and save a pile of money which will make you financially independent. But if any of these conditions are not met, you will find yourself in a much worse position than what would have been your lot had you not taken up that Gulf job in the first place. Bottom line want good money and good living? Go for it. Want a career and promotions? Dont. Photo: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images In what are supposed to be the final days of his presidency, Donald Trump has been discussing invoking martial law to overturn the results of the 2020 election and seizing supposedly fraudulent voting machines that according to a wild conspiracy theory being pushed by people Trump invited to the Oval Office to discuss the matter were used to rob him of a second term. This is merely the most extreme example, so far, of Trumps post-election behavior, which grows more erratic and dangerous to our democracy by the day. His supporters have now even stormed the U.S. Capitol in protest while Congress voted to certify Joe Bidens election victory. There is a way to stop him, though. More than 50 years ago, the framers of the 25th Amendment to the Constitution foresaw the possibility of a presidents behavior becoming so unstable that it would prove necessary to have some constitutional mechanism to remove him immediately from office. Section Four of that amendment provides a process for doing so: If the vice-president and the majority of the Cabinet decide that, for whatever reason, the president has become unfit to carry out the powers and duties of the office and they transmit a letter to Congress to that effect, then the vice-president becomes the acting president and remains so unless and until Congress refuses to allow that transfer of power to stand. Legal scholars who have studied the drafting and adoption of the 25th Amendment recognize that its framers intentionally drafted it to allow Section Four to be used to address a wide range of potential situations very much including the sorts of circumstances in which the nation finds itself today. While it is true that the amendment was created to deal with non-controversial instances of presidential unfitness, such as a president falling into a coma or being kidnapped, Section Four was made part of the amendment to deal with controversial cases as well: specifically with instances where the presidents unfitness to hold office was contested by the president himself. Those who drafted and ratified the amendment made clear at the time that they were quite consciously employing general and open-ended language in the amendments text, rather than trying to define what circumstances would warrant the use of Section Four, because they concluded wisely that it would be vain to try to anticipate in advance all the circumstances that would require removing a president. Members of the administration reportedly discussed the possibility of invoking the amendment in the early days of Trumps presidency, but that possibility has been dismissed as purely theoretical, especially given one obvious problem: To do so, two-thirds of each house of Congress would have to vote to allow the vice-president to continue in the position of acting president. But as we reach the final days of the Trump presidency, this obstacle is about to be removed. The mechanics of the amendment allow the vice-president to remain in the position of acting president for a minimum of 25 days, as long as a simple majority of at least one chamber of Congress is willing to cooperate. It may seem extremely unlikely that Mike Pence, who up to this point has been one of Trumps most craven enablers, would even consider taking advantage of this constitutional power. But its always possible that, between now and January 20 when Trumps term expires, the situation may become so extreme that he and eight other Cabinet members may find the modicum of personal courage and moral decency necessary to do the right thing. Trump would put up a fight, but it wouldnt matter this late in his presidency. Once Pence has transmitted the letter to Congress that makes him acting president, Trump may contest the vice-presidents actions via a letter of his own. Section Four, however, would give Pence four days to respond to this letter. After Pence did so, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives could by simple majority vote decline to act on the substantive dispute for the remaining 21 days. (Meanwhile, Democrats could filibuster any action in the Senate.) Were it not the end of his term, Trump would return to office after 21 days if Congress failed to act. This, in effect, means that Pence could become acting president and would remain in the position for the rest of the current administrations term in office, as long as House Democrats acceded to the new status quo. For the good of the nation, he should do so immediately. A lawyer with the Philadelphia firm of Fox Rothschild has quit the firm after it became public that he joined President Donald Trumps controversial Jan. 2 call in which Trump begged Georgia election officials to find him 11,780 votes to overturn the presidential election result there. The lawyer, Alex B. Kaufman, and his father, Robert J. Kaufman, both have departed Fox Rothschild to pursue new professional opportunities, the firm said Thursday night. They had joined Fox in its Atlanta officer after dissolving their own firm two years ago. The Kaufmans left after Fox Rothschild confirmed it had a policy preventing its lawyers from working on the effort to reverse the outcome of the election. Firm policy prohibits Fox Rothschild attorneys from representing as counsel anyone participating in efforts to contest the 2020 presidential election, the firm said. Alex Kaufman, a politically connected lawyer who was a partner in Fox Rothschilds Atlanta office, did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment. Trumps hour-long call with Georgia officials stirred a fierce public debate after the Washington Post made public a transcript of the encounter. Critics said that Trump acted improperly some said, even criminally in cajoling and seeming to threaten the Georgia officials over the election results. Kaufmans presence on the call was first reported Thursday morning by an online legal news site, Above the Law. Fox Rothschild told the site that, generally, the firm does not bar its lawyers from running for public office or participating as individuals in political activities. The firm also said that: Neither Alex Kaufman nor Fox Rothschild represent the president or his campaign. Although Kaufman was on the Jan. 2 call with Trump, he was not there in his capacity as a Fox Rothschild attorney. Kaufman did not speak while on the call. Participation in the call has already proven a headache for the corporate lawyer from Washington who took part, Cleta Mitchell, then a partner at the Foley & Lardner firm. She resigned following news reports that her firm was concerned about her participation and was investigating the matter. In all, Trump was joined by four supporters on the call, including Kaufman, who was cited by first name only. The others were Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, Mitchell, and Kurt Hilbert, a Georgia lawyer. On the other side of the call were the Georgia secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger; the deputy secretary, Jordan Fuchs; and the counsel for Raffenspergers agency, Ryan Germany. At the start of the call, Meadows introduced the participants. He introduced Kaufman only by his first name, calling him one of the attorneys that represent the president. Kaufman was previously a lawyer in the executive counsel office of Republican Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, whose cousin U.S. Sen. David Perdue (R., Ga.) was defeated in Tuesdays runoff election for a U.S. Senate seat. Kaufman has a history of public service: He worked as a Georgia prosecutor, and for Congress and the State Department. In its statement to Above the Law, Fox Rothschild added that Kaufman had served as general counsel of the Republican Party of Fulton County, which includes the city of Atlanta, and also represented the Georgia state GOP. A spokesman for Trump referred calls to campaign officials, who didnt respond to messages seeking comment. Lawyers typically have to clear political work with their firms, which risk being held responsible for their advice and actions if they face legal challenges, as well as any risk to their reputations. We dont permit lawyers to moonlight, said Lawrence McMichael, chairman at the Dilworth Paxson firm in Philadelphia. If someone served as counsel to a political party or candidate, it would have to be approved by the firm, and we as a firm would represent them. But firms all have their own policies, and they vary, he added. Washington: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she has spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about preventing an unhinged President Donald Trump from ordering military actions including a possible nuclear strike in his final days and hours at the White House. Pelosi said in a statement to colleagues that she spoke with General Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes for nuclear war. She said Milley assured her longstanding safeguards are in place. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi said that if Mike Pence doesn't seek to remove Donald Trump from office, she will seek to impeach him again. Credit:AP The president has sole authority in the US government to order the launch of a nuclear weapon. But a military commander could refuse the order if it were determined to be illegal. Trump has been making no such threats. Pelosi said the situation of this unhinged President could not be more dangerous. Taipai, Jan 8 : Taiwanese brand Acer on Friday launched its first Chromebook Spin 514, powered by AMD's Ryzen 3000 mobile processor. The models Acer Chromebook Spin 514 and Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 514 starts at $479.99 and $749.99, respectively. Based on the powerful "Zen" architecture, the AMD Ryzen mobile processors ensure consistent responsiveness, fast boot times and long battery life, the company said in a statement. "The pairing of AMD Ryzen mobile processors with a durable design makes the new Acer Chromebook Spin 514 an excellent choice for users that need to get work done at home," said James Lin, General Manager, Notebooks, IT Products Business, Acer Inc. The Acer Chromebook Spin 514 features a 14-inch FHD touch IPS display with Corning Gorilla Glass and includes state-of-the-art AMD Radeon Graphics for enhanced gameplay, streaming and content creation. The AMD processor technology contributes to the Chromebook Spin 514's thin-and-light design that delivers up to 10 hours of battery life. Both the models support apps via Google Play and web-based apps. The Acer Chromebook Enterprise Spin 514 provides security, enterprise capabilities and cost savings, helping businesses manage devices at scale. Chromebook Enterprise unlocks the built-in business capabilities of Chrome OS and Acer Chromebooks by enabling IT to secure, orchestrate and power the cloud workforce. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2021 -- The global small hydropower market is projected to reach USD 3.0 billion by 2024 from an estimated market size of USD 2.6 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 2.4% during the forecast period. The global market is set to witness significant growth owing to the application of small hydropower projects for rural electrification, financial incentives and policy initiatives, and investments in hydropower projects in response to climate change. The Mini Hydropower segment is expected to be the most significant contributor to the Small hydropower market The small hydropower, by type, is segmented into Mini Hydropower, and Micro Hydropower segments. The Mini hydropower segment is expected to lead the small hydropower market during the forecast period. Installations in the mini-hydropower segment are largely driven rural electrification. China led the way in installing small hydropower plants for rural electrification. In developed countries such as the US and Norway, the installations are to increase the renewable energy share in the nation's energy mix. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=63387972 The 110 MW segment is expected to hold the largest share of the small hydropower market The 110 MW segment is expected to dominate the small hydropower market in 2019 owing to the small hydropower installations in various countries across the globe. This higher share of 110 MW plants can be attributed to the small-scale decentralized projects being deployed in developing nations, especially in Asia Pacific, for rural electrification. Asia Pacific dominated the 110 MW segment of the small hydropower market. China, Vietnam, and India are the account for the significant share of the small hydropower installations in this region. The demand for small hydropower is driven by increasing investments for rural electrification in these countries. Asia Pacific is expected to be the largest small hydropower market Asia Pacific is currently the largest small hydropower market, followed by Europe and North America. The Asia Pacific is estimated to be the largest market from the global small hydropower market from 2019 to 2024. China, Vietnam, and India are the world's fastest-growing economies, contributing mainly to the Asia Pacific market. The Asia Pacific market is expected to grow during the forecast period owing to the investments in rural electrification and off-grid energy generation. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=63387972 Both global and regional players dominate the global small hydropower market. The leading players in global small hydropower market, such as Voith (Germany), ANDRITZ (Austria), GE Renewable Energy (France), Toshiba (Japan), Siemens (Germany), BHEL (India), Gilbert Gilkes & Gordon (UK), and Flovel (India). About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. 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MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledgestore" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA : 1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Baker: Trump Should Step Down, Pence Should Lead Transition BOSTON The state's Republican governor said President Donald Trump should "step down" and be replaced by Vice President Mike Pence after the mob attack on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. "I think that the most important thing we need to do at this point in time is recognize there's a transition to a new administration that's going to take place 14 days from now, and Vice President Pence should be empowered to do that," Gov. Charlie Baker said on Thursday. "Whatever the mechanism is for doing that, I leave up to the people in Washington. But I think it's important at this point that there be an orderly transition, and that that transition be led by the vice president." Baker stopped short of using the word impeachment or specifically calling for invocation of the 25th Amendment. Vermont's Gov. Phil Scott, also a Republican in a largely blue state, tweeted Wednesday evening that "President Trump should resign or be removed from office by his Cabinet, or by the Congress." "It's 14 days, OK?" Baker said. "I think people should pursue whatever they believe will make it possible in the most expeditious way possible for the president to step down and the vice president to assume the powers of the office for the next 14 days so that an orderly transition can take place." Baker was queried about the president's fitness to remain in office moments after the governor devoted more than five minutes at the top of his daily news conference to a discussion of the riot at the U.S. Capitol. Baker, who is on record saying he did not vote for either Trump or President-elect Joe Biden in November's election, pulled no punches in assessing responsibility for the mob that stormed the Capitol moments after a "stop the steal" rally that featured speeches from Trump, his eldest son and his attorney, Rudy Giuliani. "Yesterday's events were appalling, disgraceful and depressing," Baker said. "But it's important to remember that they were the culmination of months of President Trump repeating over and over again that the American electoral system is a fraud. "For four years, the man who won three states in 2016 by less than a combined total of 78,000 votes that no one questioned at the time, has repeatedly questioned the validity of the American electoral process. As recently as September, he would not commit to a peaceful transfer of power, one of the most fundamental hallmarks of American democracy, if he lost the election." On Thursday morning, hours after the Senate and House of Representatives reconvened to complete the work interrupted by the rioters and officially count the Electoral College vote, Trump for the first time promised an "orderly transition" in a statement that nevertheless continued to falsely claim he won the 2020 election. On Thursday afternoon, Baker was supported in his comments by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kennealy and Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders. "What unfolded yesterday, incited by the president, as well as a number of Republican senators and congressmen, was a disgrace," Polito said. "It was horrifying to me, to Gov. Baker and to Americans nationwide. "President Trump's tepid response and failure to condemn the actions of his supporters was shocking as we all watched our Capitol be attacked, with members of Congress and innocent civilians inside. This is not who we are." Polito and Baker, before transitioning to discussing the state's latest measures to address the COVID-19 pandemic, each emphasized the fact that the rioters' apparent aim -- to stop Congress' acknowledgement of the election's result -- was thwarted. "When I was asked in September about the president's reluctance to say he would step down if he lost the election, I said at the time that the U.S. electoral system and the thousands of elected and appointed state and local officials who oversee our elections and appoint our electors would do the right thing," Baker said. "They did. "The most powerful office in the free world, when used for an illegitimate purpose, is no match for the democratic process." The child actor of popular TV serial Balika Vadhu, who stole everyones hearts a few years back with her impressive acting, is all grown up to be a pretty diva! Actress Avika Gor, who essayed the role of Anandi in the superhit Television serial, has undergone a major physical transformation and is turning up the heat on social media with her bewitching looks. Here are some of her glamorous photos that made netizens go gee-whiz. Take a look You are the owner of this article. The Government of Ireland Act 1920 received the royal assent from King George V a century ago last month. This most consequential of acts resulted in the partition of Ireland. The genesis of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 came in 1919. Home Rule had been on the statute book since 1914 and could no longer be postponed. It was scheduled to come into operation automatically when hostilities were formally concluded with the signature of the last of the peace treaties after the First World War. To prevent this, the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George, set up a committee, chaired by Cabinet member Walter Long, to draft the Government of Ireland Bill. The make-up of Long's committee was unionist in outlook. There was no nationalist representation whatsoever, nor was the advice of any nationalists sought. Leading Ulster unionist James Craig and his associates were the only Irishmen consulted. Long's committee proposed to create two distinct legislatures for Ulster and the southern provinces, linked by a common council, comprising representatives from both. This was the first time a British government proposed a separate parliament for Ulster. Before the end of the war, the exclusion of Ulster, or at least some of Ulster, was the only option being considered in terms of special treatment for the province. Ulster unionists desired for direct rule to remain from Westminster. The common council proposed in the Government of Ireland Bill was a Council of Ireland to be composed of 20 members from each parliament, which the British stated could lead to "the peaceful evolution of a single parliament for all Ireland". Initially, there were many objections from Ulster unionists. The main problem was with the area to be included in the Ulster parliament: Ulster unionists sought the six counties of Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone, and not the nine counties of Ulster proposed by Long's committee, as this was the maximum area they felt they could dominate without being "outbred" by Catholics. This decision of the Ulster Unionist Council was deeply unpopular among the 70,000 Protestants of counties Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan, who were sacrificed to the southern administration. Belfast unionist MP Thomas Moles explained that the three counties had to be abandoned in order to save the Six Counties: "In a sinking ship, with lifeboats sufficient for only two-thirds of the ship's company, were all to condemn themselves to death because all could not be saved?" Even though the Ulster Unionist Council endorsed the Government of Ireland Bill reluctantly, many Ulster unionists eventually "concluded that the scheme proposed in the Government of Ireland Act would cause the least diminution of their Britishness". Some, such as James Craig's brother, Charles, began to see the great benefits Ulster unionists would garner from having their own parliament: "The Bill practically gives us everything that we fought for, everything we armed ourselves for." It has often been cited that the Government of Ireland Bill was allowed to pass relatively unchallenged due to the vacuum in nationalist representation at Westminster. With Sinn Fein abstaining, there were just seven Irish nationalist MPs remaining in Westminster (six from Ireland and TP O'Connor from Liverpool) after the 1918 general election, instead of 80. It could be argued that even 80 nationalist MPs would have made little difference, considering the make-up of the House of Commons after the election. The Conservative Party, Lloyd George's Coalition Liberal Party and Irish unionists won over 500 seats, an overwhelming majority. It is doubtful that Sinn Fein's presence would have made a difference. What little voice the seven nationalist MPs had was further diminished by the Catholic Church's belief that they should not participate in the committee stages, nor suggest amendments to the Government of Ireland Bill. The Catholic Church was virulently opposed to partition and believed that participating in the framing of the "Partition Bill" would be seen as a sign of its acceptance. The Bishop of Derry, Charles McHugh, claimed Catholic Ulster would never submit to "become hewers of wood and drawers of water for Sir Edward Carson". The leading nationalist MP left in Westminster, Joseph Devlin, condemned the Bill as "conceived in Bedlam", "ridiculous" and "fantastic". He voted against it, but did not contribute to its final shape. With Sinn Fein's policy on partition almost non-existent, it chose to ignore the Government of Ireland Bill. As the Bill was making its way through parliament, the British government was waging a war with Sinn Fein and its military wing, the IRA. Sinn Fein leaders stuck steadfastly - and naively - to the view that Ulster would readily come into an all-Ireland parliament once Britain was removed from the island. That the Government of Ireland Act came into law as Britain was at open war with Sinn Fein, supported by a considerable majority on the island, shows the total air of unreality that surrounded the Act. In granting the royal assent to the Government of Ireland Act 1920, King George V expressed the hope that it, "the fruit of more than 30 years of ceaseless controversy, will finally bring about unity and friendship between all the peoples of my kingdom". This was a wildly optimistic reading of the environment in Ireland in 1920 and of the likely fallout from its impending partition. Cormac Moore is the author of Birth of the Border: The Impact of Partition in Ireland (Merrion Press, 19.99) .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... CHEYENNE, Wyo. A Utah man has pleaded guilty after authorities said he was caught digging in a Yellowstone National Park cemetery in search of Forrest Fenns hidden treasure. Rodrick Dow Craythorn, 52, of Syracuse, Utah, entered the plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Casper, Wyoming, to illegally excavating or trafficking in archaeological resources and to damaging federal property. He could face up to 12 years in prison and $270,000 in fines when sentenced March 17. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Craythorn was searching for a treasure chest containing coins, gold and other valuables left in the backcountry a decade ago by Santa Fe art and antiquities dealer Fenn, who published a book with a poem containing clues to where the treasure could be found. Craythorn caused more than $1,000 in damage by digging in the Fort Yellowstone Cemetery between Oct. 1, 2019, and May 24, 2020, prosecutors alleged. The hunt for the Forrest Fenn treasure was often viewed as a harmless diversion, but in this case it led to substantial damage to important public resources, Wyoming U.S. Attorney Mark Klaassen said Tuesday. Craythorns attorney, Christopher Humphrey of Cheyenne, didnt immediately respond to a phone message Tuesday seeking comment. Fenn died at age 90 in September, three months after announcing the treasure had been found. A grandson of Fenn confirmed in December the finder was Jonathan Jack Stuef, 32, a medical student from Michigan. Fenn said before his death the treasure was in Wyoming, but neither Stuef nor Fenns relatives have said where specifically. Fenn for years hinted the treasure, estimated to be worth at least $1 million, was north of Santa Fe in the Rocky Mountains of either New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming or Montana. Several people seeking the treasure had to be rescued from precarious situations and as many as six died. [January 08, 2021] Deadline Reminder: Law Offices of Howard G. Smith Reminds Investors of Looming Deadline in the Class Action Lawsuit Against SolarWinds Corporation (SWI) Law Offices of Howard G. Smith reminds investors of the upcoming March 5, 2021 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the case filed on behalf of investors who purchased SolarWinds (News - Alert) Corporation ("SolarWinds" or the "Company") (NYSE: SWI) securities between February 24, 2020 and December 15, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors suffering losses on their SolarWinds investments are encouraged to contact the Law Offices of Howard G. Smith to discuss their legal rights in this class action at 888-638-4847 or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com. On December 13, 2020, Reuters (News - Alert) reported hackers have been monitoring email traffic at the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments. The hackers are believed to have breached the emails by deceptively interfering with updates released by SolarWinds, which services various government vendors in the executive branch, the military, and the intelligence services. On December 14, 2020, the Company disclosed that "a vulnerability [was inserted] within its Orion monitoring products which, if present and activated, could potentially allow an attacker to compromise the server on which the Orion products run." The vulnerability was inserted in Orion products downloaded, as well as updates released, between March and June 2020. On this news, the Company's stock prce fell $3.93, or 17%, to close at $19.62 per share on December 14, 2020, thereby injuring investors. Then, on December 15, 2020, Reuters reported that Vinoth Kumar, a security researcher, alerted the Company last year that anyone could access SolarWinds' update server by using the password "solarwinds123." The article also reported that co-founder of cybersecurity company Huntress, Kyle Hanslovan, noticed the malicious updates were still available for download even days after SolarWinds was aware their software was compromised. On this news, the Company's stock price fell $1.56, or 8%, to close at $18.06 per share on December 15, 2020, thereby injuring investors further. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) since mid-2020, SolarWinds Orion monitoring products had a vulnerability that allowed hackers to compromise the server upon which the products ran; (2) SolarWinds' update server had an easily accessible password of 'solarwinds123'; (3) consequently, SolarWinds' customers, including, among others, the Federal Government, Microsoft (News - Alert) , Cisco, and Nvidia, would be vulnerable to hacks; (4) as a result, the Company would suffer significant reputational harm; and (5) as a result, Defendants' statements about its business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. If you purchased or otherwise acquired SolarWinds securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than March 5, 2021 to ask the Court to appoint you as lead plaintiff if you meet certain legal requirements. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Howard G. Smith, Esquire, of Law Offices of Howard G. Smith, 3070 Bristol Pike, Suite 112, Bensalem, Pennsylvania 19020, by telephone at (215) 638-4847, toll-free at (888) 638-4847, or by email to howardsmith@howardsmithlaw.com, or visit our website at www.howardsmithlaw.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/20210108005066/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Patna, Jan 8 : Marriages are said to be made in heaven but in some pockets of Bihar tying the knot in the shadow of the gun is not unusual. 'Abduction for marriage' in districts such as Jamui, Lakhisarai, Begusarai, Jahanabad, Patna, Nawada and Vaishali takes place frequently despite it having serious consequences later on. One such incident was reported on Thursday when five unidentified men abducted Subham Kumar, a 20-year-old youth from Gangasarai village under Barharia police station in Lakhisarai district while he was taking a morning walk with two friends. The kidnappers forced him to marry a girl in Jamui district. Subham was recently selected for a clerical job in the Army and the bride's family knew about it. They then hired a gang to execute the kidnapping. Another similar incident took place on March 24, 2020, when a pharmacy student Amit Kumar was kidnapped from Jandaha in Vaishali district and was taken to Samastipur for marriage with a minor girl. Kumar was in tears at being forced into marriage while the girl was also weeping as her father was getting her married against her wishes. In June 2019, three youths belonging to Paharpur in Gaya district went to Nawada's famous Kakolat waterfall, where they were allegedly kidnapped by six men at gunpoint. They forced one of the youth Nityanand Kumar Rai to tie the knot with a minor girl, who was a Class 10 student. All three youth were beaten by the bride's family before forcing Rai to marry. They released his friends with a stern warning and held Rai captive in their house. Later, the minor girl claimed before the Duty Magistrate that she knew Rai since he visited her village to attend a marriage function. Kidnapping for marriage has a long history in Bihar. As per data available with IANS, 2,695 cases were reported in 2020 and only seven cases turned out to be fake. The highest number of such cases took place in September 2020 when Bihar police registered 349 cases in all 43 police districts. There were 336 cases in March 2020, 325 cases in October, 305 in June, 304 in February, 301 in July, 286 in August, 270 in January, 138 in May and 81 in April 2020. The Bihar police did not register any cases in November and December 2020. A senior Bihar police official said the 'kidnapping for marriage' number in 2020 is lower compared to 2019 and 2018 probably due to the lockdown and pandemic. In 2019, Bihar police registered 4,498 kidnapping for marriage cases and only 10 of them were false. A maximum of 480 cases were reported in May 2019, 454 in March and 443 in June. There were 4,317 cases under similar charges registered in 2018 where May saw the highest number of cases with 480, followed by 465 in June and 428 in July. These kidnappings generally take place during the marriage seasons. The abduction of Subham was probably done in desperation in a non-marriage season (Kharwas). The Lakhisarai district Superintendent of Police ) told IANS, "The girl knew Subham from before. After his selection in the Army, her family became worried that he may refuse to marry the girl. Hence, they opted for "Pakaduah Vivah" (Kidnapping for Marriage)." The police officer said such an act has severe consequences. The chances of the girl being abandoned after such a marriage are always high. But the girls' families do not bother about spoiling her life. Amitabh Kumar Das, a Bihar cadre retired IPS officer, said, "The dowry in specific castes is quite high and it is not possible for every girl's father to afford it. Hence, persons who belong to middle or lower income groups opt for forced marriages." "Despite it being a crime, basically it is a trend seen in districts such as Lakhisarai, Jamui, Patna and other areas of western Bihar to select eligible grooms for their daughters. After the marriage, they apply social pressure on the groom's family to settle the matter," Das added. Himanshu Kumar, a social worker in Bihar's Nalanda district, said, "It is a social evil which is generally attempted by families who may not be rich but have influence and a stronghold at the panchayat or block level." "After conducting a forced marriage, the bride's father negotiates with the groom. They even apologise to them and pay money to settle the matter but such 'Pakaduah Vivah' is successful only if the girl is smart, mature and beautiful, and adjusts in the groom's family. The bride's family also applies pressure through influential persons in the village to settle the matter," Himanshu said. "There are many cases running in family courts after 'Pakaduah Vivah' as the brides are unable to handle the situation at their in-laws house or the grooms refuse to accept them," Himanshu added. Washington: Lawmakers of both parties have raised the prospect of ousting President Donald Trump from office, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that if he wasn't removed, the House may move forward with a second impeachment. Though Trump has less than two weeks in office, members of Congress and even some in his administration began discussing the issue on Thursday morning (AEDT) during the riots, as Trump first refused to forcefully condemn the violent assault on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters and then appeared to excuse it. Senior Trump administration officials raised the possibility of invoking Section 4 of the 25th Amendment the forceful removal of Trump from power by his own Cabinet. Pelosi told a news conference she is waiting for a decision from Vice-President Mike Pence and other Cabinet officials. She challenged several of them by name, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Welsh Government speaking to supermarkets to get visible set of measures at stores back to how it was at start of pandemic This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 8th, 2021 The Welsh Government is set to work with major retailers to make sure that people are safe when we go out shopping. It comes amid growing calls supermarkets and stores that have remained open to tighten measures to help protect staff and shoppers. Locally there have been ongoing comments from shoppers who have been in touch concerned about the number of people in a supermarket who are ignoring social distancing and one way systems in place on some aisles. Earlier today Plaid Cymrus North Wales MS Llyr Gruffydd expressed concern for the safety of supermarket workers after receiving messages about social distancing. Mr Gruffydd said: Supermarket workers have been key workers throughout the pandemic and are expressing concern about the failure to ensure that safety guidance is being adhered to. In this current lockdown, were seeing looser rules operating in terms of allowing customers into supermarkets and fewer restrictions despite the worsening situation. Its worse now than during the first wave but some supermarket managers seem to have thrown out that safety-first approach. Supermarkets are among the few places where people mix indoors now so its vital that they are as safe as they can be. Welsh Government has to insist on better social distancing and thats why Ive written to the relevant Minister to ask for greater clarity. The worst-case scenario is that supermarkets themselves have to close or limit opening because staff are falling ill and having to self-isolate. Hopefully we can get through this but its important that we keep all our keyworkers safe, whether theyre working in hospitals, care homes or retail. Speaking at todays Welsh Government briefing First Minister Mark Drakeford confirmed that the stay at home lockdown will remain in place for the next three weeks and that Welsh Government would be working with major supermarkets and retailers to make sure that people are safe when we go out shopping. At the start of the pandemic in spring 2020 many supermarkets were limiting the number of customers in at any one time, along with one way systems and place and tannoy announcements reminding people to social distance. Mr Drakeford said that he had been receiving more inquiries about safety in supermarkets than any other issue in recent weeks. He said: Those inquiries are expressing anxiety on behalf of the public, that the visible protections that they could see back in March, April and May of last year dont appear to be there this time, despite the fact that in many ways with a more aggressive strain of the virus, those protections are needed even more. What we are talking to the supermarkets about is a more visible set of measures. You will know that back then, if you went to a supermarket, there was always somebody at the front door. That person was carefully controlling the numbers of people going into the supermarket to make sure that we were no more than a certain number of people in the store at any one time. Sanitising arrangements were very visible at the front door, you were directed to where you would clean a trolley and make sure that it was safe to be used when you were in the store. There were one way markings very prominently displayed, there would be our tannoy announcements regularly reminding people of the way in which they needed to conduct themselves in order to keep safe. When you came to pay for goods at the checkout there was somebody there directing people to the checkout to make sure people werent queuing next to each other over prolonged periods. There were markings on the floor so people kept at a two meter distance. Some of that is no longer as apparent to people as it was in the early days of a pandemic. I want to make sure that those visible signs of the protections that are being offered to the public and the shop workers are in place again. Weve worked very closely with supermarkets, theyve done a remarkably good job on our behalf. We need to make sure that those things that give people confidence that everything is being done to keep them safe is being done in this lockdown, as they were back in March and April. Commenting on the First Ministers press conference today, Ben Francis, FSB Wales Policy Chair, said: On the new obligations for retailers in Wales; we will be very interested to see more about what extra measures the First Minister will require of shops. Weve already asked to see more information on the technical data that informs the decisions that Welsh Government are making. It seems clear that businesses will require funding support for longer than was originally anticipated if they are to survive this troubling period. Welsh Government should urgently give clarity on what additional funding will be made available to support businesses beyond this next three week period to allow them to plan. The business support system in Wales has become increasingly muddy and difficult to navigate as new restriction measures have been adopted. Welsh Government should take this opportunity to re-establish exactly what businesses are entitled to and how they can access much-needed funding. Its important to remember that after such a disastrous winter, financial support will be the difference between businesses weathering this pandemic or not. It is imperative that business support keeps pace with the severity and the length of restrictions that businesses are facing. It will be absolutely critical that businesses are able to be a part of the economic recovery, and for this to happen we must take steps to protect them now. Colorized scanning electron micrograph of a dying cell (blue) heavily infected with SARS-CoV-2 (yellow), the virus that causes COVID-19. Credit: NIAID Integrated Research Facility, Fort Detrick, Maryland. Scientists sequencing virus samples from the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Scotland (and through the first wave) have found evidence of community transmission, driven by multiple introductions through international travel, as early as February 2020. In new research, led by the University of Glasgow and published in Nature Microbiology, researchers have been able to confirm that SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, had multiple introductions to Scotland in early 2020, mainly from European countries such as Italy and Spain. By looking at full genome sequences of SARS-CoV-2, the researchers found that the virus was introduced hundreds times during the first four weeks of the outbreak in Scotland, mainly from other European countries. The confirmed travel-associated introductions of SARS-CoV-2 into Scotland predated both UK travel restrictions and extensive restrictions in other European countries. Despite travel restrictions to mainland China coming into place at the end of January, the study shows that cases directly linked to Southeast Asia were rare in Scotland. COVID-19 was first diagnosed in Scotland on the 1st of March. During the first month of the outbreak, 2641 cases of COVID-19 led to 1832 hospital 46 admissions, 207 intensive care admissions and 126 deaths. However as mass testing had not yet been introduced in the early stages of the outbreak, the true number of overall cases is certainly higher. Researchers found that a number of the introductions of the virus were not associated with reported travel. These early introductions of the SARS-CoV-2 went undetected, and quickly established uncontrolled community transmission in Scotland. SARS-CoV-2 samples in Scotland analyzed included a range of virus variants, including D614G, a variant which has been associated with increased transmissibility. The study also shows there was also a notable shift from travel-associated infection of younger adults to community transmission in older adults and healthcare workers within the first month of the epidemic in Scotland. The study investigated the emergence of the virus in Scotland during March. The researchers obtained full genome sequences from 1314 individuals using next generation sequencing technology in real-time of 20% of all confirmed diagnoses of the disease. Senior author, Emma Thomson, Professor of Infectious Diseases at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, said: "Our study confirms SARS-CoV-2 entered the Scottish population through at least 283 separate travel-related introductions, leading to multiple clusters of sustained community transmission. We identified viral lineages with no link to travel as early as three days after the first detection of infection, indicating earlier introduction to Scotland and community spread before the first detected case." "The emergence of continental Europe as the epicenter of the global COVID pandemic was a clear driver of the Scottish outbreak, with the majority of the lineages detected in this study related to European sequences. Cases with links to China and other countries in South-East Asia were comparatively not detected." "The speed at which the virus took hold in Scotland and the UK as a whole, following multiple introductions, mainly from other European countries, was extremely rapid. It is possible an earlier lockdown from countries with a high burden of cases, such as Italy, and other measures such as quarantine of travelers from high-risk areas, might have prevented escalation of the outbreak and multiple clusters of ongoing community transmission." "Tracking the new coronavirus using sequencing and genomic epidemiological analysis will help to inform our current response and the effect of public health interventions in real-time and is a tool that can be used to understand future infectious disease outbreaks of this nature." The genomic sequencing of pathogens, has become a core component of the epidemiological response to virus outbreaks, for example Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo or Zika in South and Central America. In this study, researchers at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research who have been using this technology in Uganda switched to sequencing the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Scotland, alongside NHS partners at the West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh and researchers at the University of Edinburgh. The resulting data gives scientists enhanced knowledge of the origin and transmission of the disease, and by analyzing the introductions of COVID-19 in Scotland, the information on the extent and spread of the virus can help inform targeted public health interventions. Prof Thomson added: "As the number of cases continue to rise in Scotland, our sequence data provide a baseline for real-time sequencing of ongoing infections, which can act as a measure for policymakers of the success of current measures including vaccination and contribute to the easing, or tightening, of public health measures." Dr. Kate Templeton, Consultant Clinical Scientist, University of Edinburgh, said: "The introduction of this sequencing approach has been a great collaboration between the University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh and Public Health Scotland. The work in both Glasgow and Edinburgh for this study was only possible from joint working with University and NHS scientists. The ongoing work is reliant on contributions from NHS clinical and diagnostic laboratory staff across Scotland. Their efforts have helped us build up a truly national picture of the introduction and ongoing spread of the virus, and will provide important information to guide policymakers in how to respond to this pandemic." The study, "Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 from 3 mainland Europe into Scotland," is published in Nature Microbiology. More information: undefined undefined et al. Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 from mainland Europe into Scotland, Nature Microbiology (2020). Journal information: Nature Microbiology undefined undefined et al. Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 from mainland Europe into Scotland,(2020). DOI: 10.1038/s41564-020-00838-z We use cookies. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. Read more in our privacy policy It would be hard to think of a better team than the worlds richest man, one of its top bankers and the most esteemed investor of our time to solve such an elaborate problem as American health care. And yet, not even Jeff Bezos, Jamie Dimon and Warren Buffett could find the answer together. Haven, the joint venture formed by Bezoss Amazon.com Inc., Dimons JPMorgan Chase & Co. and Buffetts Berkshire Hathaway Inc., is calling it quits after just three years. It was formed as a platform to discover ways to reduce the mounting costs and frustrating complexities of the health-care system, with an initial focus on the companies own combined 1-million-or-so workforce. The dissolution of the Haven accord is emblematic of the profound challenge that haunts business leaders and politicians alike, and it comes as health care at large and the deficiencies of the U.S. system have moved front and center during an unprecedented global pandemic. What began at pre-mask industry run-ins as casual conversations between the three powerful men, during which theyd lament the increasing burden of medical expenses on corporate profits, evolved into a formal partnership in January 2018. With such high-profile names and deep pockets behind it, Havens arrival drew much interest and fanfare and among health-care giants, dread even if its mission was admittedly vague and conveyed a sense of overweening ambition for three non-health-care companies. With little known or ever publicly disclosed about the ventures progress since it began, its undoing may not be such a surprise. In May 2019, a candid Buffett said in a television interview that Haven had no guarantee of success and that he expected its mission to be ungodly difficult; one year later, Haven CEO Atul Gawande stepped aside to focus on the Covid-19 crisis in the more symbolic role of chairman. Leadership may have a lot to do with why Haven never really got off the ground. To figure out new solutions for an industry as vast and complicated as health care, it ideally requires an intimate knowledge of insurance companies, managerial bureaucracy and a full-time focus. Gawande, the ventures biggest hire a renowned surgeon, Harvard professor and writer didnt quite check those boxes, as impressive as his resume is. When Gawande was named CEO of Haven in June 2018, Bloomberg Opinion columnist Max Nisen noted that the doctor, while no doubt accomplished, lacked any experience or background in managing large organizations. Further, when Gawande took the role, he said he wouldnt step down from his professorship, medical and other responsibilities, pointing to the limited nature of his commitment. Before he resigned, the Wall Street Journal reported that Gawande wanted to do less day-to-day management. Meanwhile, the companies behind Haven began taking on their own internal projects, leaving less utility for the joint venture, CNBC reported Monday, citing unidentified sources familiar with the matter. Amazon recently announced Amazon Pharmacy, a flex of the e-commerce companys logistical heft and expansion of the Prime ecosystem. Less and less do the descriptors tech and e-commerce accurately describe Amazon; at the least they minimize the disruption its caused to numerous industries retail, supermarkets, shipping and now drugs. Haven, however, never lived up to its hype. That leaves the question: If some of the best entrepreneurial and investing minds couldnt fix health care, who will? A crisis calls. Graham Medway, 62, pleaded guilty to raping a three-year-old girl while she was on a family day out on the Isle of Wight A pedophile who raped a three-year-old girl while she was on a family day out on the Isle of Wight has been jailed for nine years. Graham Medway, 62, pleaded guilty to attacking the girl, who had become separated from her family for a matter of minutes, in Yarmouth. Medway, from the Freshwater area, initially denied raping the girl on August 31 but later confessed after being handed DNA evidence. The horrific broad-daylight attack in a wooded area of Fort Victoria Country Park has changed the victim's behaviour, her mother said in a heart-breaking statement read out to the court. The girl - who cannot be named for legal reasons - is now aggressive and defiant and the family feel 'overwhelming guilt'. The statement, read out by prosecutor David Richards, said: 'Our job is to keep her safe but as a result of this man's actions we have an overwhelming guilt that we failed to protect her and keep her safe. 'This has changed our lives.' Medway was handed a nine-year prison sentence, with a further five years of extended licence upon his release. Pictured: Fort Victoria Country Park where Medway attacked the girl The horrific broad-daylight attack in a wooded area of Fort Victoria Country Park (police cordons at the scene, pictured) has changed the victim's behaviour, her mother said in a heart-breaking statement read out to the court Medway was handed a nine-year prison sentence, with a further five years of extended licence upon his release, at Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday. He will serve at least two thirds of the jail term before he can be considered for parole. Judge Roger Hetherington told him: 'I have little doubt that you were loitering in the park area waiting for this sort of opportunity... 'You present a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm by the commission of further specified offences.' Police cordoned off public toilets and nearby woodland after the youngster was attacked The child was assaulted at Fort Victoria Country Park on August 31. Pictured: A police cordon at the scene after the attack The judge said Medway's initial denial put the family - who live on the Isle of Wight - through even more trauma. Judge Roger Hetherington said the parents were not at fault at all and had further been put through the trauma of the investigation into the crime, when Medway at first denied it." Detective Chief Inspector Liam Davies, who led the investigation, said: 'I am so pleased that we have been able to secure justice for the young girl and her family in this case. 'I want to formally thank them for their brave support as well as the public for their overwhelming response to our appeals. Both have been pivotal in achieving a successful conviction. 'It is also important to recognise the efforts of staff across the Constabulary who worked around the clock away from their families to ensure we were able to get this dangerous man off our streets'. Medway, from the Freshwater area, initially denied raping the girl on August 31 but later confessed after being handed DNA evidence. Pictured: Police at the scene of the August attack Superintendent Sarah Jackson - district commander for the Isle of Wight- said: 'The officers involved in this awful case worked tirelessly to bring the investigation to the point we have reached today. 'Stranger assaults of this nature against children are extremely rare, and I hope the community feels reassured that when we receive these sorts of allegations, we will take them seriously and we will do everything in our power to bring those responsible to justice.' An NSPCC spokesperson told Isle of Wight County Press: 'Medway's abuse will have had a profound effect on this child and her family, and it is vital they are provided with the full support they need to recover and move on from this.' Photo: RCMP Police released this sketch of a suspect after a horrific sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl on a Burnaby trail in February 2016. A man whose crimes a judge has called every woman's worst nightmare is serving a 12-year prison sentence and will be bound by a 10-year long-term supervision order once hes out. Michal Popek, 41, has been in prison since April 2016 for sexually assaulting four women who were strangers to him including two women walking on Burnaby trails in broad daylight in February and March of 2016. One of those assaults, on a 17-year-old girl, lasted for 40 minutes. Violent and horrific The girl had been on her school lunch break, walking on the Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail on Feb. 18, 2016, according to court documents. She couldnt find her friends in the usual spot and started to retrace her steps. She had seen Popek a few minutes earlier and saw him again. The second time, he grabbed her by the waist and threw her to the ground. She attempted to punch him, but her attempt was futile, states a sentencing ruling on the case. In the second Burnaby attack 17 days later (on March 6, 2016), Popek grabbed a 20-year-old woman from behind and threw her to the ground. The woman had been walking on the Trans Mountain Trail north of the Meadowood Park area listening to music on her headphones. She fought back with her umbrella and tried to scratch him, states the ruling. She told him she had cancer. He paused only very briefly and then continued in his attempt to remove her pants. Popek ran off when a man walking the trail interrupted his attack. Police task force Popeks attacks happened amid a string of sexual assaults in the city in early 2016, and the Burnaby RCMP which struck a task force to find the perpetrator warned women not to walk alone, especially in the area around the Burnaby Mountain Urban Trail. Popek was finally caught in Vancouver on April 19, 2016 after another sexual assault in broad daylight. He had broken into an 84-year-old womans home at about 8:15 a.m. and opened her bedroom door while she was in bed. When she called out to her son who lived in the basement, Popek left. Outside, he knocked his final victim, a 54-year-old woman taking pictures of flowers along the street, to the ground and groped her, trying to pull down her pants. She hit him in the face with her camera. A Good Samaritan ran to help, and Popek ran away, but this time the police caught up to him. All of the crimes were serious; all were violent, said B.C. provincial court Judge Ellen Gordon in a November sentencing ruling. While sexual assaults of strangers on the street are exceptionally rare, they are every woman's worst nightmare, and there are four women here for whom that nightmare became a reality. Sex offender The Crown prosecutor in the case called for a 12-year prison sentence, minus time served, while Popeks lawyer said he should get 10 years. Both agreed he should be bound by a 10-year long-term supervision order after his release. Gordon sentenced him to 12 years. The criminal justice system is not designed to repair the harm caused to victims of crime, Gordon said before handing down her decision. Here, all four women suffered serious psychological trauma. It would be ridiculously naive to believe that that trauma will go away once I impose the sentence I am about to impose. She described Popek's crimes as violent and horrific but noted his remorse appeared genuine and that he had pleaded guilty, sparing his victims a trial and the need to relive the horrors they experienced. With credit for time served, there are about five years left on Popek's sentence. After his release, his name will be on the sex offender registry for the rest of his life, he must provide a DNA sample and he will have to inform police every year of where he is living. Two medical experts in the case concluded Popek is a low risk to reoffend and is treatable. Tourists hoping to light up a joint in one of Amsterdams famed coffee shops after the coronavirus pandemic passes are likely to be disappointed. Soon, all coffee shops in the capital of the Netherlands may no longer be allowed to sell marijuana to foreign customers. The mayor of Amsterdam, Femke Halsema, on Friday proposed a plan expected to be passed by the city that would only allow marijuana products to be sold to Dutch nationals and residents of the Netherlands. Ms. Halsema wants to stop the flow of young tourists visiting Amsterdam just to smoke marijuana and to undermine the criminal organizations that control the drug trade. Policies in Amsterdam, known for its liberal attitude toward drugs and its red-light district, have over the years become more restrictive as the government attempts to regulate the ever-increasing numbers of budget tourists coming to the city. Amsterdam, like Barcelona and Venice, is having an increasingly difficult relationship with many such visitors amid complaints that, among other things, they are inundating historic districts and that short-term accommodation aimed at them is causing housing shortages for local residents. Press Release 8 January 2021 Do you see yourself in a managerial role? Are you itching to stride out into the world of business and make your mark? Are you looking for a degree course that will equip you with the skills and experience required to fill those big shoes one day? Perhaps you are wondering whether business management or hospitality management is the right fit for you. Or how your career prospects might differ upon completion of either course. Fear not, EHL Insights has weighed up the pros and cons of each degree to enable you to make an informed decision. Advertisements First things first: What is the difference between Business Management and Hospitality Management degree courses? To answer this question, we shall address each subject in turn, taking a closer look at potential career outcomes. What is a Business Management degree? A Business Management degree, studied at the Bachelor's level, is a broad course of education that conveys insights into the way companies and organizations are run. Business operations are considered from a financial and administrative perspective, among others. A feel for efficiency, grasp of systems and understanding of organizational behavior and structure is cultivated, as well as of cause and effect with regard to external influences, particularly economic changes. In addition, subject-matter is dealt with on topics such as business policy and strategy, markets, customers, communication and information technology. Business Management degree courses tend to address business issues at the European and international levels, incorporating case-based learning and real-world examples. They teach skills that are applicable in several industries, such as time management, analytical and critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making, numeracy, presentation and research skills. They equip students to properly interpret business and financial data as a solid foundation for wise business transactions. What can you do with a Business Management degree? The content covered in Business Management degrees is typically fairly general in its application, which is why the course is often studied in combination with another subject, such as accounting or marketing. It also acts as a stepping stone to other specializations, a basis for an MBA or other graduate degree course, or even a bridge to some legal professions by way of a graduate diploma in law. Those looking to focus on a specific commercial role might like to consider a graduate training scheme. Usual career paths for Business Management graduates may lead into consultancy, human resource management, marketing, sales or insurance. Employment may be found in seemingly endless different industries, from utilities and construction to chemicals, health and even fashion. The private, public and voluntary sectors can all put graduates' skills to good use. Relevant job titles include: Business analyst Corporate adviser Business development manager Project manager Risk manager Supply chain manager Management accountant Data analyst What is a Hospitality Management degree? Much like a degree in Business Management, a Hospitality Management degree offers comprehensive insights into the structure and functioning of companies and organizations. Students are taught the respective management skills, such as leadership and delegation, teamwork and communication, IT, analysis, critical thinking and problem-solving. The Hospitality Management syllabus, however, is tailored to the hospitality sector, which epitomizes customer service. This adds flavor to the course by aiming to truly understand customer requirements and how to meet them, drawing upon an attractive set of hard and soft skills and - in the case of high-ranking hospitality management schools - insights from affective hospitality. This trains students to fully immerse themselves in the guest perspective in the pursuit of service excellence. A high degree of hands-on experience demands from students that they rise to the challenge of an extremely demanding, fast-paced industry. The ensuing resilience makes graduates an asset to many a sector, far beyond the realms of hospitality. What can you do with a Hospitality Management degree? A Hospitality Management degree is a highly versatile qualification that opens doors in the private, public and voluntary sectors. Career opportunities may be found among employers such as hotel chains, conference and exhibition centers, events venues, bars and pubs, restaurants or even airlines, railways, hospitals, universities or the armed forces. Typical job titles include: Hotel manager Resort manager Conference center manager Public house manager Restaurant manager Catering manager Event coordinator Chef Thanks to the adaptable and sought-after skills, not to mention admirable work ethic developed on a course of this kind, a hospitality management career trajectory can take graduates in any manner of direction. Marketing, sales, public relations, human resources, customer services, tourism along with finance and accounting are all possible areas of employment. As is the case with Business Management, a Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management can be an excellent starting point for further education or professional training. Students may choose hospitality management for the practical experience and to hone their ability to tune into what customers want before specializing or transitioning to a related area. Business Management vs Hospitality Management degrees: the pros and cons For ease of comparison, the main advantages and disadvantages in a nutshell: Photo: EHL As you can see, both Business Management and Hospitality Management degree courses constitute an excellent arena in which to develop crucial managerial skills. Irrespective of which type of course you choose, attending a well reputed institution will work wonders for your career - both in terms of tuition quality and business connections made along the way. If hospitality management is the avenue for you, consider completing your studies at EHL, ranked 2020's number one by QS world university rankings and CEO World Magazine alike. This particular degree course allows you to choose between an academic or a professional pathway and provides the best of both worlds: an international outlook and a strong sense of Swiss hospitality heritage. Sources: Which will be the best course between hotel management and business management for my bright future? Supersolids are fluid and solid at the same time. Physicists from Innsbruck and Geneva have for the first time investigated what happens when such a state is brought out of balance. They discovered a soft form of a solid of high interest for science. As the researchers led by Francesca Ferlaino and Thierry Giamarchi report in Nature Physics, they were also able to reverse the process and restore supersolidity. Last year, more than fifty years after initial theoretical proposals, researchers in Pisa, Stuttgart and Innsbruck independently succeeded for the first time in creating so-called supersolids using ultracold quantum gases of highly magnetic lanthanide atoms. This state of matter is, in a sense, solid and liquid at the same time. "Due to quantum effects, a very cold gas of atoms can spontaneously develop both a crystalline order of a solid crystal and particle flow like a superfluid quantum liquid, i.e. a fluid able to flow without any friction" explains Francesca Ferlaino from the Institute for Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Department of Experimental Physics at the University of Innsbruck. Much simplified, a dipolar supersolid can be imagined as a chain of quantum droplets which communicate with each other via a superfluid background bath, says Thierry Giamarchi, theoretical physicist from the University of Geneva. Surprisingly reversible In Nature Physics, the researchers now report how such a supersolid state reacts if the superfluid bath between the droplets is drained by control of the external magnetic field. We were able to show that without the bath the droplets quickly lose knowledge about each other and start to behave like small independent quantum systems they dephase. The supersolid turns into a normal solid, says Maximilian Sohmen from Francecsa Ferlaino's team. This 'solid', however, is still soft, it can wobble and support many collective excitations, called phonons, adds Philipp Ilzhofer from the Innsbruck team. This makes this state a very interesting but complex subject of study with strong connections to solid-state physics and other fields. Maybe surprisingly, the Innsbruck physicists were also able to reverse this dephasing process: When they replenished the background bath, the droplets renewed their communication by particle tunneling and re-established supersolidity. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has asked the new House of Representatives to convene and begin its first legislative session on Tuesday. According to a presidential decree published in the Official State Gazette on Thursday, the parliament's first legislative session will begin on Tuesday, 12 January at 11am. The five-year term of Egypts outgoing House of Representatives (2016-2021) concludes on 9 January. The opening session of the new House of Representatives will be chaired by prominent writer Farida El-Shobashy, as the eldest member in the House, according to Mahmoud Fawzi, the Houses secretary-general. El-Shobashy will be aided by two deputies, MPs Fatma Ahmed and Abanoub Ezzat, as the youngest members of the House. The session will see MPs take the constitutional oath and the election of a new speaker. El-Sisi also named 28 presidential appointees in the 596-member legislative chamber, including prominent public figures, football players, among others. A total of 540 newly elected MPs visited parliament at the end of December to receive their membership cards. Several MPs who died after the conclusion of the parliamentary elections in December - some due to the complications of the coronavirus - are set to be replaced by reserve candidates in the case of party lists, or by-elections for individual candidate replacements. Egypts two-stage parliamentary elections were held between 24 October and 8 December. The pro-government Mostaqbal Watan Party swept the polls, gaining 315 seats (53 percent). Mostaqbal Watans coalition with other political parties gave it a comfortable majority of 75 percent in the new parliament. Leftist MPs told reporters they will seek to form an opposition bloc in an attempt to offer a counterbalance to the pro-government majority. Short link: I have a lot of respect for the police, fire, law enforcement and first responders unions. These are all brave and courageous warriors. The teachers unions not so much! They have deemed our schoolchildren as nonessential but yet they want their full salary pay and benefits with remote learning only. Hogwash! In-person learning is needed now. Soon our Cook County property tax bills will be coming out and check out the rising school district portion of your bill. Why is that? These teachers unions have failed our kids and grandkids miserably as well as us the parents and state taxpayers. YEREVAN, JANUARY 8, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian, who has recently tested positive for COVID-19 in London, will return to Yerevan after the situation stabilizes and the permission of doctors, the Presidential Office told Armenpress. In response to inquiries of numerous media outlets, we would like to inform that Armen Sarkissian, who is self-isolated after testing for the novel coronavirus, has a complicated course of the disease, shows disease-related symptoms. President Sarkissian continues the treatment process under the supervision of doctors. At the same time, due to the health condition, the President is working as much as possible and will temporarily work remotely. President Sarkissian will return to Yerevan immediately after the stabilization of the situation and the permission of doctors to fulfill his duties. We once again convey the gratitude of the President and his wife Nouneh Sarkissian for the words of support, the Presidential Office said in a statement. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan CA Churches File Supplemental Brief to Ninth Circuit NEWS PROVIDED BY Liberty Counsel Jan. 8, 2021 SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Jan. 8, 2021 /Christian Newswire/ -- Liberty Counsel filed a Second Supplemental Brief to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the emergency injunction pending appeal for Harvest Rock Church and Harvest International Ministry against Governor Gavin Newsom's worship restrictions. Following oral argument this week on Monday, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals requested the parties to file Supplemental Briefs to address the December 3 Regional Stay-at-Home Order. Governor Gavin Newsom must reply by 9 a.m. PT on Monday. The Supplement Brief points out that the recent Regional Stay-at-Home Order continues to ban all worship and discriminates against houses of worship. On July 13, Gov. Gavin Newsom banned all indoor worship, and on August 28, the "Blueprint" continued to ban all worship in Tier 1, which covered most of the state. Then on December 3, Gov. Newsom issued a "temporary" Regional Stay-at-Home Order that continues to ban all worship for 99.9 percent of California residents. While Newsom continues to ban all worship, the Regional Stay-at-Home Order contains 29 single-spaced pages of exemptions covering 13 sectors and hundreds of subsectors of gatherings that are permitted to operate and assemble. Gov. Newsom continues to argue against reality despite the Supreme Court's decisions in Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v. Cuomo and Agudath Israel v. Cuomo, two decisions from the Ninth Circuit, and the Second Circuit in the Catholic Diocese and Agudath Israel cases. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "Gov. Gavin Newsom continues to violate the First Amendment by discriminating against houses of worship. The High Court has issued a clear road map that leads to the ultimate conclusion that Gov. Newsom's ban of worship is unconstitutional." Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost. SOURCE Liberty Counsel CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org Related Links lc.org/ Brazilian researchers have managed to decipher the structure of a protein found in parasites that cause neglected tropical diseases, paving the way to the development of novel medications. Thanks to the discovery it will be possible to seek more potent molecules capable of destroying the pathogens directly, with fewer adverse side-effects for patients. The study detailed the structural characteristics of the protein deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS), found in Brugia malayi, one of the mosquito-borne parasites that cause elephantiasis, and in Leishmania major, the protozoan that causes cutaneous leishmaniasis. Elephantiasis, also known as lymphatic filariasis, is an infection of the lymph system that can lead to swelling of the legs, arms, and genitalia. It may also harden and thicken the skin, limiting movement, and hindering normal activities. Cutaneous leishmaniasis produces skin lesions weeks or months after the insect bite that transfers the parasite. Lesions may persist for years and leave scars similar to those caused by burns. Over 300,000 cases were notified in Brazil between 2003 and 2018, according to data from the Ministry of Health. The study is reported in an article published in PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The first authors are Suelen Silva and Angelica Klippel, PhD candidates at Sao Paulo State University (UNESP) in Araraquara. Silva is in the Biotechnology Program, and Klippel is in Bioscience and Biotech Applied to Pharmacy, with a scholarship from FAPESP, supervised by Cleslei Zanelli. The research is conducted under the aegis of the National Institute of Science and Technology (INCT) for Open-Access Medicinal Chemistry hosted by the University of Campinas's Center for Medicinal Chemistry (CQMED-UNICAMP). It receives funding from FAPESP, and federally from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) at the Ministry of Science and Technology and CAPES, the Ministry of Education's Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personel. The group achieved two important major advances with regard to DHS: standardization of a yeast-based platform to study the enzyme for Leishmania major, and three-dimensional assembly of the molecule found in the elephantiasis protozoan. The identification of this novel target will now be followed by more research to develop or find molecules that inhibit DHS-mediated biochemical processes and stop the disease from progressing. If specific inhibitors are identified as the basis for drug development, it will be possible to reduce or completely avoid the adverse side-effects of current treatments, such as fever, nausea, and insomnia. In the case of elephantiasis, some medications are not even capable of killing adult worms. "At CQMED we try to elucidate proteins that haven't been studied in depth and to determine their crystal structure. The study revealed the structure of DHS in these parasites for the first time. We began with these two parasites [Brugia and Leishmania], but we want to go on to investigate four more organisms including Plasmodium, which causes malaria," Katlin Massirer, principal investigator of the INCT, told Agencia FAPESP. Massirer is affiliated with the University of Campinas's Center for Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering (CBMEG-UNICAMP). Crystallography is an essential tool in research on the three-dimensional structure of proteins. Scientists use the technique to analyze the positions of the proteins' atoms and their interactions, to understand how they act in the human organism, and to investigate how a prospective drug will have to bind to a given protein. Analyzing crystal structure also helps understand how each drug works so as to enhance its efficacy. The study included in vitro synthesis of the active enzyme, the form in which DHS acts on the parasite, and assays to test its activity while screening the molecules that could become novel medications. "The structure of the protein serves as a basis on which to identify the differences and try to find an inhibitor that will fit into the parasite's enzyme without affecting the similar protein found in humans. It's a big challenge," Klippel said. Progress According to Massirer, it takes between 12 and 15 years on average to research, develop and bring novel medications to market, but in the case of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) lead times can be even longer because so little research is done on these health problems. "You could say that the stage we're at is equivalent to two years of this process," she said. NTDs are estimated to affect some 1.5 billion people in more than 150 countries, mainly in the world's poorest regions. Besides leishmaniasis and elephantiasis, the list of NTDs published by the World Health Organization (WHO) includes Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, dengue fever, and chikungunya. More than 350 research institutions, civil society organizations, companies, and governments of countries around the world signed up to celebrate the first-ever World NTD Day on January 30, 2020. The date was chosen because it was the anniversary of the 2012 London Declaration on NTDs, which redoubled global efforts to eradicate NTDs. Pharmaceutical companies, donors, endemic countries, and NGOs committed to control, eliminate or eradicate ten diseases by 2020 and improve the lives of over a billion people. Not all the goals have been met, however. Scant interest in NTDs was one of the reasons Klippel chose to work on the problem. For my PhD research I wanted to leverage my training as a pharmacist and to focus on a neglected area, to participate in something important but not highly valued. Every stage is a victory. We've built a tool, and now we must take the next step." Angelica Klippel, PhD Candidate, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara At CQMED, Massirer explained, the next step will consist of acquiring DHS from other species and at the same time searching repositories for molecules at home and abroad. The research has been proceeding more slowly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our center lets groups from anywhere in Brazil propose innovative projects for collaborative research by the network," she said. The institute's mission includes fostering partnerships among researchers at different centers to investigate little-studied proteins and increase the impact of discoveries. CQMED is a unit of the Brazilian Agency for Industrial Research and Innovation (EMBRAPII). It was created with support from FAPESP through its Research Partnership for Technological Innovation Program (PITE), in cooperation with the Structural Genomics Consortium (SGC), a collaborative network of academics, pharmaceutical companies, and funding agencies working together to accelerate drug development. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A new study has found that spending time outdoors and switching off our devices is associated with higher levels of happiness during a period of COVID-19 restrictions. Previous academic studies have indicated how being outdoors, particularly in green spaces, can improve mental health by promoting more positive body image, and lowering levels of depression and anxiety. Jointly led by academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK, the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Austria, and Perdana University in Malaysia, this new research examined how levels of happiness during a national lockdown were affected by being outdoors, the amount of daily screen time (use of TV, computer and smartphone) and feelings of loneliness. Using an experience sampling method (ESM), the researchers measured levels of happiness amongst a group of 286 adults three times a day, at random intervals, over a 21-day period. This allowed the participants to provide data in real-time rather than retrospectively, helping to avoid recall biases. The research, published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, was carried out in April 2020, when the Austrian participants were allowed to leave their homes only for specific activities, which included exercise. It found that levels of happiness were higher when participants were outdoors rather than indoors. In addition, more daily screen time and higher levels of loneliness were both associated with lower levels of happiness. The impact of loneliness on happiness was also weaker when participants were outdoors. Co-lead author Viren Swami, Professor of Social Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "While lockdowns can help slow down the transmission of COVID-19, research has also shown that prolonged periods of lockdown take their toll on mental health. "Our results are important in this context because they show that being able to spend time outdoors under conditions of lockdown has a beneficial impact on psychological wellbeing. Being outdoors provides opportunities to escape from the stresses of being confined at home, maintain social relationships with others, and engage in physical activityall of which can improve mental health. "Our findings have practical health policy implications. Given that further lockdown restrictions have now become necessary in the UK, public health messages that promote getting some fresh air instead of staying indoors and staring at our screens could really help to lift people's mood this winter." Explore further Loneliness in youth could impact mental health over the long term More information: Stefan Stieger et al, Emotional Well-Being Under Conditions of Lockdown: An Experience Sampling Study in Austria During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Journal of Happiness Studies (2021). Journal information: Journal of Happiness Studies Stefan Stieger et al, Emotional Well-Being Under Conditions of Lockdown: An Experience Sampling Study in Austria During the COVID-19 Pandemic,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s10902-020-00337-2 Listen to the breaking waves and watch the swaying palm trees on the beaches of Barbados on a webcam Leopards, lions and giraffes can feature - if you're lucky - on the brilliant 'Live Cameras in Africa' webcams Watch sunset and sunrise over Manhattan in New York as well as other U.S. cities on Earthcam.com Horizons may have shrunk once again, with non-essential trips banned and flights cancelled for the next few weeks but don't let that stop you seeing the world. Go online, find the right webcam (video cameras streaming live internet pictures) and you can soon feel as though you're almost but not quite in your favourite spot or dream destination. ADVERTISEMENT How better to escape the confines of your living room than to immerse yourself in 'live time' in another country and culture, or somewhere in the UK? And look forward to when you can actually be there... CARIBBEAN CALLING You can watch the waves and the palm trees on the beaches of Barbados, including Accra Beach, pictured, on the webcam page of Barbados.org (picture not from webcam) Listen to breaking waves and watch palm trees flutter on the beaches of Barbados via the webcam page of Barbados.org. It's wonderfully relaxing. Barefoot tourists stroll across the soft sands as seabirds swoop by you can almost feel the breeze off the water. For other islands including St Lucia and Jamaica, see Livebeaches.com, which has a good 'Best Webcams in the Caribbean' section. One camera on St Maarten, set up by the Sunset Beach Bar, faces a pretty curve of sand above which planes occasionally swoop to land at the tiny island airport: all part of the webcam show. WHEN THE TIME COMES: Seven nights all-inclusive at Sandals Barbados from 1,910 pp in April with Heathrow flights (britishairways.com). WILDLIFE UP CLOSE On Explore.org's Live Cameras in Africa section, you might be able to spot zebras in the Madikwe Game Reserve, pictured, in South Africa (picture not from webcam) Leopards, lions and giraffes can all feature if you are lucky on the brilliant 'Live Cameras in Africa' section of Explore.org. Spot zebras swishing their tails by a waterhole in Madikwe Game Reserve in South Africa, kingfishers diving into the muddy water of the Olifants River, also in South Africa, or elephants munching contentedly on shrubs in Laikipia County in Kenya. Click here to resize this module Get up early to enjoy the sunrise in Africa: a splendid change from a grey winter morning in the UK. Also take a look at Africam.com and Alluringafrica.com for more in South Africa, Malawi and Kenya. ADVERTISEMENT WHEN THE TIME COMES: Eight nights in Kenya from 2,355 pp on a 'Cheetah Safari' with most meals and Gatwick flights in May (kuoni.co.uk). SKI DREAMS See live shots from the webcams on the snowy slopes of Val Thorens in France, pictured (photo not from webcam) WEBCAMS THAT CHANGED THE WORLD Webcams were invented at Cambridge University in 1991, when a version was pointed at a coffee machine in the Computer Science Department. The longest continually running webcam was at San Francisco State University, from 1994 to 2019. They began to be used at tourist attractions around the turn of the 21st century, sometimes set up and financed by tourist boards. At around the same time, hotels, cafes and restaurants realised webcams were a good way of attracting customers to their websites. Some sites, such as Earthcam.com, Skylinewebcams.com, Livebeaches.com and Webcamtaxi.com, act as hubs for multiple webcam feeds and make good places to browse what's on offer. Some webcams require that you watch an advert before 'going live' but this is usually for no more than 30 seconds and can sometimes be skipped after a few seconds. Do you dream of the mountains? The ski season may have been wiped out so far, but it's still possible to go... virtually. Seeing the live shots from the webcams at Val Thorens in France (Valthorens.com) is tantalising: the snowy slopes, the sunny peaks, all that fresh powder waiting to be explored. Most resorts have cameras. In Switzerland, where some pistes are open to locals, you can jealously watch skiers at Adelboden on Feratel.com and Verbier on Seeverbier.com. For a wider selection of Alpine resorts, try the 'Webcams Europe' page of skiresort.info. To see the slopes at Whistler in Canada, go to whistler.com/webcams. Or for Park City in Utah, U.S., click on the 'Live Mountain Cameras' section of Parkcitymountain.com. ADVERTISEMENT WHEN THE TIME COMES: Seven nights all-inclusive at Club Med Val Thorens from 2,015 pp in April, with flights (skisolutions.com). WONDERS OF THE GLOBE Listen to the wind whip across the ancient rose-red city of Petra in Jordan, with no tourists where hundreds once came. Birdsong echoes eerily in the surrounding cliffs on Skylinewebcams.com's 'Petra The Treasury' page. Or watch the 'Western Wall Cam' showing the holy centre of Jerusalem with sunlight catching the golden Dome of the Rock during the day at Earthcam.com. The view from Yavapai Point facing the Grand Canyon in America is updated every few minutes on the National Parks Service website Nps.gov. The same arrangement is in place for Table Mountain on Capetown-webcam.com. Or for a spectacular view of Sydney Harbour, go to Webcamsydney.com. WHEN THE TIME COMES: Nine-night Classic Jordan tour, with a visit to Petra, from 2,049 pp with hotels, guides and flights (trailfinders.com). BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITIES Watch sunset and sunrise over Manhattan in New York as well as other U.S. cities on Earthcam.com within its 'City Skylines' section. Pittsburgh, San Francisco and Chicago also feature it's fun to zip about the country seeing what's happening. There's even one covering the Capitol in Washington DC at senate.gov/general/capcam.htm. It is often possible to zoom in on specific places. Go to Worldcams.tv for views of Times Square in New York. Try 'Golden Gate Bridge Live Webcams' at Parksconservancy.org for San Francisco, or watch the nightly parties on Bourbon Street in New Orleans via Earth.cam (but remember the time difference). WHEN THE TIME COMES: 14-night 'Route 66' fly-drives from 2,295 pp later in the year, including car hire and hotels (bon-voyage.co.uk). CULTURAL CORNERS Venice's Rialto Bridge and Grand Canal, which you can watch on a webcam via skylinewebcams.com (picture not from webcam) It is strange to watch St Mark's Square in Venice as a handful of people stroll about. It's the same at the Rialto Bridge: just the occasional person crossing. Where once tourist hordes descended, now there is solitude. Watch the 'action' via Skylinewebcams.com. The same website covers the Spanish Steps in Rome, the Eiffel Tower and Prague's old town. For more on Venice, set to classical music, see '10 Live Webcams of Venice' at Makotrav.com. WHEN THE TIME COMES: Eight-night 'Venice & Verona' trips with flights from 1,595 pp later this year (kirkerholidays.com). TROPICAL FISH Perhaps most relaxing of all: go underwater via Explore.org at the Tropical Reef Aquarium in Long Beach, California... and just watch the colourful fish swim about. WHEN THE TIME COMES: 12-day fly-drives in California with car and accommodation from 1,100 pp, flights excluded (trailfinders.com). CASTLES AND TEMPLES Enjoy views of Eilean Donan Castle by the Kyle of Lochalsh, Scotland, in storms or sunny conditions at Eileandonancastle.com. Take in the surrounding mountains and valleys from the turrets of the romantic 19th-century Neuschwanstein Castle in southern Bavaria, Germany, at Feratel.com. Or, for something completely different, see inside the Hindu ISKCON Temple in Delhi, India, via Webcamtaxi.com, where the colourful ceremonies are sometimes streamed online. WHEN THE TIME COMES: Ten-day 'Essential India' tours from 1,865 pp including flights and hotels later in the year (transindus.co.uk). BEACH BUDDIES Almost 11 million viewers have logged in to a webcam showing the white sands of Kuredu Island Resort in the Maldives, pictured (picture not from webcam) Away from the Caribbean, the white sand of Kuredu Island Resort in the Maldives looks so tempting, you may want to book a holiday later in the year. The sound of the waves gently washing on the shore is wonderfully calming, as almost 11 million viewers have already found at Kuredu.com. Skylinewebcams.com has a page on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and the shingle beach by old ochre-coloured buildings in the fishing village of Boccadasse, near Genoa, Italy, which has attracted 17 million hits. Or you can see Miami Beach on Earthcam.com. WHEN THE TIME COMES: Seven nights full board with flights from Manchester to Kuredu in the Maldives in May from 1,544 pp (tui.co.uk). ZOOM IN ON ZOOS Viewers can watch Edinburgh Zoo's giant panda Yang Guang, pictured, in his enclosure on one of the zoo's webcams (picture not from webcam) Watch the giant panda Yang Guang in his enclosure at Edinburgh Zoo at the 'Webcams' page of Edinburghzoo.com. He is incredibly popular more than 11 million people have clicked in during recent lockdowns. Alternatively, check out the 'Tiger Camera' and 'Penguin Camera' at Dudleyzoo.org.uk. For more giant pandas, Explore.org has an excellent link to the webcam at Happiness Village Baby Panda Park in Gengda, Sichuan province, southwest China. WHEN THE TIME COMES: 16-day 'Wonders of China' tours, with hotels and flights, are from 2,890 pp (wendywutours.co.uk). GREAT BRITISH SEASIDE Or how about escaping to the Great British seaside? Enjoy views of the harbour at St Ives, Cornwall, from various angles at Skylinewebcams.com and Orangeroofs.co.uk. Or watch the pebbly beach at Bognor Regis in West Sussex in real time at Bognorregisbeach.co.uk/live. Relax with the view from Rick Stein's restaurant facing Poole Harbour in Sandbanks, Dorset, at Rickstein.com. Whitby in Yorkshire has an excellent webcam that shows the abbey, a view up the River Esk and a perspective facing the North Sea at Quaysidewhitby.co.uk. Fine views are also to be had of Llandudno in North Wales, taking in Puffin Island and part of the mountains of Snowdonia at Westshorebeachcafe.com. ADVERTISEMENT WHEN THE TIME COMES: No travel around the UK now, obviously, but stays at the plush St Ives Harbour Hotel and Spa from 186 B&B in April (harbourhotels.co.uk). Household bills have fallen to their lowest level for three years for homes who switch providers, new research has revealed. Those actively searching for better deals could save hundreds on their bills with average annual costs falling by 174, according to Compare the Market. It found that household bills for three key areas, car and home insurance along with energy, cost a total of 2,527 in 2020, the lowest figure since 2017. The research suggested that households could save 494 if they switch to the cheapest suppliers for all bills. Households can save hundreds of pounds a year by switching their providers, new data says The new data analyses the cost of energy, home, and motor insurance since 2015, based on Compare the Market proprietary switching data. It shows significantly cheaper bills were available for households across the country over the course of 2020 with a typical household spending 2,527 on these three services over the past year falling from 2,702 in 2019. Energy bills have declined the most, typically costing 1,631 - dropping 171 from 2019. This could be in part to the energy price cap which was introduced by Ofgem and launched in January 2019 as a way of keeping down the cost for households across the UK. It is currently set at 1,042 for standard variable tariff customers whilst the savings are bigger for prepayment meter customers whose bills are capped at 1,069. Suppliers are not allowed to charge above the cap but they can offer cheaper deals for savvy customers. COST OF AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD BILLS OVER PAST SIX YEARS Year Energy Home insurance Car insurance Total 2015 1,289 131 611 2,032 2016 1,394 135 693 2,222 2017 1,625 142 738 2,505 2018 1,706 160 728 2,595 2019 1,803 165 734 2,702 2020 1,631 172 724 2,527 Source: Compare the Market Recently it was revealed the cap has been extended will remain in place until the end of 2021 when the level will be reviewed. The fall in average energy bills in 2020 could also be due to suppliers passing on some of the savings from the drop in wholesale energy prices, mainly down to reduced demand for energy overall during the two national lockdowns, despite more people staying at home. The energy prices in the release are based on the energy consumption that households say they use. In contrast to energy bills, the cost of both motor and home insurance saw smaller changes in 2020. The average cost of motor insurance dipped 10 compared to 2019 and now stands at 724, but this is still the lowest cost since 2016. Unlike the other household bills, the average cost of home insurance has steadily grown to 172 a year. Although only a 7 rise from 2019, it represents the fifth continuous year of increasing average bills since 2015, when the typical cost of home insurance was just 131. Meanwhile, on a regional basis, Londoners are paying substantially more than other areas more for their annual household bills. Those switching their energy bills can save the most, dropping by 171 within the last year People living in Greater London pay an average of 2,890 more than 350 above the national average. The cheapest region for household bills is South West England, where people spend an average of 2,244 on bills annually. Switching to the cheapest deals on the market for three bills could save households a significant 494 per year. This includes a 367 saving on energy bills, a 21 saving on home insurance, and a 105 saving on car insurance. Regionally, Londoners could cut their bills the most, saving 580 by shopping around for the cheapest deals. Ursula Gibbs, director at Compare the Market, said: 'The fall in annual bills is a rare piece of good news following a bruising twelve months for household finances. 'However, our Household Financial Confidence Tracker shows that nearly a fifth of UK households think they will struggle to meet the demands of their household bills in the coming weeks. 'Switching to a cheaper deal could be key to helping those who have seen hits to their income or further strain placed on their finances as a result of the pandemic. 'Shopping around for the cheapest deals on household bills is one of the simplest and most effective ways to save money for households with shrinking budgets. 'In particular, although more people are staying at home, the lockdowns actually resulted in a fall in the average cost of energy so it could be a good time to lock in some of the most affordable fixed rate deals we've seen in years.' New Delhi: Chaotic scenes were witnessed at the Delhi airport on Friday as many passengers arriving from the UK vociferously complained against the national capital government's belated decision to make seven-day institutional quarantine compulsory for them irrespective of their COVID-19 test results. Passenger flights resumed from the UK to India in limited numbers from Friday onwards after remaining suspended for 16 days due to the emergence of a new coronavirus variant in that country. Air India's AI112 flight from London landed at the Delhi airport at around 10.30 AM. It was the only UK flight to land in Delhi on Friday and it had 256 passengers in it, said Gauri Agarwal, founder of the Genestrings Diagnostic Centre, which is handling coronavirus testing of all passengers at the Delhi airport. "This is ridiculous. You cannot tell people the rules have changed after they land. Some notice must be given! Chaos at Delhi Airport with this flight, families with small children, pregnant woman howling," Vistara's former Chief Strategy and Commercial Officer Sanjiv Kapoor said on Twitter. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday afternoon that travellers coming from the UK to the national capital will have to undergo a seven-day institutional quarantine and a seven-day home quarantine even if they test negative for COVID-19 on arrival. Air India, however, claimed on Twitter on Friday evening that it had informed the flight's passengers about the new advisory of the Delhi government before the plane took off from the Heathrow airport last night. "Around 20 passengers opted to cancel their flight on being informed by Air India's London team of this advisory. The announcement was repeated during the flight as well," the carrier added. A passenger of the flight, named Harpreet Takkar, tagged Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Twitter and said, "Just came from London AI112, it's absolutely maniac at Delhi Airport. Asking us to go for institutional quarantine even with a Negative PCR test. Didn't mention this on your SOP (standard operating procedure)." Another passenger, Mohit Wadhwa, tagged Kejriwal on Twitter and said, "I am one of the passenger of flight AI112 from London with my 2 months old son. You locked everyone of us." Sources said there were heated arguments between the passengers and security personnel who were present at the airport. Air India said it had mobilised all available resources to expedite RT-PCR tests for passengers of the flight and extended "every possible support to facilitate them". One Vistara flight with 291 passengers will come from London to Delhi on Saturday and two flights one of British Airways and another of Air India with a total of 481 passengers will land at the Delhi airport on Sunday, Gauri Agarwal stated. Aviation Minister Puri had announced earlier this month that only 30 flights per week will operate between India and the UK between January 8 and January 23. Indian and UK carriers will each be operating 15 flights per week during the period. Earlier this month, the Union Health Ministry stated that a passenger coming from the UK can board a flight to India only when he has a negative test report from a sample taken 72 hours prior to the journey. Moreover, as per the rules, the passenger also has to take the RT-PCR test on arrival at the entry airport in India. India had suspended all passenger flights between the UK and India from December 23 to January 7 as a new variant of coronavirus emerged in the UK. Over 60 passenger flights per week were flying between India and the UK in December before the suspension. - Under the partnership, PACT Pharma will provide the company with insight into autologous NeoTCR manufacturing workflows to help identify product-market fit and secure early access to the technology for an undisclosed amount - PACT Pharma is the second organization and first industry partner to join the program following Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cellares Corporation, a company focused on revolutionizing cell therapy manufacturing, announced that PACT Pharma, Inc., a clinical-stage company developing transformational personalized NeoTCR-T cell therapies for the eradication of solid tumors, has joined its Early Access Partnership Program (EAPP). PACT Pharma is the second collaborator and first industry organization to join its EAPP, following Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Under the terms of the agreement, PACT Pharma secured early access to Cellares' technology for an undisclosed amount. "PACT Pharma is a leading developer of cutting-edge personalized medicines. We are honored by the trust PACT Pharma is placing in Cellares' team and technology to create a path to commercial scale manufacturing designed to be robust and cost-effective," said Cellares co-founder and chief executive officer Fabian Gerlinghaus. "We look forward to working together to ensure we are creating a manufacturing platform that fits the needs of the industry at large and PACT Pharma in particular." As part of Cellares' EAPP, PACT Pharma will provide the company with insight into autologous NeoTCR manufacturing workflows and participate in user studies. PACT Pharma will also provide feedback on Cell Shuttle hardware and software to inform user needs and contribute to product requirements and system specifications. "Currently, no solution exists that scales to meet the needs of cell therapy manufacturers at every phase of the development and commercialization process," said Tim Moore, president and chief operating officer of PACT Pharma. "PACT Pharma is excited to be working with Cellares and contribute to the future of cell therapy manufacturing. Cellares' next-generation cell therapy platform is designed to enable closed, automated and scalable manufacturing of cell therapies like our autologous NeoTCR-T cell therapies. We seized the opportunity to weigh in on Cellares' manufacturing platform while it's still in development, enabling PACT to potentially usher in a new future for cell therapy manufacturing." About The Cell Shuttle The Cell Shuttle is an automated and closed end-to-end manufacturing solution that is flexible and scalable, enabling customers to run the exact processes specified for their cell therapy. Compared with currently available cell therapy manufacturing methods, this next-generation platform enables a three-fold reduction in process failure rates and is capable of producing 10+ patient doses in parallel, which increases manufacturing scalability by an order of magnitude. This will reduce the per-patient manufacturing cost by up to 70 percent for most processes. About Cellares Corporation Cellares is creating the future of cell therapy manufacturing and accelerating access to life-saving cell therapies. The company is developing a one-of-a-kind solution to overcome the limitations associated with manufacturing cell therapies that are more affordable and widely available to patients in need. With Cellares' proprietary platform-The Cell Shuttle-biopharma companies, academic research centers and CDMOs will no longer have to compromise by either choosing a manufacturing platform that is semi-automated but lacks workflow flexibility, or one that provides customization but not the end-to-end automation needed to manufacture at scale. The company is headquartered in South San Francisco, Calif. For more information visit www.cellares.com. About PACT Pharma PACT Pharma is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company pioneering individualized, non-viral precision genome engineered, tumor-specific T cell therapies for the treatment of patients with solid cancers. PACT Pharma is now enrolling patients in its first-in-human Phase 1 clinical trial. Each person's cancer emerges with a private signature of mutations. PACT Pharma identifies these cancer mutation targets (neoantigens) for each person, biochemically verifies and captures T cells from their blood and uses its proprietary, cutting edge (non-viral) precision genome engineering technologies to manufacture a personalized immune cell therapy product for each person with cancer. For more information please visit www.pactpharma.com. CONTACTS Cellares For Media: Sylvia Aranda W2O Group saranda@w2ogroup.com For Potential Partners: Mark Flower Cellares Corporation bd@cellares.com PACT Pharma Glover Park Group (GPG) Sarah Sutton ssutton@gpg.com 202-337-0808 Uneek Mehra umehra@pactpharma.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1322663/Cellares_Corporation_Logo.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1396643/PACT_Logo.jpg If President-elect Joe Biden bats the thorny question of tech taxes down the road the way Democratic predecessor Barack Obama did, investors will pay the price. U.S. tech giants are already handing over so-called digital-service taxes to the French government. Unless the incoming administration restarts global efforts to reform corporate-tax rules, the likes of Alphabet, Apple and Facebook will soon face myriad such levies around the globe. On Thursday, the U.S. trade representative said it would delay retaliatory action against France promised by President Trump, essentially leaving the problem for Mr. Biden. U.S. backing is crucial for a deal. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development started working in 2013 to update industrial-era corporate tax rules for online companies and crack down on what many countries see as aggressive tax avoidance. But the project was soon shelved because of a lack of support from then-President Obama. Mr. Biden wont necessarily hold the same view of global tax reform he did back then. A lot has changed politically and economically. The incoming administration has also talked of taking a much stronger stance on the regulation and antitrust treatment of big tech companies. View Full Image Digital tax rates With a technical solution in sight, a deal could be done this year if the U.S. wants it. Mr. Trumps 2017 tax overhaul changed the rules at home, renewing the U.S. Treasurys interest in global reform. That revived the OECD project, which made rapid progress until last summer. It stalled after Washington appeared to get cold feet. Most policy makers across the world would prefer global reform to unilateral action, but are tired of waiting. More than 15 countries have now proposed or introduced DSTs as an interim measure, in an effort to push the U.S. to negotiate. France led the way, launching a 3% tax on digital-service revenues in 2019 that would be removed if new global rules are agreed. Mr. Trump responded by threatening tariffs against Parisa 25% charge on $1.3 billion of imported French luxury goods. Both levies were postponed last year in the hope that a global tax deal could be sealed by the year-end, but no agreement emerged. Last month, France billed over 400 million in digital-service taxes for 2019. On Wednesday, a stay of execution for Washingtons retaliatory tariffs expired. But rather than following through on its threat, the U.S. trade representative said it wanted a coordinated response." It is working on similar anti-DST measures against Austria, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the European Union, India, Indonesia, Italy, Spain, Turkey and the U.K. There is bipartisan frustration in Washington with taxes targeting U.S. tech giants. Mr. Biden is more likely to use diplomacy or multilateral institutions like the World Trade Organization, but will probably keep the Trumpian option of tariffs in his back pocket. The president-elect has a very long to-do list, and it is unclear where global corporate tax reform will rank. However, the DSTs in France and other countries will likely force the issue. The OECD is due to update G-20 finance ministers this summer. If there isnt significant progress by then, the global tax reform project will probably be back on the shelf and investors should brace for more trans-Atlantic fireworks. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. At the time Jacenko described the wedding in her usual, restrained prose as "by far one of Sydney's best weddings ... by far!" More recently Jacenko and Ingham had gone into business together, launching a range of "stunt" candles designed to create social media moments, though as Jacenko has previously told buyers, they look better unlit. Ingham confirmed to PS she was no longer in business with her former friend. Jess Ingham and Roxy Jacenko started a candle business together. Credit:Instagram Jacenko has parted company with a long line of former confidantes over the years. Most recently the likes of heiress Francesca Packer Barham, iron woman Candice Warner and socialites Grace Garrick and Holly Asser have all fallen out of favour with the high-profile publicist. And it appears Jacenko does not mend bridges easily, judging by the long-standing feud and estrangement from her own sister Ruby and father Nick Jacenko. Hunters Hill favourite Idris Elba. Credit:AP Actors descend on Sydney Lockdowns and quarantine are wreaking havoc on keeping tabs on the influx of famous faces who have descended on Sydney lately. Well, almost. PS hears actor, rapper and DJ Idris Elba has been a welcome addition to the neighbourhood around Hunters Hill where he has been living for the past few weeks while in town for the three-month shoot of George Miller's fantasy-romance drama Three Thousand Years Of Longing. Elba and his family turned up at a neighbourhood Christmas drinks party proffering a bottle of vino just before Christmas and are said to have slotted in comfortably. There's been little sign of his co-star Tilda Swinton, who is also in Sydney for the shoot. Nicole Kidman managed to squeeze a mad dash to Northern Ireland for a two-week shoot for a production in which she is playing a Viking queen. Leaving husband Keith Urban and the kids back at her Southern Highlands estate, the actor managed to get back to Australia and into quarantine at home in time to emerge on Christmas morning to share the day with her family and mother, Janelle. Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban and their daughters Sunday Rose and Faith, who now reside in NSW. Credit:Matrix Kidman and her brood are due to stay in Australia for the next three months as she completes post-production on series Nine Perfect Strangers, with daughters Sunday Rose and Faith both enrolled in school here and said to be enjoying their extended stay in their parents' ancestral home. Their parents are keen to immerse them in Australian culture, making trips to the National Gallery and War Memorial in Canberra last week. While Natalie Portman was shooting glamorous perfume ads in Potts Point for Dior, the actor is also keeping it real in Sydney with her family. Here to make the latest Thor instalment with Chris Hemsworth, Portman has been spotted doing the groceries at Woolworths Double Bay, while her family has also been catching up with Isla Fisher and her husband Sasha Baron Cohen, who are also in town. Russell Crowe and his new squeeze, actress Brittany Theriot, have been enjoying the seclusion of Crowe's north coast farm at Nana Glen, while American heartthrob Zac Efron and his Australian girlfriend Vanessa Valladares have been taking in the sights around Paddington this week. On the Central Coast Toni Collette has been enjoying downtime over the holidays with her family, having spent much of the past year focusing on her husband Dave Galafassi's recovery after he was injured in a "devastating" motorcycle accident. McLachlan's tell-all interview Actor Craig McLachlan promised he had "a lot" more to say in the new year after he was found not guilty of assault and indecent assault charges dating back to 2014, but exactly where and how he will say it remains a mystery. PS hears McLachlan's media manager Grant Vandenberg has been in discussion with various media outlets about an exclusive tell-all, with the likely broadcaster shaping up to be the Seven Network, though Vandenberg informed PS this week there was "no shortage" of TV offers on the table. However, given McLachlan's pending defamation action against The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, which is now part of the Nine Entertainment Group, and the ABC, there are those who suspect his TV options are somewhat limited. Delivering her verdict in the criminal trial last year Magistrate Belinda Wallington said that while she accepted some of the complainants' evidence, it did not meet the high criminal standards required to prove the charges. Craig McLachlan with his partner, Vanessa Scammell, after his not guilty verdict was announced. Credit:Janie Barrett "The four complainants were brave and honest witnesses," she said. "I was not persuaded that there was evidence of collusion between the complainants. I was not persuaded that there was evidence of motive or that the complaints were made for reasons for career ambition or for any other such reason." Among the allegations, McLachlan was accused of inappropriately tickling the inner-thigh of a woman on stage, known as CC. "I'm unable to exclude the possibility that an egotistical, self-entitled sense of humour led the accused to genuinely think that CC was consenting to his actions," Magistrate Wallington said, adding the "result may have been different" if current consent laws were applied in the case. "The law requires me to apply the law as it stood at the time of the alleged offending," she said. Dennis calls time on lifestyle show After months of upheaval behind the scenes at Better Homes & Gardens that resulted in a viewer backlash over the axing of popular landscaper Jason Hodges, another of the show's long-serving personalities, craft queen Tara Dennis, has decided to leave Seven's lifestyle show. Apparently there is only so much one can do with Paddle Pop sticks and a hot glue gun. PS hears the decision has been all Dennis's, who wants to focus her attention on two homewares stores she has in Balmain and Wahroonga, though she will remain on screens for the next few months, leaving a vacancy on the show for a crafty type to fill. 'No Princess Di' To be fair, PS had to Google her name to work out who she was, and by her own admission she is "no Princess Di", but I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out Of Here star Abbie Chatfield posted an extraordinary account on Instagram of her dealings with a Brisbane paparazzo this week, claiming she was being stalked and accusing the snapper of opening her car door while she was in the vehicle and demanding she pose for photos. "I'm no Princess Di," says reality TV star Abbie Chatfield. Credit:Network Ten Not that Chatfield is completely innocent in all this, also admitting in the video that she too had pocketed money from set-up "pap" shots sold to trashy magazines and websites and that she had willingly "played the game". It doesn't sound like a terribly lucrative game, given her photos were only fetching a few hundred dollars. Julie Lea Goodwin, principal soprano with Opera Australia, with dancers Breanna Skewes and Grace Robinson, who perform in The Merry Widow. Credit:James Brickwood A merry opening The opening night of The Merry Widow at the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday drew global attraction, given it is believed to be the only opera currently playing in front of a live audience on a major stage in the world, with so many of Europe and America's productions stalled because of the pandemic. Donning masks for the big night were Ros Packer, Arts Minister Don Harwin, vitamin mogul Marcus Blackmore, federal MP Trent Zimmerman, NSW Governor Margaret Beazley, television personalities Lisa Wilkinson and Tim Davies, cabaret queen Trevor Ashley, Opera Australia chairman David Mortimer and philanthropist John Kaldor. As for the show, The Merry Widow is a witty and lavish production with fabulous costumes and dance sequences - it's well worth it. Jack Ma's Newcastle connection Could Chinese billionaire Jack Ma be hiding out in Australia? Ma's great friend Maggie Zhou, who studied English with him during their student days in China, runs Ma's Alibaba Australia and New Zealand operations, while Ma himself is no stranger to Australia. Loading Many of Ma's wealthy Chinese friends and associates also have homes in Australia, having bought up in the great Chinese billionaire property boom of the past five years. But Ma's connections to Australia run much deeper thanks to his friendship with the late Ken Morley, a Newcastle electrical engineer, who helped Ma on his journey from a poor youth to e-commerce tycoon. SHOWS February 22, 2021 10.00 am Bazaar Corporate Radar Bazaar Corporate Radar is your window into the minds of top CEOs, Boardrooms, global economists, fund managers and sector analysts. If it?s making news, you?ll find it on Bazaar Corporate Radar. Trump silenced by social media giants It might only be the first week of 2021, but boy didnt a whole lot happen in the last seven days. The biggest news story of this week was undoubtedly the developments around the hordes of pro-Trump protestors/rioters that violently stormed the US Capitol building this week in an attempt to scuttle the ceremonial counting of electoral votes. It resulted in some of the most unsettling scenes for the wider context of US democracy in recent history, with four people losing their lives in the riots. During the events, Donald Trump was, as you might expect, Tweeting and Facebooking. The posts which included further doubts on the election results and a video address that expressed love for rioters while urging them to go home in peacewere enough for both Facebook and Twitter to suspend his social media privileges. Twitter instituted their ban for 12 hours and mandated that three policy-violating tweets be deleted, including the aforementioned video address. The company has since reinstated the Presidents account with the caveat that they would permanently ban him if he broke the platforms rules again. He used his first Tweet back on the platform to firmly denounce the violent demonstrators, while committing to a peaceful transition of power. Unlike Twitter, though, the Facebook (including Instagram) ban has not since been reversed. While the social media company initially employed a 24-hour ban on Trump authoring new posts, it said the suspension will now not be revised until the transition of power to Joe Biden on the 20th of January. In explaining the ban, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg said the risk of reactivating Trumps account were simply too great, arguing it removed his recent posts because they judged that their effect -- and likely their intent -- would be to provoke further violence. Shopify and PayPal also removed Trump-related accounts, citing policies against supporting violence. This included the cease of official MAGA merchandise sales though Shopify, as well as an account that funded Trump supporters who travelled to Washington, DC. You are here: World Flash Seven suspected terrorists have been arrested from the Sargodha district of eastern Punjab province, Pakistani police quoted by local media said on Thursday evening. Local media quoted sources from the Punjab province police department as saying that the Counter Terrorism Department of police raided a militant hideout in Sargodha and arrested the suspected terrorists who belong to a banned organization. The reports added that an intense fire exchange took place between suspected terrorists and the raiding police personnel before the suspects surrendered. An intelligence agency of Pakistan army reportedly provided a tip-off besides helping police to conduct the successful operation. Police told media that the suspects were planning the assassination of some important figures as well as triggering sectarian conflict in the country. Police personnel also recovered explosives, hand grenades and arms from the suspects, the reports added. The arrest is made at the time when security agencies have declared a high alert in all major cities of the country after intelligence agencies issued threat alert of possible terrorist attacks at government institutions and officials. Michigans federal COVID-19 relief funding should be contingent on Gov. Gretchen Whitmers administration reopening the economy, the incoming House Appropriations Committee chair said Friday. State Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, said in a Friday statement that he cant envision beginning discussions with the administration about how best to allocate federal COVID-19 funds until the Whitmer administration takes more steps to reopening the states economy. Specifically citing the emergency public health order that shutters in-person dining through Jan. 15, Albert said he believes its difficult to allocate funds without knowing when or under what conditions restaurants and other impacted businesses can reopen. I fully intend to employ the checks and balances required in our system of government, he said in the statement. We will not simply hand over billions of taxpayer dollars to extend the current way of governing. Related: Heres what the states $465 million, the feds $908 billion COVID aid bills mean for Michiganders The federal money the state of Michigan is getting includes hundreds of millions for vaccine distribution, COVID-19 testing and tracing and more, including emergency assistance for renters, child care assistance, increased food stamp benefits and money for schools and colleges to undergo HVAC repairs to reduce the risk of COVID-19 in the classroom. Asked about Alberts comments during a Friday press conference, Whitmer said she hopes the representative isnt threatening to withhold money for vaccine deployment and other critical COVID-19 response over reopening restaurants. Its my hope that theyre not suggesting now we should start negotiating away public health measures to keep people safe and hold these things hostage, because there are a lot of people in our state struggling and this federal relief is necessary, she said. Im hopeful that theyll get to work and get this allocated as quickly as possible. House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, said in a statement it is totally irresponsible to even suggest holding back relief funding when vaccine distribution is crucial to reopening the economy. I call on House Republicans to release the federal funds now for vaccines that can save lives and help reopen our economy, she said. Related: Michigan governor calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1 Before the Legislature wrapped up its session at the end of 2020, lawmakers reached a bipartisan agreement on state COVID-19 relief but Whitmer vetoed a provision of the legislation that would have put $220 million into the states Unemployment Trust Fund to pay for an additional six weeks of state unemployment for people starting unemployment in 2021. Other measures in the state-funded package directed aid to certain unemployed workers and hard-hit businesses, as well as pandemic response efforts in the state health department and health care industry. More: Whitmer veto means some Michiganders could lose extra 6 weeks of unemployment benefits Read the $465M coronavirus response plan Michigan lawmakers are sending to Whitmer Highlights WhatsApp has updated its policies for users. Signal has emerged as a possible alternate. Signal is claimed to be more secure. If you are not paying for the product, you are the product I woke up on Wednesday to multiple tweets highlighting and almost reminding others of this popular quote from Netflix's 2020 documentary 'Social Dilemma'. Why this untimely reminder? Most of these social media users woke up to an in-app notification from WhatsApp informing them about platform's updated policies (terms of service and privacy), which are mandatory to accept if you want to continue using the app. Just the fact that users are left with limited options is scary. The details are scarier. The update policies have added new sections about Transactions and Payments Data as well as Location Information. It has also made it clear that information and data can be collected and shared with Facebook companies, if WhatsApp believes it is needed. There is no doubt that WhatsApp has penetrated in a way that no other messaging app has managed to and the reliance on the platform has increased over the years, both for personal and professional communications. This is why mainstream users have stuck to the platform despite its share of controversies and shady practices. Probably, this time WhatsApp has gone a bit too far, taking users for granted. It is claiming to collect more data than before including battery level, signal strength, app version, and identifiers unique to Facebook Companies. All of these can be used by not just WhatsApp but also Facebook companies. And, we know that the platforms have been prone to hacks and data leaks in the past. It's also the tone that WhatsApp uses in some of its terms that raises a few eyebrows. It says that you need to give access to your location data if you want to continue sharing location with your friends and family. Fair enough. But, it further adds that if you refuse to do so, the platform will anyhow collect information like IP addresses and phone number area code to figure out your location. A similar tone also reflects in the line where WhatsApp mentions what happens to your data once the account is deleted. It is clearly saying that your data will not be wiped off immediately after deleting your WhatsApp account and users will have to dig deeper for the same. Come on WhatsApp, how many users will actually be able to understand and perform this action! Is it time to move on? This isn't the first time when WhatsApp users are asking this question. Something similar happened couple of years back when the Facebook-owned platform sued the cybersecurity company NSO for over $75,000 in damages alleging that the Israeli firm illegally used WhatsApp servers to sneak Pegasus into phones belonging to 1,400 users across 20 countries. Several users from India, including journalists, activists, lawyers and senior government officials, were also hit by the attack. Back then, Telegram had emerged as a possible alternative to WhatsApp. The messaging app became popular by claiming that offers end-to-end encryption. This means that the conversations can only be seen by the sender and receiver. The platform has grown since then but is dealing with its own set of issues, one of which is piracy. Telegram is allegedly being used by several notorious users to circulated pirated movies and a solution about that is yet to be found. It has also been on the radar for some time over its use for sharing music illegally. There have been other options too in the past be it WeChat or Hike. But, none of these have managed to go past the initial fame, let aside the possibility of competing with WhatsApp. Another factor is that WhatsApp has become more accessible and users have years of chat history on the app which is not easy to save or export to another platform. So where do we stand now? The next in line is the Signal recently brought to limelight by world's richest man Elon Musk. Soon after WhatsApp updated its policies, Musk tweeted "Use Signal". This messaging app has also come to the forefront because of its privacy-focussed approach. It is widely used by the security experts, privacy researchers, academics, and others around the world. WhatsApp vs Signal There have been general beliefs and claims that Signal is more secure than WhatsApp but Apple's new privacy labels give a clear picture of the same. For those unaware, these labels not only require app developers to reveal what data is being collected by the platform but also to explain how it is being used. Thanks to this, we know that data collected by WhatsApp includes Phone Number, Email Address, Contacts, Coarse Location, Device ID, User ID, Advertising Data, Purchase History, Product Interaction, Payment Info, Crash Data, Performance Data, Other Diagnostic Data, Customer Support, Product Interaction, Other User, Content, Metadata. This is significantly more than what is being asked by other apps. On the contrary, Signal is not asking for anything. The platform only requires your phone number for registration but doesn't link it directly to your identity. If you check the app on the App Store it states that there is no data linked to you. However, another major difference between the two platforms is that Signal is open source, while WhatsApp is not. At this point, you might be wondering why more users are not switching to Signal instead of WhatsApp. This takes me back to the initial point of penetration. WhatsApp is no more a noun, it is a verb. Users don't just say "send it to me on WhatsApp". The more frequently used phrase is "WhatsApp me". This is how much dependent most are on the app. Also, the policies and terms of services are usually full of jargons that are difficult to understand for everyone. This gives a free pass to many platforms, not just WhatsApp. What the new policies do is that they bring the platform back to the witness box and also make it clear that WhatsApp is no more an independent platform but just another Facebook product. BJP Telangana state in-charge Tarun Chug promised that the central government would give assistance to turmeric farmers if the Telangana government offered a market intervention price of Rs 10,000 per quintal of turmeric. DC Image Nizamabad: As the peak marketing season is approaching, turmeric farmers would intensify their agitation for remunerative price for their produce. Farmers of Nizamabad, Jagitial and Nirmal districts will unitedly fight for better price for turmeric this season. A meeting will be held in Armoor on January 8 to press the demand, their leaders said. Turmeric is cultivated on a huge scale in north Telangana districts and the region caters to the needs of national and international markets. The price of the produce is now around Rs 6,000 per quintal. Farmers say the cultivation, thus, is not profitable. Farmers said turmeric will reach Nizamabad agriculture market yard soon. This is one of the biggest markets in the country for turmeric sales. Other than the BJP and TRS, political parties have in general extended their support to turmeric farmers. Nizamabad MP Dharmapuri Arvind said he is ready for a debate on having a turmeric board set up in Armoor. I initiated steps for the setting up of a regional spices board centre in Nizamabad, which is greater than the turmeric board, he said. I promised to get a turmeric board centre for the region in the last Parliament elections, but the regional spices board in Nizamabad would benefit turmeric farmers more than that, he explained at the Bodhan public meeting. BJP national general secretary and Telangana state in-charge Tarun Chug also promised that the central government would give assistance to turmeric farmers if the Telangana government offered a market intervention price of Rs 10,000 per quintal of turmeric. Farmers are waiting for the decision of state government. With the pandemic altering almost all aspects of our daily lives, staying safe by working from homes amid a raging virus outbreak is what seemed like the most sensible thing to do. But after a whole year of crazy working hours within the four walls of one's apartment rather than swanky office spaces, how sensible is it to return to the office? Several companies have been slowly but eventually getting their workers back to regular office spaces like before. With exceptions such as healthcare professionals, law and order officials, food suppliers and the likes for whom the work from home experience was never feasible, people are now seemingly interested in forsaking their home workspace for their cubicles and office chambers. A survey conducted by News18 in partnership with market research company YouGov found that a sizeable chunk of people wishes to return to offices like before. But with the safety of utmost importance, many are also ready to wait out the availability of a vaccine. The survey, that was conducted between December 29, 2020 and January 3, 2021 collected data from 1015 urban Indian respondents and found several interesting inferences about people willing to go back to work. Almost seven in ten people who answered questions for the survey said they will be comfortable in returning back to their offices while at least 67% are comfortable with the idea of travelling to domestic destinations. Among those who took part in the survey, at least one-third of the participants expressed that they only wish to return to their offices once everyone in the country is vaccinated. ALSO READ: Staying Fit and Saving Money Indians' Top Resolutions for 2021, Reveals News18 Survey ALSO READ: Majority of Urban Indians will Take Coronavirus Vaccine as Soon it is Available ALSO READ: News18 Hopes of Indians Survey: Vaccine for Covid-19 Pandemic, Life Without Masks in 2021 ALSO READ: 6 Out of 10 Indians Feel Masks, Sanitizers Should be Used Until Everyone is Vaccinated However, an interesting inference from the survey result was also that almost 30% of participants had no problems in going back to their usual workspaces once people in their offices are inoculated. Now, while the office spaces are sanitised and co-workers are vaccinated, what's interesting to note is that the risk of travelling involved is not factoring in here. Meanwhile, a sizeable number of them also seem to have slipped into a habit of working from homes and thus at least 20% of them believe that they will be more comfortable in working from home till the pandemic finally gets over, irrespective of the fact that everyone around them and in the country is vaccinated or not. With the advent of a new year, close to half the respondents at 48% believed that the job opportunities this year will be better, while 32% are not yet sure about the situation of the job market this year. Remote working, although not unheard of, has been one of the most prominent factors to curb the spread of the virus in India and even elsewhere. While a lot of it also depends on how the pandemic shapes up and how sooner or later the vaccination covers most of the sub-continent, a lot of it also depends on the companies and their working policies. Also Read: Permanent Work-from-Home, Flexible Working Hrs: Microsoft's New 'Hybrid' Policy for Post Virus World Microsoft was probably one of the first companies to announce the extension of their remote working policy. The company has released the new hybrid workplace guidance that lays out how employees can have a more flexible remote work schedule and even relocate elsewhere in the US, while it continues to adjust to changing needs during the ongoing pandemic. Also Read: More Of Us In India Face Burnout With Work From Home, And Too Much Communication Is One Reason Companies have also tried and infused new and innovative ideas to make the scenario a tad better for their employees. Halfway through the pandemic, the company gave employees another day off to avoid burnout. Google marked the Friday day-off as a one-time paid holiday for "collective wellbeing" that applies to both full-time employees as well as interns. Because, yes, burnouts are happening. Another report conducted towards the end of last year found that more than 41% of the workforce in India were dealing with increased stress levels because of the blurred lines between work and personal life. The blurring of lines is a result of increased communication with colleagues and fewer boundaries with regards to time, and long workdays. Thus, amid increasing stress levels and all too mixed up aspects of work and personal lives, going back to the office might just be what people need at this point to get back that demarcation for all of us. Some essential City of Winnipeg workers and their unions are asking for priority spots on the provinces COVID-19 vaccination list. Some essential City of Winnipeg workers and their unions are asking for priority spots on the provinces COVID-19 vaccination list. "Being able to get the vaccination, get that priority, would give us another step to having a safe workplace... Were enclosed in a tight space in the bus," said one Transit driver, who asked not to be named. The city should lobby the province for public transit operators to become a priority immunization group, since their daily work puts them in close proximity to the public, the driver said Thursday adding front-line health-care workers, including firefighters and paramedics, and seniors should get their shots first. Ideally, they would be followed by police and Winnipeg Transit staff, including those tasked with cleaning bus shelters, the driver said. "Every time I go to work, Ive got to be extra vigilant. I carry alcohol wipes with me and I wipe down my entire drivers compartment." Being able to get the vaccination, get that priority, would give us another step to having a safe workplace... Were enclosed in a tight space in the bus. Transit driver The union that represents Transit drivers is on board, lobbying for workers to receive vaccines soon after doses are provided to all health-care workers. "On our buses, we have upwards of 50 people on a bus at a time when its busy... If you want to keep the city rolling, I think vaccinations for our members should be a priority," said James Van Gerwen, vice-president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505. The province is currently offering doses to specific health-care staff, including some who work in key hospital units, long-term care facilities, immunization clinics, COVID-19 testing sites or labs that handle COVID-19 specimens, some of whom must also meet minimum age criteria. Those who work in prisons or jails can also get the shot. This week, the province announced it will complete the vaccination of all eligible Manitoba personal care home residents by early March. Some vaccines have also been earmarked for First Nations communities, which will also prioritize doses for at-risk groups. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES While "paramedics and specialty medical transport teams" are listed as an upcoming priority group for vaccines, Alex Forrest said hes lobbying to ensure that addition arrives as soon as possible, and includes all firefighters. A second round of vaccine recipients will include select workers in: Child and Family Services or Community Living disABILITY Services group homes; paramedics and specialty medical transport teams; emergency placement, family violence and homeless shelters; and home care. Once vaccine supplies allow, the province says, seniors will also become a priority group. Meanwhile, the union for Winnipeg firefighters is also lobbying to ensure its members get the shot as soon as possible. "The whole (Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service), the individuals that come in contact with COVID patients... need to be pushed up in the queue," said Alex Forrest, president of United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg. In a written statement, city spokesman David Driedger said the city has asked emergency service workers be added to the vaccine priority list, due to their likelihood of having direct physical contact with Winnipeggers. While "paramedics and specialty medical transport teams" are listed as an upcoming priority group for vaccines, Forrest said hes lobbying to ensure that addition arrives as soon as possible, and includes all firefighters. The province confirmed firefighter-paramedics, but not firefighters, are currently included in that category. In a written statement, city spokesman David Driedger said the city has asked emergency service workers be added to the vaccine priority list, due to their likelihood of having direct physical contact with Winnipeggers. "This puts them at a heightened risk of both contracting COVID-19 and potentially spreading it within our community," Driedger wrote. "Its our hope that the vaccine will be rolled out to front-line workers as soon as possible, including to our bus operators, once supply of the vaccine is more widely available." According to a provincial spokesperson, the number of vaccine doses that become available will play a key role in determining when additional groups could be prioritized for immunization. joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @joyanne_pursaga British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Friday there were concerns that COVID-19 vaccines might not work properly against the highly transmissible variant of the coronavirus discovered in South Africa . The world's leading COVID-19 vaccine makers are rushing to see if their shots work against new mutations of the novel coronavirus found in South Africa and the United Kingdom. Also read Virus spread slows but two states still a worry Pfizer Inc and BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine appeared to work against a key mutation in the highly transmissible new variants of the coronavirus discovered in the UK and South Africa, according to a laboratory study conducted by the U.S. drugmaker. "The South African variant is worrying the experts because it may be that the vaccine doesn't respond in the same way or doesn't work in quite the same way," Shapps told LBC radio. "This South African variant - this is a very big concern for the scientists." The not-yet peer reviewed study by Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch indicated the vaccine was effective in neutralizing virus with the so-called N501Y mutation of the spike protein. The mutation could be responsible for greater transmissibility and there had been concern it could also make the virus escape antibody neutralization elicited by the vaccine, said Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizer's top viral vaccine scientists. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. New Delhi: The Centre will conduct the second dry run for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out across 33 states and UTs on Friday. The mock drill will be held at three session sites of 736 districts across 33 states and union territories, the health ministry said in a statement. The health ministry said in a statement requested the state health ministers to be vigilant against rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. "The objective of the mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination is to simulate the actual vaccine administration event," the ministry said. The statement further added, "This activity will help administrators in strengthening the linkages between planning, implementation and reporting mechanisms, identification of any residual challenges prior to the actual implementation and to provide confidence to the programme managers at all levels to carry out a smooth implementation of the vaccination drive." "The earlier national mock drill of Jan 2, 2021 helped to iron out any glitches in the final execution and further refinement of the operational procedures. The feedback from most of the states and UTs was satisfactory conduct of the dry run," the statement said. This time, Pune will be the central hub from where vaccine distribution will take place. As many as 41 destinations across the country have been finalised for delivery of vaccines, ANI reported. For northern India, Delhi & Karnal will be made mini hubs, while for the eastern region, Kolkata will be the hub, it will also be a nodal point for the northeast. Chennai and Hyderabad to be designated points for southern India. Meanwhile, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will be visiting Tamil Nadu on Friday. The statement said that during his visit, Vardhan will personally review the preparedness and oversee the dry run operations at the scheduled site. The minister will visit the sessions site at Government General Hospital, Chennai followed by the one at Government Omandurar Hospital. In the afternoon he will visit the private vaccination centre in Apollo Hospital, Chennai after a brief visit to the General Medical Store Depot (GMSD) in Periamedu. Thereafter, Vardhan will visit the vaccination centre at Chengalpattu. He will be visiting the Hindustan Bio-Tech Ltd. Campus at Chengalpattu after concluding his supervision at these sites. Live TV Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. DecisionDatabases added the latest report with a global perspective on the Sliding Door Harness Market studied under different segments, including type, application, and regions. The report is treated with size, trends, growth, share, and forecast till 2025. Besides, the research report studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall growth at the global level. This report also offers a lucrative area of the industry at the regional and country level. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Sliding Door Harness market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Sliding Door Harness Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-30316 According to this study, over the next five years, the Sliding Door Harness market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Sliding Door Harness business, shared in Chapter 3. This Sliding Door Harness market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Sliding Door Harness market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Yazaki Corporation Shenzhen Qiaoyun Furukawa Electric Sumitomo Kunshan Huguang Lear Luxshare Precision Shanghai Jinting Changchun Jieyi Henan Tianhai Derun Electronics Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-30316 This study considers the Sliding Door Harness value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. In-Door Wiring Harness Under The Door Harness Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. OEMs Aftermarket In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Sliding Door Harness Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-30316 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Sliding Door Harness consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Sliding Door Harness market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Sliding Door Harness manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Sliding Door Harness with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Sliding Door Harness submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/global-sliding-door-harness-market-report-2020-by-regions-upcoming-trends-industry-analysis-and-global-demand-till-2025/ In the crowd of insurrectionists who seized the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Christian imagery was rife. Alongside Confederate flags and white supremacist symbols, protesters shouldered crosses, waved Jesus Saves signs, and hung oversized Jesus 2020 banners. One rioter who made it inside the building carried a Christian flag. Outside, on the National Mall, people chanted, Christ is king. As the reporter Jack Jenkins noted, some in the crowd referred to the neo-fascist Proud Boys as Gods warriors. Advertisement There was no denying the religious rights role in Wednesdays events. In the aftermath, many evangelical leaders condemned the violencerarely to a warm reception. Prominent Donald Trump supporters who offered stronger denunciations of the events were met with accusations of too little, too late from liberals and charges of abandoning their president and their principles from conservatives. And not all leaders took that tack: A smaller number of religious leaders grasped for conspiracy theories Advertisement Advertisement There are a number of ride-or-die Trump supporters among prominent evangelicals. Eric Metaxas, an author who has caused soul-searching among some evangelicals because of his vociferous support for Trumps election fraud claims, was eager to pin the blame on antifa. He later insisted that the days violent events made no differencethat even still, we must do all we can to expose the fraudulence of the election. Advertisement There is no doubt the election was fraudulent. That is the same today as yesterday. There is no doubt Antifa infiltrated the protesters today and planned this. This is political theater and anyone who buys it is a sucker. Fight for justice and Pray for justice. God bless America! Eric Metaxas (@ericmetaxas) January 7, 2021 He was not alone among evangelical public figures. The televangelist Mark Burns called the assertion that Trump supporters were responsible a lie from the gates of hell. And while the evangelist Franklin Graham warned that our country is in trouble and called for Christians to pray for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, he also speculated that the people who broke the windows were most likely antifa. To tell people to go home, its not for me to decide that, he said. Advertisement But most Christian leaders in prominent or formal positions of power either stayed quiet or spoke out against the violenceand a couple even came close to disavowing Trumpism itself. Southern Baptist Convention president J.D. Greear on Twitter asked the president to condemn this mob and called the peaceful transition of power part of honoring and submitting to Gods ordained leaders whether they were our choice or not. Peaceable transitions of power have marked our Republic since the beginning. It is part of honoring and submitting to Gods ordained leaders whether they were our choice or not. We need you, @POTUS to condemn this mob. Lets move forward together. Praying for safety. J.D. Greear (@jdgreear) January 6, 2021 Advertisement Adam Greenway, the president of the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, was less verbose: Violence is never the answer. God have mercy on and help us all. The Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore, a Trump critic, called the rioters actions inexcusable and Trumps response to the crisis shameful beyond words. Turning to his followers, he expressed grief and rage and urged them to accept that Biden was lawfully elected. If Christians are people of truth, we ought to be the first to acknowledge reality, he wrote. Advertisement R. Albert Mohler Jr., the president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, spoke at length about the days events and made the boldest statement against the president, calling the cult of personality the greatest danger to the American experiment. Mohler, who had opposed Trump four years ago, supported the presidents reelection bid. Advertisement Rick Warren, one of the most influential evangelical pastors in the country and someone who has voiced concerns about Trumps policies, also pleaded for Trump to speak to his supporters. Armed breaching of capitol security behind a confederate flag is anarchy, unAmerican, criminal treason and domestic terrorism, he said on Twitter. The televangelist Pat Robertson, a prominent Trump supporter who criticized the president for living in an alternate reality after he lost the election, directly turned on Trump, accusing him of going mad. Televangelist Pat Robertson declares that "there was a madness yesterday and it came on Donald Trump," saying that Republicans were ready to fight for the election in Congress until Trump went "crazy" and urged his supporters to march on the Capitol. pic.twitter.com/RGnUG4Hx7q Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) January 7, 2021 Advertisement Even some of those in the presidents orbit, such as Trump spiritual adviser Paula White, urged people to do this without becoming violent. Extreme conservatives attempted to distance themselves from the violence. Jim Daly, the evangelist heading the fundamentalist Christian organization Focus on the Family, defended Vice President Mike Pence against Trumps attacks and called violence despicable. Some evangelical figures attempted to dampen the support for the insurrectionists by equating Trumps supporters to Black Lives Matter protesters. An unofficial evangelical adviser to Trump, Jentezen Franklin, declared that violent protests and breaking the law is always the wrong choice no matter who does it liberals or conservatives. The inflammatory radio host Todd Starnes called both BLM and the pro-Trump riots criminal. Sean Feucht, the Christian recording artist who has been criticized for holding mass worship events in protest of COVID restrictions, tweeted that opposition to violence should be a shared and CONSISTENT value, citing incidents in Portland, Oregon; Kenosha, Wisconsin; and Minneapolis. Robert Jeffress, another influential pastor, told his followers that disobeying and assaulting police is a sin whether its done by Antifa or angry Republicans. Advertisement Silence, in some cases, spoke volumes, as when Truett McConnell University president Emir Caner made no comment on the protests but took to Twitter to grouch about Facebooks Trump ban and urged his followers to use Parler instead. Meanwhile, other pastors tried to offer solace in an awkwardly apolitical way, posting prayers for a country in turmoil, with no indication of who might be responsible for that turmoil. And finally, there were less conservative evangelicals who found that this moment only reinforced previous stances they had taken against elements of Trumpismstances that often alienated them from their supporters and community. As Beth Moore, the founder of Living Proof Ministries, tweeted, I dont know the Jesus some have paraded and waved around in the middle of this treachery today. They may be acting in the name of some other Jesus but thats not Jesus of the Gospels. Advertisement London is facing the biggest threat of the pandemic so far as the NHS buckles under the strain of coronavirus cases, experts warned today as a major incident was declared in the capital. The city is one of the main hotspots of the latest wave of the virus which saw deaths reach a record high today, with its spread now 'out of control' in the metropolitan area. Mayor Sadiq Khan warned that more than 1 per cent of the city's nine million residents tested positive for Covid last week, with one in 30 residents currently estimated to be infected. In the worst-hit boroughs, it is feared the rate is as high as one in 20 and startling figures also show that hospital admissions rose by a quarter in the first week of January. More than 7,000 NHS beds across the capital are currently occupied by Covid patients - 35 per cent higher than the busiest day of the pandemic in the spring. Police blasted a 'small selfish minority' ignoring the rules and promised to come down hard on transgressors who are refusing to stop partying despite the highly transmissible pathogen being rife. Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said: 'I know Londoners will be shocked that officers are still dealing with a small selfish minority who think the rules don't apply to them by holding house parties, large warehouse raves or other gatherings. These are creating breeding grounds for the much more transmissible variant.' The Government said a further 1,325 people had died within 28 days of testing positive for Covid-19 as of today - the highest number of UK deaths reported on a single day since the outbreak began. It brings the UK total to 79,833. Professor Kevin Fenton, Public Health England's regional director for London, said: 'This is the biggest threat our city has faced in this pandemic to date.' However, there was a tiny sliver of hope on the horizon. According to results of the UK's largest testing scheme, coronavirus cases are already dropping in London. It suggests that some of the worst of the second wave may have already passed because of the strict Tier Four restrictions that were enforced before Christmas. Figures from the Office for National Statistics, which tracks the size of the outbreak through random swabs of thousands of people, suggest the capital's crisis started to reverse on December 29 - a week before the nation's third national lockdown came into force. But because of the nature of the illness, however, there is a lag between the number of cases rising and falling and a corresponding change in hospital admissions and deaths. Mr Khan said that over the last three days alone the NHS has announced 477 deaths in London hospitals following a positive test for Covid-19. In a letter to Boris Johnson he has demanded churches and other places of worship be closed and for face masks to be worn routinely outside of the home, including in supermarket queues and other places outside that may be crowded. He also wants more financial support for Londoners who need to self-isolate and are unable to work, and for daily vaccination data. In a statement today Mr Khan said: 'The situation in London is now critical with the spread of the virus out of control.' Major incidents were declared in London after the Grenfell Tower disaster, the London Bridge and Westminster terror attacks, and the Croydon tram crash in November 2016. On another day of coronavirus chaos: As many as 100,000 Britons abroad have five days to get home or face being banned without a negative Covid test; Britain's coronavirus R rate could now be anywhere between 1.0 and 1.4 and as many as 150,000 people could be getting infected with the virus every day, the Government's top scientific advisers revealed; Drivers are turned away from England's beauty spots while police question parents with pushchairs amid questions as to whether they are taking enforcement of England's third lockdown too far; Welsh lockdown is extended for three more weeks with schools and colleges shut until February; Horror as 'NHS' fraudster injects 92-year-old woman with fake coronavirus and charges her 160; Care home workers with Covid are told to stay in work due to mounting staff shortages; Pfizer's vaccine does work against the South African and UK strains of coronavirus, study finds; National Express suspends all coach services due to new lockdown and plummeting passenger numbers; Stanley Johnson boasts he is due to he is about to receive his second dose of the Covid vaccine - when many are still waiting for their first And a poll reveals more people are planning to take the Covid vaccine, up to 85 per cent from 78 per cent last month. Cases per day in London People being hospitalised in London Coronavirus deaths in London In a letter to Boris Johnson he has demanded churches and other places of worship be closed and for face masks to be worn routinely outside of the home, including in supermarket queues and other places outside that may be crowded An empty circle line train on the London Underground today a week after London was sent into lockdown along with the rest of the UK He said that over the last three days alone the NHS has announced 477 deaths in London hospitals following a positive test for Covid-19 (Piccadilly Circus pictured today) The Office for National Statistics found in its mass testing programme that almost two thirds (61%) of the positive tests it found in England appeared to be linked to the new variant of the virus. The figure was higher for some regions - particularly in London and the South - but lower in others Covids cases falling in London, stats show Coronavirus cases are already dropping in London, according to results of the UK's largest testing scheme. Figures from the Office for National Statistics, which tracks the size of the outbreak through random swabs of thousands of people, suggest the capital's crisis started to reverse on December 29 - a week before the nation's third national lockdown came into force. The number of people testing positive stood at 3.33 per cent on January 2, which is most recent day data is available for. This had fallen for the fifth day in a row, down from 3.63 per cent on December 28. Separate figures collated by the Department of Health also show cases in London have started to plateau. Around 13,086 people living across the city were testing positive in the capital every day on December 31, in the most reliable day data is available for, down from 13,261 the day before. For comparison, the figure stood at 2,350 at the start of December. Despite cases appearing to have slowed, hospitals across London have yet to see any easing of Covid pressure because of the three-week lag it can take between getting diagnosed and becoming ill. NHS statistics show there are currently more than 7,000 infected patients in beds in hospitals across the capital, with 908 hooked up to ventilators. During the darkest days of the spring, 5,200 beds were occupied by Covid patients. London is also currently recording 100 coronavirus deaths a day, a figure which has steadily risen since mid-December. But it is still only half of the daily counts seen during the first wave, when up to 200 patients were succumbing to the illness each day. Advertisement Mr Khan added: 'The number of cases in London has increased rapidly with more than a third more patients being treated in our hospitals now compared to the peak of the pandemic last April. 'Our heroic doctors, nurses and NHS staff are doing an amazing job, but with cases rising so rapidly, our hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed. The stark reality is that we will run out of beds for patients in the next couple of weeks unless the spread of the virus slows down drastically. 'We are declaring a major incident because the threat this virus poses to our city is at crisis point. If we do not take immediate action now, our NHS could be overwhelmed and more people will die. 'Londoners continue to make huge sacrifices and I am today imploring them to please stay at home unless it is absolutely necessary for you to leave. Stay at home to protect yourself, your family, friends and other Londoners and to protect our NHS.' A major incident has already been declared in neighbouring Surrey and Sussex. Scientists revealed today that the reproduction number, or R value, of coronavirus transmission across the UK is between 1 and 1.4. When R was last updated on December 23 2020, it was between 1.1 and 1.3. An R number between 1 and 1.4 means that, on average, every 10 people infected will infect between 10 and 14 other people. Sage has said the estimates published on Friday represent the transmission of Covid-19 over the past few weeks rather than the present situation. This is due to the time delay between someone being infected, having symptoms, and needing healthcare. It came as a new mass test revealed the highly infectious new variant of coronavirus that emerged in Kent now accounts for 61 per cent of all new Covid cases in England and 70,000 people are getting infected every day. The team behind the ZOE Covid Symptom Study app, carried out with King's College London, say the number of people reporting symptoms each day is up 27 per cent in a week from 55,226 to 69,958. And separate research by the Office for National Statistics found that, of the estimated 1.1million people currently infected with the coronavirus, almost two thirds have the fast-spreading variant of the virus. The variant has become dominant in some regions, found in 81 per cent of cases in London, but is still linked to fewer than half of infections in the North of England, the Midlands and Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Georgia Gould, chairwoman of London Councils, said: 'Cases are rising at a dangerous rate in London, putting extreme pressure on the NHS. 'One in 30 Londoners now has Covid. This is why public services across London are urging all Londoners to please stay at home except for absolutely essential shopping and exercise. 'We know how tough this is for Londoners. Councils are here to support anyone struggling to access food or medicine. 'Today, the thoughts of London leaders are with the thousands of Londoners in hospital battling Covid and the amazing carers fighting to save lives. We owe it to them to do all we can to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. 'This is a dark and difficult time for our city but there is light at end of the tunnel with the vaccine rollout. We are asking Londoners to come together one last time to stop the spread - lives really do depend on it.' The highly contagious Kent variant of Covid has become dominant in some regions, found in 81 per cent of cases in London Very few people were travelling on the London Underground today after Britons were told to stay at home amid coronavirus Georgia Gould, chairwoman of London Councils, said: 'One in 30 Londoners now has Covid. This is why public services across London are urging all Londoners to please stay at home except for absolutely essential shopping and exercise' An empty underground station at Tower Hill in London as the lockdown continued today across Britain What is a 'major incident'? A major incident is defined as being 'beyond the scope of business-as-usual operations, and is likely to involve serious harm, damage, disruption or risk to human life or welfare, essential services, the environment or national security'. In addition, 'the severity of the consequences associated with a major incident are likely to constrain or complicate the ability of responders to resource and manage the incident.' They were previously declared in London after the Grenfell Tower disaster, the London Bridge and Westminster terror attacks, and the Croydon tram crash in November 2016. According to a document produced for London authorities, a major incident involves 'special arrangements' being introduced by one or more emergency services. They 'typically' include one or more of the following: Large numbers of people Large numbers of medical casualties The involvement of large proportions of the available police, fire and ambulance services The mobilisation of support services - like shelter for people made homeless A large number of public and media inquiries Advertisement Are police taking Covid crackdown too far? Police today faced questions about whether they were taking the Covid crackdown too far as officers swooped on friends drinking tea on a walk to a beauty spot, forced their way into a family home 'for having too many people inside' and taped off benches to stop people from sitting down. Friends Jessica Allen and Eliza Moore drove five miles to take a stroll at Foremark Reservoir in Derbyshire when they were surrounded by officers, read their rights and fined 200 each. The pair were also told their cups of Starbucks peppermint tea were not allowed because they were 'classed as a picnic'. Guidance for the current lockdown says people can travel for exercise 'as long as it is in their local area', but does not specify how far people can travel. Derbyshire Police insisted the distance was 'at the discretion' of individual officers and the trip was 'not in the spirit of the rules'. Ms Allen, from her home in Ashby-de-la-Zouch in Leicestershire, said: 'I genuinely thought someone had been murdered... my car was surrounded... one of them started reading my rights and I was looking at my friend thinking ''This must be a joke''.' Meanwhile, in Aberdeen, two policeman knocked on a family's front door after complaints from a neighbour and stormed inside as a woman shouted 'this is my house, get out of my house' and children screamed in the background. Two women, aged 18 and 48, and a 43-year-old man were charged in connection with assaulting police officers and threatening and abusive behaviour. The footage immediately sparked controversy, with critics accusing the police of 'oppressive' behaviour for storming into a private house - while others argued they were just trying to enforce the Covid rules. At Euston, officers were seen stopping passengers this morning to ask where they were going. Barrister Alex Wright tweeted: 'Good to see lockdown being taken seriously, but a sad sight that I'd have dreamed of seeing in London.' Snowdonia National Park has now closed all its car parks to visitors to 'protect our communities and the NHS', as officials slammed the public for 'disregarding' the law. Priti Patel yesterday said it is 'right' for officers to confront Britons sat on park benches and argued that police should stop people and demand to know why they are outside their homes. It came as police said they would fine people the first time if they are caught not wearing face coverings or being outside without a suitable reason. Advertisement Britain approves Moderna's Covid vaccine but won't get any doses until MARCH at the earliest Britain today approved Moderna's coronavirus vaccine - but won't be able to get any of the 17million doses it has bought until March at the earliest. Moderna's Covid jab is the third to be given the green light by regulators in the UK, joining the vaccines made by Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford University/AstraZeneca. Health Secretary Matt Hancock admitted that No10 won't get any doses until the spring but said: 'This is further great news and another weapon in our arsenal to tame this awful disease.' And Business Secretary Alok Sharma described it as 'another huge step towards ending lockdown'. The EU - which approved the same vaccine two days ago - will get supplies of the jab from next week after health chiefs struck a deal with the US-firm to buy 180million doses last summer. With Britain now scrambling to vaccinate 13million vulnerable Britons in the hope of ending the constant cycle of lockdowns by mid-February, an extra jab could have been a blessing. Boris Johnson last night revealed he was bringing in the Army to help speed up the UK's sluggish scheme, as the Prime Minister pledged to deliver 200,000 doses a day by next Friday. He also pledged to offer every care home resident a jab by the end of January and announced a new national online booking system that officials hope will drastically speed up the process. So far the inoculation drive - the biggest in British history - has been plagued by supply and staffing shortages, logistical problems and bureaucratic barriers strangling its scale-up, meaning only 1.5million have received at least one dose. It comes after Moderna's chief executive last night say it was likely that the firm's vaccine offers protection for a 'couple of years'. But Stephane Bancel said more research is needed to determine how long its shot wards off the coronavirus. Pensioners pictured queuing outside a vaccination centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, today in a sign Boris Johnson may already be making good on his promise to ramp up the country's roll out Pictured: Scientists working on the Moderna vaccine in a laboratory HOW DOES MODERNA'S VACCINE WORK? Moderna's vaccine works in the same way as Pfizer and BioNTech's, and are types called mRNA vaccines. They use genetic material called RNA from the coronavirus to trick the body into making the 'spike' proteins that the virus uses to latch onto cells inside the body. These cells then look like the real virus to the immune system, so it attacks them as it would if someone was infected with Covid. It uses antibodies and T cells to attack these modified cells. In the process it also creates its own memory of exactly how to destroy anything with the spikes on i.e. the real coronavirus in case it encounters them in the future. Moderna found in trials that its vaccine, which is given in two doses, was 'generally safe and well tolerated'. It said the majority of side effects were mild or moderate. The most common 'severe' effects were pain at the site, muscles or joints; fatigue and headache. These, the company said, were 'generally short-lived'. Moderna said its vaccine can be stored in a normal fridge for up to a month before it is given out, meaning it will be cheaper to store and distribute. Although it must be shipped at -20C (-4F), this is not too cold for normal freezers to handle. Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine, however, needed to be kept at -70C (-94F) at all times until it was about to be used, meaning expensive specialist equipment is needed to transport and store it. Advertisement As Britain prepared to ramp up vaccinations: As many as 100,000 Britons abroad have five days to get home or face being banned without a negative Covid test; Drivers are turned away from England's beauty spots while police question parents with pushchairs amid questions as to whether they are taking enforcement of England's third lockdown too far; Welsh lockdown is extended for three more weeks with schools and colleges shut until February; Horror as 'NHS' fraudster injects 92-year-old woman with fake coronavirus and charges her 160; Care home workers with Covid are told to stay in work due to mounting staff shortages; Pfizer's vaccine does work against the South African and UK strains of coronavirus, study finds; National Express suspends all coach services due to new lockdown and plummeting passenger numbers; Stanley Johnson boasts he is due to he is about to receive his second dose of the Covid vaccine - when many are still waiting for their first And a poll reveals more people are planning to take the Covid vaccine, up to 85 per cent from 78 per cent last month. Moderna's vaccine was the second one to announce the results of its last-stage clinical trials when it did so in November, after Pfizer and BioNTech. They showed the vaccine appeared to prevent 94.5 per cent of Covid cases. Mr Hancock at the time hailed the vaccine as a 'candle of hope' but the UK hadn't pre-ordered it. No10 had placed pre-orders for seven other candidates, including jabs made by Pfizer and BioNTech, Oxford University and AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, GlaxoSmithKline, Valneva, Imperial College London and Novavax. Moderna's and Pfizer's use the same technology, which had never been tried before, so scientists said it would have been a big gamble for the UK to order both. A scramble ensued on the day Moderna's results were published, with British officials managing to hash out a deal for five million doses before Mr Hancock announced it on a TV press conference at 5pm that afternoon. This was later extended to 7million but the figure now stands at around 17million. Pensioners pictured queuing to receive their Covid-19 vaccine outside a centre in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, today Arthur Clark, 99, an RAF veteran, says he is yet to receive his Covid vaccination despite the programme starting a month ago Speaking to MailOnline from his home in Beckenham, south east London, the great grandfather of four said he had been trying to get an appointment since Christmas. Pictured, left, is Arthur with his family and, right, as an RAF serviceman Grants Shapps say Covid jabs may not beat South African strain, hours after study suggests it will UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned today the current wave of vaccines might not protect against the South African strain of coronavirus. Mr Shapps said introducing a mandatory test and release system for travellers coming into the UK had become 'much more urgent' because of the threat the variant poses to Britain's mass vaccination programme. But there was confusion about the timing of his comments, which came just hours after a study by Pfizer/BioNTech suggested their vaccine could be just as effective against a mutation in the super-transmissible strain. Amid international fears about the South African strain, thought to be at least 60 per cent more infectious than regular Covid, the UK has made it compulsory for travellers to test negative when they arrive in the country. The Pfizer study which hasn't been peer-reviewed yet tested how well the vaccine worked on the key N501Y mutation, an alteration on the virus's spike protein which is thought to be responsible for making it far more infectious than regular Covid. And because current vaccines work by training the immune system to recognise the virus's spike protein and attack it, there were fears this change could render jabs useless, or less effective. Advertisement The catch, however, was that the UK wouldn't get any of the doses delivered until March 2021 because the US had an exclusive contract for the first 20million doses because the government had given so much funding to the company. Hailing the approval today, Mr Hancock added: 'We have already vaccinated nearly 1.5million people across the UK and Moderna's vaccine will allow us to accelerate our vaccination programme even further once doses become available from the spring. 'While we immunise those most at risk from Covid, I urge everyone to continue following the rules to keep cases low to protect our loved ones.' MHRA guidance says the vaccine's two doses should be dished out within 28 days of each other, unlike the controversial advice for the other two jabs, which says they can be taken up to 12 weeks apart. MHRA chief executive Dr June Raine said: 'Today's approval brings more encouraging news to the public and the healthcare sector. 'Having a third Covid vaccine approved for supply following a robust and thorough assessment of all the available data is an important goal to have achieved and I am proud that the agency has helped to make this a reality. 'The progress we are now making for vaccines on the regulatory front, whilst not cutting any corners, is helping in our global fight against this disease and ultimately helping to save lives. I want to echo that our goal is always to put the protection of the public first. 'Once in use, all Covid vaccines are continually monitored by the MHRA. This ensures that the benefits in protecting people against Covid continue to far outweigh any potential side-effects. 'Meantime, even if you have had a vaccine it is vital that everyone follows the national lockdown restrictions and remembers 'stay alert, protect the NHS and save lives' at all times.' Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, chair of the Expert Working Group of the Independent Commission on Human Medicines said: 'We are delighted to be able to give a positive recommendation for the Moderna vaccine which will help in the roll-out of the Covid vaccination programme. 'As with all the Covid vaccine data we have seen to date, we have ensured a robust and thorough safety assessment has been carried out with the independent experts that sit on this group.' It comes after it was claimed yesterday that a one-shot Covid jab that has the potential to significantly boost Britain's sluggish vaccination scheme may be approved in the UK by next month. Scientists and Government sources believe the vaccine, made by the Belgian arm of pharmaceutical giant Johnson and Johnson, could be given emergency authorisation within weeks. The jab uses similar technology to the Oxford University vaccine, making it just as easy to transport and store, but requires just a single injection to protect against Covid. However, it won't be clear how effective the vaccine is until its trial results are made public and submitted to the UK's medical regulator, which is expected to happen by early February. Prime minister on Friday defended reforms including controversial ones undertaken in the agriculture sector by his government. Interacting with economists and other experts, he highlighted the faith shown by in India's growth story with foreign direct investment (FDI) growing by 11 per cent between April and October despite global recession. He said his government brought historic reform based stimulus in agriculture, commercial coal mining and labour laws, according to an official release. The prime minister explained his vision behind an 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' where Indian companies are integrated in the global supply chains in a manner not seen before. Modi also highlighted the infrastructure pipeline as the government's commitment to developing world class infrastructure. Administratorii portalului nu poarta raspundere pentru continutul postarilor si materialelor plasate de utilizatorii site-ului. Utilizati informatia din acest articol pe propriul risc. When I conducted Wednesday morning prayer services in Nashville I had a Baptist minister from Texas speak and he impressed us with a reading from an unknown author that impressed us that day, and that seemed to come alive as I watched the storming of the Capitol in Washington yesterday. He challenged the legislators by asking us, Are you Builders or Wreckers? He quoted, I saw them tearing a building down, a group of workmen in a busy town. With a Ho Heave Ho and a lusty yell, they swung a beam and a side wall fell. I asked their foremen, 'are these men skilled? Are they ones youd hire if you strived to build?' He shook his head and answered, 'No indeed, just common laborers is all I need, and they can destroy in a day or two what craftsmen have taken months to do!' "So I asked myself as I went on my way, just which of these roles have I sought to play? Am I a workman who works with care, measuring my deeds by rules and square? Am I carefully doing the best I can, living my life by a well laid plan, or am I just a wrecker who walks the town, content with the role of just tearing down? I was truly challenged by the happenings yesterday. Bobby Wood * * * Bobby Woods recent contribution to the Chattanoogan.coms Opinion page made me stop and think about the recent carnage in Washington DC. He quoted the lines from an old poem that set me back and caused me to reflect on a context with which to think about these horrific times: are you a wrecker or a builder? The quote came from a poem by Edgar A Guest. Edgar Guest worked for the Detroit Free Press for over 40 years. His column was widely read and quoted throughout the country and frequently made part of many sermons. Bobby Woods email was from such a sermon, although he did not attribute the words, saying it was from an unknown author. A life-long Freemason, Mr Guests poems are still quoted from pulpits and other outlets of popular culture. He died in 1959. Wreckers Edgar A. Guest I watched them tearing a building down, A gang of men in a busy town. With a ho-heave-ho and a lusty yell, They swung a beam, and the side wall fell. I asked the foreman: "Are these skilled-- And the men you'd hire if you had to build?" He gave me a laugh and said: "No, indeed! Just common labor is all I need. I can wreck in a day or two What builders have taken a year to do." And I thought to myself as I went my way, Which of these roles have I tried to play? Am I a builder who works with care Measuring life by a rule and square? Am I shaping my deeds to a well made Plan, Patiently doing the best I can? Or am I a wrecker, who walks the town Content with the labor of tearing down? As our country enters a new era with a new President and new administration in Washington, I hope each person can stop a moment and ask themselves, Am I a wrecker or a builder? Everett Kidder On Thursday, the Associated Press reported that President-elect Joe Biden strategies to appoint Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. He is his former union boss to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor, quoting two anonymous sources aware of the situation. Reportedly Mayor Walsh is President Biden's personal friend, and he presided over his second inauguration in 2018. According to the Associated Press, Walsh was the former president of Laborers Local 223. Thus he "has a long history with labor." Also, he served for more than a decade, holding senior positions with Boston's Building and Construction Trades Council, "a union umbrella organization" while in the state legislature. Reportedly, AFL-CIO, a federation of 55 unions representing more than 12.5 million workers across America, led by their President Richard Trumka, began reaching out to fellow union supervisors in November to support Walsh's nomination. In his Twitter account, he wrote, "Walsh "will be an exceptional labor secretary for the same reason he was an outstanding mayor: he carried the tools." Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers said, "I think Marty Walsh is a great idea for labor secretary." It is a part of the AFL-CIO. Weingarten also said, "the AFL-CIO had compiled a list of ideal candidates to present to Biden's transition team." Walsh has also gotten the support of Lee Saunders, the president of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). With 1.4 million personalities, it is one of the huge unions in the AFL-CIO coalition. On Thursday, in a statement issued, Saunders said, "After four long years of brazen hostility toward working people, the Labor Department will now have leadership that is true to its mission and purpose. Mayor Walsh is one of us. In the union movement, he cut his teeth." Becky Pringle, leader of the National Education Association, shared the teacher's amalgamation had also been working with the Biden-Kamala Harris transition "to ensure that there are strong advocates for unions at the table in the cabinet." State Sen. Marc Pacheco, described as "a top Massachusetts Biden backer who served with Walsh in the Legislature," as he said the mayor "knows people in every aspect of both the national and international labor movement," as per the Boston Herald quoted. Below is Walsh's labor record in Boston, which the outlet has provided. "But the mayor's administration has had labor-related dust-ups, most recently regarding the federal criminal charges related to accusations that his top lieutenants pressured the Boston Calling music festival organizers to use union labor. Two Walsh administration high-ups were convicted - before a judge then threw out the decisions and acquitted them both." "His administration took the flak for connections to four Teamsters charged with threatening "Top Chef" employees over that show's use of non-union workers. Testimony entwined Walsh's City Hall in that scandal, but the mayor claimed vindication after the jury found the Teamsters not guilty in 2017, earlier in Walsh's tenure." "City Council President Kim Janey, if Walsh does go to Washington, and will become the acting mayor. She'd be the first woman and first person of color to sit in the big office on Boston City Hall's fifth floor. It would also open the floodgates in the 2021 mayoral race, which has drawn two high-profile challengers in Andrea Campbell and Michelle Wu's city councilors." Walsh is 53, an Irish immigrants' son, and raised in the Dorchester section of Boston's working-class. @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The death of Ohirenua Giwa-Amu, a Nigerian artist based in the United States, has been confirmed by the Union City Police department in an exclusive report obtained by PREMIUM TIMES. The 26-year-old was a 2D artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation and Interactive Technology from the Savannah College Of Art And Design (SCAD) in Georgia, where she pursued Drawing & Storyboarding Minors. However, the news of her death surfaced in the Nigerian media space on December 28, with many newspapers citing an announcement from one of her relatives. Although close relations confirmed her death, none provided the circumstances that led to her death or how she died. Circumstances of her death are still under investigation, a statement credited to her lawyer-father, Obafemi Giwa-Amu, noted. However, when PREMIUM TIMES reached out to the police department in Georgia State, they said the investigation was still ongoing as Ms Giwa-Amu was suspected to have committed suicide on December 26, 2020. The Police said at 02: 25 p.m. on that day, one of its operatives, Officer Fernandez, was dispatched to a call of suicide threats in 34000 11th St. Union City, where the deceased lived. At approximately 4:00 p.m., an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) identified as Gomez unlocked and opened the door to her apartment. EMT Gomez rushed directly to the body of the Ohirenua Giwa-Amu (DEC) to check vitals. EMT Gomez checked and touched the DEC body and advised there were no signs of life, police said. Gloria Cruz, the public records supervisor, added that there did not appear to be signs of a struggle nor was there any sign of foul play. While clearing the interior of the apartment, the officers did not find any signs of foul play or a suicide note, the report read. Suicide threats Few hours before her death, Ms Giwa-Amu had threatened to commit suicide if she did not get on her flight back to Lagos, this paper confirmed. IF I DONT GET ON MY FLIGHT CHECK MY APARTMENT FOR MY BODY IM NOT STRUGGLING ANYMORE. MY LIFE IS TOO SAD. I HOPE YOU ALL ARE READY FOR THA SHOW WWW :), she wrote on Instagram. This paper learned that she had planned to observe the Christmas celebrations with her family in Nigeria, having scheduled her flight for the 20th but could not make it for medical reasons. The flight was later rescheduled for December 27. Receipts of chats between her and a close acquaintance identified as Funmi, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, showed that she was not happy celebrating Christmas outside Lagos and had threatened to kill herself if the second chance failed. It was also gathered that a few days before her scheduled visit to Nigeria, she rallied some of her friends to get enough funds to take a COVID-19 test, a major prerequisite to travel to Nigeria. Funmi pls Im tired. Send anything anywhere. You have my details. If I dont get on that plane on Sunday I am going to kill myself or try again. So do whatever you want to. Have a blessed Christmas, she wrote to her friend on Christmas eve. ADVERTISEMENT Afterward, she was able to pay for the antigen test on December 24 and an appointment for testing slated for 11:00 a.m. on December 26, the eve of her trip to Nigeria. It was however unclear whether she was able to go for the test or not before she died. This paper also could not ascertain the state of her bookings for the second flight. Also, Mr Giwa-Amus statement did not shed light on this as the father said she had to leave America under a voluntary departure status after her husband divorced her earlier in 2020. Voluntary departure, also known as voluntary deportation, is opposed to forceful deportation by the government following an illegal immigration status. Although this paper confirmed that Ms Giwa-Amu was married to Foluso Alofe, a Nigerian-American engineer working in the U.S., and the duo were later separated, the claim of illegal immigrant status could not be verified. In fact, when she solicited financial support through the gofundme, in April 2020, the deceased stated that she already got her permanent residency. As of February 14th, 2020, I am now a legal permanent resident of the United States of America. It feels great to say it, even better typing it out. The following month after my green card was approved, I was offered my first (remote) animation contract for a lead social media graphics animation position with Chairish downtown SF, one of the largest online retailers in the world, she stated, narrating her ordeal with Mr Alofe. According to her, the support was to raise legal fees and short term funds to keep her home studio open for six more months during the quarantine period, after getting out of an abusive marriage. Trauma While the details of the suicide remain sketchy, PREMIUM TIMES found out that she had been psychologically battered owing to abuse, reportedly perpetrated by her father and her estranged husband. Medical reports provided by the family confirmed that these two contributed to the trauma experienced by the deceased. For instance, when she visited Joly Chiropractic, a licensed healthcare provider treating neuromuscular disorders such as back and neck pain, on December 7, 2020, she spoke of the abuse. She was crying and laying on the examining table and told me about her past abuse from her father and estranged husband, the handwritten medical note read. It was also stated in the notes that she was recently released from John George hospital, a psychiatric clinic in California, and she had been taking her medications. While requesting financial support in April 2020, she alleged that Mr Alofe abused her to the point of being hospitalised. The duo got married in 2018 and lived together until 2019. In September 2019, while still awaiting work authorization, my husband again put his hands on me after I got tired of waiting for him to spend time with me while he played video games online with his friends. I attempted to leave the apartment for a night out with my friends and. Again I did not tell the police what he was doing to me, although I confided in at least one of my therapists, several close friends and an uncle. I had to go to the dentist to see if my gums needed stitching, and they asked me to come back for minor dental surgery after sending me home with antibiotics and painkillers to heal the swelling. My husband had hit me, choked me, kicked me, and put his fist in my mouth to claw at my gums. I was still out of status immigration-wise, and it was unclear to me if I could stay to work in the US if he was arrested before my residency was approved, she stated. In a follow-up message posted on gofundme, the deceased said she used the money obtained to employ the services of a lawyer to press charges against her husband. On June 19, Ms Giwa-Amu filed a family lawsuit against Mr Alofe in Alameda County Superior Courts, located in Alameda, California. On September 29, 2020, Judge Clay Jason granted a criminal protective order, preventing Mr Alofe from having any contact with her. He must neither come within 100 yards where Ms Giwa-Amu was nor make electronic or telephonic contact with her, the court ruled. This paper also learned that the jury trial to hear the case of domestic abuse was scheduled for February 2021. The jury makes a decision or findings of fact, determining whether he has a case to answer or not. Meanwhile, in September 2020, Ms Giwa-Amu took to her Facebook Timeline to share the experience of sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by her father. Ms Giwa-Amu accused her lawyer-dad of repeatedly raping her as a child. In a post, she accused her father of abusing so many children left under his care, alleging that it got so bad that her friends could not come visiting because they were afraid of what her father might do to them. She alleged that her father raped her so much as a child that she had a possible prepubescent miscarriage and almost died of sepsis. I know that you are a child molester, your numerous victims outnumber you and I remember everything now. All I have to say to you is this: You, your rings of pedophiles, bullies, thieves, hired cronies and family gang can do whatever you like in eternum, she had written. Entire chunks of my memory were once lost and taken from me, entire friendships and interests and hobbies and goals I had just vanished and might still not fully ever come back. Instead I carried around such intense feelings of shame, regret and self-loathing disgust that it consumed me most times. Good or bad, traumatic or not, those memories of mine that hurt me and triggered me for so long have finally woken me up and reminded me that I promised myself if I survived you, escaped, and somehow found enough sanity to be willing to return home that I would never set foot in Nigeria unless I had publicly acknowledged the fact that you continually raped me as a seven-year-old child until I had a possible prepubescent miscarry and almost died of sepsis. I wasnt even in Primary 4 yet. When PREMIUM TIMES reached out to Mr Alofe on the allegations via telephone, he hung up on this reporter after the intent of the call was disclosed. The same enquiries were sent via WhatsApp but Mr Alofe, upon the receipt of the messages, blocked our reporter. Family reacts Gabriel Giwa-Amu, a grand-uncle to the deceased, said Ms Giwa-Amus allegations against her father are untrue. He said he has the authority of her father to respond to all allegations. There is no iota of truth in that allegation. First, she claimed that she was raped at seven years old. She got pregnant at seven and she went for an abortion at seven. That is scientifically impossible, he said. There was no time she was raped. If she was raped, who in the family did she inform? Not even her mother was told. Commenting on the plausibility of Ms Giwa-Amus allegations, a registered nurse, Otun Oluwadamilola, said prepubescent pregnancy can occur before puberty, usually between 8 and 12 years. It is possible she has trauma during the process, sepsis may be related or not related to it. Only a medical examination can confirm the claims, the nurse added. Going further, the grand-uncle said Ms Giwa-Amu put up all those allegations to get a stay in America, alleging that she was an illegal immigrant and the date of departure was to prevent deportation. Meanwhile, when confronted with records obtained that she got a permanent residency in February, which negates the premise previously stated, Mr Giwa-Amu kept mum. Please publish whatever you know to be the truth, he told PREMIUM TIMES. When probed further if he was privy to any disagreement between the deceased and her father, Mr Giwa-Amu said the only time they had a misunderstanding was when she was using her school fees to do drugs. That was the only time they had a disagreement, he said. On the burial arrangements, Mr Giwa-Amu refused to disclose if the remains of the deceased had been moved to Lagos for burial or not. 6x6 SUV With so many Hellcats out there, its no wonder FCA fans are worried the internal rivalry will open the door for other automakers to sneak up on them and claim supremacy.Thats not necessarily a problem, since the base is easily upgradable by knowledgeable tuners (such as Hennessey, which is working on both the TRX for acreation and the Durango).Now that Jeep has revealed the three-row, seven-seat 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L , the sibling competition might become of genuine concern. But managers took care of that; remember that the Durango SRT Hellcat is a limited-edition high-performance? Well, that move clearly has a lot more logic now.After all, we can all imagine that in a few years from now, perhaps for the 2023 or even 2024 model year, a Grand Cherokee L Trackhawk version will become official to claim the most powerful SUV title back for Jeep.Of course, nobody has the patience to wait until that fabled moment without a little something to alleviate the slow passage of time. Fortunately, the folks over at caradvice.com.au did just that, and so we have an unofficial render of the supercharged next-generation seven-seater ultra-SUV.Just to keep everything as close as possible to the real world, they based the computer image on a sporty 2021 Grand Cherokee L in Overland trim. After that, it was a case of adding current Trackhawk parts like pieces of a supercharged puzzle.Just like the subdued 2021 Durango SRT Hellcat, this unofficial Trackhawk doesnt look ready and willing to throw away fire and brimstone once it gets going. Still, the styling does take into account that Jeep doesnt usually go overboard even when high-performance models are involved.We still see wider wheel arches, a hood scoop borrowed from the TRX to give more air to the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 from underneath, along with black alloy wheels and high-performance Brembo brakes taken directly from the current iteration of the Trackhawk. Thieves struck at a shop in Kesarganj Mandi on early Friday morning and decamped with cash. Five of the burglars were captured in the CCTV cameras installed in the shop. Shop owner, Gajinder Singh, 35, told the police that he dealt in polythene and gift packing material. On Thursday, he locked the shop around 9.30pm and returned home. The next morning, he received a call from a shopkeeper about the broken locks of his shop. On rushing to the shop, Gajinder found it ransacked and cash missing. According to investigators, the thieves entered the shop around 5.30am after lifting the shutter using an iron rod. The complainant has not yet given an estimate of the cash stolen. Assistant commissioner of police (ACP, Central) Waryam Singh said they had lodged an FIR and initiated investigation to identify and nab the accused. The lack of studies designed to examine the long-term effects of the vaccine schedule worries many parents.(epixproductions/Shutterstock) The Push to Explore Vaccine Risk Concerned parents and researchers are driving a forbidden discussion of vaccine safety Your health is a deeply personal affair. Your habits, health care access, and family history all play a significant role. However, one place where health care is generally uniform is vaccines. For now, we have a choice as to whether to take the new COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, all states have a list of vaccinations for several diseases that are mandatory once children enter public school. Although most states allow parents to waive this requirement for religious or medical reasons, opting out is strongly discouraged. To some health experts, vaccination is the most important advance in public healthright up there with indoor plumbing, and modern surgical techniques. Vaccinations are promoted as a type of preventative measure designed to protect the population from a variety of devastating illnesses. Yet, despite the benefits that vaccines promise, this common procedure has become controversial. The core issue is safety. Informational inserts that accompany vaccines warn of a long list of possible health risks, including death. However, health officials say such scenarios are rare and insignificant compared to the massive public benefits provided by vaccination programs. In a 2010 interview with PBSs Frontline, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who has become a familiar expert in regard to the COVID-19 pandemic, stated that the risk of vaccines is almost non-measurable. [Vaccines are] highly effective and very safe, when you look at risk-benefit ratio of a disease versus the very, very, very small risk of any adverse event that you would have with a vaccine, Fauci said. However, the motivation to get vaccinated is crystal clear and sharp when you look around you and you see people getting serious disease. However, determining the numbers necessary for a true risk-benefit analysis isnt so clear. According to a study funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, fewer than 1 percent of vaccine injuries are reported. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is tasked with tracking problems with vaccines in the United States. In 2012, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) found VAERS to be unreliable. IOM has also found that the research looking at vaccinations and adverse events doesnt show adequate evidence to either accept or reject a causal relationship. The problem, says an IOM report, is that studies designed to examine the long-term effects of the cumulative number of vaccines or other aspects of the immunization schedule have not been conducted. These are exactly the studies required to evaluate the true safety of the current vaccine schedule. Its this missing science that makes parents worry about what impact a growing number of vaccines has on their children and their developing immune systems. Compared to just a generation or two ago, when children received immunizations for six or seven diseases, children today receive nearly 70 shots to guard against 18 diseases. Regulators try to quell concerns by assuring the public that vaccines are rigorously tested. But the peculiar regulatory regime for these products invites suspicion. Unlike most other manufacturers, those that produce vaccines are protected from liability if their product is found to cause harm. In other words, they cant be sued for not testing their products enough to find common side effects. This protection is granted through the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act (NCVIA) of 1986, which instructs parents who seek compensation to try their case in a special vaccine court. The number of vaccines each child receives has expanded considerably since the NCVIA was passed. But only a small percentage of cases brought to this special court has seen a payout. Since manufacturers arent liable, NCVIA rules make the feds foot the bill. By one analysis, the U.S. government has paid out more than $4 billion in injury compensation for vaccines over the past 34 years the NCVIA has been in place. Comparative Study As the schedule of mandatory vaccinations has grown, concerned parents, doctors, and advocacy groups have called for research that directly compares vaccinated to unvaccinated children. In 2013, the IOM joined the chorus when it issued a report instructing the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to perform this comparative study using patient information it already has from the Vaccine Safety Datalink. But for the past seven years, CDC has yet to consider this data. A Freedom of Information Act request filed in June 2020 revealed that CDC had no such comparative study in its possession, nor had it conducted one. That means the CDC doesnt have the most basic form of research to confirm the long-term safety and efficacy of the only medical treatment that is all but forced upon children. A recent peer-reviewed study published in the journal SAGE Open Medicine examines details that vaccine authorities like the CDC have so far ignored. Researchers looked at data of health outcomes of both vaccinated and unvaccinated children from three large pediatric practices in the United States. The subjects were born between November 2005 and June 2015, and were compared during the first year of life for later incidence of developmental delays, asthma, ear infections, and gastrointestinal disorders. The study concluded that unvaccinated children were healthier than their vaccinated peers. The strongest relationships observed for vaccination status were for asthma (4.5 times more likely), developmental delays (twice as likely), and ear infections (twice as likely). No association was found for gastrointestinal disorders in the primary analysis, but a significant relationship was detected as vaccine doses accumulated. The results definitely indicate better health outcomes in children who did not receive vaccines within their first year of life, said the studys lead author, Dr. Brian Hooker, in a press release. Such findings merit additional large-scale study of vaccinated and unvaccinated children in order to provide optimal health as well as protection against infectious diseases. This isnt the first comparative study of its kind. Robert F. Kennedy of Childrens Health Defense says this recent research makes for more than 65 vaccinated/unvaccinated studies on his site. All of them show dramatically better health in unvaccinated children, Kennedy writes. We have found no studies that show superior health outcomes in vaccinated children. The studies point to an alarming trend, but, by design, they merely show correlation, not causation. Furthermore, researchers from the most recent study note limitations with their data. For example, although their sample size was significant, the population it pulled from may not accurately reflect the general population. Also, due to different coding practices among the three caseloads studied, we were unable to differentiate between the types of vaccinations given. This limited the analysis to counting the number of vaccinations received by one year of age, researchers wrote, adding that further study is necessary to understand the full spectrum of health effects associated with childhood vaccination. Identifying Risk Vaccine campaigns of the past (particularly polio) are noted for their strong public support. But even the most dedicated vaccine advocates admit that public confidence is falling. Immunization experts at the World Health Organizations summit on vaccines in December 2019 highlighted the lack of good science and the inability of vaccine clinical trials to provide meaningful information about safety and risk. However, there remain some investigations that regulators have long been unwilling to explore. In a 2008 interview with CBS News, Dr. Bernadine Healy, former head of National Institutes of Health, explained that regulators have been too quick to dismiss concerns without actually studying the population. The reason they dont want to look at those susceptibility groups is that if they found them, no matter how big or small they were, that would scare the public away, Healy said. Healy, who died in 2011, remained a strong proponent of vaccines. She believed the public would too, especially if safer methods could be identified. If we identified a susceptibility group, identified a risk factor for vaccines, or if we found out that they should be spread out over a longer period of time, I do not think the public would lose faith in vaccines, Healy said. I think the public would respect that. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... When Uncle Frank makes the journey from New York City to his home in small-town South Carolina, it always seems as if he has one foot out the door from the moment he arrives. When the family patriarch opens birthday presents with the entire clan gathered all around, Uncle Frank is on the fringes, almost in the hallway to the living room. Other times, hell steal away to the kitchen or to the front porch to escape the tension in the air a tension created by years of conflict with his father, who cant bear to look Uncle Frank in the eye and doesnt hide his disdain for him. Thats because Uncle Frank is gay, and though at 46 he has yet to come out to his family, his father knows the truth because he once walked in on the teenage Frank and another boy a moment that led to a tragedy and to 30 years of simmering rancor between father and son. You might remember the name of Alan Ball as the Academy Award-winning screenwriter of American Beauty, and the showrunner for Six Feet Under and True Blood. Thirteen years after Ball made his feature directorial debut with Towelhead, his follow-up effort is a well-crafted, bittersweet, period-piece character study with a sharp screenplay (by Ball) and heartfelt and authentic performances from Paul Bettany as the title character, Peter Macdissi as Franks longtime partner, Walid, Sophia Lillis as Franks adoring niece Beth and the brilliant duo of Margo Martindale as Franks mother, Mammaw Bledsoe, and Stephen Root as Franks unforgiving father, known to all as Daddy Mac. You give a cast like that some Tennessee Williams-esque material, and theyre gonna knock it out of the park. Uncle Frank is set in the 1970s, with Bettanys Frank having long since moved to New York City, where he works as a professor and is able to live his life in relatively open fashion. Not that Frank and his caring, loyal and quite wonderful partner Walid are out publicly, but they live together and they host fantastic parties where they can be themselves among friends, and there are times when Frank can almost forget the painful past. For years, Frank used alcohol to self-medicate, but hes trying his best to stay sober, and on the rare occasions when he has to return home, he endeavors to maintain an even keel, keep his distance from his father and enjoy some time with his brother, Mike (Steve Zahn), Mikes wife, Kitty (Judy Greer) and his niece Beth, who wants to escape the clutches of small-town life, just like the uncle she idealizes. Beths family expects her to go to the state university, get married and have a family, just like her older sister, but with Uncle Franks words of encouragement fueling her ambition, she moves to New York City to study and to reconnect with her beloved uncle. Its not long before Beth discovers Frank is gay and Walid isnt just his roommate but the love of his life. (Peter Macdissi gives such heart to this story as Walid, who is thrilled to finally meet someone from Franks family, in part because he knows hell never be able to tell his parents back home in Saudi Arabia hes gay.) Frank, Walid and Beth have just started to bond when Frank gets word Daddy Mac has died. At Walids and Beths urging, Frank reluctantly agrees to come home for the funeral, and thus begins the road-trip portion of the story, with the obligatory roller-coaster ride of emotional ups and downs along the way. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Once they return home, we know there are going to be confrontational fireworks and big reveals. Even from the grave, Daddy Mac plunges one last dagger into his sons heart a last will and testament gesture that is devastating and sets off a chain of events that reverberates through the entire extended family. This presents the opportunity for writer-director Ball to deliver over-the-top moments of violent rage offset by quietly impactful scenes where the truth is embraced by some and rejected by others. The London-born Paul Bettany completely disappears into the character of Frank, and thanks in equal part to Peter Macdissis finely honed work as Walid, theyre one of the most memorable romantic couples of the movie year. And young Sophia Lillis, who has resonated with her work as Beverly Marsh in the It movies, on the HBO series Sharp Objects and in the Netflix drama I Am Not Okay With This, continues to build an impressive resume. Even when the material in Uncle Frank wades into soapy, melodramatic waters, the performances are pure and powerful. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell plans to never speak to President Donald Trump again. The Washington Post reported this detail in a story describing how the president has alienated his allies in Washington with the way he handled Wednesday's riot on Capitol Hill. McConnell, the Senate's top Republican who will become minority leader once new Democratic Sens. Jon Ossoff and Rev. Raphael Warnock are sworn in, had been 'estranged' from Trump in recent weeks, The Post wrote. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell will never speak to President Donald Trump again, according to reporting from The Washington Post. He's photographed Wednesday before the Capitol Hill riot, shaming GOP senators for challenging Electoral College counts McConnell's wife now former Trump Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao was also disgusted by the president's performance and resigned Thursday, saying she was 'deeply troubled' by the siege, calling it both 'traumatic' and 'entirely avoidable' Trump was slow to react to the crisis, after encouraging supporters at a rally at the ellipse to march on Capitol Hill. He finally put out a longer video statement Thursday night condemning the attack and appearing to concede to President-elect Joe Biden But his handling of the crisis was it for the Kentucky Republican. On Thursday, McConnell's wife, Trump's Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, resigned in disgust. 'Our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed. As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside,' she said. Even before Wednesday's riot, McConnell was set to break with Trump - as he warned senators not to join a House GOP effort to challenge swing states' Electoral College vote counts. The morning of the Capitol Hill siege, McConnell went on the Senate floor and said just that publicly - while also pointing out that the election between Trump and President-elect Joe Biden wasn't close. 'We're debating a step that has neve been taken in American history, whether Congress should overrule the voters and overtrun a presidential election,' he said on the Senate floor, after Rep. Paul Gosar and a batch of GOP senators, including Sen. Ted Cruz, objected to Arizona's Electoral College vote count. McConnell ridiculed President Donald Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud in a five-minute speech that will be one of his last as majority leader and which he said was about the most important vote of his career. 'The assertions range from specific, local allegations to Constitutional arguments to sweeping conspiracy theories,' McConnell said. He reminded senators that he was supportive of Trump using the country's legal system, which handed the president and his team loss after loss. And pointed out that these cases were heard by some of the 'all-star judges whom the president himself nominated' - including on the U.S. Supreme Court. McConnell said that every election is plagued by some instances of vote irregularity. 'And of course that's unacceptable,' he said. 'But my colleagues nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale, the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election,' McConnell argued. 'Nor can public doubt alone justify a radical break, when the doubt itself was incited without any evidence.' Twisting the knife into Trump, McConnell also pointed out that the race between President-elect Joe Biden and Trump 'was not unusually close.' 'The Electoral College margin was almost identical to what it was in 2016,' McConnell pointed out. 'If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side our democracy would enter a death spiral,' McConnel warned. 'We'd never see a whole nation accept an election again.' 'Every four years there would be a scramble for power at any cost,' he added. 'This will lead us down a poisonous path where only the winner accepts the result.' The opposition's Social Democratic Party (PSD) suggests that Prime Minister Florin Citu is bothered by Brussels having revealed how far he has crossed the line in deceiving the Romanians when he "inflated" on paper the amount of the financing granted to the economy to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. "Red ink Premier Citu is upset that Brussels has exposed the extent of his deception of the Romanians when he inflated on paper the amount of the financing granted to the economy to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. In reality, on Citu's watch, Romania managed the record of having the most meagre stimulus package among EU countries, just 1.4 percent of GDP - 5 or even 10 times less than its neighbors! Citu's attempt to twist the sense of the EC letter and turn black into white is to no avail. The European Commission states it clearly that the fiscal-budgetary slippage had already set in in Romania as early as March 2020, 'before the COVID outbreak' - and here is also the translation in Romanian for the US university graduate Florin Citu to understand). They couldn't care less about the country," reads a PSD Facebook message. The Social Democrats add that "Citu's political boss" continues the model "everything for us, nothing for the Romanians", "with the second round of the fight over gravy". "Orban now doles out plum positions to the National Liberal Party's branches, while the Romanians' living standards are plunging dramatically. Pharmacies are in danger of running out of essential treatments for patients, after the state has delayed payment for medicines by even as much as 150 days. The tax authority kicked off the hunt of debtors right on New Year's Eve, and now wants to tax the state aid received by the Romanians during the pandemic. Millions of Romanians saw their energy bills go higher because the PNL government didn't bother to define the vulnerable consumer by law. At the command of uber-Premier Iohannis, who runs the submissive Cabinet like his menials, this lineup of con rulers is driving the country straight into the abyss," PSD claims. Prime Minister Florin Citu stated on Friday that some fake news has been circulating for several days about a letter of the European Commission to the Ministry of Finance, explaining that the document is in English and this is a "barrier" for the PSD. "For me, the election campaign is over, but it seems that not everyone considers the same. A piece of fake news has been around for several days now about an EC letter to the Romanian Ministry of Finance. There is only one explanation for this fake news. The letter is in English, and for PSD this is clearly a barrier," Citu wrote on Facebook. A woman allegedly killed by a rival in an apparent love triangle on the Southwest Side was identified by the Bexar County Medical Examiner's Office. Yvette Salinas, 40, was fatally shot at about 1:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 100 block of Seashell Place, San Antonio police said. Thursdays COVID-19 technical briefing held by the province for the press held many questions about specifics and many vague answers from officials. Advertisement Advertise With Us Thursdays COVID-19 technical briefing held by the province for the press held many questions about specifics and many vague answers from officials. In one area specifically critical level red public health orders set to expire at 11:59 p.m. tonight acting deputy chief provincial public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal had nothing new to say about what comes next. He repeatedly stated he could not speculate. "Weve been going through the orders. Were going through, obviously, whats happening from a case and contact standpoint. Were looking at hospitalization. Theres other indicators that were looking at," Atwal said. "So at this point, were still looking to see what we will be doing with the orders. We dont speculate, right?" He did say different scenarios are being looked at. "I know not much has been said, but I wouldnt interpret that in any way that the orders will be lifted. I think we need to be clear on that," he added. Atwal listed parts of the health-care system that remain overburdened due to COVID-19, such as acute care. Not to mention the province generated 201 cases from Wednesdays testing. "Weve had a deep discussion about it this morning, and Im sure well be discussing even tomorrow morning, and tomorrow afternoon in relation to what the next set of orders will look like starting on Saturday, for sure." He said once the orders are affirmed, an announcement will be made to that effect. The current restrictions were put in play for the holidays, and extended into January, to account for potential gatherings that could reignite out of control cases the province saw prior to the "circuit breaker," which meant an extremely restrictive lockdown. This weekend brings the province to the end of one incubation period, but there is still the incubation period for New Years Eve and Jan. 1 to consider. "You could argue here that we are at the tail end of the Christmas bulge and, in a couple of days, were going to get to the beginnings of a December 31st-January 1st bulge, if it does occur," Atwal said. mletourneau@brandonsun.com Michele LeTourneau covers Indigenous matters for The Brandon Sun under the Local Journalism Initiative, a federally funded program that supports the creation of original civic journalism. Thursdays covid-19 update The COVID-19 update from the province on Thursday saw 12 additional deaths listed, including two patients from the Prairie Mountain Health region a male in his 60s and a female in her 90s linked to the Fairview Personal Care Home. The province reported 208 new cases. Seven were removed due to data correction, making the new total 201. New cases are as follows: nine cases in the InterlakeEastern health region; 60 cases in the Northern health region; 17 in the Prairie Mountain Health region; 17 cases in the Southern HealthSante Sud health region; and 105 cases in the Winnipeg health region. The current five-day COVID-19 test positivity rate was 9.9 in the province, and 10.5 per cent in Winnipeg. Lab-confirmed cases in Manitoba total 25,742, with 717 deaths or 2.79 per cent. The province also reported 228 people are in hospital with active COVID-19, as well as 91 people in hospital with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require care, for a total of 319 hospitalizations. Thirty-one people are in intensive care units with active COVID-19, as well as four people with COVID-19 who are no longer infectious but continue to require critical care, for a total of 35 ICU patients. On Wednesday, 2,132 tests were completed, for a total of 432,839 since February. Source: Province of Manitoba Northbrook, IL -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2021 -- According to the new market research report "Pyrogen Testing Market by Product & Service (Assays, Kits, Reagents, Instruments, Services), Test Type (LAL, Chromogenic, Turbidimetric, Gel Clot, In Vitro, Rabbit), End User (Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Medical Device), Region Global Forecast to 2025" published by MarketsandMarkets. Revenue Growth Opportunities and Growth Drivers? The Global Pyrogen Testing Market size is projected to reach USD 1,689 million by 2025 from USD 927 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 12.7%. Growth Boosting Factors: # Rising incidence of infectious diseases and increasing frequency of pandemics # Increasing R&D in the pharmaceutical & biotechnology industries # Growing focus on personalized medicine # Growing awareness about food safety # High prevalence of chronic diseases Market Growth Opportunity: Emerging markets offer lucrative opportunities Countries across the APAC are highly lucrative markets for the life sciences industry. For instance, India has been taking significant initiatives, including encouraging public-private partnerships (PPPs) in biopharmaceutical R&D projects, to establish itself as the world's leading major biopharmaceutical innovation hub. South Korea is also taking initiatives to become a global biotech hub with a focus on biosimilars, vaccine production, and stem cell therapies. The growing demand for remedial treatments for life-threatening diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, highlights the need for drug R&D and thereby the demand for pyrogen testing kits for effective quality testing and control. Request Research Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=255266155 Leading Key Players in the Worldwide Industry: The major players operating in Pyrogen Testing Market are Charles River Laboratories, Inc. (US), Lonza (Switzerland), Merck KGaA (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (US), Associates of Cape Cod, Inc. (US), GenScript Biotech Corporation (China), bioMerieux SA (France), FUJIFILM Wako Pure Chemical Corporation (Japan), Eurofins Scientific (Luxembourg), WuXi AppTec (China), Hycult Biotech (Netherlands), Ellab A/S (Denmark), Microcoat Biotechnologie GmbH (Germany), InvivoGen (US), Nelson Laboratories, LLC (US). Geographical Regions Mapped in Report: The global market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. In 2019, North America accounted for the largest share of the global market. The North American LAL and pyrogen testing market's growth can be attributed to the high spending on pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical research, increasing pharmaceutical drug pipelines, a growing number of drug approvals, and rising consumer awareness about product safety. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=255266155 Market Segmentation in Detailed: Based on product & service, is segmented into assays, kits, and reagents; instruments; and services. The assays, kits, & reagents segment accounted for the largest share of the pyrogen testing market in 2019. The frequent requirement of assays, kits, and reagents in large numbers compared to instruments and the rising preference for kit-based testing are the major factors driving this segments growth. Based on end-users, is segmented into pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, medical device companies, and other end users. In 2019, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies accounted for the largest share of the pyrogen testing market. High inclination towards outsourcing preclinical, clinical, and laboratory testing services, a large number of ongoing drug discovery activities, and the increasing number of R&D facilities globally are the major factors driving this segments growth. The Economic Offence Wing (EOW) of Pune police crime branch has initiated process to freeze seven to eight bank accounts of Pankaj Chhallani, a businessman who has allegedly duped at least 35 people for multiple crores. He has been remanded to custody of Pune police till January 12 by a local court after a case under Sections 406 and 420 of Indian Penal Code along with Sections 3 and 4 of Maharashtra Protection of Depositors Interest (MPID) Act was registered at Swargate police station. An elderly complainant who had invested money from her savings in the scheme lodged a complaint after the cheque Challani had provided bounced in 2018. He has purchased around 28 properties - some are lands and others are spaces in commercial complexes located in prime locations in the city. All the properties are bought by him using the money he got from the depositors. From 2007 until 2018, he provided returns on payments of people by leasing out the properties he had purchased. The initial investors did earn a lot form what we see, said police inspector Swati Desai, Economic Offence Wing , who is investigating the case. Desai has urged other victims related to the case to come forward and meet the police at the EOW at Pune police commissioners office. On Wednesday, the police raided his house but have not found even a single title deed in Challanis name, according to an officer of EOW. This is one of the few cases where an individual has been booked under Maharashtra Protection of Interest of Depositors (MPID) Act and not a financial organisation or institution, according to a senior officer of the crime branch. Most of the people invested on goodwill based on mutual recommendations. His father is a chartered accountant and while he claims to have appeared for the exam as well, he did not pursue the career. He started this business. Even the house they live in has been sold. There is barely any money in any of the accounts that we have sent applications for freezing, said Desai. The properties are all on lease to commercial establishments like shops, gyms, and offices. A member of the group of complainants said that they were struggling to get the FIR registered for the past year and a half. Travelers are seen wearing masks at the international arrivals area at the Toronto Pearson Airport in Toronto, Canada, on Jan. 26, 2020. (Cole Burston/AFP via Getty Images) Canada Lifts Ban on UK Flights, New Rule for Pre-Boarding Tests Goes Into Effect Canadas ban on flights arriving from the United Kingdom is being lifted, as a new rule that requires all passengers entering Canada to take pre-boarding tests goes into effect today. The measure was first announced on Dec. 31, 2020, and goes into effective at midnight Jan. 7. All travelers must now present proof of a negative COVID-19 test result taken within 72 hours before boarding a plane to Canada, according to a statement of the interim order from Transport Canada. We have made that decision based on the fact that we have now put in place, since that original ban, a pre-departure testing protocol so that will replace the ban that existed for the U.K. and it applies, of course, to all countries in the world from which flights may come to Canada, Transport Minister Marc Garneau said during a press conference on Thursday. Only two types of COVID-19 tests are acceptable for entry into Canada at this time. They must be either a molecular polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP). Garneau said people who were already vaccinated abroad for COVID-19 are still required to provide the PCR or the LAMP tests. The reason for this is that the science is not yet clear on whether somebody whos vaccinated is not going to be able transmit COVID-19, so the requirement for the pre-departure test still applies, Garneau said. (35:50-36:10) Only a limited group of people are exempted from having to present this pre-boarding test, including children four years of age or under, transiting passengers, or individuals exempted by Transport Canada. Travelers are still required to complete a 14-day quarantine upon arriving in Canada. The new variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus that causes COVID-19 was discovered in the United Kingdom in December 2020. The new variant is found to be more transmissible, but so far there is no evidence showing that it will cause more severe illness. As of Jan. 7, Canada has reported 11 cases related to the new COVID-19 variant, according to a statement from Dr. Theresa Tam, the Chief Public Health Officer of Canada. Given these virus variants have been reported in multiple countries, the Government of Canada continues to advise Canadians against non-essential travel outside of Canada and are advising extra caution if you must travel to countries where a variant of concern is circulating, Tam wrote. Trump supporters storm US Capitol, tear gas deployed; DC mayor issues curfew Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Pro-Trump protesters breached the U.S. Capitol Wednesday afternoon as Vice President Mike Pence and lawmakers in both chambers were set to count votes from the Electoral College and likely solidify Joe Bidens election victory. According to reports, throngs of Trump supporters pushed through barriers established along the perimeter of the U.S. Capitol causing a suspension in the electoral vote count and a lockdown in the Capitol. The Washington Post reports that some of the protesters slipped past Capitol Hill Police and entered the building where the important vote count was taking place. Inside the Capitol, there was a standoff between police and protesters. One person was confirmed shot inside the Capitol, paramedics told local media. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, D-Calif., confirmed in an interview with Fox News that shots had been fired inside the building. The situation surrounding the shooting is not immediately clear. NBC News cited several law enforcement officials to report that the person who was shot in the Capitol has died. Video posted online shows scenes in which protesters outside clashed with police, with each side spraying each other with what appears to be pepper spray. President Donald Trump, who has maintained that targeted voter fraud compromised the 2020 election results and furthered the idea that the election was stolen from him, took to Twitter just after 2:30 p.m. to urge supporters to support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful! the president tweeted. Just after 3 p.m., Trump again urged supporters at the Capitol to stay peaceful. I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue, he wrote. According to CNN, hundreds of protesters pushed past the barriers surrounding the U.S. Capitol after 1 p.m., where they clashed with officers. About an hour-and-a-half later, some protesters made it into the Capitol building. Shortly after, the doors to the House and Senate chambers were locked and the House floor was eventually evacuated. Local radio news outlet WTOP reports that members of Congress inside the House chamber were told by police to wear gas masks after tear gas was dispersed in the Capitol Rotunda. District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a curfew of 6 p.m. Wednesday through 6 a.m. Thursday. During the hours of the curfew, no person, other than persons designated by the Mayor, shall walk, bike, run, loiter, stand, or motor by car or other mode of transport upon any street, alley, park, or other public place within the District, the mayors office announced in a statement. Although Trump had called for protesters to remain peaceful, congressional leaders called on the president to be more forceful in calling on protesters to leave the Capitol grounds. "We are calling on President Trump to demand that all protesters leave the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Grounds immediately, the top Democrats in the House and Senate said in a joint statement shared by The Washington Post. Later in the afternoon, Trump issued a video on Twitter calling for supporters "to go home in peace." Again repeating claims for voter fraud, Trump told supporters he knows how they feel and again stressed that the election was "stolen from us." "But we cant play into the hands of these people," Trump said. "We have to have peace. So go home. We love you. You are very special." Vice President Mike Pence took to Twitter Wednesday afternoon to call on the violence at the Capitol to stop. "The violence and destruction taking place at the US Capitol Must Stop and it Must Stop Now. Anyone involved must respect Law Enforcement officers and immediately leave the building," he tweeted. "Peaceful protest is the right of every American but this attack on our Capitol will not be tolerated and those involved will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law." Even though Trump has asserted that voter fraud compromised the election, all 50 states have certified the results of the elections in their states. Earlier in the day, Trump spoke at a Stop the Steal rally in D.C. attended by thousands of supporters in which he repeated claims of voter fraud. After the rally, supporters made their way to the Capitol grounds as part of a Save America March. Some Capitol Hill Police officers were reportedly injured in the clashes with demonstrators and evacuated. White House Press Secretary Kaleigh McEnany tweeted just after 3:30 p.m. that at Trumps discretion, the National Guard has been deployed along with other federal protective services. Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam said on Twitter that he will send members of the Virginia National Guard as well as 200 Virginia State Troopers to assist in the chaos at the U.S. Capitol. In addition to the citywide curfew, the city's transit system, Metro, will shut down early due to the curfew. Jack Graham, a Southern Baptist megachurch pastor from Plano, Texas, who has been a supporter of the president, condemned the violence taking place in Washington. "Violence at our nations capital is to be condemned and law and order must prevail. Pray for our country. This is heartbreaking," Graham wrote in a tweet. Rabbis Marvin Hier and Abraham Cooper, senior officials with the Jewish human rights organization Simon Wiesenthal Center, also denounced the violence in the nation's capital. The right to protest is sacrosanct in American life. But the very values and rights bestowed by our democracy are degraded and diminished when police officers have to draw their guns to protect our duly elected officials in heart of our nation by violent protesters who, by their reckless and dangerous behavior have inflicted grievous wounds on our nation," a joint statement reads. "Nothing, not even the emotional charges of voter fraud in a presidential election, can ever legitimize or excuse such behavior. For as the Talmud warns, Pray for the welfare of the government, for without it man would swallow his fellow. Today is a dark day for America. A Pennsylvania man who was charged by Capitol Police for taking part in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday also was charged with federal offenses, officials at the U.S. Department of Justice announced Friday. Terry Brown, of Myerstown, was one of 13 people charged federally. His codefendants included a man accused of breaking into House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office, a man accused of threatening Pelosi, and another man accused of bringing a gun and bombs to the Capitol. Brown was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. He also was charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. If convicted, he could face up to a year in prison and fines. In an interview with PennLive Thursday, the 69-year-old said he followed a crowd of Trump supporters from a rally near the White House to the U.S. Capitol and continued as the mob poured into the building behind broken barricades and breached doors. He said they were looking for an update on the election certification process and for someone to listen to their grievances. We have a right to know whats happening, said the Army veteran. He was one of 14 people arrested Wednesday by Capitol Police. He ended up handcuffed in the Capitol amid the chaos for more than 5 hours and eventually charged with unlawful entry, a crime similar to trespassing. Brown said he didnt want to be part of any violence or distraction but wanted his voice heard. The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol building was an attack against one of our Nations greatest institutions, said Acting U.S. Attorney Micheal Sherwin. My Office, along with our law enforcement, partners at all levels, have been expeditiously working and leveraging every resource to identify, arrest, and begin prosecuting these individuals who took part in the brazen criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol. We are resolute in our commitment to holding accountable anyone responsible for these disgraceful criminal acts, and to anyone who might be considering engaging in or inciting violence in the coming weeks know this: you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. The charges Friday from the federal court in the District of Columbia could just be the beginning, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. Authorities said they still are investigating additional complaints. To be clear, what took place that day was not First Amendment-protected activity, but rather an affront on our democracy, Wray said. The FBI, along with our local, state, and federal partners, is committed to ensuring that justice is served. We will continue to aggressively investigate each and every individual who chose to ignore the law and instead incite violence, destroy property, and injure others. Read more from PennLive Virginia gubernatorial candidate faces Facebook restrictions after false statements on Capitol attack State lawmaker charged after entering Capitol with rioters STAMFORD A slap in the face of democracy. Thats how Pedro Calderon a resident of New Jersey who works in Stamford, described the rioting in Washington, D.C., as demonstrators stormed the Capitol during a joint session of Congress on Wednesday afternoon. Ive been living in this country for 20 years, and Im very grateful because I came to this country looking for freedom and also an improvement for the life of my family, Calderon, a native of Ecuador, said Thursday. I saw this on Twitter on Wednesday. Someone said, The only thing we need right now is slower wi-fi and we will be a third-world country. Its a shame. I feel ashamed. Calderon said he saw political protests turn violent when he lived in Ecuador. But he said he never saw anyone in those riots capable of destroying property or disrupting the democratic process the way rioters did when they interrupted the count of President-elect Joe Bidens victory in the Electoral College. I hated having to see this, and I hated my son, Diego, having to see this, Calderon said. He is an American citizen by birth, and he said Dad, this cant be happening. This is America. Were supposed to be the symbol for the rest of the world. In Mill River Park, two friends, Kevin Tillhof of Stamford and Sumit Kumar of Greenwich, discussed the events over cigars under a bright sun. What they did was definitely wrong, and I dont condone it whatsoever, Tillhof said of the protesters. But I wish both sides would stop going after each other. ... I think that having a 50-50 (split in the Senate) could actually help because no one side will be able to be dominant. There will have to be give and take on both sides. And maybe people seeing these leaders like they did last night coming down and doing what they needed to do can help. Tillhof said he was hopeful for the future but expressed frustration with the way media has reported opinion and not news, which he said had exacerbated the situation. Pitting the right against the left is making problems worse, he said, and citizens should not go around thinking their side is superior to the other. Tillhof said he hoped that no one would not be demonized over the actions of a small group. We have to look at this rationally and not emotionally, he said. Kumar agreed that the riot on Capital Hill was completely unacceptable. That cant happen, not here and not anywhere, he said, adding that he felt the blame for the events lies with the president. We can play the what-about-ism game where we say, Oh yeah, six months ago there were riots from left-leaning causes and six months before that there were riots from right-leaning causes, and say how one was worse than the other, but that doesnt solve anything, Kumar said. Theres not much question the president was hyperbolic and said things to the crowd that riled them up. Those in the crowd are responsible for their own actions. ... But I dont know what they thought was going to happen after they stormed the Capitol. What did they think the endgame would be? The rioting also hit home for Norwalk resident Annie Tarnasky, who also works in Stamford. She has a close friend who works for Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and was in the Capitol when the demonstrators broke in. Her friend is safe and unharmed, but it was an anxious time, Tarnasky said. It was extremely upsetting, she said. Its not something you think you would see happen here. You could get the sense that something like this was building, but it was still upsetting to see. She said she is hoping for a very boring next four years with President Donald Trump on his way out of the White House. Right now, the way the rhetoric is going, it feels like were very far away from that, Tarnasky said. We need to show compassion and find some common ground, wherever it may be. We need to have an understanding of where everyone is coming from, and end hate speech. Hopefully, our new president will stop people from operating from a place of hate. Many complained at what they thought was lenient treatment of the protesters by police at the Capitol. Video footage showed officers posing for selfies with protesters, many of whom walked out of the Capitol without any immediate consequences. Residents compared that the many Black Lives Matter rallies held nationwide last summer, where many met with a harsher reaction. It was disgraceful, Stamford resident Quardera Coley said about the police reaction. They went light on the protesters. They restrained them with water and stuff like that. But when there were Black Lives Matter protests, they were shooting rubber bullets and having tear gas on innocent bystanders. They were beating on us. But since these were Trump supporters, it felt like they got a slap on the wrist. Coley said that kind of ingrained racism shows the importance of the Black Lives Matter protests. In Black Lives Matter, we had a lot of minorities, Black and Spanish and people like that. And with the Trump supporters, they were mainly white, Coley said. I think that played a part in what happened. Im not optimistic this is going to get fixed, either. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... WASHINGTON Warnings flashing, Democrats in Congress laid plans Friday for swift impeachment of President Donald Trump, demanding decisive, immediate action to ensure an unhinged commander in chief cant add to the damage they say hes inflicted or even ignite nuclear war in his final days in office. As the country comes to terms with the violent siege of the U.S. Capitol by Trump supporters that left five dead, the crisis that appears to be among the final acts of his presidency is deepening like few other periods in the nations history. With less than two weeks until hes gone, Democrats want him out now and he has few defenders speaking up for him in his own Republican party. We must take action, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared on a private conference call with Democrats. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ And one prominent Republican, Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, told the Anchorage Daily News that Trump simply needs to get out. The final days of Trumps presidency are spinning toward a chaotic end as he holes up at the White House, abandoned by many aides, top Republicans and Cabinet members. After refusing to concede defeat in the November election, he has now promised a smooth transfer of power when Democratic President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20. But even so, he says he will not attend the inauguration the first such presidential snub since just after the Civil War. In Congress, where many have watched and reeled as the president spent four years breaking norms and testing the nations guardrails of democracy, Democrats are unwilling to take further chances with only a few days left in his term. The mayhem that erupted Wednesday at the Capitol stunned the world and threatened the traditional peaceful transfer of power. Pelosi said she had spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes for nuclear war. She said Milley assured her longstanding safeguards are in place. The president has sole authority to order the launch of a nuclear weapon, but a military commander could refuse the order if it were determined to be illegal. Trump has not publicly made such threats, but officials warn of grave danger if the president is left unchecked. This unhinged president could not be more dangerous, Pelosi said of the current situation. Biden, meanwhile, said he is focused on his job as he prepares to take office. Asked about impeachment, he said, Thats a decision for the Congress to make. The Democrats are considering lightning-quick action. A draft of their Articles of Impeachment accuses Trump of abuse of power, saying he willfully made statements that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol, according to a person familiar with the details who was granted anonymity to discuss them. The articles are expected to be introduced on Monday, with a House vote as soon as Wednesday. If Trump were to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he might also be prevented from running again for the presidency in 2024 or ever holding public office again. He would be only the president twice impeached. A person on the call said Pelosi also discussed other ways Trump might be forced to resign. Senators from a bipartisan group convened their own call to consider options for congressional action, according to an aide granted anonymity to reveal the private discussions. Not helpful, the White House argued. Trump spokesman Judd Deere said, A politically motivated impeachment against a President with 12 days remaining in his term will only serve to further divide our great country. Trump was tweeting again Friday, his Twitter account reinstated after a brief ban, and he reverted to an aggressive statement that his supporters must not be disrespected after he had sent out a calmer Thursday video decrying the violence. Toward evening, Twitter said it was permanently suspending him from its platform, citing risk of further incitement of violence. The soonest the Senate could begin an impeachment trial under the current calendar would be Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. Conviction in the Republican Senate at this late date would seem unlikely, though in a sign of Trumps shattering of the party many Republicans were silent on the issue. One Trump ally, Republican Minority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, did speak up, saying as the White House did that impeaching the President with just 12 days left in his term will only divide our country more. McCarthy said he has reached out to Biden and plans to speak with the Democratic president-elect about working together to lower the temperature. But Murkowski said she wants Trump to resign now, not wait for Bidens swearing in on Jan. 20. I want him out, she said in a telephone interview with the Anchorage newspaper. Another leading Republican critic of Trump, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he would definitely consider impeachment. Strong criticism of Trump, who urged the protesters to march to the Capitol, continued unabated. Every day that he remains in office, he is a danger to the Republic, said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Schiff, who led Trumps impeachment in 2019, said in a statement that Trump lit the fuse which exploded on Wednesday at the Capitol. Sen. Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, tweeted that some people ask, why impeach a president who has only a few days left in office? The answer: Precedent. It must be made clear that no president, now or in the future, can lead an insurrection against the U.S. government, Sanders said. Pelosi and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer both had private calls with Biden late Friday. They have called on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to to force Trump from office. Its a process for removing the president and installing the vice president to take over. Pelosi said later that option remains on the table. But action by Pence or the Cabinet now appears unlikely, especially after two top officials, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao suddenly resigned in the aftermath of the violence and would no longer be in the Cabinet to make such a case. Trump had encouraged loyalists at a rally Wednesday at the White House to march on the Capitol where Congress was certifying the Electoral College tally of Bidens election. The House impeached Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Alexandra Jaffe contributed to this report. The news that many countries, including Turkey, are starting to roll out programs for vaccination against COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) raises many questions in peoples minds, generally about the different types of vaccines, how they were developed so quickly, and how they work. As a result, we have pulled together information from reputable scientific sources to give you a basic understanding of how vaccines work and the different types of vaccine available. How were COVID-19 vaccines developed so quickly? Creating a vaccine in under 1 year is no small feat. While the coronavirus pandemic made a new normal of mask-wearing and physical distancing, it also spurred global cooperation for vaccine research and distribution. Under normal circumstances, making a vaccine can take up to 1015 years. This is because of the complexity of vaccine development. Amid a global pandemic, time was a luxury the world could not afford. Researchers quickly mobilized to share their coronavirus data with other scientists. The ability to fast-track research and clinical trials was a direct result of this worldwide cooperation. How vaccines work A vaccine works by training the immune system to recognize and combat pathogens, either viruses or bacteria. To do this, certain molecules from the pathogen must be introduced into the body to trigger an immune response. These molecules are called antigens, and they are present on all viruses and bacteria. By injecting these antigens into the body, the immune system can safely learn to recognize them as hostile invaders, produce antibodies, and remember them for the future. If the bacteria or virus reappears, the immune system will recognize the antigens immediately and attack aggressively well before the pathogen can spread and cause sickness. Photo courtesy of WHO How COVID-19 Vaccines Work COVID-19 vaccines help our bodies develop immunity to the virus that causes COVID-19 without us having to get the illness. Different types of vaccines work in different ways to offer protection, but with all types of vaccines, the body is left with a supply of memory T-lymphocytes as well as B-lymphocytes that will remember how to fight that virus in the future. It typically takes a few weeks for the body to produce T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes after vaccination. Therefore, it is possible that a person could be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 just before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection. Sometimes after vaccination, the process of building immunity can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are a sign that the body is building immunity. Types of Vaccines Scientists around the world are developing many potential vaccines for COVID-19. These vaccines are all designed to teach the bodys immune system to safely recognize and block the virus that causes COVID-19. Several different types of vaccines for COVID-19 have been developed, or are in development, including: Inactivated or weakened virus vaccines, which use a form of the virus that has been inactivated or weakened so it doesnt cause disease, but still generates an immune response. Protein-based vaccines, which use harmless fragments of proteins or protein shells that mimic the COVID-19 virus to safely generate an immune response. Viral vector vaccines, which use a virus that has been genetically engineered so that it cant cause disease, but produces coronavirus proteins to safely generate an immune response. RNA and DNA vaccines, a cutting-edge approach that uses genetically engineered RNA or DNA to generate a protein that itself safely prompts an immune response. Sinovac vaccine The Beijing-based biopharmaceutical company Sinovac is behind the CoronaVac, an inactivated vaccine. It works by using killed viral particles to expose the bodys immune system to the virus without risking a serious disease response. CoronaVac is a more traditional method [of vaccine] that is successfully used in many well known vaccines like rabies, Associate Prof Luo Dahai of the Nanyang Technological University told the BBC. Interim results from phase 3 trials have shown that the vaccine is over 91% effective, according to Health Minister Fahrettin Koca, and the first batch of 3 million doses arrived in Turkey on December 30. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-55212787 Herd Immunity Herd immunity is a form of indirect protection from infectious disease that occurs when a sufficient percentage of a population has become immune to an infection, whether through vaccination or previous infections, thereby reducing the likelihood of infection for individuals who lack immunity. Source: Wikipedia When someone is vaccinated, they are very likely to be protected against the targeted disease. But not everyone can be vaccinated. People with underlying health conditions that weaken their immune systems (such as cancer or HIV) or who have severe allergies to some vaccine components may not be able to get vaccinated with certain vaccines. These people can still be protected if they live in and amongst others who are vaccinated. When a lot of people in a community are vaccinated the pathogen has a hard time circulating because most of the people it encounters are immune. So the more that others are vaccinated, the less likely people who are unable to be protected by vaccines are at risk of even being exposed to the harmful pathogens. Herd immunity is especially important for those people who not only cant be vaccinated but may be more susceptible to the diseases we vaccinate against. No single vaccine provides 100% protection, and herd immunity does not provide full protection to those who cannot safely be vaccinated. But with herd immunity, these people will have substantial protection, thanks to those around them being vaccinated. Vaccinating not only protects yourself, but also protects those in the community who are unable to be vaccinated. If you are able to, get vaccinated. Photo courtesy of WHO Photo courtesy of WHO The Bottom Line Getting vaccinated is one of many steps you can take to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Protection from COVID-19 is critically important because for some people, it can cause severe illness or death. Stopping a pandemic requires using all the tools available. Vaccines work with your immune system so your body will be ready to fight the virus if you are exposed. Other steps, like masks and social distancing, help reduce your chance of being exposed to the virus or spreading it to others. Together, COVID-19 vaccination and following government and Ministry of Health recommendations to protect yourself and others will offer the best protection from COVID-19. Sources: https://www.publichealth.org/public-awareness/understanding-vaccines/vaccines-work/ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/different-vaccines/how-they-work.html https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-(covid-19)-vaccines https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/draft-landscape-of-covid-19-candidate-vaccines https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herd_immunity https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/how-did-we-develop-a-covid-19-vaccine-so-quickly#Worldwide-collaboration The latest pandemic data show a slight decrease in Belgium. There has been an average of 1,664 daily new infections in Belgium between 29 December and 4 January, a 2% decrease from the previous seven day period, according to data published Friday morning by the public health institute Sciensano. Other numbers, too, are declining. The updated reproduction rate Rt has not yet been released. It was 0.884 on Thursday. Over daily 27,500 tests were done on average over the latest seven day span (-5%), with a 6.7% positivity rate. There has been an average of 131 daily hospital admissions between 1 and 7 January (-21%). A total of 2,016 patients (-3%) were hospitalised due to Covid on Thursday, 382 of them in intensive care. Number of admissions for 7 January: 146 Number of patients released by 31 December: 209 Belgium has seen an average of 64 deaths per day between 29 December and 4 January. which is a 14.5% decrease from the previous seven day period. While the numbers seem to be on the decline for our Belgian neighbours, caution is advised, as the trend would need to continue over the next few weeks. Gandhinagar, Jan 9 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has asked the Gujarat High Court to take notice of the unnatural death of an under trial prisoner (UTP) in Sabarmati Central Jail in 2017. Holding that the prisoner died on May 29, 2017 due to negligence and torture by jail officials, and that the enquiry by an Ahmedabad assistant chief metropolitan magistrate was "shady in nature" and unreliable, the apex rights body asked its registry to bring the matter to the notice of Gujarat HC's Chief Justice for taking necessary action against such judicial officers. "It is very surprising & shocking to know that though 22 ante-mortem injuries over the body of the deceased were clearly reflected in the post-mortem report, but still enquiry magistrate i.e. Ahmedabad ACMM, had stated that no injury was found to be present on the deceased. The Chief Justice of Gujarat High Court has to seriously consider the presence of such Judicial Officers in public domain," it said. The NHRC also issued a show cause notice to the state Chief Secretary, seeking as to why not an interim relief of Rs 3 lakh should not be recommended to be paid to prisoner Ashok aka Lalit's next of kin as his human rights were violated by jail officials. The state Director General of Police has been asked to submit, within four weeks, a detailed report in the matter along with details of the criminal case registered and progress in the matter. The NHRC had registered the case on the basis of an intimation from Central Prison Superintendent, Ahmedabad regarding the prisoner's death. Its Investigation Division informed that the victim was in the custody of Sabarmati Central Prison, Ahmedabad since May 27, 2017 after his arrest in a prohibition case. Within two days, he fell ill and was sent to the Civil Hospital, Ahmedabad for treatment but died on the same day. The post-mortem, done by a panel of four doctors, revealed 22 ante-mortem injuries from head to toe on the person of the deceased. The forensic cause of death was given as death due to shock and haemorrhage as a result of injuries sustained. However, the ACMM, Ahmedabad concluded that the health screening report as well as inquest report revealed that no injury was present on the deceased's body. The ACMM also noted that family members did not complain of anything and based on the statements of doctors and jail officials, there was no evidence that the deceased was physically or mentally tortured during custody. However, the NHRC noted that Ashok was normal at the time of entry into the jail and died within two days, and thus it was a clear case of unnatural death in judicial custody and the state is vicariously responsible. Further, it held that the statements of the victim's family members bear no relevance as he was in jail. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 15:33:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HONG KONG, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Two men aged 24 and 47 respectively, have been arrested, as they were suspected of committing the offense of "subverting the state power" under the national security law in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong police confirmed with Xinhua on Friday. Local media reported that the duo were Joshua Wong, head of the disbanded Demosisto, a separatist group advocating "Hong Kong independence," and opposition politician Tam Tak-chi. The two have already been put in jail. Wong was sentenced to 13 and a half months in prison last month for besieging the police headquarters in June 2019, and Tam is awaiting trial behind bars for multiple offenses. Enditem GREENVILLE, S.C., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Capital Corporation is pleased to announce that Forensic Engineering Technologies, LLC ("FET", headquartered in Orlando, Florida) has partnered with J.S. Held LLC ("J.S. Held", headquartered in Jericho, New York), becoming the platform for J.S. Held's growing accident reconstruction practice. Forensic Engineering Technologies is one of the largest independent forensic engineering firms in the Southeastern United States. FE T's primary engineering discipline centers on accident reconstruction services (where mechanical, civil, and traffic engineering disciplines are often incorporated); however, FET provides holistic forensic engineering solutions to its clients, spanning across eight different disciplines beyond just its accident reconstruction specialty, including but not limited to: premises liability claims, failure analysis engineering, biomechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and human factors engineering. This wide array of services empowers FET to offer its clients comprehensive solutions for highly complex and high loss events, evidenced by its highly loyal client base now exceeding 400 firms. Given the continued rapid growth that FET has been experiencing over the last decade, its leadership team recognized the need to partner with a larger firm that could help manage that accelerated growth going forward. Don Fournier, CEO and Founder of Forensic Engineering Technologies, commented "We are very excited to be partnering with the J.S. Held team. The vast amounts of resources and complimentary expertise that we now have at our disposal will allow us to create an even more differential and value-added service offering for our clients." Devin Green, The Capital Corporation's COO, said "We ran an efficient process where we analyzed prospective partners on their ability to help FET streamline their ongoing growth. J.S. Held has proven to be an excellent fit and will position the FET team to unlock significant value in the years ahead." The Capital Corporation, a leading investment bank headquartered out of Greenville, South Carolina and with offices in Spartanburg, South Carolina and Boca Raton, Florida, served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Forensic Engineering Technologies on the transaction. About Forensic Engineering Technologies: Forensic Engineering Technologies (FET) (www.fet-eng.com) is a multi-disciplinary forensic engineering, expert witness, and consulting firm headquartered in Central Florida. FET's team is composed of industry leading experts in the disciplines of mechanical, biomechanical, electrical, structural, and civil engineering. FET serves its insurance and legal clients in the core practice areas of vehicle accident investigation and reconstruction, premises liability, product liability, human factors, and digital forensics. About J.S. Held: J.S. Held (www.jsheld.com) is a global consulting firm providing specialized technical, scientific, financial, and advisory services. Its team brings together years of unrivaled technical expertise and unparalleled service to deliver comprehensive solutions to its clients. J.S. Held is renowned for recruiting and cultivating distinguished experts and being a trusted partner on the world's most complex construction, environmental, accounting, and economic matters. J.S. Held has over 100 offices across the United States, Canada, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East. About The Capital Corporation: The Capital Corporation has been helping middle market companies achieve their financial objectives since 1991. With hundreds of closed transactions, The Capital Corporation is one of the most successful middle market investment banking firms in the country. The firm's experience, commitment, and unwavering focus to achieve such results separates the firm from its peers in the middle market. As an exclusive member of IMAP, The Capital Corporation is part of the world's largest alliance of independent M&A advisory firms. With more than 60 offices in over 40 countries, IMAP offers local expertise with unparalleled global connections. In 2019, IMAP ranked seventh in the world for completed transactions with values up to $500 million according to the Thomson Reuters Mid-Market League Table. For more information, please visit www.thecapitalcorp.com. Contact: Devin Green|[email protected] | 864.672.8400 Related Images the-capital-corporation.jpg The Capital Corporation Middle market investment banking firm located in Greenville, SC SOURCE The Capital Corporation Related Links http://www.thecapitalcorp.com When President Trump took office in January 2017, there were 145.6 million Americans at work. In his 2017 inaugural address, the new president promised more. We will bring back our jobs, he said. Four years later and about to leave office unable to get a handle on an ongoing pandemic, Trump has not delivered on his promise. Fridays jobs report showed the employment rolls last month included a workforce of 142.6 million total non-farm, seasonally adjusted, workers. Decembers disappointing data finalized what has long been expected: fewer people will be employed in America when Trump leaves office than when he arrived. Just before the coronavirus hit the U.S. early last year, Trump was on pace for a sizable jobs gain for his term. He was overseeing an economy with 152.4 million non-farm jobs. The pandemic then cut more than 9.8 million jobs from those levels. The net effect is employment rolls down about 3 million people from when he took office. A Yahoo Finance analysis from September found that a range of other countries have also lost jobs over the last four years as a result of the coronavirus pandemic and resulting recession. President Donald Trump speaks in front of a "JOBS! JOBS! JOBS!" banner at a Trump re-election campaign event Pennsylvania in August. (REUTERS/Tom Brenner) But even before the pandemic, Trumps record on jobs was mixed. In July 2019, Yahoo Finances Rick Newman analyzed Trumps jobs record and found that job growth has actually slowed under Trump compared to Obama but not by a significant amount. At the time, he concluded that the occupant of the White House had had little effect on the employment trends. In Trumps case, the cause of a job loss begins and ends with the pandemic. Austan Goolsbee, who previously served as the Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama, said the Trump administration did not take the virus seriously, and the number one rule of virus economics, that I always say is, that if you want to help the economy, you gotta get control of the virus." Another measure is manufacturing jobs. Trump often touted his success in bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. That figure (seasonally adjusted) over the last four years also shows a decrease. There were 12.37 million manufacturing workers in 2017 and there are 12.31 million now. Recent history has shown manufacturing jobs have lagged other sectors of the economy, regardless of whether a Democrat or a Republican is in the White House. Story continues The first president since World War II to lose jobs On Friday, a parade of other Democrats as they had been during the campaign were also quick to pounce on Trumps four-year record on jobs. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Rep. Don Beyer (D., Va.), who was Vice Chair of the Joint Economic Committee in 2020 and is expecting to serve as chairman this year, was quick to note that when President Trump leaves office this month, he will become the first president since World War II to leave office with fewer American jobs than when his administration started. In a statement House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said the December jobs report is more evidence of the Trump Administrations failure to confront the staggering health and economic crises brought about by the accelerating coronavirus pandemic. House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D., N.Y.) added in a statement that as President Trump prepares to leave office, he will leave behind the worst jobs legacy of a president in my lifetime." Michael Darda, chief economist and macro strategist of MKM Partners, offered some hope for the future: This was not a good number, he told Yahoo Finance, but said there were prospects for growth in the months ahead with a vaccine rollout. That's what I think risk markets are focused on looking ahead, looking a bit over the horizon here, said Darda. Ben Werschkul is a writer and producer for Yahoo Finance in Washington, DC. Read more: December jobs report: Payrolls drop for the first time since April, unemployment rate steadies at 6.7% The US has lost jobs since Trump took office, but so have many other countries Stimulus program for small businesses tweaked, and 'we think we have corrected it' Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit. One person was injured in a shooting Thursday night in Huntsville. According to Don Webster, a spokesperson for Huntsville Emergency Medical Services, a call came in around 6 p.m. about a shooting on Seminole Street, near Governors Drive. He says a male victim has a gunshot wound to the leg that is not life threatening. Cash in excess of 1m has been seized by personnel from Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB) during an operation in Co Kildare on 8th January 2021. Photo: Garda Facebook A 45-year-old Lithuanian man who was arrested on Friday morning with more than 1m in cash in the van he was driving was moving the money on behalf of the notorious The Family gang, senior sources revealed. The suspect is being detained at Portlaoise Garda Station under anti-gangland legislation, where he is being questioned about involvement in a criminal organisation, to facilitate money laundering, relating to the suspected proceeds of drug trafficking, gardai said in a statement. Detectives believe the arrested man, who is based in the midlands, had been moving the huge cash haul on for one of Irelands biggest drugs trafficking networks. Gardai believe the cash was to be moved out of the country. It is the second major cash seizure against the gang in just over three months after a multi-million euro seizure last year. The west Dublin based drug trafficking mob led by convicted heroin dealer Brian Grendon (42) have been the subject of numerous raids by specialist garda units in recent years but they remain one of the biggest drug dealing organisations in the State. The Family gang have been using Dublin garages to launder money for years and in June, 2017, in a major operation by the Criminal Assets Bureau five car dealerships were raided and another three visited by officers in searches which yielded than 1m worth of assets, including luxury watches and high-end cars. Friday mornings operation involved members of the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (GNDOCB), intercepting a van on the M7 near Ballybrittas, Co Laois, at 6.30am in which the seven figure cash sum was found in the vehicle. Around 10,000 in cash was then discovered during follow-up searches in the midlands by detectives. Brian Grendon along with his older brother Philip are classified as two of the main leaders of the mob whose stronghold is in the Clondalkin and Ballyfermot areas. Brian was jailed for six years in December, 2002, for the possession of 1.9m worth of heroin in a Palmerstown pub in November, 2001. Brians older brother Philip (45) is understood to have been released from a tough Spanish jail in 2018 after he was caught in a bizarre bust in August, 2014. Spanish police arrested him after threw one of two suitcases containing 3.8m worth of cocaine from a Valencia hotel window in a paranoid fit. Speaking about the massive M7 cash seizure, Assistant Commissioner John ODriscoll, who heads Organised and Serious Crime, within An Garda Siochana, said: "An Garda Siochana continues to pursue organised crime groups who are believed to involved in supplying illicit drugs within our communities, the motivation for which is financial gain. We again today have made a significant advance in our attempt to dismantle organised crime groups, by locating and seizing the suspected proceeds of their criminal activity. "Despite our significant commitment to tackling issues associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, at this time, An Garda Siochana remains focused on protecting communities from serious and organised crime, including cyber enabled crime, drug trafficking and associated money laundering. (Natural News) The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) remains headstrong in its faith in the COVID-19 vaccines even though these jabs are causing more allergic reaction cases than flu shots. In a report published on Wednesday, the CDC revealed that nearly two dozen Americans have experienced life-threatening allergic reactions after receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine between Dec. 14 and 23. With only 1.9 million shots administered over that time period, the jab has a rate of more than 11 severe allergic reaction cases per million doses. That is nearly 10 times more than the rate for flu shots, and it represents only a fraction of the real adverse events, since most go unreported. Despite this alarming finding, the CDC said that a severe allergic reaction is still exceedingly rare and encouraged the public to get the coronavirus vaccine once it becomes available to them in order to stop the COVID-19 pandemic. CDC pushes for vaccination despite adverse vaccine reactions In its report, the CDC said that a total of 21 people between the ages of 27 and 60 years had anaphylaxis, a serious allergic reaction that can be fatal if left untreated. Seventeen of them had a documented history of allergies to a wide variety of allergens such as bee and wasp stings, eggs, shellfish, cats, penicillin and steroids. Two of these had a previous adverse reaction to vaccines one to the H1N1 flu shot and the other to a rabies vaccine while seven had a history of anaphylactic shock, where ones blood pressure levels drop suddenly and the airways narrow. An anaphylactic shock can be accompanied by hives, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and a swollen tongue or throat, among others. The adverse reactions, according to the report, happened between two minutes and 150 minutes after the dose was given. Under CDC guidelines, people with an anaphylaxis history should be monitored for only a minimum of 30 minutes while others for merely 15 minutes. Nineteen of the patients were treated with epinephrine, a hormone that relaxes the airway muscles. No deaths were reported but three people had to be rushed to the ICU. (Related: COVID-19 vaccines contain deadly epitopes that cause autoimmune disease.) With 21 reactions out of the nearly 1.9 million administered doses, the rate of anaphylaxis for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is 11.1 cases per million doses. By comparison, flu shots have a rate of around 1.3 cases per million doses, according to the CDC. I guess you could mathematically say thats 10 times the amount. But I think that misses the point because its still exceedingly rare, said Dr. Nancy Messonnier, director of the CDCs National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD). The 21 anaphylactic cases, however, are only the tip of the iceberg. The report indicated that the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine caused an additional 86 cases of non-anaphylactic allergic reactions and 61 nonallergic adverse events. Meanwhile, seven case reports are still under investigation. I continue to believe that the risk of COVID makes it imperative that people go ahead and get vaccinated as soon as it is available to them, Messonnier added. Agencies discourage people with severe allergies from getting vaccinated Allergic reactions to the Pfizer-BioNTech shot were first reported in the U.K. when two healthcare workers with a history of severe allergies suffered anaphylactic reactions after getting the vaccine last month. Because of this, the British Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency issued a warning that anyone with a severe allergic reaction to food or medicine should not be given the jab. Dr. Thomas Clark, epidemiology lead for the NCIRDs Meningitis and Vaccine-Preventable Diseases Branch, echoed the British agencys recommendation. Clark said: If you have allergies to compounds in the vaccine or closely related compounds, we recommend you dont get vaccinated at this time. Yet some Americans with a history of allergies are still proceeding with the vaccination. Physician and Duke University professor Dr. Leonor Corsino has severe allergies in the past but got inoculated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. Corsino said when asked why she got the shot: One [reason] is obviously because I wanted to be vaccinated to protect myself and protect my patients. But the World Health Organizations chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan stated that there is not enough evidence to support that COVID-19 vaccines can protect people from the coronavirus. (Related: Pathogenic priming? COVID-19 vaccines are actually spreading the pandemic.) I dont believe we have the evidence on any of the vaccines to be confident that its going to prevent people from actually getting the infection and therefore being able to pass it on, Swaminathan said in a virtual press conference earlier this week. For more reports unmasking the truth about the coronavirus vaccines, visit VaccineDamage.news. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk AAAAI.org CDC.gov 1 USNews.com CDC.gov 2 ABC11.com The man fatally shot by a Tigard police officer on Wednesday was in the throes of a mental health crisis that had escalated in the days before his death, a friend who lived with him said Friday. Jacob Macduff, 26, had struggled with an undiagnosed mental health problem, said the friend, Theresa Chapin. Macduffs mother told The Oregonian/OregonLive that the illness might have been bipolar disorder. His erratic behavior prompted Chapin and other friends to call 911 a total of five times in the week leading up to his fatal shooting. Macduff was killed during what Tigard police said was an attempt to arrest him on domestic violence allegations. Police said officers confronted Macduff in his truck, which was parked under the apartment complex where he lived. Macduff had a knife, police said, and refused to surrender. An officer shot him during a struggle, police said in a statement. They have not said how many times Macduff was shot or what steps officers took to resolve the situation before using lethal force. They have not identified the officer who fired. Tigard Police Chief Kathy McAlpine did not respond to an email from The Oregonian/OregonLive on Friday asking for a fuller account of what happened. McAlpine did, however, address the damage done to public buildings and businesses by demonstrators who gathered Thursday night in response to Macduffs killing. Tigard police said they arrested one person on suspicion of rioting. They said more than 20 windows were broken on city property and described the graffiti applied to city property and downtown businesses as extensive. We understand anger, McAlpine said during a press conference. We understand frustration. We cannot accept random property damage and threats of violence to be the form of that outcry for justice. Chapin said Macduff had what she called psychosis and refused to take medication. She said his behavior had become increasingly volatile in recent days. She said he punched holes in the walls of the apartment they shared and damaged a bedroom door. He was out of control, she said. On Wednesday, she said Macduff was in crisis again. She said he banged his head against the wall forcefully and repeatedly. She said he yelled and threatened her but did not hurt her. He didnt hit me, Chapin said. He yelled at me and I yelled back. I was trying to get through to somebody who was unmedicated and mentally ill. She said he made a lot of noise, prompting multiple neighbors called 911. At some point, Macduff left the apartment, she said. She said Tigard police arrived and she told the two officers, a man and a woman, that Macduff had a mental illness. She said they asked if he was armed. She said she told them about a pocket knife he kept on a keychain. Chapin said the blade on the knife was no bigger than the palm of her hand. Police found Macduff sitting in his truck in a parking space under the complex, Chapin said. Police came back to her to ask for the trucks keys, which she said she did not have. She said police prohibited her from leaving her apartment unit to speak with Macduff, so she went onto a balcony and waited for the situation to be resolved. At one point, she heard the sound of gunfire and broken glass, which she said she assumed was the window on Macduffs truck, and then more gunfire. Chapin said she heard five rounds, a pause, then another five rounds. Mental illness left Macduff unable to work and she helped care for him for two years, she said. The two lived in Las Vegas together and moved to Tigard nine months ago. Nevada court records show Macduff in late 2019 was accused of burglary, domestic battery and disturbing human remains. Available records dont give any details of the case or its status. Chapin criticized the response by Tigard police. Police have depicted Macduff as a domestic violence perpetrator instead of a person in crisis, she said. How does it go straight from talking to him in the truck to shooting him? she said. Where was the negotiation? Where was the mental health crisis unit? Where was somebody to talk to him before they decided to shoot him? Where was the help? Chapin asked. They did nothing to help him. They treated him like an animal. Police have declined to say how they approached Macduff or long they talked to him or if they had crisis negotiators at the scene. Chapin said she and Macduff were good friends who shared meals and watched movies together when Macduff was on more stable mental footing. She said they spent the Christmas holiday sledding on Mount Hood. Its so sad, she said. He was such a young kid. He was so talented. Its such a loss. I dont think things were done right. Macduffs mother, Maria Macduff, said she is sympathetic to the challenges police face in dealing with people who have mental illness. I just wish he could have been brought down to the ground and taken to the hospital, said Macduff, who is a family physician. Its a difficult situation for everybody, a tragic situation that will take a long time to get over. She described her son, who grew up in Santa Barbara, as very sweet, kind soul who had friends and was thoughtful and very kind. I just wish he had a few more years to try to get better, she said. -- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie WASHINGTON As he strolled past gold-framed portraits of past congressional leaders, one rioter who stormed the Capitol in a pro-Trump mob on Wednesday wore a red Trump hat, a commemorative sweatshirt from the presidents inauguration and a lanyard around his neck. When a photo of him went viral, it didnt take internet sleuths long to realize that the lanyard held his work badge clearly identifying him as an employee of Navistar Direct Marketing, a printing company in Frederick, Md. On Thursday, Navistar swiftly fired him. Hes not alone among the rioters who wreaked havoc in Congress. While police and the FBI work to identify and arrest members of the mob, online detectives are also crowdsourcing information and doxing them exposing the rioters to criminal prosecution, but also more immediate action from their bosses. READ MORE: A Bucks County Trump supporter posted about a 1776-style revolution during Capitol riot. Then, he was arrested. Since most of the rioters stormed the Capitol maskless, online detectives had a unique opportunity to easily identify them. And many made it even easier they live-streamed their participation and later bragged about their escapades. Using journalists photos and videos, as well as live-streamed videos from rioters, untold Twitter users and Instagram accounts have been feverishly working since Wednesday to ID and name the participants who stormed down the halls of the Capitol, ransacking lawmakers offices and occupying the House chamber. Some, like the Instagram account @homegrownterrorists, amassed huge followings in a few hours. When posters believe theyve identified someone, the images are updated with names and details about the person like their social-media handle, hometown, or job title. The FBI has been attempting a similar tactic. The Washington field office tweeted dozens of images of rioters on Thursday, asking the public help identify people. Through early Thursday, police said they arrested 69 people from at least 20 states and the District of Columbia for charges ranging from unlawful entry of public property, to violating curfew, and assaulting a police officer. The department is also offering $1,000 rewards for tips that lead to an arrest. But even for some who havent yet been charged with a crime, the consequences have been swift for their crowdsourced identifications. READ MORE: Storming the U.S. Capitol may be new to Americans, but the violence is a familiar theme Paul Davis, a Dallas-area lawyer, was fired on Thursday from his position as associate general counsel and director of human resources at Goosehead Insurance after a Twitter user posted his Instagram story, showing Davis live-streaming outside the Capitol and talking about wanting to get inside. Davis said in the video that he had been teargassed. Goosehead confirmed Davis firing on Twitter. Davis could not be reached for comment. A Chicago real-estate brokerage firm confirmed that it had fired an agent, Libby Andrews, after receiving a tremendous amount of outreach regarding her posts on social media about storming the Capitol. Andrews told the Chicago Tribune that she arrived at the Capitol after people had already broken in and didnt realize what they were doing was illegal. I had no idea people were breaking in and that destruction was happening, she told the Tribune. READ MORE: Philly BLM activists say police brutalized them, while a white Capitol mob was met with grace Others have been suspended. A teacher in Allentown, Pa., was put on temporary leave while the school district completes an investigation into his participation in the melee. Brad Rukstales, the chief executive of Cogensia, a marketing data company in Chicago, was arrested on Wednesday for his involvement in the riots. In a statement on Twitter, Cogensia said it had placed Rukstales on leave of absence while we assess further. Rukstales told WBBM that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time and I regret my part in that. Everything that happened yesterday I think was absolutely terrible, Rukstales said. A lieutenant sheriff in Bexar County, Texas, who has been on leave since October as the department investigates allegations of an inappropriate relationship with an inmate, is under a second investigation after she posted multiple images of breaking into the Capitol on her Facebook account, according to KSAT. A Sanford, Fla., firefighter is also on administrative leave and under investigation after he was spotted among the mob in photographs, according to the Orlando Sentinel. By early Friday, other videos continued to go viral of rioters boasting about their participation and even identifying themselves. READ MORE: Why arent Black protesters called great patriots? | Elizabeth Wellington A recording on Facebook Live from Jenny Cudd, a small-business owner who in 2019 mounted a failed mayoral campaign in Midland, Texas, went viral on Twitter, amassing nearly 4 million views as of early Friday. In it, Cudd boasted about breaking into the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. We did break down Nancy Pelosis office door and somebody stole her gavel, and I took a picture sitting in the chair flipping off the camera and that was on Fox News, she said. The Washington Posts Fredrick Kunkle contributed to this article. CHICAGO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. announced today that David D. Grumhaus, Jr., who had been co-chief investment officer with Nathan I. Partain, CFA, has been named president and chief investment officer, effective January 1. Partain, who retired from the firm as of December 31, 2020, will remain with the company as a consultant on a transitionary basis. Grumhaus, who joined Duff & Phelps in 2014, was named co-chief Investment officer of the company in February 2020 as part of the company's succession plan. Prior to that, he was head of the firm's Infrastructure and Utilities Group. He continues as head of the firm's MLP and Energy Infrastructure Strategy and manages its midstream and MLP strategies, including as portfolio manager of certain open-end and closed-end funds. "David has done an outstanding job leading our investment strategies and working with our team to maintain Duff & Phelps legacy as a premier manager of energy, infrastructure and real estate investment strategies. Our firm is well situated under David's leadership to continue providing attractive investment solutions for our clients," said Partain. "Duff & Phelps has been very fortunate to have Nathan's steady leadership for the past 15 years, and his contributions during his 31 years with the company have helped to define our organization," Grumhaus said. "On behalf of the entire team at Duff & Phelps, I extend our gratitude and best wishes to him on his retirement." Grumhaus has worked in the investment industry since 1989. Prior to joining Duff & Phelps, he served as a portfolio manager and director of research for Copia Capital and earlier was an investment banker for Goldman Sachs and William Blair & Company. He earned a B.A. in history, cum laude, from Princeton University and an M.B.A. from Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration, where he was a George F. Baker scholar. He is a member of the Investment Committee at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. About Duff & Phelps Investment Management Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co., an affiliated manager of Virtus Investment Partners, Inc., began in 1932 as a fundamental research firm and has been managing assets since 1979. The firm seeks to provide specialty investment strategies that enhance client outcomes through active portfolio management and customized solutions, with a process whose values include quality, reliability, and specialization. Investment strategies include global listed infrastructure, U.S. and global real estate, and MLPs and energy. For more information visit www.dpimc.com . Media Contacts: Joe Fazzino 860-263-4725 [email protected] Jaime Doyle 973-850-7308 [email protected] SOURCE Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. Related Links http://www.dpimc.com US pharma giant Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine appears to work against a key mutation in the highly transmissible new strain of coronavirus detected in Britain and South Africa. The not-yet peer-reviewed laboratory study conducted by Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch indicated the Covid-19 vaccine was effective in neutralising the killer virus with the so-called N501Y mutation of the spike protein. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry The mutation could be responsible for greater transmissibility and there had been concern it could also make the virus escape antibody neutralisation elicited by the vaccine, news agency Reuters quoted Phil Dormitzer, one of Pfizer's top viral vaccine scientists, as saying. The study was conducted on blood taken from people who had been given the vaccine. Its findings are limited because it does not look at the full set of mutations found in either of the new variants of the rapidly spreading virus, the report added. Vaccine appears effective against 16 mutations Dormitzer said it was encouraging that the vaccine appears effective against the mutation, as well as 15 other mutations the company has previously tested against. "So we've now tested 16 different mutations, and none of them have really had any significant impact. That's the good news," he said. "That doesn't mean that the 17th won't." Dormitzer noted another mutation found in the South African variant, called the E484K mutation, is also concerning. The researchers plan to run similar tests to see if the vaccine is effective against other mutations found in the UK and South African variants and hope to have more data within weeks. Scientists have expressed concern that vaccines being rolled out may not be able to protect against the new variants, particularly the one that emerged in South Africa. Simon Clarke, an associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said this week that while both variants had some new features in common, the one found in South Africa "has a number additional mutations" that included more extensive alterations to the spike protein. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and the one from Moderna Inc, which use synthetic messenger RNA technology, can be quickly tweaked to address new mutations of a virus if necessary. Scientists have suggested the changes could be made in as little as six weeks. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it had administered 5,919,418 first doses of Covid vaccines in the country and distributed 21,419,800 doses. The tally of vaccine doses distributed and the number of people who received the first dose are for both Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The Australian Grand Prix will be postponed to the back end of the Formula One season with Bahrain replacing it as the opening race in March, according to Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll. The move, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions, has been widely flagged in the media but is still yet to be confirmed by Formula One or local organisers. Melbourne has been its not officially announced but it will be not cancelled but postponed. We will go there sometime in the fall (autumn) and the first race will be Bahrain, said the Canadian billionaire. He was speaking ahead of the announcement of a new team title sponsorship with IT company Cognizant. Formula One teams agreed the change in a virtual meeting with Formula Ones new chief executive Stefano Domenicali on January 4. Sources said the same meeting also agreed for pre-season testing to move from Barcelonas Circuit de Catalunya to Bahrain, without setting a date. Last seasons race calendar had to be re-written due to the global pandemic, with an eventual 17 rounds in Europe and the Middle East and some circuits including Bahrain hosting two grands prix. Stroll, also executive chairman of sportscar maker Aston Martin which is returning to F1 as a constructor for the first time in 60 years in a rebranding of the Racing Point team, expected lingering difficulties. I do believe were in for a difficult two or three months, said Stroll. There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine. I think the first few races will be slightly challenging. But Formula One management and the FIA, I really take my hat off to them to deliver 17 races as we did last year in 23 weeks, without really any major hiccups, in a very impressive manner. I think the worst is behind us and weve learnt through last year how to proceed with this year. Stroll and his son Lance, who drives for Aston Martin, both tested positive for the virus last year. Alan Baldwin in London Jose Luis Magana/AP Navistar Direct Marketing, a Maryland-based firm, announced it has fired an employee who was seen wearing his work badge inside the Capitol as a member of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the building Wednesday. The unnamed employee who was wearing a "Trump" hat and holding a flag was spotted wearing the badge around his neck, and the logo on it was subsequently identified as belonging to Navistar Direct Marketing (NDM). Fortune magazine's perceptive journalist Geoff Colvin has listed five policy changes President-elect Joe Biden will make that will be most significant for C-suite business leaders, whom he argues are going to be positive about most of these changes. But what about average Americans? That's a nontrivial question, given that Americans' opinions will, at least in part, ultimately percolate up and affect the votes of their elected representatives. Business leaders recognize, or should recognize, that new policies are going to have a much higher probability of becoming law if they match with prevailing public sentiment. The Biden changes outlined by Colvin involve five policy areas -- taxes, unions, healthcare, infrastructure and government regulation -- and it seems to me that three will be just fine with average Americans. Two will be more problematic. In the weeks to come, I will look at public opinion on these and other policy areas that are going to be a part of the initial Biden agenda in more detail. But here is a brief overview of where the public stands on the five Colvin outlines. 1. "Raise taxes on companies." Biden will almost certainly begin his administration with efforts to pull back many provisions of the 2017 tax cut law, including the one that basically reduced the top corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%. I think this should create little pushback from average Americans. Gallup and Pew Research updates show the 2017 tax law is far from sacrosanct; in fact, more Americans have a retrospectively negative than positive view of the law. Research has also shown that Americans think the law primarily benefited the wealthy and corporations more than average people. Given that less than 20% of Americans have confidence in big business, and a similarly small number give business executives a high honesty and ethics rating, there is going to be little love lost if corporations have to pay more in taxes. Plus, and most importantly, almost seven in 10 Americans say that corporations currently pay too little in taxes. Biden should have relatively little public opposition to this proposal. 2. "Strengthen labor unions." Biden proposes to "grow a stronger, more inclusive middle class -- the backbone of the American economy -- by strengthening public and private sector unions." There is a lot of room for growth when it comes to union membership, certainly, given that only 7% of Americans are members of labor unions according to Gallup's latest estimate. At the same time, 65% of Americans say they approve of labor unions, tied as the highest reading since 1999. Approval of unions in concept does not necessarily mean approval of their becoming stronger, however. Gallup research from 2018 shows that well under half of Americans (39%) want labor unions to have more influence than they have today. The rest either say unions' influence should remain the same or that they should have less influence. Gallup research does show that Americans believe unions help workers who are members, and a 2018 Pew Research survey found that Americans were more likely to say the reduction in union representation since the early 1980s has been mostly bad rather than mostly good for working people. But, at the same time, Gallup polling shows Americans are less positive that unions are helpful to the U.S. economy overall. My conclusion: There's residual positive sentiment about unions among Americans, but Biden needs to tread carefully in his efforts to strengthen their influence. 3. "Impose new regulations." The idea of ratcheting up regulations on American business represents a public opinion challenge for Biden. As I have discussed in a number of articles in recent years, Americans have a distinct love-hate relationship with their federal government. Americans recognize that government performs many positive functions but are leery of government gaining too much power. Thus, Biden's efforts to clamp down on business with more regulations is not necessarily going to be greeted with universal public approbation. An important Gallup trend question gives Americans three alternatives relating to government regulation, and 36% say there is too much government regulation of business and industry, 27% say there is too little, and 36% say it is about right. One way to look at this: Over seven in 10 Americans believe there is either too much or the right amount of regulation. This is not a ringing endorsement of increasing regulation of business, even though the "too much" percentage has edged down in Donald Trump's administration concomitant with Trump's cutback in regulations. Plus, 56% of Americans say the federal government has too much power, also not a welcoming public opinion context for efforts to increase government regulation of business and industry. At the same time, adding to the complexity, Gallup's September update found a new high of 54% of Americans telling us that government should do more to solve problems rather than leaving that task to individuals and businesses. It is not clear if "doing more" means imposing more regulations on business and industry, but that certainly is one possible interpretation. And, when it comes to specific examples, we found in 2019 that about six in 10 Americans believe the government is doing too little in terms of protecting the environment -- or, in other words, not regulating enough. All of this highlights the tightrope Biden is going to have to walk when he approaches the idea of using the government to clamp down on business. As I said recently, "The appropriate role of the federal government in our lives was a core issue as the Founders argued over the framework of the nation to be embodied in the Constitution, and it remains a core issue today." 4. "Add a public option to Obamacare." Recent polling by Gallup shows that over half of Americans continue to approve of the Affordable Care Act. Kaiser Family Foundation research finds that 69% of Americans favor "a government-administered health plan that would compete with private health insurance plans and be available to all Americans" -- a higher percentage than favor a "Medicare for All" plan (53%). So I think Biden is on relatively safe ground with at least the majority of the American public when he pushes the idea of adding a public option to the Affordable Care Act. Colvin also reminds us that Biden plans to attack the issue of drug prices, allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug makers and, according to Biden, "allowing consumers to buy prescription drugs from other countries." These proposals are anathema to pharmaceutical companies. (As Colvin puts it, "The U.S. healthcare industry -- America's largest industry, accounting for 18% of the entire economy -- generally hates those proposals.") But protests from the drug companies will not be falling on highly receptive ears. Americans have very low opinions of the pharmaceutical industry (24th out of 25 business and industry sectors measured in our 2020 update, after moving up from dead last in 2019); little love lost there. (Interestingly, pharmacists themselves -- the people who dispense the drugs -- are given high ratings in terms of their honesty and ethics.) And Kaiser research shows strong public approval for the types of things Biden is proposing, including 88% who favor allowing the government to negotiate with drug companies to get lower prices for Medicare-reimbursed drugs, 78% who favor allowing Americans to buy drugs imported from Canada and 62% who favor lowering what Medicare pays for drugs based on amounts paid in other countries. 5. "Increase infrastructure spending by $2.4 trillion." Colvin says this is "a change business in general would love." Actually, as far as I can tell, this is a change that everyone would love. I have written a number of times over the past years about the public's strong agreement with the idea of spending federal dollars to improve the nation's infrastructure. Most elected officials agree in principle. The problem is that our elected officials cannot seem to figure out a way to get it done. Trump, for example, made infrastructure one of his major focus points in his 2016 campaign. Yet, four years later, nothing major has been accomplished. As I noted in a recent review, "It remains to be seen if a new administration will have more success than the last in actually overcoming partisan bickering and doing something about the issue." But there is little doubt that, as I titled the piece, "Infrastructure Action Should Be a No-Brainer." Brian Livingston If it's irritating you, and it has an "on" switch, I'll take the case! Well-known and sometimes beloved technology author and investigative journalist Brian Livingston has been appointed columnist at the Ask Woody newsletter. His new weekly column, entitled "Public Defender," will offer insights to help consumers resolve technology frustrations. "If it's irritating you, and it has an 'on' switch, I'll take the case," said Livingston. His first column will focus on the recent ruling that stops cable companies from charging customers a fee to use the equipment they already own. Ill go beyond reporting. I'm going to help solve the crime. In this case, you'll get specific answers on how to easily fix the problem. I see myself as offering consumer protection from technology. As technology continues its pervasive march into our lives, we are now not just frustrated and exasperated by Microsoft Windows, where Livingston spent his early career. Instead, were frustrated by our appliances, our tele-healthcare, and our watches. Theyre all just technology, after all. The column can be read in the Ask Woody newsletter, which is free but supported by donations. It can be read at https://www.askwoody.com/ About Brian Livingston Mr. Livingston is an award-winning journalist with more than three decades of experience covering the tech industry. He founded the "Windows Secrets" Newsletter, which grew to 400,000 subscribers, and co-authored 11 books in the Windows Secrets series (John Wiley & Sons), which sold 2.5 million copies. In 2018, he turned his attention to the investment industry as a contributor to MarketWatch and StockCharts, and the author of "Muscular Portfolios." About Ask Woody AskWoody.com is a reader-supported website that focuses on news, tips, advice and support for Windows, Microsoft Office, personal computers, the Internet of things and other technologies. AskWoody.com receives its support through reader donations. Readers can sign up for a free newsletter at https://tinyurl.com/AskWoody. Hemp for a Sustainable Future Teagasc award at BTYSTE 2021 announced Cian Walsh, a transition year student at St. Brogan's College, Kilbrogan, Bandon, County Cork, has been announced as the winner of the Teagasc award at the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition 2021 (BTYSTE). Cians project looked at the social, economic and environmental benefits and drawbacks of growing hemp and to determine if it can promote sustainable farming in Ireland. Cians teacher is Ms Laura ORegan. A variety of Cannabis sativa, hemp is often confused with marijuana; and, although it contains the same active ingredient, the concentration is much lower in hemp. Hemp was one of the first plants in the world to be spun into useable fibre and has since been used for many other purposes. Cian explains: 100% of the hemp crop can be processed into many different eco- friendly products; some examples include hempcrete, hemp insulation and hemp bioplastic. Cian surveyed farmers to determine the current knowledge surrounding hemp. He found that there was a great interest in the crop, but that only 36% of those surveyed would consider growing the crop. Cian explains: This was a figure I set out to change. I hosted a hemp information meeting on Zoom with the farmers surveyed, which included a presentation on hemp research in Ireland by Barry Caslin, Teagascs Energy & Rural Development Specialist. At the end of the conference, I resurveyed the farmers and found a significant increase in interest in growing the crop (from 36% to 64%) if there were hemp processing facilities near to their home farm. Cian added: The benefits of growing hemp are endless, farmers are willing to make the change. But it is government investment in the industry that will be needed in order to grow Irelands hempire. Barry Caslin, complemented Cian on his excellent achievement saying: There has been a huge interest from farmers and industry representatives in developing a hemp industry in Ireland. Many farmers are seeking land use alternatives, especially in light of the lack of income from the drystock sector which was highlighted in the recent Teagasc National Farm Survey report. Hemp is an excellent break crop bringing other benefits to crop rotation, including higher yields in following wheat crops. Teagasc Director, Professor Gerry Boyle, congratulated Cian on his award and commended all the students who took part in this years virtual event. Professor Boyle said: There has been a fairly rich history of hemp research in Teagasc even going back to the 1950s at An Foras Taluntais. This research was geared towards the agronomy of hemp; although there were different uses of hemp in mind. This research proved that industrial hemp can grow well in Irish soil and climatic conditions. The Teagasc special award is presented to the project that best demonstrates a thorough understanding of the science of agricultural or food production, or the use of science to improve technologies available to agricultural or food production. Cians video presentation can be viewed on the BTYSTE 2021 portal: http://bit.ly/BTYSTE2021Teagasc To view the Teagasc stand on the BTYSTE 2021 portal, see: https://portal.btyoungscientist.com/teagasc-stand/ The Teagasc Farm Business Options webinar scheduled for Tuesday January 19th at 11:00 will focus on the Opportunities for Industrial Hemp in Irish Agriculture. For further information see www.teagasc.ie/farmbusinessoptions A nurse in Wales caught coronavirus three weeks after getting the vaccine, prompting experts to warn that it takes time for immunity to the virus to build up. The nurse, who has been working for the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, said that she contracted Covid-19 while waiting for the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech developed vaccine. While the vaccine 'reduces your chance of suffering,' the health board said, 'no vaccine is 100 percent effective.' Experts have warned that vaccines can take weeks to build immunity, and that people must still be careful to follow coronavirus rules after having the jab. Speaking to the BBC, the nurse - who chose not to be identified - said she was 'angry and heartbroken' to have caught Covid at this stage. Pictured: Nurse Sue Toye, 51, one of the first people to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at a GP practice in England, is given the vaccination at Priory Gate Surgery at the City of Coventry Health Centre in Coventry, central England on January 7, 2021 She said that she was initially relieved to be offered the chance to be given the vaccine, and while she struggled to get an appointment, she was given her first dose of the Pzizer-BioNtech vaccine in December last year. 'It gave me peace of mind. It made me feel safer and that I was doing the right thing for my family... but it gives a false sense of security,' she told the broadcaster. The nurse said that it was explained to her that it would take 10 days for the vaccine to offer some protection against Covic-19, and reduce the risk of transmission. But three weeks after being given the jab, she said she began to feel unwell, suffering from 'quite severe symptoms' of a bad cough, high temperature and breathlessness, and was 'shocked' when she tested positive for the coronavirus - followed by her partner and one of her children. Vaccinations have been shown to prevent severe infection, so even if people do become infected, they would be protected from becoming seriously unwell. So far, three vaccines have been approved for use in the UK, with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine - which started to be rolled out to the country's most vulnerable people last month - offering up to 95 percent protection against Covid-19. The Pfizer vaccine and another developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca are now being rolled out. A third from Moderna was approved for use in the UK Friday. Professor Tim Spector, who heads up the ZOE Symptom Tracker App study, told The Sun that junior NHS staff members have also reported getting the virus after being given the Pfizer jab. 'We are getting reports of reinfections, some soon after vaccination, "I'm a junior doctor and have had Covid twice the last one five days post vaccination..."', he wrote on Twitter. 'Remember vaccinations take several weeks to have a preventive effect so keep alert and keep logging!' Pictured: A nurse works on a patient in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London, where the number of intensive care beds for the critically sick has had to be increased from 60 to 120, the vast majority of which are for coronavirus patients WHAT ARE THE KNOWN SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PFIZER VACCINE? The UK medicines regulator has advised that anyone who has a history of 'significant' allergic reactions to medicines, food or vaccines should not get the Pfizer coronavirus jab. Dr June Raine, the chief executive of the MHRA, told Parliament's Science and Technology Committee that this was not identified in the trials. 'We know from very extensive clinical trials that this wasn't a feature,' she said. Allergic reactions to the vaccine are 'very rare', according to the trials involving more than 40,000 people. Pfizer found a 'very small number' during its phase three clinical studies, which found 137 out of 19,000 people. This compared to a comparable 111 in a group of the same size who didn't get the vaccine. They also identified 12 possible side-effects from the vaccine, with seven identified as 'very common' meaning they are likely to affect more than one in ten people. Below are the known side effects. The patient safety leaflet for the vaccine cautions that anyone with an allergy to any of the active substances in the vaccine should not receive the jab. It adds: 'Signs of an allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue.' Allergic reactions to the vaccine are: Very common (Likely to affect more than one in ten people) Pain at injection site Tiredness Muscle pain Chills Joint pain Fever Headache Common (Likely to affect up to one in ten people) Injection site swelling Redness at injection site Nausea Uncommon (May affect one in 100 people) Enlarged lymph nodes Feeling unwell Advertisement Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford advised people receiving the vaccine to 'continue to act in a precautionary way' after being administered the jab. He said those people should 'recognise the new protection that they have' but 'recognise as well that for many weeks, and for some months ahead, coronavirus is going to continue to be a feature of all our lives'. Deputy Chief Executive Dr Philip Kloer of the Hywel Dda health board released a statement saying it was 'always distressing' to hear about staff catching Covid-19. 'Whilst the vaccine reduces your chance of suffering from Covid-19, no vaccine is 100 per cent effective,' he said. 'There is particular risk that you may have contracted Covid-19 immediately prior to having the vaccine without knowing it, or that you may contract it in the week or two following vaccination as your body builds up protection. 'We have communicated the UK policy and assurances on second doses to our staff and assured them they will receive their second dose within 12 weeks of the first.' He added: 'Working within the NHS at the moment is very challenging and we acknowledge how difficult this is. 'Staff have worked tirelessly and made many sacrifices on behalf of caring for our communities and we are extremely grateful. We have put in place additional support and counselling and psychological support services.' The board said that so far it has already vaccinated more than 10,000 high-risk people, including front line NHS staff. Prof Spector also noted that you can't test positive for the coronavirus as a result of getting the vaccine, because while the jabs contain active mRNA, they do not contain an active virus. The body is given a set of instructions through the use of mRNA in the jabs, which tell cells to make proteins and send them to different parts of the body. Rollout of the Pfizer vaccine began last year on December 8, targeting the country's most vulnerable people, such as residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults, as well as those over the age of 80 and other front line health a social care workers. Originally, advice in the UK was that after having the first dose of the vaccine, people would need the second dose three weeks later. But this later changed to 12 weeks on advice of the UK's chief medical officers. The World Health Organisation (WHO) however, does not recommend the UK's approach, but has 'made a provision for countries in exceptional circumstances of vaccine supply constraints and epidemiological settings' to delay the second dose for a few weeks to enable more people to get the first dose. Pfizer said that it had tested the vaccine's effectiveness only when the two doses were given up to 21 days apart from one-another. Britain today suffered its deadliest day since the Covid pandemic began after health chiefs declared 1,325 more Covid fatalities and another record-high 68,053 infections. The grisly death toll - which has doubled in a week and surpasses the 1,224 declared on April 21 in the darkest day of the first wave - takes the UK to the brink of almost 80,000 victims. Experts fear the daily death counts will continue to spiral because of rocketing cases and hospitalisations, piling further pressure on Boris Johnson to speed up the sluggish vaccination programme designed to get Britain out of lockdown by mid-February. Department of Health figures show the UK has recorded more than 50,000 cases for 11 days in a row, with the five worst days of the pandemic all occurring since the start of 2021. Cases have risen by almost 30 per cent week-on-week. But a senior SAGE official today warned the actual number of Britons currently getting infected every day is closer to 150,000, claiming that the size of the second wave is now way worse than the first. The source also fears England's third national lockdown will not slam the R rate down as it did in March because the country was dealing with a more infectious mutated strain and because adherence to the rules has dwindled. Draconian measures announced two days ago have yet to have an effect on the crisis because it can take a week for patients to develop symptoms and get tested. But the SAGE official argued that the tough restrictions will curb the spread of the virus because they curb social interaction, which the virus thrives on. In yet another sign that darker days lie ahead, No10s advisory panel today revealed the R rate could be as high as 1.4 in the UK or at the crucial mark of one, with outbreaks growing at similar speeds across all seven regions of England. But the figure reflects the situation Britain found itself in before Christmas and not the current picture because of the data used to calculate it. SAGE last week estimated the figure the average number of people each infected person passes the virus onto was between 1.1 and 1.3. The probe will assess whether the move could cause advertising spend to become even more concentrated on Googles ecosystem at the expense of its rivals. Photo: Getty Creative The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has opened an investigation into Googles (GOOGL) proposals to remove third party cookies from its Chrome browser. The probe will assess whether the move could cause advertising spend to become even more concentrated on Googles ecosystem at the expense of its rivals. Third party cookies currently play an essential role online and in digital advertising. They help businesses target advertising effectively and fund free online content for consumers, such as newspapers. Googles announced changes, known collectively as the Privacy Sandbox project, would disable these third party cookies on the Chrome browser and Chromium browser engine, replacing them with a new set of tools for targeting advertising. The search engine giant has said the browser changes will protect consumers privacy to a greater extent. However, recently there have been concerns about their legality and privacy as they allow consumers behaviour to be tracked across the web. The CMA has received complaints including from Marketers for an Open Web, a group of newspaper publishers and technology companies, which claim that Google is abusing its dominant position through the browser changes. Andrea Coscelli, chief executive of the CMA said: As the CMA found in its recent market study, Googles Privacy Sandbox proposals will potentially have a very significant impact on publishers like newspapers, and the digital advertising market. But there are also privacy concerns to consider, which is why we will continue to work with the ICO as we progress this investigation, while also engaging directly with Google and other market participants about our concerns. WATCH: What the blocks on Trump's social media mean READ MORE: Google will always pay the tax it is required to pay, says UK director The watchdog said it has not reached any conclusions at this stage as to whether or not competition law has been infringed. It will continue to engage with Google and other market participants to ensure that both privacy and competition concerns can be addressed as the proposals are developed. Story continues Last month Frances data watchdog fined both Google and Amazon (AMZN) after accusing them of placing cookies on users computers without consent. The French national commission on information and liberty (CNIL) revealed that Google faced a 100m (91m, $121m) hit for three breaches of French data protection law, and Amazon a 35m (31m, $42m) penalty for two breaches. The CNIL said both companies had placed advertising cookies on users computers without obtaining prior consent and without providing adequate information. Google makes significant profits... deriving from the advertising income indirectly generated from data collected by the advertising cookies, according to the watchdog. Meanwhile Amazons use of cookies makes possible personalised ads, enabling it to significantly increase the visibility of its products in other websites, it added. The regulator said it had conducted several investigations into Amazon between last December and May, and an online investigation into Google in March. WATCH: Google, Facebook and Amazon testify against French digital tax It's one of the worst possible scenarios, at arguably the worst possible time. It's one of the worst possible scenarios, at arguably the worst possible time. All over the world, there is increasing evidence some toiling on the front lines of health care are hesitant about being vaccinated against COVID-19. In the United Kingdom, the National Care Association, a lobby group that represents long-term care facilities, said as many as 40 per cent of its employees may opt out of the vaccine program. California's Riverside County, which includes urban centres such as Palm Springs, has said up to 50 per cent of hospital workers may refuse to be vaccinated. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said this week public health officials believe up to 30 per cent of employees in area nursing homes and hospitals will refuse any type of COVID-19 vaccine. Similar stories have erupted in Houston, Los Angeles, Chicago, and in statewide across Ohio. In Spain, government officials are so concerned about hesitancy, they've threatened to create a registry of anyone who refuses COVID-19 vaccination and share it with other European nations. Could the same thing happen in Canada? Recent polls show up to onethird of Canadians are somewhat hesitant to receive a COVID19 vaccine. In some provinces, uptake on annual flu shots by hospital staff has been about 50 per cent, prompting a concern a similar vaccination rate for COVID19 shots would leave a great many exposed to the novel coronavirus. Recent polls show up to one-third of Canadians are somewhat hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. In some provinces, uptake on annual flu shots by hospital staff has been about 50 per cent, prompting a concern a similar vaccination rate for COVID-19 shots would leave a great many exposed to the novel coronavirus. Fortunately, although many concerns have been expressed, there are few examples of broad vaccine hesitancy among health-care workers, including those in Manitoba. Although senior provincial government sources confirmed there has been some recent, pointed discussions about health-care workers possibly rejecting the vaccine, officially there is no evidence to backup those concerns. Given all health-care workers eligible to receive the vaccine must voluntarily sign up for an appointment, it's hard to see how anyone could track refusals; the only way to "refuse" a vaccine is to not make an appointment. Spokespersons from Doctors Manitoba and the Manitoba Nurses Union said there is no evidence, anecdotal or otherwise, suggesting any significant degree of vaccine hesitancy. "The only whiff of reluctance we've heard from physicians is a recognition from some that it's a limited resource and even though they're eligible, they're going to wait to allow others in greater need to get it." Keir Johnson, director of communication at Doctors Manitoba Keir Johnson, director of communication at Doctors Manitoba, said the preliminary results of a profession-wide survey of nearly 3,000 physicians has failed to identify any refusals on philosophical or medical grounds. "The only whiff of reluctance we've heard from physicians is a recognition from some that it's a limited resource and even though they're eligible, they're going to wait to allow others in greater need to get it," he said. Those preliminary findings were echoed Wednesday evening, when Doctors Manitoba hosted a live webinar with senior provincial public health officials, Johnson added. More than 400 physicians attended and not a single participant expressed any philosophical opposition to receiving the vaccine. MNU president Darlene Jackson said she has not talked directly with any nurses who have said they would refuse: "Nurses are health-care professionals and we believe in science." However, even though vaccine hesitancy is not seen as a problem in Manitoba, the groups representing doctors and nurses are still concerned many members could be delayed or prevented from getting the vaccine. Doctors, nurses and others in health care eligible to be vaccinated have been forced to stay on hold for hours to register for an appointment. Those fortunate enough to secure a booking are forced to travel to the immunization "super site" at the Winnipeg RBC Convention Centre. The system set up by the province to help front-line health-care workers register for COVID-19 vaccinations has been, to put it mildly, a disaster. Doctors, nurses and others in health care eligible to be vaccinated have been forced to stay on hold for hours to register for an appointment. Those fortunate enough to secure a booking are forced to travel to the immunization "super site" at the Winnipeg RBC Convention Centre. Jackson said the time involved is preventing a lot of nurses working directly with COVID-19 patients from getting the vaccine. "We are in a critical nursing shortage and a lot of nurses simply can't afford to take the time off right now to get vaccinated." Both the MNU and Doctors Manitoba would like to see vaccinations of staff performed at health-care facilities. To date, that has been a logistical challenge as the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, first to be available in Manitoba, has to be stored in ultra-cold conditions. However, that should change as public health officials gain more experience handling the Pfizer vaccine and other vaccines that do not require the same storage limits become available. A spokeswoman for Manitoba Health said while the province will rely on its super sites for now, it will start vaccinating patients in long-term care facilities, and other satellite locations could follow once supplies increase. For those health-care workers most exposed to COVID-19, something will have to give, and soon. "We have to make the vaccines more accessible," Jackson said. "Otherwise, we run the risk of leaving a lot of people exposed to this virus." dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, so too do its dire effects in the citys, states, and countrys arts community. Few are as hard hit as the citys underground arts community, which continues to operate on the fringes. Lacking the sort of visibility or size of larger venues and entities, many within the DIY community have had to organize and fundraise on their own. Friday, the Union of Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) will hold a benefit show in support of the DIYCHI Mutual Aid fund, which provides much-needed financial relief to members of the underground arts community. An employee of Curative cleans the front of a COVID-19 testing kiosk, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, on the Quad in between Flowers Hall and Evans. Testing is free and administered individually. Participants will produce a cough as well as perform a throat swab on themselves to give to operators. Boeing Co. was charged Thursday with conspiring to defraud the Federal Aviation Administration in connection with its troubled 737 Max jet and will settle the criminal matter for about $2.5 billion, the U.S. Department of Justice announced. Under the deferred prosecution agreement, the planemaker will pay $500 million into a fund for families of the 346 victims who were killed in two crashes in 2018 and 2019 and another $1.77 billion for airline customers that were unable to use their Max jets. The settlement terms also call for a $243.6 million fine. The criminal charge will be dropped after three years if the company fulfills all of the requirements. Erin Nealy Cox, a U.S. attorney in Texas, where the case was filed, said that during the safety probe that followed the crashes Boeing workers provided the FAA with "misleading statements, half-truths and omissions" that "impeded the governments ability to ensure the safety of the flying public. The jet was grounded worldwide in March 2019. It was cleared by U.S. regulators to return to commercial service in November after numerous changes were made to its automated flight-control system. The tragic crashes ... exposed fraudulent and deceptive conduct by employees of one of the worlds leading commercial airplane manufacturers, acting assistant Attorney General David Burns said in a written statement. Boeings employees chose the path of profit over candor by concealing material information from the FAA concerning the operation of its 737 Max airplane and engaging in an effort to cover up their deception." He added that the prosecution agreement "holds Boeing accountable for its employees criminal misconduct, addresses the financial impact to ... airline customers, and hopefully provides some measure of compensation to the crash victims families and beneficiaries. No individuals have been charged with any crimes. Sign up for our new business newsletter We're starting a weekly newsletter about the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina. Get ahead with us - it's free. Email Sign Up! The crisis, which has cost the aerospace giant billions of dollars in losses and has marred its reputation, led to the ouster of CEO Dennis Muilenburg in late 2019. Dave Calhoun, who was named to the top job at Boeing a year ago this month, said in a note to employees Thursday that "entering into this resolution is the right thing for us to do a step that appropriately acknowledges how we fell short of our values and expectations." "This resolution is a serious reminder to all of us of how critical our obligation of transparency to regulators is, and the consequences that our company can face if any one of us falls short of those expectations, Calhoun said. Chicago-based Boeing is one of the largest employers in the Charleston region, where it builds the 787 Dreamliner and provides support for other aircraft programs, including the Max. The company began working on the latest version of its workhorse 737 plane in 2011. The first commercial flights followed in 2017. Boeing admitted in court filings that two of its technical pilot experts deceived the FAA about a flight-control system called MCAS that could force the nose of the aircraft down if a sensor indicated a stalling danger. The company downplayed the significance of MCAS. Most pilots were unaware of it. On Oct. 29, 2018, a Max operated by Indonesias Lion Air plunged into the Java Sea. On March 10, 2019, another jet operated by Ethiopian Airlines crashed nearly straight down into a field. In both instances, the flight crews were unable to regain control of the planes after MCAS short for Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System was activated by a faulty sensor reading. Boeing, which expects to take a $743.6 million earnings hit when it releases its quarterly finances this month, still faces lawsuit from the crashes. Attorneys for the families of the Ethiopian Airlines victims said Thursday that the settlement in the criminal case "has no bearing" on the civil litigation. The main responsibility for the storming of the Capitol lies with President Donald Trump and his gang but the rise of paranoia in the right-wing US media has also played a poisonous role. The rioters were egged on by these US publishers who amplified Mr Trump's false claims that the election had been stolen and it could be overturned by a vote in Congress. "Murder the Media" is scrawled on a door in the US Capitol building after Trump supporters rioted. Credit:Bloomberg By contrast, the rioters reviled journalists from "elite" mainstream media organisations which they claimed were part of the conspiracy to cheat them of their victory. Journalists from the mainstream media sent to cover the events were threatened and harassed, their equipment trashed. The split between an aggressively right-wing media and what some call the "liberal"-dominated mainstream media underlies much of the divisive politics of the Trump era. The U.S. registered more COVID-19 deaths in a single day than ever before nearly 3,900 on the very day the mob attack on the Capitol laid bare some of the same, deep political divisions that have hampered the battle against the pandemic. FILE - In this Dec. 21, 2020, file photo, registered nurse Lydia Mauney works in a COVID-19 unit at Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo, Calif. The U.S. registered its highest deaths yet from the coronavirus on the same day as a mob attack on the nationAos capitol laid bare some of the same, deep political divisions that have hampered the battle against the pandemic. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) The U.S. registered more COVID-19 deaths in a single day than ever before nearly 3,900 on the very day the mob attack on the Capitol laid bare some of the same, deep political divisions that have hampered the battle against the pandemic. The virus is surging in several states, with California hit particularly hard, reporting on Thursday a record two-day total of 1,042 coronavirus deaths. Skyrocketing caseloads there are threatening to force hospitals to ration care and essentially decide who lives and who dies. Folks are gasping for breath. Folks look like theyre drowning when they are in bed right in front of us, said Dr. Jeffrey Chien, an emergency room physician at Santa Clara Valley Regional Medical Center, urging people to do their part to help slow the spread. Im begging everyone to help us out because we arent the front line. Were the last line. Meanwhile, the number of Americans who have gotten their first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine climbed to at least 5.9 million Thursday, a one-day gain of about 600,000, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Hundreds of millions will need to be vaccinated to stop the coronavirus. A COVID-19 patient, placed on a ventilator, rests at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. California health authorities reported Thursday a record two-day total of 1,042 coronavirus deaths as many hospitals strain under unprecedented caseloads. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) About 1.9 million people around the world have died of the virus, more than 360,000 in the U.S. alone. December was by far the nation's deadliest month yet, and health experts are warning that January could be more terrible still because of family gatherings and travel over the holidays. A new, more contagious variant is spreading around the globe and in the U.S. Also, it remains to be seen what effect the thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump who converged this week in Washington, many of them without masks, will have on the spread of the scourge. Trump has long downplayed the virus and scorned masks, and many of his ardent supporters have followed his example. He has also raged against lockdowns and egged on protesters objecting to restrictions in states such as Michigan, where armed supporters invaded the statehouse last spring. On Wednesday, the day a horde of protesters breached the U.S. Capitol, disrupting efforts to certify the election of Joe Biden, the U.S. recorded 3,865 virus deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. The numbers can fluctuate dramatically after holidays and weekends, and the figure is subject to revision. The domestic terrorists overran the Capitol police, just as the virus has been allowed to overrun Americans, said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute. The U.S. lost control of a Trump-incited mob and a Trump-played-down pandemic virus. Some of the forces contributing to the eruption of violence were partially foreseen by experts in global disease planning when they held a tabletop exercise in 2019, said Dr. Eric Toner, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who directed the drill. We did consider the possibility of active disinformation and using a pandemic for political gain, Toner said. Real life turned out to be much worse. In California, health authorities Thursday reported 583 new deaths, a day after 459 people died. The overall death toll there stands at more than 28,000. The state also registered more than a quarter-million new weekly cases, and only Arizona tops California in cases per resident. Florida broke its record for the highest single-day number of cases with over 19,800, while its death toll reached 22,400. Los Angeles County, the nations most populous with 10 million residents, and nearly two dozen other counties have essentially run out of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients. This is a health crisis of epic proportions, said Barbara Ferrer, public health director for Los Angeles County. Guidelines posted on the website for Methodist Hospital of Southern California warned: If a patient becomes extremely ill and very unlikely to survive their illness (even with life-saving treatment), then certain resources ... may be allocated to another patient who is more likely to survive. Associated Press writers Olga Rodriguez in San Francisco and Tamara Lush in Tampa, Florida, contributed to this report. Edith Pretty is neither a household name nor considered a national treasure. But had it not been for her a wealthy, idiosyncratic widow with a ferocious sense of civic duty and patriotic pride Britain would have been denied one of its greatest national treasures. A new Netflix film, The Dig, to be released later this month, tells the compelling story of how a lavish Anglo-Saxon ship buried in the grounds of Sutton Hoo, the Pretty familys estate in South-East Suffolk, was unearthed just before the outbreak of World War II. Or at least, the movie explains as much as can be squeezed into a little under two hours. Edith is played by Carey Mulligan in an exquisite performance, while Ralph Fiennes is superb as working-class Basil Brown, an amateur astronomer and self-taught archaeologist. Carey Mulligan as Edith Pretty in a new Netflix film, The Dig, which tells the compelling story of how a lavish Anglo-Saxon ship was unearthed just before the outbreak of World War II It was Basil to whom Edith gave the precious job of excavating the strange low mounds of earth on her land that she was convinced were worth proper investigation. The connection between Edith and Basil was made at the 1937 Woodbridge Flower Show, where she mentioned the mounds to a local historian, Vincent Redstone. He put her in touch with the curator of the Ipswich Corporation Museum, Gus Maynard, who in turn suggested a quirky character, a former tenant farmer from the village of Rickinghall not overly fond of authority but, in the words of a colleague, extremely attached to his rather disreputable trilby hat and somewhat moist and bubbling pipe who might have the required expertise. Basil duly cycled to Sutton Hoo, just as he cycled all over the county on his digs, to meet her. Edith said he could lodge with her chauffeur and offered him 30 shillings a week, for what was originally thought likely to be a fortnight-long project. He then began the highly skilled, painstaking work which in due course, to their mutual astonishment, uncovered the 90ft skeleton of a ship, almost certainly buried to mark the death of an Anglo-Saxon king. Interred with it were many priceless, perfectly preserved gold and silver artefacts from the early 7th century, the products of breathtakingly deft artistry that even today, with precision tools and artificial lighting, cannot easily be matched. So much for the so-called Dark Ages. In August 1939, a treasure trove inquest at Sutton Parish Hall determined that the astounding find which would entirely revolutionise historians understanding of the Anglo-Saxons belonged not to the Crown but to the landowner. Nevertheless, Edith promptly donated the entire haul to the nation, and in 1951, having been stored in Aldwych Tube station during the war, it went on display in the British Museum albeit with no credit, not a single namecheck, for Basil Brown. Alas, Edith was no longer around to object. Basil was almost 90 when he died in 1977. But after suffering a blood clot on the brain, she had died in 1942, aged just 59. Ralph Fiennes as working-class Basil Brown, an amateur astronomer and self-taught archaeologist, in The Dig, which is due to be released later this month Two years earlier, Winston Churchill had offered her a CBE in recognition of her extraordinary generosity. But she declined the honour almost certainly on the basis, according to Laura Howarth, the archaeology manager at National Trust Sutton Hoo, that she had merely been doing her duty. In a way, The Dig based on the 2007 novel by John Preston is not just about duty or even archaeology, but also about love. It was an unlikely and entirely platonic love but Edith and Basil, although separated by class and wealth, were kindred spirits. That comes across powerfully in the film, yet it only scratches the surface of Ediths beguiling story. She was born in 1883, the second daughter of a rich Manchester industrialist, Robert Dempster, whose own father, a penniless Scotsman, had parlayed a humble job in a gas-meter factory into a gas and engineering empire of his own. Edith was sent to Wimbledon House School in Brighton, soon to be renamed Roedean now one of the most prestigious girls schools in the country where she became known as Dempy. The nickname stuck. It was used by friends and even family for the rest of her life. Ralph Fiennes as Basil Brown and Carey Mulligan as Edith Pretty. In a way, The Dig is not just about duty or even archaeology, but also about love, writes Brian Viner Happily for Edith, her father believed firmly that travel, especially to see great antiquities, broadened the mind. In 1900 the family visited Pompeii, Athens and Egypt, where Edith and her sister climbed to the top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient world. Its not hard to understand where her fascination with archaeological excavation came from, and to appreciate the serendipity that took her to Sutton Hoo. A year later the Dempsters set off on an even more ambitious tour, this time to Egypt, India, Ceylon, China, Japan and the United States. In 1905 they toured South America. But Edith didnt need her family around her to pursue adventure. In June 1904 she had helped crew a racing yacht, Vol-Au-Vent, in a Kings Cup race from Dover to the German islands of Heligoland. King Edward VII and his nephew, the Kaiser, jointly presented the prizes. In 1907 the Dempsters moved to a huge house in Cheshire, Vale Royal, seat of the aristocratic Cholmondeley family, from whom it was leased. A short 2006 biography of Edith, by Mary Skelcher and Chris Durrant, records that they were attended there by a large retinue of servants and owned four chauffeur-driven cars, with a page-boy employed just to open the doors. But Edith had an open-top car she preferred to drive herself. She also took a flip in a biplane. Duty calls: Edith Pretty, the owner of Sutton Hoo estate and who arranged a dig of the burial mounds, pictured standing on the veranda of Tranmer House, formerly Sutton Hoo House However, the fun-loving spirit of this lively socialite was always tempered by an acute sense of duty. In 1913 she paid for a Mission Hall to be built in Manchester, near her fathers factory in the industrial area of Newton Heath (the original name of Manchester United). When war broke out the following year, she quickly became quartermaster of the Red Cross military hospital in nearby Winsford, before insisting on leaving the safety of Cheshire to serve in France. In 1922 she became one of Englands first women magistrates, and was even invited to stand for Parliament in the safe Conservative seat of Northwich. She would have become only the third ever female MP but she refused, citing her responsibilities to her now-widowed father. That obligation was also why she stayed single, despite the persistence of the enraptured Frank Pretty, the brother of a Roedean friend, who was said to have proposed to her on her 18th birthday and every year thereafter. But in 1925, Robert Dempster died and a year later Edith did marry Frank, by then a lieutenant-colonel in the Suffolk Regiment, whose family owned a long-established corset-making business in Ipswich. The couple soon moved to the 526-acre Sutton Hoo estate, with its 15-bedroom Edwardian house and mysterious earth mounds. Edith and Frank bought the estate for 15,250, which didnt make much of a dent in the fortune she had inherited from her father. Treasure trove: The famous Sutton Hoo Anglo Saxon helmet highly decorated with warrior motifs (pictured left) and a gold buckle with an intricate snake design (right) In Suffolk, true to her nature, Edith immersed herself in more good works. But at the age of 47, much to her amazement, came the happy distraction of pregnancy. In September 1930 she gave birth to a son, Robert Dempster Pretty. Frank, who had waited 25 years to marry Edith and then become a first-time father at 52, tragically died of cancer just four years later. It was Roberts birth, so swiftly followed by Franks illness and death, and her own developing ill health, which appear to have pushed the mounds to the back of her mind. By 1937, however, she was ready to find out more and it is here that the film takes up her story. We meet her quite close to the end of her life, Moira Buffini, who wrote the screenplay, tells the Mail. I wish we could have illustrated more, for instance her complete and utter fascination with spiritualism. She was very involved with it, as a lot of people were after the First World War. There had been so much loss and death and there was this huge upsurge in spiritualism, as if people who couldnt believe theyd lost loved ones in that way were trying to contact them. A delicate silver bowl found at the Sutton Hoo site. In August 1939, a treasure trove inquest determined that the astounding find belonged not to the Crown but to the landowner We wrote and shot a couple of scenes in which Edith goes to see a psychic lady in the village but they just didnt fit into the finished film. That digging down to disinter the dead, though, does fit in with her interest in spiritualism. Because of Franks death and with her own mortality in sight, she knew about the fragility of life. She was asking really big questions. And of course it all happened in a world about to fall into the Second World War. None of the people in the story know whats in front of them, which actually I think resonates with the (pandemic) situation now. Certainly, England in that summer of 1939 was in the grip of a terrible foreboding, with war looking more inevitable, and that intensified the need to press on with the dig. The ship had been uncovered the summer before, but excavations restarted in May 1939. Increasingly, Basil was having to fight a class war, against Cambridge University archaeologists who had moved in on the project hed begun and kept trying to relegate him to mundane work. But Edith would have none of it. Then, on July 21, came the real eureka! moment. Peggy Piggott, a young archaeologist played in the film by Lily James, and the aunt of novelist John Preston, unearthed with her trowel a small gold and garnet pyramid. Strikingly vibrant Anglo Saxon shoulder clasp covered in enamel with inlaid garnets and glass It was the first exciting glimpse of bejewelled treasure. Well done, my dear, many congratulations, what a wonderful discovery, said Edith, whod been watching as we know from photographs from her Lloyd Loom chair on the edge of the excavation pit. At any rate, thats how Preston records her response in his lightly fictionalised account, perhaps informed by his late aunts recollections. Dozens and finally hundreds more dazzling objects appeared after that, a wondrous, staggering haul. And if they didnt dazzle before they received a quick blast from Ediths bellows, fetched from the house to blow away the sand, they did afterwards. The scale and symmetry of the craftsmanship is incredible, says Laura Howarth. There have been notable Anglo-Saxon finds since but nothing like this, a fully furnished, undisturbed ship burial. We know of only three Anglo-Saxon ship burials, two at Sutton Hoo and one near by at Snape. So it was a very localised practice. Mrs Pretty wasnt the first person to investigate we know about graverobbers and antiquarians digging in the 16th and 19th centuries, and there are reports that in 1860 a lot of iron screw bolts were found. But those attempts at excavations didnt yield much. People gave up quite quickly. Mrs Pretty was the first person aware of the need to investigate properly, with the means to do so. In 1965, a BBC documentary called The Million-Pound Grave interviewed many of those who worked on the original dig, including Basil Brown. The contrast in accents between the broad Suffolk brogue and clipped received pronunciation, is striking. Sadly, the most important voice is missing, although it seems entirely likely that, had Edith lived into old age, she would have downplayed her pivotal part in revealing what was described by newspapers at the time as Englands answer to the Valley of the Kings. After all, she was that kind of woman. A national treasure. The Dig is due for release on Netflix on January 29. Trump supporters gather in DC for peaceful Save America March before some storm Capitol Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment WASHINGTON Thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump braved the cold weather at the Ellipse in Washington, D.C., Wednesday as they sought to show their support for the president and protest the certification of the Electoral College votes for the 2020 presidential election. Trump supporters from across the country waited in line for hours to get into the Save America March, an event hosted by the Women for America First, a pro-Trump group. The event was one of many taking place on Capitol Hill as the results of the 2020 presidential election continue to be plagued by allegations of fraud. Ahead of the protests, several Republican members of Congress announced that they would object to the certification of the electoral votes in a handful of contested swing states and called for a commission to investigate election irregularities. Immediately following the Save America March and the other protests, violence broke out on Capitol Hill as hundreds of Trump supporters and others stormed the United States Capitol while members of Congress were debating the certification of electoral votes. Members of the Electoral College met in their respective state capitals on Dec. 14 to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election. Democrat Joe Biden received 306 electoral votes while Trump received 232 electoral votes. Congress is mandated by the 12th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution to count the electoral votes and members of the House and Senate have the ability to challenge results in certain states. Following the breach of the Capitol, Trump, Vice President Mike Pence and evangelical leaders quickly condemned the acts of violence. The Save America March, when it was gathered at the Ellipse, was not violent and had a positive atmosphere, although several attendees had choice words and hand gestures for members of the media. In response to the violence that broke out at the Capitol following the event, Amy Kremer, chairwoman of Women for America First, said in a statement to The Christian Post: We unequivocally denounce violence of any type and under any circumstances. We are saddened and disappointed at the violence that erupted on Capitol Hill, instigated by a handful of bad actors, that transpired after the rally. "Unfortunately, for months the left and the mainstream media told the American people that violence was an acceptable political tool. They were wrong. It is not. We stand by and strongly support the men and women of the Capitol Hill police and law enforcement in general and our organization played absolutely no role in the unfortunate events that transpired. What is truly sad, is that the misdeeds of a handful of people will overshadow the overwhelming success of the peaceful event attended by hundreds of thousands of Americans that we sponsored today. The movement that was launched by President Donald J. Trump is one that respects the rule of law, supports our law enforcement and believes that violence has no place in politics today. Several attendees of the Save America March spoke with The Christian Post to affirm their support for Trump and share their thoughts about the 2020 election. John Scoggins of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Kelly Edwards of Salt Lake City, Utah, spoke separately to CP, both said that they attended the stop the steal rally. Its totally wrong what they did, said Christie Nicholson from Idaho, Edwards sister. Biden never won, Biden will never be my president, and [hes] not who the people voted in and its a total disgrace to the United States. Rose Bowe and Becky Hicks from Nashville, Tennessee, told CP that they went to Washington "to support our president and fight for our country, to take it back because we believe if he is not re-elected we may lose our country forever. Hicks added: Im here because the Constitution matters. Every vote should count. And this ridiculous no-gender, amen/woman-man, its just its time for people to stand up and believe in something. Make a stand. This country was built on God and it needs to stay on God, and this president is all about doing that bringing this country back to God, Rowe added. After mentioning that From Nashville all the way here, at least half the people that weve come in contact with were on their way to this, Hicks contended that Trump didnt lose and called for a full recount of the 2020 election, citing so many discrepancies. Before the women expressed hope that President Trump will pull off a miracle today, Hicks stressed the importance of election integrity: People fought and died for every vote. Anne from Cornwall, Connecticut, cited her admiration for the president as her main reason for attending the rally: Im a Trumper all the way. I got so excited when I saw him after his election. I actually didnt like him before. I didnt know anything about him. But because of what hes done for the country, hes the most admired man in the world right now. How could you not love him? Elizabeth Beth Smith, a California native and military member who is serving in Texas, shared her perspective on the 2020 election: Ive spent 21 years in the military. Im all about the country. Smith said that she would have had no problem accepting the results of the election if it had been a fair election and he lost. She insisted that that wasnt the case at all. The evidence is very clear I mean, hours and hours and hours of evidence, of testimony, of video footage All of these people are out here supporting our president and its amazing to see. Smith contended that people who believe that the allegations of voter fraud amount to a conspiracy theory havent looked at the evidence and asserted that the conspiracy is on the part of the Democrats and anybody working to steal the election. Pastor Paula White, a spiritual adviser to Trump, asked that every adversary against democracy, against freedom, against life, against liberty, against justice, against peace, against righteousness be overturned right now in the name of Jesus as she delivered the invocation. Let justice be done. Let we the people have the assurance of a fair and a just election. Hear our cry and turn our hearts to you. God, I pray that you return the hearts of those who are in power and position to make decisions, to walk in your wisdom and to do justly today, she added. White also thanked God for the president because he has stood with Israel, he has stood with life, he has stood for righteousness, he has stood for the most vulnerable, he has stood to alleviate poverty, he has stood for religious freedom, he has stood for safety and protection, he has stood for a place, God, that few men could stand. As attendees anxiously awaited an address from President Donald Trump scheduled for 11 a.m., many other Trump supporters addressed the crowd. Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones, a Democrat who has become an outspoken Trump supporter, used his speech to announce that he was officially joining the Republican Party as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Other speakers at the event included Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., Rep. Madison Cawthorn, R-N.C., Eric Trump, Donald Trump Jr., as well as former New York City mayor and Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani. As Proud to be an American by Lee Greenwood played over the loud speaker, the president began to speak to his loyal supporters. We will never give up, we will never concede, Trump vowed. We will stop the steal. During his speech, members of the crowd chanted Fight for Trump! Like many of the other speakers, Trump stressed the importance of defeating Republicans who refuse to challenge the results of the election: We have to primary the hell out of the ones that dont fight. He cited Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., as an example of a House Republican he would like to see primaried, specifically highlighting his disagreements with her view on foreign policy. Trump also discussed his displeasure with Gov. Brian Kemp, R-Ga., and the elected officials in Georgia who signed a consent decree spearheaded by liberal activist Stacey Abrams that loosened signature requirements for mail-in ballots. She took them to lunch, Trump noted, as he recalled how he helped Kemp beat Abrams in the 2018 gubernatorial election by endorsing him in the Republican primary and the general election. Later, Trump maintained that Youll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. Youre not going to have a Republican Party if you dont get tough, Trump told the crowd. We have come to demand that Congress do the right thing and only count the electors who have been lawfully slated. Additionally, the president directed a message at Vice President Mike Pence: I hope youre going to stand up for the good of our Constitution and of our country. And if youre not, Im going to be very disappointed in you. As president of the Senate, Pence presides over the counting of Electoral College votes in a largely ceremonial role. This year, using the pretext of the China virus and the scam of mail-in ballots, Democrats attempted the most brazen and outrageous election theft, he said. Our election was over at 10 in the evening. Were leading Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia by hundreds of thousands of votes and then late in the evening or early in the morning, boom, theres explosions of bullsh**. We won in a landslide. This was a landslide, the president maintained. This is the most corrupt election in the history, maybe of the world. Trump also urged Congress and the state legislatures to take action to prevent election fraud in the future, specifically to quickly pass sweeping election reforms. As his speech concluded, Trump took a more optimistic tone, stressing that Today is not the end. Its just the beginning. Despite all thats happened, the best is yet come, he continued, as the crowd erupted into cheers and applause. Should Republicans efforts to challenge the electoral votes in certain swing states succeed, an event that seems unlikely given the makeup of the 117th Congress and several Republicans expressing unease about challenging the election results, Bidens electoral vote total would drop below 270, leading the House of Representatives to pick the president. Under this scenario, each state gets one vote regardless of size and since Republicans control a majority of state delegations, Trump would presumably win. BrusselsThe Belgian Public Prosecutor's Office will not appeal against the Court of Appeal's judgement refusing to grant Lluis Puig's European arrest warrant. Therefore, the former Minister of Culture will not be extradited to Spain to be tried for embezzlement and his case is closed definitively. The Prosecutor's Office had 24 hours to appeal the case to the Court of Cassation, but has finally decided not to do so, as advanced by the ACN and Efe and confirmed by the ARA. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. Similarly, if you are a Hemscott Premium user, you now have a Morningstar Premium account which you can access using the same login details. (TNS) President-elect Joe Biden will nominate Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to serve as his Commerce secretary, according to several news reports last Thursday.Raimondo, if confirmed, would oversee the end of a historically challenged decennial census as well as economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.andreported the decision Thursday without naming sources. Members of Bidens transition team and the governors office could not be immediately reached for comment.One of Raimondos first decisions on the job would regard how to handle the results of last years decennial census. The coronavirus pandemic as well as decisions by the Trump administration hampered efforts to count everyone in the country, resulting in a shortened census schedule and a blown end-of-year statutory deadline for delivering apportionment results. As the Census Bureau, which the Commerce Department oversees, trudges through errors in hundreds of thousands of records, it anticipates being ready to deliver apportionment results shortly after Biden takes office on Jan. 20.Census officials previously asked for a 120-day extension to deliver apportionment results. However, the Trump administration abandoned that push amid an effort to exclude undocumented immigrants from the apportionment process, an effort Biden has criticized.Raimondo would also be responsible for making decisions about how to handle undocumented immigrants included in census results as well as President Donald Trumps effort to have the Census Bureau produce detailed information about the population of voting-age citizens in the United States.Raimondo would take over from current Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, who has served throughout the entirety of Trumps term. Ross frequently clashed with Congress over the administration of the decennial census, including in his failed effort to add a citizenship question to the questionnaire.A former venture capitalist, Raimondo became the first female governor of Rhode Island with her election in 2014, and she won reelection in 2018. State law limits the governor to two consecutive terms.Prior to her gubernatorial run, Raimondo was the second woman to serve as the states general treasurer, a position she held from 2011 to 2015. She also served as chair of the Democratic Governors Association in 2019.Raimondos departure from Rhode Island would leave an opening for a potential gubernatorial run by one of the states two representatives in the U.S. House, Democrats David Cicilline and Jim Langevin. Census Bureau projections indicate the state could lose one of its congressional seats.With a 50-50 split in the Senate, Biden cannot afford to lose many votes from his caucus in confirming his Cabinet picks.The progressive organization Demand Progress called Raimondo the wrong pick for the job, saying in a press release Thursday that Raimondo has a long history of prioritizing the needs of Wall Street above those of working Rhode Islanders. Demand Progress and other groups criticized cuts she proposed to the states aid for low-income residents, as well as hikes in the health insurance rate. " " Belgian scientist Bernard Heuvelmans is considered to be the father of cryptozoology, the study of creatures rumored to exist. lain BENAINOUS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images Cryptozoology is the study of creatures that are rumored to exist, but whose existence has not been substantiated. These include legendary beasts such as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, as well as other lesser-known animals and entities around the world. A few of these creatures may have a basis in reality, while others seemingly do not. Either way, the aim of cryptozoologists is to prove that these entities really exist in the wild, and some people dedicate years of their lives to these quests. In doing so, they often find themselves scoffed at by biologists and other established scientific types. Because cryptozoology pursues creatures based mostly on rumor or folklore, it's considered a pseudoscience. That is, it's not regarded as "real" science because it doesn't use the scientific method as part of its investigations. Instead, cryptozoologists rely on historical documents, eyewitness accounts, and their own observations in their attempts to prove what often seems unprovable. As you can probably guess, their efforts frequently come up empty-handed. Advertisement As a discipline, cryptozoology has its roots in the 1950s, thanks largely to Belgian scientist Bernard Heuvelmans and Scottish biologist and writer Ivan T. Sanderson. Both men had formal scientific degrees but also found themselves fascinated with rare creatures and paranormal subjects. Sanderson even claimed to have been personally attacked by an Olitiau, a legendary giant bat with a 12-foot (3.6-meter) wingspan that supposedly exists somewhere in Central Africa. Likewise, Heuvelmans was always hot on the trail of mysterious animals. His 1958 book, "On the Track of Unknown Animals," is often regarded as a watershed moment for the cryptozoology subculture. Surely, Heuvelmans speculated in his tome, there could be pockets of dinosaurs still hidden in remote parts of the world. It was just a matter of finding them. Both researchers drew minor fame from their various investigations, as well as scorn from mainstream scientists. And although they never officially found any of their fantastical creatures, their pursuits live on in the adventure of many other wannabe cryptozoologists. Looking for Bigfoot? Don't kid yourself you're not the only one. " " El Chupacabra differs in appearance according to sightings, but some characteristics are consistent. Before you race off to look for Cryptozoology 101 courses, understand that there's no such thing as a degree in this field. Any educational materials you find only for cryptozoology won't be backed by any real university, though unaccredited online schools may offer courses in the subject. Nor will you find any job listings directly related to this pursuit. Still, the mysterious allure of cryptozoology is addictive to anyone who enjoys the thrills of pursuing the unknown (mostly at your own expense). The unanswered questions about these fantastical creatures is a big part of the appeal. For true believers and alleged eyewitnesses, these "cryptids" are alive and well and lurking among us. They include the following: Marozi : With a maned lion's face fronting a jaguar-like body, the Marozi (also known as the spotted lion) was reported several times in the 1930s in Kenya's mountains but hasn't been mentioned much since. The Natural History Museum in Great Britain is said to be in possession of the spotted skin of a marozi, but many experts think the specimen represents a jaguar that bred with common spotless plains lions. Kamchatka Giant Bear : Swedish zoologist Sten Bergman, working in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the 1920s, discovered a paw print that measured a full square foot, suggesting a bear of remarkable size. Similar sightings tell of an ursine almost twice the size of a typical North American grizzly bear, measuring six feet at the shoulder. Some Russian biologists believe there is a small group of Kamchatka Giant Bears that survived the most recent : Swedish zoologist Sten Bergman, working in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula in the 1920s, discovered a paw print that measured a full square foot, suggesting a bear of remarkable size. Similar sightings tell of an ursine almost twice the size of a typical North American grizzly bear, measuring six feet at the shoulder. Some Russian biologists believe there is a small group of Kamchatka Giant Bears that survived the most recent ice age Bigfoot : Bigfoot, : Bigfoot, also known as Sasquatch , is a big, hairy, two-legged beast that arose in North America, and first received the "Bigfoot" nickname in California in the late 1950s. What started with a flurry of local stories turned into a full-fledged media sensation and ultimately a legend that's now known around the world. Many people claim to have caught glimpses of Bigfoot, and the Patterson-Gimlin film, which supposedly shows one creature fleeing through the forest, is probably the most iconic bit of evidence in the entire library of 20th-century cryptozoology. Yeti/Abominable Snowman : The Himalayan Mountains are reportedly home to the Yeti (or in Western culture, the Abominable Snowman), a : The Himalayan Mountains are reportedly home to the Yeti (or in Western culture, the Abominable Snowman), a bear-like or ape-like creature that's been part of Eastern lore for centuries. Covered with long hair and built for rugged, cold environments, the Yeti is as evasive and mysterious as Bigfoot. Skunk Ape : Bigfoot's smelly Southern cousin has been reported a number of times in Florida's swamps, most convincingly in 2000 by a couple who took an excellent snapshot of what looked to be a 6-foot-6-inch (2-meter) orangutan. The picture didn't capture its scent, of course, but the couple attested to its atrocity. Lizard Man : This scaly green hominid, the resident mysterious beast of Escape Ore Swamp in South Carolina, has long been at the center of local lore. While many consider the creature a hoax, others swear they've encountered it face to face. Lizard Man has had several brushes with fame: A local radio station once offered $1 million for a live capture, and in 1988, a South Carolina Republican leader labeled Lizard Man a staunch Democrat. Jersey Devil : According to most reports, New Jersey's cryptozoological curiosity has wings, a horse's face, a pig's hooves, and a kangaroo's body. The legend of the Jersey Devil was born in the 1700s based on a tale of a cursed baby-turned-demon that flew off into the night and boomed in the early 1900s, with people seeing it all over the state. To this day, people report Devil sightings, mostly in the spooky Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey. While some locals think the creature is truly a supernatural beast, others say it's probably a misidentified sandhill crane. El Chupacabra : Puerto Rico's legendary "goat sucker" is a fanged and clawed beast that performs vampirism on livestock. The first accounts of its victims often goats, chickens, horses, and cows were reported in the 1950s by farmers who found animals drained of blood, with several large puncture marks. Some who have allegedly sighted the creature describe it as a short, kangaroo-like monster with oversize teeth and an oval head, but others liken it to a large reptile or bat Kraken: The Kraken is a legendary monstrous creature in the deep ocean waters near Scandinavian regions. It's described as an enormous octopus-like animal that's big enough to attack ships and frighten sailors. This one might have basis in reality, thanks to giant squids (which really do exist) and grow to up to 50 feet (15 meters) long. Loch Ness Monster: Also known as Nessie, the Also known as Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster is another world-famous creature that's appeared in countless headlines and movies. It's an ancient legend, too, appearing in historical records dating to 1,500 years ago. It's supposedly a large marine animal with a slender neck that lives in Loch Ness, a 23-mile (37-kilometer)- long lake in Scotland. Nearly 800 feet (244 meters) deep in some places, the lake (the largest body of fresh water in the United Kingdom) would make a sufficient hiding place for a shy creature, but aside from a few famous (and blurry) photographs and unreliable eyewitness accounts, there's no proof that Nessie exists. A 2019 Washington Post article says scientists now think Nessie might have been a giant eel Tahoe Tessie : Deep in Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border lurks a storied sea creature that's the Sierra Nevada cousin of the Loch Ness Monster. It's alleged that after a submarine expedition, undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau said, "The world isn't ready for what's down there." (He could, of course, have been referring to anything odd.) Popular descriptions portray Tessie as either a freshwater relative of a : Deep in Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border lurks a storied sea creature that's the Sierra Nevada cousin of the Loch Ness Monster. It's alleged that after a submarine expedition, undersea explorer Jacques Cousteau said, "The world isn't ready for what's down there." (He could, of course, have been referring to anything odd.) Popular descriptions portray Tessie as either a freshwater relative of a whale or a 20-foot (6-meter) sea serpent with a humped back. Mogollon Monster: In eastern Arizona there's a long, rocky ridge, called the Mogollon Rim, that runs deep through a thick forest. That's the reported home of the Mogollon Monster, which is described as a tall, two-legged monster with thick hair and a rancid stench. Although amateur hunters have produced various bits of so-called evidence over the past century, there's no reason to think this stinky monster really exists. Champ: Like Tessie, Champ is named for the body of water in which it purportedly lurks, in this case, New York's Lake Champlain. Several hundred recorded sightings typically describe the beast as an angular black sea monster measuring about 50 feet (15 meters) in length. One investigative group believes the often-sighted Champ is actually a surviving plesiosaur, a dinosaur that died off 60 million years ago. Portions of this article were adapted from "The Book of Incredible Information," published by West Side Publishing, a division of Publications International, Ltd. HowStuffWorks earns a small affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site. Originally Published: May 30, 2008 Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 23:30:28|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Video: "To those who broke the law, you will pay," says outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on Jan. 7, 2021, while condemning the violence that ravaged the Capitol a day earlier. (Xinhua) "Now Congress has certified the results. A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power," says Donald Trump. "This moment calls for healing and reconciliation." WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday condemned violence that ravaged the Capitol a day earlier, while vowing to ensure an orderly transition of power. "Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem," Trump said in taped remarks posted on Twitter. "And to those who broke the law, you will pay." The president went on to acknowledge the congressional certification of President-elect and Democrat Joe Biden's victory in their White House race in 2020. "Now Congress has certified the results. A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power," he said. "This moment calls for healing and reconciliation." Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) A big crowd of Trump's supporters forced their ways into the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon when Congress met to formally count the Electoral College votes and affirms Biden's win. The chaotic and disruptive situation forced an hours-long lockdown on the Capitol grounds and left four people dead, along with multiple injuries and dozens of arrests. Trump's initial reaction to the incidents fell short of condemning the violence but doubled down on unsubstantiated allegations that the election was fraudulent. His campaign and allies have lost dozens of lawsuits seeking to overturn the loss to Biden in the past two months. A growing number of Trump administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, have resigned in protest over the Capitol unrest and the president's role in it. "Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed," Chao wrote in a letter to her colleagues. "As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside." The U.S. Capitol building is seen a day after supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump stormed it in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) In his remarks from Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday afternoon, Biden called Wednesday "one of the darkest days" in the U.S. history. "It was not protest. It was chaos," the president-elect said. "They were rioters, a mob. Insurrectionists. Domestic terrorists." The U.S. Congress early Thursday morning affirmed Biden's victory, in which the former U.S. vice president won 306 Electoral College votes versus 232 for Trump. It takes at least 270 electoral votes to win the White House. Biden also won the popular votes by 7 million and more than 4 percentage points. [January 08, 2021] Next generation plastic start-up Xampla accelerates growth with further 6m seed investment LONDON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- University of Cambridge spin-out Xampla has today announced it has closed a 6.2m seed finance round, led by the backers of Zoom, to accelerate the roll-out of its next generation plastic replacement. The investment follows a 2m round announced in April last year. The company has ambitious plans to replace microplastics and single-use plastics with its entirely natural plant-protein alternatives. Xampla is chaired by Jeff Seabright, the former Chief Sustainability Officer of Unilever, and is the first UK university spin-out to secure B Corp accreditation. The finance round was led by Horizons Ventures, the private investment arm of Mr Li Ka-shing, which is a leading investor in som of the world's most innovative companies and disruptive technologies including Facebook, Zoom, Waze, Spotify, Siri, DeepMind, Improbable, and Impossible Foods. Xampla is also backed by deeptech investor Amadeus Capital Partners, Cambridge Enterprise, and the impact investment fund Sky Ocean Ventures. Bart Swanson of Horizons Ventures said: "We invest in highly innovative companies in Asia, Europe and the US with the potential to disrupt on a global scale. "Xampla's excellent core science and strong commercial advantages set it apart in the race for a replacement to plastic, and we look forward to working with the team to build the business over the coming years." Amelia Armour, Partner, Amadeus Capital Partners, added, "Plastic pollution is a global problem which has a viable solution in Xampla's plant-protein alternative. It has been exciting to help Xampla gain traction and we welcome Horizons Ventures as an investor who shares Amadeus' vision for this great company." Jeff Seabright, Xampla Chair, said: "The Xampla team had a great first year, with excellent technical and commercial progress. "We look forward to working with Horizons and our other investors to continue to build Xampla and deliver its significant commercial potential by addressing one of today's most pressing problems plastic pollution." INDUSTRY INSIGHT Understanding AI: The good, bad and ugly Although it's still in the early stage of adoption, the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector has vast potential. According to McKinsey & Company, AI can help to identify tax-evasion patterns, sort through infrastructure data to target bridge inspections, sift through health and social-service data to prioritize cases for child welfare and support or even predict the spread of infectious diseases. Yet as the promises of AI grow increasingly obtainable, so do the risks associated with it. Public-sector organizations, which house and protect sensitive data, must be even more alert and prepared for attacks than other businesses. Plus, as technology becomes more complex and integrated into users personal and professional lives, agencies cant ignore the possibility of more sophisticated attacks, including those that leverage AI. With that in mind, its important to understand new trends in AI, especially those that impact how agencies should be thinking about security. Defining adversarial machine learning Simple or common AI and machine learning developments have the potential to improve outcomes and reduce costs within government agencies, just as it does for other industries. AI and ML technology is already being incorporated into government operations, from customer service chatbots that help automate Department of Motor Vehicle transactions to computer vision and image recognition applications that can spot stress fractures in bridges to assist a human inspector. The technology itself will continue to mature and be implemented more widely, which means understanding of the technology (both the good and the bad) must evolve as well. AI and ML statistical models rely on two main components to function properly and execute on their intended purposes: observability and data. When considering how to safeguard both the observability and data within the model, there are a few questions to answer: What information could adversaries obtain from the model to build their own model? How similar is the environment an agency is creating compared to others? Is the time-elapsed learning and feedback mechanism modeled and tested? Models are built on assumptions, so if there are similar underlying assumptions across environments, an adversary has an increased opportunity of doing one of the following to the model: Poisoning the data that is used to feed AI -- if adversaries modify the values used to make, improve or refine the AI, then they could alter results. Invalidating one of the underlying assumptions, such as obfuscating, hiding or redirecting the necessary, meaningful data the model learns from. If the training data is simply never found or known, the trust anchor of an environment can be circumvented. Building or supplanting an improved AI model to overpower it, akin to deep fakes. Essentially, if agencies can teach AI to execute as their team does, an adversary can teach AI how to behave like an attacker as well, as demonstrated by user behavior analytics tools today. Adversarial machine learning, then, is a learning technique that attempts to deceive, undermine or manipulate models by supplying false input into both observability and data. As attackers become more refined and nuanced in their approach -- from building adversarial machine learning models to model poisoning -- they could completely disrupt all AI-related efforts within an organization. Getting ahead, preparing for new risks AI and ML are already helping streamline cybersecurity efforts, and this technology will, of course, play a role in preventing and detecting more sophisticated attacks as well, so long as they are trained to do so. As AI algorithms continue to learn and behaviors are normalized, agencies can better leverage models for authentication, vulnerability management, phishing, monitoring and augmenting personnel. Today, AI is improving cybersecurity processes in two ways: It filters through the data quickly based on trained algorithms, which know exactly what to look for, and it helps identify and prioritize attacks and behavioral changes that require the attention of the security operations team, who will then verify the information and respond. As AI evolves, the actions and response will be handled by these algorithms/tools with lessening human interaction and increased velocity. For example, adversaries could successfully log in using an employees credentials, which may go unnoticed. If they are logging in for the first time from a new location or at a time when that user was not expected to be online, AI can help quickly recognize those anomalous behaviors and push an alert to the top of the security teams queue or take more immediate action to disallow a behavior. However, organizations, especially government bodies, must take their knowledge of AI a step further and prepare for the attacks of tomorrow by becoming aware of new, evolving complex risks. Data will must be viewed from both an offensive and defensive perspective, and teams must continuously monitor models and revise and retrain them to obtain deeper levels of intelligence. ML models, for example, must be trained to detect adversarial threats within the AI itself by conducting: Detection be alerted when a threat is sensed. Reaction take action to minimize impact of an actual threat. Prevention stop potential threats before they occur. Most agencies are still in initial stages of incorporating AI/ML models into their operations. However, educating agency IT teams on these evolving threats, utilizing existing toolsets and planning and preparing for these attacks should start now. The amount of data being collected and synthesized is massive and will continue to grow exponentially. We must leverage all the tools in the AI tool chest to make sense of this data for the good. Alarmed by the detection of Covid-19 infection in 25 students of a Munger school during a test camp and headmaster of a Gaya school testing positive , the education department of the Bihar government has now decided to go in for random testing of students and teachers/staff of schools across the state. At Lal Bahadur Shastri Kisan High School in Asarganj block of Munger district, 15 students, besides teachers and a peon, on Thursday were found to have tested positive. All the students are of class 9. As soon as the matter came to light, the civil surgeon asked for contact tracing, while the district administration ordered closure of schools. Binodanand Jha, director, research and training, department of education, said the department has been working closely with the health department in this regard. We have also requested the health department for random testing of students and teachers in the schools. Wherever any case is detected, the schools have to be closed immediately. We want the schools to run, but there will be no leniency in following the Covid protocol, he added. Jha said that so far, just one school has reported Covid-19 positive cases among students. In Kilkari, an initiative for childrens creative development, one child was detected Covid-19 positive and the institution was closed. It was opened only after thorough screening and sanitization. The same has to be followed in the schools, he added. Amit Kumar deputy director in the department, said at present, just one secondary school has reported out of over 8000 which have opened. But the government has taken a serious note of it. As far as the affected Munger school is concerned, all necessary steps as per Covid protocol; are being taken and the school has been closed, he added. The schools and colleges in Bihar, which remained closed since March 2020 due to pandemic, opened from January 4 by the government order. From Friday, practical examinations of the Bihar school examination board have also got underway and lakhs of students would take the exams in the coming weeks across the state. The Upgraded high school, Khijarsarai, under Sariya block of Gaya district also had to be closed soon after opening after the headmaster of the school was found Covid-19 positive. The headmaster, admitted to a Patna hospital, himself informed the district education officer (DEO) about his condition and feared spread of infection to other teachers also. He urged the DEO for closure of school to prevent further spread. In Patna also, some staff of the district programme officer (DPO) were also found positive. What is significant is that both the instances of Covid-19 spread have been reported from rural areas, where the spread of infection is presumed to be less. After secondary classes, the government also has to take a call on opening other schools from January 18, which would be a bigger challenge. In the secondary schools, the government has also started surprise inspection of academic activities from Thursday across the state. During the inspection, the officials will ensure that the Covid-19 guidelines, which include only 50% attendance of students on alternate days, social distancing, use of masks and handwash, besides all other precautions and required facilities, are strictly followed. After secondary classes, the government also has to take a call on opening other schools from January 18. The board practical exams have also got underway, which would require greater vigil. You can now order a more affordable Model Y or one that sits seven instead of five from Teslas website. As Electrek notes, Teslas original lineup when it unveiled the vehicle in 2019 included a standard range rear-wheel drive version, but company chief Elon Musk announced a year later that any plan to make one was cancelled because its range would be unacceptably low. It looks like the company went back to its original plan, lowering the Model Ys starting price considerably. When you visit Teslas website, youll now be able to buy a standard range rear-wheel drive Model Y for at least $42,000 or $40,500 if youre in California before potential savings and incentives. The only options in the past were the long range dual motor all-wheel drive and the performance versions, and their prices start at $49,990. The standard rear-wheel drives range is much shorter at 244 miles, of course, but thats still longer than Teslas 230-mile projected range. Tesla expects deliveries for the vehicle to begin within two to five weeks, so long as its available in your region. Its already out in the US, Canada and Mexico, but its still not available for purchase in Asia and most of Teslas European markets. The company has also started taking orders for seven-seater Model Ys. Youll have to pay $3,000 on top of the base price for the interior upgrade, which will give you third-row seating for two with USB-C charging and a sliding second row with adjustable backs. The upgrade will also give you the ability to fold the second and third rows for cargo storage and an electronic fold-flat release. House Bill 133 aims to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible new mothers. The House version of the bill calls for a one-year extension, whereas the Senate version calls for a six-month extension. Advocates say the bill could reduce the states maternal mortality rate. Currently, the state offers Medicaid for two months after giving birth. Should Texas extend Medicaid for eligible new mothers for six months or one year? You voted: The European Union reached a deal with Pfizer and BioNTech for 300 million additional doses of their COVID-19 vaccine, doubling the amount of doses from these producers, the head of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. "The European Commission today proposed to the EU Member States to purchase an additional 200 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine produced by BioNTech and Pfizer, with the option to acquire another 100 million doses," it said in a statement. "This would enable the EU to purchase up to 600 million doses of this vaccine, which is already being used across the EU," the statement said. Von der Leyen said 75 million of the additional doses would be delivered in the second quarter of this year. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The police, saying that the demonstrators violated the law and endangered public safety by entering the highway, either arrested or cited and released nearly 650 protesters. The process took about five hours. Most were given misdemeanor charges, but a 19-year-old woman received felony riot charges for shining a laser pointer into the eyes of a police officer. Its a glaring example of how unjust this system really is, said Mx. Martinez, noting the disparity between the hundreds of arrests on the highway versus the handful of arrests at the Capitol. If that had been us, there would have been way more than one casualty. The highway protest in Minneapolis came months after city police officers killed George Floyd, sparking widespread protests and calls for an end to systemic racism. Amid chaotic demonstrations in the days following the killing, the police retreated from a police precinct headquarters, allowing protesters to descend on it and burn it down. But even that was not comparable to what unfolded at the Capitol on Wednesday, said Jeremiah Ellison, a Minneapolis City Councilman. In the days preceding the burning of the precinct, the police had been firing rubber bullets and tear-gas at protesters in what Mr. Ellison said he believed was an overreaction at times. The police at the Capitol did not show that same hostility toward the demonstrators there, he said. I think the police will view a leftist protester with a gas mask as more dangerous than a right-wing protester with a semiautomatic rifle, Mr. Ellison said. Activists who protest the police say they believe they are targeted because of their criticism of law enforcement. In a federal lawsuit against the city of St. Louis, a judge wrote in a 2017 ruling on a preliminary injunction that the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on their claim that the Police Department has a custom or policy of using chemical agents without warning on citizens criticizing the police. The Government today announced that the Cambodia portion of the free trade agreement and the investment agreement between Hong Kong and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) will take effect on February 12. It signifies that both agreements signed between Hong Kong and the 10 member states of ASEAN will come into full effect. Hong Kong enterprises and service providers will enjoy the full benefits as committed to by all 10 ASEAN member states under the agreements. Their business opportunities in ASEAN markets will be greatly enhanced. Hong Kong forged the free trade agreement and investment agreement with ASEAN in 2017 and the agreements have entered into force gradually since June 2019. The agreements are comprehensive in scope, encompassing trade in goods and services, investment, economic and technical co-operation, dispute settlement mechanisms and other related areas. They bring about legal certainty and better market access for Hong Kong enterprises. They also help reduce the restrictions in doing business and expand business opportunities for Hong Kong enterprises, thus creating a more conducive environment for the development of Hong Kong's economy. As for Cambodia, it will progressively reduce and eliminate customs duties on goods originating from Hong Kong. Cambodias tariff commitments cover jewellery, articles of apparel and clothing accessories, watches and clocks as well as toys. To enjoy the preferential tariff treatment for exporting Hong Kong goods to Cambodia under the agreement, Hong Kong traders have to comply with the relevant preferential rules of origin and fulfil the related requirements, and to apply for certificates of origin from the Trade & Industry Department or Government Approved Certification Organisations to cover the goods concerned. On trade in services, Hong Kong service providers will enjoy legal certainty in market access for an extensive range of service sectors in Cambodia. These service sectors include professional, business, telecommunications, construction and related engineering, educational, financial, tourism and travel-related as well as transport services. Under the investment agreement, Cambodia will provide Hong Kong enterprises investing in its area with fair and equitable treatment of their investments, physical protection and security of their investments, and the assurance of the free transfer of their investments and returns. In case of expropriation or investment loss due to war, armed conflict or a similar event, Cambodia will also compensate Hong Kong enterprises investing in its area according to the agreed standard under the agreement. Hong Kong has signed eight free trade agreements with 20 economies. With the free trade agreement between Hong Kong and ASEAN coming into full effect, all the four free trade agreements signed in the current term of the Government will have taken effect. They are the free trade agreements signed with Macau, Georgia, Australia and the 10 ASEAN member states. On Jan. 8, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak posted a photo of a massive billboard from a previous Israeli election campaign showing a beaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing alongside a broadly smiling US President Donald Trump. Next to the photo Barak tweeted, The conmens league. Political Siamese twins. Both narcissists, both claiming to have been framed, both serial liars contemptuous of their followers, inciting against the legal system. Both fraudsters insanely self-centered and willing to assassinate democracy. The Americans have already disposed of theirs, at a heavy cost. It is now our turn. In a Haaretz article run the same day, Barak urged President Reuven Rivlin to declare that Netanyahu cannot serve as prime minister given his indictment and ongoing trial on a charge of bribery, even though the law does not forbid him from running for office. Barak said the president must make the pronouncement before the Feb. 4 deadline for submitting the parties candidate lists for the March 23 elections so that those compiling the lists take it into account and citizens are aware of it before they head for the ballot box. Barak was not the only one to draw a parallel between Netanyahu and his supporters and the bloody mob attack on Capitol Hill by Trump supporters. Netanyahus political opponents and opinion-shapers on social media have sought to adapt the incredibly unsettling events in the US capital to the political situation and division in Israel and to portray Netanyahu as Trump's twin. Netanyahu condemned the ransacking of the Capitol during a Jan. 7 meeting with visiting US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. American democracy has always inspired me. Lawlessness and violence are the opposite of the values we know Americans and Israelis cherish. The rampage at the Capitol yesterday was a disgraceful act that must be vigorously condemned, he said. However, his statement did not do Netanyahu much good, as critics noted that he had issued it many hours after most world leaders had condemned the shocking events. Since the assault on Congress, Netanyahu has found himself on the wrong side of history. His close friendship with Trump has become a cudgel in the hands of his many rivals, who have been forced in recent months to halfheartedly praise the normalization by Arab states of ties with Israel brought about by the American and Israeli leaders. The shameful end of the Trump presidency has tainted Netanyahu, overshadowing his role in Israels stunning vaccination campaign against the coronavirus that will see a majority of Israelis inoculated in the coming weeks. Even before the Washington riot, many Israelis viewed Netanyahu as responsible for the unprecedented political and social upheaval shaking the country over the past two years. The most recent events have prompted an inevitable comparison with the ongoing chaos in Israel. Unlike the pro-Trump demonstration in Washington, in Israel, the mass demonstrations in recent months outside Netanyahus Jerusalem residence are calling for the prime ministers ouster. The prime ministers many critics insist that like Trump, Netanyahu would try to dismantle Israeli democracy and refuse to concede the results even if defeated in March. Netanyahus supporters are being compared to Trumps, and pundits are wondering whether a Washington-type scenario could play out in Jerusalem, too. Politicians challenging Netanyahu in the coming elections have been echoing the message that such an imbroglio is right around the corner. Defense Minister Benny Gantz said the images from Washington hurt the heart of anyone who believes in democracy. Gantz went on, Unfortunately, we in Israel are witnessing attempts to delegitimize decisions by law enforcement officials and the judiciary, to lash out at state institutions and undermine public trust in them. To avoid ever deteriorating into radical situations of rejecting the peoples vote or court rulings, every leader in Israel and the world must declare loudly and clearly: Come what may, we will accept the peoples decision, the courts rulings and the Knessets votes. His meaning was clear: Should Netanyahu lose in March, violent street protests would follow. The chair of the newly formed Hope for Israel Party, Gideon Saar, who is shaping up to be Netanyahus chief challenger for the premiership, tweeted that he was saddened by events in Washington but was nonetheless confident of an orderly transition of power in the United States, our greatest friend in the world. He added, The events serve as an important reminder of the dangers of polarization and extremism in society. We must never take democracy and its institutions for granted. While he was less emphatic than Gantz, given his bid to enlist the support of right-wing voters who admire Trump, the subtext of his message was clear. The major question is whether what appears to be Trumps legacy of division, misinformation and incitement to violence that ended in bloodshed would taint Netanyahu and the constituencies identified with him and cost him significant electoral damage. A growing number of Netanyahu political rivals will strive to see it happen. However, recent history has shown that his opponents efforts to depict Netanyahu as an unrestrained radical can only go so far. At some point, they become counterproductive, as the deep political right closely identifies with Netanyahu and his Likud. His electorate rebels when his real achievements, such as the normalization agreements, the calm along the Gaza border and the vaccination operation are called into question. The disparaging of Netanyahus accomplishments triggers a sense of persecution among his followers and has poured fuel on every election campaign since Netanyahu first came to power in 1996. Such was the case following the November 1995 assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Netanyahu served at the time as head of the Knesset opposition. He was accused of playing a significant role in the incitement that prompted a young right-wing radical to kill the prime minister. The accusations united the right-wing public to hand him a victory. Almost 21 years on, will the antagonism he generates this time produce the same type of counter-reaction in his favor? Sony has been preaching the gospel of 360 Reality Audio for two years now. At CES 2019, the company first showed off the immersive audio platform that was designed to make it sound like you were inside the music. More specifically, artists and producers could position instruments and vocals around a sphere in Sonys software, positioning them around the listener virtually to create the immersive effect. Thus far though, the company hasnt remedied two key issues. First, Sony hasnt shipped any speakers of its own that are specifically designed for 360 Reality Audio. And secondly, the library of content remains quite small. With an announcement today ahead of CES 2021, Sony is looking to remedy both. First, the company announced that its planning to debut its own 360 Reality Audio speakers this spring. Details are scarce for now, as Sony only mentioned vague features and product names. The SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 are both WiFi-connected speakers that create an immersive, room-filling 360 Reality Audio sound experience. The company says they both employ its unique Immersive Audio Enhancement algorithm and can be controlled with Google Assistant or Alexa devices. At two consecutive CES events (2019 and 2020), Sony demonstrated 360 Reality Audio on prototype speakers, but those havent been sold. Its also unclear if either design will be used for the models mentioned in todays news. A 360 Reality Audio prototype speaker at CES 2019 Billy Steele/Engadget You can also listen to 360 Reality Audio on headphones, so long as you have the proper streaming service on your phone. Sony plans to license its headphones personalization tech, which analyzes a users ears and hearing, to other companies. It will also license tech that will allow 360 Reality Audio to be played from phones and inside cars. Theres no timeline for either one just yet, but its clear Sony is hoping to get its immersive audio in more places soon. Currently, if you want to listen to 360 Reality Audio music at home, youll need a speaker like Amazons Echo Studio. Youll also need a subscription for the high-res tier of a service like Amazon Music, Tidal or Deezer. Sony debuted the platform in the fall of 2019, but only for headphones. Back then, there were only 1,000 tracks available mostly from Sony Music artists. Now, the company says it has expanded that number to 4,000, but thats still a small selection. Spotify, for comparison, has over 50 million songs. To expand the library of content, Sony will begin to offer live performances with 360 Reality Audio sound. It will start with a live concert from Zara Larsson Monday, January 11th at 5PM ET through the Artist Connection app. Of course, the company is promising a lifelike music experience, or something that sounds like youre actually there. Sony says it hopes to offer this option to the public since concert venues are still closed due to COVID-19. The company is working with labels and services to stream new video content later this year. Sony For there to be more content, you have to give creators, musicians and producers the tools to make 360 Reality Audio stuff. Sony worked with Virtual Sonics to build software called the 360 Reality Audio Creative Suite. The goal is to make content creation easier for the platform via this plugin software thats compatible with popular digital audio workstation (DAW) applications. Through the subsidiary Audio Futures, Virtual Sonics will release the software for 360 Reality Audio later this month. Sony is also working with Music.com and The Orchard on a Creators Program that will offer access to the Creative Suite and stream 360 Reality Content afterwards. Ive been skeptical of 360 Reality Audio since its introduction. From the jump, it seemed like Sony faced an uphill climb with building a content library and convincing the public new hardware was worth the commitment. Two years in, it seems like the company finally has a clear plan both to ship its own speakers and to expand the options for listening. The only question now is how long it will take Sony to make it all happen. Update 2:45PM ET: Details on both the SRS-RA5000 and SRS-RA3000 speakers were revealed on the Sony UK website a few hours after this article was published. You can read about those devices here. Representative image Singapore-based Sembcorp Industries' Indian unit has won a bid for a new solar power project of 400 megawatts (MW) capacity offering a tariff of Rs 2 per unit in a closely contested auction. Sembcorp Energy India Ltd (SEIL) has received the letter of award from Social Energy Corporation of India (SECI) to develop the project in Rajasthan, the company said in a statement here. "The project's entire output will be sold to SECI under a 25-year long-term power purchase agreement," it said. While the firm did not give the tariff it had bid to win the project, analysts said it had offered Rs 2 per unit. ICICI Securities in a recent note said SECI had received bids from 14 companies for 4.35 GW against the tender of 1.07 GW. "Winners of the round were: Aljomaih Energy & Water Company (Saudi Arabia) - 200 MW at Rs 2 per unit; Sembcorp (Singapore) - 400 MW at Rs 2 per unit and NTPC - 470 MW at Rs 2.01 per unit," it had said. Sembcorp, which recently completed the commissioning of 800 MW of wind projects from three SECI bids, is aiming at completing the solar project in Rajasthan by mid-2022. The project will be funded through a mixture of internal funds and debt, the statement said without giving details. SEIL through its renewables subsidiary Sembcorp Green Infra had won this bid in a closely contested auction conducted by SECI. Vipul Tuli, CEO of South Asia, Sembcorp Industries said: "As a long-term player committed to India's energy transition, we are pleased to secure the 400 MW utility-scale solar project in Rajasthan." Sembcorp, he said, has established a track record of delivering world-class power projects within timelines. "We are confident of delivering this project thanks to strong support from central and state government agencies and our business partners," he said. "India is a key market for Sembcorp, where we will continue to contribute to the nations clean energy mission. With this win, we have moved into our next phase of growth." Globally, Sembcorp is actively growing its renewable energy business as part of its focus on sustainable growth. With this win, Sembcorp Industries now had a renewables portfolio of over 3,000MW in operation and under development across Singapore, China and India, it said. India is targeting an installed capacity of 100 gigawatts of solar plants by 2022 as part of its policy to push for a greater share of renewable energy sources. SECI has been designated as a nodal agency for developing and facilitating the establishment of the grid-connected solar power capacity in India for this. It initiated a tariff-based competitive bid process for the procurement of the power. SECI is the intermediary to facilitate the promotion of solar power projects and to purchase and re-sell the electricity to the distribution licensees to enable them to fulfill the renewable purchase obligation. The buying utility will be responsible for all transmission charges and losses and any other charges as applicable under the respective regulations beyond the delivery point. SEIL has a balanced portfolio of thermal and renewable energy assets totalling 4.8 GW capacity in operation and under construction. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Hasbro Inc. (HAS) announced the creation of a new Global Purpose Organization. It will advance the company's positive impact around the world, including global government relations, global communications, corporate social responsibility, sustainability, ethical sourcing and philanthropy and social impact. The company appointed Kathrin Belliveau as Chief Purpose Officer. He will report to Hasbro's Chairman and CEO, Brian Goldner. Belliveau joined Hasbro in 1997 as an attorney supporting corporate, brand, licensing, global operations and commercial legal matters. She has held a series of leadership roles including the establishment of Hasbro's global government relations practice and the development of Hasbro's ethical sourcing and product safety programs. 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. Paris, 8 January 2021 - Apax Partners SAS has reached an agreement with NPM Capital NV to acquire 100% of the NL Mental Care Group B.V. (Mentaal Beter), an innovative mental health care service provider in the Netherlands, operating through the brands Mentaal Beter, Vitalmindz, Alleskits and Opdidakt. This acquisition would be taken alongside the company's management team who will retain a stake in the company and will continue to lead the business. This significant investment would enable Mentaal Beter to accelerate its digitalisation strategy to further improve access and quality of care in the coming years. Mentaal Beter also wants to internationalise its unique business model and skills across Europe. The intended acquisition is subject to approval by the relevant authorities (the Dutch Healthcare Authority (NZa) and the Dutch Competition Authority (ACM)). Mentaal Beter, initially a franchise model, has grown into a successful network of mostly owned practices with more than 120 locations across the Netherlands. Since 2013, with the active support of NPM Capital, the firm has invested in company training for psychologists to become licensed therapists, as well as IT systems and E-health capability. In addition, Mentaal Beter has strengthened and modernised its structure by setting-up an effective central shared service center that handles most administrative tasks, allowing therapists to focus on patients' care. About Altamir Altamir is a listed private equity company (Euronext Paris-B, ticker: LTA) founded in 1995 and with an investment portfolio of more than 1.2bn. Its objective is to provide shareholders with long-term capital appreciation and regular dividends by investing in a diversified portfolio of private equity investments. Altamir's investment policy is to invest via and with the funds managed or advised by Apax Partners SAS and Apax Partners LLP, two leading private equity firms that take majority or lead positions in buyouts and growth capital transactions and seek ambitious value creation objectives. In this way, Altamir provides access to a diversified portfolio of fast-growing companies across Apax's sectors of specialisation (TMT, Consumer, Healthcare, Services) and in complementary market segments (mid-sized companies in continental Europe and larger companies in Europe, North America and key emerging markets). Altamir derives certain tax benefits from its status as a SCR ("Societe de Capital Risque"). As such, Altamir is exempt from corporate tax and the company's investors may benefit from tax exemptions, subject to specific holding-period and dividend-reinvestment conditions. For more information: www.altamir.fr Contact Claire Peyssard Moses Tel.: +33 1 53 65 01 74 / E-mail: investors@altamir.fr ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mJxtlciZlpnKy21slJyabGKYmZppkmXJaWiayGlxaJiZap2TlGdnnJzLZm9nnWpr - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-66855-acquisition-mentaal-beter_en.pdf Seoul, Jan 8 (IANS Renault Samsung Motors Corp said it will reduce the number of executives and their salaries as the company has entered emergency management amid the Covid -19 pandemic. The South Korean unit of Renault SA has suffered a sharp decline in sales due to lack of new models and the pandemic's impact on production and sales. The company plans to cut the number of executives by 40 per cent to 30 and pay by 20 per cent starting in January, a spokesman said over the phone. It reportedly may consider offering a voluntary retirement program to employees. Renault Samsung reported an operating loss for the first time in eight years last year as its sales fell 35 per cent to 116,166 vehicles from 177,450 units a year earlier, reports Yonhap news agency. Its domestic sales rose 11 per cent to 95,939 units from 86,859 during the same period, but exports plunged 78 percent to 20,227 autos from 90,591. That's mainly because the company stopped production of the Nissan Rogue SUV at the Busan plant in March last year. Moreover, it suspended the operation of its sole plant in Busan, 450 km southeast of Seoul, during Sept. 25-Oct. 18, several days in November and December to control its inventory. The company expects the planned exports of the XM3 SUV to Europe this year will help improve its lacklustre sales. It began to produce the XM3 in Busan for local sales in September. The company's current passenger car lineup includes the all-electric SM3 Z.E. sedan, the SM6 sedan, the XM3 SUV and the QM6 SUV. Renault holds an 81 per cent stake in Renault Samsung. (Newser) Police in Britain say they received a "suspicious call" related to a burglary on Wednesday, one that came from the unsuspecting burglars themselves. Police say one of two men later arrested had butt-dialed 999, the emergency number in the UK, allowing authorities to listen in as the crime was in progress, reports the Guardian. The call detailed "all of their antics up to the point of hearing our patrols arrive to arrest them," Chief Inspector John Owen of the Staffordshire police wrote in a tweet, which included a clip of one of the ill-fated burglars from Home Alone. "I think we have just arrested the world's unluckiest burglars," Owen wrote. "It's a bum rap," a user added, per the BBC. The two men from Stoke-on-Trent, aged 49 and 42, remained in custody as of Thursday, per the Stoke Sentinel. (Read more butt dialing stories.) By Steve Gorman (Reuters) - The storming of the halls of Congress by a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters is the latest episode of violence to darken the U.S. Capitol in a history dating back to a British arson attack in Washington during the War of 1812. With five lives lost on the Capitol grounds, including a woman shot by police and an officer injured in the melee, Wednesday's turmoil appeared to rank as the deadliest violence to unfold in and around the citadel of American democracy in 200 years. But the upheaval also stood out in one other notable respect, its White House origins, said David Meyer, a sociology professor at the University of California, Irvine. "The Capitol is a magnet for protest, and sometimes it's violent," Meyer, author of "The Politics of Protest: Social Movements in America," told Reuters on Thursday. "Whats really unusual this time is a president of the United States explicitly encouraging people to take up violent means against his political opponents." Here is a chronology of some of the most notorious acts of violence to flare at the Capitol - shootings, bombings, a knife attack, a beating by cane and even an assassination attempt. 1814 - Invading British forces torched the original Capitol building while it was still under construction, setting bonfires of furniture in the House of Representatives and the original Supreme Court chamber. 1835 - In the first known attempt on a U.S. president's life, a disgruntled house painter tried to shoot Andrew Jackson as he emerged from a funeral in the House chamber. The assailant's two flintlock derringers both misfired, and an enraged Jackson clubbed the would-be assassin with his walking stick before the man was subdued. The suspect was found not guilty by reason of insanity and confined to a mental institution. 1856 - An abolitionist senator, Charles Sumner of Massachusetts, was savagely beaten with a cane by his South Carolina colleague, Preston Brooks, on the Senate floor after delivering a speech criticizing slavery. Story continues 1915 - A former Harvard University German language professor used a timing device to detonate three sticks of dynamite in an empty Senate reception room during a holiday recess. The professor, angry that American financiers were aiding the British against Germany during World War One, then fled to New York, where he shot and slightly injured banker J.P. Morgan. He was subsequently captured and later took his own life in jail. 1954 - A group of four armed Puerto Rican nationalists indiscriminately opened fire on the House floor from the visitors' gallery and unfurled a Puerto Rican flag. Five members of Congress were wounded. The four assailants - three men and a woman - were apprehended and sentenced to lengthy prison terms, which President Jimmy Carter commuted in 1979. 1971 - A bomb planted by the radical antiwar group Weather Underground to protest the U.S.-backed invasion of Laos was detonated in a restroom on the Senate side of the Capitol, causing extensive damage but no casualties. 1983 - A bomb concealed under a bench outside the Senate chamber exploded, blowing the hinges off the door to the office of then-Senate Democratic leader Robert Byrd and damaging a portrait of renowned lawyer-statesman Daniel Webster. No one was hurt. A militant leftist group said it carried out the bombing in retaliation for U.S. military involvement in Lebanon and Grenada. 1998 - An armed man stormed through a U.S. Capitol security checkpoint and opened fire, fatally wounding two police officers, and made his way to the Republican Whip's office of Representative Tom DeLay. A tourist also was injured. The two slain officers became the first private citizens to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda. 2001 - United Airlines Flight 93 crashed in a Pennsylvania field after passengers stormed the cockpit to overpower suicide hijackers, whose likely intended target was later determined by investigators to have been the U.S. Capitol. 2013 - A woman who tried to drive through a White House security checkpoint was chased by authorities to the Capitol, where she was shot dead. Her baby daughter was found unharmed in the vehicle. 2021 - Hundreds of pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and occupied the building for hours, ransacking offices, forcing an evacuation of lawmakers and interrupting their certification of the November presidential election. One woman in the mob was shot to death by police in a corridor, and one of several policeman injured in clashes with protesters died on Thursday, U.S. Capitol police said. Three more died of medical emergencies on the grounds during the tumult. (Reporting by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler and Clarence Fernandez) All Australian states and territories will begin testing hotel quarantine staff daily and quarantine international aircrew amid fears a highly infectious British variant of the coronavirus could spread locally. The premiers and chief ministers also agreed to pre-flight testing and masks will be made mandatory on all international and domestic flights. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has outlined new requirements for flights following todays National Cabinet meeting, including pre-flight testing and compulsory masks. Other leaders pushed for weekly testing of hotel quarantine workers, but finally agreed to daily testing, the Victorian government has confirmed to The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. NSW Health announced this week that all staff working across the state's hotel quarantine program would be screened daily by the end of February. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said national cabinet had decided to take "a number of actions" that relate to quarantine and flights to "reduce and debulk the risk in terms of exposure to the new strain". Caps on international arrivals in NSW, Western Australia, in Queensland will be reduced by 50 per cent until February 15, and travellers to Australia must now return a negative COVID-19 test result prior to their departure. "There will be exemptions in extenuating circumstances. This could include for seasonal workers from amber-risk countries where there is limited access to testing," he said. "Individuals - including travellers and staff - must undertake measures for infection prevention and control for international travel," Mr Morrison said. The Prime Minister also said the Commonwealth had declared Brisbane a hotspot after the new, more transmissible strain of the coronavirus was detected in a quarantine hotel cleaner. He said 80 per cent of Australians registered overseas are now in countries where the new strain of COVID-19 is evident. "The situation in Brisbane is a serious situation... It moves so quickly - far more quickly than previous strains of the virus - and that means we need to give our contact tracers that head start to ensure that they can track down and run down all of the contacts from this individual and ensure that they can be identified," he said. The Victorian government had been pushing for the rest of the country to adopt its strengthened hotel quarantine procedures, with Premier Daniel Andrews cutting short his leave to press the state's case at national cabinet. Before the 10am meeting, Mr Andrews told reporters he expected the federal government to endorse Victoria's proposal and that he believed his state and territory counterparts would adopt it. "I'm very confident that we will see issues like pre-flight testing, issues like flight crew being tested when they get here, being treated in effect as they were a returned traveller, a whole range of measures that we've pushed and advocated for particularly in light of the UK strain, I believe they'll be adopted by national cabinet," Mr Andrews said on Friday morning. "Given the extremely infectious and contagious nature of this UK variant, it is very, very important that we do everything we can, never making it 100 per cent risk free, but each additional layer is about keeping each of us safe." Premier Daniel Andrews provides an update on the coronavirus situation in Victoria. During his press conference, Mr Andrews urged his state and territory counterparts to learn from Victoria's "bitter experience" of the state's second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, which infected more than 20,000 people and killed about 800. "Victorians would urge and recommend to every single government across the nation: our plan, the way we're doing it is the best way to go," he said. "Test every day, and then test their family weekly, and advance contact trace their family so you don't have someone who's working in aged care sharing a house with someone who's working at a hotel site." The Victorian government forced Melbourne into one of the world's strictest and longest lockdowns to contain the second wave of the pandemic after it escaped hotel quarantine. An inquiry into the bungling of the scheme uncovered poor infection control processes and found the Andrews government did not adequately consider the risks of the program. When stand-up first went online, I wanted no part of it, to tell you the truth, said Chicago comedian Jeanie Doogan. She thought, no way am I doing that. But she changed her stance and was glad she did. She found, like other Chicago performing artists across all kinds of disciplines, that just doing the work and reaching an audience, even an audience of little Zoom squares, was a relief and a creative outlet. Dublin, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Global Market Report 2020-30: COVID-19 Growth and Change" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global consumer electronics repair and maintenance market. This report focuses on consumer electronics repair and maintenance market which is experiencing strong growth. The report gives a guide to the consumer electronics repair and maintenance market which will be shaping and changing our lives over the next ten years and beyond, including the markets response to the challenge of the global pandemic. The global consumer electronics repair and maintenance market is expected to increase from $16.34 billion in 2019 to $16.52 billion in 2020 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.11%. The low growth rate is mainly due to the COVID-19 outbreak that has led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of industries and other commercial activities resulting in operational challenges. The entire supply chain has been disrupted, impacting the market negatively. The market is then expected to recover and reach $20.52 billion in 2023 at a CAGR of 7.5%. Reasons to Purchase Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 12+ geographies. Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market research findings. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider consumer electronics repair and maintenance market, and compares it with other markets. The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, the influence of the COVID-19 virus and forecasting its growth. Market segmentations break down market into sub markets. The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers the growth trajectory of COVID-19 for all regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets. Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified. The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers. The consumer electronics repair and maintenance market section of the report gives context. It compares the consumer electronics repair and maintenance market with other segments of the consumer electronics repair and maintenance market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses GDP proportion, expenditure per capita, consumer electronics repair and maintenance indicators comparison. The consumer electronics repair and maintenance market consists of sales of consumer electronics repair and maintenance services by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that are engaged in repairing and maintaining consumer electronics such as televisions, stereos, speakers, video recorders, CD and DVD players, radios, and cameras, without retailing new consumer electronics. Only goods and services traded between entities or sold to end consumers are included. North America was the largest region in the consumer electronics repair and maintenance market in 2019. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the consumer electronics repair and maintenance industry as governments across the globe have imposed lockdowns and put restrictions on non-essential services to prevent the spread of the virus. Repair and maintenance services hugely depend on labor and the availability of labor during this pandemic is a big challenge. The repair industry across countries such as US, the UK, Germany, Italy, the Middle East and India have also witnessed an increase in labor cost due to labor shortages in the lockdown. The repairing industry, in general, fixes around 25 million electronic appliances in a month, but due to lockdown and social distancing norms, the products are expected to pile up for repair. Besides, the supply chain disruptions in various countries have made it difficult to find spare components for mobile and other electronic appliances making consumers wait longer for availing services. The consumer electronics repair and maintenance market covered in this report is segmented by type into consumer electronics; home appliances; medical equipment; industrial equipment. It is also segmented by service type into in-warranty; out of warranty and by end-user into industrial/commercial; residential. An increase in equipment failure rates and cost benefits of repairing old equipment rather than disposing of them are expected to drive the consumer electronics repair and maintenance market. The branded and non-branded low-cost products regularly flood the market and need repair in some time as they are made with poor quality material or due to regular maintenance. However, research suggests that companies are now taking a different approach, which is building products that could be easily repaired for use as fixing an issue in a gadget is always a cost-effective solution than buying a new one, thereby enhancing the trust of the customer. Customers tend to buy and refer the products of the company that offers repair manual, spare parts and provide assistance and guidance on fixing the product. Apple has begun assembling the older iPhone in India. Companies like iFixit and Repair Cafe are bringing people together to work for repairing devices. The European Commission is all set to discuss eco-design regulation for smartphones from 2021, including access to spare parts and repair information. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Characteristics 3. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Size and Growth 3.1. Global Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Historic Market, 2015 - 2019, $ Billion 3.1.1. Drivers of the Market 3.1.2. Restraints on the Market 3.2. Global Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Forecast Market, 2019 - 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 3.2.1. Drivers of the Market 3.2.2. Restraints on the Market 4. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Segmentation 4.1. Global Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market, Segmentation by Type 4.2. Global Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market, Segmentation by Service Type 4.3. Global Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market, Segmentation by End User 5. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Regional and Country Analysis 5.1. Global Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market, Split by Region, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 5.2. Global Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market, Split by Country, Historic and Forecast, 2015-2019, 2023F, 2025F, 2030F, $ Billion 6. Asia-Pacific Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 7. China Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 8. India Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 9. Japan Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 10. Australia Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 11. Indonesia Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 12. South Korea Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 13. Western Europe Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 14. UK Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 15. Germany Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 16. France Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 17. Eastern Europe Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 18. Russia Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 19. North America Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 20. USA Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 21. South America Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 22. Brazil Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 23. Middle East Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 24. Africa Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 25. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Competitive Landscape and Company Profiles 25.1. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Competitive Landscape 25.2. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Company Profiles 25.2.1. Encompass Supply Chain Solutions Inc 25.2.1.1. Overview 25.2.1.2. Products and Services 25.2.1.3. Strategy 25.2.1.4. Financial Performance 25.2.2. Electronix Services 25.2.2.1. Overview 25.2.2.2. Products and Services 25.2.2.3. Strategy 25.2.2.4. Financial Performance 25.2.3. iCracked Inc 25.2.3.1. Overview 25.2.3.2. Products and Services 25.2.3.3. Strategy 25.2.3.4. Financial Performance 25.2.4. Mendtronix Inc 25.2.4.1. Overview 25.2.4.2. Products and Services 25.2.4.3. Strategy 25.2.4.4. Financial Performance 25.2.5. Moduslink Global Solutions 25.2.5.1. Overview 25.2.5.2. Products and Services 25.2.5.3. Strategy 25.2.5.4. Financial Performance 26. Key Mergers and Acquisitions in the Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market 27. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Trends and Strategies 28. Consumer Electronics Repair and Maintenance Market Future Outlook and Potential Analysis 29. Appendix 29.1. Abbreviations 29.2. Currencies 29.3. Research Inquiries 29.4. About the Publisher 29.5. Copyright and Disclaimer For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/oftgc5 Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research. The company will utilise the funds to bolster its product offering, expand in existing markets and enter new geographies. Pune-based digital payments firm Phi Commerce has raised $4 million in a Series A funding round led by Singapore-based venture capital firm BEENEXT. Yatra Angel Network (YAN) also participated in the round. Founded in 2015, Phi Commerce has created PayPhi, a payment processing platform which processes digital payments at doorstep, online and in-store across a variety of form factors such as cards, internet banking, UPI, Aadhaar, BharatQR, wallets, NEFT, RTGS, and NACH. Phi Commerce would utilise the funds to bolster its product offering, expand in existing markets and enter new geographies, as per the statement released by the company. Commenting on the announcement, Jose Thattil, CEO and Co-Founder, Phi Commerce said, Today, consumers and businesses globally are demanding that payment transactions be truly seamless, almost bordering on being invisible. We are proud that within a short span of time, PayPhi, with its revolutionary API-first architecture, has successfully proven its capability to meet hitherto unaddressed requirements at scale across online, in-store and door-step commerce. The need to eliminate friction in payments with 100 percent reliability is a universal requirement across advanced as well as emerging economies and we are confident we will soon be replicating this success in global markets. Commenting on the investment announcement, Hero Choudhary, partner at BEENEXT, said, India is probably the most complex payment market in the world with all sorts of payment form factors. The Phi Commerce team has built a remarkable product covering end to end omni-channel payments at scale. Their technology solution is scalable across the globe and we are proud to partner with the Phi team in their journey. We have seen Phi Commerces journey from the day they got associated with us in the Mumbai Fintech Accelerator. They truly represent an Enterprise payment powerhouse from India with solutions having application across global markets, said Abhishant Pant, manager of Yatra Angel Network (YAN). In an effort to take the Congress to the grassroots in Uttar Pradesh, a team of about 80 to 100 leaders have begun camping in different districts for the partys sangathan srajan programme, which was launched on January 3. The programme runs till January 25. Under the programme, the party proposes to set up its units in all the 8,000 nyay panchayats wards in urban areas to bolster the partys chances in the state polls to be held next year. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is monitoring the exercise and may soon visit a district in any zone to make an on-the-spot assessment. We are following the exercise of setting up and holding meetings of nearly 8,000 nyay panchayat units under the programme. This programme has been organised all over the state at the behest of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. We also propose to set up nearly 60,000 village level units by next month, said UPCC president Ajay Kumar Lallu who camped in Sultanpur and Faizabad districts on Thursday. Lallu though did not give any programme of Priyanka Gandhi Vadras visit but said there were indications of her visit to any district soon. Five All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretaries Jubair Khan, Dheeraj Gujar, Bajirao Khade, Sachin Naik and Rohit Chaudhary along with teams of UPCC office bearers and other youth leaders have also begun camping in districts allotted to them. We are closely following the exercise. No meeting of nyay panchayat is considered complete unless attendance of partys representatives of all the villages under the respective nyay panchayat is verified. As nyay panchayats will lead to setting up of nearly 20,575 member committees in 823 blocks of the state the party will have a verified and committed team of more than 28,000 leaders ready at the grassroots level soon, said UPCC organisation secretary Anil Yadav. Besides setting up the units at nyay panchayat levels, the Congress also proposes to focus on setting up ward units in the cities. Yadav said, Our city units have begun setting up party structures at the ward levels. We hope to complete the same after completion of nyay panchayat level exercise. Taking a cue from the exercise being carried out in rural areas the city unit presidents in many districts have already begun setting up ward units. We have already set up our units in 45 out of 110 wards. We will complete the exercise in all the wards by the deadline, said Lucknow City Congress Committee president Mukesh Chauhan. As the Congress proposes to change its district president in some districts, the announcement about setting up nyay panchayat units there may be delayed. Four district units may see new presidents soon. Any announcement about setting up the nyay panchayat units or the ward units in these districts may not be made now, said an office bearer. Eugene Wright, a distinguished bass player who toured the world and recorded some 30 albums, including the landmark Time Out, in his decade with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, died on Dec. 30 in the Valley Glen neighborhood of Los Angeles. He was 97. Caroline Howard, the executor of Mr. Wrights estate, confirmed his death, at an assisted living facility. Mr. Wright, a solidly swinging timekeeper best known for his work with the Count Basie Orchestra in the late 1940s, might not in 1958 have seemed the ideal choice for the complex modern jazz compositions that formed the bulk of Mr. Brubecks repertoire. It shouldnt have worked, but Dave had an ESP about musicians and knew somehow Eugene would work, Philip Clark, the author of Dave Brubeck: A Life In Time (2020), said in a phone interview. Eugene was a light-fingered player who could swing heavily, but he had a spongy sound that gave albums like Time Out and very intricate pieces like Three to Get Ready a chamber music quality. Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has commended the Party and Parliament for their determination and courage to ensure the Party won the speakership position. "Our members of Parliament have, through creative skills, experience, perseverance and determination, shown that the wings of the oppressor can be clipped and they indeed clipped it, he said. "I feel particularly proud of the men and women who represent our Party in Parliament. I do not have the right words to commend our gallant, courageous and strategic Honorable MPs for fighting through the night to ensure that our country elected Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin as Speaker of the Eight Parliament of Ghana. Mr Ampofo, in a statement issued in Accra, said: "Together we will emerge stronger and better "It has been a long tedious struggle on what seems like a lonely journey from December 7, 2020, till now, amidst intimidation, bullying, and outright violence visited on our compatriots. He said without unity, unwavering determination and steel-like courage, they could have suffered further oppression and suppression by the forces of anti-democracy. "Let me also say that I admire the patriotism of those New Patriotic Party Members of Parliament, who saw reason in our cause and voted our way in choosing the speaker. I can only say kudos! Mr Ampofo said. "I salute all party members across the country and ask for calm and moderation as we trust in leadership for further political actions. "Ours is a struggle to make Ghana better for all. The Rescue Mission continues and with God, on our side, we shall surely overcome," he added. 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 Two health care workers gown up on the sidewalk before going in to Meighen Manor seniors home in Toronto on April 20, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn After 13 years of its deployment in Darfur, the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping force UNAMID has begun its withdrawal from the restive region of western Sudan amid fears of renewed violence between rebel militias and government forces and of unarmed civilians finding no one to protect them. Optimists argue that the Sudanese government has signed peace agreements with most of the rebel movements and that its forces will now replace UNAMID in protecting civilians and preventing the outbreak of renewed fighting. However, pessimists say that rebel groups such as the Sudan Liberation Movement led by Abdel-Wahed Nour have not signed the peace agreements and that they may resume the fighting and end the existing truce. There is also the possibility that the implementation of the peace agreements will falter and the factions that signed them may return to the fighting. In the absence of a neutral party such as UNAMID that would be able to determine the cause of any collapse of the situation, each side will likely place the responsibility on the other. If this happens, the UN Security Council will likely halt the withdrawal process, which is scheduled to be completed by 30 June, and may reinforce the joint force. The joint UN-African Union peacekeepers have succeeded to a large extent in reducing the fighting between government forces and rebel movements in Darfur and in protecting civilians in the region, but they have not been able to prevent bloody clashes between various tribes in the struggle over land, water and pasture. The most recent example was the bloody clash between the Massalit and Fallata tribes a few days ago, and in this regard the UNAMID withdrawal will not have a significant negative impact. Preventing the situation in Darfur from deteriorating will depend on many factors, among them the smooth implementation of the peace agreements between the government and the rebel movements, the adherence to their provisions, and the need not to circumvent them or misinterpret them in the interest of any of the parties. The Sudanese government and mediators will also need to convince Abdel-Wahed Nours Sudan Liberation Movement and others to join the peace process. The stability or deterioration of the situation will also depend on the commitment of government forces and the political leadership to restraint during the implementation of the peace agreements, especially when they begin to disarm tribes and militias in the region for whom weapons are an essential part of their traditions and need for self defence. It would be better not to try to seize such weapons by force, since this could lead to clashes in which innocent lives could be lost. The task should be left to the leaders of the factions who have signed the peace agreements and the sheikhs of the various tribes. Prospects for peace will also depend on the governments ability to implement the peace agreements and the speed with which it does so. These call for providing security for civilians, assisting the displaced and refugees to return to their homes, compensating those affected by the war, returning usurped land and property to its owners and removing those who have illegally seized it, and handing those responsible over to justice. Difficult matters like returning usurped land to its owners, expelling usurpers from it, arresting criminals and handing them over for trial and disarming tribes and militias could generate bloody clashes. If this happens, it could provoke further violence, which government forces may feel they need to confront with force. Accusations of human-rights violations could then be made against the government, which is trying hard to have the international sanctions against Sudan lifted in order to save the countrys deteriorating economy. Such accusations could also be exploited by rebel movements under the pretext of defending the rights of their people, stalling the implementation of the peace agreements or leading to their withdrawal from them. Another important factor that will contribute to achieving stability or the lack of it is the extent to which the African tribes in the region still feel that the government in Khartoum is siding with the Arab tribes against them. Demonstrating its seriousness in achieving the equality of rights and duties for all will not be an easy task for the Khartoum government. The UN Security Council agreed to end the mission of UNAMID, deployed in the region since 2007 and with 16,000 peacekeepers at its peak, when its mandate expired on 31 December. This was requested by the Sudanese government and backed by China, Russia and African members of the Security Council. Following a peace deal with rebel groups in October, the government is to take over security in a region where hundreds of thousands of people have died since conflict broke out in 2003. Sudans transitional government is committed to providing security and stability for all citizens of the Darfur states, according to a statement from the Sudanese Foreign Ministry. It will continue its efforts to address the roots of the problem and consolidate the foundations of tribal reconciliation and lay the foundations for transitional justice and the rule of law. However, the international rights group Amnesty International has asked the UN to extend its mission for six months, citing what it says is the inability of the Sudanese government to protect civilians in Darfur. The region has been the scene of a bitter conflict that broke out in 2003 between African minority rebels, complaining of their marginalisation, and armed groups backed by the government of ousted former Sudanese president Omar Al-Bashir. Although the conflict has largely eased in recent years apart from scattered confrontations over land and water resources between nomadic tribes and farmers, attacks are still common, and many civilians in the region are concerned about the withdrawal of the peacekeepers. The UN estimates that the fighting has killed 300,000 people, mostly in the early years of the conflict, and that about 500,000 of 2.5 million displaced people still live in camps in the region. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: It was probably always going to come to this. Donald Trump has been telling us for years that he would not accept an electoral defeat. He has cheered violence and threatened insurrection. On Tuesday he tweeted that Democrats and Republicans who werent cooperating in his coup attempt should look at the thousands of people pouring into D.C. They wont stand for a landslide election victory to be stolen. He urged his supporters to mass on the Capitol, tweeting, Be there, will be wild! They took him seriously and literally. The day after Georgia elected its first Black senator the pastor, no less, of Martin Luther King Jr.s church and its first Jewish senator, an insurgent marched through the halls of Congress with a Confederate banner. Someone set up a noose outside. Someone brought zip-tie handcuffs. Lest there be any doubt about their intentions, a few of the marauders wore T-shirts that said MAGA Civil War, Jan. 6, 2021. If you saw Wednesdays scenes in any other country vandals scaling walls and breaking windows, parading around the legislature with enemy flags and making themselves at home in quickly abandoned governmental offices it would be obvious enough that some sort of putsch was underway. Yet we wont know for some time what the attack on the Capitol means for this country. Either it marked the beginning of the end of Trumpism, or another stage in the unraveling of American liberal democracy. Turkey and France are working on a roadmap to normalize ties, and talks are going well, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Jan. 7, adding that Ankara was ready to improve relations with its NATO ally if Paris showed the same willingness, Hurriyet Daily News reports. Cavusoglu noted that he had had a very constructive phone conversation with French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian. We agreed that we should work on a roadmap to normalize the relations, he told reporters after a meeting with Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva in Lisbon. We have been working on an action plan, or roadmap, to normalize relations, and it has been going well... If France is sincere, Turkey is ready to normalize ties with France as well, he stated. BarcelonaCapitol police officer Brian D. Sicknick, who was injured during the assault on the U.S. Congress, died Thursday after more than 24 hours of convalescence, bringing the number of deaths related to the incidents to five. According to a spokeswoman for the police force, Sicknick, after physically confronting the protesters who invaded Congress, suffered a "collapse", for which he was taken to hospital. Marseille, Jan 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2021 ) :A commercial court in France on Thursday handed control of Alteo, a global leader in specialty alumina, to Guinea-based logistics specialist United Mining Supply (UMS). UMS was the last remaining candidate to take over Alteo's production site near the southern city of Marseille, a year after it entered bankruptcy proceedings because of falling orders against the backdrop of a global crisis in the aluminium industry. Alumina is smelted to produce aluminium metal, but is also used as a raw material for ceramics and consumer products such as smartphone screens. The court said UMS's financial support as a new shareholder in Alteo Holding would allow the plant to free up enough cashflow to carry on. UMS, owned by French-Lebanese-Guinean businessman Fadi Wazni, will take on part of Alteo's debt and phase out the import of bauxite, a raw material for aluminium production, within 12 to 18 months because of its environmental impact. Alteo imports its bauxite mainly from Guinea, a major producer of the rock, which has a high aluminium content. After refining, the factory has been stocking bauxite residue outdoors, prompting complaints from local residents about air and water pollution. The company has been accused of dumping polluted production residue, known as "red mud," into the Mediterranean. Its former owners Rio Tinto, the Australian-based global mining giant, has committed to cleaning up the site, with the cost estimated at up to 30 million Euros ($37 million), according to UMS. In addition its own workforce of 500, which UMS plans to cut by 98, the Alteo factory also supports 400 jobs including subcontractors and service providers, making it one of the biggest employers in the Aix-en-Provence region. ll-est/jh/js/rl Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says the country is in no hurry to see the United States return to an international nuclear deal with major powers after President-elect Joe Biden takes office this month. "We are in no rush and we are not insisting on their return, Khamenei said in a televised speech on January 8, reiterating Iran's demand for a lifting of sanctions that outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump reimposed after quitting the agreement in May 2018. Trump has argued the 2015 accord did not go far enough and said economic pressure would force Tehran to negotiate a new deal that would address Irans nuclear and missile programs, as well as its support for regional proxies. In response to the U.S. pullout and economic sanctions, Iran, which claims its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, has gradually breached parts of the pact, such as uranium enrichment, saying it is no longer bound by it. Biden has suggested that Washington may reenter the nuclear deal, under which Tehran committed to limit its nuclear activities in return for relief from sanctions, if Iran complies. Other parties to the deal, notably Britain, France, and Germany, have pressed Iran to return to its commitments in a bid to rescue the accord. Iranian officials have said they could quickly return to compliance once the United States and Europeans fulfill their end of the agreement by providing Tehran with the economic relief. Tehran also says its missile program and regional policies are off the table. "When the other party meets practically none of its obligations, it is not logical for the Islamic republic to honor all of its commitments," Khamenei said, adding: "If they return to their commitments, we will return to ours." With reporting by AFP and Reuters On Wednesday morning, Ginni Thomaswife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomasendorsed the rally in Washington demanding that Congress overturn the election. She then sent her LOVE to the demonstrators, who violently overtook the Capitol several hours later. Two days later, Thomas amended her post with the addendum: [Note: written before violence in US Capitol]. By that point, five people involved in the insurrection, including a Capitol Police officer, had died. On the morning of Jan. 6, Ginni Thomaswife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomasendorsed the protest demanding that Congress overturn the election, then sent her LOVE to the demonstrators, who violently overtook the Capitol several hours later. She has not posted since. pic.twitter.com/378CHMkFN5 Mark Joseph Stern (@mjs_DC) January 8, 2021 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Thomas, a conservative lobbyist and zealous supporter of Donald Trump, has fervently defended the president over the last four years. On her Facebook page, she frequently promotes baseless conspiracy theories about a coup against Trump led by Jewish philanthropist George Soros, a frequent target of anti-Semitic hate. Thomas draws many of these theories from fringe corners of the internet, including an anti-vax Facebook group that claimed Bill Gates would use the COVID vaccine to kill people. In recent months, she also amplified unsubstantiated corruption claims against Joe Biden while insisting, falsely, that the Obama administration illegally spied on Trumps 2016 campaign, then tried to rig the election against him. In turn, Trump has rewarded Thomas with an extraordinary amount of access to the Oval Office. Her advocacy group Groundswell got an audience with the president in early 2019. According to the New York Times, the meeting was arranged after Clarence and Ginni Thomas had dinner with the Trumps. (Clarence Thomas and Trump appear to be quite friendly: The justice took his clerks to meet with the president in the Oval Office at least once; Ginni attended as well.) At the White House, Groundswells members lobbied Trump against transgender service in the military, which he already prohibited in 2017. The ban took effect in 2019, around the time of Groundswells meeting, after the Supreme Court lifted lower court orders blocking it by a 54 vote. (Clarence Thomas did not recuse himself from the case; he has never recused from any case because of his wifes lobbying activities.) The New York Times also reported that Ginni Thomas compiled lists of federal employees whom she deemed insufficiently loyal to the president. She sent her lists to Trump, urging him to fire the disloyal employees, though he seems to have largely ignored her. He has, however, stacked his administration with former Thomas clerks. Advertisement Advertisement Throughout the 2020 campaign, Thomas remained active on Facebook, condemning Black Lives Matter, opposing COVID-19 shutdowns, and touting the Walk Away movement, which purports to spotlight Democrats who became Republicans under Trump. (At least two individuals featured in the Walk Away series, both Black, were actually models from royalty-free stock photos.) She also campaigned for Trump in personand, according to the Intercept, spearheaded a dark-money operation to support the president. Cleta Mitchell, the Republican lawyer who participated in Trumps shakedown of the Georgia secretary of state, led the project. After Nov. 3, Thomas grew uncharacteristically quiet on Facebook; she did not share popular conspiracy theories about election fraud, perhaps because election challenges would inevitably come before her husband. She provided her clearest statement yet on Jan. 6, when she enthusiastically endorsed the D.C. rally designed to make Congress overturn the election result and give Trump a second term. There is no evidence that Thomas personally attended the rally, and her posts indicate that she watched the events on TV from another location. Advertisement Ginni Thomas activism on matters that come before her husband raises thorny ethical issues. Federal law requires justices to recuse themselves from any proceeding in which their impartiality might reasonably be questioned. It also compels justices to recuse if their spouse has an interest that could be substantially affected by the outcome of the case. In the coming months and years, Democrats will likely pressure Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from high-profile cases or to resign altogether. If Thomas steps down under Biden, progressives can restore a 54 divide on the Supreme Court, giving Chief Justice John Roberts control once again. Given Thomas staunch refusal to recuse thus far, though, there is little chance that he will take any steps to remediate his conflicts of interest, let alone retire during the presidency of a man he openly despises. In all likelihood, Ginni Thomas will face no consequences for cheerleading a rally that sought to overturn an election, then laid siege to the Capitol in a failed insurrection. Her husband will ignore the controversy and continue to rule on cases that involve his wifes lobbying efforts. We may never know how much influence a conspiracy theorist has on the highest courts most conservative justice. UW Graduate Returns as Rochelle Chair in Animal Science James Pru A Washington State University (WSU) professor who received his Ph.D. at the University of Wyoming has returned as the Rochelle Endowed Chair in the Department of Animal Science. James Pru began Jan. 4 in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. His research area is in reproductive physiology, says Bledar Bisha, an associate professor and interim head of the department. We are thrilled to have a scientist of Professor Prus caliber join the department, Bisha says. He has the expertise and temperament required to allow him to become a leader in research and teaching at UW. The Rochelle Chair was established in 1992 by university benefactors Curt and Marian Rochelle to attract and retain nationally and internationally recognized scholars and teachers who enhance the university's reputation, research earnings and student recruitment. College of Agriculture and Natural Resources Dean Barbara Rasco says Pru joining Professor Brenda Alexander and Assistant Professor Jeremy Block in animal science will enhance the departments reproductive physiology research. His work is significant -- addressing fertility and pregnancy outcomes using molecular methods that are important for both people and animal agriculture, Rasco says. Before returning to UW, Pru had a split appointment between the Agricultural Research Center and academic programs at WSU in Pullman, Wash. He also served as associate director at WSUs Center for Reproductive Biology. Pru graduated from Northwest College in Powell in 1988. He obtained his bachelors (1991) and masters (1993) degrees in zoology and physiology, and his Ph.D. (2000) in reproductive biology, all at UW. He was a postdoctoral fellow in molecular reproductive biology at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in Boston until 2003. Pru served as an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at Harvard Medical School from 2007-09 and then joined WSU as an assistant professor. He was promoted to associate professor in 2011 and full professor in 2017. Bisha says Pru plans to conduct research leading to reduced production costs by enhancing reproductive efficiency in livestock; and development of strategies to mitigate spontaneous recurrent miscarriages, both in women and domestic animals, and endometriosis and endometrial cancer (women) or intrauterine growth restriction (bovine and human pregnancies). Based on his record, I am certain he is capable of working collaboratively with faculty within the department and universitywide, Bisha says. Canberra, Jan 8 : Australian flag carrier Qantas has resumed bookings for international flights which will begin from July 1, in a promising sign that overseas travel might return sooner than expected. The airline started taking bookings for almost all flights across its international network late Tuesday with a few exceptions including New York, Fiji and Santiago, reports Xinhua news agency. "Recently we have aligned the selling of our international services to reflect our expectation that international travel will begin to restart from July 2021," a Qantas spokesperson said on Friday. "We continue to review and update our international schedule in response to the developing Covid-19 situation," the spokesperson added. While tickets were on sale, the airline said the restart of international flying would be subject to vaccine roll-outs and the reopening of international borders. The airline runs a small number of international flights over the past few months, largely to bring Australians stranded overseas home. New Zealand is the only overseas destination serviced by Qantas at the moment. Some international flights for sale from March towards Asian destinations like Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore have been pushed back to July, allowing more time to create safe travel bubbles. However, Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said despite Qantas' plan, international borders will not be reopened until it is safe to do so. "International borders will be opened when international arrivals do not pose a risk to Australians," McCormack said in a statement. "The Australian government is working on travel arrangements with countries, such as New Zealand, that have low community infections." Indonesia frees cleric linked to Bali bombing WORLD: A radical cleric linked to the deadly Bali bombings was freed from prison earlier today (Jan 8), Indonesian authorities said, stirring grief and anger among victims nearly 20 years after Indonesias worst terror attack. crimedeathdisasters By AFP Friday 8 January 2021, 10:00AM Abu Bakar Bashir, 82, once synonymous with militant Islam in Indonesia, will be freed from jail today (Jan 8). Photo: AFP. Abu Bakar Bashir, 82, is considered the spiritual leader of militant group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), the Islamist network responsible for the 2002 Bali terror attack that killed more than 200 people, most of them foreign tourists. The firebrand preacher had completed an unrelated jail term for helping fund militant training in conservative Aceh province. But he has long been suspected of involvement in the holiday island bombings, Indonesias worst terror attack. A white van with Bashir inside left Gunung Sindur prison around 5:30 am local time, accompanied by members of Indonesias elite counter-terror squad, Densus 88. He was handed over to his family and a team of lawyers who came to pick him up at the penitentiary, national prisons spokeswoman Rika Aprianti said. Bashir was expected to return to his hometown Solo city in Java later today. Originally sentenced to 15 years in 2011 for funding militants, his term was later cut due to regular sentence reductions handed to most prisoners in Indonesia. Bashir had been previously jailed over the Bali nightclub bombings, but that conviction was quashed on appeal. He has repeatedly denied involvement in the attacks and his exact role in the blasts has long been the subject of debate. Bashirs lawyers had appealed for his release citing his age and risk of contracting COVID-19 in the Southeast Asian nations notoriously overcrowded prison system. Bashir has refused to renounce his extremist views in exchange for leniency. Two years ago, plans to grant him early release on humanitarian grounds sparked a backlash at home and in Australia. Dozens of Australians were killed in the Bali attacks and the early release plan was shelved. His planned release today brings back the horror of the memories for Jan Laczynski, 51. Laczynski was drinking with friends at the Sari Club before flying back to Australia. Hours later, five of his friends were among the hundreds killed in the bomb blasts. It hurts me a lot. I wanted to see justice done, Laczynski told AFP from Melbourne. There are still people even next week having operations for their burns; people are still suffering. Several JI members implicated in the attacks were later executed or killed in confrontations with Indonesian authorities. The 2002 bombings - and a later attack on the holiday island in 2005 - prompted Jakarta to strengthen co-operation with the US and Australia in counter-terrorism. Al-Qaeda-linked JI was founded by a handful of exiled Indonesian militants in Malaysia in the 1980s and grew to include cells across Southeast Asia, including southern Thailand. As well as the Bali bombings, the extremist group was blamed for a 2003 car bomb at the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta and a suicide car bomb the following year outside the Australian embassy. Mexico's president on Thursday condemned the decision by social media platforms to block the accounts of US President President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador at the same time declined to condemn the assault by Trump supporters on the US Capitol on Wednesday, citing his policy of not interfering in other countries' affairs. He said only that he regretted the loss of lives. But Lopez Obrador, who is seen as friendly to Trump, was quick to criticise what he called the censorship of the US president. I don't like anybody being censored or taking away from the the right to post a message on or Face(book). I don't agree with that, I don't accept that, Lpez Obrador said. How can you censor someone: 'Let's see, I, as the judge of the Holy Inquisition, will punish you because I think what you're saying is harmful,' Lopez Obrador said in an extensive, unprompted discourse on the subject. Where is the law, where is the regulation, what are the norms? This is an issue of government, this is not an issue for private companies. Presidential spokesman Jesus Ramirez doubled down later in the day, writing in his account that Facebook's decision to silence the current leader of the United States calls for a debate on freedom of expression, the free exchange of information on the web, democracy and the role of the companies that administer (social) networks." and Instagram said Thursday that they will bar Trump from posting at least until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. said that it's still evaluating whether to lift or extend what started as a 12-hour lockdown of Trump's account. Lopez Obrador also said he was not planning to attend Biden's inauguration. Earlier, he refrained from congratulating Biden on his election victory until after the Electoral College vote in mid-December. The Mexican leader's only trip abroad so far in his presidency was to visit Trump in Washington in July to celebrate the implementation of the Mexico-US-Canada trade agreement. (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.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Unsure if youre currently eligible to receive the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine? The state created an eligibility screening tool on its COVID-19 webpage to help residents determine eligibility for receiving a vaccination. Individuals are asked a series of questions about their living situations and workplace, in addition to general information like name, age, address, and contact information. (Screenshot) The website also allows individuals to sign up for text and/or email updates about the states vaccination plan and eligibility. New York state and city are currently in Phase 1a of the Centers for Disease Controls (CDC) vaccination rollout plan. In addition to frontline hospital workers, home healthcare workers, and other essential healthcare workers, on Jan. 4 the state added testing site workers, contact tracers, outpatient and ambulatory care providers, dentists, physical therapists, workers at specialized clinics, and NYPD medical staff to the list of eligible groups for vaccination. Medical examiners, coroners, funeral workers, home health care workers, staff administering the COVID-19 vaccine, and other high-risk frontline workers were also added. NYPD members who are EMT/EMS workers are eligible in Phase 1a and all eligible and willing individuals in Phase 1a are currently being vaccinated. WHAT ELIGIBILITY GROUP AM I IN? Phase 1b consists of frontline essential workers and people over 74-years-old. The CDC lists the following groups, totaling 30 million people, as frontline essential workers in Phase 1b: first responders, education, food and agriculture, manufacturing, corrections workers, U.S. Postal service workers, public transit workers and grocery store workers. Phase 1c, persons aged 65 to 74 and persons aged 16 to 64 with high-risk medical conditions will receive the vaccine to prevent morbidity and mortality and all other essential workers to preserve societal function. Other essential workers, of which there are approximately 57 million, are: transportation and logistics, food service, shelter and housing (construction), finance, IT and communication, energy, media, legal, public safety (engineers), and water and wastewater. All phases are broken down into two groups: prevention of morbidity and mortality and preservation of societal function. Individuals recommended for Phase 1b target both: those aged 75 and older fall into the prevention of morbidity and mortality group, while frontline essential workers are in the preservation of societal function group. CITY LAUNCHES ONLINE VACCINE PORTAL For those who are eligible, two Staten Island vaccine hubs have been opened, with two more on the way in the coming week. On Thursday, the city launched its online COVID-19 vaccine portal, which lists the active vaccination sites for eligible city residents, and includes information for making an appointment to be vaccinated. (Screenshot) Eligible individuals should visit the citys website, select the applicable borough and vaccination hub, and follow the individual locations registration information -- either calling to make an appointment or by visiting the linked website. Before registering for vaccination, you will need to complete the New York state COVID-19 Vaccine Form. You will also need to bring proof of employment, such as an employee ID card, a letter from your employer or affiliated organization, or a recent pay stub. FOLLOW KRISTIN F. DALTON ON TWITTER. This image provided by General Motors shows the new company logo. General Motors is changing its corporate logo and starting an electric vehicle marketing campaign as it tries to refurbish its image from a maker of gas-powered pickups and SUVs to a clean vehicle company. The 112-year-old Detroit automaker says, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, the campaign will show GM's progressive company vision as it promises to roll out 30 new battery-powered vehicles globally by the end of 2025. (General Motors via AP) General Motors is changing its corporate logo and launching an electric vehicle marketing campaign to reshape its image as clean vehicle company, rather than a builder of gas-powered pickups and SUVs. The 112-year-old Detroit automaker has promised to roll out 30 new battery-powered vehicles globally by the end of 2025 and said Friday that the new campaign will highlight its progressive vision for the future. GM said the industry has reached a history-changing inflection point for mass adoption of electric vehicles. The campaign comes as stock market investors are enthralled with companies that make electric vehicles. Shares of global EV leader Tesla Inc. have skyrocketed more than 800% in the past year, and the company's market value has passed $800 billion. GM's shares are only up slightly in the past year and its value is around $61 billion. Shares of GM were down 1.6% to $42.61 in Friday afternoon trading. GM is scrapping its old square blue logo and replacing it with a lower case gm surrounded by rounded corners. The company says it's the biggest change to its logo since 1964. The 'm' in the logo is underlined to look more like an electrical plug. "We felt it was just such a transformative moment that this is the time that we would change again," said Deborah Wahl, GM global chief marketing officer. "Our message here is that we believe there should be an EV for everyone." GM is hoping the "Everybody In" campaign prepares buyers for a new era of vehicle propulsion. Wahl said the marketing campaign will be "very significant," but she wouldn't say how much money would be spent or where it will show up. "You will see it in many places throughout the year," she said Friday. She said the campaign will start in the United States but eventually will become global. It will not be in brand ads for vehicles, Wahl said. Late last year, GM said it was nearing a battery chemistry breakthrough that will make electric vehicles as affordable as those with internal combustion engines in less than five years. Some will be able to go up to 450 miles per charge and from zero to 60 mph (97 kilometers per hour) in as quickly as three seconds. The company has promised to spend $27 billion on battery vehicles through 2025. The new logo will go wherever GM now has a logo, including websites and buildings, Wahl said. The company stopped putting the logo on car bodies about a decade ago as it started to emphasize individual brands. But GM says the new logo eventually will replace the old one on window glass and some other parts. The marketing campaign will feature celebrities including Malcom Gladwell, author of "The Tipping Point." A campaign of "Everyone In" conflicts a bit with GM's announced plans for electric vehicles such as a GMC Hummer pickup and Cadillac Lyriq SUV, both higher-priced vehicles. But Wahl said lower priced vehicles are among the 30 new electric vehicles that are coming. GM officials have said previously that they will have a small electric SUV that will cost less than $30,000 within five years. The campaign will run ahead of current electric vehicle sales trends in the U.S. Last year automakers sold just over 260,000 fully electric vehicles. Although sales were up nearly 10% over 2019, electric vehicles still were less than 2% of new vehicle sales. 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Oslo, Norway, Jan 9, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - Just before entering 2021, Norwegian Block Exchange has received a 60 million NOK investment that was arranged by Pareto Securities -- the leading investment bank in the Nordics, that acted as the sole manager and book-runner. This puts NBX in a prime position to continue to develop its trading platform for cryptocurrencies and digital assets, as well as new products related to banking and E-money licenses.Ever since their public launch in April 2020, NBX has been working towards becoming a preferred digital assets services provider in the Nordics. Since then, the product has attracted over 7000 clients, including institutional accounts, which, in turn, allowed them to grow their trading volume up to 20 million NOK by November. In doing so, they were able to engage major Norwegian investors and successfully close their most recent, 60 million NOK placement, which will help them to achieve the company's ultimate goal of becoming a digital asset bank, further down the line.On the private placement, NBX's Co-Founder and CEO, Stig Aleksander Kjos-Mathisen said, "I am very pleased that NBX has successfully raised 60 million NOK in a private placement. This funding will provide NBX with the financial robustness to pursue a banking license, and become one of Europe's first digital assets banks, while simultaneously expanding our services to new countries and establishing NBX as the preferred digital asset service provider in the Nordics."All in all, on the way towards these goals, NBX is currently focused on cementing further relationships with institutional clients who are considering cryptocurrencies as a digital gold and growing trend in wealth management.About NBXNorwegian Block Exchange is truly a Norwegian and pioneering cryptocurrency exchange founded by Bjorn Kjos, who also founded Norwegian Airlines and Bank Norwegian. Based in Oslo, having highly-skilled professional teams both in Oslo and Riga, NBX sees the potential to become the one-stop solution for financial services in the cryptocurrency economy. Transparency, commitment to compliance, security and stability are all at the core of NBX business. For more information on Norwegian Block Exchange, please go to: https://nbx.comSource: Plato Data Intelligence https://platoblockchain.net/ (https://bit.ly/3s8raqT)Source: NBXCopyright 2021 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. ROME, JAN 8 - Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio said Friday that Premier Giuseppe Conte's government must not be allowed to collapse, with the centrist Italia Viva (IV) party threatening to pull its support due to a row about the COVID-19 Recovery Plan. "This government must continue," Di Maio, a senior member of the 5-Star Movement (M5S), said via Facebook. "The country cannot risk falling into a state of paralysis. "Palace games are not acceptable. Transparency is needed. "Let's all work together on a more articulated government pact that gives certainties on the various issue to each political party (in the ruling coalition), but together with Giuseppe Conte, who must be respected and supported". IV leader and ex-premier Matteo Renzi has repeatedly blasted the government's plan on how to use over 200 billion euros Italy will get from the EU in grants and low-interest loans as lacking ambition. Conte and several senior ministers are set to hold a crunch meeting on the Recovery Plan with representatives of the parties in the ruling coalition later on Friday. In addition to IV and the M5S, the ruling coalition also features the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) and the left-wing LeU group. Agriculture Minister and IV bigwig Teresa Bellanova said her party's patience was running out. "We are making a big effort because, as far as I'm concerned, time is up," Bellanova told La7 television early on Friday. "We are not asking for positions (in government) but solutions that have not been forthcoming. "We should have had very clear signals by now. "No one is indispensable here. "I'm not, IV is not and neither is the premier". (ANSA). A special NIA court in Delhi sentenced an ISIS terrorist to 7 years of rigorous imprisonment on Thursday in connection with the ISIS-Kannur Case. Accused Shajahan VK, resident of Kannur, Kerala had been arrested by the NIA in 2017 from the IGI Airport on deportation by the Turkish authorities. A member of the proscribed international terrorist organization ISIS, Shajahan Velluva Kandy had gone to Turkey via Malaysia with an intention to go to Syria to fight on behalf of ISIS before he was apprehended by the Turkish authorities in February 2017. His attempt to flee the country using an Indian passport was once again stopped by Turkey in July 2017 who deported him back to India. Shortly after his deportation, an FIR was filed against him under Sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 120-B of the Indian Penal Code, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, and the Passport Act, 1967. After nearly 4 years of trial, Shajahan has been sent to 7 years of jail and has been fined Rs. 73,000. The chargesheet also names another accused Mohd. Mustafa, whose trial is yet to reach a final conclusion. Read: Two More UK Returnees Test Positive For COVID-19; Over 6,000 New Cases In Kerala Read: Bird Flu Scare In Karnataka As 6 Crows Found Dead In District Bordering Kerala; Samples Sent For Testing ISIS-Kannur Case In October 2016, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had busted an ISIS module from Kanakamala in Kannur district when the outfit's members were holding a meeting to chalk out plans to carry out terror attacks against prominent people. The plan of the terror organisation was to target judges, police officers, politicians, foreign tourists (especially Jews visiting Kodaikkanal), and Muslims belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect. The NIA revealed that members of the ISIS were hatching a criminal conspiracy to wage war against the Government, conspiring to carry out strikes across Kerala and neighbouring states to seize Southern India. Read: Kerala HC Orders Re-trial In Walayar Case Read: Kerala CM Pledges Govt Support To Local Bodies Sans Political Bias (With Agency Inputs) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 00:54:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CHATO, Tanzania, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania is a staunch friend of China in Africa and holds a special and important place in China's diplomatic history, visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said here on Friday. Wang made the remarks at a joint press conference with Tanzanian Minister of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation Palamagamba Kabudi, during his official visit to Tanzania. Wang noted that the story of China-Tanzania friendship is the most vivid memory of every Chinese in their youth. China will not forget that it was the late Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai, and then Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere who forged the all-weather friendship between China and Tanzania with sincerity, Wang said. The late Premier Zhou visited Tanzania from thousands of miles apart and President Nyerere visited China 13 times in his life, said Wang, adding that these scenes have forged a historical chapter of China-Tanzania friendship. China will not forget that more than 50,000 Chinese engineers and technicians traveled across oceans to Africa and fought side by side with the Tanzanian people to build the Tanzania-Zambia Railway under extremely difficult conditions, said Wang. During the construction of the railway, which is hailed as a "road of freedom" and "road of friendship", 65 Chinese experts have sacrificed their precious lives, and their sweat and blood have watered the eternal flower of China-Africa friendship, said Wang. China will never forget that Tanzania, along with other African brothers, in 1971 helped the People's Republic of China (PRC) to restore its lawful seat in the United Nations, said Wang. And former Tanzanian Prime Minister Salim Ahmed Salim, as a representative spearheading the campaign, congratulated the PRC with applause at the venue, which left a record on the UN stage of defying power and upholding justice, Wang noted, adding that as the PRC celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding in 2019, Salim was granted China's Friendship Medal. China will never forget that Tanzania was the first African country that President Xi Jinping visited after he took office as the Chinese president in 2013. During that visit, Xi proposed the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith and the approach of upholding the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, which is now the guiding principle of China when dealing its relations with Africa, said Wang. The value of China-Tanzania relations has gone beyond the bilateral scope and played an important role in guiding China-Africa relations and South-South cooperation, he said. "This is my 15th visit to Africa. What has impressed me most during the trip is that, no matter what kind of international situation, difficulties and obstacles we are facing and no matter what kind of interference or damage we are confronting, the traditional friendship between China and Africa remains unchanged and becomes stronger over time," said Wang. China and Africa are comrades-in-arms who share life and death, brothers who care for each other, and partners for common development on the way forward, said Wang. Noting that as a good friend and true friend of African countries, Wang said China is willing to work with African countries to unswervingly deepen the China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and join hands to forge a closer China-Africa community with a shared future. Enditem Thank you for reading! This content is only available for Daily Journal subscribers. Select one of the following to read this story and others on djournal.com: One Week - $1.99 One Month - $7.50 One Year - $80.50 Your subscription supports: Investigative reporting In-depth analysis on local news and sports Profiles and features on your neighbors and communities The best tips on places to eat and things to do in Northeast Mississippi Donald Trump announced Friday he won't be going to Joe Biden's inauguration 'To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,' he tweeted as he also sent tweet praising his supporters as patriots In Wilmington, DE, Biden said: 'One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on. It's a good thing him not showing up.' But he said Mike Pence was 'welcome' and it would be 'an honor' for him to be there. Former presidents Obama, Bush and Clinton will be there but Jimmy Carter will not Biden dodged questions on whether Congress should impeach and remove Trump saying he would leave it to them but the focus should be on a new administration on January 20 'If we were six months out, we should do everything to get him out of office. Impeach him again and trying to invoke the 25th amendment,' he said. Justice Department said it would not rule out pursuing charges against President Trump for his possible role in encouraging the insurgents; Biden said he would take no part in his Justice Department's decisions Biden called the MAGA mob 'insurrectionists' and 'domestic terrorists' Trump's aides and allies have described him as a 'total monster' and 'mad King George' He tweeted a video on Thursday night calling for peace and unity in a dramatic change of tone which only happened when White House counsel Pat Cipollone warned him of legal danger The attorney is now one of those considering resigning Joe Biden indicated Friday he was glad Donald Trump wasn't coming to his inauguration on January 20th as he praised other Republicans who have stood up to the president. 'One of the few things he and I have ever agreed on. It's a good thing him not showing up,' Biden said at a press conference about the president's snub. ADVERTISEMENT Trump announced Friday that he will be a no-show Biden's inauguration ceremony, a break with historical tradition. 'To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,' he declared the morning after he finally acknowledged publicly he will not have a second term in the White House. There have been reports that Vice President Mike Pence will attend to show his support for a peaceful transfer of power. Biden said of Pence: 'He's welcome. I'd be honored to have him.' The president-elect praised other Republicans too in his remarks - notably Republicans who have stood up to Trump. Biden said he spoke to Republican Senator Mitt Romney Friday morning and praised him as 'a man of enormous integrity. Enormous integrity.' Romney repeatedly denounced Trump for riling up the mob that attacked the Capitol on Wednesday. He also praised Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell for denouncing Trump's attempt to illegally overturn the election. The president-elect also said Trump was 'an embarrassment to the country' and if Trump was in office longer he'd support using the impeachment process or the 25th amendment to remove him. His indication that Trump should be left alone to finish out his final days in office puts him in opposition with many Democrats on Capitol Hill, who are preparing articles of impeachment. 'If we were six months out, we should do everything to get him out of office. Impeach him again and trying to invoke the 25th amendment. Get him out of office. I'm focused now on us taking control as vice president and president on the 20th and get our agenda going,' he said. ADVERTISEMENT Biden will take the oath of office in 12 days. The last president not to attend his successor's swearing-in was President Andrew Johnson in 1869 - who had also been impeached. Both John Adams and John Quincy Adams snubbed their successors too. Biden is planning a scaled back event because of the coronavirus pandemic. He has urged supporters not to attend and turned the traditional parade into a virtual event. Shortly after Trump announced the snub, Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton announced they would attend. George W Bush and wife Laura had already confirmed they would attend. Jimmy Carter, 96, and wife Roslynn, 93, will not attend, the first inaugural they have missed since 1977, while they attempt to keep safe from COVID. The snub - at once norm-breaking and unsurprising - came on a day when: Nancy Pelosi revealed she has asked General Mark Milley, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, how he is stopping a 'deranged president' from using the nuclear codes or launching military action - but did not say how he responded; She held a meeting with Democratic House members telling them that if Trump does not resign immediately he will be impeached next week; The prospect of the 25th Amendment being deployed appeared to fade. Pence was reported to be 'reluctant' to use it, if only because of the legal chaos which would ensue over whether the cabinet has enough members to vote to invoke it - partly because Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary have resigned in disgust and partly because Trump had filled the cabinet with acting secretaries whose legal authority to invoke it is unclear; Republican senator Ben Sasse said he was willing to impeach and remove Trump, making him the first of the GOP caucus who had voted against convicting the president last year to change position - but so far no others have followed; After his cabinet was rocked by resignations, one of his closest aides Hope Hicks announced she would resign next week - although she claimed it was her plan all along - and White House counsel Pat Cipollone was reported to be on the brink too; Washington D.C.'s district attorney Karl Racine hinted that he is investigating Trump, Don Jr, and Rudy Giuliani over inciting the riot at the wild rally held just outside the White House where the president demanded 'strength' and said he would lead a march on the Capitol and Giuliani demanded 'trial by combat'; The FBI launched a murder hunt to find the MAGA rioters who killed Officer Brian Sicknick during the storming of the Capitol, apparently hitting him over the head with a fire extinguisher; Cops across the country began rounding up suspected rioters after putting out wanted pictures, with those arrested including the self-proclaimed white supremacist who was pictured with his feet up on Pelosi's desk. At last we agree: Joe Biden said it was good news that Donald Trump will not be at his inauguration as he and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris unveiled more members of their economic team at an event in Wilmington, Delaware President Donald Trump initially resisted taping his video message acknowledging his election loss but agreed to after being warned he could face legal risk Click here to resize this module Meet the press: Joe Biden took questions from reporters as he unveiled new cabinet picks. The strict social distancing offers some suggestion of how the opening months of his administration will attempt to set an example by following COVID restrictions TRUMP TAPED SPEECH AFTER BEING TOLD HE COULD BE CHARGED Trump initially resisted taping his video message acknowledging his election loss but agreed to after the White House counsel warned him he could face legal charges for stoking the mob. The Justice Department said Thursday it would not rule out pursuing charges against President Trump for his possible role in encouraging the insurgents that ransacked the Capitol. 'We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building,' Michael Sherwin, the U.S. attorney in Washington, said at a press conference. Trump agreed to the Thursday night statement after White House counsel Pat Cipollone warned him of the legal risk, The New York Times reported. Aides had been pressing the president to publicly denounce the pro-Trump mob. And Cipollone is considering resigning, CNN reported, out of frustration with Trump and the president's bringing in conspiracy theorist lawyer Sidney Powell, who has argued voting machines changes votes from Trump to Joe Biden. Dominion Voting Systems is suing her for the false claims about their machines. So far two cabinet secretaries - Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary who is Mitch McConnell's wife and Betsy DeVos, the billionaire education secretary - have quit, while Homeland Security secretary Chad Wolf has said he will stay on to aid the transition to the Biden administration. Cipollone's job is to provide advice to Trump in his office as president, not personal legal advice - so warning him he could be charged is as far as he can go; offering defense advice to Trump as a private citizen would be at the very least a breach of his government employment, and possibly illegal or grounds for action by the Washington D.C. bar. While the president's initial response to the MAGA mob was to say 'we love you, you are special' in his nearly 3 minute video remarks, Trump finally denounced the violence on Capitol Hill. 'To those who engage in the acts of violence and destruction: You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay,' he said. But he also ended with a warm note for his supporters. 'To all of my wonderful supporters. I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning,' he said. Trump tweeted his refusal to uphold tradition by going to Biden's swearing-in as his remaining aides and allies described him as a 'total monster' and 'mad King George' as his presidency ends in chaos. ADVERTISEMENT Trump isolated himself from his staff and the Republican Party, holed up in the Oval Office with a bunker mentality as aides pleaded with him to send a message of healing to the country in the aftermath of the MAGA mob storming Capitol Hill. He returned to Twitter Thursday night - after the social media network locked his account - with a call for 'peace' and 'unity' although no acknowledgment of his own role in whipping up the mob who stormed the Capitol, leaving a dead police officer and four dead of their own in their wake. But on Friday morning, the peacemaking ended: he launched a tweet partly in all capitals to thank his supporters, calling them 'great American Patriots.' 'The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!,' he wrote. Shortly after Trump announced the snub, Barack and Michelle Obama and Bill and Hillary Clinton announced they would attend. George W Bush and wife Laura had already confirmed they would attend. Jimmy Carter, 96, and wife Roslynn, 93, will not attend, the first inaugural they have missed since 1977, while they attempt to keep safe from COVID. Trump and the first family will reportedly leave the White House on January 19 to go to his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida - a decision made so that he gets to fly on a plane with the call sign Air Force One, a privilege he loses as soon as he is not the sitting president. Trump's return to twitter and revelation he will not go to Biden was a wrenching change of tone from his video last night when he acknowledging he did not win the November election. It took many failed legal battles, an attack on Capitol Hill and Congress' certification of the electoral college vote and then an explicit warning from Cipollone of potential criminal exposure to even get the president to that point - only for him to reverse course on Friday morning and return to all-capitals tweets. The Washington Post spoke to aides and allies who described Trump as 'psychologically fragile' and said daughter Ivanka is one of the few who can get through to him. 'A lot of people don't want to talk to him,' a senior administration official said. 'He's in a terrible mood constantly, and he's defensive, and everyone knows this was a horrible mistake.' One administration official described Trump's behavior as that of 'a total monster.' One ally called him 'mad.' 'He is alone. He is mad King George,' said one Republican in frequent touch with the White House. 'Trump believes that he has these people so intimidated they wouldn't dare mess with him. I think Trump doesn't understand how precarious his situation is right now.' The descriptions came after aides spent hours convincing the president to denounce the MAGA mob that attacked Capitol Hill. They begged him to go on Fox News, to tweet, to make a statement. Trump agreed to a video but he made ad libs to the script as he spoke, telling the rioters he 'loved' them but he did not specifically asking them to leave the Capitol. But as more and more Republicans distanced themselves from him and talk began about removing him from office via the 25th amendment or the impeachment process, Trump released a second video statement denouncing the violence and acknowledging his election loss. Trump's speech marked an astonishing change of tone. He admitted, in a rare encounter with reality, that 'there will be a new administration' come January 20th. He also said this moment 'calls for healing.' But despite the talk of healing, Trump plans to go to the United States border with Mexico next week to highlight his immigration policies, The New York Times reported. It could be his last trip as president of the United States. His hard line approach, and his border wall, has inflamed the debate around the issue and the president is not likely to back down from it. The president last visited the border in June, when he went down during the presidential campaign to check on the progress of his wall. It also was revealed Friday that Trump initially resisted taping his video message acknowledging his election loss but agreed to after the White House counsel warned him he could face legal charges for stoking the mob. The Justice Department said Thursday it would not rule out pursuing charges against President Trump for his possible role in encouraging the insurgents that ransacked the Capitol, leaving a trail of destruction in their wake and four deaths, including a Capitol police officer. 'We are looking at all actors, not only the people who went into the building,' Michael Sherwin, the U.S. attorney in Washington, said at a press conference. Trump agreed to the Thursday night statement after White House counsel Pat Cipollone warned him of the legal risk, The New York Times reported. Aides had been pressing the president to publicly denounce the pro-Trump mob. And Cipollone is considering resigning, CNN reported, out of frustration with Trump and the president's bringing in conspiracy theorist lawyer Sidney Powell, who has argued voting machines changed votes from Trump to Joe Biden. Dominion Voting Systems is suing her for the false claims about their machines. Despite a millionaire dollar, multi-lawyer effort, the Trump team was unable to provide evidence of mass voter fraud. Trump's own administration has said the election was legally conducted and done fairly. Biden won with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232. While the president's initial response to the MAGA mob was tepid, in his nearly 3 minute video remarks on Thursday night, Trump denounced the violence on Capitol Hill. 'To those who engage in the acts of violence and destruction: You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will pay,' he said. But he also ended with a warm note for his supporters. 'To all of my wonderful supporters. I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning,' he said. White House counsel Pat Cipollone warned President Trump of legal danger and the Justice Department did not rule out charging him The speech also marked his first acknowledgement he will not have a second term in the White House. Trump, however, did not say the word 'concede' nor acknowledge incoming president Biden, but merely said there be a 'new administration.' Sitting presidents usually are not charged with crimes. Trump loses that protection in 12 days. The Justice Department will lead the prosecution of those involved in the Capitol Hill attack since it handles cases for Washington D.C. Trump has long stoked the fire of rage with the MAGA crowd, going back to his 2016 campaign when he demanded Hillary Clinton be locked up, a wall to be built to separate the United States from Mexico and his final false charge this year that the election was fraudulent. Many Republicans denounced the president's actions, including former Attorney General Bill Barr, who told the Associated Press that 'orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable.' Trump's video came after a day of disarray on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue. After the attack on Capitol Hill, which left lawmakers and staff shaken, several Trump aides and two Cabinet secretaries quit, citing the president's lackluster initial response to the rioting at the Capitol. Some Republican lawmakers, including those who were Trump allies, also turned on him. All that pressure led to Thursday night's statement, where Trump blasted the 'heinous' attack and called for national 'healing' and an 'orderly' and 'seamless' transition to a new administration. 'I'd like to begin by addressing the heinous attack on the United States Capitol,' Trump said 'Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. PELOSI: 'I ASKED JOINT CHIEFS CHAIRMAN HOW HE'LL KEEP UNHINGED TRUMP AWAY FROM THE NUKES' Speaker Nancy Pelosi has told colleagues she phoned the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to discuss 'precautions' to prevent Trump from starting a war or accessing nuclear launch codes. Pelosi says she spoke with Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army US Army General Mark Milley, but provided no information on his response Pelosi released the letter just minutes before House Democrats were to meet to discuss whether to go ahead with a second impeachment of Trump, after he egged on his supporters in their march to the Capitol that led to a riot and multiple deaths including of a Capitol Police officer. She headed her comment: 'Preventing an Unhinged President From Using the Nuclear Codes' in a 'Dear Colleague' letter. 'This morning, I spoke to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes and ordering a nuclear strike,' she informed them. Notably, she did not reveal what response Milley provided, or whether any security guardrails have been established. 'The situation of this unhinged President could not be more dangerous, and we must do everything that we can to protect the American people from his unbalanced assault on our country and our democracy,' she wrote. She also revealed that Vice President Mike Pence has not returned her call seeking to discuss the 25th Amendment, whereby he and a majority of the Trump cabinet might move to strip Trump of power and make Pence the 'acting president.' President Donald Trump released a short video where he blasted the 'heinous' attack and called for national 'healing' and called for an 'orderly' and 'seamless' transition to a new administration WASHINGTON: A crowd control fence was put up around Capitol Hill a day after the harrowing scenes in the U.S. Congress which stunned the world and left America's place as a beacon of democracy in tatters WASHINGTON: The DC National Guard keeps order outside the Capitol on Thursday amid a dispute over who had called it up at the height of the insurrection the previous day WAS KING GEORGE'S MADNESS 18TH CENTURY FAKE NEWS? King George III, nicknamed 'Mad King George,' ruled the United Kingdom and the British empire from 1760 until his death in 1820 - making him America's last king. But as well as losing the colonies, his place in history has been defined by the description of him as 'mad,' speaking at high-speed, writing 400-word sentences, and appearing frantic and deranged. In 1810, a regency was established because of concerns about his mental health. His eldest son, George, Prince of Wales, ruled as Prince Regent until his father's death. While he was called 'Mad,' it's believed the king suffered from the blood disease porphyria, which attacks the central nervous system and can cause the symptoms he appears to have exhibited. Others have suggested he was was bipolar. But linking his 'madness' to the loss of the colonies is questioned by historians; the episodes which have been recorded were after the Treaty of Paris. His health was poor in his later life. He developed dementia, and became completely blind and increasingly deaf. The king has had a resurgence in popular culture in the past few years thanks to his being portrayed in the popular musical 'Hamilton' and being referenced - although not seen - in the new Netflix series 'Bridgerton.' Trump tweeted the video after being banned from Twitter for dangerous rhetoric and as he faced new calls for his impeachment and for Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment. Trump defended his own past claims of election fraud but excused his most caustic rhetoric. 'We have just been through an intense election, and the motions are high, but now tempers must be cool and calm,' Trump said. 'This moment calls for healing and reconciliation,' said Trump, who spent years using his Twitter feed to attack his political rivals. 'Now, Congress has certified the results, and a new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power,' he said. On a day when top Democratic leaders accused him of fomenting 'insurrection,' Trump described his election challenges seeking to overturn the results as a plan to protect democracy itself despite Biden beating him by millions of votes. 'My campaign vigorously pursued every legal avenue to contest the election results. My only goal was to ensure the integrity of the vote. And so doing I was fighting to defend American democracy,' Trump said. After encouraging his supporters to 'fight' and sending them to the Capitol, he blasted those who invaded the Capitol for 'lawlessness and mayhem.' 'The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy,' he said. 'To those who engage in the acts of violence and destruction. You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law, you will.' Trump's words given with no reporters present who could question him in keeping with a media blackout in recent weeks following his loss hit some of the points his own supporters were begging him make explicit at a time of national tension. His press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, issued a brief statement about the situation at the Capitol about two hours earlier, speaking for only a few minutes and not taking questions. Hours earlier, Trump's Transportation secretary, Elaine Chao, announced she was resigning. Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, followed suit. Several aides announced their immediate departures after the Capitol riots. His former chief of staff, John Kelly, excoriated his conduct, and his former acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney, quit his State Department post as an envoy. Meanwhile, a flood of pressure from both Republicans and Democrats, arrived with calls for impeachment or for the 25th amendment to be enacted. 'Now, Congress has certified the results, and new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power,' he said An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while Trump supporters gather in front of the Capitol on Wednesday Pro-Trump insurgents stormed Capitol Hill on Wednesday in an attack that left nation stunned But sources close to Vice President Mike Pence were indicating he would not go along with 25th Amendment scenarios that would strip Trump of powers. Another push came in an editorial in the Rupert Murdoch-owned Wall Street Journal amid a flood of Democratic impeachment calls. A successful impeachment would bar Trump from future office - resigning would not. 'If Mr. Trump wants to avoid a second impeachment, his best path would be to take personal responsibility and resign,' said the editorial. 'This would be the cleanest solution since it would immediately turn presidential duties over to Mr. Pence. And it would give Mr. Trump agency, a la Richard Nixon, over his own fate.' Trump's call for a smooth transition came after weeks of a transition period that was anything but smooth. His lawyers and allies filed a blizzard of 'kraken' lawsuits nearly all going down to defeat; one lawyer quit . The Supreme Court declined to take up a Texas challenge. Affidavits from Trump supporters claiming fraud fell apart in court or got tossed. A government functionary, the head of the General Services Administration, declined to certify Joe Biden as the president-elect for days, denying his people access to the current administration and its data. Throughout the transition, Biden's methodical announcements about cabinet selections normally big news that allow an incoming administration to introduce its team to the public got overshadowed by the drama of Trump's election overturn effort. ADVERTISEMENT The mayor of Washington has put the city on an alert footing through inauguration, Capitol police are expanding the security perimeter around the Capitol to prepare for inauguration, and some officials are warning of more potential mayhem from Trump's supporters, after the president's drumbeat of claims the election was 'rigged' and 'stolen' from him. US DOLLAR OUTLOOK: USD PRICE ACTION AIMING HIGHER WITH TREASURY YIELDS US Dollar gained ground during Thursdays trading session with order restored in D.C. The DXY Index looks to challenge its short-term bearish trend as buyers take a stand USD price action eyes surging Treasury yields and upcoming release of nonfarm payrolls Advertisement The US Dollar advanced broadly on Thursday with USD price action strengthening against its Japanese Yen and Australian Dollar peers in particular. This looked largely owed to another extension higher in US Treasury yields and calm returning to Capitol Hill after yesterdays clash. On balance, the DXY Index gained 0.3% for the session and now challenges its negatively-sloped 8-day simple moving average. DXY US DOLLAR INDEX PRICE CHART: DAILY TIME FRAME (15 OCT 2020 TO 07 JAN 2021) Chart by @RichDvorakFX created using TradingView The broader US Dollar also seems to be recoiling higher off its bottom Bollinger Band as bulls attempt to make a push and keep the relative strength index from sliding back into oversold territory. This brings to focus US Dollar rebound potential particularly if Treasury yields continue climbing. That said, the yearly opening level and 20-day simple moving average stand out as two obstacles that could undermine US Dollar buying pressure. Eclipsing this area of technical resistance could open up the door for US Dollar bulls to test the 91.00-price level. USD PRICE OUTLOOK US DOLLAR IMPLIED VOLATILITY TRADING RANGES (OVERNIGHT) Learn more about implied volatility trading strategies! US Dollar implied volatility readings continue to cool off from recent red-hot readings as political drama drifts into the rearview mirror. USD/CAD is expected to be the most active major currency pair during Fridays trading session judging by its latest overnight implied volatility reading of 9.1%. This is likely in consideration of potentially high-impact monthly jobs data on deck for release from both the US and Canada. -- Written by Rich Dvorak, Analyst for DailyFX.com Connect with @RichDvorakFX on Twitter for real-time market insight There has been some concern and confusion since this morning's revelation that a positive COVID-19 case was released from isolation in Victoria after just 10 days, and without a negative test. NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant has explained why that was the case. Essentially, a 14-day quarantine period applies to people who may have been exposed to the virus (such as close contacts or returned travellers) because that is the general incubation period for infection to reveal itself. But when someone actually has COVID-19, a different isolation requirement sets in. The guidelines were established by the Communicable Diseases Network Australia, and they change depending on whether the person had a mild or serious case. The returned traveller reported this morning, who first arrived in Victoria and travelled to Queensland, had a mild case of COVID-19. Dr Chant explained what rules applied and why: "The guidelines require that you have 10 days in isolation after your [COVID-19] symptoms. So you flip from quarantining 14 days to [minimum 10 days] when you are a case. "For mild cases you were able to be discharged if you were 10 days from your symptom onset and you had been free of symptoms for 72 hours before. "The reason that was necessary is that we found cases where you can detect the virus in people's noses and throats, three months and even four months after the infection. What we're also observing is sometimes they may be negative at a certain point, but then you get a runny nose or something, and then if you get tested at that time, you can sometimes have the remnants of the virus come out. "Because of that, you would have people permanently locked up. That's why the Communicable Disease Network looked at the evidence. That was that people are most infectious in that beginning bit, the pre-symptomatic time-frame." That explains why some people can be released after 10 days so long as they have been free of symptoms for 72 hours. It also explains why a negative test was not required before cases left isolation and entered the community - a positive test at that later stage does not necessarily mean they are still infectious. "Obviously there is a different set of criteria if you have been hospitalised, there are much more stringent guidelines," Dr Chant said. That different set of criteria also applies to people who were in intensive care or have had more intensive lung involvement. Of course, these requirements have now shifted in light of the new mutant strains appearing overseas and arriving on Australian shores. "The Communicable Diseases Network Australia guidelines have been renewed and we will further discuss that situation today," Dr Chant said. But in short: the minimum isolation period for positive mild cases has been lengthened to 14 days and a negative test will be required before people enter the community. Those who still test positive after their symptoms have passed will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. "In NSW we've now re-instituted PCR testing on all negatives, but we are also making sure that we have the timely genetic genome sequencing, so again that can inform the decision-making," Dr Chant said. "If you are negative, you will be able to [leave isolation], but we will extend the period to 14 days, not 10 days, as a precaution. We will test you before you go out and if you're negative, we will let you go out. "If you are positive, we have a case-by-case assessment with experts who will do things like [assess] whether you have antibodies in response, whether the PCR marker is showing whether you're infectious," she said. Such measures will alter the way that mild COVID-19 cases, such as the woman who travelled to Queensland from Victoria, will be treated in the future. Now Open 8 January 2021 Cordis, Hangzhou, Sci-Tech City opens and joins its sister Cordis hotels in Shanghai, Beijing, Dongqian Lake, Hong Kong and Auckland. Located in the heart of the high technological and integrated complex, Hangzhou Future Sci -Tech City, Cordis, Hangzhou is a contemporary, approachable luxury hotel which features 186 rooms and suites ranging from 36 to 190 sqm in size, three restaurants and bar, a 24 hour well-equipped gym and a diverse range of flexible meeting and event spaces suitable for all events. Strategically located, the hotel is 400 meters away from Liangmulu subway station (Subway Line 5) and also have easy access to Alibaba's headquarter, Xixi Tech Zone, Xixi Wetland National Park, Liangzhu Ancient City and West Lake. Cordis, Hangzhou, Sci-Tech City was designed by international design firm HBA architecture. With the business and leisure traveller in mind, the design of the hotel is inspired by the West Lake where the hotel's design is inspired by the beauty of natural landscapes and complemented by elegant, contemporary interiors. Artworks are also prominently showcased at the hotel. Guests will be welcomed by the artwork "Hangzhou Dream" in the lobby. Through an artistic lighting device, the artwork depicts a fan opened by a scholar who sings lyrically and recites poetry, praising the scenery of Hangzhou's ten scenic spots. Other artworks that are featured in the hotel include Chinese ink painting, blue and white porcelain or works reflecting boating on West Lake and other elements in Hangzhou, are presented throughout the hotel. 186 stylish and contemporary rooms The 190 sqm Presidential Suite is luxuriously appointed with a spacious living room, an exclusive dining area, a private kitchen and an expansive bedroom. The Presidential Suite is also equipped with an intelligent digital audio system where guests can seamlessly stream videos and movies from their smart phones to the television screen in the suite and amenities like the Nespresso machine and Dyson hair dryers. There are also other multiple room categories to choose from - Superior Room, Deluxe Room, One-Bedroom Suite, Premier Suite. All rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the spectacular view of the city. Guests can look forward to a blissful night's rest with Cordis's signature Dream Bed. Inspiring dining experience Cordis, Hangzhou, Sci-Tech City offers exceptional dining experiences in its two signature restaurants and bar. The hotel's signature Chinese restaurant, Ming Court features authentic Cantonese and local cuisine prepared by the group's award-winning Chinese culinary team. With its sophisticated interiors and seven private dining rooms, the restaurant is the perfect gathering place for friends and families. Cordis Market is an all-day dining restaurant which offers a customized, cook-to-order interactive buffet experience. The menu includes daily selected dishes that feature healthy and seasonal fresh ingredients. A range of specially selected fine wines from France and Australia are also available to accompany the menu. The Bar offers a diverse range of curated fine wines, vintage whiskeys and innovative cocktails. The hotel's executive chef has also created bar snacks and finger food to complement the drinks menu. Health and Wellness The hotel offers a variety of recreational options, including a heated 25 metres by 8 metres indoor swimming pool, as well as a 24-hour gym outfitted with the latest equipment. The group's signature wellness brand, Chuan Spa will provide a pampering and relaxing haven for guests. There are three luxurious private treatment rooms and one foot massage room offering beauty and wellness treatments inspired by Traditional Chinese Medicine which Chuan Spa is renowned for. Flexible meetings and events The hotel has six meeting venues, a 600-sqm pillar-less ballroom and a business centre, which are ideal for intimate weddings, meetings and special events. All event spaces offer advanced audio visual and technical equipment to suit every occasion. The 600 sqm pillarless grand ballroom is at 6 metres in height and can accommodate up to 300 guests. The ballroom is also equipped with a 3.6m by 6.6m LED screen. It can also be flexibly divided into three individual meeting rooms. The other four meeting rooms feature plenty of natural lighting and an unblocked city view. Heartfelt Wedding Professional wedding butlers will work with every couple to ensure they have a memorable heartfelt wedding at the hotel, regardless the concept and size of the event. Cordis Kids A specially curated Cordis kids programme is designed for family holidays. Children can look forward to painting classes, junior chef classes amongst other activities and exclusive kids' amenities to keep them entertained throughout their stay. Cordis, Hangzhou, Sci-Tech City is located at 2499, Yuhangtang Road, Cangqian Street, Yuhang District, Hangzhou. For more information, please visit the hotel website or call 86 571 8866 8877. Widow defends pastor who said her husband died of COVID-19 because he had no faith Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Michigan widow, whose Christian husband recently died from COVID-19, is defending her embattled pastor over his comments that he died from the virus because he had no faith. The widow, Ruthann Tom, told ABC57 that she thinks the comments her pastor, the Rev. Jeffrey Whittaker of Michiana Christian Embassy in Nile, made about her late husband, Les Tom, were taken out of context. I listened to the sermon and it was taken out of context, it was uplifting and encouraging and nothing bad was said about my husband, Tom said. Her husband died in November after both of them contracted COVID-19. He went in first, then I started having symptoms so they put me in, she said. I was able to see him before he died and then they sent me home and several days later he died. Whittaker would later lead the funeral service for Les Tom, who died at 71, and his widow said it was exceptional. In a sermon broadcast on the churchs Facebook page on Dec. 13, Whittaker made the controversial comment about Les Toms faith and it enraged one of the late parishioners granddaughter as well as his stepson, who publicized it on social media. We do not disrespect Les; he died of COVID because hes weak, because he has no faith," Whittaker said during the Dec. 13 service. The pastor also lashed out at other parishioners during the service for not wanting to attend in-person services. We welcome masks, sit here, sit there; we answered peoples questions for Sheris funeral and for Les funeral and guess what, they were liars and hypocrites and cowards, Whittaker said. Why? Because I want to come but I want to make sure I can social distance. Other parishioners who attended the controversial service, like Terry Ecktezksein, told ABC57 that she thinks the pastor was just being sarcastic. Sometimes pastor is tongue and cheek and he will say things sarcastically or blatantly not true to get a point across; he would never blame somebody for their own death. He loved Les, they were good friends. It was Gods timing, Ecktezksein said. While Ruthann Tom doesnt believe her pastor was being sarcastic, she declined discussing his comments further except to say she believes he was speaking from the heart over an issue that has divided the country. Our nations divided, but tension between the church? No, she said before sharing how much the church helped her and late husband. When my husband and I first started going to church there we were on the verge of divorce and the Holy Spirit got ahold of both of us, she explained. My husband was dedicated to the church and it would hurt him to know this was going on. He was a good man. As of Thursday morning, there have been at least 549,467 coronavirus cases and 13,657 deaths in Michigan since the beginning of the pandemic, according to a New York Times database. New Delhi: A 24-year-old soldier G. Manivannan was killed in a militant attack on an Army convoy in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami has condoled the death and announced a sum of Rs 20 lakh to his family. Manivannan, the resident of Tiruvannamalai district joined the India Army in 2013. His younger brother G Anand said, It was his aim from a young age to join the Army and serve the country. When in college, he used to wake up at 4 am and run to be fit. He had several friends in the village. Manivannan and Naik Dipak Kumar Maity were killed in a militant attack on Army convoy near Qazigund in Srinagar-Jammu National highway. ALSO READ: Suicide attack on CRPF camp: Security forces kill all four militants, cache of arms and ammunition recovered For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Plexus Worldwide (Plexus), a leading direct selling health and wellness company, designated Alexander Hoffmann as their new Vice President of International Sales - Latin America. As Vice President, Hoffmann will be responsible for leading the sales efforts and revenue generation activities of Plexus in Mexico and throughout the region. This includes growing Latin America and all Hispanic regions to enable the company to scale while providing guidance and market direction to the executive team. Alexander Hoffman, named Vice President of Sales in Latin America for Plexus Worldwide. A direct selling professional since 1993, Hoffmann has a unique mix of global experience as a top corporate executive and top field leader, which makes him well poised to develop and expand the company's footprint. Hoffmann has a proven track record in growing companies' profits and bringing his extensive multi-cultural experience to project a company's vision, develop new business models, and marketing strategies to adapt to the local culture. "Alex's reputation and success as an entrepreneur and world-renowned direct seller will help our company continue to cater to the cultural nuances of the market in Mexico," said Travis Garza, President of Sales and Marketing for Plexus Worldwide. "Plexus is thrilled to add his leadership as we grow and foster an excellent environment for our Ambassadors, to maximize our growth opportunities for the company throughout the region." Prior to joining Plexus, Hoffmann worked at Isagenix, where he successfully launched and oversaw all operations for Mexico and laid out strategies for expansion into multiple Latin American markets. In addition, he was the Vice President of Nu Skin Enterprises, and during his time there, sales doubled in Latin America and he provided direction for the operations and affairs of Latin America. Hoffmann has traveled to more than 42 countries and 200 cities and trained over 100,000 people around the world. "Plexus has demonstrated it's committed to serving the Hispanic community, which has grown exponentially since launching earlier this year," said Alexander Hoffman, Vice President of Sales in Latin America. "Plexus chose to expand to Mexico thanks to its large population and growing demand for health and wellness products. I'm proud to be able to join a company with such a global vision and powerful reach. I'm truly excited to see what this next year brings for Plexus' Latin American enterprises." Since its inception in 2008, Plexus has become one of the fastest-growing direct sales companies in the world with hundreds of thousands of Ambassadors in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and Mexico. Plexus' line of science-based health and wellness products as well as its business opportunities have been available in Mexico since early 2020. About Plexus Worldwide: Plexus Worldwide, LLC is a leading health and happiness company featuring health and wellness products that enable people to improve their lives and well-being. With hundreds of thousands of independent business owners ("Ambassadors") worldwide, Plexus is among the top 25 global companies according to Direct Selling News. The combination of Plexus products and opportunities help individuals to meet their health-wellness and financial goals. For more information about us visit www.plexusworldwide.com. For media inquiries, contact: Josh Weiss 10 to 1 Public Relations 480-789-0743 [email protected] SOURCE Plexus Worldwide Related Links http://www.plexusworldwide.com Australia's Cabinet is meeting on Friday to discuss a response to the UK strain of the virus - GETTY IMAGES Australia's Queensland state enforced a three-day lockdown in Brisbane, the state capital, from Friday evening after a hotel quarantine worker tested positive for the more contagious variant of Covid-19 that has emerged in Britain. The Australian government also announced that it will begin pre-flight screening for passengers from the UK as well as cutting flights from Britain by half and ordering all visitors to the country to wear masks. The decision to temporarily shut down 2 million people came hours before a special national Cabinet meeting called to respond to the new strain from the UK. The Cabinet will discuss further proposals from an expert medical panel to tighten rules for international travellers. Prime Minister Scott Morrison described the situation in Brisbane as "serious". Residents of Australia's third most populous city must wear masks and can go outside only for one of four essential reasons grocery shopping, work, exercise or medical treatment. Annastacia Palaszczuk, the Queensland state premier said: "We know that this UK strain is highly infectious. It is 70 per cent more infectious, and we are going to go hard and we are going to go early to do everything we can to stop the spread of this virus." "If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown," Ms Palaszczuk said. Australia is on course to begin administering the first Covid-19 vaccines in February as it tries to contain the spread of infections in its largest cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Queensland state reported no new local cases on Friday, but the UK variant case has sparked fears of a wider outbreak. Victoria, the country's second-most populous state, reported no cases for the second straight day. Australia has reported a total of just over 28,500 Covid-19 cases and 909 deaths since the pandemic began, with border closures and speedy tracking systems helping keep numbers relatively low. Mets president Sandy Alderson fought for the United States in Vietnam after attending college at Dartmouth, and his father was an Air Force pilot who flew missions in World War II, the Korean War and Vietnam. Watching thousands of President Trump supporters turn a Washington D.C., rally into rioting at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday affected Alderson, who calls himself an independent. A half-hour into the Mets media Zoom call on Thursdays blockbuster trade for Francisco Lindor, Alderson was asked for his take on the ugliness in D.C., a day earlier. His short answer made it clear that hes happy that Trump will be leaving office soon. Its a question that needs to be answered, Alderson said. From an organizational standpoint, weve reached out to our employees today about what happened to make sure that If theres a need to communicate with us about that, they should feel free to do so. My view on that situation, I found yesterday disturbing on many different levels. And Im sure most people did for reasons that come into play and questions that need to be answered. For somebody like myself whos spent a few years defending democracy in some way, not just yesterday, but the last few years have been extraordinarily disappointing. But we have institutions that protect us from individuals in most cases. And it seems that those institutions not only have survived, but have guaranteed our survival as a democracy. So thats my view. Alderson has a home in St. Petersburg Fla., and in November 2019 he was infuriated when no area library carried the New York Times because Trump-supporting commissioners didnt want to pay $2,700 in subscriptions for fake news. Honestly, I was outraged by the attempt to censor responsible journalism, Alderson told the Tampa Bay Times at the time. And the idea of not making the New York Times or frankly any newspaper available to library members was ridiculous. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here. NENAGH MAN Joseph Cummins has been remanded in the custody of Limerick Prison for a week on a charge of trespassing at a property in the town. The 33-year-old, of no fixed abode was brought before Nenagh District Court this morning to face a charge of trespass at a property on St. Flanan St in the town on January 5th. He is accused of trespass in circumstances giving rise to the reasonable inference that such entry or presence was with intent to commit an offence or with intent to unlawfully interfere with any property. A person who is guilty of an offence under this section shall be liable on conviction in the District Court to a fine not exceeding 1,270 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 6 months or to both. Cummins was remanded in the custody of Limerick Prison to appear again at Nenagh District Court on January 15th. No details relating to Cummins background can now be reported as the matter is now before the courts. Brent oil climbed to near $55 a barrel as Saudi Arabia s unilateral output cut eased over-supply fears and a Democratic sweep in the US paved the way for more stimulus spending. Futures in London climbed 0.6% on Friday and are up around 6% for the week. Democratic wins in elections in Georgia mean the party is poised to take control of the Senate, House and presidency, spurring a broad move higher in financial markets. That came after Saudi Arabia pledged earlier in the week to cut production by 1 million barrels a day in February and March. The spreading coronavirus remains a near-term cap to further gains, however. Accelerating cases across Europe prompted a call from the World Health Organization for stricter measures across the continent, while the UK's latest restrictions are already compounding a plunge in fuel sales. China has locked down a city of 11 million near Beijing to contain an outbreak. Crude has surged more than 40% since the end of October thanks to a series of vaccine breakthroughs, even as the virus led to more lockdowns. A weakening dollar has also helped boost the appeal of raw materials like oil that are priced in the currency. Annual commodity index rebalancing may provide another tailwind when it gets underway on Friday, with as much as $9 billion of oil contracts possibly being bought over the five days of activity that start Friday, according to Citigroup Inc. The past ten weeks of trading have seen only one weekly decline, which was comparatively small," said Carsten Fritsch an analyst at Commerzbank AG. This is testimony to the strength of the oil market in the last two-and-a-half months." Though demand in some countries is coming under pressure from coronavirus, there are also bright spots. Beijings coldest weather since 1966 is spurring local energy prices higher. Temperatures across much of Europe and Asia are below normal and expected to stay there for most of January. Saudi Arabias surprise output cut appears to have caught some Asian buyers by surprise. On Thursday, Unipec, the trading arm of Chinas largest refiner, bought four cargoes of North Sea crude in a pricing window run by S&P Global Platts that saw its most activity in at least 12 years. The recent surge in prices has pushed Brents 14-day relative strength index above 70, a technical signal that a reversal could be coming. WTIs 14-day RSI is also in overbought territory. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Good grief Could the purposeful timing of those intent on preserving corrupt intelligence and U.S. government institutions be any more transparent? (Natural News) (Article by Sundance republished from TheConservativeTreehouse.com) As CTH noted weeks ago, the DNI report on foreign involvement in 2020 election interference could structurally have established the framework for election challenges on the basis of the guarantee clause of the constitution. However, in order for that to be effective it would be needed prior to the congressional certification of the electors. Today, literally hours after congress votes to certify the election results, that very same DNI report is now delivered to congress. Buried inside an article noting that politically motivated intelligence officers intentionally withheld information about Chinas active involvement in the 2020 election, we find this sentence: The intelligence communitys classified assessment on foreign influence in the 2020 election was also submitted to Congress on Thursday. (link) WASHINGTON DC Politicization problems exist in U.S. spy agency assessments on foreign influence in the 2020 U.S. election, including analysts who appeared to hold back information on Chinese meddling efforts because they disagreed with the Trump administrations policies, according to an intelligence community inspector. Barry Zulauf, an analytic ombudsman and longtime intelligence official, issued a 14-page report obtained by the Washington Examiner to the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday, revealing his investigation was conducted in response to IC complaints regarding the election threat issue. In addition, he lamented the polarized atmosphere has threatened to undermine the foundations of our Republic, penetrating even into the Intelligence Community. The intelligence communitys classified assessment on foreign influence in the 2020 election, which will not focus on claims of mail-in fraud or unfounded allegations of voting machines flipping millions of votes, was also submitted to Congress on Thursday. Expected in December, the assessment was delayed as senior intelligence officials clashed over the role played by China, and as director of national intelligence, John Ratcliffe sought to include more viewpoints in the final analysis. Given analytic differences in the way Russia and China analysts examined their targets, China analysts appeared hesitant to assess Chinese actions as undue influence or interference. The analysts appeared reluctant to have their analysis on China brought forward because they tend to disagree with the administrations policies, saying in effect, I dont want our intelligence used to support those policies, Zulauf concluded, saying this behavior violated analytic standards requiring independence from political considerations. (more) Read more at: TheConservativeTreehouse.com The Pune forest department has only two forest guards to protect its official 5,000 acres of reserved forest land located under the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area. The forest department has appealed to the citizens to participate wholeheartedly and in large numbers in the Joint Forest Management (JFM) programmes to protect and conserve the forest as it unable to protect the rich biodiversity which is under attack by multiple forces like rapid urbanisation and land sharks during the past few decades. Vast tracts of urban reserved forest land in around Pune metropolitan region are lying unattended and unprotected for decades together with complaints of encroachment, vandalism, illegal log cutting, obscenity, trespassing and dumping of garbage and cement concrete waste. The hill ecology of Katraj forest area is under threat from rising construction menace. The rich forest biodiversity houses rare flora and fauna and the forest hills of Pune are regarded as an offshoot or extensions of the protected Western Ghats eco-sensitive zone. The 85-acre reserve forest land in Tilekarnagar in Kondhwa Budruk has become home to anti-social elements and vandalism with no forest guards in sight. A visit to the spot revealed that the fence has been broken at sides and mushrooming slums along the approach road made it difficult for morning walkers to reach the forest. Similarly, no effort has been made by the forest department to protect the biodiversity and instead, it has turned a blind eye to the rich resource which is fast depleting, according to citizens. Similarly, green activists and neighbourhood citizen groups have demanded protection of 200 acres of NIBM reserve forest by the construction of a protection wall. Besides, the vast 300 geographical spread of protected forest area of Wanowrie-Hadapsar-Mohammwadi also need urgent protection from the vandalism and trespassing. Praveen Kumar Anand, a green activist said, We want to develop several urban forests and connect all of them through bridges. We want a regular supply of water tankers and financial assistance from the government and corporates to ensure that this rich forest heritage is protected for the entire humanity. According to Satish Gujar, acting in charge and chief conservator of forests (Pune), around 5,000 acres of forest land falls under the PMC area and for 1,500 to 1,000 acres of land, there is only one forest guard. We cannot keep new persons as there is a freeze on recruitment. We have initiated urban Joint Forest Management (JFM) committees and it is their responsibility to protect the forests. Fortunately, we have constructed 35 kilometres of protection walls around the reserved forest. If people are ready to contribute, a minimum of Rs 1 then JFM can do good work. There are challenges before us and we are working towards protecting the biodiversity with citizens participation. We are having only two guards to protect the entire forest land which falls under the PMC area. Similarly, it is also the duty of the citizens to protect the forests located in their respective areas, Gujar said. A Delhi court on Friday dismissed the bail plea of a woman accused in connection with a case related to the murder of head constable Rattan Lal during northeast Delhi riots last year. Additional Session Judge Vinod Yadav rejected the bail plea of Tabassum, a resident of Chand Bagh Area of Delhi, observing that the Call Detail Records (CDRs) of the mobile phone of her revealed that she was in constant touch with several co-accused persons. The judge further said that the charges against the applicant were serious in nature. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case in totality vis-a-vis gravity of offence, I do not find it to be a fit case for grant of bail to the applicant. The bail application is accordingly dismissed, the judge said. The judge noted that it is clearly evident that the protestors and organizers had motivated persons in the mob and certain unscrupulous elements had surrounded the scene of crime and they appeared to be fully equipped with rioting material like stones, sticks, sharp edged weapons and other sort of raw weapons. Even burqa clad women are clearly seen attacking the police party with sticks and other material in their hands and they clearly appeared to be charged up. It has also come on record that some of the persons of the mob had taken possession of the rooftops of high rise buildings at or around 25 feet road, having firearms and other rioting material with them, the judge noted. He said that all this prima facie indicates that everything was being done under a well hatched conspiracy, the common object whereof was to cause blockade of the main Wazirabad Road and if resisted by the police, then to go to any extent to liquidate them by use of force. The police had opposed the bail plea saying Tabassum used to share stage with other protestors and instigate the gathering against the Government which ultimately led to violence on February 24, 2020 thereby resulting in death of more than 50 people in North East District of Delhi, including head constable Rattan Lal. According to the prosecution, during the incident, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shahdara, Amit Sharma, Anuj Kumar, ACP Gokalpuri and 51 other policemen had also suffered severe injuries at the hands of rioters. In her application, the accused had admitted having participated in the protest, however, she reiterated that protesting against some legislation was her legal and fundamental right and that it could not be snatched away from her as it was her legitimate belief and perception that Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 (CAA) and National Register for Citizens (NRC) were against a particular religion. She further submitted that the investigating agency had not been able to establish the contents of her speech and whether they were inflammatory or instigating. Regarding the allegation of criminal conspiracy, the accused said that participating in the protest against a particular law/enactment does not amount to conspiracy of incitement of violence where head constable Rattan Lal had died. Her counsel also argued that the applicant was a lady, aged about 38 years and permanent resident of Chand Bagh, Delhi. The applicant is having two minor school going children, whose future/career is at stake as they have been deprived of the care and custody of their mother. She has been falsely implicated in the present matter by the investigating agency; she was not present at the scene of crime on the date and time of incident and as such she has nothing to do with alleged incident, the application said. At least 53 people lost their lives and hundreds of others were injured in the violence, which erupted between groups supporting and opposing the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in the norteast area of the national capital in February last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After a long, chaotic day in which the U.S. Capitol was raided by Trump-supporting rioters as Congress met to affirm President-elect Joe Bidens 2020 presidential election win, lawmakers representing the Lehigh Valley and Warren County communities addressed their chambers with condemnations of the violence and opposition to attempts to overturn election results. Wednesdays normally ceremonial process of accepting the already-certified electoral votes was violently disrupted in the afternoon. Republican President Donald Trump, speaking at a nearby rally a short time earlier, had encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol to protest lawmakers actions. He later expressed empathy for the mob, which had forced its way inside the building, clashed with police and drove lawmakers into hiding. At least four people died, one having been shot by Capitol Police, and dozens more were arrested. After a six-hour delay, Congress reconvened to certify Bidens win. The electoral process continued late into the night as a minority of Republicans including a senator from Missouri challenged results in Pennsylvania, one of the crucial swing states that went for Biden. They repeated baseless allegations of voter fraud previously and repeatedly dismissed by courts. Lehigh Valley representatives spoke forcefully in the shadow of the days events. (See the full text and videos of their speeches below.) We have witnessed a stunning assault on our democracy itself, said U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, a Democrat from Lehigh County. This challenge is not an act of patriotism. The position of the objectors is completely incompatible with patriotism. Our country is defined by her great people and our democracy is defined above all else by our Constitution -- a Constitution that these individuals want to ignore because theyve decided their judgement, the judgement of a small minority of partisan elites, should somehow override that of the more than 155 million Americans who participated in this election. That, my friends, is not democracy. Meanwhile, Pennsylvanias Republican U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, another Lehigh County resident who spoke earlier in the day against a challenge of Arizonas votes, deconstructed in remarks late Wednesday night objectors arguments about his own states results. He conceded there were some issues and irregularities that the state itself must sort out, but nothing that would either alter the elections result or remotely justify the nullification of Pennsylvanias mail-in ballots. We witnessed today the damage that can result when men in power and responsibility refuse to acknowledge the truth, Toomey said. We saw bloodshed because a demagogue chose to spread falsehoods and sow distrust of his own fellow Americans. Lets not abet such deception. At another point in the proceedings, Democratic U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer, whose New Jersey district includes northern Warren County, spoke with Thomas Reed, a Republican representative from New York and Gottheimers co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. They urged unity. Today, a group of lawless thugs sought to upend the Constitution and the peaceful transition of power because they didnt like the outcome of the presidential election, Gottheimer said. So they tried to nullify it using improvised explosives, shattering windows, breaking down doors, injuring law enforcement and even tearing down the American flag that rises above this beacon of democracy. But their attempt to obstruct democracy failed, he continued. Their insurrection was foiled. The American people and the greatest democracy the world has ever known won. Abraham Lincoln, who served in this very body, famously said a house divided against itself cannot stand. Thats why for the sake of this country we must stand together, united and celebrate a peaceful transition of power. In the end, the joint session of Congress certified Bidens victory early Thursday morning. And Trump, for the first time publicly, acknowledged his defeat. Their speeches, in their entirety based on C-SPAN videos, are reprinted below. SEN. PAT TOOMEY (R-PA.) I rise to defend the right of my citizens, my constituents to vote in the presidential election. Lets be clear. Thats exactly what this objection is about. Its what it would do. It would overturn the results of the presidential election of Pennsylvania, and it would thereby deny Pennsylvanias voters the opportunity to even participate in the presidential election. Mr. President, even if Congress did have the constitutional responsibility to judge the worthiness of a states election process, which it does not, rejecting Pennsylvanias electoral votes would still be wildly out of proportion to the purported offenses and very damaging to our republic. Let me go through a few facts about Pennsylvania. First, some of the objectors and in fact even the president of the United States this morning have observed that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court disregarded existing law when it ruled that mail-in ballots could be counted even if they arrived up to three days after the election day. Now, the objectors are right about that. In my view, the Supreme Court of the United States should overturn that illegal decision. But, Mr. President, only 10,097 ballots arrived in Pennsylvania during the three days after the election and those 10,097 ballots have been excluded from the vote count that resulted in President-elect Biden winning Pennsylvania by about 80,000 votes. What greater remedy could the objectors possibly want than the complete exclusion of the late-arriving ballots? How could we possibly invalidate the entire Pennsylvania election, over 10,000 votes that were not even included in the vote count? A second charge we heard, and the senator from Missouri alluded to it this evening, is a 2019 Pennsylvania law that allows mail-in ballots for any reason, that that might violate the Pennsylvania constitution. Well, first of all, as Sen. Casey observed, this was a bipartisan law passed with nearly unanimous Republican support. Clearly, the state legislators and the governor believe it is consistent with the Pennsylvania constitution. Secondly, this law was not challenged when it was passed. It wasnt challenged when it was applied during the June primary election. It was only challenged after President Trump lost the general election. But 2.6 million Pennsylvanians voted by mail-in ballot in the general election. Over 37% of Pennsylvania voters in good faith relied on a law to cast their votes as they had done previously. Now, I understand you can make a theoretical argument about whether this is consistent with Pennsylvanias constitution and that needs to be resolved for future elections. But because of this constitutional question that some people have, the objectors want to prevent Pennsylvania voters from participating in the presidential election entirely. That would be an outrageous remedy to this purported offense. A third charge weve heard is that Pennsylvania officials did not properly implement Pennsylvania election law in a variety of other ways. But the Trump campaign has shown that many of these issues have well. first of all none of these issues would have changed the election outcome but more importantly, the campaign had many opportunities of which it availed itself to litigate these issues. They did time and again and they lost repeatedly, often in unanimous bipartisan decisions. Now, some of the objectors also cite Congress own failure to investigate allegations of election irregularities, and thats their justification for refusing to certify the election results. But the allegations of election irregularities and fraud have been investigated. Theyve been adjudicated. They were adjudicated in the states in which they were alleged to have occurred. In Pennsylvania the Trump campaign took their case of election irregularities into the courtroom of Judge Matthew Brand of federal district court. Judge Brand is a conservative Republican Federalist Society member. Heres what he said about the Trump campaign case, and I quote: This court has been presented with strange legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations unsupported by evidence. In the United States of America, this cannot justify the disenfranchisement of a single voter let alone all the voters of the sixth most-populated state. End quote. So the campaign then appealed Judge Brands decision to the Third Circuit and they drew a three-judge panel, all Republican-appointed judges, one appointed by President Trump. The panel concurred with Judge Brand. Mr. President, certainly there were irregularities in this election. There always are but theres no evidence of significant fraud, conspiracies or even significant anomalies that cast any serious doubt on who actually won the election. One way you can tell is look at the big picture in Pennsylvania. Look at what happened. In 2016 President Trump won Pennsylvania by eight-tenths of 1%. In 2020 he lost Pennsylvania by a little over 1%. Is there anything at all thats implausible or surprising about a 2% change in the election outcome? Relative to 2016 in Pennsylvania the president lost a little ground in most of the rural counties he had carried. He lost a lot of ground in the big suburban counties and slightly narrowed his large loss in Philadelphia. Theres no surprises here. This reflects a pattern that occurred all across the country. My colleagues, as Ive said, it is not our responsibility to sit in judgment of state election procedures in the first place. But if it were, there would not be nearly sufficient reason to deny my constituents their right to participate in this presidential election. Mr. President, Joe Biden won the election. Thats not what I had hoped for but thats what happened. It was an honest victory. With the usual minor irregularities that occur in most elections. We witnessed today the damage that can result when men in power and responsibility refuse to acknowledge the truth. We saw bloodshed because the demagogue chose to spread falsehoods and sow distrust of his own fellow Americans. Lets not abet such deception. Lets reject this motion. REP. SUSAN WILD (D-PA. 7) Yesterday afternoon, terrorists stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from fulfilling our constitutional duty to certify the election results. Last night, I was back on the house floor to get the job done. Pennsylvania will always come first. pic.twitter.com/Mf8uDzej7d Rep. Susan Wild (@RepSusanWild) January 7, 2021 As terrifying as today was here in the peoples house, it was thankfully fairly short in duration. In contrast, the pain and fear that so many Americans are experiencing this year has been long and continuous to this very moment. Rather than pitting Americans against Americans as we are here, we should be working to ensure rapid distribution of vaccines and adequate relief to Americans who are struggling economically because of this horrific pandemic. But were not doing that. Instead, we have witnessed a stunning assault on our democracy itself. This challenge is not an act of patriotism. The position of the objectors is completely incompatible with patriotism. Our country is defined by her great people and our democracy is defined above all else by our Constitution -- a Constitution that these individuals want to ignore because theyve decided their judgement, the judgement of a small minority of partisan elites, should somehow override that of the more than 155 million Americans who participated in this election. That, my friends, is not democracy. We should all remember this countrys founding was a rejection of monarchy, a rejection of the notion that any one person could be all-powerful. Our commitment to self-determination is what gave rise to our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. Its why our founders made the choice to build a country anchored in respect for the rule of law rather than one tied to the whims of men. Its why we have free and fair elections that allow us to vote out those who hold office. I am proud to join the vast majority of my colleagues in both chambers, Republicans and Democrats alike, in making clear that our democracy is bigger than any of us. Lets be clear: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris won a victory of 306 electoral votes in the Electoral College, the same margin that President Trump won by in 2016 when he called it a landslide. Nearly 7 million of my fellow Pennsylvanians braved this devastating pandemic and economic crisis to cast their ballots culminating in a total turnout of more than 70%, the highest in the history of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. And nationwide we saw record-breaking turnout. Both in Pennsylvania and nationally the presidents efforts to overturn the election results in the courts failed resoundingly, with many of the strongest rebukes coming from judges the president himself appointed. In fact, contrary to the assertion of my colleague from Georgia across the aisle, not a single lawsuit in Pennsylvania alleged fraud. She may not be aware of this but allegations of fraud require specificity and detail and no lawyer could risk his or her license to make such false claims. I am heartened that several of the countrys leading Republicans, including Senate Republican Majority Leader McConnell, Sen. Mitt Romney and former Republican Speaker of the House Paul Ryan have spoken out against this political stunt. Sen. Romney said the egregious ploy to reject electors may enhance the political ambition of some but dangerously threatens our democratic republic. And as former Republican Rep. Charlie Dent from my district said, the claim by the president of voter fraud in our state was simply reprehensible; the truth is that he suppressed his own vote by discouraging mail-in voting. And as Pennsylvania State Sen. Gene Yaw, also a Republican, has said, my question is if the mail-in voting of Act 77 was so bad, why did the Trump organization send out a mail-in ballot application to every registered Republican in the state? Today, I am thinking of all of the people who took their time to do their civic duty and vote, many standing in long lines or painstakingly researching how to vote by mail correctly. We reject these disgraceful attacks on the voters of Pennsylvania and this attempt to throw out their votes. To those in this chamber who may cynically believe that stoking the forces of disinformation and division may be worth a short-term benefit to their political careers, I would urge serious self-reflection. Our democracy is one of the most precious resources of the American people, protected against enormous odds and at great sacrifice by each generation of service members and everyday citizens who put their lives on the line to build a freer and more equitable nation. They deserve better than what is happening in this chamber today. REP. JOSH GOTTHEIMER (D-N.J. 5) On the House floor w/ my @ProbSolveCaucus Co-Chair @RepTomReed. We often disagree on policy, but we're united as Americans. Today, a lawless mob sought to upend the Constitution. We must uphold the will of the American people & ensure a peaceful transition of power. pic.twitter.com/LRn2kW7rm7 Rep Josh Gottheimer (@RepJoshG) January 7, 2021 [After New York Republican Rep. Thomas Reed yields the podium] I thank my friend for yielding, and for standing with me and with all of us. Tom Reed is my co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus. Hes a Republican and Im a Democrat. When it comes to policy views we often disagree but at the end of the day we are united as Americans. My good friend, like me, always puts country first. Today, a group of lawless thugs sought to upend the Constitution and the peaceful transition of power because they didnt like the outcome of the presidential election. So they tried to nullify it using improvised explosives, shattering windows, breaking down doors, injuring law enforcement and even tearing down the American flag that rises above this beacon of democracy. But their attempt to obstruct democracy failed. Their insurrection was foiled. The American people and the greatest democracy the world has ever known won. Abraham Lincoln, who served in this very body, famously said a house divided against itself cannot stand. Thats why for the sake of this country we must stand together, united and celebrate a peaceful transition of power. In 14 days, President-elect Biden will be sworn in and despite all of our difference I have faith that for the American people we will come together, Democrats and Republicans committed to unity, civility and truth. We will recognize our higher purpose to help America through these dark days. That is the only way we will beat COVID, rebuild our economy and stand up to threats at home and abroad working together, as Democrats and Republicans, I know our best days will always be ahead of us. *** The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. A 42-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor Dalit girl in a village under the jurisdiction of the Shukul Bazar police station here, a police official said. The 15-year-old girl had gone to attend natures call on Wednesday evening when the man who lives in a neighbouring village raped her, said SHO Bazar Shukul Ravindra Singh, citing the complaint given by the girls father. An FIR has been lodged on the basis of the complaint under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, he said. The accused has been arrested and the girl has been sent for medical examination, the SHO said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) The Food and Drug Administration has approved Chinese company Clover Biopharmaceutical's application to hold clinical trials of its COVID-19 vaccine in the country. This is the second vaccine maker to secure FDA approval for the clinical trials, next to US-based Janssen Pharmaceuticals Company of Johnson and Johnson. Meanwhile, the FDA is awaiting China-based Sinovac Biotech's response to its clarifications before issuing a decision on its application, Director General Eric Domingo said in a statement. The Phase 3 clinical trials may start in the next few weeks after the vaccine experts panel identifies trial sites, conducts preliminary preparations, and recruits participants. This crucial stage is where thousands of patients have to be vaccinated to test for efficacy and safety. It is also usually the final step before approval for mass rollout. The FDA is also reviewing three vaccine makers' bid for emergency use authorization of their coronavirus vaccines: US firm Pfizer, the UK's AstraZeneca, and Russia's Gamaleya Institute. It usually takes the agency 21 days to decide on an application. The Philippines has so far secured 2.6 million doses of AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccines through a private sector donation, while talks are ongoing with other companies. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to withdraw the order to conduct jallikattu (bull taming sport) citing a letter written by 52 doctors from across the country to chief minister Edapaddi Palaniswami and health minister C Vijayabhaskar. The letter calls the sport a non-essential activity which will lead to Covid-19 spread. If huge crowds gather to torment bulls, society will be tormented, said PETA India research associate Dr Anikta Pandey in a statement. Incidentally, minister for revenue and disaster management RB Udhayakumar on Thursday said that Palaniswami and his deputy O Panneerselvam, along with senior ministers, will flag-off a jallikattu event in Madurais Alanganallur on January 16. He spoke to reporters after inspecting the location. Activists have called this a political decision as Tamil Nadu goes to assembly polls in April or May this year. The letter shared by PETA is signed by doctors and healthcare professionals predominantly from Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand besides Tamil Nadu, New Delhi, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Telangana and Karnataka. The highly contagious nature of the disease and the way participants and spectators inevitably come into contact in such mass gatherings, even with precautions planned by the Tamil Nadu government, the risk of infection is high, the letter from the medical representatives said. On December 23, the state allowed jallikattu to be conducted during the Pongal festival following Covid-19 restrictions. Participants must undergo an RT-PCR test from government recognised labs and submit a negative certificate. The number of players will be limited to 150 per event. The spectators cannot exceed more than 50% of the capacity of the premises so that social distancing norms are followed and all viewers will have to wear masks. All entrants will be screened using a thermal scanner to check body temperature. The doctors statement warned that a clinical sample which shows a false-negative could be a source of infection. They added that the state which banned public celebrations from December 31, 2020 to January 1, 2021 should apply a similar logic to this event. In 2017, huge protests erupted across the state for the ban against jallikattu by the Supreme Court to be lifted. The Tamil Nadu government unanimously enacted a legislation to amend the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960, to preserve the cultural heritage and ensure the survival and continuance of native breeds of bulls. PETA stated that since 2017, at least 22 bulls and 57 people have died while 3,632 people were injured during jallikattu events organised across the state. As federal officials work to identify the hundreds of angry mobsters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, some in the airline industry are expressing fear about the threat these individuals may pose to to their safety and calling on officials to keep those who participated in the riot from entering the skies. Some of the people who traveled in our planes yesterday participated in the insurrection at the Capitol today. Their violent and seditious actions at the Capitol today create further concern about their departure from the DC area, wrote Sara Nelson, president of The Association of Flight Attendants. Acts against our democracy, our government and the freedom we claim as Americans must disqualify these individuals from the freedom of flight. Nelson, whose organization represents more than 50,000 flight attendants from 17 different airlines, called on the Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to ensure the safety and security of passengers and crew by keeping all problems on the ground. The mobsters, who many believe were incited by President Trump, hailed from a variety of states. In the wake of angry rioters breeching the U.S. Capitol, some flight attendants are expressing concern about the violence entering the skies. (Photo: Getty Images) In a statement shared on social media, Rep. Bennie Thompson, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, made a similar plea to the TSA and Federal Bureau of Investigation to keep perpetrators off planes. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The day before the event which was initially billed as a protest against the certification of Joe Bidens presidency Nelson said that multiple incidents occurred on flights that put individuals in danger. The mob mentality behavior that took place on several flights to the D.C. area yesterday was unacceptable. It will not happen again, Nelsons January 6 statement reads. Theres a reason that there are strict penalties and fines for failing to comply with crewmember instructions. Enforcement keeps everyone safe. According to ABC News, in one instance, Trump supporters and other passengers got into an angry shouting match after one of his supporters projected a Trump 2020 logo on the ceiling of the plane. Story continues No airlines have responded to calls for a ban on Trump rioters flying home, but at least one, American Airlines (AA), has decided not to serve alcohol. In a statement to Yahoo, a spokesperson for AA said the company was taking steps to ensure the safety of its employees. We are working closely with local law enforcement and airport authority partners to ensure the safety of our customers and team members on the ground and in the air, the spokesperson wrote. We also have increased staffing at Washington D.C.-area airports and will not serve alcohol on flights to and from this area as a precautionary measure. We will continue to enforce policies that ensure our customers and team members safety and wellbeing. In an interview with Yahoo Life, a Dallas-based AA flight attendant who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his job said that flight attendants have a responsibility to the crew and passengers to mitigate any threat to safety. But while he feels that flight attendants have a major role to play, he says companies also need to ensure that their employees are protected. Airlines have a responsibility to put their employees in the best position to do their jobs safely and effectively. Another Dallas-based AA flight attendant, who asked for anonymity due to her political views, seemed to disagree. I do not support this ban, said the six-year veteran of flight. General bans based on party affiliation are not only prejudicial but sweep up many innocent people in an impassioned decision. Bans should be issued on a case by case basis. Further, until each person has had their day in court, all are innocent until proven guilty. She argued that if the Trump mobsters are subject to restrictions, that Black Lives Matter protestors should be too. Destruction of property and trespassing are obvious and egregious violations of law. This past summer, protesters and rioters were on our planes as well. We now know that federal buildings on the west coast and private property all over the nation were vandalized and in some cases destroyed, she told Yahoo Life. Justice is and should be blind. If the airlines suspend travel privileges for protesters participating in yesterdays acts of terrorism, the same logic and discipline should be applied to those who trespassed and destroyed property this past summer. The flight attendant said she and other flight attendants were confronted by BLM protestors over the summer after asking them to wear masks, saying she feared for her job and was told to keep the peace in order to not be a YouTube star. Yahoo Life could not corroborate the incident. President Trump made a similar claim in September saying that there were planes loaded with thugs headed to BLM protests, but his claim was later disputed. As of now, there have been no reports of violence on planes related either to Trump or BLM. But thats not to say there have not been racially-motivated attacks. In September, a Black woman was reportedly harassed by a white woman wearing a Blue Lives Matter mask on a Delta flight. Delta ultimately apologized and upgraded the woman on her return flight, issuing a statement later saying, When we say Black lives matter, we mean it. In a statement to Yahoo Life, Delta declined to comment on the calls for a ban, but suggested that it is taking action behind the scenes. Theres nothing more important than protecting the integrity of the safety and security measures that keep our employees and customers safe, Delta spokesperson Morgan Durrant wrote. While that means refraining from discussing specifics, we can say Delta continually works with law enforcement agencies and all aviation stakeholders to enact methods both seen and unseen as part of our unwavering efforts to keep everyone safe at our airports and on our flights. Read more from Yahoo Life Want lifestyle and wellness news delivered to your inbox? Sign up here for Yahoo Lifes newsletter. As for how the rush to sign up for phase 1b will look, Arwady vowed that seniors will not have to worry about a free-for-all system that has led to people camping out overnight in some states such as Florida, which has begun vaccinating seniors already. The citys public health department is in the midst of enrolling the hundreds of health care providers in Chicago outpatient centers, primary care physicians and pharmacies in order to ensure signing up for a vaccine will be as simple as getting a flu shot, Arwady said. Much of the front-line essential worker population will enroll through their employers. Eugenia Ahlas, a longtime style advisor at Neiman Marcus department store in Union Square and well-known figure in the San Francisco fashion world has died. Ahlas was 71. The cause of death was stage four cancer. A petite and soft-spoken woman, Ahlas nevertheless made a big impression with her elegant but always forward-looking style. Throughout her 40-plus years in retail Ahlas was known as an expert on the Yves Saint Laurent fashion house. Her ensembles at galas and opening nights in San Francisco were always understated but frequently nodded to Saint Laurents style signatures like jeweled embellishments, Maltese crosses and touches of dramatic textiles. Before her 25 years at Neiman Marcus Ahlas worked at the legendary I. Magnin department store in Union Square, where she was known as Miss Eugenia and was in charge of the stores standalone YSL boutique. When Magnins closed in 1993 Ahlas moved with the stores YSL license to Neiman Marcus, taking her many clients with her. Her association with the French label was so well-known in San Franciscos style scene that a 1999 profile of Ahlas in the online publication Fashionlines called her The Goddess of YSL, taken from a nickname a French executive gave her at a fashion week party. Eugenias dressing rooms were like Ali Babas cave, said Christine Suppes, a friend and longtime client. She picked the most glamorous, glittering clothes from the best collections. And there was this gracious, fearless woman at the center of all of it. She just got it. Eugenia Ahlas was a rarity, said Ken Downing, the former senior vice president and fashion director at Neiman Marcus. In the world of fashion, populated with big personalities and often bigger egos, Eugenia was a supremely kind, gentle and enlightened soul: A quiet storm of exquisite taste, profound knowledge, with a marked loyalty that ran deeper than the Grand Canyon to those she kept near. Ahlas attraction to the work of Saint Laurent went beyond aesthetic appreciation. The designers collections in the 1960s and 70s were lauded for both their beauty and liberated wearability which helped popularize pants for women among other changes. Jill DAlessandro, the curator in charge of costume and textile arts at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, interviewed Ahlas in the fall of 2020 and said that she spoke at length about her belief that Saint Laurent empowered women through his designs. She understood the impact of clothes that went beyond the personal, said DAlessandro. She believed that fashion had the ability to impact society and that it brought beauty into daily life. She said to me that, Fashion is an art form: it evolves, we want it to move forward. I think that Yves Saint Laurent defined the parameters for how we do move forward. Ahlas was born Eugenia Mousalimas on Dec. 13, 1949, in Oakland to Andrew Mousalimas and Mary Mousalimas (nee Kumarelas) the second of five children. She was raised with a strong Greek Orthodox faith which became a lifelong devotion. Ahlas younger sister Paula Gassoumis said that Ahlas love of the rich colors, jewels and bold robes and vestments that were visual signatures of the church directly translated into her love of clothes. Her love of art history and Byzantine art were absolutely her segue into fashion, said Gassoumis. There was a correlation between the Orthodox Church and her personal style that she carried with her. In 1979 Ahlas and her mother were key in the campaign to save the first Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption (Dormition) in Oakland, allowing it to be moved to its current location at 928 Castro Street ahead of the 980 Freeway project. The church is now a designated Oakland Landmark, a California Historical Landmark and listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Ahlas attended U.C. Berkeley and initially studied political theory. Upset by student unrest on the campus in the 1960s, Ahlas left to live in France for a year, returning to Berkeley to study art history with an emphasis on Byzantine and early Christian art and Romanesque architecture. After graduating with a Bachelor's Degree in 1972 she was accepted to law school but chose to pursue a career in fashion, taking a job at I. Magnin in womens hosiery. The store was then considered the top of the line in Bay Area retail, known for its elegant Art Deco Timothy Pflueger architecture and Lalique crystal fixtures as its high end fashion salons. Downing worked with Ahlas at the store in the 1980s and described it as more like a movie set than a grand specialty store, it was a world unto itself. In 1975 she married restaurateur George Ahlas, her husband of 45 years. After taking a period away from I. Magnin following the births of her sons Harry and Andrew, she returned to work at the store and was put in charge of the YSL boutique. Not a lot of men were supportive of that at the time, he very much was, said Gassoumis. It allowed her be as successful as she was and go on trips to Paris for the collections for five days, seven days. He would go with her and be supportive, it would not have worked for other couples. They were progressive, ahead of their time. In 10 years at I. Magnin, Ahlas counted many noted and prolific Bay Area fashion clients in her book. The women were drawn to her taste, her access to the best pieces from the YSL showroom and her discretion key for any stylist or sales person. She was of the old school, said Sally Debenham. And most importantly, she didnt press you. Often, Ahlas advice went beyond just purchases. When Id buy something someone else bought shed say Now, someone else bought this who is going where youre going, so we wouldnt both wear it, said Carole McNeil, a 20-year client. But she never gave names, I never knew her clients unless they were in another dressing room and wed see each other in the hall. She was so confidential, thats very important. Suppes began shopping with Ahlas in the late 1980s at I. Magnin when she was searching for an ensemble to wear to the White House, where her husband, computer education pioneer Patrick Suppes, would be awarded the National Medal of Science in 1990. Their shared love of clothes and art led to a close friendship. I knew I wanted to wear Yves Saint Laurent for that occasion, said Suppes. I loved Yves Saint Laurent, thats what she loved, it was a great reason to become friends. Suppes followed Ahlas to Neiman Marcus as a client in the 1990s. In 2017 Suppes gifted over 500 ensembles to the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, many of which she purchased via Ahlas. Suppes was the founder and editor of Fashionlines as well as the author of the 1999 profile of Ahlas. Many intellectual women are drawn to YSL, Ahlas said in the profile. This woman does not want to hide her light under a bushel. Women today are becoming more resourceful and more accomplished and these qualities translate into appropriate fashion. Ahlas was also a swimmer and devoted ballet fan. As an adult she studied the art form in Berkeley and San Francisco and was also a regular attendee at San Francisco Ballet performances. Ahlas danced until the last years of her life in addition to gifting family members pieces from her extensive fashion collection in her last months, she also gave them pairs of her beloved pointe shoes. One of Ahlas final projects was putting together a power point presentation for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco ahead of a future show celebrating the museums permanent fashion collection. In her interview with curator DAlessandro, Ahlas summed up what she had learned about how women dressed in the Bay Area. She absolutely believed that women were different here than in New York or another city, said DAlessandro. She said the differences were first the climate, we do not get that really hot weather in San Francisco. Also, I believe our client was the most savvy. We are artistic in San Francisco, the women are more independent, better educated and women here want to wear their clothes to impact society. Ahlas is survived by her husband, George, sons Harry (Victoria) and Andrew Ahlas, her granddaughters, Anna and Valerie, her sister Paula (Dean) Gassoumis and brothers Sotiros Mousalimas, James (Diane) Mousalimas, her brother-in-law Lambro (Helen) Ahlas and many nephews and nieces. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, funeral services were private. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates memorial contributions to the Eugenia Ahlas Memorial Scholarship Fund or to the Ascension Greek Orthodox Cathedral General Fund, c/o Ascension Cathedral, 4700 Lincoln Ave, Oakland, CA 94602. Tony Bravo is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tbravo@sfchronicle.com WASHINGTON - The Pentagon placed limited the District of Columbia National Guard ahead of pro-Trump protests this week, trying to ensure the use of military force remained constrained, as the Guard carried out a narrow, unarmed mission requested by the city's mayor to help handle traffic before planned protests. In memos issued Monday and Tuesday in response to a request from the D.C. mayor, the Pentagon prohibited the city's guardsmen from receiving ammunition or riot gear, interacting with protesters unless necessary for self-defense, sharing equipment with local law enforcement, or using Guard surveillance and air assets without the defense secretary's approval, according to officials familiar with the orders. The limits were established because the Guard had not been asked to assist with crowd or riot control. The D.C. Guard was also told it would be allowed to deploy a quick reaction force only as a measure of last resort, the officials said. Then, the mission abruptly changed - and the Pentagon is now facing criticism from governors and local officials for the speed with which it sent National Guard troops to respond, criticism its leaders rebutted Thursday. The Capitol Police, the law enforcement force that reports to Congress and protects the House and Senate, had not requested help from the Guard before Wednesday's events. But early Wednesday afternoon, its chief made an urgent plea for backup from 200 troops during a call with top Pentagon and city officials, according to officials familiar with the call. On the call, Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund was asked whether he wanted help from the National Guard. "There was a pause," one of the D.C. officials said. And Sund said yes. "Then, there was another pause, and an official from the [office of the] secretary of the Army said that wasn't going to be possible." The Army official - who was speaking on behalf of the secretary of the Army, who was de facto commanding the D.C. Guard but was not on the call - said the "optics" of soldiers in the Capitol was not something they wanted, the two city officials said. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, confirmed that account in an interview with The Washington Post, saying Capitol Police "made it perfectly clear that they needed extraordinary help, including the National Guard. There was some concern from the Army of what it would look like to have armed military personnel on the grounds of the Capitol." One concern was whether the Army had been invited by Congress. A U.S. defense official said the Army general on the call did not formally deny the request but rather reinforced the negative optics of having uniformed personnel in the Capitol, a point on which Bowser had agreed, and later checked with the chain of command. The defense official said Bowser agreed that if further support was necessary, D.C. police would provide it in the Capitol, and that the Guard would backfill D.C. police positions away from the building. The defense official said the military wanted to be the force of last resort, and military officials had urged Bowser to request more support from federal law enforcement, but she did not do so until Wednesday. Higher-up leaders at the Pentagon then evaluated the request and activated the full D.C. Guard, in addition to later calling the governors of other states to send their Guard forces as reinforcements. The officials also lifted limits on the Guard for the new mission, arming guardsmen with riot gear, but not guns, before they headed to create a perimeter around the Capitol. In the roughly three hours it took the Pentagon to make the shift from traffic policing to full-fledged riot response, the Capitol Police found themselves overwhelmed and rioters stormed the building, forcing lawmakers to take cover and barricade themselves in their offices. The Pentagon left it to federal law enforcement to clear the Capitol of the rioters, amid the hesitancy about sending Guard units into the building itself. By the evening, Guard units helped the Capitol Police and federal and city law enforcement reestablish a perimeter around the building. By Thursday, National Guard forces from across the Mid-Atlantic region were moving into the Washington area. On Thursday afternoon, 24 hours after the Capitol breach, acting defense secretary Christopher Miller called the violence "reprehensible and contrary to the tenets of the United States Constitution." "I, and the people I lead in the Department of Defense, continue to perform our duties in accordance with our oath of office, and will execute the time-honored peaceful transition of power to President-elect Biden on January 20," he said in a statement. Images of rioters overpowering a light law enforcement force and smashing their way into the Capitol building prompted immediate questions about how such a dramatic security breakdown could occur, especially given that rioters had openly voiced their intent to use violence on social media. One contributing factor: As the seriousness of the threat became clear, the jumble of jurisdictions and command structures made it more difficult to respond with speed. Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, who functions as de facto commander of the D.C. National Guard on behalf of the president, because D.C. is not a state, said 6,200 troops would be positioned in and around the city by the weekend, including Guard forces from Pennsylvania, New York and other nearby states. The president's power over the D.C. Guard is delegated to the defense secretary, then the Army secretary, who makes command decisions. It is therefore up to the Pentagon leadership to call state governors if the D.C. Guard needs reinforcement. Speaking alongside Bowser on Thursday, McCarthy said the military acted as quickly as it could once it received local authorities' request for additional support and said officials had not been anticipating such a violent event, despite prolific calls on online platforms for violent action to overturn the Nov. 3 election results. McCarthy said officials did not in their "wildest imagination" envision rioters breaching Capitol grounds. City leadership had asked the Guard to carry out only a narrow mission, defense officials noted. The chaotic and violent outcome of the events, which claimed four lives Wednesday, including a rioter who was shot by Capitol Police, came shortly after Trump egged on supporters in an address outside the White House, falsely insisting that the election was fraudulent and urging the crowd to fight to keep him in office. The turmoil follows a divisive year leading up to the election, amid the coronavirus pandemic and civil unrest after the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, in May. The protests triggered by Floyd's death and race-related violence appeared to have prompted both city and Pentagon officials to opt for a muted response that kept military personnel far from protesters and let local and Capitol police take the lead. The Pentagon came under criticism in June after National Guard forces were on hand when unarmed protesters were forcibly cleared from an area near the White House and front-line troops were positioned outside of Washington. On Thursday, some local officials complained about a delay in granting their request for additional National Guard help as rioters swarmed the Capitol. Security preparations ahead of Wednesday's events came after Trump ordered a mass military response to racial justice protests in the nation's capital this summer, prompting a public outcry when military helicopters flew low over protesters, surveillance assets hovered above the city and residents were left with a sense that D.C. was being occupied or was under siege. A U.S. defense official, who like other officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive deliberations, said the military issues memos outlining the parameters of any mission. The limits added before Wednesday's events made sense, the official said, given that D.C. officials requested the deployment of about 340 guardsmen, primarily to control traffic and monitor Metro stations. "All commanders have left and right limits," the official said. "There is no such thing as carte blanche." The official said that when the mission changed Wednesday afternoon, the Pentagon quickly provided more forces than were requested, bringing in Guard units from states and loosening the restrictions. The scope of the initial mission request by D.C. and the unique command structure of the D.C. Guard may have made it more difficult for authorities to quickly send guardsmen to aid at the Capitol. Pentagon leaders defended the timing of the Guard response, citing "confusion" in scouting a revised mission among multiple agencies and jurisdictions during a chaotic, fast-moving situation. Speaking to reporters by phone Thursday, McCarthy said that after violence erupted about 2 p.m. Wednesday, he spoke with Bowser and the request was relayed for about 200 additional soldiers. "It was at that time we were trying to get to figure out the situation up on the Capitol Hill between our two entities and phone calls from members of Congress and others," he said. McCarthy then briefed Miller, who authorized the deployment of all available D.C. Guard troops, some 1,100 soldiers, with the goal of getting them to the D.C. Armory within four hours. At the same time, McCarthy said, they began trying to pull the approximately 250 Guard troops who were already deployed in D.C., return them to the armory to don riot gear and redirect them to support law enforcement at the Capitol. By early evening, D.C. Guard troops were in place around the Capitol, allowing police and FBI agents to search the building and clear it for lawmakers' return. "People were moving hard and fast," he said. "Of course, there's some very challenging physics with marshaling National Guard capability and doing fragmentary orders to support other missions." But lawmakers and other officials, including the governors of Maryland and Virginia, implied that they wished the Pentagon had moved faster in switching missions and calling in outside Guard units as backup. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said he received a call from House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., who said he was in a secure location with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. "I was actually on the phone with Leader Hoyer, who was pleading with us to send the guard," Hogan said. "He was yelling across the room to Schumer and they were back and forth saying we do have the authorization, and I'm saying, 'I'm telling you we do not have the authorization.' " Hogan said Maj. Gen. Timothy Gowen, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, was repeatedly rebuffed by the Pentagon. "The general . . . kept running it up the flagpole, and we don't have authorization," he said. Ninety minutes later, Hogan said, he received a call "out of the blue, not from the secretary of defense, not through what would be normal channels," but from McCarthy, who asked whether the Maryland guardsmen could "come as soon as possible." "It was like, yeah, we're waiting, we're ready," said Hogan, who had already sent 200 State Police troopers at Bowser's request. Virginia sent in its guardsmen after Gov. Ralph Northam, a Democrat, received a call from Pelosi asking for help. Clark Mercer, Northam's chief of staff, said he received a call from his counterpart in Bowser's office, who suggested that the Defense Department was not moving fast enough and asked for Virginia to send in its Guard. Northam spokeswoman Alena Yarmosky said the governor called up the Guard immediately after talking with Bowser, knowing it would take some time for guardsmen to prepare. The Northam administration worked with the Defense Department after the fact and reached the necessary agreements before guardsmen crossed state lines, she said. The governor's office publicly announced that he had called up the Guard at 3:29 p.m. Once the Pentagon signed off, the Guard mounted a major response. "Going through that mission analysis process, we were able to do an analysis and provide more than what they asked for," the defense official said. "No one asked us to activate the entire Guard. Those are decisions we made on our own by taking a pause and conducting another analysis." - - - The Washington Post's Ovetta Wiggins and Laura Vozzella contributed to this report. KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2021 - 13:16 | Arts, All, Japan An exhibition showcasing smash-hit South Korean drama "Crash Landing on You" began in Tokyo on Friday, recreating some of the romantic comedy's most iconic scenes using over 450 props and photographs. It also features costumes worn by the lead stars, actor Hyun Bin and actress Son Ye Jin, in the 16-episode love story between a South Korean heiress to a family conglomerate who lands in North Korea in a paragliding accident and a North Korean military officer. The melodrama, which was originally shown on South Korean cable network tvN, has taken Japan and other parts of Asia by storm since it began airing on Netflix in February last year. The exhibition opens with a recreation of the scene in which Yoon Se Ri, the wealthy heiress played by Son, crash-lands on the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone after her paraglider is caught in a tornado. Related coverage: "Crash Landing on You" star Son Ye Jin overwhelmed by boom in Japan It goes on to depict other fan-favorite scenes from the drama through props including the piano played by North Korean military officer Ri Jeong Hyeok. Photographs from unreleased scenes are also displayed. The Tokyo exhibition is scheduled to run until Feb. 27 at a commercial complex near JR Harajuku Station, before moving on to the cities of Osaka, Fukuoka and Nagoya. Tickets cost 1,800 yen ($17). Hyun Bin and Son, both 38, made the news after their agencies confirmed on New Year's Day that they have been dating. Crash Landing on You was nominated as one of the top 10 buzzwords in Japan last year, as many people watched the series while staying at home during the coronavirus pandemic. A man is wanted for threatening another person with a knife, according to Laredo police. Authorities identified him as Jose Gerardo Gonzalez, 18. He has a warrant out for his arrest on the charge of aggravated assault with deadly weapon. On Jan. 14, police officers responded to a disturbance reported in the 300 block of South Buena Vista Avenue. A man and a woman reported to police that another male had threatened them with a knife. The man stated he and his girlfriend had arrived at the residence when another male approached them and accused him of stealing. The suspect then grabbed a nearby knife and pointed it at the victim while telling him that he would kill him. Police said the suspect then fled the scene. Crimes against persons detectives took over the case. Authorities identified the suspect as Gonzalez through the course of the investigation. An assistant district attorney then approved an arrest warrant for Gonzalez. He remains at large. Gonzalez is about 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs approximately 160 pounds. His last known address is in the 300 block of Soria Drive. To report his whereabouts, call Laredo Crime Stoppers at 727-TIPS (8477). Callers will remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000. Data: Ipsos/Axios Survey; Chart: Axios Visuals Eight in 10 Republicans oppose removing President Trump from office for inciting his supporters to storm Congress in an effort to overturn his election loss, according to a new Ipsos poll for Axios. Why it matters: The stark finding underscores the degree to which the Republican Party has become the party of Trump. This helps to explain GOP leaders' resistance to impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment. At the same time, the polling suggests near unanimous opposition to protesters' siege and somewhat dampened enthusiasm among Republicans for Trump's refusal to concede. What they're saying: "This has damaged the standing to continue contesting the election with a big chunk of the public," said pollster Chris Jackson, senior vice president for Ipsos Public Affairs. "But what it also tells us is that it doesn't fundamentally change the underlying political dynamics in the country, where Republicans think Trump should stay in office and Democrats do not." "For a lot of Americans the political establishment, the media establishment, aren't trusted to do what's necessary, and people sort of feel like there's a need for regular folks to step up." By the numbers: Just 6% of Americans say they support Wednesday's effort by protesters to forcibly stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden's Electoral College win. But six in 10 Republicans say if elected leaders don't protect the country, the people must take action themselves. 74% of Democrats, but just 22% of Republicans, considered yesterday's events an attempted coup. Half the country (86% of Democrats but just 15% of Republicans) says Trump should immediately be removed from office. Between the lines: The national survey of 536 U.S. adults was conducted Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Ipsos also conducted a snap poll of 500 people earlier in the day, just after the House and Senate chambers were cleared. Between the first and second polls, overall support for Trump contesting the election dipped from 34% to 28%, and support for GOP politicians helping Trump to contest it also dropped, from 35% to 29%. Among Republican respondents, support for contesting Biden's win dropped from about three in four to about two in three. Support for the Capitol police dropped even more precipitously between the two polls, from 59% to 43% though that was driven largely by Democrats' disapproval. Methodology: The margin of sampling error is plus or minus 4.6 percentage points at the 95% confidence level, for results based on the entire sample of adults. Respective reports were confirmed by the official's press secretary. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has indeed asked the European Commission to help Ukraine to obtain a vaccine against the COVID-19 coronavirus. This was reported by the Ukrainian-registered European Pravda news outlet with reference to a comment by Shmyhal's Press Secretary Olha Kuryshko. Read alsoFM Kuleba sees Russia's COVID-19 vaccine as part of hybrid warfare against Ukraine "Indeed, the prime minister sent President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen an official letter, seeking early access to vaccination for Ukrainians. The point at issue is the delivery of vaccines to Ukraine earlier than March, when the first batches of vaccines under the COVAX Facility are expected," Kuryshko said. Previous developments Brussels-based RFE/RL journalist Rikard Jozwiak has said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal appealed to the European Commission for help in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Thirteen countries of the European Union have called on the European Commission to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, including Ukraine. At the end of 2020, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Yenin said that Poland could hand 1.5 million doses of a COVID-19 vaccine over to Ukraine. Reporting by UNIAN Cyclone Yaas: PM holds review meet, asks for timely evacuation of people; landfall expected on May 26 Who will be the next CBI chief? PM Modi-led panel shortlists these three names; Congress protests HD Deve Gowda asks PM Modi to look into crashing prices of horticulture produce PM to deliver keynote address on the occasion of Virtual Vesak Global Celebrations on Buddha Purnima Planet will not be the same after COVID-19: PM Modi Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's niece Chitra Ghosh dies of cardiac arrest, PM Modi condoles India oi-Madhuri Adnal Kolkata, Jan 08: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's niece and eminent academician Chitra Ghosh has died at the age of 90 following a cardiac arrest, a family member said. Ghosh's nephew and BJP leader Chandra Kumar Bose said the youngest daughter of Sarat Chandra Bose passed away at 10.30 am on Thursday due to acute myocardial infraction. "A life dedicated in serving the people teaching & inspiring the youth!" Bose said on Twitter. 7th Pay Commission: Big relief on DA by Modi sarkar expected this month Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took to Twitter to condole the demise of Ghosh. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Professor Chitra Ghosh made pioneering contributions to academics and community service. I recall my interaction with her, when we discussed many subjects including declassification of files relating to Netaji Bose. Saddened by her demise. Condolences to her family. Om Shanti." She was the former head of the political science department at Lady Brabourne College here. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Ghosh's last rites were performed on Thursday afternoon. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 14:09 [IST] New Delhi: British Prime Minister Theresa May announced on Sunday that the June 8 general election will be held as planned despite another terrorist attack in London as she blamed the "evil ideology of Islamist extremism" for the three terror attacks in the country. Speaking outside Downing Street after she chaired the emergency COBRA meeting with senior security chiefs, May said, "Violence can never be allowed to disrupt the democratic process." She said "it is time to say enough is enough" as shecondemned the terror attack on "innocent and unarmed civilians" on London Bridge and Borough Market area of the city, which left seven people dead and 48 injured in London. She said the recent terror attacks in Britain, while not directly linked, "are bound together by the single evil ideology of Islamist extremism." "It is an ideology that is a perversion of Islam and a perversion of the truth. Defeating this ideology is one of the great challenges of our time." "We believe we are experiencing a new trend in the threat we face as terrorism breeds terrorism," she said. The prime minister said attacks are now inspired "by copying one another and often using the crudest of means of attack". "We cannot and must not pretend that things can continue as they are," she said. ALSO READ: London terror attack live: 6 dead, including 3 attackers, in 3 separate incidents; PM Modi, Trump condemn attacks She revealed that the UK's security and intelligence services have disrupted "five credible plots" since the Parliament attack in London in March. The British Prime Minister announced that she plans toreview the UK's counter-terror legislation. "There is far too much tolerance for extremism in our country," she said. In reference to the elections, she said that national campaigning will resume tomorrow, adding: "We will come together and, united, we will take on our enemies." Meanwhile, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick praised the "extraordinary bravery" of her officers, on and off duty, who risked their lives by rushing to confront the attackers. READ: London attack: Trump underscores travel ban on Muslim for extra level of safety Calling for calm, she said: "The last thing we need ispeople over-reacting or taking out their frustrations onpeople in other communities or in their own communities."? A white van hit pedestrians on London Bridge on Saturday night, then three men got out and stabbed people in nearby Borough Market. It is the third terror attack in the UK in three months,following the car and knife attack in Westminster in March, which left five people dead, and the Manchester bombing lessthan two weeks ago, in which 22 people were killed. With PTI inputs For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. After yesterday I was so confused at what I saw and I watched all day into late night. So, I need help in understanding, what am I missing? Thousands of people converged on our U.S. Capitol, breached barriers, broke windows and surged into the building our government stands for and most looked like something out of cartoons. One of the most sacred of places in our constitution and four people lost their lives in these hallowed halls. Sometimes I find myself with tears in my eyes trying to understand. The riots in 2020 in Seattle and Portland were bad, really bad but they were instigated by people who don't have the loyalty to our country as I and others do. Remember what I just said. So how did this abomination happen yesterday? The leader of the free world encouraged them and stoked them to satisfy his needs and wants. And, I don't want to hear that that wasn't Trump supporters because maybe they weren't but it was Trump who instigated this to his minions. He told you he would have a big surprise on Jan. 6. He also told you months before the Nov. 3 election that it would be rigged and he would never concede. All of his objections were shot down in the courts, all of the states said their elections were legal and he today still says it was stolen from him. Our two senators and Rep. Fleischmann agreed and wanted to object to election results to states other than our own. I read today in the Chattanoogan.com how he wants you know that he and his staff were safe and that's great but he, Blackburn and Hagerty helped create the situation by backing Trump's lies and then changed their minds when they had to scramble to safety and hide. Meanwhile, while the Capitol is being overran by people with steer horns on their heads, Trump continues to cheer them on. Donald Trump, after being asked to send in the National Guard, refused. It was VP Pence that called in the Guard. Trump told these criminals that he loved them and they were doing what was right. Countries from all around the world are aghast at what the leader of the most democratic country in the world allowed to happen. I guess my confusion and lack of understanding comes from seeing people treat a man like a god. Did he do some good things, yes, he did, but he demanded praise for everything he did, not just saying good job, but wanting you to know and exclaim how great he is. Today he concedes, but not without saying he was the greatest one term president in American history. I worship no man, I worship my Father and Son in heaven, the most powerful creature to ever walk on this earth, and he demanded no praise and remained humble. Let me just say, Republicans are not the only Christians in this country and I am an independent voter, best person for the job, and I have Democratic friends that worship God on a daily basis. We are fellow citizens of a great country. We may disagree on some things but we should be proud and respect each other and our beliefs. We are not that different, any race, color or religion, and everything is going to be okay, but please, elect decent human beings as our leaders and pray for them. This man was not one of them. So if you can help me understand how this unbelievable action happened yesterday please explain it to me so I can understand also. We have had both good and bad presidents from both parties but none of them has ever changed the way I live my life and they won't yours either. Clifton Duggan * * * I dont approve of violence or violence masquerading as protests. I certainly dont support what is happening in our nations capitol right now. Its not, however, hard to understand it. After the election of 2016, thousands marched in angry protests, some turning into riots. Last year violent mobs burned our cities. We listened as the leftist media described it as peaceful protests. Some even offered justification for it. We watched as many were arrested only to be released as part of some convoluted social engineering scheme. When a mob of angry anarchists stormed the Supreme Court trying to break down the doors in 2018, they were called protesters by NBC. After seeing anarchists repeatedly burning and looting, the message was go on a destructive rampage, call it a protest and get what you demand. But the folks the media favors are called protesters and the other side is a violent mob. Does anyone recall PBS news denouncing Madonna when she said she wanted to blow up the White House? Did FB and Twitter block her? So what part of where we are right now is not understood? Ralph Miller * * * By any definition of the word - an angry out of control mob storming through barriers, climbing walls, breaking down doors, breaking windows and vandalizing offices is a riot. Period. Simply saying something is true doesn't make it true. Saying something is true is a statement not a fact. Credible evidence and credible witnesses in a court of law makes it true. Federal Court and the Supreme Court both said Trump and his mob of blind loyalists are wrong. Donald Trump lost a fair, secure and accurate election. The country said no to Trump - a word he's never heard before. Not having the maturity and/or tools to accept he didn't get his way - Trump immediately embraced the victim-mentality by claiming he was cheated. Trump then tapped into and began following his old friend, Roy Cohn's tactics. His methods included - never admit defeat no matter how obvious - deny, deny, deny and never apologize - make your claims, no matter how inaccurate or absent any credible evidence, as loud and as long as it takes. Seems to me Roy Cohn taught Trump well and would be very proud. George Parker -- NEW YORK - Deutsche Bank agreed Friday to pay fines and penalties of about $130 million to avoid a criminal prosecution on charges it participated in a foreign bribery scheme to win business in Saudi Arabia. FILE In this Oct. 4, 2020, file photo, the moon shines next to the headquarters of the Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, Germany. Deutsche Bank has agreed to pay a fine of more than $100 million to avoid a criminal prosecution on charges it participated in a foreign bribery scheme. Lawyers for the bank waived its right to face an indictment on conspiracy charges Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, during a teleconference with a federal judge in New York City. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File) NEW YORK - Deutsche Bank agreed Friday to pay fines and penalties of about $130 million to avoid a criminal prosecution on charges it participated in a foreign bribery scheme to win business in Saudi Arabia. Lawyers for the bank, which has longstanding ties to President Donald Trump, waived its right to face an indictment on conspiracy charges during a teleconference with a federal judge in New York City. According to court papers, Deutsche Bank bribed intermediaries to make deals in Saudi Arabia between 2009 and 2016, labeling the payments as referral fees for consultants. In one instance around 2012, the bank paid one of its fixers $1,087,538 "and caused those payments to be falsely recorded in the companys books, records and accounts, the papers said. Other intermediaries demanded financing for a yacht and for a house in France as compensation, the papers said. The penalties against Deutsche Bank included a criminal fine of $85,186,206 and a payment of $43,329,622 to settle a related U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission action, prosecutors said. A Deutsche Bank spokesperson, Dan Hunter, declined to comment on the specifics of the case. But he said that the deferred prosecution agreement showed that the bank was taking responsibility for its actions and that its co-operation with federal authorities reflect our transparency and determination to put these matters firmly in the past. The resolution comes in the waning days of the administration of Trump, who had a longtime personal business association with a bank that has been under scrutiny for years. Deutsche Bank one of the few banks willing to lend to Trump after a series of corporate bankruptcies starting in the early 1990s has become central to investigations by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance and New York Attorney General Letitia James that are considered a potential legal threat to Trump after he leaves office this month. Vance and James, both Democrats, have subpoenaed the bank for documents related to the president. Trump has said the investigations are all politically motivated. There was no indication that the Saudi Arabia scheme was related to Trump's dealings with the bank. In previous cases, the Frankfurt, Germany-based bank has agreed to a Securities and Exchange Commission fine of $16 million to resolve separate allegations of corrupt dealings in Russia and China. Deutsche has also agreed to pay the state of New York $150 million to settle claims that it broke compliance rules in its dealings with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The wealthy financier killed himself last August in a Manhattan federal jail while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. There were reports last year that the bank gave expensive gifts to senior Chinese officials and others establish itself as a major player in Chinas financial industry. Manchester: Many people and Sikh temples are offering free food and rooms for the night for victims of Manchester terror attack. As hundreds of people fled Manchester Arena following the explosion, taxi drivers began taking people to safety. Driver AJ Singh said he tried to help wherever he could. Ive had people who needed to find loved ones. Ive dropped them off to the hospital. Theyve not had any money, theyve been stranded, he told Channel 4 News. We should come out and show whoevers done this that it doesnt matter because Manchester, were glue and we stick together when it counts. Manchester, a heavily industrialised city, some 260 km from London, is home to a significant number of people from South Asia. Sam Arshad, from StreetCars Manchester asked his drivers to give free rides to anyone stranded after the Ariana Grande concert. The audience was a very young audience, and there were a lot of people there without their parents, he told the BBC. There are stories of cab drivers driving over from Liverpool to try and offer people free lifts back to Liverpool. There were stories of people coming on to the streets of Manchester to offer their spare rooms because people were not able to get back to their hotels. Muslim taxi drivers giving free lifts, Sikh temples giving food and beds, locals giving blood in the morning. Proud to call Manchester home, tweeted Emily Bolton a local resident. Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram, whose two daughters and two nieces were at the concert, praised the spontaneous acts of ordinary people of Manchester following Saturday nights attack at a concert in the city. And its then that people were requesting taxis but they didnt have money. It was at that point that I made the decision that money isnt everything in life and were part of Manchester and we need to do our part to make sure these people get home safe and sound, Rotheram said. At least 22 people were killed and 59 others injured when a lone suicide bomber set off a bomb at the Manchester Arena after US pop star Ariana Grande concluded her concert on Saturday night. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. A good escapist television series is worth its weight in gold. And we've been turning to Netflix's new regency drama, Bridgerton in our millions. Over the last week online searches for the series, set in 19th-century Britain, went up by 850% and the aristocratic romance is projected to have a viewership of 63 million by the end of the month. Besides the love scenes and acting skills of the diverse cast, the topic everyone is talking about is the glamorous wardrobe of the wealthy characters. In particular, their major bling. Costume designer Ellen Mirojnick created a whopping 7,500 costumes for the period series, with eye-catching original jewels for each handmade piece worn by the female cast. British jewellery experts from Steven Stone and OnBuy.com have revealed how much the jewellery featured in Bridgerton would be worth if it was sold in real life. These are figures that even someone who has visited the crown jewel exhibition in London would find eye-watering. Daphnes white gold diamond necklace: 3.8 million That necklace that Prince Friedrich put around Daphne's neck would set a shopper back nearly 4 million. Picture: Netflix Fans are swooning over the necklace given to lead character Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) by Prince Friedrich (Freddie Stroma) in episode four. Based on the five ten-carat diamonds embedded into the white gold chain, the estimated value is predicted to be worth a whopping 3.8 million. Lady Danburys white gold diamond tiara: 5.5 million Lady Danbury had many enviable outfits during the series, this pairing, however, may have stolen the show. Picture: Netflix Photographs of the stunning tiara worn by the formidable Lady Danbury (Adjoa Andoh) have been circulating around the web for weeks. The headpiece, which experts from Steven Stone estimate would contain over 100 carats of sparkling diamonds, would be worth around 5.5 million in real life. Lady Danburys white gold marquise diamond necklace: 3.3 million Paired with the pricey tiara, Lady Danbury also showed off a 300-carat marquise necklace at one of the show's many balls that would cost 3.3 million. That regal white gold does not come cheap. Daphnes gold pear shape diamond necklace: 660,000 Daphne's character came right off the bat with some of the show's most enviable pieces, showing off this diamond necklace in episode one. Picture: Nick Briggs/Netflix Assuming that the main diamond of this enviable necklace worn by Daphne at the beginning of the series is six carats, the covetable pear shape necklace would cost the humble shopper an estimated 660,000. The Queens pigeon blood ruby drop earrings: 7.7 million Who else would wear pigeon blood ruby earrings but the Queen. Picture: Netflix The tongue-twister name of the Queens (Golda Rosheuvel) gold drop earrings shows just how extremely rare they would be in real life, as the pigeon blood, or Burmese, ruby is one of the most sought after gems in the world. Steven Stone reckons that Queen Charlotte's earrings would go for a hefty price tag of 7.7 million if sold in reality. A price tag fit for a royal, even if no actual blood is contained in the precious jewels. Marinas gold diamond necklace: 1.6 million The stylish Marina wore some of the most talked-about pieces of the show. Picture: Netflix Million euro jewellery isnt just for the Queens and Ladies of Bridgerton, with the Featheringtons distant cousin Marina Thompson (Ruby Barker) sporting a gold necklace to the Danbury ball that experts estimate would be worth around 1.6 million. Portias yellow gold turquoise butterfly necklace: 27,000 Portia Featherington's jewellery was the perfect fit for an upper-class Lady. Picture: Netflix Lady Featheringtons (Polly Walker) aggression towards Marina might be explained by the fact she was given the budget version of the young beautys necklace. Portias stunning turquoise butterfly necklace would still set you back 27,000 however. And her outfit totally clashed with Marinas in this episode: awkward. A sixty foot-deep sinkhole opened up outside an Italian hospital, forcing wards full of coronavirus patients to be closed. The giant chasm opened in the parking lot at the Hospital of the Sea in Naples leading to a temporary closure of a nearby residence for recovering Covid-19 patients because utilities were severed. Operations were not affected at the hospital and firefighters said it didn't appear anyone was injured. A large sinkhole appeared in the Hospital of the Sea car park in Naples, Italy, this morning Aerial shots revealed the size of the gigantic hole, which has swallowed up a large chunk of the car park The chasm is more than 60ft deep and is filled with rubble and at least three cars from the parking lot Hospital operations remained largely unaffected but a nearby residence for recovering Covid-19 patients had to be evacuated The sinkhole consumed three cars in the hospital's otherwise empty visitors' parking lot. The local hospital district said the 66ft deep, 21,527-square-foot sinkhole opened at dawn. Chief firefighter Cmdr. Ennio Aquilino told Italian television channel SkyTG 24 the implosion could have been caused by an infiltration of water underground as a result of recent heavy rains. At the time, six people were recovering at the residence for Covid-19 patients. They have been relocated. The six coronavirus patients who were being treated have since been relocated The local hospital district said the 66ft deep, 21,527-square-foot sinkhole opened at dawn Since the enormous hole appeared firefights have confirmed there are no injuries as a result The coronavirus recovery residence was forced to shut and relocate people because utilities were severed The regional governor, Vincenzo De Luca, said the residence would reopen within days after electricity and water service were restored. Both were also interrupted at the hospital but backup systems allowed care to continue. 'Frankly, we were also worried about the collapse of all utilities and that the activity of the hospital could be jeopardized,' De Luca said. It is believed the coronavirus residence will reopen within days once the electricity and water service return The hospital's water and electric supplies were affected by the sinkhole but backup systems allowed services to continue as normal 'Thank God, this did not happen. We had a power break but electricity was restored and now we don't have any problem in providing care.' People and emergency service teams were seen close to the scene as they marveled at the shocking sight. Aerial shots of the enormous sinkhole show the large area of car park that has been engulfed, leaving behind a rubble-fill hole in the ground. The Ukrainians had been held in Libya since 2016. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for helping to evacuate Ukrainian sailors held in Libya since 2016. "Glad to welcome our sailors, members of the Captain Khayyam tanker's crew, at home after 5 years of detention in Libya! Ukraine never forgets and doesn't leave its people in trouble. Special thanks to Recep Tayyip Erdogan for helping to evacuate our citizens. Ukraine appreciates Turkey's support," Zelensky wrote on Twitter on January 8, 2021. Read alsoUkraine finalizes prisoner swap listBackground In February 2016, the Libyan coast guard detained in the territorial waters the Captain Khayyam tanker flying the flag of Sierra Leone. Among the crew members were citizens of Ukraine, Turkey, and Azerbaijan. In March 2016, the crew was arrested on suspicion of smuggling petroleum products. Reporting by UNIAN Investigators say the suspects were supposed to take pictures of certain facilities and collect information about certain individuals. The Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office has announced a case accusing two citizens of Lithuania of spying for Russia was brought to court. This was reported by the Ukrainian-registered European Pravda news outlet, citing BNS. Read alsoSpy wars: Bulgaria expels Russian diplomat, third time this year According to the prosecutor's office, the defendants do not know each other and their actions differ, but findings of the pretrial investigation suggest that they were involved in crimes committed against the Lithuanian state by an employee of the Border Directorate of the Russian Federation's FSB in Kaliningrad region. The investigation established that he had used a fake identity. He speaks fluent Lithuanian. Spokeswoman for the Lithuanian Prosecutor General's Office Elena Martinoniene said the case was the same pretrial investigation that the Office reported about in early March last year. In the spring, it was reported that member of Klaipeda City Council Ela Andrejeva was detained. Her lawyer, Natalja Focenkova, later told BNS that the politician had been given special witness status. Representative of the Klaipeda Regional Court Dovile Sauleniene said that the court had received the case. The defendants in the case are public figure, Director General of the Baltic Youth Association Juvenis Aleksejus Greicius and Mindaugas Tunikaitis. Tunikaitis lives on the border with Russia's Kaliningrad region; in 2015, he ran for a local government council with the Lithuanian List political party. In 2015, Greicius ran with the Lithuanian Russian Union for Klaipeda City Council, and Andrejeva was also on this list. Investigators say the suspects were supposed to take pictures of certain facilities, collect information about certain individuals, participate in events, buy and hand over certain publications, publish certain information publicly and perform other tasks. They received cash rewards for the transferred data in the form of "support for health" or "compensation" for visa fees. Both suspects were detained in early March last year. They are now in pretrial detention. They can be sentenced to three to fifteen years in prison for espionage. Other related news reports Reporting by UNIAN WASHINGTON (AP) The Latest on Congress' confirmation of Joe Biden as winner of the presidential election (all times local): The U.S. Capitol Police are reporting that Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick died Thursday night due to injuries sustained while on-duty during the Wednesday riots at the Capitol. The report said Sicknick was responding to the riots , at the U.S. Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters. He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. The death of Officer Sicknick will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Departments Homicide Branch, the Capitol Police and federal investigatorss. Democratic leaders of the House Appropriations Committee said the tragic loss of a Capitol police officer should remind all of us of the bravery of the law enforcement officers who protected us, our colleagues, Congressional staff, the press corps and other essential workers during the hourslong takeover of the Capitol by pro-Trump protesters. ___ 6:15 p.m. The head of the U.S. Capitol Police will resign effective Jan. 16 following the breach of the Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. Chief Steven Sund said Thursday that police had planned for a free speech demonstration and did not expect the violent attack. He said it was unlike anything hed experienced in his 30 years in law enforcement. He resigned Thursday after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called on him to step down. His resignation was confirmed to The Associated Press by a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to speak publicly. The breach halted the effort by Congress to certify President-elect Joe Bidens victory. Protesters stormed the building and occupied for hours. The lawmakers eventually returned and finished their work. ___ 2:20 p.m. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Donald Trump should immediately be removed from office or Congress may proceed to impeach him. Pelosi on Thursday joined those calling on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Trump from office. It came a day after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, forcing the building into lockdown. Trump called them very special people and said he loved them. She said at the Capitol: The president of the United States incited an armed insurrection against America. Pelosi says he could do further harm to the country: Any day can be a horror show for America." Democrats and some Republicans want Trump removed before his term ends on Jan. 20 with Democrat Joe Bidens inauguration. The 25th Amendment allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. The vice president then becomes acting president. ___ 11:40 a.m. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer is calling on President Donald Trump's Cabinet to remove him from office following Wednesday's violent assault on the Capitol by the president's supporters. In a statement Thursday, Schumer said the attack on the Capitol "was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president." He added, "This president should not hold office one day longer." Schumer said Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment and immediately remove Trump from office. He added, "If the vice president and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president." ___ HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT CONGRESS' CONFIRMATION OF BIDEN'S VICTORY: Angry supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a chaotic protest aimed at thwarting a peaceful transfer of power, forcing lawmakers to be rushed from the building and interrupting challenges to Joe Biden's Electoral College victory. Congress returned later Wednesday to resume their proceedings after the Capitol was cleared by law enforcement and confirmed Biden as the presidential election winner. ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS GOING ON: 11:25 a.m. Republican Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger is calling on President Donald Trump's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove him from office. Kinzinger made the remarks Thursday in a video posted to Twitter, responding to the violent mob that stormed Congress on Wednesday in an attempt to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's win over Trump. Kinzinger says, "the president is unfit. And the president is unwell." He went on to say Trump "must now relinquish control of the executive branch voluntarily or involuntarily." The 25th Amendment allows for the vice president and a majority of the Cabinet to declare the president unfit for office. The vice president then becomes acting president. ___ 11:15 a.m. The chief of the U.S. Capitol Police says the violent mob that stormed the building wielded metal pipes, chemical irritants and other weapons against law enforcement. Steven Sund issued a statement Thursday saying the rioting protesters "actively attacked" police officers and "were determined to enter into the Capitol building by causing great damage." A Capitol Police officer shot and killed one person, who Sund identified as Ashli Babbitt. Sund did not identify the officer but said they would be placed on administrative leave pending an investigation. Sund defended his agency's response from criticism that officers did not stop the incursion. He says his agency "had a robust plan" for what he anticipated would be peaceful protests, but what occurred Wednesday was "criminal riotous behavior." He said more than 50 Capitol and Washington police officers were injured and several Capitol Police officers were hospitalized with serious injuries. ___ 10:50 a.m. The top U.S. military commander for Africa has issued a message of assurance to his forces, saying that America, its Constitution and system of government remain strong despite the violent events at the U.S. Capitol. Army Gen. Stephen Townsend tweeted Thursday that America has "withstood much greater and graver challenges in the past" and Africa Command remains focused on its mission. "The American people expect, and need, us to stay steady and keep clear eyes on our duty and we will," said Townsend in a statement with his senior enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. Richard Thresher. While the statement appears to be directed to his Africa Command forces, it clearly serves as a message across Europe and Africa to America's allies who watched in horror as armed and angry protestors took over the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Africa Command is based in Germany. ___ 10:30 a.m. Former Attorney General William Barr says President Donald Trump's conduct as a violent mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol was a "betrayal of his office and supporters." In a statement to The Associated Press, Barr said Thursday that "orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable." Barr was one of Trump's most loyal and ardent defenders in the Cabinet. His comments come a day after angry and armed protesters broke into the U.S. Capitol, forcing Congress members to halt the ongoing vote to certify President-elect Joe Biden's election and then flee from the House and Senate chambers. Barr resigned last month amid lingering tension over the president's baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into Biden's son. __ 9:35 a.m. The Defense Department has formally activated roughly 6,200 members of the National Guard from six northeastern states to help support the Capitol Police and other law enforcement in Washington in the wake of the deadly riot Wednesday that rocked the U.S. Capitol. Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller signed orders activating the National Guard from Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland for up to 30 days. A defense official said the goal is to have Guard members help secure the U.S. Capitol and the surrounding area through the Jan. 20 inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. The Guard members are arriving over the next several days. A total of 6,200 have been activated, but the exact number of troops that will actually get to the city may be less than that, depending on who is available in each state. The Guard won't be armed, but will have riot gear and protective clothing, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide troop details. The orders come a day after angry and armed protesters broke into the U.S. Capitol, forcing Congress members to halt the ongoing vote to certify Biden's election and then flee from the House and Senate chambers. Four people died in the melee, including a protester who was shot by police. The vote was later completed after the building was cleared. ___ 8:35 a.m. President Donald Trump's former acting White House chief of staff resigned his post as special envoy to Northern Ireland on Thursday, saying "I can't do it. I can't stay." Mick Mulvaney joined a growing list of Trump administration officials who are leaving following the violent riot at the Capitol on Wednesday. The riot occurred after Trump addressed a massive rally in Washington fueled by the president's repeated allegations that he lost the November election because of election fraud, which is not substantiated. A mob breached the Capitol building just as lawmakers were working to certify Electoral College votes in the election, sealing President-elect Joe Biden's victory. Mulvaney said he called Secretary of State Mike Pompeo Wednesday night to tell him that he was resigning. He served as acting White House chief of staff from January 2019 until March 2020. Before that, he was director of the Office of Management and Budget. "I can't do it. I can't stay," Mick Mulvaney told CNBC, which was first to report the resignation. "Those who choose to stay, and I have talked with some of them, are choosing to stay because they're worried the president might put someone worse in." ___ 3:55 a.m. President Donald Trump now says there "will be an orderly transition on January 20th" after Congress concluded the electoral vote count certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory and after a day of violence when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Trump says in a statement tweeted by his social media director Dan Scavino, "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th." He adds: "I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again." Trump's account is currently locked by Twitter. Trump has spent the last two months refusing to concede the election and making baseless allegations of mass voter fraud that have been rejected by dozens of courts and Republican officials, including his former attorney general. Vice President Mike Pence presided over the formal session that ended early Thursday morning tallying the electoral college vote. ___ 3:40 a.m. Congress has formally validated Joe Biden's presidential election victory on a day that saw a time-honored ceremony become a nightmare of unprecedented political terror. The House and Senate certified the Democrat's electoral college win early Thursday after a violent throng of pro-Trump rioters spent hours Wednesday running rampant through the Capitol. A woman was fatally shot, windows were bashed and the mob forced shaken lawmakers and aides to flee the building, shielded by Capitol Police. The rampage began shortly after President Donald Trump repeated his unfounded claims of election fraud to thousands of rallying demonstrators he'd invited to Washington. Many then surged to the Capitol after he incited them to go there as lawmakers debated the electoral votes. More than six hours after the violence erupted, lawmakers resumed their session. Thirteen Republican senators and dozens of GOP representatives had planned to force debate and votes on perhaps six different states' votes. The assault on the Capitol made some Republicans squeamish about trying to overturn Biden's win, and challenges were lodged only against Arizona and Pennsylvania. Both efforts lost overwhelmingly. Biden defeated Trump by 306-232 electoral votes and will be inaugurated Jan. 20. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted dental education and training. The study "COVID-19 and Dental and Dental Hygiene Students' Career Plans," published in the JDR Clinical & Translational Research (JDR CTR), examined the short-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental hygiene and dental students' career intentions. An anonymous online survey was emailed to dental and dental hygiene students enrolled at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry, Richmond, USA. The survey consisted of 81 questions that covered a wide range of topics including demographics, anticipated educational debt, career plans post-graduation, readiness to enter clinical practice or residency, and student wellness. The authors found that students at all levels of training have become concerned about the limited employment opportunities, long-term stability of the dental profession, and on interruptions to clinical education and licensure examinations consequent to the pandemic. More than 10% of all student study respondents felt anxious about the future of dentistry, with approximately 40% of those in their final year choosing to change their career post-graduation plans. Students who reported an intent to change their career plans had significantly higher perceived stress and anxiety scores and lower resilience scores than students who reported no change to their career plans. Compared to white students, more black, indigenous, and people of color reported that they had changed their career plans. A comprehensive effort inclusive of adeptly designed clinical and curriculum experiences paired with wellness interventions and support tailored to students is needed." Dina Garcia , Study Lead Author, Virginia Commonwealth University "The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the career plans of dental and dental hygiene students may negatively affect the future dental workforce," said JDR CTR Editor-in-Chief Jocelyne S. Feine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. "We lack understanding of both the short-term and long-term effects of prolonged and unanticipated public health crises on the dental workforce. More studies are needed to provide this information so that these issues can be appropriately addressed." The COVID-19 test used in dozens of sites throughout the Bay Area may lead to false negative results. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Monday that the COVID-19 test developed by Curative, the Bay Area start-up that brands its tests as "simple-to-use and painless," runs the "risk of false results, particularly false negative results." The reason for this, the agency explained, is that the test should be used only on "symptomatic individuals within 14 days of COVID-19 symptom onset." "A negative result does not exclude the possibility of COVID-19" if used on individuals without any symptoms, it warned. The FDA explained that among the risks of false negatives are "delayed or lack of supportive treatment" and "lack of monitoring of infected individuals ... resulting in increased risk of spread of COVID-19 within the community." Curative has partnered with six counties in the Bay Area San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Sonoma, Santa Clara and Marin for their free tests. Marin County is the newest county to work with the startup, announcing a broad rollout of pop-up testing sites using the firm's technology. A representative from San Francisco's COVID Command Center told SFGATE in a statement that the Department of Public Health "is aware" of the FDA's statement on Curative tests. "DPH does not currently use these tests at any of its testing sites," the statement reads. "We are interested in understanding the issue more to help guide current as well as potential future uses of this test and will be reviewing these findings and the data that support it." San Francisco schools also proposed using Curative to test teachers and school staff when they reopen, a partnership that was established in November last year. A statement from San Francisco Unified School District to SFGATE reads: "Only a limited number of SFUSD staff have been tested to date with Curative labs through a small testing pilot that took place in December. Given the new information from the FDA, we have decided to pause our testing pilot with Curative and we are consulting further with the SF Department of Public Health while exploring other options and awaiting more information." Curative was founded by Fred Turner, a 25-year-old British businessman. The company was originally founded at the start of 2020 to focus on sepsis, and pivoted at the onset of the pandemic to focus on the coronavirus. In a statement to SFGATE, Turner said that the company would be working with the FDA on the issue. "We are confident in our data and we are working with the FDA closely on the matter," he said in a statement. "Testing sensitivity and accuracy on behalf of our patients is at the heart of our work." NBC News reports that the company was awarded a federal contract to conduct testing on U.S. government officials. It was also awarded contracts with the Department of Defense and the U.S. Air Force. Bay City News Service contributed to this report. Sidney Powell. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Dominion Voting Systems has filed a defamation suit against the pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell, seeking $1.3 billion in damages. Powell, a former lawyer for President Donald Trump's campaign, has pushed a debunked conspiracy theory that the election-technology company falsified results in the 2020 presidential election. Dominion's new lawsuit outlines numerous falsehoods in Powell's election lawsuits and public statements about the election and Dominion's involvement. The voting technology company alleged that her conspiracy theories were all the more damaging because they were amplified by Trump and right-wing media outlets. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit on Friday against the pro-Trump attorney Sidney Powell, seeking $1.3 billion in damages. For months Powell pushed a false conspiracy theory alleging that Dominion's election technology helped to falsify the result of the 2020 presidential election by switching votes from President Donald Trump to Joe Biden. Her convoluted - and debunked - theory alleged Dominion was secretly in cahoots with a rival election-technology company, Smartmatic, and had links to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who died in 2013. "Far from being created in Venezuela to rig elections for a now-deceased Venezuelan dictator, Dominion was founded in Toronto for the purpose of creating a fully auditable paper-based vote system that would empower people with disabilities to vote independently on verifiable paper ballots," Dominion's lawsuit said. Smartmatic has also said it will pursue litigation against election conspiracy theorists and media organizations that gave them a platform. Powell was one of the faces of the Trump campaign's legal team in November, but Trump kicked her off the team after she floated her conspiracy theory at a press conference alongside the attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis. Giuliani and Ellis remained on the campaign's legal team, even as both continued to spread falsehoods about the election and as Giuliani spread many of the same theories as Powell. Story continues Despite being purged from Trump's "Elite Strike Force," Powell used her false theories as the premise of four federal lawsuits seeking to overturn the election result. All of them failed, and they have resulted in motions for her to be disbarred. Dominion's 124-page defamation lawsuit - running nearly 2,000 pages with exhibits - filed in federal court in Washington, DC, outlines how Powell repeatedly spread lies about the company, flying in the face of evidence from election-certification and -security authorities and courts that found her claims meritless. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The voting-technology company said it arrived at the $1.3 billion figure by adding up the value of the contracts at risk because of the disinformation, punitive damages from her claim, and the recouping of the cost of litigation against her. The case has been assigned to Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee. "These false allegations have caused catastrophic damage to this company. They have branded Dominion, a voting company, as perpetrating a massive fraud," Tom Clare, the attorney representing Dominion, said in a Zoom press conference on Friday. "Those allegations triggered a media firestorm that promoted those same false claims to a global audience. They've made the company radioactive and destroyed the value of its once thriving business and has put Dominion's multiyear contracts in jeopardy." Powell said Friday she "would not be cowed," writing on Twitter that the lawsuit "is baseless & filed to harass, intimidate, & to drain our resources as we seek the truth of #DominionVotingSystems' role in this fraudulent election." A lie spread through a right-wing media ecosystem The lawsuit outlines how Powell used the right-wing media ecosystem to spread the theory. It says that Powell's falsehoods "in concert with like-minded allies and media outlets" had led to threats against Dominion employees and election officials. It also points out that Trump tweeted videos of Powell, amplifying her claims "to his more than 88 million followers, instantly and irreparably damaging Dominion's reputation and business to a global audience and putting the lives of Dominion employees in danger." Clare said Friday that this lawsuit against Powell would be the first in a series and that the company was still weighing whether to sue Trump. He told Insider that he expected to sue other parties parallel to Powell rather than waiting for the lawsuit against her to conclude. President Donald Trump. Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images In December, Clare sent document-retention letters to Giuliani and the right-wing media organizations Fox News, Newsmax, and One America News. He previously told Insider that the company was weighing defamation lawsuits against them as well. The lawsuit also outlines how Powell raised money from her media tour peddling her conspiracy theory through a corporate vehicle called "Defending the Republic," also named as a party in the lawsuit. "Powell willfully made them in the course of her business as a media figure, author, and attorney because she could derive - and did in fact derive - both direct and indirect financial benefits from making those false statements," the lawsuit said. Actual malice To succeed in a defamation lawsuit, plaintiffs like Dominion must show that defendants like Powell were acting with "actual malice," rather than sincerely believing their falsehoods. To clear this hurdle, Clare said Friday, the lawsuit points to Powell's ignoring Dominion's demands for retraction. "Heard they wrote me too! Haven't seen it but retracting nothing We have #evidence. They are #fraud masters!" Powell tweeted on December 20, responding to a tweet from Lin Wood, a Trump elector and fellow attorney and conspiracy theorist. Wood was banned from Twitter after falsely alleging that Chief Justice John Roberts was involved in a pedophile ring and calling for Vice President Mike Pence to be executed. "It is hard to imagine better evidence of reckless disregard to the truth," Clare said. Powell and Lin Wood at a press conference on the election result in Georgia on December 2. Elijah Nouvelage/Reuters Clare also said that Powell continued to push her conspiracy theory even when she was contradicted by evidence, that she falsified court filings, and that she misrepresented the qualifications of her sources. "She continued to make those same discredited statements over and over and over again, in the face of all of that hard evidence," Clare said. "She concealed and misrepresented who her sources actually were, as well as their qualifications. She relied on sources with a track record of spreading false statements and spreading conspiracy theories." The lawsuit points to an exhibit Powell filed in her federal lawsuit in Georgia. She said that Dominion did not have up-to-date certification in the state. In fact, the exhibit had cropped out the certification date, which was recent. On the left, an exhibit Powell filed in a lawsuit with the approval cropped out. On the right, the authentic certificate. Dominion lawsuit Jan Jacobowitz, a former University of Miami law professor and expert on legal ethics, previously told Insider that Powell could be disbarred or face other court sanctions if she was found to have falsified documents in her lawsuits. The city of Detroit, following the failure of Powell's Michigan lawsuit, has already referred her for disbarment. Dominion's lawsuit outlines the dubious sources Powell cited in her lawsuits. One is "Spider" (Powell sometimes spelled the name as "Spyder"), who claimed to be a "military intelligence expert." Powell retracted his name from exhibits but erroneously included it in the metadata. The Washington Post spoke to him and found that he vastly misrepresented his qualifications. Rudy Giuliani and Powell at a Trump campaign press conference. AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin A source whom Powell described as a "Venezuelan military officer" was identified by The Associated Press as Leamsy Salazar. Dominion's lawsuit describes Salazar's claims as false on their face. "If Salazar is now a pure-hearted whistleblower with the best interests of American democracy at heart, why did he wait more than five years after arriving in the United States - until after Trump had lost the presidential election - to tell anyone that U.S. elections were being rigged through the use of decades-old Venezuelan vote-flipping software," the lawsuit says. Other affiants Powell relied on in her lawsuits, Dominion said, are "conspiracy theorists, con artists, and other facially unreliable sources as experts." The lawsuit cites evidence that one lied about their military career and that another lied about being a doctor and used money raised for charity for personal gain. Yet another purported to show fraud by citing a county that does not exist. And one pushed anti-Semitic conspiracy theories claiming that George Soros helped give rise to Nazi Germany in the 1930s. (Soros is Jewish and was born in 1930.) "Lies were told about government election officials, elections workers, and Dominion Voting Systems," Dominion CEO John Poulos said Friday. "Those lies have consequences. They have served to diminish the credibility of U.S. elections. They have subjected officials and Dominion employees to harassment and death threats. And they have severely damaged the reputation of our company." This article has been updated. Read the original article on Business Insider A wedding venue director has been fined $5,000 after hosting a Northern Beaches bride who risked a COVID-19 catastrophe by breaking lockdown to get married. Diana Falasca, 28, flouted coronavirus restrictions by leaving her Beacon Hill home to tie the knot with Mark Bonifacio last month in front of dozens of guests at Doltone House at Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont. Police have since handed out a total of 21 Penalty Infringement Notices (PINs) for Ms Falasca and wedding guests who made the trip south in breach of the Public Health Order. On Friday NSW Police revealed a 28-year-old director of the venue was also fined for not complying with COVID-19 restrictions relating to the Northern Beaches. Diana Falasca, 28, flouted coronavirus restrictions by leaving her Beacon Hill home to tie the knot with Mark Bonifacio (pictured together at their wedding) last month Pictured: Diana Falasca, 28, and her new husband Mark Bonifacio at their wedding celebrations on Sunday At the end of last month, Ms Falasca broke down into tears as she spoke out for the first time after the breach sparked widespread outrage. 'Im really sorry but my weddings f****d, the whole year is f****d, its all f****d, its all really upsetting,' she told The Daily Telegraph through tears. A Sydney-based wedding planner to the rich and famous who did not want to be named, earlier told Daily Mail Australia the wedding would have been a minimum spend of $50,000 just for the venue and catering. Family members told the Nine network the couple had been trying to get married since July and had been forced to postpone their wedding twice this year due to coronavirus. Had they postponed the event again, they claim they would have lost thousands of dollars. 'The hair, the makeup, the photographer, the videographer... there are so many things that are tied to that day and they would definitely be losing money if they had to move it,' the source said. 'That could be as much as a 30 per cent loss.' While the flagrant breach of lockdown restrictions has sparked outrage across the state, some working within the struggling industry do sympathise with the young couple. Doltone House (pictured) is a a glamorous setting with a stunning view situated in Pyrmont - on the edge of Sydney's CBD 'Rules are rules and they would have known they were breaching the rules,' the source said. 'But I definitely feel sorry for them, they would have planned for a year in advance and then the outbreak happened. 'That would have been very difficult. It's not that easy to just cancel a wedding, it's not like cancelling a backyard BBQ.' A total of 22 people were fined in relation to the wedding, while the groom didn't violate any health orders and was therefore not penalised. The guests stung with fines include three men aged 31, 41 and 75 and two women aged 42 and 71 from Narraweena. Officers crashed the celebration at Doltone House at 5pm after receiving a tip-off. Pictured: Bride Diana Falasca (left) Pictured: The ultra-stylish Doltone House venue at Jones Bay Wharf is seen fully decorated before a big wedding Mr Bonifacio (pictured) did not breach the health regulations and was not fined A 32-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman from Collaroy Plateau were also slapped with penalties, along with a 36-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman from French's Forest. Video showed the happy couple dancing in front of family and friends while celebrating their nuptials at Jones Bay Wharf in Pyrmont. The following morning, Ms Falasca and a number of guests were each fined $1,000 for defying health orders and leaving the region following a Covid-19 outbreak on December 16. Ms Falasca's family and members of the bridal party were among the people hit with penalties. Officers crashed the celebration at Doltone House at 5pm after receiving a tip-off, with pictures showing guests mingling on a balcony. They waited until the ceremony was over before they began speaking with guests and staff, and handing out fines. Doltone House maintained the venue was compliant with all of the state's lockdown rules and statutory obligations, but was misled by the wedding party. A man with a protective mask swabs surfaces throughout Doltone House, days after a wedding at the venue sparked outrage when the bride breached the Northern Beaches lockdown 'These people, and all guests for that matter that attended the wedding, were required to, and did in fact, register their attendance at the venue through the NSW Government QR Code App,' the venue said on their Facebook page. 'Had Doltone House been advised that any person attending the wedding was doing so in breach of government restrictions, then it would have taken all necessary steps to protect the health and safety of its guests and the broader community.' Premier Gladys Berejiklian previously lashed out at the rule-breakers labelling their actions 'the type of behaviour that risks it for everybody'. 'All of us were shaking our heads, absolutely aghast that that occurred,' she said. 'We appreciate that those milestone events are special times for people, but please consider the greater risk you are posing to every person in NSW and the broader community of our nation. 'Please know that if you do the wrong thing, you will get caught, especially when it is so brazen as to do that.' Professional cleaners clad in protective equipment were spotted scrubbing down surfaces throughout the lavish inner-city venue after the event was held. Decked in hazmat suits, a group disinfected the top floor rooms used to host the ritzy reception for the wedding. A group of cleaners in hazmat suits were spotted disinfecting surfaces throughout the top floor. Pictured: a man swabbing surfaces after the coronavirus deep clean Family members said the couple had been trying to get married since July and had been forced to postpone their wedding twice this year due to coronavirus (pictured, Doltone House in Pyrmont, Sydney) Owner of Cleancorp Lisa Macqueen told Daily Mail Australia cleaning Doltone House would be a 'very big job', requiring many staff After they left, a man in a mask, gloves, and high-visibility clothing walked through and swabbed various surfaces, including outdoor furniture arranged on the balcony. Owner of Cleancorp Lisa Macqueen told Daily Mail Australia cleaning Doltone House would be a 'very big job', requiring a dedicated team of staff. While the price of each assignment is calculated from many factors, like the size of the venue, she estimated the bill for the job would sit around $10,000. 'It would be an all day job. The cleaners are going to have to clean all of the upholstered chairs that have been used, bathrooms, everything,' she said. 'It is sad for the venue because they probably did everything right. It is a really tough situation for any business that is touched by COVID-19.' NSW Health guidelines for businesses linked with COVID-19 cases stipulate they must undergo cleaning. Ms McQueen estimated the cleaning bill for the ritzy venue would be around $10,000 based on its size PITTSFIELD A new partner will bring victims views to the forefront, as a task force prepares to guide the Springfield Diocese on how to improve its response to clergy sexual abuse. The diocese said Thursday it has contracted with a nonprofit group, Stop It Now!, to gather information from abuse survivors. The point, those involved say, is to use victims experience and insight elicited carefully and respectfully to inform recommendations the task force will present to the regions new Catholic bishop. We need to listen to people with lived experience, said Jeffrey Trant, director of the Office of Safe Environment and Victim Assistance for the Diocese of Springfield, speaking at a Springfield news conference. We want to listen with humility and learn what will be helpful. The renewed outreach to survivors, handled through an independent party, is the latest move to bring transparency and fairness to what long has been a closed process controlled by the Catholic Church. Olan Horne, of Chester, a clergy abuse survivor and advocate for victims, says that while the new groups work can have meaning and value for survivors, it does not address a backlog of specific complaints that, in his view, continues to impair trust in local Catholic leaders. He also said the task force, after six months of operation, should by now understand what victims have experienced and what they most need without paying for six weeks of study by a group like Stop It Now! Diocese's goals According to the Springfield Diocese, the strategic plan now being shaped by an outside task force, with help from survivors of clergy abuse, aims to achieve the following goals: Acknowledge the trauma of sexual abuse and ensure that resources are made available to help in healing. Respond to all allegations of sexual abuse in our church community in a timely, compassionate and fair way. Make sure the diocese operates in a transparent way that guarantee respect and due process for all involved. See to it that local church leadership is held responsible and accountable for failing to protect children and other vulnerable people. Hold responsible those who have been credibly accused of sexual abuse. Prevent future sexual abuse of anyone in our faith communities. Larry Parnass Many victims of past abuse within the Springfield Diocese, Horne said Thursday, continue to wait for the church to resolve their requests for an audience with church leaders, as well as for justice and, in some cases, financial compensation. Its a lollipop and we need a meal, Horne said of the program announced Thursday. Youve got survivors who have been waiting six and seven years. The diocese is not prioritizing whats most important to people who are suffering today. Thats whats missing here. The Eagle asked a spokeswoman for the diocese to say whether the new bishop plans to accelerate resolution of those cases, and why the new outreach is needed. The spokeswoman said she would seek answers but as of 8 p.m. had not responded. New groups role The task force, led by Daniel Ford, a retired Pittsfield judge, was created last May, weeks before another former jurist managing an independent review concluded that Christopher J. Weldon, a former Springfield bishop, engaged in sexual abuse. On Thursday, Ford joined representatives of Stop It Now! to explain the groups role and to invite survivors to take advantage of the outreach. Were hoping that the media will get the word out to the people at large, Ford said, standing under blue skies outside the Bishop Marshall Center on Elliot Street in Springfield. To arrange a session with Stop It Now!, people can call 413-587-3502 and leave a message in what the group says is a confidential voicemail system, providing their first name and a callback number. Contact also can be arranged by sending an email to info@stopitnow.org, putting You Matter in the subject line. More information is available at stopitnow.org/youmatter. People are asked to register interest in participating by Jan. 25. Stop It Now!, which has no affiliation with the Catholic Church, plans to forward its findings to Fords task force by March 1. Ford said that the nonprofit, which has been working for nearly 30 years to prevent sexual abuse, will allow people to describe their experiences in a format designed to protect them from suffering further trauma. A representative of the group said it is using a consultant to devise survey questions that will build out its report to Fords task force. It isnt yet known when the task force will file its recommendations with the dioceses new leader, Bishop William Byrne, who was installed Dec. 14 as the regions 10th bishop. William D. Byrne The Rev. William D. Byrne was installed Dec. 14 as bishop of the Springfield diocese. When asked about differing policies among Catholic dioceses on identifying confirmed abusers, the bishop suggested Thursday that he is committed to disclosure. Days before he took his new post, the diocese announced it would change its policy and post online the names of priests who were credibly accused of abuse, even if those complaints were received after the priests had died. Until then, those clerics had been spared exposure. Transparency is a top priority here in Western Massachusetts now, Byrne said Thursday. The diocese represents Catholics in the states four western counties, including Berkshire County. Peter Pollard, himself a clergy abuse survivor, said at Thursdays news conference that the kind of work done by Stop It Now! offers a path toward healing, if survivors can feel that a sense of personal safety has been restored and that people who abused others have been held to account. What we really need to do is listen. Thats whats so wonderful about this project, he said. Pollard urged people injured by clergy misconduct to come forward. Let us know. What would help prevent future abuse? Tell us what they would need, and what would be useful for them. The New Jersey-bred police officer who died after a mob of President Donald Trumps supporters breached the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday suffered a needless murder at the hands of a violent insurrection, Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday. Officer Brian Sicknick, a 42-year-old South River native and former member of the New Jersey Air National Guard, died Thursday night from injuries sustained while physically engaging with protesters during the riot, officials announced. His death is being investigated as a homicide, according to reports. Murphy said in a statement that Sicknick embodied the selfless spirit of his native state. Officer Sicknick gave his life protecting the United States Capitol, and by extension, our very democracy, from violent insurrection, the Democratic governor added. His needless murder at the hands of a mob bent on overthrowing the Constitution he had dedicated his life to upholding is shocking. It is my fervent hope that the rioters whose actions directly contributed to his death are quickly identified and brought to justice. After an event in Essex County on Friday, Murphy called Sicknicks death an absolute tragedy. Sicknicks family urged the public in a statement to not use his death as a political issue. Many details regarding Wednesdays events and the direct causes of Brians injuries remain unknown and our family asks the public and the press to respect our wishes in not making Brians passing a political issue, the statement said. Sicknick was hit with a fire extinguisher during Wednesdays siege and never recovered, officials said. His brother told ABC News that Sicknick died a hero after a day of fighting for his life. I would like to thank all of his brothers and sisters in law enforcement for the incredible compassion and support they have shown my family, the brother added. Sicknick graduated in 1997 from Middlesex County Vocational Technical High Schools East Brunswick campus. Before joining the Capitol Police, he was a staff sergeant with the New Jersey Air National Guard and was a fire team member and leaders with the 108th Security Force Squadron, 108th Wing, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Murphys office said. Sicknick spent six years on two tours with the National Guard overseas during Operation Southern Watch and Operation Enduring Freedom. His brother, Ken, said Sicknicks dream was to be a police officer. Sicknick joined the Capitol Police in 2008 and most recently lived in Virginia. Tammy and I send our deepest condolences to Officer Sicknicks family and friends, as well as to his United States Capitol Police colleagues and the Guardsmen and Guardswomen he served alongside, Murphy said. We thank him for his service to our nation. Staff Sgt. Brian Sicknick while he was deployed in Iraq with the New Jersey Air National Guard. Numerous other New Jersey officials released statements mourning and praising Sicknick. U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., said the officer gave his life defending democracy and protecting the lives of hundreds of men and women including myself and my staff during the storming of the U.S. Capitol by violent insurgents. His senseless murder and the deaths of four others never should have happened, Menendez said. The domestic terrorists who stormed the U.S. Capitol and all those responsible for inciting this seditious attack must be held accountable. State Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, said Sicknick gave his life in defense of Americas Constitution and its greatest ideals. Officer Sicknick answered our nations highest calling, and took the oath to defend this nation against enemies foreign and domestic, Sweeney added. State Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, D-Middlesex, said Sicknick is a hero who died in the line of duty. I mourn the loss of Brian Sicknick and strongly condemn the senseless violence orchestrated by a mob rioting in opposition to the results of a free and fair election, Coughlin added. Sicknick is the fifth person to suffer deaths related to the siege. One protester, a woman, was shot to death by Capitol Police. Three other people died after medical emergencies. The crowd attacked the building as the U.S. House and Senate gathered to certify Joe Bidens victory over Trump in the presidential election. The siege started after Trump spoke at a rally calling on supporters to keep challenging the elections result, though election officials and courts across the country have dismissed claims of voter fraud. Trump announced Thursday he is conceding to Biden and condemned the supporters who stormed the Capitol, calling it a heinous attack that left him outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. But he told supporters that he knows they are disappointed and wants them to know our incredible journey is only just beginning. He also said Friday he will not attend Bidens inauguration Jan. 20. Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Unfaithful people have revealed the real reasons they cheated on their partners - including one woman who used flings as a 'catalyst' to end her relationships. The stories were shared on an Australian blog, with dozens of cheaters confessing what really happened before going astray. One man said he ended up losing a good friend and a 10-year relationship after a 'drunken mistake' when his girlfriend was out of town. Unfaithful people have revealed the real reasons they cheated on their partners - including one woman who used flings as a 'catalyst' to end her relationships (stock image) Poll Have you ever cheated in a relationship? Yes No Have you ever cheated in a relationship? Yes 91 votes No 170 votes Now share your opinion 'I went out for drinks with some friends and then a few of us headed back to my place to hang out. Everyone left except for a girl I was pretty good friends with, we kept drinking and talking about nonsense until we went to bed,' he explained. 'We slept in the same bed, which is not unusual for me to sleep in the same bed with platonic friends and one thing led to another and we were having pretty intense sex.' Half way through the dirty deed, the pair had a 'what the f*** is happening' moment before they both scrambled to get dressed. 'She panicked, I panicked, she called an Uber and left. Have not seen or spoken to her since.' One woman - who had a 'bad habit of letting relationships drag on far past their emotional end' - said she used cheating as a way to break up her current partner. 'I would fall out of love with these men, but I didn't realise it until I had fallen for someone else,' she explained. 'I would end up kissing the new guy, and breaking up with the old guy immediately after. Essentially the cheating served as the catalyst for ending a relationship.' Dozens of cheaters confessed what really happened before going astray (stock image) The key signs that indicate you are the 'other' woman or man * Dates are spontaneous and there are no long-term plans * Most of your phone calls happen during the day * Evening correspondence will be via text and there will be delayed replies * You are likely to have never been to their house or met family or friends * You don't go to venues near their house * They will likely pay with things in cash a lot of the time * They will react defensively if you question them too much Advertisement Another woman who was in a relationship started sending flirty messages to a co-worker which eventually led to sexting. 'My relationship imploded shortly after. I slept with the co-worker not long after the end of the relationship and realised it was so not worth it,' she explained. 'He s*cked in bed, was poorly endowed and ended up being a douche who got bored with me after he slept with me. Which I totally deserved. Karma is a b****. 'Why did I do it? I let my passions rule me, and I felt trapped.' One man said he was in a 'one-sided relationship' with his girlfriend who he described as a 'dead weight' who 'took a toll on my energy'. 'I'd always have to carry our conversations and organise dates by myself. Literally, imagine carrying a body pillow wherever you go,' he explained. 'I then started to ignore her through phone and social media. I went out with a group of friends and hit it off with another girl. It reminded me what it was like having a life.' Another woman said she was in a relationship with an alcoholic who would go drinking every weekend with his high school friends but complained he didn't have any money, friends or time to do work. She ended up kissing a friend when they were 'absolutely smashed' so she confessed to her boyfriend about the unfaithful act. 'I was so torn up about it, I felt sick for days and eventually told him,' she said. 'He revealed that he had cheated on me during his numerous clubbing ventures but didn't want to tell me because it would cause a fight. 'He also demanded I completely cut ties with the guy I had cheated with. Which I refused on principle. He broke up with me after moaning about how he wasn't sure if he could trust again.' Deputy Prime Minister Kelemen Hunor, national chairman of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR), has voiced hope that schools could reopen on February 8, as another semester and "an entire generation" cannot be lost. "After the winter break, February 8 is the date when I hope and I want to believe that it will be possible to open schools. I have had such discussions with the Prime Minister, with Deputy Prime Minister Dan Barna, we also talked with President Iohannis and the Education Minister at the government meeting whether the education system is ready, can be ready for February 8. And everyone agrees that if the epidemiological situation allows it, then schools will open, students will return to schools in person. If It is not possible throughout the country, nationwide, then it remains to be seen if it can be dealt with, I am convinced that it can be dealt with both regionally, and in the counties, in the areas where the case rate is not high, students should return to school," Kelemen RFI radio broadcaster. According to him, there is also the option of only kindergarten, primary school, 8th grade and 12th grade students returning in person in a first stage, to be followed by all the remaining students."But, from my point of view - and I've argued this every time - schools need to reopen on February 8, because we can't lose another semester and a whole generation, because no matter how much effort teachers put in, teachers cannot conduct virtual classes, especially for primary school students, for those who need to learn how to read and write. So we will continue to argue for the reopening of schools on February 8," added Kelemen. Elon Musk has overtaken Jeff Bezos to become the worlds richest person, having seen his wealth rise from $25 billion to nearly $200bn in less than a year. The billionaire polymath is best known as the boss of electric car company Tesla and private rocket firm SpaceX, however he also heads brain-tech startup Neuralink and The Boring Company, which aims to solve traffic in cities by digging tunnel networks. Before any of these ventures, Musk gained notoriety in Silicon Valley as the co-founder of online payments platform X.com, which went on to become PayPal. Each new project has been financed, at least in part, by funds generated from previous business successes, with each new effort becoming ever more ambitious. Recommended Elon Musk says you can now buy a Tesla with bitcoin Ultimately, Musk hopes to transform humanity into a multi-planetary species by establishing a self-sufficient colony on Mars, while simultaneously solving some of the biggest challenges back on Earth, including climate change and the perceived threat from advanced artificial intelligence. After overtaking Bezos on 7 January to claim the title as the worlds richest person, Musk reiterated his pledge to use his wealth for what he believes is the greater good for the world. (The Independent) You should ask why I would want money. The reason is not what you think. Very little time for recreation. Dont have vacation homes or yachts or anything like that, he stated in a short Twitter thread republished from 2018. About half my money is intended to help problems on Earth and half to help establish a self-sustaining city on Mars to ensure the continuation of life (of all species) in case Earth gets hit by a meteor like the dinosaurs or WW3 happens and we destroy ourselves. View more Musk also donates periodically to charity, putting out a call on Twitter this week for ideas on ways to donate money that really make a difference. In May 2020, Musk tweeted that he planned to sell almost all physical possessions a promise he delivered on before 2021 by selling three of his California homes for a combined total of $41 million. View more He has since moved to Texas, where he will pay no state income taxes, in order to be closer to the development of SpaceXs Mars-bound spacecraft Starship. In 2018, Musk revealed that he planned to finance SpaceXs Mars plans by selling a major stake in Tesla at some point in the future. At the time, Tesla shares were worth around $60. Today, they are worth close to $900. Teslas fortunes have largely driven Musks own net worth, which is now equivalent to the annual GDP of a small-to-medium sized country. (The Independent) If Musks wealth was ranked alongside the GDP of every country in the world, he would be the 50th richest country in the world, according to figures from the International Monetary Fund. Calculated in another way, if Musks net worth was distributed evenly among all 328 million citizens in the US, each person would receive roughly $600 the same amount the US government handed out as a stimulus check during the pandemic. One year ago, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was downed by two Iranian military surface-to-air missiles near Tehran. Ukraine, Afghanistan, Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom marking one year since the tragic downing of Flight PS752 have announced Iran will be held accountable to deliver justice and make sure it provides reparation in full to the families of victims. A statement published by Ukraine's Foreign Ministry says one year ago, in the early morning of January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 was downed by two Iranian military surface-to-air missiles near Tehran. Read alsoPS752 downing: Iran's draft report on crash causes handed to Ukraine"Today we honour the memory of those who perished and offer our sincere condolences to all who mourn the victims of the PS752 tragedy. We share the grief of the families, relatives and friends who lost loved ones," the statement says. "We urgently call on Iran to provide a complete and thorough explanation of the events and decisions that led to this appalling plane crash, including concrete measures to ensure that it will never happen again. Our countries will hold Iran to account to deliver justice and make sure Iran makes full reparations to the families of the victims and affected countries," reads the report. PS752 downing in Iran: Background On January 8, 2020, Kyiv-bound Boeing 737 passenger jet flight PS752, operated by Ukraine International Airlines, crashed in Iran shortly after takeoff from Tehran Airport. All 176 people on board, including 11 Ukrainian nationals nine crew and two passengers were killed. Among victims are also citizens of Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani admitted that the Ukrainian liner had been shot down as a result of an unintentional "human error," and promised to bring those responsible to justice. On June 9, media reports said Iran had accused six persons in the PS752 downing case. On July 20, the flight recorders were delivered to Paris and decrypted on July 21. On July 24, it was reported that data from the black boxes had confirmed external interference with the aircraft's operation. On October 23, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Yenin said Iran would pay compensation to the relatives of victims of the UIA flight PS752 crash, but the process might last up to two years. On December 9, however, Yenin said that Iran had withdrawn the offer to handle the payments to the families of those killed in the UIA plane crash. In the middle of December, Canada expressed its position on the Iranian investigation into the downing of the Ukrainian plane, saying it is not credible. On December 22, the Iranian news agency Tasnim reported that Iranian investigators, during a video conference, had provided representatives of other countries whose citizens were victims of the crash with a technical report on the UIA downing. On December 23, Yenin said that Ukraine had not received the report. On December 24, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba expressed concern that Iran was delaying the negotiation process on the case of the downed Ukraine International Airlines plane. He noted that Ukraine had not received a technical report from Iran on the plane downed almost a year ago. On December 30, Iranian cabinet members reportedly agreed at a session to allocate US$150,000 or its equivalent in euros to each family of the victims of the Ukrainian plane crash in January 2020. Reporting by UNIAN Spider-Man has gotten up to quite a lot in the past 60 years, and we're always discovering new, bonkers comic storylines we've never read before. Apparently, Spider-Man's villains haven't always been doctor octopuses or green goblins, sometimes they've been the very concept of good taste and healthy sensuality itself. We dig into a few storylines way too strange and hot to ever make an appearance in a Disney-branded MCU film (or, also, a Sony movie, presumably). Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh drew comparisons between the leaders of the American Revolution and yesterday's siege at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. rebuking those 'calling for the end of violence'. Limbaugh, 69, took aim at liberals who protested this summer, claiming they were anarchists using the Black Lives Matter movement as a 'guise'. He continued, saying he forgave yesterday's group of rioters who were simply 'fed up'. Scroll down for video Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh took aim at liberals who protested this summer, claiming they were anarchists using the Black Lives Matter movement as a 'guise' 'We're supposed to be horrified by the protesters,' Limbaugh said on his program on Thursday. 'There's a lot of people calling for the end of violence. There's a lot of conservatives, social media, who say that any violence or aggression at all is unacceptable. Regardless of the circumstances,' he said. 'I'm glad Sam Adams, Thomas Paine, the actual tea party guys, the men at Lexington and Concord didn't feel that way,' he continued. Both Adams and Paine were Founding Fathers of the United States who protested British taxation without representation, uniting the American colonies in the fight for independence during the Revolutionary War. Limbaugh has been one of President Trump's most ardent supporters. The day after revealing he had cancer, Trump invited him as a guest for his State of the Union - where he awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He compared Wednesday's rioters to the colonists who sparked the American Revolution 'Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of people Americans who have gotten tired of being ignored and lied about and smeared as racists by these very Democrats in the media and the popular culture,' the conservative radio icon told listeners. 'Americans who have gotten fed up with having election stolen from them by the Democrats, including the White House. Now they think two more Senate seats have been stolen, and they thought they were going to be stolen even before the election.' Limbaugh attempted to further excuse the actions of those who participated in Wednesday's violence suggesting Republicans do not know how to protest or loot despite thousands of Trump supporters appearing at the Capitol. 'A tiny minority of these protesters and undoubtedly including some Antifa Democrat-sponsored instigators did decide to go to the Capitol to protest,' he added without providing any evidence. 'The people's house by the way.' Limbaugh said Wednesday's unrest was a result of months of American citizens being 'fed up' with left-leaning political activism in the country Limbaugh then went on to share his frustration by making false claims stating how no Black Lives Matter protesters were arrested for their actions over the summer. On the first day of June alone, more than five times the number of people were arrested than in the breach of the Capitol, according to Forbes. Just 52 people were arrested in Washington after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. The number pales in significance compared to the number of arrests made in D.C. during protests for racial justice last summer after George Floyd was killed in police custody. Between May 30 and June 2 2020, the height of the racial justice protests, 427 'unrest-related' arrests were made, according to Forbes. Trump supporters face off with police at the Capitol Building following the 'Stop The Steal' rally where they assembled to protest the 2020 election results 'As recently as this time last year, anti-Trump protests were held in the Capitol during the impeachment. All of the sudden protesting Congress is being called the end of the world,' Limbaugh said. 'Can't have this. The worst crime against democracy in our nation's history. And yet, all kinds of anti-presidential protest were held in the Capitol during the impeachment and nobody was concerned about it in terms of the damage being done to our government institutions.' In making the comparisons Limbaugh failed to point out the differences between the two protests. Anti-racism protesters are pictured marching around downtown in Washington DC in August The city saw violent protests in the weeks following police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota back in May, and the chaos seemed to re-erupt in August, the final night of the Republican National convention, when six officers were hospitalized The Capitol was never forced to shut down because of violence during the impeachment hearings and there were never any suspected bombs found on the premises. The building wasn't stormed and nobody was killed. Limbaugh is currently under going treatment for cancer. He was diagnosed in February after learning about it last January. Limbaugh was diagnosed with Stage IV advanced lung cancer and shared in October that treatments were no longer working, meaning he was going to die. But despite his health worries, he has continued to host his radio show which has been in national syndication since 1988. He missed several shows in October for treatment. Limbaugh has been supportive of Trump's false claims that the election was 'stolen' from him and last year received the Presidential Medal of Freedom from Trump during a State of the Union Address. On Thursdays episode of The Gist, Mike Pesca spoke with Rep. Dan Kildee, a Democrat from Michigan, about the attack on the Capitol. They covered the events on Wednesday and the consequences for the rioters and the members of Congress who chose to object to the Electoral College count. Their conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mike Pesca: The U.S. House of Representatives, your workplace, is a literal crime scene, and I think it needs to be investigated as such. Do you agree with that? And what do you think should be done about these infiltrators, if they can be identified? Advertisement Rep. Dan Kildee: Its 100 percent a crime scene. This was an act of terrorism. It was not a protest. There may have been a protest at some point during the day, but this was not a protest. This was an insurgency, an attack on the United States, an attack on our democracy, an attack on the Capitol. And it has to be treated as such. Theres evidence that needs to be gathered and people who need to be brought to justice. Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. I didnt realize until I was walking over after midnight for that CNN interview exactly how extensive it all was. We were in the middle of this, [so] we werent able to see any of the reporting. Smashed furniture, every window broken, trash strewn everywhere, graffiti, and bottles and cans and wrappers that would be only attributable to many, many hundreds of people, if not thousands, occupying that space for some number of hours. Advertisement There are a couple of aspects of this for which accountability is going to be required. No. 1 is to hold the people who did it, who were there, criminally liable and use the fullest extent of the justice system to bring them to justice. Second, a very serious review of the failure of the security mechanisms of the U.S. Capitol, which clearly failed and were not prepared for this. And then theres another level of accountability that I cant ignore, and that is the accountability for so-called political leaders, elected officials, colleagues of mine, who have fanned the flames of this, benefited and warmed themselves by the heat of that flame for months and months and months. And now that the fire has burned out of control, [they] are doing all sorts of mental gymnastics to try to separate themselves from responsibility, for a fire that they fueled and now has nearly burnt down our democracy. Advertisement Advertisement Do you worry about a mass amnesty for protesters? Yeah. There has to be criminal liability, and we have to pursue it. Theres no similar equivalent event. And this is one of the things that has really been frustrating: The tone-deafness, which is a very kind characterization of some of my colleagues, when we went back into the debate [Wednesday] night was breathtaking. Breathtaking tone-deafness, where they were making comparisons to what happened on Black Lives Matter Plaza. Give me a break. This has nothing to do with it. It was nothing like that. Theres no corollary. Its just nonsense. But this what-aboutism that has been so much a part of the political dialogue is just allowed to pass, and its just nonsense. Its ridiculous. Advertisement This is a significant, unique moment in American history. The Capitol was attacked and encouraged by the president of the United States. How do we compare that to people doing a sit-in? You cant. It wasnt a sit-inthis was a violent attack. It was a criminal act. What does accountability look like from other members of Congress? I think unfortunately the only accountability will come from the long view of history, [which] has placed them on a list that they are not going to extricate themselves from. The long view of history is going to look very dimly on these pathetic members of Congress who whipped this thing up, who continued with it, and voted for a confection that they know is not true. At the heart of this is this big lie about an election that was fraudulent. Its a big lie. And they know its a big lie, but they were afraid of violating the base, and so they went along. So the accountability will come ultimately in the fact that their names are written in indelible ink on a list that they cannot get off of. Advertisement Advertisement Three of those names would be your Michigan colleagues: Tim Walberg, Jack Bergman, and Lisa McClain. McClain just got elected, and Bergman recently elected. But Im thinking of Walberg. Im sure that longtime members of a delegation co-sponsor some legislation together and work together. And I heard an interview that you did where you said, when you were in your secure area, you couldnt even look him in the eye. What about Congressman Walberg? I can ask him to reflect and give him the opportunity to reconcile what hes done, but I can only speak for myself. And Im only in control of what I can do. And I will say this in a way that reflects on both Congressman Walberg and the others. (Lisa McClain is brand-new, [so] Im giving her a little bit more spacenot a lot, but some.) These guys know better. And they know that this was nonsense. They know it wasnt true, and did so because they knew their base would punish them. This is the ultimate breach of faith with our democracy. Advertisement I cant pretend that I dont feel this way. Theres no mental gymnastics that I can engage that would allow me to continue to look at them in the same way that I did before this. All Im doing is being a human being, responding in a rational or logical way. People like John Moolenaar, Fred Upton, Bill Huizenga, and Peter Meijerwho is a brand-new member of Congress, and this is the first stuff hes faced. I will look at them differently as well forever, because when their moment came to choose between the Constitution and their fealty to our democracy or their own personal political gain, they sacrificed their own politics. They will pay a price, but its a price they ought to be very proud of. I dont know, maybe theyll get primaried, then maybe theyll lose, but I will carry them in the kind of esteem that I had before because of this. And that is something that those who went down this path and stuck with it are never going to be able to have. Advertisement Advertisement The Senate lost about half of the sponsors of the decertification movement after the attack. You would imagine they made a different political calculation, maybe experienced some shame, but that dynamic was not present in the House. There were hundreds of people objecting to the will of the people. To what do you attribute the difference? Its hard to say. I think one of the differences between the two bodies is that the House is more susceptible to the immediacy of the moment. Senators, for lots of reasonssmaller body, longer terms, different culturetend to give themselves a little more space and maybe take a longer view. That actually is part of the construction of our democracy that was intentional. It was thought that to have one body that is more closely associated with the immediate sentiments of the public, the House, that that would be important to include in the political conversation. And then have this clearly more deliberate body, the Senate, take a different view. So that has a lot of benefits, but in this case we saw House members measuring their political fortunes. Advertisement And not to introduce myself into this, but Im going to pay a price for this. Im a Democrat. Im sort of expected to be in this space. But I have a very Trumpy district, and were just getting all forms of hell directly at my office right now for the things that Ive been saying. But for a Republican its even more difficult, because theyve got to think about a primary and a general election, if you think in those terms. But heres the problem with all of this, and this is something thats important to say: If all we do is think about getting reelected, we should find a different line of work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Do you really think it will hurt you and your standing? This cuts through politics. And I would think that even the Republicans that you represent would be appalled by actions like this. Its a pretty Trumpy district. And Trump didnt win it, but it was just a few-point margin. And again, Im really not trying to go to the political calculus, because Im just not even going to think about it. I know when the district lines are redrawn, my districts going to be even more Republican, because the only direction I can go to add more people is into Republican areas. And were going to have to add 60,000 or 70,000, maybe 100,000 people in my district. Advertisement My point being that its not worth it to have this job if I have to sacrifice my soul in order to keep it. And there are some votes that are defining moments. There are some votes where youre walking over to the floor and youre having this internal debate: I could argue both sides of this. What do I do? I really got to think this through. But there are some votes that are simply a matter of conscience. The only consultation you have to have is with your own heart, and this was one of those. And thats why I think they failed so miserably. Listen to this full conversation in the player below, and subscribe to The Gist on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your podcasts. Join Slate Plus, and enjoy ad-free episodes of the show. The Spanish and Turkish foreign ministers agreed progress was being made between a bloc of European Union nations and Turkey after a period of frayed relations. Spanish Foreign Minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya said both countries were aware of the need to "avoid unilateralism" in dealing with issues affecting Ankara and the EU. Turkey had seen heightened tensions with Greece and Cyprus over energy prospecting in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. A diplomatic dispute also emerged between France and Turkey after the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty and French President Emmanuel Macron's defence of the right to caricaturize Islam's Prophet Muhammad. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) An Indian in Egypt 480pp, Rs 799; Simon & Schuster Amongst the multitudes of tombs in the City of the Dead in Cairo, there lies buried a lone Indian an eminent scholar, writer, debonair statesman and a leader of the Indian freedom movement. Who is he? How did he get there? For a man who used both the lectern and the pen to devastating effect in the cause of the Indian Independence movement led by the likes of Gandhi, Patel and Nehru, very little is known of Syud Hossain. Born to an aristocratic family in Calcutta, he started a career in journalism early in life and became the editor of Motilal Nehrus nationalist newspaper, The Independent. After a brief elopement with Jawaharlal Nehrus sister, Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit, Hossain, under immense pressure from Motilal Nehru and Gandhi, annulled the marriage and was asked to stay away from the country for a few years. Thus began several years of exile. Eventually, he landed in the United States where he imparted Gandhis message far and wide across the country. Gathering a group of Indian freedom fighters around him, he fought for Indias freedom from afar, decrying British oppression and garnering support in the United States for his cause. Adding to his formidable list of causes, Hossain also took on the fight for Indian immigrant rights in the United States, one that successfully culminated in President Truman signing the Luce-Celler Bill into an Act in 1946. He returned to India to witness the triumph of her independence as well as the tragedy of Gandhis assassination. He was appointed the first ever Indian ambassador to Egypt, where he died while in service and was laid to rest in Cairo. A Forgotten Ambassador in Cairo offers an illuminating narrative of Hossains life interspersed with historical details that landscapes a vivid political picture of that era. Through primary sources that include Hossains private papers, the British Intelligence files, letters of his friends and contemporary newspapers, NS Vinodh brilliantly brings to life a man who has been relegated far too long to the shadows of time.* Life behind the screen 317pp, Rs 599; Simon & Schuster Guru Dutts filmography has some names which have long been considered as some of the best films to have ever been made in India. His masterpiece Pyaasa (1957) was featured in TIME magazines All-Time 100 Movies list in 2005. His films are still celebrated and revered by viewers, critics and students of cinema the world over, not only for their technical brilliance but also for the eternal romanticism and their profound take on the emptiness of life and the shallowness of material success. He was Indian cinemas Don Juan and Nietzsche rolled into one. But while much has been said and written on the film-maker and his art, little is known about his life behind the screens. This richly layered account takes a deep dive into the journey of a lonesome, troubled genius who was endlessly being pulled in contrary directions throughout his life. A child prodigy, who actually began as a dancer learning from the great Uday Shankar, an unconventional film-maker who desired commercial success without ever compromising on artistic satisfaction, a self-made entrepreneur who hated numbers yet single-handedly ran a film studio juggling the roles of a producer, director, actor, financier all this while struggling silently with a deeply troubled personal life, at the centre of which was his tumultuous marriage with Geeta Dutt. Guru had it all love, family, money, fame and validation from his audience. His untimely death by suicide, that too after multiple failed attempts, had shocked the entire film industry. But what led to that fateful night when he tipped his hat and said his final goodbye? Best-selling Bollywood biographer Yasser Usman explores the man and the myth Guru Dutt in this definitive biography of a nonconformist star, uncovering the extraordinary lives of the rich and the famous as well the incredible toll it takes on the emotional and mental health of a human being. With cameos from close friends and colleagues Dev Anand, Waheeda Rehman, Johnny Walker, SD Burman and most significantly Dutts sister, noted painter Lalitha Lajmi, a short but compassionate, ambitious and ultimately tragic life reveals itself in the pages of this book. This is a gripping, meticulously researched and moving portrait of an unfinished life a tale of unrequited love, unresolved relationships and unmatched cinematic talent.* The biggest crisis since Partition 240pp, Rs 399; Speaking Tiger In early 2020 the first cases of Covid-19 infection were confirmed in India,and on 24 March the countrys prime minister announced a nationwide lockdown, giving the population of over 1.3 billion just four hours notice. Within days, it became evident that India had plunged into its biggest humanitarian crisis since Partition. In this powerful book,Harsh Mander shows us how grave this crisis was and continues to be, and why it is the direct consequence of public policy choices that the Indian government made, particularly of imposing the worlds longest and most stringent lockdown, with the smallest relief package. The Indian state abandoned its poor and marginalized, even as it destroyed their livelihoods and pushed them to the brink of starvation. Mander brings us voices of out-of-work daily-wage and informal workers, the homeless and the destitute, all overwhelmed by hunger and dread. From the highways and overcrowded quarantine centres, he brings us stories of migrant workers who walked hundreds of kilometres to their villages or were prevented from doing so and detained. He lays bare the criminal callousness at the heart of a strategy that forced people to stay indoors in a country where tens of crores live in congested shanties or single rooms with no possibility of physical distancing, no toilets and no running water. Combining ground reports with hard data, Mander argues with great clarity and passion that India is in the middle of a humanitarian catastrophe, the effects of which will be felt for decades.* All copy from press releases. Erica Ingraham had her eye on Adam Koster from the moment they started working together in 2015 in the town of Bon Accord, in Alberta, Canada. This was not an easy thing to do, given the setting. Ms. Ingraham, 30, and Mr. Koster, 33, were youth leaders at Oak Hill Ranch, a therapeutic program for high-risk children. The demands of the job didnt allow much time for adult interaction, let alone a flirtation. But Ms. Ingraham did her best to let Mr. Koster know she was interested. There was the time they were out walking children around the ranch and she stepped on a wasps nest: I was getting attacked by wasps and he was sweeping them off my legs and I was like, Adam, you are amazing, Ms. Ingraham said. But he didnt think anything of it. Mr. Koster remained oblivious to Ms. Ingrahams crush for more than a year, until she invited him to her house after an off-campus hangout with colleagues. I was like, You know what? You should come home with me, she said. He told her she was drunk and said no, but that invitation set the wheels of romance in motion. After that, I finally got that she had been trying to hang out with me, he said. They started dating in 2017; by April of that year, they were a couple, splitting their time between his house in Morinville and hers in St. Albert. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Allegheny County resident Sarah Stulga doesnt like being left without representation in the state Senate in a pandemic because of what she views as a political charade by the chambers Republicans to not seat a 45th District senator . We reached a milestone of over a thousand deaths in Allegheny County this week from COVID, and this is what is going on in Harrisburg? she said. There is no one in the Senate to work on my behalf. It is disgraceful. Stulga was among the voters in the 45th District to raise their voices on Thursday in demanding Senate Republicans to seat Democratic incumbent Jim Brewster as their state senator. On Tuesday, when the 24 other senators who were elected last year were sworn in, Brewster was excluded although he was present in the chamber. Senate Republicans voted to leave open the 45th District seat Brewster has held for the past 10 years while they ponder a challenge filed with the chamber by Brewsters GOP challenger Nicole Ziccarelli, who believes she is the rightful winner. Republican challenge Nicole Ziccarelli has filed a challenge with the Pennsylvania Senate contesting the election results that led to Democratic incumbent Sen. Jim Brewster being declared the winner of the 45th state senatorial district seat. During a virtual press conference organized by Pennsylvania United, a grassroots organization representing Western Pennsylvania communities of color and working class families, Sen. Vince Hughes, D-Philadelphia, hinted that legal action is being prepared to ask the court to settle this dispute. He encouraged district residents to call Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre County, to demand Brewster be seated. In the meantime, he said Brewster continues to help out Senate staff in handling constituent concerns. Gov. Tom Wolf also has intervened and vowed to do everything in my power to ensure that voters have the final say in elections. Corman said he is not accepting the results in the race due to some unique circumstances in the race the Senate must consider. The key issue involves how undated mail-in ballots were handled in this district that straddles the Westmoreland-Allegheny county line. If Allegheny County election officials excluded undated mail-in ballots like Westmoreland officials did, Ziccarelli would have won the race by 24 votes. Instead, Allegheny included the undated ballots it received in its vote count which gave Brewster the win by 69 votes, and that was the total that Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar certified as the official results. During the news conference, Rep. Austin Davis, D-Allegheny County, who lives in that senatorial district, described that area as a working class poor district with constituents facing significant health disparities. At this critical time to not have representation in the Pennsylvania State Senate is absolutely appalling, Davis said. The citizens of the 45th senatorial district chose Senator Jim Brewster to represent them. By the Senate Republicans refusal to accept that results, Davis said, You are not just silencing the folks who voted for Senator Brewster but the folks who did not vote for Senator Brewster. In a contest petition filed last Friday with the Senate, Ziccarelli is asking senators to invalidate the certified election results that declare Brewster the winner of the seat. Corman maintains that gives the 49 sitting senators the authority to decide their role, which could include picking the winner of that race. He said a provision in the state constitution that grants the chamber the authority to judge of the election and qualifications of its members gives the legislative body that authority. Brewsters attorney Clifford Levine insists Cormans interpretation of that provision is way beyond anything envisioned by the framers of the constitution. He argues it is meant to allow lawmakers to decide whether a member meets such things as age or residency requirements, and not to determine the winner of an election. Senate Democrats also point out state and federal courts have ruled against Ziccarellis arguments and say now she is trying to re-litigate them in another lawsuit still pending in federal court, in addition to the challenge she filed with the Senate. Corman has said the Senate will act expeditiously to make a decision but didnt place a deadline for doing so. He said he wants the body to act right rather than fast. He also said hes unsure what influence the outcome of Ziccarellis pending litigation will have on senators decision. I always think of the precedent that were setting and hopefully, people look to us as we did it the correct way, Corman said. Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who lives in the 45th senatorial district, said the rationale the Senate Republicans are using to hold up seating Brewster is logically, morally, ethically and practically untenable, and unfair. We are without representation in our senatorial district. Whats more, he said Brewster agreed that if the court case was decided in Ziccarellis favor, he would gladly step aside and allow her to be seated. What kind of democracy will we have when one party is able to disregard a decision by the people that they dont agree with, Fetterman said. Jim Brewster deserves to be seated. Darrin Kelly, president of the Allegheny/Fayette/Central Labor Council that represents over 25,000 people in the senatorial district, said the way the Senate is handling this race should scare all Pennsylvanians. The people that are in charge, the party that is in charge has chosen to ignore the [will of the] people of the 45th district, Kelly said. That is something that should haunt all of us every night when we go to bed. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Senor Sisig, the beloved Bay Area restaurant and food truck outfit known for its spicy, tangy Filipino-inspired burritos and tacos, is setting permanent roots in Oakland with a new to-go window opening on Friday. Located at 1628 Webster St., the to-go window will serve both Senor Sisigs original menu of meat-filled dishes like its namesake burrito stuffed with various choices of proteins, adobo rice and pinto beans, as well as its newer vegan menu featured at Senor Sisigs 3-month-old food truck, Senor Sisig Vegano. Both menus will also be available for delivery in Oakland. The new digs mark Senor Sisigs first permanent location in Oakland as well as its first venture where both its full vegan and non-vegan menus will be sold at the same time. Its all part of how were continuing to pivot during this pandemic, said Evan Kidera, who co-owns the business alongside Gil Payumo. Were familiar with the location, we love being in Oakland and this is a chance for us to plan for the future with something permanent. Senor Sisig has had one of its trucks parked outside of its new Webster Street address since May. Initially, the truck was functioning as the food extension of the Spice Monkey Restaurant and Bar, but the business closed due to the pandemic in June. The Senor Sisig truck remained in place and grew an Oakland audience, but Kidera said it will be removed once the window opens. Kidera said one of the reasons for deciding to do both menus from the new location is because the former Spice Monkey kitchen has enough space, and enough equipment, for him to prepare vegan items in one area, and non-vegan items in a separate area. Plus, he said, many Oakland customers have expressed interest in Senor Sisig Veganos offerings, which have been available only at a truck parked in San Francisco since November. Theres a big vegan community in the East Bay, so this is a chance to have something for them, Kidera said. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. There is space outside of the to-go window for outdoor dining, as well as at a nearby Webster Street parklet, which Kidera said he plans to utilize once outdoor dining service is allowed again in Oakland. For now, the Senor Sisig to-go window feels like a food truck. You walk up, get your order and go, so it makes sense for us, Kidera said. And doing both menus can kind of show us which one resonates more with customers out here. Senor Sisig: 1628 Webster St., Oakland. www.senorsisig.com. Opening Friday. Hours will be 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Justin Phillips is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jphillips@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @JustMrPhillips The underwhelming response to the storming of the Capitol by thousands of Trump-crazed insurrectionists in which a police officer and a protester were killed is a reminder of how largely peaceful Black Lives Matter protesters in several cities were met with excessive force. Such disparate treatment, however, has a much longer history. Seeing police give way to the violent throng determined to invade the House and Senate chambers Wednesday brought back memories of the spring of 1963 in my hometown, Birmingham, Ala. Thats when peaceful demonstrators were beaten, bitten by dogs and arrested for marching for justice with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. When I read on Thursday that fewer than 30 of Trumps seditionists had been arrested for breaking and entering the House and Senate chambers, I thought of the hundreds arrested in Birmingham nearly 60 years ago; so many that police used buses to cart them off to overflowing jail cells. One of the youngest arrested was a third-grade classmate of mine, Audrey Faye Hendricks, age 9. Audrey and I werent close friends, and it was years later that I learned her parents, unlike mine, were active in the civil rights movement and had agreed with King that children should march to show America how serious the issue was. So, Audrey marched, was arrested, and went to jail. I didnt know what they were going to do to me, she recounted in Ellen Levines book, Freedoms Children (G.P. Putnams Sons, 1993). The worst thing I thought was that they might kill me. Audrey said she was in jail seven days, sleeping in a little room with about a dozen other children in bunk beds. My parents could not get word to me for seven days, she said. I felt like I was helping to gain what we were trying to get, and that was freedom. In truth, what King accomplished was much more modest an agreement with Birmingham leaders to integrate department store sitting rooms, rest rooms, lunch counters and water fountains, promote Negro salesclerks and release all demonstrators still in jail. Even that was too much for the Ku Klux Klan. Four months later, it bombed the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, killing four little girls, including 11-year-old Denise McNair, who also attended my elementary school. The Klans dastardly deed on Sept. 15, 1963 a day I will never forget exposed a mindset still evident in the debacle this country experienced Wednesday. The virtually all-white mob that briefly occupied the Capitol was just as determined as Klansmen decades ago to preserve the status quo. Trumps supporters have been egged on for more than four years by a candidate, then president who not only sympathizes with them but exploits their fear of an America where greater diversity wins elections and helps this nation come ever closer to resembling the beloved community King envisioned when he and Audrey marched in Birmingham. The shame of this moment is that other politicians who have marveled at Trumps ability to tap that fear of an inevitable future are trying to siphon it, too. Seven senators and more than 130 Republican House members voted not to accept the presidential election results, knowing full well their objections had already been properly vetted in the courts as having no merit. The Klan had no respect for the courts, but how can someone such as Sen. Ted Cruz, an accomplished lawyer who has argued cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, suggest with a straight face that the election challenges to Joe Bidens victory have not been seriously and correctly adjudicated? His denial of that fact suggests he cares more about political advantage than truth, or democracy, or his country. The same can be said of any other elected Trump sycophant who refuses to accept a degree of responsibility for what happened Wednesday in the Capitol. They are just as guilty as Trump for leading the gullible to believe the election was stolen from him and that their only recourse is insurrection. One of the rioters, Ashli Babbitt, was shot and killed by a police officer and three others died of medical emergencies, but for the most part the insurrectionists appeared to break windows, breach barricades and lounge in House Speaker Nancy Pelosis office with impunity. Some even got police to pose for selfies. Their treatment was a reminder not only to Black Lives Matter supporters but Black and brown Americans in general that law enforcement in this country has never been color blind. Indeed, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo told the Washington Post this week that a lack of preparedness among Capitol police may have stemmed from a perception that the largely white group posed less of a threat. They see Black Lives Matter and go Oh my God, weve got to be ready. But, hey, these people have their blue lives matter flags all over the place, said Acevedo, president of the Major Cities Chiefs Association. And that bias and that false sense of security bit them. And it bit them in a historical fashion yesterday. There were signs that the protests Trump invited might get out of hand. The federal force that safeguards the Capitol should have been better prepared. The scarcity of arrests during and in the hours after the riot of Trump protesters who destroyed property or otherwise disregarded the law was an unacceptable double standard compared with how equal justice protesters were treated just months ago. One Capitol Police officer, Brian D. Sicknick, died of injuries after being hit with a fire extinguisher during the attack. Assertions by Fox News Laura Ingraham and others that Black Lives Matter protests have been just as violent simply are not true. In fact, a study by Harvard University and Manchester University researchers found violence or vandalism occurred in fewer than 4 percent of more than 7,000 BLM protests since 2017, and some of those acts were committed by bystanders, not protesters advocating for racial justice. And in what is an unacceptable attempt to justify the unequal treatment, federal law enforcement agencies are reportedly claiming that they tried to keep a low profile after being scarred by criticism of their response to those largely peaceful protests after the death of George Floyd last summer. The more things change, the more they stay the same, a French philosopher once said. That applies not only to the kid-glove treatment the mostly white Capitol insurrectionists seemed to receive at critical moments, but it also applies to the disproportionate treatment of so many Black and brown people imprisoned in this country. Thankfully, President-elect Joe Biden hasnt shirked from acknowledging the reality of unequal treatment that infests our justice system and reared its ugly head in the Capitol Police response. You cant tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protesters yesterday they wouldnt have been treated very differently than the mob of thugs that stormed the Capitol, Biden said in Wilmington on Thursday at a press conference announcing Justice Department nominees. We all know that is true. And it is totally unacceptable. Totally unacceptable. The American people saw it in plain view. Real change must come, but it cant until this nation exits the quagmire that those who refuse to accept Donald Trumps defeat find comforting. Their comfort comes at too great a price, one that threatens to destroy the democracy that so many Americans have died to preserve. Its time for Trump to go. Jackson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and retired Houston Chronicle editorial writer. The City of Saint Sauveur wanted an integrated fuel and maintenance fleet managment solution. That is what we delivered. All municipalities are facing increased pressure to reduce their operating costs. For most public works departments, the two main cost areas include fleet fuel and maintenance. Coencorp is pleased to announce being selected to supply its fleet fuel SM2-FUEL, and maintenance management SM2-MAINTAIN, hardware, software and support services to the City of Saint Sauveur located in the Laurentians, north of Montreal Canada. The municipality of Saint Sauveur manages over 80 vehicles to service approximately 10,000 residents living in a 50 square kilometer area. The contract requires Coencorp to provide fuel management hardware and cloud-based software to automate the municipalitys two inventory and dispensing fuel stations. Additionally, Coencorp will also provide the necessary customer support to assist Saint Sauveur with the implementation and management of their fleets preventative and predictive maintenance programs and parts inventory. Ali Tavassoli, President and CEO of Coencorp comments, "Labor, maintenance and fuel are typically the largest expenses for any fleet vehicle operation. Saint Sauveur were looking for a reliable fuel management solution and wanted an integrated solution for the maintenance program of their fleet. We have been providing municipalities across North America with fleet management solutions for over 30 years and we are pleased that Saint Saveur chose Coencorp as their fleet management partner." Much of the hardware has already been shipped to the city and work has begun to implement the fuel management hardware at Saint Sauveur's two main fueling facilities. Mr. Tavassoli adds, "The daily and monthly fuel monitoring and accurate accounting reconciliation can be difficult. The SM2-FUEL system automatically and accurately accounts the transactions and inventory management of the fleet's fuel and other consumables saving time and keeping the fleet management compliant with local provincial and federal legislation." Full implementation of the fuel and maintenance hardware and software is expected to be completed by February 2020. About Coencorp: Founded in 1991, Coencorp is a leading manufacturer of automated fleet and fuel management solutions. They design, develop, manufacture, market, and support sophisticated hardware/software systems that deliver efficient management of fleets of 100 or more vehicles. Their mission is to contribute to their valued clients' bottom line by reducing their highest operating expenses, namely labor cost, fuel consumption, and asset tracking & maintenance, through the intelligent use of Coencorp advanced automated hardware and software technologies. Today, Coencorp systems are used globally in over 1000 sites, managing over 500,000 vehicles in various public or private organizations, including but not limited to municipalities, public transits, national defense, oil & gas operators and companies, mining, construction, transportation, utilities, telecom, private fleets, and automobile dealerships. Head Office: 3705 Place de Java, Suite 190, Brossard (Quebec), J4Y 0E4 Ph# 450-672-4222 info@coencorp.com http://www.Coencorp.com Close Researchers from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have repeatedly spotted hallmarks of disruption in tissue samples from deceased victims of the disease in a comprehensive analysis of how COVID-19 impacts a recipient's brain. The thinning and leaky brain blood vessels triggered this harm to tissue samples. Yet, in the tissue samples, the researchers saw no traces of SARS-CoV-2. This means that the harm was not triggered by a direct virus assault on the brain, the NIH said in a research release. The observations were reported in a letter in the New England Journal of Medicine. Avindra Nath, clinical director at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) of the NIH, quoted the senior author of the report as saying that the brains of patients who contract SARS-CoV-2 infection could be vulnerable to harm to the microvascular blood vessels. Our observations indicate that this could be activated by the inflammatory reaction of the body to the virus. Several tests have demonstrated that inflammation and blood vessel disruption may be induced by the disorder. Researchers find evidence in one of these experiments of tiny concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 in certain patients' brains. Nonetheless, NIH added, experts are also seeking to explain how the disorder influences the brain. What Are The Factors? In this report, the researchers performed an in-depth analysis of brain tissue samples from 19 patients who died between March and July 2020 after undergoing Covid-19. Patients died at a wide variety of ages, between the ages of 5 and 73. They died after reporting signs within a few hours to two months. Some patients contribute one or two contributing factors, including asthma, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Three patients immediately collapsed and died. The researchers initially used a special, high-powered MRI scanner to analyze measurements of each patient's olfactory bulbs and brainstems. It is assumed that these areas are particularly vulnerable to Covid-19. Olfactory bulbs monitor our sense of scent, while our respiration and heart rate are regulated by the brainstem. The scans showed that the bright spots (called hyperintensities) that sometimes signify inflammation and the dark spots (called hypointensities) that show bleeding were prevalent in both areas. The researchers then used the scans as a reference to investigate the spots under a microscope more closely. They noticed that the bright spots contained smaller blood vessels than usual, often spilling fibrinogen-like blood proteins into the brain. An immune response seemed to cause this. The places were covered by T cells from the blood and microglia, the brain's own immune cells. In comparison, there were both clotted and leaky blood vessels in the dark spots, but no immune reaction. Given that it is linked with memory failure and Alzheimer's disease, doctors are worried about the impact of brain inflammation on individuals' long-term wellbeing. Certain patients are now experiencing residual neurological symptoms, such as persistent exhaustion and Guillain-Barre Syndromes. Experts expect to research in the future how COVID-19 harms the blood vessels of the brain and why this causes any of the short- and long-term effects we see in patients. ALSO READ: Coronavirus Survivors Twice as Likely to Develop Mental Disorders - Study Check out more news and information on COVID-19 on Science Times. Rep. Andy Kim, D-N.J., cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early morning hours of Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, after protesters stormed the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday. AP Water bottles, clothing, Trump flags, even a U.S. flag littered the ground inside the U.S. Capitol after a mob backing President Donald Trump ransacked the building. New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim walked amid the mess shortly after voting to certify Joe Biden's victory over Trump _ and felt the weight of the day wearing on him _ when something motivated him to clean up the debris. ''I was just really affected emotionally. I felt this kind of heightened, kind of supercharged kind of patriotism that I just felt take over,'' he said in an interview. It was then he noticed police officers putting pizza boxes in trash bags, so he asked for one, too, and began cleaning up. ''When you see something you love that's broken you want to fix it. I love the Capitol. I'm honored to be there,'' he said. ''This building is extraordinary and the rotunda in particular is just awe-inspiring. How many countless generations have been inspired in that room? ''It really broke my heart and I just felt compelled to do something. . What else could I do?'' The image of Kim crouched down clearing away litter bookended a violent, historic day that saw an angry mob smash through police lines, break windows and wrench open doors as they sieged the building, not long after Trump said at a rally they should show ''strength'' and fight against Congress' certification of Biden's win. Kim, a second-term Democrat from a district Trump won twice, wasn't looking for publicity, according to one colleague who came upon him and didn't recognize him at first. Against the backdrop of possible US sanctions on the $5.4 billion deal with Russia for S-400 air defence systems, India on Friday said it has an independent foreign policy that guides defence acquisitions in line with national security interests. Recent reports have suggested the US could impose secondary sanctions under the Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). The Russian side has said the deal for five S-400 systems is progressing according to schedule despite the threat of possible sanctions. India and the US have a comprehensive global strategic partnership. India has a special and privileged strategic partnership with Russia, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a weekly news briefing. India has always pursued an independent foreign policy. This also applies to our defence acquisitions and supplies which are guided by our national security interests, he said in response to a question on the S-400 deal. Outgoing US envoy Kenneth Juster said this week that sanctions under CAATSA werent aimed against friends of the US, though India might soon need to make hard decisions regarding the acquisition of military hardware. Also read: PM Modi to meet all chief ministers on Jan 11 to discuss Covid-19 vaccination rollout India has sought to keep its options open on arms purchases and the countrys leadership has signalled its intent to continue with the acquisition of military hardware from Russia, which accounts for more than 60 per cent of the weapons systems of the three services. Responding to another question on the US administrations plans to modify the selection process for H-1B visas by giving priority to salary and skills instead of the current lottery, Srivastava said India is in communication with the American side to ensure increased predictability in the visa regime. Almost 70 per cent of the 65,000 H-1B visas issued by the US each year go to Indian nationals. We are engaged with the US government for increased predictability in the visa regime and to minimise inconvenience to Indian nationals in the US or those proposing to travel to the US for bonafide reasons, including the movement of Indian professionals, Srivastava said. India has also noted the US governments recent proclamations extending by three months the suspension of entry of certain immigrants and non-immigrants, he said. People-to-people relations are a vital part of the partnership between India and the US. There is recognition in the US of the fact that Indian skilled professionals have contributed to the growth of the US economy and helped the US retain its competitive edge and innovation advantage, he added. Last week, in the capital of the United States, David MacMillan and his friend were in a Giant Food store when by surprise they found a worker in the pharmacy section of the supermarket and offered them a dose each of the vaccine against the COVID-19. . This was due to the fact that they had two doses left that were going to expire, therefore, a pharmacist decided to administer them. Hey, I have two doses of the vaccine and I'm going to have to throw them away if I don't give it to someone. We close in ten minutes. Do you want the Moderna vaccine ? Asked the pharmacy worker, according to the NBC source, student David MacMillan. Video of the student being immunized with the dose, viewed more than 700,000 times on TikTok on Monday, was released. It should be mentioned that the young man was not in the priority group to receive the vaccine. Image: @justlydeserved That said, the vaccination campaign began in the middle of December in the United States , at the moment it is focused on health personnel, in accordance with the recommendations of the US health authorities. The young man described the woman as a "heroine" and claimed to have taken the opportunity to report on the vaccine by posting the video on TikTok, where it has been viewed more than 733,000 times. It is important, when there is so much misinformation, that people can see that it is a good thing, that it is a positive thing. We must be excited to be able to fight the pandemic, "he said on NBC. You are scheduled to get your second dose later this month. Taking into account the above, the Giant supermarket chain argued that the worker had respected the orders of the health authorities of the country's capital, and pointed out that the health workers who were going to receive these vaccines had not shown up. It should be remembered that Moderna vaccine must be kept at very cold temperatures, once it is taken out of the freezer it quickly spoils and the lid is pierced. MacMillan pointed out that getting the vaccine didn't take away anyone who needed it. The situation was to use it or lose it. "The Moderna vaccine is valuable and saves lives, and we are happy not to have wasted it and we have given each one a dose," says Giant through a statement. More than 4.5 million people have received the first dose of one of the Covid-19 vaccines in the United States, according to the governmental Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). So far, only vaccines designed by Pfizer - BioNTech and Moderna They are authorized in the country. To know more: Moderna designed a vaccine against covid-19 in just two days thanks to mRNA technology Related: Jaw pains increase: Is it because of the mask? Aumentan los dolores de mandibula: Son por culpa del cubrebocas? Este joven fue al supermercado por comida y salio vacunado contra el Covid-19 Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved The Government is exploring ways to force childcare providers to repay parents who are charged fees for services that can't be used due to Covid-19 restrictions. There is concern among parents that creches will still charge fees for January so their child's place can be maintained. The average fee nationally was put at 736-a-month in one study in 2019 with parents in Dublin forking out an average of 1,000-a-month for one child. Children's Minister Roderic O'Gorman said he is asking childcare providers to refund parents whose children can't attend under restrictions. The Government hopes this will be done voluntarily. But the Department of Children confirmed last night that ways to enforce refunds are also being explored, and said many childcare providers are already offering them. It added: "The relationship between a service and parent is a private one based on a contract. "The department is examining whether there are mechanisms whereby it can mandate services to repay fees." On Wednesday Taoiseach Micheal Martin was asked about childcare providers seeking payments for January to maintain a child's place and whether this should be should be permitted. Mr Martin said: "The minister will be engaging with the childcare providers and with the sector to iron out these particular issues." Last night Mr O'Gorman told the Herald: "In light of the extensive financial support the State is providing to the childcare sector I am asking that providers would refund or credit those parents who are not essential workers and can't take up childcare for the next three weeks." Meanwhile, Leaving Cert students will study remotely until the end of January after the Government performed a major U-turn on its decision to proceed with classes in schools three days a week. Opposition The move follows widespread opposition from teachers, parents, pupils and special needs assistants due to "grave concerns" amid the worsening Covid-19 situation. Existing plans to reopen special schools next week are also to be scrapped. "Unfortunately I am left with no alternative but to pause the limited reopening on Monday to allow further engagement with all education stakeholders," Education Minister Norma Foley said in a statement last night. The Labour Party's education spokesman Aodhan O'Riordain said the Government has "averted a disaster". Attention will now turn to the exams as students continue to voice their concerns about sitting the traditional Leaving Cert in the summer. The decision to use remote learning follows one of the main teaching unions telling members to stay at home from school on Monday. The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) called on its members to teach remotely and defy the Government's plan to allow classes go ahead for Leaving Cert and special needs students following a meeting with public health and education officials. [January 08, 2021] AnyVision Offers 5 Indications for Fair, Ethical and Unbiased Use of Face Recognition Amidst Rising Public Debate AnyVision, a global leader in visual AI software, participated in the "Facial Recognition: Challenges and Solutions" conference hosted by Fordham University Law School last week. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005395/en/ Prof Shlomit Yanisky Ravid, Visiting Professor of Law at Fordham Law School and Yale Law School (Photo: Business Wire) The backdrop to this conference is the widespread public debate on the use of facial recognition technology - a debate encouraged by the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which gained momentum in 2020 and continues to advocate for justice and equality in the U.S. At the same time, U.S. state and city lawmakers have passed various laws restricting the use of technology in public spaces. In December alone, New York state temporarily banned facial recognition in schools and Massachusetts banned police use. As with any new technology, valid questions have been raised and concerns voiced about computer vision's application, as well as the regulatory frameworks that guide its use. AnyVision's participation in this conference reflected its strong belief that facial recognition regulation will benefit from dialogue between legislators, communities, and the industry, and that soliciting input from as many stakeholders as possible is the best way to ensure that these technologies are fair, inclusive, reliable, as well as safe, transparent, secure and accountable. Professor Shlomit Yanisky-Ravid, Visiting Professor at Fordham Law School and Yale Law School, said: "Facial Recognition is a controversial technology that we are all fond of using, but also like to hate. Many voices, including scholars, but more surprisingly, voices from the industry, have called to ban it. ACM's US Technology Policy Committee (USTPC) has called for an immediate suspension of the current and future private and governmental use of facial recognition technologies. However, facial recognition is here to stay, and brings with it many benefits for business and society." Professor Yanisky-Ravid added: "One of the main challenges that blocks the development and establishment of efficient regulation is the dialogue missing between the industry and regulators. The purpose of the Fordham Law CLIP Facial Recognition conference was to point out the balance between the risks and the benefits and more importantly, to build bridges between the industry and policy makers." Enrico Montagnino, VP of EMEA at AnyVision said: "Facial recognition technology is here to stay. I talk to organizations across every single industry, including law enforcement, who are looking to implement face recognition in order to create a safer, healthier environment for people without disrupting day-to-day operations. The challenge is to build a legal framework that will allow such systems to operate accurately and fairly." Based on its experience as a company that operates in hospitals, airports, and other public spaces in more than 45 countries around the world, AnyVision offers 5 indications for fair, ethical and unbiased use of face recognition technology: Using Diverse Data Sources - Fair facial recognition solutions must be trained on data sets that are diverse across race, ethnicity, age and gender and must be able to perform with the highest level of accuracy in real-world conditions. Dealing with Ethnic Bias - Facial recognition solutions must be devoid of algorithmic bias. In computer vision, without proper safeguards, bias may exist based on race or ethnicity, gender and age. Building Privacy Tools into the Technology - To ensure that users' privacy is maintained, face recognition technology must eliminate risk of data breach by not storing information that could be traced back to an identity. These tools may include bystander blurring, dynamic data retention times and hard data deletes. Investing in an Ethics Framework - Ethical face recognition companies invest in both the internal framework and external oversight to ensure compliance with ethical, privacy and regulatory standards. This framework should be informed by regular dialogue with local and academic communities, elected officials and commercial stakeholders or end-users. Being Aware (News - Alert) of the Potential for Misuse - A balanced approach is required to adequately address both the risks and benefits to ensure facial recognition is used responsibly, ethically and without bias and that computer vision-based products are subject to regulation and public safeguards". Montagnino added: "The legal framework for facial recognition is being written right now. In most countries there is still no appropriate regulation for the operation of facial recognition and artificial intelligence technology in general. Achieving a balanced regulatory framework that will allow public and private organizations to enjoy the benefits of technology, while protecting the public from unethical uses, bias and discrimination, and invasions of privacy requires cooperation between regulators, academic institutions and the technology industry." AnyVision welcomes any opportunity to contribute to this important conversation based on its experience in the market, and to share scientific research, information on regulatory changes around the world, and evidence of further developments in the field of facial recognition to support the use of this technology as a tool for good. About AnyVision AnyVision's mission is to reimagine the way people experience the physical world through the power of AI. Top performing organizations across multiple industries around the world AnyVision's artificial intelligence and computer vision solutions to improve their customers' experiences while enhancing safety and safeguarding privacy. Our technology is built into market-leading touchless access control systems, and automated watchlist alerting and contact tracing capabilities, all of which perform with unrivaled accuracy, speed and efficiency in the most challenging conditions. For more information, visit www.anyvision.co. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005395/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] A Rohingya man illegally living in India for years using forged documents was reportedly arrested by Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh on January 6. The man named Azizul Haq was arrested by the ATS from Sant Kabir Nagar district and has been booked for cheating and under relevant provisions of Foreigners Act and Passport Act. According to reports, the ATS is also probing Azizul Haqs bank accounts in which he received lakhs of rupees on different occasions. Had travelled abroad on forged passports Haq is likely to be produced in court today where police will seek his custody, as told by ATS Inspector General GK Goswami who was leading the operation. Goswami said that Haq was arrested during a raid that was carried out after the ATS received information about some Rohingyas staying illegally in Uttar Pradesh. During the investigation, police found that Haq entered India from Bangladesh in 2001 and procured two passports using forged ration card and school documents. He has used the passports to travel to Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia. As per reports, besides two Indian passports, an Aadhar card, three debit cards, a PAN Card and a ration card has been recovered from Azizul Haq. Haqs family followed him to India after his arrival According to reports, Haq brought his mother Abida Khatoon, sister Fatima Khatoon and brothers named Mohammad Noor and Zia-ul-Haq to India 2017. He forged their documents as well. Zia-ul-Haq is currently in Nasik. The ATS is now planning to get the custody of Zia-ul-Haq in order to interrogate him. Police said that Haq had gone to Mumbai after coming to India and had befriended a person named Inayat Ullah, son of a person named Badre Alam, a resident of Sant Kabir Nagar. Alam has told the police that it was he who had got Haqs name included in his ration card. A mobile shop named Naeem &Sons in Gorakhpur has also been raided by the ATS on December 29. Source : OpIndia This story has been updated with comments from Block Communications. CLEVELAND, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Thursday distanced himself from one of his appointees, Susan Allan Block, after Block posted incendiary comments on social media supporting President Donald Trumps false narrative about election fraud and calling Vice President-elect Kamala Harris a whore. Block was first appointed to the Ohio Arts Council in 2016 by Republican Gov. John Kasich. DeWine, a Republican, reappointed Block to the Ohio Arts Council in 2019, with her term running until 2024, according to a release on the OAC website. Following the riots in Washington at the Capitol Wednesday by Trump supporters incited by the president, Block posted remarks supportive of the conspiracy theory that widespread voter fraud led to Trumps defeat by Democratic President-elect Joe Biden. Screenshots of the posts on her Facebook and Twitter, which have since been deactivated, made the rounds on social media via Nolan Rosenkrans, a staff writer for The Blade in Toledo. Block is the wife of Allan Block, principal owner of The Blades parent company Block Communications, and the sister-in-law of John Block, The Blades publisher and editor-in-chief. Checking in on how the family that owns The Blade and Pittsburgh Post Gazette is handling yesterday's coup attempt and OH MY GOD. pic.twitter.com/pThX0tVxWI Nolan_Rosenkrans (@NolanRosenkrans) January 7, 2021 The posts are directly at odds with the message put forth by DeWine during his Thursday coronavirus press briefing, in which he blamed Trump, also a Republican, for the violent attempt to impede Congress from certifying Bidens electoral victory. Susan Blocks comments are highly offensive and do not represent the views of this administration, said Lisa Peterson, a spokeswoman for DeWine. The Blocks, who also own the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, have been staunch allies of Trump since his election, often publishing laudatory editorials in favor of his policies. Their editorial control over newsroom content often to soften stories about Trumps controversies has frequently led to public spats with journalists at both The Blade and the Post-Gazette. Blade journalists have announced a byline strike, removing their name from all articles, starting at 7 p.m. Thursday. Update: In response to Blocks comments, Block Communications released a statement saying she was not affiliated with the company. Social media posts by Susan Block represent her individual views as a private citizen; she has a first amendment right to freedom of speech and her opinions Her views do not represent those of Block Communications, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Susan Block is not an employee, shareholder or Director of Block Communications, Inc. or any of its affiliates. REGINA - Chris Kulak says his 10-year-old daughter, Isabella, thinks it might be time for a new downstairs closet to hold all the ribbon skirts arriving from around the world. REGINA - Chris Kulak says his 10-year-old daughter, Isabella, thinks it might be time for a new downstairs closet to hold all the ribbon skirts arriving from around the world. The brightly patterned handmade skirts adorned with bands of ribbon are worn by Indigenous women during ceremonies and as an expression of cultural pride something the Grade 5 student has touched off in others after a bad experience at her school. Ten-year-old Isabella Kulak is shown in a ribbon skirt in this undated handout image in Kamsack, Sask., a town about 270 kilometres east of Regina. Photo provided by her family. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Kulak Family*MANDATORY CREDIT* Isabella, a member of the Cote First Nation in Saskatchewan, wore her ribbon skirt to school last month when it held a formal day before Christmas break. We encouraged her to wear it. Probably changed her shirt three or four times. You could tell she was nervous about does it match? Does it look good?" Kulak said in a phone interview about his daughter. We thought she looked wonderful." Isabella attends school in Kamsack, a town about 270 kilometres east of Regina. The day she wore her traditional skirt, she left the house smiling, said Kulak. But when she came home, she had taken it off and she acted withdrawn. The family learned a staff member had told Isabella her outfit didn't match and the skirt wasn't considered formal. The staffer compared what Isabella had on to another student wearing a store-bought dress, he said. The Good Spirit School Division has apologized for what Isabella's father said he believes was a racially motivated comment. "This was a tremendous error," said Quintin Robertson, the division's education director, who added that the individual who made the comment accepts responsibility. "We needed to acknowledge the systemic racism that still does exist and the cultural ignorance that still does exist in our school division and in our province." Robertson said the division is discussing the matter with the Cote First Nation, which is part of a group suggesting that a Ribbon Skirt Day be held nationally every Jan. 4. That was Isabella's first day back to school and members of her family wearing ribbon skirts walked to her there, said Kulak. He and others spoke, and his daughter was drummed into the building, with supporters there from other First Nations, plus division staff. "It began the movement and that date should be honoured," he said. Thats when everybody finally woke up and realized that they had to stand up and make some noise. Hundreds of photos of women proudly wearing their ribbon skirts with messages of encouragement for Isabella have appeared on social media and a Facebook page set up to show support for her. "Stand tall little one ... your aunties have your back!" Manitoba NDP member of the legislature Nahanni Fontaine tweeted along with a photo of her and other women in their ribbon skirts. On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Isabella courageous for wearing her skirt to school to celebrate her culture, and said Canadians need to stand together. Robertson said the division will hold a Ribbon Skirt Day honouring Indigenous culture, including ribbon shirts, which are worn by men, on whatever day is decided with the First Nation. The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations, which represents Saskatchewan's 74 First Nations, has also called for schools to participate in a Ribbon Skirt Day. "I stand with young Isabella and the Kulak family in encouraging support for a national Ribbon Skirt Day, and all efforts to increase and improve respect and understanding of First Nations cultures," Assembly of First Nations Chief Perry Bellegarde, who spoke with the girl Thursday, said in a statement. "A day marking her important story, and focusing on the importance of continuing to learn and share from one another, is something every Canadian should get behind." Kulak said his family never asked for any attention, but believes part of the reason his daughter's story started a movement was that for too long Indigenous peoples have had to hide their cultural pride. When this happened to my little girl, the ladies of the Prairies and all across the nation and the men as well decided that was enough. The court of public opinion spoke pretty loudly and its pretty obvious what they thought." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2021. KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2021 - 18:05 | All, Japan Heavy snow across much of Japan caused widespread disruption Friday, leaving around 90 vehicles temporarily stranded on an expressway and nearly 44,000 homes without electricity. The Japan Meteorological Agency said it expects the cold spell to continue over the weekend, warning of more snowfall and further traffic disruption due to slippery roads. Sections of the Hokuriku Expressway were closed between Ishikawa and Toyama prefectures on the Sea of Japan coast for snow clearance after the vehicles were stuck until early Friday morning, according to Central Nippon Express Co. Related coverage: 4 die in snow removal accidents in northeastern Japan A trailer truck broke down on the highway, bringing traffic behind it to a halt in Ishikawa near the prefectural border, police said. A blackout that began Thursday was continuing to affect 43,808 homes in Akita and Niigata prefectures as of 11 a.m. Friday, with dozens of evacuation centers set up for residents unable to use heating. Tohoku shinkansen bullet train services were suspended for several hours as icicles on the overhead line halted power transmission. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told a meeting on the government's response to the heavy snow that work was ongoing to restore power and the Self-Defense Forces had been deployed to help clear the snow. "We will continue to be on alert and proactively provide support" to affected areas, he said. According to the weather agency, 120 centimeters of snowfall was expected in the Hokuriku region of central Japan in the 24 hours through 6 a.m. Saturday, with Tokai, Kinki and Tohoku among the other regions set for more heavy snow. Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, LeT Militant and 26/11 Mastermind, Sentenced to 5 Yrs in Jail: Pakistan Media Lashkar-e-Taiba's Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, was on Friday sentenced to five years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan, according to the country's media. Lakhvi was arrested over terror financing charges six days ago. The LeT commander, who was out on bail since 2015, was arrested by Punjab province's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and a case was registered in a Lahore police station. Read More 'Held Tricolour to Show Trump Loyalists Not Racists': Vincent Xavier, the Indian-Origin Man at Capitol Hill Riot Amid a sea of unruly members of a pro-Donald Trump mob waving American confederate flags and flags supporting the US President in the attack on the US Capitol Hill, there was the presence of one that stood out: a man waving the Indian tricolour. The man has been identified as Vincent Xavier Palathingal, a resident of Virginia, who traces his roots to Kochi, Kerala, and had earlier been picked by Trump to be member Presidents Export Council. Read More Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal Announces Guidelines for Travellers Arriving from UK Travellers coming from the UK to the national capital will have to undergo a seven-day institutional quarantine and a seven-day home quarantine even if they test negative for COVID-19 on arrival, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday. "To protect Delhiites from exposure to the virus from the UK, the Delhi government has taken important decisions. Travellers coming from UK will have to mandatorily undergo a self-paid RT-PCR test on arrival at the airport," the chief minister said. Read More Majority of Urban Indians will Take Coronavirus Vaccine as Soon it is Available: News18 Survey The year 2020 has passed, the pandemic hasnt. However, the glimmer of hope is that several vaccines have been rolled out across the world and many countries, including the USA and the UK, have started the vaccination process. However, some amount of apprehension has been reported in people as they fear reactions and allergies to the vaccine. In India, the dry run has been conducted in several states and the country gears up for the mammoth task of inoculation. Read More India vs Australia: Ravindra Jadeja Dubs Run Out of Steve Smith His 'Best Effort' India's Ravindra Jadeja was pretty chuffed about running Steve Smith out with a direct hit in the ongoing third Test against Australia and called it his "best ever" fielding effort which he can watch any number of times. Smith, who was batting on 130 and was in a mood to slog every ball in company of No.11 batsman Josh Hazlewood, couldn't beat a direct throw from Jadeja, who sprinted from his deep square leg position and effected a direct hit with throw reminiscent of the great Kapil Dev during his heydays. Read More Rajiv Lakshman Deletes Pic with Rhea Chakraborty, Here's Why Rajiv Lakshman's Instagram post with actress Rhea Chakraborty came in the spotlight after the two met for an intimate get-together. However, Rajiv has taken down the post citing it 'created unnecessary trouble'. In a fresh post, he said his choice of words was irresponsible and he wishes well for the actress. "I seem to have created unnecessary trouble with my irresponsible choice of words on a post. Rhea is a dear old friend, and I'm happy to meet her again and I wish her well," he wrote in the post. Read More After getting his doctorate in Wuhan, capital of central Chinas Hubei province, Nguyen Dientuan, a Vietnamese born in the 1970s, has become a teacher of the guqin, a seven-stringed plucked instrument that has more than 3,000 years of history in China, Chinanews.com reported on Jan. 5. Nguyen, who was born in Quang Tri province of Vietnam and has lived in Wuhan for 16 years, owns a studio named Nantianfang in the East Lake scenic area in Wuhan. In the studio, he makes guqins and teaches students how to play the traditional Chinese instrument. Nguyen Dientuan arranges his guqins. (Photo/Chinanews.com) According to Nguyen, his interest in traditional Chinese culture and fascination with guqin music dates back years ago. Nguyens grandfather, a teacher in Vietnam, used to teach Nguyen how to write Chinese characters, said Nguyen, who came to study in Wuhan in 2005. Vietnamese TV stations often broadcast Chinese films and TV series, such as Six-Fingered String Demon and Hero. Ive been obsessed with the guqin music in these films, Nguyen said. Nguyen started to learn to play the guqin in 2009 when he needed to show his Chinese culture-related skills in the Chinese Bridge, an annual Chinese language proficiency competition which he participated as a representative of the Central China Normal University in Wuhan. Nguyen Dientuan arranges his guqins. (Photo/Chinanews.com) "I knew that the guqin would be the musical instrument I would want to play for the rest of my life the moment I touched it for the first time," Nguyen recalled. With the number of his students continuing to grow, his studio has attracted a rising number of music enthusiasts as many of them are curious about how a Vietnamese person can become a master of China's traditional musical instrument. A good player of a musical instrument is often good at making them too, Nguyen said. In an effort to ensure the quality of the instrument, he makes guqins with ancient techniques he learned on his own. Nguyen Dientuan plays the guqin. (Photo/Chinanews.com) It takes him between two to three years to make a handcrafted guqin with the techniques used in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), which include over 200 procedures, Nguyen disclosed. "I will bring the culture of the guqin back to Vietnam, and pass on my experience in making them to more people," said Nguyen. Nguyen Dientuan makes a guqin. (Photo/Chinanews.com) Minutes later she swept past the waiter into the kitchen to flirt with the chef, whom she hugged, before returning to the restaurant to declare: The chef is as lovely as the food he makes. Lets give him a round of applause. Loading She couldnt be controlled, recalls Hawkins, seated at his Marrickville living room table while preparing for the play's season at the Sydney Festival.. Gorgeous. In his one-person show, performed in a simplified version of Maureens apartment, Hawkins wears a simple skirt that looks like wallpaper with a fleur-de-lis pattern but melts into the wall and floor of the stage set. The outfit is a metaphor inspired by surrealist artist Leonora Carrington: that your home is an extension of yourself. So Im both in the room and I am [Maureens] room, and the audience is in her room but theyre also in her, says Hawkins. Loading Introduced to Hawkins through a mutual female friend who had also worked at David Jones, Maureen was aware Hawkins was planning to write about her,originally as part of a script about several elderly vigilante women who break out of a nursing home. The play only kind of made sense when she passed, says Hawkins. He is working Maureens very specific top lip into his characterisation of her. Im not trying to make a faithful rendering of her physically; its more finding a way to inhabit the relationship we had. But why harbinger of death? The kernel of the idea came from Maureen musing on the deaths of peers and the reunions with old friends at funerals. In the play, the fictionalised "Maureen Daly" goes further, drawing up a list of her friends anticipating the order in which they will die. Sometimes Im even there when it happens, says the stage Maureen. Thats how accurate I am. Hawkins declines to provide Spectrum with a photo of his friend or have her real surname published because the play takes substantial artistic licence and the character is also inspired by other women. However, he shows me a small picture of Maureen and a link to her obituary of 2018 to prove her existence, adding it is ultimately a fiction and not a faithful rendering or a biological work". To protect the people who know her but dont know me, its best to detach my work from the real her. I ought to have called [the character] Marilyn or something. Growing up in Wyoming on the NSW Central Coast, Hawkins was home-schooled by his mother until year 8. He loved visiting women. There was an old lady called Ethel up the road, and a neighbour called Lynne whose pool Hawkins would swim in without permission. Id go for a swim and shed come out and pretend to be cranky at me, and then Id go up and visit Ethel and shed teach me how to use a loom. Another friend, Angela, once told him over lunch why gay men and older women make such good companions: The world makes you think youre becoming us. Until that point, Hawkins assumed the bond arose from gay men seeing older women as replacement mothers. Angela thought that notion idiotic: The world puts the same value on you as it does us, she corrected him. If youre not young and beautiful, if youre not young and wealthy, you have less meaning. Hawkins, who is single, sees a further parallel with older, single women. The narrative for you if youre not in a relationship is that youre sad and lonely, or your life is somehow lesser. Im probably not going to have children, Im not in a relationship and so people go: How are we going to fix that for you? Im like, Oh, please dont; Im very busy and very happy being very busy. The real Maureen would sometimes excuse herself from company by saying she had a gentleman to meet. Hawkins suspects these were imagined lovers and a front for wanting an early night. In the play, Maureen speaks of younger people at parties being so terrified of the company of an old lady that they avoid eye contact. David Stewart went to sleep Wednesday night wondering how he would explain the chaos that had transpired in the nation's capital that day, only 10 miles from Alexandria, Va., where he teaches elementary school. He decided to let his fourth-graders bring it up, and it didn't take much to open the floodgates, even over Zoom. Students said they were upset, angry and scared. "Some talked about how they were sad because they saw on TV that Americans, people who live in this country, are breaking the windows of a government building. How people were walking out of buildings with blood on their faces," said Stewart, 39. Stewart thanked each child in turn for sharing, but he was at a loss for words when one student said he and his family had been at the Capitol when the riot broke out. The child said he watched as injured people were wheeled away in ambulances. "I had to think about the best way to respond to that," Stewart said. "I found that difficult to speak about." Stewart replied that he was sorry the student had seen those things and glad neither he nor his family was injured. Although he wanted to, he did not ask questions, and kept the discussion moving. Across the country on Thursday, teachers grappled with how to talk to their students about the mob invasion of the Capitol building a day earlier by Donald Trump supporters insisting the president had won an election that he actually lost. Some teachers spoke explicitly about White privilege, racism and lies put forth by President Trump, who had encouraged protesters to march to Capitol Hill. Some directly addressed the fact that police had come out in force in response to Black Lives Matter protests and were caught completely off guard by White pro-Trump forces. Others approached the subject more gently, inquiring about students' emotional and mental health, seeking to check in and see how they were. Many let students guide the discussion, sharing what they knew and asking questions. And some ignored the matter altogether. In Minneapolis, a network of principals began messaging one another about how to handle the news almost as soon as it happened, said Mary Pat Cumming, principal of the FAIR School. She said everyone agreed the subject should be addressed, but there were differing views on the scope. "A couple principals said this should stay in social studies," Cumming said. "Others said this is full-scale - all teachers should be prepared to have these conversations in the morning." Cumming urged every teacher at her school to engage in the subject. "Students will need to process, talk, and share," she wrote in an email to her staff. "I want to encourage you to think about how you will create space for those discussions." On social media, many teachers said they would turn the chaos into a teaching opportunity, even as others vowed to steer clear of anything political. School leaders across the country told their communities that lawlessness was unacceptable, with some seeming to reveal their view of the White House. "The painful truth is that teachable moments are harder when our children see a lack of moral leadership at the highest levels of government and society," said Monica E. Goldson, chief executive officer of the Prince George's County schools, Maryland's second-largest school system. In Memphis, Joris Ray, superintendent of Shelby County Schools, wrote on Twitter that his staff would use the riot to "teach the importance of CIVILITY and uphold DEMOCRACY." Many shared resources. PBS NewsHour announced that it would hold a public Zoom session on Thursday evening, with a panel of educators answering teachers' questions and offering guidance on how to discuss the insurrection with students. A guide published by Facing History, a nonprofit group, suggested pointing children to reliable news sources and then asking them to write short reflections on Wednesday's events. Another, developed by Teaching Tolerance, proposed posing open-ended questions, such as, "What does a just use of power look like?" Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, posted a long Twitter thread listing free online lesson plans. "Students across America are watching," Weingarten wrote. "You don't have to be a civics teacher to know that this moment is going to be very difficult for so many educators across the country." For schools in and around the District of Columbia, the events at the Capitol were almost impossible to ignore. Christina Wren, a teacher at Capitol Heights Elementary School, said she proceeded carefully with her fifth-graders, letting them know they could take a break rather than participate. All 21 stayed in the Zoom class, and nearly all had things to say or questions to pose, she said. Some worried the mob would wreak havoc in their area. One girl who was already feeling isolated because of the pandemic feared that the bedlam and the masklessness might somehow make things worse - maybe creating a new obstacle to getting back into school. Other students asked why the rioters seemed to face no immediate consequences for their destruction at the Capitol. "The idea of consequences is something they really understand at this age," Wren said. Then came questions she could not answer: Why, the children asked, was there so much aggression toward the Black Lives Matter protesters over the summer and yet little interference with pro-Trump rioters. "I reassured them those were questions I had myself, but I didn't have the answers," she said. Before the class ended, Wren asked her children to write about how Jan. 6, 2021, might be portrayed 10 years from now in a history book. She played soothing music as the children wrote. Chris Wade, who is vice principal at KIPP DC Heights Academy, an elementary school just three miles from the Capitol, could hear sirens all day from his Southeast Washington home and knew his students could hear them too. "Seeing images of people breaching the Capitol building for the first time since the British . . . and images of nooses and Confederate flags, it is traumatic," he said. "To move forward with another day of school as if what happened is a normal day would be a disservice to our students and staff." The KIPP DC charter network, with students in all grade levels across seven campuses, canceled classes Thursday so staff and students could process the events and receive mental health services if they want. And Wade has been charged with determining how staff will address it with students beginning Friday. He said there will be activities and discussions, with mental health workers popping in to see if students need to talk. Fourth- graders, for example, will get newspaper photographs and be encouraged to come to their own conclusions of what happened. Overall, he said, the idea is to "gives students voice" and "affirm their identity." In Jefferson County, Ky., sixth-grade teacher Rashauna Tyson tread lightly on the subject. She knew she needed to address what happened but she is a math teacher and didn't have much time. She didn't talk about race or politics, and instead talked about kindness and how people were being unkind as they rammed through the Capitol. "My approach was high level to not go so deep to force my views," said Tyson. Still, next week she plans to connect the events at the Capitol to a book about the sit-ins during the civil rights movement that her homeroom read earlier this week. In the small, conservative town of Council Grove, Kan., Tina McIver decided her English classes were not the right place to talk about the events. The town is dominated by Trump supporters, making for a tricky conversation. Given the turmoil that the coronavirus pandemic has created, McIver tries to make her class feel as normal as possible. On Thursday, she thanked her students for continuing to show up every day, even when school is remote, and for doing their schoolwork. "I want them to know that in a world of chaos, my room (even remotely) can be a place of comfort and calm," she said in an email. Brian Reeves approached the subject carefully. He's a teacher at Farmington High School in Farmington, Mo., an area represented in Congress by Rep. Jason T. Smith, one of the Republicans who objected on Wednesday to certifying the victory of Joe Biden and Kamala D. Harris as president and vice president. On Thursday, he taught World Religions, American Government and Early Modern Europe, and brought up what happened at the U.S. Capitol by first posting the legal definition of sedition. Then he played news footage of the events from the Australian Broadcasting Corp., hoping to avoid controversy around U.S. media. "In a democracy, we must realize there are rules and we must respect those rules," he told his classes. "We also must realize that words matter and have consequences." Reeves said that most of his students had not understood what happened on Wednesday. "Most of my students had not fully viewed the events and were shocked," he said. "Most of our community in southeast Missouri voted for Donald Trump. However, not one student spoke up to defend him or his crowd that stormed Congress yesterday." In Douglas, Mass., students in Jack Coyne's eighth-grade civics and government class includes both Trump and Biden supporters, he said. On Thursday, he said that some students arrived well-informed about what transpired the day before and others had no idea, or just a vague notion that something "disrespectful" had gone on in the nation's capital. He started class with a discussion of the electoral college, and the certification of the results, an abstract subject suddenly filled with drama, and then pivoted to discussion of the riot. Most kids had the same essential question: "Why did this escalate so far?" In response, "I brought them back to, 'Why do these people believe what they're fighting for?' " Coyne said. "I asked them, 'If you believed this information, would it be alarming for you?' " By the end of the class, he said, everyone was agreed that there was no justification for the actions of the Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol. "I was really impressed," he said. "We have students who have pretty different ideas who were able to find common ground." At Waddell Language Academy in Charlotte, N.C., Justin Parmenter opened a discussion with his seventh graders with a simple factual explanation of what happened Wednesday, and then showed images from inside the U.S. Capitol. He asked them to tell him one thing they noted and one thing they wondered about. Their answers included questions about security, about the rioters' motives, about why they weren't wearing masks. "One mentioned that the protestors appeared to be all White, and if it had been Black people doing that a lot of them would have been killed," he said. Hunter Hogewood, head of the social studies at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School just outside the District, held Zoom sessions with teachers Wednesday evening and again Thursday morning to share ideas about how to discuss the extraordinary uprising. "It's always such a balance between some kids who really want to talk about it - that's how they process - and some kids who don't," he said. In Hogewood's comparative religions class, seven or eight of his 38 students chose to take a break, but the others participated in a discussion, expressing frustration and anger, and questioning the stunning lack of security at the Capitol, he said. Hogewood thought the discussion would last 10 or 15 minutes, followed by the scheduled lesson. But the discussion kept going and the next lesson, on Buddhism, waited for another day. "This is a historic moment that kids need to process," he said. - - - The Washington Post's Valerie Strauss contributed to this report. Mean Girls and Saturday Night Live head honcho Lorne Michaels has reassured UK audiences that the hit Broadway show will be sailing to London in the future. Issuing a statement just as the Broadway production announces its closure, Michaels (who co-produces the show with Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman, and Paramount Pictures) said: "We remain excited to bring this musical to the big screen, relaunch the tour and prepare for a London production. I look forward to the day, hopefully soon, when theaters can open their doors again." Dates and possible venues for the London run are to be revealed originally a 2021 premiere had been hinted but the global pandemic may have disrupted plans. Based on Fey's 2004 film (which itself was inspired by Rosalind Weissman's 2002 self-help book Queen Bees and Wannabes), Mean Girls takes place in perhaps the world's most insidious jungle: high school. After her parents' research funding runs out, Cady Heron (Erika Henningsen) moves back to Illinois from Kenya, where she was raised among the animals, and must assimilate herself into a vicious landscape unlike anything she experienced on the Serengeti. Mean Girls was seen by over a million people during its New York run, grossing $124m dollars. It had a book by Tina Fey (based on her screenplay for the film) as well as music by Jeff Richmond and lyrics by Nell Benjamin, as well as choreography and direction by Casey Nicholaw. The production's final performance was Wednesday evening March 11, 2020, having played 805 shows and 29 previews in a record-setting run at the August Wilson Theatre. Mean Girls mania does not stop simply because the show has closed on Broadway the piece's North American tour will resume as soon as possible, while a new musical film (based on the stage show, based on the film) is also in the pipeline. The film is produced by Michaels and Fey and set to be distributed by Paramount Pictures. According to producers, "more details are to be announced." .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. The insurrection by supporters of President Donald Trump at the U.S. Capitol this week has prompted governors and lawmakers in several states to heighten security at their own capitol buildings as they gather amid a pandemic for legislative sessions and inaugural ceremonies. Like the U.S. Capitol, statehouses are regular targets for demonstrations. Many already have armed security personnel and metal detectors that screen visitors. But if the U.S. Capitol a shining symbol of democracy with a dedicated police force can be overrun by a violent mob, could state capitols be next? ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ This weeks events were a wakeup call for everybody, both in D.C. and in state capitals all across the country, said Washington state Rep. J.T. Wilcox, the chambers Republican leader. A series of smaller-scale flare-ups occurred last year at state capitols. Last spring, armed protesters entered the Michigan Capitol to object to pandemic-related lockdowns. Some were blocked by police while demanding entry onto the House floor, while others shouted down from the Senate gallery. In Ohio, people upset about the death of George Floyd in Minnesota smashed 28 windows at the statehouse. Protesters in Idaho temporarily derailed a special legislative session last August. And just a few weeks ago, crowds in Oregon forced their way into the Capitol to protest its closure to the public during a special legislative session on coronavirus measures. On Friday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced he was activating up to 750 National Guard troops to join state police in patrolling the capitol in Olympia on Monday, when lawmakers return to session. He said an area will be set aside for demonstrators to hold rallies. But in light of the most recent insurrection activity, the state cannot tolerate any actions that could result in harm, mayhem or interruption of function of democratic institutions, he said in a statement. Any illegal intrusion of the Capitol, state buildings or restricted areas will not be tolerated and strictly enforced. A right-wing militia had encouraged its members to occupy the Capitol when lawmakers meet, and that intention was echoed by several people who broke down a gate outside the governors mansion on Wednesday, the day Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. An organizer of the planned occupation said in a later Facebook post that the event was canceled, although its not clear whether others who share right-wing views plan to show up, anyway. In neighboring Idaho, where lawmakers also are scheduled to meet Monday, State Police Col. Kedrick Wills said there will be an increased presence of uniformed state troopers at the statehouse. Anxieties are high for some lawmakers. We are being forced into one of the most dangerous workplaces in the state, said Democratic House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, noting a lack of COVID-19 protection efforts. Now, layered onto that, were at a point where emotions are at their absolute peak and armed conspiracy theorists are ready to burn it all down. The vast majority of state legislatures are convening this month. Though some are allowing remote participation because of coronavirus precautions, others are proceeding with regular in-person committee hearings and floor debates. Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said security has been increased around the statehouse in advance of the legislative session that begins next Wednesday. In Massachusetts, which started its legislative session this week, Republican Gov. Charlie Baker and Democratic legislative leaders issued a joint statement saying they were assessing the Capitols security in light of events in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere. In Oregon, where Trump supporters burned a life-size puppet of Democratic Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday, lawmakers have pledged to review Capitol safety rules and potentially increase security for the session that begins Jan. 19. State police that oversee the New Mexico statehouse have taken steps to coordinate security with local law enforcement agencies in case gatherings become other than peaceful, said state police spokesman Lt. Mark Soriano. Some state officials are rethinking their Capitol gun policies. In Michigan, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey said Thursday that he would support a ban on the open carrying of firearms in the Capitol. Minority party Democratic lawmakers want to prohibit all guns in the building. By contrast, some Texas lawmakers are talking of bringing more guns into the Capitol to protect themselves. Licensed handgun owners already can carry firearms into the Capitol, and some lawmakers have been known to wear guns in the chamber. Pretty sure more #txlege members are going to start carrying inside the Capitol, Republican state Rep. Briscoe Cain tweeted Thursday, a day after the Capitol grounds were abruptly shuttered as hundreds of Trump supporters demonstrated outside without any reported incidents. The Republican Party of Texas was to hold another long-planned rally at the Capitol on Saturday to draw attention to legislative priorities. Missouri Gov. Mike Parson is planning for more than a thousand guests to gather Monday on the lawn of the state Capitol for his inaugural ceremony. Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike OConnell said plans have been in the works for months to provide extensive security and crowd-control. As a mob stormed the nations capitol Wednesday, supporters and opponents of Trump also clashed outside the Ohio statehouse. Video footage showed multiple people in a street fight. Another violent altercation involving several people broke out later on the statehouse grounds, until law enforcement officers moved to separate the groups. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, said he could not promise that the statehouse wouldnt be breached like the U.S. Capitol. No one can say theyre confident, DeWine said, adding: Were certainly aware that something could happen. Some states already had stepped up security before the violence in the nations capital. A fence remains at the Minnesota Capitol after being erected last summer amid the unrest over Floyds killing. It was in place Wednesday when around 500 Trump supporters held what was billed as a Storm the Capitol rally a noisy but peaceful gathering with no arrests. State Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington said increased security staffing will continue for the immediate future. Colorados Capitol also remains encircled by fencing, with concrete barriers to block vehicles and its ground floor windows boarded up after vandals damaged it following Floyds death. Officials already planned to install stronger fencing, more security cameras and bullet-resistant glass for windows. Legislative leaders are focusing on any needed additional measures after the events in Washington, said Bella Combest, spokeswoman for the Senate Democratic leadership. Police at the Mississippi Capitol are moving forward with a previously planned purchase of more security cameras and new machines to scan bags. The New Jersey statehouse is in the midst of a multi-year, $300 million renovation, with security listed as a top reason. After the U.S. Capitol siege, New Jersey state Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, leader of the chambers minority Republicans, raised concerns about security in public buildings. It is very difficult to understand how protestors were able to gain access to the Chamber in the Capitol, Bramnick said in a tweet. This is a very dangerous scenario that may encourage others to violate the law. - Associated Press writers James Anderson in Denver; Michael Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey; Sara Cline in Salem, Oregon; Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis; Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Washington; Steve LeBlanc in Boston; Morgan Lee in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Anna Nichols in Lansing, Michigan; Keith Ridler in Boise, Idaho; Emily Wagster Pettus in Jackson, Mississippi; Paul Weber in Austin, Texas; Andrew Welsh-Huggins in Columbus, Ohio; and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report. NEW DELHI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2021) China has established a procedure that will allow India's concerned shipping companies to change the crew members of cargo vessels MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia stranded in Chinese waters due to COVID-19 restrictions imposed in the country, the spokesman of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, Anurag Srivastava said on Friday. "In view of China's strict COVID-19 pandemic control and prevention measures as well as various travel restrictions in place, the Chinese authorities have outlined detailed steps to ensure the smooth movement of a new crew to China to effect crew change. These steps have to be complied by the concerned shipping companies," Srivastava said. The spokesman stressed that the Indian embassy in China was actively engaged in settling this issue and cooperated with the Chinese authorities to facilitate the change of the crew members. The spokesman added that India would continue to communicate with China and the concerned shipping companies to accelerate the crew members' change and ensure the needs of the Indian seamen stranded in Chinese waters. "We will continue to remain in touch with various relevant Chinese authorities as well as shipping companies to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the crew are taken care of and that crew changes can be effected at the earliest," Srivastava said. In June, Indian cargo vessel MV Jag Anand with 23 Indian nationals on board was refused permission to offload its cargo in the Chinese port of Jintang located in the province of Hebei due to COVID-19 related restrictions implemented in China. In September, another Indian vessel MV Anastasia with 16 Indians aboard also failed to get permission to discharge its cargo in the port of Caofeidian located in the same province. Both ships were transporting coal from Australia to China. Kyrgyzstan is holding a crucial presidential election and national referendum on January 10 to determine if the country should revert to a presidential system. But because the processes that led to this election day were rushed, questions linger about the legality and legitimacy of decisions that have been made by Kyrgyz officials. It is therefore difficult to escape the feeling that this election will not deliver stability and could even sow the seeds for future problems. The elections are a consequence of the mass unrest that broke out after the country held parliamentary elections on October 4. Concerns before the election of vote-buying were confirmed when the results showed the two parties suspected of dishonest campaign tactics, Mekenim Kyrgyzstan and Birimdik, received an overwhelming percentage of the votes. Unrest then broke out in the capital, Bishkek, on October 5 and a day later the government had been chased from power with the president, Sooronbai Jeenbekov, seemingly in hiding. He would soon resign. The tumult marked the third time since 2005 that a president and his government had been ousted by protests and most assumed -- as happened in 2005 and 2010 -- that opposition leaders would cobble together an interim government. But while many opposition figures and groups were anxious to claim a role in the victory of having the faulty elections annulled, they were slow to cooperate in forming an alliance to take up the reins of power. A huge power vacuum appeared and a group that did not take part in the October 5 protests came to the fore. That group then also pushed for this presidential election. From Prison To President? There are 17 candidates competing to be president in Kyrgyzstan, the lone Central Asian country where free and democratic elections are held. The favorite to win the vote is Sadyr Japarov, who woke up in a prison cell on October 5 where he was about one-third of the way through a 10-year prison sentence he was serving for hostage-taking during a protest against a mining operation in northeast Kyrgyzstan in October 2013. Quickly freed from prison overnight on October 5-6 during unrest in Bishkek, within two weeks he would become acting prime minister and acting president of the country. It is still unclear which powerful figures have backed Japarov's meteoric rise to power, though there are suspicions organized criminal groups have played a role. Along with Japarov there are some other relatively well-known people running for the presidency. Adakhan Madumarov is the leader of Butun Kyrgyzstan, the only opposition party that won seats in the October 4 parliamentary elections, garnering 13 of the 120 available. Madumarov was a candidate in the 2011 presidential election when he placed second, and in 2017 when he was third. Kanatbek Isaev is the leader of the Kyrgyzstan party, which also won seats in the October 4 elections (16) but was seen as a pro-government party. Isaev was a parliament deputy and served as parliament speaker from October 13 to November 4. He should have become acting president when Jeenbekov resigned on October 15 but declined, paving the way for Japarov to take the post. Isaev later said he did not want to be acting president because it constitutionally prohibited him from running for president. Klara Sooronkulova is the leader of the Reforma party, which was created just before October's parliamentary poll. She is a former Supreme Court judge and since October has led many of the court challenges against the decision to delay new parliamentary elections, allowing Japarov to run for president despite having served as acting president, and the decision to hold a referendum on the constitution. Kanybek Imanaliev is a deputy from the Ata-Meken party, an opposition party from the parliamentary elections. He was one of only four deputies to oppose holding the constitutional referendum. Abdil Segizbaev is a former chief of the State Committee for National Security (UKMK) and, as a presidential candidate, has been one of the most vocal critics of Japarov. He has challenged Japarov about his role as a top official in the anti-corruption agency under President Kurmanbek Bakiev (2005-2010), when billions of dollars were taken out of Kyrgyzstan and several successful private firms were taken over by Bakiev's friends and relatives. Nearly all the other candidates have made negative comments about Japarov in a series of debates held on state television in late December. Japarov is the only candidate still running who did not participate in the debates, claiming he was too busy meeting with voters. The 52-year-old Japarov has received far more donations for his campaign than his opponents. According to the Kyrgyz news website Kaktus.media, as of early December Japarov had raised 1.23 million soms (about $15,000), trailing two other candidates: Babarjan Tolbaev (5.2 million soms/$63,000) and Aymen Kasenov (1.454 million soms/$17,000). Also Read: Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia But by December 25, Kaktus reported that Japarov's campaign fund had raised 47.4 million soms ($570,000). The candidate with the next most campaign money is Babyrjan Tolbaev, with 9.35 million soms ($112,000). The other candidates have all raised less than 5 million soms ($60,000). Japarov has said several times that the money had been donated by the "people of Kyrgyzstan," but one report said at least 30.9 million soms of his total came from just 10 people and two companies. The 'Khanstitution' Holding a constitutional referendum was an idea raised in late October, but it quickly went from just making some reforms to the document to making major changes that amounted to rewriting it. By early November, Japarov and members of his Mekenchil party said the current constitution establishing the parliamentary system of government and a division of power between the president and prime minister has not worked. They argued that it is necessary for one person to hold all of the main powers. A new constitution was drafted that immediately sparked resistance from several quarters in Kyrgyzstan. The draft would make the president the head of state and head of government while including an official role for a kuriltai, or council, that would be a consultative body able to recommend, among other things, the dismissal of officials. It was dubbed the "khanstitution" by opponents who said it would legitimize authoritarian rule. On November 22, the first of a series of peaceful marches against the constitution started in Bishkek. They have continued every Sunday since then. Acting President Talant Mamytov signed a decree on November 20 to establish a constitutional chamber of 89 members to redraft the "khanstitution" and the group quickly fell into disagreement over many points, for example whether the word "secular" should be stricken from the constitution or the name of parliament, Jogorku Kenesh, should be changed. In the end, the motion for a referendum on a constitution was adopted by parliament on December 10 -- one month before the referendum would be held -- after quickly approving it on the second and third readings. What voters in Kyrgyzstan are being asked to approve on January 10 is simply whether they want a parliamentary of presidential form of government. A second referendum will need to be conducted, tentatively in March, to vote on a new draft constitution. Questions Of Legitimacy From just after the October parliamentary elections until January there have been a multitude of questions and problems about the decision-making processes of Kyrgyz officials. First off, the parliamentary mandates for the deputies expired on October 28, and though deputies voted to extend them until new parliamentary elections are held, they legally should have not been allowed to vote on any matters involving a major policy change, such as the holding of a referendum to change the constitution. Therefore every decision parliament approved after October 28 is considered by some legal experts in Kyrgyzstan and many others to have no validity. Also, Japarov was named acting president on October 16 and officially took up the duties of that office on October 21, but as former parliament speaker Isaev noted, it is banned by the constitution for an acting president to run for president. On October 26, Japarov announced he would step down as prime minister and acting president so he could run for president. But two days later, Japarov and other government members took their oaths of office. On November 14, Japarov finally left his state posts and Talant Mamytov, the parliament speaker since November 4, was named acting president. Japarov has also said several times that he would not appoint his friends to government positions, but Mamytov and the current head of the UKMK, Kamchybek Tashiev, were co-defendants with Japarov when they were on trial in 2013 for trying to overthrow the government. They were convicted in March 2013 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. One of the judges that eventually acquitted the three in an appeals court in June 2013 was Kurmankul Zulushev, who was appointed prosecutor-general on October 21, just days after Japarov became acting president. Zulushev was dismissed for the decision to acquit the three deputies and two months later the Supreme Court overturned those acquittals but ruled the three did not have to return to prison. There are also questions about the Supreme Court's abrupt decision to acquit Japarov of the hostage-taking charges and to overturn the guilty verdict against Japarov, Mamytov, and Tashiev for trying to overthrow the government. And it is still not clear when there will be new parliamentary elections, even though the annulled October 4 elections led to so much that has happened since then and despite the fact that preparations to hold them began in late October. Japarov has variously cited "spring" or "before the end of the first half of 2021" as the time when they would be held. In the end, the populist Japarov is the big favorite to win the presidential election and the proposal for a presidential form of government also seems likely to be approved by voters, largely because of Japarov's support and promotion of it. But there are so many aspects of Japarov's rise to power, and the changes he has been making since then, which are open to legal challenges, leaves many thinking that once his momentum slows and his popularity dissipates -- as seems almost certain to happen given the economic and other crises Kyrgyzstan faces -- the country is likely to fall back into a political crisis of some kind. Gulaiym Ashakeeva of RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service, known locally as Azattyk, contributed to this report. (Newser) There's no way any sentence that begins with "Hitler was right on one thing" can possibly end well. A newly elected Illinois congresswoman is currently discovering that fact firsthand. Rep. Mary Miller, a Republican, can be heard on video taken at a "Moms for America" rally held at the US Capitol Tuesday saying that the GOP must "win the hearts and minds of our children." That's when the Nazi leader got invoked: "Hitler was right on one thing. He said, 'Whoever has the youth has the future.'" Illinois state lawmakers, Miller's Democratic colleagues representing Illinois in the US House of Representatives, and others are now among those calling for her to resign, NBC Chicago reports. story continues below "Hitler got nothing right," Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker said at a press conference, per WGN. "This reprehensible rhetoric has no place in our politics." The Illinois GOP chairman is calling on Miller, who was just sworn in Sunday, to apologize, and USA Today reports other Illinois Republicans, including Rep. Adam Kinzinger, are condemning her comments. President Trump supported Miller's campaign, and she was among the contingent insisting the election was stolen from him. "One might expect this from white supremacists or neo-Nazis, but hearing the words 'Hitler was right' from the mouth of a member of the United States Congress is beyond acceptable behavior by any standards," says the president of the World Jewish Congress. (Read more Adolf Hitler stories.) The US government argues that the French tax unfairly targets American companies (Tim Ockenden/PA) Frances government has breathed a sigh of relief after the US indefinitely delayed tariffs on French wine, cosmetics and other goods designed as retaliation for a French tax on technology giants. The US Trade Representatives office said in a statement that it suspended the tariffs targeting France, which had been scheduled to enter into force this week, because it is investigating similar tech taxes from a growing number of other countries too. French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said his government takes note of the US decision and called for a global agreement on taxing online behemoths such as Google and Amazon. It is among multiple trade disputes that have damaged transatlantic ties in recent years. Expand Close French finance minister Bruno Le Maire called for a global agreement on taxing online behemoths such as Google (Andrew Matthews/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp French finance minister Bruno Le Maire called for a global agreement on taxing online behemoths such as Google (Andrew Matthews/PA) In a statement to the Associated Press, Mr Le Maire urged a global settlement of trade disagreements between the United States and Europe, which make everyone lose, especially in this time of crisis. The US government argues that the French tax unfairly targets American companies. France says its tax targets any company with huge revenues, and is aimed at making the tech giants pay taxes in the countries where they do business instead of tax havens. While France has led the charge on tech taxes, several other countries have introduced similar measures that worry the US, including Britain, India, Turkey and Brazil. Negotiations on a global tech tax deal at the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development stalled after the Trump administration pulled out last summer. France and others hope that the Biden administration will be more amenable to reaching a deal. Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday said the state is expected to receive 13,90,000 vials of vaccine against COVID-19 in a day or two. "The big good news for is that I have received information from the Union that tomorrow or the day after probably we will be receiving 13,90,000 vials of vaccine for the state. It's a big happy news for all of us," Sudhakar said. Speaking to reporters after visiting a private hospital here, where vaccination dry run is being conducted, he said, the vaccination will be first administered to health care workers. "We have registered 6.30 lakh healthcare professionals in till date. Those who are left out, may be in some medical or dental colleges, we have requested them to register," he said adding that health workers will be followed by those with comorbidities, those above 60 years and those in other departments like Police and Revenue working against the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination dry run is on at a total of 263 different health facilities across Karnataka on Friday. It is being held in 24 district hospitals, 20 medical colleges, 43 taluk hospitals, 31 community health centres, 87 primary health centres, 30 urban primary health centres and 28 private facilities in the state. The Minister who visited some facilities here, where the dry run is going on said, arrangements and preparedness were quite good, and the process is being followed as per the guidelines issued. The first round of the dry run, an exercise for end- to-end testing of COVID-19 vaccination process was held in in five districts of Karnataka- Bengaluru (including BBMP), Belagavi, Kalburgi, Mysore and Shivamogga- on December 2 as per the government of India guidelines. (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.) Update: On Saturday, the man was arrested in Arizona and has been charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. --- A well-known QAnon promoter has learned first-hand what it feels like to be accused of being someone you are not. Because of his flashy costume, the so-called Q Shaman has become a photogenic fixture of QAnon rallies and he found himself an even bigger platform on Jan. 6 when images of him breaking into the U.S. Capitol were seen all over the world. Shirtless, face painted and sporting a furry hat, he is unmistakable. Except, it appears, to the conspiracy theory ecosystem he is part of. The Q Shaman is an Arizona man named Jake Angeli, who has been vocally and publicly in favor of President Donald Trump and a slew of far-right conspiracy theories for years. He's also, as his name indicates, a big QAnon believer. QAnon adherents believe a secret military operation is currently in play to take down the satanic, occasionally cannibalistic, group of pedophiles who make up the global elite. Although QAnon welcomes and incorporates almost any old-school conspiracy theory you can think of anti-Semitic tropes, JFK conspiracy, anti-vax pseudoscience, etc. its unifier is Trump, who believers insist is integral to taking down the deep state. Angeli has sported his distinctive look in Arizona since at least 2019, when he hit the media's radar for appearing at pro-Trump and QAnon rallies. From the Arizona Republic: "Angeli, in a 2020 interview with The Arizona Republic, said that he wears the fur bonnet, paints his face and walks around shirtless with ragged pants as a way to attract attention. Then, he said, he is able to speak to people about his beliefs about QAnon and other truths he says remain hidden." Win McNamee/TNS Despite his well-documented history as a Trump supporter, on Wednesday night the right-wing media ecosystem turned on him. Lin Wood, the lawyer behind several failed suits to overrun the presidential election, tweeted a photo of Angeli and others who broke into the Capitol with the caption, "Indisputable photographic evidence that antifa violently broke into Congress today." The tweet is no longer available as Wood's Twitter account was banned. The talking point was also picked up by Pastor Mark Burns, another big name on the pro-Trump social media circuit. "This is NOT a Trump supporter...This is a staged #Antifa attack," he tweeted with a photo of Angeli posing on the Senate dais. Angeli himself responded to the Wood tweet, trying to clarify that he is, in fact, pro-Trump. "Mr. Wood. I am not antifa or blm," he wrote. "I'm a Qanon & digital soldier. My name is Jake & I marched with the police & fought against BLM & ANTIFA in PHX. Look up OAN's coverage of July 4ths rally in PHX capital. I was standing against the BLM mob out numbered but unphased. Look it up..." Tony Thai/Hearst Connecticut Media Conspiracy theories about antifa, which is an ideology that opposes fascism not an organized group, have quickly gone mainstream on the right. By Wednesday evening, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., was already on the floor of Congress repeating it. "Some of the people who breached the Capitol today were not Trump supporters," he said. "They were masquerading as Trump supporters and in fact, were members of the violent terrorist group antifa." There is no evidence "antifa" infiltrators were part of the mob that broke into the Capitol. Accusing left-aligned groups of terrorism is a well-trod path for conspiracy theorists, who point to fictional "false flags" meant to discredit conservatives. The deflection is proactive as well as reactive; InfoWars host Alex Jones regularly warns his listeners that staged terrorist attacks are constantly on the horizon, planned by their enemies to pin on "patriots." The unsubstantiated antifa claim was amplified last night by Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham, and on Thursday morning, Rep. Mo Brooks, an Alabama Republican, was tweeting it, too. "Please, dont be like #FakeNewsMedia, dont rush to judgment on assault on Capitol. Wait for investigation," he wrote. "All may not be (and likely is not) what appears. Evidence growing that fascist ANTIFA orchestrated Capitol attack with clever mob control tactics." In fact, there are thousands of videos and photos, many taken by the Trump supporters themselves, showing proud Trump fans wandering the building. Other well-known far-right personalities, like infamous alt-right troll Baked Alaska, were actually livestreamed from inside Senate offices. Pardee announces broad partnership for next vaccination phase As Henderson County nears the transition to the second phase of Covid-19 vaccinations, Pardee UNC Health Care announced a broad partnership that will focus on logistics and workforce for what is anticipated to be a process over many months. Pardee announced on Friday that it is actively working with Henderson County Department of Public Health, Blue Ridge Community College, Henderson County Emergency Management, Henderson County public schools and others to prepare for Phase 1B. The Henderson County Department of Public Health will announce when the county officially moves into Phase 1B, Group 1 which will include anyone over 75 years of age. Once an official announcement is made, Pardee will share information on how vaccination appointments can be made. Blue Ridge Community College has agreed to provide space for a clinic, for as long as it is needed, to assist with the vaccination process. This clinic is expected to open next week after Phase 1B is announced by the Health Department. As the clinic and the pre-registration system becomes available, that information will be shared with the public. We are eager to begin the process of vaccinating individuals over the age of 75 within our community, said David Ellis, chief medical officer for Pardee UNC Health Care. However, it is important for everyone to understand that this is a challenging logistical process with many moving parts. Please be patient with us and our partners as we finalize a process that will enable us to quickly and efficiently begin vaccinating those individuals who fall within Group 1 of Phase 1B - residents aged 75 year or older. Just as we did with the early efforts to combat Covid-19 in working with our community partners to set up a mobile testing site, Blue Ridge is once again stepping up to play a vital role in this new phase of a county-wide COVID response, BRCC President Laura Leatherwood said. We are our communitys college and we will proudly remember this offer of assistance to our community and healthcare partners for decades to come. Ellis and Leatherwood implored the community to refrain from going to the BRCC campus in search of a vaccine clinic. No one will be able to get a vaccine without a scheduled appointment; there are no walk-up appointments. Once the pre-registration system is live, individuals will be able to call or go online to register. Once registered, they will be scheduled to receive a vaccine. Pardee also notes that appointments will be made available as they receive additional doses of the vaccine from the state. Earlier this week, the Health Department issued a news release on th upcoming vaccination process and warned county residents to be patient. "This whole campaign will take months, not weeks," the health officials said in a news release. "Everyone will eventually have access to a tested, safe and effective vaccine, but that will take months to achieve. We ask for patience as we navigate this process." Phase 1b includes adults 75 years or older and frontline essential workers, specified by groups. Because there will not be enough vaccine for everyone in Phase 1b to be vaccinated at the same time, the phase is divided into three groups: Group 1: Anyone 75 years or older, regardless of health status or living situation. Group 2: Healthcare workers and frontline essential workers 50 years and older. Group 3: Healthcare workers and frontline essential workers of any age. Essential workers are defined by the CDC as first responders, food and agricultural workers, grocery store workers, the education sector and childcare staff among others. It is estimated there are at least 6,000 people in Henderson County in the 75+ age group who dont reside in a long-term care facility. Until more information is gathered on Groups 2 and 3, it will difficult to estimate a timeline for completing Phase 1b, the Health Department said. Minister of Education Sorin Cimpeanu said on Thursday that he would like the creation of a single integrated national registry of diplomas and study documents, which will include the baccalaureate, the bachelor's and master's degrees, but also the PhD diplomas. "As Minister of Education, even before that, I proposed and it was adopted in the Governing Plan. It is a role that I have assumed - that of promoting a single integrated national registry of diplomas and study documents. In this single registry, which does not start from scratch, it is based on the interconnection of already existing databases and on the completion of these databases, in this integrated registry, we could find, we should find, we will have to find all the baccalaureate diplomas, all the bachelor's degrees, all the master's degrees and all PhD diplomas. (...) We should find all the doctoral theses," the minister told private TV broadcaster Realitatea Plus. According to Cimpeanu, in this way it will be easy to verify the veracity of the diplomas. "The pleasant surprise was that we had the students' agreement today that in this register we can pour, if you allow me the term, all the bachelor's papers in electronic format and all the dissertation papers in electronic format, so that we can both verify the veracity of the diplomas and be able to eliminate that shadow that hovers over the Romanian education system regarding plagiarism. Because when you have them all together in one electronic system, it is obviously very easy to check the similarities and penalise as such any possible slippages. It is a project that I undertook in my personal name before I became a minister. Once I became a minister, it is an even bigger obligation," Cimpeanu underlined. AGERPRES . As schools for students of Class 5 onwards reopened all over Punjab on Thursday, the private schools in Ambala, too, have demanded a reopening in a phased manner. Citing losses and overall adverse impact on the education of the students during lockdown, owners, directors and principals have joined in to demand the reopening. A delegation under the banner of Haryana Progressive Schools Conference met MLA Aseem Goel to hand over a memorandum in the name of chief minister Manohar Lal on the same. Saurabh Kapoor, president of Integrated Private School Welfare Society, said, Students studies have largely been compromised and they should be allowed to come to schools so that the remaining time before exams can be utilised in a productive manner. Apart from this, management is under immense financial pressure as banks have started taking EMIs. On this, MLA Goel said, I understand their problem and I have spoken to education minister Kanwar Pal in their presence. He has assured that a positive step will be taken soon. Classes above 9 already operational The Haryana education department had already allowed reopening of government and private schools for classes 9 and 11 from December 14, and for classes 10 and 12 from December 21, for three hours. The private schools have also talked about taking full precautions as laid down by the government for students above Class 9. State vice-president of the Haryana Progressive Schools Conference Prashant Munjal said, This pilot project of the government has trained us on how to educate students while following Covid protocols. The reopening of schools from Class 9 onwards has gotten a positive response. An official of the Haryana education department, on the condition of anonymity, said that despite winters and rising Covid cases, the attendance had improved in government schools: Average attendance in schools was around 5-7% in the first week of reopening in December. Now, around 20-25% students are attending physical classes daily despite a few cases of students and teachers testing positive at a school in the cantonment earlier this week. The judge made this decision based on Luna's alleged health condition. During the hearing, Chavez Tamariz indicated that although the former Congressman is stable it must be taken into account that he had undergone heart surgery, suffers from high blood pressure, is 65 years old, and had COVID-19. "Said medical condition would put his health at risk if incarcerated. For that reason, I believe a less severe measure should be imposed," the judge explained. According to Castro, the judge took into account the serious health condition that the accused had gone through. Nevertheless, Luna's physicians have pointed out in a report that "he had already overcome these issues." Obligations The former Congressman and entrepreneur must pay a bond of S/500,000 (about US$138,888) in the next 15 days. Likewise, he has been prohibited from communicating with co-defendants (including his son, Podemos Peru party Congressman Jose Luna Morales ), talking to the media, or holding meetings at his home. [January 08, 2021] Tauriga Sciences Inc. Increases its Product Liability Insurance Coverage to $10,000,000 NEW YORK, NY, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (OTCQB: TAUG) (Tauriga or the Company), a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, with a proprietary line of functional supplement chewing gums (Flavors: Pomegranate, Blood Orange, Peach-Lemon, Pear Bellini, Mint, Black Currant) as well as two ongoing Biotechnologies initiatives, today announced that it has increased its product liability insurance Aggregate coverage to $10,000,000 (previously it had been $8,000,000). This increase was completed due to substantial levels of interest (from potential retailers and major distributors), in carrying the Tauri-Gum product line. The Company has been evaluating a number of opportunities and is specifically cognizant of margins and quality of revenue when it comes to choosing the right distribution partner(s) or retailer(s) to enter into relationships with. The Company also recently disclosed, the development of a 7th SKU of its flagship brand Tauri-Gum. In other news, the Company continues to experience overall strength in its highest margin E-Commerce business segment. On Thursday January 7, 2021 the Company established a new daily record (24-hour period) for the # of individual online orders with 111 (the previous record had been 103, set on November 25, 2020). Lastly, effective January 6, 2021, the Company has officially moved to a new corporate headquarters: Please see Below: Tauriga Sciences Inc. 4 Nancy Court, Suite 4 Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 This change in corporate headquarters was enacted for safety and efficiency purposes, in response to the continued surge of the Pandemic. ABOUT TAURIGA SCIENCES INC. Tauriga Sciences, Inc. (TAUG) is a revenue generating, diversified life sciences company, engaged in several major business activities and initiatives. The company manufactures and distributes several proprietary retail products and product lines, mainly focused on the Cannabidiol (CBD) and Cannabigerol (CBG) Edibles market segment. The main product line, randed as Tauri-Gum, consists of a proprietary supplement chewing gum that is Kosher certified, Halal certified, and Vegan Formulated (CBD Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Mint, Blood Orange, Pomegranate), (CBG Infused Tauri-Gum Flavors: Peach-Lemon, Black Currant) & (Vitamin C + Zinc Immune Booster Tauri-Gum Flavor: Pear Bellini). The Companys commercialization strategy consists of a broad array of retail customers, distributors, and a fast-growing E-Commerce business segment (E-Commerce website: www.taurigum.com). Please visit our corporate website, for additional information, as well as inquiries, at http://www.tauriga.com Complementary to the Companys retail business, are its two ongoing biotechnology initiatives. The first one relates to the development of a Pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum, for nausea regulation (specifically designed to help patients that are subjected to ongoing chemotherapy treatment). On March 18, 2020, the Company announced that it filed a provisional U.S. patent application covering its pharmaceutical grade version of Tauri-Gum. The Patent, filed with the U.S.P.T.O. is Titled MEDICATED CBD COMPOSITIONS, METHODS OF MANUFACTURING, AND METHODS OF TREATMENT. The second one relates to a collaboration agreement with Aegea Biotechnologies Inc. for the co-development of a rapid, multiplexed, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) test with superior sensitivity and selectivity. On October 6, 2020, the Company announced that it has been approved to operate as a U.S. Government Vendor (CAGE CODE # 8QXV4) On October 7, 2020 the Company disclosed a Strategic Alliance with Think BIG, LLC, Social Impact Startup Founded by CJ Wallace, Son of Christopher The Notorious B.I.G. Wallace. The Company is headquartered in New York City and operates a regional office in Barcelona, Spain. In addition, the Company operates a full time E-Commerce fulfillment center located in LaGrangeville, New York. DISCLAIMER -- Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 which represent managements beliefs and assumptions concerning future events. These forward-looking statements are often indicated by using words such as may, will, expects, anticipates, believes, hopes, believes, or plans, and may include statements regarding corporate objectives as well as the attainment of certain corporate goals and milestones. Forward-looking statements are based on present circumstances and on managements present beliefs with respect to events that have not occurred, that may not occur, or that may occur with different consequences or timing than those now assumed or anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed in forward looking statements due to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, such as are not guarantees of general economic and business conditions, the ability to successfully develop and market products, consumer and business consumption habits, the ability to consummate successful acquisition and licensing transactions, fluctuations in exchange rates, and other factors over which Tauriga has little or no control. Many of these risks and uncertainties are discussed in greater detail in the Risk Factors section of Taurigas Form 10-K and other filings made from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this release, and Tauriga assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Contact: Tauriga Sciences, Inc. 4 Nancy Court, Suite 4 Wappingers Falls, NY 12590 Chief Executive Officer Mr. Seth M. Shaw Email: sshaw@tauriga.com cell # (917) 796 9926 Instagram: @taurigum Twitter: @SethMShaw Corp. Website: www.tauriga.com E-Commerce Website: www.taurigum.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The nurse received a first dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech in December last year Three weeks later she began suffering Covid-19 symptoms and tested positive Experts have warned that it takes time for immunity to Covid-19 to build up The Pfizer vaccine offers up to 95 percent protection against Covid-19 A nurse in Wales caught coronavirus three weeks after getting the vaccine, prompting experts to warn that it takes time for immunity to the virus to build up. The nurse, who has been working for the Hywel Dda University Health Board area, said that she contracted Covid-19 while waiting for the second dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech developed vaccine. ADVERTISEMENT While the vaccine 'reduces your chance of suffering,' the health board said, 'no vaccine is 100 percent effective.' Experts have warned that vaccines can take weeks to build immunity, and that people must still be careful to follow coronavirus rules after having the jab. Speaking to the BBC, the nurse - who chose not to be identified - said she was 'angry and heartbroken' to have caught Covid at this stage. Pictured: Nurse Sue Toye, 51, one of the first people to receive the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine at a GP practice in England, is given the vaccination at Priory Gate Surgery at the City of Coventry Health Centre in Coventry, central England on January 7, 2021 She said that she was initially relieved to be offered the chance to be given the vaccine, and while she struggled to get an appointment, she was given her first dose of the Pzizer-BioNtech vaccine in December last year. 'It gave me peace of mind. It made me feel safer and that I was doing the right thing for my family... but it gives a false sense of security,' she told the broadcaster. The nurse said that it was explained to her that it would take 10 days for the vaccine to offer some protection against Covic-19, and reduce the risk of transmission. But three weeks after being given the jab, she said she began to feel unwell, suffering from 'quite severe symptoms' of a bad cough, high temperature and breathlessness, and was 'shocked' when she tested positive for the coronavirus - followed by her partner and one of her children. Vaccinations have been shown to prevent severe infection, so even if people do become infected, they would be protected from becoming seriously unwell. Click here to resize this module So far, three vaccines have been approved for use in the UK, with the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine - which started to be rolled out to the country's most vulnerable people last month - offering up to 95 percent protection against Covid-19. ADVERTISEMENT The Pfizer vaccine and another developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca are now being rolled out. A third from Moderna was approved for use in the UK Friday. Professor Tim Spector, who heads up the ZOE Symptom Tracker App study, told The Sun that junior NHS staff members have also reported getting the virus after being given the Pfizer jab. 'We are getting reports of reinfections, some soon after vaccination, "I'm a junior doctor and have had Covid twice the last one five days post vaccination..."', he wrote on Twitter. 'Remember vaccinations take several weeks to have a preventive effect so keep alert and keep logging!' Pictured: A nurse works on a patient in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London, where the number of intensive care beds for the critically sick has had to be increased from 60 to 120, the vast majority of which are for coronavirus patients WHAT ARE THE KNOWN SIDE EFFECTS OF THE PFIZER VACCINE? The UK medicines regulator has advised that anyone who has a history of 'significant' allergic reactions to medicines, food or vaccines should not get the Pfizer coronavirus jab. Dr June Raine, the chief executive of the MHRA, told Parliament's Science and Technology Committee that this was not identified in the trials. 'We know from very extensive clinical trials that this wasn't a feature,' she said. Allergic reactions to the vaccine are 'very rare', according to the trials involving more than 40,000 people. Pfizer found a 'very small number' during its phase three clinical studies, which found 137 out of 19,000 people. This compared to a comparable 111 in a group of the same size who didn't get the vaccine. They also identified 12 possible side-effects from the vaccine, with seven identified as 'very common' meaning they are likely to affect more than one in ten people. Below are the known side effects. The patient safety leaflet for the vaccine cautions that anyone with an allergy to any of the active substances in the vaccine should not receive the jab. It adds: 'Signs of an allergic reaction may include itchy skin rash, shortness of breath and swelling of the face or tongue.' Allergic reactions to the vaccine are: Very common (Likely to affect more than one in ten people) Pain at injection site Tiredness Muscle pain Chills Joint pain Fever Headache Common (Likely to affect up to one in ten people) Injection site swelling Redness at injection site Nausea Uncommon (May affect one in 100 people) Enlarged lymph nodes Feeling unwell Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford advised people receiving the vaccine to 'continue to act in a precautionary way' after being administered the jab. ADVERTISEMENT He said those people should 'recognise the new protection that they have' but 'recognise as well that for many weeks, and for some months ahead, coronavirus is going to continue to be a feature of all our lives'. Deputy Chief Executive Dr Philip Kloer of the Hywel Dda health board released a statement saying it was 'always distressing' to hear about staff catching Covid-19. 'Whilst the vaccine reduces your chance of suffering from Covid-19, no vaccine is 100 per cent effective,' he said. 'There is particular risk that you may have contracted Covid-19 immediately prior to having the vaccine without knowing it, or that you may contract it in the week or two following vaccination as your body builds up protection. 'We have communicated the UK policy and assurances on second doses to our staff and assured them they will receive their second dose within 12 weeks of the first.' He added: 'Working within the NHS at the moment is very challenging and we acknowledge how difficult this is. 'Staff have worked tirelessly and made many sacrifices on behalf of caring for our communities and we are extremely grateful. We have put in place additional support and counselling and psychological support services.' The board said that so far it has already vaccinated more than 10,000 high-risk people, including front line NHS staff. Prof Spector also noted that you can't test positive for the coronavirus as a result of getting the vaccine, because while the jabs contain active mRNA, they do not contain an active virus. The body is given a set of instructions through the use of mRNA in the jabs, which tell cells to make proteins and send them to different parts of the body. Rollout of the Pfizer vaccine began last year on December 8, targeting the country's most vulnerable people, such as residents in a care home for older adults and staff working in care homes for older adults, as well as those over the age of 80 and other front line health a social care workers. Originally, advice in the UK was that after having the first dose of the vaccine, people would need the second dose three weeks later. But this later changed to 12 weeks on advice of the UK's chief medical officers. The World Health Organisation (WHO) however, does not recommend the UK's approach, but has 'made a provision for countries in exceptional circumstances of vaccine supply constraints and epidemiological settings' to delay the second dose for a few weeks to enable more people to get the first dose. Pfizer said that it had tested the vaccine's effectiveness only when the two doses were given up to 21 days apart from one-another. Britain today suffered its deadliest day since the Covid pandemic began after health chiefs declared 1,325 more Covid fatalities and another record-high 68,053 infections. The grisly death toll - which has doubled in a week and surpasses the 1,224 declared on April 21 in the darkest day of the first wave - takes the UK to the brink of almost 80,000 victims. Experts fear the daily death counts will continue to spiral because of rocketing cases and hospitalisations, piling further pressure on Boris Johnson to speed up the sluggish vaccination programme designed to get Britain out of lockdown by mid-February. Department of Health figures show the UK has recorded more than 50,000 cases for 11 days in a row, with the five worst days of the pandemic all occurring since the start of 2021. Cases have risen by almost 30 per cent week-on-week. But a senior SAGE official today warned the actual number of Britons currently getting infected every day is closer to 150,000, claiming that the size of the second wave is now way worse than the first. The source also fears England's third national lockdown will not slam the R rate down as it did in March because the country was dealing with a more infectious mutated strain and because adherence to the rules has dwindled. Draconian measures announced two days ago have yet to have an effect on the crisis because it can take a week for patients to develop symptoms and get tested. But the SAGE official argued that the tough restrictions will curb the spread of the virus because they curb social interaction, which the virus thrives on. In yet another sign that darker days lie ahead, No10s advisory panel today revealed the R rate could be as high as 1.4 in the UK or at the crucial mark of one, with outbreaks growing at similar speeds across all seven regions of England. ADVERTISEMENT But the figure reflects the situation Britain found itself in before Christmas and not the current picture because of the data used to calculate it. SAGE last week estimated the figure the average number of people each infected person passes the virus onto was between 1.1 and 1.3. Today, nine months on, the Supreme Court still takes up only urgent matters for hearing Now, the cases heard by the Supreme Court have anywhere between two and 30 parties. Who decides who will be unmuted? (PTI) On this day last year, people all over the world were nursing new resolutions. The coronavirus shattered their hopes and dreams in no time. It spared none not even the most important pillar of democracy the judiciary. After the initial onslaught, it is said to have partially resumed its duties. So how did the Supreme Court of India function during the pandemic? The Court completely shut the entry of advocates into its premises. In an epoch-marking decision, it threw all its former reservations vis-a-vis digital operations to the winds, and finally went online. The Court revived the e-filing portal, introduced long back but not in use by advocates. And, only urgent matters were taken up for the virtual hearing. The platform used by the Court is the Vidyo app. During the initial stages of this changeover, the registry gave instructions to advocates over phone on how to log into the Vidyo app, when to log in, and so on. This was almost nine months ago. Today, nine months on, the Supreme Court still takes up only urgent matters for hearing. Its functional can at best be said to be partial. Most benches now have three judges sitting on alternate days for a few hours. The online system is convenient for many advocates who returned to their hometown during the lockdown and dont want to return to Delhi. Today we have lawyers appearing from various parts of the country before the Supreme Court as well as other courts. That aside, it has not been smooth sailing. Tech glitches and lack of Internet savvy plays a spoilsport in the day-to-day work of the court even after so many months have gone by. Indian courts follow the system of an open court hearing. Everyone can watch the proceedings. But the Vidyo app has a limit in terms of the number of participants who can be admitted and the Supreme Court, too, came out with a notification restricting the advocates from sharing the link for appearance. It has affected mostly young advocates keen to learn court craft from watching the courts function. But theres been worse happening. Many a time, during hearing a case, the advocate was logged out at the relevant moment and was unable to log in. This resulted in the case being decided in their absence. It is with great difficulty that one gets ones case listed for hearing and if it is decided in ones absence then ones entire effort becomes futile. On top of that, there is the pain of humiliation before ones client. The appearance of the advocates before the court is run by the control room, comprising a team of technical hands who are almost completely unfamiliar with the legal process. It is their job to identify the lawyers for each case as per the item numbers written before their names. The control room decides whose mic should be unmuted and whose video made visible. Now, the cases heard by the Supreme Court have anywhere between two and 30 parties. Who decides who will be unmuted? A control room that has no idea about the proceedings of a case? Advocates keep sending requests to be unmated or for the senior advocate to be allowed to speak. But only if they are lucky will their request be granted before the case is over. Or else, you just count yourself to be on the unlucky list. Besides, in a virtual court, there are limitations to the ways in which an advocate can try and persuade the bench to unmute them, once it has muted them to do which it has the powers. In a physical court hearing, the practice is to try and persuade the bench to hear them even if it puts the file down, and many do succeed in their efforts. Then there is the interesting question of how come those who dont want themselves to be visible appear on the screen when they are least expecting to be seen. The new practice is that, once the court starts hearing a case, the screen will show only those advocates who are arguing that particular case. But many a time, lawyers were caught on screen dressed casually and doing something else even when their case was not being heard. It led to much embarrassment in legal circles. Such situations could have been avoided if the control room had been more careful. But the larger question is this: Are we going to continue to function in such a handicapped manner, and for how long? There are a large number of cases needing proper disposal. Many litigants lives depend on the disposal of their long awaited cases. Some of them are languishing in jails, some are waiting for their salary, some waiting to be appointed to a job to sustain themselves and their families. Is it not time for the highest court of the country to resume physical functioning like every other organisation, observing strict social distancing rules? If this anarchy continues, people may have to turn to other ways to redress their grievances and one fine morning we may find that we can do without the services of the judiciary. Well find guidance right in Scripture for how to approach God and ask for His favor on our lives. First, our prayers should be thoughtful. Does my prayer align with what I know of God? If our worship life is healthy, well have a better sense of how the Lord wants to work in our lives. Well have a humility of spirit that pleases Him as well. Next, our prayers need to be bold. Am I confident that God will hear my plea and answer me somehow? Along with that comes the courage to submit to His Ways. We can let go of any desire to control, and put our trust in Him. Also, our prayers need to be thankful. Is my heart cherishing what my Heavenly Father has already done for me? When we come before him aware already of His goodness, our words will contain joy as well as gratitude. Well want to share our experiences with others, too. Is It Wrong to Pray for Blessings? God is pleased to hear the prayers of His people. But we must be careful to have the right motivations and intentions as we approach Him. As that young Christian, I was excited to learn that I could ask God for blessing in specific things or situations. So, I started lifting up all kinds of requests, but with the answer I wanted already in my mind. I hadnt yet grasped a very important truth about prayer: God always answers us, but not always in the way we expect. Its never wrong to pray for His blessing for things we hope for. But I came before God with an agenda, seeking my will to be done. Over time I became aware that when I did that, I was leaning on my own wisdom, thinking I knew better than the Lord what was best for me or for others. The more Ive learned about Gods goodness, the less I feel the need to defend my wants to Him. Im better now at getting out of Gods way, and I look forward to seeing how He will work. Photo credit: Getty Images Flash The U.S. Congress certified President-elect Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election early Thursday morning, after supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol, halting the certification process for several hours. In declaring the final vote totals, Vice President Mike Pence certified the Electoral College count of 306 votes in favor of Biden against 232 in favor of Trump. It takes at least 270 electoral votes to win the White House. The former U.S. vice president also won the popular vote by more than 7 million ballots. "The announcement of the state of the vote ... shall be deemed a sufficient declaration of the persons elected President and Vice President of the United States," Pence said. Soon after Congress concluded the electoral vote count certifying Biden's victory, Trump, who had repeatedly refused to concede the election, pledged that there will be an "orderly transition" of power on Jan. 20. "Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in a statement. The U.S. Congress met Wednesday afternoon in a joint session to formally count the electoral votes -- a traditional, ceremonial event. Police announced a lockdown on the Capitol after protesters forced their way into the historic building where lawmakers were debating an objection to Arizona's results separately in their own chambers. A picture showed officers inside the House chamber drawing their guns near a barricaded door in a standoff with protestors. Four people, including a woman who was shot by Capitol Police, died on Wednesday amid violence on Capitol Hill, which also led to dozens of arrests, according to police. At least 14 officers sustained injuries. Congress reconvened Wednesday night after the Capitol was cleared for use and riot police secured the perimeter around the complex as a curfew for the District of Columbia took effect. "Today was a dark day in the history of the United States Capitol," Pence said when presiding over a Senate session. Republicans also launched a formal objection to Pennsylvania's results, in addition to challenging Arizona's. The challenges failed in both the Democratic-led House and the Senate, where Republicans have a slim majority. Trump has been pushing claims of a "fraudulent" election, which had been dismissed by U.S. courts at different levels due to a profound lack of evidence. On Wednesday noon, the president addressed a massive crowd of his supporters on the Ellipse, a park just south of the White House, and encouraged demonstrations on Capitol Hill. In a video clip posted later, he urged the protesters to "go home" but fell short of denouncing the chaos while doubling down on allegations that the election had been "stolen." A growing number of political figures of both parties, including former U.S. presidents, have denounced the violence at the Capitol. Many took a shot directly at Trump, accusing him of fanning the flames of unrest. "What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States," Senator Mitt Romney of Utah said in a statement on Wednesday. Multiple Trump administration officials, including Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger, resigned on Wednesday, with others reportedly considering resignations. Some Cabinet members were reportedly holding preliminary discussions about invoking the 25th Amendment to force Trump's removal from office. Biden will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, with his party controlling both chambers of Congress, after Democrats were projected to win both U.S. Senate runoffs in the southeastern state of Georgia. The victories will allow Democrats to split the 100-seat U.S. Senate 50-50 with Republicans. Kamala Harris, after she is sworn in as vice president of the United States, will be in a position to cast the tie-breaking vote. Democrats keep a majority in the House in the 2020 elections but their advantage over Republicans is narrow. "Biden will be in a much stronger position dealing with Congress because House and Senate Democrats will control the committees, confirmation hearings, and calendar for the legislative agenda," Darrell West, vice president and director of Governance Studies at Washington, D.C.-based think tank Brookings Institution, said. "Even though their majorities are not large, Democrats will be able to move many of their top priorities," West said. "This will include some progressive legislation, but the narrow majorities will force Democrats to focus on a more moderate course of action." Biden, also a former six-term U.S. senator representing Delaware, vowed on Wednesday to "work with people in both parties -- at the federal, state, and local levels -- to get big things done," including fighting the COVID-19 pandemic in the country. A study led by Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health researchers examines attitudes toward long-acting injectable (LAI) HIV therapies, among women with a history of injection--including medical purposes and substance use. The findings appear in the journal AIDS Patient Care and STDs. Currently, most HIV therapies for treatment and prevention (pre-exposure prophylaxis, PrEP) necessitate daily pills, which pose barriers to adherence. Recently, however, LAI for HIV has emerged as an alternative with the potential to boost adherence, although little research has been done on how people with a history of injection feel about these new forms of injectable HIV therapy. There 258,000 women in the United States living with HIV. The study involved interviews with 89 women across six different sites in the United States. Overall, participants highlighted how LAIs may improve adherence by freeing women of treatment fatigue and reminders associated with daily pill-taking, thus eliminating potential stigma, and facilitating confidentiality. Most women with a history of periodic injectable medication (such as birth control) would prefer LAI, but those with other frequent injections (such as for diabetes) who expressed a desire to limit the number and frequency of injections and clinic visits might not. Women with a history of injection drug use expressed mixed sentiments: some feared LAI might trigger a recurrence while others felt that familiarity with needles would predispose people who use injection drugs towards LAI. The authors write that LAI HIV therapies would ideally coincide with existing LAI treatments (e.g., birth control) to minimize inconvenience and the need for multiple clinic visits, an approach currently used in some clinics that co-locate care for HIV and substance use. Future research needs to address injection-related concerns, and develop patient-centered approaches to help providers work with their patients to best identify which women could most benefit from LAI use. As LAI ART for HIV treatment and prevention is scaled-up, systems must be created for women and providers to collaborate in order to best identify which women might need additional support for LAI use and which might be better candidates for daily pills." Morgan Philbin, Ph.D., First Author, Assistant Professor of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia Mailman School The researchers conducted in-depth interviews at six sites (New York, NY; Chicago, IL; San Francisco, CA; Atlanta, GA; Chapel Hill, NC; Washington, D.C.) as part of the Women's Interagency HIV Study, including women living with HIV and women at risk for HIV. New Delhi: The World Bank has projected a robust 7.2 per cent growth rate for India in FY 2017 as compared to the 6.8 per cent growth in 2016. The apex bank made its projection basis that fact that India is recovering from the temporary adverse effects of demonetisation. Even as the World Bank has revised India's growth figures by 0.4 percentage points as compared to its January forecast, India remains the fastest growing major economy in the world,the World Bank officials said. The growth projections for China remains unchanged at 6.5 per cent for 2017 and then 6.3 per cent for the next two years 2018 and 2019. The World Bank in its latest Global Economic Prospects, projects India?s growth to 7.5 per cent in 2018 and 7.7 per cent in 2019. In both the years, the forecast has been downgraded by 0.3 per cent and 0.1 percentage points as compared to the January 2017 forecast. "A downgrade to India's fast pace of expansion," the World Bank said, is "mainly reflecting a softer-than-expected recovery in private investment. In 2016, in India, activity was underpinned by favourable monsoon rains that supported agriculture and rural consumption, an increase in infrastructure spending, and robust government consumption, the report said. "In India, recent data indicate a rebound this year, with the easing of cash shortages and rising exports. An increase in government spending in India, including on capital formation, has partially offset soft private investment, it said. "While manufacturing Purchasing Managers? Indexes have generally picked up, industrial production has been mixed,? the Bank said in its latest report. Observing that India's growth is forecast to increase to 7.2 per cent in FY2017 and accelerate to 7.7 per cent by 2019, is slightly below previous projections, the Bank said this outlook mainly reflects a more protracted recovery in private investment than previously envisaged. "Nonetheless, domestic demand is expected to remain strong, supported by ongoing policy reforms, especially the introduction of the nationwide Goods and Services Tax (GST), it said. "Significant gains by the ruling party in state elections should support the government?s economic reform agenda, which aims at unlocking supply constraints, and creating a business environment that is more conducive to private investment," the Bank said. M Ayhan Kose, Director of the World Bank Group?s Development Prospects Group, in response to a question, underscored the need of reforms in the banking sector. "The government has especially taken steps to address the banking sector weakness, but that remains on the to-do list," Kose told PTI. "Second (to do list) of course (is the initiative by the government to remove some of the public investments, exactly the right thing to do to stimulate - to try to reinvigorate -private investment, which has been weak,? the Bank official said in response to a question. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. SPRINGFIELD The smell of sweet dough lingers outside La Fiorentina Pastry Shop on the corner of Main and Winthrop streets in Springfields South End neighborhood. Immediately upon entering the shop, customers see rows of Italian cookies, rum cakes, cannoli and other classic Italian pastries the business has been serving up for 75 years. I was born here in Springfield and this is my heritage, said Leo Daniele, who owns the shop with his wife, Anna Daniele. Even though it has been a difficult year, we are happy that we have been able to maintain our presence in this community. Hopefully this year will be prosperous for everyone and La Fiorentina will stay here in Springfield, because its our community, its our home and we have been proud to be here for 75 years. On Thursday, the family received the key to the city from Mayor Domenic J. Sarno in appreciation for their dedication to Springfield and their efforts to celebrate and promote Italian heritage. This is the bedrock of the Italian American community here in Springfield and in Western Massachusetts, Sarno said. The Danieles are not only well respected people in the community, but they have been part of so many celebrations for families, from weddings to birthdays and anniversaries. They have been there in times of challenges as well. When the tornado hit here, they didnt go anywhere. They rebuilt bigger, better and stronger. The shop was founded in 1946 by Leo Danieles father, Mauro Daniele. He learned the art of Italian pastry from his father, Pasquale Daniele, an award-winning pastry chef in Italy. Leo Daniele took over the shop in 1977. After the 2011 tornado ravaged the South End, the family opted to rebuild. They also opened a second location in East Longmeadow in 2012. They had a location in Northampton for nearly 30 years that closed in 2019. La Fiorentina provides pastries for Big Y World Class Markets as well as several restaurants in the area. Combined, the shops employee 40-60 people throughout the year working as pastry chefs, in the deli or at the counter. The Springfield shop also houses Zonins Gourmet Market, where customers can get Italian meats and cheeses as well as sandwiches. Now, faced with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the family has relied on its loyal customers to remain open. People cant congregate like they normally would. Party sizes are down, weddings and catering are down. People are still celebrating, just on a smaller scale, said Mauro Daniele, named after his grandfather. But we have the best customers in the world who have stood by us. Everything we have built we attribute to them. Although state coronavirus regulations limit seating inside the shop, people still come in for takeout or order items for family celebrations. Popular items include cannoli, rum cakes and sfogliatelle, a delicate lobster tail-shaped pastry filled with ricotta cheese and semolina, which takes over a week to prepare. We owe it all to our customers, said Anna Daniele. They have been loyal to us and we remain loyal to them and to the city. Related Content: The Kenyan government is set to recover Sh444 million that former Energy Minister Chris Okemo and former Kenya Power boss Samuel Gichuru had stolen. The amount will be the first batch of cash sent back to Kenya from offshore accounts in Jersey after being found to be proceeds of corruption. Chris Okemo and Samuel Gichuru received over Sh997 million in hard currency, but only Sh526 million had been recovered after they wired it back to Kenya. Jersey authorities have indicated that the remaining Sh444 million will be wired back to the Kenyan taxpayer after deducting court expense. The cash will then be used for Coronavirus expenses such as procurement of medical equipment and supplies, and supporting health infrastructure in counties with limited funding, high risk of infection, and limited bed capacity. These funds belong to the Kenyan people. Once finalised, the first return under this agreement by the Attorney-General of Jersey will, at the request of the Government of Kenya, provide Ksh444 million towards the Covid-19 recovery, Jersey authorities said. Okemo and Gichuru could be extradited to Jersey to face corruption and money laundering charges should the Supreme Court give the nod to a case filed by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Should they be extradited and found guilty, the duo faces a jail term of up to 14 years in Jersey. The peeved president decided to skip his successor's inauguration ceremony. The year was 1869, and the president was Andrew Johnson, who detested incoming President Ulysses S. Grant. The feeling was mutual. Grant refused to ride in the same carriage with Johnson to the Capitol. Now the country faces a much uglier transfer of power between President Donald Trump, who maintains the election was stolen from him, and Joe Biden. On Thursday night, as calls grew for his removal from office in the wake of a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, Trump finally acknowledged there will be a new president on Jan. 20 and pledged a "smooth, orderly, seamless transition of power." But on Friday morning, Trump tweeted that he would not attend Biden's inauguration, which would make him the first president to skip his successor's swearing-in since Johnson 152 years ago. Johnson decided to be a no-show at Grant's inauguration at the last minute. The two men had clashed often after Republican President Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, and Vice President Johnson, a Tennessee Democrat, became president. Johnson's racist views offended Grant, who headed the Army. Then Grant resisted Johnson's efforts to oust Secretary of War Edwin Stanton. In February 1868, Johnson became the first president ever impeached by the House after he fired Stanton in violation of the Tenure of Office Act, which barred dismissing appointed officials without Congress's consent. Grant supported the impeachment. He and Johnson hotly accused each other of being liars. The Senate acquitted Johnson by one vote. Johnson was so unpopular that the Democrats didn't nominate him for a second term in the 1868 election. The Republicans ran Grant, who won easily. Now the two old foes would be together for the transition. The first sign of trouble surfaced in early January in news reports that Grant indicated "he will not occupy the same carriage with Mr. Johnson going to and from the Capitol." The inauguration committee came up with a compromise plan for the two men to ride in separate carriages. Johnson's carriage would go up the right side of Pennsylvania Avenue and Grant's up the left side. Johnson didn't make a public response, but Grant's snub offended Navy Secretary Gideon Welles. At a Cabinet meeting in January 1869, Welles suggested to Johnson that he skip Grant's inauguration on March 4, because the president-elect was "so disrespectful and wanting in courtesy." Welles noted Johnson wouldn't be the first president to miss his successor's inauguration. John Adams had stormed out of Washington at 4 a.m. the day of Thomas Jefferson's inauguration in 1801. His son President John Quincy Adams left Washington the day before the 1829 swearing in of Andrew Jackson, whom Adams despised. (Often overlooked is that President Martin Van Buren didn't attend the 1841 inauguration of William Henry Harrison, even though the two men were friendly. No one is sure why.) Johnson warmed to Welles's suggestion. At the next Cabinet meeting, the president told Cabinet members, Welles wrote in his diary, that "we owed it to ourselves to take the ground that we could not, with proper self-respect, witness the inauguration of a man whom we knew to be untruthful, faithless and false." Several Cabinet members, especially Secretary of State William Seward, wanted to go. Seward had served under Lincoln. The night John Wilkes Booth shot Lincoln at Ford's Theatre, a co-conspirator stabbed Seward nearly to death in his bed at home. Treasury Secretary Hugh McCulloch also was "itching" to go and argued that by not going, Johnson would "look small," Welles wrote in his diary. Attorney General William Evarts urged that the president and Cabinet members go as a group. To Welles's chagrin, at the March 2 Cabinet meeting, Johnson agreed that he and his Cabinet members should attend Grant's inauguration together. Welles complained "so we are likely to form part of the pageant - be a tail to the Grant kite." The plan was to gather at the White House on the morning of March 4. Then Johnson changed his mind. On a cold inauguration morning, Welles was the first to arrive at the White House. He wrote that he shook hands with Johnson, who "said quietly I think we will finish our work here without going to the Capitol." The other Cabinet members began drifting in. McCulloch "was disappointed and disturbed" by Johnson's decision. Evarts was determined to change the president's mind and wouldn't take off his overcoat. Seward arrived last, smoking a cigar. He was unaware of what was going on. As Johnson worked at his desk, Seward "asked aloud if we would not be late, 'Ought we not start immediately?'" Welles wrote in his diary. Johnson informed him that he was inclined to "finish out our work here." What nobody knew until later was that the president had sent Grant a letter the previous day suggesting that they ride together to the ceremony. Grant didn't reply. The public knew nothing of all this. About a half-hour before the noon ceremony, Grant arrived in his open carriage at the White House where an empty carriage was waiting for Johnson. A crowd had gathered as soldiers of Dupont's light artillery battery stood at attention in front of the mansion. One soldier was "waiting to fire the gun which was to be the signal to the whole city that President Johnson had entered his carriage," the New York Herald reported. "A few minutes passed in silence, while all eyes were turned toward the lofty portal of the White House, eager to behold the appearance of the outgoing president. But they looked in vain," the Herald reported. "Notice was given that the President was too much engaged to join the procession." The soldier fired his signal gun, and the procession headed toward the Capitol. The president's carriage was missing. As his successor was about to be sworn in, Johnson stayed in the White House signing bills and, as some newspapers reported, "pardoning criminals." At noon, he stood up and shook hands with his Cabinet members. As he headed out the door for the last time, he said, "I fancy I can already smell the sweet mountain air of Tennessee." Johnson backers supported the snub. "Whatever Andy Johnson was called - and that was pretty nearly everything - 'hypocrite' was not one of his names," one New York newspaper wrote. Other papers, however, quoted a "Democratic contemporary" who lamented that Johnson's final act typified the actions of the impeached, one-term president. "When his own personality rose to a conspicuous height, it almost invariably suffered from the impetuous disregard of surrounding circumstances; when he remembered only himself and became excited with a sense of wrong, he almost invariably forgot the dignity of his station." - - - Shafer is a former editor at the Wall Street Journal and the author of "The Carnival Campaign: How The Rollicking 1840 Campaign of Tippecanoe and Tyler Too Changed Presidential Elections Forever." Former HDFC bank CEO Aditya Puri joins global pharma company Strides Group as an advisor and also will serve as a Director of its associate biopharmaceutical company Stelis Biopharma, a company statement confirmed today. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Strides Group's global manufacturing sites are located in India, Singapore, Italy, Kenya and the United States. It focuses on difficult to manufacture products that are sold in over 100 countries. Also Read: Virus spread slows but two states still a worry The company mainly operates in the regulated markets and has an in Africa for Africa" strategy along with an institutional business to service donor-funded markets. The statement said, Puris appointment to the Stelis Board comes at an exciting juncture for the company as it transitions from its incubation phase to a consolidation and growth phase to establish itself as a partner of choice globally with the aim of bringing world-class treatments at affordable costs to patients in both emerging and developed markets. A stalwart in the Indian banking and financial services sector, Puri was the founder-MD and CEO of HDFC Bank since the bank was incepted in 1994 and continued the post till his retirement in October 2020. Under his leadership, the bank scaled great heights to become India's largest private sector lender. Prior to that, he was CEO of Citibank Malaysia with nearly two decades of overall banking experience across markets. Commenting on the development, Puri said, I look forward to working with Arun (Kumar, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Strides) and building world-class institutions to produce high-quality affordable biotherapeutics and CDMO services including those needed to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic." The groups established parentage, global success and headstart in terms of basic infrastructure, gives me the opportunity to be involved in and guide Stelis and other group endeavors in their exciting growth story, he further adds. Meanwhile, Kumar said that he delighted to welcome Puri to the team. "This a huge vote of confidence in the potential of Stelis. Adityas illustrious legacy is well-known. Having nurtured HDFC Bank since inception, his deep experience will be extremely valuable for the Strides Group and Stelis in particular. With Stelis poised for its next leg of growth, this is the right time to expand the board, and ensure robust guidance and governance by the best possible industry minds," he added "I look forward to working with Aditya and leveraging his expertise to take Stelis to new heights," Kumar concudes. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Not long after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton addressed a large "Save America" rally of Trump loyalists outside the White House on Wednesday, they marched on the Capitol and breached the building as Congress sought to ratify President-elect Joe Bidens electoral victory. But Paxton had his own ideas about the mob carrying pro-Trump flags and signs. On Thursday morning, he took to Facebook to advance a conspiracy theory that the people who overtook the Capitol were not Trump supporters, but members of antifa. "Those who stormed the capitol yesterday were not Trump supporters. They have been confirmed to be Antifa," Paxton wrote. "Violence is not the answer." Paxtons post cited two sources: a screenshot of a tweet by right-wing journalist Paul Sperry and a screenshot of a Washington Times article with the headline, "Facial recognition firm claims antifa infiltrated Trump protestors who stormed capitol." SUBSCRIBE TODAY: Stay informed with accurate reporting you can trust on HoustonChronicle.com On Wednesday, as Capitol Hill police removed the rioters from the Capitol, Paxton published something similar. People who stormed the building following a Trump rally "are not Trump supporters," he tweeted, citing the screenshot of Sperrys tweet. "BREAKING: Former F.B.I. agent on the ground at U.S. Capitol just texted me and confirmed that at least 1 bus load of Antifa thugs infiltrated peaceful demonstrators as part of a false Trump flag ops," Sperrys tweet reads. Sperry's tweet has since been deleted. Sperry, a former Washington bureau chief for Investor's Business Daily, has authored several anti-Muslim books with titles like, "Infiltration: How Muslim Spies and Subversives Have Penetrated Washington," and "Muslim Mafia: Inside the Secret Underworld Thats Conspiring to Islamize America." He has not return questions sent to him via email. Paxtons second source alleging that Wednesdays mob is "confirmed to be Antifa," the Washington Times article, was published about 8:15 p.m. Wednesday by news and opinion writer Rowan Scarborough. The story sources an unnamed "retired military officer" who told the Times "that the firm XRVision used its software to do facial recognition of protesters and matched two Philadelphia Antifa members to two men inside the Senate." The newspaper has since retracted the report, but not before Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Florida, cited it later that day on the House floor, saying that "some of the people who breached the Capitol today were not Trump supporters, they were masquerading as Trump supporters and were in fact members of the violent terrorist group antifa." XRVision, a facial recognition technology company based in Singapore, issued a statement to PolitiFact and BuzzFeed News Thursday morning saying that the company sent the Washington Times a cease and desist letter asking it to retract the story and issue an apology. XRVisions software identified two members of a Neo-Nazi organization and a Q-Anon supporter, not members of antifa. The company said it distributed that imagery to a handful of individuals for private consumption only. NEWS IN YOUR INBOX: Sign up for breaking news email alerts from HoustonChronicle.com here The company said it does not know the identity of the "retired military officer" who gave the Washington Times the information it based its report on. "XRVision takes pride in its technology's precision and deems the Washington Times publication as outright false, misleading, and defamatory," the company said in its statement. The Times issued a correction to the story at around 5:30 p.m. Thursday after an inquiry from PolitiFact, saying that "The Washington Times erroneously reported late Wednesday that facial recognition technology backed up that speculation and identified two Antifa members. In fact, XRVision has not identified any members of that far-left movement as being part of the attack." Paxton did not return a request for comment. As Wednesdays events turned chaotic, Trump himself identified the mob as his own supporters in a video posted to Twitter, where he asked them to disperse peacefully, adding, "We love you. Youre very special." One of the rioters identified in multiple photographs, Jake Angeli, also known as the "Q Shaman," easily spotted in his horned fur cap, rebuffed allegations that he was a masquerading member of antifa. "I am not antifa or (Black Lives Matter). I am a Qanon & digital soldier," Angeli posted to Twitter. Others recorded videos from inside the Capitol, identifying themselves as patriots, including Jenny Cudd, a former Midland mayoral candidate who said she broke into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. She told the Midland Reporter-Telegram, without offering evidence, that antifa activists broke through Capitol barriers and assaulted police officers before she arrived. Our ruling Paxton published two social media posts following Wednesdays pro-Trump riot at Capitol Hill saying that the rioters were not Trump supporters, but antifa. Paxton based his claim on two sources a deleted tweet and a retracted Washington Times article. Beyond those dubious sources, theres no evidence showing that those who stormed the capitol were antifa. We rate Paxtons claim Pants on Fire. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Travellers arriving in England and Scotland will soon be required to show negative coronavirus tests, officials said on Friday, as they try to curb the spread of new strains. The UK government had previously argued against the requirement, which has already been introduced in other countries, saying quarantining of those arriving from high-risk countries was more effective. Now international travellers arriving in England will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken within the last 72 hours, the Department of Transport said. The measures, which also apply to British nationals, will come into effect from early next week. Passengers who do not comply with the regulations face a 500 ($678, EUR552) fine. Scotland's government, which has devolved powers in health and transport, said it would also introduce the rule "as soon as practically possible". UK Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said he had talked to officials in Wales and Northern Ireland, which also set health and transport policy there, and said they would also likely implement the rule. "I suspect it will be a UK-wide requirement some time next week," he told Sky News television. "We're doing this now because there are these variants that we are very keen to keep out of the country like the South African variant," the minister added, saying the new strain made the need for testing "much more urgent". This variant, called 501.V2, was detected in South Africa in October, and has since spread to countries including Britain, Australia and France. Vaccine concerns Scientists say the strain has mutations that may make it more contagious and more resistant to vaccines, because of changes to the way it latches on to human cells. "There are concerns with the South African one in particular about how effective the vaccine will be against it, so we simply can't take chances," said Shapps. Francois Balloux, professor of computational systems biology and director at University College London's Genetics Institute, said the South African variant's spike protein mutation "helps the virus to bypass immune protection provided by prior infection or vaccination". But the World Health Organization's head of vaccines, Kate O'Brien, said Thursday that such mutations "are not felt to be likely to change the impact" of vaccines. The announcement follows the recent decision to temporarily suspend direct travel from South Africa to England. Britain has been contending with a new coronavirus variant first identified in the country in December, which authorities have said is 50 to 70 percent more transmissible. Dozens of nations around the world stopped air travel from the UK in a bid to contain the virus strain. Faced by a sharp rise in coronavirus infections, driven by the new strain, England entered a strict lockdown on Tuesday with schools and non-essential shops closed for at least six weeks after previous measures failed to halt the steep rise in cases. The UK on Thursday recorded another 1,162 deaths within 28 days of a positive testthe second highest toll since the peak of the first wave in April last year. Under the new travel rules for inbound arrivals to England, all passengers arriving from countries not on the government's travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their COVID test result. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP North Korea possesses an underdeveloped yet growing market. The sector has been supported by some foreign investment, including the Egyptian telecoms investment company Orascom Telecom Holdings. The country has taken steps towards developing a digital economy as part of efforts to modernize its economy and generate export income, especially in the field of IT services. The e-commerce website Manmulsang provides delivery services to all parts of the country. Communications with the outside world is restricted as citizens are only able to receive news through government-controlled TV channels and radio station, as well as the government-controlled Intranet. A two-tier system applies in the mobile sector, wherein domestic users are unable to make international calls or access the internet while international users cannot make domestic calls. These restrictions are aimed at controlling the flow of information. The same focus on control prompted the government to abandon GSM services for 3G, given the wider facility with which it can monitor 3G calls. Although the 3G network provides near universal population coverage, the number of subscribers remains relatively low. Key developments: Social media activity falls under tightening control; E-commerce and e-education initiatives expand; Mobile broadband growth hampered by limited usability of networks; Get a Full Copy of this Report Developing Telecoms market report summaries are produced in partnership with BuddeCom, the worlds largest continually updated online telecommunications research service. The above article is a summary of the following BuddeCom report: Report title: North Korea - Telecoms, Mobile and Broadband - Statistics and Analyses Edition: October 2020 Analyst: Sebastien De Rosbo Number of pages: 72 Companies mentioned in this report: North Korea Post and Telecommunications Corp (NKPTC), NEAT&T, Sunnet, Loxley Pacific, Lancelot Holdings, Orascom, Star JV Single User PDF Licence Price: US$750 For more information or to purchase a copy of the full report please use the following link: https://www.budde.com.au/Research/North-Korea-Telecoms-Mobile-and-Broadband-Statistics-and-Analyses/?r=83 Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images Democratic lawmakers who've served in the US military condemned their Republican colleagues and President Donald Trump as "treasonous." GOP Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley "did not break in with the rioters, and neither did Donald Trump, but their words broke the barriers of civility that have really kept the country together for hundreds of years," Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego told MSNBC. "I've heard one woman say that this was the most frightening day of her life," Rep. Seth Moulton, a former Marine, told Insider. "This is not what members of Congress signed up to do. It's what I expected as a Marine, but not as a member of Congress." Representatives for Hawley did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cruz's office referred to the statements he made denouncing the violent attacks on Capitol Hill, and alleging Democrats were playing politics. Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Democratic lawmakers with military backgrounds quickly condemned their Republican colleagues and President Donald Trump as "treasonous," and accused them of inciting the fatal violence on Capitol Hill on Wednesday. But their statements directed at a pair of Senate Republicans went beyond the usual political brinksmanship, particularly after a pro-Trump mob broke into the offices of lawmakers and the chambers of Congress. At least five people died following the riots, including a police officer and one person who was shot. Over a dozen D.C. Metropolitan Police officers were injured. "What is our country coming to," Rep. Seth Moulton of Massachusetts, a former Marine Corps infantry officer, told Insider. "What is our country coming to, that the greatest democracy the world has ever seen, is under assault from within and inspired by the president of the United States." Seth Moulton in Iraq. Lucian Read/SethMoulton.com Moulton recounted being hurried off to a secure room with dozens of other lawmakers by Capitol Hill's security team. Dramatic images of the incident showed lawmakers taking cover and assisting others during the hours-long siege. Story continues "To be honest, this was nothing compared to what we saw in Iraq, but for many of my colleagues it was the worst thing they've seen," Moulton added. "I've heard one woman say that this was the most frightening day of her life. This is not what members of Congress signed up to do. It's what I expected as a Marine, but not as a member of Congress." Hours before the violence, Trump hosted an event near the White House to galvanize supporters to "never concede" in disputing the results of the presidential election. A joint session of Congress was in session on the same day to count the 2020 presidential race's Electoral College votes. Republican lawmakers from both chambers formally objected to the counting, raising debunked theories of widespread voter fraud and lending credence to conspiracy theories that have repeatedly been struck down by federal judges. President Donald Trump campaigns with Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri. AP Photo/Charlie Riedel Of note was Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri, who appeared to raise his fist in support of the rioters on Wednesday; and Ted Cruz of Texas. Both senators were accused of showboating and fueling statements in an effort to advance their political profile. Sen. Hawley's office also reportedly sent a fundraising email mentioning his objection as the congressional session was underway. Moulton told Insider he "absolutely" believes Hawley and Cruz shared the blame for the violence. "These are domestic terrorists attempting a coup who were incited and supported by lawless Republicans lawmakers," Moulton said. "I think they should be censured because we need to make it clear to future lawmakers and future generations of Americans that you will not incite violence against the United States of America. That's treasonous." Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona, another Marine who deployed to Iraq, also had choice words and accused the two Republicans of inciting violence. Gallego reportedly helped other lawmakers put on their gas masks and gave instructions, as well as sheltering news reporters into his office. US Capitol Police with guns drawn watch as protesters try to break into the House Chamber. J. Scott Applewhite "We have a president and we have senators that incite this that are just as bad as those who broke in," Gallego said to MSNBC on Wednesday. "Cruz and Hawley did not break in with the rioters, and neither did Donald Trump, but their words broke the barriers of civility that have really kept the country together for hundreds of years. And they're just as responsible and they should be ashamed." "The names of Cruz and Hawley should go down in history next to people like Benedict Arnold and Donald Trump," Gallego added. "They are just traitors to the country and traitors to the Constitution." Representatives for Hawley did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cruz's office referred to the statements he made denouncing the violent attacks on Capitol Hill, and alleging Democrats were merely playing politics. "The attack at the Capitol was a despicable act of terrorism and a shocking assault on our democratic system," Cruz said. "The Department of Justice should vigorously prosecute everyone who was involved in these brazen acts of violence." "No one should be surprised to see Democrats playing politics and to see them try to attack strong conservative leaders," Cruz said during a radio interview. "That's something Democrats have done for a long time. I do think it's really cynical for them to be trying to take advantage of what was a tragic event that occurred yesterday in Washington - the terrorist attack on the Capitol." Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado comforts Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania, while taking cover as protesters disrupt the joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College vote, January 6, 2021. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Like Gallego, other lawmakers with combat experience sprung to action to assist during the chaos. Democratic Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a former US Army Ranger, was pictured comforting Democratic Rep. Susan Wild of Pennsylvania during the siege inside the House chamber. "I called my wife," Crow told the Rolling Stone. "I told her I loved her and told the kids I loved them and told my wife I might have to fight my way out. " "I immediately got into Ranger mode, as I say," Crow reportedly added. "I'm going to do everything I can, I'm going to take as much action as I can. I did a double-check of all the doors, made sure they were locked. Escorted the more senior members away from the doors, moving them into a defensive position. Asked folks to take off their member pins so that if the mobs break down the doors, the members would be harder to identify. I took a pen out of my pocket to possibly use as a weapon." Crow also tweeted of the incident: "It didn't need to be this way. Enablers of Donald Trump led us to this point." After reconvening, both Hawley and Cruz voted to sustain their objection. The Senate ultimately voted overwhelmingly 93-6 against the objection of Arizona's electoral vote; as well as 92-7 against the objection of Pennsylvania's. Read the original article on Business Insider Instagram would have you think so, which is a point Rich Kids makes in both content and format. The narration of Hossein and Parivashs story is never as vivid as the lurid photos assembled to illustrate it. The cars, the watches and the magnums of Champagne are merely modern ways of doing what Thomas Gainsborough did (as the play points out) for class-conscious 18th-century Englishmen in paintings like Mr and Mrs Andrews. They make wealth visible, not only to others but also to the wealthy themselves. Image For all of the intelligence on display, I began to feel that Rich Kids created by Alipoor and Kirsty Housley, and directed by both was doing something similar. Not so much with its complex tech, which has an expressive purpose. Thumbing your phone while watching your screen while reading the Instagram captions while hearing them spoken by actors, not always in sync, you are forced to experience the kind of oversaturation that (the play argues) helped derange the aghazadeh generation of privileged post-revolutionary Iranians. But in its many overlays of historical and even geological information, Rich Kids traffics in a mania related to the consumerist one it diagnoses: information mania. In a series of throat-clearing introductions that eat up nearly 15 minutes of the hourlong presentation, we are told that what were about to see is a story not just about Hossein and Parivash but also about civilizational collapse, thermodynamics, the nature of narrative and the billions of tiny decisions that make up history and get us here. Everything is about everything, Alipoor explained in a post-show discussion. True, but perhaps a tighter edit would have made something more fully about something. One Arrested After Shots Hit Murray Home By West Kentucky Star Staff MURRAY - A shooting incident on Thursday led to the arrest of a Murray man.Murray Police officers responded to a report of shots fired at a home on Farmer Avenue.Upon arrival, officers discovered that two bullets had struck the home. No one was hurt.The investigation led authorities to 25-year-old Benjamin Large of Murray. Large was arrested and charged with five counts of first degree wanton endangerment.He was lodged in the Calloway County Jail. Hong Kong: Belt-Road meeting held A roundtable meeting on the Belt & Road Initiative was held online today to promote co-operation between state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and Hong Kong's business and professional services sector. The meeting was joined by more than 100 representatives from 25 SOEs, with nearly 100 enterprises or members from more than 10 professional services bodies in Hong Kong viewing it online. Speaking at the event, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Edward Yau said that Hong Kong, as a comprehensive functional platform for the initiative, is best placed to support SOEs in their Belt-Road projects. Mr Yau said Hong Kong's power on the financial, legal, and management fronts could go hand-in-hand with the strengths of SOEs. He added that the city, as the prime functional platform for the Belt & Road Initiative, could support them in investment and financing, logistics, commerce and trade by capitalising on its extensive international networks and strengths in the professional services and innovation and technology. Noting that the epidemic had led to a new landscape in the international economic and trade arena as well as a new normalcy, Mr Yau emphasised that co-operation of the international community is important to controlling the epidemic and relaunching the economy. Collaboration among SOEs, Hong Kong's businesses and its professional services sector would provide greater strengths in contributing to the Belt & Road Initiative and create opportunities for advancing development, he added. Mr Yau urged enterprises of both places and Hong Kong's professional services sector to explore the growing Mainland market with modern, professional and innovative vision, promote Belt-Road collaboration and orderly economic recovery as well as identify new growth areas. The Commerce & Economic Development Bureau, which jointly organised the roundtable meeting with the State-owned Assets Supervision & Administration Commission of the State Council, said the commission supports the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Belt & Road-related work. The commission has co-organised various sharing sessions with the Belt & Road Office of the bureau since 2018 to build interactive exchange platforms for Hong Kong's businesses and professional services sector as well as SOEs and other Mainland enterprises, it added. This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. President Donald Trump faced the threat on Thursday of a second impeachment, a day after his supporters breached the U.S. Capitol in a stunning assault on American democracy as Congress was certifying President-elect Joe Bidens victory. As Democratic leaders demanded his ouster, Trump came closer than he ever has to a formal concession, acknowledging a new administration would be sworn in on Jan. 20 and vowing to ensure a smooth transition in a video released on Thursday evening. The president condemned Wednesdays violence, saying rioters had defiled the seat of American democracy and must be held accountable. Just a day earlier, Trump had told supporters: We love you. Youre very special, as he urged them to go home after they broke into the Capitol. In his remarks on Thursday, the president said: We have just been through an intense election, and the emotions are high, but now tempers must be cooled and calm restored. We must get on with the business of America, Trump, a Republican, added, adopting a conciliatory tone seldom seen from the mercurial president. The statement was a stark reversal for Trump, who has spent months insisting he prevailed in the Nov. 3 election, alleging widespread fraud despite no evidence. As recently as Thursday morning, when he issued a statement via an aide, Trump was still claiming the election had been stolen. In the video, he defended his efforts to challenge the election in court, saying his goal was to ensure the integrity of the vote. But his exhortation on Wednesday to thousands of supporters that they march to the Capitol to protest the election results whipped up a mob that overran police officers and invaded the Capitol building, forcing members of Congress into hiding for their own safety. The violence claimed four lives, including a woman among the demonstrators who was shot by authorities. After reports that a Capitol Police officer had died, the agency issued a statement saying they were inaccurate. The top Democrats in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, called on Vice President Mike Pence and Trumps Cabinet to use the U.S. Constitution to remove Trump for his incitement of insurrection. The 25th Amendment allows a majority of the Cabinet to remove a president from power if he is unable to discharge the duties of the office. But a Pence adviser said the vice president, who would have to lead any such effort, was opposed to using the amendment to oust Trump from the White House. NEW IMPEACHMENT PROCEEDINGS? If Pence fails to act, Pelosi signaled she would likely reconvene the House to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump for his role in Wednesdays violence. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, whose committee would likely draft any articles of impeachment, voiced his support earlier on Thursday. It was not clear whether House Democrats would have enough time to initiate and complete impeachment proceedings, with less than two weeks remaining in Trumps term. Aides to Mitch McConnell, the Republican Senate leader, did not comment on the statement by Pelosi and Schumer. The Democratic-led House impeached Trump in December 2019 after he pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate Biden, but the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of charges of abusing his power and obstructing Congress. A handful of Republicans joined calls for Trumps removal. The Wall Street Journal editorial page, seen as a leading voice of the Republican establishment, called on Trump to resign on Thursday evening. Several members of Trumps administration, including Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and McConnells wife, resigned as a symbolic gesture against the violence. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos also submitted her resignation, citing Trumps rhetoric before the assault on the Capitol, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday night. Congress formally certified Bidens election victory early on Thursday, after authorities cleared the Capitol. More than half of House Republicans and eight Republican senators voted to challenge the election results, backing Trump. Biden blamed Trump for the attack but stopped short of calling for his ouster. He unleashed an all-out assault on the institutions of our democracy from the outset. And yesterday was but the culmination of that unrelenting attack, Biden said at a news conference to announce his selection for U.S. attorney general, federal appeals Judge Merrick Garland. After Trump posted several messages about the demonstrations on Wednesday, Facebook Inc said it would ban Trump posts until Bidens Jan. 20 inauguration. Twitter Inc suspended Trumps account for 12 hours. The president has increasingly isolated himself in the White House, relying on a small group of diehard loyalists and lashing out at Pence and others who dare to cross him, four sources said. A source familiar with the situation said Trump in recent weeks had discussed the possibility of pardoning himself. The White House declined comment. Constitutional scholars have said it is unclear whether the presidential pardon power can be used in that way. Trump faces potential state legal actions when he leaves office, including a criminal probe in New York, that would not be covered by a federal pardon. Mumbai: Global beverages major Coca-Cola India said on Monday that it will invest USD 1.7 billion along with its partners in the agri-ecosystem of the country in the upcoming five years as part of its fruit circular economy initiative. "We are planning to invest around USD 1.7 billion, outof which USD 800 million will be for procurement of fruit-based material for use in the product and USD 900 million will be the investment on manufacturing lines, juice bottling infrastructure and fruit processing plants andequipment and agriculture interventions," Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia President T Krishnakumar told reporters at Mumbai. He said the investment would be in three parts."We will be investing to increase the yield of the farmer as well as the yield of the fruit. We will be investingin fruit processing infrastructure and filling. This will be jointly invested by us, our bottling partners as well as our processing partners," Krishnakumar added. The company said an estimated 2 lakh farmers would benefit from the 5-year roadmap of sourcing fruit pulp and fruit concentrate derived out of 2.10 million tonnes of fruit. ALSO READ: Madras High Court allows Coca Cola, Pepsi to draw water from Tamil Nadu rivers "We have started with mosambi and oranges and havestarted process on litchi and pomegranate. We source mangofrom India and have also started sourcing guava and banana. We believe that starting from last year, in about 10 years' time, we will be able to increase the amount of fruit that we use by about 10 times," Krishnakumar said. He added that the investment behind horticulture will be in four parts -- by adding fruit juice in sparkling drinks,more fruit-based drinks, new offerings and exporting the fruit pulp and concentrates to other countries. READ: Coca Cola workers in China go on strike over sale of bottling plants to local companies "For our global brand Fanta, we are adding 5 per centorange juice and in the next two months it will become 10 percent," according to Krishnakumar. The company procures and exports raw materials and ingredients worth 280 million from India to 44 countries. Coca-Cola India launched Minute Maid Pulpy Mosambi on Monday and has sourced more than 1800 tonnes the fruit from Jalna in Maharashtra for the first phase of production. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. (Natural News) New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is prepping his broken, dilapidated medical police state for the next round of medical tyranny. Under Cuomos new Use it or Lose it vaccination distribution plan, hospitals will be fined $100,000 if they do not use up all their coronavirus vaccines in seven days. Any hospital provider that does not meet the governments quota for shots in arms can be disqualified from future distribution and be subject to more serious sanctions. Suddenly operating under a dictator, New York hospitals will also be fined if they vaccinate in an inequitable fashion. The state desires that certain groups of people be vaccinated first, and each herd of people are to be vaccinated in the correct order, or the hospital will be fined. Should a clinic administer the vaccine to somebody before their turn, they could face a fine of up to $1 million. Dictator Cuomo incentivizes hospitals to force vaccines and treat people as if they belong to herds The safest way for hospitals to navigate this medical tyranny is to NOT order the vaccines at all. If they order too many and people dont want them, then the state will fine them $100,000 for every week that the hospital fails to force the shots into peoples arms. If the hospital rushes to get as many people vaccinated as possible, they run the risk of vaccinating people in violation of Cuomos equitable distribution orders, leading to even more heinous fines. Cuomos medical tyranny incentivizes hospitals to secretly destroy the vaccines they do not use, so no fines are issued to them. Alternately, this force of government also incentivizes the hospital to engage in unlawful tactics in order to force vaccines into peoples arms. Hospitals are already promising healthcare workers a financial incentive if they get the shots. Some public health officials want to allow vaccine recipients to get just one shot out of the two-shot protocol, even though this circumvents the scientific process laid out by the drug companies. In order to get as many people vaccinated as possible, hospitals will have to use aggressive marketing campaigns and coercive tactics. Cuomos medical tyranny is pushing hospitals to abandon informed consent. His actions are pushing New York one step closer to mandatory vaccinations. Vaccination is an individual choice, not a government mandate Throughout 2020, hospitals received financial incentives from the government for every covid-19 diagnosis. Now the broke, shutdown state of New York looks to get that money back from the hospitals by fining the hospitals if they dont force the vaccines into the population fast enough. Government officials should not be telling hospital CEOs, directors and medical professionals how to run their facilities and how to care for patients. Vaccination is a person choice, especially when the vaccines are an experimental new operating system that modifies the RNA of the recipient. Hospitals should be providing patients with comprehensive, informed consent about these vaccinations, instead of operating out of fear and coercion. Doctors must follow the American Medical Associations code of medical ethics, of which, informed consent is essential to any medical intervention. By rushing to get shots in arms, medical professionals are forced to betray their code of medical ethics. This forceful culture of vaccination will inevitably maximize vaccine injury and bring about a new wave of hospitalizations. If history has shown us anything, Cuomos forceful culture of medical tyranny has led to widespread medical malpractice, medical error and wrongful death. Cuomos berserk policies pushed sick patients back into nursing homes, only to rapidly infect the most vulnerable populations. He refused federal Navy assistance, leading to overcrowded hospitals. In the process, inner city New York hospitals betrayed viable treatments for sick patients and pushed scores of people onto ventilators, destroying their lungs and causing nosocomial infections. The patients were treated less than human, and their family members were denied the right to be by their side. Victims were sedated and isolated until they were pronounced dead on the machines. Cuomos medical tyranny continues to prolong the genocide masked as covid-19. Sources include: ZeroHedge.com ZeroHedge.com NaturalNews.com NaturalNews.com POTTSVILLE Officials said Thursday that they are ready if any group would infiltrate the Schuylkill County Courthouse the way a group of President Donald Trumps supporters infiltrated the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Every available agency would be contacted, Sheriff Joseph G. Groody said. Any type of law enforcement in the area that could be contacted would be called. Groody is in charge of security at the courthouse, and he knows the potential volatility of any protest. You never know until the situation arises, he said. Anything can happen anywhere. A large group of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol and entered the building in spite of efforts of the Capitol Police. Four people died in the riot. Stringent security measures already are in place at the courthouse, with all visitors having to pass through a metal detector at the single public entrance before being allowed to enter the building. Groodys deputies also are stationed at the entrance. Court Administrator Gary R. Bender acknowledged Groodys key role in keeping the courthouse safe. We would count on the sheriff to make sure the building is protected, Bender said. Bender said that courthouse employees underwent active shooter training a couple years ago, and learned certain protection steps from that. He also said the county implemented a measure that would help in the event of a crisis. We put deadbolts on everyones door, Bender said. Bender also said the county could call on the Pottsville Bureau of Police for help. City Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky could not be reached Thursday for comment on what his department would do in such a situation. State police Trooper David Beohm, public information officer for Reading-Based Troop L, which includes Berks, Lebanon and Schuylkill counties, said the entire troop is ready to help in such a situation. The Pennsylvania State Police is prepared to handle a protest or riot situation, as these types of events are not new to Pennsylvania, he said, noting that the force was created in 1905 in the wake of such an event, the Great Anthracite Strike of 1902. Troop L includes two stations in Berks, Hamburg and Reading; one in Lebanon, Jonestown; and two in Schuylkill, Frackville and Schuylkill Haven. Beohm said troopers receive training at the academy on how to respond to such events, and that training continues throughout their careers. In the event of civil unrest, a sufficient amount of troopers from the nearest station or troop would respond, he said. Additional personnel and resources from other stations within the troop and from adjacent troops would be deployed as needed. Beohm said that if a municipality has its own department, such as Pottsville, state police would respond after the city, or the sheriff in case the courthouse is attacked, request aid. Geographically, the Frackville station is the closest one to Pottsville. He said the state police also can deploy personnel from specialized units, including aviation, bomb squad, mounted and a special emergency response team. Furthermore, they can use intelligence from the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center, which is staffed around the clock, Beohm said. In such a situation, Groody would appreciate all the help he can get. If we needed more people, they would be activated from everywhere, he said. The Spanish Supreme Court was left in ridicule again on Thursday after the Brussels Court of Appeal once more rejected its demand for the extradition of the exiled Catalan culture minister, Lluis Puig. The news, in addition to being excellent for the exiled politician - since there would now have to be a veritable cataclysm in the future before this court or any other would change the decision - has a significant domino effect for the other three exiles who were also members of the Catalan government in October 2017 and over whom extradition orders are also pending: president Carles Puigdemont and ministers Toni Comin and Clara Ponsati. Given that the judge of first instance in those cases is the same one who ruled on Puig, and the Court of Appeal of Brussels as well, the path to preserving their liberty seems definitively clear. The third European Arrest Warrant issued by Spain is beginning to look like a dead letter and Belgian justice has undermined such crucial aspects as the competence of the Supreme Court in the case and breaches of the right to the presumption of innocence of the pro-independence politicians whose extradition was requested. The Court of Appeal has delivered two loud slaps: the first, by confirming the decision of the judge of first instance that the Supreme Court is not competent to judge this matter, after this latest extradition warrant was issued by Spain. However, the second blow is even more stinging, in the courts opinion that there is a clear risk that Spanish justice will violate the presumption of innocence of Lluis Puig - and, by extension, that of all those sought - which is regulated by EU Directive 2016/343. The Belgian judiciary understands that the whole trail of political statements by prosecutors and judges contaminates their ruling and there is an obvious risk to a fair trial. That phrase Mas dura sera la caida - "The harder they fall" - a label which the Spanish prosecution service put on its press release announcing the complaints against Carles Puigdemont's Catalan government and the Bureau of Parliament, has not been taken as a joke in Brussels, but rather as a premonition of something which years later would end up happening. There will, then, be no extradition of any of them in the future and that is superb news. Spain has lost its argument, and its justice system, after forcing the matter to the point of issuing clearly unjust sentences, is left in tatters, although in Madrid and also in many media in Catalonia the correcting fluid ends up working miracles with the news stories. We will see, from here onwards, what happens with the requests made to the European Parliament for the lifting of immunity from prosecution on MEPs Puigdemont, Comin and Ponsati. If everything were to follow logic, those requests should lapse, as it is now known in advance that if the end purpose is extradition, that will not occur, in accordance with the Puig doctrine. So what would be the sense of lifting the MEPs immunity? Here, politics enters the fray in place of justice, along with the interests of ideological families and states. They have an honourable way out: to accept that the Supreme Court is not competent and thus drop it, but I am very afraid that Pedro Sanchez, Pablo Casado and Ines Arrimadas will not play this card. They will prefer to force MEPs to take an uncomfortable stand in a vote that, in the end, will lead nowhere. Above all, because today it is almost 100% certain that Puigdemont, Comin and Ponsati will, if it is their wish, serve all of the five-year terms as MEPs for which they were elected in May 2019. And this does not depend on whether their immunity might possibly be lifted so an extradition hearing could take place, but on the final result of such a hearing which, for the time being, seems now to have been decided. Withdrawing the European Arrest Warrants would be another possible path. But Spanish justice does not usually learn from its mistakes. KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2021 - 20:27 | All, Japan Japan lodged a protest on Friday over a South Korean court ruling ordering the Japanese government to pay damages to former "comfort women," with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga calling the decision "utterly unacceptable." Speaking to reporters at his office, Suga said under international law a sovereign state is not subject to the jurisdiction of foreign courts and the lawsuit must be thrown out. He said the ruling goes against a 1965 bilateral agreement that settled properties and claims related to Japan's 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, including the treatment of the women forced to work at Japanese wartime military brothels. "I strongly urge the South Korean government to correct this violation of international law," he said. Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba summoned South Korean Ambassador Nam Gwan Pyo to make the protest, telling him the ruling earlier in the day is "extremely regrettable," according to the Foreign Ministry Nam told reporters after the meeting that South Korea will do what it can to keep the latest ruling from having an undesirable impact on the bilateral relationship. "To reach a resolution, both countries need to respond calmly and in a restrained manner," Nam said. The decision, however, was handed down by an independent judge over whom South Korean President Moon Jae In's administration has no influence. Japan will not appeal the ruling as doing so would put the country under South Korea's jurisdiction, top government spokesman Katsunobu Kato said at a press conference. The ruling also violates a 2015 bilateral pact under which both governments agreed to "finally and irreversibly" resolve the comfort women issue, Kato, the chief Cabinet secretary, said. Under the agreement reached by the governments of then Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and then South Korean President Park Geun Hye, Tokyo provided 1 billion yen ($9.68 million) to a fund to support former comfort women and the families of those who had died. Opposition parties in Japan echoed the discontent against the court order for Tokyo to compensate 12 plaintiffs. Kenta Izumi, policy chief of the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said the decision is completely unacceptable. Yasue Funayama, policy chief of the Democratic Party for the People, said she is concerned the decision could further sour bilateral relations. South Korea had also said it "will strive to resolve" Japan's concern about a statue of a girl symbolizing comfort women in front of the Japanese Embassy in its capital. But the Moon administration, formed in 2017, dissolved the Reconciliation and Healing Foundation, the fund set up under the agreement, triggering fierce opposition from Japan. The statue of the girl in Seoul, as well as some 140 others across the globe, erected by South Korean civic groups, also remains in place, to Japan's dismay. Referring to a ruling on a similar case scheduled at the Seoul court on Wednesday, Kato called on South Korea to take action so that the case will be rejected. The latest spat over the comfort women ruling is similar to another dispute stemming from South Korea's top court rulings in 2018 ordering Japanese companies to pay Koreans who were forced to work for them during World War II. Japan said the rulings "clearly violate" the agreement signed in 1965 and is urging Seoul to take action to prevent the imposition of damages against Japanese companies. Moon, meanwhile, says he respects the decision of the independent judiciary. The row has spread into the economic sphere, with Japan tightening tech-related export controls to South Korea in apparent retaliation, triggering Seoul's strong opposition. Related coverage: South Korea court orders Japan to compensate former "comfort women" Ryan Jarvi 517-599-2746 Attorney General January 8, 2021 LANSING One of Michigans longest-serving capital city insiders Kelly Keenan is retiring from state government today following decades of experience in Lansing. Keenan left his private sector consulting firm to assist newly elected Attorney General Dana Nessel when she took office on Jan. 1, 2019. He served as her deputy attorney general until October 2020, when he moved to the position of special adviser to the Attorney General. At my request, Kelly returned to the department where he has spent decades of his career, assisting me during the first two years of my tenure, Nessel said. His institutional knowledge of the department has been highly valuable and I am grateful for his service." An attorney himself, Keenans credentials are legendary, as are his deep roots in state government. Keenan started his career in the Michigan Senate, working for state Sen. Jerry Hart, D-Saginaw, before heading to the office of Attorney General Frank Kelley in 1984. Keenan served in a variety of positions and roles for Kelley, and then continued to serve the department as deputy attorney general for external affairs when Jennifer Granholm led the Michigan Department of Attorney General (1999-2003). When Granholm was elected governor in 2002, Keenan followed, serving as her legal counsel throughout her tenure. He served on both Nessels and Gov. Gretchen Whitmers transition teams in 2018 as both women prepared to take office. It has been an honor to assist Attorney General Nessel in establishing her office, Keenan said. Attorney General Nessel is carrying on in the tradition of Attorney General Kelley and Granholm as a proactive people's lawyer protecting consumers, the environment, civil rights, crime victims and workers. The people are fortunate in these times to have such a dedicated public official as Dana Nessel." The government and the farmer unions held the eighth round of talks as the farmers' protest carried on. The latest round of talks took place at the Vigyan Bhawan at 2pm on Friday. The previous talks between the two parties on January 4 remained inconclusive. The government told the farmer unions during the Friday talks that it can't and won't repeal the farm laws the farmers are protesting against. The talks began with farmers demanding the repealing of the laws. Agriculture minister Narendra Tomar told the farmers that the farm laws have been created for the entire country and not just for specific states. He said that since farmers everywhere are supporting the laws they should end their agitation. The government then told the farmers that they can't and won't repeal the farm laws. The Centre asked the farmers to move the Supreme Court. They said that if the laws are illegal then the government would repeal them. But if the apex court said that the laws are okay, then they must stop the agitation. The farmers told the government that it would be a time consuming process. They continued to demand the repealing of the farm laws. Earlier the farmer unions had said that they would intensify the protests if the government does not agree to their demands. The farmers are planning to launch a tractor rally on January 26 after the Republic Day parade concludes. On Thursday, the farmers took out tractor rallies from near Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders. They said this was just a rehearsal of the January 26 rally. Also read: Farmers' protest: Eighth round of talks between farmers, govt today Also read: Farmers' protest: Tractor rally at multiple border points; several routes diverted Washington: The mutant coronavirus variant first seen in Britain is likely to be present in much of the United States. Although the variant has so far been detected in a very small fraction of infections, it shows signs of spreading and may become significantly more common in coming weeks, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and infectious-disease experts. The cases so far have been mostly isolated: one in New York, one in Florida, one in Georgia and two in Colorado. The exception has been California, and specifically San Diego County, where a robust surveillance operation has so far found 32 cases of the variant. National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins said: "I would be surprised if that doesn't grow pretty rapidly." A dance class in San Diego, where over 30 patients have been diagnosed with the mutant COVID-19 strain. Credit:Bloomberg There is no evidence that the variant, which has recently been detected in more than 30 countries, carries a greater risk of severe disease or death. But the appearance of coronavirus variants, including another mutation-laden variant that has appeared in South Africa, presents a challenge for every country hoping to crush the pandemic. "Here at the CDC, we're definitely taking this seriously, and we're assuming for now that this variant is more transmissible," said Greg Armstrong, the leader of the strain surveillance program at the CDC, which is still ramping up. The British variant "is probably not in every state at this point, but I think in a lot of states." Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 10:54:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday condemned violence that ravaged the Capitol a day earlier, while vowing to ensure an orderly transition of power. "Like all Americans I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem," Trump said in taped remarks posted on Twitter. "And to those who broke the law, you will pay." The president went on to acknowledge the congressional certification of President-elect and Democrat Joe Biden's victory in their White House race in 2020. "Now Congress has certified the results. A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power," he said. "This moment calls for healing and reconciliation." A big crowd of Trump's supporters forced their ways into the Capitol on Wednesday afternoon when Congress met to formally count the Electoral College votes and affirms Biden's win. The chaotic and disruptive situation forced an hours-long lockdown on the Capitol grounds and left four people dead, along with multiple injuries and dozens of arrests. Trump's initial reaction to the incidents fell short of condemning the violence but doubled down on unsubstantiated allegations that the election was fraudulent. His campaign and allies have lost dozens of lawsuits seeking to overturn the loss to Biden in the past two months. A growing number of Trump administration officials, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, have resigned in protest over the Capitol unrest and the president's role in it. "Yesterday, our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed," Chao wrote in a letter to her colleagues. "As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside." In his remarks from Wilmington, Delaware, on Thursday afternoon, Biden called Wednesday "one of the darkest days" in the U.S. history. "It was not protest. It was chaos," the president-elect said. "They were rioters, a mob. Insurrectionists. Domestic terrorists." The U.S. Congress early Thursday morning affirmed Biden's victory, in which the former U.S. vice president won 306 Electoral College votes versus 232 for Trump. It takes at least 270 electoral votes to win the White House. Biden also won the popular votes by 7 million and more than 4 percentage points. Enditem The sister of an Odessa shooting victim said her family had mixed feelings after the man who sold the AR-15 rifle used to kill seven people on Aug. 31, 2019, was sentenced to two years in prison on Thursday. There is nothing but sadness and utter senselessness in all of this, said Carla Byrne, the sister of 40-year-old Joe Griffith. Griffith was killed when Seth Aaron Ator went on a shooting rampage that began in Midland and ended when Ator was shot and killed by police outside Odessas Cinergy movie theater. Marcus Anthony Braziel of Lubbock pleaded guilty in October to unlicensed firearms dealing and lying on federal tax returns. He admitted during an FBI and ATF investigation to selling Ator a gun in 2016 that he used to kill seven and wound 25 three years later. While we are glad Marcus Braziel did not get just probation, we struggle with two years being sufficient in light of the fact that Joey received a death sentence and we feel as though we are serving life, Byrne said. She said she feels compassion for Braziels wife and daughter. But he will be released in time to see his daughter graduate college and walk her down the aisle, Byrne said, and Griffith wont get to do that with his daughter. And 15-year-old Leilah Hernandez, who was also killed in the shooting, will never graduate high school. Ator was prohibited from purchasing firearms because of mental health issues, according to news reports. He circumvented a background check by purchasing a rifle from Braziel in a private sale. Private sales without background checks are legal in Texas if the seller is not profiting significantly from selling firearms. Braziel, however, admitted he was engaged in the business of selling firearms and illegally manufacturing guns, according to news reports. It was reported he had customers sign a paper attesting that they were not barred from obtaining a firearm. And now he is stunned that the bad guy lied on the form? Byrne said. What did he think would happen? Braziel stated publicly after he was charged that he regrets his actions and now supports universal background checks. Byrne suggested he show hes sincere by working with her to pass gun reform laws when he leaves prison. If thats genuine, I propose to Marcus that he come find me when hes out of jail and agree to work with me to pass common sense gun legislation, she said. I propose that he join me in speaking with senators to affect change. Its time to take H.R. 8 off the shelf, give it a good dusting and bring it back to the Senate floor. H.R. 8 would require universal background checks with an exemption for family-to-family sales. It passed with bipartisan support in the U.S. House five months before the Odessa shooting, but has not been considered by the Senate. Byrne said she thought it would be powerful if she and Braziel were to partner to advocate for gun reform. I challenge him to have the spine to do that, she said. And if he doesnt, Ill know that hes only sorry he got caught and that his newfound respect for background checks is disingenuous. In August 2020, Griffiths and Hernandezs families filed a lawsuit against Braziel and Anderson Manufacturing, the company that allegedly sold firearms and gun parts to Braziel. Byrne said they will move forward with the lawsuit because the goal is to elevate the importance of universal background checks. U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski testifies during a hearing before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., on March 20, 2007. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Pro-Life Democrat Lipinski Reflects on How Party Has Changed CHICAGOOne of the last pro-life Democrats in Congress left office as 2020 closed. Over his eight terms, Daniel Lipinski (D-Ill.) saw the number of pro-life Democrats in the lower house dwindle from about 60 to almost none. Many times he felt pressure to go with the tide. He was told to either quit being a Democrat or quit being pro-lifethat he could not have both. But he didnt listen, and he believes that choice cost him reelection. I dont value my seat in the House of Representativesas much as I was honored to be a representative for 16 yearsmore highly than I value standing up for whats right, Lipinski told The Epoch Times. His Christian-based morals, along with his education as a scientist, led him to his pro-life stance. Faith and reason go together, Lipinski said. The science clearly shows us that life begins at conception. I believe in following the science when the science is clear. He stayed with the Democratic Party because he felt one of its foundational principles is to help the most vulnerable. As a Democrat, I stand for the vulnerable people, Lipinski said. The unborn are the most vulnerable people. I believe that being pro-life fits in being a Democrat. He didnt expect to become known for his pro-life stance. He didnt expect that to overshadow his other work in Congress as it did, as he became an increasingly rare specimen in an increasingly homogenous party. Some of the proudest accomplishments of his career, including using his local offices to help constituents with their everyday problems, and legislation he helped enact related to transportation, science, and manufacturing. He was always a moderate Democrat, he said, upholding fiscal responsibility and promoting bipartisan consensus. Toward the end of his time in office, he sounded the alarm about his partys move further left, as well as the partisan gridlock in Congress. Following His Fathers Example His father, William Lipinski, was also a Democratic congressman. In William Lipinskis biography on the Houses website, he was described as a Democratic Party loyalist, although one unafraid to break from the party line when his morals told him to do so. For example, he voted for Republican President Ronald Reagans plan to help in the fight socialist Sandinistas in Nicaragua in the 1980s. Tip ONeil [the Democratic Speaker of the House at the time] came up to my father on the House floor and talked to him about that. Tip wasnt happy. But my father just believed in the fight against communism and thought it was the right thing to do. My father stood up for what he believed in, no matter what it was, Lipinski said. Lipinski, 54, is of Polish descent and was raised Catholic in the southwest of Chicago. Thats part of congressional District 3, which his father represented for over 20 years. Lipinski studied engineering at Northwestern University and Stanford University. When pursuing his Ph.D. in political science at Duke University, he came across the book Democracy in America, (De La Democratie en Amerique) by Alexis de Tocqueville, which he said had a great influence on his political understanding. One of the most important things [Tocqueville] pointed out, it is the morals of the American people that made the country special and different. I believe that very much to be true. We have enjoyed so many freedoms in the United States. If everyone truly lived out their freedom as far as they could, this country would be in chaos. Peoples morality helps to constrain what they do and to teach them to work well with other people, Lipinski said. His move into the field of politics was somewhat unexpected in 2004. His father, after winning the Democratic primary, abruptly retired and had Lipinski, then a young professor at the University of Tennessee, replace him on the ballot. It was a controversial move. Running in a solidly Democratic district, Lipinski easily defeated his Republican opponent. Soon, he departed for Washington, D.C., for his first term with a goal to take care of my constituents and do what I can do to make their everyday lives better. Little did he expect the issue of abortions to figure so prominently in his career. Pro-life Democrats Dwindle in Congress Pro-life Democrats were already a minority within the party when Lipinski got to the Capitol, but there were still a good number of them, about 60. Some, like Lipinski, would vote pro-life on any abortion-related legislation, while the others narrowly focused on the federally funded abortions. Many represented Catholic rust-belt districts and conservative-leaning districts in the South. When joining forces with pro-life Republicans, they played a strong role in guarding pro-life laws. Their power was evident when the Affordable Care Act (commonly known as Obamacare) fought its way through the House. Lipinski, along with other pro-life Democrats, considered the bill short of restrictions on federally funded abortions and demanded an amendment include those restrictions. As a compromise, President Barack Obama agreed to issue an executive order to ban federally funded abortions. Bart Stupak, who led the congressional pro-life Democrats at the time, and dozens of others in the coalition, switched to support Obamacare. It passed the House with a close 219212 vote. But Lipinski voted against it, along with some 30 other pro-life Democrats. People have asked me, If it was good enough for Stupak, why wasnt it good enough for you? Lipinski told The Chicago Tribune at the time. The [executive] order doesnt trump the law. He also felt Obamacare was financially unsustainable. The Obamacare vote turned out to be a game-changer for the pro-life Democrats in Congress. In the midterm election, some pro-life groups pulled support from pro-life Democrats who voted for Obamacare and backed their Republican challengers instead. When the new Congress convened in January 2011, the number of pro-life Democrats was cut in half. Overall, Democrats lost more than 60 seats. The number of pro-life Democrats dwindled more every couple years, according to an article by Tobin Grant, a political science professor at Southern Illinois University. In 2012, it dropped to less than 10. In 2014, most had retired or lost reelection. In 2016, only two solidly pro-life Democrats were left: Lipinski and Collin Peterson, a veteran congressman who represented a large, rural district in western Minnesota. About half the time, they were joined by Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas. Under Pressure Over the years, he saw many pro-life Democrats turn Republican because they could no longer live with the partys position on abortion. But Lipinski believed he could continue on and reconcile the two. In the 2018 Democratic primary, Lipinski almost lost to Marie Newman, a more progressive Democratic candidate who was pro-choice. He survived the challenge by a narrow margin of 2 percent. Planned Parenthood had spent about $100,000 on campaigns against Lipinski, the second highest amount it had spent against any candidate that year. In the 2020 Democratic primary, Newman again challenged Lipinski. She was endorsed by prominent party members including Obama, Joe Biden, and Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Amid the hotly contested race, Lipinski signed an amicus brief asking the Supreme Court to uphold a Louisiana abortion law and reconsider Roe v. Wade. He and Peterson were the only two Democrats who signed the brief, along with over 200 Republicans from both the House and Senate. I have always believed in protecting the lives of the unborn, and I was not going to change on that, even though it got more difficult politically, he said. Pro-abortion groups rallied outside his local office in Lockport, Illinois. Members of Students for Life of America hold baskets of baby socks representing abortions alongside abortion rights activists from NARAL Pro-Choice America as they demonstrate outside of Rep. Dan Lipinskis office in Washington, D.C., on March 4, 2020. (Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images) NARAL Pro-Choice America spent nearly $220,000 on campaigns supporting Newman, the largest amount it spent for any candidate in this election cycle. Lipinski lost the primary to Newman by a margin of 2.5 percent, or about 2,800 votes. Newman commented on her victory in a New York Times interview: [Lipinski] was not only out of step with the district, but really out of step with the Democratic platform. So thats really kind of the No.1 reason that I ran, and why I won. In his concession speech, Lipinski said: There is one issue that loomed especially large in this campaign: the fact that I am pro-life. I was pilloried in millions of dollars of TV ads and mailers because of this. I was shunned by many of my colleagues and other Democratic Party members and operators. The pressure in the Democratic Party on the life issue has never been as great as it is now. Over the years, I have watched many other politicians succumb to the pressure and change their position on this issue. I can never give up protecting the most vulnerable human beings in the world simply to win an election. My faith teaches, and the Democratic Party preaches, that we should serve everyone, especially the most vulnerable. The night of defeat was tough, Lipinski said. He spent most of it praying. I pray for strength to accept the loss and to move on, and for guidance in what to do next, he said. The next day, people started reaching out to me, thanking me, congratulating me on standing for what I believe in. I knew I had done the right thing. Peterson, the other solid pro-life Democrat in Congress, survived the primary, but was later defeated in the general election by his Republican opponent Michelle Fischbach. A couple of House Democrats are left who sometimes support the pro-life agenda. Single-Party Issue Lipinski does not think the number of pro-life Democrats in Congress truly represents the number of pro-life Democratic voters in the nation. About three in ten Democrats dont agree with their partys positions on abortion, a recent Pew Research survey finds. There are almost no pro-life Democrat members of Congress because so much money is spent by NARAL, Planned Parenthood, and other organizations to defeat pro-life Democrats. Lipinski said. On the other hand, he thinks that pro-life groups should support more Democratic candidates, instead of focusing only on Republican candidates. It will hurt pro-life voters in the long run, he said, when the life issue becomes a sole Republican issue. Once any issue becomes a single-party issue, its much easier for that party to ignore that issue, Lipinski said. Reaching Across the Aisle Over Lipinskis terms, the two parties in Congress have increasingly polarized in general, he said, which has led to partisan bickering, inactivity, and a failure to address the key issues facing America. In February 2012, when the moderate Republican senator Olympia Snowe announced she would not to seek reelection after 40 years of public service due to Senate dysfunction, it was seen by many as a sign that congressional gridlock has reached a historic intensity. Rep. Dan Lipinski (2nd R) and fellow Democratic members of Congress hold a news conference to voice their opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on June 10, 2015. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Lipinski worked to promote bipartisan consensus through the Blue Dog Coalition and Problem Solvers Caucus. The Blue Dogs, about two dozen moderate Democrats, describe themselves as pursuing fiscally responsible policies, ensuring a strong national defense, and transcending party lines to get things done. The Problem Solvers Caucus, which was founded about four years ago, is a bipartisan coalition comprised of around 50 members equally divided among Democrats and Republicans, with a goal to forge bipartisan cooperation on key policy issues. Lipinski often met with his colleagues in the caucus at 9 p.m., when many instead took a break from their daily obligations. Sometimes their discussions went late into the night, and Lipinski had to run to Union Station to catch the last train to get back to his apartment. In July 2017, Lipinski and fellow caucus members worked out a bipartisan agreement that would improve Obamacare by lowering premiums and stabilizing the individual healthcare market. In January 2018, amid the ongoing budget impasse related to immigration policy and border security, they came up with a bipartisan agreement. It would grant citizenship to existing Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients while putting in place policies to prevent future illegal immigration. But in the end, despite our agreement, we could not get legislation on either of these issues to the floor, Lipinski said during his farewell speech on the house floor on Dec. 8. We had good policy for our nation, which probably could have gotten a majority in the House to pass it and possibly been able to get through the Senate with bipartisan support. We got there by bringing our constituents ideas and interest to table, debating, deliberating, forging a compromise, but the rules did not give us an avenue to bring this agreement to the House. Lipinski said in the farewell speech that both rules and behaviors needed to be changed for the Congress to fulfill its legislative intended obligations. Im hopeful that those changes will occur, and the Problem Solvers Caucus will be successful in the next couple of weeks, and in the next Congress, because the American people need it. After spending half of his farewell speech on congressional gridlock and ways to fix it, he then thanked his local and D.C. staffers for their hard work and listed some of the key laws he helped passed, including American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act, Small Aircraft Revitalization Act, and National Science Foundation Reauthorization Act. Before he left office, Lipinski also warned about the direction of the Democratic Party. The Democratic Party has traditionally been the party of the working class. Im concerned that the party has gotten away from that in recent years, he told The Epoch Times. I hope Joe Biden will be able to bring the party back to the focus on working class Americans and also on the need to work together with Republicans and get something done. Looking Forward After Congress, Lipinski plans to work for a human rights organization, the name of which he declined to disclose. Also, he is thinking of writing a book based on a commencement speech he gave at a private Catholic University in Ave Maria, Florida. He told the graduates: We live in a political system where there are only two major parties. If you are going to run for most offices, you need to be a member of one of these parties. In most elections, if you are going to vote you have to choose a candidate in one of these two parties. You need to make this choice. I am not going to tell you that there is a correct answer. But as a Catholic there is a much more important choice you must make. Are you going to hold fast to your Catholic beliefs, or are you going to follow the world and make a political party your religion? If you really want to change the world, you must choose to be Catholic, and carry Jesus into the public square. Graduates, as you leave college, pray for that faith and [carry the Lord] everywhere with hope and without fear. Many world leaders have expressed shock and dismay at the riots in Washington Wednesday that resulted in at least four deaths and dozens of arrests. Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump marched on Capitol Hill after Trump called for protests against the victory of his rival, Joe Biden. NEW DELHI : An all-women pilot team of Air India will fly over North Pole on the world's longest air route and the flight from San Fransico (SFO) will reach Bengaluru on January 9 covering a distance of about 16,000 kilometres. "Flying through the North Pole is very challenging and airline companies send their best and experienced pilots on this route. This time Air India has given responsibilities to a woman captain for the journey from San Fransico to Bengaluru via polar route," an Air India official said. AI Captain Zoya Agarwal, who will be commanding the flight, and her team is very eagerly waiting to create history on January 9. "Most people in the world will not see the North Pole or even its map in their lifetime. I feel truly feel privileged and humbled by the trust posed in me by the civil aviation ministry and our flag carrier. It is a golden opportunity to command a Boeing 777 inaugural SFO-BLR, one of the world's longest flight over the North Pole," Captain Zoya Agarwal told ANI. "I am extremely proud to have with me experienced women team comprising Captains Thanmai Papagari, Akanksha Sonawane and Shivani Manhas. This is the first time an all-women pilots team will fly over the North Pole and create a history of sorts. It's indeed a dream come true for any professional pilot," she added. According to aviation experts, flying over the North Pole is extremely technical and requires skill and experience. "The thrill of actually realising that you will be passing the North pole where the compass will flip 180 degrees...something which is fascinating indeed," Captain Zoya said. The longest flight over the North Pole will be another feather in her cap as she was the youngest woman pilot to fly a Boeing-777 in 2013. "I am the youngest woman commander in the world on Boeing 777. Women should have self-belief even if they face societal pressure not consider any task impossible," she said. She will become the first woman commander of Air India to command flight over the North Pole. Though Air India pilots have flown over polar route earlier also, it is for the first time a team women pilots will fly over the North Pole. (ANI) Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Just two days after she was announced as an executive producer, Laverne Cox is backing out of Sarah Jones' sex industry documentary Sell/Buy/Date. The documentary will be based on Jones' critically-acclaimed stage play of the same name, with Meryl Streep and Rashida Jones also on board as executive producers. As word of the documentary started to spread, though, fans started to call her out, with one claiming the project represented 'everything you're supposedly against,' leading her to back out of the project, citing the 'outrage' over her involvement and the need to protect her mental health. Backing out: Just two days after she was announced as an executive producer, Laverne Cox is backing out of Sarah Jones' sex industry documentary Sell/Buy/Date Documentary: The documentary will be based on Jones' (left) critically-acclaimed stage play of the same name, with Meryl Streep (right) and Rashida Jones (center) on board as executive producers Cox took to Twitter on Wednesday night to post an official statement about why she's backing out, which she also used to respond individually to many of the fans who called her out. 'When I agreed to come on as an executive producer of Sell/Buy/Date I did so because I was so deeply moved by Sarah Jones brilliant play and her unbelievable, undeniable talent as an artist, as an actor,'Cox began. 'I signed on to support her incredible talent. I have so much love for her as a human being,' she added, before revealing why she was backing out. Backing out: Cox took to Twitter on Wednesday night to post an official statement about why she's backing out, which she also used to respond individually to many of the fans who called her out 'But I am not in an emotional place to deal with the outrage by some around my participation in this project. So I have decided to pull out. To be clear, I am no longer involved in any capacity in ['Sell/Buy/Date.'] I have to take care of my mental, physical and emotional health,' Cox concluded. Fans also commented on Rashida Jones' involvement in two Netflix projects about sex workers, a documentary entitled Hot Girls Wanted and a docuseries entitled Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On. During the premiere for the series, a number of sex workers came forward and claimed they were doxxed and outed for their profession without their permission, claims the filmmakers, Jill Bauer and Ronna Gradus, denied, citing fair use claims. Involvement: Fans also commented on Rashida Jones' involvement in two Netflix projects about sex workers, a documentary entitled Hot Girls Wanted and a docuseries entitled Hot Girls Wanted: Turned On Jones responded to the criticism herself with a statement of her own on Twitter Wednesday evening. 'As a Black feminist artist, I have always centered the stories of traditionally marginalized people, especially women and femmes struggling for liberation and self-determination. My sisters in the sex industry are no exception,' Jones said. 'I am committed to deep listening to folks with lived experience, not only in my interviews but also in those we hire behind the scenes,' she added. Sarah's response: Jones responded to the criticism herself with a statement of her own on Twitter Wednesday evening She also responded to Cox's statement on Twitter, stating, 'Im so grateful to you Laverne for coming on the journey with me thus far, and Im looking forward to continuing my work on the film, and only ask that everyone give Laverne her space while keeping an open mind about the project before judging it.' Sell/Buy/Date will explore, 'inequality (criminal justice, race, sexism, poverty) through the lens of the debate around the sex industry.' The film will explore the pivotal question, 'Is sex work exploitative or empowering?' while examining the sex industry 'hiding in plain sight' and those who support sex work and who argue commercial sex workers are 'essential workers.' Grateful: She also responded to Cox's statement on Twitter, stating, 'Im so grateful to you Laverne for coming on the journey with me thus far, and Im looking forward to continuing my work on the film, and only ask that everyone give Laverne her space while keeping an open mind about the project before judging it' Documentary: Sell/Buy/Date will explore, 'inequality (criminal justice, race, sexism, poverty) through the lens of the debate around the sex industry' A Formula One Team owner has revealed the Australian Grand Prix will be postponed ahead of an official announcement. Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll said the Melbourne event will be moved from March 18 towards the end of the F1 season in the Australian spring (or autumn in the Northern Hemisphere). Bahrain will replace Melbourne as the opening race in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine restrictions in Australia. It comes after the 2020 Grand Prix was completely cancelled due to the pandemic less than two hours before cars were set to hit the track for the first practice session on March 13 last year. Spectators leave after waiting at the gate after being told that the Australian Grand Prix was cancelled in March last year. This year's Grand Prix has been postponed from March 18 to an unknown time in spring 'Melbourne has been -- its not officially announced but it will be -- not cancelled but postponed,' Stroll told Reuters. 'We will go there sometime in the fall (autumn) and the first race will be Bahrain.' While the race will take place in autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, it will be spring in Australia at the time. Formula One teams reportedly agreed the change in a virtual meeting with Formula One's new chief executive Stefano Domenicali on Monday. The Canadian billionaire is confident the Melbourne Grand Prix will be able to go ahead on its new postponed date. 'I think the worst is behind us and we've learnt through last year how to proceed with this year,' Stroll said. Aston Martin team owner Lawrence Stroll (left) and his wife Claire-Anne (right). Stroll said the Melbourne event will be moved from March 18 towards the end of the F1 season in the Australian spring (or autumn in the Northern Hemisphere) Fans wait outside of the gates before practice for the F1 Grand Prix of Australia at Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit on March 13, 2020 The Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne was completely cancelled last year. Formula One confirmed the cancellation less than two hours before cars were set to hit the track for the first practice session on March 13, 2020. The cancellation came after the McLaren team withdrew from the Melbourne event because a member tested positive to COVID-19. Top drivers were also refusing to take part in the race due to health concerns. Disappointed racing fans believe they were left in the dark as Formula One failed to effectively communicate whether the event would go ahead. Some spectators standing outside of Gate 5 told Daily Mail Australia they had come from as far away as London, while others were planning to travel the world for the sport. 'We were here yesterday and there was absolutely no problem,' one race fan said. 'We all used sanitiser and got on with life. It's just ridiculous to pull the plug on it now.' Spectators queued at the gate to gain entry ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix last year - before they were turned away (left). Haas team principle Guenther Steiner (right) reacts after the event was cancelled Last season's race calendar had to be re-written due to the global pandemic, with an eventual 17 rounds in Europe and the Middle East and some circuits including Bahrain hosting two grands prix. Stroll, who is also executive chairman of sportscar maker Aston Martin, expected lingering difficulties. 'I do believe were in for a difficult two or three months,' he said. 'There is a light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine. I think the first few races will be slightly challenging. 'But Formula One management and the FIA, I really take my hat off to them to deliver 17 races as we did last year in 23 weeks, without really any major hiccups, in a very impressive manner.' Colorado's hospitals charged insurance plans and employers more than two and a half times what they were paid by Medicare for the same services, according to a national study that examined 2018 prices from dozens of facilities here. MUSKEGON, MI After more than a decade, the Muskegon Area District Library (MADL) is bringing back a library on wheels. The Muskegon County library system had a bookmobile for nearly 70 years that was true and dear to the hearts of the people in Muskegon County, said MADL Director Kelly Richards. However, budgetary issues led to the mobile library being decommissioned in 2009. It was a big loss to the community, Richards said. When voters approved a library millage increase in 2016, the extra funding enabled MADL to bring back a brand new bookmobile. MADL has nine branches and a Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped in Muskegon County, but Richards said there are still a lot of holes in their service area where residents dont have access to a library. This bookmobile could accommodate helping us reach those rural areas of the community, he said. #TBT - This is a picture of one of our first bookmobiles. "1940 Bookmobile starts carrying about 200 books in a 'one-wheel' trailer to rural schools in Muskegon County." Posted by Muskegon Area District Library on Thursday, May 8, 2014 The mobile library is a 31-feet-long, 7-feet-wide, 10-feet-tall truck that weighs 23,000 pounds. The interior will look, amazingly, like a tiny, little library, said Mike Maxson, the bookmobile operator. The vehicle will be outfitted with shelves to hold more than 4,500 items, a circulation desk and stations for public computers. Maxson said they wanted to get as many features of a brick and mortar library branch into the bookmobile. The vehicle will travel around the county on a three-week rotation. Residents can use the bookmobile to sign up for a library card, check out books, place holds and print documents. The community pushed for the bookmobile to be revived, Richards said, but the project took on more significance during the COVID-19 pandemic because it will connect rural residents with high speed WiFi and allow them to check out mobile hot spots. Beyond library services, Richards said bookmobiles can also partner with food banks and be a public resource following a natural disaster. The bookmobile has a lot potential to help our community going forward, even beyond the traditional role of a bookmobile, he said. Related: $110M Muskegon Lake development proposed for land that was eyed for casino near downtown The library on wheels will also have external TVs and speakers for public story times. Maxson said residents are enthusiastic about the return of the bookmobile. When the bookmobile rolls into a stop, its a little event, Maxson said. The price of buying and building the bookmobile is $271,000. Matthews Specialty Vehicles, a North Carolina company that has configured several bookmobiles for other library systems, was commissioned to complete the project. After the launch, there will be continual costs for gas, staff and maintenance. The cost is worth it for the community and the services we need to provide, said Richards. But its much cheaper to operate the bookmobile, than it will be to operate 10 new branches. MADL hopes to roll out the bookmobile in the spring, but completion of the project has faced some delays due to COVID-19. Richards said they are currently looking for organizations interested in being included in the rotation to apply for a stop. Anyone responsible for a space that would benefit from the bookmobile can contact MADL for an application. More on MLive: 150-year-old Sleeping Bear Inn, long vacant, to be restored as B&B lodge What are probable coronavirus cases and why are they still increasing in Michigan? Kalamazoo spice maker stays true to family roots, balancing purpose and profit on a global scale The coronavirus pandemic has felled another Broadway show: Mean Girls. The musicals producers, led by Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live, announced on Thursday that they would not seek to reopen in New York once the pandemic eases. However, the producers do plan to restart the shows national tour. The show is the fourth Broadway closing prompted by the pandemic: Disney announced last spring that it would not reopen Frozen, and the producers of two plays that had been in previews, Martin McDonaghs Hangmen and a revival of Edward Albees Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, decided not to wait out the shutdown at all. The Mean Girls closing was prompted by the costs of keeping the production intact while theaters are dark. Broadway has been closed since last March, and it seems likely that most shows will not return until the fall or later. The musical, adapted from a 2004 film, features a book by Tina Fey; music by Jeff Richmond, who is married to Fey; lyrics by Nell Benjamin; and direction by Casey Nicholaw. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-07 22:13:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- A Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday said China hopes the people in the United States can enjoy peace, stability and security at the earliest after supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. "We believe that the people of the United States want stability and peace, and hope they can soon enjoy security and stability, especially amid the grim situation brought about by the pandemic," spokesperson Hua Chunying told a daily press briefing. Responding to a query on some Chinese netizens mocking the riots as "beautiful sight," a term once used by U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to refer to the violent protests in Hong Kong in 2019, Hua said Chinese people have the right and freedom to express their opinions and make comments online. While U.S. mainstream media denounced the protesters at the U.S. Capitol as "mobs," they had called the violent protesters in Hong Kong as "democratic heroes," saying that the U.S. people were standing with them, Hua noted. The stark contrast in the reactions and choice of words are thought-provoking and worthy of our reflection, she said. Hua also urged the United States to take necessary measures to guarantee the safety of journalists, as multiple news outlets were attacked by demonstrators outside the Capitol Hill, according to a statement by China Media Group. Chandigarh is expected to receive 21,000 vials of Covid-19 vaccine in the first phase, which will be administered to front-line workers, the Centre has informed local health authorities. Even though the date for the rollout to begin has not been communicated yet, authorities said they are ready to start the drive within two days of receiving the vaccine, which will be administered at nine sites in the city. Confirming the same, Dr Amandeep Kaur Kang, director, UT health department, said that a list of around 8,350 health workers has been prepared and updated on the central governments portal, who will receive the vaccine in the first phase. This will also include front-line workers of the municipal corporation and police department. The health department conducted dry runs for the Covid-19 vaccination at Government Medical College and Hospital, Sector 32, and civil hospital in Sector 45 on Friday. We have received communication from the Centre that we will get around 21,000 vials in the first phase. However, the date for the rollout will begin has not been communicated yet. During the two dry runs that were conducted on Friday, the online system for updating and verification were working smoothly, Dr Kang said. Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research also conducted a dry run at the health and wellness centre in Sector 49 which is one of the designated sites for Covid vaccination in Chandigarh. UT has also received the first lot of around 1.5 lakh syringes from the central government to carry out the drive. They have been stored at the district vaccine store in Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16. The vaccine, when available, will be procured by the district vaccine store from Government Medical Store Depot, Karnal. Australia's iconic ice cream brand Peters has unveiled a sweet new Drumstick range featuring 'mega-sized' chocolate tips. The 'Mega Tip' Drumsticks, which now comes with 'double the tip in every rip', hit shelves at supermarkets and convenience stores around the country on Friday. There's two new cone flavours to look out for just in time to enjoy over summer. Peters has unveiled a sweet new Drumstick range featuring a 'mega-sized' chocolate tip The Choc, Peanut & Caramel combines chocolate and peanut in frozen harmony with a gooey caramel syrup and crushed peanuts swirled throughout. And to top it off, there's more peanuts and caramel sprinkled on top, with an extra large choccy tip. While the Honey Macadamia is filled with caramelised honey syrup swirled through frozen creamy macadamia, with crushed macadamias on top and of course, the mega choccy tip. There's two new cone flavours to look out for - Choc, Peanut & Caramel and Honey Macadamia The new flavours are available in a four pack for $8.40 at Coles and Woolworths. The Choc, Peanut & Caramel also comes in a single cone for $4.20 at petrol stations, convenience stores and independent retailers. For the first time in 10 years, Drumstick has a new look after Australian artist James Gulliver Hancock collaborated with the brand to create an illustrative wallpaper, capturing the spirit of all things Aussie and summer. Farmers, with more than 5,000 tractors and other vehicles, have again showed to the world that they are united, focused, tireless, and firm in their resolve. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: On the eve of another round of talks with the government, thousands of farmers on Thursday took out tractor marches from protest sites of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders and Haryana's Rewasan as the agitating unions asserted they would not accept the Centre's offer of amendments to the three farm laws. According to the protesting farm unions, these marches were a "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 "Kisan parade" to the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The tractor marches started from four different points -- Singhu to Tikri Border, Tikri to Kundli, Ghazipur to Palwal and Rewasan to Palwal. The protesting unions claimed the marches were "a grand success". With their eighth round of meeting with the Centre is scheduled to take place on Friday, the protesting unions made it clear that three farm laws should be repealed and minimum support price for crops should be made into a legal right of all farmers. "We will never accept the amendments offered by the government and to fulfil our demands, we will continue to intensify the protests," Samkyukt Kisan Morch, an umbrella body of 40 protesting unions, said. From the Singhu and Tikri borders, farmers drove their tractors towards the the Kundli-Manesar-Palwal expressway in the morning and then they came back later. Perched on their tractors, protesting farmers moved slowly through the protest sites, with speakers on their vehicles belting out music keeping their spirits high. Other protestors lined the path providing fellow farmers with all kinds of supplies, including peanuts, fritters, tea, and newspapers. Farmers, with more than 5,000 tractors and other vehicles, have again showed to the world that they are united, focused, tireless, and firm in their resolve, Morch's senior member Darshan Pal said. As farmers, especially youths owing allegiance to different farm bodies took part in the march, their tractors sported the tricolour, the flags of the farmers' unions and banners mentioning 'No Farmer No Food'. Bharati Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan said that they will not accept anything less than the repeal of the three farm laws. Another BKU (Ekta Ugrahan) leader Shingara Singh Mann said "The tractor rally was peaceful and was a complete success." The last meeting between farm unions and Union ministers remained inconclusive on Monday as the former stuck to their demand for the repeal of the three laws, while the government listed out various benefits of the new acts for the growth of the country's agriculture sector. From Ghazipur, the tractor march, led by senior BKU leader Rakesh Tikait, moved towards Palwal. "In the coming days, we will intensify our agitation against the three farm laws. Around 2,500 tractors from Haryana have participated in today's march. "We want to warn that if the government doesn't not accept our demands, farmers' protest will get intensified further," Abhimanyu Kohar, a senior member of Samkyukt Kisan Morcha, told PTI. At Tikri Border protest site, some persons allegedly misbehaved with mediapersons. Samkyukt Kisan Morch condemned the attack on a section of media, saying that the discipline committee is investigating into the reports received and the individuals concerned will be handed over to the police. "The government has been hosting meeting after meeting. They know what we want. We want the laws to be repealed, but all we get are futile talks. With this rally, we want to give them a glimpse of what we can do, and what we will do on January 26. "Today, the rally is happening on the periphery of Delhi, but when our farmer leaders decide that we need to enter the capital, we will do that," Harjinder Singh, a participant of tractor march from Punjab's Hoshiarpur, said. In a statement later, Sankyukt Kisan Moarcha claimed that across the nation, farmers showed unity by participating in tractor marches in their own localities, adding that farmers in many districts of Uttar Pradesh had tractor marches in their respective block and district headquarters. Women farmers also participated in all marches in large numbers, it stated, adding that farmers in various towns of Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand also participated in this nationwide event. Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen 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 the MSP and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government yet again over its alleged lack of preparedness for Covid-19 vaccination drive. The governments dry run for the vaccination has exposed its preparedness, he said in a statement, while referring to the incident in Varanasi where vaccine boxes were reportedly transported on a bicycle. Cold chain maintenance is an important element of the vaccines safety and efficacy. There must be arrangements for rapid transportation of vaccine boxes. Such a potentially fatal kind of lapse puts a question mark on the preparedness, he added. Also read | Akhilesh tweaks vaccine remark, says never raised questions on scientists The former chief minister said the government had made many dry run centres and deployed staff as well but had not mentioned any budgetary provisions for it. Training has been given to staff, but no one knows who trained them. Whats the point in half-hearted preparations without any specialised training? Till now, the government has not given any clarification over the doubts raised by some experts over clinical trials and side-effects of the vaccines. The BJP is trying to duck these issues, he said. at this point i no longer want to hear about their affairs lol, my account should be receiving remuneration from JD's team every time i see news about this against my will Reply Thread Link no idea what the details on this are, but the part of her statement where she said she would donate it... she's not legally bound to do that. she just stated her intention to do so idk why he thinks that her not doing what she said she was gonna do with money that was awarded to her do with what she willed somehow overturns an entire verdict. Reply Thread Link yeah couldnt she just say that she needed the money to pay her lawyers for his endless lawsuits against her? whether its true or not, seems like an easy defense. Reply Parent Thread Link i guess what they're trying to say is "she lied about X thing therefore she must have lied about Y thing" or something??? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link "i was going to donate it to charities but you just couldn't let us move on and stay out of court" Reply Parent Thread Link Give it a rest, wife beater Reply Thread Link can this vaguely sentient grease patch just fuck off forever and leave Amber (and us) in peace? Reply Thread Link i don't trust a single thing the wife beater tries to say about her, given how obsessed with her he is Reply Thread Link Its obv how obsessed he is and also how pissed off he is that someone DARE not give in to what he wants. I hate that i used to have this poster of him in my room....esp given that he is in fact wearing a wife beater. rip my poor taste in men. Reply Parent Thread Link depp's pathetic stans have her trending again it's so upsetting Reply Thread Link Every time I see either one of their names trending, I report it with the "this trend is harmful or spammy" Reply Parent Thread Link omg i didn't know that was an option!!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link So do I! But it's still always there when I go back. Even though I have his name and various hashtags muted. I can't escape him. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link ditto Reply Parent Thread Link I do the same! Reply Parent Thread Link it really is, and its all about this which i dont understand since theres proof she gave them money? they even printed that in their newsletter Reply Parent Thread Expand Link It triggers me. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I just try to enjoy it on the level the law sees him as a wife beater and those pathetic losers are merely supporters of a wife beater. No one is going to remember a trend on Twitter in a few years (or even a few days), but Johnny Depp will still be a fucking wife beater. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link is she supposed to submit a giant novelty check Reply Thread Link I can't wait until the news breaks that they found this waste of space drowned in his own vomit. Edited at 2021-01-08 04:39 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link nah cause then his fans would blame it on amber and he'd be a fucking martyr lol Reply Parent Thread Link honestly, in their eyes he already is. i'm pretty sure he could die of old age and his stans would blame her. Reply Parent Thread Link fuck off you worthless, piss pants drunk I feel terrible for amber that him and his idiot stans won't leave her alone. and not just his stans, it's also people who don't read into things and just check out the twitter trends they make bashing her. they read that stuff and just believe his lies. Reply Thread Link why do u feel terrible for her when she was abusive as well? They're both trash Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Judgment-FINAL.pdf Here's a little education for your ignorance. :) Reply Parent Thread Link thanks to your icon I just remembered how long its been since i watched Clueless. Reply Parent Thread Link Wife beater pos with his Abusive Litigation bs. Reply Thread Link okay... https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/103089838.html E! confirms that both organizations have received their first checks in Amber Heard's name. Johnny Depp's spokesperson released the following statement: "Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge. Ms. Heard's generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected." ??? The fuck? I can't be the only who remembers that he was making the payments to the charities himself. I distinctly remember seeing it posted here.okay...E! confirms that both organizations have received their first checks in Amber Heard's name.Johnny Depp's spokesperson released the following statement: "Following Amber Heard's announcement that her divorce settlement was to be divided equally and gifted to Children's Hospital of Los Angeles and the American Civil Liberties Union, two exceptionally deserving and important charities, Johnny Depp has sent the first of multiple installments of those monies to each charity in the name of Amber Heard, which when completed will honor the full amount of Ms. Heard's pledge. Ms. Heard's generosity in giving to these wonderful causes is deeply respected." Reply Thread Link What the fuck Reply Parent Thread Link https://www.eonline.com/news/926244/amber-heard-donates-johnny-depp-divorce-settlement-money-to-children-s-hospital On the CHLA's Imagine 2017 Annual Report, that's currently posted on the hospital's website, "Ms. Amber Heard" made the list of "Honor Roll of Donors." The report states that Heard donated between $1 million to about $5 million from the time period of July 2016 to June 2017. This is shoddy reporting, but it's the DM so that's a given. They need to audit his ass and see how much of that settlement he actually paid.On the CHLA's Imagine 2017 Annual Report, that's currently posted on the hospital's website, "Ms. Amber Heard" made the list of "Honor Roll of Donors."The report states that Heard donated between $1 million to about $5 million from the time period of July 2016 to June 2017. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I remember that, but her lawyers weren't allowing that shit. He essentially took a tax break on his court ordered settlement. They insisted that he should have to pay the settlement directly to her. I don't think we ever found out what happened precisely, but my assumption was he had to pay her the full settlement, and was out the initial money he sent to the charities. Reply Parent Thread Link THANK YOU. people are having selective amnesia about this. I remember his fans were calling her a gold digger because Amber was upset he paid the charities directly! Reply Parent Thread Link yeah, I was like...wasn't he making the donations in her name? Reply Parent Thread Link Media should stop reporting about these two. Reply Thread Link Can he just fuck off forever already? Reply Thread Link Ok, so I know ONTD is very against Johnny Depp and I agree with it. But weren't these two BOTH beating each other's ass or is it assumed that Johnny threw the first punch? I thought she was abusing him as well? What about that video where he asked her to stop hitting him but she said she can't help that she gets so angry at him and also called him a baby? Reply Thread Link they're both guilty but ontd doesn't believe men can be physically abused I guess... Reply Parent Thread Link read through this for all the details on the case if you like - https://www.judiciary.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Judgment-FINAL.pdf Reply Parent Thread Link Those leaked recordings of Amber were manipulated by Depp's lawyer, who was even kicked off his Virginia case for tampering with evidence. Audio recordings also aren't equivalent to a 3-week trial that evaluated all the evidence presented by Heard and Depp and found him guilty of assaulting Heard on 12 occasions. Reply Parent Thread Link if the audio was really as "explosive" and "damning" for her as it seemed, then it would've been used as evidence against her in the case where it was actually determined that johnny was the aggressor in a court of law. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka. Monday, Jan. 4 9:54 p.m. A deputy responded to a delayed report of a car-deer crash that occurred on a Geneva Township roadway. 8:19 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Midland Township residence in reference to a car-deer crash that occurred earlier in the morning. 7:39 p.m. A deputy responded to a car-deer crash that occurred on a Warren Township roadway. 7:04 p.m. A deputy responded to a car-deer crash that occurred on a Jerome Township roadway. 6:22 p.m. Officers responded to a domestic assault in the the 3800 block of East Patrick Road. 3:13 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Porter Township address at the request of the Clare County Sheriff's Office to notify a 49-year-old man of the passing of his elderly mother in Clare County. 3:02 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a residence in Warren Township to attempt to perform a warrant arrest at the request of the Michigan Department of Corrections. A 61-year-old man was arrested on his outstanding warrant. He was transported to the Midland County Jail and held for the MDOC. 1:43 p.m. Officers responded to a subject in possession of heroin in the 3000 block of Edgewood Street. 1:13 p.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash causing injuries in the area of Bay City Road and Fast Ice Drive. 12:56 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Jasper Township residence for a delayed car-deer traffic crash report. 8:45 a.m. Deputies responded to a crash between a tractor-trailer and a deer in Jasper Township. 10:37 a.m. Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of Commerce Drive and Eastman Avenue. 8:32 a.m. A deputy responded to a Village of Sanford residence for a car-deer traffic crash that occurred in Jerome Township. Flights between Britain and India, which have been suspended since the last week of December amid the new coronavirus strain concerns, resumed on Friday, with 256 passengers from the United Kingdom who landed in Delhi. The 256 passengers in an Air India flight from the UK travelled to the national capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport from London's Heathrow Airport on Friday. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry Flights from the UK resumed today after the Indian government had suspended services between both the countries on 23 December over the new and a fast-spreading strain of SARS-CoV-2. Flights from India to the UK restarted on 6 January even as the number of people who have tested positive for the new UK virus has climbed to 73. "The total number of cases infected with the new strain of the novel coronavirus first reported in the UK now stands at 73," the health ministry has said. Number of flights to operate every week As per the Central Government, 30 flights will operate every week - 15 each by the Indian and the UK carriers. This will stand till January 23, Union Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Puri has stated. The Delhi airport has also asked the UK returnees to keep a gap of about 10 hours between their arrival from Britain and the connecting flight to other cities. On Thursday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has urged the government to extend the flights ban till 31 January because of the "extremely serious" coronavirus situation in the UK. Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal wrote, "The Centre has decided to lift the ban and start UK flights. In view of the extremely serious situation in UK, I would urge central government to extend the ban till January 31." "With great difficulty, people have brought COVID situation in control. UK's COVID situation is very serious. Now, why lift ban and expose our people to risk?" the Delhi CM asked. More than 40 nations had put travel restrictions to and from Britain, owing to a new mutant strain of coronavirus that emerged in Britain in December last year. The UK government had said that the new Covid-19 strain is 70% more transmittable. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) scientists had said: "There is no evidence to show that the mutant virus is deadlier". "There's zero evidence that there's any increase in severity of Covid-19 from the latest strain," WHO's emergencies chief Dr Michael Ryan had said amid the worries over the new UK virus strain. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. When he makes deliveries, he wears a mask and leaves the products on the doorstep, Kiki Wepking said. The whole family gets involved but thats how its always been, its not anything new. It helps to make him feel more successful. When he opened his first paycheck it was exactly the same reaction as anybody, thats what people have to understand. [January 08, 2021] Leading Green Economy Advocate Juan Verde Recognized As A Top Latino In The Global Fight Against Climate Change MIAMI, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Lifelong advocate for clean energy and global leader in sustainable economic development, Juan Verde, was named one of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action for the second consecutive year by Sachamama. This renowned environmental nonprofit (NPO) is celebrated for its work on the climate crisis, and it helps drive a clean energy economy, sustainable attitudes, behaviors and lifestyles. This recognition comes amidst news of the United States' upcoming return to the Paris Agreement as part of the Biden administration, positioning the country to once again lead the global charge to combat the climate crisis. "With so many banded together towards the common goal of achieving a greener tomorrow, I'm hopeful that, in the United States, we'll be able to reach net zero emissions by 2050," shares this internationally renowned strategist. "In fact, the urgency of the climate crisis brings an unprecedented opportunity for technology transfer with the potential of promoting a surge of global sustainable growth." A key asset during the recent elections as foundr of Americans Abroad for Biden, Verde continues transforming sustainable initiatives into business strategies and public policy with worldwide impact. In addition to this prestigious recognition, Verde's efforts to drive sustainable business practices are demonstrated by his day-to-day work with NPO Advanced Leadership Foundation and private firm Alamo Solutions Consultancy, through which he promotes a green economy, among other issues. Previously, Verde was a key global advocate to Vice President Al Gore's "The Climate Reality Project," helping establish two of its international branches, and served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the United States Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama, bolstering sustainable development. In 2019, he was featured in the 25th instalment of the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP25. Verde is but one of 100 change agents who were recognized by Sachamama as promoters of the fight towards a greener and more sustainable future. Its executive director Carlos Zegarra notes that the list features executives from recognized companies, high-profile politicians, academics, activists, journalists and Nobel laureates, highlighting renowned public policy figures such as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Gracetti and president of Uruguay Luis Lacalle, as well as world-renowned personalities Shakira, Camila Cabello, Alejandro Sanz, Jessica Alba, Penelope Cruz and more. The publication of this list occurs within the framework of No Planet B Latino Summit, the largest meeting of influential Latinos towards the United Nations' 2021 COP26. The nonprofit hopes that visibility of the 100 Latinos Most Committed to Climate Action promotes advancement towards living in balance with our planet. About Juan Verde: Verde is an internationally renowned strategist for both the public and private sectors with an extensive and unique 25+ year trajectory at the intersection of sustainable development, public policy and international affairs. As a lifelong advocate for the fight against climate change, he's regarded as a leader in promoting clean energy and sustainable economies in both the US and across the world. For the latest news on Verde, please visit juanverde.net. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-green-economy-advocate-juan-verde-recognized-as-a-top-latino-in-the-global-fight-against-climate-change-301203274.html SOURCE Juan Verde [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] People with cancer are among the patients who have been told their operations have been cancelled as the effects of the latest Covid-19 surge take hold. A 72-year-old ovarian cancer patient is now facing an indefinite wait for potentially life-saving surgery after an operation due to take place on Thursday was cancelled at the last minute. Doctors told Flo McClements, a grandmother of nine from Ballymoney, that she needed surgery as soon as possible when she was diagnosed in December. Her son, Gregg, said: "Mum's surgeon told her the mass is quite large and might be attached to her bowel. They originally said they wanted her to have the operation between Christmas and New Year. Read More "They said that was the best chance of her making a recovery and so of course we're worried that any delay could completely turn the tide and ultimately that she won't make any sort of recovery. Now we don't know how long she's going to wait." Seven hospitals in Northern Ireland were operating over capacity on Thursday, with 87 more inpatients than bed spaces. A further 226 people were waiting admission to a hospital ward, forcing health bosses to take the drastic decision to cancel the majority of all non-emergency surgery - with warnings the situation is likely to decline further in coming weeks. The Belfast Trust has apologised after it cancelled all elective surgery this week, while staff at the Northern Trust have been contacting patients to tell them their planned operations are off. In the South Eastern Trust, only urgent elective surgery is taking place this week and this will reduce further from Monday, when operations will only ahead for the highest priority patients. A spokeswoman from the Western Trust said: "The trust is already at a peak in terms of Covid-19 patient numbers and projections are indicating that from the third week of January 2021, that number could be set to double. In addition, the South West Acute Hospital in Enniskillen, is already currently operating at 118% bed capacity." Western Trust director of acute hospitals Geraldine McKay said: "This is not a simple matter of putting up more beds. Beds require staff to care for patients and pre-existing staffing pressures and staff absence of 11% and increasing daily mean that those staff simply aren't there. "We have therefore taken the very regrettable, but necessary decision to announce as of today that routine elective inpatient, outpatient and day case surgeries will be postponed until further notice. Red flag and some time critical procedures and clinics will continue, but will be reviewed daily. "However, we are under no illusion that if the number of Covid positive patients continue to increase at the rates predicted, the trust will have no option but to move to perform emergency and trauma surgery only." She said this will mean operations for cancer patients will be cancelled but explained such a measure will be necessary. A spokesman from the Southern Trust said the significant number of Covid-19 cases in conjunction with an increase in trauma patients following on from the icy weather has forced the trust to suspend elective surgery this week "in order to provide timely surgery to time critical fracture patients". It goes without saying: 2021 is the year of self-care. But what does that really mean? Self-care is taking the time to do the things you love and that inspire you guilt free. Its soaking in the bubble bath, indulging in the foot scrub. We say pour that glass of wine. Sign up for the online yoga class. Journal. And color inside or outside the lines. These are the best spots in Philadelphia if you need a bit of pampering. READ MORE: Were creating some useful Philly guides to help you shop local. What are you shopping for? Email us. Master aesthetician Chrissy Dress had the right idea to name her Chestnut Hill day spa/specialty boutique Cure de Repos because rest does cure the body. She offers appointment-only massages and facials at her 633-square foot boutique. The store is also a great spot to buy skin-care products like creams, serums, masks, and more for an at-home pampering session. My favorite: The Sara Happ Sweet Clay Lip Mask ($32), full of shea butter and other lip-softening botanicals. Address: 8133 Germantown Ave. | Phone: 202-643-7377 | Hours: Mon. by appointment only, Tue.-Thu., 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri.- Sat., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Website: curederepos.com | Instagram: @curederepos Self-care time is incomplete without a calming candle burning in the background. Old City Canning Co.s scented sprays ($16) and reed diffusers ($22) in a variety of scents from citrusy grapefruit to musky sandalwood get the job done. The hand-poured candles ($10+) are soy-based and last for about 20 hours. Have an idea for a scent of your own? Owner Stanford Ponson will consult with you to make a custom scent. Address: 1533 South St. | Phone: 267-300-2183 | Hours: Tue.-Sun. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. | Website: oldcitycanningco.com I Instagram: @oldcitycanningco Good Buy Supply Co.s modest collection of body scrubs, perfumes, and bath bombs are selected from companies that create as little waste as possible in their manufacturing processes. (The store also reuses packaging as much as possible.) My favorite: the shower steamers ($6) available in sinus-clearing lemongrass, mint, lavender and eucalyptus to turn my shower into a coveted steam room. Address: 1737 E. Passyunk Ave. | Phone: 267-225-2991 | Hours: Tue.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun 10 a.m.-4 p.m. | Website: goodbuysupply.co | Instagram: @goodbuysupplyco Marsh + Mane is one part spiritual apothecary, one part haven for all things hair. Owner Jenea Robinson stocks the South Street store with tingling masks, essential oils, and luscious hair and body butter. And Marsh + Manes sage bundles ($9.50) that believers smudge to smoke evil spirits out of the house are among the best in the city. Address: 529 S. Fourth St. | Phone: 267-273-0837 | Hours: Wed.-Sat. noon-6 p.m., Sun. noon-5 p.m. | Website: marshandmane.com | Instagram: @marshandmane Penn Herb Companys Lisa Taormino is the queen of all things DIY. She sells kits so you can make your own beauty products, too. You can buy a kit to make your own hand cream with almond oil, beeswax, and baking soda, decorated with rose petals and lavender buds ($7-$15), or one to make an herbaceous bath bomb made with raw nutmeg, cinnamon, and anise ($7-$15). The Northern Liberties-based herb company also sells a selection of Epsom salts to relax achy, stressed-out bones. Address: 601 N. Second St. | Phone: 215-632-6100 | Hours: Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | Website: pennherb.com | Instagram: @pennherb Hands down: The self-care item of the moment is the weighted blanket. You can find a beautiful woven weighted blanket ($298) at the art-inspired Ardmore gift shop, Trace, as well as popcorn poppers, puzzles, teapots, and supersized mugs. Owner Marny Baxt curates items to make your home feel cozy and beautiful, including games, jewelry and art inspired by Philadelphia locales, like a painting of the waters of Kelly Drive. Address: 80 Rittenhouse Place, Ardmore | Phone: 484-413-2793 | Hours: Call to make an appointment during these hours: Tue. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Wed.-Thu. 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. | Website: thetraceshop.com | Instagram: @thetraceshop Dorothea Gamble and Dagmar Mitchell have filled their Northern Liberties specialty store, Trunc, with home goods for purposeful pampering. There are cute prepackaged drink kits like sweet Mexican hot chocolate (from $15) or a jar of cocktail mix ($25); and sleep kits ($24) complete with linen spray, a sleep rollerball, ear plugs, and lip balm for a restful doze. Address: 929 N. Second St. | Phone: 267-559-1604 | Hours: Fri.-Sun., noon-5 p.m.| Website: trunc.net | Instagram: @truncartisans Just walking through East Falls Vault + Vine, which is so much more than a plant store, is therapeutic. Stop at the cafe for a steaming cup of peppermint tea. Browse the perennials. Then pick up a self-love gift kit ($115) with a beeswax candle handmade in East Falls, a Franklin & Whitman vegan mask, a Gold & Water charcoal bar soap, an incense cone made from Philly-grown herbs, and a Printfresh journal. All you need is a soundtrack. (Vault + Vine suggests Al Greens Im Still in Love With You.) Address: 3507 Midvale Ave. | Phone: 267-331-6292 | Hours: Thu.-Sun. 8 a.m.-3 p.m. | Website: vault.vaultandvine.co | Instagram: @vaultandvine.co Refresh, revive, restore is the three-word mantra for this Old City holistic healing sanctuary where you can shop for a candle infused with calming sandalwood ($29) or a deck of affirmation cards ($16), or sip on a smoothie made with almond or coconut milk ($10+). Address: 216 Church St. | Phone: 267-457-3980 | Hours: Tue.-Thu. 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Fri.-Sun. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Website: wellnessrefineryphl.com | Instagram: @wellnessrefineryphl California has frozen 1.4 million unemployment claims as it battles fraud in its massive coronavirus unemployment relief program, it was reported this week. The state Employment Development Department said it had examined existing claims from people who said they lost their jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic and found about 3.5 million claims were potentially fraudulent, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Nearly 2 million of those claims already have been disqualified and payment was suspended for about 1.4 million until they could be verified. The EDD said it would contact claimants to tell them how to prove their identities, the paper said. California, the nations most populous state, has processed more than 16 million unemployment benefits since March, a byproduct of the pandemic that prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to order businesses to close. The EDD has struggled to keep up with the demand, facing intense pressure to work through a backlog that at one time numbered more than 1.6 million people. The state has acknowledged that the department was bilked out of hundreds of millions of dollars in COVID-19 unemployment funds that went to fraudsters, including some in the name of U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein. Others were sent to inmates in jails and prisons, including some on Californias death row, the agency has acknowledged. Last month, Bank of America, which issues EDD benefit cards, told state lawmakers it had identified about 345,000 fraudulent claims worth about $2 billion, although that figure is expected to go much higher. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Claims "Minari," an Academy Award-winning film will be screened at Tango Theaters, Micronesia Mall on the evening of May 28 as part of a cultural eve Read more Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 11:10:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The security situation in Ethiopia's conflict-hit Tigray regional state "remains volatile," the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said Thursday. "The security situation in Tigray remains volatile with a gradual improvement in some areas in the Eastern and Western Zones, although insecurity and bureaucratic constraints remain," the UNOCHA said in its situation report published on Thursday. "As the security situation in some areas of Tigray region is slightly improving, humanitarian workers have been able to access areas that were so far inaccessible, particularly in cities," said the report. However, "localized fighting and insecurity continue, with fighting reported in rural areas and in the peripheries of Mekelle, Shiraro and Shire, among other locations, as of last week," it added Noting that access to most parts of North Western, Eastern and Central Tigray remains constrained due to the ongoing insecurity and bureaucratic hurdles, the UNOCHA stressed that Hitsats and Shimelba refugee camps are still not accessible. The latest situation update came after the two joint assessment missions that were deployed on Dec. 20 are completed. "Both missions have witnessed a dire humanitarian situation with poor access to services and limited livelihoods," the report read. The UNOCHA also stressed that it continues "to closely work with Government counterparts to streamline the cargo/assessment clearance mechanism, and enable a quicker clearance process." Weeks of fighting in northern Ethiopia's Tigray region between the Tigray People's Liberation Front, which used to rule the region until its defeat, and the Ethiopian Defense Forces have reportedly left hundreds of people dead, thousands displaced, and millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. More than 55,500 refugees have fled Tigray into eastern Sudan over the past six weeks, according to the UNOCHA. Enditem New Covid-19 cases are continuing to increase in Offaly as the country recorded its biggest daily increase. There were 72 new cases recorded in Offaly today bringing the total for the last 14 days for the county to 643. The 14 Day Incidence Rate for Offaly now stands at 824.8 cases per 100,000. As of midnight, Thursday, January 7, the Health Protection Surveillance has been notified of 8,248 confirmed cases of COVID-19. That is the biggest single daily increase since the start of the pandemic. There has now been a total of 135,884 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. READ NEXT: Covid-19 cases skyrocket across all areas of Offaly in last week Of the cases notified today, 3,013 in Dublin, 1,374 in Cork, 538 in Limerick, 314 in Kildare, 310 in Donegal and the remaining 2,699 cases are spread across all other counties. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 20 additional deaths related to COVID-19. There has been a total of 2,327 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of 2pm today, 1,180 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 109 are in ICU. 116 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; Three cases of a new variant of COVID-19 recently identified in South Africa have been confirmed in Ireland today by whole genome sequencing. All of the cases identified are directly associated with recent travel from South Africa. Anyone who has travelled from South Africa recently is advised to self-isolate for 14 days and identify themselves through a GP for testing as soon as possible. We are particularly advising healthcare workers travelling from South Africa, that it is essential that they self-isolate for 14 days before entering/re-entering the workplace. While this variant has not yet been identified in many European countries we believe the identification here reflects the extent of genome sequencing surveillance in Ireland. Dr Cillian De Gascun, Medical Virologist and Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory, said; The ECDC Assessment states that preliminary analyses indicate that 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 this variant is associated with higher severity of infection. There is currently not enough information available to determine whether this variant poses a possible risk related to vaccine match and effectiveness. The antigenic characterisation of this new variant is ongoing, and results are expected in the coming weeks. Trump Counters Heinous Attack on the U.S. Capitol, Announces Peaceful Transfer of Power Jan. 7 , 2021 (EIRNS)In a 2:41-minute video posted on the White House YouTube channel on Thursday evening, President Donald Trump delivered a message to the nation beginning with the following words: I would like to begin by addressing the heinous attack on the United States Capitol. Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem. I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. President Trump elaborated: America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts violence and destruction: You do not represent our country. And to those who broke the law: You will pay. Trump went on to call for a peaceful transfer of power and for national unity, and he vowed that he and his movement are not going to be driven from the American political scene. We have just been through an intense election, and emotions are high. But now tempers must be cooled and calm restored. We must get on with the business of America. He concluded: To the citizens of our country, serving as your President has been the honor of my lifetime. And to all of my wonderful supporters, I know you are disappointed, but I also want you to know that our incredible journey is only just beginning. Earlier in the day, through White House Deputy Press Secretary Dan Scavino, President Trump issued a brief statement on electoral certification, asserting that Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, its only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again! The President was forced to issue his 3:49 a.m. statement via Scavino because his own Twitter account has been blocked. Subsequently, the power-mad Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg boasted that he had blocked the Presidents Facebook account for the next two weeks or maybe longer, purportedly because anything the President might say about the elections or vote fraud would automatically be an incitement to violence. Following the violent interruption of yesterdays proceedings in the Joint Session of Congress, when debate resumed last evening, the Senate voted 93-6 to reject objections raised by Arizona Sen. Paul Gosar and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz on Arizonas electoral slate, while the House rejected them by a vote of 303-121. In the case of Pennsylvania, the Senate voted 92-7 to reject objections raised by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA); the House vote was 232-138. A French woman denies swapping seven diamonds for pebbles in an Ocean's 11-style gem heist at a Mayfair jewellers. Lulu Lakatos, 59, allegedly posed as a gemologist inspecting diamonds on behalf of Russian businessmen before swapping them for worthless stones in March 2016. Lakatos, of Saint-Brieuc, France, allegedly got into the family-owned boutique jewellers under the fake name 'Anna'. Lulu Lakatos, 59, is accused of swapping seven diamonds worth 4.3 million for pebbles in the Boodles jewellers in Mayfair, central London (pictured) She was extradited from her home country last month and today appeared at Southwark Crown Court to face one charge of conspiracy to commit theft. She is accused of swapping seven diamonds worth 4.3 million for pebbles in the Boodles jewellers in Mayfair, central London, on 10 March 2016. Lakatos allegedly claimed she was hired by wealthy Russian businessmen seeking to purchase the diamonds. Boodles Chairman Nicholas Wainwright was allegedly contacted by the gang a month before the Ocean's 11-style heist and he was in the shop when it took place. A man claiming to be a buyer for wealthy Russian businessmen arranged a meeting to negotiate the purchase. The purchase of seven diamonds was agreed on the condition gemologist 'Anna' inspected them first. Lulu Lakatos, 59, allegedly posed as a gemologist inspecting diamonds on behalf of Russian businessmen before swapping them for worthless stones in March 2016 (stock image) It is alleged she worked with two men, Mikael Jovanovic and Christophe Stankovic, in a plot to steal the gems. Both have plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to steal. Reading the charges to her, a court clerk said: 'You are charged on this indictment with conspiracy to steal. 'The particulars: of the offence are between Feb 15 2016 and March 11 2016 you conspired together with other persons namely Mikael Jovanovic, Christophe Stankovic and other persons unknown to steal diamonds belonging to Boodles.' It is alleged she worked with two men, Mikael Jovanovic (pictured) and Christophe Stankovic, in a plot to steal the gems. Both have plead guilty to charges of conspiracy to steal Judge Joanna Korner QC added: 'As I understand it, she's the woman known as Anna.' Lakatos addressed the court via a French interpreter and spoke only to confirm her name, date of birth, and to enter a not guilty plea. She was remanded into custody to stand trial on July 19. Secretary of Energy Dan Brouillette on Thursday committed to fostering a smooth transition between the Trump and Biden administrations and, as rumors of a cabinet intervention swirl, suggested he would not resign. At the Department of Energy, my leadership team and I have been and will remain committed to providing the support and resources needed to ensure a smooth transition within the Department, Brouillette tweeted. To that duty, I will remain fully focused over the next 13 days in my capacity as Secretary. Politico reported a similar, if not identical, message was emailed to staff. President Donald Trump's transportation and education secretaries, Elaine Chao and Betsy DeVos, resigned this week. Brouillettes comments come after an hourslong insurrection at the U.S. Capitol a tragic event, he said, that demands reflection and as Trump publicly pivots from combative to conciliatory, pledging there will be an orderly transition on Jan. 20, Inauguration Day. We have just been through an intense election, and emotions are high, Trump said in a Thursday address posted to social media. But now tempers must be cooled and calm restored. We must get on with the business of America. The president, who spent weeks spreading claims of widespread voter fraud, previously said he would not concede. Biden has already selected his energy secretary nominee: Jennifer Granholm, a clean-energy advocate and a two-term Michigan governor. If confirmed, Granholm, like Brouillette, would sit atop a department largely dedicated to nuclear weapons, national defense and nonproliferation. The shift toward Bidens team and away from Trumps, Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon has said, means relationships nurtured over the last four years will be moving on, so we will have to start having conversations and building those relationships with the new administration. The Energy Department oversees the Savannah River Site, the nuclear reservation south of Aiken and near New Ellenton. Our first order of business is to wish our Coptic and Eastern Orthodox friends a very Merry Christmas and to all a Happy New Year. We need it more than ever. We celebrated Christmas on 25 December. But should we neatly put away our beautiful decorations? Not yet, not if 12 per cent (approximately 216 million) of the worlds Christians are still celebrating the birth of Christ on 7 January. It has always been so and we always dismissed it as a discrepancy in dates and calendars, and were satisfied with this explanation. This year, however, paralysed and saddened by our confinement, caused by a dismal, deadly virus, with activities restricted mostly to our homes, we had time to dig longer and deeper, to discover the essence of this variance in dates, with a degree of reason. When and why did the Christian Church decide to celebrate the birth of Christ, which can only be one uniform date? The obvious answer is that there must have been a split within the Church itself and indeed there was. The rift was caused due to a complex mix of religious disagreements between the Western (Rome) and Eastern (Byzantine) branches of the Church over a surprisingly, simple matter: Was it acceptable to use unleavened bread for the sacrament of communion? The West had no objection, the East rejected the concept. More conflicts surfaced, particularly regarding the power in Rome. Rome believed the Pope of the Western Church should have authority over the patriarch of the Eastern Church. The Patriarch Cerularius of Constantinople disagreed. On 16 July 1054, the patriarch was ex-communicated from the Christian Church based in Rome. The Eastern Church retaliated by excommunicating Pope Leo III and the Roman Church with him. That was the breaking point between the Roman and the Byzantine Church, referred to as the Great Schism. The resulting split divided the European Christian Church into two major branches, the Western Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church with each recognising their own leaders. In 1965 Pope Paul V and Patriarch Athenagores lifted the long-standing excommunication decrees made by their respective churches, but for 1,000 years, they remain distinct expressions of a similar faith. The Coptic story is a whole different matter. While the Coptic Church of Alexandria belongs to the Eastern Orthodox Churches, it had already split from the Christian Church in 451 AD in a major schism over the nature of Christ, believing that Christ is perfect in his divinity and perfect in his humanity. The Coptic Church is the main Christian Church in Egypt, with 10 of 11 million members and one million outside of Egypt. There are 100 churches in the US alone as well as a Cathedral in the UK. They have their own pope, who is also pope to Ethiopia. Copts believe their Church goes back to around 50 AD, when the Apostle Mark visited Egypt and became the first pope of their Church. It was the first to start Christian monasteries as well as the first to establish ecclesiastic schools. Copts are among the 12 per cent of the worlds Christians to celebrate Christmas on 7 January . Why? The answer lies in many Orthodox churches decision to adhere to a 2,000-year-old calendar that differs from the one used by most of us. That brings us finally to our first premise, the different calendars. In 325 AD, a group of Christian bishops convened in Niceae, holding the first ecumenical conference. First on their agenda was to standardise the date of the Churchs most important holiday, Easter. They decided to base it on the Julian calendar, a solar calendar which Roman ruler Julius Caesar adopted in 40 BC it did not work. By 1584 the dates of important Church holidays drifted so much that Pope Gregory XIII convened a group of astronomers and proposed a new calendar the Gregorian calendar. The Orthodox Church rejected it because an overlap between Passover and Easter was inevitable. It continued to rely on the Julian calendar. By 1923 there was a 13-day difference between the two calendars putting Orthodox Christmas 13 days later than 25 December. The Armenian Church has always adhered to 6 December as Christmas. This long and lengthy chronology is the essence of the tale and should put the matter of the two main Christmases to rest. However the subject may be pursued further if you are so inclined. The best part of our research is that, although we are living in a universe where secularism is on the rise and the laws we obey are only government laws, religion is also on the rise. With communism gone, churches have opened their doors in Russia and 75 per cent of the Russian population admit to being religious. Many Eastern Orthodox refrain from eating meat for 40 days before Christmas, celebrated on 7 January. We need God. We need religion. Why then has it not disappeared? Researchers at the Mayo Clinic concluded that religious involvement and faith are associated with better health, longevity, coping skills, anxiety, and depression. Religious people have higher self-esteem and better psychological adjustment. Nobody knows for sure when Christ was born, but for sure we celebrate the day with love & Faith. Faith is personal, mysterious, individualistic and irrefutable. It needs no evidence. A man with God is always in the majority. John Knox (1505-1572) *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Saudi Arabias surprise announcement that it would cut 1 million barrels per day (bpd) beyond its share of OPEC+ cuts in February and March has refiners in Asia scrambling to secure supplies from Europe, with record purchases of North Sea cargoes in one day. Saudi Arabia caught the market by surprise earlier this week when it said after the end of the OPEC+ ministerial meeting that it would unilaterally cut 1 million bpd off its crude oil production for the next two months. While the Saudi move has been supporting oil prices all week, the tightening supplies out of the worlds top oil exporter have apparently upended the plans of Asian oil buyers. A day later, the Saudis also raised the official selling prices (OSPs) of their oil for Asia for February, lifting the price of the flagship Arab Light grade by $0.70 a barrel to a premium of $1 per barrel against the Middle East benchmark, the Oman/Dubai average. The major cut and the higher prices from the Kingdom have prompted Asian refiners to source oil from elsewhere, and North Sea cargoes seem to have benefited from the Saudi production cut. According to Reuters, seven crude oil cargoes from the North Sea were bought and sold during a trading window on Thursday alone, and this, according to an oil trading source, was a daily record for North Sea cargoes traded in one day in recent history. Typically, one or two cargoes of 600,000 barrels of crude each are being traded on a normal day in normal circumstances, according to Reuters. Four of the seven North Sea cargoes on Thursday were acquired by Chinas Unipec, the trading arm of the largest oil refiner in Asia, Sinopec, trade sources told Reuters. According to Bloomberg, crude outside the North Sea is also in demand in Asia, such as the CPC blend of Kazakhstan. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Now, however, several Republican members of Congress were speaking out against Trump, even before Wednesdays violence. Congress recently overrode a Trump veto for the first, and perhaps only, time. Trump appears to be losing his grip on power over others in the party during the waning days of his lame-duck tenure. CAMBRIDGE, Mass. and SHANGHAI, China, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Citrine Medicine, a China-based rare disease therapeutics company, today announced that company management will participate at three conferences in January, including the 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference. Conference details are as follows: 39th Annual J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference : Management will participate in one-on-one meetings on Monday, January 11, 2021 and Tuesday, January 12, 2021 . : Management will participate in one-on-one meetings on and . Biotech Showcase Digital 2021: Management will provide an on-demand company presentation. Registered attendees to the Biotech Showcase can access Citrine's recorded company presentations. Management will provide an on-demand company presentation. Registered attendees to the Biotech Showcase can access Citrine's recorded company presentations. BIO One-on-One Partnering 2021: Company leadership will participate in one-on-one partnering at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference from January 11-14, 2021 . About Citrine Medicine Citrine Medicine is dedicated to improving the lives of patients with rare and intractable diseases by making diagnosis and essential treatments available and accessible to those who need them in China. Our mission is to build the first rare disease ecosystem in China and in doing so, enable people with rare diseases to live more normal lives. In addition to developing and marketing rare disease drugs, Citrine aims to establish a patient-centric platform which educates people on rare diseases, trains doctors on diagnosis and treatment, and helps doctors develop a full disease management protocol. Citrine's lead product candidate, Wakix (pitolisant), is an investigational oral drug in development for the treatment of narcolepsy and obstructive sleep apnea in China. Citrine has initiated an IND submission for pitolisant in the treatment of narcolepsy and expects to complete the IND submission in the first quarter of 2021. Citrine is headquartered in Shanghai and has offices in Beijing, China and Cambridge, Mass. For more information, visit www.citrinemed.com. Media Contact Sarah Sutton Glover Park Group Vice President [email protected] 518-932-368 SOURCE Citrine Medicine Michael Knight and Kitt are an '80s duo that every South African knows and loves. But what if Kitt was no longer in America? What if he had a new owner and a new best friend? Chicken Licken, together with their brand and communications agency, Joe Public United, reimagined this classic in a South African context to create a new off-the-wall film: "Nyathi Rider". The seamless connection with Knight Rider introduces South Africans to not just the new Super Slider but a new rider, Michael Nyathi. Ukraine, Afghanistan, the United Kingdom, Canada and Sweden have called on Iran to urgently provide a full and comprehensive explanation of the events and decisions that led to the UIA plane crash near Tehran a year ago. This is said in a statement by the five countries on the first anniversary of the tragic downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752, Ukrinform reports with reference to the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry. "Today we honour the memory of those who perished and offer our sincere condolences to all who mourn the victims of the PS752 tragedy. We share the grief of the families, relatives and friends who lost loved ones. We urgently call on Iran to provide a complete and thorough explanation of the events and decisions that led to this appalling plane crash, including concrete measures to ensure that it will never happen again," the report reads. The statement emphasized that the five countries "will hold Iran to account to deliver justice and make sure Iran makes full reparations to the families of the victims and affected countries." January 8, 2021 marks one year since a Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) plane was shot down in the sky over Iran. Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport at about 06:00 Tehran time (04:30 Kyiv time) on January 8, 2020. There were 176 people on board nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK). On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner. On December 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the flight PS752 crewmembers the titles of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star. On January 5, 2021, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine had received from Iran a draft technical report on the circumstances of the crash of Ukraine International Airlines flight PS752, which occurred near Tehran on January 8, 2020. ish As long as the sun continues to shine, the area of Southern Spain, and especially the Costa del Sol, will always have the ability to cast a spell on Northern Europeans who are becoming increasingly depressed with long harsh winters and unpredictable summers. The area between Malaga and Sotogrande has always been a holiday hotspot, with the resorts established in the 60s and 70s, such as Torremolinos and Fuengirola, home to a plethora of high-rise 3 and 4-star hotels, but the area further west, encompassing resorts and towns such as Mijas, Marbella, Estepona and Benahavis, offer a very different feel, with some of Europes very best hotels, together with some of the finest leisure, retail and sporting amenities available in the Mediterranean. The area, which offers an average of 320 days sunshine per year, has become a magnet for second homeowners over the last 20 years, especially since the advent of low-cost air travel with the likes of EasyJet and Ryanair, which has created plentiful and great-value commuter routes from virtually every European city. Many of these property investors have taken the plunge entirely by moving to the Costa del Sol on a permanent basis, drawn by the outdoor lifestyle, high-quality international schools and the improved connectivity and accessibility. The lockdown in 2020 has actually fuelled the already exiting desire of thousands more potential visitors and emigres to Spain. Dispirited and depressed, most of the Northern European population is desperate for at least a holiday in the sun, and perhaps a longer stay! With the advent of home-working and flexible working practices, many people are seriously looking at basing themselves somewhere warmer and with a better lifestyle on a full-time basis. After all, why work from home in Middlesbrough or Mannheim, when you can do so from the comfort of your own home in warm and welcoming Marbella?! 2021 could present a perfect scenario for property investors in the Costa del Sol. New development has been on hold for the last 12 months, meaning the market in the strongest and most affluent coastal areas has not experienced an over-supply of new stock. Property owners have refused to panic during the pandemic, meaning that, unlike the global financial recession of 2008-2012, there has been no significant downward drag on prices. Having said that, some much-needed price corrections have taken place which has brought the market back into more sensible pricing parameters. In terms of demand, 2020 saw consistent levels of interest from prospective buyers, especially at the higher end of the market, but the severe travel restrictions have led to a massive amount of pent-up buyer interest that we expect to see being satisfied once the skies open up again for travel in Q1 or Q2 in 2021. My advice to any investors would be to get in to the market as early as possible in the New Year in case we see a mini-boom fuelled by this volume of pent-up demand, which may cause a price hike based on increased buyer competition, especially in already-popular areas such as the Golden Triangle of Marbella, Benahavis and Estepona. With the expected surge in holiday bookings in 2021 and beyond, together with the shortage of good-quality, well-furnished homes available for long-term rental, there are genuine opportunities for real estate investors on the Costa del Sol. The key, as always, is to purchase in the right locations ideally close to amenities and to ensure that community fees dont eat into your profit margins too much (in Spain, the landlord pays these fees!). Normally, the rule of thumb is that one weeks high season holiday rental equates to a months rental on a long-term let. An experienced real estate professional will be able to guide investors towards the best opportunities and provide income and cost estimates to assist with the budgeting forecasts. Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveils underground missile base on Persian Gulf shores 01/08/21 Report by Press TV; photos by Mehr News Agency Commander-in-Chief of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), Major General Hossein Salami, has unveiled one of the strategic underground missile cities that the country has built all along its southern Persian Gulf coast. "Our logic is to defend the territorial integrity and independence of the country and the achievements of the Islamic Revolution," Salami said during a ceremony on Friday, with Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri, commander of the IRGC Navy, and a number of high-ranking Iranian military figures in attendance. The IRGC chief said, "We believe that our enemies do not accept the power of logic, but rely on the logic of power. There is, therefore, no option left for us but to boost our offensive and defensive deterrence in the face of their colonial plots." Salami highlighted that the IRGC has constructed several strategic naval missile installations, where exceptionally long columns of projectiles as well as their launching system are being stockpiled. "These missiles have a range of hundreds of kilometers, are precise and have a very high destructive power and are able to penetrate into the enemy's electronic warfare equipment," he said. Salami went on to says that IRGC forces are fully prepared for any immediate operation, stressing that the forces will not hesitate to nip any anti-Iran bid by arrogant powers and enemies in the bud. He also praised the IRGC Navy's technological advances in terms of quantity and quality, stating that much progress has been made with regard to information gathering systems, detection and interception systems as well as related radar systems. "The IRGC naval missiles are among the most advanced in the world as to coast-to-sea, surface-to-surface, air-to-sea, sea-to-air combat missions," Salami pointed out. Back in early July last year, the commander of the IRGC Navy said Iran had established onshore and offshore missile cities all along the coasts of the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman that would be a "nightmare" for the enemy. In an interview with Sobh-e Sadeq weekly at the time, Rear Admiral Tangsiri said the sites contain coast-to-sea missiles. Samuel Corum/Getty ImagesBy ALLISON PECORIN and MARIAM KHAN, ABC News (WASHINGTON) -- House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday called for the immediate removal of President Donald Trump following the breach of the Capitol by pro-Trump rioters Wednesday, leading the charge by Democratic lawmakers to unseat Trump just two weeks before he is scheduled to leave office. Pelosi demanded Vice President Mike Pence immediately invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump for what she called 'inciting sedition" by encouraging the rioters, threatening to start impeachment proceedings if Pence doesn't agree. "I join the Senate Democratic leader in calling on the vice president to remove this president by immediately invoking the 25th amendment. If the Vice President and Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment. That is the overwhelming sentiment of my caucus -- and the American people by the way," Pelosi told reporters during her weekly press conference Thursday on Capitol Hill. I dont think it will take long to get answer from the Vice President. It will be yes, it will be no. And then well see," Pelosi said. She said she and Schumer have made their "interest" in this "known" to Pence world and hope to hear from him soon. "So, again, we'll review what our options are in terms of the 25th Amendment ... if he wants to be unique and be doubly-impeached. That's kind of up to him and his Cabinet as to whether he should stay in office," Pelosi said. Calling Trump "a very dangerous person," she said, "this is urgent. This is an emergency of the highest magnitude." "By inciting sedition as he did yesterday, he must be removed for office. While there's only 13 days left any day could be a horror show for America," she said. "The president has committed an unspeakable assault on our nation and our people." Earlier, Schumer, who will soon become the Senate's majority leader, called Wednesday's assault an "insurrection at the Capitol incited by the president" and likewise called on Pence and members of Trump's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office. "If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president," Schumer said. Schumer also said Thursday he intends to fire the Senate sergeant-at-arms due to the breach of security at the Capitol. Pelosi called for the resignation of the chief of the Capitol Police. ""There was a failure of leadership at the top of the Capitol Police ... he hasn't even called us since this happened," she said. Separately, Pelosi says she has received the resignation of the Paul Irving, the House sergeant-at-arms, who oversees the Capitol Police. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell echoed concerns about the failure to secure the Capitol complex Wednesday, calling it a "massive failure" of the institutions, protocols and planning that are supposed to protect the first branch of our federal government." "A painstaking investigation and thorough review must now take place and significant changes must follow," McConnell said in a statement. "Initial bipartisan discussions have already begun among committees of oversight and Congressional Leadership." Schumer and Pelosi joined a chorus of other lawmakers who are calling on Trump's Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment, which lays out the procedures for replacing the president in the event of death, removal, resignation or incapacitation. Under the amendment Pence and a majority of the president's Cabinet would need to agree that Trump is unfit for office. Sen. Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat with close ties to President-elect Joe Biden, told ABC News Thursday that removing Trump is "urgent" matter. "If the leadership of the Republican Party, the leadership of the Trump administration, his Cabinet, his vice president, don't see this as a moment of very clear and present danger, then I don't know what the 25th Amendment is for," Coons said. Their sentiments have been echoed by other Democratic senators on Twitter. "What happened yesterday was an egregious assault on our democracy and our Constitution, perpetuated by an unfit president," Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-OrC., tweeted. "The 25th Amendment should be invoked today and Trump should be removed from office." The call from Senate Democrats follows a push by the full force of the House Judiciary Committee, who penned a letter to Pence Wednesday urging him to take action. "President Trump revealed that he is not mentally sound and is still unable to process and accept the results of the 2020 election," the members wrote. At least one Republican is also advocating for Trump's removal. On Thursday, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., became the first GOP member to call on Pence to take action. "The president not only abdicated his duty to protect the American people and the people's house, he invoked and inflamed passions that gave fuel to the insurrection we saw here," Kinzinger said in a video posted to Twitter. "When pressed to move and denounce the violence he barely did so, while of course victimizing himself ... all indications are that the president has become unmoored, not just from his duty, or even his health, but from reality itself." "It is for this reason that I call for the vice president and members of the Cabinet to ensure that the next few weeks are safe for the American people, and that we have a sane captain of the ship," Kinzinger continued. The majority of Republicans have stopped short of calling for Trump's removal, though some have admitted that he does shoulder some of the blame for escalating protests Wednesday. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said he does not support using the 25th Amendment but that he believes Wednesday's events will "tarnish" Trump's presidency. "The president needs to understand that his actions were the problem not the solution, that the rally yesterday was unseemly, got out of hand, and a good friend of mine, Rudy Giuliani, did not help," Graham said. "It breaks my heart that my friend, a president of consequence, would allow yesterday to happen and it will be a major part of his presidency," Graham continued. "It was a self-inflicted wound." Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., said Thursday morning that it's "hard to really evaluate" who is responsible for the events that occurred at the Capitol but that Trump's rhetoric "inflamed a lot of people." Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters that the riots at the Capitol are "one reason why you don't stir people up." "I think it's just a good lesson to learn," Cornyn said. Riots at the capitol broke out Wednesday while the House and Senate were in the process of certifying state Electoral College votes. At the beginning of the day, 13 senators had announced their intention to the object to the results in at least 3 states. Trump had urged Pence and senators to stand up objections. But by the time the protestors were cleared from the capitol, many of those objections were dropped. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., tweeted what seemed to be defense of the president Thursday. "Some misled you. That the VP could reject ballots. That objections could pass or used as leverage to force an audit. They knew the truth but thought it was a great way to get attention & raise money. At this point, Pence has not yet signaled any intention to invoke the 25th Amendment." He left Capitol Hill after presiding over a joint session of Congress to certify the electoral votes early Thursday morning without responding to shouted questions from reporters. But, according to Inhofe, Pence expressed that he was "very upset" with Trump during a conversation with him. If Pence refuses to act, Democrats are calling on their leaders to quickly reconvene to launch an impeachment effort. "If the 25th Amendment is not invoked today, Congress must reconvene immediately for impeachment and removal proceedings," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., tweeted Thursday. Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., is working to draft and finalize potential articles of impeachment. But a move to impeach Trump is likely going nowhere fast. Both the House and Senate are currently scheduled to be out of session until the day before inauguration. Even if they reconvene, drafting and approving articles would take time, and a trial on the Senate floor would take even longer. Vice-President elect Kamala Harris was asked about impeaching Trump as she left the Senate chamber Thursday morning. "Oy," she replied. Copyright 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. A Swedish filmmaker has revealed that he is looking forward to giving evidence next month after being arrested for filming the wreckage of doomed ferry MS Estonia. Henrik Evertsson will appear in court in Gothenberg on January 27, accused of breaching an international treaty, which declared the site a marine grave and prohibited any exploration of the wreck. But the film director, who faces a two-year jail sentence if found guilty, believes that he did not contravene the 1995 treaty, signed by the governments of Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Denmark, Russia and the UK. He went to extraordinary lengths to avoid prosecution: he and his crew chartered a German boat because it was the only Baltic state not to sign the treaty and sent down a camera attached to an underwater drone. Ive been DNA tested and hauled in for an interview with the Swedish police and now on January 27, I will be going to court in Guttenberg, he told the Mail online. Swedish journalist Henrik Evertsson says he is looking forward to his day in court where he will face accusations he breached an international treaty by filming the wreck of the MS Estonia The documentary Estonia: the Find that Changes Everything reveals how Evertsson and his team discovered a hole in the hull of the vessel, findings which are now being investigated On the one hand Im looking forward to it. This is not an ordinary law of respecting the peace of the dead. This is a special law only surrounding a certain area of the Baltic Sea. This is the first time this law will ever be tried in its 25-year existence. No one knows the outcome of this trial. Im looking forward to giving my best arguments. The investigation of the wreck site is in international waters and we used a German ship flying a German flag and in Germany this is not against the law. They have not signed the treaty. Anyway, with our investigations, we didnt penetrate the wreck, we did not disturb the dead, we only scanned it from the outside from a certain distance to see if we found any hull damage. 'I could face up to two years imprisonment but I dont think I have disturbed the dead. It is now 26 years since the sinking of the MS Estonia the largest ship then flying the flag of the Baltic republic - in Europes worst peacetime maritime disaster. Found: a four-metre by 1.2 metre hole in the hull suggesting the Estonia was involved in a crash Survivors on board the MS Estonia say they heard a loud bang before the ship sank quickly The ferry set sail from Tallinn to Stockholm at 6.30pm with 803 passengers on board and 186 crew. The conditions were harsh there was a Force eight gale and waves up to six metres but they were not usual and all other scheduled ferries were at sea. But, at around 1am, a loud bang was heard and, after the ship listed by 60 degrees, torrents of seawater began pouring in through cabin windows, ceilings and doors. A mangled mayday signal was sent but at 1.50am the Estonia sank, stern first, in international waters about 24 miles south-east of the Finnish island of Uto, killing 852 people. Only 138 people were rescued, one of whom died in hospital and only 93 bodies were recovered. An initial report, in 1997, concluded that the locks on the bow visor had failed, allowing it to tear free and expose the doors and ramp, which gave way, flooding the car deck. But the surviving witnesses - whose testimony really didn't feature in the report were adamant they heard a bang after which the ship went down incredibly fast. And Evertsson, 33, a graduate of Oslo University, and his colleague Bendik Mondal, decided to investigate. Pictured: Finnish Army recruits carry some of the victims of the Estonia ferry disaster into an amphibious landing craft for transfer from the island of Uto to the mainland in September 1994 Candles are seen next to the names of victims during a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary They discovered a four-metre by 1.2 metre hole in the hull of the vessel, which suggested that the Estonia was involved in a collision. His findings, which are revealed in the Discovery documentary Estonia: the Find that Changes Everything, are now being investigated by the Swedish authorities. This is one of the biggest stories in Swedish history, he added. As a Swedish citizen I have followed it since I was seven years old. 'It has been investigated but there has been a lot of uneasiness surrounding this, especially from the relatives side. If they dont have the answers, is it possible to move on? We thought maybe these are relevant questions that the relatives have so we wanted to do a documentary series about it. Maybe we can find out more. Maybe we can find out answers to those questions. The Swedish Accident Investigation Board has found the new findings interesting and is investigating the case. Hopefully we have helped the case to go further and helped the relatives to get new answers to their relevant questions. Estonia is now available on discovery+ https://www.discoveryplus.co.uk/show/estonia [January 08, 2021] Notice of Lead Plaintiff Deadline for Shareholders in the SolarWinds Corporation Class Action Lawsuit Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed in the Western District of Texas on behalf of purchasers of SolarWinds (News - Alert) Corporation (NYSE:SWI) publicly traded securities between February 24, 2020 and December 15, 2020, inclusive (the "Class Period"). The case is captioned Bremer v. SolarWinds Corporation, No. 21-cv-00002, and is assigned to Judge Robert L. Pitman. The SolarWinds class action lawsuit charges SolarWinds and certain of its executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased SolarWinds publicly traded securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the SolarWinds class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the SolarWinds class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the SolarWinds class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery of the SolarWinds class action lawsuit is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the SolarWinds class action lawsuit or have questions concerning your rights regarding the SolarWinds class action lawsuit, please provide your information here or contact counsel, Michael Albert of Robbins Geller, at 800/449-4900 or 619/231-1058 or ia e-mail at malbert@rgrdlaw.com. Lead plaintiff motions for the SolarWinds class action lawsuit must be filed with the court no later than March 5, 2021. SolarWinds purports to provide information technology ("IT") infrastructure management software products in the United States and internationally. SolarWinds offers products to monitor and manage network, system, desktop, application, storage, and database and website infrastructures, whether on premise, in the public or private cloud, or in a hybrid IT infrastructure. The SolarWinds class action lawsuit alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) since mid-2020, SolarWinds' Orion monitoring products had a vulnerability that allowed hackers to compromise the server upon which the products ran; (2) SolarWinds' update server had an easily accessible password of "solarwinds123"; (3) consequently, SolarWinds' customers, including, among others, the federal government, Microsoft, Cisco (News - Alert) , and Nvidia, would be vulnerable to hacks; (4) as a result, SolarWinds would suffer significant reputational harm; and (5) as a result, defendants' statements about SolarWinds' business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. On December 13, 2020, Reuters (News - Alert) reported that hackers alleged to be working for the Russian government had monitored email traffic at the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments and that the alleged hackers were believed to have gained access to the agencies' email traffic by deceptively interfering with updates released by SolarWinds, which services various government vendors in the executive branch, the military, and the intelligence services. Then, on December 14, 2020, SolarWinds filed a Form 8-K with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission disclosing that it had been the subject of a hack on its Orion monitoring products. On this news, the price of SolarWinds' shares fell approximately 17%, damaging investors. Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities class action litigation. With 200 lawyers in 9 offices, Robbins Geller has obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history. For seven consecutive years, ISS Securities Class Action Services has ranked the Firm in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report as one of the top law firms in the world in both amount recovered for shareholders and total number of class action settlements. Robbins Geller attorneys have helped shape the securities laws and have recovered tens of billions of dollars on behalf of aggrieved victims. Beyond securing financial recoveries for defrauded investors, Robbins Geller also specializes in implementing corporate governance reforms, helping to improve the financial markets for investors worldwide. Robbins Geller attorneys are consistently recognized by courts, professional organizations, and the media as leading lawyers in the industry. Please visit http://www.rgrdlaw.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005058/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Like all Americans, I too was sad and sickened by the actions of these out of control, disrespectful, mostly young thugs and morons that soiled a peaceful protest and show of support for our President, by breaking into our Capital building. A close examination of two of them in particular that were trying to get into the House chamber has shown them to be Antifa anarchists who were there to hurt, not help, or support our President. The close up picture of two of them (one wearing a cap with buffalo horns) was on split screen showing them both together on their Antifa web site. The Left would love nothing more than to tie President Trump's appearance before thousands of peaceful supporters to these anarchists hell bent on violence that mingled within this crowd of decent Americans. The evidence of the premeditated strategy of these troublemakers was on display for everyone to see, as we witnessed nylon ropes being lowered to other trouble makers that scaled the walls of the Capital, and the crow bars they used to smash windows and doors of the House and Senate chambers. Those that peacefully assembled to show support for our President and belief that yes this election was stolen, did not come with weapons, nylon ropes, or crowbars. Those that did could care less about a peaceful demonstration or President Trump. The fact that so many state courts and even our US Supreme Court refused to hear the evidence, but dismissed over 50 some challenges to the election out of hand, suggests that they knew the evidence might result in a different outcome, and possible excoriation of even well known political figures and a corrupt voting system. A simple forensic examination of these Dominion machines and paper ballots would settle the doubts of over 73 million Americans that feel this election was stolen. The obvious question being asked is," what do you have to hide"? Those that question this election, by the way, include 17 percent of Democrats, and 20 something percent of Independents. A forensic expert has testified that this examination could be accomplished in a matter of hours. One way or the other, when boards of supervisors (like in Arizona), state Democrat officials, and even the courts refuse to hear the evidence and allow examination of these machines, one can only wonder how many other thousands of votes were switched from Trump to Biden in other states like Michigan using these machines loaded with Dominion software programs. Just yesterday it was reported that in Georgia, Rudy Guiliani's forensic experts got access to a Dominion machine and found that it contained the list of all registered voters in Georgia that had not voted themselves, yet Dominion was able to extract those names and assign them to the two Democrat Senatorial candidates at various precincts throughout the state. A charge well worth scrutiny. This stain on our democratic republic that was on display yesterday, cannot be allowed to destroy an already equally divided nation of decent people on both sides, liberal or conservative that just want to be assured that the greatest experiment of personal freedom in history will prevail. Bill Reesor * * * I was wondering how quickly someone would write to Chattanoogan.com and discount Trump's involvement in the attack on our Capitol. I am sure Antifa was there but so were Proud Boys, Q-Anon, "bugaloo men," (a far right organization) and a West Virginia lawmaker. I have watched videos and I have seen many Trump supporters in the Capitol along with the above groups so don't blame it all on Antifa. I know a lot of Trump supporters were there and acted peacefully, but don't discount the Trump supporters who acted just as badly as Antifa and the other insurgents. As far as Trump is concerned, I watched him incite people and encourage them to go riot. Stop defending this man. He does not deserve anything but the 25th amendment to be invoked. It is time to open your eyes and realize Trump cares about no one but himself and his family. Vicki Hill Lawmakers of both parties have raised the prospect of ousting President from office, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that if he wasn't removed, the House may move forward with a second impeachment. Though Trump has less than two weeks in office, lawmakers and even some in his administration began discussing the issue Wednesday afternoon as Trump first refused to forcefully condemn the violent assault on the Capitol by a mob of his supporters, and then appeared to excuse it. Senior Trump administration officials raised the possibility of invoking Section 4 of the 25th Amendment the forceful removal of Trump from power by his own Cabinet. Pelosi on Thursday told a news conference she is waiting for a decision from Vice President Mike Pence and other Cabinet officials. She challenged several of them by name, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Do they stand by these actions?" Pelosi asked. "Are they ready to say that for the next 13 days this dangerous man can do further harm to our country? Most Democrats, and many Republicans, put the blame squarely on Trump after hundreds of protesters bearing Trump flags and clothing broke into the Capitol on Wednesday and caused destruction and mass evacuations. The president had urged the supporters to protest as Congress was counting the electoral votes that confirmed Biden's win. Pelosi said a threshold was crossed of such magnitude that Trump should not allowed to make any decisions. There did to be public support for the move, for now, among members of Trump's Cabinet, especially after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned in protest Thursday following the Capitol attack. But officials across the government went so far as to study up on the procedures for declaring Trump unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office. According two people involved in the administration talks, staff-level discussions on the matter took place across multiple departments and even parts of the White House. No member of the Cabinet has publicly expressed support for the move which would make Pence the acting president though several were believed to be sympathetic to the notion, believing Trump is too volatile in his waning days before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20. Under the 25th Amendment, Trump could dispute his Cabinet's finding, but the Cabinet could quickly reaffirm its position, keeping Pence in power while the question fell to lawmakers. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer also called Thursday for the the Cabinet to remove him. In a statement, Schumer said the attack on the Capitol was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president. He said Trump should not hold office one day longer. Schumer said Pence and the Cabinet should invoke the 25th Amendment and immediately remove Trump from office. Otherwise, he said, it's up to Congress. If the vice president and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president, Schumer said. As Pelosi suggested impeachment was a possibility, three Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee announced articles of impeachment. Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California wrote in the articles that Trump willfully made statements that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol. (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| 2021-01-08 13:25:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- A South Korean court on Friday ordered Japan's government to pay damages to the South Korean victims who were forced into sex slavery for the Imperial Japan's military brothels during World War II. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Japan should pay reparations of 100 million won (91,200 U.S. dollars) to each of 12 plaintiffs, who filed a petition for dispute settlement with the court in August 2013. It marked the first time that a court here handed down a verdict to order Japan's reparation payment to the victims, euphemistically called "the comfort women." The damages claim suit was only referred to the Seoul court in January 2016, and the first hearing was held in April last year as the Japanese government declined to officially receive the civil case petition. The court said in the ruling that the plaintiffs suffered from extreme, unimaginable mental and physical pain and were not even compensated for their suffering, noting that illegal acts by the accused can be acknowledged through evidence, relevant materials and testimonies. The verdict noted that it would be reasonable to value the damages amount at over 100 million won. Japan maintained that the case should be dropped given the sovereign immunity that allows a state to be immune from civil suit in foreign courts, but the South Korean court said it cannot be applied to the case as the illegal acts were crimes against humanity committed deliberately, systematically and widely by the Imperial Japan. Historians say hundreds of thousands of Asian women, mostly from the Korean Peninsula, were kidnapped, coerced or duped into sexual servitude for Japanese troops before and during the Pacific War. The court noted that the damages suit cannot also be applied to the Seoul-Tokyo deals in 1965 and 2015. Japan claimed that the 1965 treaty, which normalized diplomatic ties between Seoul and Tokyo, resolved all colonial-era issues, including the wartime sex enslavement and forced labor, but South Korea said the individual right to damages had yet to be resolved. The Korean Peninsula was colonized by Japan from 1910 to 1945. In December 2015, the then South Korean government reached a final, irreversible agreement with Japan to settle the wartime sex slave issue in return for Tokyo's offer of 1 billion yen (9.6 million U.S. dollars), with which a foundation was built here to assist the South Korean victims and their families. The foundation was formally dissolved in July 2019 as the victims protested against the foundation, demanding the Japanese government's sincere apology and its acknowledgment of legal responsibility for the wartime atrocities. The Seoul court's ruling is forecast to worsen the South Korea-Japan relations, which were already frayed over the wartime forced labor and trade disputes between the two countries. Despite the expected diplomatic friction, South Korea hurried to resolve the colonial-era issues because of the aged victims. Out of the 12 plaintiffs joining the damages claim suit, only five are still alive. Among the 238 South Korean women who identified themselves as former sex slaves, the number of survivors is 16. Enditem Every Democrat in New Yorks congressional delegation has come out in support of removing President Donald Trump from office, after a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol building on Wednesday at his urging, in an attempt to prevent Congress from certifying Trumps loss in the Electoral College. And several have gone further and called for expelling the members of the House of Representatives who have supported Trumps election-theft schemes. Among those calling for Trumps removal is Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, who called on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the U.S. Constitutions 25th Amendment to oust the president. The quickest and most effective way it can be done today to remove this president from office would be for the vice president to immediately invoke the 25th amendment, Schumer said in a statement. If the vice president and cabinet do not choose to do it, Schumer recommended Congress reconvene to impeach Trump. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California soon after voiced support for removing the president from office as well. Some New York representatives have joined in introducing and co-sponsoring a resolution to impeach Trump, including Reps. Mondaire Jones, Jamaal Bowman, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Yvette Clarke and Nydia Velazquez. On Thursday, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, called for Trump to be impeached, convicted and removed from office immediately today after hinting at the possibility the day before. The reason yesterday occurred is because Trump thought he could get away with murder, Jones, a freshman who represents Westchester and Rockland County, told City & State. Sean Patrick Maloney, a comparatively moderate member of Congress from the Hudson Valley, told City & State said all options are on the table when it comes to considering impeachment, invoking the 25th Amendment or censuring the president, as long as it ensures the peaceful transfer of power on Jan. 20. I'm willing to support impeachment to hold him accountable if that's what it takes. But I want to understand why that is going to protect our country. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand similarly said in a statement: Every option available from invoking the 25th Amendment to impeachment and removal to criminal prosecution should be on the table. No matter how many Democrats endorse using the 25th Amendment, that process depends on the cooperation of a majority of Trumps own cabinet. To remove Trump via impeachment would require 18 Republican senators to vote to convict the president of high crimes and misdemeanors to attain the two-thirds majority required in the upper chamber. And Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, the only Republican to defect during the impeachment proceedings last year, has been reticent to back similar efforts being proposed by Democrats now, saying theres too little time to begin impeachment proceedings before Trump exits office. At least three New York Democrats Ocasio-Cortez, Jones and Velazquez have also supported a resolution to be introduced by Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, which would expel from the House Republicans who supported Trumps attempts to overturn the presidential election results. Expulsion from either house in Congress requires a two-thirds majority vote, which is usually reserved for criminal behavior or disloyalty to the country. Though there is no evidence of widespread election fraud, 121 Republicans in the House objected to certifying Arizonas election results, including four Republican representatives from New York: Elise Stefanik, Nicole Malliotakis, Chris Jacobs and Lee Zeldin. Both Jones and fellow freshman Rep. Ritchie Torres, from the Bronx, told City & State that investigations should take place to examine whether any Congress members helped fuel the riots. It depends on the findings of an investigation, but if a member of Congress is found to have instigated a violent mob, then expulsion is an appropriate response, Torres said. Upstate Rep. Brian Higgins also agreed investigations and possibly expulsion could be a necessary step. I think that members may have been complicit in this. Maloney disagreed that the Republicans conduct rose to that level. Look, theyve got a constitutional right to be dumb, he said. Also at the top of Democrats minds is investigating the security failures that led to terrorists bursting into the Capitol in the first place. We did not have enough police protection to keep terrorists from entering the Capitol of the United States, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, who hails from Manhattan and chairs the House Oversight Committee, told City & State. She and four other House committee leaders including Judiciary Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, also from Manhattan requested an immediate briefing on the steps the Federal Bureau of Investigation is taking to investigate the rioters and those who incited and conspired with them. Why werent they involved earlier in trying to stop the violence and how did it get so out of hand? she said. We want to understand the involvement of the National Guard. Why did they come in so late? The security stakes are high for members of Congress, who had to don gas masks yesterday after tear gas was dispersed in the rotunda of the Capitol and stayed in a secure location to avoid the chaos that led to four deaths. As a member of Congress, I feel less safe today than I did the day before, Torres said. (TNS) - Don't call us. We'll call you.That's what the state's COVID-19 vaccine website and many local health departments are telling seniors, teachers, child care workers and law enforcement officers who will be eligible starting Monday for coronavirus vaccines through an expansion of the statewide immunization program.In part, that's because local health officials had almost no heads up before Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced anyone 65 or older would soon be eligible to be vaccinated.Whitmer announced Wednesday that starting next week, people in Priority 1B group will be able to get COVID-19 vaccines along with health care workers, people living and working in long-term care facilities and emergency medical responders who are part of the 1A Priority group."Please do not call local health departments for information," the state's COVID-19 Vaccine website, www.michigan.gov/COVIDvaccine, says. "They are moving as quickly as possible to make vaccine available. They will not have more information than is on this website."Seniors like Michael Kruczek, 67, of Dearborn Heights, who will be newly eligible Monday for vaccination, say they are frustrated and confused about a lack of information about how to schedule those appointments."We need better information. We needed more clear information," said Kruczek, a father of two and grandfather of four. "When they say, 'Well, we're going to open it up Monday,' which is the 11th, a couple days from now, they need to be ready to administer these doses to people like me or my wife who would love to go somewhere on Monday and get the vaccine."Whitmer directed Michiganders to go to the state's COVID-19 vaccine website for details, but more than 24 hours after that announcement was made, very few specifics had emerged about how appointments would be scheduled.The website included links Thursday to just two local health departments the Ingham County and LMAS District, which includes Luce, Mackinac, Alger and Schoolcraft counties and urged Michiganders to wait and watch for more online updates.Fran Sipari, 70, lives in Grosse Pointe Woods and adores Whitmer. But she says the state has "screwed up" its rollout of the vaccine and that's left many confused about what to do."This was never put out properly. It isnt fair to anybody. Nobody asked for this disease, were all willing to wait our turn but you have to have a plan," said Sipari, noting the confusion around how those who will soon be eligible for vaccination should get an appointment."Im not in a hurry, if its February first thats fine. I can follow directions, just tell me what to do, I can do it."Related: Last-minute switch delayed COVID-19 vaccines for nursing home residentsRelated: Michigan hospitals take lead in distributing COVID-19 vaccine to seniorsKruczek, who lives in Wayne County and retired in 2019 after working two decades for a credit union, said he spent time both on the state's website and on Wayne County's looking for details about how to get the vaccine, but came up with nothing."I'm happy they would open it up to 65 and older because I would love to get the vaccine," he said. "But why would they open it up when there's nobody even in Wayne County, for example, that I could even make an appointment to go get it from? It just doesn't seem to make any sense."It seems to me that they're totally unprepared for administering it and I don't really understand why they would open it up to another group of individuals when ... I don't know where to get one or when I'll be able to get one."Local health departments say they're moving as quickly as they can to create websites where people can register to be vaccinated, but were given 24 hours notice or none at all that the state would move to Phase 1B of the vaccination plan."We raised our concerns with the governor's office then that, you know, that doesn't work well for a county that has been under-supplied vaccine, at least from a health department standpoint," said William Nowling, a spokesman for Wayne County Executive Warren Evans. "As soon as the governor had her press conference, our phone blew up at the health department with people calling in, wanting to sign up to get their vaccine."Since mid-December, the Wayne County Public Health Department has been allocated 975 doses of the state's share of Pfizer vaccine each week even though it requests 4,875 weekly doses. The county estimates it has more than 70,000 people who fall within the top priority 1A group, which includes health care workers, emergency medical personnel, and those who live and work in long-term care facilities.While it helps that hospitals are handling their own workers, and federal partners CVS and Walgreens are working with long-term care facilities, it still leaves a large group of people who must get vaccines through under-supplied county health departments, Nowling said."That's the frustrating part. We want to put shots in arms as fast as we get them, and we do. The problem is that we just aren't getting enough," he said."More people have been pushed into higher levels of priority, but really no more vaccine was pushed into the supply chain. So, we have a supply problem and the solution so far has been to increase the demand side of it but not the supply side."State asks for more vaccine dosesState health officials said Thursday that all the local health departments had advance notice of the plan to open up vaccinations to people in the Priority 1B group starting Monday."The plan to expand vaccine opportunities has been discussed with all of them this week," said Lynn Sutfin, a spokesperson for the state health department in an email message to the Free Press."Local health departments who are able can begin vaccination of the expanded priority groups starting Monday. We are updating the COVID-19 website with information about health departments that have indicated they are ready to begin, and eligible residents in those areas should reach out to the department about scheduling an appointment."As there is limited vaccine available in the state, there will be limited appointments available. As more vaccine becomes available, the state will be able to move more quickly through the priority groups. As additional health departments are ready to begin vaccination in the coming days and weeks, we will list their information on the state website."During Wednesday's news conference, Whitmer called on the federal government to open up supply of COVID-19 vaccines so more could be provided to health departments and other providers.As of Thursday, the state had distributed 725,000 doses of the vaccine. About 175,000 doses had been administered, according to state data.On Thursday, Whitmer joined a coalition of eight democratic governors who sent a letter to Alex Azar, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Gen. Gustave Perna, COO of Operation Warp Speed, asking for more doses of the vaccines.The governors of Michigan, California, New York, Kansas, Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Washington allege as much as half of the doses available in the U.S. have been held back by the federal government.General Perna, as you have stated before, a vaccine sitting on a shelf is not effective. We couldnt agree with you more. Thats why we are asking for your help now. When we work together, we can end this pandemic and return to a life of normalcy sooner," the letter read.Sutfin said state health officials are committed to moving through the vaccination process as quickly as possible."Thats why we are moving to make vaccine available to any Michigander over age 65; its why we are collaborating with the federal pharmacy program to accelerate delivery and working to address vaccine hesitancy in nursing homes; and its why we are accelerating distribution with the National Guard. We are also accelerating vaccinations for our K-12 and day care staff," she said.County health officials pinchedMacomb County Executive Mark Hackel said the county's phone lines were flooded Wednesday afternoon, as hopeful seniors, teachers and law enforcement officers tried to make appointments to get vaccinated starting Monday. County workers, he said, were in the "terrible position to tell them no" because of incredibly limited supply.The county, he said, had no advance warning that the state was about to expand vaccines to people in Priority 1B, and had anticipated that wouldn't happen until late January or February.Now these seniors are competing with an incredibly large crowd of people, people who arent as vulnerable, Hackel said, adding that seniors should have been prioritized.He said officials estimated more than 200,000 people in Macomb County could be in this next priority group for vaccines with only about 1,000 "woefully inadequate" doses a week coming to the county health department.Macomb County requested 50,000 doses from the state next week and is ready to activate strike teams to vaccinate seniors, though he doubts the county will get that many doses.I cant promise or schedule more than what I get, he said, adding "this is going to be a very frustrating period."For now, Macomb County is vaccinating paramedics and EMS workers as well as health care workers at the VerKuilen Building in Clinton Township by appointment only. Officials are working on an online appointment schedule that will roll out next week, Hackel said, with all of the county's vaccine information available at https://www.macombgov.org/covid19-COVID19VaccineCentral.Those in Priority 1B can begin scheduling appointments Friday, Hackel said, by calling 586-463-8777. But once all available slots based on current vaccine inventory are filled, the reservation line will be closed. More appointments will be added based on supply from the state.In Oakland County, the health division has "appointments booked for every single dose we have on hand through next Tuesday, said Bill Mullan, spokesman for County Executive Dave Coulter, who on Thursday also urged the state to increase the county's allotment and expand the number of providers administering the vaccines.We cant schedule more appointments than doses we have available from the state of Michigan," Mullan said.Between the health division and hospitals, Oakland County has received the most doses of the vaccine in the state, getting 69,050 doses as of Tuesday. That's more than triple neighboring Wayne County's allotment (not including Detroit) of 20,175 doses and more than double Macomb County's 26,725 doses.Mullan said the health division has been getting one shipment of 1,950 doses of the vaccine per week. The number of doses and arrival day comes with 24 hours notice at best.We have the capacity to administer more vaccine than were doing so now, he said. Its just a matter of the amount of doses we get from the state.The county health division is asking for 5,000 doses next week, he said, adding the health division could administer as many as 12,000 doses per week.Online registration for vaccines in Oakland County launched this week, he said. Information about vaccines there can be found at https://www.oakgov.com/covid/best-practices/prepare/Pages/vaccine.aspx. Those without Internet access can dial Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533. to schedule an appointment. But right now, there are no slots available.Officials are encouraging people to sign up for up alerts for when the countys COVID-19 vaccine website is updated.When you get it, if youre able, get right to business and register online, Mullan said, adding appointments will be made until the supply of doses is matched; then the registration will close until the next shipment arrives.In Wayne County, Nowling said residents should check the county's COVID-19 website: https://www.waynecounty.com/covid19/, which will soon have information on it about how to schedule a COVID-19 vaccine.But it could be early next week before it's ready.Even when it does launch, "you may not get an appointment right away," he said. "You may be told ... that you will be contacted when there's an opening and vaccine available."It feels like the state wants us to have these sites open but with no vaccine. It doesn't serve any purpose to set people's hopes up."Steve Kelso, a spokesman for the Kent County Health Department, said "heavens, no," there aren't enough doses of COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate all the people who qualify for it in the western Michigan county."I think it is absolutely crucial that people give us some patience and understand straight away, that the vaccine supply is very limited. And it's going to continue to be for the foreseeable future," he said."We can't give you the shots we ain't got. We are working as hard as we can because what we're about to stand up, I don't know that it's ever been done. ... The logistics of touching 650,000 people not once, but twice, are staggering. Yeah, we're up for the challenge, and we're gonna do this. I promise you, we're gonna do it with the best dedication and heart that we've got. But, holy cow is it a lot of work."Kent County residents in the Priority 1B group should keep an eye on the website https://vaccinatewestmi.com/ in the days ahead for details about how to make an appointment for a vaccination.Detroit rolls out vaccine planDetroit Mayor Mike Duggan announced Thursday a detailed plan that will vaccinate seniors, law enforcement officers, DDOT employees, other city workers and those who stay or work in homeless shelters at a drive-up clinic at the TCF Center.On Monday, the city plans to open its vaccine scheduling hotline, which is 313-230-0505, and will be open 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Mon.-Fri.The plan, he said, is to schedule 20,000 vaccination appointments beginning Wednesday and for the following four weeks, but availability will be based on vaccine supply."We are going to keep ramping up our vaccinations to the maximum extent the supply allows, Duggan said in a news release.Here is how Detroits plan will roll out:CITY ESSENTIAL WORKERS: Starting Friday, Detroit police officers and DDOT bus drivers will be offered vaccines. Police officers will be vaccinated by precinct at the Detroit Fire Departments Walter Harris training facility at the end of their shifts and will be paid one hour of straight time. DDOT personnel will be vaccinated at their respective DDOT terminals and also will be paid for one extra hour. After DPD and DDOT workers, other city employees providing essential services will be scheduled for vaccinations. SENIORS AND HOMELESS SHELTERS: The city health department will vaccinate residents and staff at Boulevard Manor Friday, the only nursing home in the city without an existing vaccination plan through a private provider. Starting next week, the health department, in partnership with Wayne State University medical, nursing and pharmacy students, will begin vaccinating at 60 senior citizen buildings and 29 homeless shelters in the city. Staff will visit two senior buildings and one homeless shelter every day and expect to complete work by the end of February. TCF CENTER VACCINATIONS: Any Detroit resident age 75 or older is eligible to schedule a drive-up appointment for a vaccination at the TCF Center starting next week. Detroiters ages 65 and older are eligible for the vaccine if they drive someone 75 or older to TCF for the immunization. Proof of residence will be required.More details are available at: www.detroitmi.gov.Hospital systems jump in to helpMichigan Medicine announced Thursday it will provide COVID-19 vaccines to all of its senior citizen patients as part of the state's expansion to the Priority 1B group."Invites will be sent to all patients 65 and older who are current Michigan Medicine patients under the care of a Michigan Medicine primary care provider or who have had a visit with any Michigan Medicine provider in the last two years," said Mary Masson, a spokeswoman for the Ann Arbor-based health system affiliated with the University of Michigan.The St. Joseph Mercy Health System promised to do the same, said Susan Ringler Cerniglia, a spokeswoman for the Washtenaw County Health Department."That's really, really good news for all of us," Ringler Cerniglia said. "It's fabulous news. ... Michigan Medicine has confirmed they will do patients that fall in that older age group and St. Joseph Mercy Health has also confirmed that they will continue offering vaccinations both to the older group as well as essential workers."So for us, that's just huge because it just really maximizes the numbers that we'll be able to accommodate."So far, the Washtenaw County Health Department has received 2,925 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and has been able to deliver about 1,400 doses into the arms of people this week a tiny fraction of the roughly 8,000 people it estimated it would need to vaccinate within the Priority 1A group and the more than 70,000 estimated to be older than 75."And that doesn't even include people between 65 and 75," Ringler Cerniglia said.She urged Washtenaw County residents who fall within the 1B priority group to go to www.washtenaw.org/COVID19 and register starting Monday for a vaccine. Residents can also sign up for email notification on the site. Those without Internet access can call the health department main number starting Monday at 734-544-6700.Similar arrangements have been worked out with Beaumont Health and the Henry Ford Health System.Dr. Jeffrey S. Fischgrund, a spine surgeon and chief of clinical services for Beaumont Health's eight hospitals, said patients ages 65 and older who have active MyChart accounts will start to get email notifications in the days ahead about scheduling a vaccination."Within the next few days, similar to U-M, we will be inviting everybody in our database that we have an email for that is 65-plus to schedule the vaccine, and in our case that's over 200,000 people," said Fischgrund, who also serves as medical director of the COVID-19 vaccine steering committee.His best advice to any patient who's a senior citizen: Make sure your MyChart account is activated and that it's linked to a working email address. And if you can't figure out how to do that, ask someone else to help set it up.Appointments will be made, he said, based on vaccine supply."Logistically, it is very, very complex," Fischgrund said. "None of us have ever done something like this on this scale before."Right now we only have a week's supply. So we will have the schedule opened up for next week. We can do up to 3,200 a day. ... We'll find out at the end of the week how much we're getting for two weeks from now, and then we'll open up the schedule again."At Henry Ford Health System, plans are being finalized now to include vaccinations for patients 65 and older."We expect to begin providing vaccinations as early as Monday at one Detroit site, with plans to open additional sites by the end of next week," said spokesman John Gillespie."We will soon be reaching out proactively to our eligible patients to provide resources to help them make an informed decision, as well as encourage them to sign up for a MyChart account if they dont already have one, for convenient online scheduling when appointments become available."Additionally, we are also working with multiple community partners to provide vaccinations for the expanded group of essential workers, independent physicians and healthcare providers, as well as clinical students who are participating in educational programs at Henry Ford Health System."Contact Kristen Jordan Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kristenshamus.This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine? Michigan health departments say expect delays___(c)2021 the Detroit Free PressVisit the Detroit Free Press at www.freep.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In this photo provided by the North Korean government, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un attends a ruling party congress in Pyongyang, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. AP North Korean leader Kim Jong Un underscored the need to drastically improve his nation's ties with the outside world as he addressed a major political conference for the third consecutive day. State media said Kim also reviewed relations with rival South Korea but didn't elaborate on what steps he said he wanted to take. Observers had expected Kim to use the first congress of the ruling Workers' Party in five years to send conciliatory gestures toward Seoul and Washington as he faces deepening economic troubles at home. In his speech on the third day of the meeting Thursday, Kim ''declared the general orientation and the policy stand of our party for comprehensively expanding and developing the external relations,'' the Korean Central News Agency said Friday. Kim also examined relations with South Korea ''as required by the prevailing situation and the changed times,'' KCNA said. The congress is the party's top decision-making body which review past projects, lay out new priorities and reshuffle top officials. This month's congress was convened as Kim is struggling to overcome what he calls ''multiple crises'' caused by an economy battered by pandemic-related border closings, a series of natural disasters and U.S.-led sanctions. In his opening-day speech, Kim admitted his previous economic developmental plans had failed and vowed to lay out a new five-year development plan. On the second day of the meeting, he said he would bolster his country's military capability. The congress comes as Kim's high-stakes nuclear diplomacy with President Donald Trump has remained stalled for about two years because of disputes over U.S.-led sanctions on the North. President-elect Joe Biden, who is to take office on Jan. 20, has called Kim a ''thug'' and is unlikely to hold any direct meeting with him unless North Korea takes serious steps toward denuclearization. Ties between the Koreas once flourished after Kim entered talks with Trump. But Pyongyang halted exchanges with Seoul and resumed harsh rhetoric against it after Kim's second summit with Trump in Vietnam in early 2019 collapsed over Trump's rebuttal of Kim's push for sweeping sanctions relief in return for a limited denuclearization step. Some observers say North Korea is frustrated because Seoul has failed to break away from Washington and revive stalled joint economic projects held back by the U.S.-led sanctions. They also speculate North Korea initially thought South Korea would help it win sanctions relief but got upset after Kim returned home empty-handed from the 2019 summit with Trump. Experts say North Korea may reach out South Korea first to promote reconciliation mood before pushing for talks with the Biden administration. The stalled Kim-Trump diplomacy began after South Korean officials met Kim in early 2018 and conveyed to Washington his intent to deal away his nuclear program in exchange of economic and political benefits. (AP) Scammers use the internet or telephone to trick millions of people every year into sending money or giving out personal information. Scammers can be polite and charming. They may say they work for a company that you recognize. They may know your name or certain things about you and make you feel special. They promise things like lottery winnings, prizes, friendship, or romance. But they dont keep these promises. Are you an older adult? Do you have savings? Do you live alone? Then be on the lookout for scammers. The Tennessee Attorney Generals Office wants seniors, their families, and caretakers to know about common phone and internet scams, how to stop them, and how to get help and report them. HOW DOES A PHONE OR INTERNET SCAM WORK? Scammers may offer prizes, products, or services. They want you to say yes quickly. They say you must act right away. They may even try to scare you by saying you could be taken to court or to jail. Look out for statements like these: Youve been specially selected for our offer. This is a free trial offer. Youll get a prize if you buy our product. Youve won money in the lottery. Dont tell anyone that youve won. You have to pay us now to receive our special offer. You trust me, right? We need you to confirm your personal/billing information. If you dont pay us now, we will sue you (or you will be arrested). PHONE AND INTERNET SCAMS Imposter Scams : An imposter is someone who pretends to be someone else. Scammers may email or message you and say they are a family member or someone who wants to be your friend. They may even say they love you. They try to win your trust and ask you to send them money. Grandparent/Grandchild Scam : Grandma, I need money for bail. Please dont tell mom! Romance scam : I wish I could visit you, but I dont have enough money for a plane ticket. Government Grant scam : Youve been awarded a grant and just have to pay taxes and fees to get it. : An imposter is someone who pretends to be someone else. Scammers may email or message you and say they are a family member or someone who wants to be your friend. They may even say they love you. They try to win your trust and ask you to send them money. Tech Support Scams : You get an email or a pop-up alert on your computer. It says your computer has a virus or other security issue. You are told you must call a tech support company. This company asks for remote access to your computer so they can fix the problem. Once they have access, they say your computer has many different viruses that they can take care ofif you pay them a large amount of money. Or they may install malwarea program that steals your personal data, like usernames and passwords, or even whole computer files. : You get an email or a pop-up alert on your computer. It says your computer has a virus or other security issue. You are told you must call a tech support company. This company asks for remote access to your computer so they can fix the problem. Once they have access, they say your computer has many different viruses that they can take care ofif you pay them a large amount of money. Or they may install malwarea program that steals your personal data, like usernames and passwords, or even whole computer files. Lottery Scam : Scammers say they are lottery officials or with a sweepstakes company. They tell you youve won money. Then they ask you to pay them upfront to cover fees or taxes. But they take your money and never give you the winnings they promised. : Scammers say they are lottery officials or with a sweepstakes company. They tell you youve won money. Then they ask you to pay them upfront to cover fees or taxes. But they take your money and never give you the winnings they promised. Phishing Scam : Scammers pretend to be from credit card companies or banks. They trick you into giving them your personal information. They may send you an email or text like this: Warning: We have detected an unauthorized transaction on your account. To ensure your account is not compromised, please click the link below and confirm your identity. Our records indicate that your account was overcharged. You must contact us immediately to receive your refund. : Scammers pretend to be from credit card companies or banks. They trick you into giving them your personal information. They may send you an email or text like this: IRS Imposter Scam : Scammers say they are with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They say you owe back taxes. They may threaten that youll be arrested, deported, or have your drivers license taken away if you dont pay them. Or they might say you must give them your bank account number to receive a tax refund. If you receive this call, contact the IRS right away at (800)366-4484, or visit their website: www.irs.gov/uac/report-phishing. Remember, the IRS will contact you initially by mail (NOT email or phone), and will always give you a chance to question or appeal any amount they say you owe. They will never say you will go to jail for not paying. : Scammers say they are with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). They say you owe back taxes. They may threaten that youll be arrested, deported, or have your drivers license taken away if you dont pay them. Or they might say you must give them your bank account number to receive a tax refund. If you receive this call, contact the IRS right away at (800)366-4484, or visit their website: www.irs.gov/uac/report-phishing. Remember, the IRS will contact you initially by mail (NOT email or phone), and will always give you a chance to question or appeal any amount they say you owe. They will never say you will go to jail for not paying. Utility Bill Scam: Scammers say theyre from your local utility company. They say youre behind on your bill and that your service will be cut off if you dont pay right now. They ask for your credit card information over the phone. Remember, utility companies usually send notices of overdue service fees by mail. Always call your utility company using the number on your bill to find out if you really owe them money. HOW TO AVOID PHONE AND INTERNET SCAMS Sign up your phone number with the National Do Not Call Registry by visiting www.donotcall.gov or calling 888-382-1222. If you get a telemarketing sales call after you are on the registry it might be a scam. You can also sign up with the Tennessee Regulatory Authoritys Do Not Call Program, https://www.tn.gov/tpuc/tennessee-do-not-call-program.html or call 877-872-7030. If a caller says you must act right now to receive a special offer, dont do it. Ask them to give you contact information and send you information in writing so you have time to research the organization and review the offer. If the caller says theyre with a company you recognize, but youre still not sure theyre telling you the truth, hang up. Call the company using a number from their official website or the phone book. Look out for websites with misspelled words or logos and pictures that are hard to see or read. They may be fake sites run by scammers. Check the URL (site address) to see if the web address matches the one for the real company. Only enter banking or other sensitive personal information on secure websites that you trust. The web address should start with https:// and the web browser should display a closed padlock, which means the connection to the server is encrypted. This will protect your information so no one else can see it or use it. Only share your financial and personal information with callers that you know and trust. Pay with a credit card. Dont send cash, use a debit card, or send a wire transfer. When you use your credit card, you may have protections against fraud through your credit card company. WHAT TO DO IF YOU BECOME A VICTIM Here are some things you can do: Document It : Write down everything you remember about what happened. Include the names of the companies and people you spoke with. Also write down the dates you spoke with them. : Write down everything you remember about what happened. Include the names of the companies and people you spoke with. Also write down the dates you spoke with them. Take Action and Report : Contact your bank or credit card company right away. Stop the payment if you can. Report what happened to federal and/or state agencies. Here are some places you can call for free: Eldercare Locator helpline, (Department of Health and Human Services): (800) 677-1116. Anti-Fraud Hotline (U.S. Senate Aging Committee): (855)303-9470 between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST, or visit www.aging.senate.gov/fraud-hotline. Victim Connect hotline (VictimConnect Resource Center, National Center for Victims of Crime): (855) 484-2846. Federal Communications Commissions Consumer Call Center: (888) 225-5322. File a complaint with the following state and federal regulators: Call the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs at (800)342-8385 or (615) 741-4737, or visit https://www.tn.gov/commerce/consumer-affairs.html to file a complaint. File a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission at www.consumercomplaints.fcc.gov. File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov/complaint. File a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at www.ic3.gov. : Tell your family, caregivers, and friends: Tell others what happened so that they can help you and protect themselves. RESOURCES The following websites provide more information on phone and internet scams: (Alliance News) - Marks & Spencer Group PLC on Friday said its Christmas trading was "robust" though a nationwide lockdown in England proved costly, causing revenue in its Clothing & Home unit to tumble more than 40% in November alone. For the whole of the retailer's third quarter ended December 26, group revenue fell 8.4% yearly to GBP2.77 billion. In the UK arm alone, revenue fell 8.2% to GBP2.53 billion and was down 7.6% on a like-for-like basis. By unit, it was a familiar story for the mid-cap retailer. The Food arm saw 2.2% annual third-quarter revenue growth to GBP1.74 billion. On a like-for-like basis, revenue in the unit rose 2.6%. At the Clothing & Home arm, third-quarter revenue was down 25% year-on-year at GBP787 million, falling 24% like-for-like. Before November's restrictions, revenue was down 17%, before tumbling 41% during England's lockdown that month. In December alone, revenue at Clothing & Home was down 19%. "Given the on-off restrictions and distortions in demand patterns our trading was robust over the Christmas period. More importantly beneath the Covid clouds, we saw a very strong performance from the Food business including Ocado Retail and a further acceleration of Clothing & Home online," Chief Executive Officer Steve Rowe said. M&S noted that at the clothing arm's sales mix was "heavily biased" toward lines in leisurewear and sleepwear, products that have seen sales boosted by stay-at-home orders during the Covid-19 pandemic. M&S last week Wednesday said its Goodmove athleisure range will expand to include both kidswear and menswear. It initially only offered womenswear. "Near-term trading remains very challenging, but we are continuing to accelerate change under our 'Never the Same Again' programme to ensure the business emerges from the pandemic in very different shape." The company added that the UK's post-Brexit trade deal with the EU means that M&S "will not incur tariffs on our core UK sales". "However, potential tariffs on part of our range exported to the EU, together with very complex administrative processes, will significantly impact our businesses in Ireland, the Czech Republic and our franchise business in France which we are actively working to mitigate," the company added. M&S also said it may cut store costs, in the wake of England being placed under a third lockdown earlier this week. By Eric Cunha; ericcunha@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Winters call for some warm exotic dishes, but what about the drinks? Don't settle for your usual soft drinks when you can prep-up for something fancy in little to no time! As we enter the new year, why not add some lip-smacking healthy mocktails to the list? Yes, with a pinch of the fruity element, your mocktails can be safe and healthy! The key is to use high-quality ingredients and fresh fruit pulp. Most of these mocktails require similar ingredients like lime juice, mint leaves, ice cubes, soda or sparkling water. And trust us; it's as easy as you could think of! So, make a toast, with these easy-peasy mocktails, shared by Kimaye Health, INI Farms. Here's how to go about it in 4 simple steps: - Muddle the fruit and lime juice with a few mint leaves - Pour the mixture in a glass with 2-3 ice cubes, and honey if needed - Add soda or sparkling water to the brim and mix - Garnish them with a fruit slice and mint leaves to make them festive ready! Some of the fruits that go well are: Peppy Pomegranate Goes perfectly with the winter vibe as the blend of maroon with soda looks splendid for a celebration drink. Along with pomegranate juice, you can also throw in a few seeds to garnish and add sweetness to your mocktails. The best part is that you don't need any added sugar as the natural flavour of pomegranate makes it a wonderful delight! Tangy Orange In this citrusy mocktail, you can mix up multiple citrus fruits to flavour up the taste. Oranges are abundant during winter, so make full use of this tangy winter fruit! The fresh orange pulp is a healthier escape from your regular soft drinks or alcohol. A thin slice of orange on the brim will surely make it an instaworthy click! Blissful Blueberry Go all blue with your winter theme! The delicious blueberries have always been a sweet delight. Crush and blend them into a smooth mixture. This is something new that you can easily try for your next family get-together. Pair it up with blueberry cheesecake and get into the celebration mode! Cucumber lemonade While cucumbers are most adored in summers for their cooling effect and they also make a refreshing drink during the winters. The freshness of cucumbers with lime soda is surely something you wouldn't want to miss. Don't just slide them into your salads, instead turn them into a sweet fresh mocktail! Striking Strawberry Pineapple Blend in two fruits for some incredible flavour. Pineapple and strawberry go well together because of their sweet and soft nature. With these two fruits, there's barely any need for added sugar. You can play with the quantity of each fruit to get the desired shade of the drink. These are some of the best and easy combinations to try for that random get together. Always go for fresh and good quality fruits for better results. Additionally, you can also freeze some small fresh-fruit chunks in ice cubes and drop them in to give your mocktails a flattering look. With these ingredients and tricks in mind, you can add a unique charm to simple parties! (Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text A 'dead' man has turned up alive four days after his funeral, much to the shock of his wife who misidentified a body in the morgue and buried an unknown coronavirus victim in Honduras. Victoria Sarmiento had spent several days looking for husband Julio after the 65-year-old had failed to return home. Last Wednesday (Dec 30) the worried housewife, from El Carmen, Honduras, took his identity documents to the local hospital, where staff told her he had recently died from coronavirus. Julio Sarmiento (pictured) surprised his wife after he turned up four days after a funeral was held for him in Honduras. She had misidentified a body in the morgue and buried an unknown coronavirus victim in Honduras She reportedly then recognised the body of the man in the morgue of the Hospital de Occidente, before it was released for burial. Mrs Sarmiento hired a funeral directors to transfer the man's body 30 miles from the hospital to her rural village in the country's western municipality of San Nicolas, Copan, where distraught relatives held an all-night wake before his funeral. The woman said she paid 10,500 lempiras (320) for funeral expenses. Mrs Sarmiento was still in mourning when, four days later, husband Julio arrived back home after he was found injured in a field in the neighbouring municipality of Trinidad. He had gone for a walk but fell over and couldn't get up again, remaining there for several days without food or drink. Mrs Sarmiento told Hondura's LaPrensa newspaper: 'That wasn't my husband who died, because I have my husband here now. I recognised him. The Hospital de Occident confirmed that the unidentified man she buried had arrived at he hospital in a serious condition with Covid-19 on December 27. Pictured: The man's grave 'I would like them to give me back some of what I spent, because they gave me the body of someone I don't know. The authorities at the morgue should have properly examined him to see if it was really him.' The Hospital de Occident confirmed that the unidentified man she buried had arrived at he hospital in a serious condition with Covid-19 on December 27. He died a few hours later. The hospital's director, Juan Carlos Cardona, insisted it was the woman who wrongly identified the man was her husband. Julio (pictured in a car with a paramedic) had gone for a walk but fell over and couldn't get up again, remaining there for several days without food or drink He said: 'The instruction of the Municipal Emergency Committee is to leave a patient who dies from Covid in cold rooms for six days in case a family member appears. 'Then the wife appears, bringing his identity card, recognises him and says he's her husband.' He added that, after staff noted the physical resemblance of the dead man with the photo Mrs Sarmiento carried, she then recognised the body herself in the hospital morgue. He said: 'With the correct security protocols the plastic bag was opened and she said that it was him. That's why the body was released to her.' Pictured: A death certificate for Julio after it was believed he had died of Covid-19 According to the hospital, one of Julio's children had called them expressing doubts about the dead man after opening the coffin on the day of the funeral, but later went ahead with the ceremony despite their doubts. Mr Cardona said: 'The logical thing was to bring the body back so we could investigate. But later the relatives called back and said he was the right person after all and they were going to bury him. 'We have everything documented. We even have an apology from one of the children, if this becomes a lawsuit.' Chennai: Modi government was attacked on Sunday over its Kashmir policy. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of mishandling the issue and turning the state, which was countrys strength, into its weakness. They are creating a problem for this country by their incompetence and by trying to utilise Kashmir as a political asset, Gandhi told reporters in Chennai. The government of India and the Prime Minister are completely mishandling Kashmir. Kashmir is Indias strength and they are making it Indias weakness, he said, blaming the Modi government for the current unrest in the Valley. The Congress Vice President said he had told Union Minister Arun Jaitley about six-seven months back that they were mishandling Kashmir and they are going to set it afire. But Mr Jaitley brushed me aside and said Kashmir is peaceful, said Gandhi, who had on Sunday attended an event to celebrate the 94th birthday of DMK chief M Karunanidhi. He said the opposition would unitedly fight and defeat the attempts of the BJP and the RSS to thrust one idea on a country that celebrates diversity. We are not going to allow one single idea of the RSS - the bankrupt idea, to invade this country and we are going to fight the RSS together, he said. Opposition parties stood united in this task to defeat the BJP and the RSS, he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Sen. Lindsey Graham Says Those Who Breached Capitol Security Should Be in Jail Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) held a press briefing on Thursday afternoon to address his concerns about security at the U.S. Capitol being breached by what he called domestic terrorists during the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress to count Electoral College votes. The first thing that stands out to me is how embarrassed and disgusted I am that the United States Capitol going to be taken over by domestic terrorists while were in session, transferring power from one president to the other, that a band of people who are terrorists, not patriots, literally occupied the floor the House, drove the Senate, out of its chamber, Graham said. On Wednesday, thousands of people gathered around the Capitol building to voice their concerns about alleged election fraud against President Donald Trump. While the majority were peaceful, some violently pushed their way past police, broke windows, and entered the Capitol, forcing the debate in the Senate and House chambers to be halted as lawmakers were told to shelter in place. Graham said he agrees with Sen. Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) call for the Senate Sargent-at-Arms to resign for not fulling his responsibility of securing the Capitol building. As potentially the new Senate majority leader if Democrat Jon Ossoff is certified the winner of the race against incumbent Republican David Perdue, Schumer said that he will fire the Senate Sargent-at-Arms Michael Stenger on Jan. 21 if Stenger does not resign. It was appalling how ill-prepared the Congress was for these attacks, which were known about in advance, Schumer said. Graham said, Anyone in charge of defending the Capitol failed in their duties. If they would have been in the military, they would have been relieved of their commands and most likely court-martialed. So, the first thing that has to happen is to hold those accountable for failing to defend the nations capital while the Congress was in session. Why am I so worried? It would have been so easy for a terrorist organization to infiltrate this movement, he added. The senator went on to say that lawmakers should have condemned and prosecuted the rioters and looters during the social justice protests that often turned violent during the summer of 2020. Political protest in this country is the heart and soul of who we are, he continued. But we havent been protesting lately, weve been burning down cities. Weve been attacking federal courthouses. Weve been looting in the name of social justice. And now, weve occupied the Capitol. This needs to stop, he said. Graham, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, said there is resounding agreement from both parties that the people who breached security and forcibly occupied the Capitol should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, and that leaders should be consistent with holding lawbreakers accountable. To my Democratic colleagues, I share your disgust and embarrassment and determination to make sure that what happened in our Capitol never happens again but you need to speak up when this happens in other places. Lawlessness in one place breeds lawlessness everywhere, he added. When one cause resorts to violence and people are not prosecuted, other causes believe, Maybe this is ok. So the mistake we made is when people tried to destroy the courthouse in Portland, they werent prosecuted to the full extent of the law. Until every political movement out there, no matter how just your cause in your own mind, [understands] using violence will not advance your cause it will only lead to your personal incarceration, or if you go too far, to injury. Politicians and members of the public are asking Twitter to remove Donald Trump as he posts his first tweets since deadly riots in Washington, DC. Mr Trump posted his first text tweet since he was suspended from the site on Wednesday morning, seemingly giving his backing to his aggrieved supporters. The 75,000,000 great American Patriots who voted for me, AMERICA FIRST, and MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, will have a GIANT VOICE long into the future," he wrote. "They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!! Earlier, Mr Trump had posted a video, without text, in which he had appeared more reserved and seemed to indicate that he would aim for a peaceful transition. The fact that Mr Trump is still able to post despite being banned on other platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitch led to pleas with Twitter and its chief executive Jack Dorsey to remove or suspend his account. Democrat Senator Joe Manchin was one of a number of politicians to call for Twitter to take Mr Trumps account down for fear that it could be used to incite more violence. The next 12 days are critical for the preservation of our democracy, he wrote, after the first video post but before Mr Trumps second, more inflammatory post. "@jack, once again I urge you to suspend the @realDonaldTrump @twitter account in the interest of our national security and public safety." !AJ Delgado, a lawyer who previously worked for the Trump campaign, tweeted disapprovingly about Mr Trumps return. Oh look -- the insurrectionist is back on, she said, quoting Mr Trumps tweet. Thanks, @Jack. I'm sorry, how is this person still allowed to post on this website? asked journalist Lydia DePilis. Fresh from a 12-hour Twitter ban, Trump is again downplaying and encouraging his violent, white nationalist supporters, wrote pressure group Muslim Advocates. "Facebook, Twitter & YouTube must terminate his accounts!" Twitter has already indicated that another infringement of its rules including those that ban voting misinformation and threats of violence would lead to Mr Trump being suspended from the site. It is not clear that either of the two new posts would breach those rules. In the wake of the violence in Washington, Twitter required that Mr Trump remove three posts from his page, and put the account into a 12-hour suspension for breaking its rules. As well as saying that any future violations would leave to a ban, it said in a tweet that it would continue to evaluate the situation in real time, including examining activity on the ground and statements made off Twitter, and that further escalation could follow. Facebook and Instagram have already gone much further than Twitter and banned Mr Trump from posting indefinitely and for at least two weeks. The change was made because Facebook decided the risk of allowing the president to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, chief executive Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a Facebook post. Instagram boss Adam Mosseri confirmed that it would stop Mr Trump from posting, too. "Given the exceptional circumstances, and the fact that the President has decided to condone rather than condemn yesterdays violence at the Capital, we are extending the block we have placed on his accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks," he wrote. T heres no denying that 2020 was a tough year, but for all of the hardship of the pandemic, the brave and compassionate actions of many represent a beacon of light during a tough time. As such, the 2021 New Year Honours list is a testament to the inspirational achievements and service of those who have supported communities across the UK from frontline nurses and firefighters to volunteers. In a year when so many have made sacrifices to protect our NHS and save peoples lives, the outstanding efforts of those receiving honours are a welcome reminder of the strength of human spirit, and of what can be achieved through courage and compassion, says Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The 2021 New Year Honours offer us an opportunity to salute their dedication and recognise many who have gone above and beyond in their contribution to our country. Here, six thoroughly deserving recipients of New Year Honours tell the stories of their remarkable contribution to the UKs fight against Covid-19 Louise Maltby BEM Matron, intensive care unit, Ashford and St Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Intensive care matron Louise Maltby BEM / Louise Maltby BEM Louise Maltby, 45, has been awarded the Medal of the Order of the British Empire for her above-and-beyond services to nursing during the Covid-19 response. She is an experienced level 7 clinical nurse educator with a passion for training and education who has been instrumental in the nurse development programme across the Trust. When I first received the email from the Home Office I presumed it was a fake, she says. I had to keep it a secret till 30 December, then called my sons and my mum to tell them. Maltby has been heavily involved in training and has been clinical practice educator for the hospitals intensive treatment unit (ITU) for nearly four years. A huge part of her role is staff welfare: Listening, creating forums to debrief and facilitating and organising wellbeing and psychological support continues to be a large part of our roles as matrons, she says. This then enables staff to be resilient in continuing to care for sick patients. This has resulted in 727 patients receiving the best possible nursing care in St Peters Hospital during the first wave of the pandemic, with 548 now having successfully recovered and discharged. We can all help to fight the virus and save lives, she believes: If we focus on elements we can control wearing the correct PPE, removing it correctly, washing hands and social distancing it will help with anxiety as well as suppressing the virus. Looking to the future, ITU is where Maltby wants to be: As a clinical practice educator, I enjoy training and developing staff in ITU so that we can keep helping people, she says. Professor Alka Surajprakash Ahuja MBE Consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist, and public engagement lead, Royal College of Psychiatrists in Wales In 2019, when consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist Professor Alka Surajprakash Ahuja, 50, led a project focused on the implementation of video appointments for young people suffering from mental health problems, little did she know the importance it would have later down the line. Professor Alka Surajprakash Ahuja MBE, right The Government needed her help by March 2020. Ahujas expertise was required to scale up this service in response to the absence of face-to-face medical and psychiatric care. We started on the ninth of March, and within six weeks we rolled it out to almost 90% of primary care, which just meant that people could continue to consult their GP and get the support that they needed, she explains, adding how this technology needed to be available in all of the Welsh hospitals by Easter. This was a programme which in normal circumstances would have taken a couple of years to roll out, but with Covid-19, there was an urgency and a need for this to happen within weeks. It was difficult work, but the Lisvane-based psychiatrist remained motivated by its importance. It was long days and it did affect all of us, she says, but one thing that kept us going was that we all believed that this was going to make a difference. And the difference was monumental: because of this technology in the medical sector, people could keep in contact with loved ones and attend important healthcare appointments virtually whilst staying protected from the virus. That said, Ahuja was surprised to receive the British Empire Medal: I was shocked, but humbled because its been a team effort, she says. I couldnt have done it on my own and each and every one along the way has contributed to make it happen." Michael Briggs MBE Executive director of East Belfast Community Development Agency Even though weve hardly moved out of the office this year, its all been pretty busy, says community worker Michael Briggs, 57.Weve been managing our Covid-19 programme, buying bulk food to get out to the groups that we support, and we developed a network of groups in East Belfast that have beendelivering small packages to people who are vulnerable, shielding or in financial need. Michael Briggs MBE Weve been managing our Covid-19 programme, buying bulk food to get out to the groups that we support, and we developed a network of groups in East Belfast that have been delivering small packages to people who are vulnerable, shielding or in financial need. Her partner had lost his job and then they lost their house. They werent making ends meet. They wondered how theyd get through Christmas and then this person turned up with a huge food parcel for them. The last thing Briggs was expecting was a New Year Honour. When the email came through with the subject line NY 2021, he thought it was promotional: My wife and I had been in New York for Christmas in 2017 and wed always talked about going back, so I thought it was a promotional email about that. Then I saw it was from the Cabinet Office. So, how does it feel being Michael Briggs MBE? A bit strange, he admits. For me, its about the efforts of other people as well. So many people have been very supportive of meover the years. Im the one who ends up getting the award, but other people have been involved in the success of my work. Sharon Sear BEM Commercial Manager, Transport for London (TfL) Last January, Sharon Sear, 52, noticed supplies of PPE essential for TfLs maintenance workers were running low. Sharon Sear BEM I could see the supply chain was struggling, she recalls. While PPE was previously just one aspect of Sears role, as the situation intensified and the wider workforce needed the correct safety equipment, it became Sears sole focus, and she worked tirelessly to ensure TfL staff were protected. But as the pandemic developed and the UK faced widespread difficulty in sourcing the right PPE, scarcity meant Sear had to act quickly to close the gaps to liaise with suppliers and get PPE approved. This involved changing to UK suppliers, introducing new procurement practices and ensuring that the right products were sourced. Certification was a huge issue, she explains. We were doing lots of checks and having to discard certain things. Without the millions of face coverings and hundreds of thousands of hand sanitisers procured by Sear, the running of the capital would have been severely hindered. Ultimately, youd have certainly taken trains out of action, she adds. With key workers relying on TfL to travel to essential jobs across London, the consequences could have been significant. Sears contribution has been recognised on the 2021 New Year Honours with a British Empire Medal. I was thrilled. Its a shame you couldnt give everybody that helped one, because I did have a lot of help. Everyone understood and stepped up. Alistair Forbes BEM and Peter Jaco BEM Tech entrepreneurs and angel investors Two tech entrepreneurs have helped hundreds of Scottish businesses with their team of digital experts who found themselves furloughed or out of work during Covid-19. Dr Alistair Forbes BEM Edinburgh-based Alistair Forbes, 60 and Peter Jaco, 62, formed the Scottish Tech Army (STA) last April at the start of lockdown. Since the launch, it has mobilised 1,300 volunteers from the tech community to support more than 175 projects in 70 locations across Scotland. Peter Jaco BEM Social care, education and training, travel and tourism, and local business recovery are all part of the STAs remit, and in recognition of its impact, the co-founders were both awarded British Empire Medals in the New Year Honours list. I was delighted, says Jaco of the medal, but we both really feel that the honour is for every volunteer we have had in the STA. Both point to the Covid-19 Dashboard project as one of the STAs key achievements. It was, Jaco says, a challenge put out to the armys battalion of volunteers to amalgamate all the publicly available data on Covid-19 to givepeople a clear and comprehensive real-time view of infections and deaths across Scotland. Beyond delivering practical solutions to the coronavirus crisis, the STA gives a mental health boost to the thousands of people they help and to its network of volunteers. It gives them a sense of purpose, Jaco says, where they can help their community and society with their technology skills, while developing their own. A Chicago Police union boss has downplayed the violence of the MAGA mob that stormed the Capitol and repeated Donald Trump's claims the election was rigged. John Catanzara was labelled 'delusional and disrespectful' by Mayor Lori Lighfoot after saying he sympathised with the frustrations of the rioters on Wednesday. Five people died during the storming of legislature, including a police officer who was allegedly struck over the head with a fire extinguisher by a Trump supporter. But Catanzara, who was speaking on Wednesday night before fatalities had been confirmed, told WBEZ radio on Wednesday night: 'There was no arson, there was no burning of anything, there was no looting, there was very little destruction of property. Catanzara, holding a 'thin blue line' American flag in solidarity with the police, faces off with a man in a photo uploaded to his Facebook page Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot took to Twitter yesterday to condemn Catanzara for his comments. 'This wasn't "frustration." It was a violent insurrection. The comments by John Catanzara, Chicago FOP President, either demonstrate clear delusion or reckless disrespect for the rule of lawor both,' she wrote. An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while supporters of Donald Trump storm the Capitol on Wednesday evening 'It was a bunch of p****d-off people that feel an election was stolen, somehow, some way.' While it is fair to say there was no arson, destruction and looting was widespread. At least one Senator had a laptop stolen, someone made-off with Nancy Pelosi's lectern and countless windows were smashed and offices trashed by the rabble. THE FOUR VICTIMS OF THE CAPITOL HILL PROTESTS Ashli Babbit, 35, San Diego, California - (gunshot wound) Rosanne Boyland, 34, Kennesaw, Georgia (unspecified medical emergency) Kevin Greeson, 55, Athens, Alabama - (unspecified medical emergency) Benjamin Phillips, 50, Ringtown, Pennsylvania - (unspecified medical emergency) Advertisement Police seized guns and Molotov cocktails and two pipe bombs were discovered at the Republican and Democratic committee headquarters a few blocks away. Catanzara, who was elected last May to represent Chicago's 12,000 cops, stopped short of condoning the law-breaking that unfolded. 'Evidence matters,' Catanzara said. 'Until that appears, shame on them for what they did, but it was out of frustration. There's no fights. There's no, obviously, violence in this crowd. They pushed past security and made their way to the Senate chamber. Did they destroy anything when they were there? No.' Since Catanzara's interview it has emerged that a total of five people died, including four protesters and a police officer. Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick, 40, was wounded during a brawl with Trump supporters and died in hospital last night after suffering a stroke. The New York Times reported that he was struck with a fire extinguisher but an official said a 'chemical agent' could also have led to the injuries. 'It was not clear if the blunt force had killed him; a chemical agent may have led to his death,' a source told the Times. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot took to Twitter yesterday to condemn Catanzara for his comments. 'This wasn't "frustration." It was a violent insurrection. The comments by John Catanzara, Chicago FOP President, either demonstrate clear delusion or reckless disrespect for the rule of lawor both,' she wrote. Catanzara has previously feuded with Lightfoot and was disciplined by Chicago PD for posing with a sign endorsing the president while wearing his uniform three years ago. Video stills show how the cops were completely overwhelmed by the sheer size of the crowd. They breezed past them before storming into the Capitol building During his interview he dismissed the concerns of Democrats and the media, calling it 'hyperbole' to paint Wednesday's riot as an insurrection. 'To call these people treasonous is beyond ridiculous and ignorant,' he said. 'They clearly have been ignored and they're still being ignored as if they're lunatics and treasonous now, which is beyond stupid. 'It's a whole side of the argument and, primarily, your profession is at the root of it,' he said, referring to the news media, 'basically championing Joe Biden the whole time.' Catanzara made clear he 'wouldn't have partaken in' the storming of the Capitol. However, he said that he believed there was evidence the general election in November was rigged. 'I don't have any doubt that something shady happened in this election,' Catanzara said. 'You're not going to convince me that that many people voted for Joe Biden. Never for the rest of my life will you ever convince me of that. But, again, it still comes down to proof.' The number of doses delivered to the Grand Duchy to date are enough to vaccinate 4,875 people, according to a response to a parliamentary question. The current BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine requires a second dose after a 21-day interval, although some countries have chosen to delay follow-up doses in order to vaccinate more people quickly. At present, the priority groups for the vaccine consist of healthcare employees, carers, nursing home employees, mobile care staff and residents in care homes. The quantity delivered to date is therefore not sufficient to vaccinate all those in the categories listed above. The government said it expects to receive sufficient doses from BioNTech/Pfizer to vaccinate around 39,000 people by the end of March. The EU approved the Moderna vaccine earlier this week. Although delivery dates are yet to be confirmed, Luxembourg is set to receive a significant number of doses in the coming months. The information above was provided in response to an urgent parliamentary question posed by CSV MPs Hansen, Halsdorf and Wiseler. PDF: Antwert op eng parlamentaresch Fro vu Wiseler, Halsdorf an Hansen How many people have been vaccinated so far? Up until 30 December, around 1,200 people received the first dose of the vaccine. All were healthcare workers. On Wednesday 6 January, the vaccines were rolled out to people in nursing homes, with 11 homes receiving the vaccine as part of the first phase, which is due to last until 14 January. Hospitals will shortly begin vaccinating on wards. There are 52 care or retirement homes in the Grand Duchy, comprising around 6,200 residents. Donald Trump has called on Americans to come together after violent scenes in Washington on Wednesday which he condemned as mayhem and a heinous attack. In a short video posted on Twitter, Trump said being president had been the honour of my lifetime and insisted that in spreading baseless claims of election fraud he had merely been fighting to defend American democracy. He also committed to a smooth transfer of power. President Trump returned to Twitter on Thursday following a 12-hour freeze of his account after the social media company said his messages could stoke violence. His message was the closest he has come to a formal acceptance of his defeat after weeks of falsely insisting he actually won the election in a landslide. Now Congress has certified the results a new administration will be inaugurated on January 20th, the Republican said in a video, without mentioning Mr Biden by name. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation. Trump said he had immediately deployed the National Guard to expel the intruders, though some US media reported he had hesitated to send in the troops, leaving his vice-president to give the order. He also praised his wonderful supporters and promised our incredible journey is only just beginning. Police officer dies A US Capitol police officer has died from injuries sustained in the attack on Congress by a pro-Trump mob as top Democrats have called for the president to be removed for inciting the riot. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi urged Vice-President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th amendment to the Constitution to declare the president unfit for office. Alternatively, she vowed to initiate the process to impeach the president. Under pressure, Donald Trump finally condemned the heinous attack. Wednesdays violence came hours after Trump encouraged his supporters to fight against the election results as Congress was certifying President-elect Joe Bidens victory in the November vote. Five people have died in relation to the riot, including Brian Sicknick, an officer at the US Capitol Police (USCP) who was injured while physically engaging with protesters, the police said. Meanwhile, the top congressional Democrats Speaker Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer have urged Vice-President Pence and Mr Trumps cabinet to remove the president for his incitement of insurrection. The Presidents dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office, they said in a joint statement. The duo called for Trump to be ousted using the 25th Amendment, which allows the vice-president to step up if the president is unable to perform his duties owing to a mental or physical illness. But it would require Pence and at least eight cabinet members to break with Trump and invoke the amendment, something they have so far seemed unlikely to do. Trump is due to leave office on 20 January, when Biden will be sworn in. SOURCE: BBC, AGENCIES Victoria's International Baccalaureate students are celebrating receiving their results after a year of study disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. Results released on Sunday showed the more than 1000 year 12 students that completed the International Baccalaureate graduate diploma in 2020 had achieved results in line with previous years, despite the lockdown and the move to remote learning. Lauriston Girls School students Cathy Xiong, Amelia Zhu and Felicity Hu on Friday. Credit:Simon Schluter Amelia Zhu, the joint IB dux at Lauriston Girls School, achieved a score of 44 out of a possible 45, the equivalent of a 99.75 ATAR. The school's median notional ATAR was 97.0 "I was really excited and really surprised," Amelia said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 5) Globe Fintech Innovations, Inc.'s (Mynt) valuation almost touched $1 billion after securing fresh funding amounting over $175 million from New York-based investment firm Bow Wave Capital Management. In an emailed statement on Friday, Myntthe operator of mobile wallet GCashsaid the investment came in multiple tranches. Mynt is a partnership between Globe Telecom, the Ayala Corporation, and Ant Financial. After the infusion of the new capital, Globe and Ant Financial remain as top shareholders with 40 percent stake each, while Bow Wave holds 13 percent. AC is left with the remaining 7 percent. The company's strong performance in the local market, its GCash in particular, enticed the fresh capital. GCash got the coronavirus kick as Filipinos' movement was limited due to strict quarantine controls, making digital payment the preferred method in the new normal. "The pandemic has acted as a catalyst in highlighting the importance of digital finance in society today and with this investment from Bow Wave, we look forward to further living out our vision of finance for all, enabling democratized access to payment and financial services to every Filipino," said Martha Sazon, president and chief executive officer of Mynt. In 2020, GCash recorded gross transaction value of more than 1 trillion, driven by online payments, bank cash-in, and sending money. Now, GCash has over 33 million Filipinos using its mobile wallet. "We are further encouraged by the fact that Mynt's momentum has continued, even as the country moved out of quarantine restrictions, suggesting a fundamental shift in our customers' behavior towards a cashless lifestyle," said Ernest L. Cu, chairman of the Board of Mynt. "We are confident in Mynt's future prospects as a unicorn in the Philippines," Cu added. Shares in Globe went up 20 or 1% to finish at 2,020 each on Friday. Qasim Sidiq is believed to have been targeted for content he composed as long as 15 years ago. A well-known Uyghur poet and literature teacher who went missing in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) nearly four years ago has been confirmed detained, according to an employee at his local education bureau. Qasim Sidiq of Ghulja (in Chinese, Yining)the seat of Ili Kazakh (Yili Hasake) Autonomous Prefecture and the XUARs third largest citywas detained by authorities in March 2017, after which he disappeared, a source with knowledge of the situation recently told RFAs Uyghur Service. The prolific author and amateur physicist, who previously worked for the Ghulja Bureau of Education and taught at the citys Dadamtu Intermediate School, disappeared around the same time that authorities launched a campaign of mass extralegal incarceration in the XUAR that has since seen up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities held in a vast network of internment camps in the region. According to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity citing fear of reprisal, Sidiq had been interrogated by police on a number of previous occasions and was likely detained as part of a group of people deemed suspicious because of previous brushes with the law. The source said song lyrics and poems composed by Sidiq as many as 15 years ago had been used as evidence for charges against him of inciting ethnic hatred, adding that they fear the teacher may have been sent to one of the regions camps. RFA called various offices in Ghulja seeking to confirm the sources information. An employee with the Ghulja city government refused to provide contact information or other details about Sidiq, although she appeared to be familiar with his name. The administrator of Dadamtu Intermediate demanded to know where RFAs reporter was calling from before saying that the school has no such teacher. When asked whether there is a Qasim Sidiq among the retired and former employees of the school, the administrator did not provide an answer. RFA also contacted the Ghulja Bureau of Education, where an employee said he was unable to look into Sidiqs file and claimed not to know of him. But a second employee at the bureau told RFA that Sidiq remains in some form of detention. We cant talk about cases of people under detention, he said, when asked where Sidiq is. When pressed further about when the former teacher, including when he was taken into custody, the employee replied, Theres no way I can tell you about this. I also cant talk about how many teachers [have been taken into custody], he added, before referring further questions to the local Public Security Bureau. It was not immediately clear whether Sidiq has been in detention since his arrest in March 2017. RFA was unable to locate any sign he went through a judicial process that would land him in prison instead of an extralegal internment camp. Intellectuals targeted Sidiqs detention fits a larger pattern of authorities in the XUAR targeting Uyghur intellectuals and other prominent members of the ethnic group as part of what observers have called a form of cultural genocide. Since the start of the internment drive in 2017, RFA has reported on dozens of leading figures in Uyghur society who have gone missing and whose names have disappeared from the scholarly events, websites, and literature where their work had previously been a fixture. Poet and former editor Rahile Kamal, who currently lives in Sweden, spoke with RFA about Sidiq, whom she said had begun organizing independent activities and events late in his career, as well as penning lyrics for popular songs, including Bu Keche, which got him into trouble with local authorities. I see Qasim Sidiq as an author, poet, and specialist in the natural sciences who is known not only in the Ili region, but also to everyone throughout our homeland, she said, noting that she had met and spoke with the teacher on multiple occasions. Later [in his career], I believe he founded an organization. He worked as the director of a literary and arts group. According to information available in online archives, in recent years Sidiq had also made a name for himself in the field of physics, where he published papers and other works that put forth novel concepts and theories. He wrote papers about physics, about things most people didnt really understand, Kamal said. Scholars read his papers; they created a lot of buzz. Kamal said that while Sidiq composed relatively few poems, he wrote them very well. Many of his poems had romantic themes and were love poems. The people loved them, and they were circulated widely, she said. Reported by Shohret Hoshur for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Badaun : , Jan 8 (IANS) Satyanand, the main accused in the Badaun gangrape and murder case, landed in police net, late on Thursday night, almost four days after a 50-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped and abandoned outside her home at a village in Badaun district. District magistrate, Kumar Prashant, confirmed that Satyanand, the local temple priest and the main accused was hiding in the house of one of his followers in a village from where he was picked up and arrested. Two of his aides had been arrested earlier. It may be recalled that the victim, a 50-year-old woman, had gone to the temple on Sunday evening. Later, on Sunday night, she was dropped outside her home in a critically injured condition by two men. The woman later succumbed to the injuries. According to sources, the victim was a regular visitor to the temple. Satyanand had come to the village around five years ago and remained mostly aloof. He lived in of the rooms in the temple complex. People who frequented the temple said Satyanand conducted rituals for them and also offered concoctions for aches and pains. Badaun SSP Sankalp Sharma said: "The two men arrested have said that they found the woman in an injured state and wanted to help her." The woman's family rejected the arrested duo's assertion. Her son-in-law said, "If they wanted to help, they could have woken up people in the village. But their intention was to leave her dead. She was a God-fearing lady; we cannot imagine something like this would happen to her in a temple." Meanwhile, National Commission for Women member Chandramukhi Devi, who visited the village on Thursday, has stirred a hornet's nest by saying that the incident would not have happened had the woman not stepped out alone in the evening. "This is a crime that has shamed humanity, but I would also like to say that women should not step out alone at odd hours. I feel had the woman not stepped out in the evening, or one of her children had accompanied her, the incident would not have happened," she said. NCW Chairperson Rekha Sharma said, "I don't know how and why the member has said this but women have the right move on their will whenever and wherever they want to." GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A 25-year-old Grand Rapids man arrested in the aftermath of the U.S. Capitol riot is not a Trumpster, his step-father said. Andrew Hanselman spoke about his stepson Thursday, Jan. 7, the day after rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. He was one of six Michigan residents arrested and among 70 arrested overall by Washington D.C. Metropolitan and U.S. Capitol police inside or near the federal building, according to a report released by the Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. MLive is not naming those arrested until their arraignments are confirmed. Hanselmans stepson was arrested on Vermont Avenue NW, some two miles from the Capitol building and at least three blocks from the White House. He was arrested on initial charges of carrying a pistol without a license, possession of a large capacity ammunition feeding device, and possession of unregistered ammunition, the police report shows. He is not a Trumpster, the stepfather said. Not a MAGA (Make America Great Again) person. Were totally flabbergasted as to the charges, he said. The biological father of the 25-year-old told the Detroit Free Press that he believes his son was there to protest against the Trump supporters. His son had participated in Black Lives Matter causes and was interested in fighting for social justice. Hanselman said he was shocked to learn his stepson had a firearm with him. Hanselman is a disabled veteran and served in Iraq in 2008. He has a strong view of Trumps presidency. For the past four years, there has been a dark cloud over our country, he said. As of Thursday evening, Hanselman and his wife had not been able to contact the 25-year-old. More from MLive Betsy DeVos resigns from Trump Cabinet, citing attack on Capitol Rioters place MAGA hat, Trump flag on President Fords statue The Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc) has confirmed that a criminal investigation into the death of George Nkencho is under way. GSOC said it has been in contact with Mr Nkenchos family since the day of his death: A family liaison officer (FLO) was appointed by Gsoc on the evening of Mr Nkenchos death and has been in contact with the family since then, providing the services of an FLO. Solicitor Phelim ONeill released a statement on behalf of the Nkencho family in which he welcomed the news of a criminal investigation. The statement expressed extreme concern about what it described as Gsocs distinct lack of urgency in its approach to the probe. The Garda Ombudsman Commission has been unable to specify when it will be in a position to take witness statements from George Nkenchos three siblings, who were eyewitnesses to their brothers shooting outside the front door of their family home, the statement said. This admission is made in circumstances where it is acknowledged in the same letter by the investigating officer that these statements are vital to the investigation. However, Gsoc said Gsoc has begun taking witness statements and, as is the case with any investigation, there are a number of matters to be explored and further witnesses to be contacted. This would be in keeping with the carrying out of all criminal investigations. A Gsoc spokesperson declined to comment on whether eyewitnesses have been interviewed yet. The solicitors statement added: It is a well-known fact that with the passage of time memories fade and crucial details can be lost, possibly forever. The eyewitnesses have crucial evidence which both An Garda Siochana and Gsoc have failed as yet to seek out and preserve. It is understood the interviewing process for witnesses has begun, but it is unclear if eyewitnesses have been spoken to. Mr ONeill said he was also concerned about Gsocs admission that the exact number of gardai present or number of shots fired has not yet been confirmed. Expand Close Queen Edbiri from Baldoyle takes part in a protest outside Blanchardstown garda station after the death of George Nkencho. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Queen Edbiri from Baldoyle takes part in a protest outside Blanchardstown garda station after the death of George Nkencho. This admission comes in circumstances where, elsewhere in the letter, Gsoc confirms it has taken possession of the firearms discharged at the scene; yet, despite this, it maintains that it does not know what officers were present and/or who fired the shots. Gsoc claims to be independent of An Garda Siochana, yet has still refused to identify the members of An Garda Siochana who discharged their firearms and shot George Nkencho, the statement said. Gardai have consistently said the decision by a highly trained and experienced male officer from the Armed Support Unit (ASU) to fire shots was because the garda believed there was an imminent threat to life. Meanwhile, Mr Nkenchos sister Gloria spoke on RTEs Prime Time last night about her older brother. George was charismatic, he was sociable, he was popular, he was intelligent, he was caring, she said. I guess life happens, and people go through things theyre not able to articulate, or theyre not able to explain, she said. Deep depression sets in and they change. I have never known a world where I didnt have my brother, and now here it is this is my reality now. Chittoor, Jan 8 : The police in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district on Friday arrested a 30-year-old man, M. Sudhakar, for allegedly murdering and raping a 75-year-old woman recently. Sudhakar also allegedly stole the victim's gold ear studs. Following the death of her husband, the woman was living alone in a cow shed in Kotha Gollapalli village in Tavanampalli mandal. According to the district police, one S. Thamu complained to them about the crime, prompting the police to register a case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Sections 302 and 380. "On probing about unruly individuals and people with a history of police cases in Gollapalli village, we stumbled upon Sudhakar," said an official. Incidentally, Sudhakar was missing from the village from the day the crime came to light and his phone was also switched off. Following a manhunt for the suspect, the police found him at the Modhulapalli bus stop. "On interrogation, Sudhakar admitted that he attempted to rape the old woman in the wee hours of Tuesday at around 1 a.m.," the official said. The accused first tried to rape the woman by gagging her. However, as she raised an alarm, Sudhakar first strangled her to death and then indulged in necrophilia. Following the crime, he stole the two gold ear studs weighing 6 gm from the woman and decamped to his home. On Tuesday morning, when he woke up, he realised that the whole village was abuzz with the news of the crime, prompting a terrified Sudhakar to leave the studs at home and flee to Tirupati. He returned again on Friday to the Modhulapally bus stop to check about the prevailing atmosphere in his village when the police arrested him. January 7-10 Yoga retreat Ananda Sangha that follows the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda holds online event Recharge Health Retreat. The global health retreat is an attempt to empower people with awareness, practical tools and techniques, and the easily achievable vision of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness. Experts from naturopathy, traditional Chinese medicine, yoga and other disciplines will be part of the event. Event Website: www.rechargehealth.global Email: support@rechargehealth.global Call: +91 8308401111 January 8 Ramnadi festival Kirloskar Vasundhara will organise its first Ramnadi Festival (online). It will document Punes neglected river giving information about its historical, mythological, geological status, biodiversity, health - hygiene, encroachment, pollution and other aspects through episodes online. Registration: Free through Facebook. January 9-10 Blood donation camp Lok Biradari Mitramandal Trust Pune organises blood donation camp and Covid-19 antibody check-up camp. Raktache Naate Charitable Trust, Acharya Anandrishiji Blood Bank has provided support for the camp. The facility of coronavirus antibody testing at a discounted rate has been made available by Janakalyan Blood Bank. Where: Ketronics India, near Karisma Society, Devagiri Industrial Estate, Kothrud Registration: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/16uzB0kf1WxbbMCEMzI4Bas5ZjJzWNgvjdfDJGd0u_Tw/edit?usp=drivesdk. Time: 9 am to 2 pm Contact: Aishwarya Chapalgaonkar (7875571679), Nitin Pawar (9822218641) January 9-10 Art for a cause Juhi Sachdev (HT) An art exhibition of 60 abstract and fine art paintings is hosted at High Spirits by young artists Juhi Sachdev and Apurv. The money raised would be given to an NGO that will help people who have lost their jobs because of Covid-19. A few pieces on display will also be of art work from the Yerawada slum community. Where: High Spirits, Mundhwa Time: 12 pm to 8 pm January 9-10 Two treks Plus Valley Adventure to hold trek to Andharban in Sahyadri. (HT PHOTO) Plus Valley Adventure to hold trek to Andharban in Sahyadri. The 4-hour trek is covered with dense forest and one can see the Kundalika valley. The trek will be descending from Pune (Ghatmatha) to Gatka. Details: https://www.plusvalleyadventure.com/services/sahyadri-treks/andharban-trek/ When: January 10 Fees per person: Rs 1,333.00 plus 5 per cent GST Katraj to Sinhagad or K2S is night trek for professional trekkers, amateurs, and newbies. The route starts from the Katraj Tunnel Top (New), travels through a series of mountains and hills (more than 15) and approximately (16 km) which leads to the destination the midpoint of the tar road to fort Sinhagad. The trek ends at the midpoint of tar road to Sinhagad fort. Details: https://www.plusvalleyadventure.com/services/sahyadri-treks/katraj-to-sinhagad-night-trek/ When: January 9-10 Fees per person: Rs 666.00 plus 5 per cent GST Contact: Shripad Sapkal (8380054988) Prajakta Ghode (8380054989) January 9 Bachata lessons Latin Dance Institute in India to teach Daniel Desiree style and Korkey Y Judith (gounder of sensual Bachata) and Ataca Alemania style Bachata is bringing Abhikizombero for Salsa, Bachata and Kizomba workshop. Time: 2 pm to 4 pm; 4 pm to 6 pm; 6 pm to 8 pm and 8 pm to 10 pm Place: VLS, Deron Heights 4th Floor, Pune India has reported 18,139 new Covid-19 cases, 20,539 recoveries, and 234 deaths in the last 24 hours, taking the country's count to 1,04,13,417, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said on Friday. While 1,00,37,398 people have recovered from the novel coronavirus so far, 1,50,570 persons have succumbed to the deadly virus in the country. There are 2,25,449 active coronavirus cases in India, as per the Union Health Ministry. Also Read | How US democracy nearly came undone As many as 17,93,36,364 samples have been tested for Covid-19 up to January 6 including 9,35,369 samples tested on Thursday, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) informed. Kerala continues to be the worst affected state by the pandemic with 65,252 cases. According to the Health Ministry, there are 11,939 active cases in UP, 9,109 active cases in Chhattisgarh and 4,481 active cases in Delhi. With 3,729 new COVID-19 cases and 72 deaths in Maharashtra, total cases in the state stand at 19,58,282. Karnataka reported 761 new COVID-19 cases, and seven deaths today. The total cases in the state reached 9,24,898 cases. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu reported 805 new COVID-19 cases, 911 discharges, and 12 deaths in the last 24 hours, talking the state's tally to 8,23,986 cases. Andhra Pradesh reported 295 COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours. The total cases in the state stand at 8,84,171 cases. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. HOUSTON Sabrina Burns, a senior at the University of Texas at Austin, had thought she would be launching a lucrative career in the oil and gas industry when she graduated in a few months. But the collapse in the demand for oil and gas during the coronavirus pandemic has disrupted her well-laid plans and is forcing her to consider a new path. We got a slap in the face, an entirely unforeseen situation that rocked our entire mindset, said Burns, who is studying petroleum engineering. I have applied for every oil and gas position Ive seen, like all my classmates, and nothing really has turned up. Im discouraged. With fewer people commuting and traveling, the oil and gas industry has taken a punishing blow. Oil companies have laid off more than 100,000 workers. Many businesses have closed refineries, and some have sought bankruptcy protection. The industry has attracted thousands of young people in recent years with the promise of secure careers as shale drilling took off and made the United States the worlds largest producer of oil. But many students and recent graduates say they are no longer sure that there is a place for them in the industry. Even after the pandemic ends, some of them fear that growing concerns about climate change will lead to the inevitable decline of oil and gas. These students are seeking elite positions in an oil and gas industry that employs about 2 million people. Even after recent layoffs, petroleum companies still employ more people than the fast-growing wind and solar businesses, which have a combined workforce of at least 370,000, according to trade groups. Burns, 22, said her choices have narrowed considerably over the past nine months. With opportunities in oil and gas limited, she recently accepted an internship with an engineering consulting firm specializing in energy conservation, and she may eventually apply to graduate school in environmental science. She is also considering moving in with her sister after graduation to save money. I feel like companies are going to be pretty cautious about coming out of this, about taking new hires, she said. Burns was enticed into an oil and gas career by stories her father, a helicopter pilot, told her about the successful female engineers he had met servicing offshore rigs in the Gulf of Mexico. But while her professors have talked up the future for oil and gas companies, she is worried. Even before the pandemic, Burns said, she had some doubts about her chosen industry. Other students and even an Uber driver ferrying her and others to a petroleum industry banquet in 2018 raised questions about the future of oil and gas and why renewable energy might be a better bet. Did you ever hear of a solar panel? she recalls the Uber driver asking her and her friends. The silent judgment and passing comments weighed on me a lot, she added. Her parents persuaded her to stick with her program, and Burns said she was committed to the industry and working to improve its environmental performance. I hope I can eventually put all of my skills and knowledge to work, she said. Demand Is Going to Come Back Stephen Zagurski, a graduate student in geology at Rice University, said the timing of his coming graduation was not perfect, far from it. You have a lack of available positions and you have a huge talent pool and an abundance of graduates getting out of school, he added. Its going to make opportunities to get into the industry that much harder. But Zagurski, 23, said the oil and gas industry will bounce back just as it has many times over the past century despite popular notions that the pandemic would permanently reduce energy consuming habits. Demand is going to come back, he said. Lets be honest here, how many things in our daily lives have some kind of a petroleum-based product in them? Zagurski has an internship with Roxanna Oil, a small company with managers who are his second cousins, and he has steadily been given greater responsibility. He can probably join Roxanna full time after graduation, and he is confident that the market for young geoscientists and engineers will eventually pick up. If the oil industry does not rebound, he is also considering working in geothermal energy or environmental science or pursuing a doctorate. Everyone is biding their time to see what will happen, he said. Some Have Switched Industries Myles Hampton Arvie, a senior at the University of Houston who is studying finance and accounting, wanted to follow his father into the oil and gas industry. Energy and gas is something I am passionate about," he said. Oil and gas is not going anywhere for the next 20 or 30 years, so while we are making that transition to cleaner energy, why not be a part of it? His father was a project manager in offshore fields in the Gulf of Mexico. Arvie is interested in an office job and twice interned with EY, also known as Ernst & Young, doing financial modeling, auditing and fine-tuning balance sheets for several U.S. and Canadian oil companies. He became the vice chairman of the Energy Coalition, a student group that provides educational and job fair opportunities for students. Arvie attracted enough attention to land interviews with several oil and gas companies, but a job offer proved elusive. Its very competitive, he said, and the downturn has only made it harder to land a position. Set to graduate in May, Arvie, 22, has switched careers and accepted a job at JPMorgan Chase, where he expects to get involved in derivatives and marketing in the technology industry. Someday, though, he said, he might find a place in the energy industry. Im a little disappointed, he said. But you have to keep it moving. Just Bad Timing Clayton Brown, a graduate student at the University of Houston who is studying petroleum geology, remembers finding an article online four years ago that asserted that the future couldnt look brighter for geologists investigating underground oil and gas reserves. I saw the salary that petroleum geologists make and I got immediately interested, Brown said. From Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, North Carolina, Brown went on to study geology at Western Colorado University. He was fascinated by the science behind seismic testing and rock and sand formations. Confident in his career choice, he borrowed tens of thousands of dollars to continue his education. Now 23, Brown has $55,000 in student debt. By the time he graduates next fall, he will owe about $70,000. To make matters worse, the small oil company where he was interning stopped paying him recently as it cut costs to manage the downturn. He moved back to North Carolina to live with his parents while attending classes online and sending out resumes. COVID was quite the curveball, he said. No one expects a virus to come destroy the oil industry. Still, he said, he has no regrets and calls the downturn just bad timing. A Job for Now but Worried About the Future Tosa Nehikhuere, the son of Nigerian immigrants, has been relatively lucky. Shortly after he graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2018, he joined a big European oil company, working various internships and jobs in the field and on the trading floor. But it has been such an unsteady ride that he already has misgivings about the direction he took in college. Nehikhueres parents were poor back in Nigeria. They moved to New York, where Nehikhueres father drove a cab. They eventually made their way to Houston, where life was cheaper and his parents pursued careers in nursing. They embraced the oil business, which dominates Texas and their home country, and prodded their son to pursue petroleum engineering. It is a common path of immigrants and first- and second-generation Americans in Texas. In the middle of Nehikhueres freshman year, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, led by Saudi Arabia, flooded the world market with oil to try to undercut the booming U.S. shale oil drilling industry, sending prices tumbling. It was pretty nerve-wracking, he recalled. I saw seniors with three internships at the same company get frozen out; juniors, sophomores having trouble getting internships. All around, it was pretty bad in terms of the job outlook. Nehikhuere thought about switching majors, but he figured that oil prices would recover, as they had so many times, and they did through most of 2018 and 2019. But the coronavirus pandemic took hold just as Nehikhueres career was gaining traction, and now he is worried again. Nehikhuere, 24, did not want to identify his employer, but he said it is laying off workers and is debating how aggressively it should pivot away from oil and gas toward renewable energy. If the company does move rapidly toward cleaner energy, he said, he is not sure if there will be a place in it for him. How much are my skills going to transfer? There is going to be a significant amount of layoffs, change and outsourcing, he added. To be honest, I don't know if its going to affect me or not. Its really up in the air. Nehikhuere is already contemplating a change, perhaps looking for work at a consulting firm or a business that provides technology to oil and gas companies. As I think more and more about my career, the volatility that is involved in working for an oil and gas company can be very unsettling, he said. I prefer to have something more stable. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he's given no consideration to forcing schools to reopen if teachers unions refuse to move ahead with in-person instruction once educators are vaccinated. During a press conference after unveiling his proposed budget for the new fiscal year, Newsom was asked to respond to growing criticism that his recently announced plan to incentivize districts to reopen gives teachers unions the power to keep schools shuttered until the pandemic is over. He was also asked if he would consider compelling the opening of schools if unions refuse to agree to local reopening plans. "There's an old African proverb that says, 'If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,'" he said. "And I do believe fundamentally that if we're going to successfully educate our most vulnerable kids, if we're going to be successful in addressing learning loss, if we are going to be successful as a state, we have to do it as partnership with. So this notion of imposition, closed fist versus an open hand, is a distinction for me that's important, and that distinction is reflected in providing incentives for the kind of behavior we want to see." Most of California's public schools have remained closed throughout the coronavirus pandemic as district officials have slow-walked reopenings. California is an outlier nationally, as public schools have been open in other large blue states such as New York and Massachusetts. "Our approach is not to do it top down and mandate," Newsom said Friday. "It's to have a collaborative framework with real incentives that allow for resource allocation to occur when people are committed to promoting the cause of in-person education." Under Newsom's plan, school districts will receive additional funding if they agree to a firm timetable for reopening schools beginning in mid-February. The proposal will be submitted to the state legislature as an adjustment of the state budget and offers additional funding for schools, up to $450 to $750 per student, if they commit to reopening. However, many teachers unions in the state have said they will not return to classrooms even if educators are vaccinated. For example, the California Teachers Association said even if all teachers are vaccinated, schools should not reopen if their counties are in the purple tier of the state's reopening plan. The current stay-at-home order allows for the few schools that have opened to continue instruction. When he first announced his incentive plan, Newsom was asked if it did enough to incentivize teachers unions. "There's a lot of incentives because our teachers love teaching," he said at the time. "The greatest incentive is the inspiration, that spark that led someone to want to contribute in such a profound and dignified way by educating the minds of the next generation. I don't know if there needs to be much more of an impetus than that." Hyderabad, Jan 8 : Tension prevailed at LB Nagar in Hyderabad on Friday as police arrested gau rakshaks to foil their plans to stage road blockade on Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway demanding protection of cows. Dozens of protesters were taken into custody. Police personnel were seen physically lifting the protesters and shifting them to police vehicles and whisking them away. Holding saffron flags and raising slogans, protesters squatted on road. The protest led to traffic jam at busy LB Nagar cross roads. Yuga Thulasi Foundation had given call for 'sadak bandh' to press its demand for declaring cow as the national animal. Foundation chairman and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam (TTD) Board member Kollisetti Shiva Kumar was among those arrested by police. Police also detained protesters at Vanasthalipuram and Meerpet to prevent them from heading towards LB Nagar crossroads for 'sadak bandh'. Shiva Kumar condemned police 'high-handedness' and announced that his organisation will continue protests till the Central and state governments take steps for protection of cows. He said 'maha padyatra' will be organised from Bhagya Laxmi temple at Charminar to Bahadurpura on January 15. Foundation also plans to organise 'maha dharna' at Nizam College. He voiced concern over the continuing slaughter of cows every day. Last month, a one-day hunger strike was organised by the Foundation demanding that cow be declared as national animal of India. The Pennsylvania State Capitol was closed to the public Thursday, with an exclamation point. One day after the nation was riveted to news coverage of supporters of President Donald J. Trump raiding the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from its final certification of the electoral college vote in favor of President-elect Joseph R. Biden, leaders at the state Capitol ordered workers there to work from home Thursday, primarily as a precaution. The exclamation point in Harrisburg was the closure of the massive metal doors that hang on the exterior of the main public entrance off Third Street, a barrier that is rarely closed, but that did create an extra later of security should any would-be intruders find themselves in a glass-shattering mood. We just thought, look, a lot of our folks are working from home anyway, and maybe it would just be safe, not knowing what the night (overnight hours) was going to hold down in Washington, to have all of our employees work from home today, said Dave Reddecliffe, chief clerk of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The extra concern was prompted by reports of some threatening activity at a handful of state capitols on Wednesday, as well as Pennsylvanias ongoing status as a hotly-contested swing state throughout the 2020 campaign. In the last year, the Capitol Complex has seen particularly spirited rallies on subjects as varied as the George Floyd killing, Gov. Wolfs pandemic closure orders and President Trumps unfounded claims of massive election fraud. It was taking all precautions... We had no threats. We had no imminent danger, Reddecliffe. But with social media, crowds cna form at the last minute. They can form quickly, and we just thought, hey, lets be safe about this. The governors workforce, consisting of all of the executive branch agencies, meanwhile, was not operating under any extraordinary measures, Office of Administration press spokesman Dan Egan said. But remember, under Gov. Tom Wolfs December coronavirus pandemic orders, about 11,500 of the 15,000 workers who usually stream into the Capitol Complex to turn the wheels of state government are already working from home at least most of the time. About 1,000 more people work out of the Capitol itself. Whether this weeks events will prompt a new round of longer-term security measures at the Capitol, as the airborne terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 on New York City and Washington D.C. did? Those attacks led to the installation of permanent bollards at the base of the Third Street steps and other security upgrades designed to dramatically restrict vehicular access to the Capitol Building, as well as the end to the age of unchecked public access to the building. It was too early to tell about what kind of additional measures, if any, that Wednesdays riots could bring. Anytime theres an incident like that where peoples safety was in jeopardy, you re-evaluate your security procedures, and what you have in place, said Jennifer Kocher, spokesman for Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre County. Kocher said she fully expects Senate security and Capitol Police will revisit current practices, procedures and capabilities at the State Capitol, all with the backdrop that this is the peoples House. As of late Thursday afternoon, Reddecliffe added, leaders were planning to reopen the Capitol building on Friday, though - given the current pandemic limitations, the building will still remain closed to the public with none of the traditional tours, rallies or press conferences that normally animate it. The state House is still scheduled to hold legislative session days next week, though since the two-year legislative calendar has just begun, the week will primarily be given over to the re-establishment of committees and other organizational tasks. After that, the House and the state Senate are both scheduled to be in session the week of Jan 25. Dear reader, Welcome to Gandhara's weekly newsletter. This briefing brings you the best of our reporting from Afghanistan and Pakistan. If youre new to the newsletter or havent subscribed yet, you can do so here. Violence overshadows next round of Afghan peace talks Days before the U.S. presidential inauguration, talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban are set to resume in the Qatari capital, Doha, on January 9. Hopes for progress in the drawn-out talks is overshadowed by an increase in violence. Among the dozens of Afghan security forces, civilians, and Taliban fighters killed in attacks across Afghanistan this week, another journalist, Bismillah Adel Aimaq, was killed in a targeted attack in Ghor Province. In telling remarks, Najia Anwari, a spokeswoman for the Peace Affairs Ministry, conceded that the negotiations were a complicated process. U.S. forces spokespeople in Afganistan publicly voiced their intention to defend Afghan forces from Taliban attacks and suggested such murders are part of a Taliban assassination campaign. Hazara killings reverberate in Pakistan In Pakistan, the Shiite minority is protesting the killing of Hazara coal miners in an attack claimed by the Islamic State militants. In Quetta, hundreds of Hazara mourners have joined a sit-in protest in sub-zero temperatures since January 3. They are refusing to bury the 11 victims until Prime Minister Imran Khan guarantees their protection. "No one slaughters animals as fearlessly as they cut off the necks of our people. This is the murder of all humanity, one Hazara protester told my colleagues from Radio Mashaal. Allegations of murder follow Toronto death My colleague Frud Bezhan looks into the mysterious death of Karima Baloch, an exiled separatist activist who died in mysterious circumstances in Toronto last month. Like other members of Pakistans long-oppressed ethnic Baluch minority, she had sought asylum in the West after threats were made to her life. Her home province of Balochistan is home to a simmering insurgency by separatists, and the two-decade insurrection and Islamabads harsh response have frequently bred tragedies. The lack of a definitive explanation of her untimely death has led to a suspicion of foul play among exiled activists, who are demanding a thorough probe by the Canadian authorities. Islamabad quickly responds to Hindu temple destruction In some optimistic news for minorities, the authorities in northwestern Pakistan acted quickly by arresting the clerics and politicians who incited a mob to destroy a Hindu temple in Karak. The Pakistani government announced plans to rebuild the temple but, in the words of one rights activist, the destruction is yet another example of persistent discrimination faced by the beleaguered Hindu community in Pakistan." Identity theft generates profits in Pakistan The proliferation of digital technology in Pakistan has its downsides, too. In an insightful piece, my colleague Anisa Ajmal reports on how women are increasingly becoming the victims of identity theft as vendors use their ID cards to profit from selling illegal mobile phone connections across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. If police discover that a SIM card used for a crime belongs to an innocent or illiterate person whose ID card was wrongfully used, its extremely hard to [find the real perpetrator], a journalist in Peshawar told her, addressing the far-reaching consequences of identity theft. Pakistani reporter turns to construction work to survive In a revealing video report this week, we bring you the story of Shakirullah, who turned to menial labor after his reporting career ended amid mass layoffs. He is among thousands of Pakistani media workers who have lost their jobs in recent years because of shrinking revenues and cost-cutting measures. Censorship and an increase of media ownership by industry tycoons with partisan agendas has also undermined press freedom in the country. The owners tell us that they cant afford to pay workers, says Fida Khattak, the head of a journalist union in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. But if we look at the TV and newspapers today, there is no shortage of advertisements. Afghan calligraphers preserves ancient art In another video report, we bring you the inspiring efforts of Afghan calligrapher Abdul Hakim Karimizada, who is seeking to preserve and promote traditional Islamic calligraphy. While living on support from patrons, Karimzadas contributions might see his form of calligraphy registered with UNESCO, which would help preserve the centuries-old tradition. I hope you enjoyed this weeks newsletter, and I encourage you to share it with colleagues who might find it useful. If you havent subscribed yet, you can do so here. I also encourage you to visit our website and follow us on Twitter and Facebook. You can also reach us directly at gandhara@rferl.org. Yours, Abubakar Siddique Editor TV9 Marathi, the leading Marathi News Channel from TV9 Network, Indias No.1 News Network has unveiled a new look and brand positioning - Kaalji Tumchi Hith Maharashtrache (Viewers Concern & In the Interest of Maharashtra). The channel is celebrating its 12th Anniversary in January 2021 and has evolved from a Mumbai centric Channel during the initial years to becoming the preferred Marathi News Channel in Maharashtra. TV9 Marathi captures the pulse of Maharashtra while also covering all relevant national and international news, making it the clear No. 1 Marathi News Channel during Prime Time (SOURCE: BARC, IND(TV), NCCS ALL 15+, Maharashtra, Week 32 -392020, Average Weekly Impressions). Speaking on the channels new avatar, Barun Das, CEO, TV9 Network said, Every business needs to repivot to align itself with the evolving consumer interest. TV9 Marathi, having emerged as the viewers choice in the state in the last 12 years, is all set to restage for the Marathi audience. The new brand promise is firmly rooted in the regional pride of Maharashtra and makes a compelling pitch for further progress of the state. Commenting on its overall content strategy Umesh Kumavat, Editor-TV9 (Marathi) said, "We try to deliver every news which concerns Maharashtra & its viewers. We will cover every important aspect of news which includes both urban as well rural sector at breath taking speed without compromising its authenticity". On overall brand re-positioning, Bhushan Khot, Business Head- TV9 (Marathi) said, The new brand positioning is very well aligned with the core philosophy of TV9 Network as a group. Being a part of Indias No.1 News Network, we have a responsibility of delivering news which is not only credible but also concerns with the people of Maharashtra. Be it political, social or day to day happenings, news which provides value to the viewers are at the core of our brand promise. The Brand Campaign, focuses on the new positioning & the programming, will have 360-degree marketing plan which includes TV, Digital, Outdoor, Print & Radio. TV9 Marathi has revamped its content strategy along with its new look and positioning. The revised programming line-up has a slew of innovative content formats along with a power packed prime time to address the ever-evolving Marathi news viewer. Some of the shows in the new line up are as below. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Volunteers are searching for a missing 53-year-old Great Kills woman on Friday morning in her home neighborhood. A woman fitting Kara McTigues description was spotted in that community on Friday morning and police were notified, according to the missing womans sister, Lydia Simone. Volunteers gathered in front of the Marina Cafe around 10 a.m. and were posting and distributing flyers as they canvassed the area for the woman, who has taught at PS 57 in Clifton for about 18 years, according to her sister. Police have asked the public for help and a private detective, John Downey, also is assisting the family. Neighbor Brad Bellocchio puts up a missing poster as family and friends search around the Great Kills neighborhood where Kara McTigue lives. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Shes got to be somewhere in this area, said Simone, who is organizing the search with her husband, John. McTigue has long blond hair, stands about 56 tall and weighs about 125 pounds, according to the familys missing-person flyer. Her sister said that McTigue likely is dressed all in black, including her hat, parka jacket, leggings and boots. She might be carrying a paper bag. A woman who resembled her sister was seen on Russell Street near Wiman and Nelson avenues, the sister said. She fit the description, the sister said of the woman, who was walking very slowly with her head down. According to Simone, when she went missing Wednesday morning, McTigue was captured on surveillance cameras walking in the vicinity of Hylan Boulevard toward Nelson Avenue at about 5:45 a.m. on Wednesday and then she disappears, possibly into Seaside Wildlife Nature Park at the foot of Nelson. Weve got signs all up in that park, the sister said. I want to make my way around in that area [on Friday]. The sister also hopes to scour some green space in the back of the Port Regalle development nearby. Lydia Simone, the sister of Kara McTigue, leads the search in Great Kills on Friday, Jan. 8, 2020. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) Were doing everything we can to possibly get leads, were doing a lot of social media, Simone said. She appreciates how people have been posting and sharing her sisters information on social media. People have been very lovely in coming together at this time, Simone said. I really believe were going to find her today. If not, the family will try to do another search on Saturday or Sunday. Im just worried about her being out in the cold, Simone said, adding that McTigue didnt take her wallet when she left home. Shes been very stressed out, Simone said, explaining that her sister had coronavirus (COVID-19) and their father, Nelson Ransier, died of the illness. Another sister, Kerry Ransier, told the Advance/SILive.com her missing sibling had just been discharged from the hospital. Simone said she had been dealing with the stress with the school system... especially during the COVID. I just think a lot of things have been building up to this. The NYPD provided a photo of McTigue. Anyone with information in regard to her whereabouts is asked to call the NYPDs Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). The public can also submit tips by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips. On Thursday, WAAY 31 exclusively heard from a man who is a part of the Morgan County Republicans group that traveled to Washington D.C. Wednesday. He saw firsthand what happened at the Capitol. Tom Fredricks, a treasurer for the Morgan County Republicans, said some people in the organization traveled to D.C. for the Stop the Steal Rally, which he says was peaceful. Fredricks says the actions of a few who may have come with bad intentions is what caused the chaos most of us witnessed yesterday. "I felt completely safe in a town I might not normally feel safe in being surrounded by patriotic Americans," he said. Fredricks said he never expected the chaos that ensued afterwards. "None of us, at least within our group and any of the people I talked to, felt like we were compelled in any way to go into the Capitol. Nothing that was said during the rally," he said. "What Trump said, what Mo said, all of that, nothing encouraged us to say, 'hey guys, we should go storm through the Capitol and break through the security systems and violate the Capitol police,'" Fredricks said. Fredricks said he doesn't agree with rioters who did decide to go inside the Capitol. "They crossed a line, they crossed a huge line," he said. But, he said their actions were not representative of the many who traveled to D.C. "The people who were intent on causing mayhem succeeded. The vast majority of the people that were here were not a part of that action," he said. Fredricks told WAAY 31 he still feels like it was a rewarding experience and the message they came down there to get across was heard loud and clear. The FBI is looking to identify any individuals who instigated the violence at the Capitol. As of right now, there is no indication if they believe any outside groups were involved. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - Upco International Inc. (CSE: UPCO) (OTC: UCCPF) (FSE: U06) ("Upco") is sending an immediate release to all Upco stakeholders at the request of IIROC. These documents can be accessed from the SEDAR web site at www.sedar.com. At the request of IIROC, Upco International Inc. ("UPCO" or the "Company") wishes to confirm that the Company's management is unaware of any material change in the Company's operations that would account for the recent increase in market activity and Upco Management's thanks for the incredible support received so far and the Trust in our strategy and project. About Upco International Inc. Upco International Inc. (CSE: UPCO) is a Vancouver and New York City based telecom and digital services company founded in 2014 that provides price competitive, high-quality and privacy-protected telecom and communication payment social platform in niche markets globally. The Company operates primarily in the telecommunication industry as a global telecom carrier within the international VoIP (voice over IP) wholesale business with a current focus on wholesale international long-distance traffic termination (the Wholesale Telecom business unit or B2B vertical of the business). Complementary to the goals in its B2B segment, the Company targets to provide subscribers of partner global and local telecom companies reasonable pricing on high-quality on-network international calls, while still offering its users free texting, international airtime top-up capabilities (the ability to add talk-time/data to a user's pre-paid mobile phone plan), and other social media features present in most over-the-top applications around the world. Please visit www.upcointernational.com for further information. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Andrea Pagani, CEO and Director office@upcointernational.com 212-461-3676 Forward-Looking Statements Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain assumptions, estimates, and other forward-looking statements regarding future events. Such forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties and are subject to factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control that may cause actual results or performance to differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements. This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively "forward- looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward- looking information is typically identified by words such as: "will" "may" "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "development", "forthcoming", "potentially" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. Upco cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by Upco is not a guarantee of future results or performance. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71645 The following open letter was sent to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis: I write to you on behalf of La Colmena, an immigrant and worker rights organization based in Port Richmond, Staten Island. As your constituents, we would like to meet with you to discuss how we can work together in advancing a fair and humane immigration policy. La Colmena serves diverse immigrant communities across your district. Our mission is to advance policies that keep families together, protect immigrant workers, strengthen our economy and protect our national security. Throughout your career in the Assembly, you have stood against the DREAM Act that would help young immigrants attend college. You voted against drivers licenses for immigrant workers, despite the fact that Staten Island lacks meaningful transit choices. Nevertheless, I believe that women working together can create extraordinary change and that is why I want to reach out to give us an opportunity to talk and work together and not just on immigration, but also on healthcare, transportation and beyond. At your swearing-in ceremony, you highlighted your parents immigrant story and their American Dream. We want to work with you to ensure the American Dream continues to be within reach to all Staten Islanders. The federal government is an important partner in our efforts to modernize our outdated immigration system. Therefore, we request an opportunity to meet with you to discuss this further, as well as hear the immigrant stories of your district. (Yesenia Mata is executive director of La Colmena.) Capitol police officers stand outside of fencing that was installed around the exterior of the Capitol grounds, in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) US Capitol Police Chief to Resign After Breach of Capitol Building The head of the U.S. Capitol police is resigning after a breach of the Capitol building on Wednesday by a group of rioters. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sunds resignation will be in effect on Jan. 16, a police spokeswoman told news outlets. Sund said that police planned for a free speech demonstration and was not expecting a violent attack, which he said was unlike anything he had experienced in his 30 years in law enforcement. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) had earlier on Thursday called on Sund to step down. There was a failure of leadership at the top of Capitol Police, she told reporters at a press conference. I think Mr. SundHe hasnt even called us since this happened. Lawmakers had gathered on Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol for a joint session of Congress to count and certify Electoral College votes for the 2020 presidential election, but proceedings in the chambers to debate whether to reject votes for Arizona were interrupted in the afternoon when a small group of rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. It is unclear who instigated the breach of the building around 2:15 p.m. Officials declared around 6 p.m. the Capitol building had been secured. Congress in the early hours of Thursday certified the Electoral College vote for former Vice President Joe Biden. A group of protesters enter the Senate Chamber in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Prior to announcing his resignation, Sund praised police officers on Thursday and said that they acted valiantly when faced with thousands of individuals involved in violent riotous actions at the Capitol. He said that on Wednesday, the rioters actively attacked police and other law enforcement officers with metal pipes, discharged chemical irritants, and took up other weapons against our officers. They were determined to enter the Capitol Building by causing great damage, he said, reported KMGH-TV. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany condemned Wednesdays violence in a short address at the White House. The violence we saw yesterday at our nations capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. We condemn it, the president and this administration, in the strongest possible terms,she told a press conference Thursday afternoon. It is unacceptable and those that broke the law should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. She said described Wednesdays events as a group of violent rioters undermining the legitimate first amendment rights of the many thousands who came to peacefully have their voices heard in our nations capital. Those who violently besieged our capitol are the opposite of everything that this administration stands for, she said. The core value of our administration is the idea that all citizens have the right to live in safety peace and freedom. Following the breach of the Capitol, the FBI is seeking the publics help to identify those who were involved, and National Guard personnel will remain in Washington through the end of the month. Jan. 20 is Inauguration Day, when Biden is slated to be sworn into office. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The traffic movement on the Pune-Mumbai expressway was less in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. According to the Maharashtra Highway State Police (HSP), Pune division in 2020 (January to December), a total of 42 accidents were reported and 26 people lost their lives, while in 2019 (January to December) a total of 87 accidents were reported and 37 people lost their lives. According to Sanjay Jadhav, superintendent of Police, Highway State Police (HSP), Pune, during the unlock phase last year the police officials focused on creating road safety awareness among masses and will continue to take strict action against violators. He speaks to Dheeraj Bengrut about the plan ahead. 1. What would you say about overall expressway operations in 2020 and the decline in the number of accidents and fatalities? For at least four months due to complete lockdown, there was a fewer number of vehicles on the expressway. When the unlock process started, we focused mainly on creating awareness among people about safe driving. Through interceptor vehicles we are taking action on speeding vehicles, our camera action near the Kamshet tunnel and heavy vehicles action on the left lane on the expressway are some of the key measures which we had taken in 2020. Now, we have also started announcements at the tolla nakas for the public, through which we create awareness about travelling safely and following rules like using a seat belt, lane discipline, not using a mobile phone while driving among other things. Along with this road the infrastructure has also improved, rumbler strips were installed and unauthorised punctures were cut down. 2. How do you plan to improve operations? We will be continuing our regular actions against speeding, lane cutting and other safety-related awareness amongst drivers on the expressway. We will also monitor the vehicular movement coming on the expressway from the nearby villages and conduct an audit of roads. Accordingly speed breakers will be installed on these roads. Another focus area for us will be to keep a track on heavy vehicles. We want to keep the left lane only for the use of heavy vehicles. Most of the times these heavy trucks move from the middle or first lane and other small vehicles while overtaking them go in a zig-zag formation, which is risky or leads to accidents. 3. What is you appeal to commuters using the expressway? Commuters should keep a watch on the speed limit while driving on the expressway. Rather then we taking action against them they should be responsible and follow norms. Everyone should realise that back home our family wants us to be safe so we should take our own responsibility. Actor Vikrant Massey reminisced about performing his first-ever shot and getting scolded by his director. The incident took place in December 2004, when he was shooting for the television show, Kahaan Hoon Main. He said that after the incident, he burst into tears and almost gave up on his dreams. Vikrant began his career on television and worked in shows such as Dhoom Machao Dhoom, Dharam Veer and Balika Vadhu before entering the film industry. He made his Bollywood debut in 2013, with a supporting role in Lootera, and has starred in films such as Chhapaak, Dolly Kitty Aur Woh Chamakte Sitare and Ginny Weds Sunny. In an interview with Cosmopolitan India, Vikrant said, I was shooting for the show, Kahaan Hoon Main. And just 20 minutes into the shoot, my director yelled at me so hard on the mic, in front of everyone! No-one had ever spoken to me like that before. I felt so humiliated. I started crying and wanted to quit there and then. But the supervising producer, who is now a really close friend, was really supportive. She took me to a corner, and said, Welcome to this world!. She spoke to me kindly, at length, and made me go back to the set. And I have never looked back since!, he added. Also read | Rajiv Lakshman deletes photos with Rhea Chakraborty, says he took them down due to his irresponsible choice of words Recently, Vikrant was seen in Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi, which marked the directorial debut of actor Seema Pahwa. The film, which released in theatres earlier this month, featured an ensemble cast, including Naseeruddin Shah, Konkona Sensharma, Vinay Pathak, Supriya Pathak and Parambrata Chattopadhyay. Vikrant has a number of films in the pipeline, including Devanshu Singhs 14 Phere with Kriti Kharbanda, Vinil Mathews Haseen Dillruba with Taapsee Pannu, Santosh Sivans Mumbaikar and a film with Shanker Raman. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON With the Washington Monument in the background, people attend a rally in support of President Donald Trump near the White House in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP Photo) Trump Supporters Take Stock of Jan. 6, Feel Mischaracterized by Media WASHINGTONEmpty streets and a subdued atmosphere characterized Washington on Jan. 7 as Trump supporters processed the events of the previous day and the certification of the Electoral College votes by Congress overnight. Many were packing up to go home, at the same time a fence was being erected around the Capitol; the National Guard presence was obvious. Marine veteran Tony Good traveled from Florida and walked to the Ellipse to hear President Donald Trump speak in the morning. He said Trump didnt incite violence in his speech. No, absolutely not. Theres a line between inciting to riot and standing on convictions, Good told The Epoch Times. He wasnt telling anybody to riot, he was just telling them its our right to protest. Thats a right we have in America. Good became separated from his group and returned to his hotel to regroup after the speech. He didnt go to the Capitol, but said he wishes he had. I call yesterday the first day in the 10-year war, he said. Its going to be 10 years before this gets turned around. Its going to take that long. War in the sense of getting things to where they should be in America, as far as fair and free elections, election integrity. Its not going to happen overnight, because the powers that be dont want it to be. They want to rule. They want to be the ruling class. Good said he isnt surprised by what happened yesterday, but is feeling a little sad today because theres going to be a change going on. We just got to regroup. Were fighting an evil system. When you have all the mainstream media against you and you have all the money going against you, its not going to be that easy, he said. Stand Up for This Country Elizabeth Rowell flew alone from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to join the protests. She found Trumps speech to be passionate, but not to the point of incitement to riot. I never once felt unsafe. I met a lot of great patriots on the way. The entire time we were there, we chanted U-S-A and sang the national anthem, she said. Today, however, Rowell said shes feeling kind of bummed, because I dont like the way we were portrayed. I feel like the media makes it look like the people that went inside have now made the rest of us outside look like were a bunch of hoodlums. But we didnt do anything. We were all there just to be patriotic and support our president, she said. I came here to stand up for this country. I think it was ripped off, stolen from us. Im not going to accept Biden as president, and I do feel like the worlds getting ready to go to crap because of him. She said she continues to stand with Trump. Very Disillusioned Martha Todd, a retiree from Lynchburg, Virginia, said she felt good about the Jan. 6 protest rally, but didnt hear about the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt or the storming of the building until after she left. I feel bad about the way things worked out, and I really feel bad the way the media is portraying everything. Of course theyre making it all sound terrible were mobsters and mobs and violent. Thats not true, she said. Im very disillusioned. But I do not support Biden. His family is a crime family. I just feel like were screwed. I dont feel like Ive lost hopetheres always hope. Theres so many people out there that are so against Trump. They lie and cheat and stealhow are you going to fight against thatwhen they cheat? And they all support each other. On the Verge Self-described conservative Carol Logreco traveled from New Orleans and was at both the Ellipse and the Capitol. She said she wanted to be there to support freedom and the ability to have free and fair elections. [We] feel like were losing a lot of our rights, and that were on the verge of becoming more of a socialist or Marxist society, she said. You can see the indoctrination of our children and students and in our communities, and I really felt like this was the last real stance to speak up before we dont have a chance to do that anymore. She said yesterday felt festive in general, but she saw some agitators within the crowd, which she believes infiltrated the protest. I feel disappointed. Disheartened. I feel like its a war. And I think this was a battle within the war. And I dont mean that like a physical battle in war but more of a philosophy, and where do we stand as Americans, and where are our rights and our freedoms, Logreco said. People can go to Portland and Seattle and burn buildings down and take over police stations and everything else, and its called Summer of Love. Going forward, she said, we have to regroup and figure out whats the best way to still be heard. This Is a Bad Situation Mike Morejon, a self-employed Floridian, said he feels broken today. Because of what my parents lived, I understand the gravity of thisthis is a bad situation, he said. Morejon said his parents lived in Cuba as Fidel Castro took power and lived a difficult life until their escape in the early 1970s. They made [my mother] work in agriculture and work her way out of Cuba for four years. She had to go cut sugar cane and pick fruit and vegetables for 14 hours a day as a 17-year-old woman away from her family. They would put maggots in their food and rats in their water supply, he said. Morejon said he fears a similar future is possible in the United States under the control of the globalist elites and the Chinese communist regime. He said Trump has stood up to the Chinese regime, after it got a pass for decades under previous U.S. presidents. Its the globalists, its the elitists, and its China. They want to tax us, theyre going to raise our taxes, they want to vaccinate us, they want to keep us under government control. And thats where I see it going, Morejon said. He came to support the Constitution, because without a Constitution, we have no rights, he said. Im here for every Democrat. Im here for every regular person. Fight Not Over Kim Kramer flew in from New Orleans to join what she said was a very upbeat, very enlightening day with people who want to support one another, support our country, support our president. Today, she said she has mixed feelings. I knew this was a demonstration of the people to show our representatives how we do support our president. Other than that, I wasnt expecting or anticipating anything else, she said. The fights still not over. But I dont get over excited about it. And I dont get depressed about any of it, because I think its all in the right hands, its in good handswhether its exposing those who are correct and those who arent. I have strong faith in God, and I do believe that with all our prayers, and with God looking out I believe theres just some really good people that do have faith. President Trump has suggested to aides he wants to pardon himself in the final days of his presidency, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions, a move that would mark one of the most extraordinary and untested uses of presidential power in American history. In several conversations since Election Day, Mr. Trump has told advisers that he is considering giving himself a pardon and, in other instances, asked whether he should and what the effect would be on him legally and politically, according to the two people. It was not clear whether he had broached the topic since ... Four little brown bats. Photo courtesy of Joseph Hoyt of Virginia Tech. Credit: Joseph Hoyt of Virginia Tech Since 2006, a fungal disease called white-nose syndrome has caused sharp declines in bat populations across the eastern United States. The fungus that causes the disease, Pseudogymnoascus destructans, thrives in subterranean habitats where bats hibernate over the winter months. Bats roosting in the warmest sites have been hit particularly hard, since more fungus grows on their skin, and they are more likely to die from white-nose syndrome, according to a new study by researchers at Virginia Tech. But instead of avoiding these warm and deadly sites, bats continue to use them year after year. The reason? Bats are mistakenly preferring sites where fungal growth is high and therefore their survival is low. This is one of the first clear examples of an infectious disease creating an "ecological trap" for wildlife. Kate Langwig and Joseph Hoyt, both assistant professors from the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Science, have been studying little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus) populations in Michigan and Wisconsin since 2012, before the fungus first reached those states. This long-term study was the perfect opportunity to see if bats alter their preferences across hibernacula, or hibernation sites, in response to the invasion of white-nose syndrome. "We see that there is a shift across the regional bat population over time," said Skylar Hopkins, a previous postdoctoral scholar at Virginia Tech and now assistant professor at North Carolina State University. "When we look at the population post-invasion, we see that more than 50 percent of the bats are still choosing to roost in warmer sites, even though colder sites are available. But on average, bat roosting temperatures have declined, because the colder-roosting bats have had higher survival rates." Their findings were posted in Nature Communications. To understand how temperatures are playing a role in bat population declines, the researchers used a mark-recapture method, which involves banding bats and then trying to find them later. Virginia Tech researchers search hibernation sites for banded bats. Credit: Kate Langwig of Virginia Tech The team visited bat hibernacula for sampling twice per year: once in early hibernation, after all of the bats had arrived and settled down for the winter, and once again in late hibernation, before the bats emerged from their hibernation habitat. If bats were missing in late hibernation that had been present earlier in the winter, those bats had left the hibernacula early and likely died in the cold, insect-free Midwest winter. The research team also used a swab to measure the fungal loads that were on each individual bat and used a laser thermometer to measure the roosting temperature of the rocks next to each bat. Now that they know that bats are preferring high mortality sites, Hopkins hopes that their data can be used to think about which sites researchers and conservationists need to prioritize for conservation and how to conserve them. "Because we know that bats are doing better in the cold sites, the cold sites may be good ones for us to conserve," said Hopkins. "We can also think more about the warm sites that are acting as ecological traps and whether we should be trying to manage those sites in a different way. Maybe there are interventions that should be done at those sites to prevent most of the population from going there each year and having these big mortality events." One's first instinct upon hearing about these interventions would be to close off these deadly hibernacula entirely. But according to Langwig, it's just not that simple. "The thing that is hard is that there are multiple bat species in these habitats. And I worry that there would be cascading impacts on some of the other bat species if we attempted to alter the sites. It depends a lot on the physiology of the bat," said Langwig, who is an affiliated faculty member of the Fralin Life Sciences Institute and the Global Change Center. "But there may be some creative solutions. There are researchers in Michigan and Pennsylvania who have been working to cool down the warmer sites by modifying the entrances or using solar power to pump air into the sites." Of course, temperature is just one aspect of the microclimate that bats experience while they are hibernating. Hopkins and Langwig expect that humidity could also play a role in the spread of white-nose syndrome. But, measuring humidity is easier said than done. Since underground hibernacula have a high relative humidity, it can be difficult to make accurate measurements. "We've designed new humidity loggers to collect better humidity data than has been possible before. These loggers are already deployed in caves and mines across the eastern United States, so we hope to soon understand how humidity has played a role in bat population declines, if at all," said Hopkins. Explore further Predicting the impacts of white-nose syndrome in bats A Republican state senator who was on the scene when a violent mob of fellow Donald Trump supporters commandeered the U.S. Capitol should resign, the top Democrat in the Pennsylvania Senate said Thursday. Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, said Sen. Doug Mastrianos words and actions since November encouraged a coup attempt and inspired the people behind it. At least eight other Senate Democrats have said Mastriano should step down. He has questioned the integrity of our elections without evidence, wasted taxpayer resources with sham hearings that claimed fraud without proof, and yesterday he was intimately engaged in the protest at the nations capital, Costa said. Mastriano, from Franklin County, has not returned multiple messages in the past two days, but said in a statement late Wednesday that he did not enter the Capitol or go beyond police lines, and when it was apparent that this was no longer a peaceful protest, my wife and I left the area. In a video message, he said he did not support the violence, decried the mobs attack on police and described how he and his wife had to drive through Washington traffic to get home. One of those calling for his resignation, Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-Philadelphia, said Trump and Mastriano proudly fanned the flames of insurrection. Yesterday, Mastriano traveled to Washington D.C. to see the fruits of his efforts and admire his work. Senate President Pro Tempore Jake Corman, R-Centre, said he saw no basis for the Senate to remove Mastriano. He assured me that he did not participate in any unlawful activities, Corman said. Mastriano organized busloads of people to go to Washington on Wednesday, but he apparently did not ride in one of those buses himself. Mastriano has boasted repeatedly in recent months that he has had regular, direct conversations with Trump about the presidents attempts to overturn his loss to Joe Biden in the presidential election. Mastriano organized a November hearing in Gettysburg on specious election fraud claims, a meeting that Trump spoke to by phone. Later that day, Mastriano and fellow supporters went to the White House, but Mastriano tested positive for COVID-19 and was not allowed to meet with Trump. He has also led a series of rallies at the Capitol this year to oppose mask wearing, social distancing and the states infection mitigation strategies. He has encouraged supporters who want to see him run for governor in 2022. Before the attack on Wednesday, Mastriano put his Washington itinerary on Facebook, including a speaking slot on the Capitol steps scheduled for 1 to 3 p.m. the time when the building was being besieged. By MARK SCOLFORO and MARC LEVY Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) - Duesenberg Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: DUSYF) (the "Company" or "Duesenberg"), an OTCQB-listed issuer, is pleased to announce that on January 6, 2021, Duesenberg Inc. of Reno Nevada - a wholly owned subsidiary of Duesenberg Technologies Inc.- had signed a contract with Rocket Supreme, the Barcelona, Spain automotive design house established by renowned automotive designer, Christopher Reitz. Christopher is a member of the Porsche family and has headed up several design and project teams such as Audi's Advance Design, Global Nissan Design Strategy, Alfa Romeo and Fiat. The agreement spearheads the rebirth of the illustrious Duesenberg brand, which plans to capture the ethos that established Duesenberg at the pinnacle of USA automotive culture in Luxury Electric Vehicle segment. As Reitz explains: "We are privileged to be given this unique opportunity to honour the most incredible design stories ever seen, such as the Duesenberg SSJ Boattail and the Coupe Simone Midnight Ghost. What's more, echoing the spirit of August and Fred Duesenberg, we will be innovating, in this case by interpreting a brief to create a truly sustainable Duesenberg vehicle range, positioned within the top echelon of the US and global luxury market." Reitz continued: "It's all about sustainable design. Our focus is to ensure not only that we design aesthetically-elegant Duesenberg cars, but to do so in a manner where functionality is entirely in sync with today's ecological and sustainability needs." In closing, Reitz said: "We are focusing on renewable material technology - internally and externally, and every element of the new Duesenberg designs will combine with an engineering approach that is environmentally optimised." Joe Lim, CEO and Chairman of Duesenberg Inc., commented: "We are thrilled to have Christopher Reitz and his design team on board at this celebration of Duesenberg's rebirth." The design of the first Duesenberg is scheduled to be released in 2021. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Lim, Hun Beng (Joe), President CONTACT INFORMATION Duesenberg Technologies Inc. (604) 648-0510 contactus@duesenbergtech.com Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals and research and development of an Electric Vehicle. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the business plans for the Company as described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings, which are available at www.edgar.com. We seek safe harbour. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71623 All over the US, Pro-Trump protesters showed their support in demonstrations in 17 statehouses. Trump may have lost, but millions of Americans support him, not the one declared by congress on January 6. Pro Trump Protesters Flooded 17 Statehouses in Peaceful Demonstrations President Donald Trump's supporters in state capitals show their support for their choice, not for Biden on January 6. The incident at the U.S. Capitol by a group of protestors does not represent all of them. States that saw all-out support for Trump were Arizona, California, Mississippi, Tennessee, Minnesota, Georgia, Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Washington, Ohio, Oregon, Kansas, Hawaii, Wisconsin, and South Carolina. All should what support Trump had compared to the limited showing of support for the Democrat frontman, report The Epoch Times. Many of the participants had signs with "Stop the steal" and " Four more years" that was a clamor over the belief of electoral irregularities. These seven states were the center of the challenge against the electoral results. Some arrests and incidents were reported in Ohio and California. In New Mexico, a group of Trump supporters on horseback with U.S. flags cause the police to evacuate a statehouse building. The building had the offices of the governor and the secretary of state. Protesters sang "God Bless America," honked horns, and shouted that Trump is legitimate, not Biden who stole votes. Many news outlets who did not call out Antifa took the time to accuse Trump of gaslighting his supporters. While the legacy media kept the Hunter Biden story until late. Also read: The Left: Antifa Terrorists Threaten Senator Josh Hawley, Wife, and Infant Daughter at his Home In Washington, the protestors went inside the Capitol to express their sentiment generalized for all Trump supporters. The violence occurred, but in pockets, not all protesters went to extreme measures. In some places, there were those talking to officers. But those who left were prevented from returning. When the session was debating over the Arizona slate's objection that had contested votes from the ex-VP mulled over. It is when the breaching happened in the Capitol building. Arizona had anomalies, and the result was questioned. Arguments in unconstitutional changes to election law and illegal votes were the issue. When the incident at the U.S. Capitol happened, there was approval in Minnesota and Arizona. The Trump supporters were exercising their second amendment rights as they converged in the Capitol of Phoenix. The Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had to vacate his office fast in the Capitol after 100 protesters were outside. Most were peaceful, but some were armed with rifles. Gabriel Sterling, a top official with Raffensperger, remarked that things were happening outside the Capitol, and they did not want to be caught there. Trump criticized Raffensperger and Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp for their refusal to clarify electoral issues. Georgia is a hotbed of election fraud where democrats presided. Other states were generally orderly and quiet. In Topeka, Kansas, the protesters were peaceful and followed the law. Honolulu Trump supporters were waving flags. But the media choose to highlight the Capitol breach to make it look otherwise. Despite what happened, pro-Trump protesters show support in demonstrations in 17 Statehouses. Related articles: Protestors Dressed in Trump Garb to Deploy National Guard, FBI to get Back Control @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Friday banned the government from importing new coronavirus vaccines from the United States and Britain, Money Control reports. "Imports of U.S. and British vaccines into the country are banned. I have told this to officials and I'm saying it publicly now," Khamenei said in live televised speech. "If the Americans were able to produce a vaccine, they would not have such a coronavirus fiasco in their own country," he said. Advertisement Three people have been charged with assaulting police after officers entered a family's home because they were told there were 'too many people inside'. Two police officers knocked on a door in Aberdeen at 11.20pm on Wednesday after a member of the public reported a breach of coronavirus restrictions. Gatherings are banned in the UK to ease pressure on the NHS as the number of coronavirus cases continue to rise. It comes after a similar crackdown by police forces in England yesterday, with drivers turned away from beauty spots in Derbyshire while police grilled parents with a pushchair in Birmingham city centre. Priti Patel said it is 'right' for officers to confront Britons sat on park benches and argued that police should stop people and demand to know why they are outside their homes. Just hours after the Home Secretary threw her support behind the controversial police action, it emerged that officers in Birmingham questioned a couple with pushchair to ask what business they had in town. In Derbyshire, police were seen turning away drivers from the National Trust's Calke Abbey yesterday afternoon and reportedly issuing tickets by taking vehicle registration numbers. In Ely, Cambridgeshire, disturbing pictures highlighting the harsh reality of lockdown 3.0 showed town-centre seats taped off to stop people using them. Two police officers knocked on a door in Aberdeen at 11.20pm on Wednesday after a member of the public reported a breach of coronavirus restrictions Policeman stopped by his OWN force and asked where he was going A red-faced policeman was stopped by officers from his own force and asked where he was going during coronavirus lockdown. Insp Lee Wiggan was on his way to a meeting at his police headquarters when he was asked to justify his movements by a police officer. It comes as cops said they will beef up the approach to lockdown breachers and impose 200 fines for anyone out without a valid reason. Insp Wiggan - who covers the Ladywood East area of Birmingham - was on his way to the meeting in the city centre at the West Midlands Police Lloyd House HQ. He was stopped on Wednesday morning. The policeman tweeted: 'On my way to a meeting at headquarters and got asked to explain my reason for being in town by Brum City Centre Police. Keep up the good work team.' Advertisement Footage taken in Aberdeen at 11.20pm on Wednesday before being shared online showed a police officer standing inside the hallway of a home as a woman was held back by another man. She said: 'My house. That is bullying. This is my house. Get out of my house. I did not ask you in here.' A young boy can be seen in the video as the woman's daughter said: 'Just stop it mum'. Two women, aged 18 and 48, and a 43-year-old man were charged in connection with assaulting police officers and threatening and abusive behaviour, according to Police Scotland. A spokesman added: 'We received a complaint from a member of the public regarding a breach of coronavirus regulations at a property in Aberdeen, around 11.20pm on Wednesday, 6 January, 2021. 'Officers attended and two women (aged 18 and 48) and a 43-year-old man were charged in connection with assaulting police officers and threatening and abusive behaviour and will be reported to the Procurator Fiscal.' Police officers are legally allowed to enter Britons' homes if 'that person reasonably suspects that an offence under regulation 5(1) is taking place on the premises,' according to legislation. Leaving the house in Scotland is now illegal after the country was thrown back into lockdown. The hardline crackdown, announced by Nicola Sturgeon, includes the legally enforceable stay-at-home rule. Five police officers surround a man at Hammersmith Tube Station in west London yesterday as part of a crackdown on people shunning lockdown The Met has vowed not to warn people any longer and punish them with fixed penalty notices of at 200 for first offences, and these officers were also stopping cars Derbyshire police were pictured turning drivers away at a vehicle checkpoint at Calke Abbey, near Ticknall, yesterday afternoon Police officers and Covid marshals were seen patrolling the seafront at Bournemouth Beach in Dorset yesterday in a bid to stop rule breakers What is a 'reasonable excuse' for leaving home? You must not leave or be outside of your home except where you have a 'reasonable excuse'. This will be put in law. The police can take action against you if you leave home without a 'reasonable excuse', and issue you with a fine (Fixed Penalty Notice). You can be given a Fixed Penalty Notice of 200 for the first offence, doubling for further offences up to a maximum of 6,400. A 'reasonable excuse' includes: Work - you can only leave home for work purposes where it is unreasonable for you to do your job from home Volunteering - you can also leave home to provide voluntary or charitable services Essential activities - you can leave home to buy things at shops or obtain services. You may also leave your home to do these things on behalf of a disabled or vulnerable person or someone self-isolating Education and childcare - you can only leave home for education, registered childcare, and supervised activities for children where they are eligible to attend. Meeting others and care - you can leave home to visit people in your support bubble ( if you are legally permitted to form one), to provide informal childcare for children under 14 as part of a childcare bubble (for example, to enable parents to work), to provide care for disabled or vulnerable people Exercise - you can continue to exercise alone, with one other person or with your household or support bubble, limited to once per day, and not outside your local area Medical reasons - you can leave home for a medical reason, including to get a COVID-19 test, for medical appointments and emergencies Harm and compassionate visits - you can leave home to be with someone who is giving birth, to avoid injury or illness or to escape risk of harm (such as domestic abuse). You can also leave home to visit someone who is dying or someone in a care home (if permitted under care home guidance), hospice, or hospital, or to accompany them to a medical appointment Animal welfare reasons you can leave home for animal welfare reasons, such as to attend veterinary services for advice or treatment Communal worship and life events - You can leave home to attend or visit a place of worship for communal worship, a funeral or event related to a death, a burial ground or a remembrance garden, or to attend a wedding ceremony. There are further reasonable excuses. For example, you may leave home to fulfil legal obligations or to carry out activities related to buying, selling, letting or renting a residential property, or where it is reasonably necessary for voting in an election or referendum. Advertisement Her deputy, John Swinney, confirmed police will take enforcement action on those breaking the rules. He said: 'There will be restrictions for a substantial period. We've set out our position for the course of January and we came to that conclusion because of the words you quoted from the First Minister. 'We are more concerned about the situation in Scotland than we have been at any stage in the pandemic so far. That's come about because of the acceleration of the virus as a consequence of the new variant. 'We've had to take these measures, we very much regret that we've had to take these steps and we appreciate the burden that this places on individuals within society but it's the right thing to do to protect the public'. Exercise and essential journeys are the only reasons people are allowed to leave their homes. In London yesterday, one man who was stopped outside Hammersmith Tube station was asked to provide his name and address, which was written down and checked by officers, and the reason for his journey. The man was allowed to enter the station and continue travelling but refused to comment on whether he had been fined. One officer told MailOnline: 'We're all over the area to enforce Covid laws and make sure that people are out for the right reasons. If you're not local or don't have a valid reason to be out, then you will be fined.' But the police officer revealed that they had not issued a single fine as most people have been adhering to the rules. saying: 'I think the message is getting through that you should only be out for essential reasons'. In Birmingham, an exchange between two officers and a couple with a pushchair walking through the city centre only ended when the man produced cash from his pocket and told officers they were going to pay in money at a bank. The pedestrian, who did not want to be named, said: 'I don't know why they picked on us. 'They just asked why we were in the city centre and when I explained about the bank they left it at that. I think it's just a matter of control really.' The same pair of Police Community Support Officers then quizzed two men languishing by a shop doorway and threatened one with a 250 fine if he did not leave. Isaac, 33 - who only provided his first name - said: 'I have to come into the city centre to pick up my methadone from Boots pharmacy. 'During the first lockdown they would give us two weeks worth so as to stop us making so many trips out but this time they are only giving it to last a day so we will have to be back tomorrow. 'The officers were very fair because my friend is not really allowed in the city centre and could have been given a 250 fine on the spot and not just a warning.' His friend Luke, 34 - who also declined to supply a surname - added: 'Methadone is not something you want to be picking up in your local area so I come to the city centre. 'These officers were fair. They told us not to hang around and to make our way home. 'Another officer would have taken a much harder approach.' One MailOnline reader sent a picture of these taped off benches in Ely, Cambridgeshire, yesterday, claiming they are not allowed to be used because of the pandemic The ruling BJP in Goa on Friday said Chief Minister is ready to have a dialogue with villagers opposing the proposed IIT campus in Sattari taluka and accused the opposition Congress of misleading agitators. (BJP) Goa president Sadanand Shet Tanavade, however, said Sawant will not visit Shel- Melaulim village where locals are agitating against the proposed IIT (Indian Institute of Technology) project in the area. The protest turned violent on Wednesday with the agitators hurling stones and police responding with lathicharge. At least 12 policemen and several villagers were injured. The police on Thursday filed cases against several local Congress leaders and social activists in connection with the violence. Talking to reporters, Tanavade accused opposition parties, including the Congress, and communists of misleading villagers and denying them opportunity of have an IIT in their locality. "The Chief Minister is ready to have a dialogue with the villagers, but he will not visit the village. Let the villagers come and meet him and discuss the issue, he said. Mob psychology would create unruly situation if the Chief Minister visits the village," the BJP leader said. "I can even see some red flags in the village. Communists are also trying to encash on it (the agitation), Tanavade said. The issue of IIT at Shel-Melaulim would be solved, the day NGOs and opposition parties stop interfering there, he said. He said it was dream of former CM late Manohar Parrikar (who studied at IIT Bombay) to have a campus of the prestigious institute in the state and the current BJP government is fulfilling it. Tanavade appealed to residents of Shel-Melaulim in North Goa district not to get misled by opposition parties. Police have booked several villagers on attempt to murder charges after the violence. The villagers are not ready to part with their land for the project. CURBS on the sale of alcohol by forcing off-licences to cut their opening hours may be the next step in the fight against the Covid-19 crisis after Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned it is helping to fuel the spread. Dr Holohan welcomed signals that the Government is looking at curtailing off-licence hours. He said the virus loves alcohol and it was clear it was causing people to let down their guard. He was speaking as the rapid acceleration in the spread of the virus has left the country facing the fastest rate of growth since March. Ten more Covid-19 related deaths were reported yesterday, along with 6,521 cases, although there are cautious signs that cases may have begun to stabilise in recent days. Read More The figures from recent days had to be interpreted cautiously, and it will take time to show if the country was starting to turn the corner. However, admissions to hospitals will continue to escalate, and there were a record 1,043 people being treated in wards yesterday, with 99 hospitalised in the previous 24 hours. Intensive care units had 96 Covid patients, and doctors are terrified they will not be able to provide the level of care needed by every patient who is seriously ill. HSE clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said the most optimistic prediction is that there will be 200 Covid-19 patients in intensive care next week. Prof Cliona Ni Cheallaigh, an infectious disease consultant in St Jamess Hospital, said doctors were terrified of finding themselves where they have to choose between patients because of a lack of beds. There are 286 intensive care beds and capacity to increase this with temporary beds to 350, but hospitals are facing huge difficulties with absent staff due to the virus. There are 2,500 off work, including the specialist nurses and doctors needed to provide this level of care. Prof Philip Nolan said the more infectious strain of the virus is now accounting for around one in four infections, and it will make it more difficult to get the third wave under control. Its threat means everyone needs to work harder to slow the spread and double down on their efforts. Read More It will be next week before there is any firm sign that the spread of the virus may be stabilising, and optimism is still very thin. The R number showing how fast the virus is spreading is at between 2.4 and 3. Prof Nolan said that at no time since the start of the pandemic in March had it exceeded 1.6. He said this was certainly at least in part explained by the very high levels of socialisation and social contact in the last weeks of December. He added that a pessimistic forecast was that there will be 2,500 to 5,000 cases a day by the end of this month. The more optimistic possibility was that it could be between 1,100 and 2,900 a day. Ireland went into lockdown in October when daily cases were around 1,200, which shows the hill that has to be climbed in the first part of this year. Prof Nolan expressed concern about the rate of infection, hospitalisation and risk of death among the over-65s. Around 11 people a day are dying of Covid-19 related disease, and so far this month there have been 41 deaths. There were 163 last month. Earlier, HSE boss Paul Reid said the rate of growth in Covid patients is a massive shock, and 400 hospital beds were available yesterday as well as 31 intensive care beds. We are looking at an extreme situation in our hospitals in the coming days, he said. Mr Reid said 15,314 people, mostly healthcare workers, have received the vaccine and 35,000 are expected to get it this week. Around 27,300 doses have already been distributed. We are where we expected to be, he told an HSE briefing. The briefing was told there have been 108 open outbreaks since the beginning of the month across long-term care facilities and hospitals. There are currently 79 active outbreaks. Around 880 nursing home staff are off work because of Covid-19. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-07 22:31:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close People wearing face masks are seen in the Central district of Hong Kong, south China, Jan. 4, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Shen) BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday urged the United Kingdom to abandon its illusion of continued colonial influence on Hong Kong and to cease interfering in China's internal affairs. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Wednesday that the arrests of politicians and activists in Hong Kong were "a grievous attack on Hong Kong's rights and freedoms" as protected under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing that the core of the Joint Declaration is the resumption of China's exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, which does not grant Britain the right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. "Since the return of Hong Kong, the Chinese government has governed Hong Kong on the basis of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, not the Joint Declaration," said Hua. Hua said those people were arrested on suspicion of committing crimes including subversion under the national security law in Hong Kong. "We firmly support Hong Kong police in performing their duties in accordance with laws to safeguard national security and Hong Kong's security and stability," she said. Hua said that after Hong Kong's return, it is an undeniable fact that Hong Kong residents have enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights and freedoms with the implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy for the region. On the contrary, the British government reserved the right not to apply the provisions related to periodic elections to Hong Kong when ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976. Both the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance during British rule imposed draconian restrictions on assembly, procession and association in Hong Kong, according to Hua. Stressing that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, Hua urged the British side to discard its colonial mentality, abandon its hypocrisy and double standards, earnestly respect China's sovereignty, and immediately cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form. Not since the British stormed the United States Capitol has it been invaded by those out to end the American constitutional system. But it happened this week at the hands of American citizens. Encouraged by President Donald Trump -- and let's not mince words here; he told them to march on the Capitol -- a mixed group of rabid, malcontented supporters stormed through barricades, smashed windows and took up residence in the chair belonging to the President of the Senate, who is also the Vice President of the United States. The insurrectionists, having constructed the gallows and hung a noose, entered the Capitol calling for Vice President Mike Pence to show himself. They did so after the President tweeted Pence had lacked the courage to throw out the Electoral College. Then the protestors, various members of Congress, television hosts and others lied and said it was probably antifa. The man with the painted face and horned hat calling for the Vice President to show himself, a key organizer of the insurrection, was a well-known Trump supporter. He had his picture taken standing next to a few neo-Nazis. Surely there were some left-wing anarchists there, too. But this was organized by Trump supporters and egged on by the President. Why were they there? For two months, the President, various talking heads, news networks, pundits, grifters, charlatans and conmen perpetuated a lie. They claimed, with no credible evidence, that the presidential election had been stolen. They have not yet offered the names of anyone who actually voted fraudulently. The President's legal team went to court in multiple states and denied any fraud under oath. Trump-appointed judges threw out the frivolous claims. Now some of the loudest voices are being sued by Dominion Voting Systems for defamation. One might hope Dominion bankrupts some of these fledgling propaganda networks that fanned the flames of conspiracy and lies. In the United States Capitol, a woman died after being shot while storming the building. She died because she had been duped into believing the election was stolen. A patriot and Air Force veteran who had served multiple tours, she wanted to defend her country from what she believed was a stolen, rigged election that undermined both the will of the people and the democratic processes of the nation. It was actually her undermining the will of the people and the democratic processes of the nation, but she died believing the lies and believing that her cause was noble. The whole thing was tragic, unnecessary and based on the irresponsible lies of a group of sore losers and their abettors. Those losers, then ashamed of what they did, tried to blame antifa or said things like, "What about the media coverage of the summer riots?" "What abouting" what the nation saw on Wednesday is shameful. As someone who condemned the summer riots and criticized the media coverage, we should at least acknowledge the summer rage came from outrage over the deaths of citizens at the hands of the police and the Wednesday rage that led to deaths was based on outrage fueled by lies. The truth, like it or not, is that the President of the United States stoked the passions and fanned the flames of a mob that stormed the United States Capitol in a physical attack on the separation of powers designed to disrupt the democratic processes and institutions of our republic. If the Congress will not act because of partisan passions, the partisans and politicians have failed, and our system is as broken as those storming the Capitol claimed. If the first branch of government will not act to remove the President who sent the mob to shut them down, the first branch of government is shutting itself down. This is a bigger issue than a single President, but big issues require big moments of leadership, and we are now a nation of small spines in our political class. Small spines do not lead; they are led. And they are being led by a mob of malcontents more comfortable wrapped in lies than truth. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM A MAN was ordered to stay away from places of detention and to desist from flying drones near places of detention when he appeared at a special sitting of Portlaoise District Court on today Friday 8 January. Dean Swaine, from Millview, Ballintore, Co. Kildare, was brought before the court charged and with possessing drugs for the purpose of sale or supply at Saint John's Square, Portlaoise, Co. Laois on Wednesday 6 January. Prosecuting Garda Detective Eoin Gardiner said that the defendant was arrested and charged and made no reply after caution. He said there were no garda objections to conditional bail being granted to the defendant. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick sought free legal aid for her client which was granted by the presiding Judge Catherine Staines. The judge remanded Mr Swaine on his own bail of 100 on condition that he stays out of Laois and out of Portlaoise with the exception of visiting his solicitor. That he stays away from all places of detention. That he desists from flying drones over places of detention. That he abstains from alcohol and drugs and that he provides gardai with a phone number and be available to take their calls 24 hours a day. Judge Staines went on to adjourn the case until 4 March to allow time for the Director of Public Prosecution to provide directions in the case. But it also presents a legal crisis given the central role Trump played by addressing the crowd shortly before the attack, urging them to go to the Capitol, and tweeting supporting messages during the attack. The legal questions facing our country are profound: can and should the attackers be prosecuted for attempting to overthrow the government? Can Trump himself be prosecuted and also be barred from running for president again? And finally, can Trump preemptively attempt to pardon not only the attackers but himself before leaving (or being removed) from office? Given that the United States has enjoyed a long history of democratic rule where elections and not force have dictated who would lead the country, the images of hundreds of people storming the Capitol in support of a presidential candidate who lost were unfathomable. Wednesdays mob attack on the United States Capitol to disrupt Congress formal recognition of the election of Joseph Biden to be the president of the US sent shock waves throughout the country and around the world. Loading Starting with possible prosecutions, since 1789 American law has made it a crime to use force to attempt to overthrow the government or to encourage efforts to do so. This criminal law was a topic of intense debate this past fall in the US when top officials in the Trump administration threatened to use it against protesters who filled American streets after the murder of George Floyd to decry police violence. In October, I wrote that nothing in that protest activity approached threats to overthrow the government but noted instead that those who might be most at risk for prosecution are supporters of President Trump, or even the President himself, given his increasingly ominous comments about resisting transition should he lose the upcoming election. That observation now looks prescient. The current US criminal statute, the Alien Registration Act, which dates back to 1940 and the fear of a Communist overthrow, authorises imprisonment of up to 10 years for ''whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto. Plainly, this would apply to those who invaded the Capitol, assaulted officers, smashed their way into the Senate chamber, and vandalised the offices of legislators, all in effort to force them to nullify the election and anoint Trump as president. As for Trump, he also would appear to be subject to prosecution, given that the statute reaches anyone who incites insurrection and given that he personally appeared on stage before the crowd and urged them to go directly to the Capitol, which they then did. In addition, that law provides that one convicted under it shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States, which would bar Trump from attempting to run for president again in 2024 as he has threatened to do. Trump also faces prosecution under a second American law that makes it a crime punishable by up to 20 years imprisonment for anyone who knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States . . . by force or violence. Again, his speech to the crowd and his urging people to go to the Capitol plainly makes Trump one who knowingly and willingly advocated for the attack. And American constitutional protections of free speech would provide no shelter to Trump, as the US Supreme Court has recognised that those protections do not extend to speech that seeks to incite imminent violence. A new strain of coronavirus has surfaced in London due to which the city is back in lockdown mode. Priyanka Chopra Jonas who was shooting for Text For You in London is now stranded in the city due to the lockdown guidelines. Now according to a UK daily, the actress recently visited a salon and grabbed the officials attention. On Wednesday Priyanka Chopra Jonas and her mother, Madhu Chopra visited a salon and since this was a personal-trip and with spas and salons not coming under the basic-necessities, the cops were alerted. The cops landed at the salon and confronted the salon owner. This was just a verbal warning for the salon owner to stick by the guidelines and not to keep it open amidst the pandemic. When desi girl was confronted, she had valid reason to visit the salon since she had to colour her hair for a movie. And the salon was hence opened only for some private appointments. Priyanka Chopra Jonas was not fined since she stepped out for work purposes. Shares of Strides Pharma fell 3 per cent to Rs 939, down 6 per cent from its early morning high on the BSE on Friday after joined as advisor to the Strides Group & Director of Stelis Biopharma. The drug maker's stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,000 in intra-day trade today. In the past six months, the stock has zoomed 130 per cent, as compared to 33 per cent rally in the S&P BSE Sensex. At 10:27 am, the stock was trading 3.3 per cent lower at Rs 941 on the BSE, against, 0.86 per cent gain in the benchmark index. A combined around 945,000 equity shares had changed hands on the counter on the NSE and BSE, so far. was the founder-Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of HDFC Bank from its inception in 1994 until his retirement from the position in October 2020. Puris appointment to the Stelis Board comes at an exciting juncture for the company as it transitions from its incubation phase to a consolidation and growth phase to establish itself as a partner of choice globally with the aim of bringing world-class treatments at affordable costs to patients in both emerging and developed markets, Strides said in a press release. Commenting on the development, said: I look forward to working with Arun and building world-class institutions to produce high-quality affordable biotherapeutics and CDMO services including those needed to combat the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With Stelis poised for its next leg of growth, this is the right time to expand the Board, and ensure robust guidance and governance by the best possible industry minds, said Arun Kumar, Founder & Chairman of the board of Strides. Stelis Biopharma is a vertically integrated biopharmaceutical company. Stelis offers CDMO services across all phases of pre-clinical and clinical development and commercial supply of biologics. Strides is mainly operates in the regulated and has an in Africa for Africa strategy along with an institutional business to service donor-funded DUBLIN, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Data Centre City Development in Amsterdam, Dublin, Frankfurt, London and Paris - 2017 to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report analyses Cloud and Data Centres in the key European cities namely Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, Paris and Dublin. The report both traces the history of Data Centre developments since 2017 and projects the market forward in each of the five countries. The DCP report reveals that the key trends in the five FLAP city markets include: The FLAP markets have become increasingly important - In 4 out of the 5 countries, the FLAP markets account for the majority of in-country Data Centre raised floor space - from 48 percent (London and Slough) to 61 percent (Frankfurt) and up to 92 percent (Dublin). These markets all benefit from being close to large population centres and have the connectivity and infrastructure to attract the Data Centre Provider. The five FLAP markets together have created an average of 129,000 m2 of Data Centre raised floor space per annum over the period from the beginning of 2017 to the beginning of 2025 - The 5 FLAP markets are all growing rapidly with Amsterdam Data Centre space forecast to grow by 1.5 times and Frankfurt doubling in size over the period. By contrast, Data Centre space in the London and Slough region has grown by only 60 percent to 2025 - but still remains the largest single FLAP market by size. The FLAP markets are becoming more concentrated by a few Data Centre Providers - A handful of Data Centre Providers account for the majority of space in most FLAP markets - with common providers including Equinix, Interxion/Digital Realty, Global Data Centers (NTT Ltd), CyrusOne and Virtus Data Centres. For example, in Frankfurt, six Data Centre Providers account for 78 percent of all space, in Amsterdam five providers account for 76 percent of all space and in London and Slough six Data Centre providers account for 76 percent of all space. FLAP market Data Centre Providers are able to charge a price premium - In most markets, the Data Centre Providers charge a price premium compared with the national average - with Data Centre Providers in London and Slough charging a 16 percent premium to the UK average and Frankfurt charging an 11 percent premium and Paris Data Centre Providers charging a 7 percent premium to the national average. Both in Ireland and the Netherlands, the Dublin and Amsterdam Data Centre clusters are broadly the same as the national average. DCP finds that despite the recent delivery of services to the network edge, the FLAP Data Centre hubs will remain important centres of connectivity for a long time to come. Although other city clusters are growing their presence (for example Berlin in Germany, Manchester in the UK, Cork in Ireland and Marseille in France) the FLAP Data Centre clusters still remain dominant. The only potential drawback in the five markets is the supply of development land for new space, which is particularly constrained in the London area, and with a temporary moratorium on new build Data Centre imposed in Amsterdam as a result of environmental concerns. The shortage of development land is likely to increase costs and Data Centre pricing and will result in users migrating to areas outside of the metro area Key Topics Covered: Section One - The 5 FLAP + D markets Data Centre Developments - from the beginning of 2017 to the beginning of 2021 Introduction - DCP analyses the Data Centre Providers, key locations, space, power, pricing & revenue and key developments for each of the 5 cities Section Two - The 5 FLAP + D markets Public Cloud Developments - from the beginning of 2017 to the beginning of 2021 Introduction - DCP provides an overview of the public cloud presence (cloud availability zones & self-built cloud Data Centres) from the beginning of 2017 to the beginning of 2021 for each of the 5 cities Section Three - The 5 FLAP + D Forecast markets Data Centre Developments - from the beginning of 2021 to the beginning of 2025 Introduction - DCP provides a Data Centre forecast (space, power, pricing & revenue), with the key expansions planned by location for each of the 5 FLAP + D markets from the beginning of 2021 to the beginning of 2025 Section Four - The 5 FLAP + D markets Forecast Public Cloud Developments - from the beginning of 2021 to the beginning of 2025 Introduction - DCP provides an overall Public Cloud development revenue forecast (and also cloud availability zones & self-built cloud Data Centres) from the beginning of 2021 to the beginning of 2025 for each of the 5 FLAP + D markets Section Five - Conclusions to the Cloud & Data Centre City Development 5 FLAP + D markets - Past, Present & Future trends Introduction - DCP provides a summary of the key Cloud & Data Centre FLAP + D market trends in Europe including the: Forecast the fastest growing Data Centre 5 FLAP + D markets - from the beginning of 2017 to the beginning of 2025 Public cloud revenue growth in the 5 FLAP + D markets - from the beginning of 2017 to the beginning of 2025 The constraints on Data Centre 5 FLAP + D markets growth The future locations for Data Centre 5 FLAP + D markets growth Companies Mentioned Amazon CyrusOne Equinix Facebook Global Data Centers (NTT Ltd) Google Interxion/Digital Realty Microsoft Virtus Data Centres For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/bzkitl 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. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com Joe Scarborough is calling for the arrest of President Donald Trump in the wake of violent riots at the U.S. Capitol. On his Thursday morning show, Scarborough, a University of Alabama graduate, said Trumps statements before and during the riots added fuel to a dangerous fire that resulted in four deaths, at least 13 arrests and damage throughout the Capitol. Thats insurrection against the United States of America and if Donald Trump Jr., Rudy Giuliani and Donald Trump are not arrested today for insurrection and taken to jail and booked and if the Capitol Hill police do not go through every video and look at the face of every person that invaded our Capitol and if they are not arrested and brought to justice today then we are no longer a nation of laws and we only tell people they can do this again, Scarborough said. Scarborough was also critical of the Capitol Police, saying they were behaving politely to terrorists. If these insurrectionists were black, they would have been shot in the face. And my god, if these insurrectionists were Muslim they would have been sniped from the top of buildings, Scarborough said. I want to know from the Capitol Hill police -- what, is it just white people? Or is it Donald Trump supporters? Why do you scream at people for walking across the street three blocks away from the Capitol? Why are you known as these bad asses around the Capitol? But then Trump supporters come in and you open the (expletive) doors for them. You open the doors for them and let them breach the peoples house. What is wrong with you? he added. Google surprised us when it launched three Pixel devices this year, but it also surprised some when it only released the Pixel 4a and 4a 5G in black models while the more expensive Pixel 5 got the Sage Green option. Eventually, a Clearly White variant would arrive as a Verizon-exclusive, and more recently a Barely Blue Pixel 4a arrived back in November. That Clearly White Pixel 4a 5G is now arriving to the US as an unlocked variant and will no longer be a Verizon-exclusive. The new variant was listed by the retailer B&H Photo Video as Coming soon with a pre-order date of January 28. It will still cost the same $499 price tag that it has on the Google Store website. Other than the color, theres fundamentally no other difference. Its still made of plastic, and the storage capacity is still 128GB like the other models. Its worth noting this is indeed a North American variation with sub-6GHZ 5G support. Only the Verizon models offer mmWave support provided that you live in a mmWave coverage area. Source Former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov admits it wouldn't come as a shock to him if 40million signing Donny van de Beek was looking for an early exit. Van de Beek joined United from Ajax in September last year with big expectations on his shoulders, but his four months with the Premier League giants so far have ultimately disappointed. The Dutchman, who emerged as one of the brightest talents in Europe with Ajax, has started just eight games for United since his big-money arrival - struggling to get the nod in midfield with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba for competition. Things certainly haven't gone to plan for 40million man Donny van de Beek at Man United His lack of playing time has been a major talking point at Old Trafford and Berbatov claims his patience could already be wearing thin just four months after joining. 'I don't know what is going on with Donny van de Beek,' he told Betfair. 'I said before he signed that I like him as a player, he was great for Ajax and his national team, but now he can't get a game at United. 'I don't watch the training sessions and the little time he does get on the pitch isn't enough to judge him. 'He needs a run of games in a row to give him confidence. I can see that his confidence isn't high at the moment, and that's normal because when you don't play you start punishing yourself and ask questions of yourself. 'I wouldn't be surprised if he is starting to look for the exit and nobody will blame him. Something isn't working.' The Dutchman has watched on from the bench for the majority of United's campaign so far Van de Beek's arrival was supposed to give United another cutting edge up top, linking up the play between midfield and attack with his quick feet and vision. But that has been far from the case, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has used him mainly from the bench so far this season. He came on as an 88th minute substitute in Wednesday's 2-0 Carabao Cup semi-final defeat against rivals Manchester City. And Berbatov insists Van de Beek should be banging on Solskjaer's door for clarity over his lack of playing time, after claiming he is better than some of the regular starters in midfield. 'At the moment Bruno Fernandes, Paul Pogba, Scott McTominay and Fred are all ahead of him, judging by the amount of game time he is getting,' Berbatov said. Dimitar Berbatov can't understand why Van de Beek isn't getting more playing time at United 'Are all these players better than him? I don't think so, everybody is different and everyone can bring different qualities to a game. That's why I'm wondering what is going on.' He added: 'He should be banging on the manager's door and ask: what is going on? he should be asking why he's not playing and what he can do to improve his situation. Then depending on what answers he gets, he can evaluate and do what is necessary.' Van de Beek has started just twice in the Premier League for United this season, with most of his game time coming in the Carabao Cup. Van de Beek will be desperate for a rare start when United host Watford in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday night. In 2020, Russia exported military products worth of about $ 13 billion, Rostec head Sergei Chemezov informed today. We fulfilled completely the state defense order for armaments, which are on the presidential list. As for military-technical cooperation, we are implementing the plan approved by the president, and the volume will be approximately $ 13 billion, as in the past year, he said during a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Interfax reports. Beshear Proposes Quick Virus Aid in Budget Plan By West Kentucky Star Staff FRANKFORT - Governor Andy Beshear has proposed a quick infusion of aid into the state's coronavirus-battered economy.Beshear offered an ambitious budget plan to lawmakers Thursday evening in his annual State of the Commonwealth speech.He has proposed down-payments on raising salaries for teachers and boosting funding for public education.With the coronavirus pandemic still raging, Beshear urged the GOP-led legislature to quickly pass a separate virus relief bill. It includes $220 million in aid for small businesses.Beshear also proposed paying raises for state employees, full funding for Medicaid and increased funding to shore up the unemployment insurance system.You can see Beshear's full State of the Commonwealth address below. BarcelonaThe Christmas holidays are triggering coronavirus cases in the United States. Authorities have confirmed a new peak in deaths due to covid-19 on Friday, with more than 4,000 deceased in one day, and it is the third consecutive day of record numbers. Last week's average was 2,750 deaths per day, the highest since the pandemic began. This April and May, Malta will host the tenth anniversary edition of the InClassica International Music Festival , a three-week long celebration of classical music featuring world-renowned soloists, leading international orchestras and celebrated conductors. From 17th April to 11th May, Maltas historic Mediterranean Conference Centre (MCC) will host InClassica, the largest classical music festival to have taken place in the Maltese Archipelago and the first large-scale European classical music event in 2021. InClassica features appearances by some of the biggest names in classical music today including Martha Argerich, Rudolf Buchbinder, Gautier Capucon, Danielle De Niese, Daniel Hope, Gidon Kremer, Denis Matsuev, Akiko Ebi, Andreas Ottensammer, Grigory Sokolov and Maxim Vengerov (full list of soloists available here). An unprecedented six international orchestras will travel to Malta for the festival, each performing a range of concerts in addition to performances by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and Malta Youth Orchestra. The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra (Israel), Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (UK), Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liege (Belgium), Russian National Orchestra, Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz (Germany) will all appear at InClassica, performing a range of works including symphonies, concertos, overtures and tone poems. In addition to the international orchestras and soloists performing at InClassica, the event also welcomes eight leading conductors to Malta. Maestros Dmitry Yablonsky, Michael Francis, Marius Stravinsky, Gergely Madaras, Alexander Sladkovsky, Gianluca Marciano, Alexander Shelley, and Sergey Smbatyan will direct the orchestras across the festivals 25 days of consecutive evening concerts, in an extensive programme of events celebrating the very best of classical music. The festival will feature a wide range of music, ranging from baroque to contemporary, as well as performances of works by the festivals Composer-In-Residence, Alexey Shor. InClassica will present a premiere performance of Shors new Violin Concerto, as well as his Images from the Great Siege, a large-scale orchestral work portraying Maltas titanic struggle against the Ottoman Empire in 1565. Numerous other works by the composer are also programmed throughout the festival including his Crystal Palace ballet suite, as played at the 40th anniversary of the Gramophone Awards ceremony in London 2017. InClassica will be held in Maltas capital city Valletta at the newly renovated 16th century Mediterranean Conference Centre, a historic edifice boasting stunning architecture and breathtaking views of the citys Grand Harbour, and is organised by the European Foundation for Support of Culture (EUFSC) and the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The EUFSC works to promote cultural and education projects in Europe and around the world, each year organising concerts, festivals, masterclasses, competitions, lectures and other events, with InClassica the Foundations flagship event and the annual culmination of its annual activities. On behalf of myself and everyone at the EUFSC I would like to express our excitement and pride as we finalise preparations for InClassica. This groundbreaking festival is not only a significant milestone in our history and for Maltas cultural landscape, but also a vital respite from the difficulties faced by the arts and culture sectors in the last year. InClassica promises performances from some of the worlds finest artists, orchestras and conductors, and I cannot wait to welcome our valued audiences to the festival as we celebrate ten years of InClassica. Konstantin Ishkhanov, President of the EUFSC. In addition to the wide-ranging programme of concerts on offer at the festival, InClassica will also host the Classic Piano International Competition, an event which will see 70 virtuosic young pianists compete for a total prize fund of 300,000 EUR. This event marks the culmination of 14 Ways to Malta, a series of international piano opens taking place across the globe over the last two years. The five top-ranked pianists from each event will compete in Malta across four rounds as they bring their talent, technical skill and professionalism to bear in a bid for first prize. Classic Piano will feature a series of afternoon performances taking place 20 April 9 May, with the concerts in the last two rounds featuring performances with the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra led by Gianluca Marciano. InClassica also welcomes the inclusion of the EUFSCs Malta Classical Music Academy (MCMA), a three week programme of educational events including masterclasses, lectures and open lessons with some of the worlds most respected professors. The Academy offers tuition in strings, piano, wind and opera studies, as well as holding daily lunchtime concerts. Those interested in applying should visit the website. To find out more about InClassica or to book tickets please visit the website. Credit: CC0 Public Domain A barely three-month-old baby left a Spanish hospital this week after spending nearly all of his short life fighting COVID-19, including a stint in intensive care, the hospital said. "Petru is one of those exceptional cases where COVID-19 has badly affected a minor," said the Vithas 9 de Octubre hospital in the eastern port city of Valencia in a statement released on Thursday. The infant was born "in perfect condition" in October, but on going home with his mother he became infected through his brother who was asymptomatic and had to go back to hospital when he was nine days old. He was immediately placed in the paediatric intensive care unit after initially showing "breathing problems and later on feeding problems which required a complex process of rehabilitation". His illness "caused great distress" to his parents who "could only see him by video link... until he finally tested negative". Footage released by the hospital showed medics and nursing staff applauding as his parents were finally able to take him home, his mother appearing close to tears with emotion. Severe cases of COVID-19 generally affect much older people. In Spain, two-thirds of the victims who died since May have been over 80 years old, according to figures from the Carlos III health institute. By contrast, only 12 children under the age of two died during the same period out of the 21,382 confirmed cases among this age group. Spain has so far counted more than two million confirmed cases of COVID-19 and nearly 52,000 deaths. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP The U.S. Department of Labor sued to void the most recent election of the citys politically powerful electricians union Friday, saying labor leader John J. Dougherty and his allies had threatened those who had considered challenging them for leadership positions. In a complaint filed in federal court in Philadelphia, government lawyers asked a judge to force Local 98 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers to hold a new vote for several top posts. The suit, if successful, would not bar the current officeholders from running for their posts again. It followed an October FBI raid on the unions Spring Garden offices during which agents sought evidence of similar claims that the unions top officials had intimidated rivals who questioned Doughertys leadership after his 2019 indictment on bribery and embezzlement charges. Not only were members in good standing allegedly intimidated out of exercising their right to seek union office, but the entire Local 98 membership was allegedly denied its right to nominate and vote for candidates of its choosing, said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams, whose office brought that indictment and is representing the Labor Department in Fridays suit. The lawsuit comes at afraught moment for Dougherty, better known by his nickname Johnny Doc, and the roughly 4,000-member union he has led for nearly three decades. Under his management, it has grown into one of the most influential labor organizations in the state, with generous campaign spending and mobilization that has helped place dozens of mostly Democratic elected officials and government functionaries into their positions. He has persistently denied any wrongdoing, but a trial later this year on the criminal charges threatens to send him to prison. Union spokesperson Frank Keel panned the new civil suit, noting that it was filed against a politically active union in the waning days of the Trump administration. John and the other duly elected Local 98 officers want to have an election and look forward to their day in court, it read. The union has never been stronger than it is currently, which is the reason no one ran against the incumbent team. The 13-page complaint, however, offered another explanation for the lack of alternate candidates. Union leaders launched a pressure campaign, it alleged, meant to scare three potential contenders for executive positions out of the race. All of them said they were threatened with being denied future work if they kept up their efforts. Itll be a long three years if you lose, Dougherty is accused of telling one opposition candidate, Timothy McConnell. If you aint with me, youre against me. Within days, the lawsuit claims, Dougherty ally and Philadelphia Democratic Ward Leader Brian Eddis passed on another message, telling a friend of McConnells he did not want to see anything happen to him. Other potential challengers reported being intimidated by Doughertys supporters outside of a nomination meeting or receiving messages purportedly from Dougherty himself, and passed through intermediaries, that their careers would be finished if they ran. All three ended their candidacies before the official nomination deadline. Union leadership elections are strictly governed by federal laws that require that any member of a union can run for its leadership without interference or threats of reprisal. And Local 98 has previously drawn government scrutiny for its management of competitive internal races. In 2014, the union signed a compliance agreement with the Labor Department after investigators determined union leaders had improperly disqualified eligible candidates for office. Even afterward, the potential candidates involved in that probe said they were blackballed and denied work for nearly two years, government lawyers said Friday. The latest Labor Department investigation began after Charles Battle, a potential challenger to union president Brian Burrows, filed a complaint with the government in August around the same time that the union sued him and his wife for defamation in Common Pleas Court. That suit accused the Battles of running the anonymous website thetruthaboutyourlocal.com, which became a clearinghouse for disaffected Local 98 members to post complaints about Dougherty and his inner circle. The same guy who paid for and is responsible for an anonymous, malicious, sexually harassing website that exists solely to smear John Dougherty, other Local 98 officers, and, worse, our family members, is the one behind [the Labor Department] lawsuit, Keel said. This is his M.O. when things dont go his way, run to the government. Battles lawyer, Clifford E. Haines, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday. After the FBI raid in October he said: Regrettably, the conduct of Local 98 with respect to Mr. Battle is not something new. There is a reason its membership will only speak out anonymously. Doughertys trial in the federal bribery and embezzlement case is scheduled for March. He is accused of bribing Philadelphia City Councilmember Bobby Henon, a longtime Local 98 member, with a salary to buy his advocacy on matters of interest to Dougherty and the union he represents. Both men have denied the charges. Dougherty also stands accused of embezzling more than $600,000 from Local 98s coffers along with five other union officials and allies. Listen to article Nigeria is generally seen as a Country whereby the democratic institutions that ought to be made enduring, resilient and vibrant are deliberately undermined, sabotaged and weakened operationally due largely to the desire of the politicians to line their pockets with filthy lucre by circumventing conventions, laws, ethics and global best practices. However, this unfortunate scenario pales into insignificance and assumes a much more troubling status, when the Country is burdened by the presence of political office holders whose stock in trade is basically the institutionalization of flip-flops in policy articulation and implementation. When policies and programmes mapped out by government are not coherent and consistently implemented to generate benefits pragmatically and on a utilitarian basis, then the tendency is that even members of the business community across the global community will be too slow to invest their capitals and resources in the economy of such a place whereby government says one thing in the mourning and by noontide the same government says another thing that directly contradicts the one that was said in the mourning. Policy consistency means a lot and policy FLIP-FLOPS demean the essence of constitutional democracy. There is no gainsaying the fact that the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration since coming into office on May 29th 2015, has carved a notoriety as one administration that nobody should rely on as regards the veracity and finality of her public pronouncement on their face value because of the regularity of government officials inconsistency and incoherence. There is therefore a severe dearth of decisive decision making process observable in the administrative style of President Muhammadu Buhari since his second coming as a civilian leader of the largest concentration of black people in the World since 2015. But the truth is that for Nigeria to be able to navigate through the minefield of gross physical, economic and political underdevelopment, the best quality of leadership expected of the President or any sort of political office holder is the ability and capacity to take decisive decision for that is the essence of visionary leadership. This much we can read from a fantastic write up titled: Decisive decision making and the role of visionary leaders uploaded on website of www. Dgicomn.com. This piece precisely states as follows: "Although decision-making as a leader might entail a wide array of components that can hardly be summarized in a few paragraphs, there are some basic attributes that can be observed across the board. Dian Griesel, President of DGI, based in New York City as well as the author of several books, knows from hands-on experience what it takes to be an effective leader today and what leaders need to look for in management." Also, we are told thus: Each leader will lead in his or her own way, says Griesel. However, when youre at the front of the room, and people are looking to you for the answers, there are a few basic skills that you should have in your tool kit. These include honesty and transparency, confidence and collaboration. These might seem like broad terms, but they are important enough to create a solid framework for everyone, and specific enough so that each person can put his or her own spin on them. The public policy researchers say: "Its not enough to seem honest, Griesel elaborates, because most people will be able to see right through you. If you find yourself approaching a task with ulterior motives, it might be time to step back and re-examine. Chances are, your team will sense youre hiding something from them, and if they find out youre not telling them the truth, your credibility will likely be shot for any future projects. Approaching your team with openness and honesty will prompt them to trust you more, and make them more likely to trust you in the future. "Although its nearly impossible to please everyone on your team all the time, seriously considering their strengths and weaknesseswithout sacrificing your own choices and opinionswill likely yield positive results and contribute to a good team dynamic. It will make the team more likely to trust you, and expedite future tasks." Strategically we are yold that speaking of the future, its always a good idea to over prepare. "This is more than having a Plan B scenario in mind, Griesel explains. She believes you should also have a good exit strategy just in case your decision doesnt go as planned." An authority on power and politics within a business organization had warned as follows; Every environment has their own internal system that is dictated by aspects such as power and politics. These things have as much control over the functionality of an organizational as the individual features of organizational behaviour. Often, they can shift how those components develop and affect those in the environment as well. Their impact-and that of those who control them-can shape the entire dynamics of an organization more so than any other force. Specifically, we are warned that: Power and politics within a business or organization are rather similar to the traditional political structures of government: authority is divided throughout the different parts of the system that power is exerted in.1 There are often different sources of power competing for control, which isn't necessarily a bad thing until someone decides to fight dirty." The internal politics of an organization, too, can be polarized as everyone will most likely relate to one side of an issue over another no matter how neutral they attempt to remain, the researcher argued. And then concluded: "All in all, the organizational power and politics in a business can be a fascinating and unique thing that can have a serious impact on organizational behaviour. So, all through the whole gamut of the way the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has gone about articulating her public policies and their implementation, there is this deep seated practice of willful flip-flop to such a pattern that most analysts are beginning to ask what really is the leadership ideological mantra of the present Federal government of Nigeria. This interrogatory has becime imperative because the deliberate unleashing of policy FLIP-FLOPS directly impinges on the constitutional warning that all traces and tendencies of abuse of power must be eradicated as a matter of statutory obligation. This is precisely what is said in section 15 (5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999, as amended, thus; the state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power. It is an abuse of power for the government to fail in its obligation to properly articulate a public policy in line with the legal frameworks, and set out to meticulously implement those policies or programme for the over all benefits of the greatest number of the good people of Nigeria. The foundation for these inconsistencies in the current political administration at the centre started in 2015 when it took President Buhari nearly six months to make the composition of the Federal executive council a reality. A political analyst with Guardian Newspaper of Britain wrote a favourable piece to support the delay in the formation of the Federal cabinet by Buhari and anchored this strange reasoning on the need for the President to pick the best team. However from the benefits of hindsight, it has since emerged that even after spending six months to select his ministers, many of the ministers did not have what it takes to implement the economic blueprints that the then Presidential Candidate of All Progressive Congress sold to gullible voters because within just few months of taking office, the economy went into a serious recession and when we were told that the recession was over, it emerged that Nigeria had become home to the largest number of absolutely poor people thus overthrowing India which has over two billion population compared to us with less than 200 million- a statistics obtained through series of fraudulent head counts by the ethically tainted National Population commission. Also from amongst Buharis first cabinet, the then Finance Minister was later found to have allegedly lied that she obtained a waiver not to serve her time as a participant of the compulsory programme for all Nigerian under 30 year university graduates-the NYSC. So the failure of President Buhari to be decisive has done more harm than good as against the public relations analysis that Simon Allison published in THE Guardian of the United Kingdom in 2015 He had written thus; Choosing a cabinet in Nigeria is a complicated balancing act. One must juggle the need for skilled leaders with the requirement to repay political allies, while navigating the shifting alliances of internal party politics and eliminating accumulated deadwood. Then theres the need to carefully maintain an ethnic and religious balance, and to make sure each of the countrys 36 states is somehow represented." The British reporter also errorneously submitted thus: "No wonder it took newly elected president Muhammadu Buhari nearly six months to make his decision. Impatience is not a virtue, said the president to his critics, who thought that the long delay in naming a new government was bad for business. Buhari was unmoved: Careful and deliberate decisions after consultations get far better results, he said. The most notable decision involves Buhari himself. The president has taken charge of the ministry of petroleum, which for years has been associated with gross mismanagement and corruption on a grand scale. That Nigeria, Africas largest oil producer, must import refined petroleum is as a result of the failures of this ministry, which has resisted all attempts at meaningful reform over the years. Buhari has now gambled his reputation on succeeding where others have failed. If he can turn the petroleum ministry around, he will have gone a long way towards fulfilling his election promises. Helping him is junior minister, Ibe Kachikwu, who is current head of the state-run Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. The influential finance portfolio has been handed to Kemi Adeosun, a former investment bank chief who has a daunting task ahead of her. Collapsing oil prices have slashed the governments revenue, and stunted economic growth, with analysts predicting more turbulent times ahead. As can be seen, this analysis may have been procured because corruption is worst in the petroleum sector, fuel is still being imported, refineries are destroyed even as millions of dollars are stolen under the guise of turn around maintenance of the three refineries and the then finance minister was accused of academic fraud. Since then it has been one policy flip flop or the other whether in the electricity power sector, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and even in the public communication office of the President whereby too many contradictory pieces of informations have been callously unleashed on the public space including the recent one about the number of students of the science school in Kankara, Katsina State who were abducted, and released. "Hundreds of schoolboys who were kidnapped in north-western Nigeria nearly a week ago have been released, a local official said late on Thursday, prompting joy and relief for families that had been praying for the boys safe return.Katsina state Governor Aminu Bello Masari said in a televised interview with state channel NTA that 344 boys held in the Rugu Forest in neighbouring Zamfara state had been freed," reported Al Jazeera. However, Garba Shehu the SA on media to Muhammadu Buhari contradicted the above information by claiming that only ten students were missing. When he was found out, he quickly apologized. The media stated this communication fiasco thus: "Garba Shehu, spokesman to President Muhammadu Buhari, has apologised for saying only 10 students were kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina state. Shehu apologised in a post on his social media handles on Friday. Over 300 students were kidnapped from the school on December 11, after an attack by bandits." "They were, however, rescued on Thursday and arrived in Katsina on Friday. While Aminu Masari, governor of Katsina, had said over 300 students were missing after the attack, Shehu had claimed that some of the abducted students who escaped told the military that 10 of them were taken away by the gunmen". The presidential spokesman, however, said he was sorry for the incorrect communication, adding that it was not his intention to downplay the seriousness of the situation. I apologise for the incorrect communication citing that only 10 students were kidnapped at the science school, Kankara, he wrote. This communication of numbers was provided by persons that should ideally know. These numbers were seen to conflict with what was available at that time. Please understand that this communication was in no way done to downplay the seriousness of the situation", he had said, in a belated but illiterately crafted attempt at confusing gullible Nigerians the more. But Garba Shehu is not alone. The majority of the Federal Government officials from time to time, engage in double speak which has graphically painted President Muhammadu Buhari as someone who believes in using organized confusion as his governance mantra. Not long ago, the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) published a 50 percent tariff hike but Festus Keyamo who is the Minister of state for labour said there was no price hike only for the minister of power to announce a reversal of the hike after 24 hours. By that Tuesday, January 5, 2021 it was reported that Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo on Tuesday denounced purported hike in electricity tariff by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC. Most papers quoted him as denying any sort of tariff hike. Then on January 7th, 2021 it was reported that the Nigerian government has directed the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend the implementation of the recently reviewed tariff. NERC on Tuesday increased the electricity tariff payable by power consumers across the country. The hike in tariff which varies, based on different consumer classes, took effect from January 1, 2021. This unambiguous public notice which even a newspaper like Thisday ran as a commercial full page black and White advertisement was repudiated by a minister under the same central government. The Niger Delta Development Commission is perhaps one place whereby this deliberate policy inconsistencies has assumed a life of its own because within two months, the same government constituted and failed to inaugurate a substantive governing board but has twice appointed interim management committee and then sacked it and appointed interim administrator. They went finishing for some kind of excuse and found a willing tool in a judge of a high Court who is said to habe granted an injunction against the earlier appointee. What a deliberate and sustainable programmes of deceit and deception! In the petroleum sector, the NNPC within few days said they will rely on import of petroleum and then has just announced that it is shopping for one billion United states dollars to repair the Port Harcourt refinery. The other time the same NNPC said it was cheaper to buy petrol from the small neighbouring Niger Republic which is not even a crude oil producer in the category of Nigeria that ranks as the seventh biggest global crude oil producer. Nigerians kicked against this unwise move and then the FLIP-FLOPS. What these inconsistencies do to the economy of Nigeria is to ensure the ballooning of poverty and the expansion of public sector corruption. This is why what Bishop Kukah said is true. The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Most Revd. Matthew Kukah, had reportedly continued his criticism of the leadership of the country, stating that the privileged few were busy looting the country dry and seeking repentance in foreign pilgrimages. Kukah also described the country as a huge wasteland, huge debris of deceit, lies, treachery, double-dealing and duplicity. Bishop Kukah warned that darkness was setting in as the sun quickly recedes, so there should be a sense of urgency. The Catholic Bishop spoke while delivering a sermon entitled A Nation in Search of its Soul, at the wake keep Mass for His Grace, Archbishop Peter Jatau at St. Josephs Catholic Cathedral, Kaduna. He said that the privileged few were milking the nation dry, with mass looting of the nations resources. According to him, We sin at home by stealing the nations resources, but we seek repentance and forgiveness in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem in the guise of lesser or higher pilgrimages. We make money from abandoning projects duly paid for by governments, which have adopted contractocracy as a governance mechanism. We are allowing others to use our money to develop their own infrastructure. Our elites all assembled in Dubai for Christmas and also to welcome the new year. As virtue recedes into the sunset in our country, there is an urgent need for us to pause and take stock of what is required to save our country, Bishop Kukah added. Nigerians must wake up and demand accountability and transparency. *EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO is head of the HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and blogs @www. huriwanigeria.com , [email protected] , www.thenigerianinsidernews.com . Frostborne said he and his wife, Kaydee, were in expansion mode at the Librarium Cafe a place where people can play board games while visiting with friends, eating and having a cup of coffee or butterbeer before the virus struck. They had received approval from Mayor Brian Snedecor to begin offering beer and wine to their adult customers and were looking to expand their kitchen and bakery. MASON CITY, Iowa - After the events in the nation's capitol on Wednesday, one local mayor is calling for all of us to show a spirit of togetherness. The call for civility came from Mason City Bill Schickel. He posted a video message on the city's Facebook page. In the video, Mayor Schickel shares the thoughts of Mason City's human rights commissioner. He says to hold conersations with people who you don't agree with and find three things where you are on the same page. Also, show respect and decency to people with a different point of view and consider what might be for the community as opposed to your personal needs. The mayor says he's also taking the message to heart. "Myself, following these guidelines is a new year's resolution for me. I think it would be a great resolution for our community," said Mayor Schickel. He also says he thinks Mason City residents are doing a good job putting those points into practice. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned on Thursday, becoming the second member of President Donald Trump's cabinet to step down after he incited a mob of supporters who broke into the US Capitol. In a letter to Trump, DeVos blamed her departure on his role in fueling the 'unconscionable' violent invasion of the Capitol on Wednesday when Congress met to certify Joe Biden's election victory. 'We should be highlighting and celebrating your Administrations many accomplishments on behalf of the American people,' DeVos wrote. 'Instead, we are left to clean up the mess caused by violent protestors overrunning the US Capitol in an attempt to undermine the people's business. 'That behavior was unconscionable for our country. There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is an inflection point for me.' News of her resignation came hours after Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, also stepped down, joining seven other members of the Trump administration to resign in a single day. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos resigned on Thursday, becoming the second member of President Donald Trump's cabinet to step down after he incited a mob of supporters who broke into the US Capitol Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (above together), also resigned Thursday DeVos joined Trump's cabinet at the start of his presidency in 2017 and quickly emerged as one of his most loyal supporters. On Wednesday she was the first member of the cabinet to denounce the riots, writing on Twitter: 'The peaceful transfer of power is what separates American representative democracy from banana republics. The work of the people must go on.' Chao, who has also been in Trump's cabinet since 2017, made her resignation announcement in an email to colleagues that was obtained by The Washington Post. She later posted her message to Twitter, in a pinned tweet. 'Our country experienced a traumatic and entirely avoidable event as supporters of the President stormed the Capitol building following a rally he addressed. As I'm sure is the case with many of you, it has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside,' she said. She is the first Cabinet official to quit. Chao said she would still assist her successor, former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who President-elect Joe Biden previously named for the role. Her last day is Monday, January 10, she said. DeVos joined Trump's cabinet at the start of his presidency in 2017 Chao became the highest-ranking administration official to resign after President Donald Trump's lackluster response to the mob that rushed Capitol Hill Trump addressed the nation in a Twitter video on Thursday night amid a flood of resignations in his administration WHO'S QUIT TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SINCE MAGA MOBBED CAPITOL HILL? Education Secretary Betsy DeVos Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf Hope Hicks - who said it was not related to riots Melania Trump's Chief of Staff Stephanie Grisham White House Social Secretary Rickie Niceta Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Intelligence and Security John Costello Special Envoy for Northern Ireland and former OMB Director and White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney The National Security Council's Senior Director for Europe and Russia Ryan Tully Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Matthews Entire non-career staff of the Federal Aviation Administration Advertisement Chao's move comes a day after her husband, McConnell, went on the Senate floor and called out fellow Republicans for emboldening Trump's farce that Congress was able to overturn the presidential election results. Before the MAGA mob stampeded in, McConnell warned Senate Republicans they were leading the country down a 'poisonous path,' which would put democracy in a 'death spiral,' by challenging the Electoral College results. 'But my colleagues, nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale, the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election,' McConnell argued. 'Nor can public doubt alone justify a radical break, when the doubt itself was incited without any evidence.' Chao previously served as President George W. Bush's Labor secretary. Her resignation may muddle calls from top Democrats, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment, which would render Trump powerless with just 13 days left of his administration. A majority of the president's cabinet would need to support the move. At her press briefing Thursday, Pelosi seemed miffed that any cabinet leader might resign right now, as they're in the line of succession. Chao's name didn't specifically come up. Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger also said Pence should invoke the 25th. Chao's resignation follows several other Trump staffers who have stepped down, citing the president's behavior. Former White House acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney has joined the growing list of officials hastily exiting the Trump administration quitting his diplomatic post in protest of the effort to 'overtake the government.' 'I can't do it,' said Mulvaney, who called Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, another former House Republican, to convey his views. Mulvaney, a former House member from South Carolina who left Congress to join Trump's team, spoke out on CNBC hours after a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol after being egged on to march there by President Trump and his unsupported claims of mass election fraud. Former Acting White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney has stepped down from his role as a special envoy to Northern Ireland. WHAT DOES THE 25TH AMENDMENT SAY? CAN TRUMP'S CABINET REALLY TOPPLE HIM? The 25th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution deals with presidential authority in the event of death or removal from office, and was ratified in 1967, in the wake of John F Kennedy's assassination. What does the 25th Amendment say? It is in four sections, all dealing with the president leaving office during his or her elected term. The first section states that the vice president takes over the Oval Office if the president dies or resigns or is removed something which the original Constitution did not clearly state. Presidents of course can be removed by impeachment, a feature of the constitution from the start. They can also be removed through the 25th Amendment - of which more below. Section II states that if the vice president dies, or resigns or is fired both the House and Senate have to confirm a new vice president. Until 1967, presidents could change vice presidents mid-term on their own if they got the vice president to agree to resign - not something that actually happened, but which was possible in principle. Section III makes clear that a president can temporarily delegate his powers to the vice president, and later reclaim them when he - or she - is capable of serving. This is most often invoked if a president is under the influence of surgical anesthetic for a short period of time. Section IV is the amendment's most controversial part: it describes how the president can be removed from office if he is incapacitated and does not leave on his own. The vice president and 'a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide' must write to both the president pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House, saying that 'the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office.' The term principal officers of the executive departments would normally mean the cabinet secretaries. So at least eight of the president's 15 most senior Cabinet members together with the vice president must agree that a president should be removed before any plan can move forward. Notifying the House Speaker and the Senate president pro tempore is the act that immediately elevates the vice president to an 'acting president' role. The deposed president can contest the claim, giving the leaders of the bloodless coup four days to re-assert their claims to the House and Senate. Congress then has two days to convene unless it is already in session and another 21 days to vote on whether the president is incapable of serving. A two-thirds majority in both houses is required to make that determination. As soon as there is a vote with a two-thirds majority, the president loses his powers and is removed, and the vice president stops acting and is sworn in as president. But if 21 days of debate and votes ends without a two-thirds majority, the president gets back his powers. What could happen to trigger the 25th Amendment? Vice President Mike Pence and eight of the 15 'principal' Cabinet members would have to agree to notify Congress that President Donald Trump was incapable of running the country. That group is made up of the Secretary of State, Treasury Secretary, Secretary of Defense, Attorney General, Interior Secretary, Agriculture Secretary, Commerce Secretary, Labor Secretary, Health and Human Services Secretary, Transportation Secretary, Energy Secretary , Education Secretary, Veterans Affairs Secretary and Homeland Security Secretary. Their formal notification would go to the House Speaker and, in the senate, to the 'president pro tempore', the Senate's most senior member. As soon as the letter is sent, Pence would become 'acting president.' Alternatively, Congress could set up its own mechanism to decide if he is fit for office - maybe a commission, or a joint committee. Pence would still have to agree with its conclusion and then write formally to the Speaker and president pro tempore. Or another possibility is that the pool of 'principal officers' is considered to be bigger than the 15 and a majority of that group call Trump incapable. What if Trump does not agree? If Trump claims he is capable of holding office, he would write to the House Speaker and the president pro tempore of the Senate within four days, setting up three weeks of intense debate in both houses of Congress. Trump would be removed from office if both two-thirds majorities in both the House and Senate agreed with Pence and his cabal. If either of both chambers fell short of that mark, Trump would retain his powers and likely embark on a wholesale housecleaning, firing Pence and replacing disloyal Cabinet members. Are there any loopholes? The 25th Amendment allows Congress to appoint its own panel to evaluate the president instead of relying on the Cabinet the men and women who work most closely with Trump to decide on a course of action. It specifies that some 'other body as Congress may by law provide' could play that role, but Pence would still need to agree with any finding that the president is incapable of discharging his duties. That commission could hypothetically include anyone from presidential historians to psychiatrists, entrusted to assess the president's fitness for office. Another loophole is that it does not spell out that the Cabinet is needed to agree, but says that the 'principal officers' of the departments are needed. That term is undefined in the constitution. In some departments legislation appears to name not just the secretary but deputies and even undersecretaries as 'principal officers', so many more people could be called in to the assessment of Trump's fitness. But Trump's cabinet has a swathe of 'acting' cabinet officer - and it is unclear if they could therefore take part in removing him. Could Trump fire Pence if he rebelled? No. The vice president can resign or be impeached and removed - but he does not serve at the pleasure of the president. Is there any precedent for this? No. Only Section III, the voluntary surrender of presidential powers, has ever been used - and only very briefly. In December 1978, President Jimmy Carter thought about invoking Section III when he was contemplating a surgical procedure to remove hemorrhoids. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush both voluntarily relinquished their powers while undergoing procedures under anesthetic. Section IV has also never been invoked, although there have been claims that Ronald Reagan's chief of staff Donald Regan told his successor, Howard Baker, in 1987 that he should be prepared to invoke it because Reagan was inattentive and inept. The PBS documentary 'American Experience' recounts how Baker and his team watched Reagan closely for signs of incapacity during their first meeting and decided he was in perfect command of himself. Advertisement 'I called Mike Pompeo last night to let him know I was resigning from that. I can't do it. I can't stay,' he said, relinquishing his post as special U.S. envoy to Northern Ireland in the final weeks of the Trump Administration. Mulvaney said he has been in talks with other officials thinking about bailing out. Three did so amid the turmoil Wednesday. He acknowledged that his post was just a 'part-time gig,' but indicated he was determined to send a signal by giving it up. 'It's what I've got,' he said. He said he 'wouldn't be surprised' to see 'more of my friends resign over the next 24 to 48 hours.' Mulvaney served in the House with Pompeo. 'Those who choose to stay, and I have talked with some of them, are choosing to stay because they're worried the President might put someone worse,' he said voicing an argument made by many top Trump officials who lingered for months or years despite harboring doubts they later shared about Trump. 'I can't stay here. Not after yesterday,' he said with a model of Air Force One and a presidential seal in the background behind him during a video interview. Mulvaney endured multiple slights from the president, who never elevated him from his 'acting' role. He told the network Trump was 'not the same as he was eight months ago.' Mulvaney, like other current and former lawmakers, watched a mob of trump supporters occupy and vandalize hallways they spent years frequenting on a day when Congress ultimately counted the election certifications sent by 50 states and the District of Columbia formalizing President-elect Joe Biden's win. 'We didn't sign up for what you saw last night,' he said. He spoke of some administration accomplishments, then said: 'But all of that went away yesterday, and I think you're right to ask the question as to 'how did it happen?' He suggested Trump would forever be linked to what he termed an effort to 'overtake' the lawfully elected government. White House adviser Jared Kushner, center, flanked by his wife Ivanka Trump, left, and acting Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney, right, attend a dinner with President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Osaka, Japan. He said his legacy would now be identified with 'the guy who tried to overtake the government' 'The folks who spent time away from our families, put our careers on the line to go work for Donald Trump, and we did have those successes to look back at, but now it will always be, 'Oh yeah, you work for the guy who tried to overtake the government,' Mulvaney said. 'That legacy is gone as of yesterday and that's extraordinarily disappointing to those of us who work for him,' he lamented. His blunt assessment came hours after Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger has resigned from his role, becoming the latest White House official to quit in outrage over Donald Trump's response to the siege on the US Capitol. Pottinger handed in his resignation Wednesday in dismay over the day's events where Trump supporters stormed the Capitol sending the seat of the federal government into lockdown, according to Bloomberg. The Deputy National Security Advisor had been planning to stand down on election day. But sources told the outlet he decided to quit early as he was dismayed by Trump's part in inciting the unrest that has so far left four dead. Pottinger's departure comes hot on the heels of the announcement that Stephanie Grisham, the former White House press secretary who became chief of staff for Melania Trump, resigned her position on Wednesday effective immediately. Grisham's decision was also said to be based on the riots and sources said more aides including National Security Adviser Robert O'Brien were on the brink of leaving. She was followed by White House press secretary Sarah Matthews and White House social secretary Anna Cristina Niceta Lloyd. The exodus from the Trump administration comes as the president has been accused of trying to freeze out his number two. Sources said Trump had revoked Vice President Chief of Staff Marc Short's White House access Wednesday after Mike Pence refused to bow to the president's demand that he overturn the election. Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger (center) has resigned from his role, as numerous White House officials are said to be outraged over Donald Trump's response to the siege on the US Capitol O'Brien had also planned to quit Wednesday but was then convinced to stay on in his role, the sources told Bloomberg. The National Security Advisor had tweeted his praise for Pence's handling of the situation in the Capitol earlier Wednesday, comparing his actions to his response during the September 11 terrorist attacks. 'I just spoke with Vice President Pence. He is a genuinely fine and decent man,' he tweeted. 'He exhibited courage today as he did at the Capitol on 9/11 as a Congressman. I am proud to serve with him.' Trump has reportedly viewed O'Brien's tweets as a thinly-veiled attack on him. Sources said Chris Liddell, assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff for policy coordination, could be next in line to resign. Meanwhile, NBC News earlier reported that Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, was also considering resigning. Grisham was the first White House aide to publicly announce her resignation. 'It has been an honor to serve the country in the @WhiteHouse . I am very proud to have been a part of @FLOTUS @MELANIATRUMP mission to help children everywhere, & proud of the many accomplishments of this Administration. Signing off now,' Grisham tweeted from her official account. Grisham left because of the assault on the Capitol by the president's supporters and the way Donald Trump handled it, a former administration staffer still close to her told DailyMail.com. Stephanie Grisham pictured with Melania Trump. Grisham, the former White House press secretary who became chief of staff for Melania Trump , resigned her position on Wednesday She was soon followed by deputy White House press secretary Sarah Matthews. 'As someone who worked in the halls of Congress I was deeply disturbed by what I saw today. I'll be stepping down from my role, effective immediately. Our nation needs a peaceful transfer of power,' Matthews said in a statement. Niceta, who also works in the East Wing with the first lady, also submitted her resignation tonight in reaction to today's protest. Reports had surfaced throughout the day that some White House aides were considering resigning over the mob scene at the Capitol and Trump's lackluster response to it. Trump had encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol and 'fight much harder' during his rally earlier Wednesday. 'And we are going to have to fight much harder,' he said. He reiterated his demands that Pence 'is going to have to come through for us, and if he doesn't, that will be a sad day for our country'. And he also continued to push unfounded claims of election fraud claiming there has been an 'egregious assault on our democracy.' 'You will never take back our country with weakness,' he said. Also at the rally his son Donald Trump Jr. appeared to threaten GOP lawmakers that the Trump family would continue to fight the results of the election. Robert OBrien, national security adviser, had also planned to quit Wednesday but was then convinced to stay on in his role, the sources told Bloomberg. The National Security Advisor had tweeted his praise for Pence's handling of the situation 'These guys better fight for Trump. Because if they're not, guess what? I'm going to be in your backyard in a couple of months!' he told the crowd. He also thanked the 'red-blooded, patriotic Americans' in the crowd 'for standing up to the bulls**' and an expletive-filled rant riling up the crowd. Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney and the man who spearheaded his failed election legal battle, also told Trump fans to pursue a 'trial by combat' at the event. Even when things turned violent, Trump remained silent for much of the afternoon. Sources told Bloomberg it took numerous aides, including his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, 45 minutes to convince the president to even send a tweet condemning the violence. The president was even said to be 'pleased' about the siege and was watching the events while walking between the Oval Office and White House dining room, the insiders said. He then finally posted a video telling his supporters 'to go home' late afternoon, after President-elect Joe Biden had addressed the nation and condemned the violence. Vice President Chief of Staff Marc Short claimed Trump had revoked his White House access after Mike Pence refused to bow to the president's demand to overturn the election Even then, he told his 'very special' supporters inside the Capitol that he loves them and understands their pain. Sources said he had been persuaded by Meadows and Ivanka Trump to put out the video. Trump's refusal to condemn the violence in the Capitol, which interrupted the constitutionally-mandated certification of the electoral college vote, drew criticism from several members of his own party and could lead to more people resigning in the coming days. While several have chosen to distance themselves from the president, sources said Trump is now lashing out at his vice president over his refusal to reject the electoral votes for Biden. The president told aides he had banned Pence's chief of staff from the West Wing today, multiple sources said. Pence defied Trump Wednesday, vowing to heed to the constitution and not overturn the electoral college as the president had urged him to do. Pence sent a letter to the 535 senators and representatives on Capitol Hill ahead of his presiding over the Joint Session that will certify Joe Biden's victory. In it, he outlined his belief in his role in the proceedings, which he notes is 'ceremonial' and adds that it doesn't include the authority to 'determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not.' Grisham's decision was also said to be based on the riots Wednesday Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is married to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, is considering resigning Pence told Trump Tuesday he would not obey his demands, reported the New York Times. Sources told Bloomberg Trump believed Short had leaked this to the press and this was one of the reasons for banning him from the West Wing. Short was not seen entering the White House all day Wednesday. He entered the Eisenhower Executive Office Building where Pence has his Vice Presidential Office and which is on the White House campus but did not go to the West Wing. Grisham was one of President Trump's longest serving aides, having joined him during the 2016 presidential campaign and lasted until the final weeks of his administration. She was highly trusted by both Trumps, having been with them since 2015. During her tenure as press secretary she carried the distinction of having never held a briefing in the White House press briefing room. Grisham clashed with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows when he joined the administration. He shook up the press operation, naming Kayleigh McEnany press secretary in April of this year. Grisham then went back to the East Wing, where she had been previously the spokesperson for the first lady, to be Melania Trump's chief of staff. There were reports some White House aides were considering resigning over the mob scene at the Capitol and President Donald Trump 's failure to condemn it She is close to Melania Trump with the two women texting often, even when Grisham was moved to the West Wing to hold the triple role of press secretary, communications director and spokesperson for the first lady. But last month Grisham was subject to a 'hit piece' in the New York Post with White House 'insiders' blaming her for the first lady missing out on a magazine cover to Meghan Markle. 'Out of nowhere and a complete hit piece,' a senior administration official described it to DailyMail.com. 'I've been trying to figure out what logic can be in it and I can't find it. It's two months until the end of the administration. I really don't understand where this is coming from there.' Citing 'insiders who have worked for the White House over the past four years' and 'administration loyalists,' the New York Post claimed the first lady has been 'ill-served' by Grisham. One of the examples they cite is the September 2020 edition of the British magazine Tatler where Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, was featured on the cover instead of Melania Trump, who had given the magazine an interview via e-mail. The New York Post is known to be one of President Trump's favorite papers and one he reads daily - meaning the piece was surely noticed by the commander-in-chief. During her tenure as press secretary, Stephanie Grisham carried the distinction of having never held a briefing in the White House press briefing room Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - January 8, 2021) -Datametrex AI Limited (TSXV: DM) (FSE: D4G) (OTC Pink: DTMXF) (the "Company" or "Datametrex") would like to congratulate its investee company, Graph Blockchain (GBLC: CSE) on the recent share price appreciation. "Datametrex remains a significant shareholder of Graph Blockchain owning approximately 25% of Graph. We welcome any new direction the board and management determine to be in the best interest of GBLC and its shareholders," says Marshall Gunter CEO of the Company. About Datametrex Datametrex AI Limited is a technology-focused with exposure to Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Nexalogy (www.nexalogy.com). Datametrex's mission is to provide tools that support companies in fulfilling their operational goals, including Health and Safety, with predictive and preventive technologies. By working with companies to set a new standard of protocols through Artificial Intelligence and health diagnostics, Company provides progressive solutions to support the supply chain. For additional information on Datametrex and other corporate information, please visit the Company's website at www.datametrex.com. For further information, please contact: Marshall Gunter - CEO Phone: (514) 295-2300 Email: mgunter@datametrex.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor it's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements: All statements included in this press release that address activities, events, or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections, and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. In particular, there is no guarantee that the parties will successfully negotiate and enter into a definitive agreement on mutually acceptable terms or complete the Transaction in the manner contemplated herein, if at all, that the due diligence of any of the parties will be satisfactory, or that the parties will obtain any required board, shareholder, third-party and/or regulatory or other governmental approvals, if any. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not undertake to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. ### To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71650 South African-born US entrepreneur Elon Musk has become the worlds richest person, with a net worth of $195 billion, according to Bloomberg Billionaires Index, a daily ranking of the worlds richest people. Musk, the chief executive officer (CEO) of both SpaceX and Tesla, had a rather underwhelming response to his crowning glory moment, tweeting How strange! adding, Well , back to work. Also Read | Tesla CEO Elon Musk overtakes Amazons Bezos to become worlds richest person Of the 20 wealthiest persons in the world, 14 are Americans, with eight, including Musk, in top 10, according to the Bloomberg Index. With the 49-year-old occupying the top spot, the following persons are at spots 2-10 on the list, as of January 8, 2021, as per Bloomberg: 1. Jeff Bezos ($185 billion, US): Overtaken by Musk as the worlds richest person, Bezos, the Amazon founder-CEO, was number 1 since October 2017. In July 2018, the 56-year-olds net worth increased to $150 billion, which led to him being named the richest man in modern history. In 2013, he purchased the popular American newspaper, The Washington Post, at $250 million. 2. Bill Gates ($134 billion, US): The Microsoft co-founder has been, for years, seen as the face of the position of the wealthiest person in the world. Gates co-founded Microsoft with childhood friend Paul Allen in 1975. He stepped down as its CEO in January 2000 but continued as chairman, a post he resigned from in February 2014. Gates also founded the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, with wife Melinda, in 2000. 3. Bernard Arnault ($116 billion, France): The richest Frenchman and the richest non-American, Arnault was briefly the wealthiest person in the world as well, in December 2019 and January 2020. He is the chairman and chief executive of Louis Vitton SE, the worlds largest luxury goods company. 4. Mark Zuckerberg ($102 billion, US): Zuckerberg, the chairman and co-founder of Facebook, is the only person under 40 in Forbes list of the 20 richest people. In November 2007, Zuckerberg, then aged 23, became the worlds youngest self-made billionaire. He has also featured regularly on the lists of the worlds most powerful and influential people. 5. Zhong Shanshan ($93.1 billion, China): The richest person in Asia and his native China, Shanshan is the founder-chairperson of Nongfu Spring, the countrys largest beverage company. In December 2020, he went past Indian business tycoon Mukesh Ambani to become Asias richest person. 6. Warren Buffet ($88.2 billion, US): Overtaken by Shanshan as the sixth richest person in January 2021, Buffet is one of the worlds most successful investors. He is also the chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, which, according to Forbes, is the eighth-largest public company in the world. 7. Larry Page ($83.6 billion, US): One of the two co-founders of Google, Page also served as its CEO for two terms, 1997-2001 and 2011-2015. He later became the CEO of Alphabet Inc, which was set up in 2015 and became the parent company of Google. Page served as CEO here till December 2019 but remains a board member and controlling shareholder. 8.Sergey Brin ($81 billion, US): The other Google co-founder, Brin served as president of Alphabet Inc till December 2019. Born in 1973 in the Soviet Union, Brin immigrated to the US with his family at the age of six. 9. Larry Ellison ($80 billion, US): Rounding off top 10 is Ellison, the co-founder and chief technology officer (CTO) of Oracle. In October 2019, Forbes listed him as the sixth richest person in the world, the highest position he has achieved. In a video message aiming to calm tensions after his supporters stormed the US Capitol, Trump voiced outrage at the clashes that left at least four dead Washington: US President Donald Trump appealed for "healing and reconciliation" Thursday following unprecedented scenes of violence at the US Capitol, pledging a smooth transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden. In a video message aiming to calm tensions after his supporters stormed the US Capitol as Biden's election victory was being certified by lawmakers Wednesday, Trump voiced outrage at the clashes that left at least four dead by police at the seat of US government. "A new administration will be inaugurated on 20 January. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation," he said. Trump released the video following growing calls for his removal after his fired-up supporters breached the Capitol Wednesday and sent lawmakers scrambling for safety. Egged on by an aggrieved Trump speech, a flag-waving mob broke though barricades and swarmed inside the Capitol, ransacking offices and entering the usually solemn legislative floors. Security forces fired tear gas in a four-hour operation to clear the Capitol. Police said a woman, reportedly a Trump partisan from southern California, was shot and killed and three others died in the area in circumstances that were unclear. Trump's response to the violence, taking to social media to repeat false claims he had made about election fraud in his speech, sparked outrage and suspensions from all the major platforms. But he struck a more conciliatory tone in Thursday's 160-second video, describing his sole term in office as "the honor of my lifetime." And he offered an unequivocal denunciation of Wednesday's violence, saying "tempers must be cooled and calm restored." "The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country," he said. "And to those who broke the law, you will pay." Fund created in Germany to support Nord Stream 2 completion It will be able to buy services to complete the gas pipeline. Reporting by UNIAN If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The market for homeopathy has expanded remarkably because of the increasing demand for natural remedies. Growing prevalence of chronic and lifestyle-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, and fertility issues have led to a faster adoption of alternative medical treatments such as homeopathic medicine. However, the market is regulated by strict laws pertaining to the application of homeopathy in some developed nations like the U.K. and Germany. Meanwhile, many developing economies pose a high possibility for development attributing to the cultural propinquity for natural medication. Get Free Sample Copy @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4411 The Worldwide Homeopathic Medicine Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12.5% during the forecast period. The global homeopathic medicine market is expected to show sharp growth over the forecast period. Rising prevalence of chronic disease and increasing demand for medicines from natural sources and overall increase in the awareness about medicines and treatment options in homeopathy drive the market growth. Furthermore, homeopathy is gaining attention in many of the emerging market throughout the globe. Lack of awareness about homeopathy in developing countries may act as a barrier for the market growth. Growing incidences of lifestyle-related and chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, and fertility problems have led to the increased adoption of alternative medical treatments such as homeopathic medicine, this driving market demand.The homeopathic medicine market is restrained by the implementation of strict regulations surrounding the use of homeopathy in certain developed economies such as Germany and the U.K. Meanwhile; emerging economies carry a high potential for growth due to the cultural affinity for natural medication in several fast emerging markets. Key Players The competitive analysis of the market in MRFRs report records the strategies and market positions of leading market players such as Natural Health Supply, Boiron, HomeoLab USA, Hylands Homeopathic, SBL, Nelson & Co. Ltd., and Hahnemann Laboratories Inc. Latest Industry News NHS funded homeopathic treatments have been cut off with exceptions to be considered on a case by case basis. Indian homeopathy start-up Welcomecure has raised undisclosed investment from Bollywood Thier association with the brand is expected to increase demand. Market Segmentation The global homeopathic medicine market is segmented on the basis of type, indication, and end users. On the basis of drugs, market is segmented into plants based, animal based and mineral based. Plant based is further segmented into Arnica montana, Bryonia alba, Cinchona officinalis, Pulsatilla nigricans, Rhus tox, Symphytum. Animal based is further segmented into Latrodectus mactans, Tarentula Hispania, Tarentula cubensis, Naja tripudians, Vipera, Sepia, and Cantharis. Mineral based is further segmented into Calcarea carbonica, Phosphorus, Calcarea phosphorica, Natrum muriaticuma and others. Other segments are Nosodes, Sarcodes and Imponderabilia. On the basis of application, the market is segmented into skin & hair, reproductive health, lifestyle disorders, bones, joints, and muscles diseases, brain and nerves disorders, respiratory diseases, childhood diseases, hormonal disorders and others. On the basis of end user, the market is divided into hospitals, homeopathic clinics, and others. Regional Analysis Led by the U.S, the Americas account for the largest share of the global market due to the high awareness regarding homeopathic medicine. Highly expensive healthcare often encourages patients to adopt homeopathic medicine. Moreover, the region is witnessing a rising occurrence in lifestyle-related diseases which further facilitate increased demand for homeopathic medicine. Europe accounts for the second largest share due to the high number of homeopathic practitioners available in the region. U.K leads the regional market with the most significant share. The European region has widespread use of homeopathic medicine for day to day use in assisting the treatment of minor health problems. Meanwhile, the Asia Pacific offers great potential for market growth over the assessment period. The growing urbanization of the region has led to an increase in lifestyle-related diseases. Moreover, the emerging economies of the APAC region have a long history with natural remedies, which has resulted in a high adoption and increased demand for homeopathic medicine. There are a high number of clinics, and research institutes dedicated to the field of homeopathy which is further encouraging growth for the market. Browse Complete 206 Pages Premium Research Report Enabled with 77 Respective Tables and Figures @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/homeopathic-medicine-market-4411 Detailed Table of Contents: 1. Report Prologue 2. Market Introduction 2.1 Definition 2.2 Scope Of The Study 2.2.1 Research Objective 2.2.2 Assumptions 2.2.3 Limitations 3. Research Methodology 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Primary Research 3.3 Secondary Research 3.4 Market Size Estimation 4. Market Dynamics 4.1 Drivers 4.2 Restrains 4.3 Opportunities 4.4 Challenges 4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators 4.6 Technology Trends & Assessment 5. Market Factor Analysis 5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis 5.1.1 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers 5.1.2 Bargaining Power Of Buyers 5.1.3 Threat Of New Entrants 5.1.4 Threat Of Substitutes 5.1.5 Intensity Of Rivalry 5.2 Value Chain Analysis 5.3 Investment Feasibility Analysis 5.4 Pricing Analysis 10 Company Landscape 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Market Share Analysis 10.3 Key Development & Strategies 10.3.1 Key Developments 11 Company Profiles 11.1 Hahnemann Laboratories Inc. 11.1.1 Company Overview 11.1.2 Product Overview 11.1.3 Financials 11.1.4 SWOT Analysis TOC Continued! About US: Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. Human Nature: Planet Earth in Our Time Edited by Geoff Blackwell and Ruth Hobday Chronicle. 160 pp. $45 - - - Cloistered in our homes, as many of us are, and focused on a global health crisis amid political chaos, it's easy to lose sight of another catastrophe: climate change. And yet, according to the annually distressing "emissions gap" report, released by the United Nations in early December, humans need to take a hard look at our choices - including our energy sources and transportation methods - if we want to avoid inflaming a situation that has already caused unprecedented wildfires, hurricanes, extinctions and droughts. Just as front-line workers have been pleading with people to wear masks and practice social distancing, environmental activists have been trying to get us to wise up to the consequences of our actions. If we are visual learners, perhaps the 12 photographers featured in "Human Nature: Planet Earth in Our Time" can finally get through. "These photographers all share one important similarity: They remind us that each and every one of us holds the power to create change through the everyday choices that we make: what we choose to eat, what we purchase, how we get to work, who we vote for, which businesses we support," write editors Geoff Blackwell and Ruth Hobday in the book's introduction. "We all have a role to play. But, we all must begin to act and act now." The book includes first-person narratives from each photographer, documenting their careers, their inclinations toward conservation and the specialties that have taken them to deserts and ice floes, above the clouds and under the waves. They discuss the troubling developments they've witnessed, from the proliferation of plastic waste in our oceans to the retreat of polar ice, but they also convey a sense of hope that we can still turn things around. Following is a glimpse of the sometimes troubling, always stunning work featured in "Human Nature: Planet Earth in Our Time." Brian Skerry has been working at National Geographic for more than three decades, producing stories about oceans and waterways. "In the beginning I wanted to do stories about animals or places that interested me," he says in the book. "I think in many respects it was self-serving - I wanted to do things that I felt were cool." But something shifted as he worked on a story that would end up on the cover of National Geographic in 2004 - a look at baby harp seals in Canada that were being attacked both by hunters and by a decline in sea ice prompted by climate change. "I've often said the ocean is dying a death of a thousand cuts and that unlike in the past, we have to understand that the ocean is not too big to fail," Skerry says. "I think we are living at this very special and pivotal moment in history where, maybe, for the very first time, we actually understand both the problems and the solutions. And the question is, will we do the right thing and work on those solutions, or will we simply bear witness to the destruction?" Born and raised in the Netherlands, Frans Lanting studied to be an environmental economist before pivoting to photography. "I've been doing this work now for four decades and in the last few years we've started a series of expeditions to places that I know well from earlier projects to document them again," he says. "There's a massive retreat of nature, especially in the tropics and sometimes I gasp when I see what has happened in the past few decades." But for Lanting, it's not all doom and gloom. In Monterey, Calif., where he has lived for decades, he has witnessed scientists, politicians and private citizens work together to revive a damaged ecosystem. As a photographer and filmmaker, Ami Vitale has traveled to more than 100 countries to document life around the globe. A pivotal moment came in 2009, when she first met Sudan - then one of eight remaining northern white rhinos in the world - before he was transported from a Czech Republic zoo to Kenya in "a desperate, last ditch effort to save an entire species," she says. It didn't work. Vitale traveled to Africa in 2018 to document the animal's dying days: "This gentle, hulking creature was the last of a species who had survived for millions of years, but he couldn't survive us; he couldn't survive humankind." J Henry Fair's large-scale aerial photographs are both gorgeous and disturbing. The South Carolina native illuminates the effects of industrial pollution on the landscape, and to do so, he has flown over oil refineries in Texas, fracking sites in Pennsylvania, a coal mine in Germany and a massive oil tank in Canada. "I want my photographs to work on multiple layers," he says. "They must be beautiful and the irony of making something beautiful out of something terrible comments on the irony of life in the modern world, where each of us, no matter how conscientious, must realize that we're stealing from our grandchildren by not living a sustainable life." Mumbai, Jan 8 : Actor Priyanshu Painyuli, who impressed with his acting chops recently in the web series Mirzapur 2, will soon commence shoot for the upcoming war drama Pippa. The actor says hailing from an Army background helped him gear up for the role of an armyman in the film. "I have spent an entire lifetime around people from the Army background. It's a life I understand in entirety. I understand the highs and lows and trials and tribulations. While the story of 'Pippa' is very different, I am bringing to the film the same lived-in feel. I know the life of an armyman and what family means to those in the Army. I know what the country means for people whose families are in the Army. I am able to understand 'Pippa' way more intimately and that's coming handy in prepping for the project," said Priyanshu, whose father Vinod Kumar is a retired colonel in Indian Army. Directed by Raja Krisna Menon, Pippa stars Ishaan Khatter and Mrunal Thakur. It is based on the life of Brigadier Balram Singh Mehta, a war veteran who fought in the Indo-Pakistan war of 1971. Denver Regional Council of Governments is looking for a firm to develop a public education campaign for its Vision Zero traffic safety program. Panasonic AI-driven cameras empower an expanding vision of new uses Imagine a world where video cameras are not just watching and reporting for security, but have an even wider positive impact on our lives. Imagine that cameras control street and building lights, as people come and go, that traffic jams are predicted and vehicles are automatically rerouted, and more tills are opened, just before a queue starts to form. Cameras with AI capabilities Cameras in stores can show us how we might look in the latest outfit as we browse. Thats the vision from Panasonic about current and future uses for their cameras that provide artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities at the edge. Panasonic feels that these types of intelligent camera applications are also the basis for automation and introduction of Industry 4.0, in which processes are automated, monitored and controlled by AI-driven systems. 4K network security cameras The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications Panasonics 4K network security cameras have built-in AI capabilities suitable for this next generation of intelligent applications in business and society. The companys i-PRO AI-capable camera line can install and run up to three AI-driven video analytic applications. The AI engine is directly embedded into the camera, thus reducing costs and Panasonics image quality ensures the accuracy of the analytics outcome. FacePRO facial recognition technology Panasonic began advancing AI technology on the server side with FacePRO, the in-house facial recognition application, which uses AI deep learning capabilities. Moving ahead, they transitioned their knowledge of AI from the server side to the edge, introducing i-PRO security cameras with built-in AI capabilities last summer, alongside their own in-house analytics. Moreover, in line with the Panasonic approach to focus more on collaboration with specialist AI software developers, a partnership with Italian software company, A.I. Tech followed in September, with a range of intelligent applications, partially based on deep learning. Additional collaborations are already in place with more than 10 other developers, across the European Union, working on more future applications. i-PRO AI-capable security cameras Open systems are an important part of Panasonics current approach. The companys i-PRO AI-capable cameras are an open platform and designed for third-party application development, therefore, applications can be built or tailored to the needs of an individual customer. Panasonic use to be a company that developed everything in-house, including all the analytics and applications. However, now we have turned around our strategy by making our i-PRO security cameras open to integrate applications and analytics from third-party companies, says Gerard Figols, Head of Security Solutions at Panasonic Business Europe. Flexible and adapting to specific customer needs This new approach allows the company to be more flexible and adaptable to customers needs. At the same time, we can be quicker and much more tailored to the market trend, said Gerard Figols. He adds, For example, in the retail space, enabling retailers to enhance the customer experience, in smart cities for traffic monitoring and smart parking, and by event organisers and transport hubs to monitor and ensure safety. Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems Edge-based analytics Edge-based analytics offer multiple benefits over server-based systems. On one hand, there are monetary benefits - a cost reduction results from the decreased amount of more powerful hardware required on the server side to process the data, on top of reduction in the infrastructure costs, as not all the full video stream needs to be sent for analysis, we can work solely with the metadata. On the other hand, there are also advantages of flexibility, as well as reliability. Each camera can have its own individual analytic setup and in case of any issue on the communication or server side, the camera can keep running the analysis at the edge, thereby making sure the CCTV system is still fully operational. Most importantly, systems can keep the same high level of accuracy. Explosion of AI camera applications We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications" We can compare the explosion of AI camera applications to the way we experienced it for smartphone applications, said Gerard Figols, adding However, it doesnt mean the hardware is not important anymore, as I believe its more important than ever. Working with poor picture quality or if the hardware is not reliable, and works 24/7, software cannot run or deliver the outcome it has been designed for. As hardware specialists, Figols believes that Panasonic seeks to focus on what they do best - Building long-lasting, open network cameras, which are capable of capturing the highest quality images that are required for the latest AI applications, while software developers can concentrate on bringing specialist applications to the market. Same as for smartphones, AI applications will proliferate based on market demand and succeed or fail, based on the value that they deliver. Facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line technologies Panasonic has been in the forefront in developing essential AI applications for CCTV, such as facial recognition, privacy protection and cross line. However, with the market developing so rapidly and the potential applications of AI-driven camera systems being so varied and widespread, Panasonic quickly realised that the future of their network cameras was going to be in open systems, which allow specialist developers and their customers to use their sector expertise to develop their own applications for specific vertical market applications, while using i-PRO hardware. Metadata for detection and recognition Regarding privacy, consider that the use of AI in cameras is about generating metadata for the detection and recognition of patterns, rather than identifying individual identities. However, there are legitimate privacy concerns, but I firmly believe that attitudes will change quickly when people see the incredible benefits that this technology can deliver, said Gerard Figols, adding I hope that we will be able to redefine our view of cameras and AI, not just as insurance, but as life advancing and enhancing. i-PRO AI Privacy Guard One of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard Seeking to understand and appreciate privacy concerns, one of the AI applications that Panasonic developed was i-PRO AI Privacy Guard that generates data without capturing individual identities, following European privacy regulations that are among the strictest in the world. Gerard Fogils said, The combination of artificial intelligence and the latest generation open camera technology will change the worlds perceptions from Big Brother to Big Benefits. New applications will emerge as the existing generation of cameras is updated to the new open and intelligent next generation devices, and the existing role of the security camera will also continue. Future scope of AI and cameras He adds, Not just relying on the security cameras for evidence when things have gone wrong, end users will increasingly be able to use AI and the cameras with much higher accuracy to prevent false alarms and in a proactive way to prevent incidents." Gerard Figols concludes, That could be monitoring and alerting when health and safety guidelines are being breached or spotting and flagging patterns of suspicious behaviour before incidents occur. General Assignment Reporter Chris Mays is a general assignment reporter for the Brattleboro Reformer. He has been with New England Newspapers Inc. since 2012. DUP MP Ian Paisley doesn't believe that President Trumps speech before the siege on the US Capitol provoked the rioters to break the law. In the build up to the Presidential election in November, Mr Paisley described himself and Mr Trump as good friends, while he posed in a photograph with fellow DUP MPs holding a flag supporting his re-election. Since losing the election to Joe Biden, Trump has accused opponents of trying to steal the result, while divisions in American society continued to deepen. Those divisions finally reached breaking point on Wednesday as armed Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building. A woman was shot dead by police and three others died of medical emergencies, police confirmed. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next US Capitol riots: Trump supporters storm Washington [photos] Close Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) AP *** BESTPIX *** WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A Washington DC police officer walks through the grounds of the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol earlier, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A protester sits in the Senate Chamber on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Pro-Trump protesters have entered the U.S. Capitol building after mass demonstrations in the nation's capital. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images Vice President Mike Pence walks off the House floor as a joint session of the House and Senate convenes to confirm the Electoral College votes cast in November's election, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Erin Schaff/The New York Times via AP, Pool) AP Demonstrators try to open a door of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A protester screams "Freedom" inside the Senate chamber after the U.S. Capitol was breached by a mob during a joint session of Congress on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. Pro-Trump protesters entered the U.S. Capitol building during demonstrations in the nation's capital. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A pro-Trump mob enters the Roturnda of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images A demonstrator talks to police over a barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) AP A woman is helped up by police during a rally Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud.(AP Photo/John Minchillo)(AP Photo/John Minchillo) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Protesters enter the Senate Chamber on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. Pro-Trump protesters have entered the U.S. Capitol building after mass demonstrations in the nation's capital. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A pro-Trump protester carries the lectern of U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi through the Roturnda of the U.S. Capitol Building after a pro-Trump mob stormed the building on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress held a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. A group of Republican senators said they would reject the Electoral College votes of several states unless Congress appointed a commission to audit the election results. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Getty Images A police officer has eyes flushed with water after a confrontation with demonstrators, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud.(AP Photo/John Minchillo) AP Supporters of President Donald Trump puts water in his eyes after U.S. Capitol Police deployed a chemical agent outside of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP People shelter in the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) AP A demonstrator talks to police over a barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) AP Supporters of President Donald Trump climb the west wall of the the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP U.S. Capitol Police hold protesters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) AP Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) AP President-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Biden has called the violent protests on the U.S. Capitol "an assault on the most sacred of American undertakings: the doing of the people's business." (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) AP Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) AP Lawmakers prepare to evacuate the the House gallery as protesters try to break into the House Chamber at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) AP U.S. Capitol Police hold protesters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik) AP WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Members of the National Guard and the Washington D.C. police stand guard to keep demonstrators away from the U.S. Capitol on January 06, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol earlier, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Donald Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A member of a pro-Trump mob shatters a window with his fist from inside the Capitol Building after breaking into it on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A group of pro-Trump protesters climb the walls of the Capitol Building after storming the West lawn on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. A pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Jon Cherry/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A pro-Trump mob storms the U.S. Capitol following a rally with President Donald Trump on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Trump supporters gathered in the nation's capital today to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. (Photo by Samuel Corum/Getty Images) Getty Images WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 06: A crowd of Trump supporters gather outside as seen from inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Congress will hold a joint session today to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump. The joint session was disrupted as the Trump supporters breached the Capitol building. (Photo by Cheriss May/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber inside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) Before the riot took place, thousands of Trump supporters gathered in Washington DC ahead of the Joint Session of Congress to confirm President-elect Bidens victory. Mr Trump repeated his claims that the election was stolen and encouraged the crowd to march the two miles from the White House to the Capitol. Expand Close Support: DUP MPs Ian Paisley (left), Sammy Wilson (second left) and Paul Girvan (right) fly the flag for Donald Trump / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Support: DUP MPs Ian Paisley (left), Sammy Wilson (second left) and Paul Girvan (right) fly the flag for Donald Trump North Antrim MP Mr Paisley said it was abhorrent to see any sort of violence interfere with the political process and recognised that both President Trump and President-elect Biden told those involved to go home. Describing the scenes as startling, he added that it was absolutely tragic that people died. Read More Mr Paisley argued, however, that no one can say that Mr Trump provoked protesters to break the law. He said that well go down and well protest peacefully, stated Mr Paisley. Im looking at his comments that were put up in what seemed to be a live commentary, that they would go down and applaud those members of Congress and the House that they agree with. He went on to say theres some they dont agree with but he didnt say to do anything. Someones always going to look for someone to blame here but I think at the end of the day anyone who follows American politics knows it is a very, very deeply divided society. Mr Paisley stated that Northern Ireland has also witnessed political protests spilling into politics and recalled the brawl in Stormont surrounding the re-election of David Trimble as First Minister in 2001. There has been hand-to-hand fighting in various council chambers in Northern Ireland so we know something of it but nothing as dramatic I suppose as Capitol Hill the bastion of the Free World having this sort of a siege onto it, he said. Many Scottish fishermen have halted exports to European Union markets after post-Brexit bureaucracy shattered the system that used to put fresh langoustines and scallops in French shops just over a day after they were harvested. The second phase of the nationwide vaccination drive against Covid-19 began on Friday. The largest such drill undertaken till now, 33 states and Union Territories (UTs) will be covered under it. As India gets ready to carry out the mammoth drive to ensure smooth operations once vaccination actually starts, here is everything one needs to know: Aim of Vaccine Drive: The aim of the drill is to simulate the actual administration of the vaccine drive, the health ministry has said. It will be held at three session sites of 736 districts across 33 states and union territories. Which Vaccines Have Been Approved? India's drugs regulator has approved Oxford Covid-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. The dry run paves the way for the roll-out of at least these two vaccines in the country in the coming days. All Planning Under DM or District Collector: The entire planning of the vaccination drive including beneficiary registration, microplanning and vaccination at the planned session site will be tested under the leadership of district collector or district magistrate. The dry run will also familiarise the state, district, block and hospital level officers on all aspects of the roll-out. ALSO READ | Explained: Here's How You Will Be Able to Register for Covid Vaccine in India With Co-WIN App States, UTs Likely to Receive Covid Vaccine Soon: The government has informed states and UTs that they are likely to receive the first supply of Covid-19 vaccine shortly and asked them to remain prepared to accept these consignments. The health ministry said the vaccine will be supplied to the identified consignee points of 19 states and union territories -- Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal -- by the supplier. 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. UP, Haryana, Arunachal Not Participating: Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh will not be participating in the drill. They have already conducted the drive in all their districts. Major Districts Covered in Delhi: In Delhi, the South Delhi, South East Delhi and North West Delhi and New Delhi districts will be covered under the drive, authorities said. Observation Rooms Prepared: Uttarakhand will see the dry run being conducted at 130 health centres across the state, 10 each in every district. When the vaccination starts, every beneficiary will have to wait for 30 minutes in an observation room after getting inoculated, to see if the vaccine produces an opposite effect, according to the government of India guidelines, officials said. Harsh Vardhan to Oversee Preparations in Tamil Nadu: Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan will visit Tamil Nadu on Friday to review preparedness and oversee the dry run. He will visit the sessions site at Government General Hospital, Chennai followed by the one at Government Omandurar Hospital, Chennai. CoWIN Application: COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network or CoWIN app and its ecosystem will be used to manage and scale up the massive vaccination drive that is expected to begin soon across the country. Everything will be fed to the database in real-time. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 7, 2021) - Destiny Media Technologies Inc. (TSXV: DSY) (OTCQB: DSNY), the makers of Play MPE, a cloud-based SaaS solution for promotional music marketing, today announced that the Company will hold a conference call on January 13, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) to discuss financial results for its first quarter ended November 30, 2020. The Company plans to release financial results for the third quarter before market open on January 13, 2021. The conference call will include comments from President, Chief Executive Officer - Fred Vandenberg, Director of Business Development - Glenn Mattern, and Chief Financial Officer - Sam Ritchie. Date: January 13, 2021 Time: 2:00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time) Direct dial in: 1-416-764-8688 North America toll-free participant dial in: 1-888-390-0546 Conference ID: 95457453 A replay of the call will be available until January 20, 2021. Direct replay: 1-416-764-8677 North America toll-free replay: 1-888-390-0541 Replay passcode: 457453# A transcript will also be available on Destiny's corporate site at https://investors.dsny.com. About Destiny Media Technologies Inc. Destiny Media Technologies Inc. ("Destiny"), provides software as service (SaaS) solutions to businesses in the music industry solving critical problems in distribution and promotion. The core service, Play MPE (www.plaympe.com), provides promotional music marketing to engaged networks of decision makers in radio, film, TV, and beyond. More information can be found at www.dsny.com. Contacts: Fred Vandenberg CEO Destiny Media Technologies, Inc. 604 609 7736 x236 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/71610 Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 22:46:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks to reporters in Istanbul, Turkey, on Jan. 8, 2021. Erdogan said on Friday that the mass vaccination process against the COVID-19 pandemic would soon start. (Xinhua) ISTANBUL, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday the mass vaccination process against the COVID-19 pandemic would soon start. Speaking to reporters in Istanbul after Friday prayers, Erdogan said that Turkey's Health Ministry has been continuing its works to launch the vaccination process in line with a calendar. "Currently, we have three (vaccine) sources, namely from China, Germany, and our domestic (products)," Erdogan said. The first shipment of 3 million doses of China's SinoVac COVID-19 vaccine had arrived in the Turkish capital Ankara on Dec. 30, 2020. Erdogan noted that Turkish authorities are also in talks with the Germany-based BioNTech to obtain its COVID-19 vaccine. The Turkish Health Ministry had earlier announced that Turkey would purchase up to 30 million doses of BioNTech's vaccine, which was developed jointly with the U.S. firm Pfizer. Erdogan noted that "we will obtain the vaccines and medicines at all costs." Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has recently sent a notification, which included the details of the process, to all the provinces and asked both public and private health centers to reserve proper vaccination areas. Meanwhile, the trials of Turkish-made COVID-19 vaccines are still going on. American Airlines issued new precautionary measures, including an alcohol ban on flights to and from Washington, D.C., the day after hundreds of pro-Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Andrew Trull, a spokesperson for American Airlines, told NBC News in an email Thursday that they had increased staffing at airports in the D.C. area, among other measures. "We are working closely with local law enforcement and airport authority partners to ensure the safety of our customers and team members on the ground and in the air," Trull said. No alcohol would be provided on D.C. flights on Thursday, but Trull said the company would "continue to monitor the situation." Due to the pandemic, American Airlines stopped serving alcohol in the main cabin on Mar. 24, but it is still available in first class, according to the company. The announcement came a day after a mob of President Donald Trumps supporters swarmed the U.S. Capitol a chaotic and at times violent scene that left four people dead and forced Congress and Vice President Mike Pence to evacuate the building. Three of the four deaths reported on or around Capitol grounds were due to "medical emergencies." One woman was shot and later died. Julie Hedrick, president of the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, told union members in a letter Wednesday that they were aware of several flight incidents where flight attendants "were forced to confront passengers exhibiting politically motivated aggression towards other passengers and crew." Hedrick advised flight attendants to "maintain situational awareness, and attempt to deal with all safety and security issues on the ground." As safety professionals, we are well trained in handling inflight disruptions, but we should never find ourselves having to deal with politically motivated verbal or physical altercations onboard, Hedrick said in a statement. Remain extra vigilant on flights departing from the Washington, D.C. area for the next few days, and involve your fellow crewmembers if you have safety concerns. The plan is to supply water from the Red river to improve quality of water in To Lich river which is severely contaminated for years. Hanoi is considering channeling the Red river's water through a system of pumps to flush out polluted sludge from one of its former tributaries, To Lich river. The plan is to supply water from the Red river, which flows from Yunnan Province in Southwest China through northern Vietnam to the Gulf of Tonkin, to improve quality of water in To Lich river which is severely contaminated for years. Director of the Hanoi Management Board of Projects on Water Supply, Drainage and Environment Nguyen Van Hung said that the city has many plans, including the plan to replenish the To Lich river with Red rivers water via West Lake. However, through the field survey, the concerned units have decided to recharge the To Lich river with Red River river via Lien Mac sewer. "Some routes have been built on the system in accordance with specialized plans, if approved by the municipal government, this plan will bring many benefits," Mr. Nguyen Van Hung said. A section of the To Lich river. Photo: Kinhtedothi.vn To Anh Tuan, former director of the Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture, said that the scheme is nothing new compared to the previous ones and actually this idea was mentioned nearly 40 years ago. "The scheme of pumping the Red rivers water must prove its advantages in terms of cost, social and environmental impacts," Mr. Tuan said. Besides, it is necessary to consider plans to exploit the To Lich river to raise cultural and landscape values after they are cleaned," he added. Mr. Dong Minh Son, the former deputy chairman of Hanoi, said residents of the city outskirts have been complaining for years that water from the To Lich river and several other branches of the Red River from the inner-city was so polluted that they could not be used for irrigation. "Pumping water from the Red river to the To Lich river in an attempt to wash away pollution was a necessary initiative, but for long term, the city needs more comprehensive solutions to deal with the environment of its rivers and lakes," Mr. Son said. The To Lich river used to be branches of the Red river. However, due to historical changes, they are no longer naturally connected to the river. Urbanization and climate change in recent years have led to water shortage and pollution in the To Lich river. Over 200 sewage outfalls discharge 150,000 cubic meters of untreated wastewater every day into To Lich river, according to the city Department of Natural Resources and Environment. The river runs 14 kilometers through the downtown districts of Thanh Xuan, Hoang Mai and Thanh Tri and has become infamous for its stench and blackish water. Currently, rain is the only source of natural water supply for the river. Hanoi city has piloted a host of measures to revive its To Lich river which is dying due to heavy pollution and massive accumulation of mud in the river bed, including the application of Japanese and German technologies. Initially, positive results had been seen on the river thanks to these technologies; in particular, the rivers bad smell has been reduced and oxygen level in the rivers water has been raised. Hanoitimes Ngoc Thuy Experts support To Lich River revival plan Some Vietnamese experts have advocated a plan to turn Hanois To Lich River into a recreational area with investment from Japan. ROME - Only a few living souls are inside the Colosseum these days: a team of security guards, some maintenance workers and a family of hedgehogs, who live in the bowels and have grown bolder without so many people around. | In normal times, the Colosseum would be teeming with visitors - 3,000 at any minute, 7.5 million in a year. But in 2020, only 1.5 million came through the gates. And since Italy re-tightened restrictions in November, the site has been closed off to the public entirely. Depending on the moment, the amphitheater built two millennia ago for mass spectacles is for now a strange mix of nature reserve and construction site. The only occasional noise comes from a walkie-talkie or bird. EDITORS NOTE: NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting a two-day business and networking conference March 9-10, featuring some of the states most prominent industry leaders. Early-bird registration is open. Tickets are limited. Just as it seemed Gov. Phil Murphys office and the state Legislature had come to an agreement that would end a years-long struggle to legalize marijuana in New Jersey, opposition from lawmakers has derailed the effort in another bizarre twist in the saga, NJ Advance Media has learned. State Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, who sponsored a cleanup bill (S3320) to address Murphys call to add penalties for underage use of marijuana, said Friday afternoon that measure will not go up for a vote in the full Senate on Monday after other senators objected to it. The governor has declined to sign bills passed last month to legalize and decriminalize weed without changes that enact penalties for those under 21 caught with marijuana. He called the issue technical but important. The legalization and decriminalization bill had discrepancies; one sought to do away with penalties for all ages possessing up to six ounces of marijuana, and the other made underage possession a disorderly persons offense. The cleanup bill sought to create uniform, mild penalties. That walked back a previous attempt by lawmakers to end punishments for marijuana possession. But it fell apart on Friday afternoon, even though Scutari had presided over a Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday that advanced the bill by a vote of 7-3, and just hours after the governors office said Murphy approves of the bill and would sign it into law if it passed the Legislature Monday. Scutari said Friday he was removing his name as a sponsor of the cleanup bill, marking a full 180 on the measure after members of the Senate expressed fierce opposition. Nearly two weeks of work and negotiations between the administration and lawmakers collapsed in one afternoon. Were satisfied with the bill that we gave them, and we want them to take action on that bill, he said, referring to the original bill to legalize that the Legislature passed in mid-December. He said Murphy will have to veto or sign the bill as is, and that the Senate is done with the issue until then. Its a change in policy, Scutari said. They thought it was technical, but its not. He said he agrees with other lawmakers that the change could lead to more arrests of Black youth. In the 11th hour, the governor has proposed legislation that will disproportionally and unfairly hurt communities of color, state Assemblyman Jamel Holley, D-Union, who sponsored legalization bill, said in a statement. The governor cant hold legislation hostage in an effort to further target over-policed communities and place a de facto tax on poor people whose children may suffer from drug abuse and addiction. This proposal is regressive, draconian and ethically perverse. The Assembly also pulled the vote on the cleanup bill from its Monday session on Friday evening. A spokesperson for the governors office declined to say if Murphy will sign or veto the legalization bill on his desk. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Amanda Hoover may be reached at ahoover@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandahoovernj. Ghazipur : , Jan 8 (IANS) Ahead of the eighth round of talks with the Central government over the new farm laws on Friday, Bharatiya Kisan Union National Spokesperson Rakesh Tikait said the farmers leaders are ready to conduct talks with the Union government 700 times, but their demands will not change. Friday's meeting will discuss two major issues which are directly related to the three Central farm laws and the Minimum Support Price (MSP). The meeting is being held at Vigyan Bhavan. Rakesh Tikat told IANS, "If the government meets us 700 times, we are willing to go but the demand of the farmers will not change." "The Central government will have to withdraw the farm laws and we will talk on the same even today. There will be no other thing on which the talks will be held." The farmers have been camping at the borders of Delhi since November 26, 2020 demanding the withdrawal of 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; and a legal guarantee for procurement of crops at the MSP. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text U.S. Rep. Jason Crow led over 100 members of the House of Representatives on Thursday in asking Congresss independent auditing agency to investigate law enforcements preparation for and response to the mob invasion of the U.S. Capitol this week. Syracuse, N.Y. A Syracuse man, who previously spent five years in prison for possessing child pornography, pleaded guilty in federal court today to possessing and uploading child pornography to Facebook. Randy Tremfer, 44, was still under supervised release from his previous conviction when on Jan. 24, 2019, he uploaded a video containing child pornography to Facebook. Federal prosecutors say Tremfer also possessed 37 other videos of child pornography on his Facebook account. According to federal court documents, the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit received a cybertip from Facebook on Feb. 11, 2019, alerting them that Tremfer had uploaded child pornography to Facebook and that he had shared it to another user via Facebook Messenger. After identifying Tremper as the source, federal agents searched Tremfers Syracuse residence and found an iPhone with internet capability, which violates the terms of his federal probation and sex offender status. Tremfer is a Level 3 registered sex offender, meaning he has the highest risk of reoffense. According to federal court documents, Tremfer admitted to authorities that he was the one who uploaded the video with the intent of trading it with other people online. Tremfers previous child pornography conviction was in 2009. Tremfer pleaded guilty today to one count of transportation of child pornography. The charge carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, a maximum sentence of up to 40 years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and a term of supervised release of between five years and life. He will be sentenced on May 6. Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or find him on Twitter at @JacobPucci. BARCELONA In 2018, British Foreign Minister Boris Johnson suggested that President Trump might deserve the Nobel Peace Prize for his outreach to North Korea. But on Wednesday, Johnson, now the Conservative prime minister, denounced the disgraceful scenes in U.S. Congress and called for a peaceful and orderly transition of power in Washington. He didnt specify who might be standing in the way of that, but it obviously isnt the Democrats. Security forces respond with tear gas after a pro-Trump mob breaches the Capitol on Wednesday. (Probal Rashid/LightRocket via Getty Images) And that was one of the milder expressions of dismay from leaders and commentators around the world at the spectacle of the U.S. Capitol overrun by an armed mob incited to violence by the president himself, in what former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt described incredulously as insurrection. Nothing less. In Washington. German Chancellor Angela Merkel lamented that Trump has not acknowledged his defeat since November and also again not yesterday. Doubts about the election outcome were stirred and created the atmosphere that made the events of last night possible. French President Emmanuel Macron assured the world that what happened is not American, definitely, which many Americans would also like to believe, while suspecting the opposite might be true. Describing the mood in Paris, historian and author Andrew Hussey said that the French are stunned, frightened as well, by Wednesdays drama, and that French media is now portraying Trump as not just a demagogue, which he is, but actually as a wicked man with blood on his hands. The bizarre scenes of protesters the guys with long beards, the weird survivalists, the Boogaloo Boys, the Proud Boys, the Three Percenters made Hussey realize that Trump has brought these marginal groups right to the center to challenge American democracy. They also have him worried about the possibility of a second civil war in the U.S., since the cultural war thats been waged for years has erupted and the violence on social media has been translated into action. Even European political figures who had previously embraced Trumps brand of right-wing populism seemed to turn icy to the man with 13 days remaining in the White House. Former Brexit frontman and longtime Trump supporter Nigel Farage condemned the insurgency, tweeting Wednesday night that Storming Capitol Hill is wrong. The protesters must leave. Marine Le Pen of the French far-right National Rally demanded that Trump must condemn what happened. A call for all parties in the U.S. to maintain restraint and prudence came from the Turkish government, which under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is not known for restraint in handling dissent. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. (Tolga Akmen/WPA Pool/Getty Images) On the other hand, Russian politicians seemed to revel in the mayhem. The celebration of democracy is over. It has, unfortunately, hit rock bottom, and I say this without a hint of gloating, gloated Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the International Affairs Committee in the Russian Parliament. America is no longer charting the course, and therefore has lost all its rights to set it. And especially to impose it on others. The messages from Moscow contained perhaps a certain glee, said Felix Light of the independent Moscow Times, that America is getting its just deserts as they see it for engineering revolutions in Ukraine, Serbia, North Africa and the rest, that the shoe is now on the other foot, with revolutionary upheaval having come home. Trump did receive support from former legislator Vladimir Zhirinovsky of Russias hard-right Liberal Democratic Party, who tweeted encouragement for the beleaguered American president: Be brave Donald. Were with you, youll get help from abroad. But a day after the Capitol siege, Trumps favorite strongmen Russias Vladimir Putin and Hungarys Viktor Orban were silent. That did not surprise Budapest-based Marius Dragomir, director of the Center for Media, Data and Society: That kind of violence was too much even for many Trump supporters in Europe. Dragomir expects them to stay silent, though he worries that some may take private encouragement from Trumps brazen attempt to steal the election. Roland Freudenstein, policy director of the Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies in Brussels, took heart from the way Congress managed to resume its work within hours. The reconvening, and the unflappable demeanor of Vice President Mike Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi all of whom insisted that the counting continue was an important signal that the system works, the system held up. Vice President Mike Pence and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi prepare to read the final certification of Electoral College votes cast in the November presidential election. (J. Scott Applewhite/Getty Images) He sees the beginning of something good in the episode. Democratic principles standing firm in the face of challenge only strengthens them, he said. The question of whether Trump can safely or sanely remain in office for the remaining two weeks is one raised by Freudenstein and other thinkers. Leaving Trump with his finger on the nuclear trigger is disconcerting, Freudenstein noted, though he is unsure if administration officials have the wherewithal, or numbers, to invoke the 25th Amendment which requires approval from the vice president and the majority of the Cabinet to eject the president. If they dont remove him in the next couple days, it will look bad, he said, although with Trumps promise on Thursday morning to make the remainder of the transition smoother, he thinks the odds do not favor a presidential ousting. Dragomir, while relieved that democratic tools such as the 25th Amendment are available, fears that invoking it could unleash more violence and make Trump a martyr to his supporters. So like the rest of Europe, Dragomir is forced to count down the minutes until the current White House occupant is gone. We all cannot wait until Jan. 20 arrives, he said, and that man is out the door. _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Glittering in a delicate jewelry box, a pair of peony porcelain rings have caught peoples attention. For the wives of foreign leaders who attended the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit held in Qingdao in 2018, the beautiful artwork is a national gift for them from the Chinese government. It is the highlight of Li Xuewus peony porcelain artwork, which later became stunningly popular both in China and abroad. Being the inventor of peony porcelain, 49-year-old Li Xuewu has combined the white porcelain-making techniques of the Tang dynasty (618-907) with innovative modern art design. The major theme of his artwork is peony flowers, which is highly praised in Chinese culture as a symbol of prosperity and honor. Each year, over 50,000 peony-themed porcelain are sold both in China and abroad, creating an annual income of over 60 million yuan. Lis artwork is selected by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs as national gifts to foreign leaders, while his peony-porcelain jewelry have received a warm welcome from Belt and Road countries such as Pakistan and Turkmenistan. Luoyang has also breathed new life into ancient history through its themed cultural festival and tourism activities. Known for its 1,500-year history of peony cultivation, Luoyang established the Peony Cultural Festival, an annual festival to celebrate the blossom of the beautiful flowers. In 2020, despite the negative influence of COVID-19, the festival attracted over 29 million visitors, creating an income of more than 27.8 billion yuan. Breathing new life into ancient Chinese culture is what I have been doing. Peony culture is an inseparable part of ancient Chinese culture, while adding modern elements in its ancient glories can not only revive the tradition, but can also bring new opportunities, said Li. Everlasting beauty of the peony For thousands of years, the peony has been the inspiration for the work of Chinese poets and artists. In his famous poem Admire the Peony Flowers, Liu Yuxi, a famous poet of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) praised the flowers, noting that the peony is the most beautiful flower in the land, and the whole capital stirs into motion when it opens its blossom. Little has changed over the 12 centuries that have passed since Liu wrote this poem. Luoyang, the former capital of China during the Tang Dynasty, has been discovering new opportunities from its peony heritage. For instance, the city established the Peony Cultural Festival, an annual festival to celebrate the blossom of the beautiful flowers in 1983. Talented individuals have also seized opportunities to dig nuggets of gold from the citys rich peony culture. Li Xuewu, who started his peony porcelain business in 2009, is one of them. The peony blossom season only lasts for about three months, making it hard for people to enjoy its beauty. One of my best friends came to Luoyang in 2007 in the hope of seeing the famous peony, but the flowers had withered away. At that time, I began thinking how could I keep the beauty of peonies for a longer time, said Li. Peony Porcelain. (Peoples Daily Online/Du Mingming) Bearing the wish to preserve the everlasting beauty of peonies, Li spent three years on investigations and research, reading countless ancient records, while making different experiments. In 2009, he successfully mastered the Tang white porcelain-making techniques, and used it on peony porcelain design. According to Li, the ideas of his artwork originated from cultural relics in different Chinese museums. By using porcelain techniques, he can now revive the ancient culture, preserving traditional cultural elements in his artwork. In addition to ancient-culture themed artwork, Li has also developed modern decorations that caters for peoples daily need. For instance, his peony porcelain can be made into jewelry and indoor decoration, creating lucrative income. Ancient culture and modern design can coexist harmoniously. The old has never faded away but has nourished new opportunities, while the new has revived the long-gone history, said Li. Peonies along the Belt and Road In 2013, Lis peony artwork was selected by the Chinese government as a national gift to foreign leaders. In the later years, the peony porcelain has become a best-selling product in many Belt and Road nations, while foreign leaders, such as the Pakistani ambassador, visited Lis studio to explore the secrets of the beautiful art. To cater for our foreign customers need, I have been studying their culture and tradition, extracting cultural elements from their historical records. For instance, blue and green colors are the favorite of Islamic nations, by mixing their totems and traditional patterns with peony porcelain, weve created artwork specially for them, which are welcomed by the locals, said Li. According to Li, in recent years, his artwork has become a new favorite of art collectors abroad, while designs that mix traditional Chinese cultural and local elements have received welcome from foreign markets, making the peony porcelain a new name card of Chinese culture. Our ancestors brought our culture to the world through the ancient Silk Road, we are now doing the same spreading our modern culture along the Belt and Road, added Li. Four Ukrainian citizens crewmembers of the Captain Khayyam tanker, who had been held in the Ain Zara prison in Libya for more than four years, have arrived in Ukraine, Interior Minister Arsen Avakov says. On behalf of the President, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have successfully completed complex and lengthy negotiations on the release of Ukrainian sailors who have been held in prison in Libya for more than four years. Four Ukrainians returned home this morning. Thanks to the State Migration Service for the service, Avakov said, Ukrinform reports with reference the ministrys post on Facebook. As noted, sailors Yevhen Morar, Volodymyr Tostohan, Oleh Voynerovsky and Pavlo Chaika were met by their families and friends at the Boryspil airport. In turn, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the return of the freed sailors to their homeland. Ukraine never forgets and does not leave its people in trouble. The release of citizens in trouble is our priority, he posted on Twitter. The head of state thanked all the authorities involved in the release and return of Ukrainian citizens to their homeland. Separately, Zelensky expressed gratitude to President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his help in the evacuation of Ukrainian sailors. As reported, on January 7, the President's Office announced the return to Ukraine of four Ukrainian crewmembers of the Captain Khayyam tanker, who were sentenced by a Libyan court to five years in prison in December 2017. Ukraine repeatedly raised the issue of their release on humanitarian grounds, since two Ukrainian sailors have health problems. The Captain Khayyam tanker was detained in the territorial waters of Libya in 2016. The crew members were accused of fuel smuggling. ish She was slammed for posting imagery 'at the wrong time' on Wednesday, just hours after the riots in Washington unfolded. But Rebel Wilson has brushed off the criticism, posting even more images of her incredible 30kg weight loss on Instagram a day later. The 40-year-old shared several snaps showing off her physique in Lycra pink leggings and an orange crop top, while sporting an 80s-style hairdo and minimal make-up. Scroll down for video Moving on! Rebel Wilson brushed off criticism on Friday, as she shared even more footage of her incredible 30kg weight loss on Instagram The Pitch Perfect star was seen standing under a florescent light, placing her hand on her hip before sassily hoisting her arm in the air - and unveiling her ever-shrinking waistline in the process. Another video showed Rebel spinning a towel around her head while facing the camera under a seductive red light. It's a very similar string of imagery that the actress posted on Wednesday, as she proudly documented her incredible fitness journey on her social media page. But despite the light-hearted nature of the posts, the actress was soon slammed by critics for sharing the transformation pictures at the 'wrong time', after Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol Building. Saucy: Another video showed her spinning a towel around her head while facing the camera under a seductive red light 'I love you. Wrong time to post this,' one follower commented. 'Is this you fighting Trump supporters at the capital today?' another questioned, before a third encouraged: 'Go get em at the Capitol.' However, a few fans were quick to jump to the American-based actress' defense, stating she was Australian and 'the entire world doesn't revolve around Washington'. 'Wow, it is almost like she is Australian and there isn't a whole wide world out there,' one wrote. 'This is an Australian actress not a US social commentator or politician,' a second commented. Criticism: 'Is this you fighting Trump supporters at the capital today?' said one follower Not happy: Despite the light-hearted nature of the post, the actress was soon slammed by critics for sharing the transformation picture on Instagram at the 'wrong time' 'She doesn't need to make any political stance, opinion or off the cuff remark because it's not her job to make you all feel better about the mess your country is in.' Rebel revealed that she hit her 2020 weight loss goal with time to spare in November, after spending the better part of the year focused on changing up her routine. 'Hit my goal with one month to spare! Even though it's not about a weight number, it's about being healthy,' she wrote. 'I needed a tangible measurement to have as a goal and that was 75kg.' PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) Officials say that Republican State Rep. Mike Nearman let protesters into the Oregon Capitol building, which was closed to the public, during a special legislative session in December. The far-right protest held in opposition to statewide COVID-19 restrictions attracted hundreds of people. Protestors assaulted reporters, attacked authorities with bear spray and broke glass doors. It is not immediately clear if and what consequences the lawmaker will face. After another demonstration on Wednesday, the Oregon State Police says it is aware of rumors that armed groups are considering taking over the state Capitol and warned that anyone attempting that would be arrested. The agency is also asking Oregonians to report anyone who may be planning an armed takeover to authorities. Many armed and angry supporters of President Donald Trump gathered Wednesday at the statehouse and burned a life-size puppet of Gov. Kate Brown in effigy. Police declared an unlawful assembly and made two arrests. The pro-Trump crowd was rallying around false allegations of election fraud as an angry mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. Senate Majority Leader Rob Wagner, a Democrat representing Lake Oswego, issued a statement comparing the Salem demonstrations to the insurrection in Washington D.C. Violent actions at Oregons Capitol preceded those in Washington D.C., and I know this is not the trailblazing for which our great state should be known," Sen. Wagner said. Anyone who causes harm or who puts others in harms way has no place in the Oregon State Capitol, which is a building of honor and of service." What has particularly shocked me is the fact that members of this Legislature have blatantly encouraged and abetted violence," Wagner continued. "We should demand that our State Capitol, where we convene empowered by the Oregon Constitution to do the peoples work, is free from violence and intimidation. We must hold accountable those that encourage acts of hate and threaten our democracy. Dear Reader, 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. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Syracuse, N.Y. -- There hasnt been much snow in Upstate New York this year, much to the dismay of skiers and snowmobilers. That could change next weekend with a big flip in global weather patterns, including the shifting of the polar vortex. Upstate could get 6 inches or more of snow Jan. 15 to 17, according to the Weather Prediction Center, the mid-range forecasting arm of the National Weather Service. Strong west winds could also generate heavy lake effect snow downwind of lakes Erie and Ontario for days, the center said. I would think there would be a lot of lake effect snow if this materializes, said Dave Samuhel, a meteorologist with Accuweather. Its too early to know how much or where snow might fall more than a week away, he said. Samuhel predicts that will happen around Jan. 18 and 19, a few days later than the weather service forecast. The last half of the month we see a pattern change and get a lot more cold air, he said. We should see this arctic air really start to come in bunches, and its probably going to be cold the rest of the month. Upstate cities, including Syracuse and Buffalo could see heavy snow that would start making up the snow deficit this year. Buffalo has had 34 inches, compared to the normal of 43.7 inches through Jan. 7. Syracuse is much farther behind: just 16.9 inches of snow has fallen, while the normal so far is 51 inches. Thats the 16th-least-snowy season on record. Binghamton is way ahead of its seasonal snowfall, thanks to the massive noreaster in mid-December that dropped 40 inches of snow. The city has 55.5 inches, compared to 30.2 normally. On Christmas Eve, most of that snow melted amid heavy ran and temperatures in the 50s. The lack of snow and cold temperatures in most of Upstate is due to the jet stream, which has parked itself above the northern tier of the U.S., helping to trap cold air in Canada and pushing storms to the south. The jet stream is likely to dip well to the south next week, opening up the path for cold air and snow. The jet stream is likely to dip into the Southeast later this month, allowing cold air to spill into Upstate New York. That could bring heavy snow, especially downwind of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. The cold air could be aided by a dip in the polar vortex, the bitterly cold air that swirls around the north pole but often breaks off into chunks that dip into the northern latitudes of North America, Asia and Europe. Its already encasing Beijing in below-zero temperatures, a rare occurrence, Samuhel said. READ MORE 25 Things That Make Syracuse Great: Snow It looks like another warm winter for Upstate NY 25 Things That Make Syracuse Great: The Seasons BEREA, Ohio -- Chances are youve noticed the Berea Kind signs that have sprung up around town recently. On first notice, I thought the signs were a nice touch -- a daily reminder to be a good neighbor and someone who is considerate of others. As it turns out, they are that and more. Operation Berea Kind is a program sponsored by the Berea Kiwanis Club, with the goal of collecting hats, gloves, mittens, scarves, socks and other items for whoever might need them. Club spokesman Earl Crall explained that the fence surrounding Kiwanis Safety Town, outside the Berea Recreation Center, 451 Front St., is the collection point for Operation Berea Kind. As such, the fence is already sporting numerous plastic bags containing many of the above-mentioned articles and more. We set the fence up Dec. 23, Crall said, explaining that it is the Kiwanis Clubs hope to involve the community in this, so that anyone who needs an item can come to the fence and take it out of the bag. We have items for babies, kids and adults, he said. We will actually take anything someone can use, Kiwanis spokeswoman Sherri Phelps said. We have donations of toiletry items, hand warmers, masks for toddlers and a lot of other items, Phelps said. People have bought items and donated others, and a few are knitting and crocheting hats and scarves. Instructions are to take what you need and leave the bag to be refilled. Anyone that needs something can take it out of a bag on the fence, Crall said. Likewise, he said, anyone who has something to give can put it in a bag on the fence or drop it off inside the Berea Recreation Center lobby. Crall said Kiwanis is currently looking for people who are willing to volunteer one day a week to check the bags and refill them if needed. Phelps said Kiwanis has started putting flyers in bags people are picking up at food banks serving the city of Berea, letting them know about the items on the fence. We are hoping more people will come and take the items they can use, she said. The Berea Kiwanis plans to continue collecting items at the citys recreation center at least until the end of March. Winter walking: Exercise gurus claim that a brisk walk of at least 30 minutes provides 80 percent of the benefits of jogging. It just so happens that Berea is made to order for just such an endeavor. And, finding walking a lot more fun than jogging, I decided to give it a go, plotting my course through the older, historic part of town. It takes about 40 minutes to cover the roughly 2-mile course, which takes you from a starting point on the Triangle, eastward along East Bridge Street, then south on Eastland Road. From there, cut through the parking area north of the landmark Eastland Inn and walk westward on Adams Street to the American Legion Hall. From there, proceed through the parking area to the west of the hall, where it borders the historic Adams Street Cemetery, and enter the Coe Lake Nature Trail at the west end of the parking lot. The trail leads to a rustic-looking footbridge bearing the name of the late Berea Mayor Jack Kafer. This bridge takes you to the western bank of Coe Lake, past a gazebo (named after another former mayor (Stanley Trupo) and the parks picnic pavilion. From there its just a short jaunt back to the Citys Triangle. Chances are that once youve taken this hike through some of the most historic parts of our 185-year-old town, youll be back for more -- weather permitting. Tax aide nixed: For area residents who have used the annual AARP Tax-Aide clinic hosted by the United Methodist Church of Brook Park, the programs sponsors are very sorry to announce that the tax service will not be available this year. The COVID-19 pandemic and a resulting shortage of volunteers has made cancellation of the program necessary. BW tax clinic: Baldwin Wallace University is again offering free tax preparation through the BW Tax Clinic sponsored by the Universitys School of Business. The clinic will be from 9 am. to 1 p.m. Feb. 14, 21 and 28 and March 7, 14 and 21 at Kamm Hall, 191 E. Center St. in Berea. Appointments must be made by calling 2-1-1, or register online at refundohio.org. Due to COVID-19, the clinic is operating as a drop-off center. As such, clients will be not be able to sit across from their tax preparer as they complete tax returns. For details and document requirements, visit online at bw.edu/centers/tax-clinic. Peoples Community Church pantry: 628 Wesley Drive, 440-234-0609. Open 10 a.m. to noon on the third Saturday of the month. Church Street Ministries: 1480 Bagley Road, 440-239-0549. Open noon to 2 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Free Community Meal: At St. Paul Lutheran Church, 276 E. Bagley Road, served once a month, 5 to 6 p.m. Drive-up only. Mini pantries: There are two Little Free Pantries located near Peoples Community Church and the Berea Branch Library. The Prospect Pantry is at the corner of Prospect Street and Jacqueline Drive. Read more from the News Sun. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Meghan Markle has officially missed her chance to become a UK citizen... for now, DailyMail.com can reveal. The Duchess of Sussex had fully intended to become a Brit after marrying Prince Harry in May 2018 in a spectacular wedding at Windsor Castle. She was required to live in the UK for a minimum of three years before applying for citizenship and legally qualifying for a British passport. And at the time Kensington Palace confirmed the former Suits actress intended to apply. However, her and Harry's shock Megxit announcement in January 2020 saw the plans hit the skids. Under strict Home Office rules the Duchess, who first moved to London on November 21, 2017, could have begun her citizenship application three years later on November 21, 2020. But the jet-setting Duchess was also required to limit the total number of days she spent outside of the UK in that time to less than 270 - something she failed to do. Now any future application would be delayed and would involve a move back to the UK. Meghan Markle has officially missed her chance to become a UK citizen... for now, DailyMail.com can reveal. However, her and Harry's shock Megxit announcement in January 2020 saw the plans hit the skids Prince Harry's communications secretary, Jason Knauf, told the BBC in December that year that Meghan would be 'compliant with immigration requirements at all times'. 'I can also say she intends to become a UK citizen and will go through the process of that, which some of you may know takes a number of years,' he added In 2017 Meghan's royal handlers were adamant that she apply for citizenship and adhere to normal processing time, rather than being fast tracked by the Home Office. Prince Harry's communications secretary, Jason Knauf, told the BBC in December that year that Meghan would be 'compliant with immigration requirements at all times'. 'I can also say she intends to become a UK citizen and will go through the process of that, which some of you may know takes a number of years,' he added. Home Office guidelines from the AN Naturalisation Booklet detail that Meghan is legally allowed to become a citizen because of her marriage to Prince Harry. The booklet states: 'The legal requirements you should meet before you apply are that you: are aged 18 or over when you apply, are married to or the civil partner of a British citizen on the date of application, have lived in the UK for a minimum of 3 years before you apply: are of sound mind, so that you understand the step you are taking, can communicate in English (or Welsh or Scottish Gaelic) to an acceptable degree, have sufficient knowledge about life in the UK and are of good character.' However, that process collapsed when the Sussexes' shocked the world and executed Megxit. They decided to step back from royal duties and move to Canada, before settling permanently in a $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara, California seeking 'privacy'. However, that process collapsed when the Sussexes' shocked the world and executed Megxit. They decided to step back from royal duties and move to Canada, before settling permanently in a $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara, California seeking 'privacy' The booklet warns: 'Most applications that fail do so because applicants have applied even though they cannot satisfy the residence requirement to be present in the UK at the beginning of the residential qualifying period. 'You must have been physically present in England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands on the day 3 years before the application is received by the Home Office. 'You must not have had more than 270 days outside the UK in the 3-year period before making the application. 'You must not have had more than 90 days outside the UK in the 12-month period before making the application.' Meghan did achieve 'permanent resident status' in the UK before marrying the Prince in May 2018. And had she followed the rules the Duchess would have been eligible in November to send in her naturalization paperwork to the UK government's Liverpool based processing center at a cost of 1,643 ($2212). Once greenlit, she would have to do a 45 minute, 24 question citizen test at a cost of 50 ($67). But with her and 36-year-old Harry's rift with the royal family and the British public seemingly deepening by the day, the prospect seems highly unlikely The booklet explains: 'You will be agreeing to accept the responsibilities which go with citizenship and to respect the laws, values and traditions of the UK. It is important that you are able to communicate with the wider community and are equipped to play a part in community life.' That process usually takes two months. After that Meghan would receive a Certificate of Citizenship which would allow her to apply for a UK passport. Whether Los Angeles born Meghan, 39, will ever become a dual-American/British citizen is anyone's guess. But with her and 36-year-old Harry's rift with the royal family and the British public seemingly deepening by the day, the prospect seems highly unlikely. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) - Justice Secretary Menardo Gueverra has ordered the National Bureau of Investigation to conduct a separate probe on the controversial death of flight attendant Christine Dacera. Department Order No. 006 dated Jan.7, a copy of which was released to media on Friday, also tasks the NBI to file appropriate charges against persons involved in the case. NBI Officer-in-Charge Eric Distor was directed to submit reports within ten days and periodically thereafter to Guevarra on the progress of the investigation. Gueverra earlier ordered the NBI to help the Philippine National Police in the medical examination, amid conflicting reports on her death. A police official initially noted that she appeared to have been raped, while an autopsy report said she died from aneurysm. DOJ Prosecutor General Benedicto Malcontento told CNN Philippines on Thursday that the case is not closed or dismissed, saying that the complaints filed against the respondents were premature. Three of the 11 respondents in the case were taken into police custody on Monday. They were released on Wednesday after the Makati City Prosecutor's Office noted that more evidence is needed to determine if the case was a rape-slay. Other friends of Decera who were also tagged as respondents on Thursday publicly denied the allegations against them. In a message to reporters, Guevarra said the initial investigation by the Makati City Police Office was not thorough enough, prompting the Makati City prosecutor to release the respondents. From DOJs viewpoint, the case build-up will be faster if NBI acts independently, he said. A preliminary investigation by the city prosecutors is set for January 13. The longer it takes to examine the remains of the deceased and gather pieces of other evidence, the more difficult it becomes to establish the true cause of her death and identify any person liable thereof, if a crime was indeed committed, said Guevarra. He said a precautionary hold departure order is not yet applicable for the respondents for now. He explained that prosecutors could only apply for such order if a crime has been established and it is likely that the respondents would leave the country. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley Friday morning to discuss what she described as necessary precautions to prevent an "unhinged" president from accessing nuclear codes. But experts and officials said theres no place in the system for the military -- or Congress -- to intervene in a sitting presidents access to the nuclear arsenal. "The situation of this unhinged president could not be more dangerous, and we must do everything that we can to protect the American people from his unbalanced assault on our country and our democracy," Pelosi, a California Democrat, said Friday in a circulated letter. She and dozens of other lawmakers -- mostly Democrats -- have called for President Donald Trump's removal from office following Wednesday's violent takeover of the U.S. Capitol by the commander in chief's supporters. Read Next: 'This Is What I Took an Oath For:' Guard Troops Shore Up DC in Wake of Violent Siege Milley's office confirmed that the call took place. "Speaker Pelosi initiated a call with the Chairman," said Army Col. Dave Butler, Milley's spokesman. "He answered her questions regarding the process of nuclear command authority." Pelosi said Friday that Trump should not be allowed to initiate "military hostilities or [access] the launch codes [to order] a nuclear strike." CNN reported that, after her call with Milley, Pelosi told her caucus she received assurances about safeguards should Trump decide to launch a nuclear weapon. It's unclear what those assurances would have been since, as the Congressional Research Service wrote last month, "The President does not need the concurrence of either his military advisors or the U.S. Congress to order the launch of nuclear weapons. "In addition, neither the military nor Congress can overrule these orders," a December report titled "Defense Primer: Command and Control of Nuclear Forces" states. Ankit Panda, a senior fellow with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace's nuclear policy program, also noted that, short of removing Trump from office, there's no legal remedy that Milley or Pelosi can take to prevent the president from issuing a valid and legal order to use nuclear weapons. "It's how we designed the system," he wrote Friday. "We could change it, of course. ... If there's a way in which the American presidency is effectively monarchical and absolute, it's this one." Officials with U.S. Strategic Command, or STRATCOM, which oversees nuclear weapons, referred questions from Military.com about Pelosi's call to Milley back to the Pentagon. Adm. Charles "Chas" Richard, the head of STRATCOM, told reporters this week that he would not recommend changes to the system the U.S. has had in place for decades. He would, however, decline to follow illegal orders to deploy a nuclear weapon, Richard added. "I will follow any legal order that I'm given -- I will not follow any illegal orders," he said. "And if you go much further, if I were to say anything else, we're starting to call in civilian control of the military, which I think is a prized American attribute. Ultimately, he said, who has the authority to carry out a nuclear strike is "a political question." "I'm prepared to execute whatever the political leadership of this nation would like to do," he said. In the event of preparing for a nuclear strike, the president consults with military and civilian advisers. Advisers have the ability to push back on an order they believe does not meet stipulations outlined under the laws of armed conflict, or LOAC, according to the Congressional Research Service. During a Senate hearing in 2017, Robert Kehler, a retired Air Force general who previously served as the commander of STRATCOM, testified before lawmakers that military members can refuse what they deem to be an "illegal" order, but added, "Only the president of the United States can order the employment of U.S. nuclear weapons." Kehler pointed out that the process is not automatic. "This is a system controlled by human beings," he said, according to a report from CNN. The process "includes assessment, review and consultation between the president and key civilian and military leaders, followed by transmission and implementation of any presidential decision by the forces themselves." Aside from nuclear weapon authorities, Milley's role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs also, by law, falls outside of the chain of command. The role of the chairman is to serve as the president's top military adviser. Several experts on civilian-military relations also noted Friday that if Pelosi and other politicians are concerned about Trump posing a security risk, they should find a political solution -- not a military one. Pelosi and other lawmakers have said they will move ahead with impeachment proceedings if the vice president and Cabinet members do not invoke the 25th Amendment to remove the president from office. -- Richard Sisk contributed to this report. -- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins. Related: Military Officers in Congress Join Call to Invoke 25th Amendment, Remove Trump Late yesterday Patently Apple posted a report titled "While Apple continues to Hire Tesla Engineers & Executives to their Future Vehicle Project, it's Johny Srouji's contribution that's a Surprise." The report noted that "rumors over the last month have tried to escalate the timing of a car to market prematurely for the sake of hype." Late yesterday a rumor swept the globe with Hyundai hyping up their potential of working on the Apple car only to reverse course once the rumor got out of hand. Hyundai Motor Co. has backed away from a statement confirming it is in talks with Apple Inc. on developing self-driving car that fueled an $8 billion surge in the Korean automakers market value Friday, saying instead that it received requests for potential cooperation from a number of companies. Hyundai initially issued a statement saying that it is one of various automakers that Apple had been in early contact with. Revising its statement for the second time in a matter of hours, Hyundai said it had been contacted by potential partners for the development of autonomous electric vehicles, removing any reference to Apple. Lee Han-Joon, an analyst at KTB Investment & Securities Co. in Seoul stated for the report that "Apple needs to partner with a carmaker because it doesnt have production capabilities and sales networks to sell its cars. Building up those capabilities cant be done quickly so Apple will need a partner for that." For more, read the full Bloomberg report. Should an Apple car come to market, Apple would either set up a store-within-a-store scenario, like they have with Best Buy - but with a car company network. Salespeople would have to take training from Apple. They would also create new Apple Stores with a vehicle showroom. Apple believes in providing a superior retail experience and handing it off to a car company alone is highly unlikely to occur. Apple is so focused on the store experience that they've even filed a patent application for a next-gen virtual store that will be able to provide users access to virtual salespeople that will be able to provide full presentations of any product or service and more. Here are todays top news, analysis, and opinion. Know all about the latest news and other news updates from Hindustan Times. Temple priest, prime accused in Badaun rape-murder case, arrested The temple priest, the prime accused in the rape-murder of an anganwadi helper in Badaun, was arrested on Thursday night, according to Hindustan Times sister publication Hindustan. Read more 2nd vaccination dry run across the country today: All you need to know The second phase of nationwide coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination dry run, the largest such drill undertaken so far, will be conducted across 33 states and Union Territories (UTs) on Friday. Read more Fresh round of farmer-govt talks on three laws today Farmers on protest for over a month demanding the scrapping of three agricultural laws will hold their eighth round of negotiations with the government on Friday. Read more Delhis vaccine drive likely to start early next week: Officials The immunisation of health care and frontline workers in the Capital is likely to begin by Wednesday, with the first batch of vaccines expected to arrive in the city soon, according to multiple senior officials from the Delhi government involved in the vaccination drive. Read more Arjun Kapoor shares pic with Saif Ali Khan as Bhoot Police team leaves for final shoot in Jaisalmer Actors Arjun Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan left for Jaisalmer for the final shoot of their upcoming comedy Bhoot Police. Arjun shared a picture from inside the aircraft. Read more Kirti Kulhari is all about that fierce vibe in sequined jacket and pants at photoshoot Four More Shots Please actor Kirti Kulhari has lately been making our jaws hit the floor with her sartorial picks. From quirky sarees to bold street style, the actors wardrobe consists of pieces that set forth a very fierce vibe and we are here for it. Read more Can you solve these puzzles shared by Rajasthan Tourism on Twitter? Be it brain-teasers, spot the difference, or find the hidden objects, if you have been using social media for long, chances are youve seen the various puzzle posts. Read more Advertisement Alessandra Ambrosio is usually seen modeling her GAL Floripa bikini sets when checking in with her Instagram followers. But on Thursday evening the 39-year-old supermodel changed it up a bit by slipping into a flowing summer maxi dress with a clever bra top while in Cachoeira Do Bom Jesus, Santa Catarina, Brazil. The mother-of-two wrote in her caption 'tropicaliente' while adding a sunshine, flower and fire emoji for her 10.3M followers. A sea goddess: Alessandra Ambrosio is usually seen modeling her GAL Floripa bikini sets when checking in with her Instagram followers. But on Thursday evening the 39-year-old supermodel changed it up a bit by slipping into a flowing summer maxi dress while in Cachoeira Do Bom Jesus, Santa Catarina, Brazil Tropicaliente was a Brazilian soap opera produced and displayed at the time of 18 hours by Rede Globo, ran from May 16 to December 31, 1994, totaling 194 chapters, according to wikipedia. The dress was a showstopper as it fluttered in the wind with a sunset backdrop while the model was on the balcony of a home. The gown had a royal blue background with palm trees, red and pink flowers as well as some sea life in a spirited print. The catwalk trendsetter added gold sandals that went nicely with her layers of gold jewelry. Alessandra wore her highlighted hair up in a lazy bun adding light bronze makeup that worked well with her suntan she earned in Brazil. 10 million people can't be wrong: The mother-of-two wrote in her caption 'tropicaliente' while adding a sunshine, flower and fire emoji for her 10.3M followers Last month she treated her Instagram fans to a bevy of photographs just before Christmas. The leggy Brazilian beauty - who will turn 40-years-old in four months - took to the Instagram page for her swimwear company GAL Floripa to show off her latest design, a light pink two piece with a bra cup top. The Victoria's Secret favorite was not alone as she was surrounded by several other models who also had incredible figures. The star offered some sage advice: 'Be silly, be fun, be different, be crazy. Be you, because life is too short to be anything but happy.' A dreamy design: The dress was a showstopper as it fluttered in the wind with a sunset backdrop while the model was on the balcony of a home. The gown had a royal blue background with palm trees, red and pink flowers as well as some sea life in a spirited print The California resident asked her fans to 'share your smile with the world' as she noted she was in the Sereia bikini. And then she shared the photographer was Roberto Martini. In another image with her pretty pals, Alessandra said she was 'holiday ready!' A closer look at a natural beauty: Alessandra wore her highlighted hair up in a lazy bun adding light bronze makeup that worked well with her suntan she earned in Brazil In an image where the catwalker was jumping off a boat with her pals she said, 'Yes, we are aware of how silly we are together... No, we don't care!' None of them had masks on and it's not clear if the shoot was done before COVID-19 or if they all quarantined together and were tested. In an image where AA showed off her backside, she said, 'Happiness looks good on everyone.' The star was in Florianopolis, while spending the holidays in her nearby home state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Dancing queen: The catwalk trendsetter added gold sandals that went nicely with her layers of gold jewelry The looker accessorized the low-cut structured bikini top with layers of gold necklaces and bracelets in gold and blue. Ambrosio debuted a fun video campaign for her swimwear line GAL Floripa over the weekend, which she filmed in Brazil with some of her closest model pals. The Daddy's Home actress had a great time at a resort and pranced around the beach in sizzling bikinis, before moving the party to a yacht. Hot in a two piece: Ambrosio treated her Instagram fans to a bevy of photographs just before Christmas. The leggy Brazilian beauty took to the Instagram page for her swimwear company GAL Floripa to show off her latest design Although she's a proud Brazilian, Ambrosio also became an American recently, achieving citizenship status this summer. She took to her Instagram Story on Labor Day with her naturalization certificate, writing: 'From the newest addition to the American team !!!' Ambrosio has lived in the US for roughly 20 years, having kicked off her successful modeling career when she was 15. Party on: The star offered some sage advice: 'Be silly, be fun, be different, be crazy. Be you, because life is too short to be anything but happy.' The California resident asked her fans to 'share your smile with the world' as she noted she was in the Sereia bikini Flashing: The star pulled down her briefs to reveal a tattoo She shares daughter Anja Louise, 12, and son Noah Phoenix, eight, with ex Jamie Mazur, 39, to whom she was engaged from 2008 to 2018, before calling it quits. In 2017 she talked about getting read for a VS show. 'For breakfast I usually have eggs and/or avocado toast,' noted the slim model. 'And after my work-out I usually grab a green juice followed by lunch where I usually have a salad along with some chicken or fish,' she said. 'For dinner I might go for sushi, or grill Brazilian BBQ at home. 'I also have some nuts or a protein bar in my bag all the times in case I get hungry while Im running around.' And she works out plenty: 'I would say an hour to an hour and a half a day. 'It all depends on what I'm doing that day. 'If Im going on a hike or playing volleyball with my friends it might be longer but I dont usually spend more than hour and a half in the gym.' In an attempt to block diamantaire Nirav Modis extradition to India, his defense team on Thursday alleged that the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai did not have arrangements or plans to deal with his mental health issues, including the risk of suicide. Raising concerns over Modis mental wellbeing, his team of lawyers urged the Westminster Magistrates Court to dismiss Indias extradition request. According to a report by Hindustan Times, Claire Montgomery, Nirav Modis lawyer, also alleged that Modi would not receive a fair trial if extradited. Helen Malcolm of the Crown Prosecution Service representing India came up with a solution that the court could ask the government of India for a fresh assurance on facilities for mental health treatment in Barrack number 12 of the Mumbai jail and also reiterated that there were no plans to keep Modi in solitary confinement in the Arthur Road jail, as claimed. However, this was also dismissed by Montgomery who sought that the court was not obliged to ask for such an assurance after a certain time limit. Malcolm further reminded the court that India had submitted details of at least three hospitals nearby where he could be treated. He would also be able to seek private treatment of his choice. She also refuted claims that Indias judiciary is not independent or that Modi would not receive a fair trial if extradited. Upon hearing both sides, Judge Samuel came to the conclusion that the government of India had ample opportunities to respond to concerns previously raised by a medical doctor who had examined Modi. 49-year-old Nirav Modi was taken into custody on charges of money laundering. Charges against Modi involve PNBs Mumbai branch that extended his companies loans worth over Rs 11,300 crore. Now lodged in Wandsworth prison in west London, he is the subject of two extradition requests; one processed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the other by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Earlier this week, extradition of the whistleblower Julian Assange was blocked on grounds of mental illness, however, it cannot be equated with Nirav Modi since the former reportedly suffers from Aspergers Syndrome and depression. [January 08, 2021] ON24 Files Registration Statement for Proposed Initial Public Offering ON24, Inc. today announced that it has publicly filed a registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (" SEC (News - Alert) ") relating to a proposed initial public offering ("IPO") of its common stock. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. ON24 intends to list its common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol "ONTF." Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and KeyBanc Capital Markets are acting as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering. The proposed offering will be made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus relating to the offering may be obtained, when available, from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at 1-866-471-2526, or by e-mail at prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com; or JP. Morgan Securities LLC, c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, telephone: 1-866-803-9204, or by emailing prospectus-eq_fi@jpmchase.com; or KeyBanc Capital Markets, Attn: Prospectus Delivery Department, 127 Public Square, 4th Floor, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, via telephone: 1-800-859-1783. A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. These securities may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy these securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. About ON24 ON24 provides a leading, cloud-based digital experience platform that enables businesses to convert customer engagement into revenue through interactive webinar experiences, virtual event experiences and multimedia content experiences. The ON24 platform's portfolio of interactive, personalized and content- rich digital experience products creates and captures actionable, real-time data at scale from millions of professionals every month to provide businesses with buying signals and behavioral insights to efficiently convert prospects into customers. Source (News - Alert) : ON24 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005561/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Sutton Foster is preparing to bid farewell to her show Younger after seven seasons. And the two-time Tony winner is enjoying the last days on set of the TV Land series, as she films with her co-stars. She put on a leggy display Thursday in a green velvet minidress, as she filmed the final season with Debi Mazar and Nico Tortorella on the cold streets of New York City. Leggy display: Sutton Foster put on a leggy display Thursday in a green velvet minidress, as she filmed the final season of TV Land's Younger with Debi Mazar and Nico Tortorella on the cold streets of New York City The 45-year-old complemented the look with a black leather jacket and matching leather heeled booties, while carrying a black alligator handbag on a gold chain. Mazar, 56, donned a chic blue overcoat, layered over a black ensemble, as Tortorella, 32, rocked a black leather motorcycle jacket over a red button-down shirt. Foster shot another scene with Mazar, which called for a brown double-breasted overcoat, layered over a white sweater. The look was completed with jeans and some tan fur-lined snow boots, as she carried a cream leather handbag. Leather queen: The 45-year-old complemented the look with a black leather jacket and matching leather heeled booties, while carrying a black alligator handbag on a gold chain Serving looks: Mazar, 56, donned a chic blue overcoat, layered over a black ensemble, as Tortorella, 32, rocked a black leather motorcycle jacket over a red button-down shirt Heavy lifting: They did some heavy lifting with Tortorella in another scene, in which they moved a large ornate object down a sidewalk Mazar rocked an edgy look in a black leather poncho with a pair of matching black floor-length flared trousers. They did some heavy lifting with Tortorella in another scene, in which they moved a large ornate object down a sidewalk. Foster told Page Six last month of being back on set, after production was postponed from March, amid the COVID-19 pandemic: 'It's been awesome being back, and again, I feel really lucky to be working.' Bechdel test: Foster shot another scene with Mazar, which called for a brown double-breasted overcoat, layered over a white sweater Accessorizing: The look was completed with jeans and some tan fur-lined snow boots, as she carried a cream leather handbag Feeling lucky: Mazar rocked an edgy look in a black leather poncho with a pair of matching black floor-length flared trousers. Foster said of being back on set, after production was postponed from March, amid the COVID-19 pandemic: 'It's been awesome being back, and again, I feel really lucky to be working' She added: 'We have so much fun on set, there's a lot of giggling, there's a lot of fun, it's a really happy place to be, and I think we're just trying to savor it because we know we won't all be together after this.' It comes after creator Darren Star told TVLine back in September: 'We are unofficially planning [season 7] as a final season.' Foster stars in the show as Liza, a single mother in her 40s who pretends to be in her 20s in order to get back into the publishing industry. A spin-off series about Hilary Duff's book publisher character Kelsey Peters is reportedly in the works. Younger airs on TV Land in the U.S. and Stan in Australia The end is near: It comes after creator Darren Star told TVLine back in September: 'We are unofficially planning [season 7] as a final season' At the virtual CES 2021 event, Sony has announced its new lineup of Bravia TVs. The lineup includes 4K and 8K TVs some of which are OLED and others which are LED TVs. Unlike LG, who is launching QNED TVs at CES with microLED backlighting, the Sony LED TVs are using traditional LED backlighting. We will have to wait and see how much of a difference microLED backlighting makes to the TVs when we get our hands on them. Sony has been one of the TV brands helming Android TV since the beginning and now, the Sony TVs will come with the Google TV UI found on the new Chromecast. All the TVs will come with HDMI 2.1 support. Coming to the models the new BRAVIA XR televisions include the MASTER Series Z9J 8K LED, MASTER Series A90J and A80J OLED, and X95J and X90J 4K LED. Cognitive Processor XR Until now the brain behind the Sony flagship TVs has been the X1 Ultimate chipset and this year, Sony has introduced a new chipset called the XR, or more specifically the Cognitive Processor XR. The chipset uses a completely new processing method designed to replicate the ways humans see and hear. Since TVs are getting quite large, rather than focusing on the entire screen there are times when we will focus on a particular part of the screen or a particular character. So, the processing will ensure that the focal point of content will look its best on the TV while maintaining the best possible details for everything else on the screen. According to Sony, the new processor can cross-analyze an array of elements at once, just as our brains do. By doing so, each element is adjusted to its best final outcome, in conjunction with each other, so everything is synchronized and lifelike something that conventional AI cannot achieve. Sony says that Cognitive Processor XR can also analyze sound position in the signal so the sound matches precisely with what's on the screen. This may sound familiar as Sony Acoustic Surface technology found on its OLED TVs like the A8H (review) project sounds from specific parts of the screen to make it so that the sound is coming from where it should rather than below the TV. On Sony OLED with Acoustic Surface, the entire screen vibrates to produce sound making the entire screen the speaker. Google TV All the 2021 Sony TVs showcased at CES 2021 will come with Google TV. Google unveiled the new UI called Google TV with the new Chromecast, and it looks like the Sony TVs could be the first to come with this new UI. HDMI 2.1 In 2020, we were disappointed that the Sony X90H (review) was the only Sony TV to come with HDMI 2.1 support especially when you consider that the PS5 (review) and Xbox Series X has HDMI 2.1 output. However, it looks like Sony is addressing this concern as all the TVs announced will come with support for HDMI 2.1. Sony Says, All BRAVIA XR TVs will feature HDMI 2.1 compatibility, including 4K 120fps, Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM) and e-ARC, supporting higher resolutions and frame rates ideal for next-generation gaming. Sony 2021 TV model numbers and Screen Sizes Here is a look at the Sony Bravia TV models announced at CES 2021. D. Thomas Griep has been named CEO and President of Murphy Companies During his 18 years at Murphy, Tom has proven to be an invaluable member of the Murphy team, making significant contributions to the companys growth and its cherished culture. Murphy Companies, a leading Midwest third-party logistics and rigging services firm, has announced a new era of leadership for the 116-year old privately held firm. D. Thomas Griep has been named chief executive officer and president, the first non-family member to serve as chief executive. He most recently served as CFO and vice president of information technology. Tom's selection as Murphy's CEO and president followed an extensive eight-month search. As a result of this process, we unanimously concluded that Tom is the best person lead us into this new phase in company and family history, said Board Chair Alexandra Murphy. During his 18 years at Murphy, Tom has proven to be an invaluable member of the Murphy team, making significant contributions to the companys growth and its cherished culture. He has our utmost confidence. His integrity and commitment to excellence reflects our family values that have been so key to our success and longevity. Prior to his current position as CEO and president, Griep held financial, legal, and information technology positions at Murphy as well as corporate secretary, and CFO of Murphy Rigging and Erecting. He is a graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law (now Mitchell Hamline School of Law) and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from the University of St. Thomas. He is licensed by the Minnesota State Bar and is a Certified Public Accountant. Griep succeeds the late Richard T. Murphy, who passed away on July 4, 2019. Independent Directors Added to Board Alexandra Murphy and Gordon Bowers have been reelected to new terms on the Board of Directors, with Murphy named as Board Chair. They were unanimously approved by the shareholders, entrusting them to reflect the companys long-standing values and culture. The Board of Directors was expanded in September to include three new outside directors: Patrick Donovan, former president and CEO of Bremer Financial; Paddy McNeely, Chairman and CEO of The Meritex Company; and Timothy Pabst, Partner with Stinson LLP. The addition of these seats is the first time in the companys history that a majority of the Board consists of independent directors. Their deep knowledge of industrial real estate and strategic planning will provide skillful guidance as Murphy pursues growth initiatives. For the first time, Murphy Companies is now a majority women-owned firm, led by a female board chair. The diversity of ownership and leadership of an industrial company with a 116-year legacy reflects the vibrancy of Murphys culture. Focus on Future Growth Under Grieps leadership, the company is placing greater emphasis on growth in markets beyond its existing Minnesota and Missouri footprint which includes 14 facilities with 3 million square feet of bulk, rack, rail served and food grade storage, staffed by approximately 250 people. During the past few months, the company has brought several new customers on board across multiple industries including commodity metals for JIT plant support, light rail development, retail, IT equipment, and solar arrays. Murphy has also focused on new technology to complement physical expansion. The company recently installed Camelots Excalibur WMS and TMS, a nimble enterprise-wide warehouse and traffic management solution that allows Murphy to support seamless operations in permanent locations as well as offer an array of virtual resources. Customers have full visibility to products in their supply chain and can also quickly access warehousing and logistics solutions in any location for short- or long-term needs. The investment allows Murphy Companies to offer an integrated interface to customers, becoming an extension of the customers operations. It is an incredible honor to lead this company after five generations of successful Murphy family leadership, said Griep. We have the infrastructure in place with both people and technology to grow into new markets with top-of-the-line customer service. What has always set Murphy apart from our competition is our core value of mutual respect. It is built into every interaction which fosters a deep level of trust. This is the foundation for our future. Strengthening Service by Enhancing Culture Murphy Companies has long nurtured a positive culture returning an average employee tenure of more than 18 years. Even so, employee training is taking on new importance under Grieps leadership. The company has tapped Jennifer Stollman, Ph.D., director of Consulting Services at Flexability, to strengthen the companys commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our plan is to reexamine company practices from hiring to training to career advancement, commented Griep. With a culture built on trust and mutual respect, expanded training is a natural step that will help Murphy serve our customers better and be an even better place to work. About Murphy Murphy has been dedicated to Moving Business Forward with leading third-party logistics (3PL) and warehouse services for five generations. With enterprise technology and streamlined processes, our experienced workforce simplifies logistics to swiftly move, store, and ship goods for customers of any size through our expansive diversity of locations or any virtual location. As one of the Midwests largest and fastest growing 3PL providers, our team provides customized logistics support with asset-based and brokerage transportation; bulk, rack and food grade warehousing; fulfillment; international shipping with a General Purpose Foreign Trade Zone; and rigging services. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Murphy Companies has stood by customers from small start-ups to Fortune 500 firms for 116 years, forging partnerships based on mutual respect. For more information visit murphywarehouse.com The second stimulus checks approved as part of the COVID-19 relief package are now being transferred by The Internal Revenue Service (IRS). According to the department, "The cards will be sent to some individuals who, in the past week, didn't receive the payments designed to help millions of Americans struggling due to CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus lockdowns," reported The Epoch Times. Treasury Sends Millions of Stimulus Payments The IRS is prompting the public to visit IRS.gov for the most updated information on the second series of Economic Impact Payments instead of calling the agency or their tax software providers or financial institutions. IRS phone assistors do not have additional information outside of what is available on IRS.gov., reported Rutherford Source. When the IRS sent the initial series of stimulus checks, it also mailed recipients a letter that let people know they could call one of two hotline phone numbers to report a problem. The agency previously hired 3,500 workers to help assist concerned citizens. Now, with the second stimulus check being transferred, the IRS invites people to not to call. According to the IRS, they are committed to the fast delivery of stimulus payments. "Please do not call the IRS about the new payment; our phone assistors do not have additional information beyond what's available here on IRS.gov and in the Get My Payment application," reported CNET. Almost 8 million Americans are slated to receive stimulus checks from the federal government via prepaid debit card, reported The Denver Channel. The IRS stated disseminating payments via debit card will accelerate getting stimulus checks to Americans. Also Read: Third Stimulus Check: Is it Possible to Receive it Later This Year? The debit cards, also known as Economic Impact Payment (EIP) cards, will be enclosed in a white envelope that displays the United States Department of the Treasury seal. Such cards follow the millions of payments already transferred through direct deposit and the ongoing mailing of paper checks that are delivering the second series of Economic Impact Payments fast. The declaration comes after the agencies have already made tens of millions of payments of up to $600 per adult and per child through direct deposit and paper checks. According to Treasury, the cards could be used to make purchases in person or online where VISA debit cards are accepted. They can also be used to withdraw money from ATMs and be transmitted to personal bank accounts. The cards will indicate they are Visa debit cards on the front and will have MetaBank, N.A., on the back, which will administer the cards. A small percentage of people will receive a debit card as money is also being sent via direct deposit and paper check to qualified people and families. The government made some alterations to how it will deliver the cards. People complained in 2020 that they threw away prepaid debit cards with a maximum of $1,200-per-person payments authorized by the CARES Act. The federal government has already transferred most of the direct payments authorized by the COVID-19 relief package enacted late last year. Related Article: Second Stimulus Check: Here Are Those Who Would Not Qualify @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The house achieved worldwide notoriety in 1966 when Elvis took over the estate. "On May 1st, 1967, Elvis and Priscilla slipped out of the house in the middle of the night, in order to evade the watchful eye of Hollywood gossip reporter Rona Barrett." They jetted to Las Vegas for their wedding. They returned later that same day to Palm Springs to the "Honeymoon Hideaway" for a wedding reception and extended honeymoon stay. In the November 2008, issue of Architectural Digest. the houses' mid- century style was referred to as Palm Springs Modernism. The Estate has been painstakingly restored to look as it did during its golden era in the 1960's, when both Elvis and Priscilla called it home. Priscilla was so enamored with the living room design she created two of the most expensive suites at the Graceland Hotel as replicas of the "Honeymoon Hideaway." The contents on offer at Kaminski's, Saturday, January 16th auction features the furniture, furnishings and framed Elvis photographs, movie posters, and assorted Elvis memorabilia from the Robert Alexander Estate. The Alexander collection of memorabilia includes clothing, a Las Vegas costume, original Elvis sneakers, gold and platinum record plaques, guitars, and all types of ephemera including Life magazines, cookbooks, photographs, etc. Mid-century modern furniture collectors will swoon over chrome chairs with animal print fabric, black leather sofas, mirrored vanities and a complete replica of the master bedroom of Elvis and Pricilla. Although not all original to the King himself, his legions of fans will not want to miss this opportunity to own a piece of Elvis and Priscilla history. Online bidding is offered through KaminskiLIVE. The complete contents of the Elvis "Honeymoon House" and other auction items can be viewed at www.kaminskiauctions.com. SOURCE Kaminski Auctions Related Links http://www.kaminskiauctions.com Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. Board of Education hears from parents asking to keep Cascade open The Washington County Board of Education held a public hearing on the possible closing of Cascade Elementary School. New Delhi: Tata Motors is commencing the New Year 2021 with a bang. The company has announced that it is bringing back its iconic brand Safari with its forthcoming flagship SUV, codenamed as the Gravitas. "Tata Safari introduced India to the SUV lifestyle, and glamourized the segment in India for other players to follow. For over two decades, Safari has represented prestige and performance, and in its new avatar, the Safari will carry forward this rich idea and its strong legacy," the company said in a release. Arriving in showrooms this January, booking for the new Safari will begin shortly. The 2021 Tata Safari as the previous one, company hints would be equipped with arresting design, versatility, plush and comfortable interiors and outstanding performance. It will bost of the existing powerful stance, performance, effortless drivability, luxurious comfort, spacious interiors and new age connected technology. Live TV #mute The Safari further builds on the legacy of prestige and outstanding performance by combining Tata Motors award winning Impact 2.0 design language with the proven capability of OMEGARC, an architecture derived from the renowned D8 platform from Land Rover, which in itself is the gold standard of SUVs worldwide. This adaptive architecture allows for further drive train enhancements including all-wheel drive and possibilities of electrification in future, the company said. Announcing the formal branding of its forthcoming SUV as the Tata Safari, Shailesh Chandra President, Passenger Vehicles Business Unit (PVBU), Tata Motors, said, We are proud and elated to re-introduce our flagship SUVSafari. The Safari, an iconic brand with a strong following, has been the most sought after SUV on Indian roads for well over two decades. In its new avatar, the Safari will appeal to the socially active, fun loving customers who seek out unique experiences and adventure. Its design, performance, versatility, features, and long lasting build quality, reinforce the SUV lifestyle to provide unending pleasure. We are confident that the launch of the Safari will once again re-energise the market, amplifying its cult status. Another critically important piece is the power of personal stories to demonstrate the safety and importance of vaccination. If someone feels the vaccine is unsafe, tell them about someone in a similar situation who took the vaccine and is doing well. Frame the availability of the vaccination to certain groups as a mark of respect for their service to society, and use visible badges or bracelets to indicate to the public that youve been vaccinated because youre a first responder, or a patient-facing employee, or an essential worker. Celebrate and normalize vaccination. A former student of mine was the leader of the polio eradication efforts in Nigeria. To build confidence in rural villages, he would first take the vaccine himself in front of everyone. Then the village elders would take it, and then the elders children. Only then would the rest of the villagers take it. Our personal stories and examples are really important. 3. What are other things to keep in mind when speaking with someone who isnt planning to be vaccinated? Schulman: Be careful with numbers and statistics. It can be very challenging for many people to truly understand risks, odds ratios and other statistics that physicians are taught throughout medical school. Instead of talking about the rare risk of side effects, for example, convey concepts with analogies. If they want a guarantee that the vaccination will protect them from the disease, describe how the risk of contracting and dying from COVID-19 after receiving the vaccine is about the same as dying in a car crash. Its not zero, but its very unlikely. Another strategy in framing the need for vaccination is to find a common enemy, such as poverty, unemployment or the lockdowns we are now experiencing. Regardless of our political views or our beliefs about the virus, we all want those to end. Dont talk down to them, or belittle them. Try to find a common ground. Finally, its important to realize, as medical care providers, that we cant be falsely reassured that everyone out there feels the way we do about the availability of vaccination. There are a lot of people who say they probably wont or definitely wont get the vaccine. But we need these people too. How can we reach and reassure these folks as well? 4. What can medical institutions like Stanford Medicine do to help in this effort? Schulman: Creating a visible symbol of vaccination, like a wearable badge or a digital stamp for social media or Zoom meetings, can help spread awareness and excitement about the vaccine. Its also important to gather and spread success stories on websites and across social media promoting the relief and increased freedom experienced by vaccine recipients. Its clear that misinformation and reports of adverse events spread rapidly over platforms like Twitter and Facebook, so its important to actively combat those with positive, personal stories. Finally, we also need to be aware of the many different communities we serve, and choose analogies and stories that are statistically appropriate and resonate with each audience and their cultural background. Taking note of what is most successful for each group, and sharing that information among our physicians, would provide a valuable resource when speaking to patients about vaccination. 5. Are efforts to achieve adequate vaccination rates for COVID-19 likely to be an ongoing challenge? Schulman: Absolutely. Its vital to be clear that we need to vaccinate somewhere between 80% and 90% of our population to stop the spread of this virus. Those rates may even be higher as the virus mutates and spreads more quickly. Until we get to that last mile, we are not done. This is not just a persuasive challenge but a logistical one. Even some people who are eager for the vaccine will not follow through unless it is easy and convenient to do so. As time goes on, we are going to have to do even more, not less. The last time we had a similarly urgent public messaging campaign was World War II, when we pulled out all the stops in terms of engagement of the whole population. Eradicating COVID-19 is going to take a communication effort of that scale to be successful. The city of Hazleton is expediting demolition of a Seybert Street home that was severely damaged by fire on Sunday, administrators said. Administrators will review bids Friday morning for emergency demolition of the charred remains of 566-568 Seybert St., which is at risk of collapsing after a blaze broke out at the home earlier this week, city Zoning Officer Charles Pedri said. Well have bids tomorrow and award (a contract) right away, and it will probably be down over the weekend, Pedri said Thursday. I had our code inspector check it. Its really in a condition (where) it may collapse. Firefighters listed the cause as undetermined due to extensive damage, Fire Chief Donald Leshko said. Its unsafe to go in there, Leshko said. Its just the way that building with how the fire was situated and how much damage, there are some unstable parts. We dont want to see any further injuries there. The duplex at 566-568 Seybert St., near Fourth Street, was vacant when it burned on Jan. 3, but the fire reportedly forced as many as 17 people from neighboring buildings. Pedri said the American Red Cross arranged to provide emergency housing for some of those residents, but had no further details to share Thursday. Both of the neighboring properties are repairable, city officials said. Power was shut at a neighboring apartment building at 562-564 Seybert St. after exterior wires were damaged, Pedri said. The building is in need of new electrical box and related wiring repairs, he said. Power was also shut at a home at 570 Seybert St. due to damaged wires and shingles, Pedri said. Upper windows in that home were boarded and an electrician must service that home, he said. There was some damage to the roof, Pedri said. It wasnt significant. Leskho said that a restoration company sealed the home at 570 Seybert St. to protect it from the elements. The owner of the apartment building at 562-564 was arranging to have contractors make appropriate repairs, Leshko said. They are very repairable and are being repaired, Leshko said of the neighboring homes. Mayor Jeff Cusat said the city is pursuing emergency demolition procedures and will likely use federal Community Development Block Grant funds for demolishing 566-568 Seybert St. The city will file a lien in an attempt to recoup that money, the mayor said. Cusat commended firefighters from Hazleton and surrounding communities for their work to contain the situation. The (streets workers), police and code all pitched in to make the area safe, Cusat added. Pedri said the home at 566-568 Seybert St. is owned by Iosif Gantea, who has an address listed at 566 Seybert St. and another in upstate New York. Code enforcement is using the latter address in an attempt to serve him with the appropriate paperwork and left a message on a cell phone that it had on file for the property owner, Pedri said. This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Brandon Straka, founder of the #WalkAway Campaign, speaks at the CPAC convention in National Harbor, Md., on Feb. 28, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Facebook Bans Conservative #Walkaway Campaign Group Founder Brandon Straka said censorship of conservatives will 'get worse' Brandon Straka, the founder of the #WalkAway movement, announced on Friday that Facebook had removed the groups page consisting of half a million members and also banned the individual accounts of his team, as well as his own personal account. Today my team and I all at the same time got messages notifying us that our accounts were banned and the Walkaway campaign group has been taken down as wellwhich had 508,000 people in it, Straka told The Epoch Times. The hundreds of thousands of written and video testimonials of people telling their stories about leaving the left were now all gone, he said. Straka had no idea why the group and their accounts were disabled. He said he received an email from Facebook stating that Your page Walkway Foundation has been removed for violating our terms of use pages that are hateful, threatening or obscene are not allowed. All of my employees have been banned, he said. All of my volunteers have been banned. Anyone connected with my organization was banned. Straka said he and his team are trying to form an emergency plan for the time beingthey are creating a group on Clouthub, another social media platform, and they are telling their members to go there for now. Weve contacted our lawyers and were going to see what we can do to try to get some action against Facebook for doing this to us, he said. And Im going to try to contact senators and anyone I can to see if we can get some help from the government. A Facebook spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment by The Epoch Times. The removal of the #Walkaway group comes after Twitter and Facebook disabled the account of President Donald Trump after deleting recent posts made by the president, including a video of him calling on protesters who had gathered on Wednesday at the U.S. Capitol building in Washington to go home in peace. Trump later gained access to his Twitter account. Straka said the removal of the #Walkaway page was absolutely devastating as they are a grassroots organization which has now lost the ability to contact their members and also lost the ability to fundraise and promote their events. The #WalkAway Campaign encourages and supports those on the Left to walk away from the divisive tenets endorsed and mandated by the Democratic Party of today, according to their website. This is earth shattering to us, Straka said. The censorship of conservatives is going to continue in the near future, said Straka, and will likely get worse. My feeling right now is that this is a very ominous indication of what is to come under a Biden, Harris presidency, he said. We as conservatives are about to be completely eradicated on social media and treated as second class citizens. Sir Christopher said working with Trump became mission impossible for Johnson (YouTube/talkRadio) A British former diplomat has jumped to Boris Johnsons defence, saying it is poor old Boris who will suffer the consequences of Donald Trumps fondness for him. Speaking on talkRadios breakfast show on Thursday morning - after a riot in Washington on Wednesday saw pro-Trump insurgents storm the Capitol building and four people die as a result - Sir Christopher Meyer said British prime ministers cannot be blamed for trying to work with American presidents. It is what you do, he told the programmes host Julia Hartley-Brewer, adding: And in this case, it proved mission impossible. Sir Christopher, who served as the UKs ambassador in Washington from 1997-2003, acknowledged that Mr Trump had gone too far - even by his own standards but said it is wrong for UK politicians to now go after Mr Johnson for attempting to work with the US president: Britains most important partner and ally. It was right to have invited him to come to this country, it was right for him to have met the Queen, it was right for Boris Johnson to try and get on [good] terms with him, Sir Christopher said. But it was a doomed relationship from the start, he admitted, because Mr Trump is unfortunately not a man you can ally yourself with due to his obsessive compulsive narcissism. Appearing to suggest the two leaders have very little in common, Sir Christopher said that simply because [Boris Johnson] has more or less the same colour hair as Donald Trumps - and because Donald Trump said he likes Boris - the prime minister is now tarred with a brush of being a mini-Trump in Europe. It comes after some critics suggested Mr Johnson was wrong for ever having shown allyship with the outgoing president. Most notably was Greater Manchesters mayor Andy Burnham - one of the first MPs to tweet a reaction to the scenes coming out of the US last night - who appeared to launch a thinly veiled attack on the prime minister in its wake. Any UK politician who gave Trump the time of day should be ashamed right now, Mr Burnham said, in what has since been regarded as an indirect reference to Mr Johnson. Story continues And the feeling is mutual on the other side of the Atlantic, according to Sir Christopher, who said much of the US press had already disregarded the British prime minister simply because of his supposed chumminess with Mr Trump. If you read newspapers in the United States: the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic - mainly Democratic publications, Sir Christopher said, they have all condemned Boris before he has even been able to start. Or do anything. And that is simply because he is considered to be an ally of Donald Trump. Mr Johnson did respond to the protests on Wednesday night, denouncing the disgraceful scenes in US Congress, though he was careful not to chastise Mr Trump. The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power, he said on Twitter. A slew of UK politicians, on the other hand, attacked the president directly - blaming him for inciting the violence and failing to properly put an end to it. The SNPs Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, took to Twitter amid the chaos to say the end of @realDonaldTrump presidency cannot come quick enough and called the US president shameful. Meanwhile, former foreign secretary Jeremy Hunt accused Mr Trump of telling a crowd to march on Capitol Hill & turned on his VP for upholding the law. He shames American democracy tonight & causes its friends anguish - but he is not America, Mr Hunt wrote. Read More UK ministers urge Trump to cede power peacefully after US riots - live Trump gets Twitter account back with threat of permanent ban Middle Eastern countries have begun the process of vaccinating their citizens against the coronavirus. The rate by which people are receiving the vaccine varies greatly across the region. Israel leads the region in COVID-19 vaccinations per capita. Around 1.7 million Israelis have received their first vaccine dose. This puts Israels vaccination dosage administering rate at a world-high 19.55 out 100 people, according to the Oxford-based Our World in Data science website. On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged to vaccinate every Israeli over the age of 16 by the end of March. There is controversy in Israel about the current lack of vaccinations for Palestinians. Israel is administering vaccines to citizens in Israel proper, in addition to Palestinians in Jerusalem who live under Israeli jurisdiction. Israeli settlers in the West Bank a territory considered occupied by Israel under international law are also receiving vaccines. Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are not, however. Israel directly administers parts of the West Bank while the Palestinian Authority controls others. Gaza is controlled internally by the Palestinian group Hamas. That Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza are not being vaccinated by Israel led to criticism of Israeli internationally, including from a US congresswoman. There are conflicting reports on the Palestinian Authoritys attempts to acquire vaccines. On Wednesday, The Jerusalem Post reported that the authority was in the process of working with Israel and other entities to get vaccines. On Friday, the British news outlet The Independent reported that Israel denied a World Health Organization request to vaccinate Palestinian medics. The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are also among the world leaders in vaccination rates. The UAE has currently administered 9.52 doses per 100 people, a total of more than 941,000 vaccinations. Bahrain is at 4.25 doses per 100 people, which would be around 66,000 vaccinations, according to Our World in Data. UAE health spokeswoman Dr. Farida Al Hosani said the country aims to have vaccinated more than 50% of the population by the end of March. Other countries in the region have been slower to roll out vaccines and lag far behind Israel, the UAE and Bahrain. Saudi Arabia has administered 0.29 doses per 100 people, according to Our World in Data. The kingdom could increase its vaccinations quickly in the near future. This week, the Saudi government announced the Sehaty mobile application for vaccinations. Citizens request to be vaccinated and receive a date within 24 hours on the app, the name of which translates to my health in Arabic. The status of vaccines in Iran is unclear. On Friday, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameini said Iran would not import any vaccines produced in the United States, the United Kingdom or France. His statement appeared to overrule previous decisions. In December, Iran reportedly had agreed to import 150,000 doses of the US-made Pfizer vaccine. Iran is also working on developing its own vaccine, though this is still in the trial phase. Other countries are soon receiving vaccines or have only recently acquired them. In Jordan, the Health Ministry said Monday that it would receive vaccine doses in two to three weeks, according to The Jordan Times. Iraq reportedly agreed with Pfizer in December to import 1.5 million doses of its virus vaccine. On Dec. 29, the Iraqi government announced the process to import the vaccine had been completed. Iraq has yet to report on its progress administering the vaccine. Turkey received its first batch of vaccines from Chinas SinoVac on Dec. 30, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. The government is reportedly working to import tens of millions more doses. Qatar began vaccinating people in late December. As of Monday, some Qataris had received both of the necessary doses to complete the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccination, according to the Ministry of Public Health. COVID-19 vaccination requires two doses taken at different times. Lebanon will receive its first batch of vaccine doses sometime in January, the Lebanese news outlet The Daily Star reported Wednesday. This first batch of the Pfizer-BioNTech will only consist of 60,000 vaccines, according to the outlet. Syria has yet to acquire any vaccines. WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Friday he will skip President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, refusing to fulfil the outgoing president's traditional role in the peaceful transition of power and undercutting his own message just one day earlier on the need for national healing and unity." White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump said Friday he will skip President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration, refusing to fulfil the outgoing president's traditional role in the peaceful transition of power and undercutting his own message just one day earlier on the need for national healing and unity." Trump, who has not appeared in public since a violent mob of his supporters besieged the Capitol on Wednesday and tried to halt the transfer of power, will be the first incumbent president since Andrew Johnson not to attend his successors inauguration. Biden said he was just fine with that, calling it one of the few things we have ever agreed on." Its a good thing him not showing up, he added, calling the president an embarrassment to the nation and unworthy of the office. Traditionally, the incoming and outgoing presidents ride to the U.S. Capitol together on Inauguration Day for the ceremony, a visible manifestation of the smooth change of leadership. Biden will become president at noon on Jan. 20 regardless of Trumps plans. But Trump's absence represents one final act of defiance of the norms and traditions of Washington that he has flouted for four years. Historian Douglas Brinkley said that while attending the inauguration would be a wonderful olive branch to the country, he wasn't surprised by the decision. Donald Trump doesnt want to be in Washington as the second-fiddle loser standing on stage with Joe Biden, he said. While Trump stays away, former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will be there to stand witness to the rite of democracy. The only other living president, 96-year-old Jimmy Carter, who has spent the pandemic largely at home in Georgia, will not attend but has extended best wishes to Biden. Trump's tweet that he would boycott the inauguration came as he holed up in the White House with a dwindling coterie of aides and as momentum grew on Capitol Hill to subject him to impeachment for a second time. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th, Trump said in a tweet. It may have been his last. The company announced Friday evening that it had permanently suspended Trump from its platform, citing the risk of further incitement of violence. The sitting president said the company was trying to silence him and replied in an official statement that he was negotiating with other social media platforms while looking at the possibilities of building out our own platform. Trump's decision not to attend the inauguration was not a surprise: For more than two months, he has falsely claimed he won reelection and advanced baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, even though his own administration has said the election was fairly run. Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, urged Trump to reconsider. He is, of course, not constitutionally required to attend and I can imagine losing an election is very hard, but I believe he should attend," Scott said in a statement. The senator called the rite "an important tradition that demonstrates the peaceful transfer of power to our people and to the world. Vice-President Mike Pence, who defied Trump on Wednesday when he refused to intervene in the congressional process to certify Biden's win, was expected to attend the inauguration, according to one person close to him and one familiar with inauguration planning. But Pence spokesperson Devin O'Malley said in a statement Friday that the vice-president and the second lady have yet to make a decision regarding their attendance. Biden said Pence was welcome to come, and hed be honoured to have him. I think its important, he said, that the historical precedents and how and the circumstances by which administrations transition "be maintained. Brinkley said Trumps decision makes him look like a sore loser. It will also show that hes an authoritarian at heart who doesnt believe in the democratic process. If you dont honour the idea of a peaceful transition, then you dont honour the Constitution or the spirit of democracy itself," he said. On Thursday, with 12 days left in his term, Trump finally bent to reality when he released a video late in the day that condemned the violence carried out in his name at the Capitol and acknowledged his presidency would soon end. A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, Trump said in the video, after issuing an earlier written statement that offered the same message. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation. But by the next morning, Trump was back to his usual division. Rather than offering condolences for the police officer who died from injuries sustained during the riot, Trump commended the great American Patriots who had voted for him. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!" he tweeted. White House counsel Pat Cipollone has repeatedly warned Trump that he could be deemed responsible for inciting Wednesdays violence. Aides said the president's video was intended, in part, to try to ward off potential legal trouble and to slow the mass exodus of staffers who have announced their early departures in response to the violence. Wednesday's violent insurgency erupted after Trump spoke at a Stop the Steal rally where he told his supporters the election had been stolen and urged them to fight. Since then, Trump has been increasingly isolated, abandoned by all but a few of his closest enablers. He has watched the resignations of top aides, including two Cabinet secretaries and a long list of administration officials. In addition to those who have resigned, senior staff, including longtime aide Hope Hicks, will begin departing as part of the usual "offboarding process marking the end of an administration, leaving Trump with only a skeleton crew of aides in his final days in office. Those who remained on the job continued to weigh their own futures and struggled with how best to contain the impulses of a president deemed too dangerous to control his own social media accounts but who remains commander in chief of the worlds greatest military. There were fears about what a desperate president could do in his final days, including speculation Trump could incite more violence, make rash appointments, issue ill-conceived pardons including for himself and his family or even trigger a destabilizing international incident. On Capitol Hill, Democrats laid plans to impeach Trump a second time, with articles of impeachment expected to be introduced on Monday. A draft of the resolution charges Trump with abuse of power, saying he wilfully made statements that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol. White House spokesperson Judd Deere responded by saying, A politically motivated impeachment against a President with 12 days remaining in his term will only serve to further divide our great country." Meanwhile, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was pursuing other measures to try to check Trump's powers. She said she had spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about preventing an unhinged Trump from initiating military actions or a nuclear strike. She and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer have also called on Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Trump from office though the urgency of that discussion among Cabinet members and staff had diminished by Thursday. Staff-level discussions on the matter took place across multiple departments and even in parts of the White House, according to two people briefed on the talks who, like others, spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations. But no member of the Cabinet has publicly expressed support for the move. Pence has not said publicly whether he would support invoking the 25th Amendment, but Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said he did not think that was likely. Im just hearing he is basically not moving in that direction, he said, citing my Senate channels. Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire in New York and Alan Fram and Kevin Freking in Washington contributed to this report. Hyderabad: Justice Hima Kohli was sworn in as Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court here on Thursday. Governer Tamilisai Soundararajan administered the oath at a ceremony in Raj Bhavan where Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, Union minister of state G. Kishan Reddy, state ministers and high court judges were present. With this, the Telangana High Court got its first woman Chief Justice. She is the only woman Chief Justice in the country at present. Later, Chief Justice Kohli participated in the virtual court proceedings along with Justice MS Ramachandra Rao, the senior-most judge of the Telangana high court, forming a division bench. On the first day, the Chief Justice heard 35 cases along with Justice Rao and disposed of 60 per cent of these. During the proceedings, Chief Justice Kohli urged counsels to have due diligence while preparing cases and while coming in for the hearing. She advised counsels to attend court to argue cases, instead of seeking adjournments. She said adjournment dates will not be given at the sweet wishes of counsels. She would ensure that the conventions and practices being followed at the Telangana High Court are honuored and the opinions of the Bar held in high esteem. Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:44 pm OLYMPIA After a rally in front of the state Capitol, dozens of Trump supporters were able to open a door in a driveway gate and stream up to the governor's mansion, where they waved flags and chanted slogans as law enforcement stood guard on the front porch. "Whose house our house" some chanted, and one man planted a big red and white sign that declared, "Trump won 2020." Some of the protesters were armed. The roughly half-hour standoff with law enforcement ended as the group decided to leave the grounds rather than risk arrest. A spokesman for the Washington State Patrol said that no arrests were made and Gov. Jay Inslee was in a "safe location," without specifying where that was. Inslee, in a recorded address to Washingtonians, said he and his wife, Trudi, were at the residence Wednesday night and were "doing just fine." He said that a day that was supposed to be dedicated to preparing for the opening of the legislative session was "forcefully interrupted" by what he called acts of attempted intimidation. "Those acts of intimidation will not succeed in any way, shape or form," Inslee said. "We will continue the work we are doing to protect the health of Washingtonians." It was unclear how the Trump supporters were able to open the gate. But after rattling it someone was able to push open a door that allows pedestrians entrance to the residence grounds. Trump supporters briefly appeared surprised at the ease with which it opened, and then urged one another to enter. As they moved forward, one state trooper told them to stop, then retreated walking backward to the front of the mansion with a weapon drawn that appeared to be a Taser. The mansion was initially protected by state troopers. Later, other law enforcement officers, including from the Thurston County Sheriff's Office and the Olympia police, arrived. The standoff followed the rally at the Capitol that drew a larger crowd of several hundred Trump supporters. It was held on a tense day when a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., as Congress started the process of certifying President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory. In Olympia, news of the events in D.C. were relayed to many of the Northwest Trump supporters as they checked their cellphones. Underneath an awning, several women said they were troubled by what happened in D.C. and wanted to get more details because they were wary of initial news reports. "I don't agree with any violence. I think the majority of Trump supporters are peaceful," said a woman who only gave her first name as Sara. Others took a different view. "I think it's time to give violence a chance," said one man who declined to be identified but whose remarks were welcomed by several other men nearby. On the lawn in front of the Capitol, one man spoke to two others about a plan he had worked on to forcefully take over some government buildings in Washington state. The rally speakers included Joey Gibson, of Patriot Prayer, who has been making numerous appearances around Washington and Oregon to encourage restaurant and bar owners to defy state government COVID-19 restrictions against indoor dining. During the Wednesday speeches the COVID-19 restrictions drew more criticism, as did the vaccination program. But Gibson and others spent much of their time talking about an election stolen from Trump by voter fraud, allegations that have been repeatedly rejected by courts. Seattle Times photographer Alan Berner contributed to this report. ___ (c)2021 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra told Congress leaders, protesting against the three controversial farm laws in New Delhi, that nothing short of a repeal of the legislations was acceptable, said party leaders present in the meeting with Gandhi at the protest venue at 12 Tughlaq Lane. We will not back down, Priyanka Gandhi said at the meeting. The only solution is that they revoke the laws, there is no other solution. The Congress general secretary also discussed the way forward with the protesting members of parliament and other leaders. She extended her sympathy for our plight, said a leader, who attended the meeting. She also discussed a programme that the Congress will launch if the laws arent repealed, he added. Party leaders present at the meeting also said that issues regarding the organisation were discussed. The meeting, which lasted over two hours, also addressed the need for improvements in the party to better provide an effective opposition. The government is delaying repealing the laws, Congress MP Jasbir Singh Gill, who attended the meeting, said. It is deliberately using these tactics because it wants to tire out the farmers and drive them away without addressing their concerns. Also Read: Its not just repeal of farm laws, other issues involved too: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar The Congress MPs and legislators have been protesting at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi since last month to draw the governments attention to the plight of the farmers. Despite eight rounds of talks, with the latest one being held on Friday, the government has refused to compromise on its stand and repeal the three controversial laws that the farmers say will deprive them of their livelihood and make them vulnerable to powerful private firms. The government has, however, offered to set up a committee to examine the laws. The Congress has been vehemently opposing the governments stance, with interim party chief Sonia Gandhi calling for a complete revocation of the black laws. She has targeted the government for being ruthless, insensitive and arrogant, for allegedly displaying complete apathy towards the plight of the farmers. Related Democrats inch toward second Trump impeachment after Capitol siege At least one Senate Republican would consider supporting a possible effort by congressional Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump for an unprecedented second time after his supporters, inflamed by his false claims of election fraud, stormed the U.S. Capitol. Democrats in the House of Representatives, which holds the power to impeach the president, will hold a conference call at noon (1700 GMT) to discuss their next steps, according to two Democratic aides. If a president is impeached, the Senate holds a trial and votes on removal, with a two-thirds majority required for conviction. Republican Senator Ben Sasse said on Friday he would definitely consider any articles of impeachment from the House. Trump has disregarded his oath of office, Sasse told CBS News. As calls mounted for the Republican president to be removed before his term ends on Jan. 20, Trump finally denounced Wednesdays violence that left five people dead, including a police officer. In a video released on Thursday evening, he also promised a smooth and orderly transition of power, though he stopped short of abandoning his claims of fraud. In the immediate aftermath of the assault, which interrupted a session of Congress held to certify Democrat Joe Bidens election win, Trump had declined to condemn the incident, instead telling supporters he loved them and repeating his assertion that he was being cheated of victory. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded on Thursday that Vice President Mike Pence and Trumps Cabinet invoke the Constitutions 25th Amendment, which allows them to strip the president of his powers if he cannot discharge the duties of his office. Pence opposes the idea, an adviser said. Pelosi and Schumer, along with other Democratic leaders, called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Pence and the Cabinet refuse to take steps to remove Trump from power. The presidents dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office, they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an insurrection. Katherine Clark, the assistant House speaker, said on CNN on Friday that Democrats were prepared to move forward with impeachment proceedings as early as next week. Trumps video on Thursday was the closest he has come to conceding defeat in the Nov. 3 election, as he promised a smooth transition to a new administration after weeks of making false claims of a rigged vote. In a speech on Wednesday, Trump had exhorted a crowd of thousands to descend on the Capitol. Rioters stormed the building, overwhelming police and forcing authorities to transport lawmakers to secure locations for their own safety. A Capitol police officer died from injuries sustained in the assault, the force said on Thursday. A woman protester was fatally shot by the authorities, and three people died from medical emergencies. RUNNING OUT OF TIME? With Trumps term almost expired, it was not clear whether there would be enough time to complete the impeachment process. Pelosi has not announced a decision, though she told a news conference on Thursday that rank-and-file Democrats in her caucus wanted action. If impeached in the Democratic-led House, Trump would theoretically face trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which is scheduled to be in recess until Jan. 19. Aides to Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, have not said whether he would reconvene the Senate if the House approved articles of impeachment. Democrats are set to take narrow control of the Senate after winning two runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday, but the new senators will not be sworn in until the state certifies its results later this month. The House impeached Trump in December 2019 for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden, but the Senate acquitted him in February 2020. Only two other presidents have been impeached, and none has ever been impeached twice. In Thursdays video, a flat-toned Trump struck a conciliatory note seldom seen from him during his presidency, calling for healing. As recently as Thursday morning, however, he was still claiming the election was stolen. The Trump campaign and its allies filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the vote counts but state and federal courts rejected almost all of them. Election officials have said there is no evidence to back Trumps claims. At least two Republicans, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger, said Trump must go. Several senior Trump administration officials have resigned in protest over the invasion of the Capitol, including two Cabinet members: Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and McConnells wife, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary. At a news conference to introduce his pick for attorney general, Biden blamed Trump for instigating the attack but did not comment on his possible removal. Congress certified Bidens election victory early on Thursday, after authorities cleared the Capitol. More than half of House Republicans and eight Republican senators voted to challenge election results from some states, backing Trump. The president has isolated himself among a small circle of diehard advisers and lashed out at those he perceives as disloyal, including Pence - whom Trump wanted to try to block Congress from certifying Bidens win - according to sources. The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information on people responsible for placing pipe bombs in the headquarters of the two main U.S. political parties. Short link: Less than half of countries that committed to strengthening their climate action targets in 2020 did so by the end of last year, as the pandemic slowed climate diplomacy and efforts to update national plans, a developing-nation group said on Friday. A tracker run by the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) showed 73 nations submitted revised climate plans to the United Nations, meeting a 2020 deadline under the Paris Agreement to tackle global warming. That was about 45% of the 160 nations that had earlier said they intended to submit plans - called nationally determined contributions - last year. Of those that filed updated plans, 69 made more ambitious climate commitments, either to step up efforts to cut planet-heating emissions, adapt to more extreme weather and rising seas, or both. They included Britain, European Union nations, many Latin American governments and some small island states, as well as a handful of African and Southeast Asian countries. The 48-member CVF said Brazil, North Korea, Japan and New Zealand had submitted updated climate action plans, but these lacked a higher level of ambition. Saleemul Huq, a Bangladeshi academic who chairs the CVFs expert advisory group, said the low number of 2020 submissions showed the 2015 Paris accord - which stipulates national plans should be strengthened every five years - had failed its first and most important test. He urged governments to show real climate ambition that communities will benefit from in 2021 as their economies start to recover from the Covid-19 crisis. The 57 countries that in 2020 submitted stronger targets to cut their climate-changing emissions accounted for just 13% of global emissions, the CVF said. The 66 countries that committed to do more to adapt to a warmer planet, meanwhile, are home to 1.67 billion people, just over a fifth of the global population of 7.8 billion, it said. I think we have seen the process get started, but then there is a huge amount to be done this year, said David Waskow, director of the international climate initiative at the World Resources Institute. Before the global upheaval caused by the coronavirus crisis, 190 countries that submitted climate action plans under the Paris accord were due to revise those contributions in 2020, to ensure they added up to meeting the goals of the agreement. Those include keeping global warming to well below 2 degrees Celsius and ideally to 1.5C above pre-industrial times. But the world has already heated up by just over 1C and is on track for at least 3C of warming this century, the United Nations has said - a clear sign more ambition is needed. Lockdowns due to the pandemic forced the British hosts of the 2020 annual UN climate summit, known as COP26, to postpone it. The talks are now set to take place in November 2021. The delay, combined with uncertainty over US climate action, after President Donald Trump pulled his country out of the Paris deal, has caused some countries, including China and other big emitters, to hold back on finalising their own plans. Britain and countries in the European Union, however, did in December commit to stronger emissions reductions targets for 2030, Waskow noted. Britain said it would cut its emissions by at least 68% by 2030, compared to 1990 levels, while EU states agreed to reduce their net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% from 1990 levels by 2030, substantially toughening an existing 40% target. They have raised the bar and shown what it is that major economies - and especially developed countries ... need to do, Waskow told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden takes office later this month and has vowed to swiftly rejoin the Paris accord and convene leaders of major emitting countries during his first 100 days in office, to push for more ambitious climate pledges. POOREST STEP UP Anna Schulz, head of the global climate law, policy and governance programme at the London-based International Institute for Environment and Development, noted eight out of the worlds 46 poorest countries submitted stronger climate plans by 2020. A further 11 are expected to do so soon, despite technical and financial barriers worsened by the pandemic, she said. The plans completed so far, by Cambodia, Ethiopia, Senegal, Rwanda, Nepal and other countries, contain really exciting increases in planned emissions cuts, either overall or by including new economic sectors and activities, she added. This is, of course, despite the fact that they are the most vulnerable to climate change and the least responsible for it, she said, noting the least-developed countries want to lead by example and do their part to meet the 1.5C warming goal. They are also raising their game on adaptation, she noted, with Nepal, for example, helping local governments come up with tailored plans for their regions. Zambia outlined measures to protect its six watersheds, make better use of its water and promote climate-smart farming to boost food security. Bangladesh, meanwhile, cited its Delta Plan 2100, which aims to tackle flood and drought risks in hotspots along its major rivers and coastlines. Adaptation action includes everything from building higher embankments against floods to moving coastal communities to safer locations, capturing rainwater to irrigate land and switching to more drought-tolerant crops. Patrick Verkooijen, CEO of the Netherlands-based Global Center on Adaptation, said the fact that more countries had so far improved targets to build climate resilience than set goals for deeper emissions cuts showed governments are more serious about adaptation than ever before. The climate emergency has clearly arrived, he said. His organisation is convening a virtual global summit on adaptation on January 25-26, to galvanise high-level political will - and funding - to expand efforts to help people adjust to worsening floods, droughts and storms, and rising sea levels. (Natural News) A controversial Chinese firm that has connections to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), was able to land a $1 billion mask contract with a bunch of sleazy California politicians in April of 2020. Judicial Watch recovered 848 pages on the matter, including communications and contract negotiations between high level Chinese business elites and California politicians. The deals between the California Office of Emergency Services and Chinese firm BYD show just how compromised American government is. It has become apparent that US elected officials are willing to sell Americans short and adopt the culture of the CCP inside the United States. In fact, the company involved in pushing masks onto the American population is a CCP-connected entity that had set up a division to sell masks to Americans before masks were even talked about in the US. U.S. getting dominated by China It appears that US taxpayers are having their money sent to communists overseas, so US politicians can force Chinese medical devices on their constituents. This is the same communist nation that unleashed a bio-weapon in Wuhan and trained world leaders how to completely destroy their own economies, liberties and laws in order to live in a state of perpetual fear. BYD has history of shipping faulty electric vehicles and lithium batteries to American buyers. Some federal contracts prohibit government officials from doing business with BYD. The Chinese firm initially deceived auditors by using a different name, Global Healthcare Product Solutions. California politicians signed the contract with no warranty and gave BYD freedom from all liability if their masks turned out to be faulty. The Assistant Chief Counsel of Californias Emergency Services even confessed that they deviated from their normal procurement process to get the deal done with the Chinese. On April 6, after guaranteeing the $1 billion contract, the president of BYD Motors congratulated the California director of the Office of Emergency Services with an email that read, open champagne tomorrow morning at our conference call. Further into the inquiry, Judicial Watch found that the masks were not inspected by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for proper certification of the N95 masks, as per the agreement. BYD ultimately had to refund $247 million of their down payment, as California officials extended their deadline for another month. The emails reveal that only 1 percent of the masks were checked for quality control issues. California politicians land big contracts with Chinese firm that plotted to mask Americans The corruption was flagrant. Brian Stansbury, a board member of the San Francisco Employees Retirement System contacted his $200 million investment partner, Paul Teng of Himalaya Capital. The two conspired with Grady Joseph, the Assistant Director of Recovery Operations at the Office of Emergency Services for the California state government. Mr. Teng convinced his investment partner to procure a contract for 4 million N95 masks and 3 million surgical masks with the Chinese firm by simply exploiting his California government connections. The contract set up a purchase order under the title, Equipment Master Supply Purchase Order Agreement. BYD listed the seller as Global Healthcare Product Solutions, LLC. When BYD executives were later questioned about the use of a third-party name as the contracting entity, they revealed they set up a contract manufacturing division early in 2020 to sell healthcare products in the US. BYD was put in a position to sell masks to Americans long before masks were ever talked about as a mitigation tool for covid-19. It turns out that the CCP has been manipulating Americans with mask propaganda and giving kickbacks to government officials for a product they could force Americans to consume. For more stories on Chinas influence over American politicians, check out Corruption.news. Sources include: JudicialWatch.org JudicialWatch.org Import surge widens the US trade gap; Bitcoin has been on a big run as it passes $40,000 DaBaby arrested Rapper DaBaby has been arrested in Beverly Hills. E! News reports the 29-year-old hip-hop star, whose real name is Jonathan Kirk, was taken into custody for alleged possession of a firearm on Thursday after a Gucci store security guard reported a man with a handgun in his waistband on Rodeo Drive. Kirk was previously arrested in January 2020 for alleged battery after an altercation with a club promoter. Police Academy actress dies Police Academy star Marion Ramsey is dead at age 73. ET reports the actress, best known for playing the soft-spoken Officer Laverne Hooks in six Police Academy films, died Thursday at her home in Los Angeles. A cause of death has not been announced. Ramseys long list of credits included Bill Cosbys sketch comedy series Cos, Broadway shows, The Jeffersons, MacGyver, Beverly Hills 90210, The Nanny, Modern Family, and Syfys campy Lavalantula with her former Police Academy co-star Steve Guttenberg. Marion Ramsey, who starred as Officer Laverne Hooks in Police Academy, has died aged 73 (via @DEADLINE | https://t.co/mswg9FeeAb) pic.twitter.com/b05ZbSgf0B Fandom (@getFANDOM) January 8, 2021 Xena vs Hercules Xena: Warrior Princess star Lucy Lawless is calling out Hercules: The Legendary Journey star Kevin Sorbo after Sorbo reportedly suggested without evidence that some of the pro-Trump rioters at the U.S. Capitol were actually antifa activists. They dont look like patriots to me, said Sorbo, a right-wing actor who starred on Hercules from 1995 to 1999. No, Peanut. They are not Patriots. They are your flying monkeys, homegrown terrorists, QAnon actors, responded Lawless, a New Zealand actress who appeared on eight episodes of Hercules and starred on the spinoff Xena from 1995 to 2001. They are the douchebags that go out and do the evil bidding of people like you who like to wind them up like toys and let them do their worst, she added. 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MEXICO CITY At least nine people were killed in central Mexico as gunmen opened fire at a wake late Thursday, the local authorities reported, with images on social media showing bloody bodies strewn near a coffin and people who had collapsed on the street. The shooting took place outside a private home in the city of Celaya in Guanajuato State, according to the local authorities, who said one wounded person had been taken to a hospital. Some local media outlets reported that the death toll could be as high as 13. The attack occurred at about 9 p.m. in the Arboledas de San Rafael neighborhood. Security forces were searching for those responsible, according to the Secretariat of Citizen Security, a local agency in Celaya. Rapid gunfire could be heard in videos on social media that appeared to have been recorded at the scene. Khin Yi, vice chairman of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, speaks at a press conference where party officials denounced recent elections as fraudulent, in Yangon, Nov. 26, 2020. Myanmars military, backing a demand of a rebel army amid a fragile cease-fire, called on Thursday for elections to be held by Feb. 1 in strife-torn parts of Rakhine and Shan states where voting had been cancelled before the Nov. 8 general elections for security reasons. The elections should be held before newly-elected lawmakers are sworn in for the second Union parliament controlled by the National League for Democracy (NLD), and meet for the first time at the beginning of February, the military said in a statement. Voting was cancelled entirely in nine Rakhine state 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. The military and the rebel Arakan Army (AA) announced a temporary truce nearly two months ago so that make-up voting could be held in areas of Rakhine state where the two sides have engaged in clashes in a two-year-long war. Myanmar forces recently extended their cease-fire to Jan. 31. After the November elections, the military unveiled a permanent Peace Talks Committee to negotiate with rebel armies, and voiced support for the AAs call to hold elections by the end of 2020. Nearly a week ago, the AA released three NLD members it abducted in October as they campaigned in Rakhines Taungup township ahead of the elections, letting them go following negotiations. The same day, the AA also freed three government soldiers captured in late 2019. The Rakhine State Election Subcommission has said that it is ready to hold the elections, but that the Union Election Commission (UEC) has yet to announce whether voting will be held. Myanmar President Win Myint urged relevant organizations and individuals to work together in order to hold the elections in Rakhine state in an Independence Day message on Monday, though he did not specify the parties. Before general elections two months ago, the UEC decided not to hold voting in nine Rakhine townships, including Myebon, Mrauk-U, Pauktaw, Ponnagyun, Rathedaung, Buthidaung, Maungdaw, Kyauktaw, and Minbya. The UEC also suspended voting in six townships in Shan state, including Mongla, Pangsang, Namphan, Mongmao, Pangwaun, and Mongyai territories controlled or operated by ethnic armies. Filing will not succeed In another dispute about voting, experts said Thursday that a case against the president, three other government officials, and 15 UEC officials by two military-backed political parties will likely be thrown out by Myanmars Supreme Court at an initial hearing on Jan. 29. The opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the Democratic Party of National Politics (DNP) said Tuesday that they filed a joint complaint with the Supreme Court accusing the government and national election authorities of electoral fraud. The NLD swept the Nov. 8 elections by securing 920 of 1,117 contested seats in the Union, state, and regional legislatures, while the USDP won only 71 seats nationwide. The DNP did not win any seats. Yangon-based rights attorney Kyee Myint said that the Application of Writ the two parties filed with the Supreme Court would not be successful because the 2008 constitution mandates that the UECs decisions are final. Another statute, the Law Relating to the Pyithu Hluttaw, or the lower house of parliament, mandates that no court can put the UEC on trial, while another statute provides immunity for polling station officers at all electoral commission levels from being charged, he said. So, I would say this Application of Writ to take action against the existing laws will not succeed, Kyee Myint said. The 2008 constitution allows citizens to submit Applications of Writ with the Supreme Court over alleged violations of citizenship rights due to government misconduct. RFA could not reach the UEC for comment. Aung Kyi Nyunt, an upper house lawmaker and member of the NLDs policy committee, said that Article 215 of the constitution prohibits courts and parliaments from trying the president. Based on this alone, this application will not succeed, he said. NLD wants to move on Political analyst Aung Thu Nyein suggested that the USDP does not want to concede it lost the elections and is seeking proof of electoral fraud along with the military and the DNP. As far as I see it, the NLD wants to move on as it won the election by a landslide, while the losing parties and the military want proof of fraud and irregularities in the elections, he said. The losing side does not want to honor the results. RFA contacted Zaw Htay, spokesman for the Presidents Office, and military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun for comment, but neither one responded. The USDP has reportedly filed more than 1,000 cases of alleged election fraud with the UEC and nearly 200 cases with the police. The UEC said it is still investigating disputes over election outcomes and warned political parties and other organizations not to release any information that contradicts official election results. Reported by Thet Su Aung and Thiha Tun for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. The agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan, reached through the mediation of Russia, will finally allow Turkey to normalize relations with Armenia, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said, Hurriyet reports. Turkey hopes that Armenia will not violate the ceasefire regime, Cavusoglu stressed, adding that Armenia and its people will only benefit from this settlement. The Democratic Progressive Party of Taiwan's remarks on the arrest of 53 law breakers by Hong Kong police revealed the party's intention to seek "independence", a Chinese mainland spokeswoman said on Thursday. Hong Kong police arrested 53 people on Wednesday on suspicion of subversion under the National Security Law by conspiring to pressure the chief executive to step down, potentially paralyzing the government of the special administrative region. Taiwan leader Tsai Ing-wen said in a tweet that the arrest was a "blow to freedom in Hong Kong" and that the island will "continue to resolutely support a free Hong Kong and stand up for the shared democratic values." Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Thursday that the Hong Kong SAR government is justified in its efforts to punish violators of the National Security Law. The DPP administration has overreached itself with its remarks and once again exposed its "evil" intention to seek "independence" for the island by interfering in Hong Kong's affairs, Zhu said. She urged the DPP to stop the political manipulation and cease encouraging illegal activities. "Those who obstinately seek independence will surely reap the consequences," she said. Most nations hit by pandemic Covid-19 are not in a position to face another health exigency but India has been called upon to pull up its socks against the avian flu which has till now killed thousands of migratory birds and poultry in four states and threatens to spread to more areas. The Union government has sent an alert to all states to monitor their avian stock especially in forest areas and in water bodies. As of now, 12 epicentres of the flu have been identified in four states Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Kerala. It has been clarified that the flu this time is spread mainly through migratory birds that travel thousands of kilometres from the icy cold climes to their tropical destinations from October to February. The governments attempt is to stop the secondary spread of the virus, and the state governments have already started addressing the issue. Thousands of infected ducks have already been culled in Kerala. Economic activity on the ground has been halted for almost a year now, and a bird flu outbreak is a shock most poultry farmers would not be able to absorb, especially at a time when the markets have started slowly looking up. The government must work with the farmers to ensure that all the infected birds are properly dispensed with and that all the farmers who comply with the norms are compensated forthwith. The government must also think of extending financial help to encourage farmers to upscale their hygiene standards so that they do not fall prey to such outbreaks so easily. There must also be a mechanism to ensure that even the slightest of suspicions of the disease is scientifically addressed and acted upon without loss of time. All these measures call for close coordination among the state and central institutions and agencies. They could draw from the experience they have gathered while fighting Covid-19. SAN DIEGO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Blacksmith Medicines, Inc. (Blacksmith), a biotechnology company focused on creating novel medicines for immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases by targeting human metalloenzymes, announced today that it has secured seed funding and has entered into a research collaboration with Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly). Lilly joins existing Blacksmith investors Evotec A.G., MP Healthcare Partners, MagnaSci Ventures, and Alexandria Venture Investments. Blacksmith is a spin-out of Forge Therapeutics, a leading antibiotic discovery company discovering therapies to combat the rise of drug resistance. Under the terms of the research collaboration agreement, Blacksmith and Lilly will collaborate on up to 5 human metalloenzyme targets, with Blacksmith advancing novel small molecule inhibitors from fragment to 'hit' stage after which Lilly has the right to continue research, development, and commercialization. Blacksmith will receive an upfront payment and an investment from Lilly in exchange for a convertible note and will be eligible for up to approximately $60 million per target in potential research, development and commercial milestones for a total potential deal size up to approximately $300 million. The Blacksmith metalloenzyme platform is a unique drug discovery engine purpose-built to target the largest and most diverse group of enzymes in the human genome. Blacksmith's proprietary platform has several distinct advantages over traditional drug discovery approaches including: A large proprietary fragment library of metal-binding pharmacophores (MBPs); A comprehensive database containing a full characterization of the metalloenzyme genome including functions, metal cofactors, and associations to disease; A first-of-its-kind metallo-CRISPR library of custom single guide RNAs; An industry-leading metalloenzyme computational toolkit for docking, modeling and structure-based drug design; and A robust and blocking intellectual property estate covering bioinorganic, medicinal, and computational chemistry approaches for metalloenzyme-targeted medicines. "We are excited to launch Blacksmith Medicines with our investors and enter this research collaboration with Lilly, who collectively share our commitment to advancing novel chemistry approaches to create new medicines for patients in need," said Zachary Zimmerman, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder. "With the creation of Blacksmith, we are now able to expand our metalloenzyme platform into other therapeutic areas outside of anti-infectives, deepening our expertise and creating increased value for our shareholders, strategic partners and patients. We look forward to broadening the reach of our technology as we focus our efforts on identifying novel targets for immuno-oncology and inflammatory diseases." About Blacksmith Medicines At Blacksmith Medicines, we are developing medicines targeting metal-dependent enzymes found in human physiology. Over 30% of known enzymes are metalloenzymes, covering all major enzyme classes: oxidoreductases, transferases, hydrolases, lyases, isomerases, and ligases. Metal ions, including magnesium, zinc, iron, manganese and copper, are the essential ingredient in these metalloenzymes. We recognized a large unmet need for new chemical matter and innovative approaches to drug this important class of enzymes. Our purpose-built platform for metalloenzyme-targeted medicines combines for the first time in industry, a focused library of metal-binding pharmacophores with proprietary computational modeling approaches to rapidly and rationally design small molecule inhibitors that interact with key metal ions in the enzyme's active site. Our comprehensive knowledge of the metal environment and key active site interactions enables Blacksmith to rapidly build potent and selective inhibitors in a stepwise and predictable manner. For further information, please visit the company's website at www.BlacksmithMedicines.com and follow us on LinkedIn. About Forge Therapeutics At Forge Therapeutics, we are developing novel antibiotics targeting bacterial metal-dependent enzymes. Forge has a strategic antibiotic discovery relationship with Evotec AG, antibiotic research collaborations with Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd. and Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., and has been awarded funding by CARB-X as well as government agencies. For further information, please visit the company's website www.ForgeTherapeutics.com and follow us on Twitter @ForgeThera. Blacksmith and Forge Media Contact: Amy Conrad Juniper Point [email protected] 858-366-3243 SOURCE Blacksmith Medicines Related Links http://www.BlacksmithMedicines.com (@fidahassanain) Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa calls on Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, other Bahraini leaders and discussed matters of mutual interests and security cooperation. RAWALPINDI: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-Jan 8th, 2021) Bahrain on Friday reaffirmed its special relationship with Pakistan and pledged to keep working for even better relations between the two brotherly countries. These views were expressed by the Bahraini leadership during talks with Army Chief General Qamar Javed who paid a three day visit to Bahrain. During his stay, the Army Chief called on Crown Prince of Bahrain Salman Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa, Commander in Chief of Bahrain Defense Force Khalifa Bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and Commander Bahrain National Guard Lieutenant General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Al Khalifa and discussed matters pertaining to bilateral defense and security cooperation and regional security situation. The Army Chief was presented with the Bahrain Order (First Class) by the Bahraini Crown Prince for making significant contributions in defense cooperation between the two countries. The Army Chief also witnessed the closing ceremony of Pak-Bahrain joint military exercise Al-Badar-V at Sakhir Camp. He appreciated standard of training and the results attained. The Army Chief said that the exercise signifies the joint efforts of both nations against terrorism. Beijing: China on Monday said Indias membership bid in the NSG has become more complicated under the new circumstances as it again ruled out backing New Delhis entry in the grouping, saying there should be non-discriminatory solution applicable to all non-NPT signatory countries. China has been blocking Indias membership in the 48-nation grouping which controls the nuclear commerce even though India has the backing of majority of the members.The group goes by consensus approach on the admission of new members. About the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) it is a new issue under the new circumstances and it is more complicated than the previously imagined, Chinas Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Li Huilai told media briefing in Beijing. He, however, did not elaborate what are the new circumstances and complications.China supports the NSG to have consultation for reaching non-discriminatory and universally applicable solution, applicable to all members of the NSG, he said. Pakistan has also applied for the NSG membership. While China has not openly supported Pakistans membership, it came with a two-step approach which stipulates that the NSG members first need to arrive at a set of principles for the admission of non-NPT states into the NSG and then move forward discussions of specific cases. Last month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told the media that there is no change in Chinas stand on admission of non-NPT states into NSG, ruling out any chances of Indias entry into the elite grouping. Asked about the chances of Indias admission into the grouping during this months plenary session expected to take place in the Swiss capital Bern, he said, Chinas position on the non-NPT members participation in the NSG has not changed. Li, who interacted with media to highlight Chinese President Xi Jinpings participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit to be held at Astana Capital of Kazakhstan on June 8-9, said China wants to deepen relations with India. Read | SCO Summit 2017: PM Modi to share dais with Pak PM Sharif, Chinese Premier Xi Jinping in Astana on June 8-9 China and India are important neighbours and both are fast developing, both are emerging new market economies. Both are important forces upholding peace and stability, he said. In recent years, relations between India and China are developing sound and at quite fast speed. President Xi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meetings have agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation and make joint efforts to build even closer development partnership, he said. The highlight of the SCO summit is the admission of India and Pakistan as new members of the organisation. Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to take part in the SCO summit where his Pakistani counterpart Nawaz Sharif is also expected to be present. Modi is also likely to meet Xi on the sidelines of the summit though officials say the meeting has not been confirmed. Li said the six-member grouping will be strengthened by the entry of India and Pakistan and it will extend the groups reach from Central Asia to South Asia.He said the entry of the two countries will cover three fifth of Euro Asian continent and will account for half of the worlds population. China will take the rotating Presidency of the group next year, Li said.He also said Iran, which is the observer, has expressed interest to join the organisation and its application will come up for discussion at the Astana summit.The SCO comprised of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan acts as China-dominated security group focussing on Central Asia. India and Pakistan till now had the status of observers along with Afghanistan, Belarus, Iran and Mongolia in the group. Asked about Afghanistan blaming Pakistans intelligence agency for recent massive bomb attacks in Kabul, Li said China condemned recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan, Britain and Philippines. China strongly condemns these violent terrorist incidents and in fact we oppose all forms of terrorism, he said. The international community should step up cooperation and work together to jointly tackle the terrorism and China stands willing to work together with other parties, bilaterally and multilaterally to step up cooperation and take all necessary measures to jointly protect respective countries and regional security and development, he said. The SCO is also considering a treaty on terrorism. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Australia is on edge as new mutant super-strains of highly infectious coronavirus threaten to wreak havoc across the country. A family of four that flew in to New South Wales from South Africa have tested positive for the highly infectious coronavirus super-strain. On Thursday night, NSW Health detected the South African variant in PCR samples from the family, who are in hotel quarantine. The discovery has alarmed NSW Health authorities, as the South African strain has independently mutated the exact same genomic variant as the United Kingdom super-strain - making both strains nearly 50 per cent more transmissible than the original virus. Masks have become a common sight across Australia as fears were raised over the highly contagious mutant strains Australia is on edge as new mutant super-strains of more infectious coronavirus from South Africa and the UK are in quarantine in Australia and threatening to break out Incoming passengers screened at Brisbane airport on December 20. NSW has not shut its border to Queensland despite the new UK strain being caught by a quarantine cleaner That means that there is an increased risk of the virus spreading out of NSW hotel quarantine to transport staff or cleaners who will need to take extra care. NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said on Friday that 10 returning travellers had brought the more infectious viral variants to Sydney since November 30. Six of them with the UK variant and four with the South African variant, with more testing being done to confirm the cases. Analysis of by Imperial College London researchers confirmed the new strains may be nearly 50 percent more transmissible, based on samples taken from nearly 86,000 Britons. NSW Health is taking extra precautions to move all 16 passengers who shared the family's flight from South Africa to Sydney to Special Health Accommodation, where all coronavirus travellers are quarantined. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said Brisbane's lockdown could be extended - the state is on edge after the UK variant was caught by a quarantine cleaner An incoming passenger from Hong Kong to Sydney on Friday. Australia is on edge Funeral workers wearing personal protective equipment carry a casket during the burial of a COVID-19 victim, amid a nationwide coronavirus disease in South Africa The flight crew had left Australia and arrived in Singapore by the time the test results were revealed, and are now undergoing testing there. Dr Chant acknowledged the increased risk of transmission on Friday. 'There are concerns that this South African strain does share a similar mutation from the UK that may be associated with increased transmissibility,' she said. 'That is why we are taking a very cautious approach there,' Dr Chant said. In both the UK and South Africa, the mutated strains are becoming the norm, displacing the original virus as they are highly adapted to spreading. There is no evidence the disease is any more harmful than the original virus, only that it spreads faster and easier. Brisbane hoppers headed straight to a Coles at New Farm after it was announced Brisbane would be placed into a hard lockdown Covid testing facilities (pictured) can be found in every state as the virus continues to spread Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redland residents can only leave their homes for four reasons from 6pm on Friday Medical teacher Dr John Campbell who combats coronavirus myths on his YouTube channel explained that the two different variants had developed the exact same genomic mutation but separately - just as both bats and birds had both evolved wings, but separately. The new mutation makes the South African and UK variants equally hyper-infectious, due to identical changes in their spike protein casing he said in an update on December 20. HOW TO CHECK IF YOU NEED A TEST IN NSW: There were 86 separate health alerts for NSW venues on the NSW Health website and 11 for public transport routes as of Friday night. The public is urged to check the NSW Health website here to see if you were at any of those places at the red-flagged dates and times. If you were there at the times flagged, you may have come in contact with the virus and need to isolate, get tested. Advertisement New South Wales has no known community transmission of the South African and UK variants. NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the new strains are a challenge but was not unexpected. 'Getting variations, mutations to a virus is not unusual,' he said on Friday. 'It's what happens ... it's not unexpected but of course from time to time a variation can occur that presents an increased risk. Other times it can decrease risks.' Australia has not shut its borders to the UK or South Africa as European Union nations and many others have done. Britain halted flights from South Africa in December in a bid to isolate itself from the South African variant which has other changes in addition to the one it shares with the UK mutation, prompting fears vaccines may not be effective. But the variant has already been detected in two locations in Britain in contacts of people who had recently visited the African nation. Encouragingly, virologists and public health experts believe that vaccines made by companies like AstraZeneca, Pfizer and Moderna will still be effective against the UK variant of coronavirus. However it makes the task of vaccinating people in variant-hit nations more urgent due to the speed of its spread. It could spell disaster for hospitals in hotspots like California where some health care systems and regions are already out of ICU beds, in states of 'internal disaster' and rationing care. NSW Health put out an alert for Bing Lee in Burwood (pictured), visited by an infected shopper Multiple venues at Burwood in Sydney's inner-west (pictured above) have been exposed There are similar fears in the UK over the National Health Service (NHS) and its capacity to cope with the number of coronavirus patients that are expected as the new variant of the disease continues to spread, with new infections sometimes topping 50,000 per day. In Queensland fears of the new variant have prompted panic buying and a lockdown after a Brisbane hotel quarantine cleaner tested positive on Thursday for the UK super-strain. 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 Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced on Friday that Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redland residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons from 6pm on Friday to 6pm on Monday. That includes essential shopping, work, healthcare or exercise around the neighbourhood. They will also need to wear face masks when leaving their homes. Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said Brisbane's lockdown may continue past Monday. 'The best case scenario is we get to 6pm on Monday and we've had no additional community cases and we would love for that to be the result,' she told 4BC radio on Friday. 'And it means we can start moving out of restrictions much quicker. 'But of course worst case scenario is we're seeing more community transmission and looking at everything that could be in between. Ms D'Ath said it wasn't just about the number of cases but whether they could all be traced. 'We will reassess on an ongoing basis over the next 24, 48 and 72 hours.' Dr Sonu Haikerwal, who runs a respiratory clinic on the Gold Coast, said the UK strain could easily breakout of Brisbane and spread. 'We should really be thinking of [the Gold Coast] as an extension of Brisbane in this scenario, we are all so interconnected, especially the northern corridor,' she told The Gold Coast Bulletin. 'There is no border separating us, just a few kilometres, so we could certainly see a spread here if it isnt contained. 'It is the school holidays, people have been travelling all over so we urgently need to get this under control. A three-day lockdown is nothing compared to two months.' Panic buying has broken out across greater Brisbane as 2.5 million residents prepare to head into a three-day-long lockdown to curb the spread of a UK strain of Covid-19. Long queues of shoppers with trolleys packed with groceries were photographed at a Coles at New Farm. Shelves were stripped bare in the fresh produce section of a Woolworths store with toilet paper supplies dwindling in some supermarkets. Car parks were filled to capacity while lines of shoppers formed outside of supermarkets and snaked around shopping centres. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk urged residents to think of the three-day-long lockdown as a 'long weekend'. 'We need to do this. I've accepted the strong advice from Dr Young,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown.' Fears of the super-strains have led to calls for NSW to take stricter measures at the Queensland border. Acting Premier John Barilaro, however, said NSW would not close its border with Queensland - but anybody in NSW who had been to Brisbane's lockdown zone since January 2 has been told to isolate themselves until Monday night. New South Wales bares the brunt of Australia's coronavirus risk as it processes most of the returning travellers. Mr Barilaro complained on Radio 2GB last week that Sydney had processed 105,000 returning travellers since March compared with just 29,000 for Queensland and 22,000 for Western Australia. Of the 105,000 returnees who come to NSW, Mr Barilaro said half end up moving on to other states. 'So we're like the dry cleaner or the car wash. We clean them and we send them back to their states clean,' he told 2GB host Ben Fordham on Monday. 'All that risk lies with NSW and, of course, our health system - and when we get lectured by these others, it is bloody hard to accept when they're not doing the heavy lifting.' NSW recorded four new cases of coronavirus caught locally in the 24 hours to 8pm on Thursday, plus seven new cases in returned travellers, bringing the state's total to 115 active cases on Friday. An urgent alert has been issued by NSW Health after they were advised several new venues in Sydney have been exposed to Covid. The majority are from venues in Sydney's inner-west in the suburb Burwood, with one on the Northern Beaches at Avalon. UK's Dr John Campbell who combats coronavirus myths on his YouTube channel said the new UK strain and the South African strain are both more infectious thanks to the same mutation A mask-clad pedestrian checks her phone in Brisbane as Australia's third-largest city headed into lockdown Anyone who visited Burwood's Artisaint Cafe (10.30am-11am), Bing Lee (11.25am-11.40am), Westfield Shopping Centre (11.45am-1.30pm), Kmart (11.45am-12.15pm), House (12.20pm-12.30pm) and Coles (12.40pm-1.20pm) on January 6 is considered a casual contact. People are advised to get tested immediately and then self-isolate until receiving a negative result. In a concerning revelation, fragments of the virus that causes Covid were detected in a sewage treatment plant at Northmead, in Sydney's west, on Friday. This catchment takes sewage from surrounding suburbs including Merrylands West, Greystanes, South Wentworthville, Merrylands, Westmead, Wentworthville, Pendle Hill, Northmead, North Rocks, Parramatta and Constitution Hill. NSW Health authorities are keen to ensure that the South African variant does not make it out of quarantine, as it is difficult enough to contain the existing virus. South African funeral home directors have spoken of 'running out of coffins' after being overwhelmed by a 120 per cent surge in Covid-19 deaths thanks to the rapidly-spreading super-strain. The country is facing a highly-infectious mutant strain of coronavirus, which has caused the spike in deaths and cases - 422 people died yesterday whilst more than 15,000 tested positive for the virus. Coronavirus infections and deaths are soaring in South Africa as a new, more infectious variant takes over and spreads rapidly, overwhelming the hospital system Funeral undertakers are now hoping the government will find a vaccine and have it rolled out across the country amid high demand for coffins, increasing numbers of their staff dying from the virus and policy cancellations. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Monday he is 'incredibly worried' about the highly-infectious South African coronavirus mutation which top experts fear could scupper Britain's vaccine roll-out. The UK has shut its borders to South Africa as it races to contain its own super-strain, which has evolved the same super-infectious spike protein as the South African variant. The new South African coronavirus mutant, called 501.V2, was announced in Cape Town in December and is believed to be a more extreme variant than Britain's new Covid strain which plunged millions into miserable Christmas lockdowns. Cases in South Africa have soared from fewer than 3,000 a day at the start of December to more than 15,000 per day, with the mutant accounting for up to 90 percent of those new infections. Muzi Hlengwa, the president of the National Funeral Practitioners Association of South Africa said he had never witnessed anything like this during his career. 'It is something you have never seen before. We have run out of coffins, we have run out of space at the mortuary,' he said. UK death and new infection numbers are soaring as the new infectious variant takes hold 'Some funerals have had to be postponed because there is no burial space. We even have cremations done at night.' Several countries have banned travellers from South Africa to try and contain the spread of the new strain, including the UK, Germany, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. The UK is now suffering its worst coronavirus medical emergency to date as the newly infectious variant takes hold, spreading faster and wider than ever before. London Mayor Sadiq Khan (pictured) has demanded churches and other places of worship be closed and for face masks to be worn routinely outside of the home The fast pace of the UK variant is outstripping the ability of the NHS to keep up in London London mayor Sadiq Khan declared a major incident this afternoon as he said the spread of coronavirus was now 'out of control' in the capital. The number of cases in London is now above 1,000 per 100,000 people, he said, with a 27 per cent increase in hospital patients between December 30 and January 6. The 7,034 people now in hospital with coronavirus represents a 35 per cent increase compared to the peak of the pandemic in April. Mr Khan said over the last three days alone the NHS has announced 477 deaths in London hospitals following a positive test for Covid-19. While the infection rate for the city as a whole is one in 30, it is as high as one in 20 in some localised areas. In a letter to Boris Johnson he has demanded churches and other places of worship be closed and for face masks to be worn routinely outside of the home, including in supermarket queues and other places outside that may be crowded. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... CHARLESTON, W.Va. A West Virginia lawmaker who filmed himself and supporters of President Donald Trump storming into the U.S. Capitol is facing bipartisan calls for his resignation as federal prosecutors step up their pursuit of violent perpetrators. State Del. Derrick Evans was among lawmakers from at least seven states who traveled to Washington, D.C., for demonstrations rooted in the baseless conspiracy theory that Democrat Joe Biden stole the presidential election. Wearing a helmet, Evans ultimately joined a screaming mob as it pushed its way into the Capitol building, and livestreamed himself joyfully strolling inside. Its unclear if Evans was the only elected official to participate in what Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and many others called a failed insurrection. Its also not known if any of them will be prosecuted. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Pennsylvania state Sen. Doug Mastriano said he helped organize a bus ride to the demonstrations but left the U.S. Capitol area after the eruption of violence, which he called unacceptable. The top Democrat in the Pennsylvania Senate, and eight of his colleagues, want him to resign, saying his actions and words disputing the elections integrity encouraged a coup attempt and inspired the people behind it. Tennessee state Rep. Terri Lynn Weaver said Wednesday night that it had been an epic and historic day. The Republican lawmaker told The Tennessean she was in the thick of it but hadnt seen any violence. Weaver did not respond to emailed questions from The Associated Press about whether she entered the Capitol. Incoming Nevada state Assemblywoman Annie Black, a Republican, said she marched from the White House to the U.S. Capitol, where she saw men on megaphones revving the crowd to storm the security barrier. She said she retreated to avoid being associated with the mob. We all had a choice when that fence came down, she said. Whether it was our group that incited that to happen or another group, every single person had the choice to make. Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem posted photos of himself attending the protest outside the Capitol, but his office said he observed from afar. Liberal groups in the state want him expelled for backing the effort to overturn the election. Virginia state Sen. Amanda Chase, an outspoken Trump supporter who is running for governor, attended the presidents rally Wednesday in which Trump urged supporters to march to the Capitol. Chase said in a Facebook video that she left near the end of the rally on the advice of her security team, and there is no indication she was part of the group that stormed the Capitol. Republican state Reps. David Eastman of Alaska and Justin Hill of Missouri both said they went to Washington to object to the Electoral College votes of several states confirming Bidens election, but didnt participate in the demonstrations. Hill described the Trump rally as very peaceful. But what I saw at the Capitol was not the same people, he said. I wasnt there rallying troops to overthrow the government. The president of the national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, Jessica Post, said any Republican legislator who took part in yesterdays insurrection, in Washington, D.C., or anywhere else in the country, should resign immediately. Yesterday was a stain on our countrys history and a dangerous affront to democracy all those involved have no place making laws, Post said in a news release. Washington, D.C., officials said the FBI and the local Metropolitan Police Department were leading the investigation into identifying the participants in Wednesdays violence. D.C. police have arrested 68 people so far. The top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin, said 40 cases have already been presented in superior court and prosecutors plan to file 15 federal cases Thursday. Sherwin said all options are on the table, including sedition charges. John Bryan, a West Virginia attorney representing Evans, was defiant that the delegate will not resign despite lawmakers from both parties seeking to expel him. The Republican speaker of the West Virginia House of Delegates, Roger Hanshaw, said Wednesday night that Evans will need to answer to his constituents and colleagues for his actions. Democratic leadership called for his prosecution. About 40,000 people signed a petition on change.org asking for Evans removal. He committed no criminal act that day, Bryan said in a statement late Thursday. The two U.S. Attorneys in West Virginia said in a statement that they are in touch with counterparts in other states and prepared to enforce the Rule of Law and the laws of these United States. Evans, a vocal conservative activist with more than 30,000 followers on Facebook, has not publicly posted on social media since issuing a statement Wednesday that he attended the events as an independent member of the media to film history. He took his Twitter account private late Wednesday and didnt respond to emailed questions. At no point was Mr. Evans located in the crowd on the West side of the (Capitol) building, nor anywhere else on the Capitol grounds, where violence and destruction of property was, or had been, occurring, Bryan said. In his now-deleted video, widely shared online, Evans is clamoring inside a jampacked Capitol building doorway, trying with others to push his way inside. He hollers along with other Trump loyalists and thanks a law enforcement officer for letting them in. Strolling the grand Capitol Rotunda, where historic paintings depict the republics founding, Evans implores others to not vandalize artwork and busts, some of which would indeed be vandalized. Our house! Evans yells inside Capitol halls. I dont know where were going. Im following the crowd. Like several other political first-time winners in Novembers West Virginia elections, Evans swept aside a Democratic rival to win his seat representing Wayne County. High GOP turnout credited to Trump elevated down-ballot Republicans in the state and gave the party a statehouse supermajority. The chairwoman of the state GOP, Melody Potter, declined to answer questions about Evans. ___ Associated Press journalists John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia; Kimberlee Kruesi in Nashville, Tennessee; Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska; Mark Levy in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Sam Metz in Carson City, Nevada; David A. Lieb in Jefferson City, Missouri; and Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow Cuneyt Dil on Twitter at www.twitter.com/cuneytdil. Some senior Government officials have been accused of demanding bribes from desperate businesspeople seeking exemption letters to allow them easy passage at security checkpoints during the Covid-19 induced national lockdown. The same officials have also been accused of delaying issuance of exemption letters in order to induce applicants to pay them bribes. The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission says it has since launched full-scale investigations against some named senior Government officials who are alleged to be involved in the scam. In an interview yesterday, Zacc spokesperson Commissioner John Makamure said investigations were in full swing to weed out corrupt elements among Government officials responsible for issuance of exemption letters. Exemption letters allow holders to pass through security checkpoints as well as unhindered operations of their businesses during the prescribed hours. Lockdown regulations allow traders providing essential services to operate up to 3pm during the 30 day national lockdown announced by the Government starting this week. The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission has received several complaints of Government officials demanding bribes in order to issue exemption letters to registered businesses offering essential services. It is mainly the small scale registered retail outlets bearing the brunt of such malpractices, said Comm Makamure. The Commission has launched full investigations into these reports and the culprits will soon be brought to book. Statutory Instrument 10 of 2021 is very clear on the exemption. There are no fees to be paid to obtain an exemption letter. Comm Makamure said they had observed with great concern that some Government Ministries and departments were taking long to process applications even in circumstances where applicants met the legal requirements. He said such delays might have an effect of promoting corruption. Zacc would like to urge the responsible Government Ministries and departments to speed up issuance of the exemption letters as long as the applicants meet all the requirements. Unnecessary delays will tempt some people to offer bribes which is a serious form of corruption, said Comm Makamure. Government has imposed a 30-day national lockdown which took effect on Tuesday which will see all businesses closing except those offering essential services, as part of measures to combat the rapid spread of the Covid-19 pandemic that has killed hundreds of people. Government has also banned parties and weddings among other gatherings as part of an array of measures to arrest the spread of the disease. Law enforcement agencies have indicated that they will be on high alert to ensure compliance with the measures. Herald BEIJING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee on Thursday held a meeting to hear a series of work reports. The reports were from leading Party members groups of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the Supreme People's Court, and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, as well as from the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered an important speech. The authority and centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee is the paramount principle of upholding the Party's leadership and the fundamental guarantee for China's institutional strengths, said a statement issued after the meeting, describing the annual hearing of work reports by the CPC leadership as a major institutional arrangement for upholding such authority and leadership. The meeting acknowledged the achievements of the leading Party members groups of the top legislature, central government, top political advisory body, top court and top procuratorate, as well as the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, in various areas of work over the past year. The meeting called for both confidence and precautions against possible dangers as China stands at a historical juncture of wrapping up its efforts to achieve its first "centenary goal" and starting to work for the second. The meeting urged the leading Party members groups to continuously improve the ability to judge and understand political issues and implement political requirements so as to always stay in conformity with the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core in terms of thinking, political orientation, and actions. The leading Party members groups were urged to focus their work on grand plans designed by the CPC Central Committee, rise up to their responsibility, and strengthen the morale to fight so as to do their jobs well. The meeting also called for efforts to unremittingly improve Party conduct, fight corruption and encourage Party members and cadres to keep motivated in work to celebrate the CPC centenary this year with outstanding achievements. The Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee was urged to make solid efforts to accomplish tasks assigned by the CPC Central Committee. Illustrative photo. (Source: VNA) Hanoi A strong cold spell engulfed the entire northern Vietnam on January 8 and expanded to the north central and central regions, causing medium to heavy rains in several areas, according to the National Centre for Hydro-Meteorological Forecasting.The northern and north central regions are in the grip of biting cold, with the hardest hit being the northern mountainous provinces of Lao Cai, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, Cao Bang and Bac Can where the mercury drops to around 7 10 degrees Celsius at the lowest and even hits below zero in mountainous areas. Frost and sleet are expected in some locations.The cold wave lowers temperatures to 13 17 degree Celsius in central provinces from Quang Binh to Quang Ngai while the Central Highlands region also experiences cold weather.In response to the cold conditions, weather forecast centres are asked to increase daily weather updates and reports, particularly those in ethnic languages for ethnic minorities living in remote and mountainous regions, and provides advice to help people working outdoors protect themselves from cold-weather hazards.Local authorities are urged to inform tourists on ice or frost-prone areas. Special warnings must be issued for tourists at at-risk areas.Meanwhile, schools are advised to cancel classes and outdoor activities. This year will see atmospheric carbon dioxide reach a concentration 50 per cent higher than pre-industrial levels, the Met Office has predicted. The crossing of this symbolic threshold will come in a critical year for the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid catastrophic climate change. Experts said that the prediction underscores the need for rapid action to slash emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas. Emissions from fossil fuels and deforestation will cause carbon dioxide to continue to accumulate in the atmosphere this year, with concentrations expected to exceed 417 parts per million for the first time on record for several weeks from April to June, as depicted 'The human-caused build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is accelerating," said Met Office climate scientist Richard Betts. 'It took over 200 years for levels to increase by 25 per cent, but now just over 30 years later we are approaching a 50 percent increase.' Emissions from fossil fuels and deforestation will cause carbon dioxide to continue to accumulate in the atmosphere this year, with concentrations expected to exceed 417 parts per million for the first time on record for several weeks from April to June. This is a 50 per cent increase on the 278 parts per million concentration seen at the dawn of the industrial era, in the late 18th century, the Met Office said. The annual peak will likely be followed by a cyclical fall, as plants growing in the northern hemisphere summer absorb carbon dioxide. From September onwards, carbon dioxide levels will resume rising with the Met Office predicting an average annual concentration of around 416.3 parts per million. Carbon dioxide levels have long since passed those levels considered safe by climate scientists. In fact, the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres noted at a climate summit in Madrid in the December of 2019 that a level of 400 parts per million had once been considered 'an unthinkable tipping point'. The crossing of this symbolic threshold will come in a critical year for the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid catastrophic climate change. Experts said that the prediction underscores the need for rapid action to slash emissions of carbon dioxide from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas from power plants as pictured After falling sharply last spring as economies were hit by the coronavirus emissions have now mostly returned to pre-pandemic levels, the Met Office added. Nevertheless, the accumulation of carbon dioxide is expected to be slightly slower than usual this year. This is because the weather patterns linked to this year's La Nina event should boost tropical forest growth and help soak up some emissions, the Met Office said. 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"We are willing to join in Botswana to further implement the important consensus between the two heads of state, achievements of Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19," said Wang. China is also willing to join in Botswana to strengthen the party-to-party and people-to-people exchanges, deepen post-COVID-19 bilateral cooperation in various fields. Both sides shall take the opportunity of signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to promote transformation and upgrading of bilateral cooperation, and help to accelerate Botswana's process of industrialization and digitalization in order to benefit the welfare of more people. Wang said that Africa has achieved political independence through a hard struggle, but it still needs to make continued efforts to truly achieve economic independence. China is ready to deepen cooperation with African countries including Botswana within the framework of the FOCAC, ensure the success of the new session of FOCAC, upgrade China-Africa cooperation, help African countries turn their resource advantages into development advantages and accelerate their capacity for independent development, Wang said. The two sides should also strengthen coordination and cooperation in regional and international affairs, firmly support multilateralism, oppose unilateral power bullying, promote democracy in international relations and safeguard the common interests of developing countries, Wang said. President Masisi said that Botswana attaches great importance to the Botswana-China relations. Botswana takes the one-China principle as the foundation of the development of bilateral relations and remains firm in this regard. Masisi thanked the Chinese side for its tremendous assistance to the Botswana government and people in achieving development and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. Botswana admires China's development achievements and is full of expectations for the future of Botswana-China relations. Botswana is willing to be a reliable partner of mutual benefit with China, Masisi said. China is welcome to increase investment in Botswana, strengthen cooperation in industrial parks, digital economy, scientific and technological innovation and other fields, and help Botswana contribute "patents of Botswana" to the world. Botswana is ready to strengthen party-to-party exchanges with China, expand cooperation under the framework of the FOCAC and work with China to overcome the "middle-income trap" and achieve high-quality development, Masisi said. On the same day, Wang also held talks with Botswana's Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Lemogang Kwape. The two foreign ministers signed the MoU on jointly advancing the BRI between the two governments and other cooperation documents. DaBaby was arrested in Beverly Hills Thursday after police said they found a loaded and concealed handgun in his possession. The rapper, 29, had a 9mm inside his vehicle, a spokesperson for the Beverly Hills Police Department told CBSLA. Law enforcement sources told the station that they were called to the area at around 4:37 p.m. after security with the Gucci's Rodeo Drive location called in to report a man carrying a weapon in his waistband while walking with friends. The latest: DaBaby, 29, was arrested in Beverly Hills Thursday after police said they found a loaded and concealed handgun in his possession As the entertainer, whose real name is Jonathan Lyndale Kirk, and his friends were in a black SUV ahead departing, a group of police said they made contact with the group, as seen in a clip on TMZ. The officers asked the men in the vehicle to roll down their windows, and later handcuffed the rap artist. 'That is the gun that is part of this investigation; that is the gun we're glad didn't hurt anyone today,' an officer told the outlet when asked by a photographer about the firearm. The Charlotte, North Carolina native was with three men leaving the establishment Moncler, as a police insider told the outlet that a person inside Moncler had contacted them to report the weapons violation. Rodeo Drive: The rapper had a 9mm inside his vehicle a spokesperson for the Beverly Hills Police Department told CBSLA Onstage: The performer was seen in Houston in 2019 at the Astroworld Festival In the incident, all four men were detained, and DaBaby was the only one arrested. The rapper's arrest comes about two months after the tragic death of his brother Glenn Johnson, who took his own life by shooting himself in the head, the outlet reported. The rapper took to social media with a memorial to Johnson with a lyric from one of his tracks, Intro: 'My brother be thinkin' that we don't love him and let him struggle like we ain't family. Like I won't give up all I got to see you, n****.' New York state will begin vaccinating seniors and non-medical essential workers after NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio excoriated Governor Andrew Cuomo over his strict rules limiting doses to healthcare workers. Cuomo backpedaled on his strict policy on Friday, after de Blasio complained that thousands of doses were going unused and some were even being tossed out after expiring. Still, the governor warned that herd immunity in New York remains 47 weeks away unless the federal government 'dramatically increases' the state's supply. At 3pm, Cuomo announced a new statewide order expanding eligibility for the vaccine to seniors over 75, transit workers, teachers and police, with mass vaccination sites planned at pharmacies, doctors' offices and the Javits Center in Manhattan. Thirty minutes later, triumphant de Blasio fired off a tweet saying: 'New York City has heard enough. We will begin administering shots to City Workers and the elderly in [Phase] 1B starting on Monday.' The shambolic squabble between the two elected Democrats came as New York City has administered just 149,932 doses, or 31 percent of the doses it has received -- leaving two-thirds of the doses sitting unused at risk of expiring. New York City will begin vaccinating seniors and non-medical essential workers on Monday after Mayor Bill de Blasio (left) excoriated Governor Andrew Cuomo (right) over strict rules limiting doses to healthcare workers Under Cuomo's state distribution plan, phase 1A of vaccination had been limited strictly to healthcare workers, and the governor was demanding that 70 percent of that group receive the shot before expanding access to other groups. However, a surprising number of healthcare workers are refusing the shot, and in New York only an estimated 13 percent of that group has received a dose so far. De Blasio had repeatedly appealed to the governor to relax the rules, saying the city had hundreds of thousands of shots available to administer to seniors. But the governor refused to bend, insisting as late as Friday afternoon that healthcare workers must take priority. Nursing home residents are also in the priority group in every state, but their vaccinations are being administered through federal contracts with pharmacy chains, and do not count as part of state allotments. So far, NYC has received 487,375 vaccine doses, but just 149,932 have been administered. The city has a population of 8.4 million. The seven-day rolling average test positivity rate for New York City zip codes is seen above Statewide, just 34 percent of the vaccine doses available have been administered. Data shows New York has received 1,134,800 doses and administered 430,000. On Friday morning, de Blasio made an impassioned speech imploring Cuomo for the 'freedom to vaccinate,' saying the city had 270,00 doses that could be immediately be administered to seniors over age 75 if the rules were relaxed. The mayor argued that seniors would be much less hesitant to take the vaccine than younger healthcare workers. 'You're not going to see the same hesitancy as you do with younger folks,' he said. 'This is the single most vulnerable category... they have the most need and most desire for the vaccine. They won't wait,' he pleaded. 'We are not allowed by state law to give a single shot to a single New Yorker over 75,' de Blasio complained. By the late afternoon, Cuomo had relented and announced the new more relaxed statewide policy. New York state's total COVID hospitalizations continued to rise on Friday The Finger Lakes region was worst hit in terms of per capita hospitalizations The vaccine reluctance of healthcare workers, who include staff such as hospital clerks and janitors in addition to doctors and nurses, has led to shocking situations in which valuable doses have been thrown in the trash. In Harlem, a health clinic even had to throw out a handful of doses after nearly half of its 20 staffers refused the vaccine, and the city Health Department told the clinic that it could only vaccinate members of eligible groups, according to the New York Times. The clinic had just hours to administer the doses after its second Moderna vial containing 10 doses was punctured, and raced to find eligible recipients, but was unable. 'People don't hold hands in blocks of 10 to come over to get immunized,' Dr. Neil Calman, president of the Institute for Family Health, which owns the clinic, told the paper. The Family Health Center of Harlem (above) was forced to thrown out four doses of the Moderna vaccine after staffers refused the shot and no eligible recipients could be found 'We just need to enable providers to use their professional judgment to give it to people at their highest risk.' On Friday, Cuomo said that without increased vaccine supply, it would take 14 weeks to vaccinate New Yorkers in Phases 1A and 1B, the phase that starts on Monday. That would leave other groups out until April 16. He said he was working with the incoming Biden administration and hopes that New York's supply from the federal government 'dramatically increases' once the Democrat takes office on January 20. Cuomo said that without such an increase in vaccine supply, New York would take another 47 weeks, or nearly a year, to reach herd immunity levels. Susie Helfrich, 99, passed on Jan. 2, 2021, at Court House Manor in Washington Court House, Ohio, where she had resided in recent years. She was a graduate of Washington Court House High School and Middletown School of Nursing. She was a lifelong resident of Fayette County. When she was married to Neil Helfrich, they were quite involved in harness racing for many years. They raced horses under the Su Ne Rich stable name at racetracks in several states. The top pacing horses in the stable were Majestic Jerry ($341,930), Little Jerry Way ($314,794) and Jerry Gauman ($290,376). They spent a lot of time traveling to watch their horses race out east at Brandywine Raceway and Roosevelt with Herve Filion as their main driver, and every fall also loved to go to the Tattersalls Horse Sale in Lexington, Ky. Mrs. Helfrich was a great advocate of racing and had so many friends in the industry. She was a dynamic individual and was really great to be around as she could go on and on with great stories from the past that would greatly entertain everyone. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the friends and family of Susie Helfrich. (USTA) TO REPORT FRAUD If you receive information about an unemployment claim you did not file or a U.S. Bank ReliaCard debit card absent a claim, officials recommend doing the following: Go to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment website at cdle.colorado.gov/ to report the fraud. Report the fraud to the FTC via Identitytheft.gov. File a police report. This can be accomplished online with most local jurisdictions. For the Colorado Springs Police Department: https://coloradosprings.gov/police-department/page/report-crime-online and for the El Paso County Sheriff's Office : https://www.epcsheriffsoffice.com/services/file-crime-report-online. Create a file to keep any records related to the fraud and your efforts in one place. Go to one of the three major credit bureaus and put a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Arman Tatoyan condemns the act of connecting the exchange of captives with any territorial issue or Bakus attempts to use this with political motives and has posted the following on his Facebook page: 1. All Armenian servicemen captured by Azerbaijani soldiers must be released and returned to Armenia. This must be done immediately and without any precondition, period. 2. What is absolutely unacceptable is that in point 8 of the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020, there is no specific period in regard to the exchange or return of captives or persons who are deprived of liberty in other way. However, this doesnt mean that the authorities of Azerbaijan can constantly violate the international requirements of human rights and humanitarian agreements (the return of captives is being artificially delayed, the real number of captives isnt announced and there are even attempts to present a number that is less than the real number, but they continue to be tortured and there is still inhumane treatment against them, videos showing this are purposefully released, and the exchange of the bodies of the deceased is obstructed, etc.) I have already declared that all this causes mental suffering for the families of the captives, plays with the emotions of Armenian society and sparks tension in the country, and this is done intentionally. These conclusions are based on the studies of complaints addressed to the Human Rights Defender and the results of round-the-clock monitoring. 3. The statements by the Azerbaijani authorities that Armenians in captivity are terrorists, not prisoners of war and that they are detained, grossly violate the post-war humanitarian process and the international requirements protecting human rights. These statements directly contradict the requirement in point 8 of the trilateral statement of November 10, 2020. They are captives, period. All the requirements need to apply to the exchange of bodies of the victims and the search for missing persons. 4. The Human Rights Defender of Armenia absolutely condemns politicization of this humanitarian and human rights protection issue or even remotely linking this to any territorial issue or the overt attempts of the Azerbaijani authorities to use this with political motives. Rahman Mohammad Hasibur said he was locked in a room with 20 other workers for 43 hours. They could use the bathroom only by calling a guard to escort them. Some of the men had a fever and the room was hot and poorly ventilated. Singapore (AsiaNews/Agencies) A migrant worker from Bangladesh is suing his Singapore employer and a dormitory operator for locking him in his room for 43 hours during the COVID-19 epidemic. Rahman Mohammad Hasibur accuses them of false imprisonment and filed a claim for damages of US3,000. He says that the actions of his employer and the dorm operator put him and his roommates at risk of contracting the virus Singapore has reported so far more than 58,000 coronavirus cases among low-paid migrants living in crowded dormitories, a situation that has sparked criticism of the wealthy city-state's treatment of its foreign workforce. Rahman Mohammad Hasibur said that staff at the dormitory, run by Joylicious Management, locked him and up to 20 other workers in their room on 19 April after one of them was thought to have contracted the virus and was moved to a medical facility. They could use the bathroom only by calling a guard to escort them. Some of the men were running fevers and the room was hot and poorly ventilated. After Hasibur contacted TWC2, an NGO that supports migrants, the workers were moved to a new room with an attached bathroom, which was also locked from the outside. In total, they were confined for 43 hours. The plaintiff and his fellow migrant workers were robbed of their dignity and deprived of their fundamental human rights during the false imprisonment, Hasiburs claim reads. Officials found that the dorm operator had confined the workers with the consent of their employer, V. Spec Engineering & Supplies, and imposed a hiring freeze on the company. Hasibur, who has since returned to Bangladesh, said the actions of his employer and the dorm operator put him and his roommates at risk of contracting the virus and caused them emotional distress. Should I succeed in my action, I hope that it will deter other employers and dormitory operators from similar actions towards their employees and residents in their care, Hasibur said in a statement. A Joylicious representative declined to comment, whilst V. Spec did not respond to emailed requests for comment. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer said Michigan and other states are ready to ramp up distribution of the COVID-19 vaccinations but they need the federal government to release more shots that have been held up. On Friday, Jan. 8, Whitmer said she and seven other governors sent a letter to President Donald Trumps administration requesting they distribute the millions of vaccine doses that are currently being held back by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Whitmer said the state has held back zero shots on its own, and all 725,850 doses received to date have been shipped to the states more than 1,000 providers, including hospitals, health departments and pharmacies working with long-term care facilities. For each dose, however, a second dose is being held by the CDC until the week its meant to be administered. My administration will continue working around the clock to distribute the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines, but we need help from the federal government, Whitmer said Friday during a virtual press conference. Related: For Michiganders newly eligible for vaccine, excitement is high but details are few President-elect Joe Bidens administration announced earlier in the day Friday that it would aim to release nearly every available dose of vaccine when he takes office later this month. Thats a pivot from the Trump administration, which is holding back half of the vaccines to ensure second doses are available. Whitmer said shes grateful to the incoming Biden administration for agreeing to send out more vaccines sooner, and hopeful that the outgoing Trump administration will make the move sooner. For each shot thats been allocated and shipped to Michigan, a second dose shot has been withheld by the CDC. The Pfizer vaccine recommends a second dose three weeks after the first, while the Moderna vaccine recommends waiting four weeks between shots. Related: Second doses of coronavirus vaccine now being distributed across Michigan As of Wednesday, Jan. 6, Michigan reported 174,749 shots had been administered, out of 725,850 shots distributed across the state. The state has given providers seven days to use their inventory of the vaccines. On Wednesday alone, there were 24,836 shots administered -- the highest one-day total to date, including 1,063 second dose shots. Whitmer said Michigans distribution process has made great strides, but admitted that it has to take a little bit of time. She said states across the country are working to build up the systems for mass vaccine distribution. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, chief medical executive for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said she got her second dose of the Pfizer vaccine on Thursday. She noted arm soreness, but said she otherwise was feeling healthy. Khaldun said the second dose gave her comfort that shes now highly unlikely to bring this virus home to my family or to spread this infection to my colleagues in the health department or in the emergency department. Beginning next week, the state will move on to the next priority phase of individuals eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. That includes individuals 65 years and older, as well as some front-line essential workers like teachers, first-responders, and workers in prisons, jails and shelters. Due to insufficient amount of the vaccines, appointments must be scheduled. For more information, visit the states vaccine webpage at Michigan.gov/coronavirus. To find a testing site near you, check out the states online test finder, here, send an email to COVID19@michigan.gov, or call 888-535-6136 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays. Read more on MLive: Friday, Jan. 8, coronavirus data by county: Numbers going up, but still below pre-holiday levels Michigan governor calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1 Pfizers vaccine works against extra-contagious COVID-19 mutations, study shows Grand Rapids group rallies for extension of national eviction moratorium tech2 News Staff Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine candidate mRNA-1273, currently in Phase 3 trials in multiple countries, could potentially offer months of protection from serious coronavirus infection, according to the company's CEO Stephane Bancel. Speaking at a virtual event by financial service group Oddo BHF, Bancel said that the once-believed "nightmare" scenario that the vaccine wouldn't work is no longer true. "We believe there will be protection, potentially for a couple of years," he said. The "antibody decay generated by the vaccine in humans goes down very slowly," he said, according to a Reuters report. With most Covid-19 vaccine trials being fast-tracked, a large part of the post-trial observation will be carried out over the next few years, as and when the vaccine is widely-distributed to the public. This is instead of the traditional multi-year pharmacovigilance study carried out for drug and vaccine candidates before they are marketed. The protection duration of Covid-19 shots is a lingering question for scientists and regulators. The occasional study hints at survivors of Covid-19 having lasting immunity to the virus, but there is still no unanimous proof as to exactly how long for. The interim results of safety and primary efficacy of the vaccine's Phase 3 human trials were recently published in The New England Journal of Medicine. Evidence from clinical trials shows the vaccine was 94 percent effective at preventing lab-confirmed Covid-19 in people who were given two doses and no history of the infection. In mid-December 2020, the FDA approved the emergency use of the Moderna vaccine in people 18 years of age and older. Some 18 million doses have been supplied to the US government already a fraction of the 800 million doses the country has secured for its citizens from multiple vaccine makers. The Moderna vaccine has also been authorized by Canadian health authorities to immunize citizens 18 years of age and older. By Fu Honghong and Yuan Yang The Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), a bipartisan American think tank, released a new Armitage-Nye Report titled The US-Japan Alliance in 2020: An Equal Alliance with A Global Agenda, which clamored for further cooperation between the US and Japan, including bringing Tokyo into the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, currently comprising the US, the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In recent years, several Japanese politicians, including former defense minister Taro Kono, have repeatedly expressed the wish to join the Five Eyes alliance, and Tokyo has taken an active part in the alliances exercises, while member states like the UK have all made overtures to Japan. Against such a background, the topic of Five Eyes expansion has once again captured extensive attention. Common strategic interests are the primary force that drives Washington and Tokyo closer to each other. With the rapid growth of Chinas composite national strength, the alliance urgently needs to acquire more important intelligence about the country. Japan, located in East Asia, has a unique geographical advantage in collecting sea, air and satellite intelligence around China. Besides, as collecting signals intelligence is what Japan is adept at, the Five Eyes alliance hopes to use its geographical and technological advantages to fill up the blind spots in their monitoring of China. Japan, on the other hand, stands to gain from its participation in the alliance as that will enhance its presence and influence in the multilateral security cooperation framework. More importantly, Japans admission to the alliance will largely expand its scope of partners and sources of intelligence, give it access to the myriads of intelligence accumulated by the high-end circle, and improve its intelligence-collecting ability comprehensively, giving it a strong boost to become a major political and military power. However, there are many obstacles, either institutionally, culturally, or in other aspects, to expanding the Five Eyes alliance into the Six Eyes alliance. In accordance with the Five Eyes security compliance assessment system, Japans confidentiality system is far from perfect as the legal and regulatory penalties are only applicable to government employees but not to private firms, nor does the country have an anti-espionage law in a real sense. Therefore, the alliance is worried about intelligence leaks and has limited the depth and breadth of their intelligence sharing. A more critical reason is that all the current five members of the alliance are Anglo-Saxon, English-speaking countries with deep and long-standing historical, cultural, and interest connections, whereas Japan, an Asian country, can hardly come to a total value agreement with them due to different ethnic and cultural background. For example, Japan behaves in a more moderate, rather than aggressive, way than the western countries. Therefore, the Five Eyes members and Japan might act differently on some major issues. From Japans perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic has lent a heavy blow to its economy. It has recently ordered a short-term national lockdown considering the pandemic relapse. For now, Japans top priority is reviving the economy and addressing livelihood issues at home. Besides, new prime minister Yoshihide Suga has adopted relatively steady policies. Therefore, some reckon that it might not be likely for Japan to join the Five Eyes alliance in the short term. But still, in the long run, this issue still requires sustained attention. A recent article in the French daily newspaper Le Figaro spoke highly of Vietnams economy amid the adverse impacts for the global economy brought about by COVID-19. A new year celebration in Vietnam's Hue central city (Illustrative photo: VNA) It said that Vietnam was among the most-dynamic countries in 2020, despite COVID-19 cutting its growth to 2.9 percent from 7 percent in 2019. It has also been successful in poverty eradication, bringing the figure down to just 2 percent from 50 percent in 1990. The country benefits from economic diversification, as the industrial sector makes up 39 percent and services 47 percent. Vietnam is also a signatory to various free trade mechanisms, it continued, most notably the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement, signed last July and under which tariffs imposed on products from the country and the EU will be removed within a decade. The article went on to note that Vietnam did incredibly well in fighting COVID-19, with only 35 fatalities in a population of nearly 100 million. Numerous preventive measures were rolled out in a sweeping and timely manner, including mass quarantines, contact tracing, and travel restrictions, which permitted the quick resumption of production nationwide, it added. The French newspaper also pointed out that along with tourism, Vietnams garment-textile and smartphone exports suffered a blow from falling market demand last year. Even so, the country was still able to pull through, especially thanks to computer exports./.VNA (CNN) -- Two hapless burglars have been arrested in the UK after accidentally pocket-dialing the police during their crime. An officer in Staffordshire, central England, labeled the thieves the "world's unluckiest burglars" and likened them to the ill-fated crooks in the movie "Home Alone." He said one of the pair mistakenly sat on his phone and rang 999, the UK's emergency number, allowing officers to hear the crime in progress and ultimately listen in on their colleagues arresting the duo. "I think we have just arrested the world's unluckiest burglars," Chief Inspector John Owen wrote on Twitter. "Whilst committing a burglary one of the bungling burglars has accidentally sat on his phone & dialled 999," he wrote. "We (received) a call detailing all of their antics up to the point of hearing our patrols arrive to arrest them." Adding insult to injury, Owen included a gif of the "Home Alone" character Marv, who proves comically unsuited to a life of crime in the Macaulay Culkin Christmas movie. In 2016, two equally unfortunate robbers held up a McDonald's in France -- only to discover that 11 armed members of an elite paramilitary force happened to be eating inside. This story was first published on CNN.com, "'World's unluckiest burglars' arrested after pocket-dialing police during robbery" MEDINA, Ohio -- In October 2015, Medina resident Tina Sergent found that she and her family were unable to purchase food for their pets because of a temporary loss of income. They were unwilling to relinquish what they considered to be family members, so Sergent tried to find a charity that would give them food. She learned that no such group existed in Medina, leaving her to drive to a Ravenna pantry so that she could feed her pets. By the following October, she had established People Care Pet Pantry of Medina, which has evolved into the Helping Everyones Loving Pets pantry. A 501c3 charitable organization, her pet pantry is completely run and supported by volunteers who agree with her that no one should have to decide whether to buy food for themselves or for their pets. Stacks of canned and bagged pet food fill the Helping Everyones Loving Pets pantry on Oak Street in Medina. (Mary Jane Brewer, special to cleveland.com) The pantry is run out of Sergents garage at 1041 Oak St. in Medina with the help of her husband, Pete, and her 16 year-old daughter, Jessica. Its a family thing, Pete says. They also keep extra food in a 10-foot-by-10-foot storage unit. In just one day last week, the Sergents helped 13 clients -- most of whom own multiple pets. Two women came in for help in the afternoon; one received food for her bird, cat and dog. The other left with several bags; she owns three dogs, three cats, a turkey, a rooster, and five chickens. Tina Sergent said she stocks food for a wide variety of pets -- everything but snakes. In December, she supplied food for 384 cats, 280 dogs, seven birds, one chinchilla, 20 rabbits, and seven guinea pigs. Those animals received 5,288 pounds of dry dog food, 912 cans of dog food, 1,044 pounds of dry cat food and 1604 cans of cat food. Since she opened the pantry, she has given away a whopping 178,000 pounds of dog food and 29,000 cans of cat food. She keeps meticulous records of her clients and donations. Sergent welcomes donations. Last month, the SPCA of Medina gave her around 20 pallets of food. To schedule an appointment to donate or to receive pet food, call 216-210-5378 or go online to helpingeveryoneslovingpets.setmore.com. Donations can also be made through Chewy.com -- food can be shipped directly to her address. Read more from the Medina Sun. Amid a sea of unruly members of a pro-Donald Trump mob waving American confederate flags and flags supporting the US President in the attack on the US Capitol Hill, there was the presence of one that stood out: a man waving the Indian tricolour. The man has been identified as Vincent Xavier Palathingal, a resident of Virginia, who traces his roots to Kochi, Kerala, and had earlier been picked by Trump to be member Presidents Export Council. News18 caught up with the 54-year-old, who said he was not part of the violence that followed when the mob breached the Capitol Hill, leading to the deaths of five persons. He claimed he was there only for a peaceful protest against election fraud a claim that Trump has been pushing since his defeat in November, but has been thrown out of US courts over lack of any evidence. Asked why he was holding the Indian flag during the protests on January 6, Vincent said it was to show that the Trump supporters were not racists, and the protest rally was not a racist movement. I would not be able to hold an Indian flag and walk around if it was a racist movement, he told News18. He said there were about 10 Indians in the group of Trump loyalists, and five of them were from Kerala. Whenever I have been at a Trump rally, Ive seen people of Vietnamese, Korean, even Pakistani origin, carrying their flags. This is also to show that such rallies are not a racist movement, he added. @ShashiTharoor @varungandhi80 American patriots - Vietnamese, Indian, Korean & Iranian origins, & from so many other nations & races, who believe massive voter fraud has happened joined rally yesterday in solidarity with Trump. Peaceful protestors who were exercising our rights! pic.twitter.com/aeTojoVxQh Vincent Xavier (@VincentPXavier) January 8, 2021 The entrepreneur, who spent 25 years in India before moving to the US, also tried to downplay the scale of the violence witnessed at the Capitol Hill, the seat of the American government, in what were unprecedented scenes. He claimed that out of the million people gathered outside the Congress to protest, only about 10-15 daring people, scaled the walls like Spider Man and created violence Eventually the violence created by about 50 people destroyed the purpose of our rally. He also pushed the unfounded theory that there were members of the loose-knit left-wing group Antifa among those who stormed the US Capitol, the implication being that they were masquerading as Trump supporters. They appear to be trained, professional thugs. They were either from our side or from the other side who tried to infiltrate our side. There isnt clarity about their identity. However, if you see the way they climbed the walls, etc. it appears that they were trained very well. Only people in the military can do it. They appear to be Antifa, BLM (Black Lives Matter) thugs who support the Democratic Party who infiltrated into our side. They were the ones who opened the door, it was not the police he claimed. The BBC has reported that there has been no evidence of any Antifa member among the mob, but photos of the attack showed individuals associated with a range of extreme and far-right groups and supporters of fringe online conspiracy theories that have been seen at pro-Trump rallies before. But Vincent claimed that it was these 50-odd people who created the ruckus, while the Trump loyalists were peacefully chanting slogans and singing the national anthem. The only thing the four protesters who died at Capitol Hill had in common was their love of Donald J Trump. From California, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Alabama, the Maga supporters thought the president was either the second coming of Jesus or their only hope at taking back the country. In return for their devotion and loyalty, one was shot by police, one was trampled by the mob, one suffered a heart attack and one suffered a stroke. They all died. Ashli Babbit, 35, from San Diego California "Ever since he was running for election, back in 2015, she's been bananas over Trump," grandfather Tony Mazziott told Good Morning America. "She thinks he's the final coming of the Lord, I guess." Ms Babbitt served for 12 years in the Air Force, Air Force Reserves and Air National Guard as a senior airman responsible for providing security at Air Force bases. Military records showed she deployed in Afghanistan in 2005, Iraq in 2006 and the United Arab Emirates in 2012 and 2014. Mr Maziott described his granddaughter as an "excellent patriot" "She served time in the military and she's passionate about everything, particularly Donald Trump for some reason," he said. Her husband, Aaron Babbitt, told KSWB that she flew from San Diego to meet with friends for the protest in Washington DC and got killed "voicing her opinion". "She loved her country and she was doing what she thought was right to support her country, joining up with like-minded people that also love their president and their country," Mr Babbitt said. Mr Mazziotti said Ms Babbit is survived by her husband, four brothers, mother and father. Roseanne Boyland, 34, from Georgia The first Trump event she had ever attended, Ms Boyland was hesitant to travel to Washington DC but went despite family trying to talk her out of it. She had planned to "hang back" but was emboldened by Mr Trump's speech before she was trampled to death in the Rotunda, the family told The Daily Mail, saying the family blames the president. "She just really just believed in Trump and that's it," they said. "This was her first one. She wasn't even supposed to go... we all didn't want her to go. She was hanging back and then after the speech yesterday" "Someone said she was trampled, others said she collapsed inside the Rotunda. we're still trying to figure it out,' the relative said. Brother-in-law Justin Cave said the 25th amendment should be invoked to remove Mr Trump from the White House. "Roseanne, like a lot of people there, was really passionate about her beliefs as was her right," Mr Cave said. "I personally believe that the President incited a riot that cost four of his biggest fans their lives. One of them happened to be my sister." Kevin Greeson, 55, from Alabama Mr Greeson's son announced on Facebook his day suffered a heart attack during the event, saying that he made him the man he was today, according to the AL.com. "We all loved him so much," Mr Greeson said. "Always going to car shows to support me and to enjoy the cars together. Him my brother and I would ride motorcycles together and have a great time. He was such a great man we all miss you so much. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. Travelling from Athens Alabama, it was unclear if Mr Greeson was on the Capitol grounds when he suffered the medical emergency. Posts to social media accounts showed Mr Greeson posing in photos with AR-15 rifles and showing comments including: "Let's take this f*****g country BACK! Load your guns and take to the streets. " Another said: "Let's give them a war... Democrats don't have guns... we do.. bring your stick, I'm bringing my guns." Benjamin Phillips, 50, from Pennsylvania A computer programmer who founded a social media websites Trumparoo and "The Scummy Democrats", Mr Phillips had told a van of Trump supporters the protests were the first day of the rest of their lives. It seems like the first day of the rest of our lives, to be honest, he said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. "They should name this year Zero because something will happen. Mr Phillips suffered a stroke and later died. It was unclear where he was at the time of the medical emergency. Mr Phillips was a 25-year resident of Philidelphia before relocating to Bloomsburg to care for his mother who suffered Alzheimer's, he said in an interview with The Inquirer, which reported he studied computer science at Temple University. He was planning to start a political action committee (Pac) and set up a network of conservative news sites, telling the outlet on the way to the rally there needs to be more uncensored spaces for voices like his. I envision a whole network of niche social networks based on interests. You dont need Twitter and Facebook, they hate us. They dont need us there. Ex-wife, Nicole Mun, told The New York Daily News that he is survived by two teenage children. I can confirm that I was married to Benjamin Philips from 1999 to 2004. Since our divorce in 2004, we have had no relationship beyond occasionally discussing the care of our two teenage children, she wrote. As my children are grieving and processing yesterdays shocking events, I respectfully request privacy. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 16th edition of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas on Saturday in a virtual event. The theme of the convention, aimed at encouraging Indian diaspora to be part of socio-economic development in India, is Contributing to Aatmanirbhar Bharat, Prime Ministers Office (PMO) said in a statement. The Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas is held in the country every year to sustain and nurture the symbiotic relationship between India and its diaspora, and to address the development challenges that the country faces. The convention will have three segments, the official statement read. It will also feature a keynote address by the Chief Guest, H.E. Mr. Chandrikapersad Santokhi, Honble President of the Republic of Suriname. The PBD Convention will include two Plenary Sessions -- Role of Diaspora in Atmanirbhar Bharat and Facing Post Covid Challenges-Scenario in Health, Economy, Social and International Relations. The first Plenary on Role of Diaspora in Aatmanirbhar Bharat, will feature addresses by External Affairs Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister while the second Plenary on Facing Post Covid Challenges - Scenario in Health, Economy, Social and International Relations, will be addressed by Minister of Health and Minister of State for External Affairs, the PMO release read. President Ram Nath Kovind will address the valedictory session. The names of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardees for 2020-21 - conferred to select Indian diaspora members to recognise their achievements and honour their contributions to various fields, both in India and abroad - will also be announced. The winners of the online Bharat ko Janiye Quiz for the youth will also be announced. Samsung isnt the only company unveiling new devices earlier than usual this year just ahead of CES 2021, Motorola has pulled back the curtain on its latest batch of smartphones. There are no flagship models in sight for now, but as usual, Motorola has a bevy of new options for smartphone shoppers on a budget. The most interesting by far is the oddly named, $400 Motorola One 5G Ace (above), thanks in large part to the chipset it uses. Inside the phones fairly chunky body is one of Qualcomms new Snapdragon 750Gs with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage thats enough to make the One 5G Ace the most powerful new device in Motorolas lineup by far. As you might expect, wallet-friendly 5G is the main draw here, and this phone continues a trend that began with last years sub-$500 Moto One 5G. Just know theres one connectivity caveat worth keeping in mind: although this particular chipset supports mmWave 5G, the Ace only plays nice with sub-6 5G networks. Apart from all that 5G business, the One 5G Ace also packs a 6.7-inch Full HD+ display, a 5,000mAh battery that supports 15W fast charging, and a trio of cameras around the back. Youll likely spend most of your time with the 48-megapixel main camera, but its flanked by an 8-megapixel ultra-wide with a 118-degree field of view and a 2-megapixel macro camera for good measure. Motorola Then theres the $300 Moto G Stylus, which packs a slightly larger, 6.8-inch Full HD+ screen, giving the phones namesake capacitive stylus just a little more room for doodling and note-taking. (In case you were wondering, this stylus isnt nearly as clever or sophisticated as one of Samsungs S Pens, but itll do in a pinch.) Inside, youll find a Snapdragon 678 chipset with 4GB of RAM, 128GB of storage, and a 4,000mAh battery, while a camera system very similar to the One 5G Ace is installed on the phones rear. The only major difference here is that the Moto G Stylus actually has a fourth sensor dedicated to capturing depth data for properly bokeh-filled portraits. Thats right: despite selling for $100 less than the Ace, the G Stylus actually has the most flexible camera system. That said, youd have to really want a stylus to consider buying one of these phones. While the Moto G Stylus arguably offers the most ambitious blend of features and cameras youll find in all of Motorolas new phones, OnePluss Nord N10 5G will be more immediately appealing to some. Motorola Rounding out Motorolas line is the $170 Moto G Play, which returns to firm up Motorolas presence in the budget smartphone arena. Weve seen the brands least expensive devices grow larger by the year, and the 2021 model is among the biggest weve seen yet, with its 6.5-inch, 1600x720 IPS LCD screen. Thats the same size display as we saw in last years Moto G9 Play, and strangely, that older model may also have an edge in performance it packs one of Qualcomms relatively new Snapdragon 662 chipsets with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage, compared to the Plays Snapdragon 460 with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage. Granted, the Moto G9 Play was never officially released in the US so most budget smartphone shoppers probably dont know what theyre missing out on, but Motorola clearly had to make some sacrifices to sell this new model for under $200. A huge 5,000mAh battery and a rear dual camera (comprised of 13-megapixel wide and 2-megapixel depth sensors) help sweeten the deal a bit, but well have to see how well this budget buy stacks up to the competition. Motorola Meanwhile, the 2021 Moto G Power largely picks up where the G Play leaves off, but oddly, you shouldnt expect a big difference in battery life between the two. While older entrants in Motorolas G Power line had notably larger batteries than a given years other Moto Gs, this new one packs the same 5,000mAh cell as the $180 model. So how does Motorola justify the additional cost? With a smattering of improved components. The $199 base model comes with a Snapdragon 662 chipset with 3GB and 32GB of storage, while a $50 premium nets you 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. Apart from that, both models are identical, from their 6.6-inch 1600x720 screens to their 48-megapixel main cameras and 2-megapixel depth and macro cameras. As always, Motorola seems to have the lower and mid-tiers of the market well covered, but we may not be looking at business as usual. Companies that are arguably best known for their high-end devices, like OnePlus and Samsung, are shifting their sights downmarket in search of sustained growth. For the last few years, Motorola has managed to claw its way to profitability on the backs of low-cost smartphones, but all signs point to much tougher competition as we head into 2021. An app that can guide us through a hospital until we find the doctor's office, show us personalized information when we are looking at a particular painting in a museum, or help us find the best exit from a burning building. These are just some of the solutions that indoor positioning and navigation systems can offer our society. Even so, there is still no technology that is cheap and accurate enough for the consumer market. To drive research forward in this field and address the challenges in developing the technology, the Internet Computing & Systems Optimization (ICSO) group, affiliated with the UOC's Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3), has joined the Delimited Indoor and Outdoor Positioning and Navigation Network (REPNIN+). This network of excellence's goal is to integrate the research and transfer work carried out in Spain in the field of so-called smart spaces. One of the results of this collaboration has been the publication of the first white paper on the state of the art of this technology. In addition, in partnership with Universitat Jaume I, the UOC's ICSO group will organize the 11th International Conference on Indoor Positioning and Indoor Navigation (IPIN) from 4 to 7 October 2021 in Barcelona. During the last decade, there has been significant growth in the availability of technological solutions for indoor positioning, which have become increasingly accurate. "The primary goal of this discipline is to apply indoors a technology that we have become used to using outdoors. In fact, there are apps that can pinpoint positions to the nearest metre or less, or even to a few centimetres," explained Antoni Perez-Navarro, professor at the Faculty of Computer Science, Multimedia and Telecommunications and the ICSO group researcher who is coordinating the UOC's participation in REPNIN+. In spite of this progress, there are still no complete solutions that are capable of meeting society's challenges in different areas such as tourism, rescue searches, congresses or medicine. "The high-accuracy apps require a purpose-made installation that demands a significant initial capital investment. Other systems offer accuracies to several metres or they only tell you which room you are in inside a building. However, these differences show where the problem lies: unlike the GNSS systems (the global positioning satellite systems such as GPS, GLONASS or GALILEO), there is no indoor positioning standard," Perez-Navarro highlighted. Entry point for indoor positioning systems Given the challenges in researching and implementing this technology, the REPNIN+ network has drafted the "White Paper on Smart Spaces and Indoor Positioning and Navigation Technologies". "This document explains the state of the art of this discipline in general, and in Spain in particular: the technologies currently existing, the technologies that offer the best future potential, the technological developments that are needed, possible obstacles for effective implementation, and their potential socioeconomic impact," said Perez-Navarro. The document provides a gateway to these technologies for the different profiles that may be interested in them: companies and services that may need them, organizations that want to foster policies for their use, researchers or potential developers who looking for ways to integrate this type of solution for indoor environments, and even ordinary people who are interested in finding out more about this field of knowledge. IPIN Conference: research and competition From 4 to 7 October 2021 there will be a unique opportunity to discover the latest developments in indoor positioning and navigation research, as Barcelona will be hosting the leading international event in this field. "The IPIN conference will not only showcase the current state of the art of this type of technology through lectures and posters. It will also include a competition to highlight the best progress made by different research groups around the world," explained Perez-Navarro. The research is co-chairing the conference, organized by the UOC in partnership with Universitat Jaume I and which includes two Spanish chapters of the IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) among its sponsors. Within this initiative, the different proposals will be evaluated empirically to establish a systematic assessment methodology. Thus, there will be competitions in different areas: on-vehicle smart sensors (which may be a robot, an industrial vehicle or even a car), in which the performance of different navigation solutions will be assessed; different positioning solutions based on smartphone signals while a person walks around a building; or even in industrial environments, where competitors are asked to project worker and forklift truck routes, for example. Anyone interested in taking part should send their contributions by 31 March 2021. REPNIN+ network In addition to the white paper, the REPNIN+ network has undertaken a number of initiatives such as sponsoring the prize for the best final project or doctoral thesis in indoor positioning, organizing workshops and supporting research stays. REPNIN+, the continuation of REPNIN, is led by the University of Alcala de Henares' GEINTRA group and, in addition to the UOC's ICSO group, it also includes the Spanish Scientific Research Council's LOPSI group, the Galician Research and Development Center in Advanced Telecommunications (GRADIANT), the DeustoTech research institute, the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona's SPCOMNAV group, the University of Extremadura's GISS group, the University of Granada, the Universitat Jaume I's GIANT and GEOTECH groups, and the University of Murcia's MOVI group. This UOC research supports Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 11 on sustainable cities and communities. References Renaudin, V., Ortiz, M., Perul, J., Torres-Sospedra, J., Jimenez, A. R., Perez-Navarro, A., Park, Y. (2019). Evaluating Indoor Positioning Systems in a Shopping Mall: The Lessons Learned from the IPIN 2018 Competition. IEEE Access, 11. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2944389 Conesa, J., Perez-Navarro, A., Torres-Sospedra, J., & Montoliu, R. (2019). Geographical and Fingerprinting Data to Create Systems for Indoor Positioning and Indoor/Outdoor Navigation. Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/C2016-0-04606-5 UOC R&I The UOC's research and innovation (R&I) are helping 21st-century global societies to overcome pressing challenges by studying the interactions between ICT and human activity, with a specific focus on e-learning and e-health. Over 400 researchers and 50 research groups work among the University's seven faculties and two research centres: the Internet Interdisciplinary Institute (IN3) and the eHealth Center (eHC). Fianna Fails Barry Andrews has joined other MEPs to question whether the European Parliament should sign off on a trade deal with Chinas government amid human rights concerns. The EU Commission says the deal, agreed in principle in December, will open up Chinas economy in protected sectors such as energy, transport, healthcare and telecoms. However, a cross-section of MEPs in Brussels have questioning the wisdom of the EU signing the investment deal, which has to be ratified by the European parliament. It will take at least a year before EU parliamentarians vote on the deal. EU trade ministers also need to scrutinise the text, but under EU law, the agreement doesnt have to be ratified by national parliaments. In Brussels, the arrest of more than 50 Hong Kong politicians and activists this week, alongside Chinas refusal to allow in a WHO Covid-19 delegation, have galvanised those already concerned at Beijings treatment of its Uyghur population, Taiwan and Tibet. German Green MEP Reinhard Butikofer says the European Parliament will be a hurdle or maybe even a wall in any future political debate over the deal. Read More Socialist deputy Bernd Lange, also from Germany, said the actions marked a violation of the spirit of the EU-China deal. Former Belgian prime minister Guy Verhofstadt who sits with Fianna Fail in the European Parliaments Renew political grouping said that MEPs will never ratify the deal without further commitments and proof on human rights. And Ireland is pressing its own human rights issue. Mr Andrews is pleading with EU trade and diplomatic officials to intervene in the case of Irish businessman Richard OHalloran, who is being held in China without charge. Mr OHalloran has been refused exit for almost two years after appearing as a witness in a case involving the Chinese head of his company, China International Aviation Leasing Service. Its really surprising that we should be signing an investment agreement when an EU citizen is being held without charges, Mr Andrews told the Irish Independent. Should we not be asking for an amnesty for EU citizens? EU leaders including the German chancellor and French president signed the investment deal in a video meeting with Chinese president Xi Jinping on December 30. They say its a values-based partnership that will open the Chinese market to EU manufacturers of electric cars, chemicals, telecoms and health equipment. It will also allow greater access for EU firms in cloud computing, financial services, private healthcare, environmental services, and air and maritime transport. Ireland is the only EU member not to have a bilateral investment treaty with China but Enterprise Ireland says that over 300 Irish companies are already engaged with China, with exports worth around 1bn in 2017. Chinese investment in Ireland is at record highs, jumping more than 50pc in 2019, according to analysis by law firm Baker McKenzie, despite a fall in Europe overall. The agreement is good from a business point of view, Mr Andrews said. Lots of Irish companies are looking at this with great interest. EU officials, meanwhile, are motivated by a drive to achieve strategic autonomy from the US that is rooted in the experience of the America First policy under Donald Trump. The EUs director-general for trade, Sabine Weyand, tweeted that she looked forward to engaging with the US, and that the China deal would benefit other partners as well, and should act as a springboard for global disciplines. The EU has also pledged to pursue an investment deal with Taiwan, which Mr Andrews said could be used as leverage in any Chinese row. Cybersecurity Warner: White House 'again' holding back on naming Russia Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) today accused the White House of watering down government statements attributing the SolarWinds Orion hack to Russia. "We know who it was. And this White House again has watered down the attribution statements that should have been made in one more outrageous effort to constantly underestimate and underreport on Russian activity," Warner said today during a panel at the Aspen Institute. A White House task force coordinating the government's response to the breach earlier this week said the hackers responsible are "likely Russian in origin." Warner, the vice on the Senate Select Intelligence Committee, will soon become the SIC chairman as a result of Democrats winning two runoff elections in Georgia this week. The position will put him at the forefront of congressional investigations as well as oversight efforts in the wake of multiple federal networks being breached by Russian intelligence agents. He said the committee was briefed yesterday on the government's latest findings by representatives from the National Security Agency, FBI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Warner also called for a "full sum review" to examine the obligations of public and private sector entities to report major cybersecurity incidents. He suggested a large number of high-profile companies have been affected by the breach in SolarWinds Orion but have chosen to not come forward publicly. The number of companies, he said, "that have not come forward would surprise the hell out of many" people, Warner said. Kevin Mandia, CEO of the cybersecurity firm FireEye, speaking during the same panel explained how his company initially became aware of an intrusion on their own networks. FireEye is credited with discovering the backdoor vulnerability in SolarWinds Orion as well as publicly announcing a breach in their own networks in which their red team tools were stolen. Mandia said the company noticed an individual accessing FireEye's network through routines means but using a second device. That prompted the company to contact the individual to ask if they registered a new device. "He said no We had somebody bypassing our two-factor authentication by registering a new device and accessing our network just like our employees do," Mandia said. The company quickly recognized, "that's the kind of tradecraft most advanced groups would do." Warner also said more education for lawmakers and the general public is necessary. Comparisons between the SolarWinds hack to other kinds of intrusions such as Russian jets entering U.S. airspace or the infamous NotPetya denial-of-service attack that targeted Ukraine in 2017 are not accurate, he said. "Is this within the bounds of acceptable espionage?" he said. "We need to at least start with how we define this. Where this falls on this continuum." British Railways ARS special event During 2021 the British Railways ARS will be celebrating 55 years since the forming of the society in 1966. History of the Formation of British Railways Amateur Radio Society. British Railways Amateur Radio Society had their inaugural meeting on the 29th October in 1966 at British Railways Board Headquarters after the work of acting Secretary S.W.L Gray. One of the founder members of BRARS who attended that meeting was S.W.L. John Chappell who is now G4ZTQ. In 1967 Ronald Hooper G3SCW attended a meeting in Sweden which led to the formation of FIRAC the International Federation of Railway Radio Amateurs. France Germany and Switzerland initially formed FIRAC and the organisation has a membership exceeding 2000 worldwide. I have been the President of BRARS since 1979 and our first Congress meeting was held in1982 in Lowestoft Suffolk. Membership is open to railway and non railway members and more info is available off the following websites:- www.firac.dewww.BRARS.inf and www.firac.org.uk. Geoff Sims G4GNQ The society will be running the special event call GB0LMR which is also the suffix of the club call. The station will be operated by BRARS member Mark G1PIE from Preston in Lancashire. Bands of operation will be 40M to 10M in SSB and PSK-31 and PSK-63 and VHF/UHF. WAB SD52, Loc IO83QR. Qsl cards are via the RSGB bureau or direct with sae to Mark G1PIE. Further information is on qrz.com and the society website www.brars.info David Maialetti / Associated Press EAST HARTFORD A local gang member, known by the name Crack Baby, was sentenced this week to three years in federal prison for selling fentanyl and crack cocaine, according to prosecutors. Jose Restrepo, 39, was sentenced Thursday by U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer to spend 36 months in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Meyer ordered Restrepo to serve the first six months of his supervised release in home confinement. Deputy Health Minister of Georgia, Tamar Gabunia: Elderly people will be the first ones to receive the vaccine By Veronika Malinboym Earlier on Thursday, Deputy Health Minister of Georgia, Tamar Gabunia stated that the vaccine will first be available to elderly citizens. She added that there is a certain protocol that a country should follow in order to receive even a single dose of the new anti-COVID-19 vaccine.Georgia is expecting to receive three vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Moderna. In November last year, the head of National Disease Control Centre (NCDC), Amiran Gamkrelidze announced that Georgia is expecting to receive a vaccine in either March or April 2021 via the COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access Facility (Covax). According to Gamkrelidze, Georgia has ordered a total of 1,400, 000 doses for 700,000 people (in order for the vaccine to work, each individual recipient must receive two shots). Georgia has already spent a total of 17 million USD to receive the initial doses of vaccination, and 4 million USD were spent for the country to be able to make a choice between the three types of vaccines approved by the WHO and FDA.In December, the head of the NDCC outlined the protocol of vaccination in Georgia as follows: the first recipients of the vaccination will be medics, epidemiologists and elderly people residing in the nursing homes. Those groups will then be followed by people over 75, people over 65, and the individuals under 55 who suffer from various chronic diseases. Shortly after the announcement was made, Amiran Gamkrelidze tested positive for COVID-19.Over the last 24 hours there were 1, 612 new cases confirmed in Georgia, as well as 28 deaths and 419 recoveries. In the last 24 hours, a total of 15,492 tests were conducted, 6,408 of which were PCR tests, and the remaining 9,084 were rapid tests. Since February 2020, there were 235, 491 cases documented in Georgia, 223, 695 out of which have successfully recovered, and 2,694 have died. There are currently 9,076 active cases of the COVID-19 in the country, and the new strain of highly infectious British coronavirus has been detected in Georgia. The imposed curfew and other healthcare-related regulations remain in place until the governments meeting later this month, which will determine whether the epidemiological situation in the country has improved well-enough to have some of the restrictions removed. [January 08, 2021] Yan'an: No Longer in Poverty BEIJING, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An article by China.org.cn on how people in Yan'an, a poverty-stricken place: Yan'an is sacred ground for China's revolutionary history, but also a place that has lagged in economic and cultural development for a long time. On May 7, 2019, the revolutionary base of Yan'an reached a historic milestone, bidding farewell to absolute poverty as its last two impoverished counties of Yanchuan and Yichuan finally shook off the pernicious yoke. The struggle behind these milestones are treacherous. As an example, a lack of industry was Shawan Village's Achilles' heel. At great difficulty, the town government had found a patch of land that was on the leeward side of a slope and also faced the sun, and decided to set up greenhouses for growing vegetables. Likewise, at Huangjia Geta Village, Yongping Town, Yanchuan County, all of the people live in a deep ravine surrounded by large mountains with infertile soil. They have to drink alkaline water, and walk on muddy roads. Nearly all of the village's young people go elsewhere for work. Poverty alleviation authorities built 231 greenhouses in the village, but the locals, who had been planting grain for generations, had never grown vegetables in greenhouses before. Here comes the second obstacle: people's mindset. Village officials went from house to house to convince people to participate, but only 47 families reluctantly agreed. Local officials had to keep going out and meeting the skeptics, and tried to convince the locals, clear up everybody's concerns. In order to make sure the work got done, local officials even took farmers to other places to let them see the actual benefits of greenhouses. Everything started from scratch. At first the seedlings would die quickly since the locals didn't know how to plant properly, and the watermelons would not grow big since they didn't know how to take care of them in the right way. Even after struggling to get a harvest, fruits and vegetables would often go unsold. When faced with planting difficulties, officials would invite specialists and technicians to the village to conduct training, making sure everyone gets the skills. One by one, the greenhouses started springing up. In Huaziping Town today, greenhouses, apple orchards, and farms for raising animals are spread across every village. More than 400 households that once faced a dearth of opportunities now have access to industries that can bring long-term prosperity, and per-capita net income for the town's poor population has reached 9,853 yuan. In 2018, Huangjia Geta Village's greenhouses together brought in more than 3 million yuan, with per-capita income of more than 10,000 yuan for the 15 poor households planting them. Altogether 1,784 officials were posted in villages to serve as first secretaries, and 1,546 work teams were posted in villages to work on the front lines, with a total of 37,400 officials providing assistance to assigned households. "With the assistance of officials and th hard work of the people, we can shake off poverty and build prosperity." This is the kind of slogan that can be seen everywhere among the hills of Yan'an. People in China know of Wuqi as the terminus of the Long March, but it also has a nickname that is only known to the locals: "the desolate roof of Yan'an." The area has an extremely arid climate and is covered with barren mountains. Every time the wind blows, the air is filled with sand and silt so dense that it blots out the sun. The environment is so bad here that it is as if it keeps the area locked in a chokehold. According to the records of the Yan'an Area Chronicles, in the more than 580 years between the beginning of the Ming Dynasty and the founding of the PRC, Yan'an was affected by natural disasters including drought, flooding, and hail more than 200 times. The people here live between the winkles of the earth. The more land they try to reclaim, the more barren the land gets. The more barren the land gets, the poorer the people become. The poorer the people become, the more land they try to reclaim. Yan'an has become one of the areas most seriously affected by soil erosion on the upper reaches of the Yellow River. In 1997, Wuqi County, which relied on goat breeding as its mainstay industry, invited experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations to come and inspect the area, in the hopes that they could provide advice for developing the local livestock industry. This group of experts hit the nail on the head in their evaluation, saying, "Goats should no longer be allowed to graze in Wuqi, as the ecosystem is far too fragile." A year later, Wuqi led the nation in implementing policies that prohibited grazing on the mountains, supported the planting of trees and grass, and promoted dry lot feeding of goats. This would remove 238,000 goats from open grazing in one fell swoop. In 1999, the central government launched the Grain for Green Policy, and the people of Yan'an shifted their focus from reclaiming land to afforestation. However, planting trees in a place as dry and drought-prone as Yan'an was easier said than done. Spring is the tree planting season, and also the time of year when northern Shaanxi is gripped by a bitter chill. In order to plant trees on the steep cliffs, local officials led the locals up the mountains, climbing with their hands and feet as they carried baskets full of saplings on their backs. In such a dry and arid place, it is very difficult for all the newly-planted trees to survive, so replanting is required each year. It is perfectly normal to see five generations of trees in a single forest. Now, 20 years later, the place is surrounded by lush and verdant scenery. Scanning the surroundings from the mountaintop, one can see the nearby apple orchard, which will bear fruit this year. Tourism has developed. The under-forest economy is developing in the mountains. Last year, the size of the village's collective economy surpassed two million yuan, with more than 30 poor families breaking away from poverty completely. Over 20 years, the people of Yan'an have returned 718,000 hectares of farmland to forest. These efforts have pushed the edge of greenery seen in satellite imagery northward by more than 400 kilometers, and increased vegetation cover from 46.3% in the year 2000 to 81.3% today. Formerly dominated by desolate gullies and ravines, Yan'an was named a national forest city in 2016. The people of Yan'an always say that without fundamental improvements to the environment, eradicating poverty would be out of the question. But there are places where environment is extremely harsh and the cost to transform it is too high. In such places, local government decided to relocate local people. Besides leaving their cave houses, these relocated people also start their new ways of living. Instead of farming, they work in cultural and other industries. In Ansai, 2,524 families have moved to new homes through the campaign to alleviate poverty through relocation. Every story of escaping from poverty involves a sigh of relief when one finally leaves their misery behind. Each county, village, and family emerged from poverty through its own approach. On the vast canvas of 37,000 square kilometers of steep ridges and deep gullies, the people of Yan'an drew up one meticulously detailed blueprint after another for guiding themselves out of poverty. In Luochuan, of the 2,836 poor families able to put out labor power, 2,604 built apple orchards. In Yanchuan, the locals vigorously developed leading industries including farming apples on hillsides, growing jujubes along the Yellow River, farming in greenhouses on areas of flat land, and raising animals in ravines, and average disposable income per farmer has reached 9,548 yuan. In Yichuan on the banks of the Yellow River, e-commerce service providers are spread across all of the poor villages. In 2018, Yan'an's total economic output reached 155.89 billion yuan, with growth of 9.1% setting a five-year high. Tertiary industry and the non-public sector of the economy have grown in proportion to 31.7% and 29.3%, respectively. The pattern under which Yan'an went through ups and downs due to its dependence on oil is in the process of transforming. The city continues to bear witness as its 2.26 million sons and daughters continue, to advance toward achieving the goal of moderate prosperity in this place that is so important to China's history. China Mosaic http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm Yan'an: No Longer in Poverty http://v.china.com.cn/2020-12/29/content_77060381.htm View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/yanan-no-longer-in-poverty-301203312.html SOURCE China.org.cn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Shipley Do-Nuts, one of Houston's oldest and beloved breakfast eateries, has been sold to an affiliate of Austin-based Peak Rock Capital. The news comes almost a year and a half after Whataburger was sold to investment holdings firm BDT Capital Partners. CH-CH-CHANGES: Say it ain't so! Whataburger is getting rid of the roof's iconic 'A' shape The company announced Wednesday that Peak Rock Capital acquired both Shipley Franchise Co. and Shipley Do-nut Flour & Supply Co. in the deal, according to Houston Business Journal's Olivia Pulsinelli. Amounts were not disclosed. Shipley's was founded in 1936 by Lawrence Shipley Sr., here in Houston, and the headquarters have remained in Houston since then. The popular doughnut and kolache chain has over 300 locations across nine states. Lawrence Shipley III made a statement about the acquisition Wednesday. "My grandfather, father, and I have dedicated our lives to serving Shipley Do-Nuts, our franchisees and our guests. After an exhaustive search, it became clear that Peak Rock Capital was the ideal steward of our business as it pursues the next stage of growth. My family is thrilled to continue as investors in the Company, and we look forward to the exciting growth to come." According to KTRK, Peak Rock acquiring the doughnut shop marks the private equity group's 12th venture in the food and beverage industry. I speak for all of Houston when I say as long as the doughnut recipe, the price and the famous Shipley's logo stays the same, we'll be okay. ANN ARBOR, MI With so much national news coming out this week, its easy to forget that a lot news happened in the Ann Arbor area as well. Here are some headlines you might have missed this week. Washtenaw County prosecutor rolls out new policy to end use of cash bail Following through on a campaign promise, newly elected Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit has rolled out a policy seeking to end cash bail. Savit, who started on the job Jan. 1, issued a 20-page policy directive to his staff Monday, Jan. 4, setting new standards for seeking pretrial detention of criminal defendants. 15,000 LEGO bricks become Martin Luther King Jr. mosaic from Eastern Michigan University professor Last summers protests have inspired Aaron Liepman to honor one of the most important figures in the fight for racial justice. Liepman, an Eastern Michigan University biology professor, decided to create Revolutionary, a black-and-white mosaic of LEGO bricks celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dedication, family love is legacy of Ann Arbor firefighter who died of cancer at age 45 Craig Sidelinger never gave anything less than his best when it came to being a firefighter or a family man. By his early 40s, he had done more with his life and seen more of the world than most people twice his age, his wife Julie Sidelinger said. He was a wonderful husband and an amazing father, she said. He was always an explorer ready to find the next adventure. Mayors refusal to censor Violin Monsters F-bombs sparks Ann Arbor council debate The first Ann Arbor City Council meeting of the new year included an airing of grievances and debate over whether to allow public speakers to drop F-bombs. The drama started after Zachary Storey, a street musician better known as Ann Arbors Violin Monster, addressed council at the virtual Zoom meeting Monday night, Jan. 4, criticizing Council Member Jeff Hayner, D-1st Ward. Commenting on Hayners past public criticisms of MLive and attempts to suppress a public speaker at a recent council meeting, Storey raised concerns about what he viewed as repeated attacks on First Amendment rights. Governor appoints experienced public defender to Ann Arbors 15th District Court judge seat A new judge is taking the bench in Ann Arbor. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has appointed attorney and lifelong Ann Arbor resident Miriam A. Perry to serve in the citys 15th District Court. Ann Arbor Police Department getting its first all-electric Ford Mustangs The Ann Arbor Police Department is adding a couple all-electric Ford Mustangs to its patrol fleet. City Council OKd the $93,926 purchase of two 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E vehicles at its last meeting in December. Washtenaw County ramping up COVID-19 vaccination efforts after slower start Vaccination efforts are expected to increase in Washtenaw County this week as a new shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine is expected to arrive, health officials said. The health department began using the 1,950 doses of vaccine it received on Dec. 17 to vaccinate those who are vaccinating others, as well as long-term care facilities, EMS and frontline heath care providers not already being vaccinated through their hospital or organization. University of Michigan students spring semester is all online, so shes headed to Hawaii As many University of Michigan students prepare for another remote semester due to the pandemic, one student has decided the perfect place for spring semester classes is -- Hawaii. An Ann Arbor man is running every street in the city Ann Arbor resident Parag Bhoyar has run hundreds of miles of city streets since June. And, in less than 60 miles, he will have ran across every single street in Ann Arbor. Its a feat Bhoyar credits to a number of factors, including his health and well being, as well as his desire to learn more about the city his family has called home for almost a decade. Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard chaplain placed on leave pending investigation Ann Arbor Father Gabriel Richard chaplain Father Richard Lobert has been placed on ministerial leave pending the outcome of an investigation. Loberts leave was confirmed by school President John DeJak in a message sent to families on Dec. 18. DeJak did not offer details regarding who was conducting the investigation and could not be reached for further comment Wednesday, Jan. 6. Remote or in-person? Washtenaw County schools chart return after winter break Most of Washtenaw Countys school districts are planning for the return of students in a hybrid format this month after going remote to prevent the spread of COVID-19. With the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services ban on in-person learning at high schools expiring on Dec. 18, a number of county districts have indicated they plan to offer some form of in-person learning in the coming semester. Mercedes has hit out at what it calls the "pure fiction" of rumours swirling around the future of Lewis Hamilton. The seven time world champion has kicked off 2021 without a contract, amid speculation Mercedes is balking at his demands for a EUR 40 million salary, a $3m AMG-One hypercar, and a 10 percent share in the team's title bonuses. A Mercedes source calls those reports "pure fiction", while a spokesman said there are "no reasons to be concerned" about the team's 2021 lineup. Indeed, the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera claims that new team co-owner Ineos, headed by billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe, is prepared to make up the difference between Hamilton's demands and what Mercedes is willing to pay. In turn, Hamilton would be expected to appear in some of the forthcoming marketing campaigns of Ineos, a British multinational chemicals company which now owns a third of the title-winning team. (GMM) Students wearing face masks have their temperature checked as Cambodia reopens schools after months of shutdown due to coronavirus pandemic in Phnom Penh, Jan. 4, 2021. The acting president of Cambodias opposition party, Sam Rainsy, on Thursday slammed the countrys government for soliciting donations to buy coronavirus vaccines as populist and corrupt, prompting the ruling party to label his comments a form of incitement. In a statement posted to his Facebook account, Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) acting chief Sam Rainsy suggested Prime Minister Hun Sens government is lagging behind other Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members in acquiring a sufficient number of vaccines. He noted that several other countries have been able to arrange purchases of vaccines that they will provide to their citizens free of charge, while Hun Sen has had to request financial assistance from the public. Earlier on Thursday, Hun Sen announced that his government had received more than U.S. $56 million from philanthropists to prepare for the purchase of 1 million doses of vaccine that his government will provide to around 500,000 people free of charge. Coronavirus vaccines require two separate injections. Government spokesperson Phay Siphan responded to Sam Rainsys comments Thursday by saying the acting opposition leader, who has lived in self-imposed exile in France since late 2015, was using the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as a pretext to provoke the people of Cambodia through "incitement." He told RFAs Khmer Service that the Cambodia Communicable Disease Control Department is in the process of deciding which vaccine the country should purchase, adding that Cambodia is not in a hurry to buy one and is waiting to see what the World Health Organization (WHO) will recommend. We have to wait and see which companys vaccine the WHO approves so that the Cambodian people are not part of an experimentthat is the last thing we want, he said. The WHO last week listed the Comirnaty COVID-19 mRNA vaccine for emergency use, making the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the first to receive emergency validation since the pandemic began a year ago. There are currently more than 50 vaccine candidates in trials. Pich Pisey, executive director of Transparency International Cambodia, urged the government to act quickly to obtain the Comirnaty vaccine, following its recognition by the WHO. These vaccines are in high demand around the world, so the government should not delay, he told RFA. Even though Cambodia is at low risk, [the government] must be ready to place vaccine orders and pre-order [a stockpile] in case we have an epidemic so that we can give it to the peopleparticularly those who are vulnerable, work in the health sector, or work directly on disease prevention. Secretary-General of the Federation of Cambodian Intellectual Students Kien Ponlok called Hun Sens approach to ordering vaccines vague and urged the government to provide more transparency about the process, including the costs associated with acquiring them. I want to see the government use the money from local and foreign philanthropists transparentlyto show to all Cambodians that it is ordering vaccines so that they are aware of it, he said. Earlier accusations Ahead of Hun Sens announcement, Sam Rainsy published a statement to his Facebook page deriding Hun Sen and his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) for collecting tens of millions of dollars in donations from tycoons and the business elite, as well as King Norodom Sihamoni, to pay for vaccinations. Only the credulous believe that private donations from Cambodias elite will be enough to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for more than a tiny percentage of the population, he said at the time. In reality it will be the hard-earned tax money of the Cambodian people that funds the solution, but the provision of COVID-19 vaccines will be done in such a way as to present them as a gift of Hun Sen, the CPP, and its meshed network of wealthy benefactors, he said, referring to the disease caused by the coronavirus. Sam Rainsy said that Hun Sen had been obliged to announce plans to repay the generous donors who have been cheated in this affair, including the puppet king, after the opposition called out his actions. The Facebook post earned him a charge under the countrys Lese-majeste law for insulting the monarch, who he said was helping to cover up shortcomings in Hun Sens response to the coronavirus pandemic. CNRP President Kem Sokha was arrested in September 2017 for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government. Two months later, the Supreme Court banned the CNRP for its supposed role in the scheme. The move to dissolve the CNRP marked the beginning of a wider crackdown by Hun Sen on the political opposition, NGOs, and the independent media that paved the way for his ruling Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) to win all 125 seats in the countrys July 2018 general election. Workers in Thailand Also, on Thursday, a group of civil society officials called on the Cambodian and Thai governments to care for more than 100 Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand infected with COVID-19. Dy Thehoya, program officer at the Center for Alliance of Labor and Human Rights, told RFA that the workers are facing a food shortage, as they are unable to earn money while they are sick. He urged the governments to monitor their health. The Cambodian and Thai governments should guarantee them effective treatment and ensure that they are reinstated [at their jobs] after they recover, he said. Yin Mengly, a coordinator for local rights group Adhoc in Cambodias Battambang province, said that although Thai authorities are responsible for COVID-19 cases in Thailand, the Cambodian government should provide support to the workers so that they can recover without having to address other concerns. RFA was unable to contact officials at Cambodias embassy in Bangkok or Cambodian Foreign Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong for comment Thursday. However, government spokesman Phay Siphan told RFA that the workers should contact Cambodian Embassy officials in Thailand if they require urgent assistance. He called on all Cambodian migrant workers to be patient and stay in Thailand for now. "[People should stay in Thailand] to get treatment, dont come to Cambodia because you will be quarantined, he said. Migrant workers returning The Thai Ministry of Health recently announced that 108 Cambodian workers had become infected with COVID-19 while working in Thailand since Dec. 19. Thailands Department of Disease Control has identified 158 infected Cambodian migrant workers to date. Around 6,000 Cambodian migrant workers have returned home from abroad since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in December 2019. Twenty Cambodian workers who traveled home from Thailand have been found to be infected with COVID-19, including two announced by Cambodias Ministry of Health on Thursday. Cambodia has recorded 385 cases of COVID-19 since the start of the outbreak, of which 362 have recovered and 23 are being treated. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translates by Samean Yun. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Queensland's rush to an extraordinary three-day lockdown in greater Brisbane highlights just how unprepared the state is for a significant Covid outbreak. Despite reporting no locally acquired cases on Friday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered 2.5million people across the Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands council areas to stay home for fear of a UK coronavirus super strain spreading. But the rush to lockdown has raised serious questions about the state's preparedness for a coronavirus emergency - and sparked a new bout of panic buying. Unlike other states, Queensland's contact tracing systems have not been properly stress tested after 113 days with no community transmission. Scroll down for video Queensland's rush to an extraordinary three-day lockdown in greater Brisbane highlights just how unprepared the state is for a significant Covid outbreak. Despite reporting no locally acquired cases on Friday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk ordered 2.5million people across Brisbane (woman at Newstead pictured), Logan, Ipswich, Moreton Bay and Redlands council areas to stay home for fear of the UK coronavirus super strain spreading Vital QR codes for checking into cafes and restaurants were only made mandatory two weeks ago, while people have reported waiting up to six hours to get Covid tests. With Brisbane going into lockdown for three days from 6pm, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath boasted that Queensland had done much better than the other big states. 'We've had less positive cases, we've had less deaths and we've gone 113 days without a community case so I think Queensland has been doing well,' she told Daily Mail Australia by phone. 'I'm very, very proud of the processes we've had in place and we believe we've taken the right response this time which is going hard, going fast and knowing that it's important to get ahead of this virus.' Since the start of the pandemic, the Sunshine State has had just six deaths from coronavirus out of Australia's 909 fatalities. The state's total Covid cases count of 1,265 is well below Victoria's 20,402 and the New South Wales tally of 4,984. The rush to lockdown has raised serious questions about the state's preparedness for a coronavirus emergency - and sparked a new bout of panic buying. Pictured are shoppers at Coles New Farm in Brisbane's gentrified inner-north Queensland is placing 2.5million Brisbane residents into lockdown having never properly had to fight a flare-up in Covid cases. Pictured is a Woolworths queue at Mount Gravatt The downside of fewer cases means Queensland hasn't had to react with as much urgency, compared to the bigger eastern states, and is arguably less prepared having not had to stress test its health response in a big city. At Cairns, in the state's tropical far north, residents have to make appointments rather than just turn up and wait for a drive-in test and across the state, there are long wait times, stretching in some cases to six hours. With Brisbane going into lockdown for three days from 6pm, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath boasted that Queensland had done much better than the other big states Before Christmas, poor contact tracing meant a woman in Brisbane unknowingly infected with Covid visited The Glen Hotel in Eight Mile Plains. That December 16 visit occurred a week before QR codes were mandated in Queensland. In the New Year, only ten days after QR codes were made compulsory in Labor-run Queensland, a Brisbane woman working as a cleaner in hotel quarantining unwittingly caught and possibly spread a more contagious strain of coronavirus from the UK. On January 2, she caught an early morning train from Altandi station at Sunnybank in Brisbane's south to the Roma Street station in the city, near where she worked at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, and returned home that afternoon. A day later, on a Sunday, she also visited a Woolworths at Calamvale Central Shopping Centre, in southern Brisbane. Vital QR codes for checking into cafes and restaurants were only made mandatory two weeks ago, while people have reported waiting up to six hours to get covid tests. Pictured is a long wait in Brisbane on Friday Now Queensland is panicking, or at least lacking fulsome faith in its contact tracing system. Ms D'Ath, who took over as the state's Health Minister in November, admitted QR codes could not keep track of everyone as they are not used for public transport or shopping malls or supermarkets. 'The system is not completely infallible, as in tracing everyone,' she said. Ms D'Ath said she would have preferred more Queenslanders to have installed the federal government's COVIDSafe app. 'It would have been good to have more people take up the use of that app,' she said. 'We're doing everything we can where people are sitting down and attending venues to have that code in place.' The Health Minister also justified the Brisbane-wide lockdown, arguing the UK strain of the virus was much more contagious. Premier Annnastacia Palaszczuk's Sunshine State mandated this form of contact tracing just two weeks ago on December 23, just as visitors were banned from greater Sydney. New South Wales began trialling QR codes back in August. Pictured is a Sydney woman checking in at Manly 'The difference between what's happening in Queensland and the difference between every other infection and cluster that has happened around Australia today is this is the first one of the UK variant,' Ms D'Ath said. 'It is a different variant, it is highly contagious and the advice from the health experts are you cannot use the same restrictions that have been used previously across Australia to deal with this. 'It's not adequate. You need to be stronger so we've taken that advice.' South of the Tweed River, New South Wales made QR codes compulsory on November 23, instead of just allowing visitors to fill out a book, but this technology has been widely in use since August following a trial at Dubbo in the state's central west. By mid-August, 60 cases of Covid were linked to the Crossroads Hotel at Casula in Sydney's outer south-west but NSW Liberal Premier Gladys Berejiklian declined to place all of greater Sydney into a lockdown. Now Queensland is panicking, or at least lacking fulsome faith in its contact tracing system, with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announcing on Friday the imposition of a three-day lockdown on all of Brisbane's 2.5million residents from 6pm, Queensland time - all over one case. Pictured are queues at Chermside in Brisbane's north Another outbreak before Christmas on Sydney's Northern Beaches, originating at Avalon, and a separate flare-up at the BWS bottle shop at Berala in the city's west saw state-wide case numbers climb to 200 by the first week of 2021. Queensland reacted on December 22 by banning anyone from entering the state if they had been in greater Sydney, the Central Coast, the Blue Mountains or Wollongong during the past 14 days. NSW has reacted by making face masks compulsory, since January 3, at shopping malls and indoor venues across greater Sydney. Good contact tracing, however, meant the pre-Christmas and New Year outbreak could be contained without placing Sydney into another lockdown, like the nationwide one from March to May. Ms D'Ath said Queensland wanted a short, sharp lockdown to avoid longer-term restrictions like compulsory face masks. Only ten days after QR codes were made compulsory in Labor-run Queensland, a Brisbane woman working as a cleaner in hotel quarantining unwittingly spread a more contagious strain of coronavirus from the UK. On January 2, she caught an early morning train from Altandi station at Sunnybank in Brisbane's south to the Roma Street station in the city, near where she worked at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, and returned home that afternoon 'Those restrictions in New South Wales are still ongoing,' she said. 'Even though there's less restrictions, sometimes those restrictions go for weeks or months so we want to act quickly to try to get on top of this so we don't have long-term restrictions.' Contrast that with Victoria, which lacked proper contact tracing in July and August. A flare-up in Melbourne's north and west in July, as a result of poor hotel quarantining, saw the state's Labor Premier Daniel Andrews place all of Melbourne's five million residents into a strict, Stage Four lockdown from early August until late October. During those early days, Victoria recorded 439 new daily cases on August 4 in a horror month where the curve took a long time to flatten, despite bans on leaving home beyond one-hour exercise and visiting the supermarket or chemist. Cuba is slowly opening Havana and other cities to tourism after doing the same with beach resorts in November, eager to breathe life into the devastated industry shuttered last March by the pandemic. Francisco Duran, head of epidemiology at the Ministry of Public Health, said on Tuesday around 1,000 visitors were entering the country daily, the majority bound for resorts where Covid-19 protocols have proved effective but a trickle headed to the Cuban capital, some after visiting the beach. Cuba, like other Caribbean countries, depends heavily on tourism, which represented about a tenth of its gross domestic product in 2019. Its economy suffered an 11% decline last year. A month ago there were no foreign tourists to be seen, said Luis Enrique Gonzalez, who runs a private eatery in Havanas colonial district, as a few guests lunched at outdoor tables. Now some Europeans, Canadians and Latin Americans have appeared although only a few hotels are open and most bed and breakfasts empty. Little by little there is more movement and thats a start, he said of the capital, which just a year ago was bustling with tourists walking the streets, riding in vintage U.S. cars and being shuttled back and forth in Chinese-built buses. Cubas daily infection rate per capita remains very low by regional standards, but it has doubled over the past month, mainly due to Cubans living abroad visiting family and breaking quarantine, according to the government. Flights from the United States and a few other countries Cuban-Americans arrive from were drastically reduced as of the first of the year. There have been just 148 deaths from the disease. Harder sell Even with the pandemic, the Communist-run country reported a million tourists visited last year, and the government hopes to double that in 2021. But that is still a far cry from the more than four million arrivals in 2019. Visitors are tested at the airport and again in five days unless they are staying at a hotel under the watch of a doctor-nurse team. Beginning on Jan. 10 they will need a PCR test within 72 hours prior to arrival. Travelers lodged at hotels in cities are expected to stay on the premises until the airport test proves negative and if staying in private homes to remain inside until receiving the five-day tests result as well. Visitors to isolated keys and resorts can visit the beach and eateries as long as they are isolated from the local community. The rules are a harder sell in cities where tourists are kept to the lobby bars and pools for up to three days. Who is going to come to Cuba to be shut up in a house, said Norma Hernandez, who rents out rooms in Havanas Vedado district. While the famous Varadero beach resort reported 69,000 visitors from November through December 23, a staff member at one Havana hotel said there were fewer than 20 guests on Tuesday. Still, after a week or so at various resorts tourists are now taking group excursions to Havana and even staying at bed and breakfasts without any additional restrictions. Tour guide Carlos Diaz, thrilled to have some work, said he was shepherding 38 Germans around the old town. The tourists are coming back bit by bit, he said. Two British couples strolling nearby said they, like the Germans, had previously been staying at Varadero beach, noting the lack of tourists but praising the buildings and sites and relative sense of safety amid the pandemic. We will be back when everything is back to normal, Tony Kelly said. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter CAIRO Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi dispatched the head of the Egyptian General Intelligence Service Maj. Gen. Abbas Kamel to Sudan on Jan. 4 to discuss regional files and developments in the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations. During his Jan. 4 visit to Khartoum, Kamel met with head of Sudans Transitional Military Council Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, Vice President of Sudans Sovereign Council Lt. Gen. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and head of the Intelligence Service in Sudan Gen. Jamal Abdul Majeed. The meetings focused on bilateral cooperation between Egypt and Sudan in various fields and tackled the regional developments and the GERD file. While Kamel reiterated Egypts keenness to continue its support for Sudan in all fields, Burhan praised Egypts role in supporting Sudan. The visit came amid the faltering GERD negotiations between Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan, especially after the latter boycotted the last round of negotiations held on Jan. 4. In a Jan. 4 statement, Sudans Ministry of Water Resources expressed its reservation over the new round of negotiations and called for holding bilateral meetings between each country and African Union (AU) experts and observers, instead of holding direct tripartite negotiations. Sudan believes the AU experts should have a greater role to facilitate the negotiation process and seek rapprochement between the three parties. Hani Raslan, head of the Sudan and Nile Basin Countries Unit at Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, told Al-Monitor over the phone that Kamels visit to Khartoum comes at a critical stage amid the ongoing conflict in Ethiopias Tigray region and the mounting tension on the border between Ethiopia and Sudan. The visit also comes ahead of the second filling phase of the GERD scheduled for August. Since the construction of the dam began in 2011, Egypt and Sudan, two downstream countries, have been seeking to reach a binding legal agreement with Ethiopia, an upstream country, on the rules for filling and operating the GERD within the framework of the Declaration of Principles on sharing the Nile waters signed by the three countries on March 23, 2015, in Khartoum. The declaration stipulates that the three countries shall ensure fair and appropriate use of the Nile waters, shall not cause significant damage while using the Blue Nile, and shall promote regional cooperation and integration. The GERD has raised concerns in Egypt and Sudan over a decrease in their shares of the Nile water. Raslan pointed out that the visit comes as part of attempts to strengthen Egyptian-Sudanese relations and create greater coordination regarding the GERD following Sudans recent decision to refrain from participating in the talks, which disrupts the negotiation process on the one hand and serves the Ethiopian side on the other. He continued, The Egyptian-Sudanese relations went through a long period of estrangement since the era of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir until the fall of his regime [in 2019]. However, this relationship started to witness an improvement, as evidenced by Egypts provision of various assistance to Sudan during the period of floods that swept across Sudanese cities in August and its provision of medical aid to deal with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Egyptian-Sudanese relations have gained political momentum in the wake of the visit of the Egyptian prime minister to Sudan on Aug. 15, which was the first official visit by an Egyptian premier to this country since 2012. The improvement of relations came as the Egyptian-Sudanese views converged regarding the GERD agreement during the recent rounds of negotiations with Ethiopia. Apart from politics, Egypt is implementing several development projects with Sudan, including the start of a feasibility study for a project to establish a railway line between Egypt and Sudan and the Cairo-Cape Town road set to cross through nine African countries. Also, the two countries share the Eshkeet-Qustul land port, through which about 75 trucks and 11 passenger buses pass per day, and the Arqin crossing, through which 15 cargo trucks and 60 passenger buses pass per day. In addition, there is an electrical linkage project between the two countries. Egypt supplies Sudan with about 300 megawatts during the first phase of the project due to be completed this year. By the end of the project, 3,000 megawatts will be provided to Sudan, according to the State Information Service website. Heba al-Bashbishi, a researcher on African affairs at the Institute for African Research and Studies at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor over the phone that Kamels visit paves the way for Egypt and Sudan to issue compatible positions regarding the GERD, especially after Khartoums surprising unilateral position to boycott the last round of negotiations, which indicates the lack of coordination between the two countries regarding this issue. She added, It would have been better for the visit to take place before the [recent] round of negotiations so that the positions of both Egypt and Sudan had converged positions. They are both downstream countries and have common interests as far as the dam is concerned. Each country might have been a little preoccupied with its domestic events, but I think that the coming period will witness a greater understanding between the two countries regarding many issues, chief among which is the GERD. Whats more, Kamel is admired in Sudan and his views are welcome there, she concluded. The man expected to be a key witness against Orleans Parish District Attorney-elect Jason Williams in the politicians tax fraud trial pleaded guilty to his own tax count in federal court in New Orleans Thursday. Tax preparer Henry Timothy pleaded guilty to a single count of making a false tax return before U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon. Timothy is to be sentenced at a later date. Timothys attorney, Steve London, declined to comment on whether his client pleaded guilty as part of an agreement with federal prosecutors. However, Timothy is expected to be a key witness whenever Williams goes to trial on his own tax fraud allegations. Prosecutors claim that for years, Williams directed Timothy to overstate his business expenses by claiming a variety of bogus expenses, which drove down his overall tax liability. Williams, who is currently a member of the New Orleans City Council, faces 11 counts. Williams law partner, Nicole Burdett, is also charged with tax fraud. Williams claims that he is Timothy's victim. The tax preparer wrongly held himself out as a certified professional accountant and claimed expenses that Williams never asked for, Williams has said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Timothy has been under suspicion for years, according to federal investigators. However, it was only in September that prosecutors charged him with filing false returns for the 2013 to 2016 tax years. Overall, Timothy left off more than $312,000 in proceeds from his returns, prosecutors said. Timothy pleaded guilty only to the first count against him, in connection with the 2013 tax year. If and when Timothy takes the stand against Williams, the tax preparer's credibility could become a key issue. Defense attorneys are sure to seize on his admission to committing a federal crime. Williams is set to replace Leon Cannizzaro as Orleans Parish district attorney on Monday. However, its unclear when the incoming DA will stand trial, given the havoc the coronavirus pandemic has wrought on court dockets. Williams has said that hes eager to face a jury, but all jury trials in federal court in New Orleans are suspended until at least March. On Dec. 18, U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman canceled Williams Monday trial date and did not set another one. You are here: World Flash An Iraqi court issued Thursday an arrest warrant for outgoing U.S. President Donald Trump over the killing of deputy chief of the Iraqi paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces in January 2020. "A judge in Baghdad's al-Rusafa court in charge of investigating the killing of Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Iraq's paramilitary Hashd Shaabi forces, issued an arrest warrant against the U.S. President Donald Trump," the Iraqi Supreme Judicial Council said in a statement. The judge issued the warrant after hearing the complaints of al-Muhandis' family members and the completion of the preliminary investigation procedures, the statement said. "Investigation procedures are continuing to find out the other participants in committing this crime, whether they are Iraqis or foreigners," the statement added. On Jan. 3, 2020, a U.S. drone attacked a convoy near Baghdad International Airport that killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy chief of Hashd Shaabi forces. Amid protests by local BJP leaders and residents, the Chandigarh Housing Board (CHB) on Thursday carried out an anti-encroachment drive in Indira Colony here. Unauthorised constructions in two houses and fresh illegal constructions including stairs and overhanging eaves/roofs projecting on public land were razed. In both the cases, challans to stop further construction and remove fresh violations were issued in March and October. But these were not complied with by the allottees. In the circumstances, the demolition exercise was carried out. CHB is computing the cost of demolitions, which will be recovered from the allottees, and in case of non-payment, their allotment is liable to be cancelled, said Yashpal Garg, chief executive officer, CHB. Earlier in the day, when the CHB accompanied by the police came to undertake the drive, they were confronted by BJP leaders including state general secretary Rambir Bhatti and councillor Vinod Aggarwal. The leaders and party workers were detained by the police and later released after the drive was completed. Later, BJP leaders including Bhatti, deputy mayor Jagtar Singh Jagga, councillors Shakti Prakash Devshalli and Aggarwal started an indefinite protest outside CHB office, Sector 9, demanding that all notices sent to CHB allottees for violations should be withdrawn immediately. Bhatti said, For some time now, CHB has been undertaking such drives on its whims and fancies. It is demolishing peoples houses in such cold weather. We will continue with our protest outside the CHB office till it doesnt stop harassing people. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund is resigning after receiving criticisms on the department's response to rioters who breached the Capitol in protest of President Donald Trump's election loss against President-elect Joe Biden. Aside from the Capitol police chief's resignation, a police officer died following the riots in the area, according to U.S. Capitol Police in a statement late Thursday night. The officer was identified as Brian D. Sicknick, a 15-year veteran of the force and 40 years old, WUSA 9 reported. No information was released on where the officer was stationed around the Capitol on Wednesday as a mob of Trump supporters forced entry into the Capitol. Police said Sicknick was injured while physically engaging with protesters, and he collapsed after he returned to his division office and was taken to a hospital. He died on Thursday night. The news on the officer's condition came minutes after Sund's resignation. With Sicknick's death, at least five people already died in the mayhem in Washington, D.C. Capitol Police Chief Resignation According to the police spokeswoman on Thursday, Sund's resignation would take effect on Jan. 16, a few days before President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. In a statement, the force's union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou said that the officers are frustrated and demoralized how a lack of leadership undermined the response to the mob. But the chairman noted that they prioritized lives over the property, leading people to safety. Papathanasiou's said not one member of Congress or their staff was injured, showing that the officers did their jobs, NBC News reported. Capitol police received a backlash for its inability to keep rioters out of the building. Biden earlier compared how police treated the pro-Trump mob versus how they treat the Black Lives Matter movement's supporters over the summer. Biden described the treatment as double standards. Related story: Trump Calls on National Guard to Quell Riot in DC, Secure US Capitol House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also called on Sund to resign earlier Thursday, while a bipartisan group asked for an investigation into law enforcement's response to the riots. According to a Forbes report, the lawmakers' bipartisan group includes Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Rep. Ilhan Omar. Capitol Police reportedly turned down extra workforce in the days before the planned demonstration in Washington D.C. The police force also appeared to be unprepared and was overwhelmed by the number of Trump supporters, who breached their way into the Capitol Building. Capitol Police's Unpreparedness A law enforcement official said the Capitol Police seemed to have little resistance and arrested only 14 people, making it more difficult to find and charge other rioters. The New York Times reported that policing experts also cited the absence of crowd-control gears such as mounted officers, police dogs, or a heavily manned perimeter. On Thursday, Pentagon authorities said that Capitol Police had turned down an offer for additional National Guard troops before Wednesday's Capitol breach. Also, two law enforcement officials said they initially snubbed help from the Federal Bureau of Investigation as the mob descended. Charles Ramsey, a former D.C. police chief, said the police seemed to be "not ready for this day." "They were overwhelmed; they did not have the resources. You have to be able to protect the Capitol," Ramsey told the New York Times. Related story: Police Declare Riot, Make Arrests at Seattle Protest Staff at a concentrated quarantine site in Vietnam (Photo: VNA) Hanoi Four new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed during the past 24 hours to 6pm on January 7, all Vietnamese citizens returning from abroad and being quarantined, according to the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control. The new cases brought the national tally to 1,509, including 693 locally-transmitted cases. The number of recovered patients reached 1,353, while fatalities remain at 35. Among patients under treatment, 14 have tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 once, six twice and seven thrice. A total of 19,392 people who had close contact with COVID-19 patients or arrived from pandemic-affected regions are staying in quarantine nationwide. Meanwhile, the numbers of COVID-19 infections are still rising in several Southeast Asian countries. Also on January 7, Indonesia confirmed 9,321 new cases, the highest daily so far, raising the national count to 797,723. An additional 224 COVID-19 deaths were recorded the same day, taking the total fatalities from the disease to 23,520. Malaysia also reported the highest daily cases since the pandemic started in the country, at 3,027. The Philippines said COVID-19 cases in the country have surpassed 482,000 after 1,353 cases were detected on January 7. The fatalities also increased by nine to 9,356. Though the country has yet to detect any infection of the new variants of the coronavirus, the Philippines has restricted travelling to and from 27 countries and territories until January 15. Meanwhile, Thailand reported 305 new cases and one more death on January 7. The total number of COVID-19 cases in the country now reached 9,636 with 67 deaths. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. TOKYO (dpa-AFX) - Myriad Genetics, Inc. (MYGN) said it received first reimbursement decision for the myChoice Diagnostic System, which helps determine if women with ovarian cancer will benefit from the PARP inhibitor, Zejula. myChoice was approved by Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in September 2020 as a companion diagnostic for this indication. Myriad has been collaborating with Takeda Pharma in Japan since 2017 on the development of companion diagnostics. The company has partnered with SRL Inc. to commercialize the myChoice Diagnostic System in Japan. 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. CHICO, Calif. - The city of Chico is pushing forward down a new path to get the homeless into a shelter. The Chico City Council passed a motion regarding emergency shelter options for the homeless. Originally, state building codes would only allow overnight sheltering at facilities that had proper sprinkler systems. Now, Chico is looking into how other cities have been handling the situation while remaining compliant. Once a viable proposal is in place, a special city council meeting will be called. Action News Now spoke with Chico City Manager Mark Orme, Chico's City Manager, about the decision. He said, "Is there any way to work through the state of California to find a path to enabling the city to work with the nonprofits to find a location for emergency sheltering, particularly during these winter months? Low and behold, some communications came through and there are some opportunities." One of those nonprofit options? Safe Space. So, why would nonprofits like this one be a good option to help? "A willing desire to really help people, Orme said. That's what Safe Space does. They help bring people out of a circumstance and out of an environment that isn't necessarily healthy for them to be in existence. We've seen that happen year after year after year. There are a lot of community partners that have the same heart." Siana Sonoquie, a Safe Space Board member, is excited to potentially work with the city. She said, "Right now, there is just not options for anyone. I have multiple people reaching out and experiencing a housing crisis that are wanting just something to get inside. It's such a challenge. So, this is all really welcome news." Orme continued, "It's wonderful to see the community like Chico still being able to come together on really important issues like this." The City has more than $280,000 to go toward homeless shelters. This motion on emergency shelter options passed 6-1. Press Trust of India COVID-19 survivors may have protective immunity against serious disease from the SARS-CoV-2 virus for months, or even years after the infection, a study suggests. The findings, based on analyses of blood samples from 188 COVID-19 patients, suggest that nearly all survivors of the disease have the immune cells necessary to fight re-infection. "Our data suggest that the immune response is there and it stays," Professor Alessandro Sette from La Jolla Institute for Immunology in the US. The researchers measured antibodies, memory B cells, helper T cells and killer T cells all four components of immune memory at the same time. The study, published in the journal Science, helps clarify some concerning data from other institutes, which showed a dramatic drop-off of COVID-fighting antibodies in the months following infection. Some feared that this decline in antibodies meant that the body wouldn't be equipped to defend itself against reinfection. Sette explained that a decline in antibodies is very normal. "Of course, the immune response decreases over time to a certain extent, but that's normal," he noted. "That's what immune responses do. They have a first phase of ramping up, and after that fantastic expansion, eventually the immune response contracts somewhat and gets to a steady state," Sette added. The researchers found that virus-specific antibodies do persist in the bloodstream months after infection. They said the body also has immune cells called memory B cells at the ready, adding that if a person encounters SARS-CoV-2 again, these cells could reactivate and produce antibodies to fight re-infection. The SARS-CoV-2 virus uses its "spike" protein to initiate infection of human cells, so the researchers looked for memory B cells specific for the SARS-CoV-2 spike. They found that spike-specific memory B cells actually increased in the blood six months after infection. "COVID-19 survivors also had an army of T cells ready to fight reinfection. Memory CD4+ "helper" T cells lingered, ready to trigger an immune response if they saw SARS-CoV-2 again," the researchers said. Many memory CB8+ "killer" T cells also remained, ready to destroy infected cells and halt a reinfection, they said. "The different parts of the adaptive immune systems work together, so seeing COVID-fighting antibodies, memory B cells, memory CD4+ T cells and memory CD8+ T cells in the blood more than eight months following infection is a good sign," said LJI Professor Shane Crotty. "This implies that there's a good chance people would have protective immunity, at least against serious disease, for that period of time, and probably well beyond that," Crotty said. However, the researchers cautioned that protective immunity does vary dramatically from person to person. They saw a 100-fold range in the magnitude of immune memory. "People with a weak immune memory may be vulnerable to a case of recurrent COVID-19 in the future, or they may be more likely to infect others," the researchers said. Canberra, Jan 8 : Experts have warned that Australia's devastating 2019-20 "Black Summer" bushfires were a "wake up call" to the extreme effects of climate change in the country. In a study published on late Thursday, a team from the Australian National University (ANU) and the Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes warned that bushfires will become increasingly more severe in the country as a result of global warming, reports Xinhua news agency. The 2019-20 bushfire season was one of the worst in Australian history. More than 30 people died in the fires with another estimated 445 deaths linked to smoke inhalation, and more than 18 million hectares of land were burned. "In the lead up to the summer of 2019/2020 many parts of southeast Australia were three years into a severe drought," Nerilie Abram, the lead author of the study from ANU, said in a statement. Abram added that "2019 was our hottest and driest year on record. This climate set-up created exceptionally dry fuel loads that primed the landscape to burn, and dangerous fire weather that allowed fires to quickly escalate". "Our new work highlights the strong evidence that southeast Australia's climate has shifted, and that this type of fire weather is becoming more frequent, prolonged and severe." The study found that predictions made more than 10 years ago that the climate-driven fire risk would increase significantly by 2020 had come true. Abram said that the 'Black Summer' was an example of what was to come for Australian summers. "When we look to the future we see southeast Australia continuing to become even hotter because of human-caused climate change. On top of that climate change is altering our patterns of year-to-year climate variability so that we expect extremely hot and dry years to occur more often," she said. "There are also indications that southeast Australia could continue to become drier in winter and experience more frequent weather fronts in summer that cause dangerous fire weather, but more research is needed to fully understand how these fire-relevant impacts of climate change might develop." "All of those expected and possible climate change indicators point towards a rapidly increasing risk of catastrophic bushfires that are beyond anything we have experienced in the past." A woman was killed and a child was injured in a crash Thursday morning in Lawrence County. Alabama State Troopers say the two-vehicle crash happened at approximately 7:05 a.m. Thursday and killed Carly Dunlap, 26, from Trinity. They say she was killed when the Toyota 4Runner she was driving failed to yield the right away from a stop sign to a Kenworth tractor-trailer. Dunlap died at the scene at the intersection of Lawrence County 213 and Alabama 157, about three miles southeast of Moulton. Troopers say the passenger, a child, was airlifted to a hospital in Birmingham. The investigation into the crash is ongoing. Flash China and Botswana on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his Botswana counterpart Lemogang Kwape signed the MoU between the two governments after their talks in Gaborone. Wang said the BRI is an important international cooperation initiative and a public product provided by China to the international community. The focus is to help developing countries strengthen infrastructure construction, better realize connectivity and enhance their independent development capabilities, he said. The two countries signed an agreement on jointly building the BRI on Thursday, making Botswana the 46th partner country in Africa in BRI cooperation, said Wang. This year coincides with the 46th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Botswana, which is a beautiful symbol, he said. The joint construction of BRI will provide new opportunities for the two countries to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, expand new fields, open up new prospects, help Botswana's infrastructure construction and national modernization process, and better benefit the two peoples, he said. Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Minister of International Affairs and Cooperation Lemogang Kwape both congratulated on the signing of the agreement to jointly build the BRI, stressing that it is new progress in China-Botswana relations and will provide new impetus for the cooperation between the two countries. HAMPDEN Retired Longmeadow Police Chief Richard A. Marchese has been named interim police chief in Hampden. Marchese, a director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, was appointed by the Select Board at the Thursday, Jan. 7 meeting via Zoom. He will serve until Thursday, April 1, or until a permanent police chief is selected and sworn in. Marchese assumes the helm from longtime Hampden Police Chief Jeff Farnsworth, who recently resigned to take on a new role at the state Executive Office of Public Safety. Farnsworth has been with the department for more than three decades. He will stay on to help Marchese transition into the interim role until his last day, Saturday, Jan. 16. Marchese, a Longmeadow resident, graduated from the Springfield Police Academy in 1969, and holds a bachelors degree in business administration from American International College, an associates degree in law enforcement from Springfield Technical Community College and a masters degree in criminal justice from American International College. He started his career with Longmeadow Police Department in 1969 and was promoted to the role of chief in 1988, and retired from the department in 2004. He served as the executive director of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association from 2004 to 2007 and served on its executive board for 15 years. He worked on the statewide Emergency Telecommunications Board for 16 years and as the emergency manager for the Town of Longmeadow for four years. From 2007 to 2010, he worked in the law enforcement department of the Sten-Tel Transcription in Springfield. Marchese also worked as the managing partner for what is now Allied Universal from 2009 to 2017. Marchese, who has served as an assessor for Pocasset-based Public Safety Consultants LLC since 2015, has also previously served as the interim chief of police for Greenfield Police Department in 2012. Hampden Select Board Chair Donald Davenport suggested fellow board members consider Marchese for the interim role at the Monday, Jan. 4 meeting. With several members of the Hampden Police Department interested in throwing their hat to the ring for the chiefs job, Davenport said it was in the best interest for the police chief search to appoint an interim that wasnt interested in the permanent position. I think its the fairest way, he said at the meeting. We have a number of people that are highly qualified in town to be chief. Thats why we want to give everyone in town an equal shot at it by bringing someone from out of town in the temporary position rather than appointing someone interested in the permanent job. There wont be a perception that the interim has an inside track. We dont want to hurt future applicants. According to the interim employment agreement, Marchese will maintain a flexible schedule that averages 40 hours per week and be compensated $1,798 weekly. The board intends on laying out a plan to select the towns permanent chief at the Monday, Jan. 11, Select Board meeting, said Davenport. The EU today announced it had bought another 300million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine and approved a plan to scrape an extra dose out of each vial as the bloc tries to catch up to the faster rollouts in the US and Britain. With Israel still leading the global race - having given jabs to nearly 20 per cent of its population - the EU is now gearing up to adopt one of the country's methods by having medical workers get six doses out of each vial rather than five. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu says plans are in place to vaccinate everyone in the country by the end of March, making it 'the first country in the world to emerge from the coronavirus'. 'We will be able to embrace each other and get back to life,' Netanyahu said. But there is mounting criticism of the slow pace of vaccinations across Europe, where the EU's drug regulator said today it could approve the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine before the end of January - having previously said this was unlikely. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the 27-member union had reached a deal to double its supply of the Pfizer jab to 600million, saying the EU's total stocks would be enough for 80 per cent of the bloc's population. Several EU governments including France, Germany and Spain have faced anger over the slow rollout - with concern in Brussels over a separate German deal to get another 30million jabs in addition to the 60million it is due under the EU scheme. Among EU countries, Germany has given out the most doses in total while Denmark has the best per-capita rate but all 27 nations are moving at a slower pace than either the UK or US. There was also good news from BioNTech as the firm announced the results of a preliminary study which showed that its vaccine would work against the UK and South African variants of the coronavirus. Israel is leading the global vaccine race by a mile, followed by two fellow Middle East countries, then the UK and US - all of which are outperforming any EU country so far. Denmark has the best per-capita rate in the 27-member bloc, while Germany has distributed the most doses outright The US and China have given out the most vaccines in the world, while Russia has inoculated 800,000 people using a home-grown vaccine which has won little enthusiasm elsewhere Von der Leyen today defended the EU's vaccine plans but admitted that 'difficult months' lie ahead because of the scale of the task and persistently high infections. 'I'm convinced that when we look back at this one day we'll see, well yes, at the beginning, there was a bumpy road [but] well, that's always the case,' she said. 'We have already secured an amount of doses that we need to vaccinate 380million Europeans, and this is more than 80 percent of the European population.' Responding to reports of wealthy Germany striking a separate deal, von der Leyen said EU capitals had agreed there would be 'no parallel negotiations, no parallel contracts'. 'Together we are negotiating, together we are procuring and together we are bringing forward this vaccination process,' she said. Her spokesman Eric Mamer dodged repeated questioning by journalists over Germany's order, saying he 'could not say whether there was an agreement or not'. But Germany's health ministry rejected any criticism, saying its bilateral deal with BioNTech was 'compatible with the EU agreements'. 'No other EU member state will get vaccines later from BioNTech, for example, just because Germany has secured additional doses of vaccine or a commitment for additional doses of vaccine,' a spokesman said. Only the Pfizer/BioNTech jab has been used in the EU so far, but the Moderna vaccine was approved on Wednesday and AstraZeneca's could soon follow. As recently as December 29, an official at the European Medicines Agency said it was 'improbable' that the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab would be approved in January. But today, the EMA said approval by the end of January could be in sight once the developers submit their paperwork next week. 'This will, of course, depend on the data we receive and the evaluation progress,' said the EMA's executive director Emer Cooke. 'Once we actually receive the application, we will make a public announcement on this.' GERMANY: Jessica Mueller puts supplies of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine into an ultra-cold freezer at a warehouse near Magdeburg today, amid concern in Brussels over a separate bilateral deal between Berlin and the vaccine developers France says the Moderna vaccine should begin arriving in the coming days, giving the country a boost after a widely-criticised start that saw only 7,000 people vaccinated by late Tuesday. Care home workers say the process has been strangled by red tape, with one saying he had to call 20 doctors over the Christmas period to get their consent before arranging vaccinations. The slow start has angered French president Emmanuel Macron and left France playing catch-up with other European nations where procedures are simpler. Ministers have vowed that procedures will be simplified, and the first phase has been widened to include hospital staff and paramedics aged over 50. In Britain, where more than a million people have been inoculated, nursing home residents can receive a jab immediately after giving their consent. The same is true in Spain and Italy. The UK today gave its approval to the Moderna vaccine, having already started using the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab earlier this week. Britain has ordered 10million doses of the Moderna jab, but they are not expected to be delivered until the spring. Illustrating the desperate immediate situation in parts of the UK, London mayor Sadiq Khan declared a 'major incident' in the capital. 'The stark reality is that we will run out of beds for patients in the next couple of weeks unless the spread of the virus slows down drastically,' he said. Meanwhile, some EU doctors have already been doing what the EMA has now formally approved - getting six doses out of each vial rather than five. The EMA says that the sixth dose can safely be extracted from Pfizer/BioNTech vials as long as a particular type of syringe is used. But healthcare workers should not mix the leftovers from 'multiple vials to make up a full dose', the agency stressed. Pharmaceutical companies regularly put more vaccine than necessary into vials so that minimum dosage can be ensured even if there is some spillage. FRANCE: A medical worker is given the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at a hospital near Dijon on Thursday following criticism of the French government over its slow progress German health ministry spokesman Hanno Kautz said the change would come into effect immediately, boosting available doses of the vaccine by 20 per cent. Israel's health minister Yuli Edelstein has previously praised nurses in the country for reducing waste by squeezing out the sixth dose for their patients. Israel has left the world behind after ordering millions of doses in advance, distributing them quickly to remote areas and enlisting military reservists to help. PM Benjamin Netanyahu has put the vaccination drive at the centre of his campaign ahead of an Israeli election on March 23. 'We will be the first country in the world to emerge from the coronavirus,' he said last night as he announced a further agreement with Pfizer. 'The agreement that I have made with Pfizer will enable us to vaccinate all citizens of Israel over the age of 16 by the end of March and perhaps even earlier, meaning that we will vaccinate the entire relevant population and everyone who wants to will be able to be vaccinated.' The rapid rollout comes amid a rise in cases which Netanyahu has blamed on the British mutation of the virus, which is thought to be more transmissible. A similar variant in South Africa has caused further alarm because of concerns that the vaccines developed so far might be less effective against it. But BioNTech said today that its vaccine had been found to work against a key mutation found in both the UK and South African variants. The research 'indicates that the key N501Y mutation, which is found in the emerging UK and South Africa variants, does not create resistance to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine induced immune responses', the German company said. The firm previously said that it could adapt its vaccine to fight a mutated form of the virus in as little as six weeks. The latest research has yet to be peer-reviewed, but experts expressed cautious optimism at the findings. 'This is good news, mainly because it is not bad news,' said Stephen Evans, professor of pharmacoepidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. 'Had the opposite result been found, that the vaccine did not seem to have efficacy against the variation of the virus studied, that would have been bad and very concerning.' ADVERTISEMENT The Police Command in Zamfara has confirmed the kidnap of six children of one Sani Gyare and one other in Kadauri village, Maru Local Government Area of the state. The Commands Public Relations Officer, Shehu Mohammed, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Gusau. He said the command received information on the abduction of seven children, six of whom are children of Mr Gyare and the seventh, a female picked from a neighbouring house all in Kadauri village in Jabaka district of Maru LGA. The Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Abutu Yaro has deployed a combined team of CTU and Police Mobile Force who are currently on the trail of the suspects. The CP, who said that peace had been restored in the area, vowed to rescue the victims soonest. He charged the local communities to continue to give useful information to law enforcement agents, especially the Police, in order to bring the criminals to book, Mr Muhammed said. NAN gathered that the suspected hoodlums, in their large numbers, invaded the village in the early hours of Friday to carry out the act. Speaking to journalists, the father of the six victims, said he suspected the abductors came for him but missed him and took away his children instead. I was informed that when they got to the village, they went straight to my house and when they discovered l was not home they went away with my children and the daughter of one of my close friends and neighbour, Alhaji Sani Yellow, he said. (NAN) Airlines Continue to Fly to Gibraltar During Lockdowns Both EasyJet and British Airways will continue to fly to Gibraltar during the current lockdowns that are in place both in Gibraltar and in the UK. British Airways will be operating one service per week from London Heathrow on Saturdays, with EasyJet operating one service per week from London Gatwick on Fridays. Airlines will be revising information as to their schedules on all routes as the lockdowns develop. The Government is reminding those travelling that all international arrivals to England, as from this Monday 11th January, including UK nationals, are required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure. Full details are available by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mandatory-covid-19-testing-introduced-to-bolster-border-measures Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port the Hon Vijay Daryanani MP, said: As Gibraltar and the UK enter another challenging time during this pandemic, we are happy to see that air services from the UK will be maintained, albeit at a much reduced schedule. I am sure that all those who need to travel for essential purposes and our business community will welcome this. As in all these situations, this may be subject to change but we will be kept informed of any alterations to the schedules. CVT While some car manufacturers have come to focus only on high-end, luxury vehicles , which can provide a higher margin as they are sold, there are also manufacturers that haven't forgotten about people who don't really have a huge budget available for such a purchase. After all, most people today look at cars as a way of getting from A to B, and nothing more.So let's have a look at some of the more affordable cars available on the market. The sole criteria we will be following will be the price, as we will try to manage with a budget of just $15,000, plus another $1,000 available just in case. After a quick analysis, it turns out that we're looking at the following options: the Chevrolet Spark, the Hyundai Accent , the Kia Rio, the Mitsubishi Mirage, and the Nissan Versa.The Honda Fit is just slightly out of range, as the starting MSRP for the Japanese hatchback is $16,190 (excluding destination charge of $995). That means we're left with three sedans and two hatchbacks, although you could have a look at the Mirage G4 should you opt for the sedan version of the Mitsubishi instead.The Chevrolet Spark seems to be the most affordable option when it comes to brand new cars today, as the starting price is set at $13,400 (excluding $995 destination). Ever since the late '90s, this vehicle has been a good choice for people operating on a tight budget. Trunk space is 11.1 cubic feet (314 liters), but it can be extended to 27.2 cubic feet (770 liters) with the second row of seats folded down.Key figures include a fuel consumption of 30 mpg (7.8 liters per 100km) on city roads and 38 mpg (6.2 liters per 100km) on the highway. The engine is a 1.4-liter Ecotec with 4 cylinders, delivering 98 horsepower and 94 lb-ft (127 Nm) of torque to the front wheels. You also get 10 standard airbags. For the given budget, you're looking at the LS trim, with either a 5-speed manual transmission or aversion, which is slightly more expensive.The second most affordable car around is the new 2021 Mitsubishi Mirage . Which, if you look at it, isn't that far off from the Chevrolet Spark, at least when seen from the outside. Fuel consumption figures indicate 36 mpg (6.5 liters per 100 km) in city driving mode and 43 mpg (5.5 liters per 100 km) out on the highway, significantly better results than the Spark.The ES trim fitted with a five-speed manual starts at $14,295 (excluding a destination charge of $995). There are only 8 colors to choose from, but we feel like the selection is good enough. There's a 1.2-liter under the hood that outputs 78 horsepower and 74 lb-ft (100 Nm) of torque. Trunk volume adds up to 17.1 cubic feet (484 liters), which is also considerably bigger than what the Spark offers.The starting price for the Nissan Versa is $14,930 (excluding a $925 destination charge). There's a 1.6-liter engine under the hood, which delivers 122 horsepower and 114 lb-ft (154 Nm) of torque, and it is mated to a 5-speed manual transmission in its standard form. Fuel economy ratings indicate 35 mpg (6.7 liters per 100 km) for highway driving and 27 mpg (8.7 liters per 100 km) in the city.Cargo capacity is 14.7 cubic feet (416 liters), and the fuel tank can be filled up with 10.8 gallons (40.8 liters). There are only five colors available, but the list of accessories does seem to be a bit more interesting than that of the Spark, for example. Nissan also points out that the Versa has got 44.5 inches (113 cm) of front row legroom, which is more than what the Spark, Accent, and Rio have got to offer.The Hyundai Accent is the first car on the list to make us break the spare $1,000 we had put away for buying a brand new vehicle, as the MSRP for this car starts at $15,395 (excluding a destination charge of $995). Like the Nissan, the Hyundai also makes use of a 1.6-liter engine, rated for 120 horsepower and 113 lb-ft (153 Nm) of torque.Fuel consumption figures show 29 mpg (8.1 liters per 100km) for city driving and 39 mpg (6 liters per 100km) for the highway. The Accent comes with a standard 6-speed manual transmission, and the carmaker claims a slightly better fuel economy with the Intelligent Variable Transmission; but at $1,100, that already has us going over the budget. Cargo volume is rated at 13.7 cubic feet (387 liters) with the rear seats up.Last but not least, we're looking at the Kia Rio, which is already very close to our maximum available budget, as it starts at $15,850 (excluding $995 destination). This one also uses a 1.6-liter engine with 120 horsepower and 112 lb-ft (151 Nm) of torque, which should be good enough for 33 mpg (7.1 liters per 100 km) around town and 41 mpg (5.7 liters per 100 km) on the highway.As opposed to the Hyundai, the Rio already comes with an automatic gearbox as standard. Cargo volume is identical to the Accent, at 13.7 cubic feet (387 liters). All in all, the Rio seems to be pretty much the same car like the Accent, with some minor differences here and there. It's no wonder they're often looked upon as "corporate twins".At the end of the day, it all comes down to your basic needs. Do you want the cheapest option on the market? Then the Spark is definitely the one for you. The Nissan Versa doesn't sound bad either, as it has one of the more powerful engines in this selection, and it doesn't look half bad either.If driving stick shift isn't an option for you, and you'd just like to go down to the dealership and jump in a car and drive away, then the Kia Rio might be your best choice given its standard automatic gearbox. Not that we're big fans of that kind of gearbox, though.All in all, the Mitsubishi Mirage looks like the most interesting option out there, and you can have it either as a hatchback or as a sedan, according to your own preferences. The powertrain warranty of 10 years and 100,000 miles (160,000 km) also sounds good, but as always, we do recommend you go out and ask for a test drive before actually buying any one of these cars. The Senate of Canada building and Senate Chamber are pictured in Ottawa, on Feb. 18, 2019. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) All but 5 Senators Say They Havent Travelled Abroad During Pandemic OTTAWAAll but five of Canadas 93 senators say they have not travelled outside the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Eighty-eight senators say theyve been following public health guidelines to refrain from international travel in bid to curb the spread of the deadly coronavirus that causes COVID-19. Two have admitted to travelling abroad over the holidays. Conservative Senate leader Don Plett briefly went to Mexico before thinking better of it and returning three days later to Manitoba, where he is currently quarantining. Vern White, a member of the Canadian Senators Group, visited his wifes parents in Finland, where he is currently in quarantine. Three other senators, all members of the Canadian Senators Group, have not responded to repeated queries about whether theyve been out of the country since Dec. 1. They are CSG leader Sen. Scott Tannas, deputy leader Sen. Josee Verner, and Sen. Jean-Guy Dagenais. The United State Department of Justice (DOJ) on Friday announced 13 suspects have been charged in federal court following Wednesday's riots at the Capitol, including a man from North Alabama. Lonnie Coffman of Falkville was arrested Wednesday and charged on Thursday with possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device) and carrying a pistol without a license. According to the DOJ, it is alleged that Coffmans vehicle contained 11 explosive devices known as Molotov cocktails and firearms. Hes also accused of being in possession of two firearms. Coffman is currently being held by law enforcement and has a detention hearing scheduled for Jan. 12. You can read the DOJs full announcement on Friday below: Thirteen individuals have been charged so far in federal court in the District of Columbia related to crimes committed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. In addition to those who have been charged, additional complaints have been submitted and investigations are ongoing. The lawless destruction of the U.S. Capitol building was an attack against one of our Nations greatest institutions, said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael Sherwin. My Office, along with our law enforcement partners at all levels, have been expeditiously working and leveraging every resource to identify, arrest, and begin prosecuting these individuals who took part in the brazen criminal acts at the U.S. Capitol. We are resolute in our commitment to holding accountable anyone responsible for these disgraceful criminal acts, and to anyone who might be considering engaging in or inciting violence in the coming weeks know this: you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. ATF is committed to the rule of law and the protection of all citizens Constitutional rights, said Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Deputy Director Regina Lombardo. We continue to support our law enforcement partners to ensure those who violated the law during the events at the Capitol this week are brought to justice. ATF has dedicated all appropriate resources to complete these investigations as soon as possible. Todays charges are just the beginning of the FBIs ongoing efforts to hold those responsible for the criminal acts of violence and destruction that unfolded during the U.S. Capitol building breach on January 6th, said FBI Director Christopher Wray. To be clear, what took place that day was not First Amendment-protected activity, but rather an affront on our democracy. The FBI, along with our local, state and federal partners, is committed to ensuring that justice is served. We will continue to aggressively investigate each and every individual who chose to ignore the law and instead incite violence, destroy property, and injure others. Deputy U.S. Marshals responded to support U.S. Capitol Police after the incursion into the Capitol building. Our deputies helped to clear the building and escorted members of Congress back to the main chamber for official business, said U.S. Marshals Service Director Donald Washington. US Marshals will now bring to bear our fugitive investigations expertise to ensure that individuals charged in federal warrants are brought to face justice. Respect for the rule of law is a foundational principle for our democracy and the freedoms that it provides. Unlawful acts will not go unpunished. The events that happened at and around the United States Capitol were unconscionable, and those responsible will be held accountable for their attempts to thwart Democracy, said Metropolitan Police Department Chief of Police Robert J. Contee III. While these charges represent a positive step, there is still work to be done. Our collective intentions are to work diligently to identify all of the persons responsible for the insurrection at our U.S. Capitol. Thirteen individuals have been charged with federal crimes. The defendants and charges are outlined below: Cleveland Meredith was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with making interstate threats to Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Richard Barnett, of Arkansas, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful entry; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and theft of public money, property, or records. Barnett allegedly entered a restricted are of the Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Lonnie Coffman, of Alabama, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with possession of an unregistered firearm (destructive device) and carrying a pistol without a license. It is alleged that Coffmans vehicle contained 11 explosive devices known as Molotov cocktails and firearms. It is further alleged he was in possession of two firearms. Coffman was arrested and is currently being held. His detention hearing is scheduled for Jan. 12, 2021. Mark Leffingwell, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; assault on a federal law enforcement officer; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Leffingwell allegedly entered the Senate side of the Capitol and when stopped by law enforcement, struck an officer in the helmet and chest. Leffingwell is currently being held and has a detention hearing in district court today. Christopher Alberts, of Maryland, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with carrying or having readily accessible, on the grounds of the United States Capitol Building, a firearm and ammunition. Specifically a Taurus G2C, 9mm handgun and 9mm caliber ammunition. The defendant appeared in district court and was released. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 28, 2021. Joshua Pruitt, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. The defendant appeared in district court and was released. He has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 28, 2021. Matthew Council, of Florida, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Council allegedly unlawfully entered the Capitol building, and when stopped by law enforcement, he pushed the officer. Cindy Fitchett, of Virginia, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Michael Curzio, of Florida, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Douglas Sweet, of Florida, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Bradley Ruskelas, of Illinois, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Terry Brown, of Pennsylvania, was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Thomas Gallagher was charged on Jan. 7, 2021, with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; or knowingly, with intent to impede government business or official functions, engaging in disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. In addition, approximately 40 individuals have been arrested and charged in Superior Court with offenses including, but not limited to, unlawful entry, curfew violations, and firearms-related crimes. The cases are being prosecuted by the U.S Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and are being investigated jointly by the FBI; U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; United States Marshals Service; U.S. Capitol Police Department; and the Metropolitan Police Department. The ATF and FBI continue to urge the public to report suspected use of explosive devices, or violent, destructive acts associated with the recent unrest. Anyone with information can call 1-888-ATF-TIPS (1-888-283-8477), email ATFTips@atf.gov or submit information anonymously via ReportIt.com. The FBI is looking for individuals who may have incited or promoted violence of any kind. Anyone with digital material or tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or submit images or videos at fbi.gov/USCapitol. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. Defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. Flash China on Thursday urged the United Kingdom to abandon its illusion of continued colonial influence on Hong Kong and to cease interfering in China's internal affairs. British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Wednesday that the arrests of politicians and activists in Hong Kong were "a grievous attack on Hong Kong's rights and freedoms" as protected under the Sino-British Joint Declaration. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told a press briefing that the core of the Joint Declaration is the resumption of China's exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong, which does not grant Britain the right to interfere in Hong Kong affairs. "Since the return of Hong Kong, the Chinese government has governed Hong Kong on the basis of the Constitution of the People's Republic of China and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, not the Joint Declaration," said Hua. Hua said those people were arrested on suspicion of committing crimes including subversion under the national security law in Hong Kong. "We firmly support Hong Kong police in performing their duties in accordance with laws to safeguard national security and Hong Kong's security and stability," she said. Hua said that after Hong Kong's return, it is an undeniable fact that Hong Kong residents have enjoyed unprecedented democratic rights and freedoms with the implementation of the principles of "one country, two systems," "Hong Kong people governing Hong Kong," and a high degree of autonomy for the region. On the contrary, the British government reserved the right not to apply the provisions related to periodic elections to Hong Kong when ratifying the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in 1976. Both the Public Order Ordinance and the Societies Ordinance during British rule imposed draconian restrictions on assembly, procession and association in Hong Kong, according to Hua. Stressing that Hong Kong affairs are purely China's internal affairs, Hua urged the British side to discard its colonial mentality, abandon its hypocrisy and double standards, earnestly respect China's sovereignty, and immediately cease interfering in Hong Kong affairs in any form. DENVER and WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- David Kilcullen, CEO of Cordillera and one of the leading figures in the field of guerrilla warfare, has warned that this week's attack on Capitol Hill "looked a little like the opening move of a colour revolution, as seen in Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia or the Arab Spring". In an essay published yesterday at The Australian, Kilcullen describes that there is, in the United States, a "sizeable active component for a revolt, with a far larger sympathiser network and support base". Cordillera advises multiple city governments in the United States on urban public safety. The author, a former Australian-American military officer now based in Denver, identifies a dangerous pattern in yesterday's disorders in the United States' capital: "Revolutions often begin with massive peaceful protests over a contested election. These lead to violence, which triggers a government crackdown, which provokes insurrection, international condemnation and, often, regime change." The specialist, who has written five best-selling books on security, is considered the world's top insurgency expert. In his article at The Australian, Kilcullen warns that further acts of violence may happen in the next two weeks, marked by a conflict among left-wing populists, right-wing populists, and an establishment that includes elites from both political parties. "Each has its peaceful political players, its mass street activists and its violent extremists," he emphasises. "The notion of an inevitable, peaceful democratic transfer of power is dead," he sums up. Kilcullen served as the Special Advisor for Counterinsurgency to the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and senior counterinsurgency advisor to General David Petraeus time Commanding General of United States, and international forces in Iraq. He also worked as chief counterterrorism strategist at the U.S. State Department, operating in the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, including operational activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. During 22 years in the Australian army, Kilcullen was deployed in East Timor, Bougainville, and the Middle East. His latest book, The Dragons and the Snakes, has been described by The Times of London as one that "should be read by everyone in uniform". Along with David Kilcullen, Cordillera is directed by COO Alex Case, vice-president Roman D. Ortiz and vice-president and U.K. director, Gordon Pendleton. The company provides geopolitical analysis and risk management to governments, corporate clients and NGOs in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. The firm's suite of technological tools, and its distributed operations model, enables Cordillera to help clients adapt and thrive throughout the complex world that will arise as a consequence of the COVID-19 health emergency. Cordillera Media Ramon Pedrosa rpl@cordillera-apps.com +356 7946 7486 www.cordillera-apps.com Courtes vacances pour les membres du gouvernement qui se sont retrouves pour la premiere rencontre du Cabinet et ils ont pris note de lextension du moratoire pour lutilisation du plastique a usage unieu dans lindustrie locale de lalimentation, de la situation concernant le Covid-19 dans le pays, la creation dun National Health Accounts Committee entre autres. 1. Cabinet has agreed to: (a) changes being brought to the Environment Protection (Control of Single Use Plastic Products) Regulations 2020 so as to: (i) allow a moratorium until 15 January 2022 in respect of the banning of non-biodegradable single use plastic bowls, cups and trays used by the local food industry for packaging of fresh, pre-cooked/ cooked food products; (ii) include a definition for plastic bowl, plastic cup and plastic tray; (iii) provide a further moratorium until 15 April 2021 in respect of stand-alone non-biodegradable single use plastic straw; and (b) amendments being made to the Third Schedule of the Consumer Protection (Control of Imports) Regulations 2017 so as to prohibit the import of specific non-biodegradable single use plastic items as packaging of other products. 2. Cabinet has taken note that the Local Government (Fees) (Amendment) Regulations 2021 would be promulgated to provide for electronic means of payment through the Companies and Business Registration Integrated System for the following entities: (a) audit firms; (b) company service providers; (c) companies with turnover of 50 million rupees or more; (d) law firms; (e) management companies or companies with a management licence issued under the Financial Services Act; and (f) registered agents. The Regulations would ensure that the relevant Local Authority is legally accountable for collection of trade fees arrears prior to 3 January 2020. The Regulations shall be deemed to be effective as from 4 January 2021. 3. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of a Sandbox Framework to promote the adoption of emerging and innovative technologies in Ministries and Departments. The broad objectives of the Framework are to: (a) encourage and stimulate Ministries and Departments to implement innovative technology solutions through proof of concept models on a non-committal and without prejudice basis to Government; (b) foster collaboration between the public sector and private sector in the development and testing of innovative solutions; (c) attract local or international service providers as well as incubators to share their expertise on innovative technologies or systems such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Blockchain, ePayment, Electronic Document Management System, Collaborative Software and eSignature; (d) provide deeper insights into the technology solution before deployment on a larger scale; and (e) provide opportunities for public organisations to try innovative technology solutions to a particular problem with minimal potential risks. The Sandbox Framework would provide public organisations with the flexibility to have recourse to the services of innovative companies and start-ups to develop applications in response to a particular problem without going through the lengthy process of existing procurement procedures. 4. Cabinet has taken note of the implementation of the Construction of Verdun Bypass Phase 1 project which would include the construction of access ramps of about 570 metres to Motorway M3 and improvement works at the existing junction M3/A7 at Saint Pierre to alleviate traffic congestions. 5. Cabinet has agreed to the extension of the temporary lifting of restriction at Pointe dEsny in the aftermath of the MV Wakashio oil spill, from Friday 08 January until Sunday 31 January 2021. 6. Cabinet has taken note that a Memorandum of Understanding would be signed between the National Audit Office of Mauritius and the Office of the Auditor General of Seychelles, with a view to strengthening, promoting and developing co-operation between the two countries in the field of public sector auditing. The Memorandum of Understanding would provide for co-operation in the following areas: (a) exchange of information, experiences and best practices on public sector auditing procedure and methodology, including audit realisation issues through trainings and study visits; (b) professional training for the improvement of professional standards of personnel; and (c) any other areas of cooperation in the field of public sector auditing. 7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the recent Consultative Workshop on National Environmental Policy organised by the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Country Office. The Human Development Report 2020 entitled The next frontier Human Development and the Anthropocene was launched by the UNDP Resident Representative for Mauritius and Seychelles. During the first session, the Workshop focused on approaches for the review of the Nationally Determined Contributions, that is, national climate plans including targets, measures and policies that would need to be agreed upon for implementation in order to reduce national emissions and adapt to climate change. Other sessions were also held on the overarching strategic policy orientation for the Master Plan for the Environment of the Republic of Mauritius as well as on the eight themes of the Assises de lEnvironnement held in December 2019, namely, La Culture Environnementale, Controle des Dechets Plastiques, Urbanisme et Politique Environnementale, Zones Cotieres et Environnement Marin, Biodiversite et Ressources Naturelles, Lutte Contre La Pollution, Changement Climatique and La gestion des Dechets. Participants have been invited to submit their views and comments on the draft Master Plan following which further consultations would be held with key stakeholders. The review of the Environment Protection Act was also discussed. 8. Cabinet has taken note of the alarming situation of the COVID-19 pandemic prevailing across the world and the new variant of the virus which has been detected in UK and South Africa. A new variant has also been detected in Nigeria and the Ministry of Health and Wellness is closely monitoring the situation. With regard to Mauritius, no local case has been recorded since 26 November 2020. Currently, there were 15 active cases of COVID-19 in Mauritius. As at 8 January 2021, 539 cases of COVID-19 had been registered. The public should continue to observe strict sanitary precautions. Passengers coming from UK and South Africa or those who have transited through these countries during the last 15 days would not be allowed to enter Mauritius until 31 January 2021. 9. Cabinet has taken note that a National Health Accounts Committee would be constituted for the preparation of the National Health Accounts Report 2020 for the Republic of Mauritius for the period 01 January to 31 December 2019. The Report would provide detailed information on the financial flows associated with the delivery and consumption of healthcare goods and services within the country. It would be an important tool in the healthcare planning process to formulate policy decisions at the national level. 10. Cabinet has taken note of the reconstitution of the Board of the Sugar Insurance Fund Board with Mr Chaitanand Jheengun as Chairperson. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn A Dysfunctional Nation and Its People: Becoming Functional Clinical & Forensic Psychologist author, Dr. Raymond H. Hamden, made professionally practical contributions in the Political Psychology. A Dysfunctional Nation and Its People: Becoming Functional [workshop in Political Psychology] and Psychology of Terrorists: Profiling and CounterAction [Taylor & Francis Publishing, CRC Press, 2018 November]. Facts for Media and Consultations to Corporations and Governments 1) Identify an Unhealthy Nation or Community 2) Realize the Roles of Citizens in Dysfunctional Nation 3) Learn to Categorize Coping Behaviors of the Dysfunction & Roles and the Causes 4) Implement Positive Aspects of Roles 5) Development Healthy National Relations via Positive Identities, Friendliness and Contentment Skills 6) Development of Healthy Individual Attitudes and Behaviors within the Community and Nation There are four realities that are present in the stressed out or very injurious nation. People do not know who they are or they have a false picture as to who they are, they do not sustain their relationships through deep friendliness, defenses are used repeatedly, and contentment skills are minimal. Contentment skills are those abilities to sustain long-term relationships, intra- community and inter-community. When a nation is in pain and stress, psychological defenses will arise. Psychological Defenses have two purposes: to give pleasure and to avoid pain. In Political Psychology, professionals want to walk through pain so that citizens can discover a true positive identity. Oftentimes leadership comfort can go deeper than the pain. "A personality of Presidents as Independent Variables" [Ignacio Arana Araya Journal of the International Society of Political Psychology, 18 December 2020] writes: The debate about the relative importance of the personality traits of presidents has a long history. Capturing presidential personalities and measuring their impact on executive politics leads to a significant quantitative shift that focused more on the institutions within which presidents operate. The personality and the policies need to balance for public acceptance and comfort or the citizens. These principles are not painted on the walls, but they are the implicit assumptions that govern relationships between people of a nation. As these assumptions work themselves out, the relationships become more and more strained. Due to the pain and stress, often as not, addictive behaviors will arise to kill the pain. The nation cannot endure pain. The people fear Rejection, Abandonment, and Neglect from a dysfunctional government Peer Reviewed American College of Forensic Examiners International (2012) Ministry of State (2011) Voice America Broadcast Network (2011) International Society of Political Psychology, Science Po Institute, Paris (2008) Keynote Address 2nd MENA Regional Conference of Psychology, Jordan (2007) Since 2012, presented as education training to various academic, corporate, government, and media entities. Taught as subject matter in Political Imaging and Leadership Contact Raymond Hamden +1 (202) 262-8800 Dr. Raymond H. Hamden, Clinical & Forensic Psychologist Fellow, AAFS (Psychiatry & Behavior Sciences] * * * * * The Foundation For International Human Relations, Washington, DC based Carcasses of a tiger cub and a wild boar were found in a well in Sehore district, 37 km south of Bhopal, on Wednesday night, said a forest official. Sehore divisional forest officer Ramesh Ganawa said, The carcasses of a one-year-old cub and a wild boar were found in a well in Dungaria village of the district, about 20 km from Ratapani Wildlife Sanctuary which houses more than 40 tigers. All the body parts of the animals were intact and veterinary doctors ruled out the possibility of death by electrocution or poisoning, said the DFO. The DFO said, This might be an accident as the well doesnt have a parapet. They might have fallen in the well accidentally but the real cause of death will be ascertained only after an investigation. After post mortem, the carcasses were disposed of, said the DFO. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A horde of rioters incited by President Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, breaching security perimeters, marching inside and ransacking property in a siege that left four people dead. Infectious disease experts on Thursday identified more potential fallout: That the Capitol invasion may have been a COVID-19 super-spreader event that could result in thousands of new cases and deaths. Its the perfect storm, said Yvonne Maldonado, an infectious disease expert at Stanford University. The elements of a super-spreader event were all there: hundreds of people congregated together, mostly maskless, yelling and screaming for prolonged periods of time. The rioters were also from all over the country and will be traveling back to their communities, increasing the risk of multiple surges while the country is already experiencing a record explosion of cases and a highly transmissible new variant has begun circulating in the U.S. Another factor is age, Maldonado said. From the photos, it looked like a substantial proportion of the rioters were young people. They are more likely to be asymptomatic, further limiting the potential for timely disease detection and contact tracing. Asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic people those who show no signs of illness are responsible for nearly 60% of all coronavirus infections in the U.S., according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Thursday in the journal JAMA Open Network. Experts noted that the scenario and its potential effects differ markedly from the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer, which were not thought to be a significant driver of infections. More for you Local Coronavirus live updates: Bay Area sees plunge in... One important distinction is that a majority of the protesters during the summer wore masks, which most of the Capitol rioters did not. The lack of masks among Wednesdays mob and the proliferation of droplets from yelling and screaming raised their risk, said Charles Chiu, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. The risk of widespread infection was far higher among those who entered the Capitol rather than remaining outside, he said. Studies have found that coronavirus is far more transmissible indoors, and if there was a super-spreader event Wednesday, it most likely occurred in that static setting, Chiu said. Experts added that much remains to be learned about transmission during the winter, when conditions are cooler and drier compared to the summer. Well likely know more in 10-14 days, when cases would begin to rise, said Dr. Art Reingold, head of the division of epidemiology at UC Berkeley. But ultimately, according to Chiu, it will be very difficult to assess just how much pandemic damage the rioters inflicted because of how many of them came from different states, will turn out to be asymptomatic, or potentially will avoid testing altogether. Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain NEWPORT NEWS, Va., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Virginia Health Services (VHS) announced it will be profiled in two new ads launched by the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), the nation's largest association of long term and post-acute care providers. The ads, "Family" and "Oath," feature a diverse group of caregivers from multiple Virginia Health Services (VHS) communities: Northampton Convalescent & Rehabilitation Center, York Convalescent & Rehabilitation Center, and The Huntington at the Newport assisted living community. Included in both cable and digital advertisements are Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) Brenda Kincaid, LPN Shannon Mullen, LPN Kim Rudolph and Physical Therapist Stacey Sterner. The group discusses how long-term care staff have steadfastly protected and cared for nursing home and assisted living residents under very challenging circumstances. Additional VHS staff, residents and The Hamilton at York assisted living community will be also featured in AHCA/NCAL's ad content, which will run through the end of 2020 on select cable networks and digital platforms, and supplemented by local buys from AHCA/NCAL state affiliates. "We are honored that AHCA/NCAL chose our team to be a part of this important campaign," said Mark Klyczek, President & CEO, Virginia Health Services. "Our caregivers have faced extraordinary challenges over the past eight months, but despite the circumstances, they have never wavered from doing everything they can to protect our residents. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to share our stories on a national platform. We hope these ads give Americans a better understanding of the courageous work our caregivers have undertaken and the high-quality care we provide every single day." About VHS Locally owned and headquartered in Newport News, Virginia since 1963, Virginia Health Services offers exceptional senior living and health care services. We specialize in the continuum of care from active lifestyle independent and assisted senior living communities, to skilled nursing and rehabilitation services. Our 1,200+ employees are passionate and committed to the well-being and quality care of our residents. Beyond our thoughtfully maintained communities located throughout the Virginia Peninsula, we offer a full range of personalized skilled health care, outpatient therapy, home care and hospice services by specially trained staff in the comfort and privacy of your home. To learn more, please visit our website at www.vahs.com. Contact Information: Virginia Health Services Heather Duncan, Senior Director of Marketing 757-630-6131 [email protected] SOURCE Virginia Health Services Routine for Pak to come up with 'farcical actions' prior to key intl meets: MEA on Lakhvi sentencing The Imam of Jihadis: Why Pakistans actions against Lakhvi are just an eye-wash Lashkars operational commander Lakhvi sentenced to 5 years in jail India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: A Pakistan court has sentenced Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, the operational commander of the Lashkar-e-Tayiba to 5 years in jail and also ordered him to pay a fine. He was found guilty of extending financial help to terrorists through various umbrella businesses. He was convicted for running a dispensary as a cover for terror funding. The United States had on Tuesday welcomed the arrest of Lakhvi on charges of terror financing, but also called for his prosecution in the Mumbai 26/11 case. Pakistan strikes Imam of Jihadis, Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi off terror watch list We welcome Pakistan's arrest of terrorist leader Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi as an important step in holding him responsible for his role in supporting terrorism and its financing," the US state department's bureau of South and Central Asian affairs said on Twitter. It also said, "we will follow his prosecution & sentencing closely & urge that he be held accountable for his involvement in the Mumbai attacks." Lakhvi is one of the masterminds of the Mumbai attacks. He was arrested by the Pakistan authorities on January 2 on charges of terror financing. His arrest came five years after he was granted bail. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Lakhvi remained low key following his bail. However Intelligence Bureau officials tell OneIndia that he continued nurturing the outfit and its cadres. Zimmer: Gronowski out, Heide in for SDSU, with new faces on the way Cleric Abu Bakar Bashir waves from a wheelchair upon arriving at the Al Mukmin Islamic Boarding School where he resides near Solo, Indonesia, after his release from prison on terror-related charges, Jan. 8, 2021. Radical cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, a co-founder of the group blamed for Indonesias deadliest terrorist attack, returned home to his Islamic boarding school in Central Java upon being freed Friday after almost a decade behind bars on militancy-related charges. The former spiritual leader of al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) left a maximum-security prison in Bogor, south of Jakarta, in a van in the early morning, a spokeswoman for the Directorate General of Corrections said. He was in good spirits and good health, Rika Aprianti told reporters, adding that members of the Densus 88 anti-terror police unit and the National Counterterrorism Agency (BNPT) escorted the 82-year-old Bashir during the drive home. Bashir did not issue any statements in the hours after he returned to the Al Mukmin school in his hometown of Sukoharjo, near the city of Solo, in the afternoon. He had served nearly 10 years of a 15-year sentence for funding a militant training camp, and was freed after authorities cut 55 months off his term for good behavior. The cleric wore a mask to guard against COVID-19 as he sat in a wheelchair and waved to supporters and reporters from the entrance to the boarding school. Authorities never proved a link between Bashir and the Bali bombings that killed 202 people mostly foreigners in October 2002. Eighty-eight of the victims of the twin attacks were from neighboring Australia. Its still raw after all of these years later, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a press conference in Canberra on Friday, when asked to comment about Bashirs release. [T]his is very distressing to the friends and families of the Australians, the 88 Australians who were killed in the Bali bombings of 2002. I still remember that day very vividly, like Im sure many Australians do, he said, according to an official transcript. He and his predecessors, the PM said, had always called for the perpetrators of those attacks to face tougher, proportionate and just sentences in these cases. However, Bashirs release was a matter of the Indonesias justice system, and Australia would have to respect the decisions that they take, Morrison said. We have made clear through our Embassy in Jakarta the concerns we have that such individuals be prevented from further inciting others, the prime minister added. JI, al-Qaeda's affiliate in Southeast Asia, was also blamed for a series of other deadly bombings across the archipelago-nation in the 2000s. Authorities accused Bashir of inciting JI militants to carry out such attacks. In 2011, after clerics arrest the previous year, a court convicted him of helping fund a training camp for Islamic militants in Aceh province and inciting extremists to carry out attacks. In 2018, the government announced that Bashir would be released unconditionally, citing poor health and advanced age, but it later backtracked and said he could be paroled if he signed a pledge of allegiance to the state ideology known as Pancasila a condition which he rejected. Feels special Officials at the Islamic boarding school Al Mukmin, which Bashir ran before his imprisonment, said they did not organize a homecoming party for him to prevent a large crowd that potentially could spread the coronavirus disease. Neighbors welcomed Bashirs release. It feels special because I was married by him, said Dwi Lestari, 46, who owns a food stall near the school. Teacher Abu loved to teach young children the Quran and persuaded youths here to stop drinking. Now they are good Quran reciters, Dwi told BenarNews. Before the cleric arrived, police took down large banners welcoming Bashir him home, school spokesman Endro Sudarsono said. The banners didnt contain any provocative words, just expressions of gratitude for the homecoming of the person we respect, Endro told BenarNews. Abdul Rohim, Bashirs eldest son, said the family would try to insulate his father from radical influences. Our family will do our best to keep him away from any extremist thinking, or any ideas that are beyond the pale, be they ISIS or non-ISIS, Rohim told BenarNews, using another acronym for the Islamic State (IS) group. Authorities had accused Bashir of pledging allegiance to IS in 2014, but his spokesman said at the time that the cleric was merely expressing support for the creation of an Islamic caliphate in Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim-majority nation. A lawyer for Bashir, Achmad Michdan, said his client was in good health and had tested negative for COVID-19 before being released. Michdan said Bashir would not receive guests during the pandemic. His two sons told him a lot about Solo and the changes it has undergone. He will spend time with his family first, Michdan told reporters. Abu Bakar Bashir, 82, once synonymous with militant Islam in Indonesia, leaves the Gunung Sindur prison in Bogor, on the outskirts of Jakarta, after completing a 15-year prison term, Jan. 8, 2021. [AFP] A terrorism expert and former JI member, Sofyan Tsauri, said Bashir tended to support IS because he relied on information from Abu Walid, an IS recruiter from Solo who had studied at Bashirs school. Bashir used to trust everything Abu Walid told him about Syria, Sofyan told BenarNews. He didn't listen to Abu Tholut, who was affiliated to al-Qaeda, said Sofyan, referring to a fellow inmate who Bashir met while incarcerated. Abu Walid (also known by the alias Mohammed Yusop Karim Fais) whose real name was Muhammad Saifuddin, was designated as a global terrorist by the United States. He was killed in Syria in January 2019, according to the BNPT. Saifuddin was said to be a close aide to Abu Bakar al-Baghdadi, the top leader of IS, who later killed himself during a raid by U.S. special forces in the Syrian province of Idlib in October 2019. While in prison, Sofyan said, Bashir had little access to his family and was surrounded by fellow inmates who had pledged allegiance to IS. After homecoming, I am sure, Iim [Rohim] and Rosyid will be able to look after their father. They will surely find ways to keep people from meeting him, Sofyan said, referring to Bashirs sons. Earlier this week, Sidney Jones, director of the Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict (IPAC), a Jakarta think-tank, said that Bashir no longer had a relationship with Jemaah Islamiyah. Hes completely severed ties with JI, Jones told BenarNews. Whether he is still pro-ISIS or not, he will still be seen as the elder of the extremist movement, and not only by one organization but also all of them, because he is seen as a person who has contributed a lot to the movement, Jones said. Buildings and cars burn after a bomb blast in Kuta, on Indonesias Bali Island, Oct. 13, 2002. [AFP File Photo] De-radicalization The BNPTs director for de-radicalization, Irfan Idris, expressed hope that Bashir would shun radicalism. We hope that people or groups who are still sympathetic to radical ideology will rethink the concept of jihad, Irfan said in a statement to BenarNews. Bashir would be placed into a de-radicalization program to instill nationalism, Irfan said, as he urged the public not to stigmatize the elderly cleric. His family plays a big role in supporting him, Irfan said. Meanwhile, Masduki Badilowi, deputy secretary general of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), the countrys largest Islamic organization, called on Bashir to give sermons that would not provoke violence. Of course, we hope he can return to preaching, but with peaceful messages, Masduki told BenarNews. Test and Trace consultancy firms working for the NHS are being paid sums which equate to an average of 163,000 a consultant, it has emerged. The figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show that the government-funded service currently employs 2,300 management consultants, with 375 million being spent so far on private consultancy services. It comes as Boris Johnson today announced the NHS will be able to give 200,000 jabs every day by next Friday as part of his ambitious lockdown-ending plans. Test and Trace consultancy firms working for the NHS are being paid sums which equate to an average of 163,000 a consultant. (Stock image) Health Minister Helen Whately released the figures, which reflect the number of consultants who were working at the start of November last year, in response to a question from Labour MP Andy Slaughter. Mr Slaughter later told The Times: 'These are staggering sums of public money being handed out to consultants with no scrutiny or explanation how they are chosen. 'As we enter the worst phase of the pandemic, if mistakes have been made these must be laid bare.' Ms Whately also explained that consultant were being recruited from 73 different suppliers. Tamzen Isacsson, chief executive of the Management Consultancies Association (MCA), said: 'The charge from consulting firms including various operating costs that goes well beyond consultant salaries including product development, solution development, security system requirements, legal costs, overheads, and training and recruitment costs. 'A large number of consultancy firms have been brought into support critical government projects during the pandemic including on Test and Trace which has required people with expertise in digital technology, supply chain, logistics, procurement and in delivering major government projects. 'The consulting sector has provided multi-disciplinary capabilities and senior experience very quickly to support Government and has helped deal with complex negotiations around data, infrastructure and procurement at pace. 'All MCA member firms used by government in this period have been procured through competitively tendered Crown Commercial Service frameworks which evaluate bidding firms against quality and cost criteria. As part of these contracts, consultancy firms are required to upskill civil servants and transfer knowledge to increase capability for the future. 'We should remember that Government is dealing with an unprecedented volume of workload and major upheaval due to COVID-19 and using external resources has enabled them to work quickly and with intensity in many areas.' In November, it was revealed that Britain's creaking Test and Trace system was still not reaching at least four in ten contacts of those testing positive for Covid-19. Figures showed that in cases managed either online via email or by telephone by private companies, Serco and Sitel, just 58.9 per cent of close contacts were reached. Boris Johnson today announced the NHS will be able to give 200,000 jabs every day by next Friday as part of ambitious lockdown-ending plans. It came after a BBC investigation claimed it could actually be as low as 50 per cent due to IT problems and delays in getting contact details for people to call. Downing Street defended the 'colossal' achievements of Test and Trace but acknowledged improvements could be made. A No 10 spokesman said at the time: 'We are testing more people per head of population than any other European country and that will grow thanks to our increased testing capacity.' It comes as Boris Johnson today announced he would bring in the Army to bolster the UK's coronavirus vaccination drive and claimed the NHS would be able to give 200,000 jabs every day by next Friday as part of ambitious lockdown-ending plans. With the roll-out of vaccines the only light at the end of the tunnel, the Prime Minister reassured the public there would be enough doses available to get all the top priority groups immunised by mid-February. He also pledged to offer every care home resident a jab by the end of January and announced a new national online booking system that is hoped will speed up the process. Mr Johnson's mammoth jab pledge which critics fear he won't be able to deliver because it is over-ambitious came moments after Britain recorded 1,162 Covid deaths in the second worst day of the pandemic. Department of Health data shows only April 21 had a worse death toll than today, when 1,224 victims were declared. The Telegraph Switzerland said "no deal" to Brussels freedom of movement demands and pulled out of seven years of tortured trade negotiations with the European Union on Wednesday. Bern pulled the plug after years of difficult talks over Single Market access that are reminiscent of the European Commissions Brexit negotiations with the UK over the past four years. "The Federal Council today took the decision not to sign the agreement, and communicated this decision to the EU. This brings the negotiations [...] to a close," the Swiss government said. There remain substantial differences between Switzerland and the EU on key aspects of the agreement. The conditions are thus not met for the signing of the agreement," it said after a cabinet meeting. The commission, which negotiates on behalf of the 27 EU member states, said it took note of the unilateral decision. We regret this decision, it said of the move to terminate negotiations, which began in 2013. Swiss ministers blamed EU demands for full access to its job market, including for those seeking work. They said it could have led to non-Swiss citizens getting social security rights in the country. In UP villagers get cocktail vaccine dose: Covishield first, Covaxin next ICMR to study effectiveness of Covishield, Covaxin in preventing progression of COVID into severe form Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout: PM Modi to meet CMs on Monday to discuss Covid vaccination strategy India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 08: Ahead of COVID-19 vaccine rollout in India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual meeting with chief ministers of all states and Union Territories on January 11. The meeting to discuss vaccine rollout comes days after the country's drug regulator approved restricted emergency use of two vaccines against Covid - Serum Institute's Covishield and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. The prime minister has often spoken with state chief ministers following the pandemic's outbreak in the country. India's drugs regulator has approved Oxford vaccine Covishield, being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. Meanwhile, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan hailed the scientists and doctors for their work in the field of COVID-19 vaccine development and said vaccines will be provided to the people of the country in the next few days. Vardhan said, "In a short period of time, India has done well by developing vaccines. In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers." Karnataka to receive 13.90 lakh vaccine vials in a couple of days: Health Minister "We've ensured that every detail is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroots level. Lakhs of healthcare workers trained and the process continues," Vardhan said. A dry run was carried out in eight districts on December 28-29 and the first countrywide drill was held on January 2. On Friday, second round of the mock drill was conducted in as many as 33 states in the country. Scientists from Russia, Austria, and the USA have discovered virus-like particles in the bacterial symbionts of Bryozoa - a phylum of colonial aquatic invertebrates - filter-feeders dominating in many bottom ecosystems. The research project was planned and supervised by scientists from St Petersburg University. Some of the virus-like particles resemble red blood cells, while others have a sea-urchin-like appearance. Although viruses have never been reported inside symbiotic bacteria in bryozoans, scientists suggest that this "matryoshka doll" may have a prominent effect on the bacterial hosts. Life of most organisms on our planet is closely associated with bacterial communities - microbiota that plays a very important role in the health of the host from helping to control digestion to protection of the host from infections. Bryozoa are not an exception. Inside some of these invertebrates the symbiotic bacteria live that, e.g. make larvae not eatable for fish. Yet how the symbiosis can benefit the host itself still remains a mystery. Scientists from the St Petersburg University tried to solve it and eventually made an unexpected discovery. They encountered the virus-like particles in the colonies of the cheilostome bryozoan Bugula neritina that were intertidally collected from the east coastal area of the USA, and in Paralicornia sinuosa that was collected near Australia. Between bacteria of B. neritina the virus-like particles were found that resembled red blood cells. The particles found inside and between bacteria of P. sinuosa were reminiscent the sea urchins. These were spherical and consisting of cylindrical/tube-like elements evenly radiating from the central double-walled 'core'. To gain a better understanding of what the particles are and what role they play in the life of moss animals the biologists from the University established a collaboration with experts from the Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, the Russian Academy of Sciences. 'So-called "urchins" from the Australian bryozoan is much alike the "metamorphosis associated contractile structures (MACs)" described by the American scientists in 2014. These structures can be found inside the biofilm-forming marine bacteria Pseudoalteromonas luteoviolacea. MACs have the same origin as the viruses-bacteriophages. In fact, ???s are an assemblage of multiple contractile systems related to the contractile tails of myoviruses (tailed bacteriophages with contractile tails). Contacting the biofilms of Pseudoalteromonas can induce larval metamorphosis in the tubeworm Hydroides elegans. When settling, the larvae of H. elegans contact the biofilm at sea bottom, and the "urchins"' inside the biofilm inject a protein signal into the cells of the larvae. The delivery of the protein induces larval metamorphosis,' said Professor Andrey Letarov, Head of the Laboratory of Microbial Viruses at the Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, RAS. Yet there are some differences, Dr Letarov explained. The 'urchins' inside the bacteria that were studied by the Americans are very large and not 'well-organized', while the particles inside the bacteria of Paralicornia sinuosa are finely structured into tiny spheres. But generally speaking, there is much in common between these structures. What role the 'urchins' play in this biological system remains unclear. Yet there is some tentative evidence. 'We know that in some bryozoan species, in particular in Bugula neritina, bacteria from maternal tissues are transmitted to larvae thus providing the vertical transfer of the symbionts between bryozoan generations. Viruses should be transmitted together with bacteria. Yet not all of the bacteria are moved into the larvae. Those that remain in the host can multiply producing an excess of toxic metabolites. This can pose a potential threat to the host. Presumably, the newly discovered viruses can destroy these bacteria thus regulating the symbiont number in the bryozoan hosts,' said Andrew Ostrovsky, Professor at the Department of Invertebrate Zoology, St Petersburg University, and head of the research project. 'The Mac-like structures ("urchins") found in the Australian bryozoan also destroy bacteria. Yet it remains unclear whether they have analogous functions as in the system P. luteoviolaceae - H. elegans. In other words, whether they can deliver a signal from bacterial symbionts to the host,' added Dr Letarov. Much has to be done, especially in respect to molecular processes in which the virus-like particles can be involved. The scientists are planning to sequence the genome of bacteria containing these virus-like particles to reveal genetic information that regulates their formation. The work will be done in collaboration with bioinformaticians. This may help in gaining a better understanding of what proteins are produced by the 'urchins' and how they can influence other parts of this biological "matryoshka". Yet collecting fresh bryozoan colonies to continue this research is rather difficult task. Cultivation of the bryozoan symbiotic bacteria in the laboratory was never successful. They can be collected only in their natural habitats, which are the coastal area of Australia and east coastal area of the USA. But even getting there, especially during the current pandemic, is very difficult. This makes scientists think about finding the similar symbiotic systems near the Marine Biological Station of the University at the White Sea. Among bryozoans found in the region, some species possess bacteria. 'Viruses are non-cellular infectious agents. Presumably, they are the most numerous 'particles of life' on the planet. They can replicate, i.e. make copies of themselves, by using bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, plants, and animals. In other words, all living organisms,' Andrew Ostrovsky said. 'It is a gigantic world that dates back to the period when cellular life on Earth began. Not surprisingly then that viruses are deeply involved in regulation of many processes in living organisms. Without viruses, life and the planet would not exist.' ### Prime Minister Modi will be holding a virtual meeting with leading economists and sectoral experts today to seek their inputs on various provisions that could be included in the forthcoming budget to boost economic growth in the country. With the release date of the 2021 Budget soon approaching, Prime Minister Modi will be holding a virtual meeting with leading economists and sectoral experts today to seek their inputs on various provisions that could be included in the forthcoming budget to boost economic growth in the country. The discussions will be significant for the revival of the economy which has been badly hit due to the coronavirus pandemic. The economy had witnessed a sharp downturn in the first quarter with a 23.9 percent contraction in the GDP due to the shutting down of various businesses amid pandemic. However, India has been on its way to recovery ever since June with the gradual reopening of various sectors of the economy including manufacturing. The contraction of GDP in the July-September quarter was 7.5 percent, showing a sharp recovery when compared to the contraction in the first quarter. However, considering that the estimated contraction of real GDP in 2020-21 is projected at 7.5 percent by the Reserve Bank of India with worse contraction rates predicted by World Bank and IMF for Indian GDP, there still remains a lot that needs to be done in order to turn the negative percentage to positive growth. As per the analysts, the speed of economic revival will depend on how the government plans to spend on various sectors, including the ones hit by the lockdown. Also Read: Xis crackdown on Jack Mas empire: Beijing censors media coverage of Alibaba probe Also Read: Farmers protest enters Day 44: 8th round of talks today While the Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, who is set to present the budget on February 1, is already done with the pre-consultations for the upcoming budget, the meeting between PM Modi and experts will take place today. The meeting will be hosted by the government think tank NITI Aayog in the presence of both its Vice Chairman and CEO. Also Read:WhatsApp makes data sharing mandatory; raises privacy concerns Traditional Japanese craftsmanship used in wooden architecture has been approved for addition to UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list by an intergovernmental committee of the Paris-based international body. The committee approved the registration of "traditional skills, techniques and knowledge for the conservation and transmission of wooden architecture in Japan" at an online meeting last month. The government and related organizations intend to promote Japanese craftsmanship worldwide, but there are still many tasks to be tackled when it comes to handing down skills and expertise. The UNESCO registration covers 17 types of skills related to the preservation, repair and decoration of historical wooden structures. The government selected the 17 from a list of "chosen preservation skills" necessary for the conservation and repair of cultural properties and recommended that they be registered on the Intangible Cultural Heritage list. In approving the registration, the UNESCO panel recognized skilled craftspeople's fostering of successors and the activities of preservation organizations in conserving cultural assets, including timber-framed structures, of which the prime example is Horyuji temple in Nara Prefecture, the oldest wooden building in the world. The panel emphasized that the registration is significant because it is in line with sustainable development. Behind the government's aim for registration was a sense of crisis over the passing down of technical skills. Wooden structures that require conservation are primarily national treasures and important cultural properties, and their repair cycles are said to come at intervals of several decades or every few hundred years. This fiscal year, there have been about 180 government-financed repair projects for such treasures and assets. If skills are not passed on, it may affect the conservation of traditional buildings. These skills were predominantly used in the construction and maintenance of general housing, but demand has decreased due to the spread of modern construction methods, causing a serious shortage of craftspeople who belong to the 14 organizations responsible for passing down such techniques. In the city of Ninohe, Iwate Prefecture, which is an urushi lacquer production center, there were reportedly about 200 craftsmen in the period immediately after World War II who specialized in harvesting the unrefined sap of lacquer trees. But the number of such tappers has declined to 30 today. In Kanazawa, Ishikawa Prefecture, there are only 20 craftsmen in the association for the preservation of the traditional technique used to produce entsuke gold leaf 10,000 times thinner than a millimeter. The Association for Conservation of National Treasures in the city of Kyoto has 12 member companies and the number of craftspeople is barely holding at about 130. The ACNT is an assembly of experts involved in repairing artwork on paper sliding doors and walls. It takes 10 years for such skills to be fully acquired. But it is said that the member companies cannot afford to hire and foster craftspeople because they face financial difficulties. The selected conservation skills, which include the 17 types registered on the UNESCO list, have already received government support for projects such as training successors. The registration does not mean that international conservation measures will be taken and is unlikely to lead to boosting consumption and attracting customers, unlike washoku Japanese cuisine and traditional performing arts like kabuki and noh, which have already earned Intangible Cultural Heritage status. In fiscal 2019, the Cultural Affairs Agency launched a support program for intangible cultural properties. An official said the agency wants to "take advantage of the UNESCO registration to accelerate the momentum for conservation by promoting the spread of information." The national association in Kyoto for the preservation of techniques for roofing at shrines, temples and other facilities began to foster more craftspeople in 1974 after receiving government subsidies. The number of craftspeople with expertise in cypress bark roofing, shingling and thatching had declined to critically low levels, but the association managed to expand it to about 170. The number of young craftspeople has been rising as a result of aggressive public relations activities. An association official hopes that the UNESCO registration will "provide further momentum." The Amanosan Cultural Heritages Research Institute in Kawachinagano, Osaka Prefecture, which is a member of the Shrine and Temple Architectural Decoration Heritage Skill Association in Kyoto, successfully produced nikawa animal glue in 2012 after conducting repeated studies on the constituents of animal hides and other materials. This was prompted by a shortage of traditional nikawa adhesives used for the conservation and repair of buildings. The institute has been expanding its sales channels of the glue to entities within the same trade and foreign countries. "[Nikawa] is an indispensable material for conservation and repair techniques. But there is a limit to what can be done singlehandedly," the representative director of the institute said, emphasizing the need for government support. Karoku Miwa, head of Japan Conservation Project, who is also former executive director of the Kyushu National Museum, proposed making cultural property restoration a profession in which craftspeople can play an active role. Restoration of the Daigokuden hall at the site of Heijokyo Palace remains in the city of Nara was completed by the Cultural Affairs Agency in 2010. The hall is in the style of the ancient Nara period. If historical timber-framed structures can be restored with traditional craftsmanship and materials, it will become possible to maintain skills and for craftspeople to promote their abilities. "In addition to continued assistance and the development of techniques to produce materials in short supply, it is necessary to provide opportunities for craftsmen to display their skills in various forms," Miwa said. To help preserve traditional techniques, the government has been striving to secure the materials needed to produce and maintain traditional crafts. One thing that proved successful in recent years is a project to expand forests capable of ensuring a stable supply of timber, lacquer and rushes, which are necessary materials for the repair of cultural properties. Started in fiscal 2006, the project was prompted by a considerable delay in the restoration of the five-story pagoda of Murouji temple in the city of Uda, Nara Prefecture, due to a shortage of cypress bark for roofing when the national treasure was damaged by a typhoon in 1998. The number of designated forests, which initially stood at eight, has now increased to more than 80. These forests are used also to train craftspeople for cypress bark harvesting and lacquer tapping. Published on 2021/01/07 | Source Director Lee Hae-yeong's latest "Ghost" confirmed major casts of Sol Kyung-gu, Lee Hanee, Park So-dam, Park Hae-soo and Kim Dong-hee and Seo Hyun-woo has begun filming on the 4th. "Ghost" is an action film in which five suspects suspected of being "Ghost" spies of an anti-Japanese organization who infiltrated the governor's office on the stage of Gyeongseong in 1933, escape through doubts and boundaries toward each other. Sol Kyung-gu plays the role of Japanese police, Muramaya Junji, who was demoted to a communications and supervisor at the Bureau of Economic Affairs, Lee Hanee plays Park Cha-kyeong, a communications officer who records ciphers, and Park So-dam is Yuriko, the governor-general of political affairs although she is Korean. Kim Dong-hee plays the role of communication and young employee Baek-ho who works with Park Cha-kyeong, Seo Hyun-woo plays the chief of the code-breaking, and Park Hae-soo plays Kaito, who leads a trap investigation to find the ghosts. "Ghost" is produced by The Lamp. Even before the dust has settled from the events of January 6, while bullet holes and smashed windows and doors are visible throughout the US Capitol, the American political establishment is working to cover up the political responsibility for the fascist attempted coup against Congress. This was not an isolated or accidental event in which right-wing protesters acted spontaneously. The attack on Congress was a conspiracy directed from the top. It was prepared many weeks in advance by high-level officials from within the state apparatus, the police and the military. The Socialist Equality Party demands a criminal investigation into the Trump administration and all those who aided and abetted this fascist putsch. The conspirators are still at large, planning their next steps. Trump remains president until January 20, and the danger has not passed! During the Watergate crisis, Senate hearings, widely publicized and avidly followed on television, were the vehicle for bringing out the truth of President Richard Nixons conspiracy against democracy and led ultimately to his forced removal from office. Watergate began with the break-in by a gang of former intelligence agents, ordered by Nixon to burglarize the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee. If a third-rate burglary, as Nixon termed it, and its cover-up merited months of televised hearings exposing presidential criminality, how much more necessary is it to carry out an open, public, televised, live-streamed investigation into all aspects of the events of January 6, 2021, the first-ever attempt by a president to overthrow the American government and establish a dictatorship. It is obvious and undeniable that Trump played the role of prime instigator of the violent assault, convening a rally of thousands of supporters outside the White House and directing them to march on the Capitol. It will be WILD, Trump tweeted beforehand, later calling the fascist mob special people. Trumps direct accomplices include Missouri Senator Joshua Hawley and Texas Senator Ted Cruz. Behind them are the senators who joined Hawley and Cruz in objecting to the confirmation of Bidens electoral victory and the more than 100 Republicans who did the same in the House of Representatives. At least six Republican state legislators took part in the right-wing demonstrations and riots. West Virginia Delegate Derrick Evans posted a video of himself entering the building but later deleted it. Plans for an insurrection were no secret. The January 6 date for the joint session is fixed by law, and plans for a physical assault on that day were widely circulated on right-wing social media sites. The rally at the White House and the march down Constitution Avenue were carefully timed so that the fascist thugs would arrive during the first hour of the joint session of Congress to conduct the ceremonial counting of electoral votes. The attackers walked through police barriers without the slightest resistance, stormed into the Capitol, and forced an end to the proceedings. Events could well have taken a much bloodier turn; some of the invaders were armed, and some of those arrested were found in possession of plastic ties for handcuffing potential kidnap victims or hostages among the senators and congressmen. Details of how close the House and Senate came to disaster were revealed by Maryland Republican Governor Larry Hogan, a vocal opponent of Trump, who told a press conference Thursday that he had spoken to the Senate and House leadership when they were huddled together in a basement of the Capitol building: I was actually on the phone with [Democratic House] Leader [Steny] Hoyer, who was pleading with us to send the [National] Guard. He was yelling across the room to Schumer, and they were back and forth saying we do have the authorization and Im saying, Im telling you we do not have the authorization. Hogan explained to Hoyer and Schumer that the Pentagon had denied Hogans request to deploy his state National Guard to Washington D.C. The head of the Maryland guard kept running it up the flagpole, and we dont have authorization, Hogan told the congressional leaders. Some two hours later, Hogan said he received a call out of the blue, not from the secretary of defense, not through what would be normal channels, but from Ryan McCarthy, the Secretary of the Army, who granted the deployment request. Separate reports indicated that the military only agreed to deploy the guard after speaking to Vice President Mike Pence, not to Trump, the ostensible commander-in-chief. Top Republicans echoed the lies from Trump of massive vote fraud and ballot stuffing, which were developed as the political cover for the raid on the Capitol. The staged objections to Electoral College votes from battleground states were designed to provide legitimacy to violently suppress the congressional certification of the election result. In addition to the direct collaborators with the coup attempt, the top leaders of the congressional Republicans, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, played a critical role in enabling Trumps unprecedented refusal to concede the outcome of the election, which was clear within a few days after the November 3 vote, after ballot counting was completed. They vouched for the legitimacy of his claims of election fraud. Other questions are raised about the extent of support for the coup within sections of the military, intelligence and state apparatus. First, the Capitol police clearly allowed the fascist mobs to invade the grounds, posed for friendly photographs with the insurrectionists, and removed barriers to facilitate the fascists entry. Second, as indicated by Governor Hogans statements, the Pentagon initially declined a request to send National Guard troops to the Capitol. (In the District of Columbia, which is federal and not state territory, these troops are directed by the Secretary of the Army). Only after former CIA agent and Pentagon official Elissa Slotkin, now a Democratic congresswoman, contacted General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, by cellphone, did the Pentagon shift into action and deploy 1,100 soldiers. Third, those who stormed the Capitol included elements drawn from the Proud Boys, Oathkeepers, and supporters of the fascistic QAnon conspiracy theory. These groupswhom Trump ordered to stand back and stand by before the electionhave direct representatives in Congress, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, the newly elected congresswoman from Georgia, a QAnon supporter, and Lauren Boebert of Colorado, a gun rights activist who sought to carry firearms in the Capitol. In her press conference Thursday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for accountability for the Republicans in Congress who promoted the conspiracy theories that inspired the attack, declaring that they had abdicated their oath of office and were enabling the president. The reality is that charges of conspiracy to overthrow the government could and should be brought against a majority of the Republican members of Congress. They should be investigated, charged and expelled. Both Pelosi and Biden, at separate news conferences Thursday, sought to divert attention from the broader political significance of the attempted coup, attributing it solely to Trumps personal role in inciting the violence. Both Democratic leaders described Trump as a tool of Russian President Vladimir Putin, as though the threat to American democracy came from Moscow rather than from homegrown fascists. This is a crude effort to divert popular anger towards an external enemy, although Russia has nothing to do with the events of January 6. It continues the orientation of the Democratic Party since Trump first took office, which has been to divert all opposition in a right-wing direction based on foreign policy differences, particularly in relation to Syria and Russia. Working people should demand full, public congressional hearings conducted on national television to expose every aspect of Trumps coup attempt. These should begin immediately and should include interrogation of the soon-to-be ex-president and all his top aides, as well as leading Republican instigators of the coup in Congress. But the Democratic Party, both in Congress and in the incoming Biden administration, is adamantly opposed to any serious and detailed investigation of the events of January 6, one that would alert the American people to the mounting dangers of fascist conspiracies in the United States. These conspiracies are ongoing. They are aimed at the forcible suppression of opposition by the working class to social inequality and the ruling classs homicidal herd immunity policy. The defense of democratic rights in the United States demands the mobilization of the working class, politically organized and armed with a socialist perspective. Our hipster friends dutifully regurgitate the talking points of a high-profile donor funded protest group who are looking beyond the pandemic as they campaign for FREE HOUSING AS A HUMAN RIGHT . . . Without much consideration of the economic consequences or cost for people who will be forced to pick up the tab. (Hint: If you're reading the news at night and have ever held a job . . . It's you. You will be paying the bill. Sadly, none of the cash will be going to cowtown hobos freezing on local streets. Cheers!!!) Take a peek . . . Chuck Schumer is set to preside over the narrowest possible majority of the U.S. Senate, a task that will require him to keep his Democratic caucus united while luring Republican support for legislation central to President-elect Joe Biden's priorities. Schumer, 70, rose to the pinnacle of Senate power on his capacity for political fundraising, heavily aided by ties to New York's lucrative financial industry. Now his success as incoming majority leader will hinge on building consensus in a chamber still reeling from Wednesday's mob violence and with Republicans divided over loyalty to President Donald Trump. The storming of the Capitol by an angry crowd of Trump supporters rattled lawmakers and prompted many Republicans to distance themselves from the president, who in the past was feared for his taste for retribution. The test for Schumer will be whether he can exploit Republicans' widening disaffection with Trump's divisive tactics. Given the Senate's 50-50 partisan divide -- once the Democratic victors in Tuesday's Georgia runoff elections are sworn in -- control is only assured by incoming Vice President Kamala Harris's tie-breaking vote. The Senate has only been evenly divided three times before: in 1881, 1953 and 2001. On most legislation, Schumer will need support from 60 senators to cut off debate and move to a vote, under Senate rules. Democrats will have a limited opportunity each year to fast-track a revenue-related bill to pass with just 51 votes. But even with legislation that requires only a simple majority, Schumer must either keep every Democrat on board or win over offsetting Republican support. On Thursday, Schumer publicly called for the president to be removed from office, taking up a cause that was gaining traction among Democrats' progressive wing, as well as some Republicans. He put the onus on Trump's Cabinet, saying they should invoke the 25th amendment, the constitutional provision for removing a president unable to serve. He said Congress should impeach Trump if the cabinet doesn't act. "The best thing to do is to get rid of him," Schumer said in New York. "I don't trust him one bit." Once Biden is sworn in Jan. 20, Schumer has said his top priority will be proceeding with the new president's call for more economic assistance for Americans to deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. "America is experiencing one of the greatest crises we have ever had in our history and the Senate Democratic majority is committed to delivering the bold change," Schumer said at a press briefing Wednesday. Schumer said his first goal is getting approval of an increase in direct assistance payments to most individuals to $2,000, from the $600 included in last month's covid-19 relief package. He didn't specify whether he would seek to pass that measure on its own, or as part of a broader stimulus bill. As Democrats celebrate the diversity of Biden's Cabinet nominees and incoming lawmakers, the Brooklyn-born incoming Senate majority leader will break another barrier, becoming the first Jewish American to lead either chamber of Congress. Schumer will need to navigate competing factions within his party, managing the demands of left-leaning lawmakers, such as Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts -- with an energized progressive movement behind their push for higher taxes on the rich and new regulations in areas from climate change to health care -- while keeping moderates such as Joe Manchin of West Virginia voting with the party. Much of Biden's agenda as president will depend on how well Schumer rises to the occasion, though Biden will also be able to draw on his own relationships dating from his long tenure in the Senate. Major action on climate change, a big infrastructure program and tax-law changes face their most formidable obstacles in the Senate, where Republican leader Mitch McConnell was able to obstruct many of President Barack Obama's priorities with a smaller minority. Schumer brings to the role his own priorities, shaped by the New York metro area -- including a renewed push to win federal funding for the $11 billion Gateway project to build a new rail tunnel under the Hudson River and the reversal of the federal limits on state and local tax deductions enacted by Republicans under President Donald Trump. A progressive movement impatient after four years under Trump's rule is also pressing to end the legislative filibuster, which would prevent a minority from blocking bills but also end a cherished source of clout for individual senators, even in the majority party. Schumer has long been an ally to outside groups that are core to the party's base, including labor unions and civil-rights groups. But some progressive groups complain he hasn't maintained the close connection established by his immediate predecessor as Senate Democratic leader, Harry Reid of Nevada. Reid "was really plugged into the progressive zeitgeist" in ways that Schumer isn't, said Charles Chamberlain, chair of the grassroots group Democracy for America. "Chuck Schumer has to deliver results," Chamberlain said. "We have the House. There's no question that Nancy Pelosi is going to pass great stuff through the House. There will be no excuses for failure in the Senate." While Schumer has worked to forge an identity as a defender of the middle class, he was earlier known as the "senator from Wall Street" for his vigorous defense of the hometown industry and the big donations he raised from financial-services firms. During Obama's first term, Schumer pressed to maintain George W. Bush's tax cuts for couples making up to $1 million a year, a much higher threshold than sought by Obama or the eventual 2012 deal repealing the tax cuts for couples with annual incomes above $450,000. 'Frenetic Style' Schumer also has a more decisive and less deliberative style than the soft-spoken Reid, and that is likely to show as he pursues the party's agenda with his narrow majority. "He's someone who is always in motion. He has a really frenetic style," said Ross Baker, a Rutgers University political science professor who worked as a guest scholar on Reid's staff. "Harry Reid was very laid back. Reid was always listening. I don't think he's going to be that kind of leader." As minority leader in recent years, Schumer gave his moderates space to vote with Republicans on some nominations and legislation, while holding them with the party on big items -- like blocking GOP-favored policing measures and pandemic relief packages that Democrats said were too scanty. "The discipline among Senate Democrats has really been excellent under Schumer," Baker said. "There have been very few defections on important stuff." As majority leader, Schumer may benefit from the fact that Manchin and two other moderates, Jon Tester of Montana and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, don't face voters until 2024 -- alleviating some of the pressures that his counterpart Pelosi faces, with her narrowed majority on the line in 22 months' time. Schumer also can tap his close working relationship with Pelosi. The two worked to help negotiate an end to the 2019 government shutdown and to block Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Schumer and Pelosi stayed united during the half-year struggle to pass December's Covid-19 relief package, and they may now have the clout to get more of the stimulus they want. A former New York state Assembly member, Harvard University-educated Schumer has spent more than half his life on Capitol Hill, starting in the House in 1980 and then moving chambers after defeating GOP Senator Alfonse D'Amato in 1998. He's been easily re-elected three times, and his elevation to the Senate's most powerful job boosts the chances he can do it again in 2022. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the progressive champion and social media star, hasn't ruled out a run against him, but Schumer's rise could reduce her appetite for a challenge. Schumer has evolved politically in the Senate, moving to the left along with his party. Under his direction, Senate Democrats ran in 2018 and 2020 elections on the potential threat to the Affordable Care Act from a GOP majority. That was a shift from 2014, when he had said -- amid a battle against a rising conservative Tea Party movement -- that Democrats should have focused on income inequality for the middle class rather than on Obamacare in 2009, saying it "wasn't at the top of most Americans' to-do lists." He rode his fundraising success to his first leadership role as the head of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, when he raised a record $121.4 million for the 2006 elections that yielded Democrats a 51-seat majority. He was rewarded by colleagues who named him vice chairman of the Democratic caucus and returned him to the DSCC job. He then helped the party expand its majority to 60 seats in 2008. His role leading Senate Democrats' national campaign arm provided him early connections with many of them. Among the recruits Schumer helped court to run for the Senate: progressive lion Bernie Sanders, first elected in 2006 as a Vermont independent. Posted Friday, January 8, 2021 7:40 am State Sen. Doug Ericksen is seeking a shortened legislative session to address only business related to the new coronavirus pandemic. Ericksen's Senate Concurrent Resolution 8400 would change the scheduled 105-day legislative assembly to a 30-day emergency meeting, according to details of the measure on the Ferndale Republican's website. It allows for legislators to meet again in September to discuss regular state business, Ericksen told The Bellingham Herald in an interview. "We can come back when this crisis is averted," he said. Ericksen represents the state's 42nd District, which includes northern Bellingham neighborhoods, rural Whatcom County, and its smaller cities. Washington's part-time Legislature is scheduled to open its session Monday, Jan. 11, and end April 25. All legislative business is being conducted remotely by phone or online to limit spread of COVID-19. Lawmakers in at least 28 states have taken similar measures to allow remote discussion or voting since the pandemic flared in March 2020, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. "Democrats are using the cloak of COVID to block the public from participating in the legislative session while they try to advance the most radical agenda in state history," Ericksen said at his Senate website. "We need to play fair with the people of Washington. If we're going to restrain the public, the Legislature needs to restrain itself." Ericksen's measure would require a two-thirds' vote of both legislative houses. Democrats have a 57-41 majority in the state House and a 28-21 majority in the state Senate. Gov. Jay Inslee is also a Democrat. ___ (c)2021 The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.) Visit The Bellingham Herald (Bellingham, Wash.) at www.bellinghamherald.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A coronavirus vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech was 78% effective in a late-stage Brazilian trial with no severe COVID-19 cases, researchers said on Thursday, although a lack of data details stirred calls for more transparency. The trial results, closely watched by developing countries counting on the vaccine to begin mass inoculations to help end a raging pandemic, was below preliminary findings from Turkish researchers and lacked detailed data provided on U.S. and European vaccines. The director of Brazilian biomedical center Butantan, Sinovac's research and production partner, said detailed results were being submitted to health regulator Anvisa as part of a request for emergency use of the vaccine. "One thing is a presentation at a news conference. It's something else to get the data and analyze it, which is what Anvisa will do," said Cristina Bonorino, who sits on the scientific committee of the Brazilian Immunology Society. "If it's what they say, that's an excellent result," she added. Brazil and Indonesia, which have the most COVID-19 cases in Latin America and Southeast Asia, respectively, are preparing to roll out the vaccine, called CoronaVac, this month. Turkey, Chile, Singapore, Ukraine and Thailand have also struck supply deals with Sinovac. 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 Although CoronaVac's efficacy falls short of the 95% success rate of vaccines from Moderna Inc or Pfizer Inc with partner BioNTech SE, it is easier to transport and can be stored at normal refrigerator temperatures. The 78% efficacy rate is also well above the 50% to 60% benchmark set by global health authorities for vaccines in development early in the pandemic, given the urgent need. Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech released detailed results of late-stage trials last year, before receiving emergency use authorizations in the United States and elsewhere. Butantan Director Dimas Covas told a news conference that full CoronaVac data would be released in an unspecified scientific publication but did not provide a timeline. Pressed by journalists, Covas said there had been 218 COVID-19 cases in the trial of 13,000 volunteers. Just over 160 of those cases occurred among participants who received a placebo and the rest were in vaccinated volunteers, he said. Unlike other studies of the vaccine, Brazil's CoronaVac trial included elderly volunteers, a particularly vulnerable population. Covas said CoronaVac had entirely prevented severe COVID-19 cases among the vaccinated group, including the elderly. None of those who received the vaccine become ill enough to require hospitalization, he added. FEW DETAILS Piecemeal disclosure of results from global CoronaVac studies have led to concerns about transparency of the trials, which was not helped by Butantan's news conference. "It was not clear or transparent," said Denise Garrett, an epidemiologist who worked 23 years at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "They presented secondary outcomes on preventing mild cases, serious ones and hospitalizations, but not the efficacy in preventing disease." The partial disclosure by Butantan, which had delayed its announcement three times, citing obligations to Sinovac, added to skepticism about the Chinese vaccine in Brazil. Nearly half of Brazilians said they would not take a COVID-19 vaccine developed by China, according to a December poll. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has expressed disdain for the Sinovac vaccine, citing doubts about its "origin." He has traded barbs with political rival Joao Doria, the governor of Sao Paulo, which is funding trials and production of the shot. Still, Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said on Thursday that the federal government would buy Butantan's full output of CoronaVac this year, nearing a deal to buy 100 million doses for a national immunization program. Brazil has the world's second-deadliest outbreak after the United States, with a death toll that passed 200,000 on Thursday, and aims to vaccinate 51 million people, or about one-fourth of its population, in the first half of 2021. Immunizations have not yet begun. Doria reiterated that Sao Paulo, the country's most affluent and populous state, expected to start vaccinations on Jan. 25. Based on traditional vaccine technology using inactivated coronavirus to trigger an immune response, CoronaVac can be stored temperatures of 2-8 degrees Celsius (36-46F) and may remain stable for up to three years. Vaccines offered by Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna use a novel synthetic messenger RNA (mRNA) technology, requiring far colder temperatures for shipping and storage. The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine must be kept at a sub-Arctic temperature, making it an ineffective option for poor nations and areas without the required cold storage equipment. Bexar County District Attorney Joe D. Gonzales announced new windows on crime statistics are available on his office website as of Friday, including data showing a significant trial backlog brought on by COVID-19. Im very concerned about the backlog, Gonzales said in a Zoom video conference with reporters. This will mean that people who are victims of crime in 2020 may have to wait much longer for justice than they, as well as I, would like. As of March 16, before the pandemic caused the suspension of jury trials, the number of indicted felony cases still unresolved in Bexar County was 3,997. By Dec. 27, that number stood at 6,605, and the backlog continues to grow. On ExpressNews.com: In-person jury trials still a ways off Texas Supreme Court extends coronavirus restrictions The information was part of the DAs Office roll-out Friday of new data dashboards including one showing the current caseload of the Criminal Trial Division, and cases filed at magistration, where individuals are processed after arrest. During the pandemic, courts have held virtual proceedings via Zoom, and have limited in-person hearings, which has made reducing the number of pending cases especially challenging. While we are eager for jury trials to resume so that we can adjudicate these cases, it is often the oldest pending cases that courts prioritize, he said. However, I want everyone to know our office has been moving cases through the system as best we can so that we can be prepared for courts to resume jury trials. On ExpressNews.com: Its truly a new age - Bexar County administrative judge plans for virtual jury trials in October; in person in January The backlog is also a concern for defense attorneys, said one of them, Monica E. Guerrero. There are actually people in jail who are not guilty, and they need their day in court, she said. The defendants are frustrated because they want the opportunity to confront their accusers and have 12 citizens listen to their case. The office also unveiled a magistration data dashboard, which provides a summary of the volume of cases that are accepted by the office. It provides statistics on the numbers of cases received, bond information, type of charge, and the race of the people arrested. The dashboard allows the viewer to sort the data by arresting agency, charge description, charge level, race and gender, numbers that the office plans to update monthly. It shows 5,343 cases were received at the Justice Intake and Assessment Annex in December. Officials said the total number of arrests made by law enforcement will be smaller because some people are arrested on multiple charges. The sheer volume of arrest cases our office receives at JIAA each month represents just one portion of the total caseloads of our prosecutors, investigators and support staff, Gonzales said. There were 4,473 cases accepted at JIAA by both the ADA and the magistrate judge in December, officials said, with driving while intoxicated the most commonl offense, at 277 cases. The offense most often rejected at magistration for the same time period was misdemeanor possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana, often because of the DA Offices drug declination policy. Our policy to not accept certain low-level drug offenses, absent exceptional circumstances, was implemented primarily to allow our staff to focus our efforts on prosecuting violent crimes, as those are cases with victims awaiting justice, Gonzales said. The DAs Office has been posting two other data sets online since October the Family Violence Dashboard and the Cite and Release Dashboard. All are available on the DAs Office website and are part of a mission to be more transparent. Gonzales said prior to the start of his administration in January 2019, data collection, when done, often was conducted by hand, making it difficult to know what was happening with the cases. Over the last two years, we have begun to improve our ability to collect and analyze data, he said. Now that we have a better idea of what we have in this office, I have decided to make this information publicly available. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 A crowd of several thousand anti-Trump protesters gathered at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Thursday evening, and then filled Flatbush Avenue for a peaceful march to the Prospect Park West home of Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York. As the group made its way to Mr. Schumers building, demonstrators chanted No Trump, no K.K.K., no fascist U.S.A., accompanied by the rhythms of drummers and percussionists. The 7-year-old muted herself but did not turn off the camera, prosecutors said during a court hearing for the 18-year-old. When the teacher saw the assault, she repeatedly ordered all the students to log off, and then called out to the victim and told her to turn off the camera. A chance to help run the iconic American jeweler Tiffany & Co. has catapulted Alexandre Arnault into the luxury worlds top echelons. The 28-year-old son of French billionaire Bernard Arnault was thrust into the limelight on Thursday with a key role at Tiffany, after LVMH completed its $16 billion on-again-off-again takeover -- the luxury industrys biggest. Alexandre was named executive vice president for products and communication, and will help new Chief Executive Officer Anthony Ledru oversee the company. For the third of LVMH founder Arnaults five children, the move marks a leap from managing a small suitcase maker for the group to work at one of the worlds best-known jewelry brands with pre-pandemic annual revenue of about $4.4 billion. It also makes him a more serious contender to some day run the luxury empire built by his 71-year-old father. Bernard Arnault is building a fair process between the Arnault siblings by testing them, said Philippe Pele-Clamour, adjunct professor at business school HEC Paris. That will allow them to understand if they can lead such a group. The first son of Arnaults second wife, Alexandre is in the line of succession to one of the worlds biggest fortunes. His father has a net worth of about $114 billion through his holdings in LVMH and Carrefour SA, making him Europes richest and the worlds fourth-wealthiest person, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Alexandres ascent provides fresh fodder for the chattering classes in France, which closely track the family for signs of who Arnaults anointed successor might be. Although it may be a long while before Arnault -- who remains hands on in the business -- is ready to retire, the guessing game continues. Four of the five Arnault children are currently involved in the company, Europes second-largest by market value after Nestle SA. While Jean is still a student, Alexandres younger brother Frederic manages watchmaker Tag Heuer. Delphine, Alexandres half-sister, is executive vice president of Louis Vuitton, while half-brother Antoine heads shoemaker Berluti and oversees image, communications and the environment for LVMH. An engineer by training -- graduating from Frances Ecole Telecom ParisTech and Ecole Polytechnique -- Alexandre has since 2017 led German luggage maker Rimowa, acquired by LVMH the year before. The executive, who will be based in New York for his new role, began his career in the U.S., first at McKinsey & Company and then at KKR. He joined LVMH and Groupe Arnault, focusing on digital innovation and honing his management skills at Fendi before moving to Rimowa. The suitcase maker is a small part of LVMHs fashion and leather goods unit, which represented more than 40% of the conglomerates sales of 53.7 billion euros ($65 billion) in 2019 -- mostly driven by Louis Vuitton and Christian Dior brands. A year ago, releasing annual results, Bernard Arnault said Rimowa had achieved remarkable growth since we acquired it. At Tiffany, Alexandre and Ledru will have their hands full as the luxury industry contends with the second year of a pandemic thats forced store closures across the world and shrunk discretionary spending. Still, their collaboration will help take Alexandre up the learning curve, said Luca Solca, an analyst at Bernstein. The idea of pairing experienced managers with up-and-coming family members, and possible future leaders, creates a fruitful environment, he said, adding that it can avoid mistakes, and prove ones true value. The Tiffany appointment caps an eventful month for Alexandre, who with Antoine is the familys highest-profile member, with an active Instagram account of posts of everything from Rimowas products and family photos to meetings with billionaires Jeff Bezos and Warren Buffett. A few weeks ago, he used the account to announce his engagement to his girlfriend, saying engaged to my soulmate and my best friend, with the emoji of a ring. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) Follow more stories on Facebook and Twitter On this weeks Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discussed Wednesdays appalling events at the Capitol. This partial transcript has been edited and condensed for clarity. David Plotz: Theres a tweet from writer Damon Linker that captures some of what I feel about Wednesday. Linker wrote, The danger of Trumps incapacity to accept his loss has never been that he would succeed in staying in power after losing the election, it was that he would tear the country apart trying to turn the fantasy into reality. And that is, of course what happened. On Wednesday, everybody was saying, Oh, I never thought I would see this happen. But of course we should have known, because all the steps weve taken down this terrible path with this impossibly horrible person as our president have led to where we ended up yesterday. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Emily Bazelon: It was shocking, whether or not it was surprising. There were a lot of warnings on right-wing social media, so in that sense, it shouldnt have been a big surprise. But seeing the Capitol breached felt like a desecration. Im not a big symbols person, but my grandparents lived in Washington from the 40s until their deaths, and I realized I had a pretty deep attachment to the notion that there was a sacred-for-our-democracy place, the Capitol, where we were going to see the machinery of democracy operate. I was really looking forward to the Electoral College count, given how much uncertainty there has been. And to have it so violently, disgustingly disrupted, I was really sad. Advertisement John Dickerson: One of the reasons we have these traditions, all this pomp and circumstance is that it affirms the traditions and norms weve been talking about having been shredded for the last four years. To physically see it desecrated is the physical manifestation of what weve seen over the last four years. Weve been talking about this since election night: Its the coming home to roost, not just of what the president was saying with respect to this specific day, lying to his supporters, then telling them to come to Washington. Its the ugly flower of four years of changing the very nature of truth, of enablers rewriting the obvious meaning of what the president says to be something more benign, and essentially profiting from playing footsie with the forces that broke the windows in the Capitol on Wednesday. Advertisement Advertisement I sometimes use this weird expression about burning democratic furniture. What I meant is the furniture of democracy, which is still a weird thing to say, but when you allow this kind of behavior to go forward, you end up burning the stuff that is at the very heart of the democratic process. Thats what happened. Bazelon: It was so frustrating because thereve been so many warnings along the way. The enablers in the Republican Party who went down this road with President Trumpincluding in the past week, Sens. Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, Marsha Blackburnthey are supposed to be leaders. They were saying, My constituents believe the election was a fraud. Well, they believe that because you are not standing up to them and telling them otherwise! Advertisement Right-wing media is absolutely to blame for this as well. For me, one of the most moving moments late Wednesday night was Mitt Romney saying this from the Senate floor: What happened here today was an insurrection incited by the president of the United States. Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy. Fairly or not, therell be remembered for their role in the shameful episode in American history. No congressional audit is ever going to convince these voters, particularly when the president will continue to say that the election was stolen. The best way we can show respect for the voters who were upset is by telling them the truth. Advertisement Advertisement But then we just returned to Republicans objecting to the election results from Pennsylvania and Arizona, when theres just no evidence that would make that a viable, responsible thing to do. It is so deeply irresponsible. Plotz: The best way you can show respect to these voters is to tell them the truth. The president who cannot tell the truth under any circumstances didnt do it. Enablers is a very weak word. These arent enablers. Theyre co-conspirators, theyre collaborators. These are collaborators with a seditious enterprise designed to destroy the very structure of how America is governed. Im sure Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz will remain senators, Im sure they will be re-elected, Im sure they will both run for president. It is entirely possible one of them will be president. But its a national shame, and they should be expelled from the Senate. Advertisement Dickerson: One of the things that has irritated me so much about the supporters of the president who have created the permission structure to gloss over the things that hes done is that whenever you try to hold the president to a verifiable standardand remember, this is the party that was most obsessed with maintaining standards in public lifethey would say: Youre so out of touch. You dont understand that his supporters see him fighting for them. As if that was the only important fact you needed to know! This essentially meant that nothing Donald Trump did could be wrong, because his supporters validated it. That would have made the founders spin in their graves with enough power to keep the lights on in a Northeastern city. And yet that standard, I can shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and my supporters will still support me, overtook the Republican Party. Advertisement Advertisement Plotz: He has been a terrible advocate for his supporters causes. Hes opposed things that would help them. He fights for himself. The inability of his supporters to separate his self-interest from their self-interest isnt unique. People always do that. But he doesnt fight for them. He never has fought for them. Thats whats so sick about it. Its a populism that serves not the populace, but serves the one. Bazelon: We saw that Wednesday when he said, Were going to walk down Pennsylvania Avenue, Ill be there with you. And then he was nowhere to be found. And the people who listened to him are in big trouble, or they should be. For the full episode of the Political Gabfest, in which Dickerson, Plotz, and Bazelon also discuss the historic Georgia Senate results, subscribe on Apple Podcasts or listen below. Dell is a world-renowned American company which develops multi tech advancements especially for computers. It includes their already established reputation on manufacturing computer monitors which are often being seen in PC setups today. And with the pandemic still brought about by the COVID-19 still around, Dell could focus on developing monitors inclined for a work from home use. News outlet website Cnet reported some of their upcoming monitor models include the new 24-, 27- and 34-inch variants of their monitor which are designed more on videoconferencing and a more optimized model unit that are equipped with built-in webcams. Another upcoming monitor model which the company will also offer for sale in the coming year lists the 40-inch UltraSharp which could be used during its user's days when he or she would be facing the PC screen on a more engaging note. The upcoming monitor model units for Dell is announced for the International Consumer Electronics Show or CES which is trade show held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center every January where new products and technologies from different companies and startups on all over the world are being showcased into the event. Dell Mointors for "New Normal" Work from Home Setup The new Dell monitor model units could be utilized more with its daily use especially for the "new normal" setup for most employees which became the thing these days for most employers due to the ongoing threat of the coronavirus. The new monitors could be maximized especially if its user relies on the Microsoft suite. Their videoconferencing app or software Microsoft Teams could be run through a button. Also Read: Portable PS4 Setup, Monitor: Japanese Technician Created One, Here's How It Works The users may also sign in with the Windows Hello facial recognition, as well as the use of the voice commands by the capabilities of the built-in noise-cancelling mics which may be possible through the virtual assistant by Microsoft named Cortana. Also included within the upcoming monitors are the pop-up 5-megapixel IR webcam, yet it dozes off in a high-resolution performance. All of the monitors can be equipped with a monitor stand that could be adjusted depending on the user's preference which may not be a common thing due to the fact that it is more being used on curved monitor models just like the 34-inch model. The 40-Inch UltraSharp Monitor Yet the 40-inch model may be dubbed as the one which stands out the most. Tech website GSMArena lists the 40-inch UltraSharp monitor as a first for the world, wherein it could be hailed as the world's first 40-inch curved wide-screen monitor that can cater up to 5k or resolution. The IPS panel of the much-awaited monitor is seen at 100 percent SRGB and 98 percent in DCI-P3 coverage. It could also allow the rendering of up to an amount of 1.07 billion color variations. All of the upcoming Dell Video Conferencing Monitors will be available in February: the 24-inch model (C2422HE) starting at $520, 27-inch (C2722DE) starting at $720 and 34-inch (C3422WE) starting at $1,049. Related Article: AxiomTek's AIE100-903-FL-NX AI Edge System: NVIDIA Carmel ARM GPU, Specs, How to Pre-Order, and More Details Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo didn't mince words when he sounded off on one lawmaker's rhetoric leading up to Wednesday's attack on the U.S. Capitol. Acevedo slammed Texas senator Ted Cruz on Twitter, calling him out for "fanning the flames of mistrust" in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. Five people died during the attackincluding a Capitol police officerand dozens were injured, according to the Associated Press. "Shame on you, @Ted Cruz, who fed the false narrative about our election, which has led to what we are witnessing in our Nations Capitol. You fanned the flames of mistrust and history will hold you accountable for the ensuing chaos. Outrageous!" Acevedo tweeted. Right before the Jan. 6 assault on Capitol Hill, Cruz spearheaded the move on the Capitol building floor to formally object the certification of Arizona's electoral vote count. Cruz spoke in favor of a commission and 10-day audit of the 2020 election results, part of a move backing President Trump's effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to Associated Press' Lisa Mascaro and Matthew Daly. In the minutes that followed Cruz's speech, a mob of pro-Trump insurgents rushed into the Capitol Building. The disruption lead to a lockdown and a delay of President-elect Joe Biden's win being certified. Several lawmakers are now condemning Cruz's actions and calling on him to resign, including Rep. Joaquin Castro and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. "Sen. Cruz, you must accept responsibility for how your craven, self-serving actions contributed to the deaths of four people yesterday. And how you fundraised off this riot. Both you and Senator Hawley must resign. If you do not, the Senate should move for your expulsion," Ocasio-Cortez said. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner also condemned Cruz, demanding he be held accountable. "DC: Where is the law and order with these protesters? And what about the U.S. Constitution? It doesn't mean anything to these protesters? And Texans should hold Sen. Ted Cruz accountable for this fiasco." In a tweet Wednesday, Cruz condemned the violence and siege on the U.S. Capitol but has not withdrawn his objections or the move for a commission, which he again re-endorsed when officials reconvened after the attack. "Violence is always unacceptable. Even when passions run high. Anyone engaged in violence--especially against law enforcement--should be fully prosecuted," Cruz tweeted. Governor Kate Brown held a press conference Friday to discuss Oregons ongoing response to COVID-19. She was joined by representatives from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Education. This comes after Oregon officials outlined a plan to speed up a snails pace of COVID-19 vaccinations. Oregons plan to increase its slow pace of COVID-19 vaccinations to 12,000 per day hinges on a new strategy of loosening restrictions on whos eligible for the vaccine among the vast numbers of health care workers and long-term care facility residents in the state. The state authorized those changes Tuesday, saying anyone in the so-called Phase 1a category is considered eligible for vaccine at this time. But the agency also said to the extent possible providers should follow the sequencing outlined in the Plan. Officials for the past three weeks had restricted vaccinations to only a narrow subgroup primarily of health care workers who staff hospitals and urgent care clinics, and residents and workers of nursing homes. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Taiwan said Friday it welcomed the visit of the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations in the closing days of the Trump administration, in a move that brought China's renewed condemnation of Washington. Kelly Craft will visit Taipei, the island's capital, on Jan. 13-15, a week before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said Thursday the visit would reinforce the U.S. governments strong and ongoing support for Taiwans international space. A spokesperson for Taiwans Presidential Office said Friday they sincerely welcome the visit and that final discussions about the trip were still underway. The trip is a symbol of the solid friendship between Taiwan and the U.S, and will positively help and deepen the U.S.-Taiwan partnership, the spokesperson said. In announcing the trip on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he was sending Craft to show what a free China could achieve." Taiwan's official title is the Republic of China, the name of Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalist Party government that he moved to Taiwan in 1949 as Mao Zedong's Communists swept to power on mainland China. China continues to regard Taiwan as part of its territory to be recovered by force if necessary. The visit is yet another move from the Trump administration to step up interactions with the island despite their lacking formal diplomatic ties since Washington switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. The U.S. outreach to Taiwan has exacerbated tensions between Washington and Beijing that are already running high over the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. Craft was appointed by President Donald Trump to the position in 2019, and is due to be replaced by career diplomat Linda Thomas-Greenfield after Biden takes office. In defiance of China's warnings, Congress and the Trump administration have pushed for more visits by sitting government officials, along with arms sales and political support. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar visited in August, followed the next month by Under Secretary of State Keith Krach. Story continues China stepped up its angry rhetoric and flew fighter jets near the island in a display of force during both visits. Heightened tensions with China present a diplomatic challenge for Biden, who is expected to maintain many of Trump's policies toward Beijing while seeking to put relations on a more predictable, less confrontational track. While Beijing has called for improved relations, it refuses to back down on issues such as Taiwan that it considers to be among its core interests." Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Friday said a handful of anti-China politicians within the Trump administration, to be clear, such as Pompeo, have been staging a show of madness as their days at the reins are numbered, stopping at nothing to deliberately sabotage China-U.S. relations for selfish political interests." China will take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security interests," Hua told reporters at a daily briefing. If the U.S. insists on going its own way, it will definitely pay a heavy price for its erroneous actions." ___ Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report. Part of the protest last summer at the neighborhood formerly known as Colonial Village in Williamstown. Williamstown DIRE Committee Recognizes Effort to Address Racist Covenant WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. The town's diversity committee Monday officially recognized the work of a group of residents who worked this summer to acknowledge and right a historic injustice. The Diversity, Inclusion and Racial Equity Committee used its first meeting of the new year to pass a resolution commending the residents of the area formerly known as Colonial Village not only for renouncing the racist covenant that restricted home sales in the neighborhood at its birth but for trying to make it easier for other residents of the commonwealth to do the same. Before passing the resolution, the DIRE Committee acknowledged the harm done by the covenant -- both as a tool for maintaining "white purity" in the neighborhood and as an insult to Black people for nearly a century. The covenant , written into home deeds in the 1930s, forbade home ownership in the neighborhood to people of color. Although the racist language was subsequently nullified by Supreme Court precedent and legislation at the state and federal level, they continued to persist on the deed documents as homes changed hands through the decades. Last year, residents of the neighborhood, which includes Berkshire Drive, Colonial Avenue and Orchard Lane, filed a with the Registry of Deeds documents that condemned and revoked the covenant and replaced it with the following statement: "This subdivision is rededicated as welcoming in word and deed to all people without regard to their race, color, religion, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sex characteristics, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression." The residents went a step further by asking state Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, to file legislation in Boston that would enable other Massachusetts residents to more easily strike the vestigial language from their own deeds. H.4944 ended up with 50 co-sponsors and ended the recently completed legislative session in committee. In Massachusetts, Section 23B of Chapter 184 of Massachusetts General Law voids any deed language that "purports to forbid or restrict the conveyance, encumbrance, occupancy, or lease thereof to individuals of a specified race, color, religion, national origin or sex." Barrett's amendment to Section 23B would allow "a person holding an interest in real property or a party in interest affected by a void provision in this section [ ... to] request the land court to expunge a provision made void by this section." Although the covenant has not had force of law for decades, DIRE Committee member Bilal Ansari emphasized that the deed language has had a lasting impact. "That it was allowed to sit in the deed, it did have an effect," Ansari said. "It had an effect on every person of color who came across that. That was the initial intent and aim and purpose. Therefore, it was effective in doing that. "For the people who had to live through that, there was an affective harm. So it was effective." The DIRE Committee used its second resolution of 2021 to put pressure on the Select Board to "hire an independent investigator to determine the facts and issue a timely public report" on allegations raised in a recently withdrawn federal lawsuit against the town, its former police chief and its town manager. As it did for the Select Board later that night, Monday's meeting marked the DIRE Committee's first gathering since the Dec. 14 announcement by Sgt. Scott McGowan that he was dropping the lawsuit. The committee's members were consistent in their calls for a vetting of the allegations of racism and sexual misconduct raised in the suit since it became public in August, and they did not back off that stance this week. One member, Andrew Art, did suggest that since the town is no longer party to a lawsuit, the Select Board could conduct the probe "in house" without needing a third-party investigation. But the majority of the committee, including Select Board Chair Jane Patton, favored the approach of bringing in a neutral party. "I think it's an important step to rebuilding some kind of trust," Aruna D'Souza said of the investigation. "There were many actors in this whole situation, and the Select Board was one of those actors. The Police Department was one of the actors. The town manager was one of the actors. I think it would be difficult from an optics point of view for one of the actors to be the investigator." D'Souza later said the probe should happen either before or concurrently with a search for a new police chief. "If we're thinking we need to change the culture that led to the problems, we need to identify what that culture is and what has led to the existing culture," she said. "I think that's part of the larger process of hiring a new police chief. "I'd rather be prompt in this, as long as we're making clear that independent' means actually independent, however we want to word that so that can happen in a way that engenders public confidence." Baghdad: An Iraqi court has issued an arrest warrant for outgoing President Donald Trump in connection with the killing of a powerful Iraqi militia leader and an Iranian general, Iraq's judiciary said. The warrant was issued by a judge in Baghdad's investigative court tasked with probing the Washington-directed drone strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the court's media office said. They were killed outside the capitals airport last January. A supporter of an Iran-backed militia holds a poster of slain Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, left, and deputy commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis during a protest by pro-Iranian militiamen in Iraq last year. Credit:AP After the strike Trump said he had ordered the killing of Soleimani because he was "plotting to kill" many Americans. According to CNN he later told an audience in Florida that the strike had taken out two [men] for the price of one. Muhandis was the deputy leader of the state-sanctioned Popular Mobilisation Forces, an umbrella group composed of an array of militias, including Iran-backed groups, formed to fight the Islamic State group. Britain should not submit to the European Unions financial services rules just to get better access to the blocs market after Brexit, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said on Wednesday. European daily share trading worth 6 billion euros ($7.36 billion) left the City of London for the continent this week in the first tangible sign of Brexits impact on Britains 130 billion-pound ($176 billion) finance industry. Bailey said Britain must not become a mere taker of EU rules in return for access. If the price of this is too high then we cant just go for it whatever, he told parliaments Treasury Committee. I strongly recommend that we dont become a rule-taker. If the price of that is no equivalence then I am afraid that will follow. Britain left the EUs single market last week and its new trade deal with the bloc does not cover financial market access. Britain and the EU are committed to agreeing a memorandum of understanding by the end of March on cooperation in financial rules to unlock equivalence-based access. The EU has asked Britain about its intentions to diverge from the blocs rules, which could make it harder for Brussels to grant equivalence-based direct access for the City of London. Leaving the EU has given Britain the chance to drop rules it had to follow until now. Bailey said Britain would not introduce a new EU rule that allows banks to deduct the value of software investments from capital requirements. BoE Deputy Governor Sam Woods said solvency rules for insurers also needed to be reformed. Open Markets Bailey said the EUs drive to be more self-sufficient in financial services was shaping its decisions on equivalence. The question is: are they going to do it? Is this the time when they do it? Because it hasnt happened to date in many areas, he said. Bailey said equivalence should be based on Britain having regulation that achieves similar outcomes to that in the EU, rather than following it to the letter, something the EU has not required for other jurisdictions. He said the EUs broader approach to financial services trade with Britain appeared focused on boosting some less competitive financial businesses in the euro zone, rather than seeking the best value financial services for businesses. I fail to see why people would want to close themselves off from open markets, Bailey said. Bailey said between 5,000 and 7,000 financial services jobs had already left Britain for the EU fewer than some forecasters had feared, though the process was not over. He had warned in December of potential Brexit disruption in markets such as the relocation in euro stock and derivatives trading which has fragmented markets. But he said the markets had been very stable. The markets were broadly expecting what they got, he said. ($1 = 0.8148 euros) ($1 = 0.7373 pounds) (Writing by Huw Jones; editing by David Milliken, William Schomberg and Alison Williams) Topics Europe Good morning. This is a look at our daily Express Briefing newsletter. Sign up for Express Briefing here. Subscribers get access to the full version of our Express Briefing newsletter, which includes exclusive insight and links to more of our best stories. To become a subscriber, take advantage of this special offer today. TOP STORIES Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said he reassigned the almost two-year-old probe of the shooting deaths of a mother and her two daughters to a cold case detective because his departments original investigation was insufficient. Quite frankly, I dont think a full-on effort was made, Salazar said Thursday of the initial investigation of the deaths of San Antonio hairstylist Nichol Leila Olsen, 37, and her daughters, Alexa Denice Montez, 16, and London Sophia Bribiescas, 10. There were some stones left unturned, Salazar told reporters during a media briefing. Ill leave it at that I cant go too much into detail." He said people absolutely will be held accountable, but declined to specify how, noting more details on that will be available in the near future. Peggy OHare has the latest details on the case here. Seventeen of the 25 Texas Republicans in Congress objected to counting Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden , virtually all of them pointing to debunked claims of voter fraud and sticking to plans to reject Bidens win. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also objected to results from Arizona and Pennsylvania as he stuck to calls for an emergency audit of the election results, even as some of the Republican senators dropped their objections after President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. Bidens win was certified by both chambers, and Cruzs objection to the Arizona results was shot down in the Senate on a vote of 93-6. Here's a list of the 16 Texans in the House who objected to results and what they have said about their decision. State officials will start distributing most of Texas vaccine doses next week to a handful of large pharmacies and hospitals, creating vaccination hubs where more people can get a shot quickly, the Department of State Health Services said Thursday. Those hubs will receive about 75 percent of the states vaccine allotment next week and could inoculate more than 100,000 people, officials said. Now that more Texans can receive the coronavirus vaccine, our vaccine FAQ page has what you need to know. NEED TO KNOW THE FUN STUFF Beyond the Alamo and the River Walk, its places like Woodlawn Lake and Kiddie Park that represent San Antonio. Heres a roundup of artists whose renditions of Alamo City sites and businesses look and feel just like home. More art: Students in Blue Star Contemporarys Mosaic teen art program have had to work in their home studios because of the pandemic, but some of their creations are venturing out across the country. BBQ: Among San Antonios best barbecue restaurants are these 3 new places that opened in the last year. Cooking: Did you resolve to spend less this month? These 4 meals, from steak with buttered noodles to chicken and sweet potatoes, will help. Big money: A San Antonio resident is $3 million richer from a Texas Lottery scratch-off ticket. Music: Burbank High School band director Hector Trevino and the schools wind ensemble took the stage at the Tobin Center on Thursday to record a 30-minute concert that will be showcased at this years virtual Texas Music Educators Association Clinic/Convention. CHECK OUT OUR OTHER NEWSLETTERS SA Inc.: Get local business news updates from behind the scenes, delivered twice a week. Texas Take: The latest in state, local and national politics, delivered every weekday morning. Real Estate: Get a sneak peek of luxe San Antonio properties, local market trends and homebuying/selling tips. Taste: Hungry for restaurant reviews and recipes? Get the free Taste newsletter, delivered twice a week. The pain in Joseph OBoyles jaw had persisted for years, and he had become desperate for a solution. In September, the 22-year-old met with James Sowa, a popular chiropractor in Bensalem, where OBoyle and his family have lived for decades. OBoyle complained that the treatment didnt work, and in fact, made his pain worse. He became agitated, and told his family he was going to sue the chiropractor. Instead, prosecutors say, he broke into Sowas office in November and beat him to death. OBoyle was charged Friday with criminal homicide, burglary, and related offenses. He also faces aggravated assault for allegedly punching a Bensalem Township detective who visited his home while investigating Sowas death. District Attorney Matthew Weintraub, in announcing the charges, said Sowa, 64, had his life brutally and viciously taken from him. READ MORE: Bensalem man found blugeoned to death in his home, police say OBoyles attorney, Joseph Haag, did not respond to a request for comment. Sowas family did not comment at length Friday, asking for privacy. His brother-in-law, Bill Kralle, said Sowa was a dedicated family man, and a beloved figure in his community. The line to pay respects at Sowas funeral was hundreds-deep, wrapping around the funeral home. I dont think I couldve picked a better brother-in-law, Kralle said. Sowas neighbors similarly praised him, including Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo, who worked with Sowa in his capacity as a Republican committeeman. Hes just well missed, DiGirolamo said. His was an incredible story with an ending no one can believe, because no one had hate for this man. He is the type of man youd want in your community. In an affidavit of probable cause unsealed Friday, a county grand jury described the investigation that led to OBoyle, whose family said he suffers from schizophrenia and has a history of violent and aggressive behavior, including an assault on his father in August. On the morning of Nov. 2, Sowa was in his home, which was also his office, on Hulmeville Road, the affidavit said. He spoke to his wife just before 8 a.m., but did not answer other calls from his family and patients, which worried his two adult sons. About 3:30 p.m., Sowas younger son went to the office to check on him, and found him collapsed, suffering from severe injuries to his head and jaw. Medics pronounced Sowa dead at the scene, and investigators later concluded that he died of blunt-force trauma. Investigators patched together surveillance footage from nearby homes and businesses in the following days, and noticed a Nissan Altima driving into and out of Sowas parking lot around the time his family last heard from him, according to the affidavit. The vehicle, they learned, was registered to OBoyles mother. When detectives went to interview OBoyle, he appeared agitated when questioned, they said, and lunged at one of them, punching him multiple times in the head. In testimony to the grand jury, OBoyles mother and father revealed that a week after Sowas death, he admitted killing the chiropractor, a fact they had initially hid from police. And a friend of OBoyles told the grand jury OBoyle had been communicating with him on Snapchat before the attack, saying he was fascinated by Cosmo DiNardo, who killed four men on a farm in Solebury Township, the affidavit said. After the attack, OBoyle told the man that he was being pursued and needed to flee the area, according to his testimony. Croatia quake: hundreds evacuated from barracks in Petrinja New aftershocks threaten building stability (ANSAmed) - BELGRADE, JANUARY 8 - About 400 people were evacuated from a barracks in Petrinja, the Croatian city south of Zagreb that was partially destroyed by a strong earthquake on December 29, after they had been temporarily housed there following the earthquake. Regional media said technicians determined that new aftershocks, which have been taking place daily since the magnitude 6.4 earthquake at year's end, have seriously threatened the building's stability. The evacuated people will be transferred to pensions and retirement homes in Zagreb and other cities. Local authorities have repeatedly called on the local population to not travel to the centre of Petrinja, where the danger of new collapses is high. In the entire crater area - in addition to Petrinja, Sisak, Glina, and Majske Poljane - rescue work and efforts to restore basic services have continued incessantly, with an uninterrupted flow of domestic and international aid. Operations have been hampered in part by weather conditions, with cold, rain and snow. Heated tents and containers are particularly needed, as well as cots, generators and warm clothing. The quake, which left seven people dead and about 30 injured, caused enormous material damage, and some thousands of people are still displaced. (ANSAmed). Donald Trump conceded on Thursday that Joe Biden will be the next US president, a day after his supporters stormed the US Capitol as Congress was certifying Biden's victory in a stunning assault on American democracy. Screengrab The president condemned Wednesday's violence, saying rioters had defiled the seat of American democracy. US Capitol Police Chief Resigns After Riot By Trump Supporters The US Capitol police chief handed in his resignation Thursday, a day after Congress was invaded by a mob egged on by President Donald Trump. AP Steven Sund "is resigning effective January 16, 2021," hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for his resignation. Calls Grow Louder Of Ouster Of Trump Under 25th Amendment Republican US Representative Adam Kinzinger on Thursday called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked to remove President Donald Trump from office, a day after the president's supporters stormed the US Capitol. afp "All indications are that the president has become unmoored, not just from his duty or even his oath, but from reality itself," Kinzinger said in a video he posted on Twitter. Government, Protesting Farmers To Hold Another Round Of Talks The farmers protesting at the Delhi border and the government will hold another round of talks on Friday aimed at finding consensuses to end the demonstrations. PTI The government has so far refused to roll back the laws. 2nd COVID-19 Vaccine Dry Run Across The Country Today The second dry run of the COVID-19 vaccine will start on Friday. During the process, the healthcare workers will be administered a dummy vaccine. AFP Dry runs are being conducted across the country to ensure that the health sector is well-prepared for the actual vaccine. Sites have been identified for the process and logistics have been cleared out to prevent last-minute problems. Badaun Temple Priest, Main Accused In The Gang Rape And Murder, Arrested Four days after a 50-year-old woman was allegedly gang-raped and abandoned outside her home at a village in Uttar Pradeshs Badaun district, the local temple priest, the main accused in the case, was arrested from a nearby village in the district late on Thursday. ANI The priest, identified as Satyanand, was hiding in the house of one of his followers in a village from where he was picked up and arrested, PTI reported, quoting District Magistrate Kumar Prashant. The SC asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, whether the protesting farmers are protected from the spread of COVID The protests by the farmers at the border points in the national capital demanding the repeal of the three new farm laws began on November 28. (Photo: AP) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed apprehensions that the gathering of thousands of protesting farmers at Delhi borders could lead to the "same problem" that arose due to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation here in March last and asked the Centre whether the protesters are "protected" against the spread of COVID-19. It also said the guidelines to contain the coronavirus should be followed. The apex court was hearing a plea seeking various reliefs including a CBI probe into the matter related to assembly of people at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal and the Tablighi Jamaat congregation at Nizammudin Markaz amid the pandemic and lockdown. You must tell us what is happening. The same problem is going to arise in farmers' agitation. I do not know if farmers are protected from COVID. So, the same problem is going to arise. It is not that everything is over, said Chief Justice S A Bobde, who was heading the bench which also comprised Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. The top court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, whether the protesting farmers are protected from the spread of COVID. The COVID-19 guidelines include wearing of face masks at public places and social distancing norms. Mehta replied, Certainly not. Mehta said he will file a report within two weeks on what has been done and what needs to be done. The protests by the farmers at the border points in the national capital demanding the repeal of the three new farm laws began on November 28. The plea in the top court filed by advocate Supriya Pandita has alleged that the Delhi police had failed to control the gathering of people at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal last year during the lockdown. Advocate Om Prakash Parihar, appearing for the petitioner, Thursday told the bench that the police has not said anything about the whereabouts of Nizamuddin Markaz chief Maulana Saad. The bench told Parihar, Why are you interested in one person? We are on the issue of COVID. Why do you want controversy? We are interested that COVID guidelines should be followed. The apex court said it is trying to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread and the guidelines are followed. Issue notice. In the meantime, respondents shall file their reply affidavit, if any, the bench said in its order. During a media briefing on April 18 last year, the Union Health ministry had said that of the 14,378 coronavirus infections reported in the country till that date, 4,291 cases in 23 states and union territories are linked to the Markaz event held in Delhi's Nizamuddin area in March. The Centre had on June 5 last year told the top court that the probe into assembly of people at Anand Vihar Bus Terminal in east Delhi during nationwide lockdown and the Tablighi Jamaat event is being conducted on a day-to-day basis by Delhi Police and there was no need for CBI investigation. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had earlier given the details of steps taken by the Delhi Police which is making all efforts to complete the investigation within the time frame to submit the charge sheet in the trial court. It had told the top court that due to fake media reports and circulation of certain misinformation in the areas of Delhi, thousands of migrants gathered at Anand Vihar Bus terminal and Ghazipur border areas here on March 28 last. On the steps taken by the Delhi Police, the MHA in its affidavit had said that the probe in the Markaz matter is being conducted on a day-to-day basis, in accordance with the mandate of law and all efforts are being made to finalize investigation and submit a report under section 173 CrPC (charge sheet) before the trial court in a time bound manner. The MHA had alleged that Maulana Saad and others had allowed a huge gathering to assemble inside a closed premise, over a protracted period of time, without any semblance of social distances or provision of masks and sanitizers and have caused a situation where a highly infectious disease such as COVID-19 may spread and threaten the lives of inmates. It had said that a case was lodged against Maulana Saad under various provisions including The Epidemic Disease Act, Disaster Management Act and sections of the IPC with crime branch police station and during the investigation of the case, charges under the Foreigners Act was also added. The Ministry had pointed out that there was no negligence or delay in dealing with the Markaz incident and police had on March 21 contacted the authorities of Tablighi Jamaat Headquarters and apprised them of the COVID-19 situation and was directed to send the foreigners back to their respective countries and Indians to their native places. Farmers harvest rice in the southern province of Soc Trang. Photo by VnExpress/Nguyet Nhi. Vietnams rice exports grew by 9.3 percent last year to $3.07 billion though it stockpiled the grain to ensure food security after Covid-19 broke out. But volumes were down 3.5 percent to 6.15 million tons since the country stopped exports for over two weeks in March and April to ensure adequate domestic supply amid the pandemic. The average price rose by 13.3 percent from the previous year to $499 per ton, the highest in years, the Ministry of Industry and Trade reported. Vietnamese farmers and exporters are focusing on quality and getting higher prices by meeting import standards in markets like the E.U., South Korea and the U.S., it said. Eighty five percent of the countrys exports last year were considered to be of high quality, according to the General Statistics Office. In 2019, Vietnam was the worlds third largest rice exporter behind India and Thailand with shipments of $2.81 billion. Its biggest buyer was the Philippines. SpaceX, L3Harris chosen again for huge satellite contract The Space Development Agency has apparently stuck with its choices of SpaceX and L3Harris Technologies to build the first satellites in what will be a huge constellation to track hypersonic and ballistic missiles. The companies first won the contracts worth a combined $342 million in 2020 and the awards were quickly protested by Airbus and Raytheon Technologies. SDA took a corrective action to take a second look at the awards and has decided SpaceX and L3Harris were still their best picks, according to a report by SpaceNews. The contracts are known as Tranche 0 Tracking Layer. Each company will build four satellites that will track targets. This first group will be a proof of concept. The full rollout of Tranche 0 will be 28 satellites. Separate contracts went to Lockheed Martin and York Space Systems to build the transport layer satellites that collect the data from the tracking satellites, fuse it and calculate a response. The program known as the National Defense Space Architecture program will eventual include hundreds of satellites in orbit. With the new awards to L3Harris and SpaceX, it would not be surprising to see Airbus and Raytheon refile their protests challenging the decision. KYIV -- One year after the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane in Iranian airspace, Ukraine and four other countries whose citizens were killed in the crash are urgently calling on Tehran to fully disclose how the tragedy occurred, deliver justice, and make reparations, as the families of the victims seek justice and answers to a tragedy that killed 176 people. Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 crashed shortly after taking off from Tehrans main airport on January 8, 2020, killing everyone on board. The majority of the victims were Iranians and Canadians, but Afghans, Britons, Swedes, and Ukrainians were also among the dead. Iran admitted days later that its forces accidentally shot down the Kyiv-bound plane after firing two missiles amid heightened tensions with the United States. In a joint statement coinciding with the first anniversary of the crash, Afghanistan, Britain, Canada, Sweden, and Ukraine urged Iranian authorities to provide a complete and thorough explanation of the events and decisions that led to this appalling plane crash, including concrete measures to ensure that it will never happen again. The statement, posted on the Ukrainian Foreign Ministrys website, said the five countries will hold Iran to account to deliver justice and make sure Iran makes full reparations to the families of the victims and affected countries. It is clear that all those responsible for this catastrophe will face justice, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a separate statement. There is no way in the modern world that a crime of that kind may stay without proper consequences. Officials from Canada and other countries whose nationals were on board have raised concerns about the lack of transparency and accountability in Irans investigation of its own military, and called on the country to cooperate with multilateral investigative initiatives. In December, an independent report by the Canadian government accused Iran of failing to conduct a proper investigation and said that many questions remain unanswered. "The party responsible for the situation is investigating itself, largely in secret. That does not inspire confidence or trust," said a report by Canada's special counsel on the tragedy. Iranian officials have said the country never sought to hide the details about the air disaster or to violate the rights of the victims' families. Human Rights Watch (HRW) also marked the anniversary of the crash by accusing Iranian authorities of harassing and intimidating the victims families instead of conducting a transparent and credible investigation into the tragedy. The government should promptly pay adequate compensation to the families and carry out a transparent and impartial investigation with appropriate prosecutions regardless of position or rank, said Michael Page, deputy Middle East director at the New York-based watchdog. The group said it had interviewed more than a dozen of the victims family members, who said that the authorities had not returned any valuables from their loved ones. The authorities also intimidated and harassed families to stop them from seeking justice outside of the authorities own judicial investigations. Meanwhile, at least 20 people who participated in peaceful protests over the crash have been prosecuted, according to HRW. It said two prominent activists among them were sentenced to four years and eight months and five years in prison, respectively, for participating in the demonstrations and posting about it on social media. In the week prior to the anniversary of the incident, Iranian authorities organized several events commemorating the victims of the crash, but Page said public commemorations do not make up for the intimidation of victims families and wrongful prosecutions of peaceful protesters. The authorities should immediately and unconditionally drop charges against those peacefully protesting, stop intimidating families, and direct their efforts to holding wrongdoers to account, he added. A video posted online recently showed an unnamed Iranian woman crying at the graves of her loved ones and demanding justice for her daughter, son-in-law, and 1-year-old granddaughter, who perished in the crash. "Last year my daughter was here and we celebrated her 30th birthday. Today she turned 31. Why did you prevent her from being with me? Why did you do this?" she says through tears. "We don't want blood money and compensation. We want justice." There has been no report of senior Iranian officials being dismissed or resigning over the crash. On January 7, the military prosecutor of Tehran, Gholam Abbas Torki, said experts had concluded their investigations and that human error had resulted in the incident. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili earlier announced that the trial of several people charged over the crash would begin later this month. He did not identify the suspects. And Iran announced in December that the government had allocated $150,000 for the families of each of the victims -- an offer rejected by the Ukrainian and Canadian governments, as well as some of the families of the victims, who see it as an attempt to close the case and escape accountability. Canada's Foreign Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne said in an e-mail sent to AFP on January 7 that Tehran cannot unilaterally decide on compensation for the families and that "substantive discussions with Iran" were yet to take place over the matter. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Champagne, and several other members of the government spoke with victims' families during a private virtual commemoration on the eve of the tragedys anniversary. Trudeau has recently announced that January 8 would become known as Canada's National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Air Disasters. Zelenskiy said that Ukraine would soon erect a memorial "where relatives, friends, and other citizens could come" to honor the victims of the tragedy. Flight 752 was downed the same night that Iran launched a ballistic-missile attack that targeted U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Tehran's air defenses were on high alert in case of retaliation. Iran's missile attack was in response to a U.S. drone strike that killed the powerful commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, Major General Qasem Soleimani, in Baghdad five days earlier. With reporting by AFP Spend that holiday cash you received (or saved from not traveling) on something youll reach for daily: a nonstick frying pan that looks as good as it cooks. Home chefs who want to prevent sticking foods now have lots of super stylish alternatives to traditional nonstick with options like ceramic, cast iron, and even carbon steel. Depending on the pan, Teflon-alternatives can be oven-safe upwards of 850 degrees without emitting fumes or toxins. So whether its a textbook over-easy egg, or pan-seared scallops with a perfect golden crust youre after, achieve home cooked greatness (thats safer and cleaner) with one of these top picks. Great Jones Large Fry From the cheery color palette to the brass-tone handles, the Great Jones line of Teflon-free cookware and bakeware is an aesthetic dream that performs just as beautifully. Great Jones 10.25-inch Large Fry skillet is one youll reach for daily its fully-clad for quick, even heating while the safe nonstick ceramic coating allows omelets to slide right off. Our Place Always Pan The thoughtful design and on-trend color palettes of Our Places Always Pan has held the attention of home cooks everywhere since launching in late 2019. The ceramic coated Always Pan does the job of a steamer, skillet, saucepan, and nonstick frying pan without toxic materials. You can feel good about supporting Our Place too; Shiza Shahid, the co-founder of Our Place, also co-founded the Malala Fund with the Nobel Peace Prize Winner Malala Yousafzai. She also founded NOW Ventures, a venture capital fund that invests in women-led startups. Our Place extended their year-end sale; you can get the pan for 20% off with promo code BYE2020 for a bit longer. GreenPan Venice Pro Stainless Steel Ceramic Nonstick Frypan GreenPan Venice Pro Stainless Steel Ceramic Nonstick Light Gray Frypan, 10'' - amazon.com 59.95 Shop Now The stainless steel exterior and white cooking surface give the GreenPan Venice Pro a striking classic look, while the PFAS- and PFOA-free Thermolon ceramic nonstick coating make cooking and cleanup a breeze. On top of that, the pans sturdy design allows for an easy transition from stove to oven or broiler. MICHELANGELO Nonstick Copper Frying Pan with Titanium Ceramic Interior MICHELANGELO Frying Pan with Lid, Nonstick 8 Inch Frying Pan - amazon.com 26.99 Shop Now Michelangelos oven-safe, non-toxic ceramic and titanium coated frying pan is a solid budget pick that doesnt skimp on quality. The lightweight aluminum quickly and evenly distributes heat, while the included glass lid lets you monitor the cook. Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet With Assist Handle, 10.25", Black - amazon.com 14.88 Shop Now Cast iron devotees know that not only is the material indestructible and unmatched in heat retention, but that a properly seasoned cast iron skillet is also a nonstick skillet. Lodges affordable offering arrives pre-seasoned and ready to tackle any task at home or over a campfire. Made In Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan Blue Carbon Steel Frying Pan - madeincookware.com 65.00 Shop Now While commonplace in pro kitchens, carbon steel is now making an appearance in homes thanks to its unique ability to retain heat while staying lightweight. Made In, the cookware brand highly touted by pro chefs everywhere, has a line of carbon steel cookware including frying pans that perform seamlessly from stove to oven and just might inspire an impromptu (pan-seared, butter-basted) steak night. Equal Parts Essential Pan Equal Parts is another new-generation cookware brand delivering safe, stylish products directly to consumers. The nonstick Essential Pan is a great place to start; the 10-inch pans depth allows it to do double duty as both a saute pan and skillet without the use of PTFE (Teflon), PFOA, or other harmful chemicals. Food52 x GreenPan Nonstick Skillet Food52 x GreenPan Nonstick Skillet (Set of 2) - food52.com 92.01 Shop Now This handsome nonstick skillet (a combination of words never before uttered) is part of a cookware family created by Food52 in collaboration with GreenPan. The non-toxic ceramic nonstick coating, attractive color options, and oven-safe brass handle make this skillet set perfect for daily use. And if you can get the set in sage/brass, grab them immediately that dreamy color sells out regularly. Le Creuset Signature 10 Skillet Le Creuset Signature 10 1/4" Iron Handle Skillet - crateandbarrel.com 180.00 Shop Now If heirloom-quality, non-toxic, nonstick cookware is what you seek, look no further than iconic French brand Le Creuset. Their porcelain enameled cast iron pans will provide generations of cooks with perfect fried eggs and salmon skin that never sticks. CeraStone CeraComm 10" Ceramic Fry Pan CeraStone CeraComm 10" Ceramic Fry Pan - crateandbarrel.com 34.97 Shop Now Get all the benefits of high-end ceramic cookware without the price tag with CeraStone CeraComm fry pan. The titanium-infused, ceramic-coated surface resists sticking and food stains and is free of harmful PTFE or PFOAs. Reeling from the mob attack on Congress, the nation's two highest-ranking Democrats and a Republican Congressman have demanded that Vice President Mike Pence act to remove President Donald Trump from office. Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic Party leader Chuck Schumer on Thursday said that he could pose a danger to the country in the 13 days left for him to be in office and Pence and the cabinet should invoke the constitution to declare him unfit to function as president and oust him. A Republican member of the House of Representatives, Adam Kinzinger also called for Trump's removal from office. Pelosi threatened to start impeachment proceedings against Trump if Pence and the cabinet did not remove him under the Constitution's 25th Amendment. "If the Vice President and Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment," Pelosi said. Many leaders from both parties have blamed Trump for his supporters creating nightmarish scenes by storming the Capitol on Wednesday. Schumer said that the attack would not have happened if he was not the President. Kinzinger said Trump "invoked and inflamed passions that gave fuel to the insurrection." Trump is becoming increasingly isolated even within his Republican Party after the attack on the Capitol, the Washington building housing Congress, after he addressed a rally of supporters and asked them to go to the Congress, which was to meet to declare Joe Biden as President and Kamala Harris as Vice President. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao resigned from the cabinet saying that the attack on Congress has "deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside." She is the wife Mitch McConnell, the leader of the Republican Party in the Senate, who has broken with Trump and said that his continuing to question Biden's election could send democracy into a "death spiral". He and Pence refused to heed Trump's requests to undo Biden's election when the Congress took the final step on Wednesday to ratify the electoral college's votes making Biden the President. Deputy national security adviser Matt Pottinger, Stephanie Grisham, former Trump' spokesperson who was First Lady Melania Trump's chief staff, president's Deputy Press Secretary Sarah Mathews, and White House Social Secretary Anna Cristina Niceta, have also resigned. As pressures on Trump increased, he said early Thursday that there would be an "orderly transition" on January 20, when Biden and Harris will take office under the Constitution. While Trump had been criticised for not unequivocally condemning the riot, his Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnnany said on Thursday, "Let me be clear -- the violence we saw yesterday at our nation's capital was appalling, reprehensible, and antithetical to the American way. We condemn it -- the president and this administration -- in the strongest possible terms." Under the 25th Amendment to the Constitution, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet can write to the speaker and to the President pro tem of the Senate that the President is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office" and automatically remove him from office making the Vice President the successor. The amendment does not specify the grounds for declaring the President unfit to continue, but a President's mental health could be a ground given that concern over the president's health was the driving force for enacting it in 1965. Action by Pence and a majority of the cabinet would have immediate effect, while impeachment would need to go through the House and then to the Senate, which will come under Democratic control, before he is removed. Schumer said that every one of the 13 days left for Trump to be president "is a threat to democracy." "The quickest and most effective way to remove this President from office is to invoke the 25th Amendment," he said at a news conference in New York. With Democrats seizing control of the Senate with the twin victories in Georgia State, Schumer will become the majority leader in the Senate, replacing McConnell. Pelosi said, "We'll review what our options are in terms of the 25th Amendment." Trump was impeached in 2019 by the House, but the Republican-controlled Senate did not convict him. The last time the US faced a similar crisis was in 1974 when Richard Nixon resigned while was facing impeachment and erosion of political support. The move to impeach him was for his involvement in the Watergate scandal in which the Democratic National Committee office was broken into by operatives linked to him. Patients receiving the Oxford vaccine do not need to be monitored for 15 minutes after getting the jab, the NHS has confirmed. This means sites will be able to deliver more doses every day, providing a major boost for the bid by ministers to inoculate 13million people by mid-February. The 15-minute policy was established last month, when the first Britons began to receive the Pfizer vaccine, in case patients suffered a dangerous allergic reaction. New guidelines published by NHS England has confirmed there is 'not a requirement' for 15 minutes of observation for those who receive the Oxford vaccination, like Lorna Lucas, 81 Experts say the risk of such a response is around one in a million and critics feared the policy would actually increase the chances of patients catching Covid in waiting rooms. Now new guidelines published by NHS England confirm that there is not a requirement for 15 minutes [of] observation for those given the Oxford jab developed with AstraZeneca. The UK has ordered 100million doses of this vaccine, compared with 40million from Pfizer. The government has ordered 100million doses of the Oxford vaccine, compared to 40million from Pfizer Dr Steven Rossi, clinical director of the North East Derbyshire Primary Care Network, hailed the guidance as fantastic news. He said the Pfizer jabs 15-minute observation period effectively halved the number of patients that could be seen in a day. NHS England said those given Pfizers vaccine should still be monitored for 15 minutes after vaccination, with a longer observation period when indicated after clinical assessment as set out [by] the MHRA. Care home staff have been told to go into work despite testing positive for coronavirus, an alarming new report has revealed today. In the past fortnight inspectors have flagged more than a dozen care homes over problems with infection control. The Care Quality Commission has reportedly warned at least 14 homes about flaws, including telling workers with Covid to work due to staff shortages, the Guardian reported. This comes as the NHS makes plans to commandeer spare care beds across the country to help release pressure on hospitals where wards are filling up with Covid patients as the crisis escalates. National Care Association chairwoman Nadra Ahmed told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the sector had been receiving calls over Christmas about filling beds in nursing homes. But she warned: 'There's no way that providers can go back to April when we were told everything was OK and people were being discharged out of hospitals. 'Of course we want to help the NHS if we can, but we have to do that safely. The only way that can be safely done is if we're absolutely clear that the person is no longer shedding the virus and bringing it into the care service.' Hospitals across England are seeing more coronavirus patients than they did in the first wave in 2020 (Pictured: Staff in an intensive care ward in St George's Hospital in London) A medic works with a patient in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) in St George's Hospital in Tooting, south-west London Some hospitals are approaching breaking point, and preparing to turn to care homes for help, the chief executive of NHS Providers has said. The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital had surged past 30,000 by January 4, NHS data reveals LONDON'S HOSPITALS 'TO BE OVERWHELMED IN TWO WEEKS' London's hospitals will be overwhelmed by Covid-19 in less than two weeks even in a 'best' case scenario, an official briefing reportedly warns. Medical director at NHS London Vin Diwakar provided the worrying analysis to medical directors of the capital's hospital trusts over a Zoom call. Even if coronavirus patients grew at the lowest likely rate and capacity is increased - including opening the Nightingale - the NHS would still be short 2,000 general, acute and ICU beds by January 19, the HSJ reports. Three scenarios are laid out in the report - 'best', 'average' and 'worse'. These account for the impact of four per cent daily growth, five per cent growth and six per cent growth respectively. Growth for beds on January 5 was 3.5 per cent, with the rate at 4.8 per cent for ICU beds, the report claimed. Advertisement NHS bosses say they are running out of beds due to soaring virus admissions and desperately need to offload patients to the care sector. Chris Hopson, chief of healthcare union NHS Providers, said yesterday that some hospitals are almost full already and looking for beds elsewhere for their patients. But Ms Ahmed warned that many care home providers are operating with their normal insurance in place - meaning that if they take a Covid-positive patient, it would nullify their insurance. Campaigners warn this may lead to a repeat of the 'disaster' last spring when infectious patients were sent to care homes and tens of thousands of deaths resulted. Charities and care leaders say they have a 'horrible sense of deja-vu' and it would be a 'grave mistake'. Ms Ahmed told Radio 4 today: 'We also have to remember that care homes are also struggling with staffing. The risk to the sector is enormous if we don't do this in a safe manner. 'I don't know who Chris has been speaking to, but the providers we represent are all very concerned about the risk of bringing the virus into their services. 'We are not funded properly and that's not being looked at. 'A lot of providers are practising with the normal insurance in place but Covid is excluded so if we take people who are positive into our services, it could nullify our insurance and the government hasn't moved forward to do anything about that for our sector, but they did it for the NHS. 'So surely if the NHS is looking to move people into social care settings then that has to be underwritten as a precursor to anything. 'We need to be very clear isolation in care home is in place. But there is so much that needs to be done before we can go into the role of taking hospital patients.' If care homes are turned into overflow wards for hospitals it is likely only non-Covid patients would be sent to them, following uproar over a Government policy in the first wave which saw people recovering from coronavirus sent into care homes where they were feared to have triggered killer outbreaks. Chris Hopson, chief executive of NHS Providers, warned of spiralling admissions More than 30,000 people are currently in hospital with Covid across the UK and the number is expected to soar after more than 300,000 people tested positive in the last week of December. This was up 27 per cent in a week and towers above the worst figure of 21,700 seen in April 2020. A CQC Spokesperson said: 'CQC inspectors have conducted 2,235 risk-based inspections of Adult Social Care locations since the beginning of the pandemic, and we have also conducted over 850 inspections focussed on infection prevention and control, in order to ensure that people are receiving safe care. 'Although in some cases we've taken action in response to poor care or inadequate infection control procedures, the majority of care providers that we have inspected have shown they are responding well to the challenges of infection prevention control during the pandemic and doing everything they can to keep people safe. Though our inspection activity we will continue to support providers to protect against the spread of Covid in care homes, take action to protect people where necessary, and check whether locations can be approved to care for people leaving hospital who cannot return to their original care setting for infection control reasons.' Chris Hopson warned yesterday: 'We are now reaching the point where hospital beds are full, community beds are full, and community at-home services are also full. 'What trust leaders are now trying to do is [use] spare capacity in the care and nursing home sector. 'They are in the middle of conversations with their care and nursing home colleagues to see if they can access that capacity.' Mr Hopson said care homes were better placed to accept patients than Nightingale hospitals because they had more staff. He called on the Government to create financial incentives for care homes to take NHS patients. He added: 'There is, of course, no question of using this capacity for patients who could introduce Covid-19 infection risk into care homes or for patients requiring complex or specialist hospital care.' A staff nurse treats patient Peter Watts, 64, in the emergency department at St George's Hospital in Tooting MailOnline has contacted NHS England to ask how care homes may be utilised to help take the pressure off central hospitals. Intensive care patients are already being moved from the hardest hit regions to those where there is spare capacity. Some doctors are currently considering moving the most critically ill from London and the South East to as far afield as Yorkshire and the South West. The President of the Intensive Care Society, Dr Stephen Webb, said yesterday around 10 intensive care patients were already being shifted every day. Most of these are moved from and to hospitals within the same regions, he said, but a small number may be moved between regions. A patient is prepared for transfer from the Acute Dependency Unit to the ICU (Intensive Care Unit) at St George's Hospital At St George's a surge in coronavirus patients has meant the number of intensive care beds had to be doubled from 60 to 120 Staff sickness due to coronavirus and self-isolation means doctors, nurses and healthcare assistances face demanding shift patterns and exhausting work looking after critically ill Covid-19 patients (Pictured: Staff in St George's Hospital) There were 30,451 people in hospital with Covid-19 as of January 4, with 2,645 on ventilators in intensive care NHS statistics show that it is rare for people under the age of 40 to die of Covid-19, with 100 of the 17,572 fatalities in November and December in that age group Nurses and doctors work on wards at University College Hospital, London, pictured above Normally, it is rare for intensive care patients to be moved between hospitals. Dr Webb, who also works in the East of England, said: 'The problem with sending patients to the North is that those units were really badly affected earlier in this wave, and they could be hit with the new variant. It's a very tricky situation. 'If the virus continues as it is, I'm much more fearful we may get to saturation point for ICUs, but we have still got a bit of time. We do have capacity in other parts of the country, but not a lot. 'Currently, in the East of England, South East and London, many intensive care units are already saturated. This is where we're seeing daily export of patients. but at the moment this is mainly locally. 'So it may be a few miles down the road between London hospitals. We try to avoid moving patients and we always try to move the least sick of our ICU patients. They are transferred using all the equipment needed to keep them alive, accompanied by an ICU doctor and a nurse.' Mastriano won his Senate seat in a 2019 special election after a failed bid for Congress and was reelected in November. He led a Republican Policy Committee hearing in November that gave Trump and his lawyer Rudy Giuliani a forum for airing false and fantastical claims of voter fraud and election rigging that have been rejected by courts and bipartisan elections officials. At the hearing, Mastriano declared that the republic is at stake and that Pennsylvanias elections were less secure than those in Iraq and Afghanistan. Hamirpur: Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said the Indian Army has been given a free hand to deal with any aggression by Pakistani forces to disturb peace in the country. Addressing Tridev Sammelan, a conclave of booth-level office-bearers of the assembly constituencies within the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat, he warned the neighbouring country against any misadventure. Indian forces will not count bullets while replying to any provocation by Pakistan, he said. His statement comes a day after two Indian soldiers were killed in an ambush attack on an Army convoy by militants on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Pakistan has been making repeated efforts to disturb the peace and tranquillity in J&K...our forces will give appropriate reply to such provocations, he added. Stating that militancy has come down in all parts of the country, he said the government is committed to eliminate terrorism and our forces are on alert round the clock and sacrificing their lives in fighting terrorists. He called upon BJP workers to oust the Congress government in the state in the upcoming Assembly polls. Singh said he was confident his party would win the elections and form the next government. The state goes to poll later this year. Accusing the Virbhadra Singh government of not utilizing the funds given by the NDA government, Singh said rampant corruption too was hampering development in the state. Also Read: Be conscious of the uniform as it is a matter of pride, Rajnath tells policemen He said, the Centre would do its best to help Himachal Pradesh in accelerating its developmental activities. Union Health Minister JP Nadda, former state chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, state BJP chief Sat Pal Satti, and state party in-charge Mangal Pandey attended the conclave. Nadda said, under the present Congress dispensation, the state has witnessed one of the darkest periods since Independence. He accused the CM of indulging in corruption and spending most of his time in securing bails and facing court cases rather than working for the welfare of the masses. Dhumal demanded quota for Himachalis in recruitments in paramilitary forces and asserted that their contribution in guarding the borders has been immense. Satti pitched for making Rajnath Singh the partys star campaigner for the upcoming state elections. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. English French MONTREAL, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Velan Inc. (TSX: VLN) (Velan or the Company) today announced that Rejean Ostiguy has informed the Company of his decision to resign as Chief Financial Officer, having accepted a leadership opportunity at a privately owned company. Velan has commenced a search to identify the Companys next CFO. Mr. Ostiguy will remain in his role until January 22nd, after the release of Velan financial results for the third quarter. John Ball, Executive Vice President, Global Finance and former Chief Financial Officer of the Company, from 2005 until May 2020, will assume the role of Chief Financial Officer on an interim basis. On behalf of Velan, I want to thank Rejean for his leadership and expertise over the past 12 months, overseeing the deployment of major systems improvements under our V20 program, said Yves Leduc, Velans Chief Executive Officer, I also want to thank John for accepting to support the Company in the interim period. John is a well-respected senior executive with an exceptional knowledge of the business and the Company, and whose track record, since he joined Velan as CFO in 2005, has been outstanding. We wish Rejean continued success in this next chapter of his career. About Velan Founded in Montreal in 1950, Velan Inc. (www.velan.com) is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of industrial valves, with sales of US$371.6 million in its last reported fiscal year. The Company employs over 1,775 people and has manufacturing plants in 9 countries. Velan Inc. is a public company with its shares listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol VLN. Safe harbour statement This news release may include forward-looking statements, which generally contain words like should, believe, anticipate, plan, may, will, expect, intend, continue or estimate or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions, all of which are subject to risks and uncertainties, which are disclosed in the Companys filings with the appropriate securities commissions. While these statements are based on managements assumptions regarding historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that it believes are reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may differ materially from those expressed herein. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by the applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. John D. Ball, Executive Vice-President Global Finance Tel.: 514-707-2542 (JNS) Build Back Better was Joe Bidens campaign slogan. How different is that, really, from Make America Great Again? Both BBB and MAGA suggest the need for restoration, for reversing deterioration and decline, for fixing whats broken. In foreign and national security policy, President Donald Trump following eight years of President Barack Obamas unwillingness to bolster the credibility of American power against Americas enemies achieved some significant successes. He also suffered some significant failures. In other areas, he made incremental progress,... Delhis air quality improved slightly on Friday morning, will with the hourly average air quality index (AQI) at 7am reaching 223, in the poor zone. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an AQI of 255 in Delhi, in the poor zone on Thursday. On Wednesday, the AQI was 226, also in the poor zone. On a scale of 0 to 500, a reading between 200 and 300 is considered poor. Scientists said from Saturday, the wind speed is likely to pick up significantly, which will improve the air quality. Also Read: Light rain likely in some areas, temp may fall, IMD says There is a possibility of light rain in some parts of Delhi on January 9, after which the wind speeds is likely to reach around 25kmph. The AQI will improve over the weekend, said VK Soni, head of India Meteorological Department (IMD)s environment monitoring and research centre. Union ministry of earth sciences air quality monitoring centre, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (Safar), also said the ventilation condition is expected to improve marginally in the next two days. The AQI is likely to marginally improve and be in the poor or moderate range on January 9 and January 10. No sudden deterioration of AQI is expected in the next few days, the Safar forecast read. With a federal damage assessment finally in hand and a new boiler installed, the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library is closer to reopening following historic flooding. Last May, the failure of the Edenville and Sanford dams on the Tittabawassee River caused regional flooding that impacted the lower level of Midlands library, causing more extensive damage than the flood of 2017. Then, just before Christmas, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) finally gave its $2 million damage assessment on the library. Assistant City Manager Dave Keenan explained the citys insurance policy will cover about $1 million and of the remaining balance, FEMA will pay for about 75% of costs they deem eligible for reimbursement. Keenan expects the funding gap to be between $250,000 to $500,000. Some mechanical work is already underway, and the first of three new boilers was just installed, restoring heat to the building. Library Director Miriam Andrus said prior to the install, library staff were wearing coats and gloves to work and making use of space heaters. Were really, really happy to have heat, Andrus said. However, there is still a phase of mechanical work to be completed before the library can reopen to patrons including replacing/upgrading a hot water heater, an air handler, components of the fire alarm system and the librarys steam boiler. This second phase of work is expected to be done before summer and Andrus said staff are currently planning how to partially reopen at that time to offer services such as computer usage and printing. Its been really unfortunate, Andrus said about the situation. We have such great community support and people love the library and we want to offer services we really miss our patrons. Currently, all the books and materials that were housed on the 35,000-square-foot lower level are laid out in other parts of the library, such as the quiet room and mezzanine level, so that they can still be checked out by patrons. So, Andrus said it will take a lot of reconfiguring before the library can reopen to the public. The mechanical has been the main reason we havent had people in the building in any kind of capacity but once the mechanical is fixed, then we are going to open a little bit in whatever capacity COVID will allow us to, Andrus said. The library is also in need of a few construction repairs including drywall installation, new carpeting, paint, window work and more. The design work for that is currently underway and will be bid out soon so that construction could be done by late spring, at the earliest. Making it work Equipment and work space for Midland Community Television Network (MCTV ) was also housed in the lower level of the library and has since been moved upstairs. Currently, just one MCTV employee works at the office while the other three work from home. Because the library is so large, staff are able to still come to work to do projects in their own section of the library, social distancing from other staff. Andrus explained the employees are all furloughed to some degree, working a few less hours than they normally would, and are in shifts working alternating days. Theyve had just a handful of COVID-19 cases among employees, but it never disrupted service because of the precautions and social distancing. In addition, staff have used the closure to their advantage, tackling projects they otherwise never would have, such as interfiling adult fiction novels, updating the projector room and rearranging the colored carpet tiles. Continued, consistent service Despite the extended closure due to flooding and in addition to the various shutdowns imposed due to the pandemic library staff have been able to still get materials to patrons. In one sense its terrible I mean the fact that this (flood) has happened now twice in three years... but in the same breath, Im really glad that weve been able to continue to offer consistent services, at least with curbside, during the time that were having this unprecedented pandemic and health is such a concern, Andrus said. Im glad we havent closed our doors completely. Not only is the library still offering new library card sign-ups online, but patrons can also a utilize curbside pickup service or digital resources. For the curbside service, patrons can reserve books online and choose a timeslot in which to stop by the library and pick them up outside, Monday through Thursday. Patrons only need one pickup time, even if theyve requested multiple materials. However, expect at least a full day between placing a hold and picking up materials. Then once returned, the materials are sanitized and quarantined for at least 96 hours before being placed back on shelves. Andrus said the curbside pickup has been so popular, they might continue the service long into the future, after they reopen. She said just about all time slots are filled each day. Its such an easy service, Andrus said. I mean if youve got a bunch of kids in your car and you dont want to haul them into the building to look for stuff, you can call the library ... and then you can just come pick (your books) up, you show up, books are sitting on a table, you grab them and you go. You dont have to unbuckle a kid. To learn more about the curbside service, visit www.gadml.org/copy-of-do-curbside-pickup or call 989-837-3457. Another new service they started is Browsing To-Go where patrons can ask for recommendations on books and staff will pull curated options. Those interested in donating to the library can send them to Friends of the Library. Make checks and money orders payable to Friends of the Grace A Dow Memorial Library and note flood relief in the memo line. Donations can be mailed to Friends of the Library, P.O. Box 2458, Midland, MI 48641. Mr. Biden would not address whether Mr. Trump should remain in office but called Wednesday one of the darkest days in the history of our nation and forcefully laid blame at the presidents feet after years of stirring the pot. I wish we could say we couldnt see it coming, he said. But that isnt true. We could see it coming. Even aides to Mr. Trump quietly discussed among themselves the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment, and several prominent Republicans and Republican-leaning business groups endorsed the idea, including John F. Kelly, a former White House chief of staff to Mr. Trump; Representative Adam Kinzinger of Illinois; Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland; and Michael Chertoff, a former homeland security secretary under President George W. Bush. The conservative editorial page of The Wall Street Journal called on Mr. Trump to resign, terming his actions impeachable. But Mr. Pence, several cabinet secretaries and other administration officials concluded that the 25th Amendment was an unwieldy mechanism to remove a president, according to people informed about the discussions. The notion became even less plausible when two cabinet members Elaine L. Chao, the transportation secretary, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary resigned in protest of the presidents encouragement of the mob. John R. Bolton, a former national security adviser to Mr. Trump who broke with him, said the idea was misguided. People glibly have been saying its for situations like this, he said in an interview. In fact, he said, the process of declaring a president unable to discharge his duties is drawn out and could lead to the chaos of having two people claiming to be president simultaneously. While an impeachment conviction would only strip Mr. Trump of his power days earlier than he is set to lose it anyway, it could also disqualify him from running again in 2024. And even if another impeachment might not be any more successful than the first one, in which he was acquitted by the Senate last year in the Ukraine pressure scheme, advocates argued that the mere threat of it could serve as a deterrent for the remaining days of his tenure. The latest danger signs may only encourage Mr. Trump to pardon himself before leaving office, an idea he had raised with aides even before the Capitol siege, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions. LOS ANGELESAfter the incoming Joe Biden administration announced that it would block a new gig worker rule proposed by the Donald Trump administration, the United States Labor Department has pushed ahead to get that rule published. The new rule relaxes requirements for defining workers are independent contractors, giving greater latitude to employers to hire workers on a gig basis. Incoming administrations may, and often do, block proposed federal rules that have not yet been published in the Federal Register. When Biden spokesperson Jen Psaki announced earlier this week the new administrations plan to block the gig worker rule, it had not been published. But according to a report by Land Line, a news site covering the trucking industry which relies on truckers who are largely independent contractors the rule was published in the Thursday, January 7, edition of the Register. Rules and laws governing independent contract work are also of direct concern to the adult industry, which is dominated by performers and workers who are employed on an independent basis, rather than as actual employees. The rule sets a new economic reality standard for allowing workers to be classified as independent. Under Californias controversial AB5 gig worker law, workers must meet a stricter standard, or they must be hired on as employees an an increased cost to employers. The (Labor) Departments proposal aims to bring clarity and consistency to the determination of whos an independent contractor under the Fair Labor Standards Act, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said in a statement. Once finalized, it will make it easier to identify employees covered by the Act, while respecting the decision other workers make to pursue the freedom and entrepreneurialism associated with being an independent contractor. But according to Psaki, the Trump administration rule will make it easier to misclassify employees as independent contractors, costing workers more than $3.7 billion annually. The rule would not take effect for another two months after publication, but with the rule now published, whether the Biden administration could easily block its implementation is now unclear. Biden plans to issue a memo blocking that, and several other proposed Trump administration rules, on January 20, the same day that he is inaugurated as president. Also unclear is whether the federal law will affect Californias AB5. According to the Land Line report, the California Trucking Association is claiming in a current federal court case that federal law takes precedence over the state law. Photo By Ed Brown / Wikimedia Commons Public Domain Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said on Friday a solution could have been reached during the meeting between the Centre and agitating farmers if repealing of the three new farm laws was the only issue. Khattars comments came as the eighth round of talks between Union ministers and farmers union remained inconclusive and the next round is now slated to take place on January 15. We are hopeful. If there was no outcome today, maybe a solution will be reached in the next round of talks. If repealing of laws was the only issue, a solution would have been reached, there are several other issues to be addressed, Khattar told reporters after he met Union home minister Amit Shah, according to news agency ANI. The Centre maintained its stand that the laws, which were passed by Parliament in September last year, would not be repealed. Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar said no decision could be reached as the farmers did not provide any alternatives to their demand for repealing of the laws. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Tomar added that the government was ready to consider any option presented by the farmers apart from the removal of the laws. Also Read| Farm laws: Tomar asks farmers unions leaders to offer alternative other than total repeal Those representing the farmers stayed adamant, saying they only seek the removal of the laws and would continue their fight till the requisite action is taken. There was a heated discussion. We said we dont want anything other than repeal of laws. We wont go to any court. This (repeal) will either be done or well continue to fight. Our parade on January 26 will go on as planned, Hannan Mollah, general secretary of the All India Kisan Sabha, said. The ongoing farmers agitation against the Centres three farm laws has entered day 44. We're hopeful. If there was no outcome today, maybe a solution will be reached in the next round of talks. If repealing of laws was the only issue, a solution would've been reached, there are several other issues to be addressed: Haryana CM ML Khattar after meeting HM Amit Shah pic.twitter.com/Kpr24v4Kz4 ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 Earlier, members of the Bharatiya Kisan Union (BKU) hit out at Khattar for his visit to the Kaimla village in Karnal on Saturday and said the chief minister would not be allowed to hold the event. BKUs state chief Gurnam Singh Charuni further urged farmers from Karnal and nearby districts to oppose the event at any cost. The BJP has double standards. On one hand, Union ministers are calling meetings with farmers and on the other hand, the Haryana CM is holding meetings to talk about the benefits of these anti-farmer laws, Charuni said. OnePlus has teased the launch of its first smart wearable in India and the companion app called OnePlus Health is also now listed on the Play Store. Per previous leaks, the OnePlus Band could be the first wearable product from the company and could launch around January 11 in India. The fitness band has also been listed on Amazon and Flipkart but the company is yet to confirm the exact date of the launch. Staying safe just became easier. With the SpO2 monitor built in our newest device, you can be confident that you are healthy and at peak performance throughout the day.#SmartEverywear Head to the link to get notified: https://t.co/tyxlW6cRmE pic.twitter.com/JNTBygB0gX OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) January 8, 2021 According to a report by Android Police, early access for the OnePlus Health app has started as the app has made it to the Play Store. The Health app is still in development and once released, will help users keep a track of their health data, workout records and more. Moreover, the app will also enable users to change watch faces, configure incoming call or SMS alerts, set daily goals and more. Interestingly, the OnePlus Health app looks similar to the HeyTap Health app thats compatible with Oppo smart wearable devices. On further teardown of the OnePlus Health app by tipster Nils Ahrensmeier and XDAs Adam Conway, Oppo Watch and HeyTap Health were found mentioned several times in the code. However, as pointed out by another popular tipster Max Jambor, the Oppo Watch could be a placeholder as the app is still under development. OnePlus Watch RX was also spotted in between several lines of codes but very little is known about it. I like that style (its for the Band) pic.twitter.com/oOFiZUS1Jx Nils Ahrensmeier (@NilsAhrDE) January 7, 2021 Got the WatchFaces for the #OnePlus Watch pic.twitter.com/omYWft6jRF Nils Ahrensmeier (@NilsAhrDE) January 7, 2021 Apart from this, the teardown has also revealed several animations and watch faces for the upcoming OnePlus Band and OnePlus Watch. OnePlus Band has leaked previously and is expected to be priced around Rs 2,499 in India. The OnePlus Band is rumoured to feature a 1.1-inch AMOLED display with adjustable brightness along with 5ATM certification making it resistant to dust and water ingress. The fitness band is expected to arrive in three colours, Black, Navy and Tangerine Gray and weighs 22.6 grams. It is also equipped with SpO2 blood-oxygen saturation monitor, optical heart rate sensor and more. The OnePlus Band will offer 14-day battery life from its 100mAh battery. OnePlus has also confirmed it is working on a smartwatch thats due out in early 2021. It is likely we will see the OnePlus Watch make its debut alongside the OnePlus 9 series thats expected to launch by mid-March. Donald Trump conceded that Joe Biden would become US president this month, putting an end to his unprecedented campaign to overturn the results of Novembers election. The president acknowledged his defeat as Democratic leaders mounted a push to forcibly remove him from office after he came under intense criticism for inciting a mob attack on Congress on Wednesday while it presided over the certification of the electoral college results. In a video posted to Twitter on Thursday evening, Mr Trump tried to distance himself from the assault on the nations capital, accusing violent demonstrators of defiling the seat of American democracy. He conceded that Congress had certified the election results and that a new administration will be inaugurated on January 20, although he stopped short of congratulating Mr Biden, who he did not mention by name. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power, said Mr Trump, reading from a teleprompter. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation. He added: Serving as your president has been the honour of my lifetime. The video message from Mr Trump followed a day of violent unrest in the nations capital, and marked a sharp contrast from a fiery speech he delivered on Wednesday in which he said: We will never give up. We will never concede . . . You dont concede when theres theft involved. Financial Times MBABANE From mortuaries being full to the looming shortage of coffins and casket, the country is now faced with a shortage of body bags. Following the many deaths related to the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, Mbabane Clinic has run out of body bags. This was disclosed by The Clinic Group as they attributed this shortage to the recent high mortality rate in the country. In an interview, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Medical Director at Mbabane Clinic, Dr Mark Mills, said there was indeed a shortage of the body bags. A body bag, also known as a cadaver pouch or human remains pouch (HRP), is a non-porous bag designed to contain a human body used for the storage and transportation of shrouded corpses. They can also be used for the storage of corpses within morgues at funeral parlours or at hospital morgues. The whole country is experiencing a shortage of body bags as is our neighbour, South Africa. Most of the body bags are supplied from South Africa, Mills said. He mentioned that the ideal body bags for COVID-19 were transparent so that there was no need for the bags to be opened unnecessarily for identification purposes. He further stated that the transparent bags were almost impossible to obtain as they were imported from South Africa. Normally, for non-COVID-19 patients, we do not use body bags as the funeral parlours collect, but due to the risk of infection, body bags are mandatory for people who died of COVID-19- related illnesses, he stated. Mills mentioned that the local funeral parlours had assisted the Clinic Group with body bags as they had obtained some from local suppliers. However, our understanding is these are mostly sourced from South Africa. We have been unable to find a South African supplier who can provide bags due to the high demand there, he said. Echoed His words were echoed by Director of Health Services Dr Vusi Magagula, who said there seemed to also be a shortage nationally. He further mentioned that although the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital still had them in stock, they would eventually run out within a short period of time. Eswatini Nazarene Health Institutions (ENHI) CEO Dr Mbuso Sihlongonyane said the RFM Hospital still had the body bags although he did not know the exact number. He said the hospital had procured some during the first wave of COVID-19. At this moment, the hospital still has the body bags in stock as we bought them during the first wave of the coronavirus from South Africa, he said. Meanwhile, when asked on how the current situation at their hospitals in terms of influx of patients was, Dr Mills disclosed that although the influx had been extremely high, over the last two days, it was much better. He, however, mentioned that the hospitals were currently full of very ill patients. He said The Clinic Group had also postponed elective surgery or procedures to open up beds for COVID-19 patients. This, he said, was due to the high number of critically ill patients with COVID-19 and bed constraints. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most recently there have been many deaths which have been related to this pandemic and this has seen the health facilities and funeral parlours experiencing a shortage in coffins and caskets. Worth noting is that the undertakers source their coffins and caskets from neighbouring South Africa and they are said to be currently low on stock. The undertakers stated that as much as they had a stock pile of coffins, their supply was running low and there was an impending challenge from their suppliers. The main goal of the construction of the airport in Azerbaijans Fuzuli district is primarily aimed at increasing passenger transportation in the direction of the liberated territories, Ilgar Velizade, head of the South Caucasus Political Scientists Club, told Trend. After the opening of a new airport in Fuzuli, it will be possible to increase passenger transportation in this direction, the head of the club added. "Today the districts near Fuzuli are considered as important areas for the tourism sector, Velizade said. First of all, these are the cultural capital of Azerbaijan Shusha city, part of Khojavend district and Hadrut. Azykh cave will become a very important tourist site." Tourists will be able to visit Zangilan, Gubadli, and Jabrayil districts, which are relatively near Fuzuli city, through the modern system of roads, which will be built soon, the head of the club added. "I think that after the road infrastructure is built, the passenger traffic will increase, which will have a positive effect on the development of the tourism potential of these districts, Velizade said. The international airport in Fuzuli will receive citizens from other countries, which is very important. People interested in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, its history, natural beauty, will be able to use this route bypassing Baku." The construction of hotels in the liberated Azerbaijani territories will create a basis for increasing the tourist flow, the head of the club said. "I think that in the coming years, special interest in this region will be shown by tourists from our fraternal Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijanis living there, as well as tourists from the Central Asian countries and Iranian citizens who show great interest in our region and its history, head of the club said. In the future, the geography of these routes will become the main one from the point of view of providing this region with tourists." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The ongoing effort to vaccinate residents and staff of Staten Island nursing homes is continuing, with second doses beginning next week in some facilities, as coronavirus (COVID-19) infections on the Island reach striking highs and deaths continue to mount. Less than three weeks after the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were administered at nursing homes in the borough, Scott La Rue, the president and CEO of ArchCare the arm of the Archdiocese of New York that runs Carmel Richmond in Dongan Hills said he is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel for nursing homes battling the outbreak. Still, in terms of the broader community, La Rue said: There is still a lot of fight to be had. Nursing homes, especially on Staten Island, have been a tragic epicenter of the pandemic. More than 300 people are presumed or confirmed to have died at these facilities on Staten Island alone, accounting for nearly 25% of Staten Islands deaths since the spring. Carmel Richmond has the highest confirmed death toll on the Island at 60, New York State Health Department data shows, though the majority of those deaths occurred in the early months of 2020. Before vaccinations became available to the boroughs nursing homes, facilities were bracing for their most difficult test since the first wave of the virus rolled through the Island just under one year ago. Even when it was learned that immunizations would be given to nursing homes within the first tranche of distribution, officials on the Island said the process would be very complex and potentially marred by many who might not trust the vaccine. Those concerns, at least among ArchCare staff, have been validated, as La Rue said only about 30 to 35% of workers there have agreed to receive the vaccination the same number reported about one month ago. Residents have been more willing to be vaccinated, said La Rue, and their acceptance rate stands at around 80%. Were doing a tremendous amount of education and were trying to get that number up significantly, said La Rue. Our goal is to obtain herd immunity per-se within the facility for the residents, and wed like to have that for the staff as well. That education is being delivered in the form of online webinars and educational seminars within individual units of ArchCares nursing homes. It is being coupled with an incentive program that gives ambassadors within the facility, who are assigned to about 40 staffers, a monetary bonus if 75% of those individuals take the vaccine. Were offering all of our employees a $100 bonus if we get to a 75% vaccination rate, said La Rue. The race to continue vaccinations within nursing home facilities is also occurring as New York City begins to eye the next populations that will have access to vaccinations. La Rue said residents at Carmel Richmond who were vaccinated in late December would begin receiving their second doses on Jan. 13 in line with the period of three weeks required by Pfizer between the first and second doses of its immunization. The next round of vaccinations will also serve as an opportunity for those who did not receive their first dose to get vaccinated, said La Rue. The follow-up date for Carmel Richmond for those individuals to receive their final dose is Feb. 3. At other facilities, such as Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center, second doses will begin on Jan. 11 for those who were given their first shot on Dec. 21, said Jane Harris, a spokeswoman for the facility. Clove Lakes Health Care and Rehabilitation Center will also on that day be administering vaccinations to residents and staff who are now electing to receive the vaccine. On Dec. 21, Harris said 128 residents and 155 staffers were vaccinated, with more added to that total this week. With acceptance among residents high, La Rue said: Were already feeling really good about our ability to protect the residents, adding, I think were going to be in really good shape. New treatments, such as the use of monoclonal antibody treatments, and fewer severe cases of COVID-19 in ArchCares facilities have La Rue feeling optimistic. We continue to be in a very good place as it relates to managing the virus, said La Rue. To the Editor: Re Pelosi Threatens Impeachment if Trump Doesnt Resign Immediately (nytimes.com, Jan. 8): Speaker Nancy Pelosis view that President Trump should be impeached if he does not resign immediately is understandable but impractical. Too little time remains until the blessed day when Joe Biden will be inaugurated. In any event, rushing through the impeachment process no matter how egregious the current circumstances sets a precedent that could be cited under far less compelling cases. However, there is a remedy that can and should be implemented: censure. In this case, the violation is so severe, and the time urgency so great, that a joint resolution of Congress should be passed. I believe that many Republican senators and representatives would patriotically vote for it, thus both expressing the outrage of our nation and commencing the healing of the wounds in our society. Those who choose not to vote for it would be accountable to their constituents. Joseph Feit Lawrence, N.Y. To the Editor: Re Calls Grow to Remove Trump as U.S. Officials Head for Exit (front page, Jan. 8): How can anyone who was there at the Capitol not feel completely betrayed when President Trump has gone from Ill be there with you and I love you to those who broke the law, you will pay in 24 hours? How can the base not now see how badly theyve been duped, how they will suffer the most from their loyalty to this toxic man? How can they not now wake up and channel their rage to seek to renounce this cultist leader? David Tanner Collingwood, Ontario To the Editor: After viewing President Trumps video Thursday evening, I couldnt help but wonder if it was recorded after someone handed the script to Mr. Trump and said, Record this, dont ad-lib, and sound like you mean it, or the cabinet will invoke the 25th. The call to Sen. Tommy Tuberville by Rudy Giuliani, President Trumps personal lawyer, lasted nearly two minutes as Giuliani tried to persuade Alabamas new Republican senator to stall last nights certification of the Electoral College results. But Giuliani dialed the wrong number and left a voicemail for another senator, who in turn provided the audio to the Dispatch, which released the message Wednesday. In the voicemail intended for Tuberville, who was among the six and seven senators who voted to object to certifying the Electoral College votes in Arizona and Pennsylvania that ultimately went to President-elect Joe Biden, Giuliani said it would be an honor to talk to you. Giuliani attempted to persuade Tuberville to raise objections to the Electoral College votes in 10 states to give Trumps legal team more time to come up with evidence of election fraud. Trump lost dozens of lawsuits in attempts to overturn the results in several states. If Giulianis message eventually did find its way to Tuberville, Alabamas junior senator did not take the presidents lawyers advice. Just Arizona and Pennsylvania, not 10 states, were objected to during last nights joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College results. Listen to the audio below: BarcelonaClaudia - she prefers to use a pseudonym - is studying 3rd year economics at the University of Barcelona and has followed the first semester's classes from her home in Ibiza, but she is already looking at plane flights to travel to Barcelona to take her exams, which will be held presentially because that is what her university has decided. Despite having introduced virtual teaching during the first semester due to the pandemic, most universities have decided to hold face-to-face exams, and yesterday we already saw crowds in some Catalan faculties. "I think it's a bit reckless", Claudia tells the ARA. ADVERTISEMENT Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, arrived in Banjul Thursday evening to continue to support the process of building national consensus and backing for the ongoing constitution review process in The Gambia. Mr Jonathan is returning to the country two weeks after he visited Banjul to facilitate the consultations for advancing the interparty dialogue. The parley is meant to garner the required support for a draft constitution currently being reviewed by the Gambian parliament. A statement by the ex-presidents media team on Thursday noted the invitation to The Gambia came as a result of broad consultations among different stakeholders in the country. During his visit last December, he was said to have made reasonable progress in his bid to get the political parties to reconcile their differences and give the draft constitution a fresh chance of being passed by the parliament. The ongoing Gambian transition involves the drafting of a new constitution which has to be passed by the National Assembly before being submitted to a national referendum. According to the Gambian authorities, the former President was invited as the eminent person to facilitate the process of the dialogue because of his neutrality and proven record in democratic and constitutional reforms. Dr Jonathan is being supported by the leaders of the intergovernmental International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) who have been designated by the Gambian authorities to provide secretarial and logistics assistance to the former President, in the course of the mission, the statement added. The U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday that Boeing has agreed to pay more than 2.5 billion U.S. dollars to resolve a criminal charge related to a conspiracy to defraud regulators over the 737 MAX crashes. "The tragic crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 exposed fraudulent and deceptive conduct by employees of one of the world's leading commercial airplane manufacturers," said David P. Burns, acting assistant attorney general of the Justice Department's criminal division. "Boeing's employees chose the path of profit over candor by concealing material information from the FAA concerning the operation of its 737 Max airplane and engaging in an effort to cover up their deception," Burns said, referring to the Federal Aviation Administration. Boeing, a U.S.-based multinational corporation that designs, manufactures, and sells commercial airplanes to airlines worldwide, entered into a deferred prosecution agreement (DPA) in connection with a criminal information filed in the Northern District of Texas, the Justice Department said in a statement. Under the terms of the DPA, Boeing's 2.5-billion-dollar fine is composed of a criminal monetary penalty of 243.6 million dollars, compensation payments to Boeing's 737 MAX airline customers of 1.77 billion dollars, and the establishment of a 500-million-dollar crash-victim beneficiaries fund to compensate the heirs, relatives, and legal beneficiaries of the 346 passengers who died in the Boeing 737 MAX crashes of Lion Air Flight 610 and Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302, according to the statement. Boeing's 737 MAX jets had been grounded across the globe since early March 2019 following more evidence emerging indicated that its key flight control software played a part in two deadly air crashes in less than one year. In November, the FAA cleared Boeing 737 Max to fly again after a 20-month grounding. Last week, American Airlines flew a Boeing 737 Max from Miami to New York with paying passengers on board, making the first commercial flight after worldwide grounding of the troubled aircraft. South Africa: Government gears up to roll-out COVID-19 vaccine Healthcare workers will be first in line for inoculation after South Africa secured 1.5 million doses of the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine which will be rolled out this month. According to Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, the country will receive one million doses of the vaccine in January, while the rest of the batch will arrive in February from the Serum Institute of India (SII). In his announcement on Thursday, the Minister said government will prioritise about 1.25 million healthcare workers in both the public and private sectors from different spectrum, including doctors, nurses, general workers, security personnel and so on. The National Department of Health and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) were fine-tuning and aligning all the regulation processes to ensure that there are no unnecessary delays or regulatory impediments to activate this roll-out, said the Minister. The Minister is delighted that the Oxford University-AstraZeneca vaccine has already been given the green light by various regulators and is being distributed in other countries. Therefore, as part of expediting the regulatory process, SAHPRA is applying reliance on that regulatory work." Mkhize said engagements with relevant stakeholders to ensure the efficient and effective vaccination drive for health workers is ready to take off. Meanwhile, he has urged the public to be patient as government continues to engage manufacturers. Our commitment remains to save and protect the lives of our people. We will not neglect our responsibility to protect lives and fight this pandemic, he vowed. We, therefore, call on all South Africans, members of the public, political parties, business, labour, non-governmental organisations, and community leaders and members to work with us as we start this historic process. He has assured the public that the acquisition of the vaccine from the manufacturer was done directly by the Department of Health to strengthen credibility, while negotiations and payment are managed directly by government. In an interview with Morning Live on Friday, Mkhize said the State is working around the clock to acquire the number of vaccines needed for two-thirds of the population. I just want to assure all South Africans [that] we are on course, he stressed. He also told Newzroom Afrika that the availability of the vaccine is a real boost in the fight against COVID-19. He said government has spoken to the SII, while President Cyril Ramaphosa has been in touch with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. We have our agreement and will receive the vaccines. There is no issue on our end, he told the news channel. The Serum Institute of India manufactures highly specialised life-saving biologicals like vaccines using cutting edge genetic and cell-based technologies, antisera and other medical specialities. According to Al Jazeera, the SII is the worlds largest vaccine manufacturing company, contracted by AstraZeneca to produce a billion doses for developing nations, including India. The United Kingdom became the first country to approve the jab last month, securing 100 million doses. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. The has revoked its earlier order permitting 100% occupancy in halls and However, the State allowed additional shows. The development came days after the State administration faced lots of criticism for its decision to allow 100 per occupancy. On Wednesday, the (MHA) wrote to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary asserting that the state's permission was a violation of MHA guidelines and asked it to comply with the Ministry's norm, which is to allow only 50 per cent. ALSO READ: Cap on domestic airfare extended till 31 March, but with rules tweaked After all the developments, the State today issued a new government order scrapping the earlier one on 100 per cent theatre occupancy. Only 50 per cent occupancy will be permitted as per the new order, till further notice as per Centre directive. Meanwhile, the state added 790 new Covid-19 cases on Friday, including 208 in Chennai. Some 63,932 people were tested across the state, while 897 patients were discharged and eight new deaths were reported. As of Friday, the total number of Covid cases in Tamil Nadu stands at 824,776, while 805,136 patients have been discharged and 12,208 have died. All passengers arriving in the U.K. will be required to prove they do not have coronavirus, showing a negative test result taken within 72 hours of the start of their journey. Under new rules announced by the British government, anyone failing to produce the evidence of a negative test will be hit with an immediate fine of 500 pounds ($678). Travelers arriving from countries that are not on the governments open travel corridor list will be required to isolate at home for 10 days, regardless of their test results. Also read Virus spread slows but two states still a worry The measures, set out by Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, will come into force next week for passengers arriving at a British port by plane, boat or train. The plan is aimed at stopping new strains of Covid-19 coming into the U.K., such as those seen in Denmark and South Africa, the government said. We already have significant measures in place to prevent imported cases of Covid-19, but with new strains of the virus developing internationally we must take further precautions," Shapps said in an emailed statement. Pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defense -- helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks." Ministers were criticized for taking too long to impose border restrictions during the first wave of the pandemic last spring. This week British authorities put the country into its third national lockdown as infection rates soared. The death toll from coronavirus now stands at more than 78,000. U.K. Bets 2 Million Vaccine Shots a Week Will End New Lockdown Officials have been in talks for several days on how to coordinate a border policy across all four nations of the U.K., which have control over their own transport policies. In a separate statement, the Scottish government has agreed to the plan and said the measures will be brought in as soon as possible. Passengers will need to show their negative test results before boarding and will be stopped if necessary. There will be some exemptions from the new rules, including for hauliers, children under the age of 11, and for travelers leaving countries without an adequate testing infrastructure in place. On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his blueprint for a mass vaccination program to protect about 15 million elderly and vulnerable people people across the U.K., and their carers, by a self-imposed deadline of Feb. 15. After that, the government will look at whether to begin lifting some of the lockdown rules. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. According to Stepanov, the opinion of leading epidemiologists and infectious disease experts was taken into account when introducing quarantine. Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has explained the need to strictly comply with a lockdown introduced from January 8 to January 24. "Now it is very important to observe all measures for these 16 days. Because now the public is actively discussing feasibility of introducing these restrictions. The number of new COVID-19 cases is decreasing. Indeed, the situation has stabilized, but it still remains quite tense," he said at a briefing on Friday, an UNIAN correspondent reports. Read alsoCOVID-19: Over 5,000 new active cases reported as of Jan 8According to Stepanov, the opinion of Ukraine's leading epidemiologists and infectious disease experts was taken into account when introducing quarantine. "So, the forecasts of all our leading experts in the field of epidemiology indicate a gradual increase in the number of COVID-19 patients during January-February and a heavier load on the healthcare system. In particular, we will now have a seasonal increase in influenza cases. This disease, which is transmitted in the same way as COVID-19, causes the same complications as COVID-19. And this is an additional load on the healthcare system," he added. Lockdown in Ukraine: Related Reporting by UNIAN San Francisco, Jan 8 : Construction of the new Tesla Gigafactory in Texas began around five months back and now a new video of the project shows the place is already turning into a busy industrial area. A video uploaded on YouTube by electric car enthusiast Jeff Roberts showed the progress of the factory, recorded from day one. The Gigafactory Texas is scheduled to have its first phase completed by May 2021 and the production is supposed to start after that. Initially, Tesla referred to the factory as the Cybertruck Gigafactory because the automaker planned to produce the electric pickup truck there. However, Tesla first planned to produce the Model Y at the factory, and the company later renamed it "Gigafactory Texas". Tesla also plans to establish battery cell production at the factory and make it an "ecological paradise" open to the public. In addition, a Tesla Gigafactory Texas battery-related job opening was recently posted by the electric car maker in its Careers page. The job listing was shared by Automotive President Jerome Guillen via his official LinkedIn account. "Looking for great manufacturing engineering talent in Austin. Fantastic team already on the ground. Apply online!" wrote Guillen in his post. Below his message was a link to Tesla's Careers page that went to a job opening looking for a "Manager, Battery Manufacturing Engineering". Recently, Tesla chief Elon Musk had tweeted a drone video showing the nearly finished Giga Berlin factory, the electric car company's first such facility in Europe. -- Syndicated from IANS A Texas state representative has called for the arrest of Midlander Jenny Cudd following a viral Facebook live video in which she said she was among the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol Wednesday. You should be arrested and prosecuted, Ms. Cudd, Rep. Jeff Leach posted on Twitter Thursday night. And Im confident you will be. Leach, a Republican from Plano, has been the state representative for District 67 since 2013. In his post, he linked to an excerpt from Cudds video that has received more than 5 million views on Twitter. We did break down Nancy Pelosis door and somebody stole her gavel, Cudd says in the video. Leach joins a growing list of notable persons calling for Cudds arrest, including actors Jane Lynch and Patton Oswalt, author Don Winslow and former Congressional candidate from Florida Dr. Dena Grayson. Lynch retweeted Cudds video and said, Arrest the dope. Winslow also shared Cudds video and tagged the FBI before writing, What else do you need to make an arrest? When asked if U.S. Rep. August Pfluger, whose district encompasses Midland and Odessa, would call for Cudds arrest, a spokeswoman said, Congressman Pfluger has said repeatedly that anyone who broke the law should be prosecuted. Cudd denied doing anything unlawful during Wednesdays riots in an interview with the Reporter-Telegram on Thursday. She said Antifa broke through the Capitols barriers and assaulted police officers before she arrived. She said she then walked into the Capitol with a large group and took pictures inside the rotunda for about 15 minutes before leaving. Cudd denied going onto the House or Senate floors or into any lawmakers' offices. The DUP has slammed a major policy change by Belfast City Council that will make Irish language street signs easier to erect. The unionist party said it "will cause disharmony and resentment" after "radical changes to the thresholds required for the addition of a street name plate in Irish or Ulster-Scots - with virtually all such requests being for Irish". Previously a petition signed by one-third of residents in a street was required to trigger a survey. Now the survey can be triggered by just one resident or one councillor. Support from two-thirds of residents was then required for approval of the additional street sign, indicating support from a clear majority. But now support from just 15% of residents is required. The change in policy was opposed by the DUP, UUP and PUP councillors, but backed by the other parties. A spokesperson for the DUP in City Hall said: "This drastic change in council policy is grossly unfair and unbalanced. It would permit the erection of an Irish street sign where just 15% of residents wanted this, even if 85% residents were opposed to it. "Permitting a survey to be triggered by a single resident, or by a councillor who does not even have to live in the street, means that every street could be subjected to a survey even where there is no or very little support for it." He said that "many people regard the addition of an Irish street sign as cultural branding of their area". "People have the right to have their wishes against this respected and not ignored. For all those who are passionate about having their street name added in Irish, there are as many people who are passionate about not having this done against their wishes. "We believe these changes will damage community relations in areas which are quietly mixed. This unbalanced policy will cause disharmony and resentment." But Sinn Fein councillor Seanna Walsh said the new process "will ensure an equitable and progressive policy". He said: "This is a historic day as Belfast City Council has voted to adopt a new bilingual policy which will ensure the visibility of Irish street signage in the city and advance a new, progressive and shared Belfast. "Belfast has been central to the ongoing growth of the Irish language and Gaelige is part of the fabric of our city, as seen with the vibrant Gaeltacht quarter and the growing numbers of unionists now embracing and learning the language." Jakarta: Indonesia has released from prison Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the suspected mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings and among the most notorious extremists in the Muslim-majority country. Bashir was picked up by his family and was driving to his home in central Java, Detik.com reported. Television footage showed several vans leaving the prison in Bogor, south of Jakarta. Prison officials could not immediately be reached for comment. [January 08, 2021] The CPC: Why and How It Works in China BEIJING, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- An article by China.org.cn on the Communist Party of China: China's political system, especially the Communist Party of China (CPC)'s status as the only ruling party, has been challenged by some Western countries for a long time. Such a challenge lingers despite the country's success in developing into the world's second largest economy and creating many miracles. It's by no means fortuitous that the CPC can lead the Chinese people to such great achievements, which are attributable to the CPC's traits. Every political party has aspirations, but the aspirations of each party can be very different from each other. While many political parties scramble for power and profit in service to their respective groups, the CPC represents the interests of the broadest possible majority of the Chinese people. The CPC has mechanisms for selecting and appointing officials on the basis of merit and ability. The standards and procedures used by a political party to select officials are extremely important, because these directly determine whether or not the party in question can maintain its advanced nature and purity and remain a vital and cohesive organization. The requirements for building the ranks of Party officials include that it shall select officials on the basis of their merits and not their origins, that it shall choose candidates based on their moral integrity and professional competence, and that it shall resolutely oppose localism and nepotism. The emphasis on the development of their abilities by icrementally moving them to higher positions according to their performance and giving them the experiences of working in multiple positions. These concepts, principles, and systems are playing an increasingly large role in the development of the official ranks, and are receiving growing recognition from other political parties. The CPC has the courage to reform itself. The CPC is not only equipped with the prowess to lead social revolution, but also the courage to reform itself. This has allowed it to form the abilities and mechanisms necessary to purify, improve, and reform itself, ensuring that it can, by its own initiative, rectify any problems that arise within itself. It is a ruling party's ability to make prudent and logical decisions that determines whether or not a country can develop well. China has adopted the CPC-led multi-party cooperation system, with the CPC holding power and the eight other democratic parties participating in state affairs and supervising the CPC. Different from two-party or multi-party competition systems of Western countries, the multi-party cooperation system has endowed China with the advantages of long-term planning and the integration of resources, thus enabling it to solve complex problems and further reforms. Thanks to the CPC's adoption of the reform and opening-up policy in 1978 and the socialist market economy later on, China has seen remarkable progress over the past few decades that has taken almost a century for other countries to achieve. The CPC has demonstrated its strong leadership abilities throughout the historical process of leading the people toward the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. China's rapid response to COVID-19 outbreak in January and rigid epidemic-control measures taken to win the fight against the virus has once again highlighted the unique nature and advantages of the Chinese political system. A Chinese saying goes that "only your feet know whether your shoes fit well". The leadership of the CPC is the choice of the Chinese people. The political development and national conditions of modern China called for a socialist political system with Chinese characteristics, and that is the multi-party cooperation system. This system has contributed to China's economic rise, the profound changes in its citizens' lives and the country's increasingly important role on the world stage. All of these achievements testify to the wisdom of the Chinese people's choice. China Mosaic http://www.china.org.cn/video/node_7230027.htm The CPC: Why and How It Works in China http://v.china.com.cn/2020-12/29/content_77060450.htm View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-cpc-why-and-how-it-works-in-china-301203304.html SOURCE China.org.cn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 01:39:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi Ministry of Health reported on Friday 669 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the total nationwide infections to 601,424. The ministry also reported eight new deaths, raising the death toll from the infectious virus to 12,877, and 1,898 more recovered cases, bringing the total recoveries to 553,025. A total of 4,807,232 tests have been carried out across the country since the outbreak of the disease last February, with 33,090 done during the day, according to the statement. Riyadh Abdul-Amir, head of the ministry's Public Health Department, said in a press release that despite the decline in COVID-19 infections and deaths, the epidemiological situation remains risky if a new strain of the virus enters the country. "The danger to the epidemiological situation comes either from the entry of a new strain of the virus into the country and our people have no immunity against it, or that the current virus could mutate inside the country," Abdul-Amir said. Iraq has taken a series of measures to contain the pandemic since the first coronavirus case appeared in the country. China has been helping Iraq fight the COVID-19 pandemic. From March 7 to April 26 in 2020, a Chinese team of seven medical experts spent 50 days in Iraq to help contain the disease, during which they helped build a PCR lab and install an advanced CT scanner in Baghdad. China has also sent three batches of medical aid to Iraq. Enditem Besides being a chronicle of a family during a turbulent moment in history and conveying a complex look at class and gender, Alfonso Cuarons award-winning Roma is also that rare film where its primary location feels like a character unto itself. In this case, its the Mexico City house where the films characters live; over the course of watching, you might feel like you live there yourself. Now, the house in question is on the market and cinema buffs and architecture fans alike might be intrigued. A report from Elisabeth Malkin at The Guardian provides more information on the sale of 22 Tepeji Street. Cuaron himself grew up across the street, but preferred the way the light looked at 22 Tepeji. The Monreal family, who have lived there for over 50 years, agreed to let the film shoot there. The family would not confirm the asking price for the house, though Malkin noted that a similar house in the neighborhood is on the market for around $760,000. Since the release of Roma, the house itself has become a destination for tourists. The film also prompted an increased amount of attention for the neighborhood of Roma, including a Guardian article that dubbed it one of the capitals liveliest and most up-and-coming areas. Shortly after the movie reached theaters and Netflix, James Medd at Conde Nast Traveler offered a guide to its locations. Medd wrote that, for Roma, the director engaged in a combination of onsite shooting and painstaking reconstruction, undertaken in close collaboration with production designer and fellow Roma resident Eugenio Caballero. The results made for a moving, immersive film and now a big part of that experience can, nominally, be yours if the price is right. Paraguayan laboratory Guayaki has applied to register Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the National Health Monitoring Directorate's chief told Radio 1000 on Friday, noting that the watchdog needed additional documents to consider the application MONTEVIDEO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 08th January, 2021) Paraguayan laboratory Guayaki has applied to register Russia's Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine, the National Health Monitoring Directorate's chief told Radio 1000 on Friday, noting that the watchdog needed additional documents to consider the application. "The only application that we have received is from Guayaki, which requested to register Sputnik V. I have absolutely nothing against the Guayaki laboratory, the question is not about the company or the quality of the Russian vaccine, it is just about documentary support that we need to grant registration," Maria Antonieta Gamarra said, adding that the application had been received two days ago. She also specified that there is a difference between registering a vaccine and authorizing its emergency use. According to the official, "all the countries that have rolled out the Russian vaccine have done so under the emergency use permit," but "no vaccine in any country has so far been registered, as phase 3 [trials] of many of them have not finished yet." Officials at the Cemetery of Penitence, on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro, unveiled a plaque in honour of those killed by COVID-19 pandemic on Friday. Friends and relatives of the victims gathered to watch as workers wrote the names of their loved ones on the growing rolls of COVID-19 victims in the state. A sad day for Tamires da Silva Neto, just 29 yrs old and spending a lonely Friday paying homage to her mother, aunt and sister, all dead from recent battles with COVID-19, joining more than 200,000 other Brazilians who have lost their lives to the pandemic. Tamires came holding a picture of her mother, Rosalita da Silva Netto, 60; her 34-year-old sister and her 62-year-old aunt Maria. She also lost two uncles over the holiday, an almost inconceivable tragedy of five deaths in the course of just over a month. "No one is immune, no matter your social class, race, or religion. We are all at risk of losing our lives from the disease," Tamires tearfully explained at the memorial, as workers etched the names of her family onto the memorial. With numbers continuing to rise, Rio's mayor warned Friday city authorities may have to impose lockdown measures once again to stem the tide of infections. A warning that came too late for the Da Silva Neto family. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form The peaceful transition of power is one of the hallmarks of this great nation. In this troubling moment, we must recommit ourselves to the values and principles of our democracy and come together as one nation under God. I entrust all of us to the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. May she guide us in the ways of peace, and obtain for us wisdom and the grace of a true patriotism and love of country, Gomez said. The data is convincing, the immediate safety data is clear. Dr. Ronald Nahass, President and Co-Founder ID Care After awaiting the highly anticipated emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), two different COVID-19 vaccines have arrived in the United States, bringing renewed hope to millions of people across the country. In the state of New Jersey, healthcare professionals have started to receive their first doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, including the physicians and medical personnel at ID Care, the East Coasts largest network of infectious diseases specialists and a partner to many healthcare organizations across New Jersey. Over the course of the pandemic, ID Care has been responsible for treating over 25% of the hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the state. As frontline healthcare workers with direct contact with over 8,000 patients, the arrival of the vaccines marks a huge moment in finally gaining an upper hand on the disease. Upon receiving the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, Dr. Nazar C. Raoof of ID Care said, After seeing the first case of COVID-19 in our area, this is an emotional moment for me. A rollout of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has been ongoing for the past two weeks with healthcare personnel receiving the first doses, followed by non-healthcare essential workers, adults with high-risk medical conditions, and finally adults over the age of 65. The general public will most likely have to wait several more months before receiving a vaccine, but once they do, they can expect a positive experience. Most vaccines are 2 doses, 3 to 4 weeks apart, and protection will occur 1 to 2 weeks after the second dose, said Dr. Nahass, President and Co-Founder of ID Care. Humoral immune responses at this point have been recognized for up to 6 months or longer, which is good news. We would like it to be longer, but not enough time has passed to know exactly how long it will last. However, we do know that the antibody responses with similar viruses such as SARS CoV1 and MERS may be present for up to three years. ID Care continues to be on the front lines of the COVID-19 effort and encourages healthcare workers to understand the value of immunizations and communicate the benefits to patients. In the United States, over 300,000 people have died, said Dr. Nahass. In order to stop the spread of COVID-19, we need to reach about 70-80% immunity as a population. At the moment, its estimated about 10% to 15% of the population has been infected, and in order to reach the herd immunity threshold of 60%, that means the infection rate would need to be five times as high. So, if you do the math, in order to get to that 75% immunity naturally, we would see about 1.2 million deaths. So thats the power of a vaccine. It will help get us to that 80% number without incurring all the deaths. The ID Care team notes that the vaccines are safe and effective with now over 5,000,000 individuals in the US having received the vaccines over the past four month with no signs of life-threatening toxicity and side effects. In addition, the ability to develop the vaccines on such a short timeline is an effort that should be applauded, not feared. The clinical research team at ID Care has over 30 years of experience in the research and development of numerous vaccines and can assure the public that the FDA has used the same strict standards in reviewing the COVID-19 vaccines that it has used on other vaccines for decades. Despite the rapid development, no steps have been skipped. In fact, two independent advisory committees have reviewed the results The Vaccine and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPCA) that advises the FDA, and The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) that advises the CDC and both committees have deemed the vaccines are safe and effective. In relaying this information to the general public, Dr. Nahass has words of encouragement for healthcare organizations: The data is convincing, the immediate safety data is clear. The new technology and the method of development have really provided a lot of comfort for me, and it should do the same for patients. While the pandemic is far from over, the majority of healthcare workers at ID Care have already received a COVID-19 vaccine and described the moment as a monumental achievement. I feel privileged, excited, and relieved. It is a very proud moment, said ID Care physician, Dr. Rebecca A. Marsh. I feel like it's a bright light of hope in the middle of a very dark winter. About ID Care ID Care is New Jerseys largest network of board-certified infectious disease specialists seeing over 200,000 patients a year and practicing in nine convenient locations and over 130 care facilities throughout the state (including hospitals, rehab facilities and sub-acute facilities). As clinical leaders, innovators, and researchers, ID Care provides patients with personalized solutions for a comprehensive range of illnesses and infections. Specializing in every aspect of infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis, pneumonia, tick-borne diseases, wound infections, travel-related illnesses, and others ID Care physicians offer the most effective prevention methods, accurate diagnoses, and state-of-the-art treatments available today. For more information on ID Care, visit http://www.IDCare.com or contact James Padley, Chief Operating Officer, ID Care. He can be reached at 908-281-0221 ext. 107, or via email at JPadley@idcare.com. PHILOMATH, Ore.-- Some parents in the Philomath School District said they plan to protest the district's decision to not reopen campuses. Kelsey Brooks, one of the organizers, said the district needs to open up schools and let students back in the classroom. She said she doesn't agree with the district's decision to keep schools closed out of liability concerns the coronavirus may spread on their campuses. Brooks said she and other parents in the community are finding it harder every day to be a parent, teacher, and provide for their family. "I think as a whole, our Philomath community has really shown up to support them and for them to not allow them to come back," Brooks said. "As parents we feel incredibly unsupported as members who are running the community." The district did send an email to parents alerting them that all grades will continue with remote learning. However, officials said there will be plans to get students back in the classroom released to the community soon. Brooks said she and other parents will be protesting outside of district headquarters Friday, Jan. 8, at 8:30 a.m. She also said she plans on protesting every day until the district allows students back in the classroom. President Donald Trump's top White House lawyer has repeatedly warned the president that he could be held responsible for inciting Wednesday's riot at the Capitol, but the standard for legal liability is high under court decisions reaching back 50 years. The admonitions from presidential counsel Pat Cipollone were delivered in part to prompt Trump to condemn the violence that was carried out in his name and acknowledge that he will leave office in less than two weeks, according to White House aides. They were not authorised to publicly discuss private conversations and spoke on condition of anonymity. Trump did just that in a video from White House on Thursday. President-elect Joe Biden is to be inaugurated on January 20. But the promise of a wide-ranging, aggressive investigation by federal prosecutors into Wednesday's events has raised the question of Trump's role in the mayhem just as he faces the imminent loss of the protection from legal liability that the Oval Office has given him for the past four years. ALSO READ: Twitter Permanently Suspends Trump's Account Citing 'Risk of Further Incitement of Violence' The legal issue is whether Trump or any of the speakers at Wednesday's rally near the White House that preceded the assault on the Capitol incited violence and whether they knew their words would have that effect. That's the standard the Supreme Court laid out in its 1969 decision in Brandenburg v. Ohio, which overturned the conviction of a Ku Klux Klan leader. Trump urged the crowd to march on the Capitol, even promising to go with them, though he didn't in the end. He said "you'll never take our country back with weakness." Trump's words followed a speech by his personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, in which the former New York City mayor said, "Let's have trial by combat. Many in the crowd then set out for the Capitol, where a mob broke through police barriers, smashed windows and paraded through the halls, sending lawmakers into hiding. A police officer died from injuries suffered during the siege, and a rioter was shot to death by Capitol Police. Three other people died after "medical emergencies" related to the breach. Former federal prosecutor Randall Eliason wrote in The Washington Post on Friday that Trump's actions should be investigated. EXPLAINER: How Trump Could Be Impeached Again, But Faster "We want to avoid the risk of criminalising political differences. But that understanding has nothing to do with what happened at the Capitol. It's impossible to characterize Trump's incitement of the riot as having anything to do with the legitimate exercise of his executive power just the opposite," Eliason wrote. Trump could be in violation of several federal laws, Eliason wrote, including prohibitions on aiding a rebellion, which has a maximum prison term of 10 years, and conspiring with others to prevent laws from being enforced, which calls for 20 years in prison. The mob that invaded the Capitol interfered with Congress' counting of the electoral votes and certification of Biden's victory. Andrew Koppelman, a constitutional law professor at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, said it would be difficult to prove Trump intended for violence to ensue at the Capitol. "It looks to me like Trump was culpably reckless. But it seems to me the Brandenburg standard requires intention," Koppleman said. He said Giuliani's exhortation sounded more like a metaphor than an incitement to violence. "It's like the word fight. It's often used as a metaphor. 'Senator X is a fighter. He will fight for you,'" Koppelman said. That's where context comes in, said Stanford University law professor Sirin Sinnar. "Officials can always say that they intended peaceful protests, not violence. But the context here is significant, including the fact that the crowd was shouting 'fight for Trump!' during his speech and that right-wing militant groups like the Proud Boys in town for the protests were already fighting with police," Sinnar wrote in an email. In the atmosphere in which Trump was speaking Wednesday, Sinnar said, "The violence was entirely foreseeable." Federal judges have taken a hard line against the federal anti-riot law and its speech restrictions that prosecutors have tried to use in recent years. The federal appeals court in Virginia last year narrowed the Anti-Riot Act, with a maximum prison term of five years, because it swept up constitutionally protected speech. The court found that invalid parts of the law that encompassed speech tending to "encourage" or "promote" a riot, as well as speech "urging" others to riot or involving mere advocacy of violence. The same court upheld the convictions of two members of a white supremacist group who admitted they punched and kicked counter-demonstrators during the 2017 "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. In 2019, a federal trial judge in California struck down the entire anti-riot law, enacted in 1968, dismissing charges against members of the white supremacist Rise Above Movement. The Justice Department has appealed that ruling. The Trump supporter shot dead by Capitol Hill police as she attempted to climb through a broken window into the Capitol is being hailed a martyr by online extremists who have described the bullet that killed her as, 'the first shot in a revolution,' DailyMail.com can reveal. Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt, 35, was killed as Trump loyalists stormed Congress Wednesday, halting President-elect Joe Biden's confirmation with violence and destruction that left four of the mob dead and sent shockwaves around the world. Now a murder hunt is under way for the pro-Trump rioters who killed Capitol Hill officer Brian Sicknick, who died late Thursday after apparently being hit over the head with a fire extinguisher. But far from being chastened, 'Stop the Steal' conspiracy theorists, right-wing militia groups and white supremacists are 'focused on trying to keep the energy up.' And we can reveal that, as outrage grows over lax security that allowed protesters to breeze through police lines into the Capitol, Trump loyalists are making plans to descend on the nation's capital once more this Saturday. Trump supporter Ashli Babbitt, who was shot dead by Capitol Hill police in Wednesday's riot, is being hailed a martyr by online extremists Online Trump extremists are saying the bullet that killed the 35-year-old army vet is 'the first shot in a revolution.' A mob of Trump supporters are seen storming the Capitol Just days before Wednesday's insurrection, extremists posted detailed maps and plans to storm the Capitol on pro-Trump forums, DailyMail.com can reveal. 'There needs to be dead traitors after this,' one post read Jared Holt, Visiting Research Fellow with the Atlantic Council's Digital Forensic Research Lab and an expert in online disinformation and extremism told DailyMail.com: 'Since Wednesday's events, we've seen extremist communities really focused on trying to keep the energy up. A murder hunt is under way for the pro-Trump rioters who killed Capitol Hill officer Brian Sicknick (pictured) who died late Thursday after apparently being hit over the head with a fire extinguisher 'They have portrayed the woman who was shot and killed as a martyr for the cause, talking about the shot that killed her as, ''the first shot fired in a revolution,'' and there are developing plans for a Second Amendment rally in DC on Saturday though the details have not been hashed out yet.' Holt also revealed that he has monitored, 'a lot of conversationlooking towards the inauguration,' but cautioned that it was too early to tell how much would come to fruition and noted that he and his team are not aware of any concrete plans. He said: 'There were, I believe, four or five different pro-Trump events that were formally scheduled that brought people into the city. 'I think if similar events are organized [this weekend] a lot of people that have similar sentiments or connections to extremist movements will turn up in DC again.' The revelation comes as both the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms and the Capitol Hill Police chief were ordered to quit by Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer in the wake of the fiasco. DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has imposed a State of Emergency on the city to last 15 days and an 'unscalable' fence is being erected around the Capitol's perimeter. Critics have also pointed to the fact that Trump has being heralding this day since December 19 when he first announced his intentions to hold a rally January 6 telling loyalists, 'it's going to be wild.' In one message shared with DailyMail.com a veteran tells fellow Trump loyalists that, before leaving for DC he told his children, 'daddy might not come home.' And added that he has sworn to defend his country, 'against all enemies, both Foreign and Domestic' DailyMail.com can reveal that, just days before the insurrection, extremists posted detailed maps of the Capitol on pro-Trump forums along with the battle-cry, 'Surround the Swamp,' and 'floated' the idea of storming it. DFR Lab research fellow Holt said: 'Just two or three days before the rallies took place there were plans shared about surrounding the US Capitol and those plans included a map of all the tunnels going into the Capitol and different entry points.' Online expert Jared Holt (pictured) told DailyMail.com, 'Since Wednesday's events, we've seen extremist communities really focused on trying to keep the energy up' But, while Holt and his colleagues frequently share material with law enforcement, it is, he said, extremely difficult for authorities to take action in the absence of any concrete plans. He said, 'There was not, from our monitoring, any clear stated logistical plan for storming the Capitol but it was an idea that was frequently floated among the users of these communities.' Holt has been monitoring communications between extremists on both mainstream and alternative social media platforms throughout Trump's presidency but, in recent weeks, has seen them use, 'increasingly desperate and heated rhetoric regarding the transition of power in this country.' He explained, 'Working for the Atlantic Council's DFR Lab I've been focused on extremist activity online and the threats that it poses to the democratic process. 'Earlier I was looking at extremist attempts to intimidate voters at polls [more recently it has been] regarding the transition of power in this country and shifting towards discussing the need to potentially take matters into their own hands.' The conversations take place on pro-Trump forums as well as social media platforms such as GAB, Parler and MeWe. These and others are favored by extreme groups because they take a light hand moderating content more often banned on Facebook and Twitter. Holt and his colleagues say they have witnessed an online acceleration of a loyal fervor that, he explained, has its roots in the beginning of Trump's presidency. An unidentified loved one sent Babbitt a portentous text message as she flew to DC for the protest, according to an apparent screenshot from her phone shared on social media. 'Be safe. I cannot lose you,' the sender wrote DC Police Chief Robert Contee said four died at the protests on Wednesday Babbitt lies wounded after being shot by Capitol Police He explained, 'Something really unique about these extremist movements during the Trump presidency is that, throughout history, right-wing extremism has tended to be antagonistic towards federal government in the United States. 'But with Trump, for the first time, a lot of these extremist movements saw a political leader who they thought sympathized with their cause and they rallied behind him. 'Leading up to the election and in the time period after they have looked to Trump and largely taken their cues from him. 'They really believed eventually the results of the election would be modified to present him the win that they believe he successfully earned and that they would defeat the nefarious forces they believe exist in federal government.' When this appeared not to be happening talk turned towards wanting to take action. Among the alarming conversations Holt has witnessed online were discussions of overwhelming authorities with the sheer size of the crowd in order to violate laws. He said, 'For example in DC you can't carry firearms unless you have a DC permit so there were conversations of, 'well, if enough of us do this they can't stop it.' In messages shared with DailyMail.com there are references to being 'locked and loaded' and numerous protesters state their intention to be armed at Wednesday's DC rally. One would-be protester asked, 'If you aren't marching armedis there a point to marching at all?' According to Holt there were conversations in these communities between users telling each other they were ready to, 'make the ultimate sacrifice in order to 'save the country,' in their words.' An explosion caused by a police munition is seen while Trump supporters gather in front of the Capitol on Wednesday Supporters of Donald Trump are seen inside the US Capitol after rioters breached security and entered the Capitol Wednesday That pride in Trump supporters' 'achievement' may yet prove the downfall of many, as the FBI has solicited public help to identifying protesters videoed and pictured swarming the Capitol In one message shared with DailyMail.com a veteran tells fellow Trump loyalists that, before leaving for DC he told his children, 'daddy might not come home.' And added that he has sworn to defend his country, 'against all enemies, both Foreign and Domestic.' Violent rhetoric was directed against perceived adversaries in the form of Black Live Matters and anti-fascist groups. Holt said, 'There was a lot of chatter and excitement about going into the streets and spilling the blood of people they believe are communist or sympathetic to those causes.' Later, he added, talk 'shifted to feeling antagonistic towards police in DC who they believed were sympathetic towards the groups they disliked.' On a few sparse occasions individual local and federal officials were mentioned as targets. In the aftermath of Wednesday's debacle many extremists who were not on the ground took to social media to spread misinformation stating that any trouble was caused by BLM protesters or Antifa. Holt said, 'There was a kind of joke that, half of the right-wing social media was trying to claim that Antifa was responsible for what was happening at the Capitol while the other half was uploading pictures of themselves breaking into it.' That pride in their 'achievement' may yet prove the downfall of many, as the FBI has solicited public help to identifying protesters videoed and pictured swarming the Capitol. President Donald Trump released a short video Thursday night where he blasted the 'heinous' attack and called for national 'healing' and called for an 'orderly' and 'seamless' transition to a new administration For his part Holt acknowledged the difficulty in policing the online world that he researches and in which so much hatred thrives. But it is, he said, something with which the next administration will have to grapple if positive change is to be made. He said, 'Extremist researchers and far right reporters have been cautioning people for years that what has come alive during the Trump era won't go quietly into the night when Trump leaves. 'Even once Biden takes office we're still going to have millions of people that hold false beliefs that the election was the result of some sort of nefarious coup in this country and anti-government extremist groups and militia movements have had their numbers swell leading up to and after the election. 'The question now is how President elect Joe Biden can attempt to mend the country and combat the threat that these groups may present during his administration. He added, 'The topic of online moderation and accountability for social media companies, and their complacency in terms of this sort of activity on their platforms, has to be part of a solution to what we have seen play out. 'Until law makers and regulators really attempt to grapple with that I don't think we're going to see lasting solutions to these problems.' The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court in Dallas, charges Surgical Care Affiliates of entering into and engaging in two separate bilateral conspiracies with other health care companies, neither of which were named. One of the companies is based in Texas; the other, in Colorado. Sydney University's Chau Chak Wing Museum draws you in gently. Credit:Elizabeth Farrelly I remember, as a first-year architecture student, being blown away by the idea that form and space could mean something. Id always loved the magic of place. Yet, in my whole 19 years, it had never struck me that space itself a matrix of, well, nothing could become a kind of poetry. Or that its power, like that of poetry, lay in its capacity to be glimpsed, now and then, but never defined, resolved or explained. I was hooked. The common view is that architecture began with shelter. A similar utilitarian etiology has writing originating in accounting. This can hardly be true. Our primal yearnings are not practical. Meaning is not a luxury. In our deepest, most fearful hearts, I believe, we are meaning-making creatures. As we sat in our animal skins around campfires, adrift in a careless universe, we set about defying mortality by creating a sense however illusory that life had meaning. Words create stories, weaving the stars and rivers, the trees and planets, the yearnings and petty squabbles of daily existence into a fabric of meaning to keep us warm. So it is with architecture. Like writing, architecture establishes permanence. It is a flag in the sand, a declaration: "I was here". Some scholars say the earliest architecture was, for this reason, funerary an attempt to diminish death by making it signify. Others believe that architectures first act was to centre tribal life by creating sacred space. In many ways, these urges overlap, often involving the establishment of place via the interment of remains much as Romulus founded Rome by burying his murdered twin, Remus, on the Capitoline. Practicalities such as loading docks are a challenge for architects: the Chau Chak Wing Museum, Sydney University. Credit:Elizabeth Farrelly So if we accept that architecture helps make our lives meaningful, the question becomes: how? Obviously not in the way language does, using words and sentences to ferry ideas from one mind to another. Architecture works in some way that is less precise, but more enveloping. Architecture is immersive. Frank Gehry's Dr Chau Chak Wing at UTS grabs your attention. Credit:Elizabeth Farrelly Architecture can be beautiful, of course. But even visually, it should strive to enhance our experience rather than giving an omg look at that! sugar-hit. In Venice, the Doges Palace, library and other buildings that define St Marks Square are exquisitely composed and fabulously decorated but in a way that enriches, rather than merely dominating, the public experience. This experiential enrichment is architectures core business. Its why St Marks Square is better than the, say, the Taj Mahal, which, however lovely at sunrise, is just an object. Its also why the experiential test not the speeding window test should be our habit. Architecture cannot make us good or bad people. It cannot determine our behaviour but, being experiential, it can nudge us one way or tother" . Good buildings, like well-designed clothes, should support rather than dominate our lives. Again, this is no mere utilitarian role. Its moral. Architecture can dignify us, adding a degree of nobility to our sense of self, and in so doing, it lures us from our inner murderous primate towards our inner angel. St Marks Square is better than, say, the Taj Mahal which, however lovely at sunrise, is just an object. Lets consider the two Chau Chak Wings in this light. One may be eye-catching and the other aloof, but what are they like experientially to be near, to be in? As the German philosopher Heidegger might have said, what is their being-there, their dasein? Inside the Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney. Credit:Kate Geraghty Where the Gehry building grabs your attention, insisting like some toddler on a trike that you admire its gymnastic prowess, the museum draws you gently in. Subtly curating your experience, it invites your exploration, up and down and through, by eye and then by foot; taking your attention not to itself but to its staggering collections. Loading Both buildings are flawed, of course. Both trip up on reality, stumbling, in their opposite ways, in the tricky business of accommodating the idea to mundane reality. Modern architecture clung to the principles of minimalism elegant plan, flow of space, simple planes. At its best, these took it to the sublime; at its worst, it was just dull. The danger presented by the mundane fire alarms, kids toys, weather proofing was that of intrusion and mess. Post-modernism threw all that to the winds. Lets just have fun, it giggled, replacing simplicity with complexity and contradiction. Less isnt more, quipped theorist Robert Venturi. Less is a bore. It doesnt matter where your Big Idea comes from, one tutor told us as students. It can come from the shape of the chewing gum on your shoe. So the two Chau Chak Wing buildings trip on reality in these opposite ways. Architect Frank Gehry was said to have drawn a rough sketch of the design on a paper napkin. Credit:Kate Geraghty The museum strives so hard for minimalist purity that things such as COVID-19 bollards and bike racks can read as imperfections. It also has trouble making the floating box concept work. The idea itself is a bit of a modernist trope drawing on Le Corbusiers Villa Savoie (completed 1931) and Harry Seidlers Rose Seidler House (1950). JPW have often used such a strategy (for example, in Governor Phillip Tower in the CBD), differentiating the base of the building from the rest to make it "lift" from the ground. But it must be ruthless. At the museum, the big-head-slender-neck look evident in the early model photos proves difficult to realise once practicalities such as lecture theatres and loading docks are taken into account. The loading dock in particular, which gapes from the universitys sweeping drive, diminishes the buildings coherence. And although the architects use colour difference to compensate making the base a slightly darker beige the box obediently cantilevers but steadfastly refuses to float. The Gehry building fumbles with exigency in a more serious way, since its self-image the concept Gehry was said to have sketched on a cafe napkin was of lecture rooms stacked like a treehouse. Its a hard metaphor to sustain. Stacked planks of laminated timber dont really add up to tree, especially when patched with aluminium windows, fire escape signs and rubbish bins. Stacks of laminated timber don't add up to tree in the UTS Dr Chau Chak Wing building. Credit:Elizabeth Farrelly Similarly, brick is an intrinsically load-bearing material. Gehry was determined to use it in a non-loadbearing way, so every brick had to be individually tied back to a steel frame. This clever (and expensive) trickery shows in the underside soffits of the curves and bulges, where the brick comes to an abrupt and ungainly edge. More serious is the dasein. For the effect of this essentially inapt idea treehouse-cum-paper bag is constantly to compromise the spatial quality. In this glamour facade, the public street entrance is regulation aluminium door punched through like an annoyance. Inside, although the objects are all different columns rake, bend and twist, some square, some round, some angular but the experience is mundane. Inside the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building at UTS: features bend and twist but the experience is mundane. Credit:James Brickwood At the Chau Chak Wing Museum, on the other hand, the floating box idea is an easy fit with its treasure-house function, strong enough to unify these disparate collections, so the dasein remains intact. You enter beneath the great hanging box, emerge into its lofty, gentle space, climb to its heights (to explore the astonishing Gululu dhuwala djalkiri exhibition of work from 100 Arnhem Land artists in the Ian Potter Gallery), descend into the land of mummies and sarcophagi from the Nicholson collection, or, further still, into the wondrous creatures from the Macleay Museum Collection. Kathmandu, January 8 The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 264,159 as of Friday afternoon. The ministry says 554 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours. Out of those, 207 have been reported in the valley. In this period, 5,269 swab samples were tested. So far, 1 million and 974,561 people have been tested in the country. As of today, 5,021 cases are active. Of the total cases so far, 257,229 people have achieved recovery whereas 1,909 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 585 people have been discharged whereas six deaths have been reported. Over 300 people are quarantined across the country. Boeing's C-17 Globemaster III has been transporting troops, supplies and equipment for the military across the world since 1991. And next week, the Charleston Air Force Base will celebrate the plane's 4 millionth hour in the sky across all C-17s worldwide with a commemorative flight and ceremony. We are extremely excited and honored to celebrate this historic milestone with the Airmen who made this all possible," said Col. Jaron Roux, the commander of Charleston's 437th Airlift Wing. "Reaching 4 million hours with the C-17 is a testament to the capabilities of our Airmen providing global reach and projecting our combat capabilities." The millstone counts flight hours from all C-17s across the world. Other militaries also use the C-17 as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and countries such as India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait use the plane for missions. On Jan. 15, a C-17 Globemaster will take off from Charleston with military officers and Boeing industry leaders. While in the air for several hours, the crew will perform aerial refueling and will demonstrate the plane's capabilities. Once it hits the 4 millionth flight hour, the plane will land and the crew will be greeted with a fire truck spraying water over the C-17. Charleston's 437th Airlift Wing was the home of the Air Force's first operational C-17 fleet. In 2003, nearly 1,000 service members were parachuted into the Kurdish-controlled area of northern Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. It was the first combat insertion of paratroopers using the C-17. Since then, the Air Force base's fleet has grown to 41 C-17s. Each one costs around $212 million, according to the Department of Defense. The C-17 can reach 500 miles per hour at 28,000 feet. Its maximum load is 170,900 pounds. That means it can fit 102 paratroopers, three military helicopters, two large buses or one Army tank as cargo. Even with all that weight, it's still able to land on runways as short as 3,000 feet with a full cargo load. Abbie Chatfield vented her frustrations after visiting a Brisbane supermarket, only to find the shelves once again stripped of toilet paper on Friday. The 26-year-old reality star shared an image to Instagram of the empty shelves and wrote: 'Not this again Brisbane!' She also posted a photo of herself in a pink crop top, tights and a matching coloured mask as she visited the store ahead of Brisbane's three-day lockdown. Frustrated: Abbie Chatfield (pictured) was left outraged on Friday after going to the supermarket to find no toilet paper on shelves ahead of Brisbane's coronavirus lockdown 'Have to leave to get supplies to survive the weekend... Sanitiser and mask on DECK,' Abbie wrote. It comes as panic buying has broken out across greater Brisbane as 2.5 million residents prepare to head into a three-day-long lockdown to curb the spread of a UK strain of Covid-19. Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redland residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons from 6pm on Friday to 6pm on Monday. Outraged: The 26-year-old reality star shared an image to Instagram of the empty supermarket shelves and wrote: 'Not this again Brisbane!' That includes essential shopping, work, healthcare or exercise around the neighbourhood. They will also need to wear face masks when leaving their homes. The draconian lockdown comes after a Brisbane hotel quarantine cleaner tested positive on Thursday for a UK strain of Covid-19, which authorities say is 70 per cent more infectious. The news of a lockdown has led residents in the region to storm the local supermarkets and stock up on groceries. Panic buying: It comes as panic buying has broken out across greater Brisbane as 2.5 million residents prepare to head into a three-day-long lockdown to curb the spread of a UK strain of Covid-19 Ms Palaszczuk has urged residents to think of the three-day-long lockdown as a 'long weekend'. 'We need to do this. I've accepted the strong advice from Dr Young,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown.' Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Like many of you reading this article, I am terribly disappointed with the outcome of the Georgia Senate races. The worst case scenario has unfolded, with an incoming Democratic president, backed by a Democrat-controlled Congress (as the incoming vice president casts the deciding vote in the Senate). And the consequences could be grave. Very grave. But lets not throw in the towel or write the epitaph for America. Our fate is hardly sealed. Consider this grave warning from a powerful Christian leader who warned of what was coming to our country as it threatened to lurch to the left: We may see the Bible cast into a bonfire, . . . our children, either wheedled or terrified, uniting in the mob, chanting mockeries against God . . . our wives and daughters the victims of legal prostitution; soberly dishonoured; speciously polluted; the outcasts of delicacy and virtue, and the loathing of God and man. Yet these words do not date to 2020 or 2021. Instead, they date back to 1798. And they were spoken by none other than Rev. Timothy Dwight, the respected president of Yale. He was describing what would happen should Thomas Jefferson be elected president. It would mean the destruction of America. As recounted by historian Stephen Prothero, Some New England ministers also saw a conspiracy afoot between Jeffersonians and the Order of Illuminati, a secret society of freethinkers that had supposedly masterminded the French Revolution and was now dedicated to creating a post-Christian New World Order. Does this sound vaguely familiar? And, since American society was based on the Protestant faith, and since Jefferson was hardly an orthodox Protestant, the warnings were shrill and intense: Should the infidel Jefferson be elected to the Presidency, wrote an alarmist in The Hudson Bee, the seal of death is that moment set on our holy religion, our churches will be prostrated, and some infamous prostitute, under the title of the Goddess of Reason, will preside in the Sanctuaries now devoted to the worship of the Most High. Outside the churches, murder, robbery, rape, adultery, and incest will all be openly taught and practiced, prophesied The Connecticut Courant. The American people, a Christian Federalist from Delaware added, would become more ferocious than savages, more bloody than tygers, more impious than demons. Of course, this did not happen, and America lived on and thrived. Could it be that our fatalistic thinking today, as in, Its all over for America! is premature? Could it be that there will be a dramatic pushback against the left in the elections that follow? Consider a more recent example, that of President Barack Obama. As noted by a 2016 article posted on the NPR site (yes, NPR): Every president sees his party lose hundreds of positions it's the price a party holding the White House pays but no president has come close to Obama. During Obama's eight years in office, the Democrats have lost more House, Senate, state legislative and governors seats than under any other president. When Obama took office, there were 60 Democratic senators; now there are 46. The number of House seats held by Democrats has shrunk from 257 to 188. There are now nine fewer Democratic governors than in 2009. Democrats currently hold fewer elected offices nationwide than at any time since the 1920s. What might things look like in two or four or 8 years? Today, roughly two weeks before Joe Biden is scheduled to be inaugurated, the Democrats have an 11-seat majority in the House and are tied 50-50 in the Senate. There are also 27 Republican governors, as compared to 23 Democratic governors. As for Biden, there was hardly any enthusiasm behind him as a candidate, and even less for Kamala Harris. Rather, he was elected based on hatred of Trump. In other words, there was no blue wave or blue mandate. There was more of a reaction against President Trump. Accordingly, to the extent that the Democrats continue to move left, to that extent they could suffer even more dramatic losses. And, should the Republicans find a candidate who cannot only energize the base but also unify the party, the gains could be rapid and significant. Of course, thats not written in stone either, and things could get really, really bad. Our liberties really could come under increased attack. The war against the unborn really could become more pitched. The democratic foundations of the nation really could be challenged. And the implications for the Middle East and countries like Hong Kong really could be severe. But the 2020 elections are now beyond our control, and now is neither the time for self-pity nor for a hopeless, defeatist mentality. Instead, on the spiritual side of things, Gods people need to act as if they are living in a hostile environment, one in which they cannot look to the government for deliverance or help. Instead, they need to avail themselves of the full arsenal of divine weaponry (by which I do not mean AK-47s), warring aggressively in the Spirit, overcoming evil with good, and focusing on changing the nation one heart at a time. We must live every day as if souls hung in the balance (which they do), getting our own houses in order, putting as much focus into the Great Commission as we have into the elections, and moving out of our comfortable, spectator Christianity. We must live as if it now or never. At the same time, all those working in the political sphere (with many godly believers included in that number) need to learn some serious lessons from the presidency of Donald Trump, both the very good and the very bad, building on the successes and learning from the failures. If well do that, the future could look much brighter than it feels right now but only if we seize the moment with urgency. What will it be? DOWAGIAC, MI Police have arrested two woman as suspects in a Dowagiac homicide. On Thursday, Jan. 7, the Dowagiac Police Department began an investigation into a homicide that occurred at the Hillcrest Apartments in Dowagiac, police said in a news release. Officers located a male deceased from a gunshot wound in an apartment at the complex, located at 500 Hill St. Dowagiac Police said they developed a suspect in the shooting and she was identified as the girlfriend of the victim. Officers learned that the suspect and victim argued on Monday, Jan. 4, and police believe the victim was shot during the argument. Police allege the suspect and another roommate solicited help from another acquaintance to dispose of the victims body. Police allege the suspects were unable to remove the body and left the man in the apartment in a trash dumpster and fled the area. Police were able to locate the suspects at a residence in South Bend, Indiana, and with the help of South Bend Police and South Bend Police SWAT, the suspects were taken into custody. Police arrested the suspects, a 39-year-old Dowagiac woman, and a 41-year-old woman from Mishawaka, Indiana, that was staying at the apartment. Both suspects have been lodged in Indiana, police said. Charges for open murder are pending from the Cass County Prosecutors Office. The names of the suspects are being withheld pending charges being filed. Detectives with the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, Detectives with the Cass County Sheriffs Office, Pokagon Tribal Police, Michigan State Police, and the South Bend Police Department assisted the Dowagiac Police Department. Dowagiac Police ask anyone with information from this incident to call Dowagiac Police at (269) 782-9743, or the Cass County Tip Line at (800) 462-9328. Read more: Kalamazoo Civil Rights Board members dont want police investigating complaints DNR to hire 1,200 seasonal employees to work at Michigan state parks Michigan governor calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1 He's made a name for himself as a provocateur since appearing on Married At First Sight. And on Friday, Nasser Sultan certainly commanded attention as he performed his own strip tease while attending the opening night of the Magic Mike Live show in Sydney. The 53-year-old reality star showed off his playful side as he performed a dance while removing his shirt. Performer: On Friday, MAFS star Nasser Sultan (pictured) commanded attention as he performed his own strip tease at the opening night of the Magic Mike Live show in Sydney Nasser appeared to be in good spirits as he gleefully jumped up and down in the air, while pulling open his clothing. He dressed to impress, sporting a black collared shirt, which he paired with white ripped jeans and boots. Nasser completed the look with a silver necklace and a trendy pair of mirrored sunglasses. Jumping for joy: The 53-year-old reality star showed off his playful side as he gleefully jumped up and down in the air Moves: Nasser swung his hips back and forth, performing for the cameras Nasser swung his hips back and forth, performing for the cameras. The sighting comes after the reality star dramatically quit the Married At First Sight reunion special after an explosive clash with Cyrell Paule last month. Nasser stormed from the Lilyfield warehouse where filming was underway, before collecting his belongings and leaving his nearby hotel. Jump! He leaped in the air, showing off his physique and beaming at the camera Cool customer: Nasser then opted for a somewhat provocative pose Speaking exclusively to Daily Mail Australia after his exit, Nasser said he came to blows with Cyrell, before the dinner party of co-stars turned on him. He revealed that the confrontation led to an out-of-control clash that sent producers scrambling to halt filming before he left the venue in anger. Nasser claims the argument arose when Cyrelle demanded an apology from him for 'trolling her baby' while she was pregnant - referring to Boston, her now 10-month-old son with Love Island star Eden Dally. 'She wanted me to me to apologise. She said I'm a troll. That I trolled her when she was pregnant. Which there's no way I did,' Nasser said, his luggage in tow. The Married At First Sight all-stars special is set to air on January 21, 2021 Gov't should make diverse diplomatic efforts to find solution The government had reportedly acquired intelligence about the possibility of Iran seizing a Korean vessel a month before a tanker was actually seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. This was reported to Cheong Wa Dae while the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also distributed the information to relevant missions in five major Middle East nations close to Iran. This shows the seizure had been warned about beforehand yet the government failed to take any preventive measures. In other words, the government could have prevented the incident from occurring if it had taken swift countermeasures, upon receiving the intelligence. What the government did was just send official letters to the overseas missions, calling for close monitoring of the area. Besides the intelligence, there had been numerous signs pointing to Iran's possible seizure of a vessel since relations between Seoul and Tehran have continued to worsen amid U.S. sanctions on the Middle East state. We wonder why the Cheonghae Unit, dispatched to protect Korean vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, was not ordered to guard the Hankuk Chemi tanker. The Iranian military might not have tried to seize the tanker if the ROK Navy destroyer was there. Tehran has continued to heap criticism on Seoul. In 2019, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani called for the release of Iranian funds held by two Korean banks the Industrial Bank of Korea and Woori Bank. He also sent personal letter to President Moon Jae-in last year toward that end. While criticizing Korea's dispatch of the Cheonghae Unit to the Gulf, Iranian Ambassador to Seoul Saeed Badamchi Shabestari even threatened to sever diplomatic ties with South Korea. The government should have convened emergency meetings of the National Security Council with the attendance of the relevant authorities. If necessary, it should have sought collaboration with the U.S. administration. Cheong Wa Dae should have sought "preventive diplomacy" by sending, for instance, high-level officials to mend soured ties between the two countries. It needs to learn a lesson from the case of Park Geun-hye administration which set up a "comprehensive partnership relationship" with Iran to find a breakthrough in deadlocked relations. Proactive and multifaceted diplomatic efforts are essential to prevent any recurrence of such an incident. Iran seems to have seized the Korean tanker in apparent retaliation for Seoul's freezing of the $7 billion in Iranian funds for its oil exports to Korea. Yet Seoul is not to blame for this because it came as a result of U.S. policy to strengthen sanctions on Iran in 2018. The government should first clarify its stance to Iran and persuade it to release the tanker and its crewmembers at the earliest possible date. If needed, the government should seek the cooperation of the incoming Joe Biden administration to settle the matter. Belatedly, a South Korean delegation arrived in Iran Thursday, while Vice Foreign Minister Choi Jong-kuk is also scheduled to visit Teheran, Sunday. We hope they will return home with good news of Iran's release of the tanker and its crew. In UP villagers get cocktail vaccine dose: Covishield first, Covaxin next ICMR to study effectiveness of Covishield, Covaxin in preventing progression of COVID into severe form COVID-19 vaccine, boundary dispute on Nepal foreign ministers agenda during India visit India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: The sixth Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting between Foreign Minister, S Jaishankar and his Nepal counterpart, Pradeep Gyawal will take place on January 14. The meeting is an important one and would demonstrate India's support to Nepal and its people and the K P Sharma Oli government as well. Oli had dissolved Parliament stating that his rivals were hindering the decision making process. China's attempts to patch up the warring factions also fell flat. Top on the agenda of the meeting would be the COVID-19 vaccine. New Delhi is likely to give a clear commitment on the supply of over 12 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. While China has offered its Sinovac vaccine, Nepal is inclined towards the Indian vaccines. Ready to forget everything if PM KP Sharma Oli accepts mistakes: Madhav Kumar Nepal at protest rally In this regard, Nepal's ambassador to India, Nilamber Acharya held several rounds of talks with the Indian vaccine manufacturers and government officials. He also held a meeting with Dr. V Krishna Mohan, the executive director of Bharat Biotech, which is producing the COVID-19 vaccine. During the meeting of Pradeep Gyawal and Jaishankar, the two are likely to discuss the boundary dispute. This had soured relations between the two countries after Kathmandu had issued a new political map. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Back in 2017 - practically ancient history by today's standards - Disney announced big plans for 2021, the 50th anniversary of the opening of Walt Disney World in Florida. "For a milestone that big, it's never too early to start planning... especially when you're planning something huge!" the announcement said, highlighting new roller coasters at the Epcot and Magic Kingdom theme parks. Not even the coronavirus can delay an anniversary, but those big plans have shrunk as the pandemic forced the company to reduce crowd sizes, add new safety measures, pause construction and - in the case of Disneyland in California - remain mostly closed indefinitely. Jessica Sanders, who runs the Disneyland planning site the Happiest Blog on Earth, said she wouldn't make plans to visit the California parks before the summer, "unless you're willing to change those plans." And even once those parks open, she said, the experience will be vastly different than before, with limited crowds, safety measures like masks and social distancing, and scaled-back offerings. "For someone that's looking for a full theme park experience, it's going to be past 2021," she said. There's still much uncertainty about when the California parks will open and when new rides will debut this year, but here's what the company has said will be new (or returning after going away) this year: 1. That 50th anniversary Despite all the changes, Disney will mark the 50th anniversary of the Florida resort on October 1. Typically, the company stretches anniversary celebrations out over long stretches of time, though no plans have been announced yet. Jana Hornsby, general manager of South Carolina-based Discover the Magic Vacations, said clients are still eager to be there for the milestone date. "When we're making new reservations now, we really have to be careful with availability," she said. "Because once that ability to make reservations for that time period opened up, we had Disney fanatics flocking to be there." As for those big 2021 plans that were announced in 2017? That timing appears to be up in the air. They include Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, a roller coaster at Epcot; a Tron roller coaster at the Magic Kingdom; and Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser, an immersive two-night experience aboard a "starship" hotel. 2. Park hopping When Walt Disney World Resort reopened last year, one of the new restrictions was that visitors could not go to more than one park per day - a feature that many guests pay extra for. The company reinstated park hopping on Friday, though guests still need a reservation for the first park they visit and can only switch to another one after 2pm. 3. Remy's Ratatouille Adventure One ride that was announced in 2017 and will definitely open this year is Remy's Ratatouille Adventure, based on the animated film, at the Epcot theme park. In the attraction, guests will take a "culinary adventure with Remy" across a French restaurant's kitchen floor. 4. Harmonious Nighttime fireworks and light shows are on hold for now, but when they return, Epcot will introduce a new one: Harmonious, billed as "one of the largest nighttime spectaculars ever created for a Disney Park." Bailee Abell, editor in chief of the Disney news site Inside the Magic, said fireworks and other shows are a big part of why people visit the parks, so the uncertainty around their return is causing some fans to postpone their visits. "It's this kind of funky feeling, because we know it's coming and people are really excited about it," she said. "A lot of people are in the camp that they want to hold off and they don't want to book a trip until more shows come back, more parades come back." 5. Avengers Campus This entirely new land inspired by the Marvel superheroes was set to open in July 2020 at Disney California Adventure, but the coronavirus-forced closure put that on hold. A new announcement on December 31 said the company is "looking forward to exploring Avengers Campus at Disney California Adventure next year." 6. Snow White's Enchanted Wish The Disneyland ride Snow White's Scary Adventures has been "reimagined" with new scenes, story details and technology - and a new, less-scary name. Washington Post Although Laredos unemployment rate has recovered slightly since the initial shock of the pandemic, it has not stabilized. Over the last five months of available workforce data, the number of people unemployed in Laredo has see-sawed between around 8,500 and 10,500. In November, which reflects unemployment claims made in October, the unemployment rate was 9.1%, up from 7.7% the month prior. Rogelio Trevino, executive director of Workforce Solutions for South Texas, believes these drastic changes are simply businesses response to the changing winds of the pandemic. When there are spikes in cases and hospitalizations, demand to go out to eat or shop falls. The leisure and hospitality sectors were hit the hardest this year, and employment at these businesses dropped 27% from November 2019 to November 2020. Trevino said that usually unemployment numbers fall during the holidays because there is more temporary work available. These employees are usually let go in January and February, which brings up unemployment again. Its just naturally expected that were going to see an increase at the beginning of the year. But the concern is that on top of that, the effects of the pandemic Im concerned that its going to be still higher than what were seeing now, Trevino said. But there are still businesses hiring right now, mainly in the transportation, warehousing and health care industries, he noted. Employment in several sectors has actually increased in the last year, according to Texas Workforce Commission data. Education and health services employment is up 3.4% from November 2019, oil and gas and construction is up 2.8%, and financial activities jobs are up 2.6% in Laredo. Jobs in Laredos largest employment sector, trade and transportation, are up from October but still down 3.9% year over year. The areas total employment is down 6.2% from a year ago. Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com Hayley Vernon is ready to kick off the new year with a new face. In an Instagram video this week, the former Married At First Sight star announced plans to go under the knife with celebrity surgeon Dr Zacharia. 'I'm flying off to Sydney in the latter part of the month to get my nose done and some other stuff,' the 33-year-old said. Brand new me! Hayley Vernon is ready to kick off the new year with a new face by getting a plastic surgery makeover 'I will be getting my nose done by Dr Zacharia,' she continued. 'He is the best rhinoplasty surgeon in Australia... he's also doing a couple of other procedures but we're under discussions at the moment.' Dr Zacharia has performed nose jobs on countless reality stars before, including The Bachelor's Megan Marx and Love Island Australia's Shelby Bilby. He also did Married At First Sight star Tamara Joy's nose. 'He is the best rhinoplasty surgeon in Australia': The former Married At First Sight star announced plans to go under the knife with celebrity surgeon Dr Zacharia Hayley has already had a breast augmentation, and has been open about getting fillers and Botox to enhance her natural beauty. Since finding fame on Married At First Sight last year, the former tradie has used her platform to launch a new career as an adult entertainer on OnlyFans. Earlier this week, she hit back at a troll who sent her a private message questioning her line of work. Good work: Dr Zacharia has performed nose jobs on countless reality stars before, including Married At First Sight's Tamara Joy (pictured) 'Are you a call girl? All your posts are inappropriate,' the unnamed person asked in their Instagram direct message. 'If I was would that make your day?' an enraged Hayley fired back. 'Don't be hating my life because yours is boring as bat s**t and has you reaching out to strangers to interact. Flashback: Hayley is pictured on Married At First Sight in late 2019 'Enjoy your Christmas holidays because I haven't worked a proper job in almost a year and am pretty much living a holiday. 'Tomorrow I'll be eating another $50 breakfast and doing things you only dream about... 'There's something to ponder when you're doing your 9-5,' she added, in a mic-drop moment. (Natural News) Swiss-American author and researcher Neal Sutz has revealed that not just Switzerland but also Italy played a major role in stealing the 2020 election for Joe Biden. Switzerland, Sutz revealed, recently purchased the sole rights of Scytl, the bankrupt Spanish company tied to Dominion Voting Systems that, according to several statistical analyses, switched hundreds of thousands of votes from President Donald Trump to Biden. Switzerland knew full well about the structural flaws of Scytl when purchasing the company, and deliberately failed to warn the Trump administration about it prior to the election. Italy was involved as well, according to former CIA agent Bradley Johnson. Italy played a direct role in manipulating votes to favor Democrat candidates at the expense of Trump and the Republicans. Johnson at least partially confirmed the story about U.S. special forces raiding and recovering Dominion servers that were hosted at a covert CIA facility in Frankfurt. Others confirmed it as well, calling the operation a success as it brought to light irrefutable evidence of election fraud. Gen. Thomas McInerney later claimed that following the raid, a violent fight ensued between CIA paramilitary, which was called in from Afghanistan to defend the station, and the U.S. special forces group that conducted the raid. The encounter resulted in five deaths. Rome was the real culprit in hacking the 2020 election Johnson does not deny any of this, but he did add to it by suggesting that the hacked data obtained from the Frankfurt facility was later moved to the U.S. embassy in Rome. Rome, it turns out, is the real main protagonist in the story, at least from the perspective of the deep state. As vote counting ceased here in the United States, it resumed in Italy where it was already morning. Trump was taking a record number of votes, Johnson says, noting that the mere switching of votes from Trump to Biden was not enough to deliver a victory to the Democrat candidate. It was at this time that Rome instigated a new elaboration of algorithms to seal the deal for Biden when all else failed. In the end, it was enough to give Biden the win that the deep state expected. The operation to recalibrate the hacking attack where Frankfurt left off reportedly took place in via Veneto, meaning the American embassy in Rome was directly involved in trying to overthrow the election and oust President Donald Trump. In this scenario, the subversive powers infiltrated in the U.S. government, the deep state, had planned a coup detat against their commander in chief, La cruna dellago reports. The current U.S. ambassador in Italy is Lewis Eisenberg, a former member of Goldman Sachs and contributor to the first Trump campaign. Eisenberg is said to be cozy with the neoconservative Zionist lobbies that are bitter enemies of the president for trying to withdraw the U.S. military from the Middle East. According to Johnson, there was a man from the U.S. State Department present at the U.S. embassy in Rome on election night. This individual, who was captured on video during a surveillance operation, appears to have been directly involved in the coordinated hacking attack. If Mr. Johnsons statements are true, Italy would be in direct violation of the 2018 Executive Order against foreign election interference signed by President Trump, La cruna dellago further explains. The President was not unprepared before the eventuality that foreign countries and internal forces within the US would have tried to meddle in the election The executive order clearly states after 45 days since the election day, a detailed report on this interference has to be delivered to the President. The full La cruna dellago report is available for viewing at this link. More related news about the fraudulent 2020 election can be found at Trump.news. Sources for this article include: Lacrunadellago.net NaturalNews.com You may also like these stories: It will be the first visit to Taiwan by a US ambassador to the United Nations since 1971, when Beijings accession to the world body led to the loss of Taiwans UN seat, according to Taiwan media. WASHINGTON/TAIPEIUS President Donald Trumps administration will send its UN ambassador, Kelly Craft, to Taiwan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday in a move blasted by China. Kelly Craft, US ambassador to the United Nations, meets the press at UN headquarters in New York on Oct. 10, 2019. / Kyodo Kelly Craft, US ambassador to the United Nations, meets the press at UN headquarters in New York on Oct. 10, 2019. / Kyodo Indonesia to Close Border to All Foreign Nationals From New Year Japan Gave Intel on Chinas Crackdown on Uyghurs to US, Britain Coronavirus Variant Found in Britain Detected in US for First Time Myanmars NLD Again Calls on Arakan Army to Release Three Abducted Ex-Candidates How Are Myanmar Migrants in Thailand Faring in the Face of COVID-19? Japan, US to Boost Defense Ties With Europe in Indo-Pacific Democrats Lead in One of Two US Senate Runoffs Crucial to Bidens Agenda Myanmar Appeals to Public to Help Fund Purchase of COVID-19 Vaccines Myanmar Supreme Court to Decide Whether to Accept Ex-Generals' Parties Challenges to President, UEC Chair We do not encourage viewing this site in this width. Please increase the size of your window. The minister noted that the Centre has, on many occasions, appreciated Telangana state in Parliament for its development and welfare schemes and ranked it at the top in aspects like development, saving electricity. DC Image WARANGAL: Panchayat Raj minister Errabelli Dayakar Rao on Friday asked Bharatiya Janata Party leaders to act sensibly and not indulge in silly political tactics to fool the people. He found fault with BJP state president Bandi Sanjay challenging TRS leaders to come to the Bhadrakali temple to discuss the provision of Central and state government funds to Warangal. Why do BJP leaders always bring up temples for everything, the minister asked. We can organise a discussion with officials in the collectorate regarding the fund allotment from both the Centre and the state. We can review the expenditure and decide if any funds given by the Centre were diverted by the state government as the BJP leaders claim. It is not correct to make baseless allegations against the government, Dayakar Rao said. The minister noted that the Centre has, on many occasions, appreciated Telangana state in Parliament for its development and welfare schemes and ranked it at the top in aspects like development, saving electricity, government hospital services, IT exports, CCTV camera installation, support for farmers, housing and providing drinking water. "The Centre also gave several awards to the state. However, the BJP leaders continue to criticise the TRS government alleging there is no development. BJP leader Tarun Chugh has commented that the state failed to provide employment. His statements contradict the fact that the Centre has ranked Telangana number one in the employment guarantee scheme, he said The minister pointed out that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had asked the Centre to integrate farmers in the employment guarantee scheme, but it was the Centre which had failed to do so. Rao said the people of Warangal cannot be fooled that easily. He requested Sanjay to refrain from making instigating comments in the name of religion for political gains. Police have made an appeal to find the rightful owners of four sheep after two men were arrested for theft. The men, aged 28 and 23 from Wolverhampton, were taken into custody where they currently remain. The incident happened at around 1.30am on Tuesday 5 January, when a vehicle failed to stop for West Mercia Police officers on the A454 near Bridgnorth. Following a pursuit the car was stopped and four sheep were found in the vehicle, believed to have been stolen from a local farm. Figures show that livestock worth 3m were stolen from UK farms in 2019 - making the crime the third most costly for farmers after machinery theft. Inspector Nikki Roberts has urged nearby farmers to check their livestock to ensure no sheep were missing. "I am really please we managed to rescue the sheep and now we just need to reunite them with their proper owners. Fortunately sheep stealing is quite rare in the area unlike other parts of the country and we believe this is an isolated case. "However, we take all rural crime extremely seriously and understand the impact the theft of livestock can have on farmers and their livelihoods. Those with any information has been told to call 101 quoting reference 21i of 5 January, or report through West Mercia Police's Tell Us About website section. Two men who shot and rammed police vehicles, forcing officers to hide in a fast-food restaurant, have had their cases sent to a higher court after a magistrate deemed their offending too serious for her to rule on. Joel Papa, the driver of a Holden Commodore, and passenger Cruz Noonan blasted two shotgun rounds into a divisional van and then rammed a police car, as both vehicles were parked and empty while officers were inside a Sunbury McDonald's. The damaged divvy van. Credit:Eddie Jim The pair then cheered and taunted police as they drove past the restaurant soon after, in the early hours of August 13, 2019. Heavily armed police attended the store to ensure the four officers and three McDonald's staffers escaped unhurt. No one was injured. The first time I met Lady Georgiana Gascoyne-Cecil, daughter of the present Marquess of Salisbury, she was sitting astride the sink in the pantry at a friends party in Notting Hill. There was a long queue for the lavatory, and she just couldnt wait. But far from showing any sign of embarrassment over her predicament, she was chatting and laughing away with friends and strangers in the queue, apparently wholly at ease. Indeed, she behaved as if this was a perfectly natural thing for a young woman to do (this was back in the late 1990s) in full view of mixed company. I have to admit that although I was somewhat taken aback, and averted my eyes with a deep blush, I was also impressed. And now the eighth Earl of Harewood, great-grandson of George V, has let me down once again. At the weekend, it emerged that he has thrown in the towel over his familys traditional insistence on pronouncing the name of his title and stately home Har-wood, rather than Hare-wood, as its spelled It struck me that this was the behaviour of an authentic aristocrat, too grand to trouble herself with the petty conventions and pruderies that constrain the conduct of lowlier folk like me. But my bourgeois sensibilities were in for an even greater shock when she introduced herself. Reader, she pronounced the second barrel of her surname Sessal to rhyme with trestle! Common Now, my own family may be ineffably middle-class, but my parents were determined that their children should grow up to fit in comfortably with people from all walks of life, including the very grandest. So it was that they impressed upon me, from an early age, that the correct way in which to pronounce the surname of a member of the Salisbury family the posh way was Sissil, to rhyme with thistle. Yet here was the titled daughter of that noble line a line stretching back via Good Queen Besss chief adviser all the way to the Norman Conquest pronouncing her surname the common way. For a middle-class lad like me, this was most disconcerting. Indeed, I felt the same sense of disappointment when, sometime later, I heard the Duke of Bedford on TV pronouncing the name of his ancestral home Woe-burn. Hadnt my parents taught me that proper toffs pronounced Woburn Abbey Woo-burn? So how come the actual owner of the pile as toffy a toff as they come pronounced it the same way as your average day-tripper to his safari park? I find it charming and quaint that the Cholmondeley family call themselves Chumley, that the Dukes of Rutland have always called Belvoir Castle Beaver and that Princess Dis family, the Spencers, call their Althorp estate (pictured) in Northamptonshire All-trup Had my childhood induction into the eccentricities of the aristocracy been for nothing? And now the eighth Earl of Harewood, great-grandson of George V, has let me down once again. At the weekend, it emerged that he has thrown in the towel over his familys traditional insistence on pronouncing the name of his title and stately home Har-wood, rather than Hare-wood, as its spelled. The decision was urged upon him, apparently, by the trust that governs his Grade I-listed house and grounds, near Leeds. Jane Marriott, its director, says it was with some trepidation that the trust put the idea to the Earl, since his late father George Lascelles, a former director of the Royal Opera House, who was born sixth in line to the Throne had been an absolute stickler for the old pronunciation. take my late grandfather, one of the last of the Victorians (he was born in 1894). He was the only person Ive ever known who insisted that Sawbridgeworth (pictured), in Hertfordshire, should properly be pronounced SaPSsworth But it seems that the present holder of the title gave up without much of a fight. He agreed that Yorkshire taxi drivers were bewildered when passengers who were in the know asked to be taken to Har-wood, rather than Hare-wood. Says Ms Marriott: We have done an enormous amount of work to reimagine what a country house is in the 21st century. And I did not want the first conversation I have with everybody to be about how you pronounce it. A brief aside: given all the ill-feeling flying around these days, I suspect that some staff at Harewood would rather discuss the pronunciation of the houses name than the origin of the Lascelles familys wealth, which was built largely on the slave trade. But thats by the by. Ludicrous The upshot of the Earls decision is that, from now on, audio guides and staff at Harewood will abandon the old rule and start referring to the place as, well, Harewood. Does this really matter, in the great scheme of things? Of course not. But old fogey that I am, I rather like the ludicrous upper-class practice of pronouncing names and places in unexpected ways, known only to the initiated. I find it charming and quaint that the Cholmondeley family call themselves Chumley, that the Dukes of Rutland have always called Belvoir Castle Beaver and that Princess Dis family, the Spencers, call their Althorp estate in Northamptonshire All-trup. Indeed, I felt the same sense of disappointment when, sometime later, I heard the Duke of Bedford on TV pronouncing the name of his ancestral home Woe-burn. Hadnt my parents taught me that proper toffs pronounced Woburn Abbey (pictured) Woo-burn? Indeed, I fondly remember a flush of paternal pride when I took our eldest son, George then aged about ten to look around the Earl of Leicesters magnificent Palladian pad, Holkham Hall in Norfolk. As we began our tour, I told the boy that although the surname of the owners family was spelled Coke, they had always pronounced it Cook. He clearly absorbed this information because, at the end of our tour, when I asked him if hed like something to drink, he said hed like a Coca-Cola before adding, with a dazzling flash of wit: I suppose we should call it Cooker-Cooler here, or they wont know what we mean. Thats my boy! But then its not only toffs who go in for unlikely pronunciations. Back in the summer of 2019 (remember when we were allowed to go away on holiday?), I took Mrs U and the dog to Stiffkey in Norfolk, not far from Holkham Hall. There, I was surprised to learn that the locals or at least those who are sticklers for tradition make a point of referring to their village as Stookie. Indeed, I fondly remember a flush of paternal pride when I took our eldest son, George then aged about ten to look around the Earl of Leicesters magnificent Palladian pad, Holkham Hall (pictured) in Norfolk. As we began our tour, I told the boy that although the surname of the owners family was spelled Coke, they had always pronounced it Cook Or take my late grandfather, one of the last of the Victorians (he was born in 1894). He was the only person Ive ever known who insisted that Sawbridgeworth, in Hertfordshire, should properly be pronounced SaPSsworth. I remember one occasion when I happened to be driving him through Sawbridgeworth, and we crossed a small bridge over the River Stort. Baffled Grandpa! I said. Do you realise weve just crossed a PS? Im not sure he understood the joke he was well past his brilliant prime by then but I was more pleased with it than perhaps I should have been. But then Grandpa was a law unto himself when it came to pronunciation. An Ancient Greek scholar in his youth, he insisted on pronouncing cinema as kye-knee-ma, and margarine with a hard G (the word derives from the Greek margos, a pearl, spelled with a gamma the third letter of the Greek alphabet apparently). He was such a pedant that when asked if hed like more spaghetti, he answered: Well, perhaps just a few. Spaghetti, if youre as baffled as I was, is a plural noun. Therefore a few is more grammatically correct than a little. Spaghetti, if youre as baffled as I was, is a plural noun. Therefore a few is more grammatically correct than a little (stock image) Shame on you, anyway, Lord Harewood or Harwood, as I prefer to think of you for surrendering to the spirit of the times and abandoning one of the gloriously silly conventions that made England what my country once was. As for Lady Georgiana Gascoyne-Cecil, whom I met only once after our first encounter by the sink, I fervently hope shell forgive me for publicising the circumstances of our introduction. Id like it on record that I found her exceptionally nice, funny and friendly. And that, after all is said and done, is probably more important than the way she pronounced her noble surname. Legion favors park movement Hazleton Post No. 76, American Legion, at its meeting endorsed the project of the city acquiring Pardee Square for a public park. From Hazletons newspaper, the Standard-Sentinel TAIPEI: The United States ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft, will visit Taiwan from Jan. 13 to 15 for meetings with senior Taiwanese officials, the U.S. mission to the U.N. said on Thursday, prompting China to warn they were playing with fire. Beijing, which claims the democratically run island as its own territory, has been angered by stepped-up support for Taiwan from the outgoing Trump administration, including trips to Taipei by senior U.S. officials. Chinese fighter jets approached the island in August and September during the last two visits - U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment Keith Krach, respectively. During her trip, the Ambassador will reinforce the U.S. governments strong and ongoing support for Taiwans international space in accord with the U.S. one-China policy that is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the three U.S.-PRC joint communiques, and the Six Assurances to Taiwan," the U.S. mission said in a statement. While the United States, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, it is the islands strongest international backer and arms supplier, being obliged to help provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. China said it was firmly opposed to the visit. We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action," its U.N. mission said. China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-U.S. relations and the two countries cooperation in the United Nations, and stop going further on the wrong path." 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 violence unleashed by an invading mob ransacking the citadel of modern democracy was unbelievably shocking not only because they took place on Capitol Hill in Washington DC. The insurrection was sparked by the President of USA, Donald Trump, who incited his hardcore supporters to riot against this highly regarded symbol of the free world. All this would have been unthinkable if not for it being too predictable, as it was triggered by one of the most quixotic men to occupy the White House. A day of such chaos as to shake the core of American democracy proved so futile in the end that its mastermind Mr Trump conceded he would respect the results of the election. Joe Biden of the Democratic Party had indubitably won the Electoral College votes as well as the voice of the people by seven million and is set to succeed him, after his victory was formally certified by the Congress at four o clock in the morning. Reason as well as law and order had dawned again. It would be extremely charitable of the Republican Party that Mr Trump belongs to if it were not to give greater force to the thought that he should be declared mentally unfit to rule and stripped of the presidency less than two weeks before his term runs out. After seeing Mr Trump elected to the highest office without winning all the people over in 2016, the Republicans lost the majority in the House of Representatives in 2018, the Presidential election in 2020 and a majority in the Senate in the two runoff elections in Georgia in 2021. The first ever Senate wins for the Democrats in a long time in Georgia were a final rebuke to Mr Trump, who had contributed by sowing doubts in democratic elections. How they allowed such a leader so much latitude in behaving as he did post November 3 is a mystery. Senior leaders like Mitch McConnell and Mike Pence did the right thing finally in disavowing their President. Vice-president Pence had, in the nick of time, upheld the highest traditions of democracy in carrying out the transfer of power, which is the very bedrock of democracy. The scope allowed by the police forces in the Capitol for lumpen elements of the far Right to vandalise the Speakers office and lord it over the Senate chamber for a while was appalling. And while a tweeting Mr Trump acted out the modern version of Nero playing the fiddle, Mr Pence ordered in the National Guard to secure the Capitol and save it from a perfidious set of rogues set loose on the word of an obnoxious master. It is no more a puzzle how blind loyalty can drive people as illustrated in an overzealous lady who had to be shot outside the door of the chambers into which lawmakers had been locked in for their safety. Of course, the greater is the responsibility among leaders to discipline their flock. Mr Trumps biggest failure lay not in his buffoonery while in office and not even in his inability to lead when it came to personally dealing with an adverse poll result. His devilish goading of people to violence was responsible for the mayhem for which he will never be forgiven. He deserves his place in the dustbin of history. A charter helicopter belonging to the firm PT Sayap Garuda Indah is cordoned off at a helipad in Mimika, a regency in Indonesias Papua province, after separatist rebels reportedly shot at it in mid-flight, Jan. 6, 2020. Updated at 3:24 p.m. ET on 2021-01-07 Rebels set fire to an airplane operated by an American-Christian humanitarian organization and shot a helicopter contracted by a U.S.-Indonesian mining company in separate attacks in Indonesias Papua province, security officials said Thursday. No one was hurt in the incidents in Intan Jaya and Mimika regencies on Wednesday, officials said. The National Liberation Army of West Papua (TPNPB) the armed wing of the Free Papua Movement (OPM) claimed responsibility for both incidents, alleging that the aircraft had been used to transport government military and police personnel as well as supplies. Men with weapons torched a small plane belonging to the Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) a Christian humanitarian aid group headquartered in Idaho after it landed at Biandoga in Intan Jaya regency, provincial police spokesman Ahmad Musthofa Kamal said. Someone carrying a gun came to the plane, fired shots into the air and told the pilot to stand down, Kamal said in a press release. Local church leaders rescued the pilot a U.S. citizen identified as Alex Luferchek and his two passengers before the assailants torched the plane, Kamal said. In the other incident on Wednesday, rebels opened fire at a helicopter in flight as it conducted a GPS survey for the mining firm PT Freeport Indonesia in the Benangin area of Mimika regency, said Kamal. The pilot and two passengers were all foreigners, he said. The police spokesman said investigators found a bullet hole in the helicopters fuselage after it landed in Tembagapura in Mimika, near Freeports sprawling Grasberg gold and copper mine. A Papua military spokesman, Col. I Gusti Nyoman Suriastawa, blamed TPNPB rebels for both attacks. These were civilian planes being targeted. They wanted to show that they exist, Suriastawa told BenarNews. MAF is an evangelical organization that uses aviation to serve isolated and disadvantaged communities in Indonesia and some other developing countries, and has been operating in Papua since 1954. At the time of the incident, our pilot was told by rebels that the burning of MAFs Kodiak aircraft was to gain international recognition, Brad Hoaglun, spokesman for the Christian outreach group, told BenarNews in an email Thursday. Our purpose in Papua is and remains a humanitarian mission based on Gods call to serve others. MAF is extremely disappointed by the burning of our aircraft as a political statement. The destruction of this donated aircraft only hurts our ability to serve the people in Papua. In May 2020, one of the groups pilots, Joyce Lin, was killed when her Kodiak plane crashed into a Papua lake soon after she took off on a flight to deliver COVID-19 rapid test kits to a remote village in the Papuan highlands. Hoaglun said the Indonesian government was still investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred after Lin reported an in-flight emergency. MAF is also undertaking an internal review into the many issues that may or may not have contributed to the accident. At this time there are no conclusions to announce, he said. Riza Pratama, a spokesman for Freeport Indonesia, said the helicopter in Wednesdays incident belonged to a local firm contracted to support Freeports mining operations. The chopper does not belong to us, it belongs to Sayap Garuda Indah, Riza said via a text message, referring to a helicopter charter company based on Bali Island. Sayap Garuda Indah could not be immediately reached for comment. In December 2018, the Indonesian government became a majority stakeholder in Freeport Indonesia, the firm that operates the Grasberg mine. As part of the deal, the government awarded Mimika regency and surrounding Papua province a 10 percent stake to spur financial aid and educational opportunities in the deeply impoverished area. Freeport-McMoRan, a U.S.-based mining giant, then officially became a minority stakeholder in the mine. Rebels claim responsibility Sebby Sambom, a spokesman for the rebels, said they carried out Wednesdays attacks. The reason is clear, last year the TPNPB-OPM headquarters had announced that any civilian helicopter and commercial civilian plane that transports military and police personnel will be shot, he told BenarNews. MAF aircraft regularly transport military and police personnel as well as military logistical supplies including food, Sambom said. He warned that attacks would continue unless Indonesian forces withdrew from the far-eastern Papua region. In response to this allegation by the rebels, Hoaglun cited MAF policy, which states, carrying armed military personnel, or armed or unarmed persons involved in military actions, is strictly prohibited in MAF aircraft because doing so does not represent the vision of MAF. Statements made that are contrary to our policy are false, Hoaglun said. Our organization does work with the government to deliver items such as school supplies as well as medical equipment, vaccines, and conducting emergency medical evacuations. We also support the work of community development, along with assisting in the growth of the church in isolated areas. Papuan separatists also claimed responsibility for the downing of an army helicopter in which 12 service members were killed in 2018. The military said that bad weather caused the crash. Suriastawa, the military spokesman in Papua, urged the people of Intan Jaya and Mimika not to be provoked by the rebels actions. Stay calm and help the government develop Papua and West Papua to achieve progress and prosperity, he said, referring to the two provinces that make up the Indonesian half of New Guinea Island. In 1963, Indonesian forces invaded Papua and annexed it. In 1969, the region held a referendum in which security forces selected slightly more than 1,000 people to agree to Papuas formal absorption into Indonesia, according to human rights advocacy groups. Indonesian forces, for their part, have been accused of committing human rights abuses in Papua. According to Amnesty Internationals Indonesian office, at least 22 people were victims of unlawful killings in Papua in 2020. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Religious people facing life crises rely on emotion-regulation strategies that psychologists also use, a new study finds. They look for positive ways of thinking about hardship, a practice known to psychologists as "cognitive reappraisal." They also tend to have confidence in their ability to cope with difficulty, a trait called 'coping self-efficacy.' Both have been shown to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. The new findings are reported in the Journal of Religion and Health. "It appears that religious people are making use of some of the same tools that psychologists have systematically identified as effective in increasing well-being and protecting against distress," said Florin Dolcos, a professor of psychology in the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, who led the study with psychology professor Sanda Dolcos and graduate student Kelly Hohl. "This suggests that science and religion are on the same page when it comes to coping with hardship," he said. The research was prompted in part by earlier studies demonstrating that people who are religious tend to use a coping strategy that closely resembles cognitive reappraisal. "For example, when somebody dies, a religious person may say, 'OK, now they are with God,' while someone who isn't religious may say, 'Well, at least they are not suffering anymore,'" Florin Dolcos said. In both cases, the individual finds comfort in framing the situation in a more positive light. To determine if religious people rely onand benefit fromreappraisal as an emotion-regulation strategy, the researchers recruited 203 participants with no clinical diagnoses of depression or anxiety. Fifty-seven of the study subjects also answered questions about their level of religiosity or spirituality. The researchers asked participants to select from a series of options describing their attitudes and practices. "We asked them about their coping styles. So, for religious coping, we asked if they try to find comfort in their religious or spiritual beliefs," Hohl said. "We asked them how often they reappraise negative situations to find a more positive way of framing them or whether they suppress their emotions." The researchers also evaluated participants' confidence in their ability to cope and asked them questions designed to measure their symptoms of depression and anxiety. Hohl said she looked for correlations between coping strategies, religious or nonreligious attitudes and practices, and levels of distress. She also conducted a mediation analysis to determine which practices specifically influenced outcomes like depression or anxiety. "If we are just looking at the relationship between religious coping and lower anxiety, we don't know exactly which strategy is facilitating this positive outcome," Sanda Dolcos said. "The mediation analysis helps us determine whether religious people are using reappraisal as an effective way of lessening their distress." The analysis also shows whether an individual's confidence in their ability to handle crisesanother factor that psychological studies have found is associated with less depression and anxiety"facilitates the protecting role of religious coping against such symptoms of emotional distress," Sanda Dolcos said. "We found that if people are using religious coping, then they also have decreased anxiety or depressive symptoms." Cognitive reappraisal and coping self-efficacy were contributing to those decreased symptoms of distress, she said. The study should be of interest to clinical psychologists working with religious clients, Hohl said. "It should also speak to clergy members or church leaders who can promote this kind of reappraisal to help parishioners make sense of the world and increase their resilience against stress." "I hope this is an example of where religion and science can work together to maintain and increase well-being," Florin Dolcos said. Explore further Religious coping may affect couples dealing with type 2 diabetes More information: Florin Dolcos et al, Religiosity and Resilience: Cognitive Reappraisal and Coping Self-Efficacy Mediate the Link between Religious Coping and Well-Being, Journal of Religion and Health (2021). Florin Dolcos et al, Religiosity and Resilience: Cognitive Reappraisal and Coping Self-Efficacy Mediate the Link between Religious Coping and Well-Being,(2021). DOI: 10.1007/s10943-020-01160-y Your Colleagues Goyal elected fellow of IEEE By CORY NEALON Amit Goyal, an internationally recognized materials scientist and director of the UBs RENEW Institute, was elected a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), a professional organization dedicated to advancing technology and fostering technological innovation for the benefit of humanity. The honor recognizes Goyal for contributions to high-temperature superconducting materials. The designation is conferred by the IEEE Board of Directors upon scientists with an outstanding record of accomplishments in IEEE fields of interest. The total number selected in any one year cannot exceed one-tenth of 1% of the total voting membership. IEEE fellowship is the highest grade of membership and is recognized by the technical community as a prestigious honor and an important career achievement. In addition to leading UB RENEW (Research and Education in eNergy, Environment and Water), an interdisciplinary institute dedicated to research and education on globally pressing problems in energy, environment and water, Goyal is a SUNY Distinguished Professor and SUNY Empire Innovation Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and he has an adjunct appointment in the Department of Physics. Goyals research has had a profound impact on the field of high-temperature superconductivity, both in fundamental materials science and in the transition of scientific discoveries from the laboratory to the marketplace. He was previously elected to the National Academy of Engineering for his contributions to the field of high-temperature superconductivity. His research innovations addressed the first holy grail of applied superconductivity fabricating long lengths of high-performance, single-crystal-like, flexible superconducting wires at a price/performance metric equivalent to that of copper wires. His work also addressed the second holy grail of applied superconductivity: incorporating an array of non-superconducting, columnar defects within the wires for enhanced performance in high-applied magnetic fields. His numerous innovations are being used worldwide to fabricate long-lengths of superconducting wires for a wide range of transformative applications. In addition to IEEE, Goyal is an elected fellow of nine, diverse, professional societies for his research contributions and innovations in the field of materials science: the National Academy of Inventers, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the Materials Research Society, the American Physical Society, the American Society of Metals, the American Ceramic Society, the Institute of Physics, the World Innovation Foundation and the World Technology Network. Goyal has authored or co-authored more than 350 technical publications, including 45 invited book chapters and papers, and has co-edited six books. He has given more than 25 plenary and keynote talks, and more than 180 invited presentations at national and international conferences. He has 87 issued patents comprising 70 U.S. and 17 international patents, and more than 20 patents pending. He was the most cited author worldwide in the field of high-temperature superconductivity from 1999-2009. He has received numerous national and international accolades, including the U.S. Department of Energys Ernest Orlando Lawrence Award in the inaugural category of Energy Science and Innovation. The energy secretary bestows the award on behalf of the president of the United States. He was named R&D Magazines Innovator of the Year in 2010 and received the 2012 World Technology Award in the category of Materials. Goyals other key honors include 10 R&D 100 Awards (in 2017, 2016, 2013, 2012, 2011, two in 2010, 2009, 2007 and 1999), which are widely regarded as the Oscars of innovation; three national Federal Laboratory Consortium (FLC) awards for technology transfer; 2010 Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Indian Institute of Technology; the 2008 Nano50TM Innovator Award; the 2007 Pride of India Gold Award; University of Rochesters Distinguished Scholar Medal in 2007; the U.S. Department of Energy Exceptional Accomplishment Award in 2005; the UT-Battelle Inventor-of-the-Year Awards in 2005 and 1999; the 2005 Global Indus Technovator Award; in 2001, the Energy-100 Award for the finest 100 scientific accomplishments of the U.S. Department of Energy since it was formed in 1977; the Massachusetts Institute of Technologys (MIT) Technical Review TR100 Award; and the Lockheed-Martin NOVA Award for technical achievement in 1999. 7 day print subscribers enjoy unlimited access to yakimaherald.com Enter the LAST NAME and the 7 DIGIT phone number on your print subscription account to connect your print subscription to your yakimaherald.com account. Jacqueline Veyrac, hotel heiress, leaves the courthouse in the southern French city of Nice following a morning hearing on January 8, 2021, - VALERY HACHE/AFP A French court heard on Friday how DNA under fingernails linked a British ex-soldier to the kidnapping of a Riviera hotel heiress as she testified at the trial of 13 defendants. Along with Briton Philip Dutton, 52, the colourful cast of characters in the dock included a paparazzo-turned private detective nicknamed Tintin and the disgruntled ex-manager of a Michelin-starred Nice restaurant who went bankrupt. The main suspect is Giuseppe Serena, the Italian former manager of La Reserve, a select seafront eatery owned by Jacqueline Veyrac, 80, who also owns the five-star Grand Hotel in Cannes. Mrs Veyrac terminated his contract in 2009 for alleged mismanagement. Mr Serena, 76, is accused of ordering her 2016 abduction in a desperate last-minute bid to obtain funds with which he hoped to open a new, rival restaurant. Mrs Veyrac was seized on the street in 24, 2016 and bundled into the back of a getaway vehicle. It ended when a local man saw her hands waving from the back of a white Renault Kangoo as he approached the vehicle. British ex-soldier Philip Dutton, 52 - Telegraph The presiding judge praised her steely nerves and said: Your nails were precious. Mrs Veyrac had dug them into one of her assailant's faces in an earlier kidnap attempt in 2013. The DNA found at the time could not be matched to anyone but it linked Mr Dutton, from Liverpool, to the second kidnapping. In court, Mr Dutton, 52, admitted to involvement in both kidnappings. However, none of the other defendants have pleaded guilty. Mrs Veyrac's son Gerard recounted to the court how the British former soldier, who the judge said had lied about his long" SAS career when in fact he had spent three years in the army, had rang him to say: "Francais pas bon, do you speak English? You have a problem you must pay. Money, money, he remembered him saying. No conversation anymore, was the last he heard of the kidnappers until his mothers release. Due to a technical problem, two text messages with the 5 million ransom request and meeting point never reached the family. Story continues They treated her like a piece of furniture, said Mr Veyrac. Testifying for the first time on Friday, Mrs Veyrac gave a calm and dignified account of her 48-hour hostage ordeal and her refusal to accept food or drink as she was held bound and gagged in a white Renault Kangoo on the outskirts of the southern Cote dAzur city. I was coming out of the chemists. I had been shopping. It was midday, half past twelve. It was very fast. They took me away in the Kangoo. Straight away they used and threw me rather roughly, she said. The Grand Hotel in Cannes owned by Jacqueline Veyrac, who was kidnapped in 2016 - VALERY HACHE/ AFP The masked and gloved kidnappers took her handbag, telephone. They didnt talk very nicely, she told the court, saying one threatened: Shut up, shut it or Ill finish you off, one told her. She was not allowed out to go to the toilet or even given a bucket. She played down her ordeal, saying: Baron Empain had it worse. Im lucky. She was referring to Baron Edouard-Jean Empain, a Franco-Belgian industrialist held hostage for two months in 1978 during which he had a finger chopped off. Mrs Veyrac managed to free herself at least once but was rebound even tighter before a local man detected her presence and police were called. Asked whether Mr Serena could have been behind it, she said: Yes I think so. He denies the charges of complicity in kidnapping and attempted organised extortion. In a coup de theatre, the alleged mastermind stood up to make an impromptu apology to his former boss on Friday. I have been thinking of you these past four years in prison and thinking that my mother could have been in your place, he told Mrs Veyrac. Im sorry. Please forgive me and all these people who may have done you harm. Im sorry and kiss you. Thank you Aunt Jacqueline. Thats what I used to call you. However, when the prosecuting judge Annie Brunet-Fuster asked whether this was an admission of guilt, Mr Serena said: The guilty man is not here. Another man, Enrico Fontanella, 67, an old friend who prosecutors alleged Mr Serena had contacted to help organise the kidnapping, will be tried separately for health reasons. Both Mr Serena and Mr Dutton face life in prison. The trial continues. The deputy speaker said governance has been made easier by the setting up of village and ward secretariats. www.aplegislature.org Kakinada: Deputy Speaker of AP Legislative Assembly Kona Raghupathi exhorted all on Friday that the incidents of attacks on temples should not be given a political colour. He stated so after taking darshan of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy of Dwaraka Tirumala in West Godavari and participating in the Dappu Kalakarula Sangam meeting. Kona Raghupathi told the media that at a time when the state government was taking up many programmes to uplift the downtrodden sections, it was unfortunate such incidents of attacks on temples took place. He said the Opposition parties were trying to gain political mileage out of it. They are misleading the people. Rising above caste, creed and religion, Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was implementing welfare schemes and providing housing to the homeless poor. Jagan is doing this with a great sense of commitment to the people. He is doing more than what his father Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy did as CM, the deputy speaker said. The deputy speaker said governance has been made easier by the setting up of village and ward secretariats. Now, the administration and the fruits of the welfare schemes are reaching out to the people. Many laws have been enacted for welfare of the people, he said. Gopalapuram MLA Talari Venkatrao, AP Brahmin Seva Sangham president Satyavada Durga Prasad, chief adviser V.S. Madhubabu and others were present. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh Archaka Samakhya hailed the decision of CM Jagan to reconstruct the temples demolished during the Krishna Pushkaralu season. The Samakhya state organising secretary Peddinti Rambabu and the general secretary A Atreya Babu said when Chandrababu Naidu was chief minister, he had demolished 43 temples. The idols of the gods and goddesses were carried in municipal tractors in those times. They said Jagan, in a revival spirit, laid stone for some such important temples in Vijayawada on Friday. We thank CM Jagan and endowment minister Vellampalli Srinivas. We also request the government to take stringent action against those who burned the chariot of Lord Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy at Antarvedi and attacked temples including the Ramatheertham, they added. The attack on the US Capitol clearly demonstrated the destructive impact of sustained distortion of facts, incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders, the UN's top human rights official has said while calling on American President to disavow false and dangerous narratives. Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday and clashed with police, resulting in four deaths and interrupting a constitutional process by Congress to affirm the victory of President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris in the November 3 election. We are deeply troubled by Wednesday's attack on the US Capitol, which demonstrated clearly the destructive impact of sustained, deliberate distortion of facts, and incitement to violence and hatred by political leaders, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said on Thursday. Noting that the allegations of electoral fraud were invoked to try to undermine the right to political participation, Bachelet said she was encouraged to see that the process has continued in spite of serious attempts to disrupt it. We call on leaders from across the political spectrum, including the President of the United States, to disavow false and dangerous narratives, and encourage their supporters to do so as well, she said. Bachelet expressed dismay at the serious threats and destruction of property of media professionals yesterday and voiced support for calls from many quarters for a thorough investigation into the violence and attack on the seat of the American democracy. Top United Nations leadership had expressed sadness and concern over the violence in Washington DC by pro-Trump demonstrators who stormed the US Capitol as lawmakers gathered to certify the Presidential election results. The Secretary-General is saddened by the events at the US Capitol in Washington, D.C, on Wednesday, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said in a note to correspondents. "In such circumstances, it is important that political leaders impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence, as well as to respect democratic processes and the rule of law, the UN chief said. President of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly Volkan Bozkir had tweeted that as President of the 193-member UN body, I'm saddened & concerned by today's developments at the Capitol in Washington DC. The US is one of the world's major democracies. I believe that peace & respect for democratic processes will prevail in our host country at this critical time. Dujarric, responding to questions Thursday on the attack on the Capitol, said Guterres calls on political leaders to impress on their followers the need to refrain from violence and respect the democratic process and rule of law. It's a very important message that political leaders need to give to those who listen to them, he said. He added that the UN had spoken out about risks associated with social media platforms being used to propagate violence and hate speech. I think it just increases the responsibility of the people who manage those platforms to ensure that they are not misused to do physical harm to people, he said. (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.) UNION, N.J., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- buybuy BABY is excited to bring back its biggest promotional event, the 'Big-Deal Baby Sale'. Starting Friday, January 8 through Monday, January 18, customers will be able to enjoy ten days of savings any way they shop with over 200 deals and 1,000 items on sale. The promotional event features storewide exclusive savings and offers on essentials and top brands for baby and infants, including UPPAbaby, Chicco, Graco DockATot and Boppy. buybuy BABY will also reintroduce its Daily Deals, providing customers with an extra perk and the ability to shop new and exciting products every day at incredible value. Parents will be inspired while they save, with 25% off room design services from the Design Squad powered by Decorist. This online service provides parents with professional interior design experts, combined with buybuy BABY's extensive selection of stylish, high-quality furniture and decor, to help create a beautiful room in their style and budget. It is also faster, more convenient, and easier than ever for parents to shop however they want with a range of new omni-always shopping services, including Store and Curbside Pickup and Same Day Delivery. John Hartmann, Chief Operating Officer at Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. and President of buybuy BABY said, "We're here to help our customers celebrate every milestone with their babies and toddlers, and are delighted to launch the Big Deal Baby Sale just in time for the peak registry season. Parents can enjoy exclusive savings on everything they need and inspirational ideas from our Design Squad team to help create the nursery or kid's room of their dreams with ease. Our new fast, convenient and stress-free Store Pickup, contactless Curbside Pickup and Same Day Delivery services, mean we can have everything you need to create a joy-filled life with baby and child in just a couple of hours." buybuy BABY will be offering exclusive savings storewide on top baby brands to help parents welcome their baby home, including within the following categories: Strollers, Car Seats, & Baby Gear: 50% off Graco Modes2Grow Marina Travel System 30% off Ergobaby OMNI 360 Carriers 20% off UPPAbaby VISTA V2 and CRUZ V2 in Hazel and Sierra 20% off HALO Bassinets 20% off Evenflo Pivot Xpand Travel Systems and Evenflo EveryFit Convertible Car Seats 20% off Chicco Travel Systems, Strollers, and Car Seats 25% off Eddie Bauer Diaper Bags Safety & Newborn Essentials: 15% off Dwinguler and Baby Care gates and mats $50 off Miku Smart Baby Monitor off Miku Smart Baby Monitor 20% Off aden+anais 20% off Fisher-Price Deluxe Calming Vibrations 4 in 1 Sling n Seat Tub 20% off Safety 1st gates 25% off North States gates and mats 25% off Lumi by Pampers Baby Monitor Products 50-75% off Select Clothing Baby & Toddler Feeding 20% off Munchkin Cups 20% off Medela Nursery Furniture: 20% off Oxford Baby Richmond Nursery Furniture Collection 20% Off All Sealy Baby Crib Mattresses 15% Westwood Design Taylor 4-in-1 Convertible Cribs In addition, customers can enjoy exclusive gift card with purchase offers, including: $50 buybuyBaby gift card with the purchase of 4moms mamaRoo sleep bassinet buybuyBaby gift card with the purchase of 4moms mamaRoo sleep bassinet $75 Gift Card with purchase of Owlet V3 Duo Complete Baby Monitor System buybuy BABY offers various tools, services, and baby registry perks to make it inspiring, easy and affordable to shop, including Store Pickup, contactless Curbside Pickup, Same Day Delivery, Price Match Promise, Design Squad, Personalized Gifts, and Free Registry Goody Bag (in-store). Visit buybuybaby.com for more information and to view more offers, please visit https://www.buybuybaby.com/store/category/deals-steals/shop-all-deals/33136. About buybuy BABY: buybuy BABY is the largest specialty baby retailer in North America that empowers parents with the information and products they need to confidently prepare for, navigate, and celebrate a joy-filled life with baby. The company sells a wide assortment of baby essentials and nursery furnishings. The company is a subsidiary of Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. SOURCE buybuy BABY Related Links http://www.buybuybaby.com China has denied permission for India to operate chartered flights citing reinforced strict COVID-19 measures, the Indian Embassy here said, advising Indian students studying in Chinese universities to continue their online classes. The Embassy continues to take up the matter with Chinese authorities about the Indian students but there has unfortunately been no positive evolution of this situation, an Embassy press release here said on Friday. "In fact, with reports of resurgence of COVID-19 cases in China, authorities have further reinforced epidemic controls and restrictions on travel and entry into China. The suspension of visas of Indian nationals issued before November 2, 2020 is an instance of these enhanced controls," it said. "Chinese authorities have also denied permission for operation of any chartered flights between India and China, citing their strict control measures," the Embassy said. Over 23,000 Indians study in Chinese universities, mostly the medical stream. Most of them are stuck in India as they await permission for their colleges to reopen. While the Embassy continues to follow this issue keenly, it has been repeatedly advised by Chinese authorities that the restrictions in place are not likely to be relaxed in the coming months and that students studying in China should be advised accordingly with respect to their studies for the next semester, which are likely to continue only through online means," the statement said. "While the Embassy is aware of the difficulty of undertaking courses in medicine in online format, Indian students enrolled in Chinese universities are advised to take note of the restrictions currently in place and make appropriate arrangements for continuing their education," it said. "All Indian students are advised to continue to monitor the websites of Indian Embassy/Consulate(s) in China and also our social media channels to remain updated about the evolving situation with respect to the prospects of their return to China, it said. They should also remain in touch with their universities for any updates. They may also follow the websites of the Chinese Embassy in Delhi as well as those of Chinese Consulates in India on this issue," the press release added. . Brisbane shoppers have already started stripping shelves bare ahead of the city's three-day lockdown which goes into effect at 6pm on Friday. Photos taken inside supermarket chains Coles and Woolworths show frenzied shoppers filling up their trollies as they prepare to hunker down on the order of Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Greater Brisbane was given stay-at home orders today despite recording no new local Covid-19 cases on Friday. Health authorities fear a new 'mutant' strain from the UK could wreak havoc on the Sunshine State after a cleaner at a quarantine hotel tested positive to the variant on Thursday. Pictured: Shoppers swarm Coles in New Farm, Brisbane, just 30 minutes after lockdown was called Shoppers are seen lined up to enter the Camp Hill Woolworths in Brisbane, Friday, January 8, 2021 Shoppers queue at Woolworths supermarket in Chermside in Brisbane, Friday, January 8, 2021 Back in March when Australia was sent into a nationwide lockdown, a wave of panic-buying swept the country with items like toilet paper, food staples and cleaning products in high demand. Those chaotic scenes returned just 30 minutes after the restrictions were announced. One image taken inside a Woolworths in Newstead shows an entire fresh fruit section completely bare after it was raided by shoppers. Another photo captures a woman with her trolley full to the brim and almost overflowing as she makes her was through the busy aisles of a Coles in New Farm. The toilet paper section of the New Farm supermarket was also stripped by panic-buyers who rushed to snap up the remaining rolls. After hearing about the chaotic scenes, Annastacia Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders to refrain from filling up their trollies. A woman with her trolley full to the brim and almost overflowing is pictured at Coles in New Farm, Brisbane Pictured: An entire fresh fruit section was left completely bare at Newstead Woolworths in Brisbane Aldi supermarket in Manly was left bare by a 'berserk' mob of shoppers The toilet paper section of the New Farm supermarket was also stripped by panic-buyers who rushed to snap up the remaining rolls 'There is no need to rush out and panic buy,' the Premier said on Twitter. 'Groceries and essentials such as medicine will still be available while Greater Brisbane is in lockdown. 'Make sure you wear a mask and observe social distancing. Thanks everyone.' There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane with lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redland. A huge line of shoppers is seen outside Camp Hill Woolworths in Brisbane, Friday, January 8, 2021 Annastacia Palaszczuk urged Queenslanders to refrain from filling up their trollies (shoppers are seen lined up to enter the Camp Hill Woolworths in Brisbane) Brisbane goes into lockdown from 6pm on Friday and the panic-buying has already started at Coles New Farm Fridge shelves are pictured empty at Brisbane's Teneriffe Woolworths Woolworths staff bring out toilet paper on a trolley at Brisbane's Teneriffe supermarket and it is quickly sold out Residents will be required to stay at home from 6pm on Friday until 6pm on Monday following advice from Queensland's Chief Medical Officer Jeanette Young. 'Think of it as a long weekend at home. We need to do this. I've accepted the strong advice from Dr Young,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'If we do not do this now, it could end up being a 30-day lockdown.' Residents will only be allowed to leave their homes for four reasons: essential shopping, exercise in the local neighbourhood, healthcare reasons or for work. Although face masks will be required to be worn by residents when leaving their homes, the mandate does not apply to children under the age of 12. There are 2.5 million people living in greater Brisbane with lockdown applying to the council areas of Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Moreton, and Redland The restrictions come after the state reported on Thursday a Brisbane quarantine hotel cleaner had been diagnosed with the UK variant of Covid-19. The mutated strain is believed to be up to 70 per cent more infectious, worrying health authorities. 'Please, everybody, let's be in this together, let's stay at home, look at it as a long weekend at home with your family and friends,' Ms Palaszczuk said. 'It will be tough on everyone for these three days. I think everybody in Queensland, especially the Greater Brisbane area, knows what we are seeing in the UK and other places around the world is high rates of infection from this particular strain. 'We do not want to see that happening here in our great state and that is why we are taking those strong actions today.' A terrifying map shows the Brisbane locations which have been exposed to the UK's mutant variant of the virus since January 2, including a busy train line, a Coles and a Woolworths PORTLAND, Ore. (KGW) The Oregon National Guard will join the effort to speed up vaccinations in the state, Gov. Kate Brown said Friday. "We are deploying the National Guard to provide vaccination support starting this weekend with Salem Health's vaccination event at the state fairgrounds," Brown said. "Our guard members will be providing logistical and nursing support. The goal is to vaccinate 250 people per hour, vaccinating thousands of Oregonians." Brown made the announcement during a Friday morning news conference with state health and education leaders. Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Director Patrick Allen said 1.5% of Oregonians are vaccinated and 24% of the state's vaccine doses have been administered so far. Health leaders have been working to speed up Oregon's vaccine rollout. On Tuesday, Allen said anyone in the Phase 1a group of the state's COVID-19 vaccination plan is now eligible for to get a vaccine, meaning about 400,000 health workers are now eligible. Some health care providers, however, are confused and frustrated that they have not received any guidance on how to get a vaccine. "We need to get vaccines to everyone in Oregon," Allen said Friday. Asked when members of Oregon's general population could expect to receive a vaccine, Allen said that the fall of 2021 was "a reasonable target," but said it could be sooner or later than that. Oregon's COVID-19 transmission rate fell to 0.8 and stayed at that level through mid-December, Allen said. There was a sharp increase during late December, when the transmission rate moved to an estimated 1.29, and Allen said "we could continue to see a sharp increase in cases" following the Christmas and New Year's holidays. On Thursday, Oregons COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee (VAC) met for the first time to discuss how critical workers and at-risk populations will be prioritized in the states vaccine rollout. The OHA said that the VAC will co-create a vaccine sequencing plan to focus on prioritizing populations who are most at-risk and hardest hit by the pandemic. Health officials said that following the Phase 1a group, educators and other staff at pre-kindergarten to grade-12 schools and early learning centers will be the states next immediate vaccination priority. It's absolutely vital to help our kids safely return to in-person instruction as soon as possible, Brown said Friday. "Weve seen across the world how schools can reopen with rigorous health protocols in place." Last month, the governor said that she hopes more Oregon schools, especially at the elementary school level, will transition to in-person learning by Feb. 15. As of Jan. 1, the decision to bring students back into classrooms schools is being made locally by individual districts and schools. Brown directed the OHA and Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to evaluate the current metrics and update them if needed by Jan. 19. RELATED: Gov. Brown: Oregon schools can make decisions to resume in-person learning in 2021 At the beginning of Friday's news conference, Brown shared her reaction to Wednesday's violent mob riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., calling it "horrifying and heartbreaking." "Im appalled and saddened. The peaceful transition of power is a bedrock of our democracy," Brown said. "We must never, ever take our democracy for granted." Ong-ad Nuseewor / Getty Images/iStockphoto The new year is a great time to set financial goals for yourself. You might want to create a new monthly budget, rethink your investment plan or focus on saving more for retirement. But once you set these goals in January, you may lose track of them by the time the end of the year rolls around. Budgeting 101: How To Create a Budget You Can Live With So just how often should you be checking in with the various aspects of your financial plan? Heres how often the experts say you need to review your finances to stay on track with your goals for 2021 and beyond. Last updated: Jan. 8, 2021 Vladimir Vladimirov / Getty Images Daily: Check Your Credit Card Balance Its all too easy to swipe a credit card (or enter your card information online), so you might not even be mindful of how much you are spending and what you are buying on a daily basis. Remain conscious about your spending even on the little things by checking the balance of your credit cards every day, said Anne Marie Ferdinando, member outreach manager at Navy Federal Credit Union. Ask yourself if you really need that purchase in the grocery store or any other shopping destination. Once youve done this for a period of time, itll be second nature to you. Find Out: 50 Easy Things You Should Do To Save Money cnythzl / Getty Images/iStockphoto Monthly: Check Your Credit Score Howard Dvorkin, CPA, chairman of Debt.com, said that every American should be checking their credit score at least once a month. Ive spoken out about the rise in fraud during this crisis, and I still want consumers to stay vigilant about checking their credit scores, he said. Consumers can check their credit scores at annualcreditreport.com for free, at least once a week, until the April 2021 cutoff date. As our economy continues to recover, I suspect fraudsters will still want to take advantage of Americans out of work and those trying to reorganize their finances. Consumers should check their reports for errors and see if their account statuses are being reported accurately. Story continues Tips: 90-Second Moves To Raise Your Credit Score PeopleImages / Getty Images Monthly: Review and Revise Your Budget Because your expenses will inevitably vary to some degree every month, your budget should be updated every month, said Mary Alice Hughes, co-owner of Insurance Advantage & LMA Financial Services in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Some expenses, like your mortgage or cell phone bill, are basically the same each month. However, there are also bills that pop up which are not the same each month, and these are the ones people need to plan for and monitor, she said. Examples of these bills are taxes, holiday expenses or birthday gifts. Each month, write out all of your assets, debt and anticipated expenses to create your budget accordingly. Stop: 17 Biggest Budgeting Mistakes Youre Making rangizzz / Shutterstock.com Monthly: Check Your Progress Toward Savings Goals If one of your 2021 goals is to build an emergency fund, figure out how much you can dedicate each month to your personal savings and check in with your progress monthly. Personal savings should be a priority for both single and married adults, Hughes said. If you dont have $1,000 saved for emergencies, start now and monitor your savings plan monthly. After the emergency fund of $1,000 is created, start building three to six months of living expenses. This, too, requires monthly monitoring and adjusting. Helpful: 37 Life Hacks That Will Save You Money racorn / Shutterstock.com Quarterly: Check Your Retirement Accounts' Performance Hughes recommends checking your 401(k), 403(b), IRA and other retirement accounts at least every quarter. If you already have a financial advisor, call or email them with performance questions or concerns, she said. If your retirement account is through your employer and you dont understand how to properly manage the portfolio allocations, you can hire a financial advisor to oversee the account for you. By doing this, youre creating a personal relationship with an advisor and can make sure you are on track and stay on track in your retirement planning. Smart Money Moves: 27 Best Strategies To Get the Most Out of Your 401(k) Pekic / Getty Images Annually: Perform a Review of All of Your Personal Finances At the end of each year, do a thorough review of your finances, including how your monthly budget performed, your personal savings and retirement accounts, Hughes said. By doing this, you will be able to see how successful your savings efforts were and if you need to make any changes or new goals for the upcoming year. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: How Often To Check Every Aspect of Your Finances in 2021 and Beyond [January 07, 2021] Ruten Japan 2020 year end promotion with best buy items & Omiyage TOKYO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ruten Japan features the best-selling items from its website last year and the latest 2021 products in Japan for the "2020 Year End Best Buy" promotion to reward all customers' hard efforts throughout 2020. The "2020 Year End Best Buy" campaign mainly promotes eight categories of items such as cosmetics, name-brand products, video games, snacks to global customers on Ruten website. In the meanwhile, Ruten Japan offers free international shipping service when purchasing over US$50. During this difficult time with pandemic, Ruten Japan has everyone's back. The demand for online shopping is on the rise.Yun Su pointed out that due to the 2020 pandemic, global customers have more demands on internet shopping. In the meanwhile, it also elevated the waves of cross-national online shopping. By offering free international shipping service when purchasing over US$50, Ruten Japan has given its customer the best free shipping deal. Hence, Ruten Japan has the advantage of having over 60 million Japanese products. This advantage can satisfy global shoppers' thirst for various Japanese items. Ruten Japan is dedicated to providing more diverse and higher quality Japanese products to customers around the globe. In addition to the eight recommended categories, Ruten Japan also launched a large collection of well-known Japanese Omiyage brands. Based on the budgets of its global customers, Ruten Japan recommended limited Omiyage items within three different price ranges. Those items included crackers from Akai Bohshi, Gaufres from Tokyo Fugetsudo, affordable gift packages from Kitakaro, LeTAO, high-end packages from Ginza Sembikiya, Cigare rolls from Yoku Moku, coffee, tea and other assorted items available for customers. For customers who want to deliver gift packages for friends or for themselves straight from Japan, Ruten Japan is the most direct and convenient choice. "2020 year end Best Buy" https://en.ruten.co.jp/campaign/20201229 "Japan's Most Popular Omiyage" https://en.ruten.co.jp/campaign/0108 Ruten Japan https://en.ruten.co.jp/ Note: Ruten Japan's designated 13 delivery countries and regions are: Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Taiwan, Canada, New Zealand, England, Indonesia, Macau, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, and Korea SOURCE Ruten Japan [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] The Environmental Protection Agency, which was established by Richard Nixon in 1970, crowned the Civic as the most fuel-efficient vehicle in America in 1976. Subsequent reports have consistently shown Honda at the top of the list, and as the headline implies, the federal agency has recognized Honda as the most efficient full-line automaker for the 2019 model year.According to the 2020 EPA Automotive Trends Report available as a PDF attachment below, the Japanese brand has averaged 28.9 miles per gallon (8.1 liters per 100 kilometers), which is four MPG better than the industry average. Honda also takes the cake in terms of carbon-dioxide emissions with 307 grams per every mile, bettering the industry average by 49 grams.Next up, Hyundai ended the 2019 model year in the United States of America with a fleet average of 28.5 miles per gallon (8.25 liters per 100 kilometers) and 311 grams of carbon dioxide. Subaru finished in third place, and at the bottom of the list, domestic automakers are the biggest offenders.Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is the least efficient of them all, followed by General Motors and the Ford Motor Company. The thing is, are you really surprised by this result? After all, the Detroit-based juggernauts are responsible for the most full-size trucks and SUVs sold in this part of the world.Another takeaway from the report revolves around oomph and heft.Average horsepower continues to increase rapidly while weight is increasing slowly, a combination that generally results in higher emissions and lower gas mileage. Technological advances have kept things under control so far, but emissions control systems and internal combustion can only go so far.Tesla had by far the lowest tailpipe emissions and highest fuel economy thanks to an all-electric lineup, which is why full-line automakers such as Honda cant afford to sit on the sidelines. The Safer Affordable Fuel-Efficient (SAFE) rule for model years 2021 through 2026 also needs to be mentioned.In a nutshell, this piece of legislation sets rather feasible efficiency standards that increase 1.5 percent in stringency each year through 2026. Upon further review, the London salon that hosted actor Priyanka Chopra amid the Covid-19 lockdown in the UK has been fined. It was previously reported that the salon owner was let off with a warning, after the police were called to investigate a potential breach of lockdown protocols. A new report says that the Metropolitan Police has levied a fine on the salon owner following a review of the circumstances and relevant legislation. ALSO WATCH | 'National Jiju': Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra on laddoos & India trip #HTLS2020 India Today quoted the police as saying, Officers were informed that the salon was being used in support of a film production and was not open to the public - paperwork was provided demonstrating this. As part of the Four Es process, officers engaged and explained the rules and offered strong words of advice to all those present including that the work needed to take place on set rather than in the salon. The salon was closed immediately. No fines were issued at the time however, following a review of the circumstances and relevant legislation, officers have subsequently issued a fine to the salon owner. According to the BBC, the police are now using a process called The Four Es -- engage, explain, encourage, enforce -- to implement Covid-19 guidelines, following a surge in cases. Priyanka, in a statement via her representative, had earlier admitted to being in the salon, but explained that she had the paperwork legally permitting her to be there. Priyanka reportedly arrived at the salon with her mother, Dr Madhu Chopra, and pet dog Diana, on Wednesday. She went to get her hair coloured for her film, Text For You, which she is currently shooting for in London. Also read: Priyanka Chopra denies flouting lockdown rules in London, rep says salon visit was in line with government guidelines Priyankas spokesperson said in a statement, Following government guidance, Priyankas hair was coloured for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting in London. The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations. As I am sure you are aware, film and TV production is permitted to continue in the UK, and locations can continue to accommodate shoots and recces (pre-filming visits) that are carried out in-line with government guidelines. The paperwork legally permitting her to be there was provided to the police, and they left satisfied, the spokesperson said. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10 Argo Blockchain has been one of the winners in the recent Bitcoin rally, having rocketed 218 per cent to 107p in the first week of trading in 2021. The cryptocurrency miner, which started 2020 changing hands for 6p, broke records with trading volumes and new user numbers surging over 1,500 per cent and 500 per cent respectively between August and December. Argos success mirrors that of Bitcoin itself, which surged to a new record high above $41,000 on Friday. Last March it was worth just $5,355. Bitcoin surged to a new record high above $41,000 on Friday Demand has been driven by corporates pursuing alternative asset allocation strategies, diversification by institutional investors, the emergence of dedicated funds, and interest generated by retail platforms such as Square and PayPal. Noted investors Stanley Druckenmiller and Paul Tudor Jones have led hedge fund buying of the digital currency, which has been dubbed millennial gold. The long-term outlook for Bitcoin will remain bullish, although in the short term, the potential for profit-taking could result in a sharp correction, commented Fawad Razaqzada, analyst at ThinkMarkets. Remaining in the cryptocurrency ecosystem, research and development company Online Blockchain and online wallet Mode Global have also been given a boost, soaring 67 per cent to 81p and 63 per cent to 70p respectively. Returning to the old economy, oil stocks were lifted after crude prices, which touched 11-month highs due to a fall in US stockpiles and Saudi Arabia announcing it would cut output more than estimated. Coro Energy zoomed up 53 per cent to 0.6p, Baron Oil shot up 43 per cent to 0.1p and Touchstone Exploration gushed 35 per cent higher to 169p. Turning to the wider market, the AIM All-Share advanced 1.9 per cent to 1,179 this week, underperforming a 6.2 per cent surge by the FTSE 100 to 6,862, which is now at February levels. Sticking to the risers, Remote Monitored Systems doubled to 2p after its Pharm 2 Farm subsidiary noted a face mask manufacturing machine was going to be delivered to its Nottingham facility this week, marking progress in the production process. Gaming Realms motored 50 per cent higher to 32p after it was awarded a provisional iGaming supplier licence in the US so it can provide its Slingo Originals game content to online casino operators in Michigan. Meanwhile, miner Arkle Resources rose 41 per cent to 1p after identifying gold-bearing vein outcrops at the Inishowen project in Ireland. Elsewhere, Destiny Pharma advanced 37 per cent to 94p after completing recruitment for the trial of a drug candidate designed to prevent life-threatening infections after operations, with results expected in the first quarter this year. Fellow pharma company RenalytixAI leapt 21 per cent to 589p on the back of a partnership with US healthcare provider Da Vita to improve health outcomes for adults with chronic kidney disease. Remaining in the sector, Tiziana Life Sciences gained 16 per cent to 106p after completing trails on Covid-19 patients for its nasally-administered monoclonal antibody, Foralumab. Retailer Shoe Zone was down 13% as lockdown news hit the high street Among the fallers, Ridgecrest, formerly Nakama Group, slipped 18 per cent to 0.9p after becoming a cash shell following the disposal of its operating businesses to Sanderson Group. Trans-Siberian Gold tumbled 16 per cent to 108p after two people died at an incident at its Asacha Gold mine in Russia. Mining peer Vast Resources shed 15 per cent to 0.1p after a bank said it cannot approve an asset-backed debt facility unless the firm reviews its corporate structure. Retailer Shoe Zone and bus operator Rotala were both down 13 per cent to 56p and 23p respectively, as lockdown news hit the high street and the transport sector. Energy-from-waste technology firm EQTEC lost 12 per cent to 0.2p despite it secured a partnership with Greek construction group Nobilis Pro Energy to collaborate on projects in the European country. Finally, joining the market soon will be Nightcap, which was established last year in the middle of the hospitality sector crisis to turn around struggling venues. Once its admitted to the junior market, the firm will acquire The London Cocktail Club, which is an independent operator of 11 themed bars in the south of England. New Delhi: After the near riot-like situation at the Capitol Hill in US on Thursday that led to the death of four persons, calls for the impeachment of President Donald Trump has grown stronger, for a second time in his presidency. Trump has to vacate the White House by January 20 which is when the transition of power is expected. Hours after the US Senate certified Democrat Joe Biden as the next US President, Trump conceded defeat, grudgingly, and hinted at a possible return for the 2024 presidency. The top Democrats in Congress, House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, have called on Vice President Mike Pence and Trump`s Cabinet to use the US Constitution to remove Trump for "his incitement of insurrection." The 25th Amendment allows a majority of the Cabinet to remove a president from power if he is unable to discharge the duties of the office. But a Pence adviser said the vice president, who would have to lead any such effort, was opposed to using the amendment to oust Trump from the White House, reported Reuters. Though, Pelosi has signaled that she would likely reconvene the House to initiate impeachment proceedings against Trump for his role in Wednesday`s violence. The House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerry Nadler, whose committee would likely draft any articles of impeachment, had earlier voiced his support in the matter. However, it was not clear whether the House Democrats would have enough time to initiate and complete impeachment proceedings. Though there are other methods that can be opted for Trump's removal as US president before the end of his term. Apart from the above mentioned way, another possibility is about voluntary or unavoidable absence of the president like in case of the assassination of John F Kennedy and when Ronald Reagan and George W Bush were admitted to hospital for treatment. The other possibilityis impeachment, which means holding the president guilty on charges of high crime or misdemeanour by the House of Representatives. If the Lower House impeaches a US president, the matter goes before the Senate which needs to vote for removing the president from his office. Notably, Trump has faced impeachment proceedings before in December 2019. Trump had pressured the president of Ukraine to investigate Biden, but the Republican-controlled Senate acquitted him of charges of abusing power and obstructing Congress. In a dramatic turn of events, the US Capitol Hill was stormed by sititng President Donald Trump's supporters on Wednesday. The supporters clashed with the police, removed barricades, broke glass panes and trashed the House. Police officers stand guard at an entrance to a court in Beijing, on Sept. 11, 2020. (Carlos Garcia Rawlins/File/Reuters) Chinese Attorney Had License Revoked for Defending Falun Gong Practitioner Chinese human rights lawyer Ren Quanniu revealed more details about local authorities decision to revoke his license. Via a Twitter post on Jan. 5, he explained that the justice department of Henan Province served him a notice, in which it claimed that he violated a courtroom regulation during the trial of Falun Gong practitioner Zhang Minglang two years prior. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a practice centered around meditation exercises and moral teachings based on truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. Amid Falun Gongs growing popularity in mainland China, the Chinese regime, fearing the practice would threaten its rule, launched a sweeping suppression campaign in July 1999. Millions of Falun Gong adherents have since been detained inside prisons, labor camps, and other facilities in China, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center. Ren represented Zhang after the latter was arrested in December 2017 for his faith. The license revocation notice alleged that Ren violated Article 39, Item 3 of theAdministrative Measures for the Practice of Law, which states that an attorney may not reject the characterization of a heretical organization by the state, and that Rens behavior was egregious and severely damaged the law profession. The Chinese regime has labeled Falun Gong and many other minority faiths as heretical organizations in its propaganda to vilify adherents. On Twitter, Ren thoroughly refuted these claims, stating that there is no law classifying Falun Gong as a heretical group, so it was not possible for him to reject the characterization. Ren added that he was never informed of the justice departments investigation into him. Past Cases According to Minghui.org, a U.S.-based website that tracks the persecution of Falun Gong in China, Zhang was 82 years old when he stood trial on Nov. 7, 2018. Zhang was charged for undermining the law using a heretical organization. Zhang entered a not guilty plea. During the trial, Ren argued that his client had caused no harm to society and that there was no legal basis for the charge. Falun Gong believers, whether practicing in groups on the street corner or in public squares, or practicing alone in their homes, do not endanger others or interfere with anyones life, work, or studies. If they do not hinder or disturb others and, like the square dancers that gather at morning and dusk, have the same right to assemble and practice exercises outside, then why do Falun Gong practitioners not have the freedom to practice their faith?, Ren said in court. After 12 hours, the judge adjourned the trial without a verdict. Months later, on Jan. 7, 2019, Zhang was sentenced to five years in prison. Rens license was revoked soon after he defended a client in the case of 12 Hongkongers who were arrested by Chinese coast guards as they attempted to flee to Taiwan for political asylum. He represented Wong Wai-yin, who was among eight people sentenced to seven months by a court in Shenzhen city for illegally crossing the border. Ren also represented citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who was arrested for her coverage of the initial COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan city last year. She was recently sentenced to four years imprisonment. Dozens of demonstrators gathered outside San Franciscos City Hall Thursday evening to express outrage at what they said was the light treatment by law enforcement of pro-President Trump supporters who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Many pointed to what they called a racial double standard in the way police responded to the mostly white rioters versus the black and brown Black Lives Matter protesters who raged in the days after the police killing of George Floyd last spring. We need to be in the streets to say, That is not okay, said organizer Alex U. Inn, one of several people who addressed the crowd beneath the City Halls marbled columns, lit red, white and blue. From City Hall, the protesters marched to Twitters Market Street headquarters as a rebuke of the social media giant Trump used to spread falsehoods throughout his presidency. Many of those assembled struggled to imagine a peaceful transition of power in the aftermath of the rioting that disrupted the electoral vote count and sent the nations capital into lock-down. Neil Stewart, 40, waved a homemade flag emblazoned with the gay pride rainbow and Black Lives Matter fist and said he wondered whether violence would surge as inauguration day approaches. That is the reality for the next two to three weeks, he said. Izadora Lima showed up to oppose what she sees as President Trumps dictatorial leadership style. All the red flags are there said Lima, 30, from Brazil. Lima attended with several friends, and like many in the crowd, they were skeptical that President Trump would face impeachment or censure before his term expires on Jan. 20. But the violence on Capitol Hill was, for many in attendance, a breaking point at the end of many breaking points. Hes just got to go, said Vanessa Melo, 32. Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec To be sure, all of that is here. But racism is more evenly distributed across the country than we are willing to admit. It is true that in surveys, people in the North express support for fewer racially biased ideas than those in the South, but such surveys reveal only which biases people confess to, not the ones they subconsciously possess. So I asked the researchers at Project Implicit to run an analysis of their massive data set to see if there were regional differences in pro-white or anti-Black prejudice. The result, which one of the researchers described as slightly surprising, was that there was almost no difference in the level of bias between white people in the South and those in the Northeast or Midwest. (The bias of white people in the West was slightly lower.) White people outside the South are more likely to say the right words, but many possess the same bigotry. Racism is everywhere. And if thats the case, wouldnt you rather have some real political power to address that racism? And a yard! For decades Northern liberals have maintained the illusion of their moral superiority to justify their lack of progress in terms of racial equality. The Norths arrogant insistence that it had no race problem, or at least a minimal one, allowed a racialized police militarism to take root. It allowed housing and education segregation to flourish in supposedly diverse cities. It allowed for the rise of Black ghettos and concentrated poverty as well as white ight and urban disinvestment. The supposed egalitarianism of Northern cities is a imsy disguise for a white supremacy that diverges from its Southern counterpart only in style, not substance. And, while the North has been stuck in its self-righteous stasis, the savagery of the South has in some ways softened, or morphed. I am careful not to position this progress as fully redemptive or restorative. White supremacy clearly still exists here, corrupting everything from criminal justice to electoral access. The New South with its thriving Black middle class and increasing political power is still more aspiration than reality. But the wishful idealizing of a New South is no more naive than a willful blindness to the transgressions of the Now North. As the author Jesmyn Ward wrote in 2018 in Time about her decision to leave Stanford and move back to Mississippi, American racism is an innite room: It is the bedrock beneath the soil. Racial violence and subjugation happen on the streets of St. Louis, on the sidewalks of New York City and in the BART stations of Oakland. Many people are very familiar with John McCain and his political legacy. McCains loved ones and supporters were devastated when the U.S. senator died in August of 2018 in his battle with brain cancer. Since his passing, many individuals and groups have acknowledged and celebrated his work, values, and dedication. However, that isnt too different from what was taking place while the famous Republican leader was still alive. There were many reasons so much of the country looked up to and admired McCain and his keen sense of humor, charisma, and unexpected love for pop culture were just a few. Once the popular senator even appeared in Wedding Crashers. Take a look back at some of McCains most memorable moments, and, of course, his cameo in Wedding Crashers. John McCain | Alex Wong/Getty Images John McCains upbringing & early life Today Senator John S. McCain III was laid to rest during a private ceremony at the U.S. Naval Academy. Fair winds and following seas Sir, we have the watch. pic.twitter.com/5uE9DSgT6a U.S. Navy (@USNavy) September 2, 2018 According to his official Congress bio, McCain was born on August 29, 1936, in the Panama Canal Zone. Setting the tone immediately, his birth took place at Coco Solo Naval Air Station. Growing up McCain spent his childhood traveling and moving to different Navy bases. When it came time for high school a young McCain attended Episcopal High School, which is a boarding school located in Alexandria, Virginia. His family roots in the Navy likely inspired his decision to attend Annapolis Naval Academy where he graduated in 1958. McCain went on to serve in the Vietnam War, and it was during these years that he was taken as a prisoner of war (POW). Some people may be surprised to learn that the respected Republican was held captive for over five years. Though McCain did manage to escape, the injuries and trauma his body endured as POW made advancing his career in the Navy extremely unlikely. Ultimately, this indirectly led McCain to begin a career in politics. A look back at John McCains political career When John McCain conceded the 2008 presidential race, he praised Barack Obama for making history as the country's first African American president and offered "goodwill and earnest effort to find ways to come together". Watch the late senator's full speech pic.twitter.com/G2fdp3oC8c POLITICO (@politico) November 7, 2020 RELATED: 30 Iconic Photos of John McCain Through the Years McCains connection to the Navy is what ended up being his first connection to the U.S. Senate. McCain began interacting with U.S. senators in 1976 through his role as the Navys liaison. After a few years, McCain decided to make a few changes. He divorced his first wife, Carol Shepp, decided to retire from the Navy, and got married to Cindy Hensley. McCain moved to Phoenix and immediately began building political connections. In 1982 he won a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and just four years later McCain was ushered into the U.S. Senate. McCain ran a prominent and hopeful presidential campaign in 2008, but, in the end, the Republican lost to Barack Obama. McCain loyally served as a Senator even after he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017. However, just about one year later, McCain decided to end his medical treatment and let his sickness take its course. On August 25, 2018, McCain died, and his well-known and politically active daughter, Meghan McCain released a statement reported by ABC News saying, I was with my father at his end, as he was with me at my beginning. All that I am is thanks to him. Now that he is gone, the task of my lifetime is to live up to his example, his expectations, and his love. John McCains love for pop culture & his cameo in Wedding Crashers From 'Wedding Crashers' to SNL, John McCain was no stranger to pop culture https://t.co/aWQ92PyLse mySA (@mySA) August 27, 2018 Throughout McCains career, it was clear that he was passionate about more than just politics. The politician definitely had a good sense of humor and seemed like a natural in front of the camera, and not just for political purposes. The famous Senator has been known for his guest appearances and roles on different platforms and shows. For starters, McCain made history by being the very first Senator to ever host Saturday Night Live. McCain even participated in a few of the skits. Fans of Parks and Recreation probably recall the episode Leslie Knope unknowingly encountered McCain while in a coatroom. However, nothing quite compares to his cameo in Wedding Crashers. The romcom premiered in 2005 and featured talented cast members such as Christopher Walken, Isla Fisher, and Rachel McAdams. Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn took on the main character, John and Jeremy, and are seen on-screen discussing and reviewing how they will successfully infiltrate the wedding at hand. As Wilson and Vaughn are plotting, McCain can be seen on-screen as an invited guest. He appeared with James Carville, a Democratic strategist, as the Senator congratulated the bride and groom, who are played by Jennifer Alden and Walken. Carville even managed to get a hug from the McAdams before the cameo scene ended. McCain was known for many things throughout his lifetime and career, but his Wedding Crashers appearance might not be getting the credit and attention it deserves. Wednesday's riot on the U.S. Capitol was a show of mob rule that stirred outrage throughout the nation and in the halls of Congress. The incident had spurred the prospect of impeachment once again for President Donald Trump, and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer has joined other members of Congress in calling for 25th amendment to remove the leader of the executive branch ahead of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Schumer condemned the attack on the Capitol Thursday calling it "an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president. This president should not hold office one day longer," the Associated Press reports. RIOT AT THE CAPITOL: What does this attack mean for democracy? The powers of the 25th amendment could allow Vice President Pence and the majority of the Trump Cabinet to declare the President unfit for the office. Should that occur, Pence would then serve as acting president until Biden's inauguration. In an interview with Chron, University of Houston's Brandon Rottinghaus discussed the likelihood of impeachment, the 25th Amendment invocation in the days before Trump's exit from the White House. Can Vice President Pence invoke the 25th Amendment? What's the likelihood it would happen? Rottinghaus: Yes, the Vice President can do that by the letter of the Constitution, which requires the majority of the Cabinet to agree. The President though then has a role where he has allowed to object, which then pushes the decision to the Congress which has to vote in 2/3 in favor to uphold what the Vice President and the Cabinet are proposing in terms of removal of the President from office. That's a high bar because getting the Cabinet to agree and the Congress to agree is a serious uphill fight. It can happen but it likely won't given the political dynamics that exist presently. With the 25th Amendment, too, Trump could still run again in 2024. Politically, it's probably unlikely. Is impeachment a viable option? Impeachment is normally a long process with a slow burn. This would be the fastest impeachment on record. The difficulty of impeaching the President now is the convoluted and complicated process that Congress follows...Politically, the challenge would be the same as invoking the 25th Amendment where getting enough Republicans to agree would at this moment look like an impossible burden to meet. What other ways can lawmakers hold President Trump accountable? It probably feels less satisfying to many members to sanction a president for what he did, but it would be a step that they could take that would likely get political consensus in admonishing the President for what he did. Given the time left, the most likely and expedient thing that they could do is censure the President for his actions. It will be the stain on his presidency that won't erase what happened. Senator Schumer and others believe the precedent needs to be made now to remove President Trump after the insurrection. Is it critical to set this precedent? Impeaching a president at this point would set a strong precedent that any action taken similar to what Trump did would be met with swift action from the legislature. That approach would be consistent with what the framers of the Constitution expected from impeachment. What do you expect in the aftermath of this attempted insurrection? I think that Congress in the four corners will meet and decide how to proceed. They will strongly consider censuring the President. They will have hearings on what went wrong in protecting the Capitol. They have to get rapidly ready for the Inauguration. They could restrict the President of specific powers, with the thought the current president might do something foolish, and that future presidents will follow. Presidents can do a lot with a little time. Congress is worried about the public role that the President plays in an increasingly hostile environment, especially in Washington D.C. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 14:46:27|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HERAT, Afghanistan, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- A militant attack in Ghorian district of western Afghanistan's Herat province claimed four lives including a district police chief on Friday, said Atiqullah Wasiq, a police officer based in the province. A group of Taliban fighters, according to the official, attacked security checkpoints early Friday, triggering a gun battle and as a result four policemen including district police chief Naqibullah Sultanzoi were killed. Wasiq said five Taliban militants had also been killed and seven others injured in the fighting. In the meantime, locals said that the fighting is continuing for the control of a bazaar in the restive district. Taliban militants have yet to make comment. Enditem The long-awaited Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) between China and the European Union puts European firms in a position to get a step up on American firms and sends a message to the U.S. that the EU isn't going to kowtow to Washington's agenda. Over the past four years, President Donald Trump has antagonized both China and the EU. He has treated China with suspicion and fear, and tried to limit its rise. Under Mike Pompeo's tenure as secretary of state, Trump's anti-China agenda reached a precipice, underlying every facet of U.S. policy on China. This kitchen sink approach included Trump initiating a trade war, shutting down a Chinese consulate, imposing sanctions and blocking access to key technologies. At the same time, he demanded other countries join the U.S. on its grand crusade against China. The idea was that Western capitalist democracies should all have a common interest in stifling China simply because China represents a contrasting ideology and form of government. However, Trump failed to listen to Europe's needs. Instead, he feuded with Europe in much the same way. He also placed tariffs on European steel and solar panels, with his steel tariffs actually hitting Europe harder than China. Now, just weeks before leaving office, Trump has once again slammed Europe with new tariffs on wine and airplane manufacturing parts due to an ongoing dispute between the American airplane maker Boeing and Europe's Airbus. It was counterproductive for the U.S. to attack Europe and China at the same time. The U.S. did not build up any political capital to convince the EU to go along with it, and some analysts say China successfully leveraged the distance between the EU and the U.S. to get this deal done. But that's not the full story. The EU also does not find China to be as all-encompassing of a threat as the U.S. establishment does. While Europe does share some of the same concerns about China, its policies have been more measured. The EU must operate on consensus, and European countries do not hold a concept of themselves as the world's police. Washington diplomats and think tank professionals felt there was the opportunity for a grand coalition to be formed between the U.S. and its erstwhile allies. Now, however, the CAI deal indicates that Europe will not be going along with the U.S. As one analyst put it, the EU is not going to join one side of a contrived geopolitical struggle they are going to balance and do what is best for them. Moreover, the CAI addresses many of the concerns European firms had concerning investment and trade in China. It expands Europe's access to sectors such as automobiles, telecom equipment, cloud-computing and private healthcare, protects the intellectual property rights of EU firms, and creates dispute resolution mechanisms. At the same time, it also expands Chinese access to manufacturing and renewable energy in Europe. China and the EU have been cooperating on energy for many years. The EU-China Roadmap on Energy Cooperation outlined a goal to "contribute to the transformation of the energy system, to the sustainable development of the global energy system and to energy and climate resilient investment." At the latest EU-China Leaders' meeting in December, both sides agreed to continue cooperating on climate change and effectively implement the Paris accord. That is one particular area where the Biden administration is actually in agreement with the EU and China Biden is expected to rejoin the accord. Reaching this important agreement on investment shows that international cooperation is not dead. It is, in fact, the way forward. Mitchell Blatt is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/MitchellBlatt.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief ministers of all states and Union territories virtually to discuss the rollout of the vaccine against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) on Monday, news agency ANI reported on Friday. The Prime Minister will also discuss the current situation of the coronavirus pandemic in the nation with the chief ministers at 4pm on Monday. Also Read: Covid-19: Harsh Vardhan inspects dry run in Chennai, promises vaccine in a few days WATCH | Harsh Vardhan reviews dry run, assures vaccine availability in few days The meeting comes after the Union ministry of health and family welfare recently conducted two dry runs for the Covid-19 vaccination drive across the country. The health ministry had conducted its second dry run on Friday to check states and Union territories preparedness ahead of the vaccine rollout. The first vaccine dry run was conducted on January 2 across more than 700 districts across the nation. Also Read: Govt issues guidelines for transportation of Covid-19 vaccine by air A government expert panel had approved two Covid-19 vaccines on earlier this month - Bharat Biotechs Covaxin and Serum Institute of Indias Covishield developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University for emergency use. The government has also said that in the first phase of vaccination healthcare and frontline workers will be prioritised. State governments, panchayats and municipalities are being constantly trained to ensure last-mile delivery of the Covid-19 vaccine. The government is also looking forward to procuring at least 50-60 million doses of vaccine as it targets to vaccinate 30 million people in the first phase. Also Read: India adopts HCQ model to send Covid vaccines to neighbours Prime Minister Modi has assured citizens of the nation that India will complete the worlds largest inoculation drive and lauded scientists and manufacturers for the Made in India vaccines last week after the expert panel approved the vaccines. Cybersecurity Judiciary systems compromised in SolarWinds breach The office that manages the country's electronic judicial filing system this week announced it was exposed to a vulnerability in SolarWinds Orion, prompting its director to suspend use of the program and implement new filing procedures for sensitive documents. The Administrative Office of U.S. Courts "is working with the Department of Homeland Security on a security audit relating to vulnerabilities in the federal judiciary's Case Management/Electronic Case Files system (CM/ECF) that greatly risk compromising highly sensitive non-public documents stored on CM/ECF, particularly sealed filings," according to a Jan. 6 statement from the federal judiciary. "An apparent compromise of the confidentiality of the CM/ECF system due to these discovered vulnerabilities currently is under investigation." The office is temporarily requiring that "highly sensitive court documents" be filed either by paper or secure devices. The statement indicated that the system used by the public to view court filings, called PACER, is expected to remain online. Courts will issue orders regarding the new procedures in the coming days. "The federal Judiciary has long applied a strong presumption in favor of public access to documents," said James Duff, director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. "Court rules and orders should presume that every document filed in or by a court will be in the public domain, unless the court orders it to be sealed, and that documents should be sealed only when necessary." The statement also said the Administrative Office suspended "all national and local" use of SolarWinds Orion. The country's courts being potentially compromised by the SolarWinds Orion hack adds them to a growing list of public and private sector entities in recent weeks coping with the fallout of a suspected Russian intelligence operation. The White House task force managing the fallout this week stated fewer than 10 federal agencies were explicitly targeted by hackers. But that number could grow as public and private sector entities investigating the breach continue to discover new points of entry into federal and private networks. Just this week the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency said hackers have been observed forging security tokens as well as tampering with trust protocols in order to enter and remain on networks, even in instances where SolarWinds Orion was not exploited. "That's important because it indicates that organizations may have evidence of compromise unrelated to SolarWinds, which means there must have been some other way the attacker compromised their system," said Mark Montgomery, a former official on the congressional Cyberspace Solarium Commission and currently a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies. CISA also reported hackers have entered networks through brute force by guessing or "spraying" passwords. "What we are seeing is a strategy not of exploiting vulnerabilities, but of abusing the conditional system of trust set up in U.S. networks to allow legitimate activity," said Sarah Powazek, a technology analyst at the Institute for Security and Technology. "Their early compromise and abuse of network authentication mechanisms was strategic, in order to escalate privileges for further network entryIn short, the adversary in SolarWinds played the long game, and did so successfully," she added. CISA today published new guidance further outlining how to detect and mitigate efforts to circumvent security measures in Microsoft O365, but noted that the methods hackers are using are "difficult-to-detect persistence mechanisms." "This level of compromise is challenging to remediate and requires a rigorous multi-disciplinary effort to regain administrative control before recovering," according to the agency's new alert. The agency also published several tools organizations can use to detect attacks in Microsoft's cloud environments including CISA's "Sparrow," the open-source utility "Hawk" and CrowdStrike's Azure Reporting Tool. PETERSBURG Police said foul play is not suspected in the death of a man whose body was found Thursday in the Sangamon River. Three people who were fishing in the river found the body about 2:30 p.m. Thursday near Hurie Park boat dock in Petersburg. Menard County sheriffs deputies and officers from Petersburg police and Illinois Department of Conservation Police were being assisted in the death investigation by Illinois State Police. The United States counted a record number of daily coronavirus deaths Thursday at nearly 4,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. The 3,998 deaths were recorded over the 24 hour period ending at 8:30 pm local time (0130 GMT Friday), during which the US notched 265,246 new infections, according to the university. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PHILIPSBURG:--- During the recent IPKO meetings of 2021, Dutch Senator Oomen asked for examples of Dutch colonization in St. Maarten. Respectfully, Senator Oomen should bear in mind that when reference is made to Dutch colonization, it is imperative to do a comparative analysis with the obligations under the UN Charter because its members are bound to its principles under Article 103 which is often referred to as a (UN) supremacy clause. A prime example of Dutch colonization in St. Maarten would be the issuance of a Royal Decree in November of 2017 whereby the Dutch Government demanded that Prime Minister W. Marlin resign with immediate effect. At the time, State Secretary Knops stated that as long as the Honorable Prime Minister remained in office there would be no liquidity support to help expedite St. Maarten's reconstruction. A further example of Dutch colonization in St Maarten is Article 44 of the Kingdom Charter whereby any "country" ordinance amending the Constitution must have Dutch approval. At the 521st Meeting of the Fourth Committee of the United Nations in November of 1955, it was declared that Article 44 "gave the Netherlands the power of veto on matters falling outside the scope of Kingdom Affairs." Additionally, at the 526th Meeting of the Fourth Committee, Egypt and Indonesia agreed that Article 44 "gave the impression that there was no EQUAL PARTNERSHIP" between the Netherlands and the former Netherlands Antilles. The last examples of Dutch colonization in St. Maarten are Articles 50 and 51 (Higher Supervision Articles) of the Kingdom Charter. The mere fact that the Kingdom Charter deems higher supervision to be a lawful act certainly connotes a high degree of colonization. Bear in mind that during the 524th Meeting of the Fourth Committee, Ecuador asserted that Article 50 "was even more restrictive" than Article 44 of the Kingdom Charter, and at the 522nd Meeting, Lebanon opined that Article 50 gave the Netherlands the status of being "all-powerful." Article 51 was also mentioned at the 524th Meeting where the former Soviet Union (Russia) stated unequivocally that "in any REALLY self-governing territory that function (Article 51) would be vested in the territorial parliament." With many of its politicians contradicting each other, the Dutch government seems to be very confused when it comes to the topic of decolonization. On October 11th, 2016, MP Andre Bosman, former State Secretary Plasterk, and former leader of the PVV Fritsma all declared in the Tweede Kamer that the "Dutch" islands still fall under Article 73 of the United Nations Charter. In 2019, State Secretary Knops stated in a letter addressed to MP Bosman that the views of the Netherlands regarding Article 73 had changed. While the Dutch Government declared to the International Court of Justice in 2018 that "the right of self-determination of peoples is a permanent, continuing, universal and inalienable right with a peremptory character", Senator Jorritsma, during this week's IPKO meetings, stated that "the decolonization process has been finished." There is a clear sign of dissonance among the Dutch politicians, and if the Dutch government cannot agree whether St. Maarten has been decolonized, then it stands to reason that they should seek out a competent entity to decide the status of St. Maarten's decolonization process. According to Resolution 945X, the only competent body that can decide whether St. Maarten has been fully decolonized is the United Nations General Assembly. (Bear in mind that varying entities in Aruba, Curacao, Bonaire, St. Eustatius, and St. Maarten have all sent correspondence to the United Nations regarding Article 73 and decolonization.) As a founding member of the United Nations, the Netherlands, based on the continual dissonance amongst its politicians regarding decolonization, should arrange a meeting with the United Nations General Assembly to undoubtedly ascertain whether the decolonization process of St.Maarten and its sister islands has in fact been truly finalized. A record-shattering number of coronavirus infections and deaths were reported Thursday in the United States, as health officials fretted about a new, more contagious variant that has now been detected in eight states. The grim statistics? At least 280,000 new cases and more than 4,000 deaths on Thursday, according to The New York Times. There was a glimmer of good news, however: Pfizer Inc. announced Thursday that early testing shows its vaccine does still work against the more infectious variants of SARS-CoV-2 first found in Britain and South Africa, Reuters reported. Meanwhile, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said Thursday that his company was about to confirm that its vaccine would also work against the new variants, Reuters said. Pfizer and scientists from the University of Texas Medical Branch have just completed a study that is awaiting peer review that showed the vaccine neutralized the virus with the N501Y mutation of the coronavirus spike protein, the news service reported. The findings are limited, because they didn't look at the full set of mutations found in either of the new variants, the Washington Post reported. With the U.S. vaccine rollout plagued by delays, Dr. Anthony Fauci urged Americans to be patient on Thursday. In an interview with NPR, he said that any program as ambitious as the vaccine rollout would likely falter at certain points and the holidays may have made matters worse, he said. "I think it would be fair to just observe what happens in the next couple of weeks," Fauci said. "If we don't catch up on what the original goal was, then we really need to make some changes about what we're doing." Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health, also said it was not surprising that the vaccine drive had gotten off to a "rocky" start. "That's a lot of logistics," he told the Post. "So maybe we shouldn't be too shocked that it didn't go like clockwork." Luckily, vaccinations are beginning to speed up, the Times reported. In the third week of the drive, more people received their initial shots than in the first two weeks combined. The government count rose by 470,000 from Tuesday to Wednesday, and then by another 612,000 from Wednesday to Thursday, the Times reported. More infectious COVID variant now seen in eight states The more contagious coronavirus variant that has brought Britain to its knees in recent weeks is showing signs that it is spreading widely throughout the United States, health officials and experts said this week. Texas, Pennsylvania and Connecticut joined California, Florida, New York, Georgia and Colorado on Thursday with reports of variant cases. There are now at least 56 confirmed cases in the country, with 26 reported in California and 22 reported in Florida, according to the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research & Policy. "I would be surprised if that [number] doesn't grow pretty rapidly," Collins told the Post on Wednesday. An official from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed. "Here at the CDC, we're definitely taking this seriously, and we're assuming for now that this variant is more transmissible," said Greg Armstrong, the leader of the CDC's strain surveillance program. The British variant "is probably not in every state at this point, but I think in a lot of states." Armstrong told the Post that the CDC hopes to more than double the number of genomic sequences of the virus posted on public websites within the next two weeks. "We're not sequencing enough yet, and we need to continue to build what we're doing," Armstrong said. While the variant shows no signs of being more deadly than the original version of the virus, it could send more people into hospitals, up the number of COVID-19 deaths, and prolong the effort to reach herd immunity in this country, the Post reported. Herd immunity will be reached when the virus encounters enough people with immunity that it dies out. Unfortunately, the percentage of people who need to be immune for a population to achieve herd immunity is higher for more infectious pathogens. "We are in a race against time," said Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist with the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security in Baltimore. "We need to increase our speed in which we act so that we don't allow this virus to spread further and allow this variant to become the dominant one in circulation. The clock is ticking." In addition to the herd immunity issue, any variants could limit the power of antibody treatments because those treatments are so narrowly focused. The need to vaccinate as many people as possible as quickly as possible has become more urgent, and some scientists have argued that cutting doses in half or delaying the second dose might be necessary to reach that goal. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last week said it would stick with the two-shot dose backed by randomized clinical trials. "The data are really concerning. All signs right now are pointing to the fact that this [the new variant] is something we should be worried about," Mary Kathryn Grabowski, an infectious disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, told the Post. Even a seemingly modest increase in transmissibility, she said, "can mean huge, huge numbers of cases." A global scourge By Friday, the U.S. coronavirus case count passed 21.6 million while the death toll passed 365,400, according to a Times tally. On Friday, the top five states for coronavirus infections were: California with nearly 2.6 million cases; Texas with over 1.9 million cases; Florida with over 1.4 million cases; New York with over 1 million cases; and Illinois with more than 1 million cases. Curbing the spread of the coronavirus in the rest of the world remains challenging. In India, the coronavirus case count was more than 10.4 million on Friday, a Johns Hopkins University tally showed. Brazil had over 7.9 million cases and over 200,000 deaths as of Friday, the Hopkins tally showed. Worldwide, the number of reported infections passed 88.1 million on Friday, with over 1.9 million deaths recorded, according to the Hopkins tally. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak More information: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on the new coronavirus Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved. As the regions first teachers receive the COVID-19 vaccine, the Susquehanna County health care provider who offered the doses says the state asked his hospital to stop vaccinating people who are not health care workers or residents of nursing homes. In what could be the first vaccination of school personnel in the state, more than 150 employees of the Susquehanna Community and Blue Ridge school districts received the vaccine from Barnes-Kasson County Hospital in the last 10 days. The hospital, which the state reports had received 2,100 doses of the vaccine, had given many of those vaccines to people within the states 1A category, including health care workers and residents of long-term care homes. Having gotten through all people within that category who desired a vaccine in eastern Susquehanna and northern Wayne counties, the hospital moved onto people in the 1B category, which includes first responders and critical workers, said David Passetti, executive vice president and clinical operations director of the hospital. Teachers and school staff working directly with students are in the 1B category, according to the states plan. The hospital worked with the Susquehanna Community and Blue Ridge school districts to set a time when employees could receive the vaccines, Passetti said. We logically thought we could move on, he said. As health care providers in other areas continue to work on vaccinating health care providers or those at long-term care homes, officials within the state Department of Health told Passetti late Thursday that he must pause vaccinating people outside of the 1A category. Efforts to reach health department officials late Thursday were unsuccessful. Passetti said the school employees will still be able to receive their second dose of the vaccine in coming weeks. Earlier Thursday, health department officials said they were unable to determine how many teachers statewide had received the vaccine because that information is not collected. The department continues to work on revising its vaccine distribution plan to update federal guidance and hopes to have it available by the end of this week. At this time, our top priority is vaccinating phase 1A individuals, however our main goal remains ensuring all Pennsylvanians interested in receiving the vaccine will do so, according to a statement issued Wednesday from the department. The vaccine plan is designed to give the department and stakeholders a roadmap for distributing the vaccine to phases, (but) the main issue remains that we are simultaneously building a road as we build the map. As of Thursday, more than 5,300 people in Lackawanna County had received the first dose of the vaccine. The Susquehanna Community School District, just down the street from the hospital in the borough of Susquehanna, had 62 of its more than 100 employees receive vaccinations on Dec. 30. The district will return to a hybrid schedule next week. Many people see this as the way to get education back to normal, said Superintendent Bronson Stone, who also received the vaccine. I hope everyone who wants one can get one in the very near future. At Blue Ridge, 90 of 161 employees received the vaccine on Wednesday, Superintendent Matthew Button said. Seventy-five percent of the districts students attend school four days a week, with the remaining students virtual only. Lackawanna County superintendents said they are in contact with health care providers about scheduling times for employees to receive vaccines. No dates have been set. Carbondale Area School Board President Gary Smedley, a pharmacist who has been administering the vaccine to people in the 1A category, applauded the Barnes-Kasson hospital for giving the vaccines to people who need them and not letting them sit unused for now. He wants Carbondale Area employees to have the chance to receive the vaccine before the district resumes in-person instruction for the first time since March. Riverside Superintendent Paul Brennan sent a letter to local state legislators this week, urging the state to allow school employees already working in person to receive the vaccine before those working virtually. The district resumed hybrid instruction this week. I went to all three schools this morning to welcome everyone back and I can say with full confidence that heroes work here because educators and school staff here and across Pennsylvania do critical work every day, he wrote in the letter. 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. 2020 has not been, by all accounts, an ordinary year in human history. There were no global, regional or economic disasters. There was no cold war that made the international order descend into chaos. To the whole worlds great surprise, it was a tiny virus that caused a major health crisis that hit the entire world without exception. This tiny virus did not differentiate between developed and underdeveloped countries, rich or poor, right or left. The coronavirus was not just a pandemic that took all the worlds countries by storm; it was also a test of these countries political systems, at the top of which the US system, whose latest elections, which took place during the crisis, proclaimed Joe Biden as the countrys new president. With the advent of a new US president who is more open to dealing with the world as a whole and not as divided parts, and with the advent of new vaccines for the coronavirus, the world could finally heave a sigh of relief in 2021. A recent publication, Outlooks 2021, presents a vision for the world, the Middle East and Egypt that is based on moving on from the crisis itself to the aftermath of the crisis and how the world will deal with the health, economic and social repercussions of the virus. The mission of dealing with these repercussions will not be easy, and it will be difficult on both the global and the regional levels. In Egypt, success in this field means opening many doors to the resumption of progress and growth, and dealing with the regional issues so as to reach stability again. First, world outlooks THE PANDEMIC Since the beginning of 2020, the coronavirus has deeply influenced the behaviour of countries across the world and international relations, as they have disregarded and postponed any issues that do not mainly relate to facing up to the crisis. As of 7 December 2020, the total number of cases of Covid-19 in the world had reached more than 67 million, with more than 1.54 million deaths. So, in the immediate sense, this layered crisis greatest threat was to human life. On the economic level, the pandemic caused the withdrawal of masses of people from labour and production services. It also led to the closure of some areas and the isolation of others. It led to the shutting down of means of transportation. On the social level, it negatively affected large segments of the population, who either lost their jobs or had to live with reduced incomes. It also put citizens face to face with difficult choices, some of which were spiritual, bringing about a kind of internal peace, while others had material consequences, especially in terms of losing loved ones or living in poor conditions. This crisis has been, and still is, ambiguous. Scientists from all over the world are in a dilemma trying to uncover the nature of this mysterious virus. To deal with this crisis, coexisting with the disease has become a world trend. However, for humanity, the first dilemma to be addressed is the time factor and peoples impatience to return to a normal state of living. Searching for a vaccine against the pandemic has gained unprecedented intensity in medical research, as this would have enormous ramifying effects on public health, the global economy and public policies. Governments, companies and academic laboratories have accelerated their efforts amid geopolitical competition and the challenges of producing sufficient doses for billions of people. Only after solving the underlying scientific mystery of the coronavirus can the pandemic be ended in 2021. The pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna have separately released preliminary data indicating that their vaccines are more than 90 per cent effective, more than scientists had predicted. So, it has become evident that vaccines will be the way out. However, the distribution of vaccines to billions of people all over the world fairly and smoothly poses a huge political and logistical challenge, especially as it will begin during a bitter transfer of power in Washington. The creation of a vaccine could also be an important reason to reach a new kind of human modesty, as humanity could still be threatened by the virus again, in cases of new mutations, for example. THE US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS During 2020, both outgoing US president Donald Trump and President-elect Joe Biden won in the primary elections of their respective political parties. Facing three consecutive crises (the coronavirus, the subsequent economic collapse and the demonstrations against US police for killing black Americans), Trump had a very good chance to unite all Americans from all political currents; however, he refused all good advice from his counsellors, mocked those who dared to differ, and persisted with his divisive policies. The 2020 US presidential elections saw a record voter turnout, with the participation rate reaching 70 per cent. Joe Biden won more than 77 million votes, while his competitor Donald Trump received more than 72 million, eight million more than in the previous elections in 2016. However, Trump refused to admit defeat, claiming his loss was the result of massive fraud. Following President-elect Joe Bidens assumption of office in January 2021, he is expected to quickly work to adopt new policies that will move the United States away from Trumps path, particularly with regard to immigration and foreign policy. Biden has developed strategies to address the coronavirus crisis, from providing a vaccine to crisis-recovery aid. He also plans to immediately bring the United States back into the Paris Agreement on climate change and the World Health Organisation. He also seeks to organise a global climate action summit to help countries with high carbon emissions take climate action. Biden may also end what his aides have described as Trumps artificial trade war with European countries, and he is likely to continue Obamas and Trumps efforts to reduce if not end the US military presence in Iraq and Afghanistan. But unlike Trump, Biden tends to coordinate more closely with European and other NATO members when it comes to decisions about troop deployments. Biden has pledged to rally a summit of world democracies in 2021. This focus on pluralism by Biden will represent a big change from Trumps views on international cooperation. THE US AND CHINA The way Trump acted towards China was unprecedented for any US president. This time, the challenge was not Chinas closure, but its openness to the world, and its subsequent entry into the World Trade Organisation. China has been categorised as a third world country, and the preferential privileges and transactions that international agreements provide resulted in an epic surplus in international trade for China. Since 2003, China has been running a $500 billion trade surplus with the US. China also achieved $1.8 trillion in financial reserves, which is more than the US. In December 2019, Trump concluded the China Trade Deal, incentivising US investments in China to return to the US, or at least to expand in the US and not abroad. In 2021, the pattern of interactions between the US and China seems to indicate their rivalry. There could be a shift from competition to a trade and strategic war in the South China Sea, or a political war by imposing US sanctions on Chinas allies, such as North Korea and Iran. In this way, Washington would be pressing world countries to choose between the US and China. So, competition seems to be about trade, but it is, at its core, a strategic competition about influence and dominance in the world. In addition, the key aspects of the US foreign and national security policy towards China may remain as they are in 2021. This might include a more hostile attitude towards China and a more sceptical view of trade deals. Biden knows that launching an ideological Cold War against Beijing will not persuade China to change its domestic policies. Therefore, it is likely that he will alert the allies that Washington will need support from by using a smarter competitive strategy that keeps communication channels open by working with China on issues where interests overlap (such as on climate change and global health). During 2020, the Middle East was a turbulent region of ongoing conflicts, popular protests, regional alliances, rocket launches, maritime exploration and conflicting international and regional races and interests. Ten years ago, the first Arab Spring in Tunisia spread to Egypt, Bahrain, Libya, Syria and Yemen. A second wave appeared in 2019 in Algeria, Sudan, Lebanon and Iraq, relying on the same practices of the regimes in the first wave. In 2020, the interactions of this wave continued within these countries in search of a peaceful way to stability. In 2021, relative stability is expected to occur in the second-wave countries of the Arab Spring. In Sudan, the government will intensify its efforts at the local, regional and international levels, and take new steps towards establishing stability and closing the issues of rebellion and conflict. Sudan is expected to seek to launch a new stage with a focus on political stability and peace and development after all obstacles and restrictions imposed on it are lifted. Algeria may see relative stability in 2021, with the country not sliding into chaos or even sliding towards a Syrian scenario as a result of applying a new constitution approved by a majority of the Algerian population last year. The decline in demand for fossil fuels, Algerias main financial resource, by about 98 per cent, and the drop in crude oil prices have damaged the Algerian economy. In 2021, Algeria will see four per cent growth in its economy, after a 4.6 per cent decline in 2020. In 2021, Prime Minister Mustafa Al-Kadhemis government in Iraq will be able to turn most of the challenges and crises in the country into real opportunities to reform the political process, especially as the political environment has become more receptive. The Iraqi prime minister could succeed in establishing balanced relations with both the United States and Iran, as the two sides are not expected to withdraw from Iraq. The government is likely to change the election law so that Iraq can recover and reach a balance. Iraqi industry will return, and it will be relied on as an alternative to oil. Al-Kadhemis government may also succeed in achieving the required national demands and benefits, which is the real beginning of reforming the political process and correcting the path of Iraqi democracy. In Lebanon, there are two scenarios in 2021. The first is that it will continue with the sectarian system and adjust it to fit with prevailing power dynamics. The second is that the Lebanese people will become convinced that the sectarian system no longer matches the aspirations of the new Lebanese generations, and thus will move towards the establishment of a civil state. As a result of current international pressures, Lebanon is expected to hold a conference on forming a new regime, not a new government, that all political parties in Lebanon can accept. During 2020, the Middle East was able to deal well with a number of issues in the region, following the instability that has plagued many of its countries, and it has been moving towards calming the situation in many areas. On 6 June 2020, Egypt put forward a new initiative to resolve the Libyan crisis called the Cairo Declaration with head of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Field-Marshal Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan Parliament Speaker Aguila Saleh. In October 2020, a lasting ceasefire was declared, and a round of political negotiations between the two Libyan factions was resumed. The future of Libya in 2021 is expected to see the establishment of an executive authority capable of organising elections, implementing the political, economic and military reforms needed to restore the normal life of Libyans, designing a comprehensive roadmap for the political process, and developing a national pact based on the principles of accountability, justice, human rights and a firm commitment to a civilian state. Parliamentary and presidential elections are also expected to be held on 24 December 2021 in Libya, following the agreement of the members of the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum. In addition, the International Energy Agency has linked its estimates of the improvement in the international oil market in 2021 to the return of Libyan oil production, which increases optimism for next year. In 2021, Syria is expected to see gradual stability returning, especially after a truce was reached between Washington and Moscow in mid-September 2020 and approved by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. However, another scenario holds that President Al-Assads assertion that he is determined to restore Syrian territory and that he retains the right to respond to all terrorist attacks could once again inflame the conflict. Damascus is expected to maintain the autonomous status of the Syrian Kurds. As part of the regimes counter-insurgency strategy, it is expected in 2021 to seek to maintain the continuity of operations by state institutions in areas under opposition control. According to Syrias 2012 Constitution, the Syrian regime may seek to hold presidential elections in 2021, in which President Al-Assad will be the strongest candidate. In 2020, Israel signed historic diplomatic agreements with two Gulf Arab states, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, at a White House ceremony. The bilateral agreements formalise the normalisation of relations between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, which are in line with their common opposition to Iran. The three countries signed a document called the Abraham Agreements. The document consists of general statements pledging to promote diplomacy, mutual cooperation and regional peace. The three parties agreed on bilateral deals in 15 common areas: finance, trade, aviation, energy, communications, health, agriculture and water. A few days later, Sudan and then later Morocco also agreed to normalise relations with Israel. Israel and the United States hope that these agreements will lead to a big change in the region if other Arab countries, especially Saudi Arabia, follow suit. In 2021, many analysts, for reasons related to the Iranian threat to the security of the Gulf States, expect to see reinvigorated relations with Israel through peace, normalisation, and security, political, and economic agreements. Saudi Arabia may reconsider the normalisation of relations with Israel. Riyadh quietly endorsed the deals of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain; however, it did not ratify them, indicating that it is not ready to take action itself. If Saudi Arabia joins the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco in normalising relations with Israel, it can expect more US weapons to be made available. The US administration led by Trump radically shifted from the traditional role of the United States, promoting only Israels interests. Trump transferred the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, cut off funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), and modified the previously firm US stance that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are against international law. The Palestinian leadership refused to participate in the economic conference in 2019, which was run by the Trump administration under the auspices of the so-called Middle East peace plan. This gave the green light to Israels annexation of areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories. Palestinian leaders have denounced the normalisation agreements between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and, most recently, Sudan and Morocco. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas described these moves as a stab in the back. In 2021, there are two scenarios for the future of the Palestinian cause. The first will be the protection of the Palestinian national project by the Palestinian leadership and the continuation of the call for a two-state solution. The return of US-Palestinian relations could be a bridge for the Palestinian National Authority to re-negotiate with Israel. Biden has already pledged to return US aid to the Palestinians. With the US Embassy now in Jerusalem, Biden will reopen the US Consulate in East Jerusalem and the office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) mission in Washington. Third, Egypt outlooks THE DOMESTIC SITUATION in Egypt was not radically different from that in other countries that experienced the coronavirus crisis in 2020. Fortunately, the pandemic took place at a time when there was noticeable progress not only in health capabilities, which are much better than before, but also at a time when the Egyptian states ability to exert control is much greater than in the past.The economic crisis that came in the wake of the pandemic not only affected Egypt, but also the world economic system, and this has affected the country in many matters related to trade, tourism, traffic, the Suez Canal, oil prices and the remittances from Egyptian workers abroad.One of the positive impacts of the coronavirus was rationalising work at state organisations and in the private sector by working at home and via the Internet (which around 54 million Egyptians can do). This resulted in reductions in traffic congestion and pressure on public utilities.The pandemic took place at a time when there was a surplus in financial and economic reserves. It also came at a time when the Egyptian Armed Forces had the ability to maintain the publics sense of reassurance and psychosocial balance amid unprecedented living conditions. Money, food and other rationed materials were provided in adequate supply.The crisis exposed the potential and capabilities of the Egyptian health sector, which heroically confronted the pandemic in the same manner that the police and the armed forces heroically face terrorism. The greatest opportunity for the health sector is that it has the size and capacity to make a major Egyptian health industry possible.In 2021, the health sector may experience significant development not only as a service, but also as a multifaceted industry. Similarly, the trend towards supporting the digital sector in the country has not only succeeded in education, but has also created solutions to deal with difficult crises in the labour economy, health service and the distribution of salaries to irregular workers.A range of actions are expected to be taken in 2021, such as human capacity-building, the digital transformation of government services, the implementation of health policies and precautionary measures to reduce the expected rise in infection rates over the next period.The economy is expected to grow by between 2.8 per cent and four per cent in fiscal year 2021/2022.In 2021, Egypt will also witness a continuation of the ongoing development process with higher growth rates in the Suez Canal and Sinai, especially in the fields of industry, agriculture, logistics and services, and the development of the Red Sea region, and coordinating and deepening cooperation with similar economic activities taking place on the Saudi side.The Senate and the Parliament are set to play their role in enriching parliamentary life following the completion of their election procedures.The Senate (the second chamber of parliament) is expected to add quality to many legislative debates in the Parliament in 2021, ensure increased community representation through its members thereby expanding the space for participation listen to the widest range of views on various societal issues, and finally build a representative system that ensures a better balance in the exercise of power and control, leading to the success of the legislative branch by working in a quiet and balanced atmosphere. Egypts regional role is focused on the need to integrate with the internal construction process of the country. It also relies on the fact that conflicts are taking place in nearby maritime and land zones, reflecting the geopolitical significance of Egypt. The Egyptian role relies on protecting vital Egyptian interests, such as Egypts share of the Nile water, combatting terrorism in all its forms at home and abroad and achieving stability in the regions adjacent to Egypt after a decade of instability, civil wars, division and violence. THE CHALLENGES OF THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN The political, economic and strategic environment in the Middle East has changed, especially as Egypt has planned the demarcation of its maritime boundaries in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea with Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea and Cyprus and Greece in the Mediterranean Sea. These agreements have contributed to the formation of exclusive economic zones for these countries, after which major discoveries of natural gas could be made in Cyprus, Egypt, Israel, Palestine and Lebanon. These countries also share a number of special advantages due to their prestigious geopolitical and economic location due to the Suez Canal. These developments have resulted in three competing trends within the Eastern Mediterranean. First is the Egyptian initiative to establish the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, which is composed of Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Cyprus, Greece and Italy. All these countries either have gas resources, while two countries, Jordan and Italy, are high-use countries. Egypt reinforced this forum by signing commercial deals for gas transportation, liquefaction, export and use with Israel and Cyprus. After the forum was established, Egypt began to explore the demarcation of its maritime border with Palestine in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, Israel negotiated with Lebanon the demarcation of the maritime border between the two countries. Second, Turkey signed an agreement with the Libyan Government of National Accord to plan the demarcation of the maritime border between Ankara and Tripoli in November 2019, despite the fact that there are no maritime borders between Libya and Turkey. Furthermore, Turkey began to explore for gas but did not find it near its shores. Then, it explored for gas on the Turkish-Cypriot maritime border, pressuring Greece in order to have a share of distributing gas production and revenues and without signing the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Third, Egypt has resolutely dealt with the Libyan crisis, gradually pushing Turkey away from Libyan territory. Greece has also skillfully used its European friends to form an anti-Turkish alliance, which has led to a Turkish retreat. In general, Egypt has achieved remarkable political, strategic and economic successes in all these developments. Turkey has been relatively neutralised, the Palestinian and Israeli sides have been brought together in the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, Egyptian gains from gas exploitation have been maximised, huge amounts of gas have been made available to Egypts developing industry and Egypts fields of operation and needs for additional energy sources have been increased. Regarding the scenarios expected in 2021, Egypt is expected to create a regional system in which it becomes a central economic, political and strategic hub linking the Eastern Mediterranean and the Red Sea, based on peace and cooperative development. On the other hand, Egypt is expected to link the state of peace and cooperation currently taking place in the Gulf countries with the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty of 1979. Egypt will also encourage the demarcation of all maritime borders in the region, especially between Egypt and Palestine, Palestine and Israel, Israel and Lebanon, and Egypt and Israel. Egypt will also activate the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forum, especially in exploratory and industrial activities, and launch another gas liquefaction plant in Al-Ain Al-Sokhna or Suez, in order to export the forums gas to Africa and Europe. The most important trend of 2021 could be to institutionalise the Eastern Mediterranean Organisation, particularly with regard to membership rules, so that it becomes a regional institution. THE GRAND ETHIOPIAN RENAISSANCE DAM (GERD) On 6 November 2019, the United States invited Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan for discussions in Washington, and the three agreed in a meeting attended by US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and President of the World Bank Group David Malbas to hold four technical meetings on the dam. After arduous negotiations under the auspices of the US and the World Bank, a structure for agreement was reached on all the key issues of negotiation among the three countries. The US wording presented to the last negotiation round was satisfactory to Egypt, which initialled the agreement, while Ethiopia did not attend. In June 2020, the tripartite negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on the first filling and annual operation rules for the GERD continued via a video conference attended by observers. The two countries agreed to assess the outcome of the negotiations and continue negotiating outstanding issues. Ethiopia said it had already achieved its first-year target for filling the reservoir of the dam, thanks to a heavy rainy season. For its part, the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation said in a statement that Egypt and Sudan had expressed their fears regarding unilateral filling and that the Ethiopian unilateral action of filling the dam overshadowed the meeting and raised multiple questions about the benefits of the current path of negotiations to reach a fair agreement on filling and operating the GERD. Regarding the future of the GERD in 2021, Ethiopia may accept the negotiations and change its position, driven by internal tensions in Tigray province. With regard to US mediation, many analysts believe that this depends on the relationship of the political leadership in Egypt with the new US administration, which could seriously intervene in order to reach an agreement that satisfies the three parties, especially since the United States has major interests in the Middle East. It is also likely that the Arab and Gulf States support will continue, especially for Egypts stance in the GERD negotiations. Fourth, world scenarios The world may well pass through 2021 seeing several scenarios, the most important of which will be creating a vaccine for the coronavirus in large quantities. In this case, the focus will shift from developing the vaccine to the equally daunting task of its distribution. In addition, the economic recovery after the epidemic will also be incomplete. The next president of the US to enter the White House, Joe Biden, will seek to reform the new world disorder, starting from the Paris Agreement and the Iranian nuclear deal. However, analysts see more tensions between the United States and China, especially as Biden wants to reform relations with US allies to make them more effective. The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technological advances such as video-conferencing, online shopping, telemedicine and distance learning. In 2021, it will become clear how these changes will continue. Tourism will shrink, and its shape will change, with more emphasis being placed on domestic travel. Airlines, hotel chains and aircraft manufacturers will struggle. Universities that rely heavily on foreign students and cultural exchanges may also suffer. An important aspect of the crisis in 2020 was the opportunity to take action on climate change, with governments investing in green recovery plans to create jobs and reduce emissions. *The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies. *The article is the introduction of the Egyptian Centre for Strategic Studies (ECSS) annual report Outlook 2021 to be published soon. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Short link: Horror: Police and forensic officers at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Essex after 39 bodies of Vietnamese migrants were found inside the lorry The Armagh man who was leader of the people-smuggling ring responsible for the deaths of 39 migrants closed his eyes in the dock as his victims final agonising gasps were heard for the first time in court. Haulier Ronan Hughes joined seven other defendants at the Old Bailey to be sentenced for their role in the sophisticated, long-running operation that ended in tragedy on October 23, 2019. The 39 Vietnamese men, women and children had suffocated in sweltering temperatures in a sealed container as they were shipped from Zeebrugge to Purfleet in Essex. Recordings of some of their final desperate phone messages were played in court. In one message, a man spoke with ragged breaths as he apologised to his family. He said: I cant breathe. I want to come back to my family. Have a good life. In the background a voice could be heard pleading: Come on everyone. Open up, open up. The sound of people moaning and gasping in obvious distress as they rapidly ran out of air was evident in the recording. The migrants had desperately tried to raise the alarm, and even used a pole to try to punch through the roof of the container, the court has heard. While the recordings were being played, Hughes sat still in the dock with eyes shut throughout as other defendants hung their heads. Fellow Co Armagh lorry driver Maurice Robinson had delayed alerting emergency services when he made the grim discovery of the bodies at Purfleet in Essex early on October 23, 2019. Instead, he exchanged a flurry of calls with Hughes and fellow ringleader Gheorghe Nica before dumping his burner phone. Robinson had stopped in Eastern Avenue soon after picking up the trailer at Purfleet docks. The court heard Hughes had instructed him via Snapchat to give them air quick, dont let them out, to which Robinson responded with a thumbs-up emoji. On finding the bodies, Robinson rang Hughes, who told him to open the doors, give them air, according to his statement to police. Robinson responded: I cant, theyre f****** dead. He then telephoned Nica, who had shown him the drop-off point near Collingwood Farm earlier. He told him to ring an ambulance before Hughes ordered him to get rid of his burner phone, according to Robinson. The driver did as he was told and threw the Sim card down the drain and dumped the telephone on the side of the road, the court heard. In his police interview Robinson admitted he knew he was smuggling migrants and claimed he had stopped in Eastern Avenue because I wanted to make sure the people inside were comfortable. At no stage did Robinson tell police about the real reason Hughes Snapchat message. A total of seven smuggling trips were identified between May 2018 and October 23, 2019. Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay said: These defendants were party to a sophisticated, long- running and profitable conspiracy to smuggle (mainly) Vietnamese migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control. The prosecution could point to seven specific events of people smuggling, but Mr Polnay added: It is submitted there is an irresistible inference that there were more events than those that were fortuitously detected. Migrants would board lorries at a remote location on the Continent to be transported to Britain, where they would be picked up by a fleet of smaller vehicles for transfer to a safe house. Robinson, who admitted involvement in two smuggling trips before the deaths, told police that he got 1,500 per migrant he successfully smuggled, and thought he had been paid 25,000. Robinson (26), of Craigavon, and Hughes (41), of Armagh, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughters and people-smuggling plot. Nica (43), of Basildon in Essex, and the man on the Continent, lorry driver Eamonn Harrison (24), from Co Down, were convicted following a trial at the Old Bailey. The maximum sentence for people-smuggling is 14 years in prison, with manslaughter carrying a possible life sentence. The defendants, who are in custody, will be sentenced over three days by Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey. Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, Indias leading IT services company, doesnt give guidance like some of its peers. However, when some large tech companies suspended guidance in April, TCS stuck its neck out and said, We are looking forward and modelling such that three quarters forward (Q3FY21) or four quarters forward (Q4FY21), we can get back to the same revenue and profitability levels that we are currently at." Given the great uncertainty ahead, TCSs target had seemed like a huge leap of faith. All the more so because it assumed a sharp recovery in the second half of the year, a period that has traditionally been weak in terms of IT demand. However, TCS achieved its target. In Q3, the company returned to positive growth on a year-on-year (y-o-y) basis after two successive quarters of decline. Revenues rose 0.4% y-o-y in constant currency, against expectations of a decline of 1-1.5%. View Full Image Normalcy returning On a sequential basis, TCS reported its best-ever growth for the December quarter in nine years. Revenues rose 4.1% in constant currency quarter-on-quarter, unusually high for a seasonally weak quarter. Revenues in Q3 got a lift from deal wins in the earlier quarters. The company said adoption of digital and cloud services has accelerated because of the pandemic. It added that it sees this is a multi-year trend and not just a temporary phenomenon. The strong revenue growth and the upbeat commentary are likely to keep the stock buoyant when the market opens on Monday. Whats more, despite the wage hikes in the last quarter, margins also rose about 40 basis points (bps) sequentially, to everyones surprise. Margins are now at year-ago levels, even after adjusting for the savings in travel costs. The street had expected margins to contract by 80-90bps because of the wage hikes. TCS also increased its employee count by 15,000 last quarter. Despite all this, employee costs as a percentage of revenues fell by about 70bps. The company has stopped reporting metrics on utilization and on-site-offshore mix, but it seems an improvement in these measures helped margins, apart from the lift from higher revenues. Large deal wins remained strong at $6.8 billion and growth in the near-term is expected to remain strong. The company said it will return to double-digit growth in the next fiscal. This will be off a relatively low base, but the bounceback of Indias IT companies has been remarkable. Earnings estimates for TCS in FY22 are expected to inch ahead of where they were about a year ago. The only quibble is that TCS remains behind Infosys Ltd in terms of y-o-y growth. The latter is expected to grow by 4-5% on a y-o-y basis. Also, with valuations at over 31 times one-year forward earnings (compared to around 24 times a year ago), the TCS stock seems to be pricing in the revival and much more. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Never miss a story! Stay connected and informed with Mint. Download our App Now!! Lakhvi, who was on bail since 2015 in the 26/11 attack case, was arrested by the counter-terrorism department of Punjab province on Saturday Lahore: Mumbai attack mastermind and Lashkar-e-Taiba operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi was sentenced to 15 years in jail on Friday by a Pakistani anti-terrorism court here in a terror financing case. UN-proscribed terrorist Lakhvi, 61, who was on bail since 2015 in the Mumbai attack case, was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province on Saturday. "The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore convicted Lakhvi for commission of offences of terrorism financing in a case registered by the CTD for 15 years under different sections of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997," a court official told PTI after the hearing. Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar sentenced Lakhvi to five years of rigorous imprisonment each on three counts with a fine of PKR 100,000 (approximately $620) each on three counts. "In default of payment of fine, he will have to undergo an imprisonment of six months each on three counts. He has been sent to prison to serve the sentences, the official said. Lakhvi pleaded before the court that he was falsely implicated in this case. The LeT commander was accused of running a dispensary and using funds collected for terrorism financing. He and others also collected funds from this dispensary and used these funds for further terrorism financing. He also used these funds for personal expenses, the CTD said. Interestingly, Lakhvi was presented before the Lahore ATC on Friday and was convicted the same day in the terror financing case registered against him some time ago. The court was told that Lakhvi, a resident of Renal Khurd Okara district of Punjab, was living in Islamabad before his arrest in this case. Lakhvi was designated as a global terrorist by the UN in December 2008 for being associated with LeT and al-Qaeda and for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of both the entities. Proscribed terrorists and entities are subject to an assets freeze, wherein all states are required to freeze funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities, a travel ban that prevents the entry into or transit through nations' territories by the designated individuals and an arms embargo. Last month, the UN Security Council's 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee allowed for a monthly payment of Pakistani Rupee 1.5 lakh for Lakhvi to meet his personal expenses. The permission was granted 10 days before his arrest. Lakhvi has named his son Hafizur Rehman and brother Saadat Bashir Waheed who would send him PKR 90,000 and PKR 60,000 respectively in his bank account. He said that his son and brother both have the bank accounts in the same branch. The LeT, led by Jamat-ud-Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed, is responsible for carrying out the 2008 Mumbai attack that killed 166 people, including six Americans. The global terror financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is instrumental in pushing Pakistan to take measures against terrorists roaming freely in Pakistan and using its territory to carry out attacks in India and elsewhere. The Paris-based FATF placed Pakistan on the Grey List in June 2018 and asked Islamabad to implement a plan of action to curb money laundering and terror financing by the end of 2019 but the deadline was extended later on due to COVID-19 pandemic. ATC Lahore had sentenced Saeed for a collective imprisonment of 36 years in terror finance cases. He has been in Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore since July 2019. There are reports that he is given a VIP protocol' in jail. The UN has named Saeed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, and the US, since 2012, has offered a USD 10 million reward for information that brings Saeed to justice. Rohingya Muslims sit on the ground during a police raid on two houses where they were staying while en route to Malaysia, in Shwepyitha township, Myanmar's Yangon region, Jan. 6, 2021. Myanmar police arrested nearly 100 undocumented Rohingya Muslims from western Myanmars Rakhine state for illegal travel after raiding two houses in Yangon on Wednesday, saying that they had been trafficked and were heading to Malaysia. Authorities, who discovered the group after following a suspicious man who could not speak Burmese to one of the houses in the countrys largest city, said Thursday that they charged four people with criminal persuasion and human trafficking. The 26 Rohingya men and 73 women, including 10 children ranging in age from five to 10 years old, traveled from Rakhines Mrauk-U township to Yangon but denied being trafficked on their way to Malaysia. Yangon regional government officials said the Rohingya are being detained at a coronavirus observation center at a university in the township, where they are being tested for COVID-19, and hat authorities are trying to verify their place of origin. We are immediately working on their immigration-related issues, said Moe Moe Suu Kyi, minister of Yangon regions Immigration and Human Resources Ministry. The police will decide if they have violated the laws or not and whether they should be sent to court for trial. We will test their COVID-19 status before they are returned, she added. If they are positive, we will keep them in the quarantine centers, [but] if they are negative, we will proceed with the repatriation process. Tin Maung Lwin, deputy police superintendant of Shwepyitha township, where the Rohingya were found, said two men and two women from Yangon have been charged with kidnapping and forced slavery for allegedly trafficking the members of the group. The charges carry 10-year and seven-year jail sentences, respectively. We have charged the human traffickers who were transporting these Muslims, he said. We arrested four of them. All of them are from the Yangon city area. The Rohingya are from Maungdaw, Buthidaung, Sittwe, and Kyauktaw townships in Rakhine state, and were traveling to Malaysia for work, Tin Maung Lwin told Agence France-Presse. Decades of persecution As a stateless minority group, the Rohingya have endured decades of discrimination in Myanmar where they are considered illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and denied citizenship along with access to basic services such as health, education, and jobs. They also must obtain permission to travel outside their immediate areas. About 740,000 Rohingya were driven from their homes and into neighboring Bangladesh during a brutal military-led crackdown in northern Rakhine state that began in 2017 in response to attacks on police guard posts by a Muslim militant group. Roughly 600,000 Rohingya remain in Rakhine state, with some still living in displacement camps set up following deadly communal violence between Buddhists and Muslims in Rakhine state in 2012. Over the years, thousands have paid traffickers to transport them to Thailand and Malaysia where they can find work. A Muslim youth from Mrauk-U who declined to give his name for safety reasons told RFA that he also had been arrested by Myanmar authorities during a past attempt to leave the country for Malaysia with the help of agents. The traffickers told him and others that they would take them to Malaysia for free, but later demanded payment of 1.4 million kyats (U.S. $1,044), he said. They took us to Magway region, [and] through the jungle, he told RFA. We didnt know where we were going. Then, they disappeared and ran away. The police found [and] arrested us and gave us two-year prison sentences, though we stayed in prison only for a year because we received an amnesty. Then, we returned home. Another Muslim from Mrauk-U, who also declined to be identified for the same reason, said many Rohingya trying to migrate to other places due to a lack of job opportunities in Myanmar fall victim to traffickers who sometimes charge up to 3 million or 4 million kyats per person. Around 20 percent of the people travel to Malaysia, while the remaining 80 percent get arrested, he said. We want these agents and human traffickers to be arrested. They dont help the local people and only make trouble for them. According to immigration statistics, Malaysia hosts as many as 150,000 of the estimated 1.8 million to 2 million Rohingya in the world, while 1.3 million reside in Bangladesh, 500,000 live in Pakistan, and 190,000 are in Saudi Arabia. Reported by Aung Theinkha for RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Te Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Robert Judd started in April as the rabbi of B'nai Sholom in Huntington, W.Va., but has yet to hold an in-person service because of the coronavirus pandemic. WHEELING, W.Va. (JTA) - Surrounded by silver crucifixes and Christmas ornaments, Samuel Posin and Joan Berlow Smith sell vintage jewelry and myriad tchotchkes at their church-turned-boutique gift shop in this city. This is not the kind of place you'll find many Jews. In this deeply rural state where just over half of all voters identify as Christian evangelicals, fewer than 1,200 Jews are thought to be scattered among West Virginia's 1.8 million residents. Yet born and raised in Wheeling, Posin, 62, prays three times a day, eats only kosher food and keeps Shabbat making him one of less than a dozen observant Jewish adults in all of West Virginia, by his own estimate. He credits a life-changing trip to Israel a decade ago for lighting his spiritual spark. "I spent seven weeks at Rabbi Akiva Yeshiva in Jerusalem and immediately became religious," Posin said of his 2010 trip to visit his sister, who had moved to Israel. About five hours' drive south of Wheeling - on a winding mountain road in the heart of Appalachian coal country - Elisse Jo Goldstein-Clark, the proprietor of a bed-and-breakfast called the Elkhorn Inn & Theatre, showcases another unlikely Jewish home. Every Chanukah, she displays an 8-foot-high menorah in front of her historic inn, which is filled with railroad and coal-mining memorabilia. Each of the hotel's 14 guest rooms has its own mezuzah. West Virginia is one of America's poorest states, located in a part of the country that long has been in decline. But the proud Jews you'll find here show how Judaism endures even in the unlikeliest of places and what Jewish living looks like in rural America. Goldstein-Clark is a rare Jewish transplant to West Virginia. Originally from New York, she moved to Jerusalem years ago and served a stint in the Israeli army before returning to the U.S. She ended up in the town of Landgraff after her husband - a disaster-response official whom she met in New York after the 9/11 attacks in 2001 was deployed there to address severe flooding in West Virginia in 2002. The couple decided to stay, and a year later opened their hotel in a restored 1922 coal miners' clubhouse. "For 18 years, the New Yorker in me never stopped whining about how incredibly rural we were," Goldstein-Clark said. "But living in West Virginia has turned out to be the greatest blessing in my life." Driving around West Virginia these days, "Make America Great Again" billboards are as plentiful as gun shops. President Donald Trump defeated Joe Biden in all 55 West Virginia counties in November's elections. The state is so staunchly conservative that its Republican governor, Jim Justice, earlier this year urged like-minded rural counties in Democrat-controlled Virginia to secede from that state and join his. Yet West Virginia is in serious trouble. It has America's lowest percentage of college graduates, fourth-highest incidence of poverty, highest rate of opioid overdose deaths and fourth-oldest population. Most troublesome, the state is the only one whose population consistently declines year after year. It has been on a downward trajectory since its peak shortly after World War II. Back then, when coal was king, the state was more populous than Florida, and synagogues and Jewish communities thrived in small towns and cities from Beckley and Bluefield in the south to Wheeling and Weirton in the north. Most of these Jews were descended from Eastern European peddlers who flocked to West Virginia around the turn of the 20th century and became prosperous merchants and retailers. West Virginia once had eight cities with vibrant Jewish congregations, according to Posin, whose family dates back four generations in Wheeling. But most of the communities that thrived from the 1890s to the 1970s virtually disappeared by the 21st century. "From today's standpoint, it is hard to believe that thousands of Jews lived in the coalfields during that 80-year time span, that Jewish life once flourished there," historian Deborah Wiener wrote in "Coalfield Jews: An Appalachian History," published in 2006. "Because of present reality, it is easy to look on their story as an oddity of history." Back in 1950 McDowell County, where innkeeper Goldstein-Clark resides, had 100,000 people, a kosher butcher and synagogues in Keystone, Welch and Kimball. Today the county's population has sunk to 17,000, and McDowell has the shortest life expectancy and highest drug-related death rate of any county in the United States. "When we moved here in 2002, we were told that the last Jews had moved to Bluefield, and that I was the only Jew left in the county," Goldstein-Clark said. "That hasn't changed." The state's Jewish population peaked at about 6,000 in the 1950s, according to Rabbi Victor Urecki of B'nai Jacob Synagogue in Charleston, the state's largest city (46,000 residents, down from 86,000 in 1960). "The attrition continues throughout the state, and every community of faith is equally affected," said Urecki, one of West Virginia's six rabbis. "The lack of young people is a problem in every congregation." Rabbi Zalman Gurevitz, who runs the Chabad center at West Virginia University in Morgantown, said it's not just Jews. "Anyone who has graduated college is going to have a hard time," he said. "There's nothing to come back for." The Morgantown Chabad serves about 100 to 150 Jewish students at WVU. Since the pandemic hit, Chabad has not held in-person Shabbat services, though it offers takeout kosher Shabbat dinners that include challah, grape juice, matzah ball soup and a main dish. On the High Holidays, Gurevitz hosted about 20 people in an outdoor tent. "Obviously it's challenging to have a permanent presence in a place where Jewish communities are getting smaller and smaller," said Gurevitz, who with his wife, Hinda, has seven children. Georgia Katz DeYoung grew up in Martinsburg, a town in West Virginia about 90 minutes from Washington, D.C. She went away for college but came back to manage her father's downtown department store, George Katz & Sons. At its peak in the early '50s, Martinsburg had 60 Jews. Its synagogue, Beth Jacob Congregation, opened in 1912 in a former church as an Orthodox shul, became Conservative when it moved downtown in 1952 for the convenience of local merchants, and turned Reform before closing down in the late '60s. "As industry began to fade, the merchants also left Martinsburg," said DeYoung, who now lives in New York. "There were two malls on the outskirts of town, and the chains and restaurants followed, so the downtown became decimated. I could see the Jewish population was getting smaller, and finally they gave up. Last time we were there it had become a church." The pandemic's silver lining The coronavirus pandemic has killed more than 300,000 Americans and shuttered synagogues across West Virginia and the world. But it has also injected new life into isolated Jewish communities through online prayer services. At B'nai Sholom Congregation in Huntington, not far from the point where West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky meet, nearly 300 people tuned in for online services on Yom Kippur. That's more than usually attend in-person services at the 111-member congregation. "This is a tight-knit community here," said Rabbi Robert Judd, who joined B'nai Sholom in April but has yet to hold an in-person prayer service due to the pandemic. "Nobody gave up, nobody threw their hands up in the air. Instead they adapted to technology very quickly. And from what I can tell, people seem to be liking it." Wheeling, once the nation's wealthiest city on a per-capita basis, is home to the state's oldest synagogue, Leshem Shomayim. Now known as Temple Shalom, the congregation was formed in 1849, even before West Virginia was a state. A century later, services were led by the Zionist luminary Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver. Now Temple Shalom, with 80 member families, is America's smallest Reform synagogue with a full-time rabbi; his name is Joshua Lief. About 70% of Wheeling's Jews marry outside the faith. The last Jewish wedding here was 12 years ago. When the pandemic hit, Lief began broadcasting daily Torah lessons via Facebook Live. Temple Shalom typically draws about 90 worshippers for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, but this year some 350 people tuned into the synagogue's online services. "We were forced to figure out how to do this," Lief said. "Because of the pandemic, we've actually increased our level of activity." In Charleston, Urecki says B'nai Jacob has not missed a virtual minyan or Shabbat observance since holding its first Zoom service on March 21, which Urecki broadcast from his synagogue's sanctuary. "That 5:45 minyan every evening has created a virtual community for people who need community now more than ever," Urecki said. "Many people have left West Virginia but consider B'nai Jacob their eternal homes, and our online Torah classes are bigger than they've ever been." Yet Urecki wonders what the long-term future holds for West Virginia's few Jews. "I've been hearing about decline for decades, and I try to push back against this feeling of helplessness," he said. "We've got to find a way to engage younger people, but we have not found that secret sauce yet." West Virginia has seen its share of anti-Semitism and bigotry. Its most celebrated politician, the late Sen. Robert Byrd, was a proud member of the Ku Klux Klan as a young adult. A year ago, more than 30 West Virginia correctional academy trainees gave a Nazi salute in a class photo; they were fired. Earlier this year, a local state senator, Robert Karnes, wrote a Facebook post accusing Holocaust survivor and financier George Soros of having "made his fortune selling Jews to the Nazis." Yet local Jewish leaders said they feel comfortable here. Urecki said the vast majority of Christians he encounters are deeply respectful of Judaism. When he first arrived in Charleston 35 years ago to take up his new post at B'nai Jacob, Christians greeted him with "shalom" on the streets, and local ministers began calling to see if he could speak at their churches about Judaism. Following the Tree of Life synagogue massacre two years ago left 11 Jews dead in Pittsburgh, an hour and a half north of Morgantown, Chabad's Gurevitz said many local Christians reached out to him to offer condolences. Support for Israel is also a deeply held tenet of evangelical Christianity in West Virginia. "This is America, and there are obviously anti-Semitic groups in West Virginia, too. But I don't think it's more or less than any other place," Gurevitz said. "Personally I feel very safe here. And I would like to believe that if someone tried to hurt us, the community would protect us." On January 1 each year a number of works books, films, music come out of copyright and enter the public domain. The big one this year at least as far as the US is concerned is one of the great novels of the 20th century, F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. In the US they term January 1 Public Domain Day. Credit: First published in 1925, Gatsby should have come out of copyright in 2001 but the US Congress extended copyright in 1998 to works published between 1923 and 1977 for an additional 25 years (making it 95 in total). Thus the copyright on Gatsby lasted until last week. Other books published in 1925 and joining Gatsby in the US public domain include Virginia Woolfs Mrs Dalloway Jenny Offil has an essay in a recent New Yorker magazine (founded in ... 1925) about rereading the novel; Ernest Hemingway's first book, In Our Time, which consists of vignettes and stories; the German original of Franz Kafka's The Trial; John Dos Passos' Manhattan Transfer; and Theodore Dreiser's An American Tragedy. Several years ago a feature on the BBC wondered whether 1925 was the greatest year for books, given the influence some of those published have had on our sense of modernity. Of course, you can argue with that; is any year the greatest for books? But the author claimed not unreasonably that the year brought about a "a vibrant cultural outpouring, multiple landmark books and a paradigm shift in prose style". A file photo of a waiter delivering food to a table at a restaurant in Newport Beach, Calif., on Sept. 9, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Orange County Cities, Districts Roll Out Latest Relief Plans for Ailing Businesses As small-business owners across California anxiously await distribution of the latest round of stimulus checks while pandemic restrictions linger on, some Orange County citiesalong with the Board of Supervisorshave created relief programs of their own. Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa, and Mission Viejo are among the cities that have created their own grant programs to aid small businesses and restaurants, while district supervisors have reached into the countys general fund to allocate more resources toward relief efforts. Along with amusement parks, which were never even allowed to open up, its been a struggle, Supervisor Lisa Bartlett told The Epoch Times. All business sectors have been affected. Officials throughout the county hope the new grantscombined with a state-funded relief package for small businesses that California rolled out on Dec. 30, 2020will be enough to keep the struggling businesses afloat long enough to survive the regional stay-at-home order and the effects of the ongoing pandemic caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes the disease known as COVID-19. The Orange County Board of Supervisors prepares for its weekly meeting in Santa Ana, Calif. on Aug. 25, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The Board Steps Up The latest federal COVID-19 relief bill doesnt include aid for local or state governmentsso Orange Countys district supervisors have stepped in to create relief funds for struggling business owners through the countys general fund. Bartlett, the countys Fifth District supervisor, distributed nearly $10,000 each to more than 1,500 businesses in her district last month. She said another relief program will be ready by the end of January. Until we can get out of the stay-at-home order, its going to be really difficult to get our economy back up and open and revitalized again, Bartlett said. The board voted last month to allocate $10 million from the general fund to provide relief for each districts business community. Each supervisor received $2 million to distribute within their own districts. Bartlett called the economic impacts from the ongoing pandemic alarming, and said county businesses had to cut back on staff and lay people off in a short period. Our unemployment rate as of February [2020] was at 2.9 percent, and in four months it went up to 16 percent, she said. And now, I think its somewhere between 8 and 10 percent. But thats still very alarming, when you think that 1 out of 10 people in Orange County might be unemployed. Supervisor Donald Wagner told The Epoch Times the county provided $2 million from its general fund to aid struggling small businesses in his Third District, in addition to the boards initial $15 million in CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act funding for each of the districts to distribute. The CARES Act money was distributed pro rata to each city based on their population, and they created their own programs, Wagner said. But most of that moneys already been spent, he said. In the grand scheme of things, sadly, it wasnt a lot for any individual business. Wagner said he wants to see Gov. Gavin Newsom lighten the restrictions and allow some of the small businesses to reopen. He said businesses in his district are crippling, so reopening safely can and should be done. Im hearing from a lot of businesses that are talking about how theyre just barely hanging on or that the next shutdown will destroy them, Wagner said. I think a lot of them are trying to find ways to just scratch and claw and stay open as best they possibly can. Supervisor Andrew Do promoted the boards latest economic support program. In a press release, he said it was imperative that we help bring real and meaningful assistance to help keep our small businesses open. We are nine months into the pandemic and small-business owners dont know how much longer they can remain open, Do said. Homes stand on a hillside in Mission Viejo, Calif., on Oct. 22, 2018. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Mission Viejo City Manager Dennis Wilberg told The Epoch Times that Mission Viejo has rolled out a $1 million small-business fund to help the citys struggling businesses, which he said have become increasingly frustrated by the states unpredictable mandates. I know a number of restaurants that we deal with more than others have indicated that they just bought enough food to get through the week, and then theyre shut down, Wilberg said. Theres a growing frustration with the number of times that the rules change and how quickly they change. Wilberg said that a majority of the applicants so far have been restaurantsthough retailers, print shops, chiropractors, dentists, and home businesses have also appliedand that the city is in the process of approving them. Were up to about 140 that have applied, Wilberg said. During the first week, he said, the city focused on the ones that we were most familiar with, approving 15 grants before Christmas and issuing checks. The ones that weve approved, all of the documentation that we would require was provided, he said, adding that the city is now reviewing applications and getting the proper data needed from the businesses to justify the grant fund. Wilberg said theyre not trying to be too bureaucratic, but at the same time, thats taxpayer money, so we need to be careful and make sure were not giving a grant out to somebody thats not going to spend it properly. Though theres no limit on how many businesses can apply, Wilberg said theres still about $700,00 in relief to be distributed. He said 50 percent of the fund came from the citys reserves, while the other half came from the citys share of CARES Act funds. A row of shops faces Main Beach in Laguna Beach, Calif., on Nov. 18, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Laguna Beach The City of Laguna Beach has dug into its reserves to create LB CARES, a one-time grant relief program designed to help struggling businesses impacted by the pandemic. The program, which began on Jan. 8, will provide roughly $850,000 to help restaurants, bars, and retailers. While $200,000 has been set aside for retailers, $650,000 is earmarked for restaurants and bars. Laguna Beach City Manager John Pietig told The Epoch Times the financing came out of the citys $13.2 million general fund reserves. Restaurants can receive up to $5,000 each, while retailers can get from $2,000 to $3,000. Laguna Beach Mayor Bob Whalen said the bridge grants were designed to augment other relief programs. Our objective in approving this program is to help keep our restaurants and retailers going until they can apply for additional assistance through county, state and federal programs in early 2021, Whalen said in a statement. A direct assistance program like this is a first for the City but these are unprecedented times demanding new approaches and decisive action. Up to 130 restaurants and 100 retail establishments will be eligible for the grants, to be awarded on a first come, first served basis. Though grant applications for retailers closed on Jan. 5, the deadline for restaurants and bars has been extended until Jan. 19. City Manager Pietig said Laguna Beach has another $6 million in a disaster recovery fund still potentially available, but that reserve is generally limited to help the city recover from natural disasters. A woman walks past a small business in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Costa Mesa The Costa Mesa City Council approved a $1.9 million Bridge Grant Program last month for its ailing restaurants and personal care services. The citys grant program was broken down into two phases. The first phase, which has already closed, offered a one-time $10,000 bridge grant to applicants that had already received a previous small-business grant from the city. The second phase of the program is for small businesses that havent yet received a city grant. It also offers $10,000 one-time stipends to approved businesses, and is scheduled to begin sometime later this month. In order to qualify, businesses must show the need for financial support due to the impact of the ongoing pandemic and the regional stay-at-home order. The businesses must show either that they were deemed nonessential, sales were down more than 25 percent from the three-month period prior to Feb. 15, 2020, the business had to lay off at least one employee, or one or more employees contracted COVID-19 while at work. According to the city, Costa Mesa has already distributed more than $2.7 million in grants to 263 businesses within city limits. Mayor Katrina Foley didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times. Struggling businesses looking for additional assistance had until Jan. 8 to apply for the first round of Californias Small Business COVID-19 Relief Grant Program. Businesses with an annual revenue up to $100,000 are eligible for a $5,000 grant each. Those with revenue between $100,000 and $1 million are eligible for $15,000, and those with revenue of $1 million to $2.5 million are eligible for $25,000. Stacked chairs line a restaurant in Costa Mesa, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Holding On to Hope Meanwhile, restaurants owners throughout the county have said they are barely hanging on. Chef and 230 Forest Avenue owner Marc Cohen told The Epoch Times he applied for the LB CARES money, which was distributed after Jan. 8. Additionally, he applied for a $25,000 state grant. At least it helps buy more supplies and to-go containers, take care of the employees, and pay the rent, and so it all counts, Cohen said. We have about three-quarters of our staff on unemployment. But were just trying to keep the lights on, just a little bit each day, and thats all you can ask. Other county residentssuch as chef and TV food critic Andrew Gruel, owner of Slapfish seafood restaurant in Huntington Beachhave created their own relief funds for struggling small businesses. Gruels GoFundMe account to help struggling restaurant workers has reached nearly $250,000; his goal is $1 million, to be redistributed to help employees in an industry in economic freefall. In a previous interview, Gruel told The Epoch Times he was getting hundreds and hundreds of emails from people who just wanted to share their stories, so he thought it would be beneficial to put his restaurateur spotlight to good use and create the GoFundMe account. He said regional restrictions imposed by the state are the government stepping in and permanently closing our businesses. I think were going to see just mass closures of all these restaurants, Gruel said. Everyone is on the final thread. WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers condemned this week's violence at the U.S. Capitol. Denouncing the outrageous and unlawful actions that resulted in deaths, property destruction and chaos seen around the world, AHAM President and CEO Joseph McGuire issued this statement on behalf of the home appliance manufacturing industry: "Our democracy was under attack but fortunately it prevailed and the Congress fulfilled its constitutional duty to affirm the presidential and vice presidential votes of the Electoral College. "AHAM relocated its headquarters office to Washington, DC from Chicago over 20 years ago to participate more fully in the development of national policies and laws affecting our members and their customers. Our success in this sphere is the result of collaboration, reaching across the table and advocating with facts and data to drive the best outcome. "I have spent my entire career in the nation's capital both as a federal employee and a representative of business. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined the horrific scenes of violence, destruction and lawlessness that took place in the Capitol. "Government and business share a collective responsibility to preserve our constitution and protect democracy. We support an orderly and peaceful transition of power. We always strive to work productively with all government officials and look forward to working with the new presidential administration and congress." The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is the trade association representing manufacturers of major, portable and floor care home appliances and suppliers to the industry. AHAM is headquartered in Washington, D.C. and maintains an office in Ottawa. AHAM is the single voice providing the home appliance industry and its customers leadership, advocacy and a forum for action developing and implementing credible solutions for public policy, standards and business decisions. You can visit AHAM's web site at http://www.aham.org or follow us on Twitter @AHAM_Voice and @AHAM_Policy. SOURCE Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) Related Links http://www.aham.org Delhis deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia was in Dehradun this week to engage Uttarakhands education minister Madan Kaushik in a debate. A few days ago he had travelled to Lucknow to draw his Uttar Pradesh counterpart into a similar discussion. Since the beginning of last month, the leadership of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the ruling outfit in Delhi, has all of a sudden started to visit different states going to polls in the next year or so and throwing muck on the ruling establishments there. It started with one of its prominent legislators inviting the power minister of Goa for a debate on electricity tariff. Then its second-most prominent leader, deputy chief minister of the national capital Manish Sisodia, started hopping between Lucknow, Haldwani and Dehradun, tom-tomming the Delhi model of governance and throwing gauntlets at his counterparts in the two states. Another prominent AAP legislator, Atishi Marlena, was in Gujarat, unveiling the partys plans to contest first the local body polls and then the state assembly polls. In Delhi, as written in these columns earlier, they have been working overtime to woo agitating farmers laying siege to the national capital. AAP leaders have also travelled to Punjab, promising legal help' for cases against the agitating farmers. Punjab too goes to polls in just about a years time and it's one state, outside Delhi, where AAP has a reasonable presence. Why such rush to visit the capitals outside their own state? A close analysis of the moves would show that other than Punjab, AAP doesn't have presence, history, or a real intention to gain power in the aforementioned states, and Assam, which are going to polls over a period of one to two years. Then why such sudden and aggressive campaigning when the national capital has its own cup of misery full and waiting to spill over. ALSO READ: Kejriwal Woos Farmers With Eye on Punjab Polls, But What About His Responsibility Towards Delhi Voters? This is not the first time that such an effort is being made. AAP's attempt at expanding its base beyond Delhi and Punjab by contesting the 2017 Goa assembly polls with much fanfare, thinking it could replicate its Delhi poll campaign model in another small state, met with great disappointment as it failed to even open its account. One of the main reasons for the partys defeat in Goa was the fall of the facade of AAP being an anti-graft crusader party. Some also blame disproportionate media coverage to AAP during the Goa polls leading to an unrealistic expectation of a major show by the party, which neither had any organisation or cadre in the state. Its Goa dream once again turned into a nightmare when it could win just one of the 20 seats it contested in the local body polls in 2020. Its aggressive wooing of agitating Punjab voters emanates from the fact that during the last Lok Sabha polls in 2019, not only its seat count came down from four to one but its vote share too shrunk from over 24 per cent in 2014 to just about seven per cent. The biggest gainer of the vote bank shift in Punjab has been the Congress. AAPs political rise so far has been propelled by poaching of Congress votes. The party which ruled Delhi for 15 years at a stretch, suddenly lost its votes to AAP in the three consecutive assembly polls in 2013, 2015 and 2020, unable to open its account in the last two. Intriguingly, despite being in power in Delhi, in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, AAP was pushed to third place behind the BJP and Congress. However, six months later, AAP was back in the saddle after the assembly polls and Congress back to zero. How and why this happened has been discussed in these columns earlier. Now coming to the states of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, where AAP is making aggressive moves once again to make its presence felt. It must be noted that its not the first time that AAP is trying to break into the poll scene of these states. Soon after resigning as chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, still enjoying the unblemished image of anti-graft crusader, had led the partys campaign in UP during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, himself contesting against the BJPs then prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi. Two other prominent faces of the party at the time Kumar Vishwas and Shazia Ilmi had contested the Amethi and Ghaziabad seats respectively. However, their attempt to enter Parliament on the high tide of popularity of the Anna Hazare movement had come a cropper, logging less than one per cent of the popular vote in Uttar Pradesh and just about one per cent in Uttarakhand. Thereafter, in the 2017 Punjab assembly polls, despite a media hype, AAP's performance was much below expectations with almost 25 candidates losing deposit and the party managing to win just 20 of the 117 seats in the House. However, now with a return to power in Delhi, the party is out shopping again in the states which go to polls over the next two years. And the real target may not be winning a majority in the assembly polls but to gain national party status before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. AAP continues to be a state party and to get national party status before 2024 it has to be recognised as a state party in at least four states by securing a minimum of 6 per cent votes in each. And what better way than to create a buzz in states going to polls and garner some votes, which as of now looks to be a near-impossible task. BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - German stocks rose notably on Friday as investors cheered upbeat economic data showing both industrial output and exports rose more than expected in November. The benchmark DAX climbed 124 points, or 0.9 percent, to 14,092 after gaining 0.6 percent the previous day. German industrial output grew 0.9 percent month-on-month in November, slower than the revised 3.4 percent increase seen in October, data released by Destatis showed. This was better than the economists' forecast of 0.7 percent. Another report revealed that German exports logged a monthly growth of 2.2 percent versus a 0.9 percent rise in October. Similarly, growth in imports improved to 4.7 percent from 0.4 percent a month ago. Chipmakers were in focus, with Infineon Technologies surging as much as 6 percent after global peers Micron Technology Inc and Samsung Electronics reported strong quarterly earnings. 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. Esta manana, la ministra Pilar Mazzetti superviso los ambientes del Cenares del Minsa, donde se almacenaran y distribuiran las vacunas contra la #COVID19 que llegaran proximamente al pais. pic.twitter.com/A6vSRkJDNs PARIS, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AJC Europe welcomes the European Commission's publication of the Handbook for the Practical Use of the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism. This new publication offers clear guidance and examples of how the definition is already being used throughout Europe by law enforcement, the judiciary, educational institutions, and civil society. "The importance of this Handbook," said Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, Director General of AJC Europe, "is demonstrating how the Working Definition can used to combat antisemitism. It is a necessary and valuable tool for all governments." The Working Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016, is a comprehensive definition that describes the hatred in all its various forms, including both traditional and contemporary manifestations. It has since been adopted by 18 EU Member States along with other countries in Europe and around the world. Leaders of the United Nations, the Organization for American States, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, and the European Commission, among others, have in recent years called for its adoption. The handbook was prepared by the Federal Association of Departments for Research and Information on Antisemitism (RIAS) and published in cooperation with the IHRA. American Jewish Committee (AJC) played a key role in the early development of the Working Definition in 2004, and its European offices work closely with RIAS in Berlin and with the EU Coordinator on Combating Antisemitism, who is based in Brussels. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org A united Ireland could emerge within the next 25 years given the disaster created by Boris Johnsons Brexit deal, a former UK cabinet minister has predicted. David Blunkett said the European single market effectively continues in Northern Ireland under the terms of the agreement reached between the UK and the EU, with a border in the Irish Sea. This creates contradictions in Northern Irelands relationship with the EU and the rest of Great Britain, said Mr Blunkett as he warned this bodes extremely ill for the future. Northern Ireland is following the rules of the EU single market to avoid a hard Irish border and has shifted checks on food standards to Irish Sea ports. Goods arriving from Great Britain are among those subject to checks under the agreement made by British Prime Minister Mr Johnson with the EU. Mr Blunkett, speaking during a debate on the future arrangement between the UK and EU, said: It proposes a very different picture for the future which will be exploited by those in the Scottish National Party, who seek to use every opportunity to reopen and re-engage with the destruction of the United Kingdom. I believe that this deal actually accelerates the possibility within the next 25 years of a united island of Ireland. Its a century since the 1921 legislation as part of the agreement on partition. Read More An Post confirms trading with UK unaffected as DPD pause deliveries to Ireland due to Brexit A century later, were faced with the contradictions that exist in terms of Northern Ireland and its relationship with the European Union, and the contradictions that therefore are accorded to its relationship with the rest of Great Britain. All of these things bode extremely ill for the future. Mr Blunkett, who served as home secretary under Tony Blair, also warned the UKs withdrawal from EU security organisations will be regretted for a very long time to come. Concluding his speech, the Labour peer said: To top it all we replaced the Brussels bureaucracy, so used in the Brexit arguments, with the bureaucracy we see today on our borders in terms of distributions, hold up and diminution of trade. Lord Blunkett has warned the Brexit deal could lead to a united Ireland (David Cheskin/PA) Its a disaster. Conservative former Brexit minister George Bridges said the UK has a laundry list of policies, including banning live animal exports and taking back control of the countrys waters. He added: I look forward to hearing the minister put my mind at ease and give me the confidence there is indeed an oven-ready plan and strategy in the post-Brexit world, and were not making things up as we go along. Opening the debate, Cabinet Office minister Nicholas True said the UKs trade deal will protect high-value jobs and provide certainty for businesses. He told peers: From now on, our laws will be determined by our elected politicians and MPs will be accountable to the voters who send them to Parliament to legislate on their behalf. The Canada-style agreement takes back control of our laws, borders, trade, money and waters, ends any role for the European Court and protects the Belfast Good Friday Agreement. It provides certainty for business, from service providers to our leading world manufacturers including our car industry safeguarding highly-skilled jobs and investment across our country. Lord Bassam of Brighton said the flaws of the Brexit deal will be exposed over time (Yui Mok/PA) Mr True added: The UK can now regulate in a way that suits the UK economy and UK businesses, doing things in a more innovative and effective way without being bound by EU rules. We will now take full advantage of the remarkable opportunities available to us as an independent trading nation, striking trade deals with other partners around the world. Shadow business spokesman Steve Bassam of Brighton said he fears the British governments incompetence will hamper the UKs ability to take advantage of the EU trade deal. The Labour peer told the chamber: This is a thin deal and its flaws will be exposed over time and will need fixing for the future. Labour will guard against any attempts to water down working and environmental protections. We accept we will inherit this deal after the next election, but we intend to build from it as a means of promoting British interests. My fear and that of our party is that the level of incompetence displayed by the Government will be writ large and hamper our ability to take best advantage of even this thin deal. Police in the UK have issued a social media appeal to find the next of kin of an elderly Irish man who died alone in Scarborough, Yorkshire in England. Attempts to find relatives of the man who died aged 70 have so far been unsuccessful and the North Yorkshire Police asked people in Ireland to help. A statement published on Facebook asked: "Our coroner's officers are appealing to people in Ireland as they continue their search to find the next of kin of Simon Curtis Smith who died at his home address in Scarborough aged 70. "Enquiries following Simon's death - reported to us on January 2- have not revealed any next of kin. "They now believe he may have relatives in Ireland, although it is not known whereabouts. We would really appreciate any shares with your Facebook friends in Ireland - either Northern or Southern - to help us trace his family. "Anyone who can help locate any members of his family is asked to contact the Coroner's Office on (44) 01609 643168." The police added suspicious circumstances have been ruled out in the death of Mr Curtis Smith. At the time of writing the post has been shared 10,000 times. A post on Twitter from the police asking for information has received over 100 retweets. Our coroner's officers have widened their search for Simon Curtis Smith's family to #Ireland. Sadly, Simon, 70, was found dead at home in #Scarborough at the weekend. We'd appreciate any shares with your followers in Ireland - north or south. Thank you. https://t.co/5WTpSAdduY pic.twitter.com/feDBPZA0FI North Yorkshire Police (@NYorksPolice) January 7, 2021 Although Twitter in Ireland has since picked up the post after it was shared by a Radio DJ based in Portugal. His post has over 350 retweets to date. Hey Ireland, we need your help. Simon Curtis Smith aged 70 alone in his home in the UK. Police believe he has family in Ireland, please let's help Simon have someone there to say goodbye. Please. 0044-1609-643168 #Ireland #Appeal #Garda #Police pic.twitter.com/kE6yV1Aw7K Frankie Beats (@itsbeats) January 7, 2021 Mr Curtis Smith passed away in his home on Saturday, January 2. An interstate DJ flew to Queensland and entered hotel quarantine so he could perform at a Brisbane hotel this weekend, just to have his show postponed by the region's three-day lockdown. While businesses in the five south-east Queensland council areas going into lockdown this weekend understand the risk posed by the UK COVID-19 strain, owners and managers were frustrated by the short notice 10 hours given by the Premier and Chief Health Officer on Friday. Some were angered by images from supermarkets in parts of the lockdown zone Brisbane, Ipswich, Redland, Logan and Moreton Bay showing mass panic buying, with several bar owners saying the risk of virus transmission was greater in those supermarkets than their venues. There were also fears among business owners that the three-day lockdown could be extended next week if Queensland records more cases of COVID-19 community transmission this weekend. The pandemic will likely continue to weaken the economy through winter and perhaps early spring, and further job losses are possible in the coming months. But many economists say that once coronavirus vaccines are more widely distributed, a broader recovery should take hold in the second half of the year. The incoming Biden administration, along with a now fully Democratic-led House and Senate, is also expected to push more rescue aid and spending measures that could accelerate growth. ANI Mahant Satya Narayan, the prime accused in the brutal gang rape and murder of a 50-year-old anganwadi worker in Badaun, Uttar Pradesh has been arrested. The temple priest who was hiding in the house of his follower was picked up by the police on Thursday night. According to Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Budaun, Sankalp Sharma, four teams had been constituted to nab the accused who had been on the run since Monday when the crime surfaced. Read more Let's take a look at the top stories of the day today: Chinese Doctor Claims Sinopharm Vaccine 'Most Unsafe' Getty Chinese doctor has caused controversy by saying that the Covid-19 vaccine that has been rolled out in the country is the most unsafe in the world and has as many 73 side-effects. Dr Tao Lina, a vaccine expert from Shanghai, took to his social media account to sound an alarm about the Sinopharm vaccine but soon went on to retract the charges. Read more What's Next For Trump After Violence Took Over US Capitol Getty Outgoing United States President Donald Trump on Thursday conceded defeat to President-Elect Joe Biden and condemned the previous days violence at the US Capitol in Washington DC. He called it a heinous attack and said he was outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that if Trump is not removed from office using the 25th Amendment, the House will move to impeach him. Read more A Day On Earth Will Now Be Shorter Than 24 Hours. Here's Why NASA Since 2020, every day on the blue planet Earth is shorter than 24 hours. Yes, you heard that right. According to Daily Mail, time is flying quicker this year as Earth is spinning around faster than it has in a half-century. This means owing to the increase in the speed of earth's rotation over the last 5 decades, Earth may be spinning faster than it has in over 50 years. Read more Video Shows An Endangered Dolphin Killed For Fun In UP Screengrab At a time when the government and various agencies are doing everything they can to save the Gangetic Dolphins, a shocking video has emerged from Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh showing a group of men killing a dolphin, using axes. According to reports, the video is at least a week old and the dolphin had accidentally strayed into a stream in Kotharia village, where the men used axes to hack it to death. Read more A DOCTOR who was shot while performing a vasectomy operation has revealed how he later visited the man who tried to kill him in a psychiatric hospital. Dr Andrew Rynne dubbed Irelands first vasectomy doctor and who has carried out over 35,000 procedures makes his remarkable revelation in a documentary to be screened by TG4 on Wednesday. The doctor, who was blasted by an ex-patient in Clane Co Kildare in July 1990, says he was sure he was going to die as he was forced to stare down the barrel of a .22 rifle in his operating room. And he says he still has the bullet, removed from his hip, which he has treasured as a keepsake since his ordeal 30 years ago. It was the 12th of July 1990, he recalls. I was doing my second vasectomy of the day and this guy comes in. He asked my secretary, wheres the doctor?. She very obligingly said hes down there, second on the right.. He adds: When he got into the surgery, he got the gun out of the bag and assembled it in the room in front of everyone. The next thing the door was kicked open. This guy came in with the gun up to his shoulder, he remembers. He said you destroyed my life and Im going to take yours now and pointed a gun between my eyes and I could look down the barrel and could see the riffling of the barrel going backwards. The man then lowered the gun and pointed it towards the doctors genetalia. He had a crack at that and misses that even, thanks be to God, he explains. I said you just shot me you bastard, which was kind of an obvious thing to say. The doctor managed to flee, with the gunman pursuing him. The man who was having the vasectomy being performed on him waited outside and gave the gunman a cigarette to try and calm him down. But the man aimed again and took another shot and hit a wall. I ran all the way down into my colleagues house and he thought I was having a heart attack, he reveals. The gunman went to a nearby field and was watched by hundreds of people who gathered, before Gardai surrounded him. If he had a shotgun he would have killed me, maintains the doctor, who was treated for his wound. Several weeks later a psychiatrist who had been treating the gunman asked him to meet the assailant. I found out he had a lot of pain after the vasectomy and he felt I didnt give him the attention he deserved and his wife became pregnant by somebody else, which of course had nothing to do with me, he stresses. So he projected him problems on to me unfortunately. He was hugely regretful and remorseful. He points out it wasnt a spur of the moment thing as it was eight and a half years after the operation and in the meantime he even joined a rifle club. The main served two and a half years in a state-run psychiatric institution. Dr Rynne learned how to perform vasectomies in Canada before becoming a pioneer in Ireland. He was also the one time head of the Family Planning Association. In 1979, when condoms were permitted to be sold to married couples only, Dr Rynne vowed to expose the absurdity of the law by issuing contraceptive prescriptions to non-married couples. When he himself brought this to the attention of the Gardai, he was duly fined 500 in Naas District Court. There is a conservative element of the Catholic church which would see vasectomy as a form of mutilation and as a way of allowing men to have to have extra marital affairs and all this kind of stuff, so they can go off and have intercourse, he reflects All of these kind of attitudes, and whats were doing is facilitating that not only promoting promiscuity, but youre also mutilating people. Finne, TG4 Wednesday 9.30pm live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Tata Power touched a 52-week high of Rs 84.60, gaining over 3 percent in the early trade on January 8 after the company acquired 51 percent stake each in TP Southern Odisha Distribution Limited (TPSODL) and TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited (TPWODL). Th company acquired the stake in TPSODL for a consideration of Rs 127.50 crore and TPWODL for Rs 255 crore. GRIDCO Limited (GRIDCO) will hold the remaining 49% equity stake in both companies. With this takeover, the companys distribution circles will expand to the western (TPWODL) and southern part (TPSODL) of Odisha, with a geographical spread of more than 47,000 sq km each. It will manage a network of more than 100,000 CKT KMs each for a licence period of 25 years. With the inclusion of two additional distribution utilities, Tata Power expands its consumer base to 9.5 million from the present base of 5.2 million across Mumbai, New Delhi, Central part of Odisha and Ajmer. It is a proud moment for us as we have ushered in the new year by commencing operations in WESCO and SOUTHCO in the State of Odisha. We are committed to provide reliable, affordable and quality power supply along with superior customer service. We are thankful to the Odisha Government and OERC for giving us this opportunity and reaffirm Tata Powers commitment of Lighting up Lives for the people of Odisha, said Praveer Sinha, CEO & MD, Tata Power. Also, the company received a Letter of Award from Kerala State Electricity Board Limited (KSEBL) on January 6, 2021 to develop a 110 MW solar project. At 0951 hours, Tata Power Company was quoting at Rs 83.55, up Rs 1.70, or 2.08 percent on the BSE. MBABANE A police officer based at Sigodvweni Police Station has been arrested for allegedly raping a female suspect inside a holding cell. The arrest of Dumani Goodwill Dlamini comes hardly two weeks after the arrest of two officers grom the same police station. The two officers, Mbongeni Sichaba Dlamini and Nkosingiphile Mavolovolo Mkhonta are alleged to have stolen 22 bags of dagga and they are currently out on bail. Dumani is alleged to have committed the offence last year, but he was arrested and subsequently charged with rape under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act of 2018 on Wednesday. According to the charge sheet, the offence is accompanied by aggravating circumstances in that the accused allegedly caused physical and mental trauma to the complainant and that he did not use any protection, thus exposing the alleged survivor to the risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections.The accused yesterday moved an urgent bail application at the High Court where he pleaded his innocence. He informed the court that he was a police officer, Constable 5683, employed by the Eswatini Government and stationed at Sigodweni Police Station under the General Duty Department. He narrated to the court that on January 6, 2021, while he was on duty, he was called by his superiors to report to Sigodvweni Police Station. He claimed that when he arrived at the police station, he was attended to by Detective Sergeant Hlatshwayo. I was thereafter advised that I am being charged for having contravened the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act. I made an appearance on the same day wherein I was advised to make an application for bail at the High Court, submitted the accused. He informed the court that he was currently incarcerated at the Manzini Remand Centre. He avowed that he never committed the offence and this was due to the fact that he never had any unlawful sexual intercourse with the complainant in the matter. It was further his submission that on the day in question, he was on duty and as such, he was the custodian of the keys to the holding cells (jailer). He submitted that while executing his duties, he saw the complainant who had been arrested for theft, inside the holding cell. The complainant confronted me and made numerous ludicrous demands, to which I refused. Seeing that I was turning a blind eye to her demands, the complainant started hurling insults and was threatening me with assault after being released from custody, contended Dumani. According to the accused, he became so infuriated to the extent that he also threatened her with assault and further told her that he would be adding another charge of threatening an officer with violence while executing his duties. He submitted that this did not deter the complainant as she allegedly continued hurling more insults. On that day, I knocked off from duty at around 10pm. To my surprise and dismay, I learnt on the following day that the complainant had made allegations to the effect that I raped her, submitted the accused police officer. It was his contention that he never raped the complainant nor even made sexual advances towards her. Dumani said it was further inexplicable how he could have raped the complainant inside the holding cells when there were other officers. He pointed out that when the matter was investigated, his plea of innocence allegedly fell on deaf ears as he was told that only the court would absolve him. The police officer went on to undertake that if released on bail, there was no likelihood that he might endanger the safety of the public or any particular person. There is no possibility that if released on bail, I might attempt to influence or intimidate witnesses as they are not even known to me. I submit that I will not conceal evidence, he argued. Circumstances According to the accused, there were also no exceptional circumstances which might suggest that there was likelihood that his release on bail might disturb public order or undermine public peace. Dumani argued that he was a law abiding citizen and he had never been arrested for any offence in his entire life and that he did not commit the offence he has been charged with. The accused was represented by Musa Shongwe of Simelane Shongwe Attorneys in Mbabane while appearing for the Crown was Mbutfo Mbingo from the chamber of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Donald Trump was completely wrong to incite supporters to storm the Capitol and to continue questioning the legitimacy of the US election, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. The UK Prime Minister who has enjoyed a warm relationship with the US President said he unreservedly condemned Mr Trumps actions following the extraordinary events in Washington. President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally. Picture: PA Joe Biden was confirmed as the president-elect despite the violent scenes as a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol in an attempt to disrupt the proceedings. Mr Johnson, who was born in the US, told a Downing Street press conference: All my life, America has stood for some very important things an idea of freedom and an idea of democracy. In response to a question about Mr Trumps responsibility for the scenes in Washington, Mr Johnson said: Insofar as he encouraged people to storm the Capitol and insofar as the president consistently has cast doubt on the outcome of a free and fair election I believe that that was completely wrong. I think what President Trump has been saying about that has been completely wrong. I unreservedly condemn encouraging people to behave in the disgraceful way that they did in the Capitol. And all I can say is Im very pleased that the president-elect has now been duly confirmed in office and that democracy has prevailed. In Washington, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Mr Trump should immediately be removed from office or Congress could move to impeach him. Ms Pelosi joined calls for the cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Mr Trump from office. The president of the United States incited an armed insurrection against America, she said. Earlier, Facebook announced it was blocking Mr Trump indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks following the rioting. The social networks boss Mark Zuckerberg said it was clear that Mr Trump intended to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden. We believe the risks of allowing the president to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, Mr Zuckerberg said. Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete. Mr Trumps incendiary comments have been blamed for directly provoking the violence which left four dead, including protester Ashli Babbitt who was shot by police. Home Secretary Priti Patel said his statement following events at the Capitol on Wednesday, in which he said we love you to the rioters and repeated his baseless claims of electoral fraud, did very little to de-escalate the situation. His comments directly led to the violence and so far he has failed to condemn that violence, and that is completely wrong, the Home Secretary said. Mr Trumps personal Twitter account was also temporarily suspended, forcing him to release a statement via his social media director Dan Scavino, saying there would be an orderly transition to the Biden administration. Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th, he said. I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, its only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again. Tech giants have long struggled with balancing free speech on their platforms and a belief that the views of world leaders should be visible for scrutiny. The main two, Facebook and Twitter, have slowly taken a tougher stance, using fact check labels last year to warn users of unverified information shared by Mr Trump. Pressure is now on Twitter to follow Facebooks lead, having only decided to lock Mr Trumps personal account for 12 hours and threatened him with permanent suspension if he continues to break the rules. A Twitter spokesperson said: As we shared yesterday, were continuing to evaluate the situation in real-time, including examining activity on the ground and statements made off Twitter. We will keep the public informed, including if further escalation in our enforcement approach is necessary. A new study has found that spending time outdoors and switching off our devices is associated with higher levels of happiness during a period of COVID-19 restrictions. Previous academic studies have indicated how being outdoors, particularly in green spaces, can improve mental health by promoting more positive body image, and lowering levels of depression and anxiety. Jointly led by academics from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in the UK, the Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences in Austria, and Perdana University in Malaysia, this new research examined how levels of happiness during a national lockdown were affected by being outdoors, the amount of daily screen time (use of TV, computer and smartphone) and feelings of loneliness. Using an experience sampling method (ESM), the researchers measured levels of happiness amongst a group of 286 adults three times a day, at random intervals, over a 21-day period. This allowed the participants to provide data in real-time rather than retrospectively, helping to avoid recall biases. The research, published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, was carried out in April 2020, when the Austrian participants were allowed to leave their homes only for specific activities, which included exercise. It found that levels of happiness were higher when participants were outdoors rather than indoors. In addition, more daily screen time and higher levels of loneliness were both associated with lower levels of happiness. The impact of loneliness on happiness was also weaker when participants were outdoors. Co-lead author Viren Swami, Professor of Social Psychology at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), said: "While lockdowns can help slow down the transmission of COVID-19, research has also shown that prolonged periods of lockdown take their toll on mental health. "Our results are important in this context because they show that being able to spend time outdoors under conditions of lockdown has a beneficial impact on psychological wellbeing. Being outdoors provides opportunities to escape from the stresses of being confined at home, maintain social relationships with others, and engage in physical activity - all of which can improve mental health. "Our findings have practical health policy implications. Given that further lockdown restrictions have now become necessary in the UK, public health messages that promote getting some fresh air instead of staying indoors and staring at our screens could really help to lift people's mood this winter." ### Northern Ireland is to require incoming travellers to undertake pre-departure testing for Covid-19. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has already set out new rules which, from next week, will require passengers arriving in England by boat, train or plane including UK nationals to take a test up to 72 hours before leaving the country of departure. Failure to comply in England will lead to an immediate 500 fine. This will strengthen our response to the changes seen in the transmission of the virus both domestically and across the globe Robin Swann Stormont Health Minister Robin Swann said: I have agreed in principle to the proposed pre-departure testing regime for Northern Ireland. Officials are currently working with colleagues across the UK to resolve policy and operational issues around an effective implementation. This will strengthen our response to the changes seen in the transmission of the virus both domestically and across the globe. Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defence helping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks. Scotland has announced similar measures to England. Expand Close Officials are trying to resolve policy and operational issues around an effective implementation (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Officials are trying to resolve policy and operational issues around an effective implementation (Liam McBurney/PA) Under Englands new travel rules, passengers will need to present proof of a negative test result to their carrier on boarding while the UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrivals. All passengers arriving from countries not on the Governments travel corridor list will still be required to self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of their test result. Mr Shapps said people whose jobs mean they qualify for travel quarantine exemptions will be required to take a coronavirus test before travelling. The Government lists dozens of jobs that qualify for exemption from completing the passenger locator form or self-isolating, including some defence personnel, elite sportsmen and women, and health workers. From Saturday, all passengers arriving at Irish airports and ports whose journey originates in Great Britain or South Africa will be requested to have evidence of a negative result from a pre-departure PCR Covid-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to arrival in Ireland. 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 Most actors and actresses would take the opportunity of being featured on a major magazine's front cover to show off their most glamorous apparel. But the circumstances of the global pandemic have forced stars to adapt to being at home more often, which Sigourney Weaver has apparently taken a liking to. The 71-year-old actress features on the cover of the upcoming February issue of InStyle and opted for a very casual ensemble for her photoshoot. Dressing down: Sigourney Weaver is pictured casually wearing a striped T-shirt and blue jeans on the cover of the upcoming Feburary issue of InStyle, set to debut on January 15th Weaver was pictured wearing a light blue striped T-shirt with a Donald Duck patch on the upper left side of her chest. The Alien actress was also seen wearing a form-fitting pair of blue jeans to compliment her top. Her curly brunette hair was styled loose and she wore a single necklace and silver bracelet for the photoshoot. Speaking with reference to her dressed-down appearance on the publication's cover, Weaver spoke about how she felt fashion trends would change after the end of the global pandemic; the actress noted that the future differences would be fine with her. Looking forward: Weaver speculated about the coming changes in fashion trends set to occur after the end of the global pandemic, and opined that future formal wear would be 'more personal, more individual' 'Maybe dressing up will become more personal, more individual and more comfortable, which I think is a great thing,' she said. Weaver discussed multiple topics during her interview with the fashion publication, including her beginnings as an actress and how she reacted to her former acting professors dismissing her talent as a performer, which she has reportedly taken as a learning experience. 'They said that I didn't have the talent to be in the business, that they didn't think I should be at the school. It took me many years to get over it....if anyone reads this who's an acting student, do not do what I diddon't take it so seriously and actually believe them.' The three-time Academy Award nominee then spoke about how she proved her detractors wrong and how her subsequent success as an actress has allowed her to modify the parts that she is given, stating that: 'I often have...input.' Weaver elaborated: 'Thats both the advantage and the disadvantage of working with me.' Doing it her way: The actress spoke about how her success as a performer has awarded her the ability to modify the roles that she takes on, stating that 'I often have...input.' Onwards and upward: The Gorillas in the Mist actress discussed how her acting teachers believed that she did not have a future as a performer and advised anyone else in a similar situation to not 'take it so seriously'; she is pictured at the 2001 Golden Globe Awards The Paul actress also gave her opinion on relationship advice and how she believed in looking inward when facing issues with a partner; she has been married to stage director Jim Simpson since 1984 and the two share a daughter named Charlotte, aged 30. The actress opined: 'Ive always believed what they say in the psychology magazinesthat whatever is wrong with your current relationship, youll reexperience it in the next one. So why not stick with this great guy who you found and work things out with him?' Weaver also discussed how her stage name was not the result of a larger play about changing her identity, which many sources have speculated about; the actress was born as Susan Alexandra Weaver. 'I didnt realize what a huge step it was to change my name, or what it probably said about me wanting to go my own way. I didnt see it in that context. I just didnt like being called Susie...and look, now some people call me Siggy, which is just like Susie. You cant escape your destiny.' The February issue of InStyle will be available on newsstands, on Amazon and for digital download on January 15th. Looking back: The actress spoke about how she disliked that her stage name was oftentimes shortened akin to her birth name, and noted that 'You cant escape your destiny'; she is seen in 1998 In March, the first batch with 8 million doses of a vaccine is expected to be shipped to Ukraine under the COVAX Facility. Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko has said Ukraine may get an m-RNA vaccine against COVID-19 in the near future. "We received a letter from COVAX about the possibility of supplying m-RNA vaccines to the country in the near future," he wrote on Facebook. Vaccines for Ukraine: Background In March, the first batch with 8 million doses of the vaccine is expected to be shipped to Ukraine under the COVAX Facility. These doses are enough to vaccinate 4 million people as two jabs per person are required. Medics, senior citizens, and seriously ill patients will get vaccinated first. On December 24, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the vaccine quota as part of the COVAX global initiative from 8 million to 16 million doses. On December 22, Ukraine's Health Ministry approved a plan for vaccination of the population against COVID-19. The goal of this plan is to vaccinate at least 50% of the population of Ukraine (20 million people) in 2021-2022. Read alsoIsrael denies rumors of vaccine smuggling into UkraineOn December 30, the Ukrainian Health Ministry signed a contract for the supply of China's Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine. The purchase provides for 1,913,316 doses at UAH 504 (US$18) per dose. China plans to obtain permission to use the vaccine inside the country and abroad in January next year, and the vaccine will also be submitted for retraining to the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2021. The contract for supplies to the territory of Ukraine has been signed with Lekhim JSC, which, according to official confirmations from Sinovac Biotech, is the only authorized representative of the vaccine manufacturer in Ukraine. Under the terms of the contract, the first batch of 700,000 doses will be delivered to Ukraine within 30 days after official registration in China, or by one of the competent authorities of the United States, Great Britain, the Swiss Confederation, Japan, Australia, Canada, Israel, India, Mexico, Brazil, or under a centralized procedure by the competent authority of the European Union. On January 6, some 13 countries of the European Union called on the European Commission to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, including Ukraine. Reporting by UNIAN Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. DecisionDatabases added the latest report with a global perspective on the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing Market studied under different segments, including type, application, and regions. The report is treated with size, trends, growth, share, and forecast till 2025. Besides, the research report studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall growth at the global level. This report also offers a lucrative area of the industry at the regional and country level. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-30367 According to this study, over the next five years, the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing business, shared in Chapter 3. This Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Lairdthermal ALFA LAVAL BV Thermal Systems Dongxing Opti Temp Beijing Auwii Science & Technology Guangzhou Teyu Electromechanical Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-30367 This study considers the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Liquid-To-Liquid Cooling Liquid-To-Air Cooling Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. IC Manufacturing MEMS Manufacturing Memory Manufacturing Passive Component Manufacturing Others In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-30367 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Chiller Equipment For Semiconductor Manufacturing submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/global-chiller-equipment-for-semiconductor-manufacturing-market-report-2020-by-regions-upcoming-trends-industry-analysis-and-global-demand-till-2025/ UNITED NATIONS (AP) U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Thursday he is sending U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft to Taiwan next week to show what a free China could achieve, an announcement that sparked sharp criticism from Beijing and a warning that the United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action. Pompeo called Taiwan a reliable partner and vibrant democracy that has flourished despite CCP (Chinese Communist Party) efforts to undermine its great success. Chinas U.N. Mission said in a statement from its spokesperson that Beijing firmly opposes Crafts visit. It said that there is only one China in the world and the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of Chinas territory. The United States will not succeed in its attempt to harm Chinas core interests through political manipulation on the Taiwan question, the unidentified spokesperson said. We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. American relations with democratic Taiwan have warmed, largely due to strong bipartisan support in the U.S. Congress, but the Trump administration has also been willing to defy Beijings threats and promote an alternative to Chinese Communist Party authoritarianism. The U.S. outreach to Taiwan has exacerbated tensions between Washington and Beijing over the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. China has been stepping up its threats to bring the self-governing island under its control by military force with frequent war games and aerial patrols. It has been using its diplomatic clout to stop Taiwan from joining any organizations that require statehood for membership. Taiwan left the United Nations in 1971 when China joined and is excluded from all of its agencies, including the World Health Organizations assembly, where Taiwans observer status has been stripped. At the same time, it has one of the most robust public health systems in the world and has won praise for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. Story continues The Trump administration has been pressing for Taiwans inclusion as a separate entity in international organizations like the WHO and the International Civil Aviation Organization. The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said Thursday night that Craft will travel to Taiwan on Jan. 13-15 -- less than a week before the inauguration of Joe Biden and the end of Donald Trumps presidency -- to reinforce the U.S. governments strong and ongoing support for Taiwans international space. Kraft will meet with senior Taiwan counterparts, members of the diplomatic community, and speak at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs on Jan. 14 on Taiwans impressive contributions to the global community and the importance of Taiwans meaningful and expanded participation in international organizations, a mission announcement said. Craft had lunch in September with Taiwans top official in New York, James K.J. Lee, director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, a meeting she called historic. The meeting came just before U.S. Undersecretary of State Keith Krach visited Taiwan in the highest-level visit by a State Department official to the island in decades and met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior officials. Krachs visit followed a high-profile trip in August by U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar, the highest-level U.S. Cabinet official to visit since the U.S. switched formal relations from Taiwan to China in 1979. The U.S. has maintained unofficial ties with Taiwan since the official diplomatic break and is the islands most important ally and provider of defense equipment. 95% of Greek tolls now Dutch-owned under monopoly created by REGGEBORGH and subsidiary VOLKERWESSELS VOLKERWESSELS In defiance of EU competition laws, majority shares in Greek companies GEK TERNA and ELLAKTOR are now owned by Reggeborgh Monopoly allows Reggeborgh to benefit from 32 billion euros of funding originally intended for Greece's Covid-19 emergency relief now redirected to its infrastructure, renewables, and construction industries A complaint before DG Competition has been launched with the European Commission by Mr. Michail Koulas, Ellaktor minority shareholder Netherlands-owned Reggeborgh, has assumed control of 95% of Greek tolls by monopolising multiple Greek markets and defying EU competition regulations. Reggeborgh has acquired minority shares in Gek Terna Group and Ellaktor Group, Greece's two leading business groups in the Construction, Renewable Energy, and Concessions (Handling, Maintenance and Operation of Toll Motorways). By controlling these companies, Reggeborgh stands to benefit from 32 billion euros of Covid-19 emergency relief funding which is being redirected into the country's infrastructure, renewables, and construction. In response, Ellaktor minority shareholder Mr. Michail Koulas has filed a complaint with the European Commission Directorate-General for Competition. According to the Complaint, dated 31.12.2020, Reggeborgh parent company of Dutch Construction/Real Estate Market Leader VolkerWessels follows a strategy of monopolization of Greek Construction, Renewable Energy Sources, and the Concession markets. Reggeborgh acquired the majority shares in Gek Terna (31% since March 2019) and Ellaktor (27% since December 2020). Considering low participation levels in both companies' General Assemblies REGGEBORGH now controls their decision making and management. Reggeborgh now has control of more than 95% of the Concessions market (Handling, Maintenance and Operation of Toll Motorways). Mr. Koulas's complaint details Reggeborgh's anti-competitive practice of abusing its market dominance to extinguish competition in breach of European Union competition law. Reggeborgh has illegally created a dominant and super-dominant position in segments and subsegments (Markets and Submarkets) crucial for consumer wellbeing and distorts competition in the Greek Geographical Market more widely. According to Mr Koulas, his intent is: "To ensure that the concentration at hand is duly examined by the competent competition authorities. Minority shareholders find themselves trapped in a Shareholder Pattern that has not been cleared by competent authorities. Competition and antitrust laws have to be enforced since they are designed to ensure that dominant companies like the Dutch behemoth REGGEBORGH are not allowed to foreclose competition illegally. We're asking the EU to be a neutral party that will examine the facts and enforce the law." Ioannis Papanastasopoulos (Attorney at Law, Managing Partner of EEP Legal) said: "The case has been referred to the Competent Authorities i.e. Directorate General Competition and we expect its immediate action and scrutiny. The subject under examination is rather sensitive, since 32 billion euros of emergency/relief fund for Covid 19 for Greece will be channeled to Greek infrastructure renewables and construction markets." Emmanouil Margomenos (Attorney at Law) senior legal counsel for the team instructed to file the complaint said: "There are obvious implications involved to the GEK TERNA ELLAKTOR acquisition and concentration to a single undertaking. Those two market leaders becoming one entity under single control of REGGEBORGH results in REGGEBORGH controlling every single kilometre of toll motorway in Greece." The European Commission is already reviewing the complaint and will decide whether to open a formal investigation into Reggeborgh 's anti-competitive practices. Ioannis Papanastasopoulos, EEP LEGAL, MANAGING PARTNER View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005397/en/ Contacts: ipapanastasopoulos@eeplegal.com info@eeplegal.com +30 210.32.32.324 +30.69.44.22.07.37 Naveen Patnaik receives letter claiming threat to life, probe ordered India oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P Bhubaneswar, Jan 08: The Odisha government is likely to bolster the security of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik after he received an anonymous letter, claiming that a conspiracy has been hatched to eliminate him. The state government has also ordered an enquiry into the matter, officials said on Thursday. The letter, written in English, said contract killers armed with sophisticated firearms could attack the chief minister anytime. "I would like to inform that some contact killers (illegible).. to kill you. These contact killers are professional criminals, equipped with latest weapons like AK- 47 and semi-automatic pistols. I would like to tell you that you can be killed anytime, so please be aware.. ," it said, adding, the weapons have already been brought to the state. Coronavirus cases: India records 18,139 new COVID cases, 234 deaths in 24 hours The letter also said that the mastermind of the conspiracy lives in Nagpur. Following the receipt of the letter on January 5, Special Secretary (Home) Santosh Bala asked the state's director general of police, director general of intelligence and the commissioner of police, Bhubaneswar, to inquire into the matter. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Bala said the security of the chief minister at his residence, the secretariat as well as during journey to various places may be assessed and tightened. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 11:09 [IST] FRONTLINE workers have spoken out about the chaotic scenes witnessed in their hospitals to raise awareness before its too late, as they fear the stay-at-home message isnt sinking in with the public. Doctors and nurses on the ground have warned that the worrying situation unfolding in Irish hospitals is about to get much worse as the true impact of Christmas will only be felt in the coming week. I dont know how were going to avoid the situation that we saw in countries like Italy, said Rachel McNamara, a ward-based doctor at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). Read More We are going to be overwhelmed in the next few days as people who picked up Covid over the holidays may only begin to feel the real effects now and we dont know how the health system is going to cope, so panic is really setting in. It doesnt feel like people have the capacity to take it as seriously this time around and fatigue has really played a factor. I dont know what to say to warn people that this is coming. People will only come to realise it when they see footage of Ireland in the same position as Italy was in last March, and by then it will be too late. The 14-day incidence rate in Limerick is the third highest in the country, with 1,252.4 cases per 100,000 of the population. Dr McNamara has been working at UHL for the last three years and has never faced anything like this before. The third wave has so far surpassed even her worst fears. Things really feel different this time around, she said. Its a bit lonelier for healthcare workers given that during the first wave the focus was really on protecting the health service and you could see people staying at home, but I think everybody in society has just run out of patience. They only have enough compassion and empathy to keep themselves going now. Back in March when I would have been driving to work it felt like a post-apocalyptic world. When I drove to work this morning, traffic was at an almost normal level. The situation is going to get out of control. Dealing with families whose loved ones died due to Covid-19 has been one of the most difficult aspects for the Limerick doctor. Im worried people are becoming numb to it and seeing less than 10 deaths as a win. How can that be a win? she said. Behind every death is a heartbroken family. The anxiety and stress these people are under because they cant see their relatives is serious. I have never seen the hospital fill up so quickly, its filled with sicker people than before. At the moment were reaching a stage where Im not sure how much more we can take. People have seen family members, friends and relatives who have sailed through the virus and they might have been asymptomatic, and this makes people drop the guard. Read More Some people will be unlucky and the more people with underlying conditions that end up being exposed, the more tragedy were going to end up with. The number of people in the States hospitals with Covid-19 surpassed 1,000 for the first time yesterday. Paul Reid, chief executive of the HSE, described the figure of 1,022 patients as a sad milestone that nobody wanted to happen. Mary Dunne, clinical nurse manager in the emergency department at University Hospital Waterford (UHW), told the Herald her biggest concern is running out of bed space or ventilators. The Government easing restrictions at Christmas and Waterford reaching the All-Ireland hurling final was something of a perfect storm for the county. I was nervous about those events as I expected us to see a surge due to people gathering, she said. Theres plans in place for surges, but were worried about what happens if we go beyond the surge expected. Everyday its getting busier. Sick leave is also an issue as staff are out with Covid and that makes managing the situation harder. Ms Dunne pleaded with members of the public to do their part. Theres a lot of Covid in the community and its hugely concerning, she said. Your health is your wealth. People are worried about exams, but if youre not healthy you cant do your Leaving Cert; you cant do your job without your health you have nothing. Its just for a few weeks so if they would just row in, please God we will get that R number down. Meanwhile, thousands of student nurses will be joining colleagues on the frontline in the coming weeks as their college placements begin. The issue of paying student nurses has been a hot topic since the start of the pandemic, with many working more than 36 hours a week without pay. A report which recommended paying students 100 each week has been described as an insult. Teighlour Fegan (20), a second-year student who will soon be commuting from Wexford to Dublin for her placement, hit out at the treatment of nurses. We, amongst many others are holding up our healthcare system, and all we will receive is a lovely applause from the Government, she said. Were not important enough to get paid, nor do we do real work. It was said by mid-January we could have 2,000 people hospitalised with Covid, but this still isnt enough for the Government to pay student nurses. We sacrifice the health of our families and our own to work on the frontline in this pandemic. There are so many HSE staff out of work sick with Covid or because they are a close contact, and student nurses have to fill these gaps. Weve been told that an allowance of 100 a week will be made to student nurses and this is so insulting for the work we do and it really shows how worthy we are to our Government. Actor Abhishek Bachchan has said that he got an angry call from Ajay Devgn after he tested positive for the coronavirus last year. Abhishek made the revelation on The Kapil Sharma Show, a new promo for the upcoming episode showed. Abhishek was joined by Ajay, as they promoted their new film The Big Bull on the comedy show. Abhishek stars in the lead role of Harshad Mehta, the late stockbroker whose life was dramatised in the recent series, Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story. What did you do during the lockdown? host Kapil Sharma asked Abhishek, who laughed and replied, We did corona. Abhishek and his family, including father Amitabh Bachchan, wife Aishwarya and daughter Aaradhya, all tested positive for the virus last year, and were hospitalised. In a more serious tone, he continued, He (Ajay) was the first to call me. He said, What is this? What is going on? How has this happened to you? Abhishek added, laughing, Then I realised that five or six days before that, hed come to meet me. Also read: Abhishek Bachchan gives epic reply to troll who says If Abhishek wasnt Bachchan, shares pic of a farmer Ajay, who produced The Big Bull, has passed on many roles that were first offered to him, to Abhishek. Bol Bachchan, The Big Bull and two three other projects that came to him (Ajay) first. He said I should not do it. Make it with Abhishek. He himself produced those projects, Abhishek said. The Big Bull is due for release on Disney+ Hotstar. The film also stars Sohum Shah, Nikita Dutta and Ileana DCruz. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10 India on Friday said its Ambassador in Beijing has taken up with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister the issue of 39 Indian sailors stranded on two cargo ships in Chinese waters and requested early approval for crew change for Indian crew members aboard the two 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. Also Read | How US democracy nearly came undone Asked about the issue at an online media briefing, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said the Indian Embassy in Beijing is continuously following up the issue with relevant Chinese authorities. "Our Ambassador (Vikram Misri) has again personally taken up this issue with the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister and requested early approval for crew change for Indian crew members aboard two ships MV Jag Anand and MV Anastasia. The ministry is also in regular contact on this issue with the Chinese Embassy in New Delhi," he said. In view of China's strict Covid-19 pandemic control and prevention measures as well as various travel restrictions in place, the Chinese authorities have outlined detailed steps to ensure the smooth movement of new crew to China to effect crew change, he said. These steps have to be complied by the shipping companies concerned, Srivastava said. With regard to the request of exploring alternative modes of crew change at sea, this possibility has also been taken up by with Chinese authorities, who have indicated that the details for these options are being worked out, he said. "We are awaiting these details from Chinese authorities," Srivastava added. "We will continue to remain in touch with various relevant Chinese authorities as well as shipping companies to ensure that the humanitarian needs of the crew are taken care of and that crew changes can be effected at the earliest," he said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. The year saw 20 homicides in New Haven, the most in the city since 2013, and 121 non-fatal shootings, up from 11 and 78 in 2019. There were 274 incidents of shots being fired, up from 151 in 2019. Chief Otoniel Reyes and other officials considered the year-end crime statistics at the departments weekly Compstat meeting. That was a significant rise, Reyes said, citing the data. But he noted that, on the whole, crime has fallen since 2011, when 34 people were killed and 133 wounded, and since the heights of the 1990s. Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson said the efforts of the department, as well as Project Longevity, to meet with those at risk of being involved in violence, had been disrupted by the pandemic. Along with that, he said, a number of people affiliated with gangs and groups were released from prison after past arrests, returning to the city with old disputes, particularly in the Hill neighborhood. There were 73 shootings considered gang- or group-related in 2020, according to the statistics presented, up from 41 in 2019 and 32 in 2018. A total of 142 people were released back to New Haven this year, as compared to 54 in 2018, Reyes said. This type of crime is the retaliatory stuff I shoot at one person, you shoot back at me because hes their friend its group- and gang-related. We have to get back to the Project Longevity model do the messaging, bring everybody in, talk to them. When a group or gang drops a body after a call-in, go after (them), said Jacobson. We know how to reduce this, and were going to get back to those practices, he said. Project Longevity is a program what works to prevent criminal acts and violence through interventions. It, for instance works to reduce violence by gang members and others by providing them with support and services, as well as making clear that joint local, state and federal law enforcement will occur. Reyes said the gang- and group-related shootings are more preventable for the department, as compared to domestic violence incidents, which are more isolated. That is the slice of the pie that we need to work on, that we need to bring down, because thats the stuff in past years weve been able to prevent, said Reyes. The department seized 144 guns and made 142 gun-related arrests in 2020, Reyes said, as compared to 137 and 172 in 2019. He noted that the department has continued to seize firearms year after year. There are just way too many guns out on the street, he said. In one example of the weapons found in the city, eight guns were seized and nine arrests made in early August in areas of violence that had occurred in about the two weeks preceding it, according to police. Two arrests made Aug. 2, police said at the time, helped stop retaliation for the homicide earlier that morning. This years seizures and arrests were driven largely by street work, Jacobson said. Usually, the department seizes a number of guns through search warrants, but officers were only able to put together and execute about half as many search warrants in a coronavirus-influenced environment. I think thats a resounding indication of the level of productivity that our officers maintained, even in the light of COVID, even in light of the social unrest to policing, Reyes said. Property crime was down 7.3 percent in 2020, according the departments statistics. A total of 4,601 offenses were reported, compared to 4,965 in 2019. On the whole, crime in the city was down 14.8 percent. Reyes said the department responded to the needs of the pandemic in 2020, finding a way to continue to provide services despite the concerns associated with a new disease.. It was a mental challenge for our cops. Our officers have families; they themselves may have some underlying medical condition ... they have children at home, they have elderly parents at home, he said. The grim reality of continuing to provide their day-to-day service while essentially putting themselves in harms way was a dynamic we had to deal with. I think, in terms of outcomes, we were still able to complete our mission and still effectively provide that service to the community without compromising health, but it was certainly very challenging, Reyes said. The departments year-end crime statistics can be viewed on the departments website. william.lambert@hearstmediact.com Schoolchildren were left stunned after the head teacher of a remote Scottish school suffered an electric shock while using a smart board. A probe is under way after Principal Islean Gibson experienced the painful shock during a lesson at Kinloch Rannoch Primary School in Perthshire. The accident happened in front of children in the run-up to the Christmas holidays. Miss Gibson has been recovering at home since the incident. Islean Gibson (above) suffered an electric shock after writing on a smartboard in front of her class. An investigation has now been launched to examine the safety of the equipment The teacher needed medical attention following the painful incident, which happened in the run-up to Christmas as she used a school smart board similar to the one pictured above An investigation has now been launched to establish what went wrong and to determine how safe the classroom equipment is. The smart board, an interactive writing board at the front of the classroom, has been put out of action. It is understood that on an earlier occasion, a child also suffered a shock while touching the machine, which led to a rubber mat being placed on the floor in an attempt to prevent a repeat incident. Young pupils at Kinloch Rannoch Primary School in Perthshire, Scotland, witnessed their head teacher Islean Gibson suffering an electric shock as she attempted to write on a smart board A Perth and Kinross Council spokesman confirmed the teacher was injured while operating a laptop connected to the board. She is now preparing to return to class. 'The staff member left the class following the incident and was then treated by a GP,' the spokesman said. 'Children continued with their learning and were reassured about the safety of the member of staff. 'The equipment that was in use at the time has been decommissioned while an investigation is completed. 'Tests by our electrical compliance officers and Tayside Contracts suggest there is no fault with the equipment and the incident may have been caused by static electricity. 'However, a full independent investigation is now under way to ensure the equipment is safe for use and we await its results.' Local Conservative councillor John Duff, who is also Vice Convener of the Lifelong Learning Committee, said: 'I was very sorry to hear of this incident and that a member of staff at the school received an injury as a result. 'I am glad that the staff member has since been able to return to work and wish her well. A thorough investigation is underway to make sure that the equipment is safe to use.' Fellow Highland ward councillor Mike Williamson (SNP) said he was 'relieved' Miss Gibson was in the process of returning to work. 'I look forward to hearing the results of the investigation and hope that any similar incidents can be prevent,' he said. The remote primary has a roll of just over 20 pupils. New Delhi: Hours after the chaos at Capitol Hill in Washington DC which led to the deaths of four people, US President elect Joe Biden drew comparisons with the Black Lives Matter movement and pointed out the difference in the way the protesters have been treated. Taking to Twitter, Biden wrote: "No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldnt have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol. We all know thats true and its unacceptable." No one can tell me that if it had been a group of Black Lives Matter protestors yesterday that they wouldnt have been treated very differently than the mob that stormed the Capitol. We all know thats true and its unacceptable. Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) January 7, 2021 Earlier on Wednesday, after the violent scenes emerged from the Capitol Hill, Biden denounced the rioters and called them domestic terrorists he even blamed President Donald Trump for inciting his supporters to commit the violence. (They) werent protesters. Dont dare call them protesters. They were a riotous mob insurrectionists, domestic terrorists. Its that basic, Biden said. Further, Biden said the uprising bordered on sedition, adding, The scenes of chaos at the Capitol do not reflect a true America, do not represent who we are. During the Black Lives Matter protests which was triggered after the death of George Floyd -- a Black man who died after a Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee into Floyd's neck. It sparked nationwide protests over the American summer. In many cities, the protesters were met with tear gas, violence and arrests from the police. On January 6, 2021 a group of Trump loyalists ran amok at the US Capitol Hill breaching the security. They clashed with the police, removed barricades, broke glass panes and trashed the House. In police retailiation, four people were killed. While one was shot dead, three others succumbed to injuries sustained during the riots. The Union government has told protesting farm unions it cannot and will not repeal three contentious agricultural laws during the eighth round of talks which took place on Friday at the national capitals Vigyan Bhavan, a farm leader told HT, deepening a stalemate between the two sides. The next round of talks is now slated to take place on January 15. Tens of thousands of farmers are on protest for over a month, demanding the government scraps its pro-reform farm laws approved by Parliament in September. The government has said it cannot and will not repeal the laws, said Kavitha Kuruganti, a farm leader who was present at the talks. ALSO WATCH | Farmers, Centre hold 8th round of talks to find solutions amid protest The first session of the talks, which ended a short while ago, saw the farmers hardening their stand, who said they were interested only in a repeal of the laws. According to Kuruganti, farm leaders raised slogans inside the meet to make their stand clear, We will either die or win. Also read: Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi: UN-designated terrorist, 26/11 mastermind Three Union ministers Narendra Tomar, Piyush Goyal and Som Parkash - who are representing the Centre had met Union home minister Amit Shah before heading into the talks. Farm minister Narendra Tomar, opening the negotiations, said that the three federal laws to open up agricultural markets apply to the whole of the country and many farmer organisations support the laws. The government said it couldnt repeal the laws and is ready to discuss anything farmers find objectionable, Balbir Singh Rajewal, a farm leader, told HT from inside the venue. Rajewal, who opened the negotiations from the farmers side, said the farmers wont give up their agitation unless the laws are repealed. The farmers raised the issue of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Punjab calling protesting farm leaders names and branding them Khalistanis, a reference to the Sikh separatist movement. We told the government that this is highly objectionable. On one hand, the government is negotiating with farmers, while the ruling partys leaders are trying to tarnish our movement all the time, Rajewal said. Also read: Global terrorist Masood Azhar is finally a wanted man in Pak. Dawood next? During a tea break amid talks, the three ministers sat in a separate adjacent room to discuss among themselves. The seventh round of talks, held on January 4, had ended in a stalemate too. While the farmers pressed the government to repeal the three agricultural laws, farm minister Narendra Singh Tomar said it was not possible to commit to a repeal. In the previous round of talks, held on December 30, the government agreed to two demands of the farmers. One, the government had agreed not to pay direct cash to farmers instead of power subsidy for agricultural use, which the farmers argue would increase power costs for them. Two, the government had agreed to keep farmers out of the ambit of an anti-pollution law that prescribes harsh penalties for crop-residue burning. Farmers are demanding a repeal of three pro-reforms laws as well as a legal guarantee for federally fixed minimum support prices. The laws remove restrictions on the purchase and sale of farm produce, lift constraints on stockpiling under the 1955 Essential Commodities Act, and enable contract farming based on written agreements. Western Australia will shut its borders to Queensland from midnight on Friday after a Brisbane quarantine hotel cleaner tested positive for the more contagious UK strain of COVID-19. After declaring Queensland would join New South Wales and Victoria as a 'medium risk' state Premier Mark McGowan said COVID-19 was a "different beast" in 2021 so caution was the best course of action. WA Premier Mark McGowan. Credit:Peter de Kruijff "We all know how easily the original strain of COVID-19 transmits throughout the community, which means this strain sets a whole new benchmark in our fight," he said. "The rule book continues to evolve as does COVID. As a result, we cannot hesitate, we cannot sit back and wait and watch." remaining of Thank you for reading! This is your last free article before you will be asked to subscribe. Already have a paid subscription? Sign in GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Mohammed Abu Shteiwi was woken up on the morning of Jan. 3 by the roar of the bulldozers of the Hamas police force near the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. The dredging operations are one of the largest that included demolitions and bulldozing of Palestinian homes and farms on an area of 55 dunums (13.6 acres) east of Rafah. The Abu Shteiwi family is one of 23 families that have lived in and cultivated this area of land for decades. They were surprised by these bulldozers coming to put an end to their presence in the area, claiming the lands are government-owned. On Dec. 15, the Palestinian Land Authority affiliated with Hamas in the Gaza Strip issued a decision to expropriate these lands with the aim to expand the Rafah land crossing between the Gaza Strip and Egypt for commercial purposes. The residents of these lands men, women, children and the elderly confronted the Hamas security forces as they started destroying their homes and uprooting their trees. Residents hurled stones at them and their bulldozers. Local sources told Al-Monitor that Hamas security forces arrested nine citizens and assaulted dozens of others. Abu Shteiwi told Al-Monitor, We have been living on this land and cultivating it for more than 40 years that is, before Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, and even before the founding of Hamas in 1987. He added, We were surprised by what happened. The bulldozers arrived, escorted by dozens of Hamas security forces who asked us to evacuate our homes and leave our farms where we live. They told us that they needed them to expand the Rafah crossing. They turned a deaf ear to our pleas to stop the demolitions. The families who live on these lands have no other shelter. On Jan. 4, Abu Shteiwi posted on his Facebook page videos and photos showing his displaced family members entering a tent. He commented, No person has the right to take away my home, my property, my farms, under the pretext that the lands are government-owned. Mofid al-Arja, head of a family of seven that also was displaced from land in Rafah, told Al-Monitor, Our only job is cultivating this land and selling its crops in the markets. Now we are homeless and jobless. Arja called on Hamas leader in Gaza Yahya Sinwar to provide financial compensation to the affected residents and provide them with housing and jobs. Maher Abu Sabha, head of the Palestinian Land Authority in the Gaza Strip, told Al-Monitor, These lands are government-owned and their residents do not hold title deeds proving their ownership. We allowed them to live on these lands and cultivate them but this does not mean they have acquired them. These lands are being expropriated for a public benefit, which is the expansion of the Rafah land crossing. Ashraf al-Shaer, one of the notables and elders of the Rafah tribes, told Al-Monitor, Hamas allegations that these lands are government-owned are not true. They are registered at the real-estate property department of the municipality of Rafah as nongovernment lands. All the houses built on them are licensed by the municipality and receive all municipal services. He added, In the event of a dispute between the authorities and the owners of these lands regarding the claim that these lands are government-owned, the authorities ought to resort to the judiciary. But the authorities forcibly expelled the residents from these lands. Meanwhile, Mayor of Rafah Anwar al-Shaer issued a statement on his Facebook page Jan. 4, denouncing the expropriation of these lands by a decision of the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian Land Authority and its enforcement by its police. In his statement, Shaer said, The Land Authority has confiscated an area of 55 dunums of citizens' lands in al-Salam neighborhood, east of Rafah, for the purpose of expanding the Rafah commercial crossing based on a government decision to expropriate these lands. He explained that this procedure and its subsequent execution were planned without referring to the relevant authorities, namely the Rafah municipality, and the owners of these lands. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Shaer said, Government authorities must reconsider the decision to expropriate these lands given its disastrous repercussions on their inhabitants, who are left without jobs or shelter. These lands have been exploited for decades for agricultural and residential purposes and it is illogical to expropriate them simply because their residents do not have a title deed. He explained that more than 90% of the lands of Rafah are inhabited by more than 155,000 citizens today who do not have a title deed. Should the government expropriate these lands, most of the city's residents would be displaced from their homes, he warned. The Hamas security forces actions in Rafah were met with widespread anger from citizens on social media. Journalist Tamer Qeshta wrote on Facebook Jan. 5, The [denouncing] position of the Rafah municipality regarding the project to expand the crossing, the expropriation of lands and the demolition of homes and greenhouses proves beyond any doubt that the ruling authority is a totalitarian authority and is continuously working to control all aspects of life as much as possible. In his comment on the statement of the Rafah municipality, lawyer Hamdan Abu Omran urged the affected people to file lawsuits for redress and compensation for the homes and farms that were destroyed. Activists launched a Facebook page Jan. 4 in support of those whose lands were confiscated west of the Rafah border crossing. The page documents demolitions, the uprooting of trees and displacement of residents, and calls for returning these lands to their owners. In this Feb 1, 2020, file photo, a fire burns in the grass near Bumbalong, south of the Australian capital, Canberra. Australia has sweltered through its fourth-hottest year on record despite the usually cooling impact in recent months of the La Nina climate pattern, the nation's weather bureau said on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft,File) Australia sweltered through its fourth-hottest year on record last year despite the recent return of the usually cooling La Nina climate pattern, the nation's weather bureau said on Friday. The wetter-than-average 2020 followed Australia's hottest and driest year in 2019 that came to a catastrophic conclusion with wildfires fueled by drought that killed at least 33 people, destroyed more than 3,000 homes and razed 19 million hectares (47 million acres). Globally, 2020 is likely to be recognized as the world's third-hottest on record once climate data for December is calculated, Bureau of Meteorology head of climate operations Andrew Watkins said. La Nina, the cooler flipside of the better known El Nino, was declared in the Pacific Ocean in September. La Nina occurs when equatorial trade winds become stronger, changing ocean surface currents and drawing up cooler deep water. Waikins said the La Nina cycle usually sets in between March and May, but the weather pattern did not impact Australia's temperatures until October. "You could say that the fourth-warmest year on record is our warmest La Nina year," Watkins said. "But this year started very hot and dry and ended more like La Nina. So it's arguable whether you'd say it was really influenced for enough of the year to expect it to be cooler," he added. In this Jan. 8, 2020, file photo, a firefighter backs away from the flames after lighting a controlled burn near Tomerong, Australia, in an effort to contain a larger fire nearby. Australia has sweltered through its fourth-hottest year on record despite the usually cooling impact in recent months of the La Nina climate pattern, the nation's weather bureau said on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft,File) In this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo, flames from the Morton Fire consume a home near Bundanoon, Australia. Australia has sweltered through its fourth-hottest year on record despite the usually cooling impact in recent months of the La Nina climate pattern, the nation's weather bureau said on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) In this Jan. 23, 2020, file photo, firefighters battle the Morton Fire as it burns a home near Bundanoon, Australia. Australia has sweltered through its fourth-hottest year on record despite the usually cooling impact in recent months of the La Nina climate pattern, the nation's weather bureau said on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. (AP Photo/Noah Berger, File) The hottest temperature in Australia for 2020 was 48.9 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) recorded at the height of the wildfire emergency at Penrith in New South Wales state on Jan. 4. It was the hottest temperature ever recorded in the Sydney area. Australia's other hottest years were 2013 and 2005. Australia's daily temperature was 1.15 degrees Celsius (2.07 degrees Fahrenheit) above average last year and rainfall was 4% above average despite a parched start to the year. Explore further Earth just had its hottest September on record 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. As public health officials in Alabama coordinate a vaccination campaign to bring an end to the pandemic, a new, more contagious variant of COVID-19 threatens the states already overwhelmed healthcare system. The new strain, now widespread in the UK, has been identified all around Alabama in neighboring states of Georgia, Tennessee and Florida. This highly communicable strain, which is more contagious than the regular strain, is very likely distributed across the country and (is) contributing to the increase in cases that were seeing, said William Schaffner, professor of infectious disease at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Scientists began looking for the variant strain several weeks ago, Dr. Rachel Lee, an epidemiologist at UAB, said in a press conference Wednesday. I have a feeling that the variant has been in the United States a little bit longer than what we realized, she said. The strain has spread widely in the UK, where experts believe it is 70 percent more infectious. That recently prompted a strict lockdown across the United Kingdom, where residents are once again being told to stay home. It also caused other nations to limit travel from the UK. According to Schaffner, unlike the UK, the United States is not tracking viral strains, due partly to a lack of funding. No one has an assessment of that in the United States, and thats in part because we dont have the capacity to sequence that many viruses, he said. The new variant may be spreading in Alabama at a particularly difficult time. Certainly (this) could take what is already a very, very serious and critical situation and make it catastrophic, said Don Williamson, head of the Alabama Hospital Association. The states hospitals are seeing a surge of COVID-19 hospitalizations, nearly double from a month ago, exacerbating staffing shortages. All but 4 percent of Alabamas ICU beds are full, and hospitals lack bed space for cancer patients undergoing surgery. They are delaying other non-COVID procedures, Williamson said. UAB Hospital is currently housing some cancer patients overnight in nearby hotels. Dr. Tom Weida, chief medical officer at the University of Alabamas medical center, said the impact of the new strain may be mitigated by a vaccine, depending on how quickly it is administered. If folks are not taking precautions, (like) wearing masks, we can see a more significant rise in cases, he said of the new strain. Now that is going to be balanced some with the fact we are starting to vaccinate people. According to Weida, the variant is more contagious because of the way it attacks the body. That does not make mask wearing or social distancing less effective. This variant doesnt make it easier for the virus to get past the mask. It doesnt make it any easier for it to resist hand washing. What it does is it makes it easier for it to get into a cell once it gets into the body, he said. Dr. Landers and other state health experts say there is no reason to believe the vaccine will be less effective against the new strain. While there is information that this strain could be more contagious, we do not have an indication that it causes more severe disease, and we do not have an indication that the presence of this strain changes our vaccine strategy, she said. Nationwide, Alabama is among states that have administered the lowest number of vaccines relative to shipments received. Alabama has vaccinated 42,810 people, mostly frontline healthcare workers, as of Thursday. Thats about a fifth of the nearly-quarter million vaccines the state has been allocated. When it comes to Alabamas hospitals, Williamson said they are short-staffed and under pressure, but he hesitates to estimate what it would take to get to the point of rationing care. If (the variant) becomes the dominant strain before we are able to get a vaccine into enough people, said Williamson, Were going to have an awful lot more cases. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. Hot. High 93F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight A mostly clear sky. Low 68F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. School leavers are urged to take advantage of a generous $5,000 payment to help them relocate for their further studies following a tumultuous Covid-affected year. The Morrison government launched the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) to help regional and remote students looking to begin their tertiary study in a new area in 2021. Minister for government services Stuart Robert said this will help those students who suffered through a year of lockdowns and uncertainty in 2020. The Morrison Government launched the Tertiary Access Payment (TAP) which offers $5,000 to regional students and remote students looking to begin tertiary study in 2021 (stock) 'It has been truly inspirational to see the class of 2020 rise to the challenge and now we are encouraging you to claim early to give you more time to prepare for the next exciting chapter in your life,' he said. He said the payment will help students from rural, regional and remote Australia with their relocation costs. But Labor education spokesman Tanya Plibersek said the payment was only created after the federal government hiked up university course fees. 'If Scott Morrison wanted more country kids to have the chance to go to university, he wouldn't be more than doubling the cost of a basic degree to a staggering $58,000,' she told news.com.au. 'These young people will graduate with crippling debts at the same time as they are trying to get a permanent job, save a deposit for a house, or start a family. 'Scott Morrison should explain why he's deliberately making life tougher for our kids.' Labor education spokesman Tanya Plibersek said the payment was only created after the federal government hiked up university course fees (stock) To be eligible for the grant, school leavers have to meet the Youth Allowance requirements and are under the age of 22 on the first day of their new course. The applicant will also be looking to relocate due to the fact that their family home is further than 90 minutes by public transport from their place of study. The parents' income will also have to be within the threshold. Children of parents who earn a combined $250,000 are not eligible. The grant will be offered in two installments, $3,000 in the first semester and the rest in the second. In 2019, Gary Community School Corporation only graduated 57.9% of the class cohort. Only 7.8% of its 3rd to 8th graders tested on grade-level in English and Math, and only 11% of 10th graders were on grade-level in English and Math, Prince said. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards unveiled the missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location today The underground base is 'one of several bases' housing the strategic missiles Last year, the Guards said Iran had build underground 'missile cities' along Gulf Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards unveiled an underground missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location today, Iranian state media reported, at a time of heightened tension between Tehran and the United States. 'The base is one of several bases housing the Guards' Navy's strategic missiles,' the state media quoted the head of the Guards, Major General Hossein Salami, as saying. ADVERTISEMENT Scores of military trucks equipped with the anti-ship weapons were seen lining the walls of the underground tunnels of the secret base. Last year, the Guards said Iran had built underground 'missile cities' along the Gulf coastline, warning of a 'nightmare for Iran's enemies'. It comes as tension mounts between Iran and the US, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today using the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building by Trump supporters to ridicule the country and their 'American values'. He also called for the lifting of sanctions on Iran imposed by the US. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards unveiled an underground missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location today, Iranian state media reported 'The base is one of several bases housing the Guards' Navy's strategic missiles,' the state media quoted the head of the Guards, Major General Hossein Salami, as saying Head of the Guards, Major General Hossein Salami (left), announced the secret underground missile base with Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri (right) Last year, the Guards said Iran had built underground 'missile cities' along the Gulf coastline, warning of a 'nightmare for Iran's enemies'. Pictured: Missiles on display during an inauguration of a new missiles military base Click here to resize this module 'These missiles have ranges of hundreds of kilometres, enjoy pinpoint accuracy and huge destructive power, and can overcome the enemy's electronic warfare equipment,' Salami said. He said the base, which is filled with the anti-ship weapons, was 'one of several bases housing the Navy's strategic missiles'. There have been periodic confrontations in the Gulf in recent years between the Guards and the U.S. military, which has accused the Guards' navy of sending fast attack boats to harass American warships as they pass the Strait of Hormuz. There were a series of attacks on tankers belonging to Saudi Arabia and its allies last year, which were blamed on Iran. 'These missiles have ranges of hundreds of kilometres, enjoy pinpoint accuracy and huge destructive power, and can overcome the enemy's electronic warfare equipment,' Salami said Scores of anti-ship missiles are placed under the careful watch of soldiers in the underground missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location In May, four tankers - two belonging to Saudi Arabia, one to Norway and one to the UAE - were struck by explosions near the UAE in the Gulf of Oman. An investigation by the UAE, America and France concluded that holes in the vessels were likely caused by explosive charges placed near the waterline. ADVERTISEMENT The US said Iran was responsible for the attacks, though they may not have directly carried them out. That was followed by more attacks in June on two tankers, this time owned by Japan and Norway, in the same stretch of water. There were a series of attacks on tankers belonging to Saudi Arabia and its allies last year, which were blamed on Iran, including on two vessels owned by Japan and Norway in June (pictured) America has blamed Iran for the attacks, releasing this image which Washington says shows the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps removing an unexploded mine from one of the tankers America again accused Iran of being behind the attacks, saying an unexploded limpet mine was found on the side of one of the vessels. The US also released footage which it claimed showed boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps returning to one of the ships after the blast to remove and unexploded mine. The attacks led to spiralling tensions around the Gulf which saw Tehran shoot down an American Navy drone, which in turn almost led to the US bombing Iran. President Trump ordered strikes against several IRGC bases, but called them off at the final moment. Last year, there were months of tensions around the Arabian Peninsula which has seen attacks on tankers, drones and oil facilities Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when Trump withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal, signed under Barack Obama. The deal - which was also backed by European powers including Russia - had promised the regime economic benefits in return for curtailing its nuclear programme in a way that would stop it developing weapons. Trump tore up the deal in 2018 by reimposing crippling sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with the deal by accelerating its enrichment of uranium and rebuilding stockpiles. The President has said he wants to negotiate a new deal with Tehran, but Iran has refused to enter fresh talks, urging the US to return to the terms of the original deal. ADVERTISEMENT While European countries have tried to establish economic measures to skirt the American sanctions, these have been largely ineffective. Trump tore up the nuclear deal in 2018 by reimposing crippling sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with the deal by accelerating its enrichment of uranium and rebuilding stockpiles In a live televised address to the nation, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today demanded the US lift its 'brutal sanctions' on the country. He also said Tehran was in no rush for the U.S. to rejoin a 2015 nuclear deal. Khamenei said: 'We are not insisting nor in a hurry for the deal. But what is logical is our demand [that] is the lifting of the sanctions. These brutal sanctions must be lifted immediately.' Potentially complicating efforts by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the nuclear deal, Iran said on Monday it had resumed 20 per cent uranium enrichment at its Fordow underground nuclear facility. In a live televised address to the nation, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today demanded the US lift its 'brutal sanctions' on the country The U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran had started the process of enriching uranium to 20 per cent purity. Tehran says it can quickly reverse its breaches if U.S. sanctions are removed. Biden, who takes office on January 20, has said the United States will rejoin the deal if Iran resumes strict compliance with the pact. The developments come as Iran issued Trump a second arrest warrant on Tuesday for the drone strike that killed top general Qasem Soleimani. Trump along with 47 other US officials were the subject of an Interpol 'red notice' request for their involvement in the drone strike in Baghdad last year. General Qasem Soleimani the architect of Iran's foreign policy in the Middle East who saturated the battlefields of Iraq with high-tech IEDs to mutilate US soldiers, at a meeting in Tehran in September 2016 'The Islamic Republic of Iran is very seriously following up on pursuing and punishing those who ordered and executed this crime,' judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told reporters. The aggression coincides with the first anniversary of the assassination of Soleimani, the architect of Iran's foreign policy in the Middle East who saturated the battlefields of Iraq with high-tech IEDs to mutilate US soldiers. Soleimani was slaughtered by a missile fired from a USAF MQ-9 Reaper aircraft along with Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as their motorcade pulled out of Baghdad airport. The developments come as Iran issued Trump a second arrest warrant on Tuesday for the drone strike that killed top general Qasem Soleimani. Pictured: Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei at a press conference today Iranian Supreme leader Khamenei today paid tribute to the Iranian top general and Iraqi commander Iranian Supreme leader Khamenei today paid tribute the pair and said: 'I thank God and the dear people of our country for their epic movement in commemorating the anniversary of the martyrdoms of dear Soleimani and Abu Mahdi. 'I also sincerely thank the Iraqi brothers and sisters for their massive, stunning turnout in honouring these martyrs.' The killing of the second-most powerful man in Iran came at the height of tensions in the region, with numerous assaults on US personnel and on the embassy in the Iraqi capital, as well as the shooting down of a US drone over the Persian Gulf and the impounding of oil tankers. In June, a prosecutor in Tehran issued an arrest warrant for Trump and dozens of other Washington officials, saying that they were responsible for 'murder and terrorism.' Interpol, based in Lyon, France, rejected that request on the basis that it does not intervene in 'activities of a political, military, religious or racial character .' ADVERTISEMENT It will almost certainly dismiss Tehran's latest effort on the same basis. The United States has called on Vietnam to release all people "unjustly detained" and to allow individuals "to express their views freely, without fear of retaliation," according to State Department principal deputy spokesperson Cale Brown. The statement came out Thursday after Vietnam delivered "harsh sentences" at a quick trial Tuesday in Ho Chi Minh City to three members of the Independent Journalists Association (IJAV). Pham Chi Dung was sentenced to 15 years in prison and Nguyen Tuong Thuy, and Le Huu Minh Tuan were sentenced to 11 years each. The U.S. urges the government "to ensure its actions are consistent with the human rights provisions of Vietnams constitution and its international obligations and commitments," Brown said. According to the court verdict, Pham, 54, a prominent writer and founding member and president of IJAV, military veteran Nguyen, 69, and the younger Le "had regularly been in contact with regime opponents" before their arrests in 2019 and 2020. The trios behavior posed "a danger to society... causing separation in social unity and people," the court verdict said. In recent months, the Vietnamese government has stepped up its crackdown on dissent, arresting many of its critics. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) All classes in Manila and most work in the city government are suspended on Saturday for the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Manila Mayor Francisco Isko Moreno Domagoso signed an executive order on Friday, which also prohibits the sale of liquor and other alcoholic beverages within the Quiapo District, where masses will be held in the absence of the traditional Traslacion or procession which was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Moreno said the suspension of work and classes would allow devotees to participate in online activities to mark the feast. This covers classes in all levels and work in all departments, offices and bureaus in the city government, except for frontline services. Meanwhile, the suspension of work in the national government offices or private companies in the city is left to the discretion of their respective managements. Aside from the ban on liquor sale in Quiapo, Moreno also reiterated the strict prohibition against drinking in public places, to ensure peace and order during the Black Nazarene feast. Authorities are still expecting an influx of devotees at the Minor Basilica in Quiapo despite the cancellation of Traslacion. Historically, the annual procession draws millions of barefoot devotees who flock to the heart of Manila to witness the transfer of the venerated image of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church. This year, masses will instead be held at the Basilica and in other selected churches. Quiapo Church officials said on-site attendance will be limited to 400 devotees per mass. Moreno and the Department of Health have appealed on the Catholic faithful to refrain from visiting the churches and attend online masses instead to avoid crowding and prevent further spread of the coronavirus disease. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Locally heavy thunderstorms in the morning will give way to partly cloudy skies late. High 74F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low around 45F. Winds N at 15 to 25 mph. A record number of Americans died from COVID-19 on Wednesday and Thursday, according to data compiled by Worldometer. At least 4,100 people were confirmed to have succumbed to the virus on Wednesday, while the next day 4,134 were added to the death toll. Registered nurse Kyanna Barboza tends to her COVID-19 patient at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange, Calif. Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Over the last week, the US reported an average of 2,742 deaths every day, a record that is only surpassed by the record set just over two weeks ago just before the Christmas and New Years holidays disrupted reporting. The total number of American dead since the pandemic started in March now exceeds 374,000 people. According to an analysis from Reuters, almost 1 in every 914 US residents has died from COVID-19 in less than a year. The number of new daily cases continues to increase with no end in sight. On Wednesday, the US reported 261,212 new cases, well above the weekly average of 228,925, already a record high number. Experts fear that these figures will translate into further hospitalizations and deaths, making January the worst month of the pandemic so far. The worst outbreaks are in Arizona, California and West Virginia, which all reported record daily deaths, based on weekly averages, according to Johns Hopkins data. The weekly average continues to increase by at least 5 percent in 47 states and the District of Columbia, suggesting an expanding outbreak. According to the COVID Tracking Project, founded by journalists at The Atlantic, there were more than 132,400 Americans hospitalized with COVID-19 on Wednesday, the highest number yet. A refrigerated semi-trailer sits outside a hospital in Southern California as it waits to be loaded with bodies (Credit: WSWS) On the same day that Trump supporters tried to storm the US Capitol, the D.C. health department announced it would halt administering vaccinations early. The days violence prompted the citys mayor to declare a 6 p.m. curfew and delayed the certification of Joe Bidens victory in the 2020 presidential election. The governments disastrous rollout of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines has exacerbated the already tense situation. Officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Trump vaccine czar Moncef Slaoui have publicly expressed their disappointment with the speed of inoculations that should have happened by now. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 5.3 million doses have been given of the total 17.2 million doses currently available. Officials have expressed their desire for a faster rollout this month. According to official guidelines vaccines will be administered to all people 75 or older next month, in addition to educators, childcare workers, emergency technicians, as well as food and agricultural workers. From there, residents 65 years or older will be next in line, followed by transport and logistics workers, and those working in essential manufacturing and crowded settings, such as homeless shelters and jails. Meanwhile, conditions on the ground in Los Angeles Countycurrently a global epicenter for the virusare worsening every day, as officials have been forced to ration care and prevent EMTs from responding to all emergency calls in a desperate effort to prevent hospitals from being further overwhelmed. In a statement to the Los Angeles Times, Methodist Hospital in Southern California reported that a triage team will make the difficult, but necessary decisions about allocating limited resources to the sickest patients based on the best medical information available. So far the team has yet to find the need to ration any care, according to the hospitals senior vice president and chief strategy officer, Cliff Daniels. He added, however, We are very fearful of what the next month is going to bring. Many hospitals are already past the breaking point, as evidenced by the announcement on Wednesday by Dr. Mark Ghaly, Californias Health and Human Services secretary, who said that he could not say how many facilities are at the crisis care level outlined by the states Department of Health. In a statement he said, I do not want to ignore the criticality of the situationthe fact that we have hospitals who really are dealing with crisis situation(s), adding Theyre making difficult decisions. They are exhausted. They are working hard to meet the needs of Californians, in particular many older Californians, who need that level of care. The situation in California is especially acute. According to data compiled by the Times, almost 1 in every 16 Californians have tested positive at some point for the coronavirus, which is more than 2.5 million confirmed cases. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer told the Times, There really is no path forward to helping our hospitals unless we get the case numbers down. There just isnt. Supplies of critical equipment, such as ventilators, are becoming extremely limited, with some hospitals reportedly rationing their use for patients who are deemed more likely to survive over patients who are unlikely to recover. The Methodist Hospital released a grim statement this week saying, If a ventilator or ICU is not offered or is stopped, the patient has the right to ask their doctor for further detail regarding this decision, and will receive everything needed to ensure that they are free of pain or discomfort. The newly appointed state public health officer and director of the California Department of Public Health, Dr. Tomas Aragon, issued an order postponing all but the most essential lifesaving surgeries in Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley. Paramedics have even been sent from Northern California to the southern half of the state through a mutual aid system. The majority of nonessential surgeries at Los Angeles Countys four publicly operated hospitals have been postponed, as well as non-urgent and elective surgeries in Kaiser Permanente hospitals throughout the state. The explosion of cases throughout the US after the holiday season was entirely predictable and preventable, but due to the bipartisan ruling class homicidal policy of herd immunity the population has been left to mainly fend for itself in the face of the pandemic. The WSWS spoke to a health care worker on the front lines of the pandemic in California who spoke about the latest guidance on rationing medical care for new patients: Usually when there is a cardiac arrest in the field, paramedics work to keep them stable and bring them to hospital where they enter into the care of an Emergency Medicine doctor. An entire team of specialists tend to them, nurses, doctors, and respiratory therapists. Ive seen them work for 45 minutes to try to revive a patient. What this order is saying is that if the field paramedicsand not a team of specialistscannot get a pulse after 20 minutes or until futility is reached then they can declare the patient deceased, but 911 paramedics are not equipped to make these decisions. The worker described the gulf between the training of an emergency medical technician (EMT) and that of a doctor who should be making these calls, saying, EMTs only go through nearly as much training as nurses and physicians. They are not trained to see underlying causes of cardiac arrest, sometimes you can correct that and bring the patient back. We go through years of training to pick up on what may be underlying issues. It may be a blood clot, an imbalance in potassium level, or they could be diabetic and their blood sugar is too low and they go into cardiac arrest. EMTs may not realize they are diabetic. We can imagine a situation in which they declare someone dead who just needed a glucose shot. What everyone needs to understand is that this could be anyone, COVID or not. Stroke, heart attack, trauma. Anyone who is in cardiac arrest, unable to get a pulse within 20 minutes or until futility paramedics pronounce them dead on scene. But this is a slippery slope, what is futility? The health care worker said they were deeply concerned for the paramedics who do not want this responsibility and must face families in despair. I am sure that the EMTs dont want this, I cant imagine what they are going through. This is a lot of moral injury happening to them. Moral injury is sometimes called burnout, but that does not explain it as well. Moral injury is where you feel like you cant do your job because you do not have tools to do it, because the corporations want to maximize the profits. It causes severe depression, anger, you cannot sleep before your shift. You dread it the entire day and night before. I have experienced this and sensed it among many coworkers. I have seen nurses commit suicide over it. It is especially prominent in female nurses. COVID-19 vaccine is already available in the United Kingdom and the United. Public health authorities require the residents in both countries to take two shots of the available coronavirus vaccine. You need to take the second shot of the vaccine a few weeks after the first jab was administered. The vaccinated people should get some degree of protection within two weeks of the first jab. According to Independent UK's latest report, the second COVID-19 vaccine shot will give you full protection against the deadly novel coronavirus. For Moderna's vaccine, people should wait four weeks before taking the second jab. In the case of Pfizer and Germany's BioNTech, those who were vaccinated need to wait three weeks before taking the second shot. Is it really required to wait for weeks? As of the moment, it is still unclear if the required waiting weeks is extremely required for the people in the United Kingdom and the United States. They are the two countries that are currently rolling out the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccine, which require two doses given four weeks apart. On the other hand, the U.K. stated that allowed to delay the boosters for as long as 12 weeks. The country is doing this so that more people could take the first shots of the vaccine and give them at least some degree of protection. Also Read: The Truth Behind 'Confidential' Document Allegedly Showing 5G Chip Inside COVID-19 Vaccine Revealed However, the U.S. halted the method since the regulators claim that there's no scientific explanation that backs up the strategy. But, there's still a major concern regarding the delayed taking of the second shot. Researchers and medical experts haven't released any confirmation regarding the period of the first dose's partial protection. "There is no data to demonstrate that protection after the first dose is sustained after 21 days," said Pfizer via Independent UK. Regulators in the United States also explained that only a few people were delayed in taking the second COVID-19 vaccine jab. This means that they don't have enough data to support the new method of taking the second shot. Who should take the COVID-19 first? Before you take the COVID-19 vaccine jab, you must get a COVID-19 test first. However, not everyone is advised to take the test. CDC released a guideline that people should follow before taking the test. This was published so that those who really need it could get it as soon as possible. Individuals who made close contact with infected people should have the test first. This is within six feet for a total of 15 minutes or more. People who are showing COVID-19 symptoms should take the coronavirus test first. Those who were referred by the healthcare provider, either state or local health department, should get the test as soon as possible. Individuals who participated in massive gatherings should get the COVID-19 test first. Why? Because they are at higher risk for the virus since they can't social distance properly during the activities or other events. For more news updates about COVID-19 vaccine guidelines, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: COVID-19 New Variant B117: Details About the Coronavirus Mutation, Will the Current Vaccine Work? This article is owned by TechTimes. Written by: Giuliano de Leon. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Beijing, Jan 8 : Located along the Yangtze River, former fisherman Song Bin's fish restaurant touts the finest view of the Liziba station, a landmark of southwest China metropolis Chongqing where sky trains running through a residential building are an everyday feature. Song, 47, used to serve his guests with delicious dishes aboard his own ship on the Yangtze River, Xinhua news agency said in a report. Back then, Chongqing, a major city in the upper reaches of the Yangtze, beckoned droves of tourists by its quintessential combination of the majestic river view and fine dining. Behind the marvelous dining pleasure were leftovers stealthily dumped into the waterway by some ships despite a government ban. On January 1 this year, a 10-year fishing ban took effect in pivotal waters of the Yangtze, after 332 conservation areas along the river enforced the fishing ban a year ago, to help the river recover from dwindling aquatic resources and degrading bio-diversity. President Xi Jinping has attached great importance to the ecological protection of the 6,300-km-long Yangtze, China's longest and the world's third-longest river, as well as the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt which covers nine provinces and two municipalities and accounts for more than 40 percent of the country's population and economic aggregate. The status and role of the river and the economic belt mean the development along the river must prioritize ecology and "green development" to respect natural, economic and social rules, Xi, also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, said as he presided over a meeting on advancing the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt in Chongqing on January 5, 2016. The Yangtze River boasts a unique ecological system. Restoring its ecological environment will be an overwhelming task and no large-scale development will be allowed along the river at present and for a rather long period to come, he said at the meeting. In recent years, provinces and municipalities along the river have stepped up conservation efforts for controlling pollution and pursuing green, high-quality growth. Over the past five years, a large number of highly polluting and energy-intensive enterprises have been shut down, and more than 8,000 chemical enterprises along the Yangtze have been closed, transformed, or relocated, Luo Guosan, an official with the National Development and Reform Commission said earlier this week. Song is one of about 230,000 fishermen who relied on the river for their livelihoods but have now embraced new lives after moving ashore. He opened a restaurant and rented a farm for fish breeding to produce ingredients for his restaurant, using the government's compensation for the fishing ban. A total of 415 fishermen in Chongqing's Jiangbei district bade farewell to their boats and have found new jobs. "We support the ban and hope that it will allow the Yangtze River to rest and recuperate," he said. Efforts should be made to strengthen the protection and restoration of ecological and environmental systems and coordinated work on the upper, middle, and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, Xi said at a symposium on comprehensively advancing the development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt held November last year in Nanjing city, in the lower reaches of the river. The restoration of the ecological environment of the Yangtze River should be a major priority, Xi said, adding that the establishment of a mechanism should be accelerated whereby protection and restoration of the ecological environment shall be reasonably rewarded, while those responsible for the destruction of the ecological environment shall pay their due price. Hunan province in the river's middle reaches has closed and dismantled all 39 illegal wharves along the Yangtze River mainstream while restoring the ecological environment there. The province has also planted trees covering more than 1,300 hectares along the river. Hu Cunku, a former fisherman near Dongting Lake in the Yangtze basin in Hunan, has joined 500 other former fishermen and become a "fish protector", earning a monthly income of 3,000 yuan ($463) from the employment opportunity offered by local authorities in Yueyang City. "Fishing used to be our livelihood and now protecting fishery is for future generations," said Hu, who patrols the lake every day. As of mid-October 2020, all registered 28,148 fishermen in Hunan had stopped fishing and over 97 per cent of those willing to work had found alternative means of livelihood. Song, who continues to reside by the riverside in Chongqing, is surprised to spot rare visitors like black-headed gulls and wild ducks. "The water is even clearer than it used to be about 20 years ago when I started fishing," he said. 3 1 of 3 Contributor file photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Twitter: Diego Bernal Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Via a tweet on Wednesday, San Antonio state Rep. Diego Bernal pointed out Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's silence on social media after a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. During and after the siege Wednesday, Texas lawmakers on both sides of the aisle condemned the president's supporters for storming the Capitol, forcing congressional members into hiding and to flee the building. The lawmakers were in the process of certifying President-elect Joe Biden's win in November when the mob broke into the building. London, Jan 9 : Mayor of London Sadiq Khan declared a "major incident" in the British capital as rising coronavirus cases are threatening to overwhelm hospitals. The London mayor on Friday said that he is "declaring a major incident because the threat this virus poses to our city is at crisis point", Xinhua news agency reported. "If we do not take immediate action now, our NHS (National Health Service) could be overwhelmed and more people will die," he said. According to the mayor, the number of confirmed cases in London has increased rapidly with more than a third more patients being treated in hospitals now compared to the peak of the pandemic last April. "Our heroic doctors, nurses and NHS staff are doing an amazing job, but with cases rising so rapidly, our hospitals are at risk of being overwhelmed. The stark reality is that we will run out of beds for patients in the next couple of weeks unless the spread of the virus slows down drastically," he added. There are currently around 830 admissions to London hospitals per day, up from around 500 before Christmas, which could rise further over the next two weeks, according to The Guardian newspaper. A "major incident" is defined as being "beyond the scope of business-as-usual operations, and is likely to involve serious harm, damage, disruption or risk to human life or welfare, essential services, the environment or national security". Major incidents have previously been called for the Grenfell Tower fire in June 2017 and the terror attacks at Westminster Bridge and London Bridge. Britain reported a further 1,162 coronavirus-related deaths in the latest 24-hour period, the highest daily death toll since April 21, official figures showed Thursday. This brought the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain to 78,508, the data showed. Britain also recorded another 52,618 coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 2,889,419, the data showed. To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the United States have been racing against time to develop coronavirus vaccines. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) DENVER and WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- David Kilcullen, CEO of Cordillera and one of the leading figures in the field of guerrilla warfare, has warned that this week's attack on Capitol Hill "looked a little like the opening move of a colour revolution, as seen in Ukraine, Serbia, Georgia or the Arab Spring". In an essay published yesterday at The Australian, Kilcullen describes that there is, in the United States, a "sizeable active component for a revolt, with a far larger sympathiser network and support base". Cordillera advises multiple city governments in the United States on urban public safety. The author, a former Australian-American military officer now based in Denver, identifies a dangerous pattern in yesterday's disorders in the United States' capital: "Revolutions often begin with massive peaceful protests over a contested election. These lead to violence, which triggers a government crackdown, which provokes insurrection, international condemnation and, often, regime change." The specialist, who has written five best-selling books on security, is considered the world's top insurgency expert. In his article at The Australian, Kilcullen warns that further acts of violence may happen in the next two weeks, marked by a conflict among left-wing populists, right-wing populists, and an establishment that includes elites from both political parties. "Each has its peaceful political players, its mass street activists and its violent extremists," he emphasises. "The notion of an inevitable, peaceful democratic transfer of power is dead," he sums up. Kilcullen served as the Special Advisor for Counterinsurgency to the Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice, and senior counterinsurgency advisor to General David Petraeus time Commanding General of United States, and international forces in Iraq. He also worked as chief counterterrorism strategist at the U.S. State Department, operating in the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, Africa and Southeast Asia, including operational activities in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan. During 22 years in the Australian army, Kilcullen was deployed in East Timor, Bougainville, and the Middle East. His latest book, The Dragons and the Snakes, has been described by The Times of London as one that "should be read by everyone in uniform". Along with David Kilcullen, Cordillera is directed by COO Alex Case, vice-president Roman D. Ortiz and vice-president and U.K. director, Gordon Pendleton. The company provides geopolitical analysis and risk management to governments, corporate clients and NGOs in North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa. The firm's suite of technological tools, and its distributed operations model, enables Cordillera to help clients adapt and thrive throughout the complex world that will arise as a consequence of the COVID-19 health emergency. Cordillera Media Ramon Pedrosa [email protected] +356 7946 7486 www.cordillera-apps.com SOURCE Cordillera Applications Group More than 30 healthcare providers associated with Texas universities have enrolled to become COVID-19 vaccine distribution sites, according to the Texas Department of Health Services. Rice University President David Leebron announced Friday that it applied to the state to receive enough doses of vaccines for its students, faculty and staff. We do not yet have official word on when we will receive the vaccines, but we are hopeful they will arrive sometime in February, Leebron wrote in a statement to the Rice community. Prairie View A&M University, Texas Southern University, Texas A&M University and University of Houston are among the 34 colleges in the process of registering with the state to become vaccination sites. If approved, the sites would allow the centers to receive, store and administer COVID-19 vaccinations to students who choose to be immunized. We have procured the necessary cold and ultra-cold storage to meet the CDC requirements for COVID-19 vaccine management, should UH be chosen as a distribution site, Shawn Lindsay, spokesman for UH said in an email to the Houston Chronicle. The Lone Star Circle of Care at UHs clinic has also applied to be a vaccination site which would provide immunizations to the broader community. Lindsay added that the timeline of when the state and local health officials will give institutions approval, however, is unknown. A Texas Education Coordinating Board spokeswoman said higher education institutions have been encouraged to become vaccination sites and must comply with the Texas Department of State Health Services requirements. The process can be challenging, said Olga Rodriguez, associate vice president and chief of staff of the Texas A&M Health Science Center. As of Dec. 22, 34 university-affliated health providers have enrolled, but there are likely more in the process of enrolling and obtaining approval, according to the Texas Department of Health Services. The application notes that those interested in becoming a vaccination site must have the ability to maintain cold chain conditions and chain of custody at all times in accordance with the manufacturers package insert and CDC guidance. This refers to the Pfizer vaccine, which requires ultra-low freezers that maintain temperatures of -80 degrees Fahrenheit. Rodriguez said Texas A&M submitted applications Monday to become vaccinaters for its physician practice plant and for its workforce for the dentistry, pharmacy, nursing, and medicine departments, which will account for about 2,000 faculty, staff and students who are in clinical rotations or settings. We have the storage capacity for Pfizer and our application to enroll as vaccine provider, but if the state decides to give Moderna, we at least have those freezers, Rodriguez said. Rodriguez said the university, which has been involved in contact tracing efforts, also had to acquire data loggers that track the temperature of the freezers 24 hours a day, as well as a backup logger, which are calibrated in a specific way to monitor the vaccines. Right now, healthcare workers are the priority, and like other institutions, A&M will await federal and state guidance on vaccinating students, Rodriguez added. We will also look to see if A&M will also participate in community distribution of vaccines but thats depending on the strategy that the state wants to take on that, Rodriguez said. University of Texas at Austins UTHealth was one of the first institutions to begin vaccinations. They received about 3,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine and began distributing them earlier this month at no cost to health workers who have volunteered. The vaccine is distributed in a two-shot series. Amy Young, chief clinical officer of UT Health Austin, said in a virtual press conference in mid-December that healthcare providers are the priority for vaccinations and that in regard to vaccinating students and the community, the university will also adhere to the latest recommendations from the state and the CDC. Health officials still stressed that the UT community should continue social distancing and wearing masks and that members of their community should limit their social interaction in the seven days before returning to campus and to limit social interactions after arrival. Were not out of the woods yet, but we want to encourage people to participate, said Terrance Hines, executive director and chief medical officer of UTs University Health Services. He noted that the goal is to get as many people vaccinated as possible, but unlike meningitis immunizations, which are required through state law before students attend school, the COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary. Its a personal decision and one that everyone is concerned about, Hines stressed. We want to encourage people to make that informed decision themselves. brittany.britto@chron.com Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday confirmed that the state will receive 13,90,000 vaccine shot in a day or two. The state minister was visiting a hospital where the dry run of Covid-19 vaccination was being conducted earlier today. Sudhakar told the media, "The big good news for Karnataka is that I have received information from the Union Health Ministry that tomorrow or the day after probably we will be receiving 13,90,000 vials of vaccine for the state. It's big happy news for all of us," Sudhakar said. Also Read: Virus spread slows but two states still a worry Earlier today, Sudhakar video conferenced Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and detailing the meeting, he said the central government has provided 24 lakh syringes for the vaccination drive. "We have 10 walk-in coolers, 4 walk-in freezers, 3,201 ILRs, 3,039 deep freezers, 3,312 cold boxes, 46,591 vaccine carriers and 2,25,749 ice packs. The Central government has also provided 64 Large ice-lined refrigerators (ILRs) with a capacity of 225 litres each. Remaining 2 walk-in coolers and 1 walk-in freezer will be received from the Centre," he added. He also said the vaccination will be first administered to health care workers. "We have registered 6.30 lakh healthcare professionals in Karnataka till date. Those who are left out, maybe in some medical or dental colleges, we have requested them to register," he said. The Health Minister said 6.30 lakh healthcare workers serving in both Government and private sector have registered for vaccination and the window for registration is still open. After the healthcare workers are vaccinated, people with co-morbidities, those above 60 years and those in other departments like police and revenue working against the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccination dry run COVID-19 vaccination dry run is on at a total of 263 different health facilities across Karnataka on Friday. It is being held in 24 district hospitals, 20 medical colleges, 43 taluk hospitals, 31 community health centres, 87 primary health centres, 30 urban primary health centres and 28 private facilities in the state. The Minister who visited some facilities here, where the dry run is going on said, arrangements and preparedness were quite good, and the process is being followed as per the guidelines issued. The first round of the dry run, an exercise for end- to-end testing of COVID-19 vaccination process was held in in five districts of Karnataka- Bengaluru (including BBMP), Belagavi, Kalburgi, Mysore and Shivamogga- on December 2 as per the government of India guidelines. According to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, there are 9,196 active coronavirus cases in Karnataka, 9,02,817 recoveries and 12,124 deaths. (With inputs from agencies) Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. 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 Hyderabad, Jan 8 : There was tension at the University of Hyderabad campus on Friday as the police detained a group of students for protesting against the alleged encroachment on university land for building a road. Alleging that the construction of a road for the Telangana Non-gazetted Officers' Associations' colony on the university land would destroy biodiversity in the campus, the varsity students staged a protest. The Hyderabad police detained the protesting students and took them to R.C. Puram police station. Wildlife activist and state Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad co-convenor Rohit Bondugula told IANS that he along with 14 other students were detained by the police. He alleged that the police obstructed a peaceful protest and manhandled the students. The students alleged that the authorities demolished 100 feet of the compound wall near the Indian School of Business to build the road. They claimed that the state government gave no prior notice to the varsity authorities. Saying there was already a road leading to the colony, the students questioned the need for building another road. The university has become a hotspot for land encroachers supported by the government, they said. "There have been continuous attempts by private builders with the help of the authorities to encroach on the university land," the students said. They claimed that there have been a series of land encroachments over the last one decade. In 2020 alone, there were two major land encroachment attempts. There were such incidents in 2019 and 2018 as well for the construction of a road on the university land. Another major encroachment took place in 2013-14. The detained students pointed out that the university campus is listed in urban forests and is rich in biodiversity. "There had been several trespassing and poaching offences. This latest attempt will give a boost to poaching and trespassing into the forest, pose a threat to wildlife and lead to security concerns for female students," they said. The varsity campus is home to more than 200 species of birds and many wild animals such as monitor lizards, porcupines, wild boars, spotted deer, peacocks, Asian palm civets and many other endangered species. . . . are you reading now? Ive had the most dreadful year of reading, like many other people I know. What should have been the year of Ulysses, Proust and the lesser performed Shakespeare plays became, instead, weeks staring vacantly at CNN coverage of the U.S. election offset by 1930s Hollywood screwball comedies and a sneaky addiction to the This Dog Has Now Been Rehomed column on dogsblog.com. So while Ive continued to read (good habits are hard to break), very little has really engaged me this year. With two exceptions Hilary Mantels glorious The Mirror And The Light, which I savoured over the course of a month, and my current read, Mantel Pieces, her essays on everything from John Osborne to the needlessly controversial Royal Bodies (which enraged David Cameron and Piers Morgan so much they no doubt briefly considered actually reading it). Meg Rosoff (pictured) would take James Thurbers essay, The Dog That Bit People to a desert island Having seen just a handful of people over ten months, I only want to spend time with those I love. Ive never met Hilary Mantel so I hope shell excuse the onesidedness of our relationship. . . . would you take to a desert island? Despite having spent more than half my life in Britain, I cant escape (and Lord knows, Ive tried) the fact Im American. Which means that James Thurber shows up prominently in my DNA. As a child, I begged for a dog and, eventually, was allowed an Airedale terrier, who lived up to every cliche by biting the postman, the milkman and any male visitor. Which could explain why Thurbers essay, The Dog That Bit People, reduces me to helpless laughter no matter how many times I read it. Heres how he describes Muggs the Airedale: A big, burly, choleric dog, he always acted as if he thought I wasnt one of the family. There was a slight advantage in being one of the family, for he didnt bite the family as often as he bit strangers. So, Ill pack a copy of Thurbers Dogs for my year in the Maldives. . . . first gave you the reading bug? I cant remember what I read last week, much less which book turned me into a reader half a century ago. Meg revealed Catch-22 (pictured) gave her the reading bug No doubt I was born a reader, but Catch-22, which I read at about age 15, caused an explosion in my brain. It was so funny and so dark, so weirdly constructed, ridiculous and profound. This was probably the moment that I realised writing didnt have to be restrained and polite. It was a free-for-all if you were clever enough. . . . left you cold? Im a serious William Golding fan but Lord Of The Flies annoyed me at 14 and still maddens me today. All those power and war-hungry schoolboys! As if war were a social inevitability. I was thrilled to discover that, in 1965, six boys were shipwrecked off Tonga, cooperated beautifully for 15 months and emerged friends. The Great Godden by Meg Rosoff (Bloomsbury 12.99) was shortlisted for the 2020 Costa Childrens Book Award. Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat has ordered a magisterial inquiry into the Haridwar mishap in which four people died after being run over by a train on Thursday evening. In a tweet, Rawat said the district magistrate (Haridwar) would initiate an inquiry into the incident. He tweeted, Got the tragic news that some people have died while coming under a train. I express my deep condolences to the kin of those who have died and wish speedy recovery of the injured. Four people were crushed to death by a train which was on trial run on Laksar-Haridwar railway line on Thursday evening. The accident occurred near Jamalpur railway crossing in the rural segment of Haridwar. An investigation has been ordered by divisional regional manager, Northern Railways, Tarun Prakash, into this accident. Prakash said the accident occurred 200 metres from railway crossing 14 at Jamalpur village. The train was on trial run to test the newly laid Haridwar-Laksar double line track with its speed, which was earlier 50km/hr on single line, being 100 km/hr. Jwalapur station house officer Praveen Koshyari said the bodies of the deceased have been sent for post-mortem and identification process is underway. Extended lockdowns in response to the continuing surge in Covid-19 infections in Europe has quashed hopes that fuel demand on the continent could rebound in the first half of the year, Reuters has warned. Citing data from the Oxford stringency index, which tracks school and office closures and travel restrictions, the report notes that most of Europe is in the grips of the most severe movement restrictions, which is affecting fuel demand negatively. Traffic data supports the warning, as Germany and Italy extend lockdowns that were already in place and England introduces a third national lockdown to contain the virus. The new lockdown will be in force until mid-February. The German lockdown was extended to the end of January, and Italy plans to reopen on January 15. Europes oil demand was already lower in the final quarter of 2020 compared with the third quarter, as countries began to lock down again in response to the climbing infection numbers, with the International Energy Agency noting the trend in the December edition of its closely watched Oil Market Report. Now, based on the new data, it appears that the trend will extend and perhaps even accelerate, in light of the lower than expected vaccine rollout due to logistical problems and vaccine skepticism not just among the general population but among medics, too. Restrictions are not returning in Europe only. The United States is also tightening Covid-19 containment measures, which has added fuel to negative oil demand expectations. In fact, China seems to remain the one bright spot on the oil demand map at the moment. And yet, demand may return to pre-pandemic levels, at least according to IHS Markits Daniel Yergin. Last month, Yergin told Al Arabiya in an interview that he expected oil demand to return to its levels from before the pandemic in late 2021 or early 2022. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Actress Kangana Ranaut, who appeared at the Bandra police station along with her sister Rangoli Chandel in connection with a sedition case filed against her and her sister, took to Twitter to tell her fans that she was grilled at the police station for hours. She further added that she has left the city to shoot for her upcoming film Dhaakad in Bhopal. Kangana tweeted, "If you are anti India you will find lot of support, work/rewards, and appreciation. If you are a nationalist then you will have to stand alone, be your own support system and appreciate your own integrity. After hours of grilling at police station on my way to Bhopal #Dhaakad." If you are anti India you will find lot of support, work/rewards, and appreciation. If you are a nationalist then you will have to stand alone, be your own support system and appreciate your own integrity. After hours of grilling at police station on my way to Bhopal #Dhaakad pic.twitter.com/BqGrldzBvx Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 8, 2021 A few hours ago, before appearing at the police station, Kangana also appealed to her fans to take a stand for her and tweeted, "Why am I being mentally, emotionally and now physically tortured? I need answers from this nation.... I stood for you it's time you stand for me ...Jai Hind ." Why am I being mentally, emotionally and now physically tortured? I need answers from this nation.... I stood for you its time you stand for me ...Jai Hind pic.twitter.com/qqpojZWfCx Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) January 8, 2021 Meanwhile, according to a leading daily, the Queen actress failed to appear before the officials at 12:00 pm, and was rather late by an hour. She arrived at the do at 01:05 pm and left the place around at 03:10 pm. A source told NDTV, "Only two hours of questioning have been done. We need to record her statements regarding more than 100 tweets that she had put on Twitter." For the unversed, a complaint was filed against the Ranaut sisters in October 2020, for allegedly creating hatred and communal tension through their posts on social media. ALSO READ: Furious Kangana Ranaut Blasts Comedian Saloni Gaur For Mocking Her: There Is A Market For My Excretion Also On a related note, ever since actor Sushant Singh Rajput breathed his last on June 14, 2020, Kangana has been constantly in the headlines owing to her outrageous statements and allegations against the film industry and celebrities. While many a times she was lionised by the netizens, other times, she was criticised for speaking her mind. It is yet to be seen how Kangana comes out of this situation. ALSO READ: When Kangana Ranaut Spent Her Entire Bank Balance On One Moschino Dress! All children seem to be mad about dinosaurs, many of us never outgrowing that fascination. Dinosaur exhibitions are among the best-attended events at international museums, while there have been five films in the Jurassic Park franchise since 1993, with another in the pipeline. Anyone requiring a dinosaur hit over the holidays might consider a trip to Maitland Regional Art Gallery (MRAG), where Andrew Sullivan has a show called Survey into the Cretaceous. Its one of several attractions at the MRAG, including Fieldwork, a travelling exhibition of Federation era Australian landscape painting from the Art Gallery of NSW (until February 7), and a survey of works by Ken Done, from 2000-2017 (until February 21). Sullivan is probably the unluckiest artist who ever got involved with the Archibald Prize. While painters such as Jenny Sages or Jiawei Shen have had portraits included in the show on numerous occasions without ever securing a win, Sullivan has been rejected year after year. Andrew Sullivan, A Survey Into the Cretaceous (Art, Science, Knowledge and Wisdom). Credit:Galerie Pompom Against one Archibald inclusion in 2003, he has made no fewer than 16 appearances in the Salon des Refuses. If the Trustees of the AGNSW were reliable judges of art, one would have to conclude that Sullivan was a hopeless painter but theyre not, and hes not. One look at this work reveals a talented artist who strives to inject wit and intellectual depth into canvases produced with a painstaking realist technique. Sullivans conscientiousness may be part of the problem. Looking at one of the graduate shows recently I was dismayed by the volume of works that were aimless, shapeless, and generally de-skilled. It seems were entering another of those mini-dark-ages when fundamental skills such as drawing are devalued, being viewed as an unbearable stricture on the free flow of creative energy. By now we should have realised this free flow almost always results in an aesthetic omelette. Having succumbed to this philosophy many graduates may eventually feel cheated by three or four years at college from which they have emerged with nothing more than an attitude. Some will enrol at the Julian Ashton Art School to learn how to draw. Regional Tripura keen to continue supplying 160 MW electricity to Bdesh Agartala, Jan 8 (IANS) | Publish Date: 1/8/2021 11:56:11 AM IST Tripura, which has been supplying 160 MW electricity to Bangladesh for the past five years, is keen to continue providing power to the neighbouring country and has approached the Indian government to settle the formalities for the same, Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma said on Friday. Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb met Union Minister of State for Power (independent charge) R.K. Singh in New Delhi on Thursday and urged him to take necessary steps so that the state can continue to supply power to Bangladesh. Deb subsequently tweeted: Had a fruitful meeting with Honble Minister of State (IC) for power Shri @RajKSinghIndia & requested him to extend the Power Supply Agreement for sale of 160 MW power to Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) on existing terms & conditions. He proactively assured his full support. Dev Varma, who holds the power, finance and rural development portfolios, said that as Tripura has surplus electricity, the state is keen to continue to supplying power to Bangladesh. The five-year term of the power supply agreement with Bangladesh will expire in March. The agreement must be renewed to continue supplying power to Bangladsh from Tripura, Dev Varma told IANS. He said that the state government in the past few months has been in touch with the Centre to finalise the necessary official formalities between the two countries in this regard. A senior official of the Tripura State Electricity Corporation said that the state has been earning profit of around Rs 45 crore annually by supplying electricity to Bangladesh. Last year, we had supplied 40 MW of electricity to Nepal, but the supply has been discontinued now as Nepal did not approach the Indian authorities afresh, the official told IANS on condition of anonymity. Tripura had started supplying 100 MW power to Bangladesh from the state-owned ONGC Tripura Power Company (OTPC) power plant in March 2016. The power supply has subsequently increased to 160 MW. The NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam (NVVN) is the nodal agency to supply power to Bangladesh from the Tripura power project, the official said. He said that electricity is being supplied to Bangladesh and most of the northeastern states from the 726 MW generation capacity OTPC gas-based power plant at Palatana, 65 km south of Agartala. The OTPC, a joint venture company of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Infrastructure Leasing and Financial Services Ltd, IDFC Bank and the Tripura government, set up the 726-MW project at Palatana in June 2013. According to officials, the OTPCs combined cycle power plant, which is the largest gas-based power plant in the northeast, is meeting around 35 per cent of the power requirement of seven northeastern states, excluding Sikkim. The Rs 10,000 crore Palatana power plant is an unique example of the cooperation between New Delhi and Dhaka, which ensured the passage of heavy project equipment and turbines to Palatana in southern Tripura through Bangladesh territory. A US Capitol police officer is the latest to be confirmed dead after a mob of President Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol on Wednesday. Four other people died during the stunning attack at the heart of American democracy as mob members vandalized the building and assaulted police officers. One woman was fatally shot by police and three people died of apparent medical emergencies. Several DC Metropolitan Police officers were also injured during the insurrection, police Chief Robert Contee said. One officer had significant facial injuries from being struck by a projectile, and another officer was hospitalized after being pepper-sprayed. Here's what we know about the people who died: Officer dies after being injured Capitol Police released a statement saying Officer Brian D. Sicknick passed away Thursday night 'due to injuries sustained while on-duty.' Officer Sicknick was injured while physically engaging with the rioters and collapsed after returning to his division office. 'He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,' the Capitol Police statement said. Officer Sicknick joined the USCP in July 2008, and most recently served in the Department's First Responder's Unit. 'The entire USCP Department expresses its deepest sympathies to Officer Sicknick's family and friends on their loss, and mourns the loss of a friend and colleague,' Capitol Police added. His death is now being investigated. Sicknick was originally from South River, New Jersey, and the youngest of three sons, according to a statement issued by his brother on behalf of his family. Sicknick 'wanted to be a police officer his entire life,' his brother Ken said, and joined the New Jersey National Guard in his pursuit of that goal. According to a statement from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's office, Sicknick was a staff sergeant for the New Jersey National Guard. He served as a fire team member and a leader of the 108th Security Force Squadron, 108th Wing, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Murphy's statement said. Sicknick's service included two deployments -- one as part of Operation Southern Watch and another as part of Operation Enduring Freedom, Murphy said. Sicknick's family was 'very proud' of his service to his country, Ken Sicknick said. 'Brian is a hero, and that is what we would like people to remember,' he said. Air Force veteran fatally shot by police A woman was fatally shot by a US Capitol Police employee as the mob tried to force its way toward the House Chamber where members of Congress were sheltering, US Capitol Police said in a statement. The woman was given medical assistance immediately and taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Authorities identified her as Ashli Babbitt, a 35-year-old from Huntington, Maryland. Babbit's mother, Michelle Witthoeft told CNN on Thursday she was devastated to learn of her daughter's death. 'I loved and admired her greatly,' Witthoeft said of Babbitt. 'She served this country boldly and proudly.' Babbitt was an ardent Trump supporter who held strong political views, her mother said, and was 'passionate enough to die for what she believed in.' Babbitt, who was previously married but separated from her husband in 2019, frequently attended pro-Trump rallies. She flew to Washington, DC, from San Diego, California, with the intent to participate in the protest this week, her mother said. 'Her political views were strong and adamant, and she voiced them whenever she could,' Witthoeft said. A CNN review of Babbitt's social media accounts determined Babbitt frequently voiced support for President Trump and other conservative figures on Facebook. She also shared content promoting political conspiracy theories often pushed by far-right figures. Babbitt served as a senior airman in the US Air Force from 2004 to 2008 under the name Ashli Elizabeth McEntee, according to military records. She was a member of the Air Force Reserve from 2008 to 2010 and was in the Air National Guard from 2010 until November 2016, records show. 'She served in the United States Air Force and was deployed four times and came back safely, only to have her own country shoot her down,' Witthoeft said tearfully by phone. The US Capitol Police employee who shot Babbitt has been placed on administrative leave and their police powers have been suspended pending a joint Metro Police and USCP investigation, USCP said. 'This is a tragic incident, and I send my condolences to the victim's family and friends,' Metro Police Chief Contee said. Two people who saw the shooting, left-wing activist John Sullivan and documentary filmmaker Jade Sacker, provided CNN with video of the incident and described the moments beforehand. Sullivan said rioters were using flag poles and other items to smash glass windows inside the Capitol. The woman then tried to make her way through the window when several people with guns came out through the doorways. 'The second that she climbed through the window she got shot right in the neck area, fell backwards,' Sullivan said in an interview that broadcast on CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360.' 'I just remember the sense of shock and sorrow that somebody just died and did not need to die.' The woman was trying to enter an area that did not yet appear to have been breached by rioters, Sullivan said. 'It was an area that was completely blocked off,' he said. 'They had chairs up against the doorway, tables, so people couldn't get in.' Three others dead Three other people who had come from out of state died of 'medical emergencies' during the riot, police said. 'One adult female and two adult males appear to have suffered from separate medical emergencies, which resulted in their deaths,' Contee said. 'Any loss of life in the District is tragic and our thoughts are with anyone impacted by their loss.' They were identified as Benjamin Philips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania; Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama; and Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Georgia. The three were on the grounds of the Capitol when they experienced their medical emergencies, Contee said. Greeson had a history of high blood pressure and suffered a heart attack amid the excitement, his family said in a statement to CNN. He was an advocate of Trump and attended the event to show his support. 'He was excited to be there to experience this event,' the statement said. 'He was not there to participate in violence or rioting, nor did he condone such actions.' The family says they are devastated by the loss. 'Kevin was a wonderful father and husband who loved life,' the family statement said. 'He loved to ride motorcycles, he loved his job and his coworkers, and he loved his dogs.' Boyland's family is also mourning her death, her brother-in-law, Justin Cave, told CNN affiliate WGCL. The family is still working to learn more details about the specifics of her death, he said. As the family watched Wednesday's events, they hoped that Boyland wasn't among the crowd, Cave said. 'Tragically she was there and it cost her life,' he said. 'She was a wonderful sister, daughter, and aunt. Anyone who knew her knows how compassionate she was, she always put others before herself,' Cave said. DC Fire and Emergency Medical Services transported people to area hospitals with injuries ranging from cardiac arrest to multiple fractures after falling from scaffolding on the West front of the Capitol building. However, city officials did not say whether any of these people are the ones who died. Correction: Earlier versions of this article misspelled the last name of Benjamin Philips. Lucknow, Jan 8 (UNI) Condemning the statement of a member of the Women's Commission over the alleged rape and murder case of a woman in Uttar Pradeh's Badaun, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Friday said that women will not forgive this administrative system and vilification. Ms Vadra posted on her Facebook wall on Friday, "Will we be able to ensure women safety with this behaviour? Member of the Women's Commission is blaming the victim for the rape. The Badaun administration is concerned about how the post-mortem of the victim, who exposed the truth about the case, was leaked?" In a warning-like tone, she said, "Remember that at this time, the Moradabad victim is fighting a battle between life and death in another horrific rape case. The women will not forget this administrative system and mindless statements." Notably, National Women's Commision member Chandramukhi Devi had on Thursday visited the home of the victim family in Badaun and had sought information from the police officials. Later, while talking to journalists, she said that had the victim taken a member of her family along while going to the temple during the evening, this heinous crime could have been prevented. She added that the culprits should get stringent punishment, saying that the negligence of police has come to the fore in this case. Had the police been active, this incident could have been averted. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had on Sunday ordered an SIT probe into the incident. Three people including the main accused have been arrested in connection with the case. The SHO of the concerned police station had earlier been suspended for negligence in the case. UNI YK JAL 1415 Prime Minister Narendra Modi will meet chief ministers of all states on Monday to discuss plans on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout and the pandemic situation across the country. Daily new Covid-19 cases in the country went below 20,000, on Friday. The nation reported 18,139 new Covid-19 cases, 20,539 recoveries, and 234 more deaths. India's death toll has now crossed 1,50,000. Stay tuned to DH for the latest updates. Star Wars stunner Billie Lourd discussed motherhood, her favorite book written by her late mother Carrie Fisher, and more in a Radio Andy interview airing in full this Friday at 1pm EST. The 28-year-old new mother was grilled by none other than her stepfather Bruce Bozzi, who wed her father CAA co-chairman Bryan Lourd in 2016 when she was 14. Billie surprised everyone on September 24 by announcing the birth of her son Kingston Fisher three months after announcing her engagement to fiance Austen Rydell. Airing in full this Friday at 1pm EST! Star Wars stunner Billie Lourd discussed motherhood, her favorite book written by her late mother Carrie Fisher, and more in a Radio Andy interview All in the family: The 28-year-old new mother was grilled by her stepfather Bruce Bozzi (L), who wed her father CAA co-chairman Bryan Lourd (2-L) in 2016 when she was 14 'He's not technically a quarantine baby,' Lourd said on SiriusXM show Quarantined with Bruce. 'And I want to make that known because a lot of people are having trendy quarantine babies Kingston was conceived before quarantine. So he's technically just a Caribbean baby.' The Los Angeles native called the coronavirus pandemic a 'blessing in disguise' because she got to keep the news all to herself. 'Only my family knew and nobody else knew, like everyone was so surprised when we posted that little picture of his feet,' Billie told the 54-year-old Palm Restaurant Group VP. 'He's not technically a quarantine baby': Billie surprised everyone on September 24 by announcing the birth of her son Kingston Fisher three months after announcing her engagement to fiance Austen Rydell Lourd said on SiriusXM show Quarantined with Bruce: 'I want to make that known because a lot of people are having trendy quarantine babies Kingston was conceived before quarantine. So he's technically just a Caribbean baby' 'He is the best dad in the world': In 2016, the Los Angeles native began dating the 28-year-old Moon Brothers musician - whose grandfather is On Golden Pond director Mark Rydell - but parenthood brought them even closer together 'It got to just be something I shared with the people I loved the most, which was so incredible and made my pregnancy so magical and wonderful, which I did not expect it was going to be, but it turned out to be the greatest experience I got to just eat great food, hang out with the people I love, do Legos all the time. I took a HypnoBirthing class and I just, I loved being pregnant.' In 2016, Lourd began dating the 28-year-old Moon Brothers musician - whose grandfather is On Golden Pond director Mark Rydell - but parenthood brought them even closer together. 'He was so caring and incredible and cooked for me and gave me foot massages. And [he] did these classes with me,' the Joe Biden supporter gushed. 'He did the lactation class, he did the positive birthing class. So he was with me every step of the way. And we just became even closer friends, even better partners. And I think it prepared us to be the best parents and he's sitting out there with the baby right now. And he is, as you know, the best dad in the world. And I think that's partially because we got to have this experience together.' 'It's so incredible': Billie also revealed her top three books written by her late mother (R) - Surrender the Pink, Postcards from the Edge, and Delusions of Grandma Lourd marveled of the 1994 tome: 'It's structured with letters to me while she's pregnant with me. I've got to reread it now that I've had a baby I think that it would be a total different experience and so incredible' Billie also revealed her top three books written by her late mother - Surrender the Pink (about her marriage to Paul Simon), Postcards from the Edge, and Delusions of Grandma. 'It's so incredible and it's structured with letters to me while she's pregnant with me,' Lourd marveled of the 1994 tome. 'I've got to reread it now that I've had a baby I think that it would be a total different experience and so incredible. But I was supposed to be named Esme, which thank god I wasn't, sorry to anybody who's named Esme. It's a beautiful name but I prefer Billie. It's super, super sweet and great.' Sadly, Fisher passed away, age 60, in 2016 from sleep apnea/drugs and the next day her famous grandmother Debbie Reynolds died, age 84, from a stroke. Tragedy: Fisher passed away, age 60, in 2016 from sleep apnea/drugs and the next day her famous grandmother Debbie Reynolds (M) died, age 84, from a stroke (pictured in 2015) RIP: The Joe Biden supporter inherited their $18M Beverly Hills compound and her mother and grandmother share a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills (pictured in 2018) The NYU grad inherited their $18M Beverly Hills compound and her mother and grandmother share a crypt at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. Billie said she 'hopes to work again soon' with Olivia Wilde, who directed her as drug-crazed teen Gigi in the 2019 hit indie comedy Booksmart. 'I'm so proud of Olivia and so excited for Olivia. She's amazing. I mean, she was up until 7am with us, like dancing, playing music, like she was so, her energy level was equal to everyone else's which is,' Lourd said. 'That's so rare in a director and what she really had. And she pushed us all to our limits and in the best way, and like gave us wings literally. And it was just the best experience.' The Will & Grace guest star will next appear in the mysterious 10th season of America Horror Story, which premieres later this year on FX. 'I'm so proud of Olivia': Billie said she 'hopes to work again soon' with Olivia Wilde (R), who directed her as drug-crazed teen Gigi in the 2019 hit comedy Booksmart (pictured in 2018) As COVID-19 continues to spike, according to the latest reports, Chinese officials order a city to be placed under lockdown protocols which is a home for 11 million individuals. China Locks Down Part of Province Based on the officials who are handling the situation, there are 120 reported new cases in the province of Hebei, which is only the neighbor of the country's capital, Beijing. According to the South China Morning Post, all but one of those detected cases were found in the city of Shijiazhuang. Despite the movement on the vaccination process of Beijing in its population, a lot of citizens are still concerned regarding the increasing number in the province of Hebei and the district of Gaocheng. Aside from the initial restriction imposed by the officials in China which is to ban all of the residents from leaving the city of Shijiazhuang, they have also residents of the Gaocheng District from making any movement, which is a home for close to 800,000 individuals. In order to ensure and contain the said spike in the infections, the head of the transport bureau of the city shared on Thursday that city of Shijiazhuang had suspended all of the means of transportation that are leaving the city to avoid further infections outside the area. The said lockdown will also allow the officials handling the situation to continue its mass testing all over the city. Before the lockdown, the local government had tested an estimated two million persons by Wednesday. According to some experts regarding the current pandemic, they are not only concerned about the current large spike of cases, as it is also alarming that the coronavirus had been spreading in the area for some time unnoticed and undetected, CNBC reported. Read Also: Capitol Chaos: DC Mayor Announces Extension of Emergency Declaration Until After Biden's Inauguration Based on the experts who examined the single case that was detected outside the city of Shijiazhuang, which is in the neighboring city of Xingtai, which is one of the oldest cities in Northern China, with gene sequencing results indicating that the case is similar to 'European strain.' The coronavirus threat in the cities in the province of Hebei has been heightened based on some experts due to existing respiratory illnesses and diseases that the population has, as the cities are considered the most polluted cities and cities with the worst air quality, and in the past, Xingtai even ranked first in the cities with worst air quality in China along with Shijiazhuang. According to the report of Al Jazeera, the new cases spike as Beijing currently attempts to vaccinate the majority of its population ahead of the Lunar New Year, which will occur in February. Moreover, China is now using a vaccine that was developed by a pharmaceutical company in China, Sinopharm. Despite its low effective rate compared to other vaccines, which is only at 79% after injected for two doses, compared against the vaccine made by AstraZeneca which has an efficacy rate of 90%, still, the Chinese government opted to choose the vaccine which is manufactured in their soil. Related Article: Flight Attendant's Death: Prosecutor Orders Release of 3 Suspects, 'Insufficient Evidence for Rape-Slay Charge' @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. Department of Energy has selected John Hairston, a three-decade veteran at the Bonneville Power Administration, as the federal power marketing agencys new administrator and chief executive. Hairston has been the acting administrator and CEO since September, when Elliot Mainzer departed after a seven-year tenure in the position to lead the California Independent System Operator, which oversees electricity markets and transmission in that state. Hairston has held a variety of positions in the agencys power services, regulatory and compliance organizations, and was previously the agencys chief operating officer. He is the first person of color to serve as the agencys leader. Bonneville sells the electricity from 31 hydroelectric dams and a nuclear plant in the region and operates three quarters of its high voltage transmission system. It is the primary supplier to more than 130 publicly-owned utilities and cooperatives in the region. BPAs territory includes Idaho, Oregon, Washington, western Montana and small parts of eastern Montana, California, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Hairstons selection won praise from Bonnevilles customer base of public utilities, particularly after the Department of Energy reportedly interviewed a lobbyist for Koch Industries for the job, prompting backlash from members of Washingtons congressional delegation, who viewed that candidate as unqualified, according to the industry publication Clearing Up. Scott Simms, executive director of the Public Power Council, which represents more than 100 of the agencys public utility customers, said the selection came down to three internal and two external candidates. Given BPAs size and impact on the regions economy and environment, he said his organization had stressed the importance to DOEs selection committee of naming an administrator with strong experience and qualifications. We congratulate John and we think its going to be a great next chapter with him, Simms said. John has a depth of experience and an intimate familiarity working in all parts of BPAs operations and thats very helpful. The administrators job has become a financial balancing act in recent years, ensuring that BPAs rates remain competitive enough so its customers will renew their long-term contracts in 2028, while maintaining adequate cash flow to fund its major commitments to environmental remediation, invest in its aging infrastructure and keep serving its huge debt load to the U.S. Treasury. Meanwhile, the agency is trying to adapt to fast-changing wholesale electricity markets on the west coast and the increasing penetration of renewable energy. We appreciate the Department of Energys prompt selection of a highly qualified candidate for this critical position, said Spencer Gray, executive director of the Northwest & Intermountain Power Producers Coalition, which represents independent power generators in the region. NIPPC looks forward to continuing to work with Mr. Hairston on public policy that benefits the whole region. -- Ted Sickinger; tsickinger@oregonian.com; 503-221-8505; @tedsickinger The pharmacovigilance industry is moving towards unifying traditionally separate safety applications, such as reporting, submission gateways, signal analysis, pharmacovigilance content management and safety data management. The current pharmacovigilance system architecture is fragmented with multiple applications, redundant safety data, and inefficient processes. With outsourcing, the complexity only increases. Companies that outsource pharmacovigilance activities, such as literature review, case processing, regulatory reporting, auditing, data analysis and risk management, rely on timely flow of information and want proper oversight data and processes. Increasingly, pharma companies are requesting direct access to the CRO or service providers safety system, or are requiring vendors to process data using the in-house pharmacovigilance application. The pharmacovigilance industry is moving towards unifying traditionally separate safety applications, such as reporting, submission gateways, signal analysis, pharmacovigilance content management and safety data management. Organizations need to streamline pharmacovigilance workflows and provide better visibility and traceability of safety data. Digitalized, fully integrated end-to-end processes are more efficient and enable repeatability and consistency. Safety teams and vendors can see up-to-date workflow management information. Data captured about processes are used as input into metrics to track and monitor operations. With greater transparency, all parties proactively address delays and ensure alignment. Cloud pharmacovigilance applications are also flexible. CROs and service providers can set up standard or client-specific configuration and workflows to support different business models. CROs or service providers can own the safety application and perform all or specific safety activities, providing access to clients for visibility and collaboration, or easily access the clients system to complete tasks and collaborate. Join Kelly Traverso, VP Vault Strategy, North America, Veeva Systems; and Jennifer Kratz, Director, Safety Services, Clinlogix, in a live webinar on Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 12pm EST to hear about how pharmaceutical companies and vendors are collaborating and simplifying processes with modern safety solutions. For more information, or to register for this event, visit Improving Pharmacovigilance Outsourcing with Modern Technologies. ABOUT XTALKS Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers. To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/ Acer has announced three new gaming monitors, one of which comes with support for HDMI 2.1 that lets users run games in 4K UHD at 120FPS. With HDMI2.1, PS5 (review) and Xbox Series X gamers will be able to take advantage of HDMI 2.1 features on this monitor. The Taiwanese company has unveiled the Nitro XV282K KV along with Predator XB273U NX and Predator XB323QK NV. All three monitors support high refresh rates and are certified by TUV Rheinland for emitting less blue-light than the industry standard. Acer Nitro XV282K features a 28-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels) resolution IPS display along with supporting 144Hz high refresh rate. The monitor offers 100,000,000:1 contrast ratio, 93% DCI-P3 colour gamut while the AMD FreeSync Premium technology supports it by offering 1ms response time for fast rendering. The new Acer Nitro gaming monitor is equipped with HDMI 2.1 which means that users can play games in 4K UHD at 120FPS with variable refresh rate, making it a great choice for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S series owners looking for a new gaming monitor. However, potential buyers will have to wait until May which is when the new Acer monitors are expected to go on sale. The Nitro XV282K KV is priced starting at USD 899 in the US and RMB 6,999 in China where it will be available from February. Our newest gaming monitors feature the industrys latest technology to give gamers smooth performance and comfortable ergonomics. Designed to appeal to the most power-hungry gamers, our Predator gaming monitors have proven their quality and reliability as a top choice of pro-gamers as well as those who just want to have fun. The new Predator and Acer Nitro monitors are available in a variety of designs and sizes to support just about anyone in the market for a gaming monitor, said Victor Chien, President, Digital Display Business at Acer. Acer Predator XB273U is a 27-inch gaming monitor with WQHD (2560 x 1440 pixels) resolution IPS display. The monitor supports 240Hz refresh rate that can go up to 275Hz when overclocked along with a response time of 0.5ms. It is also HDR400 certified covering 95% of DCI-P3 colour gamut range along with NVIDIA Reflex Latency Analyzer and G-Sync support. Acer has priced the Predator XB273U NX gaming monitor at USD 1,099 in the US and RMB 7,999 in China. Apart from this, theres the Predator XB323QK 31-inch 4K UHD (3840 x 2160 pixels) gaming monitor which supports 144Hz refresh rate along with 90% DCI-P3 colour gamut range. It uses the companys proprietary Agile Splendor IPS screen and is VESA Display HDR 400 certified as well. The Predator XB323QK is priced at USD 1,199 in the US and RMB 8,999 in China. Acer will reveal more details about the specifications and features of the new monitors closer to the date of availability. A mum has wowed thousands with her simple Kmart camping hack, and she said it has streamlined her packing and means she never forgets what she needs. The Australian woman called Mandie posted on Facebook, where she said she bought a Kmart meal prep container with various sections for $8 and then puts her tea, coffee and sugar into the relevant parts rather than bringing separate boxes or packets. 'I'm so sick of going camping and either forgetting the coffee or the sugar and having separate containers for each,' Mandie wrote. 'So this Kmart lunchbox was perfect!' A mum has wowed thousands with her simple Kmart camping hack, and she said it has streamlined her packing and means she never forgets what she needs (the trick pictured) Thousands who saw the trick on Facebook said they will definitely use it in the future, and the meal prep container is something they will invest in. 'Great idea and I'm now doing this for our trip away on Sunday,' one woman posted. 'Next level genius - I need this for work too,' another added. However, some were quick to point out that the coffee could spill into the sugar section if it were too full. The lunchbox has countless five-star ratings and reviews online, with many saying it's 'awesome value'. 'Excellent product and price,' one person posted. 'Very happy with these containers - just what I need to store my meals in the freezer.' This isn't the first travel hack to wow online, with a mum from last year sharing how she uses Kmart's pet bed to make a cosy den for her toddler when they fly (pictured) The woman called Jaimie said her clever idea meant her young child Mila could sleep comfortably on a nine-hour flight the family recently took from Sydney to Doha This isn't the first travel hack to wow online, with a mum from last year sharing how she uses Kmart's pet bed to make a cosy den for her toddler when they fly. The woman called Jaimie said her clever idea meant her young child Mila could sleep comfortably on a nine-hour flight the family recently took from Sydney to Doha. Her budget trick saw her place the pet bed on the seat over the top of the pillow which inflates to the same height as a leg rest. 'What do you get when you add Plane Pal (Hiding under the pillow) and a $5 Kmart pets bed to you carry on? You get a very happy baby! Total parent win!' she wrote. Plane Pal, the inflatable pillow used by the mum, functions as a type of seat extender, a product which is especially useful for those travelling with small kids (pictured) Plane Pal, the inflatable pillow used by the mum, functions as a type of seat extender, a product which is especially useful for those travelling with small kids. The item, priced at $79.95 including a hand-held pump, weighs just over one kilogram and comes neatly folded in its own carry bag. Once on-board, simply unroll the pillow, hook it up to the pump and inflate. When it needs to be packed away, quick-release valves enable it to deflate in just four seconds. WASHINGTON:Congressional Democrats on Friday were weighing impeaching U.S. President Donald Trump for an unprecedented second time after his supporters, inflamed by his false claims of election fraud, stormed the U.S. Capitol. Democrats in the House of Representatives, which holds the power to impeach the president, will hold a conference call at noon (1700 GMT) to discuss their next steps, according to two Democratic aides. Amid mounting calls for his removal from office, Trump finally denounced Wednesdays violence that left five people dead, including a police officer. In a video released on Thursday evening, the Republican president also promised a smooth and orderly transition of power later this month, though he stopped short of abandoning his claims of fraud. In the immediate aftermath of the assault, which halted a session of Congress held to certify Democrat Joe Bidens election win, Trump had declined to condemn the incident, instead telling supporters he loved them and repeating his assertion that he was being cheated of victory. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer demanded on Thursday that Vice President Mike Pence and Trumps Cabinet invoke the Constitutions 25th Amendment, which allows them to strip the president of his powers if he cannot discharge the duties of his office. Pence opposes the idea, an adviser said. Pelosi and Schumer, along with other Democratic leaders, called for immediate impeachment proceedings if Pence and the Cabinet refuse to take steps to remove Trump from power. Biden is due to take office on Jan. 20. The presidents dangerous and seditious acts necessitate his immediate removal from office," they said in a statement on Thursday evening, accusing Trump of inciting an insurrection." Katherine Clark, the assistant House speaker, said on CNN on Friday that Democrats were prepared to move forward with impeachment proceedings as early as next week. Trumps video on Thursday was the closest he has come to conceding defeat in the Nov. 3 election, as he promised a smooth transition to a new administration," after weeks of making false claims of massive electoral fraud and a rigged vote. In a speech on Wednesday, Trump had exhorted a crowd of thousands to descend on the Capitol. Rioters stormed the building, overwhelming police and forcing authorities to transport lawmakers to secure locations for their own safety. A Capitol police officer died from injuries sustained in the assault, the force said on Thursday. A woman protester was fatally shot by the authorities, and three people died from medical emergencies. RUNNING OUT OF TIME? With Trumps term almost expired, it was not clear whether there would be enough time to complete the impeachment process. Pelosi has not announced a decision, though she told a news conference on Thursday that rank-and-file Democrats in her caucus wanted action. If impeached in the Democratic-led House, Trump would theoretically face trial in the Republican-controlled Senate, which is scheduled to be in recess until Jan. 19. Aides to Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, have not said whether he would reconvene the Senate if the House approved articles of impeachment. Democrats are set to take narrow control of the Senate after winning two runoff elections in Georgia on Tuesday, but the new senators will not be sworn in until the state certifies its results later this month. In the event of an impeachment, the Senate must vote with a two-thirds majority to convict and remove a president from office. The House impeached Trump in December 2019 for pressuring the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden, but the Senate acquitted him in February 2020. Only two other presidents in history have been impeached, and none has ever been impeached twice. In Thursdays video, a flat-toned Trump struck a conciliatory note seldom seen from him during his presidency, calling for healing." As recently as Thursday morning, however, he was still claiming the election was stolen. The Trump campaign and its allies filed dozens of lawsuits challenging the vote counts but state and federal courts rejected almost all of them. Election officials have said there is no evidence to back Trumps claims. At least two Republicans, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan and U.S. Representative Adam Kinzinger, said Trump must go. Several senior Trump administration officials have resigned in protest over the invasion of the Capitol, including two Cabinet members: Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and McConnells wife, and Betsy DeVos, the education secretary. At a news conference to introduce his pick for attorney general, Biden blamed Trump for instigating the attack but did not comment on his possible removal. Congress certified Bidens election victory early on Thursday, after authorities cleared the Capitol. More than half of House Republicans and eight Republican senators voted to challenge election results from some states, backing Trump. The president has isolated himself among a small circle of diehard advisers and lashed out at those he perceives as disloyal, including Pence - whom Trump wanted to try to block Congress from certifying Bidens win - according to sources. The FBI offered a reward of up to $50,000 for information on people responsible for placing pipe bombs in the headquarters of the two main U.S. political parties. 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 (NEW YORK) -- Here are today's In Crisis headlines: Capitol Police officer dead following Wednesday siege; arrests announced A U.S. Capitol Police officer has died following injuries suffered in the violent siege on the building Wednesday. The officer, identified as Brian D. Sicknick, died at 9:30 p.m. Thursday evening. His death is the fifth connected to the riots. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has ordered all flags at the Capitol to be flown at half-staff because of Officer Sicknicks death. Capitol Police have identified the woman killed Wednesday inside the Capitol as Ashli [Ashley] Babbitt, a U.S. Air Force veteran and Trump supporter who traveled to D.C. to participate in the protests. Babbitt was shot in the chest by a Capitol Police officer during a standoff inside the Capitol between law enforcement and pro-Trump rioters. Three other rioters, one woman and two men, suffered what were described as medical emergencies at the protests and subsequently died. At least 80 arrests connected to the Capitol siege have been confirmed by the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department as of Friday morning, most over curfew violations. Asked to explain why the arrest numbers were low, D.C. MPD Chief Robert J. Contee said chaos that erupted before police arrived was to blame. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and other officials, Republican and Democrat both, have called the suspects domestic terrorists. Federal investigators continue to study surveillance video, photographs and online posts in order to identify participants in Wednesdays riots, almost all of whom were allowed to leave the Capitol without arrest or detainment. Law enforcement has distributed dozens of images of suspects wanted for arrest. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund on Thursday said he would resign his position, effective January 16. Sund has been heavily criticized for the department's response to the violent protest, during which Capitol Police essentially allowed the rioters to depart unhindered. Critics include the Capitol Police union. "We have several protesters dead, multiple officers injured and the symbol of our Democracy, the U.S. Capitol, desecrated. This never should have happened," says Capitol Police Union Chairman Gus Papathanasiou in a statement. "This lack of planning led to the greatest breach of the U.S. Capitol since the War of 1812. This is a failure of leadership at the very top." The House and Senate sergeants at arms have also resigned. Sund does not mention the Capitol riot in his three-sentence resignation letter. Also Thursday, the FBI shared a photo of the person responsible for placing suspected explosive devices outside the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters Wednesday, prior to the U.S. Capitol protests. On Thursday night, the FBI tweeted a photo of the suspect and posted a reward of up to $50,000 "for information leading to the location, arrest, and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the placement of suspected pipe bombs in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021." At around 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, law enforcement agencies received reports of two suspected pipe bombs with wires outside the RNC and DNC headquarters in Washington, D.C. Trump officials resign over Capitol siege; lawmakers talk 25th Amendment, impeachment At least 10 Trump administration officials have resigned in the wake of Wednesdays U.S. Capitol siege by pro-Trump rioters in Washington, including five White House officials. The highest-ranking officials to resign include Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, who is also the wife of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. In a statement, Chao blames President Trump for Wednesdays violence. Education Secretary Betsey Devos also announced her resignation, as did Stephanie Grisham, Melania Trumps spokesperson and chief of staff. With President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration just eleven days away, most if not all of the Trump Administrations appointees would likely have been asked to submit their resignations to the incoming administration as a matter of course, regardless of circumstances. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday they had called Vice President Mike Pence to urge him to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove President Trump from office for his role in the attack on the Capitol building by the president's supporters. However, Pence refused to take the call. Removing Trump from office via the 25th Amendment would require Pence and members of Trumps Cabinet to agree he is unable to carry out his duties as president. Democrats say if the Cabinet won't act then Congress will by impeaching the President for a second time in an expedited push that could be voted on in the House as early as next week. December jobs report worse than expected as 140,000 lost At least 140,000 jobs were lost in December, according to numbers released Friday morning by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number is worse than what pundits expected, though the unemployment rate overall remains unchanged at 6.7 percent, reflecting about 10.7 million unemployed Americans. The ongoing pandemic remains to blame, with the leisure and hospitality sector losing 498,000 jobs, a huge decline that was offset by gains in professional and business services, retail trade, and construction. COVID-19 numbers Here's the latest data on COVID-19 coronavirus infections and deaths. Latest reported numbers globally per Johns Hopkins University Global diagnosed cases: 88,162,703 Global deaths: 1,900,807. The United States has the most deaths of any single country, with 365,346. Number of countries/regions: at least 191 Total patients recovered globally: 49,190,797 Latest reported numbers in the United States per Johns Hopkins University There are at least 21,585,531 reported cases in 50 states + the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Guam. This is more than in any other country. U.S. deaths: at least 365,346. New York State has the greatest number of reported deaths in the U.S., with 39,118. U.S. total people tested: 259,614,820 The greatest number of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. is in California, with 2,576,355 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 39.51 million. This ranks first in the world. England is second in the world, with 2,497,824 cases. Maharashtra, India, which has 1,958,282 cases, ranks third, while Texas is fourth, with 1,910,091 confirmed cases out of a total state population of 29 million. Record 4,033 COVID-19 deaths reported Thursday; could exceed 375K this weekend A record 4,033 deaths from COVID-19 were reported in the U.S. Thursday, according to the Covid Tracking Project. Those numbers mean on Thursday, a person died of COVID-19 in the U.S. roughly every 20 minutes. Thursdays tally also pushed the seven-day daily fatalities average to a new record of 2,758. California, which continues to report the greatest number of coronavirus infections in the nation, is reporting 380 deaths per day on average, according to the Covid Tracking Project. There are at least 21,585,531 reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. as of Friday morning, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University, and 365,346 deaths. Based on current trends, the U.S. could exceed 375,000 COVID-19 deaths before the weekend is over. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is currently forecasting a total of 405,000 to 438,000 reported COVID-19 fatalities by the week ending January 30. Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy skies during the morning hours followed by scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High around 85F. Winds SSE at 15 to 25 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely in the evening. Then a chance of scattered thunderstorms later on. Low around 60F. Winds SW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 90%. One of the organizers of the most recent failed recall effort against Gov. Jared Polis has a new project: a federal class-action lawsuit against Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems, Facebook and its founder, Mark Zuckerberg, and the governors of four states and their election officials, seeking $160 billion in damages and to declare Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act unconstitutional. Tom Roohan is as well known for being a longtime philanthropist as he is for his business success. He is a veteran supporter of Catholic Charities in Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. He was honored in the summer of 2020 by Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany. The owner of Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs, he has been instrumental in establishing Marys Haven, a home for the terminally ill, in the same city. Tom Roohan was born and raised in Saratoga Springs "as was my father and his father." His mother's family is from Troy. He attended Norwich University in Northfield, Vt., where his major was civil engineering. "I did not graduate, much to the disappointment of my mother," he said. He worked in heavy construction after college and joined the real estate company in 1981 that his father had started in 1969. He has seven grown children, four of whom are in Saratoga Springs, one in Utah and two in Massachusetts. He has eight grandchildren. He and his wife, Kristie, have been married 19 years and live in Saratoga Springs. Tell us about being honored by the Catholic Charities at its gala held virtually in June because of the pandemic. I was humbled to receive the award. I am not a regular churchgoer--also to the disappointment of my mother. But I am involved with various volunteer work, much of it with Catholic Charities. My father had been very active with Catholic Charities, which "he left me in his will. He gave me the ball and I had to carry on." Sister Charla Commins, CSJ, is the executive director of Catholic Charities of Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties and approached for help. We try to help financially and also actively. For instance, if she calls us with a problem with the hot water tank, (we try to help). What are some Catholic Charities fundraisers that you get involved in? The Roohan Realty staff members are all supporters of the Catholic Charities' annual Festival of Trees. (Editor's note: This is a display of 250 uniquely decorated Christmas trees that can be purchased for children's events like breakfasts with Santa). Roohan Realty agent Earline Johnson does a great job. Last year, 2020 would have been the festival's 25th year. How did you become involved with establishing Mary's Haven, a home for the dying? It was a unique project. It came about approximately 20 years ago. I had heard about the need, convinced my mom to donate land, convinced an architect friend to design it and sought other contributions. Everyone donated more than I asked. It is a two-bedroom house and provides a compassionate environment. Many of the terminally ill have families, but the real estate of the circumstances--their house may have stairs--sometimes prevent them from staying home in their last days. Almost 300 families have gone through it. Services are provided free of charge using funds raised through donations from families, wills and community contributions. Mary's Haven is named in honor of Jesus' mother and also my family members of the same name, like my grandmother and daughter. You've served the community in many ways. What are some of the other organizations where you have volunteered? Catholic Charities is more hands-on but I have volunteered at the NY Racing Association, the YMCA, Saratoga Central Catholic, the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Special Assessment District, the Saratoga Hospital Foundation, Luther Forest Technology Campus and am currently on the Saratoga Hospital Board on its finance committee and building and grounds. From the adaptive reuse of historic properties to mixed-use development and residential real estate sales of all shapes and sizes, the team at Roohan Realty has contributed significantly to the growth of the Saratoga community. What do you hope for the year 2021? The year 2020 presented many challenges. We had to adapt, be flexible, be smart and be safe. I only saw the grandchildren on the porch. Much of my volunteer work has been on Zoom. Everyone is getting better and better at it. I hope to be able to contribute long into the future. I am thrilled my son has come to work with me. Everyone has to be understanding and strong to get us to a better place in 2021. -- Azra Haqqie Huawei awarded as the only leader in GlobalData's LTE RAN assessment LONDON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 5G has been at the center of the world's mobile technology focus for years, so much so that it is easy to overlook the ongoing importance of 4G LTE, which is still prevalent throughout the world and will be for some time. Because 5G stimulates increased use of 4G/5G mobile networks, operators can't afford to let the capabilities of their LTE networks be outpaced by the world's ever-increasing needs. Huawei has introduced new advances in its LTE RAN portfolio to enhance the coverage and capacity of mobile networks. It also offers solutions to aid the coordination of 4G and 5G networks and to enable new services for operators. Huawei's LTE RAN Leadership GlobalData, a leading market data and analytics company, has rated Huawei's LTE RAN portfolio to be a Leader in the market. In competitive analyses of five major RAN vendors, GlobalData evaluated 4G base station portfolios according to four key areas important to mobile operators: baseband unit (BBU) capacity, radio unit portfolio breadth, ease of deployment and technological evolution. GlobalData found Huawei to be a Leader in all four categories and a Leader overall among its peers. Huawei reports the highest BBU cell capacity - in terms of both LTE carriers and Narrowband IoT - of any major RAN vendor. It also offers more radio units and more Massive MIMO options than other vendors and supports a wide array of 4G spectrum bands. To make deployment easier, Huawei offers multiple novel solutions, including its Super Blade Site and Bracelet Kit offerings. And to help operators evolve their networks technologically, Huawei has been proactive in commercializing spectrum-sharing capabilities such as its CloudAIR solution, which allows various access technologies (2G/3G/4G/5G) to use the same spectrum, and its SuperBAND solution, which can improve user experience under multi-frequency networks. This portfolio is well-suited to meet the diverse needs of the world's mobile operators, and Huawei continues to expand its RAN portfolio to help operators prepare for the future and maximize the value of their LTE networks. Coverage Adequate network coverage is an essential characteristic for ensuring quality mobile services. It becomes especially important in LTE networks as 5G is deployed in high-frequency bands whose coverage footprint areas are more limited. LTE must cover the areas that 5G does not. To enhance the coverage of 4G/5G networks, Huawei has introduced the Blade Pro solution. The Blade Pro Ultra-Wideband Remote Radio Unit (RRU) is a pole-mountable RU that supports three low or medium Frequency-Division Duplex (FDD) bands simultaneously: it currently supports 700 MHz, 800 MHz and 900 MHz; and in late 2021, it will support 1.8 GHz, 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz. By supporting three frequency bands in a single 25-kilogram unit, the Blade Pro eliminates the need for two boxes, reducing the load on poles, easing the burden on installers and making deployment faster, smoother and less expensive. Making installation easier means operators are better able to increase coverage by expanding or densifying their networks. Capacity Operators face the eternal challenge of keeping up with ever-increasing user demand for data at faster speeds in the space of finite spectrum. One way to add network capacity without finding additional spectrum is to deploy greater antenna arrays, upgrading radios with two transceivers to those with four or eight, for example, or adding Massive MIMO antennas bearing 32 or 64 arrays. Huawei's LTE RAN portfolio now includes a radio unit with eight transceivers and receivers for enhanced capacity, useful for urban hotspot areas. The "Smart 8T8R" solution also gives operators flexibility in their migration to 5G. The FDD 8T8R RRU is hardware-ready for 5G NR, and the antenna array is software-defined, meaning its configuration can be adjusted - without changing the hardware - for example, to six sectors for LTE and three sectors for 5G. The solution also dynamically adjusts the power supply allocated to sectors according to how users are distributed. This flexibility can be helpful in allowing operators to serve specific needs on a site-by-site basis and to adapt in real time to changes in user behavior. On TDD side, meanwhile, Huawei leverages its considerable research in TDD-LTE to offer an 8T8R IMB (Intelligent Multi-Beam) solution, which is also based on a software-defined antenna and promises to deliver 1.8-2.2x capacity gains compared with more common products. For even higher capacity needs, Huawei has introduced the "Smart Massive MIMO" solution, a dual-band 5G-ready 4G radio with 32 transceivers and receivers promising three to five times the download speeds compared with more common products. Like the Smart 8T8R solution, Smart Massive MIMO automatically adjusts the power allocated to individual beams based on user traffic patterns. This lends efficiency in two ways, since Massive MIMO beamforming is itself a more efficient use of mobile spectrum than traditional antenna arrays, and the Smart Massive MIMO solution uses its power supply more efficiently than typical Massive MIMO gear. 4G/5G Coordination In addition to the ways Huawei's aforementioned gear balances and coordinates 4G and 5G networks, its portfolio also includes other solutions to further optimize the relationship between the two. Its SuperBAND solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) to aggregate network scheduling - the coordinated allocation of radio resources to mobile signals - among multiple frequency carriers, essentially boosting network capacity beyond the divisions and fragmentation of various spectrum bands. In 4G/5G networks, SuperBAND can perform this aggregation across both 4G and 5G, maximizing spectral efficiency and, ultimately, optimizing the quality of the user experience. Meanwhile, Huawei also offers Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) as part of its CloudAIR solution. DSS allows 4G and 5G traffic to share the same spectrum bands, increasing spectral usage efficiency; it also allows 4G and 5G traffic to dynamically switch from one band to another, regardless of radio access technology, in response to congestion on specific bands, ensuring the best use of spectrum even as user behavior changes. CloudAIR goes even further, applying a similar spectrum-sharing function to 2G and 3G traffic as well for a more comprehensive capability that is especially relevant to markets where legacy networks remain. New Service Enablement Enhancing and optimizing the network are important aims, but from a commercial perspective, one of the most important imperatives operators face is the need to deliver new revenue-generating services. Huawei's LTE RAN portfolio addresses this requirement in multiple ways. Huawei's Voice-over-LTE solution, VoLTE Plus, helps operators migrate voice traffic from legacy technologies like 2G and 3G to LTE, not only achieving higher quality voice service but also allowing operators to sunset their legacy networks and repurpose their VoLTE investments for the future. In addition, Huawei's latest VoLTE solution, goes further, adding four new capabilities that help protect the quality of voice service in 4G/5G networks: 5G-to-LTE EPS fallback LTE-to-5G fast return New Enhanced Voice Services capabilities Dedicated services that allow for optimization on LTE Beyond voice, Huawei's LTE portfolio also supports Narrowband IoT, to capture opportunities in the Internet-of-Things space. The vendor's roadmap also targets support for 5G NB-IoT in particular, which will allow operators with existing IoT services to migrate those services to their 4G/5G network and replace disparate or ad-hoc legacy networks with a unified network that yields multiple revenue streams from a common infrastructure investment. Huawei's portfolio also enables new services via fixed wireless access (FWA) products. Amid the global pandemic, the increase in telecommuting and home-based learning based on video connections has increased the demand for residential broadband networks. Where fiber isn't available, FWA is vital in building these residential networks. Huawei's LTE-based FWA solutions have achieved enviable momentum in the market. The vendor has also added 4G/5G customer premises equipment to its portfolio, giving these networks a future-proof migration path to continued service enablement. Conclusion Huawei's LTE RAN portfolio continues to evolve in order to help operators maximize the value of their networks as they prepare for the future. New solutions in the portfolio enhance the coverage and capacity of LTE networks as well as maximize network efficiency by coordinating 4G and 5G operations. Meanwhile, Huawei offers multiple solutions aimed at enabling the delivery of additional services that can help operators grow revenue in a variety of ways, including VoLTE, the Internet of Things and FWA. New York Citys newest City Council member, Kevin Riley, has some friends in high places. He has worked for Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie for the last 10 years, and has known state Sen. Jamaal Bailey, the new leader of the Bronx Democratic Party, for more than 20 years. But Riley will have the opportunity to stand on his own as the newly elected representative for the 12th Council District in the northeastern Bronx. He won the Dec. 22 special election that was called because the previous council member, Andy King, was expelled from the Legislature for ethical violations including harassing his staff. Riley, a Democrat, was sworn in on Wednesday morning, and immediately named chair of the Subcommittee on Landmarks, Public Sitings, and Dispositions. City & State talked to Riley about how he would have voted on the budget, whether a new member should be the next speaker and why hes a proud member of the Dad Gang. Given the pandemic, are they even giving you an office downtown? Or are you and your team just working remotely? I don't think we'll be having one anytime soon, being that 250 Broadway won't be opening up anytime soon to my knowledge. But we'll be working remotely, and we're actually looking for office space within the district. You won the special election for Council District 12 in the Bronx to replace Andy King on Dec. 22 and were sworn in Wednesday morning, but youre up for reelection this year already. Do you expect to have a serious challenge in the June primary? Of course. We have so many amazing people in our community that want the position to advocate and bring resources back to our community. So I'm pretty sure that we're going to have some dope people wanting to be candidates and run against me, which I have no problem with. This is a democracy and we all have the best interest of our community at heart. On that note, you were endorsed by some of the citys biggest unions, but one of your opponents criticized that, saying the unions had never even met with him, and that you were only endorsed as a favor to Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie, whose office you have worked in for a decade. Did you meet with the unions? One of my favorite unions, Local 372, President Shaun Francois says, "You've got to stay ready." I announced I was running in the 2021 election in February (of 2020). Since February, I've been reaching out to the unions, even though a lot of them told me that it's way too early. But I just wanted to introduce myself, have conversations, make sure that they know who I am, and know that I'm running for this seat. When the special election (was called), I had to reach out to them again. I had to do (candidate) screenings, we had to do our questionnaires, and we had to do tons and tons and tons of interviews. To my knowledge, none of my other opponents reached out to any of the unions. I think they were under the assumption that the unions reach out to the candidates. But to my knowledge, you have to reach out to the unions. And that's what I've been doing since the beginning of last year. What are your thoughts on the reduction to the NYPD budget that the City Council approved last June? Would you have voted yes on that budget? Right now, the city is broke. We have to come up with new, creative ways to get revenue within our cities, from the popular taxing the rich, legalizing marijuana, legalizing gaming and other ways where we can bring revenue within our city and our state. But as of right now, we do have to focus on reallocating funding from certain city agencies to better equip our communities, especially after this pandemic. So to your original question, I did not like the allocation that was taken away, I think a little bit more could have been taken away from the NYPD to reallocate within our other city agencies. And I possibly would not have voted yes for that budget. But this is going to be my first time doing the budget this year. So I do have to find out how the process goes, and see how my voice could bring back more resources to my community. Do you have any bills you want to introduce in the Council? I want to focus on a resolution that encourages the Department of Health and the state to educate communities, especially communities of color, on vaccination. We do want to encourage everyone in our community to take the vaccine, but what we're finding is a lot of people in that community (are concerned with) what's in the vaccine, (and) the side effects. Also, I do want to help the hospitals within our communities, because in a few months, they're going to be seeing a whole lot of cases coming in, and they're not prepared or equipped. We were at a rally for (the New York State Nurses Association) about two months ago, and they were kind of scared because they feel like they aren't properly staffed, they don't have proper (personal protective equipment). So legislation to focus on the COVID-19 pandemic, and also education. I am a remote educator now. My fiancee, who's an essential worker, has to go to work every day. So I've been home educating my daughters and running my campaign at the same time. And it's very challenging. Very challenging for the students, mentally, and it's very challenging for the parents, mentally. So I want to put in a mental health aspect in finding out how the remote learning and this pandemic is going to interfere with our children and our families. The neighborhoods of Wakefield and Woodlawn in your district now have the highest coronavirus test positivity rates in the city, suggesting that the disease is spiking in your area. Is there anything the government should be doing to stop the spread? We need more testing sites in the district. As I was driving around the community yesterday, we saw very long lines at the different testing sites. I was able to bring in one walk-in testing site to Dreiser Loop (in Co-op City), but the line was around the corner. So if we're going to encourage people to get tested and track this disease, we need to have more testing sites within our community. Youre close to Jamaal Bailey, the new Bronx Democratic county leader. Do you think he and other county bosses should play a major role in choosing the next City Council speaker? I definitely do believe that we should have a say-so who the next speaker will be. Everyone needs a seat at the table. Jamaal is very transparent, he loves to be held accountable. And I have known Sen. Bailey for the last 21 years, being that we attend the same clergy within our community. I do believe that he'll make the right choice for electing the right speaker - or giving his say on who he believes the next speaker of the City Council should be. And do you think the next speaker should be a returning member, or somebody who was newly elected? I think that's something that we could discuss. We do have a lot of great council members who are coming back next year, hopefully, that will make amazing speakers. I don't want to get into any names right now, because I don't want to say I've endorsed anybody. But there are tons of dope individuals that can control the body. Because we do have an amazing body coming in next year. I'm so eager and encouraged to work with a bunch of candidates who will hopefully be members next year. So, I do believe having somebody who has that experience, especially during this pandemic, will play a very good role with New York City moving forward. Did any current City Council members come and campaign with you? Every single one (laughs). Almost every single one. But to be honest, I've been working in government since 2008. So outside of me working with the speaker's office, I've volunteered with many campaigns. I've been around for a very long time and I've built my own personal relationships with a lot of elected officials. So when a lot of people see the support and the love and the recognition that I've been getting, that's all the hard work that I've been putting in for the last 12 years. You mentioned your daughters earlier tell me a little about The Dad Gang youre a part of. A few years ago one of my fraternity brothers, Sean Williams, who's the founder of The Dad Gang, when he was in Walmart one day with his daughter, a Caucasian woman walked by and told him, "I'm glad you stuck around." And he realized that, wow, I have a bunch of other friends who are Black dads that have stuck around their children's lives. I lost my father when I was 7 years old to the criminal justice system, and then he was deported back to Jamaica. I became a father in 2015, and it was very challenging for me to become a father, being that I didn't have a father present. I always had a strong, single mother who raised three beautiful children, but she had to work a lot of jobs, and it was very stressful and very difficult. I didn't have a male perspective on how to become a father. So when we created The Dad Gang, we just wanted to put out positive imagery of Black fatherhood. But we didn't realize that there are a lot of young Black fathers who did not have their fathers present, who don't know what it is to be a dad. So creating this organization and creating this support group called The Dad Gang has blossomed. We were able to give out $75,000 last year to Black dads who were struggling during the pandemic. This is a pandemic within itself that Black families are suffering across the nation, and we really just want to focus on changing the narrative of Black fatherhood. 7-day institutional quarantine for UK arrivals in Delhi India oi-Deepika S New Delhi, Jan 08: The Delhi government on Friday announced new set of guidelines and quarantine rules for people travelling from the United Kingdom (UK) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. The order includes those who test negative for the disease as well. "To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine. (sic)" Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted. "As a matter of abundant precaution, in view of the increased transmissibility of the new variant, it is decided that all travellers coming from the UK to India would be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival at the airport," read the order. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News "Those who are found positive shall be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in as separate (isolation) unit as per existing laid down protocol. Those who are found negative shall be kept in compulsory institutional quarantine for a period of seven days followed by seven days of home quarantine," it added. Passengers returning to India from the United Kingdom complained of chaos and confusion at Delhis Indira Gandhi International airport on January 8 over quarantine rules. The confusion, reports said, was after the Arvind Kejriwal government issued a new directive making a seven-day institutional quarantine mandatory for even those passenger who tested negative for COVID-19. The flights from the UK, which have been suspended since last week of December amid fears of the spread of the new coronavirus strain, resumed on January 8 with a flight carrying 256 passenger landing at Delhis Indira Gandhi International Airport from London's Heathrow Airport on Friday. @HardeepSPuri Just came from London AI112, its absolutely maniac at Delhi Airport. Asking us to go for institutional quarantine even with Negative PCR test. Didnt mention this on your SOP.@airindiain pic.twitter.com/B13HcbgVaG Harprit Takkar (@HarpritTakkar) January 8, 2021 Just came from London AI112, its absolutely maniac at Delhi Airport. Asking us to go for institutional quarantine even with Negative PCR test. Didnt mention this on your SOP, a passenger Harpit Thakur who travelled in Air India flight shared a video of maniac scenes at the Delhi airport. The Delhi Airport informed Thakur from its Twitter handle to get in touch with ground staff. 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 As per Delhi Govts latest mandate, all passengers arriving from the UK will have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR test in the UK as well as in India. Passengers are also required to undergo a mandatory 7-day institutional quarantine on arrival. For further information, the official handle of Delhi Airport said. The tweet was later removed. Many other passengers also took to social media sharing information about the confusion ensuing at the airport. A passenger asked why his passport was being taken away. A Delhi Airport official, however, told Moneycontrol that the process of handling UK returnees was smooth. Track this LIVE blog for latest updates on coronavirus pandemic As per the SOP issued by Union Health Ministry last week, all passengers arriving in India from the UK between January 8 and January 30 were supposed to be subjected to self-paid COVID-19 test on arrival at the airport. Passengers were asked to bring along a COVID-19 negative report from a test done 72 hours prior to the journey. But, the Arvind Kejriwal government in Delhi issued an order on January 8 morning (when flights from the UK had already taken off) to make the institutional quarantine mandatory for all returnees from the UK. Many others took to social media and called Kejriwals move ridiculous. "This is ridiculous. You cannot tell people the rules have changed After they land. Some notice must be given! Chaos at Delhi Airport with this flight, families with small children, pregnant woman howling, " Sanjiv Kapoor, former Vistara Chief Commercial Officer tweeted. This circular has been issued AFTER the first Air India flight was already on its way. You cannot now tell those passengers after they have landed that the rules have changed. That is ridiculous! @MoCA_GoI@MoHFW_INDIA@DelhiAirport@airindiain Sanjiv Kapoor As I watched the heartbreaking and infuriating images of the attempted coup in our nations Capitol by a violent pro-Trump mob, I found myself reflecting on conversations Ive had in recent years and months. Discussions with candidates (some of them now representing Alabama in those halls littered with broken glass) and others who now staff their offices. Heres what you need to know: Off the record, most of these men and women will agree that Donald Trump is a man of low character who lies with impunity. They describe him as more of a political problem/moment to be survived than a leader to be respected. They know who he is. But the conversation always turns in this direction eventually: Dana, hes done such an amazing job of solidifying his base that there is no path to victory for anyone outside of his good graces. We simply cant afford to publicly disagree with him if we want to be in Alabama politics right now. We just have to hope we can steer him in the right direction and that well get some good things out of it. Were just playing the cards weve been dealt. Ive got to get elected. Or re-elected. Or keep my job. I always walked away from those conversations feeling two disparate things: relief that this person is, at least, conscious of the truth and dismay that they lack the faith in God to speak and act with complete integrity in light of it. These people, whom I love and have compassion for, have convinced themselves that they can commit sins of omission in service to some greater goal and that God will bless it. (Remember that Sunday School lesson? We can sin--in this case, lie--through what we dont say or do. Our silence can be sin.) Come on, Dana. God understands immutable political realities, right? He wouldnt expect us to risk power for the sake of righteousness, would he? Besides, Im going to make up for my tacit dishonesty by doing so many good things for the Kingdom in office! And so the rationalization goes. Im going to employ worldy methods to accomplish Gods purposes. Youve got to sin a little to get things done for Jesus, Dana. Dont be naive. Thus, for four years, weve had a bunch of professing Christians committing sins of omission by failing to use the voice and influence God entrusted to them to refute lies when they are told by the president. They wouldnt even consider pushing back against the baseless and dangerous conspiracy theories he and the worst of the pro-Trump internet disseminate. Except for Mo Brooks, who is the worst of the extremist, conspiracy-theory internet. And their constituents? They are sheep without a shepherd. Because many of them lack the education or institutional/governmental experience needed to easily separate truth from lies, they are dragged away to slaughter by wolves like QAnon and the whims of a sad, broken man. On January 6th, we saw where that leads. It turns out when people have been told that: A: An election was stolen from them despite more than 60 courts - many of them anchored by legally principled, reliably conservative judges - finding no real evidence to support the claim (and much to refute it), and that B: The Vice President and the Congress have the constitutional authority to overturn the electoral college results after being certified by the states (Remember states rights, conservative friends? Are we still into that? Hard to tell lately.) Some of them will risk their lives, the lives of others, and set fire to our democracy over a mirage. Im not absolving the bad actors in the Capitol siege of responsibility. Still, they represent an America that has been willfully and methodically deceived and frightened for political gain for years. They have been buried alive in mountains of misinformation from every corner of mainstream media (both right and left are guilty) and online from myriad darker sources. Steve Bannon said early on that this was key to the Trump power strategy--he called it flooding the zone with sh*t. These people needed the men and women who know better to possess the integrity and moral courage to tell the truth at any cost and thus keep the American political dialogue at least within striking distance of reality. But Alabamians have not received that kind of sacrificial service. To the contrary, what we got was a full slate of Republican congressmen and freshman Senator Tommy Tuberville lending credibility to a farce they knew could not change the results of the election. But they wanted those political points enough to participate in a bit of theater. (And I call it out as theater because these election integrity guardians could have simply waited until this Congress convened for regular business to introduce bills aimed at addressing perceived election problems and improving public confidence in the process. But they couldnt resist the temptation to leverage the drama of January 6th to wring some added political value out of it.) And then their little play, directed by a narcissist who loves himself more than our country, got out of hand. Im nobody important, but I do have a small platform in the public square. I know what it is to make choices in a polarized world and live with the consequences, too. As a follower of Christ and a political conservative, I found myself at a crossroads a few years ago as the GOP was overtaken by a populist outsider who cared little for the values and decency that had always made me proud to support the party. God made it clear that I had a choice: I could either consistently tell the truth about things - including my own tribe - in service to God, or I could be a loyal foot soldier in my party and hope that God understood. I have tried, every day, to choose the former. I pray that I have gotten it right more than not. But there is a cost to that choice. Im not whining. God has provided for me and covered me every step of the way. But I open my email inbox many days to insult and frightening, sometimes threatening hate speech. When you find message boards on the Internet featuring your image and fully dedicated to excoriating and speculating about you, its a gut check. My choice has relegated me to outsider status in many rooms full of GOP types. Ive forfeited opportunities and dollars. It wasnt enough for me to simply continue to write with passion about the sanctity of human life, what the Bible says about gender and sexuality, limited government, et al. To be fully welcome in the GOP clubhouse, I would be required to stay silent about the corrosive sin in our midst. And that was what God would not let me do. Im no hero. It is not a heroic act for those of us who are the recipients of Christs expensive, blood-bought, unmerited grace merely to tell the dang truth. Its a pretty low bar, actually. I will never regret choosing truth. Because the blessing of obedience is that on days like January 6, 2021, my despair is not multiplied by the knowledge that I have fed this ugly beast with my reticence, or worse yet, with contributory lies. Heres the good news: if the Lord is impressing upon you that you have sinned through your silence, forgiveness is available, even today. Confess. Repent. Get back to trusting in His sovereignty and knowing that because of it you can afford to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. There is peace in obedience, and it is waiting for you. Dana Hall McCain writes about faith, culture, and politics. She is a member of the 2020 Leadership Council for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention. Ryanair has slammed the Irish Government for not closing the border with Northern Ireland, while heavily restricting flights to other countries. (Brian Lawless/PA) Ryanair has slammed the Irish Government for not closing the border with Northern Ireland, while heavily restricting flights to other countries. The Irish airline will operate "few, if any, flights" to and from the UK and Ireland from January 21, after more restrictions were put in place in the countries. It said that new rules meant it would "significantly cut its flight schedules" from January 21. It now expects to carry below 1.25 million passengers this month, and said traffic might drop to as low as 500,000 passengers in February and March. "Ryanair will significantly cut its flight schedules from 21 January, which will result in few, if any, flights being operated to/from Ireland or the UK from the end of Jan until such time as these draconian travel restrictions are removed," the company said in a statement. It added: "All customers affected by these further flight cancellations and further travel restrictions will receive emails advising them of their entitlements of free moves and/or refunds later today." Ryanair criticised Dublin for keeping open the border with Northern Ireland, despite restrictions on flights elsewhere. A spokesperson said: "Ireland's Covid-19 travel restrictions are already the most stringent in Europe, and so these new flight restrictions are inexplicable and ineffective when Ireland continues to operate an open border between the Republic and the North of Ireland. "Since Ireland's third lockdown will not get rid of the Covid virus, there is an onus on the Irish government to accelerate the rollout of vaccines, and the fact that the Danish government, with a similar five million population, has already vaccinated 10 times more citizens than Ireland shows that emergency action is needed in Ireland." Yesterday, Ryanair revealed to shareholders it expects to carry between 26m and 30m passengers in the 12 months to March, which makes up the company's financial year. It is a downgrade from its previous estimates of fewer than 35m passengers. 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 The ignominious events in the nation's capital on Wednesday, Jan. 6 will not soon be forgotten. Images of an enraged mob overpowering police and breaching the walls of the U.S. Capitol, the West's preeminent citadel of republican self-governance, will hinder Americans' already cratering faith in their government's institutional integrity and tarnish their belief in American exceptionalism. These are the sort of sordid deeds, and the sort of searing images, that one normally associates with malefactors in a developing nation or a banana republic -- not what Abraham Lincoln once called the "last best hope of earth." Hypocrisy, of course, abounds. It is more than a little rich for partisan Democrats and their sycophantic media mouthpieces to only now condemn anarchic mayhem and the wanton destruction of private and public property, following their systemic refusal to do so amid last summer's harrowing, monthslong antifa/Black Lives Matter riotous rampage across the nation's urban corridors. As for the "health professional" charlatans who once argued against restricting the "mostly peaceful" protests in the name of the greater "public health crisis" of "systemic racism," they are now nowhere to be found during an actual crisis of national political health, wherein recent polling suggests nearly 40% of Americans doubt the legitimacy of the recent presidential election. But that hypocrisy, galling and lacking in self-awareness as it may be, still must not obscure the moment's imperative. And that takes us to President Donald Trump, the Republican Party and the state of American conservatism. The election of Trump in 2016 was a well-deserved wrecking ball to the cobwebbed pieties of Conservatism Inc. and the dripping disdain with which the GOP's libertarian-oriented donor class deigned to look at its more populist voting base. Only Trump, the exotic and iconoclastic real estate magnate who rose to prominence wholly outside Conservatism Inc.'s formative institutions, was able to break through the staleness and more authentically stand with Republican voters on issues such as immigration, trade and foreign policy. But while the Trump phenomenon was a salutary earthquake, forcing conservatives to retire their bromides and reconsider the difference between timeless principles and prudential policies, the 45th president largely failed to leave a constructive, substantive, forward-looking conservative agenda in his wake. This is hardly Trump's fault; far too many administration officials and GOP poohbahs remained wedded to the dead consensus, and in any event, it is hardly incumbent upon a commander in chief to play the role of egghead policy wonk. Fortunately, there now exists a sprawling network of intellectual and media institutions dedicated to fleshing out this "new right" agenda -- one that is more prudential and less wedded to abstract dogmatism; more overtly communitarian and protective of religion; and more focused on national health and the common good over the excessive economic and cultural deregulation that are hallmarks of post-World War II neoliberalism. I would know because I am a part of this movement. And in light of the past week, especially the loss of two eminently winnable Senate races in Georgia and the shameful manner in which Trump conducted himself during Wednesday's seditious Capitol storming, it is imperative for our nascent movement's prospects that President Trump go away after Jan. 20. He is highly unlikely to do so, of course. The flip side of Trump's irreverence and indifference toward established norms, which helped make him the perfect political disrupter, is his turgid ego and need to, at all times, be the center of attention. But that ego, which long manifested itself in anodyne Twitter rants, has now come at a real cost. This peculiar election featured myriad irregularities and was blighted by the proliferation of inherently destabilizing mail-in balloting, but it is highly unlikely that there was enough fraud to alter the Electoral College margin. The president's insistence to the contrary over the past two months undoubtedly helped sink Georgia Republicans -- disastrously handing over the Senate to Democrats -- and his deeply irresponsible decision to inflame rally-goers on Wednesday may have provided rhetorical cover for Capitol trespassers. The fact this was done under a "Make America Great Again" veneer could well poison new-right/common-good-conservatism efforts to evangelize and build out something meaningful and substantive. Donald Trump the wrecking ball was much-needed -- and tremendously successful. But it is time for conservatives, who will spend the next four years in exile, to cultivate a constructive governing agenda out of this now-toxified rubble. It is no small irony that our imperative to do the latter demands that Trump now get out of the way and let us finish his work. COPYRIGHT 2021 CREATORS.COM Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Beaumont Enterprise The Enterprise wants to give readers a chance to weigh in on Wednesday's attack on the U.S. Capitol, which has ignited a fierce debate over the president's culpability. Sunday update: A growing number of readers are responding to the poll, which as of 10:50 a.m. (see pie chart above) shows 56.4% support for removing the president from office, either through invoking the 25th Amendment, impeaching him or having him resign. But the largest single group of readers (43.6%) supports allowing him to serve out his term. Update: The 9,000 slots open to the public were filled within six minutes of the registration opening, according to a press release from the City of San Antonio. Previous Story: Starting Monday, the Alamodome will become a no-cost mass COVID-19 vaccine site. At this time, per state guidelines only allows for people who fall under Phases 1A and 1B to receive the vaccine at the Alamodome, the City of San Antonio officials announced in a press release Friday. Phase 1A includes frontline healthcare workers and residents at long-term care facilities. Phase 1B includes people over 65 or people 16 or older with a chronic medical condition that puts them at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. READ ALSO: Ted Cruz receives backlash after expressing condolences for officer who died from Capitol riot "The vaccination site at the Alamodome is an important step forward in our fight to eradicate the pandemic," Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. "This site will accelerate the vaccination process and help us provide protection for San Antonio residents as soon as possible." The venue can vaccinate approximately 1,500 people per day and will have in-person and drive-thru options. Appointments are required and can be made by visiting covid19.sanantonio.gov/vaccine or by calling 311 and selecting option 8. Registration will open on Saturday at 9 a.m., the release said. The Alamodome vaccine clinic will be available Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Parking will available at the venue's South Parking Lot, at 100 Montana St. Priscilla Aguirre is a general assignment reporter for MySA.com | priscilla.aguirre@express-news.net | @CillaAguirre Japan has been ordered to pay $90,000 each to twelve South Korean women who were held as sex slaves during World War II in a landmark ruling on Friday. The ruling in a South Korean court, that's set to rekindle animosities between the Asian neighbors, ordered Japan to financially compensate the women who were forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese troops. Known as 'comfort women', they were raped and sexually assaulted by up to 50 Japanese soldiers a day during the second world war and left with venereal diseases, unwanted pregnancies and 'big mental scars' in the women's lives. The court said Japan's mobilization of these women as sexual slaves was 'a crime against humanity.' The Seoul Central District Court ordered the Japanese government to give 100 million ($91,360) each to the 12 aging women who filed the lawsuits in 2013 for their wartime sexual slavery. Japan immediately protested the ruling, maintaining that all wartime compensation issues were resolved under a 1965 treaty that restored their diplomatic ties. Japan has been ordered to pay $90,000 each to twelve south Korean women who were held as sex slaves during World War II in a landmark ruling in South Korea on Friday. Pictured: Former comfort women (left to right) Lee Yong-soo, Kil Won-ok and Lee Ok-seun It said it happened when Japan 'illegally occupied' the Korean Peninsula from 1910-45, and its sovereign immunity cannot shield it from lawsuits in South Korea. The court said the women were the victims of 'harsh sexual activities' by Japanese soldiers who caused them bodily harm, venereal diseases and unwanted pregnancies and left 'big mental scars' in the women's lives. About 240 South Korean women came forward and registered with the government as victims of sexual slavery, but only 16 of them, all in their 80s and 90s, are still alive. Seven of the 12 women died while waiting for the ruling. The proceedings in the case had been delayed as Japan refused to receive legal documents. 'Comfort women' were forced to work as sex slaves to Japanese troops in the second world war. The court ruling at Seoul Central District Court said Japan's mobilization of these women as sexual slaves was 'a crime against humanity'. Pictured: Former comfort woman Lee Ok-sun Another 20 women, some already deceased and represented by their surviving relatives, filed a separate suit against Japan, and that ruling is expected next week. The women were among tens of thousands across occupied Asia and the Pacific who were sent to front-line Japanese military brothels. Observers say it's unlikely for Japan to abide by the South Korean court ruling. A support group for women forced to work as sex slaves said it may take legal steps to seize Japanese government assets in South Korea if Japan refuses to compensate victims. Japan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Vice Foreign Minister Takeo Akiba had summoned South Korean Ambassador Nam Gwan-pyo to register Tokyo's protest of the ruling. Chief Cabinet Secretary Katsunobu Kato also called the ruling 'extremely regrettable,' saying 'the Japanese government cannot accept this by any means.' South Korea's Foreign Ministry said later Friday it respects the ruling and will strive to restore the dignity of the women. The court said the women were the victims of 'harsh sexual activities' by Japanese soldiers who caused them bodily harm, venereal diseases and unwanted pregnancies and left 'big mental scars' in the women's lives. Pictured: Lee Yong-soo, a South Korean victim of Japanese military's sexual slavery Japan immediately protested the ruling, maintaining that all wartime compensation issues were resolved under a 1965 treaty that restored their diplomatic ties and observers say it's unlikely for Japan to abide by the South Korean court ruling. Pictured: Campaigners gather during a rally in support of former 'comfort women' in Seoul, South Korea It said it will examine the verdict's possible effects on ties with Japan and make efforts to maintain 'future-oriented' cooperation with Tokyo. Seoul and Tokyo, both key U.S. allies, are closely linked to each other economically and culturally. But their historical and territorial disputes stemming from Japan's colonial occupation have often complicated Washington's efforts to strengthen trilateral cooperation to deal with North Korea's nuclear threat and China's growing influence in the region. Their relations plunged to one of their lowest levels in decades after South Korea's Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese companies to offer reparations to some elderly South Korean plaintiffs for their wartime forced labor. The spat escalated into a trade war that saw both countries downgrade the other's trade status, and then spilled over to military matters when Seoul threatened to end a trilateral 2016 military intelligence-sharing agreement involving the U.S. In 2015, South Korea's previous government reached a deal with Japan to resolve the sexual slavery dispute. Under the deal, Japan offered a fresh apology and agreed to fund a foundation to support victims in return for South Korea stopping to criticize Japan over the issue on the world stage. But South Korea's current government, led by President Moon Jae-in, took steps to dissolve the foundation, saying the 2015 deal lacked legitimacy because officials failed to properly communicate with victims before reaching it. This year's opening keynote session, taking place on February 2, 2021 at 9:30am ET, will be a fireside chat with Stacey Abrams , author, serial entrepreneur, nonprofit CEO and trailblazing political leader. The discussion will be based on her professional journey and the evolution of the legal industry as well as conversations that will share Ms. Abram's unique perspective of the current political landscape and what can be expected for the rest of 2021. "ALM is excited to welcome Stacey Abrams to the Legalweek(year) keynote line up as she sets the stage for the entire virtual series, which will be packed with top legal professionals from the most groundbreaking corporate legal departments, law firms and legal technology enterprises," said Mark Fried, Chief Financial Officer and President, Events at ALM Media. Day Two's keynote speaker, Joshua Walker, author of "On Legal AI" and co-founder of CodeX, will discuss the future of legal services. Also joining Ms. Abrams and Mr. Walker on the Legalweek(year) speaker faculty will be legal experts including: Rajan Gupta, Head of Global Legal Technology, Facebook, Andrew Amoranto, Senior Paralegal Manager, Litigation, Twitter, Sara Lockman, Senior Director, eDiscovery and Information Governance, Walmart, Dennis Garcia, Assistant General Counsel, Microsoft, John Wilson, Chief Information Security Officer, HaystackID, Vicki Peyton, Contracts Manager, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Vedika Mehera, Innovation Advisor, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, Deborah Solmor, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, TCS Education System, Richard Robinson, Director of Legal Operations & Litigation Support, Toyota, Stephanie Lamoureaux, Legal Operations Lead, Square, Linda Johnson, Lead eDiscovery & Information Protection Manager, GSK, Allison Stanton, Director & Associate General Counsel, eDiscovery and Information Governance, Facebook, Toby Stinson, Manager, Law Data & Applications, Chevron, Susan Cone Kilgore, Attorney Advisor, U.S. Department of the Army, Heather McClow, Legal Operations Manager, Lowe's Companies, Jennifer Hope Bernstein, Vice President, Assistant General Counsel, JPMorgan Chase & Co, Dawson Horn, Associate General Counsel, AIG, Ameen Haddad, Assistant General Counsel, Technology, Intellectual Property & Cloud Computing, Oracle, Graham Rollins, Discovery Counsel, Capital One, Stacey Blaustein, Counsel, Corporate Litigation, IBM, Jenya Moshkovich, Assistant General Counsel, Genentech and many others. ALM's Global Newsroom and ALM Intelligence analysts will also join the speaker line-up to offer attendees unique insights, driven by their deep engagement in the industry. For more information, including the full agenda, speaker list and to register for the Legalweek(year) virtual series, please visit: http://legalweekshow.com/ or follow @Legalweekshow and engage with #Legalweek21 and #Legalweekyear for updates. About ALM ALM, an information and intelligence company, provides customers with critical news, data, analysis, marketing solutions and events to successfully manage the business of business. ALM serves a community of over 6 million business professionals seeking to discover, connect and compete in highly complex industries. Please visit www.alm.com for more information, and visit www.alm.com/events/ to learn about our upcoming events. Please follow us on Twitter at @ALMMedia . ALM Media Contact: Abbegayle Morrow [email protected] SOURCE ALM Related Links http://www.alm.com Photo: The Canadian Press Preparations take place for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday she has spoken to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff about preventing an unhinged President Donald Trump from ordering military actions including a possible nuclear strike in his final days and hours at the White House. Pelosi said in a statement to colleagues that she spoke with Gen. Mark Milley to discuss available precautions for preventing an unstable president from initiating military hostilities or accessing the launch codes" for nuclear war. She said Milley assured her longstanding safeguards are in place. The president has sole authority in the U.S. government to order the launch of a nuclear weapon. But a military commander could refuse the order if it were determined to be illegal. Trump has been making no such threats. Pelosi said the situation of this unhinged president could not be more dangerous. Pelosi was meeting with the House Democratic caucus Friday to consider impeachment proceedings against the president as soon as next week after the deadly siege of the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob that shocked the nation and the world. Top lawmakers are sounding alarms that even though Trump is to leave office Jan. 20 when Democrat Joe Biden is sworn in, he could do great damage on his way out. And if Trump were to be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate, he could be prevented from running again for the presidency in 2024 or ever holding public office again. Trump would be the only president twice impeached. Conviction in the Republican Senate at this late date would seem unlikely. But it's a measure of his uncomfortable position that fewer Republicans are speaking out against his removal. One Trump ally, Republican minority leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, said impeaching the President with just 12 days left in his term will only divide our country more. McCarthy said he reached out to Biden and plans to speak with the Democratic president-elect about working together to lower the temperature. The final days of Trumps presidency are spinning toward a chaotic end as he holes up at the White House, abandoned by many aides, leading Republicans and Cabinet members. He was tweeting again after his Twitter account was reinstated, reverting to an aggressive statement that his supporters must not be disrespected" after he sent out a calmer Thursday video decrying the violence. Calls are mounting for legal action following the Capitol attack, in which one protester was shot to death by Capitol police and Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick died. Three other people died from medical emergencies during the demonstration. Strong criticism of Trump, who urged the protesters to march to the Capitol, continued unabated. "Every day that he remains in office, he is a danger to the Republic, said Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Schiff, who led Trumps impeachment in 2019, said in a statement that Trump lit the fuse which exploded on Wednesday at the Capitol. Articles of impeachment are expected to be introduced on Monday, with a House vote as soon as Wednesday, according to a person familiar with the planning and granted anonymity to discuss it. Pelosi and Democratic Senate leader Chuck Schumer have called on Vice-President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to to force Trump from office. Its a process for removing the president and installing the vice-president to take over. Bidens transition spokesman Andrew Bates has said the president-elect is preparing to take office and will leave it Vice-President Pence, the Cabinet and the Congress to act as they see fit. But action by Pence or the Cabinet now appears unlikely, especially after two top officials, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao suddenly resigned in the aftermath of the violence at the Capitol and would no longer be in the Cabinet to make such a case. Trump had encouraged loyalists at a rally Wednesday at the White House to march on the Capitol where Congress was certifying the Electoral College tally of Biden's election. Pelosi discussed the prospect of impeachment with her leadership team Thursday night, hours after announcing the House was willing to act if Pence and other administration officials did not invoke Section 4 of the 25th Amendment the forceful removal of Trump from power by his own Cabinet. Rep. James Clyburn, the No. 3 House Democrat, told CNN: Everyone knows that this president is deranged. One leading Republican critic of Trump, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he will definitely consider impeachment. Schumer said he and Pelosi tried to call Pence early Thursday to discuss the 25th Amendment option but were unable to connect with him. Most Democrats, and many Republicans, put the blame squarely on Trump after swarms of protesters bearing Trump flags and clothing broke into the Capitol and caused destruction and evacuations. Three Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee began Thursday to circulate articles of impeachment. Reps. David Cicilline of Rhode Island, Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Ted Lieu of California wrote in the articles that Trump wilfully made statements that encouraged and foreseeably resulted in imminent lawless action at the Capitol. The House impeached Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020. Pelosi said a threshold was crossed of such magnitude that Trump should not be allowed to make any decisions. During a new conference Thursday, she challenged several Cabinet members by name, including Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin. Do they stand by these actions? Pelosi asked. Are they ready to say that for the next 13 days this dangerous man can do further harm to our country? Pence has not publicly addressed the possibility of invoking the 25th Amendment. Kolkata: Owners of small businesses have demanded imposition of a special tax of five per cent on online retailers and lowering of income tax rate to 22 per cent on partnership and LLP firms in the next Union budget to help them survive, a traders' body said on Tuesday. Traders and retailers, who have been going through a tough time in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, contribute about 22 per cent to the country's GDP and provides employment to lakhs of people, Federation of All India Vyapar Mandal (FAIVM) claimed in its budget proposal to the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. "The traders' community of India has been in a miserable condition after the demonetisation and the complex GST system were implemented. The growing e-commerce business has further raised the question of survival of nation's brick and mortar trade. So it is very important to impose a special tax of five per cent on the total business of online retailers," FAIVM general secretary V K Bansal said. The traders' body also claimed that the online retailers have experienced a surge in their revenue and reported sales of USD 4.1 billion in a week of October 2020 during the festive season. "An income tax on partnership firms and limited liability partnership entities should be levied at 22 per cent, instead of 30 per cent at present. This will bring it at par with income tax applicable to corporate," he said. The FAIVM has also requested the government to offer an interest subvention scheme for loans being provided to traders so that they can continue their businesses under the present circumstances. Live TV #mute Service sector retail businesses should also be given all benefits which are being extended to MSMEs, including the issuance of Udhyog Adhaar. She has been showcasing her slender frame in bikinis after joining her reality star pals in Dubai. And Georgia Steel showcased her toned physique in her latest racy Instagram snap on Friday. The Love Island star, 22, opened the drapes to her hotel room as she posed in pretty blue lingerie. Sensational: Georgia Steel, 22, showcased her toned physique in her latest racy Instagram snap on Friday as she posed in a sky blue lingerie set Georgia pouted as she leant against the doorframe as she wore the bra and matching mesh thong. The brunette beauty wore her long locks in natural waves as she let them flow past her shoulders. Georgia opted for glamorous make-up as she captioned the post: 'Find the light in everyone'. The reality star has been eagerly documenting her 'business getaway' to Dubai, while the rest of the UK has been plunged into a third lockdown. Wow! The Love Island star wore the bra and matching mesh thong and left her long locks in natural waves as she let them flow past her shoulders Turn up the heat! Georgia highlighted her incredible figure in a white balconette bra and matching briefs on Thursday, as she relaxed on a yacht in Dubai She highlighted her incredible figure on Thursday as she relaxed on a yacht in the United Arab Emirates. The TV personality protected her highlighted tresses with a Fendi headscarf and delivered a sultry pose from the boat deck. Prior to this, she was seen looking relaxed in orange bikini bottoms and a rolled-up white vest top as her friend took a candid snap of her at the beach. The beauty removed her denim shorts and used them as a seat as she held onto the straw hat in the image. Beach babe: Prior to this, she was seen looking relaxed in orange bikini bottoms and a rolled-up white vest top as her friend took a candid snap of her at the beach Georgia penned: 'This is a very candid photo my friend took of me on the beach today. 'Capturing a natural moment just goes to show I'm the happiest I've been for a long time, mentally I feel like the past year and half has been so testing for my little head. 'My friends and family are my world and I'm so lucky to be surrounded by the most amazing souls. This energy is infectious and I'm lovin' it.' Georgia became one of the latest flood of the reality stars to jet off to Dubai after she headed there at the end of December. She shared a series of snaps taken in Manchester Airport before setting off amid the city's Tier 3 status and guidelines - instructing against non-essential travel. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the worlds largest AIDS organization, condemned the recent jailing of Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan for her reporting on COVID-19 in Wuhan as another example of Chinese authorities efforts to impede and obscure global investigations into the origins of the coronavirus and its spread in the early days of the pandemic. Zhangs prison sentence of four years has been met with sharp criticism from advocates globally, including the European Union, which has demanded that Zhang be released. Zhang Zhan is a hero for courageously trying to expose a deadly cover-up that crippled the world. Its not acceptable that China is being allowed to continue the false narrative, and now it is boldly blocking the World Health Organization (WHO) investigators from going to Wuhan to study the outbreak, said AHF President Michael Weinstein. Its shameful that [WHO Director-General] Tedros was praising Chinas response from the beginning, and now his own scientists cannot enter the country. With the COVID-19 death toll approaching two million people, the entire system of global public health is at stake. We are one world which China is a part of, and it has a responsibility to protect it not to perpetuate a cover-up which is costing millions of lives. After finally consenting to allow a team of WHO experts to travel to Wuhan following lengthy negotiations, China has recently reneged on the agreement while two scientists were already in route, allegedly due to visa clearance issues. A string of actions such as these, intended to thwart the pursuit of facts inadvertently raises questions about why and what China does not want the world to know. The latest assault on transparency follows a string of other attempts at suppression of public health facts. In January 2020, Chinese ophthalmologist from Wuhan, Dr. Li Wenliang was threatened by law enforcement officials for publicly speaking out about the emergence of a new respiratory illness and was forced to sign a letter retracting his comments. Tragically, Dr. Li passed away in February from what would come to be known as COVID-19. As a tribute to Dr. Li, AHF named its Asia Bureau office in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in his honor. Whether its the United States, the WHO or China weve advocated for complete transparency throughout this health emergency, added Weinstein. The WHO should be calling out nations that seek to silence such invaluable voices as Ms. Zhangs, because lives are lost when information is withheld. Governments should be compelled to provide all relevant COVID-19 data, including accurate statistics on cases and mortality, and there should be zero secrecy on vaccine development and vaccination policies. International cooperation and transparency are paramount during a pandemic. AHF has repeatedly called on public health organizations, associations and universities to join together in urging governments and global institutions to work toward creating a new Global Public Health Convention one that would protect citizens everywhere from this and future health crises by ensuring transparency, sustainability and accountability. AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the largest global AIDS organization, currently provides medical care and/or services to over 1.5 million clients in 45 countries worldwide in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean, the Asia/Pacific Region and Europe. To learn more about AHF, please visit our website: www.aidshealth.org, find us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/aidshealth and follow us on Twitter: @aidshealthcare and Instagram: @aidshealthcare. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210106005819/en/ The Centre and the representatives of agitating farmers unions on Friday began the eighth round of talks to resolve farmers concerns regarding the new farm laws. The meeting is currently underway as Union ministers Narendra Singh Tomar and Piyush Goyal reached Vigyan Bhavan in Delhi. Before the meeting, both farmers union leaders and Union agriculture minister Tomar on Friday expressed hope that a solution to the issues will be found. I am hopeful that talks will be held in a positive atmosphere and a solution will be found. During discussions, each side has to take steps to reach a solution, Tomar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. Watch: Farmers, Centre hold 8th round of talks to find solutions amid protest Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar also held an hour-long meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday before reaching Vigyan Bhavan, news agency PTI reported. Click here for LIVE updates Rakesh Tikait of the Bharatiya Kisan Union said that farmers leaders are hoping that both parties will reach a resolution. We going for talks with the hope that there will be a resolution today, Tikait said. The farmers have warned the government that if the talks fail then they will take out tractor marches towards Delhi. The farmers also plan to take out a tractor march on January 26. Farmer leader Hannan Mollah said that he is ready for any eventuality as the government is not ready to repeal the laws. The minister yesterday categorically declared that repeal of farm laws was not accepted. I dont know what will happen during the discussions today. Anyway, we hope for the best and (are) prepare(d) for the worst, Mollah was quoted as saying by news agency ANI on Friday. Also Read: Swaminathan says MSP better than loan waiver The government continues to claim that the new laws would increase incomes of farmers and introduce a level-playing field in the agriculture sector. Government has also highlighted that farmers can now sell their produce anywhere in the country. Several BJP leaders have also said that these same reforms were promised by other political parties in their previous election manifestos as well. Also Read: 3,000 tractors at farmers march Farmers from Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and other northern states have been protesting at Delhis borders for the last 45 days demanding the rollback of 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 farmers say that despite government assurances they fear that the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system will be affected. They have also demanded a total rollback of the laws as they fear corporate farming will affect their earnings. SOBANS donate 70 mattresses to Sasse College Facebook Members of the Sasse Old Boys Association, SOBA an alumni association for ex-students of St. Josephs College Sasse, have donated 70 mattresses to their alma mater. SOBA President-General, Ayuk Iyok Sammy Pride handed the mattresses to the students through the schools principal, Rev. Fr. Armstrong Ndi on Thursday night. The donation came a day after the St. Martins Dormitory at Sasse College went up in flames. Authorities blame the January 6, 2021 fire on an electrical fault. SOBA Secretary-General Kebei Eugene Kah said the executive committee of SOBA paid a visit to Sasse College early on Thursday morning during which they took stock of the situation. The President-General and his executive took prompt action to come to the assistance of students who have suffered loss through Wednesdays fire incident by replacing their lost mattresses, said Kebei. The mattresses (70 in number) were presented to the students through the principal and staff at about 6:45 pm on Thursday, January 7, 2021, by the President General of SOBA, Mr. Ayuk Iyok Sammy Pride, some members of his executive some other SOBANS of goodwill. The Senior Prefect of Sasse College, Ikome Henry expressed words of gratitude to SOBANS on behalf of his schoolmates affected by the fire incident. He promised that their appreciation would be demonstrated further by their hard work and brilliant performance during the upcoming end of year examinations. The principal of Sasse College, Rev. Fr. Armstrong Ndi, said the gesture will go a long way to ease the burden of parents who were out a few days ago shopping for their kids. He assured SOBA of his renewed prayers. SOBA President-General Ayuk Iyok in response said this is just the beginning. He promised that more shall be done to support the students and the school when the reconstruction process shall commence. Ayuk Iyok extended words of appreciation to the president of SOBA America, Dr. Fote Betrand, and the President of SOBA Yaounde, Prof. Oben Julius, for their prompt response. He called on all SOBANS to support the students and the reconstruction process estimated to cost over FCFA 19 million. I am thrilled to join the board of the NAPHN to showcase why Passive House is the solution for the here and now. The North American Passive House Network announced today the appointment of four new board members to the board of directors. This brings the number of board members to ten. Alexandra Kaplan is a Senior Project Manager and Associate Director of Fund Management at Hudson Inc, a New York City building development company, whose projects include the Passive House residential tower at Cornell Tech. Derrick Tillman is the President and CEO of Bridging the Gap Development LLC, a Pittsburgh based, socially responsible development firm, currently developing Passive House affordable housing. Eddy Voltaire is a consultant at Design Construction & Sustainability, based in New York City. Jay Murdoch is the Director of Industry Affairs at Owens Corning, and is based out of Washington DC. Alexandra Kaplan noted, When we look to the strategies that are most successfully addressing the health of people, cities, and our global climate environmentally and fiscally Passive House is the answer. I am thrilled to join the board of the NAPHN to showcase why Passive House is the solution for the here and now. Derrick Tillman added, As a Passive House building developer, we utilize educational resources NAPHN provides to develop innovative residential and commercial spaces in communities with a need for quality affordable housing and good-paying jobs. Im excited to use my experiences to inform NAPHNs growth, and help maximize its transformational impact. We are proud to announce these new board members, said Board Chair, Bronwyn Barry. They each bring a commitment to Passive House and changing business as usual in our industry - each with a fresh and distinct perspective. We expect their voices and support will make our board even stronger and more effective as we look to grow the impact of NAPHN significantly in 2021. # # # About NAPHN: The North American Passive House Network (NAPHN) is an independent national non-profit educational organization affiliated with the International Passive House Association (iPHA) and the Passive House Institute (PHI), located in Darmstadt, Germany. NAPHN has chapters based in New Jersey (http://www.njpassivehouse.com), Washington DC (http://www.naphnetwork.org), the Rocky Mountain Region (http://www.phrockymountains.com), Minnesota (http://www.passivehouseminnesota.org) and Western Pennsylvania (http://www.passivehousewpa.com), as well as a coast-to-coast chapter called Passive House America. NAPHN supports the widespread adoption of the international Passive House design and construction standards, building science principles and protocols, as a critical response to our climate crisis - providing unparalleled effectiveness in mitigating climate disruptions and adapting to rapidly changing environmental conditions. NAPHN is focused on the inflection point between policy and implementation. We partner with leading stakeholders across all building sectors, including governments, professional associations, manufacturers, owners, builders, labor organizations, and educational institutions to make the transformation complete. http://www.naphnetwork.org About Passive House: Passive House is an international building standard and methodology, applicable to buildings of all kinds from office buildings to hospitals, new-build and renovations, that results in a dramatic drop in operational energy use, and more comfortable and healthy occupants - meant to aggressively mitigate our climate crisis while providing resilient adaptation. The Passive House Standard was developed by the Passive House Institute (PHI), an independent scientific research organization, located in Darmstadt, Germany, and includes specific requirements for energy use and comfort of occupants. The Passive House Standard is being successfully applied to thousands of buildings and millions of square feet around the world, from Boston to Beijing. The Passive House methodology starts with reducing cooling, dehumidification and heating loads by focusing, not on gadgets and active technology, but instead on fully integrated durable passive building components, such as proper continuous thermal-bridge-free insulation, continuous airtightness, high-performance windows and doors, and ventilation that includes a high-efficiency heat/energy recovery core, carefully calculated, and all integrated with the entire architectural process of design and construction. http://www.passivehouse.com http://www.passipedia.org View an Introduction to Passive house video: https://youtu.be/G1u5q8IbCak Not sure what Passive House means? Watch this video: https://youtu.be/fy9nnso306o Springside Rehab Celebrates COVID-19 Vaccination Day PITTSFIELD, Mass. Springside Rehabilitation Celebrates COVID-19 Vaccination Day. On Thursday Springside Rehabilitation residents and staff received their first round of COVID-19 vaccinations. "Today our staff and our residents rejoice in the hope for better and safer days coming," Administrator Christina Pringle said. "We received the first round of vaccinations for our residents and staff and we are all so incredibly grateful for completing this first step toward making our facility safer and healthier. We have all grown stronger and pulled together as a united family as we have fought extremely hard to keep all of us safe and well. We are all looking forward to being on the other side of this." Massachusetts residents will receive the vaccine in phases. the first doses will go to people highest risk for COVID-19 including health care workers, residents and staff of congregate care settings including nursing homes, and first responders. CALGARY - The CEO of WestJet Airlines Ltd. is laying the blame squarely on "incoherent" policy from Ottawa as his carrier cuts staff and flights in response to new COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers returning to Canada. Advertisement Advertise With Us A WestJet flight from Calgary arrives at Halifax Stanfield International Airport in Enfield, N.S. on Monday, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan CALGARY - The CEO of WestJet Airlines Ltd. is laying the blame squarely on "incoherent" policy from Ottawa as his carrier cuts staff and flights in response to new COVID-19 testing requirements for passengers returning to Canada. The Calgary-based airline announced Friday about 1,000 employees will be furloughed, temporarily laid off, put on unpaid leave or have their hours cut, and it will chop about 30 per cent of its capacity for February and March and pull 160 domestic departures from its schedule. Trip cancellations and reductions in new bookings began immediately after the federal government warned of the inbound testing rules and continued requirement for a 14-day quarantine on Dec. 31, WestJet CEO Ed Sims said in a statement. "The entire travel industry and its customers are again on the receiving end of incoherent and inconsistent government policy,"' he said. "We have advocated over the past 10 months for a co-ordinated testing regime on Canadian soil, but this hasty new measure is causing Canadian travellers unnecessary stress and confusion and may make travel unaffordable, unfeasible and inaccessible for Canadians for years to come." The new flight cuts mean WestJet will have reduced flights by more than 80 per cent compared with the same time last year, it said. International capacity will be down 93 per cent year over year and only five daily flights will be offered compared with 100 last year. Overall, the airline will offer 150 daily departures, returning to levels not seen since 2001, it said. WestJet said it currently has 5,700 active and 5,200 inactive employees, down from over 14,000 before the pandemic erupted. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday pointed out $1.5 billion in aid has flowed to the aviation industry through the federal wage subsidy and other relief measures, though none were specific to the ailing sector. People shouldnt be travelling, and that of course is a direct challenge for the airline industry to manage through. At the same time weve made it very clear that we expect people to be reimbursed (for cancelled flights), we expect regional routes to be protected, Trudeau told reporters in Ottawa. The government warned in a tweet Friday afternoon that hundreds of passengers could be stranded in Jamaica indefinitely: "In #Jamaica? You may have a lot of trouble getting a #COVID19 test." The country has reduced testing capacity, Ottawa's travel advisory says. WestJet issued an "urgent notice" to passengers slated to fly home this weekend from Montego Bay, where there is a "lack of testing capacity" the company said. It said travellers in Jamaica were having trouble finding anywhere to book a test. Thirty-six flights are scheduled to depart Jamaica for Canada on five different airlines four of them Canadian between Friday and Jan. 17, according to flight data firm Cirium. The federal government said last week that Canada-bound air passengers would have to provide proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test result in order to board their flight a requirement that took effect on Thursday. WestJet said it had to deny boarding to 32 passengers on its six international flights into Canada on Thursday. The travellers were turned away due to improper tests antigen or antibody tests, rather than the required PCR test common in Canada and involving a deep nasal swab no test at all, or one taken more than 72 hours before departure, spokeswoman Morgan Bell said. Our team on the ground has rebooked guests affected and is assisting with finding eligible tests whenever possible to ensure they can return to Canada at a later date, Bell said. Air Transat denied boarding to 10 passengers who did not have a PCR test on its three northbound flights Thursday. A dozen more travellers were turned away on a flight from Paris on Friday morning. In addition, for the three flights, we observed a significant number of no-shows, which we cannot explain with certainty. We will follow the evolution of the situation closely in the coming days, said Transat spokesman Christophe Hennebelle. There will be some stranded passengers, unfortunately a little bit more heads-up and co-operation may have helped preventing this. He added Air Transat is considering adjustments to its schedule but noted its program is already minimal, moving more than 90 per cent fewer passengers in December than in the same month last year. Air Canada said it is evaluating its schedule in view of stifled demand from ongoing travel restrictions and quarantine rules, but had no changes to announce. However, airline industry consultant Robert Kokonis said there's no doubt it will have to enact similar measures. "It's the perfect storm," he said. "It's arrival testing that was sprung on us with little information, with short notice, combined with the continuation of a 14-day quarantine, leading to a lot of this pain." The cutbacks at WestJet are the result of a "continued attack" on airlines without compensation, said Chris Rauenbusch, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees local that represents cabin crew members at WestJet. Demand already low amid federal guidance against all non-essential travel has "evaporated" since the policy was announced on Dec. 31, Rauenbusch said. We completely understand the need for public health measures during a pandemic like this, he said. The fundamental problem we have is the employer wasnt consulted until after the public announcement. WestJet, which was bought by Onex Corp. in 2019, joined Air Canada, Air Transat and Sunwing Airlines said, along with the National Airlines Council of Canada and the International Air Transportation Association, in unsuccessfully asking Ottawa for an 11-day extension to implement the new rules. With a file from Anita Balakrishnan in Toronto. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 8, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:ONEX, TSX:AC) Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 00:27:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close YAOUNDE, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen civilians were killed early Friday in a suicide bombing attack by terror group Boko Haram in Cameroon's Far North, local sources said. According to local residents and security sources, the attack took place in Mozogo in the division of Mayo-Tsanaga at around 1 a.m. The Jihadists broke in as most of the population fell asleep. Once they were spotted by the local vigilance committee and security forces, one jihadist was killed, while another was able to activate the explosive belt. The explosion killed thirteen civilians. The suicide bomber was killed instantly, according to security sources. Enditem has praised leader stating that "rulers in Delhi" fear his return as the president and alleged that a campaign has been launched to defame the Gandhi family. In an editorial in its mouthpiece Saamna, the said, " is once again becoming the president of the party which is a good thing. For BJP without Modi and for Congress without Gandhi, there is no alternative. This truth has to be accepted. For some time, after went away, the party's hold weakened from the position where it was. Now Gandhi is coming back again. Rahul Gandhi has given nod to accept the post of president of the Congress." It also referred to the questioning of Robert Vadra earlier this week by the Income Tax Department relating to probe over alleged benami transactions. "Income tax officials reached Priyanka Gandhi's husband Robert Vadra's residence means raid was conducted at his house, this is not a coincidence. Robert Vadra is the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi. There are many controversies related to him but to misuse central agencies to harass the Gandhi family is not right," said. The editorial said there were attempts to portray Rahul Gandhi as a weak leader, he is "standing and attacking the government". "The rulers in Delhi are afraid of Rahul Gandhi. If this is not the case, an unnecessary campaign would not have been launched to defame the Gandhi family unnecessarily," the editorial said. It said institutions like the Income Tax Department and ED are honest. "As long as the political owners do not give the signal, these loyal people do not reach the doorstep without any reason, so there is no meaning in blaming these people. Rahul Gandhi is again becoming the president of the Congress and a lot more is going to happen from this pain," it said. (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.) LAist only exists with reader support. If you're in a position to give, your donation powers our reporters and keeps us independent. Start your day with LAist Sign up for the Morning Brief, delivered weekdays. Subscribe What does it mean to be an American? Am I American because I was born here, or because I grew up here, went to school, paid taxes, formed relationships and supported racial equality? How To Participate Since June 2020, we've asked for your stories about how race and ethnicity shape your life and and published as many of these stories as we can. We call this year-long effort Race in LA. Click here for more information and details on how to participate. My reality would argue that I have to earn the right to call myself American. I've learned that being born in a country that gives its people the freedom to be who they want, wherever they want, is simply not enough. MY PARENTS' DECISION I was born in 1992, in a country that my parents did not grow up in. My mother was born in 1955 in the small town of Mineral del Cubo in Guanajuato state, Mexico, where she became the second daughter of the Munoz family. She was raised as a responsible young girl. It was at around age 11, as my mom recalled, that she began to work in the home. She would help her mom take care of her younger siblings, cook for the family, and go to the store every now and then. It is safe to say that my mom grew up with a lot of family values, values that parents teach their kids about how unity is strength, and this strength is held together by a family foundation. Geovanny's parents shortly after arriving in L.A. (Courtesy of Geovanny Martinez) My father, on the other hand, grew up mostly on his own. He was born in 1956 in Yuriria, also in Guanajuato state, a son of the Martinez family. He was taken care of until he was old enough to take care of himself, at around the age of 13. Unlike my mother, he did not have similar family support and unity. My parents met through friends while still in their late teens. These two individuals survived the struggles of life together until, around their mid 20s, they officially decided to have children. They began raising their children -- starting with my two older brothers -- with the great hope that maybe, just maybe, they would grow up in a better place and in a healthier way than they did. Their approach to reach this goal: to relocate to a country that "everyone knew had opportunities," even though they knew the opportunities were not going to be for themselves. Or at least, that's what my father told me. They invested in the future, their children's future. WELCOME TO AMERICA My parents settled in Southern California at the end of 1991, as they were about to enter their 40s. I was born just in time to be able to say that I existed during the L.A. riots after the Rodney King verdict -- on April 28, 1992. The riots began the next day. My parents were scared, as those were scary times. I remember them later saying they were afraid to leave the hospital. It would be many years before I could wrap my head around the world I was born into. Geovanny as a young child with his father, Agustin, and his younger sister Linda. (Courtesy of Geovanny Martinez) I grew up in South L.A., in an area where gang violence literally surrounded us, but it was as if we were just quiet enough to not draw the attention of these dangers. Our family did not associate with gangs, not only because we were taught not to, but because it sounded like common sense to us: you carry a weapon, a weapon will be used, someone will get hurt. In a sense, the quieter you are, the safer you are. I learned this. We lived in the same building for years, until a classmate of mine showed up to school completely destroyed emotionally because his older brother had been the victim of a shooting outside our building the previous night. The shooting itself was not rare, but this particular one happened right outside our apartment complex, where the boy's dead body could be seen just beyond the parking lot. My parents used their very limited resources from my dad's job as a welder to relocate our family, to Lynwood, to Downey, and finally Huntington Park, away from what felt like the center of crime. Our family, at this point, didn't worry about quality of life necessarily. We prioritized survival. A QUIET KID COMES OF AGE Keep in mind, my parents never completed school as kids. They got as far as what we would consider to be the end of elementary school. So when I was growing up, there was very little talk about my options in terms of education and a career. What my parents did know was that education is important, so they made sure that I attended a charter high school to help guide my education. It is thanks to this that I was exposed to a world beyond the one our family knew. Geovanny, right, on his 21st birthday with his dad, Agustin. (Courtesy of Geovanny Martinez) At my Huntington Park charter school I learned about college, financial aid and career options. Unfortunately, the environment I had grown up in had led me to believe that finding a job right after school was "good enough" for everyone, so it should be good enough for me as well. This turned out to be a poorly thought out approach to life, because it took me a decade and a pandemic to push me back to school. Without college, I ended up in what I had thought to be a solid career choice, working as a card dealer in a local casino. But my job turned out to be non-essential. After strong recommendations from my life partner, I am now back in school, attending community college and attempting to complete my Bachelor of Economics degree with hopes of bettering my career options. Together, we are exploring new grounds that we couldn't ask our parents about, since we are the first in both our families to attend college. WE SURVIVED. NOW, HOW DO WE THRIVE? Today I am 28 years old, two years older than my mother when my parents had their first child. So far, I have made multiple attempts to earn a college degree, worked in a casino that was not considered essential during a pandemic, and have come to realize that I want to focus my time on making a change. I have no children, and this is mostly due to the fact that I have yet to figure out who I am in this country, and what I have to offer my child. I have to change my mentality, from being quiet in order to survive to being willing to speak out, in order to figure out who I am and what kind of parent I want to be. To be American, in my opinion, you have to believe in something. You have to stand for something and belong to something bigger than yourself, always looking for progress so that you, and future generations, become better with time. While the rest of the country shouts "go back to your country" at people like my family and me, I have to figure out what exactly my family stood for, and will stand for, once our name is established in these communities we now call home. Unlike some families, mine did not grow up with goals such as which school to attend, and what career choice to follow. My parents wanted to give opportunity to their children, and maybe once they had reached that point of "satisfaction" with their efforts, whatever that point was, then maybe, just maybe return to see their parents in Mexico again. My parents were never big on telling their children what to do or how to do things, because they had great faith in our abilities. This could probably be a big reason why we never sat down and talked about our plans -- we are Martinezes, after all. We are capable. This was the extent of my parents' goal, investing in our family's future generations without as much as a second thought about their own well-being. Geovanny with his mother, Ofelia, who passed away in 2017. "Without her, I definitely would have not have become the person that I am today." (Courtesy of Geovany Martinez) My mother died on Christmas Day three years ago, before ever seeing her own mom again. My maternal grandmother in Mexico, who I'd never met, died shortly after. Being separated was part of the sacrifice they made for us. My father always drank his emotions away, so I still, to this day, don't know how he feels about it all, or what he now wants out of life for himself. But lucky for us, he is still alive, so there is still a chance that he might learn to share his thoughts with us. DETERMINING MY OWN FUTURE So while I sit here today, trying to figure out what exactly I want out of life for myself, I keep getting distracted, because I don't understand what gives me the right to ask myself this question, when my own mother and father didn't. They did what they had to do -- for us. With all of these uncertainties about personal and family values, my life partner and I have hesitated to take our relationship to the next step -- having kids. We want to become the best version of ourselves before we begin to help mold the personality of another human being. Geovanny with his life partner, Yesenia, in a recent photo. (Courtesy of Geovanny Martinez) Am I ready to have kids and have them join a world where the outgoing president has triggered many of the American people to hate themselves over such uncontrollable circumstances as their skin color? I really want to wait until the world is a better place. But if my parents thought I would make it, then my children should be able to, right? My siblings and I face a different type of challenge than our parents did at our age. We don't have to worry about food, housing or work the way that they did. We are fortunate enough to remove that from our list of struggles. Now, in the year 2021, while trying to stay safe during a pandemic, we are figuring out what our family values consist of. We have to build the kinds of relationships that some people are fortunate enough to be born into, such as having a family full of aunts and uncles, cousins, nephews, godparents-- and having them all here for us, a call away. This might not sound like a big deal to some, but the truth is that when a family relocates the way mine did, you get a sense of loneliness, because you don't have as many people to count on growing up. While we were being quiet growing up, learning to survive, we forgot to learn how to socialize. I struggle to maintain eye contact -- an important factor in effective communication -- because where I come from, this indicates confrontation, and confrontation puts people in danger. MORE FROM OUR RACE IN LA SERIES The reason the holidays are difficult for me -- I mean, besides the fact that the most wonderful woman in the world died on Christmas Day -- is that our family isn't as close as it should have been. We should have grown up as a unit, in a family-friendly environment where the parents can count on the children to look out for one another without fear of anyone getting hurt, the way my mother always wanted. Unfortunately, living in survival mode, the kids in my family pretty much grew up doing our own thing. Yes, we tried our best to be there for each other, the way our mother taught us, but sometimes it felt forced. We can only hope to learn from this, to potentially teach our kids how to build stronger relationships, and do our part to be as involved as possible with our nieces and nephews. This is where my partner and I come in. We have to learn where our happiness comes from. We have to not only appreciate what we have, but also seek out new ways of thinking. Yesenia, left, and Geovanny pose with a tour host while visiting Belgium in 2019. "One thing I never imagined doing, traveling. Just one of the many opportunities that were given to me that not everyone has." (Courtesy of Geovanny Martinez) We pay attention to each other. We listen, to the best of our ability, when we are angry, sad, frustrated, or just simply being irrational. These are factors that our parents didn't focus too much on, and I feel like this is our contribution to the family name -- learning and understanding the complexity of our cultural upbringing and human emotions so that our kids have a better understanding of the path this Martinez family has taken. PASSING THE BATON I guess if I could ever hope to teach my kids something, it would be this: Your grandparents gave up everything so we could have the opportunity to do anything we want, and it is my job to make sure that you know what to do with all of that freedom. My responsibility in life is to learn as much as I can, so that the first generation of the Martinez family that is fully American can have a blank canvas to paint whatever they want. They will have the option to choose where to live, pursuing whichever career they want, speaking in any language they want, learning to do whatever they want, wherever -- having complete freedom. I am simply carrying on the family name, trying to prepare to the best of my ability so that my children can learn what this family has been working on for the past decades -- a future. This is how I begin the process of becoming American. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: My name is Geovanny Martinez and right now I am thinking I should have probably paid more attention in my English classes growing up, maybe school altogether. I now understand that speaking English alone is not enough, pero como decia Celia Cruz: "My English is not very good looking." I was born in Los Angeles, California, and I was given the biggest gift I could have ever received from my parents. I was given an opportunity. As a son and as a student, I live my life to learn to not only value this gift, but also make sure I pass on this knowledge to future generations. I don't think my parents will ever understand that what they did for me, for our family, is substantially more than they think, or thought. I will be forever grateful to them and I thank them, by making sure that the dream is not only completed, but continued. Iran's supreme leader on Friday banned the import of American and British-produced vaccines against Covid-19, saying they were "completely untrustworthy". "Importing vaccines made in the US or the UK is prohibited," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a tweet, accompanied by the hashtag #CoronaVaccine. "It's not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations," he added. The Islamic republic has reported more than 1.2 million cases of the novel coronavirus, which have caused over 56,000 deaths. Importing vaccines made in the US or the UK is prohibited. They're completely untrustworthy. It's not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations. Given our experience with France's HIV-tainted blood supplies, French vaccines aren't trustworthy either. #CoronaVaccine Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) January 8, 2021 Iran has accused arch-enemy the US of hampering its access to vaccines through a tough sanctions regime. While food and medicine are technically exempt from the measures, international banks tend to refuse transactions involving Iran. Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said last month that Washington had demanded that Tehran pay for the drugs through US banks, adding that he feared the United States would seize the money. Khamenei also tweeted that "given our experience with France's HIV-tainted blood supplies, French vaccines aren't trustworthy either." That was a reference to a scandal in the 1980s in which blood infected with HIV was distributed in France, and later abroad, even after the government became aware of the problem. Hundreds of people in Iran were among those infected. France's then-prime minister Laurent Fabius was charged with manslaughter, but acquitted in 1999, while his health minister was convicted but never punished. Iran last month launched clinical trials of a vaccine developed in the Islamic republic, the Middle Eastern country hardest hit by the pandemic. India has been asked to chair three important committees of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), Ambassador of India to UN TS Tirumurti said on Friday. Happy to announce that Flag of India #India will be chairing 3 key subsidiary bodies of @UN #SecurityCouncil during #IndiainUNSC (2021-22): Taliban sanctions committee, #CounterTerrorism committee (for 2022), #Libya sanctions committee, TS Tirumurti tweeted. India began its eighth term as a non-permanent member of the UNSC on Monday with the stated objective of raising its voice against terrorism, speaking for the developing world and bringing human-centric inclusive solutions to matters of global peace and security. Here is everything you need to know about the committees that India will chair and why they are important. Tirumurti said the Taliban Sanctions Committee has always been a high priority for India. Chairing this Committee at this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of terrorists and their sponsors, threatening the peace process in Afghanistan, he added. It is also called the 1988 Sanctions Committee. The Libya Sanctions Committee is a very important subsidiary body of the council, which implements the sanctions regime, including a two-way arms embargo on Libya, an assets freeze, a travel ban, measures on illicit export of petroleum. We will be assuming the Chair of this Committee at a critical juncture when there is an international focus on Libya and on their peace process, Tirumurti said in a video message. India will also chair the Counterterrorism Committee in 2022, which coincides with the 75th Anniversary of Indias Independence. It was formed in September 2001 soon after the tragic terrorist attack of 9/11 in New York. India had chaired this committee in the Security Council in 2011-12. The chairing of this Committee has a special resonance for India, which has not only been at the forefront of fighting terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism but has also been one of its biggest victims, said Tirumurti. India won the eighth term in an election last June securing 184 of the 192 votes cast. It was last on the council in a two-year term ending 2012. Its previous terms were 1950-1951, 1967-1968, 1972-1973, 1977-1978, 1984-1985 and 1991-1992. As part of the pandemic relief legislation in the United States, signed on December 28, 2020 by President Donald Trump , the Pentagon is being required to disclose all the information it has about UFOs or Unidentified Aerial Phenomena ( UAP , for its acronym in English). The issue puts the North American country even more in the sights, since it creates a lot of expectation both in real life and in fiction. It is not known for sure if there has been contact with extraterrestrial life. However, this information could be made public in a period of no more than six months. A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against East Jefferson General Hospital filed by the owner of a Metairie building the hospital rented for a standalone emergency room that never materialized. In a ruling issued Dec. 29, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Meredith Grabill rejected the claims by George Cella, owner of a Veterans' Boulevard building that the hospital rented in 2016. Cella sued East Jefferson in state court, claiming that by not developing the emergency room, East Jefferson General Hospital had violated the lease and should pay damages. The case was later moved to bankruptcy court after Cella's company filed for bankruptcy. The building and its fate became mired in controversy in 2019 after it was revealed that EJGH, which was in dire financial straits and desperately seeking an outside operator or buyer, had spent millions to rent and partially renovate the building only to stop partway through the project. The lease carried a 10-year term, obligating the hospital to continue paying approximately $43,000 per month to Cella until 2026. +2 Sale of East Jefferson General Hospital marks the end of an era -- and the start of another East Jefferson General Hospital opened its doors as a private hospital Thursday, ending a half-century run as the lone public hospital on Jeff The hospital remained current on the rent payments, even though it ceased development of the facility. Cella sued in Jefferson Parish court in 2018, asking the court to force East Jefferson to complete the emergency room project or pay him damages close to what it would cost to put an emergency room in the building. He also sought the remainder of the rent and attorneys fees. The next year, the case was moved to federal court and was eventually included as part of Cella's bankruptcy proceedings. Grabill's ruling followed a three day trial in September. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "EJGH's failure to date to develop a community medical center on the leased premises does not constitute a breach of the lease," she wrote. "The Court finds that, at this time, no breach has occurred." Hospital attorney Dave Sherman said the ruling was a vindication of the hospital's position. "From the very beginning we believed this was a frivolous lawsuit," he said. "We were always in compliance with the lease, we always paid our rent." Sherman said they may file a claim against Cella to recoup attorney fees, which have run to about $400,000 including expert fees. Scott Sternberg, a lawyer for Cella, said his client plans to appeal the ruling. Sternberg also represents The Times Picayune | The Advocate in some cases. In October, East Jefferson General was sold to LCMC Health for $90 million in payments and another $100 million in capital improvements. LCMC Health obtained the lease as part of its purchase and is considering plans for the building, a spokeswoman said Thursday. A prominent philosophy professor has vowed not to be silenced after a group of academics criticised the decision to award her an OBE because she advocates that women should not be made to share toilets and changing rooms with transgender women. Dr Kathleen Stock, 49, a professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex, has been outspoken on gender identity issues and claims many UK universities are becoming 'trans activist institutions' where free academic debate is censored and suppressed. In an open letter titled 'Open Letter Concerning Transphobia in Philosophy', 600 of her peers from institutions including the LSE and MIT criticised the decision to recognise her services to higher education, calling it a show of support for what they describe as 'harmful rhetoric' and 'transphobic views'. She responded in a lengthy Twitter thread, saying that critics want to 'shut her up' on issues such as single sex spaces, healthcare scandal around trans-identified children and male sex offenders being placed in women's prisons. Professor Stock has also publicly criticised LGBTQ charity Stonewall's influence on academic institutions, saying it means dissenting views from academics who think differently are not allowed. She added her Twitter reply that the group 'who've politically captured every major institution in the UK, including Unis - is currently running a campaign to support males who self-identify as women playing rugby thereby exposing fellow female players to potential neck-breaking and death. Dr Kathleen Stock, a professor of philosophy at the University of Sussex, has been outspoken on gender identity issues and argues an individual should not simply be able to 'choose' their legal sex. She was given an OBE for services to higher education in the New Year Honours In an open letter, 600 of her peers from institutions including the LSE and MIT criticised the decision to recognise her services to higher education in the 2021 New Year's Honours, saying they are 'dismayed' the British government chose to 'honour her for this harmful rhetoric' Dr Kathleen Stock's response to the open letter against her OBE When I accepted my OBE I did so in full knowledge there would be backlash from academic philosophers in my discipline, and here it is. The letter contains some basic errors about my view - but that's to be expected as their aim is not truth. I won't bother correcting errors, as I've made my written position clear many times before. We aren't dealing here with an ordinary philosophical dispute here, but rather a pathological desire to roleplay an ethical stance for public applause. But their stance isn't ethical. They want me - and by extension others, including their own students - to stop talking about biological sex and its social importance, wherever it could make conceivable difference to a trans person (which in their view, is almost everywhere). So, they want me to stop talking about the fact that in Canada - the country of the letter-author Jonathan Ichikawa - male sex-offenders have been placed in female prisons alongside women prisoners (also in Ireland and UK). I care about those forgotten women. They pretend any discussion whatsoever of violence against women, and what policies we should have about woman-only spaces in response, can only imply one thing - "all trans women are violent" (OF COURSE most are not, and this is not the implication). They want me to shut up about the fact that across the UK, the norms governing single-sex spaces and resources are being steadily eroded via stealth policies in favour of self-identification - as if this wasn't an important matter for public discussion! They want me to stop talking about emerging scandal of healthcare of trans-identified children, as indicated starkly in recent Keira Bell legal decision, taken on by a brave detransitioner (of which there are increasingly many - they don't want me to talk about that either). They don't want me to talk about fact that Stonewall - the LGBT lobbying group who've politically captured every major institution in the UK, including Unis - is currently running a campaign to support males who self-identify as women playing rugby thereby exposing fellow female players to potential neck-breaking and death. The BBC casually reported one woman player being 'folded like a deckchair' [referring to 6ft Kelly Morgan who has played for Porth Harlequins ladies rugby]. They don't want me to talk about fact that via policies from the Crown Prosecution Service (another Stonewall Diversity Champion), victims are forced to use the preferred pronouns of their attackers in court, even where a conviction is forthcoming. I could go on (and on). None of this is particularly easy to talk about, but if academics seriously think they can stop discussion of such matters - pertaining to women's safety and autonomy, to children's health, and to democracy itself - they're high on their own supply. I won't be stopping, and neither will the thousands of others who are now galvanising to examine the cost of pretending- not just at an understandable personal level, but also at an institutional and policy and educational level - that people can change sex. Quick PS - of course, another thing they don't want me to talk about (or at least, they absolutely refuse to believe, because they apparently patronisingly think all trans people think the same thing) - is that many trans people agree with me too. Advertisement 'The BBC casually reported one woman player being "folded like a deckchair".' The letter against Stock being awarded an OBE reads: 'Trans people are already deeply marginalised in society, facing well-documented discrimination, ranging from government policy to physical violence. 'Discourse like that Stock is producing and amplifying contributes to these harms, serving to restrict trans peoples access to life-saving medical treatments, encourage the harassment of gender-non-conforming people, and otherwise reinforce the patriarchal status quo. 'We are dismayed that the British government has chosen to honour her for this harmful rhetoric.' Signatories agreed academics should be free to ask 'important questions about sex and gender' but argued Professor Stock's contribution to the discourse has been 'transphobic fearmongering' rather than 'valuable scholarship'. Professor Stock, pictured on GMB in June 2020, has voiced concerns over the suppression of academic debate and censorship on issues of gender identity Colleagues are rallying around Professor Stock and calling for an open letter of support, accusing her critics of sexism In a tweet shared in response to the open letter, Professor Stock hit back at the idea that open discourse is being encouraged, writing: 'Many colleagues in Philosophy apparently don't believe there is a problem with academic freedom around sex and gender identity in UK Universities.' Who is Professor Kathleen Stock? Professor Stock was educated at a comprehensive school in Scotland before studying for a degree in French and Philosophy at Oxford. She went onto obtain a M.Litt. in Philosophy at the University of St Andrews, and a PhD in Philosophy at the University of Leeds. Professor Stock spent two years teaching at the University of Lancaster and the University of East Anglia respectively, before being appointed by Sussex in 2003. The professor's current main research is 'philosophical questions about sex, gender, and sexual orientation', according to her profile on the University of Sussex website. In 2018 she made headlines with a piece published on The Conversation in which she argued against proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004. In 2019 she co-ordinated an open letter signed by more than 20 academics that accused Stonewall of censoring debate on gender identity and suppressing academic freedom. Professor Stock publishes her writing on gender identity, sex and sexual orientation for free on a website and frequently writes about the issue on Twitter. She claims that in 2019, Oxford University Press dropped a book about female philopsophers in its Philosophy at 3am series because her inclusion was too controversial. Advertisement The tweet directed followers towards a recent Mumsnet thread in which students and academics bemoaned the 'no debate culture' fostered by universities on gender identity issues in anonymous posts. She wrote: They want me - and by extension others, including their own students - to stop talking about biological sex and its social importance, wherever it could make conceivable difference to a trans person (which in their view, is almost everywhere). 'So, they want me to stop talking about the fact that in Canada - the country of the letter-author Jonathan Ichikawa - male sex-offenders have been placed in female prisons alongside women prisoners (also in Ireland and UK). I care about those forgotten women.' She also argued that women's safety is being eroded by 'stealth' because of the creeping erosion of single-sex spaces. Academics and supporters have taken to Twitter to defend Professor Stock in the wake of the letter and are rallying to publish an open letter in her defence. Alice Sullivan, a Professor of Sociology at UCL, tweeted: 'This public denunciation is the latest salvo in a campaign of harassment directed at Kathleen Stock because she is a woman (lesbian) philosopher who talks about women's rights and boundaries. Genuine question: why is the discipline of philosophy so sexist?' The team behind philosophy magazine The Electric Agora tweeted: 'By now, everyone has seen the targeted attack on our colleague, Kathleen Stock signed by scores of people in our discipline. 'A number of them are notorious repeat offenders with regard to this sort of unprofessional, uncivil behavior.' Others described the move as a 'witch hunt'. Professor Stock was an outspoken critic of the proposed changes to the Gender Recognition Act 2004, which pushed to allow people to change the gender on their birth certificate without medical diagnosis. Launching a consultation on the Act in 2018, Prime Minister Theresa May said she wanted to make the process of acquiring a Gender Recognition Certificate more 'streamlined and de-medicalised'. Professor Stock was among those who disagreed with the idea that self-identification should form the basis for establishing legal sex and warned it could put women at risk. Writing for The Conversation at the time, she said: 'We need to sort out female-based oppression first. If we don't, it will simply be transferred into whatever brave new world we're constructing.' Professor Stock claimed that removing protections for women such as single-sex changing rooms would put them at an even greater disadvantage. 'There's no reason why females should as a sexist society regularly expects them to be the only group to sacrifice their interests in favour of others,' she added. More recently Professor Stock has accused leading gay rights charity Stonewall of censoring debate on gender identity and suppressing academic freedom. Pictured, a selection of Tweets from Stock in which she drew attention to the relationship between universities and LGBTQ charity Stonewall, branding UK universities 'trans activist institutions' She was one of 20 professors, researchers and lecturers who signed a letter in 2019 criticising the charity for providing UK universities with a template on transgender issues. According to the letter, this template does not allow dissenting views or criticism from academics who think differently. The academics also claim that questioning Stonewall's policies opens them up to harassment from students. The charity's policies go far beyond equality law, critics say. Sarah Honeychurch, a fellow at the University of Glasgow, was sacked as editor of the academic journal Hybrid Pedagogyfor signing the letter. Professor Stock returned to the issue in a series of tweets shared in the wake of her OBE being announced. She wrote: 'Honoured to have been given OBE for services to higher education. 'I want to use this opportunity to draw further attention to suppression of critical thought about gender identity ideology and trans activism in UK Universities. She went on: 'And yet academics and students in Universities urgently need to be able to discuss the social importance of biological sex, and to criticise gender identity ideology and trans activism.' ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor Public Schools is taking definitive, positive steps toward in-person instruction, Superintendent Jeanice Swift told families Friday. Swift sent a message to families on Jan. 8 outlining the districts ongoing work in preparing its buildings for reopening after Gov. Gretchen Whitmers Friday announcement that she wants to see K-12 schools resume in-person learning. While not requiring it, the governor strongly encouraged schools across the state to offer an option for in-person instruction by March 1. Swift did not provide a target date for a return to in-person classes in Ann Arbor, but she said she is optimistic about a return, especially since teachers are in the next group to get the COVID-19 vaccine. With the arrival of vaccines and potential in-school (COVID-19) testing capacity, we are taking definitive, positive steps in the direction of returning our students to in-school learning for those families who may choose this option, Swift said. However, we should balance our understanding of this situation that both of these efforts are in the very early phases. Our commitment is to continue to work in close collaboration, partnership and support of our excellent community public health team. Swift detailed AAPS efforts to prepare for an in-person return, including how buildings are being cleaned, while updating the districts effort to help facilitate teacher vaccinations. Swift also highlighted the districts recent coordination with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services in a pilot COVID-19 antigen testing process that is currently being used by high school athletes. The focus of the pilot is to assess a testing protocol that can be used to ensure a safe and confident reopening of K-12 schools, Swift said, giving the district another health and safety tool at its disposal. As we have planned, in the transition to in-school learning, we will begin with students with the greatest needs and the youngest students first, while also keeping in mind the needs for students at all levels to begin to connect for in-person activities as soon as it is safe to do so, Swift said. While news of Whitmers recommendation was welcomed by parents in Ann Arbors Reasonable Return, the group said the districts response rejected the governors guidance by refusing to set a date for an in-person return. It is validating to hear Governor Whitmer and Dr. (Joneigh) Khaldun echo the fact-based arguments that parents and doctors have made to the Ann Arbor Public Schools for many months with no substantial response, the group said in a statement Friday. However, it is stunning and beyond frustrating that the Ann Arbor Public Schools now stand nearly alone in rejecting the governors guidance by refusing to set a date for a return to school. The time for excuses and inaction is long past. AAPS has been offering three different remote and virtual learning options since the beginning of the school year, but has no specific date for a return to some form of in-person learning. The district has had no in-person classes since last March when schools were shut down for the remainder of the 2019-20 year amid the spread of COVID-19. Dozens of parents have been speaking out at school board meetings since the beginning of the year, pushing the district to offer some form of in-person classes, particularly for younger students and those with special needs. Last month, more than 120 pediatricians, pediatric specialists and other physicians endorsed a letter urging the district to allow, at minimum, elementary and special needs students to return to a hybrid learning model in mid- or late January. Dr. Omkar Karthikeyan, who authored and helped circulate the letter, suggests there is growing evidence that in-person classes can be conducted safely with proper mitigation strategies, and that children seem to be less susceptible to contracting and spreading COVID-19 than adults. Fridays announcement from Whitmer was an important step, along with widespread vaccination, toward having in-person classes with proper health and safety protocols in place, Karthikeyan said. I sincerely hope that AAPS sets a target date to return, as vague assurances of returning to the classroom at some point in the future have felt increasingly disingenuous, Karthikeyan said. Im so proud to see how quickly young children in our community have adopted measures like mask-wearing and social distancing, in order to maintain the safety and well-being of their friends, families, loved-ones and care-givers. Its time we reward them by letting them go back to school. Ann Arbor Pediatrician Lisa Whitehead said she is encouraged both by the governors announcement and the pending availability of a vaccine for teachers in expediting the return of in-person classes in Ann Arbor. Whitehead said she believes AAPS and other district should eliminate pre-vaccine metrics and work within a new post-vaccine framework to determine when to begin sending students back to face-to-face classes. Social distancing and mask-wearing will continue to remain important components of a safe school environment, Whitehead said. However, the current virtual-only school approach was designed to protect teachers and staff, who will be at much reduced risk from COVID after their vaccine. Therefore, we look forward to an opportunity for the choice of in-person education for our students. To help you navigate this complicated school year, were pleased to offer you a simpler way to get all of your education news: Our new Michigan Schools: Education in the COVID Era newsletter delivered right to your inbox. To receive this newsletter, simply click here to sign up. READ MORE: Michigan governor calls for in-person learning to resume by March 1 Remote or in-person? Washtenaw County schools chart return after winter break More than 120 physicians join push for in-person classes in Ann Arbor Public Schools Political pressure wont drive Ann Arbor schools to return to classroom, board says NEW YORK - A planned book by Sen. Josh Hawley, who objected to President-elect Joe Bidens win and backed baseless claims that the election was stolen, has been cancelled by its publisher in the wake of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump supporters, a decision the Missouri Republican called Orwellian" and vowed to fight in court. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., asks questions during a Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee hearing to discuss election security and the 2020 election process on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (Greg Nash/Pool via AP) NEW YORK - A planned book by Sen. Josh Hawley, who objected to President-elect Joe Bidens win and backed baseless claims that the election was stolen, has been cancelled by its publisher in the wake of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by a mob of pro-Trump supporters, a decision the Missouri Republican called Orwellian" and vowed to fight in court. In a statement Thursday, Simon & Schuster announced that After witnessing the disturbing, deadly insurrection that took place on Wednesday in Washington, D.C, Simon & Schuster has decided to cancel publication of Senator Josh Hawleys forthcoming book, The Tyranny of Big Tech.' We did not come to this decision lightly," the publisher added. "As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat to our democracy and freedom. Thousands of Trump supporters had gathered in Washington on Wednesday to protest Congress formal certification of Bidens win and many ended up storming into the Capitol and occupying it for hours, delaying the process into early Thursday morning. A widely seen photo, taken before the occupation, shows Hawley raising a fist in solidarity to the crowd. Hawley has often been cited as possible future presidential candidate and his book, scheduled to come out in June, was an intended forum for a favourite theme the undue power of Google, Facebook and other internet giants. Soon after news broke that his book was dropped, Hawley tweeted, and tagged his comments directly to Simon & Schuster, that he was being unfairly censored and punished: I was representing my constituents, leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity, which they have now decided to redefine as sedition. This could not be more Orwellian... Let me be clear, this is not just a contract dispute. It's a direct assault on the First Amendment... I will fight this cancel culture with everything I have. We'll see you in court." Simon & Schuster quickly issued another statement: We are confident that we are acting fully within our contractual rights to cancel the book. Simon & Schuster has had numerous clashes with Trump and his supporters over the last few years. It called off a deal with the far-right writer and commentator Milo Yiannopoulos and published several anti-Trump bestsellers, including niece Mary Trump's Too Much and Never Enough and former National Security Advisor John Bolton's The Room Where It Happened. New York publishers had already expressed wariness about taking on a post-presidential memoir by Trump, whose Crippled America" was published by a Simon & Schuster imprint in 2015, and this week's events makes a deal with them far more unlikely. A Simon & Schuster spokesman declined comment on whether the publisher would be interested in a new Trump book. Messages left with Penguin Random House, publisher of Trump's bestselling The Art of the Deal, and HarperCollins Publishers were not immediately returned. Lashkar-e-Taiba's Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, mastermind of 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, was on Friday sentenced to five years in jail by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistan, according to the country's media. Lakhvi was arrested over terror financing charges six days ago. The LeT commander, who was out on bail since 2015, was arrested by Punjab province's Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) and a case was registered in a Lahore police station. His whereabouts had not been known since he was released on bail from a jail in Rawalpindi in April 2015. However, it was widely believed he had continued playing a key role in directing the activities of LeT even while he was in prison after being arrested in the aftermath of the Mumbai carnage. "Lakhvi is accused of running a dispensary, using funds collected for terrorism financing. He and others also collected funds from this dispensary and used these funds for further terrorism financing. He also used these funds for personal expenses," the the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province had said last week. News agency PTI had quoted its sources as saying, "Lakhvi is being interrogated by the CTD Punjab in connection with terror financing and related matters. He will soon be presented before the anti-terrorism court in Lahore." Lakhvi was designated as a global terrorist by the UN in December 2008 for being associated with LeT and al-Qaeda and for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf or in support of both the entities. Proscribed terrorists and entities are subject to an assets freeze, wherein all states are required to freeze funds and other financial assets or economic resources of designated individuals and entities, a travel ban that prevents the entry into or transit through nations territories by the designated individuals and an arms embargo. Identity Theft: Deceased Victims Identity Theft: Deceased Victims CONSUMER ALERT DANA NESSEL ATTORNEY GENERAL The Attorney General provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern. Consumer alerts are not legal advice, legal authority, or a binding legal opinion from the Department of Attorney General. Identity Theft: Deceased Victims There is no greater tragedy than the loss of a loved one. This time can be emotionally draining between making arrangements and grieving, most people cannot bring themselves to contemplate that their deceased loved one can be used as a lucrative source of information for crooks. The last thing family members and friends should have to deal with while mourning the loss of a loved one is repairing damage done by an identity thief stealing and using their loved one's financial information to drain an estate of all of its assets. This consumer alert provides steps that family members and executors can take to protect the personal financial information of deceased individuals. How can this happen? Criminals gather information about deceased individuals in a number of ways from watching obituaries and performing internet searches to more elaborate schemes. For example, in Louisiana, three people were arrested for stealing the identities of more than 100 deceased individuals. One of the alleged perpetrators worked in a hospital emergency room and would send text messages containing the personal identifying information of dying patients to her grown son. Her son and his wife would then apply for credit cards using the deceased's information. The alleged perpetrators would also look in the obituaries for information and then use the hospital's database to research information on the deceased. The recently deceased were apparently targeted because their names and information did not yet appear on lists sent to financial institutions notifying them of the deaths of consumers. This is just one horrible example of how identity thieves can obtain and use personal information of deceased individuals. How can I prevent this? The following tips to help prevent theft of a deceased individual's information were compiled from the Identity Theft Resource Center, a nonprofit organization headquartered in San Diego, California, and the AARP. Please note that friends, neighbors, or distant relatives do not have the same legal rights to access records of a deceased individual that a spouse or executor would have. The procedures for carrying out these steps may vary among financial institutions or government agencies, so be sure to inform the institution or agency of the nature of your relationship with the deceased individual and follow the procedures they outline for you. Limit the amount of information placed in obituaries. Do not include information such as the date of birth, place of birth, or address of the deceased individual. Obtain at least 12 copies of the official death certificate when this becomes available. Some creditors or credit reporting agencies will require an official death certificate in order to update their records. It may be easier to order several copies of an official death certificate early on, rather than ordering a copy only if problems pop up in the future. Immediately notify all credit card companies, banks, insurance companies, or other financial institutions where the deceased held accounts. If you decide to close any accounts, make sure the financial institution lists "Closed: Account Holder is Deceased" as the reason for closure. Immediately contact the three major credit reporting agencies in writing, certified mail, return receipt requested, to place a "deceased" alert on the individual's credit report. Immediately notify the Social Security Administration of the individual's death. To report a death to the Social Security Administration, please call 800-772-1213. Notify the Michigan Secretary of State of the individual's death. In order to cancel the individual's driver's license number in the state's system, take a copy of the death certificate and the driver's license to your local Secretary of State's office. The county in which the individual died should also notify the Secretary of State of the individual's death, but reporting time varies by county. Therefore, to ensure the Michigan Secretary of State is notified immediately, you should consider notifying them of the death yourself. If you are legally permitted to do so, monitor the deceased individual's credit reports regularly to make sure no fraudulent activity appears. If any fraudulent activity does appear, notify the creditors immediately, first by phone, then follow up in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested. You may be asked to provide a copy of the death certificate. Where can I go for help? Additional information on identity theft prevention and resolution for Michigan consumers is available on the Attorney Generals website. Consumers may also contact the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at: Consumer Protection Division P.O. Box 30213 Lansing, MI 48909 517-335-7599 Fax: 517-241-3771 Toll free: 877-765-8388 Online complaint form Contact the Attorney Generals Office: For general consumer questions or to file a complaint, you may reach the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at: Consumer Protection Division P.O. Box 30213 Lansing, MI 48909 517-335-7599 Kabul, Jan 8 : Taliban attacks on various parts of Afghanistan's Kandahar province in the last few weeks have been "pushed back" and the group has suffered heavy casualties, a senior security official said on Friday. The attacks took place in the districts of Arghandab, Zherai, Panjwai, Dand, TOLO News quoted Farid Mashal, the security officer at the Kandahar Police Headquarters, as saying. He said that "698 Taliban fighters were killed in air and ground operations over the last month in the province". "Our operations are underway. We have had progress. We have established outposts in Zherai (district). We have good progress in Arghandab and Panjwai," the officer added. Kandahar residents said they were still concerned about the security situation in the province and that there was a need for large-scale operations in some parts. "The roads are closed to traffic. The government should pay attention to this matter," Ataullah, a resident of the Arghandab district, told TOLO News. "People are stranded due to the conflicts," said Shir Mohammad, another resident. Meanwhile, clashes were also reported in the neighbouring Helmand province, where residents and activists held a protest against what they described as foreign interference in Afghanistan's affairs. The Taliban had launched widespread attacks in Helmand and Kandahar over the last two months. The clashes have displaced thousands of families in the two provinces, according to officials. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 23:23:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are preparing for mass COVID-19 vaccination with the vaccine developed by Chinese company Sinovac, local media have reported. A national large-scale vaccination program has been scheduled for Jan. 13 in Indonesia as President Joko Widodo will be among the first to take the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Sinovac, said YCNews on Wednesday. Widodo will be vaccinated with the public and military representatives, and the event will be broadcast on television for public witness and increase public confidence in the vaccine, local media quoted a high-level Indonesian official as saying on Tuesday. In the Philippines, local media CNA said in mid-December that the country aimed to acquire 25 million doses of Sinovac's vaccine for delivery by March. Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said Wednesday on social media that the Thai government has outlined a vaccination plan to inoculate at least half of the country's population free of charge this year. Prayut said Thailand will receive 2 million doses of Sinovac's vaccine during the emergency phase from February to April, reported Singapore's Chinese-language newspaper Lianhe Zaobao on Wednesday. Enditem Workplace Safety Review, global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs OSHA podcast, has released episode 8, Interview with Doug Parker, Cal-OSHA Chief. Greenberg Traurigs Michael T. Taylor and Adam Roseman speak to Parker about the ins and outs of Cal-OSHA, his first 15 months as chief, and what Cal-OSHA is planning for 2021. Host of Workplace Safety Review and Chair of the firms OSHA Group, Taylor interviews influential environmental, health, and safety professionals across the country in a broad range of industries. Previous episodes include: Accident Investigations: What You Need to Know Interview with Nevada OSHAs Chief Administrative Officer, Jess Lankford OSHAs Process Safety Management Standard, A 30-Year Review With David Moore of AcuTech Consulting Interview with Greg Richey of Colden Corporation on COVID-19 and Returning to Work, the Non-Essentials Interview with Hamid Arabzadeh on OSHA Recordkeeping Regulations During COVID-19 Interview with Mike Hazzan of Acutech Consulting on PSM Auditing During the COVID-19 Pandemic All episodes are available on the Greenberg Traurig website, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and Spotify. Taylor focuses his practice exclusively on representing employers regarding OSHA and Chemical Safety Board (CSB) matters across the country. Over the last 18 years, Taylor has defended scores of employers during enforcement litigation before federal OSHA, Cal-OSHA, SC-OSHA, WA-DOSH, as well as other state plan states. Many of these representations have involved a significant injury, fatality, or catastrophic event in the workplace. Roseman, an associate in the firms OSHA Group, focuses his practice on federal and state labor and employment investigations, counseling and litigation arising under Title VII, the Fair Labor Standards Act, whistleblower retaliation under Sarbanes-Oxley and Dodd-Frank, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, and restrictive covenants. Check out all of Greenberg Traurig's Podcasts. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT), has approximately 2200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 3.0 Certified. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Rome: The Australian governments financial intelligence agency is reviewing its data after questions were raised about its report that $US1.8 billion ($2.3 billion) were transferred from the Vatican to Australia over six years. The agency, AUSTRAC, said it was working with the Vatican to get to the bottom of the matter. The Vatican confirmed it was in contact with AUSTRAC regarding an examination of the data that it [AUSTRAC] provided in recent days". Pope Francis celebrates Mass on Christmas Eve. One of his goals has been to clean up the Vatican finances. Credit:AP AUSTRAC listed the annual transactions since 2014 in response to a parliamentary inquiry without providing any details about senders or recipients. The agency monitors financial transactions to identify money laundering, organised crime, tax evasion, welfare fraud and terrorism financing. The data raised eyebrows in Australia and the Holy See, given the number of transfers and amounts that appeared to be greatly out of line with the Vaticans financial reality. It also fuelled media speculation that money from the Holy See helped influence the Australian criminal prosecution of Cardinal George Pell, who was convicted and then acquitted of historical sex abuse. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- LeBron James spoke about the hypocrisy of the police response to the mostly white rioters that stormed the United States Capitol on Wednesday. We live in two Americas and that was a prime example of that yesterday, James told reporters Thursday following the Los Angeles Lakers loss to the San Antonio Spurs. And if you dont understand that or dont see that after seeing what you saw yesterday then you really need to take a step back. Not even just one step, maybe four or five or even 10 steps backwards and ask yourself... how do we want America to be viewed as, how do we want to live in this beautiful country? Because yesterday was not it. "We live in two Americas and that was a prime example of that [Wednesday]. If you don't understand that after seeing what you saw [Wednesday], then you really need to take a step back." LeBron shared his thoughts on the breach at the U.S. Capitol. pic.twitter.com/Zta8SFPqLN SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 8, 2021 In his remarks, James pointed out the contrast between the relatively little resistance Trump supporters encountered during their siege of the Capitol and the aggressive treatment Black protesters faced during the George Floyd demonstrations over the summer. I couldnt help but to wonder, if those were my kind storming the Capitol, what would have been the outcome? James added. I think we all know. Theres no ifs, ands or buts. We already know what wouldve happened to my kind if anyone wouldve even got close to the Capitol let alone storm inside the offices, inside the hallways, James said. He also referenced a viral photo taken in July of a police officer pointing his gun at a Black father with his daughter on his shoulders and compared it to the now-infamous photo of a white man smiling and waving at the camera with one arm and stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosis podium with the other. What more do I need to say to my kids than to just see the two differences? Its right there, James said. The three top Capitol security officials including the Capitol Police chiefs and the Sergeants-at-Arms of both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate resigned Thursday amid the fallout from the insurrection, Politico reported. Five people including a police officer died as a result of the riot. When asked what can be done about moving the country forward, the Lakers superstar made it clear who he thought should be held responsible for inciting the violence. We took a step forward in November by electing Joe (Biden) and Kamala (Harris) to be in the White House... The events that took place yesterday was a direct correlation of the president thats in the seat right now and his actions, his beliefs, his wishes. He cares about nobody besides himself... those events (at the Capitol) were because of him, James said. Pelosi said Thursday House Democrats will consider impeaching the president a second time if Vice President Mike Pence and the remaining cabinet members do not invoke the 25th amendment. Biden will be inaugurated on January 20. ABOUT NOTABLE Notable takes a functional approach to precision oncology in hematological cancers. The unique testing platform combines machine learning, automation and high-throughput screening directly on patient samples to predict responses to potential therapies and ultimately determine which therapies will be most effective for specific cancers. Notable's functional precision medicine platform will advance drug development and enable pharmaceutical companies to get new therapies to patients faster. Learn more at notablelabs.com and follow us @notablelabs ABOUT BIOTECH SHOWCASE Biotech Showcase is an investor and networking conference devoted to providing private and public biotechnology and life sciences companies with an opportunity to present to, and meet with, investors and pharmaceutical executives in one place. Investors and biopharmaceutical executives from around the world gather in San Francisco during this bellwether week which sets the tone for the coming year. Now in its 13th year, this well-established, highly respected conference features multiple tracks of presenting companies, plenary sessions, workshops, networking, and an opportunity to schedule one-to-one meetings. Biotech Showcase is produced by Demy-Colton and EBD Group. Both organizations have a long history of producing high-quality programs that support the biotechnology and broader life sciences industry. 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. Burma Myanmar Govt Takes Steps to Rein In Controversial China-Backed Gambling Hub in Karen State The Shwe Kokko New City project in Myawaddy near the Thai border in Karen State. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy YANGONThe Myanmar government has begun taking steps to tackle irregularities surrounding a controversial China-backed city development project near the Thai border in Karen State, vowing that it will not only solve the existing issues but also prevent similar problems from occurring in the future. At a press briefing in Naypyitaw on Friday, government spokesman U Zaw Htay said the government in December issued instructions to relevant departments on actions to be taken regarding the Shwe Kokko New City project, which is run by the Karen State Border Guard Force (BGF)a Myanmar military-backed armed group led by Colonel Chit Thuand Chinese investors accused of operating illegal casino activities in Cambodia and the Philippines. U Zaw Htay said the government had instructed the departments to carry out measures to ensure that development activities do not affect the stability of the project area. The government spokesman said the issues surrounding Shwe Kokko are complex and sensitive. Known as China Town, the US$15-billion (19.92-trillion-kyat) project has been the subject of criticism for more than one year due to a lack of transparency, land confiscations, confusion over the scale of construction and the growing influx of Chinese money as well as suspected illicit activity and local concerns about the social impacts of casino businesses. The government launched a tribunal to investigate the project in June last year. From August 2019 to October 2020, authorities from the Home Affairs Ministry and the army conducted inspections on the ground in the area five times and reported to the Presidents Office, U Zaw Htay said. The spokesman said the government had also drawn up standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all projects in Myanmars border areas to solve the existing irregularities in Shwe Kokko and to prevent similar problems from occurring in the future. U Zaw Htay said that, based on the law, it had been decided that certain project should be taking action against or abolished, while some projects would be adjusted to bring them in line with existing rules and regulations. However, he declined to provide details of the SOPs or what actions specifically the government planned to take. He said that when it comes to carrying out the plan, the government will handle carefully it to minimize negative impacts, adding that the government had also instructed the Myanmar military to take action against those found to have engaged in bribery in relation to the Shwe Kokko project. U Zaw Htay said the Myanmar military had already taken action against officials involved in such activities. In October, the military (or Tatmadaw) reportedly investigated at least three senior officers for allegedly accepting bribes from the BGF to keep silent about illegal gambling activities at the Shwe Kokko project. Since it is [run by the] BGF, they are under the control of the Tatmadaw. So, we advised the Tatmadaw to take responsibility for it, U Zaw Htay said. He said the government is collaborating with the Tatmadaw to enforce the governments administrative powers in the area. Recently, studies have been conducted on the possibility of granting town status to Shwe Kokko. Many speculate that a civilian administrative structure will be put in place if it becomes a town. The Presidents Office said earlier it found that a total of 2,714 Chinese and 74 other foreign citizens were living in Shwe Kokko. It had deported a total of 888 Chinese and two foreign citizens as of Jan. 6. U Zaw Htay said that when it comes to solving the issues surrounding Shwe Kokko, the government had to balance the need for development with preserving stability. It is working systematically. But I cant give details. Some are already under way, U Zaw Htay said. You may also like these stories: Rakhine Campaigners Demand Myanmar Releases Political Prisoners Fate of Villagers Abducted by Myanmar Military Still Unknown Myanmars New Parliament to Convene on Feb. 1 Plainclothes and uniformed U.S. Capitol Police officers moved swiftly onto the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, ushering out Speaker Nancy Pelosi and instructing members of Congress to stay seated U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls among them. Three days earlier, the former Fort Bend County sheriff had been sworn in as the representative for Texas 22nd District, which covers suburbs south and southwest of Houston. The pro-Trump Republican was among a group planning Wednesday to vote against certifying Democrat Joe Bidens election as president, citing baseless voter fraud claims. Now officers were securing the many doors leading into the House chamber, and someone said the Capitol had been breached. Lawmakers were instructed to pull out gas masks from under their chairs. Seated in the back near the center, Nehls heard rioters incited by President Donald Trump violently bang and kick at a nearby door. This cant happen, Nehls, 52, thought. Those inside dragged over furniture to barricade the entry. Nehls, a decorated Army veteran who served combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq, removed his jacket. No longer carrying a service revolver as he did while sheriff, he broke off a long piece of furniture to defend himself and keep back intruders. Glass shattered, sounding like gunfire. In images that would be seen around the world, Nehls, in a royal blue dress shirt, stood directly at a chamber window as a rioter looked in with rage from the other side. Officers drew guns and trained them at those threatening to barge in. Nehls didnt want anyone hurt. So they talked. This is un-American, Nehls recalled telling them, and this isnt the way we should conduct ourselves. Nehls had left his cell phone in his suit jacket. But his twin brother Trever, a former county constable who ran unsuccessfully for his brothers sheriff job last fall, had texted around 1:25 p.m. to check in. How are you pal? he had asked. Doing fine, Nehls had responded. Locked us in House floor. Standing now by the door, it was obvious to the freshman congressman that those on the other side were frustrated, angry and upset. He couldnt comprehend why disagreement had led them to violence. A woman was fatally shot by police and three others died in the mayhem. Many Democrats and some Republicans blamed Trump for the insurrection, citing his call at a midday rally for them to march on the Capitol. Seeing his Texas flag mask, a member of the mob told Nehls, You should be with us. But Nehls didnt agree with them at all. He told them to back up, to get away from the door. Lawmakers began leaving the chamber but Nehls, surrounded by officers and a colleague from Oklahoma, stayed. Back in Texas, Nehls wife, Jill, felt sick. At the Lamar Consolidated ISD school where she is principal, she had her phone on silent mode but happened to see messages about the break-in filling a thread she shares with other spouses of new members. She went to see her administrative assistant, needing to tell someone. She felt hot. Her hands were clammy. Her assistant prayed. Jill Nehls paced, telling herself it was OK. She hadnt wanted to call her husband in the heat of the moment, but at 1:35 p.m. she texted: Im hearing things love. Is everything OK? Eleven minutes later, with still no response, she typed, I love you. Then her assistant found the photo: The man in blue at the window, wielding a giant stick. That looks like Troy, she said. When her husband deployed, Jill Nehls always looked at a picture of him in uniform talking to kids, the back of his head showing as he leaned over. She realized it was him. His twin brother knew it too. Theyre identical and both have blonde hair. A military veteran like Troy, Trever Nehls considered what a horrible day it was. He struggled to imagine the mob trampling through the historic building he had just visited for the swearing-in, last breached by the British in wartime in 1814. But he was proud of his brother. I would have expected nothing different, he thought, than him saying, Lets handle this. Troy Nehls wanted to continue to protect the storied space where he had come to work. But then the sound of a gunshot rang out. Officers told the remaining lawmakers to go. And they did, exiting through the back hall to a secure building. Nehls called his wife, who had to explain to their daughters what was happening. Their 8-year-old, used to seeing her dad on television, saw the photo and told her mom, I am so proud of him. That night, Nehls still voted against certifying the Arizona and Pennsylvania electoral votes for Biden. He said he believes changes to election laws were unconstitutional, which they have not been shown to be. The electoral votes were ultimately certified and Vice President Mike Pence declared Biden the winner early Thursday. Nehls said he feels the responsibility going forward to talk with others to work through differences. He wishes the rioters whom he hopes to see prosecuted would come to his office to talk about why they behaved with the rage that they did. emily.foxhall@chron.com A federal judge denied a request from Houston city attorneys to move pretrial litigation related to the Harding Street scandal from state court to federal court. In January 2019, Houston police officers raided a home in southeast Houston searching for drugs. The raid erupted in gunfire, claiming the lives of two homeowners, Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle. Investigators later determined the agent who led the raid had lied about many of the aspects on which it is based, prompting litigation, multiple criminal investigations, and state and federal charges against multiple officers. Lawyers representing Nicholas relatives had sought information from the city in probate court in whats known as a Rule 202 hearing, which would have allowed them to ask questions of Houston police officers and review other documents in anticipation of a lawsuit. WRONG DOOR: Botched Houston drug raid was not the first The city which has spent almost 18 months delaying court proceedings filed a last-ditch motion the day before the planned 202 proceeding, arguing that the case actually belonged in federal court. Assistant City Attorney Christy Martin also argued that the city should be able to withhold information about patterns of conduct in officer-involved shootings that had been discovered in a lawsuit related to the officer-shooting of Jordan Baker. The city settled the Baker lawsuit for $1.2 million last year. In a four-page ruling issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt systematically rejected all of Martins arguments, noting that while the city had tried to scuttle the Rule 202 proceeding, in arguments before the court, city attorneys had acknowledged that the "majority" of case law on such proceedings have not allowed removal to federal court and that she failed to identify a single case allowing such a tactic. The latest legal manuever follows a long campaign by city attorneys to delay proceedings related to the Harding Street scandal. When Nicholas family attorney Mike Doyle first filed the case in probate court, the city objected and said the probate court shouldnt have jurisdiction. When the probate court judge disagreed, they appealed to the Fourteenth Court of Appeals, which rejected their claims in March 2020. When the city subsequently asked the Texas Supreme Court to review the case, the high court refused to consider the matter. 'An operation completely out of control': Damning HPD narcotics audit reveals hundreds of errors After Doyle subpoenaed information and testimony related to the case in November, city attorneys asked for a motion for protection which a judge also shot down before the city made its latest request to move the case to federal court. In an emailed statement, Doyle admonished Houstons continuing efforts to conceal the true facts about the Harding Street raid. United States District Judge Kenneth Hoyts Order, issued this morning, rejected the Citys unprecedented cover-up of the facts about what happened, who was involved, and who needs to be held accountable, for almost two years, he said. This latest order means that the families of Rhogena Nicholas and Dennis Tuttle, along with the citizens of Houston, will finally start to see the wall of silence start crumbling. Hours after the judges ruling was made public on Friday, city attorneys filed a new motion, notifying Hoyt they would be asking the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to review his ruling. HE'S one of Ireland's hot tips for 2021, and exciting new hip-hop artist Malaki reveals that music has helped him to turn his life around. The 21-year-old rapper says he was struggling with mental health issues when he found an outlet through penning poetry and song lyrics. Malaki, aka Hugh Mulligan from Stillorgan, tells Shuffle: "I was really struggling with life around the age of 18, which I suppose is a difficult time in the lives of a lot of young people. "It was a bleak time as I had a lot of friends who were going through alcohol and drugs problems. "I was involved in a relationship where there were problems, and we eventually broke up. "I was also a very sensitive kid, so all of that accumulated in my mind and it broke me down. "Thankfully, I ended up seeking help and I used the pen and paper to do that, which is where the music all started. "I had a really tough time with my mental health and I used journaling and writing my thoughts down as a way of therapy. "A lot of my songs are a complete and utter reference to the struggles I was going through back then. "It's great that people can relate to that, and if they find some sort of solace in it that's a bonus for me. I was quite lost back then and music was my saving grace." A key figure in Malaki's life has been his co-writer and producer Matthew Harris, who he met through his ex-girlfriend. "One door closes and another opens," he jokes. "Matthew really laid the foundation for me to be who I am. I didn't know a whole lot about instrumentation, and production wasn't my thing. "I was about lyricism and poetry, but I had no clue about music and how to formulate a song. "And that's where Matthew came in. "He taught me how to do that, and then I taught him about lyrics. We worked hand in hand and it's been a match made in heaven. "When I teamed up with Matthew he allowed me to transfer my thoughts and verses and poetry that I had in my journal and put them into music. "I then decided to release them to the world when my life turned upside down after my relationship ended. I was just having such a horrible time that I said, 'I've hit rock bottom, what's the worst that can happen?' "When I released the music everything changed for me and I got the chance to really show people what I was made of. "So becoming Malaki and having a creative outlet did everything for me. Malaki really saved my life. It was an incredible thing, and I'm continually grateful for it. I couldn't be happier with the response I've been getting and the opportunities that have come my way." One of those opportunities was his recent interpretation of Van Morrison's Someone Like You on The Late Late Show. "It's amazing the reaction you get when you appear on The Late Late Show," he says. "I think people take you more seriously. It also introduced me to an older generation, and that was the biggest thing for me because I want to appeal to everyone, young and old." During lockdown, Malaki and Matthew collaborated with different artists, including Lucy McWilliams on the song Fair Play. Lucy, a daughter of well-known economist David McWilliams, has a stop-you-in-your-tracks voice. Malaki agrees: "You get used to some voices very easily, but with Lucy's when I hear her sing I'll never get used to it because it's such a special voice. "And there's no doubt in my mind that she's going to do great things with a voice like that." 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 Ms. Raimondo, a moderate Democrat with a background in the financial industry, has served as governor since 2015. She is seen as a relatively traditional choice for commerce secretary, a post that oversees not only relations with the business community but also technology regulation, weather monitoring and the gathering of economic data, among other duties. As governor of Rhode Island, Ms. Raimondo introduced training programs, cut taxes, and eliminated regulations and offered new loans to support businesses. She clashed with unions but ultimately found compromise as she overhauled the state pension plan. Before running for office, she was a founding employee at the investment firm Village Ventures, which was backed by Bain Capital, and co-founded a venture capital firm, Point Judith Capital. Ms. Raimondo, 49, has a law degree from Yale University and earned a doctorate from Oxford University, where she was a Rhodes scholar. The Commerce Department, which has nearly 50,000 employees, has used its vast power during the Trump administration to curtail the access of Chinese companies, including the telecom giants Huawei and ZTE, to the American market and technology. It also carried out investigations into the effect of imported steel and aluminum on the domestic industry, which led to Mr. Trump to impose global metal tariffs on European and other countries. The departments responsibilities also include areas that are expected to be central to the Biden administration, such as economic promotion, making it a potentially powerful force in the type of industrial policy that is increasingly embraced in Washington. The department promotes U.S. business abroad through the Foreign Commercial Service, and strategically important businesses at home by providing grants through the Economic Development Administration. The Commerce Department also contains the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which is in charge of monitoring the weather and managing American fisheries, making it a potential player in Mr. Bidens hopes to slow climate change. Some progressive groups have protested Ms. Raimondos selection, arguing that the Biden administration should look to a populist Democrat instead. In an announcement on Wednesday, the Revolving Door Project and Demand Progress criticized Ms. Raimondo as a corporate insider who locked in liability protection for businesses but stripped funding from low-income areas of Rhode Island during the pandemic. New Delhi: Bangladesh has demanded an apology from Pakistan for the 1971 genocide. The message was conveyed by State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam to Pakistani envoy at Dhaka, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui. In a statement, the Bangladeshi minister said: "It is important to resolve outstanding bilateral issues with Pakistan, including an official apology from Pakistan for the genocide committed in the Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971". He also called for settling the issue of the division of assets between the two countries. The development comes as Bangladesh celebrates 50 years of its Independence. In 1971, Pakistani troops committed atrocities in the then East Pakistan leading to an international humanitarian crisis. Several million poeple died due to the actions of the Pakistani army but ultimately Bangladesh gained its independence. Though this is not the first time that Bangladesh has raised the 1971 genocide issue with Islamabad. During Pakistan envoy's meet with Bangladeshi PM Shiekh Hasina in December, 2019, the latter had sternly reminded him that atrocities committed by the Pakistani army against her country can neither be forgotten nor forgiven. Meanwhile, the Bangladeshi minister during his meet with envoy said Dhaka is keen to enhance ties with all neighbouring countries and, in line with that spirit, we look forward to engaging with Pakistan. He urged Pakistan to grant access to more Bangladeshi products by utilizing the existing SAFTA provisions, relaxing the negative list and removing trade barriers. In UP villagers get cocktail vaccine dose: Covishield first, Covaxin next ICMR to study effectiveness of Covishield, Covaxin in preventing progression of COVID into severe form Nationwide second Covid vaccination dry run begins; Harsh Vardhan says inoculation to start in few days India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: The second run of the nationwide COVID-19 vaccine dry run for the rollout of coronavirus vaccination began on Friday in all districts across the country - except Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan visited Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai to review the dry run for administering the Covid-19 vaccine. The dry run today will be conducted in 736 districts across 33 states and Union Territories. ''In short time, India has done well by developing vaccines... In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers,''he said. Speaking at a press briefing, Vardhan said the government has ensured that every detail is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroots level. ''We've ensured that every detail is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroots level. Lakhs of healthcare workers trained & the process continues,'' he said. ''On January 2nd, we did dry run in almost 125 districts in the country and today, we are doing it across the country expect the three states who did it earlier,'' Harsh Vardhan said. Harsh Vardhan also requested the NGOs working in the field of health to help in the smooth conduct of the vaccination program and mobilisation of beneficiaries in the best possible manner. ''Request the NGOs working in the field of health to help in the smooth conduct of the COVID19 vaccination program and mobilisation of beneficiaries in the best possible manner,''he added. He added: "We were the first ones in the world to take a note of WHO announcement regarding Covid. One year ago, on January 8, we held a meeting of the health department officials regarding preparing ourselves." Day before nationwide exercise, Haryana all set to hold COVID-19 vaccine dry run today The Centre has initiated the process of procuring the vaccine against COVID-19 after regulatory approvals were granted. This would mean that the vaccination drive could start by the end of next week in a phased manner. Meanwhile transportation of the vaccine is expected to begin today or tomorrow. The government has allowed passenger aircraft to transport the vaccines. Pune will be the central hub from where the vaccine distribution will take place. The government has identified 41 destinations across the country to be finalised for delivery. For northern India, Delhi and Karnal will be made the mini hubs. For eastern region it would be Kolkata. For southern India, the hubs would be Chennai and Hyderabad, whole for the north-east, Kolkata will be the nodal point. Reports suggest that the first vaccine shots would be available by January 13. The government will tap every human resource for the smooth implementation of the world's largest vaccine drive against COVID-19. The guidelines say that each vaccination site would consist of at least three rooms and require a number of personnel to perform special duties. Vaccination Officer 1 would be the from the police, home guards, civil defence, the NCC, NSS. Their job would be to check the registration status of the recipient and sneer that the entry into the centre is regulated. Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News The duty of Vaccination Officer 2 would be to verify the identification of documents of the recipients. Transport of COVID-19 vaccine set to begin: Pune to be central hub Officer 3 will be the support staff who will responsible for crowd management and ensure that every recipient spends 30 minutes at the site after receiving the shot to see if there is any adverse reaction. The vaccine would be administered by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, auxiliary nurse midwifes, lady health visitors. Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) Dr VG Somani on Sunday announced approved the Oxford coronavirus vaccine and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin, making it India's first vaccines against the coronavirus pandemic. ''Covid-19 vaccines- COVAXIN and COVISHIELD have been cleared for restricted use in emergency situation, DCGI, V G Somani said. "The vaccines will be administered in two dosages and Cadila will have three dosages ," Somani added. "We'll never approve anything if there is slightest of safety concern. The vaccines are 100% safe. Some side effects like mild fever, pain and allergy are common for every vaccine. It (people may get impotent) is absolute rubbish," Somani said. New black metal fence surrounds most of the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., two days after pro-Trump supporters stormed the Capitol. Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 TGIF OnPolitics readers! It's been a loooong week. And next week doesn't look like it's going to be slow for the political world (Hint: there could be another impeachment). It's Mabinty, with the day's top news. Let's get to it. Want this news roundup in your inbox every night? Sign up for OnPolitics newsletter here. The fallout from the Capitol riot continues The death of a U.S. Capitol Police officer is being investigated as a homicide after he died from his injuries following Wednesday's riot. Officer Brian Sicknick was involved in the agencys riot response to the pro-Trump mob that breached the U.S. Capitol in an attack that left four demonstrators dead, the agency said in a statement. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund, whose department was severely criticized for its flawed response to Wednesday's attack, resigned Thursday. Also out: Senate Sergeant at Arms Michael Stenger and House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving. How has President Donald Trump responded? President Donald Trump on Thursday acknowledged President-elect Joe Bidens victory in his strongest words yet as he faces mounting criticism for his handling of the violence that erupted a day earlier. "A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20," Trump said in a video posted to social media, the closest he has come to conceding the Nov. 3 election. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation. Trump did not mention Biden by name nor congratulate his rival. Trump stokes more inauguration drama Trump confirmed Friday what has been suspected for weeks: He will not attend Bidens inauguration Jan. 20. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the inauguration on January 20th, he announced on Twitter. What about the VP? Vice President Mike Pence and his wife have yet to make a decision regarding their attendance, spokesman Devin OMalley said Friday. Story continues A spokeswoman for Bidens inaugural committee said the president and vice president traditionally do not receive formal invitations. Attendance is coordinated at a staff level and that is taking place." Will the House impeach Trump? House Democrats aren't wasting time in trying to remove Trump from office. Rep. Katherine Clark, the assistant House speaker, told CNN Friday that if Pence and a majority of the Cabinet do not agree to remove Trump from office using the 25th Amendment, the House will move forward with impeachment proceedings as "early as mid-next week." "We know that we have limited time, but that every day that Donald Trump is president of the United States is a day of grave danger," Clark said. At least one Republican has indicated he may also be on board the impeachment train. Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., told CBS on Friday that if the House advanced impeachment articles, "I will definitely consider whatever articles they might move" because he believes Trump disregarded his oath of office. Trump's allies dismissed the fresh chatter as nonsense and rejected allegations that Trump's rhetoric helped stoke Wednesday's attack on Congress. Follow our liveblog on the latest news of the day. Why Trump could wait out his final days in office despite calls for removal. Important news you need to know: Friday is the 10th anniversary of the Tucson shooting that transformed Gabby Giffords' life and has reverberated through the lives of others. Federal judge John Roll was one of the six people killed in the Tucson shooting. This is his story. An 'angry' Pence is now navigating the fallout of his fracture with Trump over the election and Capitol riots. Take some time to rest this weekend. You deserve it. I'll be back on Monday. Mabinty This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Capitol riot, Trump Impeachment, Ben Sasse, inauguration: OnPolitics New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj Sunday assured medical visa to a Pakistani man for his father provided the case was recommended by the countrys adviser on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz. Taking to Twitter to present his case, Saeed Ayub said I sold half of my assets 4 (for) my fathers liver transplant from India and now no medical visa for us. Why only common man suffers. Swaraj, known for extending a helping hand to people who approach her through social media, said, her sympathies are with him. We will give you the visa. Sartaj Aziz Sahib should recommend your case. Only a letter of recommendation by Pakistan Foreign Affairs Advisor Sartaj Aziz will enable a Pakistani national to get a medical visa for India, the External Affairs Ministry had said recently, a condition reflective of the strained ties between the two neighbours. Also Read: Back from Pakistan, Uzma Ahmed meets her mother, daughter; says no place like India For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Issa al-Nasser, of the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, has been assassinated by unknown persons in Tel Abyad reports North Press. A commander in the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army (SNA) was killed Wednesday night at his home in the city of Tel Abyad, north of Raqqa, by unknown persons. The Tel Abyad region is witnessing a state of security chaos, amid the inability of the Turkish-backed opposition groups to control security in the area. A local source told North Press that a group assassinated Issa al-Nasser, a leader in the First Corps of the SNA, who was working in the Tel Abyad region. Nasser worked as a military leader in the 113th Brigade of the Ahfad al-Rasul Brigades before joining the Turkish Tel Hajar base, according to the source. Turkish forces and their affiliated armed opposition groups took control of the city of Tel Abyad after launching a military operation on Oct. 9, 2019. This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. The Syrian Observer has not verified the content of this story. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author. More facts have emerged on Wednesday nights attack by Boko Haram on Geidam town in Yobe State. PREMIUM TIMES findings reveal that the suspected Boko Haram terrorists plotted a successful decoy and infiltrated the town, after parking their vehicles at the outskirts of the town before entering the community by foot. It was also gathered that the insurgents planted themselves at strategic locations as the Geidam market was bubbly, with a coordinated plan, waiting until the time was ripe for them to strike. Narrating the plan of the insurgents, the State Police Public Relation Officer, Dungus Abdulkarim, said the insurgents were sighted at around 1pm and the rumour went fast and almost disrupted the market activities as people tried to run away. However, they decided to discard the rumours and went back to their activities in the market, unknown to everyone that Boko Haram members were executing another plan to attack. Around 1 pm, the insurgents were sighted at the outskirts of Geidam. The rumour spread throughout the market and people started running out. But between the hours of 2.30 pm nothing happened and people re-converged at the market and started carrying out their normal business activities. But the security agents were on red alert. Unknown to the community, Boko Haram abandoned their vehicles at the outskirts of the town and entered by foot and pinned down at strategic locations until about 5.30pm. They started attacking the town and went straight to the house of the District Head and abducted him. They now went to the house of the former chairman and set it ablaze, while the other one(s) launched attacks on shops, (carting) away food and medicine, Mr Abdulkarim said. While giving other details of the attack, the police spokesperson said, A stray bullet hit a little girl and she is admitted at the general hospital for treatment and she is responding. They also went to one Lawani House but couldnt enter. Probably they thought he was not inside again or they decided to just leave him, we dont know. We have a Hilux vehicle burnt with two people, in our possession now. My police are saying they are Boko Haram but we are not certain about that. There are two persons burnt in the vehicle. Those nurses were not abducted but they were used by the insurgents to give quick treatment to their members that were wounded. After the treatment, they were not taken away so you cannot say that was an abduction. This is what I gathered from the polices detailed investigation. Governor Buni orders support for victims In the wake of the attack and the damage caused to shop owners and residents of Geidam, the state governor, Mala Buni, has ordered the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to move into Geidam and provide immediate livelihood support to victims, as well as take assessment of the destruction. In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the governor, Mamman Mohammed, he commiserated with the people of Geidam over the incident, which he described as unfortunate. The attack came at a time when there is general improvement in peace and security across the state. The general improvement in security and support provided by (the) government has given our people the opportunity to gradually resettle and reclaim their means of livelihood, the statement said. The governor was also quoted as saying that, the attack would not deter (the) government in its efforts to rebuild, reconstruct and rehabilitate communities initially destroyed by insurgency. He commended the people of the state for their resilience and determination to rebuild their lives and move forward. ADVERTISEMENT The statement also assured that The government and People of Yobe state would continue to partner with the security agencies for the full return of peace and security across the state. The Executive Secretary, SEMA Dr Mohammed Goje, said the agency had commenced stock taking of the damages caused during the attack. In line with the directives of His Excellency the Executive Governor of Yobe State, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, l am leading the team to Geidam to assess the situation and see areas in need of immediate intervention to provide succour to the people, Mr Goje said. Army launches operation TURA TAKAIBANGO Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army on Thursday launched a fresh Operation, TURA TAKAIBANGO, against Boko Haram. The move came after the military came under heavy criticism, the recent of which was from the former governor of Borno State, Kashim Shettima, now a serving senator. The Operation, which is named in Hausa language, could be literally translated as pushed to the wall. The new operation is expected to tackle the emerging threats and renewed offensive of BTH/ISWAP in the northeast region. The Chief of Training and Operations Nigerian Army, NE Angbazo, who represented the Chief of Army Staff, TY Buratai, at the maiden press briefing to mark the official launching of the operation at the 27 Brigade Tactical Headquarters Buni Gari, Yobe State, said the operation will smoke the insurgents from their hideouts and neutralise them. Operation TUKA TAKAIBANGO has become more expedient as it will boost the efforts by troops of the Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole to enable the Nigeria Army to deal with the emerging threats of the BHT/ISWAP with the North eastern part of the country. The operation is meant to be theatre wide, targeting known insurgents enclaves/hideouts for neutralization and clearance. At the end of the operation, it is envisaged that citizens will be free to move about, conduct their farming and other businesses in a safe and secured atmosphere devoid of any insurgents threat and harassment, Mr Angbazo explained. Mr Angbazo also called on the rural people not to panic during the course of the operation, as according to him, the safety and wellbeing of the innocent and law abiding citizens especially those living in the rural areas have been deliberately factored in the planning of this operation. He added that the troops taking part in the operation would be guided by the professional Code of Conduct, Rules of Engagement and respect for human rights, while the general public is enjoined to remain vigilant of fleeing suspected terrorists and criminals trying to find safe heavens within the communities from military operation. Mr Angbazo announced that the operation started on January 3, and has already started achieving results. Some of the results, according to him, are the encounter between troops of 402 Special Forces Brigade and some Boko Haram elements on January 6, where the insurgents suffered a heavy defeat and a successful repelling of the insurgents at Geidam yesterday. The army training chief noted that the upsurge of the activities of BHT/ISWAP which has exposed civilians leading to abduction of travelers along Damaturu -Maiduguri road and Damaturu-Biu road has made it expedient for the army to launch the operation. He commended the cooperation the army has received from the Commander-in-Chief, President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that it has significantly enhanced the capacity, combat effectiveness and morale of troops. The Trump mob insurrection Wednesday at the Capitol of the United States was, as Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York described it, a day that will live in infamy. Sadly, history will record that even after President Donald Trump invited the mob to Washington and then incited it to riot, two Republican representatives from Northeast Pennsylvania, Dan Meuser and Fred Keller, were among more than 100 House members who placed their fealty to Trump over their sworn duty to defend the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. The radical right members of the Sedition Caucus voted to oppose certification of Pennsylvanias electoral votes for no reason other than that President-elect Joe Biden carried the state. So, they would disenfranchise 6.8 million Pennsylvania voters because their guy lost, even while refusing to acknowledge that if the presidential election was tainted, their own elections had to be tainted. But history also will record that Pennsylvanias two senators, Democrat Bob Casey of Scranton and Republican Pat Toomey of the Lehigh Valley, stood tall. Both emphatically rejected the effort by permanently disgraced Republican Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Josh Hawley of Missouri to cast suspicion on the Pennsylvania election as part of their own self-serving plans to go after the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. The leaders of the Sedition Caucus claimed that Pennsylvania law regarding mail-in ballots violates the state constitution by allowing no-excuse, open access to voting by mail. Casey corrected them, pointing out that the state constitution requires mail ballots for certain circumstances but does not preclude the Legislature from expanding their use. He also pointed out that no one raised a constitutional concern when Republican legislative majorities passed the law and Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf signed it in 2019, or when it was implemented for the June 2020 primary election. It was only when Trump lost in Pennsylvania that Trump sycophants, such as Meuser and Keller, discovered the constitutional issue. After that, Casey said, the Trump campaign failed to provide any evidence in an array of courts to substantiate the claim. Toomey pointed out that the only remedy for the nonexistent problem would be to disenfranchise 2.6 million voters who, in good faith and in accordance with the laws of the commonwealth, voted by mail. Two other senators Republicans Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Mitt Romney of Utah, also rose above sedition. Graham, who tarnished his reputation by becoming a Trump acolyte over the last four years, scoffed at the Cruz-Hawley plan to form a commission to investigate the election. They modeled the idea on the Compromise of 1877, which settled the disputed presidential election of 1876 between Rutherford B. Hayes and Samuel Tilden. To claim electoral votes from three disputed Southern states, Hayes agreed to withdraw from the South federal forces that President Ulysses S. Grant had dispatched to enforce Reconstruction and protect the civil rights of freed slaves. That killed Reconstruction, launched a century of segregation and further embedded virulent racism in the culture problems the nation has yet to resolve. Romney came up with a novel idea. Rather than lying to the people who stormed the Capitol about the election, try telling them the truth. Trump might be incapable of that, but congressional leaders should give it a go. In the end, the historical record will show that Casey and Toomey distinguished themselves while the Sedition Caucus attempted to convert a constitutional process to accept certified election results into a means to steal an election. According to a peer reviewed study published in a respected journal by the worlds most authoritative vaccine scientists, Bill Gates DTP vaccine killed 10 times more African girls than the disease itself. The vaccine apparently compromised their immune systems. Although, such study was never performed before 2017, Bill Gates and the Vaccine Alliance GAVI and WHO pushed the vaccines on unsuspecting African babies. The study (read below) titled, The Introduction of Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis and Oral Polio Vaccine Among Young Infants in an Urban African Community: A Natural Experiment was commissioned by the Danish government and Novo Nordisk Foundation and was conducted by a team of the worlds leading experts on African vaccination led by two most prominent names, Drs. Sren Wengel Mogensen and Peter Aaby. The DTP vaccine is a class of combination vaccines against three infectious diseases in humans: diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), and tetanus. The DTP vaccine was discontinued in the United States and other western nations in the 1990s following thousands of reports of death and brain damage. Despite widespread vaccination, the United States and other countries are still experiencing large pertussis outbreaks. Until the study was published in 2017, the WHO (World Health Organisation) never conducted the kind of vaccinated/unvaccinated (or placebo) study necessary to ascertain if the DTP vaccine actually yields beneficial health outcomes. Yet, Bill Gates and his Vaccine Alliance GAVI and WHO pushed the untested vaccines on African babies. The scientists conducting the study were shocked when they found that 50% of children in the African nation of Guinea Bissau die before the age of five. In that west African nation, half the children were vaccinated with the DTP vaccine at three months and the other half at six months. Dr. Mogenson and his team found that girls vaccinated with the DTP vaccine died at 10 times the rate of unvaccinated kids. While the vaccinated children were protected from Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis, they were far more susceptible to other deadly diseases than unvaccinated peers. The vaccine apparently compromised their immune systems. DTP was associated with 5-fold higher mortality than being unvaccinated. No prospective study has shown beneficial survival effects of DTP. Unfortunately, DTP is the most widely used vaccine, and the proportion who receives DTP3 is used globally as an indicator of the performance of national vaccination programs. It should be of concern that the effect of routine vaccinations on allcause mortality was not tested in randomized trials. All currently available evidence suggests that DTP vaccine may kill more children from other causes than it saves from diphtheria, tetanus or pertussis. Though a vaccine protects children against the target disease it may simultaneously increase susceptibility to unrelated infections. Bill Gates funded and British led GAVI (Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation) has created a system called Performance based funding whereby they financially punish nations based on their compliance or non-compliance to vaccination programs. On the other hand we learned last year based on an intercepted human intelligence report that Bill Gates offered $10 million bribe for a forced vaccination program for Coronavirus to the Nigerian House of Representatives. Indians should beware that the British led GAVI has managed to infiltrate Indias healthcare policy-making thereby gaining a strategic position to dictate Indias response to coronavirus. While the UK is GAVIs largest funder, its implementation follows what is known as the Gates approach. Known as the Vaccine Cartel or Pharma Cartel by critics, its vaccines have been accused of causing atleast 38 million premature deaths worldwide. Even the so called Swadeshi Indian COVID-19 vaccine COVAXIN maker Bharat Biotech was backed since its inception by Bill Gates and the international pharma lobby. Bill Gates agenda in India and his obsession with vaccines was exposed last year in a lengthy piece by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the nephew of former American President John F. Kennedy. GreatGameIndia is a journal on Geopolitics and International Relations. Get to know the Geopolitical threats India is facing in our exclusive book India in Cognitive Dissonance. Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has announced new rules for all passengers arriving from the United Kingdom, including mandatory RT-PCR Covid-19 testing and seven-day institutional quarantine. The announcement came amidst the resumption of flight services between India and the UK on Friday. Several passengers arriving at the Delhi airport seemed unhappy about the mandatory institutional quarantine which they were unaware of while departing, news agency PTI reported. While Indias national carrier Air India had said that the passengers were informed before departure, Vistaras former chief strategy and commercial officer Sanjiv Kapoor called the move as ridiculous. Air India also said that 20 passengers cancelled their flights after being informed about the advisory, according to the PTI news report . In a tweet, DIAL asked all passengers arriving from the UK to strictly adhere to the new rules. Flight operations from the UK have resumed from 0:01 hrs. 8th January 2021. All arriving passengers from the UK to Delhi Airport must adhere to the following, DIAL tweeted, listing the rules to be followed. Kind attention to all flyers arriving from the UK. pic.twitter.com/LfeZFTYN44 Delhi Airport (@DelhiAirport) January 8, 2021 According to DIALs latest passenger advisory, RT-PCR Covid-19 test has been made mandatory for all passengers in both the UK and India. Passengers can use the Air Suvidha portal of the airports official website to upload or self-report their Covid-19 negative test results before departure from the UK. The test should have been taken 72 hours before the commencement of the journey, the announcement said. Passengers should also bear the expense of the RT-PCR test and access to lounge facilities, which costs Rs 3,400 per person. They should also expect a waiting time of up to 10 hours for the test results. On arrival of the test results, all passengers are expected to undergo a seven-day institutional quarantine followed by a week-long home quarantine. Click here to read our complete coverage of Covid-19 The measures have been taken in the light of a new announcement from the Delhi government after flight services from the UK were resumed. To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal announced earlier in the day. To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine pic.twitter.com/hYDsaOn8q1 Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2021 Flight operations between India and the UK were suspended on December 21, 2020, following the rapid spread of a new mutation of the novel coronavirus was detected in the UK. India opened its airspace on January 8, 2021, for inbound flights from the UK. India has reported 82 patients infected with the new strain of Covid-19 detected first in the United Kingdom, according to the Union ministry of health. The First Information Report filed at the Vemagal police station, a few kilometres from Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing's facility at Narasapura Industrial estate in Karnataka, details the violence at the factory premises that took place at the break of dawn on December 12. It said around 6 a.m., a mob consisting of workers and outsiders barged into the human resources block wielding iron rods, and went on a rampage destroying valuables and setting ablaze company vehicles. Several items, including iPhone and laptops, were reportedly stolen as well, and the company initially estimated a loss of around Rs 437 crore. According to workers, the reason behind the rampage was an insensitive management, which ran the factory like a sweat-shop, with 12-hour shifts, nearly 80 per cent of the workforce on contract, and an inordinate delay in wage payment and even non-payment in certain cases. The state government swung into action immediately and dispatched teams from the labour department with senior officials, while arresting nearly 300 workers for rioting. What The Investigation Revealed Details of the report, as seen by Business Today from the inspections held on December 12 and 13, observed that the company employed 1,343 permanent and 8,483 contract workers. Seven firms, including Innov Source Pvt Ltd, Creative Engineers, Needs Manpower Support Services, Ranstad, Quess Corp Ltd, Adecco Group and United (House Keeping), supplying the required workforce. Preliminary findings suggest that though the total workforce was around 10,500, the HR department did not have personnel with sound knowledge of labour laws, and the faulty attendance system had not been addressed for the past two months. Salaries of workers, which had to be disbursed on or before the 10th day from the last day of the wage period, i.e. 1st of every month in the instant case (wage period being 23rd of the previous month to the 22nd of the next month), was wrongly stated by the HR personnel as payable on or before 10th of every month. "The practices in place with regard to payment of wages and overtime are not in line with the provisions of law, the report said. There was also a difference in payments paid to contract workers, verification with contracting agencies revealed. The housekeeping contract workers were not paid to date; they were required to work for 12 hours a day for six days a week, but paid only for eight hours a day. The company had not taken necessary permissions for increasing staff strength, and exemptions under the Factories Act 1948 were not implemented in case of overtime. The 12-hour shift was in violation of the provisions of Section 51 and 54 of the Factories Act, 1948. Additionally, construction of huge buildings and other facilities were being carried out without obtaining the previous permission of the department for extension of the factory building, and statutory compliance pertaining to the requisite number of safety officers, welfare officers and medical officers as stipulated under the Factories Act, 1948, were not complied with. According to a senior bureaucrat in the state government who did not wish to be named, the company which started its operations two years ago at a facility in the Peenya industrial estate in Bengaluru, assembling iPhone SE and 6s, had set up the Narasapura facility in early 2020. Since August 2000, post lockdown, the company increased its workforce substantially. "The company, which had sought permission for 5,000 workers, seems to have moved ahead recruiting more, may be due to a surge in demand and also to make up for production loss due to the shutdown," he added. On December 15, Wistron Corporation did a U-turn on the extent of damages claimed earlier in a statement to Taiwan's stock exchanges. "Unlike what earlier reports stated, the violence did not cause any material damage to major manufacturing equipment and warehouses, with preliminary estimates of damages in the range of NTD 100 to 200 million (Rs 27-52 crore)," the statement said. However after the labour department's investigation confirmed malpractices, the company issued a statement a week after the incident, admitting to 'mistakes' on its part. "This is a new facility and we recognise that we made mistakes as we expanded. Some of the processes we put in place to manage labour agencies and payments need to be strengthened and upgraded. We are taking immediate action to correct this, including disciplinary action," the statement said. According to sources, the company also removed Vincent Lee, Vice President, Innovation Business Group of Wistron Infocomm Manufacturing India, and restructured the India team. Managing Director Sudipto Gupta continued in his post. "Our top priority is to ensure all workers are fully compensated immediately and we are working hard to achieve that. We have established an employee assistance programme for workers. We have also set up a 24-hour grievance hotline in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Hindi and English to ensure workers can voice any concerns they may have anonymously. We are deeply committed to our business and employees in India," the statement further said. The Perils Of Contract Labour The Wistron incident brings into focus the effectiveness of labour laws, especially at a time when industries are increasingly opting for contract labourers to maximise returns with minimum payout. The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act was framed to protect contract workers. According to the law, wage payments should be made by the contractor in presence of the principal employer. In case of non-payment by the contractor, the legal obligation falls on the principal employer (the company), who will then recover the due amount from the contractor. However, in practice, principal employers often don't exercise adequate diligence to ensure payments on a regular basis. "In practice, contractors often pay only when they receive payments from companies. In such a structure, even if one party lags, contract labourers suffer," says Atul Gupta, Employment Lawyer and Partner at law firm Trilegal. Also, since the number of contractual workers in India is usually high, they are known to organise on their own. "They might not be recognised as bargaining unions but they do create their own unions and agitate for their cause," says Gupta. It is very common in the auto sector where contractors create their own unions. In fact, the single-biggest reason why the industry opts for contract labour is not the cost, but the flexibility to terminate. According to the Industrial Disputes Act, government approval is required if a manufacturing unit with 100 or more workers (300 in some states) wants to terminate any worker or to shut down the factory. These kinds of restrictions are not something the industry always wants to adhere to, and engaging contract labour provides more flexibility. The Fault-lines While the Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act was meant to regulate and abolish contract labour, the abolition aspect isnt as straightforward in the law. A committee has to be formed and a notification has to be issued from the government that contract labourers cannot be hired in certain activities. There is also no limit on the number of contract labourers that a factory can hire. "These kinds of notifications are not issued on a regular basis," says Gupta of Trilegal. So, industries rely heavily on contract workers even for core roles, instead of full-time employees. This is where the Contract Labour law has failed, adds Gupta. Andhra Pradesh has changed its Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act to eliminate hiring of contract labourers for core jobs, but implementation remains weak. In Wistron's case specifically, it seems a failure of labour market governance on part of the government and the principal employer. This is where inspection becomes the big issue. The Karnataka state government had earlier proposed to eliminate surprise inspections dealing with labour. "While the law has not been passed, but if the ruling party has the neo-liberal stance, the labour department will also informally start following those norms and will not conduct inspections," says K.R. Shyam Sundar, Labour Economist and Professor, XLRI-Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur. Labour market governance mechanisms such as inspections cannot be compromised, though it can be made employer-friendly. "If inspections were taking place, this incident could have been avoided," adds Sundar. Recently after a visit to the factory, Karnataka Labour Minister Shivaram Hebbar said the unit will commence full-fledged operation in January, and the government will make sure that workers get their dues. Apple meanwhile has put Wistron on probation, refusing to give the company any new business before corrective actions are implemented. @rukminirao; @sonalkhetarpal7 New study suggests Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine protects against virus variant that erupted in Britain, SA International oi-Madhuri Adnal Washington, Jan 08: New research suggests that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine can protect against a mutation found in two contagious variants of the coronavirus that erupted in Britain and South Africa. Those variants are causing global concern. They both share a common mutation called N501Y, a slight alteration on one spot of the spike protein that coats the virus. That change is believed to be the reason they can spread so easily. Most of the vaccines being rolled out around the world train the body to recognize that spike protein and fight it. Pfizer teamed with researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston for laboratory tests to see if the mutation affected its vaccine's ability to do so. They used blood samples from 20 people who received the vaccine, made by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech, during a large study of the shots. Antibodies from those vaccine recipients successfully fended off the virus in lab dishes, according to the study posted late Thursday on an online site for researchers. The study is preliminary and has not yet been reviewed by experts, a key step for medical research. But "it was a very reassuring finding that at least this mutation, which was one of the ones people are most concerned about, does not seem to be a problem" for the vaccine, said Pfizer chief scientific officer Dr Philip Dormitzer. Viruses constantly undergo minor changes as they spread from person to person. COVID-19 vaccine, boundary dispute on Nepal foreign ministers agenda during India visit Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Scientists have used these slight modifications to track how the coronavirus has moved around the globe since it was first detected in China about a year ago. British scientists have said the variant found in the UK - which has become the dominant type in parts of England -- still seemed to be susceptible to vaccines. That mutant has now been found in the US and numerous other countries. But the variant first discovered in South Africa has an additional mutation that has scientists on edge, one named E484K. The Pfizer study found that the vaccine appeared to work against 15 additional possible virus mutations, but E484K wasn't among those tested. Dormitzer said it is next on the list. Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, recently said vaccines are designed to recognize multiple parts of the spike protein, making it unlikely a single mutation could be enough to block them. But scientists around the world are conducting research with different vaccines to find out . Dormitzer said if the virus eventually mutates enough that the vaccine needs adjusting - much like flu shots are adjusted most years - that tweaking the recipe wouldn't be difficult for his company's shot and similar ones. The vaccine is made with a piece of the virus genetic code, simple to switch, although it's not clear what kind of additional testing regulators would require to make such a change. Dormitzer said this was only the beginning "of ongoing monitoring of virus changes to see if any of them might impact on vaccine coverage." The coldest winter in China since 1966 has sent coal and gas prices soaring as power demand surges. Gas prices hit a three-year high, Bloomberg reported, while coal prices ticked up by 4 percent this week. Reuters noted that despite record liquefied natural gas imports, the cold spell caused a supply crunch. China went on an LNG-buying spree last year amid low prices caused by oversupply. Reuters reported last September that imports of the commodity into China were set to hit record-highs that year, at 65-67 million tons. That would set China on course to become the largest importer of LNG by 2022. Meanwhile, due to the cold weather, LNG prices in some parts of China have doubled since late November, Bloomberg noted. Despite the power crunch, however, China has not budged on its ban on Australian coala major fuel source for its coal-powered plantswhich resulted as bilateral relations worsened severely last year. The row erupted when Australia insisted on an international inquiry into the origin of the coronavirus that first appeared in China, which signaled the start of a trade war that has been affecting more and more Australian industries. Yet the spat is affecting China as well at a time when it needs all the coal and gas it can importmuch of it sourced from Australia, which accounts for as much as 40 percent of Chinese LNG imports. As a result, China has been forced to pay much higher prices for the commodities it needs to go through the cold spell. According to Wood Macs head of coal for Asia Rory Simington, Chinas demand for coal jumped 12 percent last December from December 2019, the Australian Financial Review reported. This resulted in a sharp increase in coal prices, prompting Beijing to stop publishing daily prices last month. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A new study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, published by Elsevier, explores real-time personal and employee safety experiences and perspectives of school nutrition professionals ranging from frontline staff to state leadership across the United States during the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic. A survey with both closed- and open-ended items was developed to explore the experiences of school nutrition staff, managers, directors, and state agency personnel. Descriptive statistics from the responses of 47 states were calculated, and a thematic analysis of an open-ended item was conducted. When we analyzed the survey's open-ended results, we found three themes in the responses. The most prominent theme, that 94 percent of our respondents reported, was that they had significant concern for risk of transmission or risk of exposure to the coronavirus while they were at work as they interacted with people in the community and their coworkers." Emily Vaterlaus Patten, PhD, RDN, CD, Lead Investigator, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA Another theme that emerged was concern with the processes including the administrative interactions, logistics, and protocols for serving emergency meals. For some, there was a feeling of distrust or lack of support from authority. School districts and state health departments were described as disconnected from the situation, apathetic, or uncaring. "I don't trust that a school nurse understands and/or even cares about whether or not we are safe. They are working from home and have no clue what we are up against," wrote a nutrition program director from Texas. Personal concerns were also a common theme in the research results. Respondents described feelings of exhaustion, fear, and stress. Personal concerns were often rooted in the perspective that working through the pandemic was a high risk, low-reward situation. Others were concerned for themselves, their families, peers, or employees because of the risk factors associated with severe illness. "This was and continues to be a challenging time for school nutrition professionals and this research highlights that they have demonstrated resilience through the whole process. USDA Waivers have helped improve conditions, and nutrition programs have innovated their distribution methods. I think we are celebrating the enormous number of meals that have been served during this time and the people that made it happen. They're veritable heroes. They've worked and self-sacrificed to mitigate food insecurity in their communities during this difficult time," Dr. Vaterlaus Patten said. LIMERICK City and County Council has yet to apply for funding for the installation of new electric vehicle charging points locally. The information, provided by director of service Brian Kennedy, came in response to a question from Labour councillor Joe Leddin. He had asked how much funding had been applied for and secured from the Department of Transport for extra charging stations in Limerick. Mr Kennedy pointed out that electric vehicle ownership is low less than 20,000 have been sold since 2010. At a national policy level, guidelines, he added, are being finalised for local authorities on technical considerations of providing charge points. Last month, Tesco announced that new charge points for electric vehicles had been installed at its stores in Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-07 01:27:35|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MAPUTO, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- The World Food Program (WFP) said on Wednesday it needs an additional fund of 108 million U.S. dollars to provide food assistance to the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Mozambique's northern province Cabo Delgado. According to WFP's Representative in Mozambique Antonella D'Aprile, the number of people displaced by the violence in Cabo Delgado has increased to 565,000, and a total of 750,000 people (including the host communities) were affected by the conflicts. "To guarantee humanitarian food assistance in the next 12 months, the WFP needs 132.4 million U.S. dollars, of which only 24.4 million dollars have been guaranteed by the end of December 2020. Without sufficient funding, the food supply will be compromised up by March this year," said D'Aprile in a press release issued in Maputo. The representative added that the decision to maintain the basic food basket comes amid a new influx of internally displaced people seeking refuge in the southern districts of Cabo Delgado and in the neighboring provinces of Nampula, Niassa and the more distantly Zambezia and Sofala. She said the IDPs are especially vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19 because they are clustered in camps, backyards of host families or outdoors without adequate shelter or access to clean drinking water and sanitation. The representative urged that it is incredibly time to join efforts now and protect food and nutrition security and the livelihoods of Mozambicans affected by the armed attacks, Cyclone Kenneth and the COVID-19 pandemic. "If resources are made available and access is granted, the WFP can move cargo and its humanitarian workforce over land, sea and air to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance to at least 750,000 internally displaced and host communities on a monthly basis," she said. The document said the WFP has so far managed to maintain the basic food aid basket critical to at least 400,000 people affected by the conflicts in the province of Cabo Delgado. Enditem New Delhi: The eighth round of talks between protesting farmer unions and the government is scheduled to be held on Friday afternoon as both sides look for a resolution to the over one-month-long deadlock on the issue of the three new farm laws. Both sides have stuck to their respective positions, with agitating farmers taking out tractor rallies on Thursday to press their demand for rollback of the laws, and the Centre asserting it is ready to consider any proposal other than their repeal. FarmersThe latest round of talks to be held at Vigyan Bhavan at 2 pm on Friday is crucial as the previous meeting on January 4 remained inconclusive. There was some breakthrough in the sixth round of talks on December 30 when the government conceded to two demands of the agitating farmers pertaining to power subsidy and stubble burning. The previous rounds of talks had failed to make any headway. Thursday's tractor rallies were taken out from protest sites near the Singhu, Tikri and the Ghazipur borders and also from Haryana's Rewasan as the unions asserted they would not accept the Centre's offer of amendments to the farm laws. Farmers According to them, these marches were a "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 "Kisan Parade" to the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Owing to the farmers' protest since late November last year, several routes connecting Delhi with its neighbouring states have been closed for traffic movement. Leading SaaS-based mobile app commerce provider announces the promotion of its Chief Technology Officer to Chief Executive Officer in order to drive the business forward in its next phase of growth LONDON, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) app platform Poq has today announced the appointment of Poq Chief Technology Officer (CTO), Jay Johnston, to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The new leadership appointment is effective immediately and sees Johnston take over the CEO role from Poq's co-founder, yvind Henriksen; Henriksen will continue to play an active role in platform roadmap and product development as Senior Vice President of Product Strategy. "Jay is a leader in every sense of the term, and has done a great job in the executive team ever since he joined Poq. I'm delighted that he's now stepping up to take the reins of the company," Henriksen said. "Jay also has a strong understanding of the entire business, is loved by the team and well respected by our clients. Moreover, Poq is in an excellent position to capitalise on the accelerated growth of ecommerce and, with his leadership, we can rise to the occasion and importantly help our clients seize the opportunities ahead." Johnston stated: "I am both delighted and humbled to accept the role and the responsibility of leading the great team we have at Poq. We achieved much to be proud of in 2020, and the scene is set for an even more exciting and ambitious year in 2021. I look forward to building on these strong foundations in order to create a clear framework for the company's vision, plan, targets and accountabilities that will capture our growing ambitions and harness the opportunity to further grow our success in helping our clients create best-in-class mobile commerce apps." In addition, Johnston will join the Poq board, together with Euan Menzies, who also joined the company in 2018 and serves as Chief Financial Officer. Speaking on behalf of the board, Jonathan McKay, Poq's Chairman, said: "Poq has just achieved another year of solid growth, despite the unprecedented challenges presented by Covid-19. Jay brings with him the kind of operational, communications and leadership skills that we are convinced will deliver further success for both Poq and its customers going forward. We also look forward to capitalising on the huge opportunities ahead with both Jay and Euan as newly appointed members of Poq's board, especially as 2021 will be such a pivotal year for mobile." About Poq Poq is a Software-as-a-Service app platform that empowers retailers to create highly effective and fully-customised mobile apps that provide a superior shopping experience. These apps allow retailers to build stronger brands, sell more products, deepen customer loyalty and deliver highly relevant content, communications and rewards. Poq clients include global brands and retailers such as; Belk, Cotton On, francesca's, Feelunique, Missguided, Hot Topic, Kurt Geiger and more. To learn more, please visit poqcommerce.com. __________ Notes to the editor Press contact Poq: Charlotte Simons-Dukes, e: charlotte.simons-dukes@poqcommerce.com, t: +44 (0) 203 794 4120 Several councillors in Offaly and the wider region have said that vaccines for Covid-19 should be voluntary and not compulsory during the coming weeks. All the councillors, when speaking to the Midland Tribune this week, said there should be no compulsion on people and freedom of choice remains very important. It has to be voluntary, stated Cllr Michael Smith, as that is an important principle of any democracy; but I also think that there will have to be a concerted effort by the HSE and the Government to ensure that as many people as possible are vaccinated in as quick and efficient a manner as possible. Cllr Smith said the scientists had worked wonders in realising the vaccine in record time. The most brilliant scientific minds in the world have come up trumps and delivered vaccines in record times. For that we have to be very thankful. The Tribune also asked the Councillors if they felt the vaccine is being rolled out quickly enough. Some countries, such as France, are being criticised by their citizens for not rolling out the vaccine swiftly enough, whereas Britain and the US are rolling out their vaccines at a faster rate than all EU countries. Well, you can never roll it out fast enough, commented Cllr Smith. I think the most important thing is to get it right. It is a huge logistical challenge, a massive undertaking, which must be properly done. I think that over time, as the weeks pass, the roll out will be sped up. He said the vaccine arrived in Nenagh Hospital this week for the frontline workers and patients there; and started to be distributed as well across North Tipperary nursing homes. Cllr Smith spoke briefly about the mental health impact of repeated Lockdowns and the extraordinary restrictions. Locally, in the Roscrea area and in North Tipperary, what I am regularly hearing from people is the loneliness of living during Lockdowns. It's especially hard on the elderly, some of whom do feel trapped in their homes, who deeply miss the social interactions, who deeply miss social things like attending mass. They have steadfastly abided by the rules but loneliness is a problem. But it's very difficult for everyone, young and old. The long, dark nights and the cold at the moment are making it worse. He urged people to regularly telephone their elderly relatives and maintain as much contact as possible. A simple phone call can be so important. Cllr Eamon Dooley said he didn't think the vaccines should be compulsory for people to take, except in the matter of people using public transport or using air travel. He didn't feel critical about the speed of distribution and administration. I wouldn't feel concerned about the rollout speed in Ireland at the moment. It should also be borne in mind that in terms of case numbers and deaths the US and Britain are in a far worse position than Ireland. Cllr Ger Darcy agreed. There is no sense in trying to keep up with the British! he said. The administration of the vaccine is a massive undertaking and it has to be propely done. He too agreed that taking it should be voluntary. Deputy Anne Rabbitte also believed it should be voluntary. We are no slower than the rest of Europe. We are part of an excellent team, the European team. Besides, the roll out has only just started and already a considerable amount has been achieved, with the hospitals being targeted first, followed by the nursing homes. Once our most vulnerable are protected we will be in a considerably better place. She said several hundred people were vaccinated in University Hospital Galway a few days ago. I believe vaccines should be voluntary with a positive campaign of encouragement, commented Cllr John Carroll, Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council. We need to highlight the positive results from previous vaccines for diseases such as Polio, Measles and Mumps. As for roll out speed, I believe it's early days to be critical. Once we are assured of the regular supply of the first and second rounds of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine then I am sure the Government and the HSE can move its distribution and administration to a higher level. At this point in time I would not be looking to Boris Johnson's Government as an example of best practice in terms of dealing with the Pandemic. As a pro choice politician I believe healthcare is a choice, remarked Cllr Clare Claffey. I think Ireland has a long history of being positive, in general, about coming forward to receive vaccinations. The majority of Irish people, I believe, will take the vaccine if they believe there is a benefit from it; and the Health Minister and the HSE must make that positive message their priority. I believe we will get high levels of support for the vaccine and I look forward to that. I'm sure that the HSE has developed the best plan they can to deliver the vaccine as soon as possible to those most in need. It is vital that good plans are made to deliver the vaccine in rural areas of the country, especially to the elderly and vulnerable who live at home and not in care homes. These are the people we have been protecting with restrictions and lockdowns and we need to know how soon they will be receiving their vaccines which will ultimately allow us to start our journey back to some semblance of normality. Cllr Seamus Morris, Cathaoirleach of Nenagh Municipal District, said he himself will get a vaccine, preferably one of the ones that will only require a single dose. I don't feel it should be compulsory although I have no faith in the HSE's ability to get through such a large body of work successfully. Cllr Peter Ormond told the Tribune that after the torrid experience which the world has gone through during 2020 his deepest desire is that 2021 will be a much more positive experience for everyone. I feel that the vaccine should be voluntary, continued Cllr Ormond, but would urge everyone who can take it to avail of it. We now live in a very open society with many different opinions and while it's important to take account of people's views, I would strongly recommend that people take the vaccine. We have been living with the Pandemic for nine months and the rollout of the vaccine gives people hope for the future. The vaccine was only approved by the EU just before Christmas and the HSE took delivery of its first batch on Saturday December 26. The first of the vaccines were distributed on Tuesday December 29 and there is a plan to roll it out to all nursing homes and front line staff in January and then to other sectors of the community over the next couple of months. Covid-19 is totally out of control in both the USA and the UK and I wouldn't like to be taking a lead from them in terms of controlling the virus. From talking to constituents in the community they seem happy that they know when they are going to receive the vaccination and that there is a plan in place. It's important that the people in our nursing homes, frontline staff and people who are most vulnerable to Covid-19 get priority. As rioters raged inside the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, a couple from the Bay Area who went to Washington to support President Trump and his unsubstantiated claims of election fraud at a rally, said they resisted calls to join the mob that had breached barriers to force their way into the building. Instead, the Oakland couple said Thursday, they stood outside the Capitol for hours, singing patriotic songs, chanting pro-Trump slogans and trying to figure out what was going on inside by checking their phones and listening to rumors. The Chronicle interviewed the couple along with a mother and son from Danville who also attended Trumps rally before the siege, at the San Francisco International Airport just after they returned from Washington. They were in the nations capital on what many have called one of the darkest days in U.S. history to attend Trumps Save America Rally, which was also billed as a Wild Rally, and attended by tens or perhaps hundreds of thousands, according to reports. After the president made remarks that some critics have said incited the riots, the crowd marched from the Ellipse, a park near the White House, to the Capitol. The plan all along was to go to the Capitol and let our voices be heard outside, said Robert Douglas, 59, of Oakland. Nobody said Lets go burn the Capitol. As they neared the Capitol, Douglas said, some in the crowd urged people to storm the iconic home of Congress and a few fights broke out between those who wanted to force their way inside and those who didnt. Then, he said, Some people were screaming that they had breached the Capitol. Douglas blames Antifa activists or possibly other interlopers for the assault on the Capitol, even though theres no evidence that anyone other than Trump supporters was involved in the mob. Douglas said he did not see the initial breaching of the barriers. Only later did he see rioters walk out of the Capitol, trying to coax others to join them as they walked back inside. Similar accusations blaming the siege on Antifa have grown popular in the conservative press and social media despite a lack of evidence, and photos of rioters inside the Capitol show known Trump supporters with social media followings. As the mob raged inside the Capitol, the mood outside was festive, even celebratory, with the crowd singing and chanting, said Doreyne Douglas, 58. It wasnt scary, she said. It was a sense of community: love your country, love your neighbor. There was nothing burned, nothing looted, nothing broken outside of the people who went into the Capitol. All the MAGA people were like Thats not what we came here for. The Douglases said they saw police let rioters walk out of the Capitol. I wondered why they were letting them leave, Robert Douglas said of the police. The Douglases remained with the crowd outside the Capitol for hours, they said. The sad story is that (Trump opponents) want to portray everyone there as violent, Doreyne Douglas said, but 99.99% of the people there were just thrilled to be there and supporting the president. Like the Douglases, Jacob Burnett, of Danville, went to Washington because he was concerned about the allegations of voter fraud and doesnt believe theyve been thoroughly investigated. Courts have repeatedly rejected Trump lawsuits to invalidate election results and state elections officials have looked into allegations of massive fraud and found them unfounded. A Department of Homeland Security committee called the 2020 election the most secure in American history. The things we are bringing up, people just arent listening, he said. I just want transparency in the election. Everything weve brought up has just been dismissed by the government. Burnett, who flew to Washington with his mother, had planned to join the march to the Capitol but they decided to grab lunch first. Once they heard what was going on inside the Capitol, he said, they decided to steer clear. They walked past the Capitol, sneaking peeks from a distance, but moved on. From what I saw, there were not nearly as many Trump supporters at the Capitol as at the rally, he said, noting that he supports the right to protest, even in front of the Capitol, but not to forcibly enter or engage in violence or vandalism. If they had wanted to take the Capitol, Burnett said of the Trump backers at the rally, they could have. But I dont think they were all that type. The people who went into the Capitol, he said, were the violent fringe. At least one Bay Area resident joined the mob that entered the Capitol, according to posts on social media and an television interview. Ex-Oakland police officer Jurell Snyder was part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol, according to an interview he gave on KPIX Wednesday evening. Snyder defended the unrest, spouted right-wing conspiracy theories and suggested that police prodded Trump supporters at the Capitol to violence. According to his LinkedIn profile, Snyder served at the Oakland Police Department from December 2006 to August 2015. I wanted my friends and family to know what happened, Snyder wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday, in which he confirmed that he was at the Capitol. They call us terrorists in the media, but we know the truth. We must preserve our constitutional republic at all costs. He did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. In a statement posted on Facebook Thursday afternoon, the Oakland Police Department said they found Snyders comments reprehensible and that he was separated from his employment with the City of Oakland nearly six years ago. Our democracy is the very foundation of the rule of law and our law enforcement officers are on the front lines of defending and upholding these tenets, the statement said. Anyone engaged in the unlawful behavior that occurred at the Capitol and injured officers and civilians alike should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Chronicle reporter Tatiana Sanchez contributed to this report. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan Thailands Health Ministry reported on Friday that at least 153 Cambodian workers in Thailand tested positive for COVID-19, as it faces a new viral outbreak that is spreading fast through the countrys citizens and migrant worker communities. A COVID-19 report from Thailands Department of Disease Control revealed that there are more than 9,800 cases since the start of the pandemic, with 153 Cambodian migrant workers infected from the recent outbreak in the south of Thailand. Migrant worker communities have been hard hit by the recent outbreak. Thai nationals, Burmese, Indian and Cambodian workers recorded the most cases across the country, according to the same report. Koy Kuong, Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said Cambodian authorities in Thailand were monitoring and verifying the number of cases among Cambodian migrant workers. The Thai authorities will treat all foreign migrant workers free of charges, similar to Thais, he said. The [Cambodian] Embassy is paying the utmost attention to helping all Cambodian migrants in Thailand. Or Vandine, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Health Ministry, said she was not aware of the number of cases in Thailand. The Thai Health Ministry could not be reached for comment on Friday. The Thai Embassy in Phnom Penh said on Thursday that a new wave of COVID-19 was detected on December 17 in Samut Sakhon province, and had now affected two-thirds of all provinces in Thailand. Active case findings, investigations and targeted testing have been carried out, especially among migrant workers in Samut Sakhon as well as risk groups, the embassy said in an email. The government has provided assistance and medical care to migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, as well as for Thai nationals. All workers who have been tested positive are under treatment in different hospitals. The Thai embassy said its government had discouraged migrant worker communities from moving around, especially those wishing to return to their home country, facilitating their documentation and registration under new provisions. As of January 5, more than 5,000 Cambodians have returned home and, according to the Health Ministry, 21 Cambodian migrant workers tested positive for COVID-19. Krong Savan, a 40-year-old construction worker in Thailand, said she and her 18-year-old daughter wanted to return to Cambodia but were not allowed to leave during the outbreak. I want Cambodian authorities to come and visit us in Thailand. We have faced a lot of difficulties, said Krong Savan, who works at a hotel construction site in the outskirts of Thailand. Everyone wants to go home, but they cant. Khun Tharo, a program coordinator at labor rights group Central, said Cambodian migrant workers, especially in the construction sector, have lost at least 40 percent of their income in Thailand, with most earning around $10 a day. He was concerned about undocumented Cambodian workers who will not receive wage benefits been given by Thai authorities. The concern is about Cambodian workers working illegally there. They have lost jobs and they cant earn any income there, Khun Tharo said. He urged workers to continue staying there to avoid traveling, which could lead to further transmission of the contagious virus. Cambodia has increased its health screening and quarantine facilities along border provinces to accommodate an increase in migrant worker arrivals. Author Chung Bora / Courtesy of Chung Bora By Park Han-sol Grandpa tells the story of how his friend who owned a premium brewery ended his life at a young age after he was victimized by a rival company in a smear campaign that ultimately put him out of business. The tragic fate of his friend motivates him to become a vigilante. Furious over the lack of justice, Grandpa decides to make a special bunny lamp adorable, living and cursed and gives it to the brewer whose business thrived after the death of his archrival. The bunny lamp self-replicates and every night, the army of bunnies start chewing through the company's documents and soon move on to something much bigger. To author Chung Bora, these inexplicably frightening and bizarre elements in her iconic short story collection "Cursed Bunny" tell the necessary story of malediction, revenge and desire to remind the audience of the very real horror and cruelty that exists in the world. "The world is inherently a foreign and strange place and I think it's a pure arrogance for humans to believe that they have figured it all out with their limited physical and psychological capabilities," she said in a recent e-mail interview with The Korea Times. But along with a sense of perplexity also comes Chung's empathetic view towards those unjustly affected and struggling alone. Although revenge becomes necessary in certain circumstances, even after going through with it characters still feel hollow and lonesome. And through such narratives, she consoles readers in their own solitary fight against the world. Chung, one of a group of emerging Korean authors who has begun to garner international attention for her works, wears many hats she's a writer, translator, lecturer and political activist. Also going by the pen name Chung Do-gyeong, she has published three novels "Red Sword" (2019), "Dreams of the Dead" (2012) and "The Door Opened" (2010) and three collections of short stories "Cursed Bunny" (2017), "The King's Prostitute" (2013), "Seed" (2013) while contributing to many more anthologies in the span of a decade. "Cursed Bunny" by Chung Bora / Courtesy of Arzak Livres He has been spending his summer holidays in Queensland with his young family. And on Friday, Karl Stefanovic, his wife Jasmine and their eight-month-old daughter Harper enjoyed a leisurely bushwalk. The shoe designer, 36, shared a photo of the clan on their nature stroll, along with some koala emojis. The great outdoors: Karl Stefanovic , his wife Jasmine and their eight-month-old daughter Harper enjoyed a leisurely bushwalk on Friday In the photo, the Today host toted little Harper in an animal print baby carrier strapped over his shoulders and chest. He wore a pair of near-matching animal print boardshorts with a black shirt, his cap on backwards and trendy trainers. Jasmine opted for a sporty all-white look - a loose shirt, mini shorts and sneakers, and accessorised with a oversized square sunglasses. Karl has been lapping up his well-deserved summer holiday following his return to hosting the Today show last year. Rest and relaxation: Karl has been lapping up his well-deserved summer holiday following his return to hosting the Today show last year Karl told Daily Mail Australia he will be spending his entire vacation in the Sunshine State. He said of his 2021 festivities: 'New Year's Eve will be spent on a beach welcoming in the new year and saying goodbye and good riddance to 2020.' Karl and Jasmine married in December 2018 in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico after they welcomed daughter Harper in May. Adding to the brood: According to Woman's Day, Jasmine is 'desperate to get pregnant again' to have another child with Karl ever since welcoming Harper According to Woman's Day, Jasmine is 'desperate to get pregnant again' to have another child with Karl ever since welcoming Harper. They source said: 'She's always wanted to have a brood and to give little Harper a playmate, and she wanted to do it as quickly as she could.' Karl is said to want a girl, while Jasmine is eager to have a boy to 'balance out' the household. A man has been fined 250 at Naas District Court for breaching travel restrictions during Covid-19 lockdown, gardai have confirmed. The man was stopped by officers while away from his home "without reasonable excuse". No further information was given by gardai on when and where the offence took place but other prosecutions under the tough new laws have also been successful across the country and resulted in bigger fines and even prison sentences. The prosecution was carried out under new legislation passed by the Government to assist Covid-19 lockdowns - the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No.10) Regulations 2020. Regulation 4 states a "an applicable person shall not leave his or her place of residence without reasonable excuse". Gardai have warned that breach of this regulation carries a penalty and is enforceable. Gardai have always insisted that they adopt a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent which sees Garda members engage, explain, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce. Some Court outcomes of previous Garda enforcement activity are highlighted below: Co. Cavan, Male found in breach of travel restrictions without reasonable excuse, 150 fine Co. Sligo, 2 Males found in breach of travel restrictions without reasonable excuse, Both 300 fine Co Dublin, Male in breach of Covid Regulations directed to return home, observed still in breach of regulations at same location 2 hours later, 350 fine Co. Tipperary, Male found in breach of travel restrictions without reasonable excuse, 400 fine Co Meath, 2 males in breach of Health Regulations at a Domestic house, both 1,000 fine Co. Dublin, Male found in breach of travel restrictions without reasonable excuse, 30 days imprisonment Co. Leitrim, Male found in Breach of travel restrictions without reasonable excuse, 2 months Imprisonment Co. Meath, Female found in breach of travel restrictions without reasonable excuse, non-resident at property, 4 months imprisonment Under the latest regulations for January, people must remain within a 5 kilometre radius of the persons place of residence unless they are an essential worker or the journey has an essential purpose. Walt Meyer is afraid of getting sick when he travels. Too many people aren't taking COVID-19 seriously, he says. He'd travel again this year if he could be sure that his fellow passengers were virus-free. "If they could require everyone to arrive an hour early, get tested, then wait for test results before boarding a flight or entering a resort, it would eliminate some of the risks," says Meyer, an author and professional speaker from San Diego. His fears are justified, say experts. COVID-19 will be the No. 1 travel concern of 2021, particularly during the first half of the year. But there are other concerns. The question is: What should travelers be afraid of? A recent poll by Travelex Insurance identified the top two travel fears: Getting stuck in another country and catching the coronavirus. Travel professionals are trying to help. One solution: offering a pledge to customers like the one Travel Leaders introduced late last year. Its Book With Confidence program helps its agents advise clients about where, when and how to travel. "We want to tell them who is open and the protocols that are in place," says John Lovell, president of Travel Leaders Group. What should travelers not be afraid of? The list includes everything from flying to the financial stability of your travel company. And what should you fear? Getting stuck abroad, finding adequate medical care and, of course, the unknown. "But there are steps travelers can take to help alleviate these fears," says Christine Buggy, vice president of marketing at Travelex. Here's what travelers are afraid of but shouldn't be: Fear: Flying Reality: Air travel remains one of the safest modes of transport. And getting COVID-19 on the plane is also unlikely, experts say. (Flying can be safer than grocery shopping, according to a recent Harvard study.) "It's not something people should be afraid of," says John Gobbels, chief operating officer of Medjet. "As long as travelers continue to take the proper precautions, like those recommended by the CDC and other health entities." Story continues Fear: Not knowing if you're safe to travel Reality: Just because you look healthy and are asymptomatic doesn't mean you won't spread COVID-19 to your friends and family when you're traveling. But you can be sure or more sure that you won't, says Irnise Williams, a travel nurse and health law attorney. "Get two COVID-19 tests with negative results to ensure you do not get a false negative," she advises. "Wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your gatherings small to ensure you can contact trace just in case you are exposed or if you expose someone." Fear: Contracting an infectious disease like COVID-19 while you're on the road Reality: If you take precautions and choose the right destination your chances of getting infected remain low. A recent study by LetsGetChecked, reviewed 24 years of data to identify the safest destinations. The safest places included nearby destinations such as Barbados, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and St. Lucia, which have seen only one disease outbreak each in decades (see the chart at the end of this story). Fear: My travel company will go under Reality: It can if you choose the wrong one, but that has always been true. "Even pre-COVID, travel advisors were jittery about who to book with after the collapse of several tour operators, most notably Thomas Cook and Cox & Kings," says Marnie Brown, CEO of Trusted FIT Services in St. Paul, Minnesota. "Several smaller operators also went quietly under, taking their clients deposits and advance payments with them." Her advice: Book with reputable names that are financially solvent. If in doubt, ask your travel adviser for guidance. Stranded: British travel company Thomas Cook shuts down, leaves 15,000 hanging Before traveling, make sure either your primary medical insurance policy or any travel insurance policy you are considering covers getting you back from overseas, including medical evacuation. Here's what travelers should be afraid of: Fear: Getting stuck abroad during a lockdown Reality: "Travelers should be afraid of that," says Andre Robles, managing director of Voyagers Travel Company, a tour operator in Ecuador. I agree I was stuck in Europe during the lockdown last spring. Fortunately, I had coverage through FocusPoint International, a company that provides evacuation services. They got me back to the USA quickly and safely. Some tour operators are making their own arrangements, though: "We have secured agreements with the government of Ecuador to make sure that if there is a new lockdown, humanitarian flights are allowed to repatriate our travelers," he says. Medical travel insurance primer: How does it differ from regular insurance? Fear: Getting adequate medical care when you're away from home Reality: That's a common worry, even when there's no pandemic. You can address some of those fears with travel insurance or a travel health membership like Medjet. "Travel insurance can cover medical expenses and emergency medical evacuation for the virus," says Jeremy Murchland, president of Seven Corners. But don't assume your travel insurance covers a coronavirus infection. Murchland recommends verifying the coverage by reviewing your plan document and asking the insurance company if you have COVID-19 coverage and how it works. Travel insurance: What it does and doesn't cover for coronavirus Fear: The unknown Reality: That's a legitimate worry that will never go away. I am most concerned about things I cant control," says Peter Plantes, a physician executive with hc1, a health care company. It's the randomness of travel that could cause unnecessary exposures to a disease, like fellow travelers who let their guard down or don't take precautions. You can't plan for these variables and can't anticipate when they'll become a problem. Fear: The return of fees Reality: Be afraid. Be very afraid. Late last year, the major U.S. airlines dropped change fees on international flights, suggesting that the era of big airline fees was over. It isn't. Notice that their basic economy tickets are still totally nonrefundable. Do you see the trick? As soon as business picks up, expect to see airlines offer more basic economy tickets and to get creative with adding new fees. Why? Because those fees represent a significant revenue stream. The countries at greatest risk for an infectious disease outbreak A study by LetsGetChecked.com examined 24 years of data from the World Health Organization and 2,800 disease outbreaks to reveal the countries at greatest risk for an outbreak of infectious disease. Here are their findings: Democratic Republic of Congo (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 242) China (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 184) Indonesia (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 147) Egypt (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 114) Uganda (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 77) Vietnam (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 66) West Africa (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 58) United States (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 52) Nigeria (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 49) Sudan (Number of outbreaks since 1996: 40) This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID travel: What you do and don't need to worry about in 2021 Ahead of the much-awaited launch of the Covid-19 vaccination campaign, a nationwide dry run on 700-plus districts will be conducted today, to ensure efficient planning and management for vaccine delivery. Uttar Pradesh and Haryana would be two exceptions as the first one had conducted such an exercise on January 5 and the latter planned to do so on January 7. Meanwhile, Indias daily Covid-19 death count is on a steady decline, and recoveries have crossed the 1-crore mark. Stay tuned for more updates. The last time the U.S. Capitol was breached and attacked was in August 1814 by invading British forces during the War of 1812 -- when the British set fire not just to the then-partially built seat of U.S. government but also to the White House. More than 200 years later, it took a mob incited by a president of the United States to mount only the second such hostile assault, during which at least four protesters died -- a woman apparently shot to death by police and three who suffered what authorities described as fatal medical emergencies. Much of the attention is focused today on what the consequences should be for President Donald Trump himself for ginning up the conspiracy theories and lies about a stolen election that convinced his supporters that Trump had won -- and that they needed to act to help him overturn the injustice. At a lengthy warm-up rally shortly before the assault on the Capitol, President Trump repeated those lies to a mob of his supporters, urging them to march on the Capitol and to get rid of the weak Congress, people, the ones that arent any good, the Liz Cheneys of the world; we got to get rid of them -- U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican and daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, being a key part of the House Republican leadership. Trump singled out Cheney because she stood up to him. Good for her. But what of Trumps many GOP enablers, including those in solid-red Ohio? What should be their culpability for active partnership in the lies or for a toxic silence that let Trumps false allegations that hed won and that there had been a steal of the election metastasize and grow? In Ohio, U.S. Reps. Jim Jordan, Bob Gibbs, Bob Latta, Brad Wenstrup and Bill Johnson; Sen. Rob Portman and Gov. Mike DeWine all condemn the violence now, but its too late. President Trump himself planted the seed, the notion that violence by his supporters might be required, by saying during the first presidential debate in Cleveland that extremists should stand back and stand by. Similarly, the idea -- widely offered by GOP officials and Trump supporters -- that the presidents conspiracy theories and lies were inconsequential, that the courts would dispose of the baseless lawsuits and the rest would wither and die with Joe Bidens inauguration, is now violently exposed as wishful thinking, too. Jan. 6, 2021 was a watershed moment. A moment of truth. A moment that revealed viscerally and shockingly that Trumps lies were potent weapons aimed at the stability and integrity of our democratic system. Trump will almost certainly pay a penalty for this, but so, too, must his enablers -- all those who stood silently by when they could have spoken out, or actively promoted Trumps lies when they should have exposed them. At the top of this list in Ohio is Jordan, one of Trumps key lieutenants, who on Wednesday evening was still seeking to overturn the election results in Arizona and other states in a U.S. Capitol strewn with the detritus of the invaders, as Jordan awaits his Medal of Freedom award from Trump. But what of Portman, a man of intelligence but who has shown himself to have coward as his middle name? Portman stayed silent for years about Trumps misdeeds and lies, and remained mum even after Trump falsely claimed election victory and lied about widespread fraud. Portman congratulated Biden on his presidential win only after the Electoral College met in December, and did little to nothing to dispel Trumps dangerous conspiracy-mongering. Or, what of Gov. Mike DeWine, who declined right up until the violence unfolded to distance himself from the president or condemn his lies about election fraud, even suggesting on national television Sunday that the election-fraud commission other Trump enablers were proposing was a good idea (while insisting Ohios election was fine)? Or, the crowd of four other Ohio members of Congress who joined Jordan in signing onto an amicus brief to support the baseless election-fraud lawsuit Texas filed before the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the vote in four key states -- but that was just another pander to Trump? U.S. Reps. Bob Gibbs of Holmes County, Bob Latta of Greater Toledo, Bill Johnson of Marietta and Brad Wenstrup of Cincinnati also have a lot to answer for. How will they answer? Maybe, they will answer at the ballot box. They will certainly answer in the court of public opinion. There is no turning back the pages of history that show Republicans like Portman and DeWine joining obvious sycophants like Jordan in prostrating themselves at the feet of a president so openly courting the grievances and disorder that burst into a violent reality Wednesday. The consequences of such blindly self-interested pandering cannot be escaped nor should they be. A reckoning is coming for all of Trumps enablers, including those in Ohio. About our editorials: Editorials express the view of the editorial board of cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer -- the senior leadership and editorial-writing staff. As is traditional, editorials are unsigned and intended to be seen as the voice of the news organization. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this editorial to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. GATE 2021 paper papers comprise of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions, or Numerical Answer Type. Graduate Admission Test in Engineering (GATE) 2021 admit card will be released today (8 January) by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay. Once released, candidates can download their hall ticket from gate.iitb.ac.in. GATE 2021 will be conducted between 5 and 14 February. The admission test will be held in two shifts - from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm and from 3 pm to 6 pm. IIT Bombay had last month released paper-wise and shift-wise schedule for GATE 2021. According to a report by The Indian Express, as many as 8,82,684 candidates have registered for GATE 2021, which is slightly higher from 8.59 lakh enrolled last year. Of the total, 2,88,379 are female candidates who have registered for the examination. The result is likely to be declared on 22 March. Students who qualify GATE 2021 will be eligible for admission to MTech courses at IITs and will also be eligible for PSU jobs. A report by The Times of India said that IIT Bombay will not be accepting any request for a change in the exam centre, date/ time mentioned the admit card will not be entertained. Candidates will have to abide by the rules and norms mentioned in the admit card on the day of the examination. This year, two subjects Environment Science and Engineering as well as Humanities and Social Sciences have been introduced for GATE. Students from humanities background were also allowed to register for the exam. GATE 2021 paper papers comprise of multiple-choice questions (MCQs), Multiple Select Questions, or Numerical Answer Type. It will be a computer-based test (CBT) and examinees will get a composite time of three hours to complete the paper. Students appearing for GATE 2021 can also take the mock test. The link of the mock test is available on the official portal. Vaccine inoculations have begun in Italy for medical staff and the most vulnerable, but the country's daily death toll continues to be well over 500. All Italian primary school students and most middle school students returned to face-to-face lessons on Thursday. But not all regions in the country have agreed to re-open their schools to younger students due to very high numbers of COVID infections in some places. In at least four regions the return of middle school students has been delayed. Regions also adopted different decisions for high school students, but most were being allowed to return to face-to-face classes next Monday, as Education Minister Lucia Azzolina explained on Italian national television. The minister said five million younger students would be returning to school on Thursday. These are the same students, she said, who were already attending classes during the second wave. The government, Azzolina added, has also authorized 50 percent of high school students to return to in-person classes next Monday and the other 50 percent will continue with distance learning. [January 08, 2021] Smart Advertising token SaTT Lists on Binance DEX, 2nd decentralized exchange since Uniswap SINGAPORE, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Following its Uniswap listing , smart advertising token SaTT is pleased to announce its second decentralized exchange (DEX) listing, this time on Binance DEX . Amidst a Bitcoin bull run which has rubbed off on Ethereum and other altcoins as well, the crypto industrys total market capitalization has recently crossed over the USD 1 trillion mark. These are levels not seen before, not even during the 2017 peak where the markets total capitalization was about USD 760 billion. Meanwhile, DEXs experienced phenomenal growth in 2020 and, with the recent acceleration of regulatory compliance imposed on centralized exchanges (CEXs), seem poised to continue flourishing even more. The Future is DEX Commenting on why the days of centralized exchanges are numbered, Binance CEO CZ has concluded that the future of the industry lies in decentralization, and with the momentum increasing, its time to go all in. A sentiment that SaTT CEO Gauthier Bros agrees with wholeheartedly, DEXs certainly seem to be the way forward. DeFi has gained widespread traction and we are happy to continue with our second DEX offering on Binance DEX, said Bros. In fact, a Uniswap-type liquidity pool system is currently being developed on 3Xchange, our own decentralized exchange, as we continue to provide even more opportunities to our SaTT holders. BSATT: Specially formatted BEP8 token for trading on Binance DEX A secure, native marketplace built on Binance Chain, Binance DEX allows for the exchange of digital assets issued and listed on the platform. Binance Chain & Binance Smart Chain incorporate dual-chain architecture that enables decentralized apps and digital assets to be built on one blockchain whilst offering fast trading performance on the Binance DEX. While the BEP2 token is the technical standard for issuance on the Binance Cain, it costs a hefty 1,500 BNB. The recent upgrade launch of the BEP8 token, also known as the mini-token, accommodates micro projects, intellectual properties and other token economies to build a more comprehensive venue for token trading. Its issuance fee is just 3 BNB. As with the WSATT on Uniswap , the SaTT team has worked on creating the BSATT, a BEP8 token optimized for the Binance Chain. It can be listed directly against BNB and/or BUSD without undergoing the voting process of validators. Furthermore, the BSATT BEP8 token can also be elevated to the BEP2 token when it has gained enough liquidity and maturity. Listing information and details Trading Date: Jan 8th, 2021 Trading Pair: BSATT/BNB Here is the SaTT blog tutorial to explain in detail and provide step-by-step instructions: https://satt-token.com/blog/2021/01/08/introduction-to-binance-dex-create-your-wallet-and-trade/ https://satt-token.com/blog/2021/01/08/tutorial-register-on-metamask-and-export-your-satt/ About SaTT SaTT, which stands for Smart Advertising Transaction Token, is a utility token that enables advertisers to buy smart advertising services on its ethereum-based dApp. All transactions between advertisers and influencers/publishers are governed by the SaTT smart contract which ensures speed, transparency and security, and is cost-efficient. The SaTT dApp helps to quantify ROI by using blockchain oracles to retrieve data from 3rd-party API of social media platforms like Youtube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc. Actions performed, such as LIKES, SHARES, VIEWS, TWEETS etc. can then be evaluated and if all criteria is successfully met, payments are triggered automatically from the advertisers preloaded budget to the wallet of the influencer/publisher. Fast, tamper-proof, secure and cost-efficient, the SaTT smart advertising system is a perfect use case of the ethereum smart contract. https://satt-token.com SaTT Officials: Twitter: https://twitter.com/SaTT_Token Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SaTT.Token LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/satt-token Telegram: https://t.me/satttoken Bitcoin Talk: https://bitcointalk.org/index.php?topic=3407522 Medium: https://medium.com/@satt.atayen Github: https://github.com/Atayen/satt-js Media Contact Cecilia Wong, yourPRstrategist.com cecilia@yourPRstrategist.com +65-91826605 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Asymptomatic cases can be a possible source of significant spread within the population ecology of COVID-19. However, this little information is available on the infectivity and epidemiological importance of individuals with asymptomatic cases COVID-19. Asymptomatic Cases Caused Virus Infection to Spread Almost 60% of coronavirus cases are transmitted by people without symptoms or are commonly called asymptomatic cases unless they are pre-symptomatic or never show any signs of COVID-19, a recent U.S. study by Disease Management and Prevention Centers have found out. It implies that, since they could, anyone, sick or not, should act as if they could spread the virus, the CDC said. Also, previous research has shown that as many as 35% of coronavirus-infected individuals never show symptoms. And, as another study found in September, they bear the same amount of virus in their nose and throat as a sick person. Last June, when the World Health Organization tried to explain the transmission of the asymptomatic cases, the issue was still out, to some degree, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, the head of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said how simple it was to catch the virus, even from someone without symptoms. Especially now that the U.S. endured another sad day amid the turmoil at the Capitol, with the country's daily death toll from coronavirus being the highest reported in any country during the pandemic. U.S. toll reached 350,000, causing a leading expert in infectious diseases and a sidelined member of the White House pandemic response task force, Dr. Anthony Fauci, to send an implied rebuke to Donald Trump. The latter argued that case figures were inflated and falsely attributed deaths in tweets that morning. "Go into the trenches," Fauci told NBC's Meet the Press. "Go into the hospitals, go into the intensive care units, and see what is happening. Those are real numbers, real people, and real deaths." The results, which came from a model developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show the significance of following the agency's guidelines on wearing a mask and maintaining social distance, officials said. The appearance of a more infectious form of the virus, first identified in the United Kingdom and discovered by Thursday in eight U.S. states, brings the federal agency's assertion in an even greater focus on how the virus is spreading. "Those findings are now in bold, and italics and underlined," Jay C. Butler stresses. He is the CDC deputy director for infectious diseases and a co-author of the study published in the JAMA Network open journal. How the coronavirus spreads is affected by several factors. Butler also called it "a fairly simple mathematical model" and used it to test multiple scenarios, varying the infectious duration and the proportion of transmission from individuals who never develop symptoms or the asymptomatic cases. The researchers followed an admittedly uncomplicated approach. Approximately half of the viral transmission accounted for the consistently expected asymptomatic cases spread of the model. But Muge Cevik, an authority on infectious diseases at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, argued that some of the model's assumptions were faulty. "The bottom line is controlling the COVID-19 pandemic really is going to require controlling the silent pandemic of transmission from persons without symptoms," CDC deputy infectious diseases director Jay C. Butler emphasizes on the area of the asymptomatic cases of infected individuals as he told The Washington Post. "The community mitigation tools that we have to need to be utilized broadly to be able to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 from all infected persons, at least until we have those vaccines widely available." @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Japan will further tighten its border controls from Saturday by requiring all people arriving to submit negative results from virus tests taken within 72 hours of their departure for Japan during the period of the latest state of emergency. The measure will apply to those entering Japan from Wednesday and be effective until a second state of emergency that was declared Thursday is lifted, the Foreign Ministry said. The government said the emergency declaration will run through Feb. 7. Businesspeople and students from Taiwan and 10 Asian nations including mainland China and South Korea are currently allowed to enter under a special scheme aimed at easing travel restrictions. Those from regions other than 152 nations and regions subject to an entry ban are also able to enter Japan at present. But under the latest scheme, these people will also need to turn in negative result from a virus test taken within 72 hours of their departure and take another test upon arrival, the ministry said. New Delhi, Jan 8 : The Narendra Modi government has come up with a list of 42 big reforms or initiatives it has brought after coming to power in 2014 for the betterment of the country. The government has decided to publicise these reforms and initiatives to counter alleged "negative campaign". The new agriculture laws that have triggered protests by farmers is among the list of 42 initiatives. Apart from that, some other initiatives that made to the list are abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, GST, Triple Talaq, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and creation of the post of Chief of Defence Staff, among others. The government has faced criticism over issues like the farm laws and the Citizenship Amendment Act. The government has also faced criticism over bringing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country. Initially, the government sought a five-page presentation from all the ministries on the reforms or initiatives carried out by its departments in the last six years, which have made positive differences in the lives of the common people. The government has directed to give details on what exactly is the reform, who has benefited from it, how long has the reform been in discussion and if it is implemented and if not then when can it be finalised. Sources said that these presentations were sent to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), especially to the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister. Further, the ministries have been directed to send regular updates to the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Secretary to the PM. The NDA government came to power for the first time in May 2014 and is in its second term since 2019. After a massive exercise, a list of 42 reforms and initiatives were finalised. The ministries were thereafter directed to send the details of these reforms to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting so that they could be publicised. Few other initiatives that made to the list of 42 are Skill India under the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Ujala scheme under the Ministry of Power, Udan under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, labour code under the Ministry of Labour, the National Education Policy under the Ministry of Education and 'Beti Bacho Beti Padao', among other big-ticket policy decisions cutting across ministries and departments. Sources said that the government feels that there is a negative campaign going on against it despite making reforms and bringing new initiatives for the betterment of the country. (Sumit Kumar Singh can be reached at sumit.k@ians.in) A ray of hope emerged Thursday for the Rainbow Nation, which has seen a massive spike in confirmed COVID-19 cases, as South Africas health minister announced a large shipment of vaccines is coming this month. Zweli Mkhize said the country will receive one million vaccine doses by the end of January, and another half million in February, both from the Serum Institute of India. The first doses, he says, will go to health workers. Mkhize acknowledged that South Africas vaccine acquisition was delayed because the nation was unable to pay for vaccines that were still in development -- a barrier wealthier nations havent faced. But, he vowed, it will catch up. South Africas limited budget also led officials to choose the cheapest vaccine option, offered by AstraZeneca. We will be making sure that we bring the vaccines as quickly as possible into South Africa, he said. By the time we start the vaccination program, we won't be very far different from many countries. We would actually be all in line with most of the countries. So, we would like to assure the public that, in fact, we are all on course. That heartening news came after South Africa, which is the continents viral hotspot, reported what Mkhize described as a grim milestone -- surpassing 20,000 new cases in a 24-hour period. And, he said the situation gets worse from there, as the nation enters a second wave that features a new variant of the virus that appears to be spreading much faster. Deaths are already higher than what we ever experienced before, the health minister said. Admissions are already higher than what we experienced before. The new cases on the seven day average are also higher than what we experienced before. South Africa has now seen more than 1.1 million cases since the virus first arrived in March. The National Institute for Communicable Diseases says that 31,368 people have died in South Africa. Once South Africas health workers are vaccinated, a second round of vaccinations will target 17 million people, including essential workers, teachers, the elderly and those with other health conditions that put them at higher risk. In the end, Mkhize said, the nation hopes to vaccinate about 40 million people within the year, about 67 percent of the population. That figure is close to what health experts say is the threshold for herd immunity. As for the rest of the vast continent, Dr. Kate OBrien, the WHOs director of immunization, vaccines and biologicals, described the process by which 92 of the worlds poorest nations can get access to the vaccine, through the COVAX Facility, a global initiative of 192 countries that is trying to ensure equitable access. For countries, 92 countries, that are less able to actually purchase these vaccines on their own from their own domestic funds, there are donor funds that have been provided, she said. We need about $7 billion in order to deliver enough vaccine to these countries through the end of 2021. And the facility has already raised about $6 billion of the $7 billion. OBrien said the facility has access to over two billion doses of vaccine and will start to deliver those vaccines by mid-February. That's how countries in Africa and South Asia, and other countries around the world of these 92 that are less able to afford vaccines, are actually going to get vaccine, she said. O'Brien emphasized that people with HIV -- South Africa carries the worlds highest burden of that virus -- should be vaccinated. But pregnant and breastfeeding women should discuss the vaccine with health care providers before making a decision. If it wasnt for an earthquake in Peru, Kate and John Keeley may never have met. It was 2007, Kate and two friends were travelling around the world for nine months. They had just completed the Inca Trail and were staying in an Irish-run hostel in Cusco in south-eastern Peru. Then the earth moved. Kate was having a lie-in while her friend Katherine went for breakfast. There, Katherine met John, who was born in Peru but had moved to Ireland at the age of three when he and his brother were adopted. Kate had planned to stay in Cusco for a night or two, but the magnitude eight quake left her stranded in the city for a fortnight. John says that they bumped into each other quite a lot over those two weeks. John Keeley who was born in Cusco, Peru and brought up in Ballina Co. Mayo, with his wife Kate originally from Yorkshire, at home in Skerries Co. Dublin with their children William 3, and Matthew 13 months. John had just finished working on a contract in Galway and wanted to explore the continent of his birth. Although he had been back to Peru a couple of times with his family, who had settled in Mayo, he wanted to see the country on his own. His parents had originally visited Peru in early 1984 and they fell in love with the country. My mothers sister was a Bon Secours sister and she set up the Order in Lima. It was through her that his father, a teacher, and his mother, a nurse, were introduced to the local orphanage. I was two when they met me, says John, and we came over on November 19, 1984, so I would have just been three moving to the West of Ireland. Kate and her friends moved on to Bolivia and, after several emails, John followed them to La Paz. They already knew that they really liked each other, as did Kates friends. From the Bolivian capital, they went on a rainforest trail together. It was a crazy 20-hour bus journey to get to the base camp, says Kate. The woman sitting beside John was feeding her chickens and the driver had to stop to feed calves in the baggage area on the way. John Keeley who was born in Cusco, Peru and brought up in Ballina Co. Mayo, with his wife Kate originally from Yorkshire, at home in Skerries Co. Dublin. Kate then went to Brazil and Uruguay and met John again in Buenos Aires. It was a brief rendezvous, but worth the 84-hour bus journey John had to endure afterwards to travel home. Kate got back to Yorkshire on December 4, while John returned to Ireland a few days later. It was only a few weeks before the two were reunited when Kate visited John in his family home just after Christmas. They celebrated the new year in Lahinch and then they returned to England together to visit Kates family. He was petrified on the flight, says Kate. But John soon got over his nerves and the two travelled back and forth across the Irish Sea until Kate made a decision that would change their lives forever. We decided, says Kate, that if I didnt get a permanent job, Id move over to Ireland. She admits that she didnt look too hard and on January 3, 2009, she took the plunge. They moved in together straight away to a house share with two others before renting their own apartment in the capital. John Keeley who was born in Cusco, Peru and brought up in Ballina Co. Mayo, with his wife Kate originally from Yorkshire, at home in Skerries Co. Dublin with their children William 3, and Matthew 13 months. A couple of fun-filled years followed and, in October 2012, John proposed to Kate on Bull Island with her grandmothers ring. He had asked her fathers permission the last time they had visited Yorkshire. That trip had actually taken place a good few weeks before and Kate says her parents had started to think that John had changed his mind. They got married a little over a year later, in November 2013, in Rathsallagh House in Co Wicklow. Kates extended family, including her 80-something grandma, travelled over for the celebration. They went backpacking in Central America on their honeymoon the following February. Later that year, it was time for the couple to take on a new project when they bought a cottage in the bustling heart of Skerries in north county Dublin. I didnt see the potential in our house, says John, but Kate did. John Keeley who was born in Cusco, Peru and brought up in Ballina Co. Mayo, with his wife Kate originally from Yorkshire, at home in Skerries Co. Dublin with their children William 3, and Matthew 13 months. In 2017, their son William was born and his baby brother, Matthew, arrived two years later. Kates parents come to Skerries regularly, although Covid has curtailed their usual visits. She says that her parents still havent got over her move across the Irish Sea. The last time we discussed it, they said it was one of the hardest things they had to face, says John. My mum hated it when I was away travelling, says Kate, and I think me moving over here was even worse. John and Kates feet remain itchy though, and Borneo and Fiji are definite destinations on the bucket list. Photo: The Canadian Press Quebec Premier Francois Legault listens to a question during a news conference in Montreal, on Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson MONTREAL - Civil rights advocates on Thursday expressed concern Quebec's new provincewide curfew is not justified by science and will be enforced in a way that will have a disproportionate impact on racialized people and the vulnerable. Premier Francois Legault said he will impose a curfew between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m. beginning Saturday and until Feb. 8 in order to stop people from socializing and spreading COVID-19. Exceptions will be made for some, including people travelling to or from essential jobs or walking dogs near their homes. The executive director of the Canadian Civil Liberties Association described a curfew as an "extraordinary" measure that is usually applied to criminals and high-risk offenders on bail. Michael Bryant said he fears the measure could lead to overzealous ticketing and arbitrary police stops that have been shown in the past to excessively target people who are Black, Indigenous, homeless or poor. He said arbitrary street checks will also hurt vulnerable people who don't have stable housing or stable working hours. "I think you're going to see people were being ticketed, basically, for being poor and homeless, not because they're a public health risk," he said. Bryant said the government should provide data proving a curfew is necessary and effective before imposing such a significant limit on people's liberties. That information, he explained, is also part of the criteria used to determine whether an order is constitutional. Naveed Hussain, a nurse at the McGill University Health Centre, says many health-care workers are at risk of being stopped by police because they are racialized and work late hours. He said he's hopeful, however, that interactions between people of colour and the police will go smoothly after the curfew enters into effect. I'm really hopeful that we can come to an understanding that everything will work out in a positive way, he said in an interview Thursday. Deputy Premier Genevieve Guilbault told reporters Thursday the rules apply to everyone regardless of background, adding that anyone on the street after 8 p.m. should be prepared to face police questioning. She pointed out that Montreal police have taken steps to reduce racial profiling, citing a policy unveiled last summer. Police will show tolerance towards the homeless, who will be directed to shelters rather than ticketed, she said. The president of a Quebec-based civil rights group, meanwhile, questioned why the government was blaming citizens for the spread of COVID-19 instead of its own failed policies. Alexandra Pierre of the Ligue des droits et libertes said in a statement that it's the role of government to properly ventilate public buildings, to efficiently test and trace cases, to vaccinate seniors rapidly and to improve conditions for health-care workers. "When we know that at least 30 per cent of outbreaks occur in schools and a large part in hospitals, what justifies such a drastic and restrictive measure of the freedom of movement of the population?" she said. "The curfew has been imposed in France, Spain, some states in the United States has it really worked so far?" On Wednesday, the province's public health director admitted that there was no "controlled study" proving that curfews work, because, he said, they're usually implemented along with other measures. But Horacio Arruda defended the decision, saying too many Quebecers had gathered over the holidays, contributing to a rise in cases. "At some point, you have to be able to take measures that, together, will diminish the probability of gatherings or contacts," he said. Montreal epidemiologist Christopher Labos says that while it's hard to prove which measures work best against the virus, he says he believes a curfew could help discourage gatherings and sends a message about the seriousness of the pandemic. "It's part of the general concept of getting people to stay home," he said in a phone interview Thursday. Montreal hospitals, he added, are becoming overwhelmed and will soon run out of resources to treat patients if the province doesn't take action to reverse the trend. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Elizebeth Smith Friedman. During her career, the groundbreaking cryptanalysts work helped decode thousands of messages for the U.S. government. The results would send infamous gangsters to prison and bring down a massive, nearly invisible Nazi spy ring during World War II. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Yet this suburban wife and mother was never fully credited with her work until now. American Experience is presenting The Codebreaker, which delves into Friedmans life. The documentary will air at 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, on New Mexico PBS. Chana Gazit is the filmmaker behind the documentary. When I do films like this, I always feel that I live with the person, Gazit says. I loved living with Elizebeth Friedman. It was quite amazing. Gazit says Friedman lived a secret double life that would only come to light decades after her death, when classified government files were unsealed. When researching for the documentary, Gazit found that Friedman and her husband and fellow cryptologist William Friedman, had a progressive relationship for the time. The had a remarkable relationship, and so much more could have been said about them and the relationship, she says. It was important for them to have an equal relationship. It worked for them. Gazit was approached by American Experience to write, direct and produce the documentary, based on the book The Woman Who Smashed Codes: A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted Americas Enemies by Jason Fagone. What drew Gazit to Friedmans story is that its one that not many have heard before. Her story was buried for a really long time, she says. Thankfully, a handful of historians managed to get her files declassified and bring her story to the masses. Cameo George, American Experience executive producer says Elizebeth Friedman is someone you may never have heard of, but she had a tremendous influence on our countrys history. As a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field that she herself pioneered, she fought sexism throughout her career but, through sheer brilliance, was able to shape an amazing legacy taking down mobsters and helping to win not one but two World Wars, George says. Elizebeth Smith was born in 1892 into a Quaker family in small-town Indiana. She dreamed of escape from an early age, and after graduating from college, she became a teacher but quickly tired of the job and traveled to Chicago searching for a new life. While there, she visited the Newberry Library to see a rare copy of Shakespeares 1623 First Folio. Noticing her interest in Shakespeare, the librarian insisted she meet a local millionaire industrialist who had a particular interest in the subject. Just hours after their meeting, George Fabyan whisked her off to Riverbank, his 350-acre estate in Geneva, Illinois. At Riverbank, the eccentric Fabyan had established a vibrant community of scholars and scientists part think tank, part laboratory. He assigned her to one of his pet projects trying to prove that the works of Shakespeare were written by Francis Bacon, who had supposedly inserted a secret code into the plays that confirmed his authorship. At Riverbank, she met William Friedman, a geneticist and amateur photographer who also pitched in on the project to photograph and enlarge the Shakespeare texts. Together they dug into Fabyans collection of code-breaking books, exchanging insights and ideas; they soon fell in love. They also concluded that Fabyans Shakespeare theory had no validity and was nothing but a pipe dream. They stole away from Riverbank, married, and planned to leave, but the advent of World War I changed their plans. The invention of radio, Gazit says, allowed the transmission of encrypted secret messages. Because the U.S. had no code-breaking agency, Fabyan saw an opportunity to help his country and enhance his fame, establishing Americas first code-breaking unit with Elizebeth and William in charge. Soon they were breaking codes for the War, Navy, State and Justice Departments, inventing their own methodology along the way. But six months into the war, the Army established its own Cypher Bureau. The Friedmans moved to Washington, D.C., where William Friedman went to work for the Army Signal Corps and she cared for their growing family. In 1925, the Coast Guard unexpectedly called on Elizebeth Friedman. Prohibition had triggered an explosion of criminal activity, with rum runners taking to the seas to deliver bootleg liquor up and down the coasts using sophisticated codes on shortwave radios. Understanding the damage organized crime was inflicting on the nation, she discovered how criminal syndicates ran their enterprises and became a crucial witness in a series of dramatic trials, taking down the operations of some of the most notorious gangsters in the country. Then the U.S. came calling again in 1941 after the attack on Pearl Harbor. She was working with the Navy, and her team was assigned to monitor communications between a South American Nazi spy ring and the German high command. German U-boats were attacking Allied transport ships, and by March of 1942, Nazi submarines had sunk more than a million tons of supplies and killed thousands of soldiers. Unraveling the encrypted messages, she soon identified Adolf Hitlers top spy in South America, Sargo, whose network was transmitting the Allied ship locations, including that of the Queen Mary, the Allies largest supply ship. Before the Nazis could strike, Elizebeth was able to warn the captain, who safely brought the ship to port. William and Elizebeth could have really made more money in the private sector, Gazit says. They chose to become civil servants. They chose to devote themselves to the service of their country. I admired that greatly about them. Her remarkable counterintelligence operation was thwarted by J. Edgar Hoover, who, eager for glory, ordered the arrest of the South American spies, which made national headlines but cut off the governments information pipeline. When Sargo eluded capture and rebuilt his network, it was Elizebeth Friedman who was asked to monitor his communications again. Within months, the Nazi threat in the Western Hemisphere was eliminated, but Elizebeth was forced to sign an oath promising her secrecy until death. She died in 1980 in a nursing home in New Jersey, taking her secret life to the grave. Gazit says getting all of the information boiled down to under 60 minutes was difficult. I wish I had more time to include how fun of a couple they were, Gazit says. She was a no-nonsense woman. She was also a woman in a mans world, but she figured out how to have fun personally. They would host dinner parties, and the invitations would be codes. The guests would have to break the code in order to get the entree. They created games for their children. On TV The Codebreaker will air at 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 11, on New Mexico PBS. Here's a list of consequential things that happened Thursday in relatively short succession: Sen. Chuck Schumer, who will soon be majority leader, believes that President Donald Trump should be removed from office using the 25th Amendment. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, whose is married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, resigned citing Trump's role in instigating his supporters to storm the US Capitol on Wednesday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that if Trump is not removed from office using the 25th Amendment, the House could move to impeach him. Why the 25th Amendment? It's the one that provides for the replacement of a president who has been deemed "unable to discharge the powers and duties of the office." Read more on it here. Unless the president has declared himself incapacitated -- say, for a medical procedure -- putting it into action requires the agreement of a majority of the Cabinet. So why is the chain of events above so important? McConnell, who has partnered with Trump to reshape the federal judiciary, forcefully rebuked him on Wednesday -- twice -- and shot down Republican objections to counting electoral votes for President-elect Joe Biden. If there were going to be a Cabinet member who would help generate support for Trump's ouster using the 25th Amendment, it might have been McConnell's wife, Chao. So her departure from the Cabinet dims the likelihood of using the amendment to remove Trump, who is increasingly isolated in these final days of his term but still, as many have pointed out, has access to the nuclear codes. Chao's resignation isn't effective until Monday, but any effort to protect the country from these last days of Trump would probably have to go through the Congress via a lightning-quick impeachment process -- Trump's second -- as Pelosi suggested. "My phone is exploding with 'impeach, impeach, impeach,'" she told reporters Thursday. It's possible, according to a report from CNN's Manu Raju, Lauren Fox and Phil Mattingly, for Democrats to bypass a trial like the one they conducted over Trump's abuse of power on Ukraine in 2019 and instead impeach the President in a resolution. In a conference call late Thursday, "the overwhelming sentiment was impeachment was the way forward," Fox and Raju reported Friday morning -- with Pelosi among those who believe Trump should be held accountable for his actions. The full Democratic caucus will speak Friday at 12 p.m. ET. But removing Trump would require a two-thirds vote by the Senate, which is currently in recess until after Biden's inauguration on January 20. Read more here. Futureproofing. There is an argument that an impeachment could be continued after Trump leaves office -- and, potentially, that it's even more valuable than removing him by amendment because it would bar him from holding public office in the future (like, in 2024). But we already know impeachment is a horribly divisive affair. And if there's a way to drive Republicans back toward Trump, that may be it. Biden's stake. Does the next president want his first 100 days to be about Trump's last two weeks? He does not, reports CNN's Jeff Zeleny. Biden has a lot he wants to get done -- Covid, Obamacare, tax revisions. And yet! The fear, obviously, is that Trump's subversive activities will get more insidious as he approaches his final days of power. And he's only becoming more isolated, seeking solace with his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other enablers. Don't forget the expected last-minute pardon fest, potentially including the never-attempted and totally dubious self-pardon that many people expect Trump to try to bestow upon himself. RELATED: Prosecutors also looking at Trump as they begin to file charges So, as is the case so often in modern American politics, there are no good choices. On the one hand, this man must be stopped before more people get hurt. Four people died at the Capitol on Wednesday, and it could have been worse. On the other hand, as former national security adviser John Bolton said Thursday on CNN, there are really only seven business days of his presidency left. (Though when I noted that on Twitter, someone ironically, and correctly, shot back: "Good point! We're fortunate that pardons, general mayhem, and nuclear annihilation can't occur on weekends or holidays.") The reality, though, is that the constitutional mechanisms to remove him are cumbersome and give him the benefit of the doubt. In the 25th Amendment scenario, Bolton suggested you could end up with Trump and Pence dueling over who has power as president: "Do you think Donald Trump will back down when he gets a letter from Mike Pence? Think again. So are we better off with two Presidents competing with each other in the last 13 days? I think you risk making the situation which is as bad as it is, far worse." Revulsion grows. It's clear there's bipartisan disgust with Trump's fomenting the angry mob that attacked the Capitol on Wednesday. Following Chao's resignation Thursday, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced her early departure, too. A number of aides have also resigned from the White House. Even the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal called on Trump to spare the country another impeachment fight and instead "go away quietly," making the case that he should follow the example set by Richard Nixon. Former top officials also condemned their former boss. Former Attorney General William Barr: The President's behavior "was a betrayal of his office and supporters." Former Defense Secretary James Mattis: Trump fomented mob rule and was "enabled by pseudo political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice." Former DHS Secretary and White House chief of staff John Kelly said he'd vote to remove Trump from office if he were still at the White House. Kelly's successor as chief of staff, Mick Mulvaney, left his ambassadorial post in protest. The list goes on. And Facebook suspended Trump's account at least through the end of his presidency. How to deal with Trump's enablers? There is some satisfaction each time a former Trump aide or official finally cuts ties with him. It is a validation of what many have long warned: that his unstable presidency is a threat. But it is also -- after four years of remarkably consistent outrageous behavior and lack of leadership by the President -- too late. RELATED: Trump's years of lying led to Capitol calamity McConnell stood up. He cast what he called the most important vote of his career against the effort, led by Trump, to overthrow the Electoral College. But it comes after four years of McConnell doing everything he could to keep quiet about the President while wringing as many conservative judges as possible from the equation. Cotton stood up. Good on Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas for condemning his fellow Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas, who helped carry out Trump's agenda by seconding House objections to the electoral votes that were based on Trump's own false claims. Even Graham! Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina almost made a joke of his break with Trump during a speech on the Senate floor Wednesday night, saying he'd been on a "hell of a journey" with Trump but he's had enough now. He's been Trump's most loyal foot soldier in Congress. Facebook and Twitter stood up. But how many falsehoods were spread by Trump on Facebook and Twitter before they started marking them during the election season and suspended his accounts when he tried to spark a rebellion against Congress? The writing was on the wall. Couldn't any of these organizations or people have woken up a smidge earlier? Perhaps when Trump was lying his way through his impeachment? A last-minute conversion is better than no conversion at all. But it doesn't erase what came before. And it doesn't inoculate them from what's to come. Trump will leave office, somehow. But he won't go away entirely, even if his Twitter account is deactivated. And the nerve he touched was there before his election and it will be there when he leaves. Cotton, Hawley and Cruz -- I'd be willing to bet all three men run for president in 2024. And they'll be fighting for Trump voters. McConnell will be creating new and creative methods of obstruction as soon as he can. And Facebook and Twitter will need to figure out how to better deal with conspiracy theories spreading on their platforms. I haven't even gotten into Fox News here. That's a whole different animal, since the network's anchors were quickly pivoting, somehow, to pin blame for the insurrection on "antifa," the golem of liberal protesters they've helped conjure. There's still a virulent strain of Trumpism in the GOP. Just a few senators supported objections to the electoral vote after Trump's mob entered their chamber. More than half of House Republicans did. (Tracker here.) When lawmakers and pundits say what we all witnessed Wednesday isn't who we are as a country, they are wrong. It may not be who anyone wants the US to be, but Trump's brand of violent, racist politics is now part of the American political landscape. It will take work to weed it out. The Capitol should not be vulnerable There are going to be many rightful recriminations for the rioters' ability to walk, smiling, up to Capitol Hill, break through barricades, shatter windows and have their way with the Capitol. Federal officials have begun filing charges against the rioters, who gleefully posted images of themselves all over social media. The FBI has asked for the public's help. RELATED: Some rioters -- conspiracy theorists and extremists -- have already been identified by CNN The Senate sergeant-at-arms has resigned, as has the chief of the Capitol Police. Why weren't they all ready for a protest that had been long planned and how can anyone justify the fortress planning for Black Lives Matter protesters versus the fear police had of some Trump supporters, many of them dressed in battle gear and surely toting guns? There's also the question of the National Guard, which took so very long to mobilize. There should be answers for that. "Why spend $700B on the military if they can't defend the Capitol from attack?" asked Connecticut's Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy on Twitter. Don't just shut the Capitol down, please. One great and important feature of the US Capitol, the seat of a democracy, is openness and accessibility. It's the seat of power, and yet the public could go inside, see the debates, talk to the lawmakers. I hope an end result of this stupidity is not a complete clampdown. The view from abroad One way to view what's going on is from the outside. I was riveted by the British journalist Robert Moore's ITV report -- reminded me of old-school "Nightline," actually -- because his tone is that of an outsider who can't believe this is going on in the US, of all places. Watch it here. "America's long journey as a stable democracy appears to be in genuine doubt," he says at the end, over pictures of rioters and police going at it. It has been a long journey, but not as long as we Americans like to tell ourselves. A friend sent me a clip of the comedian Seth Meyers, who took the jokes out of his show Wednesday and made the point that universal suffrage to men and women has been in place in this country only since the 1960s. "Multiracial, pluralistic democracy is fragile and precious and requires our vigilant stewardship and protection," he said. "And anyone not willing to forward that project with the fullness of their effort must be shamed and disgraced and removed from office. And that must start immediately with Donald Trump." That's a remarkable thing to hear on network television, which is not known for its political statements. It was no less weird than another thing that happened Wednesday, which was that the National Association of Manufacturers -- a trade group not usually involved in radical politics -- called for Trump's removal. It is certainly proof that the more despicably Trump and his mob act, the further isolated they become from the country's mainstream. Justice takes a long time I also spent some time thinking today about what we might be talking about a year or two from now, long after Trump is out of office, whichever way that happens. Just about exactly 160 years after it seceded from the Union on "Jan'ry 19, 1861," over the issue of "African slavery," and specifically because it feared the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, Georgia is sending a Black man to the US Senate. Don't let one ugly day of backlash and the disgusting images of rioters carrying Confederate flags through the Capitol completely distract you from that power shift. The Confederate flag-toting rioter is the extremist, quickly kicked out of the building. The Black man is the senator with the six-year term. Reading Georgia's 1861 secession declaration, which I found at the Library of Congress website, it strikes me that back then, secessionists were trying to repeal their association with the Constitution. Today, rioters are more likely to say they're protecting it, even though their effort to stop the counting of Georgia's electoral votes, which this year went to the candidate who made a point of rejecting racism, would actually rip the Constitution to shreds. CLARIFICATION: An earlier version of this story suggested Pelosi had committed to moving ahead with impeachment, but those discussions are still underway. This story has also been updated with additional developments. The police in Muzaffarnagar have given a clean chit to two men charged under Uttar Pradesh's anti-conversion law for allegedly trying to change the religion of a woman, an official said. An FIR was earlier registered against brothers Nadeem and Salman for allegedly trying to unlawfully convert a woman to another religion but no evidence has been found against them, said Dharmendra Pal, SHO of Mansurpur police station where the case was filed. The duo was charged under the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Ordinance, 2020, and Indian Penal Code sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation), he said. The Allahabad high court, which is hearing an appeal in connection with the case, has been informed that there is no evidence that the two men tried to change the woman's religion. Recently, a Muslim teenager from Uttar Pradeshs Bijnor was arrested and has been in jail for a week after a case was filed for love jihad under the states new anti-conversion law after he walked home from a birthday party with his former classmate, a Dalit girl. The 16-year-old girl has repeatedly and vehemently denied the allegations of love jihad, and said the boy was a friend of hers. I have told this to the magistrate, and I will say this again. Those men had a problem with me walking with my friend. They made videos of me and are now calling it love jihad. I did nothing wrong. I went of my own free will, she had said. The boy was arrested on December 15 and was slapped with charges under sections of the SC/ST Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The FIR was registered purportedly based on a complaint by the girls father, which reportedly stated that the accused induced the girl to elope with him with the intention to marry and convert her. Remarks were made during his presentation before the Congressional Economic Commission to speak about the benefits of recent regulations issued by the National Superintendence of Customs and Tax Administration (Sunat) on fiscal transparency. De La Cruz explained that the exchange of information is part of the international commitments assumed by Peru on its quest to join the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) On a reciprocal basis, Peru's tax authority has already sent financial information about foreigners who hold accounts in Peru to 14 jurisdictions around the world. This is how the fiscal transparency cycle is closed. Failure to comply with the obligations could result in Peru being regarded as a non-cooperative country, and the immediate consequence could generate restrictions in our international economic activity, he added. Zayda Manatta, the head of the Secretariat of the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes , also participated in the Congressional Economic Commission session. She recognized that Sunat meets all security and confidentiality standards, thus putting trust in countries to exchange financial information with Peru Moreover, De La Cruz pointed out that nearly most of the countries in the Americas have similar regulations. So, Peru cannot lag behind this progress in international taxation. He went on to say that Argentina and Colombia adopted the measure in 2017, Brazil and Uruguay in 2018, Ecuador in 2020, while Peru did it this year. (END) NDP/CAN/RMB/MVB Peru has recently received information on more than 4,000 bank accounts held by 3,300 Peruvian citizens in Belgium and Cayman Islands, which show a balance of over US$3.5 billion, as part of a reciprocal exchange of financial information, Sunat's National Intendant for Strategies and Risks Palmer De La Cruz revealed on Friday.Published: 1/8/2021 Murray Woman Hospitalized after Crash By West Kentucky Star Staff MURRAY - A Murray woman was taken to the hospital after a crash Wednesday night.The Murray Police Department says officers responded shortly before 7 p.m. to an injury crash on North 12th Street near Chestnut Street.Officers spoke with 27-year-old Dylan Bohn of Mahanoy City, PA who told them he was turning left out of a parking lot when a southbound vehicle struck his vehicle.The other driver, 66-year-old Deborah Adetunji of Murray was taken to the emergency room by EMS for treatment of possible injuries.The Murray Police Department was assisted on scene by the Murray Fire Department and the Murray Calloway County Ambulance Service. NEW DELHI: 'Dilbar Girl' Nora Fatehi is one busy bee girl. The 28-year-old has been shooting back-to-back for television shows, music videos and her upcoming film 'Bhuj: The Pride of India' in Hyderabad. And while she often goes out to make headlines for her sensational dance moves and videos, Nora is also often quizzed about her personal life. According to media reports, the actress-model is not dating anyone presently and is absolutely single. Recently, the Moroccan beauty expressed her desire to walk the aisle with the nation's sweetheart Taimur Ali Khan. Nora, who appeared on a chat show, 'What Women Want', hosted by Kareena Kapoor Khan, said she would like to marry him when he grows older. During the chat show, Kareena told Nora that she and her husband Saif Ali Khan are in awe of her dance moves, to which Nora thanked her stating, "I am hoping that soon, when Taimur gets older, we can think about an engagement or marriage between me and him." The statement left Kareena in splits. She then quipped, "Well, he is four. I think there is a long way to go." Nora laughed and replied, "Its okay, I will wait." Nora was last seen on the big screen in Remo D'Souza's 'Street Dancer 3D', which hit the screens in February. She was recently seen in Guru Randhawa's music video 'Naach Meri Rani', which has crossed the 300 million mark on Youtube. Meanwhile, her upcoming film 'Bhuj: The Pride of India', set up in the backdrop of India-Pakistan war 1971, is scheduled for a direct Disney+Hotstar release. The film features Ajay Devgn along with Sanjay Dutt, Sonakshi Sinha, Sharad Kelkar, Ammy Virk and Pranitha Subhash in key roles. Water bottles, clothing, Trump flags, even a U.S. flag littered the ground inside the U.S. Capitol after a mob backing President Donald Trump ransacked the building. New Jersey Rep. Andy Kim walked amid the mess shortly after voting to certify Joe Bidens victory over Trump and felt the weight of the day wearing on him when something motivated him to clean up the debris. I was just really affected emotionally. I felt this kind of heightened, kind of supercharged kind of patriotism that I just felt take over, he said in an interview. It was then he noticed police officers putting pizza boxes in trash bags, so he asked for one, too, and began cleaning up. When you see something you love thats broken you want to fix it. I love the Capitol. Im honored to be there, he said. This building is extraordinary and the rotunda in particular is just awe-inspiring. How many countless generations have been inspired in that room? READ MORE: Trump announces he wont attend inauguration, undercutting message of peaceful transition It really broke my heart and I just felt compelled to do something. What else could I do? The image of Kim crouched down clearing away litter book-ended a violent, historic day that saw an angry mob smash through police lines, break windows, and wrench open doors as they sieged the building, not long after Trump said at a rally they should show strength and fight against Congress certification of Bidens win. Kim, a second-term Democrat from a district Trump won twice, wasnt looking for publicity, according to one colleague who came upon him and didnt recognize him at first. I think it was 1 in the morning, said fellow New Jersey Democratic Rep. Tom Malinowski. There were a couple National Guardsman, and I noticed somebody on his hands and knees leaning under a bench to pick something up and it was Andy all by himself, just quietly removing debris and putting it in a plastic bag. He was clearly not doing it for an audience. READ MORE: Philly BLM activists say police brutalized them, while a white Capitol mob was met with grace It was for me the most poignant moment of the long night. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Kim represents the very best of New Jersey and our nation. Tom MacArthur, the former GOP representative from New Jersey that Kim beat in a close race in 2018, was heartened by his successors action. It was MacArthur who had helped shepherd the GOP effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act through the House and who stood alongside Trump and others at the White House to celebrate, though the effort failed. Kim ran in part on the popularity of Barack Obamas signature health-care law. Kim represents the 3rd District, which stretches from the Philadelphia suburbs along the Delaware River in the west, across the Pine Barrens to Ocean County. He launched his campaign in 2017, returning to live in the Southern New Jersey town he grew up in after a career in Washington and abroad. READ MORE: Police officer injured during Capitol siege dies A University of Chicago graduate and Rhodes Scholar, Kim served from 2013 until 2015 as the Iraq director for the Obama administrations National Security Council. Before that, he was the Iraq director at the Pentagon within the defense secretarys office. He also previously served as a civilian adviser to generals David Petraeus and John Allen in Afghanistan. The son of Korean immigrant parents, he became the first Asian American to represent New Jersey in Congress after he was elected in 2018. On Thursday, he reflected on how he, a person of color, was cleaning up after people who waved white supremacist symbols like the Confederate flag during the melee. He said he hadnt considered race at the time. But he thought for a moment and added: Its so hard because we dont look at each other and see each other as Americans first, whether its race or ethnicity or religion or political party thats getting in the way of us being able to have that shared identity that forged our country and is necessary for us to be able to continue. Associated Press reporter P. Solomon Banda contributed to this article. A South Korean court on January 7 ordered Japans government to financially compensate 12 South Korean women who fell victim to sex slavery for the Japanese military in World War II. The ruling escalated rift and bilateral tensions between the two Asian nations as Japan debunked the verdict, saying that the matter was resolved under a 1965 treaty that cemented diplomatic ties. A Seoul Central District Court ordered Japan to pay 100 million won ($91,360) to the women victims who were mobilized by Japans soldiers as sexual slaves in a horrendous "crime against humanity when the Japanese military illegally occupied the Korean Peninsula between 1910 to 1945. At Imperial Japan's military brothels, the plaintiffs that filed a lawsuit in August 2013 alleged that they were subjected to physical torture and mental abuse after they were forced to be, what was euphemistically termed as. "the comfort women for the Japanese military forces. According to sources of South Korean news agency Yonhap, and Japanese broadcasting agency Kyodo, the case was heard at a Seoul court after the Japanese courts refused the civil case petition from the victim women who suffered extreme pain and "harsh sexual activities" in hands of Japans soldiers that caused injuries, venereal diseases, and unwanted pregnancies. Some women, who had succumbed to the sexual trauma, their testimonies were represented by a relative or a friend as they presented before Seoul court evidence backed by relevant materials and proofs. The Japanese government had appealed to suspend the hearing as the military personnel was held under the sovereign immunity that allows a state to shield them against civil suit in foreign courts. But the South Korean court rejected the plea saying that the illegal acts against the women were humanitarian war crimes committed by Imperial Japan. Read: Japan PM Comments On 1st Day Of State Of Emergency Read: Japan Starts 1st Day Under Emergency Steps To Curb Virus South Korea demanded 'legal responsibility The prosecutors noted that the damages suit couldnt be applied in Seoul-Tokyo deals in 1965 and 2015 that resolved the colonial-era issues between the two nations. Tokyo had offered South Korea 1 billion yen (9.6 million US dollars) compensation to assist the victims. However, the sex slave victims demanded the Japanese governments legal responsibility for the wartime atrocities committed against 238 South Korean women, of whom only 5 were alive. The total former sex slave survivors were 16. Womens lawyer Kim Kang-won who fought for justice for the WWII women victims told reporters that she was proud to have won the fight for the sex slaves who suffered abuse, and trauma at the hand of Japanese troops after they were tricked into sexual slavery. Japan, according to agency sources, did not officially respond to South Koreas court's correspondence. Japanese military held an estimated 200,000 Asian women hostages, primarily Korean in the wartime brothels and inflicted abuse, according to Korean agency Yonhaps reports. Japan had summoned South Korea's ambassador to the country to the Foreign Ministry to boycott court proceedings. Read: South Korea To Send Delegation To Iran To Negotiate Release Of Seized Oil Tanker Read: IN PICS: Indian Army Chief MM Naravane Receives Guard Of Honour During South Korea Visit (Image Credit: AP) Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards unveiled an underground missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location today, Iranian state media reported, at a time of heightened tension between Tehran and the United States. 'The base is one of several bases housing the Guards' Navy's strategic missiles,' the state media quoted the head of the Guards, Major General Hossein Salami, as saying. Scores of military trucks equipped with the anti-ship weapons were seen lining the walls of the underground tunnels of the secret base. Last year, the Guards said Iran had built underground 'missile cities' along the Gulf coastline, warning of a 'nightmare for Iran's enemies'. It comes as tension mounts between Iran and the US, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today using the storming of the U.S. Capitol Building by Trump supporters to ridicule the country and their 'American values'. He also called for the lifting of sanctions on Iran imposed by the US. Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards unveiled an underground missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location today, Iranian state media reported 'The base is one of several bases housing the Guards' Navy's strategic missiles,' the state media quoted the head of the Guards, Major General Hossein Salami, as saying Head of the Guards, Major General Hossein Salami (left), announced the secret underground missile base with Navy Commander Admiral Alireza Tangsiri (right) Last year, the Guards said Iran had built underground 'missile cities' along the Gulf coastline, warning of a 'nightmare for Iran's enemies'. Pictured: Missiles on display during an inauguration of a new missiles military base 'These missiles have ranges of hundreds of kilometres, enjoy pinpoint accuracy and huge destructive power, and can overcome the enemy's electronic warfare equipment,' Salami said. He said the base, which is filled with the anti-ship weapons, was 'one of several bases housing the Navy's strategic missiles'. There have been periodic confrontations in the Gulf in recent years between the Guards and the U.S. military, which has accused the Guards' navy of sending fast attack boats to harass American warships as they pass the Strait of Hormuz. There were a series of attacks on tankers belonging to Saudi Arabia and its allies last year, which were blamed on Iran. 'These missiles have ranges of hundreds of kilometres, enjoy pinpoint accuracy and huge destructive power, and can overcome the enemy's electronic warfare equipment,' Salami said Scores of anti-ship missiles are placed under the careful watch of soldiers in the underground missile base at an undisclosed Gulf location In May, four tankers - two belonging to Saudi Arabia, one to Norway and one to the UAE - were struck by explosions near the UAE in the Gulf of Oman. An investigation by the UAE, America and France concluded that holes in the vessels were likely caused by explosive charges placed near the waterline. The US said Iran was responsible for the attacks, though they may not have directly carried them out. That was followed by more attacks in June on two tankers, this time owned by Japan and Norway, in the same stretch of water. There were a series of attacks on tankers belonging to Saudi Arabia and its allies last year, which were blamed on Iran, including on two vessels owned by Japan and Norway in June (pictured) America has blamed Iran for the attacks, releasing this image which Washington says shows the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps removing an unexploded mine from one of the tankers America again accused Iran of being behind the attacks, saying an unexploded limpet mine was found on the side of one of the vessels. The US also released footage which it claimed showed boats belonging to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps returning to one of the ships after the blast to remove and unexploded mine. The attacks led to spiralling tensions around the Gulf which saw Tehran shoot down an American Navy drone, which in turn almost led to the US bombing Iran. President Trump ordered strikes against several IRGC bases, but called them off at the final moment. Last year, there were months of tensions around the Arabian Peninsula which has seen attacks on tankers, drones and oil facilities Tensions have been high between Tehran and Washington since 2018, when Trump withdrew the US from the Iran nuclear deal, signed under Barack Obama. The deal - which was also backed by European powers including Russia - had promised the regime economic benefits in return for curtailing its nuclear programme in a way that would stop it developing weapons. Trump tore up the deal in 2018 by reimposing crippling sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with the deal by accelerating its enrichment of uranium and rebuilding stockpiles. The President has said he wants to negotiate a new deal with Tehran, but Iran has refused to enter fresh talks, urging the US to return to the terms of the original deal. While European countries have tried to establish economic measures to skirt the American sanctions, these have been largely ineffective. Trump tore up the nuclear deal in 2018 by reimposing crippling sanctions on Iran, prompting Tehran to stop complying with the deal by accelerating its enrichment of uranium and rebuilding stockpiles In a live televised address to the nation, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today demanded the US lift its 'brutal sanctions' on the country. He also said Tehran was in no rush for the U.S. to rejoin a 2015 nuclear deal. Khamenei said: 'We are not insisting nor in a hurry for the deal. But what is logical is our demand [that] is the lifting of the sanctions. These brutal sanctions must be lifted immediately.' Potentially complicating efforts by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden to rejoin the nuclear deal, Iran said on Monday it had resumed 20 per cent uranium enrichment at its Fordow underground nuclear facility. In a live televised address to the nation, the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today demanded the US lift its 'brutal sanctions' on the country The U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that Iran had started the process of enriching uranium to 20 per cent purity. Tehran says it can quickly reverse its breaches if U.S. sanctions are removed. Biden, who takes office on January 20, has said the United States will rejoin the deal if Iran resumes strict compliance with the pact. The developments come as Iran issued Trump a second arrest warrant on Tuesday for the drone strike that killed top general Qasem Soleimani. Trump along with 47 other US officials were the subject of an Interpol 'red notice' request for their involvement in the drone strike in Baghdad last year. General Qasem Soleimani the architect of Iran's foreign policy in the Middle East who saturated the battlefields of Iraq with high-tech IEDs to mutilate US soldiers, at a meeting in Tehran in September 2016 'The Islamic Republic of Iran is very seriously following up on pursuing and punishing those who ordered and executed this crime,' judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili told reporters. The aggression coincides with the first anniversary of the assassination of Soleimani, the architect of Iran's foreign policy in the Middle East who saturated the battlefields of Iraq with high-tech IEDs to mutilate US soldiers. Soleimani was slaughtered by a missile fired from a USAF MQ-9 Reaper aircraft along with Iraqi commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis as their motorcade pulled out of Baghdad airport. The developments come as Iran issued Trump a second arrest warrant on Tuesday for the drone strike that killed top general Qasem Soleimani. Pictured: Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei at a press conference today Iranian Supreme leader Khamenei today paid tribute to the Iranian top general and Iraqi commander Iranian Supreme leader Khamenei today paid tribute the pair and said: 'I thank God and the dear people of our country for their epic movement in commemorating the anniversary of the martyrdoms of dear Soleimani and Abu Mahdi. 'I also sincerely thank the Iraqi brothers and sisters for their massive, stunning turnout in honouring these martyrs.' The killing of the second-most powerful man in Iran came at the height of tensions in the region, with numerous assaults on US personnel and on the embassy in the Iraqi capital, as well as the shooting down of a US drone over the Persian Gulf and the impounding of oil tankers. In June, a prosecutor in Tehran issued an arrest warrant for Trump and dozens of other Washington officials, saying that they were responsible for 'murder and terrorism.' Interpol, based in Lyon, France, rejected that request on the basis that it does not intervene in 'activities of a political, military, religious or racial character .' It will almost certainly dismiss Tehran's latest effort on the same basis. NORTH CHARLESTON Plans to fill in roughly 30 acres of wetlands to create a multi-use development has raised environmental concerns. The Uptown project, which calls for residential, retail and office space near Tanger Outlets, was approved last year for its wetlands permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. Approval to fill in 28.22 acres of wetlands off International Boulevard came four years after the application was submitted by property owner Uptown LLC and the city of North Charleston. North Charleston residents are concerned about the environmental impacts of the project. The development would be located near the headwaters of Filbin Creek, which roughly flows in the direction of Interstate 526 into the Cooper River. The project could increase the amount of water being flushed downstream, said Jason Crowley, the communities and transportation program director with the Coastal Conservation League. "I think there's a lot at risk," Crowley said. The league endorsed the plan in 2016, before Crowley joined the organization. But a lot has changed in the Lowcountry since then, Crowley said. The region has seen a number of storms and flooding events, including the state's massive 2015 flood. There has also been increased attention to the importance of drainage in recent years, he said. There would have likely been a lot of pushback against the proposal to fill in dozens of acres of wetlands if it would have initially been proposed in 2020, he said. The city's decision to create a special finance district to help fund the project is also something that should raise concerns among residents, Crowley said. He questioned the public benefit of using public funds toward a project that could have a negative impact on the stormwater in the surrounding communities. If the public is concerned about the use of their tax dollars going toward this, thats an opportunity they have to be reaching out to their council member to raise these concerns," Crowley said. Uptown LLC will adhere to environmental mitigations, which has included the owner acquiring 780 acres in Berkeley and Dorchester counties near the Ridgeville area to help offset the wetlands purchase. Conservation easements will be placed on the properties to help protect them. The permit application to the Army Corps noted the development won't have any impact on endangered species fish habits. The city offered a response to residents' environmental concerns. As with all projects in North Charleston, stormwater management is required prior to construction, said city spokesman Ryan Johnson. In short, any project more than 5,000 square feet of land disturbance requires that all stormwater displaced must be accounted for within the project boundaries, leaving a net zero stormwater discharge, Johnson said. No plans have been submitted to the city for construction for the Uptown development, Johnson said. Additionally, the city is relying upon the engineers and findings of the permit granted by the Army Corps of Engineers regulate the fill of the wetlands, Johnson said. Neighborhoods near the creek have experienced heavy flooding in the past, particularly before a missing flap gate at Filbin was replaced between the creek and the Cooper River to help mitigate water overflow. The 2015 flood brought 18 inches of water to the Cameron Terrace neighborhood, which includes several homes and a school near the creek, said neighborhood president Elizabeth Mason. Mason recalls seeing neighbors wait for firefighters to help get people out of their homes because the water was so high. Things have been better since the S.C. Department of Transportation replaced the flooding flap gate, but the intentions to fill in wetlands will absolutely increase flooding potential, Mason said. It upsets her to know the project is being mapped out even though city officials have witnessed the impacts of Filbin Creek flooding on North Charleston communities, Mason said. "It is discouraging to me that the city continues to pursue that type of activity," she said. The Uptown proposition is troubling because of other developments shaping up around the creek. This includes the state's plans to widen I-526, which will also likely bring high waters, said resident and former City Council candidate William Parker, who has long worked to bring attention to environmental issues concerning the creek. There are some who are excited about new development that could shape up. Mayor Keith Summey said the Uptown initiative presents an opportunity for growth in nearby Liberty Hill, a historic Black community in North Charleston. On a small scale, the city has partnered with Charity Missionary Baptist Church to create affordable housing in the neighborhood, which is just outside the more expensive Park Circle community. Residents, like Nick Allison, want to see more local businesses in the area. Allison, who moved to Liberty Hill almost two years ago, said residential units at around $1,000 a month would be a much-needed asset to the community. The Thessaloniki Chamber of Commerce has proposed a master plan to relaunch the Expo of Thessaloniki area, with new spaces for shows, commercial areas, the creation of a metropolitan arch, and an underground parking garage for more than 2,000 cars. In recent days the plan received the backing of 17 entities including the Region of Central Macedonia, the Greek Industry Federation, the municipality of Thessaloniki, the Hellenic Union of the Chambers of Commerce, and the Thessaloniki Port Authority. The site Greek Travel Pages said leaders of public life in the city said Thessaloniki "can look at an economic leadership role in the development of the broad region of the southeastern Mediterranean. The promotion of this initiative and its vision call for concrete action and long-term public and private investments". Voula Patoulidou, president of the Thessaloniki Tourism Board, said the modernisation project of the Thessaloniki International Exhibition and Congress Center (Helexpo) "will have a catalytic role in economic and tourism development in the city". "We're not just changing the image of Thessaloniki, we're changing citizens' daily life by ensuring sustainability, we're changing Thessaloniki's position, putting it on the map of modern cities," Patoulidou said. The master plan for the Expo centre goes hand-in-hand with the Thessaloniki underground currently in construction, and the city can expect a turnaround in 2026. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Fort Wadsworth, the East Shore residential neighborhood, takes its name from the historic fort overlooking the Narrows with astounding, one-of-a-kind views of the New York harbor and the New York City skyline. Currently, Fort Wadsworth is part of Gateway National Recreation Area, and comprises hiking and biking paths, a playground and a campsite. There is much wildlife living on the 226 acres, including deer, eagles, raccoons and rabbits. According to a past story in the Staten Island Advance, Fort Wadsworth was built in the late 17th century, and Fort Wadsworth is one of the countrys oldest military installations. Its defenses were constantly upgraded as military technology evolved through the 19th and 20th centuries. It still retains the U.S. Army Reserve units, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the Defense Logistics Agency. In 1994, the U.S. Navy turned Fort Wadsworth over to the National Park Service. Fort Wadsworths neighborhood includes the Verazzanno-Narrows Bridge connection, which has become a Staten Island welcoming site for millions of vehicles each year. Significant sites surrounding the fort include Von Breisen Park, which sits directly to the north. The Shore Acres community, just to the northwest of Fort Wadsworth, enjoys the same remarkable views in a small secluded neighborhood on the bluff. Also, the now-demolished Mount Manresa was located in the Fort Wadsworth neighborhood. If you have any visuals to share, please send them to my email at jsomma@siadvance.com. Vintage photos and video clips are welcome! Please let me know if there are any places youd like to see highlighted in an upcoming installment of Flashback Staten Island. A playlist of past Staten Island flashbacks is available on YouTube. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2021 -- Latest released study "Global Artificial Intelligence in Security Market Report 2020 by Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast to 2026 (Based on 2020 COVID-19 Worldwide Spread)" with 109 pages and in-depth assessment including market trends, upcoming technologies, industry drivers, challenges, regulatory policies, with key company profiles and strategies of players such as Cylance, IBM, SparkCognition, Xilinx, ThreatMetrix, Intel, Darktrace, Amazon, Sift Science, NVIDIA, Micron, Securonix, Acalvio, Skycure & Samsung. The research study provides forecasts for Artificial Intelligence in Security investments till 2024. The study also helps with cost structure benchmarking collectively derive after analyzing a vast coverage of industry players which is further compared with overall sector for each component such as Avg. Profit, Wages, Purchases, Depreciation, Marketing, Rent & utilities, Others etc. Staying ahead in business is often about being the first; regularly checking the 'pulse' of what's hot and what's going wrong in your industry is a key to success. Stay up-to-date and exploit latest trends of Artificial Intelligence in Security Market with latest edition released by HTF MI. Get Access to Sample Pages @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3010725-global-artificial-intelligence-in-security-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Market Development Scenario ? Patent Analysis Briefing* ? No. of Patents Issuance by Year / by Players / By Issuing Office ? Key Development Product/Service Launch, Mergers & Acquisition, Joint Ventures Product Analysis: This Report provides a detailed study of given products. The report also provides comprehensive analysis of Key Trends & advance technologies. The Global Artificial Intelligence in Security (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as , Hardware, Software & Services Application Analysis: This report provides an advance approach to the market growth with a detailed analysis of the overall competitive scenario of the Global Artificial Intelligence in Security market. The market is segmented by Application such as Network Security, Endpoint Security, Application Security & Cloud Security with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate. Industry Growth: An in-depth study about key trends and emerging drivers with market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional breakdowns, competitive landscape, shares, trend and strategies for Artificial Intelligence in Security market. The market is expected to estimate at XX million by 2023 growing at a CAGR of XX%. Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3010725-global-artificial-intelligence-in-security-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 Key Highlights of the Global Artificial Intelligence in Security Market : - Market Share of players that includes Cylance, IBM, SparkCognition, Xilinx, ThreatMetrix, Intel, Darktrace, Amazon, Sift Science, NVIDIA, Micron, Securonix, Acalvio, Skycure & Samsung to better understand how deeply they have penetrated the market. - Conceptual analysis of the Artificial Intelligence in Security Market products, application wise segmented study. - Clear study and pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamics - Analysis of major regional segmentation on the basis of how the market is predicted to grow Key questions answered in this comprehensive study Global Artificial Intelligence in Security Market Report 2020 by Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast to 2026 (Based on 2020 COVID-19 Worldwide Spread) What will the market size be in 2026 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving Global Artificial Intelligence in Security Market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in Global Artificial Intelligence in Security Market space? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Global Artificial Intelligence in Security Market? What are the key outcomes of the five forces analysis of the Global Artificial Intelligence in Security Market? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Global Artificial Intelligence in Security market? Get in-depth details about factors influencing the market shares of the North America (Covered in Chapter 6 and 13), United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (Covered in Chapter 7 and 13), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others, Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 8 and 13), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, Others, Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 9 and 13), Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Others, South America (Covered in Chapter 10 and 13), Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile & Others? Enquire for customization in Report @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3010725-global-artificial-intelligence-in-security-market-report-2020-by-key-players-types-applications-countries-market-size-forecast-to-2026 There are 15 Chapters to display the Global Artificial Intelligence in Security market. Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Global Artificial Intelligence in Security, Applications of , Market Segment by Regions; Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure; Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of , Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, Export & Import, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis; Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment); Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes North America (Covered in Chapter 6 and 13), United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (Covered in Chapter 7 and 13), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others, Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 8 and 13), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, Others, Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 9 and 13), Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Others, South America (Covered in Chapter 10 and 13), Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile & Others, Segment Market Analysis (by Type) [, Hardware, Software & Services]; Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Change in overall Market Analysis (by Application [Network Security, Endpoint Security, Application Security & Cloud Security]) Major Manufacturers Analysis; Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [, Hardware, Software & Services], Market Trend by Application [Network Security, Endpoint Security, Application Security & Cloud Security]; Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis; Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global Artificial Intelligence in Security by region, type and application; Chapter 12, to describe Artificial Intelligence in Security Research Findings and Conclusion, Appendix, methodology and data source; Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Artificial Intelligence in Security sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source. Latest Edition with Revised Discounted Pricing are Available Now, Buy Now @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3010725 Thanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia. A materials scientist at Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany has been awarded a prestigious ERC Proof of Concept Grant from the European Research Council to further develop and refine a process that enables thermal toughening of very thin glass. For decades, the process of thermal tempering has played a major role in increasing the strength of glass and thus guaranteeing greater durability. With this technique, conventional glass sheets are strengthened in a simple and highly efficient way. This has made it possible to manufacture numerous glass products that are taken for granted today. Thermally strengthened glass can be found covering solar modules, as safety glazing or even in shower partitions. As another example, the well-established process enables the production of automotive windows that break into small granular pieces in a controlled manner in the event of an accident or other damage, thus protecting people from injuries caused by sharp-edged shards of glass. However, thermal tempering is subject to a range of technological limitations. In particular, it can only be used for glass products with a certain minimum thickness. For glass sheets or substrates, this is about two millimetres. Nowadays, however, much thinner glass often plays an important role in modern glass products. Thin-walled glasses not only enable significant savings in material and weight but they can also be bent or even rolled. Material scientists at Friedrich Schiller University Jena have now refined a process for this purpose that could remove the limitations on thermal strengthening of glass with thicknesses in the millimetre range and thus make the process applicable to completely new types of glass products. Gradient creates tension To thermally temper the glass, it is usually first heated to over 600 degrees Celsius and then rapidly cooled usually by blowing cold air on it, explains Prof. Lothar Wondraczek, who is leading the project at the Chair of Glass Chemistry. This creates a significant difference in the cooling rate between the surface and the interior of the glass body. This gradient subsequently leads to a permanent surface compressive stress, which is opposed by a tensile stress in the interior. The interaction between the two stresses produces the special properties of thermally toughened glass. The decisive factor for the process is how quickly the heat can be extracted from the heated glass via its surface. This in turn depends on two factors: the thermal conductivity of the glass and the heat transfer coefficient the speed at which the heat is released into the environment. While the thermal conductivity is directly linked to the chemical composition of the material and cannot be changed without moving away from conventional glass chemistries, it is definitely possible to influence how quickly the glass cools. Faster cooling of thin glass types It was precisely this parameter that the materials scientists in Jena focused on to make thermal strengthening applicable to thin glass. If you use air to cool glass that is less than two millimetres thick, the heat is usually distributed internally just as quickly as it is dissipated. In consequence, there is no gradient and thus no stress, explains Wondraczek. For this reason, we developed a tempering process in which the glass is not tempered in air but in a liquid coolant. One challenge was to find suitable coolants that are already liquid at near room temperature, but do not evaporate at temperatures well above 800 degrees Celsius. This allows the thermal tempering process to be extended to particularly thin glass as well as to unconventionally shaped glass. In preliminary studies, we have been able to show that the process is also widely applicable, says Wondraczek. Therefore, we now want to put it into practice. On the one hand, this process could replace more complex, expensive, and environmentally harmful methods for improving the strength of thin glass types. On the other hand, the use of glass as a material could be expanded, for example in electrical engineering or also for simple everyday objects such as certain typed of packaging, medical injectors or drinking straws. Look out, Floresville: Theres a bandit headed your way. But unlike the highway robbers of lore, this one is bringing something: barbecue. Brandon Peterson, owner and pitmaster of San Antonio restaurant Bandit BBQ, is about two weeks away from launching a food trailer along U.S. 181 in the heart of the town. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. DecisionDatabases added the latest report with a global perspective on the Acrylic Manifolds Market studied under different segments, including type, application, and regions. The report is treated with size, trends, growth, share, and forecast till 2025. Besides, the research report studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall growth at the global level. This report also offers a lucrative area of the industry at the regional and country level. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Acrylic Manifolds market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Acrylic Manifolds Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-30314 According to this study, over the next five years, the Acrylic Manifolds market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Acrylic Manifolds business, shared in Chapter 3. This Acrylic Manifolds market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Acrylic Manifolds market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Carville Clippard IDEX Health & Science Diba Industries Fuji Denolo Piedmont CMG Industrial Plastic Fabrications ZEG-MED Controlled Fluidics Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-30314 This study considers the Acrylic Manifolds value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Solvent Bonded Acrylic Manifolds Diffusion Bonded Acrylic Manifolds Laser Welded Acrylic Manifolds Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Medical Life Sciences & Analytical Passenger Car Commercial Trucks Industrial Vehicle Aerospace Others In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Acrylic Manifolds Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-30314 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Acrylic Manifolds consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Acrylic Manifolds market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Acrylic Manifolds manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Acrylic Manifolds with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Acrylic Manifolds submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/acrylic-manifolds-market-2020-analysis-by-latest-trends-growth-opportunities-with-potential-impact-of-covid-19/ With Jack Ma's sudden disappearance yet another stunning news has started surfacing that Beijing ordered Chinese media to censor coverage of the Alibaba probe. Alibaba Group Co-founder Jack Ma had called out the Chinese government over the financial system. Chinese billionaire and Alibaba Group founder Jack Mas disappearance speculations arose as he reportedly did not appear on his own show since October. Recently Communist China had halted Ant Group Co.s $35 billion share sale in Shanghai and Hong Kong after Alibaba Group Co-founder Jack Ma had called out the Chinese government over the financial system. The Chinese government has cited major issues for suspending the worlds largest IPO debut. As speculation mounted over the whereabouts of the Chinese tycoon, another stunning news has started surfacing that Beijing ordered Chinese media to censor coverage of the Alibaba probe. The national media have been instructed to censor their coverage and reporting on the antitrust probe and Jack Ma. Alibaba Group, founded at Hangzhou in China, is a multinational conglomerate holding company specializing in e-commerce, retail, internet, and technology. The founder Jack Ma of the e-commerce giant is considered one of Asias richest men. Ma had after two decades of building Alibaba turned it into an e-commerce powerhouse worth over $460 billion. Major corporations are driven by fears that antitrust scrutiny will spread beyond Jack Mas internet empire putting under the radar Chinas most powerful corporations. The latest Communist Partys crackdown on Alibaba and its three largest rivals already made them shed nearly $200 billion in Hong Kong. This media censorship and sudden disappearances of influential Chinese billionaires like Jack Ma raises several difficult questions on the minds of the public and the world at large. Also Read: Chemical weapons landing in the hands of terrorists: India at UN Security Council Also Read: China FDI Cry: India cant be an alternative to China diatribe Once applauded as the torchbearers of Chinas economic and technological top players, Alibaba and its contemporaries are now face increasing pressure from investor regulators. It seems the CCP is increasingly getting worried about the speed with which they are spreading across several verticles like media and education and subsequently gaining influence over the daily lives of hundreds of millions. Supporters of US President Donald Trump climb on walls at the US Capitol during a protest against the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. (Image: Reuters/Jim Urquhart) For anyone who has covered political turmoil across the wreckage of the former Soviet Union over the past three decades, the mob that stormed the Capitol in Washington on Wednesday looked shockingly familiar, down to the dress code and embrace of banners trumpeting seemingly lost causes. In fervor and style, the mob resembled the ragtag bands that seized control of the parliament building in Moscow in 1993 clamoring for the revival of the Soviet Union. Much the same scenes unfolded two decades later, as self-styled militias stormed the regional assembly in Donetsk, a major industrial city in eastern Ukraine and now the capital of a secessionist, pro-Russian peoples republic. Ersatz military gear shabby jackets, old boots, black wool hats and bandannas were much in evidence back then, as were the flags of long-dead and, we all assumed, safely buried causes. In Donetsk, these included not just the Red Flag of the defunct Soviet Union and the black-yellow-white tricolor of the long-gone czarist empire, but at times also the emblem of an even more distant, failed venture, the Confederate States of America. (None of them knew much or really cared about the Confederacy, but they did know it was hated by the kind of people they hated.) But what was most familiar about the insurrectionists in Washington on Wednesday was their certitude, an unbending conviction that, no matter what anyone else or the law might say, right was on their side. A cabal of elitist traitors had grabbed what was rightfully theirs whether the country they had grown up in, their economic and physical security or simply their sense of how society should be ordered. Victory is ours. All we need is courage, shouted a self-declared commander of the army of patriots who, in the fall of 1993, helped take control of the White House that at the time housed the Russian legislature on the banks of the Moscow River and then led his followers on what turned out to be suicide mission to seize the Ostankino television center. (Scores died in a hail of gunfire from troops loyal to President Boris Yeltsin.) When insurrections began in Moscow in 1993, and then in eastern Ukraine in 2014, failure looked inevitable. The leaders, along with their followers, seemed deranged, intoxicated by nostalgia, wild conspiracy theories and fantasies about the depth of their public support. But they believed. In eastern Ukraine, the people who took to the barricades outside the regional administration building were sometimes drunk, often belligerent and disconnected from reality. But all had no doubt that their cause was just. A barrage of a propaganda on Russian television, the main source of news for much of the population, spread fear and anger, embedding a conviction that anti-Russian protesters in the distant Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, would soon descend on Donetsk with guns and knives to wreak havoc. I remember sitting in the parlor of a Donetsk economics professor, an earnest and mild-mannered man, who, in the middle of an interview, ran into the bedroom to comfort his wife, who had suddenly started shrieking. She had been watching Russian television while doing the ironing and, terrified by bloodcurdling reports of Ukrainian fascists on the march, was certain that they are coming to slit our throats. The couple, both nearing retirement age, rushed off to join the barricades. The war that followed has now dragged on for six years, killing more than 13,000 people, nearly all civilians. People who wanted nothing to do with the Donetsk Peoples Republic, who, according to opinion polls carried out shortly before its declaration, constituted a large majority, have mostly left the republic that no other country, including even Russia, recognizes. That has left only true believers, the elderly and those too poor to move. In Moscow in 1993, the insurrection fizzled quickly, at least on the streets, though not in minds. Aleksandr Rutskoi, a former Soviet bomber pilot who led the rebellion against Yeltsin, vowed to fight to the end, but barely 24 hours later he surrendered. Dressed in military fatigues, he was bundled onto a battered bus with his captured confederates and driven off to Lefortovo prison. Rutskoi, highly decorated for his service in Afghanistan, cut a pathetic figure. Defeated and dejected, he was unmistakably a loser. But the winners squandered the victory, unleashing a wave of crooked privatizations and staging a deeply flawed presidential election in 1996 that kept an infirm and increasingly erratic Yeltsin in the Kremlin for a second term. When that was nearly done, he handed over power to Vladimir Putin. A former KGB officer who believed in order above all else, Putin had no time for insurrection, but he embraced the revanchist cause, reviving Russias ambitions as a global power, the reach of the security services, the music of the Soviet national anthem, Soviet-era emblems for the military and patriotism as a cudgel against his critics. Two decades after he came to power, the word traitor has become one of the Kremlins favorite terms of abuse, democracy the butt of mockery. Commenting on the tumult in Washington, Konstantin Kosachev, head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Russias upper house and a Putin loyalist, scoffed at American democracy as limping on both feet. The celebration of democracy has ended. It has, unfortunately, hit rock bottom, and I say this without a hint of gloating, he added, clearly gloating. By Andrew Higgins c.2021 The New York Times Company Coronavirus Check All about new coronavirus variant The new UK variant of coronavirus is believed to be behind a surge in COVID-19 cases in the UK. As questions over the threat and cure of the new mutated version of COVID-19 persist, Moneycontrol tries to answer some of them here. Latest, Jan. 10, 9:20 a.m.: A GoFundMe campaign created by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California raised over $22,000 on Friday to replace two of its cherry blossom trees that were destroyed in an act of vandalism. Hundreds of donors flooded the campaign with contributions, more than quadrupling the center's $5,000 goal in a single day. "The cherry blossom trees will bloom again," read an update from the organization. "The Center would like to thank everyone for their outpouring of support during this time." View the fundraiser here. --- For Paul Osaki, 2021 was supposed to symbolize a fresh start and a renewed sense of hope for his Japantown community. But as he looked down at what was left of the splintered cherry blossom trees planted on the sidewalk in front of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California, all he could feel was pain. The branches on both of the historically significant trees on San Francisco's Sutter Street had been hacked off entirely before their buds could bloom, leaving only their gnarled trunks behind. A staff member at the center was the first to discover the slashed trees early Tuesday morning, but after reviewing security footage found that the vandalism had taken place over a span of a few days. This was not simply a passerby trying to break a branch off for fun. Someone took their time breaking off every branch, wrote Osaki, who is the executive director of the center, in a Facebook post. This was no easy task as some of the larger branches were over 3 thick and the trees 12 to 15 feet high. In a phone conversation with SFGATE on Thursday afternoon, Osaki said staff had gone through the security footage to find that the vandal started to break down the branches of the flowering trees on New Years Day, then later came back over the weekend to finish the job. Courtesy of the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California The person was just grabbing the branches and working at them over and over again. They just went branch by branch, and then went on to the next tree, said Osaki. I think the initial reaction was that we were really sad and hurt when we saw how violently assaulted they were. You look at the pictures and your mouth is just hanging open why would someone want to destroy them so intently? Especially now, finding out the person kept coming back? It was just so shocking. The cherry blossom trees were the first to be planted in Japantown in more than 50 years, the center said. The former San Francisco Redevelopment Agency uprooted every last one in the 1960s and 1970s. The new trees were planted in 1994 to honor a visit from the Emperor and Empress of Japan. That was a very rare occasion, Osaki recalled. Following the incident, one of the centers staff members walked around the neighborhood to see if any other cherry blossom trees had also been vandalized, but the rest appeared intact, leading them to wonder why their own trees were the only ones targeted. But the fact that the vandalism occurred on New Years Day was what particularly stung for Osaki. In Japanese culture, its not New Years Eve thats important. Its New Years Day that families gather and celebrate, he said. And the trees were very symbolic for us when they bloomed. They meant beauty; they meant beginning again. For this to happen at the start of the new year, where myself and a lot of other people were looking forward to 2021 as a time of new beginnings and hopefully correcting a lot of things that have been done the last four years ... it was really sad. Its not the first time an incident like this has happened. According to the center, a third tree had been similarly vandalized two years ago. Osaki said he and his staff asked for help from the city to replace the tree, but their request was not met. He estimates the cost to replace the additional destroyed trees will be about $10,000. Its going to be expensive, he said. Well have to break through the sidewalk. We also went through all of the effort to create a decorative planter box around it thats also going to have to get destroyed, too. In spite of the tragedy, the widespread response from the community after the center shared the photos on its Facebook and Instagram accounts has lifted Osakis spirits. Hundreds of people offered their condolences and suggested ways they could help, such as holding an online fundraiser to replant new trees at the center. That was totally unexpected, he said. I asked staff to post the pictures and everything because I was angry. I wanted people to see what happened it seemed like an attack on our cultural heritage. Those werent street trees to us, they were part of the center. But it was really heartwarming to see how many people cared. One person even brought origami flowers to hang on one of the ravaged trees to help provide it with some beauty, he said. Because the survival of the trees is unlikely, he said the center plans to launch a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs for new trees. Ideally, if something could happen and [mature] trees could be replanted and bloom this spring, that would be the most beautiful thing. Well have to see if thats possible, but that would be ideal. The Japanese Cultural and Community Center has been serving the Japantown community as a nonprofit organization since 1973, and construction of the first phase of the building was completed in 1986. Since then, it has been host to several programs and classes with the goal of preserving the neighborhoods historic and cultural heritage a significant effort for a community that has long fought against displacement due to urban renewal and redevelopment. During the '60s and '70s, Japantown was completely bulldozed over, said Osaki. Not just the buildings, but every tree, too. There were no cherry blossom trees for a long time none in the Peace Plaza; none on Post Street where the parade comes down. When we planted ours, it meant something. Osaki said the center plans to file a police report this afternoon, and when the time comes, a replanting ceremony will be held to commemorate the new trees. With everything that happened in Washington yesterday, this just kind of stung, he said. But we will get through this. We will have more trees and theyll bloom again. They can be replaced, but its just a hard time. Great start to my DC trip, meeting Senators Ted Cruz (Texas), and Steve Daines (Montana) over breakfast. I brought greetings to Sen. Cruz from his birthplace - Calgary! Thanks to both Senators for being friends of Canada & big supporters of Keystone XL! pic.twitter.com/v8o6fnPItP Jason Kenney (@jkenney) February 6, 2020 Devon Sawa, Canadian actor and nemesis of fellow child star Macaulay Culkin, has started trolling Alberta United Conservative Party MLA and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Devin Dreeshen on twitter for his MAGA-wannabe stupidity.It appears the flawless non-corporeal boyfriend of every 1990's Disney girl is trying to prevent this Sour Cream Glazed version of Jared Kushner from tarnishing the Dev(o/i)n name. Dreeshen has been busy all day blocking twitter users that post or like a picture of him toasting some other douche canoe at a Trump rally while wearing a MAGA hat. Somehow the one true Devin has been spared from the blocking spree and continues to post and reply to Dreeshen's tweets with the offending picture.Shortly after being elected as an MLA, it came to light that the sentient prairie oyster spent 2016 working on the Trump election campaign and shadowing Ivanka Trump. The frozen cow pie of a human being refused to comment on his work down south (and shockingly didn't put in on his LinkedIn profile), so we will never know if he was trying to study Trump's election strategies or was using it as a way to hit up Fascist Barbie for tips on how run a failing women's accessory and shoe line. Following the terrorist attack on Washington yesterday the Minister, best known for refusing to shut down a meat packing plant with a COVID outbreak that led to the death of three workers, was contacted by reporters for a comment. He eventually released a statement on the violence in Washington, via his press secretary, that was more tepid than a Double Double left in the car overnight.Alberta is regularly referred to as the "Texas of the North", despite being more like the Alabama of the North now that the oil money has dried up, so it came as a surprise to exactly no one that the ruling UCP party has refused to publicly condemn Donald Trump or US Republican members that helped incited the attack. Here is Alberta's current Premier getting cozy with the Zodiac Killer himself, obviously trying to absorb some of his dipshit conservatism by osmosis:Sources: 1 Three more people tested positive for new variant and all were from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC), according to the state health department officials. The three people from PCMC who tested positive for the new variant have returned from the UK. We have traced their contacts. However, no other person who came in contact with them has tested positive so far, said health officials. The district on Thursday reported 738 new cases of Covid-19 and 18 deaths in the last 24 hours. In the Pune district has so far reported 3,76,658 lakh Covid-19 cases. Out of this, 3,55,192 patients have recovered, 7,805 have been reported death and 13,624 are active cases. Pune city, meanwhile, reported 394 new cases and ten deaths due to Covid, while PCMC reported 141 new cases and six deaths. Pune rural reported 203 new cases and two deaths. As per the state health department, PMC has so far reported 1,93,190 Covid-19 cases and 4,427 deaths till Thursday. Whereas PCMC has reported 94,399 cases so far and a total of 1,286 deaths due to Covid. Pune rural has reported 89,069 total cases so far and 2,092 deaths due to Covid. As per the state health department, 3,350 patients were discharged on Thursday in Maharashtra taking the total to 18,56,109 in the state. The recovery rate in the state is 94.4 per cent. Across Maharashtra, 3,729 new cases of Covid-19 were diagnosed and 72 deaths were reported on Thursday. The case fatality rate in the state is 2.55 per cent. The state health department stated that out of 1,31,99,201 laboratory samples, 19,58,282 have been tested positive which account for 15.16 per cent. At present, 2,70,217 people across Maharashtra are in home quarantine and 2,824 people are in institutional quarantine. New Delhi: French President Emmanuel Macron's top diplomatic advisor, who is in India for talks, has assured his country's support to New Delhi at the United Nations Security Council and also highlighted how Paris did not allow China "play..games". Emmanuel Bonne, the Diplomatic Advisor to French President Emmanuel Macron, said that France has not let China play any procedural games regarding the security concern in Kashmir. "Whether it be on Kashmir, we`ve been supportive of India in the security concern. We haven`t let the Chinese play any kind of procedural games. When it comes to the Himalayas, check our statements, they are perfectly clear. What we say publicly, we say it to the Chinese privately. There is no ambiguity," he said while speaking at an event here on Thursday. He further called on China to respect international rules and be less aggressive to other nations. "We want China to respect certain rules, we want China to be less aggressive, we want China to understand that we are present in the field, willing and able to defend our interests," he said. Bonne also asserted the need to be strong enough to not let the Chinese administration develop another set of norms and principles, and the need to be able to counter China by creating a global proposal, which drives China to work within the same framework as other nations. He further said that China does not comply with the rules, certain consequences could be drawn from it. Earlier in the day, Bonne spoke on India`s two-year term as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), saying that the term will be critical for both Paris and New Delhi to take initiatives related to the Indo-Pacific region and terrorist threats. "We need India..we want to develop ties with India in a long term approach," he added. India`s tenure at the Security Council formally began on Monday with a flag installation ceremony.Bonne is in India for the annual strategic dialogue between the two countries. France has always backed India's permanent membership of the council. Earlier this month, India became a non-permanent member of the council for a 2-year term period. Interestingly, bonne was a member of the French team when India was last at the UNSC in the 2011-2012 period. Asked about Chinese aggressiveness with India, he said, "Let us not go for confrontation and it's much easier to say this from Paris, than from Delhi when you almost have a problem in the Himalayas and when you have Pakistan at your border...When it comes to the Himalayas, just check our statement we are perfectly clear. What we say publicly, we say to the Chinese also privately." Last year saw the visit of the French Defence Minister to India amid the India China Line of actual control row. She was in India for the induction ceremony of Rafales in the Indian airforce. The tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan reported its first COVID-19 death some 10 months after initially detecting the virus and managing to keep the disease under control by largely sealing off the tourism-dependent country. In a statement issued late on Thursday, Bhutan's health ministry said a 34-year-old man with chronic liver disease and renal failure, who tested positive for COVID-19, had died at a hospital in the capital Thimphu. Bhutan has reported 767 cases of the coronavirus, having conducted a little over 300,000 tests since it detected the first infection in an American tourist last March. Taking swift measures, the country of some 750,000 people closed itself to visitors and imposed a mandatory quarantine for everyone returning from abroad. Since then, Bhutan has kept its borders sealed, enforced lockdowns twice, intensified testing and screening at entry points, including at its only international airport at Paro. 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 country is currently reporting 13 new infections on average each day, around 56% of the peak that it reached in late December, according to a Reuters tally. The virus has killed more than 1.8 million people globally and infected at least 87.4 million, including over 10 million infections in neighbouring India, which has the world's second-highest case load after the United States. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019, with only a small number now having recorded no deaths. An adviser to Bhutan's health ministry said the 34-year-old had been in isolation and had twice tested positive for COVID-19 this week. "It was not easy and clear to include this as a COVID-19 death," Dr Tshokey told Bhutan's Kuensel newspaper, which gave only one name. "But since he died with COVID-19, we have included the death as a COVID-19 death." LOS ANGELESMixedX, the now-two-year-old European erotica studio, is expanding its platform of films with the inclusion of Xraw, a brand-new series of scenes that abandons attempts at storylines and gets straight to the sex. According to MixedX CEO Christina Shine, Xraw was inspired by fan demand, and stated that Xraw is a bold step forward to please viewers and satisfy our dear subscribers who love raw story-free sex in virtual digital quality next to the cinema. No dialogue, no setup, just straight action. We are excited about the companys new developments in 2021 We will continue to create our trademark cinema films, which will get more stories from now on and be even more cinematic, thanks to our continuous training in story writing and filmmaking. Xraw is simply an exciting new addition to the MixedX quality line of motion pictures. The launch of Xraw is part of the studios ongoing efforts to enhance its MixedX members user experience with the inclusion of new content, new talent and new production designs in order to preserve fan enthusiasm for the two-year old company. MixedX and Xraw are available now for instant streaming and downloading across all quality online devices and platforms. To join, visit MixedX.com. To discuss affiliate opportunities with SinnerCash.com, contact [email protected]. Fans may follow MixedX on Twitter @MIXEDX_COM and Instagram @mixedxofficial. Alexander the Great mosaic from Pompeii to undergo a seven-month restoration in Naples. Pompeii's celebrated mosaic of Alexander the Great's victory over King Darius III of Persia is to undergo a major restoration project at the National Archaeological Museum of Naples (MANN). The restoration of the monumental mosaic, which was rediscovered at the House of the Faun in Pompeii in 1831, will begin at the end of this month and is expected to be complete by July. Dating from circa 100 BC, the floor mosaic is traditionally believed to depict the Battle of Issus in southern Anatolia, on 5 November 333 BC, the second great battle of Alexander's conquest of Asia. The mosaic measures 5.82 by 3.13 metres and is one of the most celebrated works to be found at the ancient Roman city, which was buried in volcanic ash and pumice after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. The upcoming restoration, described as an "ambitious and complex operation" by MANN director Paolo Giulierini, will take place after "meticulous preparatory work." Photo credit Pedicini Fotografi Giulierini says the project will make use of advanced digital technology "allowing for the delicate operations to be followed, step by step, in a sort of 'transparent construction site', as has never happened before." The project, which has received a "significant technological contribution" from Italian telecommunications company TIM, is being overseen by Italy's Central Restoration Institute (ICR) in collaboration with the University of Molise UNIMOL and the Center for Research on Archaeometry and Conservation Science (CRACS). When it was unearthed in 1831, the mosaic was found to be in a good state of conservation, and there was much debate over the need to move it to the Royal Bourbon Museum in Naples (now MANN). However, after about 12 years, a commission agreed that it should be moved and the masterpiece was detached on 16 November 1844 and transported to Naples on a cart pulled by oxen. However, in an accident during the journey, at Torre del Greco, the mosaic was thrown to the ground. The box containing the masterpiece was not opened until January 1845 and, to the relief of all, the mosaic did not show any signs of damage. Initially the mosaic was placed on the floor of the museum but was moved to its current wall position in 1916. The surface of the masterpiece is now suffering from swellings and depressions, which the museum believes is likely the result of oxidation caused by metal elements in the timber framework put in place in 1916. There are also vertical and horizontal microcracks and damage to the mortar holding together the estimated one and a half million tiny coloured tiles called tesserae. The museum says that this phenomena is aggravated by the weight of the mosaic and its vertical position, both of which can be attributed to causing the mortar and tesserae to slide downwards. Hailing it as a "grand restoration," Giulierini said: "We are writing together an important page in MANN's history of the National Archaeological Museum of Naples and the conservation of cultural heritage." For full details about the restoration project see MANN website. A former Bexar County Sheriff's deputy was arrested Wednesday after he was accused of having inmates complete his job tasks, Sheriff Javier Salazar said during a news conference Thursday. Salazar said Danilo Molina, 68, would make inmates perform his cell checks and then update the logs as if he was on the one who conducted them. Molina was arrested Wednesday and charged with tampering with government records. In the jail, deputies are required to conduct regular checks by activating a sensor on the wall that electronically logs the procedure. According to Salazar, the 30-year veteran with the department was giving his sensor to inmates for them to perform the checks. Another deputy caught Molina and alerted a supervisor, the sheriff said. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Salazar did not say when Molina was caught, but he was on administrative leave during the investigation. Molina retired from the department before he could be terminated and was given a dishonorable discharge. Salazar said having the inmates perform these actions is dangerous because they don't have the training deputies do. "I am just concerned about how many younger deputies he taught that this was OK to do," Salazar said. "I want to send the message that this isn't OK and you can see what happens if you do it." Molina was indicted on the charges in December and an arrest warrant was issued. He was released on $2,000 bond, Salazar said. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway Spanish born actress Ester Exposito just landed her first US magazine cover. The 20-year-old Elite star graced the cover of Bello in Balmain for their Let's Love Issue on Thursday. A rising star after her breakout performance in the hit Netflix show, Exposito talked to the magazine about her lifelong acting dreams. First cover: Spanish-born Elite star Ester Exposito, 20, lands her first US magazine cover as she graces the cover of Bello dressed in Balmain Though relatively little is known about Ester as she has only recently crossed over into the American market, she was born in Madrid and always had dreams of being an actress. Most known for her role as Carla Roson Caleruega in Elite - a show about three working class teens who enroll at a wealthy private school in Spain - Exposito talked about her pursuit of a career in Hollywood. 'I knew I wanted to be an actress. I did not know what was the starting point, I just knew that it is all I ever wanted,' she said, which prompted her to take theatre classes. Crediting her determination to pursue her passion with the 'adrenaline and strong emotions,' that come from being on set, Ester said she lives for the thrill. Diving in: Exposito is best known for her role as Carla in the hit Netflix drama Elite about three working class teens who enroll at a wealthy private school in Spain 'It's a constant risk; you are constantly pushing yourself into new adventures and challenges,' while adding that she is 'kept alive' by acting. Delving into her character Carla, she said that like many actresses she likes to immerse herself in what she imagines their past to be like, also adding that her co-stars like to do the same. 'We were all there when the other actors were working on their character, so we were there to see the process of every character being developed, and we all participated in it.' Determined: 'I knew I wanted to be an actress. I did not know what was the starting point, I just knew that it is all I ever wanted,' she told the magazine Her most recent project Someone Has To Die for Netflix is also a Spanish language project as she continues to book more roles at her tender age. Despite her budding trajectory into Hollywood, she says that her Elite character will always be the most special to her. 'This is one of the characters that I enjoyed playing the most. I will love her forever and always remember her. There will always be a part of her in me because it was a special process for me,' she shared. Slow trajectory: At her tender age of 20, Exposito is a rising star and recently starred in the Spanish-language limited series for Netflix, Someone Has To Die Even at a young age Exposito is aware that she has a duty as an on-screen actress to be a face for social good. 'I want to fight for and use my voice to continue moving forward in the feminist movement,' she shared. The actress already boasts over 26M followers on Instagram but tends to keep her social media professional. The fourth season of Elite wrapped filming on December 22. The sea of protesters spanning from the Capitol Building's lawn to the Washington monument the afternoon of January 6 was profound to say the least. Their message was direct and patriotic: the people demanded their voices and votes be heard by members of Congress. The actions and statements made by members of Congress on the House floor late into the night Wednesday and early in the morning hours of Thursday would indicate that the voice of the people shall not be tolerated and that they, the members of Congress, were the victims of what unfolded during the protest. D.C. police reported the deaths of four Americans who attended the D.C. protest. Three died due to "medical emergencies," and one was shot by a member of the Capitol Police. The victim, reported by The Gateway Pundit, was 14-year USAF veteran Ashli Babbitt. Ashli Babbitt had no weapon other than a Trump flag worn as a cape and a patriotic backpack. From the heart-wrenching video (viewer discretion advised), it appears as though Ashli was attempting to clime through a window to gain further access to the Capitol Building. Call them what you wish, but there is evidence that members of both sides of the political argument stormed the Capitol Building. In contrast to the months of rioting last year by the militant left, the aftermath of Wednesday's protest in D.C. did not yield buildings being burnt to the ground and law enforcement utilizing "kid gloves" with protesters. Certainly, no members of Congress were harmed or in imminent danger of harm due to the absence of weapons by protesters. Apparently, the member of the Capitol Police who chose to discharge his weapon drew the line in the sand for entry to the People's House. Nearly all members of Congress released statements and included in their electoral count speeches reactions to what unfolded at the Capitol Building. It was entirely clear, after listening to several speeches from members of Congress, that the body of 1,000,000-plus American citizens gathered in D.C. was to be equated with the few who engaged police and entered the Capitol Building. Members of Congress spoke empty words decrying the violence, condemning and blaming the president, and worried about themselves. They had every negative word for the body of people gathered at the capital they could muster. Those who traveled from all corners of the country who peacefully protested were given no credence, certainly not the title "patriot." Congressmen complained that they were the victims because they had to hide under a desk and take refuge from unarmed people entering the People's House. The deaths that occurred during the protest are tragic. Ashli Babbitt defended the country and all members of the legislative body while serving in the USAF only to be struck down for her crime of entering the People's House. The other death that occurred is that of our constitutional republic. There can be no constitutional republic, a representative form of limited government, when there are no longer free and honest elections. Those who live their lives within the lines drawn on a map labeled "United States of America" are now sheep, with the wolves deciding what will be served for dinner. The voices and vote of the people no longer matter. The primary goal of government is now those in the government. Congress has made it clear that it will not tolerate the will of the people. D.C. police have made it abundantly clear that entry into the People's House will be on their terms. What is unclear is the reaction, if any, from the American people. The words I heard spoken by many leaving the Capitol grounds Wednesday are not appropriate for print. However, many statements began with "Congress has refused to listen to the people." Image courtesy of Ryan Smith. A 39-year-old beautician who allegedly collected GH150,000 as part payment of land, which did not belong to her, at Tantra Hills, Accra, has been put before an Accra Circuit Court on a charge of a fraudulent transaction. Naa Agyarkuma Ankrah has denied the charge. The court, presided over by Mr Bright Acquah, has admitted Naa Agyarkuma to bail in the sum of GH400,000 with two sureties. The two sureties, the court said should be public servants earning not less than GH1,500 a month. The case has been adjourned to February 17, 2021. Prosecuting, Chief Inspector William K. Boating, said the complainant Moses Asigba, aka, Cisco, was a businessman based in Accra, whiles the accused resided at Tantra Hills in Accra. Chief Inspector Boateng said in April last year, the complainant needed a parcel of land to buy for his building project and discussed same with one Frank Agyei Oware, a witness in the case. Prosecution said Oware subsequently led the complainant to the accused person who informed him of her intention to sell her parcel of land. He said the accused took the complainant to the said land for inspection after, which they bargained over the price and arrived at GH320,000 for three and half plots of land. Prosecution said the complainant made a part of payment of GH150,000 to the accused person and promised to pay the rest in installments. He said the complainant after making part payment, decided to erect a wall around the parcel of land to secure it and in the course of building the fenced wall, the complainant was stopped by one Martha Aishat Attah who also claimed to be owner of the said land. Prosecution said the complainant alarmed by the ordeal decided to do a search at the Lands Commission where he found out that the said land had been duly registered by Madam Attah. He said the complainant then demanded a refund of his money from the accused person but to no avail, hence, lodged a formal complainant to the Police for investigations. The prosecution said the accused was arrested and in her investigation caution statement admitted the offence and pleaded for a few months to refund the money. The prosecution said the accused was given two months, three weeks to refund the money by the Police but she failed to do so. The court was told that Police investigations revealed that the land in question had been duly registered by Madam Attah and that accused had no land title before making grant of it to the complainant. 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 It seemed appropriate that the jobs numbers for the final months of 2020 would be as nasty as the year as a whole was. It is fair to say that the loss of 140,000 jobs in December indicates a backsliding of the economic recovery that took place in the summer and fall. Other numbers in Fridays report confirm that basically gloomy picture, such as the continued depressed share of adults who are in the labor force. In the debate over which letter of the alphabet best describes the pattern of the 2020 economy, the December numbers pretty much rule out V. But. But. The details of this report, combined with everything else swirling around in economic policy and the financial markets, make for a more optimistic case. There is an opportunity for 2021 to be the year of a remarkable bounce-back, thanks to monetary and fiscal stimulus; the delayed effects of buoyant markets over the last few months; and above all the prospect of widespread coronavirus vaccination. The December numbers point to a jobs crisis that is contained to sectors dealing with the direct effects of pandemic-related shutdowns. Unlike the data from the spring of 2020, the latest numbers are not consistent with the sort of broad-based absence of demand in the economy that caused the recovery from the last few recessions to be so long and so slow. Korean ambassador to Japan Nam Gwan-pyo is surrounded by journalists at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo, Friday. He was summoned by the ministry after a Korean court ordered Japan to compensate Korean women who were forced to work as sex slaves for Japanese troops during World War II. / Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye A Korean court ruling Friday ordering Japan to pay damages to Korean victims of wartime sex slavery is expected to aggravate the already frayed relations between Seoul and Tokyo. The two have been at odds over history-related issues, and matters were exacerbated after Japan imposed export restrictions on materials needed by Korean firms. The move was an act of retaliation imposed after the Supreme Court here in 2018 ordered two Japanese companies to compensate surviving Korean victims of wartime forced labor. Japan immediately protested the latest court ruling, maintaining the position that all history-related issues were resolved under a 1965 treaty that normalized relations between the two countries. In its ruling, the Seoul Central District Court ordered the Japanese government to make financial reparations of 100 million won ($91,000) for each of the 12 Korean victims listed in the suit, who were forced by the Japanese military to serve soldiers in brothels before and during World War II. The 12 victims filed the compensation suit against the Japanese government in 2013, and since the filing seven, including Bae Choon-hee, have passed away. Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at the Capitol in Washington. As Congress prepared to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Things could have turned out a lot worse for a New Dorp Beach man in whose home authorities allegedly found a stash of guns and ammunition 15 months ago. And while Adam Rosa did admit guilt to a felony weapon charge, he will avoid jail under a plea agreement reached with prosecutors. Rosa, 35, was busted on Oct. 17, 2019. A criminal complaint said investigators from the NYPD and federal Drug Enforcement Administration discovered multiple guns and numerous rounds of ammunition stored in the basement, attic and bedroom of the home. Rosa told authorities he had lived there since November 2018, said the complaint. The defendant did not have a permit or license to possess any of the guns or ammunition, the complaint said. Defense lawyer Patrick V. Parrotta said the two main weapons in the residence, an assault rifle and a semiautomatic rifle, were the property of Rosas grandfather, who was placed in a nursing home about two years ago. The grandfather had stored the assault weapon in a locked box in the attic prior to entering the nursing home, said the lawyer. The older man had lawfully purchased the semiautomatic rifle about 20 years ago upstate, Parrotta said. We did a throughout investigation of the case, and we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to conference the case with the district attorneys office, said Parrotta. We presented factual issues, and those factors were taken into consideration. It was agreed by all parties that a non-jail probation sentence was appropriate. Rosa pleaded guilty on Thursday in state Supreme Court, St. George, to third-degree criminal weapon possession to resolve the case. In exchange, hell be sentenced on Feb. 23 to five years probation. A metropolitan court on Friday refused to grant bail to DHFL promoters Kapil Wadhawan and Dheeraj Wadhawan in connection with the fraud case being probed by the Advocate Pranav Badheka, appearing for the Wadhawans, confirmed that their bail had been rejected. The accused, in their plea, claimed no cheating case was made out as no loss had been caused to anybody. They further submitted that arguments of kickbacks or quid pro quo did not stand any longer as the charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act against main accused and founder Rana Kapoor had been dropped due to want of sanction. The Wadhawans submitted that there was no question of illegality as there were no kickbacks involved. A special court, in July last year, had sent the case to the chief metropolitan magistrate's court as the didn't obtain sanction to prosecute Kapoor under PCA, which was invoked by treating him as a 'public servant'. The court, at the time, observed that, prima facie, cases are made out against all the accused under sections 420 (cheating), 409 (criminal breach of trust) of the IPC, which is triable by a metropolitan magistrate. Thus, the case was being tried by a magistrate court for offences under IPC sections. As per the CBI, DoIT Urban Ventures (India) Private Limited, a firm linked to the Kapoor family, received Rs 600 crore as funds when extended loans of over Rs 3,000 crore to the DHFL group. The probe agency also contended the bank did not make enough efforts to recover the loan, and that funds received by DoIT Ventures were kickbacks for going easy on loan recovery. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing the money laundering angle in the scam. Sammi Awuku, the National Organizer of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed confidence in the newly elected Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin. To him, Hon. Bagbin is not a character wholl try to frustrate the Akufo-Addo government. Sammi Awuku is convinced that he (Alban Bagbin) will prove his sceptics and critics wrong by serving Ghanaians and not being partisan. His comment comes after some political watchers have pointed implications with the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP) not having the Speaker from their party. For instance, if the President and the Vice President travel out of the country, the Speaker becomes the Acting-President. This means that a member of the opposition party becomes the Acting-President and in charge of the Executive as well with some people suggesting he might undermine the government, some critics argued. But in an interview with Joy News monitored after the inauguration of President Akufo-Addo, Sammi Awuku expressed confidence that Hon. Bagbin will put aside his partisan clothing and see Ghana in its collective nature. He noted that the Speakers decision will not be clouded by partisan views. I hope that the Almighty God will grant him infinite wisdom for him to deliver on this mandate. He added; I dont see Hon. Bagbin(Speaker) as a mischievous character. This is someone who has distinguished himself in Parliament for almost three decades to the admiration of all. If he continues with the way hes started Im convinced that hell prove his sceptics and fiercest critics wrong that hes there to do the job of the Ghanaians people and not to do the job of a partisan group. Sammi Awuku, however, stressed that the NPP is not scared or perturbed about this arrangement, its a temporary setback adding well reorganize ourselves, shake ourselves up, and deliver in Parliament. 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. Featured Video The Manitoba government will not repeal the Construction Industry Wages Act, industry leaders have announced. The Manitoba government will not repeal the Construction Industry Wages Act, industry leaders have announced. The act sets out the minimum hourly and overtime wage rates, and the standard hours of work per day, week or month in the heavy construction, and the industrial, commercial, institutional construction industry sectors. It has been credited with attracting and retaining skilled trades and well-paying jobs in Manitoba. In late December, industry representatives were invited to join Finance Minister Scott Fielding for a Jan. 7 Zoom meeting to discuss repealing the legislation, how much time the transition may take and what steps might be warranted to "minimize disruption." After Thursdays meeting, five major industry groups Winnipeg Construction Association, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, Mechanical Contractors Association of Manitoba, Merit Contractors Association of Manitoba, and Construction Labour Relations Association of Manitoba issued a joint news release. "We had a good discussion with Minister Fielding, who confirmed that rather than repealing the (legislation), Manitoba will update the minimum-wage rates for the construction industry workforce," said Ron Hambley, president of the Winnipeg Construction Association. Prior to the meeting, trades, contractors, unions, opposition parties, and even Conservative party Sen. Don Plett questioned repealing the act. Plett told the Free Press last month it is not the time to "tinker" with it. With federal investments in infrastructure projects expected to be a major part of Canadas post-pandemic economic recovery, messing with construction industry wages wasnt prudent, advocates said. On Thursday, Fielding committed to establishing a panel to review the legislation "with broad worker-employer representation to update the construction industry minimum-wage rates," the news release from industry said. When asked to respond, the ministers office issued a statement saying Fielding has personally reached out to several industry associations and labour groups over the past few weeks to explain the governments intentions. "The minimum-wage rates in the Construction Industry Wages Act are outdated and our government believes its time to address this. We are committed to fair wages for construction industry workers," Fielding said in the statement. "We are consulting valued industry and labour representatives to modernize the current act instead of repealing it." The last such minimum-wage adjustment was made in 2017. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Yes they were arrested: Afghanistans first confirmation on arresting Chinese nationals for espionage India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: Afghanistan's National Directorate of Security which had busted a Chinese spy ring last month has for the first time confirmed that the security agency detained a Chinese national for espionage. Wolesi Jirga, the Afghan House of Representatives demanded answers from Ahmad Zia Saraj, the chief of the national Directorate of Security. Saraj confirmed that a group of Chinese nationals had been arrested on charges of espionage in Kabul. The NDS chief according to private news channel Ariana News said that a group of Chinese nationals had been arrested, but as it was a sensitive issue, he could not share more details. Afghanistan had let go of the 10 spies who were arrested. They were allowed to return to China on a chartered flight. Chinese spies caught in Afghanistan espionage racket, return to Beijing on chartered flight It may be recalled that in December, the agencies in Afghanistan busted a major Chinese spying racket and have arrested 10 spies. While the details of the terms of release is not known, Amrullah Saleh, the first vide president had said that no foreign national citizen has been arrested in an effort operation in the Khairkhaneh area. The arrested are palmadis that under the scope. A number of them have been arrested on the suspicion of being involved in assassination and kidnapping, he said. During the meeting of Saleh and Chinese envoy Wang Yu, the former had offered to release the 10 spies after Beijing submits a formal apology for betraying Kabul's trust. However Yu had insisted that the detentions are not declared by Kabul said a report in the Hindustan Times. It had been found that both China and Pakistan had been working closely to undertake espionage activities in Kabul. The Afghan National Directorate of Security recently discovered a dense network of Chinese spies, who were trying to influence the geopolitical dynamics in the region. The NDS had on December 10 cracked down on the network and arrested a Chinese intelligence operative Li Yangyang. He had been operating in the country since July. He was arrested from his Kabul residence and the NDS recovered arms, ammunition and explosives including Ketamine powder. On the same day, the NDS arrested another Chinese spy Sha Hung from her Shirpur residence in Kabul. The NDS recovered explosives and highly objectionable material from here residence. Both were kingpins of the espionage network and they were meeting with members of the Haqqani Network that is backed by the ISI. Officials tell OneIndia that both China and Pakistan are working to disrupt the Afghan peace talks. Both are trying to establish themselves as dominant forces in the region and influence the Taliban and Al-Qaeda once the US security forces withdraw. Big Chinese spy racket linked to Pakistans ISI busted in Afghanistan Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News The two arrested spies were also in touch with some Taliban leaders and were also tracking the moment of the Uighur activists who had fled to Afghanistan. They were focusing on the patches of Badakhshan and Kumar provinces. It was also found that they were in touch with the Haqqani Network. ?? Autoridades del Ministerio de Salud informan sobre la evolucion de la pandemia por la COVID-19 en el pais. En vivo: https://t.co/3sr1Ne2JNu pic.twitter.com/NjAlDkCSo8 Paleontologists from the Royal Ontario Museum and the University of Toronto have found and examined the fossilized remains of two subadult and one adult saber-toothed tigers (Smilodon fatalis) likely a mother and two adolescents in the Pleistocene coastal deposits in Ecuador. Their results show that saber-toothed tigers had a unique growth strategy that combined a growth rate that is similar to a tiger and the extended growth period of a lion. Smilodon is a genus of extinct felids that lived in the Americas during the Pleistocene epoch, between 2.5 million and 10,000 years ago. Commonly known as saber-toothed tigers, it includes three recognized species: Smilodon fatalis, S. gracilis, and S. populator. The saber-toothed cat Smilodon occurred throughout North America and South America during the Pleistocene, said lead author Ashley Reynolds and colleagues. Of the three recognized species, Smilodon fatalis is the most completely known, with thousands of well-preserved specimens in collections from so-called tar pits. Without the necessary evidence to determine associations between individuals of Smilodon fatalis due to reworking and time-averaging, inferences about social behavior are exceptionally difficult to infer from such predator trap deposits. Thus, smaller fossil assemblages of associated individuals preserved in fluviodeltaic depositional environments may be more useful for inferring aspects of life history and social behavior in these carnivores. We describe a multiple individual association of Smilodon fatalis preserved in a fluviodeltaic depositional setting in Ecuador, they added. Our analysis suggests that this assemblage is best interpreted as a part of a family group derived from a catastrophic mass mortality event, and thereby provides unique insights into the life history of this iconic predator. The fossilized partial jaws and skeletal elements from at least two subadult siblings and a single mature individual of Smilodon fatalis were found at the Coralito locality in Ecuador. Our study started out as a simple description of previously unpublished fossils, Reynolds said. But when we noticed the two lower jaws we were working on shared a type of tooth only found in about 5% of the Smilodon fatalis population, we knew the work was about to become much more interesting. Reynolds and co-authors found that they were likely looking at three related individuals: one adult and two young adolescents. They determined that the siblings were at least two years old, an age at which some living big cats, such as tigers, are already independent. The social lives of these iconic predators have been mysterious, in part because their concentration in tar seeps leaves so much room for interpretation, said Dr. Kevin Seymour, co-author of the study. This historic assemblage of saber-cat fossils from Ecuador was formed in a different way, allowing us to determine the two juveniles likely lived, and died, together and were therefore probably siblings. A paper on the findings was published this week in the journal iScience. _____ Ashley R. Reynolds et al. Smilodon fatalis siblings reveal life history in a saber-toothed cat. iScience, published online January 7, 2021; doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101916 Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent may still be pregnant with her first child, but she already wants another one. The 31-year-old reality star was seen shopping on Rodeo Drive with fiance Randall Emmett, 49, where she shared her plans to keep having babies. Though their baby girl will be welcomed in April 2021, Kent was already excited for round two, as she said she could not wait to have 'one more.' Another one: Vanderpump Rules star Lala Kent, 31, is currently pregnant with her first child but already said she wants to have 'one more' with fiance Randall Emmett, 49; pictured December 29 Speaking to TooFab, Kent briefly discussed the couple's delayed wedding plans after their April 2020 nuptials had to be postponed on account of the pandemic. Though sad about having to find another date, she revealed they already had a full-proof backup plan. 'We're just gonna make babies instead,' she said. Though the Irishman producer already has two daughters with ex-wife Ambyr Childers, London and Rylee, this is the pair's first child together. Keeping busy: Despite their wedding plans being delayed, Kent said their backup plan was to just 'make babies instead'; pictured January 2 Already treating them like her own, Lala spoke about how many more children she would want to have. 'One more after this,' she said. 'Yeah, I think we'll be good after that.' She also shared that she has been having intense pregnancy cravings for sushi, which she added was 'frustrating because I can't have it.' Kent has already made an Instagram page for the pair's future daughter, which plays on the name of her beauty line Give Them Lala Beauty. Give Them Lala Baby: Kent has already set up an Instagram page for their future daughter who will be arriving April 2021 as she announced the page on January 6; pictured December 29 She announced, 'Give Them Lala Baby' on Wednesday evening, as it is clear she cannot wait to be a mother. No pictures on the page besides an announcement that says, 'Entering the world April 2021,' Kent teased the new source for all her baby-related content. Randall and Lala got engaged in September 2018 after two years of dating. They met in 2016 behind the scenes of the hit Bravo show when she was a hostess at SUR, and he was casting for his movie The Row. As Emmett was currently finalizing his divorce from Childers after eight years of marriage, she kept his identity underwraps during filming - causing many to believe she was having an affair with a married man. Mr. and Mrs: Emmett popped the question on a Cabo vacation in 2018 after two years of dating, getting permission from Kent's late father before he passed in April 2018; pictured 2020 The claims were later debunked, and they proved they were both in it for the long haul, when he popped the question after asking permission from Lala's late father, Kent Burningham, who passed away in April 2018. The couple were supposed to get married at the five-star Pelican Hill resort in Newport Beach last spring but had to indefinitely delay the plans until the Coronavirus dies down. They announced they were expecting their first child on their joint podcast Give Them Lala...With Randall in September, later sharing it was a girl, after an elaborate skydiving gender reveal. The pair currently reside in Emmett's Bel Air estate and were in the process of re-doing it to accommodate their growing family. The Jammu and Kashmir government has started gathering details about the properties of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) youth president and recently elected District Development Council (DDC) member Waheed ur Rehman Parra in Srinagar on the instructions of National Investigative Agency (NIA). The office of deputy commissioner of Srinagar has issued a communication to officials seeking details about the properties of Parra in the district. Also Read: Jammu & Kashmir bans poultry import amid bird flu outbreak The Superintendent of Police NIA headquarters New Delhi vide letter no/ RC/01/2020/NIA/ Jammu/127 dt 4 -01-2021 has requested to provide movable or immovable properties owned or possessed in district Srinagar in the name of arrested accused Waheed ur Rehman Parra... In this connection you are requested to furnish a detailed report in the matter after proper verification in the light of Revenue records immediately. The matter be treated most urgent in view of investigation, reads the letter. Parra was arrested by NIA, a day after he had filed his nomination papers from Pulwama in November, for allegedly getting in touch with Hizbul Mujahideen terrorists seeking support for PDP president and former J&K chief minister Mehbooba during the Parliamentary elections. Parra won the DDC election as a Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) candidate. NIA alleged that Parra had paid money through suspended Deputy SP of Jammu and Kashmir Police Davinder Singh, who has already been arrested for ferrying terrorists from Srinagar to Jammu. Mufti had termed the allegations against Parra baseless and fabricated. The eighth round of discussion is likely to be held between the Centre and farmers unions over the three farm laws today. The meeting is scheduled to start at Delhi's Vigyan Bhawan at 2pm. After seven inconclusive meetings between farmer unions and the government, the two sides agreed to continue their discussions on Friday. Farmers unions warned the government that they will hold a tractor parade if their demand to scrap the three laws is not met by January 26. On January 7, thousands of farmers conducted a tractor rally at Delhi's borders to build pressure on the government. Farmer union leaders said that they will intensify the protests if the government do not meet their demands. Farmers, last month, launched one of the biggest strikes of the decade to force the Centre to revoke three farm laws. They said that these three farm laws will change the way they conduct their business by creating free markets, as opposed to a network of decade old government market places. Their key demands are to repeal the three farm laws and to provide a legal guarantee on MSP. Farmers have been braving the harsh and cold weather to protest against the three farm laws. Agitating over the farm laws, farmers of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been protesting at Delhi borders since November 26. These three farm laws are 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. Also read: IT service firms hired 81,000 employees in November, December Also read: Farmers' protest: Tractor rally at multiple border points; several routes diverted A 20-YEAR-OLD criminal with links to the gangs involved in serious organised criminality in Drogheda is due to be sentenced next month in a landmark money-mule case. Sean Everitt, from Hill View, in the Co Louth town, is already serving sentences for drug dealing and aggravated burglary but he can expect more jail time after he admitted having 10,000 in his bank account which was the proceeds of crime. It is understood he was to be paid about 1,000 for the use of his bank account, which he hoped would go towards paying off a drugs debt to one of the violent gangs involved in the deadly Drogheda feud. However, Everitt was caught after he unsuccessfully attempted to withdraw the cash from a bank in August, 2019, in an incident captured on CCTV. Sources said the bank had the money locked and provided the information to the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) who had set up a major investigation, code-named Operation Ransom. Read More This investigation began after more than 200 customers of an Irish bank became victims of a 2.7m phishing scam in which they provided their bank details after receiving a bogus text message that led to their bank accounts being cleared out by the criminal organisation. The international crime gang behind the massive theft then used money mules such as Everitt, who allowed their bank accounts to be used by the crime organisation to withdraw and deposit money stolen from other accounts. GNECB detectives identified 56 money mules across the country and 39 of these people have now been arrested. Everitt was the first person to be arrested as part of Operation Ransom when fraud squad detectives brought him from Cloverhill Prison for questioning in October, 2019. At that stage, he was on remand in the jail on charges of possessing cocaine totalling 16,000 and cannabis resin worth 19,000. On November 16 last, Everitt was handed a four-year jail sentence for this offence at Drogheda Circuit Court. On the same date he was given an additional four-year term for his role in a horrific aggravated burglary in which a wheel brace was used to terrorise a family in Tullagh, Co Louth in September, 2019. He will be sentenced next month at Dublin Circuit Court for possession of 10,000 believed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct after he pleaded guilty at a court sitting in December. A senior source told Independent.ie that Everitt is not typical of most young people who act as money mules, the vast majority of whom are teenagers without any previous convictions. He got involved through pure criminality, but in many other cases students who have never had any involvement in crime become money mules, the source explained. The organised crime gang use social media, particularly Snapchat, to find people who will allow their bank accounts be used to launder money and they often target students, who receive very little reward for letting their bank accounts be used. Once they get involved they lose complete control of their accounts. The average age of people arrested as part of Operation Ransom is 19. Among the suspects detained as part of the investigation is a 20-year-old man from Clondalkin in Dublin who had 44,000 in his bank account. Investigations also established that in Limerick, a young man used the account of his 15-year-old brother to launder a large amount of money, leading to an arrest. Of the 56 people arrested so far, at least 19 are Irish nationals. GNECB have identified hotspots for money mules in Kildare, Limerick, Mallow and Galway, and anywhere there are third-level colleges across the country. Operation Ransom is just one of around half-a-dozen different investigations into money mules and the fraud squad have identified an additional 600 suspects across the country in these probes, with many more arrests expected this year. Last September, gardai and the banks warned of an increase in the crime, with the industry estimating that more than 12m was laundered using money mules in the first nine months of last year. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Stephan Azulays Instagram account looks like that of a modern fine-dining restaurant. Its a grid of intricate, flaky pastries and well-plated dishes dotted with complex gels and purees. Stephan Azulays Instagram account looks like that of a modern fine-dining restaurant. Its a grid of intricate, flaky pastries and well-plated dishes dotted with complex gels and purees. Azulay isnt a trained chef, but he is a second soloist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and being a professional dancer comes with a certain level of personal expectation. "Taking my food as far as I can take it is probably just me being a perfectionist about it," he says. "And that totally comes from the ballet; we try to do everything as best as we can." Food and dance have been rare constants in Azulays life. MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Stephan Azulay starting cooking more seriously when he lived in New York. Born in London, he lived in Germany, Australia and the United States before landing in Winnipeg in 2016. His father, Antonio Vargas, is a famed flamenco dancer and Azulay has been dancing since he could walk. Ballet became a serious focus in high school and hes been working professionally since the age of 18. On top of hours spent in rehearsal studios, his childhood was filled with good food and formative cooking lessons from his parents. Supplied A batch of cheese croissants is three days in the making for Azulay. "I was always in the kitchen," Azulay says. "My mom and dad are both unreal cooks and I was definitely spoiled with food growing up." His Moroccan-born dad taught him how to make authentic paella and other recipes inspired by Spanish flamenco culture, while his mom introduced him to traditional Portuguese pastries and seafood dishes. Cooking took a back seat while he was in school, but Azulay started playing around in the kitchen again when he joined a dance company in New York. "I dont know if it was out of necessity to save money or just out of boredom but I started cooking a lot more," he says. "It just became a kind of hobby and like any hobby, the more you do it the more fancy it gets. "Once I got to Winnipeg it was like a bigger thing a lot more people were surprised by it." Daniel Crump / Royal Winnipeg Ballet Stephan Azulay in the role of Zidler in Moulin Rouge the Ballet He was living in Las Vegas and dancing with the Nevada Ballet Theatre when he started looking for jobs in Canada where his then-girlfriend lived and work visas were easier to obtain than in the States. After a slew of auditions, the RWB offered him a position and Winnipeg became home for now. His first year in the city was a bit lonely and very cold, but he found community in the local food and music scenes. Azulay continued experimenting with recipes in the kitchen of his downtown apartment and learning new cooking techniques online ChefSteps, a cooking website and foodie forum, is a favourite resource. On top of dancing full-time and working odd jobs at local cafes and restaurants, Azulay cooks himself meals from scratch every day. Pre-pandemic he was also hosting private dinners for friends and strangers. One of his most ambitious events included seven courses and a full week of prep work, all while he was in the thick of rehearsing for a show. Where he finds the time is anyones guess. Supplied Azulays beef tenderloin dish. "Its funny because a lot of ballet dancers hate cooking," he says. "You bust your butt all day and then you come home and you dont really feel like spending two hours in the kitchen prepping a dish. "But to me, I enjoy being creative in the kitchen and... I feel like every meal, theres an opportunity for me to work on a skill of some sort." Even when its self-imposed, the pursuit of perfection and personal growth can be a taxing endeavour. "I definitely feel the stress in the moment," says Azulay, while talking about a 3 a.m. dinner prep session. "Im like, Why do I have to make it so fancy? But then I see the result and its totally worth it. Theres been dinners, not to pump myself up too much, where people will eat and be like, This is literally the best meal Ive ever had in my life." The coronavirus pandemic brought an abrupt end to dinner parties and slowed his dance schedule. Cooking has been a comforting distraction. SUPPLIED Azulay shows off a homemade dish of chicken, potatoes, pickled celery, horseradish aioli, mango gel, pineapple apple puree and radish sprouts. "Ive been baking like crazy just to keep myself busy," he says. "(And) being in Winnipeg without family or friends to spend Christmas with, it was definitely a good distraction." While the masses have been toiling with sourdough starters, Azulay has been perfecting croissants, cronuts and caneles, a French pastry with a custard centre. He started posting the creations on his Instagram page (@cookwithsaz) and was soon taking orders from pastry-loving followers. As is his tendency, he quickly found himself and his cooking equipment overextended. Croissants take three days to make and he was coming up with a new variety every weekend, from cheese to chocolate to almond. He decided to pare down the venture after making more than 100 croissants in one weekend. "Thats over two kilos of butter," he says with a laugh. "I have a studio apartment, theres no storage space, I have a regular KitchenAid stand mixer, which Im very thankful to have, but I can only do one double batch at a time and its like smoking. I was looking at commercial dough mixers and stuff, but I was like, "Do I want to spend $1,000 on this? It doesnt seem like a good decision to make." MIKE DEAL / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Stephan Azulay is second soloist for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and an accomplished home cook. He still occasionally posts sweets for sale, but Azulay is heading back into rehearsals with the ballet next week and back to cooking fine dining fare for one. While dance has brought him around the world, food has given him a sense of place. "Food is more than sustenance, its where we come from," Azulay says. "It tastes good, theres also the art part of it, but more importantly, to me, its the culture of everything." eva.wasney@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @evawasney In an apparent bid to silence his critics over the vandalization of Hindu temples and desecration of idols recently, Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Friday, performed a ceremony for the reconstruction of nine major temples in Vijayawada that were demolished during the previous Telugu Desam Party regime. As if to counter the opposition parties, which sought to link his Christian faith to his governments alleged failure to prevent the attacks on Hindu temples, Jagan performed the Bhumi Pujan ceremony of the Sri Seethamma Vari Padalu (Sitas feet) temple on the banks of Krishna river. Wearing a traditional Hindu attire of silk dhoti and uttareeyam (scarf) and sporting a tilak on his forehead, Jagan laid the foundation stone for the temple amidst chanting of Vedic hymns. He also unveiled another plaque for the construction of Shaneeshwara Swamy temple close by. Later, the chief minister visited goddess Kanaka Durga Temple atop Indrakeeladri hill in Vijayawada and launched eight development projects worth Rs 77 crore from inside the temple premises. After having a darshan of the goddess, he received Veda Asheerwachanam (Vedic blessings) from the temple priests, before unveiling the annual calendar of endowments department. Several ministers, AP Brahmin Corporation Chairman Malladi Vishnu, other MLAs, endowments secretary Girija Shankar and others were present. According to official figures, as many as 40 temples and two Muslim religious structures were demolished, all along the Krishna river near Vijayawada, by the then Chandrababu Naidu government for road widening during the Krishna Pushkarams held in 2016. The demolitions triggered a lot of protests from Hindu groups at that time. Now, the Jagan government took the decision to reconstruct nine major temples, out of these 40, in the wake of large scale protests from the TDP, BJP and various Hindu groups over the vandalization of temples in the recent past. Also Read: Arrested ex-Andhra minister prime accused in kidnapping case, say police The desecration of Lord Rama idol at Ramatirtham temple in Vizianagaram district on the night of December 28 triggered a nation-wide outrage, landing the government in an embarrassing situation and forcing it to order a CID inquiry. On Thursday night, the government issued an order constituting a state-level eight-member communal harmony committee with the chief secretary as its chairman and the director general of police as its vice-chairman. The panel would monitor the security at all religious structures and monuments, besides, formulating an action plan to ensure communal harmony, among other things. Similar communal harmony committees will also be constituted at the district-level, headed by respective district collectors. Meanwhile, the TDP ridiculed Jagans move to reconstruct temples and described it as a big drama to divert the peoples attention from the recent attacks on various temples. TDP general secretary Panchumarthi Anuradha said all the temples demolished during the road widening project were relocated and developed during the TDP regime. If the chief minister has so much concern for Hinduism, why did he stall the construction of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy temple by TTD at Amaravati? she asked. US Capitol riot could be a super-spreader event Thousands of angry Trump supporters, incited by the President himself, stormed the US Capitol in a chaos lasting several hours and unleashed unprecedented scenes of mayhem as lawmakers tried to enforce the peaceful transition of power. Members of Congress were forced into hiding, offices were ransacked. The riot amid a pandemic that is sweeping through the country, could be dangerous and might be a potential super-spreader event, warn scientists. Many of the intruders were seen without masks and social distancing was too much to ask from the mob. Experts warned even if some have been infected, the virus could have spread wildly among the group. Read here Let's look at the global statistics Global infections: 88,051,477 Change Over Yesterday: 820,254 Global deaths: 1,898,655 Nations with most cases: US (21,579,567), India (10,413,417), Brazil (7,961,673), Russia (3,297,833), United Kingdom (2,898,052). Source: John Hopkins Research Center. WHO says Europe at tipping point with Covid Even as European nations have rolled-out vaccines, the is at the tipping point, with the rampant spread of new variants across the continent, said the WHO's regional director. Many nations are delaying the second doses of vaccines to maximise on the limited supplies and protect as many as possible. The highly contagious new variant is detected in more than 22 countries, according to the WHO. The European region recorded more than 580,000 deaths from Covid in 2020, with millions under lockdown entering into the new year. Read here Why vaccinations in France are lagging so far behind France has been slow in vaccinations as compared to many of the western nation as authorities struggle to convince the public to get vaccinated. Vaccine hesitancy coupled with a sluggish bureaucracy has made it difficult to administer shots at a rapid speed. A recent survey indicated that as many as 60 percent of the country is not willing to get vaccinated against the As pressure mounts over the slow roll-out, the French government said it has reworked the strategy, saying they would put in place a simple process and vaccine centers would be expanded through out the country to reach to a wider grouo of people in the initial phase. Read here Swedens unique strategy had run its course Sweden has announced an emergency lockdown for large swathes of the country, moving away from its unique and once successful strategy of taming the covid without harsh restrcitions. Having stung by the virus, that hit the country hard than most of the officials expected, there has been a change in Swedens approach to the virus. The Swedish have long believed that there is no profound difference with the use of face masks, arguing there was little evidence they helped cut infection rates and that it could lead people to relax on more important measures such as keeping distance and hand hygiene. But that is changing now. Read here Pfizer vaccine appears effective against new variants The vaccine developed by Pfizer-BioNtech could be effective against the highly contagious new coronavirus variants, according to a study conducted by the US drugmaker. Scientists have found in the study, which is yet to be peer reviewed, the vaccine is able to neutralise the mutations in the spike protein of the new variant. Pfizer shot is based on a revolutionary mRNA technology, where the dose has a thread of messenger, that triggers the immune response by duping the system with virus-like spikes. Read here Michael Gove warned businesses to expect weeks of 'significant additional disruption' at UK borders as a result of Brexit customs changes today amid industry fury. The Cabinet minister spoke out as firms complained of a 'perfect storm' of post-Brexit changes hitting business from supermarkets to fishermen. Parcel courier DPD UK said it was pausing its road delivery services into Europe, including Ireland, until at least Wednesday, citing issues resulting from the EU-UK trade deal agreed last month, which came into effect on December 31. And retailers warned that a new wave of red tape and tariffs was hitting trade. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said that 'at least 50' of its members face potential tariffs for re-exporting goods following the agreement of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA). Marks and Spencer boss Steve Rowe also warned that, despite the UK signing a free trade agreement with the EU, new rules and regulations are set to 'significantly impact' its overseas ventures in Ireland, the Czech Republic and France, although he insisted the company is 'actively working to mitigate' the issues. Meanwhile UK fishermen lasted out, saying British-landed fish are being left to rot because of a post-Brexit 'brick wall of bureaucracy in French ports. Some consignments have been delayed for up to 48 hours, meaning they run the risk of being rejected the other end for a lack of freshness. Speaking to broadcasters this afternoon, Mr Gove said: 'So far disruption at the border hasn't been too profound but it is the case that in the weeks ahead we expect that there will be significant additional disruption, particularly on the Dover-Calais route. 'It is our responsibility in Government to make sure that business is as ready as possible, and hauliers and traders have already done a lot but we have to redouble our efforts to communicate the precise paperwork that is required in order to make sure that trade can flow freely. 'So over the course of the next few days, Government will be stepping up that communications effort to make sure that business knows what is required.' The Cabinet minister spoke out as firms complained of a 'perfect storm' of post-Brexit changes hitting business from supermarkets to fishermen DPD UK said today it was pausing its road delivery services into Europe, including Ireland, until at least Wednesday, citing issues resulting from the EU-UK trade deal agreed last month, which came into effect on December 31 Some consignments have been delayed for up to 48 hours, meaning they run the risk of being rejected the other end for a lack of freshness The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said that 'at least 50' of its members face potential tariffs for re-exporting goods following the agreement of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA) Lorries arrive at the Port of Dover in Kent a week from the introduction of post-Brexit rules There were lorry queues in Dover as trucks queued up to get across the border to go to France Announcing its decision to halt deliveries today, DPD said: 'The EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement resulted in more complex processes, and additional customs data requirements for parcels destined for Europe. This, along with delays and congestion at UK ports for Channel crossings, has placed extra pressure on our turnaround and transit times. 'We are seeing up to 20 per cent of parcels with incorrect or incomplete data attached, resulting in these parcels needing to be returned to customers, so that the required data can be provided. 'In view of this unprecedented set of circumstances we believe that it is only right to pause and review our road service into Europe, including the Republic of Ireland. During this time, we will work with our customers to validate and correct the data we have in our system, to reduce the delays and enable us to resume normal service. 'This pause in our operation will be as short as possible and we intend to recommence this service on Wednesday January 13.' Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said 'busy times' may return to UK borders as firms get to grips with new paperwork after the exit from the EU single market. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'The Cabinet Office is working very closely with businesses. It's not the case that goods are stopping flowing. A police officer waits to check the COVID-19 test results of drivers as lorries arrive in Dover There were a number of lorries seen queuing as the new checks came in this week 'I was studying, as I do by the hour at the moment, the flow at Kent and it's been picking up every single day of this year so far and you're seeing goods crossing the short straits and flowing perfectly smoothly.' But he was pressed on whether pressures at the border will build because currently firms are avoiding it. Mr Shapps said: 'It's been a quieter start to the year, a lot of that's to do with anticipations, so the stockpiling that's going on.' He added that the chaos seen last month while the post-Brexit transition period was still in place was due to the French closing the border because of concerns over the UK strain of coronavirus and was 'nothing to do with the change of paperwork'. 'We may well see busy times again but actually at the moment the border is in fact flowing and it's flowing very smoothly,' he said. Labour accused the Government of failing to properly prepare for the end of the transition period on December 31. Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon said: 'The Government promised it had a plan to make sure things ran smoothly for businesses and hauliers post-Brexit. 'It's clear the problems caused by its poor preparation and delaying tactics have not gone away. Ministers have to get a grip on this and make sure essential workers are actually able to do their jobs, or we risk seeing a repeat of the chaos on our roads at Christmas.' Fashion retailers and grocery chains have been particularly impacted by new tariff rules on re-exporting goods from the UK bases. The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said that 'at least 50' of its members face potential tariffs for re-exporting goods following the agreement of the Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TCA). Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said 'busy times' may return to UK borders as firms get to grips with new paperwork after the exit from the EU single market. 'We appreciate that the rules of origin in the TCA were designed to be facilitative on trade in goods, but we need a solution which genuinely reflects the needs of UK-EU supply and distribution chains for goods,' said William Bain, trade policy adviser at the BRC. 'We are working with members on short-term options and are seeking dialogue with the Government and the EU on longer-term solutions to mitigate the effects of new tariffs.' Following the agreement of the withdrawal deal, a raft of retailers including John Lewis and TKMaxx suspended deliveries into Northern Ireland amid uncertainty over new Irish Sea trading arrangements. Separately, Marks & Spencer is also struggling with filling shelves in its stores in the Republic of Ireland. The retailer launched a new distribution centre in Motherwell exclusively to deal with supplying products to the island of Ireland, rather than from a warehouse that previously supplied Ireland and Britain. But seven days into the new arrangements between the EU and UK, the centre is said to be struggling to cope with the new rules. Marks and Spencer boss Steve Rowe also warned that, despite the UK signing a free trade agreement with the EU, new rules and regulations are set to 'significantly impact' its overseas ventures in Ireland, the Czech Republic and France, although he insisted the company is 'actively working to mitigate' the issues Sources close to the retailer insist the issues are only temporary as the company get to grips with the new systems and paperwork. One problem for M&S is that many of its products sold in Ireland are sourced in the UK and tend to be ready meals or prepared dishes, requiring separate paperwork for meats, dairy and vegetables. A typical M&S dish contains all three and is therefore facing more lengthy paperwork, whilst reports also suggest delays continue at ports. An M&S spokesperson said: 'Following the UK's recent departure from the EU, we are transitioning to new processes and it is taking a little longer for some of our products to reach our stores. 'We're working closely with our partners and suppliers to ensure customers can continue to enjoy the same great range of products.' And in a broadside at new rules on fish, the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations said: 'Despite the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU reached on Christmas Eve, there is mounting concern over the export of fish to Europe, centering on obstacles in Calais and Boulogne. 'The first consignments of the year from Cornwall hit a brick wall of bureaucracy, and similar problems are being faced in relation to prawns exported from North Shields and with direct landings into Holland. 'At the time of writing one consignment of fish had been delayed 48 hours with attendant loss of quality. There were fears that the customer would reject the whole consignment on arrival. 'Buyers are warning vessels that purchases at first sale markets will soon be impacted if clear export routes across the narrow straits, compliant with the new customs regime cannot be quickly established.' In a broadside at new rules on fish, the National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations said: 'Despite the Trade and Cooperation Agreement between the UK and the EU reached on Christmas Eve, there is mounting concern over the export of fish to Europe, centering on obstacles in Calais and Boulogne (pictured)' Donna Fordyce, chief executive at Seafood Scotland, said exporters had been hit by a 'perfect storm' of bureaucracy, IT problems and confusion. She said: 'The last 48 hours has really delivered what was expected - new bureaucratic non-tariff barriers, and no one body with the tools to be able to fix the situation. 'It's a perfect storm for Scottish seafood exporters. Weakened by Covid-19, and the closure of the French border before Christmas, the end of the Brexit transition period has unleashed layer upon layer of administrative problems, resulting in queues, border refusals and utter confusion. 'IT problems in France meant consignments were diverted from Boulogne sur Mer to Dunkirk, which was unprepared as it wasn't supposed to be at the export front line. There have also been HMRC IT issues on the UK side that need to resolved ASAP regarding certification. 'A lack of knowledge and understanding of the required paperwork means some companies are ill prepared for the new checks, which are taking far longer because of the mistakes being uncovered. When the systems settle down, checks should be carried out on samples from each load but now entire consignments are having to be checked to satisfy requirements.' A prominent human rights lawyer and former president of the National Lawyers Guild has admitted that she is not Latina, but in fact a white woman from Georgia. Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan, senior counsel at the Latino Justice Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund, claimed Puerto Rican and Colombian heritage, according to Prism. Records obtained by the site say Bannan's family in fact arrived in the United States from Ireland, Italy and Russia, and she was born in Georgia. The 43-year-old responded to the report this week and confirmed that she is white. 'I am racially white and have always said that,' she said on Monday. 'However, my cultural identity was formed as a result of my family, both chosen and chosen for me, and that has always been Latinx. 'My identity is my most authentic expression of who I am and how I pay honor to the people who have formed me since I was a child.' Bannan is the latest in a growing line of people to be revealed as having assumed a false racial identity, including Alec Baldwin's wife Hilaria and her recent Spanish scandal. Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan, 43, has admitted that she is not Latina having assumed the identity Bannan admitted in response to an article that she was a white woman born in Georgia Hilaria was 'outed' on December 21 as being a white woman from Boston, known until 2009 as Hilary, whose parents happen to live in Spain. Meanwhile, back in 2015 Rachel Dolezal sparked controversy and was slammed as a 'race faker' for claiming she 'identified as black' despite being born to white parents. Bannan said that she had dedicated herself to 'using my privilege as a racially white, US-based woman to denounce the aggressions of this country.' On social media, people were unimpressed. '"Racially white". Girl, please stop,' one responded to her. 'What the hell is that? She's white,' said another. One accused her of 'tryna Dolezal your way out through this'. It comes just weeks after Hilaria Baldwin became embroiled in scandal when accusations about her Spanish heritage first went viral on Twitter - prompting furious speculation that the Massachusetts native has been faking her European background. It prompted dozens of people to find examples of Baldwin using a Spanish accent, a jarring contrast to her childhood in Boston where she was known as Hillary and considered white by her classmates. Several videos of Hilaria's past TV appearances resurfaced showing her commitment to a Spanish accent, including one Today show segment during which she seemingly forgot the English word for 'cucumber'. At first, she denied the allegations, stating that it was only 'Fake Twitter accounts accusing me of a fake identity!' but she was later forced to back down and reveal more about her Massachusetts background after thousands of comments. 'Yes, I am a white girl. I am a white girl. Let's be very clear that Europe has a lot of white people in there and my family is white,' she said in an Instagram video. 'Ethnically, I am a mix of many, many, many things. Culturally, I grew up with two cultures so it's really as simple as that.' Hilaria said that she is a bilingual speaker and claimed that she speaks English in varying degrees of a Spanish accent depending on her emotions at the time, in response to the numerous videos showcasing her changing accent. She also spoke to the New York Times for an interview, during which she blamed the media for 'misrepresenting' her as Spanish and causing 'confusion' about her heritage. Bannan (third from left) claimed Puerto Rican and Colombian heritage for over a decade INFAMOUS 'RACE FAKERS' IN THE US Rachel Dolezal - former college professor and NAACP activist known for identifying as a black woman despite having been born to white parents. She was 'outed' in 2015. Jessica Krug - a white professor of African American studies at George Washington University confessed in a Medium post earlier in September 2020 that she had been faking being black for years, and was in fact a Jewish woman from Kansas. Satchuel Cole - born Jennifer Lynn Benton, the Indiana-based activist and member of Black Lives Matter admitted in a Facebook post in September 2020 to having 'taken up space as a Black person while knowing I am white'. CV Vitolo-Haddad - she resigned from her teaching job at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after admitting in September 2020 that she pretended on multiple occasions to be black or Latino. She is actually Southern Italian and Sicilian. Hilaria Baldwin - the wife of actor Alec Baldwin was born in Boston to American parents, but changed her name from Hilary in 2009. She has claimed to be Spanish, because her parents live there and she spent time there as a child. She was 'outed' in December 2020. Natasha Lycia Ora Bannan - in January 2021 the prominent human rights lawyer admitted that she was not a Latina, but was born to white parents in Georgia. Advertisement 'Race faking' has become a frequent phenomena in the United States. Just last September, a community activist from Indiana who campaigned for racial justice outed herself after posing as a black person for years despite being white. Satchuel Cole, born Jennifer Lynn Benton, admitted in a Facebook post to having 'taken up space as a Black person while knowing I am white'. The activist, from Indianapolis, was a member of the Indy10 Black Lives Matter group and in 2017 acted as a spokesperson for the family of Aaron Bailey, who was shot and killed by police following a traffic stop in June 2017. Cole - who uses the pronouns they and them - is just the latest in a string of people who have admitted to lying about being black. 'Friends, I need to take accountability for my actions and the harm that I have done,' Cole wrote on a Facebook page with the name Satch Paige. 'My deception and lies have hurt those I care most about. I have taken up space as a black person while knowing I am white. I have used blackness when it was not mine to use. 'I have asked for support and energy as a Black person. I have caused harm to the city, friends and the work that I held so dear. I will do the work to take responsibility for my actions and try to reduce the harm that I have already caused.' Cole promised to work to repair the harm caused if possible. The same week, University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student CV Vitolo-Haddad resigned from a teaching role after admitting to lying about being black. Vitolo-Haddad pretended on multiple occasions to be black or Latino although the teacher is actually Southern Italian and Sicilian. Vitolo-Haddad confessed to the deception in two Medium blog posts and apologized for 'every ounce of heartbreak and betrayal' caused by the false claims. 'In trying to sort through parts of who I am, I've taken some very wrong turns. I never really owned up to them as they became apparent, nor recognized the trail of damage behind me,' Vitolo-Haddad wrote. Hilaria Baldwin, wife of Alec Baldwin, became embroiled in scandal when accusations about her Spanish heritage first went viral on Twitter - prompting furious speculation that the Massachusetts native has been faking her European background Satchuel Cole, who was born Jennifer Lynn Benton, was a member of the Indy10 Black Lives Matter group and in 2017 acted as a spokesperson for the family of Aaron Bailey, who was shot and killed by police following a traffic stop in June 2017. Jessica Krug, 38, a white professor of African American studies confessed in a Medium post earlier in September that she had been faking being black for years. The professor at George Washington University admitted she had deceived colleagues and students for years. Krug grew up as a white Jewish child in Kansas City but assumed a series of different black identities throughout her career, she confessed in a Medium blog post on September 3. Krug resigned from her role at the university following a backlash over the deception. Michelle Moyd, the Ruth N. Halls Associate Professor in the Department of History at IU, said that the recent spike in the exposure of race fakers will have extremely negative effects on the black community. 'Each time one of these frauds is exposed, the people around them are left to pick up the pieces,' she said. CV Vitolo-Haddad (pictured), a University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student, has resigned from a teaching role after admitting to lying about being black Lahore, Jan 8 : An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore has sentenced Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) commander Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi to at least 15 years imprisonment, after the court found him guilty on charges of terror financing. The Punjab province's counter-terrorism department on terror financing charges recently arrested Lakhvi. "The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore convicted Lakhvi for commission of offences of terrorism financing in a case registered by the CTD for 15 years under different sanctions of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997", said an ATC court official said. Lakhvi, 61, was sentenced to five years in jail each on three different counts with a fine of at least Rs.100,000 on each count. "In default of payment of fine, he will have to undergo an imprisonment of six months each on three counts. He has been sent to prison to serve the sentence", the official of ATC said. As per the case details, Lakhvi has been using a dispensary to gather funds and use them to facilitate and support terrorist outfits. It is pertinent to mention that Lakhvi is the mastermind behind the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. The case has been pending in the Pakistan courts for years as Lakhvi has been on bail since the year 2015. Lakhvi denied the charges levelled by the CTD and stated that he is being falsely implicated in the case. However, the CTD official maintained that "he and others also collected funds from the dispensary and used these funds for further terrorism financing. He also used these funds for personal expenses". What was interesting to see was that Lakhvi was brought to the ATC in Lahore for his first hearing after the arrest on Friday and was convicted the same day. Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is in the list of proscribed terrorists of the United Nations since 2008. His name was put in the UN proscribed individuals because he has close links with banned terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Al-Qaeda. Lakhvi was responsible for preparing, planning, financing, facilitating and perpetrating terror activities. Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021 5:35 pm OLYMPIA In Washington, D.C., pro-Trump extremists stormed the U.S. Capitol, overtaking the House and Senate chambers, pausing the 2020 presidential election certification and leaving one woman dead. In Olympia, pro-Trump protesters climbed the fence of the governor's mansion, running to the door and chanting "Open up." No one was hurt. The events that unfolded Wednesday shocked the country, leading many Washington lawmakers on both sides to quickly condemn the violence. Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said the violent protests at the U.S. Capitol should be denounced by both sides, just as last summer's violent protests in Seattle and Portland should have been . "There's never an excuse for any event to turn violent by anybody," Schoesler said. "We all have to say 'No' to violence and destruction." Schoesler said he was involved in several meetings and other activities Wednesday and only heard some of Trump's remarks before and during the protests. "Whether he went over the top, I don't know," he said. "But you have to condemn violence." Sen. Jeff Holy, R-Spokane, said he doubted there would be much controversy over the 2020 presidential election if Democrat Joe Biden won by a larger margin. "National politics appears to have evolved into a contact sport," he said. "And often, power politics doesn't translate well into the running of a state or the running of a country." A former police detective, Holy said he previously served on a police tactical team that was trained to handle demonstrations, including rights of people to protest, but also how to handle violence and property destruction. Senate Republican Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said in a statement that what happened at the U.S. Capitol was "unacceptable." Braun said he understands that some question the legitimacy of the most recent election. "The U.S. Constitution guarantees them the right to have their voices heard through peaceful assembly. They even have the right to challenge the election process in a court of law," his statement read. "But nothing grants anyone the right to storm the Capitol building and terrify those inside." Some Democrats took it a step further, criticizing Trump and other Republicans who refused to stand up earlier against the president's claims about election fraud. In a statement, state Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig, D-Spokane, said he was glad to see prominent Republicans speaking out against the violence. However, he called on elected officials to denounce the day's actions, adding the election was "fair and secure." "I am disappointed that it took violence at the United States Capitol Building for them to finally condemn what has been manifesting for years under this president and in recent weeks through the support of conspiracy theories designed to undermine our democracy," Billig's statement read. Gov. Jay Inslee said the siege was fueled by "the unrelenting and totally discredited lies of Donald Trump and his lackeys in Congress." He called the siege "an attack on democracy itself." In a video address Wednesday, Inslee called on all leaders, especially Republican leaders, to "do some serious soul searching" and get "disinformation out of our public discourse." Inslee said the country is going through "a moment of great turmoil" but he is confident it will get through it. He called on national and state lawmakers to work across the aisle to move forward, something he called "a most difficult task." "Those acts of intimidation will not succeed in any way, shape or form," Inslee said. Spokane Democrat Rep. Marcus Riccelli called out U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers on Twitter after the congresswoman urged protesters to stop the violence. On Tuesday, McMorris Rodgers said she would challenge the certification of president-elect Joe Biden's win. "You did this and you are part of this. Make no mistake. This is your legacy," Riccelli wrote in a tweet. "You have put not only the lives of the Capitol Police at risk, but our democracy. Instead of showing leadership to put a stop to this months ago you have helped lead this insurrection." McMorris Rodgers has since rebuked her Tuesday statement, saying she would vote to certify the results Wednesday night. Jason Mercier, director of the Center for Government Reform at the conservative Washington Policy Center, tweeted from the center's account that there was no justification for "this sad and disgraceful chapter in American history." "I haven't felt this way since watching the second plane hit the twin towers," a second tweet read. "Numb with shock." In Olympia, lawmakers are preparing for more protests next week as the legislative session begins. On Wednesday, protesters who stormed the governor's mansion ended their siege by saying they'd "be back on the 11th" the first day of the legislative session. Schoesler said he understands that some Washington residents are angry over being shut out of state buildings and the prospect of not being able to attend upcoming legislative events in person. "Their access has been truly diminished," he said. "We can't hide behind 'You can watch it on the Web.' " But Schoesler condemned the actions of protesters who forced their way through the gated entrance to the governor's mansion Wednesday afternoon. "Trespassing into the governor's mansion is wrong," he said. "Demonstrate all you want, but there's some things you just don't do." The state Capitol is often the site for large demonstrations. One of the biggest in recent years, Holy noted, was staged by hair dressers angry over a proposed change in state laws governing their rights as independent contractors. Holy said he is willing to wait to see what happens during planned protests Monday when the Legislature opens, but if demonstrators try to force their way into the Legislative Building "that would be a step too far," he said. KALAMAZOO, MI -- Kalamazoo Public Schools this week ended a pilot program at two elementary schools that put kids in the classroom year round. Superintendent Rita Raichoudhuri cited finances, enrollment and logistical problems as reasons to conclude the balanced calendar implemented three years ago at Washington Writers Academy and Woodward School of Technology and Research. The year-round schedule was implemented in an effort to improve academic performance. The district first announced the change in a social media post Monday, Jan. 4. On Thursday, the superintendent offered more details on her decision during the KPS Board of Education meeting. Based on our thorough research, analysis and subsequent findings, this decision is in the best interest of Kalamazoo Public Schools as a whole, Raichoudhuri said. The balanced calendar model was implemented in May 2018 after the schools entered into a partnership with the state of Michigan, which was initially implemented to prevent the schools from being closed for poor performance. Woodward and Washington were among 38 schools across the state slated for closure by Michigans School Reform Office in 2017. Raichoudhuri took the reins of the district in June 2019 and soon thereafter faced multimillion-dollar budget cuts and the unprecedented challenges of the coronavirus pandemic. Among the changes in the district amid the pandemic was a pause of the balanced calendar at Woodward and Washington. The district said, because all schools were in virtual mode, they moved the two elementary schools back to the traditional calendar with the districts other schools. When school resumes in fall 2021, all elementary schools will begin and end on the same date and have the same breaks, the district said. Former KPS superintendent Michael Rice championed the pilot program as a way to keep students engaged and lessen the impact of what educators call the summer slide. The calendar sought to prevent students from forgetting what they learned over long summer breaks and, ultimately, aims to raise student achievement and test scores. Raichoudhuri said national research on the use of a balanced calendar to reduce summer slide is inconclusive. Instead, KPS will use tried and proven methodology to reduce academic slide among all the districts students, she said. In 2019, about halfway through the term of the partnership agreement with the state, schools leaders saw encouraging improvements in student outcomes they attributed to multiple efforts to engage students. Parents and teachers said at the time that the schedule allows for more breaks throughout the year, and provides a better work-life balance. The schools were honored for those improvements in January 2020 by the Michigan Department of Education. In June, the schools were released from the state partnership after charting academic improvements. Related: 2 Kalamazoo schools released from state oversight after academic improvements The calendar change for the schools did not come without consequences. Raichoudhuri said both schools experienced significant loss of enrollment. Between fall 2016 and fall 2019, Woodwards enrollment dropped from 339 students to 191 students, a loss of 148 students, or 44% of its population, the superintendent said. Washingtons population decreased from 383 to 208, a loss of 175 students, which is 46%. The unique calendar for the two schools caused confusion and hardship for parents with students in multiple KPS schools, Raichoudhuri said. Even with parents who didnt have children in other regular schools, childcare was an issue for many. These two schools being on a different schedule created significant hardships for families who were most in need of equitable childcare access. Rice, who left the district to become Michigans state superintendent, said at the time of the pilot programs introduction the district expected those schools enrollment numbers to climb back up as the idea of year-round school became more mainstream. The balanced calendar also resulted in additional financial and human resource costs, Raichoudhuri said. While enrollment decreased, the number of staff had to remain the same to keep adults in every classroom, she said. The superintendent also listed transportation, communication and scheduling professional development for teachers as reasons for making the change. Schools using a balanced calendar lose out on summer enrichment programs, which Raichoudhuri said is not equitable. This lack of access for a subset of our students is not aligned with our values, the superintendent said. Additionally, central office has turned our focus to creating post-pandemic educational recovery strategies, including a robust district-wide summer program, Raichoudhuri said. It is necessary to have all schools on the same academic calendar to provide these opportunities. Also on MLive: Kalamazoo school board voices support of countywide special education tax renewal Virtual learning a nightmare for special education students amid pandemic, parents say More than 50,000 students left Michigan public schools this year. Where did they go? New website highlights: Fully online "Buy Now" feature for Century Complete homes Fully online "Reserve Now" feature for select Century Communities homes Easy map navigation with combined brand search New blog: The Front Porch Online chat offering real-time assistance And much, much more! "Setting a new standard for online homebuying, this website takes the customer experience well beyond virtual window-shopping, making it easy for buyers to reserve or buy their new home online, get prequalified for a home loan, quickly get in touch with local new home specialists, and much more," said Alyson Benn, Vice President of Corporate Marketing. "It also provides a convenient one-stop shop for our two nationally renowned homebuilding brands, along with a wealth of educational material to help buyers navigate the process and find their dream home." About Century Communities Century Communities, Inc. (NYSE: CCS) is a top 10 national homebuilder. Offering new homes under the Century Communities and Century Complete brands, Century is engaged in all aspects of homebuildingincluding the acquisition, entitlement and development of land, along with the construction, innovative marketing and sale of quality homes designed to appeal to a wide range of homebuyers. The Colorado-based company operates in 17 states across the U.S., and offers title, insurance and lending services in select markets through its Parkway Title, IHL Insurance Agency, and Inspire Home Loan subsidiaries. To learn more about Century Communities, please visit www.centurycommunities.com. SOURCE Century Communities, Inc. Related Links www.centurycommunities.com A veteran Maryland lawmaker is undergoing treatment for breast cancer and says she wants to discuss her diagnosis as a way of reminding people to seek preventive care during the pandemic. Del. Anne Healey, D-Prince George's, 70, who has served in the Maryland General Assembly for 30 years, said she was diagnosed in June. She credits early detection with preventing the spread of her cancer. "I do want to encourage the public, especially women, not to delay getting their regular medical treatment," Healey said. "Because if I had delayed it my cancer might have grown to where they couldn't do as much for it." Healey, who had a sister and brother diagnosed with breast and colorectal cancer, respectively, in 2015, said she considered keeping her diagnosis private. But as she and her legislative colleagues prepare to return to Annapolis next week, she opted for a different path, hoping to convince others not to put off doctor's visits. A recent study by the Health Care Cost Institute found that fewer people are seeking routine and emergency medical treatment during the pandemic, creating a "significant dampening effect" on certain health-care services. Many are concerned about exposure to the virus if they venture into medical settings, even though doctors' offices and hospitals are using extensive screening measures and protective equipment to limit spread of the virus and have used telehealth options whenever possible. Experts say the risk of exposure to the virus is minimized in health-care facilities that adhere to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, which include limiting and monitoring points of entry, posting signs about facial masks and establishing a procedure for screening visitors for the virus. "It's really important for people to do everything they can to stay safe," Healey said. "But at the same time they shouldn't let it paralyze them to the point where they're not taking care of their health." Mammograms, which screen for breast cancer, and Pap smears, which screen for cervical cancer, were down nearly 80% percent in April compared to a year earlier, the Health Care Cost Institute found. Colonoscopies, which screen for colon cancer, dropped nearly 90 percent. While the numbers have improved in recent months, the study still found that people are not yet getting preventive health-care services at the levels that they were pre-pandemic. In October, about 10 percent fewer people were getting those tests than a year earlier. "It's legitimately concerning for patients," A. Patrice Burgess, a physician and member of the Council on Medical Service for the American Medical Association, said during a virtual discussion last year. "I think it takes a little while to build confidence that all of our safety precautions are in place, but we are really trying to make up for that backlog." Healey said she initially went in for a mammogram in May. At the time, her gynecologist was not taking appointments but because of her family history the doctor gave her a referral to have the test taken. It came back normal. Two months later, her doctor had started seeing patients again, and Healey had discovered a lump in her breast. The doctor ordered an ultrasound, then a biopsy. Healey ultimately met with a team of doctors at the University of Maryland Medical System, who recommended a lumpectomy, chemotherapy and radiation. She said she has had surgery and four rounds of chemotherapy, which ended Dec. 9, and plans to start radiation treatment later this month, while the legislative session is underway. She's lost her hair and is now wearing a wig. She also lost some weight but has largely regained it. "It's been scary, I have to admit that. But I'm back now and feeling stronger," she said. Healey serves as chairwoman of the House Rules and Executive Nominations Committee and as a member of the House Environment and Transportation Committee. Even though her immune system is compromised, she said she never considered not returning to Annapolis for the session. She noted that both Gov. Larry Hogan, R, and former Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, D-Calvert, continued to work during their cancer treatments. Instead of staying in a hotel during the 90-day session, she plans to rent a house in Annapolis, which will allow her to limit her contact with the public. Much of her committee work will be done virtually. For in-person meetings, she said, staff for House Speaker Adrienne A. Jones, D-Baltimore County, have taken extraordinary lengths to make the chamber and House annex secure for delegates. "I'm trying to figure out ways to take the experience that I have just gone through and try to make things legislatively better, and to be able to speak with more authority about issues as they come up," she said. You can now go shopping at Janpath, wherever you are. The quintessentially Delhi street market is where you can buy thick, plush woollen mufflers for Rs 200 or halter crop tops for Rs 300. There are also boots, jackets, and junk jewellery. At @janpathonline on Instagram, you can see some of the pieces you might see on that street many are in fact sourced there. You can ask, just as you would on site Can you get earrings like this jhumka but not for wedding wear, but actually for work wear? And the answer would be the same: theek hai, thodi der mein check karna (all right; check back in a while). @janpathonline founders Sheetal Munshi and Deeksha Khanna, both Delhi women, actually got just such a request, and worked with their artisans to offer more junk jewellery for work wear. Best of all, the prices on their page are close to street market rates, ranging from Rs 250 to Rs 850. Munshi and Khanna have been friends since college, and their favourite hang-outs used to be Connaught Place and the nearby Janpath street market. Through the years, we would discuss how fantastic it would be if we could start a venture together, said Munshi, 30. The plans were always vague. Then, in 2017, Munshi finished a research course at TISS and returned to Delhi, the two friends reconnected, visited Janpath again and realised they could mirror the concept of this particular street market online. @janpathonline founders Sheetal Munshi and Deeksha Khanna say theyre careful to keep to street market rates too, with products priced at Rs 250 to Rs 850. (Image courtesy JanpathOnline) Most of the handcrafted Indian jewellery on Instagram and Facebook is really expensive, said Munshi, who now works on the site full-time (Khanna has kept her day job as a marketing executive). We give the suppliers their asking price and make sure the stuff is affordable to customers too. Thats our USP, Khanna said. In addition to sourcing from Janpath, they also now feature street jewellery from three other cities famous for it Jaipur, Ahmedabad and Chennai. Himanshu Bhasin, 27, is among the Janpath vendors now represented online. He runs a junk jewellery shop in the street market, with his brother. I did have an idea about Instagram and how people sell on it but didnt have the courage to start by ourselves, he said. On Janpath Online, they present the jewellery in a really good way. Selling through their online portal has been really beneficial for me, especially when the market was closed in the lockdown. Neha Mehta, 32, a risk and people manager from Bengaluru, shops at Janpath online because she says she likes to support businesses run by women, and because she likes the range and prices all on offer in one place. They are also offering a platform to artisans, Mehta said. There were plans to add artisans and vendors from more cities to @janpathonline, and expand to purses, dupattas and more. But of course we couldnt in 2020, Khanna said. We now hope to in 2021. ADVERTISEMENT U.S. Education Secretary, Betsy DeVos, has resigned in protest against U.S. President Donald Trump after his supporters stormed the Capitol building. The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported the development on Thursday, citing the resignation letter. That behaviour (violent riot) was unconscionable for our country. There is no mistaking the impact your (Trump) rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflexion point for me, DeVos said in a letter to Trump, as quoted by the WSJ. Earlier on Thursday, U.S. Transportation Secretary, Elaine Chao, has also resigned due to the Wednesday violence and described it as deeply-troubling. Others, who have stepped down since Wednesday, include Stephanie Grisham, the former Chief of Staff to First Lady Melania Trump; Matt Pottinger, the Deputy National Security Adviser and Sarah Matthews, the Deputy White House Press Secretary. Others are Anna Cristina Rickie Niceta, the Social Secretary at the White House; Ryan Tully, the National Security Councils Senior Director for European and Russian Affairs and Tyler Goodspeed, the acting Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisers. And also John Costello, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Intelligence and Security at the Commerce Department. Thousands of Mr Trumps supporters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday in a bid to prevent Congress from certifying the election results. Protesters attacked the Police with metal pipes and chemical irritants, damaged property, seized the inauguration stage and occupied the rotunda inside the Capitol building. The attack came after Mr Trump urged his supporters to keep fighting to overturn the election results. On Thursday, Mr Trump said that he is outraged by the violent riot at the Capitol and confirmed that he is working to ensure a smooth transition of power to President-elect Joe Biden and his administration. Mr Bidens inauguration is scheduled for January 20. In its response to inciting his followers to perpetrate violence, the social media giant, Fcebook, has suspended the account of Mr Trump, until at least when Mr Biden would have been sworn in. His Instagram account has also been placed on an indefinite suspension. Several world leaders have condemned the invasion of the Capitol Building by pro-Trump supporters. (Sputnik/NAN) Mark Zuckerberg's wife Priscilla Chan has been pictured surfing in Hawaii after her husband waded into hot political waters and banned Donald Trump from Facebook. The 35-year-old pediatrician and philanthropist, who is married to the CEO worth $98.3 billion, was seen taking on some small breakers on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in the Aloha state. Husband Zuckerberg imposed an 'indefinite' ban on Trump yesterday after riots in Washington DC which left five dead and rocked the seat of American democracy. It follows a similar move by Twitter, with Facebook's gagging order to remain in place at least until the end of Trump's term on January 20. Zuckerberg and his wife Chan bought a 700-plus acre property in Kauai for $200 million six years ago. Priscilla Chan, 35, who is married to the Facebook co-founder worth $98.3 billion, was seen taking on some small breakers on a sunny Wednesday afternoon in the Aloha state The pediatrician and philanthropist looked focused as she rode through the surf in glorious sunshine on Wednesday The mother-of-two shows off her balance as she rides over the Hawaiian surf The couple and their two toddler daughters regularly retreat from their base in California to holiday at the sprawling estate. The pictures of Chan emerged just two days after former president Barack Obama was seen gliding across Kailua Bay on a paddle board - he, like Zuckerberg, also condemned Trump yesterday. Writing in an extraordinary blog post on Thursday, Zuckerberg accused Trump of using Facebook 'to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government'. He said the president used his page 'to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building' and that allowing him to freely post in the final 13 days of his term would pose too great a risk. 'The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden,' he wrote. 'His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world. 'We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect - and likely their intent - would be to provoke further violence. 'Following the certification of the election results by Congress, the priority for the whole country must now be to ensure that the remaining 13 days and the days after inauguration pass peacefully and in accordance with established democratic norms. Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg accused Trump of using the platform 'to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government' on Thursday 'Over the last several years, we have allowed President Trump to use our platform consistent with our own rules, at times removing content or labeling his posts when they violate our policies. 'We did this because we believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech. 'But the current context is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government.' Zuckerberg concluded: 'We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. 'Therefore, we are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete.' Earlier this year, Zuckerberg and Chan pledged $100 million to support election officials and fund infrastructure for the general election in November. The couple previously donated $300 million to help the U.S. election process deal with challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic, for example, by funding voting equipment and protective equipment for poll workers. Scott Snyder explains how Dark Nights: Death Metal shows "what DC is all about for 2021 and beyond" https://t.co/83VYTQDER9 pic.twitter.com/jMksKgv06h Newsarama (@Newsarama) January 6, 2021 Wonder Woman 1854 - This amazing image shot by Stephen Berkman of an else-world, war weary Diana, who had chased Aries across the battlefields of the world and had yet to meet Steve, who would help her restore her faith in mankind and love itself. pic.twitter.com/eofkAMg9as Zack Snyder (@ZackSnyder) January 5, 2021 DC's 'Justice Society: World War II' sets voice cast with @Stana_Katic as Wonder Woman and @MattBomer as The Flash https://t.co/35Px6C9NO1 pic.twitter.com/PP5Kuv4WB9 The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 7, 2021 A new beginning for Gotham. Season 2 premieres Sunday, January 17! Stream next day free only on The CW. #Batwoman pic.twitter.com/1ksdGFJ1Pp Batwoman (@CWBatwoman) January 5, 2021 As I reported to you before, #MichaelKeaton is going to be the #Batman of the #DCEU after #Flashpoint but as of now, he'll be training #BarbaraGordon and #Batgirl will be in the "in the field" DCEU Bat person. pic.twitter.com/XepJG47FoJ Grace Randolph (@GraceRandolph) January 4, 2021 DC FUTURE STATE: WONDER WOMAN's Golden Lasso Gets an Upgradehttps://t.co/cpPQSkuZ6W pic.twitter.com/HSAUwKKZQz ComicBook NOW! (@ComicBookNOW) January 6, 2021 6 issues of DC's Future State are going back to press, with 'character portrait' covers. In stores Feb. 2, the 2nd printings are Dark Detective #1 (sold out before release), The Next Batman #1 & 2 (latter sold out before release), Wonder Woman #1, Harley Quinn #1, Swamp Thing #1. pic.twitter.com/1k6pmlGsbq Newsarama (@Newsarama) January 8, 2021 -DCs latest big event has come to its conclusion. Death Metal is OVER.-With the conclusion of Death metal, they went from 52 Multiverses to an Omniverse that is never ending.-All the reboots are in continuity and the characters remember every single reboot that has ever happened to them.-Writers now have to the opportunity to bring back dead characters if they wish to do so.-Before it was ultimately decided upon that Diana would make her debut in WWI and before Patty signed on, there were plans to have her debut during the Crimean War.-This was the original photo that was to be included in BvS and shows a much harsher WW. After plans changed they staged a new photo that would set the tone for the Wonder Woman movie. -JSA: WWII will feature the voices of:Stana Katic as Wonder WomanMatt Bomer as The FlashElysia Rotaru as Black CanaryChris Diamantopoulos as Steve TrevorOmid Abtahi as HawkmanMatthew Mercer as HourmanArmen Taylor as Jay GarrickLiam McIntyre as AquamanAshleigh LaThrop as Iris WestGeoffrey Arend as Charles Halstead/AdvisorKeith Ferguson as Dr. FateDarin De Paul as Roosevelt -Grace appears to be very hit or miss with her DC news so take it with a grain of salt for the moment -Future state has finally arrived and the new WW has hit the ground running.-the first issue was great. Check it out -Fans took to Twitter today to showcase their love for Cavill as Superman and plead with WB to give him another movie. He did end up trending.-Snyder shared a test photo of Cavill in the Donner costume before he was ultimately cast in the role of Man of Steel.-Rumors continue to swirl that WB has no interest in giving him another solo movie but are interested in him cameoing in Black AdamSource: 1 PT Semen Padang exports 1.5Mt in 2020 08 January 2021 Indonesias PT Semen Padang has announced it exported more than 1.5Mt of cement and clinker to various destinations during 2020, including Bangladesh, China, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Australia, Maldives and Sri Lanka. The most clinker exports were sent to Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Malaysia and the Philippines. The majority of cement exports were dispatched to Australia, Maldives and Sri Lanka. Total cement exports reached 200,000t and clinker 1.35Mt. The company also expects to increase cement and clinker exports by expanding its world market share in 2021. Published under More than two-thirds of the 15 million coronavirus vaccines shipped within the United States have so far gone unused. As Mariama Diallo reports, some states are vowing to penalize hospitals that fail to dispense shots quickly enough. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-07 00:46:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A man walks past closed shops in a street in Tripoli, Lebanon on Jan. 7, 2021. Lebanon registered on Wednesday a record increase in the daily COVID-19 infections by 4,166 to 199,925 while the death toll went up by 21 to 1,550, the Health Ministry reported. Lebanon imposed a new lockdown which started on Jan. 7 and will last until Feb. 1 amid an unprecedented surge in the number of infections. (Photo by Khalid/Xinhua) BEIRUT, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon registered on Wednesday a record increase in the daily COVID-19 infections by 4,166 to 199,925 while the death toll went up by 21 to 1,550, the Health Ministry reported. Lebanon will impose a new lockdown which will start on Jan. 7 and last until Feb. 1 amid an unprecedented surge in the number of infections. Authorities and health experts have, on many occasions, warned of a catastrophic situation as the health sector cannot handle the current infections. A vaccination campaign is expected to start by mid-February. A man has taken the rare step of personally suing a judge for compensation after he was jailed for contempt in family law proceedings and held for six days in custody, during which he says he was bashed, became suicidal and woke up to his cellmate strangling him. The father of two, who cannot be named under the Family Law Act, had applied for property adjustment orders in the Federal Circuit Court which deals with less-complex family law matters but was unable to provide full details of his financial situation to his ex-wife as required. "Bring your toothbrush": Judge Salvatore Vasta. In August 2018, Judge Salvatore Vasta told the man if he did not hand over all of his financial information, "bring your toothbrush". "If people dont comply with my orders, theres only [one] place they go, OK. And I dont have any hesitation in jailing people for not complying with my orders," Judge Vasta said. The flaw of this version of "The Crucible," to my mind, is that Whishaw's Proctor is too defeated from the beginning, and thus the rationalist side of the play's central conflict is too weak. Sophie Okonedo is deeply moving as Elizabeth Proctor, a powerful woman laid low by a lethal combination of the macro and the micro a world in the thrall of demagoguery and her husband's infidelity. Her performance alleviates the issue. But Miller uses Elizabeth, along with Rebecca Nurse (Brenda Wehle) and Ann Putnam (Tina Benko), mostly to show the consequence of what has befallen Salem and could take over your town at any moment. These characters are not written to take on the forces of the Rev. Samuel Parris (the strong Jason Butler Harner) and his political backers. That is John's job helped to some degree by Mary Warren (Tavi Gevinson) a girl who may just do the right thing and stare Abigail down. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR OVER UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES TORONTO, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. (TSX-V: MON or Montero) provides the following update on arbitration activities related to the expropriation of the Wigu Hill rare earth element Project (the Project) by the Government of Tanzania. Montero is pleased to advise that it has completed a Litigation Funding Agreement (the Agreement) with Omni Bridgeway Canada Limited (Omni Bridgeway) an affiliate of the Litigation Funder. The Agreement provides for funds to be drawn from a financing facility to meet all fees and expenses relating to the pursuit of certain claims against the Government of Tanzania for the illegal expropriation and loss of the Project, including all costs associated with legal proceedings and, if necessary, enforcement, of any awards. Montero has retained Mr Thierry Lauriol and his team at Jeantet AARPI (Jeantet) as highly experienced legal counsel in international arbitration with a track record of success for its clients in Africa. Dr Tony Harwood, President of Montero, commented, Monteros legal representatives, Jeantet, backed by the financial support of the Litigation Funder Omni Bridgeway, have been engaged to aggressively pursue compensation for the illegal activities of the Government of Tanzania in expropriating the Wigu Hill rare earth element Project. Montero is not able to make any comment in relation to the potential quantum of any claim for compensation at this point. As a background Montero on January 17th, 2020 has delivered a Notice of Intent to Submit a Claim to Arbitration (Notice of Intent) to the Attorney General of Tanzania in accordance with the 2013 Agreement for the Promotion and Reciprocal Protection of Investments in the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) between Canada and the United Republic of Tanzania. The dispute arises out of certain acts and omissions of the United Republic of Tanzania in breach of the BIT and international law, relating to Monteros investment in the Wigu Hill rare earth element project (Wigu Hill) located in Tanzania. Montero commenced exploration activities on the Wigu Hill project in March 2008 when it was held under Prospecting License. Montero subsequently, on advice from the Mining Commissioner, applied for a Retention License in 2014 and this was granted in 2015 and was valid for a period of 5 years. In 2017 the Government of Tanzania announced amendments to the Mining Act 2010, which, inter alia, abolished the legislative basis for the Retention License classification with no replacement classification. On 10th January 2018 the government published the Mining (Mineral Rights) Regulations 2018 which under Regulation 21 cancelled all Retention Licenses issued prior to that date, which would cease to have any legal effect. The rights to all areas under Retention Licenses were immediately transferred to the government of Tanzania. On December 19th 2019, the Mining Commission of Tanzania announced a public invitation to tender for the joint development of areas previously covered by Retention Licenses, including the area of the Wigu Hill Retention License (December 19th Tender). The abolition of the Wigu Hill Retention License and the removal of the various rights to the minerals conferred by this licence has rendered the Wigu Hill project valueless to Montero. Therefore, as a direct consequence of the legislative, regulatory and other measures made by the Tanzanian government, Montero has lost completely its investment. The Notice of Intent is necessary in order to preserve Monteros rights to initiate arbitration should a resolution with the Tanzanian government not be reached. The filing of the Notice of Intent initiates a six-month consultation period between the parties during which time they was no attempt was made by the Tanzanian Government to amicably settle the dispute. Montero has initiated international arbitration proceedings in accordance with the BIT between Canada and the United Republic of Tanzania. Compensation being sought for expropriation of the Wigu Hill rare earth element Project may include, but will not be limited to, the value of the historic investment made by Montero in Tanzania, the value of the project at the time that tenure was expropriated and damages the Company has suffered as a result of Tanzanias acts and omissions. About Montero Montero is a junior exploration company focused on finding, exploring, and advancing globally significant gold deposits in Chile. Monteros board of directors and management have an impressive track record of successfully discovering and advancing precious metal projects. Montero trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol MON and has 38,547,485 shares outstanding. For more information, contact: Montero Mining and Exploration Ltd. Dr. Tony Harwood, President and Chief Executive Officer E-mail: ir@monteromining.com Tel: +1 416 840 9197 | Fax: +1 866 688 4671. | www.monteromining.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements, projections and estimates. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. Such information is based on information currently available to Montero and Montero provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking information by its very nature involves inherent risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of Montero to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Actual results relating to, among other things, completion of the HOA, results of exploration, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Monteros mineral properties, and financial condition and prospects, could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to complete the HOA on the terms as announced or at all; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Monteros activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Monteros forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Montero does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Twelve Bangladeshi nationals were arrested at the Maharaja Bir Bikram Airport, Agartala on Monday after they were caught with fake Aadhar Cards. They entered India illegally through the border in Tripura. They were arrested when they had arrived at the airport in order to fly to Chennai. Airport police station officer-in-charge Sashi Mohan Debbarma told East Mojo, We have arrested 12, including one woman after they failed to produce any original document to prove their identity as Indian citizens. They had tickets booked for a flight to Chennai. He also said that a case has been registered against them and they would be produced at the Court on Tuesday. As per reports, the Bangladeshis have confessed during interrogation that they entered India illegally. The fake Aadhar Cards were detected by the Indigo staff when they went to collect their boarding staff for their Indigo flight from Agartala to Chennai via Guwahati. They were apprehended by the security personnel at the airport before being handed over to the Police. The Bangladeshis collected their fake Aadhar cards from individuals in Sonamura subdivision of Sipahijala district. Tripura Police is reported to have initiated an investigation into the matter in order to bust the fake Aadhar card racket. Tripura shares over 800 km of border with Bangladesh. Illegal immigration from Bangladesh and crimes along the border have been a thorn in Indias side for decades. India has stepped up its border security to stop the menace but has not been able to prevent the threat in its entirety although there has been significant improvement on that front in recent years. Source : OpIndia Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB > + compare By Digit Desk | Updated on 26-May-2021 Market Status : LAUNCHED Release Date: 08 Jan, 2021 Official Website : Samsung LAUNCHED CLOSE Build and Design Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB Variants Select Variant 64GB/4GB Storage 32GB/3GB Storage Color All Black 9,999 Buy Now 8,999 Buy Now 8,999 Store Available atStore see all prices > Market Status : LAUNCHED Release Date : 08 Jan, 2021 Official Website : Samsung Key Specs 6.50" (720 x 1560) 13 + 2 + 2 | 5 MP 32 GB/3 GB 5000 mAh Variant /(s) 64GB/4GB 32GB/3GB Color 8,999 (onwards) Store Available atStore Price : set price drop alert > Current Best Price of Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB is 8999 X Enter your email & we will notify you the instant price drops Send latest launches, News, Best Deals once a week Allow notifications to get our latest updates X Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB 8999 | Buy Now prices in india Variants All 64GB/4GB Storage 32GB/3GB Storage Colors All Black Merchant Name Availability variant price go to store Available 64GB/4GB 9,999 Buy Now Available 32GB/3GB 8,999 Buy Now key specifications Display 50 Screen size (in inches): 6.50 6.50 Screen resolution (in pixels): 720 x 1560 Camera 50 Camera features: Triple Triple Rear Camera Megapixel: 13 + 2 + 2 13 + 2 + 2 Front Camera Megapixel: 5 Battery 72 Battery capacity (mAh): 5000 5000 Support For Fast Charging: Yes Overall 45 CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 RAM: 3 GB 3 GB Rear Camera Megapixel: 13 + 2 + 2 Feature 100 OS version: 10 10 Finger print sensor: Yes Performance 62 CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Processor cores: Octa-core Octa-core RAM: 3 GB Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB Specifications Basic Information Manufacturer : Samsung Model : Galaxy M02s Operating System : Android Os Version : 10 Type : Smartphone Status : Launched Colors : Black Product Name : Samsung Galaxy M02s Display Screen Size (In Inches) : 6.50 Screen Resolution (In Pixels) : 720 x 1560 Camera Camera Features : Triple Rear Camera Megapixel : 13 + 2 + 2 Front Camera Megapixel : 5 Led Flash : Yes Hdr : Yes Aperture (F Stops) : f/2.2 Primary 1 Aperture : f/2.2 Front Facing Aperture : f/2.2 Battery Battery Capacity (Mah) : 5000 Removal Battery (Yes/no) : No Support For Fast Charging : Yes Fast Charging Wattage : 15W Charging Type Port : USB Sensors And Features Keypad Type : Touchscreen Proximity Sensor : Yes Finger Print Sensor : Yes Accelerometer : Yes Compass : Yes Gyroscope : Yes Connectivity Sim : Dual 3G Capability : Yes 4G Capability : Yes Wifi Capability : Yes Wifi Hotspot : Yes Bluetooth : Yes Nfc : Yes Gps : Yes Technical Specifications Cpu : Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Cpu Speed : 1.8 GHz Processor Cores : Octa-core Ram : 3 GB Gpu : Adreno 506 Dimensions (Lxbxh- In Mm) : 164.2 x 75.9 x 9.1 Weight (In Grams) : 196 Storage : 32 GB Call For Code Starter Kits | Get All the answers Get a head-start on your Call For Code solution with this exclusive workshop on starter kits. Use these starter kit to build your applications. Click here to know more Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB Brief Description Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB was launched in January 2021 & runs on Android 10 OS. The Smartphone is available only in one color i.e. Black & has a built in fingerprint sensor as the primary security feature, along with the host of connectivity options in terms of 3G, 4G, GPS, Wifi, NFC Bluetooth capabilities. The phone is available with 32 GB of internal storage. The Smartphone is powered by 1.8 GHz Octa-core core Qualcomm Snapdragon 450 Processor. A 3 GB of RAM ensures phone runs smoothly even the most memory intensive applications & still shows no signs of lag. 32 GB of internal storage can not be expanded further. The Phone comes with a powerful 5000 mAh battery to support it's 6.50 inch screen, having a resolution of 720 x 1560. Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB boasts of dual primary camera of 13 + 2 + 2 megapixel and 5 megapixel front Camera. The Smartphone has a low camera aperture of f/2.2. It also support high dynamic range(HDR) imaging. read more Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB Price in India updated on 26th May 2021 Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB Price In India Starts From Rs. 8999 The best price of Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB is Rs. 8999 in Amazon, which is 11% less than the cost of Samsung Galaxy M02s 32GB in Amazon Rs.9999.This Mobile Phones is expected to be available in 64GB/4GB,32GB/3GB variant(s). Store Product Name Price Amazon Samsung Galaxy M02s (Blue,3GB RAM, 32GB Storage) | 5000 mAh | Triple Camera 8,999 Amazon Samsung Galaxy M02s (Blue,4GB RAM, 64GB Storage) | 5000 mAh | Triple Camera 9,999 As India gears up to receive the first shipment of Covishield - the Covid-19 vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, the second phase of the nationwide coronavirus vaccination dry run will be held today. During the day-long exercise, more than 25 health workers will get dummy vaccines at each site, which is meant to test the mechanisms and reveal possible gaps in the system ahead of the actual Covid vaccination drive. Also Read | Virus spread slows but two states still a worry What you need to know about nationwide Covid vaccine dry run: What is a dry run? A practice session, in which a sample number of beneficiaries will go through a mock immunisation process is known as a dry run essentially. Who will be participating in the dry run? Around 1.7 lakh vaccinators and 3 lakh team members have been trained for verification of beneficiaries, vaccination process, cold chain and logistics management, bio-medical waste management, and adverse event following immunization (AEFI) management and for operating the Co-WIN software. Aim of the dry run The aim of the dry run exercise is to test the linkages between planning and implementation and identify the challenges. It will also test the operational feasibility of the use of CoWIN application -- a digital platform to roll out and scale up the vaccination drive -- in a field environment. Where will dry run be conducted? The Friday dry run will be held at three-session sites of 736 districts across 33 states and Union Territories (UTs) preparing for an imminent rollout. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh will not participate in this dry run mock drill as they have already conducted it in all their districts. Here are the dry run centres announced by states: Delhi: The health officials will conduct the second dry run for the Covid vaccination roll-out in Delhi that will span across several districts of the city. The districts include South Delhi, South East Delhi and North West Delhi and New Delhi, they said. Maharashtra: The dry run for Covid vaccination will be held in 30 districts and 25 municipal corporation areas. The mock drill exercise is being done to detect logistical issues that may crop up in the actual immunisation drive. Tamil Nadu - A dry run for the coronavirus vaccination will be held in all districts today, Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan has said earlier. Karnataka: Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar has said that the Covid vaccination dry run will be conducted at 263 places across the state. He also said 6.30 lakh healthcare workers serving in both government and private sector have registered for vaccination and the window for registration is still open. Madhya Pradesh: Madhya Pradesh's Indore will hold the mock drill and it will be conducted at four centres. Covid Nodal Officer Dr Amit Malakar said that the mock drill will be conducted at four centres in Indore and for 25 people each. Jharkhand: CM Hemant Soren has reviewed the ongoing preparations for vaccination and cold chain management in the state. As many as 99.89 lakh people have been identified for the vaccination, including 1.5 lakh healthcare workers comprising Anganwadi workers and 2 lakh frontline workers that will be vaccinated in the first phase. Uttarakhand: The day-long exercise in preparation for Covid vaccination will be held in all 13 districts of the state. The mock drill will be conducted at 130 health centres across the state, 10 each in every district. Puducherry: The second dry run of coronavirus vaccination would take place in nine centres across the state today. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Last year, stay-at-home orders to combat Covid-19 cleared the roads of congestion. Fewer competing vehicles should have made driving saferbut instead, the rate of fatal crashes climbed as unimpeded speed demons put the pedal to the metal. Now, traffic is back to normal in many areas, but some lead-footed drivers are still going full throttle. The unfortunate part is we havent seen that behavior abate," said Michael J. Hanson, director of the Office of Traffic Safety at the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. From April 1 to May 21, Minnesota State Patrol ticketed 232 drivers for going more than 100 mph. By the end of the year, troopers had issued more than 1,000 citations for going that fastaround double the number from the previous year. The top speed in the state, recorded on a citation written in October, was 153 mph. Historically, economic downturns have led to fewer vehicle miles traveled as well as lower rates of motor-vehicle deaths, but last year took a different turn. Nationally, vehicle miles traveled dropped an unprecedented 264.2 billion miles over the first half of 2020, a decline of 17% compared with the first half of 2019, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In the same period, the agency estimated the number of fatalities shrank 2%, falling to 16,650 from 16,988 the previous year. But the rate of fatalities grew 18%, rising to 1.25 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, up from 1.06. In other words, an inordinate number of people died given how many fewer miles they traveled. It was the highest motor-vehicle fatality rate for that span of time in a dozen years. On less-congested roads, you get fewer collisions, but the collisions you do have are more severe," said Bob Pishue, an analyst with INRIX, a company that studies traffic patterns. View Full Image Speed average In a report released last month, Mr. Pishue examined how the Covid-19 pandemic affected collisions on the busiest roads in the nations top 25 metropolitan areas and found a 31% increase in the fatality rate during the second quarter. A significant factor in the deaths was speed. Across the country, at least a dozen states reported clocking vehicles at more than 100 mph, but Minnesota was the first to alert the Governors Highway Safety Association of an increase in the dangerous trend. They reached out and said, Hey, is anyone else seeing anything crazy, because here its nuts, " said Pam Fischer, an association spokeswoman. The California Highway Patrol issued 2,493 citations for driving more than 100 mph in the first month of the lockdown, from March 19 to April 19, compared with 1,335 in the same period the previous year. The Nebraska State Patrol issued 902 citations for going at least 100 mph through October, compared with an average of 538 for the same period in previous years. And New York City, as The Wall Street Journal recently reported, is on track to record the highest number of traffic deaths since launching a safety initiative in 2014. In addition to speeding, NHTSAin a special report examining traffic safety during the second quarter of 2020found that driving while impaired and forgoing seat belts were prevalent as well. Last April, the ejection rate was double what it had been the previous year, according to the report, pointing to a decrease in seat-belt use. And data from five trauma centers revealed a higher prevalence of alcohol, marijuana and opioids in crash victims throughout the second quarter compared with previous years. Travel is now close to pre-Covid-19 levels across the country, but INRIX has found that traffic patterns remain fundamentally changed, perhaps contributing to some drivers continuing willingness to push the envelope and risk paying the price. The 5 p.m. rush hour is close to normal, but there are free-flow speeds in the morning and very little congestion," Mr. Pishue said. Until employers feel comfortable employees will be safe coming into the office, its likely to stay this way for a little while." In the meantime, traffic-safety officials such as Mr. Hanson are trying to get drivers to ease off the gas. Speed is the one driver behavior that makes every mistake worse," he said, and its a preventable behavior." Boiled down, his message to the remaining speed demons is simple. Its time to slow your roll. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. PHILIPSBURG The Government of Sint Maarten in collaboration with the St. Maarten Christian Council, St. Maarten United Ministerial Foundation, and the Seventh Day Adventist Church will host the annual National Day of Prayer. The annual event is held on the second Sunday in January, which falls on, January 10th, 2021. This years event with the theme Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done will be a virtual video presentation due to the ongoing COVID-19 protocols that discourage large social gatherings. The public is encouraged to view the service by tuning in live on the Government of St. Maartens Facebook page and YouTube Channel on January 10th, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. It will also be broadcasted on St. Maarten Cable TV Channel 115 at 8:00 p.m. on the same evening. Every year, the Government of St. Maarten invites the entire Sint Maarten community to pray and worship at the National Day of Prayer at the Government Administration Building. The National Day of Prayer was decreed in 2005 by the Executive Council of the Island Territory of Sint Maarten and serves as an ecumenical service for persons of all faiths and religions to pray for a prosperous and healthy new year for the nation. This virtual event was recorded at the Seventh Day Adventist Church and Heavens Touch International Ministries and includes praise and worship, remarks by the Honorable Prime Minister Silveria Jacobs, Honorable Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sport drs. Rodolphe Samuel, songs, prayers, and much more. We look forward to hosting a successful virtual event and we thank our collaborators for their invaluable contributions. For further information kindly contact the Department of Culture via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . Tune in Live: Facebook.com/SXMGOV and Government of St. Maarten YouTube Channel. Airing on Sint Maarten Cable TV Cable 115 at 8:00 p.m. Subscriber content preview SEATTLE The Lorraine, at 5630 California Ave. S.W., sold for over $4.8 million, according to King County records. The seller was the Baldwin family, which acquired the property in 2006 for over $1.7 million. . . . It takes quiet reflection and a little time to complete these forms. As I wrote my instructions for making health decisions, I wanted to offer guidance for the situations I might not imagine now. I thought the best way to do that was to include my thoughts about what I value in the life I have lived so far, and what I want my daughter to think about as shes making hard choices about quality of life. It was an uplifting exercise that reminded me of my good fortune. Heres an excerpt: For me, life is wonderful with the ability to read, write and enjoy the world around me. If life after treatment would leave me confined indefinitely to a bed or require round-the-clock care, that is not a life I want to live. As you are making these decisions for me, Im sorry you are in this position, but know that I have lived a wonderful and happy life with much love, joy and adventure! So for todays Well challenge, I encourage you to embrace the opportunity to be prepared by creating an advance health directive and gathering other documents to support your family in a time of crisis. Ive mapped out six simple steps and the links you need to do it. Sign up for the Well newsletter to get the 7-Day Well Challenge in your inbox. Day 5 Create a Crisis Notebook Pick a binder: While you should create a digital copy of all your important documents, having a physical binder that your loved ones can grab quickly in a crisis is a good idea. I chose an attractive three-ring binder that looks nice on my bookshelf! Its out in the open so it will be easy to find if someone needs it. You may also want to put backup copies in a fireproof lockbox, give a set to a trusted friend or lawyer and scan copies to put in an online folder. Use a checklist: The first pages in my binder are from this AARP worksheet, which is the best checklist Ive found to help identify everything a loved one might need in a crisis. It includes space to list medical, insurance, financial and end-of-life information and answers the most important question for your loved ones: Where is it kept? Many of the documents you need vary by state, and some require witnesses and possibly a notary. They all require some thoughtful contemplation on how you want to be cared for during an illness or at the end of life. Write your advance directive: You can find the forms for your state on the AARP website. An advance directive should designate someone to make medical decisions for you if youre not able and offer specific guidance about your wishes if you become critically ill and require life support. If you dont complete these forms in advance, your immediate family will be in charge of your care in a crisis, even if that is not whom you would have picked. In addition to putting a copy in your home binder, you can ask to have it put on file with your medical provider and your lawyer, if you have one. Have the talk: Have a conversation with your backup decision maker about your wishes and make sure they know where to find the document. A Kaiser Family Foundation study reported that only 56 percent of adult Americans have had a serious conversation about health care preferences, 27 percent wrote down their preferences, and just one in 10 discussed them with a health care provider. For additional guidance, read The Time for The Talk Is Now by Dr. Laura Schellenberg Johnson, a physician at EvergreenHealth in Kirkland, Wash. To give your loved ones additional support, consider adding a last letter to your binder. They've been dating now for six months. And the romance between Jordana Brewster and Mason Morfit is clearly going from strength to strength. On Thursday, the couple were spotted on a coffee run with the actress' adorable fluffy brown dog. Going strong: Jordana Brewster and Mason Morfit were spotted on a coffee run with the actress' adorable fluffy brown dog in LA's Brentwood neighborhood on Thursday The Fast & Furious star, 40, showcased her slim figure in a pale beige sweater and skinny faded black jeans. She stepped out in beige ankle boots and sported black-framed sunglasses. Her tech entrepreneur beau, 44, wore a navy sweater with black pants and brown shoes. Both donned face masks as COVID-19 cases in Los Angeles continue to surge out of control. Stylish: The Fast & Furious star, 40, showcased her slim figure in a pale beige sweater and skinny black jeans. She stepped out in beige ankle boots and sported black-framed sunglasses Brewster got her pup a few weeks before filing for divorce from husband Andrew Form on July 1. She and the 48-year-old film producer met on the set of the 2006 movie The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning, and married in May 2007. They are parents to two sons, born via gestational surrogate - Julian, seven, and Rowan, four. Mom of two: Just a few weeks after adopting her dog, on July 1, Brewster filed for divorce from her producer husband Andrew Form. The exes share sons Julian, seven, and Rowan, four Brewster will next be seen on screen in F9, the latest installment in the Fast And Furious franchise that's slated to be released in May after being pushed back due to the pandemic. In October, it was announced that the film's director Justin Lin is set to helm two more movies which will wrap up the franchise after a 20-year run. Brewster is likely to be back along with series headliner Vin Diesel and castmembers Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Ludacris. Since the first film The Fast And The Furious premiered in 2001, the franchise has become the highest-grossing movie series in the history of Universal Pictures. Amaravati, Jan 8 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Secretary Aditya Nath Das wrote to the State Election Commissioner (SEC) Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, that the halted rural local body elections could be resumed once the total vaccination programme along with coronavirus management is allowed to proceed unhindered on Friday. "Once this disaster is tackled with vaccination, state would agree to any schedule of resumption of the halted local election process. In view of the wellbeing of the people of Andhra Pradesh, the SEC may consider the request of state government," wrote Das. He highlighted that most functionaries of the state government would be engaged in the massive vaccination operation, being undertaken by the Ministry of Health, Government of India. Das reiterated that the state government has utmost regard for the democratic process, allegedly halted by the State Election Commission in view of Covid, which it would like to complete in a proper, free and fair manner. The senior most AP Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer presented the government's difficulty in holding the elections in view of the invocation of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) Act by the Union Government. "Subsequent to the above invocation of the disaster act, Covid management is being undertaken with the guidance of Union Government," he added. Empty shelves are seen behind a M&S logo at a Marks & Spencer food store in Paris, France, January 5, 2021. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes A temporary fix by Revenue put in place on Friday to post-Brexit tariff rules is expected to free retailers to get more goods from the UK onto the shelves of their Irish shops, but longer-term costs are looming. Shoppers faced empty shelves at some branches of Tesco, Marks & Spencer and other retailers this week as complicated post-Brexit trade rules entered into force. Paul Kelly, Director of Food Drink Ireland, said the Revenues temporary measures are having an impact and that goods are flowing as a result. He said teething problems were to be expected, particularly for food and drink products, which require a 24-hour pre-notification period to customs and extra health and safety checks. Read More From Friday, the Revenue Commissioners is issuing suppliers with temporary customs registration numbers to allow them to clear customs faster. The numbers should flag to customs officials that suppliers are having problems completing paperwork and getting clearance. The Revenue Commissioners said that while it has processed thousands of customs forms in the last number of days, some businesses were having difficulties lodging safety declarations. It is clear that many were not as prepared as they thought or significantly underestimated what was involved in being Brexit-ready, a spokeswoman for the agency responsible for customs checks told Reuters. The move came after Stena Line cancelled ferry sailings this week, citing a significant drop in freight volumes due to supply chain problems. The Brexit difficulties have compounded existing travel restrictions due to Covid-19. However, a more long-term problem looms for companies supplying Ireland and Irish companies exporting to the UK and the rest of Europe. Although the trade deal secures tariff-free and quota-free access for EU and UK goods, it contains complicated rules on where those goods originate. Rules of origin requirements mean, for instance, that no more than 20pc of any dairy product (by weight) can come from outside the EU. The rules are further complicated by the fact many of the food consumed in Ireland is processed through regional distribution hubs in the UK. This has come has quite a surprise to a lot of companies, Mr Kelly told the Irish Independent. There is going to be a more permanent cost that is going to be imposed on the supply chain." The extra cost will have to be passed on to the consumer, Mr Kelly said, and could affect the range of products available to Irish shoppers. While food and drinks products will be the hardest hit, there are also rules of origin requirements on chemicals and textiles. Read More Swede escapes serious injury in high-speed collision on bypass road PHUKET: A Swedish man escaped serious injury when his car was struck by an Isuzu MU-X SUV travelling at high speed on the bypass road yesterday (Jan 7), ramming the Swedish mans car into a truck parked by the side of the road. accidentsSafetypolice By The Phuket News Friday 8 January 2021, 02:13PM Capt Wirote Pornprapreuk, the Phuket City Police officer assigned to investigate the accident, has consistently not answered calls and not replied to any queries from The Phuket News. However, Capt Panthong Ponsongkram also of the Phuket City Police was willing to share details of the accident he is aware of. Capt Panthong confirmed that five people travelling in three vehicles were involved in the accident, which occurred near U-turn in front of the Premium Outlet store at about 11:20am. Capt Panthong said he had no details of how the accident occurred, but Kusoldharm Foundation rescue workers at the scene told The Phuket News that the Isuzu MU-X was travelling in the middle lane when the white Toyota Vios being driven by the Swedish man pulled in front of the MU-X. The driver of the MU-X was unable to avoid hitting the Vios at high speed. The collision saw the Vios slammed into a 22-wheeled truck parked by the side of the road. After the collision with the Vios, the MU-X swerved into the right-hand lane, where a black Toyota Yaris also travelling at speed struck the MU-X from behind. Rescue workers reported they needed to use hydraulic equipment to free the Swedish man from the wreck, which had suffered extensive damage to its left side where it was jammed into the parked truck. The Swedish man suffered a wound on his right arm and was taken to hospital, rescue workers confirmed. No one died but all five people were taken to hospital. Only one Thai man, who was driving one of the vehicles, is still in hospital recovering, Capt Panthong said. The Swedish man, who he named as Stig Goran Johnsson, did not suffer any serious injuries, he added. Chaiwat Pinkeaw, the driver of the white Isuzu MU-X, suffered only minor injuries, Capt Panthong added. His two passengers, Ms Napassorn Buasawat, 32, and a 5-year-old girl, also both suffered only minor injuries, he said. Sarawut Srirat, the driver of the black Toyota Yaris, was taken to Bangkok Hospital Siriroj. He is still recovering in hospital, Capt Panthong said, adding that he did not know the extent of Mr Sarawuts injuries. No people have been charged for the accident yet. We are still investigating what happened and the cause of the accident, Capt Panthong concluded. Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub Fruit and vegetable crop losses across the country as a result of labour shortages continued to mount over the festive season and now top $38 million. A national lost crop register was launched in mid-December to capture the cost to industry and the economy from a lack of seasonal workers available to harvest fresh fruit and vegetables due to international travel bans. The losses included berries, tomatoes, carrots, citrus, bananas, pumpkins, chilli and leafy green vegetables. 'Australians will be stunned to learn that quality produce is being left to rot on farms across the country because the Morrison government has again failed to do its job,' Labor's agriculture spokesman Ed Husic said on Friday. Backpackers were a traditional source of fruit and vegetable pickers for the Australian horticulture industry until COVID struck (stock image) The horticulture industry wants international travel ban restrictions eased to allow seasonal workers into Australia from COVID-free countries (stock image) 'For years Australian farmers have been crying out for the Morrison government to deliver a plan for the agricultural workforce.' In a joint statement, the National Farmers Federation, the Horticulture Council and industry body Growcom said 55 growers from five states and territories had losses to date. 'Our belief is that reports to the register so far are just the tip of the iceberg,' Growcom manager for policy and advocacy Richard Shannon said. 'As awareness of the register grows and as labour supply remains tight, the recorded losses will likely only increase.' The horticulture industry has been warning of labour shortages since March last year as a result of international travel bans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While Mr Shannon welcomed the incentives offered by governments so far to encourage Australians to take up harvest roles, he said it was clear more needed to be done. 'Without urgent action our labour supply situation will only continue to deteriorate and growers will keep losing crops until international travel reaches the same scale it was before the pandemic, expected to be more than two years away,' he said. The industry has been calling for an expansion of the trans-Tasman bubble to include COVID-free Pacific Island nations as a way for workers to enter Australia, outside of the current quarantine pathways and the international returned travellers cap. India on Friday said it was maintaining communications with China for complete disengagement at friction points in Ladakh sector of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) against the backdrop of a stalemate in efforts aimed at ensuring de-escalation. At a meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on border affairs on December 18, the two sides reviewed developments on the LAC and agreed to hold another meeting between senior military commanders at an early date. However, the commanders are yet to meet, reflecting the differences between the two sides. As you are aware, the latest round of WMCC was held on December 18. The two sides have agreed to hold the next round of senior commanders meeting and are in constant communication through diplomatic and military channels in this regard, external affairs ministry spokesperson Anurag Srivastava told a weekly news briefing. In the meantime, both sides have maintained communication at the ground level to avoid any misunderstandings and misjudgements even as discussions continue for achieving complete disengagement in all friction areas in accordance with the existing bilateral agreements to restore peace and tranquillity, he said, without giving details. Also Read: What India should, and shouldnt, do in Nepal The two sides had earlier acknowledged that talks between the military commanders had contributed to stability on the ground. The last two meetings between the military commanders were held on October 12 and November 6. Tens of thousands of troops from both sides have dug in along the LAC in sub-zero conditions after diplomatic and military talks failed to take forward disengagement at friction points in Ladakh sector. External affairs minister S Jaishankar has said bilateral ties were very significantly damaged by Beijings violation of border agreements, and that the deployment of thousands of soldiers on the LAC had pushed relations into their most difficult phase ever. Despite the increase in pandemic-driven work from home trend and market uncertainty forcing businesses to rethink their spending strategies with many giving up office spaces and monetising real estate to reduce debt, Bengaluru still continues to lead leasing in India, says JLL. As the information technology (IT) epicentre of the country witnessed the largest-ever influx of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the commercial real estate space with marquee foreign real estate funds investing approximately $4 billion, Bengaluru continues to remain the strongest market for office leasing. While the first half of the calendar year 2020 witnessed a countrywide slowdown in leasing activity owing to the pandemic and nationwide lockdowns, Bengaluru witnessed an overall absorption of approximately 7.5 million sq ft, according to real estate advisory firm JLL. Though it was expected that approximately 11 million sqft would be added in the year, only 9 million sq ft was completed as the developers largely focused on pre-committed spaces and going slow on the speculative space. Many small to mid-sized occupiers also gave up spaces in the central business district and the secondary business districts, which also led to an overall increase in the vacant spaces. "While the vacancy is likely to rise to 13-14 per cent in the coming year, interestingly, the new demand led by large e-commerce companies, BFSI and healthcare sector occupiers have also witnessed a sharp rise with a number of large occupiers evaluating additional growth and consolidation," says Rahul Arora, Managing Director (Bengaluru), JLL India. While the overall vacancy level of less than 10 per cent has helped this segment weather the challenges of 2020, vacancy levels are expected to rise to 14 per cent. However, the headline rentals across the city remained stable with developers offering softer commercial terms such as extended rent-free periods, with sectors like e-commerce, BFSI, and pharma/healthcare companies contributing to nearly 50 per cent of the overall absorption. "The city has remained a landlord-favorable office market for several years. With the slowdown in construction and lack of funding, this trend is expected to continue," adds Arora Even the inquiries in the industrial space have significantly increased in the state in sectors like auto and ancillary, EV, and aerospace. As Bengaluru absorption has predominantly been led by E-commerce warehousing and 3PL players, JLL expects this trend to continue over the years owing to the growth of e-commerce penetration and also the logistics sectors taking off and growing demand for warehousing to meet the last mile logistics demand. Also Read: Sensex, Nifty scale record closing highs: Five factors behind the rally Also Read: Farmers' protest: 'Can't, won't repeal farm laws,' says govt to unions Also Read: Centre's petrol, diesel revenue up 94% Sorry, no valid subscriptions were found for this Publication. Please select from an option below to start a subscription. SUBSCRIBE TODAY! 24 Hour Access Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Council has cancelled 61 projects which have failed to be implemented on schedule, with developers showing their incapability to move things forward. Despite the high demand, Ho Chi Minh City still sits on 900ha of unused land and 14,000 vacant units, photo Le Toan The projects were approved for transfer from land for growing rice to urban development land between 2015 and 2017, but remain long-delayed due to various reasons. Two prominent projects are in the citys central business districts. One located on the triangle of Tran Hung Dao, Nguyen Thai Hoc, and Pham Ngu Lao streets was in 2007 assigned to a joint venture between Thai Son Construction Company, Chi Thanh Investment, Anh Duong Finance and Investment, BIDV, and South Korean investors of Hanwha Engineering and Construction, Hanshin Engineering and Construction, and Hanwha Galleria. The site was planned to develop a 65-storey complex with different functions such as commercial, office for lease, and hotel. The scheme was rejected by the government because of an incorrect auction process held, before a new joint venture involving the three South Korean companies was approved just under a decade ago. However, the new investors could not implement the initiative and Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee decided to stop the project altogether. In 2015 it was put up for public auction once more, with the joint venture of South Koreas Jimiro Construction and domestic Dai Tan Phu chosen as investor, but they made no further progress. A second major cancelled project is the complex located on the corner of Dong Khoi, Nguyen Hue, and Ngo Duc Ke streets in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City. In 2014, this project was assigned to domestic investor Ho Chi Minh City Services and Trading Corporation but city authorities have finally pulled the plug after zero progress had been made. Apart from the aforementioned project cancellations, many other large-scale property projects are awaiting the approval to proceed from the authorities. The $900-million eco-smart city, funded by a consortium of Lotte Group affiliates, has similarly been delayed for years. In 2015, Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee assigned the project to Lotte without an auction, as it was the only group expressing interest in the venture. The following year, the consortium advanced VND120 billion ($5.2 million) to implement it. A representative from Lotte Properties Ho Chi Minh City Lottes arm in charge of this project last week confirmed to VIR that it was continuing talks with the government and local authorities to pave the way for the project. It has taken longer than expected but it seems like the government and local authorities are in the final stages of making a decision and I look forward to good news, said the representative. Meanwhile, Keppel Land Watco, a joint venture between Keppel Land Singapore and domestic partners, is now waiting for final approval from the government for adjusting the lifespan of Saigon Centre IV and V. These are two sub-projects of the Saigon Centre scheme, which first received certification 27 years ago. According to the proposal to the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), operations will last until 2070 instead of 2043 due to the slow land delivery by city authorities. The MPI claimed that the proposal should be approved because the reasons of delay were not caused by Keppel Land but by difficulties in land clearance and compensation. Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee, meanwhile, claimed that the long-delayed projects had been causing many difficulties for local residents, as well as losses for investors. The committee explained that the key reason for delays involved complicated regulations on the actual ownership of the land plots in the city. In addition to this, the zoning plan of different areas has also been changed regularly, forcing projects to constantly adjust. According to a report from competent bodies, many projects are also long-delayed because of the lack of capacity from investors. We are drawing up a list of projects which cannot be implemented and those will have their licences revoked, said a source from the committee. According to Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Investment, the city has more than 130 projects delayed for years due to many reasons, including overlapping and complicated procedures, causing uncomfortable situations for local residents, and wasting land plots. Some of the land from the cancelled schemes will be reallocated for calling for new investors. Among those are a 23-hectare land plot and another 90ha land plot in Nha Be district, to serve for other purposes. So far, Ho Chi Minh City has more than 900ha of unused land and around 14,000 unused units, draining resources from the citys budget and general investment of developers. VIR Anh Doan Outstanding construction projects in Hanoi this year Lets take a look at several outstanding construction projects in Hanoi that have contributed to significantly changing the appearance of the capital this year. Prosecutors in the US Attorney's office plan to open a federal murder investigation into the death of Brian D. Sicknick, a US Capitol Police officer who died Thursday night, a law enforcement official tells CNN. Sicknick was injured Wednesday when a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters stormed the US Capitol. He died at approximately 9:30 p.m. ET Thursday 'due to injuries sustained while on-duty,' Capitol Police officials said in a statement. The death is being investigated by the DC Metropolitan Police Department's homicide branch, the US Capitol Police and their federal partners. 'Officer Sicknick was responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters. He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries,' the statement read. Sicknick had joined the Capitol Police in July 2008, and most recently served in the department's First Responders Unit. 'The entire USCP Department expresses its deepest sympathies to Officer Sicknick's family and friends on their loss, and mourns the loss of a friend and colleague,' Capitol Police said. Prior to serving with the Capitol Police, Sicknick, who is from New Jersey, was a staff sergeant with the New Jersey Air National Guard. He also served in Operation Enduring Freedom. 'Officer Sicknick gave his life protecting the United States Capitol, and by extension, our very democracy, from violent insurrection. His needless murder at the hands of a mob bent on overthrowing the Constitution he had dedicated his life to upholding is shocking. It is my fervent hope that the rioters whose actions directly contributed to his death are quickly identified and brought to justice,' New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement Friday. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ordered the flags at the Capitol Building to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Sicknick. The flag atop the White House had not been lowered as of mid-morning Friday, but the White House issued a statement about his death. 'Anytime a member of law enforcement dies in the line of duty it is a solemn reminder to us all that they run toward danger to maintain peace. The President and the entire Administration extend our prayers to Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick's family as we all grieve the loss of this American hero,' deputy press secretary Judd Deere said. Vice President Mike Pence called Sicknick's family to express his condolences on Friday afternoon, a source familiar with the call says. Sicknick is the fifth person to die as a result of Wednesday's insurrection. One woman was shot and killed by Capitol Police as the crowd breached the building and three others suffered medical emergencies that proved fatal. Shortly after 1 p.m. ET Wednesday hundreds of pro-Trump protesters pushed through barriers set up along the perimeter of the Capitol, where they tussled with officers in full riot gear, some calling the officers 'traitors' for doing their jobs. About 90 minutes later, police said demonstrators got into the building and the doors to the House and Senate were being locked. Shortly after, the House floor was evacuated by police. Vice President Mike Pence was also evacuated from the chamber, where he was to perform his role in the counting of electoral votes. An armed standoff took place at the House front door at about 3 p.m. ET, and police officers had their guns drawn at someone who was trying to breach it. As a result of the episode, US Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund is resigning. He said in a statement earlier Thursday that Capitol Police and other law enforcement officers were 'actively attacked' with metal pipes and other weapons. 'They were determined to enter into the Capitol Building by causing great damage,' Sund said. 'The violent attack on the U.S. Capitol was unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C.,' he added. 'Maintaining public safety in an open environment -- specifically for First Amendment activities -- has long been a challenge.' Still, lawmakers say they are perplexed at the lack of preparedness among law enforcement given that it had been known for weeks that Trump was promoting a rally he said was aimed at preventing the certification of Biden's win. Rep. Mike Quigley, an Illinois Democrat who was locked in the House chamber during an armed standoff between Capitol Police and a rioter, praised the officers who were in the building that put their lives on the line, but made clear that they were outnumbered and law enforcement was under prepared. 'The Capitol Police I was around did an amazing job under difficult circumstances,' Quigley told CNN. 'My concern wasn't with how valiant the Capitol Police were. It was that an hour before the debate started, I looked at the throngs of people surrounding different sections of the Capitol and said, we don't have enough security.' Quigley added: 'I'm no expert in security, but you can tell we were out-manned in an hour before the debate,' referring to Congress' proceedings to certify Biden's win. LUSAKA -- The Chinese government on Thursday donated more medical equipment to help Zambia tackle the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The donated equipment includes ventilators, oxygen ventilators and other equipment meant to prevent and manage the pandemic. Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Li Jie said China has decided to make the donation following the outbreak of the second wave and the urgent call to respond to contain the outbreak. He said the equipment has already arrived in the country and will be distributed to four major hospitals in the country. "We are hoping that the equipment will go to the most needed places and we would also like to see that Chinese experience could also be used in this process of prevention," he said. The Chinese envoy further said the government has organized another medical team comprising of 28 personnel who will be deployed in some hospitals in Zambia for a period of one year. He said 20 of the medical personnel will be based at the country's main referral hospital in Lusaka, the country's capital while four will be deployed in Livingstone in the southern part of the country and another four will be deployed to Ndola hospital on the Copperbelt Province. He expressed optimism that the Chinese medical team will work closely with their local counterparts to enhance the provision of medical services. He acknowledged that Zambia was facing challenges brought by the COVID-19 but was quick to state that the good leadership and support from cooperating partners like China will enable the country to overcome the challenge. Zambia's Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya thanked China for the timely donation, saying it will go a long way in strengthening the response to the second wave of the pandemic. The Zambian minister said the donation was timely as it comes during the time of the second wave which was severe and has resulted in many patients requiring oxygen. Zambia has far recorded 24,297 cumulative cases with 423 deaths. Teen Muslim extremists attack church in Philippines, pepper building with bullets Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A Muslim extremist group, primarily made up of teenagers, attacked a church in the Philippines, peppering the building and a statue of the patron saint with bullets. Persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reports that in December, the Islamic State-linked Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, a terrorist group based in the southern Philippines, attacked a parish church after conducting a raid on the towns military and police outposts. After a 15-minute firefight, both the church building and a statue of the patron saint bore bullet holes. Police and military authorities said the BIFF had also plotted to set ablaze Sta. Teresita parish church and the church-run Notre Dame of Dulawan high school in the area. However, their attempt to burn the two church facilities was foiled by policemen and soldiers. Just before the attack on the church, around 50 gunmen from BIFF laid siege to the police station of Datu Piang and burned a police patrol vehicle on December 3. The attack was carried out in response to the earlier arrest of two men with relatives in the BIFF. The terrorists also opened fire at local houses, sending residents running to safety or cowering in their homes. BIFF is an Islamic separatist organization that seeks an independent Islamic state for the Filipino Muslim minority, known as the Moro people, who live primarily in the Philippines Mindanao region. BIFF members pledged allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in 2014. The Philippines is a Christian-majority country, with more than 86% of the population professing the Christian faith. However, the country has seen escalating violence in recent years at the hands of Muslim militants allied with ISIS. In August, pro-ISIS terrorists blew themselves up in attacks that killed at least 15 people including seven soldiers, six civilians and a policeman and injured 80 others in the city of Jolo, the capital of mainly Muslim Sulu province in the far south of the country, whose population is majority Roman Catholic. In 2019, terrorists set off two explosive devices at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cathedral, also known as the Jolo Cathedral, in the Mindanao region. The attack resulted in approximately 100 injuries and about 20 dead. In August 2019, pastor Ernesto Javier Estrella of the United Church of Christ in Antipas, Cotabato Province, was shot and killed on the Island of Mindanao. In June 2018, Catholic priest Richmond Nilo was gunned down in a chapel in Zaragoza town in Nueva Ecija province, at the altar where he was preparing to celebrate mass. Benchmark indices were trading with strong gains in morning trade. The Nifty hit a record high of 14,289.30. All sectoral indices on the NSE were trading in the green. At 10:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, surged 400.56 points or 0.83% at 48,493.13. The Nifty 50 index rallied 131.6 points or 0.93% at 14,268.70. Index major TCS was up 1.56%. It will announce its Q3 December 2020 result today. The broader market was trading firm. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.96% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 1.08%. The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 1859 shares rose and 771 shares fell. A total of 138 shares were unchanged. COVID-19 Update: Total COVID-19 confirmed cases worldwide stood at 88,005,213 with 1,897,568 deaths. India reported 2,25,449 active cases of COVID-19 infection and 1,50,570 deaths while 1,00,37,398 patients have been discharged, according to the data from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Economy: The central government on Thursday projected that the country's economy will contract by 7.7% in the current fiscal year 2020-21, as per the first advance estimates of gross domestic product released by the National Statistical Office. The agriculture sector estimate for FY 2021 stood at 3.4%. Also, mining estimate stood at -12.4% for FY21 against 3.1%(YoY) and nominal GDP estimate stood at -4.2%. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Realty index surged 2.71% to 331.65. The index has added nearly 5% in three days. Sobha (up 8.2%), Phoenix Mills (up 7.85%), Sunteck Realty (up 2.5%), DLF (up 2.42%), Brigade Enterprises (up 1.75%), Prestige Estates Projects (up 1.66%), Godrej Properties (up 1%), Mahindra Lifespace Developers (up 0.88%) and Oberoi Realty (up 0.88%) advanced. According to the media reports, the Maharashtra government on 6 January 2021 approved the proposal to cut the premium on real estate projects by half till 31 December 2021. Developers availing of the scheme would have to pay full stamp duty and registration charges on behalf of homebuyers, the reports added. The move will help in expediting project completion and the realty industry would witness new launches. Stocks in Spotlight: Bharat Rasayan spurted 7.49% to Rs 10,142.05 after the company said that its board will consider share buyback on Tuesday, 12 January 2021. Tata Power rose 2.63% to Rs 84 after the company announced completion of acquisition of 51% equity shares of TP Southern Odisha Distribution and TP Western Odisha Distribution. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Plexus Worldwide (Plexus), a leading direct-selling health and wellness company, is thrilled to announce they reached the $500K contribution goal through their partnership with Feeding America by the end of 2020. Impressively, the goal was reached 6 months early. Since the inception of the partnership with Feeding America, Plexus has helped raised more than 1.7 million dollars equaling more than 17 million meals donated under the Plexus Charities and Nourish One Program. Plexus is committing 10% percent of its donations to Feeding America to be allocated to St. Mary's Food Bank in Phoenix, AZ. This is significant for Plexus because St. Mary's is the world's first food bank and is where Plexus employees often volunteer their time and talent. For each serving of Plexus Lean sold, Plexus helps provide a meal to someone in need; this equals 14 meals for every unit of Lean. This recent achievement celebrates an incredible milestone for the partnership and the shared goal to help end food insecurity in the United States. "We are proud to reach this accomplishment of reaching another exciting benchmark with Feeding America," says Tarl Robinson, CEO, and Founder of Plexus. "This is more than a partnership; it's a shared mission to work towards the day when no one goes hungry." The first-year goal of donating 2.5 million meals was far exceeded as we reached 10 Million Meals. Plexus renewed its commitment to Feeding America at the Mission Partner level and are honored to be among an elite group. Feeding America Mission Partners are organizations whose aggregate contributions that exceed $500,000 to 5 million pounds or more of donated food and grocery products, or a combination of the two. At the Mission Partner level, Plexus joined the ranks of other Feeding America partners like Del Monte, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Post, and PetSmart Charities, in helping to end food insecurity in the United States. "It's an incredible feeling to see the positive influence our Nourish One program and sales of Plexus Lean have had as a Mission Partner with Feeding America," added Christopher Pair, President of Operations and International for Plexus. "This initiative hits close to home, having personally experienced food insecurity growing up. It's an honor to be in a position to give back and provide for others within communities across the country." Discover how you can get involved and visit www.plexusworldwide.com and www.FeedingAmerica.org. About Plexus Worldwide: Plexus Worldwide, LLC is a leading health and happiness company featuring health and wellness products that enable people to improve their lives and well-being. With hundreds of thousands of independent business owners ("Ambassadors") worldwide, Plexus is among the top 15 largest direct sales companies in the United States, and the top 30 global companies according to Direct Selling News. The combination of Plexus products and opportunities help individuals to meet their health-wellness and financial goals. For more information about us visit www.plexusworldwide.com. About Plexus Charities & Nourish One: Initiated by Plexus Worldwide, a leading health and happiness company, Plexus Charities is a philanthropic organization dedicated to sharing health and happiness to those in need around the world. Created out of the company's culture of giving, this 501 (C)(3) supports employees and Ambassadors doing social good through volunteer efforts and monetary donations to groups such as Salvation Army and Phoenix Children's Hospital. In 2018, it established Nourish One a one-for-one initiative to provide a monetary donation to Feeding America and Mary's Meals for every serving sold from the Plexus Lean product line. With Nourish One, a meal for you means a meal* for a hungry child or family in need. For every serving of Plexus Lean you purchase, Plexus, through our philanthropic organization Plexus Charities, donates the monetary equivalent of one meal to our global partners dedicated to fighting hunger. *$1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. Continue the journey with Plexus Worldwide and discover Active available now at plexusworldwide.com. For more information, contact: Kristina Katsoulas PM Communications [email protected] SOURCE Plexus Worldwide Related Links https://plexusworldwide.com (Natural News) Breakthrough Listen, the most extensive search yet for extraterrestrial intelligence, made the headlines recently after project researchers discovered a mysterious radio signal coming from Proxima Centauri, the nearest known star to the sun. Though the researchers are not done with their study, there has been speculation that the signal is a technosignature produced by an alien civilization. Proxima Centauri has at least one planet that may be habitable to life, and while mundane explanations are far more likely, the scientists have yet to identify a terrestrial cause such as ground-based equipment or a passing satellite. [For] the moment, the only source that we know of is technological, lead investigator Andrew Siemion, an astrophysicist at the University of California, Berkeley, told Scientific American. Radio signal is the best possible evidence for extraterrestrial life The Breakthrough Listen team has been scanning skies for technosignatures indicators of technology developed by advanced alien civilizations. Prior to their discovery, the teams effort had been fruitless, as many promising detections turned out to be man-made. But one signal, labeled Breakthrough Listen Candidate 1 (BLC1), stood out among the several radio signals the researchers picked up while examining data taken using the Parkes Observatory in Australia during a 2019 search for stellar flares from Proxima Centauri. The star has two known planets in orbit: an inhabitable gas giant and an Earth-like rocky planet, called Proxima b, located in the star systems habitable zone, an orbital region around a star where liquid water can exist on a planet. The researchers determined that all of the signals except BLC1 were caused by human-made technology like satellites. The outlier signal, however, lasted about three hours and was concentrated in a narrow range of wavelengths 982 megahertz which isnt generally used for satellites and spacecraft. There is also no known natural astronomical event that could generate a signal at such wavelengths. We dont know of any natural way to compress electromagnetic energy into a single bin in frequency, Siemion said. Moreover, the signal reappeared after the telescope was shifted to another part of the sky and turned back to Proxima Centauri during a calibration procedure to check for interference from local sources such as microwave ovens. This hinted that the signal did originate from Proxima Centauri or some other deep-space source in that part of the sky before making its way to Earth. BLC1 was the first signal to pass through the researchers first round of checks, which are mainly designed to eliminate signals that actually originate from Earth. (Related: Mysterious blobs of radio emissions found floating in space.) Its the most exciting signal that weve found in the Breakthrough Listen project because we havent had a signal jump through this many of our filters before, said astronomer Sofia Sheikh of Pennsylvania State University, who led an analysis of the signal for Breakthrough Listen which will be detailed in an upcoming paper. Alien life in Proxima Centauri is unlikely Though the Breakthrough Listen team still has no explanation for the signal, they have been reminding that an alien origin is highly unlikely and that the signal could very well be caused by a natural or man-made phenomenon that remains poorly understood. Pete Worden, executive director of the Breakthrough Initiatives, said: The Breakthrough Listen team has detected several unusual signals and is carefully investigating. These signals are likely interference that we cannot yet fully explain. Further analysis is currently being undertaken. Scientists also reiterated that Proxima b sits too close to Proxima Centauri. It completes an orbit every 11 days and is tidally locked like the moon, meaning one side of it is always bombarded by radiation and the other plunged into perpetual darkness. Its hard to imagine how you can have a stable climatic system and all the things you need to get from bacteria, which are hardy, up to intelligent animal life forms, which certainly are not, said astrobiologist Lewis Dartnell of the University of Westminster. Read more stories about the search for alien life at Cosmic.news. Sources include: Planetary.org ScientificAmerican.com NewScientist.com TheGuardian.com California continues to remain the nation's hardest hit state during the pandemic as coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths keep surging. In Los Angeles County, the epicenter of the state's outbreak, a new death due to COVID-19 is now reported every eight minutes. On Thursday, Mayor Eric Garcetti said the number of people who died in the county in one day is equivalent to the number of homicide deaths the city saw last year. 'Yesterday we had 259 deaths, that's one more than all the homicides in 2019 in LA city combined,' Garcetti told reporters at his news conference. 'In a single day, equal to a year of homicides.' It comes as state officials issued a travel advisory recommending people not travel more than 120 miles away from home and government officials say a commonly used test may be returning false negatives. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO More than 11,000 residents of Los Angeles have died from coronavirus - with 259 fatalities logged on Wednesday alone - more than the city's homicide count for all of 2020. Pictured: Continental Funeral Home driver Manuel Aguilar handles one of the COVID-19 victims stored in a mobile refrigerator outside the facility on August 21 Overwhelmed morgues have been forced to store bodies in refrigerated trucks. Pictured: A refrigerated truck trailer (left) stands parked outside of Continental Funeral Home to accommodate an influx of people who have died due to COVID-19 in East Los Angeles, December 30 On Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (pictured) said the number of people who died in Los Angeles County just on Wednesday, 259, is equivalent to the number of homicide deaths the city saw last year. Across the state, every metric - including cases, hospitalizations and deaths - is continuing to surge The infection numbers affecting Los Angeles since November have been staggering, even after 10 long months of pandemic in the nation's second-largest city. The county, the nation's most populous with 10 million residents, and nearly two dozen other counties have essentially run out of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients. Refrigerated trucks are now being sent across California to store the corpses as morgues and funeral homes become overwhelmed. The number was increased from 60 to 88 this week, with most being sent to the south of the state where cases are at their worst. The National Guard has also been called in to Los Angeles County to assist with the temporary storage of bodies at the county medical examiner-coroner's office, according to the Los Angeles Times, as other morgues have run out of space. Around one in 12 have already been infected, and one in five of those tested recently are positive. More than 11,000 residents have died with nearly half those deaths occurring in the last two months. 'We are not, nor will we ever, become accustomed to these numbers as normal. Nor will I ever accept them as something we should just live with,' Garcetti added. 'Because every single one of those means everything to somebody out there today.' A record 8,098 county residents are currently hospitalized with coronavirus, 20 percent of whom are in intensive care units. Since January 3, hospitalizations have increased by more than seven percent. Hospitals have also now begun to ration care. Guidelines posted on the website for Methodist Hospital of Southern California warned: 'If a patient becomes extremely ill and very unlikely to survive their illness (even with life-saving treatment), then certain resources...may be allocated to another patient who is more likely to survive.' A record 8,098 county residents are currently hospitalized with coronavirus, 20 percent of whom are in intensive care units. Pictured: Registered nurse Merri Lynn Anderson (right,) tends to her patient in a COVID-19 unit at St Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, January 7 In a new travel advisory from the government, Californians have been asked not travel more than 120 miles from home unless essential. Pictured: Pictured: COVID-19 patient Efrain Molina (center) gets a fist bump from nurse leader Edgar Ramirez at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, December 22 Ambulance workers have been told to stop transporting some patients with extremely low survival chances. This week, California hospitals were ordered to postpone non-urgent surgeries and to accept Covid-19 patients from elsewhere in the hard-hit state if they have space. Barbara Ferrer, public health director for Los Angeles County, on Thursday, said the outbreak has gotten out of control 'This is a health crisis of epic proportions and we need everyone - I mean everyone - to use the tools right in front of them to help us drive down transmission of this deadly virus,' she said on Thursday 'Everyone in LA County, businesses and residents, needs to follow the rules if there is any chance we can get out of this surge by the end of the month.' Meanwhile, Californians are being asked to stay home and not travel. According to a new advisory, residents are counseled to not travel more than 120 miles from where they live unless it is essential. Essential travel is classified as any 'associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure or otherwise required or expressly authorized by law...including work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.' 'Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19,' the advisory reads. Ambulance workers have been told to stop transporting some patients with extremely low survival chances. Pictured: A patient is transported from an ambulance at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, January 7 According to an alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tests by the company Curative Inc - commonly used in Los Angeles (above) -may be giving false negatives It comes as federal officials reveal a coronavirus test commonly used at sites Los Angeles sites may be providing inaccurate results. According to an alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tests by the company Curative Inc may be giving false negatives. The alert reads that 'when the test is not performed in accordance with its authorization or as described in the authorized labeling, there is a greater risk that the results of the test many not be accurate.' Mayor Garcetti defended the test, however, and said it has been used to identify 92,000 asymptomatic cases. 'The proof is that we've had a third of people, nearly 100,000 people who would have gone undiagnosed, that we were able to catch because of this test - and it has helped us predict those surges in hospitalizations and deaths as a result,'' Garcetti said. 'I'm not going to ever apologize because there was, I think, a lot of debate about whether asymptomatic people should be tested or not.' However, to reduce the risk of false negatives, the FDA says the test should only be used on symptomatic individuals within 14 days of exhibiting signs of illness. On February 16, 2010, I visited various San Antonio election sites to talk with people on the first day of early voting for the Texas primary. My first stop was on the Southeast Side at McCreless Library, where I spoke with a bearded, middle-aged man who was a strong supporter of the growing Tea Party movement. He confidently (and accurately) predicted that the Tea Party would fuel a huge Republican wave election that November. But he also warned that if sketchy establishment forces conspired to take that victory away, he was prepared for revolution. For reasons that made little sense to me, he singled out Katie Couric, then the anchor of the CBS Evening News, as someone who his like-minded reactionaries would target for violent reprisals if the GOP failed to carry the election. I thought of that man on Wednesday afternoon when a mob of ill-informed, rageaholic, conspiracy mongering, self-appointed guardians of liberty stormed the U.S. Capitol because they couldnt accept the fact that Congress was about to certify the election defeat of their idol, President Donald Trump. Over the years, I met many of the people in the Bexar County Tea Party movement. Some of them were thoughtful, articulate individuals genuinely concerned about the expanding power of the federal government. Within the Tea Party movement, however, there was always a clear strain of paranoia, aggression, susceptibility to irrational conspiracy theories and a tendency to see policy disagreements in apocalyptic terms. For them, then-President Barack Obama was not simply a Democrat trying to expand health-insurance coverage through a plan they disliked. He was a malignant force, a Manchurian candidate bent on destroying the country. The Tea Party movement was always most effective at articulating what it opposed. Its activists could shout down members of Congress at town halls and scare establishment Republicans with the threat of a primary challenge from the right flank. It was less effective, however, at identifying what it supported. When Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney lost to Obama in 2012, Tea Party activists were disappointed, but they werent about to storm the Capitol over it, because they didnt care that much about Romney. That changed with Trump. Beginning in 2011, when Trump stirred up a crackpot conspiracy theory that Obama had lied about being born in Hawaii, he became the kind of leader that the Tea Party understood: a human Molotov cocktail bent on blowing up all our institutions. Wednesdays Capitol rampage was the culmination of the energy that the Tea Party movement unleashed 12 years ago. For all the shouting about trying to save our country from socialism, however, the insurrection had little to do with ideology. It was all about Trumps cult of personality. After all, one of the goals of the rioters was to confront Vice President Mike Pence, who is undeniably a more stalwart conservative than Trump will ever be. But the rioters saw Pence as a sellout, because Trump wrongly convinced them that Pence had the unilateral power to overturn the results of an election in which 159 million people voted, but chose not to use this power. On Wednesday, we were treated to the image of a Trump worshiper standing in Pences spot on the dais of the Senate Chamber, shouting, Trump won that election! We were blessed with the wisdom of Richard Bigo Barnett, a 60-year-old man from Gravette, Ark., who broke into the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, sat in her chair, put his feet up on her desk, scratched his testicles, wrote Pelosi a nasty note and walked away with a personalized envelope. We saw Trump devotees, after temporarily stopping the vote certification, raise their fists in exultation as they exited the Capitol through a door on which someone had scrawled, Murder the Media. Trump apologists scrambled to suggest that left-wing troublemakers must have infiltrated the demonstration, because, after all, Trump rallies are unfailingly peaceful. Have they forgotten the fact that MSNBC reporter Katy Tur had to be escorted to her vehicle by Secret Service agents after a 2015 rally in which Trump stirred up the crowd against her? Did they not see the April 2020 riot in Phoenix, where Trump devotees stormed the Arizona Capitol in opposition to statewide COVID-19 stay-at-home orders? What about the rifle-wielding militia members who tried to break into the legislative chambers of Michigans state Capitol last April over similar pandemic restrictions? These are very good people, but they are angry, Trump tweeted about the Michigan riot. Wednesday, in a prepared video address, he told the domestic terrorists who vandalized the home of our national government, We love you. What kind of love is this? Its the transactional love of a narcissist who proudly owns the hard underbelly of American resentment, delusion and paranoia. On Wednesday, his army put on an amateur civil-war show for him. ggarcia@express-news.net | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 The Global Times described the storming of the Capitol using a Chinese term referring to a rulers subordinates coming to his rescue when his authority is threatened Shortly after supporters of outgoing President Donald Trump stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to overturn election results, China criticised the "sharp contrast" between Washington's response to the chaos and how it criticised the 2019 Hong Kong anti-government protests. Communist Party-run Global Times said in an editorial that the US double standards are rampant. "In Hong Kong, violent actions are described as a 'beautiful sight, in the US, people involved in this chaos are called mobs. The newspaper reported that words like karma, retribution' and deserving were frequently mentioned in Chinese netizens comments. The protests "had pricked the beautiful bubble of the universal values shaped by the US, Shen Yi, a professor at the School of International Relations and Public Affairs at Fudan University, told the newspaper. "The 'beacon of democracy' is falling down, or at least becomes gloomy. It might be too early to declare the 'twilight of the gods' in the US, but that day is coming closer and closer, he added. On the front page of the Global Times Chinese website, articles were accompanied with headlines such as An iconic humiliation! The madness of the Capitol [incident] has dragged the USs standing [as a democracy] into its Waterloo! The Global Times described the riots as a sign of internal collapse that could not easily be reversed. As time goes by and with abuses of resources by generations of politicians, the US political system has degraded, the paper said, adding that such politicians deserve chaos, violence. The unprecedented mob in the Capitol, a symbol of the US system, is the result of the US societys severe division and the countrys failure to control such division, it said. The Global Times described the latest scenes in Washington using a Chinese term referring to a rulers subordinates coming to his rescue when his authority is threatened. This is likely Trumps closing performance to the world, blogger Buyidao wrote in an article shared by the newspaper. Thankfully, Chinese people can watch this drama in a relaxed mood. The state-run tabloid also tweeted side-by-side photo comparisons of Hong Kong protesters occupying the city's Legislative Council Complex in July 2019 with the Washington riots on Wednesday. .@SpeakerPelosi once referred to the Hong Kong riots as "a beautiful sight to behold" it remains yet to be seen whether she will say the same about the recent developments in Capitol Hill. pic.twitter.com/91iXDzYpcO Global Times (@globaltimesnews) January 7, 2021 #GTCartoon: HK vs Washington DC. Uncle Sam's masterclass on democracy. pic.twitter.com/ek3cFNIAmg Global Times (@globaltimesnews) January 7, 2021 Meanwhile, the China Daily newspaper said Trumps narrow nationalism had taken a toll on the US. If the Biden administration can draw lessons from the darkest day in US history, the pain the country experienced these days may come to be viewed as growing pains, it said. The violence and chaos that have erupted in the US over the past year show what happens when a countrys leaders lose touch with reality, it added. State broadcaster CCTV used the crisis to lambast the US political system, saying "the figleaf of so-called American democracy has been torn clean off". "The United States, which has always promoted democracy and human rights, is now the country of riots, conflicts and curfews," it said. The Chinese Communist Partys Central Commission for Discipline Inspection ran a commentary by political columnist Lan Linzong, saying that the US image as a beacon of democracy and freedom has been shattered. This beautiful sight is just one of many outbreaks resulting from deep-rooted internal conflicts in America, she wrote. Beijing's foreign ministry echoed those sentiments, saying "the reaction of some people in the US, including that of some media outlets, is completely different. Speaking at a press briefing Thursday, ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that the "sharp contrast (in reactions) makes one ponder, and deserves serious and profound reflection." We hope that the American people can enjoy peace, stability and security as soon as possible, Chunying was cited in state media. Of all the citys great fairs, the oddest was one that is now all but forgotten: the 1909 Portola Festival. The Portola Festival was inspired by San Franciscos greatest feat, the rebuilding after the 1906 earthquake and fire. For three years, San Franciscans had worked day and night. Now they were ready to show the world that their city had risen from the ashes and celebrate with a party to end all parties. The Portola Festival was to be San Franciscos Mardi Gras. What made this grand bash unique was that to give it an aura of historical romance, its organizers decided to tie it to San Francisco and Californias Spanish past. The fact that for most San Franciscans, the long-gone Spanish era barely registered only made it easier for festival pooh-bahs to celebrate it as a gauzy arcadia. Fortunately for the organizers, it turned out that 1909 marked the 140th anniversary of the event that inaugurated the Spanish chapter of the states history, Gaspar de Portolas discovery of San Francisco Bay. Seizing upon this somewhat thin chronological reed, in February 1909, Mayor Edward Taylor issued a proclamation setting aside five days in October to celebrate Portolas feat and calling on all loyal Californians to join in the festivities commemorating the most important event in the history of the West. The enthusiasm of all loyal Californians was undiminished by the fact that most of them had never heard of Portola, and those who had usually mispronounced his name. (As the citys newspapers gravely informed their readers, the correct pronunciation was Porto-LAH.) The Portola theme added gravitas, but the real driving force behind the festival was summed up by Chronicle columnist Robert OBrien, who wrote, It was as if everyone in San Francisco turned to the next fellow and said, Lets get drunk. From the outset, organizers unabashedly promoted a spirit of carnival, and tied that spirit to what they characterized as the fun-loving Latins who founded San Francisco. The fact that neither Portola, a hard-bitten military man, nor his religious counterpart, the fanatically devout Father Junipero Serra, fit that stereotype didnt matter. In a remarkably sophisticated and irreverent keynote speech at the March 26 banquet that kicked off planning for the festival, lawyer and Bohemian Club mainstay Joseph Redding said, When a city with authority and with civic importance starts in to give pleasure to itself and to those who come among them, it means something. It is a great novelty in American civic life. It is almost unheard of, being done as a municipal effort. You know our Anglo-Saxon forefathers came over to worship in a fearful way. They took the color out of their clothes; they took the stained glass out of the windows, and they came over to the rock-bound, shivering coast of New Hampshire and said, This is where we belong. Redding daringly drew an unfavorable contrast between the uptight Puritans and the life-loving Spaniards who colonized the opposite coast. When the Forty-Niners arrived in California, Redding said, they found the most romantic, pleasure-loving, brave, dignified, simple people in the world the old Spaniards of California. ... Nowhere in the world will you find a finer representative of a gentleman than the Spaniard, and I think the finest definition of a gentleman in the world is one who shows consideration for another. The Spaniards showed our fathers consideration when they came here. They knew this country was beautiful and they loved it. They have left their impression upon it their clothes, their adobes, their missions and, more than anything else they have left their beautiful Spanish names for us to hold and for us to perpetuate. Proudly pointing out that San Francisco spent more money per capita on pleasure than any other city in the country, Redding said that was due to the extraordinary welding of the various nationalities here. ... Nowhere in the world do you find such extremes of temperament made into one cosmopolitan people. I think that is why we can say to ourselves that we have the carnival spirit. The carnival spirit is not Anglo-Saxon. It is Spanish, Portuguese, French. Redding concluded that if the plan were carried out, it will do not only a great deal of good to San Francisco, but it would pave the way for the rest of the country to do the same thing. We lack in the United States, which is still dominated by the blue laws of our Puritan ancestors, a courage to tackle the lighter side of life. Trivia time The previous question: The historic Eureka ferryboat is docked at the Hyde Street Pier. How many passengers could it carry? Answer: 3,500. At 299 feet, the Eureka is the longest wooden ship still afloat in the world. This week's trivia question: What's the narrowest office building in San Francisco? Editor's note Every corner in San Francisco has an astonishing story to tell. Gary Kamiya's Portals of the Past tells those lost stories, using a specific location to illuminate San Francisco's extraordinary history - from the days when giant mammoths wandered through what is now North Beach to the Gold Rush delirium, the dot-com madness and beyond. His column appears every other Saturday. Dig deep into Chronicle Vault Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the Chronicle Vault newsletter and get classic archive stories in your inbox twice a week. Read hundreds of historical stories, see thousands of archive photos and sort through 153 years of classic Chronicle front pages at SFChronicle.com/vault. See More Collapse More from the Archive The Vault Home of the San Francisco Chronicle's archive and more than 150 years of journalism covering the Bay Area and beyond. A skeptic might note that while the Californios, the Mexican-era heirs of the Spanish colonizers, did indeed show consideration to the Americans who flooded into their country, the Americans reciprocated their courtesy by conquering their country and dispossessing them of their land. The festivals Spanish theme did not incorporate such unpleasant realities, but it provided San Franciscans with a sentimental historical justification not that they needed one to let the good times roll. One grandiose plan took that slogan literally. Officials floated the idea of a hotel train, a grand hotel on rails that would carry executives from the nations hotel industry to the festival. Others planned to have every nation in the world send at least one battleship to San Francisco. (Neither of these plans materialized.) More realistically, a statewide search was carried out for the perfect dignified caballero to play Gaspar de Portola, and a city beauty contest was held to find his consort, the festival queen. The organizing committee raised $150,000, much of it earmarked for extravagant lighting displays. With an innocent conviction that the entire planet was hanging on San Franciscos every move a newspaper cartoon depicted Earth from outer space with a gigantic Portola Festival spirit rising above San Francisco organizers invited everyone in the world to join President William Howard Taft in a prewritten toast to the reborn city. And much of the world responded: England, France, Spain, Holland, Japan and Germany sent warships. On the eve of the festival, the Call newspaper reminded readers why it was being held and expressed San Franciscos pride in what it had achieved: The rebuilding of a great city in three years is unexampled and presents one of the wonders of the world that all should see. It is a monument of human audacity and confidence in the future. After months of feverish buildup, the Portola Festival opened on Oct. 19, 1909. The next Portals will tell the story of that epic party. Gary Kamiya is the author of the bestselling book Cool Gray City of Love: 49 Views of San Francisco, awarded the Northern California Book Award in creative nonfiction. His new book, with drawings by Paul Madonna, is Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City. All the material in Portals of the Past is original for The San Francisco Chronicle. To read earlier Portals of the Past, go to sfchronicle.com/portals. For more features from 150 years of The Chronicles archives, go to sfchronicle.com/vault. Email: metro@sfchronicle.com Jaipur, Jan 8 : The Army on Friday intensified its efforts to search for Captain Ankit Gupta who went missing in Takhat Sagar lake in Jodhpur during a special exercise a day earlier, officials said. Captain Ankit from the Army's 10 Para Special Forces, along with three commandos, had jumped into the water reservoir from a helicopter during the exercise on Thursday. While the three commandos came out, the officer did not reach the bank even after a long wait. The Army has since launched a massive search operation that did not yield any result till Friday afternoon. The Army had called in experts on Friday morning to trace the missing Captain Ankit, 28, who got married on November 23. Meanwhile, his friends and family members in Gurugram in Haryana are posting touching messages on the social media. A few officials said that they believed that Captain Ankit might have got stuck in undergrowth in the reservoir. Adam Samrov is the sports editor and part-time news reporter for the Bennington Banner. He has been at the Banner since 2008 and sports editor since 2010. He can be reached at asamrov@benningtonbanner.com The late Peter Clark The death has taken place of Peter Clark, Tintine, The Rower, Kilkenny peacefully in the care of the staff of Archersrath Nursing Home Kilkenny. Peter, beloved husband of Marjorie and loving father of Sean, Glenn and Paul. Deeply regretted by his wife, sons, daughters in law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a wide circle of neighbours and friends. In line with current HSE and Government advice regarding public gatherings a private family funeral will take place over the coming days. Please use the Condolence option at RIP.ie if you wish to offer sympathies. Peter's family would like to thank everyone for their support and understanding at this difficult time. The late Mary Conway (nee Galavan) The death has occurred of Mary Conway (nee Galavan), Mayhora House, Castlecomer, Kilkenny. At St Luke's Hospital, Kilkenny surrounded by her family. Pre-deceased by her loving husband Frank. Mary will sadly missed by her sons Richard, Jimmy and Jackie, sister Sr Breda (USA) and brothers Sean and James, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends. In accordance with current Government/HSE guidelines and in the interest of public health and the safety of our most vulnerable, a private family funeral will take place for Mary with Requiem Mass celebrated on Saturday, January 9, at 11am, in the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Castlecomer (max 10 people in church), with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. For those unable to attend, the Requiem Mass can be viewed online at https://www.castlecomerparish.ie/webcam/ Please use online condolence book at RIP.ie if you wish to offer your sympathies. Mary's family would like to thank you for your support and understanding at this difficult time. The late John Guilfoyle The death has occurred of John Guilfoyle, Bryngwayn Rd., Newport, Wales and formerly St Mary's Avenue, Urlingford, Kilkenny, who died suddenly in Wales on December 7. Predeceased by his brother Gabby. Deeply regretted by his loving daughters Catherine, Lizzy and Caroline, stepdaughter Gaye, partner Theresa, grandchildren, step grandchild, brother Liam, sisters kathleen and Bridget, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and a wide circle of friends in Wales and Ireland. Requiem Mass for family only (max 10 people) on Sunday at noon in the the Church of the Assumption, Urlingford followed by burial in the Mill Cemetery. John's Funeral Mass can be viewed live on https://churchcamlive.ie. Those who wish to leave messages of condolence can do so on the page provided at RIP.ie. The late Patrick (Paddy) Leahy The death has occurred of Patrick (Paddy) Leahy, Desart, Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny, Archersrath Nursing Home, Kilkenny and formerly of Desart, Cuffesgrange, Kilkenny. Peacefully on Thursday, January 7, in the wonderful care of the staff at Archersrath Nursing Home, Kilkenny. Predeceased by his parents Patrick and Bridget, his brothers Mickey, Joe, Johnny and Jim, sisters-in-law Dorice and Christine, and his nephew Eamon. Deeply regretted by his loving family, his brother Eddie, his sister Maura (Johnson), brother-in-law, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, relatives, neighbours and friends. Due to the new Level 5, HSE and Government restrictions regarding public gatherings, Paddys funeral will take place privately (For 10 family members only). Requiem Mass on Saturday, January 9, at 2.30pm in The Church of the Holy Cross, Cuffesgrange, with burial afterwards in St. Marys Cemetery, Ballykeeffe. Those who wish to view the Funeral Mass can do so through the following link https://youtu.be/YuM7U7QyAAc Please use the online condolence page on RIP.ie as an option to offer your sympathies. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their understanding and support at this difficult time. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Amid the ongoing agitation by the farmers against the three Central farm laws, the Youth Congress has planned to pay nationwide tribute to the farmers who had lost their lives during the protests under the programme 'Ek Diya Shaheedo Ke Naam' at 6 pm on Friday. The Youth Congress said in a statement that on the call of the outfit's national president Srinivas BV, the workers in all the states and districts of would gather and pay tribute to the martyred farmers by lighting diyas at 6 pm on Friday. The Youth Congress said that the farmers are the soul of the country, but the Modi government is insulting the 'annadatas' by not accepting their legitimate demands, which is why it has called upon the youth of the country and the leaders and activists of the Youth Congress at all levels to gather at 6 pm on Friday and pay tribute to the deceased farmers by lighting diyas. Meanwhile on Thursday, a day ahead of the next round of talks with the Union government, the farmers on the Delhi borders organised a 'tractor march', describing the event as a "rehearsal" for a similar roadshow proposed on January 26 to oppose the three Central farm laws. Gov. Charlie Baker will present an update on COVID-19, including information about vaccine distribution, on Monday afternoon. Hospitalizations have declined in recent days to levels not seen since before the Christmas holiday. A steadily declining number of state inmates over the past two years has helped Louisiana lose its unwanted status as the nations incarceration capital. But the drop in prisoners also threatens to pinch budgets for sheriffs some of whom built jails on the promise of an endless supply of state inmates. Help, if you can call it that, has arrived. Many of the beds left empty by the state are now being filled by asylum-seekers and others detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Several Louisiana sheriffs and a small-town mayor have inked deals with ICE to hold thousands of detainees within the last year, arrangements that will send an influx of federal dollars to those agencies and to LaSalle Corrections, the Ruston-based private prison operator that helps run three of the jails. Taken together, the four agreements will provide about 2,800 detention beds for ICE, more than doubling the agencys detention capacity in Louisiana amid a surge in the number of asylum-seekers and immigrants who arrived in the U.S. illegally and are being held under lock and key by federal authorities. If ICE fills all those beds, the number of ICE detainees sitting in local Louisiana jails will also match almost perfectly the drop in state prisoners housed in parish and municipal jails 2,692 since state lawmakers passed a bipartisan criminal justice reform package aimed at cutting Louisianas nation-leading incarceration rate. Louisiana houses a higher percentage of state inmates in local jails than any other state, but officials have been trying to rely less on local lockups as inmate numbers fall mainly because jails overseen by sheriffs are thought to offer less in the way of rehabilitation than state prisons. The sudden surge of ICE detainees headed to local Louisiana jails comes amid a federal immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, who has pushed zero-tolerance policies toward those living in the country illegally and ramped up deportations. The Trump administration has also moved to keep nearly everyone seeking asylum in the U.S. locked up in detention centers as their applications move through backlogged immigration courts even as the number of new asylum-seekers has spiked. Previously, new arrivals fleeing violence, political repression or persecution were regularly released in the U.S. while immigration courts processed their cases, as long as an initial hearing found they have a credible fear of returning to their home countries. But thats changed under the Trump administration. Immigration authorities overseeing asylum cases in Louisiana now deny such requests across the board, said Homero Lopez, managing attorney for Immigration Services and Legal Advocacy, a New Orleans-based legal nonprofit that represents immigrants held in Louisiana. Thats sent ICE scrambling to find space to house record numbers of immigrants held in custody. Detention facilities along the U.S.-Mexico border have been filled beyond capacity in a situation Trump administration officials themselves have called a humanitarian crisis. In Louisiana, its found jails with room to spare. I can confirm that, due to an influx in Southwest Border cases and the increased need for ICE detention capacity, ICE has begun using new facilities in Louisiana in recent months, Bryan Cox, a spokesman for ICE, told The Advocate. For a handful of Louisiana sheriffs and the small town of Richwood, just outside Monroe, the influx has provided a financial boost. Swapping state inmates for immigrants facing deportation or seeking asylum is a potentially lucrative trade for those that operate local Louisiana lockups. ICE is paying Louisiana jails about $65 a day on average for housing detainees. The state Department of Corrections pays a whopping $24.39, as Bossier Parish Sheriff Julien Whittington sarcastically put it to local news reporters last June. He made that remark just after more than 200 ICE detainees arrived at his medium-security facility in Plain Dealing, a town about 20 miles north of Shreveport, to fill bunks that had until recently held state prisoners. But advocacy groups that fought for years to drop Louisianas status as the nations top jailer expressed alarm that detained immigrants were now filling recently emptied prison bunks. Even if Louisiana was putting fewer people behind bars for violating state laws, they said, officials and facilities around the state still depended on inmates for sustenance. Louisiana isnt done with its affair with mass incarceration, said Jamila Johnson, senior supervising attorney for the Southern Poverty Law Center, which has lobbied for criminal justice and prison reforms in the state. Whittingtons jails, for years among the largest local recipients of Department of Corrections prisoners, now hold an average of 222 federal immigration detainees, according to ICE figures. That will bring in at least $2.6 million more per year than housing a similar number of state inmates. The state reimbursement rate has remained stagnant since 2008 and state prison officials last year threatened to further reduce it at the same time that Whittington struck a deal with ICE. Sheriffs are now lobbying Louisiana lawmakers for a $4 per day raise for holding state inmates. The proposed boost would cost the state an estimated $25.8 million a year, but would still leave its rate for housing prisoners at less than half that paid by ICE. Allen Parish Sheriff Doug Hebert III, whos held an average of about 50 detainees for ICE since 2016, just spent more than $5 million building a new detention center in part to better accommodate those immigrants held for ICE and the flow of money as much as $1 million a year that comes with them. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up We want to be able to use some of that revenue to add more patrolmen, detectives and narcotics (officers) and improve services, Hebert told the Lake Charles American Press newspaper in November. Just opening a jail will create new jobs, but we want to be able to improve services which before we could only do with limited tax dollars. Hebert was blunt about what more inmates, especially federal ones, would mean. Folks ask me if I just want to build this thing to make money, Hebert said while announcing plans to build the new jail in March 2017. Absolutely so that I can spend money in this office and with these folks and I can pay them the salary commensurate with the job theyre doing. The sheriffs in Jackson and Concordia parishes have also struck deals with ICE to house federal immigration detainees. Their jails are both operated by LaSalle Corrections, a for-profit jailer with long-standing ties to Louisianas prison system. Billy McConnell, LaSalles managing director, said cuts to the states prison rolls put an extra burden on lockups the company operates in partnership with sheriffs, who were already contending with stagnant payment rates. I think probably every sheriff in the state thats in that market would tell you its very difficult to pay your bills in the current environment, McConnell said. ICE contracts have helped, McConnell said, but the higher federal payments also come with dramatically different costs to run an immigration detention facility. The standards ICE mandates for its contract immigration detention facilities are way beyond the minimum requirements Louisiana sets for local jails, McConnell said, which drives up the expense of running the facility. Neither Jackson Parish Sheriff Andy Brown nor Whittington, the sheriff in Bossier Parish, responded to requests for comment for this story. Concordia Parish Sheriff Kenneth Hedrick referred questions to Warden Lance Moore, who didnt returns calls. Louisiana has long relied on parish jails to house state prisoners, a system thats led some local lawmen mostly in rural areas to build facilities far larger than they might otherwise need. Prospects for a steady flow of cash motivated town leaders in Richwood to sign off on filling their jail with more than 1,000 ICE detainees early last month. LaSalle also runs the Richwood facility. But the city government will get a cut of the money paid out by ICE $1.50 per detainee for agreeing to the deal, according to local news station KNOE. That adds up to nearly $550,000 per year flowing from ICE into the towns coffers. I believe that it was a home run. It was a win-win for Richwood, Alderman Simeon Profit told KNOE after voting in favor of the deal. Mayor Gerald Brown didnt respond to multiple messages from The Advocate. The $1.50 per diem paid in Richwood is very similar to other numbers but not the exact same as what LaSalle pays the sheriffs in Jackson and Concordia parishes, said McConnell, the prison firms management director. He declined to share specifics. Although ICE has for years held large numbers of immigration detainees, the vast majority an average of 2,133 detainees last year have been housed at a pair of permanent ICE detention facilities in Pine Prairie and Jena, both of which are managed under contract by Florida-based GEO Group, one of the countrys largest for-profit prison operators. The agency also holds several hundred immigrants at a staging facility at Alexandrias airport, which ICE uses as a hub for deportation flights. In the past six months, ICE begun occasionally using the local jail in Natchitoches, about an hour away, to hold some immigrants awaiting deportation when a holding facility closer to the airport is full. The Natchitoches Parish jail housed more than 340 state inmates in October 2017, just before key provisions in Louisianas criminal justice overhaul went into effect. Natchitoches Parish now houses just over 140 state inmates, a drop thats costing the sheriff about $1.2 million in state payments a year, according to Department of Corrections figures. Roger Henson, the chief of corrections for the Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office, said the change forced him to cut jobs. Henson said the agency reached out to ICE and the U.S. Marshals Service to help offset the costs of running the lockup. That way we were able to make up some of that difference, said Henson. A jail is really not there to make a whole lot of money, if any. Its been difficult to even break even. Just two Louisiana sheriffs housed immigration detainees for ICE in their jails at the start of 2018, according to ICE data: Allen Parish and St. Tammany Parish, which ICE has used for years as a short-term processing and transfer point for immigrants recently picked up by ICE agents. Many of the people ICE is shipping to Louisiana appear to be migrants from Latin America who applied for asylum in the United States, according to several Louisiana-based immigration attorneys whove represented asylum-seekers and immigrants in ICE custody. Cox, the ICE spokesman, said he couldnt comment on whether individuals held by ICE had claimed asylum. Some immigration attorneys and advocates deplore ICEs push to send detained immigrants to far-flung jails in rural Louisiana, saying the lockups are far from legal aid groups and are located in areas that have already strained medical services and few interpreters. Any relatives that a detained immigrant might have in the United States likely live far from towns like Plain Dealing or Ferriday, making visits expensive and challenging. Jails, and particularly smaller rural jails, just arent set up to handle this population, said David Fathi, director of the ACLUs National Prison Project. Its harder to provide adequate condition of confinement for this population in rural areas. Judges at the two immigration courts in the state are particularly skeptical of asylum claims, Lopez and other attorneys said, meaning most asylum-seekers held in Louisiana will likely be sent back to their home countries. If youre the Trump administration and want to stick them somewhere away from family members where they wont get relief (from the courts), Louisiana is a great place, said Lopez. The chamber's board will nominate Chey as its next chief in its meeting on Feb. 1, and since he is the sole candidate a congress will probably elect him later that month. SK Group chairman Chey Tae-won will likely become the new chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He becomes the first KCCI chief from one of the top four conglomerates -- Samsung, Hyundai Motor, SK and LG. The KCCI consists of 180,000 member companies and has chosen its chief since 1954. There have long been calls for one of the top chaebol chiefs to lead the KCCI. The rival Federation of Korean Industries has lost its luster as the big business lobby after Samsung, Hyundai and SK withdrew from it over a scandal involving disgraced President Park Geun-hye in 2016. "Many KCCI members have urged Chey to take the helm because he can motivate younger conglomerate leaders who have succeeded to the family business," an executive said. "It seems Chey has decided to accept." [January 08, 2021] Akeso Medical Holdings Acquires Coastal Occupational Medical Group, Expanding Into Ventura County; Michael Byer to Join Akeso Executive Team as COO Akeso Medical Holdings today announced it has completed its acquisition of Coastal Occupational Medical Group, marking a major milestone for the company and strengthening its position through expansion into Ventura County. By collaborating with the highest-performing occupational health physicians to expand their practices and focusing solely on efficiency and better patient outcomes, Akeso offers payors and employers a real market alternative at a time when the occupational medicine sector is poised for growth. "The addition of Coastal greatly advances our strategy of focusing on top performing clinics in major areas of California to bring together an enterprise-level solution that makes it easier and more efficient to work with great doctors when injured workers need care," said Greg Moore, CEO of Akeso Medical Holdings. "What attracted us to Coastal is they are consistently ranked in the top 10% of outcomes in the entire state of California. They provide us with an 'anchor' clinic in the Ventura / Santa Barbara area on which to build, and allow us to expand outside of Orange (News - Alert) County where our ProCare clinics have a strong base and reputation" Akeso also announced that Dr. Michael Byer, formerly Coastal's Medical Director, has joined the Akeso executive team as COO on January 2, 2021. "Michael brings a solid understanding of how to build and grow a clinic practice," said Moore. "By partnering with Akeso, the alignment of their vision for improving outcomes, lowering costs and delivering patient-centered care that fits with our vision of treating workers' compensation patients," said Dr. Byer. "Akeso's ability to provide us with the resources to grow our client base in a meaningful way is second to none." Investors backing Akeso are led by Kain Capital, a private equity fund focused on long-term value creation. "With the acquisition of Coastal, Akeso is one step closer to providing a compelling alternative for care in the Workers' Compensation system," said Kunal Kain, Managing Partner. About Akeso Medical Holdings (www.akesomedical.com) Akeso Medical Holdings develops occupational medicine clinic groups that improve injured worker outcomes through a focus on the patient and a commitment to better partnerships with the payor. The experts at Akeso Medical believe the key to fixing the workers' compensation system centers around a dedicated group of physicians committed to the right care, without financial incentives for over-treating injured workers. These highly skilled physicians are backed by a clinical organization that works more closely with the insurance carrier and employer to make sure that the right care is delivered in a more timely manner. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005338/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] By Brendan J. Lyons | Times Union, Albany Albany, N.Y. A Trump supporter attending a rally outside the Capitol on Wednesday was stabbed multiple times and underwent emergency surgery to repair an eviscerated bowel at Albany Medical Center Hospital. The suspect, 37-year-old Alexander S. Contompasis of Rensselaer, is accused of stabbing two people during a melee that erupted in East Capitol Park between a group that gathered to support President Donald J. Trump and a smaller group of counter-protesters who showed up, several of them allegedly armed with weapons. Contompasis was arraigned Thursday morning in Albany City Court on charges that include first-degree assault, a high-level felony. City Court Judge Holly A. Trexler set bail at $30,000 cash or $60,000 bond. State Police recovered the knife they suspect was used in the stabbing from Contompasiss vehicle, which was parked near the Capitol. They also were searching his vehicle on Thursday. Several other people were charged with minor offenses and given appearance tickets, including two counter-protesters that police said were armed with expandable batons. Melissa A. Carpinello, an attorney for Contompasis, said the victims in the stabbing identified themselves to police as members of the Proud Boys and that her client was defending himself from an attack. The FBI has labeled Proud Boys a right-wing extremist group. The group that gathered at the Capitol on Wednesday, in coordination with a major rally in Washington, D.C., included about 35 Trump supporters, including at least three individuals police identified as associated with Proud Boys. I believe that when the facts of this case come out, it will show that my client was defending himself from an unprovoked attack by self-identified Proud Boys, a radical racist organization, Carpinello said. Contompasis has several posts on his Facebook page referencing Antifa, an unstructured web of anti-fascist groups and individuals that have been described by the FBI as violent anarchists. In a photo posted on his Facebook page, Contompasis has a caption referring to himself as an Antifa protester from Albany and another that says Antifa forever. In another photo, he is holding a rifle and has a large hunting knife strapped to his side; the photo carries the caption I am Antifa. Carpinello declined to comment on any connection her client may have to Antifa. On his Facebook page, Contompasis has a photo of himself holding a hunting-style rifle with a scope. He also has several politically charged comments and photographs of Antifa T-shirts that he wrote in posts that he had purchased. Mike pence is not going to frame a leftist for assassinating Trump, declare martial law, cancel the presidential inauguration and round up the resistance in Antifa detention centers for summary execution. He wants to he just cant, he wrote in one post. In another post, Contompasis, who goes by Alexander Stokes on Facebook Stokes is his middle name posted another excerpt stating that he had been charged with rioting while covering Trumps 2017 inauguration as a reporter. One of the pro-Trump supporters who was at the protest outside the state Capitol was ticketed for harassment after he allegedly struck a woman in the face with a flag stick. State Police recovered video footage that captured what unfolded. One of the two people transported to Albany Medical Center with stab wounds suffered an eviscerated bowel and underwent surgery. The second person was stabbed in the leg and had injuries that officials described as not serious. That second victim, a 35-year-old Rotterdam man, gave police a statement at the hospital acknowledging his role with a local chapter of the Proud Boys and describing in detail the events leading up to the stabbings. I am a member of the Proud Boys which is a group of men who believe in the First and Second Amendments of the Constitution and who believe in the right to life, liberty, the pursuit of happiness, and property, his statement reads. He told investigators he arrived late for the Stop the Steal pro-Trump rally and noticed six people were in the East Capitol Park that he recognized as Antifa members. He said the Antifa supporters were yelling at the Trump supporters, and it escalated until skirmishes broke out. The man told police that Contompasis, who was wearing a purple shirt and aviator sunglasses, reached into his pocket as a second skirmish broke out that started when an apparent Antifa supporter punched one of the Proud Boy members in the face. I saw him reach into his right front pant pocket. I saw a pinkish/red colored handle and realized that he was reaching for a knife, his statement reads. I grabbed his left arm and said, Dont stab anybody. He said: I will stab someone. Seconds later, as the Rotterdam man fought with another apparent Antifa supporter, he said the man later identified by police as Contompasis ran over and struck him in the chest and he also felt something in his leg. He later discovered that he had knife wounds to his torso and leg. The second victim, whose assault was also captured on video, was stabbed in the left side of his lower abdomen. As police ran toward the violence, the Rotterdam man said he was sitting on a bench examining his wounds when another Antifa supporter who had been involved in the fighting approached him. He told police the man stated to him: Im coming for you. I know who you are. I know where you live. The entire protest had been monitored by undercover police who know Contompasis and other counter-protesters, and had witnessed them allegedly instigating the confrontation with the Trump supporters. The violence at the state Capitol took place as Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo was giving a coronavirus briefing inside the building and as the Legislature was beginning its 2021 session. Bengal movie theatres allowed 100 per cent occupancy: Mamata Banerjee India oi-Deepika S Kolkata, Jan 08: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday allowed full occupancy of cinema halls in the state with adherence to COVID safety protocols. The chief minister made the decision after virtually inaugurating the 26th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) attended by Bollywood superstar and West Bengal's brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan from Mumbai. Banerjee, while delivering her inaugural address from state secretariat Nabanna, asked the cinema hall owners to maintain all safety protocols including regular sanitisation of the theatres. She asked Chief Secretary Alapan Bandopadhyay to issue a notification raising the occupancy limit of theatres from 50 to 100 per cent. The occupancy limit was restricted to ensure physical distancing inside the theatres. Citing lesser revenues since the reopening of theatres in October last year and no known instance of the spread of COVID-19 through cinema halls, the theatre owners had recently written a letter to the chief minister requesting her to allow full occupancy of the establishments. Banerjee said apart from issuing e-passes for seeing films in state-run auditoriums in Nandan-Rabindra Sadan and Rabindra Okakura Bhavan, organisers should spare some thought for people who are not well-versed with technology and suggested if some films could be screened at the open-air theatre in Nandan. Despite the pandemic situation, the West Bengal government has hosted the 26th KIFF on a smaller scale at a time when many organisers of other film festivals have cancelled their events, she said. Banerjee paid tributes to legendary actor Soumitra Chatterjee, who died due to post-COVID complications last year, and other luminaries and said a section will be dedicated to their works. She invited Khan to visit the state during Raksha Bandhan and next year's KIFF, to which he replied in affirmative. Combined company will offer an expanded set of capabilities to help nonprofits attract more donors, deepen existing donor relationships and improve fundraising effectiveness INDIANAPOLIS(BUSINESS WIRE)Bloomerang, a leader in cloud-based donor management and fundraising software for small and mid-size nonprofits, today announced that it has acquired Kindful, a nonprofit software platform known for its best-in-class third party application integrations and online fundraising tools. The combination of advanced donor engagement insights provided by Bloomerang and Kindfuls strengths in online giving and integrated applications, accelerates Bloomerangs vision to deliver the donor management and fundraising platform of the future. Weve always focused on elevating the effectiveness of nonprofits and now well be able to scale it at a much faster pace, said Ross Hendrickson, CEO of Bloomerang. Our target market has been underserved by legacy tech and manual processes. They deserve much more. By combining the two top rated companies in this space, we can make a combined platform that helps nonprofits acquire new donors, increase donor loyalty, and ultimately affect their mission through thoughtful fundraising. The combined company will offer nonprofits the opportunity to deploy a modern, easy-to-use donor management, donor communication, fundraising and reporting platform that supports the complete donor lifecycle and seamlessly integrates with the broader nonprofit application ecosystem. Bloomerang will also continue its commitment to providing world-class fundraising education and resources through its research initiatives, webinar series, and consultant network. Together, the combined company will support tens of thousands of nonprofit professionals globally and is backed by a team of 200 employees who are passionate about delivering great service and support. Kindfuls donor management platform has excelled by making online donation pages, real-time integrations and reporting tools simple, yet powerful for customers, said Jeremy L. Bolls, Founder and CEO of Kindful. Were thrilled to join Bloomerang because together we can help our customers make a greater impact on the world by providing tools that allow them to spend more time and resources on their mission to do more good. The acquisition builds on a strong year of momentum for the company. Last September Bloomerang received a strategic growth investment from JMI Equity. Earlier in 2020 the company was named a Leader in Nonprofit CRM software by G2, SoftwareAdvice and Business-Software.com. And, for the fifth consecutive year, Bloomerang was named one of the Best Places to Work in Indiana. About Bloomerang Indianapolis-based Bloomerang is a cloud-based donor management and fundraising platform designed to help nonprofits reach, engage and retain the advocates they depend on to achieve their vision for a better world. For more information about Bloomerang, visit: https://bloomerang.co. About Kindful Kindful is a Nashville-based software company that provides powerful software to help nonprofits organize data and manage donors better. Featuring online donation pages, donor management tools, reporting tools, and integrated partnerships with industry-leading services, Kindfuls platform is designed to help nonprofit employees manage their donors easier, saving time and creating better insights. Kindful proudly powers thousands of world-changing organizations both in the U.S. and internationally, and has consistently been recognized by G2 as a leader in nonprofit software and named to the 2020 Inc. 5000 for the first time. For more information, please visit kindful.com. About JMI Equity JMI Equity is a growth equity firm focused on investing in leading software companies. Founded in 1992, JMI has invested in over 150 businesses in its target markets, successfully completed over 100 exits and raised more than $4 billion of committed capital. JMI partners with exceptional management teams to help build their companies into industry leaders. For more information visit jmi.com. Minister for Education Norma Foley TD has confirmed that all schools will regrettably remain closed to students from Monday, January 11. The Government decision, taken on 6 January, on foot of public health advice to reduce mobility in the community, was to close schools for the vast majority of students for a period of three weeks. Also read: 'We are stressed and we are scared': Ballymahon student implores government leaders to make decision on Leaving Cert exams As of Monday 11 January students, including children with special needs, will resort to a programme of remote learning in line with the rest of the Government restrictions. There has been continuous engagement with education partners on this matter since Monday, building on weekly engagement between partners and public health throughout the school year. Today Department of Education officials met with education partners including trade unions, and school management bodies to discuss the safe provision of in-person learning to pupils in special classes and special schools and to Leaving Certificate students, and remote learning to other students from Monday 11 January. This meeting was attended on behalf of Public Health by senior public health specialists. In a meeting lasting over two hours Public Health provided their reassurance that it is safe for both students and staff to operate schools at this time utilising the preventative measures that are in place. During that meeting Public Health reiterated their belief that schools are safe environments. Closing schools has hugely adverse consequences at individual, family and societal level. For children, it impacts on wellbeing, learning, on social and emotional development. School closure has significant impacts on children with special educational needs. School closure also heightens student anxiety, particularly for the Leaving Certificate cohort, in relation to state examinations. In this context the Government decided to prioritise in-person teaching and learning for two specific cohorts; pupils/ students attending special schools and classes and final year Leaving Certificate students. This decision was supported by the public health advice available to Government. NPHET and Public Health continue to hold the clear view that schools are safe places, as outlined in the letter to Government from the CMO, published today. Also read: Blow to Government Leaving Cert return to school plan as ASTI directs members to teach classes remotely It is with regret that I announce that, despite the confirmation by Public Health that schools remain safe, that children in special schools and special classes and Leaving Certificate students will not be extended in-person learning, said Minister Foley. My Department has engaged with the unions and public health officials with a view to maintaining on site learning for this vulnerable group of students. It remains my strong belief that this period of time is crucial for the mental wellbeing of all children with special needs. I also felt it was the right thing to extend in-class teaching to our Leaving Certificate students who are approaching a crucial time in their exam year. Unfortunately I am left with no alternative but to pause the limited reopening on Monday to allow further engagement with all education stakeholders. There is a tendency to call any project in which a male actor around a certain age puts on a suit and acts particularly charming or suave his audition to become the next James Bond. The same could be said of Omar Sys debonair turn in the new series Lupin, which premiered today on Netflix. Sys natural charisma is boundless, and the fact that hes playing a thiefand a thief out for justice, no lessonly adds to his appeal, as he cycles through disguises and pulls off trick after trick with panache. But Lupin is also so resolutely its own thingand so tied to its own famous literary characterthat any thought of 007 quickly fades into distant memory. Advertisement Created in 1905 by the French writer Maurice Leblanc, the character of the gentleman thief Arsene Lupin has since cropped up in countless iterations across the globe, including as the grandfather of the title character in the manga and anime series Lupin III, which was later adapted by Hayao Miyazaki in the 1979 film The Castle of Cagliostro, and even as a summonable persona in the video game Persona 5. Though not as well-known as, say, Sherlock Holmes or the aforementioned 00 agent, popular fascination with Lupin has persisted, not least because his title of gentleman thief seems to be an oxymoron. How could a gentleman also be a thief? The answer brings to mind an even older and more legendary outlaw: Like Robin Hood, Lupin may operate outside the purview of the law, but he uses his powers of thievery for good, fixing the authorities mistakes while evading their grasp. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign up for the Slate Culture newsletter The best of movies, music, TV, books, and more, delivered to your inbox three times a week. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. To be clear, Lupin doesnt appear in Lupin, or at least not in the flesh. Rather, he appears as an object of fascination for Assane Diop (Sy), who, as a teenager, received the first of the Lupin mysteries from his father. As an adult, he uses anagrams of Arsene Lupin as his pseudonymsPaul Serrine, for instanceas he pulls off job after job. His latest target? A necklace once owned by Marie Antoinette, being auctioned off by the fictional Pellegrini familyand the supposed theft of which put Assanes father in jail, causing him to commit suicide soon afterward. This jobAssanes last, of courseis not just about the necklace but uncovering the truth and making the man responsible for his fathers death finally face the music. The series, created by George Kay in collaboration with Francois Uzan, and with talents like Louis Leterrier (the first two Transporter movies) in the directors seat, is nothing if not stylish. In his hideout, Assane sits in a chair shaped like a giant mask, and in the shows very first episode, he pulls off a heist in the Louvre that ends with a car crashing through the inverted glass pyramid outside the museum. The thief aspect of the show has all the charm and magnetism of Steven Soderberghs Oceans 11, and the seriess more longform format (it consists of two parts of five episodes each) has the benefit of properly fleshing out the gentleman aspect of Assanes character. As the show jumps back and forth in time, not just to explain parts of Assanes plan but to fill in details about his youth and personal life, it doesnt abandon the sense of fun to be had in stealing outrageously expensive objects in outrageously expensive schemes, but moves seamlessly into darker, heavier territory. As Monsieur Pellegrini (Herve Pierre) becomes aware that some unseen force is mobilizing against him, he doesnt shy away from violent retaliation. Advertisement It never abandons the sense of fun to be had in stealing outrageously expensive objects in outrageously expensive schemes. The key thing that the series brings to the table, however, isnt a part of Leblancs original work. Assane is a Senegalese immigrant, and his race plays a large part in the story. That his father was a Black man, fresh off the boat, according to the police, arguing his innocence against an affluent white man (who refers to him both as a monkey and as that, rather than as a human being) made his case an impossible one, and Assane, in his pursuit of justice, takes advantage of the fact that the (mostly) white people hes duping either dont notice him or, if they do, can be called on their racist suspicions. Early on, when Assane arrives at an expensive private school, hes surrounded by white students, and most of them make no effort to disguise their surprise at a Black classmate. The world (or at least, those in power) has always let Assane down. Of course the idea of a gentleman thief would appeal to him, and of course he would have reason to turn to extralegal methods to actually get things done. Advertisement Netflix has slowly been growing its stable of foreign showsthe Spanish crime drama Money Heist is apparently its second most-watched show ever, the German neo-noir Babylon Berlin has become an international hit, and in recent weeks the new Korean show Sweet Home has made its own splashbut Lupin is perhaps the best of the latest crop. Its a marvelous showcase for Sy (who was previously best known stateside for his less glamorous role in The Intouchables), and on top of that, it breathes new life into a literary character in such a way that makes him immediately accessible to those unfamiliar with him while also making the storys twists and turns unpredictable for Lupin fanatics. The series also doesnt waste a single minute, packing each and every moment full of suspense. Put all of that together, and its an early front-runner to steal a spot as one of the best shows of the year. Russian peacekeepers in Nagorno-Karabakh must have a legal basis for their presence there: either a trilateral agreement or a mandate of a peacekeeping mission, ex-Armenian Ambassador to the Vatican Mikael Minasyan wrote in Telegram. "The Russian side prepared the document back on November 9, and the Armenian side readily signed it, but Azerbaijan did not sign it. The Azerbaijani side proceeds from the fact that they are the winning side, Pashinyan is a capitulator, and puts forward three additional points that it wants to see in the agreement (or its section) regulating the activities of peacekeepers: - There should not be any Armenian troops in Karabakh, since this is Azerbaijani land. Azerbaijani troops are there by right, Russian troops - with Azerbaijani consent. - All visits to Nagorno-Karabakh by Armenian officials must be coordinated with the Azerbaijani side. - Self-government bodies of Nagorno-Karabakh should be elected/appointed in agreement with the Azerbaijani side and peacekeepers. Leaders around the world expressed shock and concern as a pro-Trump mob attacked and occupied the U.S. Capitol Building, where Congress meets. The attack took place as lawmakers were counting electoral votes to make President-elect Joe Bidens election win official. The event, which takes place every four years on January 6, is the final step in confirming the winner of a presidential election. At least four people died in connection with the attack. The violence forced Congress to suspend its meeting and move lawmakers and others to safety. Those lawmakers included Vice President Mike Pence, who presides over the count. Congress confirmed Bidens victory in the early hours of January 7, after the rioters were removed and the Capitol building was secured. What happened today in Washington, D.C., is not America, French President Emmanuel Macron said in a video message on Twitter late Wednesday. We believe in the strength of our democracies. We believe in the strength of American democracy." German Chancellor Angela Merkel partly blamed President Donald Trump for the situation because he has not admitted he lost the election. A fundamental rule in democracy is that, after elections, there are winners and losers," Merkel said, adding that both sets have to act responsibly so that democracy itself remains the winner. British Prime Minister Boris called the event disgraceful. He wrote on Twitter, The United States stands for democracy around the world and it is now vital that there should be a peaceful and orderly transfer of power. The prime minister of India, Narendra Modi, tweeted: The democratic process cannot be allowed to be subverted through unlawful protests. In New Zealand, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern tweeted: Democracy - the right of people to exercise a vote, have their voice heard and then have that decision upheld peacefully - should never be undone by a mob. Countries that often face U.S. criticism over violations of democratic values also reacted. Iranian president Hassan Rouhani said the attack proved the weakness of Western democracy. Irans pro-government Twitter accounts published images of the mob attack with hashtags that included #DownfalloftheUS. Chinese officials compared the storming of the Capitol to the often-violent pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Those protests have slowed because of the coronavirus crisis and the governments use of severe security measures. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman said: We also wish that U.S. people can enjoy peace, stability and security as soon as possible. Images taken from inside the Capitol show the attackers breaking windows, damaging lawmakers chambers and offices, and attacking police officers. One attacker was shot inside the Capitol and later died at a local hospital. Three other people died in the attack. The Capitol Building is an internationally recognized structure and a symbol of American democracy. Violence at the site is extremely rare. Shariman Lockman is a senior foreign policy and security studies expert with the Institute of Strategic and International Studies in Malaysia. He told VOA the riot doesnt put America in the best light. It just compounds negative thoughts that people already have about America," Lockman said. "You know, you cant get COVID right, and you cant get your elections right. You [the U.S. government] keep telling us how to organize ourselves, but you can't organize yourselves right." In a televised speech Thursday, Iran's President Hassan Rouhani said the events at the Capitol were evidence that Western democracy is easily damaged by populism. Rohani added he hoped the next occupants of the White House will restore the country to a position worthy of the American nation, because the American nation is a great nation." Im Ashley Thompson. Ashley Thompson adapted this story based on reports by VOA News, Reuters and The Associated Press. Caty Weaver was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story disgraceful - adj. related to causing someone to feel ashamed vital - adj. extremely important transfer - n. the act or process of giving the property or rights of one person to another person allow - v. to permit stability - n. the quality or state of something that is not easily changed or likely to change compound - v. to make (something, such as an error or problem) worse : to add to (something bad) negative - adj. harmful or bad : not wanted As heavy snowfall disrupted life across Kashmir Valley this week, Army troops helped a pregnant woman in Kupwara reach hospital by carrying her for a distance of about 2 km in knee-deep snow before she could be driven to a hospital, sources said on Friday. The woman gave birth to a boy at the Karalpura hospital. The Company Operating Base (COB) of the Indian Army at Karalpura in Kupwara received a distress call at around 11.30 PM on Tuesday from Manzoor Ahmed Sheikh who lives in Pharkian village, sources noted. Sheikh informed the Army that his wife was undergoing labour pain and has to be evacuated to a hospital immediately, they stated. It had been snowing for nearly 24 hours continuously when the call came, they said. Due to heavy snowfall and inclement weather, neither community health service vehicles nor civil transport could drive on snow-filled roads, a source noted. Understanding the gravity of the situation and plight of the family, the army troops and a battlefield nursing assistant at Karalpura took some medical comfort items and reached their home on time. The troops escorted the woman and the family for about 2 km in knee-deep snow till the road head, from where she was taken to Karalpura hospital. On reaching hospital, the woman was immediately attended by the medical staff, who were ready due to the coordination of the Indian Army with the civil administration, a source noted. The family and the civil administration thanked the Army unit for its humanitarian efforts, the sources said. The father came to the Company Operation Base to distribute sweets to all troops after being blessed with a healthy boy, they said. Sexual offences were also up by 445 incidents and non-family assaults 206. Mr Kirkup was targeting bushfire readiness on Friday and fears around a lack of fuel load burn-offs. He has also brought back shark mitigation as a topic, with a policy unveiled in December which he re-highlighted at the start of the month. Mr Kirkup said if there was a shark that posed an imminent threat to life and safety then a Liberal government "would take that shark". The comments echo Colin Barnett's failed catch-and-kill laws in 2014 and the WA division of the Liberal party's attempts to have the white shark removed from the vulnerable species list in 2017. A liberal approach to party names The upper house sweepstakes are alive and well in WA with two existing micro parties looking to improve their chances on election day with a name change. The Daylight Savings Party has applied to the WA Electoral Commission to change its voting sheet name to the National Liberals while Flux a political movement that gives constituents a chance to vote on every issue that comes up in parliament wants to be rebadged the Liberals for Climate. Both parties are hoping to get a favourable ballot draw and be placed on the voting paper to the left of the Liberal Party, which was the same situation that saw Liberal Democrat Aaron Stonehouse elected to the last spot for the South Metropolitan region in 2017. University of Notre Dame politics senior lecturer Martin Drum said Liberal Democrats had been elected at a state and federal level in the past when they had appeared on the voting card before the Liberals. "There's a bit of a tradition here (WA) that goes back to the Liberals for Forrest and the Liberal Democrats and we now we even have the National Liberals, which is frankly pretty ridiculous, that most recent example is a blatant attempt to try and detach voters from the Liberal or National parties," he said. "You've got two tricks [as a micro party], you pick one name that is similar enough to another party and secondly you trade preferences with other minor parties to stay in the hunt. "Together you're hoping you can pull off an unlikely victory." 'Preference whispering' still has a big influence in WA election results with voters only able to vote once above the line leaving the flow of preferences up to their selected party or filling out every box below. Filling out every box is likely to take longer this year with three new parties Legalise Cannabis WA, No Mandatory Vaccination and the Great Australia Party registering with the WAEC and adding to the existing 16 parties. The Small Business Party has combined with a secession movement and applied to be renamed the WAxit Party. Dr Drum said it would be difficult for the party to pick up votes from people harbouring a WA-first sentiment when Mr McGowan had already been so parochial on interstate borders. The Liberal Party has lodged an objection to Flux's proposed renaming and intends to lodge papers opposing the Daylight Savings Party's plans for its National Liberals change. The most peculiar part of the whole charade is why none of the micros have not tried to trade off the juggernaut brand of 'Labor' in their attempts at rebranding. Where's Clive? Clive Palmer has not registered his political party in time for the WA Election. Credit:Attila Csaszar The WAEC recommends potential parties register for an election at least three months before polling day. With just two months until WA decides, however, it looks like Queensland billionaire Clive Palmer will not be able to run his United Australia Party at the upcoming election, given no paperwork has been submitted. Dr Drum said Mr Palmer could still run independents but the other way he could influence the election would be through advertising. "There's nothing to stop a Palmer blitz to have closed borders," he said. "There's potential for that to backfire ... I think there is some truth in what Mark McGowan suggests which is I don't know Clive Palmer is all that popular over here at the moment, whether he understands that is another matter." The billionaire is the middle of several legal fights with the state of WA including a defamation case involving Mr McGowan. Mr Palmer spent $84 million on the 2019 federal election and his company Mineralogy reportedly put about $4.6 million into his party ahead of the 2020 Queensland election. Electoral reforms promised by Labor to be in force before 2021 which were tabled late in the government's first term, not made a priority, and never passed parliament had proposed limiting third party advertising spending in an election to $2 million. Pauline pulls the pin on election trip One Nation federal leader Pauline Hanson put out a statement on Friday that she would not be travelling to WA for the election due to the changed border with Queensland. Senator Pauline Hanson has pulled out from a visit to WA for the upcoming state election. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen "Could you imagine what the media would write if, for some unforeseen reason, I bought a case of coronavirus to Western Australia? No thanks," she said in a statement. "We have witnessed interstate travellers forced into hotel quarantine following border closures mid-journey, and Im afraid Premier Mark McGowan would deem campaigning as non-essential travel and therefore leave me locked up for 14-days." Ms Hanson had been set to campaign in WA later this month. The promises you might have missed this week Mr McGowan was mostly in safe Labor territory at Forrestfield, Kensington which is split between Ben Wyatt's seat of Victoria Park and the Liberal's South Perth, and Armadale. Labor trotted out $143.5 million worth of promises, which started on Sunday with a $3 million boardwalk in the Beeliar Wetlands coupled with commitment to reintroduce laws to kill off the Roe 8 and 9 extensions. Monday and Tuesday was all about police funding with a combined $44 million for new stations in Forrestfield and Baldivis as well as a mobile command centre. Wednesday saw the Premier unveil an 'at-risk youth package' with $18 million of operational funding for Police and Citizen Youth Clubs, $37.2 million to allow foster care support to continue from the age of 18 to 21 and $2.4 million for northern suburb teen crisis accommodation. Seventeen of the 25 Texas Republicans in Congress objected to counting Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden overnight, virtually all of them pointing to debunked claims of voter fraud and sticking to plans to reject Bidens win. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz also objected to results from Arizona and Pennsylvania as he stuck to calls for an emergency audit of the election results, even as some of the Republican senators who had backed his efforts dropped their objections after President Donald Trumps supporters stormed the Capitol on Wednesday. Bidens win was certified by both chambers, and Cruzs objection to the Arizona results was shot down in the Senate on a vote of 93-6. The attack at the Capitol was a despicable act of terrorism and a shocking assault on our democratic system, Cruz said in a statement early Thursday morning, saying he had pushed for a commission to study the results to give Americans confidence in this past election and in elections going forward. CRUZ CATCHES BLAME: Ted Cruz, Texas Republicans face backlash after mob storms Capitol It was the right thing to do, he said. I very much wish Congress had not set aside these concerns, but I respect the position each of my colleagues took. Debate in the two houses of Congress is the proper way to resolve our political differences, not through violent attacks. The votes split Texas Republicans, with GOP members from the House emerging as some of the strongest proponents for certifying Bidens election results. Central Texas U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, who voted to certify the election results, gave an impassioned speech on the House floor late Wednesday night that drew a standing ovation from members in the Democrat-controlled chamber. That vote may well sign my political death warrant. But so be it, Roy said. I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States and I will not bend its words into contortions for political expediency. U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, whose district stretches from Austin to Houston, said he voted to certify because if Congress chooses to ignore or second-guess the electoral votes cast by the states, it will set a dangerous precedent that could call into question the very institution of our democracy. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox In a statement late Wednesday night, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady of The Woodlands, who was unable to vote because he tested positive for COVID-19, said he would have voted to certify, as well: I would remain true to the conservative constitutional principles that guide me, and vote to accept the Electoral College votes as legally certified by each state. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who did not pose any objections Wednesday, has also criticized the effort as being based on disappointment in the election results and unproven allegations, which he said would do irreparable harm to our great democracy. The 16 Texans in the House that objected to results from Arizona, Pennsylvania or both are: Jodey Arrington of Lubbock; Brian Babin of Woodville; Michael Burgess of Pilot Point; John Carter of Round Rock; Michael Cloud of Victoria; Pat Fallon of Sherman; Louie Gohmert of Tyler; Lance Gooden of Terrell; Ronny Jackson of Amarillo; Troy Nehls of Richmond; August Pfluger of San Angelo; Pete Sessions of Waco; Beth Van Duyne of Irving; Randy Weber of Friendswood; Roger Williams of Austin; and Ron Wright of Arlington. Heres what they have said about their decision: Rep. Jodey Arrington of Lubbock In 2016, many of my Democrat colleagues objected to the certification of votes and then inexplicably refused to accept Congress ultimate certification of President Trump as our legitimate and duly elected president. This defiance of the Constitution and blatant disregard for the Rule of Law is unconscionable and a dereliction of our sacred duty. I will object on January 6th and voice my constitutional concerns with the 2020 Presidential Election, and I urge my colleagues to do the same, Arrington wrote in a letter dated Tuesday and sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Rep. Brian Babin of Woodville If we dont stand for election integrity now we may never see an honest election again, he tweeted. Rep. Michael Burgess of Pilot Point Before and after this malicious event, I listened as fellow members presented evidence and arguments for the need to object to the electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania, Burgess said in a statement. The case was presented about the unprecedented voting irregularities, overreach by government bureaucrats, and the lack of ballot integrity and security that have left many wondering why they should even vote. It is important that every American has confidence in our election system and that their vote was counted the way it was cast. Rep. John Carter of Round Rock I do not take the decision to object to the Electoral College certification lightly, Carter said in a statement. In fact, it is one of the most serious things I will do this year as the representative of the 31st District of Texas stand up for the 74 million people who feel like they cannot trust their democracy. Rep. Michael Cloud of Victoria Article II of the Constitution (reaffirmed in the 12th Amendment) makes clear that it is the state legislatures who define how electors are selected in other words, how elections are managed within their state, Cloud wrote on Twitter. In many states, however, judges and election officials at varying levels instituted their own election processes. These new processes implemented, sometimes weeks leading up to Election Day, violated established state election laws. These unilateral actions not taken by the state legislatures but judges and election officials are not supported by the Constitution. Rep. Pat Fallon of Sherman The last time I checked a District Court judge aint a State Legislature!! Fallon wrote on Facebook. We must pushback and stand up for ALL Americans! If we dont have free, honest and open elections then we are no longer a republic, we are no better than a banana republic. Rep. Louie Gohmert of Tyler Gohmert on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review his lawsuit against Vice President Mike Pence that was dismissed by a lower court last week. I believe in using the court system for the same reason they were created, Article III of the Constitution, to resolve disputes, so we dont have to have riots and violence, Gohmert said in an interview with Newsmax on Friday. There are people all over the country praying that people will get a backbone. If they do not, it will mean the end of our republic, the end of this little experiment of self-government. Rep. Lance Gooden of Terrell I will never vote to certify a RIGGED election, Gooden tweeted. Thats why I was one of the FIRST House members to announce that Ill be OBJECTING on January 6th. I am pleased to see so many members joining the fight President @realDonaldTrump & the future of our country are worth fighting for! Rep. Ronny Jackson of Amarillo Im CHALLENGING the Electoral College because the patriotic citizens I represent DESERVE to know if the Presidential election was a FRAUD, Jackson tweeted. We dont stand for FRAUD in Texas, and I will FIGHT it until the end! Rep. Troy Nehls of Richmond You sent me to Congress to fight for President Trump and election integrity and thats exactly what Im doing, Nehls wrote in a tweet. Rep. August Pfluger of San Angelo For our democracy to function everyone must trust in it and millions of Americans right now do not, Pfluger said in a statement. We must give the American people a full debate on all matters related to the election and the constitutional issues at hand. Rep. Pete Sessions of Waco America needs to be one of rule of law and of instant replay with a close call. Sessions said in a statement. If we neglect to challenge the states in question, whomever gets the presidency will be seen in a different light. It is in everyones best interest to constitutionally verify the result. Rep. Beth Van Duyne of Irving I voted against the electors from Pennsylvania because I will not surrender the notion that election integrity matters, Van Duyne said in a statement. If we do not fight for and demand a ruling on the unconstitutionality of how Pennsylvania conducted its election, then every election here forward will be at risk for unconstitutional and tyrannical changes. Rep. Randy Weber of Friendswood I stand with Rep. Brooks and other conservative House members, Weber said in a Facebook post. Rep. Roger Williams of Austin Im not ashamed, and neither are my colleagues Were actually proud of what were doing over here, the Washington Post reported that Williams said Wednesday. Rep. Ron Wright of Arlington Although what we saw yesterday was inexcusable and reprehensible, it doesnt change the fact that election laws were broken, and evidence of voter fraud has been presented, Wright said in a statement Thursday. Both deserve to be investigated. Last night, I objected to certifying the Electoral College votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania to fight for the integrity of our elections and to give certainty to millions of Americans that our electoral process is safe and secure. Taylor Goldenstein reported from Austin; Benjamin Wermund reported from Washington. ben.wermund@chron.com ALBANY In the aftermath of Wednesday's violence at the U.S. Capitol that forced members of Congress into hiding and left five people dead, many terms have been thrown around to describe the chaos. Was it a coup? An insurrection? An act of terrorism or treason or something else entirely? As historians, political scientists and national security experts begin their examination of how President Donald Trump supporters' destructive actions will be classified, there are still many unanswered questions about the mob that barged through security lines and disrupted the joint congressional session to certify the results of the Electoral College and President-elect Joe Biden's victory. But Robert Griffin, dean of the University at Albany's College of Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity, said it was clearly the work of an organized campaign to shut down the usually ceremonial conclusion of the 2020 election. It's a threat that will continue to simmer, he said, until those involved are held accountable. "I'm having a running argument about the correct definition with some people saying it wasn't technically 'a coup.' I do think it was planned," said Griffin, who previously was a senior official at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. "They found Molotov cocktails, they found explosive devices, they found long guns this wasn't a spur-of-the-moment, let's-go-exercise-our-First-Amendment-rights (event)," he said. "There were cells within that group that went there purposefully to overturn the government of the United States." Rioters were heard yelling that a new American revolution was ensuing, invoking "1776" as a warped rallying cry for independence and freedom, even though their actions interrupting a peaceful and democratic transfer of power was antithetical to what the founders fought for. Jennifer H. Dorsey, a history professor at Siena College who teaches courses focused on Colonial and Revolutionary America, said the use of "1776" as a chant is rooted in a general distrust of power. "When you invoke '1776,' what you're saying is that the government that is in power does not legitimately represent your interest and is thus worthy of being overturned, which is the language of the Declaration of Independence," Dorsey said, adding it's "extremely concerning" to think a subset of Americans feel this way without any evidence to support their conspiratorial beliefs. Wednesday's events, Dorsey said, bring to mind the Whiskey Rebellion of 1791-94, when Americans rebelled against a new tax in a manner similar to their rebellion against British taxation, taking over courthouses and other government buildings through force and arms. "George Washington insisted that this was a new government, and while people had the right to complain about taxation, those tactics were no longer acceptable because there would be an election in two years or four years or six years," Dorsey said. "The founding fathers felt strongly that once a democratic republic was established in the United States of America, people needed to reserve their grievances for the ballot box." Washington deployed a militia to Western Pennsylvania in 1794 and responded with a show of force, Dorsey said, that was "designed to make clear those kinds of acts against the government are unacceptable." "But that didn't happen on Wednesday," Dorsey said. "I would certainly argue that what happened on Wednesday was worse than what happened in 1794" because there was no response from the federal government. Instead, what occurred on Wednesday was a brief takeover of one of the nation's most symbolic government buildings that many say was prompted and permitted by the president of the United States. Jennifer Delton, a Skidmore College history professor who teaches courses in U.S. history since the Civil War, said there was a tragic symmetry between Wednesday's storming of the Capitol and the terroristic displays of voter suppression during the era of Reconstruction following the Civil War. Delton recalled how early Wednesday morning brought news of Georgia electing its first Black senator, the Rev. Raphael Warnock, in a runoff election. But by mid-morning, she said, the election of a Black descendant of sharecroppers to the U.S. Senate was shadowed by the storming of the "People's House" in Washington, by a mob who believed, without evidence, that November's presidential election was rigged. Delton said it reminded her of how Black voters who could vote and run for office for the first time in U.S. history during Reconstruction were often intimidated and terrorized by white Southerners who displayed vicious acts of rebellion, resistance and backlash to undermine elections and democracy. "Former confederates would try to stop Black Americans from voting at all costs," Delton said. And this week, she said, there was a mob primarily comprised of white people at the Capitol, some carrying Confederate flags, "trying to undo the will of voters" and use "mob rule" to unjustly sway power. Multiple news organizations reported people in the mob using the phrase "Civil War" to express their resentment and anger. Delton said that during the Civil Rights movement, the phrase "this is going to be another Civil War" was sometimes said by white Southerners. You'd hear it during protests opposing school desegregation in Little Rock, Delton said, and in the speeches of white government officials from the South during the Civil Rights movement. "When you hear that language of 'Civil War,' it is enmeshed with the ongoing racial politics of the United States," Delton said. Now, as Trump's presidency approaches its end, questions of racial justice linger. Those questions will be ever-present as the nation begins to reflect on the historical significance of Trump's four years in the White House. The violent storming of the U.S. Capitol this week has renewed debate over the Michigan Capitol buildings security policies, and the states top Senate Republican is now expressing support for an open-carry ban in the building. But those advocating for banning firearms in the building where state lawmakers do business say anything less than a complete ban isnt enough to protect elected officials, staff and other visitors to the Michigan Capitol. Unlike many state Capitol buildings around the country, visitors to the Michigan Capitol arent subject to metal detectors or a security checkpoint upon entry and are allowed to bring firearms into the building. The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted additional restrictions on entry, including closing the building to the public on non-session days and stopping in-person Capitol tours. When the legislature has been in session during the pandemic, protesters carrying guns have been a frequent presence, most notably during rallies against the states stay-home order last year. On Thursday, Amber McCann, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, said Shirkey supports a ban on the open carry of firearms in the building. Related: Michigan Capitol Commission agrees it can ban guns, but stops short of doing so That position comes after months of debate on what to do about the Capitols gun policy by the Michigan State Capitol Commission. Members of the six-member appointed state panel have been hesitant to take action without legislative buy-in, despite assertions from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel and their own legal counsel that they have the authority to decide whether firearms are allowed in the building. In September, the commission voted 4-2 against a proposal to completely ban firearms in the Capitol and split 3-3 on a motion to ban open carry in the building, but members said theyd continue talks with legislative leaders on next steps. Speaker of the House-elect Jason Wentworth, R-Clare, said in a statement he is still considering and reviewing various ideas on how to proceed, and looks forward to continuing those discussions. In the meantime, Nessel and many legislative Democrats have asserted that the building isnt safe. Following the U.S. Capitol riot and a Thursday bomb threat at the Michigan Capitol building, Nessel recommended people not to go to our state Capitol if they can avoid it. Related: Man arrested in connection with Michigan Capitol bomb threat Let me repeat this in no uncertain terms: Our state Capitol is not safe. https://t.co/eKxAiRHXqo Dana Nessel (@dananessel) January 7, 2021 Sen. Dayna Polehanki, D-Livonia, has been a vocal advocate of a firearms ban in the Michigan Capitol building and on April 30 snapped a photo of people with guns standing over lawmakers in the Senates public gallery that went viral on social media. Months later, some of those same men were arrested, accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and spark a civil war. Polehanki said the most an open carry ban would do is prevent photographic evidence of guns in the Capitol from going public. A former teacher, she said shes previously brought students into the building. Now, shes spending her own money on protective equipment to keep under her desk and worked with her father to come up with an escape route out of the Senate chamber in the event of a crisis. I felt a lot safer being a teacher, because at least we had plans and protocols and evacuation routes, she said. I feel just shocked, dumbfounded, that nobody has the courage to do the right thing to keep us safe. Michael McDaniel, a retired National Guard brigadier general and former homeland security official at the Pentagon who teaches at Western Michigan Universitys Thomas M. Cooley Law School, said he absolutely supports banning guns from the state capitol building. Theres no good reason to let people bring firearms into the Capitol building, he said. There is already a security force there, he said, adding that letting anyone bring guns inside makes it harder for officers to distinguish between who is and isnt doing so with the intent to harm others. If were really a law-and-order society, and we say that we are, lets rely on law and order to do their jobs to protect us, not decide to do it ourselves, McDaniel said. Steve Dulan, second vice chair and spokesperson for the Michigan Coalition of Responsible Gun Owners, said Friday their board is waiting to see an official proposal before taking a formal position, but noted there havent been any incidents at the Capitol where someone has discharged a gun or been arrested for pointing a gun at someone else. Generally, we all have a legal right to open carry almost anywhere in the state, and it seems a little inconsistent that that cant happen in the Capitol itself when it can happen virtually anywhere else thats not private property, he said. The Capitol Commission was initially set to meet again Jan. 25. House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, and Reps. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, and Brenda Carter, D-Pontiac, on Friday called on the commission to convene an emergency meeting prior to the legislatures return to session next week and take up a gun ban and other enhanced Capitol security measures. Later Friday, the commission posted notice for a Jan. 11 meeting to discuss the open carry of firearms at the Capitol. Commission Vice-Chair John Truscott said he preferred a legislative route for a Capitol gun policy, but said he would be open to additional commission action should Shirkey and Wentworth clearly state their wishes. I think what Senator Shirkey said clearly expresses his feelings, which is very positive, Truscott said. Truscott added hed like to have a much broader conversation about what Michigan State Police need from the commission as a result of what happened in Washington, D.C. He noted the buildings camera systems have recently been upgraded and there are additional police personnel in the building, but are there other things that we could or should be doing? Once the legislature is back in session, Polehanki and other House and Senate Democrats plan to reintroduce bills that would fully ban firearms from the Capitol building. She has no faith at all that theyll get a hearing or pass both chambers. Asked what she thought it might take to get bipartisan support of a full ban on firearms in the Capitol building, Polehanki didnt mince words. If one of us dies if somebody in our chamber dies then I believe they would pass a gun ban, she said. Thats what it would take. MLive reporter Garret Ellison contributed to this report. Related coverage: 6 from Michigan arrested during riots, storming of Capitol in Washington D.C. Presence at US Capitol ahead of riot not likely to affect prospective Michigan GOP co-chairs candidacy Michigan representatives call for Trumps removal after riots in U.S. Capitol Objection against Michigans presidential electoral votes fails without support in Senate 3 Michigan Republicans object to electoral votes in Arizona, Pennsylvania Betsy DeVos resigns from Trump Cabinet, citing attack on Capitol State lawmakers who supported overturning election shouldnt be seated, Michigan Houses top Democrat says Congresswoman Slotkin says military officials are concerned about Trumps mental state Far-right activist who encouraged U.S. Capitol occupation also organized stop the steal rally in Michigan The world has got a one-way ticket to a technology-dependent future, and the US has been leading the charge in investing in that journey for the past few years. With US tech companies raising more than $100 billion in tech investments in 2019 alone, many have found the new American dream in the form of starting their own successful tech businesses. But where exactly should aspiring tech entrepreneurs be starting their venture? Let's take a look at some tech-forward states and the factors that make them the best ones for opening your very own startup. Texas Texas has long held its position in the top 10 best US states for tech. And while it's still not Silicon Valley, big tech companies, especially those affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, favor moving to the state due to its business-friendly climate, absence of state income tax, and low cost of living. This includes tech giant Oracle Corp, which just recently moved its headquarters from California to Houston, and industry icon Elon Musk, CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, who recently moved to Austin. Texas's newfound stimulus is expected to provide a rush of investment deals to further propel the state's economy. This is extremely beneficial for tech entrepreneurs looking to establish their own startup as well, because it will encourage more talent and support for businesses, all while the state is still relatively inexpensive to operate in. New York The Empire State's pool of talented and diverse employees makes it very attractive to many tech entrepreneurs. Big tech companies like Amazon and Facebook have expanded in the state and now provide more employment opportunities. The state government has rolled out several programs to support this growth. Tech entrepreneurs looking to start a New York LLC can look forward to not just the benefits of limited liability companies - such as personal asset protection and avoiding double taxation - but also addition incentives and funding. For example, in response to the pandemic, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority recently launched the BRIDGES program, aimed at reviving the economy by fueling tech startup growth with $10 million worth of support. With this, many are expecting New York to surpass Silicon Valley as the nation's biggest tech hub for startups. Massachusetts The Bay State is definitely a strong player in the tech industry. In the 2020 edition of the Milken Institute's State and Technology Index, Massachusetts was ranked the top state for tech in the country. It was recognized for its contributions in the field of research and development, and for investing large amounts in human resource capital. Two top technological universities in the country, Massachusetts-based Harvard and MIT, have churned out a diverse range of enthusiastic and highly employable individuals as well. This means that entrepreneurs won't have a hard time building competent teams, which is a crucial aspect in establishing a successful startup. California It goes without saying that California is where it all began, being home to the highly esteemed tech hub Silicon Valley. While it's relatively expensive in the state, the benefits are tremendous for tech entrepreneurs looking to establish their own startup. You get to be in the proximity of big tech names such as Apple, Google, and Hewlett-Packard. These companies have prompted a rise in tech professionals as well as venture capitalists (VC) who fund promising startups. One example is Freenome, a California-based med-tech startup focusing on the development of artificial intelligence for the early detection of cancer. The startup has raised a total of $71.2 million in VC funding and support from prestigious businesses. Similarly, tech startups who offer potential can benefit from a large pool of talent and much-needed external funding if they choose to open in the Golden State. Tech businesses are built upon the idea of providing solutions to the world. As people become more accustomed to a convenient and efficient way of living, the demand for innovation has made tech businesses very lucrative. Where you start, however, can be crucial in the success of your venture. Luckily, your prospects are plentiful in the US, and it's only a matter of evaluating the benefits and perks such as talent, funding, and support to choose which state your business will call home. Advocates for people sexually abused by clergy are opposing a plan from a New Jersey Catholic diocese to compensate victims. The Diocese of Camden announced a proposal on Dec. 31 to speed up the process of setting aside millions of dollars for abuse claims, after the church filed for bankruptcy in October. The Diocese wants to continue to pay survivors rather than lawyers and other professional advisers, the church said in a statement. Critics said victims were not adequately consulted and the timeline was too fast. To us, the fact that the Diocese was allowed to declare bankruptcy in the first place is absurd, and this incredibly swift process to limit claims and protect finances will only harm survivors, the nonprofit SNAP, the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said in a statement. The plan would set up a $10 million trust to compensate victims at a rate of $1 million a year for the next ten years. This plan has no relationship to their true ability to pay, Jeff Anderson, an attorney representing many abuse claims, said in a statement. Church spokesman Michael Walsh said they had sought extensive outside input, but were hurting financially. The Diocese and all nonprofit and religious organizations are suffering from the impact of COVID 19 and the tremendous need for more programs to help people in the six counties we serve, Walsh wrote in an email. One recent fundraising campaign in Camden has already brought in tens of millions of dollars, according to a diocese report, although only a portion goes to the diocese itself. Camden Bishop Dennis Sullivan previously said the coronavirus battered the churchs finances. At least 188 priests and religious leaders have been credibly accused of abuse in New Jersey. State law changed a year ago to allow victims of abuse more time to sue institutions accused of protecting predators. The surge in lawsuits has led to multiple bankruptcies across the region. The state attorney generals office continues to oversee an investigation into alleged sexual abuse within Catholic churches, although the pandemic has hampered grand jury work statewide. The Associated Press 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. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips. Get the latest updates right in your inbox. Subscribe to NJ.coms newsletters. AUSTIN, Texas, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. (NYSE: INN) (the "Company") today announced the pricing on January 7, 2021 of an underwritten public offering of $250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 1.50% Convertible Senior Notes due 2026 (the "Notes"). The offering is expected to close on January 12, 2021 and is subject to customary closing conditions. The Company has granted the underwriters a 13-day option to purchase up to an additional $37.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The Notes will be the Company's senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of its existing and future unsecured debt that is not subordinated, senior to any future subordinated debt and junior to all existing and future debt and preferred equity of the Company's subsidiaries. The Notes will pay interest semiannually at a rate of 1.50% per annum and will mature on February 15, 2026, unless earlier converted, purchased or redeemed. The Notes will have an initial conversion rate of 83.4028 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes (equivalent to a conversion price of approximately $11.99 per share of the Company's common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), and a conversion premium of approximately 37.5% based on the closing price of $8.72 per share of Common Stock on January 7, 2021). The initial conversion rate of the Notes is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. Prior to August 15, 2025, the Notes will be convertible only upon certain circumstances and during certain periods, and thereafter will be convertible at any time prior to the close of business on the second scheduled trading day prior to maturity of the Notes. Upon conversion, holders will receive cash, Common Stock or a combination thereof at the Company's election. BofA Securities and Deutsche Bank Securities are the joint book-running managers of the offering. KeyBanc Capital Markets, Regions Securities LLC and US Bancorp are the senior co-managers and Capital One Securities, PNC Capital Markets LLC, Raymond James, BMO Capital Markets, RBC Capital Markets, Baird and Bancroft Capital are the co-managers. In connection with the pricing of the Notes, the Company entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions with certain of the underwriters or their respective affiliates and another financial institution (the "Option Counterparties"). The capped call transactions cover, subject to customary adjustments, the number of shares of Common Stock underlying the Notes. The capped call transactions are generally expected to reduce the potential dilution to the Common Stock upon any conversion of the Notes and/or offset any cash payments the Company is required to make in excess of the principal amount of such converted Notes, as the case may be, with such reduction and/or offset subject to a cap. The cap price of the capped call transactions will initially be $15.26, which represents a premium of 75.0% over the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange on January 7, 2021, and is subject to certain adjustments under the terms of the capped call transactions. In connection with establishing their initial hedges of the capped call transactions, the Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates expect to purchase Common Stock and/or enter into various derivative transactions with respect to the Common Stock concurrently with or shortly after the pricing of the Notes. This activity could increase (or reduce the size of any decrease in) the market price of the Common Stock or the Notes at that time. In addition, the Option Counterparties or their respective affiliates may modify their hedge positions by entering into or unwinding various derivatives with respect to the Common Stock and/or purchasing or selling shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company in secondary market transactions following the pricing of the Notes and prior to the maturity of the Notes (and are likely to do so following any conversion, purchase, or redemption of the Notes, to the extent the Company exercises the relevant election under the capped call transactions). This activity could also cause or avoid an increase or a decrease in the market price of the Common Stock or the Notes, which could affect the ability of holders to convert the Notes. To the extent the activity occurs during any observation period related to a conversion of the Notes, it could also affect the number of shares of Common Stock and value of the consideration that holders will receive upon conversion of the Notes. The Company intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes to pay the cost of the capped call transactions. If the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option to purchase additional Notes, the Company expects to use a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of such additional Notes to enter into additional capped call transactions. The Company will contribute the remaining net proceeds to its operating partnership. The operating partnership will use the remaining net proceeds to reduce its outstanding indebtedness, including amounts outstanding under the Company's senior unsecured revolving credit facility and term loans. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities, in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. The Notes will be issued under the Company's currently effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Copies of the final prospectus supplement (when available) and base prospectus relating to the Notes may be obtained by contacting BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department, email: [email protected] and Deutsche Bank Securities, Attention: Prospectus Group, 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005-2836, by email to [email protected], or by telephone at (800) 503-4611. About Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. is a publicly traded real estate investment trust focused on owning premium-branded hotels with efficient operating models primarily in the Upscale segment of the lodging industry. As of January 8, 2021, the Company's portfolio consisted of 72 hotels, 67 of which were wholly owned, with a total of 11,288 guestrooms located in 23 states. This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Act of 1934, as amended, pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and can include future expectations, future plans and strategies, financial and operating projections or other forward-looking information. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, not all of which are known to the Company and many of which are beyond the Company's control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. For example, the fact that the offering has priced may imply that the offering will close, but the closing is subject to conditions customary in transactions of this type and may be delayed or may not occur at all. In addition, the fact that the underwriters have an over-allotment option may imply that this option will be exercised. However, the underwriters are not under any obligation to exercise this option, or any portion of it, and may not do so. Investors should not place undue reliance upon forward-looking statements. SOURCE Summit Hotel Properties, Inc. UPPER THUMB The Upper Thumb saw an increase of 70 new coronavirus cases and one death Jan. 7, as the county health department corrects the states announcement regarding vaccine progress. Huron and Tuscola County Health Departments issued statements notifying area residents that the vaccine supplies were not adequate to advance to the next stage Jan. 7. The announcements were made less than 24 hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer made the announcement that people over the age of 65 would be able to get the COVID-19 vaccine. As of right now, we do not have enough vaccine to do this, HCHDs Facebook post read. When more vaccine becomes available to us we will continue into the next phase. According to the health department, it is currently working on completing Phase 1A of the states vaccine prioritization, which targets critical heath care workers, longterm care staff and necessary health care such as dentists and optometrists. The governor had claimed the state was ready to move into Phase 1B and Accelerated Phase 1C, which would have been people 65 years of age or older and frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure. The regular coronavirus update from the state Jan. 7 showed Huron County saw an increase of 21 new cases and no deaths, bringing the county to 1,420 confirmed cases and 48 deaths. Tuscola County saw an increase of 32 confirmed cases and no deaths, bringing the county to 2,452 confirmed cases and 95 deaths. Sanilac County saw an increase of 17 confirmed cases and one death, bringing the county to 1,471 confirmed cases and 64 deaths. According to state testing data, Huron County saw a test positivity rate of 14.5% Jan. 6, with 21 positive cases out of 145 tests processed. Tuscola County saw its positivity rate drop from 25% on Jan. 5 to 9.3% Jan. 6, with 33 confirmed cases out of 356 tests processed. Sanilac County saw a positivity rate of less than 2%, with four positive cases out of 227 tests processed. Statewide there were 4,015 confirmed cases and 176 coronavirus deaths reported Jan. 7. However, of the 176 deaths, the state reported 138 were identified during an audit of vital records. Since the start of the pandemic there have been 512,751 confirmed cases and more than 13,000 deaths in the state. For more information on the coronavirus visit michigan.gov/coronavirus. SEOUL, South Korea, Jan. 6, 2021 -- Kia has revealed its new corporate logo and global brand slogan that signify the automaker's bold transformation and all-new brand purpose. The introduction of the new logo represents Kia's ambitions to establish a leadership position in the future mobility industry by revamping nearly all facets of its business. The logo is a symbol of Kia's new brand purpose and the values it promises to offer customers through future products and services, and the experiences these enable. Kia seals its brand promise by developing the new logo to resemble a handwritten signature. The rhythmical, unbroken line of the logo conveys Kia's commitment to bringing moments of inspiration, while its symmetry demonstrates confidence. The rising gestures of the logo embody Kia's rising ambitions for the brand, and, more importantly, what it offers customers. Kia celebrates its new face and slogan, declaring the brand's future transformation. Tweet this "Kia's new logo represents the company's commitment to becoming an icon for change and innovation," said Ho Sung Song, Kia's President and CEO. "The automotive industry is experiencing a period of rapid transformation, and Kia is proactively shaping and adapting to these changes. Our new logo represents our desire to inspire customers as their mobility needs evolve, and for our employees to rise to the challenges we face in a fast-changing industry." The new logo was unveiled during a record-breaking pyrotechnic display in the skies above Incheon, Korea. The event saw 303 pyrodrones launching hundreds of fireworks in a synchronized artistic display, igniting and celebrating Kia's new beginning. This set a new Guinness World Record for 'Most unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launching fireworks simultaneously.' The dazzling display can be seen on the Kia Global YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/s61_IsjqLzc A new brand purpose and strategy to be revealed on January 15 In addition to an all-new logo, Kia revealed its new global brand slogan, 'Movement that inspires'. Details on Kia's new brand strategy, including brand purpose and philosophy as well as application to Kia's future product line-up, will be shared through the digital 'New Kia Brand Showcase' event to be held at 09:00 Korean Standard Time on Friday January 15, 2021 (01:00 CET, January 15 / 16:00 PST, January 14). The event can be viewed on the Kia Global YouTube channel. The launch of the new logo follows the announcement of Kia's 'Plan S' long-term business strategy in 2020. Under Plan S, Kia, among other objectives, has the ambition to take a leading position in the global car market. This is focused on popularizing electric vehicles and introducing a broad range of mobility services, tailored to meet the needs and tastes of individuals and local markets. Kia Motors Corporation about us Kia Motors Corporation (www.kia.com) is a world-class mobility experience provider that seeks to inspire its customers through movement. Founded in 1944, Kia has been in the 'movement' industry for more than 75 years. With 52,000 employees worldwide, a presence in more than 190 markets, and manufacturing facilities in six countries, the company today sells around three million vehicles a year. Kia is spearheading the popularization of electrified and battery electric vehicles and developing a growing range of mobility services, encouraging millions of people around the world to explore the best ways of getting around. For more information, visit the Kia Global Media Center at www.kianewscenter.com A commission of European experts will investigate the causes of the incident occurred Friday afternoon in the European power transmission system and which left several areas innorthwestern Romania without electricity, sources from the Energy Ministry told AGERPRES. "No one so far knows what the incident's causes are. A European commission has been set up to find out the circumstances of the incident," the sources said. "This is an interconnection system breakdown. We don't know the exact causes yet, but we will analyze them. It is a zonal problem in the northwest of the country. The power supply has been meanwhile entirely restored," officials of the national electricity transmission company Transelectrica said. "An incident that occurred on Friday at 15:05 in the interconnected European electric transmission grid caused equipment in Romania's electric transmission grid and in other countries to go off. The northwestern part of Romania was affected. Romania's electric transmission grid was restored to normal operating parameters around 16:00, the power supply was restored to all affected consumers around 16:45," the company's release reads. The European Network of Transmission System Operators (ENTSO-E) announced that the synchronous area of Continental Europe was split into two separated grid regions for an hour in the afternoon of January 8, and that an area in the south east region of the interconnected grid was separated from the rest of Continental Europe during that period. A temporary frequency drop of approximately 250 mHz was also registered. "Coordinated actions and an immediate response taken by the Continental European Transmission System Operators ensured that the system stability was not affected in most European countries," ENTSO-E said. The European association adds that an investigation is ongoing on the cause of this system split and further information on this incident will be made in due course. KOMU 8's Emily Spain talks with Dava-Leigh Brush about her time as a contestant on the show Jeopardy. Friday marks the final time an original episode of the show with Alex Trebek as host will air. Trebek died in November 2020 following his battle with pancreatic cancer. A row over the transfer of the Mumbai Metro-3 (Colaba-Bandra-Seepz) car shed, from Aarey Milk Colony to Kanjurmarg has revived a four-decade-old tug of war between the Centre and the state government over the ownership of the salt pan lands spread across some 5,500 acres in Mumbai. The Uddhav Thackeray government allotted 102 acres of salt pan land to the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) for building an integrated car shed in Kanjurmarg, in east-central Mumbai, last year in a decision opposed by the Centre, which claimed ownership. . Since the 1980s, both governments have been citing various laws and court orders to stake their claims to the lands spread across the eastern suburbs of Mankhurd, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Bhandup, Nahur and Mulund and some western suburbs including Dahisar and Malvani. Through the decades, both governments have also made various plans for utilising these lands, which have remained on paper. Salt manufacture It is said that the story of salt manufacturing can be traced to the first human settlements in the seven islands of Mumbai. According to the Thane gazetteers department, the Agris, Kolis and Native Christians were engaged in salt manufacturing and were known as mithagris or salt workers. The Agris were found in Bassein, Ghodbander, Panvel and Uran; the Kolis in Trombay and the Christians in Ghodbander and at Kurla near Bombay, according to the records available on the website of the department. In 1816, the British government realised the potential of salt and decided to raise revenue from it. Kaevan Umrigar, a heritage evangelist from the Mumbai-based Khakhi foundation, said: Originally, the salt workers would give a toka or a share of the produce to the rulers. However, the British realised the potential of salt tax as regular source of revenue. Salt manufacturing no longer has a significant active role in the citys economy, salt pans do act as a natural barrier during flooding. A 2016 report by the MMRDA states: Salt pans are not only important from a livelihood, economy and salt production perspective but are critically important from the point of view of flood-protection as they are shallow depressed areas holding sea water. The salt pans today face a serious threat from the construction lobby of the region leading to a mild decline in the overall area and production. The tug of war According to the Union ministry of commerce, Mumbai has 5,378 acres of salt pan lands allotted to 31 salt works (six on lease and 24 licensed) in 13 revenue villages. The government had also stated that the lease of these six salt works expired in October 2016. According to a 2010 report by the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), 1,206 hectares (please convert to acres for sake of consistency) comes under the coastal regulation zone (CRZ) and 204 hectares of these lands in the eastern suburbs can be developed. The 102-acre Kanjurmarg shed falls along the Eastern Express Highway and was also considered by the then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-Shiv Sena government as an option for the location of the car shed. When the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government shifted the plot from Aarey to Kanjurmarg, the Centre filed a petition against the transfer and the Bombay high court (HC) stayed the transfer. The court, in fact, called the collectors action of passing the transfer order as bordering on committing a fraud on power. In 1985, a Central government committee had come to the conclusion that these lands had become unsuitable for salt manufacture and should be transferred to the ministry of urban development. A reply by the ministry of urban development to the then member of Parliament from Mumbai North-East Kirit Somaiya stated: Accordingly, the Ministry of Industry, Department of Industrial Development issued orders dated 9th January,1986, 30.12.1987 and 22.2.1990, transferring 5,378 acres (approximately) of lands in Greater Bombay, on `as is where is` basis with all the assets and liabilities, to the Ministry of Urban Development, for use as considered appropriate. After that, for a brief period, the Union government and the state government of Maharashtra were also looking at jointly developing these lands to meet the ever-growing needs of Mumbai. Both the governments had reached a consensus to use the land for affordable housing and public amenities, said Somaiya. A group of ministers had also visited Mumbai to take a decision on utilising the salt pan lands. In 2014, the Mumbai suburban collector issued an order in respect of 2,978 acres of salt pans in Mumbai as belonging to the state government. The Centres Salt commissionerate appealed against this order before the Konkan divisional commissioner. In 2018, the then BJP revenue minister Chandrakanth Patil, while reviewing this petition, vested the 2,978 acres to the state government. A senior official said: The order was issued under the revenue ministers quasi-judicial capacity, which the Salt commissioner did not challenge. Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant had earlier also said that the salt commissioner had not provided any documents in the last three years to substantiate its claim, but opposed it only when the land was allotted for the car shed. What now? In December, chief minister Thackeray appealed to the Centre and the BJP in Maharashtra for a dialogue to resolve the issue. He also criticised the centre for creating hurdles in the project. People familiar with the situation say that Thackeray is keen on going ahead with the plan to build the car shed in Kanjurmarg. The MVA government on Wednesday formed a nine-member committee under Maharashtra chief secretary Sanjay Kumar to look at alternate plots for the car shed. The committee has to submit its report in a months time. According to the government resolution, the committee has to mainly look at two plots Aarey and Kanjurmarg. A senior state official said that the 25 hectares in Aarey will prove to be insufficient for future traffic requirements. The Kanjurmarg plot will be utilised as a common car shed for line 3, 4 (Wadala-Kasarwadavali) and 6 (Swami Samath Nagar-Vikhroli). In fact, it will also be integrated with Line 14 (Kanjurmarg-Badlapur). This means the state will save on both land and cost by constructing a car depot here (in Kanjurmarg). Supporters of US President Donald Trump climb on walls at the US Capitol during a protest against the certification of the 2020 US presidential election results by the US Congress. (Image: Reuters/Jim Urquhart) The mob that stormed the Capitol Wednesday did not just threaten the heart of American democracy. To scientists who watched in dismay as the scenes unfolded on television, the throngs of unmasked intruders who wandered through hallways and into private offices may also have transformed the riot into a superspreader event. The coronavirus thrives indoors, particularly in crowded spaces, lingering in the air in tiny particles called aerosols. If even a few people were infected likely, given the current rates of spread and the crowd size then the virus would have had the ideal opportunity to find new victims, experts said. It has all the elements of what we warn people about, said Anne Rimoin, a public health researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles. People yelling and screaming, chanting, exerting themselves all of those things provide opportunity for the virus to spread, and this virus takes those opportunities. President Donald Trump has downplayed the pandemic almost since its beginning, and many of his supporters who entered the Capitol on Wednesday did not appear to be wearing masks or making any effort at social distancing. Under similar conditions, gatherings held in such close quarters have led to fast-spreading clusters of infection. But transmission of the virus has always been difficult to track. There is little effective contact tracing in the United States, and many in the crowd at the Capitol arrived from communities far from Washington. 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 Black Lives Matter protests in the summer raised similar concerns. But most were held outdoors, and greater numbers of participants seemed to be masked. Research afterward suggested these were not superspreading events. Attendees of the rally preceding the rush to the Capitol on Wednesday also stood outdoors close together for hours, but Im less worried about what was happening outdoors, Rimoin said. The risk increases exponentially indoors. Hundreds of rioters shouting in crowded rooms and hallways for extended periods of time can infect dozens of people at once, she and other experts said. Three distinct groups Capitol Police, rioters and members of Congress were spending time indoors, without social distancing, for long periods of time, said Dr. Joshua Barocas, an infectious diseases physician at Boston University. The melee likely was a superspreader event, he added, especially given the backdrop of the highly transmissible variants that are circulating. Barocas was referring to a highly contagious new variant of the coronavirus, first identified in Britain. Cases have been reported in several US states, and the variant may well have spread everywhere in the country, making events like the Capitol riot even more risky, he said. The idea that members of Congress may have been exposed, amid an already difficult transfer of power, particularly disturbed some scientists. I am worried not only that it could it could lead to superspreading, but also superspreading to people who are elected officials, said Dr. Tom Ingelsby, director of the Center for Health Security at the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. And infected members of Congress and law enforcement could have spread the virus to one another as they sheltered from the violence, he noted. Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., announced on Twitter early Thursday morning that he had tested positive for the virus. LaTurner was cloistered in the chamber with other members of Congress for much of the day. At least a dozen of the 400 or so lawmakers and staff who were huddling in one committee room refused to wear masks even after being offered one, or wore them improperly below their chins, said Rep. Susan Wild, D-Pa. They gathered in a committee room that quickly became crowded, making social distancing impossible, she said. Some of the lawmakers were unmasked, and several were shouting. Tensions were high, and people were yelling at each other, Wild said. I just started getting really kind of angry, thinking about the holidays just passed, and how so many people did not spend time with their immediate families for fear of spreading, she added, referring to her unmasked colleagues. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., said the environment made her so nervous she sat on the floor at one point, hoping to duck whatever virus might be floating about. She has asked experts whether the lawmakers present should now quarantine, she said. She was wearing two masks, as she often does. I get that they think they have their individual freedoms, she said of Republican lawmakers who eschewed masks. Its a rule for a reason. Its to protect the common good. The risk for members of Congress will depend greatly on ventilation in the room where they sheltered, said Joseph Allen, an expert on buildings quality at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. If there is a well-designed secure facility, then it would have great ventilation and filtration, Allen said. If its a place where they were just hunkered down wherever they could go that was safe, and it was not a place that was designed like that, then we dont really know. Its natural in a heart-pounding crisis to disregard risks that seem intangible or theoretical, he and other scientists noted. You cannot keep distance if youre trying to leave a very intense and dangerous situation, said Seema Lakdawala, an expert in respiratory virus transmission at the University of Pittsburgh. Youre weighing the risk of your life over the risk of getting a virus at that moment. Members of Congress returned to continue the electoral count after the rioters were cleared from the Capitol. Some legislators took off their masks before giving a speech, Barocas noted, at precisely the time they needed to wear them. Talking at a high volume can expel vast quantities of aerosols, propelling them through an enclosed space. Scientists have documented infectious aerosols suspended in air nearly 20 feet from an infected person. And a recent study from South Korea found that two people had become infected after spending just five minutes in a restaurant, 15 feet away from an infected patron. Many Americans breathed sighs of relief as rioters departed the Capitol. Some experts feared that rioters heading back home could set off new chains of infection, perhaps impossible to track. We might get an inkling into how bad it might be because of the federal employees, Barocas said. But I dont think that were going to know the extent of this superspreader event. Even as the mob stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, the pandemic marked a grim milestone: The virus claimed nearly 4,000 lives, the highest daily toll thus far. The numbers are expected to keep rising. The president has created a culture in which people think its a hoax, and these basic control measures are being flouted repeatedly everywhere, Allen said. By Apoorva Mandavilli c.2021 The New York Times Company They each admitted to occasionally searching the other online. This was how, in 2018, now both divorced, Ms. Sibaja found Mr. Karp on Facebook. He had posted a link to Unorthodox, a Jewish podcast hosted by Tablet Magazine. For Yom Kippur, the Jewish holiday of atonement, the podcast has an annual apology episode, which that year featured Mr. Karp telling a story about how he was able to repair his relationship with his brother. Mr. Karp, who was the assistant producer and then producer of a storytelling event in Dallas called Oral Fixation, was used to encouraging participants to share their most vulnerable moments; now it was his turn. His story was about how, before he met Ms. Sibaja, he allowed his brother to be arrested in his stead when they got into a physical fight, fueled by his addiction. He told about how he was able to make amends by being his brothers caregiver after he needed sudden surgery. He also mentioned there were others he had badly hurt. Ms. Sibaja knew he was talking about her. You could just hear in his voice how sorry he was, Ms. Sibaja said. The courage it took to do that, its just so brave. The fact that Ms. Sibaja might hear it never occurred to Mr. Karp. He said he hoped that his story could give hope to someone else who may be struggling. God says heres the deal, but then, later, I realize, no, the deal is really much bigger than you think it is, he said. It was vulnerably sharing his darkest moments that prompted the woman he never stopped loving to reach out. $1.65 Million Grant Will Fund Projects in Neutrino Oscillation You could be forgiven if you havent thought much about neutrinos. The subatomic particles are produced by the sun and by stars, moving unnoticed through rock, metal, air even through people. Lisa Koerner, a particle physicist at UH, is leading a $1.65 million project related to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, known as DUNE. But maybe you should know more about them. International efforts to understand them better could answer one of the enduring mysteries about the nature of the universe: if, as scientists believe, equal amounts of matter and antimatter were created during the Big Bang, why didnt they cancel each other out, leaving nothing? Instead, matter persisted, and here we are. What happened to all that antimatter? asks Lisa Koerner, associate professor of physics at the University of Houston and principal investigator on a $1.65 million grant from the Department of Energy to fund several projects seeking answers. This work could help to establish the mechanism by which all the antimatter disappeared. This work could help to establish the mechanism by which all the antimatter disappeared. There are three types, or flavors, of neutrinos electron, muon and tau and the particles morph from one type to another as they travel, a process known as oscillation. Scientists enter the Super Kamiokande detectors water tank, which is located in the Kamioka mine in Japan. Photo: Daniel Cherdack Koerner and her colleagues in the particle physics group at UHs College of Natural Sciences & Mathematics are leading and working on projects around the world that seek to explain how neutrinos change properties as they move, a field that is expected to shed light on the behavior of matter and subtle differences between those properties in matter and antimatter. Their work ranges from analyzing data to designing and installing sophisticated equipment used to detect the particles. These physicists are trying to push the boundaries of our understanding of the universe, and neutrinos are a good place to do that, said Kevin Bassler, Moores Professor of Physics and Mathematics and chairman of the UH Department of Physics. Neutrinos can fly right through the center of the planet without ever interacting with the planet at all. They rarely interact with anything. The experiments to detect them and determine their properties are very challenging. An 800-Mile Long Neutrino Beam The DOE grant is just the latest for UH physicists engaged in this work. In addition to Koerner, it will fund work by Andrew Renshaw and Daniel Cherdack, both assistant professors of physics, for projects related to the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, known as DUNE. Currently under construction outside of Chicago at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, or Fermilab, DUNE is set to begin operations later this decade. Andrew Renshaw, an assistant professor of physics, is involved with projects at DUNE and elsewhere as part of several global collaborations. The project will use a powerful proton accelerator to create a beam of neutrinos that will travel from Fermilab to a detector buried a mile underground in the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota, allowing researchers to study how the neutrinos change during the 800-mile journey. The two detectors arent connected by a pipeline or other infrastructure the neutrino beam moves through the Earths crust. DUNE involves more than 1,000 scientists from 30 countries, making it one of the largest collaborations of its type. What they ultimately discover could tell us whether neutrinos are the reason the universe is made of matter. DUNE will also look for exotic new physics and search for proton decay, a discovery that would establish a link between all types of particle interactions. Scientists could even find neutrinos emerging from an exploding star. DUNE will use a detector technology called a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LAr TPC), which uses cryogenic equipment to keep argon liquid at -200 Centigrade, or about -328 degrees Fahrenheit. The Time Projection Chamber measures what happens when the neutrinos interact with the argon. Koerner began working with neutrinos during graduate school and as a post-doctoral researcher at Brookhaven National Laboratory, including with the K2K experiment in Japan, the MINOS experiment at Fermilab, and later at the Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment in China. Her research group currently studies proton decay and other beyond-Standard-Model processes in DUNE. The group also collaborates on the NOvA project, a smaller scale experiment that studies neutrinos as they travel from a detector at Fermilab to one in Minnesota. Daniel Cherdack, an assistant professor of physics, arrived at UH in 2018, bringing experience in several projects with which the University had not previously been involved. UH physicists have been involved in neutrino science for years, Bassler said, and have played major roles in a number of international projects. Recent hires have helped to sustain the focus. We wanted to make sure this group was able to continue this work, he said. Cherdack was among the new hires, arriving in 2018 and bringing experience in several projects with which the University had not previously been involved. That includes T2K, a project based in Japan which fires a beam of neutrinos from one side of the country to the other, and ICARUS, a detector which began its work in Italy but was moved to Fermilab in 2017 to search for sterile neutrinos. But DUNE is different. The beam there will be more intense, the detectors are bigger, so well catch more neutrinos, Cherdack said. Bigger detectors and more neutrinos offer the chance to collect more data and measure smaller effects. The Search for Dark Matter Still, the other projects are yielding valuable information on their own, as well as helping scientists prepare for the work they will do with DUNE. Cherdack leads teams at both T2K and ICARUS that measure neutrino interactions. The more those groups learn, the better prepared they will be to hone in on answers when DUNE begins operations, he said. Teams of technicians fully instrumented the colorful ICARUS detector before filling the experiment with liquid argon. Photo by: Al Johnson Renshaw, meanwhile, is in charge of designing and helping to fabricate and install a system to monitor the purity of the liquid argon inside the detectors; impurities can inhibit recording particle interactions. This system is based on a design from Renshaw that is currently used at the prototype detector at CERN, located in Switzerland. He also is involved with several related projects, funded by almost $5 million in grants from the National Science Foundation and other agencies. While DUNE is an enormous project both physically and in complexity, other projects are small enough to fit on a lab table. Renshaw is a founding member of the HUNTER Collaboration (Heavy Unseen Neutrinos from Total Energy-momentum Reconstruction), which will search for a heavy sterile neutrino, a potential explanation for the existence of dark matter. Sterile neutrinos have never been detected, but Renshaw said their existence would answer questions that have been raised by other experiments. It would fill in some of the gaps in our Standard Model of particle physics, he said. In experiments looking at neutrinos, they have some anomalies that, if you included sterile neutrinos, the results potentially make sense. But because sterile neutrinos dont interact with normal matter in the way standard neutrinos do, they cant actually be detected. We have to find whats not there, he said. Which leads to Renshaws work on the DarkSide, experiments conducted by the Global Argon Dark Matter Collaboration. The collaboration began work with a smaller detector in Italy in 2014 and is currently preparing to build a larger detector, DarkSide-20k, to search for dark matter, as well as for neutrinos from the sun and supernova bursts. Renshaw serves on the DarkSide executive board and is technical coordinator for the procurement of underground argon from Colorado. His research group also is responsible for component design and data analysis. Like the work with neutrinos at DUNE and other projects, the search for dark matter is a search for what most people never see. Unlike neutrinos, dark matter remains unobserved by scientists. It hasnt been directly detected in a detector, and we dont know exactly what it is, Renshaw said. But based on astrophysical and astronomical observations, we know it is there. We know what properties it doesnt have it doesnt have an electrical charge. It doesnt give off light. You cant see it in a typical way. Both the search for dark matter and the ambitious projects to better understand neutrinos are designed to answer fundamental questions about the universe, but Koerner said there are also aspects of the work that have practical applications. Particle physics involves a lot of heavy-duty computing, and we work on building those systems, she said. There is a lot of work involved in building the detectors, the instrumentation, the hardware. Were not looking to invent some new technology, but the developments to enable these big experiments can be useful in other fields. We also train a lot of students who are able to make contributions in fields outside of particle physics. - Jeannie Kever, University Media Relations Bangladesh is set to import an additional 2.5 lakh tonnes of rice from India over the next few months, with 1.5 lakh tonnes through government-to-government deals but some exporters are taking undue risks by quoting low prices, sources have said. These imports will be in addition to the seven global tenders Dhaka has floated to import 3.10 lakh tonnes of rice. Two of these tenders for 50,000 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes were floated on January 7. While the 50,000-tonne tender closes on January 20, bids for the other can be sent in by January 18. Indian firms, including a Singapore company's subsidiary, have won five of the remaining tenders, quoting rates between $405 (Rs 29,750) and $418 (Rs 30,750) a tonne on cost, insurance and freight (CIF) basis, sources said. While the lower bids are for non-basmati parboiled rice, the higher quotes are for white rice. The problem for India is that some exporters who have got the orders are finding it difficult to leverage their cargo. Some of the exporters have not even exported 50,000 tonnes for a whole year, said an exporter, not wishing to be identifies, pointing out to a crisis building up. A multinational firms export official said that exporters had taken undue risks by quoting very low prices. Our exporters are trying to outbid one another to get the Bangladesh tender. Quoting $406 CIF is risky when our prices are near $400, as they could face problems of unloading at Bangladesh ports. Chittagong is a congested port and Mongla is a river-based port with limitations, the official, who did not wish to be identified, said. Dhaka Tribune reported that the Bangladesh Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved the import of 2.5 lakh tonnes from India and global suppliers on January 6. While one lakh tonnes of the additional 2.5 lakh tonnes imports will be made from India, the worlds second-largest producer, through a global tender, the National Agriculture Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (Nafed) will ship out the rest under a government-to-government deal. Nafed will supply one lakh tonnes of this as non-basmati parboiled rice and the rest 50,000 tonnes will be white rice to Dhaka. Bangladesh is trying to build inventories after the supplies dwindled and local prices surged to a record as floods and heavy rains damaged the paddy crop. Its food department officials expect rice imports to top 20 lakh tonnes and India, the worlds largest rice exporter, is seen as emerging as the beneficiary. Two reasons for India gaining from Dhakas imports are that its prices are far more competitive than Thailand and Vietnam, the second and third largest exporters, and freight charges are cheaper as India is a neighbour. India is quoting its five percent broken parboiled rice at around $385-390 (Rs 28,260-28,630) a tonne free-on-board (FOB), up over $3-7 since last week. Thailand exporters quote up to $520 (Rs 38,150) and Vietnam shippers up to $505 (Rs 37,075) for the same grade FOB. Sources said exporters could be left paying demurrage charges since the Bangladeshi ports are congested, leaving them either with no gain or loss. There are problems on the Indian side as well. It is also a little difficult to execute orders from ports such as Haldia and Kolkata. These ports have problems handling bigger vessels, said Rice Exporters Association president BS Krishna Rao. It is a problem loading ships in Haldia and Kolkata during December and January due to tide. Usually, even container ships carry half their capacity, said a New Delhi-based trade expert. According to the multinational firm official, a Singapore-based trading firm too has burnt its fingers exporting rice to Bangladesh in the past. Rao said small exporters could find problems in getting the required quantity of rice to export within a month. This is not the first time. It has happened in the past too. It is actually a pain to export to Bangladesh, said the multinational firm official. Record rice stocks in India and ample supplies from the Kharif harvest are helping India dominate the export market. The government has procured a record 50 million tonnes from October 1 till January 3 through the Food Corporation of India (FCI) for its buffer stocks. Besides, the FCI had 14.5 million tonnes of rice in its warehouses and 33.9 million tonnes of paddy that can yield 22.71 million tonnes of rice as on January 1. According to the agriculture ministrys first advance estimate of foodgrain production for 2020-21, Indias kharif rice production is estimated at 102.36 million tonnes this season (July 2020-June 2021) against 101.98 million tonnes last season. (Subramani Ra Mancombu is a journalist based in Chennai who writes commodities and agriculture.) : 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. Bird flu is out of control in south-western France and approaching Luxembourg from the Belgian side. Veterinary services are on alert. Belgium discovered several cases of "highly pathogenic bird flu of the type H5 among wild birds" in mid-November, according to the Belgian food safety agency Afsca. A total of 20 cases have been detected, the Afsca confirmed on Thursday. All domestic animals infected by the highly pathogenic virus at the two poultry farms in Menin (Flanders) and Dinant (Wallonia) were culled, Belgian health authorities announced Thursday. Dinant is around 100km from Luxembourg as the crow (or other bird) flies. According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture, the Grandy Duchy has so far escaped the rapid infection currently raging in south western France, known for its foie gras production. Loic Evain, head of French veterinary services, told the AFP on Tuesday that over 200,000 ducks had been culled in an effort to stem the spread, and that a further 400,000 were slated to be, as a preventative matter. As for Luxembourg, Felix Wildschutz from the local veterinary services confirms, "We have not detected a single case so far. Not in 2020, nor in 2021. But all the surrounding countries are affected, so there is no reason we shouldn't have it." As the situation could change from one day to the next, "we are currently on alert", he confides. EVERY BIRD CADAVER IS AUTOPSIED In practice this means that all poultry are kept in confinement, there are regular, careful checks, the European database is closely scrutinised, and that every dead bird is analysed. The veterinary laboratory regularly sees bird and poultry cadavers delivered and "each one of them is autopsied to determine illnesses, with an analysis for bird flu in particular", confirms Dr Felix Wildschutz. "We want to be sure we don't miss a case." PHILIPPE HUGUEN / AFP Birds and poultry had already been confined in mid-November to avoid any contact with wild birds who "are the source of bird flu in all countries". Luxembourg's only real advantage seems to be that it is not a coastal country and sees little bird migration. Luxembourg currently has around 100,000 poultry, with "a few thousand in domestic flocks", says Dr Wildschutz. These are the most exposed, however, as shown during the 2017 bird flu episode in the country. Industrial farms generally keep their poultry inside. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) The Philippine government expanded the ongoing travel ban to include Austria, after the new COVID-19 variant first discovered in South Africa was detected there, Malacanang announced on Friday. Starting Jan. 10 until Jan. 15, foreign travelers coming from or who have been to Austria within 14 days before arriving in the Philippines will be barred from entering the country, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement. Those who will be arriving before Jan. 10 both foreign passengers and Filipino citizens may still be allowed to enter but will have to undergo a 14-day quarantine period even with a negative RT-PCR test, Roque added. Last month, authorities suspended all flights from the United Kingdom, a ban that later included 20 other countries and territories: Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States. The government later added Portugal, India, Finland, Norway, Jordan, and Brazil to the list as more countries reported infections with the new COVID-19 variants. There are no restrictions on outbound travel, but that would depend on the rules of country destinations. The variant that originated in South Africa and another found in the UK are believed to be more contagious, prompting travel bans and widespread concern across the world. Both mutations have not yet been detected in the Philippines. 3 things to know about the Feast of Epiphany Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment What is known at the Feast of Epiphany is celebrated by many Christians worldwide each year on Jan. 6, marking the revealing of Jesus as the Incarnate God. Many Eastern Orthodox believers mark the feast on Jan. 19. Western Christians typically observe this day or closest weekend to remember when the Magi came to visit the Christ child, the revealing of Jesus to the Gentiles. As is recounted in Matthew 2, the men who had come from the East worshiped Jesus and presented him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. In Eastern Christianity, this day is known as Theophany and the day commemorates when John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and emphasizing Jesus as both fully human and fully God. As is recounted in Matthew 3, when Jesus emerges from the water, the Heavens open, the Spirit of God descends in the form of a dove, and a voice from Heaven said: "This is my Son, whom I love, with Him I am well pleased." Here are three important things to know about the feast of Epiphany and how it's being celebrated. JOURNALIST: - Sir, what is your opinion on this tough move made by the USA? Dr. NGUYEN DUC DO: - In my opinion, the US probably does not actually want to see Vietnam as a currency manipulator, because they do not gain much from such a decision. By asking Vietnam to appreciate the local currency or to impose tariffs on Vietnamese goods does not solve the US trade deficit problem. The main reason for the large scale trade deficit is due to their economic model that relies heavily on consumer demand. If there is less consumer demand, the US may spread imports from other countries besides Vietnam. Reality shows that when the US imposes tariffs and reduces imports from China, their imports from countries like Vietnam increase. Based on this analysis, if the US enacts measures to restrict imports from Vietnam, they will have to increase imports from Thailand, India and other such manufacturing countries. In exports Vietnam is a small market for the US, so increasing exports is probably not the main goal of the US, which exceeds in scale of USD 20,000 bn. The US has imposed high tariffs on Chinese goods over the last few years to balance the trade and also weaken the economy of its biggest competitor, and Vietnam is not a competitor for the US in any way. - Sir, when Vietnam is labeled a currency manipulator with risk of more imposed tariffs, what are the options left for us to deal in such a situation? - We do not feel comfortable being viewed as a currency manipulator, so something needs to be done to reverse this unpleasant situation. However, policy adjustments need to take into account the overall benefits. In order not to be labeled as a currency manipulator, we must get out of at least one difficult criterion. The criteria that the bilateral trade surplus with the US does not exceed USD 20 bn is very difficult to change, because the scale of Vietnam's trade surplus with the US in the first eleven months of 2020 is already at nearly USD 60 bn. Therefore, even if we fully open the domestic market for US goods, the scale of Vietnam's trade surplus with the US will still be greater than USD 20 bn. It should be noted that the scale of Vietnam's exports to the US have increased rapidly over the last few years due to the US-China trade war. As Chinese goods entering the US market are subject to higher tariffs and have become less competitive, Vietnamese enterprises have been taking advantage of this situation to focus on increasing exports to the US. So, if the US-China trade war still doesn't cool down for some time, the trade surplus between Vietnam and the US is likely to continue to rise. Figures show that while Vietnamese exports to the US in 2019 grew by 27.8%, and in the first eleven months of this year by 25.7%, exports to the EU showed a sharp decrease. For the overall current surplus criterion of more than 2% of GDP, which is one of the three criteria that the US applies to Vietnam, the figure of USD 20 bn in the first eleven months of 2020 is inappropriate. The Covid-19 pandemic has slowed down our country's economic growth and weakened aggregate demand, so imports have fallen sharply and the surplus has increased as a result. In addition, the US dollar depreciating by about 10% in the last one year has also caused the Vietnam dong to depreciate sharply against regional currencies, leading to a competitive advantage for Vietnamese exporters. However, the high trade surplus will not last long. In coming time, when the economy finally recovers and imports increase, the trade surplus will gradually decrease, but it may take a few more years to return to the equilibrium of below 2% of GDP. Regarding the State Bank of Vietnam's net buying of foreign currency, this is the result of a trade balance surplus as well as overall balance of payments. In coming years, the surplus will not be as large as this year, so the pressure to buy foreign currency will decrease. However, I think the State Bank of Vietnam should calculate that the Vietnam dong will appreciate slightly more against the US dollar in 2021. - Sir, how do you predict the outlook in coming time? Is there a possibility that Vietnamese goods exported to the US will be subject to import tax? - With Vietnam being labeled as a currency manipulator, some US businesses may take advantage and sue Vietnamese enterprises for dumping of goods. Some Chinese small household-run enterprises may also fall under the radar of the US Department of Finance. However, the possibility of the US imposing tariffs on Vietnamese goods on a large scale will not be good in my opinion, because it will not bring any significant benefit to the US. However, we also need to give the US side a few reasons to take Vietnam off the list of currency manipulating countries. As mentioned above, letting the dong currency go up slightly in the coming year might be one solution. The price increase of about 1% per year, even 2% per year, will not affect the macro-economic stability or the competitiveness of exporters, especially when the US dollar is on a downtrend in the international market. Macro-economic stability will help Vietnam mobilize foreign investment. In fact, past years show that Vietnam's exports are relatively stable even when the US dollar and the Vietnamese dong appreciate against other currencies in the region. Vietnam could also consider opening more options in the domestic market for US goods, such as agricultural products, without being too concerned about the competitiveness of domestic goods. This year, we have seen foreign pork in our stores, which although not cheap can easily dominate the domestic market, because consumer taste is the final deciding factor. - Thank you very much. Ha My In the weeks since the Nov. 8 election, an online provocateur and white nationalist named Tim Gionet posted hours of live-stream videos to social media in which he repeatedly warned of rioting or worse if the results werent overturned. Trump or war!" he said in a video posted on Tuesday. The next day, Mr. Gionet live-streamed from inside Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis office as a mob ransacked the U.S. Capitol. Also read Virus spread slows but two states still a worry Mr. Gionet was among a collection of right-wing and extremist personalities who loudly rallied their online followings to contest the election results, through violence if necessary, according to researchers and analysts who study extremism and disinformation, as well as posts reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. Many of them used the reach of mainstream social-media platforms such as Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc. but increasingly also turned to niche sites with either fewer rules around the type of content that can be posted and/or where the communications can be encrypted, and thus inaccessible to law enforcement. Mr. Gionet, who was previously banned from YouTube and Twitter for abusive behavior, posted his videos to Facebook Inc.s Instagram service and the streaming platform DLive. His account had remained active on Facebook, where he mostly refrained from expressing extreme political views, illustrating the patchwork enforcement that has been constructed as platforms reach different and often conflicting decisions about what is acceptable. Late Thursday, Facebook removed Mr. Gionets profiles from Facebook and Instagram. Mr. Gionet, who goes by the nickname Baked Alaska" online, didnt respond to requests for comment. Unlike other rallies in the past that turned violent, the Capitol riot doesnt appear to have been orchestrated by a central figure or organization, according to researchers and analysts. Instead, they say, these online rabble-rousers fomented anger over the election results for weeks through various channels and platforms. It was a bit of a mess," said Megan Squire, a professor of computer science at Elon University who focuses on online extremism. There were so many groups, it was broken out across numerous platforms, and fewer people were claiming to be in charge." Yet it was hardly unpredictable. The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist groups, sent more than two dozen alerts between Dec. 23 and Jan. 7 noting the rising risk of violence related to the coming gathering. Robert Evans, who specializes in far-right extremism for the research group Bellingcat, predicted an attempt on the Capitol in a post Monday on Bellingcats website. It was planned by a distributed network of extremists for months, and in some ways for years," said Mr. Evans, who has advised federal law enforcement on the growing extremist movement in the U.S. Mr. Evans, pointing to multiple social media and chat room sites, said symbols used by rioters captured in videos and photos of Wednesdays attack identified the ideology of conspiracy theories promoted by far-right extremist groups, especially QAnon, a loosely organized community that believes a cabal of Satan-worshipping pedophiles is trying to undermine Mr. Trump. A noose in one protesters hand is likely to represent the white-supremacist slogan The Day of the Rope," he said. Federal authorities said Thursday they plan to charge dozens of people for their roles in the riots, in part by combing through social-media activity in search of clues. Other platforms where Wednesdays rally was widely promoted include Discord, Parler and Gab, each of which puts fewer restrictions on posts than Facebook and Twitter, which forbid incitements to violence and in recent months have taken steps to limit false claims about the election. A spokeswoman for Discord said the app has strict rules against hate and violence of any kind, including the use of Discord to support or organize around violent extremism. In early July, Facebook booted groups advocating for civil war, and in August and early September, Facebook targeted militia groups, conspiracy groups such as QAnon, and the far-right extremist group Proud Boys. Facebook in the past had banned some members of these groups, but this time took a more aggressive approach. Facebook disrupted their networks," Dr. Squire said. Facebook, though, remained a key hub for awareness of the coming rally and discussion of possible actions to contest the election result. While Facebook after the election banned the more than 300,000-member Stop the Steal" group, it allowed the organization behind itWomen for America First"to continue promoting events disputing the legitimacy of the election and calling for efforts to overturn it. That groups rally was where Mr. Trump on Wednesday told attendees they should walk down to the Capitol" and warned you will never take back our country with weakness." Protesters rushed the Capitol shortly thereafter. In the day before the mob attacked the Capitol, many public and private pro-Trump groups across Facebook were warning of a looming civil war," according to an analysis by Avaaz, a left-leaning human-rights group. One video circulating on Facebook, posted on Jan. 3 and viewed almost 45,000 times, explained to viewers how they could go and buy pepper spray, carry a knife or pistol and briefed watchers on the laws around conceal and carry, said Fadi Quran, campaign director at Avaaz. Facebook removed the video after Avaaz alerted them to it. Ahead of the rally, the administrators of a private Facebook group called the 2020 Civil Warwhich has grown to 1,400 members after organizers launched it in September to discuss fighting in and surviving coming unrest advised members who traveled to Washington, D.C., on where to meet up with like-minded Trump supporters and suggested that they bring concealed weapons with them. They just do not have the moderation tools to deal with this stuff at scale and when it matters," said Claire Wardle, co-founder and U.S. director of First Draft News. A lot of this stuff has been tolerated for years and yearsits not going to stop today." After the election, these groups coalesced around the hashtag and movement Stop the Steal," which Mr. Trump promoted along with his false claims that the election had been rigged. They began hosting events in the capitals of the states whose election results they hoped to contest, Dr. Squire said. These in-person events included appearances from white nationalist Nick Fuentes and Mr. Gionet, who appeared together at an event in Arizona in November, and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who joined Mr. Fuentes at a similar event in Georgia. They continued pushing Stop the Steal" ideas, until they converged in Washington on Wednesday with the other rioters. I think they understood that their job was to overwhelm the Capitol and stop the vote," Dr. Squire said. They didnt need central planning." The groups are now gearing up for their next event: Jan. 17, the first anniversary of the pro-gun rally in Richmond, Va., and a few days before the inauguration. Dr. Squire said she has found fliers promoting this event on all the major platforms. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. (JNS) Israels Ambassador to the United Nations Gilad Erdan reflected on 2020 and how Israels future looks brighter than ever in his address on Sunday night at the Zionist Organization of Americas Virtual Superstar Gala. Erdan, also Israels incoming ambassador to the United States, received the ZOAs Woo KaiSheng Lifetime Achievement Award for Outstanding Diplomacy. In his acceptance speech, he said that while this past year supplied a fair amount of hate, it also delivered a fair amount of peace. He noted that the signing of the Abraham Accords in Septem... Capitol police officers stand outside of fencing that was installed around the exterior of the Capitol grounds, in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021. (John Minchillo/AP Photo) Media Misrepresented Protest in DC, Moms for America Founder Says The founder of Moms for America (MFA) says the media has misrepresented the protests at the Capitol building in Washington D.C. on Jan. 6, and that protestors did not violently storm the building or loot. In a press release issued on Jan. 7, Kimberly Fletcher, a mother of eight and founder and president of MFA, said that some media outlets were exaggerating the alleged violence and looting that occurred on Wednesday and claimed that the majority of actions taken were peaceful. What you are seeing on the media are lies, Fletcher wrote. They are trying to make this all about President Trump and millions of people who love freedom and simply want honest elections we can have confidence in. I am here in D.C. I was at all these events. So, let me share the truth and facts. Fletcher said that MFA had been warned by the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and its own security team prior to the protests that Antifa and BLM were communicating through their networksvia email and social mediathat they were going to dress like Trump supporters, infiltrate our events and cause trouble. The MFA founder added that by the time the crowd of protestors had arrived at the Capitol, the bike fences had already been turned over or had been moved aside, allowing protestors to enter in a calm manner as opposed to storming through. The USCP didnt respond to a request for comments from The Epoch Times. A man calls on people to enter the Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images) They mostly just walked up the stairs and sat on the steps or stood on the porches. Most of the people at the Capitol were just praying, talking, and singing God Bless America. We had no idea what was going on inside the Capitol, she wrote. There was a whole platform of media outside the Capitol looking bored because nothing was happening but people sitting, standing, talking, singing, and praying. She said the crowds of protestors that gathered in and around the building were of all colors, and ages and united in one human race. They were carrying flags, singing, showing their love for America, kindnesses, and respect for each other, Fletcher wrote. We did not lay siege to the Capitol, but a lot of Trump supporters followed once the walls were down Were there some folks that acted unruly, yes. And while I do not condone the actions, I certainly understand the frustration behind them, she said. Protesters gather on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Courtesy of Mark Simon) Fletcher went on to accuse the media of lying and sensationalizing Wednesdays events, noting that there was a 30-minute disturbance by a few radicals in amongst thousands of people who were just peaceably assembling. Former Vice President Joe Biden introduced the under siege phrase that became the standard talking point for media, she continued. Still, those who entered, while they should not have done so, they didnt deface property or tear down statues. They did not loot, burn or steal anything, Fletcher said. Everyone is frustrated, disheartened, and some even despairing that the elections are being stolen from them, but no one is rioting or looting or burning the Capitol, she added. On Wednesday, Journalist Andy Ngo, an expert on Antifa, dismissed claims that the group was behind the Capitol Hill protests. The people occupying the Capitol building do not look like Antifa people dressed in Trump gear or Trump costumes, he told The Washington Examiner. I have seen no evidence that they are able to coordinate a mass infiltration on this scale before, so Im really skeptical that they would have been able to do it here without any of that information leaking out. A group of protesters gathers inside the U.S. Capitol building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Five people tragically died during Wednesdays riots, and officers have so far made 68 arrests. Ashli Babbitt, 35, of Huntington, Maryland, died of a gunshot wound after being shot inside the Capitol building. Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Georgia; Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama; and Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania, all suffered medical emergencies. Police officer Brian Sicknick died at about 9:30 p.m on Thursday night. The White House on Thursday condemned the violence that took place at the Capitol and assured the American public that there will be an orderly transition of power. The Epoch Times contacted U.S. Capitol Police for comment. Posted Friday, January 8, 2021 7:38 am At some point, Jesse Hagopian had to turn off the news. Eight years before a group of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol, Hagopian, an activist and educator, had been handcuffed and arrested at the Washington state Capitol while protesting education underfunding. Then, in 2015, Seattle police pepper sprayed Hagopian during a Martin Luther King Jr. Day event while he was walking on a sidewalk and speaking to his mother on the phone. What he watched unfold at the Capitol looked worlds apart to him. Television feeds showed hundreds of right-wing extremists who had been openly discussing a protest for weeks quickly overtaking the handful of police at barricades around the Capitol. One livestream appeared to show a Capitol police officer posing for a selfie with a Trump supporter inside the building. Hagopian and several other Black Washingtonians who witnessed the day's events through computer or TV screens described frustration, hurt and anger at the contrast in police response to a mob overtaking the Capitol compared to their own and other Black Americans' experiences with police. "It's been surreal," Hagopian said Wednesday. "That double standard is lost on no Black family in America." Capitol police made 14 arrests Wednesday afternoon, 10 for unlawful entry, two for allegations that included assaulting a police officer and two for allegations that included carrying a pistol without a license. One woman was shot and killed by police. By Thursday morning, Washington, D.C.'s Metropolitan police had arrested 69 people, mostly for alleged curfew violations. One person was arrested on a felony charge of rioting. The images of white extremists overtaking the Capitol without much police presence drew painful comparisons to Black Americans killed by police in recent years. "There was no fear of these people," University of Washington sociologist and professor Alexes Harris said of authorities' preparation for the demonstration at the Capitol. "But when you have a Black 12-year-old, Tamir Rice, with a fake gun, you're scared of him? But you're not scared of white men rushing a building?" The contrast, Harris said, "was abhorrent." But the anger on display didn't come as a surprise to Harris. "It was interesting that particularly white people are saying they're dismayed, this isn't America, they're shocked, they're hurt," Harris said. "And for me and [for] the Black folks on Twitter, we're like yeah, this is America." On Twitter, Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., demanded answers about the security response on Wednesday and said there was a "stark difference" in the treatment of Trump insurrectionists compared to the women, people with disabilities, members of the clergy and activists of color who have protested in and around the Capitol in the past. Chief of U.S. Capitol Police Steven Sund described what happened in a statement Thursday morning as a "violent attack on the U.S. Capitol" and "unlike any I have ever experienced in my 30 years in law enforcement here in Washington, D.C." "The [Capitol Police] had a robust plan established to address anticipated First Amendment activities. "But make no mistake these mass riots were not First Amendment activities, they were criminal riotous behavior," said Sund, who later Thursday announced his resignation as Capitol Police chief, under pressure from Congressional leaders. While Trump supporters were storming the Capitol in Washington, D.C., supporters of Trump and failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culp moved away from a rally at the Washington state Capitol and broke through the gate at the Governor's mansion in Olympia. There were no arrests and no riot police initially present at the mansion, unlike last year, when police in riot gear guarded the Capitol and Governor's mansion during Black Lives Matter protests. The scene also differed to one in 2019, where Washington State Patrol troopers in riot gear forced Indigenous climate activists to leave the steps of the state Capitol. When asked about the difference in security Wednesday to Black Lives Matter protests last year by Northwest News Network reporter Austin Jenkins Thursday morning, Gov. Jay Inslee said "those are very legitimate questions." "I have asked to get answers to those questions," Inslee said. The police stance ahead of the protest at the U.S. Capitol also contrasted with the police preparation seen at Black Lives Matter protests in Seattle over the summer. While police did deploy some tear gas while lawmakers were being evacuated inside the Capitol, police in Seattle were regularly prepared with riot gear and various crowd control weapons and used them on protesters multiple times a point raised on Twitter by journalist Omari Salisbury, who livestreamed much of his Seattle protest coverage from in front of the police barricades. "I guess it is only when you are protesting for social justice that you are met with tear gas, flash bangs, rubber bullets, pepper balls, and batons #SeattleProtest," Salisbury tweeted. In 1992, Chad-Henry Goller-Sojourner, a local artist and former AIDS awareness group ACT UP member, traveled to the White House to lay ashes of loved ones who died of AIDS on the lawn as part of ACT UP's Ashes Action. "[It was] bringing the dead to their doorstep," Goller-Sojourner said. But then, U.S. Park Police on horses were ready to meet them and push the crowd back. One officer on a horse nearly kicked and trampled him, Goller-Sojourner said. That experience contrasted sharply with Wednesday's images of Trump supporters carrying a Confederate flag and other symbols associated with white supremacist movements storming into the Capitol with little interference. "The fact that it went there is proof that what we're talking about is privilege, white supremacy," Goller-Sojourner said. "Ideologies don't manifest overnight. Over centuries they're built." For educator Trish Dziko, seeing an image of a Trump supporter kicking his foot up on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk felt like an echo of white supremacy that she had witnessed and experienced throughout her life. In thinking about what this moment meant for the next generation in this country, "what they're seeing is that this is something sanctioned by the government," Dziko said. "And when I say government, I say the president and all the elected officials who stayed silent or didn't say anything when he was inciting this violence." Former King County executive Ron Sims, the first Black official elected to county government in Washington, said it was difficult for him to process what happened. "I didn't see anybody being restrained," Sims said Wednesday evening. "It's just like people's anger was allowed to freely flow." It was a sign to him that something was broken in American democracy, Sims said. "If I was giving us a grade today, I would say today we failed," Sims said. "I want my kids and my grandkids and my grandnieces, I wanted them to have my passion that this is the greatest nation in the world, and it requires a lot of really hard work, but today it was just chaos." Seattle Times reporters Jim Brunner and Joseph O'Sullivan contributed to this story. ___ (c)2021 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. ATLANTA The day after Georgia elected a Black descendant of sharecroppers and a young Jewish filmmaker to be U.S. senators, underscoring the rising political power of racial and religious minorities, the forces of white grievance politics struck back. At the Peoples House in Washington, a predominantly white mob in support of President Trumps attempts to overturn the election overtook the Capitol building by brute force. Confederate flags flew at the seat of American democracy. A gallows was erected, with a noose hanging in the air. It was as stark a contrast as any, one day that illustrated the nations original paradox: a commitment to democracy in a country with a legacy of racial exclusion. The seeds that led to the insurrection were hidden in plain sight. At Mr. Trumps rallies, where his supporters set up open-air markets of hate and conspiracy, selling Confederate flags and T-shirts that mock his opponents and the media. In conservative news outlets, where the language of revolution and civil war is commonplace. On Mr. Trumps Twitter feed, which has amplified white supremacists, anti-Semites and anti-Muslim extremists. On Thursday night, he took to that Twitter feed again to post a video message condemning the mob while taking no responsibility for inviting it to Washington or inspiring its actions. You do not represent our country, he said to the rioters, before moments later nodding to all of our wonderful supporters. On Friday night, Twitter permanently suspended Mr. Trumps account due to the risk of further incitement of violence. An Australian version of RuPaul's Drag Race is set to begin filming in New Zealand on January 29, Daily Mail Australia exclusively revealed on Thursday. The Stan Original series is set to hit screens in late 2021, and the rumour mill is already spinning with speculation as to which Aussie and Kiwi queens will be battling it out for the title of Australia's Next Drag Superstar. Here's all you need to know about the rumoured queens who could be lip-syncing for their lives in the groundbreaking new season. Karen From Finance The race is on! Melbourne drag queen Karen From Finance, a.k.a. Richard Chadwick, is one of the biggest stars rumoured to be appearing on RuPaul's Drag Race Australia in 2021 Melbourne queen Karen From Finance, a.k.a. Richard Chadwick, is undoubtedly one of the biggest stars rumoured to be heading on the show in 2021. She's already appeared at RuPaul's Drag Con in LA in 2017, 2018 and 2019 as a presenter, and has hosted shows for world-famous Drag Race alumni in Australia, including Aquaria, Trixie Mattel and Sasha Velour. Karen has performed in sold-out shows across the country, and her reputation makes her a shoo-in to appear on Drag Race Australia. Felicia Foxx Show-stopper: Felicia is an Aboriginal queen who hails from southwest Sydney, and boasts an impressive career which began at the age of 16 Inspirational: She began her drag act to inspire youth to be their 'most charismatic selves' and to 'broaden the visibility of the LGBTQI community in Aboriginal communities' Felicia, a.k.a. Wendell French, is an Aboriginal queen who hails from southwest Sydney, and boasts an impressive career which began at the age of 16. She began her drag act to inspire youth to be their 'most charismatic selves' and to 'broaden the visibility of the LGBTQI community in Aboriginal communities'. Since starting her career, she's opened shows for Charli XCX, headlined numerous festivals and led the 40th and 41st Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade. Coco Jumbo Popular: Sydney-based queen Coco Jumbo has built up quite a reputation in the big smoke, and has been voted 'Sydney's favourite Drag Queen' on multiple occasions Sydney-based queen Coco Jumbo has built up quite a reputation in the big smoke, and has been voted 'Sydney's favourite Drag Queen' on multiple occasions. She's known to put on an impressive show with her sharp wit and signature tongue pop, and has also appeared at Vogue Fashion Week. The larger-than-life drag star has worked with several major brands throughout her career, including Myer and Jimmy Brings. Art Simone She's not shy! Melbourne-based queen Art Simone is known for her ever-flamboyant ensembles and exceptional make-up technique Melbourne-based queen Art Simone is known for her ever-flamboyant ensembles and exceptional makeup technique. She's also the star of the WOW Presents Plus Series Highway to Heel, in which she joins fellow queens Down Under for a wild road trip. Her website states she's available for hens parties, drag bingo and even drag makeover sessions. Vanity Faire She knows the drill! Sydney-based queen Vanity Faire (left) already has a link to Drag Race royalty Courtney Act (right) Vanity Faire, a.k.a. Benjamin Moir, already has a link to Drag Race royalty in the form of Aussie contestant Shane Jenek, better known as Courtney Act. The Sydneysider is the face of the successful wig company Wigs by Vanity, which is co-owned by Courtney. Her character has become legendary within the Sydney drag scene, both in business and on stage. Scarlett Fever Renowned: Brisbane drag performer Scarlett, a.k.a. Jack Lucke, is one of Queensland's most well-known queens Brisbane drag performer Scarlett, a.k.a. Jack Lucke, is one of Queensland's most well-known queens. She has been a successful drag artist since 2014 and is a huge fan of the Spice Girls, singing the band's songs weekly at karaoke. 'I've never wanted to look like a woman. I've always wanted to look like a painting of a woman,' she previously said of her stunning drag look. Coming soon! Daily Mail Australia confirmed earlier this week that the new season would begin filming later this month in New Zealand, most likely due to the unpredictable Covid-19 situation in Australia. Pictured: RuPaul Charles Daily Mail Australia confirmed earlier this week that the new season would begin filming later this month in New Zealand, most likely due to the unpredictable Covid-19 situation in Australia. A source said: 'It's 100 per cent going ahead. Queens have been cast and they've signed NDAs [non-disclosure agreements] to keep it hush-hush.' There's no word so far on whether RuPaul Charles himself will host the show, like he does the British and American versions. But it's not beyond the realm of possibility, as his husband, Georges LeBar, is an Aussie and he regularly visits his in-laws Down Under. The British and American versions of RuPaul's Drag Race are available to stream on Stan in Australia The election certification process was halted on Wednesday when a mob of pro-Trump rioters swarmed the Capitol. This quickly overtook the news of the historic Georgia runoff results and turned a heated congressional process into insurrection. To break down this wild week in politics, were going live with Slate political writers Joel Anderson, Christina Cauterucci, and Jim Newell. Use the player above or tune in on Facebook or YouTube to add your own questions and comments on Thursday at 8 p.m. Eastern. See more of Slates upcoming or past events. Rihanna looked absolutely radiant as she showcased her glowing complexion after sharing a two-minute makeup tutorial on her cosmetics brand's YouTube last week. While promoting Fenty Beauty's new soft matte powder foundation, she could be seen smoldering at her reflection in a small gold mirror with a face full of glam makeup. 'Y'all better get with it!' the 32-year-old star's brand captioned the stunning shot. 'Get the tea on how to pull up in flawless filter'd skin without the cake (cuz you know we don't play that) in your perfect complexion match.' Flawless skin: Rihanna looked absolutely radiant as she showcased her glowing complexion after sharing a new makeup tutorial on her cosmetics brand's YouTube last week Additionally, Fenty Beauty's urged its more than 10.5 followers to view Rihanna step-by-step YouTube video on 'how to pull up in flawless filter'd skin without the cake.' 'So today we're going to be talking about our brand new powder foundation,' she began, while promising to show fans all her 'tips and tricks.' First, the nine-time Grammy winner explained the foundation is 'medium to full coverage' and is the powder version of her award-winning liquid foundation of the same name. Makeup mogul: While promoting Fenty Beauty's new soft matte powder foundation, she could be smoldering at her reflection in a small gold mirror with a face full of glam makeup Vlog: Fenty Beauty's urged its more than 10.5 followers to view Rihanna step-by-step YouTube video on 'how to pull up in flawless filter'd skin without the cake' The Barbadian businesswoman, then, effortlessly applied the product, which she described as 'crease resistant, sweat resistant' with a 'blurring effect,' to her face. She told customers if they were having a 'baggy' day, like her, to use a slightly lighter shade on their face. Looking pleased with her final results, she flipped her hair around playfully and smiled brightly into the camera. Step-by-step: The nine-time Grammy winner explained the foundation is 'medium to full coverage' and is the powder version of her award-winning liquid foundation of the same name Stunning results: The Barbadian businesswoman, then, effortlessly applied the product, which she described as 'crease resistant, sweat resistant' with a 'blurring effect,' to her face 'So there you have it! Our powder foundation in all of its glory,' she concluded. 'I hope you guys enjoyed it and I can't wait to see you use yours.' The Umbrella songstress recently spent the Christmas holiday and New Year's in her native Barbados with her rumored boyfriend A$AP Rocky, 32. In photos obtained by DailyMail.com, Rihanna was spotted sweetly placing her hands on the hips of the rapper as she stared at him adoringly on the deck of the luxury catamaran and even appeared to give him a kiss. New romance: The Umbrella songstress spent the Christmas holiday and New Year's in her native Barbados with her rumored boyfriend A$AP Rocky, 32 The pair went public with their new romance earlier this year after photos surfaced of the couple strolling through Manhattan together. The two have had a longtime friendship as they collaborated on a remix of Rihanna's single Cockiness (Love It) in 2012, before he joined her as the opening act on her Diamond's World Tour the following year in 2013. They both had had high-profile relationships since, such as Rihanna's serious relationship with Toyota heir and billionaire from Saudi Arabia, Hassan Jameel, for years and Rocky's romantic connection to Kendall Jenner. 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. Bharat Rasayan share rose 12% in early trade today after the company said that its board will consider share buyback on Tuesday, January 12, 2021. The stock opened with a gain of 6.65% at Rs 10,062 against previous close of Rs 9,434 on BSE. The small cap stock touched an intraday high of Rs 10,543.65, rising 11.75% against the last close. The share has gained 69.78% in one year and risen 3.82% since the beginning of this year. Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 4,288 crore. Bharat Rasayan share is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages. "This is to inform you that pursuant to Regulation 29(1)(a) of SEBI (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) Regulations, 2015, a Meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company will be held on Tuesday, the 12th day of January, 2021 at 2:30 P.M. Inter-alia, amongst other matters, to consider the proposal of buyback of equity shares of 10/- each fully paid, of the Company," the firm said. Bharat Rasayan's consolidated net profit fell 35.4% to Rs 35.27 crore in Q2 against net profit of Rs 54 crore in corresponding quarter of previous fiscal. Net sales fell 12.9% to Rs 318.46 crore in Q2 September 2020 over Rs 365 crore in Q2 of 2019. Bharat Rasayan serves a wide range of industries including but not limited to pharmaceuticals, bulk drugs, R&D, petrochemicals, flavors & fragrances and specialty chemicals. NALCO share hits 52-week high on plan to invest Rs 30K crore for expansion This credit card company's stock delivered over 100% returns in 7 months With the COVID-19 pandemic reaching new catastrophic proportions in Brazil, the countrys fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro is actively working to sabotage a vaccination program and take the murderous herd immunity policy, which he has openly advocated since the arrival of the pandemic in Brazil, to its ultimate consequences. On Thursday, after more than 1,000 deaths were recorded for the third day in a row, Brazil reached the terrible milestone of 200,000 COVID-19 deaths. High infection rates, which are yet to reflect the explosive impact of holiday events, are reflected in the overcrowding of hospitals throughout the country. A new patient suspected of having COVID-19 is pulled into the Regional Hospital of Samambaia, which specializes in the care of coronavirus patients in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) A number of hospitals in Sao Paulo, the country's largest metropolis, have already reached 100 percent capacity. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazils second largest city, there is a queue of 164 people waiting for an ICU bed. In Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais capital, the ICU bed occupation rate is close to 90 percent. Belem do Para reached 96 percent of the ICU capacity, after the government closed COVID-19 treatment centers. The most critical situation in the country is, once again, in Manaus. With scenes of patients being cared for amid the dead in overcrowded hospitals and backhoes digging mass graves for victims of COVID-19 still fresh in the citys memory, the Amazonian capital declared a second collapse of its health care system in just nine months. Almost daily, Manaus has been recording record hospital admissions. On Wednesday, 221 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, a number significantly higher than the peak of 168 recorded in April. On the same day, the occupation of the ICU beds reached 94 percent, approaching the 96 percent reached in April. Private network ICU beds have already reached full capacity. The calamitous situation inside the hospitals was summarized in an article published by Folha de Sao Paulo: a scenario of overcrowding, lack of beds, stretchers in the corridors and absence of social distancing. About a week ago, refrigerated chambers were once again installed in the hospitals facing the imminent collapse of their morgues. On Wednesday, workers at the 28 de Agosto Hospital protested against the conditions faced by health care professionals. We are not asking any favors, we are asking for help because health care workers are dying, said a radiology technician in the protest, according to G1. In this same hospital, workers held a spontaneous strike in April. The accelerating increase in deaths is causing a new collapse of the funeral system. There was an 84 percent growth in the number of burials in Manaus in the first days of January, compared to the same period in December. On Wednesday, 110 people were buried. The number of people who died in their own homes, regardless of the causes, doubled in December, and increased again sharply in the first days of January. The city declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. The newly elected mayor of Manaus, David Almeida of the Avante (Forward) party, ordered the emergency digging of 6,000 new graves in the citys cemeteries. He plans to order the digging of 22,000 graves in total. The reasons for this catastrophe are no mystery. But the claim of the secretary of Health of Amazonas, that there was a relaxation of the population, despite all our propaganda so that this would not happen, is nothing but a lie. The epidemiologist of Fiocruz Amazonas, Jesem Orellana, declared that, despite having been alerted months ago of the emergence of a second wave of COVID-19 in Manaus, the extreme gravity of the situation of the epidemic continues to be minimized by health authorities. This second wave of infections was the direct product of the criminal actions of Governor Wilson Lima of the Christian Social Party (PSC). In August, the state schools of Manaus were the first to be reopened nationwide, immediately causing outbreaks of COVID-19 in dozens of schools. The WSWS wrote on that occasion: The degree of recklessness of the policy being implemented in Manaus is shocking, if not surprising. A few months ago, the world was shocked by the scenes there of graves being dug by backhoes for thousands of COVID-19 victims after the collapse of the local health care system. Educators responded with strikes and protests. The Lima government, assisted by the unions, was able to suppress the strike movement, taking repressive measures such as cutting wages and threatening to replace striking teachers. In September, an increase in COVID-19 cases and ICU admissions was announced by the government of Amazonas. Instead of closing down the schools, Lima blamed the outbreak on people in some places making crowds, especially at private parties, and only restricted the operation of bars. To keep the schools functioning, Lima promoted the idea that Manaus had achieved herd immunity, based on studies not endorsed by the academic community. Limas policy was not confronted in any of the mainstream newspapers, which instead enthusiastically reported these same studies. Wilson Limas criminal policy is no exception. It was adopted by the ruling class as a whole throughout Brazil. Its principles were dictated and are still being taken to their ultimate conclusion by President Jair Bolsonaro. Only by the middle of this week did Bolsonaro sign a bill freeing up the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines. At this occasion, the Minister of Health, Gen. Eduardo Pazuello, said that vaccinations will begin simultaneously in January throughout the country. However, the government cancelled the purchase of 331.2 million syringes needed for the application of the vaccines, only acquiring 7.9 million units. Bolsonaro stated that in the face of an increase in prices, his government suspended the purchase until prices return to normal. And, although Pazuello and Bolsonaro say there are enough syringes to start the vaccination process, the National Association of Mayors declared that these supplies must attend to several procedures, among them the National Immunization Plan. At the same time that he is deliberately disorganizing the vaccination program, Bolsonaro has made virulent attacks against the vaccine itself. He has insisted that the vaccines can cause unknown side effects and that he himself will not take one. On Thursday morning, speaking to his supporters in front of the governmental palace, he said: As far as I know, less than half [of the population] will take the vaccine. And this polling that I do, I do on the beach, I do on the street, I do everywhere. Bolsonaro insistently proclaims that its no use hiding from the virus, this virus will stay in us all our lives. There is a class logic behind this sociopathic policy. He is signaling to the capitalist class, through his normalization of deaths, that hes willing to implement the most violent and dictatorial measures against the working class in order to maintain a high degree of exploitation and social inequality, which are the necessary consequences of maintaining the capitalist order. Five years ago on New Years Eve, a tanker named Theo T left the Texas Gulf Coast with the first U.S. shale crude shipment overseas. The oil, gathered from nearby ConocoPhillips wells and sold to trading giant Vitol Group, set sail for Italy just two weeks after lawmakers lifted a long-standing ban on exports. It was the start of a trade that would reshape global oil markets, shift geopolitical power and upend entire economies. The shale boom itself has turned the U.S. into the world's largest oil producer and has moved it ever closer to a long-cherished dream of ending dependence on Middle East oil. But the export boom created an entirely new market, sending crude pulled from the shale fields of Texas, New Mexico and North Dakota to more than 50 countries, with shipments often surpassing those of any OPEC nation aside from Saudi Arabia. These past five years could very well go down as the best years that U.S. shale oil exporters will ever see. Covid-19 has obliterated global fuel demand and bankrupted more than 40 drillers across America. Exactly how much oil leaves U.S. shores in the coming years will largely depend on how quickly the world can recover from the pandemic and how aggressively politicians work to shift the world away from fossil fuels. But the global reach of U.S. shale has changed oil markets for good and remains a potent, diplomatic weapon for the U.S. Opening the shale revolution to the world through the export ban lifting helped shift the global oil market psychology from supply scarcity to abundance, said Karim Fawaz, IHS Markit's director of energy research analysis. It unshackled the U.S. industry to keep growing past its domestic refining limitations. RECOVERY: Shale CEOs pledge restraint as oil prices rise Perhaps no two groups have gained from the export of America's shale boom more than producers of U.S. oil and the giant commodities merchants who trade it. Wildcatters including billionaire Harold Hamm of Continental Resources Inc. and Scott Sheffield of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. saw their revenues more than double as exports took off. Today the U.S. has its own petrodollars, Hamm said in August 2018 as U.S. oil shipments overseas boomed. Trading giants including Trafigura Group, Vitol, Gunvor Group and Mercuria Energy Group profited from buying cheaper shale oil, shuttling it to the U.S. coast and shipping it to eager buyers in Europe and Asia. Betting that shipments would surge, they expanded their trading desks in the U.S., invested in ports, pipelines and export facilities. By the last week of 2019, exports of American oil had reached nearly 4.5 million barrels a day. U.S. shale's gain was OPEC's loss. As shale oil flooded the market, OPEC was forced to cede market share. The U.S., which had been one of OPEC's biggest customers, has cut its monthly imports by about 50 percent since mid-2006. Last week, Saudi Arabian cargoes to the U.S. fell to zero for the first time since at least 2010. Exports have turned U.S. shale into a permanent thorn in OPEC's side. The oil cartel has had to join forces with Russia, Mexico and other major producers to ratchet back production several times in the past five years while U.S. shale expanded its reach into key markets. Shale now shares the fortunes and the misfortunes of being a major exporter. The strongest evidence of this yet came in March when U.S. President Donald Trump joined leaders of the world's largest oil-producing nations to hammer out an unprecedented accord to save oil markets from total collapse as the pandemic slashed demand. COMMENTARY: Rumors of oil's death have been greatly exaggerated The U.S.s shrinking dependence on foreign imports has also allowed the Trump administration to impose increasingly debilitating sanctions on two OPEC founding members Venezuela and Iran without fear of higher fuel prices back home. And with American shale now readily available in global markets, oil price spikes tied to conflicts in the Middle East are shorter and more subdued. The flow of U.S. oil since the ban's end has kept global oil supply in balance even at times when politics have caused the loss of supply from Iran, Venezuela and Libya, said Sandy Fielden, director of oil research at Morningstar Inc. How long the U.S. can maintain this clout on global oil markets remains to be seen. One bullish sign for U.S. oil exports: Chinas appetite for crude has come back with a vengeance since the country emerged from lockdowns. That has helped draw down American oil inventories as U.S. cargoes start hitting the water once again, reaching 3.6 million barrels a day in the week of Christmas. There is no other country that will dictate the fate of U.S. oil exports more than China. About two years after U.S. lawmakers lifted the export ban, shipments to China reached 2 million barrels a day, making it by far the largest buyer of American oil. The Asian nation's appetite for crude has rebounded since it emerged from lockdowns, but Saudi Arabia and Russia remain major suppliers to the country and competition may heat up later this year as OPEC+ restores output. The Asian market will become more competitive as OPEC+ restores some of its production, said Shirin Lakhani, a senior oil analyst at Rapidan Energy Group. For OPEC+ producers, sales into Asia have the best profit margins due to proximity and logistics. Demand for U.S. barrels will also depend on how well the global economy fares in the coming years after its deepest recession since World War II. The World Bank forecasts a 4 percent economic rebound this year, following a 4.3 percent contraction in 2020, but cautioned theres an exceptional level of uncertainty as the pandemic may reduce potential global growth for a decade. It will take until the end of 2021 for the oil glut left behind by the pandemic to clear as demand will be lower for longer than expected when the virus emerged in the spring, the International Energy Agency said in December. WHAT'S ON DECK?: Plenty of ifs in store for the price of oil in the new year The incoming Biden administration and its plan to completely reshape U.S. energy policy will undoubtedly affect U.S. oil exports. Among the president-elects promises on the campaign trail were stronger regulation of the hydraulic fracturing that unleashed the U.S. shale boom, a ban on fracking federal lands and a broader transition away from fossil fuels. Depending on how it's executed, the ban alone may not significantly affect U.S. oil shipments. It would theoretically only apply to new drilling licenses and affect a fairly limited amount of new oil output, namely in New Mexico. But that may only prove to be a temporary boon for oil exporters. Joe Biden is among a growing chorus of world leaders pledging to wean their nations off fossil fuels for good. More than 120 countries, including China, the U.K. and Canada, have committed to achieving net-zero emissions over the course of the next three decades. The president-elect himself has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions in the U.S. no later than 2050. Electric transportation lies at the center of virtually every country's plan to go carbon-neutral. Annual sales of electric cars around the world including trucks and buses reached almost 27 million in 2019 and are set to accelerate in the coming years to a rate of 133 million vehicles a year in the next two decades, according to BloombergNEF estimates. By 2040, around 500 million passenger electric vehicles will be on the road, or roughly one third of the worlds total.But as long as the world moves mostly on fossil fuels, shale will continue to fight for its share of the global market. The lifting of the export ban and the incredible growth and resilience in domestic shale will keep the U.S. a crucial exporter of American crude oil for the foreseeable future, Lakhani said. 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Flash A spokesperson of China's Permanent Mission to the United Nations said on Thursday that China opposes a planned Taiwan visit by Kelly Craft, the U.S. permanent representative to the United Nations. According to media reports, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that Craft will visit Taiwan. China firmly opposes it, said the spokesperson. There is only one China in the world and the Taiwan region is an inalienable part of China's territory. The government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole China. The United States made an explicit commitment on this in the three China-U.S. joint communiques, including the 1979 Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations. China firmly opposes any forms of official contacts between the United States and the Taiwan region. This position is consistent and clear, said the spokesperson. The Taiwan question concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and involves China's core interests. The one-China principle is widely recognized by the international community and is a basic norm of international relations affirmed by the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758, said the spokesperson. "The United States will not succeed in its attempt to harm China's core interests through political manipulation on the Taiwan question. We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. The United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action. China strongly urges the United States to stop its crazy provocation, stop creating new difficulties for China-U.S. relations and the two countries' cooperation in the United Nations, and stop going further on the wrong path," said the spokesperson. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states on January 11 to discuss the Covid-19 situation and the vaccination roll-out in the country, his office said on Friday. This will be Modi's first interaction with chief ministers following the recent approval of two coronavirus vaccines for restricted emergency use by India's drug regulator. The prime minister has often spoken with state chief ministers following the pandemic's outbreak in the country. India is preparing for the roll-out of COVID-19 vaccines and the second nationwide mock drill on the drive was conducted on Friday. India's drugs regulator has approved Oxford vaccine Covishield, being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. The second mock drill on Covid-19 vaccination was conducted on Friday in 736 districts across 33 states and union territories with Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan, who oversaw the dry run in Tamil Nadu, saying inoculating the country's entire population would soon become a reality. He said vaccines would be made available in the next few days and those at risk such as healthcare professionals would be given priority. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), on the other hand, issued guidelines to all aircraft operators who plan to transport COVID-19 vaccines packed in dry ice to various parts of the country. If vaccines packed in dry ice is being transported in the passenger cabin of an aircraft, then the flight crew should be properly trained on the hazards and risks of its transportation, the aviation regulator noted. Dry ice transforms into carbon dioxide gas at temperatures higher than -78 degrees Celsius under normal atmospheric pressure and, therefore, it is classified as "dangerous goods" by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), it said. The health ministry said the objective of the mock drill was to simulate the actual vaccine administration event. The entire planning of the vaccination drive including beneficiary registration, microplanning and vaccination at the planned session sites was tested under the leadership of district collector or district magistrate. The dry run also aimed to familiarise the state, district, block and hospital level officers on all aspects of COVID-19 roll-out. After reviewing the dry run at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, Vardhan said the Centre has started a new COVID platform to track particulars of potential vaccine beneficiaries and also issue electronic certificates to them. India, he said, has done extremely well in developing vaccines in the shortest possible time. "We are in the process of ensuring that in the next few days, also in the near future, we should be able to give this vaccines to our countrymen, starting with of course prioritising those who are most at risk, our health professionals, healthcare workers in the public and private sector followed by frontline workers," he added. Vardhan also visited the Government Omandurar Hospital in Chennai and a few other centres. He said the Integrated Vaccine Complex of HLL Biotech Limited (HBL), which has remained non-functional for six months, would soon be optimally utilised to produce COVID-19 vaccines. The government has spent over Rs 600 crore to establish the state-of-the-art facility at Chengalpattu, he said. HBL is a 100 per cent subsidiary of HLL Lifecare Limited, a government of India Enterprise under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association has appealed to all its members to actively participate in the COVID-19 vaccination drive across the country. "As you all are aware of the COVID-19 vaccine being made available in the immediate future, it becomes our natural responsibility to assist the vaccination drive in a professional way," the doctors' body said in a statement. "With the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 at our doorsteps, it is worth remembering that indigenous vaccines have been developed after the tireless efforts of Indian scientists in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the National Institute of Virology (NIV)," it said. The first nationwide mock drill was held on January 2 which, the health ministry said, helped to iron out any glitches in the final execution and further refinement of the operational procedures. India's drugs regulator has approved Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, being manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers of all states on Monday to discuss the COVID-19 situation and the vaccination roll-out in the country, the PMO said. On Thursday, Vardhan interacted with the health ministers and principal secretaries and additional chief secretaries of all states and union territories through video conference to review the preparedness for the mock drill.He The drill was held at three session sites of 736 districts across 33 states and union territories. In Maharashtra, where the drive was conducted in 32 of the 36 districts, Health Minister Rajesh Tope said there are still "some areas in the overall system where we need to improve efficiency in terms of data updating, delivery of SMS and training the local staff for inoculation". When covid-19 started going global in the early months of 2020, developed countries struggled to keep the virus at bay, and many began to worry about the ability of African countries to withstand the pandemic. Experts from around the world issued dire predictions, warning that the regions weak health systems would be decimated. Yet as we look back on the first nine months of the pandemic, it is clear that African countries have not only survived, but also offered lessons about how to manage similar crises in the future. Here in Rwanda, our health system had to be completely rebuilt after the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi, when one million people were murdered. Just 26 years later, the country is widely seen as a world leader in responding to the pandemic. In mid-October, when the covid-19 death toll in the US had passed 220,000, Rwandas stood at just 33, out of a population of 12.3 million. Rwandas success in fighting covid-19 should lead us to rethink many assumptions about what it takes to build a strong health system. For example, Rwanda does not have an abundance of ventilators or intensive-care-unit beds, but it does have a system built on equity, trust, community participation, and patient centrism. By making evidence-based decisions, learning from the lessons of our past, and following the example of other successful countries, Rwanda has defied expectations and shown that any country can keep its citizens safe with the right strategies and leadership. The pandemic has reinforced an idea that we teach at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE): that an equity-based approach to health care is the best way to ensure public health more broadly. When the Rwandan national government instituted a countrywide lockdown in mid-March, it coordinated with village leaders to distribute essential foodstuffs to tens of thousands of households in need. Because those who could not work did not face the prospect of hunger, they were able to abide by the lockdown, thus keeping themselves, their loved ones, and the rest of us safe from the virus. The government also took steps to ensure that the most vulnerable populations were tested, quarantined, and treated free of charge. And those who tested positive could rely on public support, including food and lodging. Rwandas health system follows a decentralized model that emphasizes prevention and care at the community level, thus ensuring geographic equity and access. Each village has a team of elected Community Health Workers who understand the specific needs of their constituencies. Since the pandemic emerged, the countrys 60,000 CHWs have assisted the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, the institution leading the nationwide response, in educating citizens on prevention measures, identifying vulnerable populations in need of support, conducting contact tracing, and following up on discharged patients who have received two negative test results. This decentralized yet integrated approach has helped Rwanda achieve the highest level of public trust of any health system in the world. Nearly all Rwandans are confident that vaccines guaranteed by UNICEF and the World Health Organization are safe and effective. As a result, since 2011, the country has nearly eliminated the risk of cervical cancer among Rwandans aged 12 to 23 by administering the HPV vaccine to girls. Meanwhile, some Western countries have struggled to get their citizens to abide by public-health guidelines as basic as wearing a face mask in public, owing to a widespread loss of trust in institutions and expertise. If the covid-19 pandemic has shown anything, it is that public trust is a strong determinant of public health. A country can have the most advanced medical technologies in the world, but if its people do not have faith in their government or public-health institutions, the value of these assets will be squandered. As climate change and human encroachments continue to disrupt natural systems, the risk of another zoonotic disease outbreak will only increase in the years and decades ahead. It is therefore critical that we learn from the mistakes and the successes of the covid-19 crisis, in order to be better prepared for future prevention and treatment needs.In Rwanda, we used what we learned from the 2014 and 2018 Ebola outbreaks in neighbouring countries, and the steps we took to prevent the epidemic from entering our country, to guide our response to covid-19. Hence, there was a rapid push to train CHWs and educate the public on basic sanitation and hygiene. But since every epidemic is different, this is an ongoing process. With each new challenge comes new innovations, knowledge, and strategies to strengthen the existing system and prepare for the next outbreak. Moreover, training and public education must be refreshed and updated with each new generation of disease detectives and global health experts. That is why we at the UGHE are training students from around the world in epidemic and pandemic preparedness and response, and in managing outbreaks equitably through a One Health," community-based approach. By aligning education with health-sector demand, we can ensure that health professionals are providing the services their communities need, and that they are graduating with the leadership skills, knowledge, and entrepreneurial drive to innovate and adapt. As Rwandan and other African health leaders reflect on the lessons of the covid crisis thus far, so, too, should their Western counterparts. The countries that have struggled to contain the virus and its economic effects should reorient their health systems to serve their communities needs. All countries should be thinking critically not just about available resources and technologies, but also about issues of equity, access, and public trust. The pandemic is yet to be defeated. But while many Western publics are succumbing to scepticism and doubt in themselves and their own leaders, Rwanda has protected the vast majority of its citizens from the virus and built up even more trust in its health-care model. The same principles underlying that model could help to save lives in better-resourced and wealthier countries, both today and in the future. The hope now is that all other countries will adopt a Rwandan-style approach, for we are all only as safe as our most vulnerable neighbours in the global community. 2020/Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org) Agnes Binagwaho is former minister of health of Rwanda, vice chancellor of the University of Global Health Equity and senior lecturer in the department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. "Parasite" actress Park So Dam is set to show her amazing acting skills once again in the upcoming film "Ghost!" According to reports, the final cast for the film "Ghost" has been revealed, and here are the actors and movie details that you should look forward to. The film will be directed by Lee Hae Young, who is also recognized for his work "Believer" in 2018. "Ghost" is a spy-action movie that is set in 1933 during the Japanese colonization of Korea. It will feature the story of five suspects who are reckoned as "spy ghosts," or another term for the anti-Japanese opposition spies. They will be trapped inside an abandoned hotel to be asked a series of questions, and the five suspects must be smart and witty enough to answer them to escape safely. However, the plot begins to twist as in the middle of an interrogation, and the five suspects will end up doubting one another. It will be a cast full of talented artists, starting from Sol Kyung Gu, who will portray Murayama Jyunji, a Japanese police officer and a former soldier who used to work in one of Japan's intelligence agencies. However, he has been demoted to the surveilling communications team. Meanwhile, returning on the big screen is the cast of the award-winning film "Parasite," Park So Dam. She'll play Yuriko, a woman who attains to become the mighty secretary of a high-ranking official inside the Japanese colonial government of Korea. Honey Lee will also be part of the cast as she will be playing the character of Park Cha Kyung, who works in a communication company to record coded messages. Kim Dong Hee is also said to play Park Cha Kyung's colleague named Baek Ho. Whereas Seo Hyun Woo will portray chun Kye Jang. He's a fearful but sharp cryptographer who is unbelievably talented in the field of decryption. Also, Park Hae Soo will be Kaito, a security agent who is leading the investigations about the "Ghost," that is said to be a spy who invaded the colonial government. This will mark the return of actress Park So Dam into the big screen following her successful and award-winning movie "Parasite" directed by Bong Joon Ho. Fans are eager to see the actress in movie theaters once again. Also Read: Park So Dam and MAMAMOO Solar Share Their Own Past Bittersweet Love Stories It has also been confirmed that after finalizing the cast for the film, the production will immediately proceed to filming. Meanwhile, the previous work helmed by director Lee Hae Young titled "Believer" is a remake of the 2012 Johnnie To's film "Drug War." Are you already excited to see the upcoming film? Please share your thoughts with us! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Written by Shai Collins. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operations commander Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, one of the alleged masterminds of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, and was on Friday sentenced to 15 years in jail in a terror-financing case by an anti-terrorism court in Pakistans Lahore. The 61-year-old Lakhvi, who was on bail since 2015 in the Mumbai attacks case, was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province last Saturday. The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore convicted Lakhvi for commission of offences of terrorism financing in a case registered by the CTD for 15 years under different section of the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997, news agency PTI quoted a court official as saying after the hearing. Judge Ejaz Ahmad Buttar sentenced Lakhvi, who pleaded before the court that he was falsely implicated in the case, to five years of rigorous imprisonment each on three counts with a fine of PKR 100,000 each on three counts. In default of payment of fine, he will have to undergo an imprisonment of six months each on three counts. He has been sent to prison to serve the sentences, the official said, according to PTI. Also read |Global terrorist Masood Azhar is finally a wanted man in Pak. Dawood next? Lakhvi, a close relative of LeT founder Hafiz Mohammad Saeed, had a central role in planning and executing the assault on Mumbai that killed 166 people and injured hundreds more in November 2008, according to Indian and US security officials. Here are 10 things you need to know about Lakhvi: 1. Lakhvi was born in Okara district of Pakistans Punjab province, the same district that was home to Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only one of the 10 terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks to be captured alive. In the 1990s, Lakhvi was a member of the Jamiat Ahl-e-Hadith, LeTs parent body. 2. Lakhvi worked at LeTs main centre at Muridke near Lahore in the 1990s. Security officials say he was actively involved in fighting in Jammu and Kashmir and later planning the LeTs operations in the state. 3. Lakhvi was arrested about a week after the Mumbai attacks when Pakistani soldiers raided a LeT camp on the outskirts of Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. 4. A few months later, he and six other men were charged with planning, financing and executing the assault on Mumbai. Indian and US security officials say telephone and VoIP intercepts showed Lakhvi was present in a LeT control room in Karachi from where the attackers received instructions. 5. Despite being in prison from December 2008 to April 2015, Lakhvi continued to be the operations commander of the LeT. Lakhvi had unfettered access to mobile phones and the internet, allowing him to direct the day-to-day activities of militants. His youngest wife was allowed to stay with him in jail and he fathered a child sometime in 2010 as a result of these conjugal visits, according to Abu Jundal alias Zabiuddin Ansari, the Indian LeT operative deported from Saudi Arabia in 2012. Also read | Pak has quietly moved 26/11 attacks accused Hafiz Saeed out of jail. He is home: Intel 6. Lakhvi had several rooms next to the jailers office in Adiala Jail and received about 100 visitors every day who could meet him without seeking permission from authorities. Former Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Kayani refused to act on a request from US authorities to take away Lakhvis mobile phones. 7. Lakhvis whereabouts had not been known since he was released on bail from a jail in Rawalpindi in April 2015. However, it was widely believed that he had continued playing a key role in directing the activities of the LeT even while he was in prison after being arrested in the aftermath of the Mumbai carnage. Indian diplomats and security officials have in the past described the trial of Lakhvi and the six other suspects in a Pakistani anti-terrorism court as a farce. 8. Lakhvi was arrested by the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) of Punjab province last Saturday on terror financing charges. 9. Lakhvi is accused of running a dispensary and using funds collected for terrorism financing. He and others also collected funds from this dispensary and used these funds for further terrorism financing. He also used these funds for personal expenses, CTD has said. 10. Lakhvi is also an UN-designated terrorist, in addition to belonging to proscribed organisation LeT. (With agency inputs) The human body typically retains a robust immune response to the coronavirus for at least eight months after an infection, and potentially much longer, researchers said in a study published in the journal Science. About 90% of the patients studied showed lingering, stable immunity, the study found. The coronavirus has been shrouded in unknowns and uncertainties since it emerged a little more than a year ago, and one of the biggest questions has been whether people can get reinfected, and if so, how quickly. There have been isolated reports of people having a second case of covid-19, the disease caused by the virus, but that appears to be rare, and the new study bolsters the case that immunity usually persists. The review of blood samples from nearly 200 patients also saw that multiple elements of the immune system - not just antibodies - continued to be effective at recognizing and responding to the virus. The human body appears to retain a memory of the invader and is poised to generate a coordinated counterattack of antibodies and killer T cells quickly if exposed again. This comes amid concerns about mutant variants of the coronavirus, including one originally identified in the United Kingdom and spreading rapidly there. As of Thursday afternoon it had been seen in seven states in the United States, including two new additions, Texas and Pennsylvania. Scientists have been generally optimistic that these variants will be unable to escape the onslaught of the human immune system. But officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are ramping up a strain surveillance program to improve the genomic sequencing that allows scientists to study mutations. The authors of the new study said they believe their findings would apply to the United Kingdom variant as well as the more common coronavirus. The reason: The immune responses target hundreds of different pieces of the virus, few of which are affected by the current mutations. The consensus is that the coronavirus would need a tremendous number of mutations in concert to evade natural or vaccine-induced immunity. "There's a lot of different arms of the immune system recognizing the virus. so if you have a mutation, it wouldn't evade all these different arms," said Daniela Weiskopf, a co-author of the study and a researcher at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology. The immune response to a virus builds gradually, peaks, then begins to contract - but can reach a plateau, and stay there for a long period. After eight months, Weiskopf said, most people who have been infected by the coronavirus and have recovered appear to have stable immunity. "It's not decaying any further. Based on that, it might be good for many more months, or years," Weiskopf said. This has to remain speculative for now, because the novel coronavirus has been circulating in human beings for barely a year and there isn't long-term data. The oldest specimens studied by the La Jolla team were from March, Weiskopf said. The full duration of immunity is speculative because the novel coronavirus has been circulating in human beings for barely a year and there isn't long-term data. The oldest specimens studied by the La Jolla team were obtained about nine months ago, Weiskopf said. Stanley Perlman, a University of Iowa virologist who was not part of the research team, said the study is welcome news given that some early reports last spring suggested that immunity to the coronavirus might wane quickly. "This is more believable, and this is done well. This supports the notion that there's going to be immunity for some period of time," Perlman said. It is still possible for someone with immunity to get infected by the coronavirus without becoming sick, Perlman noted. The immune response is unlikely to be sterilizing. "People get infected, but they don't get affected," he said. There is one obvious cautionary note in the new research: About 10% of people infected with the coronavirus see their immune response degrade. There is no clear explanation for why this happens in some people. The human immune system is enormously complex, and the immune response varies greatly from person to person. "The kind of immunity you get from natural infection is very variable. And it's kind of reminiscent of the fact that we can have a tremendous variability in clinical outcomes" from coronavirus infections, said study co-author Alessandro Sette, also with the La Jolla Institute. What that means in practical terms is that people who have gotten sick with the virus, or have had a positive test result, cannot know with certainty that they're in the 90% who have lingering immunity, Sette said. "If I had covid, I would still not throw away my masks, I would not go to rave parties. People still need to be responsible," Sette said. "It's like driving a car where you know have 90% probability that the brakes work." Still, this encouraging scientific result suggests that the human immune system is up to the job of dealing with this novel coronavirus. "I cannot tell you what it's going to be looking like two years from now, because the virus hasn't been around two years," Sette said. "But from the looks of it, I wouldn't be surprised if the immunity would last for years." New Delhi, Jan 8 : Ten Nigerian nationals who were picked up by the police from the Uttam Nagar area in New Delhi's Dwarka district for not having valid visas and overstaying illegally in India, are going to be deported. When the police team on Wednesday asked the Nigerian nationals to show their visas and passports, they failed to produce them. "Their visas have also expired but they are continuously staying in India which is gross violation of the Indian visa norms. They have not provided any suitable reason and supportive documents for their overstay in India," said Santosh Kumr Meena, DCP Dwarka. Due to visa violations, these foreign nationals have been sent to the Lampur Sewa Sadan in New Delhi's Narela area till their travel arrangements are made. In December 2020, Iran handed over to Ukraine a tablet found at the crash site of the Boeing 737-800 of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova said. "Under the procedural guidance of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO), the investigation into the plane crash near Tehran continues. Over the year, more than two hundred procedural and investigative actions have been carried out, 18 requests for international legal assistance have been sent to other countries, we are constantly cooperating with the competent authorities of Iran and Canada," Venediktova wrote on her Facebook page. She added that at the moment, Ukraine continues a comprehensive forensic examination to establish the causes and nature of aircraft damage, the amount of material damage and compliance with the rules of international flights. "A study has begun on the tablet found at the crash site, which Iran handed over to Ukraine in December 2020," the Prosecutor General said. She also recalled that Ukraine has recently received from Iran a draft final technical report on the UIA plane crash. "It takes 60 days to analyze this document and make comments and suggestions to it, after which the Iranian side must finalize it in a month. And only after approval by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), it will be made public," Venediktova summed up. The UIA Boeing 737-800 passenger plane, which was supposed to operate flight PS752 on the Tehran-Kyiv route, was shot down near the Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran immediately after takeoff early in the morning on January 8, 2020. There were 167 passengers and nine crew members onboard. They all died. Among the dead there were 11 citizens of Ukraine (including nine crew members), 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, 10 citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, three citizens of Germany and three citizens of Great Britain. On January 11, Iranian authorities said that Boeing was shot down by mistake by the Iranian military. Later, Commander of the Aerospace Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Amir Ali Hajizadeh took full responsibility for the Ukrainian plane crash. At the end of July, negotiations were held in Kyiv with the Iranian side to pay compensation for the downed UIA plane. On October 20, Ukraine and Iran completed the second round of negotiations on the downed UIA plane near Tehran. On January 5, Ukraine received from Iran a draft technical report on the circumstances of the Boeing 737-800 crash. MBABANE Eswatini is once again under strict partial lockdown following the announcement of several restrictions yesterday. For the next two weeks, all gatherings of any sort in the country have been banned, regardless of the size. The only gathering allowed will be of funerals, even then only a maximum number of 50 people will be allowed to attend. The new changes were announced by the Acting Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, who reported that government, through the sustained counsel of Their Majesties, had taken the decision to strengthen the partial lockdown restrictions to disrupt the spread of the coronavirus. The revised regulations are with effect from midnight today (Friday, January 8, 2020). Although burial gatherings are permitted, the acting PM put it clear that memorial services were strictly prohibited while the funerals were limited to two hours. Masuku further stated that those who had passed on should be buried as soon as possible, preferably within three days. Changes The acting premier, when interviewed after announcing the new changes, made it clear that even church gatherings were not allowed and advised all to hold virtual services. He said though he was a Christian, the pandemic was serious and in jest said it was also difficult to sing while wearing a mask. Masuku said physical meetings, when absolutely necessary, would only be for first line responders such as health workers or security officers directly involved in the fight against COVID-19. He said these physical meetings would only be limited to 20 people (first line responders) beyond which only virtual meetings would be allowed. Masuku said although the new restrictions would more likely be reviewed within 14 days, it did not mean that government could not make changes earlier if the situation changed. Monitor We will monitor the situation if stronger measures need to be taken, we will do just that, but if we can relax same, we will also follow suit, said Masuku. Other changes which are expected to take place include the reduction of the number of passengers who can be carried in public transport vehicles as Masuku stated that these would not be allowed to carry passengers at full capacity. Instead, Masuku announced that all vehicles would be allowed to only carry 80 per cent their capacity and this also applied to those that were privately-owned. The retail sector has not been spared as government announced that all shops should be closed by at least 6pm while liquor traders will only be allowed to operate from Monday to Thursday at shorter trading hours; being 11am until 4pm. Just when emaSwati were dusting their passports to start travelling again, government has also put a stop to unnecessary trips to neighbouring countries save for people seeking medical attention, schooling, work and business purposes. Masuku made it clear that border officials would carefully scrutinise all documentation to ascertain that the new directives were adhered to. Meanwhile, the acting premier said since the beginning of December 2020, Eswatini had experienced a huge surge in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases and related deaths. We have recorded 139 deaths over the period and 4 120 new infections, said Masuku. He said as the second wave persisted to peak, more people were presenting with symptoms categorised by rapid deterioration in clinical condition. Evidently, we are at the belly of the beast and decisive action needs to be taken to save lives and to ease the pressure on our health system, said Masuku. He stated that everyone needed to clearly understand that the COVID-19 pandemic was aggressively challenging the nations survivability. He reminded emaSwati and all residents that the core mandate of the government under the Tinkhundla System of Governance included, though not limited, to inclusive nation building, promoting and protecting the health of nationals and the promotion and protection of the economy. He said the new restrictions were in compliance with Regulation 51 of the COVID-19 Regulations 2020, which allowed the amendment of regulations after consultations with ministers responsible for a particular sector. Henry Cavill's injury caused the actor to lie low for a couple of weeks. This time, however, Cavill finally shared what he has been doing since the assault course incident happened. On Thursday, he posted a selfie on Instagram while sporting a blue camouflage-print mask. "We are in lockdown here the UK so I'm using my once a day outdoor exercise to go for my first jog since my hamstring injury!" Henry Cavill's Instagram caption read, referring to the injury he sustained in "The Witcher" set. It is worth noting that a source first told The Sun about Cavill's injury. The 37-year-old actor, who plays the lead character Geralt of Rivia in the Nteflix series, suffered from a minor leg muscle injury at that time. Although he was wearing a harness at the Arborfield Studios' assault course, his fall from over 20 feet above the ground ultimately harmed his leg. "He just suddenly pulled up and was clearly in a lot of pain," the insider added. "It wasn't clear if an object had hit his leg or it was some sort of hamstring or muscle injury." Although he could not walk properly afterward, Henry Cavill's workout must have helped him a lot, so much so that taking a jog is easy for him now. Meanwhile, elsewhere in the same Instagram post, the actor added that his jog was not fast and far. Despite that, he saw it as a major step toward his full recovery. In the end, he joked about jogging to get back on the groove after gobbling wine and turkey last Christmas day. As of writing, over 1.9 million Instagram followers saw Henry Cavill's injury update, with most of them leaving heartwarming messages for the star. Fans Send 'Get Well Soon' Messages Since most of Henry Cavill's movies contain action scenes, he is more at risk of sustaining such injury. Despite that, he gets most of his strength from his fans who have always been there for him through thick and thin. One fan said, "Hi there love!!! So glad to see you are doing fine!!! Take care and stay safe love!!!" "Good luck with your recovery. Take care and stay safe," another one added. Though he is still in the process of recovery, "The Witcher" team reportedly continued to film without him before their holiday leave. Postponing it because of the "Superman" star was never an option, though, as the series halted its filming twice already. READ MORE: WWE NXT New Year's Evil: Xia Li Amazes Fans With Epic, Intense Entrance [VIDEO] See Now: Famous Actors Who Turned Down Iconic Movie Roles CHICAGO Every video the Louisiana man posts on Twitter and Facebook starts with a big smile and a wish for his thousands of followers to have a blessed day. But as he drove to the nations capital Tuesday morning, he grew loud and angry talking about the presidential election. You arent going to wake up and see? Christian Suprean, 42, said in one of a dozen videos that together have drawn more than 30,000 views on Twitter in recent days. I think we won everything. I think we won everything! Suprean is one of thousands of President Donald Trumps fiercest supporters who, fueled by dozens of internet conspiracy theories about the November election, responded to online cries to join a fight on the presidents behalf Wednesday. In posts liked and shared thousands of times, far-right social media users openly hinted for weeks that chaos would erupt at the U.S. Capitol while Congress convened to certify the election results. Despite those warnings that disgruntled crowds of Trump supporters were headed for Washington, a mob seized control of the Capitol and vandalized the building, sending members of Congress into hiding for several hours. Lawmakers from both parties have pledged to investigate law enforcements actions and questioned whether a lack of preparedness allowed the melee. Its what brought them out to the streets yesterday thats how they found information about where to gather, Nina Jankowicz, a disinformation expert at the nonpartisan Wilson Center in Washington, said of the social media posts. Yesterday, the effect of disinformation, conspiracy theories and extremism was on display for the entire world to see. The president encouraged his Twitter and Facebook followers to attend Wednesdays rally, at times using warlike imagery to urge supporters to show up. Minutes before they stormed the Capitol, Trump pressed his hopeless case to overturn the election in front of the crowd in a speech laced with conspiracy theories. The (cavalry) is coming, Mr. President, said one of the president's retweets on Jan. 1 sharing details about the rally. Reached by phone Wednesday, Suprean said Trumps calls on social media motivated him to drive 15 hours from Slidell, Louisiana, to Washington. He documented the trip and rally with videos and photos all taken from outside the Capitol building that he shared on his Twitter, Facebook and YouTube pages, where he regularly references QAnon and has a strong following from QAnon accounts. QAnon is a baseless belief, born on the internet, that Trump has been secretly fighting deep state enemies and a cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals operating a child sex-trafficking ring. Dozens of QAnon social media accounts spent the days leading up to the D.C. rally hyping up Jan. 6, expressing hope that the election results would be overturned. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up QAnons influence was evident as the mob descended on the halls of Congress. Police officers were photographed fending off a man in a Q sweatshirt from the Senate chamber. A leading promoter of QAnon was also photographed in Senate chambers wearing bull horns and face paint. Facebook said in a statement late Wednesday that it was removing photos and videos posted by the mob at the Capitol. Twitter also said it was working to take action on threats and calls for violence. But as the riot continued, QAnon and far-right conservatives used social media to urge followers to hold the line" and trust the plan," phrases that were mentioned more than 80,000 times across online media Wednesday and Thursday, according to an analysis by media intelligence firm Zignal Labs. More than 1 million mentions of civil war and storm the capitol appeared in Twitter posts, the firm also found. Others called for Vice President Mike Pence who enraged Trump when he acknowledged that he did not have the power to unilaterally throw out electoral college votes to be tried for treason. One Facebook post, quickly deleted, said Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell should be hanged. And many pro-Trump accounts are still using the platforms to celebrate Wednesdays riots as a success with QAnon hashtags. Others continue to push conspiracy theories that Trump is the rightful winner of the election. WE DID IT! THANK Q PATRIOTS! one QAnon account wrote on Twitter, moments after Pence was whisked away from Senate chambers for his safety. Are you a Louisianan who was at the U.S. Capitol yesterday? We want to talk to you Were you at the U.S. Capitol yesterday or at the nearby rally in support of President Donald Trump? We'd like to hear from you. Facebook announced Wednesday that it was suspending Trumps ability to post on its site indefinitely. Twitter also temporarily locked Trumps account. While Facebook and Twitter have locked Trump out of his account, the platforms have not taken strong enough action against the social media network of conspiracy theorists that encouraged Wednesdays riots, Jankowicz said. Thats going to embolden these extremists in the future, she said. They see their job as a job well done, and they can do it again with impunity. By AMANDA SEITZ, Associated Press To that end, two editions of Eat. Watch. Do. will land in your inbox every week. On Wednesdays, Eat. Watch. Do. will give you the recipes, restaurant recommendations and dining news youve come to expect from our weekly report. On Fridays, well prep you for the weekend ahead with tips for what to watch on TV, what takeout to bring home and what to buy to make life at home just a little better this winter. SpaceX launched its first mission for 2021 Thursday from Cape Canaveral The Falcon 9 rocket took the Turkish-owned Turksat 5A satellite into orbit However, the mission caught the eye of Armenia in October of last year Armenia activists protested outside SpaceX's California headquarters They claim the device would be used by Turkey to kill them with drones The notion stems from a long-standing war between the two nations SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket completed its first mission of 2021 by sending the Turkish-owned Turksat 5A communication satellite into orbit - despite outcry from Armenia to cancel the launch. Hundreds of Armenia activists gathered around the firm's headquarters in Hawthorne, California last October, with the hopes the Elon Musk-owned company would sever ties with Turkey. ADVERTISEMENT Protesters held signs alleging the satellite would be used to 'kill civilians' by targeting Armenians with unmanned aerial vehicles amid the deadly conflict between the two nations. It seems their voices went unheard, as SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 with the satellite at its helm Thursday evening. Scroll down for videos SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket completed its first mission of 2021 by sending theTurkish-owned Turksat 5A communication satellite into orbit - despite outcry from Armenian activists to cancel the launch. It seems their voices went unheard, as SpaceX launched the Falcon 9 with the satellite at its helm Thursday evening The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh, which is mostly controlled by ethnic Armenians. Fighting periodically breaks out around Nagorno-Karabakh's borders, often deadly, notably in 2016 and July 2020. Click here to resize this module Since recent fighting erupted in October, dozens have been killed and wounded in apparent shelling by both sides - and each country blames the other. Armenian activists took to the streets to protest SpaceX's ties with their enemy and also sent the firm emails with the subject 'What if Elon was Armenian.' Hundreds of Armenia activists gathered around the firm's headquarter in Hawthorne, California in October, with the hopes the Elon Musk-owned company would sever ties with Turkey In the email, obtained by TechCrunch, activists explained Armenians worldwide, an ethnic and national group, has suffered under the authoritarian rule and regional influence of Turkeys President, Tayyip Erdogan and the word genocide was shown numerous times in the message. TechCrunch exchanged emails with a person listed as the campaign's originator who said: 'There are calls for sanctions of Turkey by the US and other NATO countries.' 'SpaceX is strongly urged to take all these factors into consideration and decide for itself whether or not it wants to continue to aid Turkey in the face of such overwhelming and clear evidence of criminal actions.' 'At the very least, Elon Musk and SpaceX can halt the launch to see what these investigations lead to. While this may be a loss of profit for SpaceX it would be a huge leap for world progress.' ADVERTISEMENT According to Space.com, SpaceX is planning on sending another Turskat satellite into space later this year. The Turskat 5A satellite is currently floating in orbit that, according to its Turkish owners, will enhance communication abilities in Turkey, along with parts of Asia, Europe and Africa. SpaceX's Falcon 9 took off from Cape Canaveral at 9:15pm ET Thursday, following a 45-minute delay - the cause has not yet been revealed. Following the mission, the Falcon 9 booster fell back to earth to land on the droneship Just Read The Instructions sitting in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX's Falcon 9 moments before it took off for its first mission of 2021 SpaceX's Falcon 9 took off from Cape Canaveral at 9:15pm ET Thursday, following a 45-minute delay - the cause has not yet been revealed SpaceX had a busy launch season in 2020 it clocked in 29 successful missions but 2021 is set to be twice as exciting for the firm that plans to send its Falcon 9 rockets into orbit more than 40 times. Musk's firm is also poised to launch its latest Starship prototype, Serial Number 9 (SN9), as soon as this weekend, according to airspace restrictions. SN9 would attempt the same mission as its predecessor Serial Number 8 (SN8) that completed a high-altitude test flight of 7.8 miles on December 8. The massive rocket hit its flight goal, but exploded on the launch pad the moment it touched down. ADVERTISEMENT However, Musk deemed the launch a success saying that the prototype, even though it was destroyed, collected a trove of data that will bring SpaceX one step closer to sending humans to Mars aboard the rocket. When it comes to ecological protection, "we cannot afford to be penny wise and pound foolish, or catch one and lose another," President Xi Jinping said. "We should also not live beyond our means or be more interested in the here and now while ignoring our long-term interests." KUNMING, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- As the rising sun over the rippling Erhai Lake suffused the clouds with splendid hues, tourists walked along the lakeshore to find the perfect spot to capture the view, with the twittering of black-headed gulls embellishing the pleasant aura. The picturesque scenery is now a common sight at the once heavily polluted lake in southwest China's Yunnan Province thanks to its improving environment that has attracted more wintering birds in recent years. Located in the province's Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, Erhai Lake sits at some 2,000 meters above sea level and stretches more than 250 sq km. A major tourist draw, the ear-shaped freshwater lake has attracted tens of millions of tourists every year since local tourism began flourishing in the 1990s. However, the booming tourism, coupled with rapid urbanization, took its toll on the lake, causing water quality degradation and toxic blue-green algae blooms. People stroll by the Erhai Lake in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 9, 2015. (Xinhua/Lin Yiguang) President Xi Jinping visited the lake during an inspection tour of Yunnan in January 2015, stressing ecological protection of the lake and calling on residents and the local government to protect the lake's natural beauty forever. During his visit, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, emphasized the priority of ecological and environmental protection. When it comes to ecological protection, "we cannot afford to be penny wise and pound foolish, or catch one and lose another," he said. "We should also not live beyond our means or be more interested in the here and now while ignoring our long-term interests." In response to Xi's call, the local government launched a series of ecological projects in 2016 to prevent and control pollution and restore the environment of Erhai Lake. Villagers remove water weed in Gusheng Village in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Chen Xinbo/Xinhua) More than 2,400 lakeside guesthouses and restaurants were asked to suspend business so that sewage treatment facilities could be upgraded to prevent the discharging of untreated wastewater into the lake. Algae treatment facilities were established around the lake and a waste disposal factory was built to turn animal wastes into organic fertilizers. The cultivation of garlic, which entails the use of large amounts of chemical fertilizers, was banned in the lake basin. An Nan, who owns a lakeside guesthouse, had halted his homestay business for more than a year to make way for the conservation projects. "We owe our business success to Erhai Lake. As long as it is well protected, we don't have to worry about our livelihoods," An said. "What's the point of having suites with a lake view if the lake itself is dirty and stinky like before?" Official data showed that more than 20 billion yuan (about 3.1 billion U.S. dollars) has been poured into lake restoration projects in the past five years. Tourists view the scenery of Erhai Lake in Gusheng Village in Dali, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Sept. 14, 2020. (Photo by Chen Xinbo/Xinhua) The arduous efforts have paid off. In 2019 and 2020, the surface water quality of Erhai Lake remained between Class II and Class III, indicating good water quality, according to the Yunnan provincial department of ecology and environment. "A cleaner Erhai Lake is bringing more tourists to Dali, which is a boon for my business," An said. Chen Jian, Party secretary of Dali, said the prefecture has been following a path of green development. "With the improving water quality of Erhai Lake, we have more time to adjust our industrial structure and further promote green development," he said. "The protection of the lake is bringing more economic benefits." "Mountains and rivers green are mountains of silver and gold," Xi has reiterated on several occasions. The dialectical words, known as the "two mountains" concept in Chinese, are a key component of Xi's thought on ecological progress. President Xi Jinping visits an ecological wetland of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) During another inspection tour of Yunnan in January 2020 when he visited Dianchi Lake, a plateau lake in the provincial capital Kunming, Xi stressed abandoning the old way of achieving economic development at the cost of the environment. After learning about the conservation efforts at Dianchi Lake as well as the improvement in its water quality during that visit, Xi urged continuous efforts to restore the ecology of the lake. President Xi Jinping visits an ecological wetland of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Jan. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) The largest freshwater lake on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Dianchi Lake used to be one of the most polluted lakes in China, with its water quality graded Class V for a long time in the 1990s, the worst level in the country's water quality grading system. Years of restoration efforts by the government and the public, including pollution control, water replenishment and wetland restoration, are helping the lake regain its lost luster. Its surface water quality improved to Class IV in 2018, the best in 30 years, and has remained at the level over the past two years, according to the Dianchi Lake administration bureau. A staff member feeds black-headed gulls by the bank of Dianchi Lake in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Feb. 2, 2020. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) The water quality of 17 rivers, making up nearly half of the waterways entering Dianchi Lake, reached Class III level or even better in 2020, compared with just five rivers in 2015, statistics from the Kunming municipal ecology and environment bureau showed. Fu Wen, head of the Dianchi Lake administration bureau, said they will follow Xi's instructions to step up pollution control, ecological restoration and intelligent management of the lake to further improve its water quality. Facebook on Thursday said it will block President Trump on its platforms at least until the end of his term on Jan. 20, as the mainstream online world moved forcefully to limit the president after years of inaction. Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks chief executive, said in a post that the social network decided to cut off Mr. Trump because a rampage by pro-Trump supporters in the nations capital a day earlier, which was urged on by the president, showed that Mr. Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden. We believe the risks of allowing the president to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great, Mr. Zuckerberg wrote. As a result, he said, Facebook and its photo-sharing site Instagram would extend blocks, first put in place on Wednesday, on Mr. Trumps ability to post until the peaceful transition of power is complete. The move was part of a widening revolt by social media companies against Mr. Trump, who has used the sites throughout his presidency to rile up his supporters and bully his enemies. CHESANING, MI Authorities have released the name of a Chesaning man killed by police in a recent shooting, though additional details remain scarce. John R. Neitling, 40, was fatally shot the morning of Thursday, Jan. 7. Police have said that about 6:20 a.m. members of the Michigan State Police Emergency Support Team were serving a high-risk search warrant on a home in the 400 block of East Broad Street. The EST was serving the warrant on behalf of the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, or BAYANET. A preliminary investigation indicates as EST members approached the front of the residence, Neitling confronted them with a gun, police said. Members of the EST fired their weapons at him in response. Shortly thereafter, police found the Neitling deceased inside the residence. Police safely removed a female resident from the home. Neither the woman nor police personnel were injured, according to police. Detectives from the MSP Second District Investigative Response Team are investigating the shooting. EST members who were involved have been placed on administrative leave, according to department protocol, while the investigation is underway. Police could not divulge if Neitling fired any shots himself, how many times he was shot, or how many troopers fired their guns. Read more: Police-involved shooting leaves Chesaning man dead Saginaw woman charged in dispute that led to gunfire, police seeking 2nd person Saginaw police seek man considered armed and dangerous wanted in murder case, womans shooting 22-year-old is Saginaw Countys first homicide victim of 2021 The best way to scare an elephant isnt with a mouse. As Maasai farmers in Kenya are finding out, its more effective to keep bees. Beehives strung along a perimeter fence are a simple, cheap solution to the problem of marauding elephants. The animals trunks are more sensitive than human skin, so the threat of a bee-sting is enough to make most herds give the farms a wide berth. Thats why the locals in Shompole paint their hives yellow to make them stand out. An aerial survey in 2019 estimated there are 350 elephants in Shompole, in the Great Rift Valley, and around 250 of them belong to one extended family. Elephants are perhaps the most important animals in Africas savannah grasslands because they physically shape the landscape opening up woodlands, carving paths and creating habitats for numerous smaller animals and birds. Dr Jenny Cousins reveals elephants are competing with people in Kenya for scarce food. Pictured: A herd in the Maasai Mara They spend 12-18 hours a day eating or foraging for food, and need to consume up to 330lb of vegetation daily. They also need to drink up to 50 gallons of water a day. This is increasingly bringing them into conflict with farmers. With wildlife habitats shrinking and droughts getting worse, elephants are competing with people for scarce food and water, says the Worldwide Fund For Natures Dr Jenny Cousins. One of WWFs solutions is to fit the animals with tracker collars. Knowing where elephants travel allows us to focus our efforts, says Dr Cousins. It also enables the charity to get to know individual animals and to identify troublemakers, such as the matriarch Ivy, whos particularly bolshie. If Ivy was a character on Coronation Street, shed be the one with her hair in curlers and a rolling pin in her fist. Shes also a big eater who enjoys a midnight feast from a farmers field. She hides in the bushland during the day and emerges to raid in the small hours. An estimated 80 per cent of everything she eats is stolen which puts her at risk of harm from angry villagers. If only she was more like Fred, an elderly chap with huge tusks. He takes no interest in farmed crops, seeking out tender leaves that grow beside the streams. Albert Kuseyo who grew up in Shompole, teaches farmers to see the elephants as an essential part of their lives. Pictured: One of the creatures tracked by WWF One of the friendliest elephants in the Maasai Mara park is Tressa, the 36-year-old mother of a four-year-old calf. Tressa is part of a family made up of nine other females, ten bulls and four adolescents. Shes fond of humans and lets vehicles drive right up to her. All these elephants have collars, and the team can track them using an iPhone app which tunes in to a GPS signal. Its part of a successful conservation effort that has seen elephant numbers more than double in the region to 2,500 in the past 36 years. Thanks to education programmes, helping villagers understand how vital elephants are to Kenyas future, poaching has ceased in some areas. WWF also provides practical assistance such as building elephant-proof water towers for villages. One conservationist, Albert Kuseyo, who works for WWF partner SORALO, grew up in Shompole but never saw a wild elephant until he was 34. When he did, he was surprised at how fast they move. Now Ive learned how to avoid them, and how to behave when you meet them in the bush, he says. Alberts job involves teaching farmers to see the elephants as an essential part of their lives. Hes also in charge of the beehive project. Now the locals have a new source of income, selling their honey. If Ivy doesnt want a bee in her ear, shell have to look elsewhere for dinner. Weekend magazine is a partner of WWFs Land For Life Appeal, supporting community efforts to protect wildlife, people and key habitats in Kenya and Tanzania. Donations made before 2 February will be matched by the UK government up to 2 million. Donate at wwf.org.uk/life. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Since storming off stage during a live debate on the Israeli military operation in Gaza aired during the Davos Conference in 2009, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has acquired a reputation for anti-Israeli rhetoric. Following the Mavi Marmara incident in May 2010, when Israeli naval commandos killed 10 Turkish citizens during a raid against the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, his invective steadily escalated. It peaked during a May 2018 speech to the Islamic Cooperation Organisation in Istanbul in which he accused Israel of committing a genocide comparable to the Nazi Holocaust in the occupied Arab territories. Erdogan has courted Israels foremost enemies to demonstrate his resistance to the tide of Arabs normalising relations with Israel. A lengthy telephone meeting with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in December 2020 to discuss ways to improve bilateral cooperation was intended to deliver a message to Israeli security services, some quarters of which had already begun to view Ankara as a greater threat to Israel than Tehran. Hamas leaders had been frequent guests of Ankara in 2020. Hamas Political Chief Ismail Haniyeh visited twice, and his predecessor Khaled Mashaal was welcomed with open arms after Khartoum revoked his diplomatic passport. Having lashed out at the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco for the harm they caused the Palestinian cause by normalising relations with Israel, however, Erdogan went on to approach Israel with the offer of a maritime border agreement creating exclusive Turkish and Israeli economic zones in the Eastern Mediterranean. How might Erdogan explain this u-turn? Were it not for issues at the leadership level in Israel, our ties could have been very different, he told reporters after Friday prayers on 25 December. It is our hearts desire that we should carry our relations with Israel to a better place. At the same time, a foreign relations adviser to the Turkish presidency confirmed that bilateral ties and diplomatic relations could be restored by March. The hope is that the Israeli elections that month will bring about a prime minister other than Netanyahu, with whom Ankara has the deep differences. Officials in Israel, on the other hand, are not convinced. It was the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) that destroyed relations with Israel, according to a recent Jerusalem Post article on Ankaras continued media spin on reconciliation with Israel. Some analysts believe the Turkish about-face is motivated in by concerns that the forthcoming Joe Biden administration in Washington will be less tolerant of Erdogans autocracy than the Trump administration. With choppy waters ahead in that relationship, Ankara sees cozying up to the Zionist state as the key to mollifying Washingtons heart. This is especially important to Erdogan at a time of mounting disgruntlement at home. While he has opposed holding early elections, opposition forces have been clamouring for them and, ultimately, he may have to cave in to pressures. If he and the ruling AKP are to avoid paying too dearly in the polls for the disastrous consequences of autocratic policies, it will be crucial to neutralise the Biden factor. Still fresh in Erdogans mind are Bidens remarks regarding the need for the US to support the Turkish pro-democracy opposition. The advice of Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu appears to have been instrumental in charting the new policy towards Israel. It was reportedly he who persuaded Erdogan to back down on the threat to freeze relations with the UAE, convincing him to push for a restoration of relations with Israel as soon as possible. In fact, opposition leaders have long called for such a step, just as they have continually cautioned against the consequences of policies that favour Islamist extremists. Erdogan naturally brushed aside such advice, coming as it did from an opposition he preferred muzzled. Now, his attempt to curry favour with people he has frequently likened to Nazis and called murderers has presented the opposition with a golden opportunity to showcase his hypocrisy. Many in the opposition dont believe his ploy will work. They argue that Israel will not reciprocate what such desperate pleas to bury the hatchet. On 28 December after all The Jerusalem Post called Turkey one of the most anti-Israel countries in the world in recent years. The reconciliation gambit is part and parcel of the Turkish regimes scramble to end its international isolation. One problem is that almost every time Ankara takes a step in that direction, it shoots itself in the foot. How, for example, can it ask the EU to create a more positive climate for Turkish-European relations only to send the Oruc Reis research vessel back into Cypriot waters in what was universally seen as a deliberately provocative move? As for relations with Washington, Biden has already hinted at the expected climate. The US President-elect wrote to the Istanbul-based Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew and to Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades to thank them for their letters congratulating him on his electoral victory, ignoring Erdogan. What all this signifies is that the actions Erdogan is taking to reverse his losses are too little too late. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: Many years ago, when I was preparing to depart my New York home for a semester studying abroad in Germany, my mother sat me down and issued me two grave prohibitions: 1) do not visit Austria and 2) do not tell anybody you're Jewish. Austria had never quite owned up to its embrace of the Nazis while Germany was, well, Germany. What can I say? Mothers worry. Nobody in my known family had any exposure to the Holocaust, yet this kind of lurid anxiety about the dangers of European political madness persisted two generations after my ancestors had left the czar's pogroms behind. When Donald Trump was elected US president, my family's framework for understanding what was happening drew heavily from the catalogue of Nazi villainy: the attacks on minorities were the Nuremberg Laws; Charlottesville was Kristallnacht; immigrant detention centres were Dachau; the Reichstag Fire well, that hadn't happened yet. Read More Until Wednesday's assault on the Capitol. Despite being emotionally primed by all that Nazi talk for a Trump coup d'etat, when the attempted putsch came I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. Surely the ragged mob of yahoos scaling the balustrades were engaged in some kind of stunt protest, menacing but fundamentally unserious. It was almost too ridiculous to accept. Coincidentally, the night before the insurrection in Washington, I had watched Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino's immaculate WWII revenge fantasy. The film captures perfectly Nazism's peculiar melange of menace and absurdity. Hitler, Goebbels all of them cast as deadly jokes. This contrast is established early on when the icy 'Jew Hunter' Colonel Hans Landa smokes from a cartoonishly large pipe just moments before ordering the murder of two children hiding beneath the floorboards of a French farmhouse. So watching rioters larking about on Capitol Hill in Viking regalia maybe was not the joke I initially thought it to be. After all, before the day was over four people had died and Congress, for the first time in American history, was forced to suspend the peaceful transition of democratic power. As the night wore on, my denial turned to revulsion as I realised my worst fears about Mr Trump and Trumpism were coming true. Seeing the Confederate battle flag being paraded through the Capitol's rotunda a sanctuary that had not been breached since the British sacked Washington in 1814 was particularly gut wrenching. This banner of slavery and civil war had been turned into a triumphant symbol of mob rule over the rule of law. American institutions do not look prepared to meet the challenge. Once Congress had reconvened, Republicans returned to their antics of pretending the presidential election was subject to widespread fraud and uncertainty. Yesterday the House and Senate leaders adjourned until the inauguration without so much as formally censuring Trump, whose refusal to accept his election defeat had encouraged the unrest. US president-elect Joe Biden at least provided an appropriately earnest speech, hitting all the right notes about the sanctity of representative government. Yet I fear that the welcome stability of the incoming administration lacks the energy to counteract what looks like pure madness on the other side. In any case, all those years ago I visited Austria safely and my mother needn't have worried about the Germans. They have a better handle on fascism than most. Certainly better than the United States in 2021. For while Americans, like family, worried about Nazism rising from the grave across the Atlantic, the spectre ultimately emerged at home. How many tests like this can America afford to fail? A US Capitol Police officer has died of injuries sustained during clashes with a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters who overran a session of Congress, police said late Thursday. Officer Brian Sicknick was "responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the US Capitol and was injured while physically engaging with protesters," Capitol Police said in a statement. "He returned to his division office and collapsed. He was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries" on Thursday night, it said. Democratic leaders of the House Appropriations Committee said the tragic loss of a Capitol police officer should remind all of us of the bravery of the law enforcement officers who protected us, our colleagues, Congressional staff, the press corps and other essential workers during the hours long takeover of the Capitol by pro-Trump protesters. Meanwhile, the violent siege of the Capitol by President Donald Trumps supporters forced painful new questions across government Thursday about his fitness to remain in office for two more weeks, the ability of the police to secure the complex and the future of the Republican Party in a post-Trump era. The rampage that shocked the world and left the country on edge forced the resignations of three top Capitol security officials over the failure to stop the breach. It led lawmakers to demand a review of operations and an FBI briefing over what they called a terrorist attack. And it is prompting a broader reckoning over Trumps tenure in office and what comes next for a torn nation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said any remaining day with the president in power could be a horror show for America. Likewise, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the attack on the Capitol was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president," and Trump must not stay in office one day longer. Pelosi and Schumer called for invoking the 25th Amendment to the Constitution to force Trump from office before President-elect Joe Biden is inaugurated on Jan. 20. Schumer said he and Pelosi tried to call Vice President Mike Pence early Thursday to discuss that option but were unable to connect with him. (With inputs from AP, AFP) Oregon lawmakers will conduct most of their work online during the initial weeks of the regular session that begins Jan. 19 in an effort to prevent in-person meetings from turning into virus super spreader events, top Democrats said on Thursday. House and Senate lawmakers will meet in-person Jan. 19 to introduce thousands of bills, something they cannot do in online meetings. After that, they will focus on virtual public hearings and work sessions to take input and reshape legislation for up to two months before resuming floor sessions to vote on the passage of bills, House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, and Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said during a briefing on Thursday. Both Democrats, who lead majorities in their respective chambers, said they know their Republican colleagues do not universally agree with the plan but it is the result of months of bipartisan meetings. Our states hospital capacity continues to be stretched thin, Kotek said during the video press briefing. She pointed out Marion County, where the Capitol is located, has been designated at extreme risk for quite awhile due to the out-of-control spread of COVID-19. Oregon is one of many Legislatures across the country that the Associated Press has reported will begin their sessions by working remotely. Some Republican-controlled statehouses will have lawmakers returning to work in person and without requirements to wear masks to reduce spread of the virus. According to an ongoing tally by The Associated Press, more than 250 state lawmakers across the country have contracted COVID-19 and at least seven have died. There has been no known outbreak tied to the Oregon Capitol. Oregons legislative session will likely continue through June. On Monday, newly elected and reelected lawmakers will assemble at the Capitol to be sworn into office, but the process will look much different than in years past when members of both chambers and their friends and family packed into the House chamber for the ceremonies. Each chamber will meet separately to have members sworn in and in the 60-member House, where all seats were up for reelection in 2020, lawmakers will be sworn into office in cohorts. Gov. Kate Brown would also typically deliver a state-of-the-state address during the ceremonies but she will deliver the speech by video at a later date, her office said. Lawmakers and other Oregonians have raised concerns that restricting public access to the Capitol makes it more difficult for people to weigh in on legislation. Kotek and Courtney acknowledged the concern on Thursday, but Kotek in particular said the Legislature greatly expanded the ability of the public to have a voice in legislation when it started to allow people to testify remotely during the pandemic in 2020. Weve had people who were not able to participate before because they werent able to take a day off to go to Salem, Kotek said. Indeed, seats in Capitol hearing rooms are typically filled by lobbyists for various causes and government employees waiting to testify or take lawmakers questions. Only the most high-profile bills draw large numbers of regular Oregonians to Salem to testify. With the newly available option to testify remotely, Kotek said, You dont have to be a paid lobbyist, you can do it from the comfort of your home. It can also be difficult even without a pandemic for regular people to track what is happening with legislation, since complex amendments are frequently negotiated behind-the-scenes and unveiled shortly before a committee vote. Kotek and Courtney said they expect to increase public notice on such amendments, which can in some cases amount to an entirely new bill, so Oregonians have more time to review the proposals. Kotek said the Legislature will also enhance its outreach and communication to inform the public about legislation, something she said is overdue. Keeping lawmakers safe during the pandemic is also no longer the only challenge legislative leaders face in planning to eventually reopen the Capitol to the public. After violent demonstrators gained access to a Capitol vestibule during the Dec. 21 special session and attempted a second break in later the same day, Kotek and Courtney said they must consider how to prevent people from intimidating lawmakers and disrupting their work. It threatens our very form of government, Courtney said. You cannot take for granted the way we govern ourselves, you cant. -- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud Subscribe to Oregonian/OregonLive newsletters and podcasts for the latest news and top stories. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Authorities in the EU and Britain on Friday ramped up COVID-19 vaccine announcements as they tried to dampen criticism over the slow pace of jabs amid stubbornly high infection figures. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said an existing deal with BioNTech/Pfizer has been extended to double the number of doses supplied to the bloc to 600 million. The EU's medicines regulator also approved squeezing six doses out of every BioNTech/Pfizer vial instead of five, potentially increasing the number of injections on offer by 20 percent. At the same time, BioNTech said early data showed its product was effective against coronavirus variants dominating in the UK and South Africa that are believed to be highly contagious. In BritainEurope's worst-hit country after Russiathe Moderna vaccine was added to the inoculation drive alongside the BioNTech/Pfizer and Oxford/AstraZeneca ones already authorised. Von der Leyen admitted a "bumpy road" at the start of the vaccine roll-out in the EU's 27 nations and spoke of more "difficult months" ahead to get it on track. But overall, she insisted, her Commission's strategy to snap up orders last year for half a dozen vaccines unproven at the time had been the right one, done in the teeth of fierce global competition. As a result, there were enough doses secured of the two vaccines currently authorised in the bloc, the ones from BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna, "to vaccinate 380 million Europeans, and this is more than 80 percent of the European population", she said. And, she added, if all the other vaccine candidates are also approved, the bloc could eventually have 2.3 billion doses on handenough for every EU resident, with the extra going to the Union's poorer neighbours. Germany goes it alone The other candidate vaccines are from Oxford/AstraZeneca, Johnson & Johnson, Sanofi/GSK and Curevac. Negotiations are ongoing for one from Novavax. The European Medicines Agency said a decision on authorising the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could be made by the end of this month. Yet right now the EU has only 75 million doses of the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, with the rest starting to be delivered sometime between April and June. Authorisation for the 160 million doses from Moderna was given on Wednesday. The deal extension is for a firm 200 million extra doses plus an option for 100 million more. In comparison, the United States has secured a total 200 million doses from BioNTech/Pfizer and the same amount of Moderna vaccine doses. Embarrassingly for von der Leyen, her home country Germany has gone outside the Commission's collective purchase scheme, with national media reporting official frustration at the sluggish vaccination rate. The German health ministry said it has bought an option for an additional 30 million doses directly from BioNTech/Pfizer and 20 million from Curevac, and is negotiating with Moderna. Von der Leyen said the Commission's purchase arrangement was "legally binding" and "no parallel negotiations, no parallel contracts" were permitted by individual member states. Her spokesman Eric Mamer repeatedly dodged questions about that apparent breach by Berlin and told journalists: "We are certainly not going to discuss any possible legal steps or whatever." UK at breaking point Britain, no longer an EU member, started its immunisation programme well ahead of the European Union. There was scepticism, though, that it would reach its target of inoculating 15 million people by mid-February. Its announcement on the Moderna vaccine on Friday meant 17 million doses of that jab would be delivered in the coming months. But the country is in "a sprint," Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said. Hospitals in England are at breaking point from skyrocketing COVID-19 infections. Both the BioNTech/Pfizer and Moderna vaccines use a technique called messenger RNA, or mRNA. Unlike traditional vaccines that inject an inactivated virus, they teach the body's cells how to make spike proteins to build defences. But they are logistically very challenging because they must be kept in sub-Arctic temperatures except for limited periods for transport and stocking just before use. Explore further Follow the latest news on the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak 2021 AFP Vietnam will keep using its current COVID-19 prevention strategy, despite the emergence of new more transmissible variants of coronavirus. Thai Nguyen Province's authorities quarantined 192 Vietnamese citizens returning from China via the land border on December 6. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, head of the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, made the announcement at a meeting on Thursday in Hanoi. Dam said the committee agreed that the development of new variants should be monitored closely, but basically, Vietnam will continue to robustly protect itself from the outside [threats], while strengthening measures on the inside. Border forces, especially land border forces, must step up inspections and work with local families with members staying abroad to encourage them to refrain from enabling illegal entry. The entrants should enter the country legally and follow the strict quarantine policy, heard the meeting. Members of the committee asked the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, and the Government Office to draft policies on financial support for economically struggling entrants, with local authorities likely to have to pay their quarantine fees. Regarding inbound flights of repatriated citizens, foreign business executives, experts or diplomats, the committee asked authorities to keep up prevention efforts. Concerning some cases where people were found to be positive for the virus after they have completed the mandatory 14-day quarantine after many tests, Deputy PM Dam requested a revision of quarantine rules to prevent cross-infection in quarantine facilities. Tran Dac Phu, senior advisor to the Vietnam Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), said the health sectors stance is that the incubation period for the disease is typically 14 days so the standard quarantine period of two weeks should be upheld. The committee also discussed the recent COVID-19 scare where a man in HCM City tested positive in one medical facility only to be confirmed negative in another. Tran Dac Phu said a mistake might have taken place during the specimen collection step or the testing procedures, or the test kits might not be inaccurate, or that the patient might be positive for another kind of coronavirus that is not the one causing the current pandemic. However, the results obtained by Pasteur institutes across the country after using two kinds of tests are reliable, Phu said. At the meeting, Deputy PM Dam said the COVID-19 pandemic globally remains complex, while Vietnam, which has had a good handle on the domestic situation with one of the world's lowest infection and death rate, is preparing for important events in January and February including Tet (the traditional Lunar New Year) and the upcoming 13th National Party Congress. He asked all ministries and agencies to strictly follow the Party and States instructions on COVID-19 prevention and control. VNS The new C.E. King High School opened about a year ago, designed like a college campus to accommodate a rapidly growing student population in the Sheldon Independent School District. The nearly three-year construction project cost $146 million. It may also have cost Juan Carlos Valladares and Eduin Hernandez at least 16 percent of their annual income. Valladares and Hernandez, who did painting on the project, said in statements filed with the Sheldon ISD board that a subcontractor, Allenko Finishes of Houston, failed to pay them the prevailing wage the minimum required for public construction projects. The workers and the union that helped bring their claims also say that Sheldon ISD failed to thoroughly investigate. Valladares and Hernandezs efforts to get back pay show the hurdles that workers face when they believe theyve been shortchanged on the job. The cases are hardly unusual: study by the University of Texas and Workers Defense Project, an advocacy group, found that one in five construction workers are victims of wage theft, the practice of denying workers pay or benefits rightfully owed them. This dispute revolves around job classifications. Sheldon ISD and Allenko deny that Valladares and Hernandez were underpaid, noting they were classified as laborers and received $12 an hour, 19 cents above the prevailing wage for that job. But had they been classified as painters, the two workers would have received nearly $4 an hour more. Laborers are defined as workers who lift and haul materials, help with cleanup and other unskilled or semi-skilled work, according to project documents. A painter is a worker who prepares wall surfaces and applies paint. Over the seven months they worked on the project, Valladares and Hernandez said in statements filed with Sheldon ISD, they prepared and sanded surfaces, rolled paint onto walls and ceilings and finished the trim with brushes. Both Hernandez and Valladares said they were told they would be painters when they were hired, and they painted every day. Allenkos attorney, Mo Taherzadeh, said the workers were properly classified, noting that picking up a brush does not make a worker a painter. I just dont think thats how it works, Taherzadeh said. Then there would be no (laborers) in the painting industry. He said what makes someone a painter is the quality of the work, but could not provide specific standards or qualifications, such as certain number of years of experience. He declined to comment on how many of Allenkos workers on the C.E. King job were classified as painters. The combined $11,000 that the two workers claim they lost in earnings is barely a rounding error in the budget for the 580,000-square-foot, state-of-the art facility. But for Valladares and Hernandez, the extra money could mean making rent, keeping up with car payments or keeping on the utilities. It would make a big difference economically, Hernandez said. It would help me become a little more stable. On HoustonChronicle.com: Construction workers pressure University of Houston over contractor's alleged wage theft Not an isolated incident Valladares and Hernandez began working on the project in February 2019 and June 2019, respectively. Allenko declined to disclose the value of the contract and the number of painters on the job. The school district said it did not have that information about the subcontractor in its records. Allegations of wage theft were first raised by the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades, which said it frequently finds violations of prevailing wage laws at public construction projects. At the C.E. King worksite, the union said it spoke to eight workers about their earnings. The union then filed a public records request with Sheldon ISD, obtaining a wage scale that showed painters earning $15.75 an hour, rather than the $12 an hour many workers were getting paid. This is not an isolated incident, Sal Herrera, the director of organizing for the painters union said. This happens every day, all across school districts. The union has helped workers bring similar wage theft complaints with two other school districts over the last two years. Recovering wages is often a long, drawn out process that takes time and resources, Herrera said, which is part of the reason so few workers bring complaints. Of the eight workers the union talked to at the C.E. King site, only Valladares and Hernandez came forward. The reluctance of workers to press wage theft cases, usually out of fear of retaliation, is one of the reasons the practice is prevalent, worker advocates said. Between 2013 and 2015 about $50 million of wages were stolen from construction workers in Texas, according to a 2017 study by Economic Policy Institute, a Washington think tank. In the case of projects such as C.E. King High School, its up to the school district to make the determination of wage theft. When workers come forward they are often asked to provide identifying information, including their name and Social Security number, leaving them vulnerable to getting fired. Texas is one of six states without laws to protect workers alleging wage theft from retaliation, according to a report by the National Employment Law Project, an advocacy group in New York. Valladares, 49, figured he didnt have a lot to lose. Normally earning about $30,000 a year, he said he lives paycheck-to-paycheck, struggling to keep up with rent and child support. The possibility of receiving $5,000 in back wages seemed worth the risk. I need to be able to pay my rent, Valladares said. With painting jobs hard to find, Valladares decided to work in landscaping, but sometimes could only get two to three days of work a week as people cut back on expenses during the pandemic and recession. He estimates he only earned about $18,000 in 2020. Texas Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The painters union estimates that Hernandez, who earns about $38,000 a year, was underpaid by about $6,000. Hernandez, his wife and two children live in a house with three other families, living on tight budget to stay top of bills and pay his $350 rent. But there isnt much extra money after bills are paid. His son recently had a medical emergency and Hernandez said he has no idea he will cover the $9,000 medical bill. They have to look for a solution, Hernandez said. Uphill battles Under state law, prevailing wage disputes must first be brought to the public body that hired the contractor, in this case Sheldon ISD. The board made an initial determination that the workers were paid the correct amount. The workers were never interviewed before the school board made the initial determination. Sheldon ISD said while making the initial determination it followed the state laws. The district performed a good-faith, thorough investigation of all information timely submitted regarding the complaints, a spokeswoman said. The workers claims will now go to arbitration, according to the union, where an arbitrator will review the complaints and decide the issue. Laura Perez-Boston, the organizing director for the Workers Defense Project, a nonprofit that advocates for workers rights, said misclassifying trades people as laborers is common in public sector projects. She pointed to a recent dispute at the University of Houston, where construction workers on the Quadrangle Housing Replacement project rallied in February, claiming they were underpaid by $50,000 due to being misclassified and not getting overtime. The University of Houston offered to facilitate a meeting between the Workers Defense Project and the contractors and subcontractors, but said the university could not resolve the dispute itself. It suggested the group pursue solutions with state and federal regulators. Workers who press wage theft claims face uphill battles, Perez-Boston said. Workers can file claims with the Texas Workforce Commission or U.S. Department of Labor, but the burden falls on workers to find legal assistance and other resources they need to make their cases, Perez-Boston said. And just because a judgment comes out in a workers favor, doesnt mean the company will pay the back wages. Perez-Boston said that public institutions should do more to protect workers from wage theft and investigate their claims. Too often, she said, wage theft investigations end after institutions talk to contractors. You cant actually just believe contractors, Perez-Boston said. You do actually have to talk to workers. The story has been updated to clarify information on the initial determination process and investigation by the Sheldon ISD board. becca.carballo@chron.com Travellers coming from the UK to the national capital will have to undergo a seven-day institutional quarantine and a seven-day home quarantine even if they test negative for COVID-19 on arrival, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced on Friday. "To protect Delhiites from exposure to the virus from the UK, the Delhi government has taken important decisions. Travellers coming from UK will have to mandatorily undergo a self-paid RT-PCR test on arrival at the airport," the chief minister said. "All those arriving from UK who test positive will be isolated at an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for seven days, followed by seven days of home quarantine," he said. Kejriwal had on Thursday urged the Centre to extend the suspension of flights to and from the United Kingdom as the country now battles a variant strain of the coronavirus first detected there. On December 23, the central government suspended flights from the UK, with all passengers coming from there having to be tested on arrival at airports. The suspension of UK flights was later extended up to January 8. . Chandigarh: To check monopoly in the transport business and provide employment opportunity to the youth of state, Transport department would complete the task of issuance of 5,000 new mini bus permits to the youth, as Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh had announced, by March this year, said the Punjab Transport Minister Razia Sultana, while addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan today. While announcing several pro-people initiatives in the transport department, she informed that the Transport department has received about 12000 applications for mini bus permits and the process of issuing 5,000 permits would be completed by March 2021. Subsequently, extra route permits for buses would also be started from March. Razia Sultana To detect the movement of the buses and check the ticket theft, she said that it was also proposed to install a vehicle tracking system in all buses. The fleet of PUNBUS has already been equipped with the system and it would be installed in PRTC buses in the next six months. 600 new buses will be added to the state governments fleet in this year, said the Transport Minister, adding that 350 buses will be procured for PUNBUS and 250 buses would be included in PRTC fleet to further strengthen the public transport of the state. Now, Punjab Roadways and PUNBUS have 1611 buses and PRTC has 1121 buses.The state government has also intensified efforts to provide modern facilities to the passengers at the bus stands. The new timetable of buses would also be implemented soon, she added. The Transport Minister said that 6 automated vehicle inspection and certification centres would be set up in the state and the work has been commenced in this regard. Transport department would also set up two heavy vehicles driving test tracks at Batala and Malerkotla in addition to Mahuana and Muktsar. Transport department would soon launch a doorstep delivery of driving license and registration certificate, she added. Bus In another important announcement, she said that it was proposed to introduce an e-challan system to check the violation of traffic rules so that people could drive more cautiously. Punjab has a plan to set up a Institute for Driving Training and Research at Kapurthala with a cost of Rs 18.50 crore through PPP mode for imparting training to the heavy vehicle drivers. Razia Sultana also announced that a toll-free helpline 1800-180-0222 would be set up soon, where people can get the information about the status of their driving licences and registration certificates from 8am to 8pm (seven days a week). DIGI REFORMS IN TRANSPORT DEPT. Hailing the transport department officials for providing seamless services despite Covid situation, Razia Sultana said that the Department of Transport introduced a number of digital initiatives to provide the best possible services to the people in hassle free manner. Learning driving licences have been issued from Sewa Kendras. SDMs have been authorized to issue driving license and vehicle registration certificates. Requirement of NOC has been abolished for transfer of private vehicles in the state. She said that the facility of online registration and submission of fees for High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) has been provided and the facility of affixing these plates at home has also been introduced. More than one million such number plates have been affixed in Punjab. Earlier there were 22 fitment centers now the number has been increased to 102. Razia SultanaShe said that Punjab has also introduced a user friendly e-auction policy in the Transport Department for reserved numbers (known as fancy numbers) thereby exempting the general public from visiting the registering authority office and participating in the process from their homes online. Elaborating another pro-people decision, the Transport Minister said that M-Parivahan mobile app has been launched in the state, with this people dont need to keep the original documents of vehicles with them. Vehicle owners can keep the documents on their mobile in digital format in M Parivahan and Diggy Locker. All the Pollution Checking Centres have been made online, she added. Although the transport sector suffered a lot due to the unprecedented lockdown imposed to contain the pandemic, said Razia Sultana, adding that the transport department paid the salaries to all the regular and 4000 outsourced employees on time without any deductions. The validity of expired registration certificates, driving licenses and fitness certificates have been extended till March 31, 2021 in view of Covid. Besides arranging buses to take the stranded labourers and workers to the railway stations to send them back to their home states, she said that the transport department had sent buses to Nanded Sahib, Delhi, Rajasthan and other places to bring back the stranded Punjabis to their home safely. Giving major relief to bus operators in Punjab, the state government had waived 100 per cent motor vehicle tax for all stage carriage, mini and school buses, while deferring payment of arrears of taxes without interest and penalty till March 31, 2021. A man has been arrested in Cork city after Gardai seized 139,000 worth of suspected drugs and cash. Detectives from Gurranabraher, assisted by uniform Gardai and the Gurranabraher District Drugs Unit, executed a search warrant at a house in Ardcullen, Hollyhill, Cork shortly before 8pm last night. During the course of the search Gardai seized 85,000 of cannabis herb, 35,000 of cocaine, 10,500 of cannabis resin and approximately 8,500 in cash. Gardai also seized a weighing scales and a quantity of zip lock bags. All of the suspected drugs will now be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for examination. Gardai said the operation was part of an ongoing investigation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in Cork city. A man, aged in his late teens, was arrested at the scene and brought to Gurranabraher Garda Station where he is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act 1996, Gardai added. January 08, 2021 / 11:01 PM IST Farmers' Protest Highlights: The 'Delhi Chalo' farmers' protest at border points of New Delhi has entered the 44th day today. Thousands of farmers, especially from Punjab and Haryana, are staging a sit-in protest along Delhi borders. The protest started on November 26. The farmers are demanding a complete rollback of the new farm reform laws and a guarantee on the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system being retained. Multiple rounds of talks between the Centre and the farmers union leaders have ended in a stalemate. Protesting farmers fear that the new laws will dismantle the MSP system and corporatise farming. The seventh round of talks between the government and protesting farmers ended inconclusively on January 4 as unions stuck to their demand for a complete repeal of three farm laws they find pro-corporate, while the government wanted to discuss only "problematic" clauses or other alternatives to resolve the over one-month-long deadlock. The two sides are scheduled to meet again today. NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Pfizer Inc. (PFE) and BioNTech SE (BNTX) announced Friday results from an in vitro study conducted by Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch or UTMB. The results show the antibodies from people who have received the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine effectively neutralize SARS-CoV-2 with a key mutation that is also found in two highly transmissible strains. The companies noted that rapidly spreading variants of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, initially in the United Kingdom and South Africa. The results were published on the preprint server bioRxiv. Pfizer, BioNTech, and UTMB said they are encouraged by these early, in vitro study findings. The companies said, 'Further data are needed to monitor the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine's effectiveness in preventing COVID-19 caused by new virus variants. If the virus mutates such that an update to the vaccine is required to continue to confer protection against COVID-19, we believe that the flexibility of BioNTech's proprietary mRNA vaccine platform is well suited to enable an adjustment to the vaccine.' The Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, but has been authorized for emergency use to prevent COVID-19. 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. By SA Commercial Prop News Keystone Investments is developing a 17,000m new Makro in the Arbour Town node located in Amanzimtoti KwaZulu-Natal. Image gallery Keystone Investments is developing a 17,000m new Makro store in the Arbour Town node located in Amanzimtoti KwaZulu-Natal. The Arbour Town node is a mixed use development which serves the southern Durban region, it currently consists of the Galleria, an 85,000 m2 regional shopping centre and Arbour Crossing, a 40,000m2 value centre. This new Makro will replace the current Makro located in Rossburgh. At 17,000m the Makro will be the largest Makro in KwaZulu-Natal and will significantly widen the primary catchment area of the Arbour Town node to the north as the current Makro draws customers from as far north as Durban central. The new Makro will be positioned opposite the Arbour Crossing shopping centre on Arbour Road, within close proximity of the N2 highway. This will ensure quick and easy access for shoppers coming from the Amanzimtoti, Durban South and Central areas. Construction is well underway and the planned opening date is 25 September 2013. Makro is always looking for smarter ways to have environmental friendly stores and has adopted these methods to ensure the Amanzimtoti store is helping our planet and lowering its carbon footprint. The building will have 259 roof lights allowing the store to operate on a sunny day without the use of major internal lighting. LED lighting will be utilised with motion sensors ensuring lights only turn on as people enter rooms. The air conditioning cooling system uses the latest technology to keep itself cooler for longer with a significant reduction in energy consumption. The cooling systems make and store ice at night for the next day using only evening off peak electricity. Hot water will be made from waste heat produced by the building chiller system. Being a part of the Arbour Town node, great care will be given to the landscaping, with the planting of trees, shrubs and lawns, not only helping the planet but softening the appearance of this large retail building Keystone Investments said the opening of this Makro promises to have a positive effect on our community, enhancing the shopping experience as well as creating employment opportunities in the area. [January 07, 2021] Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP Files Class Action Suit Against Alibaba Group Holding Limited Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP (https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-alibaba-group-holdings-limited-class-action-lawsuit.html) today announced that it filed a class action seeking to represent purchasers of Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA) American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") between July 9, 2020 and December 23, 2020 (the "Class Period"). This action was filed in the Southern District of New York and is captioned Elissa Hess, as Trustee for The EH Living Trust v. Alibaba Group Holding Limited, No. 21-cv-00136. The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased Alibaba ADSs during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Alibaba class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Alibaba class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Alibaba class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery of the Alibaba class action lawsuit is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff in the Alibaba class action lawsuit, you must move the Court no later than 60 days from November 13, 2020. If you wish to discuss the Alibaba class action lawsuit or have any questions concerning this notice or your rights or interests, please contact plaintiff's counsel, Brian E. Cochran of Robbins Geller, at 800/449-4900 or 619/231-1058 or via e-mail at bcochran@rgrdlaw.com. You can view a copy of the complaint as filed at https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-alibaba-group-holdings-limited-class-action-lawsuit.html. The Alibaba clas action lawsuit charges Alibaba and certain of its officers with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Alibaba claims to be the largest e-retailer in the world and operates, among other online marketplaces, Tmall, an online and mobile commerce platform. Alibaba also owns a 33% equity interest in Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. ("Ant Group"), a financial technology company best known for operating Alipay, a mobile and online payment platform. On July 20, 2020, Ant Group announced it was preparing for its initial public offering ("IPO"), which aimed to raise $34 billion. Alibaba represented that the IPO would be a significant boon to the Company, as the market was purportedly "assigning very little value to [its] stake in Ant Group." However, the complaint alleges that, unbeknownst to investors, Alibaba and its founder Jack Ma had structured Ant Group to evade critical Chinese banking regulations, including the requirement that Ant Group fund at least 30% of loans issued rather than the mere 2% it was currently funding. In addition, as Alibaba built its e-commerce empire, it used its dominant market position to coerce Tmall merchants into signing exclusive cooperation pacts preventing them from offering products on rival platforms in violation of Chinese antitrust laws. The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, defendants violated the federal securities laws by disseminating false and misleading statements to the investing public and/or failing to disclose adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations and prospects. Specifically, defendants knew, or recklessly disregarded, but failed to disclose the following adverse facts: (a) that Alibaba had illicitly sought to circumvent Chinese laws and regulations, including laws regulating financial institutions and prohibiting anticompetitive behavior; (b) that Ant Group was predominantly a financial company subject to onerous Chinese banking regulations, including greater capital requirements than were disclosed to investors, rather than predominantly a technology company as represented; (c) that, as a result of the foregoing, Ant Group's growth, prospects and the value proposition of the Ant Group IPO were far smaller than represented; (d) and that Alibaba had forced merchants using its Tmall platform to sign coercive exclusivity agreements and had engaged in other anticompetitive behavior. On November 2, 2020, the Financial Times (News - Alert) reported that Chinese regulators had met with Ant Group's controller, executive chairman, and Chief Executive Officer. The article stated that, though regulators did not provide details, "the Chinese word used to describe the interview - yuetan - generally indicates a dressing down by authorities." The article also included a statement from Ant Group that it will "'implement the meeting opinions in depth.'" On November 3, 2020, Ant Group suspended its IPO because it "may not meet listing qualifications or disclosure requirements due to material matters." On this news, the price of Alibaba ADSs fell more than 8%. And on November 10, 2020, China's anti-monopoly regulator, the State Administration for Market Regulation, published draft rules aimed at curtailing Alibaba's coercive cooperation pacts, causing the price of Alibaba ADSs to suffer another 8% decline. Then, on December 23, 2020, Chinese authorities revealed an antitrust investigation into Alibaba itself, acting on reports that Alibaba had improperly pressured merchants to exclusively sell goods on Tmall. Regulators stressed the need to "'guide Ant Group to implement financial supervision, fair competition and protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers.'" On this news, the price of Alibaba ADSs fell 13% - the biggest one-day decline ever. The plaintiff is represented by Robbins Geller, which has extensive experience in prosecuting investor class actions including actions involving financial fraud. Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities litigation. With 200 lawyers in 9 offices, Robbins Geller has obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history. For seven consecutive years, ISS Securities Class Action Services has ranked the Firm in its annual SCAS Top 50 Report as one of the top law firms in the world in both amount recovered for shareholders and total number of class action settlements. Robbins Geller attorneys have helped shape the securities laws and have recovered tens of billions of dollars on behalf of aggrieved victims. Beyond securing financial recoveries for defrauded investors, Robbins Geller also specializes in implementing corporate governance reforms, helping to improve the financial markets for investors worldwide. Robbins Geller attorneys are consistently recognized by courts, professional organizations and the media as leading lawyers in the industry. Please visit http://www.rgrdlaw.com for more information. https://www.linkedin.com/company/rgrdlaw https://twitter.com/rgrdlaw https://www.facebook.com/rgrdlaw View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210107005923/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] CHICOPEE After eight days of running its own COVID-19 testing site and administering an estimated 2,400 tests, city officials are calling it a success. Hearing about long lines at drive-through testing sites at Holyoke Community College and the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, Mayor John L. Vieau said he and his staff started talking about how they could make it easier for Chicopee residents to be tested. Vieau said he was concerned during the surge of COVID-19 infections that residents wouldnt be tested as they should because of the inconvenience. It is difficult to control the spread of the virus if people dont know if they are infected and need to quarantine, he said. If there is a need, a reason or a cause we come through every time in Chicopee, Vieau said. The site is open from 8 a.m. to noon on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in the parking lot of Comprehensive High School. It is limited to people who are not feeling well or believe they were exposed to someone with COVID-19. People do not need an appointment to go but are encouraged to go to the citys website and print and fill out a form if they can to save time when they arrive. In addition to the testing site, Chicopee police, firefighters and ambulance personnel are scheduled to receive the first vaccinations on Jan. 11, he said. Infections continue to climb in the city, as well as surging across the country. Chicopee has been in the high-risk red category because of the number of infected residents. As of Tuesday, there were 947 people with active cases of COVID-19. Vieau said 23 Chicopee residents have died of COVID-19 since the pandemic began. An average of about 300 people have been tested daily, with traffic being as high as 360 or as low as about 280. On Monday, for example, 313 people were tested and 74 were confirmed to be infected, he said. People who are tested are symptomatic or think they were exposed to someone who has the virus, Vieau said. I was surprised to learn about the number of people who were positive who are asymptomatic. The site is open to Chicopee residents only, but exceptions are being made for all police, firefighters and ambulance personnel. The testing site is operated with assistance from the Hampden County Sheriffs Department. Employees from the department are also welcome to be tested in Chicopee, he said. Vieau said he was tested in part just to serve as an example. He tested negative. Vieu said it took him about 15 minutes from start to finish. Lines are longer when the test site first opens and shorter later in the morning, he said. He wasnt the only one who has used the service. City Councilor Joel McAuliffe said he was tested after learning that he may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. He said the process was efficient and he learned within 24 hours that he tested negative. What Ive been hearing is it is very effective and it is a good tool for the city to have to monitor this virus, School Committee Vice Chairwoman Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello said after Vieau briefed the committee on the testing site. While most testing sites are run by the state, this one is run by the city. Chicopee officials saw some communities, including West Springfield, had done one-day testing centers, and started researching if they could create a regular testing site, said Michael Pise, chief of staff to Vieau. They researched it, purchased about 20,000 tests and contracted with a company that is on the states approved vendor list. The company is providing computer technology to track the tests and access to a laboratory that processes the daily tests, he said. The testing is being funded with about $1 million of federal CARES Act money granted to the city, Pise said. The site is staffed by at least four medical personnel trained in testing people, four people who are runners and four people who enter data. Nearly all the people working at the site are city employees, including the school nurses, the health department nurse and emergency medical services personnel. Most are already working and have permission from supervisors to spend a few hours at the site, but some have also volunteered their time while they are not working, Vieau said. The Sheriffs Department has agreed to send us personnel as a backup when we need it, Vieau said. The city has taken advantage of the offer at least once already. EMTs from one of the local ambulance companies also assisted in training city employees. When people arrive they register and are given a form to fill out if they do not already have one. To prevent any contact, a staff member takes a photo of the form and runs it into people who enter information on the computer. The person is then given a test and a label. They swab their nose themselves and place the swab into a sealed container and attach the label, he said. Once the site is closed for the day, an employee delivers boxes of tests to a laboratory in Concord to be processed. The city decided to have someone drive the tests to the laboratory to expedite the process, Vieau said. People receive their results in 24 to 48 hours through an email. If they test positive, Health Department officials follow up to do contact tracing and give them information about health care and quarantining, Vieau said. Related Content: As part of their monthly guest speakers via Zoom "Physically Apart - Emotionally Together", Chabads of Greater Orlando and North Orlando invite you to hear the fascinating story of Rabbi Motti Flikshtein on Jan. 13, 7:30 p.m. Motti will take you back in time to the days of his youth as a drug dealing rapper, and retell his journey of becoming a rabbi. You will hear the incredible story of a man who completely turned his life around. Coming from the darkest of places, he not only brought light to himself, but to thousands of others as well. Rabbi Motti is now a Chabad rabbi in Delaware helping people connect back to their souls and helping them become better people. "As I look back to the days of being a rapper and think back to the journey I've made, I feel my life now is full of purpose and meaning" said Rabbi Motti. "To hear of someone who made such a drastic life change is not an everyday thing. I am especially excited to hear the story from Rabbi Flikstein first hand," said Rabbi Tzviky Dubov. The last Zoom lecture held by Chabads of Greater and North Orlando was with Genie Migrom, a woman who traced her roots back 22 generations to find out she was Jewish. It was mind blowing to hear all that she went through to discover her lost heritage. Chabad is always looking for innovative ways to bring education and inspiration to every jew regardless of background. They have an incredible lineup of speakers for the coming months, and encourage the entire community to join and gain inspiration. The entire community is invited to join for this fascinating lecture. Tickets can be purchased for $10 Zoom ID and password will be provided upon registration. Reservations and more information can be found on ChabadOrlando.org/Zoom, 407-644-2500 x0, or http://www.JewishNorthOrlando.com/Zoom, 407-636-5994. Or maybe not, given how the mighty U.S. Air Force is now pushing for these things to become real and, more importantly, work as advertised.Sometime last year, USAF let it slip that in 2021 it will begin funding eVTOL projects, and to make sure everyone gets the message, even conducted a demonstration of such hardware at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. And now that were fresh into the new year, here comes another development.As part of its Agility Prime program, USAF is giving a first contract to Metawave Corporation for the development of a high-precision, all-weather sensing solution for eVTOLs The platform to be used as a base for the new technology is called Spektra, an analog antenna system used in the auto industry to provide radar capabilities for up to 330 meters (1,082 feet) and aid with adaptive cruise control, lane change assist, and automated emergency braking.Metawave will work with the Arizona State University Center for Wireless Information Systems and Computational Architectures to modify Spektra to support longer ranges and navigation in three-dimensional space."Both the automotive and eVTOL markets require the highest level of precision delivered by Spektra," Achour said. "For both applications, the ability to reliably distinguish between several objects close together in all weather and light conditions is an important capability for all phases of transport, including flight. The most significant difference is the operational range of the radar."USAF plans to have ready technologies that could be used in human-rated eVTOLs by 2023. China and other hostile powers see the incident as a sign of the decline of US democracy. Hong Kong's pro-democracy activists are not the equivalent of Trump supporters. Dictatorships come out strengthened. About 70 per cent of Americans slams the Capitol attack. Hong Kong (AsiaNews) The group of supporters of President Donald Trump who attacked the US Congress building on Wednesday have damaged the international image of the United States. In several Asian countries, many believe that the United States can no longer affect the choices of other countries since it is unable to solve its own internal problems. The US inability to contain the coronavirus pandemic has reinforced this view. China took the opportunity to criticise US politics and society. According to state television CCTV, the action of Trump supporters destroyed the last shreds of American-style democracy. After the attacks by the state-owned Global Times, Chinas Foreign Ministry reiterated the accusation that US media and institutions apply double standard when faced with popular protests. Chinese authorities point out that while pro-Trump protesters are considered terrorist attackers, Hong Kong pro-democracy protesters are seen as freedom fighters. Anti-establishment activists in the former British colony replied that the two protests are not comparable. The protesters who stormed Hong Kongs Legislative Council two years ago demanded more democracy, not the upending of a properly conducted election, certified by the competent authorities and accepted by most people. Nevertheless, Beijings line is echoed among US rivals. The chairman of the Russian upper house foreign affairs committee, Konstantin Kosachev, said the storming marked the derailment of US democracy, citing the "impersonal political platforms of Democrats and Republicans" as reasons behind the unrest. In a televised speech, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said that US democracy is fragile and vulnerable to populism. Raoof Hasan, special assistant to Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, told the Voice of America that the assault on Capitol Hill shows that the US does not have the moral legitimacy to judge the level of democracy in other countries. For their part, Washingtons Asian partners are baffled by the Washington events. In a post on Facebook, a lawmaker with South Koreas ruling Democratic Party noted that the main effect of what happened is to strengthen dictatorships, which now have one more reasons the alleged decay of democratic systems to justify their power. Thailand, a US ally, is an example. For months, the country has been shaken by protests calling for the removal of the current authoritarian regime. Now, some pro-establishment politicians mockingly wonder if the US is the model of democracy they are trying to force upon people around the world to follow. Conversely in Israel, Gideon Saar, leader of the right-wing New Hope party that will challenge the ruling Likud party in the upcoming March election, stressed the dangers of polarisation and extremism in society. Still, the US seems to have the resources to react. According to an Ipsos poll, 70 per cent of Americans condemn the attack on Congress whilst 74 per cent want the attackers arrested. The second phase of nationwide coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination dry run, the largest such drill undertaken so far, will be conducted across 33 states and Union Territories (UTs) on Friday. A dry run was carried out in eight districts on December 28-29 and the first countrywide drill covering 74 districts was held on January 2. Also Read: Ahead of 2nd dry run, Centre says vaccine delivery shortly; alerts 4 states as Covid-19 cases spike The lessons learnt from the earlier exercise will be made use to execute another dry run. Whatever was lacking earlier has been rectified, and will be tested in Fridays dry run, Union health minister Harsh Vardhan told states and UTs in a meeting on Thursday. Here is all you need to know about the coronavirus vaccine dry run: - The process began days after Indias drug regulator gave its clearance for two Covid-19 vaccines - Oxford-AstraZenecas Covishield and Bharat Biotechs Covaxin. - The dry run on Friday will be conducted across 737 districts of the country. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage - All participating districts will identify three types of sessions for the mock drive: district hospital, medical college/private health facility, urban/rural outreach. Following this, beneficiary registration, micro-planning and vaccination will take place. Then, site organisers will have to hold review meetings after the session to gather feedback, Vardhan has said. - Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh will not be participating in this dry run as they have already conducted it in all their districts. - Vardhan has asked state health ministers to submit their inputs after the dry run gets completed. - According to a statement issued by the Union health ministry, states and UTs are likely to receive the first supply of Covid-19 vaccines shortly. The mock drills being conducted are aimed at familiarising district and block-level officials with the process of Covid-19 roll-out and vaccination. - The Co-WIN digital platform, governments Covid-19 vaccination online portal, will also be tested through these exercises. Samsungs lineup of Galaxy laptop has been steadily growing in the last couple of years and the latest to join the family is the Galaxy Chromebook 2. This 2-in-1 laptop features a QLED FHD touchscreen display, which is a first among Chromebooks, and can be configured with up to a 10th Intel Core i3 CPU, up to 8GB of RAM and more. The laptop has a 13.3-inch QLED display that offers a bright and vivid viewing experience for movie watchers, creators, students and more. It also supports any Universal Stylus Initiative (USI), making it ideal for quickly taking down notes or making a digital art. The laptop can be configured with up to a 10th Gen Intel Core i3-10110U, 4 or 8GB of RAM, its keyboard is backlit, and it supports both Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0. Since it is a Chromebook, it runs Chrome OS, with integrations to the various Google services such as Drive, Meet, etc. The Galaxy Chromebook 2 comes in Fiesta Red and Mercury Gray and will be available for a price of $549 (Approx. Rs. 40,334). Commenting on the launch, Shoneel Kolhatkar, General Manager, Head of New Computing, Samsung Electronics America said: No More Than 10 Miles to Nearest UK Vaccination Centre, Says Johnson The UK government wants no one to be more than 10 miles away from their nearest vaccination centre, under plans currently being set up with the guidance of army logistics. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the government would be providing hundreds of thousands of vaccines a day by the end of next week. Within five weeks, he said, there was no doubt the government could vaccinate the first four priority groups, which make up some 15 million people. It is our plan that everyone should have a vaccination available within a radius of 10 miles, Johnson said during a press conference on Thursday. It follows from that, that the limits will not be on our distributional power but on the supply of vaccinesand I have no doubt that we have enough supply to vaccinate these four groups by the February 15 deadline, and we also have the distributional network to do it. Sir Simon Stevens, chief executive officer of NHS England, said that vaccines are being given by three routes: through GP practices, which is the main method; through hospitals; and through large vaccination centres. Those larger centres have the advantages of longer opening times, seven days a week, and are more efficient. However, he said that providing a mixture of routes allowed more flexibility. Johnson noted that the UK has vaccinated more people than the rest of Europe combined. The UK has approved vaccines quickly and was the first country in the West to approve any vaccine for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, with three now approved. Just as the vaccine rollout began to start, however, the UK struggled to contain a surge in the virus, which scientists and the government say is due to a more transmissible variant. The prime minister said that over 1.5 million people have now received their first dose of a vaccine. Within two to three weeks, all of them will have a very considerable degree of immunity, he said. The logistics arm of the militarynormally responsible for maintaining supply chains in fast-changing war zoneshas been enlisted to help manage the rollout alongside the NHS. Brigadier Phil Prosser, commander of military support to the vaccine delivery programme, said that the rollout so far had been equivalent to setting up a supermarket chain within a month. I found this logistic operation to be unparalleled in its scale and complexity. And I say this having served on operations around the world, Prosser said. We aim to deliver vaccine as soon after it is supplied as possible, not leaving vast quantities in the warehouse. It needs to be in arms, not on shelves. Prosser said that the plan included 21 quick reaction force teams of six military health experts that can deploy anywhere in England at short notice. China's demand for one particular export has doubled in just one year despite a series of trade threats. The Communist power's sanctions against Australia for perceived slights has failed to dent the finances of The a2 Milk Company, which is listed on the Australian share market. Sales of its baby formula effectively doubled to $NZ337.7 million ($A316million) during the last financial year, and a2 has a $A250million aggressive expansion plan to increase its customer base in China. The Trans-Tasman dairy firm based at Auckland in New Zealand has been exporting its a2 Platinum infant food to China since 2013. During the last financial year, sales to China of The a2 Milk Company's baby formula have effectively doubled to $NZ337.7 million ($A316million) Almost a quarter or 24 per cent of its infant formula is sent to China and that is before Chinese daigou networks in Australia hoard the product and ship it over for customers in mainland China. University of New South Wales trade expert Professor Tim Harcourt, a former chief economist with federal government agency Austrade, said Chinese consumers valued Australian and New Zealand food standards over their own country's. 'They're very worried about their own health and safety standards in China and the baby formula is just guaranteed quality,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Professor Harcourt said Chinese tariffs on Australian dairy products would fail to dent demand. 'China needs Australia, it needs our goods, it needs our energy, it needs our food products and that's not going to change despite the rhetoric of the Chinese Communist Party,' he said. The a2 Milk Company's baby nutrition products are now sold at 19,100 Chinese stores and it is expecting demand there to keep soaring. 'In China, we remain focused on strengthening our infant nutrition position in-market which we believe still has significant runway for growth,' its annual report said. The a2 company is so focused on Chinese expansion that on Christmas Eve, chief executive Geoff Babidge announced it would buy a 75 per cent stake in Mataura Valley Milk, a dairy company based at Southland at the very bottom of New Zealand's South Island. Mataura, a struggling baby formula company, is majority owned by the state-owned China Animal Husbandry Group. Almost a quarter or 24 per cent of its infant formula is sent to China and that is before Chinese daigou networks in Australia hoard the product and ship it over for customers in mainland China 'The proposed acquisition will provide the opportunity for a2MC to participate in nutritional products manufacturing, provides supplier and geographic diversification, and strengthens our relationship with key partners in China,' a2 told the Australian and New Zealand share markets. Should the New Zealand Overseas Investment Office approve the $NZ268.5million ($A251million) takeover bid, the transaction would be completed on May 31. In August 2018, a2 entered into an arrangement for state-owned agriculture business China State Farm to distribute its baby formula products there. A signing ceremony was held at Parliament House in Canberra with then trade minister Steven Ciobo and Zhao Qing Yong, the general manager of the Shanghai-based China State Farm Holding. Despite conflicting reports on how many people were involved with some saying thousands and others tens of thousands Iraqi protesters took to the streets around Iraqs Tahrir Square in the capital Baghdad to mark the anniversary of the killing of a major Iranian commander this week. During Sundays protests, Iraqis chanted anti-American slogans including America is the Great Satan. Qassem Al-Suleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Al-Quds Force who managed Iranian-backed militias in the Middle East, was killed in a missile attack by US drones near Baghdad Airport at the beginning of last year. He had been travelling to Iraq from the Syrian capital Damascus, with Iran backing militias in both states. The recent protests in Iraq are one of many signs reflecting how strained US-Iranian relations have become. Trita Parsi, vice president at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, a NGO in Washington, said that Iraq has unfortunately become one of the arenas where the backlash against the Trump administrations unsuccessful Iran policy is manifesting itself most clearly. Parsi, an expert on Iran, told Al-Ahram Weekly that this showed how US-Iran tensions, driven by Trumps maximum pressure policy against Iran, had negatively affected stability in the region. The outgoing Trump administration had chosen this moment to escalate tensions against Iran ahead of President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration as US president on 20 January. Parsi expected that any attack on Iran by the US could lead to the complete death of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the nuclear deal with Iran, and eliminate Bidens chances for successful talks with the country. There is little to suggest that this is an even game of escalation: the US pulled out of the [nuclear] deal, assassinated Al-Suleimani and declared economic warfare on Iran, while Tehran has largely remained inside the deal. All US President Donald Trumps efforts to get the Iranians to take drastic measures and even leave the JCPOA have failed thus far, which may be why he may try to make one final attempt in his last days in office, Parsi added. The Iranians are also adopting escalatory measures, however. In December, Trump accused Iran of firing rockets at Washingtons Embassy in Baghdad, causing limited harm to the embassy and residential sites in the area. 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, Trump tweeted. Iran has denied the accusations, warning the US against any unwise moves in the meantime. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who played a key role in the nuclear negotiations in 2015, claimed that Trump was looking for a pretext for war. Both American and Iraqi officials remained concerned about a potential attack by Tehran ahead of the anniversary of Al-Suleimanis death, especially after a statement by Irans Revolutionary Guard chief on its eve. On 2 January, Hussein Salami stressed that we will respond with a reciprocal, decisive and strong blow to whatever action the enemy takes against us. Jason Brodsky, policy director for United Against Nuclear Iran, a US pressure group, believes that Iran has the ability to easily target US interests in Baghdad by virtue of its network of militias, and thats one of the reasons why Iraq is seen as fertile ground for attacks. Brodsky said that Iraqs recent history of being a theatre of US-Iranian competition, internal leadership and political dynamics has contributed to these tensions, referring to the firm grip that Al-Suleimani had over Irans axis of resistance in Iraq. There is evidence of fissures developing among some militias. There are also reports that these groups have received less funding as a result of the economic strain Tehran is under from US sanctions, Brodsky said. Reversing an earlier move, acting US Defence Secretary Christopher Miller ordered USS Nimitz, an aircraft carrier, to stay in the Gulf on Monday due to threats coming from Iran. He did not give details on what those threats might involve. Perhaps the only move recently taken by the Iranians has been their decision to enrich uranium to 20 per cent purity, widely considered as the largest violation of the nuclear deal, which Trump withdrew from in May 2018. Throughout Trumps four-year term in office, both the US and Iran have exchanged warnings and hinted at the likelihood of conflict. The US accused Iran last year of attacking oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and shooting down a US drone in the Gulf. Kanishkan Sathasivam, a professor of international relations at Salem State University in the US, said it was obvious that the Iranian side wished to wait until Biden was president before taking action against either the US or Israel as retaliation for US and Israeli assassinations of Iranian figures. They believe any actions they take while Biden is president, so long as they are within certain limits, will be accepted by Biden as being justified and that Biden will not take any further actions himself. Knowing this, both Trump and Netanyahu see this as the perfect time to increase pressure on Iran because the Iranians are caught in a dilemma, Sathasivam said. *A version of this article appears in print in the 7 January, 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: While President Donald Trumps supporters were storming the U.S. Capitol, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruzs campaign launched a fundraising text to supporters trumpeting the senators fight to delay the congressional votes that would finalize Trumps loss. In a Twitter exchange on Thursday night with Democratic U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the Houston Republican said the text was an automated fundraising message that many campaigns typically send out. When the attack happened, w/in minutes I told my team to halt fundraising, Cruz wrote at Ocasio-Cortez on Twitter after she sent a copy of the fundraising text message to her 11.3 million followers on the social media platform. Earlier in the day, Ocasio-Cortez slammed Cruz for his attempt to slow down the certification of Bidens victory just moments before Trump supporters broke through Capitol Hill security and forced the House and Senate to abandon their chambers. Sen. Cruz, you must accept responsibility for how your craven, self-serving actions contributed to the deaths of four people yesterday, the New York Congresswoman wrote. And how you fundraised off it. When Cruz responded by calling her a liar, she posted the text message from Cruz asking supporters for donations. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Ted Cruz here. Im leading the fight to reject electors from key states unless there is an emergency audit of the election results, the message read. Will you stand with me? The text was followed by a link to his fundraising page. Ocasio-Cortez told Cruz in the lengthy Twitter exchange, Oh, youre accusing me of lying? Isnt this you? Your campaign sent out this fundraising message as people were sieging the Capitol. Cruz responded that her lie was saying his call for an election commission to review the election results was somehow responsible for the violence. Hours earlier Cruz put out a statement calling the attack on the Capitol a despicable act of terrorism and a shocking assault on our democratic system. In the same statement, he stood by his decision to push for an electoral commission to examine the results. Millions of Americans who have peacefully expressed their deep concerns regarding election integrity deserve to have their voices heard, he said. It was the right thing to do. That message prompted Ocasio-Cortez call on both him and Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri to resign from the Senate. In his retort back to Ocasio-Cortez, Cruz made it clear there was no chance of that. And sorry, I aint going anywhere. The eight round of talks between the protesting farmers and the government on Friday failed to break the stalemate, and the next meeting will be held on January 15. Ahead of the talks, the government had expressed hope of positive results from the meeting while the farmers threatened to intensify the stir if their demand to repeal three contentious farm laws is not fulfilled. Farmer leader Gurbaksa Singh Barnala said that the farmers will intensify the stir and enter Delhi on Republic Day if their demands are not met. "There is no way forward but to repeal the three laws," he said. Agriculture Minister Narendra Sigh Tomar, Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industries Som Parkash represented the government at the talks at the Vigyan Bhavan, while Agriculture Secretary Sanjay Agarwal and other Ministry officials were also present. The Supreme Court on Friday urged the Centre to decide on an eight-year old mercy plea of a death row convict in two weeks. The convict, Balwant Singh Rajoana, has been in jail for over 25 years after being convicted for triggering a bomb blast that killed former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh in August 1995. Rajoana had approached the Supreme Court last year, complaining about the delay on part of the Central government to process his mercy petition, filed on March 25, 2012 with the President of India. The Supreme Court on December 4 enquired about the delay with the Centre and came to know that the proposal for his commutation was yet to be processed. The ministry of home affairs reasoned that since other co-accused involved in the crime with Rajoana had filed appeals, which were pending before the apex court, a decision on Rajoanas mercy petition was put on hold. Rajoana had not filed any appeal challenging his death sentence before the apex court. On Friday, additional solicitor general (ASG) KM Nataraj told a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde that the file has been processed by the home ministry. We have processed the file from our end. It has been sent to the competent authority to take a decision. The bench, also comprising justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, asked the law officer, Give him (Rajoana) some relief before January 26. It is a good day to act. If possible, pass an order before January 25. Hopeful of a positive outcome, the bench posted the matter for hearing on January 25. Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi appearing for Rajoana said, The delay of eight years in processing the mercy petition is fatal. This is enough for commutation of death sentence to life as decided by the Supreme Court in Shatrughan Chauhan case in 2014. In this judgment given by a Constitution bench, undue, inordinate delay in deciding mercy petitions was held to be a ground to commute punishment of death row convicts. Also Read: Pak anti-terror court jails Mumbai attack mastermind Lakhvi Rajoana was sentenced to death on July 27, 2007, when the trial court found him and his associate Jagtar Singh Hawara guilty of killing the former chief minister by triggering a bomb blast at Punjab and Haryana Civil Secretariat on August 31, 1995. Later, on October 12, 2010, the Punjab and Haryana high court confirmed the death penalty on Rajoana, while sparing Hawara from the guillotine. In his petition filed through advocate Rupesh Kumar, Rajoana informed the court that on September 27, 2019, the centre wrote a letter to Punjab chief secretary where it said that the mercy plea of Rajoana is to be processed under Article 72 of the Constitution coinciding with the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. When the same was not done, Rajoana knocked the doors of the apex court to remind the Centre of its resolve. New Delhi, Jan 8 : Two days after the infamous US Capitol siege, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said on Friday that smooth transition of power is a salient feature of Indian democracy. Noting that 17 general elections and over 300 Assembly polls have been conducted in India since its Independence, Birla said the basic concept of the Indian Constitution is to keep people at the centre of governance, which deepened the faith of the citizens in democracy. Birla's remarks came after hundreds of supporters of US President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol building, deemed as the citadel of American democracy, on Wednesday afternoon, forcing the proceedings to count electoral college votes cast in the November 3, 2020 presidential election, to halt. Lawmakers had to be evacuated from the House and the Senate, as the Capitol was vandalised. The Capitol building houses the US Congress and is the seat of the legislative branch of the American government. At least four people have been killed in the incident, 52 have been arrested while 14 police officers sustained injuries in the violence. Birla also said the country cannot be empowered without strengthening the Panchayati Raj institutions and making them more accountable to the people. Speaking at an outreach programme here to introduce and familiarise panchayat representatives with the functioning of the Parliament and democratic principles, Birla said gram panchayats are the main force behind the strength of Indian democracy. "Smooth transition of power after these 17 General elections and over 300 Assembly polls is a speciality of our democracy. We have made efforts to strengthen democracy from panchayat to Parliament," the Lok Sabha Speaker said. "Panchayati Raj institutions like gram sabha have been our democratic traditions. Our concept of democracy is strong," he added. The programme was also attended by Uttarakhand Vidhan Sabha Speaker Prem Chand Agarwal, Panchayati Raj MoS Arvind Pandey, and Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh, among others. The programme was organised by the Parliamentary Research and Training Institute for Democracies (PRIDE) in coordination with the Uttarakhand government. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip Media chatter about the restoration of relations between the Syrian regime and the Palestinian Hamas movement has grown louder following the statements of Lebanese Hezbollah Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah about a positive atmosphere surrounding efforts to restore relations between Hamas and the Syrian regime. In a long interview with Lebanese al-Mayadeen TV on Dec. 27, Nasrallah said, This relationship must be restored, but it will take some time. He added that his meetings near Beirut over the past few months with the head of Hamas political bureau, Ismail Haniyeh, tackled strategic issues including the restoration of ties with Damascus, the hostility against Iran and the Arab normalization deals with Israel. Relations between Hamas and the Syrian regime deteriorated following the outbreak of the Syrian revolution at the end of 2011. Hamas took an impartial stance in the conflict, as it felt that its presence in Syria would come at a political price. Consequently, Hamas left the Syrian territories in early 2012. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accused Hamas and some of its members on several occasions of supporting Syrian opposition groups and fighting alongside them. The regime arrested some Hamas members who remained in Syrian territories and confiscated their properties and the wider movements assets. Al-Monitor tried to reach several Hamas officials to ask about efforts to restore ties with the Syrian regime, but they declined to comment. Sources close to Hamas in Lebanon told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that the Hamas leadership has banned its officials and media spokespeople from talking to the press about the nature of the negotiations to avoid derailing them. The sources told Al-Monitor that there has been remarkable progress in talks led by Iran and Hezbollah to restore ties with Syria. They noted that Haniyeh quietly sat down with Nasrallah more than once in Beirut in the past few months to discuss issues affecting the relations between Hamas and the regional axis led by Iran that includes Syria and Hezbollah as well as restoring ties with the Syrian regime. The sources expect 2021 to see some Hamas leaders return to Damascus, as Hamas and the Syrian regime acknowledge the challenges awaiting them and recognize that they need to settle their differences. In a Dec. 30 statement, Hamas condemned the Israeli shelling of Damascus that killed a Syrian soldier. The mediation led by Iran and Hezbollah began back with the election of a new leadership for the movement in 2017, during which Haniyeh was elected as the new Hamas chief. Damascus blames the former Hamas leadership headed by Khaled Mashaal for the severed ties, as he refused to condemn the protests that emerged against the Syrian regime. Meshaal also raised the Syrian opposition flag during a Hamas ceremony in the Gaza Strip in 2012. A member of the Iranian Parliament told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Efforts to restore ties between Hamas and Syria are moving in the right direction and soon they will actually materialize. He indicated that the late commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, spearheaded those efforts before he was killed in January last year. Members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the Iranian regime, in cooperation with Hezbollah, are continuing the work. The official added, The progress in talks was accelerated by the elimination of armed groups on most Syrian territories and the restoration of the Syrian armys control over most of the country. The Syrian regime and the other parties of the axis also understood the danger threatening the region after the assassination of [Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen] Fakhrizadeh and before him Soleimani, in addition to cutting off the arms supply routes to the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. Despite Hamas stance on the Syrian revolution, its relationship with Iran and Hezbollah, the two most prominent allies of the Syrian regime, has not been interrupted, though it has deteriorated. These enduring ties facilitated efforts to restore contact between Hamas and the Syrian regime. Saleh al-Arouri, deputy head of Hamas political bureau, led these calls and headed up communications between Hamas and Damascus. Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at An-Najah National University in Nablus, told Al-Monitor that many reasons pushed the Syrian regime to value restoring ties with Hamas, especially since Assad had categorically rejected all mediation in recent years. These reasons include US military mobilization in the region and fears that the United States and Israel would strike Iran or its allies such as Hezbollah or the armed factions in Gaza and concerns about the Syrian regime taking the remaining territory under the control of the opposition in northern Syria. Qassem said, Based on the information that I have because of my good relationship with certain figures in Syria and Lebanon, Iran and Hezbollah have lobbied greatly this year for Assad to relent on the issue of reconciliation with Hamas. He said he expects Hamas leaders and activists to return to Damascus in the coming months. Ibrahim al-Madhoun, a political analyst close to Hamas, told Al-Monitor that the gap between Hamas and the Syrian regime has shrunk significantly with the mediation efforts. Madhoun pointed out that the recent Arab normalization deals with Israel have prompted Hamas to align itself with Syria, Iran and Hezbollah, saying he expects Hamas to further strengthen its relations with the axis in the coming months. Hamas has made several statements about the services the Syrian regime provided to the movement when it had a presence in Damascus, particularly the delivery of a shipment of Kornet missiles to the movement and other Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip to be used in the fight against Israel. Vietnamese in the U.S. have reacted with shock at the violence and mayhem caused by a pro-Trump mob storming the Capitol. Nguyen Thanh Huong, 32, returned to her apartment in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday in shock after learning about the violence in the Capitol, which forced Mayor Muriel Bowser to order a city-wide curfew from 6 p.m. until the next morning. "I cannot believe this is America, this is shocking and disgusting," said Huong, a graduate student at the George Washington University, the sounds of sirens blaring as she spoke on the phone. She said her friends in D.C. were deeply saddened to see chaos gripping the city. "A stain in the history of the nation," she said. Pro-Trump protesters storm into the U.S. Capitol during clashes with police in Washington, D.C, January 6, 2021. Photo by Reuters. The violence happened after the U.S. Congress met on January 6 to certify Joe Biden's victory in the November presidential elections. At the same time, President Donald Trump addressed thousands of demonstrators who had amassed outside the Capitol to cheer his claims of voter fraud and to protest the results. The protest developed into a riot as people pushed past police lines, bypassed security and entered the Capitol, interrupting lawmakers and their meeting. D.C. Metro police said one woman was shot and killed by police and three others died from medical emergencies. More than 52 people were arrested. The turmoil has left many Vietnamese in the U.S. aghast and in despair. Many of them said they could not believe protesters were so violent and extreme that they could break into the Capitol building. "I looked at those photos and I thought they were taken in a banana republic, not in America. It is crazy," said Le Phat, a Vietnamese residing in Virginia, near Washington, D.C. Phat, who works for a local bank, said that he does not oppose peaceful protests, "but a riot disrupting a Congress session is unconstitutional." Le Thanh Hang, a nurse in California, said she was stunned at the violence. The protestors have attacked the nation's democracy, she said, adding: "It is disgusting and embarrassing, the most un-American thing I have ever seen in my life." Hang and Phat said what shocked them the most was the failure of security forces at the U.S. Capitol to stop the mob from entering the Capitol building, especially considering that the protest had been in the news for weeks and hardline supporters of President Donald Trump had warned of violence. "One of the most secured buildings in this country was stormed, people streamed into it and even sat on the chair reserved for the Senate's presiding officer, the police were so weak," Hang said. Photos of rioters attacking one of the most recognizable symbols of American power have left many Vietnamese Americans embarrassed. "It is one of the gravest security lapses in recent history of this nation," Phat said. Natural or a false flag operation? Most members of the Vietnamese diaspora that VnExpress International spoke to blamed President Donald Trump for the mayhem. "Trump has always talked about law and order, but his words added fuel to the fire, generating an insurrection, violence and acts of treason," said Pham Quynh Nhi, a Vietnamese American living in Texas. Many people said that the claims of Trump and his supporters that the elections were rigged were baseless. "He must think twice before saying anything, because he is not a commoner or a child, and he is not above the law," Phat said. In a brief clip published on January 6, Trump told the Capitol rioters to "go home," but repeatedly claimed that the election was stolen. He also suggested that the riot was a natural consequence of his victory being "stripped away." But the media has not reported any evidence of widespread fraud and lawsuits seeking to flip the election results have failed in court. But many right-wingers claim the riots were a plot against Trump. "The Democrat Party created the riot to degrade Trump, where will this country go to without Trump?" one Facebooker asked. Many others agreed, saying lawmakers earn money from taxpayers, "so they deserve riots if they do not follow people's will." Some Vietnamese Trump loyalists said antifa activists had fueled the mob. "Antifa activists tried to interrupt the Congress meeting so Republicans cannot express their objection to the election results," a Facebooker fumed. Julia Ngo, a Trump supporter in California, blamed "left-wingers" who she said had not opposed violence in the Black Lives Matter movement, and antifa activists. "The riots had been arranged and backed," she said. After a day of shocking violence, the Vietnamese diaspora in the U.S. woke up on the morning of January 7 to the news that the Congress has sealed Biden's victory. Incumbent Vice President Mike Pence announced that President-elect Joe Biden had won the presidency after Congress completed counting the Electoral College votes, a largely perfunctory last step before the new presidents inauguration. Trump has since pledged to an orderly transfer of power. "The chaos of the last four years is going to end, I cannot wait until January 20," said Huong. On the other side of the country, Hang also hoped that President Biden and Vice President Harris would bring stability and order to "chaotic D.C." She said she would have flown to the capital to watch the inauguration if it were not for the Covid-19 pandemic. Bringing Scotties & EDS Waterproofing into the JOBS Group family extends our business beyond the South Central region & into the East Coast. We are adding an immensely talented team, giving us the ability to serve customers by providing exceptional safety, service, & quality. JOBS Group has completed the acquisition of two new companies, Scotties Building Services and Exterior Diagnostic Services (EDS). Established in 1986, both organizations are Headquartered in Raleigh, NC and operate in the North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia markets. Scotties, led by John (JD) McGrath, is a leading provider of building maintenance services, delivering high-rise & low-rise window cleaning, pressure washing, glass & metal restoration, parking deck cleaning, and high dusting. EDS, led by Michael MacDonagh, is a commercial waterproofing and restoration general contractor specializing in a wide range of services from sealants, coatings and sealers to masonry, thru-wall flashing and deck coating applications, servicing high rise facilities to 1 story warehouses. For the past 50 years, JOBS Group, formerly known under the names JOBS and AMST, has been a pioneer in safety and clear leader in the building surface maintenance and restoration space. By bringing Scotties and EDS into JOBS Group, this acquisition will continue to expand JOBS Group geographic footprint along with management and service capabilities by: Expanding its customer base and service area into the Southeast and well beyond the South Central. Growing each organizations existing service capabilities and customer access in current markets Enhancing the overall leadership team by adding great talent from both acquisitions Continuing to expand on the overall mission of safety, service, and quality. Opening additional market opportunities for Architectural Surface Maintenance and Custom Elevator Interiors John McGrath, Owner of Scotties Building Services and EDS, an established exterior waterproofing and restoration service provider, had this to say: "The merging of talent within our two organizations makes me very excited for the future of this combined entity. I am 100% convinced that client service, quality, and passion for safety, which has been the hallmark of our success as industry leaders, can only be enhanced at this new level." Eric Crabb, CEO of JOBS Group, expressed his excitement over this acquisition: "Bringing Scotties and EDS Waterproofing into the JOBS Group family extends our business well beyond the South Central region and into the East Coast. Through these acquisitions, we are adding an immensely talented management team, giving us the ability to continue our mission of serving customers by providing exceptional safety, service, and quality. Additionally, we are excited about the opportunity of expanding Scotties and EDS service lines to customers through architectural surface maintenance and custom elevator interiors. The acquisition represents a marked upward scale of the JOBS Group, and it further delivers on our focus of building a national platform in our space." LaRue Coleman, Chairman of JOBS Group, who brings 50 years of experience to the table, having this to say about the acquisition: After knowing John McGrath for over 30 years and seeing the outstanding leadership team he has created, the JOBS Group could not be more excited about the opportunity to add these two businesses to our organization. We feel that the combined leadership of both companies will allow us to provide both our customer bases more options for all services that will enhance all service lines we provide to each client. JOBS Group is actively seeking bolt-on acquisition opportunities within niche areas of the commercial facilities services and maintenance industry. Parties with knowledge of potential investment opportunities in these segments are strongly encouraged to contact one of the parties below. Contact Information Eric Crabb JOBS Group (713) 522-8925 ecrabb@jobs-amst.com LaRue Coleman JOBS Group (713) 522-8925 lcoleman@jobs-amst.com Jason Van Zant Keystone Capital (312) 219-7974 jvanzant@keystonecapital.com ABOUT Scotties Exterior Building Maintenance Scotties Building Services is a value-added commercial exterior building maintenance contractor providing exterior maintenance services throughout North Carolina, South Carolina & Virginia since 1986. We offer custom preventative maintenance plans to ensure successful projects from proposal to completion. Throughout each project, we have consistent executive involvement from leaders with over 100 years of combined experience in the exterior maintenance industry. We have a partnership approach to business working together to achieve common objectives and success. For more information on Scotties, please visit https://www.scotties1.com/ ABOUT EDS Waterproofing Exterior Diagnostic Services, (dba EDS) is a commercial waterproofing and restoration general contractor that services the Carolinas and Virginia. They specialize in a wide range of services from sealants, coatings and sealers to masonry, thru-wall flashing and deck coating applications, servicing high rise facilities to 1 story warehouses. They offer a team approach on every project, regardless of size or priority, and keep communication throughout the project a top priority. With EDS serving and representing the executive board of directors for their national trade organization, they are dedicated to delivering the highest quality and best safety practices of the industry to provide the Industry Best'' service, with the best value. For more information on EDS, please visit https://www.edswaterproofing.com/ ABOUT JOBS Group Founded in 1970, JOBS Group operates under the JOBS and AMST trade names and specializes in high-rise facade maintenance (including window cleaning and waterproofing), architectural surface maintenance, elevator cab interior refurbishment, and other related property maintenance services. JOBS has built a market-leading position in the Houston market for its services based on a reputation for safety, reliability, and work quality. The Company counts the areas leading property management firms, building owners, and corporations as its clientele. For more information on JOBS Group, please visit https://www.jobs-amst.com or request a consultation here. ABOUT Keystone Capital Keystone Capital is a leading middle-market private investment firm differentiated by its long-term, patient approach to thoughtfully building market-leading companies. Throughout its 25-year history, Keystone has a wealth of experience in the services sector. For more information, please visit http://www.keystonecapital.com. The festival, scheduled for 11 to 22 May, could be postponed to sometime between the end of June and July, an official confirmed The Cannes Film Festival, the world's biggest, may be pushed back to the summer this year from its usual May date because of the COVID-19 crisis, organisers said on Wednesday. The festival, scheduled for 11 to 22 May "will certainly take place in 2021", a spokesman told Agence France-Presse, but could be postponed to a time between the end of June and the end of July. The festival was cancelled last year, while rival European events in Berlin and Venice went ahead under strict health restrictions. Organisers still need some time "to evaluate the situation at the start of the year" before making a decision, the Cannes spokesman said. The Berlin Film Festival, which usually kicks off in February, said last month it would run this year's edition in two stages, an online offering for industry professionals in March and a public event in June. In 2019, Cannes' coveted Palme d'Or was awarded to South Korean film Parasite (2019) by director Bong Joon-ho, which went on to win the first Best Picture Oscar for a non-English film at the Hollywood Academy Awards. The Cannes festival attracts some 45,000 people with official accreditations every year, of whom about 4,500 are journalists. Its Film Market, held alongside the main competition, is the industry's biggest marketplace for producers, distributors, buyers, and programmers. As per reports, organisers of the Sundance Film Festival have also declared that the drive-in screenings will be cancelled and that only online screenings will be permitted owing to the rise in coronavirus cases in Los Angeles. While the festival is scheduled to take place between 28 January and 3 February in Park City Utah, the drive-ins were set to happen all across California. (With inputs from Agence France-Presse) Advertisement The United States has hit another grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic as daily deaths surpassed 4,000 for the first time. A record-high 4,085 Americans died due to to COVID-19 on Thursday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, as new infections around the nation continue on a post-holiday spike. This figure marks the third day in a row that the U.S. has reported a record-high number of deaths. It breaks the previous records of 3,865 set on Wednesday and 3,775 set on Tuesday. The first week of 2021 has had the highest number of new cases of COVID-19 than any other week during the pandemic, even as the slowdown of data from the Christmas and New Year period is still likely affecting accurate reporting. On Thursday alone, a total of 274,703 infections were reported, which is the highest number of cases ever recorded in a single day. While a rise in hospitalizations across the South is causing concern and Arizona was on Wednesday declared by health experts as the new global hot spot of the pandemic, California remains the country's worst hit state. The state reported a record two-day total of more than 1,000 deaths and Los Angeles County alone is now reporting a death due to COVID-19 every eight minutes on average, and a new infection every six seconds, according to county officials. Skyrocketing caseloads there are threatening to force hospitals to ration care and essentially decide who lives and who dies while morgues have been forced to store bodies in refrigerated trucks. 'Folks are gasping for breath. Folks look like they're drowning when they are in bed right in front of us,' Dr.Jeffrey Chien, an emergency room physician at Santa Clara Valley Regional Medical Center, told the Associated Press. He urged people to do their part to help slow the spread adding: 'I'm begging everyone to help us out because we aren't the front line. We're the last line.' Florida is also seeing record-breaking numbers of cases as public officials grow concerned over the spread of the mutant, more contagious versions of the virus. The Sunshine State now accounts for almost half of all the cases of the mutant strain confirmed across the country. Nationwide, there have been more than 21.5 million Americans infected with COVID-19 and 365,346 deaths. The U.S. hit a grim milestone in the coronavirus pandemic and surpassed 4,000 deaths in a single day for the first time since the crisis began. Pictured: Two nurses put a ventilator on a patient in a COVID-19 unit at St Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, January 7 While a rise in hospitalizations across the south is causing concern and Arizona was on Wednesday declared by health experts as the new global hot spot of the pandemic, California remains the country's worst hit state. Pictured: Registered nurse Merri Lynn Anderson (right,) tends to her patient in a COVID-19 unit at St Joseph Hospital in Orange, California, January 7 The U.S. on Thursday broke five new pandemic records, including the seven-day average in daily cases, hospitalizations deaths On Thursday, the U.S. broke five new pandemic records, including the record for daily infections and deaths. The nation also beat its previous highs for hospitalizations and the seven-day average in daily cases, hospitalizations deaths. The seven-day average for deaths is now at 2,782 American fatalities daily. In addition, the seven-day average for new daily cases rose to 229,650 as California, Florida, and Texas alone reported 80,000 cases, according to The COVID Tracking Project. Hospitalizations nationwide remain above 132,000 - more than the country's spring and summer surges combined - as 13 states in the South set new records for COVID-19 hospitalizations in the past seven days. Florida, in particular, has been warned of a further surge as almost half of the country's cases of the mutant, more contagious strain of COVID-19 has been confirmed there. The first identified case occurred one week ago in a male in his 20s with no history of travel. There are now 22 cases of the mutant strain in the state. 'I think the top concern is that the new variant B.1.1.7 will fuel even larger surges in cases across the [U.S.],' Mary Petrone, a researcher at the Yale School of Public Health, told the Miami Herald. Florida has already seen record-breaking new case numbers for weeks with 19,816 new cases on Thursday and a single-day record reported on Wednesday. The Tracking Project states that Alabama, Arizona, and Nevada are among the smaller states also experiencing severe problems with very high hospitalization rates per capita. As of Thursday, the three states had over 600 people per million of population currently hospitalized with the virus. California hospitals were this week ordered to postpone non-urgent surgeries and to accept Covid-19 patients from elsewhere in the hard-hit state if they have space as deaths and hospitalizations increase On Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti (pictured) said the number of people who died in Los Angeles County in one day, 259, is equivalent to the number of homicide deaths the city saw last year. Overwhelmed morgues have been forced to store bodies in refrigerated trucks. Pictured: Los Robles Hospital and Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, California, where a refrigerated truck has been set up as an overflow morgue In Los Angeles County, one person is dying from the virus every eight minutes and nearly half of the county's 11,000 deaths have occurred in the last two months. Pictured: Continental Funeral Home driver Manuel Aguilar handles one of the COVID-19 victims stored in a mobile refrigerator outside the facility, August 21 California falls just below with 578 coronavirus patients currently hospitalized per million of population and a troubling spike in deaths. In the last 24 hours alone, the Golden State recorded 583 fatalities bringing its seven-day average for daily deaths to 380. It also brought a record two-day total of 1,042. Refrigerated trucks are now being sent across California to store the corpses as morgues and funeral homes become overwhelmed. The number was increased this week from 60 to 88, with most being sent to the south of the state where cases are at their worst. Los Angeles County, the nation's most populous with 10 million residents, and nearly two dozen other counties have essentially run out of intensive care unit beds for COVID-19 patients. The National Guard has also been called in to Los Angeles County to assist with the temporary storage of bodies at the county medical examiner-coroner's office, according to the Los Angeles Times, as other morgues have run out of space. Skyrocketing caseloads in California are threatening to force hospitals to ration care and essentially decide who lives and who dies. Pictured: Nurses attend to patients in a Covid-19 ICU at Martin Luther King Jr Community Hospital in Los Angeles, California, January 6 A record 8,098 county residents are currently hospitalized with coronavirus, 20 percent of whom are in intensive care units. Pictured: COVID-19 patient Efrain Molina (center) gets a fist bump from nurse leader Edgar Ramirez at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, California, December 22 'This is a health crisis of epic proportions and we need everyone - I mean everyone - to use the tools right in front of them to help us drive down transmission of this deadly virus,,' said Barbara Ferrer, public health director for Los Angeles County, on Thursday 'Everyone in LA County, businesses and residents, needs to follow the rules if there is any chance we can get out of this surge by the end of the month.' According to a new advisory, Californians are being asked to not travel far from home and residents of other states are being asked not to visit. Residents are asked to not travel more than 120 miles from where they live unless it is essential. Essential travel is classified as any 'associated with the operation, maintenance, or usage of critical infrastructure or otherwise required or expressly authorized by law...including work and study, critical infrastructure support, economic services and supply chains, health, immediate medical care, and safety and security.' 'Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19,' the advisory reads. Hospitals have also now begun to ration care. Guidelines posted on the website for Methodist Hospital of Southern California warned: 'If a patient becomes extremely ill and very unlikely to survive their illness (even with life-saving treatment), then certain resources...may be allocated to another patient who is more likely to survive.' The infection numbers affecting Los Angeles since November have been staggering, even after 10 long months of pandemic in the nation's second largest city. A record 8,098 county residents are currently hospitalized with coronavirus, 20 percent of whom are in intensive care units. Since January 3, hospitalizations have increased by more than seven percent. Around one in 12 have already been infected, and one in five of those tested recently are positive. More than 11,000 residents have died with nearly half those deaths occurring in the last two months. Since January 3, hospitalizations in Los Angeles County have increased by more than seven percent. Pictured: Dr Mher Onanyan tends to a COVID-19 patient at Providence Holy Cross Medical Center in Los Angeles, December 22 Ambulance workers have been told to stop transporting some patients with extremely low survival chances. Pictured: . A patient is transported from an ambulance at Los Angeles County USC Medical Center in Los Angeles, January 7 On Thursday, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the number of people who died in Los Angeles County in one day is equivalent to the number of homicide deaths the city saw last year. 'Yesterday we had 259 deaths, that's one more than all the homicides in 2019 in LA city combined,' Garcetti told reporters at his news conference. 'In a single day, equal to a year of homicides.' According to county officials, Los Angeles County is reporting a death due to COVID-19 every ten minutes on average, and a new infection every six seconds. 'We are not, nor will we ever, become accustomed to these numbers as normal. Nor will I ever accept them as something we should just live with,' Garcetti added. 'Because every single one of those means everything to somebody out there today.' California was initially praised for its handling of the pandemic in the spring, but skyrocketing cases have sent most of the state back under 'stay-at-home' orders. Ambulance workers have been told to stop transporting some patients with extremely low survival chances. California hospitals were this week ordered to postpone non-urgent surgeries and to accept Covid-19 patients from elsewhere in the hard-hit state if they have space. According to an alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tests by the company Curative Inc - commonly used in Los Angeles (above) -may be giving false negatives What's more, a coronavirus test commonly used at sites Los Angeles sites may be providing inaccurate results. According to an alert from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, tests by the company Curative Inc may be giving false negatives. The alert reads that 'when the test is not performed in accordance with its authorization or as described in the authorized labeling, there is a greater risk that the results of the test many not be accurate.' Mayor Garcetti defended the test, however, and said it has been used to identify 92,000 asymptomatic cases. 'The proof is that we've had a third of people, nearly 100,000 people who would have gone undiagnosed, that we were able to catch because of this test - and it has helped us predict those surges in hospitalizations and deaths as a result,'' Garcetti said. 'I'm not going to ever apologize because there was, I think, a lot of debate about whether asymptomatic people should be tested or not.' However, to reduce the risk of false negatives, the FDA says the test should only be used on symptomatic individuals within 14 days of exhibiting signs of illness. Health experts believe there could be sa surge in cases after a mob of Trump supporters, most of whom did not wear masks, stormed the U.S. Capitol What remains to be seen is what effect the thousands of supporters of President Donald Trump who converged this week in Washington, many of them without masks, will have on the spread of the scourge. On Wednesday, which had the second-highest number of deaths ever recored, a mob attack on the U.S. Capitol laid bare some of the same, deep political divisions that have hampered the battle against the pandemic. Trump has long downplayed the virus and scorned masks, and many of his ardent supporters have followed his example. He has also raged against lockdowns and egged on protesters objecting to restrictions in states such as Michigan, where armed supporters invaded the statehouse last spring. 'The domestic terrorists overran the Capitol police, just as the virus has been allowed to overrun Americans,' Dr Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, told the AP. 'The U.S. lost control of a Trump-incited mob and a Trump-played-down pandemic virus.' Some of the forces contributing to the eruption of violence were partially foreseen by experts in global disease planning when they held a tabletop exercise in 2019, said Dr Eric Toner, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security who directed the drill. 'We did consider the possibility of active disinformation and using a pandemic for political gain,' Toner said. 'Real life turned out to be much worse.' Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain While the pandemic was turning the world upside down, front line worker Abigail Hardin was writing a survival guide. A Rush University Medical Group rehabilitation psychologist who counsels patients from intensive care to rehab, Hardin drew on her professional experiences to write "The COVID-19 Survival Guide: How to Prepare for, Manage, and Overcome a Coronavirus Infection." The book offers readers advice on how to navigate the virus from diagnosis to recovery. "Early on in the pandemic, there was a lot of discussion about survival rates. ... And then, what I was seeing in rehab, people were surviving COVID-19, but then they had to contend with these very serious ongoing issues that you don't necessarily think about," Hardin said. "You just think, 'Oh well, I'll survive, and everything will be fine.' That's not always true. "So, I thought it was important for survivors of COVID-19 to have some sort of idea what they might be facing after that moment where they feel like, 'OK, I've survived, but what's next?'" According to Hardin, preparing in advance of becoming sick puts you in the best position for survival, and also helps manage and mitigate everything that might come afterward. The guide helps readers create a COVID-19 prep kit; decide on legal documents, like living wills and powers of attorney; and understand do not resuscitate orders (DNR) and physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST). The book also walks readers through what to expect if they are hospitalized, including medical professionals who may be on your medical team and professionals you might want to consult. Also, she outlines the things you can do to optimize your recovery and enable your family and friends to help you. Resources in the book and on Hardin's website include COVID-19 kit packing lists, rehab goal worksheets, daily routine planner pages and journal/diary prompts. "As a psychologist, I focus on making sure that the people who you really care about and who you know you can rely on are aware of what's going on in your life, so that they can support you," Hardin said. "Whether you're in the hospital or not, just contracting COVID-19 is a super scary thing to have happen. Keep the book by your bedside, read a couple chapters a night, and once you're done, you should feel much more ready to tackle COVID-19, if it should happen to you or even to a family member." Vaccination information isn't addressed in the book, which was released in October, but Hardin said preparing for being sick remains important. "I understand that people don't want to be defeatist, and they don't want to think, 'I'm going to get sick,' but you keep a survival kit in your car, right?" she said. "So why not prepare for these potential major life events, and then if it doesn't happen, great. But if it does, you're ready." Hardin elaborates on the guide in the following interview, which has been condensed and edited for clarity. Q: A COVID-19 kit, what does that entail? A: The kit includes basic things that you might not think about. For example, when you're in the hospital, if you use hearing aids or glasses, and you don't have access to those in the hospital, it can impact what's called "hospital delirium," which we know has been a problem for people with COVID-19. So, by packing those and having an extra set of glasses and hearing aids in your kit, you're ready to go, so that you can minimize that problem in the hospital. So that's kind of what the kit iseverything you would need to get the most out of your hospitalization while minimizing any of the potential problems that can come along with being that sick. Q: What's been the hardest thing for COVID-19 patients and survivors to wrap their heads around during their illness? A: One (thing) I see a lot is people feel that their ability to function normallymoving, walking, going to workthat is their identity. After you've been critically sick, it might be a while before you're able to go back to literally walking and certainly before you're able to go back to work. And so, what I see a lot of is people really feeling very down and almost a loss of identity because while they're trying to get back on their feet, quite literally, they don't have a clear sense of who they are. I've heard people say, 'How can I support my family? How can I be a good husband when I'm not able to go to work?' As a rehab psychologist, that really hits me because it's important that people, while they're recovering, feel a sense of identity and a sense of value in the world. So that's been really hard. Q: Lingering pain post-COVID-19, does your book address that? A: There's a heavy emphasis on that in the book. After you get sick, whether or not you were hospitalized with COVID-19, we're seeing both people who are critically ill and people who really were not critically ill, both showing very long-term symptoms like painand brain fog is a big oneall sorts of different physical symptoms, as well as mental health changes. Returning to life after testing positive for COVID-19 is a huge emphasis of the book, and that is psychological as it is physical. So having a plan for how to reenter your life safely and in a way where you're pacing yourself, that's so important. Q: Your book offers steps to chart one's rehabilitation progress to make sure pacing is happening, instead of pushing. A: There's a way you can set up a strategy for pacing yourself when you're returning to activities. I give people strategies for how to return to their activities, how to identify which activities to return to immediately versus the ones to wait on, and then how to apply the idea of pacing yourself. If you're involved with a formal rehabilitation program, you'll have access to experts who will help you walk through what kinds of physical exercises, brain exercises to do. For people who do not have those resources, there are some ideas about how to get started and how to self-assess. And there are some ideas for how to process what you've been through from a psychological/emotional perspective, so that potential trauma or the experience of having been sick and having these ongoing symptoms doesn't derail your progress. Explore further Your to-do list as you await a COVID vaccine 2021 Chicago Tribune. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony for the airport in the southern province of Dong Nai, the PM laid stress on the basic infrastructure's vital roles to socio-economic development as well as the national defence and security, adding sound infrastructure facilities will help Vietnam attract large corporations who come to make long-term investments. He moved to state that Vietnam has been praised by the international community as one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. Last year, the country was listed among the 16 most thriving emerging economies the world, successfully performing the dual tasks of preventing the pandemic and maintaining growth of nearly 3 percent. "A bright economic outlook is awaiting us ahead. There is strong confidence of both domestic and foreign investors in Vietnam's post-pandemic economic recovery", PM Phuc said. He went on by underlining the strong growth of the Vietnamese aviation sector, adding Vietnam is among ten countries with the fastest expansion of the aviation market in the Asia-Pacific. Air travel demand in the southern key economic region is over 65 million passengers by 2025, and the figure is said to increase to more than 80 million by 2030. Current infrastructure fails to meet the rising demand, he said, describing it as a bottleneck for socio-economic development. According to the leader, Long Thanh is among the world's 16 most awaited airport projects. With the largest-ever capital investment, the project demonstrates the aspiration and will of Vietnam to move forward, and holds significance to the country's socio-economic development, and national defence and security. Once operational, it is expected to contribute 3-5 percent of the national gross domestic products (GDP), he stressed. PM Phuc lauded relevant ministries and agencies, especially people in Dong Nai province, for their consensus in land clearance. He ordered the Commission for the Management of State Capital at Enterprises (CMSC) to direct the Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV) to implement the project's three component projects in line with current regulations, keep its progress on schedule and ensure its quality without causing waste and losses. The Ministry of Transport as well as administrations of Dong Nai, Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces in the southeast region must soon have plans for comprehensively enhancing local transport connectivity with the future Long Thanh International Airport, even taking into account the development of new urban areas, service system, and the North-South high-speed railway, the Government leader said. It is expected to increase the competitiveness of not only the southeast region but also the economy at large. He also urged local people affected by the construction of the airport to continue supporting the project and enabling it to be completed on schedule for the nation's interests while asking Dong Nai to exert all-out efforts to ensure livelihoods of those displaced by the project. During its ninth session, the 13th National Assembly issued a resolution approving the investment plan of the three-phase project. The first phase sailed through the 14th legislature. In the first phase, one runway with a length of 4,000m, taxiways, an apron, and a passenger terminal with other auxiliary works sprawling 373,000 sq.m will be built to serve 25 million passengers and 1.2 million tonnes of cargo each year. The total funding for this phase is estimated at 109.11 trillion VND (4.37 billion USD). The third component project of the first stage, invested by the ACV and covering essential items of the airport, costs some 99.01 trillion VND. The airport is designed to have four runways, four passenger terminals, and other auxiliary facilities to ensure a capacity of 100 million passengers and 5 million tonnes of cargo a year by 2040. Covering a total area of more than 5,580ha, the airport will straddle six communes in Long Thanh district. It is expected to cost 336.63 trillion VND (14.5 billion USD). Around 4,800 households and 26 organisations are expected to be relocated to make way for it. Located 40km to the east of Ho Chi Minh City, Long Thanh airport is expected to relieve overloading at Tan Son Nhat international airport in the southern metropolis, now the country's largest airport. (Source: VNA) In addition, ask contractors to wash their hands regularly, and provide hand sanitizer if they dont bring any, Harris says. If contractors are landscaping, roofing or making exterior home repairs and dont need to enter your home, the main form of protection is masking for both of you when interacting, Wood says. The next best practice is to socially distance, she adds. After the contractor leaves, its a good idea to wipe down any surfaces that theyve touched with disinfectant wipes, Wood says. Kathryn Vernon, 64, of Austin, Texas, recently had new flooring installed throughout her home. She hired contractors recommended by a trusted interior designer. Although they were in her home and did have to use the bathroom, she and the contractor teamed up to stay safe. She and the workers wore masks, kept the front door open and ensured a ceiling fan was on when they worked. Vernon allowed them to use the guest bathroom but kept the window open and sanitized it with bleach and other cleaners each day. They touched very few items or surfaces in the home, so she only had to minimally sanitize other areas. Vernon says she felt safe with her approach, but acknowledged others might not. I think its a personal comfort level, she says. You have to decide what is right for you. Same rules apply to house cleaners If you have a house cleaner that comes in regularly to tidy up, its important not to get complacent and let your guard down, just because that person is not a stranger. Take the same type of precautions you would when other contractors come into your home, says Roman Peysakhovich, CEO of Onedesk, a national cleaning company headquartered in Minneapolis. His company consulted with officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on safety measures. They told us masks the whole time, while youre cleaning, while youre talking, anything. The whole time from when you enter the home to the moment that you leave, he says. The health experts also advised that Peysakhovichs staff clean their tools between clients homes. If a contractor doesnt wear a mask properly or declines other COVID precautions, politely but firmly ask them to leave and reschedule the appointment, says Harris. That can be uncomfortable for some people, but its essential to prevent transmission of the virus, Harris says. Its important to educate people, Harris says, and let them know we need to follow those rules. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE An Albuquerque state senator has once again filed legislation that would allow the names of applicants for top public school, law enforcement and other taxpayer-funded positions to be kept secret. While at least three finalists for any such public positions would still have to be disclosed, the bill filed by Sen. Bill Tallman, a Democrat, is already generating opposition from at least one government transparency group. A spokeswoman for Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham also said Thursday the governor is committed to transparency and open government, though she did not say specifically whether Lujan Grisham would sign or veto the bill if it reaches her desk during the upcoming 60-day legislative session. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Tallman, a former city manager in Connecticut, said New Mexico is one of the few states nationwide that requires disclosure of all applicants for a range of appointed government positions from city managers to school superintendents under its Inspection of Public Records Act. He said that has led to a dearth of qualified candidates in some instances. People dont want their employers to know theyre looking, Tallman told the Journal. I believe in transparency, but theres an exception to everything. However, Melanie Majors, executive director of the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, said the bill would make the hiring process more secretive. And she said there has been no empirical proof shown that an open hiring process affects the ability of school districts, universities and government agencies to hire qualified candidates. These jobs are paid for by taxpayers with important public duties, and the public has the right to know as much about the candidate pool as possible, Majors said Thursday. NMFOG has opposed similar bills, saying that limiting disclosure to finalists fails to allow the public to know the expertise, ethnicity or gender of the field of candidates. Under the just-filed bill, all appointive executive positions would be subject to the public records exemption. That definition includes nonelected chief executive officers of state agencies, institutions and political subdivisions of the state, but would not apply to political appointees like state Cabinet secretaries. Meanwhile, the bills introduction comes as searches are underway for several high-profile Albuquerque jobs. Albuquerque Public Schools recently resumed its search for the districts next superintendent, after previously putting it on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The APS board is aiming to pick a superintendent in March so the new leader can start working by June. In addition, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Kellers administration has launched a national search for the next Albuquerque Police Department chief and a public safety chief. The names of 39 candidates who had applied for the police chief job were recently disclosed to the Journal in response to a public records request, including a former police chief of a small Florida town and to the city manager who fired him. Tallman proposed a similar change to New Mexicos open records law in 2019. That years bill passed the Senate by a 27-14 vote but ultimately stalled in the House. In past years, the APS board has backed the legislation to limit the disclosure of job applicant identities. And this years bill would take effect immediately if it gets at least two-thirds support in both legislative chambers and is signed into law by Lujan Grisham. The 60-day session begins Jan. 19. Trump Calls for Healing and Reconciliation Following Unrest at US Capitol He reminds Americans that the United States 'must always be a nation of law and order' President Donald Trump on Thursday called on the country to heal and have faith following civil unrest at the U.S. Capitol. Trump told Americans that he has now turned his focus on ensuring a smooth, orderly, and seamless transition of power to a new administration that will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, in a brief video message released on Thursday evening. Hours earlier, Congress certified the electoral votes for former Vice President Joe Biden in an emotionally-charged joint session. This came after a group of protestors waving American and Trump flags stormed in the Capitol building. The mayhem left at least four people deadthree for medical reasonsand dozens of police officers injured, D.C. police said. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation, Trump said. 2020 has been a challenging time for our people, a menacing pandemic has upended the lives of our citizens, isolated millions in their homes, damaged our economy, and claimed countless lives. Defeating this pandemic and rebuilding the greatest economy on earth will require all of us working together. It will require a renewed emphasis on the civic values of patriotism, faith, charity, community, and family. We must revitalize the sacred bonds of love and loyalty that bind us together as one national family. The president also condemned the acts of violence that transpired during the protests that disrupted lawmakers during their joint session where they were counting Electoral College votes. Lawmakers were forced to suspend their sessions and shelter in place as police and security attempted to seize control of the situation. Law enforcement officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress in Washington, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness, and mayhem, Trump said. I immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and must always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the Capitol have defiled the seat of American democracy. He warned that people who broke the law would have to pay, adding that those who engaged in violence and destruction do not represent our country. We have just been through an intense election and emotions are high. But now tempers must be cooled and calm restored, he said. The media, lawmakers, former officials, and other critics have put the blame on Trump for Wednesdays incident. The president had addressed a crowd in Washington D.C. where he reiterated his allegations about election irregularities and fraud and his dissatisfaction for the media and several lawmakers. President Donald Trump speaks to supporters from The Ellipse near the White House in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) As protesters moved their demonstration to the U.S. Capitol, Trump had been posting on Twitter throughout the afternoon urging his supporters to remain peaceful. He also released a video, which has since been taken down by Twitter, that called on his supporters to go home now. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also said in a statement on Wednesday that the president had authorized the National Guard to assist with the situation at the U.S. Capitol. The events on Wednesday has sparked a review of security protocols of the U.S. Capitol over the breach, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced. Yesterday represented a massive failure of institutions, protocols, and planning that are supposed to protect the first branch of our federal government, McConnell said in a statement. A painstaking investigation and thorough review must now take place and significant changes must follow. He added that initial bipartisan discussions have commenced in congressional committees of oversight and congressional leadership. Fifty-five people have since been charged within 36 hours related mostly to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, according to Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. Antifa infiltrated President Donald Trump's supporters of the Save America Rally on their way to the U.S. Capitol yesterday according to surfacing evidence and as lawmakers alleged themselves, reports reveal. Amidst Big Media reporting that Trump supporters are violent, evidence from various reputable and credible individuals have surfaced that the rioters who invaded the U.S. capitol were actually members of extreme leftist groups Antifa and Black Lives Matter. One America News Network cited the expose Alabama Representative Mo Brooks made via Twitter regarding the identity of the rioters based on "warnings" he received prior to the Wednesday incident that has unnerved, angered, and left many Americans under shock together with the rest of the world. "Evidence growing that fascist ANTIFA orchestrated Capitol attack with clever mob control tactics," Brooks announced prior to detailing what these evidence were based on the intel given him by a police and another Congressman that the Trump supporters will be infiltrated by the said extreme leftist group. Please, dont be like #FakeNewsMedia, dont rush to judgment on assault on Capitol. Wait for investigation. All may not be (and likely is not) what appears. Evidence growing that fascist ANTIFA orchestrated Capitol attack with clever mob control tactics. Evidence follows: Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) January 7, 2021 Brooks narrated that a congressman warned him last Monday "of a growing ANTIFA threat and advised" him to sleep in his office "rather than leaving Capitol complex and sleeping" in his condo. The said congressman revealed that he actually got intel from a Capitol Police officer that "ANTIFA was going to try to infiltrate the Trump rally by dressing like Trump supporters." Coincidentally, "Capitol Police adviced TUESDAY that it is best not to leave Capitol complex" echoing the warning Brooks received. "Please, don't be like #FakeNewsMedia, don't rush to judgment on assault on Capitol. Wait for investigation. All may not be (and likely is not) what appears," Brooks stressed, "Again, time will reveal truth. Don't rush to judgment. Don't be fooled by #FakeNewsMedia whose political judgment drives their reporting. The Gateway Pundit, on the other hand, revealed that a retired FBI Agent confirmed this narrative of Brooks through a text message received by their investigative reporter Paul Sperry. BREAKING: Former FBI agent on the ground at U.S. Capitol just texted me and confirmed that at least 1 "bus load" of Antifa thugs infiltrated peaceful Trump demonstrators as part of a false Trump flag ops Paul Sperry (@paulsperry_) January 6, 2021 Sperry said in his Twitter account the FBI agent confirmed that a bus load of Antifa members joined the Save America March to discredit the President and his supporters. The Gateway Pundit also cited Independent Journalist Tayler Hansen who posted a series of tweets proving Antifa lead the riots upon spotting BLM activist and Insurgency USA head John Sullivan, who he previously sent to jail, was surprisingly present in the Save America rally as members of the press who were in "gas masks." "I have video evidence confirming Antifa's presence within the Trump Supporters today. I will post later once I am safely out of DC," Hansen said prior to posting a thread presenting a series of evidence. EXPOSED ANTIFA was littered throughout the Capitol yesterday. A THREAD: Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) January 7, 2021 Tayler was previously mobbed by Antifa after he infiltrated their group during a coverage in Portland. Thus explaining his tweet on Wednesday of his need to get to safety prior to exposing the group as the promulgators of violence last Wednesday. The video evidence showed the same people who Hansen saw in Portland and responsible for his mobbing were actually present in the US Capitol taking photos initially and passing out masks as IDs to their members prior to the rioting. "Pay attention to the gas masks they use, see a pattern? There's a reason. ANTIFA hands out these masks and razor scooter helmets that they turn into 'PRESS ID' by using tape and a sharpie. They were littered EVERYWHERE throughout the crowd yesterday," Hansen stressed in his thread of evidences. Pay attention to the gas masks they use, see a pattern? Theres a reason. ANTIFA hands out these masks and razor scooter helmets that they turn into PRESS ID by using tape and a sharpie. They were littered EVERYWHERE throughout the crowd yesterday. pic.twitter.com/x2cpzj7Wun Tayler Hansen (@TaylerUSA) January 7, 2021 Sullivan, who was previously arrested for causing riots and who is known to want to take Trump down, was actually interviewed by CNN yesterday evening for the video he posed on the shooting of Ashli Babbit, which in itself is evidence against him in line with the rioting that occured in the U.S. Capitol. "Eyewitness reports one of the first people to break a window at the Capitol wearing a US flag shirt but took it off and tossed it in bush after. Others in dark clothing urging people to rush forward, starting anti-govt chants in crowd," revealed Veteran Navy intel officer Jack Posobiec in his Twitter account early Thursday. Reports say Sullivan has been detained. Videos of him in handicuffs and sitting outside the Hamilton hotel have surfaced on the internet. John Sullivan, an extreme BLM activists from Utah appears to be detained by police on K and 14th in DC by the Hamilton hotel. He was previously arrested and charged for BLM riot. pic.twitter.com/QUq1uBtgmC Polish American Brotherhood (@PoAmBrotherhood) January 8, 2021 Other radical leftists caught on photo and video vandalizing House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office were Baked Alaska and Streamers Nick Fuentes together with a Black Lives Matter member who was originally spotted in their event last Summer in Arizona holding a QAnon poster, The Gateway Pundit presented. Meawhile many reporters cited Trump supporters actually stopping Antifa from destroying the Capitol yet, The Gateway Pundit said, these are not being reported by Big Media. The 2021 French Quarter Festival is expected to be postponed to the fall, sources familiar with the situation told WWL-TV. The festival is typically held in the spring. The new possible dates being discussed are September 30 through October 3, according to WWL-TV. A spokesperson for the festival declined to comment to WWL-TV about the postponement. The expected move to shift the dates of the spring festival comes as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to surge in Louisiana. The 2020 festival was canceled along with nearly all other major New Orleans events after coronavirus cases surged in the city last March. This is a developing story. SUV It hasn't been long since we got to see the fresh, but so far, the reception has been a positive one. Everyone seems to agree Jeep nailed pretty much every aspect of the new vehicle, bringing enough modern features to make it competitive yet retaining plenty of the brand's core values to keep it relevant in a crowded market.In case you're scratching your head thinking about how you could have bought a 2021 Jeep Cherokee the day before yesterday, too, you're forgetting about one thing: the L. This is the long, three-row version of the Grand Cherokee, which is why it can be sold as a 2021 model without overlapping with the old generation. It's a little weird, but technically, it makes sense. Later this year, when the all-new two-row non-L Grand Cherokee will launch, it'll be sold as a 2022 model alongside the 2021 Grand Cherokee L.Anyway, that's not the problem we wanted to talk about; it's this: does the 2021 Jeep Grand Cherokee L look a little familiar? A little too familiar, if you will. It probably does, and that's because it is strikingly similar to the Grand Wagoneer concept shown last year.So what? Brands having lookalike models is nothing new. Audi and Mercedes-Benz have been getting away with it for years, to give just two examples. You basically needed a size reference to tell a C-Class from an S-Class before the new version for the latter model was launched.That may be so, but in Jeep's case, the problem extends beyond design. It looks like the Grand Cherokee L renders the Grand Wagoneer a bit redundant. Yes, it'll be both larger and more luxurious, but if we're being honest, the long version of the smaller SUV could fill every need of most potential Wagoneer clients. That's where the problem of the new Grand Cherokee L lies: it steps on its larger sibling's toes.There's only one escape for Jeep's yet unreleased flagship, and it's probably what the company will eventually focus on: luxury and, above all, status. You get the Grand Cherokee L for practical reasons; you get the Grand Wagoneer because you've made it. And because you're a Jeep fan, of course, since there are plenty of other options out there. Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday said the state is expected to receive 13,90,000 vials of vaccine against Covid-19 in a day or two. The big good news for Karnataka is that I have received information from the Union Health Ministry that tomorrow or the day after probably we will be receiving 13,90,000 vials of vaccine for the state. Its a big happy news for all of us, Sudhakar said. Speaking to reporters after visiting a private hospital here, where vaccination dry run is being conducted, he said, the vaccination will be first administered to health care workers. We have registered 6.30 lakh healthcare professionals in Karnataka till date. Those who are left out, may be in some medical or dental colleges, we have requested them to register, he said adding that health workers will be followed by those with comorbidities, those above 60 years and those in other departments like Police and Revenue working against the pandemic. Covid-19 vaccination dry run is on at a total of 263 different health facilities across Karnataka on Friday. It is being held in 24 district hospitals, 20 medical colleges, 43 taluk hospitals, 31 community health centres, 87 primary health centres, 30 urban primary health centres and 28 private facilities in the state. The Minister who visited some facilities here, where the dry run is going on said, arrangements and preparedness were quite good, and the process is being followed as per the guidelines issued. The first round of the dry run, an exercise for end- to-end testing of Covid-19 vaccination process was held in five districts of Karnataka- Bengaluru (including BBMP), Belagavi, Kalburgi, Mysore and Shivamogga- on December 2 as per the government of India guidelines. Panasonic recently announced the launch of JZ2000, its flagship TV for 2021. It features an artificial intelligence processor that optimizes picture and a new extreme game mode to cut lag time. According to Engadget, the 2000-series is always a stand out among Panasonic's OLEDs as it features a Dolby Atmos-capable speaker system and a custom OLED panel, which will be available in 55 inches and 65 inches. Panasonic OLED TV offers AI processor and new extreme game mode At the heart of the new Panasonic flagship OLED TV is the HCX Pro AI Processor, which only greatly enhances picture quality and gaming performance. Based on the processor's name, Panasonic now relies on AI to enhance the picture quality, just like Sony. The AI chip can identify the content being watched and automatically adjusts the sound and image to match the particular scene. This is vital when the set supports Dolby Atmos and includes side- and upward-firing speakers. Finally, Panasonic catches up to other brands as it offers "amongst the very lowest in the industry" with the company's live demo merely set a lag rate of 14.4ms, which is very low. It also adds HDMI 2.1 specs like HFR or 4K display that runs at 120Hz as well as Variable Refresh Rate as Auto Low Latency Mode. Meanwhile, the new Game Mode Extreme setting promises to cut lag and optimize the picture display with high refresh rate options. It can work as a living room PC as it supports the HDMI Signal Power Link, which helps computers and old box set up connect to CEC-equipped devices. Read also: Scientists Develop Parallel Convolutional Processors Using Photonic Chip for Faster Computing in AI Applications Panasonic JZ2000 OLED TV features, price, release date Currently, Panasonic has not yet released the price and release dates for both JZ2000 55-inch and 65-inch versions. The 2020 flagship HZ2000 55-inch version cost about $4,468 when it came out before the end of May, and JZ2000 could be around the same price and release date. However, by the look of it, this TV will surely be worth the wait as it can handle advanced gaming while on the couch. After all, the JZ2000 still has more to offer, aside from the AI and gaming features. Panasonic is the first TV which supports both HDR10+ Adaptive and Dolby Vision IQ. Since 2020, the company has supported Dolby Vision IQ while the new HDR10+ format picture display according to the ambient lighting conditions. Also, it is expected to offer better dark details while watching in a well-lit room. Although Panasonic did not provide much detail on JZ2000's screen specs, it is said to be using the extra-bright customized Master HDR OLED Professional Edition panel, which makes using HDR modes easier. This will also include some improvements on the software such as dual-device Bluetooth audio support, quicker access to common settings as well as the "restful" videos and photos option. Panasonic has added a couple of side-firing speakers for the JZ2000 to make the room more filled with sound. With this 360 Soundscape Pro sound setup, which Panasonic's Technics engineers developed, watching television is never been this immersive with a powerful bass and truly spatial soundstage. Related article: TCL Smart TVs Have 'Backdoor' Security Flaw, Experts Find - Here's How to Protect Your TV This is owned by Tech Times Written by CJ Robles 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Shaken not stirred. Who will be chosen next to speak those iconic words - after Daniel Craig makes his final appearance as the British Secret Intelligence agent, James Bond, in the upcoming film No Time to Die? A report by Glamour suggests that if fans of the Netflix period drama series, Bridgerton, were to have a say, it would be Rege-Jean Page. The breakout star is causing quite a reaction on Twitter over a social media post that fans believe to be a hint that hes in the running to be the next James Bond, Glamour reported. The report said that Regency, royalty, the actor, who plays the Duke of Hastings on Bridgerton, tweeted on December 16, before the series even premiered. Shaken and stirred. Recalling Bonds famous drink order: a martini, shaken not stirred, Pages fans have made the Bond connection. Glamour noted that if Page gets the part, he would make franchise history as the first Black Bond. Glamour revealed that a campaign on social media is getting reaction from Bridgerton fans, who are all-in on Page: One user tweeted, Im so unabashedly in love with this man. Rege-Jean Page or Henry Golding for James Bond. I'm so unabashedly in love with this man. Rege-Jean Page or Henry Golding for James Bond. In the Cut (@InthecutZine) January 5, 2021 Glamour cited another user, who tweeted: They missed Rege -Jean Page in the 100 Most Handsome Men 2020 list. He could be the new James Bond... They missed Rege -Jean Page in the 100 Most Handsome Men 2020 list. He could be the new James Bond... cananga (@mecananga) December 30, 2020 Another user agrees: Guys, GUYS, hear me out: Rege-Jean Page as the next Bond. Guys, GUYS, hear me out: Rege-Jean Page as the next Bond. pic.twitter.com/ehr1wVrchE Derlis A. Gonzalez (@DerlisAGonzalez) January 4, 2021 Glamour cited this person who echoed the sentiment of many on social media in this tweet: Just finished watching Bridgerton on Netflix. Wow! Rege-Jean Page should be the next man to play James Bond, another user insisted. He is so handsome, smooth, and debonair! Just finished watching Bridgerton on Netflix. Wow! Rege-Jean Page should be the next man to play James Bond. He is so handsome, smooth and debonair! Renee Wynn (@ReneeWynnBooks) January 2, 2021 Glamour cited, Variety who reported on January 6, that according to a British gambling company Ladbrokes, the odds may be in Pages favor to get the role. Tom Hardy still leads the way as favorite, with James Norton close behind in second place. But it really is all to play for in the race for 007, and RJP has a great chance if the odds are anything to go by, Ladbrokes representative Alex Apati said. READ MORE: Charli and Dixie D'Amelio have come under fire yet again after taking a private jet to the Bahamas with friends amid the pandemic, but Dixie's boyfriend Noah Beck has defended their trip, claiming they 'needed to get away from it all.' The D'Amelio sisters joined Noah, Chase Hudson, Madi Monroe, and others at the Atlantis resort in Nassau last week, as California became the first state to record more than two million confirmed coronavirus cases. Charli, 16, and Dixie, 19, never shared they were going on the trip, nor did their friends, but the news they were in the Bahamas spread like wildfire after they were spotted by fans with some even sharing pictures of themselves posing with the influencers. Under fire: Charli and Dixie D'Amelio are facing backlash for joining fellow influencers Noah Beck, Chase Hudson, Madi Monroe, and others on a trip the Bahamas last week Yikes: The TikTok stars never shared they were going on the trip, but the news they were in the Bahamas spread like wildfire after they were spotted by fans who shared photos of them The @TikTokRoom Instagram account posted a fan's TikTok video of the group wearing masks while posing together in the Bahamas as well as a picture of a maskless Madi on a private jet, which she shared herself. In the photo, Madi, 16, is holding a glass of bubbly and leaning against her Louis Vuitton duffle bag while sitting sideways in her seat on the jet. 'Im on my way @bryant,' she wrote, tagging TikTok celebrity photographer Bryant Eslava, who was also on the trip. He later shared a video of himself going down a water slide at the resort. Madi left her whereabouts vague by tagging 'Somewhere in the Middle of No Where' as her location, but fans weren't fooled. While they tried to keep their destination hidden, their followers did not. A number of people tagged the Atlantis or the Bahamas when posting the snapshots they took with the influencers. At least they're wearing masks! Dixie, 19, flashed the peace sign while posing with two fans at the resort Meet and greet: The TikTok sensation posed with another follower on the same day Fooled? Dixie's boyfriend Noah, 19, shared a few TikTok videos of them in what appeared to be a hotel room at the time of their trip Noah, 19, also shared a few TikTok videos of himself with Dixie in what appeared to be a hotel room at the time of their trip. As of Friday, the state of California has had a total of 2.59 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 28,000 deaths. Roughly 870,000 of those cases are from their home city of Los Angeles. There have been a total of 21.7 million cases across the country, with the number of deaths soaring to 365,000. The backlash has been swift, with critics slamming the TikTok stars particularly Charli and Dixie for irresponsibly going on a group vacation during the pandemic. One Twitter user called out Charli for being a hypocrite, recalling how TikTok's most-followed star just filmed an Instagram Live talking about the importance of staying home and social distancing. 'If youre using this time to hang out with your friends since you dont have school, please, Im asking you, please stop being so inconsiderate to others,' Charli said on December 29 just days before the news of her trip went viral. Away: Noah also posted a clip of Dixie sleeping in what looked like a hotel bed after watching Grey's Anatomy Welcoming 2021: It seems the couple celebrated New Year's Eve at the resort Not so secret: Madi, 16, shared a photo of herself holding a glass of bubbly without a mask on a private jet, tagging TikTok celebrity photographer Bryant Eslava, who was also on the trip Letting loose: Bryant posted a video of himself going down a waterslide at the Atlantis resort in Nassau and tagged his location as the Bahamas 'You may think this isnt going to affect me or it isnt that bad. You are putting other people at risk to get hurt and to be in pain.' 'Charli 'D'Amelio won person of the year... shes literally in the Bahamas rn with 15 other people during a pandemic and has been doing so all year what,' one critic tweeted. 'I really can't understand how influencers like Charli, Dixie, Madi, Avani, Noah, etc decide it's a great idea to go to the Bahamas while we're in the middle of a pandemic...like c'mon people are dying every day,' another added. 'I'm a bit disappointed ngl. They're supposed to be good role models.' The sisters have kept mum about both the trip and the backlash, but Noah defended their getaway this week in an interview with Pap Galore, saying it was 'really fun.' 'It is what it is, you know,' he explained of the backlash. 'I think, especially the business were in, its, like, you need some time to kind of disconnect for a little. Thats what that was meant for.' Gotcha: Charli hasn't said a word about the trip, but eagle-eyed followers noticed her tan as soon as she came back Outrage: The influencers were slammed online, with critics calling them 'selfish' and 'irresponsible,' but Noah defended the trip, saying they took a private jet 'It was just a little trip to get away,' he added. 'Wanted to get away from everything and we took a private jet, so it was just us.' The TikToker insinuated that critics of the trip were jealous of their lifestyle and would join them in the Bahamas if they could. 'Lets say, its just kind of funny because lets say, that someone whos commenting on our stuff, like, "You guys need to stay home," and stuff like that. Lets say we DM one of them, like, "Yo, we want to fly you out to the Bahamas." If they say, "Yeah," then you screenshot it and say, "This you?" or something like that,' he said. 'Its just not even worth it.' He went on to claim that the group trip to the Bahamas was important to their mental health because they 'just needed this little time away to get kind of a reset.' Noah's cavalier comments only fueled the backlash as outraged critics slammed him for being 'selfish' and 'tone-deaf.' 'Noah Beck saying "I went to the Bahamas just to get my mind off things" is the epitome of rich and white privilege,' one person wrote. Response: Noah, pictured with Dixie in September, claimed the trip was important for their mental health because they 'just needed this little time away to get kind of a reset' Not helping: Noah's cavalier comments only fueled the backlash as outraged critics slammed him for being 'selfish' and 'tone-deaf' Another tweeted: 'So Noah Beck said that him and his friends went to the Bahamas so they could just get away and disconnect ??????? theyre all dumb as hell.' 'Theyre absolutely nothing but selfish spoiled tone deaf brats who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter,' someone else commented. The D'Amelio sisters' latest drama comes a little over a month after they were accused of being rude to their personal chef in the first episode of their new YouTube series Dinner with the D'Amelios. Throughout the meal, Charli and Dixie made faces and gagged in response to their chef Aaron May's offerings. Charli later asked for 'Dino nuggets' while Dixie ran outside to throw up after eating a snail that was in the traditional paella. Both the sisters and the chef insisted that the outrage was misplaced as the snail scene was set up by their producers who wanted to get a reaction out of Dixie. Charli lost over a million followers in one day, but she gained them almost as quickly. Just days after the controversy, she became the first TikTok star to reach 100 million followers on the platform. [January 08, 2021] CPI Aerostructures Awarded Contract From Raytheon Missiles & Defense EDGEWOOD, N.Y., Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CPI Aerostructures, Inc. (CPI Aero) (NYSE American: CVU) announced today that it has received an order from Raytheon Missiles & Defense, a Raytheon Technologies business, to manufacture structural assemblies on an undisclosed platform. This is a sole source follow-on order and CPI Aero anticipates making deliveries starting in 2021. Terms of the order will not be disclosed. Last year we were honored to receive Raytheon Technologies Premier Supplier Award in recognition of our work on the Next Generation Jammer Mid Band pod. This new contract demonstrates both Raytheon Missiles & Defenses continued trust in CPI Aero as a critical Tier 1 supplier and commitment to utilizing top-performing supply chain partners across their enterprise, said Douglas McCrosson, president and CEO of CPI Aero. Missiles and other autonomous aircraft systems are strategic areas of growth for CPI Aero. Our reputation for excellence in manufacturing some of the worlds most advanced pod-based airborne electronic systems provides confidence that we can be successful in this adjacent market. About CPI Aero The above statements include forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, which are described from time to time in CPI Aeros SEC reports, including CPI Aero's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 and Forms 10-Q for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2020, June 30, 2020,and September 30, 2020. CPI Aero is a registered trademark of CPI Aerostructures, Inc. For more information, visit www.cpiaero.com, and follow us on Twitter @CPIAERO. Contact: Investor Relations Counsel: LHA Investor Relations Jody Burfening (212) 838-3777 cpiaero@lhai.com www.lhai.com Fox News host and longtime Trump ally, Tucker Carlson has said that the president recklessly encouraged" his supporters, who went on to riot at the US Capitol on Wednesday afternoon. A mob of thousands of pro-Trump rioters breached the Capitol during the confirmation of electoral college votes on Wednesday, putting a hold to the process to confirm President-elect Joe Bidens victory for several hours. Five people died and numerous others were injured in the riots. The House was evacuated as numerous politicians and staff members were forced to barricade themselves in offices to hide from the rioters, some of whom were carrying guns and other weapons. The rioters breached the Capitol after attending a Donald Trump rally, during which he told the crowd: We're going to walk down to the Capitol and adding: You have to show strength, and you have to be strong. Recommended Trump turns on his own supporters after inciting Capitol riot Carlson who has continued to support Mr Trump since his election defeat on 3 November despite his repeated baseless claims of widespread election fraud said during Tucker Carlson Tonight on Thursday that the president encouraged his supporters. What happened yesterday, theyre telling us, wasnt simply that a political protest got out of hand after the president recklessly encouraged it. That is in fact what happened," he said. Follow the very latest on the Capitol riots in our live blog. But its not what theyre saying, Carlson continued. Instead theyre calling it domestic terrorism, CNN describes it as an insurrection. Carlson also criticised Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer for calling the events domestic terrorism and comparing the riots to Pearl Harbour. Despite appearing to try to minimise the severity of the riots, the Fox News Host then claimed that Mr Trump has reached the end of his shelf life, and criticised peoples obsession with the president. We've gone from being this big continental country with an enormous span of concerns and interests to a sweaty chat room of 300 million people all of whom are focused on a single man, Donald Trump. That is not healthy no matter how you feel about Trump, Carlson said on Thursday. He added: At some point you've got to wonder about where our country is putting all of its energy. Is any single president, anyone worth all of this time and attention? All politicians whether you agree with them or not come with a shelf life, they are people. Recommended Josh Hawley unstuck in Fox News interview about electoral college They don't last forever, none of us do. In Trump's case, the expiration date arrives in 13 days and after that he will not be president. Around the same time as Mr Carlsons comments, The Wall Street Journal, which like Fox News is also owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch, called on Mr Trump to resign, in what was a change in tone from the paper that has been more favourable to the president than its rivals. If Mr Trump wants to avoid a second impeachment, his best path would be to take personal responsibility and resign, the Journals editorial board wrote on Thursday. This would be the cleanest solution since it would immediately turn presidential duties over to Mr Pence, it continued. It is best for everyone, himself included, if he goes away quietly, the board added. Murdoch-owned media outlets - The Journal, Fox News and the New York Post - have all published favourable coverage of Mr Trump over the last four years, but have reacted differently in recent days following the Capitol riots. Recommended Trump turns on his own supporters after inciting Capitol riot Some Republicans and Democrats have called for Mr Trump to be impeached for the second time for inciting the riots on Wednesday, with just less than two weeks until he is replaced in the White House by Mr Biden. Speaking after his temporary ban on Twitter was lifted on Thursday, Mr Trump admitted for the first time that it is time for him to move on from the results of Novembers presidential election. We have just been through an intense election and emotions are high, Mr Trump said. But now tempers must be cooled and calm restored. A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth orderly and seamless transition of power, he continued, before adding: This moment calls for healing and reconciliation. President Donald Trump addresses supporters at Wednesdays rally protesting the Electoral College certification of Joe Biden as president, which led to the storming of the Capitol. Democrats and many Republicans believe Trump needs to be removed from office before Bidens inauguration Jan. 20. A Trump supporter who took part in the siege of the US Capitol has been identified as a Texas real estate broker who had traveled to the protest in a private jet and later posed next to smashed windows of the federal building. Jenna Ryan, from Frisco, shared photos on social media attending the rally on Wednesday, which she claimed was attended by 'working class people' and described as 'one of the best days of my life'. The woman, who the New York Post reports is also a radio host, had shared snaps with her friends en route to the event in a private plane after flying out of US Trinity Aviation in Denton. She captioned a picture of herself and some friends: 'Here we go!!! #stopthesteal #dfwpatriots #PatriotParty #MarchForTrump.' The day of the march, Ryan documented the chaos in a livestream, claiming they had flown to Washington 'for freedom.' 'We the people are pissed off We flew by a private jet, God wanted us here today. Trump is my president,' she said in the video. Real estate broker Jenna Ryan, right, posed for pictures on board a private jet with her friends as they headed to Washington DC to join the rally on Wednesday Ryan posed in front of smashed windows in the capital and hosted live streams on Facebook as she walked through the streets towards the Capitol The group, including Ryan (left), posed for a picture in front of the private jet they hired to take them from Denton, Texas, to the capital to join the rally She also tweeted about the uprising on Twitter, where she proudly admitted to 'storming' the Capitol with the mob of Trump loyalists. 'We just stormed the capital (sic). It was one of the best days of my life,' she said in a tweet. 'We DID!!! It was fabulous!!!! I'm a PATRIOT!!!! We were on the US Capitol Steps having the time of our lives. Excuse me for being a Trump fan,' she said in a subsequent tweet reply to another user. It is not known if Ryan actually entered the Capitol building, and there is no indication she is being sought by police. Dozens of those involved in the violent siege, labeled as 'great patriots' by the president, are yet to be identified and the FBI is now asking for the helping in finding them. DC police revealed on Thursday that the majority of protesters hailed from outside the area and only one person arrested in the insurrection so far is from the District of Columbia. The real estate broker has been vocal about Wednesday's rally on Twitter, as a video has been circulating on the platform which shows her saying: 'We're gonna be breaking those windows' In her live stream Ryan (pictured) told viewers she was marching 'for you' and 'for freedom', claiming they are 'sick and tired of the Communist take over' In her video, Ryan revealed she was marching 'for you' and 'for freedom', claiming they are 'sick and tired of the Communist take over'. She continued: 'All these working class people taking the week off. They want to steal the election, they want to steal everything.' As the video continued rolling Ryan, who was dressed in Trump memorabilia, said: 'Stop the steal. They are taking our country from us. This is the prelude to the war that is about to happen. We are not messing around.' The showed street vendors selling a range of Trump emblazoned hats, scarves and flags which were being handed out to protesters. The broker was also tagged in several pictures of her grinning as she holds a bag and what appears to be a flag pole. While violence broke out, she beamed as she stood in front of a window at the Capitol which had been smashed. The caption read: 'Window at The capital. And if the news doesn't stop lying about us we're going to come after their studios next.' She told viewers 'this is the prelude to the war that is about to happen' and later described the rally in Washington DC as 'one of the best days of my life' In another video which has been circulating on social media, Ryan can also be seen stating: 'We're gonna be breaking those windows.' Jenna Ryan has been approached for comment. Police on Thursday said more than 90 protesters were arrested and four people died when the violent pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol building. Most of those already arrested have been accused of curfew violations. Others face charges of carrying a pistol without a license. Some of those who took part in the siege have already been identified online as members of far right groups, white nationalists, Neo-Nazis and supporters of conspiracy theory QAnon. Others who have also been named are from middle class backgrounds. Here DailyMail.com breaks down some of those who have been identified: The 'QAnon Shaman' - Jake Angeli The heavily-tattooed Trump supporter who sported horns, a fur hat and face paint and occupied the Senate dais moments after Vice President Mike Pence delivered his rebuke to Donald Trump has been revealed to be an Arizona-based QAnon believer who used to promote himself as a singer and actor. Jake Angeli has previously admitted his belief in QAnon started after reading conspiracy theories on the internet Jake Angeli, 32, often known as the QAnon Shaman, has become a fixture at recent right-wing rallies while decked out in his signature attire. One of his tattoos is said to show the symbol of Wotanism, an acronym for 'Will of the Aryan Nation.' Dr Adam Rutherford tweeted: 'I know this jamiroquoi wannabe muthaf***a is kinda funny but his tattoo is the symbol of Wotanism, which is a Nazi/Odin occult that believes Jews control the government, the Holocaust is exaggerated and champions the 14/88 slogan. He's a real card-carrying Nazi.' Angeli was at the front of a group of agitators who broke into the Capitol and faced off with DC police who desperately tried in vain to protect the establishment. He then made his way into the Senate chamber where he was seen shouting and posing for photos. Angeli flexed his left arm as he stood behind the dais in the Senate chamber where just moments earlier Vice President Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi had stood. He was flanked by an American flag and his fellow rioters took photos of him on their smartphones. The longtime Arizona QAnon supporter dressed in fur and a horned helmet, was among the violent mob of Donald Trump supporters who stormed the US Capitol Wednesday Angeli leads a mob of supporters breaking into the Capitol Wednesday night causing lawmakers to evacuate the chambers The 'Qanon Shaman' was also seen screaming in the chamber and clutching a megaphone. Angeli has become a prominent figure at pro-Trump rallies, always sporting his signature outfit of fur, horns, face paint and bare chest, where he has spouted off about QAnon conspiracy theories. Most recently he has been active at Arizona rallies calling for the results of the presidential election to be overturned, after Trump has refused to concede and pushed unfounded claims of voter fraud ever since he lost to Joe Biden. At a pro-Trump rally at the Arizona State Capitol in February, he held aloft a banner reading 'Q Sent Me' in reference to QAnon. He was also seen at reopen Arizona rallies protesting against lockdowns put in place to slow the spread of COVID-19. In one photo posted on his Facebook account in November, where he calls himself Yellowstone Wolf, Angeli is seen shaking hands with Rudy Giuliani, Trump's personal attorney - who hours before the violence kicked off encouraged supporters to pursue a 'trial by combat'. He has also posted about numerous conspiracy theories including a video claiming there is a 'globalist plot for world domination thru the plandemic & its numerous different agendas'. Angeli has previously admitted his belief in QAnon started after reading conspiracy theories on the internet. 'At a certain point, it all clicked in a way,' he said in an interview in February, reported AZCentral. 'Oh, my God. I see now the reality of what's going on.' QAnon is the debunked extreme right wing conspiracy theory that claims Satan-worshipping pedophiles are plotting against Trump and are running a global child sex trafficking ring. An undated profile for Angeli on Backstage.com shows the 32-year-old was a singer, screenwriter and actor. Barnett has also bought into Trump's unfounded claims that the election has been 'stolen' from him and has been spotted at other Stop The Steal rallies including one in Bentonville in November. Florida firefighter - Andy Williams Andy Williams was identified among the MAGA mob after a photo posted on social media showed him posing below a sign for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office. He wore a trucker cap emblazoned with Trump's campaign logo, along with a hydration backpack and a mask pushed under his chin. Andy Williams was identified among the MAGA mob after a photo posted on social media showed him posing below a sign for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office Williams has served as a firefighter in Sanford, Florida, since 2016, department spokesperson Bianca Gillett confirmed. He has been placed on leave pending an investigation by the city, Gillett said. 'Baby Lives Matter' founder Tayler Hansen Tayler Hansen, who founded an anti-abortion group called Baby Lives Matter, identifies himself as an independent journalist. He was linked to Wednesday's turmoil after posted a graphic video on Instagram which showed the aftermath of a shooting that left female protester Ashli Babbit of San Diego dead. Tayler Hansen, who founded an anti-abortion group called Baby Lives Matter, identifies himself as an independent journalist. He was linked to Wednesday's turmoil after posted a graphic video on Instagram which showed the aftermath of a shooting that left female protester Ashli Babbit of San Diego dead Babbit, 35, was reportedly shot by Capitol Police as she tried to climb through a window protesters had broken in an effort to get inside congressional chambers. Hansen posted on Twitter Wednesday night: 'After Ashli was killed outside the chamber doors Our elected officials went back to work hours later as if it were nothing, these people don't represent us. They are EVIL. The sooner you realize that, the sooner you'll realize how much trouble our Country is in.' Adam Johnson - The stay-at-home dad who stole Pelosi's lectern The looter who smiled for a photo as he made off with a lectern has been identified as Adam Johnson - a psychology graduate turned furniture maker from Bradenton, Florida. He is a stay-at-home dad to five children; his wife is a doctor, according to The Bradenton Herald. He has previously faced possession of marijuana and violation of probation charges, the paper reports. Another looter who smiled for a photo as he made off with a lectern has been named as Adam Johnson - a psychology graduate from Bradenton, Florida Photos on his now-deleted social media accounts show him posing next to a sign reading 'closed to all tours' inside the building. Johnson, 36, who was pictured inside the Capitol making off with a lectern, appears to have removed his social media platforms in the aftermath of the siege. Brooklyn Supreme Court judge's son - Aaron Mostofsky Aaron Mostofsky was pictured Wednesday walking down the stairs outside the Senate Chamber dressed in fur pelts and a bullet proof vest and carrying a wooden walking stick. He is the son of Shlomo Mostofsky, a Brooklyn Supreme Court judge, Gothamist reports. Aaron Mostofsky was pictured Wednesday walking down the stairs outside the Senate Chamber dressed in fur pelts and a bullet proof vest and carrying a wooden walking stick Mostofsky was seen walking just ahead of a man carrying the confederate flag. He told The New York Post: 'The election was stolen.' He had refused to give the paper his name but said he found the riot shield on the floor. His brother, Nachman Mostofsky, who also attended the rally but said he did not enter the Capitol building said his brother 'did nothing illegal' and 'was pushed inside'. Organizer of a Trump boat parade - Kristina Malimon The organizer of a Trump boat parade was also named as one of those arrested Wednesday. Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon. They both now face charges of unlawful entry and violating curfew, Buzzfeed reports. Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon, according to reports Kristina Malimon, 28, was arrested along with her mother, 54-year-old Yevgeniya Malimon. They both now face charges of unlawful entry and violating curfew, Buzzfeed reports. The younger Malimon helped to organize the event in Portland Oregon in August which resulted in a boat sinking. She is also affiliated with the Young Republicans of Oregon and Turning Point USA. The younger Malimon helped to organize the event in Portland Oregon in August which resulted in a boat sinking. She is also affiliated with the Young Republicans of Oregon and Turning Point USA. Navistar Direct Marketing employee A Maryland marketing company on Thursday fired a pro Trump rioter who was seen walking through the Capitol with his work pass hanging around his neck. A Maryland marketing company has fired a pro Trump rioter who walked through the Capitol with his work pass hanging around his neck on Wednesday Navistar Direct Marketing issued a statement Thursday which read: 'Navistar Direct Marketing was made aware that a man wearing a Navistar company badge was seen inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 during the security breach. 'After review of the photographic evidence the employee in question has been terminated for cause.' The unidentified employee was pictured inside the Capitol building Wednesday. 'While we support all employee's right to peaceful, lawful exercise of free speech, any employee demonstrating dangerous conduct that endangers the health and safety of others will no longer have an employment opportunity with Navistar Direct Marketing,' the company added. Several images of the worker show him alongside Angeli. Richard 'Bigo' Barnett Meanwhile, the insurrectionist who brazenly put his feet on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk in her office is now known to be a 60-year-old Arkansas man who claims he will run for Arkansas governor in 2022 and describes himself as a white nationalist online. In Pelosi's office, 60-year-old Barnett posed for a photo reclining in the House Speaker's chair before he later returned to the crowd of supporters outside and flashed a hand-written envelope he had looted In one selfie on his Facebook page, Barnett is seen posing with a semi-automatic rifle Richard 'Bigo' Barnett boasted outside the Capitol following the siege that he 'wrote [Pelosi] a nasty note, put my feet up on her desk and scratched my balls'. A photo from Pelosi's office showed another threatening note on her desk reading 'we will not back down'. Meanwhile, in Pelosi's office, Barnett posed for a photo reclining in the House Speaker's chair before he later returned to the crowd of supporters outside and flashed a hand-written envelope he had looted. It later emerged Barnett is an independent contractor and was the recipient of a $9,300 PPP loan as part of a COVID relief package, The Daily Dot reports. Baked Alaska, real name Tim Gionet Another of the mob was Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska who is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist who was involved in the far-right Charlottesville rally in 2017. Another of the mob was Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska who is described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as a white nationalist who was involved in the far-right Charlottesville rally in 2017 Donald Trump signs the tattooed arm of Tim Gionet, an online personality known as Baked Alaska, in 2016 Gionet posted video that showed Trump supporters in 'Make America Great Again' and 'God Bless Trump' hats milling around and taking selfies with officers who calmly asked them to leave the premises. The Trump supporters talked among themselves, laughed, and told the officers and each other: 'This is only the beginning.' Gionet, who had his YouTube channel banned in 2020, is said to have attended the rally Wednesday after telling followers on January 4 that he had testing positive for COVID-19, The Daily Dot reports. He can be seen in pictures without a mask. It is not clear when he tested positive for the virus or if he was tested before the rally. Rick Saccone, former state lawmaker in Pennsylvania Even elected politicians were part of the mob. Rick Saccone, who ran for a U.S. House seat in 2018 and was once a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, bragged on Facebook that 'we are storming the Capitol' and that 'our vanguard has broken through the barricades'. Even elected politicians were part of the mob. Rick Saccone, who ran for a U.S. House seat in 2018 and was once a state lawmaker in Pennsylvania, bragged on Facebook that 'we are storming the Capitol' Saccone also told his followers: 'We are trying to run out all the evil people and RINOs that have betrayed our president. We are going to run them out of their offices.' He later deleted that post but not before it was seen by his followers, CBS reports. He added: 'Hello Mr. President, we love you. Keep doing what you're doing. We're with you. Until next time, in God we trust.' In a later Facebook post Saccone said: 'I see some people are twisting the peaceful protest into something else. Everyone from our group was involved in peaceful, first amendment assembly. It was part of the metaphor to storm the castle so to speak. 'People that I heard breached some barricades to reach the steps to wave flags. Some carried a huge American flag up the steps which drew a loud roar of approval from the crowd. No one I no of intended or condones any violence unlike those on the left. Did not see any violence but did see some smoke what some said was tear gas being sprayed at people. 'I cannot imagine anyone being shot for a trespass. The punishment for trespass is not death. My heart goes out to the young lady who was shot. Again, these were hundreds of thousands of peaceful protestors, especially those from Pa. What do you think?' Derrick Evans Derrick Evans, a member of West Virginia's House of Delegates, streamed live footage from the Capitol as he joined in the march. He later claimed he was 'simply there as an independent member of the media'. Derrick Evans, a member of West Virginia's House of Delegates, streamed live footage from the Capitol Wednesday Evans, who calls himself an activist online, later deleted the footage showing him rushing inside with the mob. 'We're going in,' he tells followers. In other clips he could be heard chanting 'stop the steal', The New York Times reports. Joshua Pruitt, Proud Boy Joshua Pruitt is the only person arrested on a felony charge of violating the Riot Act so far, according to the city's arrest sheet. The 39-year-old was taken into custody at the Capitol building. He is reported to have links to the Proud Boy movement, CNN states. Paul Davis, lawyer fired from his job Paul Davis livestreamed from outside the Capitol; he was later fired from his job Paul Davis livestreamed from outside the Capitol to his followers online. He is understood to have been fired from his job at Goosehead Insurance as a result. A spokesman for the company told DailyMail.com: 'His actions are not a representation of or supported by Goosehead in any way. 'He is no longer employed by Goosehead, An official statement will be released.' Davis later posted to Instagram saying: 'For those of you claiming I was trying to storm the Capitol, its obvious from my entire story that I was peacefully demonstrating. They gassed the entire crowd that was standing there with me. I was not trying to break in. Was just talking to the police officers and praying over them.' Unidentified: the pro-Trumper wearing a 'Camp Auschwitz' shirt, the supporter carrying a Confederate flag One of those pictured at the Capitol Wednesday wore a racist t-shirt which read 'Camp Auschwitz' A unidentified supporter of President Donald Trump carries a Confederate battle flag on the second floor of the U.S. Capitol near the entrance to the Senate after breaching security defenses Jon Schaffer, heavy metal musician Jon Schaffer, the guitarist in heavy metal band Iced Earth was also pictured breaching the Capitol Wednesday, LouderSound.com reports. Jon Schaffer, the guitarist in heavy metal band Iced Earth, was also said to have been pictured breaching the Capitol, right in the blue sweatshirt Schaffer, 52, warned in an interview last year: 'They will go down. They're messing with the wrong people, believe me.' Leigh Ann Luck Outside the chaos in the capitol, another vocal Trump supporter Leigh Ann Luck, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty as she shouted in protest against Biden's victory. The National Guard was deployed to help police enforce a 6pm curfew in DC. Hundreds of protesters remained on the Capitol grounds after the curfew went into effect and Mayor Muriel Bowser refused to say if violators would be arrested. Earlier in the evening, President-elect Joe Biden called for the 'mob to pull back' and said the uprising bordered on sedition. Leigh Ann Luck dressed up as Statue of Liberty poses for a picture as supporters of Donald Trump protested Biden's victory Outside the chaos in the capitol, another vocal Trump supporter Leigh Ann Luck, dressed up as the Statue of Liberty as she shouted in protest against Biden's victory Trump - after remaining silent for much of the afternoon - posted a video telling his 'very special' supporters inside the Capitol that he loves them and understands their pain but urged them 'to go home'. He had initially encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol after a rally earlier in the afternoon before asking them only to remain peaceful when violence broke out. The Capitol was briefly secured before being placed on lockdown again at around 6.45pm due to an 'internal security threat' after an officer was reportedly found unconscious. Anyone inside a building at the Capitol complex was instructed to take cover in an office with doors locked. But just before 8pm lawmakers who had been whisked to safety when the siege kicked off began arriving back at the Capitol to resume the Joint Session to certify the Electoral College count of the presidential election. The lawmakers were seen flanked by armed guards as they made their way into the Capitol. A spokesperson for Vice President Mike Pence, who is residing over the Joint Session, said he was already in the building because he'd never left. The crowd of Trump supporters at the Capitol also included adherents of the 'Groyper Army,' a loose network of white supremacists that includes 'America First' podcaster Nick Fuentes. Jonathan Greenblatt, CEO of the Anti-Defamation League, said the mobs actions were 'clearly consistent' with the conspiratorial rhetoric of QAnon, the baseless belief that Trump has been secretly fighting deep state enemies and a cabal of Satan-worshipping cannibals operating a child sex trafficking ring. 'QAnon has been calling on this kind of madness for years,' Greenblatt said. The government has done u-turn on plans to allow Leaving Cert students to return to school three days a week, starting from next week. Leaving Cert students will now study remotely until January 31, like other pupils. Mercy Secondary School Ballymahon student Keira-Lily Farrell is one of many Leaving Certificate students who were outraged and felt that their health was to be put at risk with a return to school. In an email on behalf of all Leaving Cert students sent to Minister Foley, Taoiseach Micheal Martin, Leo Varadkar TD and Eamon Ryan TD, Ms Farrell expressed her concern at the government's initial plans to open schools for those sitting their exams. "From the 12th of March onwards to the new school term of 2020/2021, we missed the essential lessons to learn the criteria of our Leaving Cert. You gave Leaving Certs of 2020 the option of predicted grades when the positive rate was much lower and cases were fewer. Students who went on to sit the actual exam in November were a small minority so there is no proof putting all 50,000 to 60,000 students up for exams will work," she said. In her letter, Ms Farrell also noted that Northern Ireland had cancelled the GCSEs this year, as has the rest of the UK had cancelled the A levels. "They respect the mental well-being of their students in both exam environments and understand the pressure they are under. And giving them time to do predicted grades means they can focus better and not stress, it gives them a sigh of relief, that not everything is bad now," she wrote. "Why must you leave us all in the dark just like mental health services here till the last minute? To our breaking points. To the point we have panic attacks, anxiety attacks and burn out from stress and panic that you could give closure to, but instead you really are making it worse." Mental health was a major topic among Leaving Cert students last year who were left wondering throughout the beginning of the pandemic what would happen with their exams after schools were ordered to close. Ms Farrell emphasised the issue of mental health in her letter to government leaders, stating that students should not once again be subject to such stress again this year. "There is a high rate, getting higher, of children to young adults committing suicide, struggling with mental health more than ever," Ms Farrell added. "Our next pandemic will be suicide rates if nothing is done. Our next pandemic and global issues will be mental health. Our next pandemic will be in young people tackling stress, anxiety, depression etc. "You have the option to help us. Prevent this course of action and have the power to help us. Not continue to leave us in the dark. Not to continue the exams are a go ahead until the last minute like the class of 2020. You have seen how villainous this virus is, so please, take us seriously. We are soon adults to this society; don't give us a sour taste of politics when we are young. "So I beg you and plead with you for my health and for others, to help us, because we as a class of 2021 deserve better. We feel alone. We don't feel safe. We are scared. We are vulnerable as a population, as a statistic, as the next generation to make this country a better place. The leaving cert should not be the matter of life or death, especially in the eyes of unprecedented times." Speaking to the Longford Leader today, Ms Farrell stated that she, along with many of her peers, does not feel comfortable "going back to school and risking our immune systems or mental health". "Many concerned parents and students have been emailing and the government has not been responding," she said, stating that she herself received automated responses to her own email. Before the government announced new plans this evening to keep schools closed to all students, Leaving Cert students across the country were planning to boycott and refuse to return to school on Monday until the positive rate is lower and cases are fewer. The Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) this evening also expressed its concerns at the government's initial plans to sent exam students back to school. ASTI President Ann Piggott said: The ASTI has repeatedly sought sufficient assurances that schools are safe for students and teachers at this time, in the context of the new variant of Covid-19 circulating in the community and the alarmingly high numbers. We engaged with the Department of Education and with public health officials today. Unfortunately, the assurances we sought have not been forthcoming. Following a large number of concerns from secondary school teachers across the country, ASTI Standing Committee decided to direct its members not to cooperate with the arrangements announced by the Minister for Education for in-school teaching, but to engage in remote teaching/learning provision from Monday, January 11. "We will not risk our lives for a piece of paper and there are many back doors into third level education," Ms Farrell told the Longford Leader. "We will stay at home and continue our studies. The class of 2020 was given a choice of predicted grades when cases where fewer and we believed they where our darkest times. This is our darkest time now. "We will not risk our lives when other countries such as our neighbours Northern Ireland and England have cancelled the GCSEs and A Levels. "Us sixth years feel in the dark. We feel our needs are not being met. We are stressed and we are scared. We are travelling through this pandemic like everyone else so please give us the chance to survive without the government attempting herd immunity with us. These are unprecedented times; why should our exams be a life or death matter?" Read also: Blow to Government Leaving Cert return to school plan as ASTI directs members to teach classes remotely A Dallas-area real estate broker was among a mob of Trump supporters who breached the U.S. Capitol grounds on Wednesday, according to her social media posts. "We just stormed the Capital (sic). It was one of the best days of my life," Jenna Ryan tweeted from her account, @dotjenna, on Wednesday evening. Ryan, a licensed real estate broker who works at Frisco-based company Jenna Ryan Realty, chronicled her involvement in the pro-Trump riot via Facebook and Twitter. Incited by President Donald Trump's false claims that the election was stolen from him, his supporters on Wednesday afternoon stormed the U.S. Capitol, where they overwhelmed police, smashed through windows and desecrated the building. Five people died in the siege. Social media users flagged Ryan's tweets to the FBI, which said it is seeking information on suspects who were "actively instigating" violence. In one Twitter post, Ryan posed for a photo in front of a broken window with glass panes missing or nearly shattered. She wore a Trump hat and smiled while flashing a peace sign. "Window at The capital," the caption reads. "And if the news doesn't stop lying about us we're going to come after their studios next..." On Friday, Ryan said she did not "condone the violence that occurred ... and I am truly heartbroken for the people who have lost their lives." "I was invited to go to Washington D.C. by a friend to witness the march," she said in a statement. "Unfortunately, what I believed to be a peaceful political march turned into a violent protest." Ryan, who said she is a "conservative Republican radio host," was active on her social media pages this week. Ryan replied to one critic on Twitter: "WE DID!!! It was fabulous!!! I'm a PATRIOT!!! We were on the US Capitol Steps having the time of our lives. Excuse me for being a Trump fan." Other photos posted to Ryan's account show her standing among a crowd near the steps of the U.S. Capitol, surrounded by people wearing "Make America Great Again" gear. Ryan also posted multiple photos of media cameras and equipment that rioters threw to the ground, saying it was "rightfully" destroyed. On a Facebook live video, Ryan walks with other Trump supporters around 7 a.m. Wednesday morning. "Got my Trump hat. Got my Trump people. We flew here, you know why? We flew here for you. We flew here for freedom. Because were sick and tired of the Communist takeover," she says in the video. "Because they want to steal the election, they want to steal everything." Texas Realtors, a statewide trade association, said in a statement that the organization stands with the nation's history of peaceful protests and the peaceful transfer of power. "What happened at the U.S. Capitol was an assault on both," the organization said. "Actions of any members who participated in this weeks demonstrations do not reflect the thoughts and opinions of our association." The Texas Real Estate Commission, the state's real estate licensing agency, said in response to an inquiry about Ryan that the agency only investigates matters related to brokerage activity. "While TREC does not condone this type of behavior, actions of a license holder that occur outside of a real estate transaction are beyond its jurisdiction," the organization's statement said. Ryan did not immediately respond to multiple inquiries seeking comment. Workforce EEOC cancels official time for union reps in discrimination complaints The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission cemented a Trump administration rule change on Thursday that limits the use of official time for federal employees in the filing of discrimination complaints. The change limits the ability of those filing a complaint to choose a union representative to help them before the EEOC by excluding union members that serve an "officer, steward or otherwise in an official capacity" from the use of official time in the process. The previous EEOC rule required federal agencies to allow employees to use a "reasonable amount of official time," to file discrimination complaints. It also gave the complainant the right to be accompanied or advised by their choice of representative. Commissioner Charlotte Burrows, initially nominated by President Barack Obama and then re-nominated for a second term by Trump, also referenced recent events as she remarked on her opposition to the rule change. "We have seen what partisan overreach looks like in the ugliest possible way yesterday at the U.S. Capitol. I do not understand why we would be doing this now, particularly given that, as Commissioner [ Jocelyn] Samuels points out, [President Trump's] days are numbered," Burrows said. "This proposal is on the wrong side of history." Supporters said the rule clarifies the use of official time. "Agencies will be better able to plan and forecast staffing needs based on the agreements negotiated during collective bargaining," said commissioner Andrea Lucas, a Republican nominee. "This is a reasonable rule that will bring clarity and efficiency by harmonizing EEOC regulations with the [Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute] and will ensure that our regulations do not infringe on the statutory scheme laid out by Congress." Opponents countered that the new rule could create a chilling effect on the complaint process. "This rule will undoubtedly discourage union officials from serving as representatives," said Samuels, who worked in the Obama administration. "And it is all done to advance the current administration's anti-union posture." Since its proposal in in Dec. 2019, the rule has garnered over 1,800 comments during two posting periods in the Federal Register, as well as attention on Capitol Hill on the potential impact of the changes. National Treasury Employees Union President Anthony Reardon said in a comment that the change only affects the use of official time by union officials. "The proposed rule targets no other group of potential representatives," he said. "Those union officials are, of course, the very people that an employee might naturally seek out for help in combatting illegal discrimination." The comments included input from 185 members of Congress, led by Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-Md) and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), who is a former chair of the EEOC. The lawmakers wrote that the proposed rule would "undermine the rights of federal employees" and "harm the mission" of the EEOC. "This is an outrageous and hypocritical position for EEOC to take during this national reckoning of racial injustice. EEOC should focus on robust civil rights enforcement, not create roadblocks for federal workers who raise internal discrimination complaints," said Everett Kelley, American Federation of Government Employees National President, in an AFGE press release on the rule change. A San Antonio man was arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of an 11-year-old in August, according to an arrest affidavit. D'Morea Keys, 22, was arrested Thursday and charged with capital murder. According to the affidavit, Keys was attempting to shoot at another car when the vehicle with the victim, Donita Phillips, inside was caught in the crossfire Aug. 15 in the 5400 block of Walzem Road. Phillips and a 34-year-old woman, who was also in the car, were both shot. Phillips was taken to the hospital in critical condition but later died. FIND OUT FIRST: Get San Antonio breaking news directly to your inbox Video footage of the shooting showed a Dodge Avenger with black rims, dark tinted windows and a pink steering wheel parked at the Windcrest Pediatric Denistry building around 6 p.m. The driver, later identified as Keys, and the passenger both rolled down the windows and started shooting just as the car carrying the victim drove by, the affidavit said. Police said they do not believe Keys knew anyone inside the victim's vehicle. The next day, the registered owner of the vehicle Keys was driving reported it missing. Police said the woman denied anyone else had driven her car and became agitated with questions from police and left, the affidavit said. According to the affidavit, surveillance footage from a local shopping mall where the woman worked shows her allowing Keys to drive off in her vehicle the day of the shooting. The surveillance footage also shows Keys, the woman and a third unidentified person inspecting the vehicle, the affidavit said. An anonymous tip later identified Keys as one of the shooters. After further investigation, he was arrested Thursday without incident by SAPDs Rapid Response Team. SAPD said the investigation is still ongoing and expects to file more charges. Police have not identified the second shooter. Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | taylor.pettaway@express-news.net | @TaylorPettaway On the traditional lands of the Wiradjuri nation, about a quarter of Wellington's 8000 residents are Aboriginal. The hit-and-run tragedy has renewed criticisms in the town about perceived neglect by government and police. Mr Nolan and other local Aboriginal figures feel the town's problems have become worse over the past six months and they want more proactive policing, with officers present 24 hours a day and forming relationships with the community. Wellington Local Aboriginal Lands Council chief executive Mike Nolan says the recent tragedy has touched the entire town. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Aunty Myrene believes the accident that killed the Shorey boys could have been avoided if police had been more responsive. "This town has to be cleaned up," she said. As police work to support the community in the wake of the deaths, Assistant Commissioner Geoff McKechnie, the NSW Police Western Region Commander, said crime rates for Wellington have been trending down or static. "We have certainly put additional resources down there over time, and the town from a policing perspective is very well-serviced," he said. "But unfortunately, there's just been this series, in recent times, of very, very unfortunate and tragic incidents that do have a negative impact on the community." Police were praised last year for raids that busted a thriving syndicate moving drugs to Wellington and other regional towns from western Sydney. But locals say the drug trade rebounded quickly. "The feeling after that was really good and the town just really came alive and people felt safer. It felt like something was happening. And then it's just slowly started to go back down again," Mr Nolan said. Dubbo mayor Ben Shields says Wellington needs more investment in services. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Ben Shields, Mayor of Dubbo Regional Council, said the area is going "gangbusters" economically but needs more government investment. "Like a lot of regional areas, we do have ice problems. Just like a lot of inner-city areas, where they have ice problems. But it's not helped when the facilities to deal with ice problems and drugs problems aren't there," he said. The town's story is the story of many towns in regional Australia. Entrenched Indigenous disadvantage, long-term economic decline, an ice epidemic. Assistant Commissioner McKechnie said the structural cycle of poverty and criminality is notable in Wellington and exacerbates its drug problem. Loading He warned that the issues go beyond the conventional role of law enforcement. "People often see police as the panacea for all society's problems. We can and do intervene where appropriate but there are some other underlying issues," he said. The unemployment rate in Wellington is about 14 per cent, double the nationwide figure. About 40 per cent of its adult residents have not finished high school. The median weekly household income is $796, compared to $1203 across Australia. Like Assistant Commissioner McKechnie, Mr Nolan ties the town's drug and crime troubles to an entrenched lack of economic opportunity. Wellington's residents are determined to see the town stage a comeback. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer While the local region has experienced a surge of investment and economic activity, with two renewable energy projects and two prisons being built nearby, locals fear Wellington is not benefiting from the upswing. "Jobs change people's lives in this town. People want to work, and it's just having the opportunity to do that," Mr Nolan said. A lot of commercial premises in the town are unoccupied and people have to travel to nearby Dubbo for a lot of basic goods and services. Locals point to the town's reputation for crime as a deterrent against business investment. Wellington entrepreneurs told the Herald the town was sometimes a challenging place to run a business but backed it as a place to live and work, saying the negative perception of the town was unfair. "I think it's moving ahead these days. I think the public's definitely had enough of prior years with the drugs that have affected a lot of families," said publican Jesse Dawson, who runs the Lion of Waterloo Tavern. Loading Joshua Fisk, who owns Central Butchery on the town's main street, said Wellington was generally a relaxed place and business was steady. "It gets a bit of a bad rap but I personally don't think it's that bad. Like every town's got its troubles. Drugs are probably its main problem but you go to Dubbo and it's no better. I guess a lot of country towns aren't much better," he said. Local Wiradjuri entrepreneur Herb Smith has experienced major success with his snack food company Dreamtime Tuka, which uses native Australian ingredients and has secured contracts with Qantas, NSW train services and BP service stations. .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... On a recent column by Ruben Navarrette a reference is made by Joe Biden to the racial makeup of the nation with Blacks having to worry about Hispanics growing in numbers so that Blacks are not the only game in town, and whites will be a minority. Navarrette acknowledges that future but then makes a controversial statement, saying that as a Hispanic that is someone who is neither white nor Black I like what Im hearing. Is this a racist statement? The term Hispanic is an ethnic term as there is no Hispanic race, at least if white and Black are referenced as being racial terms. Many if not most Hispanics are at least partly descended from white European Spaniards and whites of other European countries. Many of course also have Indio/Indian/Indigenous/Native American ancestry and a smaller number have Black ancestry. If not of one race only, shouldnt Hispanics consider themselves of a mixed racial heritage? And if they are only descended from a white European heritage shouldnt they classify themselves as white? Why would they deny being white? Another point to consider is the status of Indigenous/Indio people from Mexico and Central America who immigrate to the U.S. Shouldnt they have the opportunity not to be called Hispanic? They may not like that their ancestors were conquered by white European Spaniards. They may wish to be considered Indios/Indigenous/Indian/Native American, but would the Indigenous people of the United States be accepting of them and would they be entitled to the same recognition both politically and monetarily? ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ On future census forms perhaps references to ethnicity or race should be eliminated. After all the term Asian no longer refers mostly to what are considered East Asians, i.e., Chinese, Japanese and Korean. But now must include the many diverse peoples of South and Southeast Asia as wells as middle Asia the Stans and the Middle East. While Navarrette cautions Biden on his statements referring to the racial status of people in the U.S., perhaps he should look inward as he is someone who is neither white nor Black so is he only Indian/Indio/Indigenous? It would be best if we all referred to ourselves as Americans and were all treated equally without reference to race or ethnicity. In California and New Mexico Hispanics are becoming the majority. Will they do better than whites? Authorities are on the scene after a person suspected of carjacking was shot by a Poarch Tribal Police officer in south Alabama. The shooting happened in the parking lot of the Creek Travel Plaza at I-65 and Jacks Springs Road, about a mile from the Poarch Creek Indian Reservation, according to Northescambia.com The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said they are investigating the shooting at the request of the Escambia County Sheriffs Office. Few details have been released but state authorities say one person was taken to the hospital. The officer was not injured. The ordeal began Thursday night in Wetumpka, said Assistant Police Chief Earl Reeves. Police were called to the Pace Car Gas Station on Highway 231 on a suspicious person. A man there told police he had just been discharged from the hospital and was waiting for a ride and thats why he was hanging out there. His story checked out, and they told him to continue waiting but not to panhandle or bother anyone. A carjacking suspect was shot Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 at the Creek Travel Plaza near Atmore. SBI is investigating. (Photo courtesy of William Reynolds/NorthEscambia.com) That as about 5:15 p.m. At 5:41 p.m., a man driving a Nissan Armada pulled in. He left his vehicle running while he went into the store and thats when the first man got into the vehicle and took off. Reeves said the theft victim had also left an assault rifle in his stolen vehicle. At 10:30 p.m., Wetumpka police were notified that the Armada had been recovered in Evergreen. The assault rifle, however, was not found with the vehicle. The SUV had been abandoned and the suspect then reportedly carried out three more carjackings in Evergreen and Greenville before encountering Poarch Tribal Police early Friday. He went on a crime spree,' Reeves said. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to the Escambia County District Attorneys Office. This story will be updated if more information becomes available. Let us forget for a moment that Israel is not the nation-state of the Jewish people. Let us fantasize that it is not engaged in an intractable conflict with Palestinian Arabs who refuse to recognize or make peace with the legitimacy of an indigenous people who historically, biblically, legally, and irreversibly have reestablished their homeland in the Land of Israel. The realty of course is that despite numerous efforts and generous concessions over the last 73 years by Israel to make peace with the Palestinian Arabs, the Palestinian Arab national aspiration has been and continues to be th... SCB has continued to increase its loan portfolio of Chinese businesses investing in Thailand. (Photo: Bangkok Post) Bangkok China's foreign direct investment (FDI) in Thailand is expected to increase significantly over the next few years as Chinese investors are planning to expand their local footprint, a survey by Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) shows.The survey is based on responses from 170 Chinese investors who are involved in FDI-related businesses. Some 61 percent of respondents are Chinese investors investing and doing business in Thailand.According to the survey, 66 percent of the 170 respondents said they plan to increase investment in Thailand over the next two years, while 22 percent expect to maintain the existing investment portion, and 12 percent said they plan to reduce investment locally.Local market expansion is the primary reason attracting Chinese FDI inflow into Thailand, representing 56 percent of motive variables, followed by ASEAN market expansion at 40 percent and the use of local raw materials at 37 percent.Based on this survey, SCB expects Chinese FDI inflows to increase significantly in the post-COVID-19 period. Retained demand of Chinese investment during the pandemic will also lend support to Chinese FDI inflow moving into Southeast Asia's second largest economy in the next few years.SCBs chief financial officer and first executive vice president Manop Sangiambut said besides existing investment from Chinese manufacturing businesses in Thailand, new industries, such as technology, services and food and restaurant business have also expressed interest in expanding into Thailand.Some Chinese investors are also looking for local business partners through joint venture or merger and acquisition deals in Thailand, he added.SCB, the country's fourth largest commercial lender by total assets, has continued to increase its loan portfolio to Chinese businesses investing in Thailand. The bank currently focuses mainly on large listed companies on China's bourses and state-owned enterprises.Chief economist at SCB Economic Intelligence Center Yunyong Thaicharoen said greater clarity of Chinese FDI inflows will transpire in the second half as investors are assessing the government's management of the new COVID-19 outbreak. Posted Thursday, January 7, 2021 3:57 pm The organizer of planned daily demonstrations at the Washington state Capitol to protest a lack of access to the upcoming remote legislative session has announced he is canceling the event. The announcement Wednesday night by organizer Tyler Miller came at the end of a tumultuous day, after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Meanwhile, in Olympia, demonstrators Wednesday made it past a gate outside the official residence of Gov. Jay Inslee and chanted slogans outside. They left after a brief standoff with the Washington State Patrol. Miller had been promoting a daily protest to start Sunday, the day before the Legislature convenes. He has contended that the lack of access to the closed Capitol building, shuttered amid the COVID-19 pandemic, violates the state constitution. Lawmakers will largely be meeting remotely this session, in committee and floor sessions that will be streamed on tvw.org. From the outset, Miller has stressed repeatedly that his demonstration would be a peaceful affair, and he had discouraged agitation. But in a Facebook live event through his organization, Hazardous Liberty, he said Wednesday's events changed his mind. "We can be peaceful and respectful, forceful and persistent," Miller told his audience. But there are always people who have "other intentions" and who could go on to agitation at the protests, he said later. In an interview Wednesday night, Miller said he believed his demonstrations would have been successful, but the risk was too great. He added: "It's become an explosive situation." Miller has said that demonstrators were planning to try and enter the closed Capitol on a daily basis. But "we're not there to cause trouble, we're not there to break down doors, to occupy the building," said Miller, 40, an engineering technician, in an interview last week. "We're there simply to observe our constitutional right." The Legislature's scheduled 105-day session begins Monday. Lawmakers will gather in-person Monday for the first day before going largely remote after that. To facilitate the session, some staff and lawmakers will be in the Capitol, which has been closed to the public for months. ___ (c)2021 The Seattle Times Visit The Seattle Times at www.seattletimes.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he has banned the government from importing COVID-19 vaccines made in the United States or United Kingdom even as his country grapples with the worst coronavirus outbreak in the region. Imports of US and British vaccines into the country are banned. I have told this to officials, and I'm saying it publicly now," Khamenei said, according to a Reuters translation of televised remarks. "I have no confidence in them, he said. If the Americans were able to produce a vaccine, they would not have such a coronavirus fiasco in their own country." Given our experience with Frances HIV-tainted blood supplies, French vaccines arent trustworthy either, Khamenei said in a reference to Frances scandal involving contaminated blood transfusions during the AIDS epidemic. The Iranian Red Crescent Society said in a statement Friday that it would no longer deliver 150,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine the organization said had been donated by overseas benefactors. Iran, which in late December launched human trials of its own vaccine, has sought supplies elsewhere. The Red Crescent said last week that China would donate one million doses to Iran. Separately, the Central Bank of Iran said would pay for 16.8 million doses through the World Health Organizations COVAX initiative, a purchasing pool to deliver vaccinations to poorer countries. Iran remains the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak in the Middle East. The Iranian Health Ministry recorded 6,251 cases on Friday, raising the countrys total number of infections since February to more than 1.2 million. With the addition of 85 more fatalities, the official death toll now stands at 56,018. On Tuesday, Iran reported its first case of the new coronavirus variant, which emerged in the United Kingdom last month and is believed by some experts to be more contagious. Health Minister Saeed Namaki said the patient is an Iranian citizen who flew home from the United Kingdom and is now receiving treatment in a private hospital. Tensions between Iran and the West are running high over the anniversary of Iranian commander Qasem Soleimanis death and the Donald Trump administrations continued sanctions campaign. Irans leaders say the harsh economic sanctions, which Washington reimposed after pulling out of the landmark Iranian nuclear agreement in 2018, have made it difficult for their country to access vaccines. The Trump administration maintains that vaccines and other humanitarian supplies are exempt from the sanctions. President-elect Joe Biden has pledged to return the United States to the nuclear accord if Tehran meets its obligations under the deal. On Monday, Iran announced that its Fordow nuclear facility has resumed enriching uranium to 20%, a major breach of the original agreement. Some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in the environmental sector have supported the call by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for an open and dispassionate conversation on the way forward in the fight against illegal mining (galamsey). They have, however, said for the effort to yield the desired results, the Minerals Commission and other mandated state institutions must be resourced and made more independent to lead the fight, instead of leaving it in the hands of partisan committees. The organisations, which include Arocha Ghana, Green Advocacy Ghana, the Ghana National Association of Small-Scale Miners (GNASSM) and the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, claimed that although President Akufo-Addo had demonstrated enough commitment to fight the menace over the past four years, his political appointees who spearheaded the fight had failed him. In separate interviews with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the organisations unanimously called for the retooling of state institutions such as the Minerals Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Water Resource Commission (WRC) to effectively execute their respective mandates. They also said a multi-faceted governance strategy involving civil society organisations (CSOs), traditional rulers, technocrats in the mining sector and other stakeholders needed to be involved to support state institutions to fight the menace President's call In his last State of the Nation Address to Parliament to end his first four-year tenure in Accra last Tuesday, President Akufo-Addo said he was opened to frank and apolitical discussions on how to deal with the galamsey menace. He said the time had come to take the discourse on fighting galamsey beyond party politics, adding: "There is one subject about which I believe we, the people, need to have an open conversation about, and that is galamsey. "We have to talk about galamsey. We, who are leaders, owe it to the country to take the subject out of the party political arena and have an honest conversation about this menace," he said. Challenges The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Telecoms Chamber, Mr Kenneth Ashigbey, who was the convener of the Media Coalition Against Galamsey, said although the galamsey fight started on a good note, some political actors "blackmailed the President and messed up the situation". "The call by the President is actually a concession that partisanship derailed the galamsey fight; so it is important that, going forward, we bring on board CSOs, chiefs and professional bodies to fight the menace," he said. According to Mr Ashigbey, regulatory bodies in the mining sector, especially the Minerals Commission, needed to be made more independent, aside from efforts to ensure transparency in the award of concessions to avoid politicians taking over the system. "There should be more transparency in the award of concessions because we need to know who owns which concession. "There are still unresolved issues, such as missing excavators and the Charles Bissiw and Ekow Ewusi case. These must be properly investigated and not swept under the carpet," he added. The deputy national director of Arocha Ghana, Mr Daryl Bonsu, said the call by President Akufo-Addo was a confirmation of a long-held claim by a section of the public that partisanship was the bane to winning the war against the menace. "The President put his Presidency on the line and made a firm commitment to fight galamsey. He started very well by setting up Operation Vanguard, the Interministerial committee on Illegal Mining (IMCIM) and other interventions, but from 2019, political interference, which became so evident, eroded the gains made. "We were very close to cutting the head of the dragon, but we are disappointed that, after spending so much resources, we failed to win the fight because of political interference," he said. Mr Bonsu cited what he called Executive interference in the work of the Minerals Commission and related agencies, as well as the setting up of the IMCIM without representation from CSOs, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, as the reason for the relatively low outcome in the galamsey fight. Opportunity The CEO of Green Advocacy Ghana, Mr Yaw Amofa-Osei, said although the government failed to leverage the goodwill of the people to fight the menace, there was still a window of opportunity to make amends. He said metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) were central to the fight against the menace. "MMDAs are crucial to environmental governance because they are on the ground to enforce local laws," Mr Amofa-Osei said. For his part, the General Secretary of GNASSM, Mr Godwin Armah, opined that the call by the President meant the strategy adopted by the government had failed, saying: "It was left in the hands of politicians, but now it is clear, from what the President said, that we need to look at local solutions to the problem at hand." "If half of the resources that were given to the IMCIM had been made available to the Minerals Commission, it would have done well and given us better results," he said. 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 (Natural News) Depending on the social circles and news sources one fancies, the 2020 election was either hijacked by fraud and irregularities, or so well run that its outcome is not in doubt and any claims to the contrary are, in the words of some reporters, baseless. (Article by John Solomon republished from JustTheNews.com) But if weve learned one lesson in the era of incessant cable TV and social media, its that the truth cant be hurried and the sensationalized early headlines are often deceiving. Remember, Trump colluded with Russia until he didnt. And Jacob Blake was declared shot unarmed when in fact he was armed with a knife. And lets not forget that Hunter Bidens business scandal was Russian disinformation until he admitted he was under criminal investigation. That is why more than 100 state legislators from the battleground states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Georgia sent an 11th hour letter Tuesday to Vice President Mike Pence saying they are not yet confident in the declarations that Joe Biden won their state and want 10 days to investigate further. Thats a large bloc, yes all Republican, but one that shouldnt be ignored when their letter includes a massive index of evidence of irregularities, some of which have been validated by court rulings, official government documents or sworn affidavits. Just the News worked with more than three dozen journalists across the country for eight weeks trying to investigate claims of irregularities. Many got dismissed, but some were substantially documented by courts, election officials or testimony. Here are some of the voting irregularities that the Just the News election integrity project documented: Wisconsin illegally permitted large numbers of residents to evade voter ID requirements by simply declaring they were indefinitely confined at home because of COVID-19. Wisconsins Supreme Court ruled in December that state officials violated the law when they allowed this mass exemption without getting required legislative approval, putting in doubt as many as 200,000 votes in a state where Biden and President Trump were separated by 200,000. Officials in Fulton County, Georgia, home of the city of Atlanta, prematurely moved data cards from 36 voting machines before voting ended. State officials had advised the county that the cards should be removed just before they reached 10,000 votes, the apparent storage limit for the cards, but county officials admit they removed cards with as few as 3,000 counted votes and locked them in a cabinet. The exact reasons and chain of custody are not fully clear. Jessy Jacob, a career Detroit city employee with three decades of experience, testified both in an affidavit and at a legislative hearing that for weeks leading to Election Day and at least one full day after, she and her fellow election workers were instructed to manipulate and alter ballots and voter rolls, including falsely backdating ballot requests and actual ballots. City officials have not provided evidence to contest her claims. Multiple GOP election observers in states like Georgia, Michigan and Pennsylvania have testified they were wrongly dismissed on election night or kept from being able to provide bipartisan oversight as has been required and embraced for decades. Wisconsin did not, as required by state law, purge between 100,000 and 200,000 outdated voter registrations from its rolls before the November contest as had been done in prior elections. Litigation concerning this oversight is ongoing. Georgia state officials acknowledged last month they have 250 open cases of alleged voter fraud or irregularities from the 2020 election and rolled in additional state investigators to help. In Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, state election officials allowed county clerks to cure or fix errant ballots without rejecting them though the state legislatures had not approved such mechanisms. Some counties engaged in curing while others did not, fearful such activity was illegal. There are numerous other claims, like those of the Data Integrity Group, who have offered analyses of vote count irregularities, as well as videotape of apparent ballots in suitcases or trucks that have not been fully explained or investigated. But those irregularities that have already been documented give many state legislators heartburn and a desire to investigate further in the new year as to whether the documented problems could have changed the outcomes. Wisconsin, in particular, is gaining momentum for further investigations We know laws were broken, Wisconsin State Rep. Joe Sanfelippo said in an interview Tuesday. Thats indisputable. What we dont know is whether the breaking of those laws affected the outcome of the election. Sanfelippo said that is why he and other lawmakers are asking Pence for a week to 10-day delay to investigate. The U.S. Constitution gives us authority to determine how elections are run, he said. All of that assumes the law is going to be followed by those who implement it. And now that we know the law wasnt followed in this election, so as state legislators is it up to us to determine did that have any effect on the outcome, to hold those people who didnt follow the law accountable and to make sure in the future those laws are followed. Read more at: JustTheNews.com and VoteFraud.news. Federal and state officials are tapping regional and supermarket-based pharmacies to help speed up administration of Covid-19 vaccines amid a slower-than-planned rollout. Rite Aid Corp., Kroger Co., Stop & Shop Supermarket LLC and other retailers are being asked to step in and provide inoculations to front-line workers and other vulnerable people. While the timeline is weeks earlier than planned, companies say they hope to test and troubleshoot protocols before distributing vaccines to the masses. Were getting calls just because of the need," said Colleen Lindholz, president of Krogers health-care business. Officials from South Carolina and Georgia reached out to Kroger this week, and the company has been providing shots to health-care professionals in its stores and sending staff to long-term facilities in Alaska, West Virginia, Texas and Arkansas. The executives of Kroger and Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc., two of the biggest retailers involved in the vaccine effort, expressed frustration over what they said was a slower-than-necessary rollout because of holdups at the state and federal levels. Kroger is also exploring ways to hold large events in community centers and stadiums that would allow it to vaccinate 600 to 800 people at a time, Ms. Lindholz said. She added that the nations biggest grocer could immunize a tremendous number of people if it had more access to inoculations. More than 17 million doses of vaccines from Moderna Inc. and the Pfizer Inc.-BioNTech SE partnership have been shipped, and roughly 5.3 million had been administered as of Thursday morning, according to federal figures. Part of the shortfall is because of a lag in reporting data. But the rollout also is encountering speed bumps, from confusion at the state level around how doses get distributed to hesitancy on the part of people who qualify for the vaccine in this first round. The U.S. is in the first stage of a three-phase vaccine administration plan that starts with health-care workers and residents of long-term care facilities. CVS Health Corp. and Walgreens, the nations largest drugstore chains, are leading the efforts to vaccinate staff and residents at roughly 50,000 long-term-care facilities. On Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said a federal partnership with 19 pharmacy chains and associations to administer the vaccine at 40,000 sites would start this week, earlier than planned. States will determine when those vaccinations will begin. Mr. Azar blamed the holiday season for the slow pace of vaccinations, and said reporting delays cause the total number of vaccinations to trail the total number of distributed doses by a wide margin. Many retailers were expected to start immunizing people during the next phase and had been preparing by hiring pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, securing medical gear and adding scheduling services. Offering vaccinations has been a way for retailers to bring in more customers. But health officials are seeking their help earlier than planned as the initial rollout lags behind the federal governments goal of vaccinating 20 million people by the end of 2020. Walgreens Chief Executive Stefano Pessina said the chain, with 9,000 U.S. pharmacies, has the capability to do much more than it currently is. But we are just an agent for the states," Mr. Pessina said in an interview. We are vaccinating at a pace that is a fraction of the pace that we could be doing. We could do much more as a pharmacy chain if we had a certain degree of freedom." Krogers Ms. Lindholz also said the grocer is only getting a small part of what it has the ability to handle. The Cincinnati-based company has given about 4,500 doses of Covid-19 vaccinations. On average, Kroger provides roughly 200,000 doses of the flu vaccine each week during flu season. Inconsistency among state guidelines is causing a slowdown, she said, adding that she hopes the federal and state governments can come together to create a more uniform plan. Theres ample supply," Ms. Lindholz said. Charlie Hartig, CEO at Hartig Drug Stores, said the retailer has given 100 doses to health-care workers and caregivers since last week in three of its roughly 20 stores. While the retailer could be offering more, it wants to follow guidelines strictly, Mr. Hartig said. Its been a hurry-up-and-wait game," he said. For other pharmacies, state-level requests began pouring in this week. Stop & Shop, owned by Koninklijke Ahold Delhaize NV, is communicating with Massachusetts and other states to learn how its pharmacies can help sooner, said Katie Thornell, director of pharmacy operations at Stop & Shop. She said she sees opportunities in vaccinating adults ages 75 and up given the grocers network of pharmacy locations in the Northeast, adding that the administration will likely happen within stores. Tops Markets LLC had a call with New York state officials on Monday about potentially helping vaccinate nursing-home residents and health-care workers, said Matthew Hamed, the companys director of pharmacy. The retailer is double-checking its vaccine procedures and submitting plans to show how many people it can inoculate and which locations are ready. Rite Aid, the third-largest U.S. pharmacy chain, said a mounting number of states and other jurisdictions are reaching out to ask for help with administration. The chain has recently given shots to health-care workers in New Jersey, Philadelphia, New York City and Delaware. Other pharmacies are thinking of ways to speed up the timeline and immunize more people. Vic Vercammen, chief pandemic officer at Giant Eagle Inc., said the retailer is discussing with various states how to repurpose underused spaces such as county fairgrounds and courthouses to set up clinics. Giant Eagle has provided vaccinations in nursing homes and long-term care facilities in West Virginia and is working with Ohio officials to expand immunization efforts. Were not newly deputized, but as various authorities look at the population and see where qualified immunizers are, were well positioned to help where we can," he said. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Five youths were arrested in connection with the gang rape of a minor girl following separate raids in Muzaffarpur district, conducted by the police in the last 24 hours. Three of the arrested suspects are from a single family, which owns the dilapidated house, where the incident took place. The accused are also said to be students of Bachelor of Technology (B Tech) in an engineering college outside Bihar. Deputy superintendent of police (DSP) (east) Manoj Pandey, led the special investigative team constituted by Muzaffarpur senior superintendent of police (SSP) Jayant Kant, which raided the hideouts of the suspects. Pandey said that the arrested accused had been identified by the survivor during identification parade (TI parade) at the Sakra police station. We have interrogated the arrested. One of them has said that he knows the girl very well. So, I have asked the investigating officer (IO) of the case to collect the call details record (CDR) of the phones used by the girl and all the accused. Even the statement of the girl has been recorded in the court after conducting her medical examination, he said, adding that the arrested suspects will be sent to a jail after they are produced before the chief judicial magistrate of Muzaffarpur. Also Read: Shiv Sena criticises Bihar govt over rising crime rate, lawlessness Meanwhile, the Sakra police took the rape survivor to the house, where she was gang raped, for identification. She identified the house, which belonged to two of the accused. Some of the locals said that the youth lived there alone since their parents died years ago. The minor girl was kidnapped and gang raped by five youths in the house adjacent to an abandoned petrol pump on national highway 28 near Sujawalpur village last Monday. The FIR was registered only on Wednesday evening, when parents of the victim approached the exclusive woman police station of the town. Meanwhile, the station house officer of Sakra police station, Ram Nath Prasad, has come under scanner for not registering the survivors complaint. SEOUL, South Korea A South Korean court on Friday ordered the Japanese government to pay $91,800 each to 12 Korean women forced into sexual slavery for Japans troops during World War II. The ruling, the first of its kind in South Korea, is likely to aggravate the already chilly relations between Washingtons two key allies in Asia. The court recognizes that the accused committed illegal acts and that the plaintiffs suffered extreme psychological and physical pain hard to imagine, Judge Kim Jeong-gon said in his decision. The ruling is largely symbolic; the Japanese government said on Friday that the Korean court had no jurisdiction over Japan and that it would never accept the order. But the decision could further complicate Washingtons efforts to bring South Korea and Japan closer together to counter North Koreas nuclear threat and Chinas growing military influence in the region. Though South Korea and Japan face similar threats from North Korea, there is a deep-seated mistrust between the two countries rooted in Japans colonial rule of Korea, from 1910 to 1945. The issue of the Japanese Armys coercing Korean and other women into sexual slavery is the most emotional historical dispute keeping Seoul and Tokyo apart. I have lived outside of the U.S. I have traveled abroad within North America I have traveled abroad outside of North America I have not been to another country Vote View Results The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seal is seen on the lectern following a press conference announcing the FBI's 499th and 500th additions to the "Ten Most Wanted Fugitives" list at the Newseum in Washington on June 17, 2013. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) FBI Agents Search Home of Former Tennessee House Speaker: Officials FBI agents visited the homes of former GOP Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, said officials. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Tennessee confirmed the FBI also visited the homes of state Reps. Robin Smith and Todd Warner, as well as a former aide to the former speaker, according to The Tennessean newspaper and Local24. U.S. Attorneys Office spokesman David Boling declined to say what the nature of the searches was and how many people were involved, reported Local24. House Speaker Cameron Sexton also appeared to confirm the incident, telling local media, This has been a trying week for our country, and this will be a difficult time for our state as well as we go down this road. Personally, these are our friends and colleagues of ours that weve worked with for many years. Its important to remember that this is just the start of the investigation and the process, and not the end. Today does not necessarily imply guilt, said Sexton, a Republican. Sexton told the paper that he placed three staff members on administrative leave in connection to the case being investigated by the FBI. Since becoming speaker, I have been contacted by federal authorities regarding an ongoing investigation related to the former speakers office, Sexton also said, according to CBS News. On the advice of both Ethics and Legal Counsel, I am placing everyone that was subject to the execution of todays search warrants on administrative leave until further notice. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee acknowledged the agents activity on Friday, describing the incidents as raids. Ive spoken with Speaker Sexton this morning and Im aware of the FBI raids, Lee said in a press conference. Its certainly very concerning. I know very little about that. Theres been no FBI outreach to us but I am confident that Speaker Sexton is on top of this situation as it unfolds. Photos uploaded by local reporters showed agents at the Cordell Hull State Office Building in downtown Nashville near Rep. Smiths office. Two years ago, Casada resigned from his speakership role after it was revealed that he exchanged lewd messages about women with his former chief of staff. Reports also claimed an aide used cocaine at a legislative office and doctoring emails, although Casada and the aide both denied them. I will also continue to work with the federal authorities, and I will encourage my colleagues to cooperate with them as well if they are asked to, added Sexton, according to WMC5. The Epoch Times has reached out to Smiths office and Warners office for comment. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Twitter has unlocked U.S. President Donald Trump's account on its platform following a temporary ban after he removed three tweets that broke rules. Meanwhile, his Facebook, Instagram accounts remain blocked. The social media platforms had blocked Trump's accounts following the violent clash in the Capitol Hill that resulted in four deaths. In a video posted on Twitter after the ban was lifted, Trump seemingly acknowledged his defeat, saying he is now focused on a peaceful transition of power. Trump said in the video, 'A new administration will be inaugurated on January 20. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation.' His acknowledgment comes after two months of desperate efforts not to concede defeat in the U.S presidential election. On Wednesday, social media networks Facebook and Twitter locked Trump's accounts on their platforms after his supporters clashed with police in the Capitol Hill. Trump supports overtook the US Capitol building, trying to block the Congress from certifying Joe Biden's election victory. Twitter also had warned that future violations of the Twitter Rules, including Civic Integrity or Violent Threats policies, would result in permanent suspension of Trump's account. Trump's @realDonaldTrump Twitter account has around 88 million followers, while his Facebook page has 35 million followers. Meanwhile, Trump's accounts on Facebook and Instagram remain blocked for at least two weeks and perhaps indefinitely. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said the block on Trump's Facebook page would last at least until Biden takes office on January 20. According to him, the risks of allowing Trump to use the platform are simply too great. Zuckerberg said, 'The shocking events of the last 24 hours clearly demonstrate that President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden.' Following the riots, Facebook removed a video by Trump, and then blocked his account for 24 hours. Trump also faces a 24-hour block on Instagram, owned by Facebook. Among other social media companies, Amazon's live-streaming platform Twitch disabled Trump's channel citing the extraordinary circumstances and the president's incendiary rhetoric. As per reports, Twitch would reassess Trump's account only after he leaves office. Further, YouTube, owned by Alphabet Inc's Google, warned that any channel that posts videos with false claims about the election results will be temporarily restricted from uploading or live streaming. Photo-sharing service Snap Inc also issued similar ban, while e-commerce platform Shopify closed service for stores affiliated with Trump for violations of its acceptable use policy. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX FACEBOOK-Aktie komplett kostenlos handeln - auf Smartbroker.de The U.S. Capitol Police officer who sustained injuries during the pro-Trump siege at the Capitol on Wednesday and later died was a member of the Air National Guard. Brian D. Sicknick enlisted in the New Jersey Air National Guard in 1997 and served for six years, spokeswoman Lt. Col. Barbara Brown confirmed to Military.com on Friday. Sicknick's duties included serving as a fire team member and leader with the 108th Security Force Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, Brown said. He deployed to Saudi Arabia in 1999 as part of Operation Southern Watch and to Kyrgyzstan in 2003 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. He was honorably discharged in 2003 as a staff sergeant, she said. The Daily Beast first reported Sicknicks Guard affiliation. Read Next: Former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly Says Trump Has Poisoned Americans' Minds, Needs to Go "Staff Sgt Sicknick's commitment to serve and protect his community, state and nation will never be forgotten," Brown said in an email. "Our condolences and thoughts are with his family, friends and those who worked with him during his law enforcement career." Brian D. Sicknicks New Jersey Air National Guard basic training photo from 1997. (U.S. Air Force) The Capitol Police said Thursday that Sicknick, 42, "passed away due to injuries sustained while on duty," but did not offer details on his cause of death. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Friday ordered Capitol flags to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Sicknick. His death is under investigation, the Capitol Police said. He was the fifth person to die after a mob descended on the Capitol, scaling walls or forcing past federal law enforcement personnel to enter the building. Lawmakers, including Vice President Mike Pence, were inside voting to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory. A former Air Force Security Forces airman died after she was shot allegedly trying to climb through a broken window of the Speaker's Lobby inside the building. The service identified her as Ashli Babbitt, 35, who served under the name Ashli Elizabeth McEntee. Babbitt posted on social media that she was an avid Trump supporter and believed the Nov. 3 election was stolen from the president. She enlisted in 2004 and deployed overseas four times: Afghanistan in 2005, Iraq in 2006, and the United Arab Emirates in 2012 and 2014, the service said, as reported by Air Force Times. While on active duty, she achieved the rank of senior airman. Her last active-duty post was at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, before she transitioned into the Reserve and then to the Air National Guard. She separated in July 2016, Air Force Times said. The Associated Press reported that Babbitt had previously been charged with reckless endangerment for allegedly hitting a woman's car in Calvert County, Maryland, and pursuing her in a road rage incident in August 2016. She was acquitted of those charges, the AP said. In addition to Sicknick and Babbitt, three people died of medical emergencies outside the Capitol. -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214. Related: Military Leaders Say 'Tremendous Confusion' Delayed Response to Capitol Siege More workers in Low Quality jobs who were laid off during the peak crisis months, returning to their jobs starting in mid-year and through the fall, were again laid off in December. Following the release of the Employment Situation Report for December 2020 by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the U.S. Private Sector Job Quality Index (JQI) has been revised to a level of 81.24, down by 0.91% from its revised level one month earlier and reflecting a higher proportion - relative to the prior month - of U.S. production and non-supervisory (P&NS) jobs paying less than the mean weekly income of all P&NS jobs (Low Quality Jobs), relative to those jobs paying above such mean. The JQI remains heavily impacted by the extraordinary disruption in the number and composition of private sector production and non-supervisory jobs since the beginning of the U.S. impact of the COVID19 global pandemic, with regard to which the following additional special factors should be noted: the BLS Employment Situation Report for December reflects a 95,000 decline in private sector payrolls, finally reflecting the cumulative impact of the sustained historically high level of initial weekly claims for unemployment insurance benefits which itself is reflective of overall damage to employers as well as virus surges, colder weather and the elimination of pretty much all benefits to job creation arising from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), including the Payroll Protection Program (PPP) and the federal unemployment insurance benefit supplement, prior to the enactment of additional relief at the very end of 2020 (which had no impact on December results). More workers in Low Quality jobs who were laid off during the peak crisis months, returning to their jobs starting in mid-year and through the fall, were again laid off in December. This will stall the JQI reversion back to its pre-pandemic, lower levels to the extent that those lower quality jobs continue to be lost over the winter; and the JQI may rise or fall for a period of time to the extent that such large numbers of Low Quality Jobs have been substantially eliminated or restored (temporarily or otherwise), as offset by the significantly higher benchmark mean weekly income used in computing the index since the elimination of large numbers of Low Quality Jobs. The mean weekly wage income of all P&NS jobs as of the current reading (which reflects the level as of November 2020) increased to 847.88, a change of 0.29% from its revised level the month prior. This reflects the continued absence (as a result of the pandemic) of the low-wage/low-hours positions that had grown substantially in number over the course of the past four years. The JQ-Instant preliminary read of the 95,000 loss in all private sector, non-farm payrolls for December 2020 shows that 100% of the losses in private sector jobs were in industry sectors offering P&NS jobs with an average weekly income below the mean weekly income of all P&NS jobs (i.e. Low Quality Jobs). This reading was due to a very substantial loss of jobs in the leisure and hospitality sector particularly in the restaurant industry and the dramatic increase in the average weekly income for all P&NS jobs resulting from the elimination of millions of Low Quality Jobs during the COVID19 crisis, causing several marginal sectors to fall below the new average weekly income measure. This distortion will ultimately sort itself out during the course of this year. Dan Alpert, co-creator of the U.S. Private Sector Job Quality Index, said, More workers in Low Quality jobs who were laid off during the peak crisis months, returning to their jobs starting in mid-year and through the fall, were again laid off in December. For an explanatory video on the JQI, please see: http://www.vimeo.com/jqi. This news release presents data from the most recent JQI reading calculated through the month immediately prior to the month covered by this release. The JQI assesses job quality in the United States by measuring desirable higher-wage/higher-hour jobs versus lower-wage/lower-hour jobs. The JQI offers a near-real time analytical tool to policymakers, researchers and financial market participants with relevance to a variety of trends in the economy at large. The JQI analyzes a representative sample of the economy using production and non-supervisory job (P&NS) data from 180 different industry groups spanning across all 20 super-sectors into which the BLS groups establishments. The principal data utilized is contained in the Current Employment Survey (CES, also often referred to as the establishment survey) P&NS data on average weekly hours, average hourly wage and total employment for each given industry group (seasonally adjusted, in all cases). The JQI is updated on a monthly basis contemporaneously with the release of new CES data from the BLS. The JQ-Instant reading is for the month covered by this release and has implications for the likely direction of the JQI itself in future months. As the JQI is reported as a three-month rolling average of actual monthly readings, significant imbalances (readings varying from an even distribution between high and low quality jobs) in the JQ-Instant results would suggest future JQI readings moving in the direction of the dominant side of such distribution. The U.S. Private Sector Job Quality Index (patent pending) is a joint development of the Program on the Law and Regulation of Financial Institutions and Markets at the Jack G. Clarke Institute of Cornell Law School, the University of Missouri Kansas City Department of Economics, the Coalition for a Prosperous America, and the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity. For more information, and to read the full report, visit https://www.jobqualityindex.com/. 2020 JQI IP Holdings LLC. Private Sector Job Quality Index and JQI are registered trademarks of JQI IP Holdings LLC. The Private Sector Job Quality Index is patent pending, application number US 62/900,923. Cornell logo and Cornell Law School and Jack G. Clarke Program names and references used with permission. (Natural News) FBI Director Christopher Wray crawled out of his hole on Thursday to condemn Wednesdays chaos at the Capitol. (Article by Cristina Laila republished from TheGatewayPundit.com) Wray remained silent all summer as Antifa and BLM terrorists burned down the country. DC was literally on fire and Wray covered for Antifa and BLM. Mitt Romney marched with the organization that did this. pic.twitter.com/aE5NutXFML Michael Knowles (@michaeljknowles) January 7, 2021 Wray called Wednesdays events at the Capitol a blatant and appalling disregard for our institutions of government. A) FBIs Wray: The violence and destruction of property at the U.S. Capitol building yesterday showed a blatant and appalling disregard for our institutions of government and the orderly administration of the democratic process. Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 7, 2021 Wray vowed to hold accountable those who participated in yesterdays siege of the Capitol. C) FBIs Wray: Make no mistake: With our partners, we will hold accountable those who participated in yesterdays siege of the Capitol. Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) January 7, 2021 Read more at: TheGatewayPundit.com Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomes Jonathan Pollard to Israel at Ben-Gurion International Airport, Dec. 30, 2020. Pollard is a former U.S. Navy analyst who served 30 years in prison after being convicted of spying for Israel. (Israel Hayom via JNS) - Jonathan Pollard landed in Israel early Wednesday morning, one month after his parole restrictions were lifted and five years after he was released from U.S. federal prison after serving 30 years for spying for Israel. He was accompanied on the flight by his wife Esther. Due to Esther's medical condition, the Pollards chose to fly by private plane directly from New Jersey's Newark Liberty International Airport to Tel Aviv. As the pilots prepared to land, Pollard was called to enter the cockpit, where he was able to hear the Ben-Gurion International Airport control tower welcome him to Israel in Hebrew. Pollard, a former civilian intelligence analyst for the U.S. Navy, sold military secrets to Israel while working at the Pentagon in the 1980s. He was arrested in 1985 after trying unsuccessfully to gain asylum at the Israeli Embassy in Washington and pleaded guilty. The espionage affair embarrassed Israel and tarnished its relations with the United States for years. Pollard was given a life sentence, and US defense and intelligence officials consistently argued against releasing him. Upon his parole in 2015, he was forbidden to leave the United States for another five years. Upon learning that Pollard's parole restrictions had been lifted in November, many in Israel hoped the move would pave the way for him to make aliyah. Just two days after the restrictions were lifted, Pollard posted a video saying, he would make aliyah "God willing, very soon!" "The final step to freedom that remains is our return home to the Land and the People we love," he said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed Pollard and his wife upon their arrival. A statement by the Prime Minister's Office said the two recited the "Shehecheyanu" blessing, which offers thanks for new and unusual experiences, as Netanyahu presented the Pollards with their Israeli IDs. Pollard was granted Israeli citizenship in 1995. "Welcome home. It's so good to finally see you here," said Netanyahu. "Now you can start over and live your lives free and happy. Now you're home." A visibly emotional Pollard said, "We're excited to finally be home after 35 years. We thank the Israeli people and the Israeli prime minister for bringing us home. No one is as proud of this country and its leader as we are. We hope to become productive citizens as soon as possible and move on with our lives. This is a great country with a bright future. [Israel] is the future of the Jewish people and we're not going anywhere." The campaign to free Pollard said in a statement that the date of the Pollards' arrival had been kept secret for security reasons. Only the smallest possible circle was informed that the move was coming, and even they did not know the precise date, the statement said. After their arrival, the couple was taken to a temporary site where they will stay for the duration of their mandatory COVID-19 quarantine. This article first appeared in Israel Hayom. Courtesy Bexar County Sheriff's Office Bexar County deputies have arrested a second person in connection with a fatal shooting of two people, including a 14-year-old male. James Alexander Miller, 18, was arrested Thursday and charged with capital murder in the death of Bobby Lee Carter Jr., 14, and Robert Smith, 20. Jaylen Dears, 17, was arrested Dec. 25 and is also accused of the slaying and is facing the same charge. Their respective bail amounts were both set at $500,000. (@ChaudhryMAli88) TASHKENT, Jan. 8 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2021 ) :A gas explosion killed a girl in Khiva, a town in the northwestern Khorezm region in Uzbekistan, the Emergency Situations Ministry said Friday. The explosion occurred early Friday morning, it said, adding that the girl's body was recovered from the ruins and her father was hospitalized with burn injuries. The main cause of the incident could be a violation of safety rules for using natural gas, the ministry said, adding that an investigation into the accident was still underway. A Columbia County man was one of the three people who died of apparent medical emergencies during Wednesdays protests in Washington, D.C. Benjamin Philips, 50, an avid Trump supporter and computer programmer from Bloomsburg, died of a stroke, according to reporting by The Philadelphia Inquirer. He was the founder of Trumparoo, a social media site for supporters of President Donald Trump. Robert J. Contee III, acting chief of the metropolitan police, reported Philips was from Ringtown during a press conference Thursday morning. Kristen Metzger, a Metropolitan Police Department spokeswoman, reiterated Thursday afternoon that the information they were provided said Philips was from Ringtown. The confusion over his hometown may relate to Philips parents living in the Ringtown area. Nancy Stalker, owner of Rentschlers store in Ringtown, said Thursday that Philips mother, Anne, is a somewhat regular customer and lives outside of Ringtown. The Republican-Herald, a Times-Shamrock newspaper, was unable to make contact with the Philips family Thursday. The Philadelphia Inquirer had interviewed Philips on Tuesday about arranging a bus to travel to the protests. He told the newspaper he was eager to see what President Donald Trump will do next. It seems like he called us there for a reason. I think something bigs about to go down that no ones talking about yet. I think he has an ace up his sleeve, Philips was quoted. A photo of Philips from the Press Enterprise newspaper showing him outside his apartment in Bloomsburg in September was part of news coverage of his death Thursday. The Inquirer said Philips drove to Washington in a van along with Trump-related memorabilia he had produced. His profile on the site said he was organizing a bus from the Bloomsburg area to go to the rally and expressed anger at Democratic officials and moderate Republicans. The Inquirer reports that members of his group say they last saw Phillips around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, and that he did not show up to meet them for a 6 p.m. departure. They learned from police that he had died, and the group had a somber ride back to Pennsylvania. Phillips told the Bloomsburg Press Enterprise on Tuesday that people from other states were staying at his home. He said, My hostel is already full. (Natural News) Twitter blocked President Donald Trump from posting on his account for 12 hours over repeated and severe violations of the social media giants civic integrity policy. It requires Trump to remove three tweets, adding that the account will remain locked if the president fails to comply. Twitter did not specify which of Trumps tweets violated the policy. Trumps video tweet calling for peace and urging protesters at the U.S. Capitol to go home also received a number of restrictions from the social media platform. A message appears just below the video whenever someone tries to engage with the post. It reads: This claim of election fraud is disputed, and this Tweet cant be replied to, retweeted, or liked due to a risk of violence. But users can still quote tweet or share the video by adding text to their post according to the platforms restriction. The video clip that lasts just over one minute already garnered 6.2 million views. This means that the account of @realDonaldTrump will be locked for 12 hours following the removal of these Tweets. If the Tweets are not removed, the account will remain locked. Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 7, 2021 But Twitter did not clarify specifically which of Trump tweets violated Twitters civic integrity policy. In a video addressing the protesters, Trump said: You have to go home now. We have to have peace. We have to have law and order and great people in law (enforcement). Trump followed this up with further tweets calling for peaceful behavior after the chaos at the Capitol. I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021 Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021 Twitter has been frequently criticized for its unbalanced policing of its users posts, particularly Trumps. (Related: Twitter censors Trump interview on coronavirus but not Chinese misinformation.) Biden, Congress leaders condemn protesters Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and top leaders in Congress condemned the protesters who breached the Capitol building. In a televised address, Biden said Trump should go on television now to address the protesters and tell them to go home. He characterized the protest as an insurrection that was bordering on sedition. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) called the described sudden violence as un-American. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) jointly called on Trump to demand that all protestors leave the U.S. Capitol and Capitol grounds immediately. Some lawmakers were still in shock after Capitol Police had told those in the House chamber to take gas masks from beneath their seats and prepare to put them on. Officers at the front door of the House chamber had their guns drawn as someone attempted to enter. Officers ordered people in the chamber to drop to the floor for their safety. Press Secretary Kaleigh McEnany said in a statement that the president has authorized the national guard to go to the U.S. Capitol. With the protesters swarming the Capitol building, the joint session of Congress came to a pause. The lawmakers were debating on whether to certify the states electoral results when the session was abruptly ended. They were locked down to safety before reconvening to resume the session Wednesday night. The certification joint session in Congress is expected to extend for several hours as some Republican lawmakers are objecting to Electoral College votes in several disputed states over concerns of election irregularities and allegations of voter fraud. For more on how social media companies like Twitter are blocking President Donald Trump and other conservatives, follow Censorship.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com TheVerge.com Twitter.com 1 Twitter.com 2 Twitter.com 3 A furious pub owner has posted a sign on his parish hall notice board telling villager to 'f*** off', after being reported to the police. Keith Waterhouse, who owns the Badger's Holt in Bridgetown, Somerset, posted the note on Bridgetown Village Hall after police officers visited him after reports he was breaching Covid-19 rules the previous day. The note read: 'Whoever the nasty, vindictive b****** is that reports me to the police for a completely incorrect breach of Covid rules, have the b******* to talk to me first and find out the truth. Publican Keith Waterhouse posted an expletive-ridden note on the notice board of Bridgetown Parish Hall in Somerset after one of his neighbours reported him to police after his daughter joined his Covid-19 bubble with her children Mr Waterhouse, who has run the Badgers Holt bar, pictured, said he did not breach Covid-19 regulations as his daughter and her family were entitled to join his protective bubble 'And secondly, oh just f*** off. 'Keith at the pub.' Mr Waterhouse, who has run the pub with his wife for 15 years, explained the reason behind the police visit. 'We've had two occasions so far where police have been in contact,' he said. 'We've got a daughter who is a single parent and in our bubble. In August, she came to see us, and some nasty, vindictive person in thevillage rang up the police. 'Officers contacted me, and I explained that she was allowed to come here because she's a single parent, and she's allowed to do it. 'Now, she's back here to live at the moment, and again, she's allowed to as a single parent with small children. It's totally within the Covid-19 rules. 'Somebody here has contacted the police, so they have come all the way from Minehead to see me. 'I've spoken to them quite happily, telling them she's allowed to be here, she's now living here.' Police officers have told Mr Waterhouse that he is not breaching any rules. 'The note's quite aggressive,' he added. 'I don't bother holding back or that sort of stuff.' Under the UK Government's current coronavirus restrictions, somebody is allowed to form a support bubble with one other household if they are a single adult living with one or more children under the age of 18. Mr Waterhouse said he didn't know who had reported him, but said he wanted to find out. He continued: 'I've not done anything to anybody, so I don't know why they're like that and why they have to make an attitude and do something like this. 'They should have asked what the situation is first; I'm here all the time, I'm happy to tell people what the situation is. 'But instead, someone has got in touch with the police; I don't need this.' Mr Waterhouse, a former science teacher, city trader and parish councillor added: 'I'm big enough to take this, I've been around a long time and I'm not going to put up with that. 'I have been through a lot of stuff in my life; these lot of bozos doing this are way below my grade as far as I'm concerned.' A spokeswoman for Avon and Somerset Police confirmed officers attended Mr Waterhouse's home and that no offences were recorded. CHICAGO, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Precious Metals E-Waste Recovery Market by Source(Household Appliances, It & Telecommunication, Consumer Electronics), Metal (Copper, Gold, Silver), & Geography - Global Forecast to 2025", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Precious Metals e-Waste Recovery Market is projected to grow from USD 9.4 billion in 2020 to USD 11.8 billion by 2025, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 4.6% during the forecast period. Growing investments in precious metals in emerging countries of Asia Pacific, demand from end-use industries and the necessity to treat e-waste before disposal are the key factors driving the growth of the precious metals e-waste recovery market. Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=191615472 Browse in-depth TOC on "Precious Metals E-waste Recovery Market" 133 - Tables 51 - Figures 250 - Pages View Detailed Table of Content Here: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/precious-metals-e-waste-recovery-market-191615472.html Copper is expected to be the fastest-growing metal segment of the precious metals e-waste recovery market. Based on metal, the copper segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2020 to 2025. Use of copper in building construction, power generation and transmission, electronic product manufacturing, and the production of industrial machinery and transportation vehicles is expected to increase consumption of copper during the forecast period. Copper wiring and plumbing are also integral to the appliances, heating and cooling systems, and telecommunications links used every day in homes and businesses resulting in an increased consumption during the forecast period. Household Appliances is expected to be the fastest-growing source segment in the precious metals e-waste recovery market. Based on source, the household appliances segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR from 2020 to 2025. Household appliances are electric and electromechanical devices which assist in homemaking and home functions such as cooking, cleaning and food preservation. Increasing population, urbanization and rising disposable income are projected to increase demand for electronic household appliances during the forecast period. Request Sample Pages: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestsampleNew.asp?id=191615472 Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing regional segment in the precious metals e-waste recovery market. The precious metals e-waste recovery market in the Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Malaysia are the key countries contributing to the high demand for precious metals in the Asia Pacific region. Availability of cheap labor and raw materials has resulted in making Asia Pacific a preferred region for manufacturing facilities of electronic and automobile companies which consume precious metals for better conductivity and to limit pollution respectively. This makes Asia Pacific the fastest-growing region of the precious metals e-waste recovery market. Some of the leading players operating in the precious metals e-waste recovery market include Johnson Matthey Plc (UK), Sims Limited (US), EnviroLeach Technologies Inc. (Canada), Umicore NV (Belgium), Materion Corporation (US), Boliden AB (Sweden), DOWA Holdings Co., Ltd. (Japan), Heraeus Holding GmbH (Germany), TES-AMM Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), Metallix Refining Inc. (US), and Tanaka Precious Metals (Japan) among others. Get 10% Free Customization on this Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/requestCustomizationNew.asp?id=191615472 Browse Adjacent Markets: Mining, Minerals and Metals Market Research Reports & Consulting Related Reports: Precious Metal Catalysts Market by Type (Platinum, Palladium, Rhodium, Iridium, Ruthenium) End-use Industry (Automobile, Pharmaceutical, Refinery), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/precious-metal-catalysts-market-166753795.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 7500 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "Knowledge Store" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Aashish Mehra MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: sales@marketsandmarkets.com Research Insight: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ResearchInsight/precious-metals-e-waste-recovery-market.asp Visit Our Website: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/ Content Source: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/PressReleases/precious-metals-e-waste-recovery.asp Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. (the Company or CLC or Christina Lake Cannabis) (CSE:CLC) (FRANKFURT: CLB) is pleased to announce that Salvatore Milia will be appointed to the Companys Board of Directors after recently receiving clearance from Health Canada to enter this capacity. Additionally, the Company intends to launch a research and development (R&D) committee under the leadership of Mr. Milia whose background is in building large-scale information technology systems, an acumen that can be applied to CLCs plans to incorporate smart monitoring technology into its vertically-integrated cannabis cultivation workflows. Having designed, implemented, and managed technical systems and networks for one of Canadas first non-bank credit card gateways as well as for the Conservative Party of Canada, the Companys management believes Mr. Milias experience with infrastructures in sensitive and highly regulated environments could help CLC in further improving its crop yields and consistency. After initially forecasting a harvest of 15,000 kg / 33,000 lb from the Companys inaugural growing season last year, CLC ultimately produced a total of 32,500 kg / 71,650 lb of dried cannabis for the 2020 growing season. This crop consisted of eight proprietary cannabis strains, all specifically engineered to be grown outdoors by sunlight. As detailed in the Companys September 3, 2020 press release, one method used by CLC to monitor the integrity of each plant is flying a remote-controlled drone with sensors to gauge a plants health and hydration as well as to detect potential concerns. Mr. Milia plans on integrating similar forms of monitoring technology throughout CLCs facility in the Christina Lake region of British Columbia, with corresponding data reporting and analysis procedures as a form of quality assurance. The Company anticipates these tactics could contribute to maximizing output in future growing seasons and utilize insights to refine CLCs proprietary strain formulations as well as its standard operating procedures for cultivation. https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/94fd03b0-4ba5-4277-bc62-68c847dd5d93 Multispectral map of the Companys grounds in the Christina Lake region of British Columbia, showing how CLCs cannabis plants are currently monitored. Each dot represents an image capture point on the path of the Companys survey drone. The heatmap overlay provides insights about the health of a cluster of plants, with good overall health indicated by a bright shade of green. As shown in the upper-right inset, individual plants can be targeted on demand to allow potential areas of concern to be scrutinized. Readers using news aggregation services may be unable to view the media above. Please access SEDAR or the Investor Relations section of the Companys website for a version of this press release containing all published media. In CLCs December 11, 2020 press release, the Company shared its plans for expanding its outdoor production of cannabis which include the possibility of revising cultivation timelines to turn over certain strains more than once in a given season, as well as to potentially use additional acreage owned by CLC. Because the Company predicts it will produce an even greater quantity of cannabis in future growing seasons, Mr. Milia plans to institute internal protocols such as stress tests at regular intervals to detect any potential weaknesses which could impede scalability of CLCs cannabis production, as well as to detect any potential opportunities to improve the Companys efficiency, safety, and profitability. Joel Dumaresq, Chief Executive Officer and Director of CLC commented, By growing cannabis outdoors naturally using sunlight, we have seen terrific results with our proprietary strains that are engineered for this type of cultivation. After a very successful growing season last year, we are seeking to make the absolute most of our future growing seasons, which we anticipate could be achieved by implementing a high-tech monitoring infrastructure led by Mr. Milia, who will soon join our Board of Directors and lead our R&D committee. One of our foremost objectives is to ensure we are growing and shipping a consistently high-quality product, and I am confident in Mr. Milias capabilities to optimize and automate certain aspects of our quality assurance to potentially set new standards in the cannabis industry. CLC already has the ability to produce high-quality cannabis at an extraordinarily low cost, and we predict that Mr. Milias experience in unlocking business value using advanced technology in banking and for a major Canadian political party could achieve similar results for the Company. Salvatore Milia commented, Joining CLCs board of directors is an exciting career move for me because I have always enjoyed applying cutting-edge technologies to novel use cases. One of the challenges of growing cannabis outdoors is that monitoring of a field can be difficult, especially at a granular level. One common hazard is that water outages for irrigation systems can often go undetected for some time, potentially compromising a plants health. In addition to monitoring the plants themselves, I am intending to monitor their surroundings such as the water systems so that any issues can be addressed forthwith. I also look forward to applying the process design methodologies I have picked up over the course of my career to CLCs workflows in an effort to make processes efficient and scalable, with the desired result being a sun-grown cannabis crop that is consistently of top quality. About Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. is a licensed producer of cannabis under the Cannabis Act. It has secured a standard cultivation licence and corresponding processing/sales amendment from Health Canada (March 2020 and August 2020, respectively) as well as a research and development licence (early 2020). CLCs facility consists of a 32-acre property, which includes over 950,000 square feet of outdoor grow space, offices, propagation and drying rooms, research facilities, and a facility dedicated to processing and extraction. CLC also owns a 99-acre plot of land adjoining its principal 32-acre site, which enables the Company to grow at a much larger scale. CLC cultivates cannabis using strains specifically developed for outdoor cultivation and in its inaugural harvest year produced 32,500 kg (71,650 lb) on its existing facility before developing an adjacent 99-acre expansion property. Such an expansion will ultimately bring CLCs annual cultivation footprint to over 4.35 million square feet, which could enable at least 150,000 kg (330,693 lb) of low-cost, high-quality, sun-grown cannabis to be produced annually by the Company. On behalf of Christina Lake Cannabis Corp.: Joel Dumaresq Joel Dumaresq, CEO and Director For more information about CLC, please visit: www.christinalakecannabis.com Jamie Frawley Investor Relations jamie@clcannabis.com 416-268-9432 Jordan Owens Media Inquiries jordan.owens@hkstrategies.ca 236-818-5969 THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE (CSE) HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE, NOR HAS OR DOES THE CSES REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER. Forward-Looking Information: This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words anticipate, continue, estimate, expect, may, will, would, project, should, believe and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this News Release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Companys disclosure documents which can be found under the Companys profile on http://www.sedar.com . Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms Disclosures relating to investor relations firms retained by Christina Lake Cannabis Corp. can be found under the Companys profile on http://sedar.com . Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 09:31:01|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BERLIN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Up to 417,000 people in Germany have received COVID-19 jabs since the vaccination program began on Dec. 27, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) announced on Thursday. More than 201,000 health care workers, 168,000 residents of nursing homes have got vaccinated, according to the RKI data. Due to the initial shortage of doses, people over 80 as well as residents and staff of nursing and old people's homes will remain priority groups to be inoculated, according to the German government. "We want to protect those first who are most vulnerable. Once those in need of care and the elderly are vaccinated, the pandemic loses much of its horror," Minister of Health Jens Spahn told a press conference on Wednesday. On Wednesday, the European Commission approved a second COVID-19 vaccine, developed by U.S. company Moderna, following a positive recommendation from the European Medicines Agency. With the already approved Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, Germany is expecting a total of around 130 million vaccine doses this year, according to Spahn. According to the latest daily situation report by the RKI, "vaccination is being carried out at different rates and with different focuses in the federal states." In ten federal states, vaccinations for priority occupations were in the focus, while the majority of jabs were given to people aged 80 and above in two other federal states. Enditem In the midst of a pandemic, New Jersey has taken down an online portal that allowed the public to track whether specific hospitals have become overcrowded. The states so-called Hippocrates website showed in real time when individual hospitals placed themselves on divert status, meaning they temporarily could not accept new patients. That has been a closely watched metric during the coronavirus outbreak, because it helped show instances in which the flood of incoming patients threatened to overwhelm the health care system, which was strained but did not break during the height of the springs crisis. As cases and hospitalizations surged again this fall and winter, those diversions have been cited by Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli to underscore the renewed dangers facing the state. But on Dec. 31, the state decommissioned the website, with an error message now appearing in its place. The Department of Health said hospital diversions have been moved onto a new platform called Corvena, which for now remains outside of the public eye. A publicly accessible dashboard with the information may be ready to launch in February, said Nancy Kearney, a spokeswoman for the Health Department. She did not respond to questions about the timing or why the system was being replaced, but said the decision had been advertised in an online notice. It had reached the end of its life and was scheduled to be decommissioned, Kearney said in a statement. The Hippocrates system, named after the famed Greek physician of medical lore, was built in the 2000s to collect and integrate up-to-the-minute information from hospitals, public health departments, ambulance companies and meteorologists. It had been scheduled to be deactivated earlier in the year, but was delayed because of the press of the pandemic, according to an October bulletin by the New Jersey Association of Ambulatory Surgery Centers. A screenshot from March of the state's Hippocrates website, which allowed the public to see whether hospitals had placed themselves on "divert" status, meaning they temporarily could not accept new patients. In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, the state decommissioned the website on Dec. 31. A cached message on the shuttered website said its data was being transferred to alternative processes and platforms. Kerry McKean Kelly, a spokeswoman for the New Jersey Hospital Association, called the new system an upgrade that allows EMS, hospitals and the Office of Emergency Management to be coordinated in a seamless integrated way, and she noted that a public-facing component is in development. The hospital diversion information was published separately from the states COVID-19 information dashboard, which includes reams of numbers each day on where the contagion stands, including daily tallies of hospitalizations and patients on ventilators and in intensive care. The pandemic forced governments across the nation to build large information platforms nearly from scratch amid a historic public health crisis. Gov. Phil Murphy routinely insists that it is data that drives his decisions, and The COVID Tracking Project, a coronavirus information clearinghouse, gives the state an A grade in the quality of data it presents to the public. But New Jersey has also faced criticism over its transparency. It was a month into the pandemic before the state released a list of nursing homes with outbreaks, though the facilities have accounted for nearly half of the states recorded deaths. Then in July, the Department of Health began culling that list by removing any facilities that had been coronavirus free for 28 days, which critics charged prevented residents from having a full picture of nursing homes with large death tolls. Recently, the state began publishing a second list of facilities with concluded outbreaks, which detail the number of deaths and infections they had earlier in the pandemic. NJ Advance Media reporter Susan Livio contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Riley Yates may be reached at ryates@njadvancemedia.com. The United States Congress officially confirmed President-elect Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election early Thursday. The confirmation process was halted for hours Wednesday when extremist supporters of President Donald Trump attacked and occupied the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Resignations, calls for Trump removal A growing number of Democratic Party lawmakers and some Republicans are now calling for Trump to be removed from office, 13 days before his term ends on Jan. 20. Democratic Party Senate leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement, The quickest and most effective wayit can be done todayto remove this president from office would be for the Vice President to immediately invoke the 25th amendment. If the Vice President and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress must reconvene to impeach President Trump. Republican Congressman Adam Kinzinger added, with a heavy heart I am calling for the sake of our Democracy that the 25th Amendment be invoked. The 25th Amendment permits a replacement for a sitting president who cannot perform the powers and duties of his office. Vice President Mike Pence and the majority of the Cabinet would have to declare Trump unfit. Then, they would send a letter to the speaker of the House and president pro tempore of the Senate saying so. The vice president then becomes acting president. Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, is the Speaker of the House of Representatives. She joined the call for Trumps removal. She added, If the vice president and Cabinet do not act, the Congress may be prepared to move forward with impeachment." Several members of the Trump administration, including Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao and the first ladys chief of staff, have also resigned in the hours since the attack. Trump agrees to orderly transition Pence, who presided over the joint session of Congress, announced that Biden had won the Electoral College vote early Thursday morning. The count was 306 to 232. Trump has refused to accept the election results and urged his supporters Wednesday to march to the Capitol. However, after Pence confirmed the winner, Trump released a statement. He said, Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th. The statement was posted on the Twitter account of a presidential assistant. Twitter and Facebook had suspended Trumps personal accounts following the violence at the Capitol. Trump supporters halted vote count On Wednesday, a pro-Trump mob of thousands marched to the Capitol after Trump spoke to the group near the White House. The mob broke through metal barriers, pushed past police officers, broke windows and climbed up the sides of the building. As lawmakers were led to safety, the rioters marched through the famous Rotunda area. They carried signs and shouted that Trump had won the election. Police officers blocked the door to the House of Representatives. The violence resulted in four deaths including one rioter who was shot inside the Capitol. Lawmakers returned to work Wednesday night, after the Capitol was secured. Pence reopened the Senate, telling the attackers, You did not win. Violence never wins. Freedom wins. This is still the peoples house. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell added, "They tried to disrupt our democracy. They failed. The riots led several Republicans to drop their expected objections to electors for Biden. Senator Mitt Romney of Utah was the Republican Party candidate in the 2012 presidential election. He blamed Trump for the attack. What happened here today was an insurrection incited by the president of the United States, he said, adding, The best way we could show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth. I'm Caty Weaver. Hai Do wrote this story for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story reconvene - v. to meet again after a break bear out - phrasal verb, to show that something is true disrupt - v. to interrupt an activity insurrection - n. a usually violent attempt to take control of the government upset - adj. angry or unhappy ROME, JAN 8 - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Friday that talks with Rome on how Italy should use the money it will the from the EU's COVID-19 Recovery Fund were going well. "A very good negotiation is taking place with Italy, as with all the other governments," von der Leyen said. "But, specifically, there has been good progress". Premier Giuseppe Conte's government is finalizing its Recovery Plan on how to use the 208 billion euros Italy will get from the EU in grants and low-interest loans. The issue has caused major tension within the ruling coalition. Ex-premier Matteo Renzi's centrist Italia Viva (IV) party has blasted the government's plan as lacking ambition and threatened to withdraw its support for the executive. (ANSA). Peru has extended a ban on flights to and from Europe for another 15 days to in an effort to prevent the new coronavirus variant from reaching the country. The new decision was published on the Ministry of Transport and Communications website on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. The original suspension was announced on December 21, 2020, by President Francisco Sagasti as part of measures to keep out the variant, which was first discovered in Britain late last month. Although flights to some Latin American countries and the US were continuing, Peru requires all travellers to show a negative Covid-19 test result administered within the last 72 hours prior to entering the country. In addition, as of January 4, international travellers, Peruvians and foreigners alike, must remain in mandatory quarantine for 14 days upon arrival. Despite the fact that Peru has seen a slight increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in several regions, including the capital Lima, authorities have ruled out a second wave, but do acknowledge a new outbreak. As of Thursday morning, Peru has recorded a total of 1,022,018 cases and 37,925 deaths. The eighth round of talks between the Centre and farmer leaders over the three farm laws enacted in September are scheduled for Friday even as protests over the legislation continue. Here is all that you need to know about the laws, protests and the talks: 1. The seventh round of talks over the scrapping of the laws ended in a stalemate on Monday as three Union ministers leading the negotiations said it was impossible for them to commit to a rollback of the legislation without wider consultations. 2. The two sides agreed to continue the talks on January 8 (Friday) even as farm unions hardened their stand, saying farmers will drive into Delhi in their tractors to hold their own Republic Day parade if their demands of scrapping the laws are not met by January 26. Also Read: Tractor march, healthy discussion: Where farmers protest stands ahead of 8th meeting 3. Tens of thousands of farmers on tractors held a rally near New Delhi on Thursday to build pressure on the government ahead of Republic Day. 4. Farm union leaders have said they were prepared to intensify their agitation as the government has not been prepared to budge. 5. The government has ruled out a repeal of the laws and asked farm unions to point out what they considered objectionable in the legislation. 6. It has also sought to discuss the demand of a law guaranteeing assured prices for 23 farm commodities known as minimum support prices (MSP). 7. The government has told farm leaders that it will review any clause farmers have a problem with but farms leaders have insisted on repealing the laws and bringing a law guaranteeing MSP. 8. Some headway was made in the sixth round of talks on December 30 as the Centre agreed to exempt farmers from heavy fines for crop-residue burning as provided for in an anti-pollution ordinance. 9. The government promised to continue the current mechanism of giving subsidised power for agricultural use. The discussion on demands of the repeal of the three laws and a legal guarantee of MSP were deferred till January 8. 10. Farmers launched one of the biggest strikes in decades last month to force the Centre to revoke the three laws. 11. The laws change the way farmers do business by creating free markets, as opposed to a network of decades-old government marketplaces. 12. They allow traders to stockpile essential commodities for future sales and lay down a national framework for contract farming. 13. Farmer leaders have said the governments ego problem was coming in the way of resolving the issues. 14. They have insisted they would not relent on their key demands for the repeal and a legal guarantee for MSP as thousands of farmers have hunkered down at various Delhi border points for over a month against the laws. 15. The protesting farmers have stayed put despite heavy rains and water logging at protest sites besides severe cold weather conditions saying the laws favour big corporations at their cost. 16. Farm leaders have said they will implement their new protest agenda, which includes picketing of governor houses, toll plazas and boycott of goods and services of the Reliance and Adani groups. Residents living near Wrexham primary school left angry after extension plans approved This article is old - Published: Friday, Jan 8th, 2021 Residents living near a Wrexham primary school are said to be feeling very angry after plans to extend it were given the green light. Wrexham Council previously applied to create space for an extra 120 pupils at Barkers Lane Community Primary School, which is located on the outskirts of the town. Education officials said the proposals had been put forward to meet a growing demand, which they were unable to meet during the last round of admissions. People living close to the school raised concerns over traffic and parking problems in the area, which they said would be made worse by the expansion. One of the main bones of contention was the chosen location for a new car park for staff on Lisburne Grove, a small cul-de-sac to the rear of the school. However, the scheme was voted through by councillors on Monday (January 4, 2021), as one politician said the issues were no different to those at other schools across the county borough. The decision has been met with dismay by neighbours, one of whom claimed members of the local authoritys planning committee had been presented with inaccurate information about the impact on traffic by officers. Mark Rees, who lives on Lisburne Grove, said: I am confident that I can speak for all of the residents in that we believe this decision has been pushed through by the council without much regard for the detrimental effect it will have on the quality of the lives of the local residents and road safety outside the school. I am sure that the planning committee members have made a decision based on the information laid before them and they do that honestly and of course in the interest of facilitating the provision of education. However, the key information on the effect of projected increases in traffic and the ability of the neighbourhood to sustain that increase has been badly miscalculated. The residents and the councillors local to our immediate area are all very angry, not only because committee members and the public have been misled but also because in six years time there will be real tangible safety issues that will be impossible for the school and council to mitigate. A decision was originally due on the proposals last month, but councillors voted to defer it in order for the traffic and parking concerns to be addressed. The councils chief planning officer Lawrence Isted recommended the scheme should be approved for a second time after a lengthy report was published in defence of the access arrangements. Among those who did speak out against the plans at the virtual meeting, was Little Acton councillor Bill Baldwin, who previously told the committee he had serious concerns over the extension. He said hed been told by a council traffic officer that the school generates more parking complaints than any other in Wrexham. During his comments, Cllr Baldwin also echoed claims that committee members had been given inaccurate information. He said: The highway safety issues have been totally underplayed. Any member of this committee whos been down that road at 3pm will know that I am telling you the truth. The statement also makes some highly questionable conclusions about likely additional traffic as a result of the extension. The traffic predictions within the transport statements are based on a wild assumption that every child has a sibling attending the school, which has the impact of reducing the predicted numbers by 50% of new vehicles being generated by the proposal. The figures are being manipulated to make the proposals appear accessible. The proposals will result in the creation of a new nursery and improved play facilities, along with the refurbishment of the existing building. It was suggested that the existing entrance on Barkers Lane should be used by staff instead of adding an extra access point off Lisburne Grove, but officers said this was not possible for logistical reasons. Cllr Graham Rogers said the authority had a responsibility to make sure education facilities were fit to meet the demand for places. He said: Its a situation that applies to all councillors within the whole of the borough as regards to dropping off and picking up children during the morning session and the afternoon session. Im pretty sure we can all speak for our particular wards whereby yes, those of us who have got schools in our wardsweve all got this problem. But as a council, weve got a duty to supply education to the generation of tomorrow. We all have to accept that we cannot always have what we particularly want in life so we have to adjust accordingly. The plans were approved at the end of the debate, with 12 councillors in favour and four abstaining. By Liam Randall BBC Local Democracy Reporter BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- A decade ago, northern Medina County saw the opening of a new building in the Brunswick High School/Library/Recreation Center campus -- Cuyahoga Community College opened its Brunswick University Center as an extension of its Western Campus. In September, in the midst of the pandemic, Dr. Jenneffer Lopez was named interim director. Im new to Medina County, she said, but not new to the college. Im so excited to see in-person classes begin here again. Jenneffer Lopez, interim director of the Brunswick University Center. (Photo Courtesy of Jennifer Lopez) A resident of Cuyahoga County, Lopez had been a project manager in the college presidents office and hopes to continue in her current role starting with the spring semester. The Brunswick University Center has been unusually quiet, as classes went remote for the fall semester. The staff of the center has been reorganizing to provide social distancing and safety precautions. Student ambassadors have been on hand to help people who stop by for information. Lopez will have a chance to see how it will work during a pair of Super Saturday enrollment events from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jan. 16 and 30. Staff will be on hand to help students register for spring classes and apply for financial aid. The sessions offer opportunities to meet with academic counselors and visit enrollment and financial aid offices to solidify a class schedule for spring semester. When the center opened in 2011, it drew high school students who could easily walk from Brunswick High School to the center to take classes. Many of those students were able to complete their associate degrees alongside their high school diplomas. Most students came from northern Medina County and southern Cuyahoga County. The center also offers workforce development, career training and personal enrichment programs. Many services are available onsite to guide students on their journey toward an education and career. In its 10-year history, Tri-C has served more than 12,500 students, ranging from high schoolers to retirees. The building also has been the site of many events, such as health fairs, job fairs and other public activities. We have a history of involvement in the community, and I certainly want to continue that as well, Lopez said. As a Chamber Champion, the center has established valuable partnerships with local chambers of commerce and economic development organizations. And the center works with local businesses to provide training to fill workforce gaps. Tri-C recently purchased the adjacent site that had been home to First Christian Church since 1961. Lopez said the church building will eventually be razed to make room for new program areas, but there is no timeline until the pandemic threat has passed. As she becomes more familiar with the community, she said her favorite moment came when she looked out the window from her office one warm fall day to see a group of people line dancing outside the recreation center. That was just so fun! she exclaimed, and so she went out to join them. Im hoping we can celebrate our anniversary, and I hope everyone knows we are still here, she said. Im looking forward to meeting people and getting involved in the community. Spring classes begin Jan. 19, with additional academic sessions starting Feb. 1 (14 weeks) and March 15 (second eight weeks). Brunswick University Center is located at 3605 Center Road in Brunswick. Visit tri-c.edu/campuses-and-locations/brunswick/index.html or call 216-987-3997 to learn more about the center and available classes. Read more from the Brunswick Sun. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump said Friday he wont attend President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration on Jan. 20, undercutting his message a day earlier that he would work to ensure a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power to his successor. Trump offered no clues for how he would spent his final hours in office, and will be the first incumbent president since Andrew Johnson to skip his successors swearing-in. Traditionally, the incoming and outgoing presidents ride to the U.S. Capitol together for the ceremony, as a symbol of the nation's peaceful transition. Trump's comments come two days after a violent mob of his supporters occupied the Capitol for several hours as lawmakers were tallying the electoral votes that certified Biden's victory. Biden will become president at noon on Jan. 20 regardless of Trumps plans. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th, Trump tweeted. The move had been widely expected, as Trump for months falsely claimed victory in the election and promulgated baseless claims of voter fraud. His own administration said the election had been fairly run. Vice President Mike Pence was expected to attend the inauguration. Pence spokesman Devin Malley said Vice President Pence and the Second Lady have yet to make a decision regarding their attendance." Donald Trump officially concedes to Joe Biden in statement, condemns 'attack' at Capitol President Donald Trump is conceding to President-elect Joe Biden and condemning the violent supporters who stormed the nations Capitol Wednesday. Bidens transition team had no immediate comment on Trumps announcement. But Jen Psaki, the president-elects incoming White House press secretary, said last month that whether Trump attended the inauguration was not top of mind for Biden. On Thursday, with 12 days left in his term, Trump finally bent to reality amid growing talk of trying to force him out early, acknowledging hell peacefully leave after Congress affirmed his defeat. Trump led off a video from the White House Thursday by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Then, for the first time on camera, he admitted his presidency would soon end though he declined to mention Biden by name or explicitly state he had lost. A new administration will be inaugurated on Jan. 20, Trump said in the video. My focus now turns to ensuring a smooth, orderly and seamless transition of power. This moment calls for healing and reconciliation. By next morning, however, Trump was back to his usual division. Instead of offering condolences to the police officer who died from injuries sustained during the riot, Trump took to twitter to commend the great American Patriots who'd voted for him. They will not be disrespected or treated unfairly in any way, shape or form!!!" he tweeted. Thursday evening's address, which appeared designed to stave off talk of a forced early eviction, came at the end of a day when the cornered president stayed out of sight in the White House. Silenced on some of his favorite internet lines of communication, he watched the resignations of several top aides, including two Cabinet secretaries. And as officials sifted through the aftermath of the pro-Trump mobs siege of the U.S. Capitol, there was growing discussion of impeaching him a second time or invoking the 25th Amendment to oust him from the Oval Office. The invasion of the Capitol building, a powerful symbol of the nations democracy, rattled Republicans and Democrats alike. They struggled with how best to contain the impulses of a president deemed too dangerous to control his own social media accounts but who remains commander in chief of the worlds greatest military. Im not worried about the next election, Im worried about getting through the next 14 days, said Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of Trumps staunchest allies. He condemned the presidents role in Wednesdays riots and said, If something else happens, all options would be on the table. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared that the president of the United States incited an armed insurrection against America. She called him a very dangerous person who should not continue in office. This is urgent, an emergency of the highest magnitude. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Neither option to remove Trump seemed likely, with little time left in his term to draft the Cabinet members needed to invoke the amendment or to organize the hearings and trial mandated for an impeachment. Fears of what a desperate president could do in his final days spread in the nation's capital and beyond, including speculation Trump could incite more violence, make rash appointments, issue ill-conceived pardons including for himself and his family or even trigger a destabilizing international incident. The president's video Thursday which was released upon his return to Twitter after his account was restored was a complete reversal from the one he put out just 24 hours earlier in which he said to the violent mob: We love you. Youre very special. His refusal to condemn the violence sparked a firestorm of criticism and, in the new video, he at last denounced the demonstrators' lawlessness and mayhem. Aides said the video was also meant to slow the mass exodus of staffers and ward off potential legal trouble for Trump once he leaves office; White House counsel Pat Cipollone has repeatedly warned the president that he could be deemed responsible for inciting Wednesday's violence. As for his feelings on leaving office, Trump told the nation that serving as your president has been the honor of my lifetime while hinting at a return to the public arena. He told supporters our incredible journey is only just beginning. While Trump remained silent and ensconced in the executive mansion until Thursday evening, around him, loyalists headed for the exits, their departures which were coming in two weeks anyway moved up to protest the presidents handling of the riot. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao became the first Cabinet member to resign. Chao, married to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, one of the lawmakers trapped at the Capitol on Wednesday, said in a message to staff that the attack has deeply troubled me in a way that I simply cannot set aside. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos followed. In her resignation letter Thursday, DeVos blamed Trump for inflaming tensions in the violent assault on the seat of the nations democracy. There is no mistaking the impact your rhetoric had on the situation, and it is the inflection point for me," she wrote. Others who resigned in the wake of the riot: Deputy National Security Advisor Matthew Pottinger; Ryan Tully, senior director for European and Russian affairs at the National Security Council; and first lady Melania Trumps chief of staff Stephanie Grisham, a former White House press secretary. Mick Mulvaney, Trumps former chief of staff-turned-special envoy to Northern Ireland, told CNBC that he had called Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to let him know I was resigning. ... I cant do it. I cant stay. Those who choose to stay, and I have talked with some of them, are choosing to stay because theyre worried the president might put someone worse in, Mulvaney said. Mulvaneys predecessor in the chief of staff job, retired U.S. Marine Corps general John Kelly, told CNN that I think the Cabinet should meet and have a discussion about Section 4 of the 25th Amendment allowing the forceful removal of Trump by his own Cabinet. Staff-level discussions on the matter took place across multiple departments and even in parts of the White House, according to two people briefed on the talks. But no member of the Cabinet has publicly expressed support for the move. In the West Wing, shell-shocked aides were packing up, acting on a delayed directive to begin offboarding their posts ahead of the Biden teams arrival. The president has asked aides to explore a possible valedictory trip next week to the southern border as a means to highlight his immigration policies. ___ Lemire reported from New York. Associated Press writer Jill Colvin contributed reporting from Washington. 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About Zheijiang JinSheng New Materials Co., Ltd Zhejiang JinSheng New Materials Co., Ltd is a professional manufacturer of acrylic containers, providing a one-stop, complete service to clients, including mold development, injection molding, hot stamping, printing, coating and assembly. Located in Lihai Town, Binhai New City, Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, Jinsheng is among the highly qualified manufacturers thanks to the use of advanced technology and near complete range of products. The company attaches great importance to innovation, maintaining a constantly developing catalogue of new designs and products, and working to explore new application areas to meet the demands of customers all over the world. They export to countries and regions like North America, Europe and Southeast Asia (which contributes to 60% of the total sales), and products are supplied to both domestic and foreign brands of cosmetic companies. JinSheng is equipped with advanced machines by Demag, Sumitomo, Toyo and Toshiba, including entirely automatic injection machines, vacuum metallization machines, automatic hot stamping and silk screen printing machines. In addition, JinSheng offers a one-stop service from the initial design of products and creation of new tooling, through sampling, to mass production, incorporating silk screen printing, hot-stamping, coating and so on. The team of experienced technicians and skilled workers are supported with the combined force of IS09001, ISO14001, SA8000 and GB/T28001 certificates, as well as a highly effective management system. The combination guarantees their products' high quality level, swift and efficient processing, and the continual upgrading of the company's image and reputation within the industry. Founded over 20 years ago, Jinsheng offers an annual product capacity of 80 million sets of acrylic containers with an annual sales value close to CNY400 million. Always following the principles of best practices and with a can-do practical attitude, the team is dedicated to ensuring the satisfaction of customers, striving for the continual innovation of their products, and learning from others for constant improvement. Their consistent effort allows their customers' businesses to flourish and enjoy optimal success. Ms. Sandy Sales director Contact number: +0086-13757522882 Email address: [email protected] About Cosmoprof Asia Digital Week The first-ever edition of Cosmoprof Asia Digital Week has concluded successfully, creating copious business opportunities for the world's companies and operators looking for new business solutions in the Asia-Pacific region. 652 exhibitors from 19 countries and regions took part in the event. 8,953 visitors from 115 countries and regions registered on the platform in order to virtually network, learn about current and upcoming trends. Cosmoprof Asia Digital Week offered a vital virtual business arena for the whole beauty industry while we are all waiting to meet again in Hong Kong in November 2021 for Cosmoprof Asia. Stay tuned for updates! SOURCE Cosmoprof Asia Loading Despite his longevity, he has sought and kept a low profile. Premier Gladys Berejiklian and NSW Chief Health Officer Kerry Chant have been the public faces of the pandemic while Hazzard has been in their shadow. (He was reluctant to be involved in this piece until his staff convinced him). Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who spent much of 2020 sparring with his Liberal colleagues in one of the ugliest periods in the Coalition's marriage of convenience, says Hazzard has not received enough credit for his role in NSW's response to COVID-19. Barilaro, who was acting premier this week while Berejiklian was on leave, says he could not have survived her absence without the wise counsel of Hazzard, who he describes as a father figure. "Gladys gets a lot of credit but I have to say that during the period I have been acting premier Brad has a been a sounding board, a voice of reason and a calming influence," Barilaro says. Loading "He's been a mentor to me and others and there is no one [in the government] who has the same level of experience as him and I can honestly say I would not have managed this week without him. "I have been able to reflect on this recently and I think when I leave politics the single individual that I will remember as having the biggest positive impact on me will be Brad Hazzard." Born and bred on the northern beaches, Hazzard was educated in the public school system, first at Manly Vale Public and then at Manly Boys High. Despite a few shorts stints away, he has always lived on the northern beaches, much of which was subjected to a second lockdown over Christmas. Hazzard never considered a career in politics. Instead, he began his professional life as a science teacher at North Sydney Boys, before almost becoming a doctor (he was accepted into the University of Newcastle's medical school, deferred for a year and then changed his mind about medicine). "In the uni holidays for thee months each year I worked at Manly Hospital, initially as the garbo and then a cleaner and then a wardsman. A surgeon called Dr Castle let me stay in the theatre to watch operations. That sparked my interest in medicine," Hazzard says. But it was law that eventually won over Hazzard. He studied through the Solicitors' Admission Board while finishing his environmental science degree at Macquarie University and then at the University of NSW by night while maintaining his day job at North Sydney Boys. He practised as a solicitor for more than a decade and after a failed attempt at preselection for Pittwater in the late 1980s, Hazzard defeated sitting Liberal MP John Booth in a preselection battle and ran for Wakehurst. Hazzard likes to joke that his Liberal colleagues believe he is "more left than some of the Labor Party" but despite his progressive views, he is non-aligned and does not involve himself in the Liberal's moderate faction. One of the issues closest to his heart is Aboriginal reconciliation. As a new MP, he says he was shocked to discover that "the mother parliament of Australia did not have any recognition of the country's first nation's people". He first lobbied the Coalition and then Labor when they won the 1995 election and managed to convince the speaker John Murray to establish a permanent exhibition in the foyer of Parliament House to acknowledge the historical and cultural contribution of Aboriginal people to NSW. The exhibition remains, along with the Aboriginal flag, also a result of Hazzard's lobbying. Decades later, Hazzard faced a barrage of internal criticism from his right-wing colleagues when in 2019 he co-sponsored a private member's bill to decriminalise abortion in NSW. After much pain for the government, which included a short-lived threat to Berejiklian's leadership from three of her own MPs, the bill passed and abortion was removed from the NSW Crimes Act. Hazzard was attorney-general in 2014 when two people were killed in a siege by gunman Man Haron Monis killed at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. It remains the most difficult period of his 30 years in parliament. "The Lindt siege was just horrible. It was the lowest point of my ministerial and political career." Union boss Gerard Hayes, head of the Labor-affiliated Health Services Union, rates Hazzard as one of NSW's best health ministers, alongside former (Labor) ministers Andrew Refshauge and Craig Knowles. Hayes came out in support of Hazzard amid the Ruby Princess saga. Loading Labor leader Jodi McKay called on Hazzard to resign but Hayes, whose union has the second largest membership base in NSW, immediately responded, issuing a statement that was seen as a clear slap-down of McKay. "We were at the beginning of the pandemic and every day, there were new challenges. What we needed was continuity and experience and that's what I believed Hazzard could deliver,'' Hayes says. "He is a straight shooter. We have had plenty of arguments and disagreements, but what you see is what you get and he brings with him lots of experience and maturity." However, signs that the long hard year may have taken its toll on Hazzard when he was forced to apologise to McKay after an undignified attack on her during question time in August. Hazzard derided the Opposition Leader as "quite stupid", a "goose" and a "complete pork chop" after McKay pressed him about the state's supply of masks. "You certainly need one," he teased, referring to the masks she was asking about. His comments were seized on, and commentators labelled them misogynistic. Brad Hazzard, with acting Premier John Barilaro, gives his daily COVID-19 update. Barilaro says Hazzard has not received enough credit for his role in NSW's response to the pandemic. Credit:James Brickwood The next morning he fronted morning radio to apologise. "I think its fair to say I was a little bit frustrated with Jodi ... I know Jodi quite well but I was a bit frustrated with her yesterday. I was tired and I was frustrated and I shouldnt have responded the way I did and Im sorry for doing that to you, Jodi." McKay was gracious, and insisted she did not believe his comments were misogynistic or about gender. Nonetheless, she said the comments were "unbecoming of a minister of the crown". Hazzard, father of two sons, was devastated by the breakdown of his first marriage in 2013. He has a loyal staff. His electorate officer worked for him for 28 years before her retirement and his ministerial staff is virtually unchanged since the Coalition's landslide win in 2011. He hands out his mobile number readily and gets personally involved in tricky issues that should be outsourced to his staff. Hazzard says he was so "angry and disappointed" with the way the Anglican-run aged care home Newmarch House managed its outbreak during the pandemic, particularly its treatment of families, that he called one of the churchs most senior officials to voice his frustration. "I had to direct NSW Health to provide a tent and a coffee machine outside Newmarch for the families just so they felt someone cared." (@FahadShabbir) Geneva, Jan 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 8th Jan, 2021 ) :The world's poorest countries can expect to start receiving their first Covid-19 vaccine doses between the end of January and mid-February, the World Health Organization said Thursday. Vaccination is already under way in some of the world's wealthiest nations, including the United States, Britain, European Union countries and Canada. Covax, the globally-pooled vaccine procurement and distribution effort, has struck agreements to secure two billion doses -- and the first of those will start rolling out within weeks, said the WHO's head of vaccines, Kate O'Brien. Covax aims to secure vaccines for 20 percent of the population in each participating country by the end of the year, with funding covered for the 92 lower- and lower-middle income economies involved in the scheme. It is co-led by the WHO, the Gavi vaccine alliance and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Asked how quickly lower-income African nations would get vaccines, O'Brien told a WHO live social media event: "The facility has access to over two billion doses of vaccine. "We will start to deliver those vaccines probably by the end of January, and, if not, certainly by early February and mid-February. "That's how countries in Africa and South Asia, and other countries around the world of these 92 that are less able to afford vaccines, are actually going to get vaccines." - Vaccines pipeline - The WHO granted emergency validation to the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on December 31, paving the way for countries worldwide to give swift approval to its import and distribution. According to the WHO's overview of candidate vaccines, 63 have been tested on humans, 21 of which reached final-stage mass testing. A further 172 candidate vaccines are being developed in laboratories with a view to eventual human trials. "There is a really big pipeline of vaccines that are coming through," said O'Brien. "We are in active review of the data on other vaccines and we do expect to be emergency-use listing additional vaccines in the coming weeks and the next months. "We have 15 manufacturers that have contacted us believing that they have the data that are required to meet these highest standards." As for the new mutations of the virus detected in Britain and South Africa, WHO experts have said that while they seem more transmissible, there is no indication that the current vaccines would not work against those variants -- and the vaccines are easily adaptable in any case. "The evaluation about whether the existing vaccines will be impacted at all is under way," said O'Brien. However, "the kinds of changes being seen in these variants are not felt to be likely to change the impact", she added. O'Brien said it was too early to tell how long protection would last for following vaccination, and the WHO had no data yet to make any recommendations on receiving doses of different vaccines, having fully reviewed only the Pfizer-BioNTech jab. She said prospective recipients should be aware it is not uncommon to feel unwell or have a sore arm after receiving a shot. "Up to a third of people are going to get a headache or not feel well for perhaps 24 hours; the data says sometimes up to 48 hours," she said. "It is your body's immune response that is actually turning on. "You might not feel at your best for the first couple of days, but there's a reason for it: something good is happening in your body." A prolific Russian hacker who stole data from over a dozen U.S. companies and information about more than 100 million U.S. consumers was sentenced Thursday to 12 years in prison after admitting involvement in one of the biggest thefts of consumer data from a U.S. financial institution. Andrei Tyurin, 37, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court after pleading guilty in September 2019 to computer intrusion, wire fraud, bank fraud and illegal online gambling offenses. In addition to the prison sentence, Tyurin has to serve three years of supervised release and has to pay a $19,214,956 forfeiture. Tyurin has been in U.S. custody since he was extradited from Georgia in September 2018. Prosecutors say Tyurin helped steal the personal data of more than 80 million customers from JP Morgan Chase alone. Other customer data was also breached from E*Trade Scottrade and the Wall Street Journal, among other victim companies. Prosecutors say Andrei Tyurin, 37, helped steal the personal data of more than 80 million customers from JP Morgan Chase alone They said Tyurin targeted financial institutions, brokerage firms and financial news publishers including the Wall Street Journal in the United States from 2012 to mid-2015, getting the personal information of more than 100 million customers of the companies. Tyurin operated from his Moscow home, collecting over $19 million as he utilized a computer infrastructure across five continents, authorities said in a release from the U.S. Attorneys Office in the Southern District of New York. In addition to the financial sector, Tyurin also committed cyberattacks against multiple U.S. and foreign companies from 2007 to mid-2015. Tyurin is said to have 'used computer infrastructure located across five continents,' which he ran from his home in Moscow Gery Shalon, Joshua Samuel Aaron and Ziv Orenstein were named as co- conspirators in the investigation and charged 'in furtherance of securities market manipulation, illegal online gambling, and payment processing fraud schemes. Other customer data was also breached from E*Trade Scottrade and the Wall Street Journal, among other victim companies In a release, Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said Tyurin 'played a major role in orchestrating and facilitating an international hacking campaign that included one of the largest thefts of U.S. customer data from a single financial institution in history.' 'Tyurin engaged in these crimes at the direction of his partner Gery Shalon, and in furtherance of other criminal schemes overseen and operated by Shalon and his co-conspirators, including securities fraud schemes in the United States,' the release states. 'For example, in an effort to artificially inflate the price of certain stocks publicly traded in the U.S., Shalon and his co-conspirators marketed the stocks in a deceptive and misleading manner to customers of the victim companies whose contact information Tyurin stole in the intrusions.' In court papers, Tyurin's lawyer, Florian Miedel, wrote that Tyurin only pocketed about $5 million because the rest was only promised by a co-conspirator who relied on Tyurin to get names and contact information so he could recruit customers for his illegal online gambling business. Gery Shalon (pictured), Joshua Samuel Aaron and Ziv Orenstein were named as co- conspirators in the investigation and charged 'in furtherance of securities market manipulation, illegal online gambling, and payment processing fraud schemes Ziv Orenstein is pictured center Miedel requested leniency for his client, saying Tyurin never stole money through his hacking. In a letter to the judge, Tyurin said he was 'terribly ashamed' of the personal information he stole and believed he had 'chosen a wrong path in life.' He also wrote that he has changed since a daughter he can no longer see was born four years ago. A FBI wanted poster for Joshua Samuel Aaron who was captured In court papers, prosecutors wrote that as investigators closed in on Tyurin and the co-conspirator with the online gambling business, Tyurin and his accomplice 'were fundamentally driven by pragmatic considerations regarding the risk of their detection and ultimately their apprehension, rather than concerns regarding relative moral culpability of their use of the stolen data.' They urged a stiff sentence, citing the difficulty of apprehending someone who operates a half a world away. 'As a result of the significant resources required to mount a successful hacking prosecution, convictions are relatively rare. Consequently, the importance of affording general deterrence through meaningful sentences is particularly acute in criminal hacking cases,' according to a sentencing submission signed by Assistant U.S. Attorney Eun Young Choi. Tyurin has been in U.S. custody since he was extradited from the country of Georgia in September 2018. He will be deported once he serves his sentence. U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain ordered him to forfeit his profits. Restitution was to be determined at a later date. TCS share rose over 2% in early trade today ahead of the IT firm's Q3 earnings set to be announced later in the day. Stock of TCS gained 2.16% to Rs 3098.35 against previous close of Rs 3,032.70 on BSE. The stock has gained after 2 days of consecutive fall. Market cap of the firm rose to Rs 11.56 lakh crore on BSE. TCS share is trading higher than 5 day, 20 day, 50 day, 100 day and 200 day moving averages. Total 58,461 shares of the IT gaint changed hands on BSE. The IT stock has risen 36.63% in one year and gained 7.35% since the beginning of this year. TCS is likely to report QoQ growth of 4.5% in Q3 in USD terms, according to Edelweiss. The report by Edelweiss Research further said Indian IT companies are poised to report their best Q3 in a decade on the back of highest-ever order books, marked revenue acceleration, margin expansion, and ongoing outlook upgrades. Another IT major Infosys is scheduled to release Q3 results on January 13. Infosys, TCS, Wipro to shine! IT companies look forward to best Q3 in a decade "Generally, Q3 is a slack quarter for IT companies. But this time around, investors are expecting the best quarterly performance from TCS along with other companies like Infosys, HCL & Wipro with dollar revenue growth of over 3% as against 1%. Technically, if earnings still are as estimated, we believe it has been factored in the stock price. Investors are advised to book profits on every rise, " said AR Ramachandran, Co-founder & Trainer at Tips2trades. In Q2 of the current fiscal, TCS reported a 4.9 per cent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 8,433 crore and announced up to Rs 16,000-crore buyback plan. Net profit excluded Rs 1,218 crore-provision towards legal claim. Including this number, the net profit was at Rs 7,475 crore, TCS said. TCS had registered a net profit of Rs 8,042 crore in the September 2019 quarter. Its revenue grew 3 per cent year-on-year to Rs 40,135 crore for the just-ended quarter from Rs 38,977 crore in the year-ago period. Sensex rises 300 points, Nifty at 14,150; Infosys, TCS, HCL Tech top gainers ADVERTISEMENT The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) is a not-for-profit institution that generates agricultural innovations to meet Africas most pressing challenges of hunger, malnutrition, poverty, and natural resource degradation. Working with various partners across sub-Saharan Africa, we improve livelihoods, enhance food and nutrition security, increase employment, and preserve natural resource integrity. IITA is a member of CGIAR, a global agriculture research partnership for a food secure future. Ref: IITA-HR-NRS2021-001 Location: Ibadan, Oyo Recruitment Type: National (1-year renewable contract) Duties Work with Data Manager and the Excellence in Breeding Platform (EiB) on the adoption of a data management system (Enterprise Breeding System EBS) for storing and retrieval of information; Curate historical data from the Maize crop improvement program into templates for migration to the EBS; Check the quality and integrity of the data to be uploaded to the EBS; Ensure that the CG-core metadata standards are adhered to for all Maize improvement data; Perform data wrangling of large datasets to fill defined templates; Define and implement data standards and best practices for Research Data Management by developing ontologies, phenotyping protocols, quality standards, Trait dictionaries, templates and fieldbooks. Maintain coherent repository of Crop Information (genealogy, phenotype and genotype) allowing public access and secondary use for predictive breeding and comparative biology; Assist members of the Maize breeding program to capture data electronically and use the EBS to manage the day to day activities of their breeding programs; Perform any other duties as may be assigned by the Supervisor. Qualification Masters degree in Computer Science, Biometrics, Research Methods, Bioinformatics or other related field with five (5) years relevant experience in data management. Competencies: The ideal candidate must have: Computer, data management, R Data wrangling skills. Remuneration We offer highly competitive salary with equally attractive benefits and excellent working conditions in a pleasant campus environment. Application Closing Date 20th January, 2021. Method of Application Interested and qualified candidates should send their Cover Letter which should address how their background / experience relates to the specific duties of the position applied for, Curriculum Vitae, Names and addresses of three professional referees (which must include either the Head of the applicants current or previous organization or applicants direct Supervisor / Superior at his / her present or former place of work). The application should be addressed to the Head, Human Resources Service. Note: IITA is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse workforce. While all applications will be acknowledged, please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 04:24:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Tanzanian President John Magufuli (R) shakes hands with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi during their meeting in Chato, Tanzania, on Jan. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Long Lei) CHATO, Tanzania, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli met here with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday. Magufuli asked Wang to convey his sincere greetings and best wishes to Chinese President Xi Jinping. Magufuli said the older generation of leaders from Tanzania and China met with sincerity and jointly forged profound friendship between the two countries. The Chinese people have always been good friends and brothers of the Tanzanian people, said Magufuli, adding that Tanzania is deeply grateful for the great help provided by the Chinese people in its struggle for national liberation and development. Tanzania is willing to continue to carry forward the traditional friendship between Tanzania and China, and will stand firmly with China on all issues involving China's core interests and major concerns, said Magufuli. Noting that China has made remarkable achievements in economic development and bilateral economic and trade cooperation is win-win and mutually beneficial, Magufuli said Tanzania is ready to deepen cooperation with China, expand exports to China and attract more Chinese investment. Tanzania is ready to become the gateway for Chinese enterprises to explore the eastern and southern African markets and join hands with China to usher in a new era of common development between the two countries, he said. For his part, Wang Yi said China and Tanzania have profound and long-standing traditional friendship, which is the precious treasure of both countries and should be cherished, carried forward and continuously injected with new connotation of the era. Wang said Tanzania was the first African country that President Xi Jinping visited after he took office as the Chinese president in 2013. During that visit, Xi proposed the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith for China to deal with its relations with Africa. China is ready to make joint efforts with Tanzania to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and push for the comprehensive cooperative partnership between China and Tanzania, Wang said. China appreciates Tanzania's consistent and firm support on issues concerning China's core interests. China will also firmly support the Tanzanian government in its governance efforts and its opposition to foreign interference, said Wang, adding that China-Tanzania cooperation is South-South cooperation and mutual help between brothers. China was once a comrade in arms in Tanzania's struggle for national independence and is now a partner in Tanzania's development and revitalization, said Wang. "We support more Chinese enterprises to invest in Tanzania, expand cooperation in infrastructure, resources and energy, agriculture, livestock, manufacturing, medical and health care and other sectors," said Wang. Wang also called on the enterprises to properly handle the problems encountered in the cooperation between the two countries, and help Tanzania achieve its independent development goals for the benefit of the Tanzanian people. On the same day, Wang also held talks with his Tanzanian counterpart Palamagamba Kabudi and jointly met the press. Enditem The Mid-Michigan Section of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers invites you to a special virtual presentation in order to provide a safe and healthy environment for all meeting attendees. In light of the impact of the coronavirus, the group will be holding all meetings virtually until further notice. Mark Jones will present "Effective Communication of Scientific Data," from 12 to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12. Effective communication begins by knowing your audience. It is about getting your audience to quickly understand your points with minimal effort on their part. A review of human perception and how it impacts understanding provides a foundation for discussion of effective data presentation. Discover how and why "mind-ready" presentations allow your audience to quickly grasp points and be influenced by your message. File screengrab taken from CCTV dated October 23, 2019 issued by Essex Police showing lorry driver Maurice Robinson (26), leaving Purfleet port in Essex. A ringleader of the people-smuggling gang responsible for the deaths of 39 migrants closed his eyes in the dock as his victims final agonising gasps were heard for the first time in court. Haulier boss Ronan Hughes joined seven other defendants at the Old Bailey in London to be sentenced for their role in the sophisticated long-running operation which ended in tragedy on October 23, 2019. The 39 Vietnamese men, women and children had suffocated in sweltering temperatures in a sealed container as they were shipped from Zeebrugge to Purfleet in Essex. Recordings of some of their final desperate phone messages were played in court. In one message, a man spoke with ragged breaths as he apologised to his family. He said: I cant breathe. I want to come back to my family. Have a good life. In the background, a voice could be heard pleading: Come on everyone. Open up, open up. The sound of people moaning and gasping in obvious distress as they rapidly ran out of air was evident in the recording. The migrants had desperately tried to raise the alarm and even used a pole to try to punch through the roof of the container, the court has heard. While the recordings were being played, Hughes sat still in the dock with eyes shut throughout as the other defendants hung their heads. Lorry driver Maurice Robinson had delayed alerting emergency services when he made the grim discovery of the bodies at Purfleet in Essex early on October 23, 2019. Instead, he exchanged a flurry of calls with Hughes and fellow ringleader Gheorghe Nica before dumping his burner phone. Robinson had stopped in Eastern Avenue soon after picking up the trailer at Purfleet docks. The court heard Hughes had instructed him via Snapchat to give them air quick dont let them out to which Robinson responded with a thumbs-up emoji. On finding the bodies, Robinson rang Hughes who told him to Open the doors, give them air, according to his statement to police. Robinson responded: I cant, theyre f****** dead. He then telephoned Nica who had shown him the drop-off point near Collingwood Farm earlier. He told him to Ring an ambulance before Hughes ordered him to get rid of his burner phone, according to Robinson. The driver did as he was told and threw the SIM card down the drain. He then dumped the telephone on the side of the road, the court heard. In his police interview, Robinson admitted he knew he was smuggling migrants and claimed he had stopped in Eastern Avenue because: I wanted to make sure the people inside were comfortable. At no stage did Robinson tell police about the real reason Hughess Snapchat message. A total of seven smuggling trips were identified between May 2018 and October 23, 2019. Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay said: These defendants were party to a sophisticated, long- running and profitable conspiracy to smuggle (mainly) Vietnamese migrants to the United Kingdom, in the back of lorries, in a deliberate and intentional breach of border control. The prosecution could point to seven specific events of people smuggling. However Mr Polnay added: It is submitted there is an irresistible inference that there were more events than those that were fortuitously detected. Migrants would board lorries at a remote location on the Continent to be transported to Britain where they would be picked up by a fleet of smaller vehicles for transfer to a safe house until payment was received. The fee was between 10,000 and 13,000, for the VIP route in which the driver was aware of the presence of smuggled migrants inside the trailer attached to his lorry. Robinson, who admitted involvement in two smuggling trips before the deaths, told police that he got 1,500 per migrant he successfully smuggled, and thought he had been paid 25,000. Robinson, (26), of Craigavon, and Hughes, (41), of Armagh, had pleaded guilty to the manslaughters and people-smuggling plot while Nica, (43), of Basildon, and the man on the Continent, lorry driver Eamonn Harrison (24), from Co Down, were convicted following a trial at the Old Bailey. The maximum sentence for people-smuggling is 14 years in prison, with manslaughter carrying a possible life sentence. The defendants, who are in custody, will be sentenced over three days by Mr Justice Sweeney at the Old Bailey. Irish Independent Mexicos Movistar has completed the first phase of it network migration initiative, under which it has connected subscribers across several states to infrastructure operated by AT&T Mexico. Movistar (Telefonica Moviles Mexico) signed an agreement with AT&T Mexico in November 2019 which allowed it to access capacity on the latters nationwide 3G and 4G networks, along with new access technologies yet to be deployed. The move enabled Movistar to relinquish its entire existing spectrum holding, and in the first quarter of 2020 it returned its 1900MHz and 2500MHz to the regulator for US$100 million. This also freed it from the coverage requirements stipulated for holders of 2500MHz spectrum. Subscribers in Baja California Norte, Baja California Sur, Chihuahua, Durango, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon and Tamaulipas have all been migrated. Movistar has divided its footprint into several regions to execute the project, and these states comprise Regions 1, 3 and 4. Under the first phase, Movistar confirmed that 38 cities were connected to AT&Ts LTE network among them Acapulco, Cordoba and Puerto Vallarta. This has provided a further 6.2 million Mexicans with access to 4G. CommsUpdate reports that the second phase of the migration will be enacted over the course of 2021. Autoworkers, teachers, retirees and other sections of the working class reacted with outrage as fascist supporters of President Trump stormed the US Capitol Wednesday afternoon, forcibly disrupting the certification of Bidens presidential victory. The attack, which occurred soon after the same crowd heard an incendiary speech by Trump in front of the White House, was an attempted coup by Trump to overturn the election results and establish a presidential dictatorship. The World Socialist Web Site and the Socialist Equality Party are warning workers about the dangers raised by this development and campaigning to mobilize the working class in opposition to both the fascist Trump and his spineless political opponents in the Democratic Party to defeat the drive to dictatorship. Capitol police officers stand outside of fencing that was installed around the exterior of the Capitol grounds, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021 in Washington. (AP Photo/John Minchillo) David North, national chairman of the SEP and the chair of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS, wrote in the Perspective, The fascist coup of January 6, The events of January 6, 2021 must be taken as a warning. The working class must elaborate a political strategy and plan of action to defeat future efforts to impose a dictatorship. He continued: It is essential to build a network of rank-and-file committees in factories and workplaces capable of organizing broad-based popular resistance through the mobilization of all sections of the working class. Above all, workers must understand that the disintegration of American democracy is rooted in the crisis of capitalism. In a society riven by staggering levels of social inequality, it is impossible to preserve democracy. North ended with a call for readers of the WSWS to join the Socialist Equality Party. Among workers, there is broad support for such a program. Many who spoke to the WSWS expressed support for a mass working class counter-offensive to demand Trump and his co-conspirators be arrested. Trump should be removed and changes brought, said a Detroit bus driver. He incited a riot. I have never in my lifetime heard of a president in his last few days in office doing that and getting no sort of reprimand. He is doing everything contrary to [democracy]. I am just a bus operator, but we need to get a lot of people together so we can make a significant change for the better. His fiancee added, It shows that no one has any control over Trump. He is definitely not doing this alone. And it is not about color. It has always been for power and control. It is worse now because they feel threatened. Biden did the worst thing he could do [by asking Trump to go on TV]. Well, he took that five minutes and ran with it. The way Trump was talking on TV, he was definitely the ringleader. He said, I was cheated, keep it going on. Even my 7-year-old sees whats going on. He said, Mom, why are they not putting Donald Trump in jail? My 14-year-old said the principal at school told them not to discuss this. But this is history, and history needs to be discussed. People need to know about history. We need to get autoworkers on board, doctors and nurses, teachers; all the working people. I want to make a difference. There are a lot of things that need to be addressed, the COVID on top of this. If everyone stands together, the earth can be balanced. I think this is very serious. Those people who were protesting in Washington are being used to do this by Trump, like it was planned, an autoworker at Ford Kansas City Assembly Plant told the World Socialist Web Site. They are breaching democracy and free elections. Trump has been calling for an insurrection for quite a while. The Democratic Party didnt do anything to stop him. Ive never seen anything like it. Im concerned about what could happen moving forward from today. Some workers seem to know whats going on. One worker at the plant last night told me he just felt that something was going to happen today. Criticizing the hypocrisy of the American political establishment, he continued, How can you go into other countries and say you are against dictatorship, and then look aroundwe are about to throw democracy out the window? Many of his coworkers at Ford were disgusted by the cowardice of the Democratic Party, which begged Trump to call on his supporters to go home and appealed for unity with Republicans even after the fascist riot. A lot of workers were watching TV earlier in the break room, and a few people couldnt even watch what Biden was saying, he said, referring to a speech in which Biden appealed for Trump to call off his supporters. Trump initiated it and [Biden] told Trump to go talk to the people outside the Capitol protesting. I think it is going to take the working class to stop them. Its not just either the Republicans or Democrats who are responsible. Its all of them, the elite, the rich. You come to the conclusion neither party is for the good of the working class. People are going to have to see that. I know that the WSWS was talking about how something like this could happen months ago. I think more and more people should be in tune to the WSWS. Many workers cited the vast contrast between the Capitol Polices treatment of the extreme-right Trump supporters, who were allowed virtually unchallenged to breach security barriers, and the massive state repression used against the protests opposing police violence. People need to know that the people storming the Capitol are the source of violence, not us, an aircraft mechanic in Pennsylvania said. It looks like a totally different police force is handling these people today than during the George Floyd protests in the summer, he said, adding sarcastically, these cops must have received all kinds of sensitivity training all of a sudden. A stationary engineer from Kansas said, What comes to mind immediately is the stark contrast between the actions of law enforcement at BLM demonstrations and the indifference the Capitol police had for containing, let alone stopping the invasion of the Capitol by force. I read today that not even during the Civil War did the Confederate flag make its way into the Capitol Building. Well, it did today. A worker at Sterling Heights Assembly Plant near Detroit said, Everyone was stunned at SHAP about what was happening. The contrast with how the cops treated the fascists versus how they treated the anti-police violence protesters was something everyone talked about yesterday in the plant. The police allowed this to happen. That said, this isnt a race war. If people are talking about white privilege they are missing the point. This is an attack on the working class. We are the ones who have to stop it, he continued. Trump is mobilizing his supporters, but we can do the same thing. Sometimes it takes big shocks to put workers into motion, but that is what is happening now. People are being educated by these events. In Ferguson, the police and military had snipers on the roof, a retired state employee said. I remember Rodney King, they beat him to a bloody pulp. Today, the Proud Boys got into the Capitol and stopped the count of the Electoral College and the certification of the election, and they werent arrested for it. This will only embolden them. This will expand the audience and organizational source for drawing more members. Theyll call it a success and they didnt get arrested. She added, The characterization of this event on NBC as something that usually happens in faraway lands completely ignores the fact that the lands theyre talking about are lands where American imperialism was complicit in this type of event. In El Salvador, Guatemala, Chile, Iran and other countries, democratically-elected officials were ousted and replaced with puppets of the US. The bourgeois state is totally corrupt, and they cant cover it up anymore, she concluded. Its been exposed. I honestly believe that the far-right and company view the storming of the Capitol as a revolution, a grocery store worker from California said. That being said, it is 100 percent textbook domestic terrorism. What amazes me though, is that when I was talking about everything with co-workers, I had management come by and tell me to reel it in... It is in true management form to quiet down the workers, so they dont cause a hiccup in the peaceful exchange of goods and services. An autoworker at Fiat Chryslers Jefferson North Assembly Plant called on the working class to mobilize to defeat the far right. Workers either take a stand now or be slaves forever. Thats all there is to it. The fascists are in the peoples house. This is like the Nazis burning the Reichstag [the German Parliament building] in 1933. This is democracy or fascism and its time to take a stand. If someone broke into your house, it would be considered a home invasionand guess what? Theyre in your house. Now is the time, she concluded. This is no joke. And whats the Democratic Party response? Not a damn thing! Biden is not going to do anything, he had nothing to say today, the Democrats agree with the Republicans on pretty much everything. All the Democrats have been doing is keeping up this herd immunity garbage while we all die. This is ridiculous. Enough is enough. Chauncey Taylor, 21, attempted to deal Class A drugs from a flat belonging to a vulnerable couple in Leckwith along with five other people, all from the London area A private schoolboy whose mother is an ICU worker on the Covid frontline was sent to Cardiff as part of a county lines operation to sell heroin and cocaine. Chauncey Taylor, 21, attempted to deal Class A drugs from a flat belonging to a vulnerable couple in Leckwith along with five other people, all from the London area. Taylor admitted his role in the operation but claimed he had been threatened and intimidated into dealing by a drugs gang he owed a cannabis debt to. But he was today sentenced to 18 months in prison as Judge DJ Hale said the 'pressure' of a drug debt is not a 'get out of jail card'. Taylor's mother is a nurse working in a Covid ICU and Taylor provides care for his younger sister, Cardiff Crown Court heard. Taylor arrived in Cardiff on October 16 last year and had been dealing for four days before his arrest on October 19 at a property in Leckwith Place. Prosecutor Alex Greenwood said officers observed a number of people in the flat - which was known to them - and became suspicious. Officers knocked on the window and the flat fell silent while the men inside looked concerned. Police feared the vulnerable couple in flat were victims of 'cuckooing' - when gang members use violence and abuse to take over private homes as drug dens. An officer requested backup and when they entered the property there was a strong smell of cannabis. Five men were arrested and another man hiding outside in a car was also detained as officers conducted a search. Taylor - one of the six men - was found with a package containing 97 wraps of heroin which had dropped from his buttocks. A further 26 wraps of crack cocaine was found on another suspect. The defendant's home in Epsom, Surrey, was later searched and officers located a knife, weighing scales, and empty plastic bags. He was arrested and pleaded guilty to possession with intent to supply heroin and cocaine with a basis of plea stating he was acting under duress. Defence barrister Emma Lewis said Taylor had run up a cannabis debt and a drug dealer had attended his home demanding he repay it while making threats to him and his family. Taylor's mother is a nurse working in a Covid ICU and Taylor provides care for his younger sister, Cardiff Crown Court (pictured) heard He said he was not working and had no money so agreed to supply drugs to pay the dealer back. Ms Lewis added that her client came from a 'supportive family' who had provided him with a public school education. She said he had gained a place at university, which he was unable to take up due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Lewis added: 'He's mortified to find himself in this situation because of the impact it has had on his family. 'His mother is an ICU nurse and has provided crucial work during the pandemic. He was assisting with his sister's care which she no longer has access to.' Sentencing, Judge Hale said: 'Compared to most of the people I see you have had a better start than most. You're bright, you've got a supportive, family and here you are. 'You know and must have known the dangers that must have arisen should you be caught. 'You say you were under pressure because of a drug debt but you know the risks you're taking if you're caught - that pressure is not a get out of jail card.' Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Actors Arjun Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan left for Jaisalmer for the final shoot of their upcoming comedy Bhoot Police. Arjun shared a picture from inside the aircraft. He simply used a few emojis while sharing the picture. In the front row the two stars can be seen sitting and behind them are the crew members of the team. The team of Bhoot Police was in Dalhousie and later in Dharamshala for long spells of shoot for the film. Kareena Kapoor and her son Taimur Ali Khan had joined Saif for Diwali holidays and had stayed on for a long period, only to return around Christmas to Mumbai. Malaika Arora had also joined Arjun in Dharamshala for a few days. Bhoot Police also stars Yami Gautam and Jacqueline Fernandez. Back in early November, around the time the shoot commenced in Dalhousie, Jacqueline had shared a picture of herself and written: Day 1!! Happy happy happy #HappyPlace #BhootPolice The #NewNormal is paranormal. During Dharamshala shoot wrap, she had posted another picture of herself and had written: Schedule wrap #dharamshala #bhootpolice what a crazy ride that was!!!! Im missing the team already!! Also read: Mom-to-be Anushka Sharma gorges on pizza as she steps out for lunch with husband Virat Kohli, see pics Bhoot Police is a horror comedy, being directed by Pavan Kirpalani and produced by Ramesh Taurani and Akshai Puri. Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, director Pavan had said: We are excited to bring this spooky adventure-comedy and really happy to have Saif and Arjun join the team are a perfect fit for this crazy entertainer. Both of them will be seen in very different avatars and will bring trademark humour to the script. In a separate interview with Mumbai MIrror, Jacqueline had spoken about working with Saif and others. Saif and I have worked together earlier in Race 2; we are not just co-stars but friends. And even Arjun and Yami, with whom I am collaborating for the first time, are super fun, she had said. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10 Seoul, Jan 8 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has vowed to further improve social system and foreign relations at the ongoing party congress, a state media report said on Friday. In the report, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said that Kim suggested practical ways to give full play to the advantages of the country's social system during third-day session of the eighth Congress of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency. In his report reviewing the work of the Party's seventh Central Committee, Kim analysed and evaluated in depth the shortcomings exposed and lessons drawn from work in the past five years, setting forth "directions and ways for opening up a fresh golden age" by carrying out reforms in such fields as "education, public health, literature and arts", KCNA said. During the session, Kim and the congress attendees also doubled down on the Party's general stance to comprehensively expand and forge external relations, including ties with South Korea, KCNA added. Relations with Seoul went cold starting June, 2020 after Pyongyang demolished an inter-Korean liaison office in the border town of Kaesong in retaliation for the South's failure to stop activists from sending anti-North Korean leaflets. North Korea opened the eighth Party Congress on Tuesday amid expectations of a new five-year economic development plan and new policies on relationship with the US. The Congress will continue on Friday is the first in nearly five years, according to the KCNA report. During the previous Congress held in 2016 for the first time in more than 30 years, the North announced its five-year development plan that ended last year and declared the "byongjin" policy of simultaneously seeking nuclear weapons and economic advance. Mumbai, Jan 8 : Actress Renuka Shahane feels proud to essay the role of a doctor in her upcoming web series. The web series titled "Starting Troubles" is a medical comedy drama that revolves around Dr. Jagdish Chaturvedi, a person whose heart lies in the world of acting though he ends up becoming a doctor. It is based on Dr. Chaturvedi's autobiography "Inventing Medical Devices". "Doctors unquestionably play one of the most important parts in everyone's lives. I could not be more proud to portray the role of a doctor in this medical drama," Renuka told IANS. "Working in a medical drama such as 'Starting Troubles' has helped me understand the magnitude of responsibility which the doctors have towards their patients and the society as a whole; which is why this show is very close to my heart. I hope the audience showers the same kind of love with which we have made this show," she added. The trailer of the show is already out. It sets the premise for the title of the series as it captures the comedy of errors that takes place when Dr. Chaturvedi tries to live a double life -- as a doctor and as an actor-cum-standup comedian. The six-episode series will start streaming on BuddyBits from January 15 onwards. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Increased market activity and COVID-19 vaccine hopes led some companies to press on with hiring plans at the end of 2020, according to a new report. Photo: Getty UK hiring began to tick upwards in December, with a renewed rise in permanent placements, according to the latest KPMG and REC, UK Report on Jobs survey. Increased market activity and COVID-19 vaccine hopes led some companies to press on with hiring plans at the end of 2020, the report found. December saw the first increase in permanent staff appointments since September. Although the growth was only slight, it signals greater confidence among business chiefs as permanent hires are generally seen as a sign of greater employer confidence in their prospects. Hiring of temporary staff also rose at the sharpest pace for over two years, as companies tended towards short-term staff due to lingering uncertainty around the coronavirus pandemic and Brexit. Both permanent pay and temp wages rose for the first time since March. However, starting salaries rose only fractionally and the upturn in temp wages was mild overall. READ MORE: Best countries for remote working in 2021 The number of workers looking for jobs expanded at a softer, but still sharp, rate at the end of 2020. Recruiters said that staff supply rose due to redundancies and worries over current job security in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Regionally, permanent placements and temp billings rose in the South of England, the Midlands and the North of England. London, however, recorded a further drop, taking the current period of decline to 12 months. Vacancies for both permanent and temporary staff in the private sector rose during December. In contrast, demand fell for both permanent and temporary staff in the public sector, with the former experiencing a steeper drop. IT & computing and nursing, medical and care were the sectors that saw the steepest rates of expansion. Hotel and catering saw the sharpest fall in available job vacancies. Neil Carberry, chief executive of the REC, said: The underlying strength of the British economy shone through in the December jobs figures. The biggest expansion in temporary recruitment since October 2018 shows how important the flexible jobs market is to that performance. Growing permanent placements and starting pay also emphasised the resilience of our economy. Story continues WATCH: What To Ask In A Job Interview READ MORE: The most sought after jobs in the UK The important thing now is to maintain as much of that momentum as possible through the new lockdown. With business cashflows under renewed pressure, helping employers protect and create jobs is essential. We need a long-term plan to support businesses across the supply chain not just those required to close. This should include wider-spread reductions on business rates, support on VAT repayments and support for self-employed business owners previously cut out of schemes. We need big ticket items now, like a reduction in the cost of furlough and employers national insurance to help firms retain and hire staff in the coming months, alongside delivery of the vaccine. Regions have been recovering at different speeds and London continues to lag behind. London is home to some of the most deprived boroughs in the country, so this is particularly worrying. It underlines the urgency of action needed to help businesses retain workers and get the vaccine delivered. James Stewart, vice-chair at KPMG, said: The emergence of a vaccine did bring more confidence to the jobs market in December with a small increase in permanent appointments. Temporary billings were also sharply up across the UK although London was a notable exception. However, we will have to see what January brings with a new national lockdown sure to fuel economic uncertainty, alongside preparing and adapting to the new relationship with the EU. READ MORE: Brits to spend 19 million hours on tax returns But with the UK leading the way on the vaccine roll out and continued government financial support, there is hopefully light at the end of the tunnel for both business and jobseekers. The report was compiled by IHS Markit from responses to questionnaires sent to a panel of around 400 UK recruitment and employment consultancies. WATCH: Why can't governments just print more money? A desperate search is underway for a missing teenager who vanished from South Brisbane before Christmas. Police have asked the public for help to find Shannae, a 16-year-old girl from Spring Hill in Brisbane's lively inner north, who went missing nearly three weeks ago. Shannae vanished from South Brisbane on December 19 and was last seen at the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba. Shannae (pictured) went missing on December 19 in Brisbane - police have asked the public to help them find her as she may be in danger. If you see her, call 1800 333 000 CrimeStoppers The Princess Alexandra Hospital in Woolloongabba where Shannae was last seen She is known to regularly visit the Brisbane CBD and Ipswich areas. Police are worried for her safety as she is suffering from a medical condition. They have already made 'extensive inquiries' to find her but she is still missing. Shannae is described as Caucasian, about 160cm tall with dyed red hair and brown eyes. Anyone with information is urged to contact police immediately on CrimeStoppers 1800 333 000. The NFU is urging farmers to respond to a consultation seeking to reduce ammonia emissions from urea fertilisers, as it 'will impact the way we farm'. Three policy options are set out in Defra's consultation for cutting ammonia emissions by regulating the use or sale of solid urea liquid urea would be excluded from any new rules. Defra says the emissions are harmful to natural habitats as well as to human health, with 87% coming from agriculture, of which 18% is attributed to inorganic fertiliser application. The government has committed to reduce the pollutant by 8% of 2005 levels by 2020, and a 16% reduction by 2030. Three options have been presented, including a total ban on solid urea fertilisers, or a requirement to stabilise them with the addition of a urease inhibitor - a chemical that helps slow the conversion of urea to ammonium. Defra is also looking at a requirement to restrict the spreading of solid urea fertilisers so they can only be used from 15 January to 31 March. The NFU has urged farmers to respond to the 'important' consultation, which closes for responses on 26 January 2021. The union's combinable crops board chair, Matt Culley said urea was the most commonly used form of nitrogen fertiliser in the world, and an important tool for farmers in producing food. He said it offered several advantages when used alongside ammonium nitrate, as well as helping to maintain a competitive fertiliser market in the UK. "British farming is committed to playing its part in tackling climate change and has a goal to reach net zero by 2040," Mr Culley added. "The NFU is asking government to support that ambition without resorting to removing a valued product like urea from the market. Defra Secretary George Eustice explained that any changes would need to be made in a way that was 'realistic and achievable' for farmers. Ammonia emissions are causing harm to sensitive and important habitats by making soils more acidic which damages the growth of some plant species, impacting on biodiversity. "They are also harmful to human health, and we welcome views on how we can address their use in agriculture so that we can all breathe cleaner air. We are committed to working with farmers to help them do this," Mr Eustice said. The fertiliser consultation opened on 3 November 2020, with a deadline for responses set for 26 January 2021. The Nifty50 opened higher and gradually extended gains to close above the 14,300-mark for the first time on January 8. Auto, IT, pharma and select banking & financials and FMCG stocks led the rally. Positive global cues amid economic recovery hopes also supported the rally. The Nifty50 opened strong at 14,258.40 and maintained an upward rally to touch a new high of 14,367.30. The index climbed 209.90 points, or 1.48 percent, to end at a record closing high of 14,347.30. Experts feel if the current momentum sustains, the Nifty can go beyond 14,500 in the coming sessions. The index formed a bullish candle on the daily as well as weekly charts as the closing was higher than the opening levels. The index gained 2.3 percent for the week. Index traders with a high-risk appetite should go long by making use of intraday dip towards 14,250 levels, with a stop below 14,200 and look for a modest target placed in the 14,45014,500 zone, Mazhar Mohammad, Chief Strategist Technical Research & Trading Advisory at Chartviewindia.in told Moneycontrol. "The bulls continued their relentless strength after a brief pause of the two sessions to hit yet another milestone with first-ever close above 14,300 levels. In this process, strength in the markets continued for 10th week without any meaningful correction, from the lows of 11,557 levels which makes the bulls vulnerable for a sudden and sharp falls," Mohammad said. It will be prudent for traders to trail and fit their stop losses from time to time to the previous sessions low, he said. According to him, in the next trading session, if the Nifty sustains above 14,221, then it can head towards its next destination of 14,500 levels. However, if it breaks 14,221, then some weakness may emerge that can initially pull down the index towards 14,000 levels. India VIX was marginal up by 0.10 percent from 20.62 to 20.64 levels. On the options front, maximum Put open interest was seen at 13,000 followed by 14,000 strike, while maximum Call open interest was at 14,000 followed by 14,500 strike. Minor Call writing was seen at 14,400 then 14,700 strike, while Put writing was seen at 14,200 then 14,300 strike. The abovementioned option data indicated a wider trading range for the Nifty at 14,000 to 14,600 for the coming sessions. The Bank Nifty opened higher at 32,298.05, which was also an intraday high, but could not sustain at higher zones and slipped thereafter. The index gained 128.20 points to close at 32,084.20 and formed a bearish candle on the daily scale as it closed lower than opening levels, but continued its higher highs from the last five trading sessions. "The index has to continue to hold above 31,750 levels to witness an upmove towards 32,500 and 32,613 while on the downside support is seen at 31,500 and 31,200 levels," Chandan Taparia, Vice President | Analyst-Derivatives at Motilal Oswal Financial Services said. Positive setup was seen in Maruti Suzuki, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, MRF, UPL, Page Industries, Havells, Hero MotoCorp, Infosys, Eicher Motors, SRF, Balkrishna Industries, Mindtree, Power Grid, ACC, M&M, Sun Pharma, UltraTech Cement, TVS Motor, Voltas and Bajaj Auto. Weakness was seen in Vodafone Idea, Manappuram Finance, SAIL, Canara Bank, Aurobindo Pharma and ITC, he added. With him at the top of the ticket, Republican turnout had surged, allowing G.O.P. candidates down the ballot to avoid the major losses that many had predicted. The Trump campaigns strategy of driving up turnout among working-class white voters, including many who hadnt voted in past elections, seemed to have paid off at least enough to light a path forward for the Republican Party. Just a few weeks ago, President Trump had lost the presidential election whether he admitted it or not but it still looked as if he had pulled off a remarkable feat: His take-no-prisoners, reality-bending style as the Republican Partys leader had been at least somewhat vindicated by the results on Nov. 3. The events of this week have turned all that sideways. The Senate has now flipped Democratic, after Georgias Republican senators lost runoff elections marred by Trumps squabbles with the states Republican leaders. And then on Wednesday, in what will go down as a dark day in the countrys history, Trump directed a flock of his supporters to march on the Capitol and show strength. Hundreds stormed the building and ransacked the Senate chamber, in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent Congress from ratifying Joe Bidens legitimate election victory. The chaos left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer whose passing was announced late last night, as the nation looked on aghast. All of a sudden, Trumps grip on the party appeared to be loosening. So where does that leave Republican leaders? In a word, uncomfortable. Shaken by Wednesdays violence and well aware of how damaging the rampage could be to the partys reputation among more moderate voters a number of Republicans in Congress backed off their support for Trumps challenge to the election results. But nearly 150 G.O.P. lawmakers, including more than 100 in the House, did end up registering their objection to the Electoral College results, setting an extraordinary precedent. The reality is that Trump remains the most popular and influential public figure among Republican voters. Polls since November have consistently shown that most Republicans say they believe the presidents falsehoods about widespread election fraud reflecting not only his personal influence, but also the willingness of his supporters to choose Trump-friendly narratives over faith in civic institutions. (Read Jeremy W. Peterss short essay below, on how conservative pundits are already reframing Wednesdays events to absolve Trump of blame.) Further complicating things is the fact that Biden has aggressively courted moderate Americans, including the kinds of suburbanites and center-right voters that the Republican Party had heavily relied upon just a decade ago. Many Republican officials now recognize that without the support of anti-institutional, white, working-class voters who remain broadly loyal to Trump they would be left without any base at all. Still, G.O.P. leaders are feeling the heat. After Wednesdays melee, some prominent members of Trumps administration resigned, including Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, and Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary and the wife of Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader. The resignations were essentially symbolic, since the administration will be around for only another 12 days, and they mostly felt like an attempt by those officials to wipe their hands clean and walk away after steadily standing at the presidents side for the past four years. Some observers have called upon members of Trumps cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to strip him of his powers, and at least one House Republican said yesterday that he would back such a move. John Kelly, Trumps estranged former chief of staff, said on CNN yesterday that if he were still in the cabinet, he would support using the 25th Amendment to oust Trump. Vice President Mike Pence, however, would oppose such an action, a person in his inner circle told Maggie Haberman. According to the text of the amendment, Pence and a majority of the cabinet would need to agree in order to remove Trump from power before Jan. 20. Teleprompter Trump is back. Heeding the outrage of the G.O.P.s top brass, the president released a brief video address last night in which he read somberly from prepared remarks, belatedly committing himself to a peaceful transfer of power. Barely over 24 hours after he released a video expressing love for his supporters at the Capitol and calling them very special people, Trump declared himself outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. Contrary to reports that he had resisted sending in additional forces to take back the Capitol, Trump claimed that he had immediately deployed the National Guard and federal law enforcement to secure the building. By now, this cycle of binge and bust has become familiar: First, Trump breaks a norm of American governance. Then he stays mum while outrage ensues, seemingly basking in the confusion he has unleashed. Finally, after 24 hours or so, he offers a staid and well-rehearsed statement of compunction. The next step in the process usually involves Trump hopping back onto social media and picking up where he left off, lobbing bombs at his opponents and complaining about unfair treatment. But he may not have quite the same opportunity to do that this time. Facebook said yesterday that it would block Trump from using its platforms at least until he leaves office. Twitter had locked Trump out for nearly 24 hours, after he released his video on Wednesday praising supporters, although his access was later restored. With just a dozen days left until Bidens inauguration, it appears Trump is finally allowing official transition business to take place. While Donald Trump on Friday said he will not attend US President-elect Joe Bidens inauguration on January 20, the outgoing presidents deputy, vice-president Mike Pence, is expected to, in a sign of growing fissures in the Trump administration, marked also by a steady stream of resignations. Betsy DeVos, the education secretary, became on Thursday the second member of Trumps cabinet to resign in the aftermath of the Capitol attack, after Elaine Chao, the transportation secretary. DeVos blamed Trumps rhetoric for the attack, calling it unconscionable. Matt Pottinger, a deputy National Security Adviser, and Mick Mulvaney, a former Trump chief of staff and special envoy on Norther Ireland, are among senior officials who quit. Republican lawmakers are urging others to stay, to ensure the unpredictable president was not left to his own devices, especially as he feels isolated and is in danger of being removed from office. To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the inauguration on January 20th, Trump tweeted on Friday, becoming the first American president to skip his successors inauguration sine 1869. Pence, who has shown increasing independence from the president after years of slavish loyalty, plans to attend, according to news reports. He or his office have not denied those reports. In fact, subsequent reports indicated that he is, in fact, waiting for an invitation. Former President George W Bush, a Republican who was publicly critical of Trump, will be attending Bidens inauguration along with his wife Laura Bush, his spokesperson had said the day before US Congress met to certify Bidens election, sending an unmistakable message to Republican lawmakers objecting to the certification at Trumps behest. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn Carter wil not attend, their spokesperson has said. They are 97 and 93 and have been largely home lately due to Covid-19. A DUBLIN man has been charged with online harassment of female journalists and writers. Brendan Doolin (38) appeared in Dublin District Court today charged with offences against four women, alleged to have happened two years ago. Judge Flann Brennan remanded him in custody, to appear in court again on a date next week. Mr Doolin, with an address at Leighlin Road, Crumlin, is charged with harassing the four named women in various locations on dates between April and August in 2019. The charges are under Section 10 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Detective Garda Paul Fitzpatrick from the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau gave evidence of arrest charge and caution. He told the court that Mr Doolin made no reply to the charges after caution and was handed copies of the charge sheets. Judge Brennan remanded the accused in custody for a week. WASHINGTON - After angry rioters and supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a last stand for the outgoing president, the United States has tallied its deadliest day of the coronavirus pandemic for the second straight day. On Thursday, more than 4,000 people died of covid-19 in the United States, the first time the toll has exceeded that milestone, after a record day Wednesday of 3,915 deaths. The pandemic has now claimed more than 363,000 lives in the United States. More than 265,000 new coronavirus cases were reported, the second-highest count in a day according to a Washington Post analysis. More than 132,000 people are battling covid-19 in hospital beds, the most the nation's health-care system has taken on. Meanwhile, members of Congress spent hours convened during proceedings meant to count the electoral college votes of President-elect Joe Biden. Those proceedings were interrupted when hordes of rioters - many maskless - forced their way through barricades, some scaling the walls of the Capitol building, in a violent day that ended with four people dead. Overnight, shaken lawmakers affirmed Biden's win. One congressman who was on the floor of the House as Congress convened Wednesday announced hours later that he had tested positive. Early Thursday, newly sworn-in Rep. Jake LaTurner, R-Kan., said on Twitter that he was not experiencing symptoms and will not return to the House floor "until he is cleared to do so." Craig Spencer, director of Global Health in Emergency Medicine at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center, had just walked away from receiving his second coronavirus vaccine dose when he saw news of rioters descending on the Capitol. He said if not for the siege on the Capitol - in addition to fatigue with news related to the pandemic - the story of the day late Wednesday might have been the record death count. "We're a year into this and we set a record death toll yesterday, and it's going to be higher sometime in the next week and higher again in the coming weeks," he said, adding: "Unlike this massive acute onslaught of insurrection . . . people have just gotten used to the fact that thousands of people will die." He described the chaotic scene Wednesday as a "culmination." "With an insurrection fomented by the person in power, on the same day there was a record death toll fomented by the person in power that's basically given up, and not talking about and not seemingly concerned with the fact that every week we see another record set," he said. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar tweeted that the agency was "committed to a peaceful and orderly transition of power over the next 13 days," and said that more than 300 meetings have been held with Biden's transition team, since before the Thanksgiving holiday, as the incoming administration readies to take over the response to the pandemic. But the pandemic will continue to worsen before the Biden administration is able to step in, experts say. The nation's death toll will continue to surge through January after Americans have gathered and traveled during the holidays, said Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and efforts to enforce greater restrictions will "blunt that acceleration." "That's going to really require people concentrating very, very intensively on doing the kinds of public health measures that we talk about all the time. Now's not the time to pull back on this," Fauci told NPR. Fauci, who will assist with the Biden administration's coronavirus response, said the new White House will take several steps, unlike the Trump administration, to curb the pandemic: encouraging mask use, ensuring greater cooperation with states and ramping up immunizations efforts to 1 million shots a day. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 5.3 million people have received at least the initial dose of a coronavirus vaccine and that nearly 17.3 million doses have been sent to states as of Wednesday morning. U.S. vaccine distribution got off to a "rocky beginning," National Institutes of Health Director Francis Collins acknowledged in an interview with The Washington Post. But Collins said he was "not totally surprised by that." "The next couple of weeks are going to be really critical to see how we can get this distribution system up and going more smoothly," Collins said, adding: "We had this remarkable plan that [Operation] Warp Speed had put in place to have doses ready to go the very next day after the FDA approval, but that's a lot of logistics. . . . So maybe we shouldn't be too shocked that it didn't go like clockwork." Rachel Levine, secretary of health in Pennsylvania and president of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, said Thursday she anticipates that there will soon be a ramping up of vaccine administration. During a call with reporters, Levine said adding vaccine doses and funding will be critical to expediting distribution. Steven Stack, Kentucky's commissioner of public health, pushed back on the idea that the vaccine rollout has so far been a "failure" and pointed to high expectations. "I wish that rather than overpromising realistically what the quantities were . . . had we just projected realistic quantities, the public wouldn't have seen this as a shortcoming, they would have recognized it for the incredible accomplishment it was to even have this much vaccine this fast," Stack said on the call. As officials work toward ramping up vaccine distribution that could eventually end the pandemic, a new challenge has emerged. Health officials and experts say a variant of the coronavirus, which is considered more transmissible and first was reported in Britain, could become much more common in the United States in coming weeks. There's no evidence that the variant carries more risk of severe disease or death, and it has been detected in a small fraction of infections, but there are signs that it will spread. Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Texas announced Thursday that they had identified cases of the variant, which has shown up elsewhere in the country in recent days. In Pennsylvania, the patient tested positive after "known international exposure." In a statement, John Hellerstedt, Texas's health commissioner, said the individual patient there "had no travel history," suggesting that the variant is already circulating in the state. In Connecticut, two people, 15 and 25, in New Haven County separately traveled and became infected with the variant, said Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont. Jenny Cudd is trending nationwide. This isnt just a Midland story. Excerpts from her video Wednesday night outside a Washington, D.C., hotel are receiving millions of page views. Social media posts by people across the country are receiving tens of thousands of comments, and stories are being consumed at record paces. The reaction has not been favorable to those who approve of her involvement in Wednesdays events at the U.S. Capitol. With that being said, here is a look at Cudd and her time in Midland. Who is Jenny Cudd? An introduction to politics Cudd became more of a household name in Midland when she ran for mayor in November 2019. Her campaign included the slogan Midland deserves better. She was the outsider candidate who believed that city government had been ineffective at dealing with growth issues in Midland. Cudd ran against Patrick Payton and Jerry Morales for mayor. She picked up 15.6 percent of the vote. In 2020, Cudd was active in protests in Midland and Odessa against business closures and potential mask mandates having to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. She also organized counter-protests when picketers outside Pastor Bob Fus home accused him of being a spy for the Chinese government. In the flower business Cudd is the owner of Beckys Flower, a flower store in west Midland, and she also created CYAFlowers.com, an online software platform that lets customers enter special dates such as birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine's Day and Mother's Day. She previously told the Reporter-Telegram her plan with the concept was to collect data on how customers use the platform and then sell licenses for floral shops nationwide, "so we have partners across the country." Her experience with cannabis In 2019, Cudd told the Reporter-Telegram that she owned a percentage in a consulting company that works with medical marijuana growing facilities in the state of Oklahoma. Cudd said she owns 50 percent of Mad Hatters Tea House and 4 percent of Top Dollar Equity and that equals 1.5 shares in the consulting companies. In July of 2020, she appeared in a marketing video, Cannabis Investment Opportunity Summit Boys presented by Jenny Cudd. She said in the video that the Summit Boys are from Oklahoma. In that video, she reported her experience in the cannabis industry includes ownership in two Oklahoma-based farms, having raised $1.25 million in investor capital in start-up funds for the second facility and having interest in one Oklahoma-based dispensary. Recipient of taxpayer funding In 2017, the Midland Development Corp. provided $264,000 to the Small Business Development Center at University of Texas Permian Basin to administer the Midland Entrepreneurial Challenge. Cudd Enterprises also doing business as CYA Flowers, an entity owned by Jenny Cudd -- was one of the four winners that the judges selected. Her business received $63,000 from the SBDC and UTPB. The MDC reported this week that the program was wholly operated and overseen by the SBDC and UTPB. They stated that an independent panel of judges, completely unrelated to the MDCs board or staff, selected the winning businesses and determined the amounts to be distributed as prize monies. The MDC played no role in selecting winners, and had no ability to approve or reject any winner selected by the independent panel of judges, the MDC reported. Cudd also stated on her Jenny Louise Facebook page that she received PPP funding to help pay her employees. An initial search of Small-Business-Forum.net shows Cudd Enterprises, which shows the same address as Beckys Flowers, also received an Economic Injury Disaster Loan of $150,000. Cudd Enterprises LLC. also was awarded a $41,000 PPP loan according the Small Business Administration. She wrote the following about receiving money, Considering the massive amount of taxes I pay and the fact that my business qualified for it and I applied, I viewed the PPP as getting some of my money back which paid the nine people whom I employ for a couple months. Alok Sharma, who was appointed to the cabinet role of Business secretary in the Boris Johnson government following the December 2019 election, was on Friday appointed full-time president of UN COP26 climate conference scheduled to be held in Glasgow in November. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among world leaders due to attend the key climate conference. COP26 will be the largest summit the UK has ever hosted, bringing together representatives from nearly 200 countries, including leaders, experts, and campaigners. Prime Minister Johnson appointed Kwasi Kwarteng, who was minister of state in the Department of Business, Energy and Clean Growth, as the new Business secretary. Sharmas new role will continue to have cabinet status and he will report directly to the Prime Minister. Downing Street said in a statement that to meet the high ambitions for the summit, Sharma will solely focus on driving forward coordinated global action to tackle climate change. Officials said that a successful summit in November will be critical to meet the objectives set out by the Paris Agreement and reduce global emissions. It added that the UK has set a high bar, with recent commitment to reduce emissions by at least 68% by 2030, but also need other countries to do their bit. Sharma has been leading the UKs climate diplomacy, since assuming the role in February 2020, and will now focus on it exclusively. The Climate Ambition Summit co-hosted by the UK in December last year saw 75 world leaders set out new commitments to climate action. Sharma said: The biggest challenge of our time is climate change and we need to work together to deliver a cleaner, greener world and build back better for present and future generations. Through the UKs Presidency of COP26 we have a unique opportunity, working with friends and partners around the world, to deliver on this goal. Given the vital importance of tackling climate change I am delighted to have been asked by the Prime Minister to dedicate all my energies to this urgent task, he added. Sharma is one of four Indian-origin members around Johnsons cabinet table, besides chancellor Rishi Sunak, home secretary Priti Patel and attorney gneral Suella Braverman. 7th Pay Commission: Why the TA for CG employees will not increase despite rise in DA 7th Pay Commission: Delay in restoration of DA likely as key meet gets postponed 7th Pay Commission: Variable DA for CG employees hiked, all you should know 7th Pay Commission: Big relief on DA by Modi sarkar expected this month India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: In an important development regarding the 7th Pay Commission, the Central Government employees are expected to get a four per cent increase in their Dearness Allowance. This is expected to take effect in January 2021 itself and this would in accordance with the accepted formula that is based on the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission. In March 2020, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had approved to release an additional instalment of DA to the CG employees and Dearness Relief to pensioners with effect from January 1 2020. 7th Pay Commission: How the reversal of the 2009 order on NPS will benefit CG employees The Ministry of Finance said that there will be an increase of the Basic Pay/Pension to compensate for the price rise. The impact on the exchequer as a result of the DA and DR was fixed at Rs 12,510.04 crore per annum and Rs 14,595.04 crore in Financial Year 2020-21 (for a period of 14 months from January, 2020 to February, 2021). This would benefit around 48.34 lakh CG employees and 65.26 lakh pensioners. In another development relating to the 7th Pay Commission, the government decided to extend the Disability Compensation for all serving employees. This decision would go a long way and especially provide relief for those in the central armed police force (CAPF), personnel of the BSF, CISF, BSF etc. "In a significant New Year decision, "Disability Compensation" has been extended for all serving govt employees, if they get disabled while performing their service & are still retained in service. This also includes those who were appointed on or after 1.1.2004 & covered under NPS," Union Minister, Jitendra Singh said. "In a significant New Year decision, "Disability Compensation" has been extended for all serving govt employees, if they get disabled while performing their service & are still retained in service. This also includes those who were appointed on or after 1.1.2004 & covered under NPS," Union Minister, Jitendra Singh said. The decision relating to the NPS would also benefit employees and provide ease of living for government servants even after they have superannuated and become pensioners or family pensioners or elder citizens, he also said. 7th Pay Commission: Big announcement made on compensation, pension The 2009 order said that those government servants appointed on or after January 1 2004 and covered under the National Pension Scheme (NPS) do not get such compensation. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Friday, January 8, 2021, 12:04 [IST] A pro-Trump mob confronts US Capitol police outside the Senate chamber of the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021. Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images Amid the chaos and mayhem in Washington, the flags flew high. Dangerous. Despicable. And familiar. The day had begun with the results of Georgias runoff election, in which Raphael Warnock was the projected winner and fellow Democrat Jon Ossoff declared victory. In the aftermath of his success, Warnock reflected on the hopeful history he had just made, as the first African-American senator from Georgia. Mr Ossoff, who had interned with the civil rights icon John Lewis, would make history too. He would by nightfall be projected to become the states first Jewish senator. But our grievous history is relentless. And so is hate. The rioters stormed the US Capitol in hopes of holding on to a past both near and distant. They hoisted Trump flags aloft because it is he to whom theyve pledged their allegiance, refusing to accept his defeat in the November election. Read More USA! USA! they cried. These violent and angry mobs of men and women called themselves patriots despoiling a beautiful and mighty word as they clambered up inauguration scaffolding, shattered windows and wreaked terror in the nations capital in the name of a single wretched man and his delusions of greatness. They held signs that evangelised that Jesus Saves, using religion to justify their attempted coup. Fight for Trump! they chanted. And they let Confederate flags fly on the Capitol steps and inside its hallowed halls, making it plain just how they define the man and the real Americans for whom they claim to be standing firm. For much of Wednesday afternoon, the president of the US let the anger of the mob fester as flash bangs echoed off federal buildings and the stink of smoke filled the air. President Trump had incited and encouraged this insurrection. It was his creation, and he put the final flourishes on it in the late morning when he as well as his family poured even more accelerant on an already-raging fire during a morning rally on the Ellipse. The Capitol siege was seemingly his end game, the culmination of his campaign of lies and grievances over an election that he lost fair and square. Were going to walk down to the Capitol, and were going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women, and were probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them, Trump said from behind a protective clear shield as he was wrapping up his remarks. Were never going to take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength, and you have to be strong. His followers did as they were told. And so, on the sixth day of a new year that has already felt like a suffocating eternity, democracy bled out. It was bludgeoned and pummeled and stabbed through the heart by a mob of Americans who claimed they were fighting against communism, socialism, liberalism and a host of other -isms, when all along they were simply at war with democracy and the inconvenient truth that sometimes you and yours are simply outvoted. What to call these people? To describe them as protesters is to undermine those who take to the streets in peace, who raise their voices in hopes of making the country better not to demolish it. Are they traitors? Terrorists? Radicals? Thugs? They are all of those things a national quilt of our worst impulses and characteristics. They are mostly white. And they rampaged through the Capitol, breaking into the offices of the speaker of the House, looting and rioting and threatening and, at least initially, being greeted like overzealous tourists compared with the way in which some law enforcement have beaten back Black Lives Matter and racial justice demonstrators. The president-elect made a statement, too. Joe Biden pleaded for peace and insisted that Mr Trump speak up with certitude and passion and to send his supporters home. This is not dissent, Mr Biden said. Its disorder. Its chaos. It borders on sedition. He said the rioters did not represent who we are. But they are, at least in part, who we have become. Theyre certainly part of who weve always been. They are Americans just as surely as are those who watch them in horror and disgust. Americans stormed the Capitol, and they did so while flying the Confederate flag. They did this. They brandished it throughout the marble halls. That is who they are. They are proud of it. Mr Trump finally spoke to the assailants, in a video posted to Twitter. His call for the violence to cease was grudging. I know your pain. I know your hurt, Mr Trump said, and then he repeated his lies about having won the election. But you have to go home now. We have to have peace. But what Trump has unleashed cannot so easily be controlled or pushed back. History is relentless. Hatred is fierce. At nightfall, when law enforcement regained control of the Capitol, the lawmakers returned to their task of counting the electoral votes. So many of the provocateurs among them, the ones who had threatened to object to the will of the people, seemed chastened. Republican Senator Kelly Loeffler, newly defeated by Mr Warnock, acknowledged a change of heart. As Democrat senator Cory Booker noted, The shame of this day is that its been aided and abetted by good Americans who are falling prey, who are choosing Trump over truth. Americans are choosing Trump over democracy. ( Washington Post) Read More Washington Post TORONTO - Canada's hardest-hit regions are further tightening COVID-19 lockdown measures with public health officials blaming holiday gatherings for surging infections and experts suggesting Quebec's clampdown may inspire more restrictions. A registered pharmacist technician carefully fills the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine at a vaccine clinic during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on December 15, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette TORONTO - Canada's hardest-hit regions are further tightening COVID-19 lockdown measures with public health officials blaming holiday gatherings for surging infections and experts suggesting Quebec's clampdown may inspire more restrictions. Ontario's chief medical officer of health dashed expectations that southern Ontario kids could return to class this Monday by delaying in-person instruction another two weeks, citing reports of "concerning behaviour over the holidays." Amid a new high of 3,519 cases and 89 deaths reported Thursday, Dr. David Williams also extended a regional shutdown in northern Ontario for another two weeks to align with a lockdown in the south, however northern elementary and secondary students can return to class Monday. Williams said the positivity rate among tested children approached 20 per cent in early January for 12-13 year-olds, up sharply from 5.44 per cent in late November and early December. The government did not provide data on other age groups. Holiday revelers were also blamed in Manitoba, where acting deputy chief public health officer Dr. Jazz Atwal said the province had seen a "bump" in cases. There were 201 additional COVID-19 cases and 12 deaths reported Thursday. Restrictions on gatherings and business openings are set to expire Friday, however Premier Brian Pallister has already said they will be extended, with details yet to come. British Columbia and Alberta also opted to extend health restrictions. British Columbia chose Feb. 5 to keep its restrictions in place with provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry saying the number of infections was trending up again. The public health rules prohibit social gatherings among people from different households, as well as adult team sports and other activities. They allow essential workplaces, schools and the health-care system to remain open. Henry said it's important to protect the public, especially now that a vaccine is available. "We are in this period of greatest risk and greatest potential benefit and we need to have the room to provide vaccine," she said. In Alberta, Premier Jason Kenney said restrictions in place since mid-December banning private gatherings will remain until at least Jan. 21. Classrooms, however, will reopen as planned on Monday. Alberta students in grades 7 to 12 have been learning from home since the end of November and kids in the younger grades switched to online classes after the Christmas break. Kenney noted that between September and the Christmas break, only 0.4 per cent of students and staff tested positive for COVID-19 and case numbers have dropped among all school-aged groups in December. "I know that some of you might feel anxious about putting your backpacks on and going back to class on Monday," Kenney said. "But we have a practical plan that will always put the safety of students and school staff first." The renewed clampdowns follow Quebec's announcement Wednesday that residents there will face an evening curfew Saturday that bars people from leaving their homes between 8 p.m. and 5 a.m., except to work. Those who violate the rules face fines ranging from $1,000 to $6,000. University of Manitoba virologist Jason Kindrachuk said Quebec's decision to begin a four-week curfew "sets the tone" for the nation's escalating pandemic fight. Kindrachuk, on a one-year secondment to the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization-International Vaccine Centre, suspected the tough stance sends "alarm bells" to anyone still debating whether the second wave really is that bad and may embolden political and public health leaders in other regions to tighten their own measures. "Maybe it causes people in the western provinces where they're not being that hard-hit right now to rethink what things they're not doing as far as infection prevention control," said Kindrachuk, pointing to widely varying school mask mandates as an example. Infectious disease epidemiologist Ashleigh Tuite applauded Ontario's move to delay in-class instruction in southern Ontario but said it falls short of tightening measures to limit community spread and address ongoing concerns about school ventilation, distancing and testing strategy. "At this point (there's) no sense of what is going to happen over the next two weeks that will make schools safer to return to when those two weeks are up," said Tuite, an assistant professor at the University of Toronto's Dalla Lana School of Public Health. Quebec reported 2,519 new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday and 74 more deaths, including 16 that occurred in the past 24 hours. New Brunswick reported 24 new cases and multiple outbreaks, including in several long-term care facilities. Meanwhile, Gov. Gen. Julie Payette appealed to Canadians' sense of duty in a plea to adhere to public health measures including social distancing and minimizing movements. In a video statement, Payette said vaccines offer hope but there aren't yet enough to go around. As of Tuesday, Canada had received nearly 425,000 doses of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines but fewer than 150,000 Canadians had received shots by then. During a conference call with premiers Thursday evening, an official said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered whatever support the federal government can provide to deploy vaccines as quickly as possible as deliveries ramp up over the next few weeks. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 7, 2021. Washington: Dominion Voting Systems has filed a defamation lawsuit against lawyer Sidney Powell, seeking at least $US1.3 billion ($1.7 billion) for Powell's wild accusations that the company rigged the presidential election for Joe Biden. Dominion brings this action to set the record straight, the company said in the suit filed on Friday, local time, in federal court in Washington. Sidney Powell, right, pictured with Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani in November. Credit:AP Powell has for weeks claimed without evidence that the election technology vendor, whose vote-counting equipment was used in several states, was part of a scheme to steal the election from President Donald Trump. Powell has been representing Trump in a series of unsuccessful lawsuits filed to contest the election outcome. She has claimed that the company was created in Venezuela to rig elections for the late leader Hugo Chavez and that it has the ability to switch votes. Seoul, Jan 8 : A Seoul court on Friday ordered the Japanese government to pay damages to South Korean victims who were forced into sex slavery during World War II. The Seoul Central District Court ruled that Japan should pay reparations of 100 million won ($91,20) to each of 12 plaintiffs, who filed a petition for dispute settlement in August 2013, reports Xinhua news agency. Out of the 12 plaintiffs joining the damages claim suit, only five are still alive. Among the 238 South Korean women who identified themselves as former sex slaves, the number of survivors is 16. It marked the first time that a court in South Korea handed a verdict to order Japan's reparation payment to the victims. The damages claim suit was only referred to the Seoul court in January 2016, and the first hearing was held in April 2020. The court said in the ruling that the plaintiffs suffered from extreme, unimaginable mental and physical pain and were not even compensated for their suffering, noting that illegal acts by the accused can be acknowledged through evidence, relevant materials and testimonies. The verdict noted that it would be reasonable to value the damages amount at over 100 million won. According to historians, hundreds of thousands of Asian women, mostly from the Korean Peninsula, were kidnapped, coerced or duped into sexual servitude for Japanese troops before and during the Pacific War. The Korean Peninsula was colonised by Japan from 1910 to 1945. In December 2015, the then South Korean government reached a final, irreversible agreement with Japan to settle the wartime sex slave issue in return for Tokyo's offer of 1 billion yen ($9.6 million), with which a foundation was built here to assist the South Korean victims and their families. The foundation was formally dissolved in July 2019 as the victims protested against it, demanding the Japanese government's sincere apology and its acknowledgment of legal responsibility for the wartime atrocities. However, I suspect that Mr Bhagwat would simply brush aside all the evidence of history that I have just marshalled We are all prone to saying foolish things. I do so quite often. In fact, its probably one of the qualities that make us human. On the other hand, robots or creatures that work on artificial intelligence are never foolish, although they could be wrong. However, theres a significant difference between the harmlessly foolish and the defiantly stupid. The latter, particularly when its acted upon, can be dangerous. Im afraid that the comments made by the sarsanghchalak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh fall squarely into the latter category. I know my saying so will infuriate RSS members and the sarsangchalaks army of fans but that cant be helped. I would have to call a spade a fruit fork if I opted for gentler terminology! At a book launch last Friday Mohan Bhagwat said: If someone is Hindu, he has to be patriotic, that will be his or her basic character and nature. Just in case that wasnt clear enough, he added: A Hindu can never be anti-Indian. Much as he might want that to be the case, it simply isnt true. First of all, our history establishes that there is no shortage of Hindus who have been traitors -- its another matter that the country may not have been called India at the time. Amongst the earliest was Raja Aambhi of Taxila. Apparently, he had helped build the bridge cross the Indus river which enabled Alexander to invade the country. That was way back in 326 BC. Jump a few centuries to Raja Jaichand. In 1192, he supported Muhammad of Ghor against Prithviraj Chauhan. It didnt matter to him that Chauhan was his son-in-law. Its said the desire for revenge because Chauhan had eloped with his daughter outweighed any qualms about assisting the Afghan invader. However, dont assume its only in ancient or medieval times that Hindus were traitors. Modern Hindus are really no different. We have several examples of Hindu treachery from the British Raj. One of the most striking is Jayajirao Scindia, the Maharaja of Gwalior, who in 1857 supported our conquerors. There are accounts that suggest his part in helping the British capture the Rani of Jhansi was by no means inconsequential. And so to our own time. Im not sure how one should think of the likes of Chhota Rajan, Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi or, even, Lalit Modi. I certainly wouldnt accuse them of treason, but I would hardly call them patriots. And remember, every one of them is a Hindu. However, I suspect that Mr Bhagwat would simply brush aside all the evidence of history that I have just marshalled. I believe his actual, but unstated, point is that Indias minorities cannot be as patriotic as its Hindu citizens. This, presumably, is what he means when he said a Hindu is patriotic by his or her basic character and nature, and a Hindu can never be anti-Indian. Alas, even by this interpretation, the sarsanghchalak is simply wrong. And since it is acts of valour against the Pakistanis that are most likely to impress him, let me gently remind him of the honours won by Muslim soldiers in battles against our western neighbour -- although he has no business to have forgotten about them! Havildar Abdul Hamid won the Param Vir Chakra, Indias highest award for gallantry, in 1965. Brig. Mohammad Usman posthumously won the Maha Vir Chakra in 1947. Lt. Col. Salim Caleb in 1965. If this fails to convince Mr Bhagwat, then let me add what should be the clincher. The Army Chief who defeated Pakistan in 1971 -- a victory that the RSS holds in high esteem -- was a Parsi. The general who by common consensus has been accorded the greatest credit for Indias military performance in 1965 was a Sikh. The chief of staff of the Eastern Command who left Pakistans Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi no option but to surrender in Dhaka in December 1971 was a Jew. None of the three would have been offended to be called a Hindu, but each of them would have considered the sarsanghchalaks statement ridiculous. Unfortunately, its a lot more than that. Its dangerous. The sarsanghchalaks statement divides us, the people of India, on the spurious grounds that Hindus are automatically and naturally patriotic whilst the rest of us are not. This is not just untrue, its also wicked. It seeks to sow the seeds of doubt, suspicion, distrust and, eventually, difference between Indians. The undeniable truth is that patriotism is defined by the love of ones country, not by the character of ones religion. And its important to remember the opposite is also true. Hindus are as capable of hating their country as an Indian of any another religion. There is, however, a further, though tiny, question the sarsanghchalak hasnt asked himself. What would patriotism amount to for the millions of Hindus who have left India to settle abroad and become citizens of another country? They carry British, Canadian or United States passports. Often their children dont speak an Indian language. In fact, only in terms of origin do they accept their connection with India. In every other way they consider themselves British, Canadian or American. Does Mr Bhagwat realise and accept that for them patriotism would be love of the country they were born in, whose passport they hold and whose future will determine their own? Let me make one last point. The sarsanghchalak has also said that if one loves his country, that doesnt only mean the land, it means its people, rivers, culture, traditions and everything. Here I agree with him but only because this is a statement of the obvious. More importantly, its not something that applies only to Hindus who love India. Its as true of the French and the Germans, Nigerians and Burundians, Australians and Argentinians and even, dare I say it, the good folk of Lapland. I guess the point Im making is simple. If we want our country to survive and flourish, lets stop trying to define patriotism as a Hindu attribute and lets discard the belief that Hindus are special or better. Otherwise, we could end up like Yugoslavia. Tesco, Marks & Spencer and over 50 British retailers face possible tariffs for re-exporting goods to the EU, possibly explaining recent empty shelves. The Brexit trade deal agreed upon December 24 was supposed to preserve the UKs zero-tariff and zero-quota access to the EU. However, goods sourced outside the EU - or even inside - that are brought into the UK and then re-exported to the EU could be subjected to tariffs. This could help to explain why one M&S in Dublin had empty shelves, although a spokesperson said it was due to systems at the time. She further explained that it was IT related but had no comment on whether Brexit was affecting supplies. M&S CEO Steve Rowe said: Tariff free does not feel like tariff free when you read the fine print (of the deal). Read More For big businesses there will be time consuming workarounds but for a lot of others this means paying tariffs or rebasing into the EU. Speaking on Morning Ireland, Paul Kelly of Food Drink Ireland said food importers in Ireland have started to see the effects of Brexit on supply chains, causing concern. "Quite a cause of concern, he said. He said that many of the supply chains are set up with the close proximity of Great Britain to Ireland in mind. "The nature of the industry is that a lot of the existing supply chains work on the basis of distribution hubs that are in Britain at the moment. What were facing when they split out those products and then send them on to Ireland, having originally come from the continent, is the full EU tariffs, which is a problem, because in a sense theyre actually returning to the EU, he explained. Meanwhile the British Retail Consortium represents over 170 major retailers, including the big supermarkets, and is working with its members to seek short-term options to the tariff issue. We appreciate that the rules of origin in the Trade and Co-operation Agreement were designed to be facilitative on trade in goods, but we need a solution which genuinely reflects the needs of UK-EU supply and distribution chains for goods, William Bain of the BRC said. Tesco, Britains biggest retailer, said it was in talks with the UK and Irish governments about the issue and was working to find a satisfactory resolution as quickly as possible. The issue is complex, as there are varying limits on the percentage of a product that can come from outside the EU but still qualify as a non-tariff product under the free trade agreement. For example, in dairy it is 20pc by weight, for white chocolate it is 40pc by weight. There are also rules around transformation, covering what is required to turn something that contains say three products from countries outside the FTA into one UK product. For example, stoning dates from Israel is not permissible, but smoking or pickling products is. This makes unravelling the genome sequence look simple, said M&S chairman Archie Norman, who fears the issue will damage overall UK competitiveness. NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / January 8, 2021 / ALT 5 Sigma Inc. an emerging leader in blockchain powered financial platforms provides its daily digital instruments market summary for Bitcoin (BTC/USD), Ether (ETH/USD), Litecoin (LTC/USD). Real-Time Market Data is available at www.alt5pro.com and Real-Time Market Data feed is also available at www.alt5sigma.com ALT 5 Sigma Digital Instrument Market Summary for BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH Market Summary Friday, January 08 2021 at 4:24:05 PM ET Digital Asset Pair Price 24hr Chg 7d Chg 24/hr Volume MarketCap Bitcoin BTC/USD $39,901.31 $0.03 $0.36 $87,332 M $741,956 M Ethereum ETH/USD $1,180.27 -$0.04 $0.62 $42,842 M $134,753 M XRP XRP/USD $0.31 -$0.06 $0.28 $9,920 M $13,852 M Litecoin LTC/USD $168.16 -$0.02 $0.34 $14,445 M $11,140 M Bitcoin Cash BCH/USD $429.80 -$0.04 $0.26 $8,360 M $7,995 M Stellar XLM/USD $0.29 -$0.11 $1.15 $3,246 M $6,352 M Bitcoin SV BSV/USD $177.55 $0.02 $0.09 $954 M $3,306 M EOS EOS/USD $3.02 -$0.07 $0.15 $5,224 M $2,840 M Monero XMR/USD $139.04 -$0.03 -$0.03 $1,328 M $2,476 M Dash DASH/USD $95.14 -$0.06 $0.04 $828 M $943 M About ALT 5 Sigma Inc. ALT 5 is a fintech company specializing in the development and deployment of digital assets trading and exchange platforms. Alt 5 was founded by financial industry specialists out of the necessity to provide the digital asset economy with security, accessibility, transparency and compliance. ALT 5 provides its clients the ability to buy, sell and hold digital assets in a safe and secure environment deployed with the best practices of the financial industry. ALT 5's products and services are available to Banks, Broker Dealers, Funds, Family Offices, Professional Traders, Retail Traders, Digital Asset Exchanges, Digital Asset Brokers, Blockchain Developers, and Financial Information Providers. ALT 5's digital asset custodian services are secured by GardaWorld. GardaWorld is the world's largest privately-owned business solutions and security services company, offering cash management services. For more information, visit www.alt5sigma.com. Contact: Andre Beauchesne Tel. 1-800-204-6203 info@alt5sigma.com For more information on ALT 5 Pay, visit www.alt5pay.com For more information on ALT 5 Pro, visit www.alt5pro.com SOURCE: ALT 5 Sigma Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623651/ALT-5-Sigma-Digital-Instrument-Market-Summary-for-BTC-ETH-LTC-BCH Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-08 22:55:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Journalists work near the U.S. Capitol building a day after supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump stormed it in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 7, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) No matter in what name or under any circumstances, violence should never be justified. Instead of making their voices heard, instigators of violence will only intensify disputes, make problems worse, and deepen social divisions. by Xinhua writer Zhang Xin BEIJING, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- When scores of American politicians almost unanimously condemned violent protesters for breaking into the U.S. Capitol, they are in fact slapping themselves in the face. Not too long ago, U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the violent protests in Hong Kong, which caused great damage to public facilities and seriously undermined social stability, "a beautiful sight to behold" back in 2019. On Thursday, she labeled the Capitol breach "an armed insurrection against America." Also, many other politicians joined her in calling those protesters "mobs" and their intrusion an "insurrection." A protester breaking into the U.S. Capitol building in a video feed from NBC News is displayed on a screen in Arlington, Virginia, the United States, on Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) Washington politicians' sharp denunciation of violence at the heart of American politics and their cold-blooded attitude towards street rioting in Hong Kong are poles apart. That ironic difference has unmistakably exposed the hypocrisy of Washington's double standard towards violence. No matter in what name or under any circumstances, violence should never be justified. Period. Instead of making their voices heard, instigators of violence will only intensify disputes, make problems worse, and deepen social divisions. Thursday's ugly and tumultuous scenes at the seat of the U.S. Congress and the responses of America's political leaders have shown that it is not that they do not understand violence is destructive and dead wrong; it is that they have ulterior motives in encouraging violence, like using it as a pretext to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries. In their eyes, as long as violence does not happen in the United States and disturbs their own lives, it is something to be condoned. Supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump gather near the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States, Jan. 6, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "If the United States saw what the United States is doing in the United States, the United States would invade the United States to liberate the United States from the tyranny of the United States," Mohamad Safa, Lebanon's permanent representative to the United Nations, tweeted following the chaos in Washington. Safa's Twitter post might make many laugh, yet it is a strong repudiation of and a stinging satire on decades of the world's sole superpower's ruthless arrogance and bullying of other countries that have stoked bloody and never-ending conflicts, actions that have led to scores of deaths worldwide. Mike Pompeo, the outgoing U.S. Secretary of State who also frequently fanned violence and confrontation in many parts of the world, said on Twitter that the storming of the U.S. Capitol was "unacceptable" and "intolerable." It is hoped that when violence breaks out the next time in other regions or countries, he, Pelosi and other U.S. politicians can remember their censure of those who ransacked the U.S. Capitol, and stop playing the opportunistic double-standard game. Otherwise, they are destined to add more embarrassment to their pathetic political careers. 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Joseph Morrissey, D-Richmond. The dismissals came during a brief hearing in General District Court before retired Judge Robert Downer Jr., who was brought onto the case last month after questions were raised about an appearance of conflict of interest involving the initial judge who arraigned Morrissey. Morrissey was charged in December for allegedly interfering at a Richmond polling place during the 2019 election in which he won his Senate seat. He brought a box of doughnuts to election workers and posed for photos with them as people waited to vote. But Morrissey argued that state law allows elected officials to enter polling places for up to 10 minutes and that doing so is common practice. He also pointed out that he had no Republican opponent for the seat, and beat an independent challenger by a nearly 2-to-1 margin. He had lined up affidavits from a host of voters saying that there was nothing improper about what he has come to call "Donutgate." In a statement after the hearing, Morrissey blamed state Attorney General Mark Herring, D, for allowing the case to go forward. Herring authorized the investigation of a sitting lawmaker, though he did not initiate the case. That was done by the Richmond commonwealth's attorney, who later recused herself, and the charges were handled by a prosecutor from New Kent County. Herring "thought he could score political points at my expense," Morrissey said. "His behavior was disgraceful and he will pay the price at the polls this summer." Herring is running for a third term, but Morrissey had previously endorsed Herring's rival - Del. Jerrauld "Jay" Jones, D-Norfolk - for the nomination. Herring's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The case had highlighted the sometimes-cozy relationships between Virginia lawmakers and judges. Virginia and South Carolina are the only two states where judges are appointed by the legislature. Chief district court Judge David Hicks initially agreed to handle Morrissey's case even though he was up for another six-year term on the bench and Morrissey is part of the local delegation that would determine whether to reappoint him. While the criminal case was pending, Morrissey gave a glowing endorsement of Hicks to a General Assembly committee considering judicial appointments. After The Washington Post wrote about the situation, Hicks recused himself and asked that a retired judge take the case instead. A Queensland man who describes himself on social media as a "petty car thief with expensive taste" has been charged after he allegedly took vehicles on test drives from Sydney dealerships and did not return them. Police have been investigating a spate of luxury vehicle thefts from car dealers in Sydney's inner west and north-west. On Thursday, they arrested Luke Lythgoe, 33, from Southport in Queensland, and charged him with a range of offences including taking and driving a conveyance without the consent of the owner. Police allege Luke Lythgoe, 33, posed as a potential buyer before taking the car for a test drive and failing to return it. Credit:Facebook Parramatta Local Court heard on Friday that Mr Lythgoe is facing similar charges in Queensland and police in that state want to extradite him. On his social media accounts, he describes himself as a "petty car thief with expensive taste". He has posted a series of photographs on Instagram of him posing in front of several cars with the number plates blanked out. The new year has brought further relief to the coronavirus pandemic in India. Daily new cases averaged less than 19,000 over the past week, the lowest in six months. The worst of the pandemic now seems limited to Kerala and Maharashtra even as the country gears up for the worlds largest vaccination drive. Of the 128,604 cases India added in the last one week, more than a quarter (35,164) came from Kerala, shows latest data from the Union health ministry. Maharashtra contributed 20% of all new cases. The combined share of the two states has risen sharply because infections are abating nearly everywhere else. Chhattisgarh, the state with the third highest case-load last week, added only 7,046 cases (5% share). With this, India has reported 10.39 million cases as of Thursday morning, of which 150,336 have died. A total of 228,083 patients remain under treatment. In Kerala, the hints of a third wave last month did not sustain, but there are no signs of a slowdown either. Twelve of the 14 districts in the state added more than 1,000 new cases over the past week, shows data compiled by howindialives.com on Wednesday evening. Only 11 other districts, five of them in Maharashtra, hit the 1,000 mark. Pathanamthitta in Kerala recorded the biggest weekly growth (11%) in cases, followed by Wayanad (8%) and Idukki (7%). But these growth rates are lower than recent weeks. A low fatality rate nationally, amidst the slowing outbreak, means death counts have improved sharply. North 24 Parganas and Kolkata districts of West Bengal reported the most new deaths over the past week, both fewer than 50. Kerala has some relief in terms of fatalities despite its raging infections. A total of 167 people died in the state last week, which is less than 11% of Indias total deaths. Maharashtra had more than double this toll. These two states, along with West Bengal, together made up 44% of the countrys deaths. India has tested 12 million samples over the past two weeks, of which just 2% turned positive for the coronavirus. At its peak, the countrys positivity rate was 12%. For Kerala, this rate has been nearly 10% of late, way above the World Health Organizations threshold limit of 5%. The states high testing rate is failing to curb the outbreak, and may need to be ramped up even further. West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh also have a higher growth rate of cases than most other states, but have low testing rates. Higher testing will help the states determine the true spread of the infection. The end of Delhis third severe wave of infections on the back of high testing can serve as an example. The national capitals positivity rate has now fallen below 1%. Some countries, such as the UK, are suffering from fresh waves, but in most parts of the world, the discourse around the virus is now moving from despair to hope. So far, eight vaccines have been approved for use by high-priority groups around the world. As of 6 January, over 15.5 million vaccination doses have already been administered worldwide, according to Our World In Data. At the top of the list is the US, which has administered 5.3 million vaccine doses, followed by China (4.5 million), Israel (1.5 million), and the UK (944,539). The number of people vaccinated is lower, as most vaccines require two doses spaced some days apart. Israel has the best vaccination rate, with 17 doses administered already per 100 people. View Full Image Graphic Mint While some developed countries have been able to secure enough of the approved vaccines to cover their entire populations, many developing countries havent purchased vaccines for everyone yet. India may be able to secure 1.3 billion doses of vaccines being produced in the country this year, but even that would cater to only half of its population due to the multiple dose requirement. India last week approved the restricted emergency use of two vaccinesCovaxin developed by Bharat Biotech and Covishield developed by Serum Institute of India. Nearly 300 million people are likely to get the jab in the first phase of vaccination. This will include healthcare and frontline workers, and those above 50 years old, according to a government plan. Vaccination drives across the world offer great hope after a tragic year. But the reality is that most people wont get a shot for months. The new virus strain found in the UK has not been tamed yet, and infection risks remain. Tried-and-tested safety precautions will continue to be key. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Former Chairman of China Development Bank Sentenced to Life in Prison for Graft A Chinese court has sentenced Hu Huaibang, the former chairman of China Development Bank (CDB), to life in prison on bribery-related crimes. He is the second high-profile financial executive to be sentenced this week. The Intermediate Peoples Court of Chengde city, in Chinas Hebei Province, handed down the sentence on Jan. 7. Hus personal property will also be confiscated by authorities. Hu, who was arrested last February, was convicted of receiving bribes totaling 85.52 million yuan ($13.24 million) between 2009 and 2019, the court said in a statement on its official WeChat account. Hu is accused of giving preferential treatment to businesses and individuals in the form of bank loans, business operations, and job promotions in exchange for bribes. Hu, 64, has held high-ranking positions in the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)s financial system. He joined the CDB in 2013. He was also director and Party chief of the Xian branch of Chinas Central Bank; director of the Shaanxi branch of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange; head of the Commission for Discipline Inspection at the China Banking Regulatory Commission; deputy Party chief of the China Investment Corporation; Party chief and chairman of the Bank of Communicationsone of Chinas largest state-run banks. The CDB is one of Chinas policy banks, responsible for raising funds for large infrastructure projects. Hu took advantage of his role when he was head of the anti-corruption watchdog agency, the Commission for Discipline Inspection, within Chinas banking regulator. Under his watch, Hus wife, Xue Yingjuan, and his son, Hu Xiaodong, took valuable objects such as Chinese paintings or antiques, according to Chinese news portal Sina. After Hu was placed under detention, his wife and son were both summoned by the national branch of the Commission for Discipline Inspection. On May 8, Hus wife committed suicide by jumping off the building where they lived, according to Chinese financial news outlets. The CCPs financial sector has witnessed a string of corruption scandals in recent years, including Xiang Junbo, former chairman of the board of the Agricultural Bank of China (ABC), and chief of the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission (CBIRC); Liu Shiyu, former chief of China Securities Regulatory Commission; and most recently, Lai Xiaomin, former chairman of the board of China Huarong Asset Management. On Jan. 5, a court in Tianjin sentenced Lai to death. Lai was convicted of receiving or seeking bribes totaling 1.788 billion yuan between 2008 and 2018. Reuters contributed to this report. Everything is an art installation in Laalbazar, a tribal village of 80 people in Jhargram district, West Bengal. On the walls of the mud houses painted in bright colours are scenes of everyday life: goats gazing, tribal dances, farmers in an orchard, children at play. Depicted on one wall is a wedding ritual of this Lodha tribe, where the groom threatens to jump off the roof and the bride says he doesnt have to take his life as she will be with him forever. There are exhibition spaces where artefacts are sold, and a workshop where children learn to paint, adults try their hand at sculpture, and women at quilting. Kolkata-based painter and sculptor Mrinal Mandal has led the transformation of what used to be a regular mud-huts Lodha settlement. He first visited in 2014, while on a visit to his home town of Jhargram city. The village has only one entry and exit. To the rear of it is dense forest. Entering it gave me an enormous sense of peace and positivity, Mandal said. The artist had, two years earlier, co-founded the Chalchitra Academy with fellow artist Jayati Banerjee, to promote the dying arts of Bengal. In Laalbazar, he found a village of impoverished daily wage earners and decided perhaps his art and the art academy could help. They started small, with free drawing classes for the children. Two artists from a neighbouring village painter Rameswar Soren and sculptor Jogeswar Hansda began to teach. Mandal and fellow artists from the academy simultaneously asked if they could paint the walls of the mud houses. They permitted us to paint one wall first, then three, and then they saw that we were doing something nice. By 2018, all the homes were painted. Scholar and writer Shivaji Bandopadhyay visited the village and rechristened it Khwaabgaon, or village of dreams, a name that has caught on with the residents. Renowned artist Jogen Chowdhury designed a logo to go with the name. On it are the motifs of the sun, the moon and trees. The houses are re-made with mud every year, so all the paintings are done over each year too. We didnt stop there. We started teaching them crafts as well, Mandal said. Artists have stepped up to provide free instruction. A popular craft villagers now earn from is the style called Katumkutum, made famous by Abanindranath Tagore, where figurines are made from wood, twigs, leaves and roots collected from the forest. Workshops on sculpting, quilting, kantha work, the making of natural dyes are also conducted. Khwaabgaon has become a tourists attraction and visitors invariably end up buying the crafts as souvenirs. (Products cost between 200 and 1,000.) I never thought I would see a time like this, said resident Sashthi Charan Ahir, 42, a differently abled labourer and now Katumkutum artist. My children are learning to draw, the women in the family are quilting, my brother is learning to sculpt and I earned 15,000 from my Katumkutum in 2019. Painter Saumen Khamrui visited Khwaabgaon last month to hold a workshop on the art of Batik printing. The best thing about the villagers male, female, child or adult is the willingness to learn a new form of art or craft, he said. A nursery is now being built to grow Ayurvedic plants and make natural compost, for use and sale by the villagers. We are also planning to build a small studio here so that artists can come and stay here with the villagers and create art, do a kind of residency, Mandal said. Eventually the hope is that art will become the sole source of income for at least some of the families here. The initiative has been so successful that neighbouring villages are now approaching Mandal to do the same for them. We are planning to start drawing classes in a village about 6km away, called Uranshol. Its a tribe of Bhil people who are eager to learn from us, Mandal said. The UK has recorded another 1,162 deaths from coronavirus the second-highest daily increase in the governments figures. For the second time this week, Britain has seen an increase of more than a thousand in the number of those who have died after contracting the virus within the previous 28 days. The highest increase in fatalities was recorded during the first wave, with 1,224 fatalities reported on 21 April 2020. The coronavirus death toll for the UK since the beginning of the pandemic now stands at 78,508. The government also reported 52,618 new infections, down from 62,322 the day before bringing the UK total up to 2,889,419. The figures continue to be affected by a lag in the publication of recent data and will contain some deaths that took place over the festive period. Separate figures published by the UKs statistics agencies for deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate, together with additional data on deaths that have occurred in recent days, show there have now been 94,000 deaths involving Covid-19 in the UK. Sara Gorton from Unison, which represents hundreds of thousands of health workers, said: The NHS is under unbelievable strain, with many hospitals now struggling to cope. The pressure on staff is overwhelming and their own health and wellbeing is a major concern. With more and more health workers off ill, those who are on duty are being asked to give even more. Its clear people are now going beyond burnout and this could have lasting consequences on not only them but the safety of services we all rely on. This situation once again shows the disastrous folly by ministers of allowing NHS staff shortages to build up for years. New data from Public Health England (PHE) suggests the case rate in the capital, the worst affected region in the country, rose to 904.8 per 100,000 people over the New Year period. Hospital admissions across England also saw a significant rise, climbing from 21.51 per 100,000 people the week before to 27.6, with London having the highest rate of new Covid patients. Dr Yvonne Doyle, PHEs medical director, said: The data bring into focus the huge pressure the health service is under. Sadly, we are seeing more deaths each day and these numbers will continue to rise before we see the impact of the nationwide lockdown. According to the latest Test and Trace data, a total of 311,372 people tested positive for the virus between 24 and 30 December a 24 per cent increase compared to the previous week, and the highest total since the programme was launched in May. The head of NHS England said that claims hospitals are not under pressure from rising coronavirus cases are nonsense. Sir Simon Stevens said people claiming the situation is a hoax are responsible for potentially changing behaviour, which will kill people, and are insulting to staff who have worked long shifts in the most demanding circumstances. The prime minister also delivered a stark message to Covid-deniers during Thursdays No 10 press briefing. Boris Johnson said: The kind of people who stand outside hospitals and say Covid is a hoax and this kind of stuff, really I do think they need to grow up. MBABANE Bishop Stephen Masilela is no more. Masilela succumbed to a COVID-19- related illness yesterday evening. This was confirmed by his wife. Masilelas wife, with a heavy sigh during a telephone interview, confirmed the sad news. The bishops brother, former Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs, who is now Under Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security, Anthony Masilela, was also called and he expressed shock. However, he noted that he had not heard the news yet, but said the Conference of Churches Chief Executive Officer Themba Ngozo may confirm the matter. Ngozos mobile phone rang unanswered. Council of Swaziland Churches Secretary General Reverend Zwanini Shabalala said the news was devastating. He said when they heard that the bishop had been admitted to hospital, they carried him and his family in prayer. He said following what had happened, there was nothing much they could say, but to express grief to his family and the Conference of Churches. According to Shabalala, they had worked with Masilela for quite some time, especially when the three Christian organisations, League of Churches, Conference of Churches and Council met. Shabalala said last month, they met as the three religious bodies to discuss a way forward on the effects of COVID-19 and how it could be prevented. He said the death of Masilela was a huge blow to the Christian fraternity in the country. He sent his condolences to Masilelas church; the Church of God locally and in Africa as he was leading it. In his mealy-mouthed speech on the Senate floor following Wednesdays attempted government takeover by a mob of Donald Trump supporters, Republican Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska threw in a casual dig at the city whose residents make his life possible. The center of America is not Washington, D.C., Sasse said. The center of America is the neighborhoods where 330 million Americans are raising their kids and trying to put food on the table and trying to love their neighbor. Advertisement D.C. is home to about 700,000 Americansall of whom are trying to put food on the table, many of whom are raising kids, and plenty of whom are trying to love, or at least tolerate, their neighbors. We pay taxes but have no voting representation in Congress. We are governed by laws and a city budget that can be vetoed by members of Congress, even though many of those members are elected by voters whove never so much as visited D.C. And this week, our city was invaded by white supremacists invited and incited toand rewarded forviolence, all while refusing to wear masks during an escalating surge of COVID-19 cases and the spread of a new highly infectious strain of the virus. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. I am white, and I am lucky to be able to work from home during the pandemic. I will not attempt to explain what it must feel like to be Black in this plurality Black, majority people of color city, where hotels and restaurants welcomed the white supremacists who showed up in D.C. this week looking for a fight. I cannot know, though I can imagine, the exhaustion and anger of the workers forced to serve and clean up after the belligerent, maskless terrorists whod been calmly escorted from the Capitol after their insurrection. I dont know the hunger of the D.C. children whose school meal distribution was suspended because right-wing extremists made it unsafe to gather outside this week. Advertisement Wednesdays insurrection felt like it was happening far awaywe watched it on the news, like everyone else around the country. But it was also frighteningly close by. What I do know is that the confluence of the pandemic, the incursion of armed and violent domestic terrorists, and D.C.s lack of statehood made the past few days feel like a hostile occupation. Many of us were stuck in our homes on Wednesday, listening to the hovering helicopters and sirens that lasted well into the night, scared to step outside while unmasked extremists high on their own impunity roamed the streets. Unlike one of the last times there was a Nazi incursion in D.C., there were no plans for a dramatic counterprotest. Aware of the potential for violence and the explicit desire of the white supremacists to cause a bloody scene, Black Lives Matter D.C. had urged Black and brown people, if possible, to avoid Trump support rallies and actions this week and stay away from known areas where white extremists and militant gangs will gather. Once Mayor Muriel Bowser issued the 6 p.m. curfew, we seem to have mainly adhered. (And on a cold night during a pandemic, where would anyone have gone, anyway?) Advertisement Advertisement Secure in my house, I was embarrassed by the texts I received from far-flung friends and family members concerned for my safety. Terrorists were marking my city like a fire hydrant, abetting an attempted coup two miles away at a government building I can see from my window, and I was huddled at home. If not for the (eventual) helicopters and sirens, I could have been anywhere. Still, the psychic geography of D.C. is such that we make fun of news reports that menacingly describe events as taking place mere miles from the White House, because anything within the city limits is within a few miles of the White House. If you live in D.C., you are at least somewhat close to the action. Advertisement That proximity to the seat of U.S. government theoretically means that we are always living with the slightly enhanced danger that comes with the risk of a terrorist plot or gathering of armed extremists. It also means living with enhanced security. D.C. is patrolled by multiple law enforcement agencies, each with their own turfs and tactics. The U.S. Park Police, Capitol Police, Secret Service, the Metropolitan Police Departmentif you live here, youve probably interacted with most of them. Even if youve never been arrested or harassed by them, if youve tried to walk or bike anywhere near a government building, you might have been diverted by an officer. Youve seen snipers on the roofs of buildings and assumed they would shoot if you made a threatening move toward a cop or other government official. Youve gone through metal detectors to get near the Mall on Inauguration Day and had food confiscated at the doors of the Library of Congress. Until Congress reversed the ban a few years ago, it was illegal for children to sled on Capitol Hill, and Capitol Police would chase them away. Advertisement Advertisement It was this summer, during the weeks of racial justice demonstrations downtown, that D.C. residents saw what can happen when all the citys law enforcement agencies mobilize in unison. There were armored trucks blocking intersections. There were uniformed men with assault weapons and handguns stationed outside chain restaurants and office buildings, presumably all there to protect the city from its own residents. At one Black Lives Matter march, on a weekend afternoon, students walked around with signs, people pushed strollers down Pennsylvania Avenue, and volunteers handed out bottled water and hand sanitizer. No one engaged with the dozens of National Guard officers and various cops on the route. No one tried to push down any barriers. There was barely any chanting. And yet, I counted more than 40 law enforcement officers stationed outside, get this, the Trump Hotel. Advertisement There were no troves of sensitive and classified data inside the Trump Hotel that day. There werent thousands of government employees and contractors at work, nor hundreds of members of Congress in the midst of certifying the results of a presidential election. Just a building with the presidents name on it. But when insurrectionists stormed the Capitol on Wednesday, after publicly planning the attack for weeks, about 10 officers met them at one of the Capitols gates. Advertisement Though plenty of D.C. residents work in and around government buildings, there is a mental, social, architectural, and literal security barrier between the Washington of government and the D.C. of daily life. For some of us, Wednesdays insurrection felt like it was happening far awaywe watched it on the news, like everyone else around the country. But it was also frighteningly close by, as the terrorists returned to their hotel rooms across our city and picked fights on our streets. In my neighborhood, some households took down their Black Lives Matter signs and brought their gay and trans pride flags inside. Theres a debate to be had about what the right move was there, about the line between cowardice and self-protection. But the fact was people were scared, and they were right to be. White supremacist mobs are unpredictable, armed, and violent. Terrorists seek to inspire terror, and these ones succeeded. My neighbors realized they couldnt count on the cops to protect them from the mob after the capitals full complement of law enforcement agencies couldnt, or wouldnt, even protect Congress. Advertisement When Trump and members of his administration moved in a few years ago, they set up shop in a town that despised them. Just 4 percent of voters went for Trump in November 2016. (There are plenty of assholes and racists here, sure, but there arent a lot of Trump supporters.) There was a new wariness around clean-cut patrons of fancy restaurants and dive bars. There was also a new sense of solidarity against them. The Fuck Trump graffiti Dirty Knucklez drew in thousands of nooks and crannies all over the city seemed to speak to a pervasive shared hostility against the new occupants of the White House and a few luxury condo buildings by the waterfront. On Thursday, when I woke up to see this video of two D.C. residentsstrangers, presumablycommiserating about the treasonous pieces of shit invading our town, I felt a twinge of comfort. The pandemic has us estranged from normal city life and one another. When Trump invited white supremacists to our hometown this week, it was harder than usual to remind one another that we were all furious about it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You dont have to be a D.C. native to understand the devastating impacts of our lack of statehood. During the height of D.C.s HIV epidemic, for example, Congress forbade us from using our own municipal tax dollars for syringe exchange programs. Legislators we did not elect have kept D.C. women on Medicaid from getting coverage for abortion care. And during Trumps tenure, weve seen how a hostile president can use the military to attack, or refuse to protect, D.C. residents. Because the president, not a governor or our mayor, commands the D.C. National Guard, Trump was able to mobilize the force against local protesters this summer without consulting local leaders. On Wednesday, he refused to deploy the D.C. National Guard to protect the Capitol, and everyone in it, from terrorists. The vice president eventually did, but it was too late to stop the siege. Congress will debate in the coming days whether to impeach the president or attempt to invoke the 25th Amendment for his incitement of the insurrection in D.C. The people who live here, who will be grappling with the damage, the residual fear, and the possible COVID spike in weeks to come, wont have a vote either way. A LIMERICK Prize Bond holder is 50,000 better off after they won the Star Prize in the weekly Prize Bond draw. The Prize Bond Company has confirmed the winning ticket ALW 304320 was purchased in 2018 and is held by someone with an address in Limerick. It's the sixth time in less than a year that the Star Prize has been won by a Prize Bond holder in Limerick. The latest winner, whose details will not be released publicly, will be directly contacted and notified of their success. There were were over 5745 prizes awarded in this weeks Prize Bond Draw, amounting to over 351,200. In addition to a 1 million prize which is awarded on the last weekly draw of June and December, there are weekly draws where the top prize is 50,000. Other cash prizes awarded each week include 10 of 1,000 and 10 of 500. Prize Bonds are a State Savings product which, instead of paying interest, offers bond holders the chance to win cash prizes every week. All winnings are tax-free, and Prize Bonds can be cashed in at any time after the minimum holding period of three months. Prize Bonds can be purchased by Direct Debit, online at www.StateSavings.ie, by at 1850 305060 or at your local Post Office. For more Limerick news click here She's a proud mother of four, and on Friday, the youngest children of Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, celebrated their 10th birthday. The twins were born on January 8, 2011, and to mark the milestone, the Danish royal family released a series of new photos of Vincent and Josephine. The sweet photos show their close bond, with Vincent wrapping a protective arm around his sister's shoulders in one of the photos. Proud mother: Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark (pictured) has four children, two of who celebrated a birthday on Friday Another photo shows them playfully hugging each other, while both smiling happily for the camera. Click here to resize this module With her oval face shape and bright smile, Josephine bears a striking resemblance to her Australian-born mother, Mary, 48. ADVERTISEMENT Meanwhile, Vincent is the spitting image of his father, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and big brother, Prince Christian, 15. Twinning: Mary's youngest children, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (both pictured), celebrated their 10th birthday Turning 10: The twins were born on January 8, 2011, and to mark the milestone, the Danish royal family released a series of new photos of Vincent and Josephine Seeing double: With her oval face shape and bright smile, Josephine bears a striking resemblance to her Australian-born mother, Mary Adorable: The sweet photos show their close bond, with Vincent wrapping a protective arm around his sister's shoulders in one of the photos The siblings have another sister, Princess Isabella, 13. Mary was born and raised in Tasmania, before meeting Frederik, 52, at a bar in Sydney during the Olympics back in 2000. Although she initially had no idea who the European royal was, their relationship soon became the stuff of fairytales, and they were married in May 2004. Child's play: Another photo shows them playfully hugging each other, while both smiling happily for the camera Look-alike: Vincent is the spitting image of his father, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and big brother, Prince Christian Cute: Another photo showed Josephine smiling sweetly while crossing her arms in front of her While they reside at Frederik VIII's Palace in Denmark, they are frequent visitors to Australia, with Mary often bringing her brood home to see her family. Early last month, it was revealed Christian had tested positive for coronavirus following an outbreak at his school. He's since made a full recovery, and was later seen celebrating Christmas with his parents and siblings. Simon & Schuster announced Thursday that it was dropping a book by Sen. Josh Hawley, 'The Tyranny of Big Tech,' which was supposed to come out in June. 'We did not come to this decision lightly,' Simon & Schuster told The New York Times. 'As a publisher it will always be our mission to amplify a variety of voices and viewpoints: at the same time we take seriously our larger public responsibility as citizens, and cannot support Senator Hawley after his role in what became a dangerous threat.' The Missouri Republican responded by tweeting a statement 'on the woke mob.' 'This could not be more Orwellian,' Hawley responded to Simon & Schuster. 'We'll see you in court,' he offered, complaining that he was being canceled. He said he was just 'representing my constituents' and 'leading a debate on the Senate floor on voter integrity.' 'Which they have now decided to redefine as sedition,' he wrote. Hawley was the first senator who said he'd support a House GOP plan to challenge some of the Electoral College votes from swing states - an effort President Donald Trump supported, as it extended the farce he was feeding to his supporters that the election result could be overturned. Sen. Josh Hawley lost his book deal with publisher Simon & Schuster Thursday 'after his role in what became a dangerous threat.' On Wednesday, Hawley is pictured giving a clinched-first salute to the MAGA mob who would later overwhelm Capitol Hill That narrative, and that the election was 'stolen,' motivated the MAGA mob to take over Capitol Hill Wednesday, with four people killed in the violent incident. Earlier Thursday, Hawley assigned himself no blame. 'The responsibility of violent criminal acts is with violent criminals,' he told CNN Thursday. Hawley was first asked whether President Donald Trump should be blamed for the riot, which left four dead. 'I don't think urging people to come to the Capitol was a good idea,' he told CNN's Manu Raju. Hawley was branded a traitor after he gave a clinched-first salute to the mob of waiting Trump supporters as he arrived on Capitol Hill for Wednesday's joint session of Congress to certify the Electoral College count in favor of President-elect Joe Biden. An objection to Arizona was being debated when MAGA-backing rioters mobbed Capitol Hill. Hawley put out a statement commending law enforcement for keeping senator safe. 'Thank you to the brave law enforcement officials who have put their lives on the line,' his office tweeted around 4:30 p.m. 'The violence must end, those who attacked police and broke the law must be prosecuted, and Congress must get back to work and finish its job.' Sen. Josh Hawley told CNN Thursday, 'The responsibility of violent criminal acts is with violent criminals,' though he added that he didn't President Donald Trump's urging of people to come to Capitol Hill Wednesday was a good idea Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele said that the image of Sen. Josh Hawley raising his fist in support would become a 'symbol of sedition' Hawley was also photographed giving Trump supporters a thumbs up. That crowd would later break inside the Capitol Building in a violent siege that lasted hours Hawley was the first senator to announce he would sign on to a House GOP challenge of certain states' Electoral College vote counts New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted the image of Hawley and called on the Missouri Republican to 'resign immediately' Trump supporters try to break through a police barrier set up around the U.S. Capitol Building to protect lawmakers as they certify the Electoral College results Democratic Coalition co-founder Scott Dworkin said Hawley 'needs to be arrested for his treason' Trump supporters gathered outside the Capitol and were given a show of support from Hawley before breaking into the building in a chaotic display for several hours Wednesday Hawley also sent out a fundraising plea as the chaos kicked off, according to the Kansas City Star. That paper's editorial board lashed out at Hawley, headlining the piece, 'Sen. Josh Hawley has blood on his hands in Capitol coup attempt.' 'Hawleys actions in the last week had such impact that he deserves an impressive share of the blame for the blood thats been shed,' the op-ed argued. The dean of the Missouri Republican Party, former U.N. Amb. John Danforth, who, like Hawley, represented Missouri in the U.S. Senate, admonished his protege. 'Supporting Josh and trying so hard to get him elected to the Senate was the worst mistake I ever made in my life,' Danforth told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 'Yesterday was the physical culmination of the long attempt [by Hawley and others] to foment a lack of public confidence in our democratic system. It is very dangerous to America to continue pushing this idea that government doesnt work and that voting was fraudulent,' Danforth added. Wednesday on Twitter, the picture of Hawley, outside the Capitol Building, with a raised left fist quickly circulated. 'The picture (among many) we will all remember from what we've witnessed today @HawleyMO - you are @realDonaldTrump's symbol of this sedition,' tweeted former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, who's a Trump critic. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio shared the image too. 'None of today's violence happens without the seditious actions of @HawleyMo,' de Blasio wrote. 'He sparked a violent incident that endangered lives and threatened the sanctity of our democracy just to further his own political ambitions.' 'He doesn't deserve his seat. He should resign immediately,' de Blasio said. Walter Shaub, the former director of the United States Office of Government Ethics, called Hawley the 'leader of the insurrection.' Shaub added that the Missouri Republican inspired 'traitors, vandals thugs, and rioters everywhere.' 'Senator Josh Hawley is the epitome of a privileged American upbringing and education, and look how he has paid it back to our society,' historian Michael Beschloss tweeted. Democratic Coalition co-founder Scott Dworkin said Hawley 'needs to be arrested for his treason.' For weeks, Trump has misled his supporters into believing that his election loss could be overturned by Congress. Lawmakers are able to object, debate and then vote on states' tallies - but the votes for that effort to be successful simply weren't there, nor does Congress truly have the power to overrule the Electoral College count, most scholars believe. For this reason, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell begged members of his caucus not to join House GOP efforts to object to the results - as a House member and a senator are both needed to move the process forward. Before rioters broke into the Capitol Wednesday, McConnell made a floor speech saying just as much. 'We're debating a step that has neve been taken in American history, whether Congress should overrule the voters and overtrun a presidential election,' McConnell said. The Kentucky Republican discouraged the objections because there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud, as Trump has falsely claimed. 'But my colleagues nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale, the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election,' McConnell argued. 'Nor can public doubt alone justify a radical break, when the doubt itself was incited without any evidence.' Still, Hawley kept Congress in session until the early hours of Thursday when he single-handedly signed onto an objection to Pennsylvania's Electoral College vote count. That prompted two more hours of debate in the House. McConnell swiftly brought the objection to a vote and it was overruled 92-7. Earlier, when the Senate came back into session to debate the Arizona challenge, Hawley had argued, 'Violence is not how you achieve change.' 'And that's why I submit to my colleagues that what we're doing here tonight is actually very important. Because fo those who have concerns about the integrity of our elections ... this is the appropriate means, this is the lawful place, where those objections and concerns should be heard.' He said he hoped the Senate could address concerns 'peacefully, without violence, without attacks, without bullets.' He used his time, then, to knock the way Pennsylvania carried out its election. 'And so Mr President let me just say now, that briefly, in lieu of speaking about it later, a word about Pennsylvania - this is a state that I have been focused on, objected to,' Hawley said. He then went on to complain that the state set-up 'universal mail-in balloting.' 'And did it irregardless of what the Pennsylvania Constitution says,' Hawley said, using the improper word for regardless. Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Conor Lamb pointed out that Pennsylvania's system had been set up by Republicans in his state. 'I wanted to point out to all these lovers and supporters of the Pennsylvania legislature that it was the Republican Pennsylvania legislature that passed a Republican bill that they all voted for and supported that set up the system under which we just ran the election,' Lamb said during the House's floor debate of the Pennsylvania objection. Shares of Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Limited (FACT) hit upper circuit of 20 per cent on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) on Friday amid strong volume. A PSU under the Ministry of Chemicals & Fertilisers, the company's shares have rallied 253 per cent from its 52-week low of Rs 21.55 as on March 13, 2020, on the back of strong demand for fertilisers due to record Kharif and Rabi crop sowing. Investors' appetite for agri-related stocks have increased, thanks to rebound in rural demand despite the coronavirus pandemic and macroeconomic uncertainty. Early today, FACT stock opened higher at Rs 66 against the previous closing price of Rs 63.4 on the BSE. During the day's trade, the stock hit upper circuit of 19.95 per cent to touch 52-week high of Rs 76.05. The market cap of the company surged to Rs 2,637.20 crore. Meanwhile, the BSE SENSEX ended 689 points or 1.43 per cent higher at 48,782. On the volume front, there was surge in buying as 5.01 lakh shares changed hands over the counter as compared to two-week average volume of 1.21 lakh shares on the BSE. For second quarter ended September 30, 2020, the company reported all-time high operating profit of Rs 83.07 crore as compared to Rs 6.26 crore in the year-ago period. The company posted revenue of Rs 1,047 crore for Q2 FY21, as compared to Rs 931 crore during the same period last year. Established in 1943, FACT has a strong brand recall of its key product "Factamfos" in southern India with 62 per cent market share of NPKS fertilisers sold in Kerala and 7.6 per cent share of NPKS sold in India during FY19. The company operates two manufacturing plants in Udyogamandal and Cochin and produced 0.63 million metric tonnes of factamfos (100% of capacity) during FY19. It has access to more than 6,250 dealers across southern India. As on March 31, 2018, the Indian government owned 98.56 per cent of the company's equity share capital. It is based in Kerala and has its registered office in Kochi. Also Read: IT shares rise ahead of TCS third quarter earnings Also Read: This credit card company's stock delivered over 100% returns in 7 months Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) have activated the free supply of electricity and water to lifeline consumers under the COVID-19 relief package as directed by the government. This covers consumers who use between zero and 50 kilowatts per hour of electricity per month and domestic customers on category 611 who consume between zero to five cubic metres of water in a month. This is in line with the governments decision to continue to absorb bills of active lifeline electricity and water users for January, February and March 2021. COVID-19 relief Lifeline customers have benefited from the governments free utility relief since April 2020 when the nation began implementing various interventions to mitigate the impact of the pandemic on local households. Those interventions saw the public enjoying free water supply as well as 50 per cent of electricity supply for free from April to June. Subsequently, the intervention was extended to lifeline consumers to the end of year. However, in his 21st address to update the nation on the COVID-19 situation, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the extension of the relief to lifeline consumers for another three months. In that Sunday, January 3, 2021, address, President Akufo-Addo said the decision to extend the relief package was due to the persistent hardships in the country owing to COVID-19. You will recall that in our quest to shield you from the effects of the virus, the government took the decision to provide relief to Ghanaians, which included the absorption of electricity and water bills. This relief package ended in December. However, with the continuing difficulties occasioned by the pandemic, I want to state that the government intends to continue to support the most vulnerable in our society, he said. Government will, thus, continue to pay the electricity bills for our nations one million active lifeline customers for the next three months, i.e. January, February, and March. Additionally, all 1.5 million customers of the Ghana Water Company, whose consumption is not more than five cubic metres a month, will not pay any bills for the next three months, i.e. for the months of January, February and March. This relief package will be reviewed at the end of March, the President stressed. In separate interviews, the two utility companies explained that there would be no bills presented to consumers during the period this latest relief would last. Electricity The Managing Director of ECG, Mr Kwame Agyeman-Budu, said the initial challenges with the arrangement had been dealt with, and that the company would continue to deliver services to the vulnerable. After the initial challenge, ECG has been able to effectively serve the lifeline consumers, and we will continue to ensure that they enjoy the relief package. The only challenge we encounter is the calls from people who benefited earlier but per their current consumption do not qualify, and have become upset by that, he said. Per estimation, the zero to 50 units of electricity in a month cost up to GH20, and about 1.65 million consumers one million served by the ECG and 650,000 served by the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCO) have been benefiting. Mr Agyeman-Budu further said the government had also paid the bills on time, meaning the operations of the company had not been affected by the COVID-19 relief effort. He said while prepaid meter users would be automatically credited with their free lifeline units, customers on postpaid meters would have their bills absorbed. Cut-off point The Head of Public Relations and Communication of the GWCL, Mr Stanley Martey, explained that customers who used water beyond the five cubic metre range would be excluded from the governments relief. He stated that the objective for the cut-off point was for consumers to use the water judiciously to reduce the pressure in the pipelines. This is better because with the first one there was no cut-off, and some people misused the water. As a result, it affected the pressures in the line to the extent that people living further away from the source couldnt get regular flow, and we had to do a lot of things to build on the pressures, he said. Payment processes Mr Martey said the company had received payment from the government up to October, and processes were still ongoing for the arrears to be paid. Before the figures were submitted to the Ministry of Finance, he said, all meters at the district level were read every month and submitted to the regions for auditing purposes before subsequent transmission to the head office. 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 A passenger walks past a sign directing people to a CCP virus testing site adjacent to Terminal 1 of Manchester Airport in Manchester, northern England, on Dec. 3, 2020. (Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images) Travellers to England Will Need to Test Negative Before Departure International travellers arriving in England, including UK nationals, will have to provide proof of a negative test for the CCP virus before boarding their planes, trains, or boats. This new measure, announced by the Transport Secretary on Friday, aims to stem the influx of new strains of the virus. On top of the new measures, arrivals from countries outside of the air corridor list will still have to quarantine for 10 days. The testing requirement starts next week, to allow UK nationals time to return, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told LBC radio. According to the governments announcement, people will be subject to an immediate 500 ($680) fine if they fail to present a negative COVID-19 test taken up to 72 hours prior to departure. Passengers will have to present proof of the test to carriers, and declare it on a form. The UK Border Force will conduct spot checks on arrival into England to ensure that passengers are fully compliant, the department said in a statement. Taken together with the existing mandatory self-isolation period for passengers returning from high-risk countries, pre-departure tests will provide a further line of defencehelping us control the virus as we roll out the vaccine at pace over the coming weeks, Shapps said in the statement. The UK has been criticised for being both slow to shut down international travel in the first wave last spring, and for then dragging its feet in setting up testing systems that had allowed air travel to continue more smoothly in other nations. MP Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labours Shadow Home Secretary, said that testing prior to departure was a necessary step. However, Labour has been calling for a comprehensive strategy on testing for international travel since April, he said in a statement. Instead the Government has been lurching from one crisis to another. The chief executive of Airlines UK, Tim Alderslade, said that while the new testing requirement was needed now, it should be only a short-term, emergency measure. Once the roll-out of the vaccine accelerates, the focus must be on returning travel to normal as quickly as possible in order to support the UKs economic recovery, he said in a statement. Ultimately, cheaper and quicker testing is required to ensure travel can be accessible while testing is required but then needs to be unwound once vaccinations and the overall threat of Covid recedes. A passenger arrives at Terminal 2 of Heathrow Airport, west London, on May 22, 2020. (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images) Passengers from outside the travel corridor list can reduce their quarantine time from 10 to 5 days by paying for a private test. According to Mark Jit, professor of vaccine epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, testing incoming travellers before departure is generally only helpful in two situations: when the virus levels are low, and when the epidemic is close to a tipping point. These restrictions may also make a difference if you are trying to keep a new strain of coronavirus out of your country, and hardly anyone in your country has that strain yet, he said in a statement. By the end of the 1970s, Taiwan was counted among the "Four Asian Tigers" that boasted dynamic economic development. Chinese traditional culture was also fully revived in Taiwan after residents were freed from the oppression and cultural repression of the Japanese colonists. With a history of more than 1,000 years, Mazu culture is representative of Chinese traditional culture and an important symbol of Chinese marine culture. Mazu or Ma-Tsu, literally referring to "maternal ancestor," is also known as "Mazupo" ("Granny Mazu") in east China's Fujian Province, where her hometown is located. The goddess and patroness of the sea, who is believed to protect fishermen and sailors, has been widely worshiped in Taiwan ever since a large number of Fujian residents came to the island in the Qing Dynasty. Nowadays, Mazu culture is an important part of local residents' folk lore. Due to historical reasons, Taiwan, which shares indivisible blood ties with the Chinese mainland, has been separated from the Chinese mainland for more than half a century. The ultimate reunification of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is not only an inevitable trend, but also the expectations of compatriots on both sides. The Chinese mainland upholds the basic state policy of "peaceful reunification; one country, two systems" towards Taiwan, adhering to the "1992 Consensus", firmly opposing "Taiwan independence", as well as maintaining, consolidating and advancing the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations under the one-China principle to realize reunification. The Anti-Secession Law passed in 2005 provided a solid legal guarantee for curbing and cracking down on "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, deterring external elements' interference, and promoting the development of cross-Strait relations. A series of measures giving equal treatment to Taiwan compatriots, including the "31 Measures" and "26 Measures" introduced in recent years have laid a solid foundation for the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and the realization of reunification. The deep-rooted longing for home looms large over the shallow Taiwan Strait. Only when reunification is achieved can compatriots across the Strait realize the Chinese Dream. Yuanyuan's Adventure Episode : Contemporary Development http://news.china.com.cn/txt/2021-01/08/content_77092614.htm SOURCE China.org.cn The shocking moment an alleged drug-addled driver mounts a footpath at high speed throwing a teenager 20m into a wall has been caught on dash-cam footage. The 17-year-old boy was walking home from Casula train station with a friend when a grey Kia Carnival suddenly veered across two lanes of traffic on the Hume Highway and mounted the kerb at 12.40pm on Thursday. With no warning and nowhere to run, the van can be seen smashing into the teen at high speed, with the exact moment of impact too distressing to show readers. Dash-cam footage captured the moment, seconds before impact, that the two young men walked innocently up the footpath, not knowing that one of them would not make it home After hitting the 17-year-old teenager the Kia van continued its path of destruction down the footpath, smashing fences, sign posts and thick wooden palings for more than 100m The boy was flung into the air travelling 20m into the side of a brick house, leaving him fighting for his life with critical head injuries along with lower leg and pelvic injuries. The rear dash-cam footage shows the van continuing its path of destruction at high speed for more than 100m down the pedestrian footpath. It can be seen smashing away fencing and sign posts outside the Jolly Knight Motel and narrowly avoiding power poles as it hurtled along the pavement mowing down several thick waist-high woo The teenager was taken to Westmead hospital where he remains, fighting for his life. His friend was uninjured, having been narrowly missed by the van. The van slammed the teenage boy knocking him 20m to hit the brick wall of this house The teenager was walking down the footpath with a friend when the van came out of nowhere, veering across two lanes to mount the kerb and hit him, leaving him in a critical condition The Kia van continued along the pavement for more than 100m on the Hume Highway, Casula Pictures taken at the scene showed the van with a smashed windshield and a large dent in the front with one of the headlights missing. Images also showed debris including car pieces, bloodied clothing and an uprooted pole, scattered on the footpath. The incident caused chaos on the Hume Highway for hours. Police allege the driver, Cameron Forsyth, 37, of Leppington in Sydney's southwest, was impaired by morphine, heroin and cannabis at the time of the crash. Debris was strewn across the footpath including a smashed power pole and blood-soaked clothes. An empty shoe can be seen on the grassy verge There was traffic chaos on the Hume Highway for hours after as the road had to be closed for emergency responders and police investigators Mr Forsyth was uninjured and taken to Liverpool hospital for drug and alcohol testing. He appeared in Parramatta Local Court on Friday after being charged by Liverpool police with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm - drive in manner dangerous, and negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm. His license was suspended and he was remanded in custody to next appear in court on March 8. (CNN)A judge in Baghdad's investigative court has issued an arrest warrant for outgoing US President Donald Trump, over the killing of an Iraqi paramilitary leader during the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last year. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis -- the Iraqi deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces -- was killed along with Soleimani in a US airstrike just over a year ago, on January 3, 2020. "After the completion of the preliminary investigation procedures, the judge decided to issue an arrest warrant for the outgoing President of the United States of America, Donald Trump," read a statement released by the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq on Thursday. Read Full Story .... HERE >>> : 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 Proliant was instrumental in getting us off the ground and running. Proliant Settlement Systems, LLC continued its 2020 expansion with the addition of a new franchisee Vital Title, LLC. Vital Title, located in Farmington Hills, Michigan successfully opened their doors in October of 2020. Attorney and CPA owned, Julian Sesi, Ramy Sesi, Shaun Mansour, and Jason Alkamano partnered to open their title company, Vital Title. The four partners have cumulatively over 60 years of experience in commercial real estate and working with lenders and title companies. After years of working with various title companies, the partners learned what it takes to keep the deal moving and bring it to the closing table quickly and effectively. Julian Sesi stated, People often look at title work as black and white, often ignoring the details. As attorneys and CPAs, we have a fiduciary duty to our clients and we bring that mentality to the title business. Michael Telford, Executive Vice President of Proliant Settlement Systems stated, "The owners of Vital Title bring a high level of professionalism and expertise in the sale and transfer of residential and commercial real estate. Starting a title agency franchise with Proliant Settlement Systems was a natural progression in adding additional services for their current and future client base. All of us at Proliant Settlement System welcome the Vital Title team and look forward to supporting their future success." Vital Title is committed to delivering a high level of consistent customer service on every deal. The team brings tremendous experience working efficiently and securely and promises to ensure the closing process is handled securely, swiftly and with remarkable customer service. Sesi stated, Proliant was instrumental in getting us off the ground and running. When we first started thinking about opening a title company, it was extremely overwhelming. Having Proliant in our corner walking us through each process has been tremendous. We cant put a value on their help and support and look forward to working with them. About Vital Title: Vital Title is a full-service title and real estate settlement provider operating in the State of Michigan. Our experienced staff has handled thousands of closings. Whether a residential home, investment property, commercial building, purchase money loan, or refinance of any kind, our staff has you covered. Our wealth of knowledge is an asset when closing your transaction. About Proliant Settlement: Proliant Settlements, LLC is a turnkey title company ownership system that offers qualified entrepreneurs an opportunity to own their own title company, complete with all the financial and operational advantages. The Proliant system effectively eliminates the traditional, and often difficult, barriers to entry. At present, the service is available in Florida and Michigan with planned expansion into other states in 2021. Lifting up ethnic minority women The project is raising up livelihood prospects for ethic minority females The Gender Responsive Equitable Project, on gender equality through economic empowerment for ethnic women in agriculture and tourism, was created by Gender Responsive Equitable Agriculture and Tourism (GREAT) in cooperation with the Centre for Rural Economy Development several years ago. In that time, it has contributed to increasing income for 400 women in the northern mountainous provinces of Vietnam, most of whom are ethnic minority women. The special feature of the project is that it does not operate under a specific business model but plays a role of connecting and cooperating with local businesses and state agencies to support jobs for ethnic minority women living mainly in Son La and Lao Cai provinces. These are areas where more than 40 per cent of the population lives in poverty, and cultural differences also create barriers for women to freely and equally participate in economic activities. Through consulting and assisting local people to develop community-based tourism and agriculture models, GREAT projects have helped more than 80 per cent of ethnic minority women eliminate language capital constraints and prejudice stereotypes about economic dependence and lack of self-determination in the family to become more confident in a new role. According to Truong Quynh Phuong, a GREAT project officer, the goal of both these projects is to support local women to develop economically, have a stable job and income, and thereby play a role and position in the family. The women who started from agriculture then switched to tourism shared that they became more connected to each other, often learned from each other, and supported each other in doing business and developing together, Phuong explained. Successful models of empowerment FrieslandCampina is focused on gender equality After 25 years of development in Vietnam, FrieslandCampina, which owns familiar beverage brands such as Dutch Lady, Friso, Fristi, and Yomost, is continuing to make waves after being honoured with its efforts in creating a gender-inclusive workplace. Receiving the award for the first time, Phan Nam Tran, HR director of FrieslandCampina Vietnam shared, Improving womens empowerment and gender equality is one of the top priorities in development of people at Friesland Campina Vietnam. We are very proud that nearly 50 per cent of our management staff and one-third of our board members are female, and that more and more female candidates are joining the companys Fresher & Management Trainee programme. With these results, we want to become a pioneer and model to spread this spirit to the business community and society. A special feature in the working environment of FrieslandCampina Vietnam is that the company always aims at human development as a key factor in building a strong business. From organising training courses that focus on management and leadership skills, win-win thinking, and inspiring female employees to be motivated to develop their jobs and make the right decisions, Friesland Campina Vietnam has successfully raised the position and role of women equal to men. A representative of the company added, We want each employee to proactively address any form of discrimination or harassment, and we expect business partners to practice with us. We aim to end all forms of discrimination and violence against women anywhere, because they must have enough rights and equal opportunities to live freely, beautifully, and joyously. Nestle programme spreads positive message - The NESCAFE Plan has helped train teams of coffee farmers Gender equality and womens empowerment, especially in rural areas, are the commitments being implemented by Nestle Vietnam, with the Sister Nest initiative in collaboration with the Vietnam Womens Union playing an outstanding role since 2017. The programme has supported training to improve knowledge of nutrition and business skills, and increased income for 9,000 members in 1,500 communes across 20 cities and provinces, supporting more than 1.5 million rural households. Dang Thi Nga, chairwoman of the Womens Union of Hong Quang commune in Hai Duong province, said that through the programme, women in the commune have become more flexible in their work, increased incomes, and become economically independent in the family. Communication skills, nutritional knowledge, and healthcare needs have also been greatly improved. All the information has been shared and discussed through regular association activities. One of the best examples of gender balance contribution and womens empowerment across the entire Nestle value chain is the NESCAFE Plan project. It has contributed to enhancing the role and status of women through training a team of female coffee farmers, making them the bridge to convey the projects farming knowledge and experience to other farmers. The percentage of female farmer group leaders has so far reached 30 per cent of the total number of leaders participating in the project. In the working environment at Nestle, the principles of gender equality are shown in the activities of the companys HR development and empowerment strategy. The proportion of women holding senior management and leadership positions has surpassed the number of men by 50-55 per cent. Not only do we make commitments on gender equality and womens empowerment but we also have made these commitments possible through the development of specific HR development policies and strategies. At the same time, we built an equal culture and environment based on the values of respect for differences and the principles of womens empowerment at our company and across our value chain, said Truong Bich Dao, HR director of Nestle Vietnam. With these achievements, at the end of November, the United Nations Agency on Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) awarded WEPs to Nestle Vietnam for its commitments and achievements in the categories of Community and Industry Engagement and Gender-Inclusive Workplace. Unilever Vietnam guides inspiring journey Unilver picking up yet another award in 2020 Not only proud of the dense coverage of Unilever-branded products among Vietnamese families, in recent years Unilever Vietnam has also been considered as a guide, promoting one of the most successful models in achieving gender equality in businesses. Since 2007, the company has cooperated with the Vietnam Womens Union to implement programmes to empower women in difficult circumstances in every province with a commitment to invest more than VND240 billion ($10 million). The highlight of the programmes is the financial fund that supports 50,000 women and their families in business with a total loan of about VND350 billion ($15.2 million) as well as health and hygiene education activities. The goal is to provide educational support to five million women by the end of 2025. Unilever Vietnam also breaks down womens promotion barriers by building a training and development roadmap, and nominating women to leadership positions with a proportion of female managers of nearly 53 per cent. The company is also increasing maternity leave and providing better care for women with young children. Unilever Vietnams efforts have been recognised with a Committed Leadership Award and a Gender Equality at Work Award through WEPs. The long-term goal of the business is to become a model for successful application of a sustainable business model based on equality, cooperation, and inspiration for enterprises, customers, and retailers to promote gender equality and womens empowerment. Besides that, there are efforts to raise consumer awareness about gender equality through product creation and innovation campaigns. We want to become an inclusive business to contribute to an equal world, regardless of gender, region, religion, and race. We aim for a world in which every female can create a desired life without being constrained by social stereotypes, said Unilever Vietnam chairwoman Nguyen Thi Bich Van. [January 08, 2021] The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz Reminds Investors of Looming Deadline in the Class Action Lawsuit Against Alibaba Group Holding Limited (BABA) The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz reminds investors of the upcoming January 12, 2021 deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in the class action filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Alibaba Group Holding Limited ("Alibaba" or the "Company") (NYSE: BABA) securities between October 21, 2020 and November 3, 2020 inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you are a shareholder who suffered a loss, click here to participate. Alibaba is an online and mobile commerce company. Alibaba owns a 33% equity interest in Ant Small and Micro Financial Services Group Co., Ltd. ("Ant Group"), a financial technology company that is best known for operating Alipay, one of the largest mobile and online payments platforms. On July 20, 2020, Ant Group announced that it had begun the process of a concurrent initial public offering ("IPO") on the Shanghai and Hong Kong stock exchanges. On October 26, 2020, Ant Group priced its IPO and was set to raise $34.5 billion, making it the largest public offering in history. News - Alert) reported that Chinese regulators had met with Ant Group's controller Jack Ma, executive chairman Eric Jing, and Chief Executive Officer Simon Hu. The article stated that, though regulators did not provide details, "the Chinese word used to describe the interview - yuetan - generally indicates a dressing down by authorities." The article also included a statement from Ant Group that it will "implement the meeting opinions in depth." On November 3, 2020, the IPO was suspended because Ant Group "may not meet listing qualifications or disclosure requirements due to material matters" related to the meeting with regulators the previous day and "the recent changes in the Fintech regulatory environment." On this news, the Company's share price fell $25.27, or 8%, to close at $285.57 per share on November 3, 2020, thereby injuring investors. The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Company's business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors: (1) that Ant Group did not meet listing qualifications or disclosure requirements for certain material matters; (2) that certain impending changes in the Fintech regulatory environment would impact Ant Group's business; (3) that, as a result of the foregoing, Ant Group's IPO was reasonably likely to be suspended; and (4) that, as a result of the foregoing, Defendants' positive statements about the Company's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. Follow us for updates on Twitter (News - Alert) : twitter.com/FRC_LAW. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Alibaba securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court no later than January 12, 2020 to request appointment as lead plaintiff in this putative class action lawsuit. To be a member of the class action you need not take any action at this time; you may retain counsel of your choice or take no action and remain an absent member of the class action. If you wish to learn more about this class action, or if you have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to the pending class action lawsuit, please contact Frank R. Cruz, of The Law Offices of Frank R. Cruz, 1999 Avenue of the Stars, Suite 1100, Los Angeles, California 90067 at 310-914-5007, by email to info@frankcruzlaw.com, or visit our website at www.frankcruzlaw.com. If you inquire by email please include your mailing address, telephone number, and number of shares purchased. 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/20210108005135/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Burma Fate of Villagers Abducted by Myanmar Military Still Unknown Some of the detained villagers. SITTWE, Rakhine StateRelatives of 18 villagers abducted by Myanmars military (Tatmadaw) from Tinma Village in Kyauktaw Township of Rakhine State still do not have a clue about their whereabouts more than 300 days after they were taken from their homes. Troops of the Tatmadaws Light Infantry Division No. 55 deployed on Taungshae Mountain near Tinma Village detained eight villagers from new Tinma Village on March 13 and 10 people from Tinmagyi Village on March 16, according to the detainees families. Other residents fled their homes in the wake of the abductions. Three villagers who stayed behind to take care of village property also went missing, said residents. At least 500 houses were set ablaze in abandoned villages on March 22. Myanmars military, however, denied villagers accusations that the military was responsible for the arson. Relatives of abductees filed complaints with Kyauktaw Township police, and lawmakers of Kyauktaw Township sent letters in late March to the President, the State Counselor, the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) and the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services, seeking an investigation. But nothing happened. The MNHRC replied to lawmakers in the last week of November, saying that the Defense Ministry denied that the military was involved in the abduction of Tinma villagers. Lower House lawmaker U Oo Tun Win of Kyauktaw questioned the credibility of the commissions report, since the commission did not make an effort to speak with relatives of the abductees, but merely echoed the reply of Myanmars military. In an interview with The Irrawaddy on Dec. 30, MNHRC chairman U Hla Myint said, We have asked the Defense Ministry about the case, and it replied that there are some differences between the accounts of villagers and what really happened. We gave that reply to the concerned persons. [The investigation] of the Tinma Village case is over now. He said the MNHRC is unable to investigate on the ground due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. For the time being, we can only convey the reply of one side to the other side. The Tatmadaw said they didnt do that. Relatives went to the Kyauktaw Township police station on Dec. 8 and left their complaints with a police clerk. When they went to the police station a week later, they were told by the head of the police station, Police Captain Thura Tun, that the police clerk had been transferred and the dossiers had also gone missing. We police are not authorized to handle such cases. We have told the villagers again and again that we cant open cases because the events happened in operational areas of the Tatmadaw. They can file complaints with the relevant military battalions and units and the border affairs minister, Thura Tun told The Irrawaddy on Dec. 18. Lawyer U Zaw Zaw Min of the Arakan Human Rights Defenders and Promoters Association said police should open cases upon receiving complaints. If complaints from people asking for justice went missing, the policeman who is responsible must be punished. Only doing so will remedy justice. It is irresponsible of the police to say that complaints went missing. If police do so, people will lack trust in the law, U Zaw Zaw Min told The Irrawaddy. Kin of the abductees said they were asked by the Mrauk-U District police chiefs office on Dec. 29 about the incident. We were asked from where they were abducted, and who the abductees are. We told them that they were abducted from villages by Division 55, and we saw the Division 55 logo on their arms. Police said they sought instructions from above, and that they would do their best, said Daw Ma Win Kyi, sister of one of the abductees. She said the relatives were not told who gave the instruction for questioning. The Irrawaddy attempted to contact Police Lieutenant Colonel Zaw Zaw Nay Hein, chief of the Mrauk-U District police force, several times, but he did not pick up the phone. Rakhine State government spokesman U Win Myint told The Irrawaddy he did not know about the case. The Irrawaddy was also unable to contact the state minister for border affairs and security, Colonel Min Than. Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun said at the Tatmadaw press conference on Nov. 27 in Naypyitaw that Tinma villagers could file complaints with the relevant departments in line in with law. At a Tatmadaw press conference on Dec. 30, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said relatives of the abductees, if they suspect the Tatmadaw, could talk to relevant command and battalions in the region and could file complaints if they have strong evidence. I am not saying the Tatmadaw did not make arrests. We have known nothing about the incident. There are places where the villagers can file complaints with strong evidence. They can file complaints freely with those places, said the military spokesman. Director U Aung Myo Min of the Gender Equality Network said he understands that the MNHRC faces certain difficulties when conducting investigations during COVID-19, but the commission should find ways and means with full responsibility and accountability to establish the truth, because this case was not an ordinary human rights violation. The commission should make an investigation anyway. Submitting a report to the government is not enough. It also has a responsibility to provide input from legal and human rights perspectives about what actions must be taken in response, he said. Relatives hope that abductees are safe and will be able to return soon. We have filed complaints with all the departments possible. But we still dont have any information about my husband and other villagers. I have children to care for and have no source of income. I hope my husband is released soon, Daw Moe Hnin Nwe, wife of one of the detainees, told The Irrawaddy. Translated from Burmese by Thet Ko Ko You may also like these stories: Myanmars New Parliament to Convene on Feb. 1 Myanmar Rebel-Controlled Areas Carry Out Mass COVID-19 Testing Experts Warn of Backlash Against Chinese Infrastructure Projects in Myanmar China's banking regulator has vowed to crack down heavily on the "disorderly expansion of capital" and "chaotic innovation" among tech companies providing financial (fintech) services including Ant Group, as the company's founder, tech tycoon Jack Ma, remains out of the public eye amid mounting speculation that he has been detained by the authorities. "We must ... vigorously break up monopolies, prevent the disorderly expansion of capital, and promptly and strictly punish violations of the laws and regulations," the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission was quoted as saying by state-run media. It said there would be severe crackdowns on "pseudo-innovation" and "chaotic innovation," and zero tolerance" for online service providers breaking the law. "There may be a limited transition period, but the general policy direction will not change," the Economic Information Daily, a newspaper under the aegis of the state news agency Xinhua, quoted a department head at the Commission as saying in a Jan. 4 report. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) recently took steps to curb e-commerce giant Alibaba with the launch of an antitrust investigation into the tech company also headed by Jack Ma. The wording of the report seems to have come down from the highest levels, suggesting that the regulator is warning the industry of a major shake-up after regulators pulled the plug on Ma's Ant Group New York IPO at the eleventh hour in November 2020, hauling Ma in for questioning. A December article in the CCP's official mouthpiece, the People's Daily, reported that the CCP's Politburo was of the opinion that the government should "strengthen anti-monopoly work and prevent the disorderly expansion of capital." Plans to nationalize Sources have told RFA that the ongoing investigations into Ma and his companies is part of CCP plans to nationalize both Ant Group and Alibaba. According to the banking regulator, the rapid development of China's financial technology industry is threatening financial stability and online security, and there are issues centering on both individuals and the sector as a whole. Recently, the four central financial management ministries and commissions once again interviewed Ant Group," the Economic Information Daily quoted the department head as saying. "They emphasized that the outstanding issues needing rectification are both individual and universal," the official said, calling on online service providers to start the process of "rectification" themselves, and await further inspection. "Financial innovation must be carried out under prudent supervision," the official said. "We will effectively maintain financial stability and security." The article, with its reference to Ma's Ant Group, comes amid mounting speculation over Ma's whereabouts and status in the eyes of the CCP. The Financial Times reported on Friday that the CPP propaganda department had directed media outlets to stick to government-approved statements on the probe into Alibaba. "If any company announcements oppose the official stance, do not publish, do not re-post, do not quote foreign media," the paper quoted the directive as saying, citing two people who had seen it. Disappeared Ma hasn't been seen in public since the suspension of the Ant Group IPO, and political analysts are beginning to draw parallels with the case of kidnapped billionaire Xiao Jianhua amid allegations of unauthorized lending, as CCP General Secretary Xi Jinping moves to strengthen the domestic economy. Xiao is believed to have been abducted by mainland Chinese state security police from his apartment in Hong Kong's Four Seasons Hotel in January 2017. Economist Law Ka-chung said Beijing is likely moving against Ant and Alibaba because they have become too powerful. "The Chinese Communist Party may feel that the platforms owned by Ant and Ali control the lion's share of data nationwide, including personal details of nearly everybody, as well as a huge amount of money," Law told RFA. "They have access to huge sources of funding, and are powerful enough to negotiate with the regime," he said. "Their handling of Jack Ma isn't just about an antitrust investigation; it's also about the concern that he could be a threat to CCP rule," he said. "It's not just about economics; he may be seen as a political threat." "Politics trumps everything, as far as the CCP is concerned; it has always been their top consideration," Law said. Feng Chongyi, an associate professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), drew parallels with banking tycoon Xiao Jianhua. "This is similar to [what happened to] Xiao Jianhua; [like Xiao, Ma] may also be under house arrest," Feng said. "All we can be sure of on the outside is that he is under a travel ban ... but many people think he is under restrictive measures," he said. "If that's the case, then they will be investigating all of Alibaba's finances and operations, shareholders, and so on." Investigations under way Industry analysts have told RFA they believe that the investigations will result in the nationalization of both Ant Group and Alibaba. Central government investigators had already set up camp in Alibaba headquarters by the end of November, according to industry sources. The company will also be called to follow-up meetings with the People's Bank of China, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange after regulators slammed the brakes on Alibaba's New York listing in early November. Investigative teams are also in place at the offices of social media giant Tencent and e-commerce company Meituan. Analysts say the Alibaba investigation will help the CCP to form future policy towards the country's tech giants. State media have been keen to paint the government's targeting of Ma's tech empire as a campaign to subject the nation's super-rich to public scrutiny and regulation. CCP general secretary Xi Jinping unveiled plans at the end of October to move China to a state-controlled, "circular" economy based on domestic demand, and away from the export-based model that has fueled rapid growth since 1979, when late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping ushered in four decades of market-based economic policy. Analysts have said there is a widespread expectation that Xi will move to change the current system of property ownership. Reported by Gao Feng for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. THERE were 19 fatal incidents on farms in 2020, with three of these being children under the age of 18, and nine being farmers aged 65 or more. This follows 25 fatalities in 2017, 15 in 2018 and 19 in 2019. In County Limerick, Danny Mullins, aged 77, from Anglesboro, died following a tragic farm accident in July. Many Christmases were destroyed following Bertie O'Rahillys sad death in a farm accident just over the border in Knocknagoshel on December 24. Minister of State for Farm Safety at the Department of Agriculture, Martin Heydon highlighted the significant number of fatalities on Irish farms in 2020 as a result of workplace incidents. Farming is inherently a dangerous job. You wont meet a farmer who hasnt had an accident or had a very lucky escape. Freak things can happen but Minister Heydon calls on farmers to minimise the risk as much as possible in a New Years appeal. He said the level of safety incidents, many of them fatal, on farms across the country is unacceptably high. Farming accounts for nearly 50% of all workplace fatal incidents, despite accounting for only 6% of the workforce. Thats why I am appealing to everyone, as they wish farmers a Happy New Year, to also take the time to ask them to be safe on their farm in 2021. 2021 needs to be the year when farmers put their own safety first; we cannot continue to see the level of fatalities we have seen in recent years. 214 people tragically lost their lives on farms between 2010 and 2019 and this is simply not acceptable. As the first ever minister to be given specific responsibility for farm safety, I am working to ensure that safety is at the heart of everything we do on our farms and I am determined to deliver lasting change that will drive down the current level of safety incidents, said Minister Heydon. In recent months, he launched a number of initiatives that aim to deliver this change. The new Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) scheme, which I brought forward together with Minister Donohoe, will make essential farm safety investments more accessible to farmers. Additionally, my new call for proposals under the Innovation Partnership (EIP) model, will fund a number of community-led farm safety projects that will hopefully deliver some new and innovative solutions. 2021 will be an important year for farm safety with around 50,000 farmers set to receive vital safety training, and the revised HSA Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee and its new working groups are now in place. I plan to build on the momentum of recent months by working closely with farmers to deliver the needed initiatives that can make a real difference to safety on our farms. Minister Heydon concluded by stating, I wish farmers around the country a very happy and safe New Year. Telecommunications towers belonging to Vodacom and MTN were burned down by vandals, with the South African government placing the blame on conspiracy theorists who link 5G airwaves to Covid-19 infections. In a statement from the Department of Telecommunications and Postal Services, Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, minister of communications and digital technologies condemned the vandals and urged South African police to arrest those responsible "for this anarchy. The burning of the cell phone towers follows a resurgence in conspiracy theories which link the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic to 5G, the statement read. Three telecommunications towers in the KwaZulu-Natal region were destroyed between January 5-6. The destruction of network towers compromises multi-pronged efforts and initiatives to stem the spread of the virus. We therefore, urge the police to arrest anyone who is threatening the removing of infrastructure network stations or towers, added Ndabeni-Abrahams. Vodacom urged in a statement today (January 8), for people to report those deliberately spreading fake news about the virus to the government. The Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the World Health Organisation (WHO), have confirmed 5G does not spread Covid-19. Donald Trump has drawn up a list of at least a dozen people he wants to pardon before leaving office, reports say - with himself high on the list. Amid calls for Trump to be stripped of his powers before Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20, the New York Times reported that the president has spoken to his advisors about the possibility of granting himself a self-pardon in his remaining days in office. It is unclear if such a self-pardon would stand up in court, because no president has ever tried it before. Richard Nixon was pardoned by President Gerald Ford when he resigned after Watergate. Trump has also considered pardons for family members Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner, it is believed, as well as Don Jr's girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. Also thought to be in the frame is personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who spoke to a rally crowd on Wednesday urging 'trial by combat' shortly before a mob overran the Capitol. The list also includes current and former White House aides such as chief of staff Mark Meadows, personal assistant John McEntee and senior adviser Stephen Miller, it is claimed - as well as former personal lawyer Albert Pirro. Trump's list also includes the rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, Bloomberg reported. Black served time in prison on weapons charges. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., whose stage name is Lil Wayne, served time on weapons charges. President Donald Trump has spoken about the possibility of granting himself a self-pardon, pardoning family members and close associates, as well as a pair of rappers in his final days in office Trump has told advisors since Election Day that he was thinking about the idea of a self-pardon, even as he doled out pardons to political supporters like former national security advisor Gen. Mike Flynn, who withdrew his guilty plea to lying to the FBI in the Russia probe. Trump has tweeted that he has the power to self-pardon but has said he doesnt need one. The U.S. Attorney in D.C. said Thursday that the office would investigate those who instigated the rioters who stormed the Capitol, not just the vandals themselves. The Biden administration would be faced with whether to honor the pardon as well as whether to charge a former president, and federal judges would have to sort out its validity. Trump has also considered pardons for family members Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and son-in-law Jared Kushner. He also has considered one for personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who addressed the rally crowd Wednesday urging trial by combat. The talks came before Mondays events, and also before Trumps Jan. 2 call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, whom her urged to find 11,780 votes that would make him the winner there, in a call leaked to the Washington Post. That call could bring legal exposure for potential violation of laws on interfering in an election. State officials have said they are looking into it. Trump could only pardon himself from federal crimes. Trump is reportedly considering a pardon for rapper Lil Wayne Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., is also on the list of family members and associates who could get a Trump pardon in advance of being charged with any offense Donald Trump Jr. delivered fiery remarks before supporters who went on to trash the U.S. Capitol Trump is considering handing out pardons to family members. Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump run the Trump Organization along with an executive Trump called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and asked him to 'find' 11,780 votes for him in Georgia Rudy Giuliani, who addressed the rally crowd Wednesday, urged trial by combat. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who was on the Raffensperger call, is also on a list Eric Trump, son of U.S. President Donald Trump, and his wife Lara raise their fists as Trump supporters gather by the White House ahead of his speech to contest the certification by the U.S. Congress of the results of the 2020 U.S. presidential election in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021 Albert Pirro and his wife, Westchester County District Attorney Jeanine Pirro, leave court at the end of the day in White Plains, N.Y., in this June 19, 2000 file photo. After a marriage of over 30 years that has been punctuated by prison and scandal. Pirro is one of Trump's favorite Fox News commentators On January 6, 2021, Pro-Trump supporters and far-right forces flooded Washington DC to protest Trump's election loss. Hundreds breached the U.S. Capitol Building Wednesdays chaotic events are unlikely to prompt Trump to abandon thoughts of pardoning himself. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday he had incited an armed insurrection against America. Trump's list also includes some prominent rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, Bloomberg reported. Black served time in prison on weapons charges. Dwayne Michael Carter Jr., whose stage name is Lil Wayne, served time on weapons charges. Several on the list haven't been charged with crimes and might not - making a potential pardon awkward since accepting one implies accepting guilt. Also on the list following a post-election pardon spree are chief of staff Mark Meadows, longtime aide Johnny McEntee, who was fired amid a reported criminal investigation, then returned to the staff to help purge 'deep state' operatives from agencies. Longtime aides Stehen Miller, architect of some of the administration's immigration crackdown policies, and close aide Dan Scavino who posted Trump's early morning statement after violence in the Capitol are reportedly included. So is Kimberly Guilfoyle, the girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., and Albert Pirro, the former husband of Fox News personality Judge Jeanine Pirro. Thames House, the headquarters of the British Security Service (MI5) is seen in London, on Oct. 22, 2015. (Peter Nicholls/Reuters) UK Lords to Challenge Bill Authorising Children to Spy and Break the Law A UK government bill, under which older children can be authorised to become spies for government agencies and break the law, will be challenged in the House of Lords next week. The governments Covert Human Intelligence Sources (CHIS) bill aims to confirm a set of safeguards and create a statutory basis for the long-used serious crime-fighting tactic of allowing undercover agents to engage in criminality to secure the trust of those they are investigating. Its guidance (pdf) allows authorization of lawbreaking by children as they covertly gather intelligence, including in the interests of national security or safety, to protect public health, to help collect taxes, and to detect crime. Amendments to Bill Several British peers tabled a motion (pdf) on Wednesday seeking to make amendments to the CHIS bill so that it only allows such young people to be used in this way in exceptional circumstances and if its clear they will not be at risk of any reasonably foreseeable harm (whether physical or psychological) arising from the criminal conduct authorisation. Despite not wanting any young person to be used as a covert human intelligence source, young persons legal rights advocates Just for Kids Law supports the proposed amendments, but also wants the government to go further. We are deeply concerned that the government are taking an end justifies the means approach by suggesting that it might sometimes be justified to put children in harms way, Jennifer Twite, the organisations head of strategic litigation, said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times. Were also concerned that the numerous public authorities who can use children as a CHIS wont have the appropriate resources to support children or the expertise to undertake proper risk assessments to evaluate the danger they may be putting children in. Informing on Parents Though under 16s cant be asked to do so under the CHIS guidance, 16- and 17-year-olds can be recruited, subject to certain safeguards, to gather and hand over intelligence against their own parents. Twite acknowledged that there are some protections in place or proposed for this age group around informing on their parents but said they are too limited. Its still hugely problematic that children aged 16 and 17 arent afforded the same protection as under-16s. Children have a fundamentally different relationship with their parents before and after turning 18at 16 or 17 years old, youre still likely to be in education or training and be living with and financially dependent on your parents, she said. Sixteen- and 17-year-olds are still children and must be treated as such. Heavily Challenged The CHIS bill has thus far had a bumpy journey on its path toward being made law. In October last year, it passed its third reading in the House of Commons only after being heavily challenged when Labour proposed an amendment for the legislation to state exactly what undercover agents would be permitted to do under it. The amendment was later defeated, but Labour leader Kier Starmer received a swathe of resignations from his MPs after 34 of them voted against the bill despite his telling them to abstain. The Bill has also faced a legal challenge from rights groups in an action started against the government in 2017. Before that, it was not publicly known that MI5, Britains domestic intelligence agency, had been authorising informants to commit crimes under a secret policy that was not subject to meaningful oversight and did not explicitly prohibit informants from committing crimes such as murder, torture, or rape. It came under fire again in December when it was revealed that MI6, the countrys foreign intelligence agency, may have authorised spies to commit crimes in the UK possibly without any limits on their extent. Maya Foa, director of rights advocacy group Reprieve, said at the time that In light of this secret power-grab, Parliament should think twice about giving assent to the governments CHIS bill. Agencies that are covered under the CHIS bill to authorize lawbreaking by undercover operatives include the seven agencies and departments of the UK Intelligence Community (UKIC), the police, the Home Office immigration and border forces, the military, the Ministry of Justice, the Food Standards Agency, and the Environment Agency. Cycle of Crime According to The Telegraph, Security Minister James Brokenshire said: Juvenile covert human intelligence sources are used very rarely and only where careful consideration has been given to the welfare of the child. It may be necessary to help remove the child and other young and vulnerable people from the cycle of crime that they are in. This includes helping to prevent and prosecute gang violence [and] drug dealing. He said the use of a juvenile CHIS is rare, subject to safeguards, and governed by a strict legal framework. Nevertheless, Twite said Just For Kids Law wants the Home Office to amend the CHIS regulations around the use of young people as spies to ensure that no child is ever placed in harms way by the police or any other public authority. Englands Childrens Commissioner Anne Longfield went further. I remain to be convinced that there is ever an appropriate situation in which a child should be used as a CHIS, she said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times. The CHIS Bill will be discussed in Parliaments upper chamber next week. It must clear the House of Lords then be given royal assent before becoming law. Kanpur, Jan 8 : Sarla Devi, the mother of slain gangster Vikas Dubey, has apologised for the deeds of her son during a visit to her ancestral village Bikru, earlier this week. Vikas Dubey, accused of killing eight policemen in an ambush on July 3 last year, was killed in an encounter with the police, a week later. "I really regret giving birth to a crook and I apologise to each and every one who have lost their near and dear ones because of Vikas. However, I have nothing to do with Vikas and his deeds," she said with folded hands, when a group of women complained to her that her son had ruined several families in the village. According to sources, Sarla Devi visited the village for the first time after the Bikru massacre and went straight to one Uma Shankar's house. Uma Shankar is one among the alleged aides of Vikas and had surrendered later before the police. From there, she then went to see her ancestral house that was allegedly razed by authorities soon after the Bikru ambush. After spending a few minutes, she then returned to Uma Shankar's house, where she had been staying since Tuesday. A police team was sent to Bikru village after the news of Sarla Devi's visit spread in the area. Sleuths of Local Intelligence Units had also visited the village and inquired about the purpose of Sarla's visit. It may be recalled that after the Bikru massacre, Sarla had told reporters in Lucknow that she would have no regrets if her son was gunned down for being responsible for an act which claimed the lives of eight policemen. Later, after Vikas was arrested from Mahakal temple in Ujjain in a dramatic turn of events, Sarla had said that Lord Mahakaal saved her son's life but also said that the government can do whatever they want to do with him. She had then told the media persons that Vikas was involved in criminal activities from a young age and did not change his path despite repeated requests by her. Sarla's younger son, Deep Prakash Dubey, also an accused Bikru massacre, had surrendered in a Lucknow court last month and was sent to jail. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal Among the thousands that poured into Washington, D.C., for rallies in support of President Donald Trump and to protest what they claim is a fraudulent election were the New Mexico-based Cowboys for Trump. In videos posted on Facebook, founder Couy Griffin, who was hoping hed be able to speak at the rally, alternated between criticizing the set up it was freezing cold, didnt have enough Porta Johns, and only had a couple of hot dog vendors as food options and warning that this is only the beginning of the violence. Griffin, an Otero County Commissioner, has previously found himself in the hot seat for saying the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat and saying some Black athletes should go back to Africa. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ Griffins videos from D.C. have been viewed thousands of times and while the comments are largely congratulatory, others criticize him for taking part in the mob. He said he didnt force his way in, didnt break anything and didnt assault anyone. A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building Wednesday afternoon, disrupting the counting of the electoral votes certifying that Joe Biden won the election. Jessica Feezell, associate professor of political science at the University of New Mexico, said that while Griffins language might not legally qualify as having incited violence, his words are certainly inciting in general context. Thats nothing new, people have often said things that are incendiary or that are directly threatening, Feezell said. The thing thats unique about these times is you can say these things on social media and they can gain really wide distribution very quickly. Calling Wednesday an unbelievable day and one of the most historic and amazing things I have ever seen, Griffin said the American people have been awakened and are going to clean the country up. He said they were going to do so even if Trump himself backs down. We could have a 2nd Amendment rally on those same steps that we had that rally on yesterday and if we do then its going to be a sad day because there is going to be blood running out of that building, Griffin said on the video. But at the end of the day, you mark my words, we will plant our flag at the desk of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and Donald J. Trump if it boils down to it. When reached by phone on Thursday as he made his way to San Diego to pay respects to the woman who was shot and killed by police during the riot, Griffin said his comments are not a threat, they are a warning about whats going to happen. He pointed out that he had no part in organizing anything. Its not a threat, its a reality. You can try to say Im threatening or Im inciting but I look at myself more as a Paul Revere warning the government that this is coming, Griffin said. The people are fed up, were done. Why dont you cover the Jeffrey Epstein case instead of calling me? You guys are doing a pathetic job reporting the facts. He said if there is another rally on Jan. 20, the day of Bidens inauguration, he will attend. As for what will happen? Thats something that only God knows, Griffin said. I truly dont believe that there is going to be a Biden presidency. Since the election, Trump and his supporters have been sharing conspiracy theories without providing credible evidence about votes being stolen or tampered with only in swing states that the president lost. There is a lot that has happened over the past four years and specifically since the election that has led people to be fed information that makes them angry, Feezell said. That makes them feel as though they have been robbed and wronged, that theyre committing an act of correction to be a part of this insurrection, that theyre fixing things. In reality that information shared is widely debunked, is incorrect and is shared in an attempt to manipulate public opinion to serve President Trumps ends. About a dozen U.S. Attorneys from around the country have said they will charge those involved in the breach of the Capitol if they came from their jurisdictions. A spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys Office of New Mexico said charges have not been filed but: We stand ready to act if in the course of investigations of these events we receive information that there is a nexus to our jurisdiction that warrants federal charges. RIDGEFIELD Restaurants could get some much needed help as they struggle with fewer diners and dollars due to the coronavirus pandemic. The selectmen approved creating the Ridgefield Restaurant Community Support Fund at this weeks meeting, which is designed to generate business and donations for eateries and small businesses in town. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit several of our Ridgefield businesses and restaurants restaurants in particular very hard, and the reality is that many of our restaurants are in imminent financial crisis and quite frankly might not survive, said Selectman Bob Herbert, who presented the fund at the meeting. The fund focuses on two major activities. The first is increasing the demand for restaurants and businesses, and the second is providing an economic stimulus so they can remain open until their normal operations continue. Herbert said theyll launch a marketing campaign to collect donations of any size with 100 percent of it going to the restaurants and small businesses. Some of the marketing ideas are a thank you meal, gift card or meal discounts to healthcare workers, emergency responders and other essential workers that are serving Ridgefield. Another idea is creating high-margin menus that will help a restaurant generate revenue. The fund will also match or double gift certificates or gift cards, he said. Virginie Bonnaudet, the co-owner of Sucre Sale welcomed news of the fund on Friday. Thats great, Bonnaudet said. We need it. Its been very hard. Even if we dont close down, its still hard. Weve lost almost 70 percent of our revenue since last year. So Im very happy about that. Sucre Sale isnt alone. Restaurants and businesses are operating under limited capacity and a lack of business means their revenues are down to about 75 percent from where they were pre-COVID, Herbert said, adding he doesnt want this to continue since the restaurants and local businesses maintain Ridgefields charm and keep it a vibrant community. We want to be able to put together a program for them where we can help them get through the very end of this, he said. For those people that are committed, its kind of like a pay forward commitment to those businesses. The fund would have a board evaluate each application to determine if the fund can help that particular business successfully survive and come out of this at the end. It is not a one-time donation. Those at the fund would also individually help each business figure out what is needed. This initiative creates a private source of local economic stimulus independent of tax revenue, Herbert said. Its purely voluntary and leverages the time, talent, and treasure of well meeting friends of Ridgefield. They need their help because of no fault of their own and thats why were doing this. Herbert said theyll develop an economic stimulus plan that would support these restaurants and businesses. Obviously wed like to set up everybody we can that have remained committed to keeping their businesses open in Ridgefield, he said. Many of them have said they just cant take on any more debt. Selectman Barbara Manners expressed her concern if the size of the business or restaurant will affect how much they will receive from the fund, but Herbert said the fund would not help out any major chains. We want to keep this simple, we want to have as many people as we can, he said. With that being said, no matter how successful we are on the capital raising side of this, were going to have limited resources. Were going to establish some very general criteria. Its going to have to be a local Ridgefield owned and operated business. It has to be flexible. We want to be broad and go as deep as we can with it. Herbert said there are two goals for the fund. The first goal of the fund is to help as many restaurants and businesses as possible financially until they can get through the pandemic. The second goal is to show appreciation to first responders, front line workers and help support the elderly homebound people in need. Our local economy is very much interconnected with our restaurants and given whats happening now, we believe that as private citizens, we must know we can do something to help our local businesses and local restaurants, he said. Insurance companies in Vietnam are lifting the curtains on their public fundraising plans, seen as a step towards luring more cash in the promising insurance and reinsurance market. Insurance groups signal intent to raise funds for stock boost, illustration photo The last few days of 2020 witnessed an impressive public debut of PVI Re-insurance (PVI Re), one of the most notable of such companies in the country. Some 72.8 million of PVI Res shares were officially publicly traded on the Ho Chi Minh City Stock Exchange (HSX) from December 24, luring attention from local and international financiers alike. Currently, there are only two Vietnam-based reinsurers in the market. Vietnam National Reinsurer Corporation (VNR) is the market leader with 10 per cent, followed by PVI Re with 7 per cent. The remainder is acquired by other foreign reinsurers. According to representatives from PVI Re, the companys customers include the 20 largest insurance companies in Vietnam, and it also boasts a partnership with insurance brokers as well as international reinsurance companies around the globe. PVI Re is receiving support from HDI Global SE a German insurance company that holds 42.91 per cent of stake in PVI Holdings. HDI Global SE is also part of Talanx Group, the third-largest German insurance group in terms of premium income and one of the largest in Europe. In August last year, HDI Global SE was allegedly fined VND125 million ($5,400) for conducting one or several transactions to obscure company ownership and avoid information disclosure responsibilities, according to the State Securities Commission of Vietnam. A fine of VND60 million ($2,600) was also imposed on the corporation for violating the foreign ownership limit (FOL). Furthermore, HDI has also allegedly conducted a number of transactions aimed at concealing its true ownership of PVI shares. Besides the initial public offering (IPO) last month, PVI Re is in preparation for a capital hike in 2021. Insurance law regulates the maximum liabilities with respect to each risk or per individual loss not to exceed 10 per cent of equity, so if PVI Re successfully expands its capital, the ability towards insurance cases with high insured value will be more competitive, noted analysts at KIS Securities. In June last year, PVI was approved to increase its charter capital to VND3.1 trillion ($134.8 million). It is now the largest non-life insurer in Vietnam, with HDI Global SE being its largest shareholder According to KIS Securities, Vietnam consists of 31 non-life insurers, 18 life insurers, 16 brokers, and two reinsurers. Many reputable foreign insurance companies have presences in Vietnam in both life and non-life sectors. Currently, local players such as Bao Viet Life Insurance, PVI, PTI, and Bao Minh Insurance have large market shares in terms of the gross premium. Most of them are listed on Vietnamese stock exchanges and have gained investors attention. Vietnam National Aviation Insurance Corporation (VNI) has recently been approved to publicly trade 80 million of shares on the Unlisted Public Company Market (UPCoM). On October 20, 2020, the State Securities Commission issued Decision No.679/QD-XPVPHC to sanction administrative violations in the field of securities and stock market for VNI, with a fine of more than VND400 million ($17,400). Military Insurance Corporation (MIC) has meanwhile signalled its interest in moving from UPCoM to the HSX. The insurer has prepared for its re-listing plan on the HSX, hoping the fresh move could facilitate better financial capacity as well as enhance its position. However, MIC has rescheduled its dream until market conditions show signs of improvement. Petrolimex Insurance JSC (PJICO) an insurance subsidiary of Petrolimex also confirmed its commitment to file for an IPO in its recent meeting. PJICOs board has approved to raise the foreign cap from 49 per cent to 100 per cent. On the other hand, as one of the most experienced players in the country, Bao Viet Life boasts various support from state-owned agencies as well as foreign-invested enterprises. Japans Sumitomo Life is the second-largest shareholder at 22.09 per cent, following a private placement for 4.61 per cent stake in 2019 and an acquisition of 17.48 per cent of stake from HSBC Insurance in 2013. Domestic insurers continue to seek for ways to compete successfully against international counterparts, which are superior in financial resources as well as professional procedures in both risk assessment and claim management. A representative of VNR explained to intellasia.net last week that local groups do still have distinct advantages over bigger firms. These include knowledge about the domestic market and sensitivity to policy changes, along with an ability to provide customers with more effective products, consistent with market characteristics. The representative added that domestic reinsurance companies would be able to make fast prompt claims payments, which is of great significance in providing financial support to customers when losses occur. However, leaders of PVI Re noted that most insurance/reinsurance companies in the Vietnamese market were still conducting transactions traditionally, which consumed human resources and increased costs. Therefore, it is necessary to accelerate digitialisation and application of IT to enhance labour efficiency and reduce paperwork. VIR Lam Tien VN insurance market sees growth this year despite COVID-19 Vietnams insurance market has experienced growth this year, while many other sectors are suffering a lot of negative impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Finance. In the year of the pandemic, its no wonder that horrible things continue to come back in ways that are threatening and objectively wrong. This year, maybe because of the virus and people being stuck at home with nothing better to do, a gross lie has resurfaced as it does every year at this season, undermining truth and the foundation of Judaism and Christianity. Each year around Christmas, efforts to propagate this malicious lie get stronger and more brazen. Its part of a slanderous campaign of deception, whose end goal is to erase Jewish history from Israel, and Israel from the map.... Midland Health began administering second doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday after distributing initial doses to 2,316 employees and other front-line workers in the last few weeks. The vaccine is 95 percent effective at protecting recipients from getting sick from the coronavirus after two doses have been administered, according to hospital officials. We are thrilled about it, said Val Sparks, Midland Memorial Hospitals infection preventionist. She said 881 Midland Health employees have received an initial dose of the vaccine and the other 1,435 doses were given to hospital workers who are not employees, such as independent practitioners and others on the front lines. That includes health-care providers, funeral directors, county jail employees and city EMS workers. Midland County Judge Terry Johnson also said Thursday that he has received the vaccine. Theyve administered 400 second doses as of Thursday morning, according to MMH CEO and President Russell Meyers. Sparks said they will continue vaccinating all who received an initial dose over the next 10 days. She said theyve also distributed 65 initial doses of the Moderna vaccine. The 2,316 doses were from the shipment Midland Health received on Dec. 17. They were shipped enough vials for 1,950 doses but found each vial had an extra dose, Sparks said. She said all the doses in that shipment were administered before the end of 2020. Its unknown when the next shipments will arrive, though Sparks said once they do, Midland Health will continue administering the vaccine to front-line workers as well as those who qualify for Phase 1B, which is open to individuals 65 and older or with chronic health conditions. The states COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, which is supposed to show how many vaccine doses have been shipped and how many have been administered in each county, is lagging, according to hospital officials. The dashboard shows about 1,000 vaccine doses have been administered in Midland County, less than half what Midland Health alone reports administering. You may have heard reports from people with state health services suggesting that hospitals have vaccines sitting on shelves and arent moving rapidly enough to get it administered, Meyers said. I think by and large thats probably not true. Its not true here. Sparks said part of the delay in the states reporting is from the state giving Midland Health an incorrect vendor I.D. number to use for their reporting. We started entering data into one code and the state called us and said, thats the wrong code for you, stop, she said. That was over the holidays. We kept going, OK, tell us what to use and they would not answer us because they were closed for the holidays. They werent given the correct code from the state until Dec. 30, Sparks said. She said she believes thats been a common problem throughout Texas because other hospitals have complained about the same issue. Sparks said she did know of any employees who called out of work after receiving the vaccine. The most common reaction reported from the vaccine is a sore arm, she said. Meyers said Thursday he had received a second dose of the vaccine two days earlier and felt mildly ill the following day, though it soon passed. In my case, I had some chills and I felt a little bit fatigued, he said. I took a couple Tylenol and it went away. Weve been told to expect that thats an indication that the vaccine is working. That your bodys reacting to it and getting a little bit of the symptoms of what the illness might be like because your body is reacting and building antibodies. This time, the GM brand decided to use simpler Impala SS logos on the 1967 model, and even these were dropped on the RPO Z24 versions where the carmaker ended up using SS427 emblems.The example we have here is one of those wearing the Impala SS badges, and as you can see in the photo gallery, it does it quite proudly, especially after being restored to shine bright like a small diamond.Listed for auction by Classic Cars of Idaho (classiccarsofidaho on eBay ), the Impala SS Convertible is powered by a 396-ci (6.5-liter) big-block engine paired with a 700r4 transmission, both with just 100 miles (160 km) on the clock since the restoration was finalized. So its almost a new car, though the factory air conditioning system and the radio both arent working and require additional fixes.The blue metallic paint on the car is fresh, and this is the reason it looks so good, with the owner explaining the Impala was disassembled, painted, and then put back together to make sure everything is as exquisite as possible.The white interior looks fantastic too, and the car overall comes with plenty of new parts, including glass, power convertible top, emblems, brakes, suspension, and shocks. Furthermore, the chrome parts have been polished to look like new too, thus aligning with the shiny appearance of the exterior. restored Impala SS cant come cheap, and theres a chance this one wouldnt be too affordable either. The auction started at $1, and the top bid right now is $1,000, though the reserve obviously hasnt been met. If youre interested in seeing the car in person, its parked in Idaho. Unsolaced: Along the Way to All That Is By Gretel Ehrlich Pantheon. 237 pp. $26.95 - - - "What I have written is an odd kind of memoir, notable - if at all - for what has been left out." There are no spoilers in the closing words to "Unsolaced: Along the Way to All That Is," Gretel Ehrlich's latest collection of interconnected essays. While Ehrlich may regard it as "odd," the reader has no way of knowing what is missing. What remains is a lovingly observed account of the lives of people, animals and the landscapes that sustain them, spun together as deftly as a spider's web, filled with purpose and urgency. When Ehrlich was 29 she traveled from her home in New York City to Wyoming to shoot a documentary about shepherds. Her lover and creative partner was to have accompanied her, but he was diagnosed with cancer and died while she was away. Instead of attending his funeral, Ehrlich stayed in Wyoming, becoming both a rancher and a writer, traveling often but always returning to the place that had afforded her solace. In her 1985 memoir, "The Solace of Open Spaces," Ehrlich wrote: "I couldn't make myself leave. . . . The vitality of the people I was working with flushed out what had become a hallucinatory rawness inside me. . . . The arid country was a clean slate. Its absolute indifference steadied me." Now in her 70s, Ehrlich provides a bookend to this early memoir in which the notion of place providing solace is suspended, expanded, queried. Ehrlich's ranching career ended in 1991 when she was hit by lightning. Returning to her parents' home in California, she had to piece herself back together. When she recovered, she began to travel again. To Wyoming - of course - Hawaii, California, Zimbabwe, Greenland and Kosovo, and in her restless movement between extremes a new vision of open spaces emerges. Ehrlich documents long friendships forged over many years in the far-flung places of the Earth. Climate change - which for most of us remains an awkward political abstract, one that sits uneasily with contemporary democracy's need to measure the future in digestible four-year chunks - provides a visceral concrete backdrop to her narrative. Yet "Unsolaced" also challenges our contemporary preoccupation with looking to the future at the expense of living in the present. This constant rebalancing of contradictions defines Ehrlich's narrative. When Ehrlich was ranching, alone, she was surprised to find she could "tie the baling twine with a loop at the top to hang on the wagon's stanchions while simultaneously keeping track of thoughts." Her friend Malcolm Margolin reminded her: "Our responses to Earth are dug in deep and are old. We aren't new to what we do and know. The old ways are embedded in us." Inward and outward lives are enmeshed. This vision is comforting. Yet everything is in flux. When Ehrlich takes us away from Wyoming, the vision begins to fall apart. Ehrlich recalls her first visit to Greenland in 1993: "In those days before the climate heated up, the ice came in mid-September and for nine months it was possible to travel and hunt on the frozen sea." She describes a traditional Ice Age way of life, in which elite marine-mammal hunters wearing skins and riding dogsleds provided food, tools and clothing for their community using methods passed on for 5,000 years. By 2002 this way of life was disappearing, because the ice was melting. An anguished hunter from Qaanaaq said to Ehrlich: "What is it that I'm going to tell my children? Everything I know has to do with ice. Now I will have nothing to teach them." Instead of living the hunting life on dogsleds "they were becoming electricians, cooks, helicopter pilots, nurses, or teachers." There was a time when the colonial Western reader would have seen this shift in vocation as "progress." Ehrlich presents it as unmitigated catastrophe. Her friend Jens tells her: "We had everything here. . . . We could live any way we wanted, and we chose this. We like it this way, we can feed our families, and no one tells us how to live. Now I don't know what's going to happen. If the ice doesn't come back, it will be a disaster." Ehrlich counterpoints the vision of a Greenland where dogsleds slip through melting ice with the tumultuous landscape of Zimbabwe, where the shifting climate is propelling mass extinctions. Where animals fail, people will fail, as both are dependent on the same dwindling resources. Paramilitary groups flourish in such an environment, redistributing by force that which is left. But there are other, more peaceable ways. Ehrlich begins her Zimbabwean narrative 15 years ago in the company of Allan Savory, then age 70, who taught regenerative farming at the Africa Center for Holistic Management, "an unlikely oasis of calm, self-sufficiency, and plenty in a country on the brink of famine, death from disease, drought, and political chaos because of an out-of-control dictator." The imperative to restore regenerative-farming methods exploded onto the European agricultural scene in 2020, though other factors - including disease and political chaos - have largely drowned the voices of its champions. Savory, ahead of his time, is an agricultural John the Baptist, his wilderness voice a balm to growers in Europe and America alienated by calls to adopt aggressive conservation techniques that rid the land of their habitat-destroying sheep and greenhouse-gas-emitting cattle. Savory advocates managed grazing. That is, keeping fewer animals and moving them often. The grasslands can then regenerate, and the earth is never packed so hard that the rain, when it comes, runs off the land instead of into it. A return to sustainable living. "Every blade of grass counts if we are to survive," Ehrlich writes. Ehrlich's global nomadism and her linking of disparate ecologies conceal a carefully constructed thesis. The plains of Wyoming were formed when the glaciers melted at the end of the last Ice Age. Might Greenland one day resemble Wyoming? Is the destruction of humanity inevitable? Ehrlich is "trying to find a place to live where, as temperature increases, I will be able to find water, grow food, feed animals." No longer seeking solace, her imperative has become survival. Laying out a map of the world, she sees immediately that her choices are limited: "Yet I have a choice," she observes, aware, already, that many do not. As a species, our options are narrowing rapidly - yet for some of us they do still exist. - - - Norbury is the author of "The Fish Ladder" and editor of "Women on Nature," an anthology of women's writing about the natural world in the east Atlantic archipelago, which will be published in May. She lives in London. LOS ANGELESMichael Avenatti, the disgraced former lawyer for AVN Hall of Famer Stormy Daniels, faces a trial on fraud charges set to start on February 23. But now, Avenatti wants to delay that trial because he says he needs to focus instead on his trial for allegedly swindling Daniels out of nearly $300,000. Avenatti has already faced trial and been convicted on charges that he attempted to extort the Nike shoe corporation out of $20 million. Though he remains under house arrest at the home of a friend in Venice, Calif., Avenatti is scheduled to return to New York for sentencing in the Nike case on February 17. But in a court document filed Thursday, Avenatti asked for another delay to that date as well. He now wants the Nike sentencing pushed to May. Avenattis trial in the Daniels case is currently set for April 26 in New York. According to charges filed by federal prosecutors, Daniels was supposed to receive approximately $300,000 in a book publishers advance against royalties on her 2018 memoir Full Disclosure but Avenatti had the payment transmitted to one of his personal bank accounts where he proceeded to siphon off the cash for use on his own personal expenses and luxuries to support his jet-setting lifestyle. A previously little-known Southern California litigation attorney, Avenatti shot to national fame seemingly overnight when, in March of 2018, he filed a lawsuit on Daniels behalf against Donald Trump. The suit demanded that Daniels be freed from a hush money deal that prevented her from speaking about a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Avenatti parlayed his notoriety from suing Trump into instant celebrity, making almost-daily appearances on cable news networks, and other TV and radio programs. By according to prosecutors, he was financing his high-flying lifestyle by bilking clients, including Daniels, out of cash that belonged to them. In his court filing, Avenatti said that the Daniels trial is likely to attract a high level of publicity which could interfere with his right to due process if the California trial and the Daniels trial take place too close together in time. Avenatti asked for the California trial to be postponed until August 24, but at a Wednesday hearing, United States District Judge James V. Selna said he felt the trial should start in July. He asked the defense and prosecutors to negotiate between themselves to set acceptable dates. But the federal prosecutors have previously argued against further delays in the trial, at least until a judge decides whether Avenattis home confinement should be revoked over what they claim in the disgraced lawyers unauthorized use of an internet-connected computer. Photo by The View YouTube Screen Capture Will not let the culprits get away, India tells Israel after blast outside embassy Its done: The 3.45 am call to NSA Doval after Balakot was hit and Operation Bandar was competed After meeting NSA Doval, top French diplomat says China not being allowed to play procedural games India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Jan 08: China is not being allowed to play any procedural games and France has been very supportive of India at the UNSC on the Kashmir issue, Emmanuel Bonne, the diplomatic advisor to French President, Emmanuel Macron said. He is in New Delhi for the annual India-France strategic dialogue with National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval. "On direct threats to India, we have always been very clear. Whether it be on Kashmir, we have been very supportive of India in the Security Council, we have not let the Chinese play any kind of procedural games. When it comes to the Himalayas, just check our statements, we are perfectly clear. What we say publicly, we say to the Chinese also privately, there is no ambiguity," he said following the meeting with India's NSA. 'Nothing can deter Indian forces': Bipin Rawat visits forward bases along China border in Arunachal, Assam He said that France has in the past helped get Jaish-e-Mohammad chief, Maulana Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist. When China breaks the rules, we have been very robust and very clear and this is the sense of our naval presence in the Indian Ocean he said while delivering a lecture on "France and India: Partners for a Stable and Prosperous Indo-Pacific." Covid-19: Union Health Minister says 'Indians to get vaccine in the next few days' | Oneindia News Ahead of the strategic meeting, the External Affairs Ministry in a statement said, the two sides will hold discussions on wide-ranging bilateral and global issues. Prior to the meeting officials had said that Doval and Bonne are expected to discuss China, given the fact that the French have raised concerns about Beijing's attempts to flex muscles in the Indo-Pacific region. Henrik Evertsson will appear in court accused of breaching international treaty The Swedish filmmaker says he used drone to film the wreckage of the Estonia Estonia sank overnight in the Baltic Sea back in 1994 killing 852 people on board Treaty declared site a marine grave and prohibited any exploration of the wreck A Swedish filmmaker has revealed that he is looking forward to giving evidence next month after being arrested for filming the wreckage of doomed ferry MS Estonia. Henrik Evertsson will appear in court in Gothenberg on January 27, accused of breaching an international treaty, which declared the site a marine grave and prohibited any exploration of the wreck. ADVERTISEMENT But the film director, who faces a two-year jail sentence if found guilty, believes that he did not contravene the 1995 treaty, signed by the governments of Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Denmark, Russia and the UK. He went to extraordinary lengths to avoid prosecution: he and his crew chartered a German boat because it was the only Baltic state not to sign the treaty and sent down a camera attached to an underwater drone. Ive been DNA tested and hauled in for an interview with the Swedish police and now on January 27, I will be going to court in Guttenberg, he told the Mail online. Swedish journalist Henrik Evertsson says he is looking forward to his day in court where he will face accusations he breached an international treaty by filming the wreck of the MS Estonia The documentary Estonia: the Find that Changes Everything reveals how Evertsson and his team discovered a hole in the hull of the vessel, findings which are now being investigated On the one hand Im looking forward to it. This is not an ordinary law of respecting the peace of the dead. This is a special law only surrounding a certain area of the Baltic Sea. This is the first time this law will ever be tried in its 25-year existence. No one knows the outcome of this trial. Im looking forward to giving my best arguments. The investigation of the wreck site is in international waters and we used a German ship flying a German flag and in Germany this is not against the law. They have not signed the treaty. Anyway, with our investigations, we didnt penetrate the wreck, we did not disturb the dead, we only scanned it from the outside from a certain distance to see if we found any hull damage. 'I could face up to two years imprisonment but I dont think I have disturbed the dead. ADVERTISEMENT It is now 26 years since the sinking of the MS Estonia the largest ship then flying the flag of the Baltic republic - in Europes worst peacetime maritime disaster. Found: a four-metre by 1.2 metre hole in the hull suggesting the Estonia was involved in a crash Survivors on board the MS Estonia say they heard a loud bang before the ship sank quickly Click here to resize this module The ferry set sail from Tallinn to Stockholm at 6.30pm with 803 passengers on board and 186 crew. The conditions were harsh there was a Force eight gale and waves up to six metres but they were not usual and all other scheduled ferries were at sea. But, at around 1am, a loud bang was heard and, after the ship listed by 60 degrees, torrents of seawater began pouring in through cabin windows, ceilings and doors. A mangled mayday signal was sent but at 1.50am the Estonia sank, stern first, in international waters about 24 miles south-east of the Finnish island of Uto, killing 852 people. Only 138 people were rescued, one of whom died in hospital and only 93 bodies were recovered. An initial report, in 1997, concluded that the locks on the bow visor had failed, allowing it to tear free and expose the doors and ramp, which gave way, flooding the car deck. But the surviving witnesses - whose testimony really didn't feature in the report were adamant they heard a bang after which the ship went down incredibly fast. And Evertsson, 33, a graduate of Oslo University, and his colleague Bendik Mondal, decided to investigate. Pictured: Finnish Army recruits carry some of the victims of the Estonia ferry disaster into an amphibious landing craft for transfer from the island of Uto to the mainland in September 1994 Candles are seen next to the names of victims during a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary They discovered a four-metre by 1.2 metre hole in the hull of the vessel, which suggested that the Estonia was involved in a collision. ADVERTISEMENT His findings, which are revealed in the Discovery documentary Estonia: the Find that Changes Everything, are now being investigated by the Swedish authorities. This is one of the biggest stories in Swedish history, he added. As a Swedish citizen I have followed it since I was seven years old. 'It has been investigated but there has been a lot of uneasiness surrounding this, especially from the relatives side. If they dont have the answers, is it possible to move on? We thought maybe these are relevant questions that the relatives have so we wanted to do a documentary series about it. Maybe we can find out more. Maybe we can find out answers to those questions. The Swedish Accident Investigation Board has found the new findings interesting and is investigating the case. Hopefully we have helped the case to go further and helped the relatives to get new answers to their relevant questions. ADVERTISEMENT Estonia is now available on discovery+ https://www.discoveryplus.co.uk/show/estonia Advertisement Pictures have captured the moment a white Trump supporter reportedly came to a black woman's aid after an angry mob of MAGA fans attacked her, ripped off her wig, and called her the N-word during a 'Stop the Steal' rally in Los Angeles . Berlinda Nibo, 25, had been walking past the pro-Trump protest on her way home on Wednesday when she began to be harassed by members of the crowd outside LA City Hall asking her if she voted for the president. But the crowd soon became violent and Nibo was attacked and pepper-sprayed in the face multiple times. The black woman, who was alone, had been left virtually defenseless until finally receiving help from an unlikely source. A nearby white man - identified online as Roy Ball - who had been attending the event stepped in to give her a bear hug and managed to pull her to safety. 'That guy, I call him my hero. That guy picked me up, was whispering in my ear, telling me, "Keep going. You're OK. I got you, I have your phone. You're OK, I'm going to get you out of here. These people are trying to kill you",' she told NBC 4 on Thursday. Negative online reaction to photos of the incident, however, has led to Ball losing his job at a Toyota dealership in West Covina. The dealership has not revealed whether he will be reinstated after Nibo's assurances that he was helping her. Scroll down for video A white Trump supporter (pictured) who was attending Wednesday's Stop the Steal rally in Los Angeles, reportedly pulled Berlinda Nibo (pictured) to safety after she was attacked by a mob of MAGA fans Nibo, 25, who lives two blocks away from LA City Hall where the protest took place, said she had been walking home when members of the crowd began harassing and hurling abuse at her Photos of the horrific scene captured the moment violent protesters ripped off Nibo's red wig during the altercation Nibo, who lives just two blocks away from City Hall, said she had initially tried to dismiss the agitators and 'flipped them off' before continuing her walk home. But as she tried to walk away, a mob of 'at least 20 Trump supporters' surrounded her and began shouting abuse in her face and shoving her among members of the crowd. Berlinda Nibo (pictured in as social media photo) called the man her 'hero' She explained the protesters had instigated the altercation by 'calling me the N-word calling me the B-word, saying, "All lives matter, Black lives doesn't matter".' Nibo told the news station she was 'heartbroken' over the attack which left her feeling like she can no longer walk down her street anymore in peace. The incident was captured on camera by freelance photojournalist Raquel Natalicchio who shared the photos in an Instagram post that has now gone viral. Natalicchio said the encounter turned violent as one woman yanked off Nibo's red wig, and two men began hitting her. 'Men holding flag poles began beating [Nibo] alongside others who were punching her.' The photos also showed Ball was holding Nibo's arms down as he lifted her out of the crowd, which the photographer had said was an aggressive move. While Ball was holding Nibo, witnesses say she was pepper-sprayed in the face for the third time. 'At one point a Trump supporter grabbed her from behind, restricting her ability to defend herself , as she continued to get maced right in the eyes,' Natalicchio said of Ball. Nibo later addressed the incident in interviews with news outlets and police and clarified that the man was helping. 'If not for him stepping in at that moment, these people would have literally tried to kill me,' Nibo told CBS LA. Nataliccho later posted an update to her Instagram post, saying: 'witnesses have stated and have photo and video footage of the woman being maced in the eyes while being held by Ball.' In a later interview with Buzzfeed, Nibo said Ball carrying her with her hands at her sides 'did not help'. She said: 'It would've helped me more if he had made way for me to move out of there completely.' Photographer Nataliccho blasted the police for not intervening to help Nibo when she was attacked by the MAGA supporters. 'The police line was right behind me in this photo. Not one officer stepped in. It took two bystanders and myself dragging her out and running over to the police line for safety.' As the images began circulating on social media, Nibo's supporters shared Twitter posts identifying Ball and his employer in hopes of bringing attention to his apparent violent behavior. One tweet was even shared by actress Jane Lynch, who identified Ball as an employee at a Toyota dealership in West Covina. A Trump supporter, identified as Roy Ball, stepped in to give Nibo a bear hug and managed to pull her to safety, according to reports Ball had initially been denounced as a white supremacist agitator on social media by Nibo's supporters who thought he had been assaulting her. Witnesses reportedly claimed there was photo and video footage of the woman being maced in the eyes while being held by Ball Photos of the disturbing scene showed bystanders rushing to help after Nibo was pepper sprayed in the face The young black woman is seen being treated moments after she was attacked The company then released a statement in response, denouncing his alleged behavior and announcing it was cutting ties with Ball. 'The actions in these photos are inconsistent with Toyota's guiding principle of Respect for People. We do not condone this conduct. While Toyota dealerships are independently owned and operated entities, we can confirm this person is no longer employed by any Toyota dealership,' they said in a tweet. Nibo later cleared the air explaining Ball had actually saved her life. Nibo told NBC 4 that she has spoken to law enforcement and called Ball's employer Thursday to inform them that he had helped her during the ordeal, but did not say what their response was. DailyMail.com has contacted Toyota for comment. Earlier, the LAPD announced it was investigating the 'disturbing images' taken at the protest and confirmed a 'designated area was established within the protest location for individuals to report crimes and/or seek medical attention.' Police later released an updated statement Thursday confirming Ball was not one of the aggressors after receiving statements from Nibo. 'The individual seen in the images with his arms wrapped around her - per the victim's statement- was determined to be a Good Samaritan that helped her get away from the hostile crowd, by carrying her to safety,' cops said. Actress Jane Lynch was among the people who named and shamed Ball on Twitter, causing him to lose his job at a Toyota dealership in West Covina The company responded to the tweet condemning his alleged behavior and announcing it had cut ties with Ball The LAPD, who is investigating the incident as a hate crime, released an update confirming Ball was a 'Good Samaritan' during the altercation after receiving statements from Nibo The incident was captured on camera by freelance photojournalist Raquel Natalicchio who shared the photos in an Instagram post that has now gone viral Nibo did not suffer any major injuries in the attack but sustained a scratch to her face and had been pepper sprayed. Natalicchio said she chose to publicize the photos of the attack to show the violence and hatred black people face in America. 'People of color experience things like this on a daily basis and are seldom believed when they speak about it,' she told the news station. 'It's real sad,' she said. 'We gotta do better. We got to do better.' The LAPD said it is now investigating the incident as a hate crime and encouraged witnesses to come forward to help them track down the assailants. Several people were arrested during the rally after clashes between Trump supporters, counter-protesters and police. Some images posted to social media showed people with blood on their faces but no serious injuries were reported. Officials were eventually forced to declare an unlawful assembly after the crowd of about 200 people gathered outside City Hall and the LA Police Department headquarters. It came as protesters elsewhere across the country took to the streets as President-elect Joe Biden was set to be certified as the winner of the November election. FBI special agents along with East Ridge Police Department Officers are searching for the suspect responsible for the robbery on Wednesday of the Regions Bank at 4334 Ringgold Road. At approximately 3 p.m., a male suspect entered the bank and approached the teller counter. The armed suspect jumped the counter and immediately began going through the teller drawers. While behind the counter the suspect fired one shot. No one was injured. The suspect fled the bank on foot and into a nearby neighborhood. The male suspect had a thin build and was approximately six feet tall. The suspect was wearing blue jeans, black shoes, a gray toboggan, and a black face mask. If you know this person, or have any information on his whereabouts, you are asked to call the FBIs Knoxville, Tennessee Field Office at 865-544-0751, submit a tip online at https://tips.fbi.gov , or contact the East Ridge Police Department at 423 622-1725. ----- eastridgenewsonline.com Details of how every school in the country fares in the Leaving Cert exam from year to year are still the most closely guarded secrets in Irish education. And its all thanks to a piece of legislation enacted when Micheal Martin was education minister two decades ago. You can read details in the newspapers of how many students each school sends to college. But nowhere can you see league tables of how those same schools actually performed in the Leaving Cert over the years. Read More The traditional pattern of exam results was at the centre of the row over calculated grades. Some schools claimed that they suffered badly in comparison with previous years. They knew their individual historical pattern, as did the Department of Education and the State Examination Commission. But the public had no right of access to that data. This is because of an amendment inserted by Micheal Martin into the draft Education Bill that he inherited in 1997 from his predecessor, Labours Niamh Bhreathnach. Section 53 of the bill, which became law the following year, allows the minister to refuse the release of any information which would enable the compilation of information in relation to the comparative performance of schools in respect of the academic achievement of students enrolled therein, including, without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing (i) the overall results in any year of students in a particular school in an examination, or (ii) the comparative overall results in any year of students in different schools in an examination. In non-legal terms, that means the minister can refuse to release exam data that could be used to compile league tables of schools based on examination results. You can put in all the Freedom of Information requests you like but the minister has the power to reject them. The minister can, of course, also say yes but thats unlikely to happen any time soon unless there is a legal challenge to that section of the act. Read More When he held the education portfolio, Minister Martin favoured greater openness and transparency, including allowing students access to their exam scripts. But he drew the line at giving the public access to data about the exam performance of schools. This is in sharp contrast to the position in England where parents can read how every school in the country performs in the GCSE, taken at age 15 or 16, and A-level exams taken at age 17 or 18. The information is officially published by the Department for Education. They are now so much part of the educational landscape that no minister would scrap them in England. They claim they drive up standards and point to the experience in Wales where results worsened when tables were abolished. These claims, like President Trumps assertions about the recent US election, are disputed. DCUs Prof Anne Looney has described Section 53 as a brave piece of legislation. It was informed, she said, by extensive research evidence about the negative impact of league tables on teaching and learning in schools, on school morale, and on equality in the school system. It becomes increasingly unattractive for schools to admit students who might damage league table standings, and more attractive to admit students who would enhance them. Banning league tables of exam results has helped Ireland retain a very high percentage of students in post-primary schools, she argued in an article published some time ago in the Sunday Independent. There is a lot of merit to her arguments. Her views reflect those of policy makers and education insiders. But the general publics view is largely unknown. After last years debacle, it might be a good idea for the forthcoming Citizens Assembly on Education to gauge the views of parents and others on whether its time to look at this issue again. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tej Pratap Yadav joined the growing voices of opposition leaders who are against taking the coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine shot when it becomes available in the country. Yadav said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should lead and take the first shot of Covid-19 vaccine, following which others will also get it. Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take first shot of Covid-19 vaccine, then, we will also take it, said the Bihar politician, reported news agency ANI. The RJD leaders comments come in the backdrop of staunch disapproval from several leaders from the opposition including Congress Manish Tewari and Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav. Earlier this week, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Tuesday said that the state government was all prepared for administering Covid 19 vaccinations across the state. We are prepared for administering vaccination in Bihar, he said at a function and spelled out the priority list for Covid-19 vaccination. The vaccination will be done in accordance with the Centres guidelines and priority will be given to those who are more than 50 years of age or are involved in professions like health care, frontline workers, priority age groups, public representatives, all people engaged in government works, contract workers, shopkeepers, traders and all vulnerable groups, etc., the CM had said. Congress leaders Manish Tewari, Shashi Tharoor and Jairam Ramesh have expressed concerns regarding Covaxin, the vaccine made by Bharat Biotech and recently approved by Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI). A number of eminent etymologists and other medical practitioners have expressed surprise with regard to the fact that this vaccine has been cleared without phase III trials having been completed, Tewari said. This obviously raises questions with regard to the efficacy of the vaccine. In other words, those Indians who would be administered Covaxin would, in effect, be volunteers for the required third stage clinical trial - without the mandatory informed consent. This is, to put it mildly, highly unusual. It is also ethically dubious, Tharoor said. In a tweet, Ramesh said, Bharat Biotech is a first-rate enterprise, but it is puzzling that internationally-accepted protocols relating to phase 3 trials are being modified for Covaxin. Health Minister @drharshvardhan should clarify. Congress leader Anand Sharma-led parliamentary standing committee on home affairs has also advised caution in granting emergency approval to the vaccines. The Samajwadi Party chief and former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, Akhilesh Yadav, has once again attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the state alleging rampant corruption. The SP Chief was visiting Kamtanath Temple in Chitrakoot on Friday when he alleged that many people have recently lost their lives as the roof of a crematorium collapsed in Ghaziabad due to alleged corruption in its construction. Speaking to the media outside the Kamtanath Temple in Chitrakoot, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav said, I am happy to visit Chitrakoot and this time Samajwadi leaders have decided to organize a training camp here to discuss issues related to unemployment, farmers, and businessmen. There has never been a more lying government in the history of Indian democracy. I am happy that saints, seers of Chitrakoot are thanking the former Samajwadi Party government for the development in this region. The current regime has stopped all the developmental work here. Even the courts are saying that its a Jungle Raj in Uttar Pradesh. Even today I read in the newspaper that courts have advised the government not to impose NSA unnecessarily, added Yadav. Continuing the attack on the BJP government, Akhilesh Yadav said, The Uttar Pradesh is seeing the most number of custodial deaths, injustice. People who spoke about Shamshan have taken the lives of so many people due to corruption. Chitrakoot is a sacred place and what we will discuss here will have far-reaching results. Reacting to the recent gruesome Rape and Murder incident reported from Badaun, SP Chief Akhilesh Yadav said, What happened in Badaun, can anyone imagine that such a heinous incident can take place in a temple and police is looking for the priest? We pray to God that this government should go now, I will also urge people to throw this government out when they get a chance. This government has harmed the social fabric of our country, we were known for Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb and were living in harmony for ages but this government has spoiled everything for their vested interests. The pro-Trump insurrection that wrecked havoc on Washington, D.C. earlier this week claimed the life of a United States Capitol Police officer, authorities said. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick died around 9:30 p.m. Thursday due to injuries he suffered while on duty Wednesday when a mob of people supporting Republican President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol building in an attempt to stymie Democrat Joe Bidens electoral win, according to law enforcement. Sicknick was responding to the insurrection when he was wounded while physically engaging with rioters. He then returned to his division office and collapsed, according to a statement from U.S. Capitol Police. He was taken to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries, Capitol Police said. The death of Officer Sicknick will be investigated by the Metropolitan Police Departments Homicide Branch, the USCP, and our federal partners, U.S. Capitol Police noted. After joining the U.S. Capitol Police in July 2008, Sicknick most recently worked in the departments first responders unit, according to authorities. The entire USCP Department expresses its deepest sympathies to Officer Sicknicks family and friends on their loss, and mourns the loss of a friend and colleague, U.S. Capitol Police said in its statement. We ask that Officer Sicknicks family, and other USCP officers and their families privacy be respected during this time. Thousands of people gathered in the streets of Washington on Wednesday in opposition to the results of the 2020 presidential election that handily gave Biden an electoral and popular vote victory. Still, Trump and his supporters have denied the outcome of the election, falsely alleging there was widespread vote fraud and the incumbent president won in a landslide. Public officials across the aisle and throughout the country have blamed the commander-in-chief for inciting the rioters, with some lawmakers, including many in Massachusetts, calling for his removal from office. Donald J. Trump should immediately be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate as soon as Congress reconvenes, U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts tweeted Wednesday afternoon. This is dangerous & unacceptable. The insurrection, which caused federal lawmakers to shelter in place and have to be evacuated from the Capitol, ended with multiple people dead, dozens of arrests and the findings of explosive devices and other weaponry. Some rioters were violent with police, spraying officers with pepper spray, throwing punches and chasing officers through the halls. A woman was fatally shot as the riot transpired Wednesday, and three other people died as the result of medical emergencies suffered during the pro-Trump insurrection, according to Metropolitan police Chief Robert J. Contee III. Two pipe bombs were discovered over the course of the day as well, one at the Democratic National Committees headquarters and another at the Republican National Committees. A long gun and molotov cocktails were found in a cooler on a vehicle too, Contee said. At least 52 of the insurrectionists were arrested, Contee noted during a press conference held in the hours after the riot. One of the dozens arrested was a 33-year-old Western Massachusetts resident. He was charged with unlawful entry and violating the citys curfew the mayor put into place due to the violent series of events. Court documents obtained by MassLive show the man is a resident of Pittsfield. U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Andrew E. Lelling announced Thursday he will prosecute any Massachusetts residents who traveled to the nations capital to participate in the insurrection. The Constitution protects the right to freedom of speech and assembly. What it does not protect is a violent assault on government institutions. Americans on the right and left must re-learn the difference. Anyone who traveled from Massachusetts with the intent to commit such crimes will be prosecuted in the District of Massachusetts, the federal prosecutor said. Related Content: 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 View Results Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. The usage of Clinical Intelligence is becoming a common phenomenon in healthcare institutes worldwide and the Global Clinical Intelligence Market is poised to strike a splendid CAGR of 12.5% over the forecast period of 20172023, predicts Market Research Future (MRFR) in an exhaustive study. Clinical intelligence is a new learning paradigm for healthcare providers in which clinical data is analyzed with the use of modern data mining, data visualization, and predictive modeling tools to improve healthcare delivery. The pressing need to curb healthcare costs has been the primary drive motivating the growth of the global clinical intelligence market. The growing burden of chronic diseases and increasing patient influx in hospitals has raised the adoption of software solutions for tedious process such as insurance claim processing and fraud detection. This results in improved healthcare outcomes and subsequently boosts the growth of the market. Request Free Sample Report at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4478 Other factors stimulating the market growth include governments in multiple countries encouraging the adoption of clinical intelligence solutions. Furthermore, constant changes in regulations, increasing reporting mandates, and ever-increasing competition, healthcare organizations can no longer ignore the importance of clinical intelligence. Clinical intelligence aids healthcare sector to improve the quality of care by analyzing the gaps in their care, patient safety, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. On the other hand, a general lack of regulatory and clinical standards for predictive analytics is likely to hinder the growth of the market. The high cost of clinical intelligence software might restrain the growth of the market growth in developing countries. Competitive Landscape The notable players in the clinical intelligence market include General Electric Company (U.S.), QSI Management, LLC (U.S.), Allscripts (U.S.), Cerner Corporation (U.S.), IBM (U.S.), Epic Systems Corporation (U.S.), Greenway Health, LLC (U.S.), McKesson Corporation (U.S.), and eClinicalWorks (U.S.). Browse Full Research Report at: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/clinical-intelligence-market-4478 Segmentation The global clinical intelligence market has been segmented based on component, type, end-user, and application. By type, the global clinical intelligence market has been segmented into population health management, retrospective performance measures & predictive analytics, clinical benchmarking, clinical decision support (CDSS) system, quality improvement, performance measurement systems, and others. The quality improvement segment has been further segmented into six sigma. The population health management segment has been further segmented into under-utilization of health services and over-utilization of health services. By component, the global clinical intelligence market has been segmented into hardware, software, and services. By application, the global clinical intelligence market has been segmented into revenue cycle management (RCM) claims, fraud, supply chain, financial management, clinical, and others. By end-users, the global clinical intelligence market has been segmented into clinics, hospitals, TPAs, and others. Regional Analysis By region, the global clinical intelligence market has been segmented into the Americas, Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). The Americas account for the maximum share of the global clinical intelligence market owing to high usage of software solutions for healthcare administration. The presence of healthcare IT companies in the region and high healthcare expenditure supports market growth in the region. Additionally, growing usage of Decision Support System among tertiary care centers in the US has proven to be beneficial for the growth of the market. Europe follows the Americas closely and is the second largest market for clinical intelligence. Increase in a number of healthcare institutions who are leveraging clinical intelligence management softwares and expanding healthcare expenditure boosts the market growth in Europe. APAC is poised to be the fastest growing market for clinical intelligence. Development of healthcare IT infrastructure, increasing healthcare expenditure and the growing presence of key players in the region can be credited for the growth of the market. The MEA market is expected to showcase moderate growth. The Africa region, in particular, will exhibit limited growth due to low healthcare penetration and low healthcare expenditure. About Market Research Future: At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. She has mood swings. Theres drama on a daily basis, says Bobbee Singh. Hes talking about the motorcycles he fixes up, vintage Royal Enfields that he scours the country to find parts for, and then rebuilds at his workshop in Old Delhi. Singh, who opted out of school to follow his passion for motorcycles, is an Enfield enthusiast. He and his team have restored about 200 Royal Enfields since the early 1990s. It is stories like this that Amrit Raj, 34, tells in his book, Indian Icon: A Cult Called Royal Enfield (2020; Westland). As the former national corporate editor with Mint, Raj wrote extensively on the automobile sector, among other fields. Those years of experience, and hundreds of hours of interviews with various Royal Enfield stakeholders have gone into his book. Vikram Lal and his son Siddhartha Lal, who own the company that produces the iconic bike, are featured, alongside associates such as Subodh Bhargava, who was CEO and chairman of Eicher Motors in the pivotal turn-of-the-century period. The Royal Enfield was originally produced in England, and traces its roots in India back to the early 20th century, when FB Stewart, the famed photographer who filmed the Delhi Durbar for Viceroy George Curzon in 1903, was also sole importer of the motorcycles. After that, traces of the bike in the country die down until the Indian Army places an order for 500 units of the Enfield Bullet with Madras Motors. This led the British company to set up a factory in Chennai, then Madras, in 1956. Between 1990 and today, the company has worked relentlessly to carefully modernise its motorcycles and reposition the brand, Raj says. The first made-in-India Enfield rolled out of the factory in 1962. The book traces how the bike flourished in pre-liberalisation Indias protected market conditions, popular with the Army and policemen, and emerged as one of the few status symbols available at the time. Then came competition, in the form of the Indo-Japanese brands such as Hero Honda, TVS-Suzuki and Escorts-Yamaha. Their bikes were more fuel-efficient and affordable, while the Royal Enfield had undergone little to no technological advancement. Its then promoter, a Chennai-based business family, saw revenues plummet, and the Lals of Eicher Motors picked up a 26% stake in 1990, going on to fully own the brand by 1994. Now Vikram Lal had to decide what this bike wanted to be in a rapidly liberalising nation and an increasingly crowded market. Blame it on his leadership or the companys risk-averse attitude, Eicher was unsuccessful in becoming a consumer brand. Lal grappled with the idea and tried to understand what a good consumer brand could be, Raj wrote in the book. The author talks of how brand management veterans V Sunil and Mohit Jayal joined the effort to revitalise the Enfield, staying on the job until 2016. How RL Ravichandran redesigned it, and Sachin Chavan masterminded the Himalayan Odyssey and Rider Mania biker rally events that would help connect with a young, adventurous market. Between 1990 and today, the company has worked relentlessly to carefully modernise its motorcycles and reposition the brand, said Raj. It has beautifully stretched the brand known to be owned by a policewallah or a doodhwallah to the one that appeals to millennials. The multipronged approach worked. Between 2008-09 and 2018-19, Royal Enfield sales went from about 15,000 to over 820,000. The book explores the business culture of grit and tenacity that enabled this, taking snubs and failures in its stride. Plans to manufacture cars never got off the ground; the company was snubbed by the American motorcycles giant Harley Davidson in the mid-1990s. But they kept trying, Raj said. The company is now at a new crossroads, he writes in the book. A lot rides on communication. The strategy to achieve a premium positioning would certainly fall flat if the pitch is just this a world class bike from India. In developed markets, one cannot compare Royal Enfield with the premium positioning of a Harley Davidson or Triumph. The Delhi Police on Friday said they have arrested a 24-year-old alleged gunrunner with 35 sophisticated illegally-manufactured pistols and 60 cartridges he smuggled into Delhi from Madhya Pradesh in his car. The pistols and bullets were hidden in the secret spaces created in the four doors and the boot of the car. The alleged smuggler, Ashish Pandey, was driving the car, said deputy commissioner of police (special cell) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav. Pandey is from Uttar Pradeshs Prayagraj. The pistols and bullets were trafficked into Delhi from Madhya Pradesh for criminals operating in Haryanas Sonepat. The consignment of the arms and ammunition was to be delivered to another gunrunner when we caught Pandey in Rohini [on Thursday], said a police officer, who was part of the team that arrested Pandey. (CNN) A judge in Baghdad's investigative court has issued an arrest warrant for outgoing US President Donald Trump, over the killing of an Iraqi paramilitary leader during the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani last year. Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis -- the Iraqi deputy head of the Iran-backed Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces -- was killed along with Soleimani in a US airstrike just over a year ago, on January 3, 2020. "After the completion of the preliminary investigation procedures, the judge decided to issue an arrest warrant for the outgoing President of the United States of America, Donald Trump," read a statement released by the Supreme Judicial Council of Iraq on Thursday. "The investigation procedures will continue to find out the other participants in the implementation of this crime, whether they are Iraqis or foreigners," the statement added. The Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) is a Shia paramilitary force made up of former militias with close ties to Iran. It was recognized under a 2016 Iraqi law as an independent military force that answers directly to the prime minister. Iran also has an arrest warrant out for Trump in relation to Soleimani's death, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Monday. Soleimani was the architect of a growing Iranian military presence in Iraq, Syria and Yemen as the leader of the Iran Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, an elite unit that handles Iran's overseas operations. It is considered a foreign terrorist organization by the US. At a fundraising dinner in Florida shortly after the strike, Trump described the operation as taking out "two for the price of one." He described Soleimani as a "noted terrorist" who "was supposed to be in his country," but did not describe an "imminent threat" that precipitated the strike authorization -- the justification given by administration officials in the aftermath of the attack. Tehran attorney general Ali Alqasi Mehr claimed Trump would be prosecuted after his term ends, Fars reported. Last week, a large crowd gathered in Baghdad close to midnight (local time) for a memorial service at the site where the drone strike killed Soleimani and al-Muhandis a year ago. Images broadcast by the PMF showed a crowd of people in an area lit by candles, where tributes were broadcast on loudspeakers and attendees chanted, "God is great, America is the great Satan." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Iraqi judge issues arrest warrant for Donald Trump." Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has declared that the import of American and British vaccines against the coronavirus is prohibited and has hailed the efforts of the Iranian scientific society to produce vaccines for treatment of the disease, Mehr reported. The produced vaccine [in the country] is a source of pride; do not deny this. This is a source of honor. He said, of course the authorities are trying to procure the vaccine from different channels. However, he noted it should not be supplied from the US and the UK as they are not trusted. The import of American and British vaccines is prohibited, Khamenei said. He also said he does not trust the two countries, adding, Sometimes they want to try the vaccine on other nations. If the Americans could produce a vaccine, they would not be in the state they are currently in. They would not be recording 4,000 deaths every day. Same with the UK, he added. The Leader also said that he does not trust France either, adding that if another country that Iran trusts produce a vaccine, the government would be allowed to import the vaccines from it. A North Carolina pair is accused of robbing a Lancaster County dog breeder at gunpoint last October, according to the Department of Justice. Christopher Lamont Stimpson, Jr., 22 and Wilbert Curtis Trey Artis, III, 29, both from Greensboro, were indicted on charges of robbery which interferes with interstate commerce, interstate transportation of stolen goods, and aiding and abetting, according to the DOJ. According to the DOJ statement, the pair posed as customers wanting to buy five French Bulldog puppies on Oct. 29, 2020. At the Ephrata breeder, they stole the puppies at gunpoint, which the DOJ valued at more than $23,000. Someone from the breeder was able to record the registration of the pairs getaway vehicle, which was traced back to a rental car company in Greensboro, according to the DOJ. According to court documents cited by the DOJ, another customer of the breeder found an Instagram post that featured the puppies, as well as photos of Stimpson and Artis. Both men were taken into custody on Dec. 8 in Greensboro, according to the DOJ. During a hearing on Jan. 4, Stimpson was ordered to house arrest pending trial. Artis appeared virtually in court on Thursday and also was ordered to house arrest pending trial. Robbery at gunpoint is always a severe crime, and in this case the defendants are charged with stealing living creatures at gunpoint puppies - and transporting them across state lines, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Williams said. These are serious federal offenses which will be strenuously prosecuted by this office. We are thankful to our partners here in Pennsylvania and in North Carolina for their swift investigation and apprehension of these defendants. Both men face a maximum of 30 years in prison and a $500,000 fine, according to the DOJ. The FBI worked with the Ephrata Police Department and the Greensboro (NC) Police Department on the case. Read more on PennLive: Some leading grammar schools have abandoned plans for a test to select pupils amid another pandemic stand-off between Northern Irelands political leaders. There were tense scenes as Stormont ministers failed to reach agreement over academic selection on Friday ahead of a planned transfer exam next month. Several schools have already cancelled the test in a bid to alleviate childrens anxiety over constantly shifting arrangements resulting from the Covid-19 crisis and spiralling infection rates. State-run GCSE, AS and A-level exams have already been cancelled but the assessment for youngsters aged 10 or 11 transiting from primary school is operated by private organisations. Belfast Royal Academy grammar is the oldest school in the city and enjoys a reputation for academic excellence. It said: We realise that our decision will be a relief for some but a disappointment for others, and this is not the outcome that any of us would have wished or planned for. Expand Close Communities minister Deirdre Hargey urged transfer test organisers to show compassion and call them off (Rebecca Black/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Communities minister Deirdre Hargey urged transfer test organisers to show compassion and call them off (Rebecca Black/PA) However, given the stress which has been experienced by children and parents as a result of the constantly shifting arrangements resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic to date, we hope that the publication of our decision will alleviate any further anxiety at this time. Northern Ireland has stiffened coronavirus restrictions and police are enforcing stay at home orders except for work, food shopping and exercise in a bid to drive down soaring numbers of cases. The country is to require incoming travellers to undertake pre-departure testing for Covid-19, health minister Robin Swann said on Friday. Schoolchildrens teaching has been badly disrupted since the pandemic began in March. Powersharing partners Sinn Fein and the DUP hold fundamental differences over whether the transfer test should be scrapped for good. The republican partys communities minister Deirdre Hargey said: This is leading to untold disruption for families and particularly for the young people involved. We are in the middle of a health crisis. Were seeing a huge pressure on inpatients, on beds being made available. So I am calling on AQE (test organising body), and calling on all of those that havent taken the decision yet, to show that leadership, to show compassion in the year that were in. Meanwhile, 20 more people have died with Covid-19 in Northern Ireland. Another 1,500 tested positive, the Department of Health said. More than 200 people died with Covid-19 over the Christmas period, Stormonts Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency added. The health service is under severe pressure, with hospitals at full capacity and cancer surgery among operations cancelled in Belfast. At noon on Friday, 125 patients were in emergency departments awaiting admission to a hospital bed, the NHS said. Expand Close Belfast city centre was quiet on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Belfast city centre was quiet on Friday (Brian Lawless/PA) A total of 314 were waiting in emergency departments. Streets in the centre of Belfast were deserted on Friday amid the lockdown. Those found to have breached the rules can be issued with a 200 fixed-penalty notice or a fine of up to 5,000 if the case goes to court. Indoor and outdoor gatherings have been reduced from 15 people to six from only two households. Tighter rules around movement will remain in place until February 6 but will be reviewed later this month. Stormont ministers have ordered most mainstream schools to remain closed to most pupils after Christmas. Gatherings for religious worship have been halted. 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 Until now, everybody on Android has been forced to use Google Maps in the same language as the phone, which obviously, wasnt necessarily the best way to go, especially for those who lived in another country but wanted their mobile device to stay with English.And now it looks like Google has finally heard the feedback, so a recent update introduces a new section in the Settings screen where users can enable a different language in the application.All you need to do is launch the app, tap the profile picture in the top right corner, and head over to the configuration screen of Google Maps. After the update, you should see a new menu called App language, and tapping it lets you choose from close to 80 languages.An app reboot would then be required to save the changes and enable the new language in the interface of Google Maps As per reports , the new feature is rolling out gradually to devices across the world, and right now, it seems to be enabled with a server-side switch by Google itself. In other words, while some are going to get this new app language interface in Google Maps, others will just have to wait a little bit longer.Google has remained tight-lipped on the ETA of this feature, so nobody knows for sure when general availability is supposed to be reached.And of course, given Google is the one enabling this feature for each device, theres not much you can do to get it earlier. Its all being released as part of a gradual rollout, so the new language options would go live for more users when it is ready. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 8) A cybersecurity expert listed down ways on how credit card users can protect their account from getting hacked. Joseph Felix Pacamarra, co-founder and CEO of Cybersecurity Philippines CERT, said the best way to protect your credit card is by using a separate email for all your financial transactions from your personal and business activities. "Ihiwalay n'yo iyung email na associated sa mga bank transaction or anything financial. Hindi sya kasama ng email nyo na for personal use or for business use," he told CNN Philippines' Newsroom Ngayon. [Translation: Have a separate email for your bank transactions or anything financial. It should not be the same as your email for personal or business use.] Pacamarra said hackers usually target the email associated to one's bank account to get hold of sensitive data and gain access of one's credit card. Using the same email in all your accounts including social media would mean exposing yourself to attackers by almost 99%, he added. Another way is by choosing a bank that has an active fraud detection and has a system that can monitor and notify you of your every transaction. When buying online, Pacamarra said it is better to use other modes of payment, but if you have no option, make sure to only use your credit card on legitimate websites. It is also very much helpful to use security features like one time pin and authenticators to further secure one's account, he added. On the part of establishments or businesses, they should first make sure to verify their customer's identity before processing credit card transactions. They should also set up rigid security controls to help protect consumers. However, if you feel you are really being targeted, inform your bank first of these possible attacks then reach out to authorities for further assistance, Pacamarra said. This spring, amid a panic over a shortage of ventilators to treat the anticipated surge in coronavirus cases, the Pentagon announced the purchase of $84 million worth of breathing machines from four companies. One of the ventilators, the SAVe II+, made by a small Plano, Texas-based company called AutoMedx, stood out from the rest. To start, the deal was for an upgraded version of the SAVe II that hadn't even been designed yet, according to the company's chairman. In addition, the existing $6,000 SAVe II machine, developed with military backing as a lightweight ventilator to keep wounded soldiers alive while being transported from the battlefield, had specifications far below the other three ventilators the Pentagon purchased. In a research study conducted for the Pentagon years earlier, the SAVe II had been declared unfit for use in a respiratory pandemic. Defense Department medical workers who had been told to use the existing SAVe II device on covid-19 patients quickly came to the conclusion that it was ill-suited for the coronavirus pandemic, and began to voice their consternation to each other in emails that were shared with The Washington Post. One of the workers, who had been instructed to use the device if there were a surge of coronavirus patients, described it as "awful and under-powered." Another raised concerns that using an ill-suited ventilator would "kill [covid-19 patients] just as fast as no ventilator at all." It's unclear why AutoMedx, which had emerged from bankruptcy about six months earlier, received the no-bid emergency contract worth nearly $70 million for ventilators that, by every measure, were not suitable for covid-19 patients. AutoMedx eventually provided 11,200 ventilators at an average cost per ventilator of $6,274. Those ventilators are now in the country's strategic reserve. But who precisely authorized the contract remains unknown. In mid-March, while hospitals were struggling to find ventilators to treat a surge of patients and U.S. cities were issuing stay-at-home orders, the White House began increasing spending in a scramble to prepare. Experts were predicting a widespread shortage of ventilators because covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, can cause patients' lungs to fill with liquid, making ventilators necessary to save lives. The Defense Department's coronavirus spending plan included $312 million in Defense Production Act spending to increase the national stockpile of masks, ventilators, test kits and other supplies. As part of those preparations, the Department of Health and Human Services published a list of 18 specifications that the devices must meet. Representatives from HHS and the Defense Department wouldn't say where those specifications came from, but the document appeared to be an exact copy of specifications that had been listed on the AutoMedx website for five years, down to the format and order. James Evans, CEO of AutoMedx, said the specifications were modeled after a 2008 article in the academic journal Respiratory Care. But Richard Branson, the lead author of that article, told The Washington Post that the specifications bore no similarity to the contents of the article he authored. The Respiratory Care article contains a chart with a list of minimum ventilator specifications for treating illnesses like coronavirus. Branson rejected the idea that the AutoMedx specs could be based on that article. "If you look at it, it's not the same. It doesn't look anything like that," Branson said. In any case, the Respiratory Care article doesn't explain why the government's document and the specs listed on the AutoMedx website were nearly identical. "They didn't even bother to change the orientation of it. If they were trying to be tricky, they could have at least started from the bottom and went down," he said. AutoMedx was not unknown to the U.S. government. Adrian Urias, an AutoMedx co-founder and current shareholder, advised the Trump administration's coronavirus task force on ventilator purchases. AutoMedx's current chief medical officer, Geoffrey Ling, was in charge of developing the company's first ventilator, called the SAVe, while he served in the U.S. military. AutoMedx is a private company, but it was founded with support and funding from the Pentagon's research arm, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, or DARPA. Ling's boss at DARPA was Adm. Brett Giroir, a physician who now serves as assistant secretary of health and human services and is in charge of coronavirus testing for the Trump administration. Urias did not respond to requests for comment. Stephanie M. Bialek, a spokeswoman for the Strategic National Stockpile, which is part of HHS, said Urias had no involvement in the AutoMedx contract. Giroir, through a spokesman, denied involvement in the AutoMedx contract. In an interview, Ling said AutoMedx did not receive special treatment, to his knowledge, and said the company's ventilator is a useful device for pandemic response. Air Force Lt. Col. Mike Andrews, a spokesman for the Office of the Secretary of Defense, said the agency's goal in purchasing AutoMedx devices was "to source as many ventilators as possible in the immediate future." "AutoMedx's ventilators are developed to provide lifesaving mechanical ventilation when there is a lack of full-featured ventilators or a shortage of the highly trained staff necessary to operate them," Evans said in a statement. He said the company spent 2 months improving the motor and software of the device to better meet the demands of coronavirus patients. Corey Russ, co-founder and CEO of Combat Medical Systems, the sole distributor for AutoMedx, said he agreed that the ventilator's capabilities lag behind more robust systems used in hospitals, but he described the ventilator as being used on patients before they become so sick that they need a better ventilator. "You don't go to battle with just a rifle or a shotgun. You go with a variety of weapons," he said. "I will tell you right now if I had to choose between a SAVe II ventilator and a full-featured one, I would take the full-featured one right now. They are incredibly wonderful pieces of medical equipment," Ling said in an interview. As for the SAVe II, "It's better than nothing." Ling said the simplified features of the AutoMedx ventilator have another benefit: Doctors who aren't trained on ventilators can use it more easily. "The less-trained provider working with a full-featured ventilator can actually hurt somebody," he said. The SAVe, short for Simplified Automatic Ventilator, was created with funding from DARPA, the same government agency that created the precursor for the Internet, GPS satellites and the computer mouse. It was designed to be relatively inexpensive, lightweight, work on batteries and be operated by people with little medical training. The SAVe was on display at the 2007 DARPATech conference in Anaheim, Calif., a glitzy affair that was well attended by national tech reporters. With the promise of helping wounded soldiers make it from the battlefield to the hospital, the AutoMedx device received write-ups in publications such as Popular Mechanics. The company was founded by Bill Wiesmann, a retired Army colonel turned entrepreneur who currently serves as chairman of the company, and Urias, an engineer who received a master's degree in engineering from Harvey Mudd College in 2000. The SAVe ventilator received approval from the Food and Drug Administration a month after the DARPA event and went into mass production in early 2008, according to a news release issued at the time by the company's distributor at the time. Giroir, who was director of science for DARPA at the time and oversaw the development of the SAVe, was also pushing the device as a solution to global pandemics, according to one person involved with the device who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. Many victims of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak of 2003 died because they essentially lost the ability to breathe, a syndrome known as acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). By placing virus victims on ventilators, doctors were able to save some patients via artificial breath. But ventilators are expensive and complicated to use, and Giroir thought the SAVe would be a less expensive "surge" ventilator to be used in the case of another pandemic, this person said. In 2009, the H1N1 flu virus, which also caused ARDS, spread around an unprepared world. Partly in response to H1N1, DARPA funded a research study at the University of Washington aimed at determining whether SAVe ventilators would help patients with ARDS. The results, published in the academic journal Critical Care Medicine in 2011, came from making laboratory pigs very sick, after which they were placed on the SAVe ventilator. The pigs on the SAVe quickly died, leading researchers to conclude that it wouldn't be effective in a pandemic such as H1N1. At the time, AutoMedx was also developing the SAVe II, a new ventilator that had not yet received FDA approval, so researchers at the University of Washington also studied that device. They concluded that the SAVe II, which received FDA clearance in 2014, was better than its predecessor but still inadequate for treating ARDS. The SAVe II ventilators "were not developed, nor intended, to treat critically ill patients, such as those we are seeing with covid-19, who are often advanced in age and have severe respiratory infections, requiring higher air pressure concentrations to aid in oxygenation," said DARPA chief of communications Jared Adams. Evans, the AutoMedx CEO, said the purpose of the University of Washington study was not to test the efficacy of the company's devices but to "test a 'novel' lung injury test protocol." He said the technique used in the study is not typically used to evaluate ventilators. He said the SAVe II device "functioned as it was intended" in the study. "I remember the study. We considered it pretty biased," Russ of Combat Medical Systems said in an interview, referring to the results as "ambiguous." He said the SAVe II was tested on coronavirus patients but did not provide details. Treating the victims of a pandemic is different from treating soldiers on the battlefield, doctors say. First, most soldiers are young and fit, with healthy lungs. Second, their injuries are not necessarily to the lungs themselves. And third, they often need breathing support for only a short time before they arrive at a medical facility. Virus victims with ARDS often are older and have less resilient lungs. By the time they need help breathing, their lungs are ravaged and filled with fluid, requiring breathing support for days, weeks, even months. Keeping them alive is extremely complicated medicine. In 2015, AutoMedx's fortunes faded. It had partnered with Zoll, another ventilator manufacturer, to build a new ventilator. But the deal fell apart, and Zoll canceled its contract and asked for a refund, alleging that AutoMedx had failed to meet deadlines. AutoMedx sued and lost. It filed for bankruptcy in October 2018, emerging a year later. When the pandemic hit, Evans quickly began pitching the SAVe II. "We're getting ready to build 50,000 of these in the next 12 months," he told Breitbart News on March 15. Urias left AutoMedx in 2016 to join Tunnell Government Services, a consulting firm. He was appointed to work full time for the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, a division of HHS, as a subject matter expert on medical devices. Elleen Kane, a spokeswoman for HHS, confirmed that Urias volunteered to join the White House task force to advise it on ventilator purchases. Giroir left DARPA in 2008 to serve as vice chancellor for research for the Texas A&M University System, according to his HHS bio. He continued to serve on the Defense Department's Threat Reduction Advisory Committee after leaving DARPA. On March 21, HHS issued a "request for information," which was the government equivalent of a classified ad, calling on ventilator companies to quickly mass-produce and sell the devices to the government, in anticipation of a surge of virus cases that was expected to overwhelm hospitals. The RFI included the 18 minimum capabilities seemingly lifted from the AutoMedx website. HHS spokeswoman Mia Heck said Giroir "did not have any role in the development of this document," referring to the information request and the specs, and said Giroir had not seen it until The Post asked him to comment on it. The document was produced by HHS, but the agency's representatives could not say who created it. Andrews said the Defense Department had "no knowledge" of any involvement by Giroir in the decision to purchase the ventilator. Giroir has had "no contact with the program, company or ventilator development" since 2008, Heck said. Urias "does not make decisions about procurements," Kane said in a statement. "His role is limited to providing technical information about ventilators to federal staff, which mitigates any potential conflicts of interest. During the covid-19 response, he has continued to answer questions about the technical aspects of ventilators including the SAVe II ventilator." Combat Medical Systems quickly responded within the two-day deadline and was awarded a contract, along with several other ventilator manufacturers, to provide devices for the pandemic response. Just days after the contract was signed, on April 1, a medical worker for the military sent an email to a group of military doctors around the country expressing concerns about using the SAVe II on covid-19 patients. According to the email chain, the devices were being pushed as a solution to a ventilator shortage. Many of the doctors on the email chain quickly concluded that it was ill-suited for pandemic victims. There were 28 medical personnel on the email chain. Four responded with concerns about the SAVe II. One doctor floated the idea that the ventilator might be used while transporting sick patients to a more capable ventilator. Soon after that email chain, HHS concluded that the SAVe II was inadequate to treat covid-19 patients. Representatives for HHS declined to say whether the email chain influenced the department's thinking on the matter. But rather than back out of the contract, the department requested that Combat Medical Systems make a new ventilator with improved features, according to Katie McKeogh, a spokeswoman for the department. Even the new ventilator, dubbed the SAVe II+, was subpar for covid-19 patients, according to emergency room doctors interviewed by The Post. "The SAVe II+ has fewer features and more limitations than other portable ventilators already in the national stockpile, including those we used in New York to support patients during the surge in March-April," said Jeremy Beitler, a pulmonary disease specialist at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York. "The lack of features limits the ability to adjust the ventilator to patient-specific needs," he said. "I wouldn't call it a 'covid' vent," said Robert Owens, a director at the medical intensive care at University of California, San Diego Health in La Jolla, CA. Evans pointed to a September article in the medical journal CHEST that listed the average settings used on Covid-19 patients at Massachusetts General Hospital. "Based on this data the SAVe II+ can ventilate the average COVID patient," he wrote in an email. However, the same article concluded the SAVe II+ was not suitable for treating critically ill covid patients. Rather, it could be used to transport patients or in lieu of a "bag valve mask," which doctors can use to manually ventilate patients by squeezing a bag of air into their lungs. One other ventilator in the stockpile was also given that designation by the article's authors. Michelle Madej, spokeswoman for the Defense Logistics Agency, said the agency originally ordered 2,500 SAVe II+ ventilators, but that it canceled 1,300 because they were no longer needed. But according to Bialek, the Strategic National Stockpile spokeswoman, HHS still ordered an additional 10,000 SAVe II+ ventilators. They have not been used on pandemic patients, she said, and are being stored in warehouses. Chennai: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Friday said that in the next few days, the government will be able to provide the COVID-19 vaccines to the countrymen as the second dry run for the mass vaccination began in 736 districts across 33 States/UTs. The Health Minister said this after his visit to the session site in Government General Hospital in Chennai to review the second dry run for coronavirus vaccination. "In a short time, India has done well by developing vaccines... In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers," the Minister said. In short time, India has done well by developing vaccines... In the next few days, in the near future, we should be able to give these vaccines to our countrymen. It will be given to our healthcare professional followed by frontline workers: Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan https://t.co/VYb4X0mlgI pic.twitter.com/OPJg9tFmph ANI (@ANI) January 8, 2021 He added that the government has ensured that every detail regarding vaccination is conveyed to the people from the national level to the grassroots level."Lakhs of healthcare workers are being trained through these dry runs, and the process to train more is still going on," Dr Vardhan stated. The Minister is on a visit to Tamil Nadu to oversee the dry run drill for vaccination. He is scheduled to visit Session Site at government Omandurar hospital in Chennai, vaccination centre at Apollo hospital in Chennai, and vaccination centre in Chengalpattu, Chennai. The second nationwide mock drill on the COVID-19 vaccination is being held at three-session sites of 736 districts across 33 States/UTs today. The dry run is aimed at testing the laid out mechanisms for COVID-19 vaccination roll-out in the health system and to assess operational feasibility of using Co-WIN application in a field environment for planning, implementation, and reporting at the block, district, and state level. According to the Health Ministry, the objective of the mock drill on COVID-19 vaccination is to simulate the actual vaccine administration event. On Thursday, Dr Harsh Vardhan had directed all States/Union Territories to be vigilant against rumours and disinformation campaigns regarding the safety and efficacy of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Last week, the Drugs Controller General of India announced "restricted emergency use" for Bharat Biotech`s `Covaxin` and Serum Institute of India`s `Covishield`, which has been developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University. The earlier national mock drill on January 2 helped to iron out any glitches in the final execution and further refinement of the operational procedures. The feedback from most of the States/UTs was satisfactory conduct of the dry run. Live TV She said her daughter also went to Muscat on December 25 last year and was shocked to see the abnormal behaviour of her husband. Representational image HYDERABAD: The family of a young woman, allegedly cheated by two marriage agents who hid information about the groom being mentally unsound, is now seeking justice and the womans return from Oman, where she was taken to after her wedding to an Omani national. And adding insult to injury, the agents also did not give the Rs 1 lakh meher that was promised to the woman's family. According to Fatima Begum from Gazi Banda, mother of the young woman, two agents, Sayeed of Nawabsahab Kunta, and Qadeer of Moghalpura, came to her house and informed that one rich Omani family was in search of a girl for their son and convinced the family to negotiate with one Abdullah and who was acted as an agent from the bridegroom side from Muscat. Fatima Begum said "after consecutive meetings, our family agreed to marry our youngest daughter in her mid-20s, to Saleem bin Nasser Al-Salmi in Hyderabad on November 10, 2019. During the Nikah, three relatives of Saleem who were present left for Oman five days later. She said her daughter also went to Muscat on December 25 last year. Once there, her daughter was shocked to see the abnormal behaviour of her husband and later came to know that he was mentally unsound. Her daughter was being forced to do odd jobs and take care of her husband, the mother added. Fatima Begum, mother of six daughters, said when her daughter wanted to return to India she was not allowed as the passport was snatched. She contended that Sayeed and Qadeer deliberately kept them in the dark about the mental condition of Saleem. They took Rs 1 lakh given as meher. She approached Amjedullah Khan Khalid of MBT for help. Khan advised her to lodge a complaint with the local police as well. Deep in the woods, stone walls and foundations tell stories long forgotten. But Kathleen Butler is setting out to rediscover them. Butler, who lives in Bristol in Bucks County, is the author of Abandoned Ruins of Eastern Pennsylvania: Remnants Lost in Time, where she showcases photographs of long-lost homes, farms and other buildings that she has found in Pennsylvania. This book highlights spots as far north as Scranton and all the way south through Delaware County. This isnt her only book, she also published Abandoned Ruins on Public Lands in New Jersey: Forgotten and Unknown Pasts this year, and has two more books on abandoned spots in New Jersey set to be published in 2021. All her books are available for purchase on Amazon.com. More Pennsylvania-centric books are in progress too. Butler just finished a research trip to western Pennsylvania where she gathered even more material. Author Kathleen Butler with her book "Abandoned Ruins in Eastern Pennsylvania." Photo provided by the author. She finds her ruins using a variety of techniques. She is a member of several hiking forums, where people share odd things they find when they hop off the beaten path. She also uses old aerial photographs from historicaerials.com to see if there were once buildings at any of the state parks she plans to explore. Once she has a ruin, she begins her research to find out what they were originally. Then begins the hard part -- actually finding the structures. Shes turned it into a family activity with her husband and children, and its something they all enjoy. It gets us outside and hiking through areas, she said. Its pandemic friendly and its a good family bonding thing. And theres nothing that can beat the feeling when you finally find the ruin youve been looking for. Its a feeling of accomplishment that I cant explain, Butler said. Butler took a few minutes out of her day to share with us three of her favorite ruins in eastern Pennsylvania -- all of which can be found in her book. Fieldstone Farm Preserve ruins in Cresco. These ruins appear in Kathleen Butler's book, "Abandoned Ruins in Eastern Pennsylvania." Photo by Kathleen Butler. Fieldstone Farm Preserve Ruins: Youll find these ruins in Cresco, by Mount Pocono. The ruins are of a farm house that was built by Carl Tielenius, a New York businessman who wanted to build a house for his daughter. Its estimated to be around 100 years old. While youre there, check out the nearby Devils Hole ruins, which used to be a speakeasy, according to Butler. You can still see the speakeasys old pulley system. Ruins near the Mocanaqua Loop Trail in Shickshinny. These ruins appear in Kathleen Butler's book, "Abandoned Ruins in Eastern Pennsylvania." Photo by Kathleen Butler. Mocanaqua Loop Trail: This trail in Pinchot State Forest in Shickshinny is filled with various ruins, all of which are related either to the railroad or coal mining industries, according to Butler. Theres one large ruin in particular that Butler believes was used as an office for coal miners. Youll see the most ruins if you stick to the brown trail. Prison farm ruins in northeast Philadelphia. These ruins appear in Kathleen Butler's book, "Abandoned Ruins in Eastern Pennsylvania." Photo by Kathleen Butler. Prison Farm: Youll find the foundations of this old farm structure on the Poquessing Creek Trail in northeast Philadelphia. It used to be a bank barn, but eventually became a farm for prisoners to work on. Butler had to go to the Northeast Philadelphia Historical Society to track down exactly what the ruins where, since its hard to imagine that the foundations youre standing on once held greenhouses. You can learn more about abandoned places in Pennsylvania in Butlers book, or at Butlers website exploringnjandpa.com. Want more stories about abandoned places in Pennsylvania? Check out: 9 abandoned places in Pa. that you can legally visit Abandoned & overgrown in Pa.: 16 strange spots from theme parks to trolley graveyards Pictures of abandoned places: Pa. photographer finds the joy in rusty, falling apart things United Kingdom regulators are set to investigate Google following its announcement to remove web browser cookies from its Google Chrome product. As the BBC reported, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that the plan could have a "significant impact" on news websites and the digital advertising market as personalized ads could vanish once and for all. "Google's recent announcement that it was phasing out support for third-party cookies on the Chrome browser, restricting publishers' ability to offer personalized advertising, is an important example of this," the report says, as noted from the British Government website. Google wants to replace them with new tools that limit advertisers, meaning that targeted ads could no longer be around. Google intends only to support first-party cookies used by websites to track activity within its pages and discontinues its support for third-party cookies. Read also: How to Recover Permanently Deleted Files in Windows with UltFone Windows Data Recovery Software. Shady Monopoly Practices Following the decision, many believe that it could give Google too much power and help the tech giant monopolize the internet. "Google will effectively control how websites can monetise and operate their business," Marketers for an Open Web (Mow), a coalition made by small tech companies, said as reported by the BBC. "This means that any business that buys or sells advertising will be reliant on Google for a part of the process, whether they like it or not. "This will reduce the ability of independent players to compete with Google, strengthening its monopoly control of online commerce." In fact, Google is not the only Big Tech to face shady monopoly practice accusations lately. Facebook's acquisition spree of WhatsApp and Instagram has resulted in the company being sued by a coalition of 48 states in the US. Last December, the 48 states filed a parallel lawsuit against Facebook and accused the social media behemoth of crushing its rivals intentionally. What Are Cookies? An HTTP cookie is a tiny bit of data stored on users' desktops by the browser while surfing on the net. Cookies are designed to record the user's track while browsing to remember stateful information, like login credentials, click history, and items added to the shopping cart. Cookies are not entirely a bad thing, as it helps users get the best experience on the internet. For example, without cookies, shopping carts would always reset to zero every time a user clicks on a new link on the site. Unfortunately, things get hairy when it comes to third-party cookies. Third-party cookies, however, do not belong to the website that the user is currently browsing. This sort of cookie appears on webpages that feature banner advertisements, which opens up tracking the user's browsing history, hence targeting ads. What's concerning for many is that some malicious computer viruses are disguised as third-party cookies, leaving many devices vulnerable. Related post: Top 5 Worst and Weirdest Tech Products in 2020 That Should've Been Left Behind. Last Saturday, Richard Barnett of Gravette, Ark., criticized Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in a Facebook post for using the description "white nationalist" as a "derogatory term." "I am white. There is no denying that. I am a nationalist. I put my nation first. So that makes me a white nationalist," Barnett wrote on page he maintained under a pseudonym, before adding that people who were not nationalists should "get the f--- out of our nation." Just four days later, Barnett was photographed sitting with his feet up on a desk in Pelosi's office at the U.S. Capitol - an image that quickly became emblematic of the chaotic storming of the complex by a pro-Trump mob. Barnett, who is 60 and goes by the nickname "Bigo," identified himself as the intruder in Pelosi's office to New York Times reporter Matthew Rosenberg later on Wednesday, according to a post on Twitter by Rosenberg. Barnett also confirmed his involvement to the Arkansas television station 5News. Barnett, who was photographed outside the Capitol holding an envelope he said he removed from Pelosi's office, said he had taken the envelope because he had bled on it. "I put a quarter on the desk because I'm not a thief," he told 5News. Calls on Wednesday evening to a cellphone number registered to Barnett were routed to a voice mail account that was not accepting messages. Barnett is a President Donald Trump supporter and gun rights advocate who has repeatedly shared false claims via social media that the election was stolen, according to a review of two Facebook accounts tied to Barnett. In one post, Barnett falsely asserted that there were "mountains of evidence" of voter fraud. One of the Facebook accounts, in Barnett's name, was locked or removed from the social media site Wednesday evening. Another account, named "George Reincarnated Patton" after the World War II general, was locked or removed Thursday morning. The Post was able to link the latter account to Barnett because the profile picture depicted Barnett and the page contained a selfie of Barnett as well as a post he had signed using his real name. In addition, a post on the "Patton" account last Saturday urged his friends to shift to the account in Barnett's real name. "Tired of double posting," it said. In a Dec. 28 Facebook post on the Patton page, Barnett announced he would be attending Wednesday's rally and urged fellow Arkansans to make sacrifices to join him there. "This is OUR COUNTRY!!!," he wrote. "Can you give one day from the Internet or work or whatever to be active." He added, "Get the f--- up people. Please STAND!!! If not now, when?" In the post, Barnett expressed disappointment that past political events he had attended had attracted only a "small handful" of people. Ten days earlier, he had posted photographs of himself and a few others protesting the election result outside the Capitol building in Little Rock, Ark. Barnett posed for one picture holding a rifle. In a separate post the same day, Barnett wrote that he "came into this world kicking and screaming, covered in someone else's blood," adding, "I'm not afraid to go out the same way." The post was accompanied by a selfie of Barnett with a rifle strapped to his chest. He was wearing a polo shirt bearing on one sleeve a pro-police "Blue Lives Matter" flag logo. Barnett later shared a link to a speech that Vice President Mike Pence gave on Dec. 22 to a conservative group's convention in West Palm Beach, Fla., at which Pence pledged "to keep fighting until every illegal vote is thrown out." Barnett has organized fundraising events for the police department in Sulphur Springs, Ark., near Gravette, according to his Facebook accounts and an October article in the Westside Eagle-Observer newspaper. The article said Barnett presented the department with a check to fund the purchase of body cameras for officers after raising money at a "Back The Blue" rally and auction. Sulphur Springs police chief Jarod Morgan, who was photographed by the newspaper accepting the check from Barnett, did not respond to messages on Wednesday evening. Also in October, Barnetthelped to raise more than $1,000 for "Save Our Children," an anti-child-trafficking campaign, according to another article in the Eagle-Observer. Facebook limited the use of the national campaign's hashtag because it found that content tied to the campaign was associated with the QAnon conspiracy theory, which entails false allegations about child abuse among the global elite. Online in recent weeks, Barnett has shared numerous conspiracy theories about the coronavirus pandemic and the vaccines being used to combat it. He has railed against mask requirements, complaining in one post that he was denied service by a food truck. Amid the gripes about the pandemic and the election, Barnett posted to his Facebook page a video of people arriving for Wednesday's rally. "It's early folks, but we're coming together," said a voice narrating the clip. "Get ready for the party." The Donald Trump supporters who broke into the US Capitol should be banned from flying out of Washington, a union has said. The pronouncement followed unruly behaviour from some insurgents on inbound flights to attend the rally, according to sources at two US airlines, reports Reuters. Now, the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, which represents employees at 17 US airlines, has said rioters should not be allowed to return home on commercial flights. The mob mentality behaviour that took place on several flights to the DC area yesterday was unacceptable and threatened the safety and security of every single person onboard, said the associations president, Sara Nelson. Acts against our democracy, our government and the freedom we claim as Americans must disqualify these individuals from the freedom of flight. Other members of the travel industry also condemned the rioters, with US Travel Association head Roger Dow saying: The behaviour we are witnessing has no place in any peaceful democracy, much less in the country that is supposed to be the foremost example of democratic principles. At least four people are dead after the attack on the US Congress building, including one police officer. Armed Trump supporters marched on the building and pushed through police barricades to break in, forcing members of congress to evacuate. British travellers cannot currently fly from the UK to Washington or anywhere else in the US. In March 2020, President Trump banned aliens who were physically present within the United Kingdom within the past two weeks. A curfew was introduced by the Mayor of Washington following the riots around the Capitol from 6pm on 6 January until 6am on 7 January. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit A candy store in Menlo Park is getting trashed online and facing calls for a boycott after the owner was photographed at the Trump rally in Washington, D.C., that led to a mob rampaging through the U.S. Capitol. Sugar Shack owner Suzi Tinsley's appearance at the pro-Trump rally has caused such a backlash in the community that the store closed early on Thursday, reports ABC7. In a written statement, Tinsley stated that she attended the protest, which turned deadly after a Trump supporter was shot inside the Capitol, "for a peaceful march." Tinsley said that she herself was physically floored amid the chaos on Pennsylvania Avenue and took no part in the breach of the Capitol building. "I left the rally when the crowd became unruly and I was pushed to the ground. I returned to my hotel at that point, long before the agitators stormed the building. Just like every other American, I watched in horror as the chaos unfolded on television," Tinsley said in the statement. "I couldn't believe my eyes and remain appalled at what I saw. I love my community, I love my country, and I hope those responsible for storming our Capitol Building are held fully accountable." After Sugar Shack's Yelp reviews bombed from four stars to one and a half overnight, and photos on the site were changed to that of Tinsley at the rally, Yelp disabled the posting of content on the page, stating, "This business recently received increased public attention, which often means people come to this page to post their views on the news rather than actual consumer experiences with the business." Tinsley had not responded to an SFGATE request for further comment at time of publication. On November 25, former HDFC Bank Managing Director Aditya Puri's daughter Amrita Puri and wife Anita Puri jointly bought an uber luxury sea-facing unit in Mumbais Malabar Hill area for Rs 50 crore. Actress Amrita Puri made her film debut with the ensemble romantic comedy-drama Aisha (2010). (Image: Moneycontrol) Former HDFC Bank managing director Aditya Puri has joined global pharma major Strides Group as an advisor and will also serve as a director of its associate company Stelis Biopharma. "Eminent corporate doyen Aditya Puri joins the Strides Group as an advisor and also will be a director of its associate company, Stelis Biopharma," Strides Pharma Science Ltd said in a regulatory filing. Strides Pharma Science said Puri's appointment to the Stelis board comes at an exciting juncture for the company as it transitions from its incubation phase to a consolidation and growth phase to establish itself as a partner of choice globally with the aim of bringing world-class treatments at affordable costs to patients in both emerging and developed markets. On his appointment, Puri said the Stride Group's established parentage, global success and headstart in terms of basic infrastructure gives him the opportunity to be involved in and guide Stelis and other Group endeavours in their exciting growth story. Arun Kumar, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Strides, said: I am delighted to welcome Aditya as our advisor and to the Stelis board. This a huge vote of confidence in the potential of Stelis. Aditya's illustrious legacy is well-known. Having nurtured HDFC Bank since inception, his deep experience will be extremely valuable for the Strides Group and Stelis in particular. "With Stelis poised for its next leg of growth, this is the right time to expand the board, and ensure robust guidance and governance by the best possible industry minds. I look forward to working with Aditya and leveraging his expertise to take Stelis to new heights". Puri, who led HDFC Bank since its inception over 25 years ago, retired in October 2020, after a highly successful career which has made the bank the largest among private sector lenders. While heading a foreign bank's operations in Malaysia in the early 1990s, Puri got an offer from Deepak Parekh of mortgage major HDFC to come back to India to start a bank in an economy which had shifted gears with liberalisation moves. In November 2020, Puri was roped in by US-based global investment firm Carlyle Group as a senior advisor. ABCLaverne Cox announced Thursday that she has dropped out of the movie Sell/Buy/Date, a documentary about sex workers. The Sarah Jones-directed project was announced on January 5, with Meryl Streep, Rashida Jones and Cox signed on as executive producers, says The Hollywood Reporter. Jones wrote, directed and starred in Sell/Buy/Date, a one-woman show about the sex industry that ran off-Broadway in 2016 and earned rave reviews. Jones, a Tony Award-winning stage actress, also received criticism from the sex industry for propagating stigmas about sex workers. Following news of the documentary, one critic tagged Cox on Twitter and wrote, "Just what the world needs. Another movie where non SWers debate whether sex work is exploitative or empowering. @Lavernecox this project is everything you're supposedly against." The Orange is the New Black star responded Thursday that she has since withdrawn from the project because the intense public backlash was affecting her mental health. "When I agreed to com on as an executive producer of 'Sell, Buy Date' I did so because I was so deeply moved by Sarah Jones' play and her unbelievable, undeniable talent as an artist, as an actor. I signed on to support her incredible talent," Cox wrote in a statement. "But I am not in an emotional place to deal with the outrage by some around my participation in this project. So I have decided to pull out," the Emmy Award winner furthered. "To be clear I am no longer involved in any capacity in 'Sell. Buy, Date.'" Cox said she is now focusing on "tak[ing] care of my mental, physical and emotional health." In a follow up tweet, the actress shared a 2014 video where she rallied to decriminalize and de-stigmatize sex work. By Megan Stone Copyright 2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved. CLARK COUNTY, NV / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2021 / The overwhelming nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated mitigation efforts have disrupted nearly every other aspect of health care delivery, including the management of opioid use disorder, when compared to pre-pandemic care. Dr. Najib Babul, an experienced drug development and regulatory affairs consultant discusses the controversial use of fentanyl test strips as part of harm reduction to prevent opioid overdose complications and death. More than 2.1 million Americans have an opioid use disorder, including 626,000 with heroin use disorder. According to data on the opioid overdose crisis from the January 4, 2019 issue MMWR, 47,600 Americans died of opioid overdoses in 2017, a 12% increase over 2016. This means that on average, 130 Americans died each day from opioid overdoses in 2017. Synthetic opioids, primarily illicitly manufactured fentanyl and fentanyl analogs were involved in almost 60% of opioid overdose deaths, an increase of about 45% from the previous year. Overdose deaths from prescription opioids and heroin remained stable during 2016-2017. The levelling of heroin overdose deaths may reflect its displacement by including fentanyl and fentanyl analogs clandestinely manufactured at labs in far-flung places including China, Mexico, Bulgaria, Greece, Slovakia, Belarus, the Ukraine and Russia, and trafficked through both traditional illicit drug distribution channels, and increasingly, over the internet. Starting in 2016, the number of overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids surpassed heroin and prescription opioids. In some cases, manufacturers of illicit opioids and/or drug dealers are responding to periodic declines in the purity of heroin by using synthetic opioids as heroin adulterants to maintain stable retail pricing. In other cases, synthetic opioids entirely substitute for heroin. Dr. Babul notes that fentanyl precursors are also being shipped from China to individuals and drug cartels for processing and distribution across the U.S. for manufacture of fentanyl-laced pills sold as counterfeit oxycodone or hydrocodone. Fentanyl and its analogs are sold as adulterated heroin, heroin substitutes and fentanyl-laced counterfeit opioid pills. The involvement of synthetic opioids in a majority of opioid overdose deaths underscores the need for a robust harm reduction strategy, particularly for non-treatment seeking individuals (opioid users). Dr. Babul notes that there is reasonable agreement about many components of an overall harm reduction strategy, including: (i) using drugs only in the presence of others who can call for help; (ii) naloxone rescue training and dispensing; and (iii) activating emergency medical services upon overdose. However, there continues to be an urgent need to develop more effective harm reduction interventions in response to the harm producing e?ects of heroin adulterated with fentanyl. Recently, some organizations have advocated the use of fentanyl test strips to identify illicitly manufactured fentanyl in street purchased drugs ("drug checking services") as part of a harm reduction strategy. A small number of published studies suggest that fentanyl test strips have the potential to effect changes in drug use behavior and reduce opioid overdose fatalities. In one study of young adults in Rhode Island in whom 37% had previously overdosed, 92% wanted to know if there was fentanyl in their drug supply prior to use. In another study of 32 stakeholders in Baltimore, Boston and Providence, there was significant support for the concept of fentanyl test strip use with the goal of providing risk reduction resources and a point for greater engagement for users. Unfortunately, fentanyl test strips provide only qualitative results, i.e., whether fentanyl is present, absent or the test is invalid, and not quantitative results, i.e., how much fentanyl is present. Since approximately 90% of heroin is adulterated or substituted with fentanyl or its analogs, fentanyl test strips can only allow for limited decision making regarding the opioid supply, in other words: do not use it; use it in a small, test amount; use it in the presence of a non-user; or use as before, at greater risk of opioid overdose and death. The use of fentanyl test strips is not without controversy, particularly for self-administration by drug users, notes Babul. Dr. Elinore McCance-Katz MD, PhD, First Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use who leads SAMHSA published a blog entitled "For Beating The Opioid Crisis, America Has Better Weapons Than Fentanyl Test Strips" which states that "The entire approach [to fentanyl test strip use] is based on the premise that a drug user poised to use a drug is making rational choices, is weighing pros and cons, and is thinking completely logically about his or her drug use. Based on my clinical experience, I know this could not be further from the truth. People who are addicted to opioids are not making a rational choice to continue their drug use. Addicted individuals whose bodies demand that they find their next opioid to stave off withdrawal symptoms are not in positions to weigh all options and to choose to not use the only opioid at their disposal." Concerns have been expressed that fentanyl test strips are being distributed for self-testing in the absence adequate ethical, scientific and operational deliberation or a full understanding of potential unintended consequences that might increase harm. In response, others have argued that the proliferation and widespread use as fentanyl which now accounts for a majority of opioid overdose deaths means that the access to fentanyl test strips cannot wait any longer. This is a "movement for social justice built on a belief in, and respect for, the rights of people who use drugs". Some proponents of fentanyl test strips would also argue that "syringe exchange" and "naloxone peer distribution" initiatives came out of the harm reduction movement and went mainstream grudgingly and only after considerable loss of life. Dr. Najib Babul, PharmD, MBA, a drug development and regulatory affairs consultant is a graduate of the University of British Columbia, the State University of New York, and the California Institute of Advanced Management. He has over two decades of experience in bringing new and repurposed drugs to market. Dr. Babul is the author of over 180 abstracts and manuscripts published in leading medical journals and scientific proceedings, including the Lancet, the Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, Cancer, Anesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, and Anesthesia & Analgesia. CONTACT: Najib Babul Cinergen LLC nb@cinergen.com SOURCE: Cinergen View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623555/Najib-Babul-Discusses-the-Use-of-Fentanyl-Test-Strips-as-a-Harm-Reduction-Strategy-to-Prevent-Opioid-Overdose-Deaths In a perfect agriculture world, farms would pass seamlessly from one generation to the next. The reality is that business transitions can be difficult. They take planning and cooperation, and even then, some may not succeed. University of Minnesota Extensions Amber Roberts talked about assessing a farms transition readiness during a Farm and Land Transition Thursdays webinar. She emphasized that the main element of a fruitful transition is planning. Even if you pass down the assets of your farm, without planning, it doesnt guarantee success, she said. Planning is key. She pointed to data that showed just 30% of small businesses successfully transfer from the first to second generation. That number falls to 12% from the second to third generation, and its just 4% for the third generation and beyond. Planning can make your farm part of the 30% that are successful, she said. Why is the success rate so low? Roberts noted three main reasons why business transfers fail: Inadequate estate and retirement planning Insufficient capital and cash flow to support a second generation Failure to prepare the next generation with knowledge and decision-making skills To help avoid these three mistakes, Roberts shared five factors to consider when preparing for a farm transition: Financial support: Is the transition financially viable? Can it support the retiring and incoming generations? Planning and decision making: Is everyone willing to develop a written plan of transition and a business agreement prior to starting the process? Relationships and communication: Is there a way to do this transfer and keep everyone happy? Can family members maintain positive, respectful attitudes, communicate openly and freely, and not control others businesses or personal lives? Housing: Are there housing facilities available that will be acceptable and independent for each family? Desire to farm and learn: Is the retiring generation ready to let go and pass on their institutional knowledge? Is the younger generation grateful for the opportunity and excited to learn? Roberts reminded listeners that succession planning takes time. The average farm transition plan takes two to three years to create, so the best time to start planning is now, she said. You can always change and update it in the future to better meet your needs. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021 January 7, 2021 She's a proud mother of four, and on Friday, the youngest children of Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine, celebrated their 10th birthday. The twins were born on January 8, 2011, and to mark the milestone, the Danish royal family released a series of new photos of Vincent and Josephine. The sweet photos show their close bond, with Vincent wrapping a protective arm around his sister's shoulders in one of the photos. Proud mother: Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark (pictured) has four children, two of who celebrated a birthday on Friday Another photo shows them playfully hugging each other, while both smiling happily for the camera. With her oval face shape and bright smile, Josephine bears a striking resemblance to her Australian-born mother, Mary, 48. Meanwhile, Vincent is the spitting image of his father, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and big brother, Prince Christian, 15. Twinning: Mary's youngest children, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine (both pictured), celebrated their 10th birthday Turning 10: The twins were born on January 8, 2011, and to mark the milestone, the Danish royal family released a series of new photos of Vincent and Josephine Adorable: The sweet photos show their close bond, with Vincent wrapping a protective arm around his sister's shoulders in one of the photos The siblings have another sister, Princess Isabella, 13. Mary was born and raised in Tasmania, before meeting Frederik, 52, at a bar in Sydney during the Olympics back in 2000. Although she initially had no idea who the European royal was, their relationship soon became the stuff of fairytales, and they were married in May 2004. Child's play: Another photo shows them playfully hugging each other, while both smiling happily for the camera Look-alike: Vincent is the spitting image of his father, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, and big brother, Prince Christian While they reside at Frederik VIII's Palace in Denmark, they are frequent visitors to Australia, with Mary often bringing her brood home to see her family. Early last month, it was revealed Christian had tested positive for coronavirus following an outbreak at his school. He's since made a full recovery, and was later seen celebrating Christmas with his parents and siblings. FLINT, MI - The Flint Community Schools Board of Education is looking to fill a vacant seat after a recently elected member did not complete requirements on time to take on the position. In a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal, board Vice President Diana Wright said the board was recently informed by the Flint City Clerks office that Anita Moore, who was elected by voters in November, did not complete the needed paperwork in time for the Dec. 18 deadline. This left the seat vacant. The Board of Education has 30 days from the date the seat was vacated to identify and confirm a new Board member, Wright wrote. The open seat was posted by Flint Community Schools Thursday, Jan 7. Moore could not be reached immediately for comment and district officials did not immediately respond to requests for further information. Flint City Clerk Inez Brown said Moore did not complete her oath of office by the deadline. Brown said she swore in the two other newly elected board members, Joyce Ellis-McNeal and Laura Gillespie MacIntyre. The clerks office reached Moore multiple times to ask her to be sworn in, Brown added. Brown declined to comment further on the situation. The most important document for newly elected officials following the election is an acceptance of office document, which must be filed with the school board secretary within 10 days after election results are certified or candidates receive notification of the certification of election results, said Brad Banasik, legal council and director for labor relations for the Michigan Association of School Boards. This document is then passed on to the districts election coordinator. If this isnt completed within those 10 days, the position becomes vacant. Banasik said he emphasizes the importance of boards making sure this process is taken care of. He said Moore likely didnt file the acceptance of office paperwork. Ultimately, that responsibility falls on the candidate to come in and get that filed, but its helpful if the school district sends out a reminder about the acceptance of office document, Banasik said. Now, the oath of office, there isnt a time requirement on that. The oath of office, while it has no strict deadline, must be performed and it must be administered by a notary, a clerk of a court, a judge or the member of the legislature, he said. Almost 100% of the time, districts use a notary to do it and most of the time the superintendents executive assistant is a notary, Banasik said. So in order to do an official oath of office, I recommend that the candidate come into the districts administrative office and take the oath of office before the districts notary, which is usually the superintendents executive assistant, and then they do the ceremonial oath of office at their ceremonial oath of office at their organizational meeting in January. In November, Moore received 9,053 votes, the second highest amount out of 12 candidates on the ballot. Ellis-McNeal and Gillespie MacIntyre were also elected with 9,409 and 6,277 votes, respectively. The trio was set to replace board members Casey Lester, Blake Strozier and Betty Ramsdell who did not run again for their seats. The school board now has 30 days from the date Moores seat was vacated to identify and confirm a new member. The deadline for applications for those seeking the position is 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, the same day as the boards first meeting of 2021. The application can be found here. Applicants must hand deliver the completed application to the Flint schools administration building, located at 923 E. Kearsley St., or email it to melston@flintschools.org by the Jan. 13 deadline. Read more: See Nov. 2020 candidates for school board races in Genesee County Flint-area administrators reflect on school year amid coronavirus pandemic Some Genesee County schools welcomed all students back to the classroom this week Retiring Grand Blanc superintendent, successor reflect on future of countys largest school district New inmate education program hopes to end generational incarceration This is the Jamaican prostitute sneaked in to a luxury Barbados hotel room by a British couple in the middle of the night for a threesome, MailOnline can reveal. Andrew Luker and Julia Knightley decided to spice up their sex life while on holiday on the Caribbean island by inviting Mikaela Jacas back to their five star hotel for sex. But the late-night liaison was uncovered by security and the British couple were arrested and fined 4,400 for breaching the island's strict Covid laws. A security guard saw Ms Jacas, 24, hop over the wall of the Treasure Beach Hotel after midnight and enter the room where the couple were staying and raised the alarm. Police were called and the trio were rounded up as they were enjoying a post-coital drink on the patio of their luxury accommodation. Mikaela Jacas (left and right), 24, from Jamaica, was invited back to the hotel room in Barbados for sex by a British couple who enjoyed a threesome with her, breaking the island's Covid rules British couple Andrew Luker (left) and Julia Knightley (right) have been fined for breaking Covid rules by inviting a Jamaican woman to their Barbados hotel for sex in the early hours Ms Knightley (pictured), a mother-of-four and qualified nurse, has previously made news headlines for using provocative images of herself to promote her cosmetic clinic in 2016 Last night Mikaela Jacas admitted she had taken part in a three-some with Luker and Knightley for money. Speaking from Jamaica, she told MailOnline: Yes I was with them two, Andrew and Julia. Yes we had a sex party and they paid me for my time with them. But I dont want to bash them. They are nice people. Its no ones business what me do with me time and who I do it with. What are the Covid rules in Barbados? Travellers must arrive with a negative coronavirus test taken under three days before. On arrival, they must quarantine for five days in a govrenment-approved hotel, and then take another test The government says some guests may be fitted with electronic monitoring tags. Advertisement A video has emerged showing Ms Jacas performing the controversial Jamaican twerking dance in a video. She wiggles her bottom in the style which is a popular routine in Caribbean dance halls. A friend told MailOnline she fled home to Jamaica following her arrest with the Britons. She was really shocked to see her name in the paper,' they said. She had no idea she was going to get so much publicity and so she has gone home.' In court Mr Luker, a plant hire director, from Rochdale, and Ms Knightley, a beautician from Cheadle Hume, pleaded guilty to breaching the Covid-19 quarantine protocol when they appeared in court yesterday. They were each fined 2,200, freed on 7,000 bail, but warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days. Ms Knightley, 41, a single mother-of-four and qualified nurse, made national news headline several years ago when she used provocative images of herself in revealing underwear to promote her cosmetic clinic. She apologized after being accused of being unprofessional over the raunchy way in which she advertised her non-surgical cosmetic clinic in her town. A picture of a scantily-clad girl in black lingerie sitting on a throne and surrounded by whips and paddles is still on the cover of the Facebook page for the beauty salon she runs in her home town. The website states: Slip into a world of opulent grandeur and exclusive elegance, and indulge your desire for passion and pleasure. Ms Knightley is from Rochdale and has four children and was on holiday with Mr Luker, a plant director from Cheadle The couple from Greater Manchester were caught when Jamaican woman Mikaela Jacas was seen scaling a wall at Treasure Beach hotel in St James, Barbados They were each fined 2,200 and freed on 7,000 bail, but were warned they would be jailed for nine months if they didn't pay within seven days Police were called when a security guard found Jacas sat with the couple on the patio of their beach-front room With the right password, and the right knock at the door, you can find out more about our sensational anti-wrinkle treatments at Julia Knightley in Cheshire. Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who spared Love Island star Zara Holland jail for a similar breach of Covid regulations. Ms Knightley said ignorance of the law was no excuse for their actions. She admitting to knowing they could not leave the hotel while awaiting test results - but claimed she didnt know they couldnt invite guests to their room. On Wednesday Knightley and Luker appeared before the same magistrate who dealt with Love Island's Zara for a similar breach of Covid regulations Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: 'Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologise' A magistrate said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community Love Island star Zara Holland was arrested in Barbados after trying to leave the country with her boyfriend when he tested positive for coronavirus The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9 Ms Knightley said ignorance of law was no excuse for their actions which fell foul of Covid laws Mr Luker said he totally regretted what had happened, adding: Beyond that there is nothing to say besides to apologies. Magistrate Ian Weekes said he was baffled' by the couples actions. And he said if they had been infected with Covid their actions could have led to it being spread among the local community. The couple arrived on the island on December 28 and are scheduled to leave on January 9. Kington, UK -- (SBWIRE) -- 01/08/2021 -- QuickBooks built-in Condense Data Utility or Condense Repair Tool helps organize the Company data file, keeping it small and easily manageable. The new Condense feature in QuickBooks 2019 can remove the audit trail that lessens the file size but keeps the detailed transactions intact unlike the traditional File Condense feature. When trying to archive the data file, however, one might encounter a system error that interrupts the Condense process. A common error is one that says "QuickBooks Condense Repair: QuickBooks encountered a system error when trying to archive your data file. QuickBooks will not condense your data file." Another common error is the QuickBooks Error 6105, also known as condense data error that mostly occurs when a company file is damaged. QuickBooks Error 80004005 indicates that a QuickBooks company file is damaged. This error is encountered when QuickBooks users try to condense their company file to archive their data to save space or for compressing the company file size. The SuperCondense works as a safe and better alternative to reducing the size of a data file to almost 50 to 80 percent of the original file size. This is a process that will significantly reduce the file size of a QuickBooks data file resulting in higher responsiveness and faster performance, higher network stability, and less prone to data corruption issues. It also allows inactive customers, vendors, items to stay under the 14,500 limit for Pro or Premier and can convert large files to QuickBooks Online. More service specifications for E-Tech's QuickBooks SuperCondense service can be seen at https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/quickbooks-file-data-services/quickbooks-supercondense-service/. About E-Tech E-Tech is the leading service provider of QuickBooks File Repair, Data Recovery, QuickBooks Conversion and QuickBooks SDK programming in the UK and Ireland. In their 20 years plus of experience with Intuit QuickBooks, they have assisted over 1000 satisfied customers with their requirements. E-Tech UK covers US, UK, Canadian, Australian versions which include Reckon Accounts, and New Zealand versions of QuickBooks through PC and Mac platforms. For media inquiries regarding E-Tech, individuals are encouraged to contact Media Relations Director, Melanie Ann via email at Melanie@e-tech.ca. To learn more about the company, visit: https://quickbooksrecovery.co.uk/ Media Contact Melanie Ann E-Tech 61 Bridge St. Kington HR5 3DJ Melanie@e-tech.ca www.quickbooksrecovery.co.uk Christine Scott, an ICU nurse (L), with her sisters Althea Scott-Bonaparte and Claudia Scott-Mighty, who are patient care directors, arrived to get their second shot of the Pfizer vaccine at NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y., on Jan. 8, 2021. (Kevin Hagen/AP Photo). US Tops 4,000 Daily Deaths From Coronavirus The United States has topped 4,000 daily deaths from the coronavirus for the first time, breaking a record set just one day earlier. The tally from Johns Hopkins University shows the United States had 4,085 deaths Thursday, and had nearly 275,000 new coronavirus cases as well. The numbers are another reminder of the worsening situation following travel for holidays and family gatherings, along with more time indoors during the winter months. Theres been a surge of cases and deaths in California, Arizona, Texas, and Florida. More than 365,000 Americans have died from the coronavirus. Doctors inject sisters Claudia Scott-Mighty (L), Althea Scott-Bonaparte, who are patient care directors, and Christine Scott, an ICU nurse, with their second shot of the Pfizer vaccine at NewYork-Presbyterian Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville, N.Y., on Jan. 8, 2021. (Kevin Hagen/AP Photo). San Francisco faces a surge in coronavirus cases. California has been issuing waivers allowing hospitals to temporarily bypass the nations only strict nurse-to-patient ratios. Nurses say that being forced to take on more patients is pushing them to the brink of burnout and affecting patient care. At least 250 of about 400 hospitals in California have been granted 60-day waivers. They allow ICU nurses to care for three instead of two people and emergency room nurses to oversee six patients instead of three. Nurses in other states have demanded law-mandated ratios like those in California but so far have failed to get them. A CDC map shows that Florida had 22 cases of the B.1.1.7 variant that emerged in the UK. California has reported 26 cases, Colorado has two, and New York and Georgia have each reported one case. The Florida Department of Health on Thursday reported 19,816 casessurpassing the previous record set the day before of 17,783. On Friday, 7,329 people in Florida were hospitalized with the virus. The state has registered 1.4 million cases, with a confirmed death toll of 22,400. (JNS) Just how far are Jewish institutions willing to go to accommodate the principles of critical race theory and its cancel culture view of American and Jewish history? In the case of Brandeis University Press, even that respected liberal institution realizes that identifying American Jewish life as part of the fabric of institutional racism should not go unquestioned. A controversy over the editors of that publishing houses refusal to include an essay glorifying the Black Lives Matter movement by a historian who claims that Jews are guilty of taking part in white supremac... Last year tied 2016 as the hottest year ever recorded globally, according to official data gathered by the European Union. In 2020, temperatures globally were an average of 1.25C (2.25F) higher than in pre-industrial times, EU climate agency Copernicus said today. Data also shows 2020 was the hottest 12 months ever in Europe driven by an anomalously warm start to the year, with December 2019 to February 2020 beating the previous record for those months, set in 2016, by 1.4C (2.52F). The 12-month average for Europe reveals it was a total of 0.4C (0.72F) warmer than in 2019, the previous record holder to 1.6C (2.88F) above the average temperature between 1981-2010. The Arctic is one region which was particularly badly affected with temperatures in some Arctic locations reaching more than 6C (11F) above the average temperature between 1850 and 1900, defined as the pre-industrial baseline with which anthropogenic-induced heating is often compared to. The grim records also confirm 2010-2020 as the hottest decade ever recorded. Global warming driven by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide are the driving force behind the continued surge in annual temperatures. Scroll down for video Data also shows 2020 was the hottest 12 months ever in Europe, driven by an anomalously warm start to the year, with December 2019 to February 2021 beating the previous record for those months, set in 2016, by 1.4C Last year tied 2016 as the hottest year ever recorded globally, according to official data gathered by the European Union (pictured). In 2020, temperatures globally were an average of 1.25C higher than in pre-industrial times, Copernicus said Scientists at Copernicus, a project run by the EU, report formal data on a tumultuous climatic year marked by droughts, wildfires and heatwaves around the world. Scientists said the latest data underscored the need for countries and corporations to slash greenhouse gas emissions and strive to reach the targets of the 2015 Paris Agreement to avoid catastrophic climate change. 'The extraordinary climate events of 2020 and the data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service show us that we have no time to lose,' said Matthias Petschke, Director for Space in the European Commission, the EU's executive arm. The bloc's space programmes include the Copernicus Earth observation satellites. The Paris accord aims to cap the rise in temperatures to below 2C (3.6F) but ideally not to exceed 1.5C (2.7F) in order to avoid the most devastating impacts of climate change. Copernicus data also tracked emissions over the year and found carbon dioxide was pumped out at an all-time high. In a statement the agency said CO2 emissions reached 'an unprecedented' level of 416.3ppm, an estimated annual growth rate of 2.3ppm. Arctic records its hottest temperature EVER as mercury hits 100F in town of Verkhoyansk in Siberia The Arctic is thought to have recorded its hottest ever temperature of 100.4F (38C) in Siberia, an astonishing 32F (18C) above the normal level for this time of year. The mercury shot up to the unprecedented level in Verkhoyansk, 3,000 miles east of Moscow, as the region endures a summer heatwave. Scientists had predicted the Arctic wouldn't reach these levels until 2100, meaning it is warming 80 years faster than previously thought. If the record is confirmed it will represent a new high. The current record for hottest temperature in the Arctic is held by Prospect Creek, Alaska, which recorded 100F (38C) in 1915. Pictured above is the location of Verkhoyansk, where the temperature was recorded Advertisement This figure is slightly down on previous years, which were 2.5ppm in 2019 and 2.9ppm between 2015 and 2016. However, the reading is slightly misleading as at the end of the year the ocean phenomenon La Nina in the South Pacific where cold water rises to the surface of the Pacific Ocean around the equator and has a cooling effect on the planet which inhibited CO2 absorption by Earth's plants. Devastating wildfires in 2019 and 2016 also belched out vat amounts of CO2, artificially inflating the figure to above the 2020 mark. Vincent-Henri Peuch, Director of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), sais of the CO2 findings: While carbon dioxide concentrations have risen slightly less in 2020 than in 2019, this is no cause for complacency. 'Until the net global emissions reduce to zero, CO2 will continue to accumulate in the atmosphere and drive further climate change. 'The key here is to... reduce the amount we emit,' Copernicus senior scientist Freja Vamborg told Reuters. Last year also saw the highest temperature ever reliably recorded, when in August a California heatwave pushed the temperature at Death Valley in the Mojave Desert up to 54.4C (129.92F). Arctic sea ice continued to deplete, with July and October both setting records for the lowest sea ice extent in that month. Scientists who were not involved in the study said it was consistent with growing evidence that climate change is contributing to more intense hurricanes, fires, floods and other disasters. In the United States, the costs in lives and damage is fast rising, said Adam Smith, a climate scientist with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). 'We need another dictionary to help us describe how these extremes continue to play out and unfold year after year,' said Smith, who tracks climate-related disasters that cause more than a billion dollars worth of damage. The 12-month average for Europe reveals it was a total of 0.4C warmer than in 2019, the previous record holder. The grim records also confirm 2010-2020 as the hottest decade ever recorded (pictured) Year-by-year breakdown of average global temperature compared to pre-industrial levels (1850-1900), according to the EU's Copernicus programme Year Average temperature (C) above pre-industrial levels (1850-1900) 1970 0.25 1971 0.096 1972 0.224 1973 0.322 1974 0.071 1975 0.101 1976 0.027 1977 0.307 1978 0.242 1979 0.396 1980 0.525 1981 0.558 1982 0.359 1983 0.553 1984 0.342 1985 0.302 1986 0.389 1987 0.545 1988 0.578 1989 0.459 1990 0.691 1991 0.635 1992 0.403 1993 0.449 1994 0.487 1995 0.661 1996 0.533 1997 0.656 1998 0.843 1999 0.574 2000 0.572 2001 0.738 2002 0.829 2003 0.815 2004 0.751 2005 0.917 2006 0.865 2007 0.859 2008 0.728 2009 0.858 2010 0.952 2011 0.812 2012 0.863 2013 0.89 2014 0.931 2015 1.079 2016 1.261 2017 1.166 2018 1.087 2019 1.222 2020 1.253 The Delhi government on Friday announced a set of rules for people returning to the national capital from virus-hit United Kingdom in order to prevent influx of Covid-19 cases. The city-state government has decided to mandatorily test all the travellers arriving from UK through self-paid RT-PCR tests. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted. To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine pic.twitter.com/hYDsaOn8q1 Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2021 He further said that this has been done to protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK. As a matter of abundant precaution, in view of the increased transmissibility of the new variant, it is decided that all travellers coming from the UK to India would be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival at the airport. Those who are found positive shall be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in as separate (isolation) unit as per existing laid down protocol. Those who are found negative shall be kept in compulsory institutional quarantine for a period of seven days followed by seven days of home quarantine, read the order. The Delhi government order has stated that this protocol will be strictly followed in Delhi on a trial basis for a week till January 14. The new variant of coronavirus disease B.1.1.7 has been dubbed as highly infectious by scientists and medical experts as the UK government has confirmed that the infection rates have increased faster than expected in the affected areas where the new strain has been circulating and stronger measures are required to get the virus under control. Four more Delhi residents had tested positive for the new coronavirus strain, news agency PTI reported on Thursday, even as health minister Satyendar Jain appealed to the Centre to extend the ban on flights between India and the UK till the end of January. The total number of people found infected with the mutant variant of Covid-19 that was first detected in the UK now stands at 13 in Delhi. Four more samples sent for genome sequencing have been found positive, as part of the door-to-door medical checkup of people who had recently arrived from the UK and persons who came in their contact in the city, sources said. OSWEGO, N.Y. At least 63 voters who met every obligation to legally vote in the hotly contested 22nd Congressional District race could still see their votes tossed because of a month-long delay in processing their applications, according to testimony in court today. Democrat Anthony Brindisi currently trails Republican Claudia Tenney by 29 votes in the last undecided House race in the country. Attorneys for both candidates are fighting for every vote in the race in a court battle over which State Supreme Court Judge Scott DelConte is presiding. The 63 voters registered by Oct. 9, the state voting registration deadline, to vote in Oneida County. When they showed up at the polling place, however, their application had not yet been processed, leaving them unregistered. They were allowed to vote by affidavit ballot, and that ballot was ultimately rejected for lack of registration, according to testimony in court. Brindisis attorneys are asking DelConte to count the ballots on the basis that the voters should not be deprived their right to vote based on the delay, which wasnt their fault. Tenneys attorneys, however, argue that it is logistically not possible to identify a voter who arrives at the polling place who is not registered. There is no way to match a voters signature with their registration record, for example, as a way to determine a voter is eligible. The voters were still not processed as registered voters even after the election. DelConte, the judge, said both sides had valid points, and described the issue as one that could determine the winner in a case now separated by a lead of .009%. In addition to this issue, DelConte will have to rule on several other issues that affected dozens or hundreds of contested ballots. This is now a very live issue in a race where the candidates are separated by a handful of votes, DelConte said in court Thursday. The question here is what...what was the will of the voters in this election? The voters decide who is going to be the representative in Congress. There are at least 63 voters who fall in this category, though the number is likely higher. The Oneida County attorney offered that 80 voters could be affected, and its not clear if voters in other counties suffered the same fate. The voters took advantage of the states motor voter law, which enables state residents to register to vote at the DMV when taking care of other business there. After they register, the DMV is responsible to send the application to local boards of election, and the local boards have to take several steps to register the voter. Those are two unknowns once it leaves the hand of the voter, said Kimberly Galvin, an attorney for the state Board of Elections, about why it make take awhile for an application to be processed. Vincent Rossi, an attorney representing one of the Oneida County elections commissioners, said Wednesday the process is somewhat time-consuming, entailing a bipartisan review of the application and other steps to verify the identity of the voter. In addition, the county received 2,200 applications to register from the DMV, he said. There may have been other voters whose applications were not processed by Nov. 3, but some of them did not vote that day, county officials said in court. Many of the 63 applications that were not processed in time belong to college students, DelConte said, though he did not elaborate. College-aged voters often vote for Democrats. The live issue will come up again today, DelConte said, and will likely be a much-discussed issue throughout the rest of the court hearings. Attorneys for both candidates are also required to submit their arguments about the issue in legal briefs shortly. The issue surfaced for the first time near the end of weeks of ballot-by-ballot review taking place in court. DelConte went through about 340 of 444 contested ballots from Oneida County, the last of eight counties that comprise the district. DelConte will rule on about 2,500 contested ballots as part of the legal review. The court hearings are expected to go into next week at least, though its not clear how much longer it will be before a winner is named. The 22nd Congressional District, composed of all or part of eight Upstate New York counties, is currently without legal representation as the court hearings occur. Contact reporter Patrick Lohmann at (315)766-6670 or PLohmann@Syracuse.com. MORE ON THE NY-22 ELECTION Court case to decide winner in NY-22 House race to take at least another week Brindisi, Tenney argue, vote by vote, in epic nail-biter. How perfect does a voter have to be? Tenney keeps lead in undecided NY-22 election as ballots go to judge All eyes turned to court battle over NY 22nd election. Then it took a week off. Why? Tenneys friends question integrity of House election, raise money for recount There is tangible progress in the work to normalize relations between Turkey and France, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said today, Reuters reports. Paris has been criticising Turkey since Ankara's 2019 invasion of northeastern Syria, and Ankara is poised to improve relations with its NATO ally if Paris shows the same willingness. In just less than two weeks, the US recorded its five deadliest days since the Covid-19 pandemic's start -- with more than 4,000 virus-related deaths reported Thursday. The nation's total Covid-19 death toll has now climbed to more than 365,300, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And another nearly 115,000 people could lose their lives over the next four weeks, according to projections from the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. In other words, even though the US is working to distribute vital Covid-19 vaccines -- a process criticized as being too slow -- the pandemic is not yet showing any signs of slowing down. Rather, across the country, states are reporting increases in numbers. California reported more than 1,000 Covid-19 deaths in just two days and hospitalizations are at record-high levels, with nearly 23,000 patients admitted with the virus. In Los Angeles County, one person now dies of Covid-19 every eight minutes. Arizona's top health official said Thursday that "coming out of the Christmas holiday," the state's Covid-19 numbers are inching upward. "Cases and percent positivity are rising, as are inpatient and intensive care unit beds occupied by those with Covid-19. Regrettably, deaths from Covid-19 follow these trends," Dr. Cara Christ, director of the state's Department of Health Services, said in a video message. Texas reported record-high Covid-19 hospitalizations statewide for the fifth day in a row. Hospitals in Dallas County -- the state's second largest county -- had just 13 adult ICU beds available on Wednesday, County Judge Clay Jenkins said in a tweet. And while vaccinations are now several weeks in, it will be months before they're widespread enough to make a meaningful impact in the pandemic's course, experts have warned. Officials say they 'overpromised' on vaccine rollout The vaccine rollout will need a couple weeks to catch up to earlier projections, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday. But if that doesn't happen, changes will need to be made. "I think it would be fair to just observe what happens in the next couple of weeks," he told NPR. "If we don't catch up on what the original goal was, then we really need to make some changes about what we're doing." "We just need to give a little bit slack -- not a lot -- but enough to say, well, we're past the holiday season, now let's really turn the afterburners on," he added. More than 21.4 million doses had been distributed and more than 5.9 million people had been administered their first doses across the country as of Thursday morning, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Federal officials had said 20 million people would have received first doses by the end of December. "We overpromised and underdelivered as a nation," Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Kentucky Department for Public Health, said Thursday at a briefing sponsored by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials. "We only got a third of what we thought we were going to get based on the initial modeling." "Had we just projected realistic quantities, the public wouldn't have seen this as a shortcoming -- we would have recognized it for the incredible accomplishment it was to have even this much vaccine this fast," Stack said. Other health leaders said states need more money and more staff in order to be able to administer the vaccines fast enough. Pennsylvania Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said states, cities and territories had been given just $340 million to build the infrastructure for vaccine rollouts up until the end of the year. "That is clearly insufficient to accomplishing what we're trying to accomplish," Levine said. President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion Covid-19 relief package in December that includes funds for vaccine rollout, something health leaders were "absolutely thrilled" about, Levine said. The money will be "critical for several aspects of our response," Levine added, including contracting with companies to do community vaccine clinics. More states announce cases of UK variant Meanwhile, more states now say they've found cases of the Covid-19 variant first detected in the UK -- making for more than 50 known cases across the country. Harris County, Texas, health officials said Thursday they found a case in a man between 30 and 40 years old with no travel history -- something that implies the variant has been circulating locally. Other states that have confirmed cases of the variant include California, Florida, Colorado, Georgia, New York and Pennsylvania. Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont also announced the state's first two cases, in individuals between the ages of 15 and 25 that had recently traveled outside the state, one to Ireland and the other to New York. But there are some good news: experts have said the Covid-19 vaccines are likely to protect against the variant. And a new study provides early evidence that the Pfizer vaccine may be effective against two new Covid-19 strains, identified in South Africa and the UK, despite a concerning mutation. Researchers made a version of the virus that carries the mutation in a lab and tested it against blood taken from 20 people who have received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine as part of a clinical trial. In research posted online Thursday, they said they found "no reduction in neutralization activity" against the mutated virus. The study -- conducted by researchers at Pfizer and the University of Texas Medical Branch -- does not test the full array of these mutations and has not been peer-reviewed. New studies offer more insight on transmission Meanwhile, new findings now help shed more light on the transmission of the virus. One team of researchers found that more than half of Covid-19 cases may have been transmitted by people not showing symptoms. It's a model -- not a real-life study -- but based on data from eight studies done in China, about 59% of all transmission came from people without symptoms, the researchers said. "Across a range of plausible scenarios, at least 50% of transmission was estimated to have occurred from persons without symptoms," the team wrote in the journal JAMA Network Open. A separate study found counties where large colleges and universities opened for in-person classes in the fall suffered a significant rise in the incidence of Covid-19. Within three weeks of colleges or universities opening to in-person instruction, counties that were home to these institutions "experienced a 56% increase in incidence," CDC-led researchers wrote in the agency's weekly report. Meanwhile, incidence decreased by 5.9% in counties without large universities and by 17.9% in those with universities that held remote classes, they found. Throughout the course of the pandemic, many universities struggled in their response to the virus, some opting to begin the fall semester with in-person classes and converting to remote after a rise in infections, while others attempted to control spread of the virus by prohibiting events like parties and student gatherings. In Arkansas, fraternity and sorority gatherings and activities were linked to hundreds of Covid-19 cases at a university, a new report found. The study, published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, described more than 960 confirmed and probable cases at an unnamed university in the state -- 97% of which were in people aged 18 to 24. Researchers from the state's health department and the CDC said 54 gatherings were linked to cases at the university and more than 90% of those events involved sororities and fraternities. NEW YORK, Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- To help guests celebrate the lucky Year of the Ox, Lady M New York, home of the world famous Mille Crepes, has launched the Lady M 2021 Lunar New Year Gift Set, a stunning candy set made for gifting. Created in brilliant shades of coral red, gold foil, and pink, this pentagon-shaped gift opens piece by piece to reveal an assortment of confections from the new Lady M Bon Bon collection and eight custom Lady M gold and red envelopes. This gift set is the ultimate way to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year. Lady M Confections The stunning gift box includes six unique and individually packaged gummies and chocolates. Each confection was specially selected to emphasize good luck and fortune for the upcoming year. The gummies include Lucky Tangerine Gummies (in the shape of juicy tangerines) and Ox Gummies (ox-shaped strawberry gummies). Chocolate offerings include Prosperity Pink Almonds (roasted almonds dipped in dark and white chocolate), Golden Orb Puffs (puffy cereal dipped in chocolate), and Harmony Hazelnuts (roasted hazelnuts in a duet of milk and white chocolate). Custom Lady M Lunar New Year Coins are the crown jewel of this candy collection. These marvelous, melt-in-your mouth chocolate coins are beautifully wrapped in gold foil and stamped with the Lady M logo and a celebratory dancing ox. Slide the gift box out from the matching bag, and unfold each side of the pentagon to reveal the gummies and chocolates packaged in keepsake boxes. The center of the gift set features a bounty of chocolate coins, wishing the receiver a prosperous and auspicious new year. Looking to share joy, abundance, and well wishes in this Year of the Ox? Look no further. From family to friends, or clients, employees, and colleagues, Lady M's elegant and unique candy set is created for gifting. Each Lady M 2021 Lunar New Year Gift Set is packaged with eight red envelopes and a custom bag ($72). The Gift Set will be available in US and Canada boutiques and online at LadyM.com and LadyM.ca beginning January 8, 2021. About Lady M: Lady M Confections Co., Ltd. is a NYC cake brand with over 40 boutiques worldwide. Created in 2001 and helmed by CEO Ken Romaniszyn, Lady M is the creator of Mille Crepes. Lady M marries French techniques with Japanese sensibilities to develop creations that are a touch sweet and ideal for all occasions. Indulge in a world of cakes and confections at LadyM.com . Related Images image1.jpg SOURCE Lady M Confections ROME, JAN 8 - Italy's top court on Friday quashed manslaughter convictions in the 2009 rail disaster at Viareggio that killed 32 people and sent the trial back to the second appeals level in Florence, including for former rail chief Mauro Moretti. The supreme Court of Cassation said the manslaughter charges had timed out under the statute of limitations. The high court ruled out the aggravating factor of breaking work safety norms. In June 2019 former Italian railways (Ferrovie dello Stato, FS) chief Moretti and former head of rail network company RFI Michele Mario Elia were convicted and sentenced to seven and six years respectively on appeal for the June 29, 2009 rail disaster at Viareggio on the Tuscan coast in which the 32 people died. Former Trenitalia rail group CEO Vincenzo Soprano got six years too. Prosecutors had requested 16 years for Moretti, now CEO of defence and aerospace giant Leonardo, and 15 for Elia for their alleged role in the tragedy, when a freight train derailed and the gas it was carrying exploded into a fireball engulfing the station and nearby areas of the coastal Tuscan town. In total 33 individuals and nine companies were tried on various charges including rail disaster, multiple manslaughter, culpable fire and culpable injuries. Moretti was convicted in his capacity as former RFI CEO but acquitted as former FS CEO, his lawyers explained. Overall, the court made 10 acquittals in the trial. FS and FS Logistica were among the companies acquitted. After Friday's ruling by the Cassation Court, victims' relatives burst into tears outside the high-court building. (ANSA). The Indian flag be waived at the US Capitol during the violence on January 6. (Image: Twitter/@VincentPXavier) The Indian flag spotted during the storming of the US Capitol building by supporters of US President Donald Trump on January 6, with the intention of overturning the presidential election result, had sent the Indian social media space into a state of frenzy. Social media users spent the day looking for the person who carried the Indian tricolour to the pro-Trump gathering which culminated in violence and led to the death of at least four people. The incident happened on the day the joint session of US Congress had convened to certify Electoral College votes won by President-elect Joe Biden. The video footage of the Indian flag being seen alongside Trump 2020 campaign flags was widely circulated on social media and had also evoked strong reactions. Why is there an Indian flag there??? This is one fight we definitely dont need to participate in... Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Varun Gandhi asked on Twitter. Responding to Gandhi, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor said: Unfortunately, @varungandhi80, there are some Indians with the same mentality as that Trumpist mob, who enjoy using the flag as a weapon rather than a badge of pride, & denounce all who disagree with them as anti-nationals & traitors. That flag there is a warning to all of us. There were many others, including Shiv Senas Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, who expressed anguish over the presence of the Indian flag during the act of violence. Whoever is waving this Indian flag should feel ashamed. Dont use our tricolour to participate in such violent & criminal acts in another country, Chaturvedi said in a tweet. Here is the douche who carried and waved Indian Flag at Capitol Hill Building, Washington DC. pic.twitter.com/va6zc6Y1tN Drunk Journalist (@drunkJournalist) January 7, 2021 However, in the early hours of January 8, social media users started sharing screenshots of an Indian-Americans Facebook and Twitter profiles, claiming that the person was the one waving the Indian flag at the Capitol Hill. The person, identified as Vincent Xavier or Vinson Palathingal, maintains an open Facebook account and had posted several photos and videos of himself at ground zero on Facebook and Twitter. How many million people you need fake media to report this historic event? We got a couple, is that good enough? President Donald J. Trump is our President! one of his Facebook video captions read. American patriots - Vietnamese, Indian, Korean & Iranian origins, & from so many other nations & races, who believe massive voter fraud has happened joined rally yesterday in solidarity with Trump. Peaceful protestors who were exercising our rights! (sic), Xavier said in a tweet, tagging Tharoor and Gandhi. @ShashiTharoor @varungandhi80 American patriots - Vietnamese, Indian, Korean & Iranian origins, & from so many other nations & races, who believe massive voter fraud has happened joined rally yesterday in solidarity with Trump. Peaceful protestors who were exercising our rights! pic.twitter.com/aeTojoVxQh Vincent Xavier (@VincentPXavier) January 8, 2021 Whenever I have been to a Trump rally, I have seen people of Vietnamese, Koreans, even Pakistani origin, carrying their flags. This is also to show that such rallies are not a racist movement. So, I would not be able to hold an Indian flag and walk around if it was a racist movement, Xavier told Manorama News later. The 54-year-old said there were about 10 Indians in his group and five of them were from Kerala. Xavier told the regional news channel that the aim of the pro-Trump protest was to stop the steal and to ensure that the US has a legal President, one who has been elected in the right manner. We cannot condone election fraud, anywhere From the outside, American democracy might appear to be a strong, but here to vote, you do not require a voter ID card, there is no signature verification, you dont have to be present in person, Xavier claimed. While Xavier admitted to being present at ground zero, he claimed that he did not scale the wall and enter the Capitol building. Yesterday, one million people gathered there (Capitol Hill). Out of these, about 10-15 daring people, scaled the walls like Spider Man and created violence. They appeared to be trained, professional thugs They were either from our side or from the other side who tried to infiltrate our side. Eventually, the violence created by about 50 people destroyed the purpose of our rally, Xavier claimed. Xavier also alleged, without evidence, that individuals who scaled the walls to enter the Capitol were BLM (Black Lives Matter) thugs who support the Democratic Party who infiltrated their side. There isnt clarity about their identity. However, if you see the way they climbed the walls. Several Indians commented on his Facebook posts saying that his participation was an embarrassment for the Indian-American community and shameful behaviour. Moneycontrol reached out to Xavier for additional comments. This story will be updated upon receiving his response. As many as 52 individuals were arrested in connection to the violence and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which is now probing the case, was looking for leads on more people involved in the act of violence and vandalism. Protesters gather on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. A group of riots entered the U.S. Capitol building after mass demonstrations in the nation's capital during a joint session of Congress to count Electoral College votes. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) 55 Charged After DC Protests, Top Prosecutor Says WASHINGTONThe top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia said on Jan. 7 that 55 cases have been charged within 36 hours related mostly to the breach of the U.S. Capitol during the protests in Washington this week. Of those cases, 40 have been filed in the D.C. Superior Court, which includes eight firearm cases, according to Michael Sherwin, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia. In addition, prosecutors plan to file 15 criminal cases in the federal court by the end of Jan. 7 for crimes including unauthorized access to the Capitol and the Capitol grounds, holding firearms, and theft of property, Sherwin told reporters. Protesters stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, interrupting a joint session of Congress that was held to count electoral votes. A man was arrested by federal agents with a military semi-automatic rifle and 11 Molotov cocktails that were ready to go, Sherwin said. We will aggressively charge those cases, he said. This is just the beginning. And we are working closely with the counterterrorism prosecutor and other federal partners. The federal prosecutor charged roughly 174 cases in Washington criminally during the months-long protests over the death of George Floyd in 2020. By comparison, 55 cases were charged within 36 hours following the breach of the Capitol. Im just trying to give you a comparison to show how aggressive and seriously were taking what happened yesterday, Sherwin told reporters. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) suggested on the House floor on Jan. 7 that some protestors who breached the Capitol were members of the violent terrorist group Antifa who were masquerading as Trump supporters. In response to questions about the group affiliation of protestors who stormed the Capitol, Sherwin said they are still searching for evidence of an organized command and control. It looks like there may have been a loose affiliation, but it didnt look like there was any specific militia groups that planned or were affiliated with the persons that we specifically charged, he said. Its only been in the first 24 hours in the investigation. So a lot could happen within the next several days. And in response to questions about whether there has been any breach of duty by any of the Capitol Police who opened the barricades for the protestors and allowed them into the Capitol, Sherwin said federal prosecutors are looking at all actors involved. He also said they would be looking at the statements made by President Donald Trump and speakers at the rally. Were looking at all actors here, and anyone that had a role, if the evidence fits the elements of a crime, theyre going to be charged. Richard Grenell at Tegel airport in Berlin, Germany, on May 31, 2019. (Odd Andersen/AFP via Getty Images) Former Acting DNI Criticizes Republicans for Inaction on Big Techs Muzzling Conservatives Richard Grenell, former acting director of the United States National Intelligence (DNI), said on Friday that the Republicans lost the opportunity to stop Big Tech companies from suppressing the voice of conservatives. They waited until they couldnt suffer any Federal consequencesDemocrats like the help in silencing conservatives so Big Tech is now safe. Republicans missed their chance to stop this market manipulation, Grenell, the special presidential envoy for Serbia and Kosovo peace negotiations, tweeted in response to a post that said President Donald Trump has been banned on almost all social media. The original post noted that Trump has now been banned from the following platforms: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Twitch, Shopify, [and] YouTube. One of the chances that Republicans had that could possibly have stopped Big Techs manipulation was, according to Trump, by adding language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2021 to get rid of Section 230. Our Republican Senate just missed the opportunity to get rid of Section 230, which gives unlimited power to Big Tech companies, Trump tweeted on Jan. 1. Section 230 of the Communications and Decency Act protects social media companies from liability for what their users post, because theyre not considered publishers. The U.S. Senate voted to override Trumps veto of the NDAA, and only thirteen senators sustained Trumps veto, including Sens. 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.). Trump vetoed the NDAA on Dec. 23 for a number of reasons, including wasteful spending overseas and a failure to remove Section 230. The former acting DNI further censured Twitter for not applying its policies against the posts from the Chinese Embassy in the United States. The Iranian Regime leadership is still on Twitter despite years of complaints. @Twitter is totally inconsistent and they dont care, Grenell wrote on the social media platform. Allen Zhong contributed to this report French teacher Djibril Coulibaly, 50, who was released from Pine Prairie Correctional Center on Thursday after being detained because of an expired visa, has tested positive for COVID-19. Coulibaly was taken for medical evaluation shortly after his release. He said the positive result didnt surprise him because four out of 43 men in his dorm had tested positive during his three-week stay in Pine Prairie. Hed lost eight pounds during his detention and so, though his COVID symptoms were mild, he did not feel well. Im getting weaker and weaker, he said. And Ive lost my appetite. He also was extremely disappointed that he would not be able to hug his wife or his three children when he arrived home in Thibodaux. Instead, he had been on the phone with his wife, to set aside one of their homes bedrooms as a quarantine-only area where he would spend the next few weeks alone. Though he had been longing to return to work at W.S. Lafargue Elementary School, that was also impossible. +8 Beloved French teacher on brink of deportation gets to stay after 'out of the blue' reprieve On Thursday, French teacher Djibril Coulibaly, 50, walked quietly out of the Pine Prairie Correctional Center and into an SUV driven by his co A swarm of armed officers from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement picked up Coulibaly about three weeks ago as hed paused his 2001 Toyota minivan at a stop sign outside the school in Thibodaux. Last week, the soft-spoken elementary-school teacher who has taught in Louisiana for 19 years was told by a Pine Prairie officer that he was facing immediate deportation to his native Mali, in West Africa. His attorney, Loyola University Law Professor Hiroko Kusuda, believed deportation was imminent when shed received an email telling her that an ICE administrator had refused Coulibalys petition for a stay of deportation on Monday. Then, on Wednesday afternoon, out of the blue, Kusuda said, she got a call telling her that her client would be released Thursday under an order of supervision, the immigration equivalent of probation that came with an ankle monitor visible to those who witnessed Coulibalys release. Coulibalys family credits a groundswell of public support, from educators, neighbors, former Peace Corps members, all of whom wrote letters and made phone calls on his behalf. Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Coulibaly came to Louisiana in 2001 on a J1 work visa courtesy of CODOFIL, the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana. He had served as a U.S. Peace Corps translator in Mali, the nation in West Africa where he and his wife, Maimouna, were born. For its dual-language programs, CODOFIL relies upon a contingent of teachers recruited from French-speaking countries such as France, Belgium, Haiti, Canada, Mali, Ivory Coast and Benin. In 2020, about 50 newly hired French teachers traveled from foreign countries to work in Louisiana. +4 Volunteers live faith, Cajun values as they provide a lifeline to immigrants released from detention One of my favorite verses is Hebrews 13:2. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. The v Like other CODOFIL teachers who decided to stay in Louisiana beyond their initial visa term, Coulibaly transitioned in 2007 to another type of work visa, the H-1B, for people with specialized work expertise. But it turns out that on Sept. 30, 2010, his Opelousas employer, the St. Landry Parish School Board, missed a deadline to renew his visa, making him an unlawful resident of the United States. In 2011, then-Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., sponsored a specially tailored bill entitled for the relief of Djibril Coulibaly to resolve the issue, but it never got out of committee. Around the same time, ICE deferred action on his case. Yet for the past five years, his lawyers say, Coulibaly has been summoned to Immigration Court in New Orleans several times. Each time, he has tried to stave off deportation. Scores of immigration detainees in Louisianas rural lock-ups have contracted the coronavirus since the beginning of the pandemic. Currently, there are five positive cases in Pine Prairie and 82 positive cases among all ICE detention centers in Louisiana, according to the ICE website. Although Louisiana isnt a border state, its network of private and parish lock-ups in mostly remote, rural stretches hosts the second-highest number of ICE detainees. U.S. Capitol Police in Washington push back demonstrators who were trying to enter the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. The author says that, despite the turmoil that day in the nations capital, the market finished the day higher. He can only believe that it is a testament to investors belief that a new administration will right the wrongs of the outgoing presidential administration. Such fears, I see now, feed my reluctance to revisit the Assange story: fear, in particular, of confronting the terrifying truth about our imperial system. Regardless of Assanges innocence or guilt, the simple facts of what our controlling powers can do to you if you step out of line are terrifying. Those fears his of 175 years in solitary (honestly, who wouldnt top themselves?) and hers of his suicide underpin her judgment. But there are other, more insidious fears at play here. Baraitser noted the bleak conditions of Assanges likely US confinement would include severely restrictive detention conditions designed to remove physical contact and reduce social interaction and contact with the outside world to a bare minimum, with family limited to one supervised 15-minute phone call a month. Detailing Assanges mental state, she opined that his risk of suicide, in such conditions, was very high. This is the loophole she offers the appellant US prosecutor. Loading From the start, the case against Assange has contrived to turn issues of principle into questions of personality. The initial Swedish rape investigation, since dropped for lack of evidence as the witness's recollections after so long were clouded, was extremely personal, spinning off the cancellation of his credit cards upon his arrival in Stockholm, forcing him to accept hospitality; the seductions, the sex which everyone agrees was consensual his failure to wear a condom although asked and reluctance to take an STD test. Then the left turned against him because of the Clinton leaks which one suspects would have been fine, had they been directed at the other side and perceptions about Assanges ego. He was vain, it was said, and narcissistic. As if that itself were a crime, reason enough to let him rot in solitary. The personal and emotive nature of all this the Swedish prosecutors refusal to interview him in London, Britains willingness to imprison him for a year on bail charges, Americas determination to prosecute him for exposing their war crimes (in the Iraq War Logs of October 2010 and the film Collateral Murder showing air crew shooting unarmed civilians from a helicopter) and the description of WikiLeaks by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo as a hostile non-state intelligence service all suggest a bigger picture, and smaller values, than mere truth or justice. Its often said that Assange endangered the lives of US informers but, as Baraitser notes, no causality has been shown. Even the Senate Committee on Armed Service said, the review to date has not revealed any sensitive sources and methods compromised by disclosure. It is said that Assange, by dumping hacked emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign, gave us Trump. But if she was engaged in skulduggery as alleged, wasnt it better for the world to make its own judgment? When you look coldly at the facts its hard not to suspect that Sweden was coerced into the original investigation and that Britain and Ecuador have been similarly pressured. Certainly Australias persistent refusal to intervene for Assange, an Australian citizen who has broken no Australian law, suggests a similar abject timidity in the face of US might. Hauliers have warned they are being overwhelmed by red tape due to new checks on deliveries to Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK following Brexit. The industry body Logistics UK said deliveries were being delayed as lorries arrived in Belfast with incomplete paperwork following the end of the transition period on December 31. The organisations Northern Ireland policy manager Seamus Leheny said the problems were a direct result of Boris Johnsons Brexit divorce settlement with Brussels. The warning came as Debenhams announced it was suspending online sales to Ireland due to uncertainty about the new rules which mean some products are now subject to tariffs. You cannot simply wish away friction and administration when you implement customs controls anywhere in the world Seamus Leheny, LogisiticsUK Other major retailers were reported to be considering similar steps. In Scotland, seafood producers said that exporting to the EU had become very challenging as a result of the changes. Meanwhile, police in Kent disclosed they have handed out more than 32,000 in fines to lorry drivers since New Years Day. They included penalties for entering the county without the required permit and jumping the queues at the ferry ports. Giving evidence to the Stormont agriculture committee, Mr Leheny said the difficulties hauliers were facing had arisen from Mr Johnsons decision to abandon Theresa Mays Northern Ireland backstop. In order to avoid a hard border with the Republic, Mr Johnson agreed Northern Ireland would remain in the EU single market but that has meant checks on goods arriving from Great Britain. People in Great Britain have not been aware of the volume of administration that this would involve, Mr Leheny told the committee. You cannot simply wish away friction and administration when you implement customs controls anywhere in the world. He added: This is a result of the UK Government rejecting that (the backstop) and it was entirely its decision. Meanwhile, Scotland Food and Drink chief executive James Withers said there had been major problems for seafood exporters selling to the EU. We have warned for months about the lack of preparation time for everyone involved and these problems sadly come as little surprise, he said. There are now a lot of bureaucratic steps to navigate in getting product from Scotland into France and small delays at different points can quickly cause major problems for a set of products whose value relies on getting to European markets within 24 hours. The UK Government earlier said they were aware of a small number of issues around seafood due to information not being entered correctly. A spokeswoman said: We are contacting exporters, their representatives and transporters to help them understand the requirements and we will work closely with them to keep their goods moving. In Kent, the feared queues of lorries along the motorways have not so far materialised but traffic volumes are expected to pick up as January goes on. Despite handing out 113 fines as of Wednesday morning, police said a high percentage of drivers heading to the Eurotunnel and Dover were arriving with the right documentation. Assistant Chief Constable Claire Nix said the volume of lorries heading to the border was expected to increase significantly over the coming weeks so it remained important that companies knew what was required. Europes top auto markets posted their biggest annual sales declines in decades, with ongoing coronavirus restrictions expected to crimp a recovery early this year. Registrations fell by about 25% last year across Germany, the U.K., France, Italy and Spain, Europes five largest car-buying countries, according to industry associations and transport ministries. The resurgence of Covid-19 led several governments to re-implement lockdown measures that are likely to drag on demand into early 2021. Germanys new-car registrations dropped roughly 20% in 2020, based on preliminary data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority, which will post detailed numbers Friday. Figures released earlier this week showed sales plunged 32% in Spain, 29% in the U.K., 28% in Italy and 25% in France. The U.K. auto industrys trade group said the countrys decline was the worst since 1943. The data show the outsize impact the coronavirus had on Europes car industry last year relative to China and the U.S., where car-buying was more resilient. Ongoing weakness in demand poses a risk to the euro-area economy, which relied heavily on the manufacturing sector in staging a recovery in the second half of last year. We are in a deep crisis," Pierre-Louis Debar, head of statistics for French car-industry group CCFA, said in an interview. Its more extensive than anything weve seen in the past." Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Mike Dean said the European auto market could pick up in the second quarter if governments lift lockdowns. Still, BI anticipates sales to finish 2021 down about 15% from 2019. The first quarter of 2021 will be difficult," Dean said. Electric vehicles have been a bright spot within the regions malaise, with BI estimating that hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery-powered vehicles exceeded sales of diesel cars last quarter for the first time. The European Automobile Manufacturers Association will release Europe-wide registration data on Jan. 19. Germanys KBA on Wednesday said sales of purely electric cars rose more than 200% for the year, with Volkswagen AG seizing a 17% share of the segment, followed by Daimler AGs Mercedes-Benz at 15%. In France, fully electric cars accounted for 6.7% of total sales over the year, compared with 1.9% in 2019. The Renault Zoe was the top-selling EV in France with 37,409 units sold, well ahead of the 6,477 Tesla Model 3s and 4,187 Volkswagen ID.3s registered in the country. For more articles like this, please visit us at bloomberg.com 2021 Bloomberg L.P. This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Elon Musk's net worth has soared to $188.5billion after a 6% surge in Tesla shares The billionaire dethroned Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos who trails Musk by $1.5billion Bezos held the title of world's wealthiest person for three years is worth $187bn Prior to that it was Microsoft founder Bill Gates with a net worth of $119.3 billion But here Claudia Connell delves into which of the wealthy trio is the King of Flash Forget who wants to be a millionaire? If you want to be up among the richest people in the world, its going to take billions. Just ask Elon Musk, who yesterday leapfrogged Amazon founder Jeff Bezos to become the richest man on the planet. ADVERTISEMENT On Wednesday, the 49-year-old South Africa-born engineers fortune stood at $181 billion (133 billion) and Bezoss at $184 billion (136 billion). But thanks to a surge in the share price of his electric car company Tesla, his fortune which goes up by tens of millions every day had risen yesterday to $188.5 billion (139 billion). Bezos, 56, had held the top spot since October 2017, when he overtook Microsoft founder Bill Gates, 65, who has a net worth of $119.3 billion (88 billion). The trio, who all made their billions from technology, form a very exclusive club of tycoons to have held the title of the worlds richest man, jostling for first, second and third position as stock prices and fortunes have wavered. And from a love of private jets and fancy houses, through to costly divorces, thats not all these moneybags have in common. But while Musk may currently be the richest, who is the flashest? Who still drives a seven-year-old Honda, who cant boast of an art collection, and who has sworn off space travel? CLAUDIA CONNELL invites you little people to take a look at the richest men in the world Elon Musk Jeff Bezos Luxury jets and gas-guzzling cars Musk: He is careful to be seen driving his own electric vehicles, with an 80,000 Model S Tesla his car of choice. He was seen recently driving the prototype of his new 40,000 Cybertruck. The man who wants people to drive greener cars also keeps a gas guzzling 1967 Jaguar E-Type worth 60,000 and owns two private jets a Gulfstream G550, which costs 45 million and a 48 million Gulfstream G650. ADVERTISEMENT Bezos: The Amazon boss is no petrolhead. The last time he was asked about his car, he revealed he drove a seven-year-old Honda Accord. He scores some billionaire points with his 48 million private jet, an eight-seater Gulfstream G650ER, and the 3.5 million hanger he bought to keep it in. Gates: The climate-change activist recently bought a 116,000 Porsche Taycan Turbo (but at least its electric). He also has a 100,000 Ferrari 348 and a 60,000 Jaguar XJ6. He describes his jet a 29 million, 19-seater Bombardier BD-700 as his guilty pleasure. All three men own private jets and Elon Musk owns two. Microsoft founder Bill Gates describes his jet - a 29 million, 19-seater Bombardier BD-700 (pictured) as his guilty pleasure Musk is obsessed with 'colonising' Mars and founded his SpaceX company in 2002. Pictured: The SpaceX Falcon Heavy launches from the Kennedy Space Centre, in February 2018 Firing up the space race Musk: Like a comic book villain, he is obsessed with colonising Mars. He founded his SpaceX company in 2002 and last year it became the first private company to send humans into orbit when it flew two NASA astronauts to the International Space Station. He says that by 2050 he will have a city of one million people on the Red Planet, whod all have paid around 375,000 to relocate. Bezos: Twenty years ago he founded Blue Origin, a company that aims to make space travel available to all (as long as youre filthy rich). He envisages a future where people will live in floating space colonies with ecosystems similar to Earth. Gates: He has stated that hes not in the least bit interested in joining the billionaire space race, recently calling Musks Mars colonisation plan delusional. However, he has invested 700 million in a company called EarthNow, which aims to cover Earth in video surveillance via hundreds of low-earth orbit satellites. Elon Musk with his first wife Justine whom he divorced in 2008 after eight years of marriage. Justine, mother of his five sons, accused him of under-valuing his assets in bitter divorce battle Love, marriage and costly divorces ADVERTISEMENT Musk: He met first wife, author Justine, when they were students. They married in 2000 and split after eight years. During a bitter divorce, Justine, mother of his five sons, accused him of under-valuing his assets. The judge rejected her claims and Musk gave her a 9 million settlement. In 2010, he married British actress Talulah Riley, now 35, but divorced on friendly terms two years later. In 2013, they remarried only to divorce again in 2016, with the total settlement estimated to be 20 million. Bezos: When youre divorcing the worlds richest man, you can expect a handsome payout. In 2019, he agreed to a 28 billion settlement after splitting with MacKenzie Scott, his wife of 26 years and mother to his four children. She is now a successful novelist who has kept a four per cent share in Amazon worth 26 billion. Gates: No divorce bills for Bill; he has been happily married to Melinda for 26 years. Click here to resize this module Scandals, tweets and conspiracies Musk: In 2018, he tweeted that he was thinking of taking Tesla private at a cost of $420 (310) per share way more than its trading value and had secured the funding to do so. It led to a 30 million fine from trading body the Security and Exchanges Commission. When 12 boys were trapped in a cave in Thailand, Musk sent a submarine for the rescue operation. It was never used, and when British diver Vernon Unsworth accused him of being an attention-seeker, Musk called him pedo guy on Twitter. Unsworth sued for defamation but lost. Bezos: Shortly after his separation from MacKenzie, the National Enquirer published intimate texts between him and new girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, which, they claimed, proved they had been conducting an affair for many months. Bezos then accused the U.S. tabloid of blackmailing him with the threat of publishing more texts and nude photos if he didnt call off an investigation into who leaked the texts. The Enquirer responded by saying Laurens brother Michael Sanchez had supplied the information in return for 150,000. In addition, Amazon worth nearly 2 trillion has been accused of swerving 75 billion of global taxes over the past decade. Gates: Did you know Bill Gates is responsible for Covid-19? He manufactured the virus in order to make a fortune from a vaccine. None of this is true, of course just bonkers conspiracy theories that all stem from a 2010 talk he gave where he predicted that a virus could wipe out millions. Jeff Bezos with his then-wife MacKenzie Bill and Melinda Gates Giving back or not helping enough Musk: Its hard to imagine a cash poor billionaire, but Elon is. Most of his wealth is tied up in his Telsa and SpaceX shares. However, he has given 70 million to charity so far and signed the Giving Pledge, set up by Bill and Melinda Gates, to encourage the super-rich to offload half of their wealth. Bezos: He has been criticised for not giving generously enough despite establishing his own charitable foundation, the Day One Fund, two years ago. It supports homeless families and provides early years education in low income areas, with a 1.5 billion donation. However, Forbes recently stated he donates less than one per cent of his fortune. He hasnt signed the Giving Pledge. However, last year, he pledged 7.5 billion to help fight climate change. Gates: To date he has given 37 billion to good causes via the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The couple have vowed to leave only a small amount of their fortune to their children, with the rest going to charity. One of Elon Musk's six Bel-Air homes which he sold in April for $29 million and which served as his main residence - $12m more than he paid for it in 2012 More houses than in Monopoly Musk: He announced last year that he intends to sell all his physical possessions, including his homes (worth a total of 100 million). Last summer, a buyer paid 22 million for his seven-bedroom mansion in LAs exclusive Bel Air. He is now offering his other four Bel Air houses as part of a bundle at the bargain price of 47 million. In 2019, he sold another home in Brentwood, LA, for a more modest 2.87 million. Bezos: Last year, he bought a 123 million estate in Beverly Hills that set a record for house sales in California. The main house (there are three on the ten-acre compound) is 13,000 square feet with eight bedrooms and nine bathrooms. And its not even his main home thats a sprawling estate in Medina, Washington State, worth 43 million. Throw in two houses in LA, a 12 million converted museum in Washington DC, numerous apartments in New York and a 330,000-acre ranch in Texas and it adds up to an estimated 200 million property portfolio. Gates: His main home is a huge estate, also in Medina, nicknamed Xanadu 2.0 (after the fictional mansion in Citizen Kane). The main mansion offers 66,000 square feet of space and comes with a pool that plays underwater music. The estate was recently valued at 94 million. And he has bought a San Diego beachfront mansion for 32 million. There are two further properties in Florida, an equestrian centre in California and a ski lodge in Montana, adding up to 170 million worth of homes. James Bond Toys: Elon Musk paid 620,000 for this Lotus Esprit submarine car used in Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me which could be driven on land and also go underwater James Bond toys Musk: Seven years ago he paid 620,000 for the Lotus Esprit submarine car used in the Bond movie The Spy Who Loved Me, which could be driven on land and also go underwater. I was disappointed to learn that it cant actually transform, he said at the time. Bezos: He had the fortune, the plane, the property portfolio all that was missing was a giant clock inside a hollowed out mountain. So Bezos spent 36 million on a 500ft thermal-powered clock, housed in a mountain in West Texas that will tell the time for the next 10,000 years. They do sell watches on Amazon, Jeff. Gates: In 2013, it was rumoured he was the new owner of the 314-acre Caribbean island Grand Bogue Caye off the coast of Belize that was sold to an undisclosed buyer for 18 million. But while he did tour the island, he is not thought to have put in an offer. Elon Musk with girlfriend of two years Canadian musician Claire Boucher, stage name Grimes For richer...and richer Musk: His girlfriend of two years is Canadian musician Claire Boucher, who is 17 years his junior. She performs under the name of Grimes and in May last year gave birth to a boy named X-AE-A-XII, or X for short. Bezos: He was accused of cheating on his (now ex) wife MacKenzie with current girlfriend Lauren Sanchez, 51. Lauren was married to movie agent Patrick Whitesell and the pair were friends with Bezos and MacKenzie. After 18 months of dating, Lauren (right with Bezos) has been spotted with what looks like a knuckle-duster of an engagement ring. Gates: Bill has been devoted to wife Melinda, 56, for nearly 30 years. The couple met when she started working for Microsoft as a product manager in 1987. They have three grown-up children. The art of spending it Musk: He sent works by street artist Tristan Eaton into space on his rocket launch this year, but otherwise Elon isnt much of an art buff. Bezos: Only started investing in art this year, when he was reported to have paid 39 million at Christies for Hurting The Word Radio #2 by U.S. artist Ed Ruscha. Hes also thought to have bought Vignette 19 by Kerry James Marshall for 13 million. Gates: Owner of a 100 million art collection, the most valuable work of which is Leonardo Da Vincis Codex Leicester (right), a collection of scientific writings which he paid 23 million for in 1994 and is now worth twice that. ADVERTISEMENT His collection also includes Lost On The Great Banks by American artist Winslow Homer, which he purchased for 26 milion. As of this writing, #Travelgate continues to lay waste to Canadas federal and provincial political landscape, leaving corpses of once-promising political careers behind it. Opinion As of this writing, #Travelgate continues to lay waste to Canadas federal and provincial political landscape, leaving corpses of once-promising political careers behind it. "Travelgate" is the word Im using to describe the ongoing scandal involving politicians who strongly discouraged Canadians from any sort of travel during the holiday season due to COVID-19, only to themselves board flights to sunnier locales. The result has been a spectacle in which some journalists have waited by international baggage claims to catch elected officials with suspicious tans collecting their luggage while returning to our frozen, peaceable kingdom. Canadians have rightly latched on to the scandal as an example of elite hypocrisy: politicians lecturing Canadians to follow the rules while outright flouting them. This was all started by Ontarios former finance minister, Rod Phillips, who flew off to St. Barts a place Im apparently not wealthy enough to have even known about until last week over the holiday, only to be summoned home by Premier Doug Ford once the trip was made public. After a prolonged apology to journalists camped out at Pearson Airport, Phillips promptly resigned. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney tried to get ahead of the scandal when it became clear that what seemed like half his United Conservative Party caucus was out holidaying abroad over December. Both a minister and Kenneys chief of staff resigned over their international travel. MLAs sheepishly returned to Alberta following Kenneys press conference, but one who was particularly committed to relaxing over the holiday couldnt even be contacted. Manitoba hasnt escaped Travelgates harsh backlash. NDP MP Niki Ashton travelled to Greece to visit her ailing grandmother; leader Jagmeet Singh stripped her of her critic responsibilities as a result. Tory MLA James Teitsma took his family on a road trip through the decidedly less exotic locale of Saskatchewan. David McLaughlin, Manitobas top civil servant and the Tories former campaign manager, travelled back to Ottawa to spend time with his family. Premier Brian Pallister has indicated neither Teitsma nor McLaughlin will be sanctioned for their travel. Obviously, Canadians are justified in being outraged by many politicians selective application of travel rules. This outrage is aggravated by two considerations: first is the severity of the pandemic which, due to the arrival of a new more infectious variant of COVID-19 in Canada thanks to international travellers, may well get worse before provincial governments can vaccinate enough Canadians; second, Canadians already have a fairly low view of governments and elected officials, and so scandals such as this reinforce cynicism in Canadian politics. There is some evidence that Canadians view of government was improving as a result of the COVID-19 response. One wonders whether these most recent revelations will have dashed that. On the other hand, there is some room for sympathy in these cases. There is a difference between taking off during the holiday to get some sun and travelling for family reasons. In the former category, MP Ron Liepert travelled to a place called Palm Desert, Calif., in the middle of the Canadian December, only to claim his travel was "essential." In the latter: Ashton flew to Greece and was allowed into the country based on her "urgent family situation," her grandmothers failing health. Ashton, in my view, deserves some sympathy; Liepert deserves none. The easiest response to this argument is that Canadians have been deprived of time with their families as a result of lockdown rules, so why should politicians be able to meet with their families? Many Canadians went through the entire holiday without the company of family and loved ones. Kids didnt see their grandparents. For many, this will be the loneliest Christmas they will have ever experienced. The news that politicians have flouted the rules theyve imposed on regular Canadians feels like salt ground into these fresh wounds. I agree entirely. I wish there was a way to create exceptions to these lockdown laws for family reasons. And in addition to the drumbeat of news about how the lockdowns have harmed businesses and how governments should move to support them, I wish there was greater attention paid to how the lockdowns have hurt families and robbed us of the human contact and interactions that both give us joy and make life worth living. That isnt to say that these rules arent a grim necessity; only that the coronavirus, in addition to everything else it has done, shouldnt take our empathy from us. Politicians careers are ending because they failed to follow the spirit if not the letter of the rules we must all abide by. Some politicians have done so to work on their tans in the middle of the Canadian winter. Others have done so to spend precious time with an ailing grandmother. If you cant recognize and appreciate the difference between the two, then you will probably end up with the politicians you deserve. Royce Koop is head of the political studies department at the University of Manitoba. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. DecisionDatabases added the latest report with a global perspective on the Hem-Fir Fencing Market studied under different segments, including type, application, and regions. The report is treated with size, trends, growth, share, and forecast till 2025. Besides, the research report studied the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on overall growth at the global level. This report also offers a lucrative area of the industry at the regional and country level. The final report will cover the impact of COVID-19 on this industry. The global Hem-Fir Fencing market report presents a complete research-based study of the industry including details such as company shares, forecast data, in-depth analysis and an outlook of the market on a worldwide platform. The report further highlights the market drivers, restraints and the top manufacturers at the global and regional levels. For a thorough understanding, the report also offers market segmentation and regional analysis for the forecast period from 2020 to 2025. Click here to get a Sample PDF Copy of the Hem-Fir Fencing Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-30346 According to this study, over the next five years, the Hem-Fir Fencing market will register an xx% CAGR in terms of revenue, the global market size will reach $ xx million by 2025, from $ xx million in 2020. In particular, this report presents the global market share (sales and revenue) of key companies in the Hem-Fir Fencing business, shared in Chapter 3. This Hem-Fir Fencing market report also splits the market by regions: Americas (United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil), APAC (China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, India, Australia), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Italy, Russia, Spain), Middle East & Africa (Egypt, South Africa, Israel, Turkey, GCC Countries). This report presents a comprehensive overview, market shares, and growth opportunities of the Hem-Fir Fencing market by type, application, key manufacturers, key regions, and countries. The key manufacturers covered in this report: Breakdown data in Chapter 3. Allweather Wood fencing Eagle Forest Products Berco Redwood A.D. Martin Lumber Company Great Falls Fence Bakken Fence Company Others To inquire about report customization, feel free to reach out to our team of expert analysts @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/ask-questions-30346 This study considers the Hem-Fir Fencing value and volume generated from the sales of the following segments: Segmentation by type: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.3; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.7. Untreated Pressure Treated Segmentation by application: breakdown data from 2015 to 2020, in Section 2.4; and forecast to 2025 in section 11.8. Residential Commercial Agricultural Others In addition, this report discusses the key drivers influencing market growth, opportunities, challenges, and the risks faced by key manufacturers and the market as a whole. It also analyzes key emerging trends and their impact on present and future development. Purchase the Complete Global Hem-Fir Fencing Market Research Report @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/buy-now-30346 Research Objectives To study and analyze the global Hem-Fir Fencing consumption (value & volume) by key regions/countries, type and application, history data from 2015 to 2019, and forecast to 2025. To understand the structure of the Hem-Fir Fencing market by identifying its various subsegments. Focuses on the key global Hem-Fir Fencing manufacturers, to define, describe, and analyze the sales volume, value, market share, market competition landscape, SWOT analysis and development plans in the next few years. To analyze the Hem-Fir Fencing with respect to individual growth trends, future prospects, and their contribution to the total market. To share detailed information about the key factors influencing the growth of the market (growth potential, opportunities, drivers, industry-specific challenges and risks). To project the consumption of Hem-Fir Fencing submarkets, with respect to key regions (along with their respective key countries). To analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the market. To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies. About Us: DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research report provider, enriching decision-makers, and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research reports, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains. Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed. For more details: DecisionDatabases.com E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.com Phone: +91 90 28 057900 Web: https://www.decisiondatabases.com/ Reference Source: https://www.topnewscorner.com/global-hem-fir-fencing-market-report-2020-by-regions-upcoming-trends-industry-analysis-and-global-demand-till-2025/ When Debbie Haar pulled up to a Starbucks drive-through in Lake Elsinore, Calif., recently, it was a difficult day. Her 9-year-old son, Cole, was in the backseat, and they were on their way to his chemotherapy treatment. As Haar reached out of her car window to take her iced peppermint mocha and Coles apple juice, a Starbucks barista unexpectedly struck up a casual conversation. I was just at the window, being happy and cheerful, and just trying to be as positive as I can be during the pandemic, said Eddie Aldrete, a 22-year-old Starbucks employee. Knowing her son could use a pick-me-up, Haar took a small gamble. She rolled down the backseat window of her car and asked the barista for a favor: Could you tell Cole hes going to kick cancers butt today? she asked him. Thats when the first pep talk happened. Aldrete turned to Cole, and said: You can do this. We are all rooting for you. We are all behind you. You are strong, and youre going to do great, Haar, 44, recalled. The parting line of Aldretes unplanned pep talk was, You got this, buddy. Aldretes spur-of-the-moment motivational speech cheered him up so much, Haar said. It was like night and day. So much, she said, that Cole wanted to visit his new supporter before and after every chemo treatment. So the Haars started going to the Starbucks on the way to the Childrens Hospital of Orange County, ahead of each chemo appointment, hoping to see Aldrete for a pep talk. Other staff at Starbucks started giving pep talks, too, offering to fill in for Aldrete whenever he wasnt there. Then Aldrete and Haar exchanged numbers. Soon, Aldrete and Cole started FaceTiming and playing video games virtually. I decided Im going to be a force of positivity for Cole, Aldrete said. Ill be his cheerleader. Aldretes constant support has lifted Coles spirits as he faces both physical and emotional challenges. Cole was diagnosed with leukemia in February, and when he met Aldrete, he was at a particularly perilous point in his treatment. It has been a nightmare, said Haar, explaining that his treatment will be three years or longer. Were in it for the long haul. Coles illness has been all-consuming for his whole family, his mother said, and has been so intense that he hasnt been able to participate in school. Given his depleted immune system and the risks associated with the coronavirus, we are very isolated, said Haar, who lives in a rural area near Temecula, Calif., with her husband and two of her four children. Each time Cole has a chemo appointment which is four days a week he and his mother drive two hours to the childrens hospital in Orange County. I cannot even explain how awful all of this has been. But Eddie is definitely a bright spot. He is a source of happiness, Haar said. Aldrete who recently graduated from California State University and plans to pursue a career in photography and design tries to speak with the Haars daily and checks in with Cole often. It really is a friendship, said Aldrete, who sees Cole as a little brother. Relationships can happen out of nowhere sometimes. Aldretes extended family and the Haars have gotten to know each other over FaceTime, too. When Aldretes father, Eddie Aldrete Sr., 51, heard Cole needed blood, he booked an appointment to donate his own. Cancer is a terrible disease. My mom and dad both passed away from cancer; both my sisters had breast cancer. Ive been through it, and Ive seen family members suffer from this terrible illness, Aldrete Sr. said. I knew Eddie always had a big heart and cares about other people, but for him to actually take the time to help somebody he didnt even know is awesome. The entire Aldrete family is now actively invested in Coles health and journey forward. Haar said she is blown away by the support, which started from a spontaneous but profoundly significant gesture from a Starbucks barista. The world needs more Eddies, said Haar. I dont think Ive done anything phenomenal, Aldrete said. Its something that any human being should do. Just be kind. U.S. Border Patrol agents discovered 126 individuals inside a refrigerated trailer during a human smuggling attempt reported at the Interstate 35 checkpoint, authorities said. A commercial refrigerated tractor-trailer arrived early Wednesday at the checkpoint. A K-9 unit then allegedly alerted to the vehicle during an inspection. The driver was referred to secondary but disregarded agents instructions and continued to exit the checkpoint onto I-35 traveling northbound. Agents proceeded to perform a vehicle stop on the tractor trailer north of the checkpoint, Border Patrol said. Agents escorted the vehicle back to the checkpoint where a search of the refrigerated trailer led to the discovery of 126 people without personal protective equipment. All were immigrants from the countries of Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras who had crossed the border illegally. The driver, a U.S. citizen, was arrested pending further investigation by Homeland Security Investigations special agents. Border Patrol seized the 18-wheeler. Human smugglers continue to have no regard for the safety and health of the people they exploit for profit. With a noted increase in COVID-19 infections among detainees, the transporting of large groups of people without PPE in close dangerous quarters endangers the individuals and safety of our nation, Border Patrol said in a statement. To report suspicious activity such as human or drug smuggling, download the USBP Laredo Sector app or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994. TechSamvad India's digital financial services platform Paytm has launched new Instant Personal Loans on its platform to facilitate access to credit services to its one million customers. The service, which is active 24x7, for 365 days a year, allows users to get a loan in less than two minutes. The service can also be availed on public holidays and weekends, Paytm said during the announcement. "Paytm is the technology & distribution partner for non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) and would help them expand the reach and adoption of loan services to salaried individuals, small business owners, and professionals," Paytm said during the launch. The loans in Paytm's Instant Personal Loans initiative would be processed and disbursed by NBFCs and banks. This, according to the company, will bring 'new to credit' customers into the ambit of the formal financial market, and will also empower individuals from small cities and towns who do not have access to traditional banking institutions. Paytm has digitised the entire process for loan application and disbursal with no physical documentation required. This service proposition is built on Paytm's tech platform that enables banks and NBFCs to process loans end to end in less than two minutes. Under the new Instant Personal Loan scheme, Paytm will offer instant loans of up to Rs 2 lakhs to salaried individuals, small business owners, and professionals. Further, Paytm said that its loan service comes with a flexible repayment tenure of 18-36 months and EMI is determined according to the tenure. Eligible customers can avail the service through the Personal Loan tab under the Financial Services section and can manage their loan account directly from the Paytm app. The company has partnered with various NBFCs and banks to facilitate this service. During the beta phase, Paytm disbursed personal loans to over 400 selected customers. The company is now aiming for over one million users by fiscal year-end to avail the personal loan services from the platform. Bhavesh Gupta, CEO, Paytm Lending said, "We aim to make Instant Personal Loans accessible to the self-employed, new to credit individuals and young professionals who need short to medium term personal loans to manage urgent expenses so that lack of resources does not come in their way to fulfil dreams and ambitions. Our aim is to become a growth enabler for India's aspiring youth and young professionals to help them become self-reliant. We will continue to innovate and digitise as many services that help in bringing 'new to credit' users into the formal economy." (Also Read: Paytm Money launches IPO investments, empowers investors to participate in Initial Public Offerings) The Louisiana Department of Health reported 2,553 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 92 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Friday. Friday's death toll is the second highest total reported in a single day in the state. The only day with a higher total is April 14, when 129 deaths were reported. The number of hospitalizations increased by 36, and the number of patients in need of ventilators increased by 1. There are also 34,989 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard. Here are a few more key statewide statistics as of Friday: Total confirmed cases: 306,442 Total "probable" cases: 34,989 Total confirmed deaths: 7,411 Currently hospitalized: 2,069 Currently on ventilators: 220 Vaccine series initiated: 74,517 (updated twice weekly) Vaccine series completed: 7,068 Presumed recovered: 280,373 as of Jan. 4 (updated weekly) Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here. Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Here are some of the parishes with the highest two-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Sunday report: Jefferson: 361 Orleans: 238 Caddo: 214 St. Tammany: 195 East Baton Rouge: 166 Lafayette: 122 Bossier: 99 Ouachita: 91 You can view more graphs and charts breaking down the data by clicking here. Louisiana began reopening for Phase 1 on May 15-16 then moved to Phase 2 on June 5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Phase 2 restrictions twice in August before moving the state to Phase 3 on Sept. 11. The governor then moved the state back to a modified Phase 2 near the end of November. This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come. She was embroiled in her stepmother Hilaria Baldwin's controversy over her alleged fake Spanish origins late last year. But Ireland Baldwin got away from it all and took some time out for herself in a series of relaxing nature photos she posted to her Instagram account on Friday. The 25-year-old model appeared to still be in enjoying the beautiful landscapes of Oregon after relocating in the wake of a violent mugging in August in Los Angeles. Time out: Ireland Baldwin, 25, did her best to 'Find peace' in recent photos from her time in Oregon as she avoid the controversy about her stepmother Hilaria Baldwin's fake Spanish roots Ireland shared a single closeup photo of her face as she practiced her pout. She wore a black fleece jacket featuring the logo for the camera lens company Panavision and had her dyed-blond hair messily draped over her shoulders. 'Find peace,' she captioned the serene nature photos. One image showed a muddy bay with a single park bench overlooking it on a green hill. Serene: In addition to a closeup focusing on her elegant pout, she shared a view of a muddy bay and a pristine park bench on a green hill overlooking it Calm: Another photo further down showed an overturned tree sitting in a pool of water next to rippling sand after the tide had gone out Another photo further down showed an overturned tree sitting in a pool of water next to rippling sand after the tide had gone out. Ireland was joined by her boyfriend, musician Corey Harper, and other friends. Corey dug a hole next to the fallen tree, while another pal held a bundle of fire wood for a bonfire later in the evening. Out with friends: Ireland was joined by her boyfriend, musician Corey Harper, and another friend who held a bundle of firewood Too cute! Joining the group was Ireland's black and white dog, which appeared to be an Alaskan Malamute Chilling out: It flashed a cute grin from the back of their pick up truck before finding a spot on the sand next to her while she worked on a bottle of wine Joining the group was Ireland's black and white dog, which appeared to be an Alaskan Malamute. It flashed a cute grin from the back of their pick up truck before finding a spot on the sand next to the daughter of Alec Baldwin, who wore a pair of dark green Hunter rain boots while she worked on a bottle of wine. The overcast day by the sea looked chilly, but she confirmed that they were staying toasty with a photo of their fire. The model finished off her post by revealing that her Christmas tree was still up back at home. Cozy: The overcast day by the sea looked chilly, but she confirmed that they were staying toasty with a photo of their fire No rush: The model finished off her post by revealing that her Christmas tree was still up back at home The day before, Ireland raged on Instagram as she shared a photo of an armed pro-Trump mob storming into the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. 'Hard to even wrap my brain around this madness. Terrorism. People who have nothing to fight for. Breaking windows and causing destruction for Donald Trump. People who rioted not for change... but for Donald F***ing Trump.' She was wrapped up in the controversy surrounding her stepmother Hilaria Baldwin's fake Spanish heritage in late December, after some of the yoga instructor's followers noticed that her pseudo-Spanish accent seemed to have disappeared in some of her videos. Friends from her early days then confirmed that she was born in Boston and had lived there most of her life. Prior to that, she was believed to have been born on the Spanish island of Mallorca. 'I think it is her business': Ireland distanced herself from her stepmother Hilaria Baldwin's heritage controversy on December 29 while reiterating her love for her; seen with Alec and Hilaria in 2015 Ireland wrote on December 29 that she was staying out of her stepmother's business while reiterating her love for her. Around the same time, she shared a message to her Insta Stories from a friend who had corrected her after she referred to Hilaria by the term 'Latinx.' The friend corrected her, explaining that the term only applies to people from Latin America, whereas Hispanic could apply to anyone from Spain or from a Spanish-speaking country. Ireland didn't seem to mind the correction and was happy about its relaxed tone. 'Really appreciate Instagram friends who reach out and correct me and give me opportunities to learn. I am her to listen!' she wrote over a screenshot of the message. JACKSON, MI With so much national news coming out this week, its easy to forget that a lot news happened in the Jackson area as well. Here are some headlines you might have missed this week. Judge dismisses lawsuit against former Jackson County sheriff, allows county suit to continue A portion of a lawsuit filed nearly three years ago against now-former Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand and Jackson County has been dismissed by a federal judge. Judge Stephanie Dawkins Davis, for the U.S. District Court Eastern District of Michigan, issued an opinion Dec. 23, dismissing the case against Rand while allowing the lawsuit against the county to continue. Ive got a freaking hole in my business. Driver crashes into Jackson flower shop A driver crashed through a cinderblock wall, severely damaging Jacksons Brown Floral Co. on New Years Day. The driver of a black Honda sedan crashed through the wall of the storage room of the business at 908 Greenwood Ave. sometime early in the morning of Jan. 1, owner Chris Grostefon said. An employee found the car the evening of Jan. 1 when she went to check on the stores cat, Roxy, Grostefon said. Jackson entrepreneur sells interest in several downtown restaurants A Jackson entrepreneur is stepping away from his leading role in building several notable restaurants downtown. John Burtka and his wife, Denise, have sold their interest in Jacksons Grand River Brewery, Doll n Burgers and Veritas restaurants to their business partners, Justin and Roberta Dalenberg. Its kind of like youre at your daughters wedding and youre walking her down the aisle, Burtka said. Theres a sadness about your daughter leaving the house but then theres optimism and excitement for whats next. Im excited both for Grand River and for Denise and I. Man stabbed by girlfriend during fight in Jackson County, police say A Jackson man was allegedly stabbed by his girlfriend late Monday night, police said. The 51-year-old man and his 48-year-old girlfriend were arguing around 10 p.m., Jan. 4, at their home in the 1300 block of Old McDevitt Avenue in Summit Township, the Jackson County Sheriffs Office said. The woman grabbed a knife during the argument and stabbed the man once in his left arm, causing a severe cut. Portion of M-60 dedicated to fallen Jackson-area Iraq War veteran A stretch of highway in Spring Arbor Township now honors a Jackson County soldier who died while serving in Iraq. About two miles of M-60 in Jackson County, from Fairway Drive to Emerson Road, now will be known as the Sergeant Matthew R. Soper Memorial Highway after a bill sponsored by State Rep. Julie Alexander, R-Hanover, was signed by the governor on Dec. 29. Soper, 25, died when an improvised explosive device hit his patrol vehicle in Baiji, Iraq on June 6, 2007, while he was serving his second tour in Iraq for the Jackson-based Michigan Army National Guard 1461st Transportation Company. His funeral service brought thousands to Jackson who came to honor a local man who died while serving his country. Teenager shot in Jackson, police say A teenager was shot Sunday night in Jackson, police said. Officers responded to the 1400 block of Chapin at 7:05 p.m. Jan. 3 and found a 16-year-old girl who was shot in the lower leg, Jackson Police and Fire Services Director Elmer Hitt said. Witnesses told police they saw two males standing in the street, shooting at the home, Hitt said. A bullet went into the house, where it hit the teenager, he said. Jacksons automotive history to be highlighted at museum in historic building A new automotive museum in Jackson hopes to rev up production by this spring. The Jaxon Auto Museum will take up 10,000-square feet in the historic Commercial Exchange Building at 3601 E. Michigan Ave -- the site of a former automotive and buggy manufacturer at the turn of the 20th century. Ethics investigation on 2 Jackson council members headed to Michigan Attorney General A request for an investigation into the ethics of two Jackson City Council members is headed to the Michigan Attorney General. The Jackson City Councils decision to seek the investigation on Ward 4 Councilwoman Laura Dwyer Schlecte and Ward 3 Councilman Jeromy Alexander came during a nearly three-hour meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 5. The action stems from 18 questions presented to Schlecte on potential ethics violations. They question whether Schlecte, who owns Thinking Real Estate, fully disclosed her involvement in working with a developer who proposed buying the city-owned Vermeulens and Masonic Temple buildings on Cortland Street. $40K donation from Kiwanis Club boosts Jackson YMCA capital campaign A new healthy living campus for the Jackson YMCA is closer to reality with a donation from Jacksons Kiwanis Club. The Kiwanis Club and Kiwanis Foundation of Jackson are contributing $40,000 to the Ys donation drive to fund a new downtown facility. Its one of the largest donations in the two organizations history, coming after a $45,000 contribution to the Jackson County Splash Pad at the Cascades about five years ago. The Eighth Parliament of the Fourth Republic was officially ushered in with the inauguration of 275 Members of Parliament (MPs). It also came with the election of a Speaker and two Deputy Speakers. In the absence of the Speaker, either of the Deputy Speakers may take the chair when requested to do so by the Speaker during a sitting of the House without any formal communication to the House. Article 96 of the 1992 Constitution, among others, provides that at the commencement of every Parliament, or as may be necessary, the House shall elect two Deputy Speakers who shall be known as the First and Second Deputy Speakers. Whenever the House is informed by the Clerk-at-the-Table of the unavoidable absence of the Speaker, the First Deputy Speaker shall perform the duties and exercise the authority of the Speaker in relation to all proceedings of the house until the Speaker resumes the chair, without any further communication to the House. We bring you the profile of the two Deputy Speakers. Joe Osei Owusu The First Deputy Speaker of the Eighth Parliament, Mr Joseph Osei-Owusu, who is also the MP for Bekwai, was born at Bekwai in the Ashanti Region in 1962. He had his basic education at the St Johns Catholic School and went to the Juabeng and Wenchi Secondary schools for his General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level and Advanced Level certificates respectively. After his second cycle education, he proceeded to the University of Ghana, Legon, where he obtained a combined degree in Law and Classics in 1970 and continued to the Ghana School of Law, after which he was called to the Ghana Bar in 1990. Chairman Mr Osei-Owusu, who was also the Chairman of the Appointments Committee of the Seventh Parliament, started his legal career with Yaw Barima and Co. in Koforidua and worked there for four years after which he moved to Kumasi and teamed up with Kwame Osei Prempeh to start Adom Chambers where he engaged in private legal practice for nine years. He then ventured into public service and served as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Driver, Vehicle and Licensing Authority (DVLA) for six-and-half years. Mr Osei-Owusu, who is also known as Joe-Wise, again went back to school at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) and obtained his Executive Masters degree in Governance and Leadership in 2007. Prior to joining DVLA, Mr Osei-Owusu held other leadership positions including the Secretary of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), Ashanti Region, Assembly Member at Bekwai, SRC President of the Ghana School of Law and JCR President of Commonwealth Hall at the University of Ghana, Legon. Resignation Mr Osei-Owusu resigned his position as CEO of the DVLA to contest the Bekwai parliamentary seat in 2008 as an Independent candidate and entered Parliament as an Independent MP in 2009. He was re-elected to represent the people of Bekwai from 2013 and has been in Parliament since then. The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament has served on committees of Parliament such as the Appointments Committee, the Rail and Transport Committee and the Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, of which he was the Ranking Member. From January 7, 2017, he was unanimously elected as the First Deputy Speaker of the Seventh Parliament of Ghana. He is the leader of Ghanas delegation to the Pan African Parliament. Andrew Asiamah Amoako The Independent MP for Fomena in the Ashanti Region, Mr Andrew Asiamah Amoako, 54, is a lawyer and surveyor. In the Seventh Parliament, he was the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Fomena. He was, however, sacked from the party after he filed to contest the Fomena parliamentary seat as an Independent candidate during the 2020 election. A statement issued by the General Secretary of the NPP said that by contesting as an Independent candidate, Mr Amoako had forfeited his membership of the party per Article 3(9) of the partys constitution. For the avoidance of doubt, Article 97(1)(g) of the Constitution states that: A member of Parliament shall vacate his seat in Parliament if he leaves the party of which he was a member at the time of his election to Parliament to join another party or seeks to remain in Parliament as an independent member, it said. After the election, the party extended an olive branch to Mr Asiamah and he accepted to be part of it again. Education He has a Masters in Conflict, Peace and Security which he obtained from the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Centre at Teshie in Accra. Mr Asiamah also holds a Master of Science in Environmental Resource Management from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and a Bachelor of Science in Land Economy also from the KNUST (then the University of Science and Technology (UST). He has a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and is a graduate from the Ghana School of Law after which he was called to the Ghana Bar Association (GBA). He is also a member of the Ghana Institute of Surveyors. He worked at the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) as a valuer and as a legal practitioner with Akosombo Chambers. Election During the 2020 parliamentary election on December 7, 2020, Mr Asiamah polled 12,805 votes as against 10,798 for Mr Philip Ofori-Asante, the NPP candidate and 2,608 votes for Ms Christina Ama Ranson, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate. 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 Sen. Erin Houchin, R-Salem, said she authored the bill because the veto and override procedures were accidentally deleted from state code in 2019, which impacted Lake and St. Joseph counties. In both counties, a county council is the legislative branch and a board of commissioners is the executive branch, while the states other counties just have a board of commissioners, officials said. Thousands evacuate flood-hit deep South THAILAND: Authorities are evacuating flood-residents in Yala, as higher than average precipitation across the three southernmost border provinces since Monday (Jan 4) have inundated over 18,000 households in the region. weatherenvironment By Bangkok Post Friday 8 January 2021, 10:00AM Flooding in Sungai Padi district of Narathiwat on Tuesday (Jan 5) night. Photo: Waedao Harai. As a result of the continued rain, the Sai Buri River in Yala broke its banks, inundating homes and farmlands across Raman district. Soldiers used boats to evacuate residents and their properties, as the main road in Rueso district which connects Yala and Narathiwat was cut off by the flood. Local government agencies also distributed food and other aid to flood-affected households in the area. The director of Yalas Irrigation Project Office, Chusak Sutthi, said he was most worried about the provinces low-lying areas, as the total amount of rainfall to date has broken the record set 10 years ago. Yala governor Chaiyasit Panichpong has instructed the provinces disaster mitigation department and district offices in eight districts to urgently survey the flood-hit areas to assess the floods impact on residents. The eight flood-hit districts will be declared disaster zones, according to the governor. Landslides were reported in three sub-districts of Yalas Bannang Sata district, but the flood in the area has reportedly subsided. The district was flooded as the Pattani River overflowed after the spillways at Bang Lang dam were opened. In Songkhla, Na Thawi and Saba Yoi districts were flooded by rainwater flowing down from the Khao Nam Khang mountain. Flood water was being pumped away from the submerged areas. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation yesterday blamed the heavy rains in the lower South for the flash floods and strong winds in the three southernmost provinces, including Songkhla, Yala and Narathiwat. The floods affected a total of 18,024 households across 19 districts in the provinces, the department said. Heavy downpours in the lower South were the result of a strong northeastern monsoon, which is covering the mainland and the Gulf of Thailand, as well as a low pressure system above Malaysia, according to the department. The department said it was working with local administrative organisations and concerned units to urgently assist residents. Tensions are rising around Thailands pro-democracy protests, with six people shot last week and police using tear gas and water cannon on the streets of Bangkok. As the Thai capital braces for the next major rally on Wednesday, AFP takes a look at the forces in play and what might come next in a country with a long history of political unrest. Protesters getting tough After four months of rallies, sometimes involving tens of thousands of demonstrators, the mood is getting tougher, with protest leaders warning they are not prepared to compromise. More than 50 people were injured during a protest near parliament last week, six of them with gunshot wounds, according to medical officials, though it is not clear who was responsible for the shooting. Police are investigating but have not made any arrests. Slogans and insults against the monarchy -- unthinkable only a short time ago -- are proliferating, while riot police showed last week they are ready to take firm action against the rallies. The student-led movement has gained a strong base on the streets and social media and experts say the Red Shirts, a once-vociferous group who led major street protests a decade ago, may join the ranks. The movement is calling for Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha -- who came to power in a coup in 2014 -- to quit, for constitutional changes and for reform of the monarchy. Siripan Nogsuan Sawasdee, professor of political science at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn University, told AFP the movement needs to prioritise its demands and focus its leadership on a few prominent figureheads if it is to make progress. But with their taboo-smashing demands for reform of the monarchy, Siripan said, the protesters have already allowed the emergence of a new political culture, pushing for a freedom of expression unprecedented in the history of the kingdom. Authorities playing by ear The authorities have had a cautious response to the movement since it sprang up in July -- announcing emergency measures then withdrawing them, arresting protest leaders then freeing them again. Since the beginning of the movement, the government has played it by ear, said Paul Chambers of Naresuan University. Unlike previous Thai protest movements, the majority of the demonstrators are young middle-class city dwellers. The authorities may be wary of tarnishing Thailands international image with a repeat of the crackdown on the Red Shirts in 2010 that left 90 people dead in the heart of Bangkoks tourist and shopping district. However, the authorities have hardened their tone in recent days, brandishing the threat of section 112 -- the kingdoms famously strict royal defamation laws, which carry up to 15 years in prison. Royal charm offensive King Maha Vajiralongkorn, not seen much in public before the protest movement, has launched a charm offensive, making numerous appearances, talking to supporters and declaring his love for all Thais. But he remains a controversial figure and does not enjoy the same level of affection built up by his late father, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, during his seven decades on the throne, which ended in 2016. The present king has strengthened his powers by taking direct control of the royal fortune and army units. And his frequent stays in Germany have also raised questions -- some criticise him for not being concerned enough about his subjects during the coronavirus pandemic. There is evidently a campaign to rally legitimacy. At issue is whether this should have been done much earlier, whether there is still sufficient time, said Thitinan Pongsudhirak, head of the Institute of Security and International Studies at Bangkoks Chulalongkorn University. A violent climax? Thailand has often seen protest movements end in bloodshed -- twice in the 1970s, then in 1992 and in 2010 -- and experts warn a repeat could be brewing. Chambers said ultra-royalist right-wing groups are already forming to harass democracy demonstrators. Some are talking of a possible coup, to add to the dozen Thailand has seen since its move to democracy in 1932. In the short term, next week brings a potential watershed with a judgment expected in a constitutional court case against Prayut for allegedly misusing the army chiefs official residence. If he loses, he looks set to be thrown out of office -- a development that would likely take much of the immediate tension out of the unrest on the streets. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON HSBC will resume offering mortgages to buyers with a 10 per cent deposit, following similar moves from the likes of NatWest, Halifax and Coventry Building Society. The bank said that its 90 per cent loan-to-value products would be available to customers from 12 January. Two and five-year fixed rates will be available, with terms of up to 35 years. The rates will be announced when the mortgages are launched next week. HSBC has said it will start offering customers 90 per cent LTV mortgages from next week Customers will be able to borrow up to 400,000, which means the mortgages will only be suitable for those buying properties that cost less than 450,000. High-LTV mortgages such as these are usually popular with first-time buyers and homeowners who want to move but do not have a large amount of equity. Michelle Andrews, head of buying a home at HSBC UK, said: 'I am pleased and proud to announce that we will be re-introducing mortgages at up to 90 per cent LTV. 'These mortgages build on our significant support for brokers and mortgage customers throughout 2020 and will be available across the board - for home purchases, first time buyers and to those remortgaging - all up to a maximum of 35 years. Most banks pulled their 10 per cent deposit mortgages from the market during the initial lockdown in March. One of the reasons for this was that lenders and brokers were worried that the logistics of working at home and restrictions on carrying out property surveys would cause about a backlog in the mortgage application system, which their staff would not be able to cope with. However, Andrews said that lenders had learned from the first lockdown and would be able to cope with demand better this time around. 'The new lockdown will undoubtedly present challenges, but the experience of overcoming numerous difficulties during the original lockdown, for example making more use of automated valuations, will be invaluable,' she said. 'We are all seeking a return to normal, although for many it will feel like we may not see that for a while. With us returning to the higher LTV space, hopefully that is a little bit of welcome normality.' Other lenders have been slowly moving back into the 10 per cent deposit market since December. NatWest recently launched a two-year fixed deal at a higher rate of 3.55 per cent with a 995 fee, but its five-year fixed product has a slightly lower rate than Coventry's at 3.6 per cent and a 995 fee. Meanwhile, Yorkshire Building Society is offering a higher 3.69 per cent two-year fixed rate with a 995 product fee, and a higher 3.79 per cent five-year fixed rate with a 995 product fee. The digital-first challenger bank, Atom Bank has some of the most competitive rates on the market, offering 3.09 per cent on a two-year fixed deal with a 1,500 fee and 3.24 per cent with the same fee for its five-year fix. However, these rates are still higher than those that buyers were being given before the pandemic. At the same time, buyers with deposits of 40 per cent or more have seen rates fall, sometimes to as little as 1.2 per cent Article L. 238-8-II of the French commercial Code and article 223-16 of the AMF (French Financial Markets Authority) general regulation Regulatory News: Veolia Environnement (Paris:VIE): Corporate name of the issuer: Veolia Environnement 21 rue La Boetie 75008 PARIS FRANCE (ISIN code: FR0000124141-VIE) Information closing date Total number of shares forming the share capital Total number of voting rights December 31, 2020 578,611,362 Total number of theoretical voting rights (1): 615,007,026 Total number of voting rights that may be exercised (2): 602,167,353 Inclusion in the Veolia Environnement Articles of Association of a clause requiring a reporting obligation of the declaration of crossing a shareholding threshold, complementary to the one relating to the thresholds provided by the French law and the regulations in force (article 8). (1) Number of theoretical voting rights after taking into account the number of shares with double voting rights as of December 31, 2020 (36,395,664 shares) and the number of treasury shares held as of December 31, 2020 (12,839,673 shares). (2) Number of voting rights that may be exercised number of theoretical voting rights (or total number of voting rights attached to shares) shares without voting rights (number of treasury shares held as of December 31, 2020). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005531/en/ Contacts: Veolia Environnement tel.: +33 (0)1 85 57 70 00 Fax: +33 (0)1 71 75 10 45 www.veolia.com .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... Some of our favorite movie characters from the 1980s and early 1990s have resurfaced in the 21st century, from the return of Matthew Brodericks Ferris Bueller in an ad for Honda to Bruce Willis reprising John McClane from Die Hard for Advance Auto Parts to Bill Murray repeating his Phil Connors from Groundhog Day in a commercial for Jeep to Annie Potts Janine Melnitz from Ghostbusters appearing in ads for QuickBooks to Chevy Chase and Beverly DAngelo returning as the Griswolds from National Lampoons Christmas Vacation in a spot for the Ford Mustang Mach-E. QuickBooks also featured Martin Koves notoriously hiss-worthy villain John Kreese from The Karate Kid as a kinder, gentler version of himself who is now operating the Koala Kai dojo, but we know thats not what REALLY happened to Kreese. Whereas all those previous examples were one- or two-minute updates on beloved characters from three decades ago, weve been gifted with three full seasons featuring the modern-day adventures of the surviving main players from the Karate Kid saga in the wildly entertaining, outrageously corny and ridiculously addictive Cobra Kai streaming series, which played on YouTube Red for two seasons before Netflix acquired the show, with Season 3 debuting Jan. 1 and a fourth season already in the works. Who knew we were so thirsty to catch up with Ralph Macchios Daniel LaRusso, William Zabkas Johnny Lawrence and yes, Koves John Kreese 35 years after Kreese told Lawrence to sweep the leg? (Sadly, the wonderful Pat Morita, who earned a best supporting actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Mr. Miyagi in the original film, has been gone since 2005, although Mr. Miyagi looms large as the guiding influence of Daniels life in the streaming series.) Ive binged the entire Season 3, and while the initial big kick of seeing the return of these characters has lessened and the soap-opera plot developments are becoming increasingly ludicrous, its still great escapist fun. In the Cobra Kai universe, Daniel and Johnny and Kreese hadnt crossed paths in 35 years until they started crossing paths practically every other day. Daniel is living the country club life he once envied from the outside looking in, with a lucrative car dealership chain in the San Fernando Valley, a loving family and a beautiful home. Meanwhile, Johnny Lawrence is a divorced deadbeat dad who is estranged from his teenage son, pounds beers 24/7, lives in a shoebox apartment and still has anger management issues. As for Kreese, he literally emerged from the shadows at the end of Season 1, eventually took control over the Cobra Kai dojo and is even more of a violent sociopath than he was during the Reagan administration. (Ah, but as we learn in Season 3, the bully wasnt always a bully. He was a teenage victim of bullying himself. And then came his Vietnam experience.) One of the great things about Cobra Kai is how it shows us events past and present from the points of view of Johnny and Kreese, as we learn more about the backstories of these initially one-dimensional characters. As Daniel and Johnny renew their petty rivalry, with Daniels daughter, Sam (Mary Mouser), and Johnnys son, Robby (Tanner Buchanan), getting caught up in the crossfire, its often Daniel who comes across as the self-righteous bully, while we begin to understand and empathize with Johnny and even Kreese (to a certain extent). The callbacks to the original films are frequent and fantastic, with a number of cast members reprising their roles. (Ill say no more other than to note Season 3 includes Daniel returning to Mr. Miyagis homeland of Okinawa.) As was the case with the first two seasons, there are LOTS of karate fights once again, often staged as if the combatants have spent more time in dance classes than dojos. ADVERTISEMENTSkip ................................................................ The young actors do a fine job in their vanilla West Side Story universe, but its the adults who pack the biggest punches in Cobra Kai. Courtney Henggeler is terrific as Daniels wife, Amanda, who is often the only real grown-up in the room. Martin Kove clearly relishes reprising the Kreese character, who has been through hell and is about 100 years old now, but still looks like he could kick your ass. Macchio retains his youthful vigor and plays Daniel as a good guy who sometimes is a little too pleased with his good guy self. And then theres William Zabka, who has transformed Johnny from a one-kick pony into a funny, politically incorrect, self-destructive, deeply flawed but redeemable man. Finally, we have a Johnny Lawrence worth rooting for. COBRA KAI 3 stars WHEN: Now streaming WHERE: Netflix After a pair of seasons streaming on YouTube's premium tier, "Cobra Kai" was picked up by Netflix, where those episodes found an appreciative audience. Enter season 3, which kicks up the nostalgia factor into an even higher gear while remaining every bit as soapy, playful and disarmingly funny. "The Karate Kid" might be 36 years old, but this series offers a battle plan for other revivals to study. Continuing to add layers to the existing "Karate Kid" mythology (for lack of a better word), the show builds on the challenges faced by original characters Johnny Lawrence (William Zabka) and Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio), flaring out to encompass the next-generation teens grappling with their own high-school troubles. The new season also explores a backstory for the villainous Kreese (Martin Kove), while liberally drawing from the original movies with a level of tender loving care that, frankly, makes them seem a lot better than they were. Indeed, the whole thing is presented with a sense of reverence normally reserved for franchises with "Star" in the title. Along the way, "Cobra Kai" subverts expectations and keeps shuffling alliances, ending each episode with the kind of cliffhangers that nicely lend themselves to binge viewing. The only drawback to that from the perspective of Netflix -- which in a sweep-the-leg scheduling move shifted the premiere date up to capitalize on New Year's Day sloth -- is viewers can easily devour the whole season in a couple of days, which isn't necessarily the best way to perpetuate subscriber loyalty. Granted, the teen angst can feel overblown, and there's something hilarious about the image of marauding teenage karate gangs waging open warfare across the San Fernando Valley. Still, sheer ridiculousness and the ingenious stroke of elevating Johnny's role have been central to the program's appeal, and thanks to the deft writing, even the over-the-top moments are generally fun. That's especially true of Zabka's cranky, world-weary performance -- including his ongoing struggles with technology -- which remains a consistent source of delight. There are several flourishes in this latest season that shouldn't be spoiled, which might even inspire those who haven't seen the films recently to revisit them, although that's hardly required. For Netflix, that's likely to translate into a lot of people kicking back on the couch. For "Cobra Kai," playing on a bigger platform will likely translate into an enhanced cultural footprint, as the show appears destined to continue blowing up into the kind of attraction it deserved to be from the get-go. "Cobra Kai's" third season premieres January 1 on Netflix. Google has made it possible for almost every language-speaking individual to use its apps and smartphone easily. And now, Google Maps lets you set the in-app language, which differs from the language under device settings. You might be aware that once you select a language in Android settings on your phone, it applies system-wide. Meaning that the apps associated with Google will also show content in the language chosen in the device settings. However, now Google has added a new feature to Google Maps application. It basically allows you to set a language that can be different from the one chosen under device settings. Advertisement Moreover, it also means that once you choose a language in Google Maps, it will show all the in-app menus, controls, and other settings in the in-app language chosen by the user. Changing the Google Maps language within the app is pretty easy. All you need to do is tap over your profile avatar located at the top-right corner. Then head over to Settings from there. Under Settings, you will see an option App Language below which the language currently selected will be shown. It appears as the first menu item. Tap on App Language, to change the Google Maps language as per your convenience. Advertisement Google is rolling out this new Google Maps in-app language feature via a server-side update Google announced this new Google Maps in-app language feature for India last month. The good news is that this feature is now rolling out for users across the globe. But you do not need to do anything. Basically, Google is rolling out this feature for Google Maps via a server-side update. This means that this new feature will appear on Google Maps app installed on your phone automatically. In the official blog when Google launched this feature for Indian users, Google said, This will allow anyone to search for places, get directions and navigation, and interact with the Map in their preferred local language. Advertisement We agree with the above statement and feel like getting navigated in your own local language feels more comfortable to many users. And that is the main aim of this feature. A Suggested section notes the common alternative choices that you can choose from. Additionally, there is an All option that shows the list of all the languages that you can select within the Google Maps app. As noted by 9To5Google, to be specific, there are a total of 79 languages that a user can choose from. Once you choose your preferred language, the app will restart to take into effect the language change and download the language pack in the background. TREMONT A man charged with setting a fire at his house in Washington Township last month had his preliminary hearing continued on Thursday. Mark A. Krause, 56, of 374 Deturksville Road, Pine Grove, was scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi on charges of one felony count of arson-reckless endangerment of inhabited buildings, one misdemeanor count each of unlawful restraint-serious bodily injury and simple assault, and a summary offense of harassment. Rossi granted a continuance to Krause, allowing him time to procure the services of the Schuylkill County Public Defenders Office. Krause remains in Schuylkill County Prison where he was placed at the time of his arrest unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail. Krause was arrested by state police Trooper Kody Rittenbaugh of the Schuylkill Haven station stemming from an incident that began around 7:50 p.m. on Dec. 17. In paperwork filed with the court, Rittenbaugh said he was dispatched to the home and found the inside engulfed in flames. At the scene, the trooper said, Krause made statements that he dumped gasoline on the vehicle below his house and lit it on fire. Rittenbaugh said he then interviewed Mary Shive, who said that Krause entered her bedroom and she told him to leave but he refused and began to attack her. The woman said she tried to flee the bedroom but Krause pinned her against a wall, grabbed her by the throat and ripped her shirt, Rittenbaugh said. He added that Shive reported the house began filling with smoke and that she was able to escape in time. Alex Salmond yesterday accused Nicola Sturgeon of giving 'simply untrue' evidence to an inquiry into complaints against him. In an explosive intervention, the former First Minister accused his successor of making 'ridiculous' and 'wholly false' claims about their meetings to discuss the handling of complaints against him. His account to the Holyrood inquiry into the way harassment complaints about him were dealt with claims that parliament 'has been repeatedly misled on a number of occasions' about a meeting he had with Miss Sturgeon at her home in April 2018. He also accused Ms Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code of conduct. If the claims are proved to be true then it is likely Miss Sturgeon's political career could be over. In an explosive intervention, the former First Minister (pictured in March) accused his successor of making 'ridiculous' and 'wholly false' claims about their meetings to discuss the handling of complaints against him The evidence has reignited the civil war between the two most powerful figures in the SNP's history, with a spokesman for Miss Sturgeon claiming that Mr Salmond was trying to malign her reputation by 'spinning false conspiracy theories'. Last night, Mr Salmond said he stands by every word of his account and is prepared to do so under oath when he finally appears in front of the inquiry. He sent his account to James Hamilton, who is holding an independent investigation into whether Miss Sturgeon broke the ministerial code of conduct by failing to disclose meetings where they discussed complaints about him. It was also yesterday sent to MSPs on the Scottish Parliament committee holding an inquiry into the issue. Miss Sturgeon previously told MSPs in 2019 that she was first made aware of complaints about Mr Salmond at a meeting with him at her home on April 2, 2018. But her written evidence to the Holyrood inquiry subsequently said she met with Geoff Aberdein, Mr Salmond's former chief of staff, on March 29, 2018, when they had a discussion which included 'allegations of a sexual nature'. She also told MSPs in 2019 that she met Mr Salmond on three occasions in total, with the others being in June 2018 in Aberdeen ahead of the SNP's conference and July 2018, also in her home, but none of the meetings were recorded officially and no minutes were taken. If the claims are proved to be true then it is likely Miss Sturgeon's political career could be over In his submission, Mr Salmond claims each time Miss Sturgeon met with him and did not inform civil servants was a breach of the ministerial code. He said the meeting between Mr Aberdein and Miss Sturgeon was arranged 'for the purpose of discussing the complaints and thereafter arranging a direct meeting between myself and the First Minister'. He said: 'There was never the slightest doubt what the meeting was about. Any suggestion by the First Minister to the Scottish Parliament that the meeting was 'fleeting or opportunistic' is simply untrue.' He said the April 2 meeting was then arranged between him and Miss Sturgeon, and that 'self-evidently only the First Minister could issue that invitation to her private home'. Allegations, discussions, denials and a 'forgotten' key meeting November 2017: Allegations regarding Alex Salmond's behaviour are raised with the SNP by Sky News. Nicola Sturgeon said she spoke to him about this and he 'denied it'. No further action was taken. March 29, 2018: Miss Sturgeon meets Geoff Aberdein in her Scottish parliament office where she has admitted they discussed the possibility of a meeting with Mr Salmond. Miss Sturgeon after initially forgetting about this meeting says there was 'the suggestion that the matter might relate to allegations of a sexual nature'. April 2, 2018: Miss Sturgeon and Mr Salmond meet at the First Minister's home. According to Miss Sturgeon, this is the first time she heard of the complaints made against him. Despite this, she has insisted that the matters discussed were party business. April 23, 2018: Miss Sturgeon and Mr Salmond hold a 'substantive' phone discussion. During this call, Miss Sturgeon claims that Mr Salmond asked whether she would speak to Leslie Evans about 'mediation' with the complainants. A special adviser was in the room at the time. June 6, 2018: Miss Sturgeon writes to Mrs Evans to inform her that she has held discussions with Mr Salmond. June 7, 2018: Miss Sturgeon again meets Mr Salmond, this time in Aberdeen ahead of the SNP party conference. July 14, 2018: Miss Sturgeon meets Mr Salmond at her home near Glasgow. July 18, 2018: Miss Sturgeon and Mr Salmond speak again on the phone. Miss Sturgeon said that 'by this time' she was 'anxious as party leader and from the perspective of preparing my party for any potential public issue to know whether his handling of the matter meant it was likely to become public in the near future.' This is the last time Miss Sturgeon and Mr Salmond speak. During this time they also exchange a number of WhatsApp messages in which they discuss the affair including Mr Salmond's decision to seek a judicial review over the government's probe into the two complaints. He goes on to win this and is awarded 500,000 in legal fees. Advertisement Mr Salmond said his purpose in the meeting was to alert Miss Sturgeon to the 'illegality' of the complaints process and ask her to secure a mediation process to resolve the complaints. He said: 'I was well aware that under the Ministerial Code the First Minister should notify the civil service of the discussion and believed that this would be the point at which she would make her views known. 'The First Minister assured us that she would make such an intervention at an appropriate stage.' In early 2019, Miss Sturgeon bowed to pressure from opponents and referred herself for an official investigation into whether she broke strict Scottish Government rules by failing to report details of her meetings with Mr Salmond. During these meetings, they discussed sexual misconduct allegations against Mr Salmond but she did not publicly disclose that these meetings had happened. The ministerial code states that ministers must 'arrange for the basic facts' of meetings concerning Government business to be recorded. Miss Sturgeon has insisted that she did not record details of the first meeting because she thought it was going to be about 'party business'. In his submission, Mr Salmond brands the claim 'ridiculous'. He said: 'In her written submission to the Committee, the First Minister has subsequently admitted to that meeting on 29th March 2018 (with Mr Aberdein), claiming to have previously 'forgotten' about it. That is, with respect, untenable. 'The pre-arranged meeting in the Scottish Parliament of 29th March 2018 was 'forgotten' about because acknowledging it would have rendered ridiculous the claim made by the First Minister in Parliament that it had been believed that the meeting on 2nd April was on SNP Party business and thus held at her private residence. 'In reality all participants in that meeting were fully aware of what the meeting was about and why it had been arranged. The meeting took place with a shared understanding of the issues for discussion - the complaints made and the Scottish Government procedure which had been launched. 'The First Minister's claim that it was ever thought to be about anything other than the complaints made against me is wholly false.' Mr Salmond was awarded more than 500,000 in costs after a judicial review found the handling of complaints against him was unlawful and tainted with apparent bias because of prior contact between the investigating officer and complainants. In his submission, Mr Salmond claims that 'at the very latest by October 31st 2018, the government and the First Minister knew of legal advice from external counsel that 'on the balance of probability they would lose the Judicial Review and be found to have acted unlawfully'. He said: 'Despite this the legal action was continued until early January 2019 and was only conceded after both Government external counsel threatened to resign from the case which they considered to be unstateable. This, on any reading, is contrary to section 2.30 of the Ministerial Code.' A spokesman for Miss Sturgeon said: 'The First Minister entirely rejects Mr Salmond's claims about the Ministerial Code. 'We should always remember that the roots of this issue lie in complaints made by women about Alex Salmond's behaviour whilst he was First Minister, aspects of which he has conceded. It is not surprising therefore that he continues to try to divert focus from that by seeking to malign the reputation of the First Minister and by spinning false conspiracy theories. 'The First Minister is concentrating on fighting the pandemic, stands by what she has said, and will address these matters in full when she appears at committee in the coming weeks.' After details of his submission became public yesterday, Mr Salmond said he had 'told the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth'. He said: 'I can confirm that I submitted evidence to Mr James Hamilton, the Independent Adviser on the Ministerial Code, at his repeated request at the end of last year. The same evidence has now been given to the Parliamentary Committee, at their request, to assist with phase 4 of their Inquiry into the actions of Ministers and civil servants. 'It is a matter for Mr Hamilton and Committee members what they do with my evidence but I stand by the contents of the document and I am prepared to do so under oath in front of the Committee.' Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: 'Alex Salmond, the very person who knows exactly what Nicola Sturgeon did behind the scenes and precisely what happened in their meetings, has now said she 'misled' the Scottish Parliament and 'broke' the Ministerial Code. 'There are witnesses and there appears to be a mountain of evidence that confirms Nicola Sturgeon knew of the allegations before she claimed to find out. 'Nobody ever bought Nicola Sturgeon's tall tales to have suddenly turned forgetful, especially about the devastating moment she found out of sexual harassment allegations against her friend and mentor of 30 years. 'This evidence looks to show that she lied about the secret meeting with Salmond's former chief of staff and ever since, she has been trying to cover it up by inventing an increasingly implausible story. What has been revealed are allegations of shocking, deliberate and corrupt actions at the heart of government. There is now clear evidence of Nicola Sturgeon abusing her power to deceive the Scottish public. 'If this proves to be correct, it is a resignation matter. No First Minister, at any time, can be allowed to get away with repeatedly and blatantly lying to the Scottish Parliament and breaking the Ministerial Code.' Hamilton County reported 606 new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with 201 patients hospitalized and 62 in Intensive Care Units. Fourteen others were in the hospital with suspected COVID. Of those hospitalized, 104 are county residents.The new total of cases in Hamilton County is 32,484.There were six more deaths from the virus in the county reported on Thursday, all white males, one between the ages of 51-60, one between the ages of 61-70, two between the ages of 71-80 and two over the age of 81, bringing the total to 292.The number of those who have recovered from coronavirus in Hamilton County is 27,959, which is 86 percent, and there are 4,233 active cases.The number of coronavirus cases in Tennessee is at 634,237 on Thursday with 9,000 new cases.There have been 111 more deaths from the virus, for a total of 7,492, state Health Department officials said.The state currently has 3,351 people hospitalized from the virus, 19 more than on Wednesday.Testing numbers are above 5.756 million across the state.The number of people who have recovered from coronavirus in Tennessee is 555,634, 88 percent.Here are the numbers by county:Bledsoe County: 1,660 cases, up 13; 10 deathsBradley County: 9,828 cases, up 107; 81 deathsGrundy County: 1,318 cases, up 29; 20 deathsMarion County: 2,039 cases, up 32; 26 deathsMeigs County: 1,034 cases, up 11; 16 deathsPolk County: 1,279 cases, up 15; 17 deathsRhea County: 3,476 cases, up 44; 52 deathsSequatchie County: 1,243 cases, up 13; 17 deathsKnox 35,441 cases, up 513; 340 deaths, up 10Davidson 65,739 cases, up 870; 600 deathsShelby 71,084 cases, up 842; 996 deaths, up 19 New Delhi, Jan 8 : The farmers' agitation against the farm laws entered the 44th day on Friday with the groups showing no signs of budging from their stand ahead of the eighth round of talks with the government slated to take place later in the day. The meeting is being held a day after the farmers held the tractor March on the Eastern and Western Peripheral Highway on the Delhi borders in which over 5,000 tractors and trolleys took part. The farmer leaders will arrive at the Vigyan Bhawan where the meeting is likely to be held at 2 p.m. The farmers have been demanding the repealing of the three farm laws and guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for their produce. The seventh round of talks between the farmers and the government remained inconclusive on January 4. The government has said that it is ready to make amendments in the three laws, however, the farmers are adamant on repealing all the three. Punjab farmer leader and Bharatiya Kisan Union (Lakhowal) General Secretary Harinder Singh, who was also present during the seventh round of talks, told IANS: "The demands of the farmers will remain the same today. We will urge the government to repeal the three farm laws. And then we will talk on the MSP issue." Till date, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, Union Consumer Affairs Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Som Prakash have taken the lead in speaking to the farmer leaders. SOUTHINGTON, CT The latest hidden gem has been parked at a Connecticut ski area and is serving as an improvisational tasty presence amid culinary coronavirus restrictions. Welcome to Robs Drivin Diner. Back in the fall, Mount Southington General Manager Jay Dougherty knew he was faced with moving most of the mountain's food services outdoors because trying to socially distance hungry skiers and snowboarders would be next-to-impossible with cramped quarters inside the main lodge. Robs then rolled into Plantsville as one member of the culinary cavalry to save the day. It's parked at the base lodge area near the Mount Southington gate. Robs has creative specials, especially when it comes to pizza. Specialty pies include tomato basil, both barbecue and Buffalo chicken and white. Robs offers discounts for season pass holders, a two-for-one special on the last hour of each night, employee discounts and half price for an expired lift ticket. "Almost famous" pizza pockets can double as "edible hand warmers," Rob said. To see more visit the Robs Drivin Diner Facebook page. _____ The Hidden Gems series features out-of-the-way mom and pop restaurants, small specialty stores you may have never heard of, little-known historical markers or beautiful nature spots that may be a bit off the beaten path, all located within Hartford and Tolland counties. Do you have a favorite "hidden gem" in the area that you wish to see featured in this column? Email your ideas to tim.jensen@patch.com. Other columns in this series: To register for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities, click here. This article originally appeared on the Southington Patch Source: Xinhua| 2021-01-09 02:41:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close A cordon is seen at Beirut Corniche in Beirut, Lebanon, on Jan. 8, 2021. Lebanon reported on Friday a new record of 5,440 daily COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 210,139. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) BEIRUT, Jan. 8 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon reported on Friday a new record of 5,440 daily COVID-19 cases, raising the total number in the country to 210,139. The death toll went up by 17 to 1,570, the Health Ministry said. Lebanon started on Thursday the third nationwide lockdown since the outbreak of the virus on Feb. 21, 2020. LBCI local TV channel reported on Friday evening that a big number of people have been committing to the new lockdown measures while security forces were deployed in the streets to monitor the adopted measures. Caretaker Health Minister Hamad Hassan reiterated his call for private hospitals to open departments for the treatment of COVID-19 amid an unprecedented increase in the number of infections over the past few days. Lebanon and China supported each other in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In February, Lebanese President Michel Aoun expressed solidarity with China in its battle against the coronavirus. In return, China offered help to Lebanon's anti-coronavirus fight, including the donation of medical equipment to Beirut's airport and Lebanon's Health Ministry. Later on April 16, China donated 3,000 testing kits and 200 manual thermometers to Lebanon. New York, Jan 8 : Indian American Sabrina Singh, a long time aide to US Vice President elect Kamala Harris, has been named White House Deputy Press Secretary in the incoming administration, according to a statement released Friday by the Biden-Harris transition team. Singh was earlier a senior spokesperson on the Mike Bloomberg presidential campaign and National Press Secretary for Cory Booker's presidential campaign. In roles prior to that, she served as Deputy Communications Director for the Democratic National Committee, Spokesperson for American Bridge's Trump War Room and Regional Communications Director on Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign. She has also worked at SKDKnickerbocker, served as Communications Director for Rep. Jan Schakowsky and worked at various Democratic committees. In the weeks after the US election results were announced, several Indian Americans have been appointed to important posts by Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. They include Neera Tanden, who will be the director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Vivek Murthy, the Surgeon General, both of whom will have to be confirmed in their positions by the Senate, and Vedant Patel, to be his assistant press secretary, Vinay Reddy to be the director of speechwriting and Gautam Raghavan to be the deputy director of the Office of Presidential Personnel. Others include Atul Gawande and Celine Gounder to the Covid-19 task force, Mala Adiga to be the policy director for Jill Biden, who will become the First Lady, and Maju Varghese to be the executive director of their inauguration - the swearing-in ceremony and the festivities around it. VERZUZ battles aren't just a celebration of music, they walk us through history, regions and eras. Fabolous and Jadakiss showcased a bit of New York hip-hop culture, Jeezy and Gucci Mane gave viewers a small taste of Atlanta. More recently, West Coast legends Too $hort and E-40 let everyone know about Bay Areas contributions to hip hop, and even gave a shout out to DJ Screw. Bun B had previously made it known back in May that he wanted to compete in a VERZUZ battle with the perfect contender, Memphis duo 8ball & MJG. After facing delays, the bout may finally be on the horizon. Bun B further confirmed the music battle happening on the Donnie Houston podcast, released earlier this week. I know Im doing a VERZUZ but its not Texas-based, Bun said during the podcast. Im doing VERZUZ, itll be UGK prolly against 8Ball and MJG. A real VERZUZ, not just any yeah, UGK will represent Texas in Verzuz going up against North Mound. BUN B HELPS MUSICIANS: Houston rapper Bun B helps Houston Music Foundation bring relief to struggling musicians While 8ball & MJG are Memphis natives, the duo is still connected to Houston. The duo's first record deal was with Suave House, an independent record label started in here in Houston. There's been no official promotion of the VERZUZ battle, and no date has been set either. Bun B mentioned that because the Keyshia Cole & Ashanti VERZUZ battle was canceled, all future battles haven't been given a set date. Due to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, VERZUZ released a statement, saying that musical artists will be now go back to separate locations. We'll be on the lookout for the official announcement about the potential Texas music battle. The Delhi government on Friday tightened the Covid-19 protocol for passengers arriving from the United Kingdom (UK) at Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport by ordering mandatory institutional quarantine, even for those who test negative for the disease. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted the latest order issued by chief secretary Vijay Dev on Friday. To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine. (sic) he tweeted. To protect Delhiites from exposure to virus from UK, Del govt takes imp decisions. All those arriving from UK, who test positive will be isolated in an isolation facility. Negative ones will be taken to a quarantine facility for 7 days followed by 7 days home quarantine pic.twitter.com/hYDsaOn8q1 Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) January 8, 2021 In the order, the chief secretary stated that this protocol will be strictly followed in Delhi on a trial basis for a week till January 14. Government officials said the rule may be extended after reviewing the situation. As a matter of abundant precaution, in view of the increased transmissibility of the new variant, it is decided that all travellers coming from the UK to India would be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival at the airport. Those who are found positive shall be isolated in an institutional isolation facility in as separate (isolation) unit as per existing laid down protocol. Those who are found negative shall be kept in compulsory institutional quarantine for a period of seven days followed by seven days of home quarantine, read the order. Senior government officials said those who test negative will be given an option for paid institutional quarantine at Aloft Hotel in Aerocity, which has been put on Covid-19 duty by the New Delhi district administration. Those who want to opt for the governments free institutional quarantine facility will be taken to Terapanth Bhawan in South Delhis Chhatarpur area. Also Read: Flights from UK resume today amid scare about new coronavirus strain Those who test positive will be taken to Lok Nayak Hospital where there is a separate isolation ward for UK returnees. The latest order by the Delhi government is slightly different from the standard operating procedure (SOP) issued by the Centre on Wednesday. The Delhi chief secretary, on Thursday, had even issued an order asking all stakeholders in the city administration, including the police and airport authorities, to strictly follow the Centres SOP in letter and spirit for early detection and isolation of those found with the new strain of the virus. The SOP issued by the Union ministry of health and family welfare had stated that those who are found negative on testing at the airport would be advised quarantine at home for 14 days. Kejriwal, on Friday, directed this rule to be tweaked and made institutional quarantine mandatory for all UK returnees. A MIRACLE baby who blossomed into playing the young Emily Blunt character in controversial movie Wild Mountain Thyme has dismissed criticism of Blunt for her accent in the film. Accents are hard, insists adorable Abigail Coburn (11). Most people are judging the accents based on the trailer which is a little unfair. I think anyone who sees the movie will realise what a wonderful job John Patrick Shanley (the writer and director) has done telling this beautiful story. It has an almost fairy tale vibe to it and so in that world who is to say that an accent is wrong or not? Dubliner Abigail plays young Rosemary Muldoon in the film, whose older character is played by award-winning British star Emily Blunt, known for her roles in The Devil Wears Prada, A Quiet Place and Mary Poppins Returns. She was super lovely, raves Abigail, in her first ever interview. We only had one scene together, a flashback ballet scene, but we ended up in the same holding space for separate scenes one day. She was great to chat to for ages on the sofa and then we went to the kitchen to play with the dogs of the family who owned the farm. The film was shot in rural Co. Mayo and Abigail got to hang out too with the male lead in the flick, northern Irishman Jamie Dornan, who has also come in for criticism over his country accent in the film. I spent the most time in hair and make-up with Jamie, recalls Abigail. He was a little shy but lovely to talk to. He chatted about his kids and family stuff mostly. He always stopped to say hello too. Abigail is a miracle baby as she was born premature at 26 weeks, after her mum Emma became seriously ill with preeclampsia. It is a condition caused by high blood pressure and protein, and causes complications in several organs, including the liver, kidneys and lungs. Abigails father is well-known radio DJ Liam Coburn, from Dublin station Q102. He describes how 14 doctors and nurses spent several hours battling to save Abigail and Emmas lives in the operating theatre. She weighed just 1lb 4oz at birth and was so tiny, we werent allowed to hold her for the first week or so, Liam tells the Sunday World. Its a miracle that shes here at all. Ill never forget the consultant, Rhona Mahony, calling me aside to tell me that there was only a 40 per cent chance that Abigail would survive and, if she did, it was highly likely that she would be brain damaged. Thankfully, she was perfect. The team in Unit 8 (the ICU) in Holles Street were just incredible and Ill never be able to thank them and the team of doctors and nurses in the delivery room enough for saving Abigail and Emmas lives. I will always have huge admiration and respect for these people, theyre amazing. Abigail got into acting through her mum Emma Ryan, who is a drama teacher. She started classes at the age of seven with Visions Drama School and travels from her home in Killester in north Dublin to Monkstown in south Dublin most days. She got her first screen acting role for Allianz Insurance. I got to wreck the house, knocking down lamps and banging about, she exclaims. It was lots of fun. Im not the same at home, my brother is the destructive one! Abigail lives at home with her parents and brothers Declan and Elliot (she also has two step brothers, Josh and Tobey). Last year she got her first big movie role when she won a part in The Professor and the Madman, playing Mel Gibsons youngest daughter in the flick, with scenes filmed in Shankill, Co. Dublin, Trinity College in the capital and parts of Co. Wicklow. It was lovely to meet Mel. Most of his movies were too old for me to have seen yet so I only knew him as Rocky from Chicken Run, Abigail said. He made a point to introduce himself to everyone on our first day and have chats. He took time to run lines with me which was lovely. He even brought us in to the producers tent to watch playback and he explained how and why certain scenes were being shot in the way they were. It was a lovely first film set to be on. They also made it snow in Shankill in October which was probably my favourite part of it all. For her audition for Wild Mountain Thyme she had to do an improvised dance to Swan Lake. She bowled over the casting agents and was whisked to Co. Mayo. Mayo was lovely, she beams. They put us all up in Mount Falcon which was beautiful. Most of my scenes were on the farm. I wasnt a fan of the smell but it was my first time on a farm so that was exciting. My first day I spent most of it strapped up in a tree. Im not a fan of heights so that was tough but everyone was very patient with me. My parents were played by Don Wycherley and Dearbhla Molloy, both of whom were just super lovely and friendly. I got to spend a morning with Don running lines in hair and make-up while I got my wig on. Hes great fun. In Wild Mountain Thyme Jamie Dornan plays Anthony Reilly, a shy and clearly on the spectrum young farmer who is shouldering a secret burden that makes him hard to get to know. Unbeknownst to him, he is secretly worshipped by Rosemary Muldoon (Emily Blunt), the girl from the neighbouring farm who has loved him since they were children. The film is based on the play Outside Mullingar by American Pulitzer prize-winner John Patrick Shanley, who wrote Oscar winner Moonstruck. I didnt get to meet John until the first day and then he promptly had me put in that tree, smiles Abigail. He was very friendly and all the crew loved him. He was always smiling and very laid back. Ive kept in touch with him, he always makes time. She adds: I hadnt seen or read the play beforehand. I saw a small clip from YouTube but that was it. In the play Young Anthony, Young Rosemary and even Jon Hamms character dont make an appearance so our parts were all written just for the film version. Rosemary Muldoon is a real person though and she is at a party scene in the movie. Dubliner Darragh OKane played young Anthony in the movie. Abigail eventually got to a preview screening of the film shortly before its American release last month. She was almost more impressed when she was shown on RTEs Nine OClock News in the controversy after the trailer was released. The social media chatter about the accents and about the trailer on the Nine OClock News was great. Asked if she might be considered the new Saoirse Ronan who got an Oscar nomination at the age of 15 for Atonement Abigail pipes up: Wow, its so lovely to have that even suggested and to be mentioned in the same breath as someone on her level. The youngster pauses when asked who shed pick as her plus one if she got to the Oscars in the future. Thats a really hard question, she muses. I cant pick favourites. Her next role will be in a pilot for a RTE comedy series. As Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in Tokyo and the rest of the country surge since the start of the pandemic, Japan's Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared for the nation's capital and nearby areas a state of emergency. Japan Declares a State of Emergency for Tokyo From Friday until February 7, the emergency declaration will be in place and include several daily life restrictions. It applies to Tokyo and Chiba, Saitama, and Kanagawa, the three adjacent regions. The residents in a state of emergency are required to avoid non-essential outings. The thoroughly hit hospitality sector is requested to shorten its operating hours with restaurants ordered to close by 8 p.m. On Thursday, Suga said that the administration would run up to 1.8 million yen or $17,400 monthly assistance to restaurants that will comply. Due to the state of emergency, sporting events are taught to limit the number of in-person spectators. All offices under the state of emergency, private or public, are ordered to reduce workplace populations by as much as 70% by buoying up their staff to work from home. But for schools, despite the raft of new measures, they will remain open. At a press conference on Thursday, Suga said, "There have been few cases of school infections spreading from schools to the community, and we would like to protect the learning opportunities of children who will lead the future." Japan's Prime Minister stressed that the nation still aims to hold in July the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games despite the state of emergency. He said, "I am determined to hold safe and secure games by taking all possible measures against the infection." Suga has been criticized for his reluctance to fight the spread of Covid-19 until after the televised press conference last week where the Tokyo governor and three neighboring prefecture officials urged him to issue a state of emergency. Japan reported 7,548 new cases and 66 additional deaths, a record number of daily new infections for the third day in a row. It's the first time since the pandemic began that infections have surpassed 7,000, thus the state of emergency. Now, the nationwide tally that pushed the state of emergency stands at 266,011 cases and 3,870 fatalities. According to Tokyo metropolitan government updated figures, on Thursday, the greater Tokyo region surpassed 2,000 daily cases for the first time, recording 2,447 new infections, making it among the worst hit. The seriously ill Covid-19 patients in need of hospitalization also continue to grow in numbers were 121 patients in serious condition in the capital on Thursday, and more than 3,000 receiving medical care in the hospital. Country-wide, the number of people in a severe condition rose by 13 on Wednesday to 784, with 41,054 people in hospital. In a meeting with Japan's health ministry on Wednesday, infectious disease experts called for immediate and strict measures to fight the outbreak. National Institute of Infectious Diseases Chief Takaji Wakita said, "Looking at the number of newly infected people in the last week, Tokyo alone accounts for a quarter of the national total. The total number in the metropolitan area, including three other prefectures, accounts for half of the total number of the whole country. It is difficult to control the outbreak in rural areas unless we can curb the spread of the virus in the metropolitan area immediately." after the meeting. @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. State officials expanded the next group eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations after doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. In an online news conference Friday, Gov. Tom Wolf and state Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine jointly announced the expanded next priority group. Phase 1B moves up in priority state residents 75 and older and postal, public transit, grocery store and all manufacturing workers, clergy and support staff for houses of worship and people caring for children in early childhood programs or adults in adult day-care programs. Phase 1B continues to include teachers and other educators, as well as people who live or work in non-health care settings where people congregate, including prisons, first responders, and food and agricultural processing workers. A new Phase 1C will follow that. It includes people 65 to 74 years old, people between 16 and 64 with high-risk conditions and essential workers in more than a dozen categories. The categories include transportation and logistics; water and sewage treatment; food services; housing construction; finance, including bank tellers; information technology and communications; energy, including nuclear reactors; legal services; federal, state, county and local government; public safety and health; and media. Phase 1A remains for health care professionals, but the updated vaccination plan clarifies this category to include dentists, dental hygienists and chiropractors. Phase 2 will now include everyone else with Phase 3, which was for the general public, eliminated. Levine couldnt predict when the next phase of vaccinations will begin. State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-120, Kingston, called the new Phase 1C appalling for moving people with high-risk medical conditions into the category just before the general publics vaccinations. There is absolutely no reason why our most vulnerable Pennsylvanians should be in the same category (as) our state legislators when it comes to having access to the COVID-19 vaccine, Kaufer said in a statement. I call upon the governor and Dr. Levine to immediately move high-risk Pennsylvanians up the ladder to get the COVID-19 vaccine sooner. Levine said the new categories align the states vaccination plan with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. She invited residents to submit feedback in an online form available at www.health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Vaccine.aspx. We know that there is significant interest among Pennsylvanians about when they will get vaccinated, of course, and were working to ensure that everyone who wants access to the COVID-19 vaccine gets it, Levine said. I know it is difficult to ask, but we must have patience because the amount of vaccine available to Pennsylvania is limited and that is controlled by (the federal governments) Operation Warpspeed as they distribute vaccine throughout the entire United States. She repeated her expectation that vaccinations will become generally available maybe late spring, certainly by the summer. There are many variables that will influence that specifically, and most importantly, how much vaccine we get for both the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccine, she said. Other companies vaccines, if approved by the Food and Drug Administration before then, could speed up the process significantly, Levine said. Certainly check with your health care provider to make sure that youre a candidate for the vaccine, she said. And as the governor said, please continue all the mitigation measures that will protect you from exposure to COVID-19. Wear a mask, wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, social distance and avoid large and even small gatherings. Download the COVID Alert mobile app so you can get a notification if you have come into contact with someone that is positive. We cannot let our guard down now. We must stay the course. We must stay united. Daily case numbers riseThe Department of Health reported Friday more than 10,000 new cases for the first time in a single day for the first time since Dec. 16, which Levine attributed to the gatherings during the Christmas and New Years holidays. This is not completely unexpected, she said. The 10,178 new cases pushed the state past the 700,000 mark to 703,265. The seven-county Northeast Pennsylvania had 697 new cases in the last day, raising the total to 41,552. Statewide, another 215 deaths raised the total to 17,394 across Pennsylvania. Four new deaths raised the local total to 1,110. Locally: Lackawanna added 207 cases for 9,954 total, including 1,279 probable, and remained at 276 deaths. Luzerne added 249 cases for 18,903 total, including 1,188 probable. Two new deaths raised the county total to 493. Monroe added 110 cases for 6,846 total, including 152 probable. One new death raised the county total to 213. Pike added 32 cases for 1,645 total, including 116 probable, and remained at 35 deaths. Susquehanna added 23 cases for 1,155 total, including 104 probable, and remained at 39 deaths. Wayne added 56 cases for 2,167 total, including 173 probable. One new death raised the county total to 22. Wyoming added 20 cases for 882 total, including 145 probable, and remained at 32 deaths. [January 08, 2021] Top Mobile Payment Service Providers in Select Asian Countries and their Reaction to the COVID-19 Crisis - Mobile Payments Gain Momentum During the Health Crisis - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Top Mobile Payment Service Providers in Select Asian Countries 2020 and their Reaction to the COVID-19 Crisis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Altogether, despite cash still being the king in the Asian region, the revenues of the mobile payment services market in the Asian region are growing steadily during the coronavirus pandemic, and specifically in the larger economies such as India, Australia, Japan, and Singapore. These economies are forecasted to top the growth ranking in the Asia-Pacific region through 2025. Nevertheless, Asia consists of economies that are very diverse in terms of mobile payment methods adoption. For instance, a survey cited by the report shows that in Japan, in 2020, almost two-fifth of adults use smartphone payments daily. Meanwhile, in the Philippines the mobile payments adoption rate is much lower; however, the market is promising, as the adoption of new E-Wallet accounts is growing much faster than the bank account penetration rate. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, consumers in the countries of Asia prefer their local M-PSPs Another interesting fact highlighted in the report is that consumers in the Asian region mostly opt for the home-grown mobile payment service providers, and not for the global giants such as PayPal or Google (News - Alert) Pay. This has especially helped the local M-PSPs keep their heads above water after the onset of the pandemic. Moreover, most of them have significantly increased their user base. In Malaysia, for example, the government used digital wallets to distribute funds to businesses and communities affected by the health crisis. Report Coverag This report covers the Asian mobile payment market. It takes into account a wide definition of mobile payment, including payment methods used in mobile shopping (remote) and in-store (proximity) mobile payment. The following Asian markets are included: Japan, South Korea, Singapore, India, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines. In addition, information related to the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on digital payments worldwide was included in this report. Some forecasts included in this report were published prior to the pandemic outbreak. The date of publication of the figures is included on each chart. Report Structure The regional chapter opens the report, featuring an overview of Asian mobile payment developments and the impact of the pandemic. Within the region, the countries are grouped by advanced and emerging markets. Depending on data availability, the following types of market information are included: mobile payment user penetration, payment methods most used when buying from mobile devices, number and volume of mobile payment transactions, most popular mobile payment services, awareness and usage of mobile wallets. Not all the mentioned types of information are available for each of the covered countries. For each of the regions covered, also online and mobile payment trends and news about major players, such as payment providers, banks and retailers are presented on text charts. Key Topics Covered: 1. Management Summary 2. Regional Average Increase in Mobile Spending on Selected Products and Services, by 1st Week of Containment and 1st Week of a Lockdown Following the Outbreak of COVID-19, 2020 Digital Wallets' Share of E-Commerce and In-Store Sales, in %, 2019 Growth Rates in Mobile Service Revenues, by Selected Countries, incl. Asia-Pacific Region, Australia, India, Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, in %, 2020 & 2025 Mobile Point-of-Sale Penetration Rate, in % of Consumers, and Average Annual Transaction Value per User, in USD, by selected countries, incl. China, India, South Korea, and Vietnam, 2020e E-Wallets Penetration Rate, in % of Adults, 2019 & 2025f 3. Advanced Markets 3.1. Japan 3.2. South Korea 3.3. Singapore 4. Emerging Markets 4.1 India 4.2. Indonesia 4.3. Thailand 4.4. Vietnam 4.5. Malaysia 4.6. Philippines Companies Mentioned Coins PH Globe Telecom (News - Alert) Inc InstaPay PESONet PayMaya Philippines Inc. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ctbm1q 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210108005168/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] More than 1.9 million unemployment claims have filed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in mid-March, and new claims are starting to climb again, the Department of Labor announced Thursday. Nearly 21,000 new claims were filed for the week ending Jan. 2, an increase of 2.6% from the previous weeks 20,460 filings, the department said. Claims have been spiking since November, largely due to the holiday season and stormy weather, and have risen for five weeks straight, according to the Labor Department. This will also be the first week in which claimants will see the supplemental $300 benefit, which runs from Jan. 2 to March 14 after President Donald Trump signed a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill that funds the program that lapsed in the summer. Under the new law, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation was extended for 11 weeks. Claimants shouldnt see an interruption in benefits and should continue certifying for weekly benefits, the Labor Department said. Anyone collecting unemployment will be eligible for the extra payments, which the Labor Department has already begun to process, and people can expect to hit their bank accounts as early as Tuesday, Labor spokeswoman Angela Delli-Santi said. The benefits will be immediately available thanks to staff increases and automation upgrades over the last 10 months, said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. We know what a welcome relief these additional benefits will be to hundreds of thousands of unemployed residents who are struggling to find work, he said. Those whose benefits expired on Dec. 26 or after will be eligible for the 11-week extension, but the Department of Labor is still working to reprogram its systems for additional payments. Claimants who fall into a new program will be rolled into it automatically, the Labor department has said. Nearly $20.7 billion have been distributed in benefits since mid-March, when the Department of Labor received a huge flood of unemployment claims as businesses were forced to close in response to the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The average claimant has received more than $14,000 in benefits. Theres still tens of thousands of claimants stuck in the unemployment systems backlog, and some with complex situations, like cross-state claims or part-time jobs, have been awaiting benefits since March 15. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Sophie Nieto-Munoz may be reached at snietomunoz@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her at @snietomunoz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips US Secretary of State has said he is sending UN Ambassador Kelly Craft to next week to show what a free could achieve, an announcement that sparked sharp criticism from Beijing and a warning that the United States will pay a heavy price for its wrong action. Pompeo on Thursday called a reliable partner and vibrant democracy that has flourished despite CCP (Chinese Communist Party) efforts to undermine its great success. China's UN Mission said in a statement from its spokesperson that Beijing firmly opposes Craft's visit. It said that there is only one in the world and the region is an inalienable part of China's territory. The United States will not succeed in its attempt to harm China's core interests through political manipulation on the Taiwan question, the unidentified spokesperson said. We wish to remind the United States that whoever plays with fire will burn himself. American relations with democratic Taiwan have warmed, largely due to strong bipartisan support in the US Congress, but the Trump administration has also been willing to defy Beijing's threats and promote an alternative to Chinese Communist Party authoritarianism. The US outreach to Taiwan has exacerbated tensions between Washington and Beijing over the COVID-19 pandemic, trade, Hong Kong and the South Sea. China has been stepping up its threats to bring the self-governing island under its control by military force with frequent war games and aerial patrols. It has been using its diplomatic clout to stop Taiwan from joining any organizations that require statehood for membership. Taiwan left the United Nations in 1971 when China joined and is excluded from all of its agencies, including the World Health Organisation's assembly, where Taiwan's observer status has been stripped. At the same time, it has one of the most robust public health systems in the world and has won praise for its handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The Trump administration has been pressing for Taiwan's inclusion as a separate entity in organisations like the WHO and the Civil Aviation Organisation. The US Mission to the United Nations said Thursday night that Craft will travel to Taiwan on January 13-15 -- less than a week before the inauguration of Joe Biden and the end of Donald Trump's presidency -- to reinforce the US government's strong and ongoing support for Taiwan's space. Kraft will meet with senior Taiwan counterparts, members of the diplomatic community, and speak at the Institute of Diplomacy and International Affairs on January 14 on Taiwan's impressive contributions to the global community and the importance of Taiwan's meaningful and expanded participation in international organizations, a mission announcement said. Craft had lunch in September with Taiwan's top official in New York, James K J Lee, director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York, a meeting she called historic. The meeting came just before US Undersecretary of State Keith Krach visited Taiwan in the highest-level visit by a State Department official to the island in decades and met Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen and other senior officials. Krach's visit followed a high-profile trip in August by US Health Secretary Alex Azar, the highest-level US Cabinet official to visit since the US switched formal relations from Taiwan to China in 1979. The US has maintained unofficial ties with Taiwan since the official diplomatic break and is the island's most important ally and provider of defence equipment. (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.) Elon Musk, now the world's richest man, shrugged off the fresh accolade in a manner that befits his reputation as an iconoclast and a technology entrepreneur unafraid of ruffling feathers. His first reaction to the news on Twitter was "how strange", before adding: "Well, back to work ..." Elon Musk is making a habit of proving his critics wrong. Credit:AP With his net worth now estimated at over $US194 billion ($250 billion), Musk has started 2021 fighting fit. His electric carmaker, Tesla, and rocket company, Space X, are both seemingly in rude health and have for the moment put their critics on the backfoot. Musk's ride up the billionaires' chart, which has seen him overtake Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, has been largely powered by Tesla. The company may have only made around 500,000 vehicles in 2020, but with a market capitalisation of $US774 billion ($996 billion), it's the fifth-most-valuable company on Wall Street and miles ahead of other automakers. The new smartphone, the Galaxy S21, may be its cheapest-ever 5G flagship mobile device, industry sources here said on Friday, as the company tries to boost handset sales against rival brands. According to the sources, could release the Galaxy S21 at a price tag of under 1 million won ($916) in South Korea. The Galaxy S21 series is expected to go on sale here on January 29 after making its debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event on January 14. If the rumoured price is correct, the Galaxy S21 will be Samsung's cheapest and the first 5G flagship handset to be sold under 1 million won. Samsung's first 5G smartphone, the Galaxy S10 5G, was launched with a price tag of 1.397 million won, while the Galaxy Note 10 was released with a price tag of 1.248 million won in 2019. Last year, the Galaxy S20 5G was sold at 1.248 million won, while the Galaxy Note 20 made its debut with a price tag of 1.199 million won, reports Yonhap news agency. According to South Korea-based ET News, the Galaxy S21 is likely to be priced at $916 and the Galaxy S21 Plus may come for $1,025. The top-end Galaxy S21 Ultra may carry a price tag of $1,329. Market watchers said may lower the price of the Galaxy S21, so that it can better defend its status as the world's top smartphone vendor against Apple Inc., which has been posting brisk sales of its first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12, since its release in October. According to market researcher Strategy Analytics, Samsung had a market share of 19.5 percent in terms of smartphone shipments last year, which is the first time since 2011 that its market share dropped below 20 percent. Apple took the runner-up spot with a 15.5 per cent share in 2020 on the back of its iPhone 12 series, while China's Huawei Technologies Co. fell to the third spot with a 14.4 per cent share. For 2021, Strategy Analytics predicted Samsung's market share will drop to 18.8 per cent, while that of Apple is expected to increase to 16.4 percent. To launch the Galaxy S21 series at more affordable price, Samsung reportedly removed chargers from its retail box, and applied flat screens with full HD+ resolution for the S21 and the S21 Plus models. However, the high-end S21 Ultra reportedly comes with a wide quad HD+ curved display, and support S-Pen stylus. --IANS na/ (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.) Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In the introduction to his book The Content Trap, author Bharat Anand asks readers to consider what caused The Yellowstone Fires of 1988, which lasted for months and destroyed over 1.3 million acres of the worlds oldest, and one of our nations most treasured, national parks. The traditional story places the blame on a worker who dropped a single, still-lit cigarette. Anand disagrees. The cigarette certainly triggered this fire, but a million cigarettes are dropped every single day. That year (likely even that day), other cigarettes and, for that matter, lightning strikes, fell in Yellowstone. Why did this one spark so much damage? Anands point has to do with the pre-existing conditions, which made something that is benign in most other circumstances, a trigger for incredible destruction. On Wednesday, as protestors stormed the Capitol, Illinois Representative Kinzinger, a Republican, said, We (Americans) are not what we are seeing today Others remarked how shocking it was to see the sort of political unrest common to other countries, here in America. And, of course, it was shocking. But wed better be clear on why. Its not because somehow Americans, even those who love freedom and wish to protect the remarkable gift that is our nation, are somehow exempt from the Fall. Its not because America has some sort of Divine pass to last forever. Its not because the rules that govern nations and civilizations, which have been proven over and over again throughout history, somehow do not apply to us. In what now seems like an ominous prediction, my friend Trevin Wax tweeted out a quote from Chuck Colson Wednesday morning: People who cannot restrain their own baser instincts, who cannot treat one another with civility, are not capable of self-government without virtue, a society can be ruled only by fear, a truth that tyrants understand all too well. Colson was right. Another way of saying what he did is, Character is destiny. Its tempting to apply this undeniable truism rather selectively, but it is as true for individuals on our side as it is for those on their side. It is true for presidents and for peasants. Its as true about a president not as bad as she would have been, who delivers strong policy wins for our side as it is about anyone else. It is true for the narcissist and for the abortionist, for the one who rejects religious faith and the one who uses it for his own ends. But, and this is the much more important point that many miss, character is destiny for a people as well as for a person. Yesterday, when President-elect Biden said that the actions of the mob did not reflect America, I wish he were correct. But he wasnt. We are not a moral nation. We are lawless. We are not a nation that cultivates the kinds of families able to produce good citizens. Our institutions cannot be trusted to tell us the truth or advance the good. Our leaders think and live as if wrong means are justified by preferred ends. Our churches tickle ears and indulge narcissism. Our schools build frameworks of thinking that are not only wrong, but foster confusion and division. Wednesday's riot was not the first in our nations recent history, nor will it be the last. There are certainly immediate causes for what we witnessed, including the words of a president who appeared to care more about the attention the riots gave him than the rule of law that they violated. Still, there are ultimate causes, ones that predate his administration and that have created what is clearly a spark-ready environment. Wednesdays events cannot be understood, much less addressed outside this larger context. And the moment we excuse ourselves from being part of the problem, we have lost our saltiness. Often throughout history, moments like this have been embraced by the Church as an opportunity by Gods people. When a people reach this level of vulnerability, either as individuals, as families, or as nations, it is clear that they are out of ideas. There is no sustainable way forward when the ideological divide reaches this level, not only about how best to reach commonly held aims but when there is no consensus on the aims themselves. To be clear, civilizations usually die with a whimper, not a bang. America will go on, but we arent OK. Even more, the resources once found in various places within our culture to build new things or fix whats broken are largely depleted. The only way out of the long decline of decadence, punctuated as it is by noisy, scary moments like yesterday, is either, as Ross Douthat wrote, revolution or religious revival. The story of Yellowstone Park is that now, decades later, it has been largely revived and reborn. Lets pray thats also the story of the Church, and even our country. Originally published at BreakPoint Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she feared for her life during the riots on the Capitol building on Wednesday which saw Trump supporters storm the building and five people lose their lives. The New York representative revealed to ABC 7 how she was not alone in fearing she might die as protesters managed to enter the congressional building, stating many of those inside were 'prepared for the possibility of losing our lives'. Trump urged his fans to descend on Washington DC on Wednesday as Congress formally approved President-elect Joe Biden's victory. The Congresswoman is one of many calling for the President to be impeached as she warned Trump's 'mental status and his actions are wildly eroding at a rapid pace'. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said she feared for her life during the riots on the Capitol building on Wednesday. Pictured: AOC bows her head during a closing prayer of a joint session of the House and Senate to confirm Electoral College votes at the Capitol, early Thursday AOC said representatives had been assured security was in place to protect politicians as intelligence revealed protesters planned to march close to the government building. Speaking on Thursday, she explained how she and those around her felt as they cowered out of sight or fled when rioters made it inside. 'It was extremely worrying. I don't think it is an exaggeration by any means to say that many of us thought and were prepared for the possibility of us losing our lives yesterday,' she said. 'I certainly was thinking that was a possibility and I know many members thought that was a possibility as well.' Members of congress run for cover as protesters try to enter the House Chamber Capitol police officers point their guns at a door that was vandalized in the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress Trump supporters gather outside the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. As Congress prepares to affirm President-elect Joe Biden's victory, thousands of people have gathered to show their support for President Donald Trump and his claims of election fraud She also revealed that many political figures had made inquiries into planned security measures for Wednesday. 'We were told that rioters would not find their way even onto the Capitol Plaza, let alone anywhere near the building,' she said. The Congresswoman said the security breaches were 'extremely serious' and should be individually investigated. AOC's words came after White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany delivered a statement the day after the riots, which the Congresswoman said did not accept Trump was responsible for 'incitement of that crowd'. She is now part of a large group of Congressional representatives who are calling for Trump to be impeached, claiming every day Trump is in office is 'clear and present danger' to US democracy. The two top Democrats in Congress, Sen. Charles Schumer and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, reached out directly to Vice President Mike Pence on Thursday to try to push him to act immediately to remove President Trump from office, only to be rebuffed. Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6, 2021 The two leaders called Pence hours after he had overseen a Joint Session of Congress to count the electoral votes to make Joe Biden the next president, despite intense pressure by President Trump that Pence move against it. Late Thursday sources told CNN that Trump's mental state was deteriorating and he was 'ranting' and 'raving' as he watched the 25th Amendment being discussed on television - with Pelosi and Schumer's demand being played repeatedly. But if they had hopes that Pence might join in a speedy potential effort to seize the reins of power from a volatile Trump in his final days in office, the reception they got may provide an answer. 'Speaker Pelosi and I tried to call the vice president this morning to tell him to do this,' Schumer told reporters in New York Thursday. 'They kept us on hold for 25 minutes and then said the Vice President wouldn't come on the phone.' 'So we are making this call public because he should do it and do it right away,' Schumer said, explaining why both he and Pelosi are calling on Pence and the Trump cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to declare Trump unfit and install Pence as president in an acting capacity. Protesters made it into US Senate Chamber as Congress held a joint session to ratify President-elect Joe Biden's 306-232 Electoral College win over President Donald Trump Pro-Trump protesters storm into the U.S. Capitol during clashes with police during the rally in Washington DC Wednesday's ordinarily mundane procedure of Congress certifying a new president was always going to be extraordinary, with Trump supporters vowing to protest over the results of an election that they have baselessly insisted was reversed by fraud. In a raucous, out-of-control scene, protesters fought past police and breached the building, shouting and waving Trump and American flags as they marched through the halls. The attack forced politicians to rush from the building and interrupted challenges to Biden's Electoral College victory. Senators were evacuated. Some House politicians tweeted they were sheltering in place in their offices. After returning from the front and recovering from a serious injury, on January 7, the Karabakh war participant, Lieutenant Abbas Yusifov married his beloved one. Abbas Yusifov is a native of the Aslanbeyli village of the Gazakh region of Azerbaijan. He married a girl from the same village. The couple met in 2017 and got engaged in 2019. When the war began, Yusifov went to the front, participated in battles in the direction of Sugovushan and Talysh. On September 30, his leg was blown off by the blast wave produced by an anti-personnel mine. Social media misinformation can negatively influence people's attitudes about vaccine safety and effectiveness, but credible organizations -- such as research universities and health institutions -- can play a pivotal role in debunking myths with simple tags that link to factual information, University of California, Davis, researchers, suggest in a new study. Researchers found that fact-check tags located immediately below or near a post can generate more positive attitudes toward vaccines than misinformation alone, and perceived source expertise makes a difference. In fact, fact-checking labels from health institutions and research universities were seen as more 'expert' than others, indirectly resulting in more positive attitudes toward vaccines." Jingwen Zhang, Assistant Professor of Communication and Study's Lead Author The findings were published online Wednesday, Jan. 6, in the journal Preventive Medicine. Has implications for COVID-19 The data was collected in 2018 -- before the COVID-19 pandemic -- but the study's results could influence public communications about COVID-19 vaccines, researchers said. "The most important thing I learned from this paper is that fact checking is effective...giving people a simple label can change their attitude," Zhang said. "Secondly, I am calling for more researchers and scientists to engage in public health and science communications. We need to be more proactive. We are not using our power right now." While there is a strong consensus in the medical community that vaccines are safe, cost-effective and successful in preventing diseases, widespread vaccine hesitancy has resurged in many countries, the study said. The United States has faced issues with lower-than-preferred vaccine participation for influenza and even measles, which medical experts blamed for a 2019 measles outbreak. "Because both individuals and groups can post misinformation, such as false claims about vaccines, social media have played a role in spreading misinformation," Zhang said. Study authors tested the effects of simple fact-checking labels with 1,198 people nationwide who showed different levels of vaccine hesitancy. In the experiment, researchers used multiple misinformation messages covering five vaccine types and five categories of 13 different fact-checking sources. They avoided any explanations that repeated the false information. Using a mock twitter account, one post, for example, consisted of a misinformation claim on a specific vaccine and a picture of a vaccine bottle. It read: "According to a US Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) there were 93,000 adverse reactions to last year's Flu Shot including 1,080 deaths & 8,888 hospitalizations." Researchers then used alternating fact-checking labels from various sources in media, health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johns Hopkins University, and algorithms. One read, for example, "This post is falsified. Fact-checked by the Centers For Disease Control. Learn why this is falsified." The results showed that those exposed to fact-checking labels were more likely to develop more positive attitudes toward vaccines than misinformation alone. Further, the labels' effect was not moderated by vaccine skepticism, the type of vaccine misinformation or political ideology. "What approaches are most effective at targeting vaccine misinformation on social media among users unlikely to visit fact-checking websites or engage with thorough corrections?" researchers asked in the paper. "This project shows that seeing a fact-checking label immediately below a misinformation post can make viewers more favorable toward vaccines." She explained that a tag could be as simple as a reply to a misinforming tweet that explains the information is false, and links to credible information at a university or institutional web site. Ideally, she said, tagging should be done by social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter. She said social media companies are working with entities, such as the WHO, to correct misinformation. "We are headed in the right direction, but more needs to happen," she said. The Digital marketing and communications consulting firm, #ARM Worldwide's 26th business win this year, is the global financial services major TresVista. #ARM Worldwide is mandated to rebuild TresVista's digital presence across geographies. TresVista is the leading provider of high-end outsourced support for asset managers, entrepreneurs & corporates for over a decade. TresVistas support functions include business plan development, all aspects of fund administration, portfolio management, valuation & research, and deal sourcing & execution. With offices in Bengaluru, Mumbai, New York, Pune, and Singapore, TresVista delivers cost and operational efficiencies for over 1,000 clients across geographies and asset classes, who collectively manage over $10 trillion in AUM. Santanu Ghatak, Senior Associate, Marketing & Corporate Communications, TresVista, said, "We are very excited to join hands with ARM Worldwide as our digital brand partner. We wanted a partner who would understand the TresVista values and communicate these to audiences in an insightful manner. Besides the expertise across strategic, creative, and performance dimensions, Manas and his team represent some of the best multi-functional talents in the domain. Were enthusiastic about building TresVista together with them to showcase our brand identity." Manas Gulati, co-founder, and CEO, #ARM Worldwide, said, In a market where pressure is constantly increasing on both financial institutions & consumers, the business model of TresVista plays a very critical role. It has created a unique delivery model for itself and is comfortably placed to lead its brand story. At #ARM Worldwide, our team is delighted to help scale TresVista's business with a focused approach to do data-driven, creative, & measurable work. Ritesh Singh, co-founder, and managing director, #ARM Worldwide, said, #ARM has a vast and comprehensive experience in the financial & fintech sector with a proven track record of delivering for brands for their Indian & global objectives. We have kept the momentum going despite the pandemic and have won several new businesses this year as well. During the lockdown, #ARM enhanced their focus on skilling & reskilling, gaining over 500 certifications across platforms. We continuously strive to make brands valuable to the world and are looking forward to delivering the same for TresVista. The life expectancy at birth in Vietnam in 2020 increased by 0.1 year compared to 2019 to 73.7 years, according to the report of the Ministry of Health at a meeting held on January 6. Volunteers register to participate in NACOVAX trials. (Illustrative image. File photo) Remarkably, Vietnam has been a spotlight in the Covid-19 prevention work and among the first four countries launching coronavirus gene sequencing. Vietnam has been one of the first five nations successfully studying antigen-testing bio-products and has been listed among the countries starting human trials of Covid-19 vaccine. HIV/AIDS has been continuously controlled in Vietnam, witnessing the 12th successive year of reductions in the numbers of new HIV carriers, HIV carriers developing full-blown AIDS and AIDS-related deaths. Vietnam has been named as the top four countries with the best HIV/AIDS treatment quality. The average Vietnamese man is 168.1 cm tall and the average woman is 156.2 cm, up 3.7 cm and 2.6 cm from the figures obtained in 2009, respectively. The proportion of undernourished children under five years old was 19.6%, the lowest level as classified by the World Health Organization. The fertility rate for Vietnam in 2020 was 2.12 births per woman while the sex ratio at birth was 112.1 boys per 100 girls. The health sector is striving to raise the coverage of health insurance to 91%. VGP Thuy Dung 10 prominent medical events in Vietnam in 2020 Amid the turbulence caused by the new strain of coronavirus, Vietnam has once again proven its ability to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. RTHK: Indonesia releases Bali bombings 'mastermind' Indonesia released from prison on Friday Islamic cleric Abu Bakar Bashir, the suspected mastermind of the 2002 Bali bombings and among the most notorious extremists in the Muslim-majority country, according to media reports. Bashir was picked up by his family and was driving to his home in central Java, Detik.com reported. Television footage showed several vans leaving the prison in Bogor, south of Jakarta. Prison officials could not immediately be reached for comment. Bashir, 82, who is regarded as the spiritual leader of Jemaah Islamiah (JI), a jihadist network with ties to al Qaeda, was imprisoned in 2011 for 15 years for his links to a militant training camp in Aceh province. After receiving periodic reductions in his jail term, Indonesia's law and human rights ministry has said he has now completed his sentence. Although linked to the Bali attacks that killed 202 people and a 2003 attack on the JW Marriott hotel in Jakarta, Bashir was never convicted for them and denied those ties. Eleven Hong Kong residents were among the victims of the Bali bombings. Zulkarnaen, a man believed to be one of the most senior members of JI and involved in making the bombs for the attacks, was arrested last month. The Bali bombings killed 88 Australians, and the country's foreign minister, Marise Payne, said on Tuesday Indonesia must ensure Bashir does not incite more violence. Thiolina Marpaung, an Indonesian wounded in the 2002 attacks, said she wanted authorities to keep supervising Bashir. "We don't know what he was doing in prison," she said by telephone. "The government has to still assert control over terrorism actors in Indonesia who have been out of jail." Bashir pledged allegiance to the Islamic State in 2014 while in jail. In the wake of the Bali attacks and with backing from Australia and the United States, Indonesia set up an elite anti-terrorist unit that weakened JI and resulted in scores of suspected militants being arrested or killed. But other extremist groups have since formed and conducted attacks while only last month police arrested 23 militants, including Zulkarnaen. This story has been published on: 2021-01-08. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. New Delhi: The new Samsung smartphone, the Galaxy S21, may be its cheapest-ever 5G flagship mobile device, industry sources here said on Friday (January 8), as the company tries to boost handset sales against rival brands. According to the sources, Samsung could release the Galaxy S21 at a price tag of under 1 million won ($916) in South Korea. The Galaxy S21 series is expected to go on sale here on January 29 after making its debut at the Galaxy Unpacked event on Thursday (January 14). If the rumoured price is correct, the Galaxy S21 will be Samsung`s cheapest and the first 5G flagship handset to be sold under 1 million won. Samsung's first 5G smartphone, the Galaxy S10 5G, was launched with a price tag of 1.397 million won, while the Galaxy Note 10 was released with a price tag of 1.248 million won in 2019. Live TV Last year, the Galaxy S20 5G was sold at 1.248 million won, while the Galaxy Note 20 made its debut with a price tag of 1.199 million won, reports Yonhap news agency. According to South Korea-based ET News, the Galaxy S21 is likely to be priced at $916 approximately Rs. 67,109 and the Galaxy S21 Plus may come for $1,025 approximately Rs. 75,000. The top-end Galaxy S21 Ultra may carry a price tag of $1,329. Market watchers said Samsung may lower the price of the Galaxy S21, so that it can better defend its status as the world`s top smartphone vendor against Apple Inc., which has been posting brisk sales of its first 5G smartphone, the iPhone 12, since its release in October. According to market researcher Strategy Analytics, Samsung had a market share of 19.5 percent in terms of smartphone shipments last year, which is the first time since 2011 that its market share dropped below 20 percent. Apple took the runner-up spot with a 15.5 per cent share in 2020 on the back of its iPhone 12 series, while China`s Huawei Technologies Co. fell to the third spot with a 14.4 per cent share. For 2021, Strategy Analytics predicted Samsung`s market share will drop to 18.8 per cent, while that of Apple is expected to increase to 16.4 percent. To launch the Galaxy S21 series at more affordable price, Samsung reportedly removed chargers from its retail box, and applied flat screens with full HD+ resolution for the S21 and the S21 Plus models. However, the high-end S21 Ultra reportedly comes with a wide quad HD+ curved display, and support S-Pen stylus. (ANSA) - MILAN, JAN 8 - Italian police on Friday seized the large luxury yacht of Treviso-based cement magnate Paolo Fassa in a tax fraud probe. The vessel, measuring over 50 metres in length, was moored in Genoa harbour. Its estimated value is some 30 million euros. Fassa, owner of the Fassa Bortolo cement giant, is under investigation for tax fraud and money laundering. Fassa Bortolo, based at Treviso between Milan and Venice, has been operating since 1700 in the cement, sealants and adhesives sector. (ANSA). Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) will declare its December 2020 quarter earnings today, 8 January 2021. Biocon announced that the board of its subsidiary Biocon Biologics has approved a primary equity investment by Abu Dhabi based ADQ (ADQ), one of the region's largest holding companies. As per the terms of the proposed agreement, ADQ will invest Rs 555 crore for a 1.80% minority stake in the biosimilar business, valuing Biocon Biologics at a post money valuation of about $4.17 billion. Bharat Rasayan said that a meeting of the board of directors of the company will be held on 12 January 2021 to consider the proposal of buyback of equity shares of the company. Strides Pharma Science announced that Aditya Puri has joined the Strides Group as an Advisor and also will be a Director of its associate company, Stelis Biopharma (Stelis). CRISIL has assigned its 'CRISIL BBB-/Stable' rating on the long-term bank facilities of AGC Networks (AGC). Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Volkswagen Group announced on Jan. 5 a new management team of the joint venture Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company Limited, as part of efforts to boost its e-mobility offensive in China. Dr. Stephan Wollenstein, Volkswagen Group China chief executive officer (CEO), was named the CEO of Volkswagen (Anhui) as well. Besides, the joint venture's chief financial officer (CFO), chief technology officer (CTO), chief production officer (CPO) and chief human resources officer (CHRO) were held by Dr. J-rg Mull, Dr. Ludger Luhrmann, Harry Schneider and Shaojian. Volkswagen Group's new R&D center in China With the new management team in place, Volkswagen (Anhui) will move at full force to push ahead with Volkswagen's e-mobility strategy in China. As the German auto giants third joint venture in the country, Volkswagen (Anhui) will produce electric vehicles on the MEB platform with the production starting in 2023. For Dr. Stephan Wollenstein, his new role is in addition to being CEO of Volkswagen China Passenger Cars brand a position he has held since 2016, and Member of the Board of Management, Volkswagen Passenger Cars brand, plus CEO of Volkswagen Group China, where he has been in post since 2019. Since joining Volkswagen in 1995, Wollenstein has held several senior posts in international sales departments as well as in Product Management at SAIC VOLKSWAGEN and FAW-Volkswagen. On December 8, Volkswagen Group saw the inauguration of a new R&D center at its facilities in Hefei, indicating that Anhui province is to advance into a new center of competence and e-mobility hub for the German auto giant in China. In early December, JAC Volkswagen was renamed as Volkswagen (Anhui) Automotive Company Limited. With a 75% stake in the joint venture, Volkswagen takes over management control at Volkswagen (Anhui). NAIROBI, Kenya Ugandas leading opposition figure has filed a complaint with the International Criminal Court against the countrys president and nine security officials, accusing them of authorizing a wave of violence and human rights abuses that has intensified in the run-up to next weeks general election. The complaint, filed in The Hague on Thursday by the opposition leader, Bobi Wine, also accused the Ugandan government of incitement to murder, the abuse of protesters, and arrests and beatings of political figures and human rights lawyers. Mr. Wine, a popular musician-turned-lawmaker, said the government of President Yoweri Museveni had not only subjected him to arrests and beatings, but had also tried to kill him, beginning in 2018. Mr. Wine, 38, is the leading contender among 10 candidates trying to unseat Mr. Museveni, who has ruled Uganda, a landlocked nation in East Africa, since 1986. Mr. Museveni, though once credited with bringing stability to the country, has in recent years been accused of subverting civil liberties, muzzling the press and stifling dissent. Mr. Museveni, 76, is campaigning for his sixth term in office, after signing a law in 2018 scrapping the age limit for presidential candidates, which had been 75. He is largely expected to win the upcoming vote. Political analysts say that he faces a fragmented opposition, and he won plaudits for championing infrastructure projects from new factories to hospitals and roads. He has also capitalized on the notion that his government has handled the pandemic competently; Uganda has reported only 290 coronavirus-related deaths. By Takuya Okamoto, KYODO NEWS - Jan 8, 2021 - 11:56 | Feature, All, Japan Despite opposition from authorities as well as apathy in society, a hospital president in southwestern Japan is continuing to fight for the right for women with unintended pregnancies to be allowed to give birth anonymously. Takeshi Hasuda's Jikei Hospital in Kumamoto became in December 2019 the first facility in Japan to offer so-called confidential births. But he has been since told by local authorities twice that it is not clear whether such a system is legally allowed in Japan. It is not the first time his hospital has tested the boundaries around how to help women with unintended pregnancies -- Hasuda's father Taiji opened Japan's first baby hatch for unwanted newborns in 2007 when he was running the hospital. Stirring controversy at the time, it remains Japan's only baby hatch. Despite the official wariness about confidential births, Hasuda intends to continue with the system. "We would like to go ahead with it," he insisted while expressing disappointment at the city government's "reluctance to talk" about the issue. There have been no confidential births yet, although some women were initially interested before changing their mind after consulting with pregnancy counselors at the hospital. Hasuda decided to introduce confidential births after facing criticism that the hospital's baby hatch, named "stork cradle," could raise the number of dangerous home births as women use the system to avoid hospitals and keep their pregnancies unknown. He advocates the adoption of the system Germany legally introduced in 2014 to help women who are unable or unwilling to raise their babies due to difficult life situations, including poverty and pregnancy through rape, and to save their newborn babies. Under the German system, pregnant women can anonymously give birth at a hospital after revealing their identity only to a pregnancy counselor outside the hospital. The children are allowed to know their mother's identity once they turn 16 years old. Hasuda plans to allow pregnant women to anonymously deliver their children after notifying their identities only to a pregnancy counselor working at his hospital. The births would then be reported to the Kumamoto city government without the parents' identities provided. The city government, however, said it doubts whether registration of a child with an anonymous mother can be legally accepted due to a lack of such precedents and related laws. The hospital installed the baby hatch in 2007 as part of efforts to save babies unwanted by their parents -- or single mothers in most cases. Controversy swiftly ensued, with then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from the conservative Liberal Democratic Party saying he "wondered whether it was proper to set up something where babies can be left anonymously." In the 13 years through this year, a total of 155 babies and infants have been left in the baby hatch, but no other hospitals or organizations have followed Jikei Hospital's lead, except one midwifery home in Kobe in western Japan, which later gave up the idea. In the meantime, public debate over the confidential birth system and baby hatches has failed to develop, Hasuda and experts say. Hasuda said in a recent interview with Kyodo News that after visiting Germany, South Africa and South Korea to study their baby hatches, he feels "there is real apathy in Japanese society compared with other countries where we see heated discussions (over unwanted babies)." He also attributes the central government's reluctance to push moves for confidential birth to the rule of the LDP, which puts a high value on traditional family bonds. Related coverage: FEATURE: Japan's unmarried, sexual minorities forced to use foreign sperm banks Japan eyes more flexible paternity leave right after childbirth Over 150 women in Japan bought from sperm bank amid absence of rules "In Japan, authorities slowly respond to save troubled people only after severe cases or incidents happen," Hasuda added. Yasunori Kashiwagi, professor at Chiba Keizai College, pointed out that female policymakers in Germany, including those belonging to the conservative Christian Democratic Union, advocated introducing the confidential birth system in a bid to replace baby hatches across the country to prevent home births and protect children's right to know their parents' identity. "The Japanese parliament, dominated by men, has been less interested in these issues surrounding women and newborn babies in difficult situations," Kashiwagi said, adding that without authorization from the government, Japanese people working for child welfare tend to refrain from bold moves. In Germany, over 500 confidential deliveries were reported in a four-year period through 2018, according to Kashiwagi. Both Hasuda and Kashiwagi voiced concerns over a lack of adequate pregnancy counseling services for troubled women in Japan to easily and anonymously approach, compared to Germany where such services are available even in small towns, they said. "We need to make every effort to notify women of our offers for women with unwanted pregnancies, otherwise few women would contact us," Hasuda said, adding he is thinking of trying to get his hospital's website listed top in search engines when "unwanted baby" is searched. Most newborn babies separated from their parents in Japan face a harsh reality. As of the end of March 2019, only 20.5 percent of about 45,000 children without their parents lived with foster parents, with the rest living in orphanage facilities, according to the welfare ministry. The ratio of such children living with foster parents increased from 10.5 percent in 2009 due partly to the ministry's efforts, but is much lower than rates in other developed countries, it said. "People do not know much about the plight of such children living without their parents," said Eriko Takahashi, leader of a special team to promote foster parents at the Japan Foundation. "You can see TV commercials to recruit foster parents in Britain, while you rarely see such posters in Japan. You can be a foster parent even for a short period of time while receiving a subsidy from the government, but people are not well informed about it." Takahashi's view echoed Jikei Hospital's Hasuda's for troubled pregnant women. "The most important thing is to let people know about the current situation surrounding children," she said. All India Kisan Sabhas general secretary Hannan Mollah said on Friday farmers would continue their fight against the Centres contentious farm laws unless they were repealed and that the Republic Day tractor parade will go on as planned. The next round of talks between representatives of the Centre and the farmers is scheduled to be held on January 15 after their eighth round of meeting ended in a stalemate. The Centre told the farmers that it cannot and will not repeal the laws while the farmers have made it clear that the demonstrations would not stop until they were repealed. There was a heated discussion. We said we dont want anything other than the repeal of laws. We wont go to any court. This (repeal) will either be done or we will continue to fight. Our parade on January 26 will go on as planned, Mollah was quoted as saying by news agency ANI after the eighth round of talks. Watch: Farmers, Centre hold 8th round of talks to find solutions amid protest According to farm leader Kavitha Kuruganti, farmers shouted slogans inside, saying, We will either die or win. Another farm leader Balbir Singh Rajewal said they had also raised the issue of BJP leaders branding the protesters from Punjab Khalistanis, referencing the Sikh separatist movement. We told the government that this is highly objectionable. On one hand, the government is negotiating with farmers, while the ruling partys leaders are trying to tarnish our movement all the time, he said. Also Read: Its not just repeal of farm laws, other issues involved too: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar The eight rounds of talks between the farmers representatives and the Centre have yielded no solution. However, the Centre had said it will accept two of the farmers demands during the talks held on December 30. The government had agreed not to pay direct cash to farmers instead of power subsidy for agricultural use, which the farmers argue would increase power costs for them. It also agreed to keep farmers out of the ambit of an anti-pollution law that prescribes harsh penalties for crop-residue burning. Thousands of farmers have been protesting around the borders of the national capital for well over a month against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre in September last year. Their demands are a repeal of the three laws as well as a legal guarantee for federally fixed minimum support prices. The laws remove restrictions on the purchase and sale of farm produce, lift constraints on stockpiling under the 1955 Essential Commodities Act and enable contract farming based on written agreements. There was a certain element of 'bringing it all back home' to the scenes in Washington. A strongman leader attempted to turn democracy on its head. He incited violence among his followers, peddling a narrative in which he is being oppressed by nefarious forces. He purported to stand for the people. He cast himself, by dint of his personality and character, as the real leader of the country. He inferred that it was the responsibility of the people to now fully assert that status on his behalf. The enemies of the people must be defeated by any means necessary. Such a narrative is alien to most Americans but will be instantly recognisable to personnel in the CIA. Through the twentieth century, the worlds leading democracy often looked after its interests around the globe by suppressing democracy abroad. Whether it was in Latin America, or corners of Africa or Asia, the Americans were dab hands at subverting the will of various peoples in order to install a "friendly regime". Frequently, the CIA and its proxies did what had to be done in order to install their favoured candidate in power. Whoever had to be killed was killed. Supporters of President Donald Trump are confronted by US Capitol Police officers outside the Senate Chamber in Washington. Trump followers who are conditioned to believe that the great leader hasnt got feet of clay but is possessed of superhuman powers. Photo: AP/Manuel Balce Ceneta Whatever election had to be suppressed was duly rearranged to provide the correct result. And if all else failed, the last resort was the plain old coup. On Wednesday, Donald Trump attempted his own coup in the USAs seat of power. Last Novembers election result was not the correct one for him. He attempted to have the ballots doctored, as recently as the weekend, when he threatened officials in Georgia to rearrange the outcome. President Donald Trump speaks at a rally on Wednesday in Washington when he attempted to turn democracy on its head. Photo: AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin And when that didnt work, he reverted to violence, although contrary to his pledge earlier in the day, he didnt lead his followers up the steps of the Capitol. The parallels with what America exported and what occurred this week in Washington are uncanny, right down to the progeny of the strongman. As with, for instance, Saddam Hussain, once a favoured puppet of the CIA, Mr Trump has at his side a pair of dim-witted sons who are pale shadows of himself. Earlier in the week, both Don Jnr and Eric Trump were deployed to issue threats to those who would dare oppose big daddy. Read More Trump recorded pleading with election official in Georgia to find him votes On Tuesday, Eric told Fox News that the cowards who didnt step forward to impose his fathers will would pay a price. Tomorrows gonna tell you a lot about the country, Eric told host Sean Hannity. Because I can tell you Sean, any senator or any congressman who does not fight tomorrow, their political career is over. Because the MAGA movement is going nowhere. He went on to say that his father had created the greatest movement in American history. Then on Wednesday, at a rally in Washington before the followers stormed the Capitol building, Don Jnr laid it on the line. It should be a message to all Republicans who have not been willing to actually fight. The people who did nothing to stop the steal. This gathering should send a message to them. This isnt the Republican party anymore. This is Donald Trumps Republican party. If youre gonna be the zero and not the hero, were coming for you and were going to have a good time doing it. People listen as Donald Trump Jr. speaks on Wednesday in Washington. Earlier in the week, both Don Jnr and Eric Trump were deployed to issue threats to those who would dare oppose big daddy. Photo: AP/Jacquelyn Martin Neither Don Jnr nor Eric have ever as much as put their names on a ballot for a town council. Their wealth and status are largely attributable to their father, whose business dealings are currently being investigated for possible criminal and tax offences. They are not answerable to the people, yet they feel entitled to threaten elected politicians who refuse to bow before their fathers delusions. Naturally, the Trump heirs were nowhere to be seen when the violence got underway, not unlike Saddams sons Uday and Qusay who fled Baghdad during the Iraq war, rather than stand with the underlings who did the fighting for them. Read More The conspiracy theories that led to the US Capitol being stormed Then you have the followers, conditioned to believe that the great leader hasnt got feet of clay but is possessed of superhuman powers. When the CIA was in its pomp, disseminating propaganda was handled through control of national media, and even as crudely as airdrops of leaflets proclaiming the virtues of the chosen one. In the time of Trump, Facebook and Twitter obliged with spreading the lies. As reported by CNNs Donie OSullivan from the steps of the Capitol on Wednesday: Their failure to act on hate speech and conspiracy theories onlineWere seeing the result of that playing out on the streets here in the nations capital. Here is the harm, the harm of conspiracy, the harm of lies, the harm of people living online in these Trump echo chambers. They are so deluded. Andy Kim cleans up debris and personal belongings strewn across the floor of the Rotunda in the early hours of Thursday after the storming of the Capitol in Washington. Photo: AP/Andrew Harnik Fortunately, this very American coup wasnt successful. Trump took it to the brink, but ultimately he backed off, not because of any scruples, but because he is a coward who has never had to take a stand on anything. If this were a CIA operation, he would now be regarded as damaged goods, no longer useful to their purpose. He would be quietly taken away to be terminated, or thrown into some filthy prison to be forgotten. He can be grateful that notwithstanding his attempts to bring a coup back home to America, the country still retains some fidelity to the institutions and checks and balances of an established democracy. Within its borders, at any rate. Hyderabad-based All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisis strategy to forge an alliance with Pirzada Abbasuddin Siddiqui, the scion of the Siddiqui family, the custodian of the famous Furfura Sharif shrine in Bengals Hooghly district, will not yield electoral dividend in the coming polls, prominent Muslim clerics, imams and political experts have said. Accused by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), Congress and the Left parties of helping the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) by splitting Muslim votes in the perviously held Uttar Pradesh and Bihar assembly polls, the AIMIM, several Muslim clerics and imams told HT, will not be accepted by voters in Bengal. Siddiqullah Chowdhury, a minister in the TMC government and president of the Jamiat Ulema - e Hinds state branch has also declared that Owaisi has no place in Bengal politics. Also Read: Nadda to launch new campaign on farm laws during Bengal visit The reaction from heads of the minority community against the AIMIMs entry into Bengal is significant because all political parties are aware that it not possible to come to power solely with the support of Hindu voters. Bengals Muslim population stood at 27.01% during the 2011 census and is projected to have increased to around 30% now. Among the districts where the Muslim population is substantially high are Murshidabad (66.28%), Malda (51.27%), North Dinajpur (49.92%), South 24 Parganas (35.57%), and Birbhum (37.06%). There is a large number of Muslim voters in East and West Burdwan districts, North 24 Parganas and Nadia as well. The BJP, which has been accusing chief minister Mamata Banerjee of appeasing the minority community for years, has said that AIMIM is an independent party and can contest anywhere. According to surveys done by the TMC and the BJP, a swing in Muslim votes can influence poll results in as many as 120 assembly seats. Union home minister Amit Shah has announced that his party will oust the Mamata Banerjee government by winning over 200 of the states 294 seats while Banerjees election strategist Prashant Kishor recently tweeted that he will give up his job if the BJPs tally crosses 99. Making his first noticeable move to emerge as a threat to the TMC in the polls due in a few months, Owaisi, on Sunday, met Abbas Siddiqui, who has emerged as a critic of the ruling party in recent months. Siddiqui has even talked about his plans to launch a broad political platform with Hindu Dalits and tribal communities for contesting the polls. Owaisi said on Sunday that Siddiqui will decide how AIMIM will contest. The Furfura Sharif shrine is one of the most popular pilgrimage olaces in Bengal. It is built around the mausoleum of Pir Abu Bakr Siddiqui. It also has a mosque built in 1375. Furfura Sharif draws millions during the Urs festival and the annual fair dedicated to the Pir. The West Bengal Imams Association has reacted to Owaisis plans, saying there is no place for communal politics in Bengal. Of about 40,000 mosques in Bengal, clerics from at least 26,000 are members of the association. Whether Hindus or Muslims, people in the state have only one identity. They are all Bengalis. On one hand, Bengalis are being branded as ghuspetiya (infiltrators in Hindi) by the BJP while on the other, some leaders from Hyderabad and Gujarat are coming to Bengal to divide the population on communal lines. This will not be accepted, said Md Yahiya, chairman of the imams association. In April last year, Yahiya made news by writing to Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, accusing him of trying to disturb the communal harmony from a constitutional position and seeking the retraction of his remarks on the Nizamuddin markaz in Delhi in a letter to the chief minister. In a significant development, other members of the Siddiqui family, including Pirzada Toha Siddiqui, the most prominent among the elders whose support helped the CPI(M) and TMC in the past, has made it clear that he will not support any move that can help the BJP. Hindus comprise 70% of the states population. If they wanted, the BJP could have come to power long ago. We will not do anything to let our Hindu brothers down, he said after Owaisi met Abbas Siddiqui at Furfura Sharif. On Thursday evening, Pirzada Jiauddin Siddiqui, another scion of the family told HT that Furfura Sharif cannot be dragged into politics. Neither Pir Abu Bakr Siddiqui nor any of our ancestors joined politics. This is a religious place and so shall it be. What Abbas is doing is entirely his business, he said. Maulana Md Shafique Qasmi, the imam of Nakhoda Masjid, said no party can benefit by propagating the politics of religion. I am a religious man. I dont know what happened in politics before my birth but today people of Bengal do not accept communalism. No political party, whichever it may be, can benefit from it, he said. Built a century ago as a replica of the mausoleum of emperor Akbar in Agra, the Nakhoda Masjid is the biggest and most important mosque in Kolkata. Kolkata-based political science professor and election analyst Udayan Bandopadhyay said a tie-up with Abbas Siddiqui can help Owaisi in only a few pockets of Bengal. Siddiquis influence is limited to some parts of Malda, North Dinajpur and South 24 Parganas. Unless the imams support him, Owaisi wont benefit much. However, even if they manage to get only 1% of the Muslim votes it will be substantial, Bandopadhyay said. The mayor of Portland Ted Wheeler was punched in the face on Wednesday night as frustrations over how he has responded to recent crises in the city boiled over. Wheeler was dining outdoors with a companion when the protesters walked up to him and began shouting obscenities at the Democratic mayor. Portland made national news when riots hit the city for more than 100 nights in a row last summer as Black Lives Matter protesters clashed with police in response to the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis last May. What began with calls to defund the police and reinvest in communities spiraled into anti-government demonstrations, including calls for Wheeler's resignation. The video shows Wheeler dining at Cafe Nell's in Northwest Portland when he is approached by a group of protesters. A group of people confronted Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler while he was dining in Northwest Portland on Wednesday night Wheeler and a companion were seated outdoors when a group started shouting obscenities at him Portland endured more than 100 nights of rioting during last summer's protest over racial inequality and police brutality the ramifications of which are still raw A person off-camera can then be heard yelling at the mayor who remains calm throughout the video addressing him by his middle name Tevis. Wheeler asks the person yelling at him how old he is before telling him he needs to grow up. 'You are going to be made to feel like the scum you are,' the protester says in the video. 'F*** you! F*** you! Shame on you!' 'I think you need to do your job as a f***ing mayor. I think you're a disgrace,' he replies after Wheeler says that he thinks the group should leave. 'How dare you do sweeps when people are still on the streets.' 'You think that we're going to forget about you? We're never going to forget you, Tevis. Ever. Ever. I hope you enjoyed your little wine... you're f*****, Tevis.' Tracy Molina, a prominent Portland activist, confronted Mayor Ted Wheeler and allegedly punched him Jim Middaugh, a spokesman for the mayor, told The Oregonian the hecklers 'pushed their way past restaurant employees' to confront Wheeler while he was dining. Although the mayor asked the group to leave 'at that point, one member of the group started swatting the mayor and made physical contact with him', Middaugh said. The punch was not captured on video although Wheeler managed to take a photograph of the woman he claimed hit him. The woman, Tracy Molina, is a prominent social justice activist and regularly participates in the city's protests against police violence and systemic racism. The mayor did not press charges and no arrests were made. His office released a statement regarding the incident. The video was posted to Twitter by citizen journalist Cozca Itzpapaloti The statement said: 'On Wednesday evening, during a non-work-related dinner with a friend in a designated outdoor area, Mayor Wheeler was confronted by a group of people. The Mayor had been seated for about five minutes when a group of people began shouting obscenities at the Mayor from the outside of the tent. 'The Mayor attempted to ignore the group, but they eventually pushed their way past restaurant employees at the entrance to the tent and came inside. The Mayor asked them to leave. At that point, one member of the group started swatting at the Mayor and made physical contact with him. The Mayor was not injured. Restaurant staff persuaded the group to leave. Police arrived shortly after and the group dispersed. 'The Mayor is committed to supporting local businesses and wants others to do the same. Given the tenor of political discourse nationally and locally, it's not unusual for people to confront the Mayor and other elected officials in public. It's part of the job. The Mayor will continue to support local restaurants and businesses as often as he can. He urges others to do the same.' Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler reacts after being exposed to tear gas fired by federal officers while attending a protest against police brutality and racial injustice last July Wheeler lost the support of many of Portland's citizens after his city's police force used teargas and rubber bullets during the summer's protests over racial inequality in which protesters ran riot and the mayor essentially lost control of the liberal city. He has recently become tougher in his stance towards demonstrations and has said he wants to see tougher penalties for people repeatedly caught engaging in violence and vandalism. Wheeler has said he wants police officers to have more tools to investigate protest-related violence and promises tougher policing against demonstrators who break the law. Protesters such as those heard in the video are also frustrated with him for his handling of homelessness in the city which has seen continued sweeps of tent encampments when many are financially struggling during the pandemic. Nevertheless, Wheeler, won a second term as mayor in November despite criticism after months of protests and riots in the city. Speaking after his win, Wheeler called for unity as he embarked on another four years as mayor. 'We're going to need to come together as never before to address short-term issues and the long-term changes and investments needed to rebuild our economy, rebuild confidence in law enforcement and restore hope for our future,' he said An educator with the Allentown School District has been temporarily relieved of his teaching duties after being involved in the Electoral College protest that took place at the United States Capitol Building on Wednesday, according to a letter from Superintendent Thomas Parker. The districts communication, which was posted on its website, Facebook page and Twitter account, did not name the teacher and did not say if he was still working in some fashion or being paid as the district works to complete a formal investigation of his involvement. It does discuss an image that upset many members of our community. At the same time, the district has an obligation to respect the First Amendment rights of our staff and students, Parker said. An image created from an apparent social media post that says Doing my civic duty over a photo said to be a school district teacher drew extended debate online. A man with the same name did not immediately return a request for comment sent through a district email address. The district took the action and began the probe due to the emotion and controversy stirred by the events which left five people dead, including a police officer who was reportedly assaulted inside the building after it was swarmed. The letter does not say what actions, if any, the teacher took while in Washington, D.C., as Congress was officially counting the votes of the Electoral College. When numerous people stormed into the Capitol, some ending up in leadership offices and even on the Senate floor, the count was stopped for several hours as the building was cleared and order restored. Early Thursday, Congress confirmed that Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States. The chaos that took place in the nations capital yesterday was deeply troubling and (missing word) acknowledge that these actions have caused immense pain in our community, Parker wrote. It occurred at a time when we are already grappling with the impacts of a global pandemic that has affected the health and livelihood of families throughout our community. Yesterdays events have added to the confusion and uncertainty our students are experiencing during this unprecedented time. The letter also cautioned other district employees to weigh their future social media posts. We are reminding our staff to think carefully about what they share online and how it could affect their students and fellow community members, Parker said. While we all have the right to express ourselves, it is important to do so respectfully. We ask the same of our students and families. We will continue to work to address the academic, social, and emotional needs of our students during this challenging time. Tony Rhodin can be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / January 7, 2021 / Rapid Nutrition PLC, (SWX:RAP)(OTCQB:RPNRF) ("Company"), a natural healthcare company focused on the research, development and production of a range of life science products, today announced it has collectively placed convertible instruments to the value of USD$333,983. Notably a convertible bond of USD300,000 led by Swiss Asset Manager, Alternative Gestion S.A. The placement (Convertible Instrument) consists of units at market price with warrants attached. The number of warrants issued to the Investor will be calculated at 100% of the newly issued Ordinary Shares placed with the Investor (in connection with this Convertible Instrument) with an exercise price equal to USD$0.30 per share. The warrants will vest immediately and will have a twenty-four month life. The Conversion will increase the current share capital to a total number of voting rights 42,076,096, if fully exercised pursuant to the entry in the commercial register. The proceeds shall be used to fund the Company's growth plans and corporate strategy. The new shares will be allotted subject only to admission to listing of the new shares. Such listing is expected to take place in due course. Rapid Nutrition CEO, Simon St. Ledger stated, "We are pleased to attract continued support from Alternative Gestion S.A. which reinforces our corporate strategy by positioning the Company well for continued growth heading into the first quarter of 2021. Further, we believe securing financing without discounting our equity and offering warrants at premium to the market speaks to the positive sentiment building in the institutional investor community, as well as our ongoing commitment to building long-term shareholder value." Over the past year, Rapid Nutrition has also secured new distribution agreements in France, Italy, Jamaica and Switzerland where the products are going through regulatory approval, as well as bolstering its direct-to-consumer e-commerce and Amazon channels, as more consumers recognize the importance of health, wellness and self-care products. The company aims to continue to grow its global distribution footprint throughout the European markets as well. About Rapid Nutrition Dedicated to the development and distribution of premium, science-based health and wellness brands across the globe, Rapid Nutrition shares a wealth of award-winning products with consumers who are passionate about innovations that are "made by nature, refined by science." Rapid Nutrition's first-class scientific team matches the experience of its management team to keep both the company and consumers on top of the latest industry trends and developments, while aligning with industry leaders worldwide to deliver effective supplements and solutions. Rapid Nutrition aims to be the supplier of choice globally by offering premium brands with the highest-quality ingredients to deliver maximum results. For more information, please visit http://rnplc.com Investor Relations Contact ir@rnplc.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause Rapid Nutrition PLCs actual results and experience to differ materially from anticipated results and expectations expressed in these forward-looking statements. Rapid Nutrition PLC has in some cases identified forward-looking statements by using words such as "anticipates," "believes," "hopes," "estimates," "looks," "expects," "plans," "intends," "goal," "potential," "may," "suggest," and similar expressions. Rapid PLC undertakes no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to any such forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by applicable law or regulation. Disclosure Requirement This media information does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities. This information does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. The media release is in accordance with International Reporting Standard: Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act ('Rule 12g3-2(b)') permits non-U.S. companies with securities listed primarily on a Qualified Foreign Exchange to make publicly available to U.S investors in English the same information that is made publicly available in their home countries as an alternative to SEC reporting Exchange Act Rule 12g3-2(b). SOURCE: Rapid Nutrition Plc View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/623558/Rapid-Nutrition-Attracts-Second-Round-Investment-From-Swiss-Fund Next Story : 5 Body Positive Influencers To Follow In 2021 In a historic move, Indias primary rescue outfit, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), has inducted over 100 women officials as disaster combatants and rescuers. The women personnel were deployed in Uttar Pradeshs Garh Mukteshwar town on the banks of the river Ganga for contingency duties. The move is not only seen as a symbol of pride, but also one of gender sensitivity and inclusion, given that women are usually barred from taking up high-pressure jobs.According to the NDRF Director General S N Pradhan, the women officials possess all the skills to be called complete rescuers. In an interview, he added that while the NDRF can deploy an all-woman team or a squad of male and female personnel to respond to situations, having women personnel on-ground makes a great difference as womens skill sets are stronger in some aspects, and they can be leveraged in situations where women, children and aged people are being rescued.The Director General also mentioned that recruiting women fighters in NDRFS combat ranks was a work-in-progress for quite a while, but with over 100 female personnel joining the countrys federal calamity force over the last few months, more women officials are set to be deputed across the country with battalions once their pre-induction course and training is complete. The women officers are being inducted as Sub Inspectors, Inspectors, and Sub Officers, with their number expected to exceed 200 in the near future.The NDRF, established in 2006, is a specialised unit that handles relief and rescue tasks during natural and man-made disasters, or life threatening situations. At present, it has 12 operational battalions located in various states, with each battalion seconded by the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF), like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) or the Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). The parent force is responsible for providing manpower to the NDRF, with personnel being sent on time-bound deputations.The Director General said that the feedback regarding the performance of the first womens team in disaster combat was good. The NDRF is continuously working to create women-oriented infrastructure at its bases, but due to vacancies in manpower feeder agencies, it will be a while before the NDRF can boast of a stronger team of female combatants. Shmyhal says Ukraine won't get the vaccine earlier than in March. Brussels-based RFE/RL journalist Rikard Jozwiak has said Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal appealed to the European Commission for help in getting the COVID-19 vaccine. "PM of Ukraine has written to the Commission to get help with #CovidVaccine: 'The extremely high global demand & purchase conditions for the vaccines make our negotiating positions incomparable to EU's' & note that Ukr won't get vaccine earlier than in March," the journalist wrote on Twitter on January 8, 2021. Read alsoIsrael denies rumors of vaccine smuggling into UkraineVaccines for Ukraine: Background In March, the first batch with 8 million doses of a vaccine is expected to be shipped to Ukraine under the COVAX Facility. These doses are enough to vaccinate 4 million people, because one person needs two shots of the vaccine. Doctors, senior citizens, and seriously ill patients will get vaccinated first. On December 24, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov said that his ministry was working out a plan to increase the vaccine quota as part of the COVAX global initiative from 8 million to 16 million doses. On December 22, Ukraine's Health Ministry approved a plan for vaccination of the population against COVID-19. The goal of this plan is to vaccinate at least 50% of the population of Ukraine (20 million people) in 2021-2022. On December 30, the Ukrainian Health Ministry signed a contract for the supply of China's Sinovac Biotech COVID-19 vaccine to Ukraine. The purchase provides for 1,913,316 doses at UAH 504 (US$18) per dose. China plans to obtain permission to use the vaccine inside the country and abroad in January next year, and the vaccine will also be submitted for retraining to the World Health Organization (WHO) in February 2021. The contract for supplies to the territory of Ukraine has been signed with Lekhim JSC, which, according to official confirmations from Sinovac Biotech, is the only authorized representative of the vaccine manufacturer in Ukraine. Under the terms of the contract, the first batch of 700,000 doses will be delivered to Ukraine within 30 days after official registration in China, or by one of the competent authorities of the United States, Great Britain, the Swiss Confederation, Japan, Australia, Canada, Israel, India, Mexico, Brazil, or under a centralized procedure by the competent authority of the European Union. On January 6, some 13 countries of the European Union called on the European Commission to provide access to COVID-19 vaccines for the Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries, including Ukraine. Reporting by UNIAN Axios Exxon shareholders, bucking company management, voted to install at least two new members to the oil giant's board in a push to make Exxon more aggressive on addressing climate change and more disciplined in its oil investments.Why it matters: Exxon management campaigned strongly against the entire slate of four people nominated by Engine No. 1, the activist investment group whose campaign was backed by several major pension funds.Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for freeThe election of two of the four would avoid what could have been a categorical rebuke of the oil giant's strategy, but it still represents significant investor dissent.The vote in favor of the two new board members shows that many investors see Exxon, which has had a rocky financial performance in recent years, as poorly positioned for the future. Driving the news: Shareholders voted to add Gregory Goff and Kaisa Hietala at the oil giant's annual meeting Wednesday, Exxon said at the conclusion of voting. Tabulations on other candidates are still pending, though one of the Engine No. 1 candidates was voted down, Exxon stated in a press release. It's possible that one other activist candidate will still prevail.Hietala is a a former renewables executive with the refining company Neste and Goff is the former CEO of the refiner Andeavor.What they're saying: Charlie Penner, one of Engine No. 1's leaders, told shareholders at the meeting that Exxon management is "determined to fight off the future for as long as possible," but added: "change is coming."The big picture: The battle over replacing members of Exxon's 13-person board comes amid increasing pressure on oil majors to do more on climate change.European-based multinational giants are diversifying more widely and vowing long-term transformations to "net-zero" emissions companies by 2050.Engine No. 1 also says Exxon lacks "any serious diversification efforts" that will prepare it to thrive in a low-carbon world. The group says Exxon needs a more cautious investment approach around oil and gas.Engine No. 1's candidates won the backing of some of the company's largest shareholders, including BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street.Yes, but: Exxon says it's in step with the evolving energy mix, citing growing emphasis on carbon capture and large market opportunities there, and efforts on hydrogen and biofuels.Exxon also argues its adjusted capital strategy will deliver strong returns in oil and gas, which it notes will remain huge markets for decades despite low-carbon energy growth.The company recently set new near- and medium-term targets to cut emissions intensity (that is, emissions per unit of output), but has eschewed the long-term carbon neutrality vows of its European peers.ExxonMobil is in a strong position to create differentiating value throughout the energy transition, CEO Darren Woods said, touting Exxon's oil-and-gas portfolio and its investment in climate technologies."We welcome the new directors Gregory Goff in Kaisha Hietala to the board and look forward to working with them constructively and collectively on behalf of all shareholders," Woods said.Go deeper: The intensifying battle for Exxon's futureLike this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. Deer Park, Texas, residents sheltered in place. The Houston Ship Channel shut down. Toxic chemicals spilled during Hurricane Harvey. And just last month, seven people were injured in a Corpus Christi fire. These are the incidents that some Texas lawmakers have in mind as they push to require new standards on above-ground chemical storage tanks during the upcoming legislative session. The recent fire in Corpus Christi started at an oil storage tank. Another fire at a leaking tank farm at a petrochemical plant in Deer Park shut down the ship channel in March 2019 and created a huge plume of smoke that could be seen miles away. And during Hurricane Harvey in 2017, flooding caused the explosions at Arkemas chemical power plant and damaged storage tanks that leaked thousands of gallons of gasoline. Two bills, one from state Rep. Mary Ann Perez, D-Pasadena, and another from Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas, would task the states environmental agency with creating tougher rules on the structural integrity of these above-ground tanks at chemical plants, refineries, electric power plants or other large storage facilities. The bills would instruct the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to create more stringent standards for tanks in areas prone to flooding, storm surges and hurricanes. But the legislation largely leaves the specifics up to the TCEQ a move that Democrats hope will ward off the most vigorous industry opposition, but is less palatable to environmentalists who have often criticized the TCEQ for being too industry friendly. Few state rules currently apply to the tanks, and none require construction standards that ensure the tanks can withstand powerful hurricanes or major flooding. The legislation is written with an eye toward those extreme weather events, a growing concern among scientists and officials across the state as increasingly powerful storms, energized by a warming ocean, batter the Texas Gulf Coast, where many of the tanks are located. The effects of climate change are real, Johnson said. Our systems are going to have to be upgraded to withstand those additional strains. After similar legislation failed to gain much momentum during the last legislative session, the bills sponsors hope that the groundwork has been laid in both the Legislature and the chemical, oil and gas industry to allow the bills a chance at survival when lawmakers return to session later this month. And environmental groups say recent high-profile chemical disasters should have gotten lawmakers attention. The legislators, Republican or Democrat, have seen accidents and spills, after accidents and spills, said Cyrus Reed, the conservation director for the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club. I think [legislators] recognize a need to do something whether thats more inspections and enforcement, new penalty policy or new regulations. Perez, whose district contains a host of refineries and petrochemical plants, including Valeros Houston refinery, said: The incidents are going to happen. Something needs to be done. Industry Rules The TCEQ itself has raised the issue in the last year, too. During a September work session for TCEQ commissioners, agency Executive Director Toby Baker was frustrated with the agencys limited authority to regulate plants before a disaster happens the agency can punish companies for the emissions that result from an explosion after the fact, but fines do little to prevent them in the first place. He said the agency is criticized for incidents even when it has little power to intervene, such as the Intercontinental Terminals Co. fire in 2019, when a leaking tank farm at a petrochemical plant ignited, shutting down the Houston ship channel and prompting shelter-in-place orders. Frankly, weve had to answer for the process safety failures that are really outside of the bounds of our authority, he said during the work session. The underlying challenge we have is that we are not a process safety regulator, Baker said. At the end of the day, we regulate emissions. We regulate discharges. We regulate pollution. While Texas already has a long list of rules on the books for storage tanks, including requiring specific construction standards and plans to prevent spills, they only apply to below-ground tanks and are aimed at preventing contamination of underground aquifers. Above-ground storage tanks are exempt from the rules. Companies may face fines for discharges or spills from above-ground tanks that harm the environment, but the TCEQ said its rules do not require any spill preparation or prevention measures (other states, such as California, specify that companies must prepare above-ground tank spill prevention plans and apply certain engineering practices to prevent spills). That means preventing chemical disasters in Texas largely falls under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administrations workplace safety standards, although in some instances, the TCEQ said, certain provisions of the federal Clean Air Act may apply. Most often, though, the above-ground tanks, which often contain toxic and flammable chemicals, are constructed to standards set by the industry, specifically by the American Petroleum Institute, the largest oil and gas trade association in the U.S. API lists hundreds of construction standards that companies should follow for above-ground storage tanks, although there is no penalty for not following the standards. And the industry rules dont account for extreme weather events that have become more common in recent years. Thats why environmental and public advocacy groups in Texas say those standards arent enough. Roofs collapsing from too much rain werent necessarily the industrys fault, its that the standards that they constructed to were not intended to withstand Hurricane Harvey, said Reed, the Sierra Club official. API did not respond to questions about whether its members would be open to new state regulations for above-ground tanks in Texas. We look forward to working with TXOGA [the Texas Oil and Gas Association] and local authorities to identify the most effective approach to ensure safety and environmental protection protocols are in place to prevent incidents, Ron Chittim, API vice president of downstream policy, said in a statement. The Texas Oil and Gas Association, a powerful industry group in the state, said safety is a priority, but did not comment directly on whether it would oppose the bills. TXOGA is focusing on ensuring that the numerous regulations and standards for above-ground storage tanks are sufficient to maintain safety and environmental protections for these tanks, said Todd Staples, president of TXOGA. Not much will be accomplished in the Legislature on storage tank regulation if there is strong opposition from industry, Johnson and Perez said. I want to sit together with industry partners and try to find a happy medium, something we can all agree on, Perez said. Will Bills Get GOP Support? The bills will also need support from Republicans, who have majorities in both the House and Senate. Some Republicans including state Rep. Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, the presumptive new House speaker have seen firsthand the impacts of chemical explosions in their districts. In Phelans district, thousands of his constituents were evacuated the day before Thanksgiving in 2019 when several explosions rocked a TPC Group plant in Port Neches. A processing unit at the plant containing liquid butadiene, which is used to manufacture rubber, began leaking and turned into a vapor, caught fire and exploded, injuring three workers on site. We must identify how these events could have been prevented, Phelan said in a statement to the Beaumont Enterprise after the explosion. He went on to call for legislative action to ensure plants and refineries ensure the safety of workers and the surrounding communities. Phelans transition spokesperson, Enrique Marquez, said that Phelan believes industrial and employee safety are essential to Texans health and the success of the state economy. Rep. Phelan supports appropriate measures to ensure that employees, communities and facilities remain safe and that there is a clear system of accountability when things go awry, Marquez said in a written statement. Disclosure: Valero and Texas Oil and Gas Association have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Texas legislators eye tougher rules on chemical tanks to prevent explosions, spills during storms was first published at https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/05/texas-chemical-tanks-explosions/ by The Texas Tribune. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Related: Topics Texas Pollution Chemicals Photo: The Canadian Press Members of the A5 pod of northern resident killer whales, as shown in this recent handout image provided by Jared Towers, a scientist with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans, returned this week with a newborn to the Broughton Archipelago of British Columbia for the first time in about 20 years. Two northern resident killer whale families brought along a baby as they returned for the first time in 20 years to their traditional winter foraging grounds in British Columbia waters. Jared Towers, a scientist with the Fisheries Department, said he spotted the group, collectively known as A5, this week in the Broughton Archipelago, where they once fed on chinook salmon before being driven out by deafening acoustic "harassment devices" installed by fish farms. They were meant to deter sea lions and seals, but the noise also kept orcas out of the territory that they have now reclaimed, Towers said, adding the devices were removed several years ago because of their negative impact on killer whales. "They just stopped using the area altogether for over two decades and now it's a sign of hope that they're revisiting these territories and perhaps feel safe enough going back into those waters," he said of the group of islands near Alert Bay. Towers said he saw nine whales, including a calf that appeared to be about a week old, alongside its mother, Midsummer; great-great-aunt Corky; and great-uncle Fife. "There are at least a couple of individuals who are alive now who were much younger the last time they were documented in that area, so these animals probably remember that when their mom was alive, that's where she took them," he said. "It's amazing to see them swimming past a little tiny beach in the middle of the strait and all of a sudden they do a 90-degree turn and head right for that beach that's one of the only places on the entire coast where they'll rub their bodies." Towers said the A5s were heard on a hydrophone in the water and identified by their dialect before he headed out to search for them. Many of the northern resident orcas, which number about 300 and are classified as threatened in Canada, were shot by fishermen or captured for aquariums in the 1970s, he said. They typically hang out in the waters of central and northern B.C., but don't spend much time in the Vancouver, Victoria or Seattle areas, unlike southern resident killer whales. Ernest Alfred, a member of the Namgis First Nation based in Alert Bay, said the return of the northern residents is a sign that salmon stocks are rebounding. "This is a place where we used to have a herring fishery and a salmon fishery," said Alfred, adding he occupied a fish farm for 284 days starting in the summer of 2017 as part of a protest against the industry. He said acoustic devices piped in loud acoustic sounds in the area between about 1993 and 1999, "effectively blasting the A5 pod out of its home territory." The B.C. government and three First Nations announced an agreement in December 2018 to transition 17 fish farms operated by two companies out of the Broughton Archipelago by 2023. After a wretched wait of over three years, wife of firefighter Sukhdev Singh, who died in the plastic factory tragedy in November 2017, has finally received a job, announced by the state government as part of compensation. Sukhdevs wife Kamlesh has been hired as a Class-4 employee in the municipal corporation (MC) and the offer letter was handed over by mayor Balkar Singh Sandhu and MC commissioner Pardeep Sabharwal on Friday. Kamlesh, who has been living with her parents since her husband died tragically while fighting the flames, said her three daughters and she had been dependent on her parents all this while. Though ecstatic over getting a government job, she said it came too late. Even though my parents took care of us, it was a burden on their shoulders. Now that I have got a job, I can confidently raise my daughters myself, said Kamlesh. As many as 16 people, including nine firefighters, were killed in the plastic factory tragedy that took place near Suffiyan Chowk in November 2017. While jobs were given to the families of six firefighters, the families of three contractual firemen Manpreet, Vishal and Sukhdev continued to run from pillar to post for compensation. The jobs were announced by chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh as part of the compensation for the families of the nine firefighters killed in the incident. But, the cases of the three firefighters got delayed after objections over providing permanent jobs to the family members of contractual employees. Wait continues for two families The long wait for government jobs still continues for families of firefighters Manpreet and Vishal, as MC has not received approval from the Punjab local bodies department. While Manpreets family has been seeking a job for his sister, Vishals family wants work for his brother. The families rued that the authorities had been delaying the files by pointing out different objections, but no one was committed to providing relief to the families, who had suffered the tragic loss of their loved ones. Mayor Sandhu said MC was regularly pursuing the cases and the family members of the firefighters will soon get offer letters. After almost a year living under the shadow of a pandemic, the approval of two Covid-19 vaccines finally brought some hope to a world weary of coronavirus. There isn't a part of our lives that hasn't been affected by Covid-19 - schools are closed for the third time, life-saving operations are being cancelled, the business community is on its knees, even the simple act of giving a loved one a hug is no longer acceptable. Throughout everything that Covid-19 has thrown at us, we've held on to the day when a vaccine would be rolled out and lives could finally return to normal. Yet, one of the most senior health officials in Northern Ireland has now warned that the normal we so long yearn for may never fully return. Professor Ian Young, Northern Ireland's chief scientific adviser, said that as the vaccines are rolled out, fewer restrictions will be required to maintain control of transmission. But he warned: "However, this will take some time." He said he is optimistic that the economy will have largely returned to normal by the end of the year, but he cannot rule out the possibility that some restrictions will remain in place - even taking the mass vaccination programme into account. Asked whether people will be able to hug their loved ones and meet with family and friends in their homes, and whether children will be able to return to class without adhering to bubbles, Prof Young said: "It is unlikely that Covid will ever be eradicated, and there will be low levels of illness each winter. It is very difficult to predict at this stage how severe that will be and what precautions may be required. Read More "However, for example, it is possible that use of face coverings may become an aspect of normal behaviour which continues for many people, as is the case in some other countries." His comments come after England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty warned that some coronavirus restrictions may have to be brought back next winter. Speaking at a Downing Street news conference earlier this week, Prof Whitty said: "We shouldn't kid ourselves [that] this just disappears with spring. We might have to bring in a few in the next winter for example, that's possible, because winter will benefit the virus." Prof Young himself has refused to rule out the possibility there may be further lockdowns in Northern Ireland. He said that 70% of the population will have to be vaccinated to reduce the virus spread to low levels. "It is important that as many people as possible who are eligible for the vaccine choose to take it, and so far that has been the case," he said. "Vaccination of older people and the vulnerable should greatly reduce the number of deaths from the virus and will help to reduce hospital admissions and pressures. However, it is also very important for younger people to be vaccinated when the opportunity arises. "It is important to remember that up to 10% of younger people may have long term symptoms after Covid - we are all at risk from the consequences of this disease. At the moment, there is no concern about virus variants present in NI impacting on the vaccine programme. However, we know that this virus changes and that new variants will emerge in the future. "We cannot exclude the possibility that vaccines would need to be modified to deal with new forms of the virus, as happens every year with flu vaccines." (Image: Reuters) A day before the eighth round of talks, the government and the farmer unions stuck to their respective positions on Thursday -- the agitating farmers took out tractor rallies to press their demand for rollback of new agri laws and the Centre asserted it is ready to consider any proposal other than their repeal. As both sides looked for a resolution to the over one-month-long deadlock, rumours about some states being allowed to opt out of the central laws started doing the rounds, but the agitating unions said they had not received any such proposal from the government. Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar too answered in the negative when he was asked by reporters if there was any proposal to give state governments the freedom to implement the new laws. Tomar, along with Food Minister Piyush Goyal and Minister of State for Commerce Som Parkash, has been leading the government's negotiations with 40 protesting farmer union leaders. The latest round of talks to be held at Vigyan Bhavan at 2PM on Friday is crucial as the previous meeting on January 4 remained inconclusive with both sides sticking to their positions. There was some breakthrough in the sixth round of talks on December 30 when the government conceded to two demands of the agitating farmers pertaining to power subsidy and stubble burning. The previous rounds of talks had failed to make any headway. Farmer leader Shiv Kumar Kakka, a senior member of the Samkyukt Kisan Morch, said that unions have not received any proposal for allowing some states to opt out and asserted that they will reject the same if it is sent to them. "I want to make it clear that Samkyukt Kisan Morcha has not received any proposal on allowing states to opt out of the three farm laws. We will not accept anything less than the repeal of three agriculture laws and a legal guarantee on minimum support price for our crops," Kakka told PTI. "If it is true (about any such proposal), it is a divide and rule strategy by the government," the farmer leader also said. The Samkyukt Kisan Morch is an umbrella body of around 40 farmer unions protesting at several Delhi border points for the last 43 days against the new agri laws. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) chief Joginder Singh Ugrahan, who is also a senior member of the Morcha, denied receiving any proposal from the government. "We have not got anything (any new proposal) from the government," Ugrahan told PTI. During an interaction through Facebook, Swaraj Abhiyan leader Yogendra Yadav, who is actively participating in the ongoing protest against the new farm laws, accused the government of "fuelling such rumours". "It is being discussed in the media that the government has sent a proposal to farmer unions. We have not received any proposal from the government's side," Yadav said. Earlier in the day, renowned religious leader Baba Lakha met Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar, even as the latter denied giving any proposal to the former. Tomar said that the government is ready to consider any proposal other than repeal of three farm laws, the key demand of the protesting farmers. "I cannot say "I cannot say anything right now. In fact, it depends on what issues that will come up for discussion in the meeting," Tomar told reporters when asked about the likely outcome of the January 8 meeting. Punjab BJP leaders Surjit Kumar Jyani and Harjit Singh Grewal met Union Home Minister Amit Shah here on Thursday. After the meeting, Jyani told reporters that the farmer unions should not be adamant on their demand for repeal of the three farm laws. He also alleged that Left leaders have entered into the movement and do not want the matter to be resolved. Grewal asserted that the government is ready for everything that is in farmers' interest. Thousands of farmers on Thursday took out tractor marches from protest sites of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur borders and Haryana's Rewasan as the agitating unions asserted they would not accept the Centre's offer of amendments to the three farm laws. According to the protesting farm unions, these marches were a "rehearsal" for their proposed January 26 "Kisan parade" to the national capital from different parts of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. The tractor marches started from four different points -- Singhu to Tikri Border, Tikri to Kundli, Ghazipur to Palwal and Rewasan to Palwal. The protesting unions claimed the marches were "a grand success". Enacted in September, the three farm laws have been projected by the Centre as major reforms in the agriculture sector that will remove the middlemen 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 the MSP and do away with the "mandi" (wholesale market) system, leaving them at the mercy of big corporates. The R number showing how fast coronavirus is spreading is at between 2.4 and 3, a Covid-19 briefing last night heard as a further 6,521 cases were confirmed. Professor Philip Nolan chair of the Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group told the briefing that at no time since the start of the pandemic in March had it exceeded 1.4 or 1.6. Prof Nolan said this was certainly, at least in part explained by the very high levels of socialisation and social contact in the last weeks of December. Meanwhile, curbs on the sale of alcohol by forcing off-licences to cut their opening hours may be the next step in the fight against the Covid-19 crisis after chief medical officer Dr Tony Holohan warned it is helping to fuel the spread of the virus. Read More He welcomed signals that the Government is looking at curtailing off-licence trading hours in the war against the virus. Dr Holohan said the virus loves alcohol and it was clear it was causing people to let down their guard, increasing the risk of spreading the virus. He was speaking as the rapid acceleration in the spread of the virus has left the country facing the fastest rate of growth since March with exceptionally high levels of disease. Another 10 Covid-19 related deaths were reported yesterday along with 6,521 cases, although there are cautious signs cases may have begun to stabilise in recent days and people are reducing their contacts. The figures from recent days had to be interpreted cautiously and it will take time to show if the country was starting to turn the corner. However, admissions to hospitals will continue to escalate and there were a record 1,043 being treated in wards yesterday with 99 hospitalised in the previous 24 hours. Intensive care units, which are under growing strain, had 96 Covid-19 patients and doctors are increasingly terrified they will not be able to provide the level of care needed to every patient who is seriously ill. HSE clinical officer Dr Colm Henry said the most optimistic prediction is that there will be 200 Covid-19 patients in intensive care next week. Prof Cliona Ni Cheallaigh, an infectious disease consultant in St Jamess Hospital, said doctors were terrified of finding themselves where they have to choose between patients because of a lack of beds. There are 286 intensive care beds and the capacity to increase this with temporary beds to 350, but hospitals are facing huge difficulties with absent staff due to the virus. There are 2,500 off work including the specialist nurses and doctors needed to provide this level of care. Prof Nolan told last nights briefing that the more infectious strain of the virus is now accounting for around one in four infections and it will make it more difficult to get this third wave under control. Its threat means everyone needs to work harder to slow the spread and double down on their efforts. It will be next week before there is any firm sign that the spread of the virus may be stabilising and optimism is still very thin. He said a pessimistic forecast was that there would be 2,500 to 5,000 cases a day by the end of this month. The more optimistic possibility was that it could be between 1,100 and 2,900 a day at that stage. Ireland went into lockdown in October when daily cases were around 1,200 which shows the hill that has to be climbed in the first part of the year. He expressed concern about the rate of infection, hospitalisation and risk of death among the over-65s. Around 11 people a day are dying of Covid-19 related disease and so far this month there have been 41 deaths with 163 in December. Earlier, HSE chief Paul Reid said the rate of growth in Covid patients was a massive shock to the hospital system and 400 beds were available yesterday as well as 31 intensive care beds. We are looking at an extreme situation in our hospitals in the coming days. Mr Reid said 15,314 people, mostly healthcare workers, have got the vaccine and 35,000 are expected to get the jab this week. Around 27,300 doses have been distributed. We are where we expected to be, he told a HSE briefing. There are around 1,800 ventilators in hospital. The briefing was told that there have been 108 open outbreaks since the beginning of January across long-term care facilities and hospitals. There are currently 79 active outbreaks but there is still no evidence of flu. There are currently around 880 nursing home staff off work due to Covid-19. The three childrens hospitals in Dublin are having to curtail services due to the Covid-19 crisis and children due to be seen in out-patient clinics will have to undergo virtual or telephone consultations instead. The decision has been made by Childrens Health Ireland (CHI) overseeing the three childrens hospitals at Tallaght, Crumlin, Temple Street and the Paediatric Outpatients and Urgent Care Centre, CHI at Connolly Hospital, Blanchardstown. Trump Supporters Hold Rallies in Different Parts of Canada Several rallies and car parades were held in different parts of Canada on Jan. 6 to show support for U.S. President Donald Trump and condemn socialism. In Toronto, a group called Factual Canada held two rallies and car parades this week. An estimated 200 vehicles were registered for the car parade in the first rally on Jan. 3, and a larger number appeared for the Jan. 6 event. Supporters came from various ethnic communities. The Stop the Steal convoy in Toronto took off from the John M. Kelly Library at the University of St. Michaels College, passing by the U.S. Consulate in Toronto along the way. We Want Freedom, Not Communism Devon Rice-Osten, a resident of Whitby, Ont., said he supports Trump because he doesnt want communism. (Michelle Hu/The Epoch Times) Devon Rice-Osten, a resident of Whitby, Ont., said he believes allegations of irregularities during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, such as in Pennsylvania and Arizona, but the state governments failed to conduct a proper investigation. He is also concerned about potential negative economic consequences caused by the policies of a U.S. government under Joe Biden. We dont want socialism, we dont want communism, we dont want any of that. We want a free country, and a free country needs a fair election, and a fair election doesnt include printing extra ballots and then finding them under the table in the middle of the night after you kick everybody out, Rice-Osten said. If Biden wins, the great reset happens, the Green New Deal happens, we lose all of our vehicles, they stop producing gas vehicles, there will be carbon taxes jacked up, gas will cost a ridiculous amount of money, he added. And I want to make money, I want to live my life, I want to enjoy it, and I dont want them to encourage [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau and [Finance Minister] Chrystia Freeland to just spend all our money on nothing. Martin (L) and his son Luke at the Jan. 6 rally in Toronto. (Michelle Hu/The Epoch Times) Martin, who declined to give his last name, said he supports Trump mainly because his parents came from Czechoslovakia, a former communist country, and he understands what is it like under such regime. He said fraud was rampant during the 2020 U.S. presidential election, which he said is clear to anyone who has done some analysis, but the legacy media have refused to report on the issue. If people dont take a stand for freedom, if people dont take a stand for democracy, they run the risk of having it taken away from them. And regardless of what some may say of Donald Trump, the things that he fundamentally stands for are freedom, personal accountability, and the rights of citizens to vote and have their votes counted, he said. To Fight Communism, We Must Support Trump Zhao Zhongyuan, a Chinese immigrant, said he supports Trump because he opposes communism. To fight communism, we must support Trump. Many of his policies were against the CCP [Chinese Communist Party]. It is near impossible for the Chinese people to oust the CCP on their own, they need Trumps backing, said Zhao. Sheng Xue, vice president of the Federation for a Democratic China, at the Jan. 6 rally in Toronto. (Michelle Hu/The Epoch Times) Sheng Xue, vice president of the Federation for a Democratic China, which was founded in 1989 after the Tiananmen Square massacre, said Trumps policies dealt a heavy blow to communist Chinas totalitarianism. Sheng, a democracy activist and author, said those on the left of the political spectrum have made great contributions in promoting human rights, freedom, and democracy. But due to the intervention of the CCP in the past decade, the American left-wing has gone to the extremes; in this election it is working with the Chinese regime against Trump, she said. Pro-Trump rallies were also held in other provinces, but on a smaller scale. In British Columbia, about 30 supporters gathered at the Vancouver Art Gallery and marched to the U.S. Consulate. In Alberta, a similar-sized group gathered outside Calgary City Hall. An earlier version of this article incorrectly named Devon Rice-Osten. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Big Tech companies Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and SnapChat suspended President Donald Trump's accounts in the height of the violent turnout of the Save America March, even after he called for peace. As per Newsbusters, Facebook indefinitely locked down his account--which included Instagram--because Founder Mark Zuckerber declared his posts as ironically inciting to violence. "His decision to use his platform to condone rather than condemn the actions of his supporters at the Capitol building has rightly disturbed people in the US and around the world. We removed these statements yesterday because we judged that their effect--and likely their intent--would be to provoke further violence," Zuckerberg declared in his personal Facebook account. This he said after stating, "President Donald Trump intends to use his remaining time in office to undermine the peaceful and lawful transition of power to his elected successor, Joe Biden." Zuckerberg said that they have been very tolerant of Trump's posts in his social media accounts "over the last several years" with times they have only removed content or labeled "his posts when they violate our policies" for they "believe that the public has a right to the broadest possible access to political speech, even controversial speech." However, the Facebook CEO said that the "current context" of Trump's post "is now fundamentally different, involving use of our platform to incite violent insurrection against a democratically elected government." "We believe the risks of allowing the President to continue to use our service during this period are simply too great. We are extending the block we have placed on his Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely and for at least the next two weeks until the peaceful transition of power is complete," he ended. The post that prompted this decision of Zuckerberg actually involved Trump's disappointment over Pence's inaction over the certification of the electoral congress votes amidst the many incidents of voter fraud and legislators present yesterday who objected to the certification. "Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!" Trump said in disappointment. Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving... Posted by Donald J. Trump on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 Trump's succeeding posts were actually a call to stay peaceful before Facebook locked his account down. "Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful!" He called on the rioters. "I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order - respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!" He stressed. Please support our Capitol Police and Law Enforcement. They are truly on the side of our Country. Stay peaceful! Posted by Donald J. Trump on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you! Posted by Donald J. Trump on Wednesday, January 6, 2021 This was his same posts in his Twitter account prior to two tweets that were deleted by Twitter before they locked his account. Prior to the post on Pence in Facebook, Trump just shared the Save America Rally coverage of Right Side Broadcasting in his Facebook account. According to Newsbusters, the deleted tweet of Trump contained a video asking the rioters who "stormed the capital" yesterday "for peace and end to the protest". "I know your pain. I know your hurt, you have to go home now. We have to have peace," Newsbusters quoted Trump as saying in the said video. Twitter, through its Twitter Safety account, explained there action was meant to ensure the implementation of their policy. "As a result of the unprecedented and ongoing violent situation in Washington, D.C., we have required the removal of three @realDonaldTrump Tweets that were posted earlier today for repeated and severe violations of our Civic Integrity policy," Twitter posted with a link to their Civic Integrity Policy. Newsbusters cited that Twitter has censored Trump's twitter for 625 times and has "targeted Trump with more than a year of unprecedented restriction of his tweets". Meanwhile, Snapchat followed suit in suspending Trump's account saying that "the company will monitor the situation closely before re-evaluating its decision," as per TechCrunch. As of this article's writing, Twitter and YouTube has lifted its suspension on Trump's account as it now contains his video message on the "heinous attack on the United States capital" that was originally uploaded in White House's YouTube account. "Like all Americans, I am outraged by the violence, lawlessness and mayhem. I immediately deployed the National Guard and Federal arm forcement to secure the building and expel the intruders. America is and will always be a nation of law and order. The demonstrators who infiltrated the capital have defiled the seat of American democracy. To those who engaged in the acts of violence and destruction, you do not represent our country and to those who broke the law, you will pay," Trump declared. From the Caribbean to the Middle East, Archbishop Eugene Nugent talks about his experience as papal nuncio to Haiti and now to Kuwait and Qatar. By Vatican News staff writer On 7 January, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Eugene Nugent as the Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait and Qatar. The Archbishop had been serving since 2015 as papal nuncio to the Caribbean nation of Haiti. Archbishop Nugent, who hails from the midwest of Ireland, spoke to Vatican News about his experience in Haiti and about what his new appointment says about the Pope's dedication to interreligious dialogue. Listen to the full interview He said serving in Haiti has been a rewarding and "intense spiritual experience" for him, marked by the wonderful people he has met during his years of service there. "Haiti is a very poor country," he said. "It gets a lot of negative publicity in the media because of the natural disasters, the political instability, and the violence." But Archbishop Nugent said that is only one aspect of the country. "What I discovered here was an enormously gifted people, very creative artists, musicians, writers, and poets." Adding that he will miss his many friends in Haiti, the Archbishop said he hopes that Haitians will see improved conditions, "because they really deserve a better future." New assignment Archbishop Nugent also spoke about looking forward to his new post on the other side of the globe in Kuwait and Qatar. Speaking about his role as the Apostolic Nuncio there, he admitted to knowing very little about the Middle East, but said he is looking forward to learning and serving there. He added that his appointment is a "sign of the Holy Father's confidence in me, but also the importance that he has placed on dialogue with the world of Islam." Archbishop Nugent then expressed his hopes that his previous assignments, along with the help of the Lord, Our Lady, and St. Joseph, will help him carry out his new mission as papal nuncio to Kuwait and Qatar. Mumbai: American Gods" star Ricky Whittle says his fantasy-drama series makes a topical commentary on the power of unity at a time when the world, particularly the US, is struggling with issues of race and gender. American Gods" is based on author Neil Gaimans 2001 novel of the same name. The story primarily revolves around a war brewing between the Old Gods of ancient mythological roots and the New Gods of modern technology. In a Zoom interview from Los Angeles with PTI, Whittle said while the shows third season ticks all the boxes of an entertaining watch", it doesnt let go of the opportunity to deliver a timely message. We have got comedy, drama, action, fantasy, romance But it also has a great platform to raise awareness. What we are able to do on the show is shine a light on the beauty of difference and variety. We have various races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations. We dont pick sides, say ones good or bad. We say everyone can coexist. If you believe in your God, it doesnt mean my God doesnt exist. They coexist," Whittle said. American Gods", according to Whittle, is a reflection of the issues US is grappling with, from the hostility towards immigrants to the lack of acceptance of people belonging to different sexual orientations. The British born Hollyoaks" star, who moved to the US in 2012 following a successful career in the United Kingdom, said the makers are aware of the shows reach and hence did not shy away" from touching these sensitive topics. In America, they do have problems with immigrants, race, gender, sexual orientations. These problems are bubbling at the moment. But hopefully with shows like this we can raise that awareness. Fear comes through a lack of education and understanding. So the more its on TV, films and around us, the more we get used to it and understand it. Thats the key. Once you start to understand, you can start to appreciate." Whittle said its incredible how Gaiman had the foresight to see all these problems" when he wrote the book two decades ago. The actor made his debut in 2002 with Dream Team" but got his major breakthrough with the soap opera Hollyoaks" in 2006. In the US, he bagged recurring roles on Single Ladies", Mistresses" and the post-apocalyptic drama The 100" before landing his biggest project in American Gods". As an immigrant, Whittle said one really gets to see America" for what it truly is and having lived in the country for the last ten years, he has realised theyre in such a bubble." They have no concepts of foreign affairs or the worlds perception of them. I live amongst them and I see everything going on and I also have the ability to see from outside the box. I feel Neil was able to capture that on the show. To see both sides," he added. Whittle features on American Gods" as the ex-con Shadow Moon, a man pulled into the service of the mysterious Mr Wednesday, played by actor Ian McShane. The show will start streaming on Amazon Prime Video from January 11.The actor said the latest season of American Gods", with Gaiman attached as writer and executive producer, is a massive return to form." We set the bar high in season oneSeason two was a bit sporadic, crazy sometimes. But for this, Neil and Chic Eglee and had a lot longer to put this together, which shows in the writing. Because now you see this meticulous project, where every dip, spin and turn is planned." Whittle said the clarity of the series plot points has only made his job easier as he now even knows the story arc of his character for season four. I know my beginning, middle and end. They had time to plan the whole season out, with an epic season finale, which is the best so far. I already know my story for season four because they have planned it out for me. Its exciting to be able to arc that already. It was great to add more layers to Shadow," he added. A paramedic prepares a shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as people wait at a COVID-19 vaccination centre in Chertsey. (Getty) Some patients have turned down the offer of the Pfizer COVID vaccine as they are waiting for the English one, a high-profile doctor has claimed. The vaccine, developed by American pharmaceutical company Pfizer and German company BioNTech, was made available to patients at the start of December, while the Oxford/AstraZeneca version was authorised on 30 December and has begun rollout across the country. Dr Paul Williams, former Labour MP for Stockton South, has now claimed that some patients are opting to wait for the Oxford vaccine because of nationalism. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Williams, who was a GP before turning to politics, continued to see patients while he was an MP to maintain a link with them and, since he was voted out in 2019, has worked on the NHSs fight against COVID-19. Writing on Twitter, he said: Some local patients have turned down an offer this weekend of getting a COVID vaccine when they found out it was the Pfizer one. Ill wait for the English one. People at risk of death in the depths of a pandemic. A lesson that nationalism has consequences. Watch: First Oxford vaccine dose administered in UK Yahoo News UK has reached out to Williams, who was made an OBE in the New Year Honours list for his services to Parliament and healthcare, for more comment. The Royal College of General Practitioners told Yahoo News UK that they had not heard of any similar reports from members. GPs in England are starting the mass rollout of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine as hospitals across the UK face rising numbers of seriously ill patients. The jabs are being delivered to sites across the country as the government commits to offering a vaccine to more than 13 million people in the top four priority groups by mid-February. Another doctor has urged people to take the Oxford vaccine. According to the BBC, Dr Simon Stockley, from Eaglescliffe Medical Practice in Stockton, said he believed some people were making a decision as to which vaccine was better. Story continues "I can well understand that people are trying to make a decision as to whether one is better than another and I don't think there's any evidence that allows you to make that distinction," Dr Stockley told BBC Radio Tees. A box containing 10 vials, which can each provide 10 individual doses, of the Oxford University/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, being used at the Pontcae Medical Practice in Merthyr Tydfil. (Getty) "If you are being offered the Pfizer vaccine now, waiting for something else to come along that is describably better seems perverse." Dr Stockley was responding to the experiences of Dr Williams. The first community vaccinations in England with the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab are due to take place in GP surgeries today and it is hoped that around 1,000 sites will be delivering vaccines by the end of the week. The Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine is easy to administer given it can be stored at normal fridge temperatures, unlike the Pfizer jab which requires storage at minus 70C. Seven mass-vaccination centres will also open next week in London, Newcastle, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Surrey and Stevenage. Watch: What you can and can't do during England's third national lockdown